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. Beirut, Aug 3 : The Islamic-State affiliated West African terror group Boko Haram has a new leader, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the IS announced in one of its magazines. Barnawi, who was previously spokesman for Boko Haram, replaced Abubakar Shekau, IS said in the latest issue of its weekly Nabaa magazine. It did not say what has happened to Shekau, who was last heard from in an audio message in August 2015, saying he was alive and was still Boko Haram leader. An IS video released in April made the same claim. The Nigerian army has frequently tried to kill Shekau, who became the Boko Haram leader in 2009. Under his leadership, the Islamist group swore allegiance to IS and became more radical, carrying out more killings, attacks and violent acts. These included the April 2014 abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in Borno state, northeast Nigeria, where the group is based. Boko Haram has lost most of the territory it controlled 18 months ago and its seven-year insurgency aimed at overthrowing Nigeria's government has left at least 20,000 people dead. New Delhi, Aug 3 : The Delhi government representatives will meet Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Verma over what they said were high number of unattended and unsatisfied grievance cases. A data released by the Public Grievance Monitoring System (PGMS) of the Delhi government on Wednesday pointed out that the maximum number of grievances pertained to the Delhi Police. Between February 14, 2015, and July 27, 2016, as many as 16,906 grievances were received regarding the Delhi Police, out of which 28 per cent (4,733) remained unattended. Police attended to 12,173 complaints, out of which in 80 per cent of the cases people expressed dissatisfaction. "We have sought time from the Delhi Police Commissioner to apprise him about the high number of unattended cases and police's failure in successfully redressing the complaints," Gopal Mohan, adviser to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said on Wednesday. The PGMS data also shows that not even one complainant reported that they were satisfied with Police Control Room action on their complaints. The data revealed that the highest number of cases were pertained to police inaction like non-registration of FIRs. As many as 1,743 complaints were of police inaction, out of which 25 per cent went unattended. Similarly, 1,477 grievances of crime against women like harrassment, rape, kidnapping and molestation were registered, out of which 25 per cent went unattended. As many as 1,107 plaints were taken up by the police, out of which 75 per cent complainants remained dissatisfied. As many as 623 grievances about violence, including physical violence, torture and threats were reported, out of which 34 per cent were unattended, the PGMS data said. Mohan said that the PGMS representatives had held several meetings with the police nodal officer and apprised him of these facts. "The concerned authorities on their part say they are facing manpower shortage, due to which cases go unattended," Mohan said. New Delhi, Aug 3 : Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday called the government's constitutional amendment bill on the Goods and Services Tax a "clumsy draft", to whichi his successor Arun Jaitley said the draft's language was same as used by B.N. Rau, who had aided B.R. Ambedkar in drafting the Constitution. Chidambaram called the bill draft "clumsy" while referring to the third amendment in the government's list which read -- "amount apportioned to a State under clause 1 should not go to the Consolidated Fund". Chidambaram argued it should have mentioned where the fund would go. Jaitley replied: "Chidambaram mentioned that the bill has a clumsy drafting because it says that some of the revenue collected will not be a part of the Consolidated Fund of India or the Consolidated Fund of the state and the argument was that every revenue has to go into the Consolidated Fund. "The response is that I think using the word clumsy drafting is a bit too extreme and expression. I think the best draftsperson India ever had was B.N. Rau, who aided Dr. Ambedkar. The phrase you have called clumsy drafting is verbatim the Article 268 (2) of original Constitution." He then read out from the Constitution: "The proceeds of any financial year of any such duty leviable in any state shall not forma a part of the Consolidated Fund of India but shall be assigned to that state", adding that similar language was used in Article 269 (2). Chidambaram replied: "I certainly do not claim to be as wise or as clever as late B.N. Rau. It doesn't stop there; it says shall not form part of the Consolidated Fund of India but shall be assigned to that state." "All I am pointing out is that when you say in your amendment number three that such amount shall not form part of the Consolidated Fund of India you should have added what happens to the money; it has to go somewhere," the Congress leader said. Jaitley dubbed it "hair splitting" and said: "If you go back to the sub-clause 1, it clearly says 'shall be apportioned in the union and states in the manner provided' and then it further says in 1 (A) that 'this amount apportioned to a state should not be part of the Consolidated Fund', so it exactly says what you wanted to say." While the issue was settled, Chidambaram led the Congress later in asking the government to assure that it will not bring the next two bills on central and state GST as money bills. Jaitley, however, said he cannot make a promise on a bill that was not even drafted yet. With the opposition pressing for an assurance, Jaitley said: "We have no intention of getting the bill passed without discussions with you. This house will always have an opportunity to discuss the bills." With the constitutional amendment bill passed, the government will now bring a central GST bill and an inter-state GST bill in Parliament, while the states will pass their own GST bills. Real estate market transparency is increasing across the globe and 75% of investment now takes place in highly transparent markets, new research shows. Globally, transparency scores have increase by an average of 2.4% from 2014 to 2016, down slightly from the 2.9% recorded in 2010 to 2012 and the 3.4% from 2012 to 2014, according to the latest global real estate transparency index from international property advisors JLL. The firm says that these encouraging results highlight a real estate industry that is making steady progress through initiatives to deepen the availability and quality of market data and performance benchmarking. This is being done through new legislation to reduce roadblocks to progress, by setting higher ethical standards and by taking steps to make transaction processes more fair and transparent. The Anglosphere countries continue to dominate the upper echelons of the transparency hierarchy accounting for six of the worlds 10 highly transparent markets with the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States in the top positions. The report says that these traditional standard bearers are taking transparency to a new level, making improvements that go beyond other highly transparent markets, particularly in areas of performance measurement, market fundamentals data and valuation practices. In these markets, property data is increasingly available at the city sub-market level and by property type and further improvements in performance measurement and market data are on the horizon, especially in tracking niche property sectors, the report says. They are setting a high bar for transparency and are showing the way for other markets to follow. The world is looking to these highly transparent markets to take the lead in introducing greater transparency on beneficial ownership disclosure and on tightening up anti-money laundering legislation and procedures in the wake of the revelations from the Panama Papers, it explains. When it comes to improvements Central and Eastern Europe feature strongly. Slovenia and Serbia are the top improvers globally since 2014, followed by Bulgaria. These three Balkan countries have moved up into the semi-transparent category due to improving market fundamentals data and better valuation practices, but they remain well below most of the rest of Europe. Echoing the 2014 survey, Sub-Saharan Africa is also home to some of the strongest improvers, most notably Botswana and Zambia. The report points out that the greatest progress over the past two years has been made in market fundamentals, the access, depth and quality of aggregated and disaggregated data on real estate market conditions. Despite improvements, this is an area of real estate transparency that still has the strongest potential for further development. It explains how technology is aiding transparency as an industry that was slower than others in technology innovation is seeing a quantum leap, with an emergent prop-tech sector offering platforms of real-time, very granular data to corporate tenants and landlords. It says that the next two years are likely to bring about an even faster pace of change in the technology and data platforms and infrastructures that the commercial property industry utilises and underlying transparency should improve as a result. Technology is also allowing some emerging markets to leapfrog the normal transparency evolution. Examples include the digitisation of land registries in Kenya and Ecuador, while Ghana is reportedly trialling a system to record title deeds with block chain technology. It also points out that regulatory reforms are essential for further progress in real estate transparency and a number of governments appear to be taking steps forward by introducing newlegislation, with recent examples including Dubai, India, Qatar, Rwanda and Taiwan. However, in many markets there continues to be a disconnection between the existence of regulations and actual enforcement, it adds. The largest differences between regulation and enforcement are found among the semi-transparent group of countries, where progress still needs to be made in enforcement of financial regulation, land use planning, building codes and contracts, and where penalties for non-compliance need to be more stringently applied. Meanwhile, opaque markets demonstrate little difference between regulation and enforcement, suggesting that a lack of regulation itself is holding these least transparent countries back, rather than a lack of enforcement. The report explains that there continues to be evidence that sustainability considerations are becoming more widely established, although the pace of progress in creating tools and regulations is slow. Most of the improvements have been driven by the introduction of minimum energy standards for new and existing buildings. There are encouraging signs that two cornerstones of environmental performance transparency, minimum energy efficiency standards and green building certification schemes, are available in the majority of key markets. Private Internet Accesss long time commitment to privacy and free software makes this sponsorship a natural fit. Private Internet Access (PIA), the leading VPN service, is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor for GUADEC 2016. Every year, GNOME users from around the world gather in a different European destination for GUADEC. This year, the official GUADEC 2016 conference will be held from August 12-14 at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology which is located in the heart of Karlsruhe, Germany; the days before and after will also feature workshops and hackfests for attending GNOME users. Since its inception, Private Internet Access has promoted the use of uncensorable code to guarantee access to an open internet. PIA has been a member of the GNOME Foundation advisory board since 2013. PIA, a subsidiary of London Trust Media Inc, is a long time sponsor of many events and projects borne of free software. Private Internet Accesss long time commitment to privacy and free software makes this sponsorship a natural fit, said Ted Kim, CEO of London Trust Media. GUADEC has helped the GNU community gather around the successful GNOME project for over a decade and deserves commendation and recognition from this industry. PIA is committed to continued support involvement within the free and open source software community, and wishes all an eventful GUADEC 2016. About Private Internet Access (PIA) Private Internet Access is the leading no log VPN service provider in the world. PIA believes that access to an open internet is a fundamental human right and donates effusively to EFF and FFTF to promote privacy causes internationally. Based out of North America, PIA has over 3300 servers in 24 countries that provide reliable, encrypted VPN tunnel gateways for whatever the use case. Please visit us at http://www.privateinternetaccess.com for more information. About GUADEC The GNOME User and Developer Europe Conference (GUADEC) is an annual gathering of GNOME developers, enthusiasts and individual, business, education and users. It provides an international forum for GNOME project members to showcase their work and to discuss the future of GNOME development. Held in a different European country each year, GUADEC is home to discussion on strategies and the future of open source software. For more information on GUADEC, visit 2016.guadec.org. AARP Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AARP, has chosen BrandCycle Inc. as its publisher representation team to provide affiliate discounts and deals exclusively for AARP members through its Member Advantages website, AARPAdvantages.com. AARPAdvantages.com serves as a centralized online location for members to access special discounts and incentives. With 1 million unique monthly visitors, it is the 375th most trafficked site in the U.S., according to Alexa.com. Members across the country use AARPAdvantages.com to inform buying decisions. According to U.S. News & World Report, boomers control 70 percent of all U.S. disposable income, and spend more than 2 trillion annually. These new, online-only deals capture the 75 percent of Boomers who shop online. Affiliate discounts and deals for AARP members are also promoted through AARPs Member Advantages email newsletter and social media profiles. Additionally, members can download the AARP Member Advantages mobile app for Apple or Android devices to take advantage of the new affiliate deals and discounts. BrandCycle welcomes retailers to offer affiliate discounts and deals exclusively for AARP members across multiple retailer verticals, including: Art and entertainment Automotive Beauty Discount retailing Clothing and accessories Family and baby Home decor Home improvement Travel A nationally recognized and trusted brand, AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps people 50 and older improve the quality of their lives. Its membership totals nearly 38 million. To be one of the first affiliate programs to provide an offer to AARPs 38 million members, complete the online form at Brandcycle.com/AARP. About BrandCycle BrandCycle Inc. (BrandCycle.com) is an exciting new platform that connects lifecycle retailers on a performance basis with high quality content and influencer partners in a streamlined manner. BrandCycle provides retailers instant access to aggregated value-added publishers to improve efficiencies around long-tail recruitment and activation. This eliminates the frustration for publishers of working across multiple affiliate networks and programs. BrandCycle offers a consolidated interface designed with publisher-focused tools, integrated reporting, centralized payments and access to the top 200+ online retailers. Submit an application to become a BrandCycle Publisher at Brandcycle.trackonomics.net/user/register. Instagram: Instagram.com/Brandcycle Twitter: Twitter.com/Brandcycle Facebook: Facebook.com/BrandCycleInc About AARP AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; http://www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Espanol, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at http://www.aarp.org. About AARP Services Inc. AARP Services Inc., founded in 1999, is a wholly owned taxable subsidiary of AARP. AARP Services manages the provider relationships for and performs quality control oversight of the wide range of products and services that carry the AARP name and are made available by independent providers as benefits to AARPs millions of members. The provider offers currently span health products, financial products, travel and leisure products, and life event services. Specific products include Medicare supplemental insurance; credit cards, auto and home, mobile home and motorcycle insurance, life insurance and annuities; member discounts on rental cars, cruises, vacation packages and lodging; special offers on technology and gifts; pharmacy services and legal services. AARP Services also engages in new product development activities for AARP and provides certain consulting services to outside companies. As a CRF Platinum Partner, HighRadius will present a set of morning sessions starting at 8:00 am on August 8th The Credit Research Foundation, a leading association for credit and A/R professionals, will host a Vendor Technology Fair where credit and accounts receivable professionals will hear successful implementations from industry peers and learn more about the HighRadius SaaS-based receivables and payments automation cloud solutions that span the entire credit-to-cash cycle and enable rapid deployment and quick ROI. As a CRF Platinum Partner, HighRadius will present a set of morning sessions starting at 8:00 am on August 8th that include customer case studies from CF Industries, a global leader in nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing and distribution and Danone North America, a leading global food company and the makers of Dannon, Stoneyfield and Activia yogurts and Evian water. HighRadius will also provide an in-depth review of the HighRadius products that automate credit and A/R operations. The Technology Fair is part of the CRF Credit & Accounts Receivable Open Forum, held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers in Chicago, Illinois which will run August 8 August 10. A complimentary hot breakfast will be offered during the HighRadius Technology Fair sessions beginning at 7:30 am. Amanda Flemmer, a Business Analyst for CF Industries, will present a session on how their team doubled productivity in dispute and collections management by implementing the HighRadius certified accelerators for SAP. The HighRadius solutions for SAP provide turnkey implementation services for SAP receivables management modules, in addition to off-the-shelf SAP enhancers that include Credit Decision, Advanced Correspondence, and Dispute & Collections accelerators to help improve productivity. Michael Pettyjohn, Director, Customer Financial Services, Danone and Jacob Whetstone, Manager, Customer Financial Services, Danone will co-present how Danone North America benefited from the HighRadius Cash Application Cloud solution by automating remittance capture, payment linking and ERP matching. The HighRadius Cash Application Cloud is the most comprehensive solution available for automating cash application across all payment and remittance formats. As a cloud-based solution available as Software-as-a-Service, Cash Application Cloud is easy and cost-effective to deploy and maintain and runs alongside any ERP system. Shankar Bellam, Sr. Solution Architect at HighRadius will provide a comprehensive product overview on the HighRadius certified SAP Accelerators, including Credit Management, Biller Direct, and Dispute & Collections Management and the Receivables Cloud SaaS Product suite, that showcases the HighRadius Credit Cloud, Collections Cloud and Deductions Cloud. Jay Tchakarov, Vice President, Product Management at HighRadius, will discuss how technology such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing how cash is applied and why A/R departments are reaching unprecedented automation levels as a result. For more information or to register, click here. About Credit Research Foundation The Credit Research Foundation is an independent, non-profit, member-run organization, consisting of a dynamic community of like-minded business professionals with a vested interest in improving and fostering the field of business-2-business credit while focusing on the practices and technologies of the discipline. CRF is the premiere industry advocate for the B2B credit community; the bridge in the customer financial relationship. For more information please visit http://www.crfonline.org. About HighRadius HighRadius provides Financial Supply Chain Management (FSCM) software solutions to optimize receivables and payments functions such as credit, collections, cash application, deductions and eBilling. HighRadius Receivables Cloud and Payments Cloud solution suites are delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS) in the cloud to automate the entire credit-to-cash cycle. HighRadius certified Accelerators for SAP receivables management enables large enterprises to achieve advanced business transformation initiatives and leverage their SAP investments with lower TCO. HighRadius solutions have a proven track record of reducing days sales outstanding (DSO), bad debt and increasing operation efficiency, enabling companies to achieve an ROI in a few months. For more information please visit http://www.highradius.com. For More Information Contact: Sally Huynh Marketing Manager sally.huynh(at)highradius(dot)com 281.972.2101 Dr. Christine Cassel Dr. Cassel has shown true leadership across a spectrum of leading national organizations. Now she will will have a unique opportunity to redesign physician education that will focus on the delivery of patient-centered care. The National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL), a not-for-profit that works to improve population health by enhancing the capacity of healthcare leaders, is pleased to announce that Christine K. Cassel, MD, planning dean for the new Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, is the recipient of its 2016 Gail L. Warden Leadership Excellence Award. Dr. Cassel, former National Quality Forum (NQF) president and CEO, is widely recognized for reinvigorating the NQF and elevating the roles of quality, safety, patient outcomes, and affordability in healthcare reform. Initiatives implemented under her leadership continue to play a significant role in advancing quality improvement and filling gaps in measuring healthcare effectiveness across the U.S. Dr. Christine Cassel is a pioneer in applying quality measurement standards to the delivery of healthcare. And, as a prominent leader in many organizations and medical schools, she has earned a distinguished reputation for educating generations of physicians on the role that safety, quality and cost effectiveness play in achieving population health, NCHL President and Board Chair Tim Rice said. She has shown true leadership across a spectrum of leading national organizations. Now, as a founding member of the new Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, Dr. Cassel will have a unique opportunity to redesign physician education that will focus on the delivery of patient-centered care. Dr. Cassel joined the NQF in 2013. Prior to that she was President and CEO of the American Board of Internal Medicine and ABIM Foundation where she spearheaded the highly influential "Choosing Wisely" campaign. Earlier in her career she served as dean of the School of Medicine and vice president of medical affairs at the Oregon Health & Science University and she was chairman of the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. She also has held professorships and appointments at the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She was an early leader in the field of biomedical ethics, and now chairs the board of the Greenwall Foundation, which she joined in 1992. In addition, she was a founding member of the Commonwealth Fund's Commission on a High Performance Health System, and served on the Institute of Medicine committees that wrote the watershed reports "To Err is Human" and "Crossing the Quality Chasm," and chaired influential reports on end-of-life care and public health. Dr. Cassel received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago, and her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the Childrens Hospital of San Francisco. She also completed a fellowship in bioethics at the University of California at San Francisco and a fellowship in geriatrics at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Cassel is the recipient of numerous honors and awards. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Medicine of the UK and Canada, the European Federation of Internal Medicine and she is a Master of the American College of Physicians. In addition, she serves on the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Dr. Cassel is on the editorial board of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), where she is also a contributing writer. She is a former president of the American College of Physicians, served on the boards of the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plans from 2002-2013 and Premier from 2006-2013, and she was on the editorial board of the New England Journal of Medicine from 1994-2000. NCHLs selection committee for the Gail L. Warden Leadership Excellence Award was co-chaired by Kathryn J. McDonagh, PhD, RN, and Christy Harris Lemak, PhD, University of Alabama, Birmingham. It also included Nancy Howell Agee, Carilion Clinic; Benjamin K. Chu, MD, Memorial Hermann; Susan DeVore, Premier; Judith Faulkner, EPIC; Delvecchio Finley, Alameda Health System; Thomas Giella, Korn Ferry; James H. Hinton, Presbyterian Healthcare Services; Peter Jacobson, JD, University of Michigan; R. Timothy Rice, NCHL; Jeffrey D. Selberg, Peter G. Peterson Foundation; Richard J. Umbdenstock, 2015 GLW Award Recipient; Gail L. Warden, Henry Ford Health System; and Michael D. Williams, Community Hospital Corporation. Dr. Cassel will be honored on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at the Leadership Award dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago. This celebration, which brings together healthcares luminaries and notable leaders from the nations prominent health sector, academic, and research organizations, will be held in conjunction with NCHLs annual Human Capital Investment Conference, and recognition of the 2016 Best Organizations for Leadership Development (BOLD). In partnership with Cielo Healthcare, NCHL will honor those healthcare organizations that are innovative, collaborative and resilient because leading in a complex and ever changing world requires cultures that are BOLD! # # # ABOUT THE GAIL L. WARDEN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD The Gail L. Warden Leadership Excellence Award of the National Center for Healthcare Leadership is awarded annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to the health field, including the mentoring of future leaders towards the goal of transforming organizational performance and improving health and healthcare in the US. It is named for Gail L. Warden, founding chairman of the NCHL Board, Chairman Emeritus of Henry Ford Health System, and one of healthcares foremost leaders. The NCHL leadership award was established in 2005. ABOUT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP NCHL is a not-for-profit organization that is an industry catalyst to ensure the availability of accountable and transformational healthcare leadership for the 21st century. Its vision is to improve population health through leadership and organizational excellence. For more information please visit NCHLs website. Stephen Barrante, owner of Atomic Kid Studios and Ben Miller of Pollen Digital, have formally joined together under the name of Atomic Kid Studios. The merger creates one of Southern Connecticuts leading video and animation studios, bringing technology-driven, creative and immersive marketing ideas to life. The studio will continue to partner with businesses, brands, and marketing agencies across the globe to deliver best-in-class digital, video and game development services. Stephen and I have worked together for years providing high standards in animation, film, special effects and interactive design. The official merger between our two companies will help us expand our capabilities while elevating the premium quality of our work. said Ben Miller. Atomic Kid Studios has recently relocated their workspaces to a newly renovated studio, located in Milford, CT. The new studio is our own personal Mecca. A place where we can brainstorm, problem solve, and create kick-ass work for our clients, said Ben. The opportunities being presented to us as joint operation have helped each of us grow in our field, our skill sets and capabilities. Were thrilled to announce this new partnership and what possibilities might arise from this., said Stephen. The technology we use is changing all the time. Were constantly learning better ways to accomplish things, and being able to share that knowledge in real time, with a growing team, is absolutely critical to continued success in this industry. Stephen Barrante Co-Founder/Creative Director Stephen has worked in the marketing and animation industry for the past two decades. Beginning his career as developer of online games and interactive experiences, his passion for film and video has grown into producing, directing and editing award winning online content. For the past 6 years he has been an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University, teaching motion graphics and interactive design. Ben Miller Co-Founder/Director - Creative Technologies Ben Miller has been in the Advertising agency for 15 years using technology as a solution to create rich interactive experiences. His core competencies include video game design/development, animation and special effects. ABOUT Atomic Kid Studios Founded in 2014, Atomic Kid is the premiere video and animation studio in Southern Connecticut. Offering creative services to a roster of both local and global partners. Using innovative techniques, creative technologies, and smart storytelling, they have made a mark for clients such as Conde Nast, PepsiCo, Hilton, BIC, SteelSeries and Bigelow. Headquartered in Milford, CT, they are proud to be a part of Southern Connecticuts vibrant creative and innovative marketing industry. Serenity Place will host its annual Courage to Change Gala on Thursday, September 22, 2016 from 5:30-8:00 pm at the newly remodeled Falls Event Center in Manchester, NH. The event will raise funds to continue supporting the New Hampshire community with addiction services, celebrate the individuals who are critical to furthering Serenity Places mission, and honor those who have made it to recovery and beyond. The theme for the 2016 Courage to Change Gala is My Road to Serenity (#myroadtoserenity2016) and Serenity Place is anticipating a record-breaking 350 attendees. This years Gala is designed to be highly interactive to honor the personal and individualized journey patients take towards recovery. Upon entering, guests will be provided with their Gala roadmap which highlights the different events occurring throughout the evening in the many rooms of The Falls Event Center. The goal is to encourage attendees to explore the space, enjoy the food, and get inspired by the stories of those who have overcome addiction - all while benefiting the New Hampshire community. New Hampshire has some of the highest substance misuse rates in the country, yet we are 49th out of the 50 states when it comes to accessible treatment options. The funds raised from the Courage to Change Gala are vital in ensuring that our clients at Serenity Place have access to the support they need and are given every opportunity to flourish, said Stephanie Bergeron, Serenity Places CEO. To date, the Courage to Change Gala has raised addiction awareness as well as more than $150,000 to support Serenity Place programs. In keeping with tradition, Serenity Place will also honor an individual who exemplifies the values of Serenity Place with the 2016 Courage to Change Award. Board members and Event Chairs, Mary Constance and Ross Kukish, are looking forward to unveiling this years Courage to Change Award winner. We typically share the award recipient before the event, but this year, we will unveil the winner the night of the Gala. Since we are just one year away from our 40th anniversary, we are committed to making this evening as unique as possible, including keeping this exciting information as long as possible. The ticket price for the Gala is $50 and sponsorship opportunities range from $1,000 - $10,000. To purchase tickets or to support Serenity Place in other ways such as sponsoring a day of treatment for a client for $160, visit http://myroadtoserenity.eventbrite.com. Serenity Place is a nonprofit community based addiction treatment agency located in the heart of Downtown Manchester offering inpatient and outpatient treatment options for individuals and families. Serenity Places mission is to provide opportunities for the chemically dependent person to become free of those chemicals, to maintain that freedom and to return to the community as a contributing member. For more information, visit http://www.serenityplace.org. Photo by Dina Avila courtesy of Brazi Bites Junea Rocha, a native of Brazil who owns the successful Brazilian cheese bread company, Brazi Bites, offers six tips for those who want to host their own Brazilian-themed parties with family and friends at home. (Brazi Bites sells Brazilian cheese bread -- Pao de Queijo -- in more than 3,000 grocery stores and was featured on Shark Tank last year.) 1) Make Refreshing Brazilian Lemonade: One of Brazils most popular drinks is lemonade -- although its technically made with limes and not lemons! In Juneas recipe, which is available on the Brazi Bites website, lemonade is sweetened with a dash of condensed milk -- as it is in most Brazilian homes. 2) Indulge In Chocolate Truffles (Brigadeiro): A party in Brazil is made a lot more special when these super delicious candies are served. Impress everyone with Juneas easy to make recipe also on the website. Think fudge balls-meet-truffles with only four ingredients. 3) Put A Twist On The Typical Chicken Salad: Chicken salad in Brazil -- salpicao -- is very popular served chilled on hot Brazilian days. In Brazil, chicken salad has bits and pieces of fruit and vegetables and plenty of fresh lime juice, and so does Juneas recipe. 4) Serve Freshly-Baked Cheese Bread: Pao de Queijo is what prompted Junea to start her company, Brazi Bites. When Junea moved to the U.S. from Brazil she was shocked that it wasnt available. She founded her company to bring Brazilian cheese bread to Americans. Party hosts can buy frozen, all-natural Brazi Bites at more than 3,000 grocery stores around the country or order online. 5) Feature The Brazilian National Cocktail: Cachaca (pronounced Ka-sha-sa) is a spirit distilled from cane sugar and the main ingredient in Brazils national cocktail, the Caipirinha. Juneas recipe for the drink, available with photos on her website, looks especially festive in a glass thats been dipped in colored sugar. 6) Decorate With Color And Give Out Party Favors: Junea recommends decorating with high energy, colorful decor like paper garlands and paper chains as well as giving out Brazilian wish bracelets. According to a post on Brazi Bites, the ribbons are tied around the wrist and given three knots. A wish is made for each knot; when the ribbon falls off, the wishes are believed to come true. Junea Rocha is available for interviews. For more information on any of the tips, these recipes or Brazi Bites, please contact: info(at)brazibites(dot)com Company Website: Brazi Bites facebook.com/BraziBites/ Instagram: @brazi_bites Twitter: @brazibites # # # Biomapas, a full-service contract-research organization (CRO) based in Europe, has announced the addition of Nidas Jurjonas, MD to its team. Nidas has joined the Biomapas team as a Project Director. In that capacity, he enables the CRO to plan, execute, manage, and analyze the full-scale projects sponsored by Regional and Global Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Biotechnology Companies. Nidas is a Physician with more than 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining the Biomapas, he worked for Novartis, Swiss global healthcare company, in various managing positions. Nidas draws from his experience in managing various aspects of global projects, including extensive experience in haematology and oncology Audrius Sveikata, Managing Director of Biomapas said. His proven track record of the global projects and personable nature make him a great fit for our team. About Biomapas Biomapas is a team of professionals experienced in Clinical Trials, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance and Medical Writing services. Our strong presence in Europe, and extensive experience in Eastern European, Nordic region allows us to play a bridging role between East and West. We have solid experience in numerous therapeutic areas such as, but not limited to Psychiatry, CNS, cardiovascular diseases, oncology, neurology, rheumatology, pulmonology, metabolic disorders, etc. Biomapas is quality focused CRO, supervised and certified by Quality Management System ISO 9001. Together with AICROS Association - Association of International CROs we provide support for global studies. Reach us for more information: info(at)biomapas(dot)eu We keep our promises. Always. http://www.biomapas.eu Rescue in the Philippines, the Oscar-qualified documentary that has been broadcast on Public TV and on CNN in the Philippines, is now available for viewing on Amazon Prime. The film, produced by 3 Roads Communications of Frederick, MD, recounts the little-known story about five cigar maker brothers from Cincinnati, the Frieders, and their heroic rescue of 1300 Jews from pre-War Germany and Austria. The Frieders, along with Philippine President Manuel Quezon, U.S. High Commissioner Paul McNutt, and then- Colonel Dwight Eisenhower, hatched a plan over cigarsmoking and poker games to provide a safe haven for the refugees by exploiting U.S. immigration laws for the Philippines. Rescue in the Philippines has been broadcast more than 2000 times on public television in the United States, and on CNN in the Philippines. The film has also been screened at the United Nations, at Yad Vashem in Israel, and by Philippine President Aquino at Malacanang Palace in Manila. The film qualified for an Academy Award in 2014. Rescue was lauded by the New York Times as "as heartbreaking as it is courageous." The Los Angeles Times called the film "gripping." Rescue has a perfect 100% rating from Rotten Tomatoes. It is narrated by Emmy nominated actor Live Schreiber. "We are thrilled that Rescue is now available to a worldwide audience through Amazon, " said Barbara Sasser, President of Frieder Films and an Executive Producer of the film and granddaughter of one of the Frieder Brothers. "At a time when the whole world seems like it's in upheaval, it's important for audiences to know that they have been, and always will be, people of courage who will stand up and do the right thing no matter the cost," said Russ Hodge, another Executive Producer of the film. For more information about Rescue in the Philippines, please visit http://www.rescueinthephilippines.com We are excited to join forces with an experienced, reliable and proven partner such as G2G. This relationship further reinforces TBGs commitment to implementing strategic and innovative business solutions in Emerging and Frontier markets. The Bassiouni Group / TBG (http://www.bassiounigroup.com), a leading Global Development firm specializing in International Consulting, Trade & Investment solutions for emerging/frontier markets, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with G2G Americas (http://www.gateway2global.com) Americas, an international business consulting firm providing a range of services to promote trade, finance and investment. The agreement sets forth a framework to pursue trade opportunities in key emerging markets across South America, sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia (ASEAN). The MoU between TBG and G2G Americas marks the latest milestone in TBGs expanding Trade portfolio, which complements the companys Investment and Consulting divisions. As part of the MoU, G2G will seek to leverage its portfolio of suppliers and trade clients, as well as its consulting services, to target key partners for collaboration with TBG. Similarly, TBG will seek to leverage its network of governmental, corporate and local industry/business relationships across emerging markets, to help trading partners to tap into Africas expansive growth and rapid development. By leveraging market-specific solutions, G2G will also help to mitigate the risk of entering these global markets for TBG investors and suppliers. We are excited to join forces with an experienced, reliable and proven partner such as G2G. This relationship further reinforces TBGs commitment to implementing strategic and innovative business solutions in Emerging and Frontier markets, said David Bassiouni, Managing Director of The Bassiouni Group. We are currently focused on exciting opportunities within the Retail, Agrifood, Energy and Infrastructure sectors in sub-Saharan Africa, South America and ASEAN, and look forward to taking the key steps. This collaboration with TBG is a fantastic one for us. A key component of G2Gs strategy is to spread our footprint beyond the Americas region. With the African continent boasting some of the fastest growing economies in the world, we think that region presents a logical next step towards implementing this vision, said Gavin Ottley, Managing Director of Gateway to Global. We could think of no better partner to do so than TBG. They bring tremendous value to the table not only in terms of professionalism and integrity but solid market knowledge and expertise. The partnership will be overseen by TBGs Trade Division, which comprises leading experts from the Trade, Corporate Development, Government and International Development fields, and enables exporters to tap new growth opportunities in Emerging and Frontier markets. About The Bassiouni Group (http://www.bassiounigroup.com) Headquartered in New York City, The Bassiouni Group (TBG) is a Global Development firm that provides Consulting, Trade and Investment solutions for governments, international institutions, corporations and communities. The firm is managed by experienced leaders from the public and private sectors and it leverages a Global Network comprised of more than 400 experts. TBGs mission is to create, provide and develop integrated Global Development solutions that empower our clients, positively impact the communities in which they operate and improve the quality of life. About G2G (http://www.gateway2global.com) G2G Americas, LLC is a business consulting firm specializing in international trade, investment and finance in North America, Latin America, (including Central America and South America) and the Caribbean. We have a comprehensive network of partners in the region, along with vast knowledge of the local markets, which enables us to help companies expand their operations globally while minimizing the risks and costs involved in the process. We offer our international business consulting services to two types of clientele: Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in search of new customers and international markets Large multinational companies requiring support in international markets in which their product or service is not yet represented At G2G Americas, our primary focus is helping globally-oriented enterprises in the U.S. discover international expansion and business development opportunities in the Caribbean and Latin America. Based on our clients needs and our network of business partners, we identify opportunities to create long-term partnerships that mitigate the risk of entering these global markets. Contact: Laura Wicks, Project Manager lwicks(at)bassiounigroup(dot)com Samantha Nolan, Project Manager snolan(at)bassiounigroup(dot)com FMS Solutions Holdings, LLC (FMS), (http://www.FMSSolutions.com) an accounting and consulting service provider to independent retail grocers and supermarkets, has appointed a new key Account Executive, Stan McClintock, to better serve its clients in the South Midwest Region. FMS Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Mark Ehleben stated, "Over the past 12 months we have seen rapid growth in the South Midwest Region for FMS and an Industry-veteran like Stan McClintock will provide our clients in the States of MO, KS, OK, TX, AZ, UT, CO, NM, NV, CA, AK, NE, HI, WY and ID the expert knowledge-base and best in class service that our clients have come to expect. Stans appointment is an effort to continually enhance our customer service to our Midwest clients and potential clients. We are excited to have Stan as part of the FMS Family." Mr. McClintock has extensive experience in Management, New Business Development, Education and Training with such companies as Kroger, BI-LO, Malone and Hyde, Fleming and AWG. Additionally, Mr. McClintock is certified by FMI/Cornell University as a food safety and sanitation instructor and exam administrator. Mr. McClintock added, Im very excited to be working with a company like FMS. Even when I was not working for them, I would always recommend them to independents. They have an outstanding reputation in the industry for providing accounting, payroll outsourcing and financial software applications and services. Using my years of experience in the grocery business I hope to continue to work with independent retailers in order to improve their sales, profits, and ease of operations." About FMS Solutions Holdings, LLC (FMS): Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, FMS (http://www.FMSSolutions.com) provides over 3,500 independent retail grocer and independent supermarket operations with financial, accounting and consulting services such as industry benchmarking, best practices and mission-critical decision support throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. ### A significant part of Babalu's culture is about giving back and supporting the community. It is something we believe in as a company as well as our entire staff, said Bill Latham, CEO and President of Eat Here Brands, LLC. Babalu Tapas & Tacos, which opened July 25, 2016, in the historic Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte, has been welcomed to the area with open arms. Babalu is part of the Eat Here Brands family of restaurants, which originated in Jackson, Mississippi, and has opened five stores across the Southeast. For each soft opening, Babalu donates a percentage of the beer, wine and liquor sales to local charities. A total of $9,000 was raised during the Charlotte opening, which will be divided evenly between A Child's Place and Mission Summit. Each charity will receive $4,500. A Child's Place is a Charlotte nonprofit which aids in the placement of children and families in the event that they have lost their homes. A Child's Place works in partnership with local public schools to identify and aid with the homelessness crisis. They provide school supplies, food and other necessities to ensure each child has all he or she needs to be successful in the classroom. Mission Summit is an organization which helps individuals in realizing their outdoor, recreational and professional potential, while at the same time, helping fund the needs of cancer patients. Mission Summit focuses on encouraging and motivating others to achieve their personal and professional fulfillment in the world of the great outdoors. A significant part of Babalu's culture is about giving back and supporting the community. It is something we believe in as a company as well as our entire staff, said Bill Latham, CEO and President of Eat Here Brands, LLC, the holding company of Babalu We were fortunate to have two outstanding charities, to support at our opening. Babalu donates to several different charities throughout the year. While guests enjoy tablemade guacamole or refreshing margaritas, they also support a family of restaurants that believes in helping those in need. About BABALU Tapas & Tacos Babalu Tapas & Tacos serves delicious craft cocktails and authentic gourmet Spanish-style tapas and tacos with a Southern twist. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, the restaurant has quickly taken the Southeast by storm with locations in Jackson, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; Knoxville, Tennessee and Charlotte, North Carolina. Babalu is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eat Here Brands. For more information, visit their website at eatBABALU.com. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of IFAD "Ebola has had an enormous impact on the lives of rural people - many of whom are small-scale farmers who could not grow food or earn a living during the epidemic" said Nwanze. The biggest outbreak of Ebola in human history is over, but urgent investments in the rural areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia are needed if these countries are to fully recover, said Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), on the eve of his official visit to the two countries. Ebola has had an enormous impact on the lives of rural people many of whom are small-scale farmers who could not grow food or earn a living during the epidemic, said Nwanze. If we do not channel our investments to the rural areas now, these farmers may have to migrate in search of work. This could compromise the future food security of these countries. During his visit to Sierra Leone (4-6 August), Nwanze will meet President Ernest Bai Koroma, the Ministers of Agriculture, Finance and Gender and the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone. In Liberia (6-8 August), he will meet President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Minister of Agriculture and project implementation partners. Discussions will focus on how IFAD can further support the two countries post-Ebola recovery plans, particularly in rural areas. More than 11,310 people died from the Ebola virus between 2014 and 2016 in the three affected countries: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Measures to contain the virus, such as restrictions of movement, border closures and quarantines, resulted in the closure of markets and a decline in domestic and export agriculture. IFAD-funded projects continued running during the crisis, and prevention kits, seeds and fertilizers were distributed to project participants to help them continue growing crops to feed their families. When Sierra Leones commercial banks left the rural areas during the epidemic, the IFAD-supported Rural Finance Institutions (RFIs) continued providing financial services to rural health care staff, civil servants and teachers, enabling them to remain in affected areas and provide essential services. Since the end of the outbreak, IFAD has provided the RFIs with an additional US$960,000 to help smallholder farmers recover their livelihoods. IFAD has also contributed $80,000 to the Government of Liberia to conduct a post-Ebola food assessment survey to evaluate how best to restore the productive capacities of small-scale farmers. IFAD has also approved $41.6 million for two new projects to support the Governments post-Ebola recovery efforts. With more than 70 per cent of rural people in these countries engaged in agriculture, our first concern is to ensure they can grow food and earn incomes again so they can rebuild their communities, said Nwanze. But it is equally important to ensure that they have access to the right tools and resources to build their resilience so they are less vulnerable to future shocks. Notes to Editor Since 1980, IFAD has financed eight programmes and projects in Sierra Leone for a total value of $251.9 million, of which IFAD has contributed US$116.2 million, directly benefiting 513,500 rural households. In Liberia, IFAD started operations in 1981. With prolonged civil war in the country, IFAD suspended its activities there for 20 years, resuming its operations in 2009. As of today, IFAD has financed six programmes and projects in Liberia for a total value of $117.2 million, of which IFAD has contributed US$61.9 million, directly benefiting 156,600 rural households. User1st Logo Mexicos recent decision to include this technology should be applauded and serve as a catalyst around the globe. Mexicos decision is a major breakthrough in empowering an often forgotten constituency. The Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (Mexican Social Security Institute, IMSS) has leveraged User1sts Accessibility Suite to make their website accessible to individuals with disabilities. IMSS is the first government agency in Mexico to make the online presence accessible, and the first organization in Latin America to utilize User1sts web accessibility remediation software. IMSSs initiative was the result of recent efforts by the Mexican government to better serve more than 8 million citizens that live with some form of disability. In December 2015, it was announced that all websites belonging to the Federal Public Administration of Mexico would become accessible to individuals with disabilities. The policy was enacted as an effort to comply with the UNs Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which aims to promote, protect and ensure the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities. Standards of accessibility for the Convention follow the internationally recognized guidelines offered by the World Wide Web Consortium, know as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. User1st offers a codeless accessibility remediation software system. A User1st treated website provides a layer of code and additional informational to a host site, while maintaining the sites original structure and information architecture. User1sts automated code-fixer corrects existing web pages by generating and applying accessibility skins at the request of an end-user that fit over the web page without altering its content. Different accessibility skins accommodate different needs for different disabilities, such as partial/complete blindness, epilepsy, motor disability and more. We are both proud and honored to be able to help IMSS make their online presence accessible to individuals with disabilities. At the end of the day, this is our goalmaking the web accessible to everyone, said Amihai Miron, CEO and co-founder of User1st. Regarding Mexicos recent efforts, Dr. Jerome Kessler, pioneering prosthetist and orthotist, stated, I cannot think of a more important social impact decision than providing accessibility technology to the disabled community. Mexicos recent decision to include this technology should be applauded and serve as a catalyst around the globe. Mexicos decision is a major breakthrough in empowering an often forgotten constituency. Dr. Kessler is the son of Dr. Henry Kessler, founder of the Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation. Kessler Foundation, one of the largest public charities in the United States supporting persons with disabilities, is named after Dr. Henry Kessler. IMSSs website has since been certified by HEARCOLORS, an independent accessibility evaluation group, as meeting WCAG 2.0 AA standards. About User1st: Launched in January 2014, User1st provides an overlay system that enables businesses, organizations and governments to meet both domestic and international web accessibility legislation requirements. User1st maintains a sites original structure and information architecture while correcting accessibility violations. This means that there is no need for fundamental changes or additional code to the initial content, thereby cutting both time and costs associated with achieving accessibility compliance. Visit User1st's blog for web accessibility related news and updates. Contact: Neil Levy n(dot)levy(at)user1st(dot)com edison partners small logo Edison Partners proudly announced leading a $14 million financing of New York City-based Axial, the largest online capital marketplace connecting private companies to capital. Existing investors, First Round, Redpoint Ventures and Comcast Ventures, also participated in the round. Proceeds will bolster go-to-market expansion and continued product innovation. Axials network of more than 11,000 capital providers and private companies uses the companys online marketplace to identify and close M&A and growth financing deals. Last year, company revenue grew more than 50 percent with 7,000 deals initiated on its platform, resulting in more than $1B in completed transactions. Axial is redefining how capital markets operate by providing transparency that removes the inherent inefficiencies in the deal process for middle-market investors, advisors and CEOs, said Kelly Ford Buckley, Partner at Edison Partners and Axial board member. The companys active member base, differentiated technology and quality team are impressive. We are excited to help them accelerate growth and scale during this next stage of their journey. Edisons focus on driving and accelerating disciplined, profitable growth will strengthen our ability to power increased volume and continue to improve quality of deals, said Peter Lehrman, founder and CEO at Axial. Their passion for investing in and working with growth-stage fintech businesses, and a shared vision for transforming the way private companies access capital markets, solidified them as the right strategic partner. Axial was the eighth investment for Edisons latest fund, Edison Partners VIII, which closed last month. It is also the firms fortieth investment by its Financial Technology practice. Notable exits include Edgetrade, FolioDynamix (Actua), GAIN Capital, Liberty Tax and Princeton Financial. Current investments include: BFS Capital, Billtrust, Clearpool Group, Compliance Science, OptionsCity, Predata, Scivantage and Trader Tools. About Axial Axial (http://www.axial.net) is the largest online capital market empowering the growth and success of private companies. Axials dynamic search and matching technology enables the over 6,200 middle market CEOs in its network to more efficiently discover and connect with a growing online universe of advisors, investors and buyers as they look to grow or exit their businesses. Today, the network includes over 22,000 professionals, and over 11,000 firms, that initiate 600 deals each month, representing over $5b in deal revenue closed annually. Headquartered in New York, NY, Axial is backed by First Round, Redpoint Ventures, Comcast Ventures, and Edison Partners. About Edison Partners For 30 years, Edison Partners has been helping CEOs and their executive teams navigate the entrepreneurial journey and build successful companies. Through the unique combination of expansion capital and the Edison Edge platform, consisting of strategic advisory, the Edison Director Network, and executive education, Edison employs a holistic approach to nurturing invention and creating value for growth stage businesses ($5 to $20 million in revenue) in financial technology, healthcare IT, enterprise IT, and marketing technology industries. Edison investment objectives also include: buyouts, recapitalizations, spinouts and secondary stock purchases. Edisons active portfolio has created aggregate market value exceeding $5 billion. Its long-tenured team based in Princeton, NJ manages more than $1 billion in assets throughout the eastern United States. BigHand My transcription processing is about 60% faster if not more and the sound quality is excellent. We are already achieving greater than 80% accuracy on complex medical terms which saves us a lot of time on the back end. Bradley & Gmelich LLP, a business law firm with offices in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area, chose BigHand Digital Dictation and BigHand Speech Recognition to increase efficiency and simplify the process of managing dictations. Today they share details of the projects successes. Recently, the firm decided to upgrade to a new digital dictation system. They were looking for a solution that was not only easy to implement and use, but also offered speech recognition, to reduce the time spent on transcriptions. Prior to BigHand, some attorneys were using tape-based devices, while others had tried a non-legal specific dictation solution with speech recognition, but were not satisfied with the quality of the audio capture. BigHands voice solution met the firms needs perfectly, as well as being established and respected in the legal market. Since implementation, the firm has recorded significant time savings. Cheryl Davis, Office Administrator, comments: BigHand is a total workflow solution. It allows us to be much more productive - even when an assistant is out of the office we can simply reassign work to someone else. She continues: BigHand Speech Recognition is saving our secretaries so much time - and it continues to get better all the time! Regarding increased efficiency, one of the firms secretaries commented, My transcription processing is about 60% faster if not more and the sound quality is excellent. We are already achieving greater than 80% accuracy on complex medical terms which saves us a lot of time on the back end. Attorneys at Bradley & Gmelich LLP are using BigHand for everything from straight document dictation, to billing time and sending instructions to their support staff. The fact they can create and send dictations while out of the office is a big advantage and adds to the efficiency of their work. All attorneys were required to use BigHand during their pilot phase. As it turns out, some of those who previously did not dictate have continued to use BigHand after being so impressed with the ease-of-use and efficiency achieved when using the technology. About Bradley & Gmelich LLP Founded in 2000, Bradley & Gmelich LLP quickly earned a reputation for preeminent legal services to businesses large and small. The firm practices in all Southern California counties, as well as Northern California counties throughout the Bay Area. The firms practice areas focus primarily on Business & Contract Litigation, Business Consulting & Transactions, Business Law, Employment Law, General Civil Litigation, Health & Fitness Clubs, Insurance Defense, Premises Liability and Security Guard Company Representation in all areas. Bradley & Gmelichs dedicated attorneys serve the vast needs of its clients, from risk management and contract review to litigation and appellate work. These needs are met through constant communication and the open exchange of ideas and strategy between the firms attorneys. The Office Administrator, Cheryl Davis, can be emailed at cdavis(at)bglawyers(dot)com. The firms Managing Partner, Barry A. Bradley, Esq., can be emailed at bbradley(at)bglawyers(dot)com. About BigHand Established in 1996, BigHand supports over 280,000 professionals globally across 2,550 organizations and the number grows daily. BigHand is based in Chicago, Eindhoven, London, Sydney, Temecula and Toronto. BigHand specializes in speech, task delegation, document creation and process improvement solutions that help our customers achieve more in less time. We have worked with our clients over many years with our highly successful digital dictation solutions, and have built on this deep customer knowledge to extend our offering further. We develop tools based on what our clients need, tools that are enabling, useful and intuitive easy to use, in the office or on the move. BigHands Voice, Delegation and Improvement product suites are HIPAA compliant to protect the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI) as defined in the HITECH Act. BigHand is also ISO27001 certified. BigHand is a proud Platinum Sponsor of ILTA. For more information, visit http://www.bighand.com or follow BigHand on Twitter and LinkedIn. Over the past eight years, Run! Geek! Run! has become a 5K tradition in the DC area, and were excited to bring the race to Alexandria for the first time. Ironistic, a premier website development and online marketing company, and Hudson Studio, a visual communications firm providing graphic design services, announce the 9th Annual Run! Geek! Run! The USATF certified 5K race will be held this year at 8 a.m. on September 25, 2016, at the Potomac Yard area of Alexandria, Virginia a brand new location and course from years past. All proceeds from Run! Geek! Run! will go directly to support the nonprofit Capitol Post. Capitol Post offers veterans in the Washington, DC region personalized guidance through mentoring, business counseling, and access to key resources, programs, and leaders. Their mission is to establish and cultivate the top community for veterans to start a business, grow a business or explore a new career. Every participant in the 2016 Run! Geek! Run! 5K will receive a t-shirt and souvenir geek glasses. Bobblehead trophies will be given to the top three overall male and female finishers; top three Masters male and female finishers, as well as the top three finishers in each five-year age group. The top three corporate teams will also receive awards. The cost of the race is $30 until August 15, $35 until online registration closes on September 21 and $40 onsite on race day. Sponsorships for this event provide companies and organizations with the opportunity to give back to the local community, as well as gain visibility. All corporate sponsors will have the company logo displayed on the race website, banner and t-shirts. More information about sponsorship opportunities is available at http://rungeekrun.net/sponsor/. Over the past eight years, Run! Geek! Run! has become a 5K tradition in the DC area, and were excited to bring the race to Alexandria for the first time, said Rita Foss, CEO and co-founder at Ironistic. We are excited to provide a family-filled competitive environment that will benefit a great cause through Capitol Post. Ironistic and Hudson Studio would like to thank the following sponsors for their support in this years race: Deltek, HudsonLake Strategic Communications, Axis Research, Veatch Foundation, LMI Government Consulting, Buchanan Edwards and Jack Taylors Alexandria Toyota. To sign up and learn more about the race, please visit http://rungeekrun.net/ About Ironistic Ironistic (http://www.ironistic.com) is a full service, online development and marketing firm. Founded in 2012, but with industry experience going back to 1996, Ironistic delivers innovative website development services and effective online marketing solutions to companies of all sizes and across all industries. From small brochure websites to custom portals, Ironistic services include strategy and consulting, website/app design and development, online marketing and search engine optimization, and Web hosting and maintenance. About Hudson Studio Hudson Studio (http://www.hudsonstudio.com) is a small, woman-owned graphic design firm built on the basic fundamentals of combining compelling visual communications with excellent customer service. We strategize and deliver pieces based on our clients needs not todays trends. We have local and national, big and small, nonprofit and for profit clients with a wide range of needs, time zones and deadlines. Creating award-winning works from advertisements to exhibits to identities to publications in a creative and energetic atmosphere is what we do best. Women attending the THRIVE Conference will gain valuable insight, immediate takeaways and tools to move their businesses forward. Facing the Future Together is the theme of this years THRIVE Conference, a National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Chicago event that will feature six prominent keynote speakers including Jan Fields, Amanda Lannert, Suzanne Muchin and Sima Dahl. The annual THRIVE Conference will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker Drive. Register at http://www.nawbo.org/chicago. THRIVE is a sell out event with over 350 women business owners and professionals learning from the speakers and each other and building their networks. NAWBO sponsors and local companies will also be showcased in its exhibit area to promote business to business opportunities. This years THRIVE Conference incorporates more keynote speakers who are all standouts in business, says NAWBO Chicago Executive Director Wendy Bensley Jaehn. Managing growth, building culture, enhancing your digital footprint, increasing sales, and building relationships will be some of the many topics of discussion. People will feel empowered, energized and motivated to face the future together. Fields, former president of McDonalds USA, LLC, is a respected motivational speaker who worked her way up from flipping burgers to the C-suite where she oversaw strategy and business results of the 14,000 McDonalds restaurants in the United States. She has been named to Forbes list of The Worlds 100 Most Powerful Women, Fortunes 50 Most Powerful Women in Business list, The Wall Street Journals 50 Women to Watch list and Crains Chicago Business list of 25 Women to Watch. Lannert is CEO of The Jellyvision Lab. One of Chicagos fastest growing tech companies, Jellyvision Lab develops interactive communication software solutions across mobile and desktop platforms. Prior to joining The Jellyvision Lab, Lannert managed global brands for Kelloggs while at Leo Burnett, where she implemented campaigns for Pop-Tarts and Nutri-Grain bars. Lannert was named CEO of the Year at the 2014 and 2015 Moxie Awards. Muchin is the co-founder and principal of Mind + Matter Studio, a communication and strategy firm for social purpose brands. With her long-time business partner (and M+MS co-founder), Rachel Bellow, Muchin is also the host of the podcast The Big Payoff and hosts a weekly segment on Women & Business on the WGN Business Noon Hour. Muchin has launched several others firms paving the way for her induction into the Chicago Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2012 for these ventures. After a successful 20-year career in corporate marketing and branding, Dahl founded Sway Factory, Inc., a Chicago-based consulting and training firm. Known as Americas Personal Branding Champion, Dahl serves on several boards including the American Marketing Association and the Business Marketing Association. She is a co-author of two anthologies. These women are electrifying and have shattered the glass ceilings in their respective industries, Jaehn says. Women attending the THRIVE Conference will gain valuable insight, immediate takeaways and tools to move their businesses forward. NAWBO Chicago is the Midwests premiere group devoted to advancing the economic, social and political interests of women-owned firms, of which there are more than 300,000 in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. NAWBO Chicago is headquartered at 500 Davis St., Suite 812, Evanston, IL 60201. For further information, email your inquiries to info(at)nawbochicago(dot)org. ### A retro-styled air-cooled Triumph Thruxton. Aesthetics aside, there are a number of technical differences between the two platforms that create a wide spread of pros and cons. These differences include customizability, ease of working on them, engine performance, and others. Past News Releases RSS British Customs Announces November... British Customs Announces Their... Ride Connected: British Customs... Newer doesnt necessarily mean better, and that certainly holds true for motorcycles too. With the advent of Triumph Motorcycles controversial line of new liquid-cooled motorcycles, many riders have been left wondering whether or not to follow the crowd and buy a sleek new liquid-cooled motorcycle or stay true to their roots and keep to their trusty air-cooled platforms. Triumph veterans British Customs weighs in on this debate with an article breaking down the differences between the older air-cooled models and their new liquid-cooled counterparts including the Street Twin, Bonneville T120, and 1200cc Thruxton R, as part of a technical series about why the air-cooled Triumph motorcycles are still as relevant as ever. In the article, British Customs explains that the vintage look of an air-cooled engine come from the purpose it was designed to serve: the engine looks the way it does because it has to. An ironic twist for a brand rooted in their claimed respect for heritage and tradition is that the liquid-cooled motorcycles feature numerous components feigning to be something other than what they are. The hallmark fins of an air-cooled engine are there to help draw heat out of the engine as air passes over the engine, hence the designation air-cooled. On a liquid-cooled engine, the fins are only there to give the impression that this is still a vintage-inspired motorcycle since the engine regulates its operating temperature via a radiator, hence the designation liquid-cooled. The liquid-cooled motorcycles have a number of smoke and mirrors parts that exist only to create a certain impression. Aesthetics aside, there are a number of technical differences between the two platforms that create a wide spread of pros and cons. These differences include customizability, ease of working on them, engine performance, and others. All the new liquid-cooled motorcycles are also only fuel injected, and do not include a carbureted option. Many custom builders and motorcycle enthusiasts, however, prefer carbureted platforms over electronic fuel injected (EFI) platforms. As part of their series about the air-cooled motorcycles, British Customs breaks down the many differences between carbureted and EFI platforms in easily understood terms in forthcoming articles. The advantages and disadvantages between carbureted and EFI models are many, but the main points of difference include customizability, the ease of working on them, availability and accessibility, and the authenticity of the design. In the end, all the motorcycle platforms available from Triumph are great, but each is meant for a very different kind of rider. To find out which platform is right for what kind of motorcycle enthusiast, visit the British Customs blog every Wednesday throughout this month for new articles covering the differences between the various types of motorcycles made by Triumph. About British Customs: British Customs is a Southern California-based lifestyle brand and designer of aftermarket motorcycle parts. They are known for making the highest quality factory-spec bolt-on parts that only require common tools and minimal technical knowledge to install. With any of their parts upgrades, the average rider can completely customize his or her motorcycle in a weekend. Vermont Cider Company Logo Woodchuck Cider the brand that started the American cider revolution is turning 25 this year, and parent company Vermont Cider Company is marking the milestone by re-focusing efforts on its core cider styles and hosting an intimate gathering for 10,000 fans known as Ciderstock. Over the course of 25 years, weve gotten to know the industry like few brands do, said Terry Hopper, President, Vermont Cider Company. That perspective has given us a unique and deep understanding of the cyclical nature of cider and has made us better prepared to weather the ups and downs. As we look to the future, we feel its time to get back to our roots, and our 25th anniversary is the ideal time to start. Chuck is Back From its roots in a two-car garage with hand-filled bottles, laying the foundation for what today is approaching a 30 million-case industry, Woodchuck Hard Cider has been at the center of cider consumption for more than two decades. And, Woodchuck is about Chuck, the beloved mascot. We let Chuck take a sabbatical, but now hes back, said Hopper. But, as someone who has been around for 25 years, hell have a bit more of an attitude. Beginning in August, Chuck will be making a return to the packaging, advertising and marketing initiatives driving brand recognition and sales growth for the companys four core styles: Amber, Granny Smith, the new Semi-Dry and a rotating seasonal line. With the addition of Semi-Dry, the original hard cider brand will have a cider for all consumer palates, from sweet to dry, Hopper added. Gumption The Circus of Ciders Released in 2015, Gumption is a bold and audacious brand which has been wildly successful with consumers. Gumption will now be marketed as its own brand with its own line extensions. The original Gumption brand inspired by PT Barnum will be joined by a second, year-round style, to launch in 2017. In addition, the company will launch the year-round Gumption Late Show six-pack. The package will remain the same, but the liquid will regularly change. This is where we get to be crazy, said Ben Calvi, Director of Cider Making. Were going to create the circus of ciders and push the boundaries of what cider can be through wild concoctions of bold flavors and spices. The liquid will change every 90 days, because no one wants to see the same show again and again. The Best of Vermont Consumer options at the premium price point have been limited. Beginning in November, Vermont Cider Co. will fill the high-end niche with a new cider, Addison, made from 100 percent fresh pressed juice sourced only from Vermont and Northeastern orchards. Named for Addison County, where Woodchuck has its roots, the Addison line is an homage to Vermont, the cradle of civilization for hard cider in the US, said Hopper. For this flagship cider, well be using premium yeasts and longer, cooler fermentations to capture and promote the delicate fresh apple flavors, with no sugar added. Addison will be a year-round core style, available in 12-ounce bottles and 16 ounce cans. Additionally a barrel-aged line will release seasonal offerings throughout the year. A cider for every taste. The Vermont Cider team is exceptionally proud of the heritage and the craftsmanship behind our domestic and imported cider brands, said Hopper. The clarity of our new portfolio strategy means we can let our brands be who they are naturally: Woodchuck can thrive as a result of its renewed clarity in the everyday occasion; Gumption will capture consumers looking for new and interesting ciders; Addison will appeal to consumers seeking high-end and regional options; Magners is the second largest cider brand in the world and can compete in the imported segment; and for consumers looking for a west coast lifestyle brand, we have Wyders. And, our partnership with Pabst means that we have the feet on the ground to make this vision a reality. Ciderstock 2016 To cap off the Woodchucks 25th Anniversary, Ciderstock will again assemble top musical talent on the field behind the Vermont Cidery. Now in its third year, Ciderstock, a day-long celebration of all things cider, has become a destination music festival in New England. The August 20 festival features Sublime With Rome and Dirty Heads with openers Wild Adriatic and Villanelles. Great live music, delicious ciders and the best food trucks that Vermont has to offer make Ciderstock a cant miss culmination to our first 25 years, said Hopper. About Vermont Cider Co. Vermont Cider Co. introduced the U.S. to the craft cider category 25 years ago. Dedicated exclusively to cider making, they are the proud producers of the original American hard cider, Woodchuck, the west coast native, Wyders Cider, and importers of Magners Irish Cider and Blackthorn. With an unparalleled focus on quality and innovation, the cider producer leads the category in releasing the most premium liquid and pioneering new ciders using the finest ingredients. With two award winning Cider Makers, Vermont Cider Co. produces and distributes out of Middlebury, VT, blending together the passion of their fans, their creativity, and their home within the green mountains. Haven for Hope is in the business of transforming lives. Thats why its so important to have the opportunity for meaningful work located right on the Haven for Hope campus. Qualfon, a mission-driven business process outsourcing (BPO) company and global provider of contact center services, and Haven for Hope have formed a business alliance that is helping people in San Antonio, Texas move beyond homelessness. Haven for Hope, a campus of new beginnings for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness, provides housing programs and social support services to help people address the root causes of homelessness. Meanwhile, Qualfons contact center provides job opportunities for Haven for Hope residents. As a part of the alliance, Qualfon and Haven for Hope held a tour event in July that offered an inside look at how the partnership works. The event included presentations, site tours, and testimonials from graduates who have used the program to establish financial stability and move away from the Haven campus support network. Over the past two years, weve witnessed multiple people reach a state of continued independence by following a career pathway that Haven for Hope and Qualfon pioneered together. Through our partnership, we piloted and perfected this program, and this event allowed people to walk in the shoes of a person struggling with homelessness to see for themselves how this alliance is making a positive impact, said Kenneth Mitchell, Director of Employment Readiness, Haven for Hope. We wanted to tell the story of what is possible when people come together believing in hope and working in unison to make peoples lives better, said Steve Tatarian, V.P. of Operations, Qualfon San Antonio. We wanted to celebrate the freedom, dignity, and pride these graduates have worked hard to achieve, but we also hope others will run with this idea of contact centers and social services working together. This alliance has the potential to be something much bigger than what it is today and could have a much wider sphere of influence. By sharing our operating model, we wanted to inspire additional alliances and support others who seek to transform lives through similar concepts. At the contact center, Haven for Hope members work alongside Qualfon employees to provide customer service on behalf of Qualfons clients. While Haven for Hope identifies motivated, prospective employees for the contact center, Qualfon offers career opportunities that can pave the way toward a new chance at life. The contact center has been good for people and good for business. It delivers high-quality service at or above client performance goals, and it enables people to build a more self-sustaining existence, said Tatarian. Attending the July tour event was Michael DeSalles, Principal Analyst with Frost & Sullivan, who tracks outsourcing companies based in North America. He said, Haven for Hope is in the business of transforming lives. Thats why its so important to have the opportunity for meaningful work located right on the Haven for Hope campus. Customer care seems like such a natural career fit for Haven for Hope members. I think this is a terrific marriage of occupational job placement, coupled with Qualfons mission and corporate social responsibility commitment. Learn more about the Haven for Hope and Qualfon alliance program. ABOUT HAVEN FOR HOPE Haven for Hope is an independent, nonprofit organization with the mission of transforming and saving the lives of persons who are experiencing homelessness in Bexar County. Beyond shelter, food, clothing and a wide array of social services in one location, Haven for Hope provides individuals and families with the resources, skills and assistance needed to become self-sufficient. Since opening in April 2010, nearly 3,000 individuals have graduated from Haven for Hope and moved from homelessness to permanent housing. For more information on Haven for Hope, visit http://www.HavenforHope.org. ABOUT QUALFON Qualfon is a mission-driven business process outsourcing (BPO) company and a global provider of contact center services and back-office processing. With experienced BPO leadership and a strong track record of business growth dating back to our founding in 1995, Qualfon helps companies reduce costs and deliver superior customer experiences. Today, we have approximately 12,000 employees serving international brands across many industries, and our intelligent outsourcing locations span the United States, the Philippines, Guyana S.A., and Mexico. Qualfons mission to Be the Best BPO, Make Peoples Lives Better means we invest in our people and, in return, they take better care of you and your customers. Qualfons employee retention regularly exceeds the industry average, which creates a people-driven value chain: Our employees stay longer, providing you a higher quality service at a lower price. http://www.Qualfon.com A conference like Wireless West is necessary to provide a forum where companies and executives can join together and immerse themselves in the dynamic world of wireless. Wireless West, the highly anticipated wireless conference on the West Coast, has finally revealed the details for its 2nd annual event. The two-day conference will take place April 19-20, 2017 in sunny San Diego, California at the newly renovated Marriott Marquis & Marina. The Wireless West Conference was created by five wireless associations on the West Coast with the goal of bringing together wireless executives for an exciting, educational event like none other in the industry. The associations involved include Arizona Wireless, California Wireless, Colorado Wireless, Nevada Wireless, and Northwest Wireless. With the success of the inaugural event, characterized by sold-out attendance, standing room only education sessions, expert panelists, engaging keynote speakers, and unique networking events, Wireless West announced that it would become an annual conference, with the location to be determined by attendees each year. This year, guests voted to return to the same state, California, for an entirely new experience. I am thrilled that Wireless West has become an annual conference and is returning to California for its second year, says Patti Ringo, Vice President of the California Wireless Association. Our goal has always been to provide wireless industry executives with an educational experience unlike any other, and we look forward to bringing more knowledge and insight to the ever-changing world of wireless with unique keynote speakers, diverse educational session subjects, and a fresh take on what a wireless conference entails. San Diego will play host to the upcoming event, offering up waterfront venues, beautiful beaches, historic landmarks, and a bustling Downtown area. The conference itself will bring together members of the wireless community from across the country for educational sessions hosted by leading executives and thought-leaders, networking events with industry professionals, and exclusive insights on the present and future of wireless. Janet Rinaldi, President of the Colorado Wireless Association, looks forward to the 2nd annual event, saying, Its an exciting time for the wireless industry, with constant innovation, new and improved technology, and increased demands of the consumer. A conference like Wireless West is necessary to provide a forum where companies and executives can join together and immerse themselves in the dynamic world of wireless. For more information on the 2nd Annual Wireless West Conference, including registration, sponsorship, and pricing, visit WirelessWestConference.com and connect with @Wireless_West. About Wireless West The Wireless West Conference was created by five wireless associations on the West Coast and Rocky Mountain States to educate the wireless community and provide a forum where industry professionals can join together for two days of shared learning and networking. A trapped leopard eyes a rescue container suspiciously. The leopard would eventually enter the container and be lifted to safety. We often hear stories of these animals being poached for their skins, poisoned, even set on fire. So its deeply heartening to see a community pull together and save a predator. Early Sunday morning, a Pimpalgaon Siddhanath village resident awoke to loud, panicked roars echoing from an open well close to his home. The man was shocked to see a leopard struggling to keep her head above water nearly 60 feet down the well. He immediately contacted the Maharashtra Forest Department, who in turn placed an emergency call to the nearby Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center, run by wildlife-conservation group Wildlife SOS. The leopard was in a state of panic and had to be rescued immediately, the centers senior veterinarian, Dr. Ajay Deshmukh, told the Indian Express (http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/leopard-rescued-from-60-foot-deep-well-in-junnar-2948625/). Deshmukh led a three-member with six Forest Department officials to the location, and, with the help of concerned villagers, lowered a platform of wooden planks to get the cat clear of the water. A container was then lowered, and the terrified leopard was lifted out safelya storybook ending to what was likely an otherwise-fatal situation. Watch the dramatic video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f-VzIDygbo After conducting a through physical examination, we concluded that she was healthy and fit for release, said Deshmukh. Its striking to see so many people working together to save a trapped leopard, said Wildlife SOS Executive Director Nikki Sharp. We often hear stories of these animals being poached for their skins, poisoned, even set on fire. So its deeply heartening to see a community pulling together to help a predator. Weve been working very hard in this area to help educate people about wildlife. We hope this is a sign that the awareness program is paying off. Wildlife SOS cofounder Kartick Satyanarayan told India today that it was a critical situation (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/drowning-leopard-rescued-from-60-feet-deep-well-in-maharashtra/1/729524.html), and also expressed gratitude to the Forest Department for their cooperationand for helping manage a large crowd that had gathered to catch a glimpse of the trapped animal. Satyanarayan said that leopards are often spotted in the area, and use nearby sugarcane fields as cover because they are struggling to find a foothold in the vanishing forests due to unwarranted invasion of their natural habitat. Open wells are also a serious problem in India, according to Sharp, who said that Wildlife SOS has rescued dozens of leopards from them. And not just leopards. Weve rescued many different species of wildlife that have fallen in these wells, she said. In one case a staff member had to climb 80 feet down a rope ladder to rescue a 10-foot python. Wells are a serious wildlife issue in India. It is remarkable that the leopard survived her 60-foot fall uninjured and could be released. Wildlife SOS cares for more than 30 leopards at its Manikdoh facility, and many of them cannot be returned to the wild because of injuries. Going forward, said Sharp, Wildlife SOS hopes to survey the area and procure grant funding to cover such wells. --30-- For more information, please contact Wildlife SOS USA Communication and Development Specialist John Pecorelli by telephone at 801 / 750-0301 or by email at john(at)wildlifesos(dot)org. About Wildlife SOS: Wildlife SOS is one of the largest rescue and conservation charities in South Asia, operating 10 wildlife rehabilitation facilities across India, including the worlds largest sloth bear rescue center and the recently established Elephant Conservation and Care Center, which is the first in India and currently houses 22 rescued elephants. Wildlife SOS runs a tribal rehabilitation project that aims to create an alternative livelihood for poachers and other indigenous communities that once depended on wildlife for a livelihood. We also run a leopard rescue center, a wildlife hotline in New Delhi and Agra, and Forest Watch, which is an anti-poaching wildlife crime enforcement unit. More information about the organization can be found at http://www.wildlifesos.org. The U.S. branch of Wildlife SOS is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, ands received 501(c)3 charity status in 2005. Mainsail Partners (http://www.mainsailpartners.com), a growth equity firm that invests exclusively in bootstrapped companies, announced today that William (Bill) Salisbury has joined the firm as CFO and operating partner. Salisbury will be responsible for working with Mainsails portfolio companies to guide strategic and financial planning, scale their financial operations, and support strategic investments in the businesses. Bills experience building teams and infrastructure to help fast-growing technology companies scale will be tremendously impactful for Mainsails portfolio, said Jason Payne, managing partner at Mainsail. In addition to his experience as a CFO, Bills background in investment banking and law provides a breadth of knowledge that will be valuable to Mainsails portfolio executives, as well as Mainsails internal operations, added Payne. We are thrilled to have Bill join our growing team. Prior to joining Mainsail, Salisbury was CFO of Hearsay Social, a privately held enterprise software company, where he oversaw finance, accounting, legal and people operations. Before Hearsay Social, Salisbury served as CFO of Avast Software and Crescendo Bioscience. Earlier in his career Salisbury was a managing director in Morgan Stanleys Investment Banking Division, where he advised the senior management teams at technology companies on initial public offerings and other equity and debt financings. Bill started his career practicing law with Davis Polk & Wardwell. This is a unique opportunity to leverage my experience as a CFO, my background in investment banking and my knowledge of legal matters to help entrepreneurs achieve success in their next stage of growth, said Salisbury. I have great appreciation for Mainsails strategy of providing operational support for their portfolio companies and am excited to join a firm with such a stellar reputation in the market. Salisbury will play a key role on Mainsails Operations Team which is focused on helping bootstrapped companies in the specific areas they need the most help, including finance, sales, marketing, technology, recruiting and business development. In addition to helping Mainsails portfolio companies, Bill will lead financial and accounting due diligence on potential deals and provide financial, accounting and operational leadership within the firm. Bill earned his Law Degree from Harvard Law School and earned his bachelors degree with distinction from Stanford University. In February, Mainsail announced that it closed its fourth fund with $384 million of committed capital. ABOUT MAINSAIL PARTNERS Mainsail Partners is a growth equity firm that invests exclusively in growing bootstrapped companies, primarily in three core industry sectors: software, technology-enabled services and healthcare. The San Francisco-based firm has a team of experienced operating professionals to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses and accelerate growth. Recent investments include 3PL Central, Brilliant Earth, Ncontracts, nCourt, Netchemia, PlayMaker CRM, SQL Sentry and Zen Planner. The firm has raised over $750 million in committed capital. For further information, please visit http://www.mainsailpartners.com. OneAccord Capital today announced the acquisition of Yakima-based Graphic Label Inc., its first in a planned series of purchases of high-potential, profitable, privately-held companies throughout the Pacific Northwest. OneAccord Capital is a new private equity firm focused on a market segment it believes the institutional capital industry overlooks: small, profitable companies owned by retirement-age entrepreneurs who want to extend their legacies while protecting their employees and local communities. For years, researchers have pointed to a growing trend of baby boomer owners who are reaching retirement age and need to find the right transition path. The numbers are large: tens of thousands of businesses in the Pacific Northwest will change hands over the next several years, said Jeff Rogers, a OneAccord Capital co-founder. Yet the capital markets are not prepared and generally are not focused on this type of organization, which puts the companies, the employees and the local communities in jeopardy. OneAccord Capitals mission is to help close the gap. OneAccord Capitals leadership and investors are successful entrepreneurs and veteran corporate executives who bring more than a century of operational experience and an aligned set of values that center on stewardship and long-term vision. We see the Monday after the Friday, the Day One after the close, both for the business owners and the business itself, said Darin Leonard, a OneAccord Capital co-founder. We understand these are extremely difficult decisions for successful business owners who have poured their lives into their companies and communities. Traditional capital sources generally dont have time to embrace elements that are often much more important to business owners than just the transaction price. We have the perspective and know-how to navigate the complexity required for a successful transition, and to get the business itself to the next level. OneAccord Capitals first acquisition, Graphic Label Inc., (GLi) provides labeling, lot-code traceability and other services to fruit and produce growers/packers in the greater Pacific Northwest and California. Lyle and Shelley Von Essen started the company in 1993, and they have led it to consistent profitability, employing about 20 people in the Von Essens hometown of Yakima, Wash. When they decided to sell, they conducted a meticulous vetting process to find the right buyer in terms of values, operational experience, and long-term vision for growing the business. We werent going to sell to just anybody. OneAccord Capital has the vision and capability to help GLi win in the marketplace, both now and over the next several years, said Lyle Von Essen, a co-founder of GLi. They showed they care about the business, our customers, our people and our community, and they share our excitement about the opportunities ahead for GLi. In acquiring GLi, OneAccord Capital aims to depart from the traditional norms of the private equity industry, which generally drives for quick-turnaround results, by focusing on building long-term value. OneAccord Capital has installed a new chief executive officer, former Thomas Kemper president Max Clough, in order to groom and mentor next-generation leadership within GLi. Their strategic plans call for expansive growth for the company with a corresponding increase in employment in Yakima. OneAccord Capital will maintain GLis ongoing civic commitments, and look for new ways to contribute to the Yakima community. As part of the model, the Von Essens have invested alongside OneAccord Capital in GLi, and will remain as advisors. For OneAccord Capitals inaugural team of fourteen investors, who all have successful entrepreneurial experience of their own, GLi represents the type of company in which they want to invest, and the kind of impact they seek to make on behalf of the people and communities involved. Our investors have more to offer than just a check. They have business experience, connections, skills and insights. They want to help make a difference, said Scott Smith, OneAccord Capitals chief executive officer and co-founder. Like the Von Essens, OneAccord Capital investors recognize they also have a torch to pass. We are excited about GLis prospects, and we know hard work lies ahead, said Smith. We are digging in together to chart a course for GLi growth, and to identify the next right fit for OneAccord Capital investmentthe next Lyle and Shelley among the many local private-company owners looking to keep their legacies alive. About OneAccord Capital OneAccord Capital is a new investment group whose purpose is to buy and grow profitable, privately-held companies in the Pacific Northwest. It endeavors to extend these companies legacies by applying principles of stewardship, operational excellence and long-term vision to produce exponential growth for its acquisitions and strong returns for its investors. For more information, visit oneaccordcapital.com. ### Its his combination of business professionalism and personal relationships that set Joe apart from the field. Joe Piazza of Alain Pinel Realtors Los Gatos office was named one Americas top real estate professionals by Real Trends, as advertised in The Wall Street Journal. He is now a member of The Thousand Top Real Estate Professionals, a prestigious national awards ranking sponsored annually by Real Trends and advertised in The Wall Street Journal. Piazza is now ranked in the top one half of 1 percent of the more than 1.1 million Realtors nationwide. The Thousand real estate professionals was announced on June 24, 2016, with four separate categories honoring the top 250 residential agents and agent teams for excellence in: Individual Sales ProfessionalsSales volume Individual Sales ProfessionalsTransaction sides Team ProfessionalsSales volume Team ProfessionalsTransaction sides For the second year, REAL Trends has added two new categories to The Thousand ranking based off of average sales price. This new category is broken down into the top 50 residential agents and agent teams for excellence in: Individual Sales Professionals Average Sales Price Team Professionals Average Sales Price According to The Thousand, Piazza had sales volume totaling $101,438,063, ranking him 122 in the nation among real estate professionals. Becoming a member of such an elite group as The Thousand is an incredible accomplishment in any market, but what Piazza did during these challenging times is impressive on so many levels, said Marti Gallardo, vice president of classified advertising for The Wall Street Journal. His efforts topped 99.99 percent of more than 1.1 million Realtors nationwide. Its an honor to be counted among the nations best real estate professionals, said Piazza. As a Realtor who came out of the financial and business services community, I understand the details of a transaction are what separate a positive experience from a challenging experience. Thats where I focus my attention, and Im grateful for the appreciation and trust of my clients for my efforts. Rainy Hake, COO of Alain Pinel Realtors, agreed. Joe approaches each real estate transaction through the lens of a seasoned business professional, making sure every detail is examined and addressed, said Hake. Its his combination of business professionalism and personal relationships that set Joe apart from the field. His clients rave about him, and were happy for his success and to have him on the Alain Pinel Realtors team. The ranking of The Thousand can be found at: http://www.thethousandrealestateprofessionals.com. About Alain Pinel Realtors Alain Pinel Realtors (APR) is the fifth largest residential real estate firm in the United States and the largest privately-owned residential real estate company in California based on its closed-sales volume. The firm has 1,400 agents in more than 30 offices throughout Northern California. Celebrating a quarter century in Bay Area real estate, APR was founded in 1990 by CEO and President Paul L. Hulme, and is based in Saratoga, California. Visit us at apr.com, china.apr.com, facebook.com/AlainPinelRealtors, and @AlainPinel. About The Thousand This awards program was developed jointly by WSJ. Custom Studios (and is not affiliated with the Editorial Department) and REAL Trends, a leading source of analysis and information for the residential real estate brokerage industry. REAL Trends The Thousand honors Americas elite real estate professionals and their companies and is compiled and analyzed by REAL Trends with a special ad section included in The Wall Street Journal. NSF Euro Consultants Euro Consultants Group brings new and expanded consulting, auditing and training services to our multinational retail, food service and restaurant customers, particularly for our clients operating throughout the EMEA region, said Tom Chestnut, NSF. NSF International, a global organization with over 70 years of experience in food safety auditing, training and consulting, has completed the acquisition of Euro Consultants Group (ECG), a leading food safety and quality service company based in Wavre, Belgium. Both NSF International and Euro Consultants Group share a similar commitment to food safety, training, auditing and consulting, earning them strong reputations within the food service industry. This merger with ECG expands NSF Internationals footprint throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as well as its technical capabilities in food safety and quality, which helps companies and institutions build and integrate effective food safety and quality management systems throughout the global supply chain. Services offered include supply chain and retail food safety auditing, training in food safety and hygiene regulations, as well as in market and legal requirements, and grant-funded consulting projects for the EU Food Safety Authority. Clients supported through these services include major EU retailers, and European food service and QSR sectors. ECG also helps small to medium-sized enterprises and institutions with obtaining financing and market access for their products. Founder and ECG President Jean-Jacques Adam and ECG CEO Philippe Pierco remain in their roles. The organization will now be called NSF Euro Consultants and will become an important part of the NSF International Global Food Divisions Consulting and Technical Services group, which is led by Managing Director Serban Teodoresco. ECG, founded in 1990, promotes the one-stop shopping concept and high values of flexibility and services across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, through 14 subsidiaries that span ten countries: Belgium, France, Tunisia, Bulgaria, Romania, Canada, Morocco, Poland, Rwanda and Ivory Coast. Benefit of Merger to NSF International and NSF Euro Consultants Food Safety Clients As a result of the merger, NSF International will have a wider geographic footprint for its food safety consulting, auditing, certification and training services, which are offered throughout the EMEA region in support of regional and global food service organizations and retailers. NSF Euro Consultants clients now will have access to NSF Internationals extensive range of global food safety and quality services, which help food businesses protect their customers and their brands in every market in which they operate. These include accredited services and technical expertise across all supply chain sectors, including agriculture, animal feed and welfare, produce, processing, distribution, dairy, seafood, quality management software, retail and restaurants. Clients also will have the support of NSF International food safety auditors and consultants who operate in more than 160 countries. Together, NSF International and NSF Euro Consultants provide global services including: 1. Food fraud mitigation In addition to ECGs strong consulting expertise, NSF helps companies identify and minimize food fraud risk throughout their complex food supply network. NSF also provides forensic analysis and advanced testing capabilities such as DNA identity testing and chemical analysis to create a comprehensive, science-based approach to predicting and preventing fraud. 2. Supply chain food safety Together, NSF and ECG can deliver food safety certification services anywhere in the world for companies seeking compliance to Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)-benchmarked standards to gain access to local or international markets. NSF also brings innovative new technologies like TraQtion, an NSF-developed quality and compliance software that helps retailers, restaurants and manufacturers proactively manage their supply chain, sites and product quality all in one place. 3. Retail food safety ECGs core competence in retail and foodservice consulting combined with NSFs leadership in training and commercial food equipment certification delivers a comprehensive training, auditing and consulting approach to food safety, particularly for multinational retail, restaurant and catering companies requiring consistent brand protection measures across all markets. 4. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) The addition of ECGs European operations to NSFs global auditing capabilities allows both organizations to provide consistent auditing and consulting services for companies producing food both in and outside of the U.S. to verify compliance with FSMA requirements. As Europe is a primary exporter to the United States, the food industry can count on our geographical footprint on both sides of the Atlantic. 5. Consumer insights NSF clients gain access to ECGs dedicated sensory analysis labs and market research team, providing clients with market research services related to strategic positioning, commercial potential, feasibility studies, competitive positioning, product benchmarking, customer satisfaction surveys and market research for virtually any consumer product category. We can now offer our clients services wherever they need them, said Jean-Jacques Adam, founder and President of Euro Consultants Group. This includes expanded testing, training and educational services, and leading-edge supply chain food safety and quality management software from NSF Internationals Global Food Division. We are proud to be part of NSF International as we believe they share our values and our passion. This merger will greatly benefit our existing and new clients and it opens new career development opportunities for our employees. Euro Consultants Group brings new and expanded consulting, auditing and training services to our multinational retail, food service and restaurant customers, particularly for our clients operating throughout the EMEA region, said Tom Chestnut, Senior Vice President of NSF Internationals Global Food Division. Euro Consultants Group has a robust network of experienced consultants and has maintained a strong reputation within the food service industry and at a broader institutional level. We appreciate the stalwart reputation, technical expertise and operational support that they bring to NSF International, along with their proficiency in research, training and supervision to improve food safety and quality. Client seeking more information can contact Serban Teodoresco, Global Managing Director of NSF Internationals Consulting and Technical Group, at steodorescu(at)nsf.org or +1-514-457-7029, or Dan Fone, Director of Global Business Development for Food Safety, at dfone(at)nsf.org or +1-734-214-6241. Editors note: For questions, please contact Kelly Ingerly, Media Manager, at media(at)nsf.org or +1 734-827-6850 or Candice Adam, Communications Manager for Belgium and France, at c.adam(at)euroconsultants.be or +32-496-62-08-10. About Euro Consultants Group http://www.euroconsultants-group.com/en/ Euro Consultants Group was established in 1990 in Wavre (Belgium). ECG provides a full range of food safety, quality and consulting services. ECG is a one-stop shop that helps to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of a company through management consulting. ECG operates mainly in agri-food and agro-industrial fields and is active in developing business-to-business and business-to-institution activities with its clients. For business-to-business activities, ECG specializes in management consulting to improve the efficiencies for food industries, retailers and caterers. ECG is a fully integrated partner for all stages of development and aims to optimize the systems and processes of production, R&D, after-sales service and marketing. Other services include counseling, advice, training, auditing, operational assistance, laboratory investigations, complaint management and research. ECG offers a broad range of activities in technical and development assistance for business-to-institution activities. When working on development projects and providing technical assistance guidance, ECG is able to rely on its pool of internal specialist experts (e.g. vets, agricultural engineers, MDs) in addition to over 2,000 project management teams as well and specialists. Due to its comprehensive knowledge of both private and public management, ECG has significant experience in seeking institutional funding for organizations in the market. Since 2015, ECG has developed a strategic partnership with the Belgian Bankers Academy. About NSF International http://www.nsf.org NSF International is a global independent organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the food, water and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF International is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment. The NSF Global Food Division provides expertise and accredited services across all supply chain sectors, including agriculture, animal feed and welfare, produce, processing, distribution, dairy, seafood, quality management software, retail and restaurants. Services include Global Food Safety Initiative, foodservice equipment and nonfood compounds certification, HACCP validation and inspection, label claims verification and certification, DNA and food package testing, product and process development, and organic and Certified Transitional certification through Quality Assurance International (QAI). NSF also offers expert auditing, consulting and training. ProMIS Neurosciences (ProMIS or the Company), a company focused on the discovery and development of precision treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, today reported highlights from the recent Alzheimers Association International Conference (AAIC) meeting, held in Toronto, Canada, from July 23 to 28, 2016. Numerous sessions and posters emphasized that the toxic subspecies of Amyloid beta (A) and Tau oligomers are at the root cause of AD, however developing drugs that could selectively target these toxic variants is problematic. Commenting on this challenge, Executive Chairman, Eugene Williams said, Our proprietary drug discovery technologies, including Collective Coordinates, are a significant competitive advantage as they allow us to identify novel epitope targets on the toxic prion forms of A. Moreover, scientific analysis presented on a poster about Biogens Aducanumab provides confirmatory evidence that our target product profile of selectively binding the prion rather than the monomer is critical to developing effective AD therapeutics. Highlights of the meeting included: The Amyloid-Tau Relationship in the Pathophysiology of Alzheimers Disease (AD) This Continuing Medical Education session underlined three key points of consensus offered by a distinguished panel of experts: a subset of A oligomers is toxic to neurons (the prion forms); there is a large, growing body of evidence demonstrating that A prions trigger the spread and toxicity of Tau in AD; and insoluble Amyloid cores (plaque) are largely inactive, but can play a positive role in sequestering (trapping) toxic oligomers (prions). Commenting on this session, Williams, stated: This session provided a strong, supportive rationale for our target product profile of binding selectively to the prion form, and not to monomer, nor plaque. Plaque binding may lead to release of the sequestered toxic oligomers which can damage neuronal connections, and furthermore, is correlated with neurovascular edema, a serious side effect seen in both Biogens Aducanumab and J&J/Pfizers Bapineuzumab clinical trial programs. ProMIS Poster Presentations As shown in the poster presentation by Chief Physics Officer, Dr. Steven Plotkin, ProMIS proprietary technologies precisely specify epitope targets identifying both the targets amino acid sequence and its conformation or shape. These technologies therefore support two important attributes: the target is immunogenic, against which a targeted antibody therapy can be developed; and the antibody is highly selective for the toxic oligomer or prion, not the monomer nor plaque (fibrils). The poster presented by Dr. Judith Silverman, whose work was conducted in CSO Neil Cashmans lab, showed that the novel epitope targets identified by ProMIS were highly immunogenic and, subsequent to screening tests, many of the antibodies against these targets had the desired selective binding characteristics. ProMIS will be confirming the desired profile for its best product candidates in cadaveric brain tissue from AD patients, and selecting antibody therapeutics demonstrating no binding to plaque. Biogens Poster Analyzing the Epitope and Binding Profile of Aducanumab Biogens Aducanumab represents an important and positive step forward in developing treatments for AD. Using structural analytic methods to understand the epitope targeted by Aducanumab and its binding profile relative to other therapies that showed less efficacy, Biogen concluded that Aducanumab was highly selective for aggregated forms of beta-amyloid, including soluble oligomer and insoluble fibrils, and that non-binding to monomer was critical. To access the full report by Executive Chairman Eugene Williams, please click on the following link: http://promisneurosciences.com/commentary/executive-chairmans-note-august-3-2016/ About ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. The mission of ProMIS Neurosciences is to discover and develop precision medicine therapeutics for effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimers disease and ALS. ProMIS Neurosciences proprietary target discovery engine is based on the use of two, complementary techniques. The Company applies its thermodynamic, computational discovery platformsProMIS and Collective Coordinates to predict novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this unique "precision medicine" approach, ProMIS Neurosciences is developing novel antibody therapeutics and specific companion diagnostics for Alzheimers disease and ALS. The company has also developed two proprietary technologies to specifically identify very low levels of misfolded proteins in a biological sample. In addition, ProMIS Neurosciences owns a portfolio of therapeutic and diagnostic patents relating to misfolded SOD1 in ALS, and currently has three preclinical monoclonal antibody therapeutics against this target. The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The information in this release may contain certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information please consult the Company's website at: http://www.promisneurosciences.com Follow us on Twitter Like us on LinkedIn NATIONAL Equicom Michael Moore: mmoore(at)national(dot)ca Abby Garfunkel: agarfunkel(at)national(dot)ca or contact Dr. Elliot Goldstein President and Chief Executive Officer, ProMIS Neurosciences Inc. Tel. 415 341-5783 Elliot.goldstein(at)promisneurosciences(dot)com Ishi Glinsky Shiprock Santa Fe Gallery is pleased to announce its August 2016 artist openings, exhibitions and continuing lecture series. On August 13 from 57 p.m. Shiprock Santa Fe presents its Annual Opening Event with participating artist Ishi Glinsky. The exhibition features the gallerys finest selection of historic Native American art alongside a newly acquired collection of Depression-era Santo Domingo jewelry. A dear friend of the gallery, who in addition to collecting historic Native American jewelry also has one of the most discerning eyes for fine jewelry, fashion, and more, has graciously extended Shiprock Santa Fe the unique opportunity to represent her collection of Santo Domingo Pueblo Depression-era jewelry, said Shiprock Santa Fe Director Jamie Way. During the Great Depression, many Santo Domingo jewelers, looking for less expensive and available materials, began making necklaces with found objects like plastic utensils, old records and black plastic from recycled car batteries to create traditional mosaic inlays. Originally the necklaces were very inexpensive; however, they have increased in value tremendously over the years and are now highly collectible pieces of Native American art. Ishi Glinsky (Tohono Oodham) who lives and works in Los Angeles, California, is creating two monumental Santo Domingo Depression-era necklace sculptures, which will be exhibited alongside the Santo Domingo jewelry collection. Glinsky will also give an artist lecture as a part of Shiprocks continuing lecture series on August 12 at 1 p.m. in the gallery. The following week, Shiprock Santa Fe will host its annual Indian Market Celebration on Thursday, August 18 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., welcoming back celebrity artists SONWAI and Ken Williams Jr. Williams and Sonwai have collaborated on a groundbreaking work that will certainly speak to the major institutions such as the Peabody Essex Museum and others who travel to Santa Fe for Indian Market specifically to purchase works for their collections. For press inquiries, please contact: Audrey Nadia Rubinstein 505.490.5029 Audrey(at)jlhmedia(dot)com ### About Shiprock Santa Fe: Shiprock Santa Fe gallery, based in Santa Fe, N.M., is one of the foremost galleries in the United States for Native American art, including vintage and contemporary jewelry, historic textiles, pottery, basketry and artifacts. Celebrating its 10th year on Santa Fes historic Plaza, the gallery was founded by fifth generation expert Jed Foutz, who was raised on the Navajo Reservation in a family of traders. Foutz has a studied eye and impeccable aesthetic he uses to select the best Native American work, antique and contemporary, making him an important style resource for top fashion houses, designers, filmmakers, and renowned art collectors. Foutz has expanded his family tradition by incorporating Mid-Century Modern furniture in his collection, which, with its fine design, materials and craftsmanship, complements and highlights the beauty and execution of works by known and unknown Native American artists. Foutzs mastery of Santa Fe and Southwestern styles has made Shiprock Santa Fe gallery a necessary stop on any trip to Santa Fe. The gallerys knowledgeable staff is well versed in Native American fine art and provides both acquisition and appraisal services, working with clients looking to acquire a single object or to build corporate or personal collections. For more information, please visit https://www.shiprocksantafe.com/. ### About Ishi Glinsky: Ishi Glinsky (Tohono Oodham) is a sculptor, painter and installation artist, who works and resides in Los Angeles, California. Inspired by materials, both industrial and organic, Glinsky's work is often formed through handmade methods. Each immersive installation, sculpture or painting, are investigations into permanence or continual evolution, all dependent upon the chosen material and its considered composition. While continuing to navigate through historical events and ephemera of North American Native tribes, in particular, that of his own tribe, the Tohono Oodham Nation, Glinskys work is a fusion of intertribal celebration and material exploration. BELIZE CITY (Reuters) - Hurricane Earl thundered towards the shores of Belize on Wednesday, dumping heavy rains on Honduras and prompting hundreds of people to take cover on the Caribbean coastline as the large storm closed in. Four hundred people have so far been evacuated from Belize's northern islands Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, Lionel Cuthkelvin, operations officer at the National Emergency Management Organization, said by telephone. Cuthkelvin said at least 20 shelters were already harbouring people, mainly in Belize City, Stann Creek and some villages off the Caribbean coast. Residents of Belize City and other coastal communities were being urged to move inland. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Earl was blowing maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour (121 km per hour), as it churned 150 miles east of Belize City (241 km/h). The storm is expected to weaken when it reaches the coast and moves inland. Earl is forecast to hit Belize later on Wednesday or early on Thursday, the NHC said. In eastern Honduras, 88 shipwrecked fishermen were rescued in La Mosquitia, while two are still missing, Luis Florentino, deputy chief of emergency agency COPECO, said by telephone. Wilmer Guerrero, head of the fire department in the Honduran island of Roatan, said it has shelters to accommodate 500 people but they were not being used yet. "The tourists are in their hotels, which are safe and solidly built. Here it's the local people that go to the shelters," he said in an interview. In Mexico, rescue officials in the state of Quintana Roo evacuated about 200 people living in the atolls of Banco Chinchorro and Punta Allen by Tulum, south of Cancun. Quintana Roo's tourism minister Raul Andrade Angulo said that the 410,000 travellers currently visiting the state would be safe because the region has 788 hurricane shelters for more than 280,000 people, including 55 shelters for tourists. Red flags were put up on beaches in Cancun to keep tourists away from the sea. Earl, the fifth named storm of the 2016 season, is expected to bring 8 to 10 inches of rain that could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides in parts of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico through Thursday night, the Miami-based NHC said in a statement. (Reporting by Gustavo Palencia in Tegucigalpa, Sofia Menchu in Guatemala City, Isela Serrano in Cancun, Alizeh Kohari in Mexico City and Swati Verma and Apeksha Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard Chang and James Dalgleish) API Founder Janice K. Barden Janice K. Barden never stopped talking about this wonderful industry, and the pride she had in it, literally until the day she died. - Sheryl Barden, CEO, Aviation Personnel International Sheryl Barden, President and CEO of Aviation Personnel International (API), today announced the passing of the companys chairman and founder, Janice K. Barden, who started the business aviation recruiting firm 45 years ago. Throughout her exceptional career, Janice Barden was regarded as a trendsetter and pioneer, helping pave the way for thousands of men and women who, like her, nurtured a love of aviation and its related disciplines. Janice enjoyed two wonderful husbands, an awesome grandson, a loving family and a never ending cadre of friends, said daughter Sheryl Barden, CEO and President, Aviation Personnel International. She had an amazing career that helped so many people progress in their chosen careers, a beautiful 10 years of life with Chuck McKinnon in the Napa Valley, and a full life in New Orleans, New Jersey and Ohio. She also had countless recognition for her work in business aviation, and she never stopped talking about this wonderful industry, and the pride she had in it, literally until the day she died. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Barden left home at age 17 to pursue her undergraduate studies at Miami University in the college of business administration, and later earned her degree in Industrial Psychology from Kent State University, in Kent, Ohio. Barden contributed to the aviation community for more than 60 years. In 1971, she leveraged her 16 years as a professional aviation psychologist to found her own recruitment firm, Aviation Personnel International (API). Using her skills in psychological testing, Barden developed the companys proprietary candidate testing program, which has since evolved throughout the years, and remains a company staple 45 years later. Under Bardens leadership, APIs professional and technical standards helped to raise the bar immeasurably for quality and performance in aviation, placing thousands of high-achieving professionals in a wide array of positions in the field. A summary of Bardens awards, accolades and honors throughout her career would itself fill a book, but following are some of the more notable ones: Inducted in the Ohio Senior Citizen Hall of Fame in 2015. Recognized as an aviation industry Game Changer at the 2015 NBAA Leadership Conference in 2015. One of five recipients of the National Aeronautical Association's Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award in 2013. Namesake for the UAA Janice K. Barden Aviation Scholarship, through which the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annually awards $1,000 to each of five undergraduates studying aviation-related curricula at NBAA and University Aviation Association (UAA) member institutions. Recipient of the NBAA John P. Jack Doswell Award in 1994, given to those with a lifelong individual achievement on behalf and in support of the aims, goals and objectives of business aviation. Recipient of the NBAA American Spirit Award in 2000, given in recognition of an individual within business aviation who exemplifies the courage, pursuit of excellence and service to others that characterize men and women who have created and nurtured the American aviation community. Served eight times as NBAA Local Committee Chairwoman, more than any other person in NBAA history, and the only woman to serve as its chair. Appointed by President George H. W. Bush to a Presidential Blue Ribbon Panel in 1992, to research the training options to address the Pilot and Aviation Maintenance Technician shortage. Also appointed to the Presidents Committee for the rehabilitation of returning Vietnam prisoner of war (POW) pilots. Envisioned an outreach program for aviation students, and, in 1990, created the annual NBAA Careers in Business Aviation Day. Served on Kent States Alumni Board from 1978-84, and also held the position of its secretary. Received the Kent State Distinguished Alumni Award in 1986, which honors alumni who, through their leadership, character and hard work, have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field, as well as in their communities and at Kent State. Served as a Director, History of Aviation Collection, for the University of Texas/Dallas since its inception. Named as a Star Performer by Professional Pilot magazine. Served as the Federal Jury Commissioner Eastern District of Louisiana from 1965 to 2007. Listed in Whos Who of American Women, Whos Who in Aviation and Whos Who in the South. In addition to these many accomplishments, and working on behalf of the aviation industry, Janice Barden also served on numerous boards of directors, commissions and organizations. Among them, she was a member of the National Business Aviation Association and Flight Safety Foundation. Jan Barden was a remarkable figure, and a tireless supporter of NBAA and the business aviation community, said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. Im not sure our industry has ever seen a person who has given more time to promoting and serving its interestsshe was extraordinary at helping people to connect people to each other, and build a sense of community. About Aviation Personnel International Now celebrating 45 years in aviation, Aviation Personnel International (API) is the longest-running, woman-owned business aviation recruitment firm, exclusively serving the hiring needs of flight departments in corporate and private aviation. API offers its clients the broadest portfolio of fully vetted candidates, including senior aviation leaders, pilots, maintenance, cabin safety crew, schedulers and dispatchers. Based in San Francisco, the API team combines their extensive aviation knowledge with their expertise in human resources and executive aviation recruitment to provide retained talent identification, staff development and outplacement services for flight departments with one or more aircraft. apiaviation.com A nonprofit with nearly 50 years service in the community. "Set a limit on how much debt you're willing to pay back after graduation. Rule of thumb: You'll end up repaying about $100 per month for every $10,000 you borrow. Don't overextend yourself." ~ Glenn Smith, certified student loan counselor Many students leaving home for college this month are already student loan borrowers. Research shows their ability to manage loan debt will depend on how informed they are. But separating fact from fiction isnt always easy, so nonprofit Guidewell Financial Solutions asked its certified student loan counselor and staff members who are student loan borrowers to share their thoughts on six student loan myths. Myth #1 "You dont need to worry about your student loans until you graduate." A 2016 Sallie Mae study shows that students who take the time to research and plan before borrowing owe one-third less when they leave school than those who dont. Finding alternative ways to finance college is one way to owe less: Guidewell Financial Outreach Representative Victoria Herr pays for her education with scholarships and part-time jobs. She says this takes more work, but saves money. It feels great knowing I wont have outstanding debt to deal with after college. When student loans are needed, certified student loan counselor Glenn Smith recommends, Do the math. Set a limit on how much debt youre willing to pay back after graduation. Rule of thumb: Youll end up repaying about $100 per month for every $10,000 you borrow. Myth #2 "Interest on student loans doesnt start until you graduate." Failing to review loan terms before borrowing can lead to unsettling surprises, because features vary. Administrative Support Representative Rija Arshad says she initially didnt realize there was a difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Then I discovered unsubsidized loans begin accumulating interest the minute you take them out not when you begin repayment. It pays to read the fine print. Myth #3 "If youre in trouble, student loan servicers wont help." Administrative Support Representative Adrienne Ayala says reality hit when she left school this past semester. When I got the letter saying my student loan deferment would soon be up, I felt really stressed. Id just moved out on my own and had lots of new expenses. Im still not sure how Ill make ends meet and pay back what I owe. Adrienne isnt alone. Students who leave school jobless or underemployed often face an uphill battle when deferment ends. In this case, Smith recommends: Contact your student loan servicer before they contact you. Many borrowers believe their servicers wont help, but this simply isnt true. There are programs for every loan situation. Guidewell Financial also offers reliable, affordable student loan counseling that can help borrowers find out where they stand financially, set up a budget, get answers to their loan questions, and evaluate repayment options. Myth #4 "It always pays to refinance or consolidate to reduce your payment." Refinancing with a third-party source may lower borrowers payments, but it can also eliminate valuable Federal loans benefits, such as deferments, income-based repayment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and cancellation. Consolidation allows borrowers to combine loans into a single monthly payment and offers other advantages, but it may also affect loan benefits. Smaller payments arent necessarily better. They take longer to repay and may therefore lead to more interest. Myth #5 "If you ignore your student loans, they will eventually go away." Financially stressed borrowers may be tempted to ignore their situation, but Smith warns against this. If you fall behind on loans, they may be placed into default. Then your wages can be garnished and your Federal tax refunds can be seized. This will also ruin your credit and make you ineligible for future loan benefits. Ninety-nine percent of student loans cannot be discharged through bankruptcy. Myth #6 "Its impossible to repay everything you owe." Student loan debt may seem overwhelming, but Accounting Specialist Matt Cross says, Its doable. His advice? Check out online resources and talk with other people who have been through repayment. Also consider taking advantage of our agencys no-cost budget and credit counseling or schedule a student loan counseling appointment. Paying a hundred dollars for a counseling session led by a certified student loan counselor is a small amount to pay for peace of mind! Visit Guidewell Financials website to learn about the agencys services. Call 1-800-642-2227 to schedule a counseling appointment. Follow Herr, Arshad, Ayala, and Crosss student loan stories on the agencys Facebook page starting Monday, August 8. About Guidewell Financial Solutions Guidewell Financial Solutions (also known as Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland and Delaware, Inc.) is an accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that helps stabilize communities by creating hope and promoting economic self-sufficiency to individuals and families through financial education and counseling. Maryland License #14-01 / Delaware License #07-01 Swych is the first company to introduce this game changing model where the brand decision making for the gift shifts from the sender to the recipient. Today Swych, Inc. announced the launch of its innovative digital gifting platform and iOS mobile app for US consumers. For the first time, consumers can use this unique app to send Swychable gift cards which the recipients can redeem at any of their favorite retailers like Amazon, REI, Sephora and more. Users can also upload and convert physical gift cards into an electronic form and manage all of their electronic gift cards in the easy to use app. Swych mobile app users can also enjoy exclusive discounts from selected brands generated by the unique recommendation engine of the Swych platform. Swych delivers a smart and connected user experience that delights both the sender and the recipient. From their smartphone, anyone can instantly send an e-gift card with a few clicks and personalize it for the recipient with custom messages and photos. The gift is instantly delivered in a matter of seconds via text or email. The recipient can then Swych to an e-gift card of their preferred brand, get bonus cash from selected brands and deliver their thanks to the sender in just a few clicks. Swych users can also sync their gift cards in Apple Wallet for convenient access anytime anywhere. This never before user experience ensures superior user satisfaction by delivering a relevant gift every time. The gift card market, while growing in popularity with consumers, has been riddled with old technology and an obsolete user experience. Our vision is to make digital, the preferred method of gifting, by leveraging modern technology, advanced security and connectivity that todays consumer expects, said Deepak Jain, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Swych Inc. People simply do not want to carry around ten or twenty plastic gift cards in their purse or wallet. Nor do they want to be stuck with gift cards they received for merchants they have no current need for. Swych delivers a relevant gift every time for the recipient and peace of mind for the sender that their gift will not go unused. Gift Card Self-Gifting has more than doubled in the past three years. The Swych mobile app brings personalized discounts, promotions and deals directly to the user for a convenient way to save, shop, and spend. The integrated Swych Rewards program allows users to earn one point for every dollar spent in rewards to be used for future purchases within the app. Swych Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Offer Robert Sabella adds that, Swych is the first company to introduce this game changing model where the brand decision making for the gift shifts from the sender to the recipient. The unique promise of a satisfied recipient is the perfect reason to skip the inconvenient stop at a physical store and use the Swych app to send your next gift card. Download Swych from the app store today. Give. Get. Swych. ABOUT SWYCH: Swych's patent pending mobile gifting platform enables users to send Swychable gifts from their mobile device that can be instantly redeemed for electronic gift cards of more than 90 popular brands. Swych users can instantly buy, send, regift, upload, Swych and redeem gift cards conveniently from their mobile device. Swych is a private company funded by seasoned angel investors from the banking, financial services, payments, gifting, telecom and enterprise computing space. Swychs headquarters are in Plano, Texas with offices in San Francisco, CA. Swych was formed in 2015 by serial entrepreneurs, Deepak Jain and Robert Sabella. Product Development and Operations are headed by Anu Shultes who is a well-known and highly respected gift card industry expert. Marketing is headed by Stephanie Barrueto and Product Engineering by Linda Yang. For more information please visit http://goswych.com To download Swych in the app store click here Follow us on Twitter @GoSwych, like us on Facebook at http://fb.com/goswych and keep up with us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/goswych/ Endpoint security vendor Avecto today announced the integration of Defendpoint security software with Intel Securitys McAfee Threat Intelligence Exchange (TIE) via the McAfee Data Exchange Layer (DXL). As a member of the Intel Security Innovation Alliance, Avecto is proud to enter general release with a fully integrated solution and extend to customers the ability to make more informed decisions on the endpoint. Building deeper integration among security products, McAfee DXL empowers organizations with a clear view and a more intelligent understanding of their security environment. Avectos Defendpoint is a multi-layered endpoint protection solution which allows organizations to stop cyberattacks by combining least privilege, whitelisting and content isolation. With Defendpoint now offered as a McAfee DXL-ready solution, the integration allows application reputation data to be used to drive configuration changes and make risk-based policy adjustments powered by third party data. As part of this industry disrupting integration with McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO), Defendpoint offers simplified management, further solidifying the technology partnership. Mark Austin, co-founder and co-CEO at Avecto said: One of the key challenges facing our industry is joined up thinking, and the McAfee DXL platform is a significant step forward from Intel Security. Avecto has always advocated a connected and coordinated approach to security, so this technology integration was a natural fit. It allows organizations to draw on all the available intelligence giving them the best chance of identifying the known good and bad, to proactively stop threats before they cause any damage. DJ Long, senior director and head of Intel Security Innovation Alliance added: Avectos integration with Intel Security solutions will provide customers with actionable intelligence to manage their multi-vendor security environments. By implementing Avectos proactive Defendpoint software, which is tightly integrated with Intel Security solutions, customers will experience faster deployment times, leading to reduced costs as well as improved security. For more information about Avecto and Defendpoint, please visit https://www.avecto.com/defendpoint For more information on Intel Security solutions, visit http://www.mcafee.com/us/solutions/data-exchange-layer.aspx ENDS About Avecto Avecto is an innovator in endpoint security. Founded in 2008, the company was established to challenge the status quo that effective security leads to user lockdown. This philosophy of security + freedom promotes a positive user experience across every software implementation, allowing organizations to strike just the right balance. Its unique Defendpoint software makes prevention possible, with a proactive approach that stops malware at the endpoint. This innovative software has been implemented at many of the worlds most recognizable brands, with over 8 million licenses deployed. Attention to detail is paramount, with a team of qualified and experienced technology consultants to guide clients through a robust implementation methodology. This consultative approach provides clients with a clearly mapped journey against measurable objectives to ensure project success. CONTACT: Michael Portz Avecto Michael.portz(at)avecto(dot)com August 3rd, 2016 airberlin increases flights to Germany as of summer 2017 Miami - Berlin-Tegel: now year round airberlin is strengthening its long-haul network to the United States as the airline expands its flight program from Miami to Berlin by adding three weekly nonstop flights in summer 2017. Flights from Miami to Berlin will therefore be a year-round nonstop service as of this winter with four weekly flights in winter and three during summer in addition to the daily flights to Dusseldorf. This network improvement proves the increasing importance of the hub in Dusseldorf and the long-haul network to North America. The flights connect smoothly with many destinations within the airlines global network. "airberlin has already seen a strong expansion of its US network this year as we added two new destinations Boston and San Francisco and several frequencies to our existing US network. The further expansion of our US operations as of summer 2017 including the new flights from Miami shows that we are determined to continue on our path to position airberlin as a premium network carrier with a strong US footprint and an excellent proposition even for the most discerning business traveller, said Stefan Pichler, Chief Executive Officer at airberlin. At our hub in Berlin and Dusseldorf airberlin is the carrier with the highest number of flights to the US already this year. By further enhancing our long-haul network we continue to strengthen our leading market position and sharpen our profile as a network carrier with a highly attractive portfolio, Stefan Pichler adds. In total, airberlin flies nonstop from eight US-destinations in summer 2017 to Dusseldorf and Berlin: Miami, Orlando (new), Fort Myers, New York (JFK), Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The new flights from Miami and Orlando bring the total number of weekly flights from the three destinations in Florida up to 19 in summer 2017. All Airbus A330-200 operating these flights are equipped with airberlins premium long-haul product: 19 seats in the exclusive FullFlat Business Class section and 271 Economy Class seats, including 46 XL Seats, which offer around 20 per cent more legroom. Tickets can be booked on https://airberlin.com, by contacting the Service Center (Tel: 917 261-3165, local rate applies) or through a travel agent. About airberlin airberlin is one of the leading airlines in Europe and flies to 147 destinations worldwide each year. The second largest airline in Germany carried more than 30.2 million passengers in 2015. airberlin offers a global route network through its strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, which has a 29.21 percent share in airberlin, and through membership of the oneworld airline alliance. topbonus, the frequent flyer programme of airberlin, is one of the leading programmes in Europe with more than 4 million members. The airline with the award-winning service operates codeshare flights worldwide with 21 airlines. The fleet is among the most modern and eco-efficient in Europe. Together with other airlines, airberlin belongs to Etihad Airways Partners, a new brand with which Etihad has been uniting shared activities since the end of 2014. Press contact: Janina Mollenhauer Press Officer Tel.: +49 30 3434 1500 Fax: +49 30 3434 1509 E-mail: janina.mollenhauer(at)airberlin(dot)com http://www.airberlin.com On behalf of airberlin Madeleine Vogelsang Media Relations Representative USA & Canada Phone: 1-917-971-6213 Email: mvogelsang(at)zcomgroup(dot)org http://www.airberlin.com http://www.facebook.com/airberlin Executive Women's Forum Voice Privacy Alliance Nowadays, we arent just talking to a person on the other end of our phones were talking to our mobile devices, our TVs, our cars, our toys our gadgetsand theyre listening! The Executive Womens Forum (EWF) on Information Security, Risk Management and Privacy, founded by Alta Associates, the leading executive search firm specializing in Cybersecurity, will announce the publication of the Developer Innovation Toolkit for Voice Enabled Tech at the annual EWF Meet & Greet at the Black Hat Conference in Las Vegas. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016 at 12:30 pm in Banyan A, South Convention, Level 3, Mandalay Bay. Key event takeaways: Announce version 1 of the Developer Innovation Toolkit. Version 2 is planned for Jan/Feb 2017 By embedding security and privacy early in the development life cycle, the Voice Privacy. Alliance, an EWF initiative, supports developers and innovation with open and usable guidance which any development team can adapt and modify for their own needs. Visit the EWF booth #BHB6 during BlackHat for more information and to sign up in person, or email voiceprivacy(at)ewf-usa(dot)com for more information. What is the Executive Womens Forum Voice Privacy Industry Group? A consortium of Industry experts from various companies, industry sectors, and academia who have come together to develop high level guiding principles which will be shared with industry. The purpose is to help voice technology innovation by providing good guidance to avoid common security, privacy and general risk issues as well as to provide awareness and education to the public. Participants in the group have the opportunity to attend quarterly webcasts to become well informed and understand current voice enabled technologies. The first quarterly webcast in January 2016, given by a chief privacy officer and senior technologist presented on voice technology basics which gave the group a primer on how voice technology works under the covers. It is anticipated that work produced by the Voice Privacy Industry Group will be substantially influential in the development of any future voice privacy policy as our participants will add value in their areas of expertise and become subject matter experts in voice privacy. ### About The Executive Womens Forum on Information Security Risk Management & Privacy Founded in 2002, The Executive Womens Forum on Information Security, Risk Management & Privacy (EWF) is the largest member organization serving women leaders as well as the most prominent and influential women in Information Security, Cybersecurity, IT Risk Management, Governance Risk & Compliance and Privacy. The EWFs mission is to advance women in our field through leadership development, education and the creation of trusted relationships. The EWF achieves this goal by facilitating programs and events throughout the year including a National Conference, regional meetings, leadership development programs and interaction with global thought leaders through an online community. For more information visit, http://www.ewf-usa.com About Alta Associates, Inc. Founded in 1986 Alta Associates is widely acknowledged as the leading boutique executive search firm specializing in Information Security, Cybersecurity and IT Risk Management. Alta is recognized for their deep understanding of the information security industry and the drivers that shape it. Having successfully partnered with global enterprises for 30 years, Alta has filled many of the most high profile Chief Information Security Officer roles and built world class Information Security, Cybersecurity and IT Risk organizations. Alta is well known for their ability to attract and deliver top tier executives and the teams that support them and is named as one of the top 50 executive search firms in the United States. For more information visit, http://www.altaassociates.com or call 908-806-8442. Black Hat: Cybereason today announced the publication of its first Threat Insights Report. The report is an analysis of data captured in the first half of 2016 by the companys military-grade threat hunting platform via production deployments in large, global organizations across many industries. The Threat Insights Report includes analysis on todays most pressing threats facing enterprises along with resources for readers wanting a deeper dive on topics presented in the report. The top trends and takeaways detailed in the report are: The effectiveness of using IOCs for detection and response is decreasing, as 46 percent of attacks are based on never-before-seen elements Commodity threats are frequently evolving into targeted attacks Mutating ransomware is on the rise Fileless malware is proliferating, challenging traditional security defenses The report is available for download at: http://www.cybereason.com/cybereason-2016-threat-insights/ Im delighted that we are both publishing and presenting on our first Threat Insights Report at Black Hat, where the security industrys best and brightest come together to learn from each other, said Lior Div, CEO, Cybereason. Our research has the same objective as our platform to empower security teams to act confidently and appropriately in the face of new attacks and adversaries. At Black Hat, Cybereasons CISO, Israel Barak, will drill down on one of the trends observed in the report in his presentation, Watching Commodity Malware Get Sold to a Target Actor, Wednesday, August 3, 5:30-6:00 p.m. at Mandalay Bay, Lagoon K. Barak will cover black market trafficking of compromised enterprise resources and its impact on incident detection and response procedures. Barak also spoke at BSides on Tuesday, August 2, on Operation Escalation: How Commodity Programs Are Evolving Into Advanced Threats. Ashish Larivee, Cybereason vice president, will also speak at Black Hat on Wednesday. Her panel discussion will look at the state of security departments across the globe. Joining her on the panel is Tim Wilson, editor-in-chief of Dark Reading. During the presentation, which will be held from 10:15-11:15 a.m. in Mandalay Bay, Reef C, Larivee and will talk about how security professionals are approaching the industrys current challenges. Cybereason has a proven track record of protecting Fortune 1,000 enterprises globally. The company has received many awards and accolades since its founding. Most recently, Cybereason topped a Gartner list of endpoint detection and response vendors. SC Magazine named Cybereason Rookie Security Company of the Year. Also, CEO Lior Div was a 2016 EY Entrepreneur of the Year New England Finalist. In addition, Infosecurity Products Guide named Div 2016 CEO of the Year while Computer Reseller News named Cybereasons military-grade detection and response threat hunting platform one of 30 cool products launched at the 2016 RSA Conference. And Dark Reading named the company one of the 20 Cyber Security Startups to Watch in 2016. About Cybereason: Founded by members of the Israeli intelligence agencys elite cyber security Unit 8200, the Cybereason platform mirrors the founders expertise in managing some of worlds most complex hacking operations. The Cybereason Detection and Response Platform leverages big data, behavioral analytics and machine learning to uncover, in real-time, complex cyber attacks designed to evade traditional defenses. It automates the investigation process, connects isolated malicious events and visually presents a full malicious operation. The platform is available as an on-premise solution or a cloud-based service. Cybereason is privately held and headquartered in Boston with offices in Tel Aviv and Tokyo. For more information, please visit: Website: http://www.cybereason.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Cybereason Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Cybereason LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/cybereason Media Contact: Bill Keeler Director, Public Relations Cybereason bill.keeler(at)cybereason(dot)com (508) 414-7755 (cell) This first-ever iPS Cell consortium will allow three leading EB research teams to come together to find a treatment or cure faster than any individual research approach weve seen, said Alexander Silver, co-founder and Chairman of EBRP. The EB iPS Cell Consortium announced its formation today to fight the rare and debilitating genetic disease Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), affecting thousands, many of whom are children, across the U.S. and worldwide. This consortium is jointly funded by EB Research Partnership (EBRP) and EB Medical Research Foundation (EBMRF). EBRPs support is in partnership with The Jillian M. Neubauer and Lawrence A. Neubauer Foundation and the Mario Batali Foundation. This collaborative team approach is meant to produce faster results through partnership and shared resources. The newly formed EB iPS Cell Consortium is a unique partnership that includes research teams led by Dr. Angela Christiano from Columbia University Medical Center, Dr. Anthony Oro from Stanford University School of Medicine and Dr. Dennis Roop from University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. These scientists will work together to find new treatments for EB on an accelerated timeline using an iPS Cell approach to gene therapy. iPS stands for induced pluripotent stem cells whereby cells from a patient are modified, reproduced and given back to the patient. The first year of the EB iPS Cell Consortium will focus on comparing and contrasting various approaches of iPS cell therapy to determine the most commercially viable approach. EBRP was founded on the principle that partnership is the cornerstone to success in healing and curing EB, said Alexander Silver, cofounder and Chairman of EBRP. This firstever iPS Cell consortium will allow three leading EB research teams to come together to find a treatment or cure faster than any individual research approach weve seen. When time is the most precious resource of any child or adult living with EB, progressive collaboration like this is increasingly important. Paul Joseph, CFO of EBMRF, added EBMRF believes that by encouraging collaboration among researchers, we can help push life-changing treatment on a faster track, and that is a critical part of our mission to find a cure for EB. We are encouraged by the teams commitment to research and the groundbreaking progress they are making with our support. Drs. Christiano, Oro and Roop jointly released the following statement: We are delighted to co-found the EB iPS Cell consortium and excited to work together to help those living with this devastating disease. With the support of our institutions, we look forward to contributing our knowledge to create sustainable iPS Cell therapies that can be commercially viable for a global population. EB is a group of devastating and life-threatening genetic skin disorders that affect children through adulthood. Often referred to as butterfly children, individuals with EB lack a critical protein that binds their layers of skin together causes severe blistering both internally and externally. EB affects 1 in 50,000 people; currently, an estimated 30,000 people live with EB in the U.S and 500,000 globally. The consortium inaugural meeting was held at the University of Colorado on July 22nd. ### About EBRP The EB Research Partnership (EBRP) is the largest nonprofit funding the most medical research for a cure and meaningful therapies for EB. EBRP takes concepts from venture capital investing and applies them toward achieving philanthropic goals: when it takes a traditional donation to a research project, it retains the added upside of generating a recurring donation stream if the therapy or product is commercially successful. It then uses this revenue to fund additional EB research. To date, EBRP has raised more than $10.5 million for research grants and has been instrumental in securing an additional $35 million for critical EB research. Find it online at http://www.ebresearch.org. About EBMRF The Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation (EBMRF) is dedicated to finding a cure for EB by funding the best of cutting edge and innovative research and seeking out new researchers and scientists at Americas top institutions. It also raises awareness and provides outreach through the media and various fundraising programs. The EBMRF was founded in 1991 and is currently headed by The Joseph Family in Los Angeles. To date, EBMRFLos Angeles has funded over $5 million in research. http://www.ebkids.org. BackOffice Associates Logo Receiving this award for the second year in a row further validates BackOffice Associates DSP as a proven and industry-trusted solution for executing best-practice enterprise information governance programs, said Rex Ahlstrom, chief strategy officer. For the second year in a row, BackOffice Associates, a worldwide leader in information governance and data modernization solutions, today announced that its industry-recognized Data Stewardship Platform (DSP) has earned Database Trends and Applications (DBTA) Readers Choice Award for Best Data Governance Solution. BackOffice Associates DSP orchestrates enterprises complex information governance initiatives across data migration, archival, quality, analytics, master data management and business process governance. Bringing technical and business users together, the DSP helps organizations execute and enforce data policies across all data and systems in the enterprise. The result is business-ready data achieved through reduced complexity and costs, increased speed and productivity, and mitigated risks of project delays, errors and non-compliance for better business outcomes. The daily demands and complexities of todays global enterprisesnot to mention the ever-increasing speed of doing businessrequires comprehensive information governance functionality that empowers business and IT users to achieve specific company goals, said Rex Ahlstrom, chief strategy officer at BackOffice Associates. Receiving this award for the second year in a row further validates BackOffice Associates DSP as a proven and industry-trusted solution for executing best-practice enterprise information governance programs. DBTA readers cast their votes annually in the publications Readers Choice Awards for products and solutions in nearly 30 categories. The full list of winners will be published online and in the August issue of Database Trends and Applications magazine. BackOffice Associates was also named to the DBTA 100 2016, Database Trends and Applications list of the companies that matter most in data. About Database Trends and Applications Database Trends and Applications is a magazine covering data and information management, big data, and data science. The website, dbta.com, connects visitors with whitepapers, webinars, and other learning opportunities in the field. The DBTA magazine and website delivers advanced trends analysis and case studies serving the IT and business stakeholders of complex data environments. About BackOffice Associates BackOffice Associates is a worldwide leader in information governance and data modernization solutions, focusing on helping customers manage one of their most critical assets data. Our range of award-winning products, built on a revolutionary platform, address the needs of business users seeking to unlock the value of their data assets. Our products and services enable organizations to accelerate growth, gain actionable visibility and reduce risks. Founded in 1996, we have an unparalleled record of success in the most complex data environments across a variety of industries. Customers include many Fortune 1000 companies including Eli Lilly, Kraft and Graybar. BackOffice Associates is a global corporation headquartered in Massachusetts with additional offices in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Dubai, India, Singapore, Switzerland and the U.K. To learn more, please visit http://www.boaweb.com. # # # Neil Livesey (left) of Technoflex, Inc. and Micheal Foran of ARC International This system helps to fulfill ARC Internationals goal of being a full-service provider of the best solutions for flexo printing, Two well-respected names in flexographic equipment have agreed to collaborate in bringing the latest technology in doctor blade ink chambers to printers in the US market. Charlotte, NC-based ARC International and Technoflex, Inc. of Hiram, GA will join forces as sales agents representing Packaging Plast systems, the premium mono-blade and totally enclosed dual-blade chambers engineered and manufactured in Casale Monferrato in Northern Italy. We are excited to be working closely with Neil Livesey of Technoflex, Inc. to promote these superior blade units, said ARC President and CEO Micheal Foran. The Packaging Plast blade system with a multi-layer carbon fiber construction has been proven to optimize print quality and deliver considerable reduction in ink waste. It is impervious to flexo chemicals and corrosion and will not bend, twist or delaminate. ARCs technical specialist, Chris Pugh, will be providing system inspections and consultation to customers. Pugh has more than 30 years of doctor blade chamber experience. This system helps to fulfill ARC Internationals goal of being a full-service provider of the best solutions for flexo printing, Foran continued. The Package Plast chamber is 300 percent more rigid and 70 percent lighter than aluminum chambers. Coupled with its many other advantages, it will provide our customers with the kind of efficiency and quality assurance that helps them to stay competitive. ARC International is a world leader in the manufacturing of roller products for the flexo industry. Both manufacturing facilities in Charlotte and Las Vegas, NV have invested in the latest nanotechnology for laser engraving to insure superior quality and consistency on their anilox rollers. For more information on ARC International visit their website at http://www.ARCInternational.com. Political commentator Crystal Wright is one of three plaintiffs challenging DC's Taser ban. The ban on these non-lethal weapons makes no sense given that it has been legal for several years for law-abiding citizens to use firearms, very lethal weapons, to protect themselves in the District of Columbia. Today Arsenal Attorneys filed a suit in the US District Court in Washington, DC on behalf of three plaintiffs challenging the District of Columbia's ban of Tasers and other non-lethal electronic arms. The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare DCs ban on non-lethal electronic self-defense devices unconstitutional in violation of the Second Amendment. A successful outcome for the plaintiffs would likely to lead to repeal or challenges of similar anti-self-defense laws in other jurisdictions. Several states currently ban possession and/or carry of electronic arms, including New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. In addition, a number of municipalities ban electronic arms, including Baltimore City and County and New Orleans, and various smaller cities across the country. Arsenal Attorneys filed their clients case, Wright v. District of Columbia (Case Number 16-cv-1556), against the District of Columbia and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Kathy Lanier. An application for a preliminary injunction will be filed as soon as the defendants are served. The lead plaintiff is Crystal Wright, a public relations professional, political commentator and author. Ms. Wright publishes a blog entitled Conservative Black Chick. She is also author of the newly released book by Regnery Publishing titled "Con Job: How Democrats Gave Us Crime, Sanctuary Cities, Abortion Profiteering, and Racial Division." Court documents recite that Ms. Wright has been cyber-stalked and threatened for her outspoken political beliefs. Another plaintiff is Brendan Turner, who has twice been robbed at gunpoint in DC. The third plaintiff is Traci Dean, a nurse who often works late hours. All three plaintiffs want a Taser to protect themselves in appropriate circumstances. Each applied to Taser International to purchase a Taser Pulse model and were denied based on DC law which prohibits a Taser or stun gun just the same as an explosive like a grenade. Ms. Wright originally considered a firearm for self-defense; however, the District of Columbias restrictive gun control laws made that a difficult and long process. Her parents suggested she obtain a stun gun as a short term, non-lethal solution. They were shocked when her attempt to purchase a Taser online was barred by DC law. Wright said, The ban on these non-lethal weapons makes no sense given that it has been legal for several years for law-abiding citizens to use firearms, very lethal weapons, to protect themselves in the District of Columbia. She continued, Shooting another human being changes the lives of all involved, even when it is legally justified. There are extremely negative legal, social and psychological consequences I would prefer to avoid, if at all possible. The plaintiffs attorney, George Lyon, of Arsenal Attorneys, a national firearms and Second Amendment law firm based in Arlington, VA, said, The Supreme Court has clearly stated that the Second Amendment is not limited to guns. It extends to all arms commonly possessed and used for self-defense. That plainly includes Tasers, which are legal in the vast majority of states in the country. According to Mr. Lyon, his clients case became stronger following a US Supreme Court decision in March reversing a Massachusetts conviction for possession of a stun gun on Second Amendment grounds. In that case, Caetano v. Massachusetts, the Supreme Court held that the state courts decision affirming the conviction was inconsistent with the Supreme Courts decision in District of Columbia v. Heller. Massachusetts ultimately dropped the charge against the defendant rather than defend its prohibition on stun guns. Ultimately, attorney Lyon said, The Taser ban is a remnant of DCs anti-self-defense mindset that the Supreme Court rejected in the landmark Heller decision. Its time for it to go. D.C. currently classifies Tasers and stun guns as destructive devices the same as bombs and poison gas. Attorney Lyon called that classification nonsense, given that Tasers are not designed to kill or cause permanent injury. He explained, A Taser is designed to temporarily incapacitate an assailant so the intended victim can get away and call the police. Police use these devices every day to subdue suspects without significant injury. The U.S. Justice Department has stated that police use of Tasers decrease injuries to both suspects and officers. Ordinary citizens should have access to this self-defense tool for the same reasons. According to the Taser website, some 18,000 law enforcement agencies are equipped with the device and more than 275,000 Tasers have been sold to the public. Attorney Lyon understands these issues first hand. He is a DC resident, and he was one of the original plaintiffs of the Heller v. District of Columbia (577 US), in which the Supreme Court held in 2008 that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual's right to possess a firearm for self-defense within the home. Lyon was also a plaintiff in Palmer vs. District of Columbia (554 US 570), in which the DC Federal Court overturned DCs complete ban on the carrying of firearms outside the home in 2014. In addition to his law practice, Lyon is a certified firearms instructor and self-defense expert. He regularly helps clients with gun ownership and carry permits in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. A GoFundMe fundraising drive has been launched to raise money to cover the plaintiffs legal fees and court costs for Wright v. DC and similar Second Amendment legal action. Up to 50 per cent more flights to Germany as of summer 2017 New: Orlando Dusseldorf five weekly flights New: San Francisco Berlin-Tegel four weekly flights Los Angeles Berlin-Tegel three weekly flights Berlin-Tegel Miami now year round Frequency increases from Boston, San Francisco and NY (JFK) airberlin is significantly strengthening its long-haul network to the United States as the airline expands its flight frequencies by up to 50 per cent from 55 weekly to 78 weekly nonstop flights from Berlin and Dusseldorf in summer 2017. The flights connect smoothly with many destinations within the airlines global network. This network improvement proves the increasing importance of the hubs in Berlin-Tegel and Dusseldorf and the long-haul network to North America. Orlando will be launched as a new destination on May 6, 2017, departing five times per week to airberlins expanding Dusseldorf hub. Stefan Pichler, Chief Executive Officer airberlin, says: Orlando is a valuable addition to our existing strong Florida-portfolio because the city is a major convention destination which bears a high potential in the business travel segment. "airberlin has already seen a strong expansion of its US network this year as we added two new destinations Boston and San Francisco and several frequencies to our existing US network. The further expansion of our US operations as of summer 2017 shows that we are determined to continue on our path to position airberlin as a premium network carrier with a strong US footprint and an excellent proposition even for the most discerning business traveller." The network expansion also includes the newly launched routes between Dusseldorf and Boston as well as San Francisco that will be increased from four weekly (Boston to Dusseldorf) and five weekly flights (San Francisco to Dusseldorf) to a daily service each. Together with the flights from Orlando, this is increasing the airlines number of weekly flights from Dusseldorf to the US by 24 per cent in comparison to the previous year. The Berlin hub will also see an increase as the number of weekly flights to the US will increase by 93 per cent in 2017. Both San Francisco and Los Angeles will be operated to and from the airlines growing Berlin-Tegel hub from the beginning of May 2017 with four and three weekly flights respectively, adding up to a total of eleven weekly flights from San Francisco and a total of ten weekly flights from Los Angeles to Dusseldorf and Berlin combined. Flights from Miami to Berlin will be a year-round nonstop service as of this winter with four weekly flights in winter and three during summer in addition to the daily flights to Dusseldorf. The very popular flights from New York (JFK) to Berlin will be increased by three additional frequencies to up to ten flights per week. Together with the existing double daily service to Dusseldorf, travelers can choose from 24 weekly connections with airberlin to Germany in summer 2017. At our hub in Berlin and Dusseldorf airberlin is the carrier with the highest number of flights to the US already this year. By further enhancing our long-haul network we continue to strengthen our leading market position and sharpen our profile as a network carrier with a highly attractive portfolio, Stefan Pichler adds. Germany's second-largest airline will receive three additional Airbus A330-200 to operate the extended flight program. All aircraft will be equipped with airberlins premium long-haul product: 19 seats in the exclusive FullFlat Business Class section and 271 Economy Class seats, including 46 XL Seats, which offer around 20 per cent more legroom. In total, airberlin flies nonstop from eight US-destinations in summer 2017 to Dusseldorf and Berlin: New York (JFK), Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando (new), Fort Myers, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Additional flights from Berlin-Tegel to the US in winter 2016/17 The route expansion to the US already starts this winter: Flights between Berlin-Tegel and Miami will double to four times a week, compared to the winter of 2015/16. With the addition of a connection on Tuesdays, there will be daily flights from New York this coming winter. airberlin will also be adding a Thursday flight from Chicago in the winter to bring the weekly total to five. During the winter, airberlin flies 16 times a week to Berlin from three destinations in the USA: Chicago, New York and Miami. Frequency increase from Dusseldorf to the US in winter 2016/17 airberlin will furthermore resume year-round flights between Dusseldorf and Los Angeles with five weekly flights. In total, airberlin will fly 24 times a week to Dusseldorf from four destinations in the US: Fort Myers, Miami, New York and Los Angeles. The airberlin hubs in Berlin and Dusseldorf are conveniently connected with many airberlin destinations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as from the airlines global network. In the US, partner airline American Airlines offers countless ongoing connections to destinations in the US and Canada. Tickets can be booked on https://airberlin.com, by contacting the Service Center (Tel: 917 261-3165, local rate applies) or through a travel agent. About airberlin airberlin is one of the leading airlines in Europe and flies to 147 destinations worldwide each year. The second largest airline in Germany carried more than 30.2 million passengers in 2015. airberlin offers a global route network through its strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, which has a 29.21 percent share in airberlin, and through membership of the oneworld airline alliance. topbonus, the frequent flyer programme of airberlin, is one of the leading programmes in Europe with more than 4 million members. The airline with the award-winning service operates codeshare flights worldwide with 21 airlines. The fleet is among the most modern and eco-efficient in Europe. Together with other airlines, airberlin belongs to Etihad Airways Partners, a new brand with which Etihad has been uniting shared activities since the end of 2014. Press contact: Janina Mollenhauer Press Officer Tel.: +49 30 3434 1500 Fax: +49 30 3434 1509 E-mail: janina.mollenhauer(at)airberlin(dot)com http://www.airberlin.com On behalf of airberlin Madeleine Vogelsang Media Relations Representative USA & Canada Phone: 1-917-971-6213 Email: mvogelsang(at)zcomgroup(dot)org http://www.airberlin.com http://www.facebook.com/airberlin Daryl LaBar Having an MVP on the staff shows the caliber of leaders we have on our team. Gregg Gallant, President Allegient Allegient LLC, a business information technology-consulting firm focused on translating business challenges into technology solutions, announces today team member Daryl LaBar has been named a Business Solutions Microsoft MVP for his work and industry leadership in Dynamics CRM community. LaBar is the first-ever Allegient team member to be named to this exclusive designation, which includes just 55 professionals nationwide. Having an MVP on the staff shows the caliber of leaders we have on our team, says Gregg Gallant, president Allegient. This recognition showcases the thought leadership and technical expertise consultants such as Daryl possess and apply to client projects each day. The criteria used to evaluate the MVP professionals list includes: the impact of a nominees contributions to online forums, such as Microsoft Answers, TechNet and MSDN; wikis and online content; conferences and user groups; podcasts, websites, blogs and social media; and articles and books. Each nominee's contributions are compared to those of other candidates, and active MVPs receive the same level of analysis as new candidates each year. LaBar is an active member of the global CRM community, participating as a Stack Overflow CRM leader and XRM user group presenter/organizer. His work has been globally recognized through his development of one of the two unit-test frameworks for CRM in the world. LaBar said, It is a feeling of great humility to be included with such an amazing group of fellow MVP award winners. I am truly honored to receive this distinction and look forward to continuing to contribute to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM community. In the United States, there are 694 Microsoft MVPs with a global total of 4,000 in 10 award categories, which include 90 contributing areas. For more information about the MVP program, [click here. About Allegient LLC With offices in Indianapolis and Chicago, Allegient LLC is a business information technology-consulting firm focused on translating business challenges into technology solutions. As Microsoft go-to Partner with all Gold & Silver Competencies, Allegient has been the consultant of choice for many enterprise level clients since its inception in 2001. The firms unique approach brings business knowledge to the table first before advising on the best technology solution. Consulting Services include Business Analysis, Project Management, Data & Analytics, Customer Relationship Management, Enterprise Collaboration, Application Development and User Experience Design. Uncle Sam - Vevo - Global RnB Singer - New Single Free Free will speak directly into the heart of anyone who has to be free to themselves before they die!!! God made man and he said it was good...free R&B legend Uncle Sam from the official Boyz II Men Label is back in the spotlight with a new single titled Free. Popular releases in the late nineties such as I Dont Ever Want To See You Again are still enjoyed by listeners worldwide with over 7 million views on Vevo and reaching #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Sam has been signed to Sony/Epic and has been known to tour worldwide with industry legends such as Boyz II Men, K-Ci & JoJo, Destinys Child, Next Mia, and more. His album reached Gold status along with being included in the score of hit shows such as Touched By An Angel. Currently he is partnered with ShyDog Productions to launch new music and syndicate to radio, streaming services, and other channels. In regards to Free, Sam explains that it will speak directly into the heart of anyone who has to be free to themselves before they die!!! God made man and he said it was good...free. Further he notes that he is ready to go where Ive never been doing things Ive never done! This music is the vehicle thats going to take us there! My Most calculated body of work that Ive ever been a part of! Our team was strategic with every note and lyric. I plan to continue to keep new music in the marketplace to make up for lost time. Sam has always brought a high-caliber of perfectionism and quality to his music. His previous self-titled album was in part composed by Shawn Stockman, one of the voices of Boyz II Men, along with legendary producers such as Jimmy Jam Harris & Terry Lewis known to be associated with acts such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Usher, Mariah Carey, and countless others. When asked about Sams music inspirations he notes that they are too many to mention because Im such a lover of music but if I had to pick I would say Donny Hathaway. He is excited to be filming the new music video for free along with a movie this summer. As far as his past experiences with Boyz II Men and Stone Creek he explains that because of his association with Boyz II Men, I met many top entertainers, actors, actresses, and executives. Now some of the people that I became friends with that root for me, are in very high places. Im really excited to reunite with some of the greatest artists, actors and executives of all time, at the places whether the elite gather. Good times to come! Listen to Free on iTunes and Spotify today! ### About ShyDog Productions - http://ShyDogMusicPub.com (ShyDog) is a global independent record label. ShyDog has signed deals with super star artists including Snoop Dogg, Ray J. Bizzy Bone, Braydz and many more. ShyDog brings music from independent artists to the marketplace. About Emerging Media Partners - http://EmergingMediaPartners.com Global marketing solutions for entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 brands, celebrities, non-profit and more. Digital strategy, planning and campaign execution across web, social & video from an innovative and forward thinking team. Founded & lead by media industry mogul Josh Bois. TrackDoc Flow is an integrated solution ideally suited to the hospital and practice environment because it allows physicians to securely transmit, access, and approve documentation for the EHR from any location, at any time. ZyDoc, a New York-based medical transcription and informatics company, has signed an agreement to provide Parkview Medical Center, Pueblo, Colorado with web-based transcription and EHR data insertion services utilizing ZyDocs TrackDoc Flow platform. ZyDocs TrackDoc Flow mobile app integrates ZyDocs award-winning transcription services and section-level EHR data insertion, allowing Parkview clinicians to dictate their reports into a smartphone or tablet for transcription by ZyDoc and insertion into the hospitals eClinicalWorks EHR at the section level. Users can remotely connect into their eClinicalWorks patient appointment schedules, electronically review and sign transcribed documents, and auto-fax documents to referring practices. According to ZyDoc Vice President of Sales, Kevin Ross, TrackDoc Flow is an integrated solution ideally suited to the hospital and practice environment because it allows physicians to securely transmit, access, and approve documentation for the EHR with their smartphones or tablets from any location and at any time. Prior to working with ZyDoc, Parkview doctors were using disparate dictation methods including digital recorders and telephone. Typically, they were tediously typing and clicking to document encounters within their EHR, which made review limited. With TrackDoc Flow, the doctors use their smartphones to dictate with encryption and the transcribed text is automatically inserted into the appropriate sections of their EHR. The first groups to use TrackDoc Flow at Parkview were physicians and PAs in the Orthopedics and Cardiology departments, with plans for more departments to onboard in the future. As with all ZyDoc products, TrackDoc Flow is HIPAA-secure. Users are required to input their password to open their mobile devices, then enter a User ID and their password to use the app. All transmissions use 256-bit encryption. The app is available for iOS and Android devices, with interfaces to all leading EHRs. ZyDoc employs Certified eClinicalWorks EMR and PM solution providers. Pete Martinez, AVP of Physician Services - Revenue Cycle at Parkview Medical Center explained, The goal is to deliver the highest quality healthcare to our patients and document it in the most efficient process possible. The healthcare providers that have used the ZyDoc product have been very pleased with its speed along with ease of use compared to other EMR and transcription solutions. About Parkview Medical Center Founded in 1923, Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado, offers general acute healthcare and behavioral health specialty services. As a private, non-profit organization, Parkview is licensed for 350 beds and provides a full range of healthcare services including the regions only certified and verified Level II Trauma Center as well as the regions first certified Stroke Center. Parkview Medical Center is the leader in cardiac, womens, emergency, and neurological services as well as behavioral health programs. As a vital healthcare source, Parkviews service area includes Pueblo County and 14 surrounding counties, which together represent 370,000 total lives. Parkview Medical Center is the largest non-government, nonprofit, private sector employer in Pueblo County with more than 2,700 employees and provides a skilled medical staff of over 370 physicians. The impact of its workforce triggers a strong impact on the community as Parkviews annual payroll contributes $155 million to the economy. About ZyDoc Since its inception in 1993, ZyDocs mission has been to increase the efficiency of physicians through the use of software technology and services to improve patient care and outcomes, lower malpractice risk, and maximize reimbursement. Based in Islandia, New York, ZyDoc has developed award-winning e-transcription infrastructure and medical informatics technologies, serving medical practices, hospitals, public health agencies, and other entities in the medico-legal, academic and pharmacology sectors. Augmenting ZyDocs transcription business, MediSapien is a web-based, knowledge management platform that uses disruptive natural language processing and AI technologies to convert unstructured text to fully coded structured data for EHRs, PACS, RIS, analytics, and reporting. For clinician end-users, MediSapien can be utilized in conjunction with EHR installations, and can facilitate analytic applications for individual or population disease management for ACOs, hospitals or large groups. ZyDoc is a certified Philips Reseller and a VMWare Professional Solution Provider Partner. For more information about ZyDoc and MediSapien, please visit http://www.zydoc.com or contact Kevin Ross, VP of Sales at 800.546.5633 ext. 708. The policy that Founders Specialty has developed contains an innovative rewards program that is a 'first of its kind' in the industry. National wholesale insurance broker, Founders Professional, is pleased to announce the opening of a new managing general agency, Founders Specialty. Founders Specialty will develop market leading products primarily in the professional liability space with key insurance partners. Founders Specialty will be led by industry veteran, Stephen S. van Wert, who has seventeen years of experience in running large national professional liability programs for large publicly traded insurance brokers. In this new role, van Wert will help spearhead the development and growth of additional programs under the Founders Specialty banner. The first program being launched is an admitted lawyers professional liability insurance program for law firms with 1-20 attorneys. The new program will be underwritten by an established global specialty insurer, with a strong national presence in the hard-to-place and excess lawyers professional liability market. The new lawyers program is currently authorized to place coverage for law firms in the states of Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee. It is expected to have filings approved shortly in the states of California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas and Vermont. The program, which will be automatically available to agents currently working with Founders Professional, will also be open to new agents on a select basis. Robb Williams, President of Founders Professional, commented: We are ecstatic to launch this new company and have it led by such a well-seasoned industry specialist like Stephen. Stephens proven track record of successfully running several programs will be an invaluable asset to our retail agents and the entire Founders team as we continue to focus on providing high quality service and solutions to our partners. We are currently working on numerous other exciting initiatives, and we look forward to identifying and adding more talented people to our organization nationwide. Stephen van Wert, President of Founders Specialty, commented: Im very excited to join and lead Founders Specialty. It will be a great complement to the existing wholesale operations of Founders Professional and provide another important platform for continued growth of the Founders organization overall. The policy that Founders Specialty has developed contains an innovative rewards program that is a first of its kind in the industry. If you are an agent interested in representing Founders Specialty, please contact Aaron Lipson at 312.219.6589 or via email at aaron(at)founderspro(dot)com About Founders Specialty Founders Specialty is a Tampa, Florida based managing general agency (MGA) focused on the placement and administration of professional liability insurance programs nationwide. All submission should be sent directly to lpl.submissions(at)foundersspecialty(dot)com. Centegra Health System's partnership with Hammes Company contributed to the development of the healing environment we will provide our patients at Centegra Hospital-Huntley beginning Aug. 9. Many years of visioning, planning and hard work will come to fruition in the village of Huntley next week, as Centegra Health System and its program management partner, Milwaukee-based Hammes Company, unveil the new $230 million, 128-bed Centegra Hospital-Huntley. Centegra chose Hammes Company, the nations largest healthcare real estate developer, in October 2010 to be its owners representative and program manager for the construction of its new flagship hospital on its existing Centegra Health Campus at the intersection of Algonquin and Haligus Roads, about 50 miles northwest of Chicago. Ground was broken in February 2014 and Hammes has delivered a state-of-the-art facility that will open Aug. 9 four months ahead of schedule and $3 million under budget. Situated on what was once a strawberry patch surrounded by cornfields, the new hospital represents a multifaceted win for the community. It expands on the existing outpatient services on the campus to provide an even higher level of care for the town of Huntley and the citizens of rapidly expanding McHenry and Northern Kane counties, while providing an economic boon to the local workforce. As only the second new hospital to be built in the area in the past 30 years, Centegra Hospital-Huntley has been carefully planned and executed to provide advanced healthcare and a healing environment. Along with general medical and surgical services, features include a cardiac catheterization lab, two Level II trauma rooms, a Family Birth Center and a special care nursery. A helipad adjacent to the Emergency Department will accommodate critical Flight for Life situations. All patient rooms are private and same-sided so that all rooms are identical, promoting safety and staff efficiency. In each room there is a Family Zone to accommodate visiting and attending family members. "Centegra Health System's partnership with Hammes Company contributed to the development of the healing environment we will provide our patients at Centegra Hospital-Huntley beginning Aug. 9," said Michael S. Eesley, Chief Executive Officer of Centegra. "The Hammes team's approach aligned with our goals to build a hospital that meets our community's needs and reflects good stewardship of our resources. Hammes helped our organization turn Centegra Hospital-Huntley from a vision into a reality." Hammes Company has been able to deliver effective and strategic project management expertise to help Centegra Hospital - Huntley complete their vision to bring quality healthcare and more to this growing and vibrant area, said James A. Both, Project Executive with Hammes Company. Bringing top quality healthcare to this wonderful community is why we do what we do We have been assisting Centegra Health Systems with consulting and project management since 1995, said David Connolly, Senior Vice President of Hammes Company. Centegra Hospital-Huntley began December 2010 when a Certificate of Need (CON) was submitted, and approved July 2012. Significant planning began November 2012, with patient experience teams began working with full-scale mock-ups of patient care rooms in a space at Centegra Hospital-McHenry. In November 2013, a Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of Centegra Health System, and the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board upheld the CON approval. During every phase of construction, feedback sessions with staff on how to optimize workflow helped shape and bring innovative design to the final product. Another great benefit to the area has been the positive economic impact, estimated at $152 million. More than 800 construction jobs were created to build Centegra Hospital-Huntley, with much of the work completed by local contractors. In addition, Centegra, McHenry County's largest employer, plans to employ more than 1,000 people at the Huntley hospital. The project was truly a community effort, with many local citizens contributing to the development of their new hospital, Mr. Both added. Its had a big impact on the overall community where each person put their best efforts forth and will be proud to add Centegra Hospital-Huntley to their portfolio. Centegra Hospital-Huntley marks the third project between Centegra and Hammes Company, with previous collaborations on outpatient facilities near Centegras Woodstock and McHenry, Ill., campuses. In addition to Hammes Company, the project team included general contractor Power Construction, of Schaumburg, Ill; project architect Kahler Slater of Milwaukee and MEP engineering firm Korda of Columbus, Ohio. (Please see following Fact Sheet for additional information.) About Centegra Health System Centegra Health System is committed to meeting the health care needs of the residents of greater McHenry County and Northern Kane County and to making services available in multiple and convenient locations, including hospitals in McHenry and Woodstock, Immediate and Physician Care Centers, Centegra Sage Cancer Center, Health Bridge Fitness Centers. As the regions leading health care provider, Centegra Health System continues to bring the latest treatments and technology, along with the skills of nearly 4,000 associates, to meet the needs of the growing McHenry County and Northern Kane County communities. For more information about Centegra Health System visit centegra.org, search Centegra Health System on Facebook and Twitter or call 877-CENTEGRA (236-8347). About Hammes Company Hammes Company is comprised of a team of accomplished professionals with deep industry and functional expertise. The company assists a full spectrum of healthcare clients by advising, implementing and managing key strategies and solutions that build high-performing organizations. Hammes Company is recognized by leading healthcare providers and industry insiders as one of the most trusted providers of consulting services in the United States. The company currently serves health systems, hospitals, physician groups and payers. Hammes Company is headquartered in Milwaukee and provides services through a network of regional offices strategically located across the country in Atlanta; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Houston; Los Angeles; Newport News, R.I.; New York; Richmond, Va.; Seattle; and Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit http://www.hammesco.com. Fact Sheet Centegra Hospital - Huntley Location: 10400 Haligus Rd, Huntley, IL 60142 Size: 385,000 square feet, with 128 beds including 12 ICU Beds, 8 operating rooms on 107 acres of land Departments: Inpatient surgery and recovery Same-day surgery Two endoscopy suites Level II Trauma Emergency Department A full range of diagnostic and imaging including: Radiology Radiography/Fluoroscopy Ultrasound CT Scanning MRI Scanning Nuclear Medicine 6 private Labor/Delivery/Recovery suites 2 C-section suites Private newborn nurseries Inpatient physical therapy and occupational therapy Cardiology, including noninvasive diagnostics and a cardiac catheterization lab Neurodiagnostics Pulmonary function testing Respiratory therapy Inpatient acute dialysis Clinical laboratory Inpatient pharmacies and Centegra Care Connections retail pharmacy Food service, including a casual cafe with outdoor seating Onsite helipad to transfer critical patients Schedule: Planning began November 2012. Design started February 2013. Broke ground February 2014. Opening scheduled for Aug. 9, 2016. Owner: Centegra Health; http://www.centegra.org Project Manager/Owners Representative: Hammes Company, Milwaukee; http://www.hammesco.com Project Architect: Kahler Slater, Milwaukee; http://www.kahlerslater.com General Contractor: Power Construction, Schaumburg, Illinois INDIGOS latest financing will be used to accelerate growth through new product development, continued development of a European strategy, and the expansion of domestic sales capabilities. INDIGO Biosciences announced the completion of a $500,000 Series B financing round on June 28, 2016. The Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania (LSGPA) and AGSM, a private equity investment firm from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania led this round. INDIGOS latest financing will be used to accelerate growth through new product development, continued development of a European strategy, and the expansion of domestic sales capabilities. This Series B financing is part of an overall goal to raise $1.5 million in investments. These additional investments from LSGPA and AGSM position us to expand our sales efforts in markets where we see some great potential, said Fred Marroni, CEO of INDIGO Biosciences. The continued commitment from these two investment organizations will help make INDIGO one of the leading nuclear receptor assay companies in the world. INDIGO was founded in 2005. Over the past 11 years, the company has demonstrated success in providing quality screening services to clients within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, agriculture and nutriceutical industries. Its CryoMite, technology provides long-term cryo-preservation of cells for shipping and storage, providing users the convenience of readily available robust cell-based reporter assays for on-demand use. We believe that INDIGO Biosciences has strong growth potential, and has shown good market traction over the years, said Mel Billingsley, CEO, LSGPA. We have been engaged with INDIGO Biosciences since its founding in 2005, and we made our first investment in 2008. This additional investment will help INDIGO Biosciences continue to grow and succeed. INDIGO is recognized for its work in studies and scholarly articles. INDIGOs products and services represent the largest portfolio of nuclear receptor (NR) assay kits and related screening services in the world, each with uncompromising robustness and sensitivity. INDIGOS assay kits and services have played a major role in several new drug discoveries. About INDIGO Biosciences INDIGO Biosciences was founded in 2005 in State College, Pennsylvania, and has established itself as an industry-leading provider of both products and services focused on nuclear receptors. INDIGO offers both screening services and assay kits for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agri-business, and nutriceutical industries, as well as government research agencies and academic researchers. For more information, please visit: http://www.indigobiosciences.com About LSGPA LSGPA is a venture investment organization that provides early-stage investments to promising start-up companies in the life sciences field in central Pennsylvania. The organization was founded in 2002 and was funded from Pennsylvanias Tobacco Settlement Funds to stimulate creation and growth of new life sciences enterprises in Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit: http://www.lsgpa.com About AGSM The AGSM Opportunity Fund is a private equity program which is implemented and managed by AGSM, LLC for the purpose of investing in or acquiring small to medium sized privately held companies. For more information visit: http://www.AGSM.biz This is really about a partnership of two companies with a common goal enabling clients to make smarter decisions with their Microsoft investments. Planet Technologies is pleased to announce a partnership with Directions on Microsoft, in order to provide effective Microsoft-focused IT planning information and training for Microsoft enterprise customers in Federal and State and Local Government. Under this partnership, Planet will offer exclusive discounted pricing for government customers on Directions on Microsoft memberships and training, including an intensive, 2-day Microsoft Licensing Boot Camp. This is really about a partnership of two companies with a common goal enabling clients to make smarter decisions with their Microsoft investments. Directions on Microsoft and Planet provide a layer of independence and objectivity that will help government customers make better choices in their strategic planning for Microsoft investments, says Scott Tucker, President, Planet Technologies. Tucker adds, Directions on Microsoft is the gold standard for Microsoft technology roadmaps, licensing and other important Microsoft topics used by organizations across the globe. Dovetailing on the success of Planets launch last year of Evolve 365 (On-Demand Microsoft video training and help desk service), Directions on Microsoft rounds out a suite of Microsoft offerings from Planet, including industry leading Microsoft services consultants and cloud architects specializing in Office 365 and Azure. About Directions on Microsoft Directions on Microsoft (DOM) is an independent source of accurate, objective, concise and understandable intelligence for organizations that need clarity about Microsoft enterprise technologies, product roadmaps, strategies, and licensing policies. Since 1992, DOM has specialized in supplying facts and insight every IT team must have to make informed decisions about their Microsoft projects and purchases. About Planet Technologies Planet Technologies, the leading Microsoft services and cloud solutions partner for government, provides the best integration and customization of Microsoft technologies and data center solutions, period. Planet has been awarded Microsoft Federal Partner of the Year an unprecedented six times, Microsoft State and Local Partner of the Year five times, and Microsoft Windows Partner of the Year five times. Visit us at http://www.go-planet.com. Throughout the Republican primary, Donald Trumps ace in the hole was his obvious willingness to burn the Grand Old Party to the ground on his way out the door if he didnt receive its presidential nomination. Every time things started to look bad for the former reality television star, he began suggesting the existence of a vast conspiracy against him that delegitimized the entire primary process. Related: GOP Convention Made History (and Not in A Good Way) He repeatedly claimed that the Republican National Committee was working against him, telling his supporters at rally after rally that the primary system was rigged and tacitly approving of surrogates who urged massive protests at the RNC convention in Cleveland if Trump didnt get the nod. He frequently implied that he didnt consider himself bound by a pledge that he had signed, along with all the other candidates, not to run as a third-party nominee if he did not win the GOP primary. Trump knew, as did every member of the GOP establishment, that he had the power to cause a massive schism that would effectively end the Republican Party as it currently exists. Trump never had a true majority of the Republican electorate behind him in the primaries, but he owned the loyalty of a major demographic group -- less-educated white men -- that the GOP is dependent on for electoral success. That group was already angry at the Republican establishment and the threat that Trump might take their votes with him in a third-party run or, at minimum, convince them to stay home in November, was no small thing for the party. It likely had a lot to do with the inability of senior figures in the GOP to bring themselves to denounce him. Now, it looks as though Trump wants to apply the same strategy to the general election. Related: Trump Shatters Presidential Norms in Attack on Grieving Parents As was the case when he accused the GOP of rigging the primary, theres no doubt that things have been going badly for Trump over the past few days. Story continues His decision to attack the parents of a soldier killed in Iraq after they criticized him provoked massive backlash from within and without the GOP. He embarrassed himself in an interview Sunday morning by appearing completely unfamiliar with the central facts about the ongoing war in Ukraine. The GOP convention, where he accepted the partys presidential nomination, turned out to be the first in modern history that hurt, rather than helped, the nominees chances for election, according to Gallup. So, it probably shouldnt be a surprise that Trump chose Monday to start planting the seed in his supporters heads that there might be a massive conspiracy to deprive him of the GOP nomination. Im afraid the elections going to be rigged, I have to be honest, he told a crowd in Columbus, Ohio. The effort to rig the GOP primary, he claimed, was only defeated by massive turnout by his supporters. The Democratic primary, he suggested, was clearly biased against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Related: Trump Melts Down Spectacularly in ABC Interview However improbable it is that a major party primary could be fixed in favor of a specific candidate, the idea seems positively sane compared to claim that some cabal could take control of a U.S. presidential election that operates under various rules established by the legislatures of 50 states and multiple territories. But in the end, logic wouldnt matter. Trumps goal wouldnt be to convince a majority of people that he was right. It would be to convince a loud minority so thoroughly that they would spread, and continue to spread, the idea that the system the U.S. uses to elect its president is itself illegitimate. That is something that even losers of presidential elections who had legitimate complaints about specific instances of unfair treatment -- think Richard Nixon in 1960 or Al Gore in 2000 -- have declined to do. Both men, who could have made very credible arguments that their opponents were not elected legitimately, declined to do so in the interests of the country. But as Trump has repeatedly shown, the best interests of the country dont appear to be what is driving his candidacy. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. Saddam Palace bombed by RAF The major campaign to retake Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul, from ISIS militants is in the works. As part of it, coalition forces deemed it necessary to strike hard and fast. A lavish palace, which once belonged to the late Saddam Hussein, was reported to have been used as a major training center for foreign ISIS recruits. According to the UK's Ministry of Defense (MoD), after conducting extensive surveillance, two Royal Air Force Tornadoes dropped the largest bomb that they had in their arsenal, the 2,000-pound Enhanced Paveway III guided "bunker buster," on the headquarters and security center. The bombs, guided to their targets by lasers or GPS, are designed to bust through fortified bunkers and explode once they penetrate inside. The MoD stated that the coalition-led mission was successful, but it could not estimate the number of casualties. Originally built in 1994, this particular palace contained three lakes, artificial waterfalls, and underground bunkers. Although the palace housed US troops during Operation Iraqi Freedom, it was eventually captured by ISIS forces that occupied the entire city of Mosul. via GIPHY Watch the entire video below: More From Business Insider For decades, American military leaders including generals and admirals recently retired -- have been in broad agreement about staying above the political fray, especially in election years. But like so many other traditions cast aside like highway litter in this crass and crazy race to the White House, the militarys code of studied silence is being tossed out the campaign bus window. Related: Heres What Happens If Trump Decides to Quit In a letter to the editor published by The Washington Post last weekend, General Martin Dempsey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, criticized the appearances of two former generals at the political conventions last month. The military is not a political prize. Politicians should take the advice of senior military leaders but keep them off the stage, Dempsey wrote. The American people should not wonder where their military leaders draw the line between military advice and political preference. And our nations soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines should not wonder about the political leanings and motivations of their leaders. Dempsey said that former Army Lt. General Mike Flynn, who appeared at the Republican National Convention, and former Marine General John Allen, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention, were both out of line. Flynn, forced out as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, said America needs to wake up, and he denounced the reckless rhetoric of an Obama clone like Hillary Clinton and the willful ignorance and total incompetence of the current administration. Allen, former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command and chief of American forces in Afghanistan, was surrounded by a platoon of ex-soldiers in civvies as he spoke forcefully in support of Hillary Clinton. He said under her command, international relations will not be reduced to a business transaction, adding I also know that our armed forces will not become an instrument of torture, and they will not be engaged in murder, or carry out other illegal activities. Story continues Related: Trump Slams US Military Strength, Swoons Over Russian Forces No question, they were fighting words from fighting men. But thats what galls Dempsey. They were introduced as generals. As generals, they have an obligation to uphold our apolitical traditions, Dempsey said. They have just made the task of their successors who continue to serve in uniform and are accountable for our security more complicated. It was a mistake for them to participate as they did. Dempsey is definitely old school, and he is to be commended for trying to protect a tradition that American military leaders hold dear. But in this critical election, as American faces an ever more dangerous world, is he right? Certainly, active-duty military leaders need to button it and follow the orders of the commander in chief. That is crucial to maintaining the countrys deep faith in its warriors as apolitical instruments of defense and pillars of democracy. The alternative is a banana republic where disgruntled generals roll tanks onto the White House lawn, surround Capitol Hill and replace the Supreme Court with puppets. If military leaders dont like the orders that come down, they can turn in their stars and return to civilian life, or if they resist directives, as General Douglas MacArthur did, they can be forced to fade away. Related: Trump Wants to Add to the War on Terrors $4 Trillion Price Tag But when their uniforms are hung in a closet for good, military leaders have a right and in many cases, a duty to share their views with the American people they served. In Trumps case, the public should know what the professionals think about the prospect of the Pentagon taking orders from someone who sidestepped the draft during the Vietnam War because of heel spurs. And as voters assess Clinton, a supporter of the disastrous intervention in Iraq, a read on her from generals like Allen and General Stanley McChrystal, who worked with the former secretary of state, might help inform their opinion. Its doubtful that General Dempsey would argue that Dwight Eisenhower shouldnt have run for president, which is about as deep into the political process as it gets. So why shouldnt generals and admirals who carried out decisions that put their lives and their troops lives on the line try to influence the choice of who is best qualified to make those calls in the precarious future? Offering advice and support to candidates is the right of any officer, as Dempsey said in an op-ed for DefenseOne, But they should speak privately, where it will not be interpreted that they are speaking for us all. But there is a time to shut up and a time to stand up. This is a time when the nation needs the leaders of the institution it trusts the most to speak in a loud voice. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. CHICAGO (AP) Illinois officials posted new forms this week for doctors and patients in the state's medical marijuana program to reflect changes in the law, and announced Wednesday that July retail sales reached a new high at $2.9 million. Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation last month extending the pilot program until July 2020 and adding two qualifying health conditions post-traumatic stress disorder and terminal illnesses. Those changes are expected to further drive growth in the program, but won't be reflected in retail sales until next month. The Illinois Department of Public Health posted updated information on its website Tuesday, including a new form allowing physicians to certify a patient's diagnosis without the added requirement of recommending marijuana as medicine. An updated patient application is available, as is new information on how patients who are terminally ill can apply for a medical marijuana card without a fee. The department also posted updated information for current patients on renewing their marijuana cards and will mail renewal information to registered cardholders 90 days before their cards expire. New patient identification cards will be valid for three years and cost $300; annual fees had been $100. Veterans and people qualifying for disability benefits can get a reduction in the fee to $150 for three years. The three-year ID card allows patients to avoid yearly costs of doctor visits and fingerprints, Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Divya Little said. "It also allows IDPH to accommodate the increased volume of applications and the significant staff time required to process them," Little said. But the increased fee pinches the pocketbook of many patients, suburban Chicago patient advocate and industry analyst Joel Erickson said. "Patients are seeing these numbers and are scared about how they're going to pay for access," Erickson said. "That's a car or rent payment without any help from insurance. There needs to be alternatives for low or fixed-income patients to be able to afford access." Sales of medical marijuana in Illinois have climbed steadily since purchasing began Nov. 9. In July, Illinois patients legally purchased $2.9 million worth of marijuana products, according to figures released Wednesday. June sales had been $2.57 million. Illinois now has nearly 8,891 qualified medical marijuana patients and 40 registered dispensaries, according to the program's monthly update. July's figures bring the total retail sales of marijuana in Illinois to $16.3 million since the program launched. It looked good during the course of the night, said Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean. The winds that were predicted did not materialize overnight. But we are looking at strong winds coming up this afternoon. In an update released at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Cal Fire estimated that the fire had burned 4,000 acres, more than doubling in acreage burned overnight. The fire was 5 percent contained with 700 personnel assigned to the blaze. The Cold Fire prompted evacuation of a campground and residential area of about three dozen homes in the dry grassy slopes of western Yolo County. It started about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday off Highway 128, west of Pleasant Valley Road. The fire is being fought in steep, remote terrain. Crews are hampered by a lack of roads. About 85 engine crews are fighting the blaze in grass and oak woodland. Helicopters dropping big buckets of water and airplanes with fire retardant will attempt to keep the fire in check on Wednesday, McLean said. Meanwhile, Cal Fire will attempt to get hand crews in to cut lines in order to slow the march of the blaze. The issues at hand are the topography and terrain, said McLean. It is difficult access. It is so steep. The hand crews have to unload and hike quite a way in and that takes a long time, as you can imagine. The engine crews are following the bulldozers cutting line but they can only go so far as well. No structures have been reported burned. The cause is under investigation. McLean said the fire is burning in a remote area that sits roughly between the 8,000 acres burned by the Wragg Fire in July and August 2015 and the 6,500 acres blackened by the Monticello Fire in July 2014. Both fires were near Lake Berryessa. The Monticello Fire was in Yolo County; the Wragg Fire burned in Napa and Solano counties. Evacuations were in effect for Canyon Creek Resort off Highway 128 and Golden Bear Estates, a residential area off County Road 34. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. power lines remain threatened along the Highway 128 corridor, according to Cal Fire. TRIPOLI, Libya A suicide attack targeting Libyan Army troops in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi killed at least 15 soldiers, medical sources tell dpa. The attack struck a gathering of Libyan Army forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar near Quarsah district, in the northwestern suburbs of Benghazi, the sources said. At least 16 soldiers were wounded in the attack, according to the sources. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but similar violence has been claimed by Islamic State terrorists. The movement has taken advantage of chaos in Libya to seize territory along the sparsely populated central coast. Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 revolt that toppled long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi. In March, a U.N.-backed unity government arrived in Tripoli, amid international hopes to re-establish stability. However, the city of Tobruks powerful military chief, Haftar, and a supportive parliament based in the city are still holding out against the nascent unity government. CALDCs Halloween Celebration A Real Treat! The Central Astoria LDCs 7th annual Batty Over Halloween Celebration held on Sunday, October 23rd was a real treat for everyone who came out. Despite... Meng Brings NASA Astronaut To Queens On October 17, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) brought NASA astronaut Dr. Jonny Kim to Queens where he met and spoke with students at Francis... Celebrating Columbus The Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Queens (FIAO) held their annual Columbus Day parade in Astoria, on Saturday, October 8, during Italian Heritage Month. The... 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 22.8km 14-station line from Quezon City to Bulacan is scheduled to open in April 2020. Using its experience as a rail operator, Korail will provide support on system configuration for operations and maintenance. The Korean operator has previous experience in the Philippines and was awarded a Won 10bn ($US 9m) contract to improve facilities on Manila Line MRT-1 in 2013. In its latest announcement, Korail states that it will also do all it can to secure the Won 540bn maintenance contract for MRT-7. In addition to this, the company is hoping to establish itself further in the Philippine market by working closely with San Miguel Holdings on operations maintenance contracts for lines MRT-2 and MRT-6. Korail is not the only Korean company involved in the MRT-7 - in January Hyundai Rotem confirmed it has been awarded a contract to supply 108 metro cars together with signalling, communications, and power supplies for the project. Railfest 2016, an annual celebration of railroading past, present and future that is held on the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend at Steamtown National Historic Site, announced that Mr. Charles Liberto has been named Grand Marshal for this year's event. Mr. Liberto will be honored at an event opening ceremony on Saturday morning September 3rd at 10:00 a.m. hosted by Park Superintendent Deborah Conway. Mr Liberto, a native of Philadelphia, has been instrumental in the development and success of the annual Railfest events. A former Reading Railroad Company trainman, Mr. Liberto brought together volunteers, community leaders and park staff ten years ago to develop what has turned into a highly visible and nationally-known celebration of railroading at Steamtown National Historic Site. Mr. Libertos energy and enthusiasm helps make this event a huge success each year. More information on Railfest 2016 is available HERE. The Zika virus is spreading in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a historic travel warning this week, advising pregnant women and their partners not to travel to a neighborhood near downtown Miami after confirming the nations first cluster of local infections there. While there are currently no drugs or vaccines available to treat Zika, female condoms are considered a healthy choice to help limit the spread of the disease, since the virus can be transmitted through sexual contact. Lisa Levin, director of marketing for The Female Health Company (FHCO), told Yahoo Finances Alexis Christoforous in the video above that demand for her companys female condom, FC2, is skyrocketing. We started to see an increase in questions about the FC2 back in January, but it wasnt until this week when the inquiries really went up, said Levin. Since January, weve been spending quite a bit of time educating the U.S. Department of Health as well as state and local governments about the availability of the FC2 female condom to help prevent Zika as an STI. In order to help prevent Zika virus from spreading, the CDC is recommending those who live in a state or area with the mosquito that spreads Zika virus to create a prevention kit. The suggested kit includes a bed net, standing water treatment tabs, insect repellent and condoms. But its not just the threat of Zika in the US thats boosting demand for the Female Health Companys FC2. The Ministry of Health in Brazil is planning to dispense 100,000 FC2 female condoms to athletes participating in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. This is an opportunity for us to not only help provide protection in a crisis situation for women but it also helps us to educate consumers and health care providers about our product, said Levin. In the US mainland, there are 1,658 confirmed cases of Zika virus, including 433 pregnant women. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK With Congress adjourned for summer recess, the frenetic pace of activity on the Hill eases somewhat, providing a welcome break for busy congressional staff and more time to dive deeply into the wide array of policy issues before the Congress. To help Hill staffers make the most of the recess, RAND has developed a list of must-read research and commentaries that will help ensure policymakers will return ready to hit the ground running. NATO and Russian Aggression At the most recent NATO summit in early July, the issue of Russia drew a larger focus than at any other summit since the end of the Cold War. Russia's increasingly aggressive action over the past two years notably its occupation of Crimea and involvement in eastern Ukraine has alarmed NATO allies. The summit also occurred against the backdrop of a British vote to leave the European Union, which leaves many unanswered questions, chief among them the implications for transatlantic security. RAND's Christopher Chivvis, associate director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center, notes that the British Brexit referendum is a blow to the EU's attempt to create a common defense policy, poses questions for NATO, and has a limited near-term impact on Britain's practical cooperation with the United States and Europe. With respect to NATO, the referendum could embolden Russia, cause resentment between French and German leaders and their British counterparts, and lead to a cut in British defense spending. A main concern at the Warsaw summit centered on defending the Baltic states. A RAND report based on wargaming methodology found that Russian adventurism in the Baltics would be catastrophic for NATO, with Russian forces able to reach Tallinn and Riga in as few as 36 hours. It concluded, however, that a force of about seven brigades, including three heavy armored brigades, could suffice to prevent the rapid overrun of the Baltics. A more recent study observed that the United States could engage strategically with countries on NATO's eastern flank to strengthen deterrence while minimizing the risk of inadvertent escalation. Defeating the Islamic State The campaign against the Islamic State has succeeded in wresting from the extremists around half of the territory they held in Iraq and about 20 percent of their Syrian holdings, but ISIS and ISIS-inspired attacks continue to fuel concerns. As the war on the Islamic State grinds on, policymakers must continually reassess American strategy against this critical threat and consider the most effective ways to deliver a lasting defeat to the terrorist organization. An examination of recently declassified documents from the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), the predecessor of the Islamic State, reveals lessons from the group's history that are useful for setting expectations about the strengths and vulnerabilities of the Islamic State and its ability to combat its opponents, designing a coordinated and effective campaign against it, and understanding why it might be able to survive such an effort and sustain itself in the future, albeit perhaps at a lower level of threat. This report concludes that defeating the Islamic State will require persistence, noting that the record of counter-ISIL operations from 2006 through 2010 shows that military action and political accommodation can work together to degrade the group substantially, if not defeat it. Another study assesses counter-Islamic State efforts. In this report, Linda Robinson argues that a complete victory will be elusive without local forces capable of holding territory. She recommends providing more comprehensive training, advising, and assisting support to indigenous forces and facilitating political agreements to resolve the key drivers of the conflict among Iraqis and Syrians. Trade Policy One of the issues that Congress might tackle during a lame duck session is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. Debate about whether to proceed with the TPP has often been contentious, and coalitions have formed across the aisle, with both supporters and opponents of the pact crossing party lines. Earlier this summer, as part of the Strategic Rethink project, RAND issued a report examining strategic options for the United States regarding the international economy. This study by RAND economist Howard Shatz included an assessment of the Pacific and Atlantic trade agreements. It notes that while the TPP will need to be considered in detail, a broad Pacific deal will benefit the U.S. economy and help extend U.S. influence in Asia and beyond. Likewise with a European trade agreement. While the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has yet to be completed, it is in the United States' interest to proceed with negotiations and eventually approve a deal. Shatz, in a separate commentary following Britain's vote to leave the European Union, sees the surprising development as an opening for another step forward in efforts to liberalize global trade and investment. He notes the United States should now negotiate a free trade deal with Britain, use the British exit to emphasize to the European Union the desirability for it to integrate with the United States, and finalize the TTIP. This could ease uncertainties and restore confidence in the global economy, he asserts. Improving Care for Veterans When Congress returns in the fall, improving veterans' health care and the future of the Veterans Choice Program will still be on the to-do list. One option is to make the program permanent and expand eligibility to all veterans enrolled in VA health care. But what is known about the program's potential as a long-term supplement to the care VA provides? According to Carrie Farmer and Susan Hosek, project directors of RAND's VA Choice assessments, the jury is still out. In an article originally published in U.S. News and World Report, they contend that more data on the care some veterans are receiving in the community (instead of at VA facilities) is needed to better understand the timeliness and quality of care received there and to help Congress identify needed changes to the program. Criminal Justice Reform and Correctional Education Within three years of release, 40 percent of former prisoners who rejoin society are reincarcerated. As legislators consider criminal justice reform options, RAND researchers suggest addressing this problem in two ways. First, RAND research has previously found that allowing prisoners access to education while incarcerated can have huge effects. Individuals who participate in correctional education programs, including GED, vocational, or college studies, had a 13 percentage point reduction in their risk of being reincarcerated. And for every dollar spent on prison education programs, taxpayers save $4 to $5 in incarceration costs. In addition, RAND researcher Lois Davis recommends considering legislation that prevents potential employers from asking job applicants to check a box if they have a criminal record so that employers will focus on a job candidate's qualifications before taking into account an individual's criminal record. Autonomous Vehicles Autonomous vehicles are beginning to hit the nation's roadways, as both car and technology companies invest in developing and test-driving them. Their deployment and news of the first known fatality have sparked questions about what role federal and state governments should play as they slowly move toward widespread use. To help drive the discussion, RAND researchers developed a guide for policymakers that examines the advantages and disadvantages of these vehicles, as well as policy implications including liability and regulation issues. RAND researcher Nidhi Kalra writes that understanding how we will be able to determine when autonomous vehicles are safe enough for large-scale deployment is crucial for developing sound policies to govern their use. So far, developers of this technology have turned to real-world testing to assess safety and performance. However, another RAND study calculated the number of miles that would need to be driven to provide clear evidence of autonomous vehicle safety i.e., whether it is as safe or safer than human-operated vehicles. It found that autonomous vehicles would have to be driven hundreds of millions of miles and, under some scenarios, hundreds of billions of miles to create enough data to clearly demonstrate their safety. Therefore, alternative testing methods must be developed to supplement on-the-road testing. And in parallel to creating new testing methods, it is imperative to develop regulations and policies that can evolve with the technology. Marijuana Legalization Drug policy is on the agenda across the nation as the federal government and state officials confront questions about classification, legalization, and medical use of marijuana. Policymakers and members of the public are asking, Should we legalize marijuana? If we legalize, what in particular should be legal? Just possessing marijuana and growing your own? Selling and advertising? If selling becomes legal, who gets to sell? Corporations? Co-ops? The government? What regulations should apply? How high should taxes be? Different forms of legalization could bring very different results. RAND researcher Beau Kilmer provides insight into these questions in the second edition of Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know (available upon request for congressional staff). The authors discuss what is happening with marijuana policy (within the United States and abroad) and describe both the risks and the benefits of using marijuana without taking sides in the legalization debate. They detail the potential gains and losses from legalization, explore the middle ground options between prohibition and commercialized production, and consider the likely impacts of legal marijuana on occasional users, daily users, patients, parents, and employers and even on drug traffickers. Facilities provider Celebro Medi enabled Turkish news channel TRT World to continue reporting live via Facebook during the attempted coup in July, by using TriCaster multi-camera video production equipment. When TRT Worlds Istanbul headquarters were temporarily shut down during the coup, the broadcaster utilised its partnership with Celebro Medi, the company who facilitates its London bureau.The management at TRT World wanted to get back on air by any means possible, said Wesley Dodd, chief executive for Celebro Media. We do a lot of streaming on Facebook Live, and with the TriCaster Advanced Editions live streaming capabilities, it was the obvious option.The TriCaster technology quickly allowed TRT World to produce and stream live news reports from its London-based journalists via Facebook Live, and later to stream to YouTube and the TRT World website.As events unfurled, additional video reports were received from around the world, including Istanbul, and incorporated into the live stream. This emergency transmission stream rolled for approximately 15 hours, until the channel was able to get back on air in Istanbul.There was very limited connectivity in Turkey, so TRT Worlds Facebook Live stream was something of a lifeline. The social media element also provided a way for people to communicate - there was a huge level of engagement with tens of thousands of people watching live, and then on catch-up later, added Dodd. Channel One Russia Worldwide will become available on Japans hotel television sets, following an agreement with New IT Venture. We see a great potential in this market. Asian hotels aim to provide the best facilities and service to their clients. As the experts in IPTV hotel solutions we chose only [the] best TV channels and we are proud to become a first partner of Channel One Russia Worldwide in Japan, said Kamal Adhikari, representative director at New IT VentureHaving become host country of the Olympic Games in 2020, Japan is expected to have an influx of international tourists in coming years.Alexey Efimov, general director, Channel One Russia Worldwide , added: Though the number of Russian travellers visiting Japan slightly dropped last year we believe that in the future we will see better figures there. The Japanese Government focuses on development of tourism as the major task by the coming Olympic Games. We want to make sure that the hotels in Japan are prepared to accommodate Russian tourists with comfort and high-quality TV. There are very few international channels available there and we aim to be among the first ones that will arrive in the nearest future.Channel One Russia Worldwide delivers international feeds to 190 countries in Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Transcaucasia, as well as the US and Australia. Media giants Liberty Global and Discovery have announced a long-term renewal of their existing distribution agreement that will see UK production house All3Media offer multi-territorial original programming. Liberty Global owns 50% of All3Media, having jointly acquired the business with Discovery Communications in 2014. The deal, spearheaded within Liberty Global by its Virgin Media subsidiary, which will encompass four major original drama series over the next two years, marks the first time that Liberty Global has agreed to a multi-territorial deal with a production company to create exclusive programming for its customers. The shows will be made available on-demand for customers of Liberty Global companies across Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.The dramas will be produced by All3Media production companies with the level of funding required to deliver the best scripts, cast and directing and production talent to produce high quality international drama series. The exclusive content will be made available to millions of Liberty Global customers including Virgin Media customers in the UK and Ireland, Unitymedia customers in Germany, Ziggo customers in the Netherlands, and customers of Cable & Wireless, VTR and Liberty Puerto Rico.This initiative combines Liberty Globals operating scale with its ownership in the production powerhouse All3Media, commented Bruce Mann, managing director of programming at Liberty Global. Our aspirations for the partnership are high as we seek to deliver top-quality exclusive content to millions of Liberty Global customers across Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. All3Media has assembled a world-class stable of creative talent and we cant wait for delivery.Added All3Media chief executive Jane Turton: This is a great opportunity with Liberty Global and Virgin Media to develop new dramas that are designed to appeal to a global audience, to be watched on multiple platforms and to become long running returning series. For us, this initiative fits squarely with our core strategy to grow our scripted output, creating world class dramas that return series after series. To be able to do that with Liberty Global and Virgin Media as partners is exciting.In the bigger picture, Liberty will guarantee delivery of Discoverys full portfolio of networks, including flagships Discovery Channel, TLC, ID and Eurosport, to Liberty Global customers in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Digital Media Services division of US comms giant Verizon has teamed up with India telco Airtel Business to expand its footprint in the country, with new points of presence (PoPs) in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and New Delhi. The four PoPs are expected to allow Verizon Digital Media Services to ensure that content on its platform can be accessed by digital media consumers in a fast, seamless and reliable way, and will improve the experience for users in India.The two companies say that the newly installed PoPs have already yielded exceptional outcomes. Using third-party Cedexis measurement tools, Verizon Digital Media Services says it has observed significant network improvements when comparing its network performance in India before and after the PoP installations. It adds that the amount of time required on Verizon Digital Media Services servers to receive users requests, respond and deliver results has significantly decreased.We are expanding our content delivery network in strategic markets that our customers care about, and we have found a long-term partner in Airtel Business, remarked Verizon Digital Media Services chief technology officer Rob Peters. The launch of these strategic PoPs marks the beginning of a strong partnership between Verizon and Airtel Business and further cements our commitment to providing consumers in India, one of the fastest-growing markets for digital media consumption, with exceptional services and quality.Added Bharti Airtel director and CEO-global voice and data business, Ajay Chitkara: India is fast emerging as a large regional IP Hub and we are excited to enable Verizon Digital Media Services to provide best-in-class digital services in India. This collaboration ensures superior user experiences and seamlessly handles traffic spikes as connected devices, subscribers and content size continue to grow. We are delighted by the positive results seen in a very short time and we are confident that in the long term, Indian mobile Internet users are going to immensely benefit from this partnership. Since the coup attempt, things have got much worse. Mr Erdogan's German supporters have become more vocal. At the demonstration on July 31st Mr Erdogan was meant to speak via a video link, but a regional court blocked his appearance at the last minute, enraging the crowd. Several Gulen supporters in Germany have reported receiving sent death threats. The Turkish government is demanding the extradition of many of them. Winfried Kretschmann, the premier of Baden-Wurttemberg in the south-west, says the Turkish government has asked his state to close schools considered to have ties to Hizmet, requests that Mr Kretschmann considers outrageous. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . Property details: Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Trump International Hotel Las Vegas 3,750 Hilton Points Here is your chance to own a Deeded Timeshare Ownership (Does Not Expire) at a bargain price. This Ownership is for a Studio Gold Season ownership with One Bathroom ( Sleeps 2) with FLOATING GOLD WEEKS 1-6, 23-34, 46-50 (allows you to travel for any two of the aforementioned weeks based on the ability to reserve; Fri Check In/Out) which is also worth 3,750 Hilton Grand Vacation Points at the Hilton Grand Vacat... 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 , We're sorry, this article is not currently available By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/03/2016 ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. host Chris Harrison has explained his decision to kick Chad Johnson off the show."I wasn't really scared for anybody. I don't think he was going to hurt anybody -- although he threatens violence and says horrible things -- [but] he was taking away from everybody's chances to actually make this work," Harrison told reporters on the set of in Mexico in June, according to E! News."He was just a black cloud hanging over everything. He had really been verbally abusive to some of the staff, some of our crew and was rude to me."In Tuesday night's premiere of 3, Johnson became intoxicated, called Lace Morris a horrible word, pushed people around, trashed things around the resort, passed out on the beach, and finally woke up the next morning with very little remorse -- and no underwear.The worst of his actions? The sweet Sarah Herron accused Johnson of being verbally abusive and disrespectful to women, which resulted in the Bachelorette villain yelling out, "F-ck that one armed b-tch!... Suck a d-ck." (Johnson has since apologized to Herron, although it's unclear whether she'll accept it.)When Harrison approached the cast of in the morning to discuss Johnson's offensive words and crazy antics, the host was expecting a conversation that did not happen."It was a chance for [Chad] to be contrite... he was really glib and really arrogant and really pissed me off," Harrison admitted."He was a bit of a smartass... in the middle of it, I just made a decision, I'm like, 'You know what? I'm done. You're out.' Again, that's the beauty of the power I have here in Paradise. I see how you're making everybody feel, now you've pissed me off, I'm done. Get out of my house."Johnson didn't go out without a fight, as he cussed out Harrison and made fun of him for going to bed with a robe on and mimosa in hand. "F-ck you, Chris Harrison !" Johnson shouted, pointing his finger at the host.After his unflattering stint on The Bachelorette starring JoJo Fletcher , Harrison wanted to give Johnson a chance to "redeem" himself in Paradise. After all, Johnson claimed he was largely misunderstood, and despite his violent threats, much of Bachelor Nation still adored him.Johnson's drunken rant therefore came as a huge surprise to Harrison considering the real estate agent from Tulsa, OK, arrived in Paradise with a heavy heart and excellent attitude of wanting to find love."He came back to Paradise, the first thing he did was, 'Chris, I'm very sorry. I'm not that person. I'm back here to apologize to you, to the producers on my behavior, turning over a new leaf, I want this to work,'" recalled Harrison, who initially agreed to Johnson's participation because he believes in "second chances."But Johnson obviously didn't take advantage of that second chance. If anything, he made himself look much worse."We gave him enough rope to hang himself, but he did," Harrison said. "This is why I'm not angry at him, I'm not mad at him, I don't dislike him at all. There is a reason he behaves the way he does. I would go so far as to say it comes from some sort of hurt insecurity... there is an issue there."Harrison explained that Johnson seems to reach a point of no return, and once there, he'll eventually regret his actions."After he goes to a certain length, you see him get very sad and very sorrowful and very apologetic, and you can tell he doesn't like that, he doesn't want to be that person. That's the guy I wanted to come back," Harrison said.Tuesday night's broadcast left off with a cliffhanger and it appears Johnson will be back in one way or another next week. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/03/2016 ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/02/2016 ADVERTISEMENT persistent Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. Two hundred acres of long range riflery and goodness that's K&M Precision Rifle Training. If you set out with aspirations to build the best precision rifle complex in the country, you have to set your goals pretty high. Luckily, when you have a resume like K&M's owner Shannon Kay, youre also starting from a wealth of experience that few other people possess. Shannon has years of experience as a US Army Ranger, Sniper Instructor, and Ranger Instructor. He has had numerous combat deployments. Not being the kind of man to boast, he proves himself instead, continually improving his own skills, constantly striving to improve others' skills and working to be one of the best Precision Rifle Series (PRS) in the country. Shannon has built one of the best ranges in the country, for the sole purpose of teaching as many precision rifle shooters as are willing to come learn. Buried in the hills of Tennessee, lies 200+ acres of manicured lawns populated by an army of steel targets. K&M is a members only range located about halfway between Memphis and Nashville. You can drive from either city and be sending rounds downrange at K&M in less than three hours. Membership is limited to keep the number of people occupying the range at a minimum, but does give you full access. Members also get priority status at any shooting competition held at the facility. Shannon didn't just build his range here arbitrarily. He took his time, selecting the perfect piece of property after looking at hundreds of parcels of land across the country. Finally deciding on the plot that is now K&M, Shannon had an excellent property, one that would suit his intention of utilizing every square foot in order to provide a wide array of training opportunities and challenges. K&M's ranges include: 1,200 Yard Known Distance Range 500 Yard Mover Range w/ two Automated Mover System (300 & 500 yards) 850 Yard Unknown Distance Range 750 Yard Utility Range 700 Yard Urban Range 500 Yard Urban Scenario Range 200 Yard Carbine Assault Range Ten 270 Degree Pistol and Carbine Bays w/two Automated Mover Systems Numerous covered firing positions, 5 towers, 6 mock up shoot houses, various real world props and obstacles Pro Shop/Automated Classroom with room for 30 students Members Bunk House with kitchenette, full bath, etc. Training Bunk House with room for up to 30 people (Wi-Fi, cable, kitchen, etc.) 2,000 Square Foot Pavilion (RV hook ups, water, restroom, etc.) But even with all that, he isnt done. He recently announced he's adding a 1000 yard+ field fire range, 700 yard field fire/utility range, 500 yard utility range, and expanded day camping and RV parking in the coming year. This will help support an increasing number of shooters, who have begun to realize K&M offers more than just long-distance-steel-banging. There are plenty of opportunities here for the pistol and multi-gun crowd as well. Shannon, being a competitive shooter himself, built the facility to support PRS matches. This brought entirely new planning considerations, these being necessary when you plan on running 100-200 shooters through ten stages over a six hour period. Considerations for shooter movement between stages, the number of shooters each line can support, and the varied props and scenarios necessary for all the different kinds of matches. It is no stretch to say K&M fits more into its couple hundred acres than many larger facilities do on a few thousand acres. My Own Turn at K&M I was invited earlier this year to check this playground out, and thankfully I was not only able help teach a class, but also attend two precision rifle matches held there. The layout of the range is very user friendly, and everything is within walking distance of the pavilion. There's also plenty of roaming room, so if other shooters are on location you dont feel crammed. You can still receive legitimate training without seeming to step on each others' toes. The number of different props to shoot off of it staggering and includes rocks, barricades, cars, nets and even towers. The matches I attended at K&M were some of the best run precision rifle matches Ive had the privilege of shooting to date. There was little downtime between shooting stages, everyone knew exactly what was going on, and there was no confusion about where to go next. The range officers that helped run the matches werent just friends of friends who had never spotted before. They were shooters themselves, which eliminated many of the problems so many of us have seen at some matches. Shannon ran everything like clockwork, a direct reflection of his years of herding cats in the military. In the end when I asked different participants about their overall experience, I heard nothing but glowing reviews from all, new and experienced shooters alike. Most echoed my feelings of anticipation for an opportunity to come back and shoot the next K&W hosted competition. If the idea of shooting a match against a bunch of people wearing flashy NASCAR jerseys is too much, K&M also offers a variety of training courses. Training at K&M is overseen by Jason Redding formerly of Ronin Strategies. Jasons experience as a former Marine and full time SWAT officer brings a level of gravitas and authenticity to the classes he runs. There are classes that range from Law Enforcement SWAT Sniper to Carbine Fundamentals to a speed shooting pistol course. There is essentially something suitable for most anyone to enjoy. K&M employs other instructors from a wide array of backgrounds that include military Special Operations Forces, law enforcement officers, and national level competitive shooters of numerous disciplines. Courses are run regularly throughout the year, and accommodations can be made to stay on site during attendance, reducing the headache of commute and/or trying to find a good hotel nearby. The bunk house is an awesome feature for those who have to drive, giving you a place to crash for a weekend of powder burning bliss. But, should you plan to go in the summer, prepare yourself for some Tennessee heat and humidity, where the mirage at the extended range targets gets to boiling by mid day, and parts of you sweat that you didn't know even had glands. Coming out of two large scale wars in two different middle eastern countries, the firearms instruction market as a whole is overwhelmed with a glut people who possess an impressive list of legitimate accomplishments. Just because someone in a past life was high speed doorkicker doesnt mean they can teach you do tie your shoes. Shannon Kay focuses, as should all good instructors, on only putting out good information while also searching out as much information as he can to keep himself relevant. These qualities lead have lead directly to the design and administration of a successful, enjoyable, ever adapting shooting range. If you're within traveling distance or have couple days off you want to use constructively, take a look at http://kmprecisionrifletraining.com and see if they don't have something that suits you. The University of Georgia is constantly growing and making changes in an effort to provide the best experience for all those who seek knowledge. These changes include hiring and promoting across all departments. AT&T is expanding cell coverage in the Normaltown area with the installation of a cellular monopole on the University of Georgia Health Sciences campus. AT&T currently provides service in this area, but this installation will provide a stronger signal with more capacity. SHARE Playground donors recognized One SAFE Place will honor those who helped make its Sierra Center Playground a reality during a ceremony on Thursday. The playground complements the Shasta County domestic violence shelter's new home at 2250 Benton Drive. The ceremony is 8 to 8:30 a.m. and refreshments will be served. Special recognition will go to Redding Sunset Rotary, North State Playgrounds 3, Shasta County Health and Human Services Snap Get Fresh Program, Country Christian School, Bikers Against Child Abuse, Active 20/30 Club of Redding, and Blue Shield of California. Go to https://ospshasta.org for more information. Senior classes offered at Simpson Simpson University for Seniors is offering two courses in September for adults of any age. The classes start Sept. 7 and are non-credit and do not include homework. The courses are taught on campus by university professors and professionals in their field of expertise. Classes meet 10:20 to 11:20 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For more information, call Glenn Schaefer at 226-4146 or Dianne Mueller at 226-4758. Reporter David Benda can be reached at 225-8219 or at david.benda@redding.com. SHARE By KARL RITTER, Associated Press STOCKHOLM (AP) Worried that Swedes aren't having enough sex, the government wants to analyze the bedroom activities of its citizens in a major new study. It's been 20 years since the last in-depth study of the sex habits of the Scandinavian welfare state, so Public Health Minister Gabriel Wikstrom says it's high time for another survey. One of the goals of the investigation, set to be completed in 2019, is to find out whether there's any truth to Swedish tabloid reports that Swedes are having less sex than they used to. "It's important to investigate whether that is the case and if so, what the reason is," he wrote Friday in an opinion piece in the Dagens Nyheter newspaper. If stress and other health issues are affecting Swedes' sex lives, he said, "that is also a political problem." Morgan Eklund, an official in Wikstrom's office, said the minister was referring primarily to a 2013 survey of 3,000 people by the Aftonbladet tabloid, which found that lovemaking is on the wane in Sweden, a country with a reputation of being sexually liberated. Eklund said the survey was not scientific enough to be used as the basis of government policies "but it points in a direction that can be interesting to follow up." In a separate article on the government's website, Wikstrom said the Social Democratic-led government needs better information about people's sex habits to guide its policies related to sexual and reproductive health. "Sex is an area that strongly influences people's health, so we can't just talk about things like, for example, venereal disease, but also things that are positive and lust-filled about sex," Wikstrom said. The study will be carried out by the Public Health Agency of Sweden. Investigators work the scene Tuesday of the California Highway Patrol shooting of two people during a car chase at Happy Valley road near Gas Point Road. SHARE By Joe Szydlowski of the Redding Record Searchlight Detectives say a man who led officers on a Tuesday morning chase fired at the officers first, but one of his passengers says the driver never shot at any officers ? he was shot in the back while running from them. William Joseph Kinyon, 49, was one of two people shot by two California Highway Patrol officers after an officer chased a red pickup in Cottonwood and Happy Valley, said detectives with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, which is handling the investigation. The chase reached speeds up to 80 mph. A passenger says Kinyon wasn't at fault ? officers fired on him as he tried to flee. "(Kinyon) got shot in the back and in the knee... He was already on his knees and they shot again," said Wendy Michaels, 29, who, along with Michelle Short, 24, was a passenger in the red pickup. Michaels wasn't hurt, while Short suffered pellet wounds to her head, paramedics said. "(Officers) kept telling us to 'Get the ---- down, we'll ----ing shoot. What's in your hands?'" she said. "I go, 'It's a phone, it's a phone.'" Short is recovering, she said. Michael, Short's best friend, said Kinyon is the father of Short's oldest daughter, 8. Kinyon, who was released to Shasta County's probation department in 2011 under AB 109, is recovering at Mercy Medical Center after suffering gun shot wounds to his back and shoulder. Sheriff's detective Steve Grashoff said it was just before 10 a.m. Tuesday when officers attempted to stop the pickup at Main and First streets in Cottonwood because its headlights were off during a rain storm. The CHP officer, who isn't being named because the investigation is open, pulled behind Kinyon and tried to stop him, Grashoff said. Kinyon pulled over and someone briefly opened the passengers side door, he said. But Kinyon then drove off and led the officer on a chase through Cottonwood before ending up heading west on Gas Point Road, Grashoff said. Grashoff said Short and Michaels told detectives Kinyon said he was not going back to prison before grabbing a .44 Magnum revolver from underneath his seat while he neared the intersection of Carriage and Gas Point roads. Michaels said Kinyon did say that he wasn't headed back to prison, but he was trying to dispose of the handgun. She said he never pointed it at officers. Grashoff said Michaels told them Kinyon did fire the gun. He declined to elaborate on her statement about that allegation. He said Kinyon brandished the firearm at officers before pulling a hard U-Turn at Gas Point and Carriage roads, about 9 miles west of central Cottonwood. As Kinyon drove east toward the CHP cruiser, he pointed his gun at the officer and fired, Grashoff said. The officer, shielded behind the cruiser's door, fired back with a 12-gauge shotgun, Grashoff said. Michaels said the officer began firing at the back of the truck as it hydroplaned at the intersection of Gas Point and Carriage roads. Kinyon held the gun out to toss it away, and the officer wasn't close enough to discern whether it was a handgun or "a candy bar" Kinyon was holding, she said. She said it was chaos ? the truck hydroplaned on the wet surface and ended up eastbound, heading eastbound. That's when the officer began firing, she said. "My friend, she got shot in the head. It just passed my face. I bent down on the ground, shots coming through the side," she said. The officer had been shooting all through the back of the truck, including the passenger side, as they headed eastbound, she said. Kinyon then tried to turn onto Happy Valley Road. He again fired and then slowed his truck so Short and Michaels could jump out, detectives said. "He tried to let us out, to stop and let us out. We told him just to go, go, go because the cops had started firing at us," she said. The truck rolled about 200 yards forward on Happy Valley Road before Kinyon got out, clutching his handgun, Grashoff said. A back-up officer joined the pursuing officer, and all three fired their weapons, the CHP officers armed with .223-caliber rifles and Kinyon with the .44 Magnum, Grashoff said. However, Michaels said Kinyon got out after the truck had rolled down Happy Valley Road and tried to run from officers. Kinyon tried to run after leaving the truck and was shot in the back, Michaels said. Grashoff, however, said Kinyon took cover behind his red pick up truck and exchanged fire with officers. No bullets hit the CHP cars, he said. Grashoff said Kinyon tried to run off and was shot in the left shoulder blade and back. It wasn't clear which weapon fired the shot that hit him, Grashoff said. Kinyon stumbled into a ditch, "still holding onto the handgun," he said. Officers began to administer first aid to Kinyon and Michaels, whom paramedics described as suffering pellet wounds. Michaels said officers were threatening to shoot her as she tried to help her friend. Grashoff said it wasn't clear if Short suffered wounds to her head and neck from gunfire or glass shattering. She was released from the hospital after a few hours. The officers were not injured. West Valley High School was locked down for about 30 minutes. A woman in the area was seen crying and cursing while she was on the phone after the shootings Tuesday. She yelled, "I want to know what's going on with my daughter right now," in addition to several profanities. Michaels was detained and then later released. Detectives statements the witnesses made to them right after the shootings are consistent with a dashboard camera footage from the CHP cruiser. Grashoff said detectives found methamphetamine and a bottle of Bacardi in the truck. They did not find any drugs discarded along the road, he said. He said he doesn't know if Kinyon was under the influence, though neither passenger appeared intoxicated. Kinyon was sent to state prison in 2005 on drug-related charges with a previous strike, detectives said. Under realignment, he was sent back to the county for monitoring. Detectives said Kinyon had failed to show up for court, and had a $100,000 warrant issued on Nov. 6. He had minimal contact with probation only via telephone and had abandoned his previous home in Redding in December 2011, becoming a transient. Short had a $1,000 bench warrant out for her arrest after failing to appear in court Sept. 10. Michaels said Kinyon bought the red truck recently, though she didn't know where he got the money. Grashoff wouldn't disclose the owner of the truck, because of the ongoing investigation. He did say the truck wasn't owned by Kinyon. The CHP officers did an "outstanding job," he said. Reporter Sean Longoria contributed to this story. Sean Longoria/Record Searchlight Daniel Lee Bentley, 36, left, appears in Shasta County Superior Court with deputy public defender Jeremy West on Wednesday to receive a 2-year state prison sentence after pleading no contest to arson in the Fiddler Fire last month. SHARE By Sean Longoria of the Redding Record Searchlight A Shasta County Superior Court judge on Wednesday sentenced the man who admitted to starting the areas largest wildfire so far this year to two years in state prison. Daniel Lee Bentley, 36, will also face three years parole upon his release and will have to register as a convicted arsonist with the state. Good luck to you, Mr. Bentley, Superior Court Judge Cara Beatty after handing down the sentence. Bentley pleaded no contest last month to felony arson in the Fiddler Fire, which burned more than 440 acres and destroyed a travel trailer. Hell be required to serve at least half of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The conviction is also a strike, meaning any future conviction would double the sentence for that crime. He received 52 days credit for time served in the Shasta County jail since his July 9 arrest and for good behavior. Bentley faced six years in prison if tried and convicted of arson. He pleaded not guilty earlier this month during his arraignment to setting the fire. But he also reportedly admitted to a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officer he started the blaze, according to a Cal Fire report filed in Shasta County Superior Court. He said he did so to protect himself from people shooting at him while he walked by a house on Fiddlers Road. At one point of the fire, which began late July 8, up to 50 homes were under evacuation. Shasta County Senior Deputy District Attorney Ben Hanna, however, has said theres no evidence a shooting ever occurred. Two occupants from the residence said they were unaware of any shooting or argument, the Cal Fire report says. Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight Naomi Secaeda LeGate is arraigned Tuesday in Shasta County Superior Court on 10 criminal counts alleging she illegally wrote prescriptions. SHARE By Jim Schultz of the Redding Record Searchlight A North State nurse practitioner accused of illegally writing prescriptions pleaded not guilty to nine felonies during her Tuesday arraignment in Shasta County Superior Court. Naomi Secaeda LeGate, 40, whose not guilty plea was entered on her behalf by a deputy public defender, is also charged with a single misdemeanor. Although charged with 10 criminal counts, including the nine felonies, Shasta County Senior Deputy District Attorney Anand "Lucky" Jesrani said none of the charges against LeGate are prison-eligible. Still, he said, she's facing a maximum jail sentence of seven years, eight months if convicted. LeGate, who also used the name Katy LeGate, is charged with unlawfully writing prescriptions, false impersonation, identity theft and forging prescriptions, among other charges. LeGate worked at Redding Health Care on Hartnell Avenue and wrote prescriptions using Dr. Raymond Merlo's prescription pads between June 17, 2015, and Sept. 29, 2015, according to the Shasta County District Attorney's Office. LeGate's nursing license was already under probation from Santa Cruz County for similar charges, where she was specifically ordered by a judge not to possess medical prescription pads, practice medicine, prescribe medication, or be in possession of any medication that wasn't prescribed for her, authorities have said. LeGate, a Mount Shasta resident, surrendered Monday to Shasta County Jail authorities after a warrant was issued for her arrest. LeGate is being held in jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. She was ordered freed Tuesday by Superior Court Judge Cara Beatty after finding she was eligible for supervised release. She's due back in Superior Court Aug. 30 for the setting of her preliminary hearing date. SHARE By Alayna Shulman of the Redding Record Searchlight A Redding charter school that a federal judge said filed for bankruptcy to delay a separate legal issue now says it has enough money after all. The judge recently slammed the Academy of Personalized Learning recently for allegedly pursuing bankruptcy only so that the automatic stay triggered by the filing would get it out of hearings about accusations it fired teachers for unionizing. The school has now moved to dismiss its bankruptcy bid and says the money it needed showed up after all, and a judge ruled in favor of the dismissal. That means the Public Employment Relations Board hearings to potentially compensate the fired teachers for a total of over $100,000 can continue after all. While academy officials have repeatedly declined to comment on the case, Executive Director Patricia Dougherty wrote in court documents that the school pursued bankruptcy in part to get a "breathing spell," though why that spell was needed isn't specified. The school which attributed a budget crisis to the nine layoffs that triggered the complaints said it's now "managed expenses and built up funds that will enable it to pay undisputed creditors," so the bankruptcy filing isn't necessary. It also mentioned the ongoing cost of bankruptcy proceedings as a factor in the move to dismiss the filing. Jon Halvorsen, a staff consultant for the California Teachers Association, said that basically confirms what the judge alleged. "They didn't need to file. It basically shows the bankruptcy was simply a ploy to get out of court," he said. Halvorsen said dates have not been set for the hearings over the alleged retaliation fires, but his organization is looking to have them set soon. The academy, a K-12 school on Larkspur Lane in Redding, is overseen by Shasta Lake's Gateway Unified School District. The issue started when about 30 employees formed a union in late 2014, but nine of them were fired shortly after. The school said it was in a financial crisis that required the staff cuts, but the teachers association has maintained that APL's coffers never bore that out. Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight Redding Police Sgt. Casey Bokavich, left, teaches a class in police use of force Monday at the Redding police station. SHARE By Sean Longoria of the Redding Record Searchlight Dr. James Tate approached an apparently drunk man Monday night in a city park known for drug activity and recent armed robberies. "Leave me alone, I'm not bothering anybody," the man said before dropping a beer from his right hand. Tate asked for identification but the man refuses his commands. He turns, curses and begins to walk away before pulling a gun from his jacket. Tate raised his gun and fired first, dropping the man to the ground. It wasn't a real shooting or a real gun and didn't happen in a real park. The shooting happened in a training room at the Redding Police Department and the man shot was simply a projection on a screen. Tate, along with nine others, attended the Redding Police Department's Force Options training program, which offers the public the chance to experience scenarios faced by officers, make the call as to whether to use deadly force and learn more about the laws and policies that govern such force. The simulations aren't all about taking down a shooter. In one, participants must decide how to handle a woman cutting herself with a knife and another asks how to intervene with two men fighting. The course focuses on when not to shoot as much as when officers can legally pull the trigger. It's the same class taken by every California law enforcement officer every two years as part of routine training, said Redding Police Sgt. Casey Bokavich, who runs the class. It also offers a look at the emotional impacts on officers who often make split-second decisions as to whether to use force. More than 250 people have taken the course, Bokavich said, including City Council members, representatives from the local chapter of the NAACP and Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect and representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union, among others. Bokavich started offering the training last year in response to misinformation from several sources, including the media, emerging from the national conversation on police use of force after several high-profile shootings by police. The conversation has also evolved with the recent killings of police across the country, which has spiked this year. "It is now the No. 1 cause of death for police officers, which is normally traffic accidents," said Redding Police Chief Rob Paoletti. "So the violence is going in both directions." Law enforcement trade publications have featured Redding's program and some 50 other police departments across the country have contacted Redding about the class, Paoletti said. It's also piqued interest from the state Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, which sets standards and regulations for law enforcement training. "We heard about what Casey is doing here. It has a lot of merit in a lot of different realms," said Ralph Brown, a legislative liaison for POST who's also hoping to present the program to state lawmakers. Trainings are offered for free to groups of up to 10 at a time. The class is four hours long half simulation, half lecture and discussion about laws governing use of force. But discussions and simulation runs can often push the class past the five-hour mark. Those interested in participating in a training program can contact Bokavich at 225-4200. SHARE Mary Sanchez Hillary Clinton strode on stage in Philadelphia Thursday night and showed herself ready to win the presidency. In her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, she presented herself less in her historic role as the first woman presidential candidate of a major party and more on her merits as the best candidate for the job. She was positive, extolling the greatest ideals of the nation and making a persuasive case that all Americans will benefit from bolstering our democratic principles. Yet she also drew judicious attention to the evident flaws of her opponent, Donald Trump. In doing so, her message was clear: Game on! It was exactly the message she needed to deliver to a skeptical electorate. Indeed, speakers throughout the Democratic convention made a point of contrasting Clinton's experience and gravitas to Trump's lack of character, seriousness and scruple. These critiques were all the more effective because they avoided the vituperation and bombast that Trump prefers in his attacks. By the convention's last day, Trump had become so miffed by the criticism directed his way that he let his violent, menacing character show through. In a press conference he said he wanted "to hit" some of the speakers "so hard that their heads would spin and they would never recover." Thanks, Donald, for reminding us who the adult is in this race. What will stick with many voters is the candidate Clinton showed herself to be steeled and calm the attributes that will make our country prevail against its many challenges. Indeed, Trump's antics make the reasons to shun Clinton appear petty. It may be true that voters want new blood, not another family returning to the White House as if a dynasty. And, yes, Clinton's judgment was terrible in creating a separate email server at the State Department. Yes, she has not held regular press conferences as she should. She is not smooth before the cameras. Her past pecuniary relationships with Wall Street raise questions about her political affinities. Her vote for the Iraq invasion was simply wrong. But all these objections recede in the face of Trump. He is a candidate so unworthy of the powers of the presidency it is stunning. A candidate for president simply can't shoot off his mouth about foreign policy, as Trump has done. He has threatened to extort our NATO allies. He has invited the Russian government to commit cybercrimes against the United States government. He has alienated Mexico, a neighbor and major trading partner. His rhetoric about Muslims is a gift to terrorists. Contrast that to Clinton's tenure as secretary of state. She was integral to the decision to kill Osama bin Laden and the negotiation of the treaty that got Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program, among other achievements. America has a simple choice. It is between one who is reliable and intelligent and experienced enough for the responsibilities of the presidency and one who is not. It also happens to be a historic moment for women. For too long in politics, female candidates have been subject to unfair standards of scrutiny, including the superficial sorts of judgment we associate with middle school. Clinton's certainly seen her fair share. Why are her pantsuits even a topic of commentary? How many times do we have to hear male pundits complain about her "lecturing" tone? Her voice is like that of many women. It can take on a different range, a higher one, when she changes her tone either for emphasis or when riled. That's mechanics, people. It's about her vocal cords, and it's not a reason to determine a person unfit for political office. Hillary Clinton was always enough. She didn't need an association by marriage to Bill to rise to professional heights. Born as she was nearly 70 years ago, not to wealth or privilege, maybe she didn't even realize this early on. But history will probably judge that it was Bill who got to the White House with the help of his wife, not the other way around. Clinton's been on a path to the White House her whole life, and not just to be a first lady. She's been gaining the types of experiences that would ready any person male or female to fulfill the job of president. It's just taken the nation until 2016 for other factors to align in a woman's favor. Now it's time to elect her. Email Mary Sanchez at msanchez@kcstar.com. It was announced earlier this week that Americas favorite set of absotherwise known as Channing Tatumwill star in a reboot of 1984 film Splash. You know, the one about the mermaid. And no, Tatum will not be taking on Tom Hanks role as the straight-talking fruit salesman, Allen. Hes going to be the mermaid. Er, merman. A glowing, chiseled and undoubtedly glistening merman. All ovary-tittering aside, this is a pretty unsurprising move, given the overarching context of Tatums career. Its yet another peg in his ever-expanding roster of roles that place him squarely in the realm of deeply female-centric, hypersexualized objectification. Youve seen it countless times by now. Channing Tatum stripping and gyrating in Magic Mike. Channing Tatum walking around shirtless with a cat on his shoulder in The Vow. Channing Tatum having a torrid affair with Winona Rider in The Dilemma. (OK, maybe you never saw that one.) These are best described, I think, as wine night roles. They belong in the kind of movie that you turn on at 1 a.m. at an impromptu sleepover, or before cracking open that bottle of rose with a raised eyebrow. Ladies? Maybe its a little sexist to buy into the whole idea that women just want to sit around and ogle at pecs while eating chocolate or whatever, but truthfully, most of us been there at some point or another. And theres a lot to praise about the existence of this archetype that Tatum has cultivated, one thats closely related to that kind of *ahem* pelvic-thrusting sexuality. On the other hand, though, theres this deeply and typically masculine side to his work; the kind you would expect from a guy that looks like him. Like, he has actually been in a movie called Fighting, in which he spend the entire filmyou guessed itstreet fighting. It does not get much more cookie-cutter macho than that. Tatum maintains this effortless, zig-zagging balance between the gender lines weve drawn for film stars in a way thats almost entirely unique to his personal brand. There are other actors that come closeRyan Gosling comes to mindbut never quite in such polarizing manifestations as Tatum. So why? Why go from doing The Vow to White House Down? While Im sure its pleasant to have some variation in your career, his choices seem more tactical than that. The male- and female-centric parts arent just arbitrary choicestheyre a necessary yin and yang. Because Tatums proven he can be a soldier or spy, he can also be a shirtless, sensitive dope without it being weird or girly. The more traditionally male he goes in action movies, the more his feminine side is legitimized and accepted. Its a gradual push-and-pull system: Do a blockbuster action movie, then a rom-com. Film a cowboy western, then agree to be a merman. Imagine a world where an actor who didnt have that established background took the part of the mermaid in the Splash rebootBrad Pitt, for instance. It would be jarring at best, and I imagine downright upsetting (for some people) at worst. Childhood ruining, even. We all seem to be very into that theme this year. Its important to note, by the way, that even when Tatum does get to take on more traditionally feminine parts, theyre often played for comedic relief. He can be pretty and dumb, but the prettiness and the dumbness serve a function: Its not just a side effect of the sheer ornamental or one-dimensional nature of his characterization. In fact, the type of part that Tatum embodies is exactly the kind that women in Hollywood are trying to break away fromthe attractive, vapid eye-candy, more decorative than substantive. A piece of ass. Tatum is a piece of ass, sure, but he's also a piece of ass that gets to blow shit up and do action stuff, or even take on more serious, hefty stuff like in "Foxcatcher" and "Side Effects." He has the liberty to pull from both sides of the two-gender spectrum. It's refreshing to see an actor who has fully embraced and cultivated his specific brand of sex appeal, and one who subverts traditional expectations of gender roles. I would never knock Channing Tatum for doing what he does, because he does it really, really well. But it would be nice for that flexibility to be available to actors of all genders. Advertisement @EmmaKrupp1 | ekrupp@chicagotribune.com Sarah Gadon isn't afraid to give Logan Lerman a hard time. She teased her "Indignation" co-star about his lack of preoccupation with his looks at a post-screening Q&A in Chicago, and during our interview at the Park Hyatt hotel, she didn't hesitate to interject her own questions in response to his answers. "Are you saying that love is not timeless?" the 29-year-old actress demanded when Lerman speculated that their characters' relationship would look different in 2016 as opposed to 1951. "[That it] doesn't transcend the boundaries of time and space?" Advertisement Considering that Gadon has starred opposite the likes of Michael Fassbender (in "A Dangerous Method") and Robert Pattinson (in "Cosmopolis"), it's not surprising that she feels comfortable challenging her co-stars. Still, she seems particularly enthused to disagree with Lerman. "It's like a real Canadian-American sparring that we have," laughed Gadon, who was born in Toronto. "Just clashing ideologies." Advertisement In "Indignation," adapted from the 2008 Philip Roth novel, Lerman plays Marcus, a kid who avoids getting drafted into the Korean War by attending a small college in Winesburg, Ohio. There he meets Olivia (played by Gadon), a free-thinking beauty with a troubled past. Their romance is essentially doomed from the start, a fact that both actors attribute to them bumping up against the conventions of their time. "I think it's really easy when you look back at any sort of time period from today, and you think, 'Why wouldn't they just have dealt with it? Or why wouldn't she just go along with it?' And then when you do the research and get into that way of life or that way of thinking and ideology of the time, you realize how oppressive it is," Gadon said. Gadon said that director James Schamus called Marcus and Olivia "the only two freaks at Winesburg," and somehow they managed to find each other. "They're both extremely tightly wound people and are having to repress their desires in order to fit into their environment," Lerman said. "But there's an added pressure for Marcus because of the Korean War and getting drafted, so it's a safe haven." Schamus, who has taught as a professor of film history and theory at Columbia University, gave both actors a considerable amount of reading material to get into the minds of their characters and the time period. Gadon based much of Olivia's mental state on the journals of Sylvia Plath, for instance. "It's an interesting commentary about that timepeople were defined by the edges of their madness rather than their brilliance or uniqueness," Gadon said. "If you read Sylvia Plath, when you read people who were kind of lost to the time or sacrificed to the time, you realize that that perspective is kind of what crushed them rather than today, if they were in school and found each other, they'd probably have a much different experience." A coming-of-age story on a college campus almost guarantees an element of sexual exploration, but in 1951, sex went hand-in-hand with shame. At the end of their first date, Olivia gives Marcus a blow job in the car, an act that terrifies him into ignoring her until she corners him and accuses him of thinking she's a slut. Lerman admitted he had a hard time wrapping his mind around Marcus' reaction to oral sex but eventually had to accept it as an effect of the time period. Gadon, on the other hand, was willing to play devil's advocate and suggested that even today, people are startled by frankness and forwardness, especially from women. Advertisement "I think [slut-shaming] still happens today," Gadon said. "I think that any time women show or display any kind of sexual agency, especially at a young age, sexual curiosity or willingness to explore that kind of world, there's a lot of confusion and shame surrounding it. I hope that's something that we're working toward eradicating because we have a label like slut-shaming to kind of identify it. But I definitely think that it's unfortunately this weird rite of passage that women have to go through with their first sexual encounter." Despite the timelessness of slut-shaming, both actors agreed they think Marcus and Olivia would have had a different love story if they had met in another time. What would it have looked like? "I can't even imagine how different they would be, just culturally" Lerman started. "Come on, make it up," Gadon interrupted playfully. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > "A big part of understanding these characters is understanding the 1950s and the culture and social climate of that time," the 24-year-old actor insisted. "It's reflected in who they are. They'd be very different people." Sparring aside, Gadon and Lerman both said they have a genuine fondness for each other that came from taking time before filming to go to shows or out to dinner in order to develop a friendshipa bond that was critical for the intimate nature of some of their scenes. But they each love challenging the other's perspective, especially when it comes to film. Advertisement "Logan came up in a system that was very different than a government-funded, culturally assisted country of filmmaking that I came up in," Gadon explained. "So it's interesting to have those discrepancies and differences." Lerman, who has been acting since the age of 8 and is a self-professed film nerd, called Gadon "wicked smart and really opinionated" and confessed admiration for her film knowledge. "I learned a lot about film from Sarah. And it's not often that I can sit down with someone and learn something about film. It's very rare," he said. "I've got to get some more titles from you." "Same," Gadon returned with a smile. @lchval | laurenchval@redeyechicago.com In a proposal to FinMin, the Banks Board Bureau suggests asset sales to PSUs within a deadline to recover bad loans. IMAGE: Promoters who have agreed to sell their assets to pay off loans will receive counter-offers from public sector companies. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com The Banks Board Bureau has proposed a deadline for promoters of debt-laden companies to sell their assets for paying off loans to public sector banks. Under the proposal, given to the finance ministry, promoters who have agreed to sell their assets to pay off loans will receive counter-offers from public sector companies. These offers will have the backing of public sector lenders. The counter-offers will be the base level price at which the assets will be bought out by the public sector companies within a specified timeframe. Promoters will have to sign on the dotted line unless they are able to work out a deal with a third party within the deadline. It is a bit drastic but makes sense, said a government official. The finance ministry is considering the proposal. To make the proposal foolproof, the seven-member Bureau has also got in-principle clearance from the two anti-corruption agencies of the government - the Central Vigilance Commission and the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Bureau has made the suggestion to the finance ministry in respect of a Mumbai-based business group which has become one of the largest defaulters. The group, with interests in oil and power, has been in talks with potential buyers for quite some time but with no results. The deadline that will be mutually agreed upon by banks and the buyer will not allow the non-performing loan to continue on the books of the banks indefinitely, a source familiar with the developments said. One of the power plants with the group is rather new and can be turned around soon, the source said. Once the plant comes into the hands of a public sector entity, the bankers will have a larger degree of comfort with the turnaround plan, he added. When contacted, Vinod Rai, the head of the Bureau and the former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, declined to comment. Among other things, the Bureaus mandate is to help banks develop strategies to raise capital through innovative financial methods and instruments and also steer eventual consolidation. Its members include Anil Khandelwal, a former chairman of Bank of Baroda; HN Sinor, a former joint managing director of ICICI Bank, and Roopa Kudva, a former managing director of rating company CRISIL. Then, there are three ex-officio members N S Vishwanathan, a deputy governor of the RBI; Anjuly Chib Duggal, secretary, department of financial services, in the ministry of finance; and Ameising Luikham, secretary, department of public enterprises. Sections within the government and the Reserve Bank of India suspect that several business groups have been delaying sale of assets in the hope that the banks would go slow on bad loan recovery. The latest proposal gives banks an option to deal with errant promoters who have massive dues but whose assets can only by seized by invoking the Sarfaesi Act or, in the case of delinquency, by invoking the recently promulgated Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The formula offered by the Bureau will instead offer a buyout of a sound asset as a going concern but within a timeframe. Since the only alternative is to pay up, the Bureau reckons it can be used wisely to unlock idle investments and make other business houses see reason to hasten their sale of properties. Naresh Makhijani, head of financial services at KPMG said there is no legal problem if a public sector company wants to step in. After all, if the board of a listed public sector company feels the asset sits well within the companys plans, there should be no hitch. He, however, added that such a proposal would be more like writing on the wall for the promoters who have been delaying asset sales. By current estimates, the total bad loans or NPAs of Indian banks are about Rs 6,00,000 crore. An India Ratings report dated July 19 notes, the current capital position of ARCs (asset reconstruction companies) can at most take care of 10 per cent of the bad debt in the Indian banking system. The company quoting its parent Fitch Ratings observes: Currently, India is classified as a Group D country by Fitch Ratings with 30-50 per cent recoveries expected given the level of creditor-friendliness of its insolvency regime. PLUGGING THE LOOPHOLE Promoters, who have agreed to sell their assets to pay off loans, will receive counter-offers from public sector companies, backed by public sector banks The counter-offer will be the base level price at which the asset will be bought out by the public sector company within a specified timeframe Promoters will have to sign on the dotted line, unless they are able to work out a deal with a third party within the deadline BBB has in-principle clearance from Central Vigilance Commission and Comptroller and Auditor General The government is set to deposit seventh months' salary arrears in August, giving a fillip to consumption of mainly small-ticket items in the near term and big-ticket items later Rajesh Gokhale, an employee with Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd in Mumbai, has just been informed his August pay cheque will include pay arrears for the last seven months. The 46-year-old father of two is excited. Ganeshostav has begun early, he says. And I will keep the idol for the entire length of the festival, he adds. Gokhale is one among 10 million public sector unit employees and pensioners in the country who will gain from the governments move to deposit pay arrears for January-July 2016 into their bank accounts. Effectively, the process will kick off movement of their salaries to the scales revised by the Seventh Pay Commission. This has an impact on a broad swathe of industries from consumer goods to retail, automobiles, real estate, tourism and bank credit. The impact of implementing the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations works out to Rs 1.02 lakh crore (Rs 1.02 trillion), according to estimates by industry experts, companies reckon the near-term impact will be a pick-up in sales of small-ticket items. Home and kitchen appliances, electronic products, apparel and B-segment cars are some categories that stand to gain immediately, says G Chokkalingam, founder, Equinomics Research & Advisory. This point is reiterated by Sunil Duggal, chief executive officer, Dabur India. The pay commission and one-rank, one-pension pay-out will fuel growth. "It could have a positive impact on two-wheelers, low-end four-wheelers and the white goods business, he adds. Eric Braganza, president, Haier Appliances India, says, A portion of the bullet payment that PSU employees and pensioners will receive in their August salary will go into purchases that were long deferred like the extra television set or a new washing machine and refrigerator. "This is critical for us because this payment comes as the festive season kicks in. Most companies are gearing up with offers and discounts to get hold of this spending. Govind Shrikhande, managing director, Shoppers Stop, says, The last time the numbers clearly showed an impact on consumption, especially in cities like Delhi, which has a large number of central government employees. "This time around, the impact should be bigger because the salary hike is greater. Government employees and pensioners, who accounted for 10-15 per cent of the 2.78 million passenger vehicles sold in India last year, are expected to push demand for B-segment cars such as Marutis Wagon R and Celerio, Tata Tiago and Hyundai i10 as well as premium motorcycles. Car makers like Maruti Suzuki have rolled out special schemes for such buyers, including additional discounts. The Delhi-based company sold about 200,000 vehicles to central and state government employees last year. With implementation of the Seventh Pay Commissions recommendations, the market leader is expecting to sell 250,000 cars to this segment this year. Experts at India Ratings & Research say the full impact of the consumption boom will be felt in 2017-18, when big-ticket items such as homes will be purchased by consumers and investors. R K Arora, chairman, Supertech, an National Capital Region-based developer, says, The salary increase comes at an opportune time because property prices have corrected in the NCR. It will encourage prospective buyers to invest. Bankers say while loans for consumer durables and automobiles will go up immediately, home loans will pick up later. Disposable income will improve and so will consumer sentiment. "This coupled with a good monsoon is expected to boost consumption and rural demand. We are hoping credit growth will improve by 2-3 per cent, says Ashutosh Khajuria, executive director, Federal Bank. The tourism industry says it is readying for a spurt in demand. Vishal Suri, managing director, SOTC Travels, says, There could be an increase in the number of travellers to domestic and international destinations. The new trigger will aid growth." Illustration by Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com The UTOO 'soft' launch was in June and the full commercial launch is slated for September. To motivate drivers on its platform, UTOO, the new mobile-based taxi aggregator service, says it is going to offer apartments to them. The company, promoted by C Sivasankaran, said it would have to buy around 120,000 apartments across the country. Sivasankaran was also founder of telecom entity Aircel. The UTOO 'soft' launch was in June and the full commercial launch is slated for September. He said they initially planned to give 8,500 flats in Chennai, having already purchased around 200 at the suburb of Perambur from a private builder. The cost of a flat was Rs 15-25 lakh and of this, 10-15 per cent would come from the driver, from his margin, said Sivasankaran. Theyd purchase more, he said, in the Chennai areas of Old Mahabalipuram Road, Ambattur and Porur. These and other apartments elsewhere would be about 60 sq metres each. The driver chooses the location; the company would show them five to eight apartments in different localities. We want to give away around 120,000 units and this would cost around Rs 21,000 crore (Rs 210 billion) to us. While UTOO will spend around Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 70 billion), the balance would come by way of debt and subsidy. Sivasankaran said he'd leverage the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the central government-funded credit-subsidy scheme for own homes. UTOO would initially provide the margin money. The gap funding it offers is based on an eligibility of 5,000 trips, which it estimates can be done in 12-18 months. Every driver is eligible. If he doesn't have the margin money to pay, he has to work with the company for 5,000 trips, taking 12 to 14 months. The margin money is 10-15 per cent of the apartment cost but if the driver completes the 5,000 trips, UTOO will arrange 103 per cent of the finance, including the registration, said Sivasankaran. The company plans to expand in Hyderabad and Bengalaru. And, to launch the across all capital cities, with 37,500 vehicles on board. Sivasankaran had launched Aircel in a competitive environment. He later sold the company and the deal went into a controversy. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation, he was forced to sell the stake in Aircel and two subsidiary entities to the Malay-based Maxis Group in 2006, allegedly by then telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran. Sivasankaran says the goal is not to have a major market share in India but a sustainable business, making quarterly profits. Refusing to put a specific number to the initial investment, he said they'd put in Rs 350 crore (Rs 3.5 billion) to Rs 1,200 crore, depending on the requirement. It is also open to funding, he added. Apple has been lobbying hard for exemption from the mandatory 30 per cent local sourcing on the ground that its products have such high-end technology that these cannot be sourced locally here. Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook during his visit met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and spoke of possibilities of manufacturing, but the company has not submitted any proposal with the IT Ministry to set up its plant in India, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Cook visited Hyderabad on May 20 to launch the technology centre relating to their maps division in presence of Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekar Rao, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology P P Chaudhary said in a reply to the Lok Sabha. "He also called on the Prime Minister on May 21, 2016. "He shared Apple Inc's future plans for India and spoke of possibilities of manufacturing and retailing in India. There is no proposal with this ministry from Apple Inc to set up a manufacturing unit in the country," Chaudhary said. After meeting senior officials from manufacturing giant Foxconn, partner of Apple, the then telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in May had said the Cupertino-based technology major was coming to manufacture iPhones in India. Apple has been lobbying hard for exemption from the mandatory 30 per cent local sourcing on the ground that its products have such high-end technology that these cannot be sourced locally here. The government in June relaxed FDI norms by giving a three-year exemption from local sourcing to foreign players in single-brand retail and a further five-year relaxation for 'state-of-the-art' and 'cutting-edge' technology. Image: Apple CEO Tim Cook waves as he arrives on stage to deliver his keynote address at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, United States June 8, 2015. Photograph: Robert Galbraith/Reuters Consumers and businesses can tweet to communications minister Manoj Sinha (@manojsinhabjp) using #DOTSeva, #BSNLSeva, #MTNLSeva, and #PostalSeva Consumers of telecom and postal services will now be able to lodge complaints on social networking site Twitter. Communications minister Manoj Sinha launched Twitter Sewa, through which the ministry will provide real-time grievance redressal. The customised e-governance delivery service by Twitter India is already in use in the commerce, foreign, and railways ministries. Sinha said complaints on Twitter Sewa would be available to officials and would be categorised as immediate, mid term, and long term. Departments will be able to respond in real time, and assign complaints to relevant officers and track them. "Complaints against any telecom operator and the department of post on my Twitter handle will be communicated immediately," Sinha said. Consumers and businesses can tweet to Sinha (@manojsinhabjp) using #DOTSeva, #BSNLSeva, #MTNLSeva, and #PostalSeva, to reach the respective departments for service queries, real-time updates, and requests for assistance. Sinha said the service was in line with prime minister Narendra Modi's vision of "minimum government, maximum governance". "I hope the government and telecom service providers make use of this tool to serve the customer," he added. Raheel Khursheed, Twitter India's head for news, politics, and government, said to register a complaint a consumer would only need to tweet and the platform would pick keywords to forward it to the authorities concerned. He said the Twitter Sewa platform was free for government departments and the company expected to gain subscribers in the country from this. Photograph: Reuters 'Terrorism has no place in our religion, society or in our daily lives.' As security agencies grapple with the rising trend of young men coming under the influence of Islamic State, a seminar and interactive session is being organised in Hyderabad this week to discuss ways to wean away people from IS' violent and ultra conservative ideology. State Minorities Commission for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chairman Abid Rasool Khan, below, left, who has organised a seminar to explain to Muslims the dangers of Islamic State, speaks with Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore about the seminar and discusses the report on the welfare of minorities that he submitted to Governor E S L Narasimhan last week. What is the purpose of this seminar you have organised in Hyderabad on August 6? We had witnessed some instances of Islamic State activity and recruitment (for IS) in Hyderabad recently. The National Investigating Agency arrested 10 to 11 youth from the city on this charge. When these youth were arrested, interrogated and subsequently let off, some of the parents of these youth came with a petition to me as the chairman of the commission that their children were innocent. It was only after their arrests and discussion with them, these parents came to know that their children had visited websites of such (Islamic State) organisations. In their petitions these parents requested me to help them out. So we have taken this initiative to explain to the community the serious repercussions of such actions or involvement with such terrorist organisations. How these terrorists are inducing the youth through social media and how dangerous is the path which they should not tread on. This seminar will be addressed by researchers and authors who have studied and written books on Islamic State. One very eminent speaker from Hyderabad, Mirza Yawar Baig, has written a book, ISIS Isn't: The Faulty Logic of Opportunism -- on the modus operandi of the terrorist group in alluring young Muslims. A scholar from Kolkata, Aslam, who is doing research on radicalisation of Muslim youth, will also be speaking along with police officers from the IT cell of Telangana who are monitoring these activities, college heads, institution heads and vice-chancellors of various universities who have a following among the youth here. We will be sending out a very strong message (to the Muslim youth) that this (IS) is a very strong and cruel terrorist organisation. It is the responsibility of the parents, mentors, teachers to give a strong message to the youth that they should not get involved with it in any which way. We have also invited the head of the NIA, Hyderabad. There will be 10 speakers -- religious leaders and imams of mosques who give sermons on Fridays, researchers, legal luminaries, police officers -- who will address more than a thousand Muslim youth from colleges and universities about what are the perils of getting attracted to IS. You have also invited representatives from Google and Facebook. What role will they play in this seminar? We have the (Indian) headquarters of Google and Facebook in Hyderabad and since most of this radicalisation takes place online, these representatives will explain to the youth how social media works, how terrorist organisations are using it to recruit and spread terror activities. We will be appealing them to block such sites. We want the (Muslim) community to understand the serious implications (of getting attracted to IS) and then respond positively against the spread of such terrorist organisation as one unit. We also want the government (state as well as central) to block such sites and Google and Facebook being major players on social media, they should also help us by identifying, blocking such sites and by educating the youth. The three annual reports you submitted to Governor Narasimhan as the chairman of the state minorities commission for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has highlighted how since 2013 the attacks on churches and on Muslim women have increased. What reason does your report assign for this trend? This is the scene (trend) throughout the country... attacks on churches and on isolated Muslims, especially rapes of Muslim women (have been on the rise). The major reason is the communalisation and polarisation which is happening throughout the country. Any data to back your findings? There were 11 cases of rape of Muslim women in the last one year in Telangana. Most of these girls were raped when they were coming back from colleges or schools in rural areas. In a lot of cases victims died too. Were the accused in all these cases from the majority community? Yes, they were from the majority community. And as per your assessment, these rapes are happening because some people want to communalise the atmosphere in Telangana? It (the increase in trhe rapes of Muslim women) could be because the Muslim girls are taking advantage of the opportunities and going out to study, which was not the case before. They were very conservative earlier and would not travel distances to study. Hence, they have become easy targets now. We have submitted our report along with our recommendations to the state government. We have given our suggestions and asked for trials of such cases to take place in fast track courts. We want such cases to be tried within six months and a strong message should go to people who indulge in these acts that the law is not going to spare them. Has your assessment reached a conclusion that only Muslim women are being singled out or is there an increase in the overall cases of rapes in Telangana, which include women from the majority or any other communities as well? I cannot comment on that because as the chairman of the state minorities commission, my job is confined to the welfare of minority communities in the state. I am not working on the data of other communities that faced similar crimes in the state. So, one cannot draw a conclusion that Muslim women are being singled out? Yes, it's not that... I cannot say that. But there is definitely an increase in the rapes of Muslim women and that is what we are worried about. We also want the state government to address this issue. I, personally, and members of my commission, feel that this increase could partly be attributed to an increase in number of Muslim girls travelling to faraway schools and colleges that make them vulnerable targets for such attacks when they return home late in the evening. Three to four cases happened when these girls were coming back from their colleges. And this worries us if these rapes are related to the communal happenings or if these cases are just a coincidence. What has your report recommended to end such cases? Like I said, we have asked for setting up of fast track courts to get these cases tried within six months and quick convictions of the guilty. The second recommendation is setting up of more schools and colleges near mandal (taluka) headquarters so that these girls don't need to travel long distances. Third, we have asked for more police patrolling on the routes that these girls take to reach their schools or colleges. Fourth, there should be quick rehabilitation of the girls who suffer such trauma. So that they can live normal lives again. Fortunately, the government of Telangana has responded very positively on all these recommendations and one can see their effective implementation on the ground. In the last four, five cases of rape the accused were arrested immediately, the fast track courts were set up in the districts. But no convictions have happened yet. Convictions haven't happened because these cases took place in the last one to six months. You also stated in your report that funds allocated for the minorities have not been fully spent. Why has that happened? Fifty per cent of the total annual allocation goes unspent. The survey we did to find out the reasons behind this, made us realise that the infrastructure required to disperse this money does not really exist at the taluka level, but only on paper. So, we recommended that the government strengthen taluka level offices that look after disbursement of funds to the minorities, then at the district level and then at the state level. Vacancies are unfilled in these offices. So, we have asked the government to fill these positions on a war footing. You also requested the governor and the state government in your report for more powers to the state minorities commission. Do you think the powers that the commission wields are not enough to satisfy its mandate? We have powers to study, but when it comes to take action we only hold recommendatory powers. We have requested the government to give us powers to pass orders. Basically, the commission is given the powers of a civil court up to the trial stage till the time we call for reports. But we can't give final orders which are binding because we are just a recommendatory body. This limits our scope to discharge our duties mandated by the Commission properly. We have requested the Telangana government to give the commission powers that are binding in nature. As the chairman of the commission, what message would like to give to the Muslim youth of India? 'It is significant that the PM hasn't uttered a word about the Dalits and the Una incident.' 'It is very interesting that the RSS is sending sadhus to Una.' 'They will again talk about Hindu unity to woo the Dalits.' "At the all India level, the presence of the Dalit population is very significant. It is 15% to 20% in many states. That is why the BJP leadership is alarmed," Achyut Yagnik, one of India's finest political thinkers, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih. What is your assessment of Anandiben Patel's exit as Gujarat's chief minister? The BJP in Gujarat is facing many problems. First with the Patidar agitation from last year. Then with the Dalit agitation. Thirdly, they have neglected agriculture over the years and that also created problems in the rural sectors. In the elections to the panchayats and municipalities last December, the BJP lost heavily. The high command of the BJP leadership is very worried about the election in December 2017. To correct the situation they need at least one year. In that context, they have asked Anandiben to resign. In the last two days, she is writing and speaking according to script. Today or tomorrow, we will know whether they are going for a Patel or the present leader of the BJP in Gujarat (Vijay Rupani). How different will the new BJP dispensation in Gujarat be compared to the previous one? There is a sense of disappointment in the people. In the last two years, the situation hasn't improved at the ground level. The Patidar community, which is 15% of the population, feels deprived and is disappointed. There are multiple reasons for that. They feel the government is not doing anything for them. Since 1985, they have been the backbone of the BJP and are a dominant community in Gujarat. So it all depends on how they are going to improve the situation. Can the Patidars be won back by the BJP? It depends on how the new chief minister and the BJP high command take action to improve the situation. Anandiben was handpicked by Prime Minister Modi to lead Gujarat. In that context, it is significant that she had to step down. Both Anandiben Patel and Amit Shah were the right and left hand of Modi in the last 15 years. Now Amit Shah is president of the BJP and is operating at the national level. Anandiben, in a way, failed to fulfil the dream of Modi and the BJP high command. Now the BJP is passing through a critical phase in Gujarat. With electoral battles coming up in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, how is the BJP going to manage both states? They are facing problems in UP also. UP is more important because it is the biggest state in India. Compared to it, Gujarat is a small state with only 5% of India's population, but because Modi and Shah are both from Gujarat, it is very important for them to win Gujarat. In your understanding of Gujarati society, what is the meaning of this Dalit upsurge in the state? For the first time Dalits have raised their voice and mobilised without any organisation or leadership. That is very significant. Particularly, it started in Saurashtra which is a princely state. The younger generation of Dalits is raising their voice and asserting itself against both injustice and the state government. There is inequality at multiple levels in Saurashtra and Gujarat -- and more importantly, the younger generation wants employment. Joblessness has created this problem for the Patidars and the Dalits. Even with reservation, Dalits are not getting jobs. What impact will the Dalit agitation have on the Gujarat elections, if any? The tribal population in Gujarat is 15%, while the Dalits are 7% of the population. Over and above, this will impact the UP election also. After Mayawati raised her voice in Parliament about the Una incident, it became a national issue. It will affect the BJP's chances in both UP and Gujarat. Are we likely to see more Dalit agitations? As far as Gujarat is concerned, Dalits are divided into seven sub castes. In Saurashtra we find the Dalit population is going beyond the sub caste and raising their voice as Dalits. So Dalits are united and asserting themselves. The BJP is obviously alarmed because it has triggered Anandiben's exit. Of course, and there is the UP election also. It became a national issue because at the all-India level, the presence of the Dalits population is very significant. It is 15% to 20% in many states. That is why the BJP leadership is alarmed. What do you think the BJP will do now to retain power in the state? It is very interesting that the RSS is sending sadhus and saints to Una village in Saurashtra to improve their image. They will again talk about Hindu unity to woo the Dalits back. The issue of joblessness is very important. They need to bring jobs and improve agriculture. What will the prime minister do to strengthen the BJP in his state? By having a new chief minister they might think they are improving the situation. It is also significant that the prime minister hasn't uttered a word about the Dalits and the Una incident in Gujarat. The name of the new chief minister will indicate what policy they are going to pursue. Whether they are going to choose a Patel or Rupani, who is from the Jain community. Whether it will be from a dominant community or a comparatively neutral person from the caste calculus point of view. IMAGE: Dalits attend a Mahasammelan in Ahmedabad, July 31, 2016, in the wake of the recent Una incident. Photograph: PTI Photo Hundreds of Pakistani supporters of a militant-linked charity tried to cross into the Indian part of the divided Kashmir region on Wednesday to deliver aid after weeks of violent protests in Islamabad. But the activists from the Jamaat-ud-Dawah, a front for the anti-India Lashkar-e-Tayiba militant group, did not have permission from either the Pakistani or Indian authorities to cross the contested border and were stopped in a village on the Pakistani side where they staged a protest. "We will continue the sit-in until these essential food supplies are sent across the divide into the curfew ridden Kashmir valley," Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a senior official of the charity, told Reuters. Thousands of activists of various religious and jihadi outfits led by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed on Wednesday protested across different Pakistani cities against the visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, accusing him for the unrest in Kashmir. Activists of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Hizbul Mujahideen, United Jihad Council and other such group protested to denounce Singh's trip, who arrived in Islamabad earlier on Wednesday to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation ministerial conference being hosted by Pakistan. Saeed led the rally in Lahore's Mall Road and vent out his anger over the government's decision to 'welcome' Singh despite his alleged "role in the killings of innocent Kashmiris". Saeed said Pakistan government has added insult to the wounds of Kashmiris by welcoming Singh. "We were not expecting that the Pakistani rulers would welcome Singh who is responsible for the killings of innocent Kashmiris," he said, adding the rulers should have refused to receive the Indian home minister to lodge its protest over Kashmir atrocities. The United States designated the group a "foreign terrorist organisation" in 2010. The group denies any militant activity. The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been divided since shortly after India and Pakistan gained independence from Britain in 1947. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought three wars over it and the border between them in the region is an old ceasefire line known as the Line of Control. The United Nations still monitors the well-fortified positions on both sides of the tense divide. Forty-six people have been killed and more 5,000 wounded, including Indian security forces, since protests erupted there after the killing of a militant commander on July 8. Most of the violence has been in the Kashmir valley, the most populous part of Indian Kashmir, which includes the main city of Srinagar. The JuD activists, chanting "annihilation of India", tried to approach the LoC but were kept well back by steel barricades erected by Pakistani security forces in the village of Chakothi. The protest came hours before Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) talks, according to footage broadcast on the Pakistani television news channel Geo. A Kashmiri militant commander led a protest in Islamabad against Singh's visit earlier on Wednesday. About 300 people attended. The militant leader, Syed Salahuddin, said Singh was "a killer of Kashmiris" and Pakistan should cut diplomatic ties with India over the violence in Indian Kashmir. A Jamaat-ud-Dawah rally marching towards the Line of Control at Chakothi, Pakistan on Tuesday. PTI Photo Maoist chief Prachanda was on Wednesday elected by lawmakers as Nepal's Prime Minister for a second time with his elevation expected to bring much-needed political stability in the country bogged down by deep divisions over the new Constitution. Though Pushpa Kamal Dahal -- better known as Prachanda -- was the only contender for the top post, he had to go through the voting as the Constitution requires the Prime Minister to prove support of the majority lawmakers in the House. The 61-year-old Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre chief was elected prime minister with 363 votes in favour and 210 against him. Out of a total 595 members, 22 did not vote. Ahead of the election, Prachanda addressed the House and said that he would try to lead the nation toward economic development while moving ahead with the spirit of national consensus during his premiership. This is the second time Prachanda has become prime minister after his brief stint with premiership came to an end in 2009. He was prime minister from 2008 to 2009 before a disagreement with the military over his attempt to sack the army chief brought his period in office to an early end. Prachanda won the vote after Nepali Congress and CPN-Maoist Centre signed a three-point agreement with the Madhesi Front to secure support from the Madhesi parties for their bid to form a new government led by him. The prime minister's post had been left vacant since last month after Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist chairman K P Sharma Oli tendered his resignation following the Maoist's withdrawal of support to the coalition government. Image: Nepal's newly elected Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Daha waves towards the media in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters Teams of NDRF, Navy, Coast Guard, IAF and Konkan Railway carry out rescue operations, reports Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com IMAGE: A part of a bridge on Savitri river at Mahad in Raigad district of Maharashtra collapsed on Wednesday. Photograph: Chief PRO, Defence At least two persons drowned and 22 others are missing as two buses swept away in swollen Savitri River after a British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway near Mahad in Maharashtras Raigad district late on Tuesday night. Rescuers fished out bodies of two men from the river and an intense search is on to trace those missing, Raigad district collector Sheetal Teli Ugale said. Four teams of National Disaster Response Force with 40 deep-divers joined the rescue operations and also scanned the banks of river Savitri between Mahad and Poladpur to search for more bodies. Pandit Ithape, deputy commandant of NDRF, who is on the spot told Rediff.com over the phone the NDRF divers are also searching for the buses. The river flow is very high and we are waiting for it to slow down a bit before the divers begin search operations, Ithape said. According to locals, who Ithape spoke to, the depth of the Savitri river in spate where the bridge collapsed could be about 20 feet. IMAGE: Bystanders look on as repair work continued on the collapsed bridge. Photograph: Arun Patil As per a press note issued by the chief public relations officer-defence after receiving a report on Wednesday morning that a bridge on Savitri had collapsed at about midnight in Mahad, Raigad district an immediate search operation was launched. The Coast Guard had deployed a Chetak helicopter at about 8:15 am for carrying out search for missing people. An Mi 17 helicopter of the Indian Air Force had also undertaken search down the river. Indian Navy Seaking 42C, an all weather aircraft with diving team has been deployed by the Navy to carry out search operations. The Diving team has been positioned there and awaiting inputs on location of the vehicles. Cdr Rahul Sinha, chief PRO, Defence told Rediff.com that the river current being very strong at the moment the divers will be asked to begin a search operation only if there is a positive identification of the vehicles. IMAGE: There were two parallel bridges, the older one collapsed, said Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Photograph: Chief PRO, Defence An NDRF official, who is monitoring the rescue operations, said, "As soon we got information about the tragic incident, we dispatched two teams from Pune and two teams from Mumbai who are searching for missing persons in the swollen river, an NDRF official, who was monitoring the rescue operations, said. Also, we have kept two teams in Mumbai and two teams in Pune in stand-by mode, and they would be roped in as and when needed, he said. Our team of special divers is equipped enough to handle the situation as with the help of oxygen masks, they can go deep up to 10 metres down and can stay there for long, the official added. He added the teams have covered 100 to 200 metres from bridge and would expand the search area. IMAGE: Indian Navy's all weather helicopter was deployed to carry out search operations. Photograph: Chief PRO, Defence Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the spot in the evening. Earlier, he had said he is monitoring the situation. Spoke to Raigad SP and collector about bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa Highway. Administration has rushed to spot for rescue and immediate measures, Fadnavis had tweeted. There were two parallel bridges; one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one collapsed. 'The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar. 'Traffic on highway is stopped. Administration is ascertaining strength and stability of new bridge. There is no confirmed assessment about casualties, he had said in series of tweets. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Fadnavis and was briefed about the bridge collapse. The PM offered all help in rescue and relief operations, Fadnavis said. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has also asked Konkan Railway to render necessary assistance to the state government in the rescue operations. Konkan Railways Chief PRO Siddheshwar Telugu said a rescue team has been rushed to assist the personnel present on the spot. Konkan Railway is providing men and material inclusive of self-propelled accident relief medical van, accident relief train, doctor and medical team, mechanical rescue team and engineering rescue team, said Telugu. IMAGE: CM Devendra Fadnavis takes an overhead survey of the crash. Photograph: PTI Speaking to Rediff.com, Maharashtra housing minister Prakash Mehta, who was rushing to the spot, said, We have pressed helicopters fitted with magnetic plates that are hovering over the river so that presence of any iron bodies under the water could be ascertained. Specialised speed boats too are scanning the river banks in search of people. Mehta said he spoke with Raigad district collector Sheetal Teli Ugale, who was monitoring operations of the state administration since 4 am. Local authorities, in fact, reached the spot within 30 minutes of the bridge collapse (likely at 12.30 am) but were handicapped by the strong river currents as well as darkness. According to officials at the control room Raigad district, two state transport buses -- MH20 DL 1538, with drivr by S S Kamble and conductor V K Desai, from Jaigadh; and MH40 N 9739, with driver G S Munde and conductor P B Shirke, from Rajapur -- left Chiplun in Ratnagiri district at 9.30 pm on August 2. IMAGE: Search parties are still looking for the missing persons from the bridge collapse. Photograph: Arun Patil Both buses have still not reached their destination: Borivali in Mumbai. They are likely to have been washed away or submerged in river Savitri. Both buses were carrying nine passengers each and the family members of these passengers have been informed. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has expressed grief over the loss of life caused due to the bridge collapse. The governor has also expressed concern over the fate of the missing persons who boarded the State Transport buses and other vehicles that have gone missing in the flood. My heart goes out to the persons who were on board the two buses and other vehicles that have gone missing in the Savitri river in Mahad. I offer my condolences to the kin of those who lost their lives and pray for the safe rescue of those who are missing, he said in a message. With inputs from PTI. North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan, South Korea said, in an apparent show of force against the planned deployment of a United States missile defence system. The United States strongly condemned the test and asserted that America's commitment to the defence of its allies, including South Korea and Japan, in the face of such threats remains "iron-clad". "We are aware of reports that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea fired ballistic missiles. We are monitoring and continuing to assess the situation in close coordination with our regional allies and partners," State Department spokeswoman Julia Mason said. "We strongly condemn this and North Korea's other recent missile tests, which violate multiple United Nations Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology," Mason said. These provocations only serve to increase the international community's resolve to counter the North Korean prohibited activities, including through implementing existing UN Security Council sanctions. The latest test also comes amid mounting tensions ahead of a planned US-South Korea joint military exercise later this month. Last year the drills involved 30,000 US soldiers and 50,000 South Korean troops. The missile was launched from near the western North Korea city of Unyul at around 07:50 am, South Korea's defence ministry said. The projectile flew some 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) and was believed to be a Rodong mid-range missile, the defence ministry added. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has condemned the test missile that landed 250 kilometres (155 miles) off Japan's coast as an "outrageous act" which threatened his country. "It's a serious threat against our country's security," Abe told reporters. "This is an outrageous act that cannot be tolerated." The test follows the launch of three ballistic missiles on July 19 in what the North said were simulated nuclear strikes on the South. Pyongyang has carried out a series of missile tests this year in defiance of tough UN sanctions, and vowed to take "physical action" against the planned deployment of a US missile defence system in the South announced in July. Since leader Kim Jong-Un took over from his late father Kim Jong-Il, who died in 2011, North Korea is believed to have tested 16 Scud missiles with a range of between 300 km and 1,000 km, six Rodong missiles, six Musudan missiles with a range of up to 4,000 km and three submarine-launched missiles, according to the South's Yonhap news agency. UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from developing ballistic missile technology. Donald Trump has hit back at President Barack Obama for terming him unfit for presidency, saying the "terrible president" would go down as the worst in American history. "Well he's a terrible president. He'll probably go down as the worst president in the history of our country, he's been a total disaster," Trump told Sinclair Broadcast group in an interview on Tuesday. IMAGE: Republican US Presidential nominee Donald Trump attends a campaign event at Briar Woods High School in Ashburn, Virginia, US. Photograph: Eric Thayer/Reuters "You look at what happens in the Middle East, in Syria and his line in the sand. I think it just means he's concerned I'm going to win," he claimed. "Don't forget last time he said I would never get the nomination, now he is saying I wouldn't get the election now all of a sudden he said the other day maybe I can win the election, no I guess he probably has to say that kind of thing," Trump said when asked about Obama's statement. "I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president. I said so last week and he keeps on proving it," Obama told reporters at a joint news conference with the Singapore prime minister on Tuesday. Trump reiterated his stand and said he does not regret having criticised the parents of a slain Pakistani-origin American Muslim soldier Humayun Khan who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004. "I don't regret anything. I said nice things about the son and I feel that very strongly but of course I was hit very hard from the stage and you know it's just one of those things but no I don't regret anything," he said. Trump's own party leaders have come out openly against the Republican presidential nominee for being critical of family members of the soldier. He also did not regret calling his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as the devil. "No, I don't think so; I think it is what it is. She's a very deceitful person, she lies, she cheats, no I don't think that's too far at all," he said. He maintained his belief that the upcoming presidential election is rigged. "I'm talking about at the voter booth. I mean we've seen a lot of things over the years and now without the voter ID's and all the things going on and some bad court cases have come down," Trump said. "I just hear things and I just feel it and I felt it having to do with the primaries. I looked at Bernie sanders I said 'he isnt going to win. I thought this whole thing was rigged and I think the general election is gonna be, we're gonna have a lot of problems we have to be very careful," Trump said. During the interview Trump refused to entertain the challenge posed to him by Warren Buffet on revealing his tax returns, saying he does not know Warren Buffet and has never met him. Meanwhile, Trump has pitched for good relationships with China and Russia, stating that it would be nice for the US to get along with the two nations, as he slammed Hillary Clinton for having bad relationship with Vladimir Putin. "As far as I'm concerned, I want to get along with China. Wouldn't it be great if we got along with Russia? Wouldn't that be great?" Trump said at an election rally in Ashburn, Virginia, a suburb of WashingtonDC on Tuesday. Seeing a potential partner in Russia in wiping out the Islamic State terror group, Trump said, "If we actually had a relationship with Russia, instead of all the fighting and the problems, we could get Russia and others to partner up against ISIS." Having not seen any good done by the existing set of experts in the current global situation, Trump said he won't take advice from anyone. "Hillary Clinton will be worse. She has bad relationships with people like Putin. I'll give you an example. She has terrible relationships with Putin. This is a nuclear country we're talking about. Russia, strong nuclear country," he said. He further said that he wants tough people and Clinton is not tough. "I know tough people, she's not tough. I mean she's doing the handlers, they push her from place to place that's all it is." "She wants to play the role of the tough guy against Putin She should be tough on trade. Because right now we are being ripped off on trade like nobody has ever ripped us off in history. You look at our trade deficits with China," he said. On Barack Obama supporting Clinton for the Presidential race, Trump reminded people of the things Obama said about Clinton said years ago. "Eight years ago Barack Obama said things about her that were so bad, and today I just said, do me a favor look them up because I remember how bad. Now all of a sudden he's supporting her," he said. The 70-year-old White House hopeful warned the people about Clinton's plans to keep Obamacare, which he said will lead to "people pouring into our country". "Look it's a hope, because she's going to keep Obamacare, She's going to let the Syrian refugees come in and we don't know if they're ISIS, we have no idea," he said. Curtains will fall on the Rim of the Pacific 2016, the worlds largest international maritime exercise, on August 4. Participants in drills that lasted over a month in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California included over 40 ships and submarines, over 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel from 26 nations, including India. RIMPAC provided a unique training opportunity that helped participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. Scroll below to see glimpses of the 25th exercise in the RIMPAC series that began in 1971. Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth frigate INS Satpura (F48) steams in close formation as one of 40 ships and submarines representing 13 international partner nations during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ace Rheaume/US Navy Forty ships and submarines representing 13 international partner nations steam in close formation during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Rodriguez Santiago/US Navy Indian Navy Lt Commander Limaye Kutuhal, from Pune, Maharashtra, is currently a Surface Warfare and Communications officer aboard the Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth frigate INS Satpura. He joined the Navy as a cadet at the age of 17. Kutuhal spent three years at the Naval Academy, followed by one year of sea training before becoming a commissioning officer in 2008. This was Kutuhal's first time participating in RIMPAC, and he made the most of the time he had in Hawaii with all the wonderful set of new people he met from all over the world. Photograph: US Navy Members of the visit, board, search, and seizure team assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay approach the Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth frigate INS Satpura while conducting a VBSS exercise during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan J Batchelder/US Navy Two US Army AH-64D Apache attack helicopters assigned to the 2-6 Cavalry Squadron, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade launch eight "fire and forget" AGM-114L Hellfire Air to Surface Missiles during a training exercise off the coast of Oahu as part of the Rim of the Pacific 2016. Exercise participants boosted their proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing during a sinking exercise with the decommissioned Pearl Harbor frigate USS Crommelin. Photograph: Sgt Erin Sherwood/US Army USS Coronado, an Independence-variant littoral combat ship, launches a Harpoon Block 1C missile for the first time during exercise Rim of the Pacific. Photograph: Lt Bryce Hadley/US Navy An F-22 Raptor from the 199th Fighter Squadron and the active-duty 19th Fighter Squadron prepares to receive fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gregory A Harden II/US Navy An MV-22 Osprey assigned to the "Greyhawks" of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 prepares to land aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Demetrius Kennon/US Navy Australian and Chinese navy divers conduct a multinational salvage dive exercise from Chinese Navy submarine rescue ship Changdao (867) during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Han Fuxiao/Chinese Navy Snipers, Pathfinders and Reconnaissance members, from 2e Bataillon Royal 22e Regiment, conduct insertion and extraction by helicopter training with a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-147F Chinook helicopter during RIMPAC 2016 on Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California. Photograph: Sgt Marc-Andre Gaudreault/Flickr. An MV-22 Osprey, assigned to the "White Knights" of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 and embarked on board the amphibious assault ship USS America, conducts flight operations near the island of Hawaii. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Riley/US Navy A CH-53E Super Stallion cargo helicopter assigned to Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 463 transports a supply container from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) to the island of Hawaii. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle Goldberg/US Navy Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force guided missile destroyer JS Chokai (DDG-176) launches a missile as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016. Photograph: Ryo Tanaka/Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Canadian army soldiers advance into a trench during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Sgt Marc-Andre Gaudreault/Canadian Forces Combat Camera US Marines participate in an amphibious assault exercise during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak/US Navy US Marines participate in an amphibious assault exercise during Rim of the Pacific. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak/US Navy Three MV-22 Ospreys from US Marines 3rd Battalion 3rd Regiment lift off from Pacific Missile Range Facility during a joint exercise with three other countries (South Korea, Australia, and Malaysia) as part of Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Omar Powell/US Navy Vice Adm Nora Tyson, commander of US 3rd Fleet, addresses Indian Navy officers after a Task Force Energy and Environment training symposium held at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Conference Centre on Ford Island. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class K Cecelia Engrums/US Navy Littoral combat ship USS Coronado steams in close formation as one of 40 ships and submarines representing 13 international partner nations during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ace Rheaume/US Navy A US Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules and two CH-53E Super Stallions conduct a refueling exercise during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak/US Navy Chinese Navy multirole frigate Hengshui fires its main gun against a towed target while conducting a live-fire exercise, during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Senior Capt Liu Wenping/Chinese Navy Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was taken ill during a roadshow in Varanasi and forced to return to the national capital, was "stable" and has been shifted to Ganga Ram Hospital in west Delhi on Wednesday. Gandhi was admitted to the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi on Tuesday night due to high fever. The 69-year-old Congress chief returned by a chartered flight close to midnight after she had to abandon the 8-km roadshow in Varanasi midway due to illness. Gandhi has been shifted to Ganga Ram Hospital as she had earlier also undergone treatment there, sources said. Earlier in the day, All India Congress Committee media cell in-charge Randeep Surjewala had said that she is stable and is recovering under medical supervision. "Yesterday (Tuesday) itself, she had said that she would return to Varanasi to meet the people and to have 'darshan of the historical temple of Kashi Vishwanath Ji'. On return, she was admitted to hospital in Delhi, is stable and is recovering under medical supervision", he had said in a statement. The Congress president is overwhelmed by the concern and affection of fellow countrymen and crores of Congressmen and has thanked everyone for their good wishes, he had said. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, were by her side. Her son-in-law Robert Vadra also visited her. Senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had said that her condition was "stable" after she suffered a bout of "dehydration, vomited and had fever" in Varanasi. Image: Sonia Gandhi greets supporters during the roadshow in Varanasi. Photograph: @INCIndia/Twitter Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started holding interactive sessions with his party MPs at which he wants them to open up. R Rajagopalan/Rediff.com reports on an unusual political exercise. On August 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent nearly four hours in an interactive session with nearly 60 BJP members of Parliament from various states at the NDMC Convention Hall in Parliament Street discussing the performance of his government. Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting that lasted from 7 pm to 11 pm, with Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah also being present. Prime Minister Modi himself sat among the MPs, listening to their grievances. The initiative, part of the prime minister's outreach to MPs, is the second of the series, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj chairing the first. Modi has so far met 120 MPs, the brief for them being clear: 'Identity issues where the BJP government has gone, you talk as much you want, and I don't want anyone to praise me.' At Tuesday's session, a few MPs sought a hike in the member of Parliament local area development scheme funds from the present Rs 5 crore to Rs 25 crore, while some from Uttar Pradesh complained about Samajwadi Party government not allowing them to use their development funds. At this point, the PM intervened and asked the MPs to mention things wrong with the Centre, and that he was not here to hear about the performance of other governments. Next on the anvil, on August 10, is Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, soon to be followed by ministers Nitin Gadkari and Manohar Parrikar. Modi tells the MPs he wants to hear criticism about the functioning of his government. Do not tell me in person, please share your thoughts with fellow MPs. Let there be a lesson learnt; if the BJP is to stay in government for many more years to come we have to straighten up first, -- is another message from Modi during these sessions. The sessions are of an interactive nature, with Modi often intervening, putting forth questions, and listening to his MPs. He also narrates old stories to correlate the past to the present situation. Typically, the meets do not have a PA system so the MPs have to use their lung power to make themselves heard. That is not all. At times, Modi has also taken to driving to the residences of Union ministers for breakfast, lunch or dinner and engages with them on issues facing his government. And starting September, the prime minister plans to invite chief ministers and MLAs from BJP-run states for similar interactive luncheons. Naturally, political circles in New Delhi are agog with speculation as to why Prime Minister Modi is indulging in this exercise. Is it because he anticipates a political threat from within, or is it another innovative idea he wants to implement, to break out of the echo chamber prime ministers usually find themselves confined to? Alas, there are no answers forthcoming on this one. While two of the men raped her at gunpoint, the third clicked photographs of the act. Barely three days after a brutal gang rape shocked Uttar Pradesh, a school teacher was allegedly gang-raped by three men in a moving van in Bareilly on Tuesday morning. The incident took place at around 7 am when the victim was going to a school where she teaches. As per reports, three masked men pulled the schoolteacher into a white Maruti van near NH-24 and drove to a deserted sugarcane field. While two of the men raped her at gunpoint, the third clicked photographs of the act. She was going to the school in the morning. The three men, who had their faces covered, pulled her inside the van and gang-raped her. They also filmed the whole incident, victims relative told reporters. Senior police officers, including Inspector General Vijay Singh Meena, and others reached the crime scene to investigate. Today at around 5:30 pm, the victim came to the police station and said that three men came in a Maruti van and kidnapped her. They then gang-raped her and also filmed the incident, Meena told the media. The police got the information in the evening and registered an FIR (first information report). All senior officers had visited the site of crime, he added. The incident comes three days after five to six people had allegedly gang-raped a woman and her teenage daughter for three hours after dragging them out of their car in Bulandshahr on Friday night. Pakistan's Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif is in China's militancy hit Muslim-majority Xinjiang province on a rare visit where he met his Chinese counterpart General Fang Fenghui, promising to crackdown on Uighur militants. The two Generals discussed military-to-military relations, bilateral security cooperation and all dimension of long term China-Pakistan Economic Corridor security, according to a press release issued by Inter Services Public Relations. Fang said China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners and mutual support between their armed forces is critical for safeguarding regional peace and stability. On his part, Gen Sharif pledged to firmly crack down on terrorist forces like the al-Qaeda linked 'East Turkestan Islamic Movement' and protect the security of the economic corridor. Gen Sharif, who arrived in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi on a day-long visit, also met with Communist Party Secretary of Xinjiang province Zhang Chun Xian. They discussed bilateral ties and regional security issue with particular reference to $46 billion CPEC's completion and its security. CPEC will link the Pakistani city of Gwadar to China's Xinjiang via a vast network of highways and railways, allowing China access to Arabian Sea. Xinjiang is hit by a separatist movement whose supporters claim that the region is not part of China and they oppose settlement of majority Han population in the province which could change the Uyghur character of the region. Photograph Courtesy: Inter Services Public Relations Ukraine: The new law on police and its effectiveness; recourse and state protection available to private citizens who have been the victims of criminal actions of police officers in Kiev (2014-January 2015) Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 14 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol UKR105399.E Related Document(s) Ukraine : information sur la nouvelle loi concernant la police et sur l'efficacite de cette loi; l'assistance et la protection offerte par l'Etat que peuvent obtenir les citoyens qui sont victimes d'actes criminels commis par des policiers a Kiev (2014-janvier 2015) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ukraine: The new law on police and its effectiveness; recourse and state protection available to private citizens who have been the victims of criminal actions of police officers in Kiev (2014-January 2015), 14 January 2016, UKR105399.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a187914.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa 1. Police Reform In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a professor emeritus, affiliated with the Centre for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Toronto, who has written extensively on criminal justice systems within the post-Soviet world, stated that a new law on police patrol was adopted and went into effect in the Fall of 2015 (Professor Emeritus 7 Jan. 2016). The same source further stated that "a number of police reform projects" were underway, including "anti-corruption measures more generally" (ibid.). Other sources state that the law "'On National Police'" was passed on 2 July 2015 (Lawyer 8 Jan. 2015; Visiting Professor 11 Jan. 2016). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a lawyer, who is an Advocate Member of the Ukrainian Bar, said that the new law "'on the national police'" entered into force on 10 November 2015 (Lawyer 8 Jan. 2015). An English translation of the new police law could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a visiting professor at the University of Toronto's Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, who conducts research on police corruption in post-socialist states, indicated that "[s]ince November 7, the old Militia ceased to operate" with a new patrol police established in seven major cities by the end of 2015 and nation-wide expansion plans (Visiting Professor 11 Jan. 2016). The same source stated that the Ukrainian government hopes to have the new patrol force operational in 28 cities by March 2016 (ibid.). According to the Professor Emeritus, the emphasis of the reformed police unit is "[o]n Western style policing, with a service orientation, reduction of violence and corruption" (Professor Emeritus 7 Jan. 2016). Foreign Policy magazine states that by the end of 2015, the new force had been deployed in Kiev, Odessa, Lviv, and other major Ukrainian cities and that unlike the old post-Soviet militsia [militsiya] patrol police, the new officers refuse to take bribes (Foreign Policy 29 Dec. 2015). Reuters notes that the new forces "have been given less militaristic uniforms and the name 'Politsyia' to mark a break with the old Soviet-style Militsyia" and that officers have "pledged to forsake the bribes associated with their job" (Reuters 6 July 2014). According to sources, the new police force has received support and training from the governments of Canada, the United States (Foreign Policy 29 Dec. 2015; Reuters 6 July 2014) and Japan (Foreign Policy 29 Dec. 2015; Atlantic Council 16 Dec. 2015). The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) also indicates that it facilitated training programs in specialized areas such as domestic violence and human trafficking for Ukraine's new patrol force (2 July 2015). The European Union (EU) reports that an EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine (EUAM) was also granted a two year mandate to "strengthen and support the reform of the civilian security sector in Ukraine"; the mission has been operational since 1 July 2015 (EU n.d.). The Professor Emeritus noted that Ukraine's police reforms are influenced by Georgia's model and a "number of Georgians are involved in running the police" (7 Jan. 2016). According to sources, only the Ukrainian patrol police have been reformed while other divisions of police remain unchanged (Professor Emeritus 7 Jan. 2016; Foreign Policy 29 Dec. 2015). The Professor Emeritus reported that a key dimension of the reform plan is "the review (pereattestatsiia) of all existing police, a complex process involving written documents and interviews by commissions of professionals and laypersons alike" (Professor Emeritus 7 Jan. 2016). The same source indicated that this process aims to reduce the police force by at least one third or perhaps even half; the exercise began in November 2015 in selected areas and will likely take the entirety of 2016 (ibid.). The Visiting Professor similarly reported that "[t]he major anti-corruption measure in the Law on National Police is the personal attestation for all police personnel, nearly 180 thousand officers;" an exercise that "should be completed at the end of 2016, when less than 125 thousand [police officers] will be kept" (Visiting Professor 11 Jan. 2016). The same source indicated that in 2015, 47,000 police officers were dismissed, including senior officers throughout Ukraine (ibid.). Within Kiev, the source notes that 36 percent of interviewed police officers were dismissed, including the Chief of the Kiev Police (ibid.). In the opinion of the Professor Emeritus, "it is early to assess the effects of reforms introduced recently," many of which are still underway (Professor Emeritus 6 Jan. 2016). The same source indicated that "[i]t will make sense to revisit this question in two to three years" when there is a greater "sense of what has and has not changed in Ukrainian policing" (ibid. 7 Jan. 2016). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a Professor of political studies at the University of Ottawa who specializes in contemporary Ukrainian politics likewise reported that "[i]t is difficult to determine the efficacy of this law and its effect on corruption within the Ukrainian police since this law came into force only in July 2015 and the formation of the new patrol police force in various regions is still not completed (Visiting Professor 8 Jan. 2015). 2. Reports of Corruption and Police Abuse According to the Professor Emeritus, "corruption is still rife in law enforcement overall, even if it has been reduced with the introduction of the new patrol units" (Professor Emeritus 7 Jan. 2016). The Professor of political studies also stated that some Ukrainian media reports suggest that corruption among lower-ranked police members decreased following the implementation of the new police law, while other media platforms continue to report on specific instances of corruption at both lower and top ranks of police (Professor 8 Jan. 2016). The source noted that, based on his assessment, corruption remains "one of the central issues" within the Ukrainian police force (ibid.). Reuters cites a June 2014 report published by the Razumkov Centre, an independent Ukrainian research group, as stating that almost 81 percent of individuals surveyed thought that "the fight against corruption was not working" (ibid.)., 4). The US Department of State's 2014 Crime and Safety Report for Ukraine states that "corruption is a tremendous problem and law enforcement agencies are part of the problem" (US 10 June 2014). The same source reports that low salaries, inadequate training, poor working conditions, and shortages of basic equipment contribute to "systemic internal corruption and general ineffectiveness" (ibid.). According to the US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014, from January through September 2014, "[t]he Prosecutor General's Office opened criminal investigations involving 1, 236 police officers, mainly related to corruption and abuse of power" in Ukraine (ibid. 25 June 2015, 5). Country Reports 2014 indicates that there have been reports of police and other law enforcement officials abusing and torturing persons in custody to obtain confessions (US 25 June 2015, 4). The same source states that during the first 8 months of 2014, the Prosecutor General's Office opened 8,236 criminal investigations into alleged torture or degrading treatment by the police, and of those investigations that were opened, authorities "forwarded 1,424 cases of alleged mistreatment to courts, including 28 cases specifically alleging torture or degrading treatment involving 43 law enforcement officers" (ibid., 5). 3. Recourse and State Protection Country Reports for 2014 states that "members of parliament have authority to conduct investigations and public hearings into law enforcement problems" (ibid., 8). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. The same source states that the Parliamentary Ombudsman for Human Rights [Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights] "may also initiate investigations into abuses by security forces" (ibid.). According to the website of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights [ombudsman], the Commissioner conducts inquiries or investigations based on petitions of Ukrainian citizens, foreigners, stateless persons and their representatives, MPs, and of his own volition (Ukraine 9 Dec. 2011). The same source notes that the Commissioner's jurisdiction extends to "persons who in one way or another perform the function of state authority" and that citizen complaints should be filed within one year of an alleged human rights violation (ibid.). The Commissioner's website further states that complaints should be made in writing, by email, or through a meeting, to their office in Kyiv but that a service hotline is also operational 24 hours a day (ibid.). According to the Professor of political studies, Ukrainian citizens may file complaints against the police with the police department, courts, and the media but notes that corruption, politicization of the police, courts, and media, and lack of their independence from the government significantly hamper effectiveness of such venues, especially in cases of the police harassment and misconduct against people who oppose the current government or do not have sufficient financial resources. (8 Jan. 2016) Information on the effectiveness of recourse and state protection was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. The Professor Emeritus stated that in the past, police complaint mechanisms have been "ineffective in most instances" and sometimes lead "to reprisals against the complainants" (Professor Emeritus 7 Jan. 2016). The same source states that "there remains little chance of police protection for most citizens in Ukraine, and that this will not improve during the early stages of reform" (ibid.). The Visiting Professor indicated that "[t]here is no independent system to file police complaints so far and no plans to establish it" (Visiting Professor 11 Jan. 2016). He also noted that a "complaint button" on the website of the Ministry of the Interior does not operate efficiently (ibid.). The same source further suggests, however, that "some local experts find high anti-corruption potential [in] the current police reform in Ukraine" (ibid.) This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request. References Atlantic Council.16 December 2015. Melinda Haring. "The Revolutionary Path to Reform for Ukraine's National Police." [Accessed 23 Dec. 2015] European Union (EU). N.d. Advisory Mission Ukraine. "Mandate." [Accessed 23 Dec. 2015] Foreign Policy. 29 December 2015. Erica Marat. "The Problem with Ukrainian Police Reform." [Accessed 23 Dec. 2015] Lawyer, Advocate Member of the Ukrainian Bar. 8 January 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. Organization for Security and Economic Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). 2 July 2015. "OSCE-Supported Training of New Ukrainian Patrol Police." [Accessed 23 Dec. 2015] Professor Emeritus. 7 January 2016. Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies, University of Toronto. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. _____. 6 January 2016. Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies, University of Toronto. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. Professor of Political Studies. 8 January 2016. University of Ottawa. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. Reuters. 6 July 2014. Margarita Chornokondrantenko and Elizabeth Piper. "Ukraine Launches Western-Style Police Force to Set a Marker for Reform." [Accessed 23 Dec. 2015] Ukraine. 9 December 2011. Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. "The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights- the Ukrainian Model of Ombdusman." [Accessed 23 Dec. 2015] United States (US). 25 June 2015. Department of State. "Ukraine." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014. [Accessed 23 Dec. 2015] _____. 10 June 2014. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Ukraine 2014 Crime and Safety Report. [Accessed 23 Dec. 2015] Visiting Professor. 11 January 2016. Centre for Criminology and Socio-legal Studies, University of Toronto. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. Additional Sources Consulted Oral sources: Canada - Embassy to Ukraine; European Union - Advisory Mission in Ukraine; Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group; OSCE - project in Ukraine; Ukraine - Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombdusman); Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union; Vinnytsya Human Rights Group Internet sites, including: Agence France-Presse;; Al Jazeera, Amnesty International; BBC; Bloomberg Business; Canada - Embassy to Ukraine, travel.gc.ca; Deutsche Welle; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; INTERPOL; IREX; Kyiv Post; Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); Russia Today; Transparency International; Unian Information Agency; Ukraine - Embassy to Canada, Ministry of Interior Ukraine: Information on military conscription and exemption from service, including alternative military service for conscientious objectors; whether members of the Orthodox Church can perform alternative military service (2014-November 2015) Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 1 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol UKR105366.E Related Document(s) Ukraine : information sur la conscription et l'exemption du service militaire, y compris sur le service de remplacement pour les objecteurs de conscience; information indiquant si les membres de l'Eglise orthodoxe peuvent effectuer un service de remplacement (2014-novembre 2015) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ukraine: Information on military conscription and exemption from service, including alternative military service for conscientious objectors; whether members of the Orthodox Church can perform alternative military service (2014-November 2015), 1 December 2015, UKR105366.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a188544.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa 1. Conscription and Exemption from Service According to sources, in 2014, the Ukrainian government reinstated the use of conscription in response to the conflict with pro-Russian separatists in the East (Peace and Justice 18 Oct. 2014; Foreign Policy 18 Feb. 2015; BBC 2 May 2014). According to the UNHCR, the mobilization continued throughout 2015 (UN Sept. 2015, para. 34). The Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (UNIAN) (Bloomberg Business n.d.), citing Ukrainian news service TSN, reported in early November 2015 that Ukraine had begun its "autumn conscription," which had previously been postponed due to elections (UNIAN 2 Nov. 2015). The same source further states that the goal is to recruit 11,000 individuals aged 20 to 27 during the month of November and that those with "higher education" will serve one year and those without "higher education" will serve a year and a half (ibid.). The Guardian reports that Ukrainian men between the ages of 25 and 60 are eligible for conscription, with preference given to those with military experience (10 Feb. 2015). According to the UNHCR, Ukrainian Law No. 3543-XII of 21 October 1993 On Mobilization Preparedness and Mobilization indicates that the following categories of people can be exempted from military draft during mobilization: employees of State authorities; local self-governance bodies; enterprises, institutions and organizations blocked for the mobilization period; persons recognized as unfit to serve due to health condition subject to certification every six months; caregivers to three and more children below 18 years old; single parents of children below the age of 18 years; caregivers of children with severe disabilities; legal guardians and foster parents of orphans or children deprived of parental care; caregivers to spouses or parents in severe medical condition; and parliamentarians. (UN Sept. 2013, 14) For information on penalties for refusing or evading military service, see Response to Information Request UKR105186. 2. Conscientious Objectors Sources state that the Ukrainian military allows for alternative service for conscientious objectors (US 14 Oct. 2015, 5; UN Sept. 2015, para. 36; Equal Rights Trust Aug. 2015, 192) based on religious grounds (ibid.; UN Sept. 2015, para. 36). According to information posted on the website of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Article 35 of The Constitution of Ukraine states that [n]o one shall be relieved of his or her duties before the State or refuse to perform the laws for reasons of religious beliefs. In the case that the performance of military duty is contrary to the religious beliefs of a citizen, the performance of this duty shall be replaced by alternative (non-military) service. (Ukraine [2015]) The 2004 summary version of the 1992 Law of Ukraine "'On Alternative (Non-Military) Service'," as found on the website of the Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF), a Kyiv-based human rights NGO that assists "in the realization of freedom of conscience, religion, beliefs and other related human rightsand dissemination of information on the status of the law and religious life" in Ukraine (IRF n.d.), states that [c]itizens shall do alternative service on the enterprises which are in state or communal ownership or dominant part in the state fund of which is in the state or communal ownership. Activity of such enterprises shall be related to social protection of population, health protection, environmental protection, building, housing and communal services, and agriculture. Besides, alternative service may be conducted in medical attendance service in Red Cross organizations of Ukraine. Labour relations between the citizen who does military service and enterprise shall be maintained on the basis of written fixed-date labour agreement. (Ukraine 2004) Further information on the details of alternative non-military service could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. According to a report by Equal Rights Trust[1], which was written in partnership with the LGBT Human Right Centre Nash Mir, the religious groups that are able to claim conscientious objector status, on the basis that their religious organisations do not allow their members to bear arms, are: Adventist Reform Church, Seventh Day Adventists, Evangelical Christians, Evangelical Christian-Baptists, the Slavic Church of the Holy Spirit (Pokutnyky), Jehovah's Witnesses, the Charismatic Christian Churches and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Equal Rights Trust Aug. 2015, 192). An excerpt from the forthcoming (2016) book Free Radicals: War Resisters in Prison, by CJ Hinke, as found on the website of World Beyond War, a "global nonviolent movement to end war and establish a just and sustainable peace" (World Beyond War n.d.b), similarly indicates that in Ukraine, those who are able to claim religious conscientious objector status are: Seventh Day Adventists, Baptists, Adventists-Reformists, Jehovah's Witnesses and Charismatic Christians (ibid. n.d.a). According to the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), an umbrella organisation for national associations of conscientious objectors (ECBO n.d.a), objectors "from Jewish or majority faiths," or those who object for non-religious reasons, have "no alternative to compulsory military service" in Ukraine (ibid. n.d.a). Equal Rights Trust similarly states that conscientious objector status is not available for "other religions, or non-religious beliefs grounded in conscience" (Equal Rights Trust Aug. 2015, 193). The EBCO further states that there is "no right to conscientious objection for serving conscripts, reservists and professional soldiers" (EBCO n.d.b). Equal Rights Trust similarly states that Ukrainian law "does not contain provisions which allow for conscientious objectors to refuse to undertake military service when mobilised" (Equal Rights Trust Aug. 2015, 193). 2.1 Court Cases Related to Conscientious Objection Jehovah's Witnesses (JW), the official website of Jehovah's Witnesses, reports that a request by Vitaliy Shalaiko, a former soldier, for alternative non-military service due to his religious beliefs (Jehovah's Witness) was rejected by the military office, which then pressed criminal charges against Shalaiko for "evading military service during mobilization" (JW 8 June 2015). The same source further states that Shalaiko was found not guilty by the Novomoskovsk District Court and that he "'has the right to substitution of military duty, including military service during mobilization because he belongs to a religious organization whose religious teachings do not allow the use of arms'" (JW 8 June 2015). The source further states that the prosecution appealed the decision, stating that the "constitutional duty to defend the country overrides the right to religious freedom" and that relevant decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) "do not apply during periods of mobilization" (ibid.). The Appeal Court of the Dnipropetrovsk region upheld the previous ruling, after which the prosecution filed an appeal with the High Specialized Court of Ukraine for Civil and Criminal Cases (ibid.). According to a 2015 Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) by the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), the "appellate court denied the prosecution appeal and affirmed the full acquittal of the defendant by the lower court" (OSCE 24 June 2015). JW states that the requests of Ukraine's Jehovah's Witnesses for alternative service are "generally respected, and few Witnesses have faced prosecution" (JW 8 June 2015). However, the US Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report for 2014 indicates that Jehovah's Witnesses has reported difficulties with their members claiming conscientious objector status in Ukraine (US 14 Oct. 2015, 6). This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request. Note [1] Equal Rights Trust is an international organisation that focuses on combating discrimination and advancing equality worldwide (Equal Rights Trust n.d). References Bloomberg Business. N.d. "Company Overview of Ukrainian Independent Information Agency." [Accessed 24 Nov. 2015] British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 2 May 2014. "Ukraine Reinstates Conscription as Crisis Deepens." [Accessed 16 Nov. 2015] Equal Rights Trust. August 2015. In the Crosscurrents: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in Ukraine. [Accessed 16 Nov. 2015] _____. N.d. "Our Purpose." [Accessed 17 Nov. 2015] European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO). N.d.a "About ECBO." [Accessed 19 Nov. 2015] _____. N.d.b "Ukraine." [Accessed 13 Nov. 2015] Foreign Policy. 18 February 2015. Alec Luhn. "The Draft Dodgers of Ukraine." [Accessed 16 Nov. 2015] The Guardian. 10 February 2015. Shaun Walker. "Ukraine: Draft Dodgers Face Jail as Kiev Struggles to Find New Fighters." [Accessed 18 Nov. 2015] Institute for Religious Freedom. N.d. "General Information." [Accessed 16 Nov. 2015] Jehovah's Witnesses (JW). 8 June 2015. "Ukraine Courts Recognize Right to Conscientious Objection During Military Mobilization." [Accessed 13 Nov. 2015] Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE). 24 June 2015. "Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on Information Received as of 19:30 (Kyiv Time), 23 June 2015." [Accessed 13 Nov. 2015] Peace and Justice. 18 October 2014. "Ukraine: Reintroduction of Conscription." [Accessed 13 Nov. 2015] Ukraine. [2015]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Kenya. "The Legislation of Ukraine on Freedom of Conscience." [Accessed 16 Nov. 2015] _____. 1992. The Law of Ukraine "On Alternative (Non-Military) Service". [Accessed 16 Nov. 2015] UNIAN Information Agency. 2 November 2015. "Ukraine Begins Autumn Conscription Postponed Due to Elections." [Accessed 18 Nov. 2015] United Nations (UN). September 2015. International Protection Consideration Related to Developments in Ukraine - Update III. [Accessed 13 Nov. 2015] United States (US). 14 October 2015. Department of State. "Ukraine." International Religious Freedom Report for 2014. [Accessed 13 Nov. 2015] World Beyond War. N.d.a. "Military Conscription Worldwide." [Accessed 16 Nov. 2015] _____. N.d.b. "Who We Are." [Accessed 16 Nov. 2015] Additional Sources Consulted Oral sources: Institute for Religious Freedom. Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Connection e.V.; ecoi.net; Factiva; Forum 18; Freedom House; Georgetown University; Human Rights House; Human Rights in Ukraine; Human Rights Watch; Institute for War and Peace Reporting; International Crisis Group; The International Federation for Human Rights; The Jamestown Foundation; Jane's Intelligence Review; Kyiv Post; Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union; Ukraine Today; United Nations - Refworld; War Resisters' International; The Washington Post. Ukraine: standardized police reporting forms, including appearance; whether police are required to submit a written response to a complainant regardless of whether they pursue an investigation, appearance and content of the written response; police procedures for following up on physical assaults reported by hospitals and medical practitioners, including type of report generated; whether these policies and reports are standardized or if there are regional variations Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 19 October 2015 Citation / Document Symbol UKR105309.E Related Document(s) Ukraine : information sur les formulaires de rapport de police normalises, y compris sur leur apparence; information indiquant si la police est tenue de repondre par ecrit a un plaignant, qu'elle mene une enquete ou non, et, le cas echeant, information sur l'apparence et le contenu de la reponse ecrite; information sur la procedure policiere pour le suivi des agressions physiques signalees par les hopitaux et les medecins, y compris sur le genre de rapport produit; information indiquant si ces politiques et rapports sont normalises ou s'il y a des variations regionales Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ukraine: standardized police reporting forms, including appearance; whether police are required to submit a written response to a complainant regardless of whether they pursue an investigation, appearance and content of the written response; police procedures for following up on physical assaults reported by hospitals and medical practitioners, including type of report generated; whether these policies and reports are standardized or if there are regional variations, 19 October 2015, UKR105309.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a1899a4.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa Information on police report forms and police procedures was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 1. Police Reporting Forms Sources indicate that criminal complaints can be submitted to the police verbally (Lawyer 6 Oct. 2015), in written form (ibid.; Emeritus professor of political science and Professor of sociology 13 Oct. 2015) or by phone (ibid.; US n.d.). Sources state that a law enforcement official who receives a complaint must register it in the Single Register of Pre-Trial Investigations (Lawyer 6 Oct. 2015; Emeritus professor of political science and Professor of sociology 13 Oct. 2015). The Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine, which came into force in November 2012, states that "[p]re-trial investigation is a stage of criminal proceedings that begins when information about a criminal offence is entered into the Single Register of Pre-Trial Investigations" (Ukraine 2012, Art. 3). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a criminal lawyer from Ukraine indicated that the following information is entered into the register: date of the complaint, full name of the victim or the complainant, description of the complaint, the name of the official who entered the complaint into the single register, the name of the investigator, among other information regarding the complaint (Lawyer 6 Oct. 2015). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. According to information published on the website of the Embassy of the United States in Kyiv, after an individual files a report of a criminal offense, the police "should give" the complainant a copy of the report (US n.d.). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, an emeritus professor of political science, law and criminology at the University of Toronto, who specializes in judicial and legal reforms in Russia and Ukraine, in collaboration with a professor of sociology at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, who is also a sessional lecturer at the Centre of Criminology and Sociolegal Studies at the University of Toronto, whose research focuses on police corruption, indicated that the officer on duty who receives a complaint should prepare the "protocol" which includes the following information: information about the complainant, the crime, whether the victim was physically injured and treated by medical professionals, information regarding potential suspects or witnesses, if any, and signatures of the complainant and the police officer on duty (Emeritus professor of political science and Professor of sociology 13 Oct. 2015). A copy of the protocol, including its translation, is attached to this Response (Attachment 1). According to the professors, an officer on duty should provide the complainant with a receipt containing the name of the complainant, brief description of the complaint, the name of the police officer who received the complaint, the signature of the officer, the date and the time (ibid.). Moreover, the police officer should register the complaint of a crime in the Registry Book and include the registration number on the receipt (ibid.). The professors indicated that the protocol and the receipt are standard across the country (ibid. 14 Oct. 2015). A copy of the receipt, including its translation, is attached to this Response (Attachment 2). The professors stated that in cases whereby the police choose not to investigate a complaint of crime, which has been entered into the Single Register, a police officer issues a "special resolution" about the closure of the criminal case and provides a copy of the order to the complainant, victim, and prosecutor (ibid. 13 Oct. 2015). The professors further stated that "usually," this resolution contains the number of the complaint in the Single Register, a description of the investigation and information on why the police officers decided not to follow up on the complaint (ibid.). According to the professors, there is no official form for the resolution (ibid.). Further or corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. The professors note that, in practice, not all of the criminal complaints are registered by the police (13 Oct. 2015). The same sources indicate that there is a strong incentive to keep the number of registered crimes in the Single Register low because police performance is evaluated based on the number of solved cases (ibid.). According to the professors, the police officers "avoid registering cases that they are not likely to solve" (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 2. Police Procedure for Follow up on Physical Assaults According to sources, medical professionals have a legal obligation to report cases of physical harm to the police (Emeritus professor of political science and Professor of sociology 13 Oct. 2015; Lawyer 6 Oct. 2015). Moreover, medical professionals are required to register cases of physical harm in the "special" registry book (ibid.; Emeritus professor of political science and Professor of sociology 13 Oct. 2015), located within the hospitals (ibid.). The following information is entered into the registry book: name of the victim, his or her home address and phone number, details of the incident, name of the perpetrator (if known), the name of the medical professional who reported the incident to the police, the name of the police officer who received the complaint, the victim's injuries, date and time, among other information (ibid.). According to the professors, the registry books used by medical professionals are the same across the country (ibid. 14 Oct. 2015). For more information on legal obligations of medical staff to report instances of violence to the police, see Response to Information Request UKR104121. According to the professors, a police officer who receives a complaint from a medical professional must register it in the registry book and go to the hospital or ask the injured person to come to the station (Emeritus professor of political science and Professor of sociology 13 Oct. 2015). The police officer must follow the same procedures described in section 1 of this Response (ibid.). According to the professors, these procedures are the same across the country (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request. References Emeritus Professor of Political Science, Law and Criminology, University of Toronto and Professor of Sociology, Higher School of Economics, Moscow. 14 October 2015. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. _____. 13 October 2015. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. Lawyer, Kyiv. 28 September 2015. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. Ukraine. 2012. Verkhovna Rada. The Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine. [Accessed 22 Sept. 2015] United States (US). N.d. Embassy of the United States in Kyiv. "Information for Victims of Crime." [Accessed 13 Oct. 2015] Additional Sources Consulted Oral sources: criminal lawyers in Ukraine; medical clinics and hospitals in Ukraine; Ukraine - Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa, Ombudsman, and police stations in Kyiv, Prosecutor General's Office. Internet sites, including: ABC News; American Bar Association; Amnesty International; BBC; Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW); Centre for Research on Globalization; Democratization, Human Rights and Civil Society Development Praxis Portal; Deutsche Welle; ecoi.net; EUObserver; European Centre for a Modern Ukraine; European Committee on Crime Problems; Factiva; Freedom House; Global Security; Human Rights Watch; The Independent; Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, Carleton University; Interfax - Ukraine; International Crisis Group; Interpol Kiev; Kyiv International Institute of Sociology; Kyiv Post; Legislationline; Lexology; Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; Reuters; RIA Novosti; RT.com; Ukraine - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ombudsman, Prosecutor General's Office, State Border Guard Service, Verkhovna Rada; The Ukrainian Weekly; Ukraine Today; Ukrinform; United Nations - Refworld, UN Office on Drugs and Crime; United States - Department of State, Library of Congress, Overseas Security Advisory Council; World Affairs; World Intellectual Property Organization. Attachments 1. Ukraine. N.d. Ministry of Interior. "Protocol." A copy of the document sent to the Research Directorate by the Emeritus professor of political science and the Professor of sociology, 14 October 2015. Translated by the Translation Bureau, Public Works and Government Services Canada. 2. Ukraine. N.d. Ministry of Interior. "Receipt." A copy of the document sent to the Research Directorate by the Emeritus professor of political science and the Professor of sociology, 14 October 2015. Translated by the Translation Bureau, Public Works and Government Services Canada. Ukraine: The Ternipe Roma Youth Centre in Lviv (Ternipe): funding, structure and membership; areas of operation, including whether Ternipe operates outside of Lviv; activities, including any political activities; other NGOs that provide support services to Roma Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 9 October 2015 Citation / Document Symbol UKR105308.E Related Document(s) Ukraine : information sur le Centre pour les jeunes Roms Ternipe (Ternipe Roma Youth Centre - Ternipe) a Lviv : financement, structure et nombre de membres; zones d'activite, y compris si Ternipe mene des activites a l'exterieur de Lviv; les activites, y compris toute activite de nature politique; les autres ONG qui offrent des services de soutien aux Roms Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ukraine: The Ternipe Roma Youth Centre in Lviv (Ternipe): funding, structure and membership; areas of operation, including whether Ternipe operates outside of Lviv; activities, including any political activities; other NGOs that provide support services to Roma, 9 October 2015, UKR105308.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a18a444.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa 1. Overview According to sources, "ternipe" means "youth" in the Romani language (Orkestar Ternipe n.d.; Kovalcsik 6 Oct. 2010, 64). Sources describe the Roma youth NGO in Lviv as follows: Lviv "non-governmental organization society of Roma 'Ternipe'," a "youth, historical, cultural, educational community organization" (Ternipe 5 Oct. 2015); Lviv city public organization "Youth Historical Cultural and Educational Organization 'Ternipe'" (IRF n.d.) or "Ternipe Youth, Historical, and Cultural Roma Society" (ibid. 2012, 117), a "partner NGO" of the International Renaissance Foundation (IRF) [1] (ibid. 29 Sept. 2015); Lviv "youth public organization 'Ternipe'" (Legal Space 3 July 2015); and local Lviv "Roma NGO 'Ternipe'" (Chiricli Sept. 2014, 30). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Head of Ternipe stated that the organization was registered in 1998 and operates on a non-profit basis (Ternipe 5 Oct. 2015). 1.1 Funding, Structure and Membership Numbers According to the Head of Ternipe, in 2015, the organization received funding from the IRF, and the Roma Education Fund (REF) [2] (Ternipe 5 Oct. 2015). According to the IRF's Annual Report 2012, the IRF provided 30,000 Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) [C$1,853] to the organization (IRF 2012, 117). The Head of Ternipe stated that the board of the organization is "comprised of the chairman, deputy, secretary, and a 7 member coordination council," with elections held every three years at a general meeting (Ternipe 5 Oct. 2015). The same source further stated that as of 1 October 2015, they have 326 permanent members listed with the organization, but that the number varies and may increase depending on the project that is being undertaken (ibid.). 1.2 Areas of Operation and Activities, Including Political Activities A September 2014 monitoring report produced by Roma Women's Fund "Chiricli", an international charitable organization (Chiricli n.d.), describes Ternipe in Lviv as a "regional NGO" (ibid. Sept. 2014, 11). According to the Head of Ternipe, the organization "supervises regional projects pertaining to the support of youth activities and education" and "works on all-Ukrainian Roma projects as representatives of our region" (Ternipe 5 Oct. 2015). The Head of Ternipe notes that the organization has worked on the following projects: Assisted in the founding of the "all-Ukrainian national Roma organization Romane Congress Ukrainy," the "first Roma Ukrainian legal consulting centre 'Chachipe'," and the Council of Roma in Ukraine (ibid.); Partnered with Chiriklia [Chiricli] on the "Facilitation of Access to Medical Help for the Roma for TB Prevention with the Participation of Roma Meditators" project (ibid.); Participated in the "Genocide Remembrance" project (ibid.); Partnered with the IRF on the "Employment Opportunities for Young Roma Professionals" project (ibid.); Provide and manage 35 scholarships for Roma students across Ukraine with support from the Roma Education Fund (ibid.); and Participated in the collection of funds for purchasing military uniforms from Germany for "Ukrainian soldiers fighting in [the] ATO zone" (ibid.). According to the Head of Ternipe, in partnership with the "international fund 'Karitas Ukrainy'" and UNICEF, Ternipe has assisted internally displaced Roma in Lviv for the past two years, helping them find "a place to live, jobs and social assistance" (ibid.). The Chiricli monitoring report similarly indicates that Ternipe has assisted internally displaced Roma that moved to Lviv, through cooperation with "the local Department on Social Issues, UNHCR and UNICEF, and charity organization Caritas'' (Sept. 2014, 30). According to sources, Ternipe, with the support of the IRF, provided internships in local government for 18 Roma youth through a project on increasing the participation of Roma in "social and economic life" (Ternipe 5 Oct. 2015; Legal Space 3 July 2015); the internships began in June 2015 and lasted 3 months (ibid.). According to the Head of Ternipe, the organization "does not partake in any kind of political activity or religious propaganda" (Ternipe 5 Oct. 2015). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 2. Other Roma NGOs in Ukraine 2.1 Overview In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the "No Borders" Project Coordinator at the Social Action Centre in Kyiv, a non-profit NGO that focuses on anti-discrimination and provides legal assistance to victims of hate crimes (Social Action Centre 2011, 4-5), stated that to her knowledge, there are Roma NGOs "in all major places where Roma have permanent settlement" and in areas, such as Western Ukraine, where the Roma population is higher, there are "several Roma NGOs in big and small cities" (ibid. 29 Sept. 2015). In areas with fewer Roma, "small groups of activists or mainstream NGOs help Roma on an ad hoc or regular basis" (ibid.). The same source further states that NGOs range in size from 3 to 10 people, depending on community needs (ibid.). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Roma Program Initiative Director from the IRF in Kyiv indicated that the IRF has 40-45 "grantees (NGOs)" every year, though the overall number of Roma-led NGOs in Ukraine is larger (IRF 6 Oct. 2015). The same source further stated that there are typically at least two Roma NGOs in each region of Ukraine, and that in areas where there are no NGOs, Roma activists will "cooperate with NGOs in other regions" (ibid.). According to the Social Action Centre Project Coordinator, funding for Roma NGOs is typically provided by the IRF, the Global Fund for Women, some German organizations such as the EVZ Foundation [3], and/or the European Commission (29 Sep. 2015.). The IRF Roma Program Director similarly stated that Roma-led NGOs are "mostly" funded by the IRF, and some projects are funded by the Council of Europe, the Embassy of the Netherlands, the Swedish government through the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), the US Embassy, and the EVZ Foundation in Germany (IRF 6 Oct. 2015). According to the Project Coordinator, state funding is not available for human rights NGOs (Social Action Centre 29 Sept. 2015). According to an August 2014 report by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)'s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the impact of the crisis in Ukraine on Roma, the conflict in Eastern Ukraine has impacted the ability of regions to implement their action plans towards the Strategy on the Protection and Integration of the Roma National Minority into Ukrainian Society up to 2020, as all government resources have been allocated to addressing the conflict, according to a representative of the Ministry of Culture (OSCE Aug. 2014, 14). According to a 2009 report submitted by Ukraine to the Council of Europe on The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, as of 1 January 2009 there were 88 Roma organizations registered in Ukraine, two of which operate at the national level, "the Union of organizations 'Congress of Roma of Ukraine' and Ukrainian organization 'Centre of Consolidation and Protection of Roma Rights'," with the remainder operating at a local or regional level (Ukraine 7 May 2009, 62). The same source further states that most Roma organizations focus on the "revival and promotion of Roma language, culture, traditions and customs," though "some" focus on Roma rights (ibid). According to the US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014, there are "more than 100" Romani NGOs in Ukraine, however, "most lacked capacity to act as effective advocates or service providers for the Romani community" (US 25 June 2015, 44). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 2.2 Specific Roma NGOs According to the Social Action Centre Project Coordinator, Chiricli is based in Kyiv with some local branches and regional activities, including a Roma mediator programme (29 Sep. 2015). The Chiricli website states that the NGO was established in 2004, has representatives in "15 regions of Ukraine," with seven fulltime staff at the Kyiv main office (Chiricli n.d.). The same source further states that their projects focus on developing Roma communities, encouraging Roma to take part in solving local problems, building cooperation between NGOs and state bodies, accessing education for Romani children, gender issues, access to health care and medical rights, and defending Roma rights (ibid.). According to the IRF Roma Program Director, Chiricli is funded by the IRF, the Council of Europe and the Embassy of the Netherlands (IRF 6 Oct. 2015). According to the EVZ Foundation, Chiricli is "well integrated in local communities" and their work includes access to "specially trained Roma-mentors" who provide Roma communities with information and support, encouraging hate-crime victims to seek legal counselling, and training local lawyers so that they can represent Roma victims (EVZ n.d.b). According to the IRF Program Director, Chiricli manages a Ukrainian-wide network of Roma health mediators (ibid.). Open Society Foundations reports that Chiricli provides "health and social mediators" that assist Roma in accessing health and social benefits, by liaising between them and "various social institutions" as well as assisting in completing forms and acquiring documentation (Open Society Foundations 13 Mar. 2015). According to the Social Action Centre Program Coordinator, the organization "Rozvitok," located in Zakarpattia and funded by the IRF, is one of the "major" NGOs in Ukraine and provides legal and social counselling (Social Action Centre 29 Sep. 2015). The 2014 OSCE's ODIHR report describes Rozvitok as a "charity foundation" (OSCE Aug. 2014, 20). Sources describe 'Ketane' as an international Roma NGO (Ukraine 7 May 2009, 62; Chiricli Sept. 2014, 11; Legal Space 14 Nov. 2014) that is located in Kherson (ibid.; Chiricli Sept. 2014, 11). According to Legal Space, a Ukrainian website that provides "legal knowledge, develop[s] legal practices" and assists organizations that "provide legal aid to people who belong to poor and vulnerable groups" (Legal Space n.d.), Ketane primarily assists "internally displaced persons of Roma origin" and provides Roma with free legal consultations, assistance in obtaining identification papers, and facilitates relationships with "law enforcement authorities and state institutions" (ibid. 14 Nov. 2014). Without providing further detail, the September 2014 monitoring report by Chiricli states that in addition to Ternipe and Ketane, the organization consulted with the following "Roma NGOs" in the production of their report: "'Roma Legal Centre' in Odessa, Roma women NGO 'Miriclya' in Donetsk, and the regional Roma NGO 'Chachimo' in Kharkiv" (Chiricli Sept. 2014, 11). Further information on these organizations could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Further and corroborating information on the names, numbers, types and capacity of Roma NGOs in Ukraine could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request. Notes [1] The IRF is a Kyiv-based organization that works with "leading" Ukrainian non-governmental groups and provides support to "projects and groups that advance the rights of vulnerable populations" (IRF n.d.). The IRF is part of the Open Society Foundations network (ibid.), a civil society organization which seeks to "build vibrant and tolerant democracies," and that works in local communities in 70 countries to "support justice and human rights, freedom of expression, and access to public health and education" (OSF Oct. 2011, 80). [2] The Roma Education Fund (REF) was created in 2005 within "the framework of the Decade of Roma Inclusion" in order to "close the gap in educational outcomes between Roma and non-Roma" by promoting the inclusion of Roma in all national education systems of the participating states (REF n.d.). [3] Stiftung Erinnerung, Verantwortung, Zukunft (EVZ) is a foundation that supports international projects that promote human rights (EVZ n.d.a). References Chiricli. September 2014. Monitoring the Human Rights Situation of Roma in Ukraine: Country Report September 2014. [Accessed 29 Sept. 2015] _____. N.d. "International Charitable Organization 'Roma Women Fund Chiricli'." [Accessed 29 Sept. 2015] International Renaissance Foundation (IRF). 6 October 2015. Correspondence from the Director to the Research Directorate. _____. 29 September 2015. Correspondence from the Director to the Research Directorate. _____. 2012. Annual Report 2012. [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015] _____. N.d. "International Renaissance Foundation." [Accessed 1 Oct. 2015] Kovalcsik, Katalin. 6 October 2010. "The Romani Musicians on the Stage of Pluri-Culturalism: the Case of the Kalyi Jag Group in Hungary." In Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to Romany Studies: Selected Papers from Participants of Central European University's Summer Courses 2007-2009. Edited by Michael Stewart and Marton Rovid. Central European University Press: Budapest. [Accessed 28 Sept. 2015] Legal Space. 3 July 2015. Olena Orlova. "Rom[a] Students-Interns are Trained to Cooperate with the Authorities." [Accessed 2 Oct. 2015] _____. 14 November 2014. Olena Orlova. "Community Law Center Helps Roma in Kherson." [Accessed 1 Oct. 2015] _____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015] Open Society Foundations (OSF). 13 March 2015. Zola Kondur. "From Medicine to Passports, Mediators Help Ukraine's Roma Get What They Need." [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015] _____. October 2011. Roma Health Mediators: Successes and Challenges. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). August 2014. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Situation Assessment Report on Roma in Ukraine and the Impact of the Current Crisis. [Accessed 29 Sept. 2015] Orkestar Ternipe. N.d. "Orkestar Ternipe." [Accessed 29 Sept. 2015] Roma Education Fund (REF). N.d. "REF in One Page." [Accessed 8 Oct. 2015] Social Action Centre. 29 September 2015. Correspondence from the No Borders Project Program Coordinator to the Research Directorate. _____. 2011. Annual Report. [Accessed 2 Oct. 2015] Stiftung Erinnerung, Verantwortung and Zukunft (EVZ). N.d.a. "The Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future." [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015] _____. N.d.b. "Projects in Ukraine." [Accessed 29 Sept. 2015] Ternipe. 5 October 2015. Correspondence from the Head of the organization to the Research Directorate. Ukraine. 7 May 2009. Third Report Submitted by Ukraine Pursuant to Article 25, Paragraph 2 of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. (ACFC/SR/III(2009)006) [Accessed 28 Sept. 2015] United States (US). 25 June 2015. Department of State. "Ukraine." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014. [Accessed 30 Sept. 2015] Additional Sources Consulted Oral sources: Ketane International Public Roma Organization; lawyer, European Roma Rights Centre; PhD Student, Charles University, who has conducted field research with Romani communities in Lviv; Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union. Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Council of Europe - European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI); European Roma Rights Centre; ecoi.net; European Union - Eastern Partnership Regional Youth Unit; Factiva; Green Cross Society; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; Roma Education Fund; Minorities Network-Eastern Partnership; Minority Rights Group International; Ukraine Crisis Media Center; Ukraine - Lviv Regional Administration; United Nations - Refworld. Mali : Forced marriage, including the prevalence of forced marriage, related legislation, state protection, support services and the ability of women to refuse a forced marriage (2012 June 2016) Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 15 July 2016 Citation / Document Symbol MLI105555.FE Related Document(s) Mali : information sur les mariages forces, y compris sur leur frequence, les lois touchant le mariage force, la protection offerte par l'Etat, les services de soutien et la possibilite pour les femmes de refuser un mariage force (2012-juin 2016) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mali : Forced marriage, including the prevalence of forced marriage, related legislation, state protection, support services and the ability of women to refuse a forced marriage (2012 June 2016), 15 July 2016, MLI105555.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a18aed4.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa 1. Prevalence of Forced Marriage According to a comparative study on the practice of early marriage in 10 countries of West Africa, conducted in 2013 by Judith-Ann Walker, the Director of the Development Research and Projects Centre, dRPC) [1], Mali is among the countries with [Walker English version] "the highest prevalence of early marriage worldwide" (Walker Sept. 2013, 9). The Amnesty International (AI) Mali section notes that early and forced marriage [translation] "remains a common practice in Mali, particularly in rural areas" (AI 8 Mar. 2016). In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, the President of the Malian office of Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), a pan-African non-governmental network for women's and activists' rights, represented in nine countries of West Africa (WiLDAF Jan. 2013), also stated that forced marriage is [translation] "prevalent" in rural areas and occurs "sometimes" in urban areas (WiLDAF 15 June 2016). According to a summary report of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in 2015 by the National Institute of Statistics (Institut national de la statistique, INSTAT) and Mali's Ministry of Rural Development and Population, 16.1 percent of women ages 15 to 49 were married before the age of 15, and 48.9 percent of women ages 20 to 49 were married before the age of 18 (Mali Mar. 2016, 16). The same survey shows that, among women ages 15 to 19, 38.9 percent were married at the time of the survey, 42 percent of whom have a husband who is 10 or more years older than them (ibid.). According to the final report of the MICS, conducted in 20092010 by the Ministry of Health, Social Development and Promotion of the Family and by INSTAT, of a sample of 13,995 homes (Mali July 2013, 33), that gives further details on the variations in the rate of early marriage depending on place of residence and the socio-economic status a woman, the rate of early marriage [translation] is higher in rural areas than in urban areas (16 percent versus 11 percent for marriage before age 15; and 67 percent versus 45 percent for marriage before age 18). This decreases with a woman's level of education (from 16 percent to 6 percent for marriage before age 15 and from 67 percent to 22 percent for marriage before age 18) and with the level of economic wellbeing (from 69 percent to 42 percent for marriage before age 18). (ibid., 161) 1.1 Conflict in Northern Mali In its List of issues and questions in relation to the combined sixth and seventh periodic reports of Mali, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women notes the [UN English version] "near breakdown of public administration, school closures [and] destruction of health-care facilities" in Mali since the start of the conflict in 2012, and points out that the conflict has had a particular impact on women and girls (UN 27 Nov. 2015, para. 1). Sources state that during the conflict, women and girls were forced into marriage by armed groups in areas that were under their occupation in northern Mali (ibid. 3 Sept. 2014; Thomas Reuters Foundation 11 Feb. 2013). The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) website states that these marriages [UN English version] "were simply arranged to give cover of legitimacy to kidnappings and rapes, which, in some cases, could amount to sexual slavery" (UN 3 Sept. 2014). In the report presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council on the situation in Mali from May to December 2014, an independent expert who visited the country in October 2014 notes that [UN English version] [e]arly and/or forced marriages are still being reported, particularly in the regions of Timbuktu and Mopti. On November 11, 2014, the Association of Women Jurists of Mali in Niafounke indicated that it was aware of more than 150 victims of forced marriage and offences against the integrity of the person (rape and other acts of sexual violence). (UN 9 Jan. 2015, para. 86) The President of WiLDAF Mali stated that girls and women living in northern Mali [translation] "can marry freely" but they "remain under the burden of the traditions and customs of their town that support family marriages and those arranged by parents" (WiLDAF 15 June 2016). 2. Legislation In December 2011, Mali adopted Law No. 2011 - 087 of December 30, 2011 on the Code of Persons and the Family (Loi n2011 - 087 du 30 decembre 2011 portant code des personnes et de la famille), which includes the following provisions regarding marriage: [translation] Article 281: The minimum age to enter into marriage is set at eighteen for a man and sixteen for a woman. The head of the administrative district may, however, subject to review, before a civilian judge, grant an exemption to age on serious grounds. This authorization may only be issued to future spouses at least fifteen years old. A copy of the exemption decision is attached to the marriage certificate. Article 282: Any civil registrar or minister of religion who celebrates the marriage of a person who has not reached the minimum age will receive term of imprisonment of six months to one year and a fine of 120,000 francs [about C$263]. Article 283: Marriage is not possible if there is no consent. The consent is not valid if it was obtained through violence or made in error by the person. Each party must give their consent orally and in person before the civil registrar. It is noted by signature or, failing that, a fingerprint at the end of the certificate. However, for geographical reasons, if one of the future spouses lives outside the place of marriage and is unable to appear in person before the civil registrar, that party may provide consent through a certificate prepared by the civil registrar for their residence. This certificate is sent by this civil registrar to the civil registrar responsible for the marriage celebration. The marriage must be celebrated in this case before a representative appointed by the party unable to attend. This representative must sign or, failing that, add their fingerprints to the end of the marriage certificate. Consent by parents or legal representatives may be given within the conditions set out in paragraph 3 of this article. By reason of illness or for geographical reasons, or any other cause, consent by parents or legal representatives may be given in writing in a certificate prepared by the mayor or head of the administrative district of the residence of the party concerned. The signature or, failing that, the fingerprints of the party concerned must be appended to this certificate. Article 284: In principle, in the case of an exemption of age, the future spouse may not enter into marriage without the consent of their father and mother. In the event of a disagreement, the father's opinion is sufficient. In the event of death or the father's inability to provide consent, the consent of the mother's extended family counsel is sufficient. Article 285: A future spouse recognized by their father or mother may not enter into marriage, in the case of an exemption of age, without the consent of the parent who recognized them. Article 286: A future spouse who was not recognized by their father and mother, or who has an unknown father and mother, may only enter into marriage, in the case of an exemption of age, with the authorization of their guardian or, failing that, the special authorization of the head of the administrative district of their residence. This authorization is then attached to the marriage certificate. Article 287: Without obtaining the required consent, any civil registrar conducting a marriage celebration shall be sentence to a term of imprisonment of a minimum of six months to a maximum of one year and receive a fine of 25,000 to 120,000 francs [about C$55 to C$264], or one of these two sentences. (Mali 2011) A copy of the code of persons and the family is attached to this Response. A number of sources state that the final version of the code, adopted in 2011, set back women's rights, particularly the provisions indicating the legal age for marriage as 16 for girls, that men are considered the head of the family and that a woman must obey her husband (The Guardian 1 May 2012; FIDH 23 Jan. 2012; RFI 12 Dec. 2011). The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women also states that the code contains [UN English version] "discriminatory provisions" against women, "especially the provisions reducing the age of marriage from 18 to 16 years for girls, and provisions granting parents legal permission to give in marriage minor girl children who have reached the customary threshold of maturity, which is the first menstrual cycle," and calls on the Malian government to review them (UN 27 Nov. 2015, para. 2). In its report presented in June 2016 to the Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, a Malian non-governmental human rights group states that article 284, which [translation] "minimizes" a mother's consent to the marriage of her minor daughter, "reinforces the risks of early and forced marriage" (AJM et al. June 2016, 15). According to the Malian National Commission of Human Rights (Commission nationale des droits de l'homme du Mali, CNDH), a public agency responsible for promoting and protecting human rights in Mali, article 284 [translation] "helps to re-invigorate a societal concept that women have no opinion and that fathers may assume all rights over family matters" (Mali May 2016, 8). According to the US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015, the Malian government did not effectively enforce the law regarding the legal age of marriage (US 13 Apr. 2016, 23). According to that same source, [i]t was common practice in the country for a 14-year-old girl to marry a man twice her age. According to local human rights organizations, judicial officials frequently accepted false birth certificates or other documents claiming that girls under age 15 were old enough to marry. (ibid.) Moreover, the Malian non-governmental human rights group states that in the case of religious marriages, which are also permitted in the code of persons and the family, [translation] "the imans are not concerned about consent between the couple" (AJM et al. June 2016, 15). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 3. State Protection In its report on gender and the security sector in Mali, the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), an international foundation "whose mission is to assist the international community in pursuing good governance and reform of the security sector" and comprises 63 member states (DCAF n.d.), states that help to victims of domestic violence and sexual harassment remains [DCAF English version] "very limited" from the Malian police, in the absence of an internal structure for handling gender issues (DCAF 2015, 39). Media report that in March 2014, the Malian police, in partnership with UN Women, launched a hotline for reporting cases of violence against women, including cases of forced marriage (L'Indicateur du renouveau 31 Mar. 2014; Le Tjikan 12 May 2015). According to sources, through this number, 506 cases were reported to the police between March and December 2014 (ibid.; UN 30 Nov. 2015). According to Le Tjikan, a Malian newspaper in Bamako, among those cases, 130 were related to forced marriage (Le Tjikan 12 May 2015). According to the UN Women website, the hotline is accessible 24 hours a day, across the country (UN 30 Nov. 2015). However, the DCAF centre points out that [DCAF English version] "[a]n awareness-raising campaign was recently launched as it seems the population is not widely aware of how to use the toll-free hotline number" (DCAF 2015, 38). Information on state structures specializing in handling cases of forced marriage could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 3.1 Access to Justice According to a study conducted in Mali in 2014 by the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law, a foundation located in the Hague dedicated to improving the justice systems in the world (HiiL n.d.), Malian women remain [HiiL English version] "reluctant" to approach formal institutions out of fear that it will escalate their problem (HiiL 2014, 71). The President of WiLDAF Mali stated that cases of forced marriage are [translation] "rarely" reported because they often implicate victims' family members (WiLDAF 16 June 2016). She added that women who decided to refuse a forced marriage by invoking the law risk being stigmatized by the family and their community (ibid. 15 June 2016). Sources state that Malian women have difficulty initiating judicial proceedings (AJM et al. June 2016, 3; Mali May 2016, 9, 11). According to the President of the Africa Centre for the Integration of Human Rights (Pole des actions d'integration des droits humains en Afrique, PACINDHA), a Malian NGO active in the areas of environmental protection, education, health and human rights (Le Reporter 1 Mar. 2016), speaking at the March 2016 launch of the organization's project to improve women's access to justice and eliminate forced marriage in Mali, women face [translation] "many problems" with respect to accessing justice, such as "ignorance of the law on legal assistance, the complexity and diversity of procedures and possible recourse," as well as the distance separating them from the courts (cited by Le Tjikan 11 Mar. 2016). The President of PACINDHA added that his organization notes that [translation] "in all regions of Mali, without exception, thousands of young girls are married against their will" (ibid.). 4. Support Services Sources report that there are two women's shelters in Mali, one in Bamako and the other in Mopti (WiLDAF 16 June 2016; L'Essor 3 Aug.2015). According to an article published by the Malian journal L'Essor, the centres are run by the Association for the Progress and Defence of Women's Rights (Association pour le progres et la defense des droits des femmes, APDF) and receive financial support from UN Women (ibid.). That same source reports that the centres, which receive victims of gender-based violence, including women and girls who are victims of the conflict in northern Mali, provide medical and socio-psychological care and organize activities that foster financial independence in the women (ibid.). However, the President of WiLDAF Mali stated that these shelters have only a limited number of spots and that the living conditions in them [translation] "are not very good" (WiLDAF 16 June 2016). She added that [translation] "victims of forced marriage often have to resign to it because it is not easy for them to obtain help. Most of the associations and NGOs are in large cities" (ibid.). In March 2016, Malian media announced the launch of a project to improve women's access to justice and advocate for eliminating the marriage of minor girls (Le Tjikan 11 Mar. 2016; Le Reporter 1 Mar. 2016). The project, funded 95 percent by the European Union, is to be implemented by the NGO PACINDHA (ibid.; Le Tjikan 11 Mar. 2016). According to information on the Facebook page of the Delegation of the European Union to Mali, PACINDHA's project will receive a grant of 473,500 euros [about C$683,034] and will pay for, among other things, the training of 3,000 women in the district of Bamako on the laws regarding access to justice, the creation of five women's rights information centres in five different urban communes and awareness-raising campaigns against forced marriage aimed at 10,000 people in 10 rural communes (EU 23 Dec. 2015). Information on the implementation of the project could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request. Note [1] The dRPC is a [Walker English version] "non-profit third sector think tank which utilizes participatory approaches to mobilize indigenous knowledge on development issues and problems impacting negatively on the lives of women and children in particular" (Walker Sept. 2013, 1). References Amnesty International (AI). 8 March 2016. AI Mali. "8 mars 2016 : journee internationale des droits des femmes." [Accessed 14 June 2016] Association des juristes maliennes (AJM), Association malienne des droits de l'homme (AMDH), Association pour le progres et la defense des droits des femmes (APDF), Association DEMESO, Femmes & Droits humains (F&DH), Groupe pivot droit et citoyennete des femmes (GPDCF), Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF), MUSONET and Federation internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH). June 2016. L'application de la Convention sur l'elimination de toutes les formes de discrimination a l'egard des femmes : rapport alternatif aux 6eme et 7eme rapports periodiques du gouvernement du Mali. [Accessed 21 June 2016] DCAF, Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces. 2015. "Police nationale." By Moussa Haidara, Hawa Coulibaly and Idrissa Samake in Le genre et le secteur de la securite : une etude de la Police nationale, de la Protection civile, des Forces armees et de securite, du systeme judiciaire et des services penitentiaires au Mali. Edited by Veerle Triquet and Lorraine Serrano. Geneva: DCAF. [Accessed 14 June 2016] _____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 14 June 2016] L'Essor. 3 August 2015. A. D. Sissoko. "Mali : assistance aux femmes victimes de violences : les bons resultats de l'APDF." [Accessed 21 June 2016] European Union (EU). 23 December 2015. Delegation of the European Union in the Republic of Mali. [Accessed 21 June 2016] Federation internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH). 23 January 2012. "Le nouveau Code de la famille au Mali : une veritable regression pour les droits des femmes." [Accessed 9 June 2016] The Guardian. 1 May 2012. Soumaila T. Diarra. "Women's Rights in Mali 'Set Back 50 Years' by New 'Family Code' Law." [Accessed 9 June 2016] The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL). 2014. Maurits Barendrecht, Martin Gramatikov, Roger El Khoury, Gediminas Motiejunas, Sam Muller, David Osborne, Kavita Heijstek-Ziemann and Jin Ho Verdonschot. Les besoins des Maliens en matiere de justice: vers plus d'equite. [Accessed 20 June 2016] _____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 20 June 2016] L'Indicateur du renouveau. 31 March 2014. Maliki Diallo. "Direction generale de la police : un numero vert pour secourir les femmes en danger." [Accessed 20 June 2016] Mali. May 2016. Commission nationale des droits de l'homme du Mali (CNDH). Rapport alternatif au titre de la Convention sur l'elimination de toutes les formes de >discrimination a l'encontre des femmes (CEDEF). [Accessed 21 June 2016] _____. March 2016. Institut national de la statistique (INSTAT) and the ministere de l'Amenagement du territoire et de la Population. Mali : Enquete par grappes a indicateurs multiples (MICS) 2015. Rapport de resultats cles. [Accessed 10 June 2016] _____. July 2013. Ministere de la Sante, du Developpement social et la Promotion de la famille and the Institut national de la statistique (INSTAT). Mali : Enquete par grappes a indicateurs multiples (MICS) 2010. Rapport final. [Accessed 10 June 2016] _____. 2011. Loi n2011 - 087 du 30 decembre 2011 portant code des personnes et de la famille. [Accessed 9 June 2016] Radio France internationale (RFI). 12 December 2011. "Mali : moins de droits pour les femmes dans le nouveau code de la famille." [Accessed 9 June 2016] Le Reporter. 1 March 2016. Diango Coulibaly. "Mali : eliminations des mariages precoces de jeunes filles : Le Pacindha engage le combat." [Accessed 21 June 2016] Thomas Reuters Foundation. 11 February 2013. Kate Thomas. "Malian Women Raped, Stoned, Lashed and Forced to Marry amid Intense Fighting." [Accessed 10 June 2016] Le Tjikan. 11 March 2016. Aoua Traore. "Mali : acces des femmes a la justice et lutte contre les mariages forces : Le PACINDHA monte au creneau avec un projet de 24 mois." [Accessed 21 June 2016] _____. 12 May 2015. Fily Sissoko. "Ligne verte pour les femmes victimes des violences : 506 cas juges importants, traites de mars a decembre 2014." [Accessed 20 June 2016] United Nations (UN). 30 November 2015. UN Women. "Le Numero vert aide a prevenir les violences basees sur le genre au Mali." [Accessed 20 June 2016] _____. 27 November 2015. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. Liste de points et de questions concernant les sixieme et septieme rapports periodiques (presentes en un seul document) du Mali. [Accessed 13 June 2016] _____. 9 January 2015. Human Rights Council. Rapport de l'Expert independant sur la situation des droits de l'homme au Mali, Suliman Baldo. [Accessed 10 June 2016] _____. 3 September 2014. Mission multidimensionnelle integree des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation au Mali (MINUSMA). "L'impact de la crise sur les femmes maliennes." [Accessed 22 June 2016] United States (US). 13 April 2016. Department of State. "Mali." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015. [Accessed 10 June 2016] Walker, Judith-Ann, Director of the Development Research and Projects Centre. September 2013. Cartographie du mariage precoce en Afrique de l'Ouest: une etude des tendances, des interventions, des methodes efficaces, des bonnes pratiques et la voie a suivre. Study submitted to the Ford Foundation. [Accessed 9 June 2016] Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF). 16 June 2016. WiLDAF Mali. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the President. _____. 15 June 2016. WiLDAF Mali. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the President. _____. January 2013. "Qui sommes nous." [Accessed 13 June 2016] Additional Sources Consulted Oral sources: Amnesty International; Association pour la promotion de la femme et de l'enfant au Mali; Association pour le progres et la defense des droits des femmes; Care Canada; Coalition nationale de la societe civile pour la paix et la lutte contre la proliferation des armes legeres; Professor of anthropology, Universite de Liege. Internet sites, including: ecoi.net; Egalite Maintenant; European Union - EuropeAid, Service europeen pour l'action exterieure; France - Agence francaise de developpement; Gender Index; Groupe pour l'abolition des mutilations sexuelles, des mariages forces et autres pratiques traditionnelles nefastes a la sante des femmes et des enfants; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; Jeune Afrique; Libre Afrique; Mali - Police nationale, Primature; Norwegian Church Aid; Population Reference Bureau; United Nations - Security Council, United Nations Population Fund, Refworld, Reliefweb, UNICEF; Women Under Siege. Attachment Mali. 2011. Loi n2011 - 087 du 30 decembre 2011 portant code des personnes et de la famille. [Accessed 9 June 2016] Democratic Republic of the Congo: Biometric passports with electronic chips issued since November 2015, including the application procedure and requirements, as well as the validity period (2015-July 2016) Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 19 July 2016 Citation / Document Symbol COD105556.FE Related Document(s) Republique democratique du Congo : information sur les passeports biometriques munis de puces electroniques delivres depuis novembre 2015, y compris sur les exigences et la marche a suivre pour en faire la demande, ainsi que sur leur duree de validite (2015-juillet 2016) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Biometric passports with electronic chips issued since November 2015, including the application procedure and requirements, as well as the validity period (2015-July 2016), 19 July 2016, COD105556.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a18bdf4.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa 1. General Information on Biometric Passports Issued Since November 2015 Congolese media report that a new biometric passport model that contains an electronic chip was officially unveiled by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on 10 November 2015 (Le Potentiel 13 Nov. 2015; Radio Okapi 10 Nov. 2015; Congo virtuel 10 Nov. 2015). Sources state that a new centre for the collection of personal data was also opened on that date in the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kinshasa (Radio Okapi 10 Nov. 2015; Groupe l'Avenir 11 Nov. 2015; Tele50 with the ACP 11 Nov. 2015). Sources report that the new passport issuance system was implemented by the Belgian company Semlex (Semlex Jan. 2016; Le Potentiel 13 Nov. 2015; Groupe l'Avenir 11 Nov. 2015). In a press release posted on its Internet site, Semlex states that it is working [Semlex English version] "with [the DRC] to obtain a complete solution, which includes the creation of a national identification database along with staff training to maintain the system" (Semlex Jan. 2016). Sources indicate that the passport issuance system was expected to be rolled out on 2 January 2016 across the country and at the country's embassies and chanceries abroad (Le Potentiel 13 Nov. 2015; Congo virtuel 10 Nov. 2015; Tele50 with the ACP 11 Nov. 2015). Sources state that the rollout was to be done [translation] "gradually" (ibid.; Le Potentiel 13 Nov. 2015). Semlex stated in January 2016 that [Semlex English version] "to assist with registration, 26 provincial centers have been created, and more than 60 embassies will be equipped with biometric registration stations" (Semlex Jan. 2016). Information on the number of provincial centers that were operating and the number of embassies that were able to offer biometric passports in July 2016 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. However, Radio Okapi, the UN's radio station in the DRC (Radio Okapi 8 Apr. 2015), stated in January 2016 that the sale and issuance of the first new passports began on 19 December 2015 (Radio Okapi 8 Jan. 2016). Radio Okapi also stated in December 2015 that all passport applicants were expected to follow the new passport issuance procedure starting on 16 December 2015 (Radio Okapi 9 Dec. 2015). According to a press release posted on the Internet site, the Embassy of the DRC in Ottawa planned to start the new data collection procedure for passport applicants as of 10 March 2016 (DRC 7 Mar. 2016). 2. Characteristics and Content of Biometric Passports Congolese media report that regular passports, service passports and diplomatic passports were expected to be available (Le Potentiel 13 Nov. 2016; Top Congo FM 10 Nov. 2015). According to the radio station Top Congo FM, [translation] "like the previous passports, the colours of the future passport will be blue for regular, red for diplomatic, and green for service passports" (ibid.). Sources indicate that the Minister of Foreign Affairs explained during the launch of the new passport that the electronic chip stores [translation] "all the information about the person who holds the passport," including the date of birth, and "can be read electronically" (Le Potentiel 13 Nov. 2015; Radio Okapi 10 Nov. 2015). According to the Congolese news Internet site Congo virtuel, the electronic chip in the passport makes it possible to verify its authenticity using the place of issue and issuance (Congo virtuel 10 Nov. 2015). Sources add that the passport contains the holder's fingerprints (Le Potentiel 13 Nov. 2016; Radio Okapi 10 Nov. 2015; Top Congo FM 10 Nov. 2015). According to Semlex, the fingerprints are stored in the electronic chip (Semlex Jan. 2016). Sources state that the new passport is consistent with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards (Le Potentiel 13 Nov. 2016; Tele50 with the ACP 11 Nov. 2015; Congo virtuel 10 Nov. 2015). According to Semlex, [Semlex English version] "to [further] reinforce its security benefits, the passport will feature the latest printing techniques" (Semlex Jan. 2016). The fingerprints on the passport are described as [translation] "tamper-proof" (Le Potentiel 13 Nov. 2016; Tele50 with the ACP 11 Nov. 2015). Congo virtuel states that the technical components of the passport [translation] "are verified with laser beams and ultra-violet light" (10 Nov. 2015). 3. Issuing Authority An information document posted on the Internet site of the Embassy of the DRC in Ottawa states that the passports are printed at [translation] "headquarters" in Kinshasa (DRC n.d.). The passport application form that accompanies the information document is provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ibid.). 4. Validity Period The press release from Semlex states that the new passport is valid for five years (Semlex Jan. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Sources add that the old passport models will be valid until their expiry dates (Congo virtuel 10 Nov. 2015; Le Potentiel 13 Nov. 2015; Radio Okapi 10 Nov. 2015). The article from Top Congo FM explains that, in the past, when new passport models were introduced the old models became invalid (Top Congo FM 10 Nov. 2015). An article from Groupe l'Avenir, a group of private media companies that specialize in disseminating news in the DRC (Groupe l'Avenir n.d.), explains that the passports still in circulation [translation] "will be replaced by chip passports as those passport holders apply for them," but it adds that the validity of the passport will depend on "the ICAO's opinion," since that organization "continually reviews its requirements" (ibid. 11 Nov. 2015). 5. Application Procedure and Requirements 5.1 Within the Country The Congo virtuel portal provides the following information about the passport application procedure: Fees are paid at the counter, where a receipt is given to the applicant; Identification form is completed; Photograph is taken and fingerprints of all ten fingers are captured electronically; Applicant's personal information is stored in the database; Validity of the personal information is verified; Passport is printed and issued to the applicant (10 Nov. 2015). Information on the documents to be provided with a passport application in the DRC was scare among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. However, the Congolese news Internet site KongoTimes! indicates that [translation] "those who do not have an elector's card are forced to obtain a certificate of Congolese nationality before obtaining a criminal record excerpt to prove that they are not wanted by the law" (KongoTimes! 26 Jan. 2016). Sources report that it is possible to produce a passport within 15 minutes after the applicant's personal information is collected (Groupe l'Avenir 11 Nov. 2015; Congo virtuel 10 Nov. 2015). According to sources, Semlex is able to produce 1,000 passports per day (Groupe l'Avenir 11 Nov. 2015; Tele50 with the ACP 11 Nov. 2015). However, media articles published in 2016 report that the process of obtaining a passport is hindered by delays and difficulties (Waza 24 Mar. 2016; KongoTimes! 26 Jan. 2016). According to KongoTimes!, [translation] "you need to show up early in the morning to get a good spot [in] line to be among the first to fill out the forms and have a photo [taken]" (ibid.). In an article describing his efforts to obtain a new passport in Butembo, in the province of North Kivu, an independent journalist who published his article on Waza [1] states that it is more difficult to obtain a passport in the province; the journalist explains that, since there is no data collection centre in Butembo, the authorities sent a temporary mobile collection centre that stayed there for only one week (Waza 24 Mar. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 5.2 Outside the Country The Internet site of the Embassy of the DRC in Ottawa provides information on the procedure for Congolese nationals who wish to apply for a passport at the embassy and the documents that must be provided (DRC n.d.). That information is attached to this Response. 6. Issuance Fee Sources report that the official passport issuance fee is US$185 (Waza 24 Mar. 2016; Radio Okapi 8 Jan. 2016). According to a press release posted on the site of the Embassy of the DRC in Ottawa, the issuance fee for a biometric passport for Congolese citizens residing in Canada is C$400 (DRC 7 Mar. 2016). Some sources report that when the related fees that have to be paid as part of the passport acquisition process are considered, the total cost could be as high as around US$300. (Waza 24 Mar. 2016; KongoTimes! 26 Jan. 2016). According to the article from KongoTimes!, [translation] "at each step of the process, the applicant is required to pay more than the official rate" (ibid.). According to an independent journalist, the spokesperson for the mayor of Butembo stated that the passport issuance fees in that region were set [translation] "by consensus between the local team and the officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs" (Waza 24 Mar. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request. Note [1] Waza is a platform that publishes [Waza English version] "independent journalistic content from a network of correspondents across Africa and an editorial team headquartered in the Netherlands" that focuses in particular on issues related to freedom of expression, governance and human rights in sub-Saharan Africa (Waza n.d.). References Congo virtuel. 10 November 2015. Jonas Eugene Kota. "La RDC a desormais un passeport biometrique et electronique." [Accessed 19 May 2016] Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 7 March 2016. Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Ottawa. Communique important et urgent 132.63/A3/DP/0141/2016. [Accessed 11 July 2016] _____. N.d. Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Ottawa. Informations importantes concernant la demande d'un nouveau passeport congolais. [Accessed 19 May 2016] Groupe l'Avenir. 11 November 2015. "Hier au ministere des Affaires etrangeres : J. Kabila lance le nouveau systeme de personnalisation du passeport a puce." [Accessed 19 May 2016] _____. N.d. "Groupe d'entreprises privees des medias l'Avenir." [Accessed 8 July 2016] KongoTimes! 26 January 2016. Rombaut Ot. "Escroquerie : En RDC, le prix de passeport revient a plus ou moins 300 USD !" [Accessed 19 May 2016] Le Potentiel. 13 November 2015. "La RDC met en circulation un nouveau passeport electronique avec puce." [Accessed 19 May 2016] Radio Okapi. 8 Janaury 2016. "Affaires etrangeres: des agents desapprouvent la repartition des recettes du nouveau passeport." [Accessed 27 June 2016] _____. 9 December 2015. "RDC : Suspension de l'octroi des passeports a Kinshasa." [Accessed 27 June 2016] _____. 10 November 2015. "La RDC se dote d'un passeport biometrique avec puce." [Accessed 19 May 2016] _____. 8 April 2015. "A propos." [Accessed 30 June 2016] Semlex. January 2016. "Nouveau passeport pour la Republique democratique du Congo." [Accessed 23 June 2016] Tele50 with the Agence congolaise de presse (ACP). 11 November 2015. "RDC : Lancement du nouveau passeport biometrique avec puce." [Accessed 19 May 2016] Top Congo FM. 10 November 2015. Gin Rehema. "Un nouveau passeport biometrique en RDC." [Accessed 19 May 2016] Waza. 24 March 2016. Merveille Kakule Saliboko. "RDC : ce passeport biometrique au prix d'or." [Accessed 23 June 2016] _____. N.d. "Qui sommes-nous?" [Accessed 19 July 2016] Additional Sources Consulted Oral sources: Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Ottawa; Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Paris; Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Washington. Internet sites, including: Agence d'information d'Afrique centrale; AllAfrica; Canada - Global Affairs Canada, Immigration and Citizenship Canada; Council of the European Union - Public Register of Authentic Identity and Travel Documents Online (PRADO); Democratic Republic of the Congo - Embassy of the DRC in Paris, Embassy of the DRC in Benelux and the European Union, Consulate in Anvers, La Primature; ecoi.net; EdisonTD; Factiva; JournaldeKin.com; Keesing's Documentchecker; Le Millenaire; Radio France internationale; Top Africa Magazine; United Nations - Refworld; United States - Department of State; Virunga Mountains Observer; Voice of Congo. Attachment Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). N.d. Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Ottawa. Informations importantes concernant la demande d'un nouveau passeport congolais. [Accessed 19 May 2016] Search Refworld and / or country All countries Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau (Special Administrative Region of China) Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste (East Timor) Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkiye Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Territory Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Turkey: Response to President Erdogan's speech challenging Amnesty International's research findings Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 2 August 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Turkey: Response to President Erdogan's speech challenging Amnesty International's research findings, 2 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a1b3394.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Responding to a speech today by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which he criticized Amnesty International's findings that some people detained in connection with Turkey's failed coup attempt had been beaten and tortured, Salil Shetty, Amnesty International's Secretary General said: "From day one, Amnesty International has repeatedly condemned the appalling violence committed by those behind the 15 July failed coup attempt. The organization has called for the Turkish government to bring the coup plotters to justice. "At the same time Amnesty International has urged Turkish authorities to respect the rule of law and the rights of all those detained. The government must release all detainees unless there is a reasonable suspicion that they have committed a recognisable criminal offence. "The serious human rights violations documented by an Amnesty International team on the ground in Turkey are alarming. These findings are based on detailed interviews with lawyers, doctors, family members and an eyewitness to torture in a detention facility. "The sheer number of people affected by the ongoing crackdown in Turkey are shocking. It would be tragic if some hard won gains, such as combatting torture, were to be lost." Amnesty International has requested and held meetings with the government and hopes to continue this dialogue. Amnesty International is an impartial and independent organization. We have offices and research teams around the world including in Turkey where a team conducted an investigation on the ground for this report. Accurate and impartial research is a fundamental part of our work. The organization reiterates its call for independent monitors to be given immediate access to detainees in all places where they're being held. Amnesty International will continue to document abuses and violations in Turkey as we do around the world. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Iran: Hanging of teenager shows authorities' brazen disregard for international law Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 2 August 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Iran: Hanging of teenager shows authorities' brazen disregard for international law, 2 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a1b3964.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Amnesty International has revealed that a teenager was executed in Iran after being convicted of the rape of another boy, the first confirmed execution of a juvenile in the country this year. The organization, which has been carrying out extensive research into the situation of juvenile offenders on death row in Iran, found that Hassan Afshar, 19, was hanged in Arak's Prison in Markazi Province on 18 July, after being convicted of "lavat-e be onf" (forced male to male anal intercourse) in early 2015. The execution went ahead even though the Office of the Head of the Judiciary had promised his family that they would review the case on 15 September 2016. "Iran has proved that its sickening enthusiasm for putting juveniles to death, in contravention of international law, knows no bounds. Hassan Afshar was a 17-year-old high school student when he was arrested. He had no access to a lawyer and the judiciary rushed through the investigation and prosecution, convicting and sentencing him to death within two months of his arrest as though they could not execute him quickly enough," said Magdalena Mughrabi, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International "In a cruel stroke of irony, officials did not inform Hassan Afshar of his death sentence for around seven months while he was held in a juvenile detention facility because they did not want to cause him distress - and yet astonishingly were still prepared to execute him. With this execution, Iranian authorities have demonstrated once again their callous disregard for human rights." Just days after Hassan Afshar was executed, the authorities scheduled Alireza Tajiki, another youth who was under 18 at the time of his alleged offence, for execution. The implementation of his death sentence, which had been scheduled to take place on 3 August was, however, postponed yesterday following public pressure. "While we welcome the stay of execution for Alireza Tajiki, his life has been saved for the moment because of public pressure and not because the Iranian authorities are seriously considering stopping the horrendous practice of executing juveniles. This is illustrated by the fact that just two weeks ago Hassan Afshar was hanged in anonymity - publicity should not make the difference between life and death," said Magdalena Mughrabi. For the 160 individuals who remain on death row in prisons across Iran for crimes allegedly committed when they were under 18, the news of yet another juvenile execution will come as a terrifying blow. "Any one of these youths could be next in line for execution. The torment that Iran's flawed juvenile justice system has inflicted on them will not end until the Iranian authorities commute their death sentences and amend Iran's Penal Code to abolish the use of death penalty for all crimes committed under 18 years of age, as immediate first steps towards full abolition of this punishment," said Magdalena Mughrabi. Hassan Afshar was arrested in December 2014 after the authorities received a complaint accusing him and two other youths of forcing a teenage boy to have sexual intercourse with them. Hassan Afshar maintained that the sexual acts were consensual and that the complainant's son had willingly engaged in same-sex sexual activities before. While authorities must always investigate allegations of rape and, where sufficient admissible evidence is found, prosecute those responsible in fair trials, rape does not fall into the category of offences for which the death penalty can be imposed under international law. Furthermore, the existence of laws in Iran that criminalize consensual male to male sexual intercourse with the death penalty means that if the intercourse in this case had been deemed consensual, the teenager who accused Hassan Afshar of rape would himself have been sentenced to death. The criminalization of same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults violates international human rights law. The Supreme Court initially overturned the sentence due to incomplete investigations but ultimately upheld it in March 2016. Background Male individuals who engage in same-sex anal intercourse face different punishments under Iranian criminal law depending on whether they are the "active" or "passive" partners and whether their conduct is characterized as consensual or non-consensual. If the conduct is deemed consensual, the "passive" partner of same-sex anal conduct shall be sentenced to the death penalty. The "active" partner, however, is sentenced to death only if he is married, or if he is not a Muslim and the "passive" partner is a Muslim. If the intercourse is deemed non-consensual, the "active" partner receives the death penalty but the "passive" partner is exempted from punishment and treated as a victim. This legal framework risks creating a situation where willing "recipients" of anal intercourse may feel compelled, when targeted by the authorities, to characterize their consensual sexual activity as rape in order to avoid the death penalty. International law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Iran is a state party, absolutely prohibits the use of death penalty for crimes committed when the defendant was below 18 years of age. International law restricts the application of the death penalty to the "most serious crimes", which refers to intentional killing. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty unconditionally, for all cases and under any circumstances. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Australia: Appalling abuse, neglect of refugees on Nauru Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 2 August 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Australia: Appalling abuse, neglect of refugees on Nauru, 2 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a1b41c4.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Around 1,200 men, women, and children who sought refuge in Australia and were forcibly transferred to the remote Pacific island nation of Nauru suffer severe abuse, inhumane treatment, and neglect, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said today. The Australian government's failure to address serious abuses appears to be a deliberate policy to deter further asylum seekers from arriving in the country by boat. Refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru, most of whom have been held there for three years, routinely face neglect by health workers and other service providers who have been hired by the Australian government, as well as frequent unpunished assaults by local Nauruans. They endure unnecessary delays and at times denial of medical care, even for life-threatening conditions. Many have dire mental health problems and suffer overwhelming despair-self-harm and suicide attempts are frequent. All face prolonged uncertainty about their future. "Australia's policy of exiling asylum seekers who arrive by boat is cruel in the extreme," said Anna Neistat, Senior Director for Research at Amnesty International, who conducted the investigation on the island for the organization. "Few other countries go to such lengths to deliberately inflict suffering on people seeking safety and freedom." Australian authorities are well aware of the abuses on Nauru. The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a Senate Select Committee, and a government-appointed independent expert have each highlighted many of these practices, and called on the government to change them. A matter of policy The Australian government's persistent failure to address abuses committed under its authority on Nauru strongly suggests that they are adopted or condoned as a matter of policy. By forcibly transferring refugees and people seeking asylum to Nauru, detaining them for prolonged periods in inhuman conditions, denying them appropriate medical care, and in other ways structuring its operations so that many experience a serious degradation of their mental health, the Australian government has violated the rights to be free from torture and other ill-treatment, and from arbitrary detention, as well as other fundamental protections, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said. "Australia's atrocious treatment of the refugees on Nauru over the past three years has taken an enormous toll on their well-being," said Michael Bochenek, Senior Counsel on Children's Rights at Human Rights Watch, who conducted the investigation on the island for the organization. "Driving adult and even child refugees to the breaking point with sustained abuse appears to be one of Australia's aims on Nauru." Australia and Nauru impose strict secrecy on the processing of asylum seekers on Nauru and refuse most requests to visit from journalists or researchers. Nevertheless, an Amnesty International researcher and a Human Rights Watch researcher were able to enter Nauru legally and remain for a total of 12 days in July 2016. They were not asked about their organizational affiliations when they completed entry formalities. They interviewed 84 refugees and asylum seekers from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Bangladesh, Kuwait, and Afghanistan, including stateless Kurds who had been living in Iran or Iraq. Twenty-nine were women. Five were girls, and four were boys. The researchers also interviewed several service providers, who agreed to share information despite risking prosecution for providing information. Nauru, a tiny, impoverished island of 21 square kilometres, or eight square miles, is smaller than Melbourne's airport. The population is 10,000. The island's interior, devastated by 40 years of phosphate mining, is mostly uninhabitable and uncultivable. Employment opportunities are scarce, and basic services, such as health and education, are largely inadequate. Australia has been forcibly transferring families with children, unaccompanied children, and single men and women to Nauru since September 2012 under Memorandums of Understanding between the two countries. Australia agreed to cover all costs associated with the offshore detention and processing of the asylum seekers and refugees. The Australian government spent 415 million Australian dollars (US$314 million) on its Nauru operations in the fiscal year ending on April 30, 2015, nearly $350,000 for each person held on the island in that year alone. Appalling conditions Those transferred to Nauru initially spent a year or more housed in cramped vinyl tents in a detention facility called the "Regional Processing Centre" (RPC), with temperatures indoors regularly reaching 45 to 50 degrees Celsius (113 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit), and torrential rains and flooding. Refugees and asylum seekers described conditions in these detention camps as "prison-like," with regular searches of their tents by the guards, confiscation of "prohibited" items-including food and sewing needles-two-minute showers, and filthy toilets. The RPC is run by a private company hired by the Australian government, which has effective control of the facility and is responsible for ensuring the health and welfare of the asylum seekers detained there. Australia shares responsibility with Nauru for human rights violations committed against the refugees and asylum seekers.Those the Australian and Nauru governments recognize as refugees are generally provided accommodation in open camps or other housing throughout the island. Families are generally assigned prefabricated units or converted containers, and single men are placed in rooms with space only for a bed and a small shelf. About one-third of the 1,200 refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru remain in the tents, people interviewed said. Since October 2015 Nauru has allowed asylum seekers greater freedom of movement around the island, a step widely interpreted as a response to litigation in Australia challenging the lawfulness of asylum seekers' detention. But those who remain in the tents are still subject to curfews, may not bring smartphones into the centre, are monitored by guards, and face other restrictions on their liberty. Prolonged detention in appalling conditions exacerbated the trauma many had suffered from persecution in their home countries and the abuses and other hazards they faced on their journeys to Australia, as the Australian Human Rights Commission and UNHCR, among others, have found. Refugees and asylum seekers interviewed said they have developed severe anxiety, inability to sleep, mood swings, prolonged depression, and short-term memory loss on the island. Children have begun to wet their beds, suffered from nightmares, and engaged in disruptive and other troubling behavior. Adults and children spoke openly of having wanted to end their lives. However, refugees on Nauru do not receive adequate support or mental health treatment. The standard of medical care for refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru is also poor. Medical equipment is rudimentary, and specialist medical attention is not regularly available. Dental services are largely limited to tooth extraction. Refugees and asylum seekers described long delays on seeing specialists for serious conditions or for being transferred to medical facilities outside Nauru for care not available there. Under new policies, those transferred to Australia for care must go without their family members in most cases, an apparent attempt to force them to return to Nauru. When Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch put these concerns about medical care to International Health and Medical Services, the company hired by the Australian government to provide medical services on Nauru, senior staff denied that care was poor. The physical safety of those held on Nauru is a serious concern, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said. Many asylum seekers had been beaten and robbed. Every woman interviewed said she could not go out alone. Interviewees said that local police made little or no effort to investigate attacks against them. Children who attend local schools described frequent bullying and harassment from Nauruan students, who tell them to go back to their home countries. Many have stopped attending classes altogether. Some refugees and asylum seekers said that the abuses they endured gave them little option but to accept or request return to countries where they face a real risk of persecution or other serious harm. The Australian government should immediately resettle the refugees in Australia and close the Nauru offshore processing centre. While refugees and asylum seekers remain on Nauru, Australia should ensure that they receive quality medical and mental health care. Nauru should allow independent human rights monitors and journalists access to the island, and Australia should do likewise for its "processing centres" for asylum seekers. ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND AND TESTIMONIES A wall of secrecy The Australian government's offshore operation on Nauru is surrounded by a wall of secrecy, with both Australia and Nauru going to great lengths to prevent the flow of information off the island. Service providers and others who work on the island face criminal charges and civil penalties under Australian law if they disclose information about conditions for asylum seekers and refugees held offshore. Nauru has banned Facebook on the island and has enacted vaguely worded laws against threats to public order that legal experts fear could be used to criminalize protests by refugees and asylum seekers. Journalists in particular face severe restrictions on entry, with an $8,000 non-refundable visa fee and a protracted application process. Nauru has granted visas to just two media outlets since January 2014. Other requests have been rebuffed or met with no response. UN officials have been denied entry or in some cases have concluded that a visit would be impractical due to severe limitations on their access. Attacks, sexual violence, and impunity Every refugee and asylum seeker interviewed reported intimidation, harassment, or violence directed at them or family members by Nauruans acting alone or in groups. They said the assailants cursed and spat on them, threw bottles and stones, swerved vehicles in their direction as they walked or rode on motorbikes, or broke their windows or destroyed other property. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International documented cases in which Nauruans, alone or in groups, assaulted and robbed refugees and asylum seekers, sometimes at knifepoint, during daylight or in the evening. In all, more than 20 of those interviewed said they had been attacked by Nauruans. A refugee from Bangladesh suffered serious head trauma in May when a Nauruan man threw a large rock at him, kicked the refugee off his motorbike, and beat him after he fell. A Somali woman reported that several Nauruan men attacked her husband in March, hitting him on the head with a machete. The following night, a group of Nauruans tried to break into the family's housing. A Somali man said a Nauruan man robbed him when he attempted to hitchhike to a store. Many others spoke of being attacked by Nauruan men, who stole their money, mobile phones, and motorbikes, as the refugees went to work or bought food. A service provider confirmed that such assaults happen "several times a week, especially over the weekend." As a result, refugees and asylum seekers said they were afraid to leave their accommodations, particularly at night. Women said they almost never left the camps and then only in groups, or with male companions. Six women described sexual assault or harassment, including groping, touching, explicit threats, demands for sex, and attempted rape. One woman said that on two occasions Nauruan men tried to drive her to the jungle when she was catching a ride with them, clearly intending to rape her. She also said that at one point she got a job at a shop on the island but had to quit after the first day because other employees kept touching her. One young woman said she married for protection after being released into the community: "After I left the camp, I felt very unsafe, I could not go out. I decided to marry a man who is 15 years older, just to have protection. If you are alone, everything is a struggle. At least he could go shopping or accompany me. Now he is in the hospital and I have to rely on my case manager if I need to go out of the house." Another woman said: "We are always scared, all the time. I am always checking the door to see if it is locked. We can't go out alone. A lot of times, some Nauruans get drunk and come near the entrance by the road and shout at us." Refugees and asylum seekers said that Nauruan police disregard their complaints and sometimes discourage them from filing reports. Police have dismissed some complaints as "made for media exposure only," a news report said. Several refugees provided Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International with copies of reports they filed with local police following the attacks, saying that police had done nothing to investigate or apprehend the attackers, even if the victims were able to identify them. Service providers, who said they often have to accompany refugees to file police reports, confirmed these statements. Nauru's former chief justice, Geoffrey Ames, QC, testified before an Australian Senate Select Committee in July 2015 that "there is a serious question about [police] independence and about their willingness to investigate allegations against Nauruans who are charged with assaults of non-Nauruans." (Ames, an Australian national, was forced out of office after Nauruan authorities revoked his visa in January 2014.) Medical care International Health and Medical Services (IHMS), a company hired by the Australian government, is the main health service provider for refugees and asylum seekers. Some of its staff have publicly condemned the appalling treatment of refugees on Nauru, raising concerns about the company's operations there. Specialized medical equipment and staff are not available on Nauru; Nauruans who require more than basic medical care are sent to Australia or Fiji. Refugees and asylum seekers reported that the hospital lacks even basic supplies, such as bandages or sterile gloves. Refugees and asylum seekers reported that both the IHMS medical staff and Nauru's hospital often refuse to take their complaints seriously, and in most cases reported to Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International prescribe nothing but painkillers. Some of those interviewed said that they had developed serious medical problems in Nauru and that they had received virtually no specialized medical attention. They had heart and kidney diseases, diabetes accompanied by weight loss and rapidly deteriorating eyesight, and back problems leading to reduced mobility, among other conditions. When Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch raised these concerns with senior IHMS staff in Australia, they "strongly refuted" allegations of poor quality medical care. Parents were particularly critical of services available to women during pregnancy and childbirth and said that newborns suffered from persistent infections and other medical conditions. An asylum seeker described conditions while his wife was in labour: "I saw my wife lying under the bed. The bed didn't have a mattress. . . . I saw the nurse, an Australian nurse, playing on her tablet. My wife was crying. I said, 'Please do something for my wife. This is like a jail, not a delivery room.' The bathroom didn't have tissue or handwashing liquid. I went out to buy handwashing liquid and rolls of tissue." Because they cannot leave the island without authorization, they are completely dependent on the Australian authorities and service providers to arrange for them to be transferred to medical facilities outside Nauru. Interviewees described long delays while suffering with serious conditions, without any information, before eventually being transferred to hospitals in Papua New Guinea or Australia for tests or surgery. One father said: "My son has kidney problems. We have been visiting IHMS for two years now, and they keep promising he would see a regular doctor, but it hasn't happened. They just take tests, but do not prescribe any treatment. My daughter has been having such problems with her eyesight that she cannot see the blackboard in school and has to ask her classmates for help-but there is no way to get glasses, or even get her eyesight properly tested here." A young man with diabetes said that after he lost 27 kilogrammes (60 pounds), he went to the IHMS manager. The manager told him that such weight loss is "normal" and that he only would be "moderately worried" if the weight loss continued. The family recorded the conversation on a mobile phone and provided a copy to researchers. A young woman who had been forced to undergo genital mutilation in her home country said that as a result, she was experiencing severe pain and was not able to have sexual intercourse. She has received no treatment for her condition in her time on Nauru. She said: "For five months, they just kept referring me to a mental health specialist. I had no idea what was wrong with me, and just kept blaming myself for everything. I've been able to see a gynecologist a few times since, but there is nothing they can do here for my condition, and for a year and [a] half now they keep telling me that I need to be transferred for treatment, but so far it has not happened." Refugees and asylum seekers reported multiple situations in which they tried calling an ambulance when their friends or family members needed urgent help, but the hospital refused to send one. A service provider confirmed these accounts: "When people call [an] ambulance, or even when we call, they sometimes come, and sometimes not, sometimes in 20 minutes and sometimes in 3 hours. But we are also not allowed to call ambulances for our clients, or transport them to the hospital in our vehicles-because it is considered 'advocacy', and we are supposed to help our clients be 'independent'. We often have people discharged while they are still sick, sometimes half-conscious; once a patient still had needles in the hands. We are not allowed to ask the hospital why they are being discharged, or what medication they've been prescribed, or for their medical records." Even getting a pair of glasses can be an ordeal-one woman reported that she waited nine months for her prescription to be filled from Australia. Denial of access to medical records At least five refugees and asylum seekers reported that their personal requests for their medical records have been denied or have yielded partial records-lacking information on surgery they had undergone, for example. In some instances, they received pages that were blank except for their name and age and the doctor's initials. In several of the cases Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International reviewed, doctors made written requests in medical reports for overseas treatment for refugees and asylum seekers because the hospital lacked the necessary expertise or equipment. Those referred for overseas treatment may wait for months before they are transferred. Medical transfers to Australia, Papua New Guinea Medical transfers are frequently carried out with little notice, often separating family members. In one case, a man was told that his wife would need prolonged specialized treatment for her mental health condition, which they asked him to authorize without giving him any information about when she would be transferred: "The next thing I heard was, 'Oh, we sent your wife to Australia on an emergency flight'. That was the next day. My son took it very bad. He was in shock. He wasn't able to say goodbye to his mother. [On arrival in Australia] my wife woke up, and she didn't have any information; she didn't even know she was in Australia. . . . "I am really worried about my son. For the last 40 days, he hasn't left his room. He had a special relationship with his mother. Now he doesn't talk. He's very angry, and he doesn't talk. I can't control his behaviour. Everything has changed about him." His 13-year-old son was having nightmares, had begun wetting his bed, and was hostile to and refused to interact with anybody other than his father, the man said. Returns to Nauru following medical care in Australia are even more abrupt, and are sometimes carried out in a deeply humiliating and traumatizing way. A man who had been in Brisbane with his wife while she gave birth said: "They handcuffed my wife and me and said we had to go back to Nauru. My wife wasn't ready. She wasn't dressed. She was sleeping. It was not good. Why did they need to do it like this? If we have to go back to Nauru, that's not a big deal. Why early in the morning, and with handcuffs? They took us from the room at 7am and took the baby from us. We didn't see the baby until after 7pm" In another case, a woman said: "I was sound asleep, and the door was locked. Suddenly there was an officer in front of my face, with a camera. He said, 'Wake up!' I couldn't move. I didn't know where I was. There was an officer on each side of me holding my arms, and more officers behind me. My legs were shaking. My heart was pounding. I lost my footing, but they dragged me into a room. They didn't even allow me to put on my glasses. They didn't care about what the doctor had to say. They put me on the airplane. I'm still scared. When I try to sleep, I'm still remembering this." Some said they were brought back to Nauru even though doctors had advised immigration authorities that they should not travel in their condition. Others described having serious chronic conditions requiring transfers for treatment, which has sometimes been cut short by their forcible return to Nauru. In one such case, a young woman who developed lumps in her breasts, throat, and uterus and was also diagnosed with ulcers, said that she was sent for treatment first to Australia and later to Papua New Guinea: "When I was in Australia, my doctor told immigration that I needed surgery for my breasts, but they still sent me back. My problems deteriorated, and a year later sent me to Papua New Guinea for endoscopy and colonoscopy, but then returned me again. They gave me some pills, but they are not working, and I am in constant pain and cannot eat anything." In another case, a man who suffered a heart attack after a year on the island was eventually sent to Australia, where he stayed for four months: "When they came to take me back to Nauru, IHMS people were there, and I tried to plead with them and the security, but they just took me and my family. I was scared, because the doctors found a blood clot in my heart, and clogged arteries, and said it was very dangerous. When I arrived, an IHMS doctor saw my file and said, 'I cannot be responsible for you, they should not have sent you back'. I had another heart attack since, and the doctors keep saying that they cannot do anything here, that I need professional treatment and a proper hospital." When Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch asked IHMS if they had any medical concerns about the timing and manner of transfers, senior medical staff replied that the organizations would have to ask the Australian Department of Immigration about this issue. Beginning in February 2016, Australian immigration authorities have insisted on medical transfers to Papua New Guinea rather than Australia, service providers said. In cases in which the transfer to Australia is still deemed necessary, Australian immigration officials usually authorize transfer of the patient alone. Service providers said that this new practice was introduced after lawyers in Australia were successful in preventing the returns of some of the refugees to Nauru following medical treatment. "Now that their families remain on the island, they have no choice but to return," one said. Mental health Refugees and asylum seekers suffering psychological trauma and severe mental health conditions do not receive adequate support or treatment. Only two types of mental health services are available. International Health and Medical Services (IHMS), the private contractor hired by the Australian government which is the main health service provider for refugees and asylum seekers, appears to make heavy use of strong sedative and anti-psychotic medication-for children as well as adults-to address mental health issues. Refugees and asylum seekers said that these medications have severe side effects but provide little relief. IHMS senior staff in Australia "strongly refuted" allegations of poor quality care, including the charge that prescriptions were inappropriate, when Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch spoke with them in advance of publication. Another agency, Offshore Service for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (OSSTT), officially deals only with previous trauma. Families can wait for months to have their children seen by a visiting specialist. Nearly all interviewees reported mental health issues of some kind-high levels of anxiety, trouble sleeping, mood swings, and feelings of listlessness and despondency were most commonly mentioned-that they said began when they were transferred to Nauru. In many cases, the consequences appeared to be severe-they repeatedly self-harmed, cutting their hands or banging their heads against the wall, did not speak to anybody for months, did not recognize their relatives, and stayed in bed for weeks, refusing to go outside or take showers. One woman told researchers that during her time on Nauru she had begun to wash her hands compulsively, hundreds of times a day. Family members said that children also began to wet their beds, suffer nightmares, act out, and in some instances had stopped interacting with or even speaking to people outside of their immediate families. Even so, refugees and asylum seekers sometimes received diagnoses that were not reached on the basis of full psychiatric evaluations and did not appear to take into account their experiences of trauma in their home countries, their prolonged detention on Nauru, and their uncertainty about their future. Many of the interviewees said that when they reported their own or their relatives' mental problems to the IHMS, the complaints were often dismissed, and in some cases they were accused of acting and "mimicking" the conditions that they had seen in other asylum seekers and refugees who have been transferred to Australia for mental health treatments. Moreover, patients whose mental health issues were apparently severe enough to justify their transfer to Australia were returned several months later into the same conditions that doctors had identified as contributing to their trauma. A service provider reported being aware of more than 20 such cases, some of which led to tragedy. For example, Hodan Yasin, a Somali woman who was considered suicidal, was admitted to a hospital in Australia for several months, then forcibly returned to Nauru. She was still considered highly suicidal and placed in a special ward in one of the camps, which was supposed to have 24-hour observation. However, she managed to escape, buy gasoline, and set herself on fire, burning 86% of her body. More than a dozen of the adults interviewed said they had tried to kill themselves by overdosing on medication, swallowing bleach, other cleaning products, or razors, hanging or strangling themselves, or setting themselves on fire, and many more said that they had seriously considered ending their lives. Some children had injured themselves with lighters, razor blades, or in other ways. Nearly all made references to Omid Masoulmali, a 23-year-old Iranian man who died in May after setting himself alight, and to Yasin, who set herself on fire the following week. "I have the oil ready", one man stated matter-of-factly. "I'm tired of my life", said a 15-year-old girl, who said she had tried to commit suicide twice. A woman whose husband had been transferred to Australia for urgent medical treatment said that their nine-year-old son had repeatedly talked about suicide after the family had been separated: "Two weeks ago, my son took the lighter. He said, 'I want to burn myself. Why should I be alive? I want my daddy. I miss my daddy.' I look in his eyes and I see sadness." Conditions in the processing centre For months and sometimes years after their arrival in Nauru, asylum seekers have been held in prison-like camps in the Nauru Regional Processing Centre (RPC), surrounded by fences and guarded by security services. They live in crowded tents where the heat is unbearable, even after some basic fans were installed. With humidity between 75 and 90%, mould grows quickly on tent walls and ceilings, and skin rashes and other infections spread rapidly. Sudden, torrential rains flood roads and pool on the tent floors. On several occasions, rains have also uncovered unexploded World War II ordnance on the detention centre grounds. Food is distributed at set times, and no one is allowed to bring any food into the tents, even for young children. Living conditions in the RPC improved after October 2015, when Nauru allowed most of those housed there greater freedom of movement. Until early 2015, the asylum seekers could take one two-minute shower a day. Several of the women interviewed cried recalling how guards forced them out of the shower after two minutes, shampoo still in their hair. There were long lines for toilets that quickly became so dirty that cleaners refused to clean them. They could use the internet once a week at most, and could not leave the camp. Most of the approximately 400 refugees and asylum seekers who remain in the RPC are allowed to leave during the day, although they must observe curfews and are subject to monitoring by guards and other restrictions on their liberty. Smartphones are prohibited inside the camp. One male asylum seeker said: "When we came to this place, we found tents in a jungle. They put eight families together, with six kids, young kids, under one tent. Every day, every night, we had no rest. No sleep. Every day, the kids would fight because they were so close together. Most of the day, they kept the water locked up. They just gave us a small amount. It wasn't enough, with the strong sun. Sometimes we couldn't shower for two or three days. The kids started getting bad skin. We suffered these problems for two years." A woman recalled: "The tents were terrible. It was too hot, so hot you felt you couldn't breathe. The children always felt bad because it was too hot for them. There wasn't enough water to drink. For the shower, we had a specific time. If the children needed to take a shower at a different time, they couldn't. Security wouldn't let them take showers except at the specific time. After three years, children in that bad situation have mental problems. Bedwetting. Nightmares." At the end of May, according to Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection, 466 people, including 50 children, were housed in the RPC. Most, if not all, continued to be housed in tents, asylum seekers said. Immigration Department records say that the agency had completed refugee status determinations for 1,194 people held on the island, of whom 915 were recognized as refugees. The remaining 279 received negative determinations. Most recognized refugees are now housed in other camps or in houses in the community, Human Rights Watch heard from refugees and asylum seekers, but some remain in the camp while they await housing assignments. Most of those rejected for refugee status are still on the island and in the tents, although refugees and asylum seekers reported that a handful had accepted return to their home countries. Bullying, harassment in school Parents and children reported that students from families of refugees and asylum seekers are frequently bullied by Nauruan students. A 15-year-old girl said that she stopped going to school because Nauruan children always tried to pull off her headscarf and constantly taunted her. One mother said: "When they go to school, the Nauruan children call our children 'refugee,' not by name. People have names. They say, 'Why are you here? This is our country. You should leave. We don't like you staying here.'" A 10-year-old girl gave a similar account: "All the kids at school, they say, 'Refugee, refugee, refugee.' They don't say our names. They hit us. And when we try to talk to the teachers, they don't say, 'Why are you Nauruan kids hitting the other kids?' They say to us, 'Why are you fighting with the Nauruan kids?' We try to explain, but they don't listen." Two brothers, 13 and 14 years old, said they went to school for a month initially, but then stopped and haven't attended school for almost three years. The older brother said: "Local kids kept attacking us, and even throwing stones. When we complained to the principal, the kids were made to say 'sorry' to us. But when we left the principal's office, they got even angrier at us." Save the Children Australia estimates that 85 percent of asylum seeker and refugee children on Nauru do not attend local schools, in part because of the prevalence of bullying and harassment. Corporate responsibility for abuse Australia's operations on Nauru rely on private companies and service providers. These service providers face penalties if they speak out, and some staff members have taken a considerable risk to do so to expose the conditions on the island. The companies that provide services on Nauru are aware of the situation and the impact on refugees and asylum seekers. The companies' involvement facilitates the continuation of the abusive situation. The Australian and Nauruan governments would have great difficulty maintaining their Memorandum of Understanding and the offshore processing centre without their services. Most are working directly on behalf of the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch sought comment from the two key companies contracted by the Australian government to provide services for its Nauru operation, Broadspectrum, the company that runs the RPC, and IHMS, the main medical service provider. Broadspectrum responded to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch's summary of findings that it "firmly rejected" any suggestion that the company did not respect human rights. IHMS stated that its role was to deliver services, and not to engage in Australian government policy, and "strongly refuted" the allegations put to it by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Dr. Peter Young, a psychiatrist who was until July 2014 IHMS's director of mental health, commented: "It is a basic ethical requirement for doctors and other health care workers to advocate for the best health interests of their patients and to speak out against policies and practices that do harm to health. The Australian government has followed a deliberate policy to cause suffering to asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat. Being subject to abuses, lack of health services, delays in treatment, and inhumane procedures are necessary components of coercing returns and deterring others. "Health providers who accept this and do not speak out, collude with secrecy and harmful practices causing harm to health. They are caught in an irresolvable conflict of interest, breach their ethical obligations and fail to provide a satisfactory standard of care. Full clinical independence, public reporting of health data and proper independent oversight are necessary minimum standards to provide safe and ethical services." Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch believe that their ongoing involvement in the Nauru centre amounts to complicity in violations of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. These businesses are profiting from an abusive context, and based on Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch's investigations on the island, some are directly responsible for serious abuse and the failure to provide appropriate medical care. An uncertain future All of the refugees and asylum seekers interviewed reported that when they were sent to Nauru, immigration authorities told them they were being transferred for "processing" and would be then resettled in a third country. They said that Australian immigration authorities' description of the time they would be held on Nauru has changed frequently since August 2013-with every new version of the timetable accompanied by a denial that Australian officials had ever announced a different version. At this point, even those who have received positive refugee status determinations have no idea what to expect and are unable to receive any clear answers from Nauruan or Australian authorities. They have no way of leaving the island, even if they have financial means to do so, and even when they have been issued "travel documents." Researchers saw travel documents issued by the government of Nauru to some refugees. These papers described the nationality of the individuals as "refugee", and refugees who have tried to apply for visas to go to other countries are rejected. One man said: "They didn't say how long we have refugee status for. When I came to Nauru, they said it would be five years maximum. They said within that time we would go to another country. Not Australia. After two years, they said, 'You will stay in Nauru for 10 years or go to Cambodia'." Another man said: "Even if they had said when I came to Nauru that it would be 10 years, no problem. But they said it would be a maximum of five years and then we would go to another country. Which country, I don't know. But after two years in Nauru, the government said 10 years here or Cambodia or return home." Another man said: "Refugee status in Nauru is not permanent. The government has only offered us temporary resettlement. They give us a travel document which is useless, because we cannot leave here. We are still in prison. We cannot leave this island." And a woman said: "People here don't have a real life. We are just surviving. We are dead souls in living bodies. We are just husks. We don't have any hope or motivation." Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Colombia peace accord offers chance to 'close chapter of war once and for all' UN envoy Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 2 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Colombia peace accord offers chance to 'close chapter of war once and for all' UN envoy, 2 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a1b55940b.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2 August 2016 - The head of the new United Nations political mission in Colombia today pledged the world body's steadfast support for the full implementation of the accord reached by the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP), which seeks to bring an end the longest-running conflict in the Western Hemisphere. "As the United Nations, we are convinced that this long negotiation offers a real chance to close the chapter of war, once and for all. And that opinion is also shared by the parties," Jean Arnault, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia said, meeting reporters for the first time in Bogota, where the mission is located. In late January 2016, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to establish a political mission of unarmed international observers to monitor and verify the laying down of arms and, as part of a tripartite mechanism, a definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities following the signing of a peace agreement. The parties, engaged in peace talks in Havana since 2012, agreed on 19 January to jointly request the Council to establish the mission. On 23 June in Havana, they concluded the agreement on the definitive bilateral cease fire and cessation of hostilities and the laying down of arms. The UN Department of Political Affairs has started the planning process in order to be ready to deploy the mission as soon as the peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP is concluded. The first 80 observers arrived in Colombia by the end of July and were engaged in preparatory activities. In his remarks today, Mr. Arnault stressed: "We do not intend to impose upon you a peace accord. We want to guarantee, to the best of our abilities, to both parties and to all Colombians, that whatever was discussed and was agreed upon in Havana, will in fact be carried out in the field." Laying out some of the details of the work ahead, he noted that the observers would hail from civilian and military institutions from Latin American countries. In addition, he said the Mission's two primary mandates were "complex," as one aim would be to very the ceasefire and the other would be focused on disarmament verification. As such, he explained that while the mission would directly conduct the verification of disarmament, the UN and the parties themselves would be involved in verifying the ceasefire. He went on to note that when compared to previous processes of this sort, this tripartite arrangement is useful, since each individual party will be able to witness the implementation of the accord by the other. This, Mr. Arnault underscored, would contribute to an "additional layer of trust" between the Government and the FARC. He further spotlighted the Mission's temporary character and stressed that the presence of military observers in no way should be perceived as a "foreign presence" in Colombia. "This mission has a different profile both, because of its mandate and also because of its duration. This is a temporary, provisional mission that will remain in the Colombia as longs as the ceasefire and disarmament process is implemented. When these processes are completed, the mission will be withdrawn. And with this, I hope this will help dispel any idea that in any way the UN is attempting to have an extended presence here," he stated. Mr. Arnault said it should be possible for the mission to be fully operational on the ground within 15 days of the signing and announcement of the final accord. "We have taken all the necessary steps so that at the time that the ceasefire is announced; the only pending procedure would be buying air tickets for the remainder of the mission," he explained, adding: "With the preparations we have made, we hope that it will not take us more than two weeks between the announcement of the final agreement and the time for full deployment on the field." Throughout the discussions between the FARC-EP and the Colombian Government, negotiators have reached agreement on key issues such as political participation, land rights, illicit drugs, gender equality and transitional justice. In an opinion piece for the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said deployment of the mission in Colombia would be an "unprecedented experience" in the country, as well as in the history of UN ceasefire observations. He stressed that the international observers working under the UN flag would not carry weapons or engage in armed action of any kind, nor would their role be to carry out cooperation projects, as is the case with UN agencies, funds and programmes in the country. "The sole purpose of this international observation mission is simple: to help ensure that what has been agreed in Havana with respect to the ceasefire and laying down of arms will be carried out in Colombia; and that the commitments made by the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP, to each other and to society are fully implemented," Mr. Ban said. In South Sudan, UN humanitarian chief calls on all parties to work together for peace Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 2 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, In South Sudan, UN humanitarian chief calls on all parties to work together for peace, 2 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a1b5a640b.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2 August 2016 - United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien today called on all actors in South Sudan, including the international community supporting the country, to work together for a peace that will enable the nation and its people to realize their hopes for a better future. "We all need to work together, fast and hard to create peace," said Mr. O'Brien, speaking with UN Radio halfway through his three-day mission to crisis-torn South Sudan, where the humanitarian situation has worsened after fighting broke out three weeks ago in and around the capital, Juba, between rival forces backing President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar. "There is no better platform for people to have hope, to be able to invest in their future, and to be able to [] to utilize the undoubted assets - not just the people of the country but also the land," he emphasized. Noting that though rains had been unpredictable, he said that the land offered a lot of promise. "There is opportunity for people [] to fend for themselves and to grow [crops], have an agricultural future [and to] supply others within the country [as well as] to create markets and [] help everybody start generating the opportunities for prosperity," he noted. Furthermore, he said that attacks on humanitarian workers or facilities, such as the recent looting of a UN World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse, severely impact the availability of food and relief material for those in need as well as the ability of humanitarian workers to deliver such items to those desperately needing the support. "[The people who looted that warehouse] have removed the chance for others to survive and to be protected," Mr. O'Brien emphasized, adding that those who committed that criminal act must be held accountable. The top UN humanitarian official also underlined the importance of partnerships and coordination with the Government and relief actors on the ground, stressing that harnessing such partnership further strengthens the humanitarian support and makes it more cost effective. He added that by working with the State authorities in order to help them deliver on their obligations and provide basic services to the people of the country, both at the local and at the federal level, fosters the conditions for peace to grow and consolidate. Such a situation, he said, would allow the people of South Sudan, the world's youngest country, to build a confident country with hopes for the future. Some 60,000 flee recent South Sudan violence, bringing exodus to 900,000 since 2013 UN Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 2 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Some 60,000 flee recent South Sudan violence, bringing exodus to 900,000 since 2013 UN, 2 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a1b5cb40b.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2 August 2016 - Some 60,000 people have fled South Sudan's recent violence in the capital city of Juba, bringing the overall number of South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries since December 2013 to nearly 900,000, the United Nations refugee agency said today. Refugee flows from South Sudan into Uganda have doubled in the past ten days, bringing the total to more than 52,000 since violence escalated three weeks ago. Kenya has reported the arrival of 1,000 refugees in the same period, while 7,000 have fled to Sudan, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The refugees bring disturbing reports that armed groups operating on roads to Uganda are preventing people from fleeing South Sudan, Melissa Fleming, UNHCR chief spokesperson, told reporters in Geneva. The recent fighting between rival forces the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) loyal to President Salva Kiir and the SPLA in Opposition backing First Vice-President Riek Machar erupted in and around Juba, on 7 July. New arrivals from Yei say they received letters warning them to evacuate the town in anticipation of conflict between rebel and government forces, the spokesperson said. Refugees have also reported that armed groups operating across different parts of South Sudan are looting villages, murdering civilians and forcibly recruiting young men and boys in to their ranks. More than 85 per cent of the refugees arriving in Uganda are women and children under the age of 18, she added. Many children have lost one, or both of their parents. Most are from Eastern Equatoria, with smaller numbers from Juba and Upper Nile state. Many took advantage of the opportunity to flee alongside Ugandan military convoys evacuating Ugandan nationals. Improving conditions and capacities at existing reception facilities in Uganda is a key priority, Ms. Fleming said. Collection points in border areas have now been significantly decongested, although transit centres and reception centres remain severely stretched. Efforts are underway to rapidly open a new 100,000 capacity refugee settlement area in Yumbe district. Both Kenya and Uganda are reporting rising cases of severe malnutrition, particularly among very young children, she said. Those found to be suffering are being placed on food nourishment programmes to bring them back to health. The spokesperson said that UNHCR is reminding all parties to the conflict in South Sudan of a fundamental human right to seek asylum and urging them to ensure that civilians are provided with unhindered access to safety as the number of refugees crosses a worrying milestone. With over 2.6 million of its citizens forcibly displaced, the world's youngest nation currently ranks among the countries with the highest levels of conflict-induced population displacement globally, she said, warning that half the population relies on humanitarian aid. South Sudan was founded in July 2011, after it gained independence from Sudan. The country descended into conflict in December 2013 due to internal struggles between rival factions. Freedom in the World 2016 - Kosovo Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 1 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Kosovo, 1 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a1b93624.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 52 Freedom Rating: 3.5 Political Rights: 3 Civil Liberties: 4 Ratings Change: Kosovo's political rights rating improved 4 to 3 to reflect the functioning of a government formed in late 2014 following lengthy negotiations after that year's elections, which had represented an improvement over previous balloting. Quick Facts Capital: Pristina Population: 1,802,000 GDP/capita: N/A Press Freedom Status: Partly Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW European Union-mediated negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia on the normalization of relations played a major role in Kosovo's politics in 2015. In August, the two governments agreed on the establishment of a new body, the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, meant to allow greater autonomy for Kosovo's ethnic Serb population. Kosovo's opposition parties, led by the Movement for Self-Determination (Vetevendosje), undertook a forceful protest campaign against the deal, arguing that its implementation would compromise Kosovo's sovereignty and inflame ethnic tensions. Vetevendosje led number of street protests in the capital, some of which turned violent; opposition politicians on several occasions also released tear gas in the legislative chamber, disrupting proceedings. In December, the Constitutional Court ruled that parts of the deal were unconstitutional. Amid domestic political turmoil linked with the Serb municipalities deal, in late October the European Union (EU) and Kosovo signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), a key step toward eventual EU membership. The assembly ratified it in November, with the opposition boycotting the vote but also refraining from efforts to obstruct it. Separately, in August the assembly voted to amend the constitution in order to establish a new war crimes tribunal to prosecute former fighters with the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 24 / 40 (+1) A. Electoral Process: 9 / 12 Members of the unicameral, 120-seat Assembly of Kosovo are elected to four-year terms. The assembly elects the president, who serves a five-year term. The president nominates the prime minister, who is then approved by the assembly. Kosovo held elections in 2014. International election observers considered the polls to be relatively free and fair, and all observers noted the increased participation of ethnic Serbs. The Central Election Commission was judged to have fulfilled its responsibilities. The ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) won 37 seats, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) won 30 seats, Vetevendosje won 16 seats, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) won 11 seats. At the end of 2014, the PDK and LDK agreed to form a government whereby the incumbent prime minister Hashim Thaci became deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and LDK chairman Isa Mustafa replaced him as prime minister. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 10 / 16 There is little difference in policy between the mainstream political parties. The exception is Vetevendosje, which began as a grassroots youth opposition movement and has since grown into a party focused on defending Kosovo's national sovereignty. Given the power-sharing features enshrined in the Kosovo constitution, it is nearly impossible for a single political party to form a government on its own. A party or coalition needs at least 61 seats in the assembly to secure a governing majority. The International Steering Group, a body representing 25 countries, ended its oversight of Kosovo in 2012. However, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) peacekeepers; the EU's rule of law mission to Kosovo, known as EULEX; and a scaled-back team from the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) continue to monitor conditions on the ground. In addition to the Serb community, Kosovo's largest ethnic minority group, eight other ethnic minority groups are officially recognized and politically represented. Ten assembly seats are set aside for ethnic Serbs, and 10 more are reserved for representatives from smaller minorities. While several political parties represent the Serb minority, the population itself is not fully integrated into the electoral process or Kosovo's institutions. The Turkish community is politically well-organized and is represented by three parties. There are two parties representing the Ashkali community, while one party represents the Gorani community. In recent years, Pristina has made advances in the decentralization process granting self-rule to Serb enclaves in the southern part of Kosovo, weakening parallel structures in those areas. However, parallel structures endure in northern Kosovo's Serb enclaves. In August 2015, the EU helped broker an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia on the structure of an Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, a body intended to promote the interests of Kosovo's ethnic Serbs, and which includes a legislature for the Serb community. Further negotiations are required in order to establish the body. Three opposition political parties Vetevendosje, AAK, and the Initiative for Kosovo (Nisma) strongly protested the EU-backed agreement. Vetevendosje members in September hurled eggs at Prime Minister Mustafa as he gave an address in defense of the deal; additionally, opposition members on at least six occasions released tear gas in the parliament chamber, once forcing lawmakers to hold a vote on the 2016 budget in another room. In November, the Constitutional Court suspended the agreement's implementation pending a review; in December it ruled that an Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities could be legally established, but that it could not hold executive rights that are constitutionally reserved for the central government. The ruling likely requires the deal's renegotiation. C. Functioning of Government: 5 / 12 (+1) Opposition protests against the deal to establish the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities hampered policymaking in the second half of 2015. However, the governing PDK-LDK coalition that formed in late 2014, following that year's successful elections, held through the year's end. Corruption remains a serious problem, and the institutional framework to combat it is weak. The mandates of Kosovo's four main anticorruption bodies overlap, and they have difficulty coordinating their efforts. Anticorruption legislation has not been effectively implemented. Political pressure on law enforcement agencies hinders investigations into graft and other financial misconduct, which remain widespread across many state institutions. A conflict-of-interest law requires amendments so that it would apply to all public officials and political advisors, and would restrict officials from holding multiple positions and functions. Transparency International ranked Kosovo 103 out of 168 countries and territories surveyed in its 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index. In 2014, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini commissioned French law professor Jean Paul Jacque to investigate corruption allegations against EULEX in particular a whistleblower's allegations that senior staff members had accepted bribes in connection with murder and corruption cases, and that EULEX had concealed evidence of such activity. The so-called Jacque Report, published in April 2015, criticized EULEX's internal handling of corruption allegations. A wide range of government documents is available online. Civil society is consulted in the drafting of laws. Civil Liberties: 28 / 60 (-1) D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 9 / 16 The constitution protects freedoms of expression and the press, except speech that provokes ethnic hostility. A wide variety of print and television outlets operate, but the government and business interests exert undue influence on media outlets through threats to withdraw advertising. Journalists report frequent harassment and intimidation, and occasional physical attacks. In November 2015, an assailant who had stabbed Milot Hasimja, the presenter of a satirical television show, at Hasimja's workplace in 2014 was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay a 1,000 ($1,100) fine in connection with the attack. Journalists investigating radical Islam have experienced online attacks, including death threats, and report that law enforcement responses to their complaints have been dismissive. There are no reports that the government censors or monitors the internet. The constitution guarantees religious freedom. However, the Law on Freedom of Religion lacks a mechanism through which religious communities could gain official legal status, a designation that would allow them to more easily buy and rent property, establish bank accounts, and carry out other administrative activities. Two Serbian Orthodox cemeteries were desecrated in February 2015. Kosovo authorities, under pressure from the United States and the EU, have reacted strongly to the threat of attacks by the Islamic State militant group and the radicalization of its citizens. In addition to targeting Islamic preachers who incite extremism, the Kosovo Police Force arrested more than 80 citizens in 2014 suspected of terrorist activity. While many were later released due to insufficient evidence against them, 32 of those arrested were charged with belonging to the Islamic State or another Sunni Muslim extremist group, Jabhat al-Nusra; their trials began in June 2015. The use of bulk arrests and heavy-handed tactics by Kosovo authorities have left some members of Kosovo's majority Muslim community fearing persecution. Academic freedom has improved in recent years. More space has opened for private discussion of formerly sensitive topics such as the treatment of the Serb population, Roma communities, and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 6 / 12 The government, EULEX, and NATO peacekeepers generally respect legislative guarantees of freedom of assembly, though demonstrations have occasionally been restricted for security reasons. The constitution includes safeguards for public order and national security. Numerous antigovernment demonstrations took place in the capital in 2015. On several occasions, unruly participants caused property damage, and some protests ended with clashes between demonstrators and police. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) function freely, though the courts can ban groups that infringe on the constitutional order or encourage ethnic hatred. In June 2015, police raided five Shiite Muslim NGOs suspected of propagating extremist views, though it was unclear whether any of the groups subsequently faced legal charges. The constitution protects the right to establish and join trade unions. However, workers face intimidation, and private sector unions are nearly nonexistent. F. Rule of Law: 6 / 16 Authorities have continued efforts to strengthen Kosovo's judicial system. However, the judiciary remains susceptible to political interference and corruption; its effectiveness is also hampered by a lack of resources and qualified staff. In July 2015, the head of Kosovo's Appeals Court, Sali Mekaj, was arrested on corruption charges, in what was viewed as a major setback for the judiciary. Meanwhile, the assembly has been unable to appoint all of the members to the Kosovo Judicial Council, or to the Constitutional Court, where only seven of nine judges are seated. Separately, a dubious June 2015 decision by the Appellate Panel of the Special Chamber of the Kosovo Supreme Court reopened an ethnically sensitive dispute between the Serbian Orthodox Visoki DeAani monastery and Kosovo parties claiming ownership of adjoining property. In its ruling, which UNMIK head Farid Zarif said relied on "highly questionable legal reasoning," the court set aside its 2012 decision that had confirmed the monastery's property ownership, opening the way for a lower court to rule on the issue again. Courts in ethnic-Serb dominated areas in northern Kosovo are not fully integrated into the national system. In February 2015, the EU brokered an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia to integrate the Serb-run courts into Kosovo's judicial system and to ensure that judicial and prosecutorial posts in Serb-run municipalities are ethnically balanced. There was little progress on the deal's implementation at the year's end. In 2014, a EULEX investigative task force found evidence to substantiate allegations of KLA war crimes, including organ harvesting, made in a 2010 report issued by Council of Europe rapporteur Dick Marty. The Kosovo Assembly voted in August 2015 to amend the constitution and establish a new war crimes court to try accused former KLA members, many of whom now hold high-level positions in Kosovo political life. Opposition political parties requested that the Constitutional Court annul the amendments that enabled the new court to be established, saying they violated Kosovo's sovereignty. The court rejected their petition in September. Separately, in May 2015 a EULEX-backed court in Mitrovica convicted former KLA members belonging to the so-called "Drenica group" of committing war crimes against Serbs; their prison sentences ranged from 3 to 12 years. Ethnic Albanian officials rarely prosecute cases involving Albanian attacks on non-Albanians. In March 2015, the EU brokered an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia on disbanding the Serb "Civilna Zastita," which operates as a security force in northern Kosovo; under the deal, its members would be integrated into the Kosovo Police Force. The police are rated as the most trusted rule-of-law institution in Kosovo. Prison conditions meet international standards, but concerns include poor medical care for inmates. The constitution prohibits discrimination, including based on sexual orientation. However, Kosovo's Roma, Ashkali, Gorani, and other minority populations face discrimination and difficult socioeconomic conditions. LGBT people face pressure to hide their sexual orientation or gender identity. A low-key LGBT rights walk took place in May 2015; it was not publicized ahead of time due to security concerns. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 7 / 16 (-1) Free movement into ethnic enclaves is sometimes restricted. Returning refugees face hostility and bleak economic prospects, and property reclamation by displaced persons remains a matter of concern. Kosovo's unemployment rate stands at roughly 31 percent, and estimates of the youth unemployment rate are above 50 percent. The gray economy accounts for a considerable share of economic activity. Kosovo has the largest participation of women in its legislative and executive branches among Western Balkan countries, thanks to gender quotas enshrined in the constitution. However, patriarchal attitudes limit women's ability to gain an education or secure employment. Many women in rural areas are disenfranchised through the practice of family voting, in which the male head of a household casts ballots for the entire family. There is significant family and social pressure on women to waive their inheritance rights, which are guaranteed by law. Domestic violence remains a problem. In 2014, parliament passed a law guaranteeing financial compensation and other social-welfare benefits to the more than 20,000 people who were victims of sexual violence during the 1998-99 war. However, rape in general and war rape in particular remain taboo topics in Kosovo. Women are subject to abuse and abandonment by their husbands and families for admitting they were raped, discouraging them from applying for the new benefits. Kosovo is a source, transit point, and destination for human trafficking, and corruption within the government enables perpetrators. Children are at particular risk of exploitation by traffickers, who can force them to beg or engage in sex work. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - Ireland Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 1 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Ireland, 1 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a1b93715.html [accessed 28 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Free Aggregate Score: 96 Freedom Rating: 1.0 Political Rights: 1 Civil Liberties: 1 Quick Facts Capital: Dublin Population: 4,630,308 GDP/capita: $53,313.60 Press Freedom Status: Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW The government agreed in 2015 to only 4 of the 38 recommendations made the previous year by Ireland's first Constitutional Convention, a body of citizens and political representatives tasked with debating and proposing changes to the country's constitution. A referendum on two of the recommendations took place in May: marriage equality for same-sex couples, which was endorsed, and lowering the minimum age for presidential candidates from 35 to 21 years, which was rejected. The government has also promised a referendum on the recommendation to remove the offense of blasphemy from the constitution, and has committed to establishing an electoral commission. Sinn Fein's strong performance in both European Parliament (EP) and local elections in 2014 fueled speculation that the party was gaining momentum ahead of general elections scheduled for 2016, although a September 2015 poll showed a dip in its support. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 39 / 40 A. Electoral Process: 12 / 12 The parliament (Oireachtas) in Ireland consists of a lower house (the Dail), whose 166 members are elected by proportional representation for five-year terms, and an upper house (the Seanad, or Senate) with 60 members, 11 appointed and 49 elected by various interest groups. The Senate is mainly a consultative body, with members serving five-year terms. The prime minister, or taoiseach, is chosen by the parliament. The president, whose functions are largely ceremonial, is directly elected for a seven-year term. Elections in Ireland are free and fair. The most recent parliamentary elections took place in 2011. The Fine Gael party won 76 seats in the lower house and, lacking a majority, entered into a coalition with the Labour Party, which took 37 seats. The Fianna Fail party captured only 20 seats. Sinn Fein won 14 seats, while independents and two smaller parties took the remainder. The Green Party failed to capture seats. Enda Kenny of Fine Gael was elected prime minister. Following the Constitutional Convention's 2014 recommendations concerning the electoral process, the government committed to establishing an electoral commission after the next elections, but abandoned plans to hold a referendum on the recommendation to lower the voting age to 16. The government did not endorse recommendations to provide the Irish diaspora with greater voting rights or to adjust Dail electoral procedures. In EP elections held in May 2014, Fine Gael won four seats, while Sinn Fein followed with three, Fianna Fail took one, and independents captured the remaining three. In local elections held on the same day, Sinn Fein won 159 of 949 contested seats, a gain of 105 seats since 2009. That put the party in third place behind Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, which remained the leading parties at the local level, while Labour came in fourth, sustaining heavy losses. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 16 / 16 Ireland's two main parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael do not differ widely in ideology but represent the successors of opposing sides in the nation's 1922-23 civil war. Other key parties include the Labour Party, Sinn Fein, and the Green Party. Fianna Fail dominated politics after Ireland became independent, holding power for 61 out of 79 years before it was ousted in 2011 due to corruption scandals and mismanagement of the 2008 economic crisis. With two-thirds of the seats, Enda Kenny's Fine Gael-Labour coalition held the largest parliamentary majority in Ireland's history. A September 2015 poll showed a jump in support for Fine Gael and Labour and a decline for Sinn Fein. Ethnic and other minorities are free to participate in politics, though a 2014 University College Dublin report found that political parties were putting less effort into attracting immigrant candidates than in previous election cycles. C. Functioning of Government: 11 / 12 Elected officials freely determine government policy. However, corruption including cronyism, political patronage, and illegal donations is a recurring problem. An anticorruption bill first proposed in 2012 the Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill had yet to be enacted as of 2015. Among other provisions, it would establish a new corporate offense of bribery, a new presumption of corrupt enrichment if public officials display a standard of living above that of their stated assets and interests, and increased penalties for politicians found guilty of corruption, including banning them from holding office for up to 10 years. In late 2015, a commission investigating the illegal taping of telephone calls at police stations cleared the prime minister of allegations that he had unlawfully ordered the police commissioner to resign in 2014, but it criticized the government's failure to maintain proper records of its decision making. The government has also been criticized for failing to consult meaningfully with civil society groups and all relevant stakeholders in the formulation of policy, particularly regarding Roma, Travelers, and persons with disabilities. In accordance with the Regulation of Lobbying Act, adopted in March 2015, the government prepared a Transparency Code to require open records on the groups and individuals that advise public officials on policy. The public has broad access to official information under the 2014 Freedom of Information Act, though partial exemptions remain for the police and some other agencies. Civil Liberties: 57 / 60 (-1) D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 16 / 16 Irish media are free and independent, and print media present a variety of viewpoints. The state may censor material deemed indecent or obscene. Many news outlets have closed in recent years as a result of falling advertising revenue. In October 2014, the government announced plans to hold a referendum on removing the offense of blasphemy from the constitution and repealing the 2009 Defamation Act, which made blasphemy punishable by heavy fines. Internet access is unrestricted. In January 2015, former Independent journalist Gemma O'Doherty received compensation and an apology after being fired in 2013 for her investigation of the police commissioner's manipulation of penalty points on his driving license. Freedom of religion is constitutionally guaranteed. Although the country is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic and religious oaths are still required from senior public officials, there is no state religion, and adherents of other faiths face few impediments to religious expression. In recent years, Ireland has faced a notable decline in religiosity following a series of sexual abuse scandals linked to clergy in the Catholic Church. Academic freedom is respected. The Catholic Church operates approximately 90 percent of Ireland's schools. Most schools include religious education, although parents may exempt their children from it. The constitution requires equal funding for schools run by different denominations. There has been increasing public opposition in recent years to religious education in Irish schools, particularly the power of state-funded Catholic schools to refuse admission to non-Catholic students. There are no significant impediments to open and free private discussion, including in personal online communications. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 12 / 12 The rights of public assembly and demonstration are respected. Protests against government austerity measures continued in 2015. In August, tens of thousands of protesters opposed to water fees demonstrated in Dublin. Freedom of association is upheld, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can operate freely. Labor unions operate without hindrance, and collective bargaining is legal and unrestricted. F. Rule of Law: 14 / 16 (-1) Ireland has an independent judiciary and a legal system based on common law. In 2014 the government established a new body the Court of Appeal to occupy a tier in the judicial system between the High Court and the Supreme Court. The new court is composed of a president and nine judges and aims to ease the Supreme Court's backlog. The Irish police service, known as An Garda Siochana (Garda), has endured a number of scandals in recent years. The Fennelly Commission, which published two interim reports in 2015, investigated 2014 allegations that some Garda stations had illegally taped telephone calls. The Garda were also accused of routinely wiping penalty points from driving licenses, including those belonging to police officers and Garda commissioner Martin Callinan, who resigned in March 2014. In March 2015, the Garda Siochana (Amendment) Act was passed to strengthen the independence and effectiveness of the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission. Irish prisons and detention facilities are reportedly dangerous, unsanitary, and overcrowded. In February 2015, the inspector of prisons announced a review of the culture of the Irish Prison Service to augment other ongoing reform efforts. In November, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment published a report that criticized the continued lack of toilet access in some cells, as well as inadequate health care. The Irish Travellers, a traditionally nomadic group of about 29,500 people, face discrimination in housing and hiring. There are concerns that people with disabilities are persistently institutionalized and have suffered a severe reduction of social benefits as a result of the government's austerity program. Irish law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, but some social stigma against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people persists in Ireland. In December 2015, the parliament passed legislation to curtail an exemption that allowed health and educational institutions run by religious entities to practice employment discrimination on religious grounds, for example on the basis of sexual orientation. The asylum application process is complex, and asylum seekers are housed for lengthy periods in poor living conditions. In December 2015, President Michael Higgins signed the International Protection Bill into law. The legislation aims to simplify and expedite asylum procedures, although there are concerns that it focuses on enabling deportations rather than properly identifying and processing asylum cases. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 15 / 16 There are no restrictions on travel or the ability to choose one's place of residence. Private businesses are free to operate, and property rights are generally respected. Discrimination in the workplace on the basis of gender is illegal in Ireland. However, gender inequality in wages persists. A 2012 law requires political parties to impose gender quotas in future elections, but women remain underrepresented in the public and private sectors. Domestic and sexual violence against women is a serious problem. There is no comprehensive data-collection system on violence against women, and access to support for victims is particularly difficult for marginalized and immigrant women. Abortion is highly restricted in Ireland. A 2013 law granted limited abortion rights in cases where a woman's life is at risk, but abortion otherwise remains criminalized with a penalty of up to 14 years' imprisonment. The constitution acknowledges "the right to life of the unborn." In May 2015, referendum voters approved the extension of marriage rights to same-sex couples. The constitution was duly amended in August, and the Marriage Act, which provided for same-sex marriages, was signed in November. In April, the Children and Family Relationships Act extended adoption rights to same-sex as well as cohabiting couples. In July, the parliament passed the Gender Recognition Act, allowing transgender individuals to obtain legal recognition without medical or state intervention, and for married transgender people without divorcing. A series of official inquiries in recent years have detailed decades of physical and emotional abuse including forced labor against women and children in state institutions and by Catholic priests and nuns, as well as collusion to hide the abuse. In January 2015, a commission began an investigation into abusive conditions in Mother and Baby Homes between 1922 and 1998. Although the government works to combat human trafficking and protect victims, undocumented migrant workers remain at risk of trafficking and labor exploitation. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Mayor Costin provides council district update & talks about other city projects A town hall was held at Martinsville City Hall Thursday evening where residents were encouraged to attend and discuss their concerns or questions with Martinsville Mayor Kenny Costin. 2022 Abilene, Big Country high school volleyball playoff pairings Find out who your favorite Big Country high school volleyball team plays in the playoffs Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... 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. Cambodians hold images of Kem Ley, a Cambodian political analyst who was shot dead in broad daylight on July 10, during a funeral procession for him in Phnom Penh, July 24, 2016. The execution-style killing of popular government critic Kem Ley last month requires an independent investigation to overcome widespread suspicions in Cambodia and abroad that another political killing in the country will go unpunished, a British NGO said on Wednesday in an open letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen. The letter by the London-based Global Witness, which a Hun Sen spokesman swiftly rejected, said the murder of Kem Ley is the most recent in a long line of violence against members of the opposition, activists and journalists, and is a damning indictment of the democratic process and rule of law in Cambodia. Kem Ley was shot dead on July 10 inside a Star Mart store beside a Caltex gas station in the capital Phnom Penh and was buried in southwestern Cambodias Takeo province two weeks later after a weekend funeral procession that drew around two million mourners. Just days before he was gunned down, he had discussed on an RFA Khmer Service call-in show a report by Global Witness detailing the extent of the wealth of the family of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for 31 years. The early stages of the investigation into Kem Leys killing have done nothing to allay fears that, like the others before it, this investigation will fail to identify or prosecute those who ordered the crime, said the letter to Hun Sen, which noted that witnesses have claimed theyve been intimidated and threatened. Your government must urgently commission an independent and thorough investigation into Kem Leys murder, said the letter, signed by Global Witness Director Patrick Alley. The hundreds of thousands of Cambodian citizens who took to the streets for his funeral procession, together with the widespread international condemnation of the killing, should leave you in no doubt that anything short of an independent investigation will lack any credibility, the letter concluded. It was not clear whether Hun Sen, whose family denounced the earlier corruption report by Global Witness, had read the letter. Cambodia Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan, however, said the letter was rejected and considered worthless by the government. In such cases, only the Cambodian court has jurisdiction. No other institutions are allowed to interfere in this matter. His letter was nothing short of apparent order to the government. Global Witness is not the only observer to voice concern that Kem Leys murder follows a familiar pattern in Cambodia. This is not the first time intellectuals, patriots, and activists who fought to rescue our country have been slain, Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) President Sam Rainsy said on RFAs Special Discussion Show on July 23. I have noted that the slaying of activists follows the same well-orchestrated style set by the authorities. While Sam Rainsy didnt directly accuse Prime Minister Hun Sens government of carrying out the fatal attack, he recited a litany of killings that he claims all have similar hallmarks. These killings would be impossible to carry out with official cover, he said. Those include the grenade attack [on an opposition political rally] on March 30, 1997; the killings of well-known union leader Chea Vichea, and two other union leaders, namely Ros Sovanareth and Hy Vuthy; as well as Chut Wutty and the recent case of Dr. Kem Ley, he said during the broadcast, reciting a list of unsolved killings. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Paul Eckert. Edward Leung (C) of the localist group Hong Kong Indigenous speaks to reporters after the Electoral Affairs Commission disqualified him from running as a candidate in the Legislative Council election in Hong Kong, Aug. 2, 2016. The banning of a pro-independence candidates from running in forthcoming elections to Hong Kongs legislature has sparked an outcry in the former British colony, with lawyers and political commentators saying the move is likely unconstitutional. Hong Kong law professor Benny Tai, who was one of the original instigators of the 2014 Occupy Central pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, told a media discussion show that he believes the decision to weed out candidates with pro-independence views is in breach of the citys mini-constitution, the Basic Law. Article 79, clause 7 of the Basic Law stipulates how candidates who break their oath of allegiance may be dealt with, Tai told the City Forum show. There are already provisions within the Basic Law for how to deal with legislators who dont uphold the Basic Law, but now it seems we have belt and braces, Tai said. I think this may even run counter to the spirit of the Basic Law. Edward Leung of the localist group Hong Kong Indigenous was denied permission to run as a candidate in the September 4 elections to the Legislative Council (LegCo) by the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) despite having signed a controversial declaration accepting that Hong Kong is ruled by China and distancing himself from previous pro-independence comments in the media. He told RFA on Tuesday: I dont think that Hong Kong will ever see full democracy while it is ruled by the Chinese Communist Party. I think the [officials] response shows that one day you have the Basic Law, and the next day I can have my political right to stand as a candidate stripped away, because they say Im not genuine about upholding the Basic Law. Election officials shouldnt have political opinions; that is clearly inscribed in law, he said. This is a corrupt, rigged election. Little basis in law Leading constitutional expert Johannes Chan, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the decision to ban Leung from standing as a candidate in the September 4 elections to LegCo has little basis in law. Leung should not be deprived of his right to run in the Legislative Council election next month, because he had signed a controversial declaration required by EAC for candidacy, Chan told the Hong Kong Economic Journal. Chan agreed that election officials have no right to make their own judgment and question Leungs stance after he signed a declaration that he would to uphold the citys mini-constitution, the Basic Law, and accept Beijings sovereignty over Hong Kong. Chans colleague Eric Cheung agreed, saying that election officials should base their decision only on whether or not a candidate has fulfilled all the requirements for running in the election, which Leung had done. Leung has vowed to issue a legal challenge to the decision on Sept. 5, a day after the LegCo election. He has also said the only option left is revolution. Meanwhile, the papers political columnist Wong On-yin accused the ruling Chinese Communist Party of rough and reckless measures aimed at depriving separatist candidates of their right to stand for election. It took only a few months for the pro-independence discourse to become a mainstream topic from being a taboo subject, Wong said, citing a recent opinion survey that showed two out of five young people in Hong Kong are in favor of secession from China. These [measures] could backfire, Wong wrote, warning that it could tip the restive city into violent confrontation. Throughout history, revolutions have followed a certain pattern: Action escalates between the oppressor and the oppressed, turning into sporadic clashes and finally widespread, bloody violence, he said. Hong Kong is increasingly going down that path, he said. Wong warned that a showdown between Hong Kong and the Chinese government is likely already in the making, more prolonged and violent than the 2014 pro-democracy movement. Color revolutions Beijings official rhetoric is doing little to dispel such fears. China's top prosecution agency published an online video at the weekend, warning of the dangers of color revolutions and mass uprisings, featuring Occupy Central student leader Joshua Wong as a U.S.-backed instigator of such movements. The 19-year-old Wong, who made his name opposing the imposition of Beijings patriotic education program in Hong Kongs schools at the age of 15, appears in the video alongside a caption that reads American-led Western power. The video contrasts images of a strong and stable China with images of dying or beleaguered refugees from Central Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Citizens are warned to beware of dissidents, especially those from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang, seeking to "damage China's internal stability and harmony by hook or by crook. Behind all these incidents, we can often catch a glimpse of the dark shadow of the Stars and Stripes," the commentary says, in a reference to the American flag. Wong said on his Facebook page that he viewed the video statements as a joke and had not advocated independence for Hong Kong. Wong was found guilty by a Hong Kong court on July 21 for unlawful assembly related to the 79-day civil disobedience movement, which called for fully democratic elections in 2017. Under the terms of the 1997 handover to China, Hong Kong was promised a high degree of autonomy, the continuation of its existing freedoms for 50 years, and progress towards universal suffrage. But Beijings proposals to vet all candidates while allowing all seven million voters a vote each were slammed by campaigners as fake universal suffrage. The plan was rejected in LegCo in 2015, and the existing voting system has remained in place. Reported by Lam Kwok-lap for RFAs Cantonese Service, and by Chen Pan for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Authorities in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin on Wednesday jailed a prominent pro-democracy activist and unofficial house church leader for seven years and six months on subversion charges as part of an ongoing crackdown on human rights lawyers and their associates. Hu Shigen was handed the prison term by the Tianjin No. 2 Peoples Court, which found him guilty of subversion of state power, the court said on its official microblog account. Hu had confessed to his crimes, and indicated he wouldnt appeal the sentence, China Central Television (CCTV) reported. However, his associates said that while he had admitted to carrying out certain actions, he hadn't pled guilty. After previously being sentenced for endangering state security, Hu had failed to reflect on his mistakes, nor did he feel any remorse, it said. Using illegal religious activities as a platform after joining an underground church in 2009, he propagated ideology online that was intended to subvert the government traveling overseas to receive anti-China training, the broadcaster, which is directly controlled by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, said. He conspired, along with [Beijing Fengrui law firm boss] Zhou Shifeng, Li Heping and Zhai Yanmin, to overthrow the government, it said. Zhai was sentenced in the same court on Tuesday to a three-year jail term, suspended for four years on condition of good behavior. The trials of Zhou and Li are expected to follow soon. 'Stirring up trouble' Hu was accused of directing Zhai to organize petitioners to illegal gatherings, stirring up trouble, and attacking the rule of law, according to the charges against him. He implemented a slew of activities aimed at subverting the government, causing serious damage to national security and to social stability, the charge sheet said. Beijing-based rights lawyer Liang Xiaojun said the harsh sentence wasn't unexpected. "We did actually expect a harsh sentence, because while Hu Shigen did admit to doing certain things, he didn't plead guilty," Liang said. "Also, Zhai Yanmin's 'confession' indicated that he was the ringleader, and there were a lot of accusations against him." "So it wasn't unexpected for him to get seven-and-a-half years, given the circumstances." Hu was among more than 300 human rights lawyers and associates detained in a nationwide crackdown that began with the detention of Fengrui rights lawyer Wang Yu, her husband, and colleagues on the night of July 9, 2015. Wang, who faced the same charges as Hu, was granted bail on Monday after making a televised confession that many rejected as heavily scripted and likely made under threat of harm to herself or her family. Her current whereabouts are unknown. All for show Wangs close friend and fellow rights lawyer Chen Jiangang said none of the detained lawyers or rights activists can expect anything resembling a fair trial. We all know the model by now: You get them where you want them, and you get them to accept it, Chen said. Then, you allow them to play out that role in front of the cameras. Its just like the trial of [former Chongqing party boss] Bo Xilai: its all for show, nothing more. The detentions of Wang, her husband Bao Longjun, and the other Fengrui colleagues later widened to include the detention and interrogation of more than 300 lawyers, paralegals, law firm employees, and rights activists. Bao, Zhou, and 12 others are now under formal arrest on subversion-related charges, many of them in police-run detention centers in the northern city of Tianjin, where they have been denied access to their own lawyers. Reported by Yang Fan and Xin Lin for RFAs Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Myanmar academic Aung Thu Nyein, who fled a brutal crackdown on student protesters in 1988, is greeted by his mother upon his return to his homeland at Yangon international airport, Feb. 10, 2012. The Myanmar government is removing names of more than 600 citizens and foreigners on an official no-entry black list, as one of the new civilian governments 100-day reform programs as the country transitions to democracy, a government official said Wednesday. According to the 100-day project, we are going to reduce the numbers on the blacklist, Thein Swe, minister of labor, immigration and population, told RFAs Myanmar Service after a parliamentary meeting in the administrative capital Naypyidaw. The government has so far removed the names of 619 persons, including 248 Myanmar nationals and 371 foreigners, he said, though he couldnt give an exact number of how many names are still on the original blacklist. Fifteen government ministries are working on cancelling names on the blacklist, he said. Maung Maung One, a U.S. citizen and former 88 Generation student group member who was active in the pro-democracy protests of 1988, was removed from the list following discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Thein Swe said. The names of terrorists wanted by the international Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and people who have committed crimes will not be removed, he said. Open letter to Aung San Suu Kyi About 60 representatives from more than 40 civil society organizations inside Myanmar sent an open letter to Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday, requesting the disclosure of the names of activists who remain on the blacklist, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported. They also asked that the government establish guidelines to restore the original citizenship of exiled people and allow them to participate in Myanmars transition to democracy, the report said. In May, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Aung San Suu Kyi, announced that it would allow those exiled under previous governments whose names were on the blacklist to return to Myanmar. The military junta that ruled the country for 50 years until 2011 and the quasi-civilian government that followed had blacklisted people deemed political threats, forcing thousands of politicians, dissidents, students, former political prisoners, and pro-democracy activists into exile in East or Southeast Asian nations, the United States, Europe and Australia. In 2012, former president Thein Seins administration removed about 2,000 names from the blacklist, said to have contained about 6,000 names at the time. Reported by Win Ko Latt for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi (C) is escorted by bodyguards during a visit to Myitkyina, capital of northern Myanmar's Kachin state, Feb. 24, 2012. The Myanmar government is arranging more security for State Counselor and Foreign Affairs Minister Aung San Suu Kyi after her name appeared on a hit list sent by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group to police in Malaysia, a government spokesman said Wednesday. Her name was listed along with those of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the attorney general, inspector general of police, and three ministers. The list was sent on Monday to a police station in the town of Nilai in the Seremban district of Sembilan state on the western coast of peninsular Malaysia, according to Malaysian media reports. After hearing the threat information, we have to be very careful and work on checking, investigating, and preparing [additional] security, said Zaw Htay, spokesman of the Presidents Office. We dont need to worry too much, but we also cant underestimate it, he said. Malaysian police are trying to identify the sender, while forensics experts are examining the letter, which also claimed that there could be more than 700 ISIS members in Negeri Sembilan. Police received a similar letter two months ago, but did not provide any details, the reports said. About 61 percent of Malaysias population of more than 30 million people are Muslim. The Myanmar government provides its state VIPs with four types of security in the form of bodyguards, close protection, executive protection, and escorts, Zaw Htay said. The countrys security officials have already studied the operational methods of ISIS terrorists, and they remain concerned about the possible penetration of ISIS terrorist attacks in Myanmar, he said. Although they [ISIS militants] are based in Iraq and Syria, they usually carry out attacks with home- grown networks of terrorist cells, he said. We have to check for home-grown terrorist cells very carefully. Even though it is difficult for terrorist organizations to take root in Myanmar, security officials are not underestimating ISIS, he said. It is especially important for young people not to be persuaded to serve in terrorist organizations, he said. Religious leaders, people, and government are responsible for seeing to it. Earlier death threat Aung San Suu Kyis security detail was beefed up in February after a man posted a death threat on Facebook, alluding to her presidential ambitions after her National League of Democracy (NLD) party won national elections in November 2015. The man named Ye Lwin Myint threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to change a clause in the constitution that bars Aung San Suu Kyi from the nations top office because her two sons are foreign nationals, as was her late husband, Agence France-Presse reported. She is nevertheless viewed as Myanmars de facto leader under the administration of her close friend and aide President Htin Kyaw. ISIS, which controls areas of war-town Iraq and Syria, routinely makes threats against national leaders of other countries who are non-believers of Islam or who govern areas where Muslims are said to be suppressed. Myanmars Muslim minority group is often on the receiving end of hate speech and other forms of persecution in the predominantly Buddhist country. About 120,000 Rohingya Muslims currently live in displaced persons camps in western Myanmars Rakhine state following communal violence between them and Buddhists in 2012. Thousands of others have fled persecution on rickety boats headed to other Southeast Asian countries in recent years. The government does not consider the Rohingya to be full citizens of Myanmar and denies them basic rights, freedom of movement, and access to social services and education. Reported by Kyaw Thu for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. One story made global headlines. One only made it onto the radar of the most obsessive Kremlin-watchers. The solidifying consensus that Kremlin-backed Russian hackers broke into the Democratic National Committee's server -- and the subsequent data dump of embarrassing e-mails last week -- led to an avalanche of speculation that Vladimir Putin's regime was attempting to influence, or sabotage, the U.S. presidential election. Meanwhile, the recent announcement that Moscow was planning to host a Kremlin-sponsored conference of separatists, and separatist wannabes, from Europe and the United States largely met with snickers and derision -- by those who even noticed it. One story was Huge with a big capital H and sparked an FBI investigation. Slate magazine's Franklin Foer went so far as to compare the DNC hack and leak to Watergate. The other was a footnote. Not many people were all that worried about some Texas and California separatists getting an all-expenses-paid trip to Moscow. But despite the differences in magnitude, both are examples of the how the Putin regime is trolling the West in ways big and small. The Kremlin has long been using what it calls "active measures" in Europe and the United States to undermine faith in Western values and democratic institutions. It has long had a strategy of sowing chaos, division, and confusion in the West. And it has long sought to propagate nihilism. Putin is a "wily opportunist who knows how to seize and exploit openings when they present themselves," said Jason Willick in The American Interest "He does what he can to move democratic opinion in Western countries whenever possible towards the forces that are most divisive, in a bid to divide Western allies and weaken Western institutions." But this is not just trolling for trolling's sake. It's trolling with a cause. I Know You Are But What Am I? At one level, the Putin regime is doing what it believes the West is doing. Russian officials say -- and appear to truly believe -- that the the West has been meddling in its internal affairs, sponsoring and provoking anti-Kremlin street protests, and backing separatism. Putin has said -- and appears to truly believe -- that the massive street protests that erupted in late 2011 and early 2012 were the result of a "signal" from Hillary Clinton, then the U.S. Secretary of State. The mainstream view among Kremlin officials is that the Panama Papers revelations and the Olympic doping scandal were parts of a Western plot to weaken and discredit Russia. Several Russian officials, including most recently Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, have repeated a bizarre and erroneous claim that former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Russia should not be allowed to have control over Siberia's natural resources. And of course, it is an article of faith in Moscow that Ukraine's Euromaidan revolution was a Western-backed coup. It's easy to dismiss all this as cynical propaganda. But it appears to be more than that. Putin's Kremlin appears to believe its own hype. "In the eyes of Russian elites, Western aggression must be met with a response," Eugene Rumer, director of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Russia and Eurasia Program and a former national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the U.S. National Intelligence Council wrote in Foreign Affairs. "Hacking into DNC computers and releasing information on the Democrats fundraising practices is simply payback for Western media reports about elite corruption in Russia. It helps boost the Russian narrative that money and politics go hand in hand everywhere and that Russia is no different from the United States or other Western countries whose governments are critical of Russia." The same could be said for Moscow's tacit support for Brexit, its backing of Marine Le Pen's National Front in France, and its courtship of separatists and extremists in the United States and Europe. But there is more at work here than just payback. A Cyber Psy-Op? One of the things that really jumps out about the DNC hacking case was that the perpetrators apparently wanted to be identified. According to a report by Reuters, U.S. intelligence officials suspect that Russian hackers deliberately left behind obvious digital fingerprints, including Cyrillic characters. "Either these guys were incredibly sloppy, in which case its not clear that they could have gotten as far as they did without being detected, or they wanted us to know they were Russian," an unidentified U.S. intelligence official told Reuters. Another described the hack as 'the cyber equivalent of buzzing NATO ships and planes using fighters with Russian flags on their tails." In this sense, Russia's most brazen cyberattack was something of a cyber psy-op. And at least one of Moscow's goals is apparently to force the United States to treat it as an equal superpower. "The Russians are messing with the United States," Olga Oliker wrote recently in The National Interest. "Russias actions are meant to center U.S. policy on itself, to recreate a bipolar global structure reminiscent of that during the Cold War." And, if it was a big psy-op, it appears to have worked. Suddenly, for the first time since the Cold War, Russia occupies center stage in a U.S. election. Suddenly, there are global headlines about the threat of Russian hackers. Suddenly, there are alarmist reports in the media claiming that the Kremlin could hack voting machines and alter the results of elections in Western countries. But even if the Kremlin's trolling is one part head game, it is also a security threat that is impossible to ignore. "Russias activities...are elements of an openly stated doctrine -- a resurrection of Soviet-style political warfare, in which intelligence agencies seek to amplify divisions among their enemies, weakening the Western front by sowing discord and dissent whenever the opportunity presents itself," Eerik-Niiles Kross, a member of Estonia's parliament and a former intelligence chief, wrote in Poliitco. "The political warfare of the Cold War is back -- in updated form, with meaner, more modern tools, including a vast state media empire in Western languages, hackers, spies, agents, useful idiots, compatriot groups, and hordes of internet trolls." Thirty years after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in neighboring Ukraine, Belarus, which saw a quarter of its territory contaminated in the world's worst nuclear accident, is building its first energy plant powered by the atom. However, mounting mishaps at the site in Astravets are raising concerns over safety not least in Lithuania whose capital, Vilnius, lies less than 50 kilometers from the site. Making matters worse is the Belarusian authorities' opaque response, an uncomfortable echo of the Soviet Union's initial silence after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. "Frankly, [the Belarusian authorities] must understand that we cannot just rely on their words, because quality and culture of safety is not sufficient so far," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said in an interview with RFE/RL. The latest accident took place on July 10, when a nuclear reactor shell was reportedly dropped while being moved. Rumors of the snafu circulated before local resident Nikolai Ulasevich, who is a member of the opposition United Civic Party and running for parliament in elections on September 11, posted details on his Facebook page on July 25. He said that a 330-ton nuclear reactor shell fell from a height of 2-4 meters on July 10 during an exercise ahead of its planned installation a day later, an event at which journalists were set to attend. Ulasevich said his claim had been backed by 10 people who passed on the information to him during his electoral signature-collecting campaign. The posting was quickly gobbled up by Belarusian opposition media. More than two weeks later, on July 26, the Belarusian Energy Ministry confirmed that an "emergency situation" had occurred at the construction site on July 10. The ministry offered only a few more morsels of information, saying that the incident took place at the warehouse facility, while the reactor was being moved "horizontally." Also on July 26, the Russian state-owned company Rosatom, the nuclear plant's main contractor, denied the reactor shell had been damaged, and should be installed as planned pending permission from supervisors. Despite such assurances, on August 1, Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk said installation of the reactor shell was being suspended pending further safety checks, according to Belapan. On August 1, Rosatom again said the reactor shell was not damaged, but added the company could replace it if needed, hinting things could be more serious than officials are stating. Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka is betting nuclear power will free his country from Russia's energy grip. (Some 90 percent of Belarus's gas imports come from Russia.) The plant at Astravets, however, is being built by Russian companies and Moscow is jointly financing the project, which is estimated to cost between $5 billion and $22 billion. Unit 1 is due online in 2018 and Unit 2 in 2020. Two other reactors are planned by 2025, but construction on these units is only in the planning stage. Soviet Deja Vu Lukashenka remained tightlipped after the accident, prompting many to draw parallels with the Soviet authorities in 1986, when no information was issued about the Chernobyl accident for 10 days after the initial explosion. "For me it's a natural deja vu, as if I traveled back in a time machine a quarter of a century when we were investigating the causes of the Chernobyl disaster. Then, it was the same, but the difference was it was a totalitarian state, the Soviet Union, and now it's the supposedly democratic government of Belarus," Yury Varonezhtsau, a physicist and former parliamentary deputy, said in an interview with RFE/RL's Belarus Service. "I don't believe that the authorities didn't know what happened there. The worst thing is that we don't know either. So, whether the reactor really did fall or whether some part burned, that's where I see the real danger in the situation," Varonezhtsau said. Lukashenka, a five-term president who has been described as Europe's last dictator, has a difficult balancing act trying to improve relations with the EU while keeping the country's closest ally and financial backer, Russia, onside. Nervous In Lithuania Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linkevicius said the lack of transparency on the part of Belarusian officials was unacceptable. "These incidents, happening from time to time, lack of transparency, we're learning about them from open sources, usually too late, then trying to get more information, and this is not how it should be in reality. This last incident when a nuclear reactor vessel was possibly damaged is very dangerous," Linkevicius said. Lithuania and other critics say Minsk has failed to carry out an environmental-impact study for Astravets. The power plant will draw water for its cooling reactors from the Nevis River, which also supplies drinking water in Lithuania. It's not the first mishap at the construction site, nor the first time Belarusian officials have dragged their feet divulging any details. The structural frame of the nuclear service building at the site collapsed on April 8, as first reported by the Belsat independent TV station. According to the report, supervisors, under pressure to meet a deadline, ordered workers to pour too much concrete, causing the structure to collapse. No mention of the accident was made in the Belarusian state media or by officials, with the spokesman at the plant first denying anything had happened. On May 6, the Belarusian Energy Ministry, however, did confirm an "incident" had occurred during the pouring of concrete, but the "defect" had been dealt with. "All in all, we are really not satisfied with the process so far, and also we believe this is not just a bilateral problem, it's a regional [problem] and we would like to internationalize it as much as possible," Linkevicius said. Lithuania agreed to close its own Ignalina nuclear facility as part of its 2004 accession agreement with the EU. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said on July 26 that Vilnius would work with the international community to block the plant coming online if Minsk failed to take steps to ensure international safety standards at the site. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Yukiya Amano said in Minsk on April 19 that the nuclear agency "has worked closely with Belarus on all aspects of this major project and will continue to offer every assistance." He said with two reactors under construction, Belarus "is one of the most advanced of what the IAEA calls newcomer' countries." Asked for comment on the July 10 incident, the IAEA press office offered only the following statement to RFE/RL: "For this nature of event, the IAEA does not provide the kind of assessment that you are seeking." With reporting by RFE/RL's Belarus Service 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." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has welcomed the foreign ministers from the five Central Asian states -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan -- to Washington. Their meeting, dubbed the C5+1, follows up on the inaugural session of the group, which was held last year in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. With its involvement in Afghanistan winding down, the United States is attempting to restructure the relationship it has had with Central Asia for the last 15 years -- where for Washington, security had been the priority. Washington is hoping to open new trade ties with Central Asia, a difficult task at a time when Central Asia's neighbor China has come to dominate the region economically during the last decade. The United States is also seeking to reemphasize the need for the Central Asian governments to show greater respect for basic human rights and take more credible and visible steps toward establishing and developing democratic institutions. Washington was active in prodding Central Asian governments towards democratic reforms in the 1990s, but after the September 11, 2001, attacks its focus shifted to counterterrorism efforts in neighboring Afghanistan. Some critics have said that the U.S. change in policy was unpopular with the governments and many people in Central Asia and changed the region's view of the United States. While Kerry is likely to encourage the five foreign ministers to move toward greater regional integration and cooperation, the reality on the ground in Central Asia is the opposite. The five countries have been drifting further apart since they became independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union in late 1991. That might mean Washington will choose to focus on its relationships with the individual countries. Talking Democracy For Western governments, including the United States, Kyrgyzstan still remains the great hope for democracy taking root in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is holding a presidential election next year and the incumbent, Almazbek Atambaev, has repeatedly said he will abide by the constitutional one-term limit and step down. Peaceful transitions of power and strict observance of constitutional term limits are something Washington would like all the Central Asian governments to embrace, so U.S. officials will likely hold lengthy discussions with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev. On the agenda might also be the case of Azimjon Askarov, an ethnic Uzbek rights activist and journalist jailed in the wake of interethnic riots in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010. The United States has criticized the jailing and the U.S. State Department gave Askarov its Human Rights Award in July 2015. That recognition immediately soured ties between the two countries, with Kyrgyzstan renouncing a 1993 cooperation agreement with the United States. Separate meetings with Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrisov will likely focus on economic ties. The largest U.S. investment in Central Asia is Chevron's participation in Kazakhstan's massive Tengiz oil field. The TengizChevroil project in western Kazakhstan has provided a basis for U.S.-Kazakh ties for more than two decades. However, Kazakhstan has regressed in recent years in its attempts to implement democratic reforms. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has amended legislation to allow himself to remain president until he dies. Snap parliamentary elections earlier this year excluded any genuine opposition parties and reestablished a subservient parliament bound to do the bidding of the president. Nazarbaev just turned 76 at the start of July and has no apparent successor. Kazakhstan doesn't have a system designed to produce a second president genuinely chosen by the masses. Individual meetings with the foreign ministers of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are likely to cover the same ground. All three states have entrenched presidents, repressive political systems, and all three are vulnerable to security threats emanating from their neighbor to the south, Afghanistan. Afghan Insecurity With Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, security will likely remain the focus, with their foreign ministers undoubtedly seeking guarantees that the United States will not withdraw from Afghanistan -- and leave the problem of Afghanistan's worsening security situation on their doorsteps. For a while, Washington has been engaged in ongoing consultations with all three countries about the situation in Afghanistan and has provided military aid and infrastructure support, particularly to Uzbekistan, which in early 2015 received more than 300 mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles to help guard its frontier with Afghanistan. Most likely, Washington will be seeking some indications that the three governments are open to moving forward on long-stalled political reforms. That might be a futile hope at this point, as all three countries are led by presidents who show no sign of ever leaving office and are resistant to altering their political systems to allow the inclusion of opposition voices. Washington officials will likely discuss with Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov the Uzbek-U.S. car-making joint venture GM Uzbekistan, which has been mired in scandal after it emerged that the Uzbek management at the plant had allegedly embezzled millions of dollars. Those officials are in custody and facing trial in Uzbekistan but the incident will damper any enthusiasm from other U.S. companies to invest in Uzbekistan. There is also the question of what to do with the approximately $800 million of Uzbek assets frozen by U.S. authorities, which Tashkent is attempting to get back. The frozen millions are connected to Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of Uzbek President Islam Karimov. Karimova is under house arrest in Uzbekistan after a series of bribery and money-laundering scandals became public in several European countries. With Russia still the major guarantor of security in Central Asia and China the dominant economic power, the United States is attempting to craft a role that includes security and trade, but crucially offers something those two great powers can't. 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." Iraq's chief prosecutor has filed a complaint against several legislators accused of corruption. Earlier this week, Defense Minister Khalid al-Obaidi accused speaker Salim al-Juburi and other lawmakers of corruption while he was himself being questioned in parliament over graft allegations. A spokesman for Iraq's judiciary, Abd al-Sattar Bayraqdar, said on August 3 that Judge Muhammad al-Janabi filed a complaint against "all those whose names were mentioned" by Obaidi during the questioning. Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has directed the country's anticorruption body to investigate the matter and ordered a "temporary travel ban" against those accused. Abadi has faced growing antigovernment protests demanding reform and calling for a fight against rampant corruption. Based on reporting by AFP and AP ASTANA -- A date has been set for the trial of the head of the Kazakh Journalists Union and chairman of the National Press Club and his son. The Esil District court in the Kazakh capital, Astana, held preliminary hearings into the case against Seitqazy Mataev and his son, Aset, on August 3 and decided that their trial will be held on August 23. The court refused a request to release the defendants on bail. Mataev and his son, who is the director of the KazTAG news agency, were detained by police in February and later placed under house arrest. They have been charged with financial fraud. Seitqazy Mataev is also charged with tax evasion. Both deny any wrongdoing, while rights organizations have denounced the charges as politically motivated. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for more cooperation in fighting terrorism and spurring economic growth as he met on August 3 with foreign ministers from the five Central Asian states. The key meeting in Washington, the second such gathering, comes as the United States tries to re-engage in a region that is dominated by Russia and China, and is facing increasing danger from political instability and Islamic terrorism. The five ex-Soviet countries -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan -- all have historical ties with Moscow. All have also watched nervously as Russia moved in 2014 to seize Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and stoke conflict in eastern Ukraine. In his opening remarks, Kerry said the talks would focus not only on violent extremism and economic growth, but also environmental degradation and climate change. "Today we hope to make further progress, through a new regional approach, built around initiatives on counterterrorism, trade and investment, economic development, and clean energy," he said. In a nod to the jitters felt over Russia's policies in Ukraine, Kerry said the United States supports "without hesitation, the sovereignty, the territorial integrity, and the independence of each Central Asian state." U.S. diplomats also made reference to longstanding human rights concerns that have troubled U.S. relations with most, if not, all the five countries. Uzbekistan is notorious for using torture against inmates, and jailing rights activists on trumped up criminal charges. Kyrgyzstan's jailing of an ethnic Uzbek rights activist and journalist prompted criticism from the U.S. State Department and soured ties between the two countries. Tajikistan's leader has grown increasing autocratic, ordering people punished for wearing excessively long beards. Turkmenistan is one of the most reclusive countries in the world. "Make no mistake, our work together is not going to prevent us from continuing the dialogue that weve already engaged in on other areas of concern," he said, "including the need for transparency and accountability in governance, and the importance of such basic human rights as freedom of religion, speech, and association." Ahead of the summit, a U.S. State Department spokesman said media freedom in the region would also be on the agenda, warning that Russian news outlets should not dominate the media landscape in Central Asia. "Actually, we want the Kazakh, Turkmen, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Tajik people to have free access to information. If anyone wants to read Nezavisimaya Gazeta and watch NTV, by all means," Joshua Baker told RFE/RL's Current Time Central Asia TV. "But, clearly, Russian media, Russian channels should not dominate." "We consider [Russian media] to be propaganda," Baker said. "We do not consider it to be independent information. We see that the Russia state is in fact controlling its media and just like it used to be during the Cold War, we simply do not believe that the people are being provided with truthful information." Homegrown Terrorism In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, Washington moved to deepen ties with many of the Central Asian states, utilizing bases in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to ferry troops and materiel to the war it was leading in Afghanistan. But Moscow grew wary of the U.S. military presence in what it viewed as its backyard, and leaned on Central Asian states to stop aiding the American-led war effort. U.S. companies have long sought greater access to the region's bounty of natural resources. Kazakhstan is home to major uranium deposits, for example, and some of the worlds largest oil reserves, while Turkmenistan has the world's four largest proven reserves of natural gas. The region has faced threats from homegrown Islamic terrorism for years; recently, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan have all seen their nationals travel to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State extremist group. Concern has also grown in recent years about potential political instability stemming from the age of the leaders of the region's two largest countries, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Both Nursultan Nazarbaev and his Uzbek counterpart, Islam Karimov, are in their late 70s and both have been in power since the Soviet collapse, building governments that heavily focused on their leadership and style. Experts have warned that the death of either could result in major jockeying for power among the elites and competing clans within the two countries. China has also moved aggressively to invest in the countries, and build new trade ties. Beijing has made a major investment in a natural gas pipeline running from Turkmenistan across Central Asia into western China. With reporting by RFE/RL's Current Time Central Asia TV. Two Kyrgyz nationals have been fined and deported from Russia for allegedly propagating radical Islam. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on August 3 that the two men, whose identities were not disclosed, have been banned from entering Russia for five years. According to the FSB, the men were spreading the ideas of the Salafi branch of Islam among local residents of the Chelyabinsk region in Russia's Ural Mountains. The Salafi branch of Islam has been branded as extremist and banned in some former Soviet republics. Salafists follow a strict form of Sunni Islam and do not recognize other branches of Islam, such as Shi'a and Sufism. The majority of Muslims in Central Asia and Russia's Volga region and Urals Mountains are followers of Hanafi, a more moderate branch of Sunni Islam. Earlier in the year, several people were arrested or sentenced for promoting radical Islamic ideas in the Chelyabinsk region -- which borders Kazakhstan and Russia's mainly Muslim region of Bashkortostan. Based on reporting by uralpress.ru and Interfax BISHKEK -- A Kyrgyz security official says as many as 600 Kyrgyz citizens have joined Islamic militants in Syria and Iraq. The figure includes 100 women, a spokesman for the Kyrgyz State Committee for National security, Rakhat Sulaimanov, told RFE/RL on August 3. According to Sulaimanov, more than 70 Kyrgyz citizens had been killed in the past years while fighting on the side of Islamic militant groups. He also said that 20 nationals have returned to Kyrgyzstan after taking part in the Syrian and Iraqi conflicts. Kyrgyz authorities earlier said about 500 Kyrgyz citizens had joined Islamic militants in the two Middle Eastern countries. WASHINGTON -- A court in Uzbekistan today sentenced the brother of an RFE/RL journalist to 8 years in prison on drug-related charges, the latest government action involving persons affiliated with the media company's Uzbek Service. In court proceedings, Aziz Yusupov was represented by a lawyer assigned to him by Uzbekistans National Security Service (formerly the KGB), whom Yusupov's family said persuaded him to make a false confession to mollify the court. During the one-day trial, no evidence was brought against Yusupov to corroborate the charges. This has all the signs of an attempt by the government to intimidate RFE/RL journalists because of their uncensored reporting in Uzbekistan," said RFE/RL President Thomas Kent. We vigorously condemn any attempt to silence us. Yusupov told RFE/RL that the charges brought against him were changed several times during the series of interrogations that preceded the trial in order to increase the severity of the sentence he could serve. Yusupov was targeted in an earlier incident in March 2013, when state security agents confiscated his state-issued ID, computer, and other personal documents, citing his brother's work for RFE/RL and an interview Yusupov gave to its Uzbek Service. During their interrogations of Yusupov, Uzbek agents accused RFE/RL of slandering Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan frequently brings narcotics-related charges against political activists and critics. In 2008, Uzbek Service contributor Salijan Abdurahmanov was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of drug smuggling that the OSCE characterized as made-up, adding that the trial did not withstand the scrutiny of a fair procedure. In another incident this week, agents with Uzbekistans National Security Service seized an apartment in Tashkent owned by an employee of RFE/RLs Uzbek Service. Uzbekistan authorities have interrogated the family members of other RFE/RL employees in recent months about their relatives journalistic work. On at least four occasions, family members of Uzbek Service correspondents have also been denied exit visas, a Soviet practice still required in Uzbekistan, to leave the country. RFE/RLs Uzbek Service relies on constant innovation and a wide network of local sources to report news and engage with audiences in one of the worlds most closed societies. RFE/RL was forced by the Uzbek government to close its bureau in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, after reporting on the 2005 government killing of protesters in the city of Andijon. Despite government efforts to block access, the Services website averages more than 2 million visits per month, and its video reports are viewed more than 4 million times per month on YouTube. MOSCOW -- Yevgeny Urlashov -- a former Yaroslavl mayor and rare example of a Russian opposition politician in public office -- has been sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison on corruption charges he says are trumped up. A district court in the city located 250 kilometers northeast of Moscow found Urlashov guilty of taking a bribe of 17 million rubles ($255,000) and of extorting another during his one-year tenure as mayor. Urlashov protested his innocence throughout the trial. Asked by the judge if he understood his sentence, Urlashov replied, "No." The anticorruption activist was applauded in the courtroom. As he was led away by police, he shouted: "I was condemned because I spat in the face of [the ruling party] United Russia!" "All revolutionaries have been in jail!" he added. The court ordered Urlashov to pay a 60 million-ruble ($900,000) fine and sentenced Urlashovs aide, Aleksei Lopatin, to seven years in prison. The court found former Deputy Mayor Dmitry Donskov, who had been held under house arrest, not guilty. Ksenia Karpinskaya, Urlashovs lawyer, told TASS that the verdict and sentence would be appealed. Prosecutors, who had asked for a harsher 15-year sentence for Urlashov and a fine of 500 million rubles, also said they planned to appeal. Urlashov was arrested on July 3, 2013 -- just over a year after his landslide victory at mayoral polls in the city of 600,000. Masked security forces were seen detaining the mayor in video broadcast on state television networks. Urlashov was a member of the Civic Platform opposition party led by tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov. Shortly before his arrest, he had said he intended to run for governor of Yaroslavl Oblast. The rise of Urlashov, who secured nearly 70 percent of the vote in his bid for mayor, appeared to suggest an anti-Kremlin mood spreading to regional towns after mass opposition rallies broke out in Moscow and other major cities in December 2011. Opposition parties of different stripes had rallied around Urlashov's bid for Yaroslavl mayor as a way of upstaging Vladimir Putins ruling United Russia party -- and creating an opposition beachhead in the regions. At the time, Vladimir Milov, a former deputy energy minister and staunch Putin critic, wrote that "the road to the Kremlin is through Yaroslavl." With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service and TASS ON MY MIND A lot of ink has been spilled on Russia's information war tactics over the past couple years since Peter Pomerantsev and Michael Weiss got the ball rolling back in 2014 with their landmark report, The Menace Of Unreality. So one could be forgiven for wondering whether yet another report on the subject is really all that necessary. One might ask: Is there anything new to say about this topic? Well, the answer is an emphatic yes. A new report by the Center for European Policy Analysis (featured below), Winning The Information War, co-authored by Edward Lucas and Peter Pomerantsev, breaks a lot of new ground. The report, prepared in collaboration with the Legatum Institute, presents thorough and exhaustive case studies of Russian information war tactics in Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on Ukraine, the Baltic states, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. It puts the Kremlin's newest international propaganda organ, Sputnik, under a microscope. And it offers plausible and realistic policy recommendations. As the authors note, Russia's information war tactics aren't just propaganda. They are a fine-tuned weapon designed to undermine Western values and institutions. Understanding them and learning how to counter them are of the utmost importance, and this report is a big step in that direction. IN THE NEWS Yevgeny Urlashov, the former mayor of Yaroslavl, has been sentenced to a 12 1/2-year prison term in a corruption case widely seen as politically motivated. Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office has identified Kursk and Astrakhan oblasts as well as the Udmurt Republic as the most corrupt regions in Russia. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach called for an overhaul of the global anti-doping system while he defended not invoking the "nuclear option" and banning all Russians from the Rio Olympics this week. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has reportedly rejected an appeal by 17 Russians rowers against their ban from the Rio Olympics. The world ruling body for swimming denied reports in the Russian media on August 2 that swimmers Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev have been cleared to compete in the Rio Olympics. Russia's health minister says there is no threat of an outbreak of anthrax spreading beyond the Yamalo-Nenets region, where it has killed one person and infected at least 20 others. Nadia Savchenko has launched a hunger strike over the plight of Ukrainians who remain incarcerated in Russia and accused the authorities in Kyiv of not doing enough to help them. WHAT I'M READING Today's Must Read: CEPA On How To Win The Information War The long-awaited report from the Center for European Policy Analysis, Winning The Information War, is out. The report was prepared in cooperation with the Legatum Institute and is co-authored by Edward Lucas and Peter Pomerantsev. Here's a teaser: "The Russian governments use of information warfare -- disinformation -- differs from traditional forms of propaganda. Its aim is not to convince or persuade, but rather to undermine. Instead of agitating audiences into action, it seeks to keep them hooked and distracted, passive and paranoid. Inside Russia, this concept is known as information-psychological war. It is a tactic used to disorganize and demoralize an opponent. It is fought in the realms of perception and the minds of men. It continues through both official peace and wartime." Read it all here: The Kremlin's Ideology In an op-ed in The New York Times, Jochen Bittner, political editor for the weekly newspaper Die Zeit, argues that Russia does indeed have an ideology for its new Cold War with the West -- and that the West needs to learn how to counter it. "Its a worldview that has become increasingly clear through the era of Russias president, Vladimir V. Putin, via a mosaic of public political statements, off-the-record conversations with academics and intelligence insights. Lets call it 'orderism,'" Bittner writes. "Orderism has started to challenge democracy in many parts of the world -- Turkey, Poland, the Philippines. But Mr. Putins Russia believes it holds the copyright on this formula, and sees it as the sharp end of the wedge it is trying to drive among the nations of the West." Welcome To The War Eerik-Niiles Kross, a member of Estonia's parliament and a former intelligence chief, has a piece in Politico arguing that the hacking of the Democratic National Committee is just the latest example of Russia's ongoing war with the West. "Russias activities arent part of a conspiracy. They are elements of an openly stated doctrine -- a resurrection of Soviet-style political warfare, in which intelligence agencies seek to amplify divisions among their enemies, weakening the Western front by sowing discord and dissent whenever the opportunity presents itself," Kross writes. "The political warfare of the Cold War is back -- in updated form, with meaner, more modern tools, including a vast state media empire in Western languages, hackers, spies, agents, useful idiots, compatriot groups, and hordes of internet trolls." Welcome To The Cyber War Writing in Foreign Affairs, cybersecurity expert Eugene Rumer explains why Russian cyberattacks against the United States will continue. "Why did the Russian government do it? Because it could. Knowledge is power. Having the inside scoop on an adversary is a source of leverage that is too good to pass up. And collecting such intelligence is what the Russian intelligence services have a long record of doing with some skill and success," Rumer writes. Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous The Organized Crime and Corruption Project has a new expose out, this time about Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin's 85.6-meter yacht. Separating Sanctions From Minsk Writing in the Harvard Review, Andreas Umland argues that the European Union should decouple sanctions against Russia from the Minsk Agreement. It's a couple weeks old, but still worth reading. More On Russo-Turkish Rapprochement Political analyst Ilgar Gurbanov has a piece in the Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Monitor on the prospects for rapprochement between Russia and Turkey and for the TurkStream gas pipeline. Pakistan says it will investigate a network of schools in the country that Turkey has asked to be shut down due to its ties to a U.S.-based Muslim cleric that Ankara blames for last month's failed coup. But Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan's foreign policy chief, refused to agree to close the schools after holding talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Islamabad on August 2. Cavusoglu said he expressed the hope in his discussions that schools linked to Fethullah Gulen and his religious movement, which he called a "terrorist group," would be closed. Gulen has condemned the coup and denied any involvement in the July 15 attempt by a Turkish military faction to take power. More than 230 people were killed in the coup attempt. There are some 11,000 students studying at 25 schools and colleges in Pakistan run by Gulen's organization. Some 900 Pakistanis work at the schools. "I am studying here for the last 10 years," a female student at one such school told RFE/RL. "I don't know Gulen and did not hear even the name in all those years." Teachers said they would resent any plan to shut down the schools. Gulen's organization operates schools in 160 countries around the world. Kyrgyzstan rebuked Turkey last week for calling on the Kyrgyz government to shut down Gulen schools. With reporting by dpa and Reuters Recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed a top U.S. general using words and a tone of voice that the Turkish public is familiar with when their president talks, but quite unusual for the president of any country talking about an ally, let alone a major NATO ally. Speaking about the failed coup attempt of July 15, Erdogan picked on General Joseph Votel, head of the U.S. Central Command, who had expressed concern that mass purges in the Turkish Army could weaken the NATO member's military capacity and the ongoing fight against Islamic State (IS). You should be ashamed," Erdogan said. "Do you think you are at a level to make this kind of decision [on purges]? Who are you? First, you have to know your limits! First you have to know who you are! Erdogan and the Turkish government have alleged that "the West," notably the United States, was behind the coup attempt. As part of their "proof" for this claim, they point to the U.S. residency of the Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen whom Ankara blames for masterminding the coup. Gulen has lived in Pennsylvania since 1999. Ankara has requested Gulen's extradition to Turkey. In response, Washington has asked for "legitimate evidence" of Gulens personal involvement in order to look into that request. The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, soon came to Ankara to soothe strained Turkish-U.S. relations. He clearly and strongly condemned the coup attempt and rejected the Turkish accusation of U.S. involvement in it. He met only the prime minister, Binali Yildirim, and the Turkish chief of staff, Hulusi Akar, who tried to somehow calm the bilateral tensions. Dunford even expressed his satisfaction with the positive tone of his talks with Turkish officials, which he described as "not accusatory at all." Erdogan did not waste any time. Just one day after the U.S. general left Turkey, the president quickly let it be known how he viewed the situation. "Unfortunately, the West is supporting terror and standing by the coup plotters," he said, condemning "those who we imagined to be friends" Picking Fights Shortly before the barrage against the United States and the West, the Turkish president had also criticized German democracy. His remarks were triggered by the situation surrounding ethnic Turkish Erdogan supporters in Germany who had planned a demonstration in Cologne against the coup attempt and in support of Turkish democracy. The event's organizers had invited Erdogan to address their meeting via a satellite video link. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for calm and warned that it was "unacceptable that anyone would bring internal political tensions from Turkey to Germany and intimidate people with other political beliefs." German police refused to grant permission for Erdogan's televised speech because they feared it would incite tension. The Turkish government protested against the move but a German court confirmed the ban as valid. "Bravo! The courts in Germany work very fast," Erdogan said. "Is that the democracy you want to teach us?" Erdogan's ministers and loyal media followed his lead. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said: "And where is your democracy, your freedom of speech? We have no lesson to learn from the West. We can teach them democracy!" Until recently, such fiery, offhand rhetoric never had a place in the traditional, established tone of Turkish diplomacy, or even in the country's internal politics. Turkey is the successor state of the vast Ottoman Empire that existed for 600 years. After the establishment of the modern republic in 1923, the country's founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and all his successors -- presidents and prime ministers such as Ismet Inonu, Adnan Menderes, Suleyman Demirel and Bulent Ecevit -- were models of traditional Turkish etiquette in public life and international diplomacy, even when it came to the president or prime minister talking to opposition leaders. This code of behavior was also respected by Turkeys traditional opposition parties and politicians. All of this started to change, however, after Erdogan introduced "street slang" into political discourse when he came to power in 2002. This transformation is not something that can be reflected in English translations of Erdogan's speeches. He started to address his domestic adversaries using the personal pronoun "sen" -- or "you" in the singular form, which is an impolite way of talking to respected or senior people in Turkey. A Clear Sign Recently, when Erdogan was talking about Joseph Votel, the head of the U.S. Central Command, and ironically asked the question: "Who are you? (Sen kimsin? in Turkish) using the singular pronoun for "you" ("sen"), it was a clear sign of disrespect. In English, there is no longer any distinction between "you" in the singular or plural forms. In Turkish, however, the word "sen" is an informal form of address used among family and friends or when talking to children (like the pronoun "ty" in Russian or "du" in German). On the other hand, "siz" (corresponding to "vy" in Russian and "Sie" in German) is the formal, polite way of addressing somebody, especially at work or in an office setting. It is also part of the language of government and diplomacy. Previously, it was always considered rude and a "sign of being uneducated to use the pronoun "sen" when talking to officials or people you didn't know (although there are some people on the streets who have always used it when shopping or talking to strangers) . In the last two decades, employees in government agencies, the police and military, airlines, banks and other private businesses were instructed or advised to be formal in their official dealings with others and to use the polite pronoun "siz." This development was publicly viewed as a "sign of improvement" and widely welcomed. When Erdogan was elected prime minister in 2002, this social trend remained unchanged but the Turkish leader personally began using the "impolite" version of "you" whenever he was criticizing or attacking his opponents. Soon afterwards, he even started using it when addressing foreign leaders and dignitaries. It wasn't long before Erdogans ministers and even his opponents in parliament and other politicians adopted his aggressive style for their own interactions with each other. It wasn't just the pronoun that changed however. The entire tone of criticism and debate became increasingly impolite, personal, combative, and rude. When people first started hearing the president and other politicians using this language, they began to wonder how they would feel about talking to each other in such a rude manner. They soon got used to it. Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Information Policy Tetyana Popova has announced her resignation, citing what she described as attacks on journalists and freedom of speech. "I am resigning. I don't agree with attacks on journalists and attacks on freedom of speech by political organizations and individual political officials. I can't tolerate the absence of a proper reaction to that kind of attacks," she wrote in a Facebook posting on August 3. "As a protest, I am leaving the government, but will continue fighting for the Maidan ideas, for freedom and democracy as a citizen and a volunteer. I'll continue fighting for everything our patriots are fighting for at the front line," she said. In a later interview with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Popova linked her resignation to the massive disclosure of journalists' personal data -- including her own -- by a website called Myrotvorets (Peacekeeper) in May. The website's creators claimed the 4,500 targeted journalists had collaborated with Russia-backed separatists in the east of the country. The website went down a few days after publishing the disclosure, but was back online a few weeks later. The publishing of the journalists' personal details, including phone numbers and e-mail addresses, was widely criticized in Ukraine and abroad, with the G7 saying it "contravenes the spirit and the letter of Ukrainian law." Many of the listed journalists said they have received threatening letters and phone calls. In her interview with RFE/RL, Popova said she grew disillusioned with what she felt was a failure by authorities to take action against Myrotvorets. "I went to a police investigator once and he asked what is really the problem with the publication of the list of journalists, if journalists have the right to publish data from the Panama Papers," Popova said, referring to the trove of leaked documents that uncovered secretive financial dealings of officials and businesspeople across the globe, including some in Ukraine, including President Petro Poroshenko. Poroshenko did voice support for the journalists over the disclosure scandal, and the Ukrainian Security Service have promised to look into the matter. However, other Ukrainian officials have voiced support for Myrotvorets, most prominently among them Anton Herashchenko, an Interior Ministry adviser and member of parliament, who is believed by some to have played a role in instigating the publication. Popova said Herashchenko and other leading members of the Peoples' Front faction had demanded her resignation. "I have resigned. If I remained in the government, then I support this," Popova told RFE/RL. "I cannot in that case remain in government. I come from the media business, I know that I will still work with the journalists and my reputation -- that's all I have." Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and other authoritarian governments have reportedly acquired cybertools used by Western law enforcement and have been using them to hack and harass dissidents. Researchers have found that since the early 2000s, companies like Verint and Nice Systems have sold mass surveillance products to the secret police in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the Associated Press reported. Israeli technicians from both companies have rotated in and out of Tashkent, the Uzbek capital, for tech support and maintenance. That equipment has allowed Uzbek secret police to quickly locate and arrest people who discuss sensitive information on the phone or via e-mail, including a dissident Uzbek blogger, the dissidents say. "The authorities' main weapon is people's fear," Tulkin Karayev, an Uzbek exile in Sweden, told AP. "Freedom of speech, freedom of expression -- all this is banned." Over the past two decades, Uzbekistan has "imprisoned thousands to enforce repressive rule," Human Rights Watch reported last year. The price of dissent is arbitrary detention, forced labor, and torture, the group said. But there is little to stop governments that routinely violate basic rights from obtaining the same so-called "lawful intercept" tools that have been sold to Western police and spy agencies, AP said. People tracked by the technology have been beaten, jailed, and tortured, according to human rights groups. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that hackers believed to be working on behalf of the Kazakhstan government tried to infect the computers of lawyers and other associates of exiled dissidents with spyware. The hacking campaign involved physical surveillance and threats of violence, in a rare instance of cyberattacks coming alongside real-world crimes, Reuters said. A research team examined e-mails sent to a group that included New York human rights lawyer Peter Sahlas; Italian attorney Astolfo Di Amato, who is involved in a legal dispute with Kazakhstan; and exiled Kazakhstan publishers Irina Petrushova and Alexander Petrushov, both of whom fled Kazakhstan years ago. The e-mails tried to trick recipients into installing one of two types of commercially available spy software and were likely sent by an Indian company hired for the job. The pair of exiled Kazakh publishers produce the online newspaper Respublika, which has printed leaked or hacked e-mails from the government. "We suspect that the use of malware by governments to spy on political dissidents, especially exiles who live outside of their government's direct sphere of influence, is increasingly common," the research team concluded. With reporting by AP and Reuters 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. Petersburgs financial crisis is the result of years of mismanaged budgets, inconsistent reporting of expenditures and revenue and a lack of liquid cash, according to an ongoing audit of the citys books by the state. Virginia Secretary of Finance Richard D. Ric Brown personally updated the City Council at a special meeting Wednesday. His immediate advice to city officials: Stop digging. The team of auditors, headed by Chesterfield Countys former deputy county administrator, Sheryl D. Bailey, found that Petersburg is dealing with a $12 million budget deficit in the current fiscal year. In total, Petersburg owes $18.8 million in bills, of which $14.7 million is unpaid obligations to external entities, such as contractors and vendors. About $4.1 million consists of internal loans from other funds. The challenge going forward is to adjust the budget so that they are actually not spending all the cash that comes in and reserve some of that cash, and eventually work the backlog down, Brown said in an interview. I believe that given the relative degree of the backlog in relationship to their budget, they are going to need some help and external financing to ease that pain and to, over the long haul, get into balancing where they want to be. City officials had previously ruled out layoffs of city staff, but Vice Mayor Samuel Parham said after Wednesdays meeting that the increasingly dire situation requires every solution to be examined. Whatever it takes to restructure, it has to be done. We cant keep going down the hole, he said. Somebody has to stand up and make whatever cuts need to be made to save the city, because if not, we are going down a hole that we cant get out of. Its unpopular, but if we dont do it, next month we are getting deeper and deeper into that hole, Parham said. City Council is working with external consultants to develop strategies and will meet again Aug. 23 to debate what action is required to cut at least $12 million from the current fiscal years budget. David P. Rose, senior vice president with Richmond-based consulting firm Davenport & Co., said that the city will not master the current crisis without considering layoffs. Davenport warned the council as early as 2012 that the city was entering dangerous territory because of unchecked spending. They are facing very significant financial hurdles in the very short term with regard to cash flow. As a result of that, there needs to be some big and difficult decisions made by City Council quickly, Rose said. The states 33-page report identified several challenges Petersburg faces in the immediate future: The city will have extreme difficulty paying essential bills, including payroll, in the latter part of the year, perhaps as early as the second half of this month. The city has operated with little to no cash reserves for several years, using anticipated annual tax revenue to help offset insufficient funds. The city has not secured short-term financing for fiscal 2017, presenting a severe cash crunch in coming months. The latter will be difficult, if not impossible, in the absence of a structurally balanced budget for the current fiscal year and beyond, the report said. The auditors went as far back as fiscal year 2012 and discovered that in the five years since, the citys overspending totaled $16 million. This is something that built up over time, Brown said. Wednesdays briefing came after the City Council in June approved interim City Manager Dironna Moore Beltons formal request to seek help from the state. The assistance was coordinated by Browns office. Brown said Wednesday that his auditors had not concluded their work and will further investigate records of the citys revenue stream. But his department recommended that the City Council: Structurally balance and amend the adopted fiscal 2017 budget; Limit midyear amendments to the adopted budget; Centralize expenditure controls and approvals citywide and closely monitor daily cash disbursements; Order city management to review all revenues and expenditures monthly and compare them to the budget and report to City Council; and Seek short-term financing to ease the cash crunch based on a structurally balanced 2017 budget and approved accounting and budget practices. Brown complimented city leaders Wednesday for promising to take action. I think Petersburg took a large step here today by recognizing the nature of the problem and then setting in place a timetable to address that. That will take them a good way towards the ultimate solution, Brown said. Its going to be painful, there is no doubt. They are going to have to face actions that they otherwise wouldnt want to do, but thats going to be a necessity, given where they are at, he added. Petersburg first went into crisis mode earlier this year when an annual audit found overspending of the total general fund budget by $1.8 million. As a consequence, the council fired City Manager William E. Johnson III in March, and City Attorney Brian K. Telfair stepped down the same day. Finance Director Irvin Carter departed in April. By June, the deficit had ballooned to $7.5 million, with estimates that it might reach $17 million later this year. Hoping to free cash for the citys monthly operations and payroll, the council last month voted to cut the salaries of city employees by 10 percent while exempting itself and council appointees from this measure. Nearly 300 pages of Charles City County records that were pilfered by Union soldiers during the Civil War have returned to Virginia filling in some of the blanks on wills, deeds and other court filings from the 1600s. Its a godsend, an absolute godsend, said John Metz, deputy of collections and programs at the Library of Virginia. Im a historian. This is the kind of thing we live for. This is remarkable, said Judith Ledbetter, historian with the Richard M. Bowman Center for Local History in Charles City. Except for the 10 pages that the library already had of this book, its pretty much the earliest we have of Charles City records that would be complete deeds and wills. The recovered pages, numbered from 188 to 486 from a single book, cover the period from 1694 through 1700. Signatures on the laid rag paper in the book include many of the notable names in early American history, such as William Byrd, Benjamin Harrison Sr. and Capt. William Randolph. Charles City was settled in 1613 and was one of four original boroughs created by the Great Charter delivered to Jamestown in 1618. Its records were among the oldest in the country when Union soldiers ransacked the courthouse in August 1862. The New York Times reported on Aug. 20, 1862, that in Charles City, the records of real estate titles and other papers have been wantonly scattered in confusion about the premises, covering the floors and dooryards, and are almost wholly destroyed. A more impressive exhibition of the destructive effects of war could scarcely be imagined, than to see those old and cherished books of record and title papers scattered to the winds or trodden under foot. On Aug. 15, the 154th anniversary of the day the records were carried away, local and state officials will meet at 10 a.m. in front of the old Charles City courthouse to celebrate the documents return. The papers were preserved in recent decades by three generations of the Urbania family in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The late Karl Urbania, a machinist, had bought them from an antiques dealer at some point, said Evan Urbania, his grandson. It was stored for so many years in a large shirt box in my fathers closet, Evan Urbania said. Paul Urbania, Evans father, was a lawyer who enjoyed reading through it and comparing it to history. My dad showed it to me as a child, Urbania said. We figured out it was court records. At some point, we all looked at each other and said, This needs to go back where it belongs. Urbania took the records to Philadelphia, where he lives, and connected with Nathan Raab, a historical document dealer at the Raab Collection. Raab recalled the conversation starting out like many others regarding the value of a document. Probably within 24 hours, I had a sense that this was special and different. It had a lot of information that scholars would die to get at, Raab said. The family was ready to find it the right home. Neither the family nor Raab made any money on the donation, Raab said. Charles City is among about 20 Virginia counties whose records were destroyed during the war, some by fire after they were sent to Richmond for safekeeping and others by marauding troops. Thousands of Union troops were quartered in Charles City for 45 days in 1862 at the end of the Union Armys unsuccessful Peninsula Campaign, said John Coski, historian at the American Civil War Museum. The irony, if you will, (is) a lot of Union soldiers were impressed with the history, to be in Virginia where the nation began, Coski said. For every soldier who ransacked, there was another who treated it with a certain amount of reverence. There were men of conscience who hated to see it happen. They tried to make sense of it and explain it away as the fortunes of war. ... Such is war, and we didnt start it. The records will be conserved to clean and repair pages that havent been properly protected for more than 150 years. After that, they will be scanned to make them available to the public and research community, probably by December, said Metz, with the Library of Virginia. Edward Mitchell of Charles City is already planning to look for some answers about his ancestral home. It has been owned continuously by Katherine Banks Royall Isham and her descendants for 375 years but has taken some unexplained detours from one side of the family to the other. How did Joseph (Royall) Jr. get the property back from his Isham half-sisters? Was it given to him by the sisters? Did he buy it? Or maybe they left it in their respective wills? Mitchell said in an email. The answers should be easy to read, if theyre in the section that was recovered. The pages are in great condition, considering what theyve been through, said Vince Brooks, senior local records archivist at the Library of Virginia. Ive seen many in the courthouse that were properly stored that look worse, Brooks said. A copy of the digitized records will go to the Urbania family. Its through the good grace and generosity of people like the Urbania family, and through the incredible good nature and good will of Nathan Raab and his company, that items like these pilfered records make their way back to where they belong, Metz said. Virginia State Police said a Hopewell man was killed Tuesday when he lost control of his Harley-Davidson and crashed on an Interstate 295 overpass in Chesterfield County. Police said Dennis Painter, 44, was killed in the crash. Painter and Jeremiah Tomlin, 38, of Dinwiddie County, were traveling south on I-295 at a high rate of speed when they lost control of their motorcycles, according to police. Painter was thrown from his 2012 Harley-Davidson, fell from the highway overpass and landed on state Route 10 below. Police said Painter, who died at the scene, was wearing a helmet that isn't approved by the Department of Transportation. Tomlin, who was driving a 2005 Harley-Davidson, was charged with driving under the influence and is being held in the Chesterfield County jail. A Richmond-area bail bondsman who is accused of trying to exchange bail for sexual favors is now facing additional charges, including rape. Just before Wednesdays hearing in Henrico County General District Court on two charges of extortion and attempted forcible sodomy, Vladimir Tarabay, 60, was also charged with one count of solicitation of prostitution and another count of extortion. The city of Richmond also served Tarabay with a rape charge Wednesday morning. Judge Thomas Jones denied bond for Tarabay, saying the defendant is a flight risk. Tarabay was arrested Friday after an alleged victim came forward and accused him of propositioning clients to have sex or perform sexual acts in lieu of payment to be released from jail, said Henrico Sheriff Mike Wade. Joe Wechsler, the lead detective for the case, said that since Friday, about 12 men and women have come forward with similar accusations against Tarabay. Only half of the alleged victims were bonded by him. The other half had not used Tarabay as a bondsman, and it is unclear whether they were involved with the court system, Wechsler said. Wechsler, who was called as a prosecution witness, said there was a previous allegation against Tarabay but no charges were ever brought. Wechsler said one woman, who was taken into custody Monday night after absconding from her bond, came forward as a victim Tuesday and alleged Tarabay raped her. Tarabays attorney, Craig Cooley, said the woman had something to gain from making accusations against Tarabay. Cooley said because she had been on the run for two months, and that she came forward after she was brought into custody, there could be a potential benefit for her. Cooley also said that many of the victims who had been bonded or had their bonds revoked by Tarabay could also see benefits from coming forward as victims. They have a benefit to gain; theyre unhappy. Multiple people that have come in have something to gain from this, Cooley said. Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Michael Feinmel said while its possible that one person could lie, its unlikely that accusers numbering in the double digits are all lying. Feinmel argued successfully that because of the nature of the crimes and the amount of money Tarabay has access to, he should be considered a flight risk and denied bond. When detectives searched Tarabays home, they found $67,000 in cash. Tarabay is the owner of Fast Bail Bonding, which was created in 2013. The company serves the Richmond area as well as Suffolk, Newport News and Charlottesville, according to the businesss website. His business has now been suspended. Tarabay also owns 34 properties. Cooley said Tarabays success as a businessman shouldnt be held against him. Jones called it a difficult case and said that although Tarabay has strong family backing and has been a successful businessman, the number of accusers concerns him. Jones added that the people bringing the charges dont actually have anything to gain from coming forward, because many of them are already in jail. Tarabays biography on the companys website said hes a native of Richmond and retired as a captain in the Air National Guard, for which he served four active years and 17 years as a reservist. Tarabays son was called as a witness in court and recounted Tarabays life in the military, as a Richmond businessman and as a family man. Tarabay has lived in Richmond for more than 50 years. Tarabay will be arraigned on the three new charges today in Henrico District Court, and his preliminary hearing is set for October. Chesterfield County police are searching for a man who robbed the Shell station at the entrance of the Shoppes at Bellgrade late Monday. About 11:20 p.m., a black man about 30 years old who was wearing a black shirt, black shorts and a dark article of clothing over the bottom half of his face entered the Shell station in the 11400 block of Huguenot Road and demanded money from the clerk, Chesterfield police said. The man left with an undetermined amount of cash. No weapon was displayed during the robbery, but the man implied he had a gun, police said. Anyone with information should contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at (804) 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at (804) 748-0660 or www.crimesolvers.net. The University of Virginias Strategic Investment Fund is anything but a so-called slush fund, as it recently has been mischaracterized. That makes for catchy headlines, but it is false and irresponsible. In truth, this fund is as an extraordinary opportunity to improve academic quality, help minimize tuition costs and student debt, conduct research that benefits society, and offer world-class medical care. These returns dont happen overnight, and they dont reflect the aspirations of those with narrow and sometimes negative agendas. In fact, making decisions in the best interests of future generations is a hallmark of how U.Va. has been historically managed. This is the spirit behind the Strategic Investment Fund. So how did we get to a place where the university felt confident enough to pool resources for such a fund? I can tell you it was not through hiding balances on the books or by having administrators who operated independently of our governing board. The Board of Visitors may have authorized this fund in February, but it was possible only because of sound stewardship at U.Va. for more than 25 years. For decades, U.Va. has had the rare fortune of generations of loyal and generous alumni and friends. It has also partnered with the state and federal governments to fund operations, research and capital projects. It has established and grown mandated reserves to ensure its AAA-bond rating and to persevere through difficult economies and fluctuating state support, and has the remarkable good fortune of earning significant returns on its investments. Since its founding, U.Va. has given back, producing citizen leaders who contribute as elected representatives, scientists, doctors, engineers, educators and much more. The fruits of our research have helped us better understand the human immune system, pursue cures for debilitating conditions and improve our academic offerings, to cite only a few. Our Health System experiences nearly a million patient visits a year, and our safety-net hospital serves all comers. All of these require significant, sustained investment. I have been fortunate to serve at a time when the Board of Visitors, president Terry Sullivan, her administration and the faculty have worked closely with a particular emphasis on the financial management of the university. We have approved and are implementing a new strategic plan. We have formalized our efforts to find efficiencies and cost-savings. We constructed and put into place a multiyear financial plan that addresses the universitys priorities across years instead of starting from scratch every budget cycle. We have approved and implemented a program, Affordable Excellence, to ensure that tuition increases, when necessary, are predictable and minimal, while dramatically reducing the amount of student debt facing Virginia families. Middle-class Virginia families directly benefit from this relief, as do those with high financial need. All of this, by the way, has occurred in the bright light of day, during meetings open to the public. As an example of U.Va.s substantial commitment to affordability and access, the university projects it will award approximately $60 million in tuition grants that dont need to be repaid in the coming academic year to undergraduate students, over two-thirds of whom are Virginians. How do we compare with others? Money magazine determined that U.Va. has the lowest average yearly cost of attendance of any institution ranked in its Top 100. That bears repeating. Of the absolute best public and private universities in America, the most affordable is the University of Virginia. Today, this combination of fiscal stewardship and resource management has placed the University of Virginia in a truly extraordinary position to make investments that will benefit generations of students and Virginians in the widest variety of ways and for the longest period of time. Using a Board-approved endowment payout formula, the Strategic Investment Fund could allocate as much as $100 million annually for initiatives with the highest promise to significantly improve the university and enhance quality and access for students. The possibilities are endless. They might include specialized equipment or research labs, recruitment of the finest faculty talent, or initiatives that enhance student life. They could include seed money for endowed student scholarships; support programs to further improve access and affordability for Virginians, and more. This is no blank check. Investments will be for limited periods. Theyll be tracked and evaluated. And to dispel another catchy but inaccurate phrase used by a former board colleague, these investments wont be administrative or board pet projects. Such a characterization conveniently ignores a rigorous, multi-stage process that accepts proposals from across the community and subjects them to a faculty committee review, an assessment by a leadership committee, and final approval by the board. Pet projects dont survive that level of scrutiny. Virginians who are striving to put their children through college have a fair question about why these funds arent being used in the moment to provide additional tuition assistance. Just as Virginia families know a college education is a worthy investment, we see the Strategic Investment Fund as a worthy use of resources one that will only add value to a students decision to attend U.Va. and for generations who follow by giving U.Va. a sustainable way to invest in its quality without using tuition or tax dollars to do so. The net effect will be greater affordability and value not for a year or two, but well into the future. Dont let critics with personal agendas distract from or minimize what, at U.Va.s foundation, is a compelling story for anyone who knows the true long-term value of healthy and thriving public universities that exist to serve our society. 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. Rep. Morgan Griffith's office shares his e-newsletter for the week of Aug. 1 Zika an update Florida health officials recently reported that several individuals were infected with the Zika virus by local mosquitos, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states are likely the first known occurrence of local mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission in the continental United States. In response, Senate Democrats are calling for Congress to act on Zika. However, in June, Senate Democrats voted to block a Zika funding measure. Up to now, it has appeared to me that some in the Senate are playing politics with this issue. I would gladly drive to Washington for a 2:30 A.M. session to solve this problem if I were convinced its not just more political gamesmanship. Volunteering In addition to a three-part series on the difficulties local departments and civic organizations in the Martinsville area have in finding volunteers to help them operate, the Martinsville Bulletin recently ran a piece by editor Brian Carlton entitled The first step can be the hardest. Carlton begins by relaying a recent conversation he had with a Martinsville woman in which she said she didnt have the time to dedicate at least six to seven hours to volunteer. This is a thought with which I suspect many of us struggle. Carlton asks, Are there times when we pass by chances to help, because of the effort we assume itll take? He reminds readers, however, that our busy schedules need not preclude us from pursuing volunteer opportunities that work for organizations and our calendars alike. Even with the busy schedule I keep between work in DC, work in the Ninth District (which is approximately 9,114 square miles), and family commitments, I find it very rewarding when I can volunteer a few hours. As Carlton writes, Theres no such thing as a bad volunteer. The word doesnt exist. And maybe the first job isnt the one you stick with. But there are opportunities waiting. We just have to be willing to try. Fighting for access to affordable retirement advice Last April, the Department of Labor proposed its fiduciary rule, which would impose costly new mandates and burdensome regulations on financial advisors that provide retirement advice. The rule would require these advisors to act as fiduciaries, and therefore they could not receive a fee from the companies providing insurance products such as annuities. I and many of my colleagues had numerous concerns about this proposed rule and its impact on workers who save in qualified plans and Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). We outlined many of our concerns in an October 2015 letter to the Secretary of Labor, Thomas Perez. Regrettably, the final fiduciary rule was issued on April 8, 2016. And bipartisan concerns have been raised that the rule will restrict access to affordable retirement advice for low- and middle-income families and harm small businesses that will have to pay more in order to offer retirement options to workers. I can recall my mothers insurance agent Clayton Stanley coming by our home on numerous occasions in the 1960s when I was young and advising her on annuities, advice which is continuing to benefit her to this day. However, my mother, now 86, was then a single mom who had two young kids. She would have been unable to pay the up-front fee necessitated by the Department of Labors fiduciary rule. Using the Congressional Review Act to block the Obama Administrations fiduciary rule, my friend Congressman Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN), Chairman of the Education and Workforce Committees Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, introduced H.J.Res.88. This resolution passed the House of Representatives in April, and shockingly passed the Senate in May. President Obama vetoed the resolution. I supported an effort to override the Presidents veto. Unfortunately, this effort failed. At times, I have been disappointed and frustrated with progress made in Congress, including for example the lack of progress that results from the Senates 60-vote threshold. Since Republicans regained the majority in the Senate, however, we have been able to place on President Obamas desk 8 bills that he has vetoed, including this resolution. I am disappointed by the Presidents veto of such a common-sense proposal helping low- and middle-income Americans like my mother when she was younger to save for retirement. I dont know where those currently running for president stand on this issue. But I would hope that whoever is elected would be willing to revisit this situation. If you have questions, concerns, or comments, call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov. Also on my website is the latest material from my office, including information on votes recently taken on the floor of the House of Representatives. Submitted by Andie Pivarunas RICHMOND At his national unveiling as Hillary Clintons running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine suggested that hes done what few swing state Democrats have dared: taken on the National Rifle Association. I know the NRA, he said. Theyre headquartered in my state, in Virginia. They campaigned against me in every statewide race that Ive ever run, but Ive never lost. ... I dont mind powerful groups campaigning against me. That just is like an extra cup of coffee to me. But as Kaine hits the campaign trail and makes gun control a central Democratic theme in the 2016 race for the White House, his relationship with the most powerful gun lobby in the country is more nuanced than the kind of High Noon face-off he suggested. In more than two decades as a political figure in Virginia, a Southern state with a strong gun tradition and historically lax firearm regulations, Kaine has pivoted on guns, in style and substance, depending on the political climate, the office he sought, and particular events. He has been an urban mayor determined to reduce gun deaths. Hes been a statewide candidate who embraced the Second Amendment and promised not to tighten gun laws. Hes gone quiet on the issue at times, and played offense at other moments. As he served in different offices, in a changing Virginia, Kaine has tailored his stance and message as the politics surrounding guns have fluctuated. His current push for more regulation reflects new calculations by Democrats that after years of mass shootings, they can run on guns and win. Back before you had these mass shootings that seem to happen every month, running on gun control did not put you in a strong position in a Southern state, said Wayne Turnage, who served as chief of staff when Kaine was governor. I dont think theres any question the national appetite has shifted. Republicans seem just as convinced that, following recent episodes of civil unrest and terrorism at home, Americans feeling the need to protect themselves will revolt against any move to roll back gun rights. The Second Amendment is on the ballot in November, said Jennifer Baker, an NRA spokeswoman. [Kaine] will be a willing partner in dismantling the Second Amendment. This is about a ticket that is out of the mainstream. Both sides are betting big. The NRA has vowed to raise up to $75 million for 2016 almost twice what it spent in 2008. Gun groups founded by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords also plan to spend millions in battleground states, including Virginia. n n n When Kaine first entered politics in Richmond in 1994, first as a city council member and then as mayor, the city was in the throes of a crack cocaine epidemic and had the second highest homicide rate in the country. Kaines support for gun control was popular in the city. Yet he stirred controversy in the spring of 2000 when he spent about $7,000 in taxpayer money to send eight busloads of Richmonders to the Million Mom March, a pro-gun-control rally in Washington.Kaine initially dismissed criticism that he had funneled public funds to promote a political cause, but eventually he raised private donations to reimburse the city. Still, he stood firmly by his intentions. There is no issue in the city that is more important than gun violence, he told reporters at the time. I cant think of an issue Id rather be aligned with than this. The next year, when he was running statewide for lieutenant governor, he needed to convince rural Virginia voters that he wasnt too liberal. Running on a ticket with now-U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who made a direct appeal to rural Virginians as he sought the governors mansion, Kaine rebranded himself as an outdoorsman who supports the Second Amendment and appreciates guns used for sport. He printed up camo-style bumper stickers. He played up his role in helping to insert language in the state constitution that guarantees Virginians the right to hunt and fish. In 2005, when Kaine ran for governor, his website simply declared: Tim Kaine strongly supports the Second Amendment. As the next governor of Virginia, he will not propose any new gun laws. He went skeet shooting with Sportsmen for Kaine. He enlisted a rural sheriff to vouch for him in a radio spot. Tim Kaine supports the rights of Virginians to bear arms, Tommy Whitt, then sheriff of Montgomery County, said in the ad. To his Republican opponent in that race, Kaines position didnt ring true. To hear him say it during the governors race, he was pro-Second Amendment, no restrictions, said former state attorney general Jerry Kilgore, who lost to Kaine. Thats not been his life in public policy. Ive said all along, he will say anything an audience wants to hear. Larry Roberts, then a counselor to governor Kaine, said Kaines 2005 strategy did not rely as heavily on the rural vote as Warner had. Instead, he was more focused on the states fast-growing, moderate suburbs. Even so, Kaine had to tread lightly on guns, he said. Our view was, we needed to win over suburban voters, he said. Theyre sort of mixed on gun control, even in that time. Clearly, you could not easily win in Virginia if you took the posture of a New York or California candidate on gun control. That would just not have worked in 2005. Roberts also said Kaines appeal to rural Virginia stressed religious faith more than guns. Im conservative on issues of personal responsibility, Kaine says in a radio ad from the time. As a former Christian missionary, faith is central to my life. I oppose gay marriage. I support restrictions on abortion no public funding and parental consent and Ive worked to pass a state law banning partial-birth abortion. Today, Kaine supports gay marriage. He remains personally opposed to abortion, but says he also supports the right of women to end their pregnancies. Kaine has always sincerely believed in the right to bear arms, but with limits that made no sense to accentuate in 2005 Virginia because he was already viewed as too progressive, Turnage said. He was not willing to add more bricks to that side of the scale, he said. n n n Then came Virginia Tech.On April 16, 2007, not two years into Kaines term as governor, the college campus became the scene of what was then the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. Thirty-three died, including the shooter. As any leader does, he said, Its time to act, Turnage said. He moved his position that you have to more practically interpret the meaning of the Second Amendment against the needs of society. Kaine walked away from the pledge he had made as a candidate. He pushed unsuccessfully in the state legislature for a new law that would require background checks on sales at gun shows. The bill drew fierce opposition from the NRA, which argued that the restriction would not have stopped the carnage at Virginia Tech since the shooter had bought his two semi-automatic handguns from licensed dealers. The bill died in committee. But Kaine had success on another front addressing a loophole that had allowed the shooter to buy a gun even though a judge had declared him dangerously mentally ill less than two years earlier. He worked with then-attorney general Bob McDonnell, a Republican, to craft an executive order fixing that loophole. It later won bipartisan support in the legislature. At Kaines urging, the General Assembly also provided more money for mental health and reformed its civil commitment procedures. In an interview with The Washington Post last week, McDonnell praised Kaine for focusing on the mental health piece. I really admired him ... for not making a political issue out of guns, but really looking at what we could do to really make a difference, McDonnell said. n n n By the time Kaine sought election to the U.S. Senate in 2012, Virginia was undergoing some profound demographic shifts that reset old assumptions. Rural regions had turned hostile to Democrats, but Northern Virginia had grown more blue, more developed and more voter-rich.Kaine concluded he could win without rural Virginia, as Barack Obama had in 2008. Yet he steered clear of gun issues in his race against former governor George Allen, a Republican and vocal gun rights advocate with an A rating from the NRA. While Allen played up guns on his campaign website, the F-rated Kaine, perhaps sobered by his loss in the legislature, was relatively quiet. In the end, like the incumbent president on the top of the ticket, Kaine took Virginia but purely on the strength of its cities and suburbs. n n n A year after Kaines Senate victory, Terry McAuliffe became the first Virginia Democrat to trumpet his F rating from the NRA and win the governorship, although his margin of victory over gun-rights advocate Republican Ken Cuccinelli was thin.Attitudes toward guns have held fairly steady in various polls over the years in Virginia, a crucial swing state. In the most recent survey, conducted by Christopher Newport University in February, 55 percent of Virginia voters said it was more important to control who buys guns than to protect the rights of gun owners. Immediately after Virginia Tech, a Washington Post poll found 58 percent of Virginians favored stronger gun control. In the Senate, Kaine has voted for a series of gun control bills, including those intended to ban semi-automatic weapons and large-capacity magazines. In June, he joined a Senate filibuster to force action on other gun control bills. Speaking on the floor, he traced his concern about guns to the slaying of a Richmond family during his earliest days in politics. I got a call as a city council member, and I raced to the scene, and it was chaos, Kaine said. And that has begun a 22-year experience of being too intimate with this problem. That funeral of the family in the Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond, with 3,000 people and six little white coffins at the front of the room, is something that I will never, ever forget. Those on the other side of the gun debate see a classic bait-and-switch. Hes very adept at knowing what to say and how to portray himself when hes [running], Allen said. And then when he is elected, the positions are not consistent. Others see a politician adapting to changing circumstances. His positions may have evolved in terms of whats possible and not possible, said Richmond political analyst Bob Holsworth. Hes going to flaunt his F rating and hes probably going to sound more like he did as mayor than he did as governor, he said. You could say theres a change in emphasis. About two weeks before he was picked for Clintons ticket, Kaine met with the father of Alison Parker, the Roanoke TV reporter shot dead with cameraman Adam Ward on live television last year. Kaine told him Democrats had been emboldened by the seemingly endless violence, Andy Parker recalled. He said even four years ago, Democrats when Republicans would say, Youre going to take away our guns, our response would be, No were not, but we dont want to talk about that. We want to talk about education, Parker said. Now its different. Now when they say Youre going to take away our guns, we say, No were not, but this is what we are doing to do. We arent going to run away from the gun issue. Gov. Pat McCrory summoned state toxicologist Ken Rudo to his office in early 2015 for a meeting during which a McCrory staff member challenged the advisory Rudo had helped draft telling well owners near coal ash pits owned by Duke Energy not to drink their water, according to recent testimony given in a deposition by Rudo. The do-not-drink advisory, issued in spring 2015, has received a lot of attention, particularly after state health and environmental administrators overrode the advisory in March by telling well owners that their water is fine to drink. It isnt fine, according to Rudo. Requested in early 2016 by Dr. Randall Williams, health director of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, and backed by Tom Reeder, the assistant secretary for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, the reversal of the do-not-drink advisory was highly unethical and possibly illegal, Rudo said in the deposition, excerpts of which were available to the public Tuesday. Until now, the extent of McCrorys involvement has been unclear. Excerpts from Rudos deposition, part of coal ash litigation brought by clean-water watchdog organizations against Duke Energy, show that McCrory, a former Duke Energy employee for decades, was deeply involved with his administrations attempts to challenge the scientifically backed advisory that Rudo and other state health experts had drafted. Rudo had left his office when he received a call from state epidemiologist Megan Davies telling me to turn around I was almost at Chapel Hill to go back, that the Governor wanted to discuss this. ... So I went down to that big old building in downtown Raleigh, and the Governor wasnt there. He participated for a couple of minutes by phone. So I met with was it Josh Ellis? Is that his name? I am not sure. I think it is him. And he had an assistant, Rudo said in the deposition, referring to McCrorys communications director. The other person at the meeting was Kendra Gerlach, the director of communications at the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, he said. And they wanted to talk about what we were putting on these forms. And the Governor called for about, I guess, five minutes or so to sort of he was in the middle of some other issues. And I am not exactly sure, even from my notes, because it was the guidance whether he had given Mr. Ellis the guidance what to talk to us about before we arrived. But he essentially, you know, was saying, Okay. We need to discuss the language on the forms. And then he left it to Mr. Ellis to do that, Rudo said. Later in the deposition, Rudo said Ellis had concerns about the do-not-drink advisory. Once again, I dont know whether this was from Mr. Ellis or from the Governor, because the Governor never actually specifically said what, you know, his concerns were. But he had a concern about what we were telling these folks on the forms. Thier (sic) concern was initially telling people not to drink the water. He felt that was a pretty strong thing to do, Rudo said. Late Tuesday, Thomas Stith, McCrorys chief of staff, denied Rudos allegations. We dont know why Ken Rudo lied under oath, but the governor absolutely did not take part in or request this call or meeting as he suggests, Stith said. The fact is that the state sent homeowners near coal ash ponds all facts and safety information about their drinking water and thanks to the McCrory administrations efforts, well owners are being hooked up to municipal water supplies at Duke Energys expense. Gerlach disputed some of Rudos statements. I was at that meeting, Gerlach said in an email. The Governor did not participate in that meeting, she said,nor did he summon Ken Rudo. I was the one calling our public health officials, including Rudo. During my call with Rudo, he volunteered to come by and I said yes. He then joined Josh Ellis and me in person to answer some of the questions being discussed, Gerlach said. High stakes At stake during that conversation at the governors office was the health of hundreds of well owners and their families, particularly those whose wells contained hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen associated with coal ash pits. Until last year, there had been no screening level for hexavalent chromium, no threshold by which to gauge its potential cancer-causing effect. Rudo and other health experts in the DHHS and the DEQ helped calculate the threshold. They based it on peer-reviewed studies and the calculations were confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. They calculated the health-screening threshold because it was one of the requirements under the state Coal Ash Management Act, a bill passed in 2014 as state legislators responded to the dangers of coal ash, after a pipe under a Duke Energy coal ash pond near Eden collapsed and spewed coal ash into the Dan River. As a result, state regulators were required to check for a host of contaminants, including hexavalent chromium. In setting the threshold for hexavalent chromium, state health experts such as Rudo also stuck to a state groundwater rule that requires a threshold that would put North Carolinians at a lifetime cancer risk of no more than 1 in 1 million. For hexavalent chromium, that threshold is 0.07 parts per billion, or ppb. The threshold the McCrory administration sought to promote was one connected with a federal standard that regulates public water systems but which the state health experts said was unacceptable, as the Winston-Salem Journal has reported. Hexavalent chromium is not a regulated contaminant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been collecting data on hexavalent chromium for years from public water systems in an effort to figure out how to regulate it. Meanwhile, there is a decades-old threshold for total chromium one that assumes that it could be made up entirely of hexavalent chromium. That federal threshold for total chromium, set at 100 ppb under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, is the one that state health experts say is unacceptable. The federal threshold comes with a lifetime cancer risk of 1 in 700, according to state health experts such as Rudo. In North Carolina, a large majority of public water systems show concentrations of hexavalent chromium below the threshold of 0.07 ppb, according to a Journal review of EPA data. Safety questions To a certain extent, the issue of safe drinking water for well owners near coal ash pits has been displaced by actions taken by the General Assembly. State legislators passed a bill signed by McCrory requiring Duke Energy to provide either permanent water supplies or a filtration system to eligible well owners within a half-mile of coal ash pits by October 2018. Plans must be submitted by Dec. 15, according to the bill. Still, Rudos testimony makes clear that the McCrory administration had pushed for the federal threshold making decisions on public health that ran counter to those backed by its own state health experts. The testimony is also supported by emails obtained through public-records requests by the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and provided to the Journal. Before Rudo was summoned to McCrorys office, Donald van Der Vaart, one of McCrorys Cabinet members, was pushing for the federal standard as secretary of the state DEQ. In an email written in early 2015 by state epidemiologist Megan Davies to colleagues, including Rudo, she said that Tom Reeder, the DEQs assistant secretary, would provide the message. Secretary Van der Vaart requested of (former Health) Secretary Wos that DHHS DPH (Division of Public Health) include additional explanation in our letter to local health directors about the plans for private well testing within 1000 feet of coal ash ponds. As you will see below, I spoke with Tom Reeder, and he will send me some suggested language for us to work on. The additional language will explain that the IMAC (threshold set by state health experts) for hexavalent chromium being used in these well evaluations does not apply to public water supplies, where the MCL (threshold) of 100 micrograms per liter of total chromium applies. DEQ spokesman Mike Rusher on Tuesday tried to back the departments continued support for the federal standard. The Safe Drinking Water Act is the only regulatory standard for drinking water in North Carolina, Rusher said in an email. The state environmental department had concerns about treating residents near coal ash ponds differently than the millions of North Carolinians who get their drinking water from municipal water supplies. In 2015, a statement about well water being fine under the federal standard found its way into the do-not-drink advisory as it was being sent to well owners, after the meeting at the governors office and against Rudos recommendations. There isnt a standard for there is no criteria specifically for in the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act for hexavalent chromium. So it is a true statement, because there isnt one. But it is also misleading and sort of it is not cool to do that. It is just not a this is not the kind of information we should be giving people, because it is misleading, Rudo said in the deposition. Later, he continued: And we still objected, you know, from within our group. We have e-mails with our very, you know, strong objections. But, I mean, you know, when we are told to do something, we are told to do something. You know, there are lines that we cant cross, both morally and ethically, which is why I removed my name from this at this point. But, you know, orders are orders. Protective order Duke Energy had tried to seal Rudos testimony, saying in its request for a protective order that the testimony was not finished and that some of it is based on hearsay. Portions of the deposition became available to the public Tuesday because it was part of the response filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center. Gerlach, the health department communications director, said the department stands by its decision to allow residents near coal ash ponds to return to drinking their well water, in keeping with safe drinking water practices across the country. And she said that the release of Rudos excerpted deposition is clearly a politically motivated attempt to manipulate and mislead the public by trial lawyers from an extreme left-wing environmental group. In the same email, Gerlach said Rudo wanted the state to use a standard in the health risk evaluations (HREs) that was 143 times more stringent than Californias regulatory standard considered safe for drinking. However, the 0.07 ppb standard Rudo and other North Carolina health experts helped calculate in accordance with the state groundwater rule allowing no more than a 1 in 1 million lifetime risk of cancer was actually less stringent than the one that California state health experts had proposed in 2011 as their public health goal 0.02 ppb. That threshold was ultimately increased to 10 ppb after state officials took into account non-health factors, such as the technical feasibility of enforcing the threshold and the associated costs. To activate the text-to-speech service, please first agree to the privacy policy below. Manila, Aug. 3 (CNA) New chairman of the Board of Directors of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) of the Philippines, Angelito Banayo, said Wednesday that he will take advantage of Taiwan government's new southbound policy to further promote the relations between the two countries. A RETHINK of the newly-proposed high speed rail route through South Yorkshire has been urged by an MP. John Healey wants HS2 Ltd to reconsider the new route it revealed weeks ago which will take the line through Aston, Bramley, Wales, Mexborough and the Dearne Valley. It was controversially moved from an option which took the line via a proposed interchange at Meadowhall. Now, the Wentworth and Dearne MP has demanded that the Meadowhall option be reconsidered. The new route has caused uproar by proposing a line through housing estates and businesses, sparking protest meetings and a march of angry homeowners. At one information event in Bramley, a man was left with a cut on his back and a ripped shirt after falling during a disagreement. Protesters from the Broadlands estate, which would be affected by the newly proposed route, marched from their homes to the meeting at Bramley Parish Hall. Mr Healey told new Transport Secretary Chris Grayling that he was dismayed that Meadowhall has been dropped in favour of an option which only offers a normal spur line from the fast track into Sheffield. The new route offers no South Yorkshire stations on the high speed line itself. In a letter to Mr Grayling, Mr Healey called for the Secretary of State to commission HS2 to undertake a study of the feasibility and benefits of a mainline South Yorkshire station, on the HS2 route rather than on a loop of standard rail track in central Sheffield. Mr Healey said that he had sought support from HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins for the study but would require the green light from the Transport Secretary before it could go ahead. Mr Healey said the change to the route had come out of the blue and he was dismayed by the new proposals. In a separate letter to Sir David Higgins, Mr Healey urged the HS2 chairman to work with Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster councils to address concerns over the proposed route. In response to the event at Bramley, an HS2 Ltd spokesman said: We understand how difficult a time this is for the community. Bramleys event was held to provide information so that those affected can understand the options that are available to them. With almost 1,200 people coming through the doors throughout the day, we were very pleased to see so many attend. No restrictions were put on those participating in the peaceful march from entering the event. But he said the significant number of people attending meant the room was simply not big enough to accommodate everyone and the event was closed for a short time for safety reasons. The latest proposals would also see a popular riding stables in Aston, which attracts horse lovers from across the country and runs sessions for disabled children, demolished. Owners father and son Robert and Richard Sampson said they had only received a lacklustre response from HS2 to their phone calls asking for information, even though the proposed rail line is earmarked to cut through the middle of their business as it follows the M1 up to its junction with the M18. COUNCIL leader Chris Read has called on the transport secretary to rethink HS2s ill considered plans in South Yorkshire. His letter to Chris Grayling said the economic and travel benefits from the high-speed rail link would be slight to non-existent. Cllr Read added: Without serious reconsideration, the current proposal is unacceptable to Rotherham residents. HS2 Ltds revised proposals ditched the idea of a station at Meadowhall for building on Sheffields existing Midland station. Cllr read said: Either the Meadowhall or Sheffield Victoria station options would potentially have seen six trains an hour in each direction, directly onto the new HS2 line. Journey times to London would be reduced to slightly more than an hour. HS2s new proposal would mean just two trains an hour to and from London and Birmingham into the existing Sheffield Midland station in the city centre. I understand that these classic convertible services will be only half the length of the main HS2 line services. Two trains of this size, rather than six 400m trains, are in effect just 15 per cent of the extra capacity than had previously been proposed. The new Sheffield spur will not be served by the fast HS2 trains. Journey times to London are expected to be one hour 23 minutes not much less than current travel times to the capital from Sheffield or Doncaster. Cllr Read said: For Rotherham residents who may now potentially be facing the inconvenience of HS2 being built through the borough, some of who are now facing the prospect of losing their homes, both the economic and travel benefits of the latest proposals are slight to non-existent. Worryingly, HS2 have not even been able to give us their prediction for how many properties may be affected. While early engagement with the public by HS2 staff is genuinely appreciated, these proposals seem hastily constructed and ill considered. Diamcor more than doubles Q2 revenue Diamcor generated gross revenues of about $3 million from its operations in the interim period ended September 30, 2022, compared to $1,4 million for the same period in the previous year. The company is still conducting trial mining exercises at its... IBJA commits to Declaration of Responsibility & Sustainability Principles The Indian gold industry has signed a Declaration of Responsibility and Sustainability Principles, convened by the LBMA and the World Gold Council, which expresses a commitment to operate responsibly and sustainably, based on a clear set of shared goals... 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. The European Commission (EC) has approved the request filed by Belgiums authorities to introduce a new taxation system for diamond trading companies in the country based on their lump sum margin instead of on the actual margin that is realized. It took approximately one year for the European Commission to examine the proposed tax reform in order to make sure that it is not a covert form of State aid, a conclusion it arrived at on July 29 2016. In a press release distributed on that day, the EC said that Belgian corporate tax provisions applicable to the wholesale diamond sector were in line with EU State aid rules. The provisions do not selectively favour certain companies and therefore involve no State aid within the meaning of EU rules. As far back as May 2015, Belgium notified the European Commission that it planned to introduce a specific income tax regime for diamond traders to address the difficulties in the application of the general income tax regime to the diamond sector. And now the Commission's assessment shows that the measure, as amended by the Belgian authorities in the meantime, is designed in such a way that it minimizes the possibility of selective advantages to certain companies in the wholesale diamond sector. Explaining the difficulties facing both the Belgian tax authorities and diamond trading businesses under the general Belgian corporate tax system, the EC noted that a taxpayer's taxable income depends in the first place on the profit registered in the accounts, while for wholesale traders in rough and polished diamonds their profit depends largely on the value of the inventory of diamonds registered in their accounts and since the valuation of the stones requires significant expertise, it is difficult for the Belgian tax administration to assess and correct the value of diamond inventories through tax audits. Moreover, diamonds at wholesale level are bought and sold as commodities, which adds to the complexity of tracing individual stones in traders' accounts. As a result, there is often litigation between diamond traders and the tax administration, creating legal uncertainty, the press release says. The new specific income tax regime for diamond traders in Belgium (the "Diamond Regime") seeks to address this difficulty by introducing a method to calculate the income tax base of diamond traders that does not require the tax administration to review the valuation of diamonds in the traders' accounts. Under the Diamond Regime, the calculation of a trader's gross profit is based on a fixed percentage of turnover, which also results in a fixed calculation of the value of stones purchased and the variation in the inventory during the accounting period (cost of goods sold), the EC adds. All this means that the yearly recurring fiscal control difficulties with which many diamantaires have been confronted in the past will come to an end, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) said commenting on the EC decision. The details of this new legislation will be communicated during an informational session on Friday August 5 in the AWDC building. A second informational session will be held on Friday September 2. Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished In an announcement through a press note, Rio Tinto says that it has launched its Australian Diamonds programme in China. This step was taken in response to the growing consumer and trade interest in diamond provenance; and to lend further market support to its Argyle diamonds. Bruno Sane, general manager of marketing for Rio Tinto Diamonds said: Increasingly the value of a diamond is tied to where and how the diamond was mined, how it was cut and polished and the process of bringing it to sale. This is a very reasonable expectation that is steadily reshaping the diamond industry for the better. Rio Tinto has been a first mover in this regard and has confirmed that from 2016 all of its global marketing activities will be focused on diamonds and jewellery collections that are tracked from the source and have a clear and transparent supply chain. Rita Maltez, director of Rio Tinto Diamonds for Greater China said Diamonds from Australia promise a deep authenticity, which for Chinese consumers is as desirable as our diamonds. Over the past five years, we have seen how Argyle diamonds inspire and inform the emerging Chinese diamond fashion jewellery market, from designers, through to retailers and ultimately consumers. I am delighted to be able to present this new programme which is all about providing consumer confidence and encapsulating the essence of the birthplace of Rio Tintos Argyle diamonds rugged landscapes, a rich heritage and raw luxury distilled into beautiful jewellery. Rio Tintos proprietary chain of custody system has been developed with authorized diamond and jewellery manufacturers and retailers and will be independently audited. Authorized suppliers and retailers have access to a trademark and a suite of marketing materials including a Certificate of Authenticity to accompany jewellery that passes through the system. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished De Beers sixth rough diamond sales for the year dropped to $520 million from $564 million realised during the fifth sales period. The latest sales were the lowest so far this year with the April sales of $666 million being the highest. As was the case with the previous cycle, which dropped to $564 million from the fourth cycles $636 million, De Beers was expecting a subdued result due to seasonal demand patterns. "This is an encouraging sales performance for this point in the year, supported by positive sentiment from our customers," said De Beers chief executive Bruce Cleaver. He said the group would maintain a cautious outlook for the remainder of 2016. Anglo American, which has a controlling stake in De Beers, indicated last week that the diamond giant profit increased 2 percent to $585 million during the first half of 2016 from $576 million, a year earlier as a result of higher revenues from stronger rough diamond demand, tight operating cost control and favourable exchange rates. De Beers total revenue was up 8 percent to $3.3 billion during the period under review from $3 billion, a year earlier, mainly driven by higher rough diamond sales, which increased by 11 percent to $3.1 billion. The increase in rough diamond sales was due to the midstream restocking from low inventory levels, coupled with steady consumer demand in key markets. Consolidated sales volumes rose 29 percent to 17.2 million carats during the first half of the year compared to 13.3 million carats that was recorded the previous year. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished The Rapaport Group invited customers to take part in an auction to be held on 9-18 August, where the company will offer for sale the first 100% natural and untreated melee diamond parcels in an attempt to solve a major ethical problem facing the industry. The press note distributed by the Group on Wednesday reads as follows: The diamond trade is under increasing pressure due to the unethical behavior of dealers who mix synthetic diamonds into parcels of natural diamonds. While it is relatively economical to individually test single large size diamonds, it has often been uneconomical to test parcels of small melee diamonds that may contain thousands of individual stones. As a result, parcels of melee are often sold within the trade without testing, resulting in synthetic diamonds being sold to consumers as natural. The fact that melee diamonds are mostly sold without testing encourages mixing and misrepresentation. This is a major ethical problem for the trade and will severely damage consumer confidence when discovered. The Rapaport Group believes that it is vital to support the trade and ensure consumer confidence by creating legitimate distribution channels for natural untreated melee. We are therefore providing clients with the opportunity to purchase parcels of 100% tested melee diamonds - where every individual diamond in the parcel has been tested to ensure that it is natural and untreated. In addition, we are also offering parcels of melee that have been statistically sample tested at a significance of 99% to a 1% tolerance level. The first 100% natural and untreated melee diamond parcels and sample tested parcels will be offered for sale at the upcoming Rapaport auction to be held August 9-18. Prices for these parcels will be set by the bidders. Rapaport will also be offering non-auction buyers an opportunity to place custom orders for select melee and larger diamonds that will be quality control graded and synthetic tested by Rapaport before delivery to clients. Rapaport operates RapLab quality control testing facilities in Mumbai, Ramat Gan and New York. Clients interested in purchasing 100% natural untreated diamonds or sample tested diamonds may email trading@diamonds.net or call +1-702-893-9400. As always I look forward to any comments or suggestions you may have. They can be emailed to me at martin@diamonds.net. Best regards, Martin Rapaport Chairman RAPAPORT Venus Jewel, a leading manufacturer and a globally renowned supplier of polished diamonds, has initiated a challenge to communicate its technological capabilities at the IIJS-2016 Show (Booth #J25-29 & H-26-30) in Mumbai, India. But how will a buyer be confident about buying Venus diamonds online? For this, Rajesh Shah, a partner at Venus Jewel, replies: It is only with maximum clarity, that your confidence will be enhanced. The more you are informed; the more you are aware of the details of what you are purchasing, greater your clarity and perception will be - which will ultimately improve your confidence. To encourage this confidence and trust in every customer and every prospective buyer it is important to first provide maximum product information, educate them and ultimately empower our partners in their buying decisions. And here is where the Venus Online Challenge or VOC comes in The challenge will be to show a diamond through Venus website www.venusjewel.com. After having complete information about the diamond and having seen it virtually, one has to judge its clarity grade. The challenger wins a surprise gift for taking out the time to go through the VOC. The company believes that the information their website provides is just as good as physically seeing the diamond; and those who go through the VOC will vouch for it. Mumbai headquartered Venus Jewel is globally reputed as one of the most trusted manufacturers of gem quality diamonds, producing round as well as fancy shaped solitaires 0.30 to +15 carats in size, of flawless to I2 clarities, and in the D - M colour range. Besides being the first Indian manufacturer to become a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), Venus also enjoys direct rough supply from reputed miners such as De Beers, ALROSA, Rio Tinto and Dominion Diamond Corporation. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) approved a plan allowing for the installation of solar energy generating equipment at 37 T-owned parking facilities. MBTA, which is the largest electricity consumer in Massachusetts, signed a 20-year lease agreement with Omni-Navitas Holdings LLC that will generate $1.9 million in base rent in the first year, with a three-percent annual increase. Once all the locations are fully operational, the MBTA will also realize approximately $5 million in savings through a reduction in snow removal, electricity and lighting maintenance costs. Over the 20-year length of the lease, the MBTA will realize $55 million in income and savings. The MBTA has undertaken an important opportunity to leverage its parking facilities to reduce costs, increase own-source revenue and support the commonwealths greater greenhouse gas reduction targets and clean energy goals, said Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. Private sector partnerships like these are essential to the Ts ability to focus on controlling costs and improving its core system to deliver the reliable public transit system its riders deserve. There will be a two-year installation period for putting the solar panels in place. The facilities are comprised of 28 MBTA surface parking lots and nine MBTA structured parking garages. Garage locations include Alewife, Quincy Adams, Braintree, Woodland, Salem, Lynn and Route 128 station in Westwood, as well as Beverly Station Garage and Wonderland Station Garage. The MBTA surface parking lot locations include Haverhill, Bradford, Ballardvale, Wilmington, Wakefield, Franklin, Norfolk, Norwood Depot, Readville, Gloucester, Montserrat, Hamilton/Wenham, Halifax, Whitman, Abington, South Weymouth, North Scituate, Cohasset, West Hingham, Weymouth Landing, Westborough, Southborough, West Natick, Canton Center, Canton Junction, Hyde Park, South Acton and Hanson. The MBTA also seeks to promote the development of renewable energy including solar photovoltaic facilities on its property for its own use. MBTA has focused on the development of a system-wide approach to implement energy efficiency programs with a goal of clean renewable energy development on its large real estate holdings. In May, the MBTA projected a 12.8 percent reduction in energy costs for the 2017 Fiscal Year, and expects to see additional savings during the next three years. Reversing direction, the New Zealand dollar weakened against the U.S. dollar and the euro in early European deals on Wednesday. The kiwi pared gains to 0.7185 against the greenback, from a high of 0.7245 hit at 5:15 pm ET. The kiwi dropped to a 5-day low of 1.5599 against the euro, off its early high of 1.5481. If the kiwi extends slide, it may target support around 0.70 against the greenback and 1.58 against the euro. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Forex News Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., (TEVA) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Allergan's Anda Inc., a distributor of generic pharmaceuticals in the U.S. for $500 million. Teva will acquire three distribution centers in Olive Branch, MS; Weston, FL; and Groveport, OH, with a total of over 650 employees. Anda distributes generic, brand, specialty and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products from more than 300 manufacturers to retail independent and chain pharmacies, nursing homes, mail order pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and physician offices across the United States. Teva Pharma said, for the full year 2016, Anda is expected to generate more than $1 billion in third-party net revenue. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2016. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Indian shares tumbled on Wednesday as the long-awaited Goods and Services Tax that aims to bring a unified tax rate in the country came closer to becoming a reality. With traders locking in some recent gains ahead of GST vote in the Rajya Sabha later today, the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex ended the session down 284.20 points or 1.02 percent at 27,697.51, marking its lowest level in over three weeks. The broader CNX Nifty index fell by 78.05 points or 0.91 percent to 8,544.85 to post its biggest single-day loss since June 24. Trading sentiment was also impacted by weak cues from Asia and Europe as a slew of negative catalysts such as sliding oil prices, a deepening rout in Japanese government debt and concerns about the state of Europe's banks sent investors fleeing riskier assets. Stocks fell across the board, with Reliance Industries, Larsen & Toubro, Maruti Suzuki, ITC, Tata Motors and BHEL losing 2-4 percent. HCL Technologies jumped over 3 percent on better-than-expected Q1 results. Metal stocks such as Hindalco Industries, JSW Steel and Vedanta eked out modest gains on a report that a government body has recommended temporary anti-dumping duty on some steel products. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis UniCredit Group (UCG,UNCFF.PK) announced Wednesday that its global services company, UniCredit Business Integrated Solutions or UBIS, and SIA have signed a framework agreement for the sale of UBIS's card processing activities in Italy, Germany and Austria. The deal values 500 million euros in cash. UniCredit Group has also agreed to enter into a ten year outsourcing contract with SIA for the provision of card processing services, allowing UniCredit Group to retain access to the same high quality standard of service whilst exiting a non-core activity. The transaction will generate a consolidated net capital gain of around 440 million euros for UniCredit. The closing of the transaction is expected by the end of 2016, subject to customary regulatory authorisations. PricewaterhouseCoopers and HSBC assisted as financial advisors and DLA Piper as legal advisor. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that NYPD Police Commissioner Bill Bratton is retiring in September. James O'Neill will succeed him. This was Brattons second term as New York City Police Commissioner. Commissioner Bratton established an international reputation for re-engineering police departments and fighting crime in the 1990s. As Chief of the New York City Transit Police, Boston Police Commissioner, and in his first term as New York City Police Commissioner, he revitalized morale and cut crime in all three posts, achieving the largest crime declines in New York City's history. At the NYPD in 1994 and 1995, he led the development of Compstat, the internationally acclaimed command accountability system now in use by police departments nationwide. As Los Angeles Police Chief from 2002 to 2009 and in a city known for its entrenched gang culture and youth violence, he brought crime to historically low levels, greatly improved race relations, and reached out to young people with a range of innovative police programs. He is the only person ever to lead the police agencies of the nation's two largest cities. A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, Commissioner Bratton began his career in 1970. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Taipei, Aug. 3 (CNA) Two cases of measles infection have been confirmed to have originated from a domestic departure area at Taipei Songshan Airport, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) urged the public Wednesday to be on alert if they have traveled to places where either of the two patients have visited between July 26 and Aug. 1. Millennial Moms Review: 2022 Acura MDX is pretty close to the perfect family car I dont know if perfect is attainable, especially considering weve got the world of options when it comes to modern vehicles. Were spoiled and, as such, we have very specific needs and wants. Driving-wise, the 2022 Acura MDX is one of my favourite ... Twenty Samoan doctors and nurses are heading to China. They will attend a training Course on Caring Techniques of Women and Children to be held at the Hunan Childrens Hospital in China for a month. The trip is funded by the Chinese government as part of its bilateral assistance in accordance with the needs of Samoas medical sector. The participants will have the opportunity to learn about Family Centred Care Neonatal preoperative treatment, developmental care in preterm, clinical pathway, management of emergency nursing, nurse care, clinical observation and health education. The course will combine lectures, clinical attachments and practices. Participants will also have the chance to visit and study modern neonatology and Pediatric wards in China. Yesterday, the participants met with the Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, Wang Xuefeng at Vailima. Im very happy to welcome the doctors and nurses from the hospital that will be going to China for the one month seminar, he said. We organise several functions like this because we want to introduce the schedule for each seminar to let you know what will be happening before you arrive in China. Mr. Xuefeng reminded that Samoa and China are great friends. Samoa and China are good partners, some times we say we are good brothers and sisters, he said. We established diplomatic relationship in 1975 so last year, China and Samoa celebrated the 40th anniversary of the founding of diplomatic relationship between the two countries. We help and support each other and we cherish our friendship. To create more projects that is needed by the Samoan people such as this seminar because I find in the villages that doctors and nurses will serve the mother and the kids is very necessary. So we are happy to see twenty talented doctors and nurses going to China to receive the training for one month. I hope that you will have fun on your trip and you will learn a lot from this one month training and then when you come back you will provide a report in regards to the trip and what you have learned from your trip. In 2015 more than 200 participants from Samoa gained opportunities to be trained in China and this year I believe that there will be more training opportunities for Samoa. The team will leave on Sunday. China's Defense Ministry has angrily rejected accusations from Japan that the Chinese military is destabilizing the regional military balance by seeking to change the status-quo in the East and South China Seas, accusing Japan of seeking to deceive the international community and sow discord between China and its neighbors. A ministry statement issued late Tuesday Japan's annual defense report was "full of lousy cliches, makes irresponsible remarks on China's normal and legal national defense and military development (and) hypes up the East and South China Sea issues." "The ultimate objective of Japan is to cook (up) excuses for adjusting by leaps and bounds its military and security policies and accelerating its arms expansion, even rewriting the pacifist constitution," the statement said, referring to legislation passed last year that loosened post-World War II constraints on the Japanese military. The report is "full of malice toward the Chinese military and deception to the international community, as well as intension to sow discord among China and its neighboring countries," the statement said, citing ministry spokesman Col. Wu Qian. The tone of the report was typical for China, which was invaded by Japan in World War II and continues to regard its neighbor as unrepentant and a threat to its global rise. The statement also reiterated China's claim to disputed East China Sea islands controlled by Japan and said it was Japan that altered the status-quo by purchasing the chain from its private owners in 2012. Since then, China has routinely dispatched coast guard vessels and patrols planes to the area and a Chinese navy warship recently entered a strip of water just outside Japanese-claimed waters in the area. The Japanese report said increased activity in the East China Sea prompted Japan to scramble warplanes more than 570 times last year. Japan calls the disputed islands the Senkaku, while China calls them the Diayu. Along with the U.S. and others, Japan expressed concern over massive Chinese land reclamation projects undertaken in the South China Sea. China says it is well within its rights to build the islands, complete with airstrips and harbors, and rejected an international arbitration panel's ruling last month that invalidated Beijing's claim to virtually the entire strategic water body. -AP Six years ago Samoas Supreme Law - its Constitution - was dealt a resounding blow. Deemed unwarranted by many at the time though, nevertheless it seemed the man wielding the blow - Samoas Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi - was absolutely sure that what he was doing was right. It appeared that his aim was to nullify Controller and Chief Auditor Fuimaono C. Afeles reports on the Treasury Departments financial spending among other commitments - for the years 2010 and 2012 for whatever reason it has not been spelt out, and yet as it turned out, he succeeded. Still, what could have followed might have been quite unthinkable to say the least, had not the people of this country believed totally that when it came to what their current prime minister had fixed his mind on so to speak, it was time then to agree totally that nothing anyone might do or say - could ever rattle his resolve. Still, now that those reports will have been rearranged so that any veracity they might have held will have most likely been destroyed, the unavoidable conclusion is that all public funds that had been spent on putting them together might as well be written down, as fodder for corruption so that it is allowed to remain alive and well in Samoa. Whats more, now that those reports had not been tabled in Parliament as the law had decreed, the message for everyone who was keen to listen then was pretty much as clear as daylight. It said since the precedence had been established, there was nothing anyone could do from then on to stop Parliament from breaking any law it had made, as well as even those it had yet to make. As a result, today we are living in a country lorded over by a seemingly law-abiding Parliament which is wonderful, since that way the suggestion is made that in there its quite possible that law-breaking is not commonplace. So lets see. Samoas Supreme Law or its Constitution if you prefer - is clear on the role of the Controller and Chief Auditor. Article 97 (12) says: There shall be a Controller and Chief Auditor, who shall be appointed by the Head of State, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Controller and Chief Auditor shall audit the Treasury Fund, such other public funds or accounts as may be established, the accounts of all Departments and offices of executive government and the accounts of such other public, statutory or local authorities and bodies as may be provided by Act. And now, as if to ensure that vital reminder is succinctly clear and adhered to, Samoas Supreme Law insists: The Controller and Chief Auditor shall report at least once annually to the Legislative Assembly on the performance of his functions under this Article, and shall in his report draw attention to any irregularities in the accounts audited by him. Which is where the confusion arises. The question is: How can the Controller and Chief Auditor carry out his constitutional responsibilities pertaining to his reports on Treasurys financial transactions, if his reports for the years 2010 and 2011 had taken a long time to be tabled in Parliament, and then they had not even been debated there as the law decreed? Indeed, what might have happened if the government had insisted on obeying the law instead of shunning it as if it did not exist, especially with its handling of those reports by the Controller and Chief Auditor? In addition, what might have happened if Prime Minister Tuilaepa had not snubbed the reports as if there was something seriously wrong with them, and then passed them on to the Officers of Parliament Committee (O.P.C.) with the instructions to review them, and then get back to Parliament? We repeat. That was six years ago. Asked for a comment yesterday, C.C.A. Fuimaono said in a written statement the governments response to the O.P.C. report of corrective, remedial actions and explanations came out in 2014. In the meantime, the audit reports for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 are currently being prepared for submission to the new Parliament by December 2016 at the latest. He also said: The audits and reports of Ministries and Public Bodies are updated first to 2015 before the audit reports to parliament for the same period are prepared and completed. And lastly he wrote: I trust the above will help with your questions. Still, why is it that there is this nagging fear Samoas Supreme Law is under threat of being abolished by the governing Human Rights Protection Party? Indeed, with its near-absolute majority in Parliament at the moment, is it possible for the Parliament to just do away with government if it felt like it? Tell us what you think. Note: The comments by the Controller and Chief Auditor, Fuimaono Camillo Afele, were given to reporter Lanuola Tusani Tupufia, during an interview yesterday. Re: With an apology, mutual respect and peace are undeniable Thank you Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa for your editorial. Ua e tali faatamalii. Ua e tali faatupu. Pei o upu e masani ai si o tatou atunuu, E iloa le tamalii i lana tu, i lana savali ma lana tautala. But let me ask you a question, What did it feel like to apologise to the people, knowing you didnt do anything wrong? What does it feel like to sacrifice the Truth to satisfy those who denied the Truth? It mustve been very frustrating and disappointing. You mustve felt depressed; hurt; powerless and confused. But you made a choice and sacrificed yourself for the Truth in order to satisfy those hypocrites and fools who denied the Truth, so they may have peace. Now the question I would like to ask those who demanded the apology, Are you really living in peace right now, after receiving your apology from an innocent man? When I first read your editorial, I was disappointed with you for backing down from the Truth. I thought deeply about it and soul searched outside and inside of myself, searching for the message, the logic and the philosophy in what you did. I couldnt find it anywhere but guess where I found it? I found it in the Bible where Jesus lowered himself, was whipped and spat at; crucified; his heart speared and was condemned to die on the cross half naked by those who refused to accept the Truth. As we all know, Jesus is the Word and the Truth. Thats when I found satisfaction in your response and understood why you apologized and where you were coming from. Only the humble and the greatest can do what you did and what you did shows a man of true character and leadership. I salute you. I wondered too if those who crucified Jesus found peace at last and were satisfied by what they did to Him? I doubt it very much. But hear me out, Ive written many letters to your paper where Ive repeated myself saying that Samoa today is no longer a Christian nation and is no longer founded in God as we once were. Samoa today is founded upon corruption; ignorance; lies; greed; hypocrisy, etc. Here are my reasons why: Look around you. Look at our govt. Look at our Matai. Look at our spiritual leaders. Look at P.M. Tuilaepa and H.R.P.P. Can anyone honestly tell me that P.M. Tuilaepa truly believes Samoa is still founded in God? Because if he did, then he wouldnt deny poverty, the high crime rate; the increasing high unemployment rate; he wouldnt deny the people the Chief Auditor and the O.P.C. reports that are yet to be tabled in Parliament; he wouldnt deny govt. corruption under his leadership; he wouldnt write leniency letters for rapists and criminals; he wouldnt call our people all names under the sun; he wouldnt make excessive loans, now exceeding $1.5billion, that will enslave our future generations; he wouldnt make broken promises and excuses to the peoplethe list can go on and on forever about P.M. Tuilaepa and his H.R.P.P. govt. and their denials. The most disappointing thing about this: Every M.P. in govt today knows about the evidence of corruption that is still occurring today. Even our spiritual leaders are aware of it. Does that sound like a country founded on God? Of course not. As Einstein said, The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who dont do anything about it. Regarding the Pulenuu Fata Saifoloi and the matai who aired their grievances on national TV, I strongly believe there were other more powerful men instigating it. This whole thing appears shonky to me. I remembered what P.M. Tuilaepa said in the past the Pulenuu is employed by the govt and they are the eyes and ears of the govt. So really, the Pulenuu are not for the people, but are servants for the govt. And since when in the Samoan culture were these small matai po lalago allowed to question the Paramount Titles that belong to kingship families, where the Titles are conferred only to their descendants of their bloodline? The pulenuu and the matai are puppets on a string. But what is the puppeteers problem with the holders of Paramount Titles? Why is he sticking his ignoble nose into the Paramount Title holders and their families business and village affairs as well? Sao ai le saunoaga a le Head of State sa fai i le vaitaimi sa Palemia ai, i puppets/pulenuu ma le latou puppeteer Kou ke fiu a e uu le kae puaa i le uu, e pipilo a. That same puppeteer has butchered our Constitution and changed our laws and used that to change the village faavae and aganuu to serve his evil and egotistical agenda. That is corruption at its best. Youre not the only Paramount Title holder this happened to. It happened to Le Tagaloa Pita. Remember too what happened to the Head of State and Lufilufi where the courts ruled in favor of the Head of State? I remember the incident between the late Malietoa Tanumafili II and the village of Malie where they overstepped their boundary with him. He told them straight, Vaai outou i uma ae ua leai ni fanua tou te nonofo ai. They quickly withdrew. Living in Samoa today under these leaders and their governance, is like living in a desert island where theres no water to quench your thirst. If your soul is thirsty for the Truth, thered be no river of Truth here in Samoa to quench it. The rivers of Truth have dried out from corruption. Mebahel Raguel Dear Editor, Samoans are naturally generous people; they are giving and often do so without waiting for anything in return. On a recent trip to Samoa for a family reunion I couldnt help but notice the extravagant churches on the island. I was taken back even more at the cost of these churches some reaching into the millions and to my surprise it was the congregation that raised this money. My top 4 reasons why culture has caused this hardship: 1. People give what they dont have to religious institutions at their own suffering. The religious institutions instead of having simple churches want to out do each other at the cost of hardship for their members 2. There is a culture of corruption in your government which flows down to other departments. The amount of foreign financial aid Samoa receives from other nations is falling short of the public. Politicians, police, and Justice system lining their pockets with Chinese bribes and mismanaged aid. The sad thing is, its the people that miss out, the rich get richer and the poor..oh well lifes tough. 3. The beauty of simplicity, thats what the islands are all about!! Yet we live beyond our means. The demands of culture are real from faalavelaves, church, government, family the list goes on. One rule our dad taught us was if you cant afford it dont buy it so it may mean breaking the cultural norms and saying to family Im sorry this is all I can give. Its always easy getting things on a loan or credit but remember you have to pay it back at some stage. Live within your means. 4. Our giving hearts. Who hasnt had an aunty or an uncle say heres $20 go buy yourself an ice-cream? its just a part of who we are. Its hard to save when we are always so giving. Samoan people are amongst the most generous people I know. From the examples above we will give even if it means my family may go hungry. Its ok to think of yourself once in a while to look after yourself first at times, I know I know, hard to do. As I look around Samoa it is evident that there is true hardship, and it is also evident that change needs to come from the top. Our leaders do not show the discipline, honesty and the integrity to represent the people. Until these corrupt leeches are voted out there will always be hardship. Kwantas Something is changing in Samoas world of farming. While the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Crops Division had initiated a training for the countrys local farmers, something more interesting was brought to the fore: the promise of good prospects for Samoas producers of cabbage and carrots. The coordinator of the Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project (S.A.C.E.P.), Lafaele Enoka, explained the programmes aim: We want to support fruit and vegetable farmers [as well as] livestock producers by improving their enterprise productivity. Therefore, they need to take greater advantage of domestic and export market opportunities, he said in front of more than fifty farmers that had gathered at Hotel Eliza in Apia to hear about the newest possibilities to expand their profit margin. What followed, was indeed an opportunity for the local farmers to take this advantage. Without a market, there is no farming. And without people that buy, there are no farmers, Julian Velez, Consultant for S.A.C.E.P. explained the dependence of local farmers on the existing market. While the current situation between suppliers and sellers was particularly characterized by a certain tension, which Velez described as a mistrust between buyers, farmers and sellers, he promised a change for the future. One of the major problems that Ah Liki and all the buyers have, is that their rate of waste is very high. They have to throw away a lot of products because theyre not getting the right product they need to sell it in the stores. As Julian Selvez told, Samoa must develop a common language of specification concerning the selling process of locally produced vegetables in the stores. If there would be an agreement that determines a carrot should be for instance, fifteen centimetres long and comes with a special diameter, the buyer would then know what kind of product to expect. Selvez even mentioned special requirements that would be demanded by Samoas biggest buyers Ah Liki and Frankie Wholesale. The co-operation, which would last for at least one year, with Ah Liki concentrating on carrots, onions and sweet peppers with the first two making up an amount of approximately 228 tons that would be delivered to the buyer by local farmers. As for the farmers, the agreement would also be bound to special terms they would have to meet in order to achieve a successful partnership. These terms would include for instance, that farmers would have to provide deliveries [of the products] on a bi-weekly basis, with the pricing being guided by the situation of the market in New Zealand. The price paid to S.A.C.E.P.-Farmers will never be less than an agreed floor price that has to be negotiated, Julian Selvez promised the farmers. Concerning the possible partnership with Frankie Wholesale, Selvez was able to reveal slightly different terms for a co-operation. The buyer that wants local farmers to produce Chinese cabbage, watercress, cucumber and pumpkin to sell in his stores, also puts a figure on his offer. In concrete, Frankies demands farmers to produce 4000 to 6000 bundles of Chinese cabbage and watercress per week, while the number of cucumbers (800 packets) and pumpkins (2000 units) are measured slightly lower. Another term of the offer submitted by Frankie Wholesale also included the measurement of the area where the products should be grown: those areas would not be allowed to undercut a special minimum size suggested by the company to ensure a safe supply. Frankie Wholesale would also use another way of payment for the farmers compared to competitive buyers. Not only should the products [] be delivered to the stores by the farmers, the buyer also offers a price made up of the Fugalei price [with] prices being higher in the rainy season from October to March. In the end it is up to each and every one of the farmers in Samoa for this partnership to bear fruit, but what has to be emphasised is that the first signs of doubt are already showing during this ongoing training. What if theres not enough land to supply the amount of products that are demanded by the buyers? was the question asked by Olivia Fidow from the village of Utualii. She also explained that the vegetables from Samoa can barely be compared size-wise to those imported from New Zealand or other overseas nations which at the moment supply the stores in the country. For Julian Selvez from S.A.C.E.P., who spoke in behalf of the buyers, the emphasis of a possible partnership between local farmers and buyers must lay within the teamwork. We can show you how to produce carrots [the same size as in New Zealand], he promised. For the local farmers of Samoa, these offers might promise a chance to seize, but if the fulfilment of the demanded terms really can be met, is something only time can tell. The Director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (A.D.R.A.) Samoa, Sua Julia Wallwork, is all smiles. She has every reason to, having returned from Fiji where a paper she presented during a major global forum held there was honoured. Suas paper titled Coupling Disaster and Financial Management to Reduce Vulnerability: Challenging the Traditional Samoan Mindset she presented during the Symposium on Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific Region earned first place. More than 90 countries were represented with some 45 speakers including Sua from Samoa. Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Sua said she spoke about the Samoan experience in using traditional knowledge to look for indicators of climate change. I spoke about our Samoan experience using traditional knowledge in how we look to the sun, moon and the stars for our indicators for climate change and how we name our winds, she said. We know our winds like the Toelau, Tuaoloa and I said that adaptation in the climate change should be from the lens of the Pacific Islander because we know our needs, lands, our seeds and our sunrise and we know our people. Instead of a scientific data, we put up a power point of 30 pictures of our beautiful Samoa, all the beauty of Samoa starting from the people, the sceneries and then we put up another 30 pictures of the devastation of Samoa from the tsunami and cyclones, the devastating impact. [And] then the last part was the measures in place, the different projects that we are now implementing to train our people to create awareness among our people. Asked if she expected her paper to come first, Sua said no. I was worried about the presentation because I knew I was going to be up against a field of scientists who are well qualified scientists on climate change, she said. Our work here in A.D.R.A. is to prepare the community for climate change, its only part of our work because the main work of A.D.R.A. is humanitarian. The programme says that there was going to be an award ceremony but I didnt really think about it, in fact my paper was presented on the last day of the symposium, I was third from the last presenter. After presenting my paper I told one of my staff that went with me to go for lunch because I didnt eat the whole day. I was so worried about my presentation. Back at Symposium, Sua said she did not expect to win anything. So we came back to the Tanoa and then I went and sat all the way at the back with the other Samoan representatives we went with and the announcer started calling out the winners from third place. I just sat there thinking oh two Indians won third and second place and I was thinking ok Im sure a palagi scientist will take first place. But then I saw the heading of my paper coming through and I sat up and said to my staff oh goodness thats my paper. I stood up and walked to the front with my head held high and so proud of being a Samoan. All the Samoan representatives stood up and started screaming with joy because out of 90 countries that were at the symposium and 45 presentations, it was an honour because I am from a small country and I am a grandmother and here I was collecting the award for the Best Paper. Its a great honour for Samoa and for A.D.R.A. The man dubbed as Samoas most dangerous criminal, Lautiiti Tualima, is safely behind bars. This was confirmed by the Commissioner of Prisons and Correctional Services, Taitosaua Edward Winterstein, yesterday. Contacted by the Samoa Observer for a comment, Taitosaua ended rumours that the criminal had escaped again. Everyday we get calls from people raising the same concern, said Taitosaua. Even our Minister (of Prison) said he received numerous calls from the public in the middle of the night about the escape. He is still there (behind bars). He explained that the rumours began from an old story from the Samoa Observer being shared by people on social media, misleading the country that Tualima is at large. The Commissioner pointed out that Lauitiiti cannot escape again. He knows the consequences of it, said Taitosaua. People might do something to him. But Taitosaua declined to comment on Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaois remarks about the authority and the Commissioner being negligent and foolish. Tuilaepa recently made the comments following an interview with 60Minutes Australia that questioned the facilities at Tafaigata and Tualima being able to escape atleast three times. Whats being said by the Prime Minister is what he says, said Taitosaua. I cannot say anything else. They are back! The world famous and God-fearing family of five brothers touched down at Faleolo International Airport last night. The group is in Samoa for the 2016 National Youth Praise Festival being held in front of the government building this week. The Christian group will be using their short stay in Samoa to give back to their people. Although they are taking a small holiday break from their tours, they decided to use their holiday time to heed the request by Youth for Christ Samoa (Y.F.C.) to lead Praise and Worship on the final two nights of the Festival. The last time the group was here was for the Feast of Tabernacles that took place in September last year. According to Y.F.C. Director, Manasa Aloalii, the group was really excited when asked to participate in the Festival. Part of their excitement comes from being able to perform in front of the Government building, he said. They said they have always wanted to perform in front of the Government building and now they have the chance. Mr. Aloalii also said that getting the Katinas to perform is not an easy task, but they have shown how big their heart is for Samoa by not only agreeing to come to Samoa; but to also do so pretty much free of charge. The brothers will be sharing their testimonies and performing in front of the Government building on Friday and Saturday free of charge. Think a minuteHenri Latour was the greatest detective in France during the 19th century. He was a mastermind at finding evidence and clues, then fitting it all together to find the criminal and bring him to justice. But mysteriously, this living legends career suddenly ended. Detective Henri Latour was called to the scene of a horrible, violent crime. An old couple had been robbed and brutally murdered. The police had already arrested a suspect. But shortly after studying the crime scene and evidence, Latours instincts convinced him that the police had arrested the wrong man. He promised the police and the family that he would find the missing pieces of the puzzle and the murderer. So began what many have called the most brilliant tracking of a criminal in the history of France. Henri Latour carefully gathered all the different pieces of evidence, one piece at a time, until he finally found his man and criminal. The newspapers praised Latours brilliant detective work and spread the news of his fame all over France. Then suddenly, after solving that case, Latour retired and moved away. In fact, he lived alone for the remaining 25 years of his life. You see, it was only after he died that the true identity of the last criminal Latour tracked down was made known to the public. In his last case, Latour had refused to back down from the truth, even when his investigation revealed and proved that the murderer was none other than Latours own son. Sometimes the truth can be very painful. But sooner or later we each have to face it: weve done some things wrong in our life. And until we admit this fact to our Maker, well never be free from our guilt. Its then we realize that the price we pay of hurting our pride is nothing compared to losing our relationship with our Maker. And the only thing we have to do is ask Jesus Christ for His forgiveness and new life. Then with Him in charge, we can start changing and living His way, which is the only way well ever have peace of mind and be free. Just Think a Minute! Their party in crisis, Republicans' frustration with Donald Trump reached new heights on Wednesday as GOP leaders scrambled to persuade the presidential nominee to abandon divisive tactics that have led to sinking poll numbers and low morale. Party chairman Reince Priebus appealed to the New York billionaire's adult children to help. Priebus joined a handful of high-profile Trump allies in considering whether to confront the candidate directly following a series of startling stances and statements with Election Day quickly approaching. Trump has exposed deepening party divisions by refusing to endorse GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan's re-election and continuing to criticize the family of a slain U.S. soldier. An official with direct knowledge of Priebus' thinking was granted anonymity to discuss internal strategy after one of the most tumultuous weeks of Trump's presidential campaign. Yet the most powerful Republicans in Washington and New York's Trump Tower concede things will not change unless Trump wants them to. "The candidate is in control of his campaign," campaign chairman Paul Manafort told the Fox News Network Wednesday afternoon. "And I'm in control of doing the things that he wants me to do in the campaign." Priebus, a close friend of Ryan, is deeply irritated by Trump's recent actions and his unwillingness to accept guidance from senior advisers. The party chairman and the Trump confidants, as well as numerous GOP lawmakers, have been particularly irked by the candidate's repeated criticism of an American Muslim family whose son, a U.S. Army captain, was killed in Iraq. "I would say in the last couple of weeks, he has been remarkably underperforming and we'll see whether or not he can take a deep breath and learn these lessons," said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Fox Business News. Gingrich may join Priebus and another Trump ally, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, in specifically urging Trump to adjust his approach, according to the Republican official. Trump on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that the GOP frustration was hurting his campaign. He wrote on Twitter: "There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before. I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support. Beat Crooked H!" a reference to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Yet Trump's vice presidential nominee, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, appeared to break with him later in the day during a phone interview with Fox. Pence said he spoke with Trump Wednesday morning "about my support for Paul Ryan and our longtime friendship. He strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday's primary. And I'm pleased to do it." Trump stunned Republicans by telling The Washington Post in an interview Tuesday that he wasn't ready to endorse Ryan, who faces a primary contest in Wisconsin next week. Ryan has backed Trump despite deep differences on policy and temperament, and has encouraged other Republicans to unite behind the party's nominee. Trump's latest comments came on the heels of his criticism of Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004. Trump has said he himself was "viciously attacked" by the Khans, who appeared at last week's Democratic convention and challenged the Republican's fitness to be commander in chief. The turbulent week, backed by sinking poll numbers, has led to low morale within Trump's small campaign team. After months of Trump promising to adopt a more presidential tone, Republicans are beginning to lose hope of a pivot for the general election. "He's incapable of changing. He's irremediable," said Republican strategist Rick Tyler, who previously worked for Trump adversary Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Former Trump adviser Barry Bennett acknowledged signs of poor morale among the campaign staff he maintains contact with, but he also said it would be silly dismiss Trump's chances with three months before Election Day. "This would be the end of any other Republican candidate in the history of the country. And he's only 5 or 6 points behind," Bennett said. Indeed, Trump on Wednesday reported raising $80 million in July for his campaign and the Republican Party. The numbers mark a significant upswing since May, when he was badly outraised by Democratic rival Clinton. He began August with $37 million in his campaign account. Clinton raised $63 million in July for her campaign, as well as $26 million for the Democratic National Committee and state parties, bringing her total monthly fundraising to about $90 million. Trump's $80 million includes about $64 million raised through online and direct mail appeals, the campaign said, evidence that Trump is leaning on small donors to finance the bulk of his presidential run. He's also continuing to invest his own money, contributing $2 million last month. Manafort dismissed reports of a so-called intervention by Priebus, Gingrich and Giuliani. "The campaign's focused and the campaign is moving forward in a positive way," Manafort told Fox. "The only need we have for an intervention is maybe with some media types who keep saying things that aren't true." -AP Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos 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Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu 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 Come and enjoy Read more [...] Doylestown, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/03/2016 -- LEM Products, Inc. provides customers with a number of water safety labels and identification solutions. They understand the importance of protecting people from the dangers that America's water infrastructure presents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is ranked fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States. The CDC has also found that there was an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States from 2005-14. Over 50 percent of drowning victims that are treated require hospitalization or are transferred for further care. These alarming statistics make it imperative for water infrastructure in the United States to have the proper precautions in place. LEM Products, Inc. offers solutions to help inform the public about these dangers. LEM Products, Inc. supplies products such as hydrant rings, No Trespassing signs and water pipeline decals. Hydrant rings provide firefighters with important information about the functionality and ownership of hydrants. Information such as warnings against unauthorized use, if the hydrant is out of use and the different levels of water flow capacity are highlighted. This company's No Trespassing signs are used around areas such as reservoirs. They can be made from various outdoor durable materials such solar-grade polycarbonate, baked aluminum, fiberglass and linear polyethylene. Their water pipeline decals denote the presence of a pipeline and warn workers not to dig in the area. LEM Products, Inc. cares about the safety of others by providing products such as a water solution tag, high voltage warning label and danger high voltage label. To find out more about LEM Products, Inc. and their products, one can call 800-220-2400 or visit http://www.lemproductsinc.com/. About LEM Products, Inc. LEM Products, Inc. is an industry leader in the manufacture of identification products that protect people by identifying potential hazards, provide instructional and facility/site safety information. Precision manufacturing, a dedication to customer satisfaction and a commitment to achieving corporate targets for growth and social investment set LEM apart in the industry. LEM Products, Inc. is a WBENC certified company with the reputation as a leading safety identification supplier in North America and beyond. They are certified by the California Public Utilities Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. Business placed with LEM Products, Inc. qualifies for Federal and State Diversity Spend initiatives. For over 49 years, LEM Products, Inc. has been providing wire marking, pipe marking, safety signage, lockout tags and other products to utilities, corporations, and manufacturers to mark facilities and products for OSHA/ANSI compliance and safety. Maureen O'Connor, CEO, has received numerous awards for her leadership, her commitment to diversity in the workplace and community involvement. LEM has built a solid reputation, across industries as a dependable supplier of industrial products ranging from safety labels and safety signs to lockout tagout to custom tags and more. For more information, please visit http://www.lemproductsinc.com/. Springfield, MO -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/03/2016 -- Lawyers in Missouri won't have to wait too long before they can begin petitioning courts to expunge old criminal convictions under a Missouri expungement bill that was signed by Governor Jay Nixon on July 13, 2016. Governor Jay Nixon signed Senate Bill 588 into law, which makes expungement in Missouri possible for thousands of Missourians with prior criminal convictions. The attorneys at Carver, Cantin & Mynarich anticipate a high demand for this service and have already begun studying the law to best see how to take advantage of its provisions for their clients. Although it won't go into effect until January 1, 2018, many Missourians for the first time will have the opportunity to finally shed themselves of prior convictions. For at least the past four decades there have been no good answers for those seeking to expunge criminal convictions. Attorneys in Missouri, except in limited circumstances, had very little to offer offenders who wanted to expunge a criminal conviction. Perhaps more than any other area of inquiry the attorneys at Carver, Cantin & Mynarich receive, people want to know if they can expunge misdemeanor or felony convictions. Oftentimes, the calls come from individuals who have been disqualified from employment or from people who are just seeking to restore their own sense of dignity and worth. It won't help those who have been convicted of sex offenses or violent crime, but for thousands it will be a source of real relief. A close reading of the Missouri expungement legislation (Senate Bill 588) reveals that there are still many impediments to expungement, but for crimes against property and drug crimes there is hope. Likewise, to those unfamiliar with the process, there are pitfalls that can discourage applicants. Obviously, the process is defined by law and who better to understand and negotiate its provisions than a lawyer from Carver, Cantin & Mynarich. Because actual convictions can be expunged under the new law it seems probable that the qualifying list of arrests that can be expunged will be expanded. About Carver, Cantin & Mynarich Carver, Cantin & Mynarich are a highly skilled team of criminal defense lawyers in Springfield MO with considerable experience, having tried over 450 federal criminal cases and many more at the state level in Missouri. The law firm focuses on criminal defense and possesses a wide range of expertise from capital murder cases to white collar crime, tax law, Internet and sex crimes, DWI, and more. Please visit: http://www.carvercantin.com Contact: Thomas Carver 417-831-6363 or tom@carvercantin.com to discuss your case. Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/03/2016 -- The report "Plasma Therapy Market by Type (Pure PRP, Leukocyte-Rich PRP, Pure Platelet-Rich Fibrin, Leukocyte-Rich Fibrin), Source (Autologous, Allogenic), Application (Orthopedic, Dermatology, Cardiac Muscle Injury), End User, Region - Global Forecast to 2021", The report provides a detailed overview of drivers, restraints, challenges, opportunities, current market trends, and strategies impacting the plasma therapy market, along with estimates and forecast of the revenue and market share analysis. Browse 141 market data Tables and 98 Figures spread through 210 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Plasma Therapy Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/plasma-therapy-market-186196333.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The global plasma therapy market is expected to grow from USD 135.6 Million in 2016 to USD 297.6 Million by 2021, at a CAGR of 14.0% from 2016 to 2021. Factors driving the growth of the plasma therapy market include rising incidences of trauma and increasing healthcare expenditure worldwide. The global plasma therapy market is segmented on the basis of type, source, application, end user, and region. Among all types, the pure PRP segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the global plasma therapy market in 2016. This segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2016 to 2021. The high growth of the pure PRP segment can be attributed to its high success rate and its antimicrobial effects. Speak With Our Research Experts@ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=186196333 On the basis of source, the plasma therapy market is segmented into autologous and allogenic. The autologous segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the global plasma therapy market in 2016, owing to its safety and effective results. Prevalence of orthopedic disorders such as arthritis and tendinitis has propelled the demand for advanced treatment options. This has further contributed to the growth of the plasma therapy market. On the basis of application, the plasma therapy market is segmented into dermatology, cardiac muscle injury, dental, nerve injury, and others. The orthopedic segment is further categorized into arthritis, chronic tendinitis, and bone repair & regeneration. Similarly, the dermatology segment is classified into androgenic alopecia and plastic surgery. Among all applications, the dermatology segment is expected to grow at a high CAGR from 2016 to 2021, owing to increase in the adoption of cosmetic procedures and prevalence of dermatological disorders such as androgenic alopecia. Read More | Get the Sample Pages@ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsample.asp?id=186196333 With respect to end user, the plasma therapy market is segmented into hospitals & clinics and research institutes. The hospitals & clinics segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the global plasma therapy market in 2016. Rise in healthcare spending has resulted in the increasing use of platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) in hospitals & clinics. Based on region, the global plasma therapy market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and rest of the world (RoW). North America is estimated to account for the largest share of the global plasma therapy market in 2016. This large share is mainly attributed to the increase in aging population and initiatives undertaken by the government to support developments in the field of plasma therapy. About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Subscribe Reports from Healthcare Domain @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Subscription.html Contact: Mr. Rohan Unit No. 802, 8th Floor, Tower - 7, Magarpatta City SEZ, Hadapsar, Pune 411013, Maharashtra, India. Tel: 888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://mnmblog.org/market-research/healthcare/biotechnology Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets Syrias ongoing wheat harvest is not large enough to feed people living in areas controlled by the government, researchers have warned. According to a study by Syrias Public Authority for Agricultural Research, Syrian farmers sold 450,000 tons of wheat last year less than half the quantity needed to supply government-controlled areas of the country with enough bread. In total, the country will need around one millions tons of wheat to avoid a hunger crisis, the centre found. "Our livelihood depends now on [dwindling] stocks, in addition to imports," says Maamoun Kaplan, a researcher at the government research centre. The situation worsened in the past months as Russian raids pushed the regime to increase their military operations. Before the war, Syria used to produce five million tons of wheat pear year. Out of these, two million tons were consumed in the country while the rest was either sold as exports or stored in a stockpile. This stock was aimed at meeting Syrias food needs for five years but is now nearly depleted, says Kaplan. At the beginning of the current harvest season, which started in June, the Syrian government raised the purchase price of wheat from local farmers in an attempt to make it attractive for farmers to sell their grain. Ultimately, the government aims to buy the largest possible amount of wheat, but Kaplan says this measure will not be enough. The wheat crisis will be exacerbated this season, same as it did a few months ago with potatoes, he warns. "The Syrian regime is trying to convey that it is in control of the situation, but this is not true, says Kaplan, who also owns a large farm in Ghouta, near Damascus. Most areas where strategic crops wheat, barley, cotton, sugar beets, olives and potatoes are grown are out of the regimes control, he explains. In the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo, the production of wheat and chickpeas has dropped by 53 and 30 per cent, respectively since March 2011, according to a study published last year by the Syrian Economic Forum, a local think tank. In the same period, the production of barley and lentils declined by about 70 per cent, says the study, which is based on a survey of 160 farmers. Military groups and militias seized territories, either to build their headquarters or to turn them into battlefields. Some farmers in areas outside of the governments control also saw their crops burned intentionally by the Syrian regimes shells and missiles at harvest time, or run over by military vehicles, says the study. A research centre in Aleppo, which used to be the head office of the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), tried to maintain its activities for a while, says Aladdin Hamaweya, an ICARDA scientist from Syria. "The centre in Aleppo worked on several plant varieties, especially wheat, developing pesticides to combat plant diseases and producing new infection-resistant varieties, says Hamaweya but it ended up shutting down in September 2015. This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Middle East & North Africa desk. U.S. space agency NASA is all set to launch an unmanned spacecraft in September which will land on the much talked about asteroid Bennu in August 2018. The purpose of the $800 million OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) mission is to collect rock samples from the asteroid and bring them back to the Earth for research purpose, reported Space.com. The NASA spacecraft will be launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on September 8. The scientists are hoping that the asteroid sample will provide more insight into the evolution of the solar system and the begging of life on Earth. The spacecraft will spend six years surveying Bennu and will return back in 2023. Discovered in 1999, the asteroid in question is 1,600 feet in diameter and travels at an average speed of 63,000 miles per hour. Recently, there were rumors of a possible collision of Bennu with our planet leading to tremendous destruction. The asteroid crosses Earth's orbit every six years and it gets closer each time. It is believed that the asteroid may possibly enter a "keyhole" between the Earth and the moon in more than 100 years from now and this may potentially change the asteroid's orbit and place it on course for the Earth. OSIRIS-REx principal investigator Dante Lauretta, of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona, said that there's nothing much to be worried about as Bennu has a mere 1 in 2,700 chance of hitting Earth sometime late in the 22nd century, according to ABC News. However, Lauretta said that if in case such a collision happens in future, its impact would be equivalent to triggering 3 billion tons of high explosives, which is about 200 times the strength of the atomic bomb that was dropped in Hiroshima, Japan. He is hopeful that by the time that Bennu could strike, NASA will likely have the technology to destroy it. Space X learned a major lesson from perfecting the technique of multiple booster landing held in the company's rocket development facility in McGregor Texas on July 28. A full duration static engine test was conducted by a team of engineers for the 156-foot-tall Falcon 9 first stage booster. Space X's VP Hans Koenigsmann stated during the recent CRS-9 launch campaign media briefings at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, that the company has learned a lot from landings. When asked if there are some structural changes made to the booster, he stated, "There are no structural changes first of all and that protecting the engines is of vital importance," Phys.Org reported. Space X's Falcon 9 first stage of landing attempts was conducted with four landing legs at the base and four grid fins at the top, which according to Koenigsmann seems to work fine. Moving to the separation of the second stage, the rocket slows down for a soft landing via supersonic retropulsion. This is a result of the first stage's engine reignition to reverse and boost back burn back to the landing site. There were also difficulties like when Merlin 1D first stage engines sustained heavy damage due to high entry velocity. However, as stated by Space X chief executive Elon Musk in his tweets, this became a determiner for engineers to better calculate the longevity of the booster and its components. On the other hand, Musk envisions to reuse the rocket to cut cost for an expedition to Mars possibly in 2018, Spaceflight Now reported. In connection to this, the company needs to prove that the Space X engines can endure the harsh spaceflight environment, which the July 28 engine test demonstrated. Space X's series of tests were successful. It ensured that the engines were protected to result in successful deploying and safe landing. The center of a galaxy is usually deemed as a place crowded with stars, unless it is an area next to the black hole near the core. However, a recent research suggests that the inner sanctum of the Milky Way is an area that is nearly devoid of young stars, which questions our views of galactic origin and formation and how things will evolve eventually. Noriyoki Matsunaga, professor at the University of Tokyo conducted a research about Cepheid variables, which are super enormous stars that pulse in brightness on a regular basis, in the inner Milky Way. As per reports, the Cepheid variables are immensely helpful in knowing more about the Universe because the measurement of the length of their cycle helps in estimating how bright they truly are, which in turn helps in calculating their distance that has been helpful in helping scientists measure the scale of the Milky Way as well as nearby galaxies. Surprisingly, Matsunaga found no Cepheid variables within 8,000 light years of the Milky Way's core on searching for their wavelength through the infrared Japanese-South African telescope. The result was reportedly strange because last year researchers from the same team detected an abundance of Cepheids in a disk formation within the Milky Way's central bulge, though in a distance of about 250 light-years from the center. "We already found some awhile ago that there are Cepheids in the central heart of our Milky Way (in a region about 150 light-years in radius)," Noriyoki Matsunaga said. "Now we find that outside this there is a huge Cepheid desert extending out to 8,000 light-years from the center." According to Matsunaga's research, the absence of Cepheids imply a general shortage of young stars that fall in the age group of 10 to 300 million years old and classified as Type 1, which means that no major star formation took place in the region for more than hundreds of millions of years. For now, as per researchers, it is still a mystery why stars stopped forming in the inner galaxy and finding the cause may need a rethinking of the processes that take place in the Milky Way's heart, which seems like a desolate place. Virgin Galactic may have started on the wrong foot about two years ago when the first prototype of its SpaceShipTwo spacecraft faced a mishap, and the test flight was unsuccessful. However, that was the past, and now Virgin Galactic has confirmed that it has received a new operator license from the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA-CST) for its SpaceShipTwo craft. Getting a new license is akin to a new lease of life for Virgin Galactic, and it will commence with test flights again. August 1 saw the new SpaceShipTwo craft performing a taxi test, however Virgin has still not announced when the actual first flight test will take place. "The granting of our operator license is an important milestone for Virgin Galactic, as is our first taxi test for our new spaceship," said Mike Moses, Virgin Galactic senior vice president of operations. "While we still have much work ahead to fully test this spaceship in flight, I am confident that our world-class team is up to the challenge." The goal of Virgin Galactic is to reportedly use the SpaceShipTwo craft to send satellites into space by 2017, and eventually shuttle tourists. According to reports, Katy Perry, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt and Stephen Hawking are some of the celebrities in line who are interested in making the space flight and are currently in queue for the $250,000 flights. As per Reuters, there is already a lineup of 700 people who have deposited the required sum needed for the flights. Representatives from Virgin Galactic believe that space travel would become a fairly common phenomenon in the near future; with the number of space travelers will reach thousands. Incidentally, Virgin Galactic has received a funding of $600 million from Richard Branson, founder of the company, as well as from Aabar Investments Group which is the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi. A study reveals that Io, the inmost moon of Jupiter, has a thin atmosphere that is starting to collapse in the shadow of Jupiter. It is condensing as ice. Volcanic moon Io's atmosphere freezes daily in Jupiter's shadow https://t.co/pKCQ7NfSrI pic.twitter.com/NweFcNGXHV Cosmos Magazine (@CosmosMagazine) August 3, 2016 The study was printed in the journal of Geophysical Research on August 2, 2016. It was funded by NASA's Solar System Workings and Solar System Observations programs. Constantine Tsang, a scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado explained that for the first time the scientists have observed this remarkable phenomenon directly, improving their understanding of this geologically active moon. Jupiters volcanic moon Io has a thin atmosphere that collapses in the shadow of the planet: https://t.co/uKYqAlYYXJ pic.twitter.com/ZW83kNpflf NASA (@NASA) August 2, 2016 The study shows the atmospheric changes on lo as the huge planet casts its shadow over the moon's surface during the daily eclipses. The moon's thin atmosphere, which composes of sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas discharged from volcanoes, breakdowns as the SO2 freezes onto the surface as ice when lo is shaded by Jupiter. Then, it is refurbished when the ice warms and sublimes when the moon moves out of eclipse back into the sunlight, according to NASA. John Spencer, co-author of the study said that this confirms that Io's atmosphere is in the constant state of collapse and repair. This shows that a huge fraction of the atmosphere is supported by sublimation of SO2 ice. He added that they have long suspected this. On the other hand, they finally watch it happen. Io is the inmost of the four moons of the planet Jupiter and the fourth-largest moon. It is considered the driest object in the Solar System. It is also the most geological object in the solar system. The surfaces of Io are mostly comprised of wide plains coated with sulfur and sulfur dioxide frost. TIMMONSVILLE, S.C. At a Timmonsville town council meeting Tuesday, residents took the opportunity to voice their opinions about the happenings in the town during the past month. At the July 5 council meeting, the former Police Chief Gregory Palmer was fired, and concerns were raised about taxpayers money being used to have him previously released from jail. A special called council meeting was scheduled for July 15, but not enough council members were present for a quorum. However, Councilman Jim Pigate and Councilwoman Cheryl Qualls stayed at the town hall to hear the concerns of nearly 15 residents. The towns attorney, Eleazer R. Carter, was also present, in another room, for part of the time. He left after Pigate notified him that residents wanted to hear from him. Tuesday evening, Timmonsville resident Paul Jackson said at the council meeting that Carter owed the residents an apology for the way he spoke to them on July 15. Carters words from July 15 before leaving town hall were: So, we dont have a quorum, so aint no need running up the towns legal bill. Ill talk with you guys another time. Um, Mr. Police officer, you know you have to secure the building. ... I dont think theres been any authority for a public meeting other than a city council meeting. If you dont have a city council meeting, you need to go head on and secure the building. You dont have a quorum to maintain a council meeting. Jackson said he felt the residents were disrespected by Carters comments. As a taxpayer of Florence County, taxpayer of Timmonsville, South Carolina, this is our town hall, our town hall, we the people of Timmonsville, our town hall, Jackson said. How can a lawyer ask us to leave our town hall? I felt embarrassed. I felt insulted, and it was disrespectful. Timmonsville Mayor Darrick Jackson said he will not ask the attorney to apologize for something that is not inappropriate. Mayor Pro Tem William James Jr. said Carter actually did the right thing, because in order to have a public hearing at town hall, there must be a 15-day notice. James said Carter also saved the attendees from receiving ethics fines. Timmonsville resident Jimmy Hampton said his heart ached Tuesday evening to see the situations that have occurred in Timmonsville. But he praised the mayor and administrator for the job they are doing. If any of you realize that in the past, before they got here, we were in bad shape. Im talking about bad shape, like in the red, Hampton said. And you heard the mayor say tonight that were right at half a million dollars. So thats great from where we was. So thats showing that somebody is doing a great job. Hampton said in order for the town to work together and be a team, everyone has to learn to communicate, and council members need to know their position. Weve got to learn to work together," Hampton said. "Weve got a great mayor. Weve got great councilmen, but you aint going to be no better than you are if you keep pointing fingers trying to make Timmonsville look bad. Weve got to work together, people. Weve got to learn to make this better than it has been. Resident Fronnie Pettigrew also thanked the mayor and council for the job that they are doing. She admitted that everyone wont always agree with what is being done, but the council and residents must still work together. So until we come together and stop all this bickering and fighting and all this extra work that gotta be done by the mayor, administrator, all that time that theyre doing all that extra work, they could be doing something productive, Pettigrew said. So I say to citizens, all of us, lets get together, work together. The more we work together, the more we can get done. tried to take This summer the University of Regina is offering Syrian refugee children the chance to enjoy the Canadian experience of summer camp, with a few changes to accommodate religion.The kids are doing everything from art to sport, sometimes together, sometimes apart, depending on age and ability. But for swimming, the girls and boys are typically separated for religious reasons."If those opportunities weren't presented those children wouldn't be participating to be blunt," explained Dean of Kinesiology, Harold Riemer. "I think that would be unfortunate."Riemer says some people will view this as a way to divide rather than assimilate, but he hopes people view this decision with the diverse, positive approach the universityin other words the university didn't have the ballsto do this.moTo hear about sharia swimming at the University of Regina skip ahead to the 48:38 mark. FLORENCE, S.C. The Florence Police Department visited various places throughout the city on Tuesday in celebration of the 33rd annual National Night Out, a day dedicated to bring law enforcement and communities together. National Night Out has been held each year since 1984 on the first Tuesday of August and is meant to honor community crime watch groups for their efforts in keeping neighborhoods safe. The celebration is also a useful tool to educate the public about the importance of building relationships between law enforcement and their communities. The goal, ultimately, is to create neighborhood camaraderie while working to prevent crime. On Tuesday, police officers were out in force, covering a wide range of areas in Florence. Officers manned a table in Target near Magnolia Mall, offering children educational coloring books, fingerprinting and face painting. Throughout the evening, officers visited multiple community crime watch groups in the city to talk with group members and show their appreciation. Capt. George Mack has been participating in National Night out for more than 30 years and said these community watch groups are essential in assisting police and, in turn, preventing crime. We cant be every place all the time, so we need their eyes and ears, Mack said. They keep us informed on whats going. These crime watch organizations are vital to us. Chief Allen Heidler echoed Macks feelings, saying his department has maintained great relationships with a number of crime watch organizations in the city. We understand that law enforcement is about neighborhoods and communities working together with law enforcement, Heidler said. We have to go out and continue to foster these relationships. Betty Faye Gregg has been the president of the Greater Wilson Height Crime Prevention group for 13 years, and she said having such a close relationship with city police makes a world of difference. Ever since weve been doing Night Out, the Florence City Police Department has given their 100 percent participation, Gregg said. That lets the city know the police and the community, we get along. Since we got started, crime right now is almost zero in our community. Heidler said that number is remarkable, and he only hopes to see that continue, both with the Wilson Heights community and other neighborhoods in the city limits. Heidler said that without crime prevention groups such as Greggs, the work of an officer becomes much more difficult. Its not just a police job, Heidler said. Tonight is all about unity. We have to be a united front toward reducing crime and making sure that everyone is secure in their homes. FLORENCE, S.C. In July of 2018, thousands of professional horseshoe players and enthusiasts from across the world will converge at the Florence Civic Center for the National Horseshoe Pitching World Tournament. The tournament is a two-week event and is expected to draw more than 1,200 participants from all 50 states, Canada and several other countries. It is scheduled for July 9 to July 21 of 2018. Civic Center General Manager Kendall Wall said an event of this magnitude is good for the entire region, and it will move Florence toward becoming a destination rather than just a stop on I-95. These people are coming from all over the country, and Canada, and a lot of them use it as a vacation-type getaway, so they may go to some other towns while theyre here, he said. Florence is the hub, but were also selling the surrounding areas. Itll be one of the biggest events weve ever done in Florence. The influx of people is expected to generate 8,000 or more room nights at local hotels and RV parks, with an estimated economic impact of about $3.5 million. Mike Miller, president of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, said the impact this will have of Florence businesses is enormous both immediately and for future business. This is an opportunity for us to impress thousands and thousands of visitors who, at some point, will touch many other people across the country," he said. "This is Florences time to shine. Its a huge opportunity for us to create miniature ambassadors across the country who will say how great Florence is. Miller said this tournament could influence similar event to come to Florence, calling it just the tip of the iceberg. Officials from the Florence Civic Center bid last week to host the tournament and beat out two other cities to win the bid: Shrevport, Louisiana, and El Paso, Texas. The upcoming Civic Center expansion is expected to be complete by early 2018, so construction will not be a factor in the July tournament. Wall said even though this is a huge win for Florence and the event is two years away, the real work begins now. You think about how much Florence has changed in the past 18 months, now think about how much more change well see in next two years, he said. This is a huge event, and it will be great for our community here. The civic center, along with the National Horseshoe Pitching Association, are expected to officially announce the event Wednesday. ISIS, meet the C-Men: Scotland Yard shows off the first of 600 awesomely armed Counter-Terrorism firearms officers who hit the streets today in vans, cars and MOTORBIKES NINE WEEKS OF TRAINING TO CARRY A GUN Firearms officers in the Metropolitan Police go through a rigorous selection and training process before they are allowed on to the streets with a gun. They have to pass a selection process in their local area, then one in the force's firearms department, before being put through an initial assessment. A nine-week training course follows, and upon successful completion the officer will be ready to carry a handgun, larger semi-automatic weapon and Taser. Firearms officers are deployed in teams of three in armed response vehicles, which also carry less lethal weapons such as shotguns that can be used, for example, for dangerous animals. Marksmen who want to specialise in counter-terrorism will spend a significant period of time as part of a routine firearms team, before additional training of at least three months. The elite squads, which now cover the capital 24 hours a day, are trained to operate in a range of environments including on water, abseiling and on motorbikes. In the event of terrorist gunmen staging a mass shooting, the officers are trained to go forward to confront the attackers and stop them. This may mean having to leave casualties behind, potentially including their colleagues. By Tim Sculthorpe, Mailonline Deputy Political Editor3 August 2016Heavily armed new police patrols have been deployed on the streets of London today after a wave of terror attacks in Europe.Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe unveiled the plan to put more highly visible patrols, armed to the teeth with pistols and semi-automatic SIG Carbine rifles, at major landmarks as a deterrent to potential attackers.As well as guns, the new generation of armed officers also have BMW F800GS motorbikes to allow them to scramble to an incident anywhere in the capital and speed boats so they can deploy from the Thames.But today's announcement - dubbed Operation Hercules by the Met - came against a backdrop of warnings from the Police Federation that it will take two years to deliver a promised increase of 1,500 in the trained-strength of armed officers across the country.More British police officers are carrying guns after a spate of attacks on the continent, including the Bastille Day massacre in Nice and the murder of a priest in a Normandy church last week. The expanded firearms units were promised after the Paris attacks last November.Sir Bernard said the additional armed officers were the first cohort from a planned group of 600 due to be trained to carry firearms - with 1,500 due to be trained across the country.Speaking in Hyde Park, Sir Bernard said: 'People aren't fools - they know that in the event that there is a firearms attack, we are going to have to respond with firearms.'They pass through airports where we have armed officers, they pass through railway stations where they see firearms.'In some of our big iconic locations, we've already got armed patrols - if you look at Parliament, Downing Street - so it's not entirely new.'I think people understand that where you are going to have people as enemies who've got guns, we've got to have guns.'It's unusual, but it's an entirely rational and reasonable response to make sure that people are aware that we've got the guns, and if we have to use them we've got people well-equipped to do that.'The Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers - dubbed C-men - can deploy by road, river or air in the event of an emergency.But Police Federation chairman Steve White warned that it could take at least two years to get the additional 1,500 firearms officers planned nationally in place.Some forces are also struggling to get the right quality of volunteers to go through the rigorous selection and training process.Mr White said: 'Some forces are getting volunteers coming forward, but they are not always being selected because they don't meet the criteria.'It is vitally important that standards are maintained. The best-case scenario is two years in terms of recruiting an extra 1,500 officers.'If there is an attack it is unlikely to be an isolated incident. We've got to have the resources around the country because it might happen in multiple places at the same time.'Home Office figures for the year to March 2016 showed that the number of armed officers in England and Wales dropped by eight, but police chiefs have insisted that forces are on track to get the extra marksmen in place over the next 18 months.Plans to boost the number of armed police were put in place in the wake of the terrorist attack on Paris at the end of last year, when 130 people were killed.Ahead of today's announcement, Sir Bernard said: 'The reality of having to deal with armed and deadly attackers is that you need firearms officers who will use force to stop those attackers in their aim.'Our firearms officers are the ones who will run towards the danger. They are our heroes.'Despite the fact they are carrying guns, they are still police officers, and I want the public to approach and talk to them - they are out on our streets to reassure and help the public.'Equally important in how we protect our capital is the relationship that our mainly unarmed officers have built with communities over many years.'Our communities are a vital source of information and if you have fears or concerns then we want to know.'But Mr White expressed concern over cuts to neighbourhood police teams.He said: 'Chief constables are having to make very difficult decisions in terms of managing their budgets and managing the competing priorities that they have.'With counter-terrorism there is the top-sliced money and the extra money for firearms officers, but that is once we're having an attack.'Of course we need them, but we must make sure that we have the relationships built up between local communities and the police service, so that people can ring the police or speak to their bobby on the street and have the confidence to raise things with them.'If you don't have police officers having that daily contact in these communities you're never going to build these relationships.'Over the last few years in some force areas they have had to take resources out of neighbourhood policing just to keep the wheels on in terms of reacting to incidents.'You can't fix this overnight. The resources that have been taken out over the last couple of years is stark.'Experts have said that police in France, which has been hit by a spate of terrorist atrocities, have struggled to contain the threat, partly because of their lack of community relationships.London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he will boost the number of constables dedicated to each ward in the capital.He said: 'We are returning to real neighbourhood policing with a second dedicated Pc in every London ward by the end of next year, to be the eyes and ears of our security services and build trust in our communities.'National lead for firearms Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman said in July that the majority of new marksmen will be in place by April 2017.In London, Scotland Yard's existing 2,200 marksmen are being boosted by 600, and the force intends to have 'a significant uplift' in place by the end of the year.Plans to increase the number of armed police were put in place in the wake of attacks including the atrocity in Paris at the end of last year, when 130 people were killed.Sir Bernard said: 'We need good relationships with the public, we need them to tell us when they're worried about individuals.'One of the ways we get that information is you know your local neighbourhood officer.'We've all faced budgetary cuts and we've all faced some hard decisions. Every force has to make its own decisions, but we've made ours clear.'As well as the armed response teams on public patrol, Scotland Yard has specialist counter-terrorism firearms squads who are on call 24 hours a day.They are trained to operate on water and to abseil, and some teams operate on motorbikes.Speaking in Hyde Park on Wednesday, Chief Superintendent Martin Hendy said that by the end of the year there will have been 'a significant uplift' in the number of trained marksmen.He said Scotland Yard is getting the right quality of volunteers for the job.'I'm confident we're getting the right people and they're coming in with their eyes wide open.'Read more: Scotland Yard reveal counter-terrorism police | Daily Mail Online Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook In the 1970s, a group of concerned Fremont merchants and businessmen gathered their minds and commitment and what developed was a change meant to reinforce the quaint attraction of the downtown Fremont commercial district. They hoped to maintain the draw of the pristine area, creating an easily accessible and unique environment for patrons to explore, and that remains today. The help arrived in the form of a tax with a fitting and representative name: the Downtown Improvement District (DID) tax. Established in 1970 and imposed only on the downtown district business owners, the tax enabled several great strides such as the convenient and free parking that Fremont residents and visitor find dispersed throughout the downtown area today. Additionally, the revenue from the tax supported business district promotions, streetscape beautification, Christmas decorations, and served the general benefit of the historic downtown. Now almost 50 years later, another group of merchants and downtown property owners hope to continue that fortification of the business district as they further a plan, transitioning from the DID to the Business Improvement District (BID). Right now the city budget has tightened and cannot provide the (downtown area) with the number of services that it used to, said Howard Krasne, owner of Krasnes Home Furnishing at 450 North Main Street. If we dont support ourselves, the downtown is going to start to deteriorate. Krasne also serves as a board member on both the DID and the BID and sees the transition to the new tax as a necessary step to create some needed improvements, draw investments and attract more attention to the downtown commercial area. The DID, as it presently exists, is not anything that will benefit this district long term, Krasne said. From 4-7 p.m. on Monday at the Fremont Area Art Association Gallery 92 on West 6th Street, the board members of the proposed BID will convene an informal open house to offer the public, business owners and anyone owning property in the downtown commercial district information about the proposed tax. In addition, the board members will answer questions and take feedback on various components of the plan. According to Bob Missel, BID chairman, several years ago the Fremont City Attorney declared that the DID tax was legally unenforceable. As established in the 1970s, the DID tax was based on the invitee space of the business owners store. Invitee space consists of the general area in a store where customers mingle while they shop; the tax did not include warehouses or office space. The tax was collected and then the board convened a meeting to determine how the money would be spent. However, and according to the current Nebraska state statutes (19-4015 to 19-4038), which permit municipalities the authority to establish downtown improvement districts, a budget must be set before the collection of any money. For that reason, the City of Fremont stepped away from enforcing the DID tax. Despite that fact, Missel pointed out that most downtown business district owners continued to pay the tax because they understood the value it brought to enhancing and promoting the area. Tom Coday, vice president of operations at Lous Sporting Goods 523 North Main Street also clarified that aside from the citys inability to legally enforce the DID tax, the annual revenue generated only approached about $11,000, not a sufficient amount to cover the downtown needs. For that reason, Coday said the BID formed and the board members spent the last five years developing a plan in accordance with Nebraska statutes. The proposed plan and budget would impose a 0.185-percent annual tax based on property values for anyone owning property in the district. The BID budget and tax would only extend five years into the future at which time a new plan would need approval and implementation Under the current BID five-year proposal, estimates of the acquired tax revenue comes to $47,000 and $235,000 over the five-year period. Money has been budgeted for various projects and upkeep of the downtown business district. Maintenance of parking lots, green spaces, trees, purchase of Christmas decoration and marketing, represent three of the major expenses covered in the BID budget. Not everyone who owns property in the commercial district supports the tax. Gary Pebbley, who owns properties within the commercial district expressed his opposition and outlined two primary reasons. First, he explained that several business owners (including himself) werent aware of the proposed transition from the DID to the BID. Secondly, Pebbley said all property owners will fall under the same BID tax bracket, paying the same 0.185-percent regardless of location. Pebbley owns properties that reside at the outskirts of the commercial district zone of the BID. He expressed concern that those located closer to the historical downtown district will benefit more from the maintenance and other budgetary components of the tax. Im not against the tax. But I dont feel that we should be paying the same as (those) that get all the benefits from it, Pebbley said. Its good to have a downtown area that is thriving to help draw people to the downtown. Its vital but lets be fair. Pebbley proposed making the tax a two-tier system where those properties located at the peripheries of the commercial district pay a lower rate than those situated more centrally. Gerald Johnson, who also owns property in the commercial district added his own concerns and desire to learn more about the proposal before making a final decision. Theres a lot of unanswered questions. This meeting (Aug. 8) will give everybody a chance whichever side they are on to give their opinion and state their views, Johnson said. We need to have people informed about whats going on. Krasne, who owns two storefronts and several warehouses, all located within the district sees promise in the tax despite the fact that under the new proposals his annual tax bill will increase. Under the old DID, the tax only impacted his stores and not the warehouses. Under the BID, the proposed tax applies to all property value. Krasne sees the new tax as an investment on the future. When he decides to retire and sell the properties the tax may indirectly allow him to receive more profit. By improving this district we hope that it will improve the value of the buildings within the district, Krasne said. (The DID) was a great first step several years ago our downtown looks tremendously better than it did but we need to continue to move forward. After an extensive search, The Journal welcomed Gary Loftus as its new publisher in July. Loftus brings a lifetime of experience in newspapers and marketing to the position. In addition to The Journal, Loftus will also serve as publisher of the Fremont Tribune, a daily newspaper. Loftus said he hopes to bring some creative ideas to the business side of The Journal. He is pleased with the strides it has already made over the past years. The Journal represents the community well. This is a very well-done community paper, Loftus said. We cant do everything but we can reflect a good part of the community. Loftus realizes The Journal is a very important facet of Cass County. It should be the heartbeat of the community reporting on anything in and around Cass County. He is especially impressed with Plattsmouth and its downtown area. I like the town, he said. The downtown renovation is very progressive. More people need to see the downtown as a place where people go to gather. Most of his career life has been spent in the publishing business. The majority of my life Ive been at dailies, weeklies and magazines on the marketing side, advertising side and as publisher, he said. He believes in building strong, professional organizations. I have high expectations of myself and the team. I hold people accountable for their results, he explained. Trust and commitment to excellence in customer service will bring great performances. Before joining the Fremont Tribune and The Journal, Loftus served as publisher of the Graham Leader in Graham, Texas. He served as Group General Manager of the Olney Enterprise, Breckenridge American, Jacksboro Herald Gazette, Lake Country Sun and Burleson Star. He also worked for seven years in Colorado and Nebraska for the Fence Post Publications/Countryside Publications. They are ag-lifestyle publications with digital websites. I was the general manager/sales manager for two publications with distribution in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming. Countryside are national magazine publications with circulation from 5,000 to 76,000, he said. At work and in his personal life, Loftus stresses consistency, commitment and loyalty. Focus is important, too. If we can do that, well be in good shape, he said. Last month, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development unveiled two key reports that focused on our state's formal strategies to recruit and expand businesses. The first report, entitled Nebraska's Next Economy: Goals, Policies and Practices for the Economic Development Ecosystem, is a comprehensive analysis of the types of programs that have existed in the economic development system for a number of years and provides a roadmap into how Nebraska should re-focus those programs to reach updated economic goals. As a starting point, the analysis noted that our state is in a good place which is obvious because Nebraska was somewhat sheltered from the national 2008 recession and slowdown. However, the state is seeing impacts now that other states are coming successfully out of their down economic times. There is renewed competition among the states for economic growth. To tackle the issue, the report consultants identified that Nebraska needs to shift its efforts in order to become a high quality/high-value economy. Four focus areas were suggested: 1) creating and incenting high skill, high wage jobs; 2) making technology intensive investments; 3) supporting and rewarding business innovation; and 4) creating high quality communities. Another aspect of the report addresses whether the Economic Development Department should shift its focus on recruiting and retaining targeted industries. Those are the businesses that would provide the best development opportunities for the state. The analysis found that the agriculture, food processing, and agricultural machinery industry areas will continue to be strong strength areas. For urban areas, strong prospective future growth areas are in skill intensive and technology intensive services and research, non-agricultural machinery, and automotive and transportation equipment and logistics. Other areas identified for potential growth in Nebraska were information technology and data services, biosciences, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, business services, health and medical service sectors, and tourism expansion. The analysis suggests that Nebraska target businesses that require higher skill levels which will result in the growth of higher pay and employment growth (new jobs). One irony is that Nebraska's very low unemployment rate actually may hinder job expansions as national and international companies that want to locate here look for assurances that we have enough workers for the new jobs and that we have enough of a highly skilled workforce pool. The report identifies the very low unemployment rate, the shortage of workers skilled in trades, and the shortage of information technology and science, engineering, and math graduates as issues that need to be addressed in the workforce development area. A second major analysis requested by the Economic Development Department resulted in a report entitled, Supporting Innovation-Led Growth in Nebraska. In this related report, three target areas were identified: 1) a lack of venture or risk capital, 2) quick access to expansion markets; and 3) talent having enough of the right kind of employees quickly available in our workforce. A really important area that was reviewed was how Nebraska's existing corporate tax incentive programs are working. The analysis showed that the incentives have been successful in large existing corporations but that changes should be made in state law in order to give corporate tax breaks that will better match the new economic development strategies. The Appropriations Committee will conduct a joint public hearing with the Revenue Committee later this month in order to be briefed on the status and spending involved in our existing Nebraska Advantage corporate tax incentive program. The hearing is being conducted as part of an annual legislative review process required in state law. This should be interesting and informative with all of the new information available from the economic development studies. The joint legislative hearing will take place 1 p.m. Friday, Aug.19 in Room 1113 of the State Capitol. The public is invited to attend the hearing at which the Tax Commissioner will present the 2015 tax incentives annual report. It is an exciting time to look at how the tax dollars and investments that are being made to grow our economy can be re-tooled in order for our state to expand beyond our current strengths. Having a comprehensive road map so that the state agency, local economic developers, cities and towns, and the Legislature can get on the same page is a good development. The investiture ceremony of Judge Jeffrey J. Funke as a Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court representing the Fifth Judicial District will take place at 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, in the Warner Legislative Chamber of the Nebraska State Capitol. Retired District Court Judge Randall Rehmeier will open the ceremony. Justice Max Kelch will administer the oath of office. Gov. Pete Ricketts will present the certificate of appointment. Judge Todd Hutton will make remarks regarding the appointment of Judge Funke. The public is invited to attend. The vacancy is due to the retirement of Judge William Connolly on Aug. 1.The Honorable Judge Funke has been serving as Cass County District Court Judge in the communities of Plattsmouth and Nebraska City. He was appointed to the Nebraska Supreme Court June 15 by the governor, following his appointment as District 2 Judge of the Cass County Court in August 2013 Funke, age 47, admits Rehmeier, also from Nebraska City and raised in Weeping Water, inspired him to pursue a career in law and become a judge. I look at Randys career. He started out prosecuting the Rulo murder case. He has sat on the bench for many historical casesIvan Henk, Kimberly Faust, Harold Trotter. Rehmeiers influence goes back to Funkes childhood. I grew up three doors down from him. He was a role model and why I decided to go into law, Funke said. Because of the way he held himself in court, thats who you wanted to be like. He was held in high esteem in the community. Funke marks the fifth judge from Nebraska City to be appointed to the bench. There are 10 judges in our district, and of the 10 five are from Nebraska City, he noted. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Business from UN-L in 1991, Funke attained his Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1994. Fresh out of law school, Funke became the first Deputy Public Defender in Otoe County working with Timothy Nelson. In 1997, he began the private practice of law and was Otoe Deputy County Attorney until 2005. He served as Otoe County Attorney until 2007 when he was appointed District 2 County Court Judge, presiding over cases in Cass, Sarpy and Otoe counties. Although Funke loved practicing law, he finds being a judge is more rewarding. Without a doubt being a lawyer is very adversarial. You always have to prepare yourself for the fighting. You know you are going to get confronted with issues and you have to be prepared. As a judge you need to be impartial and listen to the facts. You decide based on the law. You try to find the justice in the case versus just winning it, he said. If you ask any judge, theyll say they enjoy the bench even more than the practice of law. Each case requires an in-depth review. You apply the law to the facts and write an opinion. That way you give the litigant why you ruled the way you did. Its give a better record for appellate review, he said. As District 2 judge, Funke presided over Otoe and Cass cases. Funke admits the facts judges hear are often disturbing, especially in rape, murder and child abuse cases. It can wear on you. You hate to see them, but you have to put aside your emotions. You have to hear those facts and rule on them. And when you leave there, you go back to your family and try to be the best spouse and parent you can. Law enforcement agents are catching up to some of the most despicable crimes committed. They are taking care of them, he said. Of course, crime doesnt wait for the law to call. Now, Funke will weigh in on intrpreting and setting the law for the states top cases. Viptela SD-WAN Platform Joins Verizon's Virtual Network Services By Frank Griffin , Contributing Writer Using software to intelligently manage networks has resulted in maximizing the capabilities of existing infrastructure to deliver better services. This includes SD-WAN, which is replacing traditional systems to access remote resources by enterprises and operators alike. Viptela, an SD-WAN company, announced a partnership with Verizon (News - Alert) Enterprise Solutions' new Virtual Network Services to give enterprises increased agility and on-demand resources by transitioning to a virtual infrastructure model. Software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) technology is able to create a logical overlay to intelligently route data across multiple paths by aggregating data transport over two or more WAN connections, including MPLS, Metro Ethernet, cellular and broadband Internet. It also re-routes packet flows across links to improve performance dynamically, meaning routing decisions are made based on latency, load and types of QoS policies that have been applied. The end result is greater agility and flexibility, which is extremely important for enterprises looking to bring their employees, customers, business partners and anyone else together no matter where they are. Amir Khan, chief executive officer, Viptela, said, The Viptela platform's ability to seamlessly integrate with Verizons existing networks and infrastructure will enable globally distributed enterprises to cost-effectively transition their WAN into a virtual network service. He added, Through joint deployments with Verizon, we can help Fortune 500 companies migrate to a managed SD-WAN model which delivers new levels of agility, quality of service and application performance. Viptela entered into a managed services arrangement with Verizon in the U.S. in February of this year, which also included collaboration for the delivery of a new software defined networking solution using Viptelas SD-WAN platform. This partnership highlights the need for proven solutions that can replace traditional networks, while addressing the dynamic business needs of organizations quickly, reliably, securely and cost effectively. As part of Verizons Virtual Network Services portfolio, Viptelas SD-WAN will overcome the limitations of traditional networks by allowing its customers to scale quickly and as needed by creating a single intelligent platform that responds to their needs. This customizable hybrid networking solution will be managed and implemented by Verizon so it can provide each business with its specific requirements. According to Verizon, its Virtual Network Services is going to give organizations a secure, high performance and efficient network that can be managed to address multiple locations and users, bandwidth required by application, and application use by employees. The company said enterprises will experience improved agility, reduce total cost of ownership, end-to-end management and flexible service tiers. On the technical side they'll have greater flexibility, dynamic scaling, and rich technology partner ecosystem with world-class vendors and rapid deployment. Edited by Alicia Young At Wednesdays regular meeting of the Dodge County Board of Supervisors, the board: Approved a resolution setting the final levy allocations for 2016 to political subdivisions subject to the countys levy authority. Approved the request of Chief Deputy Sheriff Robert D. Reynolds to dispose of a 2010 Ford Crown Victoria, recently declared surplus property, with All Metals instead of Nitz Auction Company as previously requested and approved. Approved the request of Jeffrey D. Rehder of Fremont, Nebraska to subdivide a 5.01 acre parcel and obtain a Conditional Use Permit as per Article 13, Section 2. Conditional Uses Section 4.1A Exemptions for an existing dwelling located W 462 feet of the NW of the NW of Section 25, Township 17 North, Range 9 East in Elkhorn Township, Zoning District A-2, General Ag. There was no testimony for or against the request. Tabled the consideration of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture Siting Assessment Matrix. Received the Notice of Public Hearing by the Douglas County Planning Commission scheduled on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016 at 6 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Dodge County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 17, Third Floor, Courthouse, Fremont. The 49-year-old American brings 24 years of experience in the oil and gas engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) industry, most recently as evp and group head of business development with Petrofac in the UAE where he had overall accountability for global sales. McDonald will officially succeed Moffat on October 1 but will start work on September 13 in a transitional role. Moffat, who announced his retirement late last year but agreed to stay on beyond his planned final day of June 30 as the recruitment process rolled on, will take up a part-time consultancy role until March next year following the handover. He will relinquish his directorship as of September 30 this year. With a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from New York Ivy League institution Cornell University as a launching pad, McDonald has complied extensive EPC and oilfield service sector experience in the US, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. He joined Petrofac in 2011 as svp offshore projects and operations (UAE and Malaysia), helping the group's global entry into the shallow water offshore EPIC market and geographic expansion into Asia Pacific. He was promoted to his current role in 2012 and became a member of Petrofac's executive committee. From 2007 to 2010, McDonald co-founded a boutique private equity firm and became ceo of one of its portfolio companies based in London. Prior to that he spent 18 years with Halliburton/KBR, starting his career with five years in engineering before progressing through the sales function to become commercial vp (Singapore/Australia) and spending seven years in London where he became vp and officer with responsibility for the KBR Development Company and the KBR/JGC gas alliance. Lamprell chairman John Kennedy, who like Moffat was due to retire following the companys annual meeting in May but remains, welcomed McDonalds appointment. "I am absolutely delighted that we have managed to secure the appointment of someone of Christopher's calibre and experience. He has an outstanding track record with two of the most respected companies in our industry and he brings a significant depth of leadership capability and market knowledge, Kennedy said. McDonald joins at a challenging time for the offshore sector and for Lamprell which announced on July 26 that it expects to recoup the majority of the remedial costs and potential damages from the delayed delivery of a jack-up drilling rig to a key client caused by a third party equipment fault. Lamprell, a leading provider of diversified fabrication, engineering and contracting services to the onshore and offshore oil and gas and renewable energy industries, has stressed that six other rigs it has under construction are on schedule. I am confident that we have secured an outstanding executive to lead the business through the challenging market conditions that we are facing and to succeed Jim Moffat who has made a significant contribution to the success of the business since taking up his role in March 2013, Kennedy continued. I am also pleased that Jim will continue to serve the Company in a part-time consultancy role which will provide a smooth transition." N-KOM, the shipyard subsidiary of Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat), will be the preferred shipyard services supplier to Samos in the Middle East under the terms of the arrangement. It follows a similar deal with the Athens-based Angelicoussis Shipping Group signed in late December covering its fleet of bulk carriers, tankers, and LNG and LPG vessels operated by subsidiaries Anangel Maritime Services, Maran Tankers Management and Maran Gas Maritime. Samos is an existing client of N-KOMs with several tanker repairs already having been undertaken at its Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Ras Laffan Industrial City 80km north of Doha. The Greek shipowner operates a fleet of 12 tankers, including the VLCC Kokkari, and nine bulk carriers including two capsize vessels, London Spirit and Stamatis. It has six newbuildings, including four tankers headlined by a 115,000 dwt Aframax, due for delivery in 2017 and 2018. We have been very satisfied with the high quality and timely repairs of our tankers by N-KOM over the years and are happy to further grow our partnership with this fleet agreement, said Samos Steamship Company md Anastassios Tzamouranis. Nakilat md, Engineer Abdullah Fadhalah Al Sulaiti, said his company was pleased to strengthen its strategic partnership with Samos. Nakilat has enjoyed successful long-standing partnerships with Greek shipping companies such as Maran Gas Maritime, and we look forward to the continued support from our Greek and other international clients to grow Qatars reputation as a maritime centre of excellence in the region, he said. The Samos agreement also follows in the wake of last weeks announcement of a five-year MoU agreement with McDermott International, the Houston-headquartered engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) services provider, to pursue offshore projects within Qatari waters. N-KOM will provide fabrication services to the exclusive co-operation agreement. An accident Monday left one man injured and one in critical condition, released information from the Dodge County Sheriff's Office says. Deputies were dispatched in reference to a two-vehicle personal-injury accident on Highway 30 between County Roads 12 and 13, approximately five miles east of North Bend. The accident involved a 2016 Kia Sportage SUV driven by Keith Crandall, 69, of Papillion, and a 1999 International semi tractor pulling an empty enclosed cargo van driven by Allen Regier, 64, of Omaha. Released information says Crandall was traveling westbound on Hwy. 30 when his vehicle crossed the center line and collided with the semi truck traveling eastbound. The collision sent both vehicles into the north ditch, with the semi coming to rest in a cornfield. Crandall was taken from the scene by medical helicopter to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha in critical condition. Regier was taken by the North Bend Rescue Squad to Fremont Health Medical Center where he was treated and released. The Nebraska State Patrol assisted in the investigation of the accident. The Fremont Police Department is in the process of searching for a stolen vehicle, Lt. Kurt Bottorff said. The vehicle, a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado K-1500, is believed to have been taken from the 400 block of East First Street between Monday afternoon and 8 a.m. Tuesday. The vehicle had Nebraska commercial license plates 5-12090, and the estimated loss is $6,000. Anybody with information regarding this crime is being asked to contact the Fremont Police Department at 402-727-2677. When a fire rips through the home of business, that's usually the end of that business. When a fire burned down the home of AIM Computer Solutions last year, the Fraser-based business didn't fold. It used it as an opportunity to become bigger, faster, better and stronger.The fire started in the early morning hours before the sun came up. BY the time it was over, it had burned everything down to the walls, except for the fire-protected server room of the firm that builds business software solutions for manufacturers. The 30-year-old company's team didn't waste a second putting it all back together."By the time we hit 7 a.m. we were up and running and supporting all of our customers," says Jerry Czernel, vice president of AIM Computer Solutions . "In most cases, the customers didn't even know we had a fire."AIM Computer Solutions moved its operations to a temporary facility while it started to rebuild. It took the company about a year to design and rebuild its home, holding a grand opening one year after the fire to the day. The firm took the opportunity to reconfigure its space to make it more open and collaborative. It raised the ceilings and added LED lighting.In that year the company has grown its revenue by 50 percent by adding new customers in manufacturing. It also hired four people in the last year, expanding its staff to 20 people. Czernel expects that winning streak to continue for the foreseeable future, now that the business can focus on the building the business instead of rebuilding it."We wonder how things would be if we didn't have a fire," Czernel says. "We had the support things in place, but there are a ton of things you take for granted."Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com A long-gone duck-billed dinosaur has just been diagnosed with a horrific medical condition: septic arthritis. The discovery, a first for dinosaurs, reveals that even prehistoric animals suffered from septic arthritis, a painful joint infection still seen in some modern birds, crocodiles and people. The findings are published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. Lead author Jennifer Anne of the University of Manchester told Discovery News that "arthritis has been noted in a wide range of dinosaurs, and other animals, both modern and fossil. Septic arthritis represents further complications caused by arthritis in the form of infection." RELATED: Dinosaurs Might Have Gone Up in Smoke She and colleagues Brandon Hedrick and Jason Schein used the microCT scanning facilities at the Center for Nanoscale Systems at Harvard University to analyze the remains of a hadrosaur unearthed at the Navesink Formation in New Jersey. The dinosaur lived about 70 million years ago. Hadrosaurs were plant eaters with duck-like bills and strong jaws evolved for grinding plants with their multiple rows of teeth. Many such dinosaurs sported massive crests on their heads, believed to be used for displays before mating. The scientists found that their hadrosaur had septic arthritis in its elbow that caused a fused joint covered in bony growths. Germs, as from a bacterial or fungal infection, can appear in this infection if they travel through the bloodstream and reach one or more joints. A penetrating injury can also deliver germs directly to a joint. WATCH: Who Discovered The First Dinosaur? Press Release August 3, 2016 Bam seeks to eradicate hunger in 10 years In an effort to eradicate hunger in the next 10 years, Sen. Bam Aquino has submitted a measure seeking to ensure regular, permanent and unrestricted access to food and nutrition for every Filipino. "In this day and age of technology, economic development, and social consciousness, it is inexcusable to allow our countrymen to grow hungry," said Sen. Bam in Senate Bill No. 712 or the Right to Adequate Food Framework Act. "It is our duty to enhance the welfare of our citizens and ensure that every Filipino is given regular, permanent, and unrestricted access to sufficient food and nutrition," he added. Explaining his measure, Sen. Bam it will ensure that land devoted to food production shall be increased to 50 percent of all prime agricultural land in every region. The measure will also increase the coverage of school feeding programs, the public budget allocation for the marginalized and disadvantaged Filipinos who are unable to feed themselves, as well as research on agriculture, irrigation, and rural development. A Commission on the Right to Adequate Food under the Commission on Human Rights, will be established to ensure its compliance and implementation to ensure proactive and efficient implementation of plans to achieve zero-hunger in the Philippines. "The least we can do for our poor countrymen is to actively pursue the eradication of hunger in the Philippines. I urge my colleagues to vote for the passing of this measure," Sen. Bam said. The senator also seeks to alleviate childhood malnutrition in the Philippines through a feeding program for infants, public kindergarten and elementary school children. "It will promote the health of children who are most in need, by providing regular and free access to nutritious food within a safe and clean school and community environment," Sen. Bam said in Senate Bill No. 694 or the "Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy" Bill. In a study called "The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012", conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a total of 16 million Filipinos were considered undernourished from 2010 to 2012. Aside from eradicating hunger, the measure will also help alleviate poverty by tapping small-scale producers as sources of 30 percent or more for the supplies for the program. These two measures will complement the senator's Zero Food Waste Act (SBN 357) that called for supermarkets and restaurants to donate unserved food to the poor through food banks. Press Release August 3, 2016 Lacson bill expands special assistance to beneficiaries of uniformed personnel killed or wounded in duty Families or beneficiaries of police and military personnel, jail officers and firefighters killed or incapacitated in the line of duty may soon avail of special financial assistance from government, through a bill filed by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson. Lacson, who headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001, said his proposed measure defines the sources of funds for the benefits available to beneficiaries of the uniformed service personnel. "It is high time that we provide the much-needed boost to our police personnel by showing our concern amidst the challenging role they play in our present society. One way of showing our concern is by giving support to the educational benefits of qualified dependents of police personnel. Certainly, this will help alleviate the economic condition of our personnel. While we are quick to condemn the scalawags in uniform, we must also be fast to reward the deserving," he said in Senate Bill 260. He noted Republic Act No. 6963 grants special financial assistance and benefits to kin or beneficiaries of police, military or firefighting personnel killed or are permanently incapacitated due to their work. But the particular law mandates that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Bureau of Fire Protection share in the allocation of funds from the license fees of firearms collected by the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police's Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) to support the educational program of their dependents. At the time this arrangement was mandated, Lacson noted the police was still under the AFP. But with Republic Act 6975, the PNP became separate from the AFP and BFP. "It becomes logical therefore that the proceeds of the fees collected by the PNP through the FEO should redound solely to its benefits. Besides, the strength of the PNP is almost equal to that of the AFP and therefore, the amount generated out of the proceeds of the license fees will just be enough to support the needs of the PNP. Additionally, the AFP and the BFP have their own funding sources since they too have their own revenue generating activities to support their programs," he said. Under Lacson's bill: - proceeds of the firearms license fees collected by the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office, which is the source of educational funds under R.A. No. 6963 shall be allocated solely for the use of the qualified dependents of the PNP - educational benefits shall also extend to qualified dependents of non-uniformed personnel of the PNP - the PNP shall manage the amount collected as educational funds for the dependents of PNP - the Chief, PNP shall be authorized to utilize the educational funds for other purposes in the PNP Also, the bill will amend R.A. 6963 to include the family or beneficiary of any personnel of the PNP, AFP, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology killed or permanently incapacitated in the line of duty. The bill defines the special financial assistance as equivalent to the average six months' salary, including allowances and bonuses, during the last 12 months preceding the death or permanent incapacity of the personnel. This shall be exempt from attachment, garnishment or execution and from income and other taxes. Such assistance is to be delivered to the beneficiaries within three days from receipt of a written certification from the station or unit commander of the fact of death and the circumstances thereof. A surviving spouse of the deceased or permanently incapacitated police, military, BFP or BJMP personnel shall get priority in employment in a government agency or office where his/her qualifications are fitted. Meanwhile, up to four children of the deceased or permanently incapacitated personnel may get a scholarship up to college subject to policies of the institution's tuition. The scholarship privilege shall be limited to the National Police Commission or the Department of National Defense, upon presentation of the approved enrollment or registration form. Scholarship board Funds collected from the firearms licensing fees shall be managed and administered by a PNP scholarship board with a chairman and four members designated by the Chief, PNP. The Chief, PNP can invest part of the fund for generating added revenue to benefit the scholarship program. Similar scholarship boards may be set up for the BJMP and BFP. As for the scholarship funds of the AFP, its existing administration and management shall prevail. Press Release August 3, 2016 Legarda Urges Gov't to Include Filipinos' Happiness as Indicator of Positive Growth Senator Loren Legarda renewed her call to the government to update the nation's development indicators to reflect the happiness and well-being of Filipinos. Legarda, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience, said improving quality of life goes beyond economic growth and should include equally important factors such as good governance, equitable and sustainable socio-economic development, environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and disaster resilience. "The overall quality of life of Filipinos remains poorly understood due to the absence of measures that will reflect their happiness and well-being. We need to pursue the holistic development of the country amid the threats of climate change and increased disaster risks," she said. In line with this, Legarda filed Senate Resolution No. 15, which urges the government, particularly the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), to adopt the Gross National Happiness (GNH) concept of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The Senator explained that statistics such as gross domestic product (GDP) and gross national product (GNP), which only indicate the value of goods and services turned out by the market economy, are not designed to measure the quality of life, as these economic yardsticks foster policies that place too much emphasis on economic growth at all costs. "There is a need for a comprehensive approach to measure the happiness and well-being of Filipinos in order to review the impact of existing policies and introduce corrective measures. The GNH concept used by the Royal Government of Bhutan measures progress by giving equal importance to non-economic aspects of well-being," said Legarda. The four pillars of Bhutan's GNH are the promotion of equitable and sustainable socio-economic development, the preservation and promotion of cultural values, the conservation of the natural environment, and the establishment of good governance. The four pillars are further classified into nine domains: psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and living standards. San Franciscans who are eager to donate to help the homeless also want their dollars to have the biggest impact. Yet, with a myriad of nonprofits throughout the city, how can a donor decide? More cohesiveness is needed among organizations providing shelter, and centralized decision-making is needed to unify and synchronize the spending on homelessness. This tactic has proven successful in Southern California. Spearheaded by United Way of Greater Los Angeles, the Funders Collaborative has executed a multipronged approach to find suitable long-term housing for homeless individuals. UWGLAs coordinated entry system, called Home for Good, uses evidence-based decision-making to identify and prioritize the most vulnerable individuals living on the streets of Los Angeles and throughout Los Angeles County. The clients are then assisted with transition to housing and matched to an appropriate residence for their needs. Home for Good, which engages 200 community organizations, has housed more than 20,000 homeless individuals since 2011. San Francisco has housed that many since 2004, but the influx of those living on the streets has increased, likely due to the simultaneous housing crisis. United Way Bay Area has not been directly involved with a solution for permanent housing. However, San Francisco has made efforts to roll out coordinated-entry-system programs similar to those in Los Angeles. The Supportive Services for Veteran Families and HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing programs have worked on designating permanent housing for homeless veterans and their families. As for the broader homeless population, San Francisco has hired a consulting group to assess and improve upon its coordinated entry system. The program, called Connecting Point, finds both emergency and permanent housing placement for those in need. Connecting Point does not yet have well-organized entry points for clients nor standardized methods for triage, prioritization and matching to housing. A major setback is the lack of a shared homeless management information system among the shelter providers, which was key to the success of Los Angeles Home for Good. In order to expand the reach and resources for Connecting Point, San Franciscans could be directly involved with crowdfunding a tech-driven solution. San Franciscans could donate as little as $3 a month (10 cents per day), to a single fund that would go directly toward building new data-infrastructure and prioritization tools for Connecting Point. Additionally, the donors dollars could be tracked, like a FedEx package, as money is funneled through the app for allocation to particular goals, allowing for 100 percent transparency. To trigger a snowball-effect within a donors social network, monthly contributions could be pinned to social media outlets, perhaps encouraging friendly competition. Even if only one quarter of the 800,000 residents of San Francisco donated 40 cents a day, this effort could feasibly generate nearly $30 million within a year. Thats more than half of the estimated $50 million to run a citywide program to shelter the homeless. This crowdfunding app could be run as yes a startup. Interestingly, another startup, called HandUp, uses a similar Kickstarter-based model to fight homelessness. However, many of its campaigns are for a single homeless individual or a specific small nonprofit. These one-time donations to individuals or fragmented organizations may not be the best approach. A consortium of seasoned entrepreneurs could launch the startup and find creative ways for obtaining return on investments. For example, the founders might partner with tech companies that could dole out incentives (e.g., discounted services or special deals) for those participating in the 10-cent economy. Alternatively, tech companies could match donations that reach a certain threshold. The startup would then receive a proportion of the companies earnings from their business promotion. As the worlds epicenter of innovation, lets unveil our own capacity to fundraise and adopt coordinated strategies for a system that would curb homelessness. San Francisco would then be at the forefront of the technology revolution driving long-lasting social change. Back in the 1940s and 50s, Fred Lyon was out on the San Francisco streets shooting black-and-white film with his Leica. It has taken 60 or 70 years for his atmospheric images to find the perfect atmosphere for their display: the Leica Store & Gallery San Francisco, where Fred Lyon San Francisco opens Thursday, Aug. 4. Both the exhibit and the accompanying book, Portrait of a City, 1940-1960, published in 2014 by Princeton Architectural Press, came out of a file cabinet full of negatives that hadnt been looked at for five decades. Lyon had a day job as a freelance magazine and commercial photographer, and worked on his own project whenever he had a minute. I didnt want my camera to cool off, says Lyon, who lived in Sausalito and always photographed the bridge on his way to work, which made him an hour or two late. Because he also worked at night, he liked to catch the fog filtered by the streetlamps and headlights. He never had time to print the negatives stored in an envelope marked SF Negs. Once printed, the images showed his hometown in just the right nostalgic mist, and have ended up as popular greeting cards, in addition to the book. For Fred Lyon San Francisco, 45 gelatin silver prints are on display in the gallery of the camera store, which is more of a museum of classic Leica cameras. You can see a Leica range finder from the 1940s, the style that Lyon used, then look at his black-and-white images from the era hung on a brick wall built in the 1940s. Also on display during the opening will be Lyon, who is 92 and is still working out of a studio on (where else but) Lyon Street in Cow Hollow. There are things about this city that dont change, he says, and I do love those. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@SamWhitingSF Fred Lyon San Francisco: Opening reception 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4. Free. hrough Oct. 21. Leica Store & Gallery San Francisco, 463 Bush St., S.F. (415) 801-5066. www.leicagallerysf.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SACRAMENTO With more than two years to go, the race for Californias next governor is already attracting millions of dollars in campaign contributions. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has been raising money for more than a year and has $8.6 million in cash between two campaign accounts including $1.6 million raised between Jan. 1 and June 30 but a competing candidate is proving to be a strong fundraiser as well. Campaign finance reports released Monday show that state Treasurer John Chiang raised $2.3 million in the seven weeks of his campaign that were covered by the filing. Chiang, who entered the race in May, has an additional $3.2 million in his campaign account from his successful run for treasurer that can be used in his race for governor. More candidates are expected to join the race to replace termed-out Gov. Jerry Brown, with those potentially including former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former state Controller Steve Westly, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer. Money doesnt always win, but in a race like this when there are potentially half a dozen or more candidates, someone would like to jump ahead to give others a reason to say, Well, maybe I will consider something else, said Larry Gerston, professor emeritus of political science at San Jose State University. In Bay Area legislative races, former Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, raised $102,000 in the reporting period of May 22 to June 30 and has $936,000 in cash for her effort to replace termed-out Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley. Skinners opponent, former Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, D-Alameda, raised $113,000 during the reporting period, but has $76,000 in cash. In the contentious San Jose state Senate race, incumbent Jim Beall has been spending big against his rival, Assemblywoman Nora Campos. Beall has spent $883,000 since January, with half of those expenditures coming right before the June 7 primary, which he won by a large margin. Beall has $125,000 in cash remaining heading into the runoff against Campos in November. Campos reported Monday that she has $36,000 among four campaign accounts. She spent $184,000 ahead of the June primary on campaign mailers. The Bay Areas only Republican in the state Legislature, Assemblywoman Catharine Baker of San Ramon, has a significant fundraising lead over Democratic challenger Cheryl Cook-Kallio in the East Bays 16th Assembly District. Baker raised $237,000 between May 22 and June 30 and ended with $991,000 in cash. She has spent $452,000 since January. Cook-Kallio raised $169,000 during the most recent reporting period. In the mad dash to qualify Gov. Jerry Browns ballot measure on prison sentencing reform for the fall ballot, the campaign supporting Prop. 57 spent nearly $5 million on signature gathering this year, according to Mondays filings. Browns own ballot measure committee contributed $4.1 million to the Yes on Prop. 57 campaign, which now has just $120,000 in cash on hand. Wealthy Palo Alto physicist and Republican donor Charles Munger Jr. gave $7 million to the Yes on Prop. 54 campaign. The ballot measure would require the state Legislature to wait 72 hours after a bill is made public before voting on it and mandate that videos of public hearings be put on the Internet within 24 hours. A ballot measure to extend taxes on the wealthy to fund education has raised $18 million so far this year. The Yes on Prop. 55 campaign has spent $4 million this year in its efforts to extend income taxes being paid under Prop. 30. Its biggest contributor is the California Teachers Association, which gave $3.5 million this year. Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez California Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife have sold their Oakland home for less than they paid for it a decade ago. Brown and his wife Anne Gust Brown were the original owners of the 4,200-square-foot houseat 7257 Skyline Blvd. The couple paid $2.4 million for in 2006, near the end of Brown's tenure as Oakland mayor. The couple put the property on the market in April of this year at $2,595,000. The house sold for $2,375,000 over the weekend, according to Redfin. Tim Hussin/Special to The Chronicle Apple said Wednesday it is succeeding in diversifying its workforce, increasing the number of women and blacks compared to previous years. The company said that 37 percent of its new hires globally are female. But based on the latest data, Apple and other tech companies still have a ways to go until their workforces reflect the larger communities they serve in terms of gender and race. Biogen Inc. shares spiked Tuesday after a report by the Wall Street Journal that Merck & Co. and Allergan PLC have each considered a takeover of the biotechnology company. The shares rose $28.28, or 9.37 percent, to close at $330.11, after rising 11 percent in their biggest intraday gain since March 2015. The Journal reported that Biogen may not be interested in a deal, citing people familiar with the matter. Jason Glashow, a Biogen spokesman, declined to comment, as did Mark Marmur, an Allergan spokesman. Lainie Keller, a Merck spokeswoman, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Biogen recently announced that Chief Executive Officer George Scangos would step down, and that the company would search for a replacement. It has replaced a handful of senior managers as sales of its biggest drug, the multiple sclerosis pill Tecfidera, have slowed. It has a market capitalization of about $70 billion, which would make it a large target for any potential buyer. With the departure of their CEO, Biogen has put up a short-term for sale sign, indicating to interested parties that now would be a time to show interest, Geoffrey Porges, an analyst at Leerink Partners, said. There are other potential parties that are likely to be interested; there isnt a pharmaceutical company on the planet that wouldnt like to have a leading Alzheimers disease program. Tecfidera had $3.6 billion in sales last year. The drugs pipeline has shown promise, and this week the company said that an experimental therapy it worked on with Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. succeeded in a late-stage trial. Its also developing a potential treatment for Alzheimers disease thats being closely watched by investors. Shares of Gilead Sciences Inc. and Celgene Corp. also briefly spiked on the news. Allergan on Tuesday completed a $40.5 billion cash-and-stock deal to sell its generic drugs business to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. The deal will give Allergan flexibility to pursue acquisitions, though CEO Brent Saunders said in June he was looking at more smaller-scale tuck-in deals that will support our therapeutic area leadership and innovation. In April, it terminated an agreement to be bought by Pfizer Inc. for $160 billion, after the U.S. government announced tax rules designed to limit the benefit of the transaction. Merck doesnt have Allergans history of large deals, though CEO Ken Frazier said last month that business development is a priority. Like Biogen, its in the late stages of testing an Alzheimers drug. We remain very active with new partnerships and collaborations, and were also looking actively for bolt-on acquisitions in key growth areas, Frazier said last month on a conference call with analysts. Jared S. Hopkins and Doni Bloomfield are Bloomberg writers. Email: jhopkins38@bloomberg.net, mbloomfiel12@bloomberg.net American consumers turned in another strong month of spending in June. Consumer spending rose a solid 0.4 percent in June after an identical increase in May and a 1 percent surge in April, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. The strength in June came from spending on nondurable goods, which offset a drop in spending on autos. Personal income grew 0.2 percent in June, matching Mays gain. Economists say they think solid gains in hiring will support continued growth in consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the economy. The economy expanded at a 1.2 percent annual rate in spring. Analysts say they expect double that growth rate in the second half of the year. Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said the strength in June spending showed a solid end to the second quarter that would provide momentum for the third quarter. Products Starbucks recalls straws Starbucks is recalling stainless steel straws it sold in its stores and online after three reports of children suffering mouth lacerations while using them. The Seattle company says about 2.5 million of the straw sets were sold in the U.S., and 301,000 were sold in Canada. The straws have a ridge at the bottom that keeps them attached to beverage lids. Starbucks says people should not let children use the straws, which are rigid and can pose an injury risk. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the straws were sold between June 2012 and last month. They cost about $6 for a set of three straws. Cups for the straws were sold for between $11 and $30. The straws were made in China. Courts Actors parents sue Jeep maker The parents of Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin have sued the makers of the Jeep Grand Cherokee that killed the 27-year-old when it rolled down his driveway and crushed him. Victor and Irina Yelchin filed the wrongful-death lawsuit Tuesday against Fiat Chrysler in Los Angeles Superior Court. The suit contends that the gear selector in Anton Yelchins Jeep was defective and poorly designed and manufactured. The SUV was among those subject to a recall because its gear shifters have confused drivers, causing the vehicles to roll away unexpectedly and leading to dozens of injuries. Yelchin died June 19 when his Jeep rolled down the driveway of his Los Angeles home, pinning him between a mailbox and a security fence. He was best known for playing Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek franchise. Earnings Electronic Arts beats forecasts Electronic Arts on Tuesday reported fiscal first-quarter profit of $440 million ($1.40 per share). The Redwood City company said the earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 7 cents per share. The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of analysts was for a loss of 2 cents per share. The video game maker posted revenue of $682 million in the period, also beating expectations. Aanalysts had expected $651.3 million. For the current quarter, which ends in October, Electronic Arts said it expects adjusted revenue in the range of $1.08 billion. The company expects full-year earnings to be $2.56 per share, with revenue expected to be $4.75 billion. Electronic Arts shares closed Tuesday at $76.78, reflecting a climb of 7 percent in the last 12 months. Fitbit runs by expectations Shares in Fitbit jumped in after-hours trading Tuesday after the wearable device maker posted second-quarter results that topped Wall Street expectations. The San Francisco company reported second-quarter earnings of $6.3 million (3 cents per share). Adjusted for stock option expense and non-recurring costs, profit was 12 cents per share. Analysts were looking for adjusted earnings of 11 cents per share. Fitbit posted revenue of $586.5 million in the period, which also beat Street forecasts. Analysts had expected $580.2 million. For the current quarter, Fitbit expects its adjusted per-share earnings to range from 17 to 19 cents. The company said it expects revenue in the range of $490 million to $510 million for the fiscal third quarter. Analysts are expecting earnings of 18 cents per share on revenue of $497 million. Fitbit expects adjusted full-year earnings in the range of $1.12 to $1.24 per share, with revenue ranging from $2.5 billion to $2.6 billion. Fitbit shares closed Tuesday at $13.16, rising 80 cents, or 6 percent, to $13.96 in after-hours trading. Aviation Google will test its drones The proposed drone delivery service born in Googles experimental labs will test its system at a United States site, the White House announced as part of an initiative to push research and safety measures for unmanned flight. The U.S. National Science Foundation will spend $35 million over the next five years on unmanned flight research, and the Department of Interior plans to expand its use of drone flights, according to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The White House push comes after the Federal Aviation Administration in June finalized its first set of drone regulations allowing broad commercial flights and establishing requirements for unmanned pilot licenses. Honestly, the way I think about these issues, I dont think about the problems, the head of Project Wing, Dave Vos, said Tuesday at a White House event to promote drone technology. I think about the solutions that we can bring to bear. Project Wings test program will be the most significant drone delivery trial to date in the U.S. Amazon announced on July 26 that it would begin testing its drone delivery system in the United Kingdom. The current regulations wont allow the type of automated, long-distance flying that the companies have proposed for package delivery. Project Wing will conduct experiments at one of the six FAA-sanctioned drone test sites to lay the groundwork for future approvals, according to the White House. X was founded by Google and is now a sister company under Alphabet. Project Wing wants to equip its drones with tiny radio transponders that would identify their location to other aircraft and to controllers on the ground, Vos said. Chronicle News Services A former San Mateo police officer accused of sexually assaulting five women while on duty pleaded not guilty Tuesday to multiple sexual assault charges. Noah Winchester, 31, is accused of a committing a series of rapes and sexual assaults in Sacramento and San Mateo from 2013 to 2015. Winchester used his authority as a police officer during the assaults, threatening several of his victims with arrest or deportation, prosecutors said. Winchesters attorney, Michael Rains, entered a not-guilty plea on the former officers behalf during an arraignment at the San Mateo County courthouse in Redwood City. Winchester appeared handcuffed before the court behind a glass window. He is charged with 22 counts, including kidnapping to commit a crime, rape by threat to arrest or deport, sexual battery by restraint and sexual penetration. Winchester also faces enhancements for allegedly committing crimes in multiple jurisdictions and for allegedly committing sex crimes during a burglary. Im intrigued by allegations that are in some cases 3 years old, Rains said outside court. Why all of a sudden these allegations are given credence, I dont know. Winchester is being held on $3.1 million bail. Rains filed a motion Tuesday seeking to reduce that amount. Three of the sexual assaults with which Winchester is charged happened in San Mateo in September and October 2015. Prosecutors say Winchester kidnapped and raped one woman, tried to rape another woman after breaking into her motel room to steal something and sexually battered a third. He had been with San Mateo police for 10 months when one of the women reported Oct. 20 that she had been assaulted. She persuaded a second alleged victim of Winchesters, whom she knew, to come forward as well, authorities said. District attorneys investigators later found the third woman Winchester allegedly assaulted. In two of the San Mateo cases, Winchester threatened the women with arrest or deportation, prosecutors said. San Mateo police placed Winchester on leave after the first woman came forward. He resigned in February. Winchester came to San Mateo from the Los Rios Community College District police force in the Sacramento area, where he patrolled American River College. Prosecutors say that while there, he sexually assaulted two women, one of them a 17-year-old college student. The 17-year-old reported the 2013 assault to police, but no charges were filed because authorities could not corroborate the teenagers statement, said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. He said that with the multiplicity of victims and further evidence, prosecutors now have a case. Mitchel Benson, a spokesman for the community college district, said he could not comment on whether the 2013 allegations were included in Winchesters file when San Mateo police hired him. I cant comment on what is or isnt on his personnel records, Benson said. It would be a violation of state law to do so. San Mateo Police Capt. Dave Morris said the department conducts thorough and extensive backgrounds on all prospective hires ... and interviews prior agencies and examines their personnel files as part of this standard procedure. The San Mateo Police Department would never hire a police officer candidate with knowledge of those types of allegations in their background. Chronicle staff writer Kimberly Veklerov contributed to this report. Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno Kimberly Veklerov A teenager killed after an argument with another boy was identified Tuesday as a 16-year-old Fairfield resident. Dominic Gilliam was shot Sunday night in a parking lot on the 2700 block of North Texas Street, police said. Paramedics rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he died. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Though many may assume they already know the answer to the question, a pair of evolutionary scientists released a study Monday explaining the point of the female orgasm. Scientists at Yale and the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital have provided fresh insights on the subject by examining the evolving trait across different species. Their study appears Monday in the journal JEZ-Molecular and Developmental Evolution. The female orgasm, unlike the male orgasm, is not necessary for conceiving, so why is it still there? said Dr. Mihaela Pavlicev, an assistant professor at the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, and one of two authors of the the study, The Evolutionary Origin of Female Orgasm. Dr. Pavlicev and Gunter Wagner, an Alison Richard professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale University, started last fall and took three to four months to complete the study. We wanted to try to understand the ovarian cycle and spontaneous evolution, because this concept is relatively new, Pavlicev said. While doing other things, we stumbled across this observation that the ancestral trait that evolved into the human female orgasm had an ancestral function during ovulation. Pavlicev has been on the job for the last three years, but has focused on reproductive biology for the past 13, while Wagner has spent 35 years studying evolutionary biology, a quarter of a century teaching at Yale, and a decade researching biological reproduction. Since there is no apparent association between orgasm and number of offspring or successful reproduction in humans, the scientists singled out one physiological trait that goes together with the human female orgasm, the neuro-endocrine discharge of prolactin and oxytocin, and searched for this activity in other placental mammals. Although the effects of the female orgasm in humans may not be clear, however if present, the extant effects of the trait are not necessarily the functions for which the traits originated in the first place, wrote Pavlicev and Wagner in their publication. Instead, they can be new functions, for example, as is well established for feathers, hair, or swim bladder, etc. Pavlicev and Wagner saw this reflex plays a part in ovulation for a large number of mammals. For animals other than the human, the female orgasm can be seen as a mechanism to cause ovulation in response to copulation, as the egg and sperm must simultaneously be in the right place, Pavlicev said. We must ask the question: Is there still a function for the female orgasm, and how will ovulation be affected? Many aspects of reproductive biology are still yet to be answered, Wagner said. While the study affects the science community in a positive manner, the general implications for the average individual should not be overlooked. People want to understand themselves and why things are the way that they are, Wagner said. The scientists suggest that female orgasm may have evolved as an adaptation for a direct reproductive role the reflex that, ancestrally, induced ovulation. This reflex became superfluous for reproduction later in evolution, freeing female orgasm for secondary roles. In the new documentary about Norman Lear, an admiring fellow TV producer offers an opinion thats hard to argue with that the history of television divides into two eras, B.N. and A.N., before Norman and after Norman. Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You makes a compelling case that, by merging contemporary political, racial and gender issues with televisions traditionally middle-of-the-road sitcom genre, producer Lear paved the way for the likes of Saturday Night Live and Jon Stewart (who is seen in this film paying homage to the master). The nation was more than ready for a radical revision of its viewing fare the documentary asserts that at one time Lear was responsible for six of TVs top 10 shows. That kind of success cant help but exact a price, and the film touches on the personal fallout from his workaholic heyday. But the movie is by no means an attempt at a complete biography, nor does it make any pretense to journalistic objectivity. Its a celebration of a highly creative fellow and his political ideas, to the extent that it will probably have scant appeal to viewers of differing outlooks. Consider Lears most celebrated program, All in the Family. The basic setup is a situation comedy at its most fundamental a working-class man from Queens, N.Y., interacts with his family and neighbors. But Archies son-in-law is a die-hard liberal, and the next-door neighbors are black, while left-of-center ideas enrage Archie, who laces his speech with ethnic and racial epithets. By earlier standards, this is an odd sort of humor funny and not funny. This new kind of comedy was bolstered with moments of poignancy and sadness that took the show out of the realm of earlier programs that were pickled in laugh tracks. (To its credit, the movie gives actor Carroll OConnor his due for his portrayal of Archie, which was arguably as important as the scripts in making the show what it was.) Directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady give camera time to lots of Lears collaborators, including Rob Reiner, and admirers, such as George Clooney. But mostly the camera stays on Lear, now in his 90s and most often decked out in his trademark hat. He is affable, but at the same time its obvious hes used to being the center of attention. In only a few moments does he seem deeply moved, notably one scene in which he recollects his father, who was among the inspirations for Archie Bunker. The film briefly looks at his post-TV activism and founding of the group People for the American Way, dedicated to making the promise of America real for every American, but the movies heart is its depiction of Lears great 1970s string of hit shows, which also included The Jeffersons, Maude and Good Times. Its a lot of ground to cover, but if the movie fails to plumb the depth of Lears mystery, it succeeds in being an entertaining look at an influential figure. Lear has long been out of the TV rat race, but he doesnt hesitate to speak out when he thinks its important. Recently he made news by suggesting that one of the current presidential candidates is a real-life Archie Bunker. After all these decades, hes still spreading the gospel of Norman. Walter Addiego is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: waddiego@sfchronicle.com. Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You Documentary. Directed by Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady. Not rated. 91 minutes. To see a trailer: http://bit.ly/29S9Mye In his first feature film as writer-director, James Schamus does something elusive and perhaps difficult even to describe. He creates a pervasive atmosphere of something not so unsettling or definable as dread, but rather something more vague and even ignorable if you choose to ignore it: unease. Theres a feeling here that something is unsafe, or could go wrong. Theres a feeling here of being a stranger at the party. Based on the novel of the same name by Philip Roth, Indignation takes place mostly in 1951 and tells the story of a Jewish kid from Newark, N.J., who goes away to school at a small, traditional college in Ohio. This sounds like the premise for a heartwarming coming-of-age story, but the energy here is more sober. Already, as the film opens, one of the young mans friends is dead because he didnt go to college and therefore didnt get to defer his military service in Korea. One of the first scenes is of Marcus (Logan Lerman) attending the friends funeral. A sense pervades not of a hostile world but of a careless one, in which fatal things can happen randomly or stupidly or for causes that dont become obvious until theyre inescapable. Marcus father (Danny Burstein), a butcher, is the character that most embodies this underlying atmosphere. In midlife, he has suddenly become neurotic with anxiety and dread, either because hes on the verge of a nervous breakdown or because he has developed a sixth sense about the true nature of things. When Marcus escapes from Newark and goes to college, the screen is filled with sunshine and the atmosphere seems to lift, but not completely. There are other Jews at the college, but they travel in defined circles theres a Jewish fraternity, for example and everyone, regardless of religion, is expected to attend Christian church services at least 10 times each year. Other Jews on campus are willing to roll with it, but Marcus, who likes to keep to himself, is placid only on the surface. When pressed, he has a decided tendency toward indignation. There are several standout scenes in Indignation, but one particularly memorable one is between Marcus and Dean Caudwell, the head of the university. The dean is played by Tracy Letts, the anarchic playwright (Killer Joe, August: Osage County), who specializes in playing narrow company men, authoritarians, in the movies and on television. The dean here is a variation on the familiar Letts type: not really a bad guy, but rather someone easy enough to circumvent or appease. Yet, as brilliantly played by Lerman, theres something in Marcus that makes him unable and unwilling to connect with this man. Watching their first scene together is an uncomfortable and fascinating experience, as well as a great duet between two actors. Of course, Marcus meets a girl. Her name is Olivia, and she is played by Sarah Gadon, who, in the pleated skirts and prim blouses created by costume designer Amy Roth, looks like the platonic ideal of a young college woman circa 1950. But like the 50s themselves, Olivia is much more troubled and complicated than she appears. Gadon is really rather wonderful in this film, plaintive and haunting, with all her nerve endings raw. Indignation is haunting as well. Its hard to file it away. Instead, the story and treatment keep inviting us to circle back to it and wonder what the characters might have done here or should have done there. Like the best wines and the best films, theres a complexity to the finish, so that it reverberates with meanings beyond the obvious. Indignation has the disconcerting quality of truth and is an altogether adult piece of work. Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle Indignation Starring Logan Lerman and Sarah Gadon. Directed by James Schamus. (R. 110 minutes.) To see a trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELKsrUssyQE If you know someone you really cant stand not someone you dislike, not someone who rubs you the wrong way, but someone you really loathe and detest send that person a ticket for Suicide Squad. Its the kind of torment you can wish on your worst enemy without feeling too guilty: not something to inflict permanent damage, just two hours of soul-sickening confusion and sensory torment. The latest superhero consortium movie, this one from DC Comics, does something new, but its a very bad something new, something that distances the audience from a movie that was always going to be horrible but is now even worse. The movie blares pop songs on the soundtrack, lyrics included, not just during the interludes between scenes, but actually during the scenes. In other words, at some moments a character will be talking out of one speaker and a song will be coming out of the other. It is an awful, overdone and overladen jumble, full of flashbacks and flash forwards and lots of scenes in which its unclear which character is doing what or why it might matter. And heres the surprising thing. Suicide Squad was not made by some action-movie hack. (Id mention an action hack now, for reference, but I dont think people should get bad reviews when theyre minding their own business.) No, this movie was written and directed by David Ayer, the man who wrote Training Day and wrote and directed the terrific war movie Fury just a couple of years ago. Its really impossible to see Ayers hand in it, except for tiny moments like a split-second close-up of an actors face in the midst of an action barrage that seem like an artist trying to insert a grace note. Such grace notes dont make the scenes better, but they do suggest a filmmaker consciously trying to do something artful, even as he is failing worse than he probably ever will again in his entire life. To even talk about Suicide Squad is misleading, because it requires imposing a coherence on the material that isnt really there. It takes place in Gotham City, at a time when Superman and Batman are already dead, and the authorities embodied by an intelligence officer played by Viola Davis are concerned about two things: that a being as powerful as Superman, but evil, might come and destroy the Earth. And about an alien who has already arrived and is growing in power. So Davis gets the idea to put together a team of criminals, currently incarcerated, and all of them in possession of special powers. She wants to use them to fight the aliens. The first thing you need to know is that, at the point that the intelligence officer and her assistant (Joel Kinnaman) start naming the members of this Suicide Squad team, the plot comes to a full stop for a series of multiple digressions as each character is introduced. There are too many to name here youd skip the whole paragraph if I tried but the main ones to be concerned about are Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and Will Smith as Deadshot. Deadshot is a career assassin with an uncanny facility for weaponry, but he also has a conscience and a soft spot for his daughter. In a halfway decent movie, Smith could do a role like this quite well. As for Margot Robbie even though the surroundings are horrible, and even though the movie stoops so low as to try to make Harley a sentimental figure theres enough moment-by-moment invention in Robbies zaniness that I can see this movie opening up her casting range. Its wasted this time out, but Suicide Squad shows that she could probably do inspired lunacy even better than the uninspired lunacy on display here. The last half hour is a video game, just characters shooting at black shapes, on the way to doing battle against some evil queen (Cara Delevingne), as the drum machines and the horns and the soaring strings underscore everything. But heres the thing: Even if you love video games, what do you love about them? Playing them, right? The experience of Suicide Squad is like watching other people play video games except theyre not really playing them, and theres not much suspense about who will win. And you cant escape. And the music is terrible. And you barely know whats going on. And youre stuck there for two hours. And then, its a little depressing, too, because Suicide Squad wasnt worth making, and it wasnt worth releasing. Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle Suicide Squad Action. Starring Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis and Will Smith. Directed by David Ayer. (PG-13. 123 minutes.) To see a trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLLQK9la6Go Courtesy of the artist Cornelius was already a big star in Japan with several releases to his credit when he released Fantasma, his 1997 United States debut. The inventive release won him countless fans, with fellow musicians like Beck, Blur and MGMT tapping him for his production services. Combining Beach Boys-style harmonies with rapid-fire Ramones riffs and the cut-and-paste aesthetic of the Beastie Boys, the album still stands as a tribute to the power of imagination. Now, nearly two decades later, Fantasma is beting reissued, and the musician, whose real name is Keigo Oyamada, is performing it in its entirety on his first U.S. tour in more than eight years. 1 Pot resort arrests: South Dakotas top prosecutor charged two consultants who worked with an American Indian tribe on its plans to open the nations first marijuana resort with drug offenses, accusing them of having seeds shipped from the Netherlands hidden in CD cases and sewn into clothing. The charges announced Wednesday come eight months after the Flandreau Santee Sioux destroyed their crop amid fears of a federal raid, abandoning an ambitious scheme to develop an adult playground that they estimated could net as much as $2 million a month in profit. Tribal leaders this week said they dont plan to revisit the proposal, and instead will use their greenhouse to grow vegetables, including tomatoes. 2 Obama commutations: President Obama on Wednesday cut short the sentences of 214 federal inmates, including 67 life sentences, in what the White House called the largest batch of commutations on a single day in more than a century. Almost all the prisoners were serving time for nonviolent drug crimes, reflecting Obamas long-stated view that the U.S. needs to remedy the consequences of decades of sentencing requirements that put tens of thousands of Americans behind bars for far too long. Obama has pushed for a broader fix to criminal justice laws and has used the aggressive pace of his commutations in an effort to pressure Congress and call more attention to the issue. A nude 'Summer of Love' parade meant to pay homage to the late Grateful Dead musician Jerry Garcia (who was born August 1 and pass on August 9) will march this Sunday, August 7, from Jane Warner Plaza in the Castro to the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood and back. The event organizer, Gypsy Taub, writes on his site My Naked Truth TV (NSFW link here) that the event is meant to honor Garcia and to "celebrate the hippie movement." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Ed. Note Thursday: The event organizers have informed SFGATE that due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been canceled. Ever wonder what sorts of critters make their homes along San Francisco's Embarcadero? The California Center for Natural History is answering that curiosity with a pop-up aquarium opening on Thursday evening, August 4, between 6pm-8pm at Pier 7. "It's for anybody walking by, so they can be aware of the organisms right around them," naturalist and event organizer Damon Tighe tells SFGATE. "A lot of people on the piers forget they're walking on open Pacific water." The researchers onsite will provide macro lenses and magiscopes for visitors to get a close up look at some of the teeny critters they've collected from the waters surrounding the piers. Some of the animals they've extracted from the Bay for the temporary aquarium include mollusks, mussels, crabs, sea spiders (which Tighe says look "spindly," like a spider crossed with a crab), bryozoans, sponges, skeleton shrimp, amphipods, and polychaetes, which Tighe calls "the earthworms of the ocean" that likely migrated on boats from as far off as Southeast Asia. Tighe is also excited about two sea anemone the team found, particularly because one of them is florescent and will glow under UV light. But perhaps the most interesting of the creatures they found is the tunicate, an animal he says is more like humans than we might imagine. "From an evolutionary point of view, they're the closest animal to us that's in the San Francisco Bay [other than fish]," Tighe says. These animals have rudimentary spinal cords, and "basically, eat their own nervous systems" before going through a "crazy metamorphosis." Eventually, for some, like the Golden Star species, they turn into "very elegant-looking flower clusters." Any curious passers-by walking near Pier 7 on Thursday are encouraged to stop in and learn a bit more about the marine life under their feet, particularly because knowledge only leads to a better consciousness about preserving the local ecosystem and natural environment. "When you're aware of what's here," Tighe says, "you're more aware of your impact." Alyssa Pereira is a staff writer for SFGATE. Follow her here on Twitter. BEIJING A Chinese legal rights activist was sentenced to 7 years in prison on subversion charges Wednesday, in the second in a series of cases underscoring the ruling Communist Partys determination to rein in government critics. State broadcaster CCTV said Hu Shigen had pleaded guilty to subversion, damaging national security and harming social stability at the start of his hearing before the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court. His brief trial came a day after the court issued a suspended three-year sentence to activist Zhai Yanmin. Both were arrested in July 2015 with two others as part of a nationwide crackdown on legal rights activists. About 300 lawyers and activists were initially seized and questioned before most were released. Hu, 61, was accused of leading an underground organization that masqueraded as a church but was dedicated to identifying and drawing attention to accusations of government abuses. He worked with others, some of whom are also facing trial this week, to organize activities that manipulated public opinion and disturbed public order. Hus ideology and his behaviors have seriously harmed the country and social stability, state media quoted prosecutors as saying. Hu had been sentenced in 1994 to 20 years in prison on the now-abolished charge of counterrevolution in connection with his political activities, but was released in 2008 after his sentence was reduced. His previous prison term contributed to his harsh sentencing in the most recent case, prosecutors said. More than a dozen other lawyers and activists remain jailed, their legal status uncertain. The trials are part of a pattern established under the administration of President Xi Jinping to attack perceived opponents. 1 Turkey request: Turkeys justice minister sent a document to the United States on Tuesday seeking the arrest of cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania and whom Ankara accuses of instigating an attempted coup on July 15. Ankara has demanded Gulens extradition over the failed coup, which left 271 people dead. Washington has asked for evidence of the clerics involvement, saying the extradition process must take its course. 2 Travel ban: Iraqs prime minister issued a travel ban on Tuesday for some sitting lawmakers and politicians amid corruption allegations that surfaced during the questioning in parliament of the countrys defense minister. Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi told lawmakers this week that parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri and other government officials and businessmen had tried to persuade him to secure specific contracts and to reinstate employees fired due to corruption. As well as the parliament speaker, Al-Obeidi mentioned the names of four sitting lawmakers, one former lawmaker and two parliamentary officials affiliated with the speaker. LIMA, Peru It was a national scandal. Perus then-vice president accused two domestic intelligence agents of staking her out. Then, a top congressman blamed the spy agency for a break-in at his office. News stories showed that the agency had collected data on hundreds of influential Peruvians. Yet after last years outrage, which forced out the prime minister and froze its intelligence-gathering, the spy service went ahead with a $22 million program capable of snooping on thousands of Peruvians at a time. Peru a top cocaine-producing nation joined the ranks of world governments that have added commercial spyware to their arsenals. The purchase from Israeli-American company Verint Systems, chronicled in documents, offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look into how easy it is for a country to purchase and install off-the-shelf surveillance equipment. The software allows governments to intercept voice calls, text messages and emails. Except for blacklisted nations like Syria and North Korea, there is little to stop governments that routinely violate basic rights from obtaining the same so-called lawful intercept tools that have been sold to Western police and spy agencies. People tracked by the technology have been beaten, jailed and tortured, according to human rights groups. Targets include a blogger in the repressive Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan, opposition activists in the war-ravaged African nation of South Sudan, and politicians and reporters in oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. The status quo is completely unacceptable, said Marietje Schaake, a European Union lawmaker pushing for greater oversight. The fact that this market is almost completely unregulated is very disturbing. The scope and sophistication revealed in the Peru documents approximates, on a small scale, U.S. and British surveillance programs cataloged in 2013 by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. That trove showed how the U.S. government collected the phone records of millions of Americans, few suspected of crimes. Even after some reforms, there is still much to be done in the U.S. and abroad to rein in Big Brother, privacy advocates say. Verint and its main competitors hail from nations with well-funded spy agencies, including the United States, Israel, Britain and Germany, and have operated with limited oversight. With more than $1 billion in yearly sales, Verint is a major, longtime player in an industry whose secrecy makes its size difficult to quantify. The corporation boasts upward of 10,000 customers in more than 180 countries, including most of the world's largest companies and U.S. law-enforcement agencies. Joseph Bakosoro, a former South Sudanese state governor who was also held without charge for four months, said his interrogators played for him a voice mail that had been left on his cell phone. They claimed it was evidence he backed rebels. They told me they are monitoring me, he said. They are monitoring my phone, and they are monitoring everyone, so whatever we say on the telephone, they are monitoring. It's not all party hearty and "Burn Him!" this yeara solemn, special event is planned for the night before the burning of Zozobra. At 6 pm on Sept. 1, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe, in collaboration with the Santa Fe Jewish CenterChabad, aims to hold a candlelight vigil in memory of Holocaust victims. This comes as Zozobra enters the 1940s phase of its Decades Project, in which the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe is recreating the many different looks of Old Man Gloom throughout the years. Event chairman Ray Sandoval says, "It didn't feel right as a club to go through the 1940s and really miss a teachable moment for our youngsters about the Holocaust." The horrific mass slaughter of millions of Jews during World War II left a stain on the decade that Sandoval worries is in danger of being forgotten. "I work with a lot of young people this time of year," Sandoval says. "They come out, excited about Zozobra and want to help stuff him, but when we talk about the time periods, their information is a bit cursory. They've kind of heard about Hitler and that a couple people died in the Holocaust." The Kiwanis Club reached out to Rabbi Berel Levertov at Chabad several months ago to determine the most appropriate way to educate people about the Holocaust. "We are unfortunately seeing a lot of turmoil in the world again," Levertov says. "There are very few survivors remaining and people are forgetting what [the Holocaust] was." The candlelight vigil takes place on the 77th anniversary of the beginning of World War II and the 75th anniversary of the German order for Jews to wear an identifying yellow Star of David. The event will consist of remarks from Levertov, Kiwanis International President Jane Erickson, Mayor Javier Gonzales and a Holocaust survivor who has yet to be named. Other possible items on the itinerary include a short film and a Jewish memorial song. "We're also going to have a speaker talk about the Japanese internment camps," Sandoval says. "We need to be honest about what happened in Germany, but we also need to be honest about how we as Americans reacted as well." Is there any concern that tying the burning of Zozobra to the Holocaust, an event in which hundreds of thousands of Jewish bodies were burned in crematoriums to destroy evidence of Nazi war crimes, might bring up some unfortunate associations? The thought has not escaped Sandoval. "I understand that people may get mixed up or get their wires crossed, but that's not going to stop us from having a teachable moment for our kids," he says. "I don't feel we can go through this decade and ignore the Holocaust." Sandoval can't tell SFR much about the appearance of Zozobra this year, but says he'll be "sporting a 1940s style with a couple of surprises for you later on, very close to the time he's revealed." Levertov hasn't had much experience with Zozobra, as the event takes place on Fridays, a day on which Jews typically observe Shabbat services. However, he says that Sandoval is educating him on the subject. "It's about getting rid of our gloom. It's about getting rid of our hardships in life," Levertov says. "The 1940s was a difficult time. It was definitely a time to get rid of tyrants, and we get rid of them by marking them and by remembering." It might be trivializing to call the Holocaust "gloomy," but it's certainly not a time that anyone wants to relive. "You don't have to look back to the 1940s for gloom," Sandoval says. "2016 has been a very gloomy year. You can't get to the moment where Zozobra falls off the pole without having a solemn commemoration the night before." This night of remembrance is followed by what is traditionally thought of as an evening of leaving the past behind. Whether these two concepts can exist simultaneously will be borne out in September. While the vigil may not draw the same number of attendees as Zozobra the following evening, those who do observe both events may have a bit more on their minds as they watch the 50-foot paper-stuffed marionette tyrant turn to ash. Santa Fe Reporter 1 BEST OF SANTA FE WAS THE BEST THING EVER Way to come party with us, Santa Fe! 2 ONE MORE GLASS CEILING CRACKS FOR HRC That's sound of freedom from dudes being in charge all the damn time. 3 FEDERAL COURT UPHOLDS ABQ MIDDLE SCHOOLER'S ARREST FOR BURPING IN CLASS Uncle Sam is working hard to keep criminals out of our schools. 4 SUSANA MARTINEZ SAYS THE MOVIE INDUSTRY BROUGHT $387M INTO NEW MEXICO Didn't she try to screw these people when she started? 5 SANTA FE COUPLE COMPLETES MARGARITA TRAIL PROMOTION It's the kind of story you just can't wait to tell your grandkids. 6 MEDPOT GROWER DENIED "NEW MEXICO TRUE" CERTIFICATION Just more evidence that the governor is absolutely not trying to diminish the success of the state's medical marijuana program. 7 UNIDENTIFIED FRENCH WOMAN CALLS IN AIRPORT BOMB THREAT TO PREVENT HUSBAND FROM TRAVELING TO SEE HIS MISTRESS We still say he's the jerk. Santa Fe Reporter Hard to believe it's been 14 years since The Bourne Identity rolled into theaters and completely changed Matt Damon's persona from "ho-hum" to "oh damn!" And those first few films (not counting the throwaway Jeremy Renner-led Bourne Legacy) were pretty killer to be sure. But, like a similarly-aged teenager, the newest film in the long-running tale of that darn forgetful CIA assassin/spy who's always trying his damndest to come in from the cold is kind of brash and confused about itself, and that means it's just not very good. We rejoin the titular character as he lays low by taking part in some sort of Greek fight club. Oh, you'd better believe he can knock out his opponents in one blow, but we quickly come to realize that Mr. Bourne is feeling super-bummed about his lot in life. Last time out, he exposed the CIA's Blackbriar program, a clandestine black op that turns the very best operatives into remorseless, unthinking murderers. Bourne remembers who he is now, sure, but he still needs answers about how his dead dad fits into everything and he's damn well going to get 'em thanks to Nicky Parsons' (an utterly awful Julia Stiles who almost seems to be reading cue cards) hacking skills. It won't be easy, though, because CIA director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones, who's doing his best Tommy Lee Jones impression) is patriot-ing all hard and manipulating a Zuckerbergian social media mogul (Riz Ahmed) into helping him spy on America. In case that wasn't enough, there's the new head of computer stuff for the government agency (Ex Machina's Alicia Vikander) has her own agenda, too namely, she plays both sides, although we're never told why that might be. Cue globe-trotting subterfuge, soundtrack-free hand-to-hand combat, an ode to a Grecian motorcycle chase and, just to complicate things further, that one other spy (Black Swan's Vincent Cassel) who, after Bourne wiki-leaked the Blackbriar info, lost his cover and spent two years being tortured in Syria. "It's always been personal!" he growls at Dewey from his various sniper nests and unmarked vans while he recklessly pursues Bourne, and somewhere in the back of our minds we think something like, "Gimme a break, dude." If previous Bourne films set out to grit-ify the spy thriller genre (and succeeded), the newest installment seemingly doesn't recall that, and just because you can do that up close nauseatingly shaky camera stuff doesn't mean you should. In fact, most action shots are so all-over-the-place confusing that we almost never know where to look, and while director Paul Greengrass may be someplace dusting off his hands and congratulating himself on shirking the played-out trope of a stable shot, the rest of us are wondering why he'd do us like that. This is nothing compared to some of the ludicrous and physically implausible action sequences that go beyond the suspension of disbelief and into what-the-hell-was-that territory; if a police van can send every car in its way flying except for the one our hero is driving, maybe don't put those things so close to each other. We're really hoping this will just be the end of it, although the ending leaves room for yet another sequel. We really don't need it. And besides, we have a feeling Matt Damon's stock is about to plummet what with this white-washy Great Wall movie coming out soon. Either way, that's enough now from Jason Bourne We're begging you. Jason Bourne Directed by Paul Greengrass With Damon, Cassel, Jones and Stiles Violet Crown, Regal, DeVargas PG-13, 123 min. Santa Fe Reporter Now nearing the age of 70, celebrated American director Brian De Palma is known for his commitment to visual storytelling, inspired by the likes of Alfred Hitchcock. He's responsible for some of the gooey, blood-soaked movies of the '70s and '80s that set the tone for what would become passe in the modern cinematic sequences of bodies stacking up faster than viewers can keep track of them. We learn in this documentary that De Palma hates contemporary action tropes like car chases, though, so even amid flying bullets and fast-motion sequences, he wants you to know where characters are and what they are really doing. Documentary directors Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow don't delve deep into De Palma, or his relationships with people like George Lucas and Oliver Stone. Rather, it's an austere approach with a grandfatherly looking De Palma facing the camera as he's seated before an unlit fireplace. He works through a loose narrative about his long career, threading in and out of stories about most of his 40 films in chronological order and trashing on what's become of Hollywood over that timespan. We're not sure whether it's the questions from behind the camera or deft editing that leaves one liking the guy. A big name with a seemingly small ego, De Palma's first big hit was the 1970 adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie, which forever changed the girls locker room and the prom. Then he backed it up with solid wins like Scarface in 1983 and The Untouchables in 1987. Then he hitched his wagon to the Tom Cruise machine to churn out the first Mission Impossible in 1997 before he packed it in to return to his own brand of obscurity overseas through the present. What's most interesting about this straightforward look are the scattered behind-the-scenes images like the mom in Carrie getting pinned in the doorway by flying kitchen implements; stills of him working with actors, like a hand on Al Pacino's shoulder as he shoots pool in Carlito's Way; and treasures like the original ending to Snake Eyes. De Palma stays humble to the end. "The disappointing thing about teaching film," he says, "is that 99 percent of them are not going anywhere. Anybody that has a career, it's a miracle." De Palma CCA, R 100 min. Santa Fe Reporter New Mexico flunked yet another national report card in 2015, this one on the risk of government corruption. But one shiny, bright little good thing stood out in the rating by the Center for Public Integrity: our judicial branch. I was the nerdy journalist who collected all our state's data for the project. Trial lawyers, law professors, other reporters, members of various commissions and published reports all told me the same thing: New Mexico does a pretty good job with the judges in its high courts. Look at the picture of our state Supreme Court justices on the next page. What an amazing picture of diversity! For the first time in history, New Mexico has a female majority on the court. More than half its members are women and more than half are Hispanic. (It's notable especially because other courts in the country are notable for not reflecting the makeup of their communities.) New Mexico has a unique way of filling the seats on its top courts, part of a larger system of reform structures put in place over a decades-long effort to improve public confidence in the judicial branch. Largely it's worked (ranked third in the nation), but in the years since these various commissions and systems were created, the ground has shifted. Years of gridlock in Washington encouraged people looking to affect change to seek opportunities elsewhere. Since 2000 (and more so since the Citizens United decision in 2010), spending on judicial races has increased markedlyespecially from right-leaning groups. So far, New Mexico's courts have not become the focus of this kind of political warfare or spending, but they could be. Weak campaign finance laws and voter apathy have left the doors wide open. "When the federal government is at a standstill, suddenly state politics is where everything happens," says UNM political science professor Lonna Atkeson. With little risk and plenty of potential for reward, interest groups began to attack the ivory towers where impartial, independent jurists were supposed to be deciding important issues without regard to current events or politics. That's probably not how it ever really worked, but it's certainly not how some people want it to work now. Creating and running a political ad attacking a judge for particular decisions is cheaper and more effective than campaign contributions or lobbying. And elected state lawmakers and governors have joined the effort to target state courts in the ways they can, such as by threatening their funding. Take Kansas, for example. Kansas is one of an increasing number of states in which one party (in this case, Republican) controls the governor's office and both houses of the legislature. But the Kansas Supreme Court still has a majority of justices who were chosen by former Democratic governor Kathleen Sebelius. That sets the stage for what The New Yorker described as "The Political War Against the Kansas Supreme Court," as waged by the trifecta of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and the Republican-led House and Senate. So when Kansas' highest court issued a ruling its governor and legislature didn't like (about public school financing), the other two branches took a threatening swipe at the court by passing a law that took away its authority over lower courts. The Kansas Supreme Court called their bluff and ruled that the law stripping the court's authority was unconstitutional. In response, the legislature backed down. New Mexico hasn't had a political trifecta since the administration of former Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson, which ended with the election of Susana Martinez in 2010. Republicans know well its effects. But liberals in the state Senate and elsewhere shouldn't be complacent. The 2014 Republican sweep of the state House showed everyone how quickly decades of stasis can change. War between the branches of state government is erupting elsewhere, too. In 2014, the lieutenant governor of Tennessee called on conservatives nationwide to help unseat three judges, appointed by a previous Democratic governor, whom they saw as too liberal on the death penalty and not friendly enough to business. What would normally have been an uneventful retention election turned into a media war that saw more than $1 million spent on the races. In the end, voters decided to let all three keep their seats, but the election marked a sea change. In 2015, a retention election for three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices set a record for spending in judicial elections at more than $15 million$3.5 million of which came from independent groups. That year, judicial elections in 19 states generated nearly $35 million in spending. New Mexico is "more insulated than what you've seen in other states where, in response to some controversial decisions, political actors have tried to replace judges with people who would issue decisions more in their favor," says Heather Ferguson, legislative director for Common Cause, who has recently been researching judicial reform. "It became a new mantra of these groups to say, 'Hey! These judicial races are cheap!' So they've started spending money on courts because courts decide cases related to things like labor and the environment that have a direct impact on their business," Ferguson says. The reason New Mexico scored well on that State Integrity Report is because of policies such as merit-based selection, retention elections after appointment, performance evaluations, ethics reporting and public financing. Taken together, these five things add up to a strong system of creating and maintaining a judiciary that is an independent check on the other two branches, just as this country's founders, paranoid as they were, thought was necessary to prevent the tyranny of any one branch. But the system is not infallible. Public Financing is Successful New Mexico's public financing system for judicial races was intended to shore up the independence of state judges and remove any question that money paid for influence. "The public wants to know that their Supreme Court justices are not beholden to a corporation in any way, so public financing can help rebuild public trust in our judicial system," says Ferguson. In 2014 it saw its first big success when Miles Hanissee became the first candidate for the Court of Appeals to win a race using public financing. The Public Election Fund, which is fed by things like people's abandoned bank accounts, gave Hanisee and his opponent around $30,000 and $45,000, respectively (based on the number of registered voters in their parties). They each got about $200,000 more for the general election. And they spent it all. Over the past decade, races for the state's top courts have hovered around a lid of about $250,000. This year two candidates are tapping into the public financing system to run campaigns before the upcoming November general election. They've reported getting a little more than $200,000 each. Much of that money will go to advertising. One of the candidates has already reserved more than $100,000 worth of television ad time for the fall; he's planning to air more than 400 ads on five stations in the three weeks before the election. Judge the Judges New Mexico has been progressive in adopting judicial reforms over the past decades. These systems are part of the reason why the state ranks highly for the quality of its judiciary: Merit-based selection. An independent, bipartisan Judicial Nominating Commission is designed to ensure that judges are appointed based on qualifications, not favoritism. It solicits applications, interviews candidates and then presents the governor a list of qualified, vetted candidates from which the governor can choose. Nonpartisan elections. Justices appointed to the Supreme Court have to face one initial partisan election. After that they must earn 57 percent of the vote in periodic retention elections, which give the public the power to remove a judge in whom theyve lost confidence. Performance evaluation. In order to give the public information about which judges to retain, the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission regularly conducts surveys and interviews judges and recommends the public not retain judges performing far below par. Public financing. Statewide judicial candidates can to tap into a public financing system thats supposed to limit the influence of money in these races. Ethics oversight. New Mexico has no statewide ethics body to deal with complaints about state lawmakers or the governor, but the Judicial Standards Commission investigates every allegation against judges and recommends discipline, removal or retirement. Our Supreme Court: (1) Petra Jimenez Maes (2) Barbara Vigil (3) Charles Daniels (4) Judith Nakamura (5) Edward Chavez (Courtesy nmcourts.gov) Money Still Influences Elections The fact that public financing has put a pause on some spending is a good thing, say campaign finance reform advocates. But there's a giant hole in that fence: money spent by outside groups who want to influence the election but don't give the money to the candidates or coordinate with them. New Mexico's campaign finance laws haven't been updated to require that those groups disclose how they're spending the moneyor to make it clear exactly what "coordinating" means. So the millions of dollars spent by outside groups on that Pennsylvania Supreme Court race? That could happen here, and we wouldn't even know who spent the money. "Outside spending is a game changer at all levels, and we've been lucky not to have this dark money pour into our judicial races yet," says state Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe. "It's just a matter of time." Wirth, who has long championed campaign finance reform in the Legislature, says it's a good thing that public financing can limit the amount of money spent on judicial races. However, he warns that limiting spending by the candidates can invite spending by outside groups. The pattern in New Mexico is that more and more money is being spent on elections. "It's just a matter of time before we see a $1 million-plus judicial race," Wirth says. "We're now seeing that in the legislative races and five, 10 years ago you never would have seen that." Merit-based Selection Still Involves Politics Judicial reform advocates have long held that the best possible way to select judges is the Missouri Plan, named for the first state to use a system in which a nominating commission drafts a binding list of names from which the governor may choose, and then that appointee must face periodic retention elections. The idea is that a diverse, bipartisan group is most likely to choose a candidate based simply on how well the group thinks the candidate can do the job. It is intended to prevent governors from giving away prominent judgeships to friends and cronies. Yet, several loopholes keep money and politics playing a significant role in the way judges are chosen. For one thing, New Mexico's twist on the Missouri Plan is that state-level judges must compete in a partisan election after they're appointed. And Democratic Supreme Court candidates have won every single one of those partisan elections for the past 35 years. Republicans have been appointed to the court, but none survived a partisan election since 1980. Also, justices retire when they want to retire and that's not necessarily when it's most convenient to start the process for replacing them. State Supreme Court Justice Patricio Serna announced in June 2012 that he would leave in August of that year, and it seemed that Republican Gov. Susana Martinez would have her first opportunity to appoint someone to the court. Except that Serna's retirement came too late in the year for candidates to have participated in the June primary. According to our system, the political parties chose candidates in September for the November general election ballot. That meant that voters in 2012 had very little time to hear about the candidates before being asked to choose one. Republican Paul Kennedy lost the race that year to Democrat Barbara Vigil, and if the pattern holds true, Republican Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura, appointed last fall and sworn in mid-December, will likely lose to her Democratic opponent, Court of Appeals Judge Michael Vigil. In these partisan elections, especially those that give the candidates little time, money and connections can make a huge difference. While New Mexicos court is majority female now, Justice Judith Nakamura, far left, faces retention in November. Already, her challenger has reserved more than $100,000 worth of TV ad time. (LeRoy Sanchez) "One of the challenges of public financing is that when judges retire at the last minute, the person who's appointed to take their place is immediately kicked into an election cycle and typically they don't have enough time to qualify for public financing," Ferguson says. So that part of the system favors candidates with the best political connections, the best ability to raise a lot of money fast and the most support from outside groups with a lot of money to spend on their behalf. And those partisan elections often include candidates that meet the state's minimum requirements but haven't been through the Judicial Nominating Commission's vetting process. "Once you [win] that election you're pretty much solid," says state Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Dona Ana, an attorney who has tried many cases in state courts. Cervantes tried but failed to persuade the Legislature to let appointed judges serve for a year before being required to run for election. "It doesn't do the public any good to evaluate a judge based on a few months' service," Cervantes says. Besides, it's hard to recruit candidates who will have to abandon their law practices, give away cases and lay off employees, only to serve a few months before losing an election, he says. But Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael Sanchez disagrees. He argues that partisan elections give more power to the public by making them a bigger part of the process. "People need to hear the judges for themselves, assess their demeanor, temperament and knowledge of the law and make an informed decision," Sanchez says. Despite appearances, he thinks nominating committees are rife with politics and behind-the-scenes deal-making. "At least the election process is transparent. The people may vote for this guy because he's Republican or that guy because he's a Democrat, but at least it's out in the open. It isn't phone calls [between commission members] saying, 'If you vote for my guy here I'll vote for your guy there.'" Cervantes says a lot of people who would make great judges just want to be judges. "I've tried to recruit them, that's their concern: They don't want to be politicians," he says. The American Bar Association has argued that while yes-or-no, nonpartisan retention elections give the public the opportunity to remove a problem judge, partisan elections only serve to introduce more politics into the system. And elections can have a serious impact on the people who come before the courts. A Brennan Center review of research on the impact of elections on judges' decision-making found that judges are more harsh toward defendants in criminal cases when they're facing an electionand one can imagine the prospect that critics will pounce on the opportunity to run a campaign ad calling them soft on crime. Besides, it would be foolish to think that judges are political eunuchs, says Paul Gessing of the free market Rio Grande Foundation. "Courts are going to be political animals," he says. "More often than not, judges are going to come in with preconceived notions and they're going to judge them based on those notions instead of calling balls and strikes according to the law. That's the same here and across the country." Big Issues, Big Decisions State supreme courts have the power to make huge changes with their decisions, and New Mexico is no different. These are some of the big issues the court has ruled on: Medically-Assisted Suicide The state Supreme Court decided in June that the state Constitution does not guarantee the right of terminally ill patients to die with a doctors help. The court said the issue should be decided by the Legislature; one state representative has already said he will introduce such a bill. Same-Sex Marriage New Mexico became the 17th state to allow same-sex marriage when the court ruled in 2013 that it is unconstitutional to deny the right of marriage to gay and lesbian couples. Abortion A 1998 ruling said the state must pay for medically necessary abortions for poor women, citing New Mexicos Equal Rights Amendment. The ruling made New Mexico the 16th state to require such abortions be paid for with state Medicaid funds. New Mexico v. Brown Bail Reform The Supreme Courts 2014 decision that said judges cant set bail based on the severity of the crime, but must instead look at the defendants potential threat or flight risk, resulted in a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot in November. He asks voters to allow judges more flexibility on bail. There is nothing Ive done or will do on the court that is going to be a more important improvement of justice than getting this amendment passed, Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Daniels said in July. Merit Doesnt Always Equal Diversity Diversity is a problem in state-level courts across the country, where women make up just slightly more than a quarter of judges and less than 10 percent are people of color. A 2010 survey found that more than half of state supreme courts were made up entirely of white justices. Critics say one unintended consequence of a system like New Mexico'sasking judges to apply and then having a commission pick candidates based on meritis that the end result can be an awful lot of white guys in black robes. But that's not what the New Mexico Supreme Court looks like today. "I think we do a pretty good job of diversity in New Mexico," Sen. Wirth says. "We have a Latina governor, a huge percentage of Hispanics in our Legislature, and I think it's fantastic that two of our Santa Fe judges, both Hispanic women, are part of a majority on the Supreme Court." Although the diversity of New Mexico's Supreme Court looks good now and the state looks good compared to others, the New Mexico judiciary fails to mirror the population of the state as a whole, according to an analysis of the "Gavel Gap" by the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy. Women of color make up more than 30 percent of New Mexicans, yet they're only 15 percent of judges; meanwhile, white men are only 20 percent of the New Mexico population but nearly 40 percent of judges. Turnout is Terrible The biggest problem with judicial elections is that voter participation tends to be terrible. On the one hand, polls show American voters generally like the idea of being able to participate in the selection of judges by voting. On the other hand, having a bunch of judges running in retention elections makes the ballot longer. That's a problem for several reasons, according to UNM political science professor Lonna Atkeson, who has been doing research on local elections, including voter surveys, since 2006. First, voters don't like it when a ballot is long. In Atkeson's 2014 survey of Bernalillo County voters, about 70 percent thought the ballot was too long. That year, nearly a quarter of voters said they didn't fill out the entire ballot. What did they skip? The retention questions. Respondents said they didn't have enough information about how to vote on the judges. "People lead busy lives and it's unique and rare that any member of the public would have time to research any of the judicial candidates," Ferguson says. "You want the ability to remove someone from the bench if they're not doing their job, but how many people do you know who actually have any knowledge of who they're voting for?" Voter Guides Matter How the heck are you supposed to know whether to vote yes or no on a judge you've never heard of? The Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission interviews judges and collects surveys before recommending that they be retained or not. That information ends up online and in voter guides like those published by the League of Women Voters. It's important to look at those recommendations because voting on judges is important, says Peter Simonson, the executive director of the ACLU of New Mexico. "These are the folks who are going to be deciding longstanding conditional questions that could well influence your quality of life and, ultimately, your freedom." Santa Fe Reporter The tower rises 80 feet, overlooking homes and businesses on Apache Street. To passersby, the structure might seem a harmless eyesore, a pillar of crossbeams better fit for an industrial park than a residential area. But the tower has become a source of neighborhood tension, pitting a local internet company against city officials. When Albert Catanach looks at the tower, he sees an opportunity to grow his wireless internet business. His neighbor fears that the structure poses a potential threat to her home. Santa Fe officials say its mere existence represents a flagrant violation of city law and have filed a lawsuit in district court to stop Catanach from building further. Catanach applied to install the structure in question on April 9, 2015, after two existing towers on the roof at NMSURF started running out of dish and antenna space. Since his customers depend on that equipment to get online, Catanach says he needs the new tower to grow his company. Obtaining approval for the structure should have been quick and easy, Catanach says. He pointed to a federal regulation passed in 2012 that allows businesses to combine two or more telecommunications towers with little oversight, so long as the modification does not "substantially change" its dimensions (10 percent or 10 feet). "Nothing is changing," Catanach tells SFR. "The only thing that is changing is we are consolidating two towers. We're getting rid of the all guy wires. We're cleaning up, making it look nice." The city disagrees with Catanach's claim that he is merely consolidating the equipment on his roof. Installing a new tower clearly represents a "substantial change," according to assistant city attorney Zachary Shandler. The city maintains that Catanach should have put his project up for approval with the Planning Commission. "Every other citizen who wants to build an addition to their house or put up a shed needs to go through the process, and he needs to be treated the same as everybody else," Shandler tells SFR. There's another problem. The city claims the new tower violates an ordinance that requires such structures to be as far from the nearest home as they are tall. NMSURF's new tower is 80 feet tall, but only about 20 feet from the closest neighbor's property line. Catanach counters that the modification, as he sees it, qualifies for "grandfather" protections, since his rooftop towers have been around for quite some time. The clashing views reached a crescendo last month when Catanach erected his tower without the city's permission. Andrea Cypress, who had previously expressed concerns to the city about NMSURF's existing towers, saw the construction happening and alerted the city again. Cypress would not speak with SFR on the record, but in a letter to city manager Bryan Snyder, she complained that this has been an ongoing dispute. Concerning the installation of the prior two towers last decade, she wrote, "I watched in fright from my living room window as a group of casual workmen attempted to stand up a tall horizontal structure that I later learned was a cell tower. They tried different ways as it swayed and swung in the air. Very scary. No success." City inspectors visited Catanch the same day and asked for a permit. He said he didn't need one. If the city disagreed, the business owner said, they could sue him. Eight days later, Shandler filed a lawsuit in district court, asking a judge to force Catanach to desist all work on the tower and allow inspectors to check it out. If he does not comply, the city plans to file a separate case in municipal court, where judges don't have injunctive relief powers but may impose fines. Shandler says the city is paying close attention to this case after a similar case last year involving a telecommunications tower owned by Verizon Wireless on Agua Fria, which operated for years without a permit. The city's Board of Adjustments allowed the company to obtain a permit if it paid hefty fines. A group of citizens, including Arthur Firstenberg, the man who famously and unsuccessfully sued his neighbor for using an iPhone and wireless internet, appealed that decision in district court. They lost, but only after a prolonged legal battle that the city is not eager to repeat. Firstenberg, who has become one of the nation's foremost advocates for an unrecognized medical condition called electromagnetic sensitivity, has not ignored Catanach's tower. "It is disrespectful of neighbors," Firstenberg tells SFR. "What the city is doing, instead of working with us, is really disheartening," Catanach retorts. "Really, when you think about it, we are expanding coverage and bringing broadband to the city and county. They're trying to stop this from happening, when it benefits them." Catanach declined to tell SFR how many customers pay for his service, but says his system has the range to connect 50,000 homes, from Albuquerque to the southern tip of Tesuque. He plans to challenge the city's case in federal court. Editor's Note: A previous version of this article misidentified which tower Andrea Cypress referred to when she "watched in fright" its installation. Santa Fe Reporter This summer, an anticlimactic epilogue to the financial crisis played out as the government failed to make stick a fraud lawsuit against two of the men who were at the helm of Santa Fe-based Thornburg Mortgage when it hit the rocks in 2007 and slowly sank two years later. Lawyers for the Securities and Exchange Commission could not persuade a jury that former CEO Larry Goldstone and CFO Clarence G Simmons III misled investors about the seaworthiness of their ship as it began to spring alarming leaks. The jury deliberated in Albuquerque for several days in late June, but in the end it couldn't come to a unanimous decision on charges of fraud or lying. It cleared the two on five other counts. The company's former Chief Accounting Officer Jane E Starrett settled with the SEC in June. Thornburg's 2007 torpedoing and subsequent slow sinking was a shock. The company had been a Titanic of the industry, the second-largest independent mortgage company in the US, after Countrywide. When Thornburg filed for bankruptcy in May 2009 it became one of the 10 biggest bankruptcies in US history, just after Chrysler. But if the wreck of Thornburg came as a shock, the denouement of this case was not. While the savings-and-loan crisis of the 1980s put more than 1,000 bankers behind bars, only one person has gone to jail for his role in the more recent crisis. One guy. And he was a pretty small fish. The more common scenario is that financial institutions have settled the lawsuits brought against them by investors and the government. About 50 have done so in the last seven years, but the nearly $200 billion they paid out came from the shareholders' pockets. For example, the SEC settled with Starrett for a $25,000 fine and a three-year ban on working high-level job in a SEC-regulated firm. Thornburg was known for dealing in high-dollar "jumbo" mortgages made to people who could afford them. "They weren't predatory lenders. They were a national firm that did jumbo loans and then put them in private label securities," says Jim Stretz, who led the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority for 14 years. "You knew when you bought into a pool of Thornburg mortgages that they were underwritten to certain standards." Or you thought they were. In 2009, some Thornburg investors filed class action suits saying Thornburg actually didn't follow its own rules and the investments were riskier than they'd been lead to believe. Albuquerque attorney William Carpenter helped put together a suit on behalf of a public pension fund in Michigan. (Lawyers out of state eventually took it over.) He recalls collecting evidence that Thornburg was engaging in some of the same risky practices that brought down the industry. Thornburg was much more liberal in giving out mortgages than they said they were, Carpenter's clients believed. "There were some examples of giving mortgages to people who were way over their heads. One was a young couple just out of college and Thornburg mortgaged something like a $2 million home for them," he tells SFR. The company had kept cash flowing by borrowing money against the mortgages it heldand those mortgages had always been considered, well, safe as houses. But when it became apparent that the market was full of mortgage-backed securities that had been built on a foundation of toxic subprime mortgages, fear began to spread. As the value of real-estate plunged, in just three months Thornburg was asked to cough up close to $2 billion in margin calls, a mechanism that lets banks collect on the difference between a debt and the value of the asset it's supposed to pay for. But they didn't have the money. They were more than $600 million short. For its part, Thornburg Mortgage maintained that Wall Street screwed the company, and a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee sued several banks along those lines. In 2014 Barclays Capital settled one of those cases by agreeing to pay $23 million. The suit claimed that Barclays had improperly issued the margin calls, undervalued Thornburg's collateral, and unfairly seized and sold the financial instruments that Barclays had financed. The SEC had argued that Goldstone, Simmons and Starrett knew the company was in trouble but painted a much rosier picture to investors and the public. "The financial system is based on confidence and when confidence is lost the whole thing collapses," says William D Cohan, a former investment banker who has written several books about the financial crisis, including House of Cards: A Tale of Hubris and Wretched Excess on Wall Street. In the end, Santa Fe took a hit with the closure of the mortgage company and job losses that accompanied it. A separate Thornburg entity in the investment sector remains in business. The fact that the government failed in its effort to prosecute Thornburg executives comes as no surprise to observers of the financial crisis and its fallout. "This fits into an overall pattern of behavior that's quite mysterious, frankly," says Cohan, who didn't follow the SEC's case against the Thornburg executives, but has tracked many others. "Basically, the government has shied away from bringing these cases to trial because they are complicated," he says. "There's been plenty of evidence of wrongdoing, and for some reason they choose either not to bring them, which is astounding, or they lose them, which is equally astounding." After the hung jury, the SEC issued a terse statement on the Thornburg case, saying, "We believe strongly in our case and we will continue to explore all options, including a prompt retrial." Mistrials have been an uncommon occurrence for the SEC, so it's possible they will bring the case back and argue it again. Meanwhile, the country continues to feel the effects of the crash. The effect of the resulting skittishness felt by lenders is most visible on low-income buyers. "We've cut a lot of people out of the market who, in the past, could have had the value of home ownership but can't now," Stretz says. Home sales in Santa Fe bottomed out in 2009. Although they have steadily risen since then, they haven't reached the pre-crash level. "If I were to blame anybody, it would be Wall Street," Stretz says. "They created the environment of easy money and then the crisis cut everything off. The system was cooked." Santa Fe Reporter Contract Finalized Veronica Garcia will earn as the interim Santa Fe Public School District superintendent. Meanwhile, James Jimenez, a former Department of Finance and Administration secretary and Rio Rancho city manager, has been as the executive director at New Mexico Voices for Children. Homeless Students Hard to Count At least 4,000 students returning to class in Albuquerque this fall are homeless, and the state's largest school district says Homelessness Among State's Vets Declines However, the number of homeless veterans in New Mexico and nearly 50 percent since 2010. State Registers Youngest Cannabis Patient Amylea Nunez, an eight-month-old girl who , is the states newest and youngest medical cannabis patient. Its not clear how long Nunez waited to be officially registered in the program. Other patients are waiting up to two months and that is, , creating hardships for patients. He wants the New Mexico Department of Health program administrators to process them faster. State Sen. Cisco McSorley wants the regulators to to hire more staff. Judicial Campaign Reforms Needed New Mexicos judiciary gets good marks for integrity and independence, but that reformers say more is needed to get money and politics out of the states highest courts. Legal Whiplash So it turns out pre-construction work can begin on the City of Albuquerques controversial rapid transit system after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals halting the work. Secretary of State Candidate Forums Cancelled The League of Women Voters has after Republican Nora Espinoza declined to participate. Espinoza believes some of the leagues leaders openly back Democratic candidate Maggie Toulouse Oliver. Green Party Candidates Off Ballot in Santa Fe County Speaking of politics, two legislative candidates nominated by the Green Party in Santa Fe Nov. 8. A judge ruled they didnt properly complete their paperwork. CDC Gives New Mexico Money to Battle Zika Virus The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is giving New Mexico battle the Zika virus. New Lottery Program Questioned New Mexico Lottery Officials when they set up their "Play at the Pump" program, which allows players to buy tickets at the same time they refuel their vehicles. Walter Rubel reports that lawmakers were startled to learn of the new program after rejecting bills in each of the last two legislative session that would have allowed for such a plan. Santa Fe Reporter New Zealand companies generally got a pass mark from institutional investors in terms of their corporate governance but garnered relatively low scores in terms of reporting stakeholder interests and remuneration, the Financial Markets Authority says. The FMA reviewed 45 listed and unlisted companies against nine corporate governance principles set out in a handbook it published in 2014 and surveyed fund managers about their confidence in current standards. The survey found about 46 percent of professional investors thought standards were high, while a similar number said they were moderate and 9.1 percent rated them low. That suggested room for improvement, especially among smaller companies. New Zealand's listed companies disclosed about two-thirds of the corporate governance information the FMA deems useful to investors, while unlisted companies provided only 24 percent of the recommended information, the regulator said. It plans to repeat the exercise, probably next year. "For us, it's about lifting transparency," said Simone Robbers, the FMA's director of strategy and risk. "That's a really good indicator of a healthy culture." The corporate governance principles were meant to apply to a "broad church" and uncover any obstacles or hurdles smaller unlisted companies may face, "setting them up well for growth," she said. For smaller companies, "it's about working out what's appropriate for your size" and being aware of those structures as they grow. The review didn't look at the actual behaviour of companies but the level of corporate governance disclosure relative to the guidelines in the handbook, the FMA said. Companies scored lowest in terms of disclosures around the interests of stakeholders such as employees, creditors, customers and suppliers, providing just 19 percent of the information recommended. The FMA suggests companies identify their stakeholders and publish "clear policies explaining how they approach their relationships" with them. Just 22 percent of the companies under review disclosed they had a stakeholder policy and 16 percent said their boards assessed adherence to it. Remuneration also got a low score, with companies on average providing 37 percent of the recommended information. While 41 percent disclosed they had a remuneration policy, only 21 percent published it. Listed companies fared better than unlisted, providing 52 percent of the information recommended compared to 14 percent. The highest performance related to reporting and disclosure and the principle that boards should demand integrity in financial reporting and timeliness and balance in corporate disclosures. On average, companies provided 64 percent of the recommended information. Robbers said one of the FMA's key messages about corporate disclosure is that companies shouldn't wait for the annual reporting cycle to disclose how they are operating, but rather it should be a continuous process. Of the 45 companies reviewed, 25 had securities listed on the NZX and 19 were unlisted companies, largely from the financial industry, selected from the Finance Service Provider Register. 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 Reserve Bank will end lock-ups for journalists and market analysts permanently after deciding the costs to police embargoes and the risk of another breach outweighed the benefits of having a positive relationship with the media or allowing more informed analysis and commentary. From Aug. 11, full monetary policy statements will be released at 9am followed by a briefing for media at 10am, while financial stability reports will be released at 9am and a briefing held at 11am to allow reporters more time to read the larger document, governor Graeme Wheeler said in an emailed statement. The Reserve Bank canned lock-ups after a MediaWorks reporter breached the embargo earlier this year. The bank hired Deloitte to undertake a security review after news organisations sought to restore them. The Deloitte review weighed up three options: not resuming lockups; allowing pen and paper only; or introducing an RBNZ controlled environment with secure lockers to hold communication devices, CCTV and additional security guards. Deloitte ruled out the pen and paper option because it would unfairly advantage broadcast reporters because print and web reporters would have to re-type their notes. It estimated the cost of setting up a controlled environment would be at least $70,000 of capital and $25,000 annually. "Broadly speaking, based on our analysis, discussions with RBNZ personnel and research, the intuitive answer would indicate that you not reinstate the lock-ups process," the Deloitte review said. "This is because much of the perceived benefit of having the lock-ups process is intangible albeit, potentially important: a more constructive and positive relationship with the media, the opportunity to provide for more informed analysis and commentary on economic policy and changes." Deloitte said the RBNZ should only resume lock-ups if it believes those benefits outweigh the costs, accepting the residual risks, and be willing to regularly review those risks. The accounting and consultancy firm said the media landscape was changing, leading to a "less specialised, technically capable journalism approach" and that technology had become indispensable in allowing reporters to meet "the media goal to publish as quickly as possible". Wheeler said the review found there was "no completely failsafe option" and that any attempts to mitigate that risk would be eroded by advances in technology. "We gave serious consideration to the value of the lock-ups and the potential issues that could arise if we permanently discontinued them," he said. "We also consulted with many other central banks. New Zealand was one of only a few central banks that held pre-release lock-ups of OCR (official cash rate) decisions for news media." The Reserve Bank's communication policy was criticised earlier this year when Wheeler said he wouldn't take an overly mechanistic approach to monetary policy in a public speech, only to cut rates at the next meeting, surprising many in the market. The central bank went on to claim financial market analysts misinterpreted what it was saying by latching on to parts of a speech that weren't directed at them, but by then it was too close to a rate review to alter that perception. 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 Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand, which owns a portfolio of hotels and a controlling stake in property developer CDL Investments, posted a 98 percent jump in first-half profit as it benefited from the nation's tourism boom, strong sales from CDL and a one-time insurance gain. Its shares jumped 11 percent. Profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company almost doubled to $23.8 million in the six months ended June 30, from $12 million a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement. The results included a one-time gain of $4.3 million from the final insurance settlement relating to the Millennium Hotel Christchurch, it said. Sales rose to $91 million from about $70 million. Chairman Wong Hong Ren said the first-half results give the company confidence that it is heading for a stronger full year, although he didn't give a specific forecast. In the first half, the occupancy rate at its leased and owned hotels rose to 82.3 percent from 78.2 percent a year earlier. The company has been adding to its range of hotels and announced in June that it had taken a three-year lease over Auckland's Rendezvous Grand Auckland Hotel, to be renamed Grand Millennium Auckland Hotel, starting on Sept. 7. The hotel's owner is a related party, CDL Hospitality Real Estate Investment Trust. The hotel is New Zealand's largest, with 452 guestrooms. Government figures show overseas short-term visitor arrivals reached 3.31 million in the year ended June 30, up 11 percent on the year earlier. As well as increased visitor arrivals and ongoing productivity improvements at our New Zealand hotels, our capital expenditure investments, revenue management initiatives and improvements to our overall costs of doing business all helped to deliver this strong half-year result, said managing director BK Chiu. The results were also boosted by "continued strong sales" by CDL Investments and the one-time insurance gain, he said. CDL Investments, which is 67 percent owned by Millennium & Copthorne NZ, reported an 87 percent jump in first-half profit to about $16 million as sales climbed 79 percent to $42.8 million. The company sold 171 sections in the first half, up from 128 a year earlier. It said demand was strongest in Auckland and Canterbury with additional sales from the companys Hamilton subdivisions. CDL said it has completed the last stage of its Stonebrook subdivision at Rolleston subdivision and expects to complete final sales by the end of 2016. Also in the first half it said work was being undertaken and completed at Greville Road in Auckland, Magellan Heights in Hamilton, and Prestons Road in Christchurch "to allow for additional sales later in 2016 and into 2017." As a result of the strong first half, it expects to post an increase in full-year earnings, the company said, without being specific. Occupancy at Millennium & Copthorne's Zenith Residences in Sydney was unchanged at 97 percent. The company said litigation involving the property had been settled in the past few weeks and it expected Owners Corp would begin remediation works of the balconies in the near future. Millennium & Copthorne shares rose 20 cents to $2 and have gained 24 percent this year. CDL's stock climbed 12 percent to 75 cents. 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 European Union's representatives to New Zealand say reports that the regional economic bloc is targeting the nation as a tax haven as "incorrect and misleading". Their comments follow media reports on Monday that the 28-nation EU was preparing to take action against New Zealand following the publication of the Panama Papers, which showed foreign trusts were being marketed to wealthy individuals by the law firm Mossack Fonseca. A review by the former New Zealand chair of PWC, John Shewan, found the disclosure rules around such trusts were inadequate and probably allowed illegal activities to go undetected. However, Shewan also concluded that there was no direct evidence of illicit funds being hidden or tax abuse. In a statement, the Delegation of the European Union to New Zealand said the economic bloc was currently assessing all non-EU countries with regard to good governance standards on taxation policies. "This assessment is not specific to New Zealand, nor has New Zealand been singled out in any way in this assessment." In background information published alongside the statement, the delegation said the assessments began three months before the Panama Papers were published by an international team of journalists who cooperated on the inquiry. The pre-analysis phase of the inquiry is scheduled to complete in September. Acting Prime Minister Gerry Brownlee told the Paul Henry programme on Tuesday that the government had no information on the potential investigation, with no official correspondence on the matter and no indication NZ is under investigation. 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 Turners, the financial services firm, has bought a one-hectare industrial site in Wiri for $4.8 million to extend its footprint in South Auckland. The acquisition lets the company expand its truck and machinery business, Turners said in a statement without giving further details.The property is on the corner of Roscommon Road and Vogler Drive and Turners said it was a highly visible corner site with easy access to motorways and arterial roads. "Acquisitions of strategic property sites are becoming an increasingly important part of the growth strategy for Turners to allow for further footprint expansion as the business grows, and to achieve stronger control over property overheads," Turners said. "As part of this strategy, Turners have previously purchased properties in South Auckland and Christchurch." Turners became the name for the group after Dorchester Pacific acquired Turners Auctions in 2014 to complement its largely automotive loan book and insurance business. It survived the collapse of many finance companies in the wake of the global financial crisis. Since then, it has been on a buying spree, adding Levin-based lender Oxford Finance, Greenwich Life Insurance and Christchurch-based Southern Finance. In July, Turners bought Auckland used car importer and dealer network Buy Right Cars for $15.3 million, adding eight dealer sites across Auckland and a workshop in Manukau. The shares were unchanged at $3.06, and have gained 2 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 Secretary of State John Kerry said that the United States had committed to a range of projects in Central Asia. Kerry hosted five foreign ministers for talks on August 3 in the so-called "C5+1" group -- comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, plus the United States. In his opening remarks in Washington, he said the U.S. government would help foster regional cooperation in counterterrorism, trade, and transport, and had set aside $15 million to boost clean energy projects in the region. (U.S. State Department Video) FOREST CITY The consultants schedule for hiring a city administrator/clerk for Forest City has the City Council able to make an offer on Aug. 27. The council is working with a schedule provided by Callahan Municipal Consultants LLC of Anamosa. The city is replacing Mac Tilberg, who resigned May 4 for a position near Mitchell, South Dakota, after two years in Forest City. The council review of applicants is set for 7 p.m. today. Telephone or Skype (interviews through the internet) are set for 5 p.m. Aug. 10. The council will select three to four finalists to be interviewed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. The council discussed the position at the July 18 meeting. Newly appointed council member Dennis Zehren said he wanted to make sure the candidates knew the city clerk segment of the position was important. Weve had these conversations, council member Brad Buffington said. The consultant is aware of the importance of the city clerk piece, he said. The consultant, Pat Callahan, said the position would attract city clerks who want to move up to a position like Forest Citys, Buffington said. Council member Dan Davis said its the consensus the new hire would need city clerk experience. Why, if everybody agrees the city clerk (piece) is the strongest piece, why get an administrator? Zehren said. We want someone to do both, Buffington said. Someone with the qualities of a manager, leadership qualities to do both. Zehren also asked how the council determined the salary for the position. Tilbergs salary was about $77,000, which did not include benefits. Council member Karl Wooldridge said the expected salary range was determined with Callahan. It is comparable to other cities the size of Forest City and based on the position, Wooldridge said. We werent on the high end, Davis said. Where weve targeted is in the median, Buffington said. Even at the low end, its high in my mind for the city the size of Forest City, Zehren said. Three fires that scorched heavy equipment being used to build the Bakken oil pipeline which investigators believe to be arson wont slow construction, the developer has vowed. Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty said his office was investigating two fires reported there Monday. The fires caused an estimated $1 million in damage to construction equipment. We believe it was intentionally set. We are investigating them as arson cases, Halferty said. He said fire crews responded at 5:41 a.m. Monday to a fire west of Newton. A second incident was reported at 7:23 a.m. after workers found charred equipment at a site east of Reasnor. Alex Murphy, a spokesman for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said the state was investigating a third fire in Mahaska County. That fire, reported about 2:15 a.m. Sunday a few miles north of Oskaloosa, is estimated to have caused between $600,000 and $800,000 in damage, Murphy said. Murphy said arson is suspected. No arrests have been made in any of the cases, officials said. Halferty said he encourages the public to provide any information possibly related to the fires. Vicki Granado, a spokeswoman for pipeline developer Dakota Access, said the fires will not change the timeline. Americans burning American-made equipment which is owned and operated by American companies, employing American union workers, working on a pipeline owned and operated by an American company for transporting crude oil produced in America for American consumers is a shameful act by a group of people trying to disrupt our countrys energy security and independence, she said. We have increased security along the route and are actively pursuing the situation with law enforcement. If caught, we will prosecute to the maximum extent allowed by law, both criminally and civilly. We will not tolerate this kind of activity, which is a safety hazard to all concerned. Chad Carter, vice president of the International Union of Operating Engineers, said Local 234 has members working in Mahaska and Jasper counties. Destroying construction equipment impacts workers not the pipeline, Carter said. Thats who its harming the most, members and residents of Iowa, he said. And I hate to say, but the pipeline has all the permits so its going to be built. So lets let members of Local 234 and Iowa residents get to work. Dakota Access last week received approval from the Army Corps of Engineers for the final permits necessary. Construction began earlier this year on other portions of the pipeline. The $3.8 billion, 1,168-mile underground pipeline will begin in the Bakken region of North Dakota, cross a section of South Dakota, traverse 18 counties in Iowa and end in Illinois. The route crosses Iowa on a diagonal, from northwest to southeast. Members of Iowas congressional delegation want to know why an Iowa veteran who committed suicide reportedly was denied admittance to the Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital hours earlier. U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa City, and Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, both Republicans, have written VA officials demanding answers to what Ernst has called the hospitals apparent failure or refusal to properly treat combat veteran Brandon Ketchum, 33, of Davenport. Ketchum served in the Marine Corps in Iraq and in the Iowa Army National Guard in Afghanistan. According to a post on his Facebook page, he went to the hospital July 7 seeking help with his post-traumatic stress disorder, only to be told to go home and take his medication. In that post, Ketchum wrote that he was seeking assistance because he believed he was a threat to his own safety. According to a statement from the VA in response to questions from Loebsack, an immediate crisis response will be initiated when a veteran states they are in danger of hurting themselves or others, or is perceived to be in immediate danger. Despite that policy and the hospitals familiarity with Ketchums struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder as well as repeated flags for suicide over the last three years, his request to be admitted to the psychiatric ward due to what he termed serious mental issues reportedly was denied, the three officials wrote in a letter Tuesday to Michael Missal, the VAs inspector general in Washington, D.C. Mr. Ketchum took his own life just over 24 hours later, they wrote. In light of Ketchums death, Ernst, Grassley and Ketchums home-state Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin strongly urge the VA review his July 7 visit to the Iowa City facility to determine what, if any, steps can be taken in the future to better protect our veteran population, including potential changes to VA policy, if applicable. It is also important for policymakers within the VA and in Congress to know if this is an isolated incident, how often veterans seeking inpatient mental health care are turned away, and how often this leads to adverse consequences, they wrote. In 2014, an average of 20 veterans a day committed suicide, according to the VA. Six of those 20 were users of VA services. At this time, Ernst does not believe that this specific matter is systematic. However, it does raise a red flag and needs to be investigated fully so that if there are any issues, the VA can work to prevent it from becoming systemic, her spokeswoman, Leigh Claffey, said Tuesday. However, based on comments he hears from veterans families, Loebsack is concerned that Ketchums is not an isolated incident. Weve heard from some other families who have concerns about the psychiatric care at the VA facility in Iowa City, Loebsack said. He is trying to schedule a call with VA Secretary Robert McDonald who has not responded to his July 21 letter seeking answers. As with Grassley and Ernst, he is asking the VA inspector general to open an investigation. When something like this happens this close to home, I have to get answers, Loebsack said. I have a lot of jobs as a congressman and one of them is oversight of federal agencies. Its not acceptable if they are not responding. Grassley spokeswoman Jill Gerber said Tuesday its not unusual for the senator to hear concerns about veterans access to mental health care but more often from concerned citizens than veterans themselves. Thats why its important to determine whether Ketchums case reflects systemic failures or an isolated incident. Grassley and Ernst both cited the case of Robert Miles, 41, an Iraq War veteran who froze to death in a Des Moines park in 2015. According to his friends, instead of being admitted for inpatient treatment at the Des Moines VA hospital, he was told he would receive an appointment with a psychiatrist. Isolated or not, too many veterans have died while waiting to receive assistance from the VA, Ernst said. Our veterans deserve better than a completely incompetent VA. Loebsack characterized the VAs response to his July 21 letter to McDonald as very minimal, with no official response from the VA in Iowa City or Washington, D.C. The Iowa City VA sent a general statement that didnt address any of the questions Loebsack posed, he said. The Department of Veterans Affairs was saddened to learn that a veteran who was receiving care from us has died by suicide, according to a statement it issued. This is a tragedy for everyone involved because even one veteran suicide is one too many. Citing privacy concerns, the VA declined to speak about the specifics of the case. I never thought he would do it, his partner, Kristine Nichols, told the Quad-City Times. I didnt know he had a gun. Ketchum, whom she met in 2013, told her he already had been diagnosed with PTSD by the time he left Iowa for his third deployment. He was taking antidepressants while serving in Afghanistan. By the end of that abbreviated tour, he was also prescribed narcotic pain pills. Before his death, Ketchum had signed a waiver that granted Nichols access to his VA medical records. In the days after finding him dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, she wanted to know what had happened. He did tell them his life was falling apart, she said of notes made by a doctor during his VA visit on July 7. Nichols is in the process of requesting additional records. But she is troubled by what has emerged so far, including that no one from Iowa City appears to have done a follow-up with Brandon until 30 hours after his appointment. At 4 p.m. the day he died, his doctor left a voicemail message, asking how he was doing, Nichols said. The VA cannot publicly answer questions about Ketchums visit. Officials in Iowa City are not permitted to even confirm he was there. His case file is wholly protected by privacy laws. But a spokesman responded to general questions about medical center policy. Spokesman Jamie Johnson confirmed the policy, writing in an email to the Quad-City Times, that, Yes, patients (are) asked at every visit if they are suicidal. If he or she answers yes, the VA probe(s) further to figure out the level of risk, the safety plan, and whether the patient requires admission to be safe. That has Nichols wanting to know why Ketchum was turned away if he asked to be admitted. The VA is guilty in this situation, she said. All he needed was 48 hours three days, maybe, to get clean. 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 CENTRAL CITY Whats good for agriculture is good for Iowa, Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett told Linn County farmers Tuesday night, and lawsuits and burdensome regulations are good for neither farmers nor Iowa. What is good for you is good for Cedar Rapids, the mayor of Iowas second-largest city told the annual meeting of the Linn County Farm Bureau. The city sees the impact in more than 1,000 trucks of grain that that are processed in Cedar Rapids each day, the jobs created by processing and the property taxes those industries pay. However, Corbett said he senses some angst and finger-pointing between urban and rural Iowa. Much of it stems from concerns about the environment, especially water quality. Thats not healthy for our state, Corbett said, and he called for a new era of understanding appreciation cooperation between urban and rural Iowa. Corbett, who has formed a conservative think tank Engage Iowa -- to address issues facing the state, outlined stark choices for Iowa farmers. One way to handle water quality is the Des Moines Water Works approach suing northwest Iowa counties over pollutants in the Raccoon River, which is a source of that citys drinking water. Lawsuits divide people, draw lines in the sand and develop bitterness, he said. Although the lawsuit started in Iowa, he doubts it will end there. If Des Moines is successful, he said, it will mean heavy-handed regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency. Corbett, who spent 13 years in the Iowa House including five as speaker, said Farm Bureau members, based on their track record in the Iowa Legislature, may feel they have enough clout to prevent more regulation. The timber industry felt that way once. The coal industry felt that way once, he said. A better approach would be a collaborative process, with farmers and private landowners joining forces with cities, state and private philanthropy to raise the resources needed to address water quality, said Corbett, who many think is contemplating a possible return to the Statehouse as governor. A key to finding the funds to make meaningful water quality improvements would be Farm Bureau support for a three-eighth-cent increase in the state sales tax to support a sustainable, constitutionally protected natural resource fund, Corbett said. It starts with you, he said. Its time to close the door on lawsuits and regulations and open the door to cooperation. Farm Bureau members didnt make any commitment Tuesday evening but they applauded the mayor. Personally, outgoing President Jason Russell of Monticello said, I like the three-eighths-cent (tax) as long as its not used for land acquisition instead on in-field and edge-of-field projects. The tax, which was part of the Iowa Water and Land Legacy voters approved in 2010, could be considered by the Farm Bureau later this summer, according to Brian Lensch of Marion, the countys voting delegate to the associations summer policy conference. "If you are repeatedly having to say, in very strong terms, that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him?" Obama asked during a White House news conference. "What does this say about your party that this is your standard-bearer?" No prominent Republican lawmaker responded to Obama's challenge. Best Canadian Blog 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 About Kate Why this blog? Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked. This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me." (goes to a private mailserver in Europe) I can't answer or use every tip, but all are appreciated! Katewerk Art Support SDA I am not a registered charity. I cannot issue tax receipts. Reconnaissance Man Economics for the Disinterested ...a fast-paced polar bear attack thriller! Want lies? Hire a regular consultant. Want truth? Hire an asshole. Weather Shop Click to inquire about rates. Dow Jones What They Say About SDA "Smalldeadanimals doesn't speak for the people of Saskatchewan" Former Sask Premier Lorne Calvert "I got so much traffic after your post my web host asked me to buy a larger traffic allowance." Dr.Ross McKitrick Holy hell, woman. When you send someone traffic, you send someone TRAFFIC. My hosting provider thought I was being DDoSed. - Sean McCormick "The New York Times link to me yesterday [...] generated one-fifth of the traffic I normally get from a link from Small Dead Animals." Kathy Shaidle "Thank you for your link. A wave of your Canadian readers came to my blog! Really impressive." Juan Giner - INNOVATION International Media Consulting Group I got links from the Weekly Standard, Hot Air and Instapundit yesterday - but SDA was running at least equal to those in visitors clicking through to my blog. Jeff Dobbs "You may be a nasty right winger, but you're not nasty all the time!" Warren Kinsella "Go back to collecting your welfare livelihood."Michael E. Zilkowsky Intelliweather Seismic Map Comments Policy Read this Best Of SDA Hide The Decline The Bottle Genie (ClimateGate links) You Might Be A Liberal Uncrossing The Line Bob Fife: Knuckledragger A Modest Proposal (NP) Settled Science Series Y2Kyoto Series SDA: Reader Occupation Survey Brett Lamb Sheltered Workshop Flakes On A Plane All Your Weather Are Belong To Us Song Of The Sled The Raise A Flag Debacle (Now on Youtube!) (.mwv Video) Abuse Ruins Life Of Girl Trudeaupiate Kleptocrat Jeans Child Labour I Concede Small Dead Feminist Protein Hoser: THK Interview The Werewolf Extinction Dear Laura (VRWC) We Wait Blogging The Oscars Jackson Converts To Islam Just Shut The HELL Up Manipulating Condi Gay Equality Rights MOLINE, ILLINOIS | What may be the worlds largest mussel relocation project got underway Tuesday below the Interstate 74 bridge linking Iowa and Illinois. Its definitely the largest known mussel relocation for a transportation project, said Heidi Woeber, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is coordinating the multiagency effort. Before the end of October, SCUBA divers employed by Ecological Specialists Inc. are to grope the bottom of the opaque Mississippi River water to find and remove about 450,000 mussels at an estimated cost of $2.4 million. Woeber and Iowa Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Scott Gritters, the states mussel coordinator, spent much of the morning explaining to reporters why anyone would want to do that. To start with, its the law, Woeber said. Mussels are a trust resource that the government must protect and maintain in the public interest. It is required that we avoid and minimize impact to them. Woeber also explained that the mussel bed beneath the bridge is one of the worlds richest and most diverse. Based on 2014 surveys, about 850,000 mussels, representing 25 different species, live in the direct impact zone of the I-74 bridge replacement project. They include three species the sheepnose, the spectacle case and the Higgins eye pearl mussel on the federally endangered list and two others the butterfly and the black sandshell on state lists. For sure, the river bed beneath the bridge is one of the greatest mussel strongholds on the river, said Gritters, who has led successful efforts to reintroduce the Higgins eye into the Iowa and Wapsipinicon rivers. Pool 15, he said, sits atop the former Rock Island rapids, which were blasted and flooded to facilitate navigation. Though the pool is highly developed with an industrial appearance, it flows across a rocky, gravelly bottom that is well suited for mussels, he said. During the 2014 survey, samplers found about 25 mussels per square meter of bottom surface in Sylvan Slough, where most of Tuesdays activity took place, he said. If you want practical human benefits, consider that each mussel filters bacteria, algae and sediment out of 10 gallons of water each day. They trash-compact it, kick it out, and a fish eats it, he said. Gritters, who said he has never put his hands on a live spectacle case, said he knows of no other place where they can be found. Woeber said each of the 450,000 mussels is to be individually handled more than once during the relocation process. After the divers pick them off the bottom, in depths ranging from 5 to 15 feet, biologists on the dive platform count them. They are then transferred via boat to a shore crew that identifies and marks them before they are transported to recipient mussel bed sites out of harms way. You cant see a thing down there. I had my face mask just off the bottom and I could not see the bottom, diver Cristopher Brouillette said. If it feels like it could be a mussel, we throw it in the sack and let them sort it out up above, he said. Sam Shea, a transportation planner with the Iowa Department of Transportation, said the transportation departments of Iowa and Illinois are splitting the cost of relocating the mussels. Shea said the I-74 bridge is actually two bridges one built in the 1930s for two-way traffic, and the other built beside it in the 1950s. With narrow lanes, no shoulders and poorly designed ramps, they no longer meet todays standards, he said. The new bridge, with its $1 billion estimated cost, should be complete in late 2021, according to Shea. It is to be built in stages so that the first half can accommodate two-way traffic while the second half is built, he said. 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David William Walshe later admitted he accessed the material for his own sexual gratification and was sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday to nearly three years behind bars. WA Police said they were working to remove the site. Walshe, 65, was charged as part of a federal police crackdown on child pornography being distributed through the online peer-to-peer file sharing network eMule in June 2015. Officers searched Walshe's electronic devices after they downloaded 18 images and eight videos depicting child pornography that were linked to his IP address during the investigation. Canberra is set to buzz with hyperactive bureaucrats when it becomes the central hub for the nation's biggest population survey for the first time. As 38,000 collectors across Australia prepare for the enormous task of undertaking the Census of Population and Housing on August 9, the Australian Bureau of Statistics in Canberra will shoulder more of the processing than ever before. Chris Libreri, general manager of the Census and Statistical Network Services Division, said the ABS in Belconnen will hold the data processing centre that was previously based in Sydney or Melbourne. "We will be employing about 500 Canberrans who will be working here in Belconnen processing the census," he said. Australians are overly optimistic about being able to use property assets to fund their retirement, according to HSBC. The banking giant surveyed Australian workers and found about 26 per cent believe downsizing or selling property will help pay for their lifestyles when they leave the workforce. There is a gap between expectation and reality when it comes to property and retirement. Credit:Michele Mossop That makes Australians the most optimistic in the world in their expectations that property will help them in retirement: An average of just 12 per cent of workers globally share that outlook. And they may be disappointed, with HSBC finding that only 8 per cent of Australians who have retired actually cite property as a source of income. Brooke Tasovac thought she had done everything right. Before trying to conceive a second child she added pregnancy to her existing hospital policy, which required her to serve a nine-month waiting period. So she was shocked when still in her hospital bed recovering from an emergency caesarean she was told Australian Unity wouldn't be covering the operation because she had given birth to Amy at eight months and 21 days. "I had no choice. It was an emergency medical procedure because she had to come out a bit earlier for her own safety," said Ms Tasovac, from Sydney's north-west. Louis Vuitton Australia's chief executive has resigned to take on the job leading the company's private equity business L Catterton and focus of finding Australia's next big lifestyle brand. After 28 years with Louis Vuitton, during which he was involved with the French conglomerate's acquisition of Australian sportswear brand 2XU and iconic bootmaker R. M. Williams, Philip Corne has taken on the job of executive chair of L Catterton Australia. Phillip Corne has stepped down as chief of Louis Vuitton Australia to take up the chair of LVMH's private equity arm LCatterton Australia. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The private equity business is focused on taking its Australian investments, including swimwear star Seafolly, to the world. In recent weeks it launched the first R. M. Williams store in London and there are plans to open a New York store in coming months. International travellers are being warned of major delays next week when hundreds of immigration and border protection workers walk off the job. Workers will take part in mass strikes at Australia's seven international airports from midnight on Friday, August 12, in a renewed bid to break the deadlocked battle over their pay and conditions. Airport workers have remained without a new employment agreement and pay rise for almost three years. Credit:Joe Armao Quarantine and airport biosecurity workers will also strike for an hour on the same day. The industrial strife will be the latest escalation of a bitter workplace feud between Australia's public sector union and the federal government. Airport workers are among about 100,000 federal employees who have remained without a new employment agreement and a pay rise for almost three years. Australia should shut down all major youth detention centres and move young offenders into community-based rehabilitation programs, a leading US expert has recommended. Under a radical overhaul of the juvenile justice system, the most violent minors would be detained but in smaller facilities of no more than a dozen beds, located closer to their homes. Vincent Schiraldi, who reformed the juvenile corrections systems in Washington DC and then New York, said he was "outraged" by the footage of child abuse in Northern Territory youth detention. Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen One cabinet minister told The Australian Financial Review that the Deputy Prime Minister's recollection was an "interesting version of events". 2. Has Foreign Minister and deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop been undermined? Mr Joyce, Mr Turnbull and Ms Bishop. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Leading up to the meeting, the Foreign Minister was the leading backer of Mr Rudd's candidacy and she took the position supposedly in line with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advice to cabinet, where she argued strongly for it. Ms Bishop is the relevant minister when it comes to the United Nations and her position was then backed by 11 cabinet ministers but was rejected by her leader. There have also been reports that Mr Turnbull told Mr Rudd as far back as May that he should drop his bid but Ms Bishop was not informed of the development. 3. Does the Prime Minister's decision represent a capitulation to the conservative wing of his party? The conservative faction of the Liberal Party, both inside and outside cabinet, was said to be most staunchly opposed to the former prime minister's candidacy. The moderates were more open to the idea. The Prime Minister went with the position held by the conservatives, feeding a narrative that he is overly sensitive to their concerns and regularly compromises to please them and retain their support. 4. Or does it reflect lingering hostility towards Mr Rudd based on former rivalry? It was opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull's misplaced and high-stakes attack on Mr Rudd over the "Utegate" affair in 2009 that saw his position undermined and, combined with the the division over climate change policy, eventually terminated. Following the bungled attack, Mr Rudd demanded his counterpart be sacked from the leadership and Mr Turnbull has spoken publicly about how difficult the political defeat was for him. He even announced he was leaving politics, only to reconsider at the last minute. Despite his political come back, does the Prime Minister harbour lingering resentment towards his erstwhile rival? 5. Did Malcolm Turnbull abandon previously expressed support for Mr Rudd? In the letters he leaked, Mr Rudd claimed that Mr Turnbull had expressed support for his bid late last year. The Prime Minister, who has questioned the one-sided nature of the correspondence, said this was "absolutely untrue". He insisted that the accounts were "at odds with my recollection" and that Mr Rudd was aware the decision was a matter for cabinet. But did Mr Turnbull then contradict the mood of cabinet and make his own decision? 6. Did the Prime Minister mislead Parliament? In early May, the Prime Minister gave the following question time answer to the opposition's query about whether the government would support Rudd's nomination: "In the event of this matter becoming a live one, certainly the cabinet will consider it and give it due attention." Mr Rudd had made his formal request for support a month earlier, arguably making it a "live" issue. 7. What do these sustained cabinet leaks so early in the new term mean? In the scheme of things, the Rudd decision is a minor one. Matters of great importance to the nation come across the cabinet table on a regular basis. Yet this decision has seen multiple accounts published of confidential cabinet discussions. Cabinet leaks are considered rare, undesirable and a measure of government instability. MASON CITY One of the secrets to business success on a website is to know your perfect customer, a business consultant told Iowa business men and women Wednesday. Pamela Herrmann, an entrepreneur, adviser and mentor to businesses throughout the country, spoke during the second day of workshops of the Iowa Downtown Conference at The Music Man Square. She said the website is the hub of the wheel in an advertising and promotion venue that has many spokes, including Facebook. Who are you trying to attract? she asked. Herrmann said most businesses have several audiences and it is important to bucketize them on the web page. One bucket could be senior citizens, she said. Another could be women. Still another could be college graduates. Offer content to each bucket, said Herrmann, through links on the web page. Dont try to tell the entire story on the web page. She told her audience it is important for them to envision their perfect customer. Give that customer a name and find a photo of someone who fits the image. Put the photo on your desk and think of that person with everything you do, she said. Herrmann said it is also important to respond to any comments customers make. If you do that consistently, the audience will reward you, she said.Have a conversation. Engage them. She said posts should include some information about the overall program and industry, about the specific company or product and a promotional piece the ask. Herrmann said Facebook users can boost their activities and events through ads that target specific audiences. Another tip she offered was for users to turn likes into donations. Tell people, 33 percent of our budget comes from people like you, or similar messages, said Herrmann. The conference, which has drawn community leaders from around the state, ended Thursday. Away from the spotlight, Gomes has been working for two years developing her own skincare range, Equal Beauty. The 30-year-old face of David Jones has been carving out a name for herself in Hollywood since her part in the 2014 film Transformers: Age of Extinction and has three more film roles in the can. Hot on the heels of former DJs ambassador Miranda Kerr's Kora organic skincare line, Gomes will launch the range through the department store next year. Jessica Gomes, pictured with fellow David Jones ambassador Jesinta Campbell ahead of Wednesday night's season launch. Credit:Wolter Peeters Like many beauty entrepreneurs before her, Gomes was inspired to create her own range after not finding the right mix of products for her needs. "I've tried organic, oils and things, it just wasn't really doing much for my skin. I wanted something that really works from the inside out. It's about enhancing your inner beauty," she said. "I'm not saying that I'm superior. I am saying everyone is beautiful and you can enhance your inner beauty by looking after your skin." NSW education minister Adrian Piccoli is again at odds with his federal Coalition counterpart Simon Birmingham over education funding following the release of flat NAPLAN results, which Mr Birmingham said were "not good enough". Mr Piccoli strongly defended the Gonski needs-based funding model and his education reforms in the wake of the test results, saying it would be "naive" to expect a turnaround in student performance this early in implementation. But Mr Birmingham argued the opposite, saying the preliminary 2016 results, which showed a plateauing in student achievement since 2015 meant "the evidence is there, funding itself does not deliver improved outcomes". The federal government is increasing school funding from $16 billion this year to more than $20 billion by 2020, but has stopped well short of committing to the "full Gonski", or needs-based funding model, which Mr Piccoli supports. The federal government's funding boost is about a third of what Labor was promising. The Obeid family's lawsuit against the former head of the NSW corruption watchdog has been reduced to a "vestige" after the clan abandoned a "massive body of grave allegations" before the trial, the Supreme Court has heard. Former NSW Labor MP Eddie Obeid and three of his five sons are suing former Independent Commission Against Corruption boss David Ipp, QC, and others for damages over an explosive 2012 inquiry relating to a $30 million coal deal. Obeid snr and his middle son, Moses, have been criminally charged over the deal. Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has pointed to 2022 as a game-changing year for the city, but he has remained coy on whether he will still be, politically, around to see it. Cr Quirk addressed a Queensland Media Club lunch at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday, in which he highlighted three major projects the completion of Brisbane Airport's parallel runway, the Queens Wharf casino complex and Cr Quirk's own Brisbane Metro transit system as "game-changers" all set to be delivered in 2022. Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk remains non-committal about seeking another term in City Hall. Credit:Robert Shakespeare Before then would come the 2020 local government elections and the 32-year Brisbane City Council veteran remained coy on whether he would contest his third election as lord mayor. "You take it one year at a time in this life," he said in response to questioning about whether he would contest the 2020 council election. The Museum of Brisbane at City Hall will have to find a new director after Peter Denham decided to leave for a post at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney. Mr Denham said he had mixed emotions about heading to Sydney, but the lure of such a major museum was too much to ignore. Museum of Brisbane director Peter Denham is set to take up a new role with Sydney's Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. Credit:Bryan Crawford "I've put a lot of love and effort with a fabulous team at the Museum of Brisbane making it what it is and that's been hugely important for me. "I'll miss working with a brilliant group of people and I'm very proud at the same time of how the museum is viewed. A squadron of air force planes based in Townsville will resume service after being grounded for more than a month following a chemical scare. The Royal Australian Air Force's B300 King Air fleet was suspended on June 30 after revelations the flight crew had been exposed to the highly dangerous chemical strontium chromate. A fleet of RAAF planes had been grounded since June 30. Credit:File/Karleen Minney Extensive cleaning of the fleet was carried out and the aircraft will return to service this month. Strontium chromate is often used as a primer in aircraft manufacturing. Tiny apartments with no balcony and poor natural lighting would be banned under a strict new building code sought by an inner-city council experiencing an unprecedented building boom. But Planning Minister Richard Wynne has rejected Moreland Council's request, amid concerns that weakness in the building industry could push it into a downturn if developers are asked to deliver a more costly product. The council's proposed new laws included a requirement for one-bedroom apartments to be at least 50 square metres, two bedrooms be 65 square metres and for three-bedders be at least 90 square metres in size. The proposed laws would also force developers to provide balconies of a minimum size, and to ensure "acoustic privacy" for tenants so noise from neighbours was not an issue. Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon has slammed the birth of a child to a 62-year-old mother as "selfish," "wrong" and "madness". The Tasmanian woman, whose age had earlier been reported as being 63, reportedly became the oldest woman to give birth in Australia on Monday. The girl was born by caesarean section at Frances Perry House private hospital in Parkville, Victoria. She was born prematurely but is said to be progressing well, along with her mother, Channel Seven reported. Undercover police have swooped on Melbourne's infamous Gatwick Hotel where they have arrested a fugitive over the stabbing death of a St Kilda rooming house resident. Police arrested Earl Jones, 29, at the notorious boarding house on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda on Wednesday afternoon. Detectives arrested Mr Jones at St Kilda's Gatwick Hotel on Wednesday afternoon. Undercover police were spotted by nearby residents about 12pm, while a police helicopter was heard circling overhead. It is believed Mr Jones was holed up inside room 214 of the Gatwick, which is now being searched by police for evidence. The birth of a baby to a 62-year-old Australian mother has sparked heated ethical debate and been condemned as "madness" by a leading doctor. Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, was among those who criticised the parents' decision to have the child. The baby girl is understood to have been conceived overseas with IVF, most likely with a donated egg or embryo, and delivered at the Frances Perry House private hospital in Parkville, on Monday. If you have more information contact rspooner@fairfaxmedia.com.au. KENSETT | A court date has been set for a Minnesota man accusing of leading police on a 15-mile chase on Interstate 35 last week. Ibrahim Mohamud, 22, of Faribault, was charged with felony eluding and misdemeanor counts of operating while intoxicated, marijuana possession, not using a turn signal and following too close. His preliminary hearing was set for Friday in Mason City. Troopers believe Mohamud was high on marijuana when he was involved in a hit-and-run crash about 4:20 p.m. Friday in the southbound lanes near mile marker 188, according to court documents. A state trooper caught up with Mohamud's black Dodge Dart car just south of Clear Lake, but the Minnesotan refused to stop and accelerated to 102 mph, court documents state. He was reportedly stopped after two tires were punctured on a spike strip a Franklin County deputy sheriff threw across the road at mile marker 173 near Latimer. -- Molly Montag. But there is cause for hope. It's having a profound impact on what they're choosing to study, with figures from the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute showing that only 6.7 per cent of female year 12 students undertake advanced mathematics and only 17.5 per cent undertake intermediate mathematics. (Participation rates were higher across the board for males.) Female students' confidence in maths and science lags severely behind boys, according to an OECD study . For girls at co-educational schools, the numbers just aren't adding up. A new Melbourne University study has found that girls at single-sex schools grew more confident in maths. Isabelle McIndoe, who is a top year eight maths student at Lauriston Girls School, said she only started to feel confident in her maths ability after she moved to an all-girls school. The boys were more dominant and asked most of the questions in her co-ed primary school class, and she feared that she would be mocked if she asked a "dumb question". "Now, I ask every time I'm uncertain about something," she said. "Because the boys dominated, they were always louder, so it really felt like they were better". The Melbourne University study compared the attitude and achievement of girls and boys at both single-sex and co-educational schools. It found that, in year four, boys were slightly more confident in their maths ability than girls in a co-ed environment. A fire has destroyed a boat moored at Mandurah Quays on Wednesday morning, causing $50,000 worth of damage. The Department of Fire and Emergency said 16 firefighters were sent to the boat blaze that started around 12.45am. A fire has caused around $50,000 damage to a boat in Mandurah. Credit:Nine News Perth It took firefighters almost an hour to put out the fire on the 40-foot boat. No one was on the boat at the time. West Australian students have performed strongly in the 2016 NAPLAN results, but the state's Education Minister Peter Collier says standards may be set too low and must continue to rise. WA topped other states and territories, with improvements recorded in 12 out of 20 assessment bands, compared to the results of 2008 when NAPLAN began. West Australian students have performed strongly in the 2016 NAPLAN results, but the state's Education Minister Peter Collier says standards may be set too low and must continue to rise. Year 9 was a stand-out, with results in all tests above the Australian mean. "Our year nine students have improved more than anyone and I'm very, very pleased with that," Mr Collier told ABC radio on Wednesday. Daniel Stoltzfus, left in yellow, and Lee Kaplan, right in yellow, are led to a preliminary hearing outside Bucks County Magisterial District Judge John I. Waltman's courtroom in Feasterville, Pennsylvania. Credit:AP In the years before she moved in with Kaplan, "we moved back and forth," she said. "He commuted back and forth." Daniel Stoltzfus and Kaplan became business partners in the early 2000s, and he grew close to the family. Lee Kaplan was found at his home along with 12 girls ranging in age from six months to 18 years. Credit:AP "She grew up with him," said Lower Southampton Police Detective Gerald Scott, testifying about a conversation with Daniel Stoltzfus on the day of his arrest. Stoltzfus thought his daughter and Kaplan "got along very well together" and had established a relationship in the 13 years the family had known Kaplan, Scott said. Savilla Stoltzfus told detectives that "they were a good match," said Lower Southampton Police Detective Sgt. Shane Hearn. So she moved in with him, and her mother and sisters later followed, she said. There was no identification for the girls found in the house, nor was there any evidence that they had ever been to doctors or schools. Detectives have said they may have been home-schooled, as workbooks were found in the home. But the 18-year-old showed confusion at some questions. "What do you mean by that?" she said, frowning, when a prosecutor asked who delivered her children. The bright blue dress she wore - a patchwork of flowers and polka-dots, with puffy sleeves and buttons down the front - hung off her gangly frame. Her cheeks appeared sunken and her front teeth protruded; her hair hung past her waist. In the corner of the courtroom sat Kaplan - with small eyes, a mouth obscured by a beard, and a mane of coarse gray hair - at times moving around during the testimony, not always keeping his eyes on the proceedings, sometimes leaning forward to whisper to his attorney. He spoke once from his seat to say, "She doesn't understand the word 'chaperone,' " when the woman was asked whether an adult was always present for her interaction with Kaplan before she moved in with him. She and Kaplan were not legally married, but allegedly told police they considered themselves spouses. Glancing at Kaplan only a few times during her testimony, the woman said that at first her parents did not know about her sexual relationship with Kaplan. She gave birth to her children "in the bedroom" she shared with Kaplan, with her mother delivering the children, she said. Savilla Stoltzfus moved into Kaplan's house upon the birth of the first child and stayed. So did "most of my younger sisters," the young woman said. Daniel Stoltzfus visited frequently, she said. She cooked, cleaned, and cared for the yard and did not have an outside job, she said. Kaplan is charged with rape; Daniel Stoltzfus, child endangerment and conspiracy to commit sexual assault, and Savilla Stoltzfus, one count of child endangerment. Attorneys for the adults suggested through questioning that the "giving" of the girl could have been giving her hand in marriage. Daniel Stoltzfus' lawyer, Timothy Barton, argued that Stoltzfus allowed his daughter only to live with Kaplan. "There is no evidence Daniel Stoltzfus came to an agreement with Lee Kaplan to allow (him) to commit sexual assault" on his daughter, Barton said. Assistant District Attorney Kate Kohler argued that Stoltzfus was complicit in the relationship because he did nothing when he found out the couple were having sex. "Mr. Stoltzfus gave his 14-year-old daughter to his 47-year-old business partner," she said. "You do not give your daughter to a man that's not in your family and not expect them to have a sexual relationship." The remaining girls in the house were the 18-year-old's sisters, ranging in age from 3 to 17. Although they were sometimes seen in the yard, neighbours did not realise so many children were living there, and some said they had wondered about Kaplan's behaviour over the years. When police came to the house in June, acting on a child-abuse tip by a neighbour, Kaplan presented only some of the girls. The rest the police found hiding throughout the house. Upon questioning by county child-welfare officials, the sisters did not provide any evidence of abuse by Kaplan. Police said in June they would be questioned again. London bobbies, previously famed for taking on criminals with a truncheon and a firm attitude, have received a makeover for the modern age of terror. The Metropolitan police unveiled on Wednesday their new-look fast-response team for anti-terror actions: equipped with grey Kevlar body armour, Sig Sauer MCX carbine guns, Glock 9-millimetre sidearms, "ballistic" shields and hydraulic rams and riding BMW motorcycles. Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the terror threat was more of a concern after recent attacks in Europe, and he wanted more armed officers patrolling busy parts of the capital, to reassure the public and deter attackers. "We know that the threat level is severe and that an attack is highly likely," he told the Evening Standard. "Iconic parts of London will see more armed police but ultimately we will be patrolling the areas that have the most people. Is it possible that Donald Trump has begun to contemplate his own political mortality? Is it possible that Trump, who had previously boasted to GOP primary audiences that he would beat Hillary Clinton "easily" - has begun to contemplate the possibility that he might lose the presidential election? It is perhaps not a coincidence that Trump has suddenly stopped tweeting about polls (which are now showing Clinton taking a meaningful lead) at precisely the moment that he is escalating his efforts to cast doubt, in advance, on the legitimacy of the general election's outcome. Trump and his supporters have now said in a series of new public remarks that the outcome of the election is likely to be "rigged." Monday, on the campaign trail, Trump said: "I'm afraid the election's going to be rigged. I have to be honest." Meanwhile, longtime Trump confidante Roger Stone is explicitly encouraging Trump to make this case to his supporters. "I think we have widespread voter fraud, but the first thing that Trump needs to do is begin talking about it constantly," Stone told a friendly interviewer, adding that Trump should start saying this: "If there's voter fraud, this election will be illegitimate, the election of the winner will be illegitimate, we will have a constitutional crisis, widespread civil disobedience, and the government will no longer be the government." Washington: Donald Trump's White House campaign was in turmoil on Wednesday, with a senior Republican Party official furious over his criticism of a dead soldier's family and his refusal to back the re-election campaign of House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, and one Republican in Congress endorsing his rival, Hillary Clinton. Newt Gingrich, until recently one of Mr Trump's strongest backers, has warned the candidate is on course to lose the election. Mr Trump hit back on Tuesday at critics in the Republican leadership who have taken him to task for his insistent public dispute with the parents of the soldier, a Muslim US Army captain killed in the Iraq war. In a revolt against the party, he denied both House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain support in their re-election bids. His VP pick Mike Pence however said he endorsed Mr Ryan in an interview on Wednesday. The Trump campaign was also embroiled in fresh controversy on Wednesday after a prominent news anchor, Joe Scarborough, claimed Mr Trump asked about the possibility of using nuclear weapons during a foreign policy briefing several months earlier. The residents of St. Peters deserve the right to be directly informed of the Governments plans to demolish the Prins Willem Alexander asbestos infected School. This demolition takes place in a residential area and if not handled professionally and correctly can affect the health of those living in the St. Peters district. According to article 21 of the Constitution of Sint Maarten the Government shall take steps to promote public health. Asbestos is a serious health hazard. Contrary to earlier belief, it is known now that exposure to small quantities of asbestos fibers, as may occur during routine work such as sanding or drilling asbestos materials over a period of time, can cause serious diseases. Once people are diagnosed it is too late to do anything about it, groups at risk include the elderly, and small children because of their compromised immune systems. Asbestos is a versatile product and is ideal for use as fire proofing and insulation. Unfortunately it can also be DEADLY, causing serious lung diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. How to remove Asbestos? Asbestos based insulation materials are still quite common in many businesses. The only way to dispose of asbestos is safely and correctly and the best solution for you depend upon the amounts of asbestos you have to dispose of. Asbestos must be removed in calm weather so as to avoid the spreading of the fibers through the wind, water must be applied to the asbestos in order to safely remove it. In the case of the school in St. Peters the asbestos should be disposed of through a licensed asbestos stripping company and the actual amount of asbestos removed should be registered. The Government owes it to the people of St. Peters to inform them as to when and how the asbestos will be removed and how they can protect their family and themselves. Please be aware that asbestos should NEVER be disposed of in your general waste bin. Your rubbish is treated by manual handlers and any loose asbestos placed in your bin poses a threat to their health as well. If you need to remove asbestos from your domestic premises please request the health department for assistance. REMBER - THE MORE ASBESTOS DUST INHALED THE GREATER THE RISK TO HEALTH!!! Let us protect our St. Maarten people! Mulrose Sponsper -Toulon SMCP Candidate serving the residents of St. Peters for a change! The tropical system was responsible for six deaths Monday in the Dominican Republic. Three others may have been killed by conditions from the storm, but authorities are still investigating. Preparations are already underway in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, where the storm is expected to hit later this week. Officials in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands are warning residents to be prepared for heavy rains and strong winds as a tropical system that killed at least six people in the Dominican Republic moves further west. The six deaths and 12 injuries occurred Sunday aboard a bus filled with people returning from a beach excursion near the town of Nagua in the northeastern part of the country, the AP said. The storm brought power lines down onto the bus, sparking a deadly fire, Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Diego Pesqueira said in the report.Not far from Nagua, three bodies were recovered and four others remained missing after a tour boat overturned Sunday off the Samana Peninsula, the AP also reported. The cause of the incident has yet to be determined, military spokesman Arsenio Maldonado told the AP, but there was a small craft advisory due to the storm at the time the boat flipped. In Jamaica, events have been canceled and store owners have been asked to open their businesses so citizens can purchase emergency supplies, according to the Jamaica Gleaner. The nation's government activated the National Emergency Center, and residents in coastal and low-lying areas were instructed to move to higher ground once the storm approaches, the report added. "We are going to be in for a rough two to three days," local government minister Desmond McKenzie told the Jamaica Gleaner. All small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, are reminded to remain in safe harbor until all warning messages have been lifted and wind and sea conditions return to normal. The Cayman Islands Joint Marine Unit also issued a warning Monday, saying boaters should stay off the water while the system passes through the area. Simon Boxall, with Cayman Islands Hazard Management, told the Cayman Compass he does not anticipate opening hurricane shelters for this storm, but that could change if the forecast gets worse. We dont expect this will have a significant impact on us, he said, but it could lead to high winds and localized flooding. Were not too anxious about it, but we are watching it closely." A reconnaissance aircraft was scheduled to fly into the storm Monday evening, but had to return home before it could survey the system. The National Hurricane Center blamed a mechanical problem for the canceled mission. A second airplane was dispatched on Tuesday. Forecasters expect the tropical system to strengthen in the coming days and become Tropical Storm Earl before moving toward Central America later this week. MASON CITY The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to hold a special election Sept. 20 to fill the at-large council seat that became open with the July 15 death of Alex Kuhn. None of us want to do this, said Councilman John Lee. Its something we have to do. Someone will be filling some shoes that will be hard to fill. Joshua Masson, who attended the meeting, said he intends to run for the open seat. Masson, a systems analyst at Curries, ran for the Third Ward council seat last year and was defeated by Brett Schoneman. On Monday, former Councilman Max Weaver and businessman Andy OBrien both said they intend to run. Candidates can start filing nomination papers now, Cerro Gordo County Auditor Ken Kline said earlier in the day. Forms are available at the auditors office and on the countys website. Kline said only 27 signatures are required on nomination forms because of low voter turnout last November when Kuhn ran unopposed for re-election. For a special election, the law requires candidates to secure signatures from 2 percent of the turnout in the last regular election for that seat. Kuhn got 1,249 votes and there were 53 write-ins, for a total of 1,302 votes, said Kline. Two percent of that, rounded up, is 27 votes. The turnout last November was the lowest since 1991. I would anticipate a much higher turnout in the special election, said Kline. The filing deadline is Friday, Aug. 26. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Leader of the St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) Wycliffe Smith announces the candidacy of Mr Pedro Arrindell who was born and raised on Aruba and his family is of Sint Maarten roots. On Aruba Pedro attended the UTS after which he was employed by the Lago Oil Refinery where he also enrolled in the Welding Technology program. Several years later, after becoming a Christian he developed a desire to see the people of Aruba prosper spiritually as well as economically and socially which motivated him to enter the political arena by functioning as one of the campaign managers of well-known Aruban politician, the late John van der Kuyp. In an effort to grow professionally Pedro migrated to the Netherlands to further his studies in political science and later went off to study Computer technology at the Long Island University in the USA. Pedros first job on Sint Maarten was with the Island Government of Sint Maarten where he was hired as a Safety Inspector. He later worked at the St. Maarten Vocational Training School where he and his colleagues implemented a very successful job training curriculum. Most of the students received employment in the technical field and a number of students went on to study at Technical Training schools in the United States. Based upon his knowledge in the field of the labor laws which he had pursued on his own he obtained the job as Lead Inspector at the Labor Department of Sint Maarten. During several years of his career, Pedro lapsed in maintaining his faith and cultivating his personal relationship with his creator. However, he reached a point in his life when he realized that he could not continue his life without God and he then rededicated his life to God and has since been committed to rebuilding his relationship with God. He currently assists the leadership of his church and serves in different capacities in the ministry. He also initiated children feeding program in his church and works closely with the leadership of one of the Rehab Centers on Sint Maarten. The SMCP recognizes Pedros love for Sint Maarten and his desire to serve the people of this country for a change. Wycliffe Smith Leader of the Sint Maarten Christian Party Cookbook and autobiography explains how a Scottish boy cooked his way from Vegas to Barbados Celebrity Chef Grant Macpherson, has written an autobiographical travelogue and cookbook, "Word of Mouth." Chef Grant MacPherson, has cooked for heads of state and celebrities such as Margaret Thatcher, George H. W. Bush, Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela, Morgan Freeman, and Julia Roberts. MacPherson has released an autobiographical recipe book "that spans 5 continents, a 30-year career, 8 world-class food and beverage destinations and offers an insight into one man's story and the people that shaped him. Original recipes, dimensional images, quotes from household names, friends and family, messages from industry influencers and a gastronomic adventure awaits the reader," he says. The book is titled Word of Mouth. It's intended for "Chefs, students, peers, home cooks, travelers, entrepreneurs, visionaries, creatives, foodies, photographers, growers, drinkers" and his fellow Scots. "Word of Mouth is something I want my sons to have, this is a thank you to those who I had the pleasure of working with and somewhat a reflection to date of such a full life and almost a wonder as to what is next", says MacPherson. MacPherson has probably worked somewhere you have dined, met someone you know or created a dish that makes your mouth water. His book covers every food joint from chopping chicken wings at Bugsy's to the James Beard House in New York City. Macpherson has designed menus for Richard Branson. He has also cooked alongside culinary stars such as Joel Robuchon, Jean Georges Vongerichten, Michael Mina, Thomas Keller, and the late Jean Louis Palladin. MacPherson was a gold medalist at the 1992 Culinary Olympics in Frankfurt, Germany, and has directed prestigious resort kitchens on five continents, including The Regent, The Ritz-Carlton, The Four Seasons, Malaysia's Datai Hotel, and the Raf es Hotel in Singapore. MacPherson's headed the culinary operations for the Steve Wynn organization for 10 years, where he opened and overseeing operations of 50 food and beverage venues, including The Bellagio, Wynn Las Vegas, and Wynn Macau. While there, each Wynn resort received Five Diamond AAA Awards, Forbes Five Star Awards, and Michelin Guides Five Red Pavilions Awards. MacPherson moved from Vegas casinos to Barbados, where he became the Culinary Director and Head Chef at the celebrated Sandy Lane Hotel in St. James, Barbados. Chef MacPherson was named the Executive Chef for Viking Range Corporation's Commercial Division in early 2010. In this role, he assists Viking Commercial customers in planning and selecting their equipment, as well as providing input into new product development. MacPherson will also represent Viking Commercial at culinary events and via social media. Celebrity Chef Grant Macpherson, has written an autobiographical travelogue and cookbook, "Word of Mouth." As a part of his collaboration with Viking, MacPherson launched his first cookbook in early 2011. Entitled In the Viking Kitchen with Chef Grant MacPherson, the book features original MacPherson recipes and stunning photography of each, as well as photography of commercial and residential Viking equipment. MacPherson graduated from Niagara College in Niagara Falls, Canada. In 2006, his alma mater awarded him an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies Degree for outstanding professional and personal achievements in the fields of culinary arts and hospitality. He will continue serving as a consultant in the hospitality industry through his consulting firm, Scotch Myst Culinary. In 2012, he began a new partnership with Las Vegas and NYC based chef, Sammy De Marco and their new project, The Merrywell at Crown Melbourne and Metropol Perth. Incident occurred Friday in Colorado Springs Colorado Donald Trump was trapped in an elevator in Colorado Springs prior to a rally on Friday, multiple new sources reported. He and nine other people including the Secret Service agents we are finally rescued after half an hour. As you might imagine, The Republican presidential candidate emerged from the elevator feisty as hell. "The firefighters were able to secure the elevator, open the top elevator hatch, lower a ladder into the elevator which allowed all individuals to self-evacuate, including Mr. Trump, onto the second floor lobby area," Steven Wilch, who is with the Colorado Springs Fire Department, told KRDO. Donald Trump reportedly insulted the fire department, and even made a Colorado Springa baby cry Within an hour, the Denver Post noted, the GOP presidential nominee was bashing the fire marshal at his rally. "So I have to tell you this. This is why our country doesn't work," Trump said from the stage at his Friday rally, which began nearly an hour late as a result of the mishap. "We have plenty of space here. We have thousands of people outside trying to get in. And we have a fire marshal that said, 'Oh we can't allow more people.' "The reason they won't let them in is because they don't know what the hell they're doing. "Hey, maybe they're a Hillary person. Could that be possible? Probably. I don't think there are too many of them," Trump said. Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/donald-trump-elevator-colorado-226470#ixzz4G09gq8b5 Follow us: @politico on Twitter | Politico on Facebook Pregnant Women and their Partners should not Visit Community Near Miami The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an historic warning on Monday, advising pregnant women and their partners to avoid a small community just north of downtown Miami. Agency spokesman Tom Skinner says this is the first time the CDC has warned people not to travel to an American neighborhood for fear of catching an infectious disease. Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause of microcephaly, a condition where a baby's head is much smaller than expected due to an underdeveloped brain. The condition can cause developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, problems with movement and balance, difficulty eating and swallowing, vision and hearing loss, or death. 14 people in Florida have now been infected with Zika virus after being bitten by local mosquitoes. Florida Gov. Rick Scott and CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden announced the warning in separate news conferences Monday. 10 new cases of infection were found by door-to-door surveys of 200 people in their homes and businesses, after being tested by urine and blood samples for the virus or an antibody. Last week Florida state health officials confirmed that four people had contracted Zika from mosquitoes, all in the same 150-square- meter area. It's a mixed-use development with both upscale and lower income businesses and homes. Frieden said this mixed neighborhood composition complicates mosquito control efforts. "New test measurements over the weekend showed a risk of continued active transmission in that area," he said. "Because of this finding, we are advising pregnant women not to travel to that area and if they have traveled there on or after June 15 to visit their health care provider for testing." Local health officials believe that June 15 is the earliest date that the mosquitoes might have passed the virus, which they obtained by biting a person who had returned to the United States with the disease. Four out of five people with Zika have no symptoms, so it's possible that "person zero" had no idea they were infectious. "With 40 million travelers to and from areas where Zika is actively circulating, many can come back who feel perfectly fine," Frieden said. "But the virus could be hitchhiking in their blood." Everyone who travels to one of those areas is asked to consistently use insect repellent for at least three weeks after they return. Additional precautions recommended by the CDC about the Miami outbreak include: Pregnant women who live in or travel to the area should be tested for Zika infection in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, even if they have no symptoms of the virus. Pregnant women and their male and female partners who live in the area should take steps to prevent mosquito bits and use proper sexual protection for the length of the pregnancy, or abstain from sex altogether. Male or female partners of pregnant women who have traveled to this area should use safe sex measures for the rest of the pregnancy. Women and men who have traveled to the affected area should wait eight weeks to conceive after their return. Men with symptoms should wait a full six months. Governor Scott was quick in asking for CDC assistance. "Following today's announcement, I have requested that the Centers for Disease Control activate their emergency response team to assist (the Department of Health) in their investigation, research and sample collection efforts," Scott said. "Their team will consist of public health experts whose role is to augment our response efforts to confirmed local transmissions of the Zika virus." Some CDC personnel are already on the ground, with more arriving over the next few days. Their first task will be to understand why local mosquito control efforts failed. Aggressive mosquito control in the area has had limited results. Friedan suggested the local mosquitoes may be resistant to the pesticide being used, or maybe there are hidden spaces where small amounts of water accumulate, just enough for the insects to breed. "The Aedes aegypti is a really tough mosquito to control," Frieden added. "When Key West had an outbreak of dengue, which is carried by the same mosquito, that outbreak continued for more than a year. It's a demonstration of how intensive the efforts need to be to control the mosquito." On-the-ground testing could take several weeks, and precautions should continue to be taken by everyone living in the area or traveling to and from it. People are advised to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants that are thick enough to repel mosquito bites, use air conditioning and screens on doors, remove any standing water where mosquitoes could lay eggs, and apply insect repellent containing 25% DEET to all uncovered skin. The community is just north of Miami. Some local transmission of the virus is expected from mosquitoes but it should not be as widespread as it has been in other parts of the world. That assessment is based on past outbreaks of two similar mosquito-borne diseases, dengue fever and chikungunya, in the United States. The diseases did not spread as rapidly when living conditions included more mosquito-control efforts and the regular use of air-conditioning. Most of the cases of Zika in the United States have been from travel to one of the 60 countries and territories where the virus is actively circulating. Fifteen people have been infected by sexual transmission, and there is one case of a laboratory-acquired infection. Only four states, Idaho, South Dakota, Wyoming and Alaska have not yet reported any cases. Until the announcement Friday in Florida, no US cases are believed to have been from local mosquito transmission. 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? Artificial Intelligence Is Key to Autonomous Cyber Security Future SAN DIEGO, CA (Marketwired) 08/03/16 , a , today announced that the latest in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based security technologies, including machine learning and behavioral analysis offered in the DB Networks DBN-6300 and Layer 7 Database Sensor, is being deployed to intelligently combat modern cyber security database threats. This is leading to a trend over the next several years where individual AI-based security systems will be integrated into organizations comprehensive autonomous cyber security architecture. Intelligent security sensors will be deployed throughout the network to not only immediately and accurately identify security events, but also to remediate them. The entire IT security industry is seeing a major transformation from signature-based solutions (black lists and white lists) to highly intelligent security solutions based on AI. There are two primary forces driving this transformation: First, security professionals know signature matching is no longer an effective means to identifying modern attacks. Cyber criminals easily obfuscate their attacks to be unrecognizable to signature matching security systems. Cyber criminals automate these attacks to continuously test endless combinations of obfuscated attacks, and with enough time eventually penetrate the perimeter. Second, IT security teams are severely understaffed. There is presently a shortage of more than 200,000 security professionals in the U.S. alone. Security operation centers are deluged with alerts each day and are able to respond to only a small fraction of them. These two dynamic forces are causing security teams across all industries to look to automation to alleviate the distress their organizations are facing today. AI-based cyber security is truly a sea change in the security industry, said DB Networks Chairman and CEO Brett Helm. AI enables us to quickly and accurately separate the wheat from the chaff to identify cyber attacks in progress. In future generations of product, DB Networks will use the output from AI to drive autonomous cyber security technologies that not only block attacks but also automatically heal the vulnerabilities. DB Networks is dedicated to protecting mission critical databases through its patented AI technologies based on machine learning and behavioral analysis. Operating non-intrusively at the database tier, directly in front of the database servers, the DBN-6300 and Layer 7 Database Sensor are in the optimal location to conduct deep analysis of database traffic. These products can immediately and automatically identify compromised database credentials, non-intrusively discover all databases (including the undocumented databases), pinpoint traffic to/from restricted segments, and detect advanced database attacks. DB Networks innovates database cybersecurity products. Its customers include the worlds largest financial institutions, healthcare providers, manufacturers, and governments. DB Networks technology non-intrusively assesses database infrastructures through deep protocol extraction, machine learning, and behavioral analysis. Customers gain insights by discovering all active databases, identifying tables being accessed, and the specific applications accessing the databases. In addition, analyzing application database access that deviates from the model of normal application behavior immediately identifies compromised credentials and database attacks. DB Networks is a privately held company headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information, call (800) 598-0450 or visit the companys website at . DB Networks is a registered trademark of DB Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other company and product names are either trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Dan Spalding (408) 960-9297 Ingram Micro Recognized as an Aruba Top Channel Partner IRVINE, CA (Marketwired) 08/03/16 (NYSE: IM) today announced that it has been honored as Arubas 2016 North America Distributor of the Year. The annual Top Channel Partner awards recognize the achievements of the leading Americas channel partners for Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, in the areas of sales, expertise in delivering Aruba solutions and commitment to customer service. The prestigious honor spotlights Ingram Micros relentless focus on exceptional channel partner enablement and business excellence, as well as proven expertise in Aruba networking solutions. Since 2013, Ingram Micro and its Advanced Solutions teams have collaborated with Aruba to provide end-to-end solutions to help resellers build and meet their customers networking needs seamlessly. Ingram Micro is honored to receive this recognition from Aruba, and we value their shared commitment to delivering both best-of-class and emerging technologies to resellers in the IT channel, said Tim Ament, senior vice president, Advanced Solutions, Ingram Micro. As technology centers more on mobility, cloud, big data and social enterprise, the need to expand and upgrade at every layer of the network is critical. Together, Ingram Micro and Aruba are helping channel partners connect the technology gap within the wireless infrastructure for businesses throughout North America. Our channel partners play a crucial role in Arubas success, and we are fortunate to work with some of the best in the business, said Jim Harold, vice president of channels for Aruba. This years award recipients represent the highest levels of expertise in mobile-first, cloud-first solutions as well as the utmost dedication to providing world-class service. We congratulate Ingram Micro and thank them for empowering our channel partners to use Aruba solutions to meet the mobility needs of their customers. In addition to Arubas full portfolio of networking products and services, Ingram Micro also serves as a preferred distribution partner for Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE) comprehensive portfolio of servers, storage, networking, software and services. With Aruba and HPE as part of our expanding advanced solutions and systems portfolio, Ingram Micro is well positioned to assist our channel partners in marketing, selling and supporting hybrid, converged and cloud solutions, concludes Jamie Ferullo, director, Advanced Solutions, Ingram Micro. More information about Ingram Micro is available at . Ingram Micro helps businesses Realize the Promise of Technology. It delivers a full spectrum of global technology and supply chain services to businesses around the world. Deep expertise in technology solutions, mobility, cloud, and supply chain solutions enables its business partners to operate efficiently and successfully in the markets they serve. Unrivaled agility, deep market insights and the trust and dependability that come from decades of proven relationships, set Ingram Micro apart and ahead. More at . Marie Rourke WhiteFox Marketing 714-292-2199 Stingray Announces Election of Directors MONTREAL, QUEBEC (Marketwired) 08/03/16 In accordance with the TSX Company Manual, Stingray Digital Group Inc. (TSX: RAY.A)(TSX: RAY.B) (the Corporation) is issuing this news release to disclose the voting results for the election of directors at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held earlier today in Montreal. Each of the following nine (9) nominees proposed by the Corporation was duly elected as director of the Corporation by the shareholders present or represented by proxy at the meeting. The results of the vote are as follows: About Stingray Stingray (TSX: RAY.A)(TSX: RAY.B) is a leading business-to-business multi-platform music and in-store media solutions provider operating on a global scale, reaching an estimated 400 million Pay-TV subscribers (or households) in 152 countries. Geared towards individuals and businesses alike, Stingrays products include the following leading digital music and video services: Stingray Music, Stingray Concerts, Stingray Brava, Stingray Djazz, Stingray Music Videos, Stingray Lite TV, Stingray Ambiance, Stingray Karaoke, Festival 4K, and iConcerts. Stingray also offers various business solutions, including music and digital display-based solutions, through its Stingray Business division. Stingray is headquartered in Montreal and currently has close to 300 employees worldwide, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Israel, Australia and South Korea. Stingray was recognized in 2013 and 2014 as a finalist in the Top 50 of Deloittes Technology Fast 50 list, and figures amongst PROFIT magazines fastest-growing Canadian companies. In 2016, Stingray was awarded best IR for an IPO at the IR Magazine Awards Canada. For more information, please visit . Contacts: Mathieu Peloquin Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Communications Stingray 1 514-664-1244, ext. 2362 McKesson Distribution Center in Clear Lake plans to hire 100 additional employees. The 340,000-square-foot McKesson facility opened in May andcurrently employs 120 workers, expanding to 220 in the coming months. This was a unique experience because it was a startup and we needed to hire people to get started, Director of Operations Chris Van Norman said. Van Norman moved to North Iowa in September after managing a smaller McKesson distribution center outside of Detroit and in Chicago before that. The facilitys office space is decorated to reflect the area with pictures of docks in Clear Lake, the Surf Ballroom and Lady of the Lake. Each conference room is labeled with a gold record and the name of a song sung by either Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens or the Big Bopper. One conference room off of the main office is called the La Bamba room. We try to incorporate Clear Lake into everything that we do, Van Norman said. One sign above the entrance to the main distribution area is the companys mantra, Its not just a package, its a patient. We remind people youre not just shipping paper towels, youre shipping medication that could be lifesaving medication, Van Norman said. Our hospitals order medications the night before for surgeries that happen the next day. Quality and accuracy are top priorities. The center serves the Midwest and northern central plains. We have 2,500 customers over that area, strictly pharmacies, Van Norman said. Those pharmacies can be in hospitals, independent pharmacies and big box retailers like Walmart, Hy-Vee and CVS. The distribution center is able to supply pharmacies completely both behind the counter and in front with toothpaste, soaps and other health products. If youre an independent pharmacy and you want a store, we can stock your whole store, Van Norman said. The building is cutting edge with automated sorting and packaging to move products. Most of the day shift is preparing for packaging order totes for shipping during the night shift. At night all the conveyors would be loaded with totes and wed have employees working the double check process to make sure the orders are correct, Van Norman said. There are 40 employees on the day shift and 50 at night. With the employment increase, there will be 100 on each shift. We brought more business in here than we originally anticipated. Everythings gone so smoothly, Van Norman said. Its been the most successful launch McKessons ever had. In every metric. Everything is timed for precision and efficiency, monitored by workers for quality. Its a lot safer. In an old McKesson, a worker would have to run miles a day to shelves and hand fill orders, Van Norman said. Now, a computer can do it quickly and accurately. Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds paid visit to the distribution center Wednesday. Branstad was involved in recruiting the company to locate in Clear Lake and made trips to McKesson headquarters in San Francisco. McKesson is a Fortune Five company. This building will be $5 billion in sales and the building itself is a Fortune 200, Van Norman said. McKesson is kind of the biggest company that no ones ever heard of. The distribution center has welcomed many visitors including several government officials including speaker Linda Upmeyer, Sharon Steckman, Steve King and Chuck Grassley. We get excited and we get our pictures. We have a collage now of everyone whos come, Van Norman said. MASON CITY Janice Kay Meyer, 75, of Mason City, IA, has gone home to be with her Lord on Sunday, July 31, 2016, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 5, 2016, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with Pastor Paul Martin of Riverside Friends Church officiating. Interment will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, August 4, 2016, at Major Erickson Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the Janice Meyer Memorial Fund in care of the family. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com Janice was born Dec. 5, 1940, in Mason City, the daughter of Slyvestor and Gladys F. (Zorn) Basgall. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1958, and continued her education at LaJames College of Cosmetology. Her parents owned a grocery store on South Federal where she worked until she graduated. She spent most of her teenage years hanging around with her friends, scooping the loop and roller skating. After graduating from beauty school, Janice worked for a short time at a beauty shop in Charles City, IA. She came back to Mason City and worked at Damon's Beauty Salon. She also held other various jobs before her retirement in 2002. Throughout the years she enjoyed crocheting, spending time with family and friends, knitting, arts and crafts, being a foster grandparent at Harding Elementary School, as well as spending time with her cat: Star. Most of all, she enjoyed reading the Bible. She had a strong belief in God, and was a beloved member of Riverside Friends Church. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Lori Wander (Awe) and husband Kent of Mason City; her sister, Shirley Hain of Mason City; granddaughters, Amber, Desiree and Sabre Wander; grandson, Reed Barclay; great- grandson, Ayden Barclay; nieces, Judy Nelson, Jeanie Kraft, Lori Johnson, Stephanie Johnson, Lynnie Parsons; nephews, Jeff Hain, Jay Hain, Jerry Hain, Denny Johnson and John Johnson; and great-niece, Heather Nelson. She was preceded in death by her parents, and a granddaughter, Janice Margaret. Janice touched so many lives. The family appreciated the helpfulness and care of Jean, and the many members of Hospice. Arrangements are with Major Erickson Funeral Home and Crematory, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, IA 50401, 641-423-0924, What you need to know about Powerball and the $800 million jackpot MASON CITY Theres a piano once again in the Federal Avenue Plaza, and a colorful one at that, thanks to two local artists. Joshua Brueggeman and Tara Fitzpatrick of Mason City painted a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design on the piano, which was donated from the old Clarion Inn. Their work is a continuation of a Tunes for the Town project started by the 2013-14 YIELD class sponsored by the Mason City Chamber of Commerce. Students from the YIELD youth leadership program arranged to have pianos donated and displayed in several downtown locations. Two years ago, a piano in the plaza was destroyed by a vandal. It was replaced by one donated by a citizen, but there has been no piano there this year. Brueggeman, an architect with Accord Architecture, and Fitzpatrick, deputy city assessor, worked 14 hours on their painting project. Passers-by are welcome to play the piano if the mood hits them. We decided we would volunteer to paint a piano for the Tunes for the Town project because we believe this is not only a great creative outlet for the people of Mason City, but it responds to our musical and artistic heritage in the community, said Brueggerman. Fitzpatrick said, The Prairie School design is in keeping with how art takes on many forms and colors in our community involving our artistic, musical and architectural heritage. We also both love that this project breathes life into an instrument that even if not played can be enjoyed as art. The other public pianos are at The Music Man Square, Southbridge Mall, the Central Park transit center and near KCMRs studio. MASON CITY | North Iowa may be in for heat index readings of more than 100 degrees over the next few days thanks to hot and humid weather. Forecasters from the National Weather Service say the high temperature will climb to 87 degrees Wednesday and Thursday in Mason City. Intense humidity will drive the heat index to between 95 and 105 degrees on Thursday. Storms also are possible Thursday. -- Molly Montag 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. Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea A conference this November aims to help make it easier for companies to profit in space. The SpaceCom meeting and expo, to be held in Houston from Nov. 15 through Nov. 17, will feature keynote speeches by number of prominent people, including Bigelow Aerospace founder Robert Bigelow, SpaceX Director of Crew Operations Garrett Reisman and Jean-Jacques Dordain, former director general of the European Space Agency (ESA). While those presentations will be highlights, SpaceCom won't be just talk. Workshops will give people from various companies the chance to get to know each other and discuss topics such as water, climate, natural resources, remote medicine, 3D printing and infrastructure. [Private Spaceflight: News About Private Space Companies] "NASA and the International Space Station are still an integrated part of the space market we are talking about, but we want to grow it with this business-to-business component," SpaceCom Executive Director James Causey told Space.com. This will be SpaceCom's third annual conference, and it will focus heavily on data, Causey said how information can flow from space to Earth, and what companies can do with that information. Helping entrepreneurs SpaceCom will be an international experience, with representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, Brazil, Canada and other countries. Companies will hail from at least five major sectors: advanced manufacturing, maritime, agriculture, medical and energy. Several major space agencies (including NASA and ESA) will be represented, as will other government organizations such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Investors from Silicon Valley and elsewhere will also attend. "It is crucial here to build a sustainable market, [and crucial] that we help and develop entrepreneurial-type businesses, not just well-established ones," Causey said. This year's conference theme of focusing on data, he said, will be especially appropriate for people looking for new business opportunities. "The number of satellites is increasing geometrically right now, and the volume of sensing data that's coming down from all of these satellites is creating a tsunami of information," Causey said. "We are working with the ways to digest that information, repackage it, and make it applicable to the five industries we are working with." Dynamic trade-show floor Causey said that about 150 companies will be represented on SpaceCom's 25,000-square-foot (2,320 square meters) trade-show floor. NASA and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) the company that manages the U.S. lab on the International Space Station will also have large presences. But amid the booths will be two large spaces devoted to pushing technology forward. An "innovation space" will have regular half-hour mini-lectures on space topics. There will also be a virtual reality theater with 10 sets of glasses for attendees to get "some really exciting content," Causey said. The founding sponsors of SpaceCom are Boeing, CASIS, the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Spaceport, Jacobs, Lockheed Martin, MEI Technologies and its spin-off company Alpha Space, Orbital ATK, Satellite Applications Catapult, Winstead Attorneys, and Wyle. (Space.com is a media partner for the conference.) You can learn more about the conference at http://spacecomexpo.com/. Follow Elizabeth Howell @howellspace, or Space.com @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Artist's concept of Moon Express' MX-1 lunar lander on its way to the moon. For the first time ever, a private company has permission to land on the moon. The U.S. government has officially approved the planned 2017 robotic lunar landing of Florida-based Moon Express, which aims to fly commercial missions to Earth's nearest neighbor and help exploit its resources, company representatives announced today (Aug. 3). "This is not only a milestone, but really a threshold for the entire commercial space industry," Moon Express co-founder and CEO Bob Richards told Space.com. [Images: Moon Express' Private Lunar Lander] Previously, companies had been able to operate only on or around Earth. The new approval, while exclusive to Moon Express, could therefore serve as an important regulatory guide for deep-space commercial activity in general, Richards said. Artist's concept of Moon Express' MX-1 lunar lander on its way to the moon. (Image credit: Moon Express) "Nobody's had a deep-sea voyage yet. We're still charting those waters," he said. "Somebody had to be first." Moon Express submitted an application to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on April 8. The document then made its way through the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission, Richards said. The interagency approval process "took some time, not because anybody was against or averse to this," he said. "It's just that we asked questions that had never been asked before, and that had to be addressed and worked out." Moon Express can now focus exclusively on the financial and technical challenges of the 2017 moon mission, which will begin with the launch of the company's MX-1 lander atop a Rocket Lab Electron booster. (Moon Express signed a multilaunch deal with Rocket Lab last year.) The main goal of the maiden launch is to test out the MX-1's performance and capability on the lunar surface. Moon Express representatives also hope to win the Google Lunar X-Prize, a $30 million competition to land a privately funded robotic vehicle on the moon by the end of 2017. The first team to pull off this landing and get the vehicle to move at least 1,640 feet (500 meters) on the lunar surface, and beam high-definition video and photos back to Earth will win the $20 million grand prize. (The second team to achieve all of this gets $5 million, and another $5 million is available for meeting other milestones. At the moment, 16 teams remain in the running.) "We're still shooting for the end of 2017," Richards said of the maiden MX-1 moon mission. "A lot has to go right, but at least we have a shot at our moon shot, given this regulatory approval." If all goes according to plan, future Moon Express missions will help assess, extract and exploit lunar resources such as water ice, helping to launch a new era in space exploration, company representatives have said. "Space travel is our only path forward to ensure our survival and create a limitless future for our children," Moon Express co-founder and Chairman Naveen Jain said in a statement today. "In the immediate future, we envision bringing precious resources, metals and moon rocks back to Earth. In 15 years, the moon will be an important part of Earths economy, and potentially our second home." Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. Jupiter's volcanic moon Io boasts an atmosphere made from sulfur dioxide gas when the satellite is in sunlight. For the first time, researchers have observed the atmosphere during the moon's daily pass through Jupiter's shadow, watching that atmosphere temporarily freeze and collapse. Jupiter's active moon Io has a collapsible atmosphere: New views show the satellite's shroud of sulfur dioxide freezing when Io enters its planet's shadow each day and converting back to gas when the moon emerges. Io, Jupiter's fifth moon, is the solar system's most volcanically active body; plumes of the sulfur dioxide gas bursts from multiple active volcanoes, reaching up to 300 miles (480 kilometers) above the moon's surface at a scalding 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,650 degrees Celsius). The Jupiter moon's surface, on the other hand, is frigidly cold, and gets even colder when Jupiter blocks out the sun which prompts the atmospheric collapse. "This confirms that Io's atmosphere is in a constant state of collapse and repair, and shows that a large fraction of the atmosphere is supported by sublimation of sulfur dioxide ice [when it turns to gas]," John Spencer, a researcher at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Colorado and co-author on the new work, said in a statement. "Though Io's hyperactive volcanoes are the ultimate source of the sulfur dioxide, sunlight controls the atmospheric pressure on a daily basis by controlling the temperature of the ice on the surface." [Amazing Photos: Jupiter's Volcanic Moon Io] "We've long suspected this, but can finally watch it happen," Spencer added in the same statement. The researchers used the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii and the Texas Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph (TEXES) to watch Io cross into and out of Jupiter's shadow on two different nights. At the time, Io was more than 420 million miles (675 million km) from Earth. Previous studies were unable to make out Io's atmosphere in the dark, but this new work relied on detecting the atmosphere radiating heat, researchers said in the statement. In sunlight, Io's surface averages out to minus 235 degrees F (minus 150 degrees C), but once the moon passes into Jupiter's shadow, that temperature drops to minus 270 degrees F (minus168 degrees C). No longer warmed by the sun, the atmosphere of sulfur dioxide gas freezes and turns to frost on the moon's surface. Io's atmosphere collapses in the dark of Jupiter's shadow, and then re-emerges once the moon returns to sunlight. While the atmosphere is fed by volcanic plumes of sulfur dioxide, its re-emergence comes largely from the previously frozen sulfur dioxide warming and returning to a gas state. (Image credit: Southwest Research Institute) Io leaves Jupiter's shadow after 1.7 Earth days, which is 2 hours of Io's day, and the sulfur dioxide sublimates goes straight from solid to gas and pumps up the atmosphere once again when the moon re-enters sunlight. Understanding the volcanic, lava-covered Io is key to understanding the environment around Jupiter, where NASA's Juno spacecraft arrived July 4, researchers said in the statement. "Io spews out gases that eventually fill the Jupiter system, ultimately seeding some of the auroral features seen at Jupiter's poles," said Constantine Tsang, the study's lead author (also at SwRI). "Understanding how these emissions from Io are controlled will help paint a better picture of the Jupiter system." Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. 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The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. At the same time, the Gulen community has also been involved in a number of illicit machinations in recent years. US diplomats have been warning since 2010 that Gulen supporters have infiltrated the Turkish state. In 2011, Istanbul-based journalist Ahmet Sik described in his book , "The Imam's Army," how Gulen's supporters among the Turkish police, judiciary and media have been waging smear campaigns against the cleric's opponents. Sik was thrown in jail for a year under murky circumstances. Erdogan had long supported the Gulen movement, back when its attacks were primarily directed against their common enemies -- military personnel, journalists, secularists and leftists. Only after Erdogan and Gulen fell out in 2011 did the then-prime minister start going after the cleric's followers. With the botched coup on July 15, the conflict between Erdogan and Gulen reached a preliminary climax. Erdogan used the uprising as a pretext to purge Turkish institutions of Gulen's supporters once and for all. But the president has also gone after other members of the opposition, lumping them together with the "Gulenists" without any proof. In recent days, his government suspended or arrested tens of thousands of state employees, including teachers, judges, prosecutors, journalists and academics. The president has sparked a witch hunt against suspected Gulen supporters that is reminiscent of the persecution of alleged Communists by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s. Even the partly state-owned Turkish Airlines fired 211 employees last week whom it suspected of sympathizing with Gulen. Western governments have thus far treated the conflict between Erdogan and the Gulen movement as a strictly Turkish problem. But officials in Berlin, Brussels and Washington won't be able to afford this luxury for much longer. There have already been clashes in cities in Germany -- home to at almost 3 million people who have a least one Turkish immigrant parent -- between proponents and opponents of the failed coup, with supporters of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) targeting establishments of the Gulen movement. US President Barack Obama will soon have to decide whether or not to acquiesce to Ankara's request and extradite Gulen to Turkey. The Turkish government is demanding that Germany, too, hand over any Gulen supporters living there. Faith and Betrayal The history of the rivalry between Erdogan and Gulen is one of faith and betrayal. It is a history in which two powerful Muslim nationalists turned an entire country inside-out -- and then led it into the abyss. Gulen presents himself as an open-minded scholar of Islam, who lives on an estate in the woods of Pennsylvania and advocates interfaith understanding. People who have fallen out with him, however, describe Gulen as a guru and ideologue who doesn't tolerate opposing views. The preacher's following doesn't have a membership register or an address. It professes to be a loosely coordinated movement, but in reality it is stringently organized. Gulen himself determines the trajectory and orientation, followed by his most trusted confidants, the so-called "elder brothers." They control the most important businesses within the community and pass along orders to subordinates. The journalist Latif Erdogan has known Gulen for decades. He helped build the community and was once an "elder brother" and the No. 2 man in the organization. Five years ago, he broke away. "Many of our followers were no longer interested in spirituality," Erdogan says. "Only politics and money." Latif Erdogan, who is in no way related to the Turkish president, sits in his office on the outskirts of Istanbul. His bookshelves are lined with literature about Islam. "Gulen could have gone down in history as a religious scholar and benefactor," he says. "But now his name will forever be associated with the shameful coup." He is convinced that Gulen's supporters incited the uprising. He also thinks he knows why: "Power corrupted this community." Gulen was born in 1941 in eastern Anatolia and began his career in the 1960s as an imam in the Turkish city of Edirne. "He was a fantastic orator," Latif Erdogan recalls. "People used to break out in tears during his sermons." Gulen collected money to build schools and rent apartments to pious schoolchildren and university students, who back then were discriminated against by the state. Opening the autumn selling season, is one of the annual highlights of the year for both Middleton in Teesdale and the auction mart the prize show and sale of NEMSA gimmer lambs on Wednesday 14th September. Previously held on the second Tuesday of September, this year the event will take place on the Wednesday. This major sale will see in the region of 4,000 gimmer lambs go under the hammer. Because of the outstanding reputation of the flocks in the Middleton-in-Teesdale area, stock at this sale is very much sought after. Attracting buyers from far and wide, the lambs coming from hardy upland farms are renowned for their hardiness and go on to do exceptionally well in other parts of the country. In 2015 this annual show and sale, saw strong trade from start to finish. It is anticipated that this year, lambs will be of a superior quality following a good growing year, with prices hoped to reflect this. On September 16th, gimmer lambs will once again be the showcase, this time in the Swaledale prize show and sale. This is the biggest Swaledale gimmer lamb sale in the country with up to 6,000 lambs going under the hammer. Continuing on from this will be the annual sale of Swaledale ewes on 23rd September, which will see in the region of 2,500 ewes being auctioned. This is a major sale date in our calendar and we are anticipating that we will once again see stock keenly bid for as the demand for breeding Swaledale sheep is almost outstripping supply as the Swaledale is the foundation for Mule breeders. This is extremely encouraging for farmers, in this area, one of the most challenging farming areas of the UK, as farming Swaledale Sheep will in most instances be their main farming enterprise. Also taking place on 23rd September is the prize show of Bluefaced Leicester and other breeds of rams and females. Not every television show has a huge marketing budget, but that doesn't mean it isn't as good as its competitors. When it comes to what's popular on Netflix, it's not just the shows you know. Some of these programs that you've probably never heard score major points with viewers, including "The Last Kingdom." Akin to "Game of Thrones," this show follows an outcast who is out to claim the throne - and his birthright. Like many seasoned entrepreneurs, Oprah Winfrey views failure as a stepping stone to greatness. For her, it has been, and then some. In 1977, decades before she became a billionaire media mogul, she was fired from her job as a reporter at Baltimores WJZ-TV. Her boss said she was unfit for television news. She was devastated, but she didnt quit. The queen of all media quickly rose from rejection and found her calling in daytime TV. Then came her eponymous talk show and 25 internationally syndicated seasons of success. The Mississippi native later launched her book club, magazine and TV network. Today, she sits at the helm of a multi-billion-dollar media empire. Lady O is best known as an outspoken TV host, actress and philanthropist, but shes also an incredibly accomplished founder. The chairman and CEO of Harpo, Inc., Winfrey made history when she became the first first woman to own and produce her own talk show. Shes now one of the wealthiest and most successful business leaders in the world. There are many inspiring lessons entrepreneurs can learn from her remarkable journey from a poor, deprived ghetto girl to self-made billionaire. Here are three: 1. Trust your instincts. Winfrey is a known to be a big believer in listening to her instincts and honoring them, a skill that she credits much of her success to. Trusting her gut has helped her steer clear of trouble in her personal and professional life, she claims. I know for sure whenever your gut is out of kilter, trouble awaits, she wrote in O Magazine. Your gut is your inner compass. Whenever you have to consult with other people for an answer, youre headed in the wrong direction. During a 2011 OWN Network Lifeclass session, she expanded on why she feels its important to mind to your inner voice: Listening to your life as it whispers to you first, so that it does not have to knock you upside the head with a brick or come crashing down on you as a brick wall, is one of the greatest principles of life. Lesson: Pay close attention to your instinctual reactions whenever youre faced with a considerable business decision. Hearing -- and heeding -- even the slightest bit of hesitancy from within could potentially stop you from making poor choices that could impact your bottom line, now and in the years to come. In other words, as Winfrey says, "Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself." Related tips: How Listening to Your Gut Can Make You a Better Founder The Scientific Reason You Should Trust Your Gut 5 Ways to Learn to Trust Your Instincts 2. Fiercely protect your brand. From her namesake talk show to O Magazine, from Oprah.com to OWN Network, Winfrey has worked tirelessly to transform her unique name from a stumper -- which once prompted viewers to ask What is an Oprah? -- into a household name. To legally protect her brand, shes trademarked every one of her companies and their many subsidiaries, and her legal team actively pursues those who infringe upon her trademarks. Most recently, on May 19, she filed a federal application to trademark a suite of foods and other goods branded under the name Oprahs Kitchen. Lesson: Strengthen your brand and safeguard it from misuse and dilution by trademarking your business name and logo. Doing so gives you the ability to control how they are publicly used and displayed. Related tips: 3 Routes to Register Your Business Name A Business Name vs. a Trademark: Do You Know The Difference? Whats in a Name? In Branding, Pretty Much Everything. 3. Value your fans. One of Winfreys favorite things about her talk show was her famous Oprahs Favorite Things, a sometimes hilariously high-energy segment (check this SNL parody) during which audience members found free goodies of all kinds tucked beneath their seats on set. The popular segments purpose was twofold: First, it was product placement promotional gold and, second, it enabled Winfrey to connect with her brand fans in a memorable and public way. The surest way to bring goodness to yourself is to make your intention to do good for somebody else, Winfrey, who gives away millions to charity every year, once said. The concept is simple: What goes around comes around. Do good and good shall be done unto you. Lesson: Surprise your customers and brand advocates with extra value from time to time, perhaps in the form of coupons, discounts and giveaways. Giving a little extra can go a long way when it comes to locking in their loyalty and repeat business. Related tips: Want to Build Loyalty? Remember, Everyone Loves Free Stuff. 3 Sales-Boosting Freebies Customers Can't Resist 3 Ways to Increase Customer Loyalty Related: Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Democratic Connecticut Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal are not big fans of the U.S. Constitution, particularly of the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, 10th and 14th Amendments. One gets the feeling that if Gov. Dannel P. Malloy were to call for a National Guard platoon to set up camp in Tom Foleys living room, theyd toss out the Third Amendment too. What Murphy is fond of is dramatically expressed political outrage, for which hes been given a lot of credit in recent weeks. Political is the operative word. Murphy, joined by Blumenthal, filibustered to get a vote on gun control, which he got. There were two Democratic proposals, including Murphys, which had no chance of passing because they would have violated the Fifth Amendment requirement for due process and because of the Republican majority in the Senate, and two Republican proposals that could have passed if a handful of Democrats had voted for them. Granted, the Republican proposals didnt go as far as Murphy wanted, but if he really wanted some new gun control rather than none, that was how he could have gotten it. Yet Murphy and Blumenthal both voted against the Republican proposals. Oddly, I didnt notice any headline saying, Senators Murphy and Blumenthal vote no on gun control measures. Then there is the Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, proposal, an intended bipartisan compromise. This also would violate the Fifth Amendment and as such was strongly opposed by the ACLU. Thats right, the ACLU, not the NRA that Murphy wants you to believe is the only organization that opposes gun control. The four-page ACLU letter to the Senate began: Vote NO on Collins Amendment No. 4814 on Firearms Permits, Which Raises Even More Serious Problems than Either the Cornyn Amendment or Feinstein Amendment. It then raised concerns regarding the overbreadth and misuse of watchlists and the use of vague and overbroad criteria and the lack of adequate due process safeguards. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin proposed an amendment to the Collins proposal to meet the ACLU objections. Murphy and Blumenthal voted yes to the original and no to the Johnson amendment. This is political posturing defined. Murphy even admits it. In an interview by ABCs Jonathan Karl, Karl said, Your proposal would have done nothing in the case of Orlando, it would have done nothing to stop the killing in San Bernardino and in fact, it was unrelated to the killing in Newtown. Murphy replied, (W)e cant get into the trap in which we are forced to defend our proposal simply because it didnt stop the last tragedy. Thats right, he said its irrelevant that his proposed law would not have stopped the atrocities that he claims are the reasons his proposal should become law. In an interview with Politico, Murphy said Some of this is going to turn into an electoral operation. Im going to be turning my attention to the November election. Im going to take some of my energy and help make sure that people who cast the wrong vote dont come back to the Senate. Yes, indeed. So this is not about getting a bill passed; that requires persuasion and compromise. It is about the drama that would help win him points in the partisan divide. In that he succeeded. He succeeded more than if his ineffective, arbitrary, discriminatory and unconstitutional proposal had passed. Since Murphys Senate histrionics, The Federal District Court for Oregon has found that the no-fly list itself violates procedural due process under the Fifth Amendment as well as rights under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 706. Not to be deterred, Murphy has set up The Fund to End Gun Violence to support those politicians who want to base the denial of Second Amendment rights on a list that has been found by a court to deny Fifth Amendment rights. Congratulations, senators; solid legal reasoning there. Senator Blumenthal is up for re-election this year. The old faux war veteran is of one mind with Murphy. How about we take some of our energy and help make sure that he doesnt come back to the Senate. George Stadel is a member of the Stamford Taxpayers Political Action Committee. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD The citys police department is again cracking down on drivers who text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel. The U drive. U text. U Pay. campaign, a partnership with the state Department of Transportations Highway Safety Office, runs through Aug. 16. This is the second time this year authorities in Connecticut have assigned special patrols to catch distracted drivers. The last campaign, which took place in April, resulted in more than 12,000 citations issued across the state. In a two-hour crackdown during Tuesday evenings rush hour, three Stamford officers and a spotter wrote 12 distracted driving tickets. Stamford police said distracted driving is one of our most consistently ignored motor vehicle laws. Unfortunately, the fear of getting a ticket is the only proven incentive for people to change their behavior, Sgt. Andrew Gallagher said. Everyone thinks they can do it, that a crash wont happen to them. Sadly, we see it every day and it can and does happen. In 2014, nearly 3,200 people were killed and more than 400,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers across the country. The state Department of Transportation estimates that Connecticut drivers get distracted about 11.1 million times each day. But according to surveys conducted after last years crackdown, there was an 8 percent drop in cell phone use in towns where police conducted the enforcement campaigns. Were making gains, Gallagher said. Considering the seriousness of this problem and the fact that we saw movement in the right direction, we take this as a sign we need to continue to this program. Nearly 50 law enforcement agencies, including state and local police, are participating in this months initiative. If caught using a cell phone behind the wheel, drivers are fined $150 for their first offense, $300 for a second offense and $500 for each subsequent violation. noliveira@hearstmediact.com B erkeley founder and chairman Tony Pidgley took a pay cut this year to 21.5 million the housebuilders annual report revealed. Pidgleys pay package, down from 23.3 million the previous year, is still around 5 million more than the annual salary of Real Madrid star and Euro 2016 winner Cristiano Ronaldo. The vast bulk of Pidgleys remuneration package is made up by options granted in 2009 when the housing industry was struggling in the wake of the financial crisis. Share options granted at 3.06 vested at 28.50, triggering the huge gain. The only reason for the pay cut was that the options windfall was even more lucrative last year, while this year half of Pidgleys annual bonus was deferred under a new bonus plan. His basic salary actually rose by 25,000 to 850,000. Other senior management shared in the gains, including managing director Rob Perrins, who earned 11 million. Of Perrins pay package, 9.5 million was made up from vesting share options. Shares in the company, which eased 7p to 2592p today, are down more than 30% this year on Brexit concerns and worries over the London property market. A surprise $2.5 billion (1.9 billion) share buyback cheered investors in Europes largest bank HSBC, even as it reported a 45% fall in second-quarter profits. The unexpected handout represents half the $5.2 billion HSBC received for selling its Brazilian business last month. The move has been sanctioned by the Bank of England, which believes HSBC has enough capital. HSBC shares rose 18.7p, or 4%, to 501.5p, the biggest gain since April. Second-quarter profits dropped from $6.6 billion to $3.6 billion, with profits for the first half down from $13.6 billion to $9.7 billion on lower revenues and higher bad debt writedowns. Chairman Douglas Flint, who is set to stand down next year, said: The first half was characterised by spikes of uncertainty, which greatly impacted business and market confidence. He said concerns over Chinas economic growth in the first quarter had been succeeded in the second quarter by uncertainty over Brexit. Flint also warned: It is evident that we are entering a period of heightened uncertainty, where economics risks being overshadowed by political and geopolitical events. Chief Stuart Gulliver added: Following the outcome of the referendum on the UKs membership of the European Union, there has been a period of volatility and uncertainty, which is likely to continue for some time. That outlook led HSBC to drop its planned target of a 10% return on equity by the end of next year and to change from a progressive dividend policy to merely sustaining the dividend at current levels. Gulliver, also expected to step down once Flints successor has been found, said: Progressive was interpreted by everyone as meaning it is going to go up every quarter notwithstanding what is happening in the world, so what we are saying is we are committed to sustain the dividend at the current level. Outgoing: Stuart Gulliver and Douglas Flint / Bobby Yip/Reuters He said the bank was watching its loan book closely following the Brexit vote but said it was too early to say if particular areas of the UK economy were under pressure. However, he added there had been fewer applications for loans from small businesses since the vote. Gulliver, who has sold or closed more than 80 businesses and shed 87,000 jobs at the bank since 2011, said it was on course to return its US and Mexican operations to profit. I t looks rather like jam today and margarine tomorrow from HSBC. The $2.5 billion (1.9 billion) share buyback has grabbed the headlines while the dropping of a progressive dividend policy in favour of a sustained one and no longer hitting a 10% return on equity by the end of 2017 seem to be in the clarifications column. To be fair, Stuart Gulliver is correct in saying that it could not be assumed the dividend was going up every quarter notwithstanding what is going on in the world. Given that the bank has at last returned to being a bell-wether of the global economy with a heavy weighting to China and a post-Brexit UK and its outlook is distinctly cautious, a maintained dividend is sensible. At least with forecasts of a 2016 dividend of 51 cents paid out of earnings of 58 cents, the payout is covered just. But that is well down on 2015s dividend of 51 cents from earnings of 74 cents a share. If there is one thing banks, in particular, should never do, it is to pay dividends out of their reserves. But as the Bank of England has given the nod to the unexpected share buyback, it has almost certainly approved HSBCs medium-term plans for ordinary dividends. What this means is that HSBC shares are now offering a yield of 8%. That is double the prospective yield on the entire FTSE 100. With both chairman and chief executive set to leave in the next couple of years, will their replacements be equally committed to a sustained dividend? The yield says not. ARMfuls of fees So ARM Holdings has spent a cool 4 million on public relations advice in its 24.3 billion takeover by SoftBank which in turn estimates PR fees of 1.5 million to 2 million. Great news for Brunswick and Finsbury, which did most of the business. But just imagine if this had been a hostile, rather than agreed, bid. What fees could they have charged then? L ondons world-renowned dining scene received a French-accented boost during Fete de la Gastronomie, held at various sites across the capital from July 18 to 31. The festival from gourmet French mustard brand La Maison Maille brought together eight of the capitals finest food producers and restaurants, each with their own take on Anglo-French fare. Inspired by the Fete de la Gastronomie in Paris, Maille teamed up with some of Londons most talented flavour creators from worldclass chefs to small, artisan producers to devise unique dishes combining the creativity, taste and verve of London with the piquancy of mustard. These specially created dishes using Maille mustard included southern-fried rabbit with mustard, sauteed scallops with a mustard beurre blanc and a trio of mustard-washed cheeses. Throughout the foodie fortnight gastronomes across the capital flocked to sample the specially created dishes. And 150 lucky food lovers got a real treat last week when, on July 26, Maille created an alfresco feast on Londons South Bank. Transformed for the occasion into Pariss Rive Gauche, guests were treated to an indulgent tasting menu of all eight flavour creator dishes. But if you missed out on La Fete, worry not; you can host your own version of the event by recreating the dishes with recipes available at maille.com. And theres even more foodie fun to come with a series of culinary events at Mailles Piccadilly Boutique. As well as mustards, vinegars and gourmet ingredients, experts will be available to advise on exquisite flavour pairings. From September, the Piccadilly boutique will also hold a series of culinary masterclasses. The first is a macaron masterclass hosted by Damien Rigollet, head chef of Coq dArgent, known for its contemporary twists on French dishes. During the session, Rigollet will show guests how to create honey mustard-flavoured macarons as well as sharing his own baking secrets. To celebrate the success of the Fete de la Gastronomie, La Maison Maille is offering readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to a macaron masterclass at the Maille Piccadilly Boutique on Tuesday September 13, 2016. I t was the day the comfort food of the masses became a middle- class object of desire. When George Osborne tweeted a picture of himself tucking into a Byron burger as he put the finishing touches to another severe spending review, critics said he should have made do with a cheap and cheerful Big Mac. But for all the rebukes over what The Sun labelled his 10 shamburger, the front-page coverage was no bad thing for Byron. It positioned the chain, which opened its first branch in 2007 at the unfashionable end of Kensington High Street, at the head of a pack of restaurants - Honest Burger, Five Guys, Patty & Bun that had colonised London, determined to elevate the simple beef patty between bread into a high-art form. Here, thanks to the Chancellors attack of the munchies, was the burger of the ruling classes. Three years on and Theresa May has exiled Osborne from the Treasury to the North American speaker circuit and protesters are sinking their teeth into Byron in a remarkable about-turn for the brand. Suddenly, the home of proper hamburgers is in a proper pickle and finds itself at the heart of the debate over the migrant workforce that powers the London economy. What sparked the #boycottbyron social media campaign and drew a noisy crowd to Byrons Holborn branch on Monday night was the rounding-up of 35 illegal workers from Albania, Brazil, Nepal and Egypt last week for deportation. Byron insisted it was unaware that workers were in possession of counterfeit documentation until the Home Office brought it to their attention and it was legally obliged to co-operate with the investigation. Staff turned up for a health-and-safety session only to be greeted by UK border control officials. Protest outside of Holborn branch of Byron burger chain - London Live But the incident that has shocked London shines a light on the sophisticated forgeries that can propel anyone into the capitals workforce and the lengths they will go to learn a basic wage. Now Byron has had cockroaches and locusts dumped in one branch by activists. Law-abiding Londoners are horrified by what they think has happened, and have found themselves vowing never to eat at the chain again, as well as supporting workers who have no grounds to be cooking there. London's best breakfast burgers 1 /2 London's best breakfast burgers 141013_Honest_MuffinBrkfast.jpg Brand new: the Honest Muffin foxlow.jpg Stack 'em high: the breakfast burger at Foxlow The Holborn restaurant was forced to close on Monday after an alliance of far-Left protest groups including London Latinxs and Lesbian and Gays Support the Migrants lined the pavements outside, waving banners which read Shame on you Byron #grass and no-one is illegal. For a chain that is a stickler for detail such as where its meat is sourced from critics say it seems to have been rather laissez-faire about checking its workers were all above board. And the damaging headlines continue, such as the story of a pregnant wife reportedly not allowed to see her newly-deported partner. Protesters say immigration raids on Byron 'ripped families apart' / Lucy Young Ewa Jasiewicz, of the Unite union, says: The law doesnt tell Byron to entrap workers, to lure them into a trap, to trick them into coming to work when actually they are being raided and they are going to be deported. Equally, it has won praise for obeying the law, no matter how abrupt its manner. Its a far cry from Byrons simple beginnings. The chain, named half after the vegetarian poet, half because it means cowshed in Old English, was a labour of love for Tom Byng, an Old Etonian who quit advertising after university to set up Notting Hill restaurant Zucca, from where David Cameron reportedly plotted his Conservative leadership bid. Despite the powerful clientele it was hard work, made harder as rents soared, and burgers were his calling. Byngs obsession developed when he studied at Brown in the US. He told the Evening Standard four years ago that the hamburger is Americas contribution to haute cuisine and a great burger does not need to be overly fussy: good beef, soft bun, simple toppings, cooked properly. Days ago activists released cockroaches in a Byron branch / Lucy Young What has made the situation worse is that Byng, once the smiling face of the brand, is nowhere to be seen this week. Repeated calls from the Evening Standard have been met with the response that he is too busy trying to look after his staff to talk. It is understood that he will keep his own counsel until the Home Office probe is wrapped up. His last tweet was eight days ago, before the crisis broke, in reply to an iced tea brand trying to get onto Byrons menu. The day before, he appeared to be savouring a fine glass of red wine in Puglia. This is headless chicken time, says PR guru Mark Borkowski. Its hard work to maintain a reputation. He assesses Byron as a culture of a brand that had a superb launch ethos and amazing word-of-mouth marketing but too many brands forget to nurture that they think they can live on it for years and years to come. A classic Byron burger That is especially true given Byrons turbo-charged expansion programme across London and beyond. The pace of openings quickened three years ago, when the company was sold in a reported 100 million deal by Gondola Group, the owner of PizzaExpress and ASK, to private equity group Hutton Collins, which has a strong track record in the food and drink sector and part-owns noodle chain Wagamama. Concerns that it had paid too much were downplayed, as hopes were raised that Byrons popularity would sustain an extra 10 new sites a year. The estate has almost doubled since the takeover, giving Byron 40 outlets in London and another 25 nationwide. It means preserving the value of the brand is more important than ever. According to David Haigh, the founder of Brand Finance, an independent brand consultancy, some Left-wing campaigners will use any excuse to attack a capitalist organisation. Where Byron went wrong was not anticipating and predicting that the backlash would happen and preparing to defend itself. It walked into the crisis and has only its naive PR department to blame. Rightly or wrongly, the furore will damage the brand. Burgers have provided the unlikely focal point for national strife in the past. Farmers angry at tumbling food tariffs and the effects of globalisation protested against the expansion of McDonalds in France only for the country to become the Golden Arches most profitable outside the US within 15 years. As agriculture minister, John Selwyn Gummer will forever be remembered for trying to feed his four-year-old daughter a burger in 1990 to prove the outbreak of mad cow disease was nothing to worry about. Many Londoners channel their social conscience through their buying habits, none more so than where they eat. So anything that emerges to unsettle their view of a favourite brand gets magnified many times over. It happened at Pret a Manger when the sandwich chains apparent policy to hire foreign-born workers ahead of Britons was criticised by then-employment minister Chris Grayling during a period of record youth joblessness. And a row blew up last summer when the Standard revealed that French-style eaterie Cote was pocketing the 12.5 per cent service charge it automatically added to customers bills instead of distributing to staff as tips. The coverage led to a change of policy. New burger trends, in pictures 1 /10 New burger trends, in pictures Bun fight Styrofoam-like buns that can barely hold the weight of a gherkin are dead. Detoxifying charcoal dough is on the rise: try a sooty-black bun filled with soft-shell crab at Bull in a China Shop in Shoreditch and pretend that its good for you. If thats too angelic, snaffle Birds mad new creation: fried chicken sandwiched between two doughnuts. Its a sweet-salty flavour combo that rushes to your brains happy zones like a hyper toddler screaming. If youre a manly sugar-shunner hit Yeah! Burger, where the boring old bread is replaced by a giant Scotch egg, halved and used to sandwich your beef in a protein fest. It falls apart, but youre probably not here on a first date so scoop up the rich sausagey, eggy debris and enjoy yourself. Its practically carb-free... Fry hard Simply cooking your mince on a hotplate is so yesterday. Steak joint Flat Iron deep-fries its rare-breed burgers to make sure you dont lose a drop of glorious meat juice finished with bearnaise sauce, they are an obscenely rich mouthful.Then theres the Dead Hippie at MEATliquor and Hubba Hubba at Burgeracs Burgershack: patties are fried in a nose-tingling spurt of mustard for an extra savoury dimension that is absolutely delicious. Baby buns FOMO and an obsession with sharing plates have led to the rise of sliders, smaller burgers barely bigger than a gummy sweet. Slider Bar at Street Feast knocks out the best in town: tiny bacon cheeseburgers that leave you room to tackle tacos afterwards. Spuntinos ground beef and bone marrow slider is barely canape-size but contains more meaty flavour than 10 Maccy Ds. And look out for mini versions of all your favourite burgers at Street Feasts National Burger Day on August 25. Go east The all-American hamburger is being influenced by Asia. KoreaMerican Busan BBQs epic burger comes dunked in bulgogi sauce, giving it the most addictive umami flavour on the market. And dont leave the country before trying KFC thats Korean fried chicken. Byng and Smith learned on their travels that to just say fried chicken didnt seem enough, it needed to be more specific. In London you can get your KFC fix at Dalstons Chick n Sours, where the Korean chicken burger comes with gochujang mayo and chilli vinegar. While youre on your meat tour, head to Thailand via Chuck Burgers Same Same Burger Thai-spiced pork, pickled chilli, red curry mayo and crispy rice noodles and Baba Gs for a glorious lamb jalfrezi stack. Veg out Dry nut rounds and oily vegetables be gone. Veggies looking to indulge are lucky to have We Serve Humanss mega-oozy Mac the Ripper the meat is replaced by a spectacularly rich slab of deep-fried truffled mac n cheese. CEO Paul Human CEO explains we feel its our duty to allow every human we serve to be naughty, even vegetarians. For hardcore vegans theres Italian vendors Pomodoro e Basilico: its seitan (wheat protein) burger with carrot bacon and cashew cheddar puts pulses to ingenious, riotously colourful use. Offaly good While beef remains the king of burger meats, there are other fish in the sea. Or rather, birds in the pond: duck burgers come confited at The Frenchie and sous-vide at Bill or Beak. Then theres offal once sneakily shoved into patties for bulk, now almost superior to steak. Tongue n Cheeks Heartbreaker burger contains 50 per cent ox heart low-fat, massive flavour and black pudding is being reclaimed from greasy spoons. Scottish game restaurant Mac & Wild is flipping black pudding Murray Mountain burgers this week in celebration of Andys Wimbledon triumph, while Bleecker Sts Black burger has a cult social media following. Wagyu beef seems entry level. Pimpin pickles It was interesting, say Byng and Smyth, to travel halfway around the world to find burger chefs using Branston pickle. While were keeping our sticky relish in cheese sarnies for now, other pickles are growing up. Theres pickled watermelon in the Colonel Bernie Sanders burger at Blues Kitchen and pickled aubergine in Patty & Buns Lambshank Redemption. Thanks to the Korean trend, kimchis piling onto burgers. Hit Foxlow and Hawksmoor for fermented veg. Stripped-back baps Byng and Smith reckon theres still a case for simplicity. Many chefs keep it simple and concentrate on just one cheese, one topping and one sauce. Previously in LA wed found much more topping-heavy burgers. Thats why theyre going back to basics for the new Byron special. The bacon and avocado, with Mexican pickled onions and roast peppers, is inspired by the pairs first ever meat mission to California. Avocados also feature in Kua Ainas Hawaiian burger and at GBK. Get your paws on Byrons from Tuesday. Just please, dont ask for a knife and fork. In the summer of 2016, the Byron incident feels different, however. Post-Brexit, immigration has become a far greater flashpoint. The UK has voted against pro-European London, its melting-pot population and wealthy economy that is powered by people from the world over. The reaction to this Home Office swoop has divided opinion along the lines of workers right to remain versus the legal requirement that they must leave. Some tweeted this week in anger at Byrons actions; others tweeted that people should go out of their way to buy their burgers to support its staff crackdown. This issue really highlights how important immigration is to the London hospitality industry, says Adam Hyman, whose Code bulletin closely tracks goings-on in Londons restaurant and hotels scene. Its a wake-up call to the government. Rival restaurants will take heed too. Will more chains learn lessons from Byron if the Home Office comes calling? And what will the average London diner, with notoriously high standards, tolerate going in the kitchen? This week shows that it is far more than the food on the menu that can batter even the most successful brands. As ES Magazine restaurant critic Grace Dent puts it, Byron were in the same position any large employer would find themselves in when immigration officials are aware people are working illegally. Im not sure boycotting is the right thing to do. Youre entitled to, of course. But it will simply lead to shift cuts and pay loss for the existing workers. Londons restaurant scene is already in a precarious state. Follow James Ashton on Twitter: @mrjamesashton T he first of 600 armed officers are due to be stationed at visibile locations across London from today, in order to help deter terrorists, Scotland Yard has announced. The Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan have today launched Operation Hercules, which eventually see an extra 600 additional firearms officers on the streets of the capital. The first of the additional officers are now fully trained and operationally ready. The current threat level, set by set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), for international terrorism in the UK is severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. The Met has said the public will see more armed officers, working alongside their neighbourhood and specialist colleagues, on proactive operations and targeted patrols, both on foot and in vehicles, across London. Both the Mayor and the Commissioner have urged the public "not to be alarmed" when seeing armed officers on the capital's streets, assuring that they are there to "reassure and protect" Londoners. Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, said: Anyone who's been following events in Europe over the past few weeks will understand why we want to show our determination to protect the public. We are deadly serious about the protection that we are offering the people of London and we will never be complacent. That's why Im increasing the visibility and the number of armed officers on London's streets, and demonstrating some of the range of tactics we already have to protect the public from all manner of threats. The reality of having to deal with armed and deadly attackers is that you need firearms officers who will use force to stop those attackers in their aim. Despite the fact they are carrying guns they are still police officers and I want the public to approach and talk to them, they are out on our streets to reassure and help the public." The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, added: "The safety and security of all Londoners is my first priority, and our police and security services is working incredibly hard every day on our behalf. "The threat level here in London has not changed, but it does remain at severe and especially in light of recent deadly attacks in Europe it is important we are prepared should the unthinkable happen. "We will see more armed officers on our streets, but there is no reason to be alarmed. All of our police officers are playing their part and working closely with all of our communities to prevent the possibility of an attack." T wo gangsters who executed an associate before burying him in an Ikea bag were caught after CCTV captured one of the killers in a DIY shop as he practised digging a shallow grave. Yilmaz Coskun, 36, and Remzi Akguc, 41, were today facing life sentences after being found guilty of murdering Hidir Aksakal, 47, who was shot four times following an argument. His corpse remained undisturbed for three weeks until a lone walker strayed from the path in a dark area of Epping Forest, the Old Bailey heard. The walker made the gruesome discovery of a foul-smelling sack near the banks of an area known as Hollow Pond on September 8 last year. Mr Aksakals body had been tied up with rope, wrapped in blue plastic Ikea bags and buried in a shallow grave. Investigations led police to Coskuns Tottenham home where Mr Aksakal, who was known as Boxer Cetin, had been executed in the early hours in mid-August last year. The gun used to kill him was found in bushes nearby, and it was later discovered Akguc, of Clerkenwell, had been to a builders merchants on the day of the murder. CCTV from the Stoke Newington branch of Travis Perkins caught Akguc buying a shovel, tarpaulin, rope, trolley and gloves. The body of Hidir Aksakal, 53, was found in a shallow grave / Metropolitan Police The footage even showed him trying out the shovel for size as he practised a digging action in the shop. Both Coskun and Akguc admitted they were involved in disposing of the victims body but blamed each other for the killing. But the jury found them guilty of murder and preventing a lawful burial. A third suspect, Metin Cuce, is still being hunted by police and he is believed to be in Turkey. The court heard Mr Aksakal, from Margate in Kent, had gone to meet his two killers at a fish restaurant in Green Lanes. The owner of the Sariyer Balik restaurant said he saw an argument between Coskun and Mr Aksakal during which the victim denied having said something to Coskuns girlfriend. Mr Aksakal was last seen alive in a minicab speaking Turkish with two other passengers. It is the prosecution case that the two men travelling in the back of the taxi were these two defendants, said prosecutor Ed Brown QC. It was not until September 8 that a man out walking alone in the woods came across Mr Aksakals shallow grave. He was some way off the beaten track when he made the gruesome discovery of a foul-smelling sack in a waterlogged area, said Mr Brown. Mr Aksakal who had been cleared of murder at the Old Bailey in 2000 was identified by his fingerprints. A post-mortem examination revealed two bullet wounds to the chest, one to the left arm and one to the head. Mr Brown told jurors the disposal of the body was no quick and easy task and said: It was a joint effort, a joint, voluntary and determined effort to avoid the consequences of murder. The prosecutor added: It must have been a truly terrible exercise for anyone and not something anyone not involved in murder would go through. Judge Richard Marks QC was expected to sentence the pair today. A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of a 48-year-old cafe owner in Kilburn. Father-of-two Huseyin Gulbudak died after he was allegedly stabbed inside his shop in Kilburn High Road, despite customers desperately trying to save him. Mr Gulbudak, owner of Efes Cafe and Restaurant, was found by police at his cafe around 7pm yesterday suffering from knife wounds. He was rushed to a north London hospital but was pronounced dead an hour later. Paying tribute, John McCooke, owner of nearby the Good Ship described Mr Gulbudak as a really nice guy. Brian Mannion, 50, owner of the Black Lion pub, added he had known the victim since he started running the cafe 15 years ago. He said his death was devastating. Stab victim: Huseyin Gulbudak He said: Its devastating really. He had been there running the cafe for 15 years. I would pop in every day to have a tea and a quick chat. Within 10 minutes the scene was cordoned off last night. Lots happens in the High Road so I thought it was a minor altercation which happens frequently in Kilburn. I can't believe it." Baranhu Gulbudak, of Aspen Way, Enfield was charged with murder yesterday. He is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court later today. Undecided About What? Now that the political conventions have cemented allegiance among party faithful, the focus shifts to the most misguided group in presidential politics: undecideds. Each quadrennial we are reminded that these voters, along with their partners in delusion, independents, will determine the outcome. While that is statistically correct, it is intellectually absurd. Until the day comes when the nation has more than two viable political organizations, elections must, regrettably, remain about choosing parties, not candidates particularly on the presidential level. If one party controls Congress and the other the White House, as we have today, government becomes almost entirely dysfunctional. A Supreme Court nominee cant even get a hearing because of intra-party warfare. If, on the other hand, a party controls both branches, actual progress becomes possible, as happened with the landmark Affordable Care Act. Speaking of the Supreme Court, the task of filling its vacancies alone is enough to make presidential voting along party lines essential and the notion of picking the best person for the job pure fantasy. Yet a staggering 40-plus percent of voters tell pollsters they are independent. In fact, according to research at Michigan State University as reported in The Nation magazine, those who identify as independents today are more stable in their support for one or the other party than were strong partisans back in the 1970s. Moreover, Dan Hopkins, a professor of government at the University of Pennsylvania, notes that independents who lean toward the Democrats are less likely to back GOP candidates than are weak Democrats. The meaningful work in choosing among candidates takes place during the primaries. Democrats were given a real choice between a daring progressive and a more cautious centrist. Undecided Democrats could have had an understandably difficult time choosing between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Republicans had even more soul searching to do, faced with the arch conservative views of Ted Cruz, the center-leaning values of John Kasich and the trust me-based bravado of Donald Trump. But thats all been decided. Now we have one Republican and one Democrat vying for the right to place their partys imprint on the Supreme Court, the tax code, the military and the nations social structure. Party politics are so clear and powerful that Paul Ryan backs Trump, Liz Warren backs Clinton and the actress Sarah Silverman points out that to do anything else is ridiculous. One of the more interesting convention speeches was delivered to Democrats by Michael Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and a billionaire businessman. Bloombergs experience in government came at the city level, where party politics are less important and where voters are, indeed, wise to select the best individual for the job such as New Yorks John Lindsay, who was elected as a Republican, re-elected on the Liberal Party ticket and then became a Democrat. Bloomberg did a masterful job of attacking Trump but preceded it with a statement that was bizarrely naive. When I enter the voting booth each time, he said, I look at the candidate, not the party label. I have supported elected officials from both sides of the aisle. I doubt even Bloomberg believes it. I think he plays that card to enhance his role as a power broker between both parties. Yet, 2016 is unique in modern presidential politics because there is, for the first time, a legitimate basis for Republicans to rebel. Has the GOP gone so far off the rails in nominating an unqualified candidate that common sense might prevail above party politics?Whats a sincere Republican voter to do? Stay home? Cast a vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson, who has no chance of winning? Or pick Clinton and, in doing so, commit the nation to at least four years of a liberal agenda? If nothing else, Trump has given undecideds something to be truly undecided about. A cafe owner allegedly stabbed to death inside his north London restaurant was a devoted father who never took a days holiday, his devastated family said today. Huseyin Gulbudak, 48, died from knife wounds after allegedly being attacked with a machete in front of customers at Efes Cafe and Restaurant in Kilburn High Road. The father-of-three was rushed to hospital following the attack at 7pm on Monday but was pronounced dead 90 minutes later. His son Barangu Gulbudak, 21, was due in court today charged with murder. The former university law student was allegedly arrested at the scene by police. The scene in Kilburn where a man was murdered at a cafe Tearful who relatives gathered at the family home in Enfield last night told of their shock at the heartless killing. A cousin told the Standard: He was a lovely person, we just cant believe this. I just keep thinking Im going to wake up from this nightmare and hes going to be back with us. His family was everything to him. He worked so hard for them to build a better life for them all, especially his kids. He wanted them all to go to university. Its a tragedy. He was a very good daddy. He always put his family first. He never took a holiday, he just worked and worked because he loved his kids and wanted to support his family. I cant believe this. He was a wonderful family man. If he had died naturally maybe there is some way to deal with it but this way is too much. I just heard about it last night immediately after it happened and went to the hospital. His wife, all of us, we are just devastated. We are all here to support her. Mr Gulbudak was originally from Kayseri in Turkey but had come to London more than 25 years ago to start a family and to give them a better life. He lived in a quiet residential street in Enfield with his wife, Sebiha, 42, and three sons Hasan, 24, Barangu, 21 and Bervan, 19. He had run the cafe for around 20 years with help from his wife and sons. One neighbour said: He was the hardest working man you could know. He left at the crack of dawn each day and was always back late into the evening. They are a lovely family, perfect neighbours. Its just a terrible shock and a tragedy. Witnesses today spoke of their shock at the stabbing in the busy high street of the popular business owner, who many knew as Ali. Brian Mannion, 50, owner of nearby The Black Lion pub, said: At around 7pm, I heard shouting coming from what sounded like the kitchen of the cafe. When I went outside after hearing the commotion, I saw Ali covered in blood along with a guy who also had blood on his shirt. I saw him bleeding, He was slouched on a chair. I saw the other guy get arrested. After about ten minutes around a dozen police officers came and there were two ambulances. There were four customers in there as well, trying to help him. Barangu Gulbudak, 21, of Aspen Way, Enfield, was due to appear in custody at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court this morning charged with murder. A hipster coffee shop manager claimed Muslims "want to take over the world" in a foul-mouthed Islamophobic rant at a bouncer for throwing him out of a City cocktail bar, the Old Bailey heard today. Tyrone Mullally, 28, had sunk four pints of beer, a bottle of wine and shots of tequila before he began the torrent of abuse at the Piano Bar, near the Barbican Centre. He targeted a Muslim bouncer, telling him "I disagree with your religion you f***ing Muslim c**t", but then claimed to police "you've got the wrong guy" when they came to arrest him for the outburst, the court heard. However, a shame-faced Mullally today admitted religiously aggravated abuse and was ordered to pay 2,100 in fines, court costs and compensation to the victim. Judge Gerald Gordon told Mullally he was "not the person you normally are" when drunk, and warned the rant had been "potentially explosive" in the current world climate. Doorman Fakhet Sabri approached a drunken Mullally during a night out on January 31, when he dropped a glass on the bar floor. When told to leave, Mullally launched a barrage of insults at the bouncer, calling him a "Muslim c**t". Mullally, who used to be an associate for the Financial Conduct Authority before becoming manager of a trendy Clapham coffee house, was physically restrained and carried out of the club by bar staff. But once outside and pinned to the pavement, prosecutor Ivan Clarke said Mullally continued to hurl abuse at Mr Sabri. "He said 'why are you pinning me down - is it because I disagree with your religion you f***ing Muslim c**t'," said the prosecutor. "Why don't you f**k off to where you came from." Police were called to the scuffle, on January 31, and found Mullally "still acting in an aggressive manner", said Mr Clarke. "He said 'It's the Muslims, they want to take over the world, you've got the wrong guy'. "Clearly he was seen to be extremely drunk." Once he had sobered up at the police station, Mullally said he could not remember much of the incident, but refused to believe he had been abusive about Muslims. Mr Clarke added the victim felt "degraded" by the incident, and "couldn't understand why he was being discriminated against". Piers Marquis, defending, said Mullally, who was born in the UK but grew up in Australia, was "horrified" at his behaviour that night. He moved back to Britain four years ago, and spent two years working for the FCA before leaving to run the coffee shop. "He has behaved appallingly, he is incredibly embarrassed, mortified and apologetic", said Mr Marquis. "He couldn't imagine himself using religiously aggravated language - he can't believe he behaved in the way he did." Judge Gordon fined Mullally 800, ordered him to pay 300 to Mr Sabri in compensation and 1000 court costs. "In the times we now live and have lived since well before January, it's vitally important that religiously aggravated behaviour, most particularly of an anti-Muslim nature is not indulged in, particularly in a crowded area", he said. "It's potentially explosive behaviour. "I accept for you this was out of character, but it's worrying that with your inhibitions lowered by alcohol you seem to have had the thoughts that led to language of this nature. "You say you find it hard to believe you behaved as you clearly did. You need to learn the lesson in drink you are not the person you normally are." Mullally, of Streatham High Road, Lambeth, pleaded guilty to religiously aggravated harassment, alarm and distress. A murder investigation has been launched tonight after a man was stabbed to death in south-west London. Police in Wandsworth were called to Shepard House on the Winstanley estate in Battersea just after 6pm to reports of a stabbing. A man, aged in his 30s, was found in a home suffering from multiple stab wounds. He died at the scene a short while later. Scotland Yard said it is in the process of informing his next of kin before the victim is formally identified. Emergency response: London's Air Ambulance were also called to the estate Two other men were found nearby with stab injuries and were rushed to hospital where they remain in a serious but stable condition. Neighbours said the violence unfolded in a car park after a group of people became involved in a fight. The victim reportedly dragged himself back into his flat after he was stabbed in the fracas as the group dispersed from the scene. One eyewitness told the Standard there was "blood everywhere". They added the atmosphere was "tense" on the estate, where rap group So Solid Crew grew up. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing. All witnesses and anyone with information concerning this incident are urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 A man has died after he was hit by a van on a busy central London shopping street this evening. Emergency services were called to Regent Street, near the junction with Hanover Street, at 8.10pm after the collision. London's Air Ambulance also landed nearby as paramedics rushed to the scene near Oxford Circus. They found a man, aged in his 40s, suffering from critical injuries. Although paramedics battled to save his life, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 8.48pm. Investigation: A man in his 40s died / Neil Crump Pictures from Regent Street showed a swathe of the road cordoned off, with police cars and fire engines parked nearby. A spokesman for the Met Police said the van driver stopped at the scene and is now assisting detectives with their enquiries. The road has been partially closed off this evening while investigations continue. Detectives from the Met's Roads and Transport Policing Command are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or the moments leading up to it to get in touch. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A police officer has been seriously injured after a gang of armed moped thieves targeted a luxury watch store in central London during an attempted smash and grab raid. Scotland Yard said one officer was taken to hospital in a serious condition while three others received minor injuries when the raiders attempted to flee the Chronext store on Piccadilly. Stunned witnesses watched as Flying Squad officers tackled the thieves onto the street with weapons including knives and an axe left on the floor. Police descended on the luxury watch store shortly before 11.30am as part of an intelligence led sting. Four men were arrested on suspicion of robbery and have been taken to central London police stations. Machete: Witnesses saw weapons on the floor / @Mick7777Francis One of the men has since been taken to hospital after he became unwell after he was booked into custody. Detective Superintendent Craig Turner, said: "Our officers are absolutely committed to keeping London safe and target the criminals who pose a danger to Londoners and our city businesses day in, day out. "They know that this work carries with it very real risks and dangers but take this in their stride as part of serving the public. However, today's events highlight how the reckless behaviour of those determined to evade justice, heedless of the consequences, can have a real impact on all those involved." Machete: Shocked witnesses saw weapons lying on the floor / TfL An axe, knives and the stolen jewellery were all recovered at the scene. The sales manager of a luxury watch store spoke of the moment the gang of armed moped thieves targeted the shop. The store's UK sales manager told the Standard they had been warned by the Flying Squad prior to the raid. The man, who did not wish to be named said: It was an attempted smash and grab but they got away nothing. We had a member of our security team on hand and it went very smoothly. We were all on site so it was myself and my colleagues with members of the Flying Squad so we knew exactly what was going on and it was done and dusted very quickly." The manager added that the suspects were apprehended quickly after trying to get away with watches from a cabinet. He added: They didnt ask for anything, they just smashed the first cabinet in sight and tried to get away with anything they could get their hands on. Theres only a small bit of damage and we should have that fixed by the end of the week. Enquiries into the attempted robbery are continuing. Piccadilly was closed eastbound from White Horse Street while the incident was dealt with. D etectives are hunting a woman after she launched a vicious attack on a fellow passenger when the pair argued over space for pushchairs on an east London bus. The incident happened just before midday on Thursday, June 16, when the suspect got on the route 86 bus in Romford together with a younger woman. The two women had two pushchairs with them, and went to the pram area of the bus. Minutes later, the victim, a 29-year-old Asian woman, got onto the bus on London Road with her five-year-old son, and was was confronted by the two women already on the bus. A dispute erupted between the women over where the prams should be moved to on the bus, resulting in the suspect becoming angry and violent towards the victim and nearby passengers. CCTV: detectives have issued pictures of a woman they wish to trace / Met Police The victim was slapped across the face in front of her terrified son and other passengers, leaving her with a cut upper lip. The suspect and the younger woman then got off the bus and headed towards Brewery Site, in Romford. The woman police wish to speak to is described as a slim black woman in her late 40s, who is 6ft tall, and wore her hair in a bun. At the time of the incident she was wearing a black hooded jacket with front zips, black trousers and black trainers with white soles. She was also carrying a black bag with her, and pushing a grey pram. Police are keen to hear from anyone who may recognise the woman shown on the CCTV or who witnessed the incident. Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 or 07825 386484 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Did you witness this incident? Contact our news desk on 020 3615 2500 or email news@standard.co.uk. T he British Dental Association has said there is little point in flossing, despite it being widely recommended by dentists around the country. Scientific advisor to the British Dental Association, Professor Damien Walmsey, has stated the health benefits associated with flossing had not been proven. The Birmingham University professors analysis comes after the US government stopped recommending flossing because there was no scientific evidence of the benefits. Prof Walmsley said: The difficulty is trying to get good evidence. People are different and large studies are costly to do ... until then you can't really say yes or no. An Associated Press investigation looking at 25 studies over the last decade found evidence for flossing is "weak, very unreliable", of "very low" quality, and carries "a moderate to large potential for bias". The British Dental Association said: Small inter-dental brushes are best for cleaning the area in between your teeth, where there is space to do so. Floss is of little value unless the spaces between your teeth are too tight for the interdental brushes to fit without hurting or causing harm. Flossing can also occasionally cause harm, with a poor technique leading to damaged gums and teeth. A Public Health England spokeswoman confirmed they would consider these findings. Dentist Levi Spear Parmly is credited with inventing floss in the early 19th century and by 1874 dentists were widely recommending its use. A Guitar player in an up-and-coming rock band was found collapsed and dying in the street two days after becoming separated from his friends on a night out in east London. Luca Ricca, 23, died in an ambulance on the way to hospital after residents raised the alarm when he knocked on doors after reportedly experiencing a sudden illness. Mr Ricca, who moved to the UK from his native Italy last year, had suffered from a heart condition according to friends. Tributes were paid today to the exuberant guitarist with a passion for music, who dreamed of following in the footsteps of his heroes David Bowie and Keith Richards. One friend wrote on Facebook: God bless you Luca, keep on rocking in heaven. His band, Own Boo, released a debut single Edie to critical acclaim in Italy and were tipped for success in the countrys music press. Mr Ricca was last seen in the early hours of July 17. He was found two days later slumped in the street in Hackney, according to Italian media reports. His parents, both doctors, flew to London from their hometown of Brescia to identify his body last week before his funeral in Italy. In a statement, they said: Luca was a special person ... he was always close to us, with his creative passion, the exuberance of his younger years and his intense love of music. They added: He remains in our hearts, as will the joy that he has given us over the years with his music and his will to live. Mr Ricca had been visiting Italian friends in London and was due to return to his job as a hairdresser in Leeds, where he lived with a family friend, on the Monday after he went missing. Own Boos manager Jacopo Borrazzo said he had been expecting Mr Ricca to release new material, and his death was tragic. He told the Standard: The band was on a kind of hiatus since before he moved to the UK so we werent really in touch but we spoke a few times. He was a genuine kid, sweet-hearted and kind of naive in a good way. He was supposed to send me some new music that he was making but he never did. An inquest to determine the cause of death will be held at Poplar coroners court in November. A company plans to set up a fellatio cafe' in central London where customers receive oral sex while having a cappuccino. Bradley Charvet, who is already planning a branch in Geneva to open this December, said the organisation he works for, called Bumpix, had its eyes on a property in Praed Street in Paddington. Catering exclusively for men, Mr Charvet said the business would be like a normal cafe where up to 100 customers can sit and drink a coffee - but also be given oral sex by an escort. Modelled on similar businesses in Thailand, the idea has already sparked uproar in Switzerland with the promise that punters can pick an escort from thumbnail photos on an iPad when they go inside. Westminster City Council has indicated to the Standard that such a venue would not be able to get a licence and it has also been slammed by a leading womens' rights group. It could also fall foul of the law as, in Great Britain, prostitution is not illegal but running or owning a brothel or pimping are considered crimes. Cafe: The coffee starts at 50 / Bradley Charvet But Mr Charvet told the Standard: We are happy this will be a legal business in the UK, which is nice because it will be organised and controlled. We need to fix some details to avoid trouble. Its on the way. Prices would start at 50, he claimed, adding: Then, if the fellatio is long, over 15 minutes, extras are going to be added - 10 per 15 minutes. He went on: The project is in progress. At the moment, our lawyer is doing the job to get the right stuff done. It will be in Paddington, close to the Hilton hotel and the Tube. Its an area with good visitors and tonnes of people around. Alongside the legal complications, Mr Charvet has shrugged off suggestions the business was ethically wrong. He said: I would say no one is forced to work in this coffee shop. Its a normal job. You do your job, eight hours per day if they decide to work in full time. Good conditions will be provided for their security and the health. I am married, all the guys around area also and we respect the ladies. But Rachel Krys, co-director of the End Violence Against Women Foundation, which is in favour of decriminalising prostitutes but not their clients or pimps, said the venue would be highly unlikely to get permission to open. Fellatio Cafe: Bradley Charvet (right) claims the cafe would not fall foul of the law / Bradley Charvet She said: "I think it would break a number of laws." Ms Krys went on: "People around and about the area where places like this open also experience an increase in men behaving unpleasantly which is why the licensing laws are very strict." A Londoner frustrated at the capital's squeezed rental market has taken to Twitter to share a series of horror stories about cramped flats. Writer Daniel Ruiz Tizon, from Clapham, launched into a social media tirade in order to expose the financially crippling mess that private renting in London has become. The first two tweets show tiny studio flats in Willesden, with bed, kitchen and toilet within inches of each other, the first costing 880pcm and the second 922pcm. Other highlights include 950pcm for a flat in NW10, where the bed is in the kitchen. Top 10 ideas to help solve London's housing crisis Tizon, who has produced a weekly podcast since 2010 called 'Daniel Ruiz Tizon is available', told the Standard: Ive been renting privately for over four decades. Ive lived in a bedsit, and shared a bathroom with 13 people til (my) mid-20s. I came from an immigrant community that lived in that way but it wasnt widespread. It shocks me that way of living has now become widespread in London, a city obsessed with home ownership. I just want to make people aware of it. In the Twitter flat viewings, he also picked out a 795pcm place in Redbridge, where the showers see-through doors look out directly onto the kitchen. Tizon joked: Showers proximity to the kitchen might be a problem if you have visitors. Another, in Queens Park, Brent, features twin beds adjacent to a small dining table, fridge and microwave, for a monthly cost of 1155. A studio flat in Baker Street, which apparently purports to be the 'cheapest studio ever', costs a cool 215 per week. He also highlights a 260 per week flat in W11, with a single bed tucked in alongside the kitchen. If youre not a homeowner or in social housing, you are screwed in #Ldn. You need 1300 a month to cover rent, bills and food. #housing crisis, he posted. Tizon, who released a book titled Me! Me! Me! on Amazon in June, actually began promoting the worst of Londons overpriced housing on Twitter several years ago. Im from the 70s and I dont fear change. I just hate that change in South London always excludes the pre-existing communities, he added. I ntelligence provided by Londoners is the best defence against terror attacks, Met chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said today. He called on Londoners to help his new armed anti-terror unit defend the city, saying the "best defence is community intelligence". Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said new armed police units will be working with increased neighbourhood patrol officers and communities to foil potential attacks. He said: You need intelligence from the community and then we act on it as a security service. We want to stop them before they attack us. We are increasing the number of neighbourhood officers so we want the public to tell us when they are worried about something. Public intelligence: Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has asked communities to help / AFP/Getty Images Sir Bernard asked families and friends to watch for signs of radicalisation or tendencies towards violence. If you know somebody who is psychiatrically ill, with behaviour changes or who starts to express tendencies of violence then please tell us, he said. If you have got a family member who starts to behave as if they are then tell the police. Armed units: Police will be patrolling the city at random (Lucy Young ) / Lucy Young If you see behaviour that worries you it might worry us but if you tell us we can check it out. The best defence is the people who notice things that are different." He added that he wants to reassure Londoners, who are not used to seeing armed police patrolling the city, that they are the same officers as before just with more training. He said: It's important we get officers out there with firearms to respond where necessary but they are the same officers they were before, they're part of British policing. Worrying behaviour: People should tell police if they see something unusual (Lucy Young ) / Lucy Young "I want them to be friendly; I want them to approach the public and to be approachable to the public. "I want the public to be able to go up and talk to these officers and that's part of their briefing. Friendly: The police were described as 'approachable' (Lucy Young ) / Lucy Young "They've not changed but they are ready for the sorts of things we've seen throughout the rest of Europe." The chief said the new armed officers, unveiled today, will be patrolling at random and urged people to not be concerned about seeing them. P olice swooped on a scooter gang armed with axes and knives after an attempted robbery on a central London luxury watch store. Officers received a tip-off about a gang of robbers targeting the high-end Chronext shop at around 11.25am this morning and arrested them at the scene. Shocked witnesses at the scene reported seeing a machete lying on the street with petrol leaking from the mopeds. Maurice Joffe wrote on Facebook: "Wrong place at the wrong time. Just missed an attempted robbery on Piccadilly Street by 15 seconds. "Four guys, two motorcycles and a machete. Police seem to have been tipped off and beat them to the ground instantly. "Scary stuff, bikes smashed and petrol leaking all over." A Met Police spokesman said officers arrived at the scene after the Flying Squad received intelligence on the robbery. He added said: Three male suspects on two scooters were arrested as they attempted to rob a jewellers on Piccadilly. An axe and knives were recovered from the scene. Foiled: The Flying Squad thwarted the armed robbery / @Mick7777Francis Enquiries into the incident on the White Horse Street junction with Piccadilly are still ongoing. Piccadilly remains closed eastbound at Hyde Park Corner while the incident is being dealt with. A police officer was injured during the arrests and has been taken to hospital for treatment P olice were called in after protesters glitter-bombed councillors for approving proposals to redevelop Brixtons historic railway arches. Officers entered the council meeting hall amid chaotic scenes after campaigners forced their way inside following the six-to-one vote in favour. Several protesters stood on chairs to fling red glitter at councillors and officers, while others hurled plastic googly eyes at the panel as they chanted: Were watching you. Committee members were escorted through a back door of the councils temporary base at the Karibu centre, opposite Brixton Academy, as the 50 activists were ushered outside. Tory Bernard Gentry, who voted for the plans, tweeted: Somethings wrong when councillors carrying out their democratic duty require police protection at Lambeth planning meetings. He told the Standard: Some council officers were very concerned for their safety, as they live in the area and were worried theyd be followed. Its not as bad as the trouble in the 1980s, when people got into physical fights but it seems to be going that way, with the increasing levels of fear and intimidation used. Labours Malcolm Clark, who also backed the plan, said: Thanks to the police and our staff for ensuring the safety of council officers and councillors. Abuse and intimidation of Lambeth officers is unacceptable. The chaos followed a tense three-hour discussion about Network Rails plan to convert nine railway arches between Brixton Station Road and Atlantic Road into a mini mall of brick and glass shops, cafes and delis. Critics accuse the firm of cashing in on the areas gentrification by evicting long-term local traders, with the loss of 50 small businesses and up to 150 jobs. Tenants including a pawnbroker, minicab office, hairdresser, takeaways, a Moroccan restaurant and a church have been given notice to quit, with building due to start next month. NR says they can return once the year-long upgrade is done. But their below-market rents will be increased gradually till they reach market levels, which some believe will prevent their return. Trader Malek Menad, 52, who has sold curtains from his Soft Furnishings store for 20 years, said: This will affect hundreds of workers like me. My business has been there since 1948. Its one of the oldest in Brixton and this will change my entire life. They have offered me storage but that will only rot my stock. Cab firm boss Mohammed Khan, 56, who has 40 employees, said: We will all be on the street. My future is bleak. This is not democracy. The Met said officers attended the scene and no arrests were made. P olice sealed off roads in Houslow this morning after workmen found an unexploded bomb in a nearby recreation ground. Major road closures were put in place in Feltham around Causeway, Green Lane, Hatton Road and Faggs Road. Hounslow Police urged motorists to avoid all areas in the vicinity of Causeway while the device, believed to date back to WWII, was dealt with. A Met Police spokesman confirmed that workman found the explosive while digging in a park shortly before 9.30am. A spokeswoman for the Met said the shell was "made safe and removed" from the area just before 11am. L abour's deputy leader Tom Watson today called for his party to boycott the Lords appointments and honours system after the storm over David Cameron recommending peerages and gongs to dozens of allies and aides. He urged Labour and other parties to cease co-operation on creating new peers, and on proposing people for knighthoods, OBEs, MBEs and other honours. Mr Watson said: It has been reported that David Cameron proposes to hand out peerages to a large number of his friends, a move that would undermine the honours system and damage the reputation of our second chamber. Until the Prime Minister can assure us that Camerons proposed list of crony lawmakers is dropped, Labour cannot legitimise this process by co-operating. Labour requires working peers, as do the other opposition parties, but we cannot allow an outrageous abuse of a Prime Ministers discretionary power to go unchallenged. He urged other parties to consider boycotting the honours and appointments process until Theresa May agrees to act. However, in a sign of further Labour splits, Jeremy Corbyn backed a review of the system but not a boycott amid reports that several prominent people, including ex-Liberty boss Shami Chakrabarti, are set to become Labour peers. Accusing Mr Cameron of bringing the honours system into disrepute, Mr Corbyn said: Labour will undertake a review of how honours are awarded, moving from a culture of personal patronage to one of individual contribution. Ministers privately suggest Theresa May will reform the system. A major Tory donor reportedly nominated for a knighthood in Mr Camerons proposed resignation honours has withdrawn his name from the list amid accusations against the former premier of cronyism. Vitol oil boss Ian Taylor has written to Mr Cameron and his successor Theresa May asking that his name does not go forward on the list, which was leaked to the Sunday Times. Opposition MPs have demanded a complete overhaul of the honours system after it was claimed Mr Cameron is pushing to reward personal aides, political donors and senior figures on the Remain campaign. But Mrs May has said she will not interfere in the resignation honours process because it would set a bad precedent. Meanwhile, Labour leadership challenger Owen Smith called for cuts in universal credit to be reversed and promised the biggest boost to living standards for a generation with a pay rise for five million workers if he becomes the next PM. The party would push the minimum wage up to 8.25 and force employers to give it to all adults on the payroll, not just over-25s. A major Tory donor nominated for a knighthood in David Cameron's proposed resignation honours has withdrawn his name from the list amid accusations of cronyism. Vitol Oil boss Ian Taylor has written to Mr Cameron and his successor Theresa May asking for his name to be withdrawn from the list, which was leaked to the Sunday Times. In a statement, Mr Taylor said: "In recent days, speculation in the media has suggested that I may be recognised in the forthcoming resignation honours list. "This has been accompanied by seriously inaccurate comments about the company I lead. In these circumstances, I think it is right I request that my name does not go forward, if indeed I was being considered for an honour. "Tonight, I am writing both to the outgoing and the current Prime Minister requesting that I would not wish to be considered for an honour at this time. "I will, of course, be continuing to participate actively in all the causes that I and my family passionately believe in, notably broadening access to the arts for everyone." The leaked list, which included four pro-EU cabinet colleagues and another Tory donor, led Labour politicians to call for a complete overhaul of the honours system. Deputy leader Tom Watson said: "That Mr Cameron proposes to reward his friends network on such a huge scale will not only bring the honours system into disrepute, it will undermine the reputation of the Theresa May." A British woman who claims her Saudi father keeps her "caged" because she kissed a man must be returned to the UK, a judge has ruled. Amina Al-Jeffery, who grew up in Swansea and has dual British and Saudi Arabian nationality, claims her father, Saudi Arabian academic Mohammed Al-Jeffery, regularly locks her up because she "kissed a guy". Lawyers representing Miss Al-Jeffery have taken legal action and asked Mr Justice Holman to look at ways of helping her. Mr Justice Holman was told that Miss Al-Jeffery left Swansea and moved to Saudi Arabia with her family four years ago and that she had been locked up in her fathers flat when he went out.. He said he had concluded that the 21-year-olds freedom of movement had been severely constrained. In a ruling this afternoon, he said Mr Al-Jeffery should give his daughter her Saudi and British passports and pay her fare. Mr Justice Holman added: "Current circumstances are such that this British citizen does require protection. She is currently in peril from which she requires to be rescued." The judge said he had decided that he should take steps to protect Miss Al-Jeffery from London. He said: "To do nothing at all would, in my view, be dereliction towards Amina." Additional reporting by the Press Association. N ine children have been injured after a bouncy castle came loose from its moorings before an inflatable slide blew over at a carnival. Dorset Police said the youngsters were treated by paramedics at Swanage Carnival shortly before 2pm on Wednesday. The inflatable slide belonged to a private stallholder attending the carnival and police said the Health and Safety Executive had been informed of the incident. The South West Ambulance Service said two children were taken to hospital in Poole after complaining of neck pain. Officers have remained at the scene and are due to hold talks with organisers of the carnival. A police spokeswoman said: "In total, nine children were treated at the scene. "Most were described as walking wounded and were cared for by on-site paramedics before going home. None of the injuries sustained are being described as serious." An air ambulance also attended the scene but was stood down. Earlier this year, seven-year-old Summer Grant, from Norwich, died after the bouncy castle she was playing on was blown away by a gust of wind in Harlow, Essex. Later, Dorset Police said that a giant inflatable slide belonging to a private stallholder had come loose. A spokeswoman said: "Most were described as walking wounded and were cared for by on-site paramedics before going home. "Of that nine, one child was taken to hospital as a precaution and three were taken to the minor injuries unit at Swanage Hospital for a further assessment. "None of the injuries sustained are being described as serious. Information will be passed on to the Health and Safety Executive." A fine art lecturer was sacked by the University of Reading for having a relationship with a vulnerable student he was supervising. Dr Jonathan Dronsfield, 53, told an employment tribunal he had sex with the woman after she had openly pursued him but had not reported the matter to bosses because he did not believe it amounted to a relationship. In 2013, the university received a complaint from the womans ex-boyfriend, who said she had been ill and vulnerable as a student and had a sexual relationship with the married lecturer. The university investigated whether Dr Dronsfield had breached his duty of care, including claims he held late-night meetings with female students involving alcohol, and abused his position. The associate professor told investigators he had sex with the woman once in November 2011, and said she had implored him not to report the matter, the employment tribunal heard. Dr Dronsfield said he had been under strain and did not think that whether he reported the matter would affect how he would supervise the last part of the students dissertation. He said it would have been better if he had. The university guidance says any member of staff in a relationship with a student must not be directly professionally involved with assessing or examining that student and that the head of department, or the appropriate dean, must therefore be informed. The university found there was no evidence of any predatory intent but that the lecturer had failed to report a sexual relationship with a student he was assessing. He was sacked in 2014. Dr Dronsfield appealed but an independent barrister upheld the decision despite finding no abuse of power. He sued for unfair dismissal but an employment tribunal threw out his claim. He appealed again and in April Judge David Richardson found the first panel had erred in interpreting his contract, which said he could be fired only for something Reading could prove was conduct of an immoral, scandalous or disgraceful nature incompatible with the duties of the office or employment. The judge said a new hearing will be held. Dr Dronsfield, of Clapham, declined to comment. Sources at Reading said it was considering challenging the judgment at the Court of Appeal and was updating academics contracts, traditionally governed by Royal Charter, to bring them into line with non-academic staff. The university said: Were disappointed by the Employment Appeal Tribunals decision. Were considering the judgment carefully. S ome UK police forces could be forced to wait up to two years for new firearms officers aimed at preventing terror attacks to appear on the streets, a police group have warned. Londoners have been promised an extra 600 officers to help keep the capital safe in the wake of a severe threat of terrorism in the UK. Despite the first of the Met Polices new recruits starting today, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales Steve White said the "best case scenario" would be 24 months to recruit the additional 1,500 marksmen needed nationwide to prevent terror attacks. The delay comes as some forces struggle to find the right quality of volunteers to make it through the rigorous selection and training process. Mr White said: "Some forces are getting volunteers coming forward, but they are not always being selected because they don't meet the criteria. It is vitally important that standards are maintained. The best case scenario is two years in terms of recruiting an extra 1,500 officers. "If there is an attack it is unlikely to be an isolated incident. We've got to have the resources around the country because it might happen in multiple places at the same time." The number of armed officers dropped by eight across the UK between January and March, Home Office Figures show. However, police chiefs have insisted that forces are on track to get the extra marksmen in place over the next 18 months. Plans to boost the number of armed police were put in place in the wake of last years terror attacks in Paris, when 130 people were killed. Mr White also expressed concern about cuts to neighbourhood police teams after Britain's most senior police officer Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe hailed neighbourhood policing as a major weapon" in the fight against terrorism. The Federation chief added: "Chief constables are having to make very difficult decisions in terms of managing their budgets and managing the competing priorities that they have. "With counter-terrorism there is the top-sliced money and the extra money for firearms officers, but that is once we're having an attack. "Over the last few years in some force areas they have had to take resources out of neighbourhood policing just to keep the wheels on in terms of reacting to incidents. "You can't fix this overnight. The resources that have been taken out over the last couple of years is stark." Mayor of London Sadiq Kahn said: "The threat level here in London has not changed, but it does remain at severe and especially in light of recent deadly attacks in Europe it is important we are prepared should the unthinkable happen. "We will see more armed officers on our streets, but there is no reason to be alarmed. "Our armed response teams do a very difficult job. They put their own lives at risk every day and are at the front line of protection for Londoners across our city." Mark Rowley, assistant commissioner with the Met Police, has praised members of the public for their help in combatting extremism and terrorism. He said averages of 32 calls a day were being made to the confidential anti-terrorist hotline to pass on information about suspicious activity and potential radicalisation or extremist material on the internet. A firefighter has died while tackling a blaze on an Emirates passenger jet which crash landed in Dubai. The chairman of Emirates announced the mans death to reporters this afternoon following the dramatic emergency landing. Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum said authorities were still investigating the incident, in which 14 other people were admitted to hospitals with mainly minor or moderate injuries. Around 300 passengers and crew escaped the plans before it was engulfed in flames at Dubai International Airport. Sheikh Ahmed said the crash-landing was not caused by any security breach. Smoke rises from plane after Dubai crash landing He said the plane, which had entered service in 2003, had undergone maintenance in 2015 and that the United Arab Emirates pilot had over 7,000 hours of flying experience. Video showed a tower of flame bursting from the front of the Boeing 777-300 jetliner, and then a thick black plume of smoke rising into the sky. Reuters was unable to verify the footage independently. A spokesperson for operator Dubai Airports said everyone aboard flight EK521 coming from Thiruvananthapuram had been evacuated and emergency services were managing the situation. Passenger Sharon Maryam Sharji said: "It was actually really terrifying. As we were landing there was smoke coming out in the cabin." "People were screaming and we had a very hard landing. We left by going down the emergency slides and as we were leaving on the runway we could see the whole plane catch fire. It was horrifying." All arrivals and departures at Dubai International were suspended following the incident and were due to resume at 6.30pm local time. Boeing said it was monitoring the situation in Dubai and it would be working with Emirates to gather more information. Safety experts said it was too early to pinpoint any cause for the crash. Investigators will scour the wreckage and interview pilots, controllers and witnesses for clues to any technical malfunctions. A New Jersey dog has been dubbed a hero after saving its sick owners life by breaking a window and barking for help. As its owner lay unwell, the dog broke a pane of glass and began barking loudly, attracting the attention of two women walking by. The concerned woman heard the noise and called police who then rushed to the address in Northvale. Upon arrival, officers discovered a person who had been ill for some time. They were taken to hospital for treatment. Officers said they believed the dog had heard the woman talking as they walked past and broke the glass to get their attention and to help its owner. The dog suffered a very minor injury to its front paw as a result of breaking the window pane, but is said to be recovering fine. A young mother was shot dead by US police during a standoff that she filmed and posted on Facebook. Korryn Gaines, 23, was killed after allegedly pointing a shotgun at officers as she cradled her five-year-old son, who was also wounded, following a siege lasting nearly six hours. Ms Gaines posted videos on Facebook and Instagram after officers executed an arrest warrant at her apartment. Facebook granted an emergency request from Maryland police to take the social media accounts offline during the standoff. Three officers arrived at the flat in the Baltimore suburb of Randallstown on Monday morning to serve warrants on Ms Gaines, who was black, and her boyfriend, Kareem Courtney, 39. Korryn Gaines was said to be armed with a shotgun. Her five-year-old son, above, was shot in a limb A failure-to-appear warrant related to disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges after Ms Gaines was stopped in her car in March. Mr Courtney was charged with second-degree assault following a fight with Ms Gaines. Police said officers obtained a key from the landlord after 10 minutes of knocking. They said they found Ms Gaines sitting on the floor with her son in one arm and a shotgun in the other. Police said she was armed with a legally-owned 12-gauge pistol grip shotgun. At some point, a male suspect ran from the flat with a one-year-old boy and was detained by police. Videos appeared to show Ms Gaines talking with police in the doorway to her apartment and to her son during the standoff. In one film, she asks her son what the police are trying to do. The boy says: They trying to kill us. His mother asks: Do you want to go out there? No, he says. The camera then shows an armed officer in SWAT-style protective gear looking into the living room. Police said negotiators tried to get Ms Gaines to surrender peacefully but at about 3pm she pointed the shotgun directly at a tactical officer and said, If you dont leave, Im going to kill you. Police chief James Johnson told reporters: We discharged one round at her. In return, she fired several rounds back at us. We fired again at her, striking and killing her. Her son was shot in a limb and was in hospital with non-life threatening injuries. It was not clear who injured him. Jerome Barnett, Ms Gainess uncle, told the Baltimore Sun: My niece is a good person. I never knew her to be a rowdy person. She was smart and very respectful. Civil rights activist Shaun King wrote in the New York Daily News: We should all be cautious to believe the first version of events offered by police when they use lethal force. Ms Gaines previously posted videos from the March traffic stop on her Instagram account. Police said she was pulled over because she had a cardboard tag instead of a licence plate. She claimed officers were trying to steal her car. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave. It comes amid heightened tension across the US over the shootings of black people by police, and the killing of five officers ambushed by a gunman in Dallas last month. P ope Francis has hit out against children being taught about transgender choice in schools. The Pope weighed in with his views on gender during a private meeting with bishops from Poland during a five day pilgrimage last week. In a transcript of the closed-door meeting released by the Vatican, the Pope supported his predecessors views on not teaching children gender choice, who described it as the epoch of sin. He said: We are living in a moment of annihilation of man as image of God. Today, children are taught this at school: that everyone can choose their own sex. And why do they teach this? Because the books come from those people and institutions who give money. Pope Francis added that he had discussed the matter with his predecessor, Pope Benedict, who still lives at the Vatican and described it as the epoch of sin against God the Creator. He added: God created man and woman; God created the world like this and we are doing the exact opposite. The Pope previously stated this year that young people need to help to accept their own bodies as they are created. Pope Francis ended the talk by telling the Polish bishops he wanted them to reflect on the issue. A n Emirates plane burst into flames as it performed an emergency landing at Dubai Airport. According to reports, the Boeing 777 was flying from India to Dubai when it had to make an emergency landing. Footage captured from the scene showed smoke billowing from the plane. Emirates Airline tweeted: "There were 275 passengers and crew on board. Our main priority now is the safety and well-being of all involved. "We are extending full co-operation to authorities & emergency services managing the situation." All flights to the Dubai terminal have been diverted while emergency crews work at the scene. NBC News Digital chief technology officer Krishna Bhagavathul, who was overlooking the runway, told the news station: "The fire began to spread rapidly and by the time the fire engines got there the entire top half of the plane was on fire." The plane's captain is understood to have sent out an emergency signal before the plane landed, reportedly without engaging its landing gear. 'Crash landing': Shocked witnesses saw smoke billowing from the plane The Dubai Government Media Office reported on Twitter that no casualties had been reported. All take-offs from the airport have been suspended, the government also confirmed. A woman has been criticised by leading medical practitioners after officially becoming Australias oldest mother at the age of 63. The Tasmanian woman had the baby in a Melbourne hospital on Monday. The father, her 78-year-old husband, was at her bedside as her first child was born. It was revealed that the pensioner, desperate to conceive, travelled overseas to undergo IVF procedures. Doctors draw the line at treating women for IVF in Australia at age 53. Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon called the birth selfish, wrong and madness. The girl was born by caesarean section at Frances Perry House private hospital in Parkville, Victoria. She was born prematurely but is said to be progressing well, along with her mother Dr Gannon, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, condemned the birth on Twitter. Child starts life in NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit]. Anyone thought ahead to its teens? Selfish, wrong, he wrote. This is a rights issue. Consider rights of the child, society, taxpayer. Madness. Not designed to have kids in sixties. It was reported that the couple conceived through IVF overseas, using a donor embryo. Frances Perry House chief executive Michael Rozek said: We understand the huge interest in this story but the family has advised that they are not seeking any publicity now, or in the future. The hospital will respect the familys wishes and uphold their right to privacy. There are no laws governing the age limits for IVF treatments in Australia but Victorian legislation and that of most states is framed around what is in the best interests of the child. Professor Gab Kovacs, an IVF expert, said only very fit women with healthy hearts would be considered suitable candidates for IVF in their early fifties. Being pregnant at 62 is dangerous to the mother and baby, he said. Also, by the time the child is 21, the mother is going to be 84. M argot Robbie has appeared to dismiss claims that her Suicide Squad character is portrayed in a sexist way. The Australian actress, who plays villain Harley Quinn in the DC film, said the character was written for a chick not like a chick at the London premiere on Wednesday night. During an interview with Laura Whitmore alongside director David Ayer, the 26-year-old said: It's so rare as an actress that you get given a role this messed up and gritty and funny. He didn't write it like a chick but he wrote it for a chick and I'm grateful. It's so rare that chicks get to play this role. Ayer, who commented on the films largely negative reviews on Twitter earlier in the day, reiterated the fact that hed made the movie for fans. I made this movie for you guys and I know you're going to love it. The cast? They're out of their mind, they were out of control. A number of critics have criticised the portrayal of Quinn as being over-sexualised, although the film has a strong fan following. Suicide Squad London premiere - in pictures 1 /38 Suicide Squad London premiere - in pictures Margot Robbie and Will Smith bump into each other on the red carpet Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Cara Delevingne checks her phone as fans scream Dave Bennet Jay Hernandez, Joel Kinnaman, Will Smith, Ezra Miller, Margot Robbie, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Karen Fukuhara, Jai Courtney and Cara Delevingne arriving for the Suicide Squad European Premiere Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Will Smith, Jay Hernandez, Joel Kinnaman, Karen Fukuhara, Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jai Courtney and Jared Leto pose for a selfie Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Suicide Squad selfie @WarnerBrosUK Cara Delevingne attends the European Premiere of "Suicide Squad" Dave Benett Karen Fukuhara, Margot Robbie and Cara Delevingne attend the European Premiere of "Suicide Squad" Dave Benett Margot Robbie and Will Smith share a joke in front of the crowd Dave Bennet Margot Robbie and Will Smith share a big hug Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Henry Cavill, Joel Kinnaman, Jay Hernandez, Ezra Miller, Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Karen Fukuhara, Jai Courtney, Cara Delevingne, Jared Leto, Ben Affleck and Jason Momoa Dave Benett Cara Delevingne hits the red carpet Richard Young/Rex Will Smith chats to fans in Leicester Square Yui Mok/PA Margot Robbie and Will Smith pose for pictures together at the London premiere Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Margot Robbie shows off the back of her dress Dave Bennet Margot Robbie and Will Smith wave to the huge crowd Dave Bennet Jared Leto looks like he's come in character as The Joker Dave Benett Ben Affleck makes a surprise appearance Dave Benett Ben Affleck aka Batman surprises fans on the red carpet Dave Benett Margot Robbie poses for photographers Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA The British actress poses in black leather Dave Bennet Cara Delevingne makes her way into the Odeon cinema Dave Bennet Squad member Joel Kinnaman looks dapper Dave Benett Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje who plays Killer Croc in the film Dave Benett Jason Momoa jumps on Henry Cavill Dave Benett Karen Fukuhara attends the European Premiere Dave Bennet Cara Delevingne all in black Richard Young/Rex Cara Delevingne David Fisher/Rex Cara is supported by sister Poppy and James Cook Dave Benett Deborah Snyder and Zack Snyder Richard Young/Rex Cara Delevingne also discussed her character, The Enchantress, at the London premiere, telling the crowd: To be honest i'm a little demon at heart. That's how I wake up in the morning, honesty. It was three hours of hair and make-up every day. The amount of tattoos and dirt, it was definitely a challenge. Will smith added: This isnt' a movie about good vs evil this is about bad vs evil - a theme that's running through the film is that bad characters still have a tether to love. Suicide Squad is out in the UK on August 5. A idan Turner is now the frontrunner to be the next James Bond. The Poldark star, who is rumoured to have met with producers earlier this year, is currently the bookies favourite to take over the role. Overtaking War and Peace actor James Norton, who was odds-on favourite to bag the part this time last month, Turner is now at 6/4 to be Bond. A spokesperson for William Hill told The Sun: We have seen a further run of bets for Mr Turner, including one customer looking to place a cool 1000. He has to be a contender. Norton is now second favourite to play the British secret service spy, with odds of 7/2. Other stars who are rumoured to be stepping into Daniel Craigs shoes include Tom Hiddleston, Tom Hardy, Damian Lewis and Idris Elba. Despite the speculation, Elba recently appeared to rule himself out of the running, saying that he thought he was too old. Speaking on Good Morning America, the 43-year-old said: If I'm really honest, man, I think I'm too old for that, I can't be running around in cars and ladies and martinis who wants to do that? It sounds terrible! Who could be the next 007 James Bond? - In pictures 1 /22 Who could be the next 007 James Bond? - In pictures Idris Elba BBC Rege-Jean Page Dave Benet Jamie Dornan BBC/Stan/HBO Max & ZDF/Ian Routledge Tom Hardy 20th Century Fox James Norton Rex Luke Evans Agent Publicity Henry Cavill PA Lashana Lynch MGM Tom Hiddleston BBC Sam Heughan PA Jack Lowden Dave Benett Aidan Turner Mammoth Screen Chris Hemsworth AP Henry Golding AP Jamie Bell AP Richard Madden BBC Cillian Murphy BBC If it were to happen, it would be the will of a nation, because there's not been talks of me in the studios about any of that. But everywhere I go, people want that to happen. Tom Hiddleston, who is thought to be in the running for the role, also dismissed the possibility last month. Speaking at a panel event, the 35-year-old star said: Im sorry to disappoint you, everybody. I dont think that announcement is coming. But Im very gratified to hear the enthusiasm. Theres not much that I can say that I havent already said, but I know Your guess is as good as mine to be honest. Turner will star in the new series of Poldark, which is set to air on September 4. NASSAU, Bahamas, Aug. 2, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Empowered women empower other women and the inaugural International Women's Empowerment Summit (IWES) in Nassau, Bahamas will allow professional women and entrepreneurs to do just that and more. IWES will be hosted by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism in partnership with StartUp Woman and in collaboration with UN Women at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort, from 20th to 21st October, 2016. IWES Bahamas 2016 is the summit for aspiring and successful women professionals and entrepreneurs in various fields, from around the world and The Bahamas, to meet, to learn from, and to inspire each other. Under the theme "Empowering Women to Pursue Their Dreams", the inaugural IWES will focus on addressing the issues and interests of today's women, including doing business with confidence, economic empowerment and wealth creation, education and social empowerment, presentation and marketing, and health and wellness. The summit will be nothing short of a dynamic and unforgettable experience. Joy Jibrilu, Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism believes that every woman, regardless of her age, can take something away from the two days of discussions. "We are talking about women's issues and, more specifically, looking at women who are accomplished and in the majority of instances have started from the bottom and through sheer grit and determination made it to the top. This Summit will provide attendees the opportunity to learn about what it took for those women to reach where they are, what was their journey and what lessons can be learned," Jibrilu said. "As a destination, we have seen our share of major conferences, but this summit is exceptional in that it will bring together on our shores some of the biggest global female names," she said. "This is a homegrown initiative and it speaks to the power of The Bahamas brand that we have the reach to connect to people such as the speakers and produce a summit such as we are doing." The anticipation is heating up for registration as speakers have already confirmed their availability, excited to share their knowledge and experience with enthusiastic women in a beautiful setting such as The Bahamas. Some of the confirmed speakers are Kelly Hoppen Founder of Kelly Hoppen Interiors, Baroness Michelle Mone (UK) Founder of Ultimo Bras (UK), Charlotte Tilbury Celebrity Make-up Artist and Dr. Cindy Trimm Empowerment Specialist. In addition to international speakers, the panels will also include Bahamian women who have made their mark in their chosen professions. In addition to the Summit, IWES Bahamas 2016 will also launch the StartUp Woman initiative for The Bahamas, a new endeavour by the founders of the WIE Network, which shines a spotlight on woman-owned SME's in the UK, the US, and The Bahamas. Through Startup Woman Bahamas, six successful women will be invited to mentor six young Bahamian women who are looking to get their feet wet in entrepreneurship. The Summit is also being delivered in partnership with UN Women, the United Nations entity responsible for supporting gender equality and the empowerment of women. It is estimated that 400 to 500 women will register to attend this event. Registration opened to the public on July 28, 2016. For more information visit http://bahamasiwesummit.com/. About The Islands Of The Bahamas The Islands Of The Bahamas have a place in the sun for everyone from Nassau and Paradise Island to Grand Bahama to The Abaco Islands, The Exuma Islands, Harbour Island, Long Island and others. Each island has its own personality and attractions for a variety of vacation styles with some of the world's best scuba diving, fishing, sailing, boating, as well as, shopping and dining. The destination offers an easily accessible tropical getaway and provides convenience for travelers with preclearance through U.S. customs and immigration, and the Bahamian dollar at par with the U.S. dollar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember It's Better in The Bahamas. For more information on travel packages, activities and accommodations, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit www.Bahamas.com. Look for The Bahamas on the web on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Media Contact: Dawn Demeritte ddemeritte@bahamas.com (242) 397-2791 Anita Johnson-Patty ajohnson@bahamas.com (954) 888-1102 BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Securities Arbitration Law Firm of Klayman & Toskes, P.A. (K&T), www.nasd-law.com, has commenced an investigation in light of recent regulatory action barring Andrew Yocum (Yocum) from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with firms that sell securities to the public. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently barred Yocum from the securities industry after he failed to respond to a FINRA investigation. (FINRA No. 2015048065701). FINRA sanctioned Yocum after he refused to appear for on-the-record testimony in connection with an investigation into whether he effected unauthorized transactions, exercised discretion without written authorization, and recommended unsuitable concentrated purchases of energy sector securities to senior investors. Numerous customer complaints were made against Yocum while employed at Morgan Stanley. Several of these complaints included over-concentrating customer accounts in energy, oil and gas related securities as well as recommending unsuitable investments to Morgan Stanley customers. Investment firms are required to supervise their brokers and financial advisors to ensure that they are compliant with FINRA rules. FINRA sales practice rules related to potential violations may include misrepresentations and omissions of material facts, conflicts of interest, unsuitable investment advice, securities concentration, or failure to supervise its financial advisors. The sole purpose of this release is to investigate potential sales practices violations and financial misconduct of Yocum, Morgan Stanley, or any of its brokers in connection with unsuitable recommendations to concentrate customer accounts in energy, oil or gas related securities. Current and former customers of Morgan Stanley or Yocum who have information relating to the manner in which the firm represented these financial products are encouraged to contact Lawrence Klayman, Esq. or Raymond Gentile, Esq. of Klayman & Toskes at (888) 997-9956, or visit our website at www.nasd-law.com. About Klayman & Toskes, P.A. K&T is a leading national securities law firm which practices exclusively in the field of securities arbitration and litigation, on behalf of retail and institutional investors throughout the world in large and complex securities matters. The firm represents high net-worth, ultra-high-net-worth, and institutional investors, such as non-profit organizations, unions, public and multi-employer pension funds. K&T has office locations in California, Florida, New York and Puerto Rico. Destination: http://nasd-law.com/notice-to-clients-of-andrew-yocum-and-morgan-stanley-the-securities-arbitration-law-firm-of-klayman-toskes-p-a-has-commenced-an-investigation-in-light-of-recent-regulatory-action-barring-andrew-y/ SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AJRD), has been awarded a contract from Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) to supply the electrical power system for the Dream Chaser, a commercial spacecraft that will carry cargo to and from the International Space Station. The system will regulate power generated from the solar arrays and distribute it to the reusable spacecrafts avionics, thermal and propulsion systems, as well as payloads that require electrical power. Aerojet Rocketdyne is honored to supply a critical power-management system for a spacecraft that will deliver supplies to astronauts living and working onboard the space station, said Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President Eileen Drake. We have been instrumental in efficiently and effectively managing power on the station for decades. We look forward to building upon that experience with Sierra Nevada Corporation, and developing future power systems for use on commercial missions, as well as NASA exploration programs and in-space transportation. The capacity of the rechargeable batteries will allow Dream Chaser to increase its free-flight time in space, as well as support the spacecrafts cargo delivery and return journey back to Earth, said Julie Van Kleeck, vice president of Advanced Space and Launch at Aerojet Rocketdyne. We are proud to be able to provide a low-cost solution for the commercial spacecrafts electrical power system. Aerojet Rocketdyne will design, develop, fabricate, test and integrate SNCs Dream Chaser electrical power system, including power conversion, distribution units and rechargeable batteries. The Dream Chaser is a highly reusable, cost-effective orbital spacecraft that offers significant competitive advantages in terms of payload hosting and mission flexibility. Dream Chaser is part of NASAs Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2) program and leverages more than 40 years of NASA development and space-shuttle heritage. Earlier this year, SNC received a contract from NASA to fulfill at least six cargo delivery missions to and from the station through 2024. Aerojet Rocketdynes electric power management and distribution system will be used on those missions. Aerojet Rocketdyne is an innovative company delivering solutions that create value for its customers in the aerospace and defense markets. The company is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides propulsion and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, tactical systems and armaments areas, in support of domestic and international markets. Additional information about Aerojet Rocketdyne can be obtained by visiting our websites at www.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com. Albany, NY, Aug. 03, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the healthcare market, which comprises systems and software, medical devices, and services, has had a significant impact on the overall healthcare sector and been immensely beneficial in remote clinical monitoring, chronic disease management, preventive care, assisted living, and personal fitness monitoring. Termed as a true game-changer for the healthcare industry, the Internet of Things has transformed the sector by lowering costs, improving efficiency, and bringing the focus back to quality patient care. Download PDF Brochure: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=11975 The IoT in healthcare market includes a number of implanted, wearable, and stationary medical devices used in clinical research organizations, research and diagnostic laboratories, hospitals, clinics, and surgical centers, and defense and government institutions. In the healthcare industry, the Internet of Things can be put to several applications, including clinical operations and workflow management, inpatient monitoring, telemedicine, connected imaging, and medication management. Bluetooth low energy (BLE), ZigBee, satellite, Wi-Fi, near-field communication (NFC), and cellular are some of the key connectivity technologies involved in IoT in healthcare. Considering that the global healthcare industry has been undergoing several changes in a bid to provide accessible, affordable, and quality patient care, advanced and cutting edge technologies are being developed to help the industry cope with these changes. The introduction of IoT in the healthcare sector has transformed the way health services are being delivered. There are a number of factors driving the global market for IoT in healthcare. These include increasing global geriatric population, rising prevalence of various chronic diseases, the surging awareness levels pertaining to the availability of advanced disease management systems, the mounting demand for long-term and short-term healthcare services, and an overall improvement in data management, patient monitoring, and healthcare outcomes. The growing use of smartphones and the improved internet connectivity across the globe are also responsible for the expansion of the IoT in healthcare market. Browse Market Research Report on Internet of Things (IoT) in Healthcare Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/internet-things-healthcare-market.html Global Internet of Things (IoT) in Healthcare Market: Regional Outlook The global market for IoT in healthcare is geographically segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. North America continues to be the highest revenue generating region and analysts predict that the region is likely to retain its lead in the global IoT in healthcare market throughout the forecast period. The rapid growth of the North America IoT in healthcare market can be attributed to the presence of advanced and sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, major technological advancements in the field of healthcare software and medical devices, increased levels of R&D initiatives in IoT, and high levels of disposable income. Global Internet of Things (IoT) in Healthcare Market: Vendor Assessment Adheretech, Cerner Corporation, PhysIQ, Stanley Healthcare, Qualcomm Life Inc., Cisco Systems, Medtronic Inc., GE Healthcare, Proteus Digital Health Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Diabetizer Ltd. & Co. KG, Philips, SAP SE, IBM Corporation, and Honeywell Care Solutions are some of the top companies competing in the global IoT in healthcare market. The nature of this market is immensely oligopolistic, wherein a handful of large, established players dominate the scene with strategies such as collaborative research and development, development of specialized products for specific applications, and acquiring startups with immense potential. This in turn, makes it difficult for smaller players and new entrants to venture into the IoT in healthcare market. Browse Latest Related Research Reports: Fingerprint Identification in Healthcare Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fingerprint-identification-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fingerprint-identification-market.html Real-Time E-Healthcare System Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/real-time-e-healthcare-system-market.html About Us: Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S. based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations. The semitrailer truck driver involved in a crash that claimed six lives on Interstate 80 was inattentive and distracted by outside influences when he rammed into a minivan at a high rate of speed, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper said in an arrest affidavit. The driver, Tony Weekly Jr., 53, of Baker, Florida, was charged in Keith County Court on Tuesday with five counts of felony motor vehicle homicide one for each member of the St. Paul, Minnesota, family who died Sunday in the fiery crash four miles west of Brules I-80 interchange and a single misdemeanor count of reckless driving. The sixth person, Terry Sullivan, 56, was declared dead Monday but was still on life support Tuesday. Weekly, clad in an orange jail jumpsuit, kept his head down as he entered the courtroom Tuesday. When Keith County Judge Edward Steenburg informed him of his right to hire an attorney and asked whether he had any assets, Weekly responded: Sir, I am a month away from losing my house and my car. The judge set an Aug. 29 preliminary hearing on whether he should face trial in Keith County District Court. Steenburg continued Weeklys bail at $1 million of which he must post 10 percent to be released pending a determination of whether he could afford a lesser bail. The crash occurred just before 11:30 a.m. MDT Sunday in a head-to-head crossover construction zone on Interstate 80. All of the vehicles involved were westbound on the Interstate. The construction zone has a posted temporary speed limit of 65 miles per hour. The normal speed limit is 75 mph. Witnesses said Weeklys truck did not slow down until hitting the first vehicle, Trooper Darrell Crawford said in the arrest affidavit. That vehicle was the minivan carrying the Pals family of Minnesota. Jamison and Kathryne Pals and their three children died as a direct result of the initial impact, Crawford said. Before coming to rest, the vehicles forward momentum pushed them into a Plymouth minivan driven by Sullivan, then a Nissan sport utility vehicle and finally a Ford van. Killed Sunday were: Jamison and Kathryne Pals, both 29, and their children, Ezra, 3; Violet, almost 2; and 2-month-old Calvin. Weekly had minor injuries and was taken to Sedgwick County Hospital in Julesburg, Colorado. Authorities drew blood from him but have declined to comment on what the results might reveal. Weekly was driving for Bohren Logistics Inc. of Garrett, Indiana. A statement from the company said: Those of us at Bohren Logistics are heartbroken by this tragic accident. We extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the relatives and friends of the Pals family for this devastating loss. We also wish the best and a speedy recovery for those injured in the accident. Bohren Logistics is committed to cooperating with law enforcement authorities investigating this accident. Fred Zwonechek of the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety said the Sunday crash was the worst in Nebraska since at least Nov. 6, 2006, when five people died in a two-vehicle, head-on crash on Interstate 80 just west of Shelton, between Grand Island and Kearney. The most fatalities from one crash on record in Nebraska occurred Aug. 8, 1976, when 11 people died, Zwonechek said. A train hit a church bus near Stratton, which is west of McCook. The Palses intended to serve as long-term missionaries in Nagoya, Japan. They were headed to Palmer Lake, Colorado, for a five-week session on learning a language and assimilating into another culture, said Dennis Vogan, vice president of personnel development of the ministry organization WorldVenture. The Palses fit perfectly within our organization, Vogan said. The missionaries in Japan were thrilled and looking so forward to their coming, he said. The Palses had raised enough money to fund their mission work, which was to start in October, he said. Rick Pals, Jamisons father, said Tuesday that funeral services would be held at Jamison and Kathrynes church, Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. He said the families of Jamison and Kathryne have been very touched by the outpouring of sincere support they have received. Weve heard from people from all over the country and all around the world, he said. The president of Christ Bible Institute in (Nagoya) Japan is trying to make arrangements to be here for the funeral. Eventually, Rick Pals said, a foundation will be established to continue the missionary work that Jamison and Kathryne envisioned for themselves. For now, people can donate to www.gofundme.com/joyofjapan. As of Tuesday night, $16,500 had been raised toward the $20,000 goal. The generosity has been wonderful, Rick Pals said. Those donations and prayer are really what people can do to help us right now. Jamison Pals worked for just over three years as a grant writer for Feed My Starving Children. The Christian nonprofit based in Eagan, Minnesota, sends meals specially formulated for malnourished children to orphanages, schools, clinics and feeding programs around the world. Andy Carr, the groups vice president of marketing and development, said Jamison and Kathryne Pals were amazing people and good friends. They were the most humble and selfless people that you could ever meet, he said. In todays world where its so much about me, me, me, it was never about them. It was always about others. Carr estimated that Jamison was responsible for writing grants that brought in well over $1 million to the organization. But his work didnt stop there. We work with many small organizations that cant afford to have grant writers and whenever they had questions about how to proceed, wed point them to Jamison, he said. He would gladly assist them, and his impact went far beyond Feed My Starving Children. This report contains material from the World-Herald News Service. Contact the writer: 402-444-1272, kevin.cole@owh.com Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe BOSTON, Aug. 03, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its Climate Ready Boston initiative, the City of Boston has selected Arcadis to assess the citys vulnerabilities related to climate change. Arcadis, the leading design & consultancy firm for natural and built assets, will lead the project team responsible for technical assessment, design and communications support for Climate Ready Boston. This multi-disciplinary team consists of Sasaki Associates and the UMass Boston Climate Institute. The ambitious joint initiative of the City of Boston and the Boston Green Ribbon Commission will provide a planning framework and technical foundation for the Citys long-term climate preparedness. Bostons goal is to produce a more detailed assessment of the Citys physical, infrastructure, environmental and social vulnerabilities to projected climate change. Arcadis is working closely together with University of Massachusetts Boston which provided the climatologic data, and with HR&A Advisors, Inc., which is overseeing the overall program as part of Mayor Walshs Imagine Boston 2030, the first city-wide plan in 50 years. With over a century of experience protecting the notoriously flood-prone Dutch coastline, Arcadis will draw on its Dutch heritage and its global expertise in resiliency and climate adaptation, such as ongoing flood protection projects in New York City after Hurricane Sandy and risk reduction engineering in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. As a result, Arcadis has developed custom tools to evaluate current and future vulnerabilities and risks, as well as identify resiliency strategies that are most beneficial for the long-term sustainability of communities facing a variety of climate-related challenges. Edgar Westerhof, Arcadis national director for flood risk and resiliency, observed, Climate change may be a global threat, but its impacts play out differently from city to city. Understanding the probability of storm disruptions, heat effects and sea level rise in Boston will help the city focus its resources where they are needed most. Addressing the important social aspects of climate risk, engaging the public and creating a vision for the future will put Boston in the forefront of resilience planning. More information about Climate Ready Boston is available at http://climateready.boston.gov. Press contact: Marc Lumpkin, Arcadis, (303) 471-3485 or marc.lumpkin@arcadis.com. About Arcadis Arcadis is the leading global Design & Consultancy firm for natural and built assets. Applying our deep market sector insights and collective design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services, we work in partnership with our clients to deliver exceptional and sustainable outcomes throughout the lifecycle of their natural and built assets. We are 27,000 people active in over 70 countries that generate more than $3.8 billion in revenues. We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. www.arcadis.com. This page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable. To help you find what you are looking for: Enter Search Term(s): Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. To report a broken link or other problems with the website, please include the URL. Thank you for visiting state.gov. Wednesday, 03 August 2016 23:16:21 (GMT+3) | Sao Paulo Argentinian steelmaker Ternium Siderar saw its net profit rise nearly 125 percent in Q2, year-on-year, thanks to increased net sales. Siderar posted an ARS 812 million ($54.6 million) net profit in Q2, up from the ARS 361.3 million profit reported in the same period of the year prior. Net revenues in Q2 rose 14.7 percent, year-on-year, to ARS 6.48 billion, from ARS 5.65 billion. As for Q3, Siderar expects steel shipment levels to be slightly inferior when compared to Q2, which should primarily impact the domestic market, the company said, but they will compensate for weaker domestic demand with higher exports. 1 USD = ARS 14.86 (August 3) Baogang receives subsidy from Baotou municipal government Wednesday, 03 August 2016 10:42:31 (GMT+3) | Shanghai On August 2, Inner Mongolia-based Chinese steelmaker Baotou Iron and Steel (Baogang) announced that Baotou municipal government granted it an environmental subsidy of RMB 165 million ($24.89 million). The subsidy in question will be regarded as non-operating revenue in the companys financial results. Similar articles Wednesday, 03 August 2016 16:57:20 (GMT+3) | Istanbul Coal exports from Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) terminals based at Port of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia , totaled 9.3 million mt in July this year, increasing by 12.1 percent compared to June, according to the company's announcement. 11 percent of the total coal handled at the terminals in July was coking coal According to the released information, Japan was the largest export destination for coal shipments from PWCS in July, with shipments to Japan accounting for 45.4 percent of total shipments, while coal exports to China made up 19.3 percent of the total. Wednesday, 03 August 2016 17:35:29 (GMT+3) | Istanbul According to a document from the UK Department of International Trade seen by SteelOrbis, the EU antidumping (AD) duty on imports of cold rolled (CR) flat steel from China and Russia will be collected retroactively. Regarding this intention of the European Commission (EC), the International Steel Trade Association (ISTA), representing the UK and other steel users, has stated that the retroactive collection of duties would cause unreasonable harm to European importers, without providing any benefits to the EU industry. The ISTA also said that the registration of imports has sufficiently served its purpose of reducing imports and preventing that the remedial effect of duties would be undermined. In February this year, the European Commission announced its provisional antidumping duty margins of 19.8 percent to 26.2 percent for cold rolled flat steel imports from Russia and margins of 52.7 percent to 59.1 percent for imports of the same products from China. In December last year, the commission ordered the registration of the mentioned imports from China and Russia, highlighting the possibility of imposing antidumping and countervailing duties for both import sources. The products in question currently fall under Customs Tariff Statistics Position Numbers 7209 15 00, 7209 16 90, 7209 17 90, 7209 18 91, 7209 18 99, 7209 25 00, 7209 26 90, 7209 27 90, 7209 28 90, 7211 23 30, 7211 23 80, 7211 29 00, 7225 50 80 and 7226 92 00. Wednesday, 03 August 2016 23:39:12 (GMT+3) | San Diego Pittsburgh-based L.B. Foster Company has been awarded a contract by American Bridge Company of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania for the fabrication of new steel grid bridge decking and traffic and pedestrian railings for the international Peace Bridge Rehabilitation Project. L.B. Foster will provide 194,000 SF of deck panels and 17,400 LF of railing for the rehabilitation of the historic bridge that spans the Niagara River from Buffalo, New York to Fort Erie, Ontario. The existing rebar reinforced deck slab and bridge railing on the Peace Bridge is being replaced with L.B. Fosters steel grid reinforced concrete deck panels and railing systems. The design specifies that the railing anchor bolts penetrate the new bridge decking, requiring the railing and deck panel installation to be coordinated. L.B. Fosters engineering department will be detailing both the grid deck panels and bridge railing to ensure critical component matchup during installation. The grid material will be fabricated in L.B. Foster's plant in Bedford, PA. Our fabricated steel panels will be staged on both the Canadian and US ends of the Peace Bridge. The grid will reinforce the deck concrete to form a composite material that improves the spans strength-to-weight ratio, noted Chris Davis, General Manager, Sales and Marketing, L.B. Foster Fabricated Bridge Products. L.B. Fosters lightweight 5 half-filled steel grid decking will strengthen the spans structural integrity and increase its live load capacity. Wednesday, 03 August 2016 15:22:08 (GMT+3) | Istanbul Iron ore production at Peru s only producer, Shougang Hierro Peru , was down by 1.3 percent year on year in June this year, according to data issued by the countrys mines and energy ministry. Shougang produced 721,889 mt of the commodity in June, down from 731,410 mt in the same month of 2015. Wednesday, 03 August 2016 23:36:18 (GMT+3) | San Diego Illinois-based private equity firm Union Partners I LLC has acquired Michigan-based steel service center Berg Steel Corp. for an undisclosed sum, the company announced Wednesday, adding that there would be no interruption in service to Berg Steel's customers. Union Partners portfolio investments in the steel industry include Mapes & Sprowl Steel LLC, Chicago Steel Holdings LLC, JIT Steel Services LLC, JIT Steel Transport, Cortran LLC, and Opus Metals LLC. "This acquisition is a perfect complement to our Michigan infrastructure in Grand Rapids, Gibraltar and Farmington Hills; and we are excited to welcome Berg Steel to our family of companies" said Paul Douglass of Union Partners. Omne wrote: I'd suggest taking it prior, to show the AdComs that you thought of this before the application process. I'm sure they'd still look at your alternate transcript, but being able to say "I am so motivated and interested in your MBA program that I enrolled in and aced Such and Such Course from UCLA Extension!" I recently signed up for Math for Managers at UCLA Extension Online to do just that, and combat a poor mark in Quant and Stats at WFU. I went so far as to sign up at 5AM the day enrollment began, to prevent any possible way of me missing this course! It ends in September (short, just about two months), so I can send that transcript with my undergrad and say "I know my marks weren't up to my standards in these classes, so I took this class at UCLA to show that I can handle the rigorous program at University of Awesome. Way to be thinking ahead on this one. I really like your idea!! Wednesday, 03 August 2016 16:22:01 (GMT+3) | Istanbul In July this year, sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Turkey decreased by 30.18 percent year on year and were down by 36.06 percent month on month to 58,533 units, according to the statistics released by the Turkish Automotive Distributors Association (ODD). In the given month, domestic sales of passenger cars in Turkey decreased by 29.04 percent year on year and were down by 35.9 percent month on month to 45,566 units, while sales of light commercial vehicles decreased by 33.9 percent year on year and were down by 36.5 percent month on month to 12,967 units. Meanwhile, in the January-July period of this year domestic sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles saw a decrease of 3.69 percent year on year, amounting to 497,350 units. In the given period, domestic sales of passenger cars in the country decreased by 2.04 percent to 384,048 units, while sales of light commercial vehicles fell by 8.86 percent to 113,302 units, both on year-on-year basis. By MARK EVANS mevans@stegenherald.com Bloomsdale will probably host a major fireworks display. The pyrotechnics will not take place until 2024, however. During the Oct. 12 board of aldermen meeting, Kevin Wehner and city officials again discussed the possibility of a July 4 fireworks display at the youth soccer fields on land leased by the city Hi there,Thanks for sharing your details. I think most of the top full-time programs are going to be out of reach because of your educational background. However, depending on your goals, an Executive MBA might be an option for you. Can you share a little more about your goals in finance?_________________ A Staten Island couple claims their pit bull Cesar is being treated unjustly by a city investigation that could end in the 7-year-old dog being put down. Kristina and Douglas Panattieri, along with their attorney Richard Bruce Rosenthal, insist that administrative courts and the Department of Health are denying Cesar "certain minimal due-process rights," the Post reports. In May, the 70 pound Cesar reportedly escaped from the Panattieri's New Dorp backyard and seized upon a chihuahua that was being walked by its 77-year-old owner Eugene Charles. The tabloid reports that Cesar "ripped apart" the small dog, who was named Charlie, and when the elderly man attempted to free it from the pit bull's jaws he suffered 18 puncture wounds. "[Cesar] was thrashing Charlie back and forth like he was a rag doll," Charles told the Daily News. "He just ripped Charlie apart." Speaking with the Post, Rosenthal argued that Cesar bit Charles's hands because he was "provoked," and that the courts that advise the DoH on which dangerous dogs should be put down operates under a "guilty unless proven innocent" mentality. City records show that a year before Cesar killed the small chihuahua he had broken into a yard and killed a Maltese, and in 2010 the city claims he attacked a woman and killed her cat. The Panattieris blame Cesar's victims for their own deaths: they told the News that the cat made the mistake of wandering into their home from another apartment, and allege the maltese killed in 2015 was unleashed and ran at Cesar. However, they admit that the pit bull's ability to escape their backyard led to the death of Charlie the chihuahua. According to the Panattieris' suit, the pit bull is being held at the New York City Animal Care and Control Shelter. City lawyers have filed a petition against Cesar, claiming that his repeated killings confirm that he's a dangerous dog that must be euthanized. Dr. Peter Borchelt, an animal behaviorist who has observed Cesar, recommended to the News that he be put down. Borchelt describes Cesar as "very reactive" around other dogs in the shelter. In June, DoH lawyer Christina King wrote that Borchelt "believes that his predatory behavior will be extremely difficulty to modify and any effort to do so would involve too high a risk of legal liability." A Manhattan Supreme Court hearing will determine Cesar's fate on August 15th. Rosenthal told the News that the dog's owners have offered to keep him muzzled and harnessed when he leaves their home and put him through "Canine Good Citizen" training. The dog is, according to their attorney, "like a child to them." Breakfast for dinner: pancakes sweet and savory, waffles with or without chicken, omelets, frittatas and just about any egg dish. Yum. My household continues the tradition even though we no longer have young children. These days, we even enjoy a cocktail with our breakfast. The good news when the repast is served in the evening: Cocktails happily move beyond the bloody mary. Yes, bourbon, scotch, amaros and dark bitters prove more than welcome. A requirement: Breakfast for dinner satisfies best when embracing savory elements. Bacon and other smoked meats and fish suffice, even in small quantities. For example, I cook multigrain pancakes in bacon fat when serving them late in the day. I add chopped ham to my scrambled eggs or top omelets with slivers of smoked salmon. Likewise, vegetables make a welcome appearance: sauteed spinach on a fried egg sandwich and caramelized onions in the frittata. Fresh herbs added to butter transform an evening waffle topped with crispy chicken. After a day of biking in Austria, we ordered grostl, a hash made with crispy fried potatoes, sweet onions and chopped pork sausages. Topped with a fried egg, this homey, satisfying skillet of goodness made us glad wed exercised all day. It also made me recall some excellent breakfast hash adventures. At home, we venture beyond the standard canned corned beef hash especially when there is leftover meat in the house. Hash comes from the French verb hacher, literally to chop, which is the only requirement for hash that it be chopped. Hash on the menu provides an opportunity to rekindle your food processor romance. It makes quick work of chopping the vegetables. However, I prefer a super-sharp knife and a cutting board to dice any meats, so I have pretty, little chunks to add to the hash. Im a huge fan of ready-cut vegetables sold in the produce section, particularly ones difficult to manage such as butternut squash. Chopped and browned with bacon fat, butternut makes a fine hash. Sweet potatoes work in the recipe that follows, as do small new potatoes. Use dark purple varieties for a dramatic flair. Add onions, garlic and spices to hashed veggies for maximum flavor and texture. I also pair smoked meats, such as ham or smoked pork chops, with the slightly sweet butternut. Use the best bacon and smoked meats you can afford; I seek out uncured varieties, so they are free of nitrates and other additives. Boars Head, Applegate Farms and other brands are now readily available at supermarkets and on Amazon. Ive never had a hash that wasnt improved by the addition of a fried egg. Ditto for a crunchy nut topping. Here, I toast Brazil nuts (find them shelled at Trader Joes) and chop them with garlicky croutons, fresh lemon and green onions. Since virtually all hash, like our Austrian grostl, is quite rich, you can easily stretch the recipe that follows to 6 servings. Simply increase the eggs to an even dozen and cook them in batches. History class teaches kids about some of the most consequential people in human history, like Hammurabi, Joan of Arc, George Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Karl Rove. And while there are after-school religion clubs that allow children to learn that all of this allegedly flows from the hands of God, they've been missing an opportunity to learn about who's probably really been behind the scenes this whole time: Satan. Now though, the Satanic Temple of New York City is hoping they can change that with the introduction of an After School Satan Club, according to the New York Post. The Satanic Temple of New York City has a...well not actually all that devilish plan, to introduce After School Satan Club offerings to New York City school kids between the ages of 5 and 12. According to Satanic Temple of New York City co-founder Lucien Graves, the potential offering is a counter-balance to the city's existing after-school Christian clubs, and a chance for children to learn that you can in fact "embrace the iconography of Satan and still lead a moral life," he told the Post. The clubs would offer your standard after-school activities like reading and art projects, but based around the idea of living your life according to the teachings of the Morning Star. They would also offer snacks, which is a very important part of any after-school club. The effort follows in the footsteps of Satanist temples across the country attempting to open clubs in Maryland, Utah, Texas and Arizona according to the Washington Post. The temple has good legal standing to introduce the clubs, since the Department of Education can only ban clubs that encourage discrimination, and the temple's seven fundamental tenets include such reasonable beliefs as "One should strive to act with compassion and empathy towards all creatures in accordance with reason" and "Ones body is inviolable, subject to ones own will alone." The biggest issue holding up the establishment of a club in any school would be getting a teacher to sponsor it. David Prince, a veteran teacher in the New York City school system, told us he would pass up being a Satanic sponsor, because "clubs are zero sumhaving a Young Satanists club means that there won't be a club for arts, music, cooking, robotics, or enrichment. In an ideal school with unlimited funding, as long as the club was able to promote the academic development of the students, why not? Kids should be exposed to different worldviews, and the Young Satanists club is certainly unique. But realistically, I would rather the students play a sport or take part in one of the activities above." Another current New York City school teacher, who requested anonymity to avoid the hassle from the DOE, was also cool to the idea of sponsoring a club. "If this was a genuine effort to enrich the lives of the students within the New York City public school system and they wanted to slap a Church of Satan sticker on it, that would be one thing, but this reeks of purely political motives. This is Jared Leto preparing for Suicide Squad: A bunch of obnoxious theater for the benefit of a few self-righteous douches with no added benefit to the end product." Updated at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday with victim's name ST. LOUIS Police said Wednesday that Derek Breckelmann, 27, was the man killed when a minivan collided with Metro bus here Tuesday morning. Breckelmann, of the 100 block of Mann Street in Lemay, was a passenger in the van. Police said he was thrown out and run over by the bus. It happened at about 10:45 a.m. in the 8500 block of Alabama Avenue, near the intersection of River City Boulevard. Police said the bus, driven south on Alabama by a woman, 58, struck the right side of the van. No other serious injuries were reported, but two other occupants of the van, a man, 67, and a woman, 64, were taken to a hospital, officials said. JERSEYVILLE Police are asking for help to find an Illinois man who was reported missing from here weeks after he was last seen. Dean March, 25, of Jerseyville, was reported missing by family members on July 30. Jersey County Sheriff Mark Kallal said Wednesday that his deputies were told when the report was filed that March was last seen in early July. Jerseyville is about 30 miles north of St. Louis. Friends of the missing man are squabbling over on a Facebook post meant to rally people to help search for March, adding to the confusion in the investigation, police say. The post, made on the Jersey County Illinois Scanner Page, encouraged people to bring ATVs, flashlights and bottled water to a search effort earlier this week. The post said March was last seen going into the woods by Indian Lake Road in Jerseyville, that he liked to hike and that family members were concerned he might have been caught up in flash flooding near the area. Comments on the post devolved into a battle about who was last with March. There is "a lot of finger pointing" in this case, Kallal said. He said he is hoping to close the case before he retires from his sheriff's job Thursday. "We are seeking individuals that may or may not be involved in a potential circle that might have information that could lead us to him," he said. Kallal said some of the persons of interest are cooperating and some aren't. He said one even hung up the phone on him. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 618-498-6881. ST. LOUIS Prosecutors filed charges Tuesday naming David Holmon, 44, on two counts of selling liquor without a license at a pair of clubs west of downtown that were raided July 26. A judge set bail at $5,000 for Holmon, of the 1500 block of Washington Avenue. Police identified him as owner of the businesses. The clubs are the Rustic Goat/Horny Goat or HG Danceclub, at 2617 Washington, and The Lux, at 2619 Washington, Police ordered customers to leave that night and closed the bars. Police said the Rustic Goat had been operating on an expired state liquor license since June 30, and that The Lux operated without a state liquor license for 12 months, and without a city license since May 11. Another University of Missouri System leader is moving on. Zora Mulligan was tapped Wednesday by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to be the next commissioner for the Missouri Department of Higher Education. Mulligan was brought on under former president Tim Wolfe as his chief of staff during 2014. She continued in her role under interim president Mike Middleton after Wolfes resignation. The office wont be new for Mulligan, who was assistant commissioner and general counsel for the state department from 2007-2010. She also did a stint with the attorney generals office before moving on to be the executive director of the Missouri Community College Association where she lobbied for all 12 community colleges statewide. Filling a vacancy left by David Russell, who retired in January after five years at the departments helm, Mulligan will be responsible for shepherding policy issues for all of Missouris higher education institutions. She will begin her new job Aug. 29. Like Mulligan, Russell came to the job from the UM System chief of staff role. As chief of staff, Mulligan was the liaison among the presidents office, other system leaders and the Board of Curators. ST. LOUIS Eric Greitens, the Maryland Heights native who turned his service with the elite Navy SEALs into a national brand and, then, into his debut political campaign, emerged from a bruising four-way primary Tuesday as Missouri's Republican nominee for governor. Meanwhile, state Attorney General Chris Koster easily won the Democratic gubernatorial primary over three minor candidates, as expected. The results mean that, on Nov. 8, the state's gubernatorial race will be between Koster, a former Republican turned Democrat, and Greitens, a former Democrat turned Republican. "Are you ready to take back our state?" a jubilant Greitens shouted to supporters in a Chesterfield rally after the results made it clear he had won. "We're ready to rock!" Greitens who as recently as 2010 was being wooed to run for office by the Democratic party vowed to lead "a conservative revolution" and "take our state back" after eight years under a Democratic governor. Drawing on one of the aggressive activities highlighted in his attention-grabbing campaign ads, Greitens honored his primary opponents with a boxing metaphor: "I say to all of you, congratulations on a hard fight. You left it all in the ring." In what may stand as a sign of the elective times, Greitens, who has never before run for public office, handily beat three more experienced politicos: Frontenac businessman John Brunner, who unsuccessfully sought the state's 2012 GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate; former Missouri House Speaker Catherine Hanaway of Ladue; and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau. Greitens, 42, of St. Louis, won in most areas across the state, with a final lead over second-place-finisher Brunner of about 10 percentage points. Polls in the days before the race indicated a virtual four-way tie but also a large portion of voters undecided, indicating that late-deciders broke heavily Greitens' way. Greitens' nomination caps one of the most contentious primary fights in Missouri elective history, and the most expensive, with some $22 million in combined spending by the four candidates. Greitens late Tuesday boasted of having won the primary through a "grass-roots movement." In fact, the roughly $8 million that he spent to win more than any of his three opponents was contributed primarily by wealthy mega-donors from outside Missouri, a factor that became a campaign issue in the race. In the end, the GOP primary election may be remembered more for Greitens' military-themed television ads than for any substantive policy difference between the candidates. In addition to a commercial showing him boxing, there was one in which he fires a semi-automatic rifle across a field to spark an explosion. The race began in early 2015 as a contest between Hanaway and state Auditor Tom Schweich. But Schweich committed suicide in February 2015, after complaining bitterly about tactics of fellow Republicans against him. This included a radio advertisement that mocked Schweich's modest physical stature. The ad was later tied to well-known Kansas City political operative Jeff Roe, who had worked with Hanaway's campaign. Though Hanaway disavowed any involvement in the ad, Schweich's death spurred in-party opposition to her and ultimately drew in the crowded four-way field. Hanaway finished at the bottom among the four candidates in Tuesday's voting, according to unofficial returns. "I'm very glad I did this," Hanaway told supporters in a tearful concession speech in Brentwood late Tuesday. "I set a little example for young women to go out and take a chance." Brunner, a former CEO, spent more than $6 million of his own money in the race. During his failed 2012 U.S. Senate primary, Brunner spent about $8 million of his own money. "There are more races, more battles, more fights ahead," Brunner told supporters late Tuesday. When Kinder finishes his third term as lieutenant governor in January, he will be out of public office for the first time in 24 years. He was first elected to the state Senate in 1992. "It was not to be tonight," Kinder told supporters in Cape Girardeau. "Things are never as rosy as they seem when you win, and theyre never as dark when you come up short." Under Missouri's unusual campaign finance system, which imposes no limits, Greitens has been funded overwhelmingly by high-money donors across the country. It was a base spurred in part by his founding of "The Mission Continues," a national organization that arranges community service projects by military veterans; and by several bestselling self-help books he has written. Greitens had to fend off attacks from his fellow Republicans over his acceptance of $1 million in donations from Michael Goguen, a California venture capitalist who has been accused in a high-profile lawsuit of sexually abusing a female acquaintance for years. In the final days of the campaign, a federal PAC funded by national Democrats jumped into the fray with radio commercials against Greitens, indicating he was the Republican the opposing party least wanted to face in November. The long, raucous race took its toll on Greitens' once-dominant finances. He goes into the general election with under $1 million left, according to the latest campaign finance records. By contrast, Koster, who ran virtually no primary campaign at all against three little-known competitors, was sitting on more than $10 million as of late July, records show. Even as Missourians watched primary election returns late Tuesday, Koster's first television commercials of the campaign were being broadcast. Koster, 51, is completing his second term as attorney general. He was a Republican until he switched parties in 2007, citing his differences with the GOP over its opposition to stem-cell research and his support of labor issues. In Tuesday's Democratic primary, Koster easily vanquished Leonard Joseph Steinman II of Jefferson City; former Kansas City Mayor Charles B. Wheeler, who served in the 1970s and is 89; and Eric Morrison, a bishop for Kingdom Word Ministry in Kansas City. "In this room, we dont tear down collective bargaining, we always, always defend it," Koster told supporters late Tuesday. "In this room, we dont discriminate against gay people, we fight against it." Outgoing Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon was prevented by term limits from seeking a third term. JEFFERSON CITY After months of attack ads and mudslinging, University of Missouri law professor Josh Hawley clobbered Sen. Kurt Schaefer in the high-priced Republican primary race to be the states top lawyer. The winner of the often-nasty GOP contest for Missouri attorney general will face off against former Cass County prosecutor Teresa Hensley, who overcame a closer race against St. Louis County assessor Jake Zimmerman for the Democratic nomination. Hawley, a Columbia resident who has never held elective office, spent the campaign touting his role in a religious liberty lawsuit that his legal team won before the U.S. Supreme Court. He said his status as a political newcomer was a bonus in his race against a sitting state senator. People are sick and tired of Jefferson City. They want the place cleaned up and cleaned out, said Hawley, who was monitoring returns Tuesday night at a restaurant in Springfield. Schaefer, also of Columbia, countered Hawleys inexperience in politics with his position as a top legislative budget hawk and the leader of an investigation into the practices of Planned Parenthood. Schaefer, who was elected to the Senate in 2008, received more than $3.8 million in contributions from retired St. Louis financier Rex Sinquefield, while Hawley benefited from more than $2.25 million in donations from executives of Tamko Building Products in Joplin. Hawley also received at least $2 million in support from independent groups, including a $561,000 ad buy from the State Conservative Reform Action political action committee. A native of Lexington in rural Lafayette County, Hawley received his law degree at Yale and clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Before joining the Mizzou law school faculty, Hawley, 36, worked as an appellate litigator in Washington and served as senior counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which handled a high-profile case involving Hobby Lobby and the Affordable Care Act. Hawley said that if elected, he would form a public corruption unit to investigate and prosecute ethical violations in the capital city. He also said he would fight against federal overreach on issues such as religious liberty and environmental regulations. I think people want someone who can stand up to the bureaucrats in Washington, Hawley said. Schaefer, 50, spent much of the past two years as a senator taking leading roles on issues designed to help him at the ballot box. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Schaefer led the charge to investigate and defund Planned Parenthood. He did not return messages Tuesday. Hawley is vying to take over an office that has been in Democratic hands for more than two decades. The last Republican to serve as attorney general was William Webster, who held the office from 1985 to 1993. Incumbent Chris Koster, a Democrat, is now running for governor. In the Democratic race, Hensley bested Zimmerman, despite being outspent by her cross-state rival by a nearly 4-to-1 ratio. Hensley, 57, said she had more courtroom experience than all three of her counterparts combined. After practicing law for 14 years, Hensley was appointed to serve as Cass County prosecutor in 2005, replacing Koster when he moved to the Senate. Ill serve as the peoples attorney protecting women, children, seniors and working families and carrying out the law in a fair way, no one ignored and no one above the law, Hensley said in a statement. Thats what Ive done over 25 years and what Ill do as attorney general. Shes coming off two previous electoral losses, having made an unsuccessful run for Congress in 2012 and then losing her bid for re-election as prosecutor in 2014. Along with serving as an assistant attorney general, Zimmerman, 42, was an attorney in then-Gov. Bob Holdens office and served in the Missouri House from 2006 to 2011. Zimmerman wanted to use the office as a bully pulpit to weigh in on ethical issues in the Capitol, but said he was outgunned by strong turnout for Hensley in the Kansas City area. Im excited to see her beat Josh Hawley this fall and keep this position in Democratic hands, Zimmerman said. Zimmermans term as assessor ends in 2018. 11:30 p.m. With nearly all the votes in, state Sen. Mike Parson has been declared the winner of the Republican race for lieutenant governor according to The Associated Press. Parson reportedly won the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor over Bev Randles and Arnie Dienoff. Parson is expected to face Russ Carnahan in the general election this November The Associated Press reports. Steven Hendrick is the Libertarian candidate for the position. He ran unopposed. Republican Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder did not win the GOP nomination for governor. Robin Smith, a first-time candidate for public office, was the frontrunner in the Democratic primary race for secretary of state. Jay Ashcroft was the leader in the Republican contest for the position. 11: 15 p.m. The Associated Press reports former U.S. Rep. Judy Baker has won the Democratic nomination for state treasurer over former U.S. diplomat Pat Contreras. With 91 percent of precincts reported, Judy Baker has a 22 percent lead over Contreras. Baker is expected to face Republican Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt and Libertarian Sean O'Toole. Schmitt and O'Toole ran unopposed. 10:45 p.m. Teresa Hensley has won the Democratic nomination for attorney general over her opponent Jake Zimmerman, according to The Associated Press. Hensley was leading Zimmerman by more than 5 percent of votes. The race had been neck and neck earlier in the evening. Hensley could face GOP primary race winner Josh Hawley in the general election in November. 10:30 p.m. Democratic candidate Russ Carnahan has won the party nomination for Missouri lieutenant governor according to The Associated Press. The former U.S. representative beat opponents Winston Apple and Tommie Pierson. The winner of the Republican race has not yet been reported. Front runner Mike Parson continues to lead Bev Randles. 10:06 p.m. Josh Hawley wins the Republican race for attorney general, The Associated Press reports. GOP Sen. Kurt Schaefer has conceded according to the AP. 9:55 p.m. The Associated Press has called the nominees in the Missouri race for U.S. Senate. Democratic candidate Jason Kander and Republican incumbent Roy Blunt will face each other in the general election in November. 9:35 p.m. At almost 50 percent of statewide votes in, candidates with sizable leads are continuing to hold their spots. The race remains close in the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Republican candidate Josh Hawley keeps his lead on Sen. Kurt Schaefer. Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander leads in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary race. Incumbent Roy Blunt also holds his lead with more than 70 percent of votes. Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Russ Carnahan has pulled ahead of his opponents and in the Republican race GOP candidates Mike Parson leads Bev Randles. Robin Smith, who hasn't held public office before, is holding a comfortable lead in the Democratic race for secretary of state. Similarly, Republican candidate Jay Ashcroft is ahead of his opponents in the race for the same office. In the race for state treasurer, former state Rep. Judy Baker has been leading her opponent Democrat Pat Contreras for most of the evening. 8:50 p.m. The Democratic race for attorney general is neck and neck as votes come in. St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman and his opponent former Cass County prosecutor Teresa Hensley are nearly splitting the votes. Hensley, at the moment, is ahead. But the leader has alternated between the two. More than 15 percent of votes are in statewide. 8:00 p.m. With results from a just a few precincts in, Republican Josh Hawley is leading Sen. Kurt Schaefer for the GOP nomination for attorney general by 25 percentage points. Democratic candidate Jake Zimmerman also has a small lead on his opponent Teresa Hensley. Republican candidate for lieutenant governor Mike Parson is leading fellow contestant Bev Randles by a little more than six percentage points so far. Meanwhile, predicted favorite for secretary of state Democratic candidate Robin Smith has a sizable lead on her opponents. Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander is also leading the pack of Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate with more than 68 percent of the votes tallied so far. Republican Sen. Roy Blunt has more than 73 percent of the votes at this point. 7:00 p.m. After the governor's race, contests for attorney general are the highlights of tonight's primary election. Large cash contributions from Republican mega-donors and out-of-state groups have fueled the two GOP candidates for attorney general, turning the race into a major focal point of the election season. Republican candidates Sen. Kurt Schaefer and University of Missouri law professor Josh Hawley are on track to spend more than a total of $10 million, a portion of which went to funding several controversial television attack ads against each other. The two GOP contenders hope to take on one of two Democrats, St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman and former Cass County prosecutor Teresa Hensley, in the general election this November. Incumbent Chris Koster is running in the Democratic primary for Missouri governor. In other closely watched races for lieutenant governor, treasurer and secretary of state, candidates of color could break new ground with their nominations Democrat Pat Contreras is seeking the party nomination for Missouri treasurer. It is believed he is the first Latino to seek statewide office in the state and would make history if he won. In the contest for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, it is believed that if Kansas City attorney Bev Randles wins she would be the first African American woman to appear on a major-party statewide ballot in Missouri in modern history. Another African-American woman, former television reporter and anchor Robin Smith, is a favorite in the Democratic race for secretary of state. Finally, another closely watched race will be the contest for U.S. Senate. Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander is slated to win the Democratic nomination while incumbent Sen. Roy Blunt is expected to be the Republican nominee. Here are the latest updates on local races. See story below for details on candidates and issues. At 11:30 p.m. State Rep. Rochelle Walton Gray soundly defeated veteran County Councilman Mike O'Mara in the Democratic primary contest for north county's 4th District seat. Gray received 10,723 votes, or 61 percent, according to complete but unofficial results. O'Mara has 6,825 votes. The contest was viewed as a test of traditional north county labor-union strength and the area's increasing number of black residents. Gray is black, O'Mara is a business representative for Pipefitters and Plumbers Local 562, long a powerhouse in north county. In the 15th state Senate district seat in southwest St. Louis County, state Rep. Andrew Koenig defeated Rick Stream. The unofficial final results gave Koenig 13,756 votes to Stream's 12,129. Koenig will face Democrat Stephen Eagleton, a nephew of the late U.S. Sen. Thomas F. Eagleton, who edged Mark Boyko in the Republican-leaning district. At 11:05 p.m. State Rep. Kimberly Gardner easily won the Democratic nomination to replace St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, who did not seek re-election. With all city results in, Gardner received 19,562 votes, or 46.6 percent, in the four-candidate race. In second place was Mary Pat Carl, with 9,910 votes, or less than half of Gardner's total. No Republican filed for the office. Former St. Louis sheriff's deputy Vernon Betts easily won the Democratic nomination for sheriff to replace Jim Murphy, who is retiring. Betts received 43 percent of the vote in a five-candidate field, followed by Alderman Joe Vaccaro with 31.4 percent. Betts will face Republican John Castellano III, a sheriff's deputy, in November. Former alderman Fred Wessels won the Democratic nomination for the 81st state House district in far south St. Louis, receiving 1,839 votes, or 48 percent. Placing second was Steve Butz with 35.7 percent. Far behind was Adam Kustra with 16 percent. At 10:40 p.m. U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay coasted to renomination in Tuesday's primary. With almost all of the vote from north St. Louis County and most 71 percent counted in the city, Clay has a margin of more than 60 percent to seek a ninth term as congressman in the district once held by his father, former Rep. William L. Clay. Trailing far behind Lacy Clay was state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, who gave him a spirited race but received less than half of the votes he received. He had 45,096 votes to her 19,108 in the nearly completed count. Perennial candidate Bill Haas was far behind. At 10:30 p.m. Park-related issues did well in St. Charles County in Tuesday's election. In St. Charles city, voters gave 64 percent yest to a 1/2-cent sales tax for parks and stormwater projects. And in St. Peters, 65 percent of votes cast favored a $12 million bond issue for parks that won't require a tax incease. At 10:20 p.m. State Rep. Kimberly Gardner is coasting to victory in the Democratic nomination for St. Louis circuit attorney. With about 70 percent of the vote counted, Gardner has 14,075 votes, or 45 percent, nearly twice that of her nearest challenger, Mary Pat Carl, with 7,742 votes. At 10:10 p.m. Steve Pelton easily won the Republican nomination to replace his boss, Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke, who is retiring. Pelton, a lieutenant in the department, received 11,408 votes, or 56 percent, to defeat fellow Lt. Jason Grellner with 40 percent, followed far behind by Dan Page. No Democratic candidate filed for the office, so Pelton is a shoe-in to become sheriff. At 10:05 p.m. State Rep. Andrew Koenig has a clear lead in the GOP contest for 15th state Senate district. With all but eight of 132 precincts reporting in the southwest St. Louis County district, Koenig has 12,489 votes, or 55.4 percent, to Rick Stream's 10,068. And state Rep. Rochelle Walton Gray has unseated St. Louis County Councilman Mike O'Mara in the north county Fourth District. With 84 of 87 precincts reporting, Gray has 9,689 votes, or 60.7 percent, to O'Mara's 6,254. Voters in Glendale gave 83 percent approval to a 1/4-cent sales tax for their fire department. At 10 p.m. Businessman Bill Eigel narrowly won the Republican nomination for the 23rd state Senate district in eastern St. Charles County. According to final but unofficial results, Eigel received 11,141 votes to 10,756 for state Rep. Anne Zerr. The race was watched as a test of GOP sentiment on the "right to work". Zerr bucked her party in legislative votes, and Eigel received strong backing from major right-to-work supporters. Richard Orr defeated Greg Upchurch to represent the Democrats in the Republican-leaning district. At 9:45 p.m. State Rep. Kimberly Gardner has a strong lead in the four-candidate race for the Democratic nomination for St. Louis Circuit Attorney. With 84 of 222 city precincts reporting, Gardner has 8,771 votes, or 49 percent, following by Mary Pat Carl with 3,750. Pat Hamacher has 2,692 and Steve Harmon, 2,438. Vernon Betts had a strong lead in the five-candidate bid for Democratic nomination for St. Louis city sheriff. At 9:40 p.m. Dave Marshak won the GOP nomination for sheriff to replace his retiring boss, Jefferson County Sheriff Oliver "Glenn" Boyer, according to complete but unofficial results. Marshak had 12,450 votes, or 50.7 percent, followed by Ron Arnhart with 8,075 and Sean Cooper with 4,046. Marshak, a captain in the sheriff's department, will face another supervisor, Lt. Col. Steve Meinberg, the Democrat, in the Nov. 8 general election. At 9:30 p.m. State Rep. Rochelle Walton Gray has a resounding lead in her bid to unseat veteran St. Louis County Councilman Mike O'Mara in the Fourth District Democratic primary. With 50 of 87 precincts reporting in the north county district, Gray has 5,701 votes, or 60 percent, to O'Mara's 3,742. In the Missouri Senate 15th District in southwest St. Louis County, Rick Stream was leading in the GOP primary to replace Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt. With 44 of 132 precincts reporting, Stream had 4,706 votes, or 53 percent, to state Rep. Andrew Koenig's 4,706. Stephen Eagleton narrowly led Mark Boyko in the Democratic primary for the Republican-leaning district. At 9:15 p.m. State Rep. Anne Zerr has taken a narrow lead in the hard-fought GOP contest for the 23rd state Senate District. With 46 of 63 precincts reporting, or about 70 percent, Zerr had 7,797 votes to Bill Eigel's 7,570, with Mike Carter at 4,142. In Franklin County, Steve Pelton has maintained his strong lead for the GOP bid for sheriff. With 43 of 51 precincts reporting, Pelton had 9,771 votes, or nearly 56 percent, followed by Jason Grellner at 7,110 votes and Dan Page at 644. At 8:45 p.m. Bill Eigel is maintaining a lead in the hard-fought Republican primary for 23rd state Senate seat in the eastern half of St. Charles county. With eight of 63 precincts reporting, Eigel has 1,196 votes to state Rep. Anne Zerr with 1,083 and Mike Carter with 723. At 8:35 p.m. In the three-candidate Republican contest to replace Jefferson County Sheriff Oliver "Glenn" Glenn Boyer, Dave Marshak has a strong lead with 3,113 votes, according to results from 13 of 56 precincts. Ron Arnhart has 2,155 and Sean Cooper, 1,017. The winner will face Democrat Steve Meinberg. At 8:25 p.m. In Franklin County, Steve Pelton has the early lead in the three-candidate Republican primary to replace Sheriff Gary Toelke. With 13 of 51 precincts reporting, Pelton has 3,329 votes to 2,730 for Jason Grellner, followed by Dan Page with 220. At 8:15 p.m. The first trickle of votes from St. Charles County's 23rd state Senate District GOP primary is as expected -- a tight battle. With the first of 63 precincts reported, Bill Eigel has 97 votes, state Rep. Anne Zerr has 88 and Wentzville judge Mike Carter has 72. The contest is seen as a test of "right to work" because Zerr opposed it in the Legislature and has labor's support. Eigel has big backing from right-to-work forces who want to purge the GOP of pro-labor legislators. At 8:05 p.m. U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay is ahead in the first votes reported in his bid for a ninth term in the First Congressional District. According to the absentee count in St. Louis city, he had 2,285 votes to 648 for state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, following by frequent candidate Bill Haas with 345. No results have been reported yet from St. Louis County. The district covers the city and most of north county. At 7:45 p.m. State Rep. Kimberly Gardner took the first lead in the Democratic race for St. Louis attorney, according to a count of absentee votes. It's still far too early, but the absentee count provides the first numbers of the night. Gardner has 1,409 of them, followed by Mary Pat Carl with 800, Steve Harmon with 618 and Pat Hamacher at 388. The absentee count also gives former alderman Fred Wessels a lead in the Democratic primary for the 81st state House district. He has 120 votes to 37 for Steve Butz, his man opponent in the spirited race in far south St. Louis. Trailing them is Adam Kustra with 24. Former St. Louis sheriff's deputy Vernon Betts is leading the five-candidate contest for the Democratic nomination to replace Sheriff Jim Murphy. Betts has 1,280 absentee votes to 837 for Alderman Joe Vaccaro in second place. In Jefferson County, the first votes counted in the three-candidate contest for the Republican nomination for sheriff puts Dave Marshak in the lead with 594 votes, followed by 523 for Ron Arnhart and 189 for Sean Cooper. Original Story: Voters who turned out for Tuesday's high profile primary races also chose candidates for a long list of local posts, such as state senator and county assessor, and decided numerous local tax issues. Here are some examples: In Jefferson County, three Republicans and a Democrat want to replace retiring Sheriff Oliver Glenn Boyer. The Republicans are sheriffs department captains Ron Arnhart and Dave Marshak, and Madison County, Mo., sheriffs Sgt. Sean Cooper. The winner will face the Democrat, Lt. Col. Steve Meinberg, who is Boyers second in command, on Nov. 8. In Franklin County, three Republicans seek to replace retiring Sheriff Gary Toelke. They are sheriffs department lieutenants Jason Grellner and Steve Pelton, and retired St. Louis County Police officer Dan Page. No Democrat filed. Four Democrats seek to replace retiring St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce. They are Mary Pat Carl, the circuit attorneys chief homicide prosecutor; state Rep. Kimberly Gardner; assistant circuit attorney Patrick Hamacher; and Steve Harmon, a staff lawyer for the St. Louis Public Schools and former city police officer. No Republican filed. Also in St. Louis, five Democrats vie to replace retiring Sheriff Jim Murphy, in office for 28 years. The five are former deputies Vernon Betts and Johnnie Chester, former Alderman Jimmie Matthews, Alderman Joseph Vaccaro and deputy Charley Williams. The winner will face Republican John Castellano III, also a deputy. In St. Charles County, three Republicans and two Democrats want to fill the state Senate seat of Tom Dempsey, who resigned last year. They are businessman Bill Eigel, state Rep. Anne Zerr and Wentzville municipal judge Mike Carter. The Democrats are Richard Orr and Greg Upchurch. The GOP contest is one of several being watched statewide because of the right-to-work issue. Both Dempsey and Zerr bucked their party and opposed it in legislative votes. Unions support Zerr, and Eigel has major backing from right-to-work forces. In the 15th Senate District of Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt, two seasoned Republicans want to replace Sen. Eric Schmitt, who is being forced out by term limits. They are Rick Stream, GOP candidate for county executive in 2014 and a former state House member, and state Rep. Andrew Koenig. The winner will face Democrat Mark Boyko or Stephen Eagleton. North County Democrats in the County Council 4th District will choose between incumbent Mike OMara and state Rep. Rochelle Walton Gray. Glendale voters will consider a -cent sales tax for improvements to their Fire Department. In St. Charles County, voters in St. Charles, OFallon and St. Peters will decide parks-related taxes. For background on these and other races, See the Post-Dispatch Voters Guide at stltoday.com/votersguide The biggest loser in Tuesdays primary elections was someone who wasnt even on the ballot. Rex Sinquefield, the retired investor and St. Louis conservative activist, donated more than $11 million to candidates in Tuesdays Missouri Republican primaries, according to a Post-Dispatch analysis of records. The overwhelming bulk of that money went to just three GOP candidates: gubernatorial candidate Catherine Hanaway, attorney general candidate Kurt Schaefer and lieutenant governor candidate Bev Randles. In all three cases, Sinquefields picks lost by almost 30 points, in Schaefers case. It ended up being cost-ineffective, I guess, quipped Ken Warren, political science professor at St. Louis University. Warren said the episode should demonstrate that, although big money certainly can be a factor in political success, its not the only factor. Money cant buy everything. Sinquefield spokesman Travis Brown on Wednesday sought to put the best face on the losses. He pointed out that, even if Sinquefields preferred candidates didnt win, the GOP primary victories went mostly to candidates who agree with Sinquefields stances in favor of lower taxes and right-to-work legislation weakening the power of labor unions. It was a pretty firm rebuke of (Democratic) Gov. Jay Nixons failed economic policies, Brown said. I think everybody is ready to move forward, encouraged by the fact that the people who campaigned for tax cuts and who want to lower the price of work are still running. Its not over until Nov. 8. Of course, in the Republican primaries, virtually all the candidates agree on those two issues. The question is, why did Sinquefields big bets lose? In the case of Hanaway, his most expensive loss, the money itself may have had the ironic effect of hurting her at the polls. In the four-way GOP gubernatorial primary, Hanaway, a former Missouri House speaker, came in last, with less than 20 percent of the vote, about 15 points behind the winner, former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens. Sinquefield (or committees Sinquefield funds) had supported Hanaway to the tune of about $4.5 million, by far her largest source of funding. Complete election results County by county: How Greitens won From the start, Hanaways Republican opponents made hay of the theme that Sinquefield was almost single-handedly bankrolling her campaign. Rex Sinquefield is trying to buy a governor, state Auditor Tom Schweich alleged in January 2015, in announcing his own GOP gubernatorial campaign, at a time when Hanaway was the only other Republican in the race. These are not Republicans, these are Rex-publicans. Schweich committed suicide a month later, after complaining bitterly about the tactics of fellow Republicans, including a vicious radio ad put up by a Hanaway supporter. As other candidates joined the race, they took up the mantle of criticism of Hanaways continuing cash infusions from Sinquefield. I think the Tom Schweich thing did her in, said Warren, the SLU political scientist. He noted that the tragedy drew attention to political tactics and, by extension, the money that funds them. She never recovered from that. Even with Hanaways help from Sinquefield, Greitens was able to outraise her and the other candidates, ultimately spending about $8 million to Hanaways roughly $5 million. Money doesnt make up for everything, but it can buy name recognition, said Warren. Thats what Greitens did. Lieutenant governor candidate Randles is a Kansas City attorney who has been a key Sinquefield ally in the past. He donated about $2.5 million to her campaign, including a single $1 million contribution to start it. Randles lost in the three-way primary for lieutenant governor with about 44 percent of the vote, about 7 points behind the winner, state Sen. Mike Parson. Sinquefields biggest loss came in the race for the GOP attorney generals nomination. Schaefer, a state senator to whom Sinquefield had donated more than $3.6 million, was creamed by University of Missouri law professor Josh Hawley, about 64-36 percent. Sinquefield did score some victories Tuesday, though all in lower-tier races. Right-to-work supporter Bill Eigel beat union-backed Rep. Anne Zerr in the Republican primary race to fill a vacant Senate seat in eastern St. Charles County, with heavy backing from Sinquefield. Sinquefield also backed state Rep. Andrew Koenig in his defeat of former state Rep. Rick Stream for the GOP nomination to a St. Louis County state Senate seat. And state Sen. Eric Schmitt won the Republican nomination for state treasurer with $750,000 from Sinquefield though Schmitt ran unopposed. While Sinquefield towers in big-money giving under Missouris unusual no-limits political system, he isnt alone. Especially active this election has been David Humphreys, president of Joplin-based TAMKO Building Products. With members of his family, Humphreys gave about $5.7 million to various Republican primary candidates on Tuesdays ballot, records show. Those donations included $2.5 million to Hawley, who beat Sinquefields preferred candidate, Schaefer, in the primary for attorney general. Still, no one is anywhere near Sinquefield in terms of total largess to Missouri politicians. As of early last year, his all-time total political spending in the state was estimated at about $37 million and that was before much of the $11 million he has spent in the current election. Brown, Sinquefields spokesman, signaled that despite pouring millions into unsuccessful candidates, Sinquefield has no intention of closing his wallet heading into the general election. Walker Moskop and Kurt Erickson of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report. Ed Bishop, a cantankerous yet compassionate journalism professor and former managing editor of The Riverfront Times and columnist and editor of the St. Louis Journalism review, died Monday (Aug. 1, 2016) at his home in St. Louis, apparently of natural causes. He was 71. Bishop first taught at Webster University in 1994 as an adjunct faculty member and worked closely with Don Corrigan, editor of the Webster-Kirkwood Times and advisor for the university newspaper, the Webster University Journal. He was an abrasive, tough-shelled kind of guy, said Corrigan. He laughed as he recalled asking Bishop to do critiques of the student newspaper. That was a way for me to not rub people the wrong way, but still give them a good critique. And he was pretty merciless on them. Bishop, a heavy smoker, was known as Smokey to some students, a nickname Bishop took in stride. Students even printed up T-shirts with his likeness on them that said, Where theres smoke, theres Smokey. Jill Moon, assistant content editor and lifestyles editor for The Telegraph in Alton, worked with Bishop as a student and as an intern at the St Louis Journalism Review, a media watchdog publication once housed at Webster University but now based at Southern Illinois University Carbondale under the name Gateway Journalism Review. Moon said Bishop was the biggest influence in her career. He was tough. He was good. He was very intelligent, very intellectual theres a difference. And compassionate. Those were the things he instilled in me. Bishop worked for The Riverfront Times in the 80s under then-publisher and editor Ray Hartmann. Hartmann remembers him as an advocate and watchdog. He was progressive, if you want to call it that, in terms of not wanting to be a part of anything that was corporate, Hartmann said. Which was fine, because we were about as far from corporate as we could be in the 80s. Media historian Frank Absher said Bishop loved late-night banter with friends over wine and cheese. He loved to fight rules and break them, almost to the point of getting in trouble and backing away. He always had a smile on his face and a glint in his eye, and you knew he was doing it to be obstinate, Absher said. Charles Klotzer, the publisher and a founder of the journalism review, worked closely with Bishop and was deeply impressed by not only his deep knowledge of the print and broadcast media, but his understanding and commitment to the role of media in sustaining and promoting our maturing democracy. Bishop had no immediate survivors. Funeral arrangements were pending. Roughly half of a small Missouri town burned Saturday after a wildfire spread quickly from a farm field and destroyed or heavily damaged 23 buildings. No one died and only one person was injured, but the less than 100 people living in the town of Wooldridge had to be evacuated. The blaze was sparked in a field by a combine that was harvesting crops. Cooper County Fire District spokesman Jim Gann said Sunday that between 4.6 and 5.4 square miles burned before the fire was controlled. Wooldridge is a town of less than 100 people about 20 miles west of Columbia along the Missouri River. A separate fire Sunday prompted some evacuations in the Kansas City area. CHICAGO Its a toothy giant that can grow longer than a horse and heavier than a refrigerator, a fearsome-looking prehistoric fish that plied U.S. waters from the Gulf of Mexico to Illinois until it disappeared from many states a half-century ago. Persecuted by anglers and deprived of places to spawn, the alligator gar with a head that resembles an alligator and two rows of needlelike teeth survived primarily in southern states in the tributaries of the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico after being declared extinct in several states farther north. To many, it was a freak, a trash fish that threatened sportfish, something to be exterminated. But the once-reviled predator is now being seen as a valuable fish in its own right, and as a potential weapon against a more-threatening intruder: the invasive Asian carp, which have swum almost unchecked toward the Great Lakes, with little more than an electric barrier to keep them at bay. Efforts are now underway to reintroduce the alligator gar in the northern part of its old range. What else is going to be able to eat those monster carp? said Allyse Ferrara, an alligator gar expert at Nicholls State University in Louisiana, where the species is relatively common. We havent found any other way to control them. Alligator gar, the second-largest U.S. freshwater fish behind the West Coasts white sturgeon, have shown a taste for Asian carp, which have been spreading and out-competing native fish for food. The gar dwarf the invaders, which themselves can grow to 4 feet and 100 pounds. The largest alligator gar caught was 8 feet and 327 pounds, though they can grow larger. Native Americans once used their enamel-like scales as arrow points, and early settlers covered plow blades with their tough skin and scales. But a mistaken belief that they hurt sportfish led to widespread extermination throughout the 1900s, when many were shot or blown up with dynamite. Some horrible things have been done to this fish, said Ferrara, adding that sport fisheries are healthier with gar to keep troublesome species such as carp under control. Its similar to how we used to think of wolves; we didnt understand the role they played in the ecosystem. Gar now are being restocked in lakes, rivers and backwaters sometimes in secret locations in several states. In May, Illinois lawmakers passed a resolution urging state natural resources officials to speed up its program and adopt regulations to protect all four gar species native to the state. But the extent to which gar could control carp now is not well understood, and some people are skeptical. I dont think alligator gar are going to be the silver bullet that is going to control carp, by any stretch of the imagination, said Rob Hilsabeck, an Illinois biologist who says the best hope is that carp will sustain an alligator gar fishery to draw trophy hunters. Others are more optimistic about the impact once the larger fish is established, which might require cutting notches in canals to give them access to spawning sites. Asian carp reproduce more quickly, but alligator gar also grow fast: Alligator gar stocked in one Illinois lake six years ago already are more than 4 feet long. Quinton Phelps, a Missouri state fish ecologist, said the only way to effectively control carp was when theyre smaller, before they can spawn. Which is where alligator gar come in. There is potential for them to be a wonderful weapon, but its just potential right now, he said. One challenge is that huge gar could become a temptation for trophy fishermen, even before the fish are old enough to spawn. It will be interesting to see if fishermen have enough integrity to pass up a 7-foot fish thats 200 pounds, said Christopher Kennedy, a Missouri fisheries supervisor whos working on catch regulations. Wed love to create a self-sustaining population that we can turn into a trophy fishery. Still, the fish has a public relations problem in some circles, including a boating group in Illinois, whose members recently derided it as a trash fish and questioned reintroduction efforts. But avid angler Olaf Nelson, who in 2013 was the first to catch an alligator gar in Illinois in 50 years a 2-footer in a stocked lake said they were important whether anyone wanted to fish for them or not. Whether theyre loved or hated, theyre a natural part of the Illinois ecosystem, he said. Its pretty rare that we can fix a mistake. LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: Amazon and NatWest add to economic worries Friday, October 28, 2022 - 12:39 Outlooks by US e-commerce platform Amazon and UK lender NatWest added to investor fears of dwindling consumer activity, pushing down London and other stock markets on Friday. "Having held the line for most of this week, the FTSE 100 finally caved to the negative pressure from big tech disappointments across the pond," AJ Bell head of investment analysis Laith Khalaf said. "The FTSE 100 may be under-represented on the technology front but the wider hit to sentiment from some of the world's largest companies dropping the ball couldn't be entirely avoided." Amazon was down 12% to $97.74 in pre-market trade in New York on Friday, as the e-commerce platform late Thursday reported a decrease in third quarter net income on foreign exchange headwinds, but did book a rise in sales. However, Amazon's guidance for fourth-quarter revenue of $140 billion to $148 billion was below consensus expectations of $155 billion and represented annual top-line growth of just 2% to 8%, noted analysts at Wedbush Securities. "Take a breadth, it wasn't that bad," the broker said. Wedbush lowered its Amazon price target to $140 from $175, but kept its 'outperform' rating. Apple fared better after its own quarterly result, the stock rising 0.5% before the US open. In London, the FTSE 100 index was down 36.77 points, or 0.5%, at 7,036.92, fighting its way back from steeper loss seen earlier in the session. At this level, the blue-chip index has added 1.0% this week. The mid-cap FTSE 250 was down 193.63 points, or 1.1%, at 7,036.92, and the AIM All-Share was down 5.96 points, or 0.7%, at 803.50. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.8% at 701.18, the Cboe UK 250 down 1.2% at 15,346.29, and the Cboe Small Companies down 0.3% at 12,368.06. In European equities on Thursday, the CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.3%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was 0.5% lower - with both following a similar pattern as the FTSE 100 of repairing harsher opening losses. Helping the mood improve in Germany, its economy expanded in the third quarter, according to flash estimates from the Federal Statistical Office, a significant outperformance over market consensus. Europe's largest economy is thought to have grown by 0.3% in the third quarter versus the previous quarter. Market consensus - according to FXStreet - forecast a 0.2% contraction. Versus the year prior, Germany's gross domestic product is estimated to have grown by 1.1%, again well ahead of consensus, which was predicting a 0.7% rise. ING said: "Looking ahead, the surprise growth in the third quarter does not mean that the recession narrative has changed. All leading indicators point to a further weakening of the economy in the fourth quarter and there doesn't seem to be any improvement in sight. "Companies and households are increasingly suffering under higher energy bills and ongoing high inflation, adjusting consumption and investments. The government's latest support package, if not implemented retroactively, will be too little too late to prevent a winter recession. It will only be able to soften such a recession." Keeping the DAX in the red, however, was a 2.5% drop for shares of automaker Volkswagen. VW posted a drop in earnings despite a significant increase in revenue as it dealt with an increase in costs. In the three months that ended September 30, pretax earnings dropped 4.7% to 2.94 billion from 3.08 billion the year before. While the Wolfsburg-based carmaker's revenue increased 24% to 70.7 billion from 56.93 billion last year, the company's cost of sales widened to 58.04 billion from 48.01 billion last year. It also faced increasing administrative expenses and a negative financial result of 1.33 billion, swung from a positive contribution of 484 million last year. Meanwhile, recently spun-off subsidiary Porsche AG delivered an increase in profit in its first report as a separate company. Porsche was 1.7% lower. The euro traded at $0.9938 midday Friday, down from $0.9984 late Thursday, continuing its slide slower after yesterday's dovish European Central Bank update. The ECB said interest rates would need to be raised "further" - a slight change in language after it previously said rates would need to be hiked over the "next several meetings". All eyes are now on the US Federal Reserve, which announces an interest rate decision next Wednesday. Markets are hopeful for signs of a pivot by the central bank, which has raised rates rapidly in a bid to tame inflation. The Bank of England's next rate decision is a day after its US counterpart. In London, Centrica was the best performer large-cap on Friday, gaining 5.7%. The gas utility has reopened its Rough natural gas storage facility off the east coast of England after completing "significant engineering upgrades" over the summer. Centrica, which owns British Gas, said the facility is operational for winter. The facility increases the UK's storage capacity by 50% despite it operating at just 20% of its previous capacity. Stuck to the bottom of the FTSE 100, NatWest slumped 9.3%. The bank reported strong income growth in the third quarter, boosted by both increased lending and higher interest rates, but it warned it is keeping a close on eye on any change in behaviour from its customers. "At a time of increased economic uncertainty, we are acutely aware of the challenges that people, families and businesses are facing up and down the country. Although we are not yet seeing signs of heightened financial distress, we are very conscious of the growing concerns of our customers, and we are closely monitoring any changes to their finances or behaviours," Chief Executive Alison Rose said. High-street banking peers Lloyds and Barclays lost 3.6% and 3.3%. British Airways-parent International Consolidated Airlines tumbled 3.4% lower, despite posting a positive quarter. IAG swung to profit in the third quarter, as revenue improved on pre-pandemic levels, despite lower capacity. It swung to a pretax profit of 1.01 billion from a loss of 714 million a year before. Revenue nearly tripled year-on-year to 7.32 billion, from 2.71 billion. Passenger revenue saw the strongest recovery, growing to 6.42 billion from 2.00 billion. Compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels, it was 22% higher. Looking ahead to the open in the US on Friday, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was poised to open 1.1% lower, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was pointed down 0.2%, and the wider S&P 500 down 0.7%. The Nasdaq is facing continued pressure from a disappointing series of tech earnings. Sterling was quoted at $1.1539 midday Friday, down from $1.1573 at the London equities close on Thursday. The dollar was trading at JP147.65 midday Friday in London, sharply higher from JP145.90 late Thursday. The yen was under pressure after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government approved a hefty economic package that will include government funding of about JP29 trillion, about $197 billion, to soften the burden of costs from rising utility rates and food prices. Inflation has been rising in Japan along withside globally surging energy prices, while a weakening of the yen against the dollar has increased the cost of all imports. Announcing its latest policy decision on Friday, the Bank of Japan kept its long-standing lax stance in place. The central bank has kept its benchmark rate at minus 0.1% since 2016. Gold was priced at $1,648.70 an ounce midday Friday, lower from $1,662.60 on Thursday evening in London. Brent oil was trading at $94.49 a barrel, soft from $94.75 late Thursday. Still to come on Friday, three is the personal consumption expenditures inflationary gauge from the US at 1330 BST. Core PCE is the Fed's preferred inflationary measure. Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. MISSOULA -- Until 6:15 p.m. Monday, Montana was one of only three states in the country, along with Wyoming and Alaska, where you couldnt hail a ride on a transportation network company like Uber. But that all changed when state Rep. Ellie Boldman-Hill Smith, a Democrat from Missoula, became Ubers Passenger Zero and took a ceremonial trip from the official launch party at Plonk, a wine bar downtown. Missoula was chosen as the location for the company's much-anticipated arrival party, but by the end of the this week, Uber is expected to be available statewide. In smaller rural towns, however, it will depend on drivers signing up to make it accessible to customers. Uber, a ride-sharing service, works by allowing people to become independent contractors and use their own vehicles to provide rides. Customers order up a lift using an app on their mobile devices. Until Monday, the only taxi services in Missoula were Yellow Cab and Green Taxi. During the legislative session last spring, Boldman-Hill Smith worked with Republicans Sen. Ed Buttrey of Great Falls, Rep. Austin Knudsen of Culbertson and Rep. Daniel Zolnikov of Billings to get a bill in front of Gov. Steve Bullock that deregulated motor carrier laws in the state. It also eliminated a requirement that gave existing taxi services the ability to protest new companies in front of the Public Service Commission. Taxicabs had a 100-year monopoly and thats why consumers were losing in Montana, Boldman Hill-Smith explained. This bill was never just about Uber. It was about letting entrepreneurs compete on the open market. Until this bill, the existing cab companies had essentially veto power over new businesses, which is just absurd, regardless of your politics. Even a shuttle bus business that proposed to ferry skiers and snowboarders to Big Sky Resort was protested by existing cab companies in the past, Boldman Hill-Smith said, and this bill will allow those types of entrepreneurs to compete for customers. Boldman Hill-Smith, who represents the University district and portions of downtown, said her major impetus for sponsoring the bill was to cut down on drunk driving by giving people another option to get home at night. A lot of bar owners and restaurant owners heard from customers who have to wait two to three hours to get a cab ride from downtown Missoula, she said. The Missoula City-County DUI Taskforce supported the bill, and from a pure economic standpoint, a free enterprise standpoint, it had a lot of bipartisan support. *** Brian Gebhardt, the general manager of Uber Montana, was in Missoula on Monday for the official launch party at Plonk. Its been a lot of work, he said. By the end of this week well be live in the entire state, not just in the big cities. And so the limiting factor is just going to be interest by drivers. "If drivers have reached out, signed up and gone through the onboarding process and gotten approved, we can start the process of giving rides in Hamilton or Drummond or Wolf Point or wherever. Gebhardt declined to share how many drivers have signed up, but he said the company feels comfortable that anyone who wants a ride will be able to get one. Weve seen a lot of excitement from drivers and a lot of engagement, he said. We think we have what we need to provide safe rides for folks. Gebhardt said he wont know how much an average Uber driver makes an hour in Missoula or Montana until the stats from the first few months get recorded. Every city is different, but we feel pretty confident that theyll make enough that theyll be happy with the opportunity, he said. Gebhardt said that there also wont be a problem with having enough drivers wanting to be ready after 2 a.m. to give intoxicated people a ride from bars to their homes. Typically, the drivers we talk to are interested when they know therell be demand, he said. Theyre willing to drive late at night knowing they wont have to wait too long between rides, versus driving in the middle of the day and maybe having to wait 20 or 30 minutes. A police helicopter has been in the air over Stratford this afternoon looking for missing man Araj Seelanatha ARAJ Seelanatha (pictured) is known to have been at his home, on Tuesday 2nd August at approximately 9.30am. He left his home which is in the Trinity Mead area of the town at some point after this. It is not known when he left the house. Araj is of Sri Lankan origin and is described as olive/dark skinned, 5'10" tall and of slim build. He has short black hair and is clean shaven with white patches around his mouth caused by the skin condition vitiligo. He was last seen wearing a grey wind-proof top, chino trousers and brown footwear. An older photo of Mr Araj has also been released by Warwickshire Police The photograph featured was taken around ten years ago; Araj's hair has thinned but he is not described as looking significantly different. PC Deborah Young said: "We are growing increasingly concerned for Araj's welfare and are working to locate him as quickly as possible. He is a vulnerable individual and his disappearance is very out of character. We would urge anyone with any information to contact Warwickshire Police on 101 quoting incident reference number 362 of Tuesday 3 August." A police helicopter spotted in the sky above Stratford town centre Wednesday lunchtime was assisting the search for Mr Seelanatha. Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (NYSE: CP) and Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. today announced the commencement of a public offering of 9,840,890 of Canadian Pacific's common shares by certain funds managed by Pershing Square. Canadian Pacific is not selling any common shares in the offering and will not receive any of the proceeds from the offering of common shares by the funds managed by Pershing Square. Upon the closing of today's sale of 9,840,890 common shares, funds managed by Pershing Square will not own any common shares of Canadian Pacific. J.P. Morgan, Credit Suisse, BofA Merrill Lynch will act as underwriters for the offering. Pershing Square's Bill Ackman intends to continue to serve on Canadian Pacific's board of directors until the next annual meeting. Pershing Square intends to use the proceeds of the sale to fund one or more new investments. SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- In celebration of its first decade, Benz Communications has launched Insights from Industry Leaders, an interview series in which employee benefits professionals and thought leaders share their history, and perspectives and outlook on the rapidly changing benefits industry. Benz Communications is a communications and marketing agency focused solely, purposely and passionately on employee benefits. Insights from Industry Leaders will appear weekly on co-founder and CEO Jennifer Benz's LinkedIn page. The series launched on July 27 and will run to the end of the year. To date, Thomas Parry, President of the Integrated Benefits Institute, and Diana Andersen, Executive Vice President & Corporate Benefits Director at Zions Bancorporation, have been interviewed. Series' participants currently include benefits professionals and thought leaders from Adobe, the American Benefits Council, American Express, AmeriGas, Ardent Health Services, Ascension Benefits & Solutions, AutoZone, BAYADA Home Health Care, Centene Corporation, HealthSparq, The Home Depot, IA HR, Intuit, Lowe's, McKesson, Paychex, State Street Global Advisors, UMB Healthcare Services, Williams-Sonoma and WorldatWork. Benz Communications invites benefits professionals and thought leaders who want to participate in the Insights from Industry Leaders series to contact Heather Baptista, [email protected]. "Our commitment to investing in thought leadership over the past 10 years inspired us to celebrate our first decade with an interview series that captures benefits thought leaders' professional journey, and their perspectives on what's next in the industry. We hope their shared insights will jump-start a broader conversation about what's possible for our industry and all those it serves," said co-founder and Chief Experience Officer Isabelle Englund-Geiger. In 2006, with a vision for empowering employer efforts to positively impact their employees' lives, co-founders Jennifer Benz and Isabelle Englund-Geiger created Benz Communications, a boutique benefits communication firm. Since then, Benz Communications has evolved into a 28-person, employee-focused, results-driven marketing firm focused on helping large employers inspire their employees to improve their health, their finances and their futures with inspired benefits communications. During these 10 years, Benz Communications, which is certified by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) since 2012, has garnered numerous accolades, including ranking on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and listing on San Francisco Business Times' "100 Fastest-Growing Companies in the Bay Area" and "Top 100 Women-Owned Businesses in the Bay Area" for the past four years. Additionally, Benz Communications has been recognized for its client work with awards from Employee Benefit News (i-COMM Award), the International Academy of Visual Arts, Hermes Creative Awards, the International Association of Business Communicators and the Profit Sharing Council of America. "The employee benefits industry touches the health and financial security of nearly every American -- and millions of people all around the world. While every employer may not be able to provide the richest programs, all have the resources to get their employees fully engaged in the benefits they provide. If all employees were fully engaged with their health and financial benefits, people would be stronger, our companies and industry would be stronger, and our communities and countries would be stronger," said Jen. "We believe this in our bones. This belief fuels our passion to make a difference and our commitment to continue to push boundaries," Jen concluded. To learn more about Benz Communications' first 10 years and Insights from Industry Leaders series, please visit benzcommunications.com/10. Or join the conversation and stay up to date with the interview series on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. About Benz Communications Benz Communications is a communications and marketing agency solely, purposefully, and passionately focused on employee benefits. Its proven approach combines the science of behavioral economics with the best of communications strategy and design. Since 2006, the firm has served leading employers and benefits providers, including many Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. As a thought leader in the benefits industry, Benz invests in research and resources to help companies educate employees about health, financial, and other benefits. Learn more at Benz Communications. Media Contact Robin Schoen Robin Schoen Public Relations 215.504.2122 office 215.595.7542 mobile [email protected] Source: Benz Communications HERCULES, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO) and (NYSE: BIO.B), a global provider of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016. Second-quarter reported revenues were $516.8 million, an increase of 2.1 percent compared to $506.1 million reported for the second quarter of 2015. On a currency-neutral basis, quarterly revenues increased 2.8 percent compared to the same period last year. Second-quarter gross margin was 54.2 percent compared to 55.2 percent reported during the same quarter in 2015. The decrease in gross margin during the second quarter of 2016 was primarily the result of sales mix and higher manufacturing costs compared to the same period last year. Net income for the second quarter of 2016 was $18.0 million, or $0.61 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $28.4 million, or $0.97 per share, respectively, during the same period last year. The lower net income for the second quarter of 2016 versus the second quarter of 2015 was primarily due to several discrete items that increased expenses approximately $18 million and include the planned restructuring of our European operations, the termination of a research and development project, and costs associated with various legal matters. The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2016 was 33%, compared to the 28% tax rate for the same quarter in 2015. The lower tax rate in 2015 was primarily due to a decrease in tax reserves as a result of the expiration of statutes of limitations. On a reported basis, revenues for the first half of 2016 increased 0.9 percent to $988.0 million compared to $978.9 million for the same period in 2015. On a currency-neutral basis, revenues grew 3.3 percent. Year-to-date net income for 2016 was $30.3 million, or $1.03 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $46.2 million, or $1.58 per share, respectively, during the same period in 2015. "We are encouraged by sales performance in the first half of the year reflecting strength in many of our markets," said Norman Schwartz, Bio-Rad President and Chief Executive Officer. "Although investments in acquired technologies and systems have tempered profitability for the first half of the year, these investments in our operation are necessary to support our growth in the future." Life Science Life Science segment net sales for the second quarter of 2016 were $180.0 million, an increase of 5.5 percent, when compared to the same period last year. On a currency-neutral basis, sales increased 6.0 percent compared to the same period last year. Results from the second quarter benefitted from increased sales of the Company's Droplet Digital" PCR and process chromatography products. Sales increased primarily in North America, China, and Asia. In April, Bio-Rad announced the launch of five Droplet Digital" PCR (ddPCR) Multiplex Mutation Screening Kits for detecting multiple cancer mutations. The combination of ddPCR and multiplexing technologies increases the throughput of genetic analysis to give clinical researchers more information per patient sample. Clinical Diagnostics Reported net sales for the Clinical Diagnostics segment in the second quarter of 2016 were $333.7 million, an increase of 0.5 percent compared to the same quarter last year. On a currency-neutral basis, sales increased 1.3 percent compared to the same period in 2015. The Clinical Diagnostics segment sales performance reflected modest growth across most product lines, most notably clinical immunology, blood typing, and quality control products. Sales growth increased across most regions, driven by North America, Eastern Europe, and China. During the quarter Bio-Rad announced the launch of Amplichek" II quality control, the first in a series of infectious disease controls that the Company plans to introduce for the molecular diagnostic testing market. Management will discuss these results in a conference call at 2 PM Pacific Daylight Time (5 PM Eastern Time) August 3, 2016. Interested parties may access the call at 855-779-9068 within the U.S. or 631-485-4862 outside the U.S., Conference ID: 46148478. You may also listen to the conference call live via a webcast that is available on the "Investor Relations" section of our website under "Quarterly Results" at www.bio-rad.com. The webcast will be available for up to a year. About Bio-Rad Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO) and (NYSE: BIO.B) develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of innovative products and solutions for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. The company is renowned for its commitment to quality and customer service among university and research institutions, hospitals, public health and commercial laboratories, as well as the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and food safety industries. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is based in Hercules, California, and serves more than 100,000 research and healthcare industry customers through its global network of operations. The company employs more than 7,800 people worldwide and had revenues exceeding $2 billion in 2015. For more information, please visit www.bio-rad.com This release may be deemed to contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements we make regarding the growth of our business, our release of new products and future financial performance. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "may," "will," "intend," "estimate," "continue," or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include our ability to develop and market new or improved products, foreign currency exchange fluctuations, difficulties in implementing our global enterprise resource planning system, recent and planned changes to our global organizational structure and executive management team, our ability to integrate acquired companies, products or technologies into our company successfully, our ability to compete effectively, reductions in government funding or capital spending of our customers, international legal and regulatory risks, product quality and liability issues, supply chain issues, changes in the healthcare industry, global economic conditions, and natural disasters and other catastrophic events beyond our control. For further information regarding the Company's risks and uncertainties, please refer to the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016 to be filed with the SEC. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except per share data) (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, -------------------- -------------------- 2016 2015 2016 2015 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net sales $ 516,777 $ 506,102 $ 987,974 $ 978,923 Cost of goods sold 236,545 226,505 443,713 429,220 --------- --------- --------- --------- Gross profit 280,232 279,597 544,261 549,703 Selling, general and administrative expense 205,536 192,845 395,252 381,400 Research and development expense 52,171 46,547 100,757 93,749 --------- --------- --------- --------- Income from operations 22,525 40,205 48,252 74,554 Interest expense 5,632 4,834 11,212 9,836 Foreign currency exchange losses, net 1,237 2,938 2,366 6,744 Other (income) expense, net (11,208) (7,107) (12,385) (8,260) --------- --------- --------- --------- Income before income taxes 26,864 39,540 47,059 66,234 Provision for income taxes (8,850) (11,117) (16,769) (19,993) --------- --------- --------- --------- Net income $ 18,014 $ 28,423 $ 30,290 $ 46,241 ========= ========= ========= ========= Basic earnings per share: Net income per basic share $ 0.61 $ 0.98 $ 1.03 $ 1.59 ========= ========= ========= ========= Weighted average common shares - basic 29,398 29,136 29,381 29,114 ========= ========= ========= ========= Diluted earnings per share: Net income per diluted share $ 0.61 $ 0.97 $ 1.03 $ 1.58 ========= ========= ========= ========= Weighted average common shares - diluted 29,589 29,381 29,549 29,338 ========= ========= ========= ========= Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands) June 30, December 31, 2016 2015 ------------- ------------- (UNAUDITED) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 418,651 $ 457,549 Short-term investments 377,154 332,928 Accounts receivable, net 366,281 391,485 Inventories, net 541,514 490,224 Other current assets 102,088 105,410 ------------- ------------- Total current assets 1,805,688 1,777,596 Property, plant and equipment, net 457,685 437,690 Goodwill, net 505,311 495,948 Purchased intangibles, net 230,709 214,026 Other investments 810,463 719,840 Other assets 64,779 64,618 ------------- ------------- Total assets $ 3,874,635 $ 3,709,718 ============= ============= Current liabilities: Accounts payable, accrued payroll and employee benefits $ 256,112 $ 280,248 Current maturities of long-term debt 294 298 Income and other taxes payable 21,856 29,339 Other current liabilities 132,143 131,466 ------------- ------------- Total current liabilities 410,405 441,351 Long-term debt, net of current maturities 434,057 433,883 Other long-term liabilities 415,612 343,981 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities 1,260,074 1,219,215 ------------- ------------- Total stockholders' equity 2,614,561 2,490,503 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 3,874,635 $ 3,709,718 ============= ============= Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands) (UNAUDITED) Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 ----------- ----------- Cash flows from operating activities: Cash received from customers $ 1,020,149 $ 971,616 Cash paid to suppliers and employees (935,587) (898,757) Interest paid, net (10,911) (9,071) Income tax payments, net (11,085) (6,269) Other operating activities 7,141 10,460 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by operating activities 69,707 67,979 Cash flows from investing activities: Payments for acquisition and long-term investment (11,477) (2,589) Other investing activities (98,851) (53,267) ----------- ----------- Net cash used in investing activities (110,328) (55,856) Cash flows from financing activities: Payments on long-term borrowings (156) (131) Other financing activities 3,450 2,861 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by financing activities 3,294 2,730 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash (1,571) 22,029 ----------- ----------- Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (38,898) 36,882 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 457,549 413,251 ----------- ----------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 418,651 $ 450,133 =========== =========== Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Net income $ 30,290 $ 46,241 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 71,668 64,409 Changes in working capital (54,026) (44,196) Other 21,775 1,525 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by operating activities $ 69,707 $ 67,979 =========== =========== Investor and Financial Contacts: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Christine Tsingos Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ron Hutton Vice President and Treasurer 510-724-7000 Email Contact Source: Bio-Rad Laboratories -- Establishes Local Presence to Better Serve Clients -- LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- FlexTrade Systems (@FlexTrade), a global leader in multi-asset execution management systems, is pleased to announce that it has recently opened an office in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160802006888/en/ Boris Komljenovic Frankfurt is the heart of the German financial sector and is right at the centre of Europe. Based in the same building as the Frankfurt stock exchange, FlexTrades German office has been opened in order to offer local sales and service to the companys growing German-speaking client base. Boris Komljenovic, sales director for central Europe, commented, The initial driver to open the office in Frankfurt was to serve our fast-growing client base in the German-speaking countries. Our clients clearly communicated their wish for locally available support, especially with a clear understanding of the local flavours of international regulation such as MIFID and MIFIR, but also of local financial markets legislation in the respective countries. And while we neither anticipated nor expected a Brexit vote, the Frankfurt office will offer our clients some certainty with regard to their trading infrastructure - regardless of the actual impact of Brexit on everyones business. FlexTrades market-leading broker-neutral EMS, FlexTRADER, supports electronic and algorithmic trading across all asset classes and offers access to hundreds of liquidity providers, venues and brokers globally. FlexTrade already hosts services at Frankfurt FR2 data centre, so the company is perfectly prepared to offer high-speed trading connectivity to clients in the region. Vikas Kedia, managing director of FlexTrade UK Ltd., in London, said, The opening of FlexTrades office in Frankfurt is our first step in establishing local offices across Europe. It gives us an opportunity to serve our clients and prospects more locally. With more than 100 people based in London, we are now confident of being able to sustain the training and development of our locally-based teams to ensure we can continue to deliver the consistently high level of service that our clients expect and deserve. FlexTrade Germany can be contacted at: Borsenplatz 2-4, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, by phone on: +49 69 348 770 440 and by email at [email protected]. About FlexTrade Systems Founded in 1996, FlexTrade Systems is the industry pioneer in broker-neutral algorithmic trading platforms for equities, foreign exchange and listed derivatives. With offices in North America, Europe and Asia, FlexTrade has a worldwide client base spanning more than 175 buy-side and sell-side firms, including many of the largest hedge funds, asset managers, commodity trading advisors, investment banks and institutional brokers. For more information, visit FlexTrade Systems at www.flextrade.com or follow news of the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/flextrade or LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/flextrade. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160802006888/en/ FlexTrade Systems Mike Hill Tel: +44 20 7929 2332 x427 Mobile: +44 7775 923910 [email protected] Source: FlexTrade Systems Significant Improvement to Stockholders Equity and Reduction in Current Liabilities by 14.6% CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HealthWarehouse.com, Inc. (OTCQB: HEWA), the only VIPPS & Vet-VIPPS accredited online and mail-order pharmacy licensed in all 50 states, has entered into an agreement with one of the holders of the Companys obligations to extinguish $698,594 of accounts payable in exchange for common stock, resulting in a significant improvement to the Companys balance sheet. As of June 30, 2016, the Company had approximately $4,900,000 in total current liabilities of which approximately $2,300,000 was accounts payable. The reduction of $698,594 of accounts payable is a 30.3% reduction in the Companys accounts payable and a 14.6% reduction in the Companys total current liabilities. Our strategy has been to focus on the core consumer business, streamline operations, and improve our balance sheet. The result is record gross profits and margins generated by our core consumer business and the Company operating at breakeven quarterly cash flow. We believe this retirement of debt and conversion into equity signals confidence that the Company continues to move in the right direction, said Dan Seliga, COO and CFO of HealthWarehouse.com. In addition to improving the balance sheet, the Company is now enjoying unprecedented high margin record revenue growth in its core consumer business. Becoming the first online pharmacy to gain VIPPS and Vet-VIPPS accreditation along with our PR initiatives that are generating major national coverage, we look to continue driving new business. We believe this momentum will continue through 2016 and into 2017, said Mr. Lalit Dhadphale, President & CEO of HealthWarehouse.com. About HealthWarehouse.com HealthWarehouse.com, Inc. (OTCQB: HEWA) is a trusted VIPPS & Vet-VIPPS accredited online pharmacy based in Florence, Kentucky. The Company is focused on the growing out-of-pocket prescription market, which is expected to grow to over $80 billion in 2016. With a mission to provide affordable healthcare to every American by focusing on technology that is revolutionizing prescription delivery, HealthWarehouse.com has become the largest VIPPS accredited online pharmacy in the United States. HealthWarehouse.com is licensed in all 50 states and only sells drugs that are FDA-approved and legal for sale in the United States. Visit HealthWarehouse.com online at http://www.HealthWarehouse.com. Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect HealthWarehouse.com's financial results is included in HealthWarehouse.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006750/en/ HealthWarehouse.com Mr. Lalit Dhadphale, 859-444-7341 President & CEO [email protected] Source: HealthWarehouse.com LONDON, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Horizonte Minerals Plc, (AIM: HZM, TSX: HZM) ('Horizonte' or 'the Company') the nickel development company focused in Brazil, is pleased to announce the transfer to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company of the remaining two licences that make up the Glencore Araguaia nickel project ('GAP') in north central Brazil. This completes the licence transfer under the agreement ('Asset Purchase Agreement') to acquire GAP from Xstrata Brasil Exploracao Mineral Ltda ('Xstrata'), a wholly owned subsidiary of Glencore, as announced by the Company on 28 September 2015. Highlights The closing of the transaction completes the consolidation of GAP and Horizonte's Araguaia Project creating one of the largest nickel saprolite projects globally The transfer includes the advanced Serra do Tapa nickel deposit Combined projects currently the focus for a new Pre-Feasibility Study due for completion in Q3 2016 Commenting on the closing of the transaction, Horizonte CEO Jeremy Martin said, "I am very pleased to announce the closing of the transaction with Glencore. The purchase of the GAP project and consolidation with our existing Araguaia project creates one of the highest grade saprolite nickel projects globally. We are in the final stages of completing a new Pre-Feasibility study on the combined project with the aim of demonstrating that Araguaia will sit on the lower end of the global cost curve and the upper end of the grade curve with low capital intensity. In short our aim is to develop one of the lower cost ferronickel operations with short capital repayment, while offering operational flexibility for increased nickel production in the future. Following the PFS, the next major milestone on the project will be the full Feasibility Study which is scheduled to commence later this year. This should run in parallel with an improvement in the global nickel markets, prices have increased over the last three months lifting from the multi-year lows seen in Q1 2016." Background Following the registration by the National Department of Mineral Production of Brazil ('DNPM') of the transfer of the outstanding GAP licences from Xstrata to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, Horizonte has now completed the second and final allotment to Xstrata of Initial Consideration Shares. Further to the above, the Company has issued and allotted 50,729,922 new Ordinary Shares to Xstrata, being the Consideration Shares equivalent in value to US$1,340,000. These closing Initial Consideration Shares were issued at a price of 1.99 pence (the 'Issue Price'). In accordance with the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement the Issue Price was equal to the five day weighted average price per Ordinary Share on AIM, taken on the business day when the transfer of the remaining GAP licences was confirmed, and converted at a rate of exchange as set out in the Asset Purchase Agreement. This allocation of shares signifies the completion of the issuance of the Initial Consideration Shares to a total value of US$2,000,000. Initial Consideration Shares were previously issued under the Asset Purchase Agreement to the value of US$660,000 in November 2015 following transfer of the first GAP licence. Admission The issue of the new Ordinary Shares is being made from existing authorities granted to the Directors at the general meeting held on 25 November 2015. Accordingly, the issue and allotment of the new Ordinary Shares is not subject to shareholder approval. Application has been made for the admission of the 50,729,922 new Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM and it is expected that such admission will take place on 8 August 2016 ('Admission'). The new Ordinary Shares will rank pari passu with the existing Horizonte Shares currently in issue. Following Admission, there will be 721,934,300 Horizonte Shares in issue. The commercial terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement are as announced by the Company on 28 September 2015. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014. About Horizonte Minerals:Horizonte Minerals plc is an AIM and TSX-listed nickel development company focused in Brazil, which wholly owns the advanced Araguaia nickel laterite project located to the south of the Carajas mineral district of northern Brazil. The Company is developing Araguaia as the next major nickel mine in Brazil, with targeted production by 2019. The Project, which has good infrastructure in place including rail, road, water and power. Horizonte has a strong shareholder structure including Teck Resources Limited 28.1%, Henderson Global Investors 17.0%. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the potential of the Company's current or future property mineral projects; the success of exploration and mining activities; cost and timing of future exploration, production and development; the estimation of mineral resources and reserves and the ability of the Company to achieve its goals in respect of growing its mineral resources; and the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks related to: exploration and mining risks, competition from competitors with greater capital; the Company's lack of experience with respect to development-stage mining operations; fluctuations in metal prices; uninsured risks; environmental and other regulatory requirements; exploration, mining and other licences; the Company's future payment obligations; potential disputes with respect to the Company's title to, and the area of, its mining concessions; the Company's dependence on its ability to obtain sufficient financing in the future; the Company's dependence on its relationships with third parties; the Company's joint ventures; the potential of currency fluctuations and political or economic instability in countries in which the Company operates; currency exchange fluctuations; the Company's ability to manage its growth effectively; the trading market for the ordinary shares of the Company; uncertainty with respect to the Company's plans to continue to develop its operations and new projects; the Company's dependence on key personnel; possible conflicts of interest of directors and officers of the Company, and various risks associated with the legal and regulatory framework within which the Company operates. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. SOURCE Horizonte Minerals plc TORONTO, Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For their example of Christian service to the poor and the dying, and for their commitment to their Catholic beliefs even in the face of strong government pressure, the Knights of Columbus has awarded its highest honor to the Little Sisters of the Poor at the Knights' 134th annual international convention. The Gaudium et Spes Award was presented Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the Allsteam Centre in Toronto, the convention's host city. Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson presented the award at the Knights' gala "States Dinner" to Mother Loraine Marie Maguire, superior of the Sisters' Baltimore Province. Earlier on Tuesday, during his annual report to the 2,000-plus convention attendees, Anderson noted: "Today, the sisters are still helping the poor, the sick and the dying. They are still doing incredible work in their communities, and they are still doing all of this without violating their conscience." Founded in 1852 to serve the elderly poor, the Sisters are a "truly inspiring community of religious sisters for their wholehearted response to the Gospel, [and] for recognizing Jesus in the face of the poor," noted the award citation, read by Knights of Columbus Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore. The Little Sisters became a household name when they were ordered as part of Obamacare to sign a form that would have triggered contraception, sterilization and abortifacient coverage in their employee health plan. They stood firm in their refusal to do so, appealing all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the Knights filed a brief on their behalf and helped fund the attorneys from the Becket Fund who defended them. The decision was widely seen as favorable to the Little Sisters. Shortly before the decision was handed down, a Marist Poll conducted for the Knights of Columbus found that, by a wide margin, most Americans (53 to 32 percent) said the process demanded by the government's "accommodation" was "unfair" to the Little Sisters. While in Washington, D.C., last year, Pope Francis visited the Little Sisters to show his solidarity. He later wrote: "Precisely for the sake of this dignity of conscience, the Church strongly rejects the forced state intervention in favor of contraception, sterilization, and even abortion." Named for the landmark Second Vatican Council document, the Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope) Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic fraternal benefit organization, which has more than 1.9 million members. Awarded only in special circumstances to individuals of exceptional merit, the first recipient was Blessed Mother Teresa, in 1992, and the last recipient was the late Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, in 2015. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/little-sisters-of-the-poor-receive-knights-of-columbus-highest-award-300308222.html SOURCE Knights of Columbus Alan Jay Willis, 65, of Minneapolis, has been identified as the man found dead in a train tunnel west of Helena last week. Willis died of multiple blunt-force traumas caused by the train, according to Lewis and Clark County Deputy Coroner Bryan Backeberg. County authorities were dispatched to the Mullen Tunnel Friday morning after Montana Rail Link employees reported finding a deceased man, according to Capt. Eric Gilbertson. The tunnel is approximately 18 miles west of Helena and 10 miles north of MacDonald Pass. A backpack and water bottle that belonged to Willis were found on a freight train headed toward Missoula, Gilbertson said. TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mouser Electronics, Inc., the global authorized distributor with the newest semiconductors and electronic components, today announced the appointment of Sam Katsuta as Vice President of Mouser Electronics-Japan. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006113/en/ Industry executive Sam Katsuta has joined Mouser Electronics as Vice President of the global distributor's Japan business operation. (Photo: Business Wire) Japan is a key global market as well as one of the worlds leading markets for electronic design, and is therefore of great interest to us, said Mark Burr-Lonnon, Mousers Senior Vice President of APAC and EMEA Business. With this in mind, we are establishing a Japanese company which Sam Katsuta will run within our global operation. The nuances of the Japan market call for a special model. Katsuta will assume full control of Mousers customer service, marketing and finance within Japan. He will work closely with Mousers manufacturer partners in Japan and will report directly to Burr-Lonnon. Katsuta has had a long, exceptional career at TDK, where he most recently served as General Manager of Global Distribution for both high service and volume distribution. He earned a degree in Economics at Keio University in Japan before taking his first role with Mitsubishi Chemical Industries. He joined TDK in 1984. I have long been impressed with Mousers business model, and I am pleased now to be a part of the Mouser team as we launch this exciting new phase of Mousers Japan operation, Katsuta said. Mouser has seen solid customer growth in Japan where it opened a customer service center last year in Tokyo with customers purchasing online through its website, Mouser.com. The global distributor stocks semiconductors and electronic components authorized by more than 600 manufacturers, including the leading Japanese manufacturers Murata, Panasonic, Toshiba, Taiyo Yuden, TDK, ROHM, Hirose, Nichicon, and OMRON. We see Japan as a strong market for innovative technologies, and the significant growth of design engineers and small- to medium-sized production business fits perfectly with our business model, Burr-Lonnon said. We are prepared to strengthen our brand and presence in this key market and believe the expanded Japan operation will allow us to uniquely establish closer cooperation with Japanese manufacturers to penetrate their products into more designs globally via our platform. With its broad product line and unsurpassed customer service, Mouser caters to design engineers and buyers by delivering Whats Next in advanced technologies. Mouser offers customers 22 global support locations and stocks the worlds widest selection of the latest semiconductors and electronic components for the newest design projects. Mouser Electronics website is updated many times daily and searches more than 10 million products to locate over 4 million orderable part numbers available for easy online purchase. Mouser.com also houses an industry-first interactive catalog, data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, and engineering tools. About Mouser Electronics Mouser Electronics, a subsidiary of TTI, Inc., is part of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway family of companies. Mouser is an award-winning, authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor, focused on the rapid introduction of new products and technologies to electronic design engineers and buyers. Mouser.com features more than 4 million products online from more than 600 manufacturers. Mouser publishes multiple catalogs per year providing designers with up-to-date data on the components now available for the next generation of electronic devices. Mouser ships globally to over 500,000 customers in 170 countries from its 750,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility south of Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.mouser.com. Trademarks Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006113/en/ Mouser Electronics Further information, contact: Kevin Hess, 817-804-3833 Senior Vice President of Marketing [email protected] or For press inquiries, contact: Kelly DeGarmo, 817-804-7764 Manager, Corporate Communications and Media Relations [email protected] Source: Mouser Electronics, Inc. PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jonathan Parry has joined PEI-Genesis as Managing Director in Europe; it was announced by Steven Fisher, company Chairman and CEO. Parry reports directly to Fisher and is based at the Southampton, UK; European headquarters. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160802006789/en/ Jonathan Parry has joined PEI-Genesis as Managing Director in Europe, reporting to Steven Fisher, company Chairman and CEO, and based at the company's Southampton, UK European headquarters. (Photo: Business Wire) In his new role, Parry is responsible for the overall financial and operating performance of the companys operations in the United Kingdom and Europe, including sales and marketing, vendor relations, production, and operations. Having Jonathan on board in Europe brings innovative new thinking to our overseas operations, said Fisher. His extensive experience will help us lay the groundwork for our company moving forward. Parry brings over 15 years of sales and operations leadership to PEI-Genesis. Prior to taking on his new role, he was the Managing Director for the European organization of Dialight plc, where he had full P&L responsibility across manufacturing, R&D, sales, marketing and head office functions with 800 employees and manufacturing locations in the UK, Germany, and Denmark. Jonathans solid track record will allow him to focus strategically on our European operations, said Fisher. I expect him to build on the strength of the excellent team we have in place and expand our presence throughout Europe by solving customer interconnect problems from design to delivery. Before his work with Dialight, Parry was the Chief Operating Officer for JCC Lighting Products, providing leadership during a transitional time in the business. During his tenure, Parry helped to establish JCC as the fastest growing LED lighting company in the UK. Parry served as the European Product Director at Wolseley PLC from 2005 2009 and from 2001 2005 was the Head of Global Sourcing for Sainsburys Supermarkets. Parry holds a Bachelor of Science honours degree in Engineering & Management from Durham University. About PEI-Genesis PEI-Genesis is one of the worlds fastest assemblers of precision connectors and cable assemblies. From the largest connector component inventory in the world, they develop engineered solutions that support the military, industrial, medical, aerospace, transportation and energy sectors worldwide. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, PEI-Genesis has production facilities in South Bend, IN; Chandler, AZ; Southampton, UK; and Zhuhai, China as well as sales offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. More information may be found at www.peigenesis.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160802006789/en/ PEI-Genesis Kathleen Herron, 215-737-1147 [email protected] Source: PEI-Genesis Linde Engineering and Weil Group Resources, LLC announce commercial operation of helium purification technology in Saskatchewan MANKOTA, SK, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Linde Engineering, along with its customer Weil Group Resources, announced today the formal commencement of operations in Mankota, Saskatchewan. This first-of-its-kind helium purification facility uses a hybrid process of Membrane and PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) technology and promises to revitalize the Canadian helium resource industry. Provincial government officials, as well as company and contractor personnel, celebrated the facility's opening this morning. (LOGO: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395378LOGO) Helium tube-trailer deliveries to customers began last month from the Linde designed and engineered plant, owned and operated by Weil Resources Group, which uses a unique process to enrich wellhead gas with a 1-2% helium concentration to high grade, industrial (99.999%) quality product. The project has been recognized by the Saskatchewan government as bringing new life to the helium industry in Saskatchewan, where the element was discovered in the early 1960s, but has been dormant ever since. "Linde is proud to play a role in providing industrial gas purification expertise and technology to this project. We appreciate the collaboration with Weil Group as pioneers in this field. It has required innovative design and process elements. It is rewarding to see new concepts come to life with good success," says Linde Engineering Executive Vice President Tobias Keller. Weil CEO, Jeff Vogt, said, "Weil has revitalized a 60 year old industry in Saskatchewan by our commissioning of the first high quality helium purification facility in Canada. The $12 million facility will process 10 million standard cubic feet of feed gas to high quality, purified helium (99.999%) for industrial customers in Canada and the western U.S. We are grateful for our alliance with Linde Engineering and appreciate their quality, technological leadership and reliability in this unique arena. The plant is an impressive result of collaboration between our teams. We look to replicate that soon in neighboring projects." For more information about Weil Group Resources visit www.weil-group.com For more information about The Linde Group visit www.linde.com SOURCE GridStone Marketing Thomas Leavitt Receives 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Puget Sound Bank, the bank subsidiary of Puget Sound Bancorp (OTCQB: PUGB), announced that Thomas Leavitt, one of its founding directors, was honored by the University of Puget Sound with a 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award. From our inception Tom has helped shape the values that have been key to our consistent and ongoing success, said Jim Mitchell, Puget Sound Bank president and chief executive officer. As with others in our organization he continually demonstrates the importance of working to build strong and vibrant communities. Were proud to see Tom recognized for his many years of service to the university. Mr. Leavitt has been active with the University of Puget Sound since enrolling in 1968. He was the first student body president to serve as an ex-officio member of the board of trustees, to which he would later serve 25 years. In addition to receiving an undergraduate degree, he then went on to graduate from the University of Puget Sound law school. As a trustee at the University of Puget Sound, he served on every standing committee, demonstrating what the school described as extraordinary service and leaving an indelible mark. His son Alex graduated from the university in 2010, and in 2014 he and his family established the Leavitt Family Endowed Scholarship to support students who are committed to community service. In addition to recent recognition as a Best Company to Work For by Seattle Business Magazine, Puget Sound Bank has also been named a Best Workplace, Fastest Growing Company and Top Corporate Philanthropist by Puget Sound Business Journal and is consistently rated one of the countrys strongest banks by independent analysts. Common stock for Puget Sound Bancorp trades on the OTCQB electronic marketplace under the symbol PUGB. About Puget Sound Bank Puget Sound Bank, the primary subsidiary of Puget Sound Bancorp, is one of Washington states top commercial banks (as measured by commercial and industrial loans as a percentage of total loans). Based in Bellevue, Washington, the bank was founded to meet the specialized needs of small- and medium-sized businesses, select commercial real estate projects, professional service providers and high net worth individuals. Puget Sound Bank offers a full range of competitive financial products including an advanced suite of cash management services. Customers can access their accounts in-branch, online, on mobile devices or through Puget Sound Bank's ATM network throughout the continental United States. For more information visit www.PugetSoundBank.com or call (425) 455-2400. To access investor relations information for Puget Sound Bank, visit www.PugetSoundBancorp.com or call (425) 467-2037. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006245/en/ Puget Sound Bank Brad Ogura, 425-467-2037 Source: Puget Sound Bank GASTONIA, N.C., Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Rowley Company an industry leader in the professional window coverings market has acquired Fleuron Enterprises, Inc., the market leader in custom decorative drapery hardware. Fleuron based in Dallas, Texas owns well known decorative hardware brands Paris Texas Hardware, The Finial Company and Gould New York. The acquisition brings together two companies with a long heritage and commitment to the window coverings industry. For over 50 years, the Rowley Company has provided residential and commercial drapery workrooms, upholstery shops, installers and designers with tools and supplies for the fabrication of custom window treatments and home decor. And over the last several years, the company has made significant investments in its decorative hardware product portfolio with new product introductions under the AriA Metal Hardware, Finestra Wood hardware, Finestra Custom Decorative Hardware and R-TRAC commercial hardware brands. In addition, in 2013, the company acquired Article, Inc., rebranding the company as Home Decor International expanding its presence in the retail decorative hardware channel. William J. Taylor, President and CEO of the Rowley Company stated, "The Fleuron acquisition adds some exciting brands to our portfolio and continues to strengthen our decorative hardware product lines." Martha Beck, President and CEO of Fleuron Enterprises noted, "Both companies share a commitment to customer service and a passion for design." The companies will leverage their combined strengths and expanded distribution footprint to drive their continued focus on product design, selection and quality customer service. About Rowley Company: An industry leader in the window coverings industry, Rowley has been serving drapery and upholstery workrooms, installers and designers since 1962 with over 15,000 workroom, installation, upholstery, notion and decorative hardware products to help its customers design, fabricate and install beautiful custom window and home furnishings. For more information about Rowley company and its family of designer hardware brands including AriA Metal Hardware, Finestra Wood Hardware, Finestra Custom Decorative Hardware and R-TRAC commercial hardware visit www.rowleycompany.com. About Fleuron Enterprises, LLC: Fleuron Enterprises, Inc. is the industry leader in the design and manufacturing of high-end, premium decorative drapery hardware products for the interior design market. Fleuron offers a complete line of mid-to-high price point products in four established and successful brands: The Finial Company, Paris Texas Hardware, Gould New York, and Components. Fleuron's brands inspire the design community with ultimate choice and flexibility, and promise an unparalleled customer experience with service, marketing support, and overall client satisfaction. CONTACT: Mikala Moller, 704-874-2211, [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rowley-company-acquires-fleuron-enterprises-inc-300308196.html SOURCE Rowley Company HONG KONG, CHINA and CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- The Board of Directors (the "Board") of Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. (the "Corporation" or "Sunshine") (HKSE: 2012) wishes to announce the following: EXTENSION OF CLOSING OF THE BALANCE OF THE PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNDER THE SPECIFIC MANDATE Reference is made to the announcements of the Corporation dated June 1, 2015, July 28, 2015, August 21, 2015, October 1, 2015, November 2, 2015, December 6, 2015, March 2, 2016, May 3, 2016, June 3, 2016, June 23, 2016, July 21, 2016 and August 1, 2016 (all preceding dates are in Hong Kong time) and the circular of the Corporation dated June 22, 2015 (the "Circular"), in relation to, among other matters, the proposed issue of new Class "A" Common Voting Shares ("Shares") under the Specific Mandate (as defined in the Circular) and the connected transactions involving subscriptions for new Shares by connected persons. To date, the Corporation has completed the closing of 412,947,543 subscription Shares authorized under the Specific Mandate. Of this total, 405,113,333 Shares have been issued to Prime Union Enterprises Limited ("Prime Union") at a price of HK $0.75 per Share (approximately CDN $0.13 per Share). for total gross proceeds of HK $303,835,000 (approximately CDN $51.0 million) received from Prime Union. Late in the evening of August 1, 2016 (Hong Kong), Prime Union contacted the Corporation to advise that it was experiencing a delay in obtaining the remaining regulatory and currency control approvals (the "Regulatory Approvals") necessary to transfer funds out of People's Republic of China ("PRC") to pay for the remaining Shares by August 2, 2016. Prime Union and the Corporation discussed whether there were other options that could be utilized to close the subscription on time for the remaining 111,786,667 Shares (HK $83,840,000 or approximately CDN $14.1 million) subscribed for by Prime Union, however, no feasible solution could be found in the short time frame prior to expiry of the subscription agreement. Prime Union then requested that the Corporation consider an extension to the closing date of the subscription agreement. Prime Union has advised Sunshine that it has been working diligently to obtain the Regulatory Approvals but requires additional time due to the complexity of the applicable regulatory requirements. Prime Union has also confirmed to Sunshine that it has the funds necessary to complete the subscription. After deliberating on the options available to the Corporation, the circumstances surrounding the regulatory delay, Prime Union's completion of a substantial portion of the subscription agreement to date, Prime Union's stated commitment to Sunshine to complete the subscription agreement as soon as possible and the Corporation's discussions with its professional advisors), the Board (with a quorum present and without Chairman Sun's or Ms. Xijuan Jiang's involvement) unanimously determined that a further extension, rather than costly enforcement proceedings that would take longer than the requested extension, is in the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders. In order to provide adequate time for Prime Union to obtain the Regulatory Approvals, the Board approved a further extension of the closing date for the remaining 111,786,667 subscribed Shares (HK $83,840,000 or approximately CDN $14.1 million) from August 2, 2016 to December 1, 2016. The remaining subscribed Shares may be closed earlier than December 1, 2016 in one or more tranches with the last tranche closing no later than December 1, 2016. An announcement will be issued when the Corporation completes the closing(s) of the remaining Shares subscribed for by Prime Union. ABOUT SUNSHINE OILSANDS LTD. The Corporation is a Calgary based public corporation listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since March 1, 2012. The Corporation is focused on the development of its significant holdings of oil sands leases in the Athabasca oil sands region. The Corporation owns interests in approximately one million acres of oil sands and petroleum and natural gas leases in the Athabasca region. The Corporation is currently focused on executing milestone undertakings in the West Ells project area. West Ells has an initial production target rate of 5,000 barrels per day. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This announcement contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, (a) the plans and expectations of the Corporation; and (b) the potential closing in respect of the remaining Shares subscribed for by Prime Union. Such forward-looking information is subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors. All statements other than statements and information of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of words such as "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "project", "plan", "target", "vision", "goal", "outlook", "may", "will", "should", "believe", "intend", "anticipate", "potential", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on Sunshine's experience, current beliefs, assumptions, information and perception of historical trends available to Sunshine, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to those associated with resource definition and expected reserves and contingent and prospective resources estimates, unanticipated costs and expenses, regulatory approval, fluctuating oil and gas prices, expected future production, the ability to access sufficient capital to finance future development and credit risks, changes in Alberta's regulatory framework, including changes to regulatory approval process and land-use designations, royalty, tax, environmental, greenhouse gas, carbon and other laws or regulations and the impact thereof and the costs associated with compliance. Although Sunshine believes that the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions and factors discussed in this announcement are not exhaustive and readers are not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as the Corporation's actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Sunshine disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subsequent to the date of this announcement, except as required under applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement and are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists are not exhaustive and are made as at the date hereof. For a full discussion of the Corporation's material risk factors, see the Corporation's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2015 and risk factors described in other documents we file from time to time with securities regulatory authorities, all of which are available on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at www.hkexnews.hk, on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com or on the Corporation's website at www.sunshineoilsands.com. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement. This announcement appears for information purpose only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for securities of Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. By Order of the Board of Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. Sun Kwok Ping, Executive Chairman As at the date of this announcement, the Board consists of Mr. Kwok Ping Sun, Mr. Hong Luo, Dr. Qi Jiang and Mr. Qiping Men as executive directors; Mr. Michael John Hibberd, Mr. Jianzhong Chen and Ms. Xijuan Jiang as non-executive directors; and Mr. Raymond Shengti Fong, Mr. Gerald Franklin Stevenson, Ms. Joanne Yan and Mr. Yi He as independent non-executive directors. Contacts: Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. Mr. Qiping Men Chief Financial Officer (1) 403-984-1450 [email protected] www.sunshineoilsands.com Source: Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. IRVINE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- UCI Division of Continuing Education (DCE) has announced the appointment of Charlotte Slater as the Division's course quality manager. In this role, Slater is tasked to provide her expertise in course development and assessment to oversee the Division's overall strategy to develop high quality curriculum. "UCI is a campus well-known for honoring its land grant mission to provide superior quality on-campus and online learning experiences for its students. Having a course quality expert that is well versed in the specific curricular needs of our global student body is critical," said Gary W. Matkin, Ph.D., dean of UCI Division of Continuing Education. "We are confident that Charlotte's extensive experience in online learning, curricular development, instructional design, and student assessment will build upon our existing inventory of courses as well as new curriculum that our Division rapidly develops and delivers." Slater comes to UCI's DCE with more than 15 years of experience in higher education at Florida International University, Florida Gulf Coast University, the University of North Georgia, and among others. Additionally, Slater served four years as a K-12 instructional technology director at Del Valle Independent School District in Austin, Texas. Slater received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Stanford University and her Master of Arts degree in Education from San Diego State University. About UCI Division of Continuing Education: The University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education provides open enrollment learning opportunities, serving adult students online, at the UCI campus, and at employer sites nationally and worldwide. Since 1962, the UCI Division of Continuing Education has offered open enrollment learning opportunities to the Orange County community, providing open access to the resources of the university, through certificate and specialized studies programs (found here) and free, open educational resources (http://open.uci.edu/). Connect with UCI Division of Continuing Education on the institution's social media channels. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 28,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. Located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities, it's Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $4.8 billion annually to the local economy. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3040714 CONTACT: Vivian Slater 714-573-0899 x235 Email Contact Source: UCI Division of Continuing Education Combination of two pictures show defendants Zdravko Mustac (L) and Josip Perkovic, former members of the Yugoslav secret service in a Munich courtroom August 3, 2016. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle By Joern Poltz MUNICH (Reuters) - Two former Yugoslav intelligence chiefs were jailed for life by a German court on Wednesday for masterminding the murder of a Yugoslav dissident in the southern German state of Bavaria more than three decades ago. The court in Munich found Croats Josip Perkovic, 71, and Zdravko Mustac, 74, who were top officials in the communist-era Yugoslav secret service, guilty of complicity in the murder of Stjepan Durekovic, also a Croat. Durekovic was found dead of gunshot wounds and head injuries in a garage in the town of Wolfratshausen in 1983. The crime went back three decades to the period before the break-up of Yugoslavia in war in the early 1990s leading to the emergence of seven independent Balkan states. "The prime motive was to kill a regime critic, a separatist," presiding judge Manfred Dauster told the higher regional court in Munich. "Durekovic was to be muzzled - politically, but also physically." Croatia extradited Perkovic and Mustac in 2014, under pressure from Germany. Defense lawyers plan go to Germany's federal high court to appeal Wednesday's ruling in Munich. If the sentences are upheld, Perkovic and Mustac will be able to apply to serve them in Croatia. Another man, the owner of the garage who had managed to win Durekovic's confidence, was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany in 2008 for his part in the murder. At the time, the court established that 22 Croats were murdered in West Germany, at the behest of the Yugoslav leadership. Croatia initially refused to comply with Germany's extradition requests for the two men, triggering a diplomatic dispute in 2013 that threatened to overshadow the state's accession to the European Union. Shortly before joining the EU on July 1 2013, in a move that irked its EU partners, Zagreb changed its laws to prevent the extradition of suspects in crimes committed before 2002, when new EU extradition rules took effect. The Zagreb government said at the time that it wanted to protect veterans of Croatia's 1991-95 independence war from facing potential prosecution elsewhere in the EU. It denied any connection with the Perkovic case and pointed out that some EU member states had the same 2002 time limit. The government later removed the time restriction after the European Commission warned it could face legal action, including possible loss of EU development funds. Perkovic helped set up Croatia's national intelligence agency as it seceded from Belgrade in 1991, when Yugoslavia broke up in bloodshed, and held senior security posts through the 1990s. (Reporting by Joern Poltz; Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Richard Balmforth) Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of ALBERT YAMADA, DALERIE TANIGAWA and APRIL LEE, signing singly, the undersigneds true and lawful attorney-in-fact to: (1) prepare, execute in the undersigneds name and on the undersigneds behalf, and submit to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a Form ID, Uniform Application for Access Codes to File on EDGAR and any other documents necessary or appropriate to obtain codes and passwords enabling the undersigned to make electronic filings with the SEC of reports required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) or any rule or regulation of the SEC; (2) execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigneds capacity as an officer and/or director of First Hawaiian, Inc. (the Company), Forms 3, 4 and 5 (including amendments thereto) in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any other forms or reports the undersigned may be required to file in connection with the undersigneds ownership, acquisition, or disposition of securities of the Company; (3) do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Forms 3, 4, 5 or Form ID or other form or report, and timely file such form or report with the SEC and any stock exchange or similar authority; and (4) take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of or legally required by the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-facts discretion. The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-facts substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigneds responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act. 1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 3, 2016 ( August 3, 2016 ) HOLLYFRONTIER CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 001-03876 (Commission File Number) 75-1056913 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 2828 N. Harwood, Suite 1300 Dallas, TX (Address of principal executive offices) 75201 (Zip code) Registrants telephone number, including area code: (214) 871-3555 Not applicable (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: [ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On August 3, 2016 , HollyFrontier Corporation (the Company) issued a press release announcing the Companys second quarter 2016 results. A copy of the Companys press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein in its entirety. The information contained in, or incorporated into, this Item 2.02 is being furnished and shall not be deemed filed for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference to such filing. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits . (d) Exhibits . 99.1 Press Release of the Company issued August 3, 2016 .* * Furnished herewith pursuant to Item 2.02. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. HOLLYFRONTIER CORPORATION By: /s/ Douglas S. Aron Douglas S. Aron Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Date: August 3, 2016 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Exhibit Title 99.1 Press Release of the Company issued August 3, 2016 .* * Furnished herewith pursuant to Item 2.02. Press Release August 3, 2016 HollyFrontier Corporation Reports Quarterly Results and Announces Regular Cash Dividend Dallas, Texas, August 3, 2016 HollyFrontier Corporation (NYSE: HFC) (HollyFrontier or the Company) today reported a second quarter net loss attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders of $(409.4) million or $(2.33) per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 , compared to net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders of $360.8 million or $1.88 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 . Included in the current quarter results were non-cash items consisting of goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges, offset by an inventory reserve adjustment. These non-cash items include $309.3 million of goodwill and $344.8 million of long-lived asset write-downs related to our Cheyenne Refinery, offset by a $138.5 million benefit attributable to the change in our lower of cost or market reserve. Excluding these non-cash items, adjusted net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders for second quarter of 2016 was $49.0 million, or $0.28 per share. A reconciliation of actual to adjusted amounts are shown in the accompanying reconciliations to amounts reported under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles tables. HollyFrontier also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share. This dividend will be paid on September 23, 2016 to holders of record of common stock on August 23, 2016. For the second quarter, net income attributable to our stockholders, exclusive of impairment and lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustments and related tax effects, decreased by $224.0 million compared to the same period of 2015 , principally reflecting lower refining margins. Production levels averaged approximately 443,000 barrels per day ("BPD") and crude oil charges averaged 429,000 BPD for the current quarter. On a per barrel basis, consolidated refinery gross margin was $8.88 per produced barrel, a 49% decrease compared to $17.42 for the second quarter of 2015 . Total operating expenses for the quarter were $251.3 million compared to $246.2 million for the second quarter of last year, and refining operating expenses averaged $5.51 per produced barrel sold compared to $5.14 per barrel for the same period of 2015 . HollyFrontiers President & CEO, George Damiris, commented, we incurred $57.0 million in costs during the second quarter associated with purchasing Renewable Identification Numbers ("RINs") to comply with the EPAs Renewable Fuel Standard program. Along with others in our industry and our trade association, AFPM, we are advocating for the EPA to level the playing field by moving the point of obligation to include currently exempt parties who, unlike merchant refiners, control blending and can therefore increase biofuel usage in keeping with the intent of the RFS program. The current misalignment in the point of obligation also unfairly allows exempt blenders to extract unintended windfall profits from the sale of RINs to obligated refiners as well as speculators who contribute to RIN prices far exceeding the cost of blending." "Second quarter earnings were impacted by weak benchmark refining margins, falling secondary product margins and increasing costs associated with the RFS mandate," Damiris said. "Despite strong demand fundamentals, summer gasoline margins have been disappointing due to supply outpacing demand. The combination of higher industry throughputs, a 2% increase in gasoline yield across the U.S. refining system, and rising imports have driven gasoline inventories 11% above last year. We are focused on things we can control; running our refineries safely and reliably and reining in operating and capital spending. Overall, HollyFrontier is well positioned to withstand the current operating environment and exploit potential opportunities given our complex refineries in advantaged markets, strong balance sheet, and excellent liquidity position. 1 For the second quarter of 2016 , net cash provided by operations totaled $303.7 million . During the period , we declared a dividend of $0.33 per share to shareholders totaling $58.2 million. At June 30, 2016 , our combined balance of cash and short-term investments totaled $533.3 million and our consolidated debt was $1,678.1 million . Our debt, exclusive of Holly Energy Partners' debt, which is nonrecourse to HollyFrontier, was $595.0 million at June 30, 2016 . The Company has scheduled a webcast conference call for today, August 3, 2016 , at 8:30 AM Eastern Time to discuss second quarter financial results. This webcast may be accessed at: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1109619. An audio archive of this webcast will be available using the above noted link through August 17, 2016. HollyFrontier Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is an independent petroleum refiner and marketer that produces high-value light products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and other specialty products. HollyFrontier operates through its subsidiaries a 135,000 barrels per stream day (BPSD) refinery located in El Dorado, Kansas, two refinery facilities with a combined capacity of 125,000 BPSD located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a 100,000 BPSD refinery located in Artesia, New Mexico, a 52,000 BPSD refinery located in Cheyenne, Wyoming and a 45,000 BPSD refinery in Woods Cross, Utah. HollyFrontier markets its refined products principally in the Southwest U.S., the Rocky Mountains extending into the Pacific Northwest and in other neighboring Plains states. A subsidiary of HollyFrontier also owns a 39% interest (including the general partner interest) in Holly Energy Partners, L.P. The following is a safe harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements in this press release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on managements beliefs and assumptions using currently available information and expectations as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, including those contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that our expectations will prove correct. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such statements. Any differences could be caused by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to the actions of actual or potential competitive suppliers of refined petroleum products in the Companys markets, the demand for and supply of crude oil and refined products, the spread between market prices for refined products and market prices for crude oil, the possibility of constraints on the transportation of refined products, the possibility of inefficiencies, curtailments or shutdowns in refinery operations or pipelines, effects of governmental and environmental regulations and policies, the availability and cost of financing to the Company, the effectiveness of the Companys capital investments and marketing strategies, the Companys efficiency in carrying out construction projects, the ability of the Company to acquire refined product operations or pipeline and terminal operations on acceptable terms and to integrate any future acquired operations, the possibility of terrorist attacks and the consequences of any such attacks, general economic conditions and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Companys Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and, other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 2 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Financial Data (all information in this release is unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Change from 2015 2016 2015 Change Percent (In thousands, except per share data) Sales and other revenues $ 2,714,638 $ 3,701,912 $ (987,274 ) (27 )% Operating costs and expenses: Cost of products sold: Cost of products sold (exclusive of lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment) 2,248,155 2,887,475 (639,320 ) (22 ) Lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment (138,473 ) (135,480 ) (2,993 ) 2 2,109,682 2,751,995 (642,313 ) (23 ) Operating expenses 251,336 246,165 5,171 2 General and administrative expenses 29,655 26,117 3,538 14 Depreciation and amortization 90,423 87,803 2,620 3 Goodwill and asset impairment 654,084 654,084 Total operating costs and expenses 3,135,180 3,112,080 23,100 1 Income (loss) from operations (420,542 ) 589,832 (1,010,374 ) (171 ) Other income (expense): Earnings of equity method investments 3,623 631 2,992 474 Interest income 527 768 (241 ) (31 ) Interest expense (14,251 ) (10,559 ) (3,692 ) 35 Loss on early extinguishment of debt (1,368 ) 1,368 (100 ) Gain on sale of assets and other 128 873 (745 ) (85 ) (9,973 ) (9,655 ) (318 ) 3 Income (loss) before income taxes (430,515 ) 580,177 (1,010,692 ) (174 ) Income tax expense (benefit) (38,045 ) 206,990 (245,035 ) (118 ) Net income (loss) (392,470 ) 373,187 (765,657 ) (205 ) Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 16,898 12,363 4,535 37 Net income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders $ (409,368 ) $ 360,824 $ (770,192 ) (213 )% Earnings (loss) per share attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders: Basic $ (2.33 ) $ 1.88 $ (4.21 ) (224 )% Diluted $ (2.33 ) $ 1.88 $ (4.21 ) (224 )% Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.33 $ 0.33 $ % Average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 175,865 191,355 (15,490 ) (8 )% Diluted 175,865 191,454 (15,589 ) (8 )% EBITDA $ (343,266 ) $ 666,776 $ (1,010,042 ) (151 )% 3 Six Months Ended June 30, Change from 2015 2016 2015 Change Percent (In thousands, except per share data) Sales and other revenues $ 4,733,362 $ 6,708,538 $ (1,975,176 ) (29 )% Operating costs and expenses: Cost of products sold: Cost of products sold (exclusive of lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment) 3,873,318 5,138,848 (1,265,530 ) (25 ) Lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment (194,594 ) (142,026 ) (52,568 ) 37 3,678,724 4,996,822 (1,318,098 ) (26 ) Operating expenses 503,919 509,761 (5,842 ) (1 ) General and administrative expenses 55,276 55,686 (410 ) (1 ) Depreciation and amortization 178,303 167,815 10,488 6 Goodwill and asset impairment 654,084 654,084 Total operating costs and expenses 5,070,306 5,730,084 (659,778 ) (12 ) Income (loss) from operations (336,944 ) 978,454 (1,315,398 ) (134 ) Other income (expense): Earnings (loss) of equity method investments 6,388 (7,176 ) 13,564 189 Interest income 602 1,730 (1,128 ) (65 ) Interest expense (26,338 ) (20,713 ) (5,625 ) 27 Loss on early extinguishment of debt (8,718 ) (1,368 ) (7,350 ) 537 Gain on sale of assets and other 193 1,639 (1,446 ) (88 ) (27,873 ) (25,888 ) (1,985 ) 8 Income (loss) before income taxes (364,817 ) 952,566 (1,317,383 ) (138 ) Income tax expense (benefit) (15,737 ) 336,718 (352,455 ) (105 ) Net income (loss) (349,080 ) 615,848 (964,928 ) (157 ) Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 39,035 28,148 10,887 39 Net income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders $ (388,115 ) $ 587,700 $ (975,815 ) (166 )% Earnings (loss) per share attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders: Basic $ (2.20 ) $ 3.03 $ (5.23 ) (173 )% Diluted $ (2.20 ) $ 3.03 $ (5.23 ) (173 )% Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.66 $ 0.65 $ 0.01 2 % Average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 176,301 193,202 (16,901 ) (9 )% Diluted 176,301 193,279 (16,978 ) (9 )% EBITDA $ (191,095 ) $ 1,112,584 $ (1,303,679 ) (117 )% Balance Sheet Data June 30, December 31, 2016 2015 (In thousands) Cash, cash equivalents and total investments in marketable securities $ 533,318 $ 210,552 Working capital $ 1,069,544 $ 587,450 Total assets $ 8,659,717 $ 8,388,299 Long-term debt $ 1,678,123 $ 1,040,040 Total equity $ 5,197,910 $ 5,809,773 4 Segment Information Our operations are organized into two reportable segments, Refining and HEP. Our operations that are not included in the Refining and HEP segments are included in Corporate and Other. Intersegment transactions are eliminated in our consolidated financial statements and are included in Consolidations and Eliminations. The Refining segment includes the operations of our El Dorado, Tulsa, Navajo, Cheyenne and Woods Cross refineries and HFC Asphalt (aggregated as a reportable segment). Refining activities involve the purchase and refining of crude oil and wholesale and branded marketing of refined products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel. These petroleum products are primarily marketed in the Mid-Continent, Southwest and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States. Additionally, the Refining segment includes specialty lubricant products produced at our Tulsa refineries that are marketed throughout North America and are distributed in Central and South America. HFC Asphalt operates various asphalt terminals in Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The HEP segment involves all of the operations of HEP, a consolidated variable interest entity, which owns and operates logistics assets consisting of petroleum product and crude oil pipelines, terminals, tankage, loading rack facilities and refinery process units in the Mid-Continent, Southwest and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States. The HEP segment also includes a 75% interest in the UNEV Pipeline (an HEP consolidated subsidiary), a 50% ownership interest in each of the Frontier Pipeline, Osage Pipeline and the Cheyenne Pipeline and a 25% ownership interest in SLC Pipeline. Revenues from the HEP segment are earned through transactions with unaffiliated parties for pipeline transportation, rental and terminalling operations as well as revenues relating to pipeline transportation services provided for our refining operations. Due to certain basis differences, our reported amounts for the HEP segment may not agree to amounts reported in HEP's periodic public filings. 5 Refining HEP Corporate and Other Consolidations and Eliminations Consolidated Total (In thousands) Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 Sales and other revenues $ 2,699,022 $ 94,896 $ 47 $ (79,327 ) $ 2,714,638 Depreciation and amortization $ 72,026 $ 15,305 $ 3,299 $ (207 ) $ 90,423 Income (loss) from operations $ (438,174 ) $ 49,474 $ (31,197 ) $ (645 ) $ (420,542 ) Capital expenditures $ 124,282 $ 14,794 $ 1,396 $ $ 140,472 Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 Sales and other revenues $ 3,686,493 $ 83,479 $ 151 $ (68,211 ) $ 3,701,912 Depreciation and amortization $ 70,435 $ 14,660 $ 2,915 $ (207 ) $ 87,803 Income (loss) from operations $ 576,313 $ 40,834 $ (26,739 ) $ (576 ) $ 589,832 Capital expenditures $ 121,600 $ 18,116 $ 4,578 $ $ 144,294 Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 Sales and other revenues $ 4,698,609 $ 196,906 $ 157 $ (162,310 ) $ 4,733,362 Depreciation and amortization $ 140,904 $ 31,334 $ 6,479 $ (414 ) $ 178,303 Income (loss) from operations $ (383,174 ) $ 105,541 $ (58,052 ) $ (1,259 ) $ (336,944 ) Capital expenditures $ 253,300 $ 32,667 $ 4,078 $ $ 290,045 Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 Sales and other revenues $ 6,675,773 $ 173,235 $ 369 $ (140,839 ) $ 6,708,538 Depreciation and amortization $ 133,710 $ 28,950 $ 5,569 $ (414 ) $ 167,815 Income (loss) from operations $ 950,214 $ 85,044 $ (55,688 ) $ (1,116 ) $ 978,454 Capital expenditures $ 238,067 $ 69,843 $ 9,003 $ $ 316,913 June 30, 2016 Cash, cash equivalents and total investments in marketable securities $ 800 $ 4,882 $ 527,636 $ $ 533,318 Total assets $ 6,627,438 $ 1,652,772 $ 682,211 $ (302,704 ) $ 8,659,717 Long-term debt $ $ 1,083,136 $ 594,987 $ $ 1,678,123 December 31, 2015 Cash, cash equivalents and total investments in marketable securities $ 91 $ 15,013 $ 195,448 $ $ 210,552 Total assets $ 6,831,235 $ 1,578,399 $ 289,225 $ (310,560 ) $ 8,388,299 Long-term debt $ $ 1,008,752 $ 31,288 $ $ 1,040,040 6 Refining Operating Data The following tables set forth information, including non-GAAP performance measures about our refinery operations. The cost of products and refinery gross and net operating margins do not include the non-cash effects of lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustments and depreciation and amortization. Reconciliations to amounts reported under GAAP are provided under Reconciliations to Amounts Reported Under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles below. Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Mid-Continent Region (El Dorado and Tulsa Refineries) Crude charge (BPD) (1) 270,590 279,940 252,070 269,010 Refinery throughput (BPD) (2) 292,320 294,600 272,240 281,940 Refinery production (BPD) (3) 280,590 283,120 261,340 271,240 Sales of produced refined products (BPD) 264,660 271,860 249,010 264,130 Sales of refined products (BPD) (4) 285,780 292,790 274,000 280,140 Refinery utilization (5) 104.1 % 107.7 % 97.0 % 103.5 % Average per produced barrel (6) Net sales $ 60.24 $ 79.95 $ 53.89 $ 75.96 Cost of products (7) 52.55 64.60 46.13 59.70 Refinery gross margin (8) 7.69 15.35 7.76 16.26 Refinery operating expenses (9) 4.56 4.35 4.95 4.62 Net operating margin (8) $ 3.13 $ 11.00 $ 2.81 $ 11.64 Refinery operating expenses per throughput barrel (10) $ 4.13 $ 4.01 $ 4.53 $ 4.33 Feedstocks: Sweet crude oil 58 % 59 % 55 % 60 % Sour crude oil 17 % 20 % 19 % 20 % Heavy sour crude oil 17 % 16 % 19 % 15 % Other feedstocks and blends 8 % 5 % 7 % 5 % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % Sales of produced refined products: Gasolines 47 % 48 % 48 % 48 % Diesel fuels 35 % 36 % 35 % 35 % Jet fuels 6 % 6 % 6 % 7 % Fuel oil 1 % 1 % 1 % 1 % Asphalt 3 % 2 % 2 % 2 % Lubricants 5 % 4 % 5 % 4 % LPG and other 3 % 3 % 3 % 3 % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 7 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Southwest Region (Navajo Refinery) Crude charge (BPD) (1) 101,660 104,050 99,890 97,660 Refinery throughput (BPD) (2) 111,610 114,630 110,370 109,370 Refinery production (BPD) (3) 110,520 113,320 109,020 107,640 Sales of produced refined products (BPD) 110,360 116,710 111,870 111,450 Sales of refined products (BPD) (4) 111,570 124,710 112,660 121,420 Refinery utilization (5) 101.7 % 104.1 % 99.9 % 97.7 % Average per produced barrel (6) Net sales $ 61.86 $ 80.78 $ 53.67 $ 74.31 Cost of products (7) 50.71 60.32 44.66 55.87 Refinery gross margin (8) 11.15 20.46 9.01 18.44 Refinery operating expenses (9) 4.77 3.99 4.50 4.68 Net operating margin (8) $ 6.38 $ 16.47 $ 4.51 $ 13.76 Refinery operating expenses per throughput barrel (10) $ 4.72 $ 4.06 $ 4.56 $ 4.77 Feedstocks: Sweet crude oil 27 % 33 % 30 % 31 % Sour crude oil 64 % 58 % 60 % 58 % Other feedstocks and blends 9 % 9 % 10 % 11 % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % Sales of produced refined products: Gasolines 54 % 54 % 55 % 55 % Diesel fuels 41 % 39 % 40 % 38 % Fuel oil 2 % 3 % 2 % 2 % Asphalt 1 % 1 % 1 % 1 % LPG and other 2 % 3 % 2 % 4 % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % Rocky Mountain Region (Cheyenne and Woods Cross Refineries) Crude charge (BPD) (1) 56,340 62,110 57,880 64,770 Refinery throughput (BPD) (2) 54,680 67,320 61,950 70,790 Refinery production (BPD) (3) 51,550 63,070 58,900 66,550 Sales of produced refined products (BPD) 56,090 59,100 61,370 62,620 Sales of refined products (BPD) (4) 61,950 64,800 65,960 68,450 Refinery utilization (5) 67.9 % 74.8 % 69.7 % 78.0 % 8 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Rocky Mountain Region (Cheyenne and Woods Cross Refineries) Average per produced barrel (6) Net sales $ 62.26 $ 81.84 $ 53.86 $ 73.33 Cost of products (7) 52.22 60.88 45.04 55.28 Refinery gross margin (8) 10.04 20.96 8.82 18.05 Refinery operating expenses (9) 11.48 11.02 10.51 10.61 Net operating margin (8) $ (1.44 ) $ 9.94 $ (1.69 ) $ 7.44 Refinery operating expenses per throughput barrel (10) $ 11.78 $ 9.67 $ 10.41 $ 9.39 Feedstocks: Sweet crude oil 45 % 42 % 42 % 41 % Heavy sour crude oil 35 % 38 % 34 % 38 % Black wax crude oil 20 % 12 % 17 % 12 % Other feedstocks and blends % 8 % 7 % 9 % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % Sales of produced refined products: Gasolines 58 % 56 % 60 % 57 % Diesel fuels 36 % 38 % 34 % 37 % Fuel oil 1 % 2 % 2 % 2 % Asphalt 1 % 2 % 1 % 2 % LPG and other 4 % 2 % 3 % 2 % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % Consolidated Crude charge (BPD) (1) 428,590 446,100 409,840 431,440 Refinery throughput (BPD) (2) 458,610 476,550 444,560 462,100 Refinery production (BPD) (3) 442,660 459,510 429,260 445,430 Sales of produced refined products (BPD) 431,110 447,670 422,250 438,200 Sales of refined products (BPD) (4) 459,300 482,300 452,620 470,010 Refinery utilization (5) 96.7 % 100.7 % 92.5 % 97.4 % Average per produced barrel (6) Net sales $ 60.92 $ 80.41 $ 53.83 $ 75.16 Cost of products (7) 52.04 62.99 45.58 58.09 Refinery gross margin (8) 8.88 17.42 8.25 17.07 Refinery operating expenses (9) 5.51 5.14 5.64 5.49 Net operating margin (8) $ 3.37 $ 12.28 $ 2.61 $ 11.58 Refinery operating expenses per throughput barrel (10) $ 5.18 $ 4.83 $ 5.35 $ 5.21 Feedstocks: Sweet crude oil 49 % 50 % 47 % 50 % Sour crude oil 27 % 27 % 27 % 26 % Heavy sour crude oil 15 % 15 % 16 % 15 % Black wax crude oil 2 % 2 % 2 % 2 % Other feedstocks and blends 7 % 6 % 8 % 7 % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 9 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Consolidated Sales of produced refined products: Gasolines 50 % 51 % 51 % 51 % Diesel fuels 37 % 37 % 36 % 36 % Jet fuels 4 % 4 % 4 % 4 % Fuel oil 1 % 1 % 1 % 1 % Asphalt 2 % 2 % 2 % 2 % Lubricants 3 % 2 % 3 % 3 % LPG and other 3 % 3 % 3 % 3 % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % (1) Crude charge represents the barrels per day of crude oil processed at our refineries. (2) Refinery throughput represents the barrels per day of crude and other refinery feedstocks input to the crude units and other conversion units at our refineries. (3) Refinery production represents the barrels per day of refined products yielded from processing crude and other refinery feedstocks through the crude units and other conversion units at our refineries. (4) Includes refined products purchased for resale. (5) Represents crude charge divided by total crude capacity (BPSD). Our consolidated crude capacity is 443,000 BPSD. (6) Represents average per barrel amount for produced refined products sold, which is a non-GAAP measure. Reconciliations to amounts reported under GAAP are provided under Reconciliations to Amounts Reported Under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles below. (7) Transportation, terminal and refinery storage costs billed from HEP are included in cost of products. (8) Excludes lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustments of $138.5 million and $135.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively, and $194.6 million and $142.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. (9) Represents operating expenses of our refineries, exclusive of depreciation and amortization. (10) Represents refinery operating expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization, divided by refinery throughput. 10 Reconciliations to Amounts Reported Under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Reconciliations of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to amounts reported under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in financial statements. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, which we refer to as EBITDA, is calculated as net income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders plus (i) interest expense, net of interest income, (ii) income tax provision, and (iii) depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a calculation provided for under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; however, the amounts included in the EBITDA calculation are derived from amounts included in our consolidated financial statements. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or operating income as an indication of our operating performance or as an alternative to operating cash flow as a measure of liquidity. EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. EBITDA is presented here because it is a widely used financial indicator used by investors and analysts to measure performance. EBITDA is also used by our management for internal analysis and as a basis for financial covenants. Set forth below is our calculation of EBITDA. Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (In thousands) Net income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders $ (409,368 ) $ 360,824 $ (388,115 ) $ 587,700 Add income tax provision (38,045 ) 206,990 (15,737 ) 336,718 Add interest expense (1) 14,251 11,927 35,056 22,081 Subtract interest income (527 ) (768 ) (602 ) (1,730 ) Add depreciation and amortization 90,423 87,803 178,303 167,815 EBITDA $ (343,266 ) $ 666,776 $ (191,095 ) $ 1,112,584 (1) Includes loss on early extinguishment of debt of $1.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $8.7 million and $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. Reconciliations of refinery operating information (non-GAAP performance measures) to amounts reported under generally accepted accounting principles in financial statements. Refinery gross margin and net operating margin are non-GAAP performance measures that are used by our management and others to compare our refining performance to that of other companies in our industry. We believe these margin measures are helpful to investors in evaluating our refining performance on a relative and absolute basis. Refinery gross margin per barrel is the difference between average net sales price and average cost of products per barrel of produced refined products. Net operating margin per barrel is the difference between refinery gross margin and refinery operating expenses per barrel of produced refined products. These two margins do not include the non-cash effects of lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustments, depreciation and amortization or goodwill and asset impairment charges. Each of these component performance measures can be reconciled directly to our consolidated statements of income. Other companies in our industry may not calculate these performance measures in the same manner. Refinery Gross and Net Operating Margins Below are reconciliations to our consolidated statements of income for (i) net sales, cost of products sold (exclusive of lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment) and operating expenses, in each case averaged per produced barrel sold, and (ii) net operating margin and refinery gross margin. Due to rounding of reported numbers, some amounts may not calculate exactly. 11 Reconciliation of produced refined product sales to total sales and other revenues Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (Dollars in thousands, except per barrel amounts) Consolidated Average sales price per produced barrel sold $ 60.92 $ 80.41 $ 53.83 $ 75.16 Times sales of produced refined products (BPD) 431,110 447,670 422,250 438,200 Times number of days in period 91 91 182 181 Produced refined product sales $ 2,389,953 $ 3,275,740 $ 4,136,809 $ 5,961,255 Total produced refined product sales $ 2,389,953 $ 3,275,740 $ 4,136,809 $ 5,961,255 Add refined product sales from purchased products and rounding (1) 161,860 259,030 293,460 426,330 Total refined product sales 2,551,813 3,534,770 4,430,269 6,387,585 Add direct sales of excess crude oil (2) 100,782 92,659 191,700 192,928 Add other refining segment revenue (3) 46,427 59,064 76,640 95,260 Total refining segment revenue 2,699,022 3,686,493 4,698,609 6,675,773 Add HEP segment sales and other revenues 94,896 83,479 196,906 173,235 Add corporate and other revenues 47 151 157 369 Subtract consolidations and eliminations (79,327 ) (68,211 ) (162,310 ) (140,839 ) Sales and other revenues $ 2,714,638 $ 3,701,912 $ 4,733,362 $ 6,708,538 Reconciliation of average cost of products per produced barrel sold to cost of products sold (exclusive of lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (Dollars in thousands, except per barrel amounts) Consolidated Average cost of products per produced barrel sold $ 52.04 $ 62.99 $ 45.58 $ 58.09 Times sales of produced refined products (BPD) 431,110 447,670 422,250 438,200 Times number of days in period 91 91 182 181 Cost of products for produced products sold $ 2,041,582 $ 2,566,085 $ 3,502,800 $ 4,607,362 Total cost of products for produced products sold $ 2,041,582 $ 2,566,085 $ 3,502,800 $ 4,607,362 Add refined product costs from purchased products sold and rounding (1) 159,155 266,199 297,519 436,872 Total cost of refined products sold 2,200,737 2,832,284 3,800,319 5,044,234 Add crude oil cost of direct sales of excess crude oil (2) 101,719 91,461 193,307 189,191 Add other refining segment cost of products sold (4) 19,463 31,244 31,361 44,445 Total refining segment cost of products sold 2,321,919 2,954,989 4,024,987 5,277,870 Subtract consolidations and eliminations (73,764 ) (67,514 ) (151,669 ) (139,022 ) Costs of products sold (exclusive of lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment and depreciation and amortization) $ 2,248,155 $ 2,887,475 $ 3,873,318 $ 5,138,848 12 Reconciliation of average refinery operating expenses per produced barrel sold to total operating expenses Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (Dollars in thousands, except per barrel amounts) Consolidated Average refinery operating expenses per produced barrel sold $ 5.51 $ 5.14 $ 5.64 $ 5.49 Times sales of produced refined products (BPD) 431,110 447,670 422,250 438,200 Times number of days in period 91 91 182 181 Refinery operating expenses for produced products sold $ 216,163 $ 209,393 $ 433,431 $ 435,435 Total refinery operating expenses for produced products sold $ 216,163 $ 209,393 $ 433,431 $ 435,435 Add other refining segment operating expenses and rounding (5) 11,477 10,843 22,971 20,570 Total refining segment operating expenses 227,640 220,236 456,402 456,005 Add HEP segment operating expenses 27,255 25,289 54,078 53,255 Add corporate and other costs 1,152 554 2,407 788 Subtract consolidations and eliminations (4,711 ) 86 (8,968 ) (287 ) Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) $ 251,336 $ 246,165 $ 503,919 $ 509,761 Reconciliation of net operating margin per barrel to refinery gross margin per barrel to total sales and other revenues Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (Dollars in thousands, except per barrel amounts) Consolidated Net operating margin per barrel $ 3.37 $ 12.28 $ 2.61 $ 11.58 Add average refinery operating expenses per produced barrel 5.51 5.14 5.64 5.49 Refinery gross margin per barrel 8.88 17.42 8.25 17.07 Add average cost of products per produced barrel sold 52.04 62.99 45.58 58.09 Average sales price per produced barrel sold $ 60.92 $ 80.41 $ 53.83 $ 75.16 Times sales of produced refined products (BPD) 431,110 447,670 422,250 438,200 Times number of days in period 91 91 182 181 Produced refined product sales $ 2,389,953 $ 3,275,740 $ 4,136,809 $ 5,961,255 Total produced refined product sales $ 2,389,953 $ 3,275,740 $ 4,136,809 $ 5,961,255 Add refined product sales from purchased products and rounding (1) 161,860 259,030 293,460 426,330 Total refined product sales 2,551,813 3,534,770 4,430,269 6,387,585 Add direct sales of excess crude oil (2) 100,782 92,659 191,700 192,928 Add other refining segment revenue (3) 46,427 59,064 76,640 95,260 Total refining segment revenue 2,699,022 3,686,493 4,698,609 6,675,773 Add HEP segment sales and other revenues 94,896 83,479 196,906 173,235 Add corporate and other revenues 47 151 157 369 Subtract consolidations and eliminations (79,327 ) (68,211 ) (162,310 ) (140,839 ) Sales and other revenues $ 2,714,638 $ 3,701,912 $ 4,733,362 $ 6,708,538 (1) We purchase finished products to facilitate delivery to certain locations or to meet delivery commitments. (2) We purchase crude oil that at times exceeds the supply needs of our refineries. Quantities in excess of our needs are sold at market prices to purchasers of crude oil that are recorded on a gross basis with the sales price recorded as revenues and the corresponding acquisition cost as inventory and then upon sale as cost of products sold. Additionally, at times we enter into buy/sell exchanges of crude oil with certain parties to facilitate the delivery of quantities to certain locations that are netted at cost. (3) Other refining segment revenue includes the incremental revenues associated with HFC Asphalt, product purchased and sold forward for profit as market conditions and available storage capacity allows and miscellaneous revenue. (4) Other refining segment cost of products sold includes the incremental cost of products for HFC Asphalt, the incremental cost associated with storing product purchased and sold forward as market conditions and available storage capacity allows and miscellaneous costs. (5) Other refining segment operating expenses include the marketing costs associated with our refining segment and the operating expenses of HFC Asphalt. 13 Reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders to adjusted net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders Adjusted net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes non-cash lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustments and impairment charges. We believe this measure is helpful to investors and others in evaluating our financial performance and to compare our results to that of other companies in our industry. Similarly titled performance measures of other companies may not be calculated in the same manner. Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (In thousands) GAAP: Income (loss) before income taxes $ (430,515 ) $ 580,177 $ (364,817 ) $ 952,566 Income tax expense (benefit) (38,045 ) 206,990 (15,737 ) 336,718 Net income (loss) (392,470 ) 373,187 (349,080 ) 615,848 Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 16,898 12,363 39,035 28,148 Net income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders (409,368 ) 360,824 (388,115 ) 587,700 NonGAAP adjustments to arrive at adjusted results: Lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustment (1) (138,473 ) (135,480 ) (194,594 ) (142,026 ) Impairment loss - long-lived assets (2) 344,766 344,766 Impairment loss - goodwill (2) 309,318 309,318 Total adjustments - pretax 515,611 (135,480 ) 459,490 (142,026 ) Income tax expense (benefit) 57,547 (47,821 ) 38,412 (50,206 ) Total adjustments, net of tax 458,064 (87,659 ) 421,078 (91,820 ) Adjusted results - NonGAAP: Adjusted income before income taxes 85,096 444,697 94,673 810,540 Income tax expense 19,502 159,169 22,675 286,512 Adjusted net income 65,594 285,528 71,998 524,028 Less net income to noncontrolling interest 16,898 12,363 39,035 28,148 Adjusted net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders $ 48,696 $ 273,165 $ 32,963 $ 495,880 Adjusted earnings per share attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders $ 0.28 $ 1.45 $ 0.18 $ 2.56 (1) GAAP requires that inventories by stated at the lower of cost or market. We maintain an inventory valuation reserve, whereby inventory costs in excess of market values are written down to current replacement costs and charged to cost of products sold. The valuation reserve is reassessed quarterly, at which time an inventory valuation adjustment is recorded, as a new lower of cost or market inventory valuation reserve is established. Such inventory valuation adjustments result in non-cash charges or benefits. (2) Our goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually or when impairment indicators occur. In the second quarter of 2016, we determined that goodwill and long-lived assets of our Cheyenne Refinery had been impaired and recorded related impairment charges of $309.3 million and $344.8 million, respectively. Reconciliation of effective tax rate to adjusted effective tax rate Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2016 (In thousands) GAAP Loss before income taxes $ (430,515 ) $ (364,817 ) Income tax benefit $ (38,045 ) $ (15,737 ) Effective tax rate for GAAP financial statements 9 % 4 % Effect of NonGAAP adjustments (lower of cost or market inventory adjustments, goodwill and asset impairment) 14 % 20 % Adjusted - NonGAAP Effective tax rate for adjusted results 23 % 24 % 14 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, Contact: Douglas S. Aron, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Julia Heidenreich, Vice President Investor Relations HollyFrontier Corporation 214/954-6510 New Zealand temperatures turned a corner in July, with the abnormal warmth of the first half of the year now a distant memory. A cooler than usual August is expected for much of the country, says MetService meteorologist Georgina Griffiths. Scottish International Hugh Blake has returned home to play for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the upcoming Mitre 10 Cup. Hugh debuted for Scotland against Ireland in 2015, following his move from Edinburgh Rugby to Glasgow Warriors. Aongatete Coolstores is closed today as co-workers of the five men killed in last nights serious crash mourn. The crash at the intersection of Dawsons Road happened about 8.15pm when a car pulled out of the road. Police say the vehicle, which was heading north on State Highway 2, when it was struck by a southbound truck and trailer unit. The Minister for Pacific Peoples Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has offered his condolences to the families and co-workers of five Tongan men killed in an accident near Katikati. This is a tragedy for everyone concerned. My prayers and sympathies are with the families and friends of these five men and we offer any support we can at this difficult time, says Peseta. Four of these men were here in New Zealand as part of the Recognised Seasonal Workers (RSE) programme. They were all here working hard to support their families back home. They had been here only a few months and were travelling home from work with another Tongan co-worker. This tragic accident will hit their families and the whole Tongan community extremely hard. Peseta says his thoughts and prayers also go to their co-workers at Aongatete Coolstores. Some of whom I understand saw the accident happen. The workers there are like an extended family and Aongatete Coolstores is closed today out of respect for the workers and their families. Police are seeking witnesses to a serious assault in the Bay of Plenty. The incident took place in the Homedale Road Reserve in the Pukehangi area of Rotorua between 11am and 12pm on Saturday July 30. Teams of volunteers carried an orca calf ashore on a stretcher and placed him in a pool filled with sea water in an attempt to save his life this afternoon. Orca Research Trust founder Dr Ingrid Visser says the calf, which has been swimming alone off the Bay of Plenty coastline for a long period of time, is dehydrated and had been struggling against the currents, but can now relax. Ingrid was in the pool, along with American international orca expert Jeff Foster, to help lower the young mammal into the water as volunteers lifted him onto the back of a ute, then up over the tall sides of the pool. A small crowd gathered to watch the procedure at a location which is being kept secret, and Ingrid explained quietly to them what would happen next for the calf. You can see how his skin is wrinkly which shows he is dehydrated. We will feed him with electrolytes and later fish when we find out what he likes. She and Jeff stroked the calf and scratched his tummy when he turned on his side. Before he entered the pool those who carried him from the sea, including members of local iwi, spoke quietly to him and kept him doused with water. A kaumatua was on hand to offer blessings too. Moments earlier a helicopter with a monsoon bucket brought sea water to the pool in preparation for the calfs arrival. The operation involved the Orca Research Trust, of which Ingrid is the founder, and the Department of Conservation which are both part of the Orca Tactical Response Group DOC ranger Caraline Abbott says putting the calf in the pool is likely to mitigate stress to the animal from the strong tidal flows in its current location. The focus is on rehabilitation and so the orca would be contained for a short as time as possible. Meanwhile the group is still appealing for sightings of the parent pod. In an effort to find the young orcas family pod, recreational and commercial boat operators are being asked via the coastguards marine radio to report sightings of orca pods in the Bay of Plenty region to the Orca Research Trust by phoning: O800 SEE ORCA / 0800 733 6722. Montana Republicans on Tuesday left little doubt as to who they blame for the states sagging economy, blasting Gov. Steve Bullock for policies they said could put the state in a budget hole within two fiscal years. The Capitol steps provided the backdrop for a 40-minute press conference that saw state GOP lawmakers seize on new data from Montanas legislative fiscal division showing eight-figure drop-offs in previously projected coal, oil and natural gas revenues. State Sen. Fred Thomas, R-Stevensville, said those income losses will take a huge bite out of the states oft-touted $350 million rainy day fund -- and, if declines continue, could even devour it whole. Rep. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, singled out spending based on overly optimistic governors office revenue projections as one of the factors he said threaten to deflate the state's spending cushion and plunge its budget into deficit. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis last week issued a report highlighting declining output in Montanas natural resource, agriculture and transportation sectors as the main drivers behind a nearly 2 percent contraction in the states economy since October. The Republican lawmakers pointed to nationwide Democratic policies as the cause of that drop-off and said Bullock hadn't done enough to offset the slowdown. They expect the Democratic governors election opponent, Bozeman Republican Greg Gianforte, would offer up a much more potent prescription for what ails the states economy. Seems to me over the last 12 years, the environmentalists have occupied the governors office and the chickens are coming home to roost, Thomas said. The governor has spent the huge ending fund balance we had, that he started his tenure with. If were going to have a natural resource state, we need new leadership at the helm. Given the slide in state revenues, Thomas said hed cautioned Gianforte about the need for flexibility in implementing proposed tax cuts he hopes will stimulate job creation and wage growth. Governor's Office Budget Director Dan Villa didn't dispute revenue losses cited by the 10-term lawmaker, but said he didnt know how those figures might factor into cash flow projections used to draft future budget proposals. Villa pointed to strong workforce participation and past increases in coal production as evidence of the states economic vitality. What concerns me is we continue to hear folks talk about how bad Montana is, how it's a terrible place to live and work and play, he said. To say something in this administration is prohibiting our growth and development is, I think, just false, and it points to credibility issues on the other side. Villa went on to thank Thomas and Essmann for voting on iterations of the budget they'd lambasted minutes earlier. He said the state would not fall into the deficit the pair predicted, thanks in part to traditionally lower spending seen in the second year of the state's two-year budget planning process. Continued declines in natural resource revenues would not immediately require the state to look at spending cuts, layoffs or other reduction scenarios, Villa added. It may have been 53 years ago, but Taurangas Nancy Morrison remembers July 3, 1963, as if it was yesterday. The 94-year-old has every right to have that day etched on her mind, because she was possibly the last person to see National Airways Flight 441 a Dakota DC-3 before it slammed into the Kaimai Range near Gordon killing all 23 people on board. No pageantry or fanfare, just a quick stop in to say hi to our Boys and Girls in Blue says Police Minister Judith Collins yesterday. Its the first visit for the reinstated Police Minister to Tauranga Police since they moved into their premises on the corner of Willow Street and Monmouth Street. Police searching for a missing Waikato woman say her disappearance is out of character. Kim Louise Richmond was last seen on Monday when she left her home in a silver coloured 2014 Ford Ranger, registration number HKD553. Maori landowners and honey producers will be buzzing in Rotorua over the next two days as they attend the He kai kei aku ringa National Maori Manuka Hui. Associate Minister for Economic Development Te Ururoa Flavell, who is opening the hui this morning, says there are major opportunities for Maori landowners in manuka honey because of rising demand and prices. New Zealand exports more than $220 million of honey a year and volumes have more than doubled in the last 10 years in response to rising prices. There are huge opportunities here for Maori landowners to maximise the return from their manuka-covered land, particularly in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, East Coast and Northland. Iwi are already investing in the industry and there are many success stories. Government can help support this momentum by bringing all those involved in the industry together at this hui so they have a clearer understanding of the balance between risks and rewards in the industry, Mr Flavell says. The conference is being held under the frame work of He kai kei aku ringa, the Crown-Maori Economic Growth Partnership. The conference sponsors are the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry for Primary Industries and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi in Whakatane. Guest speakers include Blanche Murray, a Director of Kai Ora Honey Ltd; Victor Goldsmith, general manager of the Ngati Porou Miere (Honey) Limited Partnership, and Matthew Slater, chief investment officer of Ngai Tahu Holdings Group. A full copy of the programme is available here Source: Office of Te Ururoa Flavell. A visit to Vertical Horizonz New Zealands Greerton branch on Tuesday has left National MP Michael Woodhouse feeling encouraged. The Minister for Immigration, Revenue, plus Workplace Relations and Safety spent the day touring the Bay of Plenty visiting various organisations and industries that fall under his three portfolios. Bob the baby orca was tube fed overnight and to the delight of those caring for him, has done poos. This means his system is still working. We remain cautiously optimistic, but there is a long way to go, says Kit Wilson of the Orca Tactical Response Group. Two of the Bay of Plentys constable canines will be reporting for duty in their new stab-resistant, multi-purpose harnesses this week. Designed specifically for polices patrol dogs, the Mako harnesses offer a similar level of protection that a human officer has when wearing their stab resistant body armour vest. Father-daughter texts_2.JPG Texts between Herkimer County father, posing as 16-year-old Dan Smithson, and his 14-year-old daughter. (John O'Brien | jobrien@syracuse.com) SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- She was a 14-year-old in Herkimer County with typical teen-age girl self-esteem issues. She didn't have a boyfriend. She didn't think she was pretty. Then she started getting texts from a guy who included a picture of himself -- a good-looking 16-year-old from another town. They texted back and forth for weeks. He told her things she longed to hear: You're beautiful. I love you. Will you be my girlfriend? She said yes. They planned to meet in person and go to a school dance. She felt special. The boy's texts raised her self confidence. She was unaware until two years later that the supposed boyfriend was living right upstairs. It was her 38-year-old father, who'd concocted an elaborate ruse to trick her into sending him pornographic pictures of herself. The father pleaded guilty to enticing her to make child pornography. He was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison. The victim spoke to Syracuse.com after the sentencing about the emotional trauma and shock she went through -- first by her father's sexually abusing her, then discovering that he'd tricked her with the fake boyfriend he named Dan Smithson. "It's still haunting me and he doesn't care," said the girl, now 17. "I don't think this affected him at all." When she spoke in court before her father's sentencing, he sat 15 feet away, in handcuffs and leg irons, wearing a bright orange jail jumpsuit. He kept his head down the entire time the victim and his other daughter spoke in court. "He made me think that I killed someone," the victim said through tears to U.S. District Judge Brenda Sannes. The father, writing to her as Smithson, in October 2013 shocked her with a texted picture of his penis, and a request that she send a photo of her genitals. The girl refused. He pressed her repeatedly until she sent him a picture in her underwear. "Smithson" used that picture as blackmail: If she didn't send nude shots, he'd text that underwear picture to her father. She relented. But soon she told him she wanted no more of it. The boy kept pressuring her. Finally, "Smithson" told the girl he had shared the picture with her father. She told him that he was ruining her life, and that she was trying to have a good relationship with her dad. When the girl told Smithson that she might take her own life, her father came into her room and lectured her about suicide. About two months after their texting began, Smithson threatened to take his own life if the girl broke up with him. He went so far as to send her a photo of his slashed, bloody wrist, the victim said. The girl got a text from Smithson's account on Thanksgiving 2013, saying it was his mother. She told him Smithson had committed suicide. The girl wrote back that she thought it was just Smithson posing as his mother. The girl's father then told her he'd gotten a call from Smithson's mother. She had told him that Smithson was dead, the father told the girl. "How did he think this all out?" the victim said this week. "I just don't understand. Why go through all of this to make advances on your own daughter?" Even after "Smithson" committed suicide, the father continued to harass his daughter for nude photos. He wrote texts to her, claiming he was a stranger who'd come across Smithson's texts and saw her pictures. "Who is this?" the victim responded. "Someone who thinks you have a very hot body. ;)," the father wrote, pretending to be a stranger. "STOP! LEAVE ME ALONE!" the girl wrote back. Soon after that Thanksgiving day in 2013, the father sexually abused his daughter. He told her that Smithson had sent him the nude photos and that she shouldn't let such an attractive body go to waste. Almost every day for a year after he sexually abused the girl, the father climbed into bed with her before he left their home for his job, she said. She used to wear sweatpants and a sweatshirt to bed to keep him at bay. One day, he gave her a sex toy while she was taking a shower, she said. Finally, a year later, the father told the girl he wanted to have sex with her again. She told a friend, who told her to report it to the school nurse. She did, and the Ilion Police Department investigated. In a recorded phone call from her school that police were monitoring, the father told the girl she should recant, she said. By that point, she'd been removed from his home and he was ordered to stay away from her, she said. "If you say you're lying, you can come home and everything will change," he told her. He told her he could lose his truck, his snowmobile, his house and his job if the charges stuck. Police asked the girl when her father abused her. She told them it was right after her online boyfriend committed suicide. They investigated and found no record of any 16-year-old named Dan Smithson, or anyone close to that name committing suicide. The police got a search warrant for the text-plus account that Smithson's messages were coming from. The address was right in the same house where the girl was receiving them. At that point, Herkimer County District Attorney Jeffrey Carpenter called in the feds. "You won't believe this story," he told Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Fletcher. She got the FBI involved. Fletcher credited the victim with the way she repeatedly resisted the requests from Smithson for nude photos. In the prosecutor's many years handling similar cases, she has seen teenagers often cave in easily. "For her at 14 to show that kind of resistance is remarkable," Fletcher said. "It shows you what kind of a kid she is." The prosecutor said she knew of no comparable case. She called the father "sheer evil." "He has rewritten the book and found a new and shocking way to abuse a child -- his own child," she said. When the father pleaded guilty in March, he lamented having to give up so many years of his life to a prison sentence. He made no mention of the harm he caused his daughter, and did not apologize. When he was sentenced to six years in prison in Herkimer County Court in May, the judge asked if the father wanted to say anything. He did not. It wasn't until this week's sentencing that he apologized for the first time. "I don't believe it," the victim said. "No matter how many times he says he's very apologetic -- I promise it's not true." The father was crying in court when he spoke to the judge. "I don't remember a lot of my actions," he said. "There are no words to describe how horrible I feel." He tried to excuse his conduct by telling probation officers that his daughter had dressed provocatively, and that she'd confided in him. But the victim and her older sister said the father and their stepmother were very strict about how they dressed. The girls were not allowed to wear dresses that weren't past their fingertips, they said. The victim recently finished counseling with a therapist. She worked through severe anxiety problems, she said. Her father's abuse affects her frequently at her job at a fast-food restaurant, she said. When a customer comes in who looks about her father's age, or looks something like him, she asks someone to step in for her. "I can't take this order," the girl tells her co-workers. They know about the trauma her father put her through, she said. The father faced up to 240 years in prison. The victim and her sister said they were hoping for a sentence that long. "I was hoping he'd die in there, that it would be, 'Call me when I have to bring out a body,'" said the victim's older sister, who took the girl in after the abuse was reported. The victim called the 20-year sentence outrageous for what her father did. "I can't even comprehend it," she said. "How did it go from 240 to 20?" The victim, still in braces like many 17-year-olds, wants to be a pediatric nurse. She wants to use the abuse her father inflicted for good. She plans to talk to kids to ensure it doesn't happen to anyone else, she said. Contact John O'Brien anytime | email | Twitter | 315-470-2187 Massage3.jpg Cindy Hawks, a licensed massage therapist in the Crouse Hospital Massage for Veterans Program, massages Vietnam veteran Lyndon Clark. (James T. Mulder) SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Nearly 50 years after he fought in Vietnam, Lyndon Clark of Cazenovia sometimes still has vivid dreams about combat. The 70-year-old U.S. Army veteran, who has post-traumatic stress disorder and stage 4 kidney cancer, will sit up in bed and swear in his sleep. In the morning, his wife will tell him: "You were fighting the war again." Clear Path for Veterans, a nonprofit veteran resource center in Chittenango, is helping Clark combat those dreams with massage. Clark says the relaxing hour-long massages he gets at the center are a good antidote for PTSD. "That night I sleep like a baby," he says. Clear Path is teaming up with Crouse Hospital, the Syracuse VA Medical Center and Upstate University Hospital in a new massage for veterans program. The program, organized by Crouse, teaches licensed massage therapists how to work with veterans. A VA psychotherapist teaches therapists about PTSD, military sexual trauma and traumatic brain injury. Upstate faculty members teach them gross anatomy. Therapists who complete the 80-hour course and pass an exam offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork will receive the profession's first specialty certificate in military veteran massage. Nicole Miller, Crouse's massage therapy program coordinator at Crouse, said massage therapists must take a different approach when working with veterans suffering from PTSD or military sexual trauma, a term used to describe sexual assault or harassment experienced in the military. Veterans with those conditions are often initially uncomfortable about being touched, according to Miller. The program teaches therapists to let veterans control their environment when they get a massage. For example, veterans who want to remain fully clothed during a massage can do so. A veteran with PTSD also can get stressed out if a therapist suddenly moves the veteran's arm to improve range of motion. "Things like that we have to be very careful with," she says. Clear Path offers free massage therapy to veterans in its wellness center. The service is provided by volunteer massage therapists and therapists taking the Crouse continuing education program. Massage benefits veterans physically and emotionally, Miller says. "Relaxation is often the No. 1 goal for people who live with PTSD or depression," she says. "They need to get over their anxiety." Contact James T. Mulder anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2245 2013-08-02-kr-zoo5.JPG Brew at the Zoo...and Wine Too fundraiser was a sold out event at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, N.Y., Friday, August 2, 2013. (Kevin Rivoli | krivoli@syracuse.com) SYRACUSE, N.Y. --The Onondaga County Legislature today allocated money for three capital improvement projects at popular local attractions. The legislature allocated: $1,005,000 for a new boardwalk at Rosamond Gifford Zoo $190,000 to improve exhibits at the War Memorial, including addition of a Gold Star Mothers display $290,000 for a new roof and windows at the Salt Museum Legislator John Dougherty (R-Liverpool) said the zoo project will replace some parts of the railings and boardwalk that have fallen into disrepair. He said it's not a safety concern yet, but needs to be done. No one will be falling into a wolf den any time soon, he assured his fellow legislators. "So no one is going to be dancing with wolves?" Chairman Ryan McMahon joked, drawing wry laughter. At the War Memorial, money will be used to add a display honoring mothers who have lost sons or daughters in the line of military duty. The money will also be used to install a kiosk to provide information about veterans from Onondaga County and the wars and conflicts in which they served. The Salt Museum on the shore of Onondaga Lake is in desperate need of repairs, according to legislators. County Parks Commissioner Bill Lansley initially asked for $600,000 for the 82-year-old building. The legislature approved just less than half of that to put a new, steel roof on the museum and replace the leaking windows. Legislator Judy Tassone (R-Liverpool) said she toured the building, which is in rough shape. "This is to save the building because it would literally be destroyed," she said. 2013-12-16-sdc-karlsensente.JPG A California judge has ordered Karl Karlsen to stand trial for the 25-year-old death of his first wife, Christina Karlsen. Before a packed courtroom at the Seneca County Courthouse, Karl Karlsen was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison by Justice Dennis Bender on Monday December 16, 2013. Karlsen had pleaded guilty in the 2008 murder of his son Levi. Karlsen listens with his attorney Lawrence Kasperek. (Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com) San Andreas, Calif.,-- Karl Karlsen, who admitted he killed his son by crushing him beneath a truck in Seneca County, will stand trial in California for the 1991 death of his first wife in California. After a weeklong preliminary hearing, a judge in the Calaveras County Superior Court Tuesday found that there was enough evidence to hold Karlsen for trial in the death of Christina Alexander Karlsen, according to The Union Democrat. An undated family photo of Christina Karlsen who died Jan. 1, 1991. Karlsen, 56, admitted in 2013 that he killed his 23-year-old son Levi Karlsen by suffocating him underneath a 5,000-pound truck on his farm in Varick. Karlsen collected $707,210 on a life insurance policy taken out on Levi Karlsen just 17 days before his death in 2008. Karlsen was sentenced by a Seneca County judge to 15 years to life in prison. There are similar circumstances surrounding the death of Christina Karlsen, who died Jan. 1, 1991 from smoke inhalation while trapped inside the bathroom of her burning him in Murphys, California. Karlsen had just days before boarded up a small window that was his wife's only escape route and he had taken out a $200,000 life insurance policy on Christina Karlsen in the month before her death. Three days after the fire Karlsen moved with his three children to New York state. Officials at first ruled Christina Karlsen's death accidental. Karlsen's conviction in New York sparked California prosecutors to re-examine Christina Karlsen's death. He was extradited to California in March after prosecutors charged him with premeditated murder for financial gain. Prosecutors say if convicted, Karlsen could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. According to The Union Democrat, witnesses during a weeklong preliminary hearing to determine if there was enough evidence to hold Karlsen for trial testified that investigators and people close to the couple suspected his involvement in his first wife's death. Christina Karlsen's father, Art Alexander, testified during the proceedings. Watching were her mother, Arlene Meltzer, and stepfather, Randy Meltzer. Karlsen's youngest daughter, Kati Reynolds, his brother, Mike Karlsen, and Mike Karlsen's wife, Diane Karlsen watched the hearing. Karlsen is next scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 16 for an arraignment and to enter a plea. Although he has already pleaded not guilty, another arraignment is typically held after a preliminary hearing, according to The Union Democrat. ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A comprehensive study has found the several dozen cities nationwide that adopted body-worn cameras for police have largely failed to consider privacy and data-collection issues in their efforts to improve officer accountability. The so-called "scorecard" evaluated 50 cities, including Rochester, and whether their police department's body-camera policies adhere to eight standards around privacy, civil rights and accountability. The majority of departments did not receive high marks, including Rochester, which just this week rolled out the first nine of an expected 505 body cameras for the department's officers, according to WHAM-TV. Also this week, the Syracuse Common Council agreed to apply for federal money to be used to launch a body camera pilot program for the Syracuse Police Department. If approved, the city will receive $58,944 to purchase 10 body cameras, and the department submitted a joint application along with Onondaga County. Researchers found that, like many other departments, Rochester's body camera policy allows officers to review camera footage beforehand, does not require un-indexed footage to be deleted after six months and does not a have a clear policy prohibiting cameras from using technology like facial recognition. Read the study here. The study was created by the Leadership Conference of Civil and Human Rights coalition and, Upturn, a Washington DC-based consultant firm with expertise in criminal justice and technology issues. The scorecard evaluated body camera policies and practices based on eight criteria and gave departments a passing mark if: departments make their body-camera policies public and easy to access, the policy requires officers to make "concrete justifications" when they fail to record and describes when they must record, the policy addresses personal privacy concerns, the policy prohibits officers from viewing the videos before creating initial reports or statements, footage is retained for six months or less if it is of no particular interest, footage is made available to individuals filing complaints, and protects footage against tampering and misuse, and it makes the use of biometric technology, like facial recognition, is "sharply" limted in the policy. The researchers found that of the 46 cities they studied, 24 did not make their body-camera policies easily and publicly available. None of the departments had a "blanket" limitation on officers reviewing the footage before filing reports, but six departments prohibited departments from viewing the videos in "certain critical incidents" like police shootings, researchers said. However, researchers said 42 of 68 "major city" departments in the country have programs in place. "But accountability is not automatic," researchers wrote. "Whether these cameras make police more accountable -- or simply intensify police surveillance of communities -- depends on how the cameras and footage are used." Syracuse police applied last year but did not receive a federal grant for body cameras, though Rochester and Albany police departments together received more than $700,000 for the cameras. Despite their relatively poor marks on the study, RPD had compiled an application of more than 200 pages that extensively detailed its proposed body camera policy. If Syracuse police receives the funds the department applied for this week, Syracuse would use its half of the money for the cameras, a pedestal mount, a single unit docking stations, a 10-unite multi-docking station, a Dell Power edge R330 rack server as well as some ballistic shields. The department's application for the body cameras last year is embedded below and the study in question can be found here. Syracuse Police Department application: Syracuse bwC app Boeing C-32B.JPG An Air Force C-32B, a modified version of the Boeing 757, taxies at an airport in Stuttgart, Germany, in 2005. (Wikimedia Commons) Syracuse, N.Y. That big white plane performing multiple takeoffs and landings at Syracuse Hancock International Airport on Wednesday was an Air Force jet from New Jersey. Christina Callahan, director of Syracuse Hancock International Airport, said the Boeing 757 was from McGuire Air Force Base in Burlington County, N.J., 16 miles southeast of Trenton. The all-white plane conducted a series of "touch-and-go" landings, a maneuver in which an aircraft touches the ground as if landing and then immediately takes off again. Pilots conduct touch-and-goes to improve their landing skills. A public affairs officer at McGuire said the plane belongs to the 108th Wing of the Air National Guard, which is stationed at the base and provides airlift and aerial refueling services. A phone message left with the public information officer for the 108th was not immediately returned. One likely reason the plane came to Syracuse, 270 miles northwest of McGuire, for the practice landings is that the skies over Hancock Airport are less congested than those in the Trenton area. According to an Air Force fact sheet, the military's designation for the 757 is C-32. It is a specially configured version of the Boeing 757-200 commercial airliner and is usually used to transport government leaders to locations around the world, according to the Air Force. A version designated C-32B reportedly has in-flight refueling capability and is painted white with minimal markings to keep a low profile when flying to foreign destinations. A couple of C-32B's reportedly belong to the Foreign Emergency Support Team, the U.S. Department of State's on-call, short-notice team poised to respond to terrorist incidents worldwide. Contact Rick Moriarty anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148 2015-04-14-dl-zemsky3.JPG Howard Zemsky, president and CEO of Empire State Development, meets with the Syracuse Media Group editorial board on April 14, 2015. In an appearance before an Assembly committee on Wednesday, Zemsky defended the state's Start-Up NY program. (David Lassman | syracuse.com) Albany, N.Y. New York's top economic development official on Wednesday defended the state's Start-Up NY program from criticism that it has failed to create a significant number of jobs. Howard Zemsky, president and CEO of Empire State Development Corp., said it was unfair to judge the tax-incentive program just two years into its operation. "Facebook had 10 people in its second year," he told skeptics during a public hearing held by the Assembly's Standing Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry. "Ten people." Critics attacked Start-Up NY after Empire State Development, the state's economic development arm, released a report in July that said just 408 of a projected 4,100 jobs have been created by companies in the program. Start-Up NY offers start-up companies and companies new to New York in businesses that align with State University of New York campuses tax-free status for 10 years if they meet certain hiring goals. Zemsky said the program has resulted in the investment of more than $45 million in wages and capital spending by companies benefits that will continue to accrue each year. He said the program and its accompanying advertising have helped to change the "negative perception" that people had about doing business in the state. "I think this will prove to be very cost effective," he said. He said he expected the program to be particularly helpful to the Upstate area, which has been on an economic decline for the past 40 years. "What is it about the last 40 years that we would want to maintain the status quo?" he asked. Zemsky also said Start-Up NY is just one of a number of incentive programs the state has to promote economic development. He said the state's programs have led to an increase in tourism, foreign investment and a reduction in the unemployment rate from over 8 percent to a little over 4 percent. Committee Chairman Robin Schimminger, D-Kenmore, questioned whether Empire State Development may have actually overstated the number of jobs created by Start-Up NY, saying it appears that some companies in the program reported for 2015 their cumulative growth covering 2014 and 2015. Schimminger also questioned how much of the job growth could be attributed to Start-Up NY, since many of the companies in the program also benefit from other state programs. Among those programs, he said, was "Buffalo Billion," Gov. Andrew Cuomo's commitment of $1 billion from the state to promote development in Western New York. Edmund McMahon, president of Empire Center for Public Policy, a fiscally conservative think tank and government watchdog, said there has not been a dramatic improvement in the Upstate economy. McMahon, who appeared before the committee immediately following Zemsky, said most of the decline in the unemployment rate has been due to a reduction in the size of the labor force, not from job creation. McMahon said businesses are deterred from coming to New York because of its high costs. He said regulatory reform and general tax relief would do more to improve the state's economy and create jobs than many of the state's incentive programs, including Start-Up NY. He said the problem with many government economic development programs is that they are based on promises by companies to create jobs in exchange for some type of government benefit. It's no surprise, he said, that the companies in the programs often fail to meet their job projections because creating jobs is not really their goal. "People go into business with the goal of creating a better mouse trap," he said. "Creating jobs is a byproduct. Companies don't aim to employ. They aim to create a profit." He said government economic development programs are "no substitute" for a strong state economy. Contact Rick Moriarty anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148 Melania Trump, Donald Trump Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump walks off the stage with his wife Melania during the Republican National Convention. Trump says anyone who has gamed the U.S. immigration system must be dealt with harshly, but his wife's visa status is murky. (AP Photo / John Locher) Francis Wilkinson writes on politics and domestic policy for Bloomberg View. By Francis Wilkinson | Bloomberg View Melania Trump's husband says she is a 10. Would Donald Trump marry a woman who wasn't? The question answers itself. But when she was younger, apparently working as a model in New York, the question is whether the former Melania Knauss was associated with another number -- an H-1B or a B1 or B2 visa, or perhaps some other designation that enabled a single Eastern European woman to earn a living in the U.S. Melania Trump's personal website was taken down after a minor controversy over her claim that she had received a degree in architecture from the University of Ljubljana in her native Slovenia. It seems she is not actually a college graduate. So what if she isn't? It might matter because a college degree can be an important credential for someone applying for a visa to work in the U.S. For all the scrutiny of her life style, remarkably little is known about Mrs. Trump's emigration to the U.S. What are the facts of her prior immigration status? How did she obtain a green card, which is no easy feat? In April, GQ Magazine reported that Melania Knauss had used a work visa when she came to New York: "Paolo Zampolli, a wealthy Italian whose business interests in New York are broad and vague, brought Melania over on a modeling contract and a work visa." In an interview in February, Melania Trump made the point that she always followed the immigration rules. "I follow the law," Trump said. "I follow a law the way it's supposed to be. I never thought to stay here without papers. I had visa. I travel every few months back to the country, to Slovenia, to stamp the visa. I came back. I applied for the green card. I applied for the citizenship later on after many years of green card. So I went by system. I went by the law, and you should do that." But there is usually no need to travel back and forth every few months to "stamp the visa." H-1B work visa holders are generally admitted to the U.S. for a three-year duration. Employers of H-1B visa holders can also petition to extend the holder's stay in the U.S. A tourist visa is a different matter. Your duration of stay is set by the immigration authorities when you arrive, with a maximum of six months. To keep your status, you would have to leave the U.S. when that period expired. But you generally can't work in the U.S. with a B-2 tourist visa. And repeated lengthy stays in the U.S. on a B-2 visa (which can be valid for multiple entries and 10 years) would tend to raise eyebrows at a U.S. port of entry. Which visa did Melania Knauss have? If she had a work visa, why was it necessary to travel back and forth every few months to stamp it? If she had a tourist visa, why was she working? This topic might seem less worthy of investigation if her husband had not waged a lengthy crusade demanding to see various birth and education documents pertaining to President Barack Obama. In addition, the Trump campaign has dedicated itself to the proposition that anyone who has gamed the U.S. immigration system must be dealt with in the harshest terms. Immigration law is complex and often confounding. There may be an excellent reason for Melania Trump's seemingly untroubled navigation of what, to many visitors, are treacherous legal waters. It would be good to know the answers, however, before she moves into the White House. Donald Trump Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Briar Woods High School, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Ashburn, Va. (Evan Vucci | AP) Are Republicans planning an intervention for Donald Trump? NBC News reports GOP allies want to "rescue" their presidential candidate's campaign after several days of controversy, including criticism of a Gold Star family and refusing to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan. Sources say Republican National Committee head Reince Priebus, former Republican New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are part of a small group who hope to get Trump's children to help in a sitdown with the billionaire businessman. The news follows growing dissension within the Republican Party, including U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna's announcement that he'll vote for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in November. The Central New York politician is the first Republican member of Congress to officially cross party lines in the 2016 presidential election. "In his latest foray of insults, Mr. Trump has attacked the parents of a slain U.S. soldier," Hanna wrote in a letter to syracuse.com Tuesday. "Where do we draw the line? I thought it would have been when he alleged that U.S. Sen. John McCain was not a war hero because he was caught. Or the countless other insults he's proudly lobbed from behind the Republican presidential podium. For me, it is not enough to simply denounce his comments: He is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country." The soldier referred to is American Capt. Humayun Khan, who was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart after being killed in Iraq in 2004. Trump criticized Khan's parents, suggesting that Khizr Khan's wife Ghazala was prevented from speaking at the Democratic National Convention because of her Muslim faith, and compared his business career to the sacrifices made by fallen U.S. soldiers. Trump drew further criticism Tuesday when a veteran supporter gave him a replica Purple Heart ("this was much easier") and more when campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson said Trump blamed President Barack Obama for Khan's death in 2004, five years before Obama took office. Politico reports Pierson revised her statement Wednesday, blaming Clinton because she "voted for the war in Iraq." He also refused to endorse Ryan, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte and Sen. John McCain just two weeks after pledging party unity at the Republican National Convention. All three candidates are facing contested primary races, but Trump said "I'm just not there yet" for Ryan, the nation's most senior elected Republican. According to NBC, plans for an intervention are in the "early stages" and it's unclear whether Trump would agree to a conversation about changing his tone or political positions. Sources say his family members, including son Eric Trump and daughter Ivanka Trump, are viewed as the most influential people in his campaign, but there's no word they'll participate. Barack Obama President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, granted a commutation to the sentences of 214 convicted felons, including two from Central New York. Obama is shown in a April 2, 2015, file photo while speaking in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Susan Walsh | AP) WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Barack Obama on Wednesday granted commutations to the sentences of 214 convicted felons in federal prison, including two from Central New York. The president ordered a reduction in the life sentence for Dewayne L. Comer, of Syracuse, and the 25-year sentence of Maynard Dennis, formerly of Liverpool, White House officials said. In both cases, the men received prison terms under old mandatory sentencing guidelines for nonviolent drug offenders that are harsher than the sentences they would likely receive today under new guidelines. Comer had been serving a life sentence that began Dec. 8, 1997 for leading a million-dollar drug ring from 1994 to 1996 in which he conspired to distribute crack cocaine in Central New York. Under the president's commutation grant, his prison sentence will now expire Dec. 1, according to the White House. Comer was one of about two dozen people convicted in the drug conspiracy, but the only one sentenced to life in prison. At his sentencing, a judge ordered him to forfeit a Mercedes Benz, a Ford minivan, a Volkswagen and $17,600 in cash seized at the time of his arrest. Comer received a mandatory life sentence in 1997 because he was charged with conspiracy to distribute 1.5 kilograms of crack cocaine. But under today's drug laws, he would have faced a sentence of 20 years to life. Since he had already served about 20 years of his sentence, authorities agreed to his early release. Dennis was sentenced in 2005 to 25 years in prison and eight years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Dennis received a harsher sentence as a "career offender" under automatic sentencing guidelines for a third felony drug conviction. The courts have been less likely to apply such "career offender" status in recent years. Under terms of the commutation of his sentence, Dennis will be eligible for release from prison on Aug. 3, 2018. His release will be conditioned on his enrollment in a residential drug treatment program. Dennis, 58, had cut a deal in 2004 with a prosecutor and a federal judge to let him out of jail while he had drug-trafficking charges pending so that he could serve as an informant on other drug dealers. Dennis maintained that he started dealing crack cocaine again to convince other drug dealers that he was not a snitch. Almost all of those granted clemency Wednesday had been convicted of nonviolent drug crimes. Obama has now granted 562 commutations, more than the previous nine presidents combined and more than any individual president in nearly a century, according to Neil Eggleston, White House counsel to the president. Obama's actions are part of a larger effort to grant early release to nonviolent federal prisoners who received mandatory harsh sentences under old drug laws, but would face lesser sentences today. Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Rep. Richard Hanna visits SMG Editorial Board 1/13/14 Rep. Richard Hanna, R-Barneveld, ignited a firestorm on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, by saying he will vote for Hillary Clinton over GOP nominee Donald Trump in November. Hanna, left, represents the eight-county 22nd Congressional District in Upstate New York. (Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com) WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna faced no backlash from Republicans in Congress or Donald Trump's campaign Tuesday after igniting a firestorm with his decision to vote for Hillary Clinton for president. Hanna, R-Barneveld, a three-term Republican from Oneida County, made national headlines after he told Syracuse.com in an interview and op-ed that he will support Clinton over Trump, the GOP nominee. But other than sharp words from Trump's New York campaign co-chair, no one in the Republican Party publicly faulted Hanna for taking his stand. The congressman, who spent the day picking corn with his family in Upstate New York, said he received a supportive phone call from Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., a friend who has also been critical of Trump. Throughout the day, Hanna declined to grant dozens of interview requests from national and international news media. Hanna said he had no contact with Hillary Clinton's campaign or the White House before or after his comments spread nationwide Tuesday on network television, wire services including AP and Reuters and in national publications, including The New York Times and Washington Post. Two Democrats, Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, also called to offer their support, Hanna said. Keating's office is across the hall from Hanna's in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill. Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Katrina Pierson Katrina Pierson appears on CNN. (screenshot from YouTube video) A Donald Trump aide came under fire for blaming President Barack Obama for the death of Humayun Khan, even though the Muslim-American soldier died in 2004. In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Trump aide Katrina Pierson made the erroneous statement about Khan's death, which happened in Iraq five years before Obama took office. "It was under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that changed the rules of engagement that probably cost his life," Pierson said, referencing the 2009 order under Obama and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton restricting when troops can engage in combat. The comment came amid Pierson's fierce defense of Trump's comments about the soldier's parents, during which Blitzer asked whether Trump had apologized to Khizr and Ghazala Khan directly. Pierson argued that Trump shouldn't apologize because he "never voted for the Iraq War," like Hillary Clinton did. See the full exchange below. Blitzer later clarified the inconsistency, noting that Khan died during George W. Bush's presidency, according to The New York Daily News. Pierson's mistake became a favorite target of Trump critics on social media, who rallied around the hashtag #KatrinaPiersonHistory to mock the statement. That time Obama's cow started the great Chicago Fire of 1871 #KatrinaPiersonHistory pic.twitter.com/I37gcpPVhd Life During Jihad (@J_Innocente) August 3, 2016 Obama totally started chowing down before the Lord said grace. #KatrinaPiersonHistory pic.twitter.com/QmkkZsm3lK Sha (@quip1) August 3, 2016 #KatrinaPiersonHistory Obama was smoking in his room. pic.twitter.com/i9x668fOpC Clark Feels The Bern (@Clarknt67) August 3, 2016 Khizr Khan later appeared in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper during which he blasted Pierson and the Trump campaign. "Do I need to say anything?" Khizr said. "Lack of understanding, lack of factual correctness, it's just nothing but political vote pandering." Pierson was invited back on CNN the next day to have the opportunity to correct her mistake. She did admit that she was wrong to CNN's Alisyn Camerota and John Berman. "You do acknowledge now that there you were just wrong," Berman asked. "Absolutely," Pierson replied. "That's why I used 'probably' because I was just going through the timeline. Because since then we have had tens of thousands of soldiers that have been lost. Trump had absolutely nothing to do with it." Pierson refused to issue an actual apology, however, when pressed by Camerota. "Apologize for the timeline," Pierson said. "The timeline is very simple and true, Alisyn. Hillary Clinton voted for the war in Iraq. She did not support the surge [after Khan's death]. Barack Obama made things worse by invading more countries." Pierson then tried to redirect the conversation to Donald Trump's lack of involvement in voting for the Iraq War. "Donald Trump did not vote for that war, period!" Pierson said. "That's why this is a ridiculous conversation. Donald Trump had nothing to do with sending troops into Iraq in the first place." Watch the full follow-up interview from Raw Story below. Curtis Levy has seen lots of mobile food vendors operating around Syracuse, from hot dog carts to ice cream stands and even the recent surge in gourmet food trucks. But he hadn't seen something that is a staple on the streets of cities like New York and Philadelphia: Italian ice carts. Last week, Levy's Razzle Dazzle Italian Ice cart started a regular gig on Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse. It operated during the recent Northeast Jazz & Wine Fest, and at Tuesday's Downtown Farmers Market. Razzle Dazzle plans to be in a regular spot next to Prime Steakhouse overlooking Clinton Square from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and for downtown events on weekends. It offers flavors like cherry, lemon, passion fruit, mango and and more. Sizes range from 5 ounce ($2), to 7 ounce ($3) and 10 ounce ($4). Passion fruit has been among the most popular flavors so far, said Robert Love, who was running the cart on Wednesday afternoon. Razzle Dazzle is not an ordinary business: Proceeds benefit Last House on the Block Ministries, a non-profit run by Levy, an ordained minister. The ministry provides transitional housing for men recently released from prison. Levy also runs Sweet Hearts Boutique, a club fashion retailer, on North Clinton Street. "Everything we do is supporting the ministry," said Levy, who formed Last House on the Block in 2012. He also has two other carts, even larger than the one downtown, that he plans to set up at other locations for special events. Levy buys the Italian Ices from a supplier in Philadelphia. He calls it Razzle Dazzle, though the signs on the cart also reference Famous Italian Ices, a company operating out of Philadelphia since 1965. Italian Ice (sometimes called water ice) is a sweetened frozen dessert made like ice cream -- the ingredients (such as the fruit or fruit juices) are frozen together. That makes it different than shaved ice or snow cones, in which flavorings are poured over ice. It's a hit on a hot day, said Love, who had to call Levy to replenish the supply on a warm afternoon Wednesday. "It cools you off," Love said. Because of the time it took to get his business permits in order, Levy said, Razzle Dazzle got a late start this summer. He hopes to operate through the end of September this year and have a bigger year next year. "This is only going to get bigger," Levy said. Don Cazentre writes about food, beverages, restaurants and bars for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact him by email, on Twitter, at Google+ or via Facebook. StevenBrundageAGT.JPG Rubik's Cube magician Steven Brundage performs during the quarter finals of "America's Got Talent." (Screengrab from YouTube) Magician Steven Brundage returned to the "America's Got Talent" competition just weeks after the judges eliminated him. Brundage, of Saratoga Springs, initially wowed the judges with his Rubik's Cube magic during his audition that aired back in July--and then wowed them again during his next performance in the "Judge's Cut" round. But forced to make difficult cuts, the judges eliminated Brundage. But a strong pushback from fans, including an online petition, helped the magician return to the talent competition and gave him a spot in the live shows. As he did in his previous performances, Brundage stunned the judges with his magic. This time, the magician used a giant Rubik's Cube as well as his regular-sized ones. All four judges gave Brundage a standing ovation, and the magician even received a handshake from a dumbfounded Simon Cowell. The judges then praised Brundage during their critiques, agreeing that they were glad he was brought back onto the show. Twelve acts performed Tuesday night during the quarter finals, and only seven will make it to the next round. Watch "America's Got Talent" Wednesday night to see if Brundage advances to the next round during the results show. America's Got Talent, Ryan Stock Comedy daredevil Ryan Stock, right, was shot in the throat while performing a stunt live on "America's Got Talent" Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. (NBC video still) An "America's Got Talent" stunt turned into a disaster during a live performance Tuesday night. Amberlynn Walker shot a flaming arrow at her fiance Ryan Stock, a Canadian stuntman, and missed the bullseye attached to a pole down his throat. The fiery shot ended up hitting him in the neck, and he tried to bat it away. "You're not on fire," host Nick Cannon said, trying to calm the comedy daredevil down. Stock insisted he was OK, claiming the arrow "just caught my shirt," despite a red mark on his throat area. "No no no no no you're not OK," Howie Mandel said as the judges urged Stock to get medical treatment. "Why are we judging this act?" Simon Cowell said. "Amber just shot Ryan and he needs to go to a hospital now! I'm being serious." According to the Daily Mail, judges Mel B and Heidi Klum were frightened by the act from the beginning. They were grossed out when Stock swallowed an electric drill and balanced a chainsaw in his mouth in earlier rounds. Cannon reminded viewers that it was "live television and anything can happen." He also said Stock appeared to be okay before the NBC reality competition cut for a commercial break. "We had a serious mishap tonight outage live on @nbcagt," Stock later wrote on Twitter. "A very unfortunate mechanical failure but I am very fortunate to walk away from it." Barack Obama In this April 2, 2015, file photo, President Barack Obama speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, to talk about the breakthrough in the Iranian nuclear talks. (Susan Walsh | AP) Did the United States bribe Iran for the release of four American prisoners? The Wall Street Journal reports the Obama administration secretly sent $400 million in cash to Iran around the same time that the Middle Eastern country released four detained Americans. The money, in Euros, Swiss francs and other foreign currencies, was airlifted in an unmarked cargo plane in January. According to CNBC, the payment was said to be the first installment of a $1.7 billion settlement over a 1979 arms deal. The U.S. never paid before because the Iranian Revolution broke out that year and the country underwent a regime change. Some Iranian reports have called the $400 million a ransom payment, but U.S. officials denied it. "As we've made clear, the negotiations over the settlement of an outstanding claim... were completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home," State Department spokesman John Kirby said. "Not only were the two negotiations separate, they were conducted by different teams on each side, including, in the case of The Hague claims, by technical experts involved in these negotiations for many years." The freed prisoners were identified as Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian; former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati; Christian pastor Saeed Abedini; and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari. In January, officials said they were exchanged for seven Iranians held or charged in the United States as a nuclear deal appeared imminent. The agreement signed by Iran, the U.S. and five other countries limits Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from hundreds of billions of dollars in sanctions. Republicans and Israeli leaders opposed the deal, which Pres. Obama made official in January. "We were right in January 2016 to describe the Administration's $1.7 billion transfer to Iran as a ransom payment," Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said in a statement. "Paying ransom to kidnappers puts Americans even more at risk. While Americans were relieved by Iran's overdue release of illegally imprisoned American hostages, the White House's policy of appeasement has led Iran to illegally seize more American hostages, including Siamak Namazi, his father Baquer Namazi, and Reza Shahini." Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump also responded to the WSJ report, blaming his Democratic rival. "Our incompetent Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was the one who started talks to give 400 million dollars, in cash, to Iran. Scandal!" Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. Albany, N.Y. -- New York state has issued a drought warning for Western New York and the Finger Lakes, the second of four drought alerts. A warning does not carry mandatory water restrictions, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation is urging residents to conserve water. "Minor changes in everyday practices can go a long way in helping to prevent any increased drought levels," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a statement. The warning applies to Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Seneca, Schuyler, Steuben, Tompkins, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties. Twenty-two counties in New York are now in the drought warning area (brown). The rest of the state remains under a drought watch. Some areas of Western New York have received half their normal rainfall this spring and summer, and temperatures in many areas have been above normal. The city of Ithaca has said it could run out of water in a month, and Cornell University has imposed mandatory water restrictions on campus. Today's warning upgrades the drought watch the DEC had declared in mid-July -- the first in 14 years. The agency's four levels of drought, from mildest to most severe, are: watch, warning, emergency and disaster. A drought is determined by rainfall, reservoir and lake levels, stream flow and groundwater levels. The rest of the state remains in a drought watch. Under a drought warning, according to the DEC, public water supplies must implement contingency plans, and local agencies make plans in case the drought worsens. The National Drought Mitigation Center has placed nearly all of Western New York and the Finger Lakes in its "severe drought" category. That, too, is the second of four potential drought levels. The DEC urges residents to save water by fixing leaking toilets and dripping faucets; let grass grow higher; water lawns on alternate days and in the mornings; and sweep sidewalks instead of hosing them down. Contact Glenn Coin: Email | Twitter | Google + | (315) 470-3251 CHICAGO Archer Daniels Midland Co. remains focused on turning its financial report around after its second-quarter earnings fell 26 percent from a year ago. ADM reported net earnings Tuesday of $284 million, or 48 cents per share, in the quarter ending June 30, compared with $386 million, or 62 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. The report comes after the company's earnings dropped by $263 million in the first quarter year-to-year comparison as well. The first half of the year was very challenging, Chairman, President and CEO Juan Luciano said during a conference call with industry analysts. With improved fundamentals, we expect a more favorable second half of the year. ADM expects second half variables to be more in its favor, especially when it comes to improving the Ag Services business, Chief Financial Officer Ray Young said. Among other factors, Young said the U.S. dollar is stabilizing, and crop shortages in South America could help global supply balance out with demand. Ag Services earnings dropped to $97 million from $152 million a year ago. At the same time, oilseeds dropped to $234 million from $344 million. The company is in the midst of strategically reviewing its ethanol dry mill assets, Luciano said. Sweeteners and starches earnings offset bioproducts losses. High inventories of ethanol have forced ADM to decrease production, Luciano said. Several proposals have been submitted, and Luciano said bids could be reviewed at the end of August to determine what the next steps could be in order to provide the best value for ADM. It has some potential interested parties, Young said. We're going to evaluate all options to maximize value, Young said. Some of ADM's recent focus has shifted toward developing its Wild Flavors and Specialty Ingredients business. Luciano is expecting an extremely strong second half of the year for that portion of the business, with year-over-year profit growth of about 20 percent a possibility. As part of its efforts to build the specialty ingredients business, ADM acquired full ownership during the quarter of Amazon Flavors, a Brazilian manufacturer of natural extracts, emulsions and compounds. Luciano said the acquisition provides ADM with the ability to develop a system to meet local tastes. This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (32) Kelly Sobczak, of Vero Beach, is helped out of a seaplane Tuesday by Michael Hoover, of Vero Beach, pilot and owner of Treasure Coast Seaplanes, after landing on Blue Cypress Lake in Fellsmere. Sobczak and her daughter, Finley Sobczak, 6, (not pictured), took the seaplane excursion to get aerial views of the local Atlantic coastline, the Indian River Lagoon and a "splashdown" on Blue Cypress Lake. Treasure Coast Seaplanes, which gives aerial tours and seaplane flight training, began operating last month with plans to begin charter flights to the Florida Keys and Bahamas. (JEREMIAH WILSON/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) SHARE Finley Sobczak, 6, of Vero Beach takes in the view Tuesday during a Treasure Coast Seaplanes aerial tour starting and ending at the Vero Beach Regional Airport. (JEREMIAH WILSON/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) By Conrad Defiebre, Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers Licensed pilots Sheena and Michael Hoover, of Vero Beach, love flying airplanes and sailing their catamaran, and now they've combined what Sheena Hoover calls "the best of both worlds" in their new seaplane excursion and flight training business. Treasure Coast Seaplanes, the only seaplane operator on the Treasure Coast, launched this month, offering rides over the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean coastline, plus splashdowns on Blue Cypress Lake. Both Hoovers also are certified seaplane instructors, and they offer an array of flight, ground and water landing training, as well. "It's a way to pursue our dream, our passion for aviation while staying at home with our three children," 18-month-old twins Hutch and Emmeline, and 6-year-old Zofia, Sheena Hoover said. CARIBBEAN They started small in May with the ground-bound Beachside Rides, a free shuttle jitney mostly along Ocean Drive in Vero Beach that operates from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, with plans for expanded hours during the winter tourist season. But their goals extend to a fixed-base aviation service at the Vero Beach Regional Airport by the fall and charter flights to the Florida Keys, Bahamas and perhaps even Cuba once federal certification is received. "We hope within a year," Sheena Hoover said. Seaplanes are abundant in the Sunshine State, according to the Lakeland-based Seaplane Pilots Association, an international trade group that says Florida has more of its members than any other state. Some from outside the Treasure Coast splash down on Lake Okeechobee. Many, like the Hoovers, offer both rides and pilot training. RATES Treasure Coast Seaplanes' rates are comparable with others in the state, according to links on the Seaplane Pilots Association website. Air tours in the Hoovers' five-passenger Cessna 206 equipped with Wipline 3450 amphibious floats run from $45 per passenger for 30 minutes to $90 for 75 minutes, based on a full load of five. Training ranges from $550 for an hour of flight and an hour of ground instruction, to $4,580 for eight hours of flight training, three hours of ground study and a licensing examination. Some courses have prerequisites of 500 hours of private pilot flight time. SHARE TUESDAY'S SPECIAL EVENTS Fitness Boot Camp: 6 a.m. July 19-Aug. 11. Tues. & Thurs. Sebastian Karate a Fitness & Self Defense Center, 13248 U.S. 1, Sebastian. Ages: 17+. $100. Register: 772-538-1753. Cat Adoption Event: July 23-Aug. 7. Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 18+. 772-388-3331. Hair Cuttery Back-to-School Share-A-Haircut Program: HC will donate haircuts to a child in need. 9 a.m. Aug. 1-15. All Hair Cuttery locations, 12th St. Plaza, Vero Beach. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 8:30-10 a.m. Aug. 2. Gifford Youth Activity Center, 4875 43rd, Vero Beach. Exchange Club of Vero Beach: Noon Aug. 2. C.J. Cannons Restaurant, 3414 Cherokee Drive, Vero Beach. $12. RSVP: 772-713-9004; www.exchangeclubofverobeach.org. TUESDAY'S RECURRING EVENTS DANCE Ballroom Dance Class/New Season: 6:30 p.m. 2369 N.E. Dixie Highway, Jensen Beach. Ages: 16+. $9 pp. per class. Register: 772-529-3325; sdancer516@aol.com. EXERCISE/HEALTH Intermediate Qigong and Tai Chi: Next level qigong exercises with linking form Tai Chi. 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. All ages. $15 per class/$80 per month. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com. Knock Out Parkinson's: 11 a.m. Sebastian Karate Fitness & Self Defense Center, 13248 U.S. 1, Sebastian. $185/10 Classes. Register: 772-538-1753; Trainhard@att.net. Massage Therapy Consultation: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Advanced Motion Therapeutic, 2965 20th St., Vero Beach. Reservation: 772-567-8585; Info@amtvero.com. Orthopedic Rehabilitation Consultation: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Advanced Motion Therapeutic, 2965 20th St., Vero Beach. Reservation: 772-567-8585; Info@amtvero.com. Pickleball University Open Play: 8:30 a.m. Pocahontas Park, 2140 14th Ave, Vero Beach. All ages and Levels. $2/annual membership $24. 772-50-15685; vbpickle@gmail.com Facebook: Pickleball University. Pilates Reformer Group Class: Reform your body, strengthen your core. Joseph Pilates Techniques. 5:30 p.m. The Club at Spine and Sport, 1345 36th St., Vero Beach. Adults. $90 for 6 weeks. Reservation: 772-559-0866; namaste5@yahoo.com. Silver Sneakers Chair Yoga with Carmen: 9 a.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. All ages. $10 per class. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com. Yoga with Carmen: 8 a.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. All ages. $10 per class. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com. GAMES ACBL Certified Duplicate Bridge Games: Open and 0-199 games. 1 p.m. Vero Beach Bridge Center, 1520 14th Ave., Vero Beach. $7 for members, $9 for guests. 772-562-3008; verobridge.com. Bar Bingo: 1 p.m. Sebastian Eagles Aerie 4067, 9606 Trade Center Drive, Sebastian. Adult. $1 per card. 772-589-6573; empresslp234@gmail.com. Duplicate Bridge Club: Duplicate Bridge: ACBL sanctioned, stratified, friendly Duplicate Bridge Games. 12:30 p.m. Vero Beach Community Center, 2266 14th Ave., Vero Beach. Ages: 18+. $6. 772-589-3741; nch143@aol.com. NATURE Adventure Kayaking: Naturalist guided kayak/paddleboard tour on the Indian River Lagoon. 9 a.m.-Noon. Round Island Park South Highway A1A, Vero Beach. $25-$50. Reservation: 772-567-0522: paddleflorida.com. Group Eco-Tours: Your choice, kayak/ SUP. Snack/water provided. 9 a.m. McWilliams Park, Vero Beach. Please call for details. Reservation: 772-299-1286; www.orchidislandbikesandkayaks.com/. Motorized Kayak Adventures: A relaxing evening on the lagoon in a motorized kayak. 1 hour before sunset, Daily. Round Island Park, 2201 Highway A1A, Vero Beach. All ages. $35. Reservation: 772-380-6815; www.motorizedkayakadventures.com. Tours through the Mangrove Forests: Motorized Kayak Adventures. Varies based on tides, daily. Stan Blum Boat Launch, 613 North Causeway Drive, Fort Pierce. $48-60; Group discounts offered. Reservation: 772-380-6815; motorizedkayakadventures.com. OTHER Adventures in Meditation: 7-8 p.m. Aug. 2. Radiance by Misty Dawn, 805 Sebastian Blvd. Suite 3, Sebastian. $7. RSVP: radiant.spirit@yahoo.com. Bankruptcy and Fair Debt Collections: 2:30 p.m. Jury Assembly Room, Indian River Courthouse, 2000 16th Ave., Vero Beach. Register: 772-466-4766; www.FRLS.org. Off-Leash Dog Park Small Dog Orientations: 3 p.m. Dogs For Life, Inc., Off-Leash Dog Park, 1230 16th Ave., Vero Beach. Ages: 6 months +, dogs must be inoculated, neutered & social. $100. Register: 772-567-8969; dogsforlifevb.org. Pre-School Story Time: Story time pre school. 11 a.m. IRC Main Library, 1600 21st, Vero Beach. Ages: 3-5 yrs. old. 772-770-5060; www.irclibrary.org. TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly): Come and See how to lose weight sensibly and affordably. 6 p.m. First Christian Church of Vero, 1927 27th Ave., Vero Beach. $32 dues per year/$5 per month. 772-562-8148; www.tops.org. WEDNESDAY'S SPECIAL EVENTS VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Aug. 3. VNA Hidden Treasures Sebastian, 11646 U.S. 1, Sebastian. VNA Blood Pressure Screenings: Noon-2 p.m. Aug. 3. North Indian River County Library, 1001 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian. Feisty Fido: Instructor approval required to help your socially challenged dog. 5:30 p.m. Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24. Humane Society of Vero Beach, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. $75. Register: 772-978-7863; www.bestbehaviordogtraining.org. WEDNESDAY'S RECURRING EVENTS CHILDREN/TEENS Capoeira for Children: Ancient Brazilian Dance Martial art form done to music. 5 p.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 4 +. $80. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com. Karate and Qigong for Children: Japanese Go-Ju Karate and Chinese Qigong and Kung fu. 6 p.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 5-15 years old. $80 per month, Scholarships available. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com. CLUBS Indian River Model Sailing Club: Remote control model sailboat racing. 1-3 p.m. Hobart Lake, 77th St., between 58th Ave. and Dixie Highway, Vero Beach. 772-581-8300. EXERCISE/HEALTH Balance and Gait Therapy Consultation: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Advanced Motion Therapeutic, 2965 20th St., Vero Beach. Reservation: 772-567-8585; Info@amtvero.com. Capoeira Executives: Brazilian dance martial art form practice rhythmically to music. 4 p.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 35+. $80 per month. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com. The Cloudwalker Place: Breathing and Movements to stretch and massage the body. 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. All ages. $10 per class. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com. Martial Arts for Executives: Japanese and Chinese internal arts training for therapeutic benefits. 7 p.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 15+. $90 per month. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com. Massage Therapy Consultation: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Advanced Motion Therapeutic, 2965 20th St., Vero Beach. Reservation: 772-567-8585; Info@amtvero.com. Senior Strength Training: Group class using basic strength building exercises. 7:30 a.m., 8:40 a.m. Leisure Square, 3705 16th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 50 +. $5. Reservation: 772-321-6003; jasfitness.com. Vero Beach Pickleball University: Pickleball Lessons, Pickleball 101 Equipment provided. 5:30 p.m. Pocahontas Park, 14th Ave., Vero Beach. Ages: 50+. Register: 772-501-5685; vbpickle@gmail.com; Facebook: pickleballuniversity. Yogalates: Strengthen, Stretch and Tone the entire Body. 4-5 p.m. Bethel Creek House, 4405 North A1A, Vero Beach. $6 drop in fee. 772-216-3051; exerciselady@comcast.net. GAMES Bingo: Benefits all Elks charities. Noon Sebastian Elks Lodge, 731 S. Fleming St., Sebastian. 772-589-1516. Bridge Classes: Basic bidding review class. Open to public. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Vero Beach Bridge Center, 1520 14th Ave., Vero Beach. $15. 772-562-3008; verobridge.com. Duplicate Bridge: Stratified Open Pairs game. 1 p.m. Vero Beach Bridge Center, 1520 14th Ave., Vero Beach. $7-$9. 772-562-3008; verobridge.com. Vero Beach Bridge Center: 0-499 Stratified Pairs game. Masterpoints awarded. 9 a.m. Vero Beach Bridge Center, 1520 14th Ave., Vero Beach. $7-$9. 772-562-3008; verobridge.com. MEALS Dinner and Karaoke: 6-10 p.m. Vero Beach Elks Lodge, 1350 26th St., Vero Beach. 772-562-8450; veroelks.com. NATURE Adventure Kayaking: Naturalist guided kayak/ paddleboard tour on the Indian River Lagoon. 9 a.m.-Noon. Round Island Park South Highway A1A, Vero Beach. $25-$50. Reservation: 772-567-0522: paddleflorida.com. Motorized Kayak Adventures: A relaxing evening on the lagoon in a motorized kayak. 1 hour before sunset, Daily. Round Island Park, 2201 Highway A1A, Vero Beach. All ages. $35. Reservation: 772-380-6815; motorizedkayakadventures.com. Tours through the Mangrove Forests: Motorized Kayak Adventures. Varies based on tides, daily. Stan Blum Boat Launch, 613 North Causeway Drive, Fort Pierce. $48-60; Group discounts offered. Reservation: 772-380-6815; motorizedkayakadventures.com. OTHER All About Coloring: All About Coloring-the latest stress-reducing activity. 2-3 p.m. Brackett Library, 6155 College Lane, Vero Beach. Adults. 772-226-3080; www.irclibrary.org. Karaoke: 7-10 p.m. Vero Beach Elks Lodge, 1350 26th St., Vero Beach. 772-562-8450; veroelks.com. Karaoke with Wanda Johnson: 7-11 p.m. Vero Beach Veterans Club, 2500 15th Ave., Vero Beach. 772-778-1299; verobeachveterans.com. Wednesday Open Mic Nights: 8:30 p.m.-Midnight. Kilted Mermaid, 1937 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach. 772-569-5533; KiltedMermaid.com. LOOKING AHEAD VNA Blood Pressure Screenings: 9-11 a.m. Aug. 4. VNA Hidden Treasures Vero, 656 21st, Vero Beach. Jim Sawgrass: 10:30 a.m. Aug. 4. North IRC Library, 1001 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian. 772-589-1355; www.irclibrary.org. Family Dog Manners: Teach your dog to be a great companion. 1 p.m. Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25. Humane Society of Vero Beach, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. $75. Register: 772-571-6409; www.hsvb.org. Mulligan's 12 Weeks of Summer: 10% of the evening's proceeds go to Dogs For Life. 5-8 p.m. Aug. 4. Mulligan's Beach House Bar & Grill, 1025 Beachland Blvd., Vero Beach. www.dogsforlifevb.org. Humane Society Thrift Shops Tax-Exempt Holiday: Stores carry a wide assortment of school-related items including clothing, shoes, handbags, backpacks, classroom supplies and including the "Young and Trendy" area which has a variety of contemporary clothing and accessories. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 5; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 6; noon-4 p.m.; Aug. 7. Humane Society Thrift Shops, 4425 20th St., Vero Beach and 441 Sebastian Blvd. (County Road 512), Sebastian. 772-567-2044; www.hsvb.org. Adult Dance Masterclasses at Riverside Theatre: Intermediate classes with professional dancers from the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company. 10-11:30 a.m. Aug. 5. $50 both classes/$30 for one class. Riverside Children's Theatre: 772-234-8052. Mr. Harley: 10:30 a.m. Aug. 5. IRC Main Library, 1600 21st Street, Vero Beach. 772-538-7558; www.irclibrary.org. Adult Dance Masterclasses at Riverside Theatre: Advanced classes with professional dancers from the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 5. $50 both classes/$30 for one class. Riverside Children's Theatre: 772-234-8052. The Well Armed Women Indian River County Chapter: Grand Opening. 1st Meeting National Organization of The Well Armed Women IRC. 9 a.m. Aug. 6. Indian River County Shooting Range, 10455 102nd Terrace, Sebastian. Ages: 21+. RSVP: 772-473-1800; www.twawshootingchapters.org. RT Star's Back To School Party: A free community event at Riverside Theatre. 10 a.m. Aug. 6. Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach. 772-231-6990; www.riversidetheatre.com. Back to School Physicals, Immunizations Backpack Brigade: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 6. Whole Family Health Center, 981 37th Place, Vero Beach. 772-257-5785. One Pulse Extravaganza: Benefits the One Pulse Fund; live music from Collins and Company, DJ music, a cash bar. 7-11 p.m. Aug. 6. Heritage Center, 2140 14th Ave., Vero Beach. $20. 772-713-5520. Theatre-Go-Round Dinner Theatre: "From Sea to Shining Sea". 4:30 p.m. Aug. 7, 21, Sept. 18. Quilted Giraffe Restaurant, 500 South U.S. 1, Vero Beach. Reservation: 772-252-9341; theatregorounddinnertheatre.com. Think Pink Art Show and Raffle Event: Benefits Treasure Coast 'Friends in Pink'. 5-8 p.m. Aug. 7. Gallery 14, 1911 14th Ave., Vero Beach. 772-562-5525; www.gallery14verobeach.com. Video Bible Study: Do You Believe. 6 p.m. Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28. First Baptist Church of Wabasso, 4720 86th St., Wabasso. 772-589-5256; firstbaptistwabasso.org. VNA Blood Pressure Screenings: 11 a.m.-noon Aug. 8. Harvest Food, 1360 28th, Vero Beach. Friends After Diagnosis: Speaker: Allison Snowden acupuncture, integrative medicine for breast cancer survivors. 2 p.m. Aug. 8. First Presbyterian Church, 520 Royal Palm Blvd., Vero Beach. 772-978-9392; www.FriendsAfterDiagnosis.com. Canine Games-My Dog Can Do That: This fun filled board games provides fun for all dogs. 5:30 p.m. Aug. 8, 15, 22, 29. Humane Society of Vero Beach. 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. $75. Register: 772-978-7863; www.hsvb.org. American Legion Auxiliary Quarter Auction: 6 p.m. Aug. 8. American Legion, 807 Louisiana Ave., Sebastian. Ages: 18+. 772-882-7352; avondaisy44@aol.com. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-11 a.m. Aug. 9. VNA Hidden Treasures, 656 21st St., Vero Beach. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 10-11:30 a.m. Aug. 9. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop, 5480 85th, Wabasso. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-10:30 a.m. Aug. 10. VNA Hidden Treasures Sebastian, 11646 U.S. 1, Sebastian. VNA Blood Pressure Screenings: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 11. VNA Hidden Treasures Vero, 656 21st, Vero Beach. Transcendental Meditation: Introductory presentation on the Transcendental Meditation technique all questions answered. 7 p.m. Aug. 12. The Center for Spiritual Care, 1550 24th St., Vero Beach. 772-480-0047; www.tm.org. V.B.E. PTA Indoor Sale: 8 a.m.-noon Aug. 13. Cafeteria, 1770 12th St., Vero Beach. Rent a table $15 call 564-4611. RSVP: 772-564-4611; james.batory@indianriverschools.org. Family Dog Manners: Teach your dog to be a great companion. 1 p.m. Aug. 13, 20, 27, Sept. 10, 17. Humane Society of Vero Beach, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. $75. Register: 772-978-7863; www.hsvb.org. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-10 a.m. Aug. 15. River Park Place, 700 3rd Circle, Vero Beach. VNA Blood Pressure Screenings: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 15. VNA Hidden Treasures Vero, 656 21st, Vero Beach. Family Dog Manners: Learn how to make your dog a great companion. 6:30 p.m. Aug. 15, 22, 29, Sept. 12, 19. Humane Society of Vero Beach, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. $75. Register: 772-571-6409; www.hsvb.org. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 8:30-9:30 a.m. Aug. 16. Christi's Family Fitness, 1250 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-10:30 a.m. Aug. 17. VNA Hidden Treasures Sebastian, 11646 U.S. 1, Sebastian. VNA Blood Pressure Screenings: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 17. Second Chance Thrift Store & Training Center, 490 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 8:30-10 a.m. Aug. 18. Gifford Youth Activity Center, 4875 43rd, Vero Beach. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-11 a.m. Aug. 18. VNA Hidden Treasures, 656 21st St., Vero Beach. VNA Blood Pressure Screenings: Noon-1 p.m. Aug. 18. South Mainland Library, 7921 Ron Beatty Blvd., Sebastian. VNA Blood Pressure Screenings: Noon-1 p.m. Aug. 18. Our Father's Table Soup Kitchen 4221 28th, Vero Beach. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-11 a.m. Aug. 19. VNA Hidden Treasures Sebastian, 11646 U.S. 1, Sebastian. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-10 a.m. Aug. 20. Allen AME Church, 6425 85th St., Wabasso. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 8:30-10 a.m. Aug. 20. Sebastian Gym & Fitness, 345 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-10:30 a.m. Aug. 22. VNA Hidden Treasures, 656 21st St., Vero Beach. Candidate Forum: August Primary election for School Board and County Commission races. 6 p.m. Aug. 22. Heritage Center, 14th Ave., Vero Beach. American Legion Auxiliary North County Quarter Auction: 6 p.m. Aug. 22. American Legion, 807 Louisiana Ave., Sebastian. Ages: 18+. 772-882-7352; avondaisy44@aol.com. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-11 a.m. Aug. 24. VNA Hidden Treasures, 656 21st St., Vero Beach. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-11 a.m. VNA Hidden Treasures Sebastian, 11646 U.S. 1, Sebastian. School Supply Drive for Feed the Lambs: Bring supplies to August Vero Beach Christian Business Association luncheon. 11:30 a.m. Aug. 25. The Plaza, 884 17th St., Vero Beach. www.vbcba.org. VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 8:45-9:45 a.m. Aug. 28.St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church, 901 Clearmont St., Sebastian. SEPT. Art in the Park: Application Deadline. Sept. 1. 3001 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach. Bankruptcy and Fair Debt Collections Know Your Rights: Clinics on Bankruptcy and Fair Debt Collections. 2:30 p.m. Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 7, Dec. 5. Indian River Courthouse, Jury Assembly Room, 2000 16th Avenue, Vero Beach. Register: 772-466-4766; www.FRLS.org. SHARE Michael Roach, 41, Toledo, Ohio; warrants for dealing in stolen property, giving false information to a pawnbroker. Tammy Munn, 44, 200 block of Southeast Lonita Street, Stuart; out-of-county warrant, St. Lucie County, grand theft. Roberto Sosa, 37, 2400 block of Mississippi Avenue, Fort Pierce; grand theft. Ricardo Sosa, 28, 1200 block of Ormond Avenue, Fort Pierce; grand theft. Charles Wilson, 47, 2500 block of Northeast Mildred Street, Jensen Beach; warrant for failure to appear, change of plea, DUI impairment and/or .08 with priors within 10 years. Halie Highstone, 23, 900 block of Southwest McConkle Avenue, Port St. Lucie; trafficking in oxymorphone; delivery of alprazolam; possession of alprazolam; possession of oxycodone. Alisia Harriel, 25, Tallahassee; fleeing and eluding. A researcher studying Vibrio vulnificus said that "for the most part, healthy individuals are not at risk" of the potentially deadly bacterial infection, especially if they take certain precautions. (FILE PHOTO) SHARE By Eric Staats, USA TODAY NETWORK | Naples Daily News It started with a simple cut on Jared Jenkins' right arm. Within days, the Fort Pierce man was in a hospital facing two surgeries and a long road to recovery from Vibrio vulnificus, a rare and potentially deadly bacterial infection his family said he contracted working on a dock on Naples Bay. When he learned recently he would not lose his arm, he rejoiced on a GoFundMe page titled "Jared's Fight." "God is so good and faithful to pull me through this," Jenkins posted, along with a picture of him lying in a hospital bed with a bloody, gaping wound running from the middle of his chest, down his arm to his elbow. "I normally wouldn't share something like this, but I gotta give glory to God this morning!!" Jenkins was working in the water on the docks at The Boathouse restaurant when he cut his arm on a barnacle on a piling and contracted vibrio, wife Nikki Voegtil-Jenkins told the Naples Daily News via Facebook this week. The state Health Department confirmed a Collier County vibrio case in the past week, but would not identify the patient nor provide details, citing medical confidentiality laws. Tampa General Hospital listed Jenkins in fair condition Friday. His GoFundMe page had raised $1,500 as of Friday to help pay for his medical expenses. Rare, natural Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium sometimes incorrectly referred to as flesh-eating that naturally occurs in warm, brackish salt water. People can become infected through open cuts or by eating contaminated seafood, such as oysters. People with compromised immune systems can die from bloodstream infections. Wounds infected with vibrio can lead to amputations. Florida reports 267 infections and 82 deaths from vibrio between 2016 and 2008, the first year after the state required it be reported. The Treasure Coast reports 12 infections and two deaths from 2008 to 2015. One was in St. Lucie County in 2012, but the Health Department will not release any details because of medical privacy laws. Among the cases the media have documented: A Port St. Lucie man died two days after he contracted Vibrio vulnificus while fishing in a boat on the Indian River Lagoon in July 2015. A fish fin pricked his ankle. A Fort Pierce man died in October 2014, three days after he contracted Vibrio vulnificus while swimming in the lagoon. A Melbourne man nearly died after contracting Vibrio vulnificus in December 2015 while cast-netting from the shore. A Winter Haven man died last year after cuts on his leg became infected with vibrio during a fishing trip on Estero Bay in Lee County. MORE | How's the water in your area? SHARE By Andrew Atterbury and Colleen Wixon of TCPalm Even with property values on the rise, property taxes are not projected to come at a major cost for residents. But school and county officials say a defeat could affect necessary projects. About $9 million is at stake in the school add-on tax, which school officials opted to place on the primary ballot despite questions from the County Commission in June over whether there was enough time to advertise the measure. "One of the reasons we're doing it in August is if it does fail, we have time to plan accordingly," said Carter Morrison, assistant superintendent for finance. The ballot issue seeks approval of an operating tax of 50 cents per $1,000 assessed property value that would run for four years. It would replace a slightly higher tax 60 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value that was approved in 2012 and expires at the end of the 2017 budget year. The current .6-mill tax rate brings in about $8 million a year while the new .5-mill tax add-on would yield about $9 million, according to school officials. The district is seeking a lower rate based on preliminary estimates of a 4.9 percent increase in the county's taxable property value, school officials said. "We didn't want to burden the taxpayers," Morrison said. Money from the new tax would be used to retain teachers, purchase and upgrade technology and infrastructure, and fund career and technical programs, according to the School District. Meanwhile, County Administrator Jason Brown wants voters to keep the two tax referendums separate. "They fund different things," Brown said. "We would hope our referendum would stand alone." Without the sales tax revenue, major infrastructure projects would be without adequate funding in the five-year capital project, he said. The county and five municipalities stand to lose millions for road improvements and pollution-elimination projects such as Osprey Marsh if the referendum is defeated. "The alternative would be higher property taxes and higher impact fees," he said. The county gets about $15 million from the sales-tax revenue annually, while the five municipalities share about $6 million a year, county records show. The county's sales tax is capped at $5,000, so the most anyone will pay is $50, Brown said. Voters initially approved the 15-year sales tax in 1989, agreeing in 2002 to extend it an additional 15 years. The current sales tax ends Dec. 31, 2019, but commissioners decided last year to put it on the November ballot because they thought more voters would participate in the presidential election. The county would have another chance in 2018 should the referendum fail, but Brown said projects such as the 66th Avenue widening would be delayed or eliminated in the meantime. SCHOOLS ADD-ON TAX TOWN HALLS School officials have scheduled two town hall presentations about the proposed .5 millage in Indian River County. Vero Beach: 6 p.m. Thursday at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center, 1707 16th St. Sebastian: 6 p.m. Aug. 11 at Sebastian River High School Performing Arts Center, 9001 90th Ave. 1 PERCENT SALES TAX Nov. 8: Voters asked to extend the county tax 2019: Sales tax expires $21 million: Anticipated revenue from the sales tax $15 million: County's share of the sales tax revenue $6 million: Shared among the five municipalities, based on population RACE: St. Lucie County Sheriff TERM: Four years CANDIDATES: Ken Mascara (incumbent) Richard Williams WHO CAN VOTE: All St. Lucie County voters can vote in this universal Democratic primary KEY ISSUES: Community trust; budget; drug crime RECOMMENDATION: Asked whether a "trust gap" exists between his office and some of the communities it polices, incumbent St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara demurred. His office, he said, is on good terms with the community. Richard Williams's presence in the race suggests it's not as good as it could be. Williams, 39, is an Army veteran and reservist who spent six years as a Florida state trooper. He talks at length about "trust." Portions of the community, particularly Fort Pierce, do not trust the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office to give them a full shake, he claims. Williams said he's running to give voice to those concerns. Those concerns are serious, and Williams deserves credit for bringing them to the fore. However, significant questions cloud his candidacy. He repeatedly accuses Mascara of "lying" and corruption. Williams' resigned from the Florida Highway Patrol after an investigation found he engaged in sexual activity while on duty and harassed and stalked a complainant (Williams says it was the other way around, he was the one harassed), which also gives us pause. Mascara, by contrast, has been sheriff since 2001, and during his tenure the office has operated as an effective crime-fighting force under budgetary constraints. He's been a visible presence in the community, and his office and his deputies have won local and national accolades. The next sheriff will face considerable challenges. As Mascara himself has noted, he's losing quality employees because the county can't afford to match the pay those employees might receive elsewhere. But the most significant challenge may be bolstering the community's trust. "Miscommunication" between the office and the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce in the wake of the June 12 Orlando shootings may have created the impression that the Sheriff's Office was less committed to the county's Muslim residents. After Mascara's office was enlisted to investigate the Fort Pierce Police shooting of Demarcus Semer, some residents said they weren't sure they'd get a fair shake. Mascara's task, should he be re-elected, is not just to provide that fair shake it's to dispel the notion that his office might ever be biased in the first place. WE ENDORSE: Ken Mascara SHARE Photos by Stephanie Labaff Nathan Schmidt received a hair cut by Trinaty Coontz from Eminence Hair Design. Jaden, Katie and Savanah Trammell watch the K-9 demonstration. Indian River County Sheriff's officers Owenlea Messinger and Deputy Teddy Floyd join in the fun. Boys and girls line up to meet K-9 officers and their partners. By Stephanie Labaff, The Newsweekly Kris Kringle joined forces with the Sebastian Police Department and the Indian River County Sheriff's Office for the 3rd annual Christmas in July at Riverview Park in Sebastian. While Christmas isn't usually accompanied by 90-degree temperatures, the heat did nothing to dampen the holiday spirit. Nor did it prevent a special visit from Santa Claus. The jolly fellow left his trademark reindeer-drawn sleigh at the North Pole and made his appearance in a red Cadillac convertible. Clad in Bermuda shorts and a tropical shirt, Santa visited with every child and sent them all home with something special from his sack full of toys. The proceeds from the event will allow local law enforcement to take about 150 children Christmas shopping in December. Officers will help them shop with their $100 gift cards at Walmart. Usually the officers have to encourage children to pick out items for themselves many want to buy for family members instead. Indian River County residents are fortunate to have first responders who take their commitment to "protect and serve" to a higher level. Families enjoyed a day of fun at the park, playing games, going on a scavenger hunt, dancing, gobbling up hot dogs, taking part in an auction and drawings, and watching the Sebastian Police Department's K-9 Unit in action. With almost 40 vendors selling their wares and local stylists giving haircuts, more than $6,000 was raised for Shop With a Cop. The program is a collaborative effort of the Florida Highway Patrol, Indian River Shores Public Safety, Vero Beach Police Department, Indian River County Sheriff's Office, Sebastian Police Department, the Department of Corrections and Fellsmere Police Department, among others. Relationships forged on these shopping excursions stay with both the children and the officers who donate their time. The event also helps reinforce to youth in our community that these brave men and women not only put their lives on the line on a daily basis but are also our friends and neighbors. If you would like to help support Shop with a Cop, contact Officer Ashley Penn 772-589-5233 ext. 8573 or Deputy Roberta Barker 772-978-6248. Joe Valenza poses with his 1964 Dodge Dart. SHARE Photos by Keith MacDonald Grayson Carmichael, a student at Glendale Christian School, enjoyed checking out Joe and Sue Valenza's red '68 Barracuda and blue '64 Dart at this year's car show at Velde Ford. A 505-horsepower, Chrysler 392-cubic-inch Hemi awaits installation into the restored Challenger. Valenza's 408-cubic-inch engine fits nicely inside a well-detailed compartment. The latest project: a 1971 Dodge Challenger sits on a rotisserie awaiting all of its restored parts and pieces. By Keith Macdonald, The Newsweekly Mopar short for motor parts was originally a brand name for Chrysler parts. In the late 1960s, Chrysler even created an aftermarket parts business dubbed the Mopar Division. Now the term refers to the whole breed of cars manufactured with these components. And we have a local version of the Mopar guru Mark Worman from television's "Graveyard Carz": Joe Valenza spends his not-so-leisurely retirement days restoring classic Mopar cars. And he excels at it. "I had my own business as a charter captain in Ocean City, Md.," Valenza says. "I began working on cars in high school and college, but I didn't like working on new cars. So I decided to work on boats and I became a marine electrician." At some point during his tenure as a boat captain, Valenza and his wife Sue decided to leave it all behind and embark on a journey. Everything was sold and they started a new life aboard a 38-foot sailboat. "I had to put all my tools away and move onto the boat. We lived on the sailboat for 16 years, starting in 1989," he said. "We used to sail all over: to the Bahamas, then to Jamaica, Central America, Belize and Mexico. We even went to Cuba." After surfing in Sebastian, Valenza and his wife agreed it would be a great area to become landlubbers again. In 2005, they purchased a home in Vero Beach. First Mopar A year later, Joe decided he wanted to build a garage that was big enough to accommodate a new hobby: restoring Mopars. "I built the shop 10 years ago," Valenza said. "I had a yellow 72 'Cuda that I restored, but I eventually sold it to buy a 1964 Dart and then a 1968 Barracuda. Valenza was restoring a unique 1964, 273 cubic-inch V8, four-speed convertible when the car was "commandeered." "The 1964 Dodge Dart was very rare, with less than 200 manufactured in this configuration," he explained. "Sue claimed the car halfway through the restoration." The Dodge took two years to restore, even without rebuilding the engine. "Somebody had rebuilt the engine somewhere along the line and it didn't leak fluids," recalls Valenza. "It had plenty of compression, so I left it alone and restored it to exactly stock with a fully rebuilt suspension." The '64 Dart became a multiple trophy winner at local car shows, so Joe set out to restore another car for himself. Enter the Barracuda Joe purchased a tired 1968 Plymouth Barracuda convertible and set about making it a showpiece. "It had a 318-inch V8 in it with a four speed, but I dropped-in a 360 engine that had been bored and stroked to a 408," Valenza explained. "I redid everything: the engine, the interior, a new top and a paint job." Now the Valenza family had two potential trophy cars in their garage. "I don't restore these for the trophies," he said with a laugh. "I just enjoy working on them, restoring them and cruising to shows. The trophies are mostly for the Dart and a few are for the Barracuda." Last September, Valenza purchased a 1971 Dodge Challenger convertible. "I drove all the way out to Iowa after I bought it on eBay," he admits. "The sheet metal was good with just a few rusted areas. I could tell it had been kept in a garage and was never driven in winter." Valenza completely stripped the car down to its frame. The body is currently mounted on a rotisserie and the car has a very impressive new engine sitting on a stand waiting to be mated up to the Challenger. "It's getting a 6.4 liter Hemi V8," Valenza said. "That's a 392-cubic inch that can make 505 horsepower on pump gas. It'll be paired with a Tremec six-speed transmission and a Hayes Clutch." For those not schooled in all-things-automotive: a 6.4 Hemi with a Tremec six-speed simply means: "fast really fast." Decisions Valenza also does his own paintwork. The inside perimeter of his garage has a well-constructed frame of plastic sheeting that can be lowered like a curtain during the painting process. His shop is cleaner than many people's' living rooms evidence that his system works efficiently. "I'm not sure of the color I'll be applying to the Challenger," Valenza said. "I'm considering a green or orange. The car was originally red with a white interior. Because it's a Florida car, I'll be keeping the white interior." He expects that it will take him two years to complete the Challenger, so be sure to look for it at local car shows in September of 2017. "I work on it just about every day," he said. "But when the Challenger is done, I'll have a decision to make. Sue likes her blue Dart, so I might end-up selling the Barracuda. "I only have so much space and I can't afford to be like Jay Leno." The location of Hurricane Earl at 8 p.m. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER) SHARE By Staff Report Earl has reached hurricane status with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, as rain bands spread over Belize. Earl was located about 70 miles northeast of Isla Roatan, Honduras and about 150 miles east of Belize City. Early is moving west at 14 mph, with a minimum central pressure of 988 mb. At 10 p.m. CDT, Hurricane Earl was about 40 miles east of Belize City. Earl is moving west at 15 mph. On the current track, it's expected to make landfall in Belize early Thursday. Before that, more strengthening is possible. Weakening is expected after the center of Earl moves inland. WIND: Tropical storm conditions will reach Belize and Mexico within the hurricane and tropical storm warning areas in a few hours. Hurricane conditions are expected in portions of the hurricane warning area in Belize and Mexico tonight. RAINFALL: Earl is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 8 to 12 inches over portions of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico through Thursday night. Very heavy rain will reach the Mexican states of Tabasco and Veracruz between Thursday night and Saturday morning. Isolated maximum amounts of 16 inches are possible in Belize and Mexico. These rains could result in life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. STORM SURGE: A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast of Belize and the eastern Yucatan peninsula near and to the north of where the center makes landfall. Storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds on the Bay Islands of Honduras. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and damaging waves. Aug. 3, 2016 SHARE Tropical Storm Earl, 5 a.m. Aug. 3, 2016 Aug. 3, 2016 Aug. 3, 2016 By Staff Report ADVISORIES Hurricane Earl has top winds of 75 mph as it heads for Belize. There's a moderate risk for rip currents today. EVENING FORECAST Overnight will be mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 78. Winds will be calm. Keep an eye on conditions with our live weather radar. EXTENDED FORECAST Source: National Weather Service Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 78. South wind around 10 mph. Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. South southwest wind around 5 mph. Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. South wind around 5 mph. Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Sunrise will be at 6:47 a.m. Sunset will be at 8:08 p.m. TROPICS Source: National Hurricane Center Atlantic: At 10 p.m. CDT, Hurricane Earl was about 40 miles east of Belize City. Maximum sustained winds are 75 mph and it's moving west at 15 mph. Weakening is expected after the center of Earl moves inland. Pacific: 1. 2 p.m. PDT: Post-Tropical Cyclone Howard has weakened to a remnant low. It's about 1,620 miles west of Baja California. Maximum sustained winds are 35 mph and it's moving west-northwest at 16 mph. 2. 8 p.m. PDT: Tropical Storm Ivette is about 1,050 miles west-southwest of Baja California. Maximum sustained winds are 45 mph and it's moving west at 16 mph. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Ivette could become a hurricane by Friday. 3. 11 a.m. PDT: An area of low pressure could form near the southern coast of Mexico late this weekend in association with the remnants of Atlantic Tropical Storm Earl after it moves across southern Mexico. Formation chance through 48 hours: near 0 percent. Formation chance through 5 days: 40 percent. TODAY'S TIDE FORECAST Source: National Weather Service Sebastian Inlet Bridge High tides: 8:52 a.m. and 9:22 p.m. Low tides: 2:44 a.m. and 3:03 p.m. Fort Pierce Inlet, South Jetty High tides: 9:09 a.m. and 9:39 p.m. Low tides: 2:50 a.m. and 3:09 p.m. MARINE FORECAST Source: National Weather Service 8 a.m.: A few thunderstorms could produce gusty winds over the intracoastal waters as they develop along the east coast sea breeze late this morning and into the afternoon. Storms capable of producing wind gusts in excess of 34 knots are possible over inland areas this afternoon and evening. 4:23 a.m.: A few thunderstorms could produce gusty winds over the intracoastal waters as they develop late this morning and into the afternoon. Storms capable of producing wind gusts in excess of 34 knots are possible over inland areas this afternoon and evening. Today: South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period 9 seconds. A light chop on the intracoastal waters. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Tonight: South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period 9 seconds. Mostly smooth on the intracoastal waters. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Thursday: South winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeast 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a dominant period 9 seconds. A moderate chop on the intracoastal waters. Numerous showers and thunderstorms. Thursday Night: South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Mostly smooth on the intracoastal waters. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Friday: South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A light chop on the intracoastal waters. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Friday Night: South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Saturday: South winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Saturday Night: Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunday: Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 feet. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The Internet of Medical Things, Part 1: A New Concept in Healthcare The Internet of Medical Things, Part 2: Devices and Apps Though quick to capitalize on connected health devices and the coming Internet of Medical Things, hardware manufacturers may be moving too slowly when it comes to building the necessary protections into the back end. The National Security Agency last month told participants in a defense technology summit in Washington that it was looking into hacking connected medical devices. The agencys interest is confined to researching the possibility of hacking IoMT devices, for now, and the fruit of its labor may be just another tool in the toolbox, according to NSA Deputy Director Richard Ledgett. However, if the NSA is looking into hacking such devices, consumers can be sure that the black hats are on it too. Where Theres a Web, Theres a Way The cost of connected health programs will challenge the cultivation of the IoMT, as well the user experience and user interfaces, observed Scott Sellers, CEO of Azul Systems. Underneath it all lies a threat to the security of consumers most intimate data. IoMT challenges include slow or uneven regulatory responses to changes in approach, mostly focusing around data security and, in some markets, reliability of communications, Sellers told TechNewsWorld, especially when traveling, or if patients are in rural areas with less robust network infrastructures. In theory, any Internet-connected device can be hacked, said Brian Wassom, leader of Honigmans social, mobile and emerging media industry group. Cybersecurity attacks thus far have focused on large networks systems that have plenty of access points, are rich with high-value data, and are built on computer languages common enough to invite exploitation, he pointed out. None of these conditions were met when connected medical devices were in the experimental stage, Wassom told TechNewsWorld. Carriage and Horse The Federal Trade Commission last year kicked off the conversation about getting out in front of possible security and privacy issues sure to proliferate as the number of IoT and connected medical devices pile up in coming years. The Food and Drug Association for the past three years has been issuing guidance on improving the safety and security standards of connected medical devices, noted Stu Bradley, vice president of cybersecurity at SAS. The proliferation of IoMT technology, and the healthcare industrys enthusiasm to adopt it, has put the veritable cart before the horse in terms of security, he told TechNewsWorld. Manufacturers will need to embed more robust security solution into IoMT devices, meaning they must proactively address security concerns instead of retroactively responding, Bradley said. This poses a real challenge for manufacturers whose core competency has historically been device, not software, development, he added. Manufacturers of connected devices generally have focused on building systems to deliver the needed functionality of a device as cheaply and precisely as possible, noted Matt Gross, director of the SAS health care and life sciences global practice. Manufacturers, in turn, use the cheapest underlying platforms usually open source to keep costs down and accelerate time to market, he told TechNewsWorld. That leaves these devices quite vulnerable to compromise. Day Zero Roughly 70 percent of IoT devices were vulnerable to cyberattacks as of two years ago, Honigmans Wassom noted, citing an HP study. Weaknesses in admin tools, paltry means for updating firmware, and a lack of transport encryption were among the 250 vulnerabilities researchers found. Bad habits die hard and the practice of using basic passcodes carried over to IoT devices, the study revealed. About 80 percent of passwords securing IoT devices were 1234 and the like. Medical devices are not immune to this minimalistic approach to data security, Wassom said. Two researchers detailed how they remotely accessed a hospitals neonatal monitors in a presentation Wassom attended at last years DEFCON. In many cases, hospital employees may not even realize that certain devices even have Internet connectivity, much less how to secure them, he said. Another hacker found an easy way to take charge of an infusion pump, a device that delivers fluids to patients and is common in hospital rooms. In theory, he could have emptied an entire vial of medication into a patient, said Wassom, and a hospital staff person monitoring the device from a central location would never have known. While hackers could leverage exploits to modify systems and cause physical harm to other humans, its more likely theyll be motivated to use stolen data for financial gain, said SAS Gross. They likely will use ill-gotten information to gain access to other systems, or encrypt it for use in ransomware attacks, he suggested. Until the first major breach occurs, however, focus will stay on more immediate threats. After what seems like endless months of waiting, Microsoft began rolling out the Windows 10 Anniversary Update to all users yesterday. It arrived four days after the one-year anniversary of the launch of Windows 10, which is now found on more than 350 million devices. The anniversary update brings a number of new features to Microsoft's latest operating system - some more significant than others. One the best improvements see extensions finally arrive for Edge; fans of the browser will be able to use the likes of AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, LastPass, and EverNote. Moreover, as the update makes Edge more power-efficient, those using it on a mobile device should find their batteries lasting longer. Another big improvement that will be welcomed by anyone who uses a device that supports a stylus - such as the Surface Pro 4 - is the new Windows Ink feature. The dedicated ink workspace is like a Start menu for all your stylus-supported tools and apps. You can even write down a reminder on a virtual sticky note and transform it into an instruction for Cortana. Other update changes include the arrival of the Linux command line and Bash shell, a smarter Cortana, an overhaul of the Start menu, the Xbox play anywhere initiative, new security features, over 52,000 new emoji, and many more. "We are committed to delivering continuous innovation to you: including features that bring Windows Ink and Cortana to the mainstream; a faster, more accessible and more power-efficient Microsoft Edge browser; advanced security features for consumers and enterprises; new gaming experiences and new tools for the modern classroom," said Microsoft. "Everyone running Windows 10 will get these new features for free." Microsoft had intended to release the update simultaneously across all devices, but it will now be staggered. It's set to arrive on Windows 10 phones in the "coming weeks." If you haven't already received the update, which will download and install automatically (after a restart) providing you've chosen the auto download/install settings, you can manually prompt it by going to the settings menu> Update & Security>Windows Update> check for updates. DECATUR Eisenhower and MacArthur high schools have been recognized at the state and national level for being top environments for education. Eisenhower received a Bronze Citation and was one of the top nine projects in the American School & University Educational Interiors Showcase, a national design competition. The school was also recognized in the Illinois Exhibition of Educational Environments Awards, which showcase the best in school design at the joint annual conference of the Illinois Association of School Administrators, Illinois Association of School Boards and Illinois Association of School Business Officials. Eisenhower received an Award of Distinction, the highest honor. MacArthur, which was the second of the two buildings to undergo renovation, was recognized with an honorable mention. Decatur is where our company started nearly 90 years ago, said John Whitlock, principal with BLDD Architects and lead architect for both high school projects. It is still home to one of our offices, so we are committed to making Decatur a great place to live and work. "To be able to have a positive impact on our local students, helping them be successful and feel valuable in whatever way we can, is not only our responsibility, it's also deeply rewarding," he added. "We feel privileged to have been a part of renewing both Eisenhower and MacArthur. When the renovations were first proposed in 2009 by then-Superintendent Gloria Davis, and the High School Task Force was formed, one of the main features of the renovations that most of the community members agreed upon was modernization. Education is heavily dependent on technology and flexibility, and Sam Johnson of BLDD, who was a member of the Task Force, said at the time that the design of high schools in the 1950s, when Eisenhower and MacArthur were built, is no longer useful for the way teachers teach or students learn. A 1 percent education sales tax was approved by Macon County voters in November 2010, and the resulting revenue allowed the $76 million project to proceed. The high school students are gratified in knowing that the community supports their education in providing these state-of-the-art learning environments, said Todd Covault, chief operational officer for Decatur schools, who was closely involved with the renovations. It has been very exciting to be part of building tours and seeing the expressions from various graduating classes when they see the remarkable changes. "These new schools have developed a sense of pride in both the current and former students. Our Views: Schools get it right with these honors The naming of public buildings can be tricky. China's straddling bus design has been floating around for a some time, and while it looks amazing, there's always been the caveat that it's only a concept, far from becoming a reality - but not anymore. The China Xinhua News reports that the transit elevated bus TEB-1 has just completed its first road test in Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, where the brakes and power consumption were put through their paces on a track measuring almost 1000 feet. The bus runs on rails laid alongside ordinary roads. It's able to carry up to 300 passengers 15 feet above the ground inside the 72-foot long by 25-foot wide body. Its high legs allow any vehicles under 6.5 feet in height to travel underneath it, even when it is stationary. Not only does the sheer size of the TEB mean it could replace 40 conventional buses, but it's also environmentally friendly. Being powered by electricity reduces fuel consumption by some 800 tons and carbon emissions by nearly 2,500 tons every year, chief engineer Song Youzhou told Xinhua. The straddling bus can travel at up to 40 mph, which would enable commuters to get around a lot faster than if they were driving through China's notoriously busy city roads. Future versions of the TEB could be a lot larger and carry over 1000 passengers, easing congestion on a massive scale. Best of all, they can be built for about 16 percent of what constructing a subway would cost. The TEB still has some way to go before it's ready for everyday use, but other countries such as France, Brazil, India, and Indonesia have expressed an interest in the technology. Image credit: Xinhua Han Solo is one of the most beloved characters in all of Star Wars, so it was no surprise when Marvel announced the handsome smuggler would be getting his own comic mini-series earlier this year. Reviews for the first two issues in the series from writer Marjorie Liu and artist Mark Brooks have been positive so far, as Solo finds himself caught between his newfound allegiance to the Rebels and his own personal dreams of glory. Now, the creative duo behind the project has received the ultimate seal of approval from anybody working on a Star Wars-related project: the admiration of George Lucas himself. "Got an e-mail last night from Lucasfilm saying that George Lucas would like to purchase every original page from Han Solo #1 and #2," Brooks writes in a recent Facebook post. "Surreal is an understatement." Lucas, of course, is the father of Star Wars and the creator of Han Solo. Sounds like Lucas is a big fan of Liu and Brooks' characterization of the character. Brooks makes no mention of how much Lucas intends to buy all the original pages for, though they could each easily sell for thousands of dollars to the right buyer. What will Lucas do with the original artwork? Who knows, but it certainly would be cool to have. The third issue of the five-issue Han Solo miniseries arrives on Aug. 3. Might Lucas wish to purchase the original art for the remaining three issues as well? Who knows, but it sounds like nothing would make Brooks happier. Lucas famously sold Lucasfilm, as well as the rights to Indiana Jones and Star Wars, to Disney back in 2012 for a massive $4 billion. The first new movie in the saga to come since Disney's acquisition of the franchise came last year in the form of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams. To call the film a smash-hit would be an understatement, as it smashed records left and right and received generally positive reviews from both fans and critics. This year will see the release of the spin-off film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, while next year will see the release of the still-untitled Star Wars Episode VIII. Though Lucas is no longer intimately involved with the franchise, he still occasionally finds his name in the news after giving his thoughts on the current state of the saga he birthed. In the case of the Han Solo comic series, it seems he is letting his wallet do the talking. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gareth Clear suffered third-degree burns on his right thigh when his iPhone 6 exploded after falling off his bicycle this weekend. The 36-year-old man who hails from Sydney, Australia, said that the handset in question flared up in his pocket after a "minor fall," and it was more than enough to burn up his biking shorts and cause the serious injury mentioned earlier. "I just saw smoke coming out of my back pocket ... and then all of a sudden I felt this surging pain. I just remember looking at my leg and I had this black discharge all down my leg and this smell of phosphorus," he told The Sydney Morning Herald. Clear had to undergo surgery and a skin graft to recover from the incident, but that's not holding him back from taking up the task of spreading awareness about the possible dangers of carrying around such devices. To start things off, he spread his message on Twitter, posting a picture of the aftermath. Quick warning: the image below may not be suitable for certain audiences because of the graphic content. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Apple has yet to publicly give a statement regarding the matter, but the Cupertino brand and Clear are directly in contact with each other to sort things out. It's also worth mentioning that this isn't the first time that an iPhone burst into flames. Back in March, a passenger of the Alaska Airlines had her iPhone 6 erupt during a flight. However, Apple isn't the only manufacturer that faced such an issue, as a Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ also shot fire back in May. In that case, it's presumed to have been caused by an overheating issue. This just goes to show that there's always a risk when a lithium ion battery is involved, as it contains liquid that's prone to ignite, particularly when it's hit hard, short-circuited or overheated because of misuse. Of course, the potential occurrence of batteries catching fire is not limited to smartphones, as there have been a couple of cases with e-cigarettes, and the incidents are more or less similar to what Clear had to go through. One example that comes to mind is when an e-cigarette left 26-year-old Matthew Gilson with second- and third-degree burns after it blew up, causing him to seek medical attention and go under the knife too. Do you have any experience with an exploding device too? If so, feel free to let us know in the comments section below. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Insurance group Aetna is withdrawing plans to expand its ObamaCare business into five more states in 2017, and rethinking its participation in the healthcare program. The announcement comes just two weeks after the U.S. Justice Department derailed the company's takeover plans of another insurance company, Humana, which also revealed it will cease offering ObamaCare coverage in eight states next year. Support For ObamaCare Declines Aetna offers ObamaCare, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), in 15 states but the group's decision to scale back its expansion is seen as another setback to U.S. health law. ObamaCare has suffered a decline in support from most insurance groups, including UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield. UnitedHealth is canceling coverage plans in states where it currently operates, namely Michigan, Georgia and Arkansas. The company is the largest insurer in the U.S. in terms of market value and participates in 34 ACA state exchanges. It is predicted to lose $500 million under the program this year, after it registered losses of $475 million in 2015. Aetna, on the other hand, is expected to lose $300 million on the government-initiated coverage, further raising questions on the efficacy of President Obama's legacy healthcare plan. There are more than 11 million individuals under ObamaCare, and Aetna covers 838,000 cases. The Free Market And ObamaCare What comes as a surprise for many in Aetna's decision, however, is the fact that the group in April informed investors it would break even on ObamaCare plans. This illustrates the clash between the free market and healthcare, especially when the latter is seen more as a commodity than as a basic social service offered by the government. ObamaCare, in theory, hopes to create "major business opportunities for insurers," as Marjorie Connolly, press secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, puts it. The ACA exchanges aim to keep insurance businesses profitable while enabling consumers to purchase affordable healthcare plans, sometimes with government aid. For the Obama administration, however, the consumers' choice of which affordable care plan suits their needs will dictate which privately managed healthcare company will succeed in the marketplace. Antitrust Lawsuits In The Healthcare Industry Amid losses, health insurers have looked into possible mergers and acquisitions, but these have been gravely frowned upon by the DoJ. In July, the department lodged antitrust lawsuits to prevent Aetna's $37 billion merger plans with Humana and also Anthem's $54 billion purchase plans of Cigna. Such proposals, the DoJ argues, would have hampered competition in the health insurance industry since only three key players would end up fighting for market share. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A vast expanse in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy may actually be a stellar desert completely devoid of young stars. That is what an international team of astronomers concluded in a new study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The new report promises to revamp our understanding of the entire Milky Way. Distribution Of Stars Our galaxy is a spiral galaxy that contains many billions of stars, and our sun is just one of them. Situated about 26,000 light-years away from the center, the sun and our entire solar system moves at an average velocity of 828,000 kilometers per hour around the center of the galaxy. Measuring the distribution of stars in the Milky Way may be crucial in understanding how the galaxy began and formed, researchers believe. Scientists say that Cepheids, or pulsating stars, are perfect for accomplishing this task. Compared to our sun, Cepheids are much younger pulsating stars are 10 to 300 million years old, while the sun is 4.6 billion years old. Cepheids are called pulsating stars for a reason: they pulsate or throb in brightness in a regular cycle. The cycle's length is connected to the luminosity of the star, so if scientists monitor them, the precise brightness of the Cepheid can be established. Astronomers can then compare it with what can be seen from Earth and work out the distance. However, although there are methods to study Cepheids, finding them in the inner Milky Way is not easy because the galaxy is filled with interstellar dust. The interstellar dust often blocks out light and hides stars from view. No New Stars? Led by Noriyuki Matsunaga, researchers compensated for the difficulty by using a near-infrared Japanese-South African telescope at Sutherland. To their surprise, scientists hardly found Cepheids or young stars in a huge region that stretched for thousands of light-years at the core of the Milky Way. According to Matsunaga, they have previously discovered that Cepheids are in the central heart of our galaxy in a region about 150 light-years in radius. Now, the study finds that a huge Cepheid desert extends out to 8,000 light-years from the galaxy's center. Researchers say this can only mean that a large part of the Milky Way known as the Extreme Inner Disk contains no young stars. Michael Feast, one of the co-authors of the study, says their findings contradict previous studies, but it does corroborate with the research of radio astronomers, which reveal no new stars being formed in the stellar desert. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Telegram accounts from Iran were reportedly breached recently, as the messaging app that prides on its superior security was compromised due to an SMS vulnerability. Twelve accounts were said to be exposed and, albeit it might not sound like a lot, it delivers a strong blow to Telegram's claim that nobody gets to read a user's messages. What is more, the hackers allegedly got hold of the phone numbers of 15 million Iranian Telegram users. The Kitten Hack Claudio Guarnieri, a researcher and technologist with Amnesty International, and Collin Anderson, a freelance security researcher, explained what happened. They pointed out that the recent security flaw in Telegram has to do with the SMS messages the app sends to users as they add a new device. What happens is that Telegram sends a verification code within an SMS to your phone, and you have to input it to wrap up the setup of the new device. A hacker who has access to your text messages has the free hand to get the codes and use them to gain access to your data, including full chat conversations. Based on their modus operandi, it looks like the hackers are part of a group dubbed Rocket Kitten. The group, who references Persian-language in their code, is known for their previous attacks that rely on standard "spear phishing campaigns." Insiders familiar with the matter are linking (PDF) Rocket Kitten to the Iranian government. "Their focus generally revolves around those with an interest in Iran and defense issues," says John Hultquist, who leads FireEye, a cybersecurity firm. Guarnieri and Anderson refused to speculate whether or not the hackers were connected to the Iranian government. The researchers did mention that among the victims of the Telegram hack were political activists who stood up for reforms and were part of organizations opposing the current rulers of Iran. To Text Or Not To Text Not only were the Telegram accounts hacked by cybersecurity specialists, but it is also highly possible that SMS messages were spoofed thanks to the cooperation of Iranian phone carriers, which were also said to be close to the government. Security researchers have pointed fingers at the SMS vulnerability for some time. With the mounting success of multi-factor authentication, the SMS is rapidly losing ground as a security check method. Telegram underlines that it functions in a similar way to any SMS-based app. People who have access to another's SMS messages can easily log into their Telegram account. The hackers went beyond using SMS to find out specific targets. They also managed to unveil 15 million phone numbers or accounts by tapping into the public-facing application program interface of the app. Although not subtle at all, the brute-force method of inputting millions of Iranian mobile phone numbers into the API and collecting those that were associated with a user ID worked seamlessly. The fact that the app works with phone contacts means that anyone can use the public API to see whether a phone number is linked to a Telegram account or not. The same is true for a number of contact-reliant messaging apps, such as Messenger or WhatsApp. "Certain people checked whether some Iranian numbers were registered on Telegram and were able to confirm this for 15 million accounts. As a result, only publicly available data was collected and the accounts themselves were not accessed," Telegram explains in a blog post. "Such mass checks are no longer possible since we introduced some limitations into our API this year." Who's Affected In Q1 2016, Telegram counted about 100 million global users, with one-fifth of them in Iran. The service is one of the main tools for collecting and distributing sensitive information in the country. As the country is under strict government media control, various categories such as journalists, activists and citizens use it to communicate freely with each other and the outside world. "The individuals that are targeted are individuals who are human rights activists, they're opposition figures," Anderson said. Conclusion The Telegram hack is a strong memento that despite some platforms sporting communication encryption at high standards, there are always backdoors and means of compromising them. Services such as Telegram are a great way for citizens to shy away from surveillance, which is vital for keeping the free speech fight going in many countries. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. When the new Nexus smartphones from Google debut in a few months from now, Android 7.0 Nougat is not the only thing fans of the handset can look forward to. What else is in store, you ask? The 2016 Nexus smartphone lineup from Google will allegedly benefit from a new gesture, which will enable users to open the notification shade in a jiffy! According to a report from Android Police, the impending HTC-made models of the Nexus smartphone will tout a swipe fingerprint gesture. "We've learned that Google plans to introduce a new gesture to open the notification shade using the fingerprint on its new Nexus phones, slated for release later this year," notes the publication. The publication has also shared a leaked animated image, which looks like an official press render, showing that when a swipe down on the fingerprint reader is done, the users of the 2016 Google Nexus smartphone will be able to espy the alerts/notifications with ease. This nifty feature may not come across as novel for many people as several Chinese companies already deploy the fingerprint scanner on the handset for additional purposes such clicking selfies, moving the UI, etc. Huawei already has a similar feature on its Honor 5X. However, that said, Google should be lauded for attempting to enhance the functionalities of the fingerprint sensor on the upcoming Nexus handsets. The fingerprint sensor on the Nexus 5X or the Nexus 6P were merely restricted to performing tasks such as unlocking the handsets or verifying a purchase made on the Play Store. However, with the arrival of the swipe fingerprint scanner gesture, future-gen Nexus smartphone owners will have a handy feature on the tips of their finger! The leaked render also suggests that the navigation buttons are poised to get a refresh and will benefit from some colors being added to certain symbols. The publication cites multiple sources and claims that the "'flower' home button is alive." It will allegedly get animated when certain actions are performed and will be used to call the Google Assistant. Moreover, the leaked demo image shows off a phone sporting a blue hue. Reportedly, this is the alleged "Electric Blue" hue which the supposed 5.2-inch HTC Sailfish and the metal-clad 5.5-inch HTC Marlin will sport. Both the Nexus handsets are rumored to sport a fingerprint scanner on the rear of the device as illustrated by the leaked demo image as well which will make it easy for users to swipe down and take a peek at the notifications. If one wishes to disable the feature, a toggle switch will allow to exercise this option. Whether the swipe fingerprint scanner gesture will make its way to the Nexus 6P or the Nexus 5X or stay restricted to the 2016 Nexus models remains to be seen. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google's latest mobile OS, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, has been installed on just over 15 percent of Android devices within 10 months. Google released Android 6.0 Marshmallow in October 2015 and the Nexus 5X and 6P were the first mobile devices to come running on the OS. Nexus devices were also the first to get a software update, followed by non-Nexus devices made by other companies such as Samsung, HTC, LG and more. Android Marshmallow brings a number of new features to the table: better battery management, individual app permissions and more, enhancing the overall user experience. "This release introduces new power-saving optimizations for idle devices and apps. These features affect all apps so make sure to test your apps in these new modes," says Android. Sure, many Android device owners are waiting for the OS, but according to data revealed by Google, the adoption rate for Android 6.0 Marshmallow is just 15.2 percent as of Aug. 1. Google says about 35.5 percent of all Android devices are still running on Android 5.0 Lollipop and 29.2 percent on Android 4.4 KitKat. The rest of the Android devices in use have Android Jelly Bean or earlier installed on them. Mobile devices are used for many activities, including financial transactions that make these devices prone to hacking attacks. Google wants Android device makers to release the latest software to smartphones and tablets as soon as possible. However, mobile device manufacturers, as well as individual carriers, can take their own time and decide when to roll out updates to their versions of the handsets and tablets. A previous Tech Times report highlighted that Google has prepared a list of Android mobile device vendors with a timeline of when they should roll out Android software updates to their devices. Google has kept the list private, but it is planning to shame vendors who do not release Android updates in a timely manner. The company is said to be working with carriers around the world to reduce lengthy waiting times for software updates. Comparatively, Google's rival, Apple, has a better adoption rate of iOS on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Apple released iOS 9 in September 2015 and, according to the company, about 86 percent of all iDevices were running on the new OS till July 18 this year. Apple also revealed that 11 percent of iDevices are running on iOS 8 and the remaining on earlier versions. Google is expected to release its next mobile OS in October this year. Hopefully, more Android devices will be able to install Android 6.0 Marshmallow before the release of Android 7.0 Nougat. Photo: Takahiro Yamagiwa | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The "straddling bus" is finally here, and it is the Chinese designers and engineers we must thank for turning the sci-fi vehicle into reality. The futuristic Transit Elevated Bus (TEB-1) went for its first test stroll in the northern city of Qinhuangdao, located in the Hebei province. The bus was a mere concept in 2010, but 2016 shows the working prototype of a public transportation vehicle that runs above street level. The test took place on a 300 m (984 feet) demo track, with the 72-foot-long, 26-foot-wide bus rolling on it, while the surrounding audience was engulfed in enthusiasm. Looking at the interior design, we notice a stronger resemblance with a subway rather than with a regular train. This means that people will be seated on opposite sides facing each other, with a generous empty space in the middle. This would ensure more flexibility in passenger commutes than the seating of a train would. The elevated bus runs on rails that are deployed on the right and left side of the two lanes it straddles, generating a fixed route for the eye-catching public transportation vehicle. Some similarities can be identified between the TEB prototype and its 2010 precursor, which was developed by the Shenzhen Huashi Future Parking Equipment. Both autos are crafted with diminishing traffic congestion in mind, and their use should curb the number of buses and cars that are crowding the streets of China. Both straddling buses were meant to run entirely on electricity. Keep in mind that the two vehicles come with a number of important differences, as well. The previous version of the bus was much more ambitious, as the original designs aimed to accommodate 1,200 passengers. The recent design reduced that number to a quarter to make the vehicle more efficient. The original bus was supposed to undergo testing in the Mentougou District of Beijing, but it never got to hit the road. Also, it looks like the boarding systems are entirely different. The new bus uses elevated platforms to let people embark, while the previous variant had an in-built ladder for the same purpose. Looking at the changes, it can be speculated that the TEB-1 turned out this way because the manufacturer took the feedback from the previous model seriously. Reduced size means faster commute speeds, which only adds to the main selling point of the vehicle: avoiding traffic jams altogether. Despite TEB-1's promising silhouette, some questions remain unanswered. Insiders from the auto industry wonder how the bus will interact with the cars below, for instance, when maneuvering will be required. Or, what happens when cars have to change lane, direction or steer? Adjustment to different speed limits is also an issue, not to mention the coexistence of regular buses and the TEB on the same route. Before the straddling bus goes into volume manufacturing, such questions demand an answer. However, the pilot in Qinhuangdao is commendable. The resources and effort put into the prototype demonstrate China's desire to take steps toward reducing traffic and curbing pollution. If the bus would also pack autonomous driving features, as seen on the traditional one from Mercedes-Benz, we have a strong feeling that the investors' interest in TEB-1 would increase tenfold. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After all the recent rumours regarding the new Galaxy Note 7's iris scanner and other interesting features, Samsung has finally revealed the new smartphone officially at the Galaxy Note Unpacked 2016 event held in New York, London, and Rio de Janeiro. While the smartphone has been announced to be available for the public starting Aug 19, no information regarding the price and market details have been provided yet. However, Note 7 is going to be a costly affair for sure -- probably being one of the most expensive Samsung phones ever. Also, the package is expected to come with a bundled Samsung Gear VR headset or a 256 GB memory card. The announcement has definitely taken the whole of tech fraternity into storm and a lot of tech bloggers and gurus are going crazy about Galaxy Note 7. "The Note 7 bears a striking resemblance, both in hardware and software, to this year's S7 Edge," says Darren Orf of Gizmodo in his recent story where he speaks about everything related to the latest Note installment by Samsung. He also adds, "The phones are so similar that Samsung drove it home by skipping the Note 6 and declaring its latest phablet the Note 7." According to Orf, these similarities might be good for the company, as the S7 Edge has definitely been a 'moneymaker' for Samsung. The Note 7 has copied almost all feature including great camera, waterproof, and a great design. He also added in his story that both Note and S7 Edge are cannibalizing one another, rather than the Note being the productivity-minded big brother of past years. (Read The Full Story Here) That didn't stop here. Dan Seifert has also shared a couple of his views regarding the similarities between Note 7 and S7 Edge on The Verge. He says, "The Note 7 is virtually indistinguishable from the S7 or S7 Edge. It has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor (in North America, China, and Japan; other markets will have Samsungs own Exynos processor), same 4GB of RAM, same quick charging and quick wireless charging, and same 12-megapixel camera with f/1.7 lens and optical stabilization as the S7 series." "I had chance to use the Note 7 briefly ahead of todays announcement, and in what has become typical Samsung fashion, the device is both visually and tactilely impressive. The phones design is a further refinement on the already very good S7 Edge, and it sits comfortably in the hand, even with its oversized display. Its symmetry is not only pleasing to look at, but it makes the phone nicer to hold, as well," says Dan in the same story on The Verge. (Read The Full Story Here) However, Dan has also added that he is yet to be convinced though it works quickly when you hold the phone awkwardly close to your face, similar to what he experience with the Lumia 950. Adding to the 'Note 7' storm, Jessica Dolcourt of CNET says, "From what I've seen so far, the Note 7 should fall in line as a terrific, high-powered device whose stylus tricks take the Note to the next level. On paper, it corrects the biggest shortfalls of the Note 5, though our forthcoming testing will confirm this. But if you already bought an S7 or S7 Edge, don't worry -- you haven't been left behind." She also adds, "The funny thing is, Samsung doesn't actually expect you to scan your peepers every time you want to unlock the phone, the company told me in my briefing. Instead, iris scans are seen as supplemental, like to get you into the new, secured Private Folder where you can store things such as a photo of your passport, banking information or apps you don't want the kids to use." (Read The Full Story Here) Amidst all these, Chris Velazco of Engadget seems to be a little unhappy about the fact that Note 7 comes with a 3,500 mAh battery which is smaller to what comes with the S7 Edge. (Read The Full Story Here) Views and opinions by tech gurus regarding the newly announced Note 7 go on and on, and almost every geek is speaking about it. However, this is where we end our summary of a couple of those views and what the geeks feel about the new phablet. Master Image via CNET Samsung Galaxy Note 7 A 40 anos de Malvinas "Revisar el pasado es pensar el futuro". La frase de la presidenta de Telam, Bernarda Llorente, resume el espiritu del documental coproducido entre la agencia de noticias y el canal publico de TV sobre la cobertura que los medios de comunicacion hicieron del conflicto, plagada de censura y mentiras. Una autocritica necesaria para mirar hacia adelante en un (ya viejo) contexto de fake news y negocio informativo. Over the last two months, they have murdered 45 Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. | Read More Sky and Amazon US have teamed to co-produce new drama series, Britannia, the first co-production between the two companies. Written by Jez Butterworth (Jerusalem, Spectre), the series is produced by UK indies Neal Street Productions and Vertigo Films. Britannia stars Kelly Reilly (True Detective, Sherlock Holmes), David Morrissey (The Walking Dead, The Hollow Crown), Zoe Wanamaker (Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, My Family) and Stanley Weber (Outlander). The 10-part drama is set in 43AD as the Roman Imperial Army returns to crush the Celtic heart of Britannia. Britannia is shooting on location in Prague and Wales and will air on Sky 1 in the UK and Ireland and be available on Amazon Prime Video in the US in 2017. For Sky, Britannia joins 12 original drama series already on air or set to air over the next couple of years on Sky Atlantic and Sky 1, including The Young Pope, Hooten & The Lady, Guerrilla, Tin Star, Delicious, Riviera, Jamestown and The Last Dragonslayer, as well as returning series including Fortitude and Agatha Raisin. In the US, Britannia adds to a growing roster of Amazon Original Series, including The Man in the High Castle, Bosch and Hand of God, as well as upcoming series Goliath, Good Girls Revolt, Sneaky Pete and Patriot. Britannia was commissioned by Skys Head of Drama Anne Mensah, Commissioning Editor, Cameron Roach and Director of Sky 1, Adam MacDonald, alongside Roy Price, Vice President, Digital Video and Amazon Studios. Vertigo Films James Richardson (Monsters, Bronson) will executive produce with Pippa Harris and Nicolas Brown from Neal Street Productions (Penny Dreadful, Call the Midwife) and Anne Thomopoulos (Rome, Band of Brothers). It will be produced by Star Wars Rick McCallum, while Jez and Tom Butterworth (Fortitude, Tin Star) will lead as writers with Richard McBrien (Spooks, Merlin). The international distribution rights (excluding the US) for Britannia will be handled by Sky Vision, Skys international production and distribution arm. WME and Sky Vision negotiated the deal with Amazon. Commenting on the show, Jez Butterworth said: Besides being hard, hard warriors, the Celts have a belief system which makes them almost invincible. Its a deep, heavy magic. Last time the Romans tried to invade, the mighty Julius Caesar took one look, turned round and went straight home. Now, almost a century later, the Romans are back. Im fascinated in what happens when gods die. When an entire, ancient faith stalls, topples, collapses and a whole new one grows in its place. New names, new faces, to suit the new times. Here we have a war between two pantheons the Roman gods v the Celtic gods. Its the Heavyweight Clash of All Time, the one which most shapes who we are today. And we see it all from a human perspective, of individual survival, ambition, courage, lust, loss, revenge. All the stuff the gods have always loved us humans for the most! Anne Mensah, Skys Head of Drama said: This is one of the most ambitious dramas weve ever made and one of the most exciting. Jez Butterworth has written an incredible drama that is entertaining and emotional but also asks important questions about what drives men and women to stand and fight. This is a battle for the heart of Britain like youve never seen before. Roy Price, Vice President, Digital Video and Amazon Studios, said: Were thrilled to be collaborating with Sky on our first series entirely produced overseas. Our customers will experience a cinematic world with bold characters anchored in a ruthless period of history. Share this story The figures come on the heels of Emirates and Etihad Airways both renewing their distribution agreements to sell their full range of fares to travellers worldwide through travel agents using Amadeus. Qatar Airways has had such an agreement in place since 2014. Between 2014 and 2015, first class passenger volumes for gulf carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways on the top 10 Origins & Destinations between Europe and Asia Pacific increased 67%, whilst business class traffic increased by 47% Among those destinations, four of them are popular routes to Bangkok, adding worries to Thai Airways, such as from Frankfurt, London and Paris. This staggering growth in premium classes was complemented by healthy overall growth, with a 7% increase in passenger volumes across all cabin classes for these routes. Thai Airways is facing intense competition with Middle East carriers and low cost companies. Neighbouring countries are also moving fast and are less dependent on Bangkok hub. Airports in the Middle East also noticed a shift in traveller habits: passenger traffic for flights between Europe and APAC going through Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai increased by 8%. This data was analysed by Amadeus IT Groups Travel Intelligence team, and takes into account all bookings in the Amadeus system made via traditional and online travel agencies from across the globe. Travellers, especially premium passengers, want the freedom to shop for travel where they want and how they want. Airlines are responding to their customers needs by making their comprehensive offering available consistently across sales channels. This helps build and nurture customer relationships and is very much in line with Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways commitment to customer service excellence, says Gianni Pisanello, Strategic Marketing Director, Airline Distribution at Amadeus. While the Amadeus distribution channel supports airline growth by providing the technology for them to partner with the worlds largest travel community, Amadeus Travel Intelligence enables airlines and other travel players to make effective use of data and analytics to improve the profitability of their business. Amadeus Travel Intelligence combines the latest big data technologies with rich data sources and a dedicated team of talented data scientists, to deliver unique and actionable insights into each airlines business. This intelligence provides in-depth information for airlines to gain real insights into overall market dynamics, their own performance and growth opportunities. FAST FACTS: The top ten most popular Origins & Destinations between Europe and APAC* Frankfurt Bangkok London Bangkok London Delhi London Mumbai Paris Tokyo Paris Seoul Munich Bangkok London Hong Kong Amsterdam Bangkok Paris Bangkok * calculated in terms of passenger numbers Amata City Bien Hoa, the first industrial park of Amata in Vietnam. It is located in Bien Hoa Town, Dong Nai Province. Photo credit: baodongnai.com.vn Amata VN Pcl, a subsidiary of Thailands industrial estate developer Amata Corporation, plans to build an US$800 million industrial park in the Vietnamese southern province of Dong Nai, news website Deal Street Asia said Monday. Amata City Long Thanh, the companys second project in Vietnam, will cover an area of nearly 1,300 hectares in Long Thanh District. The website reported that 40 percent will be an industrial estate and 60 percent will be accommodations and other commercial buildings. It quoted Somhatai Panichewa, CEO of Amata VN, as saying that the firm will start developing the industrial part first. The company reportedly has set aside $200 million to develop this part during 2016-18. Amata VN, one of the top three foreign industrial estate developers in Vietnam, invested in its first project Amata City Bien Hoa about 22 years ago. So far, the company has injected around $800 million into it. The firm is developing the third phase of Amata City Bien Hoa in Dong Nai Province to serve the demand from Japanese and Korean high-technology industrial firms. Panichewa said the company has signed contracts to sell around 20 percent of the third phase, expected to complete next year. In addition, Amata VN is applying for a license to set up another industrial park in northern Vietnam, which will comprise both an industrial park and accommodations like Long Thanh, but the size will be larger on a strategic location near a deep sea port. Tourists stand in front of huts that form part of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort where a turtle digs for food amongst the coral in the island's lagoon, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 9, 2015. Some fish may cope with the changing chemistry of the oceans linked to global warming by permanently setting their body defenses to night-time levels, the time of day when they find sea water least hospitable, a study said on Monday. Man-made carbon dioxide, released into the air by burning fossil fuels, forms a weak acid when mixed with water that can harm marine life in what is likely to be a worsening effect of global warming this century. Fish adjust their bodies every day because levels of carbon dioxide naturally in the seas peak at night and dip during sunlight hours when algae, seaweed and other plants absorb carbon dioxide to generate energy. The study of spiny damselfish, a small species from Australia's Great Barrier Reef, found that those best able to tackle high carbon levels in the water produced offspring with flexible body clocks that helped adapt to acidification. "It seems the tolerant offspring may have adjusted their circadian clocks as if it was always night," Timothy Ravasi, one of the authors at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, wrote of the findings published in the journal Nature Climate Change. The scientists reared the grey and white damsel fish in water with levels of carbon dioxide comparable to those predicted for coming decades and examined changes in genes and proteins in their brains. Philip Munday, another of the authors at James Cook University in Australia, told Reuters the findings were "potentially good news" by pointing to ways that fish can adapt to acidification. But he said the scientists needed more study to see how far beneficial genes can be inherited. And there are also many other damaging factors linked to climate change, such as rising ocean temperatures that can stop some fish from breeding. In 2014, the U.N. panel of climate scientists said that "ocean acidification poses substantial risks to marine ecosystems" if man-made greenhouse gas emissions rise at medium to high levels this century. Acidification makes it harder for creatures such as scallops or lobsters to grow their protective shells. Other studies have found it can also disrupt the behavior of fish, from sharks to salmon. Mosquito spraying has been a prime measure to prevent Zika spread in Vietnam. Photo: Hien Cu/Thanh Nien Vietnamese health officials confirmed the nation's third case of the Zika virus on Wednesday. Nguyen Thi Mong Ngoc, Director of the Health Department of Phu Yen Province, said a 27-year-old man identified only as Hung had contracted Zika. Hung was admitted to a hospital in Phu Yen on June 30th with symptoms including fever and rash. He recovered and was discharged from the hospital on Jul. 7. However, a test had been performed on him and it came back positive on Jul. 28, according to a report by the health department. Doctors are investigating how Hung contracted the virus. The health department of Phu Yen has beefed up surveillance to prevent a possible Zika outbreak in the area where Hung lives. The Zika virus is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and can be passed by sexual partners. Most people won't experience the disease's mild symptoms, which include rash and joint pain, but health officials say Zika infections in pregnant women can cause severe birth defects. Vietnam reported its first two Zika patients in April, a 64-year-old woman in Nha Trang and a 33-year-old woman in Ho Chi Minh City. The latter was then eight weeks pregnant but underwent an abortion after the ultrasound scan reportedly did not detect the fetal heartbeat. A South Korean who stayed in HCMC for 20 days was also diagnosed with the virus after she returned home in May. Doctor Phu Chi Dung (L), director of HCMC Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital and doctor Sok Sothea of Cambodia's Calmette Hospital sign an agreement on the technique transfer. Photo credit: Le Phuong/VnExpress The Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital has begun a training course in hematopoietic stem cell transplant for Cambodias Calmette Hospital. Dr Sok Sothea of Calmette said a team of three doctors, two nurses and a technician would attend the five-month course that has both theory and practice. People with hematologic diseases in Cambodia, a country with 15 million people, are yet to benefit from stem cell treatment, he said. Cambodia considered several countries and chose Vietnam for the training because we trust the ability of its doctors. Phu Chi Dung, director of the HCMC hospital, said doctors would be sent to Cambodia to assist the trainees after the course. Dungs hospital conducted the first hematopoietic stem cell transplant in 1995 and has provided the treatment to 214 patients so far. Umbilical cord blood is stored at a community stem cell bank at the Central Hematology and Blood Transfusion Institute in Hanoi. Photo: Duong Ngoc A Hanoi hematology institute has opened Vietnams first stem cell bank using umbilical cord donations. The Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion began developing the bank in May in cooperation with Hanoi's Ob-Gyn Hospital. The bank gathers and stores donations of umbilical cords for the purposes of treating blood conditions and diseases. Vietnam has several other umbilical cell banks but "depositors" usually pay fees of roughly VND25 million ($1,180) per year. Doctor Nguyen Anh Tri, head of the institute, said the umbilical cord cells can be used in compatible patients to treat malignant blood diseases that require stem cell transplants. Leukemia patients, for example, have seen remarkable recoveries from the process. Tri said the cords are carefully selected. The institute sends experts to the Hanoi Ob-Gyn Hospital every day to collect the best-quality cords from over 100 deliveries there, with the mothers permission. The cords would otherwise be discarded, he said. But thanks to advanced technology, they can provide treatment for dangerous diseases. Stronger cords provide more blood and more stem cells, he said, adding that the cells can be stored for 15 to 17 years. Suitable cords yield between 160 to 280 milligrams of blood. Donor mothers must test negative for sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis B and C, HIV, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Donor mothers and their babies must also be fever and infection-free at the time of delivery. Doctors said the extraction costs around VND15-20 million (US$708-943) and patients in need of the stem cells only have to cover that cost and other technical fees, if any. But in cases where the stem cells are needed by donating mothers or their family members, the patients dont have to pay, Tri said. He said a similar bank in japan maintains 3,000 stem cell deposits and treats around 10 patients a month. Stem cells are present in all parts of the body and account for 1 percent of the cells but determine the survival of the other 99 percent. The transplant procedure involves injecting them into damaged parts of the body so they can develop new neurological cells to replace damaged cells or reactivate them, doctors said. Other than the umbilical cords, stem cells can be extracted from bone marrow, but not all donors are suitable for such extractions. Bach Quoc Khanh, deputy head of the institute, said they have successfully used stem cells to cure nine patients of severe blood diseases. Some have already recovered and are leading normal lives at home. Vietnam has used stem cell transplants to treat blood cancer, marrow tumors and other marrow disorders like paralysis. Hanoi doctors treated a baby with cerebral palsy using stem cells last March. International experts are studying their chances of curing autism, diabetes, Alzheimer, Parkinson, and strokes with the technology. Two women interns in a district court in Ho Chi Minh City have lodged a complaint of sexual harassment against their mentoring judge. They said the judge harassed them many times during the training between April and June this year, even suggesting that they should have sex with him in exchange for good internship results. The complaint with audio tapes have been sent to the Binh Thanh District Peoples Court, where they did their internship, the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court and the city authorities. A Binh Thanh court source said the judge, identified only as Hung, has admitted to having used inappropriate words and acts towards the students, but said it only happened when they had drinks after office hours. Ca Mau Province in the Mekong Delta is also having to deal with a sexual harassment case against a deputy head of the culture department. The department said it has asked the official, Tuan, for an explanation after a woman cleaner accused him of deliberately touching her private parts while stretching his arm to get his cell phone. She also provided a video of his act, which happened half a year ago. Tuan told the local media that the cleaner was framing him because he often criticized her work. She has quit. Around 1,000 sexual assaults are reported each year in Vietnam, where surveys found girls and women are regularly victims of sexual harassment in public places and the workplace. A government report in 2012 showed that most of the victims of sexual harassment in the country are female workers aged between 18 and 30. Many choose to keep silent out of shame and the fear of losing their job. The country developed its first code of conduct on workplace sexual harassment last year with support from the International Labor Organization. Police in Hanoi on Wednesday arrested a man who allegedly burnt his wife with gasoline during an argument over their divorce in February. Nguyen Van Thanh, 25, will be detained for four months for an investigation into the charge of murder, the police of Quoc Oai Dist. said. The police claimed they had not been aware of the domestic attack because the victim, Nguyen Thuy Dung, had not reported it. The case came to light last month after local media reported the physical and mental pain and hardship that Dung, 22, has had to endure since the attack. Killing monkeys in Vietnam can be fined up to $44,600. Photo: Tien Thanh/Tuoi Tre Forest officials in Thanh Hoa Province have fined a man VND5.2 million (US$230) for killing three monkeys caught in the wild. Le Van Son, 46, was penalized for killing protected wild animals. He had bought the monkeys in the Central Highlands and was caught while cooking their bones into a jelly that many believe has medicinal properties. His act came to light last week after Cao Tuan Anh, a neighbor, posted gruesome images of the slaughter on Facebook. Anh only received a rebuke since there is no law against his action, a forest management official told news website Zing. Monkeys are protected in Vietnam and killing them attracts fines of up to VND1 billion ($44,600). Last January a man from Nghe An Province near Thanh Hoa was fined $230 for killing six monkeys to make the medicinal jelly. Indian Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi receives floral tributes during a roadshow in Varanasi on August 2, 2016, ahead of 2017 Uttar Pradesh State Assembly elections Sonia Gandhi, the head of India's opposition Congress party, fell ill at an election campaign event Tuesday. Gandhi was in Varanasi, the constituency of rival politician and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh state, when she suddenly pulled out to fly back New Delhi. "I regret that I couldn't complete my trip because of illness," Gandhi said in a statement tweeted by her party. "On advice of doctors she had to cut short..but she'll be back," said another Congress tweet. The party made no official comment about Gandhi's medical condition but local news channels said she was suffering from a high viral fever and dehydration. Reports added that she would be taken from the airport directly to a hospital in the capital for treatment and recovery. Italian-born Gandhi, 69, is the widow of assassinated former premier Rajiv Gandhi. She leads a party that lost the 2014 elections to the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party after consecutive wins in 2004 and 2009. "Heard about Sonia jis ill health during her Varanasi visit today. I pray for her quick recovery and good health," Modi said on Twitter. The Gandhi dynasty, which has no link to independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, has exerted huge influence in India during most of its history since independence with three of its members holding the office of prime minister. A day after the U.S. began air strikes against Islamic State's stronghold in Libya, anti-IS fighters welcome Washington's involvement but remain wary of advancing, for fear of mines and snipers. Republican U.S. Presidential nominee Donald Trump attends a campaign event at Briar Woods High School in Ashburn, Virginia, U.S., August 2, 2016. U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions in his party on Tuesday by denying two leading figures, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain, support in their re-election bids. Trump told The Washington Post in an interview that he could endorse neither Ryan, the top U.S. elected Republican, nor McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona and a former Republican presidential nominee, as they face challenges in their states' primary contests ahead of the Nov. 8 general election. Both Ryan and McCain had criticized Trump's feud with the family of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who died in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for bravery after his death. The discord comes just two weeks after the Republican National Convention in Cleveland that formally nominated Trump for president. It is the latest rift in a party already frayed by internal dissent over its standard bearer, seen in stark relief at the convention where McCain was among high-level party members who essentially snubbed Trump by choosing not to attend. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, and former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush also did not attend the convention. Trump has had a running dispute with Khizr and Ghazala Khan since they took the stage at last week's Democratic convention to cite their son's sacrifice and criticize Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. The uproar has led many Republicans to distance themselves from Trump and voice support for the Khan family. Trump, mirroring the language Ryan used about supporting the nominee before his eventual endorsement, told the newspaper he was "not quite there yet" on endorsing Ryan in next Tuesday's Wisconsin primary, and that he had "never been there" with McCain, who will be on the ballot in primary elections in Arizona later this month. McCain had a "very friendly" meeting with Trump's vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, on Tuesday in Arizona, where Pence was visiting, a McCain spokeswoman said. Trump said Ryan had sought his endorsement, but that as of now he is only "giving it very serious consideration." Ryan's campaign office quickly responded that "neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement." "And we are confident in a victory next week regardless," campaign spokesman Zack Roday said in a statement. Ryan is favored to win against primary challenger Paul Nehlen, who Trump praised as running "a very good campaign." In a mid-July survey by Harper Polling, Ryan was ahead of Nehlen by nearly 50 points. Trump, a former reality TV star, has troubled many in the Republican establishment with his off-the-cuff, often insulting style, and controversial policies, including the proposed ban on Muslims and his plan to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. President Barack Obama on Tuesday blasted Trump as unfit to be president and questioned why any Republican would support the New York businessman, who is seeking his first public office. "The question I think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable: Why are you still endorsing him?" Obama, a Democrat, said at a White House news conference with Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong. Congressman abandons Trump The chorus of complaints against Trump grew on Tuesday. Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican in Congress to endorse Democratic nominee Hillary, although several other Republicans in Congress have said they will not support Trump. Hanna, who is retiring from the House of Representatives rather than seek re-election, said his decision was prompted by Trump's attacks on the Khan family. He called Trump "deeply flawed in endless ways," "unrepentant" and "self-involved." New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Trump ally once viewed by Trump as a potential running mate, called criticisms of the Khan family "inappropriate." Trump's son Eric told CBS News on Tuesday that his father's comments about the Khans have been "blown hugely out of proportion." Trump has fallen behind Clinton in opinion polls made public since the parties held their nominating conventions last month. Clinton extended her lead over Trump to 8 percentage points, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, from 6 points on Friday. About 43 percent of likely voters favor Clinton, 35 percent favor Trump, and 9 percent picked "other." Trump also has trailed Clinton in fundraising. Clinton reported raising nearly $90 million in July for her campaign and the Democratic Party, with more than half the donations coming from new donors. Interviewed on the Fox Business television network, Trump brushed off billionaire investor Warren Buffett's blistering critique of his business acumen. Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, scorned Trump's 1995 move to list Trump hotels and casino resorts on the New York Stock Exchange, saying the business lost money for the next decade and that a monkey would have outperformed Trump's company. Trump, who has said his business success qualifies him to lead the country, defended his record running his hotel and casino business in Atlantic City, New Jersey. "I had great timing. I got out," after seven years, he told the network on Tuesday. "I took a lot of money out of Atlantic City, which is what I'm supposed to do. I'm a businessperson." New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Showers with the chance of some thunder during the morning hours, then skies turning partly cloudy during the afternoon. High 76F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Republican U.S. Presidential nominee Donald Trump attends a campaign event at Briar Woods High School in Ashburn, Virginia, U.S., August 2, 2016. A U.S. judge on Tuesday rejected Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's pretrial bid to throw out a lawsuit brought by Trump University students who said they were defrauded by its real-estate seminars. U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel said in a written ruling that there was a "genuine issue of material fact" as to whether Trump knowingly participated in a scheme to cheat the students, who paid up to $35,000 to learn Trump's real estate investing "secrets" from his "hand-picked" instructors. Curiel said there was extensive evidence Trump had not personally met, interviewed or selected Trump University instructors. In a July 22 hearing, Curiel tentatively denied the bid by Trump to dismiss the lawsuit in California, one of three over the defunct Trump University venture. Trump's lawyers had argued that the lawsuit, filed in 2013 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, should be dismissed because the New York real estate mogul, though personally involved in developing the concept and curriculum, relied on others to manage Trump University by the time the plaintiffs purchased seminars. Trump's lawyers claimed that references in marketing materials to "secrets," "hand-picked" instructors or "university" were sales "puffery" and there was no evidence Trump intended to defraud students. Separately, Curiel rejected an effort to make public video excerpts of Trump testifying under oath. Trump's lawyers had fought against the release of the excerpts, saying they would be exploited by the media and others during the presidential campaign. Trump set off an uproar in May when he accused Curiel of being biased against him because of the candidate's pledge to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico. Curiel was born in Indiana and is of Mexican descent. A demonstrator waves the national flag during a rally to condemn the coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on July 24, 2016 Turkey admitted on Monday there may have been some "unfair" treatment in its post-coup crackdown as it voiced anger at Germany for barring President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from addressing a rally in Cologne. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told a top-ranking US general that his government remained committed to principles of law in its fight against coup plotters and called for Washington to extradite US-based preacher Fethullan Gulen "as soon as possible". Ankara accuses Gulen of masterminding the coup and says it is seeking to remove all trace of his influence in Turkish institutions. Retaliating after a failed military attempt to unseat him, Erdogan has launched a purge that has seen tens of thousands of people suspended from their jobs and almost 19,000 detained. Apparently responding to widening international alarm about the crackdown, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim admitted there may have been some unfair treatment in the state sector. "There must definitely be some among them who were subjected to unfair procedures," he said in comments published by state-run Anadolu news agency. "We will make a distinction between those who are guilty and those who are not." Echoing Yildirim's tone, deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus said: "If there are any mistakes, we will correct them". German rally Turkey meanwhile summoned a senior German diplomat, a day after a rally of tens of thousands of Erdogan supporters in Cologne in opposition to the coup. Hours before the demonstration, Germany's constitutional court rejected an application to show via video link live speeches from Turkey by politicians including Erdogan, over fears they could work up the crowd. The decision sparked anger in Turkey, with presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin calling the move a "violation of the freedom of expression and the right to free assembly". A spokeswoman for the German embassy in Ankara told AFP that the charge d'affaires had "been summoned to the Turkish foreign ministry at 1:00 pm (1000 GMT)" on Monday over the rally. Turkish foreign ministry sources said the envoy was summoned to "strongly express our disappointment" over the ban on a popularly elected leader from addressing the rally and called the German approach "unacceptable." But Germany, which is home to the largest portion of Turkey's diaspora, played down the incident, saying such "invitations" were nothing out of the ordinary. Ties between Germany and Turkey are already strained over the German parliament's decision to brand as genocide the World War I-era Armenian massacre by Ottoman forces. Pressure to extradite Gulen Turkish officials also met in Ankara with the top US military commander in the first direct talks since the failed coup, with Washington under pressure to extradite the Islamic preacher, who has lived in self-imposed exile since 1999 -- from his leafy compound in Pennsylvania. General Joseph Dunford met with Yildirim, as well as Turkish chief of staff Hulusi Akar to "deliver messages condemning in the strongest terms the recent coup attempt and reaffirming the importance of our enduring partnership for regional security," Dunford's spokesman Greg Hicks said in a statement. Yildirim told the US general to extradite "terrorist group leader Fetullah Gulen and members of FETO to our country as soon as possible," his office said in a statement after the meeting, referring to what Turkey calls the Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO). "It is important that the United States, our strategic partner and ally, demonstrates a clear and determined approach against the terrorist coup attempt," Yildirim told the general. Tensions between the two NATO allies have been aggravated by the foiled putsch, with some Turkish officials even alleging that Washington could have had a hand in the plot. The suggestion has been firmly denied by top US officials. Last week, Erdogan lashed out at the top US general in the Middle East, General Joseph Votel, after he expressed concerns about the future of military relations between the two allies in the wake of the putsch. 'Uninterrupted' cooperation During their meeting, the Turkish premier also told Dunford that the Turkish armed forces were fulfilling its duties "at full capacity" after the reshuffling in the wake of the coup attempt and said that cooperation continued "uninterrupted" with the US and other allies in the fight against terrorist groups including the Islamic State (IS) jihadists. Before his meetings with the Turkish officials, the US general visited Incirlik air base -- used by coalition planes for air raids on IS in Syria. Unexpectedly, Dunford also toured the Turkish parliament which was extensively damaged by rebel air strikes on the night of the coup, seen as a symbolic gesture. Meanwhile Turkey on Monday said it had arrested 11 fugitive soldiers suspected of involvement in an attack on Erdogan's hotel during the night of the coup. Erdogan was staying in the western seaside resort of Marmaris on July 15 but dashed to Istanbul just before the hotel came under attack from rebel soldiers determined to oust him from power. Just one soldier from the attack group now remains at large, Kurtulmus said. Two American F-35A Lightning II fighter jets land in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, on May 23, 2016 The US Air Force on Tuesday declared an initial squadron of F-35A stealth fighters as ready for combat, a major milestone for the futuristic aircraft dogged by delays and cost overruns. The squadron of about 12 planes is based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the planes' combat rating -- known as initial operational capability -- comes after completion of a raft of tests and training exercises. "The F-35A will be the most dominant aircraft in our inventory, because it can go where our legacy aircraft cannot and provide the capabilities our commanders need on the modern battlefield," said General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, who heads the US Air Combat Command. Air Force officials did not give a timeline of when the squadron might see combat, but said an overseas deployment is likely by early 2017. "This is just the beginning, this is an interim step that will get us to what the full combat capability of the F-35 eventually will be," Carlisle said. The US Marine Corps last year announced that an initial group of F-35Bs had attained initial operational capability, though these have not yet been used in combat. With a price tag of nearly $400 billion for a total of 2,443 F-35 aircraft -- most of them destined for the Air Force -- the plane, built by Lockheed Martin, is the most expensive in history. Proponents tout its radar-dodging stealth technology, supersonic speeds, close air-support capabilities, airborne agility and a massive array of sensors giving pilots unparalleled access to information. But the program has faced numerous setbacks, including a mysterious engine fire in 2014 that led commanders to ground planes until the problem could be resolved. A pair of F35B Lightning aircraft from the Royal Air Force and the US Marine Corps flying over one of the British Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth, at Rosyth, Scotland, on 01 July 2016. Other issues have led to delays and cost overruns, including software bugs, technical glitches and even a faulty eject system that risked killing pilots who weighed less than 136 pounds (62 kilos). Republican Senator John McCain, who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, welcomed the Air Force announcement but said the program highlights military financial waste. "Learning the lessons from this program's failures and those of too many others, the Senate Armed Services Committee will continue to press forward with reforms to our cumbersome defense acquisition to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently," he said, The Air Force's F-35A is one of three variants of the aircraft, designed to conduct conventional landings and take offs. The F-35B, used by the Marine Corps, is capable of short take-offs and vertical landings, and the Navy's F-35C is built for use on aircraft carriers. Ten ally nations have also ordered F-35s for their own air forces. An Ascension Parish state judge on Tuesday denied bail for two teens arrested last week in the shooting death of their alleged friend whose body was discovered in a Gonzales canal. Jamar Jones and Kevin Ross, both 18, were each booked last week on a count of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Alex Rubio, 18, who was shot twice in the back of the head. His body was found in the New River Canal in Gonzales on July 26. Jason Kling, an Ascension Parish sheriff's detective, testified at the bail hearing that witnesses told investigators the last time Rubio was seen by them was in a group setting when he took marijuana and money out of his pocket and showed it to them. One witness told detectives he overhead a conversation between Jones and Ross about robbing Rubio, Kling told Assistant District Attorney Charles Long during testimony. +2 Second suspect arrested, motive revealed in slaying of East Ascension student found dead in canal GONZALES Alex Rubio was shot in the back of the head while he was in a stolen car with two Kling said that Jones gave conflicting statements about the shooting. Jones first said he and Ross had each shot Rubio in the head, Kling said, and then later said he had fired both shots and that the shooting had been an accident, the detective said. Jones also gave varying accounts of where the shooting happened, Kling said. In one statement, Jones said Rubio was shot in the vehicle the three teens were riding in, and later he said it happened at Tee Joe Park on West Orice Roth Road in Gonzales, Kling testified. Kling said the vehicle, which had been stolen, was found last week burned on the levee in Darrow. Jones had been arrested by Gonzales police July 26, on the same day Rubio's body was found, on counts of illegal carrying of a weapon and possession of marijuana, the Sheriff's Office said last week. At the time police arrested him, they did not know about Jones' alleged connection to Rubio's death; however, Kling testified Tuesday that the gun found on Jones belonged to Rubio. No one has said whether it was the gun used in the shooting. Jones was arrested Thursday in Rubio's death while he was still in jail on the gun and drug counts, and Ross turned himself in Friday. Attorney Maura Doherty, with the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center and who represented Jones at the hearing, asked Kling if the three teens knew each other prior to the incident. "I do know they knew each other, and I believe it was from school," Kling said. Judge Tess Stromberg of the 23rd Judicial District, presided over the hearing. The case of smuggling monkeys from Guinea, which has been studied for the past two years by Armenias State Revenue Committee (SRC), has been dropped. Hetq has received the decision by V. Hakobjanyan, an investigator with the SRCs Special Serious Case Division. The reason the case was shelved, according to the decision, is a bill passed by Armenias parliament on June 15 of this year. The bill, Changes and Additions to Armenias Criminal Code, has made Article 215 of the Criminal Code regarding contraband no longer applicable. Thus, Hakobjanyan decided to drop the animal smuggling case. According to the investigation and court procedures, it was revealed that Zoo Fauna Art company owner Artur Khachatryan had purchased various animals, including two Pan Paniscus primate for $65 each on March 13, 2011 from the Domestic Animal Village company in the UAE. Khachatryan imported the primates into Armenia on May 13 and paid the customs fees, During the preliminary investigation, information was received from the Interpol branch in the Congo, via Armenias Interpol branch office, that two bonobos, listed in the CITES and not subject to sale, were in Armenia, and that, in all probability, the CITES paperwork had been forged. At the same time, it was revealed that Khachatryan rented one of the bonobos to Serengeti Ltd. owner Artyom Vardanyan. However, sometime in mid-December 2013, the bonobo fell ill and died. The other bonobo died two months after being imported to Armenia, when it was being cared for at the Zo Fauna Ard site. A forensic examination was ordered to reveal the nature and process for the CITES permits for the importation of the bonobos. The examination was also to look at the seals of the permits. According to the conclusion of the examiner, a CITES document letterhead was made using offset typography, and the serial number was obtained by using state of the art printing. A typewriter was used to fill in the text. The signature was affixed by using purplish paint in a fountain pen. At the bottom, a round seal was first affixed and then the signature was added. The signature was good for more than three years. We should note that the forensic examination didnt identify if an appropriate official signed the document, and thus if the signature belonged to an authorized official. It merely noted how the signature was performed by duplication, by copying. Examiner Hakobjanyan also noted that via Interpols office in Armenia, queries were made to the Interpol office in the DRC regarding Artur Khachatryan to obtain incriminating evidence and documentation as to whether Khachatryan violated the DRCs law of nature preservation (Law 14/003, Article 79). However, despite numerous inquiries and reminders, no information or documents were received from the DRCs Interpol office, which had launched a search for Artur Khachatryan. At the same time, according to the document received from Armenias Interpol office: According to data received from non-credible sources, the value of a bonobo in the market is $20,200-24,200. In the country of origin, the DRC, those trafficking in the sale of bonobos demand a price of US$500-1,000 for one primate. The pre-investigative body did not clarify how Artur Khachatryan could, in these circumstances, obtain such an expensive primate for $65. According to data provided by the SRC, in addition to these two bonobos, another five were imported to Armenia in 2011-2012, and that they never left the country. The investigation never looked at what happened to the imported bonobos and their current location. Prior to all this, Jambo Park owner Artyom Vardanyan, who was arrested on March 23 at the Kilimanjaro International Airport who attempted to transport 61 monkeys out of the country, remains in jail. It was revealed that the animals were destined for Artur Khachatryan. It appears that Artur Khachatryan fears going after his cargo. He is avoiding possible arrest due to a manhunt launched against him as part of a criminal case in the Congo. In the summer of 2015, Artur Khachatryan exported parrots, turtles, leopards and 90 monkeys to Russia. The importer is one Edward Khachatourian, a resident of Russia, and Artur Khachatryans partner. Edward is in the business of selling exotic animals. Edward Khachatourian sold the animals to Russias Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Virus Encephalitis as part of an open state competition to purchase laboratory animals to test the efficacy of immuno-biological substances. The question arises why Edward Khachatourian is importing monkeys to Russia via Armenia when he can do so directly from Africa. Armenias SRC failed to clarify these and other questions. Rather, it hastened to drop the criminal case and didnt even wait for the documents from the Congo. Photo (from left): Artyom Vardanyan and Artur Khachatryan. (Artyom Vardanyans phot is from his Facebook page and Artur Khachatryans photo is from Aravot) Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission 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. The Ascension Parish School Board on Tuesday approved a four-year contract with an annual salary of $185,000 for incoming superintendent David Alexander. "Did I just retire?" Alexander joked, from a seat in the audience, after the vote that brought applause from board members and many audience members. Alexander retired from the school district in January as director of high schools to take a position as director of education with the Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors but applied for the position of Ascension Parish schools superintendent after a second search for candidates was begun in June. "I am immensely honored that you have given me this opportunity to serve the students," Alexander said after being invited to the microphone by the board. The board approved Alexander's hiring at its July 26 meeting; the contract was the last formality. At that last meeting, board member Julie Blouin walked out in protest, saying she hadn't had a chance to interview Alexander. Hers was the dissenting vote on Alexander's contract Tuesday night. Board member Robyn Penn Delaney was absent. Alexander's return to the school district as superintendent comes with a 15 percent raise over the pay of the previous superintendent, Patrice Pujol, who retired in March. The raise was approved during the School Board's first search for a superintendent. Finalists in that search were rejected by a majority vote of the board and a new search begun. Alexander will also get an $800 per month car allowance, the same as Pujol received. Blouin questioned Alexander's four-year contract in a meeting of the board's executive committee that met before Tuesday's full board meeting, saying she recalled that Pujol had a two-year contract. Board member Lorraine Wimberly said Pujol had come in as superintendent six years ago at a two-year contract, but had come to the board requesting a four-year contract when her first contract was up. The board had approved it, Wimberly said. Three members of the public spoke to the executive committee, expressing frustration and confusion over the hiring process of the new superintendent. "There's still some question that arises involving public input and comment in that (hiring) process and at what level are all School Board members involved in that process," said former state representative Roy Quezaire. "There's still some fogginess. I think some clarity needs to be brought to that," he said. "What was the intent of the national search?" Quezaire said, referring to the firm hired by the board for the first search. Former Ascension Parish school district educator Charley Stephens said, "This board collects 66 percent of the taxpayers' taxes." "I will not be shut out of" School Board matters, Stephens said. "I will die before I take taxation without representation." Ascension Parish resident James Moore asked the board to clarify its policy on the public asking questions during the comments section. Board president Pat Russo said that the policy states that only comments on agenda items and not questions are allowed. School Board attorney Jeff Diez, who presented Alexander's contract to the board, said Alexander will begin his job on Aug. 19, but will be attending school openings and activities before that time. In an early U.S. Senate campaign forum, four Republican contenders blasted Obamacare Wednesday while three Democrats argued the overhaul should be fixed, not dumped. "Obamacare sucks, it can't be fixed," said state Treasurer John Kennedy, a Republican. "It should be repealed." Similar criticism of the law -- officially the Affordable Care Act -- was leveled by U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany of Lafayette, U.S. Rep. John Fleming of Minden and former U.S. Rep. Joseph Cao of Harvey, all Republicans. Democrat Foster Campbell, a member of the Public Service Commission, said the controversial law needs repairs, not to be abolished. "There are lots of things that need to be fixed," he said. He added, "There are some good things about Obamacare -- 250,000 people in Louisiana have health care," Campbell said, a reference to the Medicaid expansion launched in Louisiana this year that was part of the measure. "I don't apologize for that," he said. Democrats Caroline Fayard, a New Orleans attorney and Joshua Pellerin, a Lafayette oil and gas executive, also argued the law needs changes, not to be repealed. Troy Hebert, a no-party candidate, criticized the overhaul, and blamed both mainline political parties for Obamacare and a host of other problems in Washington D.C. "America is in trouble and both parties have blood on their hands," said Hebert, former commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. The 75-minute gathering was sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Heath Plans. Eight of the 24 candidates on the Nov. 8 election ballot were on hand, with Republican Rob Maness, a retired colonel, absent because of travel issues, according to a spokesman for the group. Ex-KKK leader David Duke qualifies to run for U.S. Senate: 'My time has come' Two dozen candidates, the largest field in at least 35 years, are running for a U.S. Senate The invitations were extended in April and based in part on viability, said John Ford, communications director of the LAHP. All 24 candidates hope to succeed U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, who announced he would not seek re-election last November, moments after he conceded defeat in his bid for governor. Unless one of the candidates lands at least 50 percent of the vote, plus one, a runoff will determine the winner in December. +5 US Senate candidates start reporting campaign fundraising Most of the campaign finance reports are not public yet, but several of candidates staffs a While all the questions focused on health care, Obamacare sparked the most animated comments. "Obamacare is deeply flawed," Boustany told the group. "I am looking to repeal any way we can do it." Cao noted that, when he was in the U.S. Congress, he voted against the final version of the ACA in part because of concerns over its impact on small businesses. "I would vote to repeal it and if we cannot repeal it we should fix it," he said. Fayard agreed with the latter. "I think we have to fix it, absolutely," she said. But the Democrat said Medicaid expansion -- a state by state option under the law -- has been good for Louisiana. Fleming charged that the ACA has been partly responsible for dismal national economic growth -- 1.2 percent. "Obamacare is devastating jobs," he said. Pellerin said Obamacare includes positive provisions, including allowing those up to 26 years old to remain on family health care plans and health care coverage for those with pre-existing health problems. "So I think we need to keep an open mind," he said. Hebert, a former state lawmaker from Jeanerette, said he is no fan of the ACA. Boustany said trust should be the key issue when voters pick Louisiana's next U.S. senator. Campbell told the group he lives on a farm in Bossier Parish, has fought for rank-and-file citizens for 40 years and does not shy away from controversy. "I don't mind the heat," he said. Cao said while the Republican Party nationally has been accused of intolerance for immigrants, he believes in the party's ideals of faith, family and personal responsibility. Fayard called herself something of a fresh face on the political scene, and proud to have already been criticized by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, another U. S. Senate contender not at Wednesday's forum. Fleming, who operates 38 Subway stores, said he has been "deeply embedded" in the economy like those in the audience. Hebert said he will not accept campaign donations. Kennedy said he thinks the best days for the U.S. are ahead. "But not if we keep doing the same thing we have been doing for the past eight years," he said. "I would rather drink weed killer than support Obamacare." Pellerin called himself a Democrat who is pro-life and backs the Second Amendment. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas will be the featured speaker at the Louisiana Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner this year, the party announced on Wednesday. Castro, the twin brother of U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, has served in Congress since 2013. He has recently made headlines as he has weighed a run for U.S. Senate. He currently serves as chief deputy whip for the U.S. House Democratic leadership. La. Democrats cast presidential nomination votes during Democratic convention Louisiana Democrats at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on Tuesday cheered The Louisiana Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, which takes place annually in New Orleans and is typically the largest gathering of Democrats from across the state, is scheduled for Aug. 13 at the Hyatt Regency. Castro has been a vocal critic of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and a prominent advocate of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. His appearance at the Louisiana Democrats event comes just a few weeks after his speech at the Democratic National Convention. Having a rising star like Congressman Joaquin Castro headlining this years Jefferson-Jackson dinner is a tremendous honor, and a cause for celebration, State Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party, said in a statement. Congressman Castro has proven himself to be a remarkable leader and an inspiring speaker, and we look forward to welcoming him to Louisiana next week. Democrats will have to shell out at least $175 a person to attend this year's dinner. Corine Woodley, left, the mother of Gavin Long, the Iraq war veteran who shot and killed three law enforcement officers in Baton Rouge, La., tells PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley, right, her son suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. By Katherine Berjikian When I first went to PINK Armenia, in Yerevan, I was shocked by how hard it was to find. PINKs address is not on the website, and to find the exact location a person would have to call an employee there to find out where it is. The building itself is in a courtyard surrounded by apartment buildings and small stores, and the actual building has no marker on it that would signify what it is. I imagine that this was intentional. PINK is one of the only Armenian NGOs organizing around LGBTQ rights, and it is by far the most famous. Due to hostilities towards the LGBTQ community in Armenia, PINK has frequently been the subject of homophobic aggression. For many of the young people who identify as LGBTQ, PINK is one of the first places they go when they experience homophobia, and or violence, because of their sexuality and or gender identity. One of the challenges PINK faces are young people, usually between the ages of eighteen to twenty-five, coming to them because they were recently thrown out of their homes. The following article is about PINKs attempts to find a solution to this problem. Where do you house young people who have been kicked out of their homes, or whose homes are unsafe? What happens when a person asks PINK Armenia for help? Imagine for a moment that you are nineteen years old. You are a member of the LGBTQ community and your parents are angry about it. Because of this, they kick you out of your home. Or maybe they dont, but they are aggressive towards you, abusive in some cases, and you no longer feel safe in your home. Where do you go? What do you do? For many of the people who have faced these questions, the answer is PINK Armenia. When I spoke to Mamikon Hovsepyan, one of the founders of PINK, he stated there is kind of a rough idea of what to do when people come to them for help because they are faced with a lack of housing. One of the first things they do is try to access the persons mental health. Either their physiologist and or social worker will talk to them and try to gauge if they are in need of further counseling. Then a PINK employee will contact a hostel and set that person up for several days to two weeks. In that time, members of PINK try to make sure that they have other forms of housing once those two weeks are up, a job if they are in need of income, and if possible, try to open the doors of communication with that persons family. However, according to Hovsepyan, this is a very imperfect system, created mostly out of necessity. There are many questions that are raised when someone tries to access temporary housing. For example, one of the more pressing problem is if the person who comes to them is actually in desperate need of help, especially help with their mental health. For example, when I spoke to Lilit Avetisyan, the psychologist at PINK, she stated that when a person comes to them looking for housing, in many cases, they are depressed, and sometimes suicidal. A person being forced to leave their home because of their sexuality would cause many distress, and one of the main problems with the hostel system is that it does not allow a trained person to be with that person while they process their emotions Furthermore, the hostels that they are sending these young people to do not know why they are staying with them. PINK reserves the spaces anonymously, resulting in some of young people who are housed there feeling isolated. When I spoke to Avetisyan, she stated that in an ideal world they would have a person who went through the same thing themselves, a survivor, to stay with that person, help them with their emotions, and to make sure that they do not harm themselves. Now, PINK does not have such a person. Instead, they have a suicide l hotline that is accessible 24/7. This hotline is monitored by the PINK counselor and psychologist. They are the ones to talk to a person at any point where they might need psychological aid. 2013 roundtable discussion on hate crimes in Armenia with local activists Was it always like this? For a brief period last year, PINK Armenia worked with another NGO called New Generation. During this time, New Generation had several apartments they were housing homeless youth in. In exchange for PINK allowing New Generations benefactors to use PINKs services such as access to PINKs physiological and social worker, New Generation allowed PINK to house homeless youth in their apartments. This agreement was brief, and PINK could not disclose exactly why this relationship ended. However, when I spoke to Avetisyan, she stated that this plan, like the one I mentioned above, was not ideal because it forced people to go from their safe spaces (PINK Armenia and New generations spaces), to another one to receive help. However, while this relationship ended, PINK did manage to house three young people in the New Generation apartments. Diana Karapetyan was one of the people who was housed in the New Generation apartments. Karapetyan is a nineteen-year-old college student studying at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia. She is involved in LGBTQ activism, and is frequently at PINK Armenia, hanging out with other queer youth. Around a year ago, she was thrown out of her home. She and her mother got in an argument about her sexuality. Shortly after, her mother kicked her out of her home. After two days of crashing at her friends houses, her friend who worked at PINK Armenia informed her that PINK could help her. PINK then found her a place at the New Generation apartments, and she stayed there for two months. While she stayed in the New Generation apartments, New Generation and PINK helped her find a job, gave her a forty thousand AMD ($84) stipend every month, and she had day to day contact with PINK Armenias phycologist. Apparently, during her stay in the apartments, her mother called her and told her that she could come back. However, she decided to stay in the apartment for the whole two months instead of going home immediately. When we spoke she told me the following: I didnt go back. I said to her that I need time to realize some things, and you [her mother] need some time too. To understand what do you want from me. Are ready to understand me? Are you going to change the way you speak to me? She eventually did return to live with her mother, and she told me that the time they spent apart had helped them with their relationship. She told me that now she is able to talk to her mother freely about her sexuality. While this program did end shortly after it started, it did give Karapetyan the time to reconnect with her family. What about the Future? As stated above, what PINK has done, and what theyre currently doing, is not ideal. PINK is more aware of this than anyone. When I spoke to them, they were already trying to organize more diverse options for homeless youth then just a short stay at a hostel. One of these plans is compiling a list of people who would be interested in housing homeless youth for a short period of time. This requires a lot of word of mouth and trust between the people who volunteer their places and the people willing to stay with them. When I spoke to Hovsepyan, he stated that this was a better option then just leaving a person at a hostel with access to services over the phone, or in another location such as the PINK Armenias office. If someone is suicidal or depressed, another person can stay with them, and they would have this hypothetical housing for a longer period of time. However, Hovsepyan informed me that this too was not the best solution. When we spoke he stated that he had experienced housing homeless youth when he was younger. He stated that when he was younger, he and a group of his friends met a group of queer eighteen-year-olds who had previously lived in an orphanage and were then homeless. After they met Hovsepyan and his friends started housing them in their apartments. One night they would stay at one of their homes and then they would move to another. One day, however, when they were staying at Hovsepyans apartment, he returned to find his home had been robbed and that all of his valuable possessions had been removed. Thus, while this is another temporary solution to LGBTQ homelessness, like the hostel system, it cannot be a permanent long term solution. Another option is a housing plan that would be more permanent, and would allow people to get the psychological help they might need. Currently, PINK Armenia and the Womens Resource Center are trying to buy a house that would accommodate up to seven people for an indefinite period of time. By doing this, they hope to help people without any time constraints. If PINK is successful, this housing option will cost them around 300,000 euros, and will house both homeless LGBTQ youth and victims of sexual assault. This amount would include the cost of living for those who stay at the house, the cost of psychologists and aid workers, and all other services. They would also try to find jobs for the people who do stay with them. According to Hovsepyan, We also want to help find a job for them, so when they leave that center they are already recovered and integrated into society. Currently, this idea is still mostly on the drawing board, and they are waiting for people who would be willing to fund the project. However, if they are successful in attaining the funds, PINK Armenia/Womens Resource Centers house will be available sometime next year. Until then, PINK will still house homeless youth in either a hostel, or in a volunteers home. Top photo: PINK staff at their annual 2016 annual retreat (Katherine Berjikian is a Birthright Armenia volunteer from the U.S. now working at Hetq) While legal and political barriers remain, mere geography is on the side of Louisiana's exporters when it comes to trade with Cuba. A series of trade promotion trips is therefore underway involving Louisiana businessmen and officials, seeking to build relationships before what is seen as the inevitable lifting of the U.S. trade embargo on the Communist-governed island. The latest group included rice farmers, eager to sell to a North American country that now imports much of its rice from Vietnam. The data: Louisiana exports $439 million worth of rice each year. Cuba imports $173 million of rice per year and on average consumes more than 177 pounds of rice annually, the most rice per capita in the western hemisphere. The new trade group, headed by Commissioner Mike Strain of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, was of course heavy with farmers from the state but also included a range of business interests. While agriculture has an obvious interest in a new and physically close market, tourism officials are also interested in what Cuba can offer. We are in a prime position to export agricultural products, petrochemicals and the cruise industry," said former state Rep. Joe Accardo, executive director of the Ports Association of Louisiana. Is all this premature? Because of the deplorable human rights record of the Cuban government, there is always going to be the potential for rifts between the United States and the island's cruel leadership. What President Barack Obama's normalization of relations does is allow a dialogue to begin but business is not only a matter of diplomacy; instead, it is relationships and credit arrangements with buyer and seller, and supply and demand. Louisiana can supply a lot of what Cuba currently demands, but the consequence of socialism over the decades has been economic failure and social misery. Credit is hard to come by in such a poor country. Nevertheless, there are opportunities: Cuba needs our farm products, and we commend Strain for this groundwork. It is not the first nor the last such trip: The commissioner said that Gov. John Bel Edwards will join a similar delegation in October. "It is critical to establish these important business relationships now in order to gain access to new market opportunities for our Louisiana agricultural producers when it does," Strain said. He is right, but there remain significant difficulties ahead as Louisiana exporters work their way through legal and language barriers but also the financial hurdles to a more robust relationship with Cuba. Canberra bottle shop owner Paul Cains already spends precious little time with his children Nicholas and Sophie, but once the ACT Government hikes his liquor licence fees by 25 per cent, he fears he will miss out on even more. The two bottle shops Mr Cains and his wife Michelle own are among a group of more than 50 that would be hardest hit under proposed changes to liquor licensing that would drastically increase the fees for stores that turn over $1 million in alcohol sales per year. Operators of local ACT bottle shops and industry suppliers have launched a Canberra-wide campaign to try to stop huge increases in liquor licensing fees. Credit:Karleen Minney Australian Liquor Stores Association chief executive Terry Mott said the ACT's off-licence fees were already the highest in the nation and further increases would force bottle shop owners to cut staff and jack up liquor prices. "The taxes on licensees in the ACT are already over 20 times that of neighbouring licensees in NSW and that will have a further impact on those businesses who employ local people in a competitive market place. They will have to increase their prices or they'll have to reduce employment in order to make ends meet," Mr Mott said. Aussie pop trio Mischief have had a big year since releasing first song Kick It Back, with two more singles and national airplay from commercial radio stations. Canberra Girls Grammar graduate, 22-year-old Eesha Hunjon is one-third of the girl group, and she commutes between Canberra where she is studying, and South-East Queensland where other members Rachael Steel and Chevonne Nel live. Rachael Steel, Eesha Hunjon and Chevonne Nel from Aussie pop group Mischief. Now Mischief is hoping to reach a much bigger audience, releasing new single Gold just in time for the beginning of the Rio Olympics. The catchy track has been submitted to TV networks in Australia and the US with hopes that it will form part of their coverage. Canberra Outlet Centre has had its first department store move in, with Harris Scarfe opening its doors. Located near Cue and Sheridan in the centre, the new store covers a massive 2490 square metres. Harris Scarfe CEO Graham Dean at the new Harris Scarfe store at Canberra Outlet Centre. Credit:Jil Hogan The store shows off a new look for Harris Scarfe in Canberra, which CEO Graham Dean describes as, "a lot more open, a lot brighter, easier to shop, more defined, clearer". It's the fourth Canberra store for the retailer, which also has shops at Dickson, Belconnen and Tuggeranong, and the new store replaces the previous Queanbeyan Harris Scarfe. Thousands of teenagers on Wednesday wandering through a big hall, along 100 potential paths into their future, should follow their heart says Jo Wisdom. A careers practitioner preparing school-leavers for the workforce, Ms Wisdom says they face a complex maze, because many of the jobs they will do don't exist yet, and full-time jobs of any description are decreasing. NAO the humanoid robot from Victoria, will help students focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related trade and skill areas. "We have underemployment and therefore career practitioners have to also say to young people and old people that when opportunities present themselves, make the most of them," she said. "But know who you are, and follow your heart, rather than panic sometimes, and grab something that you may not be interested in. We know that people who are most productive are the ones that love their jobs," she said. Experts have rubbished the opposition's plans to redeploy the private consortium building the ACT's light rail for the construction of health, education, or other "worthwhile" infrastructure. The Liberals on Wednesday confirmed that, if elected, they would either rip up the light rail consortium or "seek to repurpose the contract into worthwhile infrastructure". Transport spokesman Alistair Coe, right, says the light rail consortium could be repurposed to build other infrastructure. Credit:Graham Tidy Deputy Opposition Leader Alistair Coe told Fairfax Media that could include having the consortium build "transport, education or health" infrastructure. "If elected, a Canberra Liberals government could exercise the terminate for convenience clause or seek to re-scope the contract into worthwhile infrastructure. Such infrastructure could relate transport, education or health," he said. The Canberra Liberals have baulked at establishing an ACT anti-corruption commission, despite launching a sustained attack on the integrity of the Labor government in the lead-up to October's election. It means that neither major party would establish a corruption watchdog, something that exists in every other state in Australia. Opposition leader Jeremy Hanson has announced an "integrity package", comprising of additional funding to the Auditor-General and the establishment of a public service commissioner. Credit:Matt Bedford The opposition on Wednesday announced it would beef up the Auditor-General and establish an independent public service commissioner if elected. The Liberals would give $3 million for the Auditor-General and $900,000 for the commissioner, constituting what the opposition describes as its "integrity package". Drug-busts for amphetamine-type stimulants has skyrocketed in the ACT, a new report has found. The total weight of amphetamine-type stimulants (excluding ecstasy) seized in the territory rose by more than 104 per cent in 2014-15 from the year before, from 16 kilograms to nearly 33 kilograms. Drug-busts for amphetamine-type stimulants has skyrocketed in the ACT. Credit:Police The number of seizures rose by nearly 70 per cent over the same period from from 196 to 328, compared with a national rise of 22 per cent, according to the latest Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's Illicit Drug Data Report. Amphetamine-type stimulants are synthetic drugs that can appear in different forms and include speed, 'dexies', ice, ecstasy and methamphetamine. The Greens' Shane Rattenbury will move on Thursday to outlaw vilification on the grounds of religion, which he says is a glaring omission from the government's changes to discrimination law to be debated on Thursday. Mr Rattenbury said religious vilification laws were needed more than ever. He cited vandalism attacks on the Islamic Centre in Monash and said houses had been letterboxed with anti-muslim material and opposition to a Gungahlin mosque. The Greens' Shane Rattenbury, who will move on Thursday to ban vilification on the grounds of religion. Credit:Paul Furness "The return of Pauline Hanson and the emergence of groups like Reclaim Australia demonstrate that religious intolerance is alive and well," he said. Attorney-General Simon Corbell said Labor would consider Mr Rattenbury's amendment on Thursday morning. Passengers on a Qantas flight to Dubai that was forced to turn back to Sydney due to an on-board emergency will fly out again this morning. The QF1 flight had been flying for about an hour yesterday afternoon when a cabin temperature warning light came on, prompting the captain to make the call to return to Sydney. Qantas says engineers inspected the aircraft overnight and fixed the fault, but passengers have lamented the delay to their travel plans. "Unfortunately I was on this flight and means I'll miss the first game at West Ham," Cornelius Sullivan wrote on Facebook. Meanwhile Australian authorities are urgently trying to contact Australians who were on a plane that crashed and burst into flames at Dubai airport. Victoria looks to have its first Uber rank with Avalon Airport setting aside a designated zone for the ride-sharing service. The move is a Victoria-first for Uber, which cannot collect passengers from Melbourne Airport, as the service is yet to be legalised in the state. Avalon Airport now has a designated pick up and parking spot for Uber in Geelong. Credit:4bc.com.au However, the Andrews government is set to introduce legislation regulating ride-sharing after Parliament returns from winter break on August 16. Avalon Airport chief executive Justin Giddings said the designated Uber area was designed to ensure passenger safety and insisted it was not a rank. Qantas and Australia's national tourism body have finally kissed and made up after an ugly brawl tore apart their long-standing relationship in 2012. Qantas and TA have signed a $20 million three year tourism campaign on Wednesday, the first since Qantas boss Alan Joyce tore up the previous agreement over a conflict with TA chairman Geoff Dixon - who was previously his mentor at Qantas. "Both Qantas and Tourism Australia want the same thing a strong tourism industry that makes Australia the first choice for people all over the world. With tourism both to and within Australia on the rise, it's the ideal time for us to join forces once again," said Joyce in a prepared statement. The close relationship ended abruptly in 2012 when Dixon joined a group of renegade Qantas investors agitating for change at the airline - directly challenging the authority of Joyce. Australia's top statistician has said the Australian Bureau of Statistics is "ready" for the census on August 9, describing the department as having "the best security features [for which] you could ever ask". Addressing the media on Wednesday, in a week plagued by privacy fears and technical difficulties, David Kalisch put community security fears down to a "heightened dimension around privacy". "From what I understand, a number of the privacy groups have raised this in every census for the last number of times ... particularly with much more electronic information, but I can assure the Australian population the ABS has the best security features [for which] you could ever ask." AVJennings has called for a co-operative approach between governments and developers on the matter of affordable housing. Peter Summers, the chief executive of AVJennings, a publicly-listed residential developer that focuses on the affordable home sector, said government policies tended to focus on the short term, when what was needed was a long-term view. AVJennings says government policies on affordable housing tend to focus on the short term. Credit:domain.com.au "We have a development in Auckland, and it is chalk and cheese to have a meeting in New Zealand compared to a meeting in Australia around affordability. There is an attitude from the national government that they need to be part of the solution to affordable housing," Mr Summers said. "In contrast, in Australia, the government approach to affordable housing seems to be that it is an industry issue and we'll just impose more rules and that's not going to achieve anything." Office vacancy rates in Brisbane have hit a record high, thanks in large part to two major CBD buildings being completed in the past six months, as the city continues to feel the pinch of oversupply. According to the Property Council of Australia's 2016 Office Market Report, 16.9 per cent of office space in the Brisbane CBD sat empty last month, compared to 14.9 per cent six months earlier. That was the highest it had been since 1990 when the report was first published and Australia was at the height of a recession, described by then-treasurer Paul Keating as the "recession that Australia had to have". The only capital city CBD performing worse than Brisbane was Perth, which had a massive 21.8 per cent office vacancy rate, up from 19.6 per cent in January. World Vision has used the Sponsor a Child fundraising model for five decades, playing on the power of personalisation. Its website showcases photographs, first names and ages of children from 55 countries, calling out to viewers, "Make me part of your family, and help me reach my God-given potential." World Vision has used the Sponsor a Child fundraising model for five decades. Credit:World Vision Australia Joan Mussa, the director of public engagement at the organisation, said donors sponsored 4.1 million children last year, to the tune of about $US1.2 billion. The current roster includes about 40,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Ibrahim Baraghit, who used to work for World Vision in the West Bank, said the organisation spent about $US1.5 million in Husan from 1996 to 2006, helping to dig wells, build greenhouses, fix roads, prepare land for planting and repair fences. The group built a community centre and outfitted the four-story building that houses the village council. The Palestinian town of Husan, where, from 1996 to 2006, World Vision made a number of contributions. Credit:Rina Castelnuovo It was not difficult to find Othman in the village, whose residents mostly come from four extended families. I called a council member to ask if there was an Othman born in 1998, and quickly got the phone number of Naser Sabateen, whose nephew by that name was about the right age. But Sabateen, a 53-year-old butcher, was suspicious. Who had sent me? What did I really want? The notion of a police officer's being behind the inquiry hardly helped. Eventually, we met at his shop, where a lump of meat was drying on a board as he and his nephew peered at the sponsorship card. The names did not quite match - Othman's first middle name is Mohammad, while the card said Naser. But they had the same birthday, August 1, and Othman recognised the cardigan. He rushed home to fetch a photo showing his childhood self in the same sweater. What had become of the boy Brendan sponsored? He liked playing Call of Duty, a popular video game. He flunked math on his final school exam, but was determined to retake it this summer so he could go to a university. He wanted a job involving cars. And his relatives were rattled by the idea that some stranger in Australia knew his name and said he had sent money that they insisted they had never received. "We are simple people, who live at the door of God," said Abdul-Hamid Sabateen, the other uncle, using an Arabic phrase implying poverty and humility - and, therefore, vulnerability to being tricked. 'They would line up the children and take photos of them' The family struggled to remember any connection to World Vision. Othman's father, Mohammad, said he had barely been around at the time because he worked illegally in Israel and slept at construction sites for weeks on end. An aunt named Myasar recalled, finally, strangers coming to Husan with cameras. "They were foreigners-foreigners," she said, meaning white people. "They would line up the children and take photos of them." The Sabateens liked people fawning over their children, and so did not mind the strangers and their cameras. Myasar said her daughter Saja, now 24, and Othman had occasionally received cards in the years afterward. They were delivered to the local grocery and written in English, which the family did not understand. So had I uncovered a scandal in which a well-meaning foreigner, lured by an adorable child's needy face, sent money to an organisation that failed to deliver it to its promised recipient? Not exactly. Mussa said World Vision never promised sponsors that their money would directly support a specific child. Rather, the group pools the money for projects in the child's community. She said World Vision had conducted an online survey of 4,000 sponsors in which most said they understood the money was for the place, not the person in the picture. Brendan was not one of them. He thought his monthly sum was going to the boy in the cardigan. A letter he received from World Vision when it raised the sponsorship rate in 2004 said he was "helping to provide Othman Naser H with essentials like enough food to eat." Farther down, it said the money was to help "continue the important developments in Othman Naser H's community." The group's website presents a similar duality, suggesting that writing to the sponsored children helps donors "get to know, love and encourage a specific child, while helping fund resources and improvements that benefit them and their community." It also promises sponsors that "your child will send you a letter!" though the Sabateen clan did not recall ever being told that Othman was supposed to do this. 'We all benefited' Baraghit, who managed the local World Vision program for about a decade, said 3,000 children in Husan had been enrolled. "At one point, every newborn was put up for sponsorship," he said. Although parents are meant to give permission for their children to participate, World Vision did not require signed consent forms until 2007 or 2008 - after the Husan initiative was over. "It was organised," said Nader Rahil, who now manages the program in the area. "But it is more organised now." Rami Hamamra, a member of Husan's village council, said World Vision "did a lot" in the village, adding, "We all benefited." Later, Naser Sabateen, one of the uncles, called me and said he wanted to be clear that he appreciated World Vision's work in the village, once poorer and needier, even if it had come from sponsoring out their children. Brendan, though, felt misled. "People make donations based on the sense of personal connection they have with the image they are provided, and that they are changing that child's life," he said. When I told him that the Sabateens had been confused by the Christmas cards in English, he realised that they must have seemed "like a postcard from another planet." "What level of knowledge do they have of us?" he asked. "It's a bit surreal to be honest," he added. "A bit sad, in a way." For copywriter Hannah Martin, now CEO of Talented Ladies Club, a magazine-site that supports and inspires working mothers, Roberts's remarks brought back bad memories. In 2004, Martin was sacked from her job at a large London advertising agency when she had a baby. "The office culture was of play," she says. "You spent your time playing ping-pong or pool, going for three-hour lunches, and then hanging around the office drinking beer, the day ending at midnight. This is fine for single men or women, or a parent with a support network (invariably a wife) at home. But it isn't reasonable when you have to get home for family responsibilities. "The work could easily be done during the day time, but that went against the culture. Meetings were booked for 6pm or 7pm. So even though I had won awards for the agency, and been praised and given a bonus while I was on maternity leave, and sailed through an annual review, I was sacked two months after I came back to work." We are all operating in a corporate business structure built on a foundation where the default setting is male and there is a housewife at home coping with everything else. Cindy Gallop, IfWeRanTheWorld founder Martin says her case was clearly unfair dismissal but lawyers warned her she would face such drawn-out legal action it would not be worth undertaking. Her minimal redundancy pay was eaten up by solicitors' fees as it was. "Not all ad agencies are like that one," she says. "Within a month, I was working at another agency for 10 grand a year more and decent conditions, but that first company was far more typical in culture and attitude." According to advertising consultant Cindy Gallop, who is the founder of the IfWeRanTheWorld web platform designed to turn good intentions into action, Roberts may be the "lightning rod" for what is wrong with the industry but he is not the exception. Gallop was criticised directly by Roberts - in the interview, he said: "I think she's making up a lot of the stuff to create a profile, and to take applause, and to get on a soap[box]." Gallop is nonplussed: "What is gratifying is how swiftly Publicis has moved," she says. "It is indicative of changing awareness at the top. That someone understands it is very bad business not to tap into the creative pool of women and people of colour. Especially for advertising agencies, given that women are the primary purchasers and influences in every sector." What of Roberts' claims that women just don't want to be leaders as much as men? "Never doubt women burn with passion and ambition as much as men," Gallop says. "We want to be leaders and use our vision to shape the industry of the future. And we want to make money, too." Martin agrees. "I don't think women are less ambitious, but they are forced to adapt or temper those ambitions due to the realities of the working environment. My responsibilities as a mother don't make me less ambitious." But she points out that the current crop of men at the top don't want to rock any boats. "They may make token gestures but the system is working just fine for them as it is. So they post rationalise it - and say women are way happier down below." Not everyone agrees that Roberts is so wrong. PR supremo Lynne Franks says: "I've been working in women's leadership for 30 years and what he says is true. For women, career progression is not all about gaining the office with the biggest window and paper basket. "But that doesn't mean we aren't leaders or can't get to the top. Of all those in business and politics I know, Roberts is the least misogynist; he wasn't saying women are rubbish. He was saying women choose to behave in a different, non-male way, and there is not a lot wrong with that." Novelist Polly Courtney, who wrote Golden Handcuffs after her experiences working for investment bank Merrill Lynch in London, does not agree that those women are making a free choice. "There is a massive difference in the career trajectory of the average man and woman, which is driven by tradition," she says. "I don't know about shapes but whether men have a linear path and women a circular one, the point is that these are rigid and already carved out. It is hard to break out." Courtney's own linear career progression ended in her 20s when she decided that "there was more to life than working till 3am every day". She adds: "I didn't drop off the career ladder at the bank because I wanted a family. I wanted to be happier in general. However, she adds: "Women are educated to do more childcare, to step back from the career ladder, and be flexible. Men are taught to be breadwinners. But the truth is that many men want something different to this linear progression too. Indeed some are made unhappy by it." So perhaps we should all be more open-minded about the meaning of ambition and the paths to boardroom success? Says Franks: "Achieving success is not all about power, wealth and fame; that approach has taken men along very many wrong paths." Gallop agrees: "There are as many men who dread going into the office on a Monday morning, who want to spend more time with children, as women. We are all operating in a corporate business structure built on a foundation where the default setting is male and there is a housewife at home coping with everything else." I got pretty good at listening to people's problems and counselling people too. One young woman confided in me that her boyfriend was anorexic. I was shocked. This was a first for me - I'd never ever heard of men having anorexia, I thought anorexia was a women only disorder. I was intrigued and gently probed her into divulging why. It turns out her boyfriend had been raped by another man at a party. This was a lot for 15-year-old me to digest. I never knew men could even get raped. I listened with an open heart and gave her my unworldly 15-year-old advice - "maybe you guys just need a nice relaxing holiday?!" Pretty sure I'd heard adults say that to other stressed out adults. Another man put his hand on my leg. I responded by politely lifting the offending hand back off and mentioning that Dad took his number plate...then continued chatting away about my teenage self. One old guy did not say a single word the entire car journey. I asked a couple of questions to be polite but got nothing back except silence. I wasn't sure if he was really rude or completely deaf . Either way was fine by me, I put my CD Walkman on and listened to The Doors all the way home. I think I got a grunt out of him when we pulled up. I ended up at a party one time instead of going home. I got a lift with some teenagers on their P-plates in a station wagon, surfboards on roof racks - two boys and a girl coming back from a surf trip in Margaret River. They took me under their wing. I called Mum to say I was staying at a friend's place the night. It was the first teenage party I'd been to, everyone was so friendly, the music was pumping 1989 anthems, disco lights, joints passed around, I drank Cinzano, I didn't even know what Cinzano was, I kissed a boy, threw up, fell asleep on a sofa, woke up and got my new friends to drive me home the next day. If we created harmony in our house, why is it so hard for the world to create peace? We create peace at home, at school, and in our community without even knowing. We show respect for other cultures by complimenting their food and cuisine. We show respect to their traditions and beliefs. It is that easy all we have to do is show respect. If we can do it in the mains of our home, why is it so hard for the world? All the world has to do is stop interfering with other cultures and religions. No conflict would be caused and there would be no need to start a war. Many people across the world regret what they have done and how it has impacted the world. The world should know; violence is wrong. The world should not fight. We should be in harmony. Almost every day I fear for those who are targeted because of who they are. There are still people out there who think that only people from their own kind are perfect. If we can create harmony in a house, we can shape tomorrow's future. Let's make tomorrow a better world. Together we can create peace and harmony. Harmony matters and always will. Miriam Warwick-Smith, St Aidan's Primary, Rooty Hill Year 5/6 runner-up. Credit:Sally Tsoutas Relationships Matter Miriam Warwick-Smith, St Aidan's Primary, Rooty Hill - Year 5/6 runner up Have you ever felt invisible because the people around you are hypnotised by the gadgets in their hands? Adults love to lecture children about the dangers of spending too much time on technology. I wonder if any of them have wondered about the effect of their addiction to technology on their children? Rejected is how their children feel and that matters. In today's world, family time is under stress. In many homes, both parents work and everyone is tired at the end of the day. Everyone in the family finds it hard to focus on their loved ones as they collapse with exhaustion at the end of the day. People now pick up a device to unwind, instead of relaxing with their family. Every hour of every day, all I see are eyes glued to a screen. Sure, they look up or down, but not if it means losing points on their game. This matters to me. When my brother was in Year 6, he had a disco to celebrate the last day of primary school. He took last minute photos of everyone. "Isn't that nice," I thought. I expected to see boys in ridiculous poses on the dance floor. When I saw that last photo, I was shocked. It was of a colossal group of boys sitting, not dancing. Instead of sharing the last few minutes at primary school acting like kids, they were in the corner of the hall and all eyes were glued to a screen. I'd hate to grow up in a generation where people have no social skills. It looks like I have no choice. That matters to me. "Move," everyone in my family yelled as they tried to see the television screen above them. They were watching their favourite television show. I moved because I knew they were already hot under their collar. Every Friday my family and I have a family games night, and I was trying to show them a list of games I had prepared on Thursday. Simply showing them the list did not get their attention, so I did what any frustrated person would do. I blocked their view! At least they noticed I was in the room. What happened to family time and our games night? That matters to me. People need to realise that their reliance on technology is affecting their ability to be sociable. A plethora of people in today's society are more focussed on their latest game score, or YouTube, than they are with the people around them. Technology really is distracting whole generations and it is impacting lives. Loneliness is already a huge problem in our society and it will only get worse if people keep ignoring other people! When you're with others, you should always listen and spend time with them. Never pick up your phone to check Facebook, or your Twitter account. When someone texts, or calls you, ignore it, if you are actually having a conversation with someone else! If you're on all these apps instead of talking to the people around you, it's called being anti-social. Our society has given that phrase a whole new meaning. People need to stop locking themselves in their rooms to stare at screens. I hate to break it to you, but technology is not a friend. Families who allow technology to rule are giving themselves just enough rope to hang themselves. Open your eyes and see the world around you. I think those who choose phones over people need to get a taste of their own medicine. I am moving out until this nonsense stops. Imogen Rogers, Penrith Christian School Year 7/8 runner-up. Credit:Sally Tsoutas Music Matters Imogen Rogers, Penrith Christian School - Year 7/8 runner-up The words circle me in a colourful haze. Flowing through my body, giving me such joy. It's been like this since birth, music has always been there for me. Friends they come and they go, they aren't always by your side, I know this through experience. I've been bullied and called crude names but who's always been there for me, always saying exactly the right thing? Music. I fall asleep to the beautiful melodies; I wake up to the captivating harmonies. My parents they fight often, but I always have a safe haven that I can call upon. I can always take away the stabbing memories of death and cries; they are the painstakingly strong memories that have haunted my life forever. Music gives me a relief from the torture, it is my antidote. My parents have cancer, both of them. I think about it every night. I'm 12 and I don't want to see them die, at least not at this age, not now. I find it hard to grasp the fact that they are sick and that I can't do anything about it. I know I cannot change the fact that they have cancer but the only thing that has stopped from driving me insane is music. Sad, happy, frustrated, excited, in love, angry it doesn't matter music is there; music is what matters. Music is the thing that keeps me going. Through all the pain, hurt, and rejection, throughout the highs and the lows of life, I can always count on music. I sing and I play piano and it gives me the greatest joy. I listen to music every day to help me get through the struggles of life. The words fill my mind and take away the thoughts that cannot go away. My mum and I don't have an amazing relationship, we fight all the time. I constantly feel not good enough. Always not getting a high enough grade, never doing anything right. Often, I find that I can't call upon my parents so the only thing I can call on is music. Listen to the flowing piano and the acoustic guitar; get swept away by the angelic voices that allow me to forget everything. I can go into my own little world with music; I can soar way up into the sky and dive deep into the ocean, it's my safe haven where I can imagine a world where I am happy; a world full of music. Family, friends they all matter but they can let you down and break your heart. Music can break your heart with its touching songs but it can also heal your broken heart. Music is where I start and where I end. I fall asleep to beautiful melodies; I wake up to captivating harmonies. Music matters. Ramneek Thind, Blacktown Girls High School Year 9/10 winner. Credit:Sally Tsoutas 21st Century Slavery Ramneek Thind, Blacktown Girls High School Year 9/10 winner At nine years of age Radha is not a child. At nine years of age she does not play with other children, she does not go to school, she does not laugh or smile. At nine years of age she is not "living". During the day she is made to do various chores receiving almost nothing for her services. At night however, she is raped four, nine, or even 15 times by people who are three times her age. If she refuses, she is beaten; if she resists, she is beaten; if she does anything besides remain compliant, she is beaten. This should not be the life of a child. But unfortunately this is the life of twp million children across the world today. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It's the illegal trading of humans for commercial or exploitive purposes and involves deceit, force and/or coercion. It's a grave violation of human rights. It's an injustice. It's an epidemic. Trafficking has become widespread and occurs in nearly every country regardless of whether it's developed or developing. It has also earned the title of being the second-fastest growing crime in the world today and will soon become a larger financial industry than the illegal drug trade. Human trafficking also does not discriminate. Anyone can be a victim irrespective of their gender, race, age and social or economic status. Although, over 50 per cent of all trafficking victims are children and this is largely because they're the most susceptible. They can easily be deceived by traffickers who use special grooming tactics and fake promises to attain their trust. Then once they're lured in, there is no escape. Those trapped in the malicious cycle of trafficking are unaware of how it feels to have dignity, to be respected and have secure feelings like we do. These individuals are exploited and forced to do things against their will as they are constantly under the threat of violence. They're not treated like humans and are unable to walk away. Girls who are no older than 10 are subjected to rape and torture, destroying their reproductive systems and robbing them of their natural right to motherhood. In the United Arab Emirates, children are used as debt bondages and are forced to participate in camel jockey races for the mere pleasure of spectators. Furthermore, in places such as Afghanistan and India where the practices of "bachcabaazi" or "laundanach" are prevalent, young boys are made to dress up as girls and entertain men, unknowingly being exploited for sexual abuse. However, perhaps the vilest aspect of human trafficking is the victim's loss of liberty. Victims of trafficking are forced to sell their inherent freedom, condemning themselves to a life that is destructive and without purpose. Unless there is intervention, the only means for victims of escaping their situation and reclaiming their most basic entitlement, freedom, is death. Death without dignity. What is even more unfortunate is that the desperate pleas of trafficking victims often go unheard as we choose to turn a blind eye towards this problem, in an attempt to shelter our privileged society from the reality of this human tragedy, a disgrace upon mankind. It is time that we seek to heal this wound that has existed for so long, on the body that is humanity, and restore the freedom to all those who have suffered at the hands of trafficking. It is time that we give Radha her life back so she can truly experience the remarkableness of "living". It is time that we let them be human again. It is time. Kirti Sharma, William Carey Christian School Year 9/10 runner-up. Credit:Sally Tsoutas Human Trafficking a crime against humanity Kirti Sharma, William Carey Christian School Year 9/10 runner-up In a world that has embraced man's unconditional control over another, the gratuitous enslavement of human beings embodies a profligate crisis facing the globe. Human trafficking is a crime against humanity; it involves the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring or receiving a person through the use of force or coercion for the purpose of exploiting them. It is a global phenomenon that is found in every nation and manifests itself in the forms of sex trafficking, forced labour, domestic servitude and organ harvesting. A form of modern day slavery, human trafficking threatens the dignity of persons. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states in Article 4, "No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms". Through this declaration, it is evident that this is not universally accepted in society, as human trafficking is a far more pressing problem in the modern world than originally thought. Officially, worldwide slavery ended more than a century ago. Unofficially, it's a growth industry that will continue to expand. Poverty and gender discrimination lies at the heart of human trafficking. In sex trafficking, women and children are diminished to the status of a gratifying sexual commodity and are commonly trafficked into the commercial sex industries. On the other hand, men are usually trafficked into tough labour jobs, while children are trafficked into labour positions in sweatshops and domestic industries. It has become an organised billion-dollar industry that generates $32 billion annually and has at its core, investors, recruiters and corrupt public officials as participants. Globalisation has given birth to a service industry completely devoted to providing transportation, forged documents and accounting assistance. Human trafficking is a system based on greed, control and power. Victims are threatened to, lied to and beaten. Traffickers use deception, fraud, threats and other psychological coercion to make promises of improvements in getting jobs, education and a better life. They prey on the vulnerabilities of people who are poor, uneducated, neglected, unemployed or immigrants. Escape is inevitable and almost impossible. However, all this can change, as life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change. For starters, human trafficking is a global problem that requires a global solution. Raising awareness in countries where human trafficking hits the hardest, can help start the change that the world needs to see. Educating and helping individuals in understanding the nature of trafficking can encourage civilians to look for signs of trafficking in a person. It should not take a little motivation to encourage the community to take action; it should be in our character and personality to help those who need it the most, to show compassion to those who need it and to help people recognise the difference between right and wrong. It should be in our humanity. There is no doubt now that the world we know will always exhibit in creating disconnected individuals every day. Human trafficking is one of the greatest ethical challenges facing modern times. Eradicating human trafficking needs to start with change and if humanity is willing to allow that change to occur. The human mind is the most complex organ belonging to any species on Earth. But in the complexity lies the thought of enslaving others for profit. Caught between the sadistic system are the lives of thousands of men, women and children who are innocent and are trapped in the clutches of a sea of oppression, as their freedom, rights and dignity are stolen from them. Madeleine Mott, Holy Spirit College, Bellambi Year 11/12 winner. Credit:Sally Tsoutas We Matter Madeleine Mott, Holy Spirit College, Bellambi Year 11/12 winner I say I am a feminist and you laugh and ask why I would want to be a feminist And you laugh at the word as if it is a joke that I don't understand as if fighting for the equality of my sex is a concept a tad out of your grasp And I sit in class and ignore your sneers and your jokes and as I raise my hand and say "women matter" you all groan "here she goes again" "yeah we already know" But you don't know You don't know what it means to be discriminated against purely due to your sex And whilst you laugh at this movement you laugh at the millions of girls who will be sold into sex slavery this year alone. You laugh at those who you love most your mother your sister your daughter You laugh at the one in three women who will experience sexual assault You laugh at the three million girls who will fall victim to genital mutilation this year alone You laugh at the seven year old girl who sits on the floor waiting to have breasts ironed and bandaged in order to stop her from being desired by men becoming a child bride before she reaches the age of 10 And I am tired of your laughter. I am tired of you feeling threatened by an issue you do not understand. I am tired of having to defend my choice of standing up for the rights of my gender. I am tired of your utter lack of respect for those who are persecuted, abused, raped and held back because they are women. I am tired of being taught and warned about the consequences of walking by myself, of wearing "provocative clothing". I was warned It's not their fault for acting on their primal instincts I was asking for it After all you could see my bra strap through my singlet. I am tired of being a distraction and no, I am not your baby girl I am merely a 16 year old trying to cross the street I do not care that you think my arse looks good in these jeans And now it is my turn It is my turn to laugh at your stupidity And it is my turn to ask the questions Why do you teach your daughters about their safety But don't teach your sons about consent And I want to know how long it will take before we live in a world where 62 million girls are not denied an education simply because they are girls. How long will it take for you to not make jokes about the suffrage of my entire gender Because if the only time you bring up male victims of domestic abuse and rape is to justify the rape and abuse of women don't pretend you actually care about the issue. And so next time you ask why I am a feminist Know that just because I believe women matter Does not mean everybody else believes so too Nicholas Raphael, William Clarke College Year 11/12 runner-up. Credit:Sally Tsoutas Characters Matter Nicholas Raphael, William Clarke College Year 11/12 runner-up Two of the crew were killed on impact, the force of the collision splitting the vessel in two, and plunging the survivors into the moonlit depths. Their captain, a young lieutenant by the name of John F. Kennedy, was among them. His conduct that night would transform him from the anonymous son of a prominent businessman into a decorated and capable leader of men. Having evacuated his crew, Kennedy returned to the flames to rescue a badly burned comrade from within the petrol-laced waters, towing him to the shore by the strap of his lifejacket between his clenched teeth. Over the following days, Kennedy would lead his men across miles of treacherous waters to their ultimate rescue, an achievement which his citation attributed to "his courage, endurance, and excellent leadership." Seventeen years later, Kennedy would be elected to the Presidency of the United States, serving for three years until his tragic assassination. As both a war hero and a statesman, Kennedy's life and deeds testify to his belief that personal character and compelling leadership are intrinsically linked. As Australia nears another federal election, as the United Nations considers the appointment of its next Secretary-General, and as the United States' presidential race nears its climax, Kennedy's example of character-based leadership matters greatly in light of the challenges that we face today. A few weeks ago, I decided to join a political party. Upon discovering my decision, I was met with the astonishment and outright disgust of my friends and acquaintances. As the captain of my school and leader at my church, I frequently found myself justifying this decision to members of a generation that is all too often derided as corrupted by cynical complacency. "But Nic," I was asked, "why on Earth would you want to get involved in politics?" I listened to endless explanations of how politics was a synonym for corruption and careerism; an agent of upward mobility for an elite few, irrelevant to the lives of those it falsely claims to represent. Sadly, this attitude of despair towards the political establishment is far from uncommon. A 2014 study found that only four out of 10 citizens of surveyed countries trusted the leadership of their governments, blaming "rising inequality", "huge economic challenges" and "painful trade-offs" as areas of "particular attention in the eyes of citizens". In other words, the problems that we face today seem greater than the capacity of our leadership to solve them. Many feel helpless when confronted with a world that is seemingly hostile to their interests, and have simply lost faith in the ability of government to champion them. Loading Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion has been bailed up by outraged members of a remote Northern Territory community over his response to the youth justice revelations that triggered a royal commission in the Top End. The NT senator - under pressure last week for conceding that previous reports about the treatment of young detainees had not "piqued his interest" - was driving through the community of Borroloola on Wednesday, 1000 kilometres south-east of Darwin, when about 30 residents flagged him down. With some calling for Senator Scullion's resignation, the crowd included the aunt of local Jake Roper, one of the former detainees featured in the explosive ABC Four Corners investigation, and other members of his family. "They went up to Nigel Scullion and were asking him how, as the Indigenous Affairs minister, he didn't know what was happening to the kids," Larissa Baldwin, national co-director of the Seed Indigenous climate activism group and visiting Borroloola, told Fairfax Media. Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion says Parliament should consider a treaty with Indigenous Australians if it is recommended by the recognition referendum council, breaking ranks with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on the controversial issue. Speaking after a week of criticism over his response to abuse in the Northern Territory's youth detention system, Senator Scullion said he had not considered resigning after admitting the situation had not "piqued his interest" before a Four Corners report showed footage of abuse inside Darwin's Don Dale detention centre. Asked how the government would respond if Indigenous leaders working as part of the referendum council recommended a treaty instead of changes to the Constitution, Senator Scullion said it would be considered carefully. Before the July election, Mr Turnbull criticised Opposition Leader Bill Shorten over suggestions of pursuing a treaty agreement similar to those in place in New Zealand and Canada, arguing the discussion could jeopardise efforts for securing "an overwhelming consensus of Australians" for constitutional change. His campaign was uninspiring, but defibrillating Australia's flat-lining political and economic mindset after a troubled first half of 2016 may be a job tailor-made for Malcolm Turnbull PM. It will take all of that "Captain Positive" persona so embraced by voters when he took over from Tony Abbott just over a year ago. There are some signs this Turnbull is re-emerging from a self-induced funk born of an internal right-wing resistance, and a desultory election strategy that very nearly backfired. Turnbull entered this week with his battered mojo at last trending up, propelled by the consoling reality that the government had indeed survived, and that after an inordinate delay, had finally got back to making decisions at its first cabinet meeting in almost three months. One month after being praised by the Prime Minister as an "outstanding" candidate for federal parliament, Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun appears set to be dumped by the Liberal party for council elections. Proving that four weeks is an eternity in Sydney politics, Liberal heavyweights asked Cr Mannoun to step down as the party's candidate for mayoralty soon after they were talking up his chances of a historic federal election win. The change in Cr Mannoun's political fortunes came last month, when his home was raided by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Cr Mannoun put out a press release about the raid, saying he was "delighted" about the investigation and that ICAC was acting at his invitation, because he wanted to disprove allegations raised against him. But the key factional figures who decide the party ticket appear unswayed. A call by the inspector of the Independent Commission Against Corruption to allow people found corrupt but not convicted in the courts to have their records expunged has been dismissed by a leading barrister as "a misunderstanding of our criminal justice system". ICAC inspector David Levine made the recommendation for an "exoneration protocol" in his May report to Premier Mike Baird on the corruption watchdog's powers. A parliamentary inquiry is examining ICAC inspector David Levine's report on the watchdog's powers. Credit:Peter Rae He argued such people have "no recourse to repair the impact of the ICAC public inquiry, and it is likely that their names will always be associated negatively with an ICAC inquiry". But in a submission to a parliamentary inquiry considering the report, Bruce McClintock SC who reviewed the ICAC's powers in 2005 and again last year with former High Court judge Murray Gleeson firmly rejects the idea. An Anglican priest who spoke out against serial paedophile priest Peter Rushton told the royal commission on Wednesday the process had taken a huge toll on him. He has also told of hearing that Rushton had been with two vice squad detectives joking about which boys they would take to their tents one night after a scouting trip to the Williams River, in the Hunter Valley. Roger Dyer outside the courthouse on day two of the royal commission in Newcastle. This anecdote which came from a church member marks a potential wider link to paedophile activity outside of the church. The Rev Roger Dyer told the commission's hearing in Newcastle he was the priest at St Luke's Wallsend from 2006 to 2010, following Rushton into the parish. Hundreds of residents have expressed interest in a class action lawsuit over the water contamination scare rocking the Queensland town of Oakey, lawyers say. Following a visit from prominent environmental campaigner Erin Brockovich on Tuesday, Shine Lawyers announced it had enough funding to go ahead with the suit. Oakey Army Air Base is at the centre of a water contamination scare. The firm had been working with residents on the possibility of an environmental claim against the Australian Defence Force for at least two years. A spokeswoman confirmed the firm felt its strongest chance sat with a claim of "nuisance", arguing that the army had unreasonably interfered with neighbours' enjoyment of their property. Queensland's newest state school teachers will be among the best-paid in Australia under a new wage deal on offer from the state government. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced an in-principle agreement with the Queensland Teachers Union (QTU) on Wednesday, after members had reserved their right to strike if negotiations dragged on. Queensland teachers and the government have avoided strike action with a new pay deal. Credit:Louie Douvis The union was pushing for a 4.5 per cent annual pay rise, however the government's package will deliver a 2.5 per cent rise for three years in line with a whole-of-government pay increase policy. New teachers, who were previously paid about $62,000, will get $66,000 while the most experienced teachers can earn up to $101,000 without leaving the classroom. I thought I might have more luck with Google Play, so I VPNed into Tokyo and set up a Japanese Google account. As part of the login process it wants to send a verification email to another address and only lets you choose from a dozen Japanese email services. I tried creating a Japanese Yahoo account to use as the verification email address but once again got stuck in the sign-up process. In the end I trawled through the Australian stores looking for Japanese content that we'd all want to watch and we settled on Godzilla. Thankfully Google Play keeps the original Japanese soundtrack on some Godzilla movies and adds English subtitles, while the same movies in the iTunes store are dubbed into English. So one evening we watched Godzilla, Mothra and MechaGodzilla battle it out in Tokyo, with my family relying on the subtitles. Everyone enjoyed it but I was still determined to find more western content with Japanese language options. Subscription video My next bright idea was to turn to Netflix, which should have a collection of subtitles for practically every language in the world. Frustratingly it doesn't make every language available in every country. Even with Netflix's own original content like Daredevil, Netflix Australia only offers audio tracks in English and Italian, along with subtitles in English, Italian and Chinese. Switch to US Netflix and you get the addition of French, German and Spanish. When Netflix owns these shows, why does a multicultural country like Australia have fewer language options than the US? Why not just make every language available in every country? The simple solution would be to sneak into Japanese Netflix, but that's become a lot more difficult in recent times. Western VPN and DNS-based geo-dodging services typically only have one gateway in Japan, which makes it easier for Netflix to block them. Meanwhile they might have a dozen gateways spread across the US, so even if some are blocked you can often still sneak into US Netflix using a VPN gateway in one of the smaller cities. I tried two VPN services and one DNS workaround without any success, I could get into Japanese Netflix but couldn't watch anything. I had more luck with the Hola browser plugin, after several attempts, but the picture quality was so poor that it was unwatchable. You might have better luck with a Japan-based VPN service with servers in all the major cities, so you can jump between them. If it's anything like the west you'll probably get better results with services that don't blatantly advertise themselves as geo-dodging services. Another option is to sneak into other Asian services in search of Japanese language options. I finally struck gold using Hola to bluff my way into Hong Kong Netflix which offers English, Italian and Japanese audio along with English, Korean and Japanese subtitles. The picture quality was good but not great, it seems Hola has a better link to Hong Kong than to Tokyo. Download subtitles In the end I decided the easiest way to tackle this problem is to download subtitle files for the movies I already own. The free VLC media player software lets you play video files and run subtitles over the top, which you can download from a wide range of websites like yifysubtitles.com. Once your movie is playing, use VLC's Subtitles menu to load the SRT file. Then plug your computer into your television so you can watch the movie on the big screen. Barring native-speaking Chinese students from enrolling in Chinese as a Second Language during the VCE is unlikely to be discrimination, Victoria's human rights watchdog has declared. There are concerns students with no Chinese heritage are being deterred from studying the language because of fierce competition from classmates who speak it at home. Barring native Chinese speakers from Chinese as a Second Language is unlikely to amount to discrimination. Credit:Brendan Esposito This has led to just 400 non-Chinese speaking students taking up Year 12 Chinese in Australian schools. But it is hoped advice from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission prompts an overhaul of the state's rules. The CFA's previous board members refused to back a controversial workplace deal despite a government attempt to coerce it, the former chairman has claimed. Ex-chairman John Peberdy told a parliamentary inquiry that the board was asked to decide on the deal on June 10 just hours before it was dismissed. Emergency Services Minister James Merlino: "There's a lot of healing that needs to take place." Credit:Rob Gunstone And tensions deepened between the government and fire services on Wednesday with Emergency Services Minister James Merlino rejecting MFB chief officer Peter Rau's concerns that Victoria could be potentially unprepared for a terror attack. "Those comments are reckless and alarmist and don't reflect the reality," he said on Wednesday. Commuters battled serious delays on Melbourne's roads on Wednesday morning, following accidents on three major roads. Three lanes of traffic on the Metropolitan Ring Road were closed after a multi-vehicle incident just before 7am. A multi-vehicle collision caused heavy traffic on the Western Ring Road on Wednesday morning. Credit:Pat Scala Police said initial reports indicated up to three cars were involved in the smash, with one car on its side. An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said paramedics managed to free two people who had been briefly trapped in their cars. Accidental senator Ricky Muir has bid a proud farewell to his rollercoaster ride in federal politics, happy that he "did not fall victim to the two-party political games" and reminding all voters that they are "entitled to a voice". And while the 35-year-old's three-year stint in Parliament was ended officially on Wednesday with the results of the double dissolution election finalised Victorian voters voted in five Coalition Senators, four Labor, two Greens and Derryn Hinch Mr Muir said he did not feel his political life was over. Now former Senator Ricky Muir with wife Kerrie-Anne and son Tristan. Credit:Justin McManus There has been some speculation that he may make a run at Victorian or local politics and in a Facebook statement, he said "One way or another, I'll be back!" The Gippsland man also warned major parties that it was clear the public was "sick of the mainstream political establishment and class". A key witness in the case against a mother charged with murdering three of her children by driving a car into a lake has told a court of alcohol and drug problems she had at the time she says she heard the accused admit the crimes. The witness, who cannot be named, has told Melbourne Magistrates Court that Akon Guode said she deliberately drove her car into a lake in Wyndham Vale on the afternoon of April 8 last year. The witness also says that in the days before the children died, Ms Guode had spoken of tensions caused by a love triangle between Ms Guode, her husband and the husband's other wife, and that the other wife had threatened to use witchcraft on her. Four-year-old twins Hanger and Madit and 16-month-old Bol drowned in the lake. Another of Ms Guode's children, Aluel, was also in the car but survived. Construction on Melbourne's M80 Ring Road will begin within weeks in a bid to widen notorious bottlenecks at Sunshine Avenue and Keilor Park Drive, with no lane closures expected while the project is being completed. A 3.2 kilometre stretch of the highway, between Sunshine Avenue and the Calder Freeway, will be widened to include more lanes in both directions. Melbourne's M80 ring road. There are no concrete plans for road or lane closures, with the government hoping to minimise disruption for commuters. The $300 million facelift will include modern signage to update drivers about potential incidents and electronic speed signs that update accordingly. A disgraced Perth training organisation has had its registration cancelled by the national regulator, with all its students now discovering their study could have been in vain. Students from numerous West Australian high schools recently discovered their graduations were at risk, after the Australian Institute of Commerce and Technology was found to be delivering several Vocational Education and Training certificates without authorisation. Government regulations allow student' attendance not to be monitored, as long as they meet course progress requirements. The Australian Skills Quality Authority has now cancelled the school's registration outright, issuing a cease and desist notice for AICT to immediately stop providing training and issuing qualifications for all its courses. The school has been providing courses to both international students and domestic high school students in state, independent and Catholic schools in WA, with the state government now chasing the organisation for refunds. The couple was training her to be a 'display bird', or educational bird for school students to learn about ecology. But 'Jennifer' the barn owl, while now healthy and able to fly, could not be released as a deformed leg made her unable to hunt for food. Shaina Smith and her husband are registered carers for rescue birds of prey. At their home, they rehabilitate the surgery's rescue birds after their emergency care, and most can then rejoin the wild. A Swan Veterinary Hospital vet nurse has appealed for the return of a young barn owl, which has a damaged leg that makes her unable to hunt, stolen on Tuesday. Ms Smith returned from work on Tuesday to discover the owl gone and a trail of bootprints leading to a hole cut in the enclosure's netting. She said as the owl was nocturnal, she would have been taken from her nesting box while sleeping, without the chance to escape or defend herself. "She has bonded with me and believes I'm her mate and protector," Ms Smith said. "She is scared of men, except my husband, but it has taken him all year to get the point where she will at least not try to fly away from him. "She will be traumatised by this ... she could have feathers falling out already. She does a particular dance when she's scared, also cracks her beak as a defence mechanism, even screeching, all ways in which she tries to make herself seem bigger and tougher than she really is. "If she is really terrified she will lie on her back and try to defend herself with her claws." Six men who went on a burglary spree in Perth's north have been caught on CCTV after targeting a bakery and supermarket. Joondalup Detectives have released footage of Monday's burglaries with the aim of prompting anyone with information about the crimes to come forward. Police said a white Holden Commodore was stolen about 10.15pm from a business in Wangara and driven to a bakery on Lancaster Road in the suburb. The six men broke into the rear entrance of the bakery and stole a big number of cigarettes and a safe before leaving in the stolen car. Comment Given Premier Colin Barnett's machine-like defence of his leadership this week, one could be excused for thinking he had been binge-watching the brilliant Netflix political drama House of Cards. WA Premier Colin Barnett saw the writing on the wall... and acted swiftly. Credit:Philip Gostelow Let's be honest, Mr Barnett's manoeuvring was a political pantomime compared to Frank Underwood's murderous and relentless pursuit to conquer Washington, but nonetheless the premier's ability to douse the toxicity brewing within his own party was ingenious. From all reports, Mr Barnett got wind of the rumblings in the bowels of his parliament about his leadership ahead of the Liberal party's state conference in Joondalup, so he went on the offensive. A woman has died after reportedly being dumped out of a car at a Perth hospital. She was left at the emergency room of the Joondalup Health Campus hospital, in the city's north, at about 3am and was pronounced dead soon after. Major crime squad detectives are investigating, with reports the car drove sped away from the scene. More than 12 hours after being discovered, the woman was yet to be identified on Wednesday afternoon. It is a testament to the Trump campaign's penchant for controversy that bizarre comments made by the Republican candidate and his son suggesting Ivanka Trump is too "strong" to ever be a victim, are not even the most outrageous thing they've said in the past 48 hours. Fellow Republicans, Barack Obama and much of the media has been fixated by Trump's coarse comments about the family of a slain Muslim American soldier over the last few days, with the President calling Trump "unfit" to lead as a result. But in any other week, more attention might have been paid to the sexual harassment comments, which have been labelled "victim-blaming" and deeply out of touch. On Monday, as the fallout from Trump's intemperate response to Khizr and Ghazala Khan continued, the candidate spoke to the newspaper USA Today on a different topic: doubling down on his support for the former chairman and chief executive of Fox News, Roger Ailes. DUBLINResearch and Markets has announced the addition of the "Kuwait Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2021" report to their offering. Kuwait tire market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 11% during 2016-2021, on account of expanding vehicle fleet size, rapid infrastructure developments and increasing urbanization Furthermore, passenger car tire segment dominates the country's tire market followed by light commercial vehicle tire and medium & heavy commercial vehicle tire segments. Increasing demand for tires in Kuwait can be attributed to expanding passenger car fleet size and rising construction activities. Further, automobile sales in Kuwait grew at a CAGR of around 6% during 2011-2015 and are poised to demonstrate a similar trend during the forecast period. Anticipated growth in automobile sales is being supported by rising disposable income levels, increasing urbanization, and growing infrastructure and construction sectors in the country. Moreover, replacement demand for tires in the country is mainly addressed through imports, due to absence of domestic tire manufacturing facilities in the country. Kuwait mainly imports tires from Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand, India, US, Germany and Brazil. Expanding passenger car fleet size and rising sales of passenger cars is projected to augur well for Kuwait tire market in the coming years. Bridgestone, Yokohama, Michelin and Goodyear are few of the leading players operating in Kuwait tire market. However, increasing penetration of low cost Chinese tires is largely hampering volume sales of premium tire brands. Nevertheless, on the back of high consumer confidence and strong dealership network, premium tire companies are expected to maintain their dominance in Kuwait tire market during the forecast period. Market Trends & Developments Rising Popularity of Seal Inside Technology Growing Demand for Black/ White Walled Tires Increasing Retread Tire Market Growing Automobile Sales Expanding Unorganized Market Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Kuwait Tire Market Outlook 5. Kuwait Passenger Car (PC) Tire Market Outlook 6. Kuwait Off-The-Road (OTR) Tire Market Outlook 7. Kuwait Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Tire Market Outlook 8. Kuwait Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HCV) Tire Market Outlook 9. Kuwait Two-Wheeler (2W) Tire Market Outlook 10. Import-Export Analysis 11. Market Dynamics 12. Market Trends & Developments 13. Policy & Regulatory Landscape 14. Kuwait Economic Profile 15. Competitive Landscape 16. Strategic Recommendations Companies Mentioned - Bridgestone Tire Distribution Co. W.L.L - Continental AG - Goodyear Middle East FZE - Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. (ZC Rubber) - Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. - Michelin UAE - Pirelli Tyre(Suisse) SA (Middle East Branch) - Sumitomo Rubber Middle East FZE - Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., LTD. - Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/mfqgqg/kuwait_tire Contacts Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Sector: Automotive Tires Ford Donated "Ole Yeller" Mustang Raises $295,000 To Support EAA Youth Education And Aviation +VIDEO Ford Ole Yeller Mustang bred from Shelby GT350 the most track-ready and road-legal Mustang ever produced -- sold at charity auction July 28 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin Donation and sale benefits EAAs youth education programs, including Young Eagles: Ford auction vehicles have collectively raised more than $3 million in recent years to support Young Eagles and youth education programs Ford Ole Yeller Mustang pays homage to the famous North American P-51D Mustang and Bob Hoover, renowned United States Air Force fighter pilot and air show performer DEARBORN, MI - August 2, 2016: The one-of-a-kind, aviation-inspired Ford Ole Yeller Mustang developed by the design and engineering teams at Ford Motor Company sold for $295,000 at the recent Gather of Eagles charity event last week. The auction was held during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 the Worlds Greatest Aviation Celbration. Hank Menke, president and CEO of OFS Brands in Huntingburg, Indiana was the winning bidder. All proceeds from the car donation and sale benefit EAAs youth education programs, including the Young Eagles, which has provided free introductory flights to 2 million young people since 1992, helping grow the next generation of aviators. The Ford Ole Yeller Mustang is the ninth one-of-a-kind vehicle created by the Ford design and engineering teams for the auction in support of EAA youth education. Ford vehicles donated at EAA AirVenture events have collectively raised more than $3 million. The Ford Ole Yeller Mustang features a custom yellow exterior finish with Ole Yeller accents and badging, unique carbon fiber components and mirrors projecting images of the aircraft. The interior incorporates specially designed Recaro seats, sill plates, floor mats with unique logos and aviation inspired gauges. Bred from the ultra high-performance and limited production, Shelby GT350 Mustang, it features a 5.2L Ti-VCT V8 engine with Flat Plane Crank. Boasting the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine Ford has ever produced, the Shelby GT350 generates a heart-pounding 526 horsepower and exhilarating 429 lb-ft of torque. This powerhouse is mated to a TREMEC 6-speed manual transmission and features a specially tuned sport suspension, making it the most track-ready, road-legal Mustang ever produced. This years one-of-a-kind Ford Mustang honors two aviation greats, the iconic and historic P-51D Mustang fighter plane, and highly decorated fighter pilot, test pilot and air show performer, Bob Hoover, who is referred to by many as one of the greatest pilots ever to have lived, said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors. The Shelby GT350 Mustang, with its nimbleness, speed and aerodynamics, provided us with the perfect platform to create this tribute to the P-51D aircraft. Through this project, we take great pride in continuing our support for EAA youth education programs. Ole Yeller, with its bright, eye-catching yellow exterior, is one of the most recognizable P-51D Mustangs in the world. It still holds the prop plane record for coast-to-coast travel at 5 hours and 20 minutes, set in 1985. R. A. Bob Hoover, known as a pilots pilot, will be forever linked with Ole Yeller. Hoover is widely considered the founding father of modern aerobatics and thrilled airshow fans piloting Ole Yeller for more than 20 years. In 1997, Hoover sold "Ole Yeller" to his good friend John Bagley of Rexburg, Idaho. "Ole Yeller" still flies frequently and is based at the Legacy Flight Museum in Rexburg, Idaho. Were truly grateful Ford is, and has been, such a committed sponsor of EAA and AirVenture, said Jack Pelton, EAA CEO and chairman of the board. With its ninth Mustang donation, Ford has definitely delivered something exceptional that any auto or aviation enthusiast would love to own. The Ford Ole Yeller Mustang will allow EAA to provide support to our valuable programs helping us grow the next generation of aviators. Previous years unique aviation themed Mustangs created to support EAAs youth education programs, including Young Eagles, were: 2008 Mustang AV8R, with cues from F-22 Raptor, which helped introduce the glass-roof canopy and delivered an auction contribution of $500,000 2009 AV-X10 Dearborn Doll Mustang, crafted in honor of the World War II aircraft 2010 Two automotive icons the late Carroll Shelby, former U.S. Air Force flight instructor, and Jack Roush, longtime P-51 pilot collaborated for the first time to create the SR-71 Blackbird Mustang inspired by the legendary reconnaissance jet 2011 Blue Angels Mustang, created to celebrate 100 years of U.S. naval aviation 2012 Red Tails Mustang, to pay homage to Tuskegee Airmen courageous squadron of P-51 Mustang pilots who were the United States first African-American military airmen 2013 U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition Mustang, built to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team 2014 F-35 Lightning II Edition Mustang, which featured design cues from the worlds most advanced multirole fighter jet the F-35 Lightning 2015 Apollo Edition Mustang paid homage to the Apollo spaceflight program, which delivered astonishing innovations in technology and landed the first human on the moon. The Ford Ole Yeller Mustang exterior and interior were designed by Ford Design Manager Melvin Betancourt. Interior enhancements were supported by Ford Designer Nicole Rush and the Ford design fabrication team. The custom modifications were performed by MAD Industries, led by Chris Mangum. Additional contributers to the project include Ford Performance, Brembo, Carbon 2 Carbon, BASF Refinish, Pirelli Tires, Diode Dynamics, Rigid Industries LED Lighting, sPOD Power Distribution & Switching Components, 3M Window Films, PIAA, APR Performance, Rosen Electronics, FOCAL/The Source AV, Odyssey Battery, Recaro, Northern Engraving, Miko, American & Efird, Takata Holdings, Inc., Forgiato Wheels, Ceramic Pro 9H, Coverkings, L&G Enterprises and Signature Performance Tire & Wheel. Forget that series-ending slap. For most of us, the most dramatic storyline to emerge from the seven seasons of The Good Wife is the one that played out in the gossip pages: the purported feud between stars Julianna Margulies and Archie Panjabi. Appearing at the Television Critics Association conference in Beverly Hills to promote her role on the upcoming season of Blindspot, Panjabi addressed it in the most perfectly awkward way. Because The Daily Beast asked her to. Taking the bullet for every TV reporter who has yet to receive a satisfying answer to why Panjabis Kalinda stopped sharing scenes with Marguliess Aliciaand more specifically why, when they finally shared a scene together in Panjabis last episode, the scene was shot via green screenwe asked her to set the record straight. Was there a reason for the green screen? And was there a reason that the two actresses spent so much time not sharing a scene, even though it made no sense narratively? Heres her response: I loved playing the role of Kalinda. I had such a good time on it and its a role thats very special to me. Im so thrilled to be on another show. In terms of anything that happened on The Good Wife, I think its only respectful for it to stay on The Good Wife. It was time for me, for many reasons, to unzip the boots and step into another show. But I can tell you, for those of you who miss the boots, I do wear a pair of knee-high boots on Blindspot. You could hear the loud sigh in the room. We heard that Panjabi arrived at the TCA press tour, essentially a firing squad for actors to be grilled about their new shows, prepared for the question and likely had a canned answer to the question. The charming-ish knee-high boots motif certainly hints that it was true. For those who dont know why that answer was so dissatisfying, heres a quick primer. As has been widely reported, Margulies and Panjabi, leading up to the early exit of Panjabis character Kalinda from the series, had not shared a scene together for a whopping 51 episodes of The Good Wife. Despite the characters working together and, for much of that run, being friends (albeit complicated ones), the actresses were never actually in the same framewhen Marguliess Alicia needed to talk with Panjabis Kalinda, it was almost always by phone. It was speculated, but not ever confirmed, that Margulies and Panjabi did not get along off-screen and, as a producer on the show, it was Marguliess request that the two not film together. On the occasion of Panjabis final episode in the series, for the finale of the sixth season of the series, the characters finally shared a scene togetherbut the actresses did not. Sharing a drink at a bar, the actresses were superimposed together using CGI. They did not film the scene together. Asked why the scene was shot that way, series creators Robert and Michelle King wouldnt go into the gossip of it," referring to speculation of a feud between Margulies and Panjabi as the elephant in the room that they would not discuss. Asked about it by Us Weekly, Panjabi even went as far to say as she was not allowed to discuss why the scene was filmed using green screen technology. You know, I cant answer that, she said. Its not fair for me to answer those decisions. As much as I want to. But those decisions are made by the producers. Im not privy to those decisions. All I know is Im very grateful to the Kings for making the decision to cast me. Rumors that the actresses didnt get along and that Margulies asked for Panjabi not to film with her were exacerbated by an unfortunate she-said-she-said situation between the actresses. Margulies dismissed the rumors during a live interview with Vulture, calling it totally gossip. Theres no story there, sorry, she said. I actually had heard [that rumor] and I feel that it has been talked about and answered. I feel people just like to have gossip or make something into something that isnt there. Theres no animosity on my part. Its a shame, because I wonder if it was two men, when one finds out that he fucked his best friends wife, if it would get that same attention, you know what I mean? She attributed the green screen final scene to the fact that Panjabi was out of New York (where The Good Wife films) shooting another TV series, The Fall. Panjabi, in one of the greatest instances of celebrity tweeting of all time, posted a link to the Vulture article and tweeted, The Fall was not even in production at that time and I was in New York ready to film the scene! Panjabis comments at the TCAs probably wont represent the last time shell be asked about the feud. And TV writers likely wont move on from it. But, truth be told, Panjabis tweet is one of the biggest reasons that were all so fascinated by it. The main reason that her answer to our question was frustrating is that it was probably frustrating for her as well. She has clearly, as she hinted in her tweet and her Us Weekly statement, wanted to set the record straight for some time. She is also clearly being advised not to. Is it arguably classy to not talk about it? Yes. But she added fuel to the gossip fire with that tweet all those months back. And the flames will likely be flamed until theres a clear cut answer. Until then, well at least have the knee-high boots. A Texas man was arrested for beating his girlfriend after he became angry over one of her Snapchats, authorities say. Odessa police cuffed Jason Gregg early Saturday after an officer pulled the victim over for speeding and noticed blood running down her face. Gregg and his girlfriend had been drinking and dancing at a Midland bar, cops say. But the night took a dangerous turn when the 30-year-old suspect grew irate because the woman sent a snap to a friend in Australia, a probable cause affidavit states. Greggwhose own online trail includes selfies with his bulldogis charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony. He was released from Midland County Jail on $75,000 bond, a jail spokeswoman told The Daily Beast. Cops caught onto Gregg after a patrolman saw the 29-year-old victim driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone around 3:30 a.m. The woman told the officer she left her apartment to let Jason calm down, the affidavit states. The victim was speeding and we stopped her, police spokesman Cpl. Steve LeSueur told The Daily Beast. The officer right off the bat could tell something wasnt right. The woman told cops Gregg grabbed her throat and threw her head into the wall. While she was on the ground, he allegedly kicked her arms and legs. Gregg then allegedly smashed her head into a counter, cutting her head. The woman screamed when she saw blood dripping from her head, and Gregg covered her face with his hands so she couldnt breathe, the affidavit says. Gregg finally let her go and she fled their residence, police say. She was treated at the hospital for a one-inch cut that required seven stitches, authorities say. An attorney for Gregg could not be reached. Cpl. LeSueur said he didnt know what was in the Snapchat photo or why it sparked Greggs fury. But domestic cases in Odessa increasingly involve arguments over social media, LeSueur said. In December, Odessa cops arrested a 34-year-old man after he allegedly pointed a gun at his wife during an argument over one of her Facebook friends. According to the Odessa American, Michael Henry Abbott was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Abbotts wife told cops he threatened to kill her if she did not delete a male Facebook friend, the American reported. Abbott allegedly picked up a loaded shotgun and pointed it at the 31-year-old wife, according to a police report. The incidents come at a time when crime and social media are intertwined. Last month, a triple shooting in Norfolk, Virginia, was captured on Facebook Livedays after Philando Castiles girlfriend used the same social media feature to livestream his fatal shooting by a Minnesota police officer. In June, a mother in Tampa, Florida, claimed her 15-year-old daughter committed suicide after a friend posted images of her showering on Snapchat. (An attorney for an involved party questioned the moms bullying claims and said his client received hate mail because of the allegations, WFLA reported.) Meanwhile, a pair of accused killers in South Carolina asked people to follow them on Twitter and Snapchat during a court appearance earlier this year. Your honor, I have a question. What are these cameras for? Albert Lavern Taylor, 22, asked a judge during his bond hearing in February. The judge replied, Its the news media. Oh, the news media, said fellow defendant, Dennis Ezell Gibbs Jr., 19, before turning to a TV camera. Whats up, yall? Are you following me on Twitter? Follow me on Instagram, Taylor interrupted, Snapchat. At the time, police said the suspects may have fatally shot the victim, a 17-year-old boy, over a social media spat. Still, one 21-year-old Hawaii woman used Facebook Live to nab a much-older supervisor who was sexually harassing her as she did court-ordered community service. The video footage led to his arrest. Last week, Makana Milho told The Daily Beast she feared for her safety when she began secretly recording her conversations with Harold Villanueva Jr., a Honolulu parks department employee. In the footage, Villanueva Jr. propositioned Milho and copped to having sex with other subordinates. I didnt expect it to go viral, Milho said. What people dont get is that I did it for my own personal safety, as proof. I didnt expect people to share it and share it and watch. To listen to Republican after Republican, from Speaker Paul Ryan to Sen. John McCain, issue doleful statements decrying Donald Trumps attack on the Gold Star parents of the late Capt. Humayun Khan is to hear the forewarning bell toll of infamy. Surely, history will remember who stood, to the end, with Donald Trump in his bizarre and divisive quest for the presidency. History will record their names. Theres Floridas junior senator, Marco Rubio, who issued a tepid rebuke, days into Trumps attacks on the Khans, calling it an unfortunate feud on the same day he told his supporters, We have to make sure that Donald wins this election. Rubio once called Trump a dangerous con man. But today, both his re-election in Florida and his prospects for running for president again in 2020 are tied to Trumps fortunes in his state. And so Rubio demurs. And whither McCain, whose belated criticism of Trumps attack on the Khans was dutifully described as blistering by the D.C. press corps, but who refused to foreswear his support for the Republican nominee. McCains own war heroism was belittled by the five-time Vietnam draft avoider, who has vowed to bring torture back as U.S. armed forces policy. But no matter. McCains re-election in increasingly competitive Arizona is lashed to Trumps fortunes. No matter that the state is in play precisely because of Trumps offensive attacks on an American judge of Mexican descent and his vow to string a Berlin wall across our southern border. McCain, the onetime maverick, will not walk away. House Speaker Paul Ryan remains as vague and listless as ever, as does Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, even after Mr. Khan plaintively beseeched both men, by name, to repudiate Trump and his un-American, unconstitutional vow to ban families like the Khans from entering the United States. On Tuesday afternoon, Trump may have given McCain and Ryan a way out of purgatory when he refused to endorse either mans re-election campaign, using the same mealy language of not quite there yet that dithering Republicans have used about waiting to endorse him. How ironic it would be if the repayment for the Party Mens devotion was as much contempt from Trump as theyve drawn from #NeverTrump conservativesor worse, if after giving one-way fealty to their partys nominee, they lost their elections anyway. The ethno-authoritarian movement that is the Trump campaign has treaded so deeply into uncharted waters, it now expresses Russian nationalism more forcefully than American exceptionalism, with Trumps followers eagerly going along. That includes the leaders of the religious rightthe self-proclaimed defenders of the Christian faith and of old-fashioned family values, who have decided to fully back the thrice-married Lothario whose mantra is that women should be treated like shit, in the hopes that he will appoint anti-gay marriage, anti-abortion Puritans to the Supreme Court. Trumps brash Putinism; his ignorance of global affairs, complete with the candidate denying the plain fact of Russias incursion into Ukraine days after calling on Russian intelligence to commit cyber espionage against his political opponent; and Trump and his teams deep financial and business ties to Russia, have done nothing to dissuade Trumps sturdiest supporters, including his men and women on Capitol Hill. Few could have anticipated that we would see the day Republicans cheer heartily for the Russians, while booing the declaration that America is great. Donald Trump cannot win the White House if he fails to expand his support beyond the bulwark of rural, Southern, and non-college educated white men who polls show formed the bedrock of his support both before and after the Republican and Democratic conventions. Among Trumps unprecedented feats: He managed to shrink, rather than grow, his support after a one-week infomercial designed to showcase the candidate and his campaign. The dark, dystopian America described by Trump and his increasingly culturally isolated supporters was grafted to the reputations of Ryan and McConnell, who stood on stage for Trump in Cleveland (Sen. Rubio appeared, strangely, by video). Conventioneers leaving the hotels in Cleveland with satisfied smiles calmly asserted that the Bleak House they heard described on stage is indeed where they believe we live. Even the mainstream press, whose reflex to normalize any and every candidate, to make a wash of the differences and relative demerits between Democrats and Republicans, is as ingrained as ever, is beginning to shake out of its collective Trump sleepwalk. One by one, journalists are realizing that such rote on-the-one-hand-on-the-other-handism wont do in such extreme circumstances; with mobocracy and Putinism clamoring at the White House gates. History, and our own consciences, will record what we in media do in this moment of historic crisis, too. On Tuesday, President Obama said what many Americans are thinking, when he asked Republicans like McCain, McConnell, and Ryan, why, if they find the outrageous things Trump says so unacceptable, they continue to support him. The president, like many stunned Americans, wanted to know where the limit lies, if indeed there is one, where love of country overrides fealty to party. It was an unprecedented rebuke of a potential successor, and a singular challenge to the political leaders on the other side of the aisle. There has to be a point, the president said, at which you say, This is not somebody I can support for president of the United States, even if he purports to be a member of my party. And yet, for the Grand Old Party Men, its the Republican bunker or bust. It seems that no fact pattern, no matter how alarming or damaging, can shake the support of politicians who despite bitter criticism of Trumps serial outrages, are loath to abandon him, for fear of jeopardizing their own political futures, which they clearly believe depend on the furious, terrified voters still hoisting the Midnight Authoritarian on their shoulders, waving their pitchforks at the future. Its left to a handful of Republicansmostly women, with no elections to lose: an adviser to Jeb Bush, and most notably CEO and former California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, who says she will both vote and raise money for Hillary Clinton; plus retiring Congressman Richard Hanna of New Yorkto lead the parade away from the nominee. The only Republican with a race on the line in November who stands firmly against Trump is Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk, whose re-election is probably doomed anyway. For the rest, so long as Trump is not Hillary Clinton, they are with him, come what may (or hoping to be persuaded to his cause by some sudden change in the septuagenarians fundamental character). History will, and should, remember. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A Kansas City investment banker killed himself after an FBI raid at the same mansion where his wife reportedly also committed suicide two weeks ago. The feds executed a warrant on 64-year-old widower Mark Sellerss door at around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. On July 18, Sellers had been transported to a hospital for a heart attack after he reportedly discovered his wife Sandras lifeless body on their bed with a gun gripped in her left hand. A source close to the case told The Daily Beast that the feds were pursuing a significant financial fraud situation. Sellers refused to open the door. Thats when sources say the feds, marshals, and local cops entered using a sledgehammer. Sellers dashed out of the house and rocketed his red Ford Explorer Limited out of his property. He didnt get far. He got into his car and tried to get away, R.J. Campbell, who was standing at his front door, less than 10 feet from the melee, told The Daily Beast in an exclusive interview. He comes tearing around the corner from the cul-de-sac. In a matter of seconds everything took a tragic turn. There were cops running from behind and other cops who used [their] cars as a back group blocking him, Campbell said of the perimeter that authorities established just off the mansion located on the leafy block of Northwest 60th Street and Cosby Court. And with their guns drawn they demanded Sellers exit the vehicle. Then, I heard one cop shout, Hes got another gun, Campbell said. In a flash Sellers apparently turned a pistol on himself. Then I heard: Pop-pop. Two shots, Campbell said of the burst of gunfire in succession. They were kind of not really loud, like small caliber shots. Not a .45maybe a .22 or something like that, Campbell, a 77-year-old retired federal prosecutor, told us. The next thing I heard was sirens and an ambulance coming from two different directions. Authorities smashed Sellerss front driver side window to pull him out and then rushed him to a local hospital where he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to an FBI statement. In the wake of the suicide, the feds continued searching Sellerss home. They did search the house afterward, Campbell said of the scene that didnt come down until two hours after the gunshots. Alan McCracken, a 71-year-old agriculture expert, was watching from the second floor of his home as the deadly drama unfolded below. He said that though he didnt hear the shots, he managed to get a poised response from responders when he stepped out of his home. They were being very active by going up and down the street and one cop told me No, theres nothing to worry about. Were taking control, he told us. As a couple Mark and Sandra Sellers will be remembered as infrequent residents, but also not the most hospitable neighbors. I met them and lets just say I dont have anything nice to say about them, McCracken said. They were a strange couple. According to McCracken, the couple used the mansion as a pied-a-terre. They were here a few times a year, he said. Property records show the Sellers did own multiple properties, including a home about a 40-minute drive north in Lawson, Missouri. One neighbor, who refused to give her name, confirmed the sixtysomething couple had kids. Hes been here for years just like his wife, the neighbor said. His wife shot herself two weeks ago and they have children so this all really something. Indeed, Sandra Sellers had apparently ended her life on July 18. The second Sellers suicide sent neighbors, already reeling from one tragedy, into a state of distress. Relative Stephen Sellers told The Daily Beast he had learned about Marks suicide but that he was still searching for answers. I know what happened today but I dont know how this happened, he said. I have been updated but this is tough right now. The home remains sealed but is still on the selling block. According to Edie Waters, the 8,800-square-foot homewhich has been on and off the market for the past two yearsis still asking $1.295 million. Its still for sale but due to the circumstances after what has happened I have to wait until the house clears trust, she told us. Waters says she will not be going forward with any showings until the crime scene tape comes down and there is a clear trustee designated by a probate lawyer. If anybody wants to see the home I do not show it, she added. Im waiting to see whose signature goes on what. Sellers was a General Partner at his financial banking company called UBSS, LLC. On its website the shop is described as providing custom, a la carte consulting services... to help your company reach its potential from brick-and-mortar companies to start-ups and small growth firms. Sellerss own bio boasts 39 years experience in everything from finance to restaurant operations. Sellers goes on to showcase his hands-on skills in crisis and transition or intervention management that has brought success to four regional grocery chains as well as a national publicly-traded company. His longtime business partner, Thomas Denmark, whos listed on Sellerss company site as a General Partner, has almost identical bona fides. When reached by The Daily Beast at his Atlanta home, Denmark said he had been estranged from Sellers for a year and a half. We did work together for a while, he told us. He said he had been aware of Sandra Sellerss suicide but that he had just learned about his business partners fatal end only hours before. The fact that the banker gave authorities the slip and then shot himself only two weeks after his wife took her own life has some in the neighborhood suspecting foul play. Sandra Sellerss death was believed to be a clear-cut suicide, based on multiple local reports. Her death was reported at around 1:45 p.m. on July 18. And it was Mark Sellers who discovered her body. When cops arrived at the palatial residence, they saw the 63-year-old woman lying face-up on the bed with an apparent gunshot wound to the left side of the head and a firearm in her left hand, according to the initial police statement. A search for pills by cops revealed two other firearms inside the drawer from the nightstand next to her bed, the statement claims. Sandra Sellerss legs were discovered to be dangling from the side of the bed and there was a large blood stain and apparent burn mark on the pillow just above her head. Mark Sellers was lying on the bed next to her and reportedly breathing but unresponsive. The police pronounced Sandra Sellers dead at the scene and transported her husband to St. Lukes North hospital to be treated for what sources said was a heart attack. The second tragedy has left Sellerss business partner reeling. I just got a call from a buddy of mine who said something else bad has happened, he said. Ive been on the phone with a lot of people to figure out whats going on. Its all new to me. Despite teaming up with Sellars, Denmark claims hes been in the dark for awhile. I dont know anything thats going on with him, the 60-year-old entrepreneur added, citing the long time since he saw Sellers in the flesh. He went on to say they were estranged as business partners; their communication reduced to near silence. I havent talked to him in several months, he said, refusing to delve into specifics of the warrant the FBI served on Sellers Tuesday morning. So I dont have any knowledge of what was going on with him. Why were Republicans so upset that Bradley Cooper attended the Democratic National Convention? As the American Sniper star explained on The Late Late Show Tuesday night, he doesnt quite get it either. Cooper, who said he still lives part-time in his childhood home in Philadelphia, told James Corden that he took his mother to hear President Obama speak on night three of the DNC. It was unbelievable, he said of Obamas address. As for the barrage of news stories that came after cameras caught him in the audience, Cooper said, I was not expecting that. Republicans were up in arms that I was there watching the president speak, Cooper continued, struggling to figure out why that should be an issue. Cordens other guest, Todd Phillips, who directed Cooper in The Hangover films, explained that it was because Cooper played conservative hero Chris Kyle in American Sniper, which is like the mob being mad at De Niro for being in The Intern. To be there, it was probably one of the last times well hear him speak, Cooper added of Obama. I think he was an incredible president. I was really excited. Despite his Oscar-nominated role in American Sniper, a rare Hollywood hit among conservatives, Cooper has been a longtime supporter of President Obama and Democrats. Most notably, he has said he played a key role in arranging Obamas 2014 appearance on Between Two Ferns. It was during a state dinner at the White House that Cooper called his Hangover co-star Zach Galifianakis to ask him about getting the president on the show. He thought I was joking, obviously, Cooper told Howard Stern last year. But when all was said and done, the video got more than 35 million views and was credited with giving Obamacare the sign-up boost it needed. Its well known that Donald Trumps biggest supporter is Donald Trump. But his second biggest supporter is toosort of. Geoffrey Palmer, recently revealed to be Trumps largest single donor, is Trumps Los Angeles doppelganger: a blunt-talking real estate developer with bad taste in architecture. According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Palmer has donated $2 million to a pro-Trump super PAC called Rebuilding America Now. Although little known outside of his home city, Palmer is, as Trump was in New York, alternately beloved and reviled. On the one hand, his tacky, Italianate condos have brought new development to downtown L.A. On the other hand, Palmer has successfully eliminated numerous affordable-housing requirements, and his inward-facing, fortress-like developments are the antithesis of urbanism. According to an assessment by Bloomberg Politics, Palmers company owns 10,400 units in Southern California, at a total value of over $3 billion. Palmer did not respond to a request for comment by The Daily Beast, but last year, at an event hosted by the Urban Land Institute, he described affordable-housing rules as immoral. We dont need social engineering, Palmer said, as reported by the L.A. Downtown News. Why is it that these people think that real estate developers should give 15% of their profits away? Theyre not asking from grocery stores, gas stations, haberdasheries. They only ask real estate developers. Why is that? Private individuals should be subsidizing these people? Its not American. Sound familiar? Thus far, Palmer has provided the overwhelming majority of Rebuilding America Nows funding: $2 million out of a total $2.2 million raised so far. The group has focused on running negative ads against Hillary Clinton, and is chaired by yet another real estate tycoon, longtime Trump friend Tom Barrack. That amount is dwarfed by Clintons largest Super PAC, Priorities USA, which has raised over $100 million. The unlimited spending, of course, is a result of a series of Supreme Court decisions including Citizens United, which the Clinton campaign has vowed to overturn, by constitutional amendment if necessary. Since the spending of money is considered a form of free speech, Super PACs can speak as much as they want, as long as their activities are (supposedly) independent of political campaigns. Remarkably, a brand-new Rebuilding America Now ad, released on Aug. 1, shamelessly flouts these rules, concluding with the Trump campaign logo and slogan. Dancing on the edge of legality would not be out of character for Palmer. Indeed, as much as New Yorkers have complained about Trumps tacky, faux-gold-clad buildings and monolithic developments along the West Side Highway, urbanists in Los Angeles are even more critical of Palmers. Developer Geoff Palmer has built more apartments in Downtown Los Angeles than anyone else, wrote Adrian Glick Kudler in the L.A. neighborhoods and real estate blog Curbed, and they're all fucking terrible They're vacuums designed to suck the life out of a neighborhood that has worked so hard to become lively in the past decade. Indeed, Kudlers piece is a brilliant account of where kitschy aesthetics and sinister politics intertwine. The buildings, with names like the Medici and the Da Vinci, [Office1] arent just ugly pastiches of faux-Italian architecture. Theyre also designed to shut out the world, built like cloisters that face away from streets and toward inner-courtyard parks that are inaccessible to the public. Some even feature skybridges to allow tenants to avoid public sidewalks entirely. In another theme reminiscent of Trump, Palmer also has a record of shady dealings and casual lies. For example, theres the time when a bulldozer owned by Palmers company accidentally backed into a historic building that stood in the way of one of his developments. He got off with a slap on the wrist: a $200,000 fine and the installation of an ornamental fountain. And then theres that time when Palmers company was caught making illegal contributions to a Los Angeles city councilman. According to Kudler, that led to another slap on the wrist $30,000 in fines for 15 campaign finance violations. And like Trump, hes also ignorant of history. The Italians actually settled L.A. before the Spanish and Chinese, Palmer once wrote in a letter to Los Angeles magazine explaining why his buildings were covered in fake Italian facades. That, of course, is incorrect. Perhaps the greatest similarity between Trump and Palmer, however, is how their aesthetics reflect their politics. Long before Trump or Palmer were born, art critic Clement Greenberg described how kitschy art and reactionary politics were related. Kitsch is vicarious experience and faked sensations, Greenberg wrote. Kitsch is the epitome of all that is spurious in the life of our times. Likewise, demagogues like Trump provide an empty simulacrum of politicsall slogans, nationalism, and braggadocio. His slogans are exactly like Palmers Italian facades: fake. With not a trace of irony or self-awareness, their buildings and their political statements are clichesgestures that evoke pre-conditioned responses. Its no surprise, then, that Trumps largest donor shares both the candidates ideology and his aesthetics. They are birds of a reactionary feather, occupying a world in which bluster is taken for strength and corny facades mistaken for class. Theyre a perfect, tacky match. ROME When Bilal Erdogan arrived in the Italian city of Bologna in 2014, he was accompanied by a team of bodyguards. He was also met, quite literally, with a wall of protests. His security detail was delayed while his father, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arranged for diplomatic passports for them. Then graffiti kept appearing around the city: Erdogan Terrorista and Kurdistan being popular scrawls on the walls. While the elder Erdogan was building his reputation as an elected strongmana modern sultan maneuvering to quash a longstanding Kurdish rebellion, playing a tricky game with the so-called Islamic State just across the border from Turkey in Syria, suppressing rivals, and trying to rein in the military (factions of which recently staged an abortive coup), the younger Erdogan ostensibly came to Italy with the more modest goal of finishing his Ph.D. in international relations. He had begun work on his degree in 2006 at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C., and then switched to a branch of the school in Bologna, In 2014, when Bilal secured an Italian residency permit for two years for himself, his wife and their two young children, it looked like they would settle in for a while in style. The Turkish family rented an expansive, posh apartment under Bolognas famed medieval Two Towers in the historical center near the university campus, and the Italian foreign ministry put Bilal under whats referred to as protective surveillance, essentially trailing him and his private security details with armed guards wherever he went. Whether the Italian cops were there to protect him from anyone who might want to kidnap or assassinate the presidents son or family, or whether they wanted to keep an eye on who he met up with him, has never fully been disclosed (and of course one doesnt exclude the other). But in February of 2016, another set of cops was added to the surveillance detail. This time they were Italys financial police who informed the young Turk that he was under investigation for laundering around 1 billion ($1.12 billion) in cash, according to a summary of the court dossier, which was seen by The Daily Beast. A month later, Bilal Erdogan was back in Turkey, citing security concerns for his and his familys safety. Giovanni Trombini, his lawyer in Bologna, confirmed to The Daily Beast that he was not required to stay in the country because he has not been officially charged with any crime. According to local media reports, Erdogan left quickly, sending the parents of his childrens friends a simple text that stated, We are going back to Istanbul. Our security here is at risk. We will be back one day to say good-bye more calmly. That now seems unlikely. Last week, a court in Bologna ruled that the investigation into the alleged money laundering shouldnt be thrown out, but instead merited another six months of detective work. The allegations came to light when a private businessman and fierce opponent of President Erdogan, Murat Hakan Uzan, tipped Italian police that he had evidence the younger Turk was in Italy to hide his fathers funds. According to the court documents, Uzan supplied a phone tap from December 2013, when the Turkish establishment nearly crumbled amid corruption allegations in a so-called gold-for-gas deal with Iran. It is not clear how Uzan acquired the recording, but the aftermath of the coup attempt in Turkey last month, with many tens of thousands of people detained, arrested or fired throughout the military and the bureaucracy, and ongoing massive suppression of the independent press, suggests just how dense the networks of intrigue have been in the Turkish establishment and how ruthless Erdogan has become as he cracks down. Back in 2013, Erdogan was the prime minister, and a number of his key allies were arrested along with many of their sons who were accused of helping hide illicit cash. It was then, alleges Uzan, who is living in exile in France, that Erdogan told his youngest son Bilal to get out of Turkey and take a wad of the family cash with him. According to the wiretaps provided by Uzan to the Bologna investigators, Erdogan reportedly told his son on the phone, Whatever you have in the house, take away, OK? When the younger Erdogan reportedly asked if it was about the operation that led to his fathers associates arrest, the elder Erdogan said, Thats what Im talking about. Ill send your sister, OK? Then, according to the wire transcripts in the criminal dossier, the younger Erdogan reportedly said, Father, we have come together to Hasan. He can deal with it in the same way they did with the other money. The father then apparently hung up. A short time later, the younger Erdogan arrived in Bologna. Now that Italian magistrates have ruled that the investigation should continue, President Erdogan says his son will not be going back to Italy. My son is meant to return to Bologna to finish his doctorate but is in danger of being arrested, the elder Erdogan said during a hastily arranged interview with Italian state news channel Rai News24 this week. In [Bologna], they call me a dictator and demonstrate for the PKK [Kurdish militants]. Why does no one intervene? Is that the rule of law? This affair could compromise our relations with Italy. President Erdogan then added, Italy judges should deal with the Mafia, not my son. Not surprisingly, the threat and harsh words angered Italys Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who immediately tweeted, In this country the judges follow the law and the Italian constitution, not the Turkish president. That's called the rule of law. In Turkey, increasingly, the law is called Erdogan. Stealing and leaking emails from the Democratic National Committee could be just the start. Hacking the presidential election itself could be next, a bipartisan group of former intelligence and security officials recently warned. Whoever was behind the DNC hack also could target voting machines and the systems for tabulating votes, which are dangerously insecure. Election officials at every level of government should take this lesson to heart: our electoral process could be a target for reckless foreign governments and terrorist groups, wrote 31 members of the Aspen Institute Homeland Security Group, which includes a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and a former secretary of Homeland Security. That echoes warnings computer security experts have been sounding for more than a decade: that the system for casting and counting votes in this country is also ripe for mischief. It also appears to mirror the concerns of one presidential candidate. Im afraid the elections going to be rigged. I have to be honest, Donald Trump told voters in the key swing state of Ohio this week. Trump has complained before about bias and interference in the Republican nominating process, but this was the first time he claimed that the general election would be targeted. A spokesman for Trumps rival, Hillary Clinton, dismissed the Republican nominee as a reflexive conspiracy theorist. But the election system in the United States can be manipulated, experts warn, through targeted attacks on its several weak points. Whether Trump knows that is unclear. But he was priming the pump for Election Night mayhemand perhaps playing right into hackers hands. Voters who have already been told to be on the lookout for shenanigans would be rightly incensed to learn that their votes had been manipulated. And a candidate who merely suggested that the system had been hijackedwithout offering any proofcould inflame those passions and spread uncertainty. And God forbid the campaigns wind up suing one another over disputed ballots; the Supreme Court is down a justice, and is tied 4-4 between liberals and conservatives. Its hanging chads weaponized, former National Security Agency official Stewart Baker told NBC, referring to the 2000 elections paper ballot controversy. Surely, hackers know that. If someone really wanted to rig the election, here are five ways he might do it, from attacking the ballot box to exploiting the raw emotions stoked by a conspiracy-minded candidate. Intercept the Ballots Once ballots are cast at a polling place, theyre sent to another location to be counted. And while theyre in transit, theyre vulnerable to tamperingespecially if they travel electronically. Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia allow military personnel and overseas voters to return their ballots electronically, according to Verified Voting, a nonprofit group that advocates transparency and security in U.S. elections. The election official on the receiving end has no way to know if the voted ballot she received matches the one the voter originally sent, the group warns. Some ballots are sent through online portals, which exposes the voting system to the internet. And thats one of the most dangerous things elections officials can do, because it provides a remote point of access for hackers into the election system. Anything that doesnt absolutely have to be connected to the internet, dont connect it, Pamela Smith, Verified Votings president, told The Daily Beast. U.S. officials have also given that same advice to the owners and operators of critical infrastructure, such as electrical power grids. Smith and her colleagues recently told U.S. officials crafting computer security guidelines that elections systems should also be treated as vital national assets, and protected as such (PDF). Some ballots are returned via digital fax or email. And somebafflinglyare sent via email. Without encryption, emailed ballots can be easily modified or manipulated en masse while in transit from the voter to the local election officials, David Jefferson, a voting security expert and computer scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, warned in a blog post in 2011. The threat is still real. Jefferson called it trivial for someone with a modicum of technical skills to filter out ballots from a particular county or state and to automate a process to either discard ballots that contain votes she does not like, or replace them with forged ballots that she likes better, all the while keeping the voters signed waiver and envelope attachments intact. Such malicious activity would only result in a transmission delay on the order of one second or so. Most states that allow voters to return ballots via the internet limit the practice to overseas voters. But in close elections, those votes could make a difference. Alaska is also unique in that it allows anyone in the state to send in their ballots online. Marking and sending votes over the internet is my biggest concern, Smith said. They could be infected or tampered with. Or something could just go wrong and you couldnt do a good recount. Thats especially concerning in states that allow voters to electronically return their ballots but dont have paper backups to record how that person actually voted. Lie to the Voting Machines This may be one of the trickier hacks to pull off, but potentially one of the most damaging. Ballot definition files are an indispensible piece of the electronic voting system. They tell a voting booth what precinct its sitting in, which races appear on the ballot, the candidates relationship to those races, and other essential information that a voter needs to cast his ballot correctly. When a voter touches a candidates name on a machines screen, its the ballot definition file that tells the machine to record that touch as a vote. The file actually defines how the machine sees the ballot. And how are ballot definition files delivered to the voting machine? In some cases, via the internet. A corrupted ballot definition file could, in theory, tell the machine to count votes for Clinton as votes for Trump, and vice versa. Such a mix-up has actually happened, though not by design. In a 2006 county election in Iowa, officials were surprised to find a popular incumbentwhod been in office more than 20 yearslosing to a practically unknown 19-year-old college student. When they stopped electronic voting and counted ballots by hand, they saw that the voting machines were miscounting all the races on the ballots. It turns out that the machines werent programmed to know that not every ballot in the county looked alike. Some put one candidates name at the top in one precinct, and others changed the order. This is a process known as ballot rotation, and its meant to avoid favoritism or bias by always having one candidates name at the top of the ballot. The machine didnt know that. In a hack, the ballot definition file could be corrupted not to recognize this rotation, throwing the whole election off kilter. How badly? In that Iowa race, the voting machines had the incumbent coming in 9th place out of 10 candidates. When officials recounted the ballots by hand, they saw he had actually won. Target a State with No Paper Trail Electronic voting machines pose risks. But jurisdictions can minimize them by creating tangible records called voter-verified paper audit trails. Think of it like a receipt that shows the voter how his selection was counted. Audit trails also let election officials conduct a hand-count if necessary. If a hacker changed the votes cast on a machine, the paper trail should tell counters for whom the votes were really meant. But five states use electronic voting machines with no auditable paper trailLouisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, Delaware, and New Jersey, according to data from Verified Voting. And seven states use a mix of paper ballots and electronic machines with no paper trail. Among them are the electoral battlegrounds of Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Experts say states with no or incomplete audit trails pose a prime target for manipulation. If a hacker altered the vote totals in the machine, not only would there be no paper record to provide an authoritative count, but election officials might not even realize theyd been hacked, because the only record of the vote count would be the compromised machine. This is one of those things about paperless, electronic voting that makes it so unusual and problematic. How would you know? says Smith of Verified Voting. Voters in Washington state got a taste for this uncertainty in their 2004 gubernatorial election, Smith says. The election results were closedown to 100 votes in some countiesbut in places that used voting machines without paper records, the candidates had to just trust that the machines had recorded the votes properly. They couldnt be recounted by hand. And in one election in North Carolina the same year, a machine with no paper trail that was used for early voting in a county government office inexplicably stopped counting votes. About 4,500 were irretrievably lost, in a statewide contest that was decided by fewer than 2,000 votes, Smith says. In a situation like that, what do you do? They didnt even have punch cards to hold up, she said, alluding to the infamous 2000 presidential recount in Florida, where election officials had to visually inspect cards to determine which candidate voters actually cast a ballot for. Some counties in Florida are using electronic machines now, which were introduced to reduce the likelihood of another recount fiasco. But in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the scene of so much confusion in 2000, theres a mix of paper ballots and machines with no paper trails. Go After Wireless Systems Machines that can connect to each other or the internet wirelessly are the soft underbelly of election hacking. In one of the most notorious cases of vulnerable election systems, researchers from the Virginia Information Technologies Agency found that WINVote, a touchscreen voting machine used in elections between 2002 and 2014, including three presidential races, contained wireless cards that would let an attacker access the WINVote devices and modify the data without notice from a nearby location (PDF). The machines communicated with each other using an encrypted wireless system, but foiling it was easy: the password to gain access was abcde, which the Virginia researchers charitably described as weak. With that passphrase it was possible to join to the WINVote ad-hoc network with specialized security workstations and start attempting to compromise the WINVote devices operating system, the researchers wrote. Virginia decertified the machines, and theyre no longer in use. In fact, no state uses WINVote, according to research from Verified Voting. But any election system that uses wireless components at other points in the tallying process is potentially at risk. That includes machines that may have wireless systems that election officials think theyve disabled, but are actually still turned on. That was the case with WINVote. Say You Hacked The Vote, Even If You Didnt Hackers dont need to actually hijack a voting machine or ballot software to undermine confidence in election results. Merely the credible claim that an election had been tinkered with could compel a candidates supporters to cry foul, particularly if the vote counts are close or if the candidate performed worse than expected. If you have a system thats been shown to have vulnerabilities, even if someone doesnt attack them, but creates the impression that they might have, in a closely contested election youve got a problem, Avi Rubin, a computer scientist at Johns Hopkins University, and one of the first technologists to warn about vote hacking, told The Daily Beast. Given Trumps claims that the system is rigged, and his pattern of inciting supporters, its not hard to imagine the nominee seizing on just the claim of foreign hacking as evidence of interference. Launching a disinformation campaign on social media, or via text messages, is not challenging. And you only need a small percentage of people [to react] to have results, John Wethington, a vice president at computer security company Ground Labs, told The Daily Beast. Disinformation can also be used to depress turnout. Tell them that a particular polling location is closed. Or notify them that the voting machines in a particular area have been compromised, Wethington said. People might stay away if they think the election is already stacked against them. Particularly if their candidate tells them so. College campuses today are strikingly different from how they were five years ago, before the Education Departments Office for Civil Rights (OCR) demanded in 2011 universities enforce Title IX laws to prevent sexual assault and harassment on campuses. The stigma of the campus Hunting Ground persists, but universities have bent over backward to meet OCR demands. Theyve implemented sexual assault task forces; programs educating students about consent; and stricter sexual misconduct policies in response to reports of abuse. But a recent ruling by a federal appeals court suggests that universities may be overcompensating for years of failing to adequately protect alleged victims of sexual misconduct. On Friday, the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals revived a lawsuit accusing Columbia University of anti-male bias in responding to a female students accusation of sex assault by a male student. The Second Circuit reversed a U.S. District Courts previous dismissal of a male students suit against Columbia (the school suspended him for a year in 2013 for sexual assault: nonconsensual intercourse), permitting him to proceed with his claim that university officials violated Title IX, which bars gender discrimination by schools receiving federal funds. From the outset, Columbia University manipulated this investigation and engaged in gender bias against the accused, ignoring evidence and conflicting accounts presented by witnesses, Andrew Miltenberg, the plaintiffs attorney, said in a statement to The Daily Beast, adding that the university was motivated, in part, by public pressure. Known only as John Doe, Miltenbergs client claimed that Columbia did not inform him of his rights during proceedings and didnt interview multiple witnesses whom he suggested could confirm that he didnt force himself on the female student. Columbia said they didnt interview those witnesses because John Doe was found guilty of having coercively pressured the female student to have sex, rather than forcing himself on her. But the court was not convinced by Columbias defense. [I]t is entirely plausible that the Universitys decision-makers and its investigator were motivated to favor the accusing female over the accused male, so as to protect themselves and the University from accusations that they had failed to protect female students from sexual assault, wrote Judge Pierre N. Leval. Since the OCRs 2011 demand to universities, there have been 170 cases in district courts of male students suing universities for gender-based discrimination under Title IX law. Many of these district courtsincluding in New York, Connecticut, and Vermonthave arrived at the same ruling the Second Circuit did on Friday, at which point universities are more likely to settle. If youre a university and you get sued, the very first thing youll try to do is get the case thrown out, said Erin Buzuvis, a professor at Western New England School of Law and founder of the Title IX blog. If the plaintiff is able to survive that preliminary decision, then universities have to decide whether they want to engage in the hassle of litigation or just pay that person to go away. But where many male students have lost these cases or reached settlements in the past, their attorneys are beginning to find ways to get to the second round of legal proceedings. What weve seen in recent years is that these guys are starting to win, said Brett Sokolaw, executive director of the Association of Title IX Administrators. Theyre starting to prove that their universities mistreated them in an overreaction to OCR guidance or a politically correct desire to side with the victim. To the extent that cases citing gender discrimination are barometers of colleges being biased in one direction, these Title IX lawsuits filed by male students accused of sexual assault suggest that administrations may have swung too far. For 20 years universities leaned against victims, said Sokolaw. The problem is that theyre leaning at all, and that necessitates a correction to the system. Its my job to help the field get it right and address sexual misconduct on campuses. These vulnerabilities in the system are bad for victims [of sexual misconduct]. Wendy Murphy, a victims rights attorney who has sued under Title IX, applauded the Second Districts ruling as a good thing for victims of sexual assault. When federal courts treat sex-based violence and discrimination matters as the civil rights claims that they are, all women benefit because the class-based lens matters much more than the specifics of any single litigation, Murphy wrote in an email, adding: No more hierarchies is the only agenda for me. A spokesperson from Columbia University said the school does not comment on ongoing litigation. While lawmakers have been proposingand in North Carolinas case, passinganti-transgender legislation, transgender people are being killed at an unprecedented rate. The year 2015 saw an all-time high in reported killings of trans people in the United States: 21 by the time of the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance in late November. And 2016 is on track to be just as violent. This years victims range in age from 53 to just 16. Most were black or Latina trans women, many of whom were misgendered and misnamed by local media. Here are their faces and stories. Monica Loera, 43January 22North Austin, TX Monica Loera, a 43-year-old Latina transgender woman, was shot to death in front of her North Austin home on Jan. 22 by a man she was seen arguing with outside. One of her friends told the Chronicle, She was funny [and] beautiful She loved Madonna and she loved to cook. Others called her warm and vivacious. Jasmine Sierra, 53January 22Bakersfield, CA Latina transgender woman Jasmine Sierra, 53, died under suspicious circumstances in late January but, as KERO reported, many friends were unaware of her passing until March because police and local media in Bakersfield, California, misgendered her after her body was found. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots on the night of her death. Kayden Clarke, 24February 4Arizona Arizona cops shot Kayden Clarke, a 24-year-old transgender man with Aspergers, after he allegedly lunged at them with a knife during a suicide call. In his last YouTube video, he said that doctors were denying him hormones because of his Aspergers: I dont know what to do. Im stuck. He also claimed to have tried suicide by cop before. Maya Young, 25February 20Frankford, PA As WCAU reported, police found Maya Young stabbed in her neck and chest, on a Philadelphia street on the night of Feb. 20. The 25-year-old black transgender woman died in the hospital. A man and a woman were arrested for the murder. A friend told the Inquirer, She loved people and she loved being around people. She was a dreamer. Demarkis Stansberry, 30February 28Baton Rouge, LA Demarkis Stansberry, a 30-year-old black transgender man living in Baton Rouge, was fatally shot in the head by a friend who claimed that he thought the gun was empty at a New Years Eve party. The New Orleans Advocate reported that Stansberry worked two jobs and intended to marry Myesha Brown, his girlfriend of four years. Kedarie/Kandicee Johnson, 16March 2Burlington, IA Kedarie/Kandicee Johnson, a black gender-fluid Iowa 16-year-old who used both names, was found shot to death in an alley on March 2. Police are still investigating. One friend told the Des Moines Register that the kind and stylish teenager was a bright spot of sunshine, and the world is a little darker now. Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum, 32March 23Los Angeles, CA Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum, 32, was shot to death by her ex-boyfriend on the afternoon on March 23 in front of several witnesses in downtown L.A. Loved ones have been mourning the transgender woman on Facebook for months. On May 8, her mother remembered: My baby always called me on Mothers Day. I miss my precious love. Shante Thompson, 34April 11Houston, TX As KHOU reported, Houston transgender woman Shante Thompson was beaten with a crowbar or a tire iron by a large group of men, stabbed, and finally shot on April 11. Her mother Leola said that the men responsible had been bullying Thompson for a long time before the fatal attack. Keyonna Blakeney, 22April 16Montgomery County, MD Two men from Southeast D.C. were charged with murder and robbery after Keyonna Blakeney, a black transgender woman, was found stabbed to death in a Maryland motel room. Blakeney celebrated her 22nd birthday just days before her April death. On Facebook, one friend had written, Happy birthday. May you see many more. Reecey Walker, 32May 1Wichita, KS Reecey Walker, a 32-year-old black transgender woman, was repeatedly stabbed to death on May 1 by a boy half her age in the Wichita apartment complex where she worked. The mother of the 16-year-old said that he was defending himself from an attempted sexual assault; Walkers friends and family disputed those claims. Mercedes Successful, 32May 15Haines City, FL Mercedes Successful began transitioning weeks before being shot. On May 15, the 32-year-old black transgender woman and performer was found dead in a Haines City, Florida, parking lot. One of her last Facebook posts was a Mothers Day note: Youve been not only a mom for my siblings and I but for all my friends. I love you. Amos Beede, 38May 28Vermont A year and a half into his transition, transgender man Amos Beede, 38, was brutally beaten by five people after an apparent dispute between two Vermont homeless encampments, dying six days later from a brain injury. Beedes sister Ida McKinney told WPTZ, We wanted him to wake up and he couldnt. He couldnt wake up. Goddess Diamond, 20June 5New Orleans, LA On June 5, Goddess Diamond, a 20-year-old black transgender woman, died of blunt force trauma and was left in a burning car in New Orleans, as The Advocate reported. A man was spotted on surveillance footage leaving and returning to the car with a container of gasoline. Diamond worked at Walmart and was remembered as very loved and very kind. Deeniquia Dodds, 22July 4Washington, D.C. Deeniquia Dee Dee Dodds was shot on the Fourth of July and left in a D.C. street. She was taken off life support nine days later, as WRC reported. The 22-year-old black transgender woman was remembered by her family as a beautiful person who loved to make you laugh. A police investigation is ongoing. Dee Whigham, 25July 23St. Martin, MS Dee Whigham, a 25-year-old black transgender woman and RN, was in Mississippi in late July to see a rodeo when she was found stabbed to death in her hotel, the Sun Herald reported. Navy Seaman Dwayna Hickerson was charged. After Hickersons arrest, Whighams sister wrote, It feels crazy looking at the person that has selfishly changed your life forever. Autopsy results released in September and reported by WCMH showed that Whigham was stabbed 119 times "with most to her face" and that her throat had been slashed three times. Skye Mockabee, 26July 30Cleveland, OH As Cleveland.com reported, 26-year-old Skye Mockabee was found dead with signs of head trauma in a warehouse parking lot on July 30, making her the fourth transgender woman killed in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in the last four years. According to her Facebook profile, she worked at a Chipotle. Erykah Tijerina, 36August 8El Paso, TX Police found the body of Erykah Tijerina, a 36-year-old transgender Latina woman, inside an El Paso apartment with obvious signs of foul play, KFOX-14 reported. Her sisters told the TV station that Tijerina was funny, giving and unapologetic about the person she was. Another friend told KTSM: She just wanted to be treated like anybody else. RaeLynn Thomas, 28August 11Columbus, OH RaeLynn Thomas, a 28-year-old black transgender woman, was allegedly shot and beaten by her mothers ex-boyfriend, James Allen Byrd, as WBNS reported. RaeLynns mother Renee told WBNS that Byrd had long disapproved of her daughters transition and even called her the devil before shooting her. RaeLynns final words: Mom, please please dont leave me. Mom, Im dying. T.T. Saffore, 28September 11Chicago, IL On the evening of September 11th, 28-year-old T.T. Saffore was found dead lying near railroad tracks with her throat slit, the Chicago Tribune reported. Although major Chicago newspapers misgendered Saffore, the citys LGBT newspaper Windy City Times spoke with her friends and family who said that the slain transgender woman was a happy cheerful person, and a great gymnast. Jaliyah Armstrong, who organized a vigil, told the Windy City Times that another woman had threatened Saffore with a knife just days before the homicide, adding, People dont know what we go through out here. They dont see the struggle being transgender on the West Side. Crystal Edmonds, 32September 16Baltimore, MD At around 3 AM on September 16th, Baltimore police found Crystal Edmonds, a black transgender woman, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, the Associated Press reported. She died later that morning in a hospital. Police are offering a cash reward of up to $2000 for information related to the homicide. KeyAyshia Tucker, a local transgender advocate, told WMAR that violence against transgender women in Baltimore is all too common, noting that [they] are looked at, not as people, but as an object that has no value. What would happen if the GOP dumped Donald Trump? Top party officials are reportedly exploring options on how to replace the Republican nominee should he exit the race. But suppose, on top of his Gold Star-family insulting, almost-treason encouraging, and baby expelling, Trump were to really cross some line, whatever that might be, and GOP leaders decide they cant support him anymore. Nor do they just want to disown the Republican nominee; suppose they want him off the ballot. Could they do it? Or, imagine if Trump himself that sees hes about to get shellacked (by a woman, no less) and to save himself the humiliation, blames the rigged system and drops out. Again, unlikelybut not impossible to imagine. What then? I asked Nathaniel Persily, Stanford law professor and a pre-eminent scholar of election law (and, lucky for me, an old friend), what would happen if Trump were to quit, or to be formally dumped by the GOP. Could someone else be the Republican choice for president? His answer? Yesbut it depends on timing. And there are three sets of rules that affect what would happen next. 1. Party Rules First, Persily explained, are the partys own rules. The Republican Party rules states that the Republican National Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate for President of the United States or the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States. They could do this by calling a new convention, or, more likely, casting votes remotely. So in case of a Trump withdrawal, Persily said, you can either redo the convention or, more likely, the RNC itself would just re-nominate a candidate. What about a Trump Dump? Here, its uncharted territory, and Persily doesn't think the RNC has much room to maneuver. But notice that weasel-word otherwise in the RNC rules. That basically allows the RNC to come up with any reason to declare the spot vacant. For example, they could, following President Obama, deem him unfit for office as in, mentally unfit. Or they could hold a vote of no confidence. No doubt, if Trump is fighting them, that would be a bumpy road, possibly involving litigation. It might be easier for leaders to endorse Gary Johnson and move on. But because of that word otherwise, its likely within the RNCs power to dump Trump even without his consent. Then they would be able to fill the vacancy by majority vote. Interestingly, that person could be anyone. Mike Pence does not automatically move up the ticket. On the contrary, unless Pence drops out (or is similarly found to be unfit, which seems impossible), he remains the nominee for Vice President, which, after all, is a separate office and a separate nomination. Most likely, the GOPs knight in shining armor, House Speaker Paul Ryan, would be a leading candidate for a last-minute substitution. So, within the GOP rules, its not hard to replace Trump if he drops out, and its not impossible to kick him off the ticket because of the word otherwise. 2. State Ballot Rules Then it gets trickier. Right now, Donald Trumps name is set to appear on the ballots of 50 states. So you have questions about ballot access, Persily said. There are deadlines in the state laws and thats a state-by-state finding. Arkansas and Oklahoma require names to be certified by Aug. 10, for example, North Carolina by Aug. 5. Delawares ship has already sailed; they require certification the week after the national convention takes place. So in those states, even if the RNC duly voted for his replacement, it would simply be too late to take his name off the ballot. In other states, though, the RNC has as late as Sept. 21 (Alaska) to replace the names on the ballot. If it happens in August, Persily said, its not really a big problem. In September, if Trump were to quit or get fired, its possible that his name would be on some state ballots but not on others. And in October, its too late to take him off the ballot. Now, just because someones on the ballot doesnt mean they are necessarily in the running. There have been congressional races in which candidates have died while on the ballot. In New York, for example, veteran Congressman Ted Weiss passed away shortly before the 1992 election. Democrats hastily nominated Assemblyman Jerrold Nadler, and even though voters cast their ballots for Weiss, Nadler received the votes. Hes been in Congress ever since. Presidential elections are different, however, because, as you may recall from the 2000 election, we dont elect our presidents directly. Actually, voters in each state choose electors who formally vote for president in the Electoral College. And so we have to look to a third set of rules. 3. Electoral College Rules Suppose Trump quits in October. Its too late to modify the ballots, but the RNC hastily meets on Skype and puts Paul Ryans name in the hat. Its all over the news, and in some states, there could even be notices at polling stations: Voting for Trump actually means voting for Ryan. But still, those voters are pulling the lever by Trumps name. What happens now? The question, Persily explains, is whether state electors are pledged to the individual candidate, or to the party that nominated him or her. Would Donald Trumps electors be able to vote for someone else in the Electoral College? Most states say yesyou vote for whoever the party has nominated. Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, South Carolina, Vermont, and Wyoming go by candidate. Heres Maine, for example: The presidential electors at large shall cast their ballots for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates who received the largest number of votes in the State. So in those states, if Trump says hes running, and his name is on the ballot, those electors have to vote for Trump. Conceivably, if Trump withdraws of his own accord, courts might rule that Trump wasnt really the candidate anymore, even though he was the name on the ballot. But that isnt entirely certain. More states, though, go by party, including Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia. Hawaiis statute, for example, says that The electors, when convened, if both candidates are alive, shall vote by ballot for that person for president and that person for vice president of the United States, who are, respectively, the candidates of the political party or group which they represent. In those states, the state GOP could well say As duly confirmed at the RNC meeting, Donald Trump is not the nominee of the Republican Party. Electors must vote for the actual nominee, Paul Ryan. In sum, right up until Nov. 7, the Republican Party could dump Trump by declaring him unfit for office, reconvening, and nominating someone else. But it would get messier depending on how long they wait. If Trump withdraws, theres really no problem, legally speaking, even at the last minute. While his name would be on the ballot, electors would vote for the partys actual nominee, or courts would declare Trump no longer the candidate. All this, of course, is unprecedented. And obviously, the political upheaval would be far more significant than the legal provisions in play. Its not likely, Persily says of the legal machinations. But who thought that Trump was likely? The Trump campaign went out of its way to dramatically alter the Republican Partys official position on Ukraineagainst the wishes of GOP hawks and despite senior Trump aide Paul Manaforts insistence that they werent involved. The move, first reported by The Washington Post, alienated Republicans who have made up the partys foreign policy base for decades, and indicates that the Trump campaign has a particular interest in Ukraine, where Manafort had previously worked for a pro-Putin leader. Manafort said on NBCs Meet the Press this past weekend that the change in language on Ukraine absolutely did not come from the Trump campaign. But this account is contradicted by four sources in the room, both for and against the language. Eric Brakey, a Maine delegate who identifies as a non-interventionist, said he supported the change, which was pushed in part by the Trump campaign. Some staff from the Trump campaign came in and came back with some language that softened the platform, Brakey told The Daily Beast. They didnt intervene in the platform in most cases. But in that case they had some wisdom to say that maybe we dont want to be calling for very, very clear aggressive acts of war against Russia. They substantively changed it, added Washington, D.C., delegate Rachel Hoff, who was present during the meeting. It absolutely was my understanding that it was Trump staff. According to two Republican delegates, the Trump campaigns efforts were led in part by J.D. Gordon, a Trump campaign official and a former spokesman at the Pentagon. Meanwhile, records for the meeting seem to have disappeared. A co-chair for the national security platform subcommittee told The Daily Beast that the minutes for the meeting have been discarded. The Republican National Committee had no comment when asked whether this was standard procedure for all the subcommittees. During the meeting, pro-Cruz delegate Diana Denman proposed language that called for providing lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine. Her amendment was put on hold so that Republican staff could work with Denman on the language. What followed was a back and forth between Denman and the Trump campaign, according to Denman. They were over sitting in chairs at the side of the room, Denman said of two men who said they working for the Trump campaign, one of whom was Gordon. When I read my amendment, they got up and walked over and talked to the co-chairmen and they read it. Thats when I was told that it was going to be tabled. Denman says the two men took a copy of her amendment back to their chairs, then made calls on their cellphones. Later, she said the two members of Trumps team claimed to have called the campaigns New York headquarters, and that her amendment needed to be changed. When the language came back up, after consultation with Trumps staffand in direct contradiction to Manaforts insistence to the contrarythe section called merely for appropriate assistance to Ukraine. That change in wording was particularly controversial, given Manaforts ties to the country. Manafort has previously worked for pro-Putin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was forced out of the country due to popular demonstrations. Putin subsequently annexed Crimea and encouraged an ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. It was also an unusual move for a Trump aide to be hovering over the committees deliberations on Ukraine. Thats something that did not occur in other subcommittees, or on very many other issues. Boyd Matheson, a Utah delegate on the Constitution Subcommittee, said that the Trump campaign was nowhere to be seen during their deliberations. David Johnson, an Ohio delegate who worked on the Subcommittee on Jobs and the Economy, said that nobody from the Trump campaign suggested that we do or not do anything. Im reasonably sure that the campaign staff were in the room and that they gave an opinion on the Ukraine language, said Steve Yates, the chairman of the Idaho Republican Party. I just cant say for sure what that opinion was. Yates, who served as a co-chair for the national security subcommittee, said that the language was softened as part of a broader initiative to keep the platform broad. Republican National Committee staffers and Trump campaign aides urged as we dealt with issues that as we look at a platform document, it should be more of a list of principles and general guidance, less on operational specifics. Even those in the room cannot recall who made the actual change to the Ukraine language, amid a rush of parliamentary procedure and amendments and amendments to the amendments. The minutes to the subcommittee, recorded by a secretary, would shed some light on which delegate proposed the language. But Yates, a co-chair to the subcommittee, said that the minutes were discarded after the convention, and no record existsconvention minutes only exist during the convention, he said. What you keep is your summary of conclusionsessentially, the platform itself. Asked whether minutes exist for the meeting, Republican National Committee spokesperson Lindsay Walters responded, At this time they do not. She said that they arent available yet but could not say when they would be availableif ever. The final GOP platform did include some pro-NATO language, and some warnings to Russia. If Trumps people really wanted to soften language on Russia, they did a lousy job, said Len Munsil, a delegate from Arizona. Language on Russia is so strong that one of the members of the platform who opposed it said we were promoting a response to Russia that constituted an act of war and would lead to World War III. The platform includes praising NATOs continued effectiveness as vital. It supports the placement of NATO troops in Poland. And while the GOP platform affirms our determination to maintain a friendship with the people of Russia, it also says that the GOP will not accept any territorial change in Eastern Europe imposed by force. The Ukraine change, combined with the Trump campaigns involvement and questions about Manaforts connections to Russia, have riled Republican hawks who have favored maintaining a stauncher, anti-Putin stance. To me its troubling because any other year this wouldnt have been a controversial proposal. Im not incensed about the campaign intervening in the platform process. But the priorities this reveals [given a hands-off strategy on other issues] is what is most troubling to me, Hoff said. with additional reporting by Andrew Desiderio. ASHBURN, Virginia When Fawad Rahimyar learned Donald Trump was coming to his neck of the woods, he hopped on Facebook. Rahimyar is a rising sophomore at George Mason University, and hes Muslim. He was also a big Bernie Sanders fan during the Democratic primaries, and isnt quite sure hes ready to vote for Hillary Clinton. But hes certain Trump would be a disaster. So with less than a days notice, he and a few other friends rounded up about two dozen people to infiltrate the Trump rally, cause a disruption, and do a bit of protesting. They woke up early and waited in line for hours to get into the Briar Woods High School auditorium. After Trump started speaking, they turned their backs on him and held up their hands in peace signs. Rahimyar took off a plain black shirt to show the one he was wearing underneath. It read Islam means peace. They all got escorted out and spent the rest of the event outside, waving signs and arguing with Trump supporters. Donald Trump really, really wants to win Loudoun Countythe absurdly wealthy Northern Virginia county where the rally Rahimyar protested took place. Trump even said so in his speech. And he should; George W. Bush won it in 2000 and 2004, and Barack Obama picked it up in 2008 and 2012. Loudoun voters predict presidents. Trump seems to get that. Loudoun County is so important, he told the crowd at the offset of the rally. Butevidenced by his speechhe doesnt understand it. At all. And if he wants to compete there, hes going to have to learn quick. Loudoun is the richest county in America. Thats due in part to the enormous amount of money the federal government spent on the War on Terror in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The place is replete with defense contractors, engineers, and rocket scientists. And its recession-proof; while the rest of the country struggled through the Great Recession, Loudoun kept sprouting up neighborhoods of McMansions, seemingly with a swimming pool in every backyard. But Trump seems to think its part of the Rust Belt. Toward the end of his speechto an atypically preppy, professional, clean-cut audiencethe candidate bashed the county economy. Youre doing lousy over here, by the way, I hate to tell you, he said. That is empirically false. He then listed a number of factory closures, including Ball Corp., which was five hours away in Bristol, as far from Loudoun as you can get without leaving the state. And he mentioned the closure of a Smithfield Foods Inc. Anybody used to work for Smithfield? he asked the crowd. Its almost certain none of them did. The Smithfield plant that closed was in Hampton Roads, Virginiathree hours from Ashburn, in the southeast corner of the state. As Trump was going through this list, a man in the front yelled about sequestrationthe defense spending cuts that actually jeopardize Northern Virginia jobs. Its true, its true, Trump replied. Then he went back to naming factories. Stanley Furniture closed its plant, he continued. Stanley Furniture did indeed recently close a plant, in 2014. That plant was in North Carolina . He also mentioned the closure of a plant owned by Invista, a Koch Industries company that produces fabric and carpeting. That plant was two hours from Ashburn, and it closed eight years ago. Then Trump discussed job losses in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. He wasnt completely tone-deaf; the mogul also talked about increasing defense spending, particularly on the Air Force. But the bulk of his rally speech felt like it was being delivered in Youngstown, Ohio, or Harrisburg, Pennsylvaniahe rambled about currency manipulation, NAFTA, unfair competition with South Korea, the perils of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and on and on. And while factory closures and globalization present very real economic hazard to many families around the country, they simply arent an issue in Loudoun. Know what is an issue in Loudoun, besides defense spending? Protecting the rights of immigrants and other minorities. The population of voters like Rahimyaryoung, well-educated members of ethnic or religious minoritieshas grown rapidly in Northern Virginia over the past two decades. In fact, the two demographic groups that Trump has done the most to isolate are also among the fastest growing in Loudoun: Hispanics and Muslims. Loudouns Hispanic population is also large and growing. Hispanics make up almost 14 percent of the countys population, according to Census Bureau data from July 2015. According to 2010 data from the Association of Religion Data Archives , only 15 U.S. counties have more Muslim residents than Loudoun. And only 10 counties had a higher percentage of Muslim residents. In the years since then, Loudouns Muslim community has only grown, both in numbers and political clout. The All Dulles Area Muslim Society in Sterling, Virginia, is often frequented by politicians of both parties looking to court the community. It hosted Martin OMalley on Dec. 11, 2015the first mosque to get a visit from a presidential candidate this cycle. Muslims living in Loudoun County wont be hard to find. One woman who protested with Rahimyar outside his Briar Woods High School event was 18-year-old Azeeza Hasan, the valedictorian of the high schools class of 2016. I feel like its important to show Trump what the make-up of this Briar Woods community and alumniwhat they really are, how diverse it is, she told WUSA9 reporter Peggy Fox . I think its just important to have Mr. Trump know we are here, she added. Mary Elizabeth VonDras: This is not what unity or democracy looks like Its been a couple of tough weeks for the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro. First, court documents in the U.S. revealed alleged confessions by the infamous nephews of Maduros first lady, who are being held on drug-related charges in New York. They showed how the two young men planned an 800-kilo cocaine deal, and it looks like the trial may expose a whole network of public officials. To make an ugly case even uglier, court documents also showed two of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration informants involved were murdered soon after the nephews were arrested last November. Then, on Monday the U.S. Justice Department announced the indictment of two former top officials of the ONA, the Venezuelan anti-narcotics agency. Maj. Gen. Nestor Reverol, one of the officers indicted, was also head of the Venezuelan National Guard until a month ago. Different corruption cases involving Venezuelan public officials have been exposed by Brazil and Argentina, and Venezuelas former regional allies have been blocking its previously expected appointment to the rotating presidency of MERCOSUR, the South American common market. Yet inside Venezuela, official accountability for public officials is nonexistentunless they fall from grace with the big bosses, and then their offenses (disloyalty or excessive ambition) may have nothing to do with their actual corruption. For the average man or woman on the street, this institutional rot is taken as a constant. Ironically, all this pressure from the outside only means the most notorious crooks are likely to stay in Venezuela and enjoy official protection, at least for a while. Not the least of the reasons Maduro and his cronies want to hold on to power is the certainty that a new government would leave them exposed to prosecution domestically as well as internationally. So the official posture is defiance. On Monday, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration states without equivocation that Nestor Reverol and his former ONA deputy, Edylberto Molina, used their positions of power to enable drug trafficking organizations, all the while hindering law enforcements efforts to thwart them. On Tuesday, Maduro appoints Reverol minister of interior and justice. And theres more. Maduro noted that Reverol had been minister of interior in the latter days of the Hugo Chavez presidency and broke the record for capturing global drug traffickers. Thats why the narcotraficantes who run the the politics of the United States want to make him pay, said Venezuelas president. In the midst of the economic and political crisis thats all but overwhelmed the country thanks to low oil prices and high government incompetence, Maduro is not going to mess with top military officers, no matter what their crimes. Indeed, he just keeps giving them more powerand, despite the risks, they keep taking it. Crime and impunity, corruption and politics are all deeply interwoven. The expression narco-state has been thrown around loosely when referring to Venezuela, but the explosive Venezuelan crisis has so many angles, in fact, its hard to decide where to start. Over the years, Hollywood has oversimplified the level of complexity involved in disarming a bomb. On film it usually comes down to a timer, a choice between two wires (red and blue), and a Swiss Army knife. Pretty straightforward. You close your eyes, say a prayer, and clip. Theres a 50 percent chance youll either save the day, or youll end up splattered like a Jackson Pollock all over the pavement. Real life, however, is so much more complicated. Ask Venezuelas minister of defense, Gen. Vladimir Padrino. On July 11 President Maduro went on national TV to announce that Gen. Padrino (whose last name, coincidentally, means godfather) would share the task of solving the food crisis. Maduro explained that Venezuelas most prominent military tactician was the correct person to fight off scarcity since it was a consequence of The Economic War waged by the countrys enemies. Then Maduro looked at his ministers, and gave them a very clear order to subject themselves to whatever Gen. Padrino needed to handle these issues. The order was penned down in a resolution which confirms the vast powers that the general now has over the cabinet. This is much more than an unusual, albeit illegal, transfer of powers to the Minister of Defense. In effect, Padrino was appointed as a prime minister of sorts, and he has indeed assumed the role, as President Maduro has become less visible in the past few weeks. Swiftly enough to choke local outrage, and cryptically enough to block the meddling eyes of international media, the military has made its move. A coup detat? Power is still being shared. But its increasingly hard to tell who has the final word. While Padrino has at his disposal every single minister of Maduros cabinet; and seemingly unlimited power to address the situation, the military-led government of Venezuela hasnt taken a single steady-handed measure. Instead, it has been doubling down on Maduros bad decisions. For instance, a disturbingly unconstitutional decree was released a few days ago, which, in short, adds forced labor to the Venezuelan formula for planetary happiness. On July 22, the Ministry of the Popular Power for the Social Process of Labor issued a resolution which establishes that any public institution or private company involved with the agro industry must lend its workers, upon request, to any entity which the government considers is in the process of reactivating its production. It doesnt require much explanation to understand that moving around workers as if they were machinery violates some pretty basic human rights. And all of this, to reactivate companies that were rendered unproductive by the late President Hugo Chavezs economic policy, or that were simply taken over by his government and driven into insolvency by incompetence. The language in the resolution is clearly military, and it undoubtedly carries the stamp of the same policy-makers who designed the labyrinth of economic controls in which the country is lost. Theres not one measure that would help solve Venezuelas economic problems at its core. Its as if theyd rather have people starve because there is no food on the shelves, than have them struggle with realistic prices. And the bomb keeps on ticking. The hands-on, disciplined, military man seems to be cornered by the same demons that had the incompetent civilian president pressed against the wall. A small taste of that same fear of action, which most likely led President Maduro to share his burden, came last week. After allowing telecommunication companies to raise their service fees so they would be able to invest in maintaining and upgrading platforms, the government backed down due to the public outrage of the price increase for mobile phone services, internet, and digital cable (which in some cases were up to 300 percent). You can expect, in a few weeks, to read how Venezuelans were left off the grid because these technological platforms couldnt take it anymore and shut down. Meanwhile, the opposition-held parliament finally showed its teeth and moved to invalidate the illegal appointment of 13 Supreme Court justices stacked there by the previous lame duck legislature. Of course, these judges are not likely to step down, which sets the scene for a belated constitutional conflict between the judicial and legislative powers. All of this happens in the midst of a major effort by the opposition to hold a recall referendum against President Maduro. While the elections authority has allowed the Kafkaesque process to move forward, and the opposition coalition (MUD) has been authorized to move on to the next step, any attempt by the government to delay or annul the process may still spark civil unrest. So its fair to say that the government (and/or the military) is getting nervous. Very nervous. And that may be why the Supreme Tribunal, ever subservient to the whims of Chavismo, just ratified a resolution by the Ministry of Defense allowing the use of firearms to control street protests. The Godfather General has been tasked with dismantling a bomb, but as he fumbles with the wiring, he may be making it deadlier. Editors note: This story was updated on Aug. 3, 2016, 2:30 a.m. EDT (Warning: there are spoilers ahead for Cursed Child Parts One and Two!) Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the eighth story in J.K. Rowlings beloved epic about the Boy Who Lived, is spellbinding in the best, most familiar of Potter ways and also completely fucking bananas in some of the worst. Its packed with prophecies, tragedies, hairpin plot turns, riddles, magic, and explosive revelations. Everything the series is famous for, revived and distilled into a fun and captivatingif slightly sacrilegious to Potter puriststwo-part play. Some of it is so deranged its almost transcendent: the Trolley Witch, for instance, morphs into a terrifying monster with spiky hands who hurls pumpkin pasty grenades at children atop the Hogwarts Express. The moment is baffling, bonkers, and frankly glorious. Then there are the more questionable elements: Ron Weasley bizarrely gifts a love potion (aka the Wizarding World equivalent to a roofie) to his teenage nephew, Albus. Theres Time-Turning, in part thanks to a secret stash of Dark Magic memorabilia Draco Malfoy never thought to tell anyone about until just now. And theres a fascinating alternate reality in which Harry dies, Voldemort takes over the world, and Severus Snape survivesall of which hinges on the humiliation ofCedric Diggory? But were here to discuss the most WTF plot twist of all, a moment more bitterly divisive than anything in Harry Potter canon since, well, the original Book 7 epilogue that kicks off the plot of Cursed Child. Im talking about the revelation of Voldemorts secret love child. Its true: The Dark Lord sired a now twenty-something daughter with his dutiful worshipper and right-hand lieutenant Bellatrix Lestrange. Surprise! Now you too have the unfortunate image of Voldemort having sex forever seared in your brain! Delphi Diggory, as she first introduces herself to Albus and Dracos son Scorpius, can fly sans broomstick and speak Parseltongue, just like Dad. She flirts with/manipulates the boys into using a Time-Turner and traveling back to 1994 to meddle with that years Triwizard Tournament. To fulfill a prophecy heralding Voldemorts return, she forces them to stop Cedric from winning the Tournament with Harry, thus saving the dreamy Hufflepuff from death by the Dark Lords wand. When that doesnt work, she goes straight to the source of Voldemorts downfall: Godrics Hollow 1981, where Harrys parents died to save him and where the strength of his mothers love created a charm powerful enough to send the Dark Lord underground for 10 years. If hed never cursed Harry, Delphi figures, Voldemort would have only grown in powerand the world would still be consumed by darkness. Thats the why of Delphi, the plays titular Cursed Child. As she confesses to a Voldemort who is really Harry in Transfigured disguise, I have devoted my life to being a child you could be proud of. She spent years in isolation from the Wizarding World then, all at once, became aware of her own destinya lot like Harry when he was young. The how of her existence is a little bit murkier. Delphi explains to Harry-as-Voldemort that she was born inside Malfoy Manor before the Battle of Hogwarts. It was Bellatrixs husband, Rodolphus Lestrange, who filled Delphi in on her true parentage upon his return from Azkaban and told her about the resurrection prophecy he believed shed fulfill. Its a classic Rowling twist: new, earth-shattering information woven into a pre-existing narrative, like a crucial puzzle piece you never realized was missing. But in the case of Voldemorts secret spawn, some fans are calling bullshit. There is no indication in the year-long period covered by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (or in the books that came before) that Bellatrix was ever pregnant. She was hardly MIA from the time she moved into Malfoy Manor: she attacked the Order of the Phoenix, killed Sirius Black, procured a copy of Gryffindors sword, and tortured Hermione, all before the Battle of Hogwarts. Its also odd to think that the Malfoys wouldnt have known about their houseguests impending bundle of joy. (Do nine-month-long Confundus Charms exist?) Draco, at least, fails to mention it in either bookthough Cursed Child, to be fair, does give him a compelling reason not to: he hates rumors of Voldemorts baby because his son, Scorpius, is rumored to be the No. 1 contender and has long been bullied for it. (Even if Draco knew, after all, he couldnt have proved it since Delphi went missing for so long.) Still, Voldemort and Bellatrix did share a, uh, connection: after Voldemort is knocked to the ground near the end of Deathly Hallows, a voice murmurs, My Lordmy Lord Rowling writes: It was Bellatrixs voice, and she spoke as if to a lover. Rowling confirmed Bellatrixs unrequited love for Voldemort in a 2007 PotterCast interview, saying, Bellatrix is madly, romantically in love with VoldemortShes madly in love with this man, and obsessed by him. And what about poor Rodolphus? [Bellatrix] took a pureblood husband, because that was what was expected of her, but her true love was always Voldemort, Rowling said in a live chat that same year. We can be sure Voldemort never loved Bellatrix backhis greatest weakness, after all, was his chronic inability to understand love and friendshipbut Bellatrixs death did get a reaction out of him: he screams at the fall of his last, best lieutenant and his fury explode[s] with the force of a bomb. How that translates into the pair bumping uglies at one point (diddid he even have an ugly?) is left to the readers imagination. It was never explicitly ruled out. But more than issues of canonicity, perhaps the root of fans dissatisfaction over this fanfic-wannabe turn is that, really, Delphi is sort of a lame villainat least in print. She takes advantage of a schoolboys crush, leaves secrets literally written on the walls of her room, murders a character weve barely heard of, and instantly caves the moment shes captured. (Truly pitiful, stage directions helpfully tell us about her demeanor.) Onstage with effects, surely, shes intimidating. On the page, shes little more than another angry, lonely kid who feels isolated from where she came fromjust like Harrys son Albus, just like Draco in his Hogwarts years, just like young Tom Riddle. Theres a symmetry to it, but after twenty-odd years of terror from Voldemort and his Death Eaters, some Harry Potter fans might have been hoping for something different this time around. For now, those hopes have been dashed; Rowling swears (for real for real this time) that Cursed Child is her last story about the Boy Who Lived. But perhaps dipping back into the Voldemort bloodline isnt proof of unoriginalitymaybe its just good timing: a tyrannical figure who thrives on fear and exclusion resonates as a villain now more than ever before. And the lessons Harry Potter strives to teach bear repeating. Meredith McIver, a former ballerina turned Donald Trump co-author, is definitely a real person. But her social media persona, which came into being after she took the blame for Melania Trumps plagiarized speech , definitely is not. The account @imeredithmciver began tweeting on July 20, the day after Melania Trumps prime-time Republican National Convention speech was upended by the revelation that she had cribbed some lines from an address by Michelle Obama at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. And it is still posing as McIver to this day, with no comment or pushback from the Trump campaign. As the campaign is in the throes of daily sparring with a Gold Star family , fire marshals, and even the speaker of the House, theres been no acknowledgment of the fake social media presence of McIver, who told The Daily Beast she has no online presence. Multiple people have emailed The Daily Beast claiming to have some knowledge about the mysterious appearance of the account, ranging from abject satire to claims the Trump campaign is actually behind it. I just wanted to set the record straight. @realDonaldTrump is a wonderful man, the account tweeted just as McIver was getting roped into the burgeoning scandal. With her social media proclamation, the account included a photoshopped image of McIver and Trump standing next to each other in his office. After initially dismissing the plagiarism allegationsat one point the Trump campaign blamed Hillary Clintons people for their own messy workMcIver revealed that she was to blame for the mishap. This was my mistake, McIver wrote in a July 20 letter with the Trump Organization logo embossed on the top. Mr. Trump told me that people make innocent mistakes and that we learn and grow from these experiences. She claimed that she offered her resignation and Trump simply would not accept. And just like that McIver was gone. She didnt make any more public statements. She didnt appear as one of Trumps surrogates on television as the convention wore on. No reporter seemed to be able to get a face-to-face interview with her. Yet her alleged Twitter account was active, promoting positive messages about Trump and responding to numerous incredulous reporters who wondered if McIver was in fact a real human being. She is. McIver is a registered Democrat in New York who co-authored Trumps 2004 book How to Get Rich and was specifically named in a 2007 deposition by Trump. (He blamed her for overstating his debt so as to make his financial comeback look even more impressive.) She is still alive too, it would seem. She responded to a request for comment from The Daily Beast. I have never had a Twitter or Facebook account, McIver wrote in an email. Yet on Monday night, @imeredithmciver claimed that McIver would be making an appearance on Jake Tappers show The Lead on Friday. When shown the tweet and asked whether the appearance would be happening, Tapper just said nope in a direct message. The McIver account itself did not respond to direct messages requesting more information, but someone claiming to run it sent an extensive email to The Daily Beast claiming that the RNC hired them. I worked for the Trump campaign in Cleveland last week, doing some light digital work as needed, the individual, who identified himself only as Brian, wrote. On Wednesday, as the statement was released regarding the plagiarism controversy, I was approached by campaign staffers to create a Twitter account for this persona as part of what was described as a grassroots effort to help squash the scandal before it could become something bigger. While I think they believed the statement would be widely accepted, they apparently wanted to ensure there was something to fall back on as people began to inevitably ask questions. Brian claimed that Jason Miller, the communications director for the campaign, had written out some explicit instructions for tweets and put them on an Excel sheet. Brian provided a screenshot of the alleged spreadsheet to The Daily Beast but would not provide proof of contracting by the campaign. Miller did not comment on the veracity of the claim. Sometime in the afternoon of the 20th, someone on the communications teamnot Jason Miller but someone below himasked me and a couple other digital people to get the Twitter started because apparently, they knew there would be questions, claimed Brian. He did not respond to further questions. The owner of a Facebook account using similar photoshopped images, however, told The Daily Beast that he made the fake page as a piece of satire. I made the photoshops as cheasy [sic] as I could, Andrew Gert of Tucson, Arizona, said in a Facebook message. Some people see the saire [sic], others thought it was real. Gert said he was now retired after 25 years working for a Fortune 500 company. When asked what he made of Trump, the operator of McIvers page said, I do not support the #OrangeMenace. McIver herself did not respond to a request for further comment from The Daily Beast about the accounts in her name. For now, McIvers impersonators are acting with impunity and tricking supporters and reporters alike. Whether the Twitter account is actually an invention of the Trump staffers or just an elaborate troll, the campaign that allowed its candidate to retweet images from white supremacists is again indicating that social media is not its strongest suit. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton smiles as she arrives on stage with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., July 12 in Portsmouth, N.H., where Sanders announced his endorsement for her candidacy. DOVER An Ellsworth Correctional Institution corrections officer has been fired after it was discovered that she allegedly had sexual relations with an inmate. Katherine Rekau, 47, of the 1400 block of 11th Avenue in Union Grove, had her employment terminated July 25, according to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. This comes amidst the allegations that Rekau had a two- to three-week relationship with an inmate at the facility, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Racine County Circuit Court. Rekau and the inmate reportedly had written letters to each other. One of the letters was discovered torn up in the inmates trashcan and reassembled, according to the complaint. Rekau also allegedly gave a phone to the inmate and had pictures of the inmate on her phone, according to Racine County sheriffs investigators. Rekau also allegedly wrote the phone number on one of the inmates work schedules for a cleaning crew supervised by Rekau, the complaint states. The two started their relations with kissing and then later escalated to sexual relations, the complaint states. Rekau faces three counts of second-degree sexual assault by a correctional staff member, according to court records. She will appear for a preliminary hearing Aug. 18. Only one choice for Americans who want to live our ideals Americanism is the opposite of Trumpism. America has and has had its flaws, chiefly the sins of deeply embedded racism, bigotry, greed and blinding self interest. Yet The American ideal stands for all that is best in the world: equality, liberty, sacrifice for the greater good, welcome to immigrants, humble love of country, and walking in the ways of a spiritual being greater than ourselves who calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Donald Trump and those who support him call out the darker angels of the American character. Bigotry and hatred spew from their mouths. They hold up dictators such as Vladimir Putin as role models, and they invite the intervention of our enemies into American domestic politics. Leave aside competence, something sorely lacking in Trump. What are the values of Trump and his supporters? Do he and his fellow travelers stand for America? No. There is only one choice for patriots and those who aspire to live up to American ideals. All else boils down to a vote for Trump and Trumpism, and we will have Donald Trump standing before our children and grandchildren as the model for Americans. Vote for Hillary Clinton. WALTER BUENGER Bryan America's choice is between 'lying' Hillary and 'loudmouth' Donald Trump's campaign chief Paul Manafort for many years ran electoral campaigns in Ukraine. Former president Viktor Yanukovych and his latter "Party of Regions" was one of those Manafort led to victory. Manafort's team arrived in Ukraine in 2005. They advised oligarch Rinat Akhmetov's company, System Capital Management. Akhmetov brought the American political adviser to the "Party of Regions." Manafort successfully managed the party's image. Some of Manafort's former employees told the online political magazine Politico that their boss believed in Yanukovych, doubting that Ukraine would fare better under his pro-Western opponents. Manafort appears to have been paid very generously for his service, but exact amounts are not known. According to a former journalist and current Member of Parliament Mustafa Nayyem, Manafort earned up to $20 million. One Ukrainian political adviser stated, "Until recently, Manafort supported Yanukovych." Yanukovych later left Ukraine and eventually exiled in southern Russia. The former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer believes that Manafort as Trump's campaign manager will act in favor of Russia as well. "If he becomes president, Trump will seek cordial relations with Russia and reduce U.S. support for Ukraine." America has to choose between "lying" Hillary and "loudmouth" Donald. I'm not very liberal, I'm very conservative. DIETER BRUECKNER College Station Chhith Sam Ath, says: "The Don Sahong Dam is an ecological time bomb that threatens the food security of millions and a population of critically endangered Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins. The dam will have disastrous impacts on the entire river ecosystem all the way to the Delta in Vietnam.'' The Mega-First Corporation claim they have come up with an engineering solution to divert fish away from the Sahong channel to Hou Xang Phuek and Hou Saddam - two much smaller channels that have been artificially deepened. However, Dr So Nam, from the MRC fisheries unit, reports that MRC technical experts have concluded "Hou Saddam and the Hou Xang Phuek channels cannot compensate for fish losses from Sahong and there will also be an impact on the Khone Falls." HAS THE MEKONG RIVER OMMISSION FAILED TO PROTECT THE MEKONG ECOSYSTEM? The 1995 Mekong Agreement that created the MRC (The Mekong River Commission) was based on the four-member states Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. All decisions were to be made by consensus, hence Mekong dam projects are not subject to any veto and the MRC secretariat is really only an advisory body. Increasingly the Mekong has become an arena of unilateral water grabbing' for the sole purpose of hydro-dam construction by China and Lao, with scant regard for good governance in water sharing or for the protection of the rich biodiversity of the longest river in SE Asia. The six dams built on the Upper Mekong by China were built without any consultation (Beijing has never joined the MRC). The MRC has a detailed consultation process, but it failed to curb the zealous drive of the developers and the determination of the Lao Government to ride roughshod over all the objections and protests over the two dams launched on the Lower Mekong. The Xayaburi Dam was launched in 2012 and this year the Don Sahong Dam. Construction started and in both cases building commenced before the MRC consultation process had been completed. The new MRC chief Pham Tuan Phan explained, "The MRC is not a regulatory body for the management of water-related resources. Nor can it approve or disapprove any development projects such as hydropower development." The Lao regime steamed ahead against of a tide of opposition from Cambodia, Vietnam, civilians and riverside communities that was expressed during the six months MRC-run consultation process known as the PNCPA [MRC public consultation process Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement.) MRC leaders have passively watched the ongoing erosion of the Mekong River's unique biodiversity with the apparent justification "we have no regulatory powers" to stop the rush to build dams. Many critics say this is an all too glib excuse for not accepting a greater responsibility as an advisory body, with considerable scope for advocacy based on their own research. Dr Philip Hirsch the director of the Mekong Research Centre (University of Sydney) told the Ecologist "The MRC's fisheries programme has produced reports that advised against proceeding with Don Sahong (dam). Yet the MRC leadership has not used these scientific reports to make a proactive recommendation against the dam. The Secretariat and its CEO have played an overly cautious game in which fear of offending governments, has taken precedence over its duty of care for the river." Cambodian fisheries expert Chheng Phen is depressed by the looming prospect of more dams and shrinking fish stocks. If the cascade of nine dams on the Lao side of the Mekong goes ahead, which the HDI Delta Study projects a 55% loss of fisheries if 11 dams go ahead. "I am very disappointed in the failure of the MRC consultation process. They have failed to protect fisheries, I feel very sorry for Cambodian people who rely on fish." The MRC has a stock response to such criticism. "We understand certain stakeholders have different expectations about the role of the MRC that go beyond our mandate under the 1995 Mekong Agreement. Unfortunately, it's very challenging to balance everyone's interests and impossible to satisfy all parties." But the MRC mandate does in fact clearly refer to protection of the environment. There is nothing in the 1995 Agreement that prohibits the CEO and the secretariat from expressing stronger concerns about the destruction of the Mekong, dam by dam. The fact that a clear majority of Mekong citizens have clearly rejected the two Lao dams as documented by the MRC consultation feedback from riparian stakeholders in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, could be used as mandate for the MRC to raise concerns about reckless dam development much more stridently. The CEO can readily cite article 3 (mandate for environmental concern) and article 7 of the Mekong Agreement (which specifics that where harm is done to the river calls for a suspension of projects can be made) www.internationalrivers.org/blogs/263/changing-tides-for-a-common-futur Has the MRC forgotten the landmark SEA Report (the Strategic Environmental Assessment Report) that concluded that the only way to protect the Mekong was to declare a moratorium on all dam-building for 10 Years? http://www.mrcmekong.org/about-mrc/programmes/initiative-on-sustainable-hydropower/strategic-environmental-assessment-of-mainstream-dams/ commissioned this independent study on the environmental impacts of the 11 scheduled dams on the mainstream Mekong but has never endorsed it. The recommendation to suspend all dams clashed with the pro-business tilt of "sustainable hydro-power" and the political agenda of the Lao PDR to utilise its part of the mainstream Mekong for maximum profit by selling electricity to Thailand, regardless of the environmental cost to the Mekong itself. Dr Hirsch points out that the SEA "expressly warned against using the Mekong mainstream as an experimental site for untested mitigation approaches". Vietnam has endorsed the report but the Lao team threatened to "walk out" if it was ever brought up again by the secretariat. A former CEO capitulated to this threat. And the dams go on being built. DESTROYING THE MEKONG DAM BY DAM Two more dams on the mainstream Mekong are currently being readied for construction. Altogether a total of nine dams are being planned by the Lao Ministry of Energy. During this year's drought when the Mekong river hit its lowest point for 100 years, downstream countries could only get some trickle of relief, if China turned on the tap and released water from its six dams. And nobody needed to ask who is the new overlord and master of the once mighty Mekong? China's geo-political power has been greatly enhanced by its cascade of dams, and its control over water resources. It has even set up its own Lancang-Mekong committee to deal with Mekong affairs posing a challenge to an already weak MRC suffering major budget cuts. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-03/15/c_135190799.htm But climate change scientists warn this is the worst of times to build new dams, when the vital glaciers of Tibet - the common source of many great rivers including the Mekong - are melting. Water flow is diminishing year on year. And by the time more dams in Laos come online, the water flow maybe insufficient to drive the turbines which means, in effect, the Mekong River's rich biodiversity may well be needlessly sacrificed to build ineffective dams that can no longer deliver the promised supply of electricity. If future dams become unviable, there is no technology in the world that can recover the lost biodiversity and reverse the damage done to the Mekong. Machinery can be restored but the fragile ecosystems and nature can never be resurrected. Vietnamese scientists are increasingly aware of this developmental madness. Wetlands scientist Nguyen Huu Thien, a participant in the SEA environmental report on dam impacts toldme: "If all the Mekong dams go ahead, then Vietnam will cease to be a rice exporter, and the delta denied sediment flow will no longer be able to support 18 million population. Social unrest, migration and other problems should not only concern Hanoi but all the Asian governments." The failure of the MRC should motivate other international agencies, not only Asian. The collapse of the Mekong ecosystem has global implications and several UN agencies UNDP, FAO and WFP that regularly buy Mekong rice for humanitarian missions would be directly affected by this impending disaster. At a recent conference in the Delta capital of Can Tho, Dr Tran Dinh Thien director of Vietnam's Institute of Economics declared: "We can only save the Mekong by shedding the narrow pond mentality of making profit from the river in the name of development" adding "there must be a Mekong River Protection Fund to protect the flow and a global movement to protect the river as an ecological and cultural asset of the world" https://youtu.be/TPXRVe35h7c This Author: Tom Fawthrop has previously reported on dams, ecology, human rights, rebellions and military coups in the South East Asia for Al Jazeera TV, The Economist, the Guardian and The Ecologist. He is also a documentary filmmaker and has directed two films about dams on the Mekong and the Salween (Eureka films). More by Tom Fawthrop on The Ecologist. "New York no longer needs nuclear power in its energy portfolio, now or in the future. Ten years ago the transition to a renewable energy economy was still a future possibility. Today it is well underway." "Nuclear power is not carbon-free", wrote Michel Lee, head of the Council on Intelligent Energy & Conservation Policy based in Scarsdale. While the operation of reactors "produces minimal carbon", he said, "every other stage produces prodigious amounts." Thus the nuclear industry is a "big climate change polluter ... Nuclear power is actually a chain of highly energy-intensive industrial processes which combined consume large amounts of fossil fuels and generate potent warming gasses. These include: uranium mining, milling enrichment, fuel fabrication, transport" - and her list went on. "The State of New York and its energy officials have a genuine opportunity to alter the course of history. You have the chance to help direct America and the world towards a more secure and prosperous future ... With vision and resolve, our state can be at the vanguard of a new global energy era." 2,000 nuclear jobs or 82,000 renewable energy jobs? In opposing the New York nuclear subsidy, Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Atmosphere / Energy Program at Stanford University, wrote in an op-ed in Albany Times Union, the newspaper in the state's capitol, that he was "shocked" by the PSC's "proposal that the lion's share of the Clean Energy Standard funding would be a nuclear bailout." Allowing the upstate nuclear plants to close now and replace them with equal energy output from offshore wind and solar power "would be cheaper and would create more jobs", he said. The closure of the upstate plants "would jeopardize fewer than 2,000 jobs". Meanwhile, he added, based on a peer-reviewed study he has completed, "converting New York State to 100 percent clean, renewable energy - which is entirely possible now would create a net of approximately 82,000 good, long-term jobs." The upstate nuclear power plants to be bailed out under the plan would be FitzPatrick, Nine Mile Point 1 and 2 and Ginna. The money would come over a 12-year period through a surcharge on electric bills paid by residential and industrial customers in New York State. Cuomo "directed the PSC to create subsides for upstate reactors", reported Tim Knauss of the Post-Standard of Syracuse. "Industry watchers say New York would be the first state to establish nuclear subsidies based on environmental attributes, a benefit typically reserved for renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. "The 'zero emission credits' would be paid to nuclear plants based on a calculation of the economic value of avoiding greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change." A model for other states to bail out failing nuclear plants? Reuters has reported that the nuclear "industry hopes that if New York succeeds, it could pressure other states to adopt similar subsides" for nuclear plants. The headline of the Reuters story: "New York could show the way to rescue U.S. nuclear plants." The two Indian Point nuclear power plants 26 miles north of New York City are not now included in the plan but it "leaves the door open to subsidies" for them, says Azulay of Alliance for a Green Economy. If they were to be included, he said, the costs of the bailout would rise to "over $10 billion." Cuomo has called for a shutdown of the Indian Point plants in the densely populated southern portion of the state, although boosting the continued operation of the nuclear plants in less populated upstate. "Nuclear has a role", he declared at a press conference last month. "Unless we're willing to go back to candles, which would be uncomfortable and inconvenient, we need energy generation." Still, the consequences of a Fukushima or Chernobyl-level accidents at the upstate plants could have major impacts. In a 1982 report, 'CRAC-2', done at Sandia National Laboratories for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the consequences of a meltdown with breach of containment at every nuclear power plant in the United States were estimated. These included these in upstate New York. The analysis projected early fatalities, early injuries, cancer deaths and the 'scaled costs' of "lost wages, relocation expenses, decontamination costs, lost property, and interdiction costs for property and farmland" (in 1980 dollars). The projections for the upstate plants are: FitzPatrick (Scriba): 1,000 early fatalities, 16,000 early injuries, 17,000 cancer deaths and $103 billion in scaled costs. Nine Mile Point 1 (also in Scriba: 1,400; 26,000, 20,000 and $66 billion. Nine Mile Point 2: 1,400, 26,000, 20,000 and $134 billion. Ginna (in Ontario, NY): 2,000, 28,000, 14,000 and $63 billion. Karl Grossman is professor of journalism at the State University of New York / College at Old Westbury, and the author of 'Cover Up: What You Are Not Supposed to Know About Nuclear Power' and host of the nationally-aired TV program 'EnviroCloseup'. Mayor Paul Soglin is floating the idea of the city taking over the soon-to-be-vacant Oscar Mayer property on the East Side as long as city taxpayers dont have to pay for it. Soglin told the Wisconsin State Journal the Oscar Mayer buildings could be demolished and the site cleaned up, with the help of federal funds. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers cleanup grants but only if the land is publicly held, Soglin said. The city should consider the possibility of acquiring the 72-acre property at 910 Mayer Ave., just off Packers and Commercial avenues, the mayor said. It is an option. We wouldnt pay for it. It would have to be given to us, he added, in a brief interview Monday. Kraft Heinz Oscar Mayers parent company since Kraft Foods merged with H.J. Heinz in July 2015 announced last November that Madisons Kraft and Oscar Mayer operations will end in early 2017. Oscar Mayer has been processing meat in Madison since 1919, including hot dogs, thinly sliced turkey and ham, and a wide variety of lunch meats. At its peak in the 1970s, the plant employed more than 4,000; when the closing announcement came, there were about 1,000 Kraft and Oscar Mayer employees left in Madison. Kraft Heinz said it would pursue a buyer for the property, which includes an eight-story office and meat-processing building. Asked if the corporation has received any offers, if a deadline has been set for proposals or if donating the property to the city might be considered, Kraft Heinz spokesman Michael Mullen said, in an email, Kraft Heinz has no comment. Soglin met Monday with city, state and business representatives to discuss the pending shutdown. They agreed to look closely at steps that other communities have taken after large employers have left, and to see what resources are available to prepare the site for redevelopment. It would cost an estimated $10 million to $20 million to tear down the buildings and conduct an environmental cleanup of the property, said Natalie Erdman, director of city planning, community and economic development. Erdman said its premature for the city to decide what might be done with the land. Lots of people have lots of ideas, Erdman said. The parcel is still owned by Kraft Heinz (which has) a broker who is actively marketing the site. So they are in control. Erdman said Kraft Heinz has not asked the city for any rezoning or other land use changes, at this point. Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce president Zach Brandon, who also attended the meeting, said finding one tenant to take over the sprawling property with its aging buildings would be like finding a needle in a haystack. As for the possibility of a city acquisition, he said, No one in the room was opposed to the city taking possession of the parcel, with some caveats, such as demolishing the buildings. I dont want to take any creative opportunity off the table, but keeping the option open for the city (to take over the property) is a smart idea, Brandon said. He said the best use of the land is for employment, as part of a larger East Side corridor that could extend as far as the Dane County Regional Airport on International Lane. The Oscar Mayer site is historically, a linchpin parcel that could become home to businesses in the burgeoning health care and health information fields in the Madison area, Brandon said. The Franklin County Sheriffs Office is looking to install a threat alert system in the districts schools to allow teachers and administrators to have quick, direct contact with law enforcement in the event of a crisis, like a school shooting. The program, called COPsync911, would allow administrators and teachers inside the school to communicate directly with law enforcement through software that can be installed on classroom computers and mobile devices. The alert would immediately be sent to officers, along with dispatch. Major Mike Bowman said the sheriffs office is always looking for ways to improve school safety and prepare for a crisis. What can we do to prevent things like that or look into the future? We cant do that. But what we can do is to prepare ourselves in case something does happen, Bowman said. And thats what COPsync is all about. Brandon Flanagan, CEO of Brandon-COPsync, said the goal of the program is to reduce law enforcements response time. Thats done by giving trusted administrators, teachers or staff the ability to directly alert officers to a threat inside the school. The alert provides officers with information about the senders location, down to a specific classroom number, Flanagan said. On average, Flanagan said, it takes two to four minutes for someone to call 911, get the call through the routing system and get a deputy headed over to the scene. That time accounts just for passing along the message, not the deputys arrival at the scene. Flanagan said an alert sent through COPsync911 takes only 15 seconds to reach officers. Were talking about a lifetime of difference, he said. Bowman said the program could speed up response times, since an officer near the school would get the alert and react immediately, rather than have to wait for dispatch to relay the information. He knows that he has to react right then and not wait five minutes down the road to get that call and come and respond back, he said. A sender could also share information with officers about the threat, such as the identity or location of the suspect, Bowman said, giving a better idea of what theyll find when they enter and how best to respond. Bowman has first-hand experience with responding to a school shooting. He previously worked for the Virginia State Police, and was on campus the day of the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shootings. Having had that experience, Bowman said, he can see where COPsync911 would be useful. There were difficulties with communication that day with dispatch and overloaded cellular services, he said. An alert system like this one would have given law enforcement an alternate way to communicate with people inside the building, providing information about their location, the shooter or people needing medical attention. Bowman said law enforcements response that day was impressive and efficient, but additional information could have helped officers to direct their response more precisely to the shooters location. The estimate given by COPsync911 for getting the program into each of Franklin Countys schools came in at just over $46,000. Thats cheaper than the cost of one resource officer, which Bowman said is approximately $50,000 when taking salary and benefits into consideration. The sheriffs office is seeking funding for the program from the board of supervisors. However, the rate that was offered had a July deadline attached to it. Bowman said the sheriffs office is hoping to get that deadline extended, as the board of supervisors has yet to vote on funding the program and doesnt plan to meet again until Aug. 16. Flanagan declined to say whether an extension of the deadline was likely, and said only, We are committed to making it happen for the county. Mark Church, superintendent of Franklin County schools, said he likes that the program gives teachers the ability to communicate with law enforcement. Church said he hopes the supervisors will opt to fund the program, because the school district doesnt have the money available in its budget. He described the program as up and coming and said hed love to get it into the districts schools, although he acknowledged its not likely to be useful unless there is a crisis. The program, I think, is a good one. Its something that would help us if we had an incident, Church said. It really doesnt do a lot until we have an incident. Neighboring Bedford County was the first school system in Virginia to adopt the technology. Its now been installed countywide in five school districts in the state, and the company is also in talks with Roanoke County, Flanagan said. SHARE Frank O'Nan, Henderson Mitch McConnell no friend to coal A USA TODAY article recently reported that a bill called the Miners Protection Act was blocked in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Mitch McConnell in December 2015. That bill would have used a fund set up in 1974 as a clean-up program for coal mines. Unused money in the fund was to be transferred to the United Mine Workers' pension plan. That funds affects 120,000 miners and their families. The pension fund of the UMWA is in financial distress. At present, probably the average retirement for a miner could be $300 a check. There was bipartisan support for the legislation. Both Ohio senators, Republican Rob Portman and Democrat Sherrod Brown supported the legislation, also senators from West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Indiana. This "Miner's Bill" would have cost taxpayers nothing. Not a dime. Mitch McConnell calls himself the "friend of coal." Some friend! The callous vindictiveness of McConnell was possibly a payback for the UMWA's support for Alison Grimes in the 2014 senate election. Mitch McConnell has long been a union buster and a puppet of the billionaire Koch brothers. Perhaps miners will remember that McConnell's sidekick, Rand Paul, is up for re-election. On the home front, a gentleman from Corydon recently called me to ask for an opinion of mine supporting legislation on automatic weapons. The man said he is a life member of the National Rifle Association since 1959. I don't believe all members of the NRA are thugs, but the leadership of their executives does leave that question. The day after the Sandy Hook massacre, an NRA spokesman stood before cameras of national networks and suggested that guns be placed in schools. Marvelous! Polls have shown that 90 percent of Americans do support some gun legislation. Recent gun violence is probably a valid reason for Congress to move. I don't believe I need your pity. I wasn't the one who paid dues to the NRA for 57 years. Snopes is a site dedicated to debunking hoaxes. The site tackles some Connecticut myths like Milford banned Halloween and UConn is segregating its students. Click through the slideshow above to check out some Connecticut legends and myths - both true and false. Click here to read more. Madison's Restaurant Week dates to 2007, and has been such a success for Madison Magazine that they started holding the events twice a year. The idea is for diners to eat reasonably inexpensive three-course meals at high-end restaurants for a set price -- $25 or $35, before drinks, tax and tip. Now, the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce is hoping to draw similar attention to its first-ever Black Restaurant Week, being held the week of Aug. 14. There are no prix-fixe meals, it's just the chamber encouraging the community to eat at black-owned restaurants, food carts and catering companies. "The chamber has a goal of promoting black businesses," said chamber member Milele Chikasa Anana, publisher of UMOJA magazine. "And we thought this would be a good way to highlight brick-and-mortar restaurants." Chamber President Aaron Perry said that Madison is joining nine other cities, including Memphis, Chicago, Houston and Washington, D.C., which have all held Black Restaurant Weeks. While promoting the week, Anana has found that people are surprised the city has so many black-owned businesses, of which there are more than 200, she said. August is National Black Business Month "and in order to highlight that we wanted to say 'celebrate and patronize black restaurants,' " she said. The response has been fantastic -- "blowing up my computer," Anana said, noting that they've promoted it on social media, where more than 2,000 people have responded. They've also been taking out print ads and advertising on buses. The highlighted restaurants, carts and catering companies will each be offering specials or discounts during the week. Those restaurants are: Buraka, That BBQ Joint, Jamerica, Davids Jamaican, McGees Chicken and Wing King. Food carts are JDs Soul Food, Rib Masters and Papa's BBQ. Catering companies are HML Catering, Melly Mells, Kipp's Down Home Cookin', BP Smokehouse and Valices Sweet Potato Pies. The South Madison Farmers' Market is also part of the promotion. Addresses and phone numbers for the businesses are on a flyer posted on the Black Restaurant Week Facebook page. Anana recommends That BBQ Joint at 901 Williamson St., run by Clement Henriques and his mother Maureen White. "The amenities aren't very plush, but his cooking is outstanding... Oh gosh, he has the best chicken and ribs." Henriques is offering 10 percent off during Black Restaurant Week to customers who mention they are coming in for that reason. "It's important to highlight the positives that do come out of this community," Henriques said. "It seems to me that a lot of times in the news, when they are talking about minorities in general, it can be pretty negative." He said he appreciates that the Black Chamber of Commerce has taken the time to contact all the black-owned restaurants to take part in the effort. "I think it is kind of phenomenal that they are highlighting that there are people doing positive things in Madison, too," Henriques said. WILTON In an effort to combat texting and driving, the Wilton Police Department has teamed up once again with the Connecticut Department of Transportations Highway Safety Office to announce the continuation of its U DRIVE. U TEXT. U PAY. initiative. The joint initiative represents an effort to crackdown on motorists who choose to text, talk or otherwise distract themselves from the task of driving by using a hand-held mobile phone. According to surveys conducted after last years crackdown, there was an eight percent drop in mobile phone use by drivers at observation locations throughout municipalities where police conducted enforcement. The drop in observed use is encouraging to law enforcement agencies, and demonstrates the need to reinforce the idea that mobile phone use while driving is both dangerous and illegal. The Subtract the Distraction campaign will run from August 3 through August 16, and it marks the second time this year law enforcement agencies will mobilize by adding special patrols - aimed at catching distracted drivers - especially those on their phones. The last operation, which took place during April 2016, resulted in over 12,000 citations issued to motorists who chose to ignore Connecticuts distracted driving laws. Nearly 50 law-enforcement agencies including both state and local police are again participating in this operation - aimed at keeping Connecticuts roadways safe. Were making gains, Chief Robert Crosby said. Considering the seriousness of this problem and the fact that we saw movement in the right direction is a sign we need to continue to this program. The Department of Transportation had announced in April that the results of recent research found an estimated 11.1 million of occurrences of distracted driving happen each day throughout the state of Connecticut. According to the findings, in total, it is estimated that 9.6% of drivers were either texting or talking on a hands free device. Under Connecticuts cell phone and texting law, violations involve heavy fines, ranging from $150 for a first offense, $300 for a second violation, and $500 for each subsequent violation. In 2014, 3,179 people were killed and an estimated additional 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. Connecticut remains the only state in the nation to receive special distracted driving prevention funds - the same funds that allow for special patrols to identify, stop and cite drivers who choose to ignore distracted driving laws. Over $6.8 million dollars has been awarded to the state over the last three years specifically - to fund campaigns like this one. Connecticut qualifies for this federal funding source through a mix of tough laws - and, a proven track record in strong enforcement of distracted driving laws. For more information about national distracted driving issues, visit www/distraction.gov. In this digital era, all aspects of your companys digital footprint -- earned, owned, placed or otherwise -- can be accessed by anyone at any time. From an exposure standpoint, its hard to not feel excited by this fact. But before you get too carried away thinking about people across the globe visiting your website and learning about your company, its worth noting that your online presence comes across quite differently in Bangalore than it does in Bangor, Maine. People in Rio view your branding much differently than those in Riyadh. Related: Become a Better Leader With These 5 Cultural-Awareness Tips And that's where culture and politics come in: If you arent careful, even your own next-door neighbors may take offense to your branding. Just recently, a restaurant in Australia made headlines for naming itself Uncle Ho. The local Vietnamese community considered this a direct reference to communist dictator Ho Chi Minh -- a highly polarizing figure in their culture. Nearly 100 people gathered outside the restaurant in protest, threatening to burn the building down and inflict harm on the owners of the establishment. That incident illustrates the importance of approaching your business from a global perspective. The broader your cultural horizons are, the more markets you will effectively reach -- and the less likely you are to commit embarrassing faux pas, costly mistakes and outright showstoppers. The awkward crossing of cultures It doesnt matter if youve created a stunning website that features eye-grabbing visuals and incredibly persuasive copy; the name of your company or product alone could stop international consumers dead in their tracks before they even click on your URL. Dublins C&C Group, for example, couldnt get Germans on board with its Irish Mist whiskey because the sound of the word mist means manure in their native tongue. Similarly, Tripping.com wasnt getting much love from Germans because its nickname for its users was eerily similar to the German word for gonorrhea. Related: The 5 Worst Marketing Fails of 2015 Enhancing your companys cultural sensitivity and knowledge doesnt just lower your odds of likening your product to an unpleasant infection; it helps you craft a brand presence that properly and effectively communicates your message to a wider audience. Raise your global awareness. Today, you dont just need to comprehend your clients business needs; you need to know where theyre coming from, culturally. Too many companies drum up their product and mission without considering how (or whether) those things apply to people outside their immediate surroundings. As the founder of a PR firm in the tech world, I found it to be in our best interest to become a globally minded company. A good portion of our clients are located overseas, and we help these companies pitch their products and services to their local markets. To meet this challenge, we prioritized hiring global citizens. As a result, my team speaks a combined 10 languages, and our staff is comprised of folks who grew up all over: Europe, the Middle East, the American Midwest and South -- and all five boroughs of New York (each its own cultural melting pot). Because of the expanded worldviews we now have in-house, we see an influx of creative ideas, opinions and solutions that resonate on a global stage. Boost your cultural IQ. Assembling a staff full of cultural wizards is no easy task, but following these three tips will send you in the right direction: 1. Cast the right net. Start at the source. Identify colleges and universities that are known for having great study abroad offerings, high-quality international studies programs and high numbers of foreign students. You could also look at American schools located abroad, such as my alma mater, Franklin University, in Switzerland. Once you amass your list of schools, reach out directly to their job placement departments to introduce yourself. Let them know that you have job openings (whether theyre entry-level or internships) that you hope to fill with their top soon-to-be graduates. Specify the international impact your company strives to make, and you'll likely find they are glad to send you the names of several relevant candidates. This is the best and easiest way to find employees who will boost your companys global acumen from the ground up. 2. Look for the right cues. Look at your applicants track records. If they studied abroad during college, they likely have an interest in other cultures. If they say theyre fluent in multiple languages, chances are strong that they grew up in a multicultural household or spent time in a foreign country. Also, be sure to ask pointed questions about your industrys global climate during the interview process. If the applicant is in tune with current events and can speak confidently and thoughtfully about them, youve got yourself a keeper. Related: What Immigrants Can Teach Entrepreneurs About Hustling to Succeed 3. Walk the walk. Having even a base level of cultural awareness and sensitivity will help you win over the best and brightest applicants. Rather than line your desk with mini Eiffel Towers in the hopes of wooing a French candidate, have a meaningful conversation about his or her upbringing and values. I know youre busy running a business, but try your best to visit your target markets and experience their cultures yourself. If thats out of the question, make a point to read about them. Start by asking Google to alert you every time something noteworthy happens in a country you currently (or someday plan to) operate within. Also, if youre serious about operating in non-English-speaking cultures, consider learning a new language or two in your free time. You dont have to become fluent, but being able to at least understand a foreign language is an important part of becoming a global entity. Download an app that allows you to practice while making your lunch in the morning or commuting to work. Hiring with cultural diversity in mind will liberate your companys creativity, branding and product development processes from the narrow confines of its leaderships limited experience. Most importantly, it will provide a comprehensive understanding of target audiences, allowing you to stand out from the pack as a culturally aware company with an expansive global reach. Related: Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved NORWALK A Stratford man, described as having a momentous criminal history, was arraigned in Norwalk Superior Court on Wednesday in connection with a November 2015 residential burglary in Westport. Sherman Miles, 58, whose last known address was Ferry Boulevard, Stratford, was charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree larceny on Tuesday. He is being held in lieu of a $175,000 cash bond. According to Miles arrest affidavit, a residential burglary on Main Street was reported to Westport police on Nov. 3, 2015. Entry was made after glass on a storm door and interior door were broken. The homeowners reported that among the missing items were a laptop, an iPhone, three jewelry boxes, a handmade watch, and an engraved Penn State ring. Court records show that a week later, police were notified through a pawn shop database that a Penn State ring, an iPhone and a watch matching the description and serial numbers of the stolen items had been sold at a Stratford pawn shop by Miles. Police reviewed video surveillance footage which showed Miles getting out of the passenger side of a vehicle outside of the pawn shop. Contact was made with the driver of the vehicle, who told police that he had given Miles a ride to the library that day about .6 miles from the burglarized home. Witness interviews, along with evidence recovered at the scene, led Westport detectives to believe that Miles committed the Westport burglary, and a warrant for his arrest was applied for. Miles criminal history dates back to the late 1970s in Connecticut and Georgia he has 19 prior arrests in Connecticut for weapons violations, first-degree assault, robbery, larceny, burglary, kidnapping, possession of burglary tools, and escape. He was discharged from the custody of the Department of Corrections on May 10, 2010. During his arraignment on Wednesday, Miles listened intently as the courts bail commissioner requested that his bond be reduced to a $25,000 surety bond. It has to be a high bond, Judge Bruce Hudock said. This record is momentous, not only for the number of convictions, but I dont think Ive ever seen a defendant charged with so many Class B felonies. Hudock set Miles bond at $100,000 cash only and set his next court date for Sept. 13. NORWALK Norwalk Community College (NCC) and the Norwalk Community College Foundation are hosting a competition among Summer Bridge Math Intensive program students on Friday, Aug. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the East Campus Gen Re Forum. A lunch reception will follow. The Summer Bridge Math Program is funded entirely through donations made to the NCC Foundation by local corporations, foundations and individuals. It provides a free, four-week intensive Math program for incoming freshman students who have registered at NCC and received low math scores on the placement test. The students saved time and money by taking this free course and are looking forward to returning to NCC in the fall. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK Nearly 60 percent of Norwalk students can read as well as they should as they approach their final year of high school, but only 29 percent of students are making the grade in math. The results come from the revamped SAT taken last spring in school by nearly all public school 11th-graders as it replaced the states standardized test. In this first year, Connecticut students averaged 520 on the language arts test and 502 on the math. The top score on each section of the test is 800 points. Norwalk had a combined score of 981 for English language arts and math, compared to the 1022 state average. While the state scored an average of 520 on language arts, Norwalk scored 499, and while the state scored 502 in math, Norwalk scored 482. About 29 percent of students jumped over the proficiency bar in math and about 59 percent in English language arts. Wilton came in at 76 percent for math and 93 percent for language arts. Wiltons average score was 1200 and Westports was 1197. Weston had an average combined score of 1167. Trying to compare us to the state or to other towns is completely unfair, a completely corrupt comparison because youre comparing apples to oranges, Mike Barbis, Board of Education member, said. He cited Norwalks demographics, which include substantially more first-generation students and low-income families than many of its smaller, surrounding districts, as an explanation. The College Board, which wont release national SAT results until mid-September, has set 480 as a college ready score in language arts and 530 in math. Norwalk did rank ahead of Stamford, which has an average score of 981 and even further ahead of Bridgeport, which had a score of 860. Why the switch The state switched from the controversial Smarter Balanced assessment test, which is still given in grades three through eight, to the new SAT last spring after parents and lawmakers complained high school juniors were suffering from test overload. Many who are headed to college were already taking Advanced Placement Tests, the SAT and ACT, another college preparedness test. At the urging of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, the federal government agreed to let the state use the SAT as the measure of success instead of SBAC. By switching to the SAT, we responded to student and parent concerns about over-testing, Commissioner of Education Dianna Wentzell said. We also took a big step toward greater equity in our schools by giving all Connecticut eleventh graders a chance to take a college and career readiness exam. Connecticut students can also use their SAT scores when they start applying to colleges and can send them to four colleges for free, Ellen Cohen, deputy commissioner for the state Department of Education, said. But Barbis said this decision was less about coming to the best choice for Connecticuts students and more about politics as usual. It seems like it was a convenient and expedient way to avoid more testing, but its not the right test, Barbis said. This year, the College Board, producers of the SAT, changed the test for everyone to make it more reflective of the Common Core curriculum most students are being taught. Connecticut is among a handful of states using the test in place of its achievement test. Four states, Connecticut Delaware, New Hampshire and Maine met to establish what a passing grade would be. On the new test, there is no penalty for wrong answers, obscure vocabulary is out and answers require students to use evidence. But Barbis said the schools curriculum and the Smarter Balanced Assessment were heavily intertwined. Its not like our whole math and English curriculum is geared toward the SAT exam. Because its not, he said. Barbis said it also still gives an advantage to students who have the resources to take the SAT preparation courses. In some parts of Connecticut, 100 percent of kids are going to apply to college and theyre going to spend money so they can get the best SAT score possible. But if youre not planning to go to college, would you do those prep classes? Of course not, he said. And if you choose not to, well, that will affect your districts scores, he said. Ajit Gopalakrishnan, a bureau chief in the state education department, said the plan is to track students two or three years from now to see if their scores were actually a predictor of how well they do in college. We do feel that this is a good start, Gopalakrishnan said. Now we have to see, are those standards actually working. Cause for concern Gopalakrishnan said there is a continued concern about the math scores and that steps are being taken to attack the issue aggressively by establishing a Commissioners Council on Mathematics and putting laser-like focus on math from the early grades on. State officials say the results cant be compared to the old SAT or to the former state test. Still, Gopalakrishnan said are a bit more students meeting the proficiency standard on the new test, than they did on last years SBAC test. In 2015, the average public high school SAT score for Connecticut score in critical reading was 494 and in math, 495. Participation was also up, from about 82 percent last year when a so-called opt out movement was going strong in the state to about 94 percent when the test was given in March 2016. That is still below the 95 percent threshold set by the U.S. Department of Education. About 38,000 public high school juniors in the state took the new test, free of charge to them and in school. The new results shows that the achievement gap between white and minority students remains wide as well as students who are eligible for free and reduced priced lunch and those who are not. While Barbis doesnt think changing the standardized testing to the SAT is the answer, he said its a worthy conversation to have, because sometimes testing can hinder a students ability to learn, but it is also an important tool in measuring student progress. He touted Norwalks Northwest Evaluation Association, or NWEA assessments, which Norwalk is using to track student progress while at the same times not over-testing and not burdening our teachers with too much time teaching to the test, he said. We need to find out a happy medium here, Barbis said. sfoster-frau@ctpost.com, @SilviaElenaFF; lclambeck@ctpost.com, @lclambeck NORWALK Edwin Lorenzo Tuttle, Norwalks only American Civil War veteran, will be honored as the August Veteran of the Month for his service with the Union army. His nomination is the result of efforts by his great-grandson, Ed Issacs of Norwalk. So far I have done my best to honor the members of my family that have served, from the Revolutionary War through all other wars, Issacs said. Tuttle was the only one on my mothers side, and my mothers the only one left on her side of the family, so its something for her. Issacs appreciation for family came from his father, who encouraged him to learn about his lineage. His efforts to honor his relatives have been recognized by several newspapers, mentioned in numerous historical books and can be proven by the authentic photos, diary entries and other artifacts that hang from the walls of his home. Issacs is knowledgeable on his familys lineage all the way through the 1700s and knows every members burial site at St. Pauls on the Green. This is the grand finale, he said. Everyones been recognized in my family, everyone who served their country has been recognized. Tuttle is one of five Civil War veterans that I have in my family. Tuttles honoring coincides with the 151st anniversary of the American Civil War, fought from 1861-1865, following the secession of 11 Southern slave states. Born in Darien, Tuttle enlisted with the G Company 5th Connecticut Infantry, mustering in on September 12, 1861 at the age of 25. He served under Major General Nathaniel P. Banks and for two years fought in the unit of the Army of Potomac. Tuttle fought in the Battle of Cedar Mountain in August 1862 in Culpeper County, Virginia, and the Second Battle of Bull Run in Prince William County, Virginia. The regiment was nicknamed, The Foot Cavalry, and The Bulldogs, for its considerable time spent fighting General Thomas J. Stonewall Jacksons Stonewall Brigade, an incredibly effective military organization thanks to their generals harsh training strategies. Tuttle mustered out of the 5th Connecticut Regiment on March 23, 1863. Tuttle mustered in again on Sept. 3, 1864 when he was offered money to fill in for a draftee from Durham in central Connecticut. He served in the B Company 17th Connecticut Infantry under Captain Charles A. Hobbie of Darien, with mostly Fairfield County soldiers, before mustering out on July 19, 1865 in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Before his death, Tuttle was also a commander of the Douglas Folwer Post 48, Grand Army of the Republic in South Norwalk. After serving twice in the military, Tuttle moved to Rowayton, building a house on Hunt Street, which still stands today. He became a well-known Rowayton veteran, according to Leo Motyka of the American Legion Post 12 in Norwalk. At age 53, Tuttle married 22-year-old Emma Louise de Lombrado, the youngest daughter of Rowaytons first mailman, Emanuel de Lombrado, an immigrant from Portugal. The couple had four children, George, Edwin Alanso, Darius and Emma Elizabeth, the last of whom passed away in 1992. Tuttle worked as a shoemaker, a stone mason and a general laborer, before his death. Tuttles daughter, Emma Elizabeth, married Gustave James Briesler and they had Anna Breisler DeMichelis, Richard Breisler and Kathleen Breisler Issacs. Kathleen is the only living grandchild of Tuttle and mother to Issacs. Tuttle has 11 great-grandchildren, nine of whom live in Fairfield County. The Civil War veteran died in 1903 and is buried in Rowayton Union Cemetery, next to his son and World War I veteran, Edwin Lorenzo Tuttle, who will be honored as Veteran of the Month in November. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WILTON As Brian Griffin was driving to a funeral several years ago, he thought about how fragile life was. Then he thought of his worst fear: having one of his kids drive drunk and lose their life or take the life of another. So he looked for a solution that could give him peace of mind, but found nothing which prompted him to create a system of his own. I took it upon myself to really think hard with this day and age about how we can use technology to help parents by giving them a tool to help prevent their kids from drinking and driving, he said. In 2013, Griffin founded GUARDRIDE, a DUI prevention system comprised of two iPhone apps that sync with a mobile breathalyzer made by BACtrack, a company renowned for creating the worlds first smartphone breathalyzer. One app is for the parent and the other is for the young driver. Once both apps are downloaded, the parent can choose to start a GUARDRIDE session immediately or schedule a one-time or recurring session. Once a session is started, the young driver will receive a notification and will be alerted to take a breathalyzer test with facial recognition. This test is video recorded with a microphone, which can be reviewed by the parent at any time. If the driver fails the test or drives without taking one, the parent will receive an alert and will be notified of their location on GPS. If the driver ignores the session or turns off his or her phone, the parent will receive an alert every 10 to 20 minutes, respectively. Its really a trust but verify aspect to make sure that kids really adhere to this and go over the protocol with their parents, Griffin said. The test takes less than 30 seconds, so its not like this is an onerous task. Griffin hopes GUARDRIDE will help to prevent DUI tragedies like the fatal crash in Hebron three years ago, which claimed the life of a RHAM High School student. That same year, Connecticut had 126 fatalities from alcohol-impaired-driving crashes, of which 20 were young drivers (ages 15 to 20), according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Additionally, Connecticut had the nations third highest percentage of alcohol-impaired-driving crashes where at least one driver had a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.08 or higher. We as parents need to understand that we dont understand everything that our kids are doing, he said. This type of technology allows you to help prevent what could really change the direction of your kids lives and others. To raise awareness and to build partnerships in the area, Griffin decided to launch GUARDRIDE through an Indiegogo Charitable 10 for 1 Campaign. For every 10 families that join GUARDRIDE, BACtrack and GUARDRIDE will donate one system to high schools that have been affected by DUI tragedies. Griffin said he plans to make GUARDRIDEs first donation to RHAM High School. I want to give back to the community, he said. I really want to be able to have communities start using it and start understanding that they have a solution and tool that parents can use now to help prevent their kids from drinking and driving. Through the campaign, an annual subscription to GUARDRIDE can be purchased at a discounted price of $59 and the mobile breathalyzer can be purchased separately for $99. So far, 10 supporters have backed the campaign, donating $571 collectively. GUARDRIDE systems will be ready for delivery at the end of the campaign on Aug. 22, and will be sold online thereafter. Were looking to save lives, thats the main thing, Griffin said. We do think itll save lives. SKim@hearstmediact.com; (203) 354-1044; @stephaniehnkim Madison is flush with free, outdoor live music in the summer, and Dane Dances is one of the best-known purveyors of those sweet sounds. The Friday night music series at Monona Terrace gets underway this week with an Earth, Wind and Fire tribute band and continues every Friday in August. Dane Dances is Madison at its best, said Catherine Capellaro, whose disco cover band, V05, is one of the series biggest draws. Its the most multi-racial, multi-generational, just free-spirited event that we play. V05 has been performing at Dane Dances, now entering its 17th season, for the past seven years, and consider it one of their favorite gigs. The band headlines on Aug. 19. Dane Dances board president Al Cooper echoes Capellaros sentiment, saying the objective of Dane Dances is to bring the community together and celebrate diversity. A lot of times we focus on our differences, but we have more in common than we have difference, so we try to bring the community together to celebrate all that we have, both in common, as well as our diversity, Cooper said. We share the greatness of our community through music, dance and food. Dane Countys deep racial disparities were highlighted in the 2013 Race to Equity report, and the city and county have been trying to remedy that situation ever since. But long before the areas race problems were so well documented, Dane Dances was there trying to provide some harmony. As Ive been saying for years, Dane Dances is probably the most diverse event in the city in regards to income, race, ethnic background, said Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, and thats why we continue to increase its funding and hope that others will do the same. City funding for the music series increased from $5,000 to $15,000 this year under Soglins last operating budget. That was crucial for the series because much of its corporate sponsorship has dried up in recent years as local businesses have directed their money in other directions, Cooper said. The total budget of Dane Dances is $50,000. Monona Terrace has been a great partner, helping Dane Dances with fundraising in the off season, he added. Weve been able to make up the loss of some of the corporate donors, Cooper said. It was Soglin, in a previous stint as mayor, who led the effort to build the Frank Lloyd Wright Monona Terrace Convention Center, a $67 million project at the time. Expensive and controversial, it used up precious lakefront with many detractors fearing it would only benefit business elites. The building of the convention center with public money went to referendum in 1992 and passed by a slim margin. Construction began in 1994, with the center opening in 1997. The history of the project is long and tangled, with the building getting proposed and abandoned countless times over a 60-year-period. World War II got in the way, there were repeated lawsuits, and the choice of a site and architect were endlessly debated. Flash forward nearly 20 years, and not only does Monona Terrace support Dane Dances, it hosts Concerts on the Rooftop in June and July, as well as other music events and activities like yoga and tai chi. The idea is to make Monona Terrace accessible to the community, Cooper said. When Monona Terrace was first built, the argument was that it was this white elephant for the rich people, he said. And poor people in the community really couldnt afford to be there or have programming there. Instead, Monona Terrace has had a history of reaching out to everyone with lots of free programming, said Cooper, who, along with everyone else associated with Dane Dances, is a volunteer. Jennifer Ball-Sharpe, Dane Dances publicity chair, added that the essence of the series is to cultivate a space for true diversity. Dane Dances brings the opportunity for multi-cultural, multi-generational and pretty much everyone in Madison to come together and have a good time, she said. Those spaces are very rare that we have a really truly diverse crowd in a comfortable, beautiful setting as Monona Terrace to really enjoy each other and take in each others humanity, Ball-Sharpe said. Friday features two Chicago acts: BBI, an enduring Motown and disco band featuring music of the 50s on up; and Shining Star, a 10-member Earth, Wind and Fire tribute band. The most popular Dane Dances shows can draw 5,000 throughout the evening, with people coming and going. When the rooftop reaches its 3,000-person capacity, they have to turn guests away or ask them to come back when others leave. So many people are expected for Fridays show and the ever-popular V05 show during the third week, that organizers will offer video monitors so overflow crowds can watch from below. Two large screens will hang off the ledge and be angled downward so the people on the lower level can see and hear the performances. The screens, which will be taken down after the concerts, are only going to be used for the first and third weeks. Its something new they are testing out this summer with the bigger crowds. Hungry concertgoers can eat at Monona Terraces rooftop Lake Vista Cafe. This year, food vendors also include Cucos Mexican Restaurant; Kipps (Down-Home Cookin) Kitchen; and La Taguara, Venezuelan and Latin American cuisine. Dane Dances! gets an exclamation point in its publicity materials. Cooper said he doesnt know the history of the punctuation, but said the emphasis is that each night going to be a special night. And whats special is people coming together and celebrating and truly enjoying themselves, he said. There, in between Lake Monona and the Capitol, on the rooftop of the Frank Lloyd Wright center. Theres no other place like it. You can tell the people who run the Nebraska State Fair are aware of not just minor safety concerns, but the bigger ones as well. An emergency response team from last years fair is being expanded this year. The group, known as an incident management team, will work the three outdoor concerts at the 2016 fair, said Jon Rosenlund, director of Grand Island/Hall County Emergency Management, The teams presence is required because of the complexity of the outdoor concerts, Rosenlund said. The incident management team will serve as the cohesive organization behind the scenes so that agencies and organizations at the concerts can work most effectively, Rosenlund said. The team consists of emergency managers from other jurisdictions as well as members of police, fire and sheriffs departments. In addition to the usual methods of security, fair officials are discussing additional measures that we may or may not implement for this years fair, said State Fair Executive Director Joseph McDermott. The State Fair Board will decide whether to implement those measures at its Aug. 13 meeting. Might they include scanners or metal detectors? Those, amongst other options, are being discussed, McDermott said. A limited number of surveillance cameras is used at the State Fair. We do hope in the coming years to be able to add additional cameras that would cover pretty much the entire grounds, McDermott said. But thats maybe a year or two down the road. At the Aug. 13 meeting, McDermott will ask the Fair Board to approve an auxiliary safety vehicle policy. That policy states who can drive a car during the fair and where those vehicles may be driven. In coordinating emergency planning for the State Fair, Grand Island/Hall County Emergency Management works with the Nebraska State Patrol, police and fire departments and other organizations. Emergency Management also serves as the daily liaison with the National Weather Service to keep up to date on weather information, and help plan for the outdoor concerts. The goal is making sure everyone has a good, safe time and to be aware of any emergency situation, Rosenlund said. Before the fair begins, state troopers inspect the carnival games. Rides are inspected by the Nebraska Department of Labor. The State Patrol is in charge of on-site security. One group handles the first week of the fair, and other group works the second week. Troopers are divided into a day shift and a night shift. And then we also keep two or three overnight, said Lt. Bill Keeling of the State Patrol. Typically, three or four troopers patrol the fairgrounds on bicycles. Other uniformed officers walk around and respond to calls, Keeling said. A lot of their time is spent interacting with the public. Troopers keep an eye out for petty theft. Occasionally, a fairgoer might get into an altercation and troopers will intercede. They also help parents reunite with lost children and respond to medical emergencies. In addition to doing whatever is necessary, troopers maintain a visible presence at the fair and hopefully everybody has a good event and stays safe, Keeling said. At any given time, the State Patrol probably has eight to 12 people on duty. If we have events like a big concert where we expect a larger crowd sometimes we try to hold over a few more people to cover that, Keeling said. During the fair, the patrol also has investigators on call in case we have an incident where we would need criminal investigators of some kind, Keeling said. Troopers from all over the state volunteer to work at the fair. We get paid our regular salary. But the State Fair doesnt pay us anything, Keeling said. For the State Patrol, providing security at the State Fair is a longtime Nebraska tradition. The State Patrol has been with the Nebraska State Fair as long as I can remember, and thats 28 years, McDermott said. They have always provided the service, whether it was in Lincoln or Grand Island, at no cost to the fair. McDermott says that if you were to ask them, they view it as a good opportunity to get out and meet the public in a different situation than they normally would. The State Fair contracts with Double Locked Security each year. They have been our security provider since the fair moved to Grand Island in 2010. And theyve grown quite a bit. They are a high-quality company, McDermott said. He noted Double Locked provides security for several county fairs, in addition to the State Fair. Double Locked is owned by Mark and Sharon Dreher. Mark Dreher, a longtime Grand Island police officer, is now a Central City Police lieutenant. The State Fair pays Double Locked about $250,000 a year, McDermott said. But that payment doesnt cover just work during the fair. They do things for us year-round regarding the buildings and the grounds, McDermott said. In addition, all State Fair employees play a role in keeping fairgoers safe. In todays world, we have to be very careful, and so we do ask employees that if they see something that doesnt quite look right to report it either to Double Locked or to the State Patrol, McDermott said. The employees provide additional eyes and ears on the fairgrounds, he said. After months of intense campaigning, Democrats have selected Hillary Clinton as their 2016 presidential standard bearer. In the wake of her victory, however, political commentators are wondering about the legacy of the remarkable run by Bernie Sanders, who (before the campaign) was a little-known senator from the small, liberal state of Vermont. Was Sanders a fluke? How did he manage to attract millions of voters? What was the makeup of those who voted for him? It is too easy to declare that Sanders supporters were just a bunch of freeloaders. Free educations, free medical care, imprudent loans repaid by taxpayers, higher taxes on everyone but themselves these are among the goodies that these observers insist were the hallmarks of his message. It is said that Sanders was simply very, very good at pandering to these people. While some of this is undoubtedly true, we think the Sanders movement was more consequential. And a key to understanding this occurred just days after President Obama addressed the Democratic National Convention, at which he boasted of the economic growth enjoyed by the nation during his presidency. Last Friday the Commerce Department released the figures that measure the economic progress of our country. The numbers were grim. In fact, they confirmed what many feared the economic recovery presided over by the Obama administration is the worst of any expansion since 1949. The annual average rate of growth has been 2.1 percent since the end of the recession, far below numbers experienced in past recoveries and far below what is needed to provide good jobs. That number goes a long way toward explaining the popularity of Sanders message. For millions, the recovery of our capitalistic system has failed to generate the job opportunities or wage gains that have been enjoyed by past generations. Yes, unemployment is 4.9 percent, but too many of the new jobs have been at low wages with scant benefits. They havent been sufficient to give people hope of attaining the American dream. There are a number of causes of our terrible economic performance, and high on the list must be seven years of an Obama administration that routinely bashes businesses and rains regulations upon them. It is hard for business owners to be positive about taking the risks of expansion when they dont view government as a supporter, but as an adversary. When government once again encourages instead of inhibits our capitalistic system, good opportunities, jobs, wages and benefits will expand for all including Sanders supporters who have been so disappointed during the past seven years. Whether our next president is a Democrat or Republican, we hope for change. Recently U.S. Rep, Rodney Davis came to Edwardsville after having attended the 2016 Republican National Convention. The convention in Cleveland was his third. In 2004, he was one of 2,509 delegates who cast votes for George W. Bush as president and Dick Cheney as vice president. The theme that year was Fulfilling Americas Promise by Building a Safer World and a More Hopeful America. Four years later, Davis traveled to Minnesota to attend the GOP convention in St. Paul, where the party nominated John McCain for president and Sarah Palin for vice president. The themes there focused on service, reform, prosperity and peace. Davis, a Republican who represents Illinois 13th Congressional District, did not attend the 2012 Republican Convention. Out of the three Ive been to, this was the calmest, Davis said. Cleveland is a beautiful city, no matter what the perception is. And they were very well prepared, logistically. There were hardly any traffic issues. And, frankly, in most cases I saw the media outnumber the protesters in the protest areas. Davis has opposition in the November general election from Democrat Mark Wicklund and David Gill, who ran as an Independent. Four years ago, Davis beat Gill by the narrowest of margins, 46.5 percent to 46.2 percent (John Hartman, running as an independent, pulled down 7.2 percent of the vote). Davis says he is excited about Donald Trumps choice of Indiana governor Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate. With what were seeing in regard to terrorist activity, not just here but also in countries like France, Germany, and others, I think we need somebody like Mike Pence who was serving in Washington during the Sept. 11 attacks, Davis said. Hes somebody who saw what reaction Washington had to have to those attacks, and (he) has some history. And when hes sitting around the table helping develop a national security strategy, hes going to already have that knowledge. And I think thats good. Thats good for the ticket and its going to be good when hes vice president. Davis joined many other Republicans in denouncing Ted Cruz for his speech urging delegates to vote your conscience and for his refusal to endorse Trump for the presidency. I thought that was a terrible move for Ted, said Davis. Its not just a move that hurt him politically, its going to hurt him personally with a lot of Republicans. There were 17 candidates in this race. My candidate was Marco Rubio. He didnt win. But Marco Rubio, who is running for re-election to the Senate in Florida, did not attend personally but he sent a video saying how we have to support the Republican nominee even though he ran against Mr. Trump. So I would have rather seen Ted Cruz react the same way Marco Rubio did. And I think polling since then has shown that Ted probably wishes he had reacted that way. Because his approval rating among Republicans in the last poll that I saw dropped from 60 percent to 33 percent. On the day of the interview, Davis was in Edwardsville to tour the Chestnut Health Systems facility and tour the Agriculture Exhibit at the St. Louis Science Center. In between, he had lunch with Maryville Mayor Larry Gulledge. His overall impression of the Republican National Convention was that it was very calm, very peaceful. There was a lot of unity, he said. Outside of Cruzs speech, I dont think you saw any disunity. I think thats a far cry from what you saw on day 1 of the Democrat Convention. Davis said First Lady Michelle Obama gave a great speech at the Democratic Convention the following week in Philadelphia. Nothing she said was unexpected, he said, but she delivered it well. If you look at what happened throughout the entire first day of the convention, just the disarray and the disruptions from the floor, it shows that the medias perception has been that the Republican Party is not unified, Davis said. But clearly Day 1 of the Democrat Convention shows they are far from being unified. The Catholic Multicultural Center will soon be able to expand its job training programming with the recent gift of a Knights of Columbus building in Fitchburg. The Diocese of Madison announced the donation of the Knights of Columbus Council 4527 building at 5256 Verona Road last week. The 9,000-square-foot building will house CMCs Culinary Creations Catering job training program along with other programs. The program helps people who face barriers in finding employment and gives them experience to help them establish a culinary career. The job training program has been in operation for two and a half years but experienced a boost last summer because of a grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, said Andy Russell, the centers director. CMC, a social service and community center on Madisons South Side, is overseen by Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish on the Near West Side. About 30 people have taken part in the catering program, which typically has six or seven participants at a time. With the additional space in Fitchburg, over a dozen people will be able to take part in the program at one time, Russell said. He said the new Fitchburg location will also have enough space for other programs apart from job training. Basically what were going to do is listen to what the neighborhood is looking for and needs, he said. English as a second language and citizenship classes are popular at the Madison location and could potentially be offered at the Fitchburg space, Russell, said. He said organizers hope to move into the new building by the end of the year. The Knights of Columbus will continue to use the space for meetings, said Jeff Kingston, a Knights of Columbus member for 30 years and the liaison between the two organizations. Between 25 to 50 people attend bimonthly meetings at the facility, he said. But because of declining membership, Kingston said the building became too expensive for the Knights to maintain. The fraternal organizations leaders began looking into giving up control of the space two and a half years ago, he said. We thought the mission for the Catholic Multicultural Center fit very comfortably with our goals and our missions, he said. The CMCs move into the building will have little impact on the organization, he said, as most of the Knights of Columbus meetings and events are held during evening hours while the multicultural center will primarily use the building during the day. Larry Allen, who preps food and washes dishes for Culinary Creations Catering, said hes excited about the additional space, as it will allow CMC to serve even more people and businesses. Its just going to be beautiful, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin I Gede Wahyu Wicaksana (The Jakarta Post) Surabaya Wed, August 3, 2016 It is not surprising that the Indonesian government does not want to accept the findings and recommendations of the International Peoples Tribunal on the case of the 1965 communist purge. Indonesias refusal is a textbook case of a states pragmatism in complying (or not) with international law. First, the tribunals findings will not affect Indonesias international standing. Even since Reformasi, cases of human rights violations committed by the New Order have never engendered serious challenges to the states legitimate status. The international community seems to focus more on Indonesias progress in political democratization, participation in promoting stable and peaceful regional conditions in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, as well as involvement within intergovernmental authorities concerning transnational issues. These roles are advantageous for Jakarta, which can use them as a means of soft power to maintain legitimacy against human rights prosecutions. The so-call genocide, in fact, took place about 50 years ago when the nature and source of international legitimacy for Indonesia was quite different from what it is now. That is, set out by the global ideological politics between the US and the USSR, which was not related to the norms and principles of human rights protection. At that time, joining the US containment policy toward communist expansion was regarded as a crucial source of legitimacy. Second, there is no real connection between accepting the tribunals findings and recommendations with Jakartas perceived vital interests through enlisting the agenda of human rights protection in its foreign policy. Human rights protection is only present as the feature but not the substance of Jakartas external conduct. What it does with ASEAN gives a clear example of inconsistency. Human rights protection is strongly invoked in collective institutional design. However, it is weakly imposed on the domestic structure. Indonesia supports an ASEAN human rights body established without the strength and tools to execute orders upon individual states. Jakartas position is continually conservative, defending the relevance of the principle of noninterference to each others domestic affairs. With this policy, the government does not hinder societal efforts to internationalize the case of the 1965 communist purge, yet it will take no responsibility for fulfilling the outcome of the tribunal. Jakarta perceives the value of humanity as universal, but the implementation is particular, dependent upon local social, cultural and political circumstances. To the government, what happened in 1965, the alleged communist coup and violence and the events that followed were part of internal dynamics that were not related to certain humanitarian grounds. Even those who survived the massacre could not say anything about the wider moral political context of the mass killings, nothing other than intergroup hatred that led to the killings. Perhaps, this is the logic for why Jakarta continues to ignore the genocide, while declaring its concern for other human rights issues. Third, Indonesia has nothing to lose by not complying. Thus far there have been no significant international responses to Jakartas refusal. Indonesias main economic partners, such as the US, the EU, Japan and China, do not appear to consider the 1965 genocide as an issue in their bilateral relations with Indonesia. This is quite different to the case of political violence in East Timor where the US and the EU stood against Jakarta with an arms embargo. The strategic and symbolic meaning of the two cases is viewed differently and consequently they bring about different effects to the Indonesian side. Forth, there will be no domestic political implication of the governments position against the tribunals recommendations. This is because, for one, the 1965 genocide is not as popular as cases of religious intolerance, child abuse, terrorism and other issues that attract the attention of the general public. Recent generations may have forgotten about the genocide. This is possibly on account of the lack of knowledge on the case of massacre. For this reason, none of the competing political elites and parties pay attention to the victims, and many still suffer from the stigma of being communist. Bringing the discourse on genocide to the front of national politics could be unfavorable, because it is likely to incite counterproductive effects to the effort of national reconciliation. No politician is courageous enough to take the risk of splintering the country again after the loss of East Timor in 1999. When these four factors remain at work, it is hard to imagine that the victims of the mass killings and their families will obtain legal justice from the current government. Despite President Joko Widodos personal commitment to strengthening human rights protections, the 1965 genocide does not occupy an important place in the states human rights policy considerations. *** The author is an international relations lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Madjedi Hasan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 The Asia-Pacific Regional Arbitration Group (APRAG) will hold its 2016 conference in Balis Nusa Dua from Oct. 6 to 8. Hosted by the Indonesian National Board of Arbitration (BANI), this will be the first time the APRAG conference is held in Indonesia. APRAG is a regional federation of arbitration associations that aims to improve standards and knowledge on international arbitration and will make submissions on behalf of the region to national and international organizations. Currently it has 41 member organizations that provide services for dispute resolution through arbitration. BANI was established in 1977 and is the only APRAG member representing Indonesia. Taking the theme of The Rise of International Arbitration and Development of Investment Treaty Arbitration: The Asian Response, the 2016 conference is set to discuss the following issues: diversity and unification of arbitration practices in Asia, third-party funding, investment costs and commercial arbitration, investment arbitration in Asia, as well as prospects for harmonization of commercial and investment arbitration within the ASEAN Economic Community. Arbitration is a process by which parties refer their disputes to an impartial third person, an arbitrator, selected by them for a decision based on the evidence and arguments to be presented before the arbitration tribunal or through a process other than a court of competent jurisdiction. In other words, it is a consensual means of dispute resolution by non-governmental decision-makers and produces a definitive and binding award that is capable of enforcement through national courts. The well-known reasons for the popularity of commercial arbitration is that it is predictable, held in private to avoid publicity and that it is more flexible, less formal, cheaper and speedier than national court proceedings. However, the phenomenal increase in arbitration can also be attributed to the rapid expansion of trade and the fact that free market policies are increasingly influenced by non-state actors. In international trade, new arrangements formed outside of nation states, such as multilateral economic institutions, supranational legal standards and non-governmental entities led by capital market actors and multilateral corporations have been significant in promoting arbitration as a means of settling commercial disputes of international character, bypassing the tests and standards required by national judicial systems. The arbitration agreement is recognized as long as the object of arbitration is for the parties of arbitration to decide, in other words, the dispute cannot center on issues of public interest (for example, disputes falling under family law). In commercial matters, the agreement to arbitrate can be concluded either after the dispute has arisen or before, and form part of the original contract. The parties can specify the law that should regulate the dispute, or leave that decision to the arbitrator. Once the arbitrator has rendered the award, if the loser does not comply voluntarily, the winning party can have the award declared enforceable by the courts. The courts will limit themselves to purely formal control, verifying that an agreement to arbitrate exists, that the appointment of the arbitrator has been made according to such agreement and that the award satisfies the formal requirements established by national law. Arbitration in Indonesia dates back to long before World War II, but it has rarely been used due to a lack of understanding on its benefit and procedures. Until August 1999, arbitration in Indonesia was governed by the Burgelijke Reglement of de Rechtsvordering (known as RV), coupled with the provisions on freedom of contract in Indonesias Civil Code. Law No. 30 of 1999, which went into effect on Aug. 12, 1999, covers arbitration and alternate dispute resolution. Unlike neighboring countries Malaysia and Singapore, Indonesia maintains a single regime for international and national arbitration; also, the law does not reflect the UNCITRAL Model Law. Under the Arbitration Law, district courts have no jurisdiction on the settlement of disputes if the parties are bound by a written arbitration agreement. A district court may not review the reasoning in the award, but may only execute it if both the nature of the dispute and the agreement to arbitrate meet the requirement set out in the Arbitration Law, namely that the dispute is commercial in nature and within the authority of the parties to settle; and the arbitration clause must be contained in a signed agreement. The parties may submit a request for annulment of the arbitral award only if the award involves withholding of decisive documentation, forgery or fraud. Arbitral awards are categorized into two types: for national arbitration and for international arbitration. The law requires that national arbitration awards be registered with the court clerk in the district where the losing party is domiciled or maintains assets with 30 days of rendering. Failure to register renders the award unenforceable. The enforcement procedure allows the appropriate district court to issue an order of execution directly if the losing party does not, after being duly summoned and so requested by the court, satisfy the award. The Arbitration Law permits both ad hoc and institutional arbitration. Institutional arbitration may be conducted through either an overseas arbitration institution or national institution, such BANI, which was established in 1977 by three prominent lawyers, namely Soebekti, Haryono Tjitrosoebono and Priyatna Abdurrasyid, on the initiative of two business leaders, Suwoto Sukendar and Julius Tahija. With initial support from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), BANI is now an independent institution managed and overseen by a governing body and an advisory board made up of distinguished individuals from the public and private sectors. The present governing board includes Hussyen Umar as chairman, Haryanto Sunija, Huala Adolf and Krisnawenda as secretary-general. It is based in Jakarta with offices in major cities, including Surabaya, Bandung, Pontianak, Denpasar, Medan and Batam. In addition to BANI, there are several other arbitration institutions, such as BASYARNAS (for businesses based on Islamic law) and BADAPSKI (for construction businesses). Earlier this year, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) established six arbitration institutions for resolving disputes through mediation or arbitration in the sectors of insurance (BMAI), capital markets (BAPMI) pension funds (BMDP), banking (LAPSPI), security (BAMPDI) and finance (BMPPI). *** The writer is a director of an energy consulting company in Jakarta. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kristio Wahyono (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Have you seen the latest disposition from the President? Caught off-guard, then foreign minister Ali Alatas responded: What disposition? General Wiranto held up a copy of a letter sent by Australian Prime Minister John Howard with President Habibies disposition on it regarding the independence option of Timor Leste. A stunned Alatas listened as Wiranto explained Habibies plan. Exclaiming My God, Alatas immediately turned to an assistant to ask if a copy of Habibies memo had arrived. The staff member replied No, sir. It later became clear that Alatas had not been consulted about the Timor Leste policy shift (ETAN/Joyo: 2002). It was a dialogue shortly before a Cabinet plenary meeting led by President BJ Habibie on Jan. 27, 1999 between Alatas and Gen. Wiranto, then the defense minister and Armed Forces (ABRI) commander. And it soon became apparent that Wirantos was a minority view among top officers, the vast majority of whom have served in Timor Leste and come from the Armys elite corps, Kopassus. First of all, regardless the reactions of the ABRI (now TNI) as a whole, Wiranto did not object to the proposed independence option of Timor Leste per se. The then-East Timorese leaders have acknowledged what really happened during a Cabinet meeting, where Wiranto had expressed support for Habibies January initiative. Second, the US State Department in its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices dated Feb. 23, 2000 reported that Indonesian security forces were responsible for numerous instances of indiscriminate shooting of civilians, torture, rape, beatings and other abuse, and arbitrary detention in Jakarta, Aceh, Irian Jaya (now Papua), Maluku and elsewhere in the country. Finally, soon after President Joko Jokowi Widodo swore in Wiranto as the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs on July 27, a US State Department spokesperson said the US is also aware of the allegations of human rights violations against Wiranto when he served as the commander of Indonesian Military [TNI], formerly ABRI. And if the latter does not fly, the perception remains haunted that all crimes against humanity in Timor Leste in 1999 was because of the failure of the then ABRI commander to guarantee security during and after the referendum, which saw Timor Leste opt for independence. But Wiranto has repeatedly denied all allegations and any wrongdoing. He gave a Vietnam War example for his case by arguing that US soldiers killed a number of innocent villagers in the My Lai incident in 1970s. Third, many accused Wiranto of a crime of omission. Human rights groups accused Wiranto of turning a blind eye to the violence committed by soldiers and pro-Indonesian militias prior to and after the referendum. It was quite obvious that the rogue elements in the military were acting on their own initiative with little knowledge of superiors in Jakarta. Fourth, in terms of institutional responsibility two commissions, CAVR (The Commission for Reception Truth and Reconciliation, with UN sponsorship) and the CTF (Bilateral Commission of Truth and Friendship Indonesia-Timor-Leste) had submitted reports in 2005 and 2008 respectively. One report contained a detailed account of the 1975-1999 conflict including human rights atrocities, the other was regarding human rights abuses in 1999. With the CTF recommendations, the Indonesian civilian movement and armed forces as well as pro-autonomy movements must all bear institutional responsibility for gross human rights violations targeted against civilians perceived as supporting the pro-independence cause. It should be noted that in October 2011, the two presidents of Indonesia and Timor Leste stated that their governments accepted the contents of the CTF report and committed to implementing its recommendations through a plan of action to be completed in five years, i.e. by October this year. Then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono accordingly tasked the coordinating minister of political, legal and security affairs with the implementation of the action plan in Indonesia. Both the CAVR and CTF reports had really made similar recommendation in relation to the following matters: training in human rights for the military and police in both countries; the establishment of a follow-up institution; healing for victims; and programs for the missing and separated Timorese children. The two commissions refer to telling the terminology of truth. The real facts about something: the things that are true (Miriam Webster dictionary). Some clarifications are needed therefore, whether Wiranto or his rivals within the Army masterminded the atrocities in 1999. Washingtons message to Jakarta recently is clear that they would continue to discuss the importance of accountability for past abuses and addressing impunity within the security forces. Wiranto once stated that his dismissal in 2000 as coordinating minister for security was a result of advice of other military officers close to then President Abdurrahman Wahid. Most likely Wiranto had become the main target of all parties concerned but with various interests. Thats the reason why then Timor Leste president Xanana Gusmao in 2003 regretted the UN serious crime unit for indicting Wiranto over the atrocities in Timor Leste, adding that it was not Timor Lestes policy. Whatever happened in the past, the governments of the two countries have already ended a chapter. That President Jokowi has selected Wiranto to serve in the Cabinet is only a matter of political stability and strengthening the incumbents position for the 2019 presidential election. It is a matter of domestic affairs actually, not related to Indonesias foreign policy. Let alone Wiranto, although still the chairman, is no longer involved in day-to-day operations of his political party, Hanura Party. *** The writer is senior adviser of International Relations Studies Program at FISE Respati University Yogyakarta and guest lecturer at Gajah Mada Universitys School of Economics and Business. He was co-director of CTF in Denpasar ( 2005 ) and Indonesias representative in Timor Leste (2000-2003). --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nicholaus Prasetya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Indonesia must mourn once again after Buddhist temples in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, were burned down by a mob a few days ago. Allegedly sparked by a small dispute regarding a complaint about mosque loudspeakers, the incident lengthens the list of intolerance acts in Indonesia, alongside unresolved ones. When will such incidents end? Regardless of who governs this country, they have to face a great deal when trying to tackle intolerance. Most of the problems occur because of indecisiveness and a lack of stern action when dealing with hard-liners. Faced with hard-liners, law enforcers often seem totally impotent even though they are supported by advanced equipment. They may cite the excuse that they have tried their best to handle angry mobs, but the main problem is more about intolerance from both sides: the angry mobs (and maybe Indonesians in general) and law enforcers. So what is wrong with our culture? Culture is actually a very powerful and useful tool when people are interested in transferring values to younger generations. But the main problem with culture is its power to prevent people from thinking critically or even simply questioning what they are doing. This is why culture can be so dangerous when bad values are inculcated for the next generations. And this is exactly the problem facing Indonesia regarding intolerance. Take the angry mob that burned down the temples. First, members of the mob were evidently trying to be heroes for their God. But all followers of Abrahamic religions should know exactly who Abraham was. When God revealed his plan to burn down the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, the holy script reveals that Abraham started to question God: Will You sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are 50 righteous people in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the 50 righteous people in it? [] Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? The story then continues with Abraham trying to reach 10 righteous people to convince God not to destroy the whole city. This story shows how Abraham was not blinded by obedience to his God. He was seeking Gods moral clarity. And the most interesting part is about God changing his mind when his chosen people really asked for clarity. So why cant hard-liners change their minds when thinking about burning down someone elses house of worship? Their actions may indicate that the mob surpassed Gods ability to judge who is right and wrong. It seems to be the case that they thought they were the only righteous people deserving of living in this world, subconsciously proclaiming themselves as God. It can be clearly seen that such hard-liners never really question their faith. Although faith may demand obedience, should people be led in false directions because of their faith? To question and critically think about faith is indeed important because by doing so everyone can be Abraham, who finally gained clarity about the disposition of his God. Being critical can even strengthen our faith so that it cannot be easily shaken off, for example just because non-halal food is served in front of us. However, the problem here is once again about culture. Our culture never teaches us to question our faith and demands instead that we blindly follow the faith. Just witness the strong reluctance and paranoia every time there is a discussion about freedom of religion and tolerance. Cultural problems also exist among law enforcers. How many times have we heard their lame excuses about failing to handle mobs? Maybe the main problem here is not their inability to handle mobs but their half-heartedness in doing so. How come they can handle massive labor demonstrations? They may simply say that minor acts of intolerance will eventually fade away as time goes on. But the problem is their half-heartedness, which actually contributes to increasing acts of intolerance. So there is a vicious cycle in any incident of intolerance because all those involved actually cultivate intolerance. The hard-liners culture prevents them from questioning their faith and thus causes them to be easily led by their emotions and egos. Law enforcers culture, meanwhile, shows the reluctance to deal with hard-liners. So hard-liners will continue with their so-called holy war because law enforcers never really want to deal with them. This is why intolerance has yet to end in Indonesia. The only way lies in us having the courage to radically end intolerance cultures. And it can only happen when we start to ask questions, like what Abraham asked his God if there is only one righteous person living there, should I burn it down? Or should I protect the righteous one? *** The author, a chemical engineer, won the Ahmad Wahib Award in its annual interfaith writing contest in 2012. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anthony McCartney (Associated Press) Los Angeles, United States Wed, August 3, 2016 The parents of "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin filed a wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday against the makers of Jeep Grand Cherokees, claiming the company manufactured unsafe gear selectors that led to their 27-year-old son being crushed in his own driveway. The actor's 2015 Cherokee rolled backward down a driveway of his home on June 19, pinning him between a mailbox and a security fence. The suit contends the defective gear selector was poorly designed and manufactured. "Anton Yelchin was crushed and lingered alive for some time, trapped and suffocating until his death," the lawsuit states. Victor and Irina Yelchin filed the wrongful death and product liability lawsuit in Los Angeles. Fiat Chrysler extended its sympathies to Yelchin's parents but said it could not comment on the lawsuit because it had not yet been served with the legal action. The Cherokee model was among 1.1 million vehicles recalled in April after regulators said its gear shifters have confused drivers, causing the SUVs to roll away unexpectedly and leading to dozens of injuries. A government investigation into the gear shifters found 266 crashes that had injured 68 people as of late June. Fiat Chrysler has said it is speeding its recall of the vehicle. Both the company and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have urged drivers of vehicles subject to the recall to set their parking brakes before getting out of their SUV. (Read also: 'Star Trek' actor Anton Yelchin killed when his car hits him) The driveway to the home of Anton Yelchin, a rising actor, best known for playing Chekov in the new "Star Trek" films, is seen in the Studio City area of Los Angeles, on Sunday, June 19, 2016. Yelchin was killed by his own car as it rolled down his driveway early Sunday, police and his publicist said. The car pinned Yelchin, 27, against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence at his home in Los Angeles, Officer Jenny Hosier said. He had gotten out of the vehicle momentarily, but police did not say why he was behind it when it started rolling.(AP/Damian Dovarganes) The suit does not say how much Yelchin's parents are seeking in damages, but their attorney Gary A. Dordick said they want the company to be punished and hope the lawsuit changes its business practices. Irina Yelchin cried as Dordick said at a news conference that the automaker put profits before safety. "In spite of our unbelievable grief, we decided to come here to prevent other families from the same tragedy," Victor Yelchin said. Anton Yelchin was sent an initial safety recall notice in May, and another notice was sent to the actor seven days after he died, notifying him that the company had a fix for the gear shifter, Dordick said. "The safety recall was way too little and way too late," the attorney said. The lawsuit says Yelchin's SUV did not engage or maintain its "park" setting, and that led to the vehicle moving and crushing the actor. Yelchin is perhaps best known for his role as Pavel Chekov in the rebooted "Star Trek" franchise. The third film in the series, "Star Trek Beyond," opened two weeks ago. His parents attended a tribute to their son at last month's Comic-Con convention in San Diego and said they have been moved by the outpouring of support and grief from his friends and fans. "He never cared (about) being a star," Irina Yelchin said. "He loved life very, very much." He was the only child of the Yelchins, and they have filed to oversee his estate, valued at nearly $1.4 million. The actor left behind several unreleased projects, including the Netflix animated series "Trollhunters" and four films. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dylan Amirio (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 2 2016 Imported cotton has found a new home in the West Java city of Cikarang, where Gerbang Teknologi Cikarang (GTC) launched its first logistics storage center (PLB) to supply raw material for the local textile industry. The firm a sister company of Cikarang Inland Port that runs the Cikarang Dry Port in Cikarang joined other major firms establishing PLBs to ease goods procurement and reduce dwell times at seaports. It has prepared a total of four hectares of land at the port for the storage purposes and is already operating the first center. GTC commercial general manager Imam Wahyudi said the first center could store up to 2,500 tons of cotton and was currently running at half capacity. It is one commodity per PLB. We are carrying out adjustments here and there for the IT inventory, he said during a recent visit to The Jakarta Post. GTC has seen a rise in the number of clients accessing the PLB to purchase cotton, from Cikampek located close to the dry port to Bandung some 112 kilometers away. The company said the new storage center would help local businesses secure cotton in a more affordable way, since most of the commodity for local use was still stored in Malaysia. That is what we proposed to the government [when initiating the PLB]. About 40 percent of cotton entering Southeast Asia goes to Indonesia, amounting to 650,000 to 700,000 tons of cotton, Imam said. Why should we pay to Malaysia when the potential market is in Indonesia and the cotton can enter Indonesia directly? Once it enters Indonesia, it can be delivered more easily to various parts of the country. GTC is now building a second cotton storage center, which is expected to enter operations in 2017. Similar centers to store other commodities are set to follow in the coming years. The governments recent economic packages to boost the competitiveness of domestic industries and create a more investor-friendly business climate encourage the construction of PLBs. President Joko Jokowi Widodo simultaneously launched 11 storage centers in March, including the one run by GTC. Goods can be stored at the centers for up to three years and will be exempted from import duty and import-related taxes during that period, according to a 2015 regulation from the Finance Ministry. Meanwhile, Cikarang Inland Port marketing executive Rio Rivai said it was moving toward a paperless system to make goods processing at the Cikarang Dry Port more efficient and to alleviate Jakartas long dwell and goods processing times. Indonesia still lags behind neighboring countries in port dwell times. Dwell times at Tanjung Priok, the countrys primary seaport, average 4.3 days, while those in Singapore and Malaysia stand at 1.5 days and three days, respectively. However, the digitalization process is still very far from completion, as shipping lines must gradually shed the usage of physical documents. The government could facilitate the process by issuing specific regulations, Rio said. (vps) ---------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 2 2016 The Jakarta Transportation Agency has revealed that only 1,512 out of 5,003 cars registered as app-based taxis have taken the roadworthiness test in Jakarta. The agencys head, Andri Yansyah, said on Monday that the remaining 3,482 cars should take the test as soon as possible, otherwise the city administration would take firm measures against them. He added that the 5,003 vehicles had been given a green light by the Transportation Ministrys land transport directorate general to operate in the capital. Andri went on to say that the cars could take the test at the agencys Vehicle Test Center (PKB) in Pulogadung, East Jakarta, adding that the center could test up to 300 cars in a day. 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 Christopher Bodeen (Associated Press) Beijing Wed, August 3, 2016 A Chinese legal rights activist was sentenced to 7 years in prison on subversion charges Wednesday, in the second in a series of cases underscoring the ruling Communist Party's determination to rein in government critics. State broadcaster CCTV said Hu Shigen had pleaded guilty to "subversion, damaging national security and harming social stability" at the start of his hearing before the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court. It said Hu had decided not to appeal the sentence. His brief trial came a day after the court issued a suspended three-year sentence to activist Zhai Yanmin. Both were arrested in July last year with two others as part of a nationwide crackdown on legal rights activists. About 300 lawyers and activists were initially seized and questioned before most were released. Hu, 61, was accused of leading an "underground organization" that masqueraded as a church but was dedicated to identifying and drawing attention to accusations of government abuses. He worked with others, some of whom are also facing trial this week, to "organize activities that manipulated public opinion and disturbed public order," prosecutors were quoted as saying by state media. "Hu's ideology and his behaviors have seriously harmed the country and social stability," state media quoted prosecutors as saying. Hu had been sentenced in 1994 to 20 years in prison on the now-abolished charge of counterrevolution in connection with his political activities, but was released in 2008 after his sentence was reduced. His previous prison term contributed to his harsh sentencing in the most recent case, prosecutors said. "After completing his criminal punishment, Hu Shigen again committed crimes against national security and, as a recidivist, should be severely punished under the law," prosecutors said. A graduate of prestigious Peking University, Hu was a professor in the capital when he became active with a would-be political opposition party following the army's violent crackdown on 1989 pro-democracy protests centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Two other cases are expected to be heard by the court in the northern Chinese city this week, including those of activist Gou Hongguo and lawyer Zhou Shifeng, head of the Fengrui Law Firm that frequently took on sensitive cases and represented numerous government critics. More than a dozen other lawyers and activists remain jailed, their legal status uncertain. The trials are part of a pattern established under the administration of President Xi Jinping to use more sophisticated legal means to attack perceived opponents as it maintains pressure on activists and non-governmental organizations. Several, including fellow Fengrui lawyer Wang Yu have made televised apologies for the crimes they are accused of and denouncing the legal activism as directed by unidentified "hostile foreign forces" to smear and attack the Chinese government. Activists such as Hu and Zhai worked alone or in affiliation with law firms to gather evidence of government abuses and lead clients and the disgruntled in street protests while spreading word online. Their actions were harshly denounced by the authorities as interference in the legal process. Many family members of those being held say they and their retained lawyers have been denied access to the detainees for more than a year, receiving only occasional updates by word of mouth. Some have been briefly detained themselves while seeking information. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu and Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 As the 2017 gubernatorial election draws near, parties participating in the election are seizing every opportunity to increase their chances of winning, including by trying to lure voters from the Muslim community, which makes up the majority of Jakartas population. Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, who has secured the backing of three political parties: the Golkar Party, the Hanura Party and the NasDem Party, is looking for good fortune by appointing Nusron Wahid, a politician who comes from the countrys largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), as the head of his campaign team. Ahok said his appointment of Nusron, a Golkar politician and former chairman of NUs youth movement GP Ansor, was based on the fact that they were already good friends. But many will see the choice of Nusron, the current head of the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, as a strategic move to win over Muslim voters. With the appointment of Nusron, Ahok actually expects to get votes from the Muslim community, Paramadina political analyst Hendri Satrio told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. Because [if given to Ahoks rivals], votes from the Muslim community could become the biggest obstacle for him. Although recent surveys suggested that Ahoks double minority identity he is a Christian and of Chinese descent will not likely impact the decision of most of the capitals voters in choosing a candidate, the governor has been the subject of harsh criticism including calls for him to step down from a number of Muslim organizations, not because of his performances but rather because of his background. According to a survey by Jakarta-based Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), 50 percent of the 646 respondents in an SMRC survey said they disagreed or strongly disagreed with the notion that a non-Muslim could not lead a Muslim community. Meanwhile, 41 percent of the respondents said they agreed or strongly agreed with the notion. Meanwhile, the Gerindra Party, the main opponent of Ahok, also seeks to win over Muslim voters by, among other things, forming a coalition with the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). The PKS and other political parties will form a coalition against the governor, PKS Jakarta chairman Syakir Purnomo said last week. Syakir added that the PKS and Gerindra would soon talk with the National Awakening Party (PKB), a party controlled by NU members, and the Islamic-based United Development Party (PPP), as well as with the Democratic Party and even the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which controls a majority of seats on the City Council. On Tuesday, PKB Jakarta chairman Hasbiallah Ilyas said his party and the PPP had agreed to form a coalition of Islamic-based parties, and though there had not yet been any talks on which side the coalition would support, Hasbiallah said they had prepared individuals as potential running mates for either Gerindras or the PDI-Ps gubernatorial candidate. Gerindra, which has nominated businessman Sandiaga Uno for the election, is trying to get the PDI-P to join its camp and has promised that PDI-P would get to choose their joint gubernatorial candidate should it agree, meaning Sandiaga would be relegated to deputy governor candidate. Meanwhile, the PDI-P and PKB also discussed forming a coalition on Tuesday. PDI-P Jakarta chairman Bambang Dwi Hartono said the Tuesday meeting with the PKB had also been aimed at identifying an alternative leader to Ahok. While not yet deciding on a candidate, PDI-P leaders and supporters have named several party members as potential candidates, including the popular Surabaya Mayor Tri Risma Rismaharini. Besides her achievements in leading the second-largest city, Risma, who wears a hijab, would attract Muslim voters, who are traditionally reluctant to vote for the nationalist PDI-P. Meanwhile, besides wooing Muslim voters, Ahok is also trying hard to enlist support from the PDI-P. Last week he was seen in a car with PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, President Joko Jokowi Widodo, Megawatis daughter Puan Maharani and the partys secretary- general Hasto Kristyanto on the way to the closing ceremony of Golkars national meeting. _________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com The body found in Lake Monona on Tuesday night is that of Megann Schmitt, 35, of Madison, who was reported missing earlier that day. Two fishermen found the body in the waters of Lake Monona, near the mouth of the Yahara River. The Dane County Medical Examiners Office said foul play is not suspected in this apparent drowning death. The medical examiners office was expected to complete a forensic autopsy Wednesday. The Madison Fire Department lake rescue team was called out just after 11 p.m. Tuesday to recover the body, according to a release from the department. The lake rescue team located the body at 11:17 p.m., approximately 50 yards off shore near the mouth of the Yahara River, said spokeswoman Cynthia Schuster. Investigators from the Dane County Sheriffs Office and the Dane County Medical Examiners Office were called to the scene. Madison police had issued a missing person report Tuesday for Schmitt. Schmitt was last seen at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agnes Anya and Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3 2016 As the 2017 gubernatorial election draws near, parties participating in the election are seizing every opportunity to increase their chances of winning, including by trying to lure voters from the Muslim community, which makes up the majority of Jakartas population. Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, who has secured the backing of three political parties: the Golkar Party, the Hanura Party and the NasDem Party, is looking for good fortune by appointing Nusron Wahid, a politician who comes from the countrys largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), as the head of his campaign team. Ahok said his appointment of Nusron, a Golkar politician and former chairman of NUs youth movement GP Ansor, was based on the fact that they were already good friends. But many will see the choice of Nusron, the current head of the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, as a strategic move to win over Muslim voters. With the appointment of Nusron, Ahok actually expects to get votes from the Muslim community, Paramadina political analyst Hendri Satrio told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. Because [if given to Ahoks rivals], votes from the Muslim community could become the biggest obstacle for him. Although recent surveys suggested that Ahoks double minority identity he is a Christian and of Chinese descent will not likely impact the decision of most of the capitals voters in choosing a candidate, the governor has been the subject of harsh criticism including calls for him to step down from a number of Muslim organizations, not because of his performances but rather because of his background. According to a survey by Jakarta-based Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), 50 percent of the 646 respondents in an SMRC survey said they disagreed or strongly disagreed with the notion that a non-Muslim could not lead a Muslim community. Meanwhile, 41 percent of the respondents said they agreed or strongly agreed with the notion. Meanwhile, the Gerindra Party, the main opponent of Ahok, also seeks to win over Muslim voters by, among other things, forming a coalition with the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). The PKS and other political parties will form a coalition against the governor, PKS Jakarta chairman Syakir Purnomo said last week. Syakir added that the PKS and Gerindra would soon talk with the National Awakening Party (PKB), a party controlled by NU members, and the Islamic-based United Development Party (PPP), as well as with the Democratic Party and even the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which controls a majority of seats on the City Council. On Tuesday, PKB Jakarta chairman Hasbiallah Ilyas said his party and the PPP had agreed to form a coalition of Islamic-based parties, and though there had not yet been any talks on which side the coalition would support, Hasbiallah said they had prepared individuals as potential running mates for either Gerindras or the PDI-Ps gubernatorial candidate. Gerindra, which has nominated businessman Sandiaga Uno for the election, is trying to get the PDI-P to join its camp and has promised that PDI-P would get to choose their joint gubernatorial candidate should it agree, meaning Sandiaga would be relegated to deputy governor candidate. Meanwhile, the PDI-P and PKB also discussed forming a coalition on Tuesday. PDI-P Jakarta chairman Bambang Dwi Hartono said the Tuesday meeting with the PKB had also been aimed at identifying an alternative leader to Ahok. While not yet deciding on a candidate, PDI-P leaders and supporters have named several party members as potential candidates, including the popular Surabaya Mayor Tri Risma Rismaharini. Besides her achievements in leading the second-largest city, Risma, who wears a hijab, would attract Muslim voters, who are traditionally reluctant to vote for the nationalist PDI-P. Meanwhile, besides wooing Muslim voters, Ahok is also trying hard to enlist support from the PDI-P. Last week he was seen in a car with PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, President Joko Jokowi Widodo, Megawatis daughter Puan Maharani and the partys secretary- general Hasto Kristyanto on the way to the closing ceremony of Golkars national meeting. _____________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login TheJakartaPost Please Update your browser Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Just click on the icons to get to the download page. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nani Afrida (The Jakarta Post) Bandar Seri Begawan Wed, August 3, 2016 Australia will provide Indonesia with A$500,000 to support the countrys carbon accounting system. The newly appointed Australian Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Fryndenberg revealed on Wednesday that the new commitment was part of its national carbon accounting system with a special focus on emissions from peat land. One of the initiatives working with Indonesia is to share our experience with carbon accounting, to count out the emissions lost and produced. [With that] Indonesia will be able to counter the emissions, Minister Fryndenberg said after an opening ceremony of the second Asia-Pasific Rainforest Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. He said Australia had provided A$500,000 for the specific initiative. Nur Masripatin, the Environment and Forestry Ministrys directorate general of climate change, confirmed the commitment. This will be a form of technical assistance, Nur Masripatin said. According to her, Indonesia has already received A$30 million from Australia in the environmental sector. (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3 2016 Publicly listed lender Bank Jabar Banten (BJB) will maintain its conservative lending growth target at 13 to 14 percent and claims it is ready to facilitate an influx of funds from the tax amnesty program. BJB president director Ahmad Irfan said Tuesday that it would not revise its lending growth target and opted to maintain the good performance recorded in the first half of the year, when it booked loan growth of 15.2 percent year-on-year (yoy). We are trying to keep up the good work and hopefully we will post a similar result as in the first half, Achmad told a press conference during 2016 Investor Day at the Indonesia Stock Market (IDX). The government recently appointed BJB and 17 other banks to facilitate wealthy Indonesians who are seeking to repatriate their funds to the country in a tax amnesty program. The government hopes to partially use the funds to plug this years state budget deficit. The BJB, which is owned by the West Java and Banten administrations, does not aim to manage a specific amount of funds, but says it is ready to obtain as much as it can. Well, it would be good if we could handle around 5 to 10 percent of the potential repatriated funds, he said. The regional lender has put in place several instruments for that purpose, such as time deposit and mutual funds, and has prepared a person-to-person service for its customers. Meanwhile, its latest financial report reveals that its third-party funds (DPK) fell 11.8 percent on an annual basis to Rp 68.25 trillion (US$5.22 billion). Its time deposits posted the steepest decline as they slumped 25 percent year-on-year. The drop in time deposits, which are considered as expensive funding, led to an improvement in its net interest margin (NIM) ratio. The ratio an important measure of profitability rose to 7.2 percent in the first half from 6 percent a year ago. Both of its net interest income and fee-based income increased as well, up 25.9 percent and 8.4 percent yoy, respectively. By the end of June, its net profits soared by more than half to Rp 905 billion. At the same time, BJB saw its non-performing loan (NPL) ratio drop to 2 percent from 4.7 percent. Achmad said the drop of NPL ratio was caused by its debt restructuring measures that began last year and were carried out by a special task force. The NPL ratio of 2 percent was lower than its previous target of 2.8 percent. It expects to see the ratio fall further to be below 2 percent by year-end. As part of its expansion strategy, BJB aims to start 12 new big branches and 150 new service points throughout this year to cater to its micro-loan borrowers, who make up about 10 percent of its total number of customers. It will continue to serve micro-loan consumers, even though the Banten administration plans to establish its own bank that will focus on the same segment. BJB is not worried about the incoming presence of Bank Banten. We still have the same stakeholder, which is the Banten administration, Achmad said. Work is ongoing regarding the Banten bank establishment. The Banten administration took over private lender Bank Pundi recently to realize its plan . BJBs shares traded under the BJBR ticker code ended at Rp 1,670 apiece on Tuesday at the IDX, 2.1 percent higher than the previous day. (mos) ------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Bogor Wed, August 3, 2016 The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) is set to invite the Culture and Education Ministry and the Communications and Information Ministry to collaborate with the agency to fight against radicalism. BNPT head Comr.Gen.Suhardi Alius said the spread of radicalism had taken place through school text-books and websites for over 10 years. The two ministries can hopefully use their authority to prevent the use of school books and internet sites from spreading radical teachings, he went on to say. The Culture and Education Ministry should evaluate the content of school text-books and dispose of those that contain radical teachings, said Suhardi in a discussion in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday. He said the Communications and Information Ministry had the authority to monitor pornographic websites and also sites containing radical teachings. Suhardi further said there were many students in Jakarta and Bandung who had developed radical ideas. Young people can be recruited by radical groups because they do not have sufficient knowledge on radicalism, he said. He referred to a survey conducted by human rights group the Setara Institute from March 9 to March 19 last year. In the survey, 16.9 percent of 515 students surveyed in Jakarta and Bandung considered the Islamic State (IS) movement to be Muslims fighting only for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate. (rez/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Erika Anindita Dewi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is expanding its potential pool of 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial candidates. The latest names being considered are National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso and Anies Baswedan, the former culture and education minister, in addition to the six figures selected previously. Among the six, Surabya Mayor Tri Rismaharini is the strongest candidate to challenge incumbent Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Puranam, recently nominated by the Golkar Party, the Hanura Party and the NasDem Party. "All figures debated in the public are currently on our radar. Those figures are being vetted to be included on the list of potential PDI-P candidates, said Gembong. Various groups in Jakarta have declared their support for Risma, but the Surabaya mayor seems reluctant to enter fully into the race. Budi Waseso was earlier heralded by the Gerindra Party, but the party later nominated businessman Sandiaga Uno to be its gubernatorial candidate. Separately, Anies said he had never considered running in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election and that he was still enjoying free time after losing his position following President Joko Jokowi Widodos recent Cabinet shake-up. "I am still enjoying my leisure time after fulfilling my duty," Anies told journalists on the phone from Bandung on Tuesday. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3 2016 The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry should make changes to a ministerial regulation on coal prices for mine-mouth power plants to appease both the government and state-owned electricity company PLN, the National Exploration Committee (KEN) has said. The ministry and PLN have been at loggerheads over the regulation, issued earlier this year, over the pricing formula for coal delivered to mine-mouth power plants, which included a margin of 15 to 25 percent of the total production cost. As a compromise, KEN has suggested a number of revisions to the regulation, which include allowing large-scale mine-mouth power plants with 100 megawatt (MW) to 1000 MW capacity to set prices based on a business-to-business system. However, the control over conservation should remain in the hands of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry so that our reserves will not be depleted due to cheap prices that are advantageous for companies, KEN chairman Andang Bachtiar said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, small-scale power plants with a 7 MW to 25 MW capacity should be allowed to buy coal with a 15 to 25 percent margin as they have a small demand of only 35,000 tons to 125,000 tons per annum. However, Andang also suggested that the power plants be given an additional fee set by an independent consultant in order to ensure transparency. Fear of overselling coal is one of the reasons the government has insisted on the 15 to 25 percent price margin. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministrys coal and mineral director general, Bambang Gatot Ariyono, said if the prices were reduced further, then Indonesias reserves could be depleted within a short period of time. We have to consider our reserves. If we continue to reduce the prices then our reserves will disappear. Is there any guarantee that the change will allow our reserves to be there for the next 50 years? We need a margin, he said, adding that there were no plans to change the price margin. PLN has claimed that margins have resulted in prices that are too high considering the low coal price experienced throughout the year. President director Sofyan Basir said the margin could be reduced even further to a maximum of 15 percent. Coal prices continue to remain sluggish amid overproduction and slow demand from major coal importer China. Reuters reported that the price of Asian benchmark Newcastle thermal coal went up to US$62.23 per metric ton by mid-July from its 2016 low of $47.37. However, this is still less than half the post-2008 recession peak of around $136 per metric ton in February 2011. Meanwhile, Indonesias coal reference price (HBA) for July also rose to $53 per metric ton from $51.81 per metric ton the previous year. Settling the conflict while also preserving the countrys reserves is crucial to the governments energy plans, especially for the ambitious 35,000 MW electricity procurement project, which will rely on coal for 55.6 percent of its energy source. Government data suggests that Indonesia had around 32.2 billion tons of coal reserves in 2014. However, another study by the Indonesian Mining Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers shows that declining prices have made only 7.3 to 8.3 billion tons of coal economically viable to mine. The preliminary projection indicates that these reserves will be depleted within the next two decades, forcing the country to start importing coal by 2030. KEN also emphasized the importance of hiring an independent consultant to fix the prices as this would ensure transparency between all parties. There must always be transparency surrounding price-fixing between the ministry, PLN and coal suppliers, Andang said. --------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Nusa Dua, Bali Wed, August 3 2016 Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have agreed to conduct coordinated patrols to combat sea piracy and contain the spread of the Islamic State (IS) group in the region. Nationals of Malaysia and Indonesia have fallen victim to abductions by Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf militants. 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 Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said it is important to empower female entrepreneurs as few of them have harnessed business opportunities, particularly in the Islamic creative industry. This will be important to show that female entrepreneurs are ready to take important roles in this world economic forum. Its also important to promote the idea that women can become not only buyers, but also producers, she said on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF), which aims to empower young entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The minister said there was a growing demand for products from the Islamic creative industry, such as fashion, movies and art. Indonesia has huge potential and plays an important role in the worlds Islamic fashion industry, she went on to say. With the 12th edition of WIEF, Sri Mulyani said Indonesian small and medium-sized entrepreneurs had the chance to promote their products and find business partners. "We are the worlds fourth largest population and among the largest economies in the world. Indonesia is an ideal place for investment and also has big investment opportunities, both in sharia-based and common commercial-based sectors," said the minister. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 The government has given the families of Indonesian sailors held captive in Sulu waters in the Philippines a commitment to free their loved ones, saying their safety is the government's top priority. "What we need to assert here that it is the government's commitment to do whatever it can do to free the hostages and weve pointed out to the families that the safety of the hostages is our top priority," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday. The minister further said she had reported the current situation to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, informing him that as of now, the hostages were all in good health. "At least until last night, the situation in the field has been very dynamic and it needs a careful approach. Once more, we want to highlight that our citizens safety is our top priority," Retno said. On June 23, seven of 13 crewmen on board an Indonesian-flagged vessel were taken hostage in the Sulu Sea in the southern Philippines, while the remaining six were released. Three other Indonesian sailors were kidnapped in an earlier incident. (ebf) A smash and grab burglar broke into a Far East Side convenience store early Wednesday, taking an undisclosed amount of cigarettes. The burglary happened overnight at the BP gas station, 6410 Millpond Road, Madison police said. It was discovered at about 5 a.m. "Entry to the building was gained by smashing the front door window," said police spokesman David Dexheimer. "The target of the burglary appears to have been cigarettes." No description of a suspect was given; the burglary remains under investigation. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3 2016 The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) declared its support on Tuesday for Rizal Ramli former coordinating maritime affairs minister in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. KSPI chairman Said Iqbal said labor unions would continue to garner support from both the public and political parties for Rizal. We are going to approach some political parties, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Party Development (PPP), he said. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Forensic doctor Slamet Purnomo from Bhayangkara National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta believes that Wayan Mirna Salihins death was caused by cyanide poison, as police investigators initially stated. "From the CCTV footage, Mirna seemed to be waggling her hands. Cyanide can cause a burning sensation on the tongue. She also convulsed after drinking the coffee, which can be a cause of cyanide poison," Slamet said during a court hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday. Slamet said his testimony was also based on a toxicologists report of a substance found in Mirnas body. Cyanide makes the body unable to absorb oxygen and the consequent lack of oxygen in the brain leads to convulsions and shortness of breath, he said, adding that the poison only needs one to five seconds to kill. Mirna died on her way to hospital from Olivier cafe in Central Jakarta after drinking a Vietnamese coffee with suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso and another friend. According to the toxicologists report, Mirna drank 2.5 milligrams of cyanide, however the toxicologist only found 0.2 milligrams of cyanide in her duodenum. Citing the toxicologists statement, Slamet said, Mirna had consumed a lethal dose of cyanide. The [amount of cyanide] substance in Mirna's body may have decreased due to her bodys metabolism, considering that the examination was conducted three days after Mirnas death, Slamet added. (bbn). Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Indonesia has proposed coordinated security operations with Malaysia and the Philippines to pursue militants who have taken Indonesian and Malaysian sailors hostage. The operations would stretch into Philippine land territory, a senior minister has said. Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said joint land operations would complement the implementation of the joint sea patrols that the three countries have agreed to in their effort to tackle piracy and to prevent other hostage-taking incidents from occurring in the future. "[The militants] launched their attacks at sea before they brought their hostages to land. What will happen if we don't have cooperation on the ground?" Wiranto said on Tuesday. He admitted it would not be easy to carry out joint security operations on land as it would collide with the Philippines jurisdiction. Therefore, he said a comprehensive agreement on the plan should be first concluded to ensure the harmonious and well-coordinated implementation of operations among related countries. Wiranto said he had conveyed the idea to Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, who later delivered it to his Malaysian and Philippine counterparts during the two-day trilateral defense minister's meeting on maritime security in Bali, which ended on Tuesday. During the meeting, the defense ministers of the three countries signed a document on standard operating procedures (SOPs) for trilateral maritime cooperation, marking the official start of coordinated joint sea patrols between the three countries to secure regional waters. The push for stepping up security cooperation has come on the heels of the abduction of three Indonesian sailors in Malaysias Sabah waters in early July, less than a month after the kidnapping of seven Indonesian crew members by Abu Sayyaf militants in the waters off the southern Philippines. The July incident marked the fourth abduction of its kind this year. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Indonesia is set to give assistance to Sri Lanka in counter-terrorism measures as the two countries have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations in the security and defense sectors following a meeting between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Jakarta on Wednesday. Jokowi and Wickremesinghe met at the State Palace to discuss several issues such as security and economic partnership, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe considers Indonesia a role model in counter-terrorism efforts. "Every time we talk about countering extremism, radicalism and terrorism, were invited to contribute. Indonesia is a country with the largest Muslim population in the world but at the same time it has pluralistic communities and has managed to spread tolerance and moderation," Retno said after a bilateral meeting on Wednesday. Wickremesinghe expressed his expectation that Indonesia could help his nation combat terrorism and radicalism. Besides having a bilateral meeting with Jokowi, Wickremesinghe visited Indonesia to also attend the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum held on Aug. 2 to Aug. 4 at the Jakarta Convention Center. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said on Wednesday that the government would release its 13th economic policy package in August, adding that the draft had been completed. Darmin said the 13th package was largely an extension of the previous one, but would expand its focus beyond industry. The 12th package focused on small and medium enterprises. "We are just waiting to schedule a meeting with the president," Darmin told reporters at his office. He refused to give the exact date the new policy package would come into effect. The ministry team must meet with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo one more time to finalize the details, Darmin said. (dan) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3 2016 Top brass: Posing during the opening of the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum at the Jakarta Convention Center on Tuesday are (from left to right) Jordans Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply Jawad Anani, Guineas President Alpha Conde, Malaysias Prime Minister Najib Razak, Indonesias President Joko Jokowi Widodo, Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon, Sri Lankas Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Cambodias Minister Attached to the Prime Minister Oknha Othsman Hassan. Representatives of 12 countries are attending the event, which will run until Aug. 4. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama) As the worlds largest Muslim-majority country, Indonesia is expected to attract investment from other Muslim-dominant countries to boost its economy and peoples welfare amid the global economic slowdown. The Islamic-based economy, which includes investment, businesses and financial services that are sharia-compliant, has been considered relatively resilient when many economies face downturn, nation leaders and top government officials have said. Such views were expressed during the opening of the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF), held in Jakarta from Aug. 2 to 4 and attended by 2,500 delegates from 69 countries. In his opening remarks on Tuesday, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, for example, cited recent reports saying that the world Islamic economy had grown at almost double the global rate during the 2014-2015 period, with Muslim consumer spending set to reach US$2.6 trillion in 2020. As a major player in the Islamic economy, Malaysias Islamic capital market grew to 1.7 trillion ringgit (US$421.1 billion) over the last ten years and the country stood as the market leader in sukuk, contributing 54.3 percent to the global outstanding sukuk last year. He said such strengths, along with its national transformation program, had helped Malaysia write many success stories, namely creating 1.8 million jobs since 2009 and boosting foreign direct investment to record levels. Going forward, we have identified Islamic wealth management as a new growth area, he said. The event marks the second time that Indonesia has hosted the international forum since 2009. This years event, held under the theme Decentralizing Growth, Empowering Future Business, also targets younger audiences by exploring the crucial role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in driving economic growth. During his speech, President Joko Jokowi Widodo said the global Muslim society had the best demography in the world, with a massive young population to support economic growth, as its average age spanned from 23 to 33 years old, including in Indonesia. He said innovation by youngsters, including in Islamic fashion, art and architecture, should be the engine of welfare creation and help reduce unemployment, which is still rampant in the Islamic world. We should do this difficult and complicated work in building industries that will create jobs and systems that educate youth in the 21st century, he said. With 50 percent of Indonesias population of 250 million people of productive age, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati was convinced that youngsters could benefit from the forum to help the country become a major player in the Islamic economy. On the sidelines of the event, 14 bilateral, multilateral and local agreements were signed, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) and Malaysian stock exchange Bursa Malaysia to develop Islamic capital markets in both countries. --------------- to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has stressed that the government would not consider abolishing the death penalty, and therefore there was no need to evaluate prevailing laws. "This is our law. Despite some pressures on us, we have our national legal jurisdiction," Wiranto said on Tuesday. The death penalty is a harsh punishment, he said, but it is needed to protect many people from the dangers of narcotics and related crimes. (Read also : US notes Wiranto's appointment with human rights concerns) Wirantos statement ran directly against that of Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, who said that the government and House of Representatives planned to evaluate the death penalty. Human rights groups and the international community have long urged the government to abolish or adopt a moratorium on the death penalty, saying that it is a cruel and inhumane punishment, which has also failed to create a deterrent effect. Indonesia executed four drug convicts in the early hours of last Friday, with further legal processes sparing the lives of 10 other death-row convicts who were slated to be killed. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arif Gunawan Sulistiyono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 More than 13,000 Indonesian seaweed farmers whose livelihoods were devastated by an oil spill in the Montara oil field seven years ago officially launched a class action suit in Sydneys federal court on Wednesday. They have appointed Indonesian advocate Ferdi Tanoni to represent them in the case. Meanwhile, Australias leading class action specialists Maurice Blackburn Lawyers will take on the case. The oil spill occurred on Aug. 21, 2009, following a horrific explosion. The Montara oil rig began spewing out oil and for more than 70 days, gas and oil from the rig gushed into the Timor Sea, in Australian waters, some 690 kilometers kilometers west of Darwin and 250 kilometers southeast of Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia. It is estimated that in excess of 300,000 liters of oil per day contaminated the sea, equivalent to pouring 10 Olympic swimming pools of toxic sludge into the ocean over the months the spill continued. The leak was finally plugged on Nov. 3, 2009, said Cameron Scott, a spokesperson for Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in a press statement. A 2010 government inquiry into the Montara oil spill was damning in its assessment of the operation of the oil rig. The massive oil spill has also led to depleted fish reserves in the Timor Sea as it affected the habitat of many fish species and changed their migration patterns in the area, according to Ferdi Tanoni who leads the West Timor Care Foundation (YPTB). (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Manado Wed, August 3 2016 The recurrent power outages in North Sulawesi usually occur for only about two or three hours and are caused by maintenance to the network, but on Monday a blackout lasted from 4:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. Kolongan village, Kalawat district, North Minahasa resident Welli Mataliwutan deplored the blackout that occurred for almost seven hours, especially because no notification was given by the North and Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo (Suluttenggo) region state power company, PLN. The blackouts deprive us of a lot, especially when they take place when people are still busy. Some residents also want to worship, but are disrupted because of the blackouts. They eventually use generators or candles, said Welli on Tuesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura Wed, August 3 2016 People from Timika, Papua, currently taking refuge at the Toli military dorm in Polomo village, Sentani, Jayapura, have been advised to return home, as the provincial administration is ready to rebuild their homes, which were set ablaze during a recent communal conflict. Refugees in Sentani are now encouraged to return to Timika, as the situation is safe and the overall situation in Timika city is safe. Security personnel are maintaining security there, said Deputy Regent Bassang in Jayapura on Tuesday. The conflict between two groups in Timika, Bassang said, had ended and peace was restored on July 29. 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 Three convicted sex offenders will be living in the same house in Janesville, the three being released during August, according to police. Two of the men are in prison and one is living at a halfway house in Janesville, according to court records. They will be living at 1214 Cherry St. Matthew Low, 31, will be released from the halfway house in Janesville to his new living quarters on Aug. 12, Richard Hoyt, 28, will be released from Oakhill Correctional near Oregon on Aug. 17, and Scott Kersten, 44, will be released from Racine Correctional near Sturtevant on Aug. 23, police said. Low was convicted on two counts of third-degree sexual assault in 2005 and first-degree sexual assault in February and April 2001, police said. Hoyt was convicted of first-degree sexual assault of a child in 2011 and 2001, police said. Kersten was convicted of first-degree sexual assault of a child in 2004, police said. All three have restrictions as part of the release, including no contact with minors, no patronizing taverns, no contact with victims and no unapproved activities in the community without prior approval of the Department of Community Corrections supervising agent. The three will also be subject to GPS monitoring, police said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 The National Police, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Indonesian Military (TNI) have reported rights activist Haris Azhar to the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) for alleged defamation. Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) coordinator Haris Azhar has acknowledged the report, explaining that he had yet to be named a suspect but was still undergoing the process. He regretted the response from the three institutions, saying that the officials should instead probe into the information he had delivered. "Instead of reporting me, it's better for the President to form a joint independent team to investigate what I have said from Freddy," Haris said. National Police spokesman Sr. Com. Martinus Sitompul said as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday that the report was filed on Tuesday. The three bodies have accused Haris of violating the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law by circulating the testimony of executed drug lord Freddy Budiman on the alleged involvement of personnel from the three institutions in his international drug network. According to Freddys statement, the real cost of producing Chinese manufactured narcotics was only Rp 5,000 per unit, and thus he did not mind giving Indonesian law enforcement bodies Rp 5,000 to 10,000 extra per unit in exchange for protection. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Malaysian and Indonesian property companies have formed a partnership to develop affordable housing projects in Greater Jakarta to meet demand from the nations growing middle class. On the sidelines of the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum, three Malaysian companies Sime Darby Bhd, I&P Group Sdn. Bhd, SP Setia Sdn and Indonesian developer PT Hanson International Tbk signed an agreement to develop 500 hectares of property in Maja,Tangerang worth US$862.28 million (Rp 11.29 trillion). "This is opportunity for Malaysian and Indonesian companies to collaborate in mutual partnership," Sime Darby Berhad President and Group Chief Executive Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohd Bakke Salleh said at the Jakarta Convention Center on Tuesday. Hanson International president director and chief executive officer Benny Tjokrosaputro expressed his optimism that the project, which is in line with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's vision, would benefit all related parties. "I believe this synergy, combined with rich experience on urban development from the three companies and our reputation in Indonesia, will eventually make the joint venture succeed," he said. The project is located next to Citra Maja Raya residential area, which is being developed by Hanson International in cooperation with Indonesian property giant Ciputra group. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Slamet Purnomo, the forensic doctor from the Bhayangkara National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, who examined the dead body of Wayan Mirna Salihin, appeared as a witness in the trial against murder suspect Jessica Kumala Wongson at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday. After examining the outer part of the Mirna's duodenum, Slamet delivered Mirna's organs to the toxicologist for further investigation. In the Visum et Repertum report, Slamet wrote that Mirna's duodenum was irritated because of a corrosive substance. On Jan. 9, three days after Mirna died after drinking an iced coffee at Olivier cafe, the police requested Slamet to examine Mirna's body. Slamet and another doctor, Arif, examined Mirnas duodenum, liver and bile. (Read also : Jessica restless, anxious while awaiting Mirnas arrival: Olivier manager) "The outside part of the duodenum was black, especially in the lower part. Normally, the duodenum color is white like milk, Slamet told the judges. Slamet, who examined only the outer part of the duodenum, found that it had been irritated. He said the irritation could have been caused by a corrosive substance such as cyanide, arsenic, or sulfuric acid, all of which are toxic to the body. Mirna's inner lips also seemed black, which is irregular as the body had been embalmed. If a body has been embalmed, the decaying process is normally halted. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hyun-Jin Kim (Associated Press) Seoul Wed, August 3, 2016 A medium-range ballistic missile fired Wednesday by North Korea flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed near Japan's territorial waters, Seoul and Tokyo officials said, the longest launch by one of the North's weapons. The US Strategic Command, meanwhile, said North Korea fired two presumed Rodong missiles simultaneously on Wednesday, not the one. The command's statement said initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. According to the South Korean and Japanese announcements, one suspected Rodong missile lifted off from the North's western Hwanghae province and flew across the country before falling in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it "strongly condemns" the missile launch because it explicitly shows the North's intentions of being able to launch missile attacks on South Korea and neighboring countries. Japan's Defense Ministry said the missile landed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone, the 200-nautical-mile offshore area where a nation has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources. "It imposes a serious threat to Japan's security and it is unforgivable act of violence toward Japan's security," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. North Korea previously fired Rodong and other missiles into the sea but South Korean analysts say Wednesday's 1,000 kilometer flight was one of the longest for a North Korean test. In June, North Korea, after a string of failures, sent a mid-range ballistic missile more than 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) high. Analysts say the high-altitude flight meant North Korea had made progress in its push to be able to strike US forces throughout the region. North Korea routinely conducts missile and other weapons tests, but the latest launch came after North Korea warned of unspecified "physical counter-actions" against a US plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year. Seoul and Washington officials said they need the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system to better cope with what they call North Korea's increasing military threats. North Korea called the system a provocation that it says is only aimed at bolstering US military hegemony in the region. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, according to Seoul defense officials. The North's state media later confirmed that it fired ballistic rockets carrying trigger devices for nuclear warheads as part of simulated pre-emptive atomic attacks on South Korea. North Korea is expected to carry out more weapons launches in coming weeks to protest annual US-South Korean military drills that begin later this month. North Korea describes the drills as an invasion rehearsal. North Korea is pushing to manufacture a warhead small enough to be placed on a long-range missile that can reach the continental US, but South Korean defense officials say the North doesn't yet have such a miniaturized warhead. Some civilian experts, however, believe the North has the technology to put warheads on shorter-range missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. __ Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Authorities of Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java, never received any request from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) to remove CCTV cameras used to monitor executed drug convict Freddy Budiman, a senior government official has said. The prison warden told me he never met with any BNN officials. However, he admitted that his men had once had a meeting with agency officials, the Law and Human Rights Ministrys director general of penitentiaries, I Wayan Dusak, said on Tuesday. However, Dusak further said, it was unclear whether the BNN officials came to Nusakambangan to ask for the removal of the CCTV cameras as Freddy claimed in his statement to Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) coordinator Haris Azhar. Freddy and three other death row drug convicts were executed on July 29. Freddys testimony raised widespread concern, as he claimed that he had made deals with members of the National Police, Indonesian Military and BNN to run his drug businesses. Freddy claimed that two BNN officials had asked Nusakambangan warden Sitinjak to remove two surveillance cameras that monitored his cell. Dusak said he would establish an investigation team to look for evidence regarding Freddys claim and hand over anything it found to the police and BNN if they asked for it. Freddys testimony went viral on July 28, a day before he was executed. It was written by Haris based on his meeting with the drug lord in Nusakambangan in the middle of 2014. (wnd/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama has said that the appointment of Golkar politician Nusron Wahid as his campaign chief was not a move to attract Muslim voters, but was due to their long and close friendship. Nusron is known to have strong links with the nations largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), as he is a former chairman of the NU youth wing Gerakan Pemuda Ansor (Ansor Youth Movement). Ive been close with Nusron for a long time. The political parties that are supporting me also agreed to make Nusron my campaign chief. If I only intended to lure Muslim voters, I would have just gone with Islamic parties, not Nusron from the Golkar party, Ahok said at City Hall on Tuesday. Nusron also supported President Joko Jokowi Widodo during his presidential election campaign, which risked him his position in the House of Representatives. Then he was appointed as head of the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Abroad (BNP2TKI). Nusron said he would consult with Jokowi regarding whether he would still be allowed to head BNP2TKI. In his new position, Nusron will coordinate with the three political parties the Golkar Party, Hanura Party and NasDem Party that have declared their support for Ahok, as well as Ahoks main supporter group, Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok). Nusron is also tasked with communicating with other political parties, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to invite them to endorse Ahok for the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Josh Lederman and Matthew Pennington (Associated Press) Washington Wed, August 3, 2016 President Barack Obama found common cause with the leader of Singapore in the face of growing political headwinds against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, warning that to "pull up a drawbridge" on trade would only hurt the United States and its workers. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged the United States to maintain its "indispensable role" in the Asia-Pacific and ratify the TPP as he joined Obama at the White House to celebrate the 50th anniversary of US diplomatic relations with the Southeast Asian city state. Obama said that people have legitimate fears about the impact of globalization and being "left behind" but the answer cannot be to back away from trade and the global economy. "To try to pull-up a drawbridge on trade would only hurt us and hurt our workers. The answer is to make sure that globalization and trade is working for us and not against us," Obama told joint news conference after talks with Lee in the Oval Office. "TPP is designed to do precisely that," Obama added. Singapore, a close US partner, is one of the 12 nations in the TPP, an agreement key to Obama's effort to boost US exports and build strategic ties in Asia. But Lee's Washington visit comes as opposition to the TPP intensifies in the United States. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton are both against it. Asked about that opposition, Obama responded: "Right now I'm president and I'm for it, and I think I have the better argument." Calling Singapore a "rock solid" partner, Obama welcomed Lee after an elaborate ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, where hundreds of US military members in blue and white uniforms formed an honor guard. Lee will also be honored with a state dinner on Tuesday evening. Lee described America as a longtime stabilizing influence in the Asia-Pacific, and said it has put its reputation on the line over TPP. He said other nations such as close US ally Japan have faced political costs at home to make the deal. "If at the end, waiting at the altar the bride doesn't arrive, I think there are people who are going to feel really hurt, not just emotionally, but really damaged for a long time to come," Lee said, adding that it could undermine confidence in the US as a security partner. The Obama administration says it remains determined to try and win congressional approval for TPP, but the chances of achieving that in the "lame duck" session after the Nov. 8 election and before the new president takes office Jan. 20 appear slim because of the depth of political opposition, not least from Obama's fellow Democrats. Obama, however, expressed confidence his administration could get it done. He said he was ready to sit down publicly with people on both the right and left of the political spectrum to go through provisions of TPP to address "misinformation" about the agreement. He said the alternative was to allow China to set trade rules that would ignore labor, environmental and other standards. The deal would eliminate trade barriers and tariffs, streamline standards and encourage investment between the 12 countries that include Mexico, Japan, Vietnam and Australia that account for about 40 percent of global economic output. But critics say the pact undercuts American workers by introducing lower-wage competition and gives huge corporations too much leeway. Singapore, a city state of 5.7 million people, is heavily dependent on international trade for its prosperity. In 2004, it became the first Asian nation to strike a bilateral free trade agreement with the US Last year, the bilateral trade in goods totaled US$47 billion, with the US enjoying a $10 billion surplus. Singapore is also a strong advocate of the US security role in Asia although it retains cordial ties with China too. Under Obama, the US has deployed littoral combat ships in Singapore, and last December, deployed a P-8 Poseidon spy plane there for the first time, amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea. Obama said the US and Singapore shared a "common vision of a peaceful and prosperous Asia-Pacific and a more secure world." He paid tribute to the tiny nation's transformation from third world country to a first world country, saying it "punches above its weight." The state dinner for Lee will be the first held for a Singaporean leader since October 1985, when Ronald Reagan hosted Lee's father, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. The US and Singapore opened diplomatic relations in 1966, a year after the US recognized Singapore's independence from Malaysia. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Cairo Wed, August 3, 2016 A suicide car bomb attack in the eastern city of Benghazi targeting Libyan troops killed 23 people and wounded dozens of others Tuesday, a hospital official said. The official said the wounded were still arriving at the hospital in the aftermath of the bombing in the al-Qawarsha district on the outskirts of the city, Libya's second largest. For the past two years, fighting has been raging in Benghazi between forces under the command of Brig. Gen. Khalifa Hifter and Islamic militias. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. A coalition of Islamist militias called the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, which includes the al-Qaida affiliate known as Ansar al-Shariah, claimed responsibility for the deadly attack in a statement posted on its Twitter account. The attack comes after the United States started an air campaign on Monday in the central city of Sirte, the last bastion of the Islamic State extremist group in Libya. The strikes followed a request made by the internationally-recognized government and presidency council in the capital, Tripoli. The two executive bodies were formed after the United Nations brokered a deal among Libya's rival factions. Libya has descended into chaos following the 2011 ouster and the killing of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Since 2014, the country has been divided between two governments and parliaments, and a loose set of militias and tribes. The U.N.-brokered government led by Fayez Serraj aimed at healing the rift, but a crucial vote of confidence has yet to be obtained from the parliament. The parliament in eastern Libya does not recognize the U.N. government, and many in the east are angry that Serraj's administration invited foreign military intervention without the eastern parliament's consent. The U.S. airstrikes, which were authorized by President Barack Obama, are supporting the militias of Misrata, a city next to Sirte that is leading the anti IS-operation. Misrata forces have been battling IS since May in fierce fighting that has killed and injured hundreds of militiamen. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 Hundreds of ride-hailing mobile application drivers held a demonstration on Wednesday to protest recent police operations targeting them and the transportation ministerial regulation that underpins them. The drivers of online taxi operators like Go Car, Uber and Crab Car gathered in front of a shopping mall in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, displaying banners to oppose the government regulation. They planned to move to the State Palace and House of Representatives building. The ministerial regulation has disrupted our operation. It should be revoked, said Online Car Community field coordinator Endang Joni Setiawan as reported by kompas.com, referring to Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 32/2016 on taxi operation. Under the regulation, app-based taxi service providers are required to form a legal entity in Indonesia, as well as facilitate their transportation business partners' permits for providing a taxi service, while their cars are also required to undergo regular roadworthy tests like other public transportation vehicles. Since the regulation came into effect in May, less than 1,600 cars have undergone roadworthy tests, from a total of more than 5,000 online cars. Meanwhile, the communitys advocacy coordinator Adriawal Simanjuntak said that some 1,000 drivers would take part in the demonstration. He said that participants from Tangerang and Bogor were on their way to Jakarta. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 State port operator Pelabuhan Indonesia II (Pelindo II) signed an agreement with Jakarta Industrial Estate Pulogadung (JIEP) to build a "halal hub" in Jakarta on the sidelines of 12th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) on Tuesday. A halal hub is a transit area that ensures incoming and outgoing products from a port are handled in compliance with sharia standards. The hub is an integration of a halal port and halal zone (warehouse and Muslim fashion hub) as well as halal logistics and halal supply chain management. "This is a breakthrough for Indonesia. We expect products from the Middle East, Malaysia sent to Indonesia to be managed according to sharia standards," Pelindo II president director Elvyn G. Masasya said. Previously, the subsidiary of Pelindo II or Indonesia Port Company (IPC), PT Multi Terminal Indonesia (MTI), signed a cooperation with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in early 2016 to develop a halal port in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta. Pulogadung Industrial Estate will serve as the halal zone. (evi) The state Department of Natural Resources policy board on Wednesday approved limited plans for reducing manure contamination of public waters despite complaints about excessive dairy industry influence and worries the department wont have staff to enforce any new rules. We need money to get these things done, Natural Resources Board chairman Terry Hilgenberg said after the vote. Unfortunately, we as a board have nothing to say about how much money comes in. It will be up to lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walker to decide whether to bring staffing levels up to what DNR officials say they need and provide resources to more closely monitor pollution under new rules that are to be written over the next two years. DNR secretary Cathy Stepp didnt address staffing issues, which were highlighted in a recent audit report, but she was upbeat about the prospects that neighbors of large animal feedlots eventually would have cleaner water. I know we are going to stand up at the end of the process and say, Hey, Wisconsin knows how to do it right, Stepp said. Stepp told NRB members the rules wouldnt solve all of the states water problems, but they were a giant step forward. The board listened to dozens of speakers from around the state, many reporting problems with manure pollution and urging the board to reverse a DNR decision to postpone indefinitely a significant portion of the rule-making it had proposed to Walker on June 15. After Walkers office notified farm industry lobbyists, the state Dairy Business Association met with DNR officials and complained about the potential cost of new rules, prompting the agency to narrow their scope. Instead of stronger regulation of manure at CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) statewide, any new rules will apply only in yet-to-be-defined sensitive areas where groundwater is especially vulnerable. Also removed were plans for new standards for aerial spraying of manure. Wisconsin Wildlife Federation executive director George Meyer said his members were shocked Monday to read a Wisconsin State Journal report on the way the plans were changed without notification of people affected by polluted lakes, streams and wells. What made it worse was that the governor did so after consulting (with farm groups) but without consulting with the well owners or the thousands of property owners whose property is worth less because of eutrophication of lakes, Meyer said, referring to the excess of nutrients in lakes, often resulting from farm runoff, that produces a lot of plant growth and can impair animal survival. Meyer added that recreational users were also affected. Some wells cant be used Pollution from millions of gallons of manure dairy operations spread on fields has rendered many drinking water wells useless in places like Kewaunee County and left surface water clogged with weeds and contaminated by bacteria and hazardous blue-green algae. Kewaunee County has been hard hit for many years, and residents expressed impatience, but Stepp said the DNR couldnt begin to act until scientific evidence was in place. Residents of other areas where the DNR is considering approval of new CAFOs or expansion of existing ones including Bayfield County, in the states central sands region and the northwest corner of the state said they worried they would become the next Kewaunee County. The cuts to DNR as a whole are a travesty and we are paying the price, said Virginia Drath of Emerald in St. Croix County. But NRB members said the plan they approved balanced everyones interests. We arent going to flesh out this scope statement based on the court of public opinion, said board member Bill Bruins. Board member Frederick Prehn suggested that optimism was in order. I look out in the audience and see a lot of long faces, Prehn said. The bottom line is today we are finally going to address it. Member Gregory Kazmierski questioned the motives of some who criticized the rules plan. Its almost like they are almost anti-business and anti-growth, Kazmierski said. The boards seven members are appointed by the governor. Critics said rule-making should cover the entire state, include aerial spraying standards and should be done on an emergency basis to speed solutions to contamination of drinking water in places like Kewaunee County. But the DNR said complexity of the process and opposition from the Dairy Business Association threatened to stall the process for additional years if the agency proposed broader regulations and tried to place them on the fast track. Among those who addressed the board was the director of a leading farm lobbying group who said the rule changes would be its top priority for the next two years. We have to address groundwater contamination, said Paul Zimmerman, government relations director for the state Farm Bureau Federation. We have to have a good image of agriculture across the state, he added. Rules would be incorporated in discharge permits of CAFOs. Smaller farms wouldnt need to comply unless they accepted certain types of government financial help. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian insists that the force has a lawful reason for filing a legal suit against human rights activists Haris Azhar for alleged defamation, insisting that comments made by Haris harmed the force. Haris' comments regarding the testimony of executed drug convict Freddy Budiman on the alleged involvement of security personnel in drugs smuggling operations was premature and not credible, Tito claimed. Especially, he added, as the testimony came from a criminal convict known for the inconsistency of his statements. "From the plea document and our investigation into Freddy's lawyers, we have also found no clause that could confirm [the involvement of security personnel]," Tito said on Wednesday. Haris should have cross-checked the information with other reliable sources before making it public, the police chief went on, especially since it was related to national institutions. The testimony sparked anger among the National Police, Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), as the three institutions were mentioned in the long article that went viral online; Haris was reported to the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) for alleged defamation on Tuesday. The three bodies accuse Haris of violating the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law by circulating the testimony of Freddy, who was executed early last Friday, regarding the purported involvement of personnel from the three institutions in his international drug network. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has reminded the National Police to uphold the rule of law in their investigation of a defamation case involving rights activist Haris Azhar. Komnas HAM chairman Imdadun Rahmat said the investigation should not only show a transparent and fair legal process, but would also serve to demonstrate whether internal reform of the police had indeed occurred. We hope this case will be seen as proof of the implementation of freedom of expression and information distribution. If the case involves criminal charges, I will be forced to severely doubt that the internal reform process in the National Police has genuinely occurred, Imdadun told journalists on Wednesday. He was referring to the spread of executed convict Freddy Budimans testimony to Haris, in which the drug lord claimed he had made deals with members of the National Police, Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in running his drug businesses. Imdadun said if the National Police decided to prosecute Aris, it would create a bad precedent because the public would become reluctant to report information to mass media or the police on worries they too would be prosecuted. On Tuesday, the National Police, TNI and BNN reported Haris to the police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), accusing him of violating the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law. Freddys testimony was circulated one day before he was executed on Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java, on July 29. Haris circulated Freddy's testimony on the alleged involvement of personnel from the three institutions in his international drug network through social media. Citing an example, Freddy said in his statement that a Chinese-manufactured ecstasy pill cost only Rp 5,000 (38 US cents) each to produce, and that he did not as such mind giving Indonesian law enforcement personnel Rp 5,000 to Rp 10,000 per pill smuggled into Indonesia, in exchange for protection. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has said it regretted the reporting of its coordinator Haris Azhar to the police for defamation, claiming there was no such intention behind its publication of the controversial statements of recently executed drug kingpin Freddy Budiman. The human rights watchdog said its goal was to push for a probe into the three institutions mentioned in the story Haris wrote based on the statement of the infamous drug kingpin, who was executed on Friday. The institutions the National Police, Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Narcotics Agency (BNN) all separately reported Haris to the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) for alleged defamation on Tuesday. "We had no intention to defame the Police, TNI and BNN. Our intention when exposing the conversation between Haris and Freddy was to support reform in the three institutions," the deputy coordinator of Kontras advocacy division, Yati Andriani, said as reported by kompas.com on Wednesday. The report against Haris was made after he released his written record of Freddys statement, in which the latter said he ran his business with the involvement of top officials. Although the meeting in which he heard the statement took place in mid 2014, Haris only posted the story on his social media accounts on Thursday evening last week, just hours before a firing squad killed Freddy on Nusakambangan prison island. Kontras does not consider the conversation to be legally admissible, Yati said, adding that rather than reporting him, the three institutions should have treated Haris writing as a legitimate report to be followed up on. She acknowledged there was no recording of the conversation as prison authorities barred visitors from taking electronic devices into the prison. Therefore, Yati urged authorities to check the recording from the Closed Circuit Television camera in the high-security prison to ascertain that the meeting and conversation actually took place. Another Kontras member Satrio Wirataru agreed that the three institutions should have followed up on the reports in Haris statement before reporting him for defamation. He added that Haris had been accompanied by the Nusakambangan prison warden and two religious clerics when he met with Freddy. In the post that went viral last week, Haris wrote that Freddy had told him he would contact officers at the police, BNN and customs when smuggling drugs from China. Allegedly, members at each of the institutions would set a price for security services to allow Freddys drugs to safely enter Indonesia. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Seoul Wed, August 3, 2016 North Korea has fired another ballistic missile into the sea, South Korea's military said Wednesday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile was launched toward the waters off the North's east coast. North Korea routinely conducts missile and other weapons tests, but Wednesday's launch came after North Korea made angry threats against a U.S. plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year. Earlier this month, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3 2016 As a boxer I sometimes get kabuhi. Sorry, sorry, kabuhi in Indonesia is masuk angin [a cold]. First, I took Tolak Angin Sido Muncul when I get masuk angin in America, says popular Filipino boxer Manny Pacman Pacquiao in a script for a Tolak Angin herbal drink ad. The ad is just a baby step in the expansion plans of Sido Muncul, Indonesias largest herbal drinks producer, to export from its existing markets in the US, Russia, South Korea, Algeria, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, among others. Not many countries are familiar with kabuhi or masuk angin, but the Philippines and other ASEAN markets that share the same culture as Indonesia: taking herbal drinks such as Tolak Angin to cure the minor ailment. Meanwhile, African markets prefer energy drinks like Kuku Bima Ener-G, also produced by Sido Muncul. Publicly listed Sido Muncul plans for its exports to account for 5 percent of its sales by the middle of next year from around 2 percent at present, creating a new export division to support the goal and preparing its first sales representative office in the Philippines. All this time, we dont directly export abroad. Importers from about 15 countries come to us to sell it abroad. But this year, we want to start exporting directly, said Sido Muncul president director Irwan Hidayat, whose grandfather, Rahkmat Sulistio, founded the company in 1940 with three employees as a family business. To support its expansion plans, Sido Muncul, which now employs 3,500 workers, plans to operate a new Rp 250 billion (US$19.25 million) factory next year in Semarang, Central Java, which will produce 100 million sachets of the drink every month. The company currently operates another factory, also in Semarang, with the same production capacity running at 80 percent of its capacity. To stay ahead of the competition, an old firm should always innovate with new products, new packaging and so on, and thus we have decided to open another factory, Irwan said in his presentation for the annual 2016 Investor Day at the Indonesia Stock Exchange on Tuesday. Sido Muncul booked Rp 1.2 trillion in sales in the January-June period this year, up 13.7 percent from the same period a year ago. Herbal and supplement products such as Tolak Angin accounted for 57 percent of the companys sales. Food and beverage products like KukuBima Ener-G accounted for 40 percent and pharmacies accounted for the rest. Net profits grew 7.7 percent to Rp 265 billion in the first half year-on-year, versus the companys target for 20 percent bottom line growth throughout the year. In the local market, Sido Muncul has tried to launch new products to engage with the public such as herbal sachet drinks to prevent sore joints and sariawan (ulcers) and to increase vitality. Corporate secretary Tiur Simamora said antifever and sore-joint herbal drinks would be available for the first time in bottle packaging next month. The firm, whose sales are 80 percent focused around the western part of Indonesia, has 115 non-exclusive distributors nationwide and supplies raw material from farmers directly from around the archipelago to cut costs. Shares in Sido Muncul, which had market capitalization of Rp 8.7 trillion as of Tuesday, traded at Rp 580 during the day, having risen 10.7 percent so far this year. The benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) has gained 17 percent this year. ------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sarah El Deeb & Philip Issa (Associated Press) Beirut Wed, August 3, 2016 Syrian rebels accused government forces of launching toxic gas attacks on civilians in a town southwest of Aleppo on Tuesday. The government rejected the claim and accused the rebels of using chemical weapons themselves. Rebel sources provided video of people receiving treatment who they say were among the victims of a gas attack, but the images were not conclusive and neither of the gas attack claims by the rebels or the government could be independently verified. The accusations on both sides came amid heightened fighting around the contested northern city that killed at least 20 people, activists and government media reported. Rescuers and doctors in rebel-held Saraqib, a town in the northwestern Idlib province, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Aleppo, reported dozens of cases of severe breathing difficulties, saying the symptoms pointed to a chlorine gas attack. A neurologist, Dr. Ibrahim al-Assad, said he treated 16 of the 29 cases brought to his hospital on Monday night, most of whom were women and children. One elderly man needed critical care but most of the casualties were suffering from breathing difficulties, red eyes and wheezing, al-Assad said. He said first responders smelled the gas at the site of the bomb attack, which he described as a busy shopping area near an ice cream shop. Rebels and activists have reported chlorine gas attacks in the town before, but the lack of chemical labs or independent testers makes it difficult to verify these claims. The government denies that is has launched chlorine gas attacks. Syrian state media later reported that five people had died and eight others had experienced breathing difficulties after artillery shells laced with toxic gases landed on the old city of Aleppo. It said the shells were launched by rebels. Fighting has intensified around Aleppo and its neighboring provinces since the government sealed off the final route into rebel-controlled neighborhoods of the city. The United Nations said the encirclement of rebel-held areas of deeply divided Aleppo traps nearly 300,000 residents, making it the largest besieged area in war-torn Syria. Rebel fire killed at least nine civilians, including three children, in the government-held portion of Aleppo, while presumed Russian or Syrian government airstrikes killed at least 11 in Atareb, a town to Aleppo's west, activists and government media reported. The rebels have launched a counteroffensive, clashing with government forces on a number of fronts. They detonated at least one large tunnel bomb underneath a government position on the southern outskirts of Aleppo on Tuesday evening, in a renewed attempt to break the government's siege on the city's east. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said fighters were killed on both sides in battles around the southern al-Ramouseh and al-Amerieh neighborhoods of the city, but did not have exact figures. Several rebel factions, including the Levant Conquest Front formerly known as the Nusra Front and linked to al-Qaida announced they had taken government positions there and killed soldiers. The Observatory said at least 11 people, including five children, were killed when bombs were dropped in a market in the rebel-held town of Atareb. The activist-run Aleppo Media Center said the death toll was 20, posting pictures of destroyed buildings and civilians searching for survivors. On Tuesday, residents of the rebel-held parts of Aleppo returned to burning tires, sending up big plumes of black smoke in the hope of preventing airstrikes. But anti-government activists and residents reported that airstrikes and unguided barrel bombs hit various parts of the city. At least one person was killed in al-Sukkari neighborhood, according to the activist-operated Local Coordination Committees. On social media, rebel fighters asked residents to stay indoors and away from front lines. Syria's state news agency reported that four women and three children were among the nine killed when rebels shelled and fired at three front-line neighborhoods on Monday night. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3 2016 The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) nabbed a Taiwanese national identified as L, 42, on Saturday at the Mediterania apartment block in Gajah Mada, West Jakarta, over the alleged possession of 15 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. BNN head Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso claimed the drugs had been shipped from China to Indonesia via Singapore. The crystal meth was packed into 15 plastic bags and concealed inside luggage. Besides, we seized pieces of evidence to prove the crime, which were a car, eight cell phones, a Taiwanese identity card and US$7,000 in cash, he said at his office in Cawang, East Jakarta, on Tuesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Tanjung Balai Wed, August 3 2016 Its late in the afternoon and Zunaida is still drawing in her notebook, listing down the amount of fish caught that day. In Tanjung Balai, a port city in the eastern part of North Sumatra, life revolves around the catch that fishermen take in every day. The 37-year-old woman is married to a fisherman and works in a storage facility belonging to a Chinese-Indonesian businessman. She also comes from a fishing family. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Ankara Wed, August 3, 2016 Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says he has withdrawn lawsuits against about 1,500 people, including opposition politicians, journalists and writers, for insulting him or his office. Speaking Tuesday night in a live interview with CNN Turk, Yildirim said he withdrew the lawsuits Monday. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also said he will drop insult lawsuits against him, as a gesture toward the opposition as they seek to forge better relations in the wake of a failed July 15 coup. Yildirim announced the withdrawal of the lawsuits after saying he was determined to continue working more closely with the opposition. The ruling party's policies have often been seen as polarizing. "There are so many issues we can solve through dialogue," Yildirim said. "This country belongs to all of us." (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 The governments efforts to promote tourism in the archipelago with its Wonderful Indonesia campaign have had a positive impact, the president director of tour and travel company Panorama Sentrawisata said on Tuesday. Budi Tirtawisata said that in the first six months of this year, his company booked a 19 percent increase in gross revenue to Rp 2.38 trillion, from Rp 1.99 trillion in the same period last year, as more foreigners were drawn to Indonesia. The governments free visa policy is also contributing to growth in the tourism sector, Budi told reporters at a press conference in Jakarta. Budi was upbeat the companys business volume would increase, and possibly double, in the second half of 2016, compared to the first half, because more tourism activities were expected to take place in the period. The peak season for tourist visits to Indonesia is during the summer, which occurs in the second half of the year, Budi said, adding that more tourists would also visit the country during the Christmas holidays in December. (vny/dan) The uncomfortable truce meant to keep the Republican Party united through Election Day is now hanging by the slimmest of threads. And all that is keeping the GOP from outright civil war is a raw political calculation from the party's self-styled guardian of conservative principles. For months, House Speaker Paul Ryan agonized as Donald Trump trampled on long-held GOP doctrine with his populist rage as he edged closer to the party's presidential nomination. But once Trump had the nomination in hand and after Ryan withheld his endorsement for weeks an informal deal seemed to emerge. Ryan, Wis., would campaign on his "Better Way" policy platform and make the case that Trump would be the candidate most likely to enact it into law, and Trump would "pivot" into a more conventional general-election presidential campaign. Donald Trump refuses to endorse Paul Ryan in GOP primary: 'I'm just not quite there yet' Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is refusing to back House Speaker Paul Ryan in his upcoming primary election, saying in an interview Tuesday that he is "not quite there yet" in endorsing his party's top-ranking elected official. That deal evaporated Tuesday, when Trump refused to endorse Ryan's re-election in an interview with the Phil Rucker and gave precious oxygen to his populist Republican opponent just a week before the primary. Trump also rejected the backing of Sens. John McCain, Ariz., saying he "should have done a much better job for vets" and Kelly Ayotte, N.H. whom he called "weak." McCain and Ayotte are both supporting Trump. "We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet. I'm not quite there yet," Trump said in a conscious echo of Ryan's own refusal to endorse Trump in the days after he cleared the GOP presidential field. It was a stunning assertion of dominance by Trump after days of self-inflicted controversy sparked by his criticism of the parents of a Muslim-American Army captain who died in Iraq that left Ryan and other GOP officeholders struggling to mount a reaction. Ryan on Monday put out a carefully worded statement that defended the family of Capt. Humayun Khan but did not mention Trump by name. It stopped well short of the full-throated denunciation that Democrats, Trump's Republican critics, and the Khans themselves had called for. But Trump hit back anyway, in a manner calibrated to underscore the gaping divide between Ryan conservatives and Trump populists. Donald Trump thanks Paul Ryan's primary challenger for 'kind words' Donald Trump tweeted a word of thanks to House Speaker Paul Ryan's primary opponent for his "kind words" Monday, a notable shout-out that comes eight days before the primary in Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, the populist right is clearly hoping for a repeat of the 2014 dethroning of then-Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Va., in Ryan's primary. His unabashedly pro-Trump opponent, Paul Nehlen, has taken a hatchet to the Ryan mythos of a young conservative warrior steeped in Friedman and Von Mises and raised at the foot of Jack Kemp to reshape the federal government in Reaganesque fashion. In a Tuesday interview with the publisher of Breitbart.com, for instance, Nehlen called Ryan a "soulless globalist" and an "open borders guy" who was "grown in a petri dish in D.C." But don't expect Ryan to abandon Trump at least, not yet. Scott Walker latest high-profile state Republican to skip Donald Trump rally A spokesman for Gov. Scott Walker's campaign said Wednesday the governor would be "unable" to attend the Trump rally, his first in Wisconsin since gaining the GOP nomination. The institutional stakes are simply too high for Ryan or Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Ky., to spark a GOP crackup. Both the Trump and Ryan wings need to show up on Nov. 8 and vote Republican if the party is going to keep its congressional majorities and it's Trump, not Ryan, who has the party in his thrall. That being said, there were reports late Tuesday night and into the early Wednesday morning that more Republicans would abandon Trump in the coming days as infighting in his campaign increases. In one prominent defection, Mitt Romney backer Meg Whitman of eBay fame announced that she will support Hillary Clinton and raise funds for her, calling Trump a " dishonest demagogue." The story revealed that Clinton is actively seeking the support of Republican donors (Whitman said she had a "lovely chat" with the Democratic nominee in a phone call last month). There were some signs of a campaign shake up yesterday as two senior staffers who'd previously worked for Ben Carson were let go, reports Politico's Alex Isenstadt and Ken Vogel longtime GOP operative Ed Brookover, who was advising Trump politically; and Jimmy Stracner, who was Western political director for the Western region. John Harwood of CNBC reports that things are bad inside the Trump campaign, with even campaign chairman Paul Manafort refusing to challenge the candidate and calling the staff "suicidal." NBC's Katy Tur says the chaos extends to the RNC, where Reince Priebus, who has worked to unify the party around Trump, is not happy with Trump's Ryan comments. But Liam Donovan, a former National Republican Senatorial Committee staffer who has been one of the sharpest observers of the contemporary GOP, signaled that Ryan and McConnell might not let go, just yet anyways. #NeverTrump conservatives are begging Ryan to renounce Trump and redeem their party. They include former George W. Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson, who aimed his Tuesday Washington Post column squarely at Ryan, who frequently speaks reverently of the "American idea." "Those who support Trump are setting the Republican Party at odds with the American story told by Lincoln and King: a nationalism defined by striving toward unifying ideals of freedom and human dignity," Gerson writes. "... It is not too late to repudiate." But Donovan said in an interview that the moment for party leaders taking moral stands against Trump after the Khan controversy, after his attacks on a Latino judge, after his questioning of John McCain's war record has long since past. For Ryan, he said, what will matter are House seats. "He's looking at it as protecting the [House Republican] Conference and keeping his job in the immediate term," he said. "I wish he'd do it. He'd make me feel better. But it wouldn't be a good idea from a strategic standpoint. ... Until [Trump] is dragging them down, I don't think anyone is hitting the panic button." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 3, 2016 The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has urged the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) to force a snack company to withdraw the online distribution of Bihun Kekinian snack, which it shortens into Bikini, for what it says is impropriety. YLKI has filed a protest and demands the product be taken out of distribution. BPOM should reprimand the producer and tell them to stop the sale of the products through their online store, YLKI executive chairman Tulus Abadi said as quoted by Antara news agency on Wednesday. Tulus added that the foundation had also found that the snack had not yet been registered with the BPOM, even though it carries a halal stamp. This snack is inappropriate, especially for kids, Tulus said, citing the snack packaging, which depicts a woman in a bikini and the words Squeeze me. (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, August 4, 2016 The legal basis used to file a report against a prominent human rights activists for defamation by three state institutions is weak, an expert said on Wednesday. The article of the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions Law cited by the complainants is intended for protecting a person's reputation, not that of a corporation or institution, a researcher at the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) said on Wednesday. "As we know, the article that went viral on social media does not mention any single person," he said, referring to an article written by Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) coordinator Haris Azhar about claims made by recently executed drug lord Freddy Budiman. The National Police, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) each filed reports against Haris on Tuesday with the police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim). The complaint was made based on the article written by Haris and spread through social media. The article exposed the alleged involvement of personnel at the three institutions in Freddy's illegal business. According to the article, Freddy said he managed to operate an international drug network with the help of top officials, but without revealing any names. The police will start an investigation by summoning Haris, police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said on Wednesday. If the case continues, the three institutions would be criminalizing Haris constitutional right to freedom of speech, Wahyudi added. (wnd/rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kristine Angeli Sabillo (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) Manila Wed, August 3, 2016 The Philippines might have won its arbitrated case on disputed areas in the South China Sea but it has yet to ensure the safety of its fishermen, at least based on the Department of Foreign Affairs advice for them to stay clear of areas where tension with China is still high. DFA spokesperson Charles Jose on Wednesday told reporters that the Permanent Court of Arbitration clearly declared Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) a common fishing ground. However, he said the government still needs to discuss the issue with China, which has refused to recognize the arbitral tribunals ruling. Asked if the government is advising Filipino fishermen to stay clear of the disputed areas, he said, Perhaps we can do that for now for the safety of everyone. His answer echoed that of Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza who said weeks ago that fishermen should exercise caution while local government units sort out guidelines and safeguards for their protection. Despite his advice, Jose insisted that fishermen have the right to fish in the area. So far as we are concerned, the tribunals decision on this is clear. What is important is that our fishermen are able to return to Scarborough Shoal because their livelihood has already been affected, he said. The spokesperson said this as Chinas Supreme Court ruled that people found illegally fishing in Chinese waters will be jailed up to a year. It did not mention the South China Sea but it said its decision was made in accordance to Chinese law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which was the basis of the Philippine governments cad against Chinas nine-dash line claim. Jose reiterated Secretary Perfecto Yasays earlier statement for all parties to exercise restraint and sobriety. We know that China has occupied Scarborough Shoal. Lets wait for clarifications on how our fishermen can return without being subjected to harassment, he explained. Jose said he is also sure that the concerns of the fishermen are among the priority issues that former president and special envoy Fidel Ramos will raise when he holds dialogue with China. When asked if the Philippines will now repair its facilities in the Kalayaan Group of Islands, he said it is not yet a priority. For now we are trying to lessen the tension because the decision has just been handed down. For us, our priority is our fishermen, he said. Jose emphasized that the Philippine government is pushing for a rules-based approach in the South China Sea. Despite Chinas refusal to recognize the tribunals decision, the spokesperson said he is hopeful that a peaceful discussion would happen between the two countries in order to clarify the many issues surrounding the award. Jose did not directly answer when asked if the government will provide legal support to fishermen who may be accused of illegal fishing and arrested by Chinese authorities. He pointed out that the tribunals decision is clear and that Filipino fishermen are within the countrys exclusive economic zone. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Quratul-Ain Bandial (The Brunei Times/ANN) Bandar Seri Begawan Wed, August 3, 2016 Timor Leste is keen to reap the potential benefits of tariff-free trade once it joins the ASEAN bloc, said the countrys commerce, industry and environment minister on Tuesday. Constancio Pinto told reporters that joining the ASEAN free trade area is a key reason the country is eager for the regional group to approve its membership application as soon as possible. ASEAN has a free trade zone among its 10 members, as well as FTAs with six other countries including China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. One of the economic benefits of joining ASEAN is that we can engage in trade and enjoy the open market and some of the trade facilities We will also be open to ASEAN countries as a new market, said the minister, who is in the sultanate to attend the Second Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit. ASEAN is currently conducting a final review of Timor Lestes application to join the organization. I was happy to read in the newspaper a statement from the Indonesia Foreign Ministry spokesperson that there is a good prospect for Timor Leste to join ASEAN. If its tomorrow or next year we are ready to join, he said. But we have already been actively participating in the technical meetings. Pinto said the country has not forged any free trade agreements (FTAs) since its independence from Indonesian occupation in 2002 and is keen to explore bilateral FTAs with regional neighbors. We have bilateral agreements with Indonesia but not with other countries, it is something we would like to explore. At the moment there is a very small amount of trade between Timor Leste and Brunei. The countrys only major export is coffee, which it exports to Singapore, the United States and Australia. I see a lot of coffee shops and it seems like Bruneians are drinking a lot of coffee so we can explore that and export directly to Brunei. Pinto said the two nations could also look into forging cooperation in halal food manufacturing. We have a lot of land that can be developed and we welcome any company that is interested in developing it for food production Perhaps Bruneian companies can go to Timor Leste and invest in such a project. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Hanoi Wed, August 3, 2016 Vietnamese police have launched an investigation into illegal dumping of waste material from a Taiwanese steel company already under fire for massive fish deaths in what officials say was the country's worst environmental disaster. Bui Dinh Quang, deputy police chief in Ha Tinh province where a unit of the Formosa Plastics Group is located, said a local company was the target of the investigation after police last month caught the company burying the industrial waste at a private farm. He says tests confirmed the waste contained harmful levels of cyanide. Quang says the local company was not authorized to handle harmful industrial waste. Formosa acknowledged in June that it was responsible for the fish-death pollution and pledged to pay $500 million to clean it up and compensate affected people. Read the digital edition 2020-09-25 E-Edition The Jewish Advocate is a not-for-profit reader-supported 501(c)3 organization. We rely on your donations which are tax-deductible. As the search for a consultant to study the Madison Police Department continues, city officials approved an interim step to get the discussion rolling on ways to improve community relations with the police. The City Councils Organizational Committee on Tuesday approved the creation of a subcommittee to examine the relationship between police and residents. The Subcommittee on Police and Community Relations will seek input from residents and police and develop recommendations, organizers said. Specifically, the subcommittee will: Create a forum for residents and council members to discuss interactions between police and the community and ways to improve them. Look at the policing policies and models used by other cities. Provide opportunities to share information about Madison police training, data, trends and policies, which would include presentations from the department. Develop short-term recommendations to bring to the City Council. Council members approved $400,000 in June for an ad hoc committee to hire a consultant who will conduct a comprehensive study into police department policies, practices and procedures. We dont want to duplicate the work of the ad hoc committee, we want to complement it, said Council President Mike Verveer, 4th District. Verveer said he appointed Alds. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, Denise DeMarb, Rebecca Kemble, Sheri Carter and Marsha Rummel to the subcommittee but said all members are welcome to attend and participate in meetings. He said he spoke with Chief Mike Koval and other MPD officials a few weeks ago and said they were supportive of the idea. Verveer said the department had appointed Capt. Jim Wheeler to serve as a liaison to the subcommittee. The group could begin meeting in August, Verveer said. Local residents are urging the MTA to block a Mexican restaurant, Gracias Mama, from creating an entrance alongside the F Train stairwell on Rutgers Street. A transit authority spokesperson said, however, We have been to the site We did not see anything that gave us concern. The entrance was moved from East Broadway to get around a state law preventing new liquor permits located within 200 feet of churches and schools. [DNA Info] A day after releasing his report on the Rivington House fiasco, Comptroller Scott Stringer has no interest in sitting next to the mayor. [New York Post] In the fall, the Museum of the City of New York will open an exhibition called New York at Its Core. In anticipation of the opening, the museum is releasing several trailers. The first video features Russ & Daughters. [Untapped Cities] New owners of Johns of 12th Street plan to keep the venerable Italian restaurant open, preserving its legacy. [EV Grieve] The Doughnut Plant opens a production facility in Long Island City. [Commercial Observer] We stopped by the Essex Street Market yesterday to check in with local beer guru Ted Kenny, who just opened a takeout shop. Top Hops To Go is now open for business on the south end of the market, in the back, near Boubuki and Ni Japanese Deli. The stall is an offshoot of Kennys Top Hops, the popular bar and craft beer shop thats been open since 2012 at 94 Orchard St. You wont be able to down a pint in the market. Instead, the new shop is designed as a takeaway outpost, offering growlers and a selection of 50 specialty beers in bottles and cans at any given time. There are four lines; draft beers will rotate every so often. Customers can also pick up snacks from local purveyors such as Roni Sues Chocolates, Ricks Picks and Pop Karma. Christina Cahill, Tops Hops marketing director, told us earlier in the week that the Lower East Side Partnership helped facilitate their expansion into the Essex Street Market. The Partnership, the NYC Economic Development Corp. (which operates the market) and the Vendor Association have been working hard to boost foot traffic. After several vendors closed in the past couple of years, there have been new signs of life in the historic market lately. Besides Top Hops, other new arrivals include Osaka Grub and Arancini Bros. Top Hops to Go is open daily from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Attorney General Brad Schimel is seeking an emergency stay of a federal court ruling that struck down a number of provisions in the state's voter ID law as unconstitutional. State Department of Justice attorneys also Wednesday notified the court that the state wishes to appeal the ruling from U.S. District Judge James Peterson that struck down newly imposed limits on in-person absentee voting that Peterson said were unfair to minority, largely Democratic voters. Not staying the court ruling "would cause major disruption and voter confusion that would require changes to election procedures and informing the public of those changes, only to have the procedures change back" if the ruling was overturned on appeal, according to the agency's news release. One Wisconsin Institute and another liberal group, Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund, challenged the voter ID law, which became law in 2011, and a series of other voting-related laws passed by the Republican- controlled Legislature that followed. Lawyers representing those plaintiffs filed their own notice of appeal on Tuesday. Wes Sparkman arrived in Madison for college in 1991. Raised on Chicagos South Side before moving to the western suburb of Hillside for high school, Sparkman had never visited Madison before arriving at freshman orientation. In the 25 years since, Sparkman has rooted himself in the community, working on diversity issues in his career with Dane County and as a former Rotary Club president. Sparkman met his wife, Catrina, while attending UW-Madison, and he has four children: Rain, Samuel, Judah and Xavier. An advocate for racial equality, Sparkman was chosen in May to head Dane Countys new Office for Equity and Inclusion after the sudden death earlier this year of Tamara Grigsby, who had been tapped to lead the office. Sparkman is in his 18th year with the county and focuses on equal employment opportunities, affirmative action, contract compliance and service delivery with providers the county funds. What did your parents do? My mom was an accountant at the University of Illinois-Chicago and dad worked for the U.S. Postal Service. They were strong influences in my life. My mom is definitely a people person and she enjoys getting to know people. I do, too. I think thats a trait she passed on. Of all the places you could have gone, why Madison? I wanted to go to a Big Ten school. I have an aunt that went to law school here, so there was an interest in UW. I hadnt visited before, but I heard it was beautiful campus and a nice place to be. What was it like moving to a place you had never been to? I was able to adapt, but school had some challenging moments at times. It was a different group of people and that took some adjustment, socially and just in the classroom makeup. I was used to a racially diverse classroom makeup and as far as the instructors, too. That was a switch coming from the Chicago area. Did you have an easy time making friends? Absolutely. That was one of the more enjoyable things. We stayed at a house on Brooks Street and I had some good buddies and we all grew pretty close. Different backgrounds, but all very appreciative of their ethnicity. We had a Jewish roommate, Irish roommate, a Polish roommate, another African-American guy who went to my high school we had a really good time and we learned from each other. What kinds of things did you learn from each other? All of us had a good sense of humor. We got started with getting to know each other by being able to be open about things that were funny, joking about stereotypes and whether thats true or not. Wed have late-night discussions about sociology classes. It was really an enjoyable time. We had some deep conversations after we got through the phase of being able to be comfortable about things. Howd you meet Catrina? We both had the same English class. It was the first day of class and I remember her walking all the way to the front of the class after the bell rung. We became good friends for a couple years before we actually started dating and I eventually proposed to her at the UW Arboretum. UW has been a big part of our courtship and development. We were good friends and I think that was a really important piece. You were recently appointed to head the Office for Equity and Inclusion. What is the county focusing on with the new department? This is a very exciting time and the county is taking action on some of the disparities that exist, starting with the county executives Access to Opportunity. The focus has been coming up with assistance for young people in getting their drivers license. The Boys and Girls Club internship program is in our second year (of) actually getting students experience in employment. The County Board and county executive agreed on hiring a diversity recruitment specialist to work on some of the barriers to Dane County employment issues. These are very exciting moves in the right direction. Whats the biggest challenge for Madison? I would say the economic disparities are the biggest areas that need to be addressed because theres so many areas of fallout as a result of economic disparity. The challenges related to having adequate resources affect kids when they are trying to learn. Poor education a lot of times leads to incarceration because you cant find a job. A lot of things really go back to resources and economic challenges. Im aware of that and theres an urgency to address that because its a really bad cycle. Interview by Jeff Glaze A medium-range ballistic missile fired by North Korea flew about 620 miles and landed in the Sea of Japan. The US Strategic Command said North Korea fired two presumed Rodong missiles simultaneously on Wednesday. It said initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. Travellers at a train station in Seoul watch the news (Ahn Young-joon/AP) According to South Korea and Japan, one suspected Rodong missile lifted off from the Norths western Hwanghae province and flew across the country before falling into waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff said that it strongly condemns the missile launch because it explicitly shows the Norths intentions of being able to launch missile attacks on South Korea and neighbouring countries. Japans defence ministry said the missile landed inside Japans exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the 200-nautical-mile offshore area where the nation has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources. Japans defence minister spoke with media about the launch (Kazuhiko Yamashita/AP) Japanese media reported it was the first North Korean missile that has splashed down in Japans EEZ. It imposes a serious threat to Japans security and it is an unforgivable act of violence towards Japans security, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. North Korea has previously fired Rodong and other missiles into the sea but South Korean analysts say Wednesdays flight was one of the longest for a North Korean test. Several North Korean rockets have gone further and even over Japan. But Pyongyang called them satellite launches while Washington, Seoul and Tokyo said they were disguised tests of missile technology. A medium-range missile is displayed at a military parade in Pyongyang in 2013 (AP) North Korea routinely conducts weapons tests, but the latest launch came after North Korea warned of unspecified physical counter-actions against a US plan to deploy an advanced missile defence system in South Korea by the end of next year. Seoul and Washington officials said they need the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system to better cope with what they call North Koreas increasing military threats. North Korea called the system a provocation that it says is only aimed at bolstering US military hegemony in the region. Pyongyang is expected to carry out more weapons launches in coming weeks to protest against annual US-South Korean military drills that begin later this month. North Korea describes the drills as an invasion rehearsal. Donald Trump's presidential campaign seems to jump from one outrageous move to the next. So far he's made it clear he intends to build a huge wall on the Mexican border and also ban all Muslims from entering America. Now he's caused another controversy by kicking a baby out of his rally. In an incredibly awkward and bizarre moment Trump, told the baby's mother: "You can get that baby out of here" It's safe to say this is yet another Trump move that hasn't gone down well. Unsuprisingly, Twitter's gone into meltdown with everyone laughing at, and pointing out, the absurdity of the whole situation. These are some of the best reactions: And just last month The Onion rejected my story on Donald Trump fighting a baby as too far fetched, even for satire. Top Conservative Cat (@TeaPartyCat) August 3, 2016 Trump: "Get that baby outta here! No one's allowed to whine and cry up here but me, okay?" pic.twitter.com/FYQPvGtVZJ Craig Rozniecki (@CraigRozniecki) August 3, 2016 When Trump drops out of the race the GOP should replace him with the baby he yelled at. OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) August 3, 2016 Trump: "You can get the baby out of here!" Baby, would you care to respond? pic.twitter.com/CnvRIYkjYk Craig Rozniecki (@CraigRozniecki) August 3, 2016 This week in Trump: Mon: Continues to attack a fallen soldier's parents Tues: Yells at a mother and baby Wed: Kicks a puppy? Stay tuned! OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) August 3, 2016 Was pretty sure I wasn't going to vote for Trump. Then he threw that crying baby and it's mom out of a rally. Now I'm back to undecided. Trevor Moore (@itrevormoore) August 3, 2016 When you make a joke on Monday and by Wednesday Trump is yelling at a baby at a rally... I WAS ONLY KIDDING DONALD https://t.co/7gWawxa0aH tom jamieson (@jamiesont) August 3, 2016 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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So Wisconsin must reduce emissions along with everyone else. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, only 8.4 percent of Wisconsins net electricity generation came from renewables in 2015. Under Gov. Scott Walker and Attorney General Brad Schimel, the state is stalling improvement. They continue to fight the Environmental Protection Agencys clean energy goals. But the energy sector is making progress anyway. The most recent evidence is a wind turbine project approved for St. Croix County in western Wisconsin. A judge had halted the project once over some neighbors concerns. But the Public Service Commission last month signed off on a revised plan that addresses the judges ruling. Highland Wind, the company behind the project, could start building by the end of the year, though additional litigation might delay that. At least two more wind projects are in the works. Some concerns about renewable energy may warrant further investigation, such as the effects of wind turbines on humans, bats and birds. Those should not be deal breakers, though, as long as industry and academic researchers continue to honestly research and tweak the technology to minimize problems. Skyscrapers kill birds when they fly into windows, but we dont ban them. Companies such as Highland Wind make free-market decisions, but the market exists in the context of those EPA goals and probably other federal mandates down the road. Power companies are prudently hedging their bets that the future is in renewable energy and required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The energy industry has good fiscal reasons to pursue renewables, too. Costs are decreasing as the technology matures. Meanwhile, coal and other fossil fuels will likely cost more in the future. Wind and other renewable power sources especially solar, which can succeed in small-scale, dispersed uses will be a big part of Wisconsins, Americas and the worlds energy future. Home >Police Enforcement > Tickets and Cash > New York Fights To Save Vision Zero Law All safe as Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai DUBAI: An Emirates plane with 300 people on board crash-landed and caught fire at Dubai airport on Wednesday (Aug 3), shutting down the busy airport, but there were no fatalities and media reports have affirmed that all passengers are safe. transporttourismaccidents By AFP Wednesday 3 August 2016, 08:20PM Airport authorities halted all operations at Dubai International until further notice after an Emirates Boeing 777 crash-landed. Photo: AFP The cause of the accident involving a Boeing 777 was not immediately clear, Dubais government and the carrier said. Footage on social media showed thick black smoke billowing from the aircraft. An Emirates plane coming from India has been involved in an accident on landing at Dubai International, the government's Dubai Media Office said on its Twitter account. All passengers were evacuated safely, it said. Emirates confirmed the incident. We can confirm flight EK521 from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai has been involved in an accident at Dubai International, the carrier said on its Twitter account. We can confirm there are no fatalities among our passengers and crew. All passengers and crew are accounted for and safe, it said Airport authorities halted all operations at Dubai International until further notice, Dubai Airports said on Twitter. Arriving planes have been diverted to other airports, the government said. Dubai opened in 2013 a smaller second airport, Al-Maktoum International. Cause unknown Emirates said that there were 282 passengers and 18 crew members on board, including 226 Indians, 24 Britons and 11 Emirati nationals. The airline had initially said that there were 275 passengers and crew on board. Emirates said it had no further information on what may have caused the accident. Our priority remains with the passengers and crew involved, it said. The director general of the General Civil Aviation Authority, Saif al-Suwaidi, said that investigators had been sent to work with Emirates and the Dubai airport authorities. Footage on social media showed thick black smoke coming out of the centre of the plane while the fuselage appeared to be lying on the runway with escape slides opened. The Dubai Media Office said the fire has been contained, adding that emergency teams at the airport and Emirates are well trained to deal with such incidents. The accident comes almost four months after a plane belonging to Dubais other carrier, flydubai, crashed and burst into flames as it was landing in Rostov-on-Don, in southern Russia, killing all 61 people onboard. On July 26, an Emirates Boeing 777-300 aircraft heading to the Maldives made an emergency landing in Mumbai because of a technical fault. Dubai International is the worlds largest hub in terms of international passengers, and is the base for Emirates, from where it serves more than 153 destinations. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Abu Dhabis Etihad have seized a significant portion of transcontinental travel, capitalising on the geographic locations of their Gulf hubs. Emirates is the largest single operator of the Boeing 777, as well as the Airbus A380 superjumbo, and has expanded its fleet to 250 aircraft last year. 4 candidates seek two four-year terms on Codington County Commission Two of the three Codington County Commission seats have challengers this year. Here's what you need to know. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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. A damaged Boeing 777 is seen at the Dubai airport after it crash-landed, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Aug 3, 2016. Dubai-based airline Emirates has confirmed that there were no fatalities on the flight from India that crash-landed at Dubai's main airport Wednesday. The carrier says all passengers and crew are accounted for and safe. The airline said there were 282 passengers, 18 crew on board. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) South Korean Army soldiers prepare to fire a 105mm howitzer during an exercise in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. A medium-range ballistic missile fired Wednesday by North Korea flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed near Japan's territorial waters, Seoul and Tokyo officials said, one of the longest flights by a North Korean missile.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton speaks during a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in New York's City Hall. Bratton is leaving the nation's largest police force, after a tenure in which he received credit for keeping crime down and navigated tension between police and minority communities. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that Bratton will retire next month to enter the private sector, although he and Bratton wouldn't disclose details. James O'Neill, the department's top chief, will become commissioner. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) In this March 15, 2015 file photo, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., center without hat, marches with members of OutVets, a group of gay military veterans, during the St. Patrick's Day parade in Boston's South Boston neighborhood. An attorney representing parade organizers the parade said Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, that he filed an amended complaint to an earlier civil lawsuit accusing Boston Mayor Marty Walsh of strong-arming organizers in 2014 into inviting an LGBT veterans group to march in the parade. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) Two days after she publicly said on her Facebook page that she would like to be relieved of her duties, Gujarats first woman chief minister Anandiben Patel submitted her resignation to Governor O. P. Kohli at latters residence in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, her resignation was accepted by the BJPs parliamentary board in New Delhi. As per the normal procedure, Kohli asked her to continue till the next chief minister takes charge. Partys Gujarat in-charge Dinesh Sharma and state party president Vijay Rupani accompanied her to the Governor's house. BJP national president Amit Shah, who will come to Gujarat on August 4, will decide the name of the new chief minister. Shah, Sharma and other observers are expected to meet senior party leaders and MLAs before announcing the name. From New Delhi, Union minister and senior party leader Venkaiah Naidu cleared air about rumours that Shah could be named the chief minister. He said that the parliamentary board wanted him to continue as the national president of the party. Rupani, considered close to Shah, is one of the frontrunners to the post. Among other contenders are ministers Nitin Patel and Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Bhikubhia Dalsania, Union minister of state Purshottam Rupala and BJPs tribal face Ganpat Vasava. The new chief minister is likely to be announced on August 5. The script was a familiar one. An old bridge100 years, no less, and built during the British eracollapses in heavy rains, lives are lost and mud-slinging between the government and opposition starts.The bridge on Savitri river collapsed at around 11.30pm on Tuesday due to heavy rains near Mahad in Raigad district, Maharashtra, and more than 20 persons have been feared dead. Did the failure of the state government to seal the 100-year-old bridge contribute to the loss of lives? According to Raigad district administration, at least eight vehicles, including two state transport corporation buses with 22 persons on board, are feared to have been swept away during the bridge collapse. The two buses were en route to Mumbai from Konkan region and had 18 passengers, two drivers and two conductors on board. Death toll is likely to increase as reports have emerged that at least one SUV with seven passengers on board may also have drowned when the bridge collapsed. Leader of Opposition Radha Krishna Vikhe Patil and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar lashed out at the government for its failure to close down the bridge for vehicles. Pawar demanded that state PWD minister Chandrakant Patil and other officials should be booked under Section 302 of IPC for this tragedy. Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan demanded a judicial probe into how the bridge was given a security clearance in May following an audit. Two teams of NDRF have reached the site with six boats to conduct rescue operations. A team of naval divers and a Chetan helicopter of Coast Guard has been pressed into service to locate the drowned vehicles. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of all possible assistance. Patil and guardian minister of Raigad, Prakash Mehta, rushed to Mahad as the news reached Mumbai. Fadnavis tweeted that there are two parallel bridges and it was the old bridge that collapsed. District collector Sheetal Ugale and Superintendent of Police Suvez Haque are camping at the accident site. Traffic on Mumbai-Goa NH 17 was hampered by the tragedy. The new bridge over the river is bearing the brunt of the heavy traffic now. Incessant rain has caused havoc in Maharashtra, with eight people drowning to death in Nashik, Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts. Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who had to cut short her roadshow in Varanasi on Tuesday after she fell ill, returned to Delhi late night and was taken to Army Research And Referral Hospital for a check-up, party leaders said. Congress General Secretary and UP in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters at the airport that she was suffering from dehydration. Gandhi, who reached the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier on Tuesday to a rousing reception, took ill midway through her roadshow and had to abort it. She was taken to a lodge where doctors attended on her and advised her rest. Ghanshyam Srivastava, a doctor who attended on her, said she was feeling dehydrated and running high blood pressure (88-172) as well as fever. A teacher was on Tuesday allegedly abducted in broad daylight and gangraped in a field along a state highway linking Delhi-Lucknow National Highway 24, days after the Bulandshahr gangrape incident. She was abducted by three criminals and forcibly made to sit in a car before being taken to a sugarcane field where the crime was committed and the act was videographed, police said, adding the survivor was left in the field by the criminals who fled after committing the heinous act in Khadua road under CB Ganj police station. On getting information of the crime, senior police officials led by the IG, DIG, SSP, City SP and SP (Crime) rushed to the spot and a case was lodged against three accused who are absconding. In an immediate damage control exercise, Inspector of CB Ganj police station Rajesh Singh was suspended by IG (Bareily zone) Vijay Singh Meena, police said. Giving details of the incident Additional Superintendent of Police Samir Saurabh said the teacher was abducted and gangraped while she was going to school this morning. He said that the accused later dumped her at Mathurapur on the national highway and escaped. The ASP said that medical examination of the victim was conducted late night and an FIR was lodged on the complaint lodged by her father. "As of now Inspector CB Ganj R.K. Singh has been placed under suspension," he said. The ASP said that efforts were on to identify and arrest the accused. It is the second incident within four-days when a woman had been gangraped on the national highway. Earlier, a woman and her daughter were gangraped in Bulandshahr on Friday night. Former UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani strongly believes in digital signatures. During the launch of e-SignDeskan innovative electronic signing feature from Bengaluru-based startup LegalDesk.comhe said it was great to see startups like LegalDesk using Aadhar for eSigning. He noted that digital signatures will make way to paperless processes. Nilekani pointed out that there was a phenomenal increase in Aadhar enrollments in the country, crossing the one billion mark. Interestingly, eSignDesk makes of signing documents possible even if the parties concerned are not physically present. It is built on the Aadhar platform to allow citizens to remotely sign any document. Any Indian citizen who possesses a registered mobile number linked with the Aadhar card can use this facility. There are around 70 billion wet signatures happening in the country annually and digital signatures is an excellent method to replace wet signatures. Since it is an instant signing feature, the need for physical presence of parties involved is removed. eSign cannot be replicated or forged and since the content on the document cannot be tampered with, it deters fraud to a large extent while making it useful for self attestation purposes. The eSignDesk service confirms to the Information Technology Act, 2000, and such electronically signed documents shall be considered legally valid throughout the country, explained Krupesh Bhat, founder of LegalDesk.com, which has around 150 legal consultants in the team. In order to use the eSignDesk service, the document to be digitally singed must first be uploaded to the website. The next step will involve entering the Aadhar number of the parties. A one time password (OTP) will then be sent to the mobile number registered with the Aadhar card. On submission of the correct OTP, a digital signature will be generated and placed on the document. Once everyone has placed their digital signatures using the same process, the document can then be downloaded for safekeeping. The service will be available through the website www.eSignDesk.com. The company also launched an Android mobile application Rental Agreement which will allow users to create rental agreements or leases digitally. Islamic State has vowed to continue its mission to make the entire world a Muslim state whether or not the west stops attacks in Syria. In the recent issue of the militant group's mouthpiece Dabiq, the IS said the west should remember that Jesus is a prophet of Islam, before attacking the Muslims in Syria and Iraq. The militant group gave a series of reasons why they hate the west and Christianity. We hate you for your crimes against Islam and wage war against you to punish you for your transgressions against our religion. As long as your subjects continue to mock our faith, insult the prophets of Allahincluding Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammedburn the Quran and openly vilify the laws of Sharia, we will continue to retaliate, not with slogans and placards, but with bullets and knives, the bulletin said. The IS clarified that contrary to the belief that foreign policies of the US and other western nations are the reasons for the war the IS has been waging against them, the militant group's aim is to ensure that the entire western world embraces Islam. Some might argue that the foreign policies are the extent of what drives our hatred, this particular reason of hating you is secondary. The fact is, even if you were to stop bombing us, imprisoning us, vilifying us, and usurping our lands, we would continue to hate you because our primary reason of hating you will not cease to exist unless you embrace Islam, said the mouthpiece. The bulletin also lists other reasons why the terrorist group hates the west. Noting that atheism is a crime that is engulfing Christianity, the militant group said it is opposed to gay rights, alcohol, drugs and gambling that the west propagates. It also questioned if the communists and socialists around the world support NATO air strikes in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. The group, however, suggested that there is a remote possibility of a truce which would come only if the west ended its air strikes and pay jizyah (tax levied by Islamic states on non-Muslim subjects). We have been commanded to fight the disbelievers until they submit to the authority of Islam, either by becoming Muslims, or by paying jizyah...and living in humiliation under the rule of Muslims. Arrangements were made for members of the family from Brazil to enter the Israel Air Force base near Mitzpei Ramon for a hachnasas Sefer Torah for the Sefer Torah donated by the family. Talmidei yeshiva were also given entry passes to permit them to participate in the simcha and the philanthropist was also flipping the bill for a seuda that would follow the event for all the participants, military and civilian alike, at a price of over NIS 20,000. The arrangements were made by the rav on the air force base. Less than 24 hours before the event, an order was received from Chief of Manpower branch Major-General Chaggai Tupolinsky canceling the event on the base. The decision was reversed after political pressure was applied inside and outside of the military. However, while Tupolinsky backed down from the original cancelation, he prohibited the traditional singing and dancing that accompanies a hachnasas Sefer Torah as well as the large seuda. It is pointed out that since the donor family is in the midst of a mourning year, the arrangements did not include a music truck as is traditional in Israel, and the hachnasas Sefer Torah was going to be singing and dancing without musical accompaniment but relying on the voices of the talmidim. The donor family from Brazil took part in a seuda following the hachnasas Sefer Torah, albeit in Dimona, not in the air force base. According to talmidei yeshiva who were present, Tupolinsky sent personnel to the event to make certain his instructions are adhered to. It was explained that one may hold a modest ceremony that includes walking a bit with the Torah in hand, but a large event with musical accompaniment is prohibited. Manpower Branch personnel were instructed to video the event as to document it and any breach from Tupolinskys orders. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Rabbi Chaim Druckman, Rosh Yeshivot Bnei Akiva, questions after all that has happened to the Jewish People, how is it possible that there are Jews still living in The Diaspora? Speaking at an assembly in Yerushalayim, addressing shluchim of the dati leumi community, the rav questioned why Jews are not coming from around the world. He explained that religious Jews daven three times daily to return to Israel, yet many remain in The Diaspora today when there should be kibbutz galiyos, the ingathering of the exiles. During his address, the rav added that we must not forget the paramount importance of learning Torah, warning if not, assimilation will result. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) [PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Bchasdei Hashem, on July 17, 2016, a suspicious Arab male was detected at a Jerusalem light rail stop on Yaffo Street near King George Street. It is now cleared for publication that the suspect taken into custody is 21-year-old Hebron area engineering student Ali Abu Hassan, who was indicted on Tuesday, 27 Tammuz in the Jerusalem Magistrate Court. Authorities have learned that he crossed into Green Line Israel two days earlier via an olive grove in the Jabil Mukhaber area and on the morning of the planned attack, he shaved his beard, leaving a goatee, changed clothing to a running suit and a cap, and then prayed in an area mosque, all in the hope of fitting in and not attracting suspicion. He was planning an attack to avenge permitting Jews and others to visit Har Habayis and al-Aqsa. He then boarded a bus in the Talpiot area carrying his backpack containing the bomb. He got off in city center and headed to the light rail stop in the area of Yaffo and King George streets, where he elicited the suspicion of security personnel, who took him into custody. It is reported that he was contemplating striking at a busy restaurant, but when he saw how many passengers were on the light rail he changed targets. Authorities found three pipe bombs in his backpack all connected together with tape with nails and screw attached to maximize carnage during the explosion. Two knives and a cell phone were also found in the bag. Bchasdei Hashem the security guard realized he was a terrorist and acted as he did. Prior to leaving the Hebron area he wrote a will, which was left in the university, asking to send his parents a message. Police report he was operating alone, without the assistance of a terrorist infrastructure. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Police spokesman unit via Media Resource Group) Member of the Jerusalem City Council turned to Mayor Nir Barkat demanding improved work conditions. The letter was signed by chareidi councilmen, including Yitzchak Pindrus, Eliezer Ruchberger, Pini Ezra, and Yochanan Weisman. In their letter they explain that they are working full time but on a volunteer basis, while other are deputy mayors and receive a wage package and benefits. They explain over 30 councilmen serving on the council are in need of equal benefits. The councilmen explain there are some who are privileged in the council while others are not in that club. Their demands include: Free parking around the city Arranged parking for all councilmen at all city functions Permission to use the special elevator in City Hall Equality for all councilmen Equal opportunity for all councilmen to attend continuing professional education Tickets for city events and transportation (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Police are investigating to rule out negligence in the drowning of a 1-year-old girl in the Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood of the capital on Tuesday night, the eve of 28 Tammuz. United Hatzalah volunteers began CPR when they arrived at the scene and the childs pulse returned. The child was transported to the hospital by MDA paramedics. Hadassah Mt. Scopus officials list the child as critical and the family calls on the tzibur to be mispallel for her, Miriam Eidel bas Basya bsoch kol cholei yisrael. The spokesman units message stated that CPR was required in the hospital again following the childs arrival. The child is reportedly a great granddaughter of HaGaon HaRav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita. UPDATE: 9:10AM IL: Hadassah Hospital reports the infant is in extremely critical/unstable condition and is fighting for her life in a pediatric intensive care unit. Hospital social workers are accompanying the parents at this difficult time. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) As Republican loyalists continue to flee, Donald Trump ignited new party tensions Tuesday by refusing to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan or Arizona Sen. John McCain, a remarkable display of party division just three months before Election Day. The Republican presidential nominee told The Washington Post hes just not quite there yet, when asked about an endorsement of Ryan, who faces a primary election next week. In doing so, he echoed the House speakers comments of almost three months earlier, when the Wisconsin congressman was initially reluctant to embrace Trump as his partys standard bearer. Trumps statement comes amid intense fallout over his criticism of the family of the late Capt. Humayun Khan, a U.S. Army soldier who died in Iraq in 2004. Indeed, just two weeks after a Republican National Convention that tried to focus on party unity, the Trump-driven rifts inside the GOP appear to be intensifying. On Tuesday, retiring New York Rep. Richard Hanna became the first Republican member of Congress to say he will vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton in November instead of Trump. He is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country, Hanna wrote in a column published in The Post-Standard newspaper of Syracuse, New York. He is unrepentant in all things. Later Tuesday, Hewlett-Packard executive Meg Whitman a prominent Republican fundraiser threw her support behind Clinton, saying, Donald Trumps demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character. Also Tuesday, the woman who helped shape New Jersey Gov. Chris Christies national image declared that shes voting for Clinton. As someone who has worked to further the Republican Partys principles for the last 15 years, I believe that we are at a moment where silence isnt an option, former Christie senior aide Maria Comella told CNN. They join dozens of high-profile GOP leaders who have previously said they would not vote for Trump, including the partys 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. A day earlier, Sally Bradshaw, an architect of the Republican National Committees 2013 Growth and Opportunity report, said shes leaving the GOP. While not a household name, her decision to leave the party rocked those who make politics their profession. Bradshaw was one of the five senior Republican strategists tasked with identifying the partys shortcomings and recommending ways it could win the White House after its losing 2012 presidential campaign. She said she will vote for the Democratic nominee if the race in her home state of Florida appears close come Election Day. Trump has moved in exactly the opposite direction from our recommendations on how to make the party more inclusive, said Ari Fleischer, who worked with Bradshaw on the GOPs so-called post-election autopsy and was a senior adviser to President George W. Bush. Fleischer still supports Trump over Clinton. But Bradshaw and Comella are among a group of top Republican operatives, messengers, national committee members and donors who continue to decry Trumps tactics, highlighting almost daily with fewer than 100 days before the election the fissures created by the billionaire and his takeover of the party. Veterans and families of fallen soldiers continue to call on Trump to apologize for his treatment of the Khan family, who spoke out against Trump at last weeks Democratic National Convention. Trump said the grieving father had no right to criticize him, only later acknowledging their son is a hero. If @realDonaldTrump wants to be the Commander in Chief, he needs to act like one. And that cant start until he apologizes to the Khans, Dakota Meyer, one of a handful of living Medal of Honor recipients and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palins son-in-law, wrote Tuesday on Twitter. Trump invited more tension Tuesday when he told The Washington Post hes not ready to endorse Ryan in next weeks Republican primary contest against Paul Nehlen, praising the underdog for running a very good campaign. Tensions were already running high between the two high-profile Republicans, who will have to work together closely should Trump win the presidency. Said Ryans campaign spokesman Zack Roday, Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trumps endorsement. And we are confident in a victory next week regardless. In the Post interview, Trump also declined to support McCains re-election and dismissed New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte as weak. Both had been among Trumps harshest critics in the wake of his comments about the Khan family, particular McCain, a former prisoner of war who said Trump did not have unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us. Christie, the New Jersey governor, continues to be one of Trumps biggest supporters. But Comella, his former aide, said the very survival of the party depends on stopping the celebrity businessman. Instead of speaking out against instances of bigotry, racism and inflammatory rhetoric, whether its been against women, immigrants or Muslims, we made a calculus that it was better to say nothing at all in the interest of politics and winning elections, she told CNN. For me, if our party has a future, we have to change that trajectory and lead by example. (AP) A medium-range ballistic missile fired Wednesday by North Korea flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed near Japans territorial waters, Seoul and Tokyo officials said, one of the longest flights by a North Korean missile. The U.S. Strategic Command said North Korea fired two presumed Rodong missiles simultaneously on Wednesday, not just one. The commands statement said initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. North Korea has recently claimed a series of technical breakthroughs over its goal of acquiring a long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental U.S. South Korean defense officials say North Korea doesnt yet have such a weapon, but some civilian experts believe the North has the technology to mount warheads on shorter-range Rodong and Scud missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. According to the South Korean and Japanese announcements, one suspected Rodong missile lifted off from the Norths western Hwanghae province and flew across the country before falling in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it strongly condemns the missile launch because it explicitly shows the Norths intentions of being able to launch missile attacks on South Korea and neighboring countries. Japans Defense Ministry said the missile landed inside Japans exclusive economic zone, the 200-nautical-mile offshore area where a nation has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources. Japanese media reported it was the first North Korean missile that has splashed down in Japans EEZ. It imposes a serious threat to Japans security and it is unforgivable act of violence toward Japans security, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. North Korea has previously fired Rodong and other missiles into the sea, but South Korean analysts say Wednesdays 1,000 kilometer flight was one of the longest for a North Korean test. Several other North Korean rockets have gone farther and even over Japan. But Pyongyang called them satellite launches while Washington, Seoul and Tokyo said they were disguised tests of missile technology. After several failures, the North put its first satellite into space aboard a long-range rocket in December 2012, and conducted another successful satellite launch in February. In June, North Korea, after a string of failures, sent another type of mid-range missile known as Musudan more than 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) high. Analysts said the high-altitude flight meant North Korea had made progress in its push to be able to strike U.S. forces throughout the region. North Korea routinely conducts weapons tests, but the latest launch came after North Korea warned of unspecified physical counter-actions against a U.S. plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, according to Seoul defense officials. The Norths state media later confirmed that it fired ballistic rockets carrying trigger devices for nuclear warheads as part of simulated pre-emptive atomic attacks on South Korea. Analyst Kim Dong-yub at Seouls Institute for Far East Studies said the latest Rodong launch appeared to be aimed at showing an ability to attack U.S. military bases in Japan, a major source of reinforcements for U.S. troops should a war break out on the Korean Peninsula. Hyon Kwang Il, director of the scientific research department at the Norths National Aerospace Development Administration, told The Associated Press last week that Pyongyangs military had mastered the main and core techniques in long-range ballistic missile technology, including the starter engine technology, how to separate the different stages, guidance control techniques and re-entry and its all ready to be operational. North Korea is known to have an arsenal of estimated 300 Rodong missiles whose maximum range is 1,300 kilometers (800 miles). A Rodong fired in March flew about 800 kilometers (500 miles) while two other Rodongs launched in 2014 flew about 650 kilometers (400 miles). North Korea is expected to carry out more weapons launches in coming weeks to protest annual U.S.-South Korean military drills that begin later this month. North Korea describes the drills as an invasion rehearsal. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea and tens of thousands of more in Japan. (AP) Rep. Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican in Congress to say he would vote for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in November. The outgoing congressman wrote in an op-ed in The Syracuse Post Standard that he differs with Clinton on a number of policies but that Trump is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country. While I disagree with her on many issues, I will vote for Mrs. Clinton, Hanna wrote. I found [Trump] profoundly offensive and narcissistic but as much as anything, a world-class panderer, anything but a leader, he wrote. Little more than a changing mirror of those he speaks to. I never expect to agree with whoever is president, but at a minimum the president needs to consistently display those qualities I have preached to my two children: kindness, honesty, dignity, compassion and respect. Hanna mentioned Trumps attacks on Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of fallen Army Capt. Humayun Khan. Khizr Khan delivered a powerful address at the Democratic National Convention last week. In his latest foray of insults, Mr. Trump has attacked the parents of a slain U.S. soldier. Where do we draw the line? Hanna asked. In March, Hanna said he would never vote for Trump. Republican leaders, including Sen. John McCain, have praised the Khan family and attempted to distance themselves from Trump, but no other GOP members of Congress has said they would vote for Clinton. (AP) Knesset members from across Israels political spectrum gathered on Monday, 26 Tammuz, in the Dov Shilansky Auditorium of the Knesset to give an official salute and thanks to United Hatzalah of Israel and Israels search and rescue teams. The event was initiated under the auspices of MK Nurit Koren and MK Yisrael Eichler. Many ministers and MKs attended the event including Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, Opposition Leader MK Yitzchak Herzog, and Deputy Minister of Public Diplomacy MK Michael Oren, together with numerous others. In MK Korens opening remarks she praised the work of the volunteers. The scholars of the Talmud coined the term he who saves a life its as if he saved an entire world and not just one person, not two, not only one person, and not only one family, owes their lives to you. Thousands of worlds are walking the streets and cities right now, they are traveling throughout the country, they are vibrant and full of smiles, worlds that you saved without expecting anything in return, without waiting for a letter of appointment. You chose to go to battle to save a life, to devote your lives, your days and your nights, your family moments and hours of rest to give real hope to every person. MK Eichler also expressed how impressed he was with the work of United Hatzalah. I see volunteers from all religions and groups, and that is the beauty of your organization. We have a great generation of volunteers. Even though it is always said about the chareidi population that they take and do not give, you prove that you not only give but you motivate many other volunteers to give as well. United Hatazlahs 3,000 community based EMTs, paramedics, and doctors volunteer to provide free, professional, pre-ambulance emergency care 24 hours a day and seven days a week, with an average response time of three minutes or less. Speaker of the Knesset MK Yudi Edelstein told the 400 representatives of rescue organizations who attended the event that they deserve the nations thanks. The Knesset represents all of the nations various layers and is actually the nations home. I wanted to bless you in the name of the hundreds of thousands of people who receive your help. Thank you also in the name of all of the Knesset members for what you do each day. Machane Tzioni party leader MK Yitzchak Herzog added to the sentiments expressed by the Speaker of the Knesset. I must say that United Hatzalah manages a huge number of volunteers, and the goal to save every Israeli life is a great mitzvah. This is a wonderful and cause to integrate into the emergency rescue services. I saw you under fire during operations Cast Lead, Pillar of Defense, and Protective Edge, during attacks and difficult and complex incidents. This is a complex country. Complexity is part of our national strength, and the ability to reach out to everybody, even in a complex society, lends to it. Founder and President of United Hatzalah Eli Beer summarized the event and said, When we founded the organization ten years ago we never imagined that we would be standing here in the Knesset with all of these Members of Knesset that help us day and night. I wish to thank Member of Knesset Nurit Koren who made tremendous efforts in making this event possible. I would also like to thank Member of Knesset Eichler. Beer added a special thanks to Knesset member Moshe Gafni. During all the years since the establishment of United Hatzalah, MK Gafni was on our side. I would also like to thank those friends who have helped me to build this organization. Chairman of the organization Rabbi Zeev Kashash, CEO of Isralife Eli Pollak and CEO of United Hatzalah Moshe Teitelbaum. Beer continued to thank the 3,000 United Hatzalah volunteers as well as the 550 volunteers in the search and rescue teams across Israel. These are the people who go out for days and nights in search of lost hikers or people who have fallen from great heights. Summing it all up Beer added, With the help and bipartisan support of lawmakers in Israel, United Hatzalah will continue to grow and our volunteers will continue to save lives across our wonderful country, a country that we all call home. Beer concluded by giving a special tribute to United Hatzalahs chairman, Mr. Mark Gerson, who came from the United States especially for the occasion. MKs who attended the event: Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, MK Moshe Gafni, MK Uri Maklev, Opposition Leader MK Yitzchak Herzog, MK David Amsalem, MK Moti Yogev, MK Yaakov Asher, MK Oren Hazan, MK Michael Oren, MK Robert Ilatov, MK Shuli Muallem, MK Ayelet Verbin Nachmias, MK Eitan Broshi, MK Yehuda Glick, MK Amir Ochana (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo: Menachem Greenwald) Some would opine the following sounds like the beginning of a joke a former president, district court justice and senior banker meet the parole board. Well, in this case, it is not a joke and on Thursday, 29 Tammuz, a parole board will announce its decision pertaining to all three mentioned above. The first of the three imprisoned notables who will meet with the parole board is Etti Alon, who was convicted of stealing NIS 250 million from bank clients to pay her brothers debts as well as embezzlement which led to the collapse of a financial institution. She will be released after serving 15 years in prison after the parole board removes two years from her sentence. The prosecution has already announced it will not object. Next in line will be former President Moshe Katsav, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for attacking women. He has already served 4.5 years and expects the parole board to approve his early release for good behavior. The parole board has already met and is expected to announce its decision on Thursday. Mr. Katsav was turned down in the past and is now trying again in the hope he will be released. This second appeal follows a modification of the law permitting one to be paroled even if one does not express remorse, which is the case here since the former president continues to maintain his innocence. And last of the three is former District Court Justice Dan Cohen, 74, who served on the Israel Electric Company Board of Directors and was convicted of accepting bribes from the German-based Siemens Company. He signed a plea bargain agreement in 2013 and has requested wiping a third from his sentence. He is serving his sentence in ward 2 in Massiyahu Prison, which is designated for elderly prisoners. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) No less than 20 companies are being considered for the government tender to construct the underground concrete barrier that will encircle Israels border with Gaza, with the first section being 10km. in length. It is reported the physical barrier will be several stories underground as well as above ground, adding it is a great deal more than a simple concrete wall. In fact, the barrier will detect tunnel digging in the area and alert authorities. The price tag for this sophisticated project is over NIS 2 billion. Being built in stages, the barrier will circle the entire 60 kilometers of Gaza. The local contractors will be working with foreign expects, with Ynet reporting some international companies have already refused to cooperate with Israel, explaining this is due to the sensitive nature of the players and the project involved. Construction is set to begin in October 2016 and four Israeli companies will be involved. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) French President Francois Hollande has strongly criticized U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying some of the things Trump does make him sick. Some excesses make your stomach turn, even in the United States, especially when as did Donald Trump he speaks ill of a soldier, of the memory of a soldier, Hollande said according to three people present at a meeting Tuesday with members of the French Presidential Press Association. Hollande was referring to Trumps recent comments about captain Humayun Khan, a U.S. Muslim soldier killed in Iraq in 2004. In June, the French president said he would consider Trumps election as dangerous and it would complicate relationships between Europe and the United States, in an interview with Les Echos newspaper. (AP) [COMMUNICATED CONTENT] Located in Teaneck in an intimate home-office, the exclusive appointment-only Suit Lady has a tremendous following. Part of a family business with over 30 years of experience in fine mens clothing, The Suit Lady is known to fit a suit perfectly to its owner. 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Bookings for LA: shopthesuitlady.com/west Booking for Teaneck: shopthesuitlady.com/teaneck Now, for a limited time only, a free tie with every purchase! Dont miss this special grand opening offer. The Suit Lady : Because you deserve the best, without paying the most. By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times What is Cholov Yisroel exactly, and what is its history? For those who may be unaware, the Mishnah in tractate Avodah Zarah (35b) forbids the consumption of milk that a gentile had milked unless a Jew supervises the milking process. This is the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch as well (See Yore Deah 115:1), the authoritative code of Jewish law. The prohibition is called chalav akum. On the other hand, milk that was supervised by a Jew is called Cholov Yisroel. RABBINIC IN ORIGIN The prohibition is rabbinic in origin and, according to all halachic authorities, there is no question that it is a serious prohibition that is still in force. The question rather is, does the prohibition also apply to milk produced under some form of a government regulation? Those that certify Hershey bars and Haagen-Dazs ice cream claim that the government regulations exempt the milk from the requirement of the Mishna. Others are more stringent and disagree. The leading halachic authority who exempted government regulated milk from the requirement of the Mishna was Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ztl, one of the leading Poskim of the 20th century (See Igros Moshe YD I #47 and #49 and YD III #17). Indeed, Rabbi Feinstein even coined the term Cholov Stam to describe and differentiate government regulated milk from Cholov Yisroel milk that is actually supervised by observant Jews. Most of the Chasidic world, never accepted the leniency. In Israel things are slightly different than in the United States regarding the labeling of Kosher dairy from outside of Israel. The Chief Rabbinate permits chalav akum milk powder, and does not and never permitted chalav akum liquid milk. The distinction between liquid milk and milk powder was argued in the early 1940s by Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank, the former Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, and in many circles has been a more accepted leniency than the heter espoused by Rabbi Feinstein. IS THE ORIGINAL BASIS FOR HETER STILL THERE? There is also a growing number of people within the Orthodox Jewish community who claim that the original basis for allowing the consumption of Chalav Stam may no longer be there. Is it true? Has the Federal government of the United States changed its guidelines? During Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzals lifetime, the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services would test dairy plants for specific fat contents. Government inspectors would take milk samples and inspect fat and casein ratios. If there was any irregularity an investigation could be launched. It was upon this basis that Rav Feinstein ruled that the fear of the government inspection on the part of the dairy owner constituted a fictitious or virtual Jew who oversaw the milk production. He ruled that there was an Anan Sahadi where the whole world testifies that the dairy owner is not adulterating the milk with other milk from a non-kosher source. According to the Orthodox Union, however, the situation has changed somewhat. The December 08 edition of the Kashrus newsletter of the OU reported a new basis for a leniency, but does report changes. The link on their site referenced is no longer active (Formerly http://www.oukosher.org/ index.php /articles/ single_print/1377721) Now milk samples are only analyzed for bacteria counts and for the presence of anti-biotics. Thus, the original basis for Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzals heter for Cholov Stam may no longer exist and must be replaced with a different reasoning. REVAMPED HETER OU Poskim, make a case for continuing a different type of Heter for Cholov Stam consumption. Rav Yisroel Belsky ztl ruled that a new heter may be relied upon for those who wish to continue eating non-Cholov Yisroel. This new Heter is based upon state inspections (not federal inspections) of the dairy farms (not the dairy plants.) In the OUs own words, they are continuing to serve those who wish to continue eating Cholov Stam As evidenced by the above Psak.., the OU continues to pave the way in Kashrus technical data.. Indeed, some say that the current Heter, halachic leniency, may even be better than the one given during Rav Moshe Feinsteins lifetime. They argue that inspections happening at the farm are better than at the dairy plant and may even create a greater mirsas fear of authorities which still creates a form of fictitious Jewish supervision. But it should be made clear that the Food and Drug Administration is no longer making these inspections and that they are conducted now at a state level. In the past, other Rabbonim pointed out that Rav Feinsteins heter no longer applied when the Federal government changed their regulations to allow additives to the milk. Over ten years ago, Rabbis at Ner Yisroel Rabbinical Seminary in Baltimore stressed the need to re-assess the heter when standards were relaxed to allow Vitamin D as an additive. Some of them urged their followers to change to full Cholov Yisroel compliance. It may be argued that state inspections of farms vary from state to state and may even vary within each state based upon new budget cuts initiated within each state. Many states are undergoing financial crises. Who is to say that state governors will not slash the budgets of state dairy inspectors and rely rather on voluntary compliance? Those who once followed Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzals permissive rulings are no longer relying upon his specific initial ruling they are relying upon similar, but new rationales. One may speculate that perhaps Rav Feinstein might have permitted it based upon the state inspections and based upon the fact that the farms are being inspected rather than the dairy plants. However, this is not necessarily the case. DISPLACED ABOMASUM CONTROVERSY DA COWS DA Cows is a term that for some strange reason, only people in the Kashrus industry know about. According to some authorities, there is another issue that has changed in the decades since Rabbi Moshe Feinsteins published leniency. The issue is a possible treifus concern regarding surgical remediation of a growing problem known as the displaced abomasum. Cows that have had the operation are called DA Cows and the hechsherim that supervise Cholov Yisroel remove DA Cows from the lines. They vary as to how many supervisors are there to ensure that DA Cows do not inadvertently enter the lines. Generally a tag on the cows ear reveals its medical history. But lets get back to how it works. The abomasum is the fourth, or true, stomach of the cow. Normally, it lies low down in the right front quadrant of the abdomen, inside the seventh through 11th rib. Adjacent to the abomasum, on the left side of the abdomen, is the large first stomach, or rumen. TWO TYPES OF DISPLACEMENT There are two types of displacement. The abomasum occasionally may be displaced to the left of the rumen and upwards when the muscular wall loses its tone and the stomach becomes filled with gas. This condition is left abomasal displacement. Another type of displacement, is when the abomasum goes higher on the right side underneath the last ribs. Here too it is enlarged with gas and some fluid. Sometimes the right displaced abomasum turns into a fatal abomasal torsion. In both of these displacements the entrance and exit to the stomach become kinked. The kinks, together with the gas and fluid distension, slow food passage to a slower-than-normal rate. Abomasal displacement is seen almost exclusively in dairy breeds. No one really knows what causes it exactly, but there are many theories ranging from the rise of corn as feed to the different roughage concentrations that the cows now eat. Regardless, the incidence of abomasal displacements has increased tremendously in the last two decades, and many farmers have a surgery performed on these cows. The treatment requires surgically replacing the abomasum back into its normal position. The veterinarian also prevents recurrence by tacking or stapling the abomasum to the body wall. Cholov Yisroel companies are now very careful not to include animals that had this surgery on account of a concern that these cows may be considered Treifos. Many authorities do permit it, however. Rabbi Yisroel Belsky ztl from the OU has stated several times that this issue is not new and that the issue was presented to Rabbi Feinstein during his lifetime and he permitted it. However, Rabbi Asher Zimmerman, ztl told this author that the leniency in this case is far from simple and was one of the Rabbis that spearheaded the changes when the issue arose once again in the very late 1980s. BUTTER Yet another change in Cholov Yisroel halachic leniencies has occurred in butter. The Ramah in the Shulchan Aruch allows the consumption of non-Cholov Yisroel butter and Ashkenazic Jewish families that were careful to only eat Cholov Yisroel were lenient in regard to butter based upon this Ramah. The United States, however, changed the ingredient listing requirements a number of years ago and allowed companies to include whey in the butter mix without changing the ingredients. In other words, a butter company can still label the product 100% grade A butter even though whey products may be included in the butter mixture. Since whey is significantly cheaper than butter and is a solid, there is a concern that whey is included in the butter. This is another example as to how modern changes in both the law and in manufacturing affects halachic observance. Many Cholov Yisroel families are unaware of this change. This is why it can be important to be up to date. HISTORY As a historical point, the first commercial Cholov Yisroel dairy in the United States was started in Ozone Park, Queens in 1903, by Isaac Balsam, a Melitzer Chassid, originally from Poland. At its peak his farm had over 300 cows and he had a shul on the farm as well. The area is now known as Balsam Village. It is also interesting to note that, contrary to popular thought, Rav Feinstein was not the first authority to allow the consumption of non-Cholov Yisroel milk produced in the United States. In the 1930s, some of the Cholov Yisroel producers were not so scrupulous in their business practices, and knowing that they had a relatively captive market, tended to water down the milk to increase profits. Rabbinic leaders were incensed and, until the situation would be rectified ruled that, under such circumstances, one would be permitted to adopt the lenient view of the Pri Chodosh (Yore Deah 115:15) who permitted the consumption of chalav akum when the non-kosher milk is less expensive than the kosher variety. Thus, Rabbi Dovid Leibowitz ztl, a great nephew of the Chofetz Chaim, temporarily introduced regular American milk into the then newly launched Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim on South Ninth Street in Brooklyn. The Pri Chodosh himself consumed such milk when he was living in Amsterdam and explained that the Mishnah requiring a Jew to supervise the milking was only when their existed an incentive to adulterate the milk. The Chazon Ish, as well in his work on Yore Deah (See Chazon Ish 41:4) did provide a theoretical rationale that seems to back up certain points made by Rabbi Feinstein. The Chazon Ish, however, never implemented these leniencies into actual practice. Generally speaking, however, the custom of Torah observant Jewry at the time was to follow the view of the Chsam Sofer (responsa YD #107) who rejected the view of the Pri Chodosh. Indeed, the Chsam Sofer wrote that anyone who observes this leniency deserves the application of the verse uporeitz geder yishachenu nachash (see Koheles 10:8) violating this important rabbinic law deserves to be punished by being bitten by a snake (See tractate Avodah Zarah 27a). It is interesting to note, however, that, apparently in response to the new reality, the OUs policy, as told to this author, is now to rely upon the Pri Chodosh. The author can be reached at [email protected] The seventh volume of Not Your Usual Halacha has just been released. The authors books can be purchased at amazon.com For the first time ever landlords can list their properties to rent on both Zoopla and Rightmove without paying up front fees. LetMe, an online lettings agent, has just launched a service giving landlords the option of paying no fees at the outset, receiving 12 months rent in advance and having a guarantee that the condition of their property on the tenants departure will be equal to the condition at the start of the tenancy. It includes listing as many properties as they like for no charge on both major property portals with LetMe claiming the overall deal is 'free'. Like anything that sounds too good to be true, it is - landlords forfeit 10 per cent of rent But like anything that sounds too good to be true, it is. Usually landlords pay fees to list their property, management and contract fees on day one and then receive 100 per cent of the rental income on a monthly basis minus the management fee. With LetMe, landlords can opt to pay no fees and receive 90 per cent of their rental income on day one. They still pay but the cost of listing and management fees is spread over 12 months; LetMe maintains however they don't add a fee to maintenance costs. Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former RICS residential chairman, warned: If something sounds too good to be true, there is probably a catch.' Alan Ward, of the Residential Landlords Association, agreed: 'There's nothing new under the sun. How can they promise to return the property in original condition in return for 90 per cent of rent? That's just a typical 10 per cent agent fee deduction. Landlords need to keep their wits about them and read the contracts carefully.' Ward also contests that the LetMe proposition is the first of its kind. 'For some years there have been organisations such as councils who will take rental properties on for private landlords and pay 12 months' or more rent in advance,' he said. 'They also take on the full maintenance and management responsibility. These typically took at least 30 per cent discount on the rent. And that's my point, the landlord has to pay somehow.' Don't forget your own cashflow BREXIT POSES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDLORDS Research carried out after the EU referendum showed that landlords who saw the capital values of their properties rise most dramatically voted to remain in the European Union. By contrast, those whose rental yields are highest typically because property values are lower voted to leave. Christian Faes, of peer-to-peer lender LendInvest, said: Brexit may create opportunities for property investors, particularly professional and experienced ones. House prices are expected to soften, so some would-be buyers may put off buying. But they still need somewhere to live, which is good news for landlords. Whats more, if house prices do cool as predicted, then investing in property will become even more enticing. Experts have also warned that receiving the annual rent in a block payment at the start of the tenancy could leave landlords with cashflow problems later in the year. Lucy Hodge, of buy-to-let mortgage adviser Vantage Finance, said: 'This arrangement has its place for professional landlords who are good at managing their cashflow and finances. 'The risk you run with those who are not is that they spend the upfront rent and still have a mortgage commitment each month. I think they will have a lot of success but that doesnt mean its for everybody.' Landlords who choose to list their property for free are under no obligation to rent out their properties through LetMe - meaning the real advantage of the service is the free listings with Zoopla and Rightmove. Sam Wells, chief executive of LetMe, claimed: 'We've turned an old, stale and cumbersome process into a fast, efficient and radical solution that puts money straight into the pockets of landlords.' This 'solution' sees LetMe take responsibility for rent arrears, void periods and tenant evictions, provide complete management of property and instant online rental valuations. Penny pinching: The worse the problem gets, the less the agent helps and the more they charge to landlords Wells added: "Landlords pay thousands of pounds for fully managed services but as soon as problems come up the cost gets passed straight to the landlord. The worse the problem gets, the less the agent helps and the more they charge. 'This won't happen with us. Landlords can forget about their property safe in the knowledge they have their rent for the year and their property will be looked after.' LetMe is backed by an investment fund called the Richmond Group which invests in education, housing and financial services companies with a bent towards backing entrepreneurial new firms. It is this backing that allows the LetMe to fund the up front payment of rent to landlords on day one without suffering cashflow issues itself. The fund is sitting on net assets of over 200million. No deposit, no agency fees, no rent up front UP FRONT FEES If tenants choose not to take the move in for free option the fees are 300 per property. This is standard with LetMe across the whole country and is 'normal' for the industry. The usual deposit is six weeks rent and tenants would also need to pay one month rent upfront. Again this is standard for the industry and is subject to change depending on the deposit required by each individual landlord. The 'fee-free' option is also available to tenants on pretty similar terms. Rather than paying a deposit, agency fees, credit referencing fees, admin fees, guarantor fees, pet fees, legal fees, check out fees - the list is endless - tenants can forgo up front costs altogether when they move in and just pay their monthly rent plus 10 per cent on top every month. That said, there may still be costs to settle when the tenancy ends - as with any regular tenancy agreement the leaving tenant is responsible for any damage that has occurred. Hodge said: 'I think this will open the door to tenants who may otherwise have struggled. I also dont think that the low entry costs to tenants will result in issues for landlords given that LetMe take measures to qualify the tenant in other ways.' To sign up for the move in for free package a tenant must either have near perfect credit history or be able to provide a guarantor. But Leaf warned that this raised its own questions. He said: 'Who subjectively decides whether a tenant has a great reference and how readily will LetMe be prepared to pay out if mistakes are made?' It is not often that AIM is quicker to settle after a period of volatility than the main market for stocks and shares. But in terms of initial public offerings, the junior bourse appears to be adjusting well post-Brexit, while uncertainty appears to be the watchword further along the evolutionary chain. The latest figures from Dealogic (cited in Financial News) suggest 25 European companies have put stock market listings on hold in the run-up to, or in the aftermath of, the UKs Leave vote. Rare: It is not often that AIM is quicker to settle after a period of volatility than the main market for stocks and shares The re-privatisation of Lloyds Banking Group PLC looked dead in the water long before the referendum. However, the lack of clarity over Britains role in Europe has reportedly put the kibosh on Telefonicas plans to list the 02 mobile phone business in London. More recently the 1billion float of credit card firm NewDay and the 280million listing of Hollywood Bowl, the ten-pin bowling chain, hit the gutter lane. Yet on AIM last week it was business as usual with three new companies taking their bow each had a decent first week on the markets. SEC SpA Italian PR firm SEC is hoping to make Londons junior market a springboard for international growth. It placed shares at 151p with UK investors, raising 3.4million in the process, which will be used to bankroll overseas growth. There is a deal imminent here in the UK and it is targeting opportunities in France and Poland too. Next year, its attention will turn to the US and South America. Springboard: Italian PR firm SEC is hoping to make Londons junior market a springboard for international growth It plans to acquire businesses, rather than taking on new teams in those territories and will do so using a mix of cash and equity. Last year SECs revenues were 17.6million, while underlying earnings totalled 2.8million. It has grown at a compound annual rate of 44 per cent in the last two years. The firm has been around since 1989 and was founded by chief executive Fiorenzo Tagliabue, who still owns around 70 per cent of the business. 'Being quoted in London will give us the opportunity to accelerate our acquisition strategy and leverage our position as one of the leading European public relations and advocacy communications agencies,' he said. WideCells Group The company raised 2million from investors, which will fund its foray into a niche (but potentially very lucrative) area of health insurance. Founded and run by Joao Andrade, the company has created a product called CellPlan. This is aimed at the 3million parents worldwide that refrigerate stem cells from their childs umbilical cord. They do so for a cost of 2,000 (for 25-30 years) knowing the material provides a potentially life-saving treatment for 82 blood-borne diseases, including leukaemia and lymphoma. Funding: WideCells Group raised 2million from investors What is never discussed is the costs of treatment which can top 300,000. In other words the outlay prohibits many of these folks from actually gleaning a benefit from their foresight. CellPlan, which costs around 150 a year, provides US$1million of cover, which includes all the incidentals, such as travel and accommodation to specialist treatment centres around the world. 'We are resolving a major problem in the stem cell industry, in particular for a segment called the core blood banking industry,' chief executive Andrade told Proactive Investors. Planned out: CellPlan, which costs around 150 a year, provides US$1million of cover 'People pay 2,000 to store stem cells to protect the family against future illness. What they dont realise is just how much it costs to have the treatment. Its something they simply cant afford. 'Nobody is providing an insurance or medical opinion service.' Among the shareholders who came on board at float was Miton Group, which stumped up 500,000. Miton is run by Gervais Williams, who has an impressive track record in picking winners in the small-cap arena. Analysts said his investment is a significant endorsement of the company and its prospects. Concepta The company enjoyed a decent first week on the junior market, delivering a 22 per cent return for those who invested in the stock placing. The company specialises in fertility monitors for women who find it difficult to conceive. The product goes on sale this year in China and next in the UK and Europe, which means backers wont have to wait long before the business is revenue-generative. On the second Tuesday of every month 300 members of the Wraysbury Jazz Club meet at the 1960s red-brick village hall to hear some of the region's best bands. It's the highlight of the month. But regularly, mid-way through the sultry sounds emanating from the sax and cornets, the musicians have to stop playing. Because that's the moment that, invariably, a plane is coming in to land at Heathrow airport, which is just four miles away, and the roar as it descends drowns out the jazz and everything else. While it may come as a sudden shock to visitors, for the villagers and all those in the surrounding areas of Windsor, Slough and Maidenhead, the noise is an all too constant reminder of the vast business on their doorstep. Jazz fan Ken Elvin, who is also chairman of neighbouring Bray Parish Council, said: 'It is almost inevitable that at some point during the performance the musicians will cock their heads up and look towards the ceiling as the sound of a passing jet snuffs out the tunes.' The disruption highlights all too well the challenges faced by Heathrow as it campaigns to build another runway. It is hoping to convince Parliament that it, rather than its rival Gatwick, 37 miles away south of London, should be chosen. It is a challenge that is made harder still by the fact that Prime Minister Theresa May is MP for Maidenhead, while Chancellor Philip Hammond represents neighbouring Runnymede and Weybridge. Another Tory, Adam Afriyie, is MP for Windsor, which includes the town of Wraysbury. Winning over these constituents will be key to securing this vital investment particularly as the UK needs to send a post-Brexit message that it is open for business. A report by Sir Howard Davies published in July 2015 recommended building at Heathrow to improve the UK's airport capacity. In February former Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and now chairman of the Tories said he hoped the Government would make its choice by summer. The Government has made that deadline seem unlikely particularly given that May has already stalled on a decision over Hinkley Point nuclear power station. Hammond has already suggested no decision would be made until the Cabinet had time to review the report. Prime Minister Theresa May is MP for Maidenhead where the noise from planes taking off and landing at Heathrow is a contentious issue The need to provide extra capacity to service a bourgeoning economy is desperate, and most business travellers find flying out of Heathrow more convenient but the impact on the local communities is stark. In central London the sound is lost among the bustle, but in these communities the roar of the jet engines is felt and heard. Alan Debnam, 63, an IT worker from nearby Taplow, which borders Slough and Maidenhead, tells me: 'As a child I remember watching a whodunit like Poirot. 'We would get to the end and a plane would fly over just as they revealed the name of the murderer and we not be able to hear anything.' He's also concerned about the environmental impact. When he parks his car close to Heathrow he claims it is often covered in oily spots. 'They are deposits from the aircraft,' he says. 'You can smell it.' Melina Campobello, 45, runs The Narrative Cafe, a coffee shop inside Maidenhead's public library. She has lived in the town all her life and has zoned out the noise of the planes they do not affect her. 'A third runway is a double edged sword because it could bring lots of jobs, but not necessarily local jobs,' she says. Campobello has two sons, Xavier, 15, and Nicos, 13, and she thinks Heathrow's expansion could be good for the area. Heathrow says a third runway will boost the economy by up to 211billion with up to 180,000 jobs being created. The 16billion cost of building the runway will be privately funded, making this the largest private sector infrastructure project in Britain. The airport claims it will introduce a ban on night flights for six and a half hours. Heathrow also pledges up to 1billion of compensation for communities affected by the building of the runway. John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow said: 'Expanding the airport will add up to 40 more long-haul routes to help drive direct investment and tourism to Britain as well as opening up new markets for our goods and services.' Lobby group Hacan (Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise) says more than 725,000 people live under the Heathrow flight paths. A second runway at Gatwick would affect just 35,000 people, it claims. Gatwick says expansion there means less political, environmental or construction hurdles. But it faces opposition too. CAGNE, a group that represents communities east and west of Gatwick airport, warns there could be one plane every 65 seconds increasing them from 270,000 to 560,000 per year if it is expanded. It claims the airport will fly virtually 24 hours a day and will be larger than Heathrow. Gatwick disputes this. Challenge: Republican nominee Trump pictured with his wife Melania Warren Buffett has promised to lay bare how much he earns in a challenge to presidential candidate Donald Trump. The 85-year-old billionaire investor laid down a challenge to Trump and pledged to meet him any place, any time with a copy of his tax return. Republican nominee Trump (pictured with his wife Melania) is embroiled in a row over his earnings and his failed businesses in the US. He has refused to publish a copy of his tax return, claiming that it is being audited by the US tax authorities. He would be the first candidate to fail to reveal their return in 40 years. But Buffett, who is backing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, said he would bring his tax return along and answer any questions the public had about his earnings. Youre only afraid if youve got something to be afraid about, he said. He then said: Have you decency, sir? Despite being worth around 40billion, Buffett has been a critic of high pay. He has been critical of the wealthy who have seen their incomes increase seven-fold, but their taxes fall. Property firms' results have been under the spotlight since the EU referendum, providing an insight into the outlook for the industry at a time of uncertainty. Estate agency, surveying and valuation services firm LSL Property was the latest to step up to the oche yesterday. While the firm saw a strong start to the year, with a surge of activity in the lead up to Stamp Duty changes in April, its outlook for the rest of 2016 is not so positive. The group said the EU referendum had hit consumer confidence and it does not expect market conditions to improve sufficiently to meet its previous financial expectations for the year. Boost: Estate agency, surveying and valuation services firm LSL Property saw a strong start to the year, with a surge of activity in the lead up to Stamp Duty changes in April But revenues rose 8 per cent in the first six months to 151.4million while pre-tax profit climbed 35 per cent to 8.4million. Chairman Simon Embley said: 'While these are uncertain times in the residential housing market, the business has a robust balance sheet and relatively low levels of debt, and is well positioned to navigate the current market conditions.' That kept shares in the black, inching up 0.8 per cent, or 2p to 241.25p. Construction firm Morgan Sindall climbed as it announced its chairman was stepping down. In the six months to June 30 adjusted pre-tax profits at the firm rose 21 per cent to 16.1million despite revenues falling back slightly to 1.15billion. Its property services business is ahead of target for the period, having moved to a 100,000 profit in the first half of the year, compared to a 800,000 loss a year ago. Chief executive John Morgan said while it was too early to determine the long-term impact of Brexit on the group, it is on track to deliver ahead of expectations for this year. STOCK WATCH - CLIPPER LOGISTICS Clipper Logistics provides online order and returns services to retail companies including SuperGroup, John Lewis and Zara. Yesterday the company reported revenue for the year to April 30 had increased 23.7 per cent to 290.3million while profit had risen 41 per cent to 10.3million. Over the past year the group has launched a click-and-collect service with John Lewis and secured contracts with Browns and M&Co. Clipper hiked its dividend 20 per cent to 6p a share. Shares climbed 3.7 per cent, or 10.25p to 284.5p. Adrian Martin, who has been chairman since November 2012, will leave the company by the end of the year. Liberum raised its rating on the stock to a 'buy'. Shares advanced 7 per cent, or 40p to 610.5p. Rotork slumped after reporting a 32 per cent drop in pre-tax profits. The machinery firm made 38.3million in the first half of the year, down from 56.3million a year ago. Rotork makes actuators, a component of machines which is responsible for helping them move in a given way. Chief executive Peter France said trading had been challenging in the first six months with the low oil price leading to delays and geopolitical tensions affecting some regions. But the firm said its cost management programme was progressing as planned and benefits from that should come through in the second half of the year. It said its order book has increased, but operating margins had fallen. The company is maintaining its interim dividend at 1.95p a share. Shares slipped 8 per cent, or 17.1p to 196.5p. BBA Aviation took off as it reported revenue from continued operations climbed 15.7 per cent to 770million in the first half of the year. Strong performance in the flight support business, which accounts for 93 per cent of the group, offset a weak period for the aftermarket services division, which deals with engine repair, where revenue slipped 14 per cent. The firm said underlying pre-tax profit was 79.2million, up from 51million a year ago. BBA said the integration of Landmark Aviation into the business after its acquisition in February is progressing well with subsequent cost savings set to meet their 26.3million target by 2017. Six disposals worth 142.6million were also completed in the period. These had been required by the US Department of Justice in order for the Landmark acquisition to be approved. The business also said that a disposal of ASIG, its ground support business which provides refuelling services at more than 80 airports across the world, was highly probably in the next 12 months. Shares climbed 9 per cent, or 21.1p to 256.1p, their highest point in 18 months. Omega Diagnostics, a medical firm which focuses on allergies, food intolerance and infectious disease, soared after it secured funding for research and development. HSBC has suffered a plunge in profits after the global bank was hit by uncertainty in the lead up to the European Union vote and concerns over economic growth in China. Pre-tax profits at the London-listed banking giant fell by 29 per cent in the first six months of the year to $9.7billion (7.2 billion), compared with $13.6billion in the same period last year. Revenues for the period amounted to $29.5billion. Group chairman Douglas Flint said the results reflected a 'turbulent period' for the lender across its global business. Shares were up 3.5% or 16.7p at 499.5p after the bank unveiled a buyback and maintained dividends He said: 'Concern over the sustainable level of economic growth in China was the most significant feature of the first quarter and, as this moderated, uncertainty over the upcoming UK referendum on membership of the European Union intensified.' The bank saw demand for credit investment fall as a consequence of uncertainty during the first half of the year, and a chill in equity market activity was exacerbated by factors including a crash in the price of oil. Analysts said the bank will be more concerned about the impact of China, rather than the EU referendum, as Asia accounted for 83.5 per cent of HSBC's global profits last year. Nevertheless shares rose after the the London and Hong Kong-based bank announced it was maintaining its dividend, while also unveiling a $2.5billion buyback following the sale of its Brazilian business. The buyback was welcomed by analysts in an otherwise less-than impressive set of results. Laith Khalaf, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown: 'The bank is currently rewarding shareholders with dividends and a new share buyback scheme. 'HSBC is facing challenging times as it restructures its business, but for the moment, at least investors are being paid to wait.' Glum: Chairman Douglas Flint believes keeping open trading relationship must be at the centre of a new deal between the UK and the EU The results cover up to one week after the June 23 referendum, so the true fallout from the EU vote has yet to be fully felt. Looking ahead Flint believes the vote to leave the EU means the UK and UK business are entering a 'new era', as he warned that negotiating Brexit and new global trade deals will be complex and time-consuming. Flint added: 'The period ended with exceptional volatility as financial markets reacted to the UK referendum decision to leave the EU, a result that had not been anticipated.' He called for calm and careful consideration as to how prosperity, growth and a 'dynamic economy' for the EU and UK can be ensured after an 'orderly transition period'. HSBC relies on open trading relationships, from individuals to nations, he explained: 'Critical elements include securing the best possible outcome on continuing terms of trade and market access, and ensuring the UK remains attractive for inward investment and has access to all the skills necessary to be fully competitive. 'We believe that such an open trading relationship must be at the centre of the new relationship between the UK and the EU, and indeed the rest of the world. 'We aim to do our part in making the transition for our customers to the new arrangements as smooth as possible.' The results this morning follow last week's set from Lloyds and Barclays. Lloyds announced it was cutting 3,000 jobs and shut 200 branches despite doubling its profits to 2.45billion. Barclays revealed profits at the bank tumbled 21 per cent to 2.06billion, while total income was down 9 per cent to 11billion over the period. Laith Khalaf, senior analyst, at Hargreaves Lansdown said: Its proving to be an unhappy reporting season for banks, with HSBC being the latest to report a drop in profits, despite the banks best efforts to cut its cloth by stripping out costs. 'The problem for HSBC is its revenues fell faster than it could cut costs, resulting in negative jaws in banking parlance, which combined with an increase in bad loans led to falling profits. Britain could have to pay billions of pounds in pension payments for Eurocrats even after it leaves the European Union. The country may face a demand from Brussels to contribute towards the 60 billion euro (50billion) total pension liability for all current and retired EU officials. EU pensions are covered on a 'pay-as-you-go' basis from the EU budget rather than through employee contributions invested into a fund. It means the EU could ask Britain to hand over a lump sum to cover pension liabilities built up during its time as a member. The UK could end up paying billions of pounds in pension payments after it leaves the EU Around 1,730 Britons make up almost eight per cent of the 22,000 retired EU officials drawing pensions at present. The Brussels employees are entitled to pensions worth up to 70 per cent of their final basic salary. Felix Geradon, deputy secretary-general of Union Syndicale Bruxelles, the largest union of EU civil servants, said Britain would be expected to guarantee its part of pension rights accrued to date. If Britain paid an eight per cent share of the current total liability it would cost around 4billion. The decision on whether Britain will be forced to stump up the money will likely be a battle during Brexit negotiations. The European Commission yesterday said it would not speculate on the possible outcomes of the talks until the country starts the formal two-year exit process. But a European Parliament source said there would 'conceivably be a problem' on how to pay pensions for MEPs if Britain no longer contributed to the EU budget. Any demands for money would create bitterness as Britain has long argued that EU pensions are overly generous. Britain will continue to pay EU membership fees until it leaves the bloc. The European Commission yesterday said it would not speculate on the possible outcomes of the talks until the country starts the formal two-year exit process The UK's net contribution rose last year to almost 200 million a week the second highest figure in a decade. The gross contribution in 2015 was 19.6 billion, falling to 14.7 billion after the rebate, the Office for National Statistics said. Subtracting the EU's payments to the UK public sector gave a final net figure of 10.4 billion, or about 199 million a week. These real PA creatures could become cryptids if we don't save them Better Business Bureau SHARE By John Ingle of the Times Record News The Better Business Bureau of North Central Texas is going to get bigger a lot bigger. The consumer protection advocate's board voted unanimously Wednesday morning to merge with the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Dallas, a move that will align the local office with the much larger organization to the east. Monica Horton, president and CEO of the local office, said the local office will remain as is, but local businesses accredited with the BBB will be able to benefit from the merger, too. The Wichita Falls and Dallas office merger isn't the only to take place as others have done the same in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska for example. "It seems the BBB system is trending toward this type of alignment," she said. "With that trend, I think that's why I wanted to start exploring the idea of merging with another BBB. Our merger discussions between Wichita Falls and Dallas began several months ago and I think the more we explored the benefits of what both sides will gain by merging, it was pretty clear the decision to merge." Jay Newman, president and CEO of BBB of Metro Dallas, said the merger will be complete in the latter part of September after both offices have had an opportunity to integrate their respective systems into one. He said the Council of BBB will also have to approve the merger. The surviving entity will retain the name BBB of Metropolitan Dallas for the time being, he said, but there will more than likely be a name change in the future. What that name will be has not been determined yet. Newman said it makes sense to bring the two offices together because of the proximity of Wichita Falls and Dallas and how culturally compatible they are with one another. He said he is enthusiastic about the merger because both offer different skill sets that can benefit the other. "From my point of view as a manager of any company or any business, the Wichita Falls bureau has been beautifully managed. It's financially stable. It's all those things any businessman would look for," he said. "The reason I'm enthusiastic about this merger is that it expands the offerings of both offices. For example, Wichita Falls has wonderfully delivered a program that our system has called BBB Military Line, and they've done that very successfully through the years. "In Dallas, we don't have any military installations, and yet our staff has long wanted to be a part of that program." Newman said something the Wichita Falls office and its members will benefit by merging with a larger office is that bigger entity's ability to afford more costly programs such as digital marketing as well as the expertise that the 58-person staff in Dallas has. Horton and her staff will continue to serve the North Central Texas region consumers and its more than 800 accredited businesses. The new board will consist of leaders from the Wichita Falls and Dallas regions. The BBB of Metropolitan Dallas has more than 6,000 accredited companies participating. Contributed photo Preschoolers at the School for Little People at First United Methodist Church explore their creative sides while practicing hand-to-eye coordination. The preschool recently earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young People SHARE Tate Doherty Harden Heathington The School for Little People at First United Methodist Church has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young People. The accreditation process included an extensive self-study, on-site visits by NAEYC assessors and unannounced spot visits. Only about 8 percent of preschools and early childhood programs have achieved NAEYC accreditation. The School for Little People has operated for 52 years, offering play-based activities designed to promote social, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development in preschool age children. --- Brooke Doherty, of Sheppard Air Force Base, and Ashley Tate, of Wichita Falls, have each been awarded $2,000 college scholarships through the Scholarships for Military Children Program. Both attend Texas A&M University. Doherty is the daughter of Patrick Doherty and DeeDee Doherty. She is active in Leadership International, FOCUS Bible study and the I-Lead Leadership Committee and has participated in service trips to both Guatemala and Costa Rica. Tate is the daughter of James Tate and Susan Tate. In high school, she was active in student council, cheerleading, cross country, Young Life and the marching and concert bands. The scholarship program is administered through the military's commissary locations. Manufacturers and organizations that do business with the commissary system fund the scholarships, which are open to the children of active duty, retired and reserve members, as well as the National Guard. Students must maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average, demonstrate leadership and contribute as a volunteer in school and community activities. An essay is also part of the competition. Both students' awards were funded by Heinz-Kraft. --- Nick Stevens, of Wichita Falls, has qualified for the dean's scholastic honor list for the College of Engineering, Math and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. The 2015 graduate of Wichita Falls High School is the son of Greg and Carol Stevens of Wichita Falls. He is a mechanical engineering major. --- Burkburnett Independent School District's Courtney Harden, a teacher at John Tower Elementary School, and Kelli Heathington, a teacher at I.C. Evans Elementary, joined over 100 fellow educators from around the world for the 2016 Discovery Educator Network Summer Institute, an immersive, week-long professional development experience. In addition to hearing from education experts, Harden and Heathington participated in interactive workshops about creating digital content and integrating mobile and web-based tools into instruction. Harden and Heathington also collaborated with fellow educators on a variety of educational technology projects, and shared ideas and best practices with their peers. TRN Archives Tom Corridon, of Iowa Park, in 1980 at age 90. SHARE By Bridget Knight of the Times Record News Tom Corridon, of Iowa Park, was quick to tell a visiting reporter in 1980 that his was a "very, very ordinary life." Even 90 years after he became the first non-Native American child born in Iowa Park, his life had been "inconsequential," he said. He'd worked as a confectioner, boilermaker's helper, bookkeeper and just about any other paying job, just to make ends meet. What his resume didn't tell, though, was that Corridon was Iowa Park's most observant amateur historian. With nearly a century of friendly conversations and connections to the famous and infamous, Corridon could give you personal insights and inside information on just about anyone who was anyone in the early days of Wichita County. He'd been around for Teddy Roosevelt's visit to Wichita Falls in 1905, and regularly hung around with Chief Quanah Parker. He knew the inside scoop on Doc Snow's notorious gambling house and an infamous double murder there, and the shooting of Bud Bellew in a bootleg joint by Chief of Police J.W. McCormick, who would later head the Texas Rangers. He could even explain the payoffs ranchers like Tom Burnett used to keep the Indians from disputing their land claims, and how the Army helped with the cash deliveries. Corridon never went out of his way to share his hundreds of stories, because that might be boring to the younger folks, and "I don't want to be a bore." But faced with a willing ear, he could spin his stories for hours, providing details that have since been lost to history. TORIN HALSEY/TIMES RECORD NEWS The state of the wheat crop and new research results will be presented at the Wilbarger County Wheat Production Meeting Aug. 8 in Vernon. SHARE Genealogists to gather Thursday at museum The North Texas Genealogical Association will meet Aug. 4 at the Museum of North Texas History, 720 Indiana Ave. Food will be served at 6:30 p.m., with a business meeting to follow. Mike Moody will present a program at 7:30 p.m. on fashion and hairstyles of 1880-1910. Information: Chris Chandler, chris.chandler6962@gmail.com. Wilbarger wheat meeting set Aug. 8 in Vernon The Wilbarger County Wheat Production Meeting will be at 8 a.m. Aug. 8 at the Wilbarger County Exhibit Building in Vernon. Texas A&M Extension Agronomist Dr. Emi Kimura will give a report on wheat variety performance. Johnny Hamilton, Helena branch manager, will cover crop protection and weed resistance. Extension Economist Stan Bevers will discuss the outlook for wheat this year. A total of three continuing education units will be offered, including one in integrated pest management and two general credits for the Texas private applicator's license. The program is sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the Wilbarger County Agricultural Committee, Helena and the Farmers Co-op. Information: 940-552-5474. MSU to offer training on active shooter scenarios Midwestern State University Chief of Police Patrick Coggins will offer an active shooter awareness training session Aug. 10 in Room 189 of the MSU Dillard Building. The presentation will run from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program is part of the America's Small Business Development Center at MSU's Back to Business Wednesdays series. Coggins will focus on educating business owners and employees on the best way to face active shooter situations. Registration is $10 to cover the cost of lunch. Preregistration is required. Call 397-4373. Families can make cash by consigning at JBF sale Families are invited to turn trash into cash by becoming consignors at the Just Between Friends children's and maternity consignment event Aug. 12-14. Consignors set their own prices on outgrown or unneeded children's and maternity clothing and children's furniture, toys, books and more. Consignors earn 60 percent of the sale price, or 70 percent if they agree to volunteer at the event. After the final, half-price day, owners can retrieve unsold items, or allow them to be donated to area charities. Last spring's event produced $10,000 worth of donations to clothing closets, Faith Refuge, Children's Aid Society and other groups. The summer sale will run 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 12; noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 13, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 14 at the MPEC Ray Clymer Exhibit Hall. Admission is $3 on Friday, $2 on Saturday and $1 on Sunday. Husbands and children are admitted free. For information, go to www.jbfsale.com. To consign items, contact Carrie Bloom at 237-6833. By Christopher Collins of the Times Record News At 2:45 p.m. on July 2, an alarm sounded through the Wichita Falls wastewater treatment plant at 1005 River Lane. The two plant operators on duty at the time knew what the alarm meant: sewage was leaking from the pipes in the basement onto the floor. Johnny Chavez and his co-worker descended toward the plant's basement. They peered through a grate and found that a valve connected to primary pump No. 2 had sprung a leak and coated the floor below it with at least a half-inch of goopy, black sludge. It wasn't the first time operators had found a problem with the pump's valve. Repairs were ordered for it just a day before, and it had been worked on by mechanics six times in the last year. Chavez paged David Sheppard, a senior mechanic with the city, to fix the valve. "I told him that one of the primaries had busted. He had been here before and he said, 'I'll be there and soon as I can,'" Chavez said later that day in a police interview. "I waited and I seen his truck pull up and I explained to him the situation. I guess he went and looked at it and came back and said to call his helper out, so we did." Safety protocols dictate that some repairs, such as the valve maintenance being ordered by the city, require two workers to be present one to do the actual labor and one to keep an eye out for possible danger. Sheppard's "helper," city mechanic Daniel Arredondo, arrived at the plant shortly after being paged. Sheppard and Arredondo navigated the metal staircase leading down to the pump, donning breathing masks and air tanks as a precaution. They had been told it smelled "gassy" down there. Chavez told police he later saw Arredondo rinsing off Sheppard with a water hose Sheppard had gotten splattered with sewage while making repairs. The two had remarked to Chavez that they were going to look a for fan to provide some ventilation, and that they were going to try to find some more oxygen bottles for the breathing masks. That was the last time Chavez, on anyone else, for that matter, would see Sheppard or Arredondo conscious. Chavez left the basement to finish his rounds at the plant, and after he did, the mechanics fell asleep. They never woke up. UNRESPONSIVE At 5:01 p.m., an ambulance whirred to life and sped to 1005 River Lane, where it would be met by fire engines and Haz-mat crews. An operator at the city's wastewater treatment plant had called 911 dispatchers, reporting that two mechanics at the plant were unconscious and wouldn't wake up. When first responders arrived at the plant and made entry into the basement, "We found one person on the midpoint landing of the staircase and a second person sitting at the bottom of the staircase and in sludge," a firefighter wrote in a statement that was later obtained by the Times Record News through a state open records request. "Both persons were unconscious but gasping for air and snoring. They were blue-gray in color." Sheppard and Arredondo were loaded into ambulances and taken to United Regional hospital. Later they would be taken to Parkland hospital in Dallas for specialized care, but both died Arredondo first, then Sheppard. City officials determined the mechanics had inhaled a lethal volume of hydrogen sulfide, a deadly gas produced as a byproduct of decomposing human waste. The gas, which carries with it a distinct "rotten egg" smell, can cause death or severe injury in humans with even limited exposure. It was Chavez, the wastewater plant operator, who initially found Sheppard and Arredondo unresponsive in the basement. Chavez told a police officer conducting an investigation into the deaths that he thought the two were just taking a break. "I went and checked on them to see if they were done, and that's when I found David on the first step," he said. "I said, 'Hey, David, you got to get up, man,' and he wouldn't respond. Then I looked down the grate and saw Daniel at the bottom and started hollering his name." Chavez had another plant operator call 911, and though first responders arrived quickly, Sheppard and Arredondo were already in bad shape, another firefighter noted in a report. "I asked (a plant operator) if it was chlorine we were dealing with and he said no. It was a sludge that gave off some kind of gas," the firefighter wrote. "(We) found the two men, who were not wearing self-contained breathing apparatuses, breathing but breaths were labored. An alarm was going off periodically that hampered communication." A cursory review of the scene showed the mechanics were in possession of four air tanks, though all of them contained lower-than-recommended air pressure levels. Further investigation revealed the men may not have checked air pressure levels in the tanks before checking them out from the city, which is protocol. Sheppard and Arredondo did not take air quality measurements before beginning work, but neither did the plant operators, it appears. It still is unknown why the mechanics removed their protective gear during the course of repairing the valve, though it could be because hydrogen sulfide is not a common threat in the plant's basement. Harold Burris, the city's wastewater collection/treatment superintendent, told an investigator it was "unusual" for lethal levels of the gas to be present there. More mechanics were called in to finish the valve repairs shortly after Sheppard and Arredono were hospitalized. It took about 10 minutes to fix the valve. "The sludge was weird, though. There was hardly any on the ground but you could smell it outside the building," Timothy Pecka, one of the replacement mechanics, told an investigator. "It was worse than normal, and stained the concrete." Before the day was over, the city of Wichita Falls had already launched an investigation into the mechanics' injuries. Police officers took photos and interviewed witnesses, much like they would at a crime scene. An official from the city's Risk Management Department was also dispatched to conduct interviews and collect evidence in the case. The most pressing question they needed to answer: Why did David Sheppard and Daniel Arredondo die? BUSTED THEORIES The next day, as part of the city's investigation, a wastewater plant administrator ventured down into the building's basement to record video footage of the scene. The camera lingered on areas of significance: the stairwell where Sheppard and Arredondo were found, enormous pipes stretching snakelike to industrial sewage pumps, concrete floors still slicked with sludge. In one corner of the basement, lying on the floor in a pool of wastewater, were Sheppard's glasses, which apparently had fallen from the mechanic's face when he collapsed on the stairs above. The photographer illuminated them with a flashlight as machinery rumbled in the background. There's little question about what killed Sheppard and Arredondo officials concluded early on they had succumbed to hydrogen sulfide poisoning but in the month since, investigators have been stumped as to how the gas became so concentrated in so little time. None of the theories that have been developed have panned out. The city of Wichita Falls appears to have very little precedent to look to in determining the cause of the gas buildup. From 2011 to 2014, only 2 percent of local government workers in the U.S. have been killed on the job due to exposure to chemicals, and there are virtually no recent accounts of municipal employees dying from inhalation of hydrogen sulfide gas inside wastewater treatment facilities. What happened to Sheppard and Arredondo is an anomaly among anomalies. The Texas Hazard Communication Act dictates that cities report the chemical-related death of an employee to the Texas State Health Services Department. A subsequent investigation conducted by the department found that the city had trained Sheppard and Arredondo appropriately on the dangers of hazardous chemicals. It also found the city complied with state rules in posting information about chemicals at the plant. But the agency's investigation stops there, a spokesman told the Times Record News. The state does not investigate the circumstances of a worker's death, nor does it conduct an inquiry into what caused the elevated levels of poison gas. In fact, there are no independent, outside agencies who investigate work-related deaths of municipal employees in Texas. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not have jurisdiction in the incidents. When contacted by the city of Wichita Falls, the Texas Engineering Extension Service declined to open an investigation in the case. The city, therefore, largely conducts its investigation alone. And for the workers' families, there is little other recourse except for inquiries brought by counsel through legal action. John Sheppard, David Sheppard's cousin, told the Times Record News he's leery of a city investigation without independent oversight. "Call me cynical, but Risk Management doing the investigation has appearances (that are) less than comforting," he wrote in an email. "David was not a haphazard or careless person when it came to serious matters like this event." As of Tuesday, no lawsuits had been filed in connection with the deaths. For its part, the city has hired Frisco-based Freese and Nichols Engineering to determine the cause the of the gas buildup. But so far the company has not solved the mystery. In the beginning stages of the probe, investigators developed three promising theories about what could have generated the hydrogen sulfide gas. Two of them involved the disposing of chemicals glycerin and sulfur into the wastewater treatment system. Another centered on construction being done on the plant. But the city has no industrial companies pumping large volumes of sulfur into its system, and the glycerin is deposited at the plant in such a way that would not bring it into contact with the pipe Sheppard and Arredondo were repairing. The groundwater at the plant's construction site showed elevated levels of sulfur, but that was also ruled out as a cause of the gas buildup. With its best theories disproved, the city now aims to determine how common it is for hydrogen sulfide to be creeping through its wastewater system. "We are conducting additional testing with the guidance of (an engineer) to determine if this an uncommon occurrence or if it is the norm for our wastewater," said Russell Schreiber, public works director. Per an internal city memorandum, plant workers now will be required to take air quality tests in the basement every two hours and also will have to carry gas detection devices into areas where hydrogen sulfide could be present. The memo states that permanent gas detection alarms may be installed in the facility. The Times Union's fourth annual Grill Games competition returns Thursday night to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs. The cook-off will run for three consecutive weeks through Aug. 18, with the winner receiving a $1,300 prize package courtesy of Adirondack Appliance in Saratoga Springs, featuring a Pacific Living outdoor oven. Cooking will be held on the SPAC lawn prior to performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Gates open at 6 p.m. Contestants will have 45 minutes to cook, from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Each competitor will have use of an individual Big Green Egg, Caliber Thermashell Pro or similar charcoal grill. Grills will be prepared by Adirondack Appliance staff, preheated and ready to cook at the start time. Thursday's semifinal will feature four home cooks selected from among submissions to the Table Hopping blog. The cooks and their dishes: Craig Couture, Clifton Park: Spicy Fresno chili-marinated and grilled skirt steak quesadilla with grilled-vegetable salsa, Adirondack grilled corn on the cob and beans-and-rice. Norine Ellett, Waterford: Grill-baked brownies with maple-glazed pecans, bacon, caramel. Kathleen Higle, Melrose: Tea-smoked, spiced salmon fillet with lemon sauce, roasted sweet corn and coconut salad, rainbow chard. Ryan Moore, Albany: Roasted garlic-marinated lamb loin, mint gremolata, Israeli couscous salad, grilled street corn. The top two finishers will be invited to cook in the finals. The second semifinal, on Friday, Aug. 12, will feature five home cooks also selected from among submissions to the Table Hopping blog. The top two finishers will be invited to cook in the finals. The cooks and their dishes: Susan Adinolfe, Clifton Park: Crispy pork potstickers with glazing sauce and mustard greens. Linda Blesser, Richmondville: Korean-marinated chicken, broccoli rice pilaf, vegetable kebabs. Melissa Breger, Albany: Filet mignon topped with Roquefort cheese-garlic scape butter, roasted cauliflower/Brussels sprout medley, Parmesan-breadcrumb-hazelnut crumble, Ethiopian Berbere-marinated lentils, sweet-potato mash. James Gross, Albany: Beer-steamed sausage, peppers and onions. Jill Kavanagh, Troy: Grilled lamb chop, mint-pesto butter, Hasselback potatoes, wilted spinach and salad The finals will be held Thursday, Aug. 18. The top two finishers from each round will cook off against each other and against last year's Grill Games winner, Angela Crupe, who will be returning to defend her title. Contestants must bring their own food sufficient to prepare at least one plate. The main component of the dish must be cooked principally on the provided grill during the allotted time, although marinating and other seasoning methods and minimal parcooking are permissible in advance. Up to two side dishes and sauce may be prepared in advance. The only heat source will be the charcoal grills, and electricity will not be available to competitors. No other cooking devices will be allowed. Competitors may use knives and kitchen implements/utensils, but no powered devices. Judges will sample the food and decide the winners from each category. Members of the public may watch the cook-off, but will not be allowed to taste the food. The semifinalists will receive lawn admission for two to their respective evening's classical performance. The five finalists will receive admission for two to SPAC's wine and food festival in September. sbarnes@timesunion.com 518-454-5489 @Tablehopping >http://facebook.com/SteveBarnesFoodCritic> This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany Cabbies who read credit card numbers of fares over the radio dispatch system, or don't accept plastic at all. Wildly varying charges depending on the zone of a pickup in Albany, which leave riders baffled by the cost of a trip. Complaints like these from customers of taxi cabs are well-known, and now are reaching a new height as Albany officials pursue reform to the city taxi operations. Movement for change in Albany and other parts of the Capital Region comes after ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft failed to get a bill through the state Legislature to operate beyond New York City. In addition, there is pending state legislation to allow the Capital District Transportation Authority to become the taxi service regulatory entity for the entire region. Despite the CDTA bill awaiting Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signature, Albany Common Councilman Judd Krasher is pursuing reform for city taxi operations, which he hopes will be a model for surrounding communities. His legislation aims to nudge taxi companies to accept credit cards and provide users with a way to file complaints for cabs violating the guidelines. But Krasher says he's received a lot of public feedback about the local taxi system and plans to go further. "We have the zone-structure (for fares) right now and people can't stand it. It's arbitrary, it's not transparent," Krasher said. "They want a meter in there, and [have] it based on mileage." Each municipality has its own rate system, so what a patron pays for a trip in Schenectady differs from that of Albany. Schenectady operates on the common meter system, while Albany breaks the city into zones that set a flat rate within each zone (with additional costs for crossing zones). Meanwhile, Colonie a major retail hub doesn't have taxi regulations. "The lack of consistent pricing, the outrageousness of the pricing," said Sean Casey, who works at Eric Mower & Associates in downtown Albany. "If (business partners) are flying in to the airport, we go get them rather than subject them to the cab service." City resident Chris Dosch echoed Casey's criticism, noting that long waits for taxis and the smell of cigarettes inside the vehicles can be a turn-off. "I'll get told they'll arrive in 45 minutes. I'll wait an hour, call, and they'll act frustrated that I'm calling and say someone will be there in 45 minutes," Dosch said. "If I'm lucky after the second hour someone will show up." Casey said the ideal solution would be regional reform, adding any improvements are welcome. "Every other region that has successful cab service has found a way for its municipalities to work together," he said. Troy business owner Vic Christopher, a strong proponent of ride-hailing services, said local taxi companies make money on medical transports and aren't interested in customers looking for a ride home from the bar. "Ride sharing will supplement this issue and take care of those recreational passengers," he said, adding government stepping in isn't the answer. Creating a uniform, regional system would benefit cab companies, said Bret Peek, owner of Capitaland cab company. "Hopefully for me, having one pricing model and one set of rules would work out well," Peek said. "It makes it a little difficult with digital dispatch because all the pricing schemes are different in each area." Peek said Capitaland stopped taking credit cards because most were declined or stolen. The company is rolling out digital dispatch and tablets (that will accept credit) in Binghamton, which Peek says may eventually be offered in the Capital Region. Waterford Workers at the Momentive Performance Materials silicones factory in Waterford are voting Tuesday and Wednesday to authorize a potential strike, as their union and the company remain at an impasse on contract negotiations. IUE-CWA Local 81359, which represents 700 workers at the Momentive plant, is holding the vote at the Halfmoon Firehouse on Hudson River Road in Waterford, although CWA President Chris Shelton would give the final OK on any worker walkout. Word of the strike vote comes a week after IUE-CWA leaders rejected a "final" three-year contract offer from Momentive that included raises and a ratification bonus but a steep rise in health care costs. Union officials were upset that the company publicized its proposal as its last and final offer even though the union had previously said the offer would not be acceptable to its members. It is unclear if the union will end up striking. Local 81359 President Dominick Patrignani said the company has also asked the union to return to negotiations on Thursday in Syracuse, with talks continuing Friday if needed, offering the possibility that a strike could be averted. Momentive spokeswoman Tina Reiber told the Times Union Tuesday that although the company has made what it calls its final offer to the union, talks can still be fruitful. "The company has negotiated in good faith and is always willing to discuss the merits of its (offer) as well as to answer any questions the union has or to consider any counter proposals the union may wish to submit," Reiber said. "We remain hopeful that we will reach an agreement. We believe that by working together, our best days are ahead of us." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Union officials are stressing to workers that a strike would only be used as a "last resort." "We need all union members to vote," Patrignani said in a message to workers on the union's web site. "We need a unanimous turn out to vote yes to authorize a strike if needed. A strong 'yes' for authorization gives us bargaining power. This will only authorize the union to use this if needed. A strike requires several more steps before being used, including CWA authorization and the CWA will exhaust everything that they can do before a strike. A strike will be a last resort used by the union." lrulison@timesunion.com 518-454-5504 @larryrulison Elvis Presley, the famed and beloved king of rock 'n' roll, is making a comeback in the Capital Region this summer. That's right: Broadway Camp at Proctors is gathering a group of young performers to present a main stage production of the Elvis jukebox musical "All Shook Up." From "Jailhouse Rock" to "Burning Love," the musical features some of Presley's biggest hits in a 1950s version of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." "I wanted a show that had a fun story, wasn't too difficult to cast, and that gave everyone a lot of stage time," director Steven Yuhasz explains. " 'All Shook Up' has all of that." Yuhasz was contacted last December about mounting a full-scale production with Capital Region youth. In years past, Broadway Camp ran for only a week, providing campers with workshops and classes from esteemed theater professionals. This year, however, as education program manager Grace Janiszewski explains, the team decided to take a different route. "Everyone from Broadway Camp kept asking for more time with professionals and more workshops. We didn't want to take up their whole summer," she says, "but they kept insisting, so we came up with the idea to put on a full-scale production." More Information If you go "All Shook Up" Where: Proctors Theatre, 432 State St., Schenectady When: 7 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday Tickets: $10 Info: 346-6204; http://proctors.org. See More Collapse The program runs for four weeks, cumulating with two performances on the Proctors main stage. The cast works alongside Broadway professionals each day, including choreographer and local dance instructor Freddy Ramirez. "I needed a team that could work with students at various levels and tap into what each of this kids could do," Yuhasz explains. "There is a lot of dancing in the show, and I knew Freddy could do wonders with this group." Ramirez appeared on Broadway in the 2007 revival of "Grease" while Yuhasz was in "Zorba" and "Peter Pan" as well as working as a producer, director and book writer in New York City. "All Shook Up" tells the story of Natalie, a young mechanic who yearns to find something better in life after the passing of her mother. Cue Chad, a roving roustabout who comes to town and shakes everything up. Natalie instantly falls for him, while Chad has his eyes on the town's museum owner, Miss Sandra. To try to get closer to him and make him fall for her, Natalie disguises herself as a man named Ed, becoming Chad's right-hand guy. The musical is an entertaining tale of mischief, mistaken identities and true love. Ben Hitrick, a senior at Broadalbin-Perth High School, steps into the role of Chad. He said that Elvis music has always been a favorite of his. "I come from a very musical family,and I've been listening to Elvis since I was very young," Hitrick says. " But I'm playing Chad, not Elvis. They want me to play my own character. It's challenging in the songs, because I've known them for so long, but these are now more musical theater than rock." In the role of Natalie is 14-year-old Maddy Montgomery, who has been performing for the last five years. She is going into ninth grade at Niskayuna High School in the fall. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. "Natalie wants to leave town to follow her dreams," Montgomery explains while on a break at rehearsal, "but she doesn't know what to do, because she has to take care of her father after her mother's death. Chad is the one who pushes her and helps her to see that she has to follow her dreams." Another cast member is Maria Isabella Andreoli, a senior at Shenendehowa High School. Andreoli has been performing around the Capital Region for years now, most recently in "Spring Awakening" with C-R Kids. She plays Mayor Matilda Hyde, an uptight antagonist who refuses to allow her son, Dean, to fall in love with a girl out of their social class, Lorraine. "It's very different from anything I've ever played before," Andreoli says. "She's kind of the bad guy." Hitrick, Montgomery, and Andreoli say they are all having a great experience with the production, getting to work in a professional environment while meeting many new friends. "I've loved meeting so many new people and making connections with the production team. It's really been a great learning experience for everyone involved," Andreoli said. Yuhasz raves at how talented this group of young performers is. He notes how quickly they are able to pick up choreography, music, and staging while on a tight schedule. "I'm treating them no different than I would with a professional company," he says. "I think there is nothing like this in the region. These kids are so committed to putting on a fantastic production, and they are embracing everything they learn." "This show teaches people that no matter who you are, you are special in your own way," Montgomery says. "It is easy to connect and relate to any character, and you see that if you work hard, anything is possible." Washington New York state stakeholders and education experts hope a new federal education law will allow states to make assessments of progress at public schools more effective and personal. And they hope it won't lead to any backsliding in state efforts to improve lower-performing or struggling schools. The Every Student Succeeds Act is the first education policy in decades to scale back federal regulation of education assessment. ESSA replaces former President George W. Bush's 2002 No Child Left Behind law, which like the new law was approved by Congress with bipartisan support and high hopes. Advocates said it provided for more standardized assessment of school performance, but critics condemned it as unfairly harsh in its penalties for struggling schools. Under ESSA which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in December yearly assessments will continue, but individual states will have the autonomy to design their tests, choose metrics to measure performance, and determine how they will intervene with underperforming schools. The hope is that the increased flexibility will take the pressure off schools to immediately get in line with certain nationally-mandated standards. The fear is that without consistent federal oversight, certain school districts will no longer keep up with assessing and intervening with schools. "We need to be sure that we're not setting up another situation where we come back in five years and say people are chasing a different metric that isn't helpful, or isn't the only thing we want kids to focus on," said Chris Minnich, executive director for the Council of Chief State School Officers, at an event last week at Brookings Institution's Brown Center on Education Policy. New York State has its own system of tests linked to the Common Core standards. On Friday, the state Department of Education released the results of the spring 2016 state assessments in math and English Language Arts (ELA). Overall, only 38 and 39 percent of students in grades 3-8 were deemed proficient in English and math, respectively. Both overall scores improved modestly from 2015, with a 1 percentage point increase in math proficiency and a 6.6 percentage point increase in ELA. The standardized tests were retooled after a 2015 review by a Common Core Task Force appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Changes included fewer questions, extended time limits for testing and, according to state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia's office, releasing "more (questions) than ever before, earlier than ever before." In New York and other states, parents can decide to have their children "opt out" of taking a state test. In 2015, around 20 percent of eligible students did just that. This year, the opt-out rate increased slightly to 22 percent. Under both No Child Left Behind and ESSA, the federal government can impose sanctions if a state falls below 95 percent participation by eligible students. Districts that fall below that threshold would be considered underperforming. Keeping that rule concerns people like Bob Lowry, deputy director of the New York State Council of Superintendents, a professional and advocacy organization that represents city and district superintendents. He's also part of the "ESSA Think Tank" commissioned by the State Education Department. Lowry worries that the continuation of the 95 percent rule will penalize schools that may instead be focusing on identifying more effective means of assessing student performance. He said New York State schools especially are a "hotbed for opt outs" because parents are concerned about the effectiveness of the annual tests. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. The Council of Superintendents recently wrote a letter to U.S. Education Secretary John B. King calling for the elimination of the 95 percent rule. (King served as New York's education commissioner from 2011 through 2014, a period of intense controversy over the state's implementation of curriculum tied to the Common Core standards.) "In New York, what must instead happen is to rebuild a system of assessments that educators and families recognize as having value toward improving learning and achievement by their students," said the council's Executive Director Charles S. Dedrick in the letter. "Efforts to rebuild trust in our assessment system are under way and could be aided by flexibility afforded through ESSA." Policy experts see ESSA as an opportunity for states to revamp the way they measure success to fit their own priorities. Minnich said states like New York are doing a good job of having "in-state conversations about their values right now and what do they think is the most important thing to put in these accountability systems." New York hasn't officially laid out how it will measure success in its public schools. But in July, the New York State Education Department presented a list of what it believes to be the eight "characteristics of highly effective schools," including priorities such as visionary leadership, social and emotional development "challenging, engaging" curricula and "culturally and linguistically inclusive" schools. Lowry said the new state rules created under ESSA will begin implementation during the 2017-18 school year. He said New York is set to send its accountability plans to the federal government for approval by March 6, 2017. Hannah Rank writes for the Washington, D.C., bureau of Medill News Service, part of Northwestern University's journalism program. 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. [August 03, 2016] 8minutenergy Wins 26 Megawatt Redwood Solar Farm Project in Central California 8minutenergy Renewables, LLC ("8minutenergy"), the leading independent solar developer in the U.S., today announced it has been chosen by Pacific Gas and Electric Company ("PG&E (News - Alert)") to develop a fourth Redwood Solar Farm project for 26 MW-dc (20 MW-ac) in Central California. 8minutenergy is one of the developers building new solar resources to support PG&E's Solar Choice program. Located near Bakersfield, Calif., the new project will be a dedicated resource for the program and is set to begin construction in 2017. Development of the Redwood 4 project is anticipated to create about 200 jobs in Kern County. 8minutenergy has developed three other Redwood Solar Farm projects in Bakersfield, Kern County, which total more than 72 MW-dc, and have been operational since the end of 2015. Those three projects are now owned by sPower. "This is the third Redwood Solar Farm project that we have won through California's RAM (News - Alert) (Renewable Auction Mechanism) program, which is further proof of our strategic business model aligning with the program's ability to deliver cost-effective solar," said Martin Hermann, CEO and Founder of 8minutenergy. "We are grateful to work with PG&E again, and are proud partners in bringing clean energy to their customers." "With nearly 15% utility solar market share in California - the most competitive solar market in the country - 8minutenergy is dedicated to building on our track record in the state. We are laser-focused on cost, and supportive of our progressive partners, such as PG&E, who recognize the benefits of wholesale renewable energy," said Tom Buttgenbach, President of 8minutenergy. About 8minutenergy Renewables, LLC Founded in 2009, 8minutenergy Renewables is the nation's largest independent developer of solar PV projects. To date, 8minutenergy has nearly 5.5 gigawatts under development in North America, been awarded more than 1.5 GW in power purchase agreements, and is developing some of the largest solar plants in the world, including the 800 MW Mount Signal farm in California. 8minutenergy has an unmatched ability to produce affordable clean energy and to deliver strong financial returns on utility-scale solar projects. For more information, please visit www.8minutenergy.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005449/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 03, 2016] Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Announces One-Year Enrollment and Graduation Results of Free College Degree Program with College for America at SNHU Just one year since announcing a debt-free college degree benefit, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin already has 31 employees enrolled and four graduates of the program. Operated in conjunction with College for America at Southern New Hampshire University, the benefit is available to any Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield full-time or part-time employee who works 20 or more hours per week and has been employed at least six months. Full-time employees who participate in the College for America program can earn an associate or bachelor's degree at no cost as a result of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's tuition reimbursement benefit. "By offering a free degree program through our partnership with College for America, we are reinforcing our commitment to supporting our associates in their career development and helping them achieve their professional goals. For many, their goal is to earn their college degree," said Paul Nobile, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. "I am proud to say that four members of our Wisconsin team have achieved their goal of earning their degree, and they did it at their own accelerated pace, using on-the-job skills and knowledge through our robust benefits package that offers free tuition to those working full-time." College for America has also expanded its degree offerings to include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management in three concentrations - Insurance Services, Logistics and Operations, and Public Administration. College for America partners with employers to offer a competency-based, online curriculum that is engineered to help associates fit a fully-accredited college degree in the busy lives of working adults. "Thanks to the response from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield associates, College for America is evolving its curriculum and expanding its educational offerings to meet the needs of th company's workforce - helping its associates earn an accredited degree that will help them get ahead in their life and career without taking on debt," said Paul LeBlanc, president of Southern New Hampshire University. "SNHU's partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield continues to be a model for aligning employer demand with the kind of competency-based, workforce-applicable higher education we have pioneered at College for America." To date, nearly 1,600 employees of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's parent company are enrolled in the program nationwide and 92 degrees awarded. About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (BCBSWi), Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (Compcare) and Wisconsin Collaborative Insurance Company (WCIC). BCBSWi underwrites or administers PPO and indemnity policies and underwrites the out of network benefits in POS policies offered by Compcare or WCIC; Compcare underwrites or administers HMO or POS policies; WCIC underwrites or administers Well Priority HMO or POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Well Priority is a service mark of Wisconsin Collaborative Insurance Company. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at www.twitter.com/askanthem and on Facebook (News - Alert) at www.facebook.com/askanthem. About College for America at Southern New Hampshire University College for America is the workforce development and competency-based education college at Southern New Hampshire University - a nonprofit, fully accredited University based in Manchester, NH. College for America partners with more than 100 employers nationwide to help their associates achieve a college degree through a program built specifically for working adults: competency-based, flexibly-scheduled, workplace-applicable, and just $3,000/year, often covered in full or part by employers. For more, visit www.collegeforamerica.org View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005211/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 03, 2016] CB Technologies, Inc. Welcomes Eric Bradford as Senior Vice President, Vertical Solutions KIRKLAND, Wash., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CB Technologies, Inc. (cbtechinc.com), a woman-owned Solution Provider and Systems Integrator, proudly announced Eric Bradford has joined the company as Senior Vice President, Vertical Solutions. Eric joins the team after serving as the Director of Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, and Utilities Industries with Hewlett Packard Enterprise. There, Eric was responsible as a representative of HPE in the Subject Matter Expert of HPE solutions, he was also responsible for sales team messaging, industry event presentations, meeting with C-levels to discuss challenges and create solutions, and directing the sales teams with the best course of action with the accounts for these industries. Bradford is quoted stating, "I have worked with Kelly Ireland and CB Technologies for seven years as a partner. I noticed that CB Technologies stands out as a partner willing to embrace challenges in order to help customers succeed-- the CBT focus is always customer first. I will integrate with the successful team of CBT to help reach out to new customers as well as expand our presence ith existing ones." Stan Galanski, SVP of Engineered Solutions, states, "We are very excited to have Eric join CBT at this point in time. His extensive background in Information Technology, with respect to the Manufacturing vertical, greatly compliments the strategic direction that CBT is taking and the solutions it's bringing to market. Eric's familiarity with these customer's requirements will help sharpen our focus on integrating the latest HP products to serve our client's needs." Eric Bradford will be responsible for assisting CB Technologies' customers with addressing their business challenges. He aims to become a trusted advisor to customers and partners, as well as expand the CBT footprint with these customers by demonstrating an industry focus to enable clients to succeed. Bradford says, "CB Technologies is about being nimble, innovative, and driven. These three attributes are key to not only our success as a company, but also to what we can bring to our customers." About CB Technologies, Inc. CBT is an award-winning solution provider and systems integrator with team members in Southern California, Seattle, St. Louis, Detroit, Washington D.C. and Albuquerque. Founded in 2001, this woman-owned company's impressive resume includes over 15 years supporting, planning and integrating technology in support of the Department of Defense, State/Local/Education, Fortune 500 and smaller enterprise businesses. CBT is an HPE Platinum Partner that is perennially named to the CRN Solution Provider 500, Inc. magazine's 5000 Fastest Growing Companies and OCBJ's list of top companies. In addition, CBT was awarded the HP PartnerOne Award for Cloud Partner of the Year in 2015. Media Contact: Rhondi Lenaker Marketing & Events Manager CB Technologies, Inc. 714-573-7733 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395189 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140609/116107 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cb-technologies-inc-welcomes-eric-bradford-as-senior-vice-president-vertical-solutions-300308229.html SOURCE CB Technologies, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 03, 2016] Fuze Marks First-Half 2016 with Record Growth and Global Expansion Fuze (formerly ThinkingPhones), the leader in global voice, video, and collaboration, announced today that it marked the first half of 2016 with record momentum and growth. The company experienced more than 150 percent increase in customer sales compared to the prior year period, 170 percent growth in YOY activations, and nearly 50 percent of business now coming from Europe and Asia Pacific. The growth reflects market demand for a truly unified communications platform that empowers productivity and delivers insights across enterprises. Fuze added more than 200 customers in the first half of 2016, including: Aquent, Socotec, and BlackLine. These customers are a testament to the company's unique ability to scale and serve large global enterprises. Fuze's top ten deals in the first half of 2016 represent a combined $40 million in contract value and 48,000 additional users globally. "The market opportunity in front of us right now is amazing. Communications software that empowers people to interact wherever and whenever they want is quickly becoming a must-have in today's modern workplace," said Steve Kokinos, CEO, Fuze. "We are focused on building seamless communication experiences across voice, video, and collaboration; experiences that people love to use; and experiences that yield huge gains in productivity for their companies." In addition to strong customer growth, Fuze marked the first half of 2016 with a completely new corporate brand platform officially uniting itself as Fuze, a name suggestive of its vision: a unified platform that seamlessly "fuzes" voice, video, and collaboration. As part of the company's rebrand, Fuze also unveiled YOUnified, the largest marketing campaign in its ten-year history, highlighting its approach to helping businesses reduce complexity, increase productivity, and enable secure, always-on communication. Fuze also closed $112 million in financing to expand global operations and support continued investment in innovation, a funding round hailed by The Boston Business Journal as the number one Boston-area venture capital deal of Q1 2016. Fuze is "quickly becoming an alternative to legacy providers based on its full UCC feature set and its robust global network that supports voice and video around the world," said Aragon Research CEO and Lead Analyst Jim Lundy in the firm's most recent "Hot Vendors in Unified Communications and Collaboration, 2016" research report (July 20, 2016). The first half of 2016 also witnessed expansion in Asia Pacific with the opening of a new Sydney office and three new data centers - Hong Kong, Singapore, andSydney. Fuze also expanded across Europe, opening new offices in Munich, Zurich, and Madrid, following on the heels of the company's existing operations in the U.K., the Netherlands, Denmark, and France. The international investments marked a key milestone in Fuze's mission to dominate the UCaaS market with a global, cloud-based communication platform supported by a world-class infrastructure of data centers. "Fuze is disrupting the UCaaS market with a communications platform that delivers a truly user-centric experience for the modern workforce," said Luca Lazzaron, Senior Vice President of International Operations, Fuze. "We are growing rapidly and our continued expansion demonstrates the high levels of demand and adoption for Fuze globally." The New England Venture Capital Association's NEVY Awards honored Fuze as the "Next Pillar Tech Company," recognizing it as the next tech company best positioned to anchor the region's future economic landscape and guide the way it does business. CEO Kokinos was awarded the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 Award in New England in recognition of his commitment to excellence and extraordinary success in areas such as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to the company and communities. Fuze has also been named a finalist for "Company of the Year" and "Best Use of Cloud Technology" as part of the 2016 MassTLC Leadership Awards, as well as a finalist for BostInno's "Coolest Companies Competition," celebrating Boston companies with amazing cultures and products. In May, Fuze announced the general availability of Fuze Global Unmetered calling, a global plan providing customers with unmetered calling to more than 100 countries, free calls between Fuze endpoints, and a more localized calling experience at a predictable cost. With unified service offerings available under the Fuze Global Voice platform, the company can offer unique pricing models and robust calling capabilities worldwide. "Global Unmetered Calling continues Fuze's commitment to enabling today's global workforce by streamlining and transforming the way businesses communicate and collaborate, all with a focus on the end user," said Michael Affronti, Vice President of Product, Fuze. "Through the Fuze Global Voice platform, we are enabling a more simplified experience, one that also streamlines costs and supports employee productivity." Fuze also forged two partnerships in the first half of 2016 to continue delivering its conferencing and collaboration solutions to the market. The company expanded interoperability (IOT) cooperation with Yealink, the global leading unified communication (UC) terminal solution provider, creating compatibility between Fuze Global Voice - the Fuze enterprise communications platform - and Yealink's (News - Alert) T4 series of desktop phones and cordless W52P DECT phone. In June, Fuze also announced it joined the Logitech Collaboration Program (LCP) as an Integration partner in the program's Cloud Video track. The LCP provides a unique framework for delivering high-quality video collaboration experiences across customer environments. Earlier this year, Fuze added to its catalogue of research and analysis on the intersection of technology and the workplace with the publishing of The App Generation Report, highlighting how current employees believe the app generation - those aged 15 to 18 years old - will affect work practices. Key insights from the report include: Two-thirds of employees say workplace technology needs to catch up with what they use in their personal lives; 72 percent of survey respondents say having the right technology when they start work is important; Only 2 percent of teenagers want to use a landline, preferring text-based, video and in-person communication "Fuze continues to lead a revolution in business communication with a platform that truly unifies voice, video, and collaboration applications; with a commitment to putting communication at the heart of work; and, with a passion to put the user at the heart of the experience," continued Kokinos. "We're thrilled for all that lies ahead." About Fuze Fuze is a global, cloud-based unified communications platform that empowers productivity and delivers insights across the enterprise by enabling simplified business voice communications, flexible video conferencing, and always-on collaboration. Formerly ThinkingPhones, Fuze allows the modern, mobile workforce to seamlessly communicate anytime, anywhere, across any device. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, Fuze has additional locations including New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Ottawa, London, Amsterdam, Aveiro (Portugal), Madrid, Paris, Munich, Zurich, and Copenhagen and Sydney. For more information, visit www.fuze.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005370/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 02, 2016] JM2 Webdesigners Expands and Creates a Corporate Office in Valparaiso, Indiana VALPARAISO, Ind., Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, JM2 Webdesigners CEO John Marx unveiled "Project Coffee Pot." This project has been in the works since March 2016 when demand to serve customers was starting to require more space. The overall goal of the company was to only stay in the Zoseco Co-working space for two years. JM2 Webdesigners felt that if they stayed any longer they would be hindering other individuals that wanted to move into the business world on their own. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395132LOGO "We are taking some bold steps to grow and help small businesses focus on their businesses while JM2 Webdesigners helps these businesses with their digital marketing needs," Marx said. This move will give room for growth for individualized on premise seminars, a dedicaed photography room, and grow the Find Business Directory at http://FindBiz.Directory/ to name just a few. The Find Business Directory is a free business listing service for any business large or small. JM2 Webdesigners will move into a 2,000+ square feet at 403 East Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383. This move comes after careful study and review of the company's future operating needs in light of its growth prospects. JM2 Webdesigners is a leading provider of web design, graphic design, and custom software development for all industries that need to improve their business processes. JM2 Webdesigners products and solutions enable businesses to efficiently manage their online digital marketing needs. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact John Marx at 855-456-2669 or email at [email protected]. Related Files press-corporate-office-20160729.pdf This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jm2-webdesigners-expands-and-creates-a-corporate-office-in-valparaiso-indiana-300308064.html SOURCE JM2 Webdesigners [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 03, 2016] Kristi Crowe, Orthopedic Thought Leader & Educator, Joins VOX Telehealth VOX Telehealth, a leader in the development of procedure-specific, patient engagement programs, today announced the addition of Kristi Crowe as Senior Vice President of Ortho Solutions, effective immediately. As a longtime consultant with extensive experience in the orthopedic industry, Crowe will steer VOX in delivering orthopedic solutions that proactively manage patients and aid healthcare providers in delivering high-quality care more efficiently. As part of her role, Crowe will also be responsible for developing an orthopedic advisory board. With guidance from industry experts, the board will ensure VOX's solutions align with provider preferences, effectively engage patients in their care, and provide optimal care plans for successful patient outcomes. "We are committed to a mission of improving patient outcomes by redefining the patient experience and recovery model," said David Brown (News - Alert), Founder and CEO of VOX Telehealth. "Kristi will playan integral role in helping us achieve this goal. She brings significant insights that will serve to guide VOX in meeting providers' needs throughout the value-based evolution in healthcare." Crowe joins VOX with more than 20 years of healthcare consulting, management and clinical experience. She currently leads orthopedics intelligence and analytics at Sg2 as an associate vice president and will maintain that position, in addition to her new role at VOX. "As the healthcare industry transitions from a focus on quantity to quality, care coordination and patient connectivity are critical for success under episodic payment bundles," said Kristi Crowe. "I am thrilled to join VOX to help shape the solution that truly manages patients on a deeper level, which enables providers to improve outcomes, and ultimately reduce the cost of care." Prior to joining Sg2, Crowe was an orthopedic service line consultant, collaborating with physician groups and hospital organizations to develop and implement orthopedics, spine and rehabilitation strategic plans. Earlier in her career, she worked as a physical therapist, serving both in clinical and management positions. Crowe frequently speaks at a variety of physician and healthcare leadership conferences. She holds master's and bachelor's degrees in physical therapy from the University of North Dakota and maintains her license to practice physical therapy in Colorado. About VOX Telehealth VOX Telehealth was founded to improve patient outcomes by redefining the patient experience and recovery model. Through a state-of-the art platform, VOX delivers procedure-specific, full episode-of-care engagement solutions that provide education, coordination, and monitoring through industry leading content, proprietary SmartTasksTM and a customizable alert escalation and notification system. Engaging the patient throughout their pre-op phase, as well as through transition of care and recovery, patients are connected and accountable, leading to greater satisfaction, improved outcomes, and reduced cost of care. For more information, visit www.voxtelehealth.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005229/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 03, 2016] Mouser Electronics Appoints New Vice President to Run Japan Operation Mouser Electronics, Inc., the global authorized distributor with the newest semiconductors and electronic components, today announced the appointment of Sam Katsuta as Vice President of Mouser Electronics-Japan. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006113/en/ Industry executive Sam Katsuta has joined Mouser Electronics as Vice President of the global distributor's Japan business operation. (Photo: Business Wire) "Japan is a key global market as well as one of the world's leading markets for electronic design, and is therefore of great interest to us," said Mark Burr-Lonnon, Mouser's Senior Vice President of APAC and EMEA Business. "With this in mind, we are establishing a Japanese company which Sam Katsuta will run within our global operation. The nuances of the Japan market call for a special model." Katsuta will assume full control of Mouser's customer service, marketing and finance within Japan. He will work closely with Mouser's manufacturer partners in Japan and will report directly to Burr-Lonnon. Katsuta has had a long, exceptional career at TDK, where he most recently served as General Manager of Global Distributionfor both high service and volume distribution. He earned a degree in Economics at Keio University in Japan before taking his first role with Mitsubishi (News - Alert) Chemical Industries. He joined TDK in 1984. "I have long been impressed with Mouser's business model, and I am pleased now to be a part of the Mouser team as we launch this exciting new phase of Mouser's Japan operation," Katsuta said. Mouser has seen solid customer growth in Japan - where it opened a customer service center last year in Tokyo - with customers purchasing online through its website, Mouser.com. The global distributor stocks semiconductors and electronic components authorized by more than 600 manufacturers, including the leading Japanese manufacturers Murata, Panasonic, Toshiba (News - Alert), Taiyo Yuden, TDK, ROHM, Hirose, Nichicon, and OMRON. "We see Japan as a strong market for innovative technologies, and the significant growth of design engineers and small- to medium-sized production business fits perfectly with our business model," Burr-Lonnon said. "We are prepared to strengthen our brand and presence in this key market and believe the expanded Japan operation will allow us to uniquely establish closer cooperation with Japanese manufacturers to penetrate their products into more designs globally via our platform." With its broad product line and unsurpassed customer service, Mouser caters to design engineers and buyers by delivering What's Next in advanced technologies. Mouser offers customers 22 global support locations and stocks the world's widest selection of the latest semiconductors and electronic components for the newest design projects. Mouser Electronics' website is updated many times daily and searches more than 10 million products to locate over 4 million orderable part numbers available for easy online purchase. Mouser.com also houses an industry-first interactive catalog, data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, and engineering tools. About Mouser Electronics Mouser Electronics, a subsidiary of TTI, Inc., is part of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway family of companies. Mouser is an award-winning, authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor, focused on the rapid introduction of new products and technologies to electronic design engineers and buyers. Mouser.com features more than 4 million products online from more than 600 manufacturers. Mouser publishes multiple catalogs per year providing designers with up-to-date data on the components now available for the next generation of electronic devices. Mouser ships globally to over 500,000 customers in 170 countries from its 750,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility south of Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.mouser.com. Trademarks Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006113/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Nativis, Inc. Enters into Evaluation Agreement with Major Japan-Based Pharmaceutical Company Nativis, Inc., a clinical stage life sciences company developing non-invasive, medical device therapies for cancers and other serious diseases, today announced that it has entered into an Evaluation Agreement with a major pharmaceutical company based in Japan. The core purpose of the Evaluation Agreement is to confirm the results of both In-Vitro and In-Vivo experiments that have been successfully completed by Nativis at independent research facilities in the United States. The pharmaceutical company will conduct additional experiments in its labs. Both companies also plan to continue discussions around other potential business opportunities involving Nativis technologies and products in Japan. "We are very pleased to enter into this agreement," stated Chris Rivera, Nativis Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to their findings and to our ongoing conversations about other potential collaborations." About Nativis, Inc. Nativis is a clinical stage bioelectronics company, based in Seattle, Washington, that develops non-invasive treatments for cancers and other serious diseases. Nativis utilizes its proprietary Radio Frequency Energy (RFE) technology which regulates defined bioactive targets by specific modulation of charge pathways. RFE modulated control of charge pathways has the potential to significantly change the way cancer and other serious diseases are treated. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005527/en/ [August 03, 2016] Nova Scotia Leader to Share Insights of Service Delivery Success at GTEC 2016 GTEC Announces Sandra Cascadden, Nova Scotia's Associate Deputy Minister of Internal Services and CIO, as First Key Note Speaker OTTAWA, Ontario, Aug. 3, 2016 /CNW/ -- GTEC, Canada's internationally recognized forum for enabling and celebrating information and communication technology leadership, innovation and impact in Canada's public sector, today announced the first key note speaker to take the main stage of its flagship conference from November 1 to 3, 2016 at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa. Sandra Cascadden, Nova Scotia's Associate Deputy Minister of Internal Services and CIO, will launch the final day of GTEC with an overview of the Shared Services Initiative that is transforming public service delivery in the province. A key architect, Ms. Cascadden will engage in an armchair discussion with GTEC Executive Director Michele Lajeunesse, and discuss the value of this approach, key progress and lessons learned. Once fully implemented, this initiative is expected to save the province millions of dollars per year. The Shared Services Initiative aims to improve the delivery of high quality, efficient, and sustainable administrative and support services, while addressing growing fiscal pressures facing the provincial government. It addresses six key public services including: financial services; building management; human resources; Information Technology; supply chain management and procurement; and construction project services. Ms. Cascadden will describe how the province is consolidating these functions within three strategic pillars: service centres of excellence; streamlined transactional processing; and client services. This activity is occurring in parallel with government restructuring, a review of economic development mechanisms, and the ONE Nova Scotia 10-Year Action Plan. Ms. Cascadden will also emphasize a key differentiator of this strategic initiative: unprecedented collaboration. The Shared Services Initiative engages and aligns more than 300 leaders across Nova Scotia. This includes decision-makers at more than 20 government departments, five crown corporations, Nova Scotia Health Authority, IWK Health Centre and eight school boards. Leveraging strong public service vision and leadership by laders such as Ms. Cascadden, this interprovincial cooperation is a first for Nova Scotia and it is generating results. "We are delighted to welcome Ms. Cascadden to our Main Stage," said Michele Lajeunesse, Executive Director of GTEC. "This presentation will offer participants a rare opportunity to acquire new ideas and recommendations on how to optimize and increase the impact of public service delivery. This session will enable public sector leaders to draw on key elements of Nova Scotia's Shared Services Initiative, and adapt them to address key opportunities and challenges, and improve productivity and performance in any level of government." "This GTEC presentation is very timely as we have just concluded the first phase of our Shared Services implementation, and it is already beginning to generate return," said Ms. Cascadden, Nova Scotia's Associate Deputy Minister of Internal Services. "For example, it is improving value for money in products and services procured across the public sector; creating new synergies across our IT-related activities; and increasing client and employee satisfaction. I look forward to sharing key insights and learnings with fellow public sector leaders at GTEC." Following the Arm Chair Discussion with Ms. Cascadden on the Main Stage, Nova Scotia Government senior leaders will deliver a presentation as part of GTEC's concurrent program. Key note will take place on the GTEC 2016 Main Stage, on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 8:50AM at the Shaw Centre. For more information, visit: gtec.ca Register for GTEC: www.gtec.ca/ottawa/registration-and-pricing Apply for a GTEC media pass: www.gtec.ca/ottawa/press-centre-overview About GTEC GTEC is Canada's internationally recognized forum for enabling and celebrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) leadership, innovation and impact in Canada's public sector. Since 1992, GTEC has brought together more than 100,000 public and private sector innovators, leaders and enterprises to explore and drive leading-edge ICT initiatives, application and service delivery. Building on targeted webinars, summits, and roundtables that stimulate dialogue throughout the year, GTEC's annual flagship Conference and Exhibition attracts more than 4,500 participants, and delivers: Education and training opportunities that develop top ICT talent A robust conference program with compelling keynote presentations and panels on current strategies, opportunities and trends An extensive exhibition showcasing emerging technologies, innovations, and solutions that enhance productivity and performance A wealth of collaboration, business development and networking opportunities Distinction Awards that celebrate ICT excellence in Canada's public sector For additional information on GTEC, please visit: www.gtec.ca. About UBM Tech UBM Tech engages technology professionals live and online through its world-class brands, including Black Hat, InformationWeek, Enterprise Connect, Game Developers Conference (GDC), Dark Reading, HDI, GTEC, Network Computing and Interop. We're dedicated to fostering real engagement by creating environments where the technology industry can make connections, share insights, and network effectively. UBM Tech is the only media company that delivers large-scale industry events, leading online brands and content marketing services serving the Enterprise IT, Information Security, Game Development, Enterprise Communications and Technical Services and Support communities. UBM Tech is a part of UBM (UBM.L), a global provider of media and information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion. For more information, go to http://tech.ubm.com. SOURCE GTEC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 03, 2016] RiskSense Secures $7 Million Investment to Accelerate Growth RiskSense, Inc., the pioneer and market leader in pro-active cyber risk management, today announced that it is closing a $7 Million round of funding led by Paladin Capital Group, with participation from Sun Mountain Capital, EPIC Ventures, as well as other strategic and private investors. The investment will help RiskSense continue its rapid growth by expanding its sales and marketing efforts, as well as broadening and accelerating product development. Paladin Capital Group principal Mourad Yesayan will join RiskSense's board of directors. RiskSense pioneered the category of cyber risk management in response to the increasing challenges of extracting actionable intelligence from the massive volume of data generated by the patchwork of cyber security products, including vulnerability scanners, threat intelligence feeds, and other complex security systems. Enterprises are seeking solutions to unify and contextualize the feeds from these disconnected, siloed tools and then prioritize and remediate those cyber risks that pose the biggest business impact. Rather than adding more tools, organizations are recognizing the need to implement a new, more efficient enterprise security model. To address these challenges, RiskSense provides a pro-active approach to cyber risk management that identifies, visualizes, prioritizes, and orchestrates the remediation of cyber risks across a growing attack surface. The RiskSense Platform enables organizations to manage their cyber risks by unifying and contextualizing internal and external security intelligence into a single view, and then correlating these findings with business criticality to drive risk-based remediation. Manual approaches can take months, during which time attackers can exploit vulnerabilities, causing damaging cyber breaches and loss of valuable data. RiskSense automates these processes, empowering organizations to reveal imminent cyber risks, increase the productivity of their limited yber security staff, and minimize attack surface exposure. "With RiskSense, enterprises and governments are finally able to manage cyber risk, quickly orchestrate remediation, and monitor the results in the context of the organization's business goals," said RiskSense co-founder and chief executive officer Dr. Srinivas Mukkamala. "This round of financing will help us invest in the resources we need to execute our vision even more rapidly and broadly - and capture more market share." "We quickly saw the unique value RiskSense delivers for their customers, both as a force-multiplier for increasingly scarce cyber security operations talent, as well as providing cyber risk management visibility and best practices for the C-Suite," said Mourad Yesayan, principal at Paladin Capital Group. "Paladin's investment will help RiskSense continue to capitalize on the global demand for its award-winning solutions and accelerate product innovation. We are excited to partner with the company to support its next phase of growth." RiskSense was founded as a technology transfer from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) to commercialize the university's cyber security research. The advanced cyber research programs at NMT, led by the founders of the company, were funded in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Intelligence Community. After validation of the research and technology for both commercial and government applications, the company was spun out of NMT. This funding round is the latest in a series of important milestones achieved by the company so far this year. RiskSense has demonstrated continued strong financial performance, made key executive appointments, opened a new office in Silicon Valley, doubled its workforce, and increased its client base to more than 150 customers spanning every major industry vertical, including some of the largest financial services, telecommunications, utilities, retail, new media, healthcare, higher education, and government organizations. About Paladin Capital Group Paladin Capital Group was founded in 2001 and has offices in Washington DC, Silicon Valley, New York, and London. It is a worldwide leader in investments in cyber and digital infrastructure resilience, having completed over 40 cyber related transactions over the last decade. As a multi-stage investor, Paladin focuses on best-of-breed companies with technologies, products, and services that meet the challenging global cyber security and digital infrastructure needs for governments, as well as commercial companies. Paladin has over $1 billion under management. About RiskSense RiskSense, Inc., is the pioneer and market leader in pro-active cyber risk management. The company enables enterprises and governments to reveal cyber risk, quickly orchestrate remediation, and monitor the results. This is done by unifying and contextualizing internal security intelligence, external threat data, and business criticality across a growing attack surface. The company's Software-as-a-Service (SaaS (News - Alert)) platform transforms cyber risk management into a more pro-active, collaborative, and real-time discipline. The RiskSense Platform embodies the expertise and intimate knowledge gained from real world experience in defending critical networks from the world's most dangerous cyber adversaries. By leveraging RiskSense cyber risk management solutions, organizations can significantly shorten time-to-remediation, increase operational efficiency, strengthen their security programs, heighten response readiness, reduce costs, and ultimately minimize cyber risks. For more information, please visit www.risksense.com or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @RiskSense. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005029/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 03, 2016] UnitedHealthcare Invests Nearly $17 Million to Expand Affordable Housing for Individuals, Families and Veterans in Michigan UnitedHealthcare is investing $16.9 million to increase availability of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals, families and veterans in Michigan. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006723/en/ Community leaders, residents and development partners celebrate the start of construction for New Parkridge, a new 86-unit affordable-housing community, during a groundbreaking ceremony. UnitedHealthcare invested $8 million in the new development, part of a $16.9 million commitment to build 150 units of affordable housing in Michigan. L to R: Vicki Vaughn, Chesapeake Community Advisors; Russ Olwell, Eastern Michigan University; Parkridge resident Lolitha O'Day; Ypsilanti Mayor Amanda Maria Edmonds; Felicia Brabec, Chair, Washtenaw County Board of Commissioner; Jim Logue, COO, Cinnaire; Dennis Mouras, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan; U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell; Michele Wildman, Chief Housing Investment Officer, MSHDA; Zachary Fosler, Executive Director, Ypsilanti Housing Commission; Douglas Gordon, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development; Renee Smith, Chairperson, Ypsilanti Housing Commission (Photo: Nick Azzaro). The announcement was made at a groundbreaking ceremony for New Parkridge in Ypsilanti, where community leaders and investment partners celebrated the start of construction for the new 86-unit affordable-housing community. Developed by the Ypsilanti Housing Commission and Chesapeake Community Advisors, the new community will include onsite support services to help improve residents' access to health care, education, job training and childcare. UnitedHealthcare is investing $8 million in the $17.2 million development. UnitedHealthcare is also investing $8.9 million in Prestwick Village, a new 66-unit affordable-housing community with support services in Holt that will serve individuals and families, including veterans struggling with homelessness and people with disabilities. The $10.7 million housing community, developed by Gryphon Group,is currently under construction by T.R. Hovey Construction LLC, with construction expected to be completed by year-end 2016. The investment by UnitedHealthcare is part of a partnership with Minnesota Equity Fund (MEF (News - Alert)) and Cinnaire, full-service community development financial organizations serving Minnesota, Michigan and the Great Lakes region. MEF and Cinnaire support community stabilization and economic development through partnerships with investors and mission-focused organizations through the purchase of federal tax credits and by providing creative loans, investments and best-in-class services to partners. "UnitedHealthcare's investments to support affordable housing in Michigan are part of a larger initiative by our company to help people live healthier lives by connecting them to housing, health care and other important services," said Dennis Mouras, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan. "We are grateful for the opportunity to work with these key partners to build stronger communities in our state." "Cinnaire's partnership with MEF has provided an opportunity for socially motivated companies like UnitedHealthcare to make economic investments in well-designed, high-quality affordable-housing developments in communities throughout the Great Lakes region," said Mark McDaniel, president and CEO of Cinnaire. "Working together, we are helping to meet a critical need in Michigan, and we thank UnitedHealthcare and MEF for joining Cinnaire in our commitment to providing at-risk individuals with quality, permanent housing with supportive services." Through its Affordable Housing Investment Program, UnitedHealthcare has provided more than $240 million in financing since 2011 for 26 housing development projects in 14 states, creating more than 1,300 affordable-housing units. The company is continuing to identify new community investments and partnership opportunities that align with its mission of helping people live healthier lives. About Cinnaire Cinnaire is a full-service community development financial partner that supports community stabilization and economic development by developing and nurturing partnerships with investors and mission-focused organizations. We provide creative loans, investments, and best-in-class services to partners. For more information visit www.cinnaire.com. About the Minnesota Equity Fund MEF is a subsidiary of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund (GMHF), a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution. GMHF provides loans, equity investments, grants and technical assistance to create affordable housing in Minnesota. MEF is a strategic partnership between GMHF and Cinnaire, a nationally recognized Community Development Financial Institution that provides creative loans, investments, and best-in-class services to partners. About UnitedHealthcare UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter (News - Alert). Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006723/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 02, 2016] Pendleton to Host Drone Rodeo Showcase for Digital Agriculture Pioneers The Oregon UAS FutureFarm will host the first Ag Drone Rodeo in Pendleton, Oregon on August 18 & 19. The two days will feature real-world Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) crop survey flight demos and post-flight data analysis presentations from leading companies in digital agriculture. Orchard growers, vineyard growers, as well as irrigated and dry land crop farmers will be able to see what the latest UAS technology can do for their farms, especially when combined with satellite and ground sensors. Agriculture UAS will connect with other data points such as soil sensors and imaging satellites, giving growers accurate and even predictive crop information. This multi-layer sensing technology has never before been showcased. On Day One, leading companies like MicaSense, ATI, Yamaha, Digital Harvest, SenseFly, HoneyComb and RDO will demonstrate unmanned aircraft systems featuring advanced crop sensors and precision spot spraying technologies at a local potato farm. Day Two will be held at the Oregon Army National Guard Armory at the Pendleton Airport, to review and interpret the data collected, followed by a Q & A session. The free event is sponsored by the City of Pendleton, the Pendleton UAS Range, and SOAR Oregon, the non-profit dedicated to promoting the UAS industry in Oregon. Attendees can register to attend here. With the new simplified FAA rules for commercial use of UAS, it is now much easier for growers, agronomists, and crop scouts to start using unmanned aerial systems in the fields. This event will be a tremendous opportunity to visualize what technology has in store for the agriculture industry's future. About Oregon Future Farm The Oregon UAS FutureFarm is a project of the City of Pendleton, funded by a grant from SOAR Oregon. It is a real world proving ground designed to help Digital Agriculture Pioneers accelerate product development, cycles, and market growth. The Oregon UAS FutureFarm features a network of "research friendly" farmers growing a large variety of irrigated and dry-land crops in both traditional and modern farming infrastructures. Additional strategic partners include: Digital Harvest, Duke Joseph Agency, Blue Mountain Community College, Oregon State University and USDA Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center. http://futurefarm.tech 503-989-6933 [email protected] View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160802006713/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 02, 2016] Access-to-Own Now Available on ProQuest Ebook Central Platform MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ProQuest's highly-anticipated Access-to-Own ebook acquisition model is now available, enabling libraries to offer access to diverse content while applying spending on short-term loans to title ownership. Access-to-Own empowers libraries to build quality ebook collections based on the real needs of their users. The Access-to-Own model adds to the wide choice of flexible ebook acquisition options available on the ProQuest Ebook Central platform. Libraries can choose from a variety of access models or mix and match models to build ebook collections that best fit their patrons' needs and maximize library budgets. "Ten years ago, our library pioneered Demand Driven Acquisition for ebooks with ProQuest, enabling us to give a voice to our users in developing our collection," said Tony Davies, Associate Director, Information Resources, Swinburne University of Technology Library. "Today, we're looking forward to advancing our acquisition strategy again with Access-to-Own, an exciting new opportunity to further develop our ebooks collection based on demonstrated value, aligned directly with our users' needs." With Access-to-Own, budget dollars spent on ebook loans triggered throug Demand-Driven Acquisition (DDA) are applied to title ownership. It's ideal for research institutions and academic libraries who want to use usage-based purchasing for frontlist and backlist content and want to balance expenditures going toward ownership versus access. It can also be used in conjunction with individual title purchasing, subscription and DDA programs. ProQuest market research shows that ebook budgets are holding steady or increasing at 80 percent of academic libraries. Some libraries attributed the increases to their DDA program's ability to demonstrate a return on investment, showing the importance of that purchasing model. Access-to-Own can align with DDA-short-term loans or DDA-purchase programs, enabling broader use of evidence-based acquisition. "At ProQuest, we strive to continually innovate solutions that enable libraries to work more efficiently and get the best value from their budgets," said Kari Paulson, Vice President, Market Development, ProQuest Books. "Access-to-Own is another great advance, developed in teamwork with nearly 300 publishing partners to support libraries' demand for evidence-based acquisition tools. Together, we're building a sustainable ebook landscape." About ProQuest (http://www.proquest.com) ProQuest connects people with vetted, reliable information. Key to serious research, the company's products are a gateway to the world's knowledge including dissertations, governmental and cultural archives, news, historical collections and ebooks. ProQuest technologies serve users across the critical points in research, helping them discover, access, share, create and manage information. The company's cloud-based technologies offer flexible solutions for librarians, students and researchers through the ProQuest, Alexander Street, Bowker, Dialog, Ex Libris and SIPX businesses and notable research tools such as the RefWorks citation and reference management platform, the Pivot research development tool and the Ebook Central, ebrary, EBL and MyiLibrary ebook platforms. The company is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with offices around the world. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120620/DE27948LOGO-a To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/access-to-own-now-available-on-proquest-ebook-central-platform-300308130.html SOURCE ProQuest [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 02, 2016] Celebrate 'IN' World: Internet, Integration & Innovation: PT/EXPO CHINA 2016 brings "IN" World of the Future BEIJING, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Regarded as a "barometer" and "wind vane" for the development of Chinese ICT industry, PT/EXPO CHINA 2016 (hereinafter referred to as "PTEXPO") will be held in China International Exhibition Center (Jing'anzhuang) in Beijing from September 20th -23rd. Celebrated domestic and overseas enterprises including China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom, Huawei, ZTE, Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, LeTV and Alibaba will gather in the exhibition, bringing the latest cutting-edge products, technologies and services for visitors. Largest ICT and Mobile Industry Event in Asia PTEXPO is the only exhibition in the field approved by the State Council and sponsored by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It has been 24 years since it was first held successfully in 1990. Much attention has been paid from the industry since then for its authority, large scale and broad representativeness, which have shaped it the largest and most influential annual ICT event in Asia. Statistics from last year shows that PTEXPO 2015, in its 45,000-square-meters facility, attracted 400 renowned exhibitors from Mainland China, the US, the UK, France, Germany, Japan and South Korea. Over 500 government officials, leaders of provincial and municipal ICT authorities, organizations and regulators in the field, and CEOs of industrial giants witnessed the event, as well as more than 120,000 person-time visitors. Showcasing Cutting-Edge Technologies PTEXPO 2016 will maintain the high profile of previous exhibitions. Under the theme "Celebrate 'IN' World: Internet, Integration Innovation", the exhibition will focus on and showcase new products and technologies in the areas of new generation ICT, broadband network construction, Internet development, informatization application, network and information security, in particular breakthroughs by information communication industry in "Made in China 2025", " Internet +" and "mass entrepreneurship and innovation". Exhibits will cover areas including mobile Internet (5G), SDN/NFV, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, MVNO, smart city, smart home, smart terminals, information security, Telematics, Industrial Internet, various new Internet-based applications and smart hardware etc., making the exhibition a "lookout tower" for new technologies of the industry. Future Is Now PTEXPO 2016 will also feature a series of themed exhibition areas. In the specially designed "Future is Now" area, visitors will find themselves in future China, exploring how innovative technologies could be used to improve the future of the country and people's lives: from taking a ride, entertaining & socializing, visiting doctors to irrigation & water conservancy, smart manufacturing to defending our country. The themed areas will be divided into five parts, namely infrastructure construction area, core & key technologies area, innovation service applications area, strengthened industrial management area and reinforced safety guarantee area, displaying achievements in mobile communication (5G), urban ultra fast broadband access, cloud data centre and other contents. Industrial and informatization authorities and representative enterprises of the industry will be invited to attend the Exhibition. The Platform Highlighting Focal Issues ICT China2016 High-Level Forum, reputed as the Davos of ICT, is going to convene synchronously with the PTEXPO 2016. Themed as "Digital Transformation, Integrated Reform", the forum will highlight cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, mobile Internet, SDN & NFV, tower, emergency communication, mobile communication resale, VR/AR, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), smart medical and health, cloud computing, big data, smart hardware, industrial Internet, M2M and etc. In-depth discussion on focal issues of information communication and Internet field will also be conducted. PTEXPO is renowned for its authority and professionalism. In 2016, it will continue to foster a platform which is the largest in scale and the most influential in Asia for ICT exchanges and showcasing for domestic and international operators, system integrators, network infrastructure providers, software developers, Internet-based enterprises and companies in the fields of cloud computing, big data, information security and IOT, with the aim to share the transformational development achievements and promote industrial innovation and cooperation. To join the exhibition, please contact: Phoebe Ding +86-10-6642-8821 [email protected] Visitor pre-register Official Website [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 02, 2016] AdAsia Holdings Launches AdAsia Video Network and AdAsia Video Production SINGAPORE, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AdAsia Holdings, creator of the AdAsia Digital Platform, has announced today the launch of AdAsia Video Network and AdAsia Video Production, available through the AdAsia Digital Platform. AdAsia Video Network The AdAsia Video Network features both buy-side and supply-side functionalities, benefitting advertisers, agencies and publishers. Through the AdAsia Video Network, advertisers and agencies are now able to access and buy video inventory on desktop, mobile web, mobile app and cross-screen, through new and traditional video ad formats including out-stream, in-stream, and rich media video ads. Publishers can open their inventory to real-time and direct video ad space purchases, manage ad inventory, and monitor and analyze on-going performance with generated reports and SDKs, all through the publisher log-in portal. Out-stream ads fast-gaining popularity in the region. Publishers looking to provide users with a less intrusive ad experience can simply add the generated AdAsia out-stream video ad tag to enable video ads on their desktop and mobile sites. AdAsia Video Production Marketers today face greater video production needs due to the multitude of available formats and channels. AdAsia Holdings will be able to support clients' video and animation production needs through AdAsia Video Production. Clients will have access to drone, 360-degree videography and video animation, in addition to traditional video production formats. Video production requests can be placed through the AdAsia Digital Platform. Video quality ranges from 140p to 2160p, allowing collaterals produced to be placed on the AdAsia Video Network and any other channels. Kosuke Sogo, CEO and co-founder, AdAsia Holdings, said: "True to our goal of becoming the number one advertising company in Asia, we are developing an integrated platform that solves the needs of a modern marketer." "The new solutions have added an additional dimension to the AdAsia Digital Platform - video - in addition to our existing desktop and mobile capabilities, AdAsia Ad Network and Private Marketplace," Mr. Sogo said. AdAsia Consultants are also available, to help marketers with their programmatic and video production initiatives and usage of the platform. The AdAsia Video Network and AdAsia Video Production will be made available to clients today. About AdAsia Holdings Pte. Ltd. AdAsia Holdings is one of the fastest growing advertising companies in Asia -- launched in April 2016 by Kosuke Sogo. AdAsia Holdings aims to enhance marketers' prowess through a single platform, and aims to become the number one advertising company in Asia. AdAsia Holdings is a strong believer in localized support, and has offices in Singapore and Bangkok, with plans to further expand into Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan by 2016, India, Malaysia and Philippines in 2017, and mainland China in 2018. About AdAsia Digital Platform AdAsia Digital Platform is an integrated advertising platform capable of managing functions of programmatic buying and reporting in a single dashboard. Advertising agencies, marketers and advertisers can serve their ads on multiple DSPs, advertising networks, AdAsia Video Network, and AdAsia Ad Network - an advertising network for Southeast Asia's various local premium media and publishers. Media Contact: Chris Lu PR Associate [email protected] +65 9221 0608 / +65 6809 2111 Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160506/8521602925logo Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160802/8521604939-a Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160802/8521604939-b [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 03, 2016] Smart Microphones for Mobile & Beyond Market Study 2016-2020 - Product Types, Use Cases, Market Inhibitors & Market Growth - Research and Markets DUBLIN, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Smart Microphones for Mobile & Beyond: Product Types, Use Cases, Market Inhibitors & Market Growth" report to their offering. The smart microphone market is set to see rapid growth, driven largely by the increasing need for Always On, Always Listening devices to enable ultra low power voice interfaces. Other use cases include local audio processing, ultrasonic gestures and reduce BoM. Smart microphones will be increasingly used in many end applications but their use is not inevitable, there are also many inhibitors to growth, not the many other processing choices available e.g. use of a DSP in an applications processor. As well as truly smart microphones there is an increasing trend towards use of acoustic trigger microphones, which can provide additional functionality without an embedded DSP. This is a focused study on the smart microphone market, building on our well received study on Audio, Snsors & Distributed Processing in Mobile Devices and driven by interest in the market by various parties across the industry. It covers the use cases for and potential market growth for smart microphones in mobile devices, such as smartphones, and beyond into new markets. It forecasts growth across numerous markets from 2016 to 2020 with volume shipments, ASP and revenues. Key Topics Covered: 1. Scope and Definitions 2. Market Snapshot - Smart Microphones 3.Overall Smart Microphone Market Use - Cases Market - Inhibitors - Total Market Growth - Total Market ASP - Acoustic Trigger Microphone Market by End Segment - Smart Microphone Market by End Segment 4. Smartphones Market Overview - High End Smartphones - Mid-Range Smartphones - Low End Smartphones 5. Wearable Devices Market Overview - Smart Watch - Wireless Headphone/Headset - Others 6. Computing Devices Market Overview - Laptops - Tablets - Others 7. Home Consumer Devices Market Overview - Speakers - A/V Equipment - Smart Home 8. Automotive Market Overview 9. Industrial and Others Market Overview Companies Mentioned - Amazon - Apple - Audience - CSR - DSP Group - Google - Knowles - Microsoft - Nest - Pebble - Roku - Samsung For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2h3kmf/smart_microphones Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 03, 2016] Entravision Communications Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2016 Results SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Entravision Communications Corporation (NYSE: EVC) today reported financial results for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2016. Historical results, which are attached, are in thousands of U.S. dollars (except share and per share data). This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. The GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to each of these non-GAAP financial measures, and a table reconciling each of these non-GAAP financial measures to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is included beginning on page 10. Unaudited financial highlights are as follows: Three-Month Period Six-Month Period Ended June 30, Ended June 30, 2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change Net revenue $ 64,829 $ 59,891 8 % $ 122,942 $ 119,441 3 % Cost of revenue - digital media (1) 2,373 1,392 70 % 4,212 2,752 53 % Operating expenses (2) 39,948 37,528 6 % 78,948 74,714 6 % Corporate expenses (3) 5,293 5,050 5 % 10,897 10,043 9 % Consolidated adjusted EBITDA (4) 18,171 16,822 8 % 30,782 33,664 (9)% Free cash flow (5) $ 11,799 $ 8,099 46 % $ 18,357 $ 18,357 0 % Free cash flow per share, basic (5) $ 0.13 $ 0.09 44 % $ 0.21 $ 0.21 0 % Free cash flow per share, diluted (5) $ 0.13 $ 0.09 44 % $ 0.20 $ 0.20 0 % Net income $ 5,717 $ 5,241 9 % $ 7,987 $ 10,525 (24)% Net income per share, basic and diluted $ 0.06 $ 0.06 0 % $ 0.09 $ 0.12 (25)% Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic 89,134,412 87,832,430 89,015,934 87,682,734 Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted 91,140,596 90,091,735 91,036,353 90,089,679 (1) Cost of revenue consists primarily of the costs of online media acquired from third-party publishers. Media cost is classified as cost of revenue in the period in which the corresponding revenue is recognized. (2) Operating expenses include direct operating, selling, general and administrative expenses. Included in operating expenses are $0.3 million of non-cash stock-based compensation for each of the three-month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, and $0.6 million and $0.7 million of non-cash stock-based compensation for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Operating expenses do not include corporate expenses, depreciation and amortization, impairment charge, gain (loss) on sale of assets, gain (loss) on debt extinguishment and other income (loss). (3) Corporate expenses include $0.6 million of non-cash stock-based compensation for each of the three-month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, and $1.3 million and $1.1 million of non-cash stock-based compensation for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. (4) Consolidated adjusted EBITDA means net income (loss) plus gain (loss) on sale of assets, depreciation and amortization, non-cash impairment charge, non-cash stock-based compensation included in operating and corporate expenses, net interest expense, other income (loss), gain (loss) on debt extinguishment, income tax (expense) benefit, equity in net income (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliate, non-cash losses and syndication programming amortization less syndication programming payments. We use the term consolidated adjusted EBITDA because that measure is defined in our credit facility and does not include gain (loss) on sale of assets, depreciation and amortization, non-cash impairment charge, non-cash stock-based compensation, net interest expense, other income (loss), gain (loss) on debt extinguishment, income tax (expense) benefit, equity in net income (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliate, non-cash losses and syndication programming amortization and does include syndication programming payments. While many in the financial community and we consider consolidated adjusted EBITDA to be important, it should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for or superior to, other measures of liquidity and financial performance prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, such as cash flows from operating activities, operating income and net income. As consolidated adjusted EBITDA excludes non-cash gain (loss) on sale of assets, non-cash depreciation and amortization, non-cash impairment charge, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, net interest expense, other income (loss), gain (loss) on debt extinguishment, income tax (expense) benefit, equity in net income (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliate, non-cash losses and syndication programming amortization and includes syndication programming payments, consolidated adjusted EBITDA has certain limitations because it excludes and includes several important non-cash financial line items. Therefore, we consider both non-GAAP and GAAP measures when evaluating our business. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA is also used to make executive compensation decisions. (5) Free cash flow is defined as consolidated adjusted EBITDA less cash paid for income taxes, net interest expense, and capital expenditures. Net interest expense is defined as interest expense, less non-cash interest expense relating to amortization of debt finance costs, and less interest income. Free cash flow per share is defined as free cash flow divided by the basic or diluted weighted average common shares outstanding. Commenting on the Company's earnings results, Walter F. Ulloa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "During the second quarter, we achieved revenue growth driven by increases in our television and digital media segments. We also improved our free cash flow and net income over the second quarter of 2015. We continued to build our digital footprint through Pulpo Media, which provides us with an integrated platform to allow advertisers and marketers to connect with Latino audiences. Looking ahead, we remain well positioned to build on our success in attracting Latino audiences, expanding our advertiser base and monetizing our reach to the benefit of our shareholders." Quarterly Cash Dividend The Company announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend to shareholders of $0.03125 per share of the Company's Class A, Class B and Class U common stock, in an aggregate amount of approximately $2.8 million. The quarterly dividend will be payable on September 30, 2016 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 15, 2016, and the common stock will trade ex-dividend on September 13, 2016. As previously announced, the Company currently anticipates that future cash dividends will be paid on a quarterly basis; however, any decision to pay future cash dividends will be subject to approval by the Board. Financial Results Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2016 Compared to Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2015 (Unaudited) Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2016 2015 % Change Net revenue $ 64,829 $ 59,891 8 % Cost of revenue - digital media (1) 2,373 1,392 70 % Operating expenses (1) 39,948 37,528 6 % Corporate expenses (1) 5,293 5,050 5 % Depreciation and amortization 3,885 3,958 (2) % Operating income 13,330 11,963 11 % Interest expense, net (3,741) (3,245) 15 % Income before income taxes 9,589 8,718 10 % Income tax (expense) benefit (3,872) (3,477) 11 % Net income $ 5,717 $ 5,241 9 % (1) Cost of revenue, operating expenses and corporate expenses are defined on page 1. Net revenue increased to $64.8 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 from $59.9 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $4.9 million. Of the overall increase, approximately $2.8 million was attributed to our television segment and was primarily attributable to an increase in national advertising revenue, an increase in political advertising revenue, which was not material in 2015, and an increase in retransmission consent revenue. Additionally, approximately $2.2 million of the overall increase was attributed to our digital segment and was primarily attributable to increases in national and local advertising revenue. Cost of revenue increased to $2.4 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 from $1.4 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $1.0 million, due to increased online media costs associated with the increase in net revenue of our digital segment. Operating expenses increased to $39.9 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 from $37.5 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $2.4 million. The increase was primarily attributable to expenses associated with the increase in advertising revenue, and increases in salary expense, rent expense and promotional expense. Corporate expenses increased to $5.3 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 from $5.1 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $0.2 million. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in salary expense and non-cash stock-based compensation expense. Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2016 Compared to Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2015 (Unaudited) Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2016 2015 % Change Net revenue $ 122,942 $ 119,441 3% Cost of revenue - digital media (1) 4,212 2,752 53% Operating expenses (1) 78,948 74,714 6% Corporate expenses (1) 10,897 10,043 9% Depreciation and amortization 7,912 7,920 (0)% Operating income 20,973 24,012 (13)% Interest expense, net (7,600) (6,464) 18% Income before income taxes 13,373 17,548 (24)% Income tax (expense) benefit (5,386) (7,023) (23)% Net income $ 7,987 $ 10,525 (24)% Net revenue increased to $122.9 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2016 from $119.4 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $3.5 million. Of the overall increase, approximately $3.1 million was attributed to our digital segment and was primarily attributable to increases in national and local advertising revenue. Additionally, approximately $0.5 million of the overall increase was attributed to our radio segment and was primarily attributable to an increase in political advertising revenue, which was not material in 2015, and an increase in national advertising revenue. The overall increase in net revenue was partially offset by a decrease of approximately $0.1 million that was attributed to our television segment and was primarily attributable to approximately $5.0 million of revenue associated with television station channel modifications made by the Company in order to accommodate the operations of a telecommunications operator included in the 2015 period, and which revenue did not recur in 2016. This decrease in the television segment was partially offset by an increase in national advertising revenue, an increase in political advertising revenue, which was not material in 2015, and an increase in retransmission consent revenue. Cost of revenue increased to $4.2 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2016 from $2.8 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $1.4 million, due to increased online media costs associated with the increase in net revenue of our digital segment. Operating expenses increased to $78.9 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2016 from $74.7 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $4.2 million. The increase was primarily attributable to expenses associated with the increase in advertising revenue, and increases in salary expense, rent expense and promotional expense. Corporate expenses increased to $10.9 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2016 from $10.0 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $0.9 million. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in salary expense and non-cash stock-based compensation expense. Segment Results The following represents selected unaudited segment information: Three-Month Period Six-Month Period Ended June 30, Ended June 30, 2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change Net Revenue Television $ 39,215 $ 36,397 8 % $ 75,780 $ 75,899 (0) % Radio 19,552 19,585 (0) % 36,436 35,930 1 % Digital 6,062 3,909 55 % 10,726 7,612 41 % Total $ 64,829 $ 59,891 8 % $ 122,942 $ 119,441 3 % Cost of Revenue - digital media (1) Digital $ 2,373 $ 1,392 70 % $ 4,212 $ 2,752 53 % Operating Expenses (1) Television 20,668 19,749 5 % 41,148 39,483 4 % Radio 16,235 15,420 5 % 32,064 30,132 6 % Digital 3,045 2,359 29 % 5,736 5,099 12 % Total $ 39,948 $ 37,528 6 % $ 78,948 $ 74,714 6 % Corporate Expenses (1) $ 5,293 $ 5,050 5 % $ 10,897 $ 10,043 9 % Consolidated adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 18,171 $ 16,822 8 % $ 30,782 $ 33,664 (9) % (1) Cost of revenue, operating expenses, corporate expenses, and consolidated adjusted EBITDA are defined on page 1. Entravision Communications Corporation will hold a conference call to discuss its 2016 second quarter results on August 3, 2016 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call, please dial 412-858-4600 ten minutes prior to the start time. The call will be webcast live and archived for replay on the investor relations portion of the Company's Web site located at www.entravision.com. Entravision Communications Corporation is a leading media company that reaches and engages U.S. Latinos across acculturation levels and media channels, as well as consumers in Mexico. The Company's comprehensive portfolio incorporates integrated media and marketing solutions comprised of acclaimed television, radio, digital properties, events, and data analytics services. Entravision has 56 primary television stations and is the largest affiliate group of both the Univision and UniMas television networks. Entravision also owns and operates 49 primarily Spanish-language radio stations featuring nationally recognized talent, as well as the Entravision Audio Network and Entravision Solutions, a coast-to-coast national spot and network sales and marketing organization representing Entravision's owned and operated, as well as its affiliate partner, radio stations. According to comScore Media Metrix, Entravision's digital operating group, Pulpo, is the #1-ranked online advertising platform in Hispanic reach, and Pulpo's comprehensive media offering, data, and consumer insights lead the industry. Entravision shares of Class A Common Stock are traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: EVC. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this press release. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from these expectations, and the Company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements made by the Company. From time to time, these risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (Financial Table Follows) Entravision Communications Corporation Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands; unaudited) June 30, December 31, 2016 2015 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 31,431 $ 47,924 Short-term investments 30,000 - Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 61,037 66,399 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 5,728 5,705 Total current assets 128,196 120,028 Property and equipment, net 56,312 57,874 Intangible assets subject to amortization, net 14,889 16,656 Intangible assets not subject to amortization 220,701 220,701 Goodwill 50,081 50,081 Deferred income taxes 53,348 57,929 Other assets 1,738 1,693 Total assets $ 525,265 $ 524,962 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Current maturities of long-term debt $ 3,750 $ 3,750 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 25,843 29,787 Total current liabilities 29,593 33,537 Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of unamortized debt issuance costs 308,058 309,587 Other long-term liabilities 15,308 14,565 Total liabilities 352,959 357,689 Stockholders' equity Class A common stock 6 6 Class B common stock 2 2 Class U common stock 1 1 Additional paid-in capital 907,820 910,228 Accumulated deficit (730,863) (738,849) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (4,660) (4,115) Total stockholders' equity 172,306 167,273 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 525,265 $ 524,962 Entravision Communications Corporation Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) Three-Month Period Six-Month Period Ended June 30, Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Net revenue $ 64,829 $ 59,891 $ 122,942 $ 119,441 Expenses: Cost of revenue - digital media 2,373 1,392 4,212 2,752 Direct operating expenses 28,538 27,044 56,103 53,729 Selling, general and administrative expenses 11,410 10,484 22,845 20,985 Corporate expenses 5,293 5,050 10,897 10,043 Depreciation and amortization 3,885 3,958 7,912 7,920 51,499 47,928 101,969 95,429 Operating income 13,330 11,963 20,973 24,012 Interest expense (3,859) (3,256) (7,725) (6,483) Interest income 118 11 125 19 Income before income taxes 9,589 8,718 13,373 17,548 Income tax (expense) benefit (3,872) (3,477) (5,386) (7,023) Net income $ 5,717 $ 5,241 $ 7,987 $ 10,525 Basic and diluted earnings per share: Net income per share, basic and diluted $ 0.06 $ 0.06 $ 0.09 $ 0.12 Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.03 $ 0.03 $ 0.06 $ 0.05 Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic 89,134,412 87,832,430 89,015,934 87,682,734 Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted 91,140,596 90,091,735 91,036,353 90,089,679 Entravision Communications Corporation Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands; unaudited) Three-Month Period Six-Month Period Ended June 30, Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 5,717 $ 5,241 $ 7,987 $ 10,525 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 3,885 3,958 7,912 7,920 Deferred income taxes 3,658 3,411 4,922 6,370 Amortization of debt issue costs 193 199 384 393 Amortization of syndication contracts 101 85 190 171 Payments on syndication contracts (89) (124) (183) (246) Non-cash stock-based compensation 944 940 1,890 1,807 Changes in assets and liabilities: (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable (217) (4,558) 5,583 11,418 (Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets (5) 278 (383) (283) Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (282) (364) (3,876) (4,204) Net cash provided by operating activities 13,905 9,066 24,426 33,871 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of short-term investments - - (30,000) - Purchases of property and equipment and intangibles (2,610) (5,611) (4,745) (8,583) Net cash used in investing activities (2,610) (5,611) (34,745) (8,583) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from stock option exercises 870 681 1,270 1,581 Payments on long-term debt (937) (937) (1,875) (1,875) Dividends paid (2,788) (2,197) (5,569) (4,388) Payment of contingent consideration - - - (1,000) Net cash used in financing activities (2,855) (2,453) (6,174) (5,682) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 8,440 1,002 (16,493) 19,606 Cash and cash equivalents: Beginning 22,991 49,864 47,924 31,260 Ending $ 31,431 $ 50,866 $ 31,431 $ 50,866 Entravision Communications Corporation Reconciliation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to Cash Flows From Operating Activities (In thousands; unaudited) The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is operating cash flow. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to cash flows from operating activities for each of the periods presented is as follows: Three-Month Period Six-Month Period Ended June 30, Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Consolidated adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 18,171 $ 16,822 $ 30,782 $ 33,664 Interest expense (3,859) (3,256) (7,725) (6,483) Interest income 118 11 125 19 Income tax (expense) benefit (3,872) (3,477) (5,386) (7,023) Amortization of syndication contracts (101) (85) (190) (171) Payments on syndication contracts 89 124 183 246 Non-cash stock-based compensation included in direct operating expenses (300) (348) (620) (706) Non-cash stock-based compensation included in corporate expenses (644) (592) (1,270) (1,101) Depreciation and amortization (3,885) (3,958) (7,912) (7,920) Net income 5,717 5,241 7,987 10,525 Depreciation and amortization 3,885 3,958 7,912 7,920 Deferred income taxes 3,658 3,411 4,922 6,370 Amortization of debt issue costs 193 199 384 393 Amortization of syndication contracts 101 85 190 171 Payments on syndication contracts (89) (124) (183) (246) Non-cash stock-based compensation 944 940 1,890 1,807 Changes in assets and liabilities: (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable (217) (4,558) 5,583 11,418 (Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets (5) 278 (383) (283) Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (282) (364) (3,876) (4,204) Cash flows from operating activities $ 13,905 $ 9,066 $ 24,426 $ 33,871 (1) Consolidated adjusted EBITDA is defined on page 1. Entravision Communications Corporation Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Net Income (Loss) (In thousands; unaudited) The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is net income (loss). A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to net income (loss) for each of the periods presented is as follows: Three-Month Period Six-Month Period Ended June 30, Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Consolidated adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 18,171 $ 16,822 $ 30,782 $ 33,664 Net interest expense (1) 3,548 3,046 7,216 6,071 Cash paid for income taxes 214 66 464 653 Capital expenditures (2) 2,610 5,611 4,745 8,583 Free cash flow (1) 11,799 8,099 18,357 18,357 Capital expenditures (2) 2,610 5,611 4,745 8,583 Amortization of debt issue costs (193) (199) (384) (393) Non-cash income tax expense (3,658) (3,411) (4,922) (6,370) Amortization of syndication contracts (101) (85) (190) (171) Payments on syndication contracts 89 124 183 246 Non-cash stock-based compensation included in direct operating expenses (300) (348) (620) (706) Non-cash stock-based compensation included in corporate expenses (644) (592) (1,270) (1,101) Depreciation and amortization (3,885) (3,958) (7,912) (7,920) Net income $ 5,717 $ 5,241 $ 7,987 $ 10,525 (1) Consolidated adjusted EBITDA, net interest expense, and free cash flow are defined on page 1. (2) Capital expenditures are not part of the consolidated statement of operations. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/entravision-communications-corporation-reports-second-quarter-2016-results-300308679.html SOURCE Entravision Communications Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). 404 - Page Not Found Sorry, this page was not found. Try visiting our homepage or using the search function in our menu. Community radio music coordinators often have an encyclopaedic knowledge of local music and an insatiable thirst to keep their ears ahead of the curve. So in this Tone Deaf series, the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (Amrap) invites music coordinators to highlight new Aussie tunes that you might have missed. In this edition, Nick Rodwell from Brisbanes 4ZZZ contributes with a selection of tracks currently making their way to community radio through Amraps music distribution service AirIt. Check out Nicks selections below and if youre a musician you can apply here to have your music distributed for free to community radio on Amraps AirIt. The Do Yo Thangs One Plus One At a time where Neo-soul is heavily geared towards the electronic and its subsequent hyper-abilities, Melbourne group, The Do Yo Thangs have crafted a single which is a dreamy concoction of organic groove and subtle electronica. Baro Fuck The Judge ft. REMI From the Kid Cudi-esque opening to the Yasiin Bey croon to close, Baro is extending and confounding our expectations. Along with his righteous cohort REMI, this track is a most welcome addition to Australias burgeoning catalogue of tight Hip Hop with its deep respect and desire to progress. L. Major Sunglasses After Dark An extension of the dad-rock ride by way of The War On Drugs with a post-punk bent, these Brisbane lads cruise through the neon night with a motorik focus that is both simple and captivating. Friendships Its Vermintino Dickhead: Edits, Cuts and Tools Friendships continue to develop their bizarre playground of electronic dance as this compilation delves deeper into their flair for the weird and wild. Featuring the recontextualized presence of Kirin J. Callinan, this is a resoundingly heavy and enjoyable bass party. Totally Unicorn Dream Life Whether you want to focus on its punk destruction of song, its hardcore intensity or its metal heaviness, Totally Unicorns latest album is a bludgeoning execution of norms and it sounds rad. Sarah Mary Chadwick Makin It Work There is no greater example of raw emotional power in 2016 than this single. Far from the noise of Batrider, Sarah Mary Chadwicks voice is compelling as it evokes love and loss, boldly and vulnerably. Ribongia Journeys This Sydney afro-beat aficionado makes such joyous music. Blending elements of current dance music with samples of traditional African music, his past two EPs have proven to bump better than most. Its his unreserved appreciation for rhythm and melody thatll get you lifted on afro-bass effervescence. The teen who gatecrashed a Perth music festival and later kicked a security guard in the head as he dealt with another gatecrasher on the ground has been sentenced to eight months jail and banned from attending music festivals for two years upon release. As Tone Deaf reported in February, Martin John Fulton was arrested shortly after a video of him kicking 56-year-old security guard Michael Rigby as he attempted to restrain another fence-jumper at the Good Life music festival in Claremont surfaced online. Fulton was due to be sentenced last month but was instead remanded in custody after the court heard he was overseas when a pre-sentence report was to be prepared, a breach of his bail terms. The judge ordered Fulton to remain behind bars until his next court appearance. Now Seven News reports that Fulton will serve an eight-month jail sentence after pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and trespassing. Fulton also admitted to a separate stealing offence after he took a carton of beer from a Perth liquor store in April. Seven News reports Fultons lawyer told the court how Fulton, whod turned 18 eight days prior to the under-18s festival, gatecrashed the event as he had underage friends who were attending and had consumed alcohol before entering. Fulton claimed he attacked Mr Rigby after he saw the security guard wrestling another fence-jumper, allegedly pressing his forearm against the throat of the young teen. This was not simply a senseless attack it was a response to something, the lawyer said. However, an associate of Rigbys claimed that Fulton attended the festival intending to harm a security guard. It was a malicious act that he purposely intended to do he admitted [on Facebook] that he was going to go there to attack security, fellow guard Shane Poulton told WA Today. Theres nothing quite like the addition of some substances to break up the often-mundane album promo cycle, so heres an assortment of some of the best drug-addled interviews from rock stars of all time, from RHCP to Bowie. Stay safe people, and enjoy. Red Hot Chili Peppers Kicking things off are of course Flea and Anthony of RHCP, who here delve into their influences although probably not the influences at work here. At least theyre very engaged in the interview, and waste no time answering any of the questions, which is a lot more than we can say for some of the bands on this list. James Brown One of the all-time greats as far as truly insane interviews are concerned, as an incredible performer delivers some rather unfortunate views. Considering the interview took place after Brown was arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife with a lead pipe and shooting a gun at her car while she was in it its safe to say that Brown wasnt in the best place. Ace Frehley The Space Ace wasnt so much spaced out here as just obnoxiously drunk. The altogether-serious (at least for people wearing platform heels and face paint) Paul and Gene try in vain to deliver a standard promo, while Ace completely takes the piss, bringing the promo down in flames. Its easy to see why promo-hounds Paul and Gene ended up basically turning KISS into a duo with interchangeable members on the side. David Bowie An infamous famous example of the legendary Bowie at his wacked-out best, the allegedly coked-up superstar definitely maintains his freaky aura for Dick Cavett, giving a very disjointed interview and clutching onto his cane like his life depends on it. He later expressed amazement at living through his long period of drug abuse, and its easy to see why. Tom Waits This one is an absolute classic, and its been noted several times that Tom Waits speech here is remarkably similar to Heath Ledgers take on The Joker decades later. Just let me get comfortable here, he growls, but is seemingly unable to do so at any point throughout the chat. I feel like Im at my granmothers he tells us, but weve certainly never been this loose when visiting our grans. Thankfully, Don Lane manages to keep things ticking over for an appreciative audience. Love Classic Rock? Get the latest Classic Rock news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more JOIN Ozzy Osbourne Er, sorry Ozzy, could you repeat that? Here, the most hardcore of the hardcore tells us all about how hes cleaned up while struggling to move his mouth at all. While Ozzy always seems a bit befuddled these days, were happy to chalk some of the speech struggles up to a Birmingham accent. A very, very thick one. Mayhem In the words of the interviewer, Warning: this one gets a little weird although its in good company on this list. The incredibly drunk Norwegians break into an extremely passionate and curse-laden diatribe, without really managing to make any sort of point at all, leaving the interviewer to just sigh and scratch his head. Mark McGrath Sugar Rays Mark McGrath was either just really, really excited to be a dad here, or as most of the comments would suggest he appears to be tweaking so hard. All on the national talk show The Wendy Williams Show, no less. Not since Tom Cruise turned Oprahs couch into a jumping castle has daytime TV seen so much enthusiasm. Well just call it a sugar rush. Melbournes reputation as one of the worlds foremost music cities is about to get another boost thanks to a new music and arts precinct set to be built in the heart of Collingwood, taking over the site of the former Collingwood Technical School on Johnston Street. As Beat reports, work on the new creative hub is set to begin following a windfall of over $10 million, with a view to seeing it completed by 2019. According to Fairfax, the state government announced last month it would contribute $3 million to the project. Another $4.5 million was raised by private donors and the former Liberal government had spent $4 million on the project, which will provide spaces for non-profit creative organisations, as well as performance venues, studios, rehearsal spaces, galleries, and workshops. Im a big believer in dont waste any space, Marcus Westbury, CEO of Contemporary Arts Precincts, who will run the precinct with input from the state government, told the Sydney Morning Herald last month. We want to invite the creative community to use the space and see how it works in practice before finalising the design; see how people flow and circulate, where they queue and all those sorts of things. Submissions of interest for large organisations looking for bigger spaces are now open and submissions for smaller organisations and individuals will open next year. According to Fairfax, more than 60 arts organisations have already inspected the site. The news comes just a month after the Victorian government announced the construction of a new $105.5 million facility to house the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, which will move from Parkvilles ancient Melba Hall to join the Victorian College of the Arts in Southbank. According to Fairfax, plans for the grand building include a 443-seat auditorium and a public square at 33 Sturt Street, with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews promising the facility will be state of the art. In a statement on Facebook, Premier Andrews lamented the fact that talented Melbourne-based musicians currently feel the need to move overseas to seek the superior educational facilities in Europe. Photo: Victorian Heritage Database Melbourne music duo Pierce Brothers have taken time out from their busy schedule of conquering Europe and the US to throw their support behind a growing campaign protesting Melbournes new anti-busker provisions. As Tone Deaf reported last month, Melbourne has placed a temporary ban on amplified busking on a stretch of Melbournes iconic Swanston Street, a mecca for buskers from around Australia due to its high volume walking traffic. The ban could potentially become permanent as Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, who considers loud buskers a personal pet hate, has taken it upon himself to see to it that Melbournes popular Swanston Street buskers are silenced. I ring up our street trading people and tell them to go down and shut them up, he was quoted as saying in June. According to the Lord Mayor, the council received 264 official noise-related complaints about buskers between January 2013 and 30th June 2016. The ban, which is currently in place and will continue until the trial concludes at the end of the month, has already inspired several petitions and a protest, which took place last month on the steps of Town Hall. Mayor Robert Doyle has banned amplified busking on Swanston St, Pierce Brothers wrote on Facebook. This is one of the main spots in Melbourne. Without amplification theres no chance buskers will be heard over the trams or foot traffic. So much for being the musicians city. The duo, who got their start busking on spots like Swanston Street and Bourke Street Mall and now routinely sell out 800-capacity rooms, are urging Melburnians to sign a new petition addressed to the Lord Mayor. Love Pierce Brothers? Get the latest Pierce Brothers news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more JOIN A knee-jerk reaction to a small amount of noise complaints over a 3 year period has lead the Melbourne city council to enforce a ban on amplified busking on Swanston St, a renowned busking location in Melbournes CBD, the petition reads. The banning of amplified busking will severely impact not only the livelihood of the many musicians that use busking as their main income, but also detract from the culture of Melbourne, known throughout the world as one of the finest cities to busk in. At the time of writing, the petition has amassed 10,177 signatures, just a few hundred off its 11,000 signature goal. You can sign the petition for yourself right here or check out Pierce Brothers guide to busking here. So youve learnt your three chords or so and youve assembled your band. Youve been rehearsing every day and played some shows at your favourite local small-cap room, but you reckon its time to hit the road. But before you get on the horn and start pestering bookers, it may be a good idea to actually survey the current Australian live music landscape and take a look at what the best places to hit up actually are. We recently linked up with the good folks at Proud Marys, an awesome live music spot in Erina, New South Wales, and had a chat about where the best places for young, up-and-coming bands to book a gig are. Obviously, Proud Marys was at the top of our list. But we also had a look at the rest of the country and put together a pretty sweet little countdown of the venues that you should definitely have on your radar if you plan on making like Black Flag and getting in the van anytime soon. If youre in or around Erina any time in the next month, drop by Proud Marys on a Saturday night to catch their Saturdays With Mary series, which will be featuring big acts like Beni, KLP + Sports, Odd Mob and Wongo, supported each night by some top local acts. Proud Marys NSW The strength of Proud Marys is that of any business really knowing your target audience. Proud Marys have been great at targeting switched-on young people, especially uni students and entry-level grads, who love music and love it loud. You always know when standing before a Proud Marys audience that youre looking out at a sea of punters wholl pride themselves on telling friends they saw you live. Karova Lounge VIC A frequent haunt for local touring bands looking to add a zesty twist to their trek of the East Coast. This much-loved Ballarat venue also regularly hosts international talent in addition to a never-ending stream of bonafide local stars. A look at their upcoming gigs list features names like Thy Art Is Murder and KLP, so you know this isnt just some local pub. Rad Bar NSW Weve long held the belief that Wollongong is in fact one of Australias most underrated music scenes, but thats slowly changing thanks to great teams like the Yours & Owls folks, as well as ridiculously great venues like Rad Bar, who pride themselves on offering punters a diverse mix of the best local music Australia has to offer. Flinders Social QLD Dont sleep on Townsville or should that be no sleep till Townsville? Either way, getting a gig at the beloved Flinders Social means your name will be on a bill of upcoming events alongside nationally recognised names like triple j presenter Linda Marigliano and Set Mo. The folks at Flinders Social have built themselves an awesome band room that could rival anything you see in a big city. Settlers Tavern WA Write your own songs and know your way around an acoustic guitar? Settlers Tavern is an essential stop on your travels through Western Australia. Of course, if youre pretty handy with the blues licks or even prefer your music heavy, like say Dead Letter Cirucs, youre more than welcome at Margaret Rivers favourite live music venue. Epilogue Lounge NT Play the Epilogue Lounge, seriously. Youll not only be injecting some much-needed live music into the Northern Territory, an area bands sadly rarely visit, but youll be doing more than just hitting up a venue, youll be visiting a destination. Epilogue Lounge is even listed by Lonely Planet as a place to check out in NT and is noted for its unique events like Rooftop Hip Hop. Club 54 TAS Much like we urge you to stick the Northern Territory on your touring itinerary if you can, do likewise with Tassie. And if you do, make sure you hit up Club 54. The Launceston venue is one of Tassies go-to music spots, boasting an absolutely kick-ass band room and an excellent PA system with plenty of chill vibes from the space and the crowd. KMBC still has the best database for easy desktop navigation: August 2, 2016 Primary Results for Kansas and Missouri JaxCo Sheriff Sharp Wins Easily And That Was The Only Challenge In JaxCo . . . And so, it seems like we're getting pretty good at election return WINNING and we even predicted some impressive defeats . . . Imagine that.Anyhoo, for a look at local numbers that are just wrapping up . . . Have a look here:And now the headlines worth a peek at the top of the 10 o'clock hour . . .More to come . . . Please share clever insights so we can include them for the morning gloating . . .Developing . . . WhatsApp Reddit Email Pin 52 Shares When we see cops in the news, its usually in the context of something bad. The shooting of an unarmed witness. Alleged corruption. Even an attack on cops themselves. But theres another, less reported side to our boys in blue. Plenty of cops are living their lives like 1980s action heroes. We dont just mean these guys are heroic. They are. What we mean is they are so heroic you can picture them being played by Bruce Willis, when Bruce Willis still had hair. Fed up with news stories portraying cops as bad guys? Check out the tales of these real-life action heroes. 10. David Muniz Talks Down a Guy Who Shot Him in the Chest Plenty of cops risk taking a bullet in their line of work. It takes a special kind of cop to take that bullet, then carry right on policing as if nothing had happened. Meet that cop: David Muniz was responding to a domestic violence call in 2015 when he encountered a very drunk, very angry guy wielding a pistol. The guy politely listened to Munizs call to lower his weapon, then raised that weapon and shot Muniz right in the chest. At this point, most similar stories would take on a somber air as we told you about Munizs tragic sacrifice. This isnt most stories. Instead of dropping down dead or going into shock, the wounded Muniz calmly tried to talk the guy whod just shot him into surrendering his weapon. Its the sort of scenario youd dismiss in a Hollywood movie as too unrealistic. In considerable pain, Muniz gently tried to talk his would-be murderer into putting his gun down, even saying at one point we dont want to kill you. Like all movie villains, the guy didnt listen. He went for his gun again. Muniz got there first and blew him away. 9. Mario Gutierrezs Fistfight on a Flaming Forecourt In 2013, would-be mass killer Dominique Jean went crazy and set fire to a gas station forecourt in Florida. His intention was to blow the whole thing up and take a whole load of people with him. Officer Mario Gutierrez just happened to be passing and in the mood to hand out an ass-kicking. He took one look at this madman walking through a sea of fire toward the highly explosive underground tanks and jumped right on in. What followed was like the climax to a Lethal Weapon flick. Surrounded by fire, Gutierrez charged headlong into Jean, knocking him to the ground. Unfortunately for the officer, his enemy was armed to the teeth. Jean repeatedly stabbed Gutierrez with a gigantic knife, causing him devastating injuries. Yet Gutierrez kept right on fighting. Every time Jean tried to leave his bloodied corpse and make a bee-line for the gas tanks, Gutierrez got right back to his feet and tackled him down again. Eventually, surrounded by an inferno, the officer finally managed to deliver a knockout punch. The score that day: Gutierrez 1, Forces of Darkness 0. 8. Donald Thompson Jumps Into a Burning Car When most of us see a car explode into flames, our first instinct is to get as far away from it as humanly possible. Not Officer Donald Thompson. Thompson was out on patrol in LA one day when he saw a car career out of control and smash into a wall. It then reacted like a car in Grand Theft Auto, bursting into flames, its driver trapped inside. Thompson calmly approached the crumpled vehicle, wrenched open the door and climbed into the boiling inferno. It was the sort of fire not even an action hero could escape from unscathed, and Thompson suffered horrifying first and second degree burns. Yet he kept right on with his single-minded rescue mission, cutting the driver from their seat and hauling them to safety. He did it just in time, too. No sooner was Thompson clear than the flames engulfed the entire car, turning it into a burning death-cage from which no one could ever have escaped. Like the total boss he was, Thompson shrugged off his death-defying insanity as all in a days work. 7. James Beaton Goes Man on Fire on a Kidnapper Inspector James Beaton is a British police officer with an impressive claim to fame. In the 1970s, he managed to single-handedly stop a crazed kidnapper from abducting a member of the Royal Family. Beaton was on bodyguard duty when Princess Annes car bumped into another vehicle. They pulled over and the driver of the other vehicle got out. Thinking he was just an irate motorist, Beaton stepped out to calm him down. The driver pulled a gun and shot him in the shoulder. The driver was Ian Ball, an unemployed lone gunman with a history of mental problems. For all Beaton knew, though, this was an IRA kidnap attempt and he was about to wind up very dead. Judging by his following actions, it was a sacrifice he was willing to make. Beatons own gun had jammed. When Ball went for the Princess, Beaton dived in front of her. Good thing he did, as Ball fired again, shattering Beatons hand with the bullet. Ball then fired again, this time hitting Beaton square in the chest. The Princesss bodyguard collapsed to the ground. Ball had won. Or not. Beatons heroic actions had bought just enough time for another policeman to arrive on the scene, along with a former boxer who just happened to be passing by. Although Ball gunned down the other policeman, he couldnt stop the boxers fist. Ball went down like a sack of potatoes. Like all invincible action heroes, Beaton completely recovered from his injuries. 6. Don Hull Hulks Out On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh exploded a gigantic fertilizer bomb underneath the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people, 19 of whom were children. That grim body count could have been even higher were it not for Don Hull. A former DEA agent turned officer, Hull just happened to be a few blocks away when the gigantic explosion levelled the building. While most of us would probably have responded by screaming and running for cover, most of us arent Don Hull. Faced with the screams of children buried beneath the rubble, Hulls latent hero genes kicked in, transforming him into the Incredible Hull-k. Armed with nothing more than his bare hands, Hull raced to the ruined building and started digging through the rubble. He single-handedly shifted a whole foot of the stuff in seconds, pulling a badly-wounded baby from the wreckage. He then ran like a speed demon to the nearest emergency responders. His actions saved the young boys life. Fast forward to 2016, and little Joseph Webber (the little boy in his arms in the photo above) is now a fully grown college student and artist who owes everything to Don Hull, supercop. 5. Liang Xiaos Suicidal Suicide-Stopping Dive Chinese cops are just like their counterparts everywhere else. They get little thanks, low pay, and have to deal with all sorts of difficult situations. Oh, and they also have a tendency towards crazy levels of heroism, as Liang Xiaos encounter with a suicidal man shows. Xiao and his partner had been called out to deal with a suicidal man in Nankang Town, Beihai City. The man was standing on the fourth floor of an unfinished building and threatening to end it all. Pretty much the moment Xiao got there, he jumped. Xiaos borderline-insane instinctive response? He leaped into the guys path, using his own body as a freakin human cushion. In most worlds, this story would end with the phrase and both were tragically killed. Since this is a story of amazing hero cops, though, you can probably guess what happened next. The guy somehow survived his suicidal fall. Not only that, but Xiao survived, too. Although the guy crashed down on Xiaos head, somehow the impact was softened enough to save both their lives. The guy escaped with minor bruises. Xiaos only injuries came from his testicles immediately swelling up to a gargantuan size befitting such a total badass. 4. Marian Godina is a One Man Anti-Corruption Unit In Romania, cops and corruption sadly go together like Kardashians and trashy headlines, or July 4th and drunkenness. Even when the ordinary guys on the beat are honest, the system is so endemically corrupt that their superiors will let well-connected criminals get away with anything. Except, these days, for traffic crimes. The reason? An on-the-beat traffic cop named Marian Godina has single-handedly given corruption a public kicking. Godina is just an ordinary cop, with one difference. He hates corruption. Like, hates it. If corruption were an evil Empire laying waste to Romania, then Godina would be the Rebel Alliance repeatedly shooting torpedoes down its exhaust vent. After his superiors let one too many bad guys go, Godina came up with a plan. He took to Facebook and began publically naming and shaming all of those involved. In Romania, such honesty should have got him fired from his job. Instead, it made him a national hero. Godinas crusade became so popular that when his superiors tried to take his page down, ordinary Romanians took to the streets and threatened to riot. Faced with a popular revolt, the establishment backed off, leaving Godina to mercilessly crack down on corruption in his department like a non-violent, Romanian Batman. At time of writing, hes even inspired imitators in other departments. If thats not an inspiring Lifetime movie in the making, we dont know what is. 3. Colonel Hugo Martinez is the Colombian Elliot Ness Elliot Ness is lauded in the USA for taking on crime kingpin Al Capone. If Ness had seen half the stuff Colonel Hugo Martinez did, hed have probably chucked in the towel. Martinez is the guy the Colombian government charged with taking down Pablo Escobar. It was 1990, and Escobar was probably the richest, baddest guy on Earth. His Medellin Cartel was pumping so much cocaine into the USA that Escobar needed a vast complex of warehouses just to store all his paper dollars. His cronies were setting off bombs in Bogota, had brought down an entire airliner killing 110 people just to assassinate one man, and spread so much corruption through Colombia that the country was on the verge of becoming a failed state. Any police officers who stood up to Escobar were usually killed and their entire families murdered. Colonel Martinez in the special operations branch knew all this. And still he decided to take on Escobar. What followed would make The Untouchables look like Sesame Street. Martinezs family apartment was bombed. His own cadets were bribed to assassinate him. His food was poisoned. Escobar personally threatened to kill his whole family, then dig up the graves of his ancestors and shoot their bodies before reburying them. Yet Martinez would finally get the last laugh. It was he who led the team that shot Escobar dead on a Medellin rooftop on Dec 2, 1993. Against all the odds, Martinez had gone toe to toe with incomprehensible evil and survived. 2. Kevin Philippy Knows With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility When hard-left French rioters surrounded the cop car, set fire to it and readied their weapons, they probably assumed the officers inside would die. Theyd even prepared a sign offering roast chicken (chicken being French slang for cops). They hadnt counted on Kevin Philippy. Known to his colleagues as the Kung Fu Cop (which sounds like a great, or terrible, movie), Philippy calmly stepped out his flaming car and proceeded to show those demonstrators how a real man rolls. One of the activists grabbed an iron bar and came running at Philippy, swinging for his head. Using his ninja-level jujitsu, Philippy dodged the blows without breaking a sweat. With unhurried movements, he stepped around or deflected each blow, leaving his attacker wheezing for air and looking like the biggest dumbass in town. At this point, youre probably expecting to hear that Philippy then unloaded on those morons. While it would serve them right, the real story is way classier. Philippy turned to the other demonstrators and casually unhooked his gun. A moment of extreme tension followed. Then Philippy slowly smiled, gestured his partner and sauntered off, leaving the rioters confused and looking stupid. The message was clear: you idiots arent worth my time. For his absolute dedication to laconic badassery, Philippy became a French hero. 1. Wasil Ahmad Becomes a Badass Cop (Aged 10) Although he was only 10 at the time, Wasil Ahmad had more cojones than many cops twice or three times his age. Conscripted in his remote Afghan town of Uruzgan when the country started sliding to hell, Ahmad did something so brave we cant believe were even writing about it. Wasil Ahmad was the 10-year old cop who took on the Taliban. The context was a terrifying 43-day siege. The Taliban had surrounded one of the last government buildings left in the province, trapping many people inside. Ahmad was among them. But rather than doing what most 10-year olds would do, he decided to take the fight to the extremists. Tooling up with heavy weaponry, Ahmad proceeded to fight alongside his police colleagues, using mortars, machine guns and grenades to wreak vengeance on the scumbags whod ruined his country. Incredibly, it worked. Thanks to the efforts of Ahmad and his Afghan police buddies, the Taliban were driven out of their province. Almost. Unfortunately, this story has a tragic end. In early 2016, two Taliban stooges ambushed Ahmad while he was walking to school. Like the evil monsters they are, the gunmen shot the 10-year old dead. Sometimes, sadly, in a place as brutal as Afghanistan, even the biggest heroes dont get a Hollywood ending. Other Articles you Might Like Greece's Supreme Court on Monday partially revoked a decision to drop charges against Andreas Georgiou, the former head of Greece's independent statistics agency ELSTAT, for presenting artificially inflated figures for Greece's deficit in 2 Greece's Supreme Court on Monday partially revoked a decision to drop charges against Andreas Georgiou, the former head of Greece's independent statistics agency ELSTAT, for presenting artificially inflated figures for Greece's deficit in 2009. The court accepted a motion filed in 2015 by then Deputy Supreme Court Prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou, now a Supreme Court Prosecutor, that Georgiou should face criminal charges for making a false statement. As a result, Georgiou is once again indicted to appear before an Appeals Justices' Council for a new judgement on two counts, the original charge of misconduct for which he has already been indicted and the additional criminal charge of making a false statement. The court revoked a 2015 ordinance that decided against charging Georgiou and two senior ELSTAT officials - Konstantinos Molfetas and Athanasia Xenaki - for false statement at the expense of the public sector, aggravated due to the extremely high sums involved. According to the charges, the inflated figures for the deficit given by Georgiou and the other two officials in 2009 were used to justify Greece's entry into memorandum programmes. As a result, the case will now go before an Appeals Justices' Council for consideration once again. The issue of ELSTAT was first raised by the Athens Bar Association in 2011, in a lawsuit that had been shelved at the time, but was then revived in 2013 through a letter that the bar association sent to the Supreme Court prosecutor. 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 It is in Turkey's financial and international interests to uphold the agreement with the European Union on the handling of refugees, Alternate Defence Minister Dimitris Vitsas said It is in Turkey's financial and international interests to uphold the agreement with the European Union on the handling of refugees, Alternate Defence Minister Dimitris Vitsas said in an interview on the state broadcaster ERT on Monday. He linked Turkey's European course to a non-revival of the death penalty in the neighbouring country, as well as to upholding the EU-Turkey agreement. Using the issue of the refugees as a "political spearhead" would be a huge political mistake, Vitsas noted, but on the other hand, one had to also factor in the size of the aggressive action if Turkey's shores were left unguarded or the refugees were simply waved through. "The Turkish coast guard has an obligation to guard Turkey's coastal borders. This is its own obligation in relation to the country, not its international obligation. The measures that we are taking concern the guarding of the sea borders and preparation for the reception of refugees and international procedures relating to political asylum," he said. On the extradition of the eight Turkish military personnel that have sought refuge in Greece since the attempted coup in Turkey, Vitsas said this would be examined if their asylum application was denied but not if they were given political asylum on the basis of Greek and international law. Asked if this might have a negative impact on relations between Greece and Turkey, Vitsas noted that bilateral relations between states did not depend on such issues. "It would be as if Greece's relations with Germany depended on the fact that Germany does not extradite Mr. Christoforakos (wanted in Greece in connection with the Siemens case). These are issues that affect but are not decisive," he added. The minister also ruled out further cuts to wages for the military. 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 Saudi Arabia is studying a proposal to employ 3D printing techniques in the construction of housing units through a collaboration with a Chinese company, a report said. Last week a delegation from China's WinSun was in Riyadh to discuss construction using 3D printing technology, the report in www.3ders.org said. If realised, this could become the biggest 3D printing endeavour in the world since Saudi Arabia is planning to build up to 1.5 million housing units over the next five years. Shanghai-based WinSun is a pioneer in using 3D printing in construction. It hit headlines when it built 10 3D printed houses in less than 24 hours in 2014. Since then, Shanghai WinSun Decoration Design Engineering Company has been building on that achievement. In March this year, it unveiled two gorgeous 3D-printed Chinese courtyards. The WinSun delegation to Saudi Arabia was led by chairman Ma Yihe and vice president Liu Wenmin. They were welcomed by Dr Bander B Al Abdulkarim and Nawaf M Al Dahmash, officials from the Saudi Department of Housing. Imad Al Abdul Qader, director of marketing, at the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (Sagia), was also present alongside other senior leaders from the domestic real estate industry. According to the report, during their meeting, Yihe introduced the company's custom housing 3D printing technology to the Saudi officials, who praised its quality. The officials further said that they believed WinSuns technology is perfectly aligned with Saudi Arabias national policy to greatly expand the number of available houses. The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Housing and Sagia invited WinSun to set up a 3D printing factory for the construction sector in the kingdom, the report said. The Ministry of Housing also proposed that WinSuns 3D printing technology be used in the programme to build 1.5 million housing units over the next five years. Siemens has energised the high-voltage substations built as part of a greenfield development under Kuwait National Petroleum Company's (KNPC) Clean Fuels Project at Mina Al Ahmadi (MAA) and Mina Abdullah (MAB) refineries in Kuwait. The substations pave the way for a significant capacity boost and increasing power stability at the two facilities. The Clean Fuels Project involves the upgrade and integration of the MAB and MAA refineries, located 60 and 45 km south of Kuwait, respectively. As part of a KD68-million ($225 million) contract, Siemens delivered and installed a 132 kV AHRF C substation at MAA and a 300/132 kV MARF W substation at MAB. The upgrade, which provides the refineries with their own dedicated substations, allows for an increase in the combined output of the two refineries to 800,000 barrels per day. Siemens also provided 250 km of cabling for the project. We are excited about reaching this important milestone. With two high-voltage substations completely dedicated to the Mina Al Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries, power is now provided to the oil facilities to meet the increasing demand. These new substations will now ensure a reliable and stable electricity supply for the refineries, said Adrian Wood, CEO of Siemens in Kuwait. Again, we would like to thank our customer KNPC for placing their trust in Siemens technology and the companys track record of successful execution and on-time delivery, Wood added. The Clean Fuels Project is one of KNPCs strategic projects, seeking to transform the two refineries into an integrated merchant refining complex that meets the diversified requirements of the world oil market. It is set for completion in 2018. - TradeArabia News Service Saudi Arabia's government is discussing a proposal to take over construction conglomerate Saudi Oger, owned by the family of former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al Hariri, a Lebanese newspaper reported on Wednesday. Oger has been hit hard by a slowdown in the Saudi construction sector due to low oil prices and state spending cuts, and wage payments to thousands of its workers have been delayed for months, according to Saudi media and the workers themselves. The Arabic-language Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying that talks between Saad Al Hariri and the Saudi government were in their final stages. "The agreement, expected to be reached within 10 days, would centre on the government or businessmen from the ruling family taking ownership" of the company, the newspaper said. It added that the buyer would take over all debts and financial obligations of Saudi Oger. Saudi Oger officials could not be reached for comment. In the past the company has declined to speak publicly about its finances. Saad Al Hariri and Saudi government officials could not immediately be reached for comment. The newspaper said Saad Al Hariri was negotiating to keep a stake in the company, proposing to keep 40 per cent in exchange for giving up some shares in a bank. - Reuters Saudi Arabia's private sector will need to employ 2.5 million more Saudis than are currently employed in the sector to accomplish the employment goals of the kingdom's Vision 2030, a report said. Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 seeks to employ millions of Saudi nationals in an expanding private sector. Developing world-class HR can facilitate this massive human capital influx into the private sector and ensure that nationals are placed in suitable, sustainable roles, said the research by Oxford Strategic Consulting (Oxford). Moreover, Oxford research indicates that better HR alone can contribute $6.44 billion to the GDP. Saudi Arabia currently has a national labour force of around 6.4 million people, with 4.2 million in the public sector, 1.6 million in the private sector and 0.6 million unemployed. By 2030, the Kingdom will tout a labour force of around 8 million people and aims to employ 3.4 million of these Saudis in the public sector, while around 0.57 milllion are expected to be unemployed. This means the private sector needs to employ 4.1 million nationals a rise of 2.5 million compared with current levels. Most of the projected 8 million workers have not even entered the labour force yet. Consequently, this offers an opportunity for education and training providers, the study said. The strategy Vision 2030 states that half of the countrys military needs will be manufactured in the country and that Saudi companies will be supported to develop into new global leaders. Saudi currently spends around $56 billion on the military industry, but only $1 billion is spent in Saudi Arabia. Oxford estimates that around 190,000 people are employed to meet Saudi Arabias military needs, however, only 4,000 are Saudis. Under the vision, the military expenditure within Saudi Arabia will increase to $28.5 billlion and national employment will rise to 95,000 Saudis. To attract, train and develop 95,000 experts in military manufacturing sounds like a major task. On the other hand, Saudi Arabias entire military manufacturing capability only needs to be as big as a major global companies, such as BAE Systems. Recommendation In addition to developing key industries, Saudi Arabia will need strong HR capabilities to effectively manage human resources. While various Saudi public and private sector organisations are working to build this capability, Oxford recommends the following critical steps: HR in Saudi Arabia should be an accredited profession, and anyone working in HR should be accredited by a globally-recognised awarding body. There should be a Saudi-specific professional body for HR that is supported by government. Simplify and automate certain aspects of HR practice with easy to use apps and other technological assistance. Investing in better HR can yield billions for Saudi Arabia, it said. Oxfords HRM in the GCC research report with Aramco found that effective HR could add $14 billion per year to the GDP of the GCC. In 2013 and 2014, Saudi Arabia contributed 46 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively, to the GDP of the GCC, according to World Bank statistics and Oxfords in-house research. Therefore, better HR has the potential to generate $6.44 billion in GDP for Saudi Arabia. Increasing private sector employment in Saudi Arabia represents a major challenge of the Vision 2030. More effective HR can ensure that the country meets this human capital goal while also contributing billions of dollars to GDP. It is time that HR takes the drivers seat on the journey to 2030, the report said. Oxford Strategic Consulting is an Oxford and GCC-based research consultancy that specialises in building human capital across the GCC and Europe. With teams in Oxford, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, the company's experienced HR directors, subject matter experts and researchers combine international best-practice with GCC-specific knowledge to conduct human capital research and implement practical and bespoke people solutions, it said. - TradeArabia News Service Iran-based Kian Petrochemical Company has signed a front end engineering design (Feed) deal with Germany's Linde Group for the construction of an olefin, butadiene, hydrodealkylation and benzene unit. The deal was signed recently at a ceremony attended by Marzieh Shahdaei, deputy oil minister for petrochemical affairs and head of the National Petrochemical Company (NPC), and some Linde executives, added the Iran Daily News report, citing Shana. The project will be completed in 12 months at a cost of 34.940 million ($39.17 million) in financial credit, added the report. Ebrahim K Kanoo, the exclusive distributor of leading automotive detailing and protection solutions provider Ziebart in Bahrain, has added a workshop to complement its Ziebart Express branch in Seef Mall Muharraq. The workshop expands the comprehensive range of automotive services currently offered to customers, the company said. The new workshop offers window tinting, paint protection, waxing and polishing, and interior and exterior cleaning, as well as signature Ziebart treatments such as Inner Guard, Gold Care, Diamond Gloss, and Germ Defender. Customers can also purchase a wide range of top quality made-in-England polishes and advanced do-it-yourself care products for automotive and household applications. Ebrahim K Kanoo Ziebart business development manager Katie Peterkova said: We are pleased to now be able to offer a more comprehensive range of Ziebart car care services to our customers in the northern part of the country. Most of these services were previously only available through our Sanad branch, but with the creation of a dust free environment in the new workshop, we are now able to make them more conveniently accessible to people in Muharraq and Manama. "Having a Ziebart Workshop located in a popular shopping destination also allows customers get their vehicles needs attended to while shopping or relaxing at the mall, Peterkova said. Living up to its Car Care and More promise, Ziebarts expert advisors are on hand at the mall parking area to help customers select the best solution for their vehicles, the company said. For more information, call 17323235. - TradeArabia News Service Iran's cabinet approved on Wednesday an amended draft for the country's new oil and gas contracts, Iranian official media reported. "The draft of the general conditions, structure and patterns of the upstream petroleum and gas contracts which included more than 150 minor and major changes ... was given final approval in today's cabinet meeting," the Iranian oil ministry's news agency, Shana, said. The launch of the Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC) has been postponed several times as hardline rivals of pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani resisted any deal that could end the buy-back system, under which foreign firms were banned from owning stakes in Iranian companies. Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said last month that no new oil and gas contracts for international companies would be awarded without necessary reforms. The Islamic Republic is ramping up oil production and reclaiming market share after the lifting of Western sanctions in January. However, oil majors have said they would go back to Iran only if it made major changes to the buy-back contracts of the 1990s, which companies such as France's Total said made them no money or even incurred losses. Shana said the approved amendments stipulate that contracts should clearly mention the rights, commitments and responsibilities of all parties in areas such as accounting and auditing, method of financial payment or repayment, technical inspection and maintenance. The contracts should also include details on production measurement methods, human resources training, health, safety and environment, imports and exports, insurance, terms of contract termination, force majeure and dispute settlements. Iran's oil ministry was tasked with approving an overview of the contracts including the agreed price, duration and other general conditions, Shana said. Reuters Instead of building anew, or demolishing them outright, many European cities have older buildings that could be viable candidates for preservation -- by way of transforming them into new residences. In Barcelona, Egue y Seta converted a small, 430-square-foot (40-square-metre) space into a contemporary home for a couple, conceived as an "urban beach house." Situated near the sea, this charming yet modern redesign tore down old walls, but retains elements of the apartment's original character: rustic brick walls and the lovely crowning touches of the iconic Catalan vault. Imbued with warm textures like wood and brick, the apartment mixes a pale white palette with accents of sky and marine blue to tie it in with its beach-inspired theme. The main living space is open and comprises of the sitting area, dining area and kitchen. Off to the side is the balcony overlooking the street outside. Egue y Seta The kitchen is nicely done: there's plenty of visible and hidden storage in the shelves and cabinets for food and small appliances. Instead of wasting space on an enormous kitchen island, a dining table has been placed here -- not too big, not too small at four seats. Lots of lighting here to keep things feeling bright and open. Egue y Seta Now here's the interesting twist: looking toward the bedroom, one sees that instead of bringing the shelving unit up to the ceiling and out to the sides, the designers have installed glass partitions, which allow one's eye to travel beyond and along the brick wall, creating an illusion of greater space. Egue y Seta On the other side of the shelving unit is the bedroom, which uses the same unit, but as a wardrobe here. The glass around it provides more light and a sense of spatial continuity, but blinds can be lowered here to offer more privacy. Egue y Seta Egue y Seta The bathroom sits adjacent to the bedroom, and features a toilet that has its own door, a shower and large vanity and sink. Egue y Seta Egue y Seta With some subtle but significant touches, the design manages to make the space feel much larger than it really is, and at the same time, reminds one that the beach is not too far away from home. To see more, visit Egue y Seta. [Via: Contemporist] Sukhmeet Bhasin Tribune News Service Bathinda, August 2 The states first municipal solid waste treatment plant, constructed after a long legal battle in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), is all set to be relocated as Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today reportedly instructed Deputy Commissioner Dr Basant Garg to find a suitable site and shift the plant from its present location. Residents of the nearby localities had warned to intensify their protest and they had also given an ultimatum to the state government to shift the plant by August 5 or face boycott in the upcoming Assembly elections. CPS and Bathinda (urban) MLA Sarup Chand Singla, along with a delegation of the Plant Hatao Morcha, today went to Badal village and held a meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister over the issue. Badal directed the Deputy Commissioner to resolve the issue at the earliest by shifting the plant. Jeet Singh Joshi, convener of the Plant Hatao Morcha, said the delegation of the morcha met Sukhbir Singh Badal and he had assured that the plant would be shifted from here. He added that they had called their meeting next evening in which they would decide further course of action. Captain Mal Singh, leader of the plant hatao morcha, said it was merely an eyewash to pass time. He said on June 19, during Arun Jaitleys function, they had met the Deputy Chief Minister and the latter had, at that time, directed the MCB Commissioner verbally to search for land to shift the plant away from the city. He said around one-and-a-half month had passed but the work to find the suitable place had not started yet. Senior Congress leader Jagroop Singh Gill said he had protested when the proposal was presented in the house during the last term of the Municipal Corporation. Gill said at that time, he had highlighted that a plant with the same technology was established at Azadpur in Delhi, which had been lying closed as Asian Bank had refused to give loan for the project citing the reason that it was an unsuccessful project. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is misleading people by issuing such instructions, he added. He said if the Deputy Chief Minister really wanted to shift the plant then the authorities should have closed it first. He is just making excuses in front of people. Later, he would say that the code of conduct is in force and he couldnt do anything, Gill added. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 3 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Union Ministry of Defence, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Director General, Civil Aviation, to put their heads together over the upgrade of the Chandigarh international airport. As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Bench directed them to hold a meeting within two weeks to expedite the process of upgrading the runway, extension of watch hours and installation of the category-III instrument landing system at the airport. The developments took place during the hearing of a petition filed by the Mohali Industries Association against non-operation of the Chandigarh international airport. Visibly miffed over the non-availability of facilities at the airport, Justice SS Saron observed the same should have been developed at the time of constructing the airport. Speaking for the Bench, he asserted: I dont know why you want to make this airport unsuccessful. I fail to understand why these bottlenecks were not removed at the time of finalising the airport. At a time when an international flight is set to operate, you have pushed the matter back by six months when we started hearing the matter. Responding to the assertions, Assistant Solicitor General of India Chetan Mittal argued that the issues hardy posed any problem in operating international flights from Chandigarh. Mittal submitted that the Central Government was committed to resolving the issue expeditiously. Time was required only because of some concerns expressed by the Indian Air Force. After hearing the contentions in pre and post-lunch sessions, the Bench also directed the Chandigarh Administration and the Punjab Government to expedite the process of acquiring land for construction of a parallel taxi runway at the airport. Earlier during the proceedings, senior advocate ML Sarin informed the Bench on behalf of private airlines Indigo that it was ready to operate the Chandigarh-Dubai daily flight from September 26. Taking on record the assertion, the Bench made it clear to the counsel that he could approach the court anytime in case of difficulty regarding the operation of the flight. Air India also told the Bench that it would launch its first direct international flight from Chandigarh to Dubai or Sharjah from mid-November. A formal statement in this regard was made by Air India before the High Court. The case would now come up for hearing on September 1. The Bench, on the previous date of hearing, had observed that almost a year had lapsed since the airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yet, not even a single international flight had taken off from the airport. The Bench asserted that people had high expectations. In fact, letters were being received for making the international airport fully functional. Nadia Singh PUNJAB, the land of milk and honey in popular imagination offers some of the worst conditions for survival and wellbeing of the girl child in India. This alarming fact has been revealed by the latest data of the Sample Registration Survey, released in July, 2016. Punjab remains in the category of least-performing states as far as gender bias in nutritional and health indicators is concerned. There is a 10-point difference in the under-five mortality rate of boys and girls in Punjab, compared to only a two-point difference in the under-five mortality rate at the all-India level. This implies that one in every 27 girls and one in every 38 boys in the state die before the age of five. The only other states which have performed worse than Punjab in this regard are Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Neglected girl child Young girls in Punjab are at an extreme disadvantage in terms of care and attention at the household level, which has been revealed by a number of previous national surveys. There continue to be marked differences in the health and nutritional status of boys and girls in terms of duration of breastfeeding, treatment for common childhood diseases and immunisation, which manifest themselves in higher levels of childhood mortality among girls. Gender bias against the girl child in Punjab is higher, not only in comparison to other developed states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh but also in comparison to some of the poorer states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Even the neighbouring state of Haryana, which is known for high degree of son preference, has performed better than Punjab on many counts. In recent years, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in Punjab has reached 1.7, which is below the replacement level of 2.1. A report released by the International Development Research Centre, Planning Families, Planning Gender, has revealed that in rural Punjab, with the continuous fragmentation of land holdings and declining yields from agriculture, people are indulging in selective family planning. The desired family composition comprises of either one son or one son and one daughter. People do not want more than one son, for fear of further dividing ancestral agricultural land. According to the United Nations Population Fund (2014), Punjab ranks fourth in terms of the human development index and 16th in terms of gender development index, among all other Indian states, making it the state with the highest negative differentials between these two indices. This implies that the development process in the state is highly skewed against its female population and the fruits of higher level of education, health and income have not been borne by the girls in the state. The sex ratio in the state reached an all-time low in 2001 and declined to 874/1000, while the child sex ratio deteriorated to an all-time low of 798/1000. These figures created a widespread furor. Both the state and the Centre sprung into action and launched a number of initiatives to curb the declining sex ratios through stricter implementation of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Test Act, better antenatal care for expecting mothers and cash transfer schemes for the girl child. Religious and community organisations also launched several campaigns highlighting the ills of gender discrimination. The Akal Takht proclaimed that anyone indulging in the practice of female foeticide would be declared a kudimaar (murderer of a daughter) and excommunicated from the Sikh faith. These initiatives have been successful to some extent as the Census 2011 revealed that both the child sex ratio and the overall sex ratio have shown a marked improvement in the state. While the sex ratio has increased to 893/1000 in 2011, the child sex ratio has improved by 48 points to 846/1000. However it still remains below the national average of 940/1000. In spite of this improvement, discrimination and neglect of the girl child at the household level continues unabated. One of the reasons for the continued deprivation of the girl child is the misplaced nature of state policy. In recent years, both the central and the state governments have launched conditional cash transfer schemes (CCTs) to promote better care of the girl child. These schemes provide a set of staggered financial incentives to families to encourage them to ensure certain minimum requirements like registration of birth, childhood immunisation, enrollment and retention in school and delaying the age of marriage beyond 18 years. The Punjab government is currently implementing several such schemes for the girl child Kanya Jagriti Jyoti Scheme, Balri Rakshak Yojna, Dhanlaxmi scheme and Bebe Nanki Ladli Beti Kalyan Scheme and free health care for the girl child. However, these schemes have made little impact. Theyare sadly wanting in terms of design, implementation and outreach. They are highly rigid and inflexible and require the intended beneficiaries to meet with a number of unreasonable conditions. For instance, since the Balri scheme came into operation in March 2005 only 316 girls benefitted from the scheme across the state, after which it was made defunct due to lack of sanctioned funds. A similar fate met the other schemes as well. The state government did not launch any active campaign to spread awareness about these schemes, further contributing to their low coverage. Education in rural Punjab remains in a state of disarray, as documented by a number of studies. The situation is especially bad for young girls, since the Kiranjeet incident in the 1990s, when a young schoolgirl was raped and murdered while coming back from school. In recent years, there have been a number of untoward incidents such as the Shruti kidnapping in 2014, which have made people wary. Most rural residents are reluctant to send their girls to schools outside the village because of safety concerns. As a result, most girls are only educated up to middle/ secondary school and fail to achieve higher education and become economically independent. Gender discrimination is one of the most crucial challenges in Punjab today. This problem can only be solved through holistic development of girls with focus on nutrition, education and empowerment of girls so that they are able to provide better care to children. Government incentives can be a useful interim mechanism to encourage poor families to invest in the health and education of girls. However, these schemes should be simplified and made more flexible to enable more girls to benefit from these. Till then, the nanhi chhaans will remain shadows, rather than shades. The writer is a PhD researcher and a lecturer at Oxford Brookes Business School, UK. KC Singh UNLEASHING the police on AAP MLAs, the Gujarat Chief Ministers resignation post-uprisings by Patels and Dalits, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs aggressive rebuffing of Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharifs dream of possessing Kashmir, vigilantism by self-appointed cow protectors that PM Modi does not curb all these are not indicators of a self-confident regime nearly half-way through its five-year term. They signify self-doubt and atavism. Domestically, elections in the next six months in Punjab, bellwether state Goa and the behemoth Uttar Pradesh that catapulted the BJP into power are for Modi a challenge that could determine his re-election in 2019. The GST Bill, which the government dubs a game changer economically, may finally pass, but the Congress may have poisoned the chalice by delaying it. Some experts feel that the first two years or so, may actually bring price escalation before benefits of GDP growth manifest, perhaps not in time for the 2019 election. The foreign policy domain presents even bigger challenges. Three issues are relevant situation in the Valley and relations with Pakistan; knee-jerk response to repeated episodes of Indian workers in distress in the Gulf and beyond; disconnect from anti-globalisation and anti-immigrant churning in Europe and the US. NDAs Pakistan policy has been fraught with tactical inconsistency, which a BJP spokesman on television asked me not to raise, on the fatuous pretext that Pakistan will borrow the argument. Post-Pathankot, the NDA governments insistence on Pakistan first punishing the 26/11 and Pathankot perpetrators has stymied any progress in bilateral relations. The poor handling of the Burhan Wani episode and the spiralling of violence and civil protests has only complicated dealing with Pakistan. Old Kashmir hands argue that even in the past, public funerals of militants killed in encounters were permitted, but standard precautions were taken. For instance, check-points at crucial spots ensured that large numbers did not move from rural areas to the funeral spot, thus keeping crowds manageable. Also, security forces were kept at an appropriate distance and new weapons like the pellet guns not used without the proper training of handlers. Even a pellet gun wrongly used, or too close to the target, can cause major injuries to eyes/faces, which are now manifesting. That Pakistan would use any such opening to internationalise the issue soon after a successful election in J&K is hardly surprising. Nawaz Sharif has been under mounting pressure from the military and a combination of his illness and tepid politics have enfeebled him politically. His using the Kashmir crutch is thus not a surprise either. It was unnecessary for Sushma Swaraj to trade rhetorical verbiage with him. Pakistani paper Daily Times editorially enquired: What can Pakistan offer to Kashmiris when it is still posing a threat to its own stability? This is precisely the kind of balanced stand that a large power like India should have adopted. The spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs could have simply set the record straight and moved on. The visit of Rajnath Singh for the SAARC Home Ministers meeting on August 3-4 has evoked fresh interest in India-Pakistan affairs. It is good that he is attending the regional meeting which would provide him a platform to articulate what is, or not, being done by the eight members to combat terror. Afghanistan and Bangladesh have publicly chided Pakistan in the past on its abetment to terror. Not to be ignored, Hafiz Saeed, terror mastermind masquerading as a charitable cleric, has had the temerity to openly suggest that the Indian minister should be barred from coming till Kashmir has obtained independence from India. Syed Salahuddin, chief of the United Jihad Council, went further, recommending the snapping of ties with India. Clearly, Modis Pakistan policy has hit a cul de sac as repeated prevarication has emboldened the military and its jihadi affiliates while weakening the elected governments ability to steer the India policy. The workers stranded in Saudi Arabia (soon after Minister of State Gen VK Singh (retd) rushed to South Sudan in the Air Forces premier transport planes, only to discover that his panic was not shared by the Indians, many of whom refused to abandon jobs and fly back) are part of an old pattern. Whenever the oil price fell, the petro-rich GCC nations have seen the downsizing of construction and other projects. Any big project will have a few thousand workers and often they are left without documents and salaries. The solution is to move towards bilateral agreements with these nations for labour export, instead of allowing a laissez faire approach where workers accept inequitable conditions to work abroad. The knee-jerk approach laced with high sentiments about not letting any worker go hungry is empty rhetoric. The simple truth is we are not creating enough well-paying jobs in India and thus face the ignominy of letting our unskilled workers toil as quasi-slaves abroad under poor conditions. Finally, the issue of political churning in the West which may create new impediments to the movement of goods and people. India needs markets to ramp up manufacturing and achieve Modis target of Make in India. The Economist this week concludes its piece on this subject with the warning that the Donald Trumps in each nation can cause great harm as the post-World War II socio-economic order has been based on the premise that free trade makes the world richer, tolerance allows millions to move in search of employment and the ideal persists that people of different hues and faiths can get along. Ironically, the old divides of left and right in most countries in the West have been obliterated by the new fears of economic shrinkage and Islamic terror. Populist-authoritarian parties of the right or left have doubled their support since 2000. They run, directly or in coalition, nine countries. What compounds the problem for India is that a similar struggle based on atavistic fears and prejudices is being waged by zealots aligned to the ruling party. A world of wall builders will be poorer. So, will India. The writer is a former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs As a venerable site of an ancient civilisation, Varanasi makes an arresting backdrop to any political project. Just as the citys old and congested lanes provided Narendra Modi the propaganda breakthrough in 2014 in his prime ministerial journey, a fragile and unwell Sonia Gandhi returned to those very streets to kickstart the Congress journey of revival. In its road show in Varanasi on Tuesday the Congress managed to produce crowds and television footage, as also a promise of a stab at an alternative discourse on politics and governance in Uttar Pradesh. The last time the Congress ruled in Lucknow was in 1989; since then the state has dramatically changed, with the hill districts lopped off into a new state of Uttarakhand. More than the geographical incisions, the state has experienced massive and comprehensive sociological convulsions. The idiom of casteism (represented by the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party) has contested and confronted the grammar of communalism, aggressively promoted and practised by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Development has not been the dominant theme song of any political party. The Congress seeks to challenge this caste-religion based mobilisation in the largest state in the country. Uttar Pradesh once provided the party not only its most vigorous support base, but also contributed substantially to its national leadership. The Congress projects Mrs Sheila Dikshit as its chief ministerial face in the hope that her 15 years long innings in Delhi would carry some conviction with the voters. More than enhancing its electoral prospects in Uttar Pradesh, the Varanasi show has helped manufacture an important perception: the grand old party is not prepared to throw in the towel, that it has come out of its post-2014 mood of despair, and that it is not averse to taking the battle to the enemy camp. The massive crowds that appeared to have come out to greet Sonia Gandhi should suggest that the Modi Project is beginning to look frayed. Modis much-promised project Clean Ganga remains an election-time jumla; nor has this cradle of Ganga-Jamuna civilisation benefited much on account of having Modi as its local member of Parliament. Once again, it would appear, UP is up for grabs. Tribune News Service Faridabad, August 3 The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has reinstated six officials, who were suspended on July 25, 2014, in connection with an alleged pillar box scam. A Chief Engineer, who is also facing the probe, has retired. The enquiry into the alleged scam is yet to be completed. An order issued by the Under Secretary, DHBVN, today stated that a Superintending Engineer (SE), three Executive Engineers (XEN) and two Sub-Divisional Officers (SDO) are reinstated with immediate effect without prejudice to the pending enquiry or disciplinary proceedings pending against them. Their posting orders will be issued separately. The order comes with the approval of the state government, it added. The Haryana Power Engineers Association, which had been opposing the suspension and charge-sheeting of the officials, has welcomed the DHBVN order. It had claimed that the suspended officials were innocent as all decisions regarding works and payment were taken at the management level and they were not involved. The department had named as many as 57 officials, including a Chief Engineer, as accused in the scam, and seven of them were suspended. The department had handed over the probe into the alleged scam to the Vigilance Department but the enquiry report is still pending. Meanwhile, Varun Sheokand, an RTI activist who had lodged the initial complaint with the authorities concerned in the case, said the department decision to reinstate the suspended officials was wrong as the Chief Ministers Office had recommended lodging of an FIR against them. These officials were named in the chargesheet filed a few months ago. The All Haryana Power Corporations Worker Union had alleged that the department suffered a loss of Rs 45 crore as the material purchased for the project was not used for the last two years and had gone waste. The initial probe had found irregularities in the installation of pillar boxes in the circle. It was alleged that around 70 per cent of the project cost of Rs 130 crore was released even before the material could be procured or work could be started. Ravi Thukral, a spokesperson for the DHBVN, said the seven officials had been reinstate though the probe in the matter was still continuing. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 3 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today questioned the government hurry in providing quota to Jats in government jobs and in admission to educational institutions when the State Backward Commission was yet to become fully functional. The court had about two months ago stayed reservation for Jats under the Backward Class (C) category. As the case came up for resumed hearing, the single judge Bench headed by Justice SS Saron said the entire process could have been carried out after the commission becomes fully functional. It also questioned the state on the statistics relied upon for providing quota. Justice Saron also directed that stay on quota would continue. The orders were delivered on a plea of the State of Haryana for vacation of ex-parte interim orders. The counsel for Haryana state said the petitioner had approached the High Court without exhausting the available channels for the redress of his grievances. He said it was mandatory for the petitioner to move the Haryana Backward Classes Commission, a statutory authority to entertain and examine complaints/issues raised by him in his writ petition. As such, the present writ petition was not maintainable. It was premature at the current stage. Therefore, the impugned stay orders were liable to be set aside on this score alone. The state counsel said the Haryana Staff Selection Commission and the Haryana Public Service Commission had already initiated the process for recruitment to various posts. Besides, admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the 2016-17 session were also open and candidates had applied under the backward class category. The admission to professional courses such as MBBS had also started. In his petition, Gupta had earlier sought directions for quashing of the block C of the Act that provides reservation to Jats under the BC (C) category. The petitioner submitted reservation to Jats was provided under the new Act on the basis of the Justice KC Gupta commission report that the SC had quashed earlier. Ehsan Fazili & Suhail A Shah Tribune News Service Srinagar/Anantnag, August 3 Protests were held in many areas across Kashmir today following the death of a protester in Pulwama district on Tuesday evening and the mysterious death of an ATM guard at night even as curfew was extended to more areas. In view of the death of the ATM guard, the authorities extended curfew to areas falling under the Maisuma and Batamaloo police stations in the city while areas under five police stations in the downtown continued to remain under curfew since trouble started 26 days ago. The body of Reyaz Ahmad Shah, ATM guard, was recovered near the Government Medical College in the Karan Nagar area on Tuesday night. A police officer said the body was taken for postmortem examination and later handed over to the family members in the Chhatabal locality here. The autopsy report is awaited, the officer said. His kidney, intestines and other vital organs were shattered by pellets shot from very close range, said a police officer privy to the preliminary autopsy report. Protests broke out as the deceaseds body was being taken to the Eidgah graveyard for funeral. The family alleged that he was shot dead by CRPF men when he was on his way back home last night. In south Kashmir, at least 127 persons were injured after the police intercepted a motorcycle and car rally in south Kashmirs Kulgam district. They fired pellets and teargas shells. Eight of the injured were referred to Srinagar hospitals. The police said 15 incidents of stone-throwing were reported from Srinagar, Kulgam, Sopore, Shopian, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Budgam and Awantipora areas. At least 12 civilians and 40 security force personnel were injured in the incidents, a police spokesman said. The police arrested 349 persons while 122 others were detained under prohibitory provisions of the law, said the police. Todays rally in Kulgam was intercepted by the police at Adijan village, said a local source present at the spot. Dozens of persons were injured in police firing. At least 25 of the victims with pellet and teargas shell injuries were being treated at the district hospital in Kulgam. Curfew was extended to Pampore and Awantipora areas of Pulwama district of south Kashmir today. The police said curfew continued to remain in force in Anantnag. Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 3 Tension gripped the Kashmir Valley again on Wednesday following the death of a civilian in clashes in Pulwama district and the mysterious death of an ATM guard here since Tuesday night prompting the authorities to extend curfew to more areas. Curfew was extended to areas falling under Maisuma and Batamaloo police stations here on Wednesday, while the downtown areas under five police stations of Srinagar continued to reel under curfew since the trouble started in the Valley 25 days ago. The body of an ATM guard, Reyaz Ahmad Shah, with injuries on his abdomen, was recovered in Karan Nagar area around 2 am on Wednesday. A police officer said it was not a firearm injury, and the body had been sent for post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death. The curfew was also extended to Pampore and Awantipora areas of Pulwama district on Wednesday, following the death of a protesting youth and injuries to two others during clashes at Lethpora on Tuesday evening. The police said curfew continued in Anantnag town, while restrictions were on in other areas of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts of south Kashmir. Life in Kashmir has been affected following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. While restrictions have been imposed across the valley, curfew remains in force in downtown Srinagar and major towns of south Kashmir, coupled with the shutdown calls by separatist organisations, paralysing normal life across Kashmir. The separatists have jointly extended the shutdown call up to August 5 with the march to Hazratbal on Friday. With the death of another youth, Farooq Ahmad Kuthay at Lethpora on Tuesday evening, the toll in the ongoing unrest has gone up to 49, including two policemen, while nearly 6,000 others have been injured in the clashes so far. The trouble has affected functioning of educational institutes, government offices, shops and business establishments and hit the tourism sector hard. United Nations, August 3 In an unusual move, the UN has backtracked from its statement that it would continue to monitor the situation in Kashmir through its military observer group in India and Pakistan, clarifying that the mission does not have a mandate beyond the LoC. The clarification was issued by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons spokesman Stephane Dujarric yesterday, a day after the UN chiefs deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters that the UN would continue to monitor the situation in Kashmir, including through our monitoring group UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). Dujarric said regarding the situation in Kashmir I just wanted to clarify something, which is that UNMOGIP, the UN observer presence there, its mandate is to report on the ceasefire between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control. The UN Mission there does not have a mandate there beyond the Line of Control. When asked why he was making the clarification, Dujarric said, Because I think it needed to be said. The clarification seems to imply that the situation and incidents in Kashmir are Indias internal matter and do not come under the control of the UNMOGIP, which only observes and reports on ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and does not monitor the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Dujarric was also asked why the Secretary-General did not initiate efforts to settle the Kashmir conflict, even as the world body was trying to resolve conflicts in Cyprus and West Asia. I will leave it to you and others to analyse the reasoning. I think the questions on the situation in Kashmir have come up with us today and previously. Our answers to those questions remain the same, Dujarric said without elaborating. Asked why was there reluctance on the part of the Secretary-General and the UN to offer any comments on the situation in Kashmir, Dujarric said when questions arise on the issue, the UN offers comments. So I dont agree as being reluctant, he said. Protests broke out across Kashmir on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. According to the Security Council mandate given in resolution 307 of 1971, the UNMOGIP observes and reports on ceasefire violations along and across the Line of Control and the working boundary between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours in J&K, as well as reports developments that could lead to ceasefire violations. India has maintained that the UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control. As of March 31 this year, the UNMOGIP had 44 military observers, 25 international civilian personnel and 47 local civilian staff. PTI Its her third visit to Chandigarh in three years. Little wonder, Meera Chopra specifically mentions, I love coming to the city whenever I can. Which is each time to announce yet another edition of Kingfisher Ultra Chandigarh Style Week. There is a lot that has kept her busy in the meanwhile. Everybody is busy these days. There is just so much to do, she shares before talking about her recently released 1920 London. Which unfortunately went unnoticed, but she nevertheless, focuses on the positive. It was an important film for me because I had an important role in the movie. Which is that of wife battling with her possessed husband, played by Vishal Karwal. Coming up is Ram Gopal Vermas Secret. In that I play a psycho. She adds, Its a take on human relationships through the background of cell phones. How they have completely invaded our lives and so much so that spouses and couples do not want to share their cell phones with each other. They can share a life together but not phones. Career graph, so far It was in 2007 that Gang of Ghosts released. Three movies in almost nine years call for an explanation. Which she is absolutely ready with. Well, in between I went to New York to work, I was very busy down South doing films and for the past two years, I was busy with 1920 London. The famous sisters Were sure not an interview goes by where she is not asked about her famous cousins, Priyanka Chopra, followed by Parneeti Chopra. She is unfazed by the question and even the comparison. Priyanka comes first. It feels really good that someone in the family has done so well. She works so much. She is a super human that way. She adds candidly, It is very inspiring to have her around and I know in her I have a support system. As for Parineeti, She has made a place for herself in the industry. Im happy for her success too. The gen next and fashion The participating designers line up includes Mnaoviraj Khosla, Hari Anand from Cochin, Priyanka Khosla from the city, Sanjana John from Delhi, Nazia Syed from Chennai, Sonu Gandhi from Ludhiana, among others. What else? Hundred passing out INIFD designers to showcase their collections on the last day of Chandigarh Style Week. While for whom will she be walking the ramp is not known yet. But I will walking the ramp for sure. Count that as yet another visit of hers to the city. TNS (To be held from August 19 to 21 at Welcome Hotel Bellavista) Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 3 Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said the Congress had not diluted its earlier stand on the GST Bill and had only modified its position in the light of new facts. When new facts emerge, new arguments are made. We change, modify and improve our positions, Chidambaram said as Rajya Sabha debated the historic Bill after Congress worked with the government to resolve differences over the tax reform law. Answering questions about why Congress backtracked from its position of seeking 18 per cent GST rate cap in the GST Constitutional Amendment Bill, Chidambaram explained, We didnt backtrack. When new facts emerge new arguments are made. The new fact was the report of Chief Economic Adviser on the GST Bill. It is a solid economic document. How can anyone ignore it? CEAs report on the Bill had argued against a constitutional cap on the GST rate. Deliberating on what had changed for the Congress, which was previously opposed to the Bill as it didnt mention 18 pc cap in the constitutional amendment Bill, former FM said, Parliament doesnt have full control over the Constitutional Amendment Bill anyway and 50 per cent state assemblies have to ratify it. Since state FMs were unwilling to cap the GST rate, we have urged Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to ask the GST Council comprising states to indicate a standard tax rate in the Central and the Inter State GST Bills expected in the Winter session of Parliament. A tax law which doesnt mention a tax rate cannot stand the scrutiny of law. A second point where Congress appeared to have relented to the government is on the provision of dispute redressal mechanism within the law. While the government Bill talks of redressal through the GST Council, Congress had asked for an independent mechanism with a retired judge heading the process. Mahad/Mumbai (Maharashtra), August 3 At least two persons drowned and 20 others went missing as two buses swept away in the swollen Savitri River after a British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa highway near Mahad in Maharashtras Raigad district late last night. Rescuers fished out bodies of two men from the river and an intense search is on to trace those missing, Raigad district collector Sheetal Ugale said at the mishap spot, 170 Km from Mumbai. Teams of disaster management force have joined the Coast Guard and other agencies engaged in rescue and relief operations. #WATCH Mumbai-Goa highway bridge collapse: Chetak Helicopter carries out search operations for missing vehicles.https://t.co/RdRcix2fX7 ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 Two state transport buses with 18 passengers and four crew members had gone missing in the Mahad tragedy, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said in a tweet. Fadnavis, who is monitoring the situation, said, There were two parallel bridges; one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one collapsed. The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of the River Savitri due to heavy rain in catchment of Mahabaleshwar, he said. Spoke to Raigad SP and Collector about bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa Highway. Administration has rushed to spot for rescue and immediate measures, Fadnavis said. Traffic on highway is stopped. Administration is ascertaining strength and stability of new bridge, he tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Fadnavis and was briefed about the bridge collapse.The PM offered all help in rescue and relief operations, Fadnavis said. NDRF teams are already activated, he tweeted. The Coast Guard has deployed a Chetak helicopter to carry out search for people who were swept away from the bridge. Soon after the incident, Raigad SP Suvez Haque and Collector visited the spot, where the bridge once stood. Darkness had hampered operations, which resumed this morning. According to a Defence spokesperson, Coast Guard deployed a Chetak helicopter at about 8:15 am to carry out search for people who were swept away from bridge. A Seaking 42C all-weather aircraft with a diving team has been launched by the Navy. A Seaking 42B helicopter on another mission was also diverted to the area for search. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has expressed grief over the loss of life caused due to the bridge collapse. The Governor has also expressed concern over the fate of the missing persons who boarded the State Transport buses and other vehicles that have gone missing in the flood. My heart goes out to the persons who were on board the two buses and other vehicles that have gone missing in the Savitri River in Mahad. I offer my condolences to the kin of those who lost their lives and pray for the safe rescue of those who are missing, he said in a message. Oppn seeks judicial probe The Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today sought a judicial probe into the Mahad tragedy. Raising the issue in the state Assembly, former CM Prithviraj Chavan said a judicial probe should be conducted and action taken against those guilty of allowing the old bridge to remain open for traffic. The life of the bridge, built by the British, had ended after completion of 100 years. Despite this, an officer certified in May that the bridge was good for traffic. A case under 302 IPC should be filed against that officer, former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said. A case under IPC 302 should also be filed against PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil, he said. How could a wrong audit of the bridge be conducted, the NCP leader asked. Why were warnings of the weather bureau ignored? The state government is responsible for this tragedy, he said. Minister for Public Works Eknath Shinde told reporters that a structural audit of all bridges in Maharashtra been ordered after todays tragedy. PTI (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 3 Finance Minister Arun Jaitley moved the long-awaited GST Bill for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday afternoon. Marking a distinctively conciliatory note, Jaitley said there was political consensus on the contentious Constitutional amendment legislation that envisaged uniform tax regime in the country. Jaitley also thanked Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, leaders of other political parties and chief ministers of most states who are now on board with the government on the Bill. Former finance minister P Chidambaram said he was glad that the UPAs efforts in the GST direction had been acknowledged. This is far too important a bill to be passed in a partisan manner, he said, adding that the Congress was never opposed to the idea of the GST. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) We are not discussing the idea of the GST. The country is ready to embrace the idea. It was the 2014 legislation that was being opposed. There were too many flaws that could have been adjusted with changes. In the past few days there have been discussions and considerable progress has been made. However, there are still pieces of clumsy drafting in the Bill which should be rectified, Chidambaram said, pointing to the provisions in the legislation moved by former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. It is Indian federalism at its best, Jaitley said, explaining the nitty-gritty of the Bill and the changes effected at the behest of the opposition parties. Enactment of the GST will bring out the best in the economic management of the country. It will give boost to the economy and also empower the states. The aim is to ensure that there is no tax on tax, he said. Ahmedabad, August 3 The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday rejected a PIL filed by former top cop Julio Ribeiro challenging the appointment of PP Pandey, accused in Ishrat Jahan encounter case, as the states in-charge DGP. Dismissed, said a division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi, while pronouncing the order on the public interest litigation. Ribeiro had challenged Pandeys appointment as he is an accused in the alleged fake encounter case of Ishrat Jahan and three others, and is currently out on regular bail. In his PIL, Ribeiro said Pandey could hamper the investigation and influence witnesses in the Ishrat case. Ribeiro served as the DGP of Gujarat and Punjab, the latter during the height of insurgency, and is known as super cop for his exemplary work during those periods. He said in the PIL that Pandeys authority and influence of his post would affect witnesses, many of whom are serving police officers under him. Appearing for the state government, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the PIL should not have been entertained here as it is a service matter. Mehta said Pandey had only been given additional charge as he is the senior-most IPS officer and it is not a regular posting. The government had earlier stated in a written reply before the court that investigation in the Ishrat case was done by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and not state police, and such apprehension, therefore, bore no merit. The government had stated that Pandey was the most suitable IPS officer for the in-charge DGPs post because of his seniority. Replying to the main contention of PIL about possibility of Pandey hampering the investigation against him by influencing the witnesses, the government said no such thing had happened after he was made the in-charge DGP. The government further told the court that nowhere in his bail condition it was mentioned that he could not be given promotions or made in-charge DGP. Pandey was jailed after the CBI, which is investigating the case, chargesheeted him along with other police officials. Pandey is out on bail in the fake encounter case of Ishrat Jahan and three others. He had spent around 18 months in jail in the case, which is pending before a local court in Ahmedabad. After being released on bail, he was taken back into service in February last year and was made the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. On April 16 this year, he took over as in-charge DGP of Gujarat following unexpected transfer of incumbent PC Thakur to Delhi. Ishrat, a 19-year-old girl from Mumbai, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillay, Amjadali Akabarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed in an alleged fake encounter on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004. Gujarat Police had then claimed that the four, with links to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, had come to the city to kill the then chief minister Narendra Modi. PTI Ahmedabad, August 3 The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the state on a PIL seeking direction to the government to ensure systemic disposal of cow carcasses and pro-active action against gau rakshaks to avoid incidents like the thrashing of Dalits at Una. A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi issued notice to the state government, additional chief secretary of Home department, and principal secretary of the panchayats, rural housing and rural development department. The matter will now come up for hearing on September 8. The PIL, filed by Ratna Vora, head of NGO Ambedkar Karwan that works for the Dalits and other depressed sections of the society, claimed in her petition that no circular or guideline has been issued by the state government to village panchayats to ensure systemic disposal of dead animals under relevant sections of Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1993. Vora also sought immediate action from the state Home department to stop "unlawful activities done by hooligans in the name of gau raksha". The PIL comes in the backdrop of an incident involving gau rakshaks or cow vigilantes thrashing four Dalits from Mota Samadhiyala village of Una taluka in Gir Somnath district for skinning a dead cow last month. The video of the incident caused widespread protests by Dalit groups and several leaders like Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and AAPs Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the village to meet the victims. "The Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954, amended hurriedly in 2011 provides protection to the cows that they can never be slaughtered, but failed to provide any direction to the administration as to what should be done to the dead cows," the PIL states. "As per Section 99 of the Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1993, such Panchayat is duty bound to make provisions for the matters specified in schedule 1 wherein clause 1(g) deals regarding the systematic disposal of carcasses," it states. However, it said, The panchayat, rural housing and rural development department has not directed the village panchayats to implement the law." The PIL states that Dalits are becoming "easy prey at the hands of Hindutva organisations", and hence sought a court direction to the state Home department to immediately issue circulars to all the police departments and officers to take pro-active action against any activities of the hooligans under the pretext of "gau raksha". "In 2011, the government amended the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act-1954, for protection of an animal (cow) but failed to make any protection to Dalit and Muslim community who are traditionally engaged in meat profession," it further states. PTI New York, August 3 A 58-year old Indian man has been charged with sexually touching a woman sitting next to him on a flight from Los Angeles to New Jersey. Veerabhadrarao Kunam, a resident of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, is charged by the complaint with one count of abusive sexual contact. He appeared before US Magistrate Judge Joseph Dickson on Tuesday in Newark federal court and was released on a $50,000 secured bond. The charge carries a maximum potential penalty of two years in prison and a $2,50,000 fine. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Kunam was arrested on July 30 when his flight arrived at Newark and was taken into federal custody by the FBI. According to the complaint, Kunam was seated next to a woman who occupied a middle seat on a flight from Los Angeles to Newark. While the plane was in the air, the woman fell asleep. She woke up to find Kunam sexually touching her. Upon noticing Kunam touching her, the victim alerted her male travel companion who traded seats with her and confronted Kunam. The accused allegedly told the victims travel companion that he wanted everyone to forget about the incident and offered to buy the travel companion a drink for any trouble he may have caused. The travel companion declined Kunams offer and alerted a flight crew member about the incident. A member of the flight crew then moved Kunam to another seat and instructed him not to return to his original seat. He allegedly told the flight crew member that he would not touch the victim again. The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over all sexual abuse cases that occur on aircraft in flight in the US. A spokesperson of the airline said in a statement that the planes crew was alerted to reports of a disruptive individual who was accused of inappropriately touching a fellow passenger. Our crew are trained for such situations, and they immediately moved the individual in question to another seat, monitored him to ensure he did not move from his seat, and alerted law enforcement, who were waiting for the aircraft when it arrived at the New Jersey airport, he said. PTI Islamabad, August 3 Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Kashmir was witnessing a "new wave of freedom movement" as he asked diplomats to tell the world that Kashmir crisis was not Indias internal issue. Addressing the concluding session of the three-day Envoys Conference organised by foreign ministry here, Sharif said: "Resolution of the lingering dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people is the corner stone of Pakistan's foreign policy". "Today, Kashmir is witnessing a new wave of freedom movement," Sharif said. "This movement is running into the bloods of third generation of Kashmiri people and the world has itself seen its intensity in the wake of July 8," Sharif said, referring to the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in Kashmir. "The Kashmiri youth are writing new chapters of sacrifices to get the right to self determination. They have lost eyes to bullets but the desire for freedom is guiding them to the destination." "The ambassador should make the world feel that Kashmir is not the internal problem of India, as India already accepted it as dispute territory and the UN also declared it as a dispute between India and Pakistan." However, Sharif said that all bilateral issues with countries in the region should be solved though talks. "We cannot afford a conflict. If we became part of any conflict, then our progress in the social and economic fields would be affected," he said. Although Pakistan wants peace in the world on the basis of honour, dignity and equality, our desire for friendly ties should not be considered as weakness. We believe in mutual interests, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the affairs of others," Sharif said. Pakistan's Permanent Representative to UN Maleeha Lodhi said Sharif had asked her to step-up her campaign to highlight excesses and rights violations in Kashmir. Earlier in the day, Sartaj Aziz, the Prime Minister's advisor on foreign affairs, told a meeting of secretaries of interior ministries that it was wrong to project Pakistan as being isolated. Sharifs statements came on a day when Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in the country for SAARC Interior Ministers' Conference. The two countries already-strained relationship has soured further in the past few weeks over a recent unrest in Kashmir over a militants death and Pakistans seemingly provocative response. Kashmir has been on edge since security forces killed Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. More than 45 people have been killed and nearly 6,000 people were injured in violent protests that followed the killing. Agencies Guwahati, August 3 Two IndiGo aircraft miraculously escaped colliding with each other over Guwahati, leaving some passengers and crew members shaken and needing medical aid, officials said on Wednesday. At least four passengers and two cabin crew were shaken by the near disaster, a spokesman for the airline said. The passengers complained of nausea while the cabin crew needed first-aid. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The incident took place on Tuesday evening when an Indigo flight from Mumbai to Guwahati was about to land at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. Just then, an Indigo flight bound for Chennai took off, crossing the flight path of the first aircraft. "The IndiGo flight en route to Guwahati experienced turbulence due to monsoon," said the Indigo spokesman, adding this caused it to climb down by 250-300 feet, just when the Chennai-bound aircraft was taking off. The spokesman said the flight finally made a normal landing. The four passengers and two cabin crew were given medical assistance. IANS Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 3 The Rajya Sabha today unanimously passed the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014, with 203 votes in favour. All parties, except the AIADMK, backed the Bill. The AIADMK staged a walkout immediately after Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys reply to the debate to register its unhappiness over the Bill which lays the ground for an across-the-country uniform Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, subsuming all indirect taxes, including central excise duty and state VAT/sales tax. The easy passage was facilitated by the Congress after the government made key changes, including the scrapping of 1 per cent manufacturing tax and incorporating clearer provisions for compensating states for revenue loss for five years. Jaitley assured the House that tax rates would be kept as low as possible. The debate saw rare bonhomie between the Treasury and Opposition benches with six official amendments moved by Jaitley approved with cent per cent votes. There was some last-minute wrangling between Jaitley and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram. The latter sought an assurance that subsequent legislations for GSTs rollout would be in the form of finance, not money Bills. He also sought an 18 per cent base rate for the pan-India levy. The demand was backed by most other parties. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Jaitley said the guiding principle would be to keep the "rates as low as possible, certainly lower than what it is today. However, in response to Chidambarams demand that ensuing legislations Central GST and Integrated GST should be finance Bills, he said he could not give any such assurance as the Bills were yet to be drafted. Anand Sharma (Cong) pointed out that the BJP had opposed the GST Bill when introduced by the UPA government. Jaitley said if the UPAs 2011 Bill had been put before the states, not a single one would have accepted it. Sharma also spoke of Prime Minister Narendra Modis opposition to the GST when he was Gujarat CM. Islamabad, August 3 Cross-border terrorism is likely to be high on Home Minister Rajnath Singhs agenda as he arrived for a meeting of SAARC nations interiors ministers in Pakistans Islamabad on Wednesday evening. Singh has been provided tight security amid threats from Lashker-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen militant groups. The Home Minister was flown in a helicopter to the Serena hotel in posh Islamabad locality. It is also the venue of Thursday's meeting. Roads leading to the hotel have been heavily barricaded by police and para-military forces. Singhs tweet before he left said he was "looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime". "This Conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security," he said. Sigh is likely to speak about Pakistans suspected support to terrorist organsations such as Lashker-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which operate on its soil, and demand action. Indias most wanted criminal, Dawood Ibrahim, is also likely to be on Singhs agenda. Ibrahim has been accused of having engineered 13 serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993 that killed more than 250 people and left scores wounded. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) However, it was not immediately clear if Singh would meet his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan separately. Rallies Thousands from various religious and jihadi organisations protested across various Pakistani cities against Singhs visit and the ongoing unrest in Kashmir. All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Hizbul Mujahideen and United Jihad Council (UJC) were among the protesters. LeT founder Hafiz Saeed Saeed the suspected mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack led the protests. Addressing protesters a rally at Lahore's Mall Road said Saeed criticised Pakistan Government for welcoming Singh. "We were not expecting that the Pakistani rulers would welcome Singh who is responsible for the killings of innocent Kashmiris," he said. The Home Ministers two-day visit to Pakistan comes at a time when relationship between the two neighbours is strained over a recent unrest in Kashmir over a militants death and Pakistans seemingly provocative response. Saeed warned of a countrywide protest in Pakistan by his organisation against Singhs visit. Kashmir has been on edge since security forces killed Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. More than 45 people have been killed and nearly 6,000 people were injured in violent protests that followed the killing. Agencies Simran Sodhi Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 3 Minister of State for External Affairs Gen VK Singh today arrived in Saudi Arabia to begin the process of repatriation of Indians stranded there. He first made a stop at Jeddah and later flew down to capital Riyadh as India tries to get home its citizens. The minister met kingdoms labour minister Mufrej al-Haqbani to discuss the situation. It is learnt that Saudi Arabia has offered free passage to all those wanting to return to India. More than 6,200 of the stranded workers had been employed by construction firm Saudi Oger, said government sources. Sources said a total of 7,700 Indian workers had been stranded. Of these, 4,072 were staying in worker camps in Riyadh, while 2,153 were in Jeddah. A team of embassy officials from Riyadh has met with the labour officials in Saudi Arabia to complete procedures related to the protection of legal dues of the workers, once they depart on final exit, they said. The slowdown in the Saudi economy, which is a direct result of the drop in the oil prices and of a cut in the spending by the government, has resulted in job losses for many immigrants in Saudi Arabia. The ministers main job in Riyadh is to try and work out the modalities and logistics of a possible repatriation of those workers who want to return. He is expected to be back in Delhi on Friday. The matter was also raised in both House of the Parliament earlier this week with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj assuring the members that the government is making all efforts to help the Indians stranded in Saudi Arabia. Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 3 The state government is all set to provide lakhs of people with ownership rights of their houses falling within and outside the lal dora (a demarcation delineating village population from agricultural land). Villagers, though staying in the houses built by them, have no ownership rights and this area is simply marked in revenue records as the Abadi Deh area. The move will allow transaction of residential property in villages while also allowing people to seek institutional credit against these properties. At a number of places, where villages are abutting the cities and have become part of cities, too will benefit from this move. Though the move has political overtones, once implemented will be a major land reform in Punjab, benefitting almost 60 lakh persons residing in 12,500 villages. A three-member committee of ministers has been constituted to implement the grant of ownership rights and have been asked to submit their report soon. Official sources said the issue was discussed at length during the Cabinet meeting held on July 29. The political leadership insisted on implementing the scheme on the same pattern as Madhya Pradesh where just an application for grant of ownership rights was accepted and rights transferred to the applicants. The political bosses had also insisted that those living outside the lal dora, but had built houses too be granted ownership rights after paying a fee. However, senior bureaucrats insisted that the scheme be rolled out only after the legal modalities had been taken into account. They insisted that after demarcation, the head of a family should be identified. It should be established whether the person staying in each house in village is the original possessor of land and this time for being in possession of land; or if is a tenant, after which the ownership rights be transferred. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has nominated Rural Development Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka, Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi, to suggest the modalities for implementing the scheme. Sources in the government said the committee was expected to submit its report within this month, following which a survey of each village would be done by the Rural Development and Revenue Department officials and the ownership would be transferred. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 3 The police cracked the bank robbery case within 48 hours of the theft with the arrest of one person and recovery of Rs 6 lakh. Four miscreants looted Rs 15 lakh at gunpoint from a branch of Punjab National Bank at Kochhar Market on August 1. The arrested has been identified as Sukhwinder Singh, alias Moni, of Labour Colony, Jawahar Nagar Camp. Police officials claimed that the other three accused had also been identified, but they were still at large. Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh said, Six separate teams have been constituted to arrest the robbers. Sukhwinder Singh is a hardcore criminal, who has been facing four cases of robbery and possessing illegal weapons in various police stations. The police have also recovered a .32-bore country-made pistol (which was used in the robbery), two magazines, five cartridges and a motorcycle used in the crime from his possession. Sukhwinder Singh confessed that he bought the pistol from Meerut (UP). Aulakh said the accused had got bail around four months ago and he had planned the robbery a few days ago. All other accused involved in the robbery also met him in the jail. He observed that the bank had no security guard so he planned to rob the bank, said Aulakh. The police had announced a cash reward for giving information about the robbers yesterday. A person, whose identity was not disclosed by the police, gave a tip-off to the police about the robbers. Special teams of the Ludhiana Police have been raiding separate areas of Jalandhar to arrest the other three robbers. Jotirmay Thapliyal Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 3 A first in the country, the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) in association with the state forest authorities have taken up an initiative to develop fodder plots in Corbett landscape to minimise cattle losses in tiger attack incidents. Every year, nearly 800 cattle are killed by tigers in the Corbett landscape. Like other parts of Uttarakhand, tiger-famous Corbett landscape also faces the challenge of human-animal conflict. Killing of livestock by tigers are also one of the prominent reasons that fuel the human-animal conflict in the region, triggering retaliatory killing of tigers at times. The WWF-India Uttarakhand has been running the Interim Relief Scheme in the Corbett landscape for the past 15 years that entails providing immediate some relief money to the owner of the cattle killed by tigers in the Corbett landscape. This fund is apart from the compensation provided by the state Forest Department. Now, the organisation in a new initiative has decided to come up with fodder plots. It involves growing of fodder in degraded community land areas. Thus villagers will not be required to take their cattle to forests for grazing. Paatkot village area, encompassing about 10 hectares, in the Ramnagar forest division of the Corbett region has been identified as the first fodder plot under the project where indigenous fodder species will be grown. As many as 15 high conflict villages in Corbett landscape have been identified where fodder plots projects will be taken up after the success of Paatkot project. Senior WWF-India official Dr AK Singh said the creation of the fodder plots would be of immense benefit in minimising cattle losses in the region. He said, Villages like Paatkot, Amoth and Nathujhala are already high conflict villages where killing of livestock by tigers are common. Neena Sharma Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 3 The Harish Rawat government is opening old cases against 10 former Congress MLAs who mounted rebellion against his government and then deserted the party. The government is busy opening old files that may have been deliberately kept under wraps. In the latest incident involving former Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat, the government has instituted a high-level inquiry by Additional Chief Secretary Ranbir Singh into the procurement and sale of wheat seeds by the Uttarakhand Seeds and Terai Development Corporation in 2015-16 when Rawat was the minister and chairman of the corporation. According to the department order, Uttarakhand Seed Terai Evam Vikas Ltd had procured seeds of wheat from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in 2015-16. But these seeds were said to be of poor quality which, after germination, were sold at less rates causing a loss of Rs 18 crore to the corporation. According to the corporation, out of a total of 2,740 lots procured, a total of 2,93,422.75 quintal seeds were produced out of which,173,957 quintal seeds were sold at the full rates, while 10,599 quintal seeds were sold at the reduced rates which led to a loss of Rs 18 crore to the corporation. To inquire into the matter on January 2016, a committee was constituted at the department level, which, in its report, had said irregularities were committed in the entire procurement and sale of the seeds. Based on this report, the government had again set up a high-level inquiry and asked the four-member committee to submit its report in one month. While there seems to be no respite for the embattled former Agriculture Minister, against whom a sexual assault case has been registered by a woman in New Delhi, other former MLAs too are in the governments line of fire. A case of embezzlement has been registered against former Someshwar MLA Rekha Aryas husband. While MLA Pradeep Batra is facing a case pertaining to alleged violation of building bylaws. Similarly, it is believed that the government is also looking at files that involving the alleged allotment of land deeds meant for Tehri oustees in Rishikesh during former Chief Minister Vijay Bahugunas rule. Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 3 Members of the Sinchai Rajaswa Karamchari Mahasangh held a protest against the state government here today. The protesters took out a march towards the Secretariat but were stopped by the police at Kanak Chowk. They staged a dharna and raised anti-government slogans at the spot. The protesters were demanding to generate the posts of revenue officer and other technician in the Irrigation Department. They also demanded to fill 75 per cent posts by promoting existing employees and rest 25 per cent through the public service commission. They also demanded to resolve the deformities in salary structure of irrigation employees. State federation president NS Kundra said poor policies of the state government had frustrated employees of the Irrigation Department. The government cannot befool people for so long. The mahasangh will not stop the agitation until their demands are accepted, he said. Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 3 Chief Minister Harish Rawat has announced that the state government will recruit 130 Urdu teachers soon. He was speaking after inaugurating a vaccination and training programme organised by the State Haj Committee for 172 pilgrims going for Haj from Uttarakhand. He also released two guides for pilgrims Janib-e-Manjil Badte Kadam and Haj Guide 2016 at a function held here today. Rawat inspected the arrangements made by the Haj committee for vaccination and training of pilgrims and appreciated the management. The Chief Minister congratulates pilgrims and said the people going on Haj were fortunate to get the opportunity to visit the holy place so they should pray for the progress, happiness and development of Uttarakhand and the country. Expressing his views on the importance of Haj, the Chief Minister stated that it was a matter of happiness that every year more people were going on the pilgrimage from Uttarakhand and the government had been making efforts to send the maximum number of people on the Haj every year. He requested the pilgrims to give suggestions on making better arrangements for the Haj. Appreciating the communal harmony in Uttarakhand, Rawat added that Uttarakhand was an excellent example of mutual brotherhood and unity. He announced that the government would recruit 130 Urdu teachers soon to promote Urdu language. He said the government wanted that more should learn Urdu as it was a language of national unity because more than half of the patriotic songs across the globe have been written in Urdu. On the development of madrasas, he asserted that the government was committed to developing the Madrasas Board and would pay the residual salary to teachers working in madrasas. Rawat said it was a matter of immense happiness that the government had completed the wall construction around the Muslim cemeteries. He further announced that the state government was also going to construct the protection walls around the cemeteries of all religions within three years. Rawat said Minority Welfare Officers would be appointed to address the grievances of minorities. He said efforts had been made to transfer the scholarship directly to the accounts of minority students and emphasised to promote education among Muslim girls. Munich, August 3 A German court sentenced two former Yugoslav intelligence chiefs to life in prison on Wednesday for masterminding the murder of a Yugoslav dissident in the southern German state of Bavaria more than three decades ago. Croats Josip Perkovic, 71, and Zdravko Mustac, 74, top officials in the communist-era Yugoslav secret service, were found guilty of complicity in the murder of Stjepan Durekovic, also a Croat, who was found dead of gunshot wounds and head injuries in a garage in the town of Wolfratshausen in 1983. Croatia extradited the two men in 2014, under pressure from Germany. Prosecutors alleged that Durekovics murder was ordered by a leading Yugoslav politician. Durekovics dissident activities had appeared to be the motive for his murder, but the politician actually wanted to prevent Durekovic from disclosing his sons illegal business dealings in the state-owned petrol company INA, according to the indictment. Durekovic once ran the INA before leaving for the West. Another man, the owner of the garage who had managed to win Durekovics confidence, was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany in 2008 for his part in the murder. At the time, the court established that 22 Croats were murdered in West Germany, at the behest of the Yugoslav leadership. Reuters Washington, August 3 Continued instability in Pakistan could impact safety of its nuclear weapons and materials, a latest US Congressional report has said as it described the sale of two nuclear reactors by China to Pakistan a violation of the NSG guidelines. "While US and Pakistani officials continue to express confidence in controls over Pakistan's nuclear weapons, continued instability in the country could impact these safeguards. Furthermore, continued Indian and Pakistani nuclear weapons development could jeopardise strategic stability between the two countries," the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its latest report on nuclear weapons of Pakistan. CRS, which is an independent and bipartisan research body of the US Congress, prepares periodic reports on issues of importance for lawmakers for them to take informed decisions. It is not considered as an official view or report of the US Congress. In its 30-page report dated August 1, the CRS said that the China selling nuclear reactors to Pakistan for Chasa-3 and Chasma-4 are in violation of the current Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines. "US officials and other NSG members have said that the Chasma-3 and -4 sales by China are inconsistent with current Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines," CRS said in its reports, days after another US-based think-tank Arms Control Association (ACA) made similar allegations. Contracts for Chasma-1 and -2 were concluded before China joined the NSG in 2004. At that time, other NSG members agreed "to grandfather construction of plants in Pakistan which China had initiated," Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Countryman said during a May 12, 2015 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. In 2008, China and Pakistan agreed to the Chasma-3 and -4 construction "in response to the US-India Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement", according to a 2015 Nuclear Proliferation Assessment Statement submitted by the Obama Administration to Congress, it said. China argues that the contracts for Chasma -3 and -4 are grandfathered, but Countryman stated that the NSG did not agree to grandfather any additional reactors. The NSG changed its guidelines in 2008 to allow nuclear trade with India, but the group does not allow trade with Pakistan. "At present, China is apparently the only country planning to sell nuclear power reactors to Pakistan," CRS said. According to CRS report, although Pakistan has made significant reforms in this area, many observers continue to be concerned that other states or terrorist organisations could obtain material or expertise related to nuclear weapons from elements in Pakistan. CRS said, according to some observers, spent fuel from Pakistan's Karachi and Chasma nuclear power plants could be vulnerable to theft or attack. PTI Seoul, August 3 North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan, South Korea said, in an apparent show of force against the planned deployment of a US missile defence system. Washington quickly hit back, with the State Department saying it was aware of the reports and warning it was prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation. The latest test also comes amid mounting tensions ahead of a planned US-South Korea joint military exercise later this month. Last year the drills involved 30,000 US soldiers and 50,000 South Korean troops. The missile was launched from near the western North Korea city of Unyul at around 07:50 am today, South Koreas defence ministry said. The projectile flew some 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) and was believed to be a Rodong mid-range missile, the defence ministry added. Outrageous act: Abe Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the North Korean test missile as an outrageous act which threatened his country. Its a serious threat against our countrys security, Abe told reporters. This is an outrageous act that cannot be tolerated. Japans defence minister Gen Nakatani told reporters the missile was estimated to have fallen into Tokyos exclusive economic zone 250 kilometres off its northern coast at 8:05 am today. The test follows the launch of three ballistic missiles on July 19 in what the North said were simulated nuclear strikes on the South. Pyongyang has carried out a series of missile tests this year in defiance of tough UN sanctions, and vowed to take physical action against the planned deployment of a US missile defence system in the South announced in July. Since leader Kim Jong-Un took over from his late father Kim Jong-Il, who died in 2011, North Korea is believed to have tested 16 Scud missiles with a range of between 300 km and 1,000 km, six Rodong missiles, six Musudan missiles with a range of up to 4,000 km and three submarine-launched missiles, according to the Souths Yonhap news agency. UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from developing ballistic missile technology. Pyongyang has repeatedly warned of pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets, although the main focus of its nuclear weapons programme is to develop a credible strike threat against the US mainland. A series of missile tests this year aimed at backing up that threat led to an agreement between Seoul and Washington to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system by the end of next year. North Korea-US tensions had already been stoked by Pyongyangs fury at Washingtons decision to personally target Kim with sanctions related to human rights abuses. Together with the Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise, the Ulchi Freedom Guardian to be held this month is one of the two US-South Korea joint military exercises that are carried out every year on a massive scale. AFP Washington, August 3 Donald Trump on Wednesday hit back at Barack Obama for terming him unfit for presidency, saying the terrible President was a disaster and probably the worst in American history, as the war of words between the two leaders escalated. Well hes a terrible president. Hell probably go down as the worst President in the history of our country, hes been a total disaster, Trump told Sinclair Broadcast group in an interview yesterday. You look at what happens in the Middle East, in Syria and his line in the sand. I think it just means hes concerned Im going to win, he claimed. Dont forget last time he said I would never get the nomination, now he is saying I wouldnt get the election now all of a sudden he said the other day maybe I can win the election, no I guess he probably has to say that kind of thing, Trump said when asked about Obamas statement yesterday. Obama had strongly denounced Trump, saying he is unfit to serve as the 45th President of the US. I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president. I said so last week and he keeps on proving it, Obama said yesterday. Trump reiterated his stand and said he does not regret having criticised the parents of a slain Pakistani-origin American Muslim soldier Humayun Khan who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004. I dont regret anything. I said nice things about the son and I feel that very strongly but, of course, I was hit very hard from the stage and you know its just one of those things but no I dont regret anything, he said. Trumps own party leaders have come out openly against the Republican presidential nominee for being critical of family members of the soldier. He also did not have regret calling his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton a devil. No, I dont think so; I think it is what it is. Shes a very deceitful person, she lies, she cheats; no I dont think thats too far at all, he said. He maintained his belief that the upcoming presidential election is rigged. Im talking about at the voter booth. I mean weve seen a lot of things over the years and now without the voter IDs and all the things going on and some bad court cases have come down, Trump said. I just hear things and I just feel it and I felt it having to do with the primaries. I looked at Bernie sanders I said he isnt going to win. I thought this whole thing was rigged and I think the general election is gonna be, were gonna have a lot of problems we have to be very careful, Trump said. During the interview Trump refused to entertain the challenge posed to him by Warren Buffet on revealing his tax returns, saying he does not know Warren Buffet and has never met him. PTI WASHINGTON, August 3 Donald Trump's White House campaign was in turmoil on Wednesday, with a senior Republican Party official furious over his criticism of a dead soldier's family and his refusal to back the re-election campaign of House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan. Trump shrugged off the growing party backlash over his insistent public dispute with the parents of a Muslim US Army captain who was killed in the Iraq war in 2004. "There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before. I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support. Beat Crooked H!" the Republican nominee wrote on Twitter early on Wednesday, referring to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Facing uproar over his dispute with the family, the New York businessman hit back on Tuesday at critics in the Republican leadership. In an interview with The Washington Post, he denied both House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain support in their re-election bids. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was furious over Trump's decision not to endorse Ryan, who is the most senior elected Republican, and over the candidate's feud with the Khan family, two Republican sources said. "He feels like a fool," a Republican source familiar with the situation said of Priebus. Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort was struggling to get the candidate back on message, the source said. The campaign has been wracked by turmoil in recent days. On Monday, Trump fired a senior adviser, Ed Brookover, who had been hired to serve as a liaison between the campaign and the Republican National Committee. The Trump campaign had no immediate comment. Trump loyalist and former campaign official Corey Lewandowski dismissed reports of dissent and disarray in Trump's camp, telling CNN on Tuesday evening that campaign staffers "would climb over barbed wire for Donald Trump, chew on glass to make sure that they get him elected" on November 8. Trump has had a running dispute with the parents of Army Captain Humayun Khan since they took the stage at last week's Democratic National Convention. Khizr and Ghazala Khan cited the sacrifice of their son, who was killed by a car bomb, and criticised Trump's proposal to combat terrorism by temporarily banning Muslims from entering the United States. Many Republican leaders, including Ryan and McCain, have criticised Trump's subsequent attacks on the parents. Several media outlets reported on Wednesday that Trump had rejected advice from his staff to drop the dispute. A Republican congressional aide said there was deep frustration on Capitol Hill that Trump keeps engaging in "petty spats". The aide said congressional offices that support Trump got two sets of talking points on Monday from the campaign about the Khan situation but have not heard anything from the campaign about Trump's Ryan comments. The dispute over Trump's treatment of the Khans, coming just two weeks after he was formally anointed the White House nominee at the Republicans' convention, was the latest rift in a party already frayed by internal dissent over the candidate. Late on Tuesday, Meg Whitman, a prominent Republican fundraiser and chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, endorsed Clinton's White House bid, calling Trump an "authoritarian character" and a threat to democracy. In an interview with The New York Times, Whitman said it was time "to put country first before party." Tide of criticism Also on Tuesday, Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican in Congress to endorse Clinton, although several other Republicans in Congress have said they will not support Trump. Even Trump's longtime ally, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, said it was inappropriate to criticise the Khan family. In better news for Trump, his campaign and the Republican National Committee jointly raised $80 million for his White House bid in July, the campaign said on Wednesday. That was less than the $90 million Clinton raised along with the national Democratic Party the same month, but it was a substantial bump from his fund-raising in past months. Trump was late to kick off traditional campaign fund-raising efforts, preferring to largely use his own funds during the Republican primary. He has contributed more than $56 million to his presidential run so far, the campaign said. In June, after hiring a national finance chairman and launching a collaboration with the RNC, Trump brought in $51 million. A former reality TV star who has never held public office, Trump swept aside 16 rivals to win the party primary contests, winning support particularly from white blue-collar workers who feel neglected by the political establishment. His plans have included the ban on Muslims and building a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. He has also proposed renegotiating trade treaties, opening up to Russia, revamping NATO and has suggested Japan and South Korea should get nuclear weapons. Trump's incendiary and often off-the-cuff rhetoric on Muslims, women and Mexican immigrants has drawn widespread criticism, including from some Republicans. On Tuesday, Democratic President Barack Obama unleashed his strongest attack yet on Trump, calling him unfit for the presidency and asking Republican leaders why they continued to endorse him given their repeated criticisms of his actions. Opinion polls have shown Clinton benefiting from a boost after her party's convention last week. The RealClearPolitics average of recent national polls put her 4.5 percentage points ahead of Trump, at 46.5 percent to 42 percent. Reuters Washington, August 3 US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions in his party on Tuesday by denying two leading figures, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain, support in their re-election bids. Trump told The Washington Post in an interview that he could endorse neither Ryan, the top US elected Republican, nor McCain, a senator from Arizona and a former Republican presidential nominee, as they face challenges in their states primary contests ahead of the November 8 general election. Both Ryan and McCain had criticised Trumps feud with the family of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who died in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for bravery after his death. The discord comes just two weeks after the Republican National Convention in Cleveland that formally nominated Trump for president. It is the latest rift in a party already frayed by internal dissent over its standard bearer, seen in stark relief at the convention where McCain was among high-level party members who essentially snubbed Trump by choosing not to attend. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, and former presidents George HW Bush and George W Bush also did not attend the convention. Trump has had a running dispute with Khizr and Ghazala Khan since they took the stage at last weeks Democratic convention to cite their sons sacrifice and criticise Trumps proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. The uproar has led many Republicans to distance themselves from Trump and voice support for the Khan family. Trump, mirroring the language Ryan used about supporting the nominee before his eventual endorsement, told the newspaper he was not quite there yet on endorsing Ryan in next Tuesdays Wisconsin primary, and that he had never been there with McCain, who will be on the ballot in primary elections in Arizona later this month. McCain had a very friendly meeting with Trumps vice-presidential running mate, Mike Pence, on Tuesday in Arizona, where Pence was visiting, a McCain spokeswoman said. Trump said Ryan had sought his endorsement, but that as of now he is only giving it very serious consideration. Ryans campaign office quickly responded that neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trumps endorsement. And we are confident in a victory next week regardless, campaign spokesman Zack Roday said in a statement. Trump, a former reality TV star, has troubled many in the Republican establishment with his off-the-cuff, often insulting style, and controversial policies, including the proposed ban on Muslims and his plan to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. President Barack Obama on Tuesday blasted Trump as unfit to be president and questioned why any Republican would support the New York businessman, who is seeking his first public office. Reuters Mexico City, August 3 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pressed the US in a television interview broadcast on Wednesday to extradite preacher Fethullah Gulen, saying waiting to get the alleged coup plotter was intolerable. Erdogan complained in the interview with Mexicos Televisa television that US authorities were asking for documents for the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Gulen, whom he accuses of being behind last months failed military putsch. You have to be blind and deaf not to understand that he is behind all of this, Erdogan said. If we request the extradition of a terrorist then you should fulfill that, he said. If you start asking for documents and what not, then its a huge obstacle in our way of fighting terrorism. But at the moment we are running into the difficulty of not being able to receive a terrorist that we are asking to be extradited, he said. Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999 and has denied any involvement in the July 15 putsch bid. Turkish authorities sent a new package of documents to the American authorities for Gulens extradition, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said. In terms of fighting against terrorism, we have no time to lose, six months or one year, thats simply intolerable, Erdogan said. US Secretary of State John Kerry said on July 18 that Turkey must present genuine evidence and not allegations against the Muslim cleric for his extradition. Already strained ties between NATO allies Turkey and the United States have been aggravated by the failed putsch, with some government ministers even alleging Washington could have had a hand in the plot, which US officials firmly reject. Turkish authorities have detained some 18,000 people in a post-coup crackdown. AFP Washington: The US Air Force has declared an initial squadron of F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jets ready for combat after years of delay and cost overruns. The Pentagons largest weapons project costing $379 billion was launched in 2001 and saw costs go up nearly 70 per cent. Lockheed Martin is building three models of the F-35 Lightning II for the US military and 10 countries have already ordered the jets. Reuters Panama to punish countries that blacklist it Panama City: The government of Panama has announced a Bill that would impose tax, trade and migration measures against countries that put it on their blacklists of tax havens in the wake of the Panama Papers revelations. The move could be directed at France, which put Panama back on its blacklist of tax havens in April following the Panama Papers reports, which showed how some of the worlds wealthy stashed assets in offshore firms created by the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. AFP Soon, you may touch objects in videos Boston: Want to pet the cat in a video? That may soon be possible thanks to MIT scientists, who are developing a new imaging technique that will let you reach in and touch objects in videos. Using traditional cameras and algorithms, the technique called Interactive Dynamic Video (IDV) looks at the tiny, almost invisible vibrations of an object to create video simulations that users can virtually interact with. PTI BEIJING - The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Tuesday said China was disappointed at the United States' punitive duties on Chinese solar products, saying the practice disrupted the global industry chain. "We were disappointed by our US counterpart as we believe its constant anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on Chinese photovoltaic products has seriously disrupted the development of the global industry chain," said MOC spokesperson Shen Danyang during a routine press conference. The US Commerce Department decided recently to levy anti-dumping duties ranging from 6.12 percent to 12.19 percent and countervailing duties of 19.2 percent on imports of photovoltaic products from China. Photovoltaic products are beneficial to environmental protection and pollution reduction. With relatively advanced technology, China has developed lot of quality photovoltaic products and services, while importing a large amount of raw materials and equipment, Shen said. In this respect, and as major photovoltaic markets, China and the US have a promising cooperation future, he said. Shen said he hopes to enhance dialogue and consultation with relevant countries, including the United States, to solve trade frictions in this field via industrial cooperation to contribute to global climate change tasks. The number of available loads on the spot truckload freight market increased 3.5% during the week ending July 30, sending load-to-truck ratios higher at the close of July, but only flatbed rates are continuing to head higher. New figures provided by the freight matching service provider DAT Solutions, based on its load boards, show the number of flatbed load posts fell 3% and truck posts declined 7% compared to a week earlier, causing the load-to-truck ratio to increase 5% to 14.4 loads per truck. The national average flatbed rate increased 1 cent to $1.92 per mile. All reported rates include fuel surcharges. Most major flatbed markets were down but one bucked that trend, Raleigh, N.C., where strong construction activity helped propel spot rates up 14 cents last week to an average of $2.54 per mile. The lane from Raleigh to Tampa has gained 35 cents in the past month to $2.55 per mile. On the dry van side, there is one surprise. According to DAT, the monthly average spot rate of $1.64 per mile in July is 2 cents higher than the average in June, when shippers typically have more demand for truckload capacity. The number of van-load posts increased 6% last week while the van load-to-truck ratio rose slightly to 2.8 loads per truck on a 5% drop in the number of posted trucks. Regionally, markets with the highest average outbound rates showed little or no change compared to the previous week, but ranged from a low of $1.58 per mile in Dallas to a high of $2.12 in Los Angeles. Meantime, the national average spot reefer rate fell another 3 cents to $1.93 per mile. Thats below the June average but only by 4 cents. By comparison, last years national reefer rate dropped 10 cents from June to July The number of reefer load posts gained 13% last week while truck posts fell 5%, which led to an 18% jump in the reefer load-to-truck ratio to 5.1 loads per truck. Overall activity in DATs spot freight market happened as the total number of available loads increased 3.5%, truck posts declined 5% and the national average price of diesel slipped 3 cents to $2.35 per gallon. The typical mid-July slump isnt as bad for some truckers as it was in previous years, said DAT Analyst Peggy Dorf in a post on the companys blog. A downturn in July is a normal seasonal trend on the spot market, but its sometimes followed by a rebound in August and September. Reefers may get a pay raise then, too, when grocers stock up on fresh food for back-to-school season. Luckey J Walton, Jr. Luckey J Walton, Jr. age 89, passed away on July 26, 2016 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Born September 12, 1926 in Muskogee, Oklahoma to the late Luckey J and Cecile Faye (Cartmell) Walton. Luckey grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma and attended Jefferson Elementary, Longfellow Grade, West Junior High and graduated in 1944 from Central High. He was active in the Muskogee Chapter of DeMolay where he became the Master Councilor. Luckey attended Texas A & M and then joined the Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician. After discharge from the Navy, he attended Muskogee Junior College and received his BS degree in Management at The University of Tulsa. He was a founder of Episilon Mu Chapter of Kappa Sigma at TU. Luckey was employed by American Airlines and transferred to New York, where he met his wife, Pat Hyde. They married October 21, 1960 and lived in the area until Luckey was transferred back to Tulsa. He retired after 35 years in 1986 from American as the Passenger Refund Service Manager. Luckey is predeceased by his parents; daughter, Teresa Kersey and great-grandchild, CJ. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Patricia (Walling) Walton; son, Warren Walton (Tammy); daughter, Vickey Walton Roth (Peter); 6 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren. Services were held Saturday, July 30, 2016 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel. Interment was at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, Luckey has asked that you donate to Folds of Honor (5800 N. Patriot Dr., Owasso, OK 74055, Ph. (918) 274-4700). A charity for the children of deceased veterans. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com Seven Broken Arrow neighborhoods participated in National Night Out on Tuesday, joining 38.3 million people across the country in the annual campaign promoting police-community partnerships. On the first Tuesday in August, communities are asked to lock their doors, turn on their porch lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and local law enforcement officers. The event is sponsored nationally by the National Association of Town Watch and locally by the Broken Arrow Police Department. This is the BAPD's 16th year to sponsor the event. Each participating neighborhood had a host home whose residents assist in organizing the evening's events. Mari and Bob Galley have been hosts in the Wedgewood neighborhood for nine years. After the street in front of their home was the site of a drug-related shooting in 2007, they brought the Alert Neighbors program to their area. Mari Galley said it has made all the difference. The Alert Neighbors program, along with National Night Out, has helped them prevent crime in the area and build relationships with their neighbors and law enforcement agencies, she said. "It strengthens the liaisons with the police and fire departments, and we support each other," Mari Galley said. "It's a good time for us to get in touch and stay in touch. That's what makes it all go. "It is so important to know your neighbors, because we need to help each other," she added. "This affords people the chance to come together to share a common goal." This was the first year for the event in the South Park South neighborhood, and host Cindy McPharrin said roughly 40 residents joined in on the festivities in her area. "This really brings people together and makes them feel confident in their community. A lot of people made new friends today," she said. "It's all about bringing that positive atmosphere back into the community," Broken Arrow Police Department volunteer Nathan Engst said. "It's a good feeling to see everyone laughing and smiling together, because cops are your neighbors and your neighbors are cops." Northeastern State University is celebrating a milestone for its Broken Arrow campus on Aug. 11. The university will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the campus from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Visitors Center Gallery within the Administrative Services Building. Remarks begin at 5:30 p.m. and light refreshments are available. The event is open to the public. The foresight of the leaders of the city of Broken Arrow to embrace their role in providing access for students to earn a degree at NSU is inspirational, NSU President Steve Turner said. The good people of Broken Arrow have dedicated their time, land and financial resources because they understand that college graduates have higher lifetime earnings, pay more taxes, and get involved in civic and community activities. Building a future. Discussion to build the NSUBA campus began in the late 1990s when the Oklahoma legislature altered the University Center at Tulsa and opened the door for NSU to develop a new campus site within the Tulsa metropolitan area. In 1997, the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce established a Higher Education Task Force to investigate potential university partners, and in 1998, the chair of that task force, Joe Robson, presented the case for a public vote for a $16 million bond and sales tax increase to support the establishment of the campus. On Dec. 8, 1998, Broken Arrow voters overwhelmingly approved the city sales tax to fund construction for Phase I of NSUBA. This phase funded the Administrative Services, Education and Business & Technology buildings. While construction of Phase I of the Broken Arrow campus was underway, planning for Phase II began. Phase II included plans for constructing three additional buildings on the north side of campus: the Library, Liberal Arts, and Science & Health Professions buildings. Again the city of Broken Arrow partnered with NSU and dedicated portions of the Vision 2025 money to support constructions of the Phase II buildings and in November of 2007, Phase II of the campus was dedicated. Growing the possibilities. According to Dr. Mark Arant, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, the NSUBA campus is poised to be the cornerstone of innovation in Broken Arrow. Partnerships with local industries will allow access to new and exciting degree and certificate offerings in the computer sciences, applied physics and advanced manufacturing, just to name a few. The inclusion of maker spaces and business incubator programs can draw the community to campus more frequently and in new ways, he said. The communitys presence on campus can also be seen in new partnerships with Tulsa Community College, enhanced concurrent enrollment activities, and key community members taking an active role in advising the campus on its future directions. Broken Arrow's willingness to partner with NSU brought the campus into being; a stronger relationship will ensure a brilliant future for the students at NSU and Broken Arrow. Expanding its focus. NSUBA offers many learning options: The Education and Business programs remain strong with an emphasis on course scheduling that supports the needs of transfer students and working adults and new programming endeavors that continue to create opportunities for students. The Masters in Education degree in Special Education-Autism Spectrum Disorders, the digital marketing option for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree, options for the Master in Business Administration in General Management, Managerial Accounting and Finance, and Native American Enterprises, as well as the bachelors programs in Cyber Security, Homeland Security and Legal Studies are just a few of the new programming areas. Moving NSUBA forward. Looking towards the future, NSUBA will have an increased focus in programming in science and technology. NSUs new Applied Physics degree will prepare graduates with the technical expertise to support advanced manufacturing endeavors in Broken Arrow and the entire Tulsa metropolitan area. Dr. Pamela Fly, associate vice president for Academic Affairs, explained that current research endeavors such as Dr. Kevin Wangs work in biotechnology and NSUs recent affiliation with Tulsa Research Partners and the Oklahoma Innovation Institute will foster increased collaborations and support Oklahomas workforce ecosystems in meaningful ways. NSUBA has enjoyed a strong partnership with the Broken Arrow community for 15 years, and it is time to celebrate those accomplishments and plan even greater things for the future, Fly said. As NSU looks to the future, Turner said, he is energized by what has been accomplished over the past 15 years and the spirit of the partnership between the city of Broken Arrow and NSU. There is no limit to what can be accomplished in the years ahead and I have every confidence in the leadership ability of our new campus dean, Dr. Roy Wood. For more information about this event or to RSVP to the event, please visit www.nsuok.edu/BA15Anniversary or call 918-449-6100. OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Steven Taylor on Tuesday said he will retire Dec. 31. Taylor, 67, of McAlester, has been a judge for 33 years. He has served 12 years on the states highest court and presided over the state trial of Oklahoma City bombing defendant Terry Nichols. Taylor said he notified Gov. Mary Fallin on Monday of his intent to retire. Justice Taylor has served the state well in multiple levels of the judiciary for more than three decades, Fallin said. He is known for being tough but fair. I appreciate his dedication, logic and candor while on the high court, as well as his attention to detail. I continue to have the utmost respect for Justice Taylor, who swore me in for both of my terms as governor. Fallin will select his replacement from a list of candidates supplied by the Judicial Nominating Commission. Chief Justice John Reif called Taylor an invaluable and almost irreplaceable member of the court. He is articulate on points that may not be considered if it werent for Justice Taylor, Reif said. We make better decisions because we have the benefit of his insight and experience. It is going to leave a giant void. Taylor and his wife, Mary, have been married 38 years. She is a retired teacher. For 38 years, it has been all about me, Taylor said. That needs to change. They have one son, Wilson. Born in Henryetta, Taylor graduated from McAlester High School. He earned a bachelors in political science from Oklahoma State University and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. Taylor served in the U.S. Marine Corps before practicing law in McAlester from 1978 to 1984. He is a former McAlester City Council member and mayor. Steven Taylor Industrial Park was named in his honor. In March 1984, then Gov. George Nigh appointed Taylor as an associate district judge for Pittsburg County. Taylor would later be elected district judge. On Sept. 24, 2004, then Gov. Brad Henry appointed him to the states high court. Taylor served as chief justice from 2011-13. In his more than 20 years as a trial judge, he presided over more than 500 jury trials. The key to my job for 33 years is, there are two sides and you have to give both sides an opportunity to be heard, to be fully heard, to tell you everything they think is important in a case, Taylor said. And then you become a servant of the law, the facts that you find and then the law. You are a servant of the law. Apply the law to the facts of the case and make a decision. That can all be summed up in what we call the rule of law. Taylor serves on the board for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, the Oklahoma City National Memorial and is chairman of the Puterbaugh Foundation, a private, charitable foundation in McAlester. He expects to remain active in those capacities. During the Energy Chamber's Post AGM Event at the Hyatt Regency hotel Wednesday evening, the Finance Minister Colm Imbert offered an insight into how going to the supermarket has been for him since he announced the increase in the prices of gasoline and diesel in the 2023 Budget. Series 3 of Where the Wild Men Are begins on BBC Knowledge on Saturday. Ben Fogle (The Big Catch) returns to host the nine-part series meeting people who have turned their backs on the trappings of Western society and set up home in some of the most isolated locations on Earth. Series 3 sees Ben join fellow Brit, and the series first woman, Gaynor Leeper in the Swedish Arctic Circle. Gaynor gave up her job as a high-flying communications manager in London to become an Arctic dog musher. Ben joins Gaynor, her husband Milos and their 40 Alaskan huskies on a trek through this freezing wilderness. In Utah, USA, Ben meets twin brothers Bill and Bob Stone. Once adrenalin junkies, the twins are now canyon-dwelling renegades in their early 70s whose isolated home is 12 miles deep inside some of the worlds most striking and wild terrain. And in the deep desert sand dunes of Namibia, Ben lives with former city worker Gideon Davids and his young family. Now a master bushman, Gideon quit his career in life insurance for the dry and dusty desert. From hand washing baby nappies to learning vital desert survival skills to hunting and eating oryx, Ben discovers the realities of everyday life in this tough environment. Saturdays at 7.30pm from August 6 on BBC Knowledge. Its not a great time to be working in Regional television. Hot on the heels of confirmation Prime Media is consulting with staff on redundancies, TV Tonight hears WIN TV cut production roles in Orange , Canberra and Wagga late last week. The roles, including cameramen and editors, are believed to be part of a network-wide review of all production services, with Wollongong and Queensland tipped to be next in line. Prime Media confirmed up to 28 staff are in consultation on redundancies, last week. WIN Television did not respond to enquiries. Four Ukrainian citizens from among the victims of the Ukrainian tourist bus crash in Norway on July 30 are still in hospital. The bus driver was temporarily detained, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported on its Facebook page. "Four of our fellow Ukrainian citizens are being cared for in hospitals now. Norwegian medical doctors say they will remain there for a few more days to complete the course of treatment. Their close relatives are staying near them. Doctors note the positive dynamics of their health recovery status for all injured Ukrainians. Two of them will be discharged from clinics in two or three days, two other patients may need to stay a few more days in medical facilities," the report has noted. The Ukrainian Embassy in Norway is closely monitoring the investigation by Norwegian law-enforcement authorities into the deadly crash. TL A total of 12 police officers and 15 soldiers of National Guard suffered gas poisoning following the night of clashes outside Kyiv Obolon District Court where the case of special operations Tornado servicemen was heard, chief of Kyiv police Andriy Kryshchenko told 112 Ukraine TV channel. "There were a few clashes with police during a standoff and in the early morning when the persons who were in custody were transported to a jail. As a result of clashes 15 National Guard troops and 12 police personnel asked for medical help because of gas poisoning. Protesters used riot gas, sticks and stones. Police and National Guard have not used gas. Several empty cans of Cobra gas were found on the scene. Gas is not part of equipment carried by police or National Guard troops. A criminal case has been opened into the incident. Investigation will be done today. We will give a legal assessment of the actions committed by those who took part [in clashes]," said the police chief. TL Russian-backed militants launched 71 attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbas over the past day. This is reported by the ATO Headquarters press center. It is noted that the enemy did not stop committed armed provocations on the site between Krasnohorivka (29 km west of Donetsk) - Avdiyivka (18km north of Donetsk) - Horlivka (39 km north-east of Donetsk) in Donetsk area, where terrorists used 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, machine guns and small arms. In Mariupol area, the enemy used mortars, grenade launchers and machine guns to shell Ukrainian strongholds. In Luhansk region, militants fired at Ukrainian servicemen in Krymske (42.5km north-west of Luhansk). ol Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine Ihor Nasalyk has discussed cooperation in the energy sector with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh, the press service of the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry of Ukraine has reported. Minister Nasalyk raised the issue of supply of Iranian energy resources to Ukraine for refining at Ukrainian petrochemical plants. The parties also discussed transportation of energy resources to EU countries, particularly to Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Iranian side expressed its readiness to implement the projects on supplying crude oil to countries of Eastern Europe. In addition, the Iranian side has became interested in the proposal put forward by the Ukrainian delegation on participation of its domestic enterprises in the development of Iran's energy infrastructure, in particular, the construction of underground gas storage facilities, construction and modernization of existing compressor stations, boosting the capacities of Iran's domestic gas pipeline system. ol Poland has resumed border zone traffic for local residents with Ukraine, but decided not do the same for locals in the Kaliningrad region in Russia citing current security reasons on Wednesday. "Border zone traffic for local residents of the Kaliningrad region will not be resumed yet. According to Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Jaroslaw Zielinski, the decision was taken for security reasons. Meanwhile, the border regime will be resumed between Poland and Ukraine on Wednesday, said the official," Polish Radio has reported. Earlier, Ukrinform reported border zone traffic regime for local residents in Ukraine and Russia was suspended on July 4 for safety reasons before NATO Summit and the World Youth Days that were held in Poland. TL Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Tetyana Popova has resigned, she has written on her Facebook. "Im leaving the government. I oppose the attacks on journalists and freedom of speech launched by some politicians and political organizations. I cannot accept lack of due reactions to these attacks," wrote the official. According to Popova, she is stepping down in protest and she will "continue to defend the ideas of the Maidan, freedom and democracy as a citizen and volunteer." TL A meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on settling the conflict in eastern Ukraine is currently being held in Minsk. The Belarus Foreign Ministry made a relevant post on Tweeter. The meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on settling the situation in eastern Ukraine is taking place in Minsk, reads the report. Also, a meeting of all four sub-groups on various aspects of settling the situation in Donbas was held earlier on Wednesday. iy Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has started his official visit to Malaysia, which will be held on August 3-5, 2016. This is reported by the press service of the Head of State. The program of the first visit in the history of relations between the two countries provides for meetings of Poroshenko with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and the country's leadership. The President will also take part in the Ukrainian-Malaysian business forum. During the visit, it is planned to sign several bilateral documents aimed at deepening cooperation between Ukraine and Malaysia in various fields. ol By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) Within a year of going offline in India, Chinese tech major Xiaomi is getting about 10 per cent of its sales from brick and mortar stores. Xiaomi, which had partnered Redington last year to mark foray into retail stores, sells a number of models including Redmi 2, Mi4, Redmi Note 3, Mi5 and Mi Max through offline channel. advertisement "Within a year, offline is contributing to 10 per cent of our sales. We have also expanded our partnerships, which is doing well for us," Xiaomi India Head Manu Jain told PTI. Last month, the company had announced its partnership with Just Buy Live and Innocomm to expand its offline distribution network. With these partnerships, Xiaomi India expanded its presence across major large format retailers like Sangeetha, Big C, LOT Mobiles, Poorvika as well as several mom-and-pop stores. "This increased our presence to more than 5,000 offline outlets," he said. Xiaomi today launched its new handsets -- Redmi 3S and Redmi 3S Prime -- in India, priced at Rs 6,999 and Rs 8,999, respectively. Priced in the sub-Rs 9,000 range, the handsets will compete with devices from the stables of domestic rivals like Micromax and Intex as well as Samsung. Both models will be initially available exclusively on Mi.com and Flipkart, starting with Redmi 3S Prime on 9 August. Xiaomi has sold 110 million Redmi phones across the world in three years. The Redmi 3S comes with a 5-inch HD display, 1.4GHz octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory (expandable memory up to 128GB), 13MP rear and 5MP front camera and 4,100 mAh battery. Redmi 3S Prime features 3GB RAM, 32GB internal memory, 1.4GHz octa-core processor and rear fingerprint sensor. Redmi 3S Prime will be available from August 9, while Redmi 3S will be available starting August 16. PTI SR BAL MKJ --- ENDS --- Thari Ismael and his family are living in a communal kitchen in a camp for displaced families in Habbaniyah, Anbar Governorate, Iraq. UNHCR/Caroline Gluck HABBANIYAH, Al-Anbar Governorate, Iraq The temperature hovers above 50 degrees Celsius in Habbaniyah camp, a dusty place of refuge in the Iraqi desert, and there is no shade for thousands of families taking shelter here. I met 53-year-old Thari Ismael and his family in a flimsy, plastic-sided building originally intended as a communal kitchen. There were no tents available, so we moved in here, said Thari, a father of eight. Some camp residents want us to move so they can cook in this place, but there is nowhere for us to move to. Two days earlier, the family, who lived in a rural area on the outskirts of Falluja, were hooked up to the power grid, allowing them to use an air cooler and fan provided by UNHCR. It makes a big difference things are much better, Thari said, but still, daily life is hard. Youngsters try to stay cool with wet towels as temperatures top 50 degrees Celsius in a camp for displaced people in Habbaniyah camp. UNHCR/Caroline Gluck A woman who fled Falluja shelters in a tent in al-Iraq camp, Ameriyat al-Falluja, as the temperature surpasses 50 degrees Celsius. UNHCR/Semih Bulbul Families who fled violence in Falluja live in harsh conditions at a camp set up by the Iraqi Government in the desert in Ameriyat al-Falluja. UNHCR/Semih Bulbul Families with young children who fled fighting in Falluja arrive at the camp in Ameriyat al-Falluja, Iraq. UNHCR/Semih Bulbul The Ismaels are among the many former residents of Falluja who have fled their homes since late May, escaping a government offensive to retake the city from extremist groups. Camps like Habbaniyah were a hasty response to the massive displacement that ensued. More than 87,000 people fled Falluja and neighbouring areas to escape air strikes by government and coalition forces, and shelling and tight controls by the extremist groups who governed their daily lives for two-and-a-half years. However, their relief is being sorely tested by the harsh conditions they now face on the ground. We are so thankful to be safe with our children but we are still afraid to go back. Thari's wife, Sawsan, 42, told me how the family took three days to escape, crossing the Euphrates River, where they lost jewellery and identity documents and saw other families drown. We are so thankful to be safe with our children," she said. "But we are still afraid to go back. Sawsan also spoke of her concern at the health of her daughter, who has a kidney ailment. Her other children have developed diarrhoea, caused, she said, by drinking contaminated water. Families struggle in heat and dust of Iraqi desert camp Walking around the camp, it was clear that conditions were far from ideal, although more assistance was reaching people. UNHCR, with its partner, Muslim Aid, was distributing emergency relief items at one camp I visited two days earlier and planned extra distributions for families at this camp. Many families were still sharing tents; people soaked towels in water and wrapped them around their heads to try to stay cool, but they say they sleep for only a few hours at night because of the heat. Many had developed skin conditions, possibly because of the heat or as a result of conditions in the camp. Residents complained of insect bites and scorpion stings. It was especially difficult for female-headed households whose husbands and older sons were absent, having been separated for security screening by the authorities when families reached safety. We want to know where the men are, said Hamdia Hadi, a 45-year-old widow. Her 19-year-old son was taken away for questioning two months earlier. Its a disaster to be here without my son. I have three girls, and one is sick at the moment. I rely on him. I cannot return home to Falluja until he joins us. Falluja is a place of bad memories. I dont think I can ever return there. Munira Mohammed, a divorced mother of four, shares a tent with her sister and her sisters six children. My children are all afraid of the insects, the creatures we find in the camp, she said. Even though its not easy, we prefer to stay here. Back in Falluja, our house was demolished by an air strike, and for five months before we left we moved around the city, staying in empty houses. Now we are all alone. Falluja is a place of bad memories. I dont think I can ever return there. The authorities have already begun clearing Falluja of booby traps and mines, hoping that displaced families will soon be able to start to return. More than 3.3 million Iraqis have been displaced by the conflict, and the humanitarian situation is likely to worsen in the months ahead. Pledges of extra humanitarian funding at a donors conference in Washington in July were a welcome step, allowing agencies such as UNHCR to fund contingency plans, set up camps and pre-position tents and emergency supplies before the next emergency. By PTI: Kochi, Aug 3 (PTI) An accused in the 2010 Kerala college professor hand-chopping case surrendered before a special NIA court here today. The court sent Sajil to judicial custody, NIA sources said, adding that they will seek his custody for interrogation. Sajil had been absconding since 2010 after the attack on Thodupuzha New Man College professor T J Joseph for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a question paper he had set. advertisement The NIA court had in May last year sentenced ten people belonging to Popular Front of India, to eight years rigorous imprisonment for chopping off the hand of the professor. NIA court judge P Sasidharan had also awarded two years rigorous imprisonment to three others in the sensational case and imposed a fine of Rs eight lakh on the 13 convicts. The right hand of Joseph was chopped off while he was returning home after attending Sunday mass at a church in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district on July 4, 2010. PTI TGB ROH BN SC --- ENDS --- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is the single most effective intervention for preventing child mortality, especially in countries like Guinea-Bissau. In the remote village of Bianga, mothers gather once a month in community bungalows to learn about breastfeeding and optimal nutrition for their children. Naniza Mantega Mendas is already seeing the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in her three young sons, who are all healthy and thriving. BIANGA, Guinea-Bissau, 2 August 2016 The village of Bianga is located in Guinea-Bissaus Cacheu Region, near the Cacheu river that feeds into the Atlantic Ocean. It is nearly 100 km from the capital, Bissau, and accessed by a bumpy dirt road that disappears under the dense canopy of cashew and palm trees. The only sound to be heard is the call of birds and the drone of cicadas in the afternoon heat. Bianga is home to 613 people, 80 of whom are children under five years old. Naniza Mantega Mendas, 28, is the mother of three precocious boys: 3-month-old Pedrozinho, 4-year-old Pedrinho, and 5-year-old Rubem. I exclusively breastfed both Pedrinho and Rubem for six months and will do the same for Pedrozinho, Naniza says proudly. Naniza is giving her children the best start in life. Under its breastfeeding advocacy programme, UNICEF aims to promote and protect breastfeeding. Because breastmilk contains all the nutrients a baby requires during the first six months of life, no other foods or liquids are needed during this time. Additionally, exclusive breastfeeding is the single most effective intervention for preventing child mortality, especially in countries like Guinea-Bissau, where 1 out of every 10 children die before their fifth birthday. Not only does breastfeeding protect against illness and promote the recovery of children when ill, children that are breastfed have better physical and cognitive development than children that are not breastfed, which means that they will be better prepared to attend school and to participate in community life. For mothers, the benefits from breastfeeding include a reduced of risk of postpartum hemorrhage a leading cause of maternal mortality, and particularly significant in Guinea-Bissau, as 549 in every 100,000 pregnancies end in maternal death. Breastfeeding also aids in increasing birth spacing, while reducing the risk of diabetes and breast cancer. As a result, the benefits of breastfeeding extend beyond just the child and mother to the community and nation. In the northern part of Yemens capital city of Sanaa, 1.5 million people are serviced by a single wastewater treatment plant. When escalating conflict caused damage to the plant, raw sewage water streamed dangerously through the Bani-Al-Hareth district, exposing residents to harmful waste and a potential public health crisis. SANAA, Yemen, 3 August 2016 When conflict escalated in Yemen in March 2015, the resulting damage to infrastructure cut off electricity to a sewage treatment plant that turns human waste into harmless manure for fertilizing agricultural lands. Production at the plant ground to a halt, and raw sewage water streamed dangerously through Bani Al-Hareth, a district north of the capital, Sanaa. A heavy stench from all types of human waste engulfed the area and a swamp of flies spread throughout. Abdo Ali Tammah lives in the area, and said the unpleasant sight and smell of the sewage added to the misery already inflicted on them by the violent conflict. There was nowhere to turn to. There were too many flies and other insects attracted by the raw sewage, said Mr. Tammah. Our crops in the farms were not spared, they just died, he added. Children at risk The situation had the potential to exacerbate the effects felt from the ongoing conflict, and potentially turn into a public health crisis. Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services, coupled with poor hygiene practices, kills and sickens thousands of children around the world every day, and leads to impoverishment and diminished opportunities for thousands more. By India Today Web Desk: Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra have been rumoured to be dating since the beginning of time. Neither of them have confirmed it, and they've been spotted together multiple times. In an interview to an online publication, Alia explained her entire train of thought: ALSO SEE: Alia Bhatt to Daniel Radcliffe, 10 young actors who broke the norm advertisement "Look at Taylor Swift. She's dated, like, everybody. But if she was here, she'd be totally shamed for making those choices. Her image and appeal would be very different. The reason actresses don't talk about their private lives is because in our society there is a lot of slut-shaming. Eventually, I have a responsibility and I have to protect myself." The 23-year old Highway actor explained the situation citing herself as an example, "Okay, suppose I say that but is it necessary that it stays that way? What if tomorrow I am not in love with him and feel differently about it? Then what? It's not written in stone, is it? And I don't want to be in a position where they come after me because I broke up with a dude. "Oh, aapka break-up ho gaya, ab agla kaun? Who's next?" This shallow and stupid thinking is just the reality of our society which doesn't allow women to be the way they'd like to be - free and independent." The Udta Punjab actor has been subject to plenty of trolls, memes on social media, however as it turns out her words mark wisdom, way beyond anyone else her age. She will be next seen in Gauri Shinde's Dear Zindagi along with Shah Rukh Khan, and then in Ayan Mukerji's Dragon opposite Alia Bhatt. --- ENDS --- Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu has decided to give more time to Centre after Arun Jaitley called him to say that the Centre would make efforts to resolve the issue soon. By Ashish Pandey: Amidst the protest over denial of special category status to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will be visiting New Delhi on August 4 to formally invite the top political dignitaries for Krishna Pushkaralu festival. However, Naidu's itineary doesn't mention any meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When asked about his plan to invite PM Modi for the gala celebration back home, Naidu hushed the question, If PM Modi gives an appointment, I will meet him as well.?? advertisement Naidu said that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley called him to assure that the Cenre would resolve the special status issue soon. "Hope he keeps his word," said Naidu. ARUN JAITLEY IN RAJYA SABHA After Arun Jaitley in the Rajya Sabha said that preferential treatment will not be given to alliance-ruled state,the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) said that Jaitley's claims in Rajya Sabha on extension of financial assistance to AP were "not acceptable". Meanwhile, the opposition YSR Congress is mounting pressure on the TDP government. They called an effective state shutdown on Tuesday. Speaking to India Today party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy asked TDP to immediately pullout there ministers from the central cabinet and also demanded there exit from the National Democratic Alliance. "The demand of special status is not a political issue, its a right of the people of Andhra Pradesh and instead of leading the agitation the TDP is cosying up with the BJP who denied the special category status after their promise of support during 2014 general election as well as in the parliament," he said. TDP is facing tough questions from the state opposition as the YSR congress is not letting any chance to hit out at the party. However, TDP has soften its stand a little after the intervention of top BJP leaders. --- ENDS --- After the tragic shooting in Dallas that took the lives of policemen, people took to their respective platforms and expressed their outrage against the issue. One person expressed her disappointment in a different angle. A senior and vice president of University of Houston, Rouhini Sethi posted on Facebook "Forget #BlackLivesMatter, More like AllLivesMatter." Because of her post, Shane Smith, the university student body president took corrective action. Smith publicly denounced her actions and suspended her. Along with her suspension, she is to take a culture sensitivity workshop. The sensitivity training will require her to take three days to complete. In response, Sethi disagreed to Smith's issue but she complied anyway. According to National Interest, Sethi is only doing it for compliance and her views are still the same. Her personal views, which were posted on Facebook, went viral and outraged the whole student body. African American students at the University of Houston no longer feel that she is suited to lead them. Shane Smith announced his distaste regarding the issue. "Her post and subsequent actions were very divisive," he said. "It caused some in our student body to be upset with her. They lost their faith in her ability to represent them because they felt she did not understand or respect the struggle in their lives." Although Smith said "some" and not the majority, critics thought his statement was abrupt. Many feel that his role as student body president was not fulfilled properly in this situation. His role is to keep a small but vocal group satisfied. Sethi aired her private views on Facebook and did not use any of the school's media platforms to communicate her opinion. Digging deeper, many think that Sethi's reaction was because she was disturbed by the events in Dallas and she probably felt disillusioned by the movement. Many perceive her as a threat. Unfortunately, the student body is no longer confident with her. In other related news, check out the latest report on Black Lives Matter below: A United States Federal judge said on Tuesday that the bid of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for pretrial was rejected. The lawsuit focuses on the Trump University students that felt they were defrauded by the real estate school into signing up for real-estate seminars. Trump University was an American for-profit school that ran a real estate training program from 2005 until 2010. The company offered courses in real estate, asset management, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation. However, after several lawsuits within that time, the company became defunct. According to Reuters, United States District Judge Gonzalo Curiel said that there was a "genuine issue of material fact" as to whether Trump knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud the students. His written ruling cited extensive evidence that Trump himself did not meet, interviewed or selected Trump U instructors to handle the real estate school. Trump alleges that he himself handpicked them. The business started with Michael Sexton. Sexton created a business plan for a real estate training program and presented it to Trump. Initially, he wanted to use Trump's name as a brand. Instead, Trump decided he wanted to be principal owner. In 2010, Trump University closed its doors. They have stopped producing newspaper advertising, free presentations, and three-day seminars, and more. In total, there are three lawsuits filed against Trump University. All three range from false claims to racketeering. Trump's lawyers argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed because Trump's personal involvement in the school was loose. Which means that although he is involved in the curriculum and concept, they are saying that the mogul relied on others to manage Trump U. Trump's lawyers further explained that the references in marketing materials that says "secrets," "hand-picked" instructors or "university" were sales "puffery" and there was no evidence Trump intended to defraud students. Still, the class action lawsuit continues and even comedian and show host Seth Meyers has something to say about it. Ayurvedic drugs are badly regulated within India but for export purposes, it is very important to take Ayush Premium Mark for authentication. By Mail Today: With barely eight alternative medicine manufacturers having opted for Ayush ministry's "AYUSH Premium Mark" certification scheme so far, the ministry is worried about the smooth export of Ayurvedic medicines. The ministry has appealed to the drug manufacturers to get 'good quality' tag for easy export of their medicines. QUALITY CERTIFICATION Ayush Ministry has introduced voluntary quality certification systems in accordance with World Health Organisation (WHO) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines and Quality Council of India (QCI) scheme of Ayush Premium Mark due to emerging trade and export opportunities for Ayurvedic medicines. advertisement However, the GMP is mandatory for manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines within India and the Ayush Premium Mark for export is still voluntary. "Only eight firms have sought the Ayush Premium Mark so far. Ayurvedic drugs are badly regulated within India but for export purposes, it is very important to take Ayush Premium Mark for authentication," said Anil Kumar Ganeriwala, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush. "Gradually all the manufacturers who export their drugs will come forward to get the 'good quality' certification for lucrative business as it helps in export and easily enter the international pharmaceutical market," he said. Modernisation of Ayurvedic Drugs Manufacturing Process Drugs & Cosmetics Rules 1945 have provisions for manufacturing of Ayurvedic drugs under license in accordance with the quality standards prescribed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia and Good Manufacturing Practices. EVIDENCE OF SAFETY REQUIRED "Evidence of safety and effectiveness is required for obtaining license to manufacture Ayurvedic medicines and shelf-life or date of expiry of various dosage forms has been prescribed in Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Augmentation of pharmacopoeial standards has also been taken up for improving the quality of Ayurvedic medicines," Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that clinical trials should be made mandatory for all the alternative medicines to ensure safety. A recent study done by pharmacology department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) attempted to evaluate heavy metals contents in Ayurvedic drugs on over 78 formulations. It found that heavy metals in all metal formulations were above the WHO limit. In herbal formulations, lead in 19.6 per cent, cadmium in 21.4 per cent, mercury and arsenic in 5.3 per cent were found to be above the limit.It was found that Lead in 52.6 per cent of samples, cadmium in 26.3 per cent and mercury and arsenic contained in one herbometallic sample was above the limit. ALSO READ: Ayurveda to undergo clinical trials before hitting market advertisement Ayush ministry approves two Ayurvedic hospitals in UP --- ENDS --- August 3 2016 Glasgow Housing Association has been granted permission to push ahead with a development of 152 homes in Ibrox, Glasgow , by the end of the year.Conceived as a gateway to Ibrox and an extension of tenements lining Paisley Road West the brownfield scheme takes the form of three pavilions in a structured and formal landscape.Offering a mix of social and mid-market rental accommodation close to Ibrox Stadium the scheme will range in height from three to seven storeys the project is set for completion by 2018.In their design statement architects Elder & Cannon remarked: The proposals reflect the rigour scale and form of the traditional tenement while the landscape offers some protection from the dual carriageway and the setback allows for the design of the landscape to easily mediate topography and levels while absorbing some casual amenity space.The area in question is bounded by Broomloan Road, Skene Road and Paisley Road West and was once occupied by inter-war tenements. Uroflowmetry (uroflow) testing, primarily in men with obstructive symptoms, is one of the most common procedure performed in urologic practice. It is a relatively quick test to perform as it takes < 3 minutes for urology staff to perform.Uroflow reflects the velocity of a fluid as it moves through the urethra. It is a screening study; does not involve instrumentation, and provides information about normal versus abnormal voiding. Guidelines from the American Urological Association recommend 2 separate uroflowmetry tests with a voided volume > 150 ml for accurate interpretation.A recent article by Chandrapal and colleagues (2016) highlighted a common problem with uroflows, inadequate voided volumes. They found in their clinic-based setting that voided volumes > 50% (63%) of clinic based uroflowmetry tests (n=169) were 150 ml or less. Basically these are non-interpretable per AUA guidelines. What is even more disturbing is the effort this group put in to try to ensure adequate voided volumes. They reminded the patient to come in with a full bladder at the next appointment on the appointment reminder card or courtesy telephone call, placed visual signs on all bathroom doors and on the reception desk to request that patients wait to void until after the appointment. Do these sound familiar? Yes, we all do these to ensure that voided volume uroflowmetry is adequate.These authors make some suggestions to improve adequate voided volume at time of testing. The use of oral furosemide 20 mg which I believe to be unrealistic or doable in most offices. The second suggestion is definitely a possibility, bladder scan the patient prior to uroflow to determine adequate urine volume. If inadequate, the test could be delayed till patient consumes more fluids and reaches an adequate volume. We all have Bladder Scanners in our practices and this is a simple quick test to do. The authors had a third, but even more unrealistic suggestion, which is to catheterize the patient and fill the bladder with fluid to volume is reached.This article is an important as it addresses a common procedure performed in urology practices.Chandrapal, J. et al High Rates of Inadequate Urine Volume Cause Failure of Clinic Based Uroflowmetry in Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. Urology Practice. 2016, July 3:247-250. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.urpr.2015.08.003 Written by: Diane K. Newman, DNP, Adjunct Professor of Urology in Surgery, Research Investigator Senior and Co-Director, Penn Center for Continence and Pelvic HealthUniversity of Pennsylvania, Division of Urology, 3400 Spruce Street, 3rd Floor Perelman Bldg, Philadelphia, PA. 19104 The level of a specific molecule present in prostate tumors is an indicator of whether the cancer is aggressive and likely to spread, according to new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The study, available online in the journal European Urology, may inform future clinical tests that help doctors decide how best to treat prostate tumors. Many men with prostate cancer have slow-growing tumors that do not require surgery, radiation or other treatments that can leave patients impotent, incontinent or both. But doctors often have difficulty telling the difference between these indolent tumors and those that will prove to be more aggressive. Distinguishing patients who have indolent versus aggressive prostate cancer is probably one of the biggest challenges in the field, said senior author Christopher A. Maher, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine. Our study suggests that levels of a molecule called PCAT-14 may be a marker of whether the tumor is likely to be aggressive, helping doctors decide whether to intensify a patients treatment. The scientists measured levels of PCAT-14 from prostate tumors after their surgical removal. Maher said one of his groups goals is to design a noninvasive method, such as a urine test, to make the same measurement. The scientists found that levels of PCAT-14 an RNA molecule were elevated across 180 prostate cancer patients treated at three different institutions. Analyzing another 910 tumor samples from patients with known treatment outcomes, the researchers also showed that the patients with more aggressive tumors, perhaps surprisingly, had lower levels of PCAT-14. Patients with slow-growing tumors had higher levels of the molecule. That may seem counterintuitive, but according to Maher, the data suggest that high levels of this RNA molecule suppress tumor spreading. So when levels decrease, that suppression is lost and the cancer cells are free to metastasize. Past work by Maher and his colleagues has identified PCAT-14 as one of 121 similar RNA molecules strongly associated with prostate cancer. Many of the other PCAT molecules they found associated with a variety of cancers, including prostate, but PCAT-14 was specifically found only in prostate cancer. RNA is similar in structure to DNA and serves various functions in cells, especially in turning genes on and off. We looked at all similar RNA molecules in these prostate tumors, Maher said. Only PCAT-14 was consistently altered in all prostate cancer patients and able to distinguish indolent and aggressive disease. Working with aggressive prostate cancer cells in the lab, the researchers showed that dialing up levels of PCAT-14 appeared to build up barriers to cancer spreading, slowing the growth and mobility of these normally aggressive cells. Likewise, dialing down levels of PCAT-14 appeared to remove barriers to spreading, making these cells even more aggressive, increasing the number of cells and their ability to move. Maher and his colleagues also showed that low levels of PCAT-14 were associated with poor response to androgen deprivation therapy, a hormone-based treatment for prostate cancer that is less toxic than chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Prostate tumor growth often is driven by male hormones, such as testosterone. Depriving prostate tumors of hormonal fuel can slow or stop growth, but some tumors grow even in a state of hormone deprivation. We suspect that PCAT-14 may be a good predictor of whether patients will respond well to androgen deprivation therapy, Maher said. Low PCAT-14 means the cells are likely to grow and spread even when deprived of androgens. With improving diagnosis and treatment in mind, Maher said the development of a noninvasive test to measure levels of PCAT-14 could reduce the need for biopsy or removal of the prostate. This is an advantage of identifying a molecule that is only present in the prostate, according to Maher. In theory, if this molecule can be detected in a urine sample, for example, there would be no question it would indicate a problem with the prostate rather than some other organ, such as the kidney or bladder. This work was supported by Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Awards, a V Foundation for Cancer Research V Scholar Award and a Cancer Research Foundation Young Investigator Award. White NM, Zhao SG, Zhang J, Rozycki EB, Dang HX, McFadden SD, Eteleeb AM, Alshalalfa M, Vergara IA, Erho N, Arbeit JM, Karnes RJ, Den RB, Davicioni E, Maher CA. Multi-institutional analysis shows low PCAT-14 expression associates with poor outcome in prostate cancer. European Urology. July 23, 2016. The IGP AKM Shahidul Haque said "we have no exact knowledge about their present whereabouts. For that we seek the co-operation of the people. If anyone can give information or help to catch them , two million taka will be rewarded for information about each one of the militants." By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Bangladesh Police chief IGP AKM Shahidul Haque has announced cash rewards of one million taka for anyone who can provide information on the whereabouts of two militants - Major Syed Ziaul Haque, the sacked former army officer and Tamim Choudhury as they have been identified as the 'masterminds' of the terror attacks at a Dhaka cafe and at a Eid congregation in Sholakia recently. advertisement He made the announcement at a press meeting at the police headquarters in Dhaka. He asserted that Major Zia was the top ABT (Ansarullah Bangla Team) leader and Tamim Choudhury was the new leader of the JMB (Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen). INFORMATION RETRIEVED IGP Shahidul said, police have collected a number of clues while investigating the Gulshan and Sholakia attacks. They have also uncovered important details about the terror attacks at Shaorapara, Kalyanpur and Mirpur areas in the capital. Police gave militants options to surrender after receiving the news of Kalyanpur attack. But they refused the offer and declared a battle with police. Later police conducted a raid in which 9 militants were killed, one was arrested and one fled. NEW VERSION OF JAMAAT-UL-MUJAHIDEEN The police chief also said, the former JMB was not connected with the Gulshan and Sholakia attacks. This attack was led by Major Zia and Tamim Choudhuy who have constructed a new version of JMB. Police sources say they are the real masterminds of the recent attacks. The IGP said "we have no exact knowledge about their present whereabouts. For that we seek the co-operation of the people. If anyone can give information or help to catch them , two million taka will be rewarded for information about each one of the millitants." He also said the identity of the informer will be kept hidden by the law enforcers. When the police chief was asked about the involvement of Hijbut Tahrir in the recent attacks, he said nothing has been uncovered so far to establish a link to the militant organisation but the Jamaat-Shibir connection has been established. RAB, DG Benazir Ahmed, DMP commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, Special Branch chief Dr. Jabed Patwary were among those present at the press conference. SYED ZIAUL HAQUE Former army officer Syed Ziaul Haque, who was dismissed for a coup attempt in 2012 has been absconding since then. Sources say, Major Zia has had a connection with militancy for a long time. Law enforcement officials believe that a substantial number of bloggers killed and other attacks initiated can be traced back to Zia's takeover of the militant branch in 2015. These attacks have been committed in a way where evidence is hard to come and thus arresting people has become very tough. ALSO READ: advertisement India seeks greater security cooperation with Bangladesh --- ENDS --- Published: August 03, 2016 UT Receives Donation from TD Charitable Foundation for Career Workshop Enhancements The TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, Americas Most Convenient Bank, recently made a donation to The University of Tampa to help the University create a culture of career readiness and career preparedness amongst its students and alumni.The donation, which is part of the foundations commitment to giving back to the community, will help UT create and enhance career readiness workshops and webinars for students focused on the key skill sets employers are seeking out of todays graduates. These workshops and webinars will include resume preparation, personal branding, interviewing, job search strategies and internship preparation.This programming will bolster the UT student experience by infusing a variety of specific career-related programs through curriculum enhancement, faculty partnerships, student leadership programming and employer collaborations. With these additional outreach capabilities, Career Services would enhance key partnerships with student groups whose mission is focused on diversity and inclusion, international topics, women in leadership, industry/major specific, life skill development and leadership.The program will also be integrated into UTs new Spartan Ready initiative through coursework, class presentations and supplemental support.Mark Colvenbach, director of UTs Career Services, said the donation gives UT staff the ability to deliver a tremendous resource to further the mission of Career Services and infuse a career readiness culture for our students as they prepare for life beyond UT.We truly appreciate the generous support the TD Charitable Foundation grant will provide for our students, Colvenbach said, adding that the donation will sustain the program for the long term."Education and economic development are important pillars to the TD Charitable Foundation, so we are proud to partner with The University of Tampa in support of its Career Services program," said Mike Nursey, market president, TD Bank. UT is a great institution, and we truly believe that this program will provide graduating students with life-long skills and help prepare them for interviews and successful post-graduation job placement.Gary Grant, UTs vice president of development and university relations, said TD Charitable Foundations support will have a very important and specific impact by helping students transition from college to careers. We are extremely grateful, he said. Page Content Formed through the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Music Department, Aber Suzuki Center and Continuing Education as well as with local music educators, the program has openings in both its Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia (string orchestra) groups. Registrations are due Monday, Aug. 15, after which there is a late registration fee. Both groups rehearse and perform at the Noel Fine Arts Center on the UW-Stevens Point campus. Fall rehearsals begin Sunday, Sept. 11, and a concert concludes the semester on Sunday, Nov. 20. The spring semester runs Sunday, Jan. 15, through Sunday, April 9. Young musicians would have to travel to Madison or the Fox Valley to be involved in this level of study and performance, said program founder Kurt Van Tiem. Now they only have to travel to the top-notch facilities at the UW-Stevens Point Noel Fine Arts Center. Van Tiem directs the Symphony Orchestra, which performs standard orchestral literature at the advanced high school level. The group holds two concerts each year and will tour every three to four years. Van Tiem chairs the Music Department at P.J. Jacobs Junior High School in Stevens Point and has conducted the Wausau Symphony and at the University of Massachusetts. The Philharmonia is directed by Stephan Wucherer and performs various levels of full orchestra literature from standard middle school to high school level. The group will hold two concerts each year and may perform for area schools. Wucherer is an orchestra director in the Howard-Suamico school district and conducts the Waupaca Area Orchestra. For more information or registration, go to www.uwsp.edu/conted/artculture/pages/cwyso or call 715-346-3838. The BJP today accepted the resignation of Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel and began the process of picking her successor, denying that party chief Amit Shah is a contender. By India Today Web Desk: The BJP's top leadership met at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi today to accept the resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and begin the process of picking her successor, ruling out party chief Amit Shah as a choice. Among those who attended the meeting, apart from Modi and Shah, were Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu, and senior BJP leader JP Nadda. advertisement "The BJP's parliamentary board has decided to accept the resignation of Anandiben Patel as Gujarat Chief Minister," Naidu later said, adding that she will go to Raj Bhavan today and submit her resignation to Governor OP Kohli. AMIT SHAH RULED OUT Naidu said there is no question of BJP president Amit Shah taking over the state now. "Amit Shah ji is a national leader. He will chair the process of picking a successor, but we have not discussed any name as Patel's successor," he said. "The party wants his leadership. He himself is going to guide the party on who should lead Gujarat," Naidu told reporters.He added that the next leader will be chosen from the MLAs in Gujarat. "Amit Shah is also an MLA in Gujarat," he reminded the reporters. According to sources, BJP workers in Gujarat are inclined to see Shah taking the reign from Patel to revive the BJP's falling stock in the wake of Dalit and Patidar protests. Naidu informed reporters that senior BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari and Saroj Pandey have been appointed observers and asked to go to Gujarat and hold meetings with state leaders. "The decision on the next CM will be taken then," he said. Though the decision is to be taken at the "highest level" of the BJP leadership, the names doing the rounds as potential successor to Patel include the "number two" in state Cabinet and Health minister Nitin Patel, state BJP chief Vijay Rupani, Union minister Purshottam Rupala, and Assembly Speaker Ganpat Vasava, a tribal leader. ANANDIBEN PATEL RESIGNS ON FACEBOOK On Monday, Patel, who turns 75 in November, took to Facebook to request the BJP leadership to relieve her of the job, saying it was time for new leaders to take over. Under Patel, the saffron party had suffered a humiliated setback in civic polls. The BJP also antagonised its loyal vote bank of Patidars who have been demanding OBC quota and staged violent protests last year. Of late, the flogging of Dalits at Una also caused a massive unrest, denting further the party's image. advertisement WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/video/venkaiah-naidu-bjp-parliamentary-board-meet/1/730807.html Also Read: No rift, Anandiben Patels resignation part of Modis larger game plan Who will be Gujarat's next Chief Minister as Anandiben Patel quits? --- ENDS --- By PTI: Dehradun, Aug 3 (PTI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today alleged that pressure from BJP forced the woman who had accused party leader Harak Singh Rawat of raping her at his residence in New Delhi to change her statement. Objecting to his name being dragged into the controversy, the chief minister said BJP was trying to impose the burden of its leader on him. advertisement "The government is of BJP (in Delhi). The police belongs to it. Even the victim has had an old association with BJP," he said, suggesting the party had forced the victim to change her statement. He said all tests should be conducted to find the truth. As to the allegations by the woman that four men from the Chief Ministers Office had warned her of dire consequences if she did not file an FIR against Harak Singh, the CM said the BJP should either prove the charge or withdraw it. The woman had alleged in her complaint to the Safdarjung police station that Harak Singh raped her at his residence in the posh Green Park area on July 29. Rawat was among the nine Congress MLAs who had revolted against Congress government in the state assembly on March 18. He is now with BJP along with the rest of the rebel MLAs. PTI ALM ABH RG ABH --- ENDS --- Once again, Hollywood has been accused of racism. Not a day seems to go by without there being some kind of faux-controversy within the movie industry, with the more recent high-profile cases including the ridiculous #OscarsSoWhite fiasco and Scarlett Johansson being cast as an android in an adaptation of the popular anime Ghost in the Shell. Matt Damon leading the line in Zhang Yimou's The Great Wall, which also stars Andy Lau, Jing Tian, and Willem Dafoe, falls into the same category. "But what is a white guy doing in a Chinese movie?! WHITEWASHING!!!" You might mumble. You might yell it from the rooftops. You might even scream about it on social media (you probably will). But if you are of sound mind, you could even step back and consider just why the Jason Bourne star was chosen instead of a Chinese actor, and similarly why it's not even remotely racist. The reasons include, but are not limited to, these four main points: It's Chinese-made The film is directed by Zhang Yimou, known for the Oscar-nominated Ju Dou and helming the Opening and Closing ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and is largely backed by the Chinese production companies Le Vision Pictures and China Film Group. The Great Wall is also the most expensive film shot entirely in China, with the $135 million budget eclipsing that of the previous holder, Zhang's Flowers of War, which starred Christian Bale. If a film shot in China, backed by China, and directed by a Chinese man, want to have a white guy as their lead, then that's what happens. If they wanted to keep it to an all-Chinese cast, then that's what they would've done. Which segues nicely onto the next point... Bale in Flowers of War (LA Times) China loves Hollywood It's no secret that Chinese moviegoers love a good dose of foreign cinema. Of the top 50 highest-grossing films in China, 24 have been produced by an American company or companies, and none date further back than 2009's smash-hit Avatar. Other films on the list include Furious 7, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Warcraft and Jurassic World. That is not to say that domestic films don't do well there, as the top two films on said list are currently The Mermaid and Monster Hunt. Casting Damon is an exceptionally clever move as it allows the filmmakers to tap into both audiences, with viewers seeing a Western star they are familiar with but also seeing their home country on screen without the use of a foreign sound stage. Damon isn't playing someone Chinese Similar to Tom Cruise's role in The Last Samurai, the filmmakers didn't decide to write the character with a Chinese actor in mind then cast Damon; they wrote the role with him, or someone else of such ethnicity, in mind. They're not going to add horrible prosthetics to the Good Will Hunting actor's face and make his skin slightly darker (as that would look outlandishly stupid), nor are they going to change Damon in post-production to make him look more Chinese. The outrage would be understandable if Damon was playing a man named Wang Wei and spoke with that classic accent designed to mock how the Chinese say English words (you know the one). But I'm willing to stake that none of that will happen as it would probably spell the end of many careers. IT'S A FANTASY MOVIE BASED ON A BOOK!!! It's not real! It's not a historical movie! It's not meant to be accurate about how the Great Wall was built. The film contains monsters and such like, hence the tagline "What were they trying to keep out?" It's also based on The Great Wall of China, a short story by Czech author Franz Kafka, which, according to comicbook.com, it 'examines the enclosure and protection of Europe by a complex and growing system of walls, fences, and systems of exclusion.' Wikipedia also mentions the book is 'an allegory to European isolationism and exclusion, in spite of taking place in China during the Song Dynasty.' WWE have always in the past welcomed stars and celebrities to their company and it has often worked out well for both parties. Last year Jon Stewart hosted SummerSlam and had a huge say in the main event between John Cena and Seth Rollins but now it seems as though Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs is following the trend. P Diddy Now in the whole creation and establishment of the Brand Extension that included the draft, it speaks volumes that Raw has announced a hip-hop icon to its show while SmackDown Live is yet to feature anyone. Although Mick Foley maintains the title of General Manager and Stephanie McMahon is firmly the commissioner, welcoming in P Diddy so soon after the management began seems a strange one. However having a worldwide star affiliated with the company can only help in the long run and with SummerSlam less than three weeks away the more exposure the better. The 46-year-old record producer is no stranger to WWE as his track "Coming Home" was the official theme song for WrestleMania 29 in which The Rock returned home. Celebrity Power P Diddy will not be the first star to set foot in WWE as since its creation, the wrestling company has often borrow media attention from huge stars and fiddled it into its programming. Other notable names include: WrestleMania I featured two huge names in Muhammad Ali as a guest referee and Mr T as Hulk Hogan's tag-team partner against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndoff. Donald Trump is one of the most talked about people in the world but his status in the wrestling world peaked in 2007 when he featured in WrestleMania 23 in the corner of Bobby Lashley versus Umaga, with Mr McMahon backing The Samoan. The match was deemed the Battle of the Billionaires with the loser being forced to shave their head, Umaga and McMahon lost much to the delight of the current presidential candidate. Mike Tyson was an instrumental figure in turning the tides in the Monday Night Raw with his appearance at WrestleMania XIV alongside 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin cementing his legacy as one of the greatest stars to collide with WWE. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO "Chatter" by local artist Katherine Chang Liu is on exhibit at the Museum of Ventura County. Nicole D'Amore Columnist SHARE Katherine Chang Liu CONTRIBUTED PHOTO "Daily Ledger #2" is by local artist Katherine Chang Liu. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO "Living With Chatter" is by local artist Katherine Chang Liu. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO "Qualia" is by local artist Katherine Chang Liu. By Nicole DAmore It was because she put her own scientific education on hold to support her husband's that Katherine Chang Liu ventured into art. But her artistic method may have been set much earlier, in childhood, when her father regularly asked her to give her interpretation of articles in the newspaper. "In some sense, the evaluating process became part of my personality," Liu said. The award-winning mixed-media artist gets many ideas from reading, from her perception of events. There are layers of meaning in her work. A recent series focuses on chatter, the bombardment of information from the internet and TV. "I am trying to use a visual way to show how a quiet life is invaded by chatter," she said. One of those paintings is featured in an exhibit, "I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story," through Aug. 28 at the Museum of Ventura County. Five local artists have work in the traveling exhibit presented by the Smithsonian Institution. Liu, who has lived in Westlake Village since 1980, received a lifetime achievement award from the Watercolor USA Honor Society in 2014. She exhibits and is represented in galleries worldwide and is in demand as a juror and workshop leader. Born in China, she grew up in Taiwan emulating her father's calligraphy. She earned money in high school tutoring children in math to pay for classes with a master artist. But her career focus was on science. She earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural chemistry before coming to the United States on a full scholarship to UC Berkeley. "It was my first time in the U.S. and my first time living away from home," she said. "I became who I was then, and it continues." She married Yetzen Liu and earned her master's degree in 1965. Liu gave up pursuit of a doctorate to take a management job at Syntex in estrogen research while her husband finished pursuing his doctorate at Stanford. She had two children and took classes in painting and ceramics. It was a move to Roanoke, Virginia, in 1974 that changed her life artistically. "If I didn't move there, I probably would not be a painter today," Liu said. Unable to find a job that fit her training, she attended a new resident tea at the local art center. She recalls seeing watercolor paintings on the walls and thinking she could do that. The curator invited her to exhibit some paintings, so she quickly painted three watercolor landscapes. All three sold in two weeks. When a juror from New York spoke at the art center, she asked him for advice. He told her to produce 200 paintings of one subject, save the best painting and throw the rest away. Having heard that white objects are hardest to paint, she produced 197 paintings of eggs in every configuration she could imagine. "You have to be so inventive because your subject is limited," she said. "So that formed my artistic personality I would dedicate to one idea and work with it." Liu took classes and met other artists. One of her paintings won the top award at an American Association of University Women exhibit, leading to an invitation to do a solo show and to teach classes. After four and a half years in Roanoke, her husband was offered a job at Rockwell International in Thousand Oaks. She stayed behind to sell the house, and during that year, she received a National Endowment Grant. Liu works in a large two-room studio in her home, mainly in acrylic on paper or panels. "I always start from an idea. I title my paintings first," she said. There is lots of drawing, collage. Some paintings have 20 layers. "I want the working life to show through. I want to imply the process." She accumulates meaningful collage elements but not too many. "You can end up having your material dictate your process," she said. She started abstract painting early on. "In every subject, I have a tendency to edit down," she said. "I started to wash off, combine areas. I also have a tendency to get really close to the subject matter. "I think my artistic personality is abstraction, but not nonobjective because I always have something I am trying to say. ... I have a content I am following." Her website is http://www.katherinechangliu.com. For more information or to recommend an artist to be profiled, contact Nicole D'Amore at artprofiles1@gmail.com. According to highly placed sources in the party, the survey is being conducted by a private agency and the reports have started reaching national president Amit Shah without any intermediate steps Party is still undecided about its CM candidate even though Rajnath Singh was rumoured to be in the reckoning. By Mail Today: Even as the suspense over the new national unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains rife, the party has started constituency-wise survey to identify candidates in Uttar Pradesh (UP) in preparation of the upcoming assembly polls in 2017. LEARNING FROM BIHAR According to highly placed sources in the party, the survey is being conducted by a private agency and the reports have started reaching national president Amit Shah without any intermediate steps. Sources added that taking a cue from the Bihar poll debacle, in which such surveys had been conducted but the state unit had a say in the final ticket distribution, this time around state unit president Keshav Prasad Maurya would only be putting his final initials on the lists finalised by Shah. advertisement TICKETS Also, in UP, the high command has decided that only those would be given tickets who would emerge winners in the survey. Sources told Mail today that the party was confident of passing the 250 seat mark in an assembly of 403 if only the right candidates were given tickets through a cautious and careful process of selection??. CM CANDIDATE Meanwhile, the party has not been able to zero-in on its chief ministerial candidate for the UP polls. According to a number of party insiders in all likelihood the party would enter the UP poll fray without a chief ministerial face. While rumours had been rife about Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh taking the baton in UP during the Allahabad national executive meet, the talks had died down as fast as they had been aired. According to some in the party, Singh was still being pursued for leading the partys charge against the Samajwadi Party. BJP considers SP and not the Bahujan Samaj Party as its chief contender but to no avail. The party, however, in the eyes of political observers, would be happy at Congress having started its campaign in the state as many consider that a resurgent Congress would mean good news for the BJP as it would only damage the Dalit, Muslim vote banks of SP and BSP. ALSO READ: Uttar Pradesh polls: Post-Mayawati storm, BJP reworks Dalit outreach Heavy rains wash off BJP's plans to lure Dalits in UP, Amit Shah's Agra rally cancelled --- ENDS --- SHARE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Ventura County Sheriff's Office Department. By Christian Martinez, christian.martinez@vcstar.com The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said it arrested a man and a woman Wednesday after a brief foot pursuit in a Moorpark apartment complex. According to sheriff's officials, Jesse Joaquin, 35, and Desiree Amador, 19, were arrested sometime after 6:50 a.m. in the 50 block of Majestic Court. Sheriff officials allege Joaquin fled from deputies during an attempted probation search. He led deputies on a short foot pursuit through an apartment complex, sheriff officials said. During the pursuit, authorities allege Joaquin pulled a gun from his clothing and threw it over the railing of a staircase. Officials said Amador recovered the weapon and attempted to hide it. Sheriff's officials said the firearm was found. Joaquin was arrested on suspicion of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, being under the influence of narcotics while in possession of a loaded firearm and resisting or delaying a peace officer, officials said. Authorities said Amador was arrested on suspicion of tampering with evidence and being under the influence while in possession of a loaded firearm. Joaquin and Amador were booked into Ventura County Jail, officials said. SHARE STAR FILE PHOTO Tim Flynn Nyhoff By Staff Reports Oxnard residents will get a status update on the city and have a chance to pose questions of the mayor and city manager during a town hall meeting next month. The Inter-Neighborhood Council Organization's second annual town hall meeting will be Sept. 7 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center and Convention Center, 800 Hobson Way. Doors for the free event will open at 6:30 p.m., when participants can enjoy complimentary coffee and appetizers, meet their neighbors and learn about their neighborhood councils, according to the city. The program will begin at 7 p.m., with Mayor Tim Flynn delivering his State of the City address. He plans to give updates on the city's progress and plans for the future, including the status of neighborhood improvements, Measure O upgrades and recent developments regarding the downtown revitalization plan. City Manager Greg Nyhoff then will join Flynn to answer questions from the public. Free parking will be available at Hobson Way and Seventh Street and at Hobson Way and Ninth Street. Americans With Disabilities Act-accessible parking will be available at both locations. The event will be recorded for broadcast on Oxnard CityWatch Television. Time Warner Cable subscribers can watch the meeting on Channel 10, and Frontier Communications customers can tune in to Channel 35 starting Sept. 14. The video also will be available for online streaming at http://www.oxnard.org. The Inter-Neighborhood Council Organization, which is hosting the meeting, encourages residents to form neighborhood councils to address issues that are important to community members. The organization assists neighborhood councils in communicating with the Oxnard City Council and city staff and helps neighborhood councils achieve their objectives. The organization meets on the first Wednesday of each month, serving as a forum for neighborhood council participants. Contact Oxnard Neighborhood Services at 385-7424 for more information. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO SHARE By Kathleen Wilson of the Ventura County Star County supervisors moved Tuesday toward regulating the short-term vacation rentals that have spawned complaints from residents of the Ojai Valley and some beach communities who say party houses are taking over their neighborhoods. The issue drew more than 50 people to a hearing where the Ventura County Board of Supervisors wrestled with how to curb the conversion of homes into quasi-motels without infringing on the rights of those who are renting out their homes without problems. "The residential neighborhood has to be protected first and not sham-protected," Supervisor Steve Bennett said at the three-hour hearing in Ventura. Supervisors directed county staff members to come back with a definition of short-term rentals that would not classify them as a residential use. Exceptions could be made for owners who live in the homes versus absentee investors, homeowner associations willing to regulate the properties and owners who got the permission of neighbors to operate short-term rentals. But those entities would have to prove why they merited an exemption. County Resource Management Director Chris Stephens said he expected to come back to the board in October or November with a definition. Short-term rentals are currently viewed as an allowed residential use in unincorporated areas of Ventura County, over which the board has control. But the board's direction suggested they could be redesignated as businesses and thus not permitted in residential zones. The use of properties as short-term rentals, often for a weekend or week, is not new. It emerged as an issue over the past few years with the advertising of those properties online through Airbnb, which books homes for rent internationally. "The internet is a game changer," Supervisor John Zaragoza said. Cities and counties across California have been looking at how to regulate short-term rentals without being sued. Such rentals have been banned in Ojai, Anaheim, Hermosa Beach, Napa County, San Clemente and Seal Beach, Stephens said. They are permitted but regulated in Fillmore, Ventura and Goleta, he told the board. The cities of Santa Barbara and Carpinteria allow them but not in areas zoned for residential use. Estimates of the number of properties in unincorporated areas of the county vary widely. Only 114 are registered with the Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office, and thus subject to an 8 percent transit occupancy tax because they have visitors staying 30 days or less. Airbnb lists 148 and another site recorded 179, a county report showed. Almost all of them are in the Ojai Valley and along the coast, according to the tax collector's records. Most of the people who turned out for the hearing sought tighter controls to limit noise, trash, parking problems, large and ongoing parties and threats to their lifestyle. "We who live on the beach see a whole different group of people every other day," said retiree Brad Marcus, of Hollywood Beach. Others told of residents charging $1,295 a night and renting a home for a fraternity party with 40 people. Some, though, urged the board not to go overboard. Joel Freeman, of Oak View, said regulations should be enacted incrementally and tested for effectiveness. The attorney said he bought a four-bedroom home with the idea that he could generate income by renting rooms and on occasion the whole house. He would use the money initially to upgrade the property and later to supplement his retirement income, he said. "Many of the negative impacts are those that occur in any neighborhood," he said in a letter to the board, adding that they are not inherently the result of short-term occupancy. SHARE California Highway Patrol By Christian Martinez, christian.martinez@vcstar.com The California Highway Patrol said officers arrested a man on suspicion of driving under the influence after a crash Tuesday evening on Highway 118 in Simi Valley. The crash was reported shortly after 9:30 p.m. near the Erringer Road exit of westbound Highway 118, authorities said. Two vehicles reportedly were involved. According to authorities, the vehicle of the man suspected of DUI rolled over. The vehicle rolled about 50 feet over the side of the highway, authorities said. The driver suffered major injuries and was taken to Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, authorities said. The occupants of the other vehicle suffered minor injuries and went on their own to Los Robles, authorities said. PHOTO BY TOM KISKEN/THE STAR Susana Velazquez, far right, and others picket in front of St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard in an union protest on Tuesday. SHARE By Tom Kisken of the Ventura County Star More than 100 hospital workers picketed over contract issues Tuesday in front of St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard. The informational picket, triggered by negotiations being held across the massive Dignity Health system, was organized by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West. The union represents more than 400 workers at the Oxnard hospital, ranging from housekeeping staff to surgical technicians. Registered nurses are part of a different union. Work continued in the hospital during the picket. A similar action was held Monday at St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo, also operated by Dignity. Union members said the actions are part of a systemwide protest. Union members chanted into bullhorns and carried picket signs with sayings like "Dignity Values Cutting Corners.'' They said their frustration is triggered partly by proposed contract changes that would cut pension contributions, freeze wages and offer a 1 percent bonus instead of raises. "Our biggest message is Dignity cutting corners across the board," said union steward Charlie Goodwin, asserting patient care is being affected by staffing cuts that mean shifts are canceled or cut short. "They're sending people home every day," he said. Union members also complained about high pay to CEOs and top executives across Dignity. Health system officials said in a statement that Dignity is dedicated to serving patients and that care was not compromised by the picket. "We apologize to our patients, physicians and staff for any inconvenience this informational picket may cause," said Dignity spokeswoman Megan Maloney. "We believe the best place to resolve differences and achieve an agreement is at the bargaining table." SHARE Call us old-fashioned, but we think a bill currently making its way through the state Legislature that could allow voters to take photos of their marked ballots and post them on social media is a bad idea. It seems celebrities and lots of ordinary folks like to take selfies of themselves holding their finished ballots and post them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, wherever (the "I voted" buttons must be passe). Snapchat, in fact, is a supporter of the bill, AB 1494. Supporters say the bill would just help the voting process catch up to these social media times, generating some extra enthusiasm and engagement among young voters. Besides, they say, banning people from photographing their ballots is probably a violation of the First Amendment's free speech guarantee. "California law should encourage voter pride, political speech and civic engagement through social media," the bill's author, Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, said in a statement. Critics, however, say the bill violates our long-standing principle of the secret ballot, which protects voters against coercion, intimidation and vote-buying schemes. We're not sure coercion and vote-buying are huge problems when you're out at your local church polls voting for school board members, but we agree that the secret ballot is a fundamental part of our state constitution and democracy. We worry about anything that could water that down; about a slippery slope toward turning our voting process into one big Facebook page. Because if the best idea we have to improve voter turnout is to allow selfies with ballots, then our election system has bigger problems than we think. We also question the need for this bill. Current state law is vague on the whole issue. While the law prohibits us from showing a marked ballot to anyone in a way where they could see how we voted, it does not explicitly address the issue of taking photographs of completed ballots, according to a state Senate analysis of the bill. Further, the Secretary of State's Office says it has no records of a California voter ever being prosecuted for showing a marked ballot to another person, let alone for taking or posting a photograph of one, according to the Senate analysis. The state Election Code currently says simply, "After his or her ballot is marked, a voter shall not show it to any person in such a way as to reveal its contents." That arguably could apply to showing a photograph of your ballot to someone else or posting it on social media. The Assembly version of the bill would allow voters to "take a photograph or digital image of his or her marked ballot and distribute (it) using social media or by any other means," as long as it does not "coerce or intimidate a voter, impede a voter's ability to vote, cause voter delay in a polling place, disrupt a polling place, or result in a monetary or tangible benefit for any purpose." The Senate version, approved Monday on a 31-8 vote, simply says, "A voter may voluntarily disclose how he or she voted if that voluntary act does not violate any other law." The bill now goes back to the Assembly to see if a compromise version can be worked out. Maine, Oregon and Utah now allow ballot selfies. And federal district courts recently ruled that New Hampshire and Indiana laws banning disclosure of your own ballot are unconstitutional. Perhaps the Senate version of our bill would meet that constitutional test. But as we often do in this space, we wonder why our state legislators aren't spending their time on more pressing issues. SHARE Re: Jared Bartons column July 31, Why you should vote no on SOAR and SUSTAIN VC: I am a strong supporter of affordable housing, and I also support SOAR. I don't agree with the column written by Jared Barton, who thinks building housing on farmland is the answer to the shortage of affordable housing in Ventura County. Housing costs historically have been high in all coastal counties in Southern California because it is a desirable place to live. The answer isn't making Ventura County less desirable with sprawl development. One need only look at Orange County where they paved over all their farmland, and the median house still costs $100,000 more than in Ventura County to see that Mr. Barton's premise and conclusion are flawed. Vote to extend SOAR to 2050 on your November ballot. Terrence Foley, Ventura SHARE I was reading an article recently about Clovis-aged Siberian implements that suggested similarities to those on San Miguel Island. This was a great discovery for a geologist/armchair archeologist. Reviewing the new material, I was surprised to see the San Miguel archeological site also showed that two ancient beaches were created 500 years apart (by wave action). The two had an elevation difference of 32 feet (no tectonics), which meant that around 12,000 years ago, global seas rose three-quarters of an inch per year for 500 years. Todays rise is about a 10th of an inch. Carbon dioxide levels were 320 parts per million then and lower than todays 406 ppm. So prior to mans influences, at least briefly, oceans rose seven times faster. Its no big mystery, either temperature changes occurred throughout geological time, and pole ice retreated/advanced and seas rose and fell in unison. For example, 11,000 years ago, there was an increase of 13 degrees Fahrenheit in arctic Alaska. Around 45 million years ago, carbon dioxide levels were higher than today, and there was little ice, perhaps none. Drilled ice cores contain more recent evidence of temperature swings, and an excellent book on the subject is Geological Perspectives of Global Climate Change. With respect to normal charts on the web, emissions and populations skyrocketed from the 1800s. Yet no one suggests population growth is problematic. Its always emissions. But cars, and all that demands and creates them, requires someone to turn some key. When they do, a 100-mile trip creates 91 pounds of carbon. Do I believe in climate change trends? Certainly. I would also like to see facts driving discussions, as science-based debate must go beyond emotion or ideology, and this topic has good science for both sides. John Koman, Santa Paula A British porn star sparked outrage in the Islamic Republic of Iran after she posted on Instagram about taking a trip to Tehran to undergo a nose job. By India Today Web Desk: Unaware she could face a death sentence, a British porn actress says she flew to Iran to undergo a nose job and later wrote online about it, immediately sparking a social media outcry in the largely conservative Islamic Republic. The buxom performer, known by the stage name Candy Charms, posted a photo on Instagram a few days ago showing her in the back of a car, her eyes hidden behind sunglasses and a scarf partially covering her blonde hair. advertisement "Hey guys I have been on holiday in Tehran," she wrote online. She later added: "My nose was not straight and they are the best in the world in nose surgery. I had my nose done." British porn star Candy Charms. Source: Candy Charms/ Instagram Reports say her post received more than 40,000 responses from Iranians. However, the actress has deleted the Instagram post following a torrent of comments from Iranians, some friendly and others hostile. Charms's other social media profiles, like that on Twitter, have also been restricted. The outcry Iran is one of the top countries in the world for undergoing rhinoplasty, with more than 20,000 surgeries carried out each year. On Tuesday, the semi-official ISNA news agency quoted Hasan Qashqavi, a deputy foreign minister in charge of consular affairs, as saying a British-American actress visited Iran after she "applied for a visa through a travel agency" under a different name. While not naming the actress, the story implied it was the adult film performer. An ISNA report Monday suggested she listed her occupation as a "hair stylist" on her visa application form. Qashqavi was quoted by ISNA as telling tourism companies and officials to carefully examine the documents of those trying to visit Iran. "We have clerics and lawmakers who have cultural sensitivities and these sorts of events may cause problems later," Qashqavi said. That may be a bit of an understatement in the Shiite power. Under Iranian law, spreading corruption via broadcast carries a possible death sentence. Pornography likely would fall under the law's purview. It's unclear whether the actress knew the risk before she made the trip. She did not respond to a request for comment made via Twitter by The Associated Press and an email address listed on her website bounced back as undelivered. Read more: A porn star proud of wearing the hijab gets death threats from Pakistan Sunny Leone slapped journalist for asking how much she charges for 'night programmes'? Sunny Leone, Quit India: How about more porn films, instead? Sunny Leone's condom ads cause rapes: Neta apologises for remarks, but... --- ENDS --- advertisement The Thanh An-Sai Gon hospital in Vinh, Nghe An Province. - Photo baogiaothong.vn About 200 doctors and nurses have been on strike at the Thanh An Sai Gon private hospital in Vinh since Sunday, forcing the hospital to temporarily shut down all clinical rooms and the pharmacy. Twenty-five-year-old Phan Trong Toan told online newspaper Vietnamnet that he had signed a work contract with the hospital in May 2015 for a monthly wage of VN1.7 million (US$76.5). Toan has been working at the hospital for 14 months now, but he has been paid for just four months. The hospital owes him VN17 million for the rest 10 months. All doctors and nurses participating in the strike have not received their salaries for several months, ranging between seven to 10 months. Worse, many hospital staff said they had paid VN50 million to VN100 million just to get a job at the Thanh An Sai Gon hospital. A hospital worker Nguyen Thi Quynh Trang said she was forced to give a so-called deposit fee of VN70 million to be allowed to work at the hospital. I had worked for only a few months when the hospital stopped paying wages, she said. About 100 employees who reportedly paid such deposits are asking the hospital for a refund, according to Lao ong (Labours) newspaper. Thanh An-Sai Gon Director Nguyen inh Khang acknowledged the non-payment of salaries, and said the hospital was having a lot of difficulties. Regarding the deposits, Khang said they were used for training the staff and were also a kind of assurance fee to make the workers stay and work at the hospital for a long-term period. Nghe An Medical Labour Union Chairwoman Vo Thi Hang said the union had been asking the hospital for months to pay the overdue wages to no avail. She said the provincial health department has warned the hospital to settle all late payments by August 10, failing which it would face the risk of being shut down. On August 2, the National Wage Council, comprised of members from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), settled on an average 7.3 per cent minimum wage increase in 2017 to submit for the governments approval, according to newswire Vnexpress.net. Accordingly, the council reached a majority consensus to request an extra VND180,000-250,000 ($8.07-11.21), depending on the region. According to Pham Minh Huan, Deputy Minister of MoLISA, the proposal is based on the countrys current socio-economic development. However, the VGCL proposed an 11 per cent increase, while VCCI requested a mere five per cent. Mai Duc Chinh, deputy chairman of VGCL, said that the council was not satisfied with the results because labourers living standards in the garment and textile sector were still quite low. Meanwhile, Hoang Quang Phong, deputy chairman of VCCI, argued that the 7.3 per cent increase would be a challenge for enterprises in general, and small and medium sized enterprises in particular. Nguyen Xuan Duong, CEO of Hung Yen Garment Corporation, was of the opinion that the raise would have excessive impact on garment and textile enterprises. In November 2015, the government decided to raise the minimum wage by 12.4 per cent, effective on January 1, 2016, which raised concerns at a number of foreign-invested firms over the competitiveness of Vietnamese labour costs. Japanese companies were concerned about the big gap between economic growth and the annual salary increase of 15-17 per cent, which placed a burden on businesses in the manufacturing industry. Foreign joint venture ports in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau are suffering from losses. How has Cai Mep International Terminal Co., Ltd (CMIT) operated over the past years? Over the past five years, the goods volume via our port has increased seven-fold, while the number of over 80,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) vessels quintupled. Specifically, in the first six months of this year, the goods volume shipped via the port reached 576,681 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), up 129 per cent from the same period last year. Currently, CMIT handles eight international ship service trips a week, linking with big markets such as the US, Northern Europe, with the alliance of Maersk, MSC; Ocean Three alliance (CMA-CGM, CSCL, UASC); CKYHE alliance (Cosco, Kline, Yangming, Hanjin, Evergreen); and other shipping firms Hapag Lloyd, NYK, and MCC. Significantly, CMIT is now the only port that receives two ship trips weekly going to Northern Europe, with a ship fleet of 160,000DWT. It also accommodates four feeder ship service routes in the East Sea. Other foreign joint venture ports in the complex complain that problems in the countrys master plan on port development, poor infrastructure, shortfall of logistics services, and unfair competition from other ports have caused many difficulties for their operations. What are CMITs current challenges? Channel depth and lack of co-operation among ports are the two significant challenges facing not only CMIT but also other ports in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai complex. Currently, the number of international vessels calling at Cai Mep increased to 22 trips per week. However, after being filled with goods, vessels often have to wait for rising tides to leave or call at local ports. This causes pressures for port operators and shippers. In addition, co-operation among ports remains weak. Wharves only have a 600-metre quay, while vessels often have an average length of around 350 metres. If two contiguous ports operate separately, they only receive two vessels at once. Meanwhile, the figure could increase to three if they co-operate with one another. The other problem is a lack of logistics services which partly prompted the majority of exporters and importers to choose ports in Ho Chi Minh City. What is CMIT doing to improve competitiveness? We are planning to develop more competitive logistics services to attract customers. We will also work with other regional ports on co-operation plans to increase operational efficiency of wharves and to tap the advantages of the complex. The demand of goods transhipment has been growing among vessels calling at wharves in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai area, as well as amongst vessels calling at ports in Ho Chi Minh City. However, Article 44 of Decree No.05/2015-ND-CP dated January 21, 2015 has caused difficulties for the goods transhipment. In order to encourage shipping firms to shift goods to the Cai Mep-Thi Vai area and to develop the area into an international transhipment port as planned by the government, CMIT proposed that the government revise Article 44, allowing goods transhipment among wharves in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai area, and between the Cai Mep-Thi Vai wharves and those in Ho Chi Minh City. Moreover, shipping firms wish to bring container ships of over 15,000TEU to Cai Mep soon. Therefore, we propose that the government and the Ministry of Transport (MoT) dredge the channel depth to 15.5 metres to cash in on the market demand. What measures did the government and the MoT take to help CMIT and local ports solve their difficulties? Rome wasnt built in a day. Over the past years, the government, the MoT and the local authorities have offered us a lot of support. Specifically, in 2009, the government and the MoT were aware that if Road 965 linking to the Cai Mep-Thi Vai area was built under the Japan International Cooperation Agencys 48-month development plan, it would be too late for our port opening. Thus, they advanced money to fast-track the road and finish work in 24 months, right when CMIT opened. In late 2010, the Ministry of Finance and MoT offered preferential treatment on shipping charges for big vessels calling at the Cai Mep-Thi Vai area. In 2013, the National Assembly and the government issued minimum loading and unloading fees to stabilise the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex. In mid-2015, the MoT, the Vietnam Maritime Administration and Southern Vietnam Maritime Safety Corporation dredged the channel depth in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai area to nearly 14 metres, while simplifying navigation procedures to facilitate the operation of large vessels. Previously, according to the Governments Decree No. 71/2015/ND-CP dated September 3, 2015, international travellers in Vietnam were required to hold a permit to enter such border areas as Co To island. The provincial Police Department, on July 15, announced that the Co To island district is a local tourism site in accordance with Decision No. 1288/QD-UBND made by the provincial Peoples Committee. The move is expected to bring more foreign tourists to the island. According to the province, the island has greeted about 15,000 visitors in the first six months of this year. Most of them are domestic tourists. In 2016, the district targets to welcome about 250,000 tourists. Photo:VGP/Quang Hieu The draft law was designed to revise some articles of the 11 existing laws, namely the Law on Investment, Law on Enterprises, Law on Land, Law on Construction, Law on Environmental Protection, Law on Prevention and Control of Fires, Law on Tax Management, Law on Corporate Income Tax, Law on Urban Planning, Law on Advertising, and Law on Housing. According to Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long, the current laws regulating shortcomings and conflicting provisions, creating bottlenecks that hinder investment and business activities. Especially, business community complained about procedures related to land, investment, and construction, he added. Mr. Long said the Government mulls over cutting 67 business lines subjected to business conditions, clarifying the definition of business conditions, technical standards, and conditions for foreign investors. The draft law aims to improve investment protection and encouragement, eradicate obstacles against business operations. The draft law also targets to further reform administrative procedures, especially those related to the implementation of investment projects using land and increase the autonomy of authorities in deciding investment orientations. Chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vu Tien Loc said the business community really supports the Governments drastic efforts to facilitate business environment. This draft law demonstrates the Governments resolve to strengthen State management in accordance with market rule and create an environment conducive to enterprises operations, said PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The Government chief urged the Ministry of Justice to cooperate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant ministries and agencies to continue collecting comments on the draft law. The draft law will be sent to the National Assembly for discussions at its working session by the end of this year. The decision was issued after the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment released the test result of the waste samples collected from the burial site. Accordingly, some samples xyanua (CN-) content exceeded harmful levels. Bui Dinh Quang, deputy director of the Ha Tinh Police Department, said that the environmental company committed two violations. First, it signed a contract to deal with HFSs waste mud without license from the authorities. Second, it disposed of the waste underground, which is not among its designated functions. Regarding HFS, the companys signing of a contract to deal with its waste with an environmental company that does not have such designated functions is not compliant with regulations. In addition, HFS broke its environmental protection commitments when it dealt with its hazardous waste illegally. Previously, local authorities detected that the environmental company in Ky Anh town has buried over 100 tonnes of waste mud under the company directors farm. On July 12, the Police Department for Environmental Crime Prevention and Control (C49) carried out an investigation with the provincial police to verify these violations. The local authorities immediately collected samples to test and determine whether the waste is harmful. illustration photo photo internet For the first half of 2016, overseas funds have carried on their fierce battle for private equity (PE) investments in Vietnam. The largest deal, valued at $30 million, took place between VinaCapital - DEG and An Cuong Woodworking JSC in June. Prior to this deal, the Vietnam Opportunity Fund (VOF) of VinaCapital has invested $45 million in International Dairy JSC with Daiwa PI Partners and $10 million in Thai Hoa Hospital. VinaCapital noted that it would continue to seek foreign co-investors in future PE deals, as the private sector showed good growth potential. Our latest investee An Cuong JSC is similar to Kido Group and Hoa Phat Group, which used to be private medium-sized firms when they received our capital. Throughout the years, both firms have grown to be large corporations in the Vietnamese business community, said Don Lam, chief executive officer of VinaCapital. Also this month, Mekong Enterprise Fund III of Mekong Capital has poured $6.9 million in the restaurant chain Wrap and Roll. This is the first deal announced for the $112-million fund, which was launched in June to invest in fast-growing private firms. Partner of Mekong Capital Chad Ovel noted that Wrap and Roll had applied the best practices seen in large international restaurant chains, providing a foundation for the firm to grow at a rapid rate. Apart from Wrap and Roll, Mekong Enterprise Fund III would continue to focus on consumer-driven businesses such as retail and consumer products. Further back, Saigon Asset Management acquired 15 per cent of stakes in My Chau Pharmacy, a leading pharmaceutical distributor in Ho Chi Minh City and other cities. With the new capital, My Chau plans to expand its network to 80 pharmacies around Vietnam in the next three years. It is notable that the majority of PE deals in Vietnam belong to consumer-driven sectors. Indeed, according to a recent survey by Grant Thornton Vietnam, retail, food, and beverage are considered the most attractive industries for PE transactions in Vietnam. Overall, the survey concluded that private companies remained a significant drive behind Vietnams economic growth and inbound investments. According to Peter Sorensen, managing director at Hanoi-based corporate and investment consulting firm ABB Merchant Banking Vietnam, last year was marked for Vietnams mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market with total deals valued at $5.2 billion, and it was also ABBs busiest year since its establishment. ABB Vietnam has seen growing interest from Thai, Japanese, and South Korean investors for Vietnamese retail, distribution, consumer goods, agribusiness, and financial services fields. The firm was particularly impressed with the active participation of PE funds into the Vietnamese M&A market in the first half this year. In one telling move, Navis Capital - a $5 billion fund which mainly operates in Southeast Asia, and holds governing stake in 70 companies - has acquired Hanoi French Hospital for an undisclosed value. Formerly, Asias PE funds often took part in non-dominant stock purchases at Vietnamese firms. Today, they are willing to pay more to boost margin rates and cushion the growing pressure from a limited number of good deals, Sorensen commented. The Japan Rice and Rice Industry Export Promotion Association on Monday organised a business-to-business meeting in HCM City aimed at selling Japanese rice and rice products to Viet Nam. -VNS Photo More than 70 local businesses met with visiting Japanese business executives to explore partnership opportunities. The association's managing director, Minotu Yoneda, said Japan's staple rice is short-grain Japonica, valued for its deliciousness and high nutrition. It is also used to make the popular wine sake and a variety of snacks. "We see that our rice does not have sufficient exposure globally, therefore we decided that the best way for people to learn about its quality would be for them to experience it, and it is also a good way to promote cross-cultural understanding," he said . There was a taste and tell session at the event. JRE was established last year as a co-operative framework for understanding and solving tasks that need to be addressed to uncover and expand overseas demand for Japan's rice and rice food products. Thanh Truc in Dac Vu O Ma Cao (Agent in Macao), a 30-part TV series produced and released by HCM City Televisions Film Studio and featuring Hong Kong actors. Actresses Chan Yee Ling and Fong Yuen will be part of Dac Vu O Ma Cao (Agent in Macao), a 30-part series for which filming began in HCM City two weeks ago. Vietnamese stars Thanh Truc and Nhan Phuc Vinh play the lead roles in the series. Dac Vu O Ma Cao features woman agent Quynh Thu, played by Truc, who penetrates a drug gang lead by the Flakka group in Macao. Directed by Nham Minh Hien, the series will be shot also in Macao and Cambodia. Its post-production will be wrapped up later this year. Azam Khan created a controversy by alleging that a "political conspiracy" might be involved in the gangrape of a Noida-based mother and daughter on a busy highway near Bulandshahr last week. By India Today Web Desk: If senior Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan's remark over Bulandshahr gangrape was outrageous, a top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader's response to it is equally disgusting. Responding Azam Khan's 'political conspiracy behind Bulandshahr gangrape' remark, Uttar Pradesh BJP spokesperson IP Singh said,"If anything similar happens with Azam Khan's wife, daughter, only then he will realise how grave the matter is. He should be ashamed of saying such derogatory things." ????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? gang rap ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ?? 12 ??? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ??? IP Singh (@ipsingh1432) August 3, 2016 advertisement "If these people want to politicise such a horrible incident then it shows their low standards," Azam Khan said hitting back at IP Singh. Azam Khan created a controversy by alleging that a "political conspiracy" might be involved in the gangrape of a Noida-based mother and daughter on a busy highway near Bulandshahr last week. Known for his bizarre comments in the past, the Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister said in Rampur on Monday night that the investigative agencies should explore the possibility of some opposition party being involved in the gang rape. WATCH: UP's snoozing cops - India Today finds policemen sleeping on duty While justifying the action against policemen on the issue, the minister further said that the government should also keep a watch on opponents as "people can stoop to any levels" in politics. "To get power, politicians can get down to any level. They can murder people, trigger riots, kill innocent people, so the truth has to be found out" he added. UP HIGHWAY HORROR Eight armed men stopped the family car on the Delhi-Kanpur highway last Saturday (July 30) morning. The men dragged the members to nearby sugarcane fields and proceeded to rape the teenager and her 38-year-old mother. The other members of the family were tied up. The family has threatened to commit suicide if the culprits are not "caught and hanged" immediately. Five persons have been arrested so far while a massive manhunt is on to nab the main accused. In yet another another incident, a teacher was allegedly gangraped at gunpoint near National Highway 24 in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly on Tuesday (August 2). According to reports, the woman was on her way to school when a gang in a car forcibly pulled her inside and raped her. Also Read: UP highway horror continues, teacher gangraped in moving bus Azam Khan does it again: Bulandshahr gangrape a political conspiracy Ruthless, organised and disgusting: All about the Bawariya gang behind Bulandshahr gangrape Bulandshahr: Robbers gangrape mother, daughter in front of family, two accused identified --- ENDS --- advertisement illusatration photo - TNCK After the list was aired, many property developers expressed concern, saying that the announcement was not wrong, but insufficient and unclear information may have a detrimental impact on developers business. Gia Hoa Company Limiteds general director Le Hung Manh said that the information regarding the companys The Art apartment project being mortgaged at VietBanks Ho Chi Minh City branch was correct, but highly insufficient as to the whole picture. To meet central bank regulations, we have mortgaged the right to use the land and future assets on the plot at VietBank, with a view to securing bank guarantee for the sales procedure in the future, said Manh. Regarding the project, VietBank general director Nguyen Thanh Nhung certified that as of July 17, 2016 Gia Hoas loan balance at VietBank to expedite The Art project was zero dong, and that the bank was keeping a close eye on the developers sales activities. The released information was correct, but insufficient, prompting many of our customers to call in for inquiry after seeing the project on the list of mortgaged properties. This indicates that incomplete information disclosure may have a bad influence on market performance, Manh commented. The list also encompassed projects of major developers, such as those of Ho Chi Minh City-based group Novaland. According to Novaland deputy chairman Bui Cao Nhat Quan, before purchase contracts were signed, customers have been informed of this fact. When apartments were completed and handed over to customers, the company worked with authorised agencies to acquire ownership certificates for buyers. The documents of 5,000 apartments were and are ready to be picked up by buyers who have finalised their financial obligations towards Novaland, meaning the buyers benefits were assured. Similarly, chairman Nguyen Du Luc from Hung Phat Loc JSC, the developer of the Hung Phat Loc residential tower project in the South Saigon area, said that the apartments which appeared on the mortgaged asset list were unsold and are being kept by the company for other purposes. In addition, six commercial floors are also held under their private ownership. Therefore, mortgaging these assets at Viet A Banks Ho Chi Minh City branch could do no harm to customers. According to Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association chairman Le Hoang Chau, the city is currently home to 584 on-going real estate projects, only 77 of which were reportedly mortgaged at banks, accounting for 13.2 per cent. Information disclosure is a necessity for consumers and relevant stakeholders, thus the list contributed to building an increasingly transparent property market, said Chau. In response to the public opinion over the released mortgaged property list, director of the Land Registration Office under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Ngoc Lien said, This is the first release and the department is collecting feedback from media agencies and businesses to make suitable adjustments. Lien also said that in the upcoming time the department will propose the Central Bank (SBV)s Ho Chi Minh City branch office to request businesses with mortgaged projects to submit sufficient information about these projects to avoid future inconveniences. Authorities from the northern province of Vinh Phuc have assured enterprises from the Czech Republic of favourable conditions for them when investing in the province. - VNA/VNS Photo The province introduced a list of 42 projects that have been calling for investment in several sectors under the forms of official development assistance (ODA), foreign direct investment (FDI) or public private partnership (PPP). Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Tri spoke at a workshop on investment opportunities in the province held in Prague, the Czech Republic on Monday. He highlighted the local favourable business environment, saying that it offers comprehensive infrastructure, skilled worker training, simplified administrative procedures and low-cost land, rent-free to foreign investors. Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Kim Khai said the province ranked fourth in the provincial competitiveness index in Viet Nam. It has lured 221 foreign investors with a total capital investment of US$3.5 billion. However, there are no Czech businesses currently investing in the province. Khai expressed his hope that Czech firms would invest in mechanical manufacturing and supporting industries. Vinh Phuc Province has been one of the country's centres for automobile and motorbike assembly. Support industries therefore play an important role. It is calling for investment from Czech investors in support industries for automobile and motorbike assembly. In addition, it also welcomes investment in hospitals to reduce pressure on hospitals in Ha Noi. It is also looking for investment in a vocational training school for Vinh Phuc and neighbouring localities. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Truong Manh Son provided an update on the development of friendship and economic cooperation between the two nations, while underlining Viet Nam's investment potential. Vice President of the Czech Republic's Chamber of Commerce, Borivoj Minar, said a delegation of Czech firms planned to visit Vinh Phuc Province to expand co-operation. Last week, the province's delegation, led by Tri, had a working meeting with representatives from the Embassy of Viet Nam, the Vietnamese People Association and the Viet Nam Business Association in the Czech Republic. The provincial leader called on Vietnamese expats to invest more in the locality. The new plant aims to provide sufficient treatment capacity to support the parks tenants and its future needs. The first phase, slated to be finished in August 2017, will handle up to 6,000 cubic metres of solid waste a day. Once fully completed, the project is expected have a total capacity of 20,000 cubic metres per day. Hung Nguyen District Party Secretary addressing at the GBC Speaking at the ceremony, deputy general director of VSIP Nghe An Edwin Chee said that the new plant affirmed VSIPs commitment to conserving local environment as well as contributing to the socio-economic development of Nghe An. Edwin Chee In particular, the expansion will help VSIP lure more investors to Nghe An and spread environmental awareness, he noted. The park developer is also accelerating construction works on fire station and office buildings to put them into operation by the end of this year. VSIP Nghe An is the seventh park developed by VSIP in Vietnam, following the success of the ones located in Binh Duong, Quang Ngai, Bac Ninh, Haiphong, and Hai Duong. The bus, sliced in half from front to back, was on its way to Washington state as it hit the pole. The rescuers were unable to pull the injured out due to shattered glass everywhere. The accident sliced the bus from front to back, with the vehicle coming to a stop when its first rear axle hit the pole. PHOTO: AP By AP: Leonardo Sanchez was sleeping peacefully on a bus carrying him to Oregon to pick blueberries when he was suddenly thrown face-first into the back of the seat in front of him, awakening him to a horrific scene of chaos and death. The bus carrying Sanchez and about 30 others on a pre-dawn journey through California's agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley had somehow plowed head-on into a highway pole that nearly sliced it in half. Five people died and at least 18 were hurt. advertisement "There was lots of screaming and crying," Sanchez told The Associated Press hours after Tuesday's crash. He said only about eight people, including himself, escaped the bus largely unscathed. California Highway Patrol Officer Moises Onsurez said the bus suddenly veered sharply off the highway, adding investigators are still attempting to determine why. Photo: AP "The rest of them, the police and ambulances arrived to get them out. And the dead," he added solemnly in Spanish. Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke said rescuers pulled "bags of body parts" from the bus along with survivors, adding that some people suffered severed limbs. Other victims were thrown from the vehicle and landed in a ditch. Of the 18 injured, three were initially in critical condition but they have since been upgraded to serious, officials said. Three more are in fair condition and the rest have injuries ranging from minor to moderate. The bus, operated by Autobuses Coordinados USA, was heading to Washington state on State Route 99. It was approaching Livingston, a farming and industrial town of about 13,000, where it had been scheduled to change drivers. HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED Apparently running late for its 1:30 a.m. driver switch, the bus veered off the highway shortly before 3:30 a.m. A passenger headed from Mexico to her home in Pasco, Washington, said moments before the crash it appeared the driver was trying to pass another vehicle that he apparently expected to yield, but it wouldn't let him merge. "It kind of ran him off the road," Nakia Coleman told Washington's Tri-City Herald newspaper. California Highway Patrol Officer Moises Onsurez said the bus suddenly veered sharply off the highway, adding investigators are still attempting to determine why. He said investigators have been unable to interview the 57-year-old driver, Mario David Vasquez of the Los Angeles area, because of the extent of his injuries. The accident sliced the bus from front to back, with the vehicle coming to a stop when its first rear axle hit the pole. That was when Sanchez was violently tossed awake to discover a scene of chaos and carnage filled with the screams of trapped and injured people. advertisement "We couldn't pull people out because there was shattered glass everywhere, seats destroyed," he said. Lesser injured like himself climbed out on their own, fearful the bus might catch fire. The 55-year-old farmworker said he was left with pain in his stomach and a bruised jaw and mouth. "It was too much. It was a very ugly accident. Thanks to God that I got out of there alive," he said. The bus was traveling north up State Route 99, which cuts through the center of California farm country, and was only about a couple miles from its next stop when the crash occurred. The still-intact sign it hit stuck out from the roof of the crumpled bus hours after the crash as crews prepared to move the vehicle. Wreckage and debris including seat cushions, drink containers, pillows and a blanket were scattered in lanes and on the highway's shoulder. Some highway signs, like those for the speed limit, have support poles designed with points that break away during a crash. But the poles supporting the much larger overhead signs like the one the bus hit are designed to "stay put," said Vanessa Wiseman, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation. advertisement Calls to various telephone listings for the bus company went unanswered. Its counter at a Los Angeles depot was open, but nobody was present when an Associated Press reporter arrived mid-morning. A sign in Spanish advertised daily 7:30 p.m. departures to destinations up the West Coast to Washington. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration listed the carrier as having a "satisfactory" rating as of May 17. The bus was inspected in April and had three violations, including a lack of or a defective brake warning device. That violation was not further described, and there was no indication whether each of the items had been fixed. Also read: 26 dead as bus with Chinese tourists catches fire in Taiwan --- ENDS --- A quarter of a century has passed since a UN-backed peace agreement set Cambodia on the path to multi-party elections and the end of a bitter civil war. Yet, as the 25th anniversary of that historic peace agreement nears on October 23, Cambodias experiment with democracy and the situation of human rights are deteriorating. Political analyst and government critic Kem Ley was assassinated in Phnom Penh on July 10. A killing which many ordinary people are blaming on the government. Kem Ley was the most high profile killing of a community organizer since the murder of environmental campaigner Chut Wutty in April 2012. I think this is the time for the United States to use its prestige, to use its power, to play and important supportive role to help Cambodians attempt to reinstate democracy, journalist and author Elizabeth Becker said. Becker was speaking at the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC last week, as part of a panel discussion titled Cambodian Democracy and International Accountability. Prime Minster Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia with an iron fist for decades, has become an expert at playing the China card against the US to his own advantage, said Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Center of the Heritage Foundation. It is now time the US stuck to its core values and no long give in to Hun Sen, he said. Hun Sen is only playing us against the Chinese, Lohman told the audience of around 100 participants, mostly members of the Cambodian diaspora in the US and researchers. He gets benefit from us [the US]. He gets benefit from the Chinese. And he continues to do what he wants, Lohman said. Washington needs to take a principled stance and distance itself from the Hun Sen government amid the worsening human rights situation, he said. If you [Hun Sen] want to get closer to China, go get closer to China, he added. The discussion focused on Cambodias progress towards more-inclusive democracy, and the responsibility of the international community to ensure that has happened 25 years after the Paris agreement, which many countries, including the US, helped broker. Many agreed that the international community is still needed to play an important role in Cambodias domestic situation 25 years after Paris. Some participants even suggested inviting UN peacekeepers back to Cambodia, to help ensure the 2018 national election is truly fair and free. They were quickly told that a UN mission requires an invitation by the government to enter a sovereign state, and that the UNs mission to organize a Cambodian election ended after the countrys nationwide poll in 1993. The role of Cambodias political opposition was also discussed. Becker, a long-term observer of the country and author of When the War Was Over: Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge Revolution, described Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader Sam Rainsy as being a big disappointment. Sam Rainsy is not strong enough to stand up to Hun Sens machinations, Becker said, noting that the opposition leader continues to flee to France when the political situation becomes tense in Phnom Penh. I think Sam Rainsy has been a big disappointment on a whole bunch of issues why he continues to go back to Paris is beyond me, she said. Sam LaHood, regional deputy director of the International Republican Institute and the institutes director in Cambodia from 2012 to 2013, said Sam Rainsys popularity among the youth was strong. LaHood recounted the huge numbers that turned out estimated at 100,000 people - to welcome Sam Rainsys return from self-imposed exile just prior to the 2013 national elections. People lined the streets to welcome Sam Rainsy and young people got behind the opposition leader, resulting in the CNRP making huge gains against Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party in the election that year. You know, seeing that sort of thing, it gives me continued sort of encouragement and the idea that there is a lot of interest in seeing things change in Cambodia, he said. Ou Kim Hourt, a member of the audience from Philadelphia, said he was putting his faith in the US Congress finding long-term solutions for the issues that face Cambodia. In the US, its better to rely more on the parliament to achieve long-term goals, he said. Prom Saonora, another audience member, wanted more immediate action. To ensure that Kem Leys memory does not simply fade, Prom Saonora suggested that Cambodians choose a specific day and time each week to honk their car and motorcycle horns or blow whistles for one minute as an act of remembrance. This is to show that we honor Kem Ley, because if we dont do that people will forget him in just one or two more months. Transparency watchdog Global Witness has written an open letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen appealing to the government to ensure the safety of activists and human rights workers following the killing of a prominent government critic last month. The letter comes after the organization released a report in July detailing the vast business empire of Hun Sens family, which was followed shortly afterwards by the daylight murder of prominent political analyst Kem Ley. Ley had in the days prior to his death given two radio interviews regarding the reports contents, which were widely listened to across the country. Since the murder, there have been reports of harassment of his colleagues and two of his associates have fled the country and sought refuge abroad. Global Witness co-founder Patrick Alley wrote in the letter that it was the duty of a democratic government to protect the rights and security of its citizens, including those who criticize it. As a signatory of numerous human rights conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, we call on your government to guarantee the safety of these individuals and those who support them, and respect their right to freedom of speech, he wrote. Alley also added to calls for a thorough, independent investigation into Leys murder. The hundreds of thousands of Cambodian citizens who took to the streets for his funeral procession, together with the widespread international condemnation of the killing, should leave you in no doubt that anything short of an independent investigation will lack any credibility, he said. Sok Eysan, a ruling party spokesman, said the investigation was ongoing, adding that it would be completed as quickly as possible. As Cambodia prepares to begin registering voters ahead of local elections next year, concerns are growing among migrant worker communities that they will be excluded from the process. The National Election Committee (NEC) will start the three-month registration process on September 1 using a new digital system to create a voter list, as agreed on by the countrys two main parties, the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party and the Cambodia National Rescue Party, in 2014. But opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua called on the government during the Hello VOA radio program on Thursday to do all it could to ensure that laborers are able to cast their votes in the next election. She added that a task force had been established by the CNRP to assist migrant workers to register at provinces near the Thailand-Cambodia border. Sochua, who will lead the task force, said that its members would travel to Thailand in the near future to meet with migrant workers to explain the procedures. I would also like to appeal to lawmakers from another party to work on this, too, she said, referring to the CPP. Especially, the Labor Ministry and Cambodian ambassadors should make sure that they find a solution with the countries that are currently employing our people. The government has an obligation to do so in order that people can enjoy their political rights. It is estimated that close to one million Cambodians are working both legally and illegally in Thailand. Tens of thousands also work in other countries, such as South Korea. Ly Rattanak Reaksmey, who manages a security firm with operations in Pattaya, Thailand, said many of his staff wanted to return home in order to be able to register to vote. Undocumented workers, however, were less enthusiastic about the prospect, he added. Between 60 to 70 percent of the Cambodians working in Thailand want the NEC to set up registration stations in Thailand, Reaksmey said. If the NEC is able to set up registration or voting stations there, a large number of them would go to register and to vote. The new election law does not allow Cambodians working or living permanently overseas to vote. Seng Sophan, president of the Committee for Election Rights of Overseas Cambodians (CEROC), thinks this should change. There are many Cambodians living overseas who have contributed to the development of the nation, economy and society, especially young people, he said. All migrant workers in Thailand and South Korea, too, are new forces who are strong mentally and physically who should be allowed to vote. The NEC estimates that more than nine million people are eligible to register to vote. Afghan security forces say they have captured the Islamic State (IS) groups regional headquarters in the eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. IS militants have been using the so-called Welayat-e Khorasan (Khorasan province) base for the recruitment and training of fighters in the Haska Mena district of Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, Afghan authorities say. According to Afghan army sources, Haska Mena has been largely cleared of IS militants in recent assaults by the Afghan military. As a result of the offensive, we have cleaned many areas, including Gurgurai and Shabai villages in the district, Afghan Army Col. Shireen Aqa told reporters. ISs key bases, including a recruitment center, have been captured, Aqa said, adding that 27 IS fighters have been killed and another 17 wounded. The Khorasan base was considered a stronghold for the IS group in Afghanistan. The group used it as a regional center for waves of attacks in the country. Local residents told VOA that Afghan forces have captured many areas in the district. Government forces have recaptured the Gurgurai high school which had been under IS control and was turned into a military post, a local resident told VOA. It looks like the government forces are determined and will continue their offensive against the militants, said the resident. The governors spokesperson told VOA that provincial authorities would soon start providing assistance to people who suffered from IS brutality. Afghan authorities last week declared the neighboring Kot district free of IS militants, saying security forces killed nearly 300 IS fighters during a month-long offensive. IS has been active in a number of Nangarhar districts where the group has launched multiple attacks on government forces and villages. Innovators from across the African continent were among 50 finalists in Washington showcasing solutions to maternal and newborn care challenges in the developing world recently. The African doctors, scientists and inventors took part in Saving Lives at Birth, an annual event sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other organizations. Innovators and entrepreneurs had an opportunity to pitch their projects to a room full of their peers and experts, to meet mentors and find funding. They took questions about their proposals and explained their business models. Wendy Taylor of USAID said the initiative has hosted over 650 innovators in the past six years. Participants have really built up a robust pipeline of over a hundred innovations, and so many of our existing grantees also come here," Taylor said. She is the director of USAID's center for accelerating innovation and impact. Taylor said the grantees and this year's finalists displayed their innovations in an open-marketplace setting. They also interacted with each other and participated in workshops - in all, 280 different mentoring and partnering meetings. Dr. Phelgona A. Otieno, principal research officer at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, came to Washington to present mThrive, an interactive mobile platform designed to ensure follow-up care and monitoring of babies delivered preterm, or prematurely. In Kenya, barriers of distance and cost often mean that premature infants do not return for follow-up care after they have been discharged from the hospital, so very little is known about their progress. The fact that the health force in Kenya is very low [means] its very hard to reach out to these babies, Otieno said. This mobile platform is going to bridge this gap because it brings the health providers, the community health workers as well as the parents more or less on the same table, through this connectivity. An idea developed in Migori, Kenya, the platform aims to allow community health workers in villages and underserved neighborhoods to connect with doctors who generally practice in larger cities. One innovative aspect of mThrive is that it will allow community health workers to videotape a baby and share the video with doctors. It will also provide parents with educational messages and reminders about their childs health, and ask diagnostic questions to see if follow-up care is required. Although it is not operational yet, Otieno hopes to get funding to expand the mThrive project. She said the key is to track babies beyond 28 days, when they typically leave a doctors care but before some complications become noticeable. She would like to monitor the babies' progress for a year at first, and eventually for five years. Another innovative maternal-health solution is Jhpiego, a non-profit health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University of Baltimore, Maryland. Espilidon Tumukurate, a senior technical adviser based in Uganda, said the group is devising a screening tool to combat maternal sepsis, the third main cause of maternal mortality. Maternal mortality in Uganda is stubbornly higher than in many other developing nations: during 100,000 births, about 343 mothers die. That rate has dropped in recent years, but Tumukurate says it is "one of the major problems, and we havent attained Millennium Development Goals, so there is ... urgency. Jhpiego developed a simple, cost-effective solution so health-care workers can detect which mothers are likely to develop sepsis and give them targeted treatment to prevent infection. Tumukurate said it amounts to a checklist that asks simple questions, such as how long the mother was in labor, whether there was a membrane rupture and whether the mother experienced fever. To ask all of these would give us kind of a red flag to show that this woman should be kept longer in the hospital and provided appropriate treatment, he said. We feel this tool would help us to be able to tailor our treatment to clients who need it, rather than currently the tendency of indiscriminate use of antibiotics that sometimes are given to people who dont need them, or those people who need them but dont get antibiotics appropriate to the risk they are exposed to. The Johns Hopkins-backed program is planned to begin in two Ugandan regional hospitals, working together with Ugandas ministry of health. Jhpiego is providing technical leadership and we think afterwards we will be able to scale the tools nationally. We will be able to save lives at birth, Tumukurate said. Although a lack of funding and resources often affects quality health care, culture also plays a role in many parts of Africa. A unique solution to this issue comes from the Development Research and Project Center (DRPC) in northern Nigeria's Kano City, which seeks to build capacity for maternal, neonatal and child health. Aminu Gamawa of DRPC said misunderstandings about Islamic teaching regarding family planning and birth care lead to adverse outcomes and even death among women and newborns. In its research, DRPC identified 14 Islamic scholars and 28 apprentices preaching against maternal, neonatal and child health best practices. The center seeks to change that. What we are doing is we are engaging Islamic opinion leaders in northern Nigeria and training them to become champions for maternal and neonatal health, Gamawa said. We have been training many Islamic scholars who are also training health workers on the importance and needs for womens reproductive health and rights to be respected. For women to be allowed to have access to prenatal, neonatal and postnatal care... The goal is to save lives and we all have a role to play. DRPC found that in northern Nigeria, Islamic leaders play a vital role in shaping perceptions and behavior across the community. By bringing them on board and teaching them to endorse best practices of maternal and child care, the impact spreads quickly. We believe that pregnancy is not a disease. Pregnancy should be a moment of joy, and no woman should die because she is pregnant, and no child should die during childbirth, Gamawa said. Thats why we are doing this. I lost my mother during childbirth. I lost my sister during childbirth. And I believe that if we come together and work with the stakeholders in the community we are going to make a difference. A parole board in the Southern U.S. state of Alabama decided Wednesday against freeing a former Ku Klux Klan member convicted in a church bombing that killed four black girls more than 50 years ago. Thomas Edwin Blanton Jr. will remain behind bars for at least the next five years for the September 15, 1963, bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, an incident that became a defining moment in the U.S. civil rights movement. Blanton will be up for parole again in 2021. Blanton was one of three KKK members convicted of murder in the bombing. The other two died in prison. Blanton was sentenced only in 2001 to life in prison. Opponents of his release and relatives of the victims welcomed the court's decision, noting that he had served only 15 years behind bars. The 50th anniversary of the bombing was commemorated in 2013, when President Barack Obama spoke to the tragedy's significance in the civil rights movement. The powerful blast killed Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, each 14, and Denise McNair, 11. A Chinese legal rights activist was sentenced to 7 years in prison on subversion charges Wednesday, in the second in a series of cases underscoring the ruling Communist Party's determination to rein in government critics. State broadcaster CCTV said Hu Shigen had pleaded guilty to subversion, damaging national security and harming social stability at the start of his hearing before the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court. It said Hu had decided not to appeal the sentence. His brief trial came a day after the court issued a suspended three-year sentence to activist Zhai Yanmin. Both were arrested in July last year with two others as part of a nationwide crackdown on legal rights activists. About 300 lawyers and activists were initially seized and questioned before most were released. Hu, 61, was accused of leading an underground organization that masqueraded as a church but was dedicated to identifying and drawing attention to accusations of government abuses. He worked with others, some of whom are also facing trial this week, to organize activities that manipulated public opinion and disturbed public order, prosecutors were quoted as saying by state media. Hu's ideology and his behaviors have seriously harmed the country and social stability, state media quoted prosecutors as saying. Hu had been sentenced in 1994 to 20 years in prison on the now-abolished charge of counterrevolution in connection with his political activities, but was released in 2008 after his sentence was reduced. His previous prison term contributed to his harsh sentencing in the most recent case, prosecutors said. After completing his criminal punishment, Hu Shigen again committed crimes against national security and, as a recidivist, should be severely punished under the law, prosecutors said. A graduate of prestigious Peking University, Hu was a professor in the capital when he became active with a would-be political opposition party following the army's violent crackdown on 1989 pro-democracy protests centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Two other cases are expected to be heard by the court in the northern Chinese city this week, including those of activist Gou Hongguo and lawyer Zhou Shifeng, head of the Fengrui Law Firm that frequently took on sensitive cases and represented numerous government critics. More than a dozen other lawyers and activists remain jailed, their legal status uncertain. The trials are part of a pattern established under the administration of President Xi Jinping to use more sophisticated legal means to attack perceived opponents as it maintains pressure on activists and non-governmental organizations. Several, including fellow Fengrui lawyer Wang Yu have made televised apologies for the crimes they are accused of and denouncing the legal activism as directed by unidentified hostile foreign forces to smear and attack the Chinese government. Activists such as Hu and Zhai worked alone or in affiliation with law firms to gather evidence of government abuses and lead clients and the disgruntled in street protests while spreading word online. Their actions were harshly denounced by the authorities as interference in the legal process. Many family members of those being held say they and their retained lawyers have been denied access to the detainees for more than a year, receiving only occasional updates by word of mouth. Some have been briefly detained themselves while seeking information. Australia is being accused of ignoring the mistreatment of refugees held on an island in the South Pacific as part of a policy to deter other asylum seekers trying to reach its territory by boat. The claims are being made in a report by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which secretly traveled to Nauru to document the conditions at an Australian-funded detention facility. The government has yet to specifically respond to the allegations. Asylum seekers intercepted while trying to reach Australia by boat are sent to camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, a tiny South Pacific republic. The government in Canberra has previously insisted the policy was about saving lives at sea by convincing others not to make the same hazardous voyage. But a new report by human rights groups claims that a failure to address the inhumane treatment of those held on Nauru appears to be a deliberate plan to inflict suffering to deter future migrants from arriving in Australia by boat. Anna Neistat, senior director for research at Amnesty International, discussed what she saw on the island. What I found on Nauru is what I can only describe as a deliberate, systematic abuse. We are not talking about individual cases; we are talking about patterns. And I think it is quite clear - and in fact I do not think the Australian government tried very hard to hide it - that essentially they are making an example of these people to prevent further arrivals by boat, said Neistat. Watch related video by Henry Ridgwell: Neistat travelled incognito to Nauru with a lawyer from Human Rights Watch. Since its last visit in 2012, Amnesty International says it has applied for permission to visit the Australian-sponsored detention center six times without success. Their allegations of abuse include violence and intimidation by locals and the denial of medical treatment. The rights groups spoke to more than 80 of the 1,200 people transferred to Nauru after seeking asylum in Australia, including those from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. Most have been recognized as refugees and live in the Nauruan community. A spokeswoman for Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection said it had not been consulted by Amnesty International about its report. Last month, a group of doctors challenged secrecy laws that have prevented them from speaking out about conditions they see inside Australias controversial immigration detention centers. Doctors for Refugees have argued the measures brought in last year breached constitutional rights to freedom of political communication. The case is currently being considered by Australias High Court. To curb accidents, the Bill proposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic norms including up to Rs 10,000 fine for drunken driving and Rs 2 lakh compensation for hit-and-run cases. The Union government is committed to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent in next five years. By Manjeet Negi: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gave its approval for the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016. The Bill proposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic norms including up to Rs 10,000 fine for drunken driving and Rs 2 lakh compensation for hit-and-run cases. Every year thousands of road accidents are reported in the country in which 1.5 lakh people lose their lives. advertisement The Union government is committed to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent in next five years. In the present Motor Vehicle Act, there are 223 Sections out of which the Bill aims to amend 68 sections whereas Chapters 10 has been deleted and a Chapter 11 is being replaced with new provisions to simplify third party insurance claims and settlement process. The important provisions include increase in compensation for hit-and-run cases from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakhs. It also has provision for payment of compensation upto Rs 10 lakh in road accidents fatalities. 28 NEW SECTIONS The Bill also proposes insertion of 28 new sections. The amendments mainly focus on issues relating to improving road safety, citizens' facilitation while dealing with the Transport Department. Strengthening rural transport, last mile connectivity and public transport, automation and computerization and enabling online services. The Bill propose to improve the transport scenario in the country by permitting the States to grant exemptions in Stage carriage and contract carriage permits for promoting rural transport, public transport, last mile connectivity and for passenger convenience and road safety. The Bill proposes the state government can specify a multiplier, not less than one and not greater than ten, to be applied to each fine under this Act and such modified fine. The bill proposes the state government can regulate the activities in a public place of pedestrians and such means of transport. E-GOVERNANCE Improving delivery of services to the stakeholders using e-Governance is one of the major focuses of this Bill. This include enabling online learning licenses, increasing validity period for driving licenses, doing away with the requirements of educational qualifications for transport licenses are some of the features. The Bill proposes offences committed by Juveniles. The Guardian/ owner shall be deemed to be guilty in cases of offences by the Juveniles and Juvenile to be tried under JJ Act. Registration of Motor Vehicle to be cancelled To improve the registration process for new vehicles, registration at the end of the dealer is being enabled and restrictions have been imposed on temporary registration. advertisement ROAD SAFETY In the area of road safety, bill proposes to increase penalties to act as deterrent against traffic violations. Stricter provisions are being proposed in respect of offences like juvenile driving, drunken driving, driving withoutlicence, dangerous driving, over-speeding, overloading etc. Stricter provisions for helmets have been introduced along with provisions for electronic detection of violations. To help the road accident victims, Good Samaritan guidelines have been incorporated in the Bill. The Bill also proposes to mandate the automated fitness testing for the transport vehicles with effect from 1st October 2018. This would reduce corruption in the Transport Department while improving the road worthiness of the vehicle. The penalties are also proposed for deliberate violation of safety/environmental regulations as well as body builders and spare part suppliers. To bring harmony of the registration and licensing process, it is proposed to create National Register for Driving Licence and National Register for Vehicle registration through "Vahan" and "Sarathi" platforms. This will facilitate uniformity of the process across the country. The process for testing and certification for automobiles is proposed to be regulated more effectively. The testing agencies issuing automobile approvals have been brought under the ambit of the Act. advertisement The driving training process has been strengthened enabling faster issuance of transport licenses. This will help in reducing the shortage of commercial drivers in the country. To facilitate transport solutions for Divyang, the bottlenecks have been removed in respect of grant of driving licenses as well as alterations in the vehicles to make it fit for use of Divyang. ALSO READ: CCTV footage nails Rajasthan MLA's son in BMW hit-and-run case --- ENDS --- Hundreds of activists, blocked while trying to deliver an Islamist charitable organizations relief supplies and ambulances from Pakistan to India in the disputed Kashmir region, staged a sit-in Wednesday in protest. The activists belong to the Falah e Insaniat Foundation, which the United States has designated a terrorist organization. Pakistani authorities on Tuesday had stopped their convoy of 20 trucks loaded with relief supplies, along with 12 ambulances at the border town of Chakoti. Its near the Line of Control dividing Kashmir between Indian- and Pakistani-administered sections. Authorities had told the FIF activists to wait for clearance from the Indian side, said Ghulamullah Azad, who oversees the charitys activities in Muzaffarabad, capital of the Pakistani-managed part of Kashmir. Demonstrators on Wednesday demanded that the United Nations or Red Cross take the convoy items to the Indian side. Kashmir, claimed by both India and Pakistan, has been the source of at least three wars between the nuclear rivals. Some Kashmiris say they would like independence from both countries. Recent attacks The Indian side has seen a wave of violence since Indian security forces killed a young, popular militant commander last month. Clashes between rock-throwing youth and security forces have left dozens dead. The Indian government has declared curfew in parts of the scenic valley and restricted movement and assembly in the rest. FIF is closely linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar e Taiba (LeT), a group blamed for a series of 2008 attacks in the Indian port city Mumbai that left 166 dead, including several foreigners. LeT has been declared a terrorist organization by both the United States and United Nations as well as banned by Pakistan. The current head of FIF, Hafiz Abdur Rauf, was also a senior leader of LeT and is on the U.S. list of specially designated global terrorists. Terrorist links The U.S. State Department considers FIF an alias of LeT. In a news release dated Nov. 24, 2010, announcing the designation, the department said "the United States will not tolerate any support to this organization. LeT has attempted to use FIF as a way to evade scrutiny. This designation will help put to an end that attempted evasion." Many analysts think Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD), the humanitarian front of LeT, changed its name to FIF to avoid sanctions. JuD leader Hafiz Saeed, also closely linked to FIF, has been declared a terrorist by both the United Nations and the United States. The U.S. has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Mysterious relationship with Pakistan JuDs legal status in Pakistan is shrouded in mystery. The government has not categorically banned it, like its parent organization LeT. Islamabad has said it has fulfilled the country's obligations as a U.N. member state by freezing the group's assets and banning its members from travel. The Pakistani Electronic Media Regulatory Authority recently banned coverage of JuD activities, stating the organization was on the U.N. list of terror groups. The United States contends the money raised through FIF in the charity's name also goes to fund terrorist activities, especially against India. However, the organization seems to enjoy state patronage in Pakistan. According to Pakistans English-language Dawn newspaper, FIF was among the first organizations allowed to set up relief camps when people displaced by fighting in the countrys northern tribal areas started returning home in 2014. The Pakistan Army is really cooperative toward us, Mohammad Sarfaraz, the camp's chief organizer, told Dawn. We were the first ones to set up a greeting camp to receive" internally displaced people, "even though that area was in the red zone." Many NGOs complain that while the government requires them to apply for certificates before they can provide disaster relief, charities such as FIF, with links to militancy or extremist ideology, are allowed to operate freely. This, they say, help such groups not just raise money for their activities, but also generates goodwill to help with their recruitment efforts. A ban on the use of social media for campaign purposes ahead of local elections in Chile in October has been criticized as overly restrictive and prompted a cross-party group of lawmakers to present a motion on Wednesday to have it overturned. According to the guidelines of Servel, the electoral service, "Carrying out electoral propaganda through social networks like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, among others," would be against the rules. Campaigning in the media will only be allowed via the press and radio between set dates, it says. Proposals to curb online speech in a number of countries have alarmed policymakers who see the internet as a medium for debate and expression. In Chile's Andean neighbor Bolivia, supporters of President Evo Morales want to regulate social media after it was blamed as a key factor in Morales' failure to win a February referendum on his continued rule. In Chile itself, politicians said Servel had poorly interpreted a new law aimed at improving transparency. "Servel's interpretation is like putting a muzzle on candidates," lawmaker Cristian Monckeberg said in broadcast comments. The motion to overturn the ban is supported by lawmakers from both the left-leaning government and the right-wing opposition, who have said they hope the government will treat the proposal with urgency. Philippine authorities said police killed six armed bodyguards loyal to a town mayor alleged to be involved in the sale of illegal drugs. Earlier this week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to have Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. shot on sight for protecting his son, a suspected drug dealer. Espinosa surrendered himself to national police on Tuesday, though his son, Erwin, a suspected drug lord, did not. Local police said a gun fight broke out between the body guards and police who were out on patrol early Wednesday morning near Espinosas house. According to regional police chief Elmer Beltejar, the bodyguards fired upon police first, and the police returned fire, killing six of them. Police also seized at least 17 firearms found inside the compound. Duterte ran for president on the promise that, if elected, he would eliminate the drug dealers and violence that has plagued the country. Since he won the election in May, police claim to have killed more than 400 suspected drug dealers. Hussein Salem, a businessman and ally of Egypt's deposed president Hosni Mubarak, and his family have given up 75 percent of their wealth in a deal that will allow them to return to Egypt without facing prosecution, his lawyer said. Salem was arrested in 2011 under an international warrant in Spain, where he fled in the aftermath of the 18-day popular uprising that ended Mubarak's 30-year rule. An Egyptian court sentenced him in absentia to seven years in jail and fines totaling more than $4 billion in 2011 after convicting him of money laundering and profiteering. He later faced further graft-related convictions but was cleared in 2014 of charges related to gas exports to Israel along with Mubarak and a former oil minister. "I am very happy with the outcome of the case and feel that we can begin to move forward," says Mahmoud Kabish, a former dean of the Faculty of Law at Cairo University and Salem's lawyer. Salem, who also holds Spanish citizenship, was a major shareholder in East Mediterranean Gas (EMG). Egyptian opposition groups had long complained that EMG was selling gas at preferential prices to Israel and other countries, depriving Egypt of potential revenues. Egypt's Illicit Gains Authority recovered 5.3 billion Egyptian pounds ($596.85 million) in the reconciliation deal with the Salem family, according to state television. Adel al-Saeed, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, said the tycoon transferred 75 percent of his wealth to state ownership, including land, agriculture, and hotels. Saeed said the deal guaranteed that Salem and his family, who also had extensive investments in Red Sea resorts, could return to Egypt without facing prosecution. The deal is part of a wider reconciliation effort with wealthy businessmen who fled Egypt to avoid corruption charges after the uprising. A Washington, D.C. transit policeman has been arrested on charges of attempting to provide support to the Islamic State (IS), the first time terrorism charges have been filed against a law enforcement officer in the U.S. 36 year old Nicholas Young, a 13-year veteran of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD), has been accused by the U.S. Department of Justice of giving 22 gift card codes, worth nearly $250, to an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent. The FBI said Young believed his contact had mobile messaging accounts that IS used to recruit members. Young made his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. Other than requesting a court-appointed attorney, Young said little else during the hearing, which lasted less than five minutes. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The affidavit said Young traveled to Libya once in 2011 and tried to visit there a second time. It also said Young met about 20 times in 2014 with an undercover FBI agent who posed as a U.S. military reservist of Middle Eastern descent and expressed a desire to travel abroad to join IS. Young had been monitored by the FBI since 2010. Law enforcement authorities first interviewed Young in connection with an acquaintance, Zachary Chesser, who later pleaded guilty to providing material support to the foreign terrorist group al-Shabaab. Young also held meetings with an undercover law enforcement officer in 2011, sometimes with another associate, Amine El Khalifi, who pleaded guilty to charges of planning to carry out a suicide bombing at the U.S. Capitol Building. During a conversation with Young in March 2011, the undercover FBI agent said Young told him he despised the FBI and had the skills to attack an FBI facility. Young also discussed finding the residence of an FBI agent who once questioned him and then kidnapping and torturing her. White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters the administration of President Barack Obama is "well aware of the risk of homegrown terrorists" and authorities take quite seriously the responsibility they have to protect the people. The investigation into Young was initiated by the MTPD, which "worked hand-in-glove with the FBI in the interest of public safety and to ensure that this individual would be bought to justice," General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said in a statement. Metro transit spokesman Dan Stessel said Young was fired from his job Wednesday immediately after his arrest. Young's actions did not pose a threat to Metro's transit systems, officials said. Young is a resident of the southern city of Fairfax, Virginia, just minutes south of Washington, D.C. He is one of more than a half-dozen people from northern Virginia who have been charged with crimes related to terrorism. A Greek government official said Wednesday that there was no sign yet that a deal between the European Union and Turkey to stop migrants coming to Europe has faltered since the attempted military coup in the country. Daily arrivals by migrants and refugees at Greek islands near the Turkish coast have remained low since the July 15 coup attempt, government crisis committee spokesman Giorgos Kyritsis told The Associated Press. But he said the Greek government had renewed requests to the EU to end delays in emergency funding and the implementation of a relocation program for migrants stranded in Greece. Tension has risen between Turkey and the EU over alleged large-scale human rights abuses following the coup attempt and prompted concern that the migrant deal could collapse. The ongoing war in Syria helped trigger a dramatic rise in refugee crossings last year, with more than 2,000 people arriving per day on Greek islands last year. The number dropped sharply after border closures across the Balkans and after the EU-Turkey deal took effect in late March. "So far, Turkey has not shown that it is not honoring the agreement. On some days we have 100 arrivals. On others, we have none at all. So no pattern has emerged.'' Kyritsis said. "We continue to request that relocations are speeded up. The second issue is funding: Money promised is being paid out in small amounts and not regularly.'' About 57,000 migrants and refugees remain stranded in Greece, most in army-built camps on the mainland. Police in Wednesday said 400 migrants from Iraq's small Yazidi religious minority had left a 4,000-bed camp in northern Greece and were asking to be transferred to another site, telling authorities that they being mistreated by other camp dwellers. It was unclear whether they would be moved from the camp, located near the northern town of Polykastro. After sating palates with a range of kebabs and curries for decades, Indian chefs are giving traditional Indian food a makeover, stuffing blue cheese in naans, serving kebabs with pesto sauce and drizzling truffle oil on quintessentially Indian dishes. Having met with success at home, the restaurateurs are taking these experiments overseas in hopes of winning global customers for Indian food, long defined by the popular curry and butter chicken. Progressive Indian food Zorawar Kalra, Managing Director of Massive Restaurants, serves progressive Indian cuisine in his restaurants Masala Library and Farzi Cafe in New Delhi and Mumbai. Dishes here arrive in a whole new avatar. For example, a popular snack, pakoras, or savories made with gram flour and onions, is coated with carbon powder and infused with cinnamon and clove smoke. People are eating something that tastes exactly how they were expecting it to, but looks like nothing they have seen before, Kalra said. And that has been a hit. Its now the number one trending restaurant cuisine or concept is modern Indian. Its suddenly taken over. Innovation and creativity Food critics say creativity and innovation have become the buzzwords as the fusion Indian cuisine blends the varying traditions and flavors of the countrys different regions and throws in the odd element from foreign cuisines. It tones down the spices. It experiments with new pairings. It wont be like your grandmother used to make it, said restaurant critic Marryam H Reshii. Although chefs have now become more adventurous, she says the original premise was to lighten it and make it more interesting for a wider audience. A young country, which often considered heading out to a traditional Indian restaurant passe, seems to be enjoying the experience. Khushboo Gutt who dines out frequently said, When you go out, you want (something) a little different. And her friend Richa Sharma nods in complete agreement. Its something new, unique to your taste buds, so we like it. Goal: Make Indian cuisine a worldwide favorite But home is not where Indian restaurateurs want to stop. Kalras mission is to put modern Indian food on the global palate and have it recognized as one of the worlds top cuisines. If you want to take something global, you need to modernize it, you need to evolve it. You need to make it look like it is from the 2020s, or at least get it ready for the 2020s. We are almost at the cusp of 2020, and we cannot have food being served to us that looks like it is from 1980, said Kalra. He is not the only one. Manish Mehrotra, one of the first chefs to put a twist in Indian food, came to New Delhi after working in London for several years, where he was disappointed to see that Indian cuisine was not among those sought after by food connoisseurs. People used to think Indian food as a cheap, greasy takeaway. It did not have a good reputation. It was not fine dine, you cannot do it with wine. Indian food is very spicy, Indian food is very oily, said Mehrotra. In a quiet, leafy lane in a South Delhi neighborhood, he set out to demolish these myths in the Indian Accent restaurant. And after counting droves of Indians living overseas among its steady stream of upmarket customers, the restaurant opened a location in New York this year. Indian food is healthy and offers many choices He hopes it will convey to the world that Indian cuisine is wide ranging. We have healthy food which is inspired by Ayurveda, we have festive food which is nice and rich, we have home food which is not spicy, not oily, we have an extensive repertoire of vegetable and vegetarian dishes which no other country has, said Mehrotra. Critic Reshii says modern Indian food will work as long as the chefs take care not to move too far away from the core of the centuries-old cuisine. The only thing is how successful will all these people be in keeping abreast of tradition, and will it only be about foam and molecular and presentation? she questioned. Many of these restaurateurs are now eyeing the world, hoping that modern Indian food will carve a global niche. After opening a restaurant serving modern Indian food Farzi Cafe in Dubai in April, Kalra is exploring options in other cities in Europe, the United States and the Middle East. Pointing out that besides London and New York, few cities have fine dining Indian restaurants he outlines the goal: We want you to go to any major city in the world and one of your top three destinations should be an Indian restaurant, said Kalra. There may be a changing of the guard atop the West African terror group Boko Haram. The latest edition of the weekly online magazine published by IS makes reference to Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the current "governor" of Boko Haram. This would mean the end of the reign of longtime leader Abubakar Shekau and a promotion of al-Barnawi, who had previously been a "spokesman" for the group. In an audio message released after the online publication, Shekau seemed to say he was still vying to play a leadership role and keep the group unified. "Understand that we have not been broken apart and we don't agree in causing chaos in society. We will live according to the Qur'an and the prophetic teachings and traditions as it is made compulsory. This is what we stand for, and we're still Jama'atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda'Awati Wal Jihad [Boko Haram]," he said. Shekau also made reference to sending eight letters to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi complaining about al-Barnawi, but receiving no response. Boko Haram pledged allegiance to IS in March 2015. Earlier this year, Shekau made a vague allusion to playing a diminished role when he said in a video, "For me, the end has come." Shekau took command of the terror group in 2009 after the death of founder Muhammad Yusuf. He is blamed for Boko Haram's increasingly violent tactics that often target civilians. Competing ideologies? A Nigerian security analyst, retired Air Commodore Ahmed Tijjani Baba Gamawa, said the group may now be looking to change its approach while its forces are losing ground on the battlefield. "There are strong indications that the two contending leaders have different ideologies on how to run the group," Gamawa said. However, he downplayed the group's threat, suggesting that Boko Haram is weakening. "When was the last time you heard that the group has launched an attack in a mosque, market or in hospitals? It has been months since we last heard Shekau coming out to speak. These are all indications that they are losing the battle and they have been weakened," he said. There have been calls in Nigeria to take advantage of the rift inside Boko Haram and for the Nigerian government to open negotiations with the group. But Gamawa said he believes that approach is not needed. "I don't agree with this idea," Gamawa said, "because other past governments have made [a] similar effort to bring the group to a negotiating table, but to no avail." He added that because the government is winning the war militarily, there is no need to invite Boko Haram to the negotiating table. Two American importers missed a federal judge's deadline for responding to a complaint by seven Cambodian laborers allegedly exploited while working in Thailands seafood industry. Failing to comply with the order will result in a judgment favoring the plaintiffs, Judge John F. Walter warned the American companies and two Thai seafood companies in a standing order issued in late June. As of late July, the U.S. firms, Rubicon Resources and Wales & Co. Universe, had not responded to the complaint; their deadline passed last week. The Thai seafood companies, Phatthana Seafood Co. Ltd. and S.S. Frozen Food Co. Ltd., were given until early August to respond. A law firm representing the five male and two female plaintiffs filed a complaint against the four companies on June 15. The Cambodians were recruited from their rural villages by a local agency to work for Phatthana between 2010 and 2012 and became victims of human trafficking, forced labor, involuntary servitude and peonage, according to lawyers at the firm Cohen Milstein, which specializes in human rights and class-action cases. When contacted by VOA's Khmer service, a woman who answered the phone at Rubicon in Culver City, Calif., said the company had no comment on that. The woman declined to give her name and refused even to confirm whether the company was aware of the complaint. Summons served According to court documents published online, a summons was served to Rubicon on June 28. The firms chief finance officer, Harry Kraushaar, is recorded as having received the document. Rubicon was created by a group of seafood companies for the purpose of marketing and distributing seafood products in the United States. According to the Bloomberg news service, it sells a variety of products, including fish, shrimp and egg rolls. Wales & Co. is incorporated in Thailand but is registered to conduct business in California. It sells frozen seafood, Asian food and sushi. A summons was received by Sean Caraway on June 28, court papers show. The summons and the complaint were also translated into Thai and delivered to the two Thai companies. S.S. Frozen Food was served on July 12, with a K. Warin signing off on the delivery list. The company is based in southern Thailands Songkla province. Phatthana was served on July 11. VOA Khmers efforts to contact the two Thai companies by email and phone were unsuccessful. If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint, wrote court clerk Kiry Gray in a summons dated June 24. Mistreatment 'beyond words' Keo Ratha, one of the plaintiffs, spent three months working for Phatthana in Songkla from late 2011 to early 2012. The way they mistreated us was beyond words, Keo Ratha told VOA Khmer in an interview. We encountered this at places where we slept and ate. And our spending was not balanced with our income. The workers shelters would flood during rains, he said, adding that workers would sometimes be kept up all night, draining the water from their quarters, before working long hours the next day. The company promised to pay between $300 and $500 per month, but Keo Ratha said he received about $100 a month, much of which he had to spend on food and accommodation. Four years after returning home, Keo Ratha said, he still owes more than $1,000 on loans he took out to travel to Thailand for the job. Shocking levels of exploitation in Thailands seafood industry have been exposed by journalists and human rights advocates in recent years. The industry benefits from the copious supply of cheap labor that comes to Thailand, mostly from Cambodia and Myanmar. Thai government officials and police have been implicated in human trafficking, according to reports by the U.S. government, human rights organizations and media outlets. Agnieszka Fryszman, a partner at Cohen Milstein, told VOA Khmer that the defendants were aware of the alleged abuses at their factories or supply chains. For one, the company on site knew because the men [and women] complained and wanted to go home, she said. Two, there were so many reports and investigations over time by the United States State Department, by Human Rights Watch, where we have 15 pages of evidence of all these investigations that highlighted the problem in this industry. One of the things that we think we will be able to prove is that the companies in the U.S. should have known that people are being trafficked, Fryszman added. Money needed 'desperately' In the complaint, the victims demand damages because of loss of work opportunities, assets and education. The plaintiffs desperately need the money and desperately need a recovery, said Fryszman. And its important to set up precedent quickly for all the other people that are still in terrible conditions and are still working at these shrimp sheds. Moeun Tola, executive director of the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights in Phnom Penh, said there had been little improvement in working conditions for Cambodian laborers in Thailand. There are still a lot of problems related to exploitation of their wages and overtime work forced against their will, said Moeun Tola. And recruitment agencies from Cambodia do not take responsibility for their accommodation and food while they wait for placement. For Cambodian workers, seeking justice at home is impossible. Instead, with the help of advocates in the U.S., they are going after the companies selling the products of their labor in the U.S. What I really want is that the company that buys the products should look at every aspect of their suppliers, because it was not only me who was exploited. There are a lot of fishermen at sea who are suffering more exploitation than those on land, said Keo Ratha. There should be restrictions on that so that abuses on people both on land and at sea can be stopped. A Malaysian man charged with raping a 14-year-old girl has avoided prison after he married her in a case that has sparked anger from rights groups and calls for a ban on child marriage and justice for victims of sexual violence. Ahmad Syukri Yusuf, 22, was charged with statutory rape of the girl late last year and faced up to 30 years in jail and whipping for the offence, but he later married the teenager under Islamic law, according to prosecutor Ahmad Fariz Abdul Hamid. The prosecutor said a court in Kuching, in Malaysia's eastern state of Sarawak ruled there was no need to proceed with the case after Ahmad Syukri submitted a marriage certificate and the girl withdrew the complaint. Delivered last week, the court ruling prompted fury from women's rights groups. "It is very common for rapists to marry their survivors, especially when they are underage, to cover up their crime," Kuala Lumpur-based Women's Aid Organization spokeswoman Tan Heang Lee told Thomson Reuters Foundation. "There is usually a high risk in this kind of cases that these girls will be subject to a lifetime of sexual abuse. Her marriage is basically an extension to rape," she added. Under Malaysia's civil laws, the legal minimum age for marriage is 18 but Muslim girls who are under 16 can obtain permission to marry from Islamic courts. Ethnic Malays, who are Muslim, make up about 60 percent of the country's 30 million population. There are about 16,000 girls in Malaysia who were married before their 15th birthday, according to Human Rights Watch citing the latest available government statistics in 2010. Globally, 15 million girls are married before the age of 18 each year according to campaign group Girls Not Brides. Ann Teo, vice-president of the Kuching-based Sarawak Women for Women Society, said accused rapists should be prevented from marrying their victims. "It sends a message a person will be freed from his charge if he enters into this kind of marriage of convenience with the girl," Teo said. By PTI: Kolkata, Aug 3 (PTI) A Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) team today visited the Sunny Park residential complex where Abesh Dasgupta was fatally injured after being allegedly hit by an alcohol bottle. The CFSL team visited the residential complex this afternoon to collect evidences relating to the death of the 17-year-old, Kolkata Police Joint Commissioner (Crime) Visal Garg said adding it was called for an expert opinion in the case and to test the footages collected from the CCTV installed there. advertisement Meanwhile, Kolkata Police sleuths during the day called for questioning a driver of one of the residents of the upscale complex who was present there at the time of the incident, Garg said. Abeshs family members, including his uncle Suresh Thakkar today visited Kolkata Police headquarter at Lalbazar for an update on the progress of the investigation. Going by the footages captured by the CCTVs at the complex, circumstantial evidences and statements of several witnesses, including frinds of Abesh and security guards, Kolkata Police had said the boy died due to injuries he suffered after falling from a small wall in the lawn of the Sunny Park residential complex on July 23. The teenagers family members have, however, refused to accept the no conspiracy theory behind his death and have repeatedly claimed that it was a case of murder. Abeshs mother Rimjhim Dasgupta had met Mamata Banerjee seeking justice and said the Chief Minister had assured her help. PTI SCH KK ABH --- ENDS --- Myanmar authorities have launched an investigation into a reported threat by the Islamic State group to kill State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, state authorities say. Media reports say the threat was communicated in a two-page letter titled IS Ancaman (IS Threat) sent to the Nilai police in Negeri Semblian, one of Malaysias 13 states that lies on the western coast of the country. According to the Malaysiakini news website, the letter also threatened Malaysias Prime Minister Najib Razak and his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, along with the countrys attorney general, Mohamed Apandi, and inspector general of police Khalid Abu Bakar. Quoting the Malaysian Chinese-language China Press newspaper, the website reported that the letter contained photographs of Aung San Suu Kyi and the Malaysian leaders. Zaw Htay, spokesperson for Myanmars president, told VOA that although Myanmar authorities have not received any official notification from Malaysian authorities, the government is analyzing and investigating the credibility and reliability of the sources. The spokesperson added that security measures for Aung San Suu Kyi are being taken seriously and Myanmar authorities will not underestimate such security threats. Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to visit Malaysia at the invitation of Prime Minister Razak. A date for the visit has not been announced yet. IS has been trying to establish a presence in parts of East Asia. Last June, a Malaysian fighter in Syria was featured in an IS propaganda video, threatening security personnel, according to media reports. Myanmar, a Buddhist majority country, had been under military rule. Last year, Aung San Suu Kyis National League of Democracy won an absolute majority in the countrys first openly contested elections since 1990. An investigative commission set up by the Kaduna state government has found that the Nigerian army used excessive force against a Shi'ite minority sect during a roadside dispute eight months ago. The commission says 348 civilians were killed, along with one soldier. International human rights groups have released similar findings. But the Kaduna state report, released this week, also found fault with the sect, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, which army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman was quick to point out. "It's only one recommendation against the Nigerian army, but all subsequent were against the sect," Usman said. Usman declined to comment on that one recommendation that the government identify the soldiers allegedly responsible for the killings and bring them to justice. Sect responds As for the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, the commission says the group has deliberately committed acts of lawlessness and defied the constitution. The report also accuses the group of radicalizing its members. "They really indicted us, said Ibrahim Musa, spokesman of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. That is what we are disputing. Why should they indict the movement? After all, they haven't heard from the side of the movement? We believe the report is biased against us, also we are aggrieved about it." The movement declined to participate in the judicial inquiry out of protest. The sect's leader, cleric Ibraheem Zakzaky, has been held without charge since the clash December 12. What happened that day The IMN had blocked a major road in the northern city of Zaria to conduct a flag-hoisting ceremony at its headquarters. A military convoy was prevented from moving forward and a heated altercation broke out. The army claims the Shi'ite group was trying to assassinate an army chief, who was in the convoy something the movement has denied. The state commission says the movement should have allowed the army to pass. Instead, soldiers and members the movement reportedly clashed for three days. The commission says the army recovered one firearm a homemade pistol from Zakzaky's home, and that other weapons, such as bows and arrows, were found at unspecified locations. Movement draws fire Since the report's release Sunday, some local press have slammed the sect. "The Shia seem to enjoy confrontations with the state," wrote former presidential adviser Reuben Abati in one national paper. Another sought to draw parallels with Boko Haram. The movement has repeatedly come head-to-head with the Nigerian government. Members say a 2014 incident killed three of Zakzaky's sons. "It has been a long plan that they have been planning against our leader," said Abubakar Zaky, who joined the movement in 1986. He teaches the Quran to young children. His son-in-law and one-year-old granddaughter were killed in the December skirmish, along with three of his students. According to the movement, 850 of its members are still missing after the December clash and are presumed dead. Their spokesman told VOA they may appeal the panel's findings. Years of economic pressures and alleged forced conversions to Islam continue to pose a threat to Pakistans tiny Kalash minority, the only pagans in the Islamic republic. Once a large community that for many centuries ruled the scenic northern Pakistani district of Chitral and adjoining border areas of Afghanistan, the Kalash minority tribe has shrunk to around 4,000 people. They speak the Kalasha language and are now confined to three small valleys (Rumbur, Brumbret and Birir), high up in the Hindu Kush mountains. Critics say successive Pakistani governments have done little to address the extinction threat to the Kalash and have failed to develop their poverty-stricken area to make it accessible for tourism to boost local economy. Bleak future, festivals still popular But despite the challenges, celebration mood and excitement remains undeterred at annual Kalash festivals where men and women, wearing traditional colorful dresses, dance and sing to entertain tourists. Kalasha women mingle easily with male members of the society and are free to move on to new partners should the new lovers, under local customs, be willing to pay the price. Such an act is condemned as against family honor in many other parts of Pakistan, where families adhere to a strict religious and cultural code. A community member, Mohammad Ali, says tourism is now the only source of income for the cash-strapped Kalash families. He cites repeated natural disasters in recent years such as rain-triggered floods and earthquakes that have immensely damaged the centuries old traditional livelihood of livestock and agriculture farming. There are no other sources of earning for us but tourism. A large number of our young people are jobless and annually some of them also convert to the Muslim faith [in exchange for jobs], he said. Ali complained that absence of a proper road to link the valleys to the rest of the country has over the years discouraged local and foreign tourists to show up in large numbers at their annual festivals. It also makes at extremely difficult for the community to transport patients to hospitals in Chitral for treatment in emergency, he says. Government says little they can do Pakistani officials acknowledge the sorry and sad situation facing the Kalash and also admit nothing is being done to reverse it. A lot of people are leaving their culture and their religion because of a lot of immense social pressure and there are forced conversions, warns Fouzia Saeed, head of the national institute called Lok Virsa, which focuses on promoting and raising awareness about traditional Pakistani cultures. Activists and researchers note the Kalash settlements are being rapidly encircled by the growing Muslim population because over the years the improvised pagan community has lost control of large parts of their lands to Muslims through sale or mortgage in exchange for paltry loans. One God Community leaders dismiss as incorrect many writings on the Kalash culture that suggest the tribe believes in twelve gods and goddesses. They say the tribe believes in a single, creative God and is referred to as Dezauc. But the Kalash does not believe in divine books and messengers. That belief makes them kafirs or infidels in the eyes of Muslim communities, say critics, which has triggered the race for converting them to Islam. Rich Muslim neighbors also keep up the social pressure by offering incentives such as good jobs and better marriage prospects for Kalash girls to encourage conversions, says Saeed. I think that this whole focus of a lot of religious groups hovering around them, this whole trend should have been stopped. There should have been a national level responsibility. It is not just the government I think that the whole society does not realize that these are our treasures, she lamented. Pakistan has seen a rise in Islamist militancy in recent years and extremist attacks have frequently hit parts of the country. Analysts and even officials admit fears of an Islamist backlash and losing support of religious parties in elections play a role in discouraging political leaders from publicly condemning and speaking against the conversion campaign. Origin still a mystery The mystery about the history and origin of the Kalash people, or Kalashas, remains unresolved. While some historians say they are indigenous people, others point to the fair skin, light eyes and brown hair of the Kalash, saying the tribe might have descended from the armies of Alexander the Great, which conquered this area in the fourth century B.C. The belief in purity and impurity is deeply rooted in the Kalash society. Women are considered impure during their menstrual cycle and childbirth, and are not allowed to touch anyone. They are forced to spend their days in an isolated building called Bashali, which is off limits to men, and family members deliver food at the doorstep There are no routine daily prayers, like the Muslim communities in the valleys. The Kalash do pray whenever they initiate any activities like harvesting, plowing, construction and whenever the favor and honor of Dezau is needed, The Kalash tribe welcomes local and foreign tourists to their four main seasonal festivals that some observers say mirror the old pagan festivals of Europe. The celebrations involve rituals and sacrifices, dances, songs, feasts and alcohol, which the Kalash brew themselves. The Kalash break all ties to those who convert to Islam and do not accept them back in the society, nor do they resort to violent means to discourage conversions. Although, abandoning Islam in favor of another religion elsewhere in Pakistan could trigger a fatal mob attack. Activists also complain the rate of conversions is increasing by the year because in the absence of a curriculum for the minority community in government schools, Kalasha students are forced to opt for Islamic studies. Critics believe urgent legal and administrative actions are required to effectively document and preserve the Kalash culture and bring investment to the area to improve lives of the pagans and protect them against forced conversions. Provincial authorities say they plan to convene a donors conference on development projects and persevering the Kalash. The regional government says it will require huge funds because officials are unable to allocate public money with their limited budget. South Korean military officials say North Korea has fired a ballistic missile into the ocean off its eastern coast, the latest in a series of missile tests. The U.S. military said it detected two simultaneous missile launches, one was successful and the other exploded immediately after launch. Officials say the missile, believed to be a medium-range Rodong missile, was fired just before 8 a.m. Wednesday from Unyul in the countrys western Hwanghae province and flew about 1,000 kilometers before landing in or close to Japanese waters. A statement from the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile launch signaled the Norths ambition to attack neighboring countries. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the missile launch a "grave threat" to Japans security and expressed strong objections to the Norths continued ballistic missile aspirations. The United States immediately responded to the test Wednesday, warning the North Koreans that it is ready to defend itself and its allies from any provocation. "We are aware of reports that the DPRK (North Korea) fired ballistic missiles," said State Department spokeswoman Anna Richey-Allen. "We remain prepared to work with our allies and partners around the world to respond to further DPRK provocations, as well as to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation." United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the test Wednesday, saying he was "deeply troubled" and warned that such tests are a threat to regional peace and stability. "We reiterate the call on the DPRK to heed the united call of the international community to reverse its course and return to the process of sincere dialogue," said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric. This latest missile launch is the fourth carried out in about two weeks. All are in defiance of a U.N. resolution prohibiting Pyongyang from developing ballistic missiles. On July 19, North Korea fired three missiles into the sea in what state media called a simulation of a pre-emptive atomic attack on South Korea. North Korea is seeking to develop a warhead small enough to be placed on a long-rang missile that can reach the continental United States. But South Korean defense officials say Pyongyang does not yet have such a miniaturized warhead. Police in Pakistan have disclosed to local media that a forensic examination of the body of a British woman shows she was strangled, giving credence to allegations the deceased was the victim of a so-called honor killing in the country. Samia Shahid, 28, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, died last month while visiting an ill member of her family in a village in Pakistan's Punjab province. Relatives and local police initially reported a possible heart attack had caused the death. Shahids husband, Syed Mukhtar Kazam, swiftly rejected those assertions, saying his wife had been in good health and branded her death an honor killing. He alleged her family opposed their marriage. Shahids relatives denied any involvement in her death. The forensic report stated clearly that her death had been caused due to suffocation, as she was stopped from breathing, according to local media. Kazam, a Shiite Muslim British national of Pakistani origin, said Shahid married him in Leeds two years ago after she divorced her first husband, a cousin from Pakistan. She recently moved to live with Kazam in Dubai. Kazam said he suspected his wifes Sunni Muslim family was also upset because Shahid converted to his sect. I request the British and Pakistani governments to conduct a fair trial, Kazam told reporters during a recent visit to Pakistan. Human rights groups say hundreds of women are killed in Pakistan each year for allegedly bringing dishonor to their families. Last month, a social media star, Qandeel Baloch, was strangled and her brother confessed to the crime, citing what he described as Balochs intolerable behavior. Her death made headlines in local and international media for days, prompting a high-level probe into the killing. An Emirates flight from India caught on fire, sending black smoke billowing into the air, after a crash landing at Dubai's international airport Wednesday. There were no fatalities and all 300 passengers and the crew were safely evacuated before the plane was engulfed in flames. The incident happened just before 1 p.m. local time, halting all traffic at the Middle East's largest airport and the busiest international air hub in the world. Passengers on board the plane described hearing a loud noise after a hard landing. Emirates said they did not know what caused the crash-landing and they were co-operating with emergency services. Social media users posted videos showing black plumes of smoke coming from the plane. The Dubai International Airport said that all arrival and departure flights were suspended and an update on the status of operations at the airport was due to be issued at 5 p.m. (1300 GMT) local time. Aides and campaign staffers of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump are becoming increasingly frustrated by his seemingly inability to stick to a coherent message and strategy, media sources quoted people close to his campaign as saying late Tuesday. Reports says campaign staffers are upset over a series of missteps and controversies by the Republican standard bearer, including Trump's continuous battle with Khizr Khan, the Muslim father whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004, and comments during an interview Tuesday with the Washington Post newspaper in which he said he will not endorse two leading Republican lawmakers, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Arizona Senator John McCain in their re-election bids. Ryan and McCain have both endorsed Trump, but have publicly rebuked him over his criticism of the Khans. Khizr Khan gave an emotional speech at last week's Democratic National Convention condemning Trump's call to ban Muslims from entering the country, as his wife stood silently by his side, and the couple have continued speaking out against Trump in a several interviews. New York Times reporter John Harwood said on Twitter that he learned from an ally of Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort that Manafort is no longer challenging the candidate, and that staff morale has plunged, which he described as suicidal. CNN reported that Trump campaign staffers feel like they are wasting their time. Trumps behavior is beginning to push some prominent Republicans to the breaking point. Meg Whitman, a prominent technology executive who launched an unsuccessful bid for the California governorship in 2010, told The New York Times late Tuesday that she will support and raise money for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, calling Trump a dishonest demagogue. And U.S. Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first sitting Republican member of Congress to throw his support to Clinton. The endorsement of Clinton by Whitman and Hanna came hours after President Barack Obama took the unprecedented step of a sitting president denouncing a presidential candidate, when he called Trump unfit to serve as the nations commander-in-chief. Obama also took Republican leaders to task for continuously distancing themselves from Trumps comments, while maintaining their endorsement of his White House bid. In a typical response, Trump tweeted that Obama "will go down as perhaps the worst president in the history of the United States. Trump added another controversy to his growing list Tuesday when he accepted a Purple Heart medal from a retired lieutenant colonel before the rally in Ashburn, Virginia. Trump said the former soldier told him the gesture was intended to show confidence in him. The Purple Heart is given to a U.S. serviceman or woman wounded in combat, or posthumously given to someone killed in battle. It is a sacred U.S. military tradition. Trump, who expressed regret for never serving in the military, said he was honored by the soldier's gift. The audience chuckled when he said he had "always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier." But a spokesman for the Military Order of the Purple Heart organization, John Bircher, was not amused. "It is absolutely horrible for anyone to wear or have the Purple Heart medal who is not entitled to it," Bircher told CBS News. "Donald Trump did not get the Purple Heart and there's no 'easy way' to get it. I don't think he has any clue as to the meaning of the Purple Heart medal." Criticism of Trump has also come from across the Atlantic in the form of French President Francois Hollande, who told journalists in Paris Tuesday that the Republican nominees excesses as sickening, and warned that Trumps election will have consequences around the world. Meanwhile, another controversy will continue to dog Trump through the campaign season. Federal judge Gonzalo Curiel rejected a request by Trumps attorneys to dismiss a lawsuit against the billionaire accusing him of defrauding students who had enrolled in his real-estate investing school, Trump University. Trump accused Curiel back in May of being unable to fairly preside over the case because of his campaign pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border. Curiel is a U.S.-born citizen of Mexican descent. The election is still four months away, but attention to the controversies has distracted from discussion of Trump's policy proposals and to a certain extent Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's as well. Time they each spend answering questions about Trump's comments takes away from opportunities to focus on each other or tell more voters what they would do if elected president. Recent public opinion polls indicate American voters are viewing Clinton more favorably in the aftermath of last week's national party convention, even as they continue to question her honesty and trustworthiness. The latest CNN/ORC poll showed the former U.S. secretary of state with an edge over Trump on who would better handle several public policy issues, including the economy, immigration, health care and fighting Islamic State terrorists. Clinton gained ground on all four issues over Trump from the last poll conducted by the cable news channel. CNN said Clinton has pulled even with Trump on who would be best at handling terrorism and holds a marked edge over him on setting U.S. foreign policy. A CBS News poll shows Clinton with a significant edge over Trump on the question of which candidate is better prepared to be president. The survey showed voters believe Clinton, by a 60 percent to 37 percent margin, is prepared, while only 35 percent say Trump is prepared and 61 percent said that he is not. The CBS poll said 57 percent believe Clinton has the right temperament and personality to be president, but only 31 percent agreed that Trump does. Clinton's campaign continues to be weakened by perceptions that she is less than honest and trustworthy, although surveys have shown that Trump also fares poorly on the same question. The CBS poll said 34 percent of voters it surveyed viewed Clinton as honest, while 60 percent did not. Trump had a 36 percent favorable rating on honesty, 59 percent negative. Stunning views of iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, a sun-drenched patio nestled in the hills of Atlantic rainforest and rooms costing a fraction of nearby hotels. The Favelinha hostel, like others in several of Rio's more than 1,000 shantytowns, offers more than just cheap housing for the more adventurous among the estimated 500,000 foreign tourists expected to arrive for the Olympics in August. The establishments also open the rich culture of the city's slums for travelers, giving them a glimpse into one-time "no-go" areas where about one-fifth of Rio's population lives. French tourist Sabrina Noblanc took selfies with a friend on the deck of the Favelinha hostel in the Pereira da Silva slum, or "favela," located in central Rio on a steep hill, where the city's traffic din fades away to the squawks of jungle birds and squeals of kite-flying kids. Noblanc arrived in Rio with the notion that all the city's shantytowns were centers of heavily armed gangs and drug trade violence. "Now that I'm here, I am impressed," she said. "It's better than my imagination. For me, it was to be so dangerous, with the guns and everything. Actually, that's not the case." Without question, the majority of Rio's slums suffer from intense violence. What critics call heavy-handed policing, coupled with drug factions fighting among themselves for territory, leads to daily shootings and deaths. Brazil, according to United Nations' statistics, has more gun deaths than any other country. Rio's state government implemented a program in 2008 to "pacify" slums by pushing the gangs out of areas mostly located near richer neighborhoods or Olympic venues. But the effort has had mixed results and is losing steam because the security budget was slashed this year amid Brazil's economic crisis. Solange dos Santos manages the Favelinha hostel, where the daily rate for a double bed room is about $30, compared with $250 at nearby three-star hotels. "It is difficult to establish a hostel inside a favela, with everything that we know goes on in favelas," she said. "But that is changing because people are coming and interacting with the people, and saying, 'Wow, this isn't anything like what we've heard about!' There is peace and tranquility here." Russia is denying claims from Syrian rebels and human rights groups that it was behind a reported chlorine gas attack Tuesday in the same area where a Russian helicopter was shot down a day before, according to a Russian state media report. "I dont have information; we dont have information about how the operation is proceeding," Russia's TASS news agency reports Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. "It is very hard to react to such information releases: it is not always clear what they are based on, what their sources are and so on." Aid workers in Syria's war-ravaged northwest said Tuesday that a helicopter dropped barrels of toxic gas on a town near the besieged city of Aleppo. At least 30 people, mostly women and children were affected by the gas, which workers say was dropped overnight near the site where a Russian helicopter was downed hours earlier by rebel ground fire. The extent of the chemical injuries was not immediately known. By late Tuesday, there were conflicting reports about who launched the attack. Rebel fighters trying to break the Aleppo siege and government forces encircling the city blamed each other for using the poisonous gas, believed to be chlorine. Physicians in the town of Saraqeb told reporters as many as five containers of chlorine hit neighborhoods there shortly before midnight. One physician told a reporter for al-Jazeera television he was certain the chemical was chlorine because the highly toxic agent has been used against the area in the past. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government, which is battling rebels for control of the area in what observers describe as some of the fiercest fighting in months. However, the Syrian state news agency SANA later accused rebels of firing rockets armed with toxic gas into government-controlled areas of nearby Aleppo, killing at least five people. The report did not provide details. The Russian helicopter downed Monday crashed about 15 kilometers from the site of the chemical attacks. Fighting has raged in and near Aleppo for more than two months. Monitors from the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights report at least 6,000 people have been killed or wounded in the past 80 days. The government of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly been accused of attacking rebels with crude chemical bombs. Earlier this year, the Syrian-American Medical Society (SAMS) said chemical weapons attacks have killed nearly 1,500 people since civil war broke out in Syria more than five years ago. The SAMS report, released in March, documented 161 chemical attacks in Syria, and linked the vast majority of them and the resulting civilian casualties to the Assad government. For the scores of photographers on the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign trail, capturing the characters, the color and the vibe of the election often means turning away from the speaker on the podium. "The audience, the voters and the candidate are equally important," said Brian Snyder, who has been a photographer for Reuters for more than 20 years. "The voters need the candidates and the candidates need the voters. Any way you can show that visually is a good campaign picture as far as I'm concerned." Take, for example, the window full of young Bernie Sanders supporters that Snyder photographed at Bronx Community College in New York, waving to the U.S. senator from Vermont. Sanders won enthusiastic support from young people in his hard-fought race against the eventual presumptive Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton. Or look at the tree with umbrellas hanging to dry on it outside a rainy Sanders rally in Buffalo, New York, after the Secret Service prevented supporters from carrying them inside. "I'm sure one person did it, and then the other person thought it was a good idea, and then the next thing you know, there are 30 umbrellas," Snyder said. "It was just one of those funny things." Veteran Reuters photographer Mike Segar described covering this year's U.S. presidential campaign as "strangely fun." In a 23-year Reuters career, Segar has covered five presidential elections, but said that this one was different, especially with New York businessman Donald Trump, who became the presumptive Republican nominee, playing a starring role. "The tone of the Trump campaign makes everything different for everybody," Segar said. He added that heightened security around Trump had also impacted how photographers illustrate the campaign. Segar took a photograph of one of his own meals when he was covering a Clinton rally: hamburger meat on a bed of undressed spinach in a tinfoil to-go container. "I was trying to give viewers a little bit of a different taste of what we see on a day to day basis," Segar said with a laugh. "Your photos don't necessarily have to capture the most earth-shattering moments of the campaign, but they have to capture people's interest." Reuters photographer Lucas Jackson said he always looked for a different angle at rallies. In one of his photos, young reporters can be seen staring into the screens of their Macbook laptops at a Sanders rally in Pennsylvania. "Usually cameras are pointed at the candidate," Jackson Said. "I'm always looking to add context." Located at an altitude of 4,600 feet, the Coiling Dragon Cliff, a glass-bottomed walkway in the Tianmen Mountains, is China's new tourist hotspot. By India Today Web Desk: If you are looking to go on an international trip anytime soon, southern China's Tianmen Mountains could be a great option. Not only because it's one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the country, but also because of the new glass-bottomed cliff that has just opened up for the tourists. Yes, you did read that right. Tianmenshan National Park, which is within this famous mountain range, is now home to 330-foot-long glass skywalk, stretching around a 4,600 feet cliff. advertisement Also read: Want to see the Milky Way? Travel to this newly launched dark sky reserve in China! Titled as the Coiling Dragon Cliff, the walkway has been built for the nature-loving tourists. The 5-foot-wide glass-bottom walkway offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape and the Tongtian Avenue, a sinewy mountain road with 99 turns climbing up to the Tianmen Mountain in Hunan's Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. To be able to stand on this walkway and look at the breathtaking panorama can be a life-changing experience for any traveller. In case you want to repeat the experience, go to the other similar walkways in the area. Yes, according to reports, this is not the first glass-bottom walkway that has opened up. Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area alone has two other walkways of its kind. World's longest glass-bottom bridge, measuring 1,410 feet long, 20 feet wide and hovering over a 984 feet vertical drop was set to open up in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in the month of May this year, and has been delayed. We just hope this tourist attraction comes up by the time one of us go on a trip to China. --- ENDS --- Syria's civil war and the rise of Islamic State militants have left Syrian Kurds with an opportunity to control their areas in the north and northeastern part of that war-torn country. This has allowed the Kurds to exercise their once-banned ethnic culture freely. The newfound freedoms in the Kurdish-controlled region are being used to promote Kurdish, a language that was banned for decades during the rule of President Bashar al-Assad and his late father, Hafez al-Assad. With almost no presence of Syrian government forces, local Kurdish groups say they are free to learn their language and teach it to the new generation. "It's a great thing that is happening now," said Ismael Omar, who teaches the Kurdish language through a private committee in the town of Amude. "We just graduated 31 students," he told VOA. "We've been doing this since the start of the Syrian revolution." Prior to the Syrian uprising in 2011, the entire education system in the Kurdish region was in Arabic only. Despite being successful at preserving the use of their language at home, Syrian Kurds had never had the chance to study it in schools. Samira Hajji Ali, the head of the education commission at the local Kurdish administration in the city of Qamishli, said the time has come for the Kurdish to put their language into practice and pass it to their children. "Our language was banned by the Baath [government] for decades. But now our children can get their education in their mother tongue," she told VOA. She said that under the new governing body, Kurdish is the official language, along with Arabic and Syriac. The local Kurdish administration that operates autonomously has set up a new curriculum that not only has Kurdish language courses, but also offers school textbooks that are different from what used to be taught in Syrian government schools. "In the coming school year, we will have textbooks designed for elementary schools," said Abdulselam Mohamad, a teacher who works at a local public school in Qamishli. "All math and science textbooks are in Kurdish." He told VOA that teachers are going through training sessions to be able to use Kurdish in the teaching process. Critics urge gradual shift Many residents, however, are critical of the new education system. They say that while it is good to teach in Kurdish and pass the language to children, the new curriculum imposed by the local government disregards the fact that students are not yet ready to receive education entirely in Kurdish. "We're not against teaching our kids in Kurdish," said Nesrin Malla, a mother of three young children who go to a private school run by a Christian church. "Kurdish is our mother tongue and we love it, but thrusting all those Kurdish textbooks on children at once is counterproductive," she told VOA. Private schools, which still teach in Arabic, are not an option for all parents. Given the high tuition costs in private schools, residents have been left with no option but to send their children to public schools that teach in Kurdish. Language experts voice a similar concern that imposing the language on students could disturb their learning experience. "There has to be a gradual process in which Kurdish is introduced to students slowly," said instructor Omar. "You can't just teach them in a language that they have never been exposed to in their education, and then expect them to succeed academically." Another hurdle facing students, experts say, is the differences between the Kurdish and Arabic alphabets. Belonging to the Indo-European language family, Kurdish uses the Latin alphabet in writing, while students have been used to the Arabic alphabet, which is written from right to left. "This might seem like a minor issue," Omar said. "But it is actually problematic, given that students have to switch everything to the Latin script." He said it will take a long time before students get comfortable with the new alphabet. Recently, a new university was set up that offers undergraduate programs in four majors, including Kurdish literature, science, engineering and medicine. Regardless of these technical difficulties, local Kurdish groups say that with the growing power they have acquired, they are determined to continue pushing for their language to be recognized in all aspects of life. Donald Trump's week-long feud with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Muslim parents of a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq, is leading more fellow Republicans to publicly criticize the candidate, highlighting lingering tensions with top party leaders. Meg Whitman, a prominent technology executive who launched an unsuccessful bid for the California governorship in 2010, told The New York Times late Tuesday that she will support and raise money for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, calling Trump a dishonest demagogue. And U.S. Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first sitting Republican member of Congress to throw his support to Clinton, saying he was incensed by the Republican nominees comments about the Khans. The endorsements came hours after President Barack Obama took the unprecedented step of a sitting U.S. leader denouncing a presidential candidate, when he called Trump unfit to serve as the nations commander-in-chief. Trump swiftly responded to Obamas comments, saying it is almost an honor to be criticized by him, adding that Obama does not know what he is doing and calling him a weak president. The controversy began after Khizr Khan, the slain soldiers father, denounced Trump over the Republican nominee's proposal to bar foreign Muslims from coming to the United States. Khan said this would have prevented his son from joining the U.S. military. Trump responded by belittling the family, suggesting that the mother did not speak at the convention because she was not allowed to do so. Trump continues to insist his criticisms are valid and the news media have portrayed him unfairly. Leading Republicans have said that regardless of political views, the parents of slain U.S. soldiers must be treated with respect by political leaders. Presidential historian Allan Lichtman of American University told VOA that Obamas assessment of Trump is unprecedented. I cannot recall a sitting president who has called an opposition candidate unfit to serve in modern history. Lichtman said he has often heard sitting presidents criticize opposition political candidates, but cannot remember any other candidate being labeled unfit or unprepared to serve. Obama, who has endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton as his successor when he leaves office in January, challenged Republicans to repudiate Trump, saying his complaints against Khizr Khan and his wife Ghazala after they endorsed Clinton at last week's Democratic National Convention were offensive. Obama said several leading Republicans have denounced any insults of the Khan family, but he said that is not enough. There has to be a point in which you say, this is not somebody I can support for president of the United States, even if he purports to be a member of my party. And the fact that that has not yet happened makes some of these denunciations ring hollow. In an interview with VOAs Urdu service Monday, Khizr Khan said some good has already come out the political firestorm with Trump. "It really has come out. It really, really has come out that a significant larger number of Republicans are asking him to tone down, change those derogatory remarks about minorities, not only just Muslims, but other minorities," Khan said. WATCH: Khizir and Ghazala Khan Talk to VOA Rifts with Republicans Trump told The Washington Post in an interview Tuesday that he will not endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan or Arizona Senator John McCain in their re-election bids. Ryan and McCain have both endorsed Trump but also publicly rebuked him over his criticism of the Khans. Another controversy erupted Tuesday when Trump accepted a Purple Heart medal from a retired lieutenant colonel before a rally in Ashburn, Virginia. Trump said the former soldier told him the gesture was intended to show confidence in him. The Purple Heart is given to a U.S. serviceman or woman wounded in combat, or posthumously given to someone killed in battle. It is a sacred U.S. military tradition. Trump, who has expressed regret for never serving in the military, said he was honored by the soldier's gift. The audience chuckled when he said he had "always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier." A spokesman for the Military Order of the Purple Heart organization, John Bircher, was not amused. "It is absolutely horrible for anyone to wear or have the Purple Heart medal who is not entitled to it," Bircher told CBS News. "Donald Trump did not get the Purple Heart and there's no 'easy way' to get it. I don't think he has any clue as to the meaning of the Purple Heart medal." Meanwhile, another controversy will continue to dog Trump through the campaign season. Federal judge Gonzalo Curiel has rejected a request by Trumps attorneys to dismiss a lawsuit against the billionaire, accusing him of defrauding students who had enrolled in his real-estate investing school, Trump University. Back in May, Trump accused Curiel of being unable to fairly preside over the case because of Trump's campaign pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border. Curiel is a U.S.-born citizen of Mexican descent. The election is still three months away, but attention to the controversies has distracted from discussion of Trump's policy proposals and to a certain extent Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's as well. The time they each spend answering questions about Trump's comments takes away from opportunities to tell more voters what they would do if elected. Opinion polls Recent public opinion polls indicate voters are viewing Clinton more favorably in the aftermath of last week's national party convention, even as they continue to question her honesty and trustworthiness. The latest CNN/ORC poll showed the former U.S. secretary of state with an edge over Trump on who would better handle several public policy issues, including the economy, immigration, health care and fighting Islamic State terrorists. Clinton gained ground on all four issues over Trump from the last poll conducted by the cable news channel. CNN said Clinton has pulled even with Trump on who would be best at handling terrorism and holds a marked edge over him on setting U.S. foreign policy. A CBS News poll shows Clinton with a significant edge over Trump on the question of which candidate is better prepared to be president. The survey showed voters believe Clinton, by a 60 percent to 37 percent margin, is prepared, while only 35 percent say Trump is prepared and 61 percent said that he is not. The CBS poll said 57 percent believe Clinton has the right temperament and personality to be president, but only 31 percent agreed that Trump does. Clinton's campaign continues to be weakened by perceptions that she is less than honest and trustworthy, although surveys have shown that Trump also fares poorly on the same question. The CBS poll said 34 percent of voters it surveyed viewed Clinton as honest, while 60 percent did not. Trump had a 36 percent favorable rating on honesty, 59 percent negative. Norway has jailed two men for joining Islamic State in August 2014, shortly after IS declared a caliphate in Iraq and Syria. A court Oslo Wednesday sentenced Hasan Ahmed, a 46-year-old Norwegian of Pakistani origin, to six years in prison and Adam Idrisovich Magomadov, a 23-year-old Russian of Chechen origin, to seven-and-a-half, in line with the requests by the prosecution. The court said that they had a clear and determined plan'' to contribute to the organization's terrorist activities.'' Magomadov was handed a heavier sentence because he stayed in Syria longer and had maintained ties with IS even after his return to Norway. The two men were convicted of belonging to IS and of "terror conspiracy." They travelled together to Syria and participated in IS training programs, pledged allegiance to the terrorist group and carried weapons in its name, the court said in its documents. Both had planned to go back to Syria. Ahmed and Magomadov were arrested last year in Oslo. Before he was driven out of Syria by the war, Amer Horanis status as a student was a source of great pride. The first to go to university in his family, he began studying psychology at Damascus University in 2012 and dreamed of using his education to help others. Then a friend, a fellow student, disappeared. The army came for him. I never saw him again, the 22-year-old told VOA. The disappearance of his friend was a factor that fueled his decision to leave his country and studies after eight months. Student life on hold Along with many others Syrians, Horani was forced to abandon higher education for life as a refugee. Everything is bad here, said Horani, who now works in a small convenience store in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. It is a country in which well over a million refugees face a daily struggle against local resentment, tough living conditions and restrictions regarding employment. Sometimes it feels like I have lost everything - here, my life has stopped, he said. Im not a criminal, Im not bad. I just want to study. Of the 250,000 Syrians previously in higher education, it is estimated that as many as 200,000 have fled their war-torn country. The obstacles preventing them from re-entering education as refugees are many. Though a lack of money is often the biggest factor, language issues or absence of necessary documents to register at a university are often the issue. This is the most challenging higher education emergency we have ever faced, acknowledged the Institute of International Educations (IIE) president, Allan Goodman. Overstretched Media attention has focused on the efforts of Syrians to reach Europe. But so far, the vast majority - over 4.5 million - are living in Syrias neighboring countries of Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan. Within these countries, already stretched by the intake of refugees, efforts are ongoing to provide help and assistance. In Lebanon, the Ministry of Education and various U.N. bodies are in talks over the issue, with 300 scholarships being made available this year. Overall, an estimated 10,000 Syrians are enrolled in higher education programs in Lebanon, and, according to one report, around 5,000 people are enrolled in Turkey, with nearly 1,000 scholarships offered. The overall, figures, however, do not specify how many are refugees. Id be amazed if the number of Syrian [refugees] back in higher education were more than a few thousand, said Goodman. Theres not the capacity in Jordan or Lebanon or even Turkey. Going global Efforts to address the crisis have gone global. IIE has partnered with universities across the world to help more than 500 Syrian students and 100 professors - one of a number of organizations seeking to bridge the gap. Others, meanwhile, are improvising in an effort to help. In Berlin, a social enterprise has launched Kiron University, which offers online courses specifically aimed at refugees. Meanwhile, though Oxford University already has ties with Syrian higher education, engineering student Thais Roque decided to launch her own scholarship scheme for the university -- one focused purely on refugees. Set to benefit students who start studies in 2017, the hope is to raise enough for 20 scholarships -- something that, with a few extra fees waived, could cost in the region $320,000. I cant believe how many emails weve been getting -- some have said that this is their last chance [to get higher education] she said, calling for others to follow her lead. We are students too -- we just happen to be luckier than them. Lost generation The gap between what is offered and what is needed, however, remains vast. According to Goodman, the creation of a university of exile- similar to one created in New York specifically for refugees during WWII - could provide a template. He said the idea is being investigated by IIE. Some governments have taken an active role in helping refugees access higher education. But far more must be done to avoid losing a generation of Syrian students, said Mahmoud Khalil of Syrian higher education focused organization Jusoor, which offers scholarships through partnerships with 37 universities around the world. NGOs can only do so much in providing scholarships. We cant do this alone -- we need governments, and government universities, to do more, he said. For Horani, getting back into university remains a huge challenge. However, his desire to become a psychologist remains - and he is aware that in Syria, his training and skills would be more important than ever in the war-torn country. After the war, he said, everyone in Syria is going to need someone. The United States airlifted $400 million in foreign currencies to Iran in January to partially settle a decades-old dispute over an aborted arms deal. On the same day, Tehran released four American hostages, but Washington is denying the exchange amounted to a ransom payment. The U.S. stacked the cash in euros, Swiss francs and other currencies on wooden pallets and flew it into Iran on an unmarked cargo plane. It was the first installment on a $1.7 billion settlement stemming from the failed U.S. weapons pact with Iran in 1979 just before its last monarch, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, was toppled. The U.S. dispatched the cash in foreign currencies because any transaction with Iran in dollars is illegal under U.S. law. On the same day, Jan. 17, 2016, Iran released four Americans, including The Washington Post's Tehran bureau chief, Jason Rezaian; Marine veteran Amir Hekmati; Christian pastor Saeed Abedin; and a fourth man, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, whose disappearance had not been publicly known before he was freed. The cash transfer and the release of the hostages came at the same time as Iran's deal with the United States and five other world powers restraining Tehran's development of nuclear weapons, along with the lifting of sanctions that had hobbled Iran's economy. President Barack Obama said at the time, "With the nuclear deal done, prisoners released, the time was right to resolve this dispute as well," referring to the 37-year-old arms deal that was never carried out. But Obama did not disclose the $400 million payment, a fact revealed by The Wall Street Journal in a Wednesday story. Critics denounce payment U.S. critics of the Iran nuclear deal denounced the payment, with Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas describing it as "a $1.7 billion ransom to the ayatollahs for U.S. hostages." Cotton added, "This break with longstanding U.S. policy put a price on the head of Americans, and has led Iran to continue its illegal seizures" of other Americans. Since the January payment, Iran is believed to have seized two more Iranian-Americans, as well as dual nationals from France, Canada and Britain. Iranian media reports have quoted senior defense officials as saying they considered the cash as a ransom payment. But White House spokesman Josh Earnest said, "The United States has not paid and will not pay ransom for Americans unjustly detained in Iran." "The only ones making that argument," Earnest said, "are right wingers in Iran and [U.S.] Republicans who don't like the [nuclear] deal." Earnest said because Iran had originally paid the money to the U.S. for a deal that ultimately failed, "it was hard for the U.S. to make an argument in this case that we could just keep the money." U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump accused his Democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton, of complicity in the payment. Vietnamese police have launched an investigation into the illegal dumping of harmful waste material from a Taiwanese steel company already under fire for massive fish deaths in what officials say was the country's worst environmental disaster. Bui Dinh Quang, deputy police chief in Ha Tinh province where a unit of the Formosa Plastics Group is located, said a local company was the target of the investigation after police last month caught the company burying the industrial waste at a private farm. About 390 tons of the waste was buried in two places, including on the private farm in Ha Tinh province, Quang said. He said tests by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment confirmed the waste contained harmful levels of cyanide. Quang said Formosa and its executives will also be investigated for signing a contract with the local company, which was not authorized to handle harmful industrial waste. Formosa acknowledged in June that it was responsible for the pollution that killed large numbers of fish off the central Vietnamese coast, and pledged to pay $500 million to clean it up and compensate affected people. The government in a report to the National Assembly last month said the disaster harmed the livelihoods of more than 200,000 people, including 41,000 fishermen in four central provinces. An estimated 115 tons of fish washed ashore along more than 200 kilometers (125 miles) of Vietnam's central coast in April, the report said. The pollution sparked rare protests across the country. Formosa's $10.6 billion steel complex in Ha Tinh province includes a steel plant, a power plant and a deep sea port and is one of the largest foreign investments in Vietnam. Toxins including cyanide and carbolic acids were released into the sea during a test run of the plant. With vigils and demands to free the enslaved, Yazidis in Iraq and throughout the world on Wednesday commemorated the second anniversary of a massacre committed by Islamic State militants in Sinjar. At least 5,000 Yazidis, mostly men and boys, were killed during the 2014 attack on the Iraqi city. The United Nations reported Wednesday that the religious minority continues to suffer at the hands of IS. Two years on, over 3,200 women and children are still held by IS and are subjected to almost unimaginable violence, the U.N. Commission for Inquiry on Syria said. The commission was referring to the Yazidi women and girls who were taken as sexual slaves by IS militants. Most of them are being held in Raqqa, the IS de facto capital in Syria. Prior to the assault in August 2014, Sinjar was home to the largest Yazidi community in the world. Yazidis, a distinct Kurdish religious minority, are viewed as infidels by IS extremists. In November 2015, Iraqi Kurdish forces known as Peshmerga, with the help of the U.S.-led coalition, liberated Sinjar from IS militants. I would like to express my gratitude to the coalition, which is led by the United States, Hazim Tahsin, a Yazidi spiritual leader, told a gathering Wednesday at Lalish Temple in northern Iraq, the most sacred Yazidi site, to remember the genocides victims. The city is now under Kurdish control, but many Yazidis still feel it is not safe to return to their homes. Thousands of Yazidis remain in refugee camps inside Iraq and across the Middle East. One woman's plea I have been living in a camp for nearly two years, said Tawra, a female Yazidi refugee who preferred to go by her first name only. She lives at a refugee camp near Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey. All I want now is for my Yazidi sisters [enslaved by IS] to return home safely, she told VOA. Yazidi activists say the international community needs to do more to help Yazidis. The world has recognized what happened in Sinjar as genocide, Peri Ibrahim of the Free Yazidi Foundation, a group that advocates for Yazidi rights, said in an interview with VOAs Kurdish service. This recognition should be translated into actions that protect Yazidis and help them return to their homes. Ibrahim said her organization has been working with the Hague-based International Criminal Court to document crimes committed by IS fighters many recruited from the West against Yazidis. The U.S. earlier this year blamed IS for perpetrating genocide against Yazidis and other minority groups in the Middle East. Today, as a somber occasion, we remember Yazidi victims of Daesh [IS] and its hateful ideology, Ken Gross, the consul general in Irbil, the capital of Iraqs Kurdistan region, said during a speech at Lalish Temple. In Washington, Yazidi activists planned to hold a candlelight vigil Wednesday in front of the White House to honor the victims of Sinjar and to call for global attention to help displaced and traumatized survivors of the genocide, a statement from the Free Yazidi Foundation said. Zambian President Edgar Lungu says he is ready to use draconian means to ensure the country remains peaceful after next weeks presidential, parliamentary, local and referendum elections. Lungu from the ruling Patriotic Party says he has intelligence that members of the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) plan to cause havoc if the party is unable to win the polls. But in an interview with VOA, Canisius Banda, deputy leader of the UPND, says Lungus statement is unfortunate and regrettable. He says the president has the backing of the constitution to ensure the unity of Zambia. Banda, however, says the president would rather plunge the country into tension, violence and chaos if he uses draconian means to enforce peace. President Lungu is speaking out of turn. Going the draconian way by its very definition is breaching peace. There is relative peace in this country at the moment and the president just has to uphold the constitution that he swore to uphold on his inauguration," he said. "There is no provision in the republican constitution for him to begin to be illegal and to go the draconian way as he says. That is illegalIts repugnant [and] we do not expect a sitting head of state to behave in such a manner. All we are calling for are free and fair electionsIf they are free and fair, even if President Lungu won, we would hold our peace. We would say look democracy has prevailed. But there is perversion of democracy here., he added. Banda says supporters of the governing PF party are to blame for the escalating violence in the ongoing campaigns in the run-up to next weeks elections and referendum. He says the UPND has evidence of PF cadres attacking members of the opposition party and tearing down its campaign posters in various parts of the country. The PF supporters deny the accusation. They said it is the UPND that is to blame for the violence, and that the opposition party wants to use violence as a means to win the presidential vote. No need to clamp down Both the PF and the UPND have traded accusations of carrying out violence against opponents. Lungu says he has given strict instructions to the security agencies, including the police, to clamp down on those who want to cause trouble ahead of the vote. He also warned political leaders to stop using hate speech with the aim of scoring political points to win votes during the elections. He accused the UPND of using its Operation Watermelon to create tension in the country to ensure the country is ungovernable if the party loses the polls. Banda disagreed. The UPND is using Operation Watermelon for survival purposes," he said. "If you wear a UPND shirt openly you would be attacked So now we have told our members you can even wear PF green, but inside your heart you know that you are read.Its got nothing to do with violence, we are peaceful, we are law abiding, we want Zambia to remain united, peaceful and focused on national development. He shouldnt be using words like clamping down, there is no need to clamp down on anything. All he needs to do is to respect the constitution," he added. "There are laws provided for, for crimes anybody that beats another that is an assault, its a crime. So, let the police operate professionally. The police in this country have been politicized, they are getting instructions from President Lungu and his cabinet. Lungu faces a stiff challenge from main opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema from the UPND in the upcoming August 11 presidential election. The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa says the country 5th democratic municipal election held on Wednesday was smooth and peaceful despite a few hiccups. Two hundred and four parties contested the election in which over 26 million people were registered to vote. Zimbabweans living in South Africa have applauded South Africa for holding what they have described as a truly democratic election. Voters from different political parties chatted and laughed as they stood in long winding queues that started forming as early as 7 oclock in the morning in a bid to have a say in the countrys governance through their vote. Twenty nine year Old Xolelwa Besu, who voted at Hope Church in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, made it clear she wants the ruling African National Congress to remain in control of the countrys municipalities. "I woke up at like 6 oclock in the morning, so I am excited. I want to say tomorrow that this is my leader because I put them there not the country put him there." But others like Falken Fedrick, who voted at Melpark Primary School in Johannesburg, was also clear that he wants the ANC out and the Democratic Alliance in control of the nation. "Im very excited. I hope my vote counts. I want to see the ruling party out. I want everything to change." And the countrys Independent Electoral Commission or I-E-C says the fact that party supporters voted freely and could easily express themselves afterwards, is an indication that the elections were free. Glen Mashinini, chairperson of the IEC says this is the way elections should be conducted in the country. Many voting stations reported a strong turnout from early in the day with many people already waiting to cast their votes early in the morning. There were, however, a number of problems encountered. These included angry voters preventing election officials from conducting elections in some places, some stations failing to open on time, ballot boxes arriving late and some employers not allowing their employees to vote. Most Zimbabweans have commended South Africa for a peaceful election. One of them, Lizwe Mabhena, had this advice to those Zimbabweans who have given up to vote. "This is the day to claim what the you need, so if you sit down and then at the end you say no I cant do that because, they cant here, you voice is to vote." And many say Zimbabwe should learn from South Africa so as to conduct free and fair election in 2018. Thousands of Zimbabweans staged a peaceful march in Harare today to express their dismay over the proposed introduction of bond notes. Police had running battles with the protesters. The MDC-T holds a meeting amid a deepening internal crisis following Morgan Tsvangirais move to appoint two vice presidents without consulting some top members of the party. The Mandela Washington fellowship program ends today with President Barack Obama set to address participants at a Presidential Summit in Washington DC. And the Mighty Warriors take on Germany in an Olympics Games match in Brazil. Stay tuned for these stories and more coming up on Studio 7 at 7:30 pm on 9-0-9 Medium Wave and on the 4-9-3-0, 5-9-4-0 and 1-5-4-6-0 shortwave frequencies. We also broadcast on www.channelzim.net. Please check us out on Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. This evening on Livetalk our hosts will be talking with listeners about the peaceful protests over bond notes and lack of jobs in Zimbabwe. Participate by sending your messages on our WhatsApp number 001 202 465 0318. The number again 001 202 465 0318. Please note that we are livestreaming on all Studio 7 Facebook pages. Stay tuned!!!!!! By PTI: Beijing, Aug 3 (PTI) Chinas lunar rover Jade Rabbit, launched as part of an unmanned lunar exploration mission in 2013, has stopped operations, according to an official announcement. The State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) said that Change-3, Chinas first lunar lander, has operated on the moon for 31 months, exceeding its design life by 19 months. advertisement Change-3 entered its 33th lunar night on July 28. A lunar night lasts approximately 14 earth days, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. According to SASTIND, the Change-3 has collected a large amount of scientific data, and the Jade Rabbit, far exceeding its design life of three months, completed many challenging missions for Change-3, such as obtaining images of the moons geological layers for the first time. PTI KJV AJR --- ENDS --- Thousands of Zimbabweans staged a peaceful march in Harare on Wednesday to express their dismay over the proposed introduction of bond notes, President Robert Mugabes failure to address the deteriorating economic situation in the country and other issues affecting the nation. The protesters urged President Mugabe to step down saying he has allegedly failed to run Zimbabwe. Police descended heavily on the protesters who were waving some placards inscribed Mugabe Must Go and No to Bond Notes. Several protesters and journalists covering the event were injured when police attempted to disperse and arrest the marchers. The protesters were drawn from various organizations including the opposition Transform Zimbabwe party led by Jacob Ngarivhume, Tajamuka-Sesijikile Campaign and several others. The demonstration was cleared by the courts yesterday after police tried to block it. Despite the heavy riot police presence, the demonstrators sang anti-Mugabe songs during the march and openly urged President Mugabe to step down. Riot police failed to disperse the demonstrators at their gathering point in the central business district. The demonstrators marched to the government complex, which houses the Ministry of Finance, and handed a petition to senior state officials before the police used force to disperse the crowd heading for parliament where unemployed graduates wanted to leave a second petition on lack of jobs. Ngarivhume, who took the police to court for refusing to sanction the demonstration, addressed the demonstrators at the Ministry of Finances offices. He said Zimbabweans will not watch while a few individuals continue to take the country downhill. Ngarivhume and a few other demonstrators were allowed to get inside the Ministry of Finance that was heavily guarded to hand over the petition. Acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Zvinechimwe Churu, received the petition and told the demonstrators that Minister Patrick Chinamasa would respond to their grievances. A cross border trader, Varaidzo Chuma, told Studio 7 that she decided to join the demonstration to save her family from hunger. Michelle Mugoronji, a graduate and one of the #This Gown Campaign, equated the bond notes to tissue papers. Mugoronji said it was sad that President Mugabe has also failed to deal with corruption. Another demonstrator, Farai Murisa, said the demonstration was designed to send a clear message to the government not to introduce bond notes. Murisa claimed that the introduction of the bond notes is illegal. While it was not immediately clear how many demonstrators were beaten up by the police and injured, five journalists were on the receiving end. One of the journalists, Chris Mahove, said police beat him up though he indicated that he was not one of the demonstrators. Reserve Bank Governor John Mangudya has already said that the bond notes will be introduced in October. Most Zimbabweans are against this move saying the government appears to be bringing back the local dollar through the back door. Zimbabweans have of late been taking to the streets expressing their dismay over the current social, economic and political problems gripping the southern African nation. A Harare magistrate Wednesday ordered the release on bail of four top war veterans accused of insulting or undermining the authority of President Robert Mugabe. Magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe granted vice chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, Headman Moyo, the organizations secretary general Victor Matemadanda, the vice chairperson of Harare province Hoyini Samuel Bhila and another Masvingo provincial leader Francis Nhando who are being accused of undermining the authority of Mr. Mugabe, $300 bail each and ordered them to report twice per week at various police stations. They were also ordered to return to court on the 5th of September for a routine remand. One of the defense attorneys, Beatrice Mtetwa, said at the next hearing she would raise several issues including the polices move to deny her access to her clients during detention at various police stations. She added that she would also raise the issue of whether the acting prosecutor general has the right to prosecute accused persons in terms of the law saying he was not properly sworn in. Mtetwa said two more former freedom fighters were arrested at the courts on Wednesday. The states crackdown on war veterans was necessitated by a communique released by the former combatants body last month calling on President Mugabe to address key issues affecting ordinary Zimbabweans and the welfare of the war veterans. Political journalist and editor of The Observer newspaper, Barnabas Thondlana, said the continued onslaught on war veterans affects President Mugabes so-called legacy. But he was quick to mention that war veterans were getting a taste of their own medicine. Meanwhile, a ministerial committee set up by President Mugabe to investigate the issues surrounding the fallout with the war veterans is yet to present its findings. The Movement for Democratic Change formation of former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirais national council and national executive have reportedly amended its constitution in order to accommodate three vice presidents. This was adopted at Wednesdays meeting at the partys headquarters in Harare where both the national executive and the national council met. Party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the changes to the constitution, saying that the national council meeting was as good as a congress. What was agreed is that we no longer have a constitution which is questionable, that is the first one. And we now have a constitution that today the national council sitting as congress also agreed. The second one was that the president explained his appointment of the two vice presidents and the logic behind his appointments, Mwonzora said. Mwonzora said the national council had two agenda items to discuss, namely the party constitution and the appointments. The appointments have caused a lot of friction in the party with indications that vice president Thokozane Khupe is still not happy about the move. Sources said she was still unhappy even if the appointments have now been formalized through some of the partys top decision making bodies outside congress. Are there any trailers for Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillards upcoming World War II romantic-drama Allied? Nope! Any clips, any teasers? Nah! But what we do have is this incredibly elegant and debonair first photo of the duo Pitt is, surprisingly, not eating who play undercover spies that fall in love while on a mission to assassinate a German official in Casablanca. Its 2016s version of Bogart and Bergman, everyone. Allied will be out on November 26. Photo: Paramount Pictures via People Magazine Seth Meyers has a theory as to why Donald Trump wont release his tax returns: Hes broke! So hes still offering Trump an out: the opportunity to star in a scripted 13-episode series as the president of the U.S. on NBC, which, in keeping with the ever-expanding city of Dick Wolfs Chicago, would be called Chicago President. While Meyers already threw out a few casting suggestions (Megan Fox can play Trumps first wife!), heres a read-through of a scene where Meyers plays a young Donald who gets the news that he cant serve in Vietnam because of bone spurs in his feet. Such hair! Such magnanimity! Such normal-sized hands! By PTI: Kohima, Aug 3 (PTI) Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang has called upon the Nagas to work out an "acceptable solution" to the Naga political problem so that peace, normalcy and all round development can be ushered in the state. "Nagas should now accept the realities of the changed times and circumstances and work out a solution which is acceptable to us as well as the government of India," he told a gathering of Naga tribal leaders on the occasion of Tsungremong, a pre-harvest sanctification festival of Ao Nagas at Mokokchung, yesterday. advertisement The vexed issue, Zeliang said, can be resolved through dialogue between Indian and Naga leaders and "not from a third country or elsewhere". He added that the plea of the Naga people at this juncture should be that any solution "should be inclusive of all Nagas and not for a particular tribe or community". "The approach of the government of the day under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership is positive and so we should also be positive in our approach towards a solution," a release issued by the Chief Ministers Office said today. "We have struggled for 70 years without any tangible solution and 70 years is long enough," he said. Appealing to the Nagas, he said, "Let us not spell out what is possible and what is not possible before the government of India spells out its formula." Talks are going on within the framework agreement which have brought both the parties closer to each other to arrive at a conclusion, Zeliang said. Nagas should accept "what India can provide us today, because what India cannot give today will not be possible even after a hundred years", the Chief Minister said. He lauded NGOs like Naga Hoho, Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation, Naga Students Federation, Eastern NSF, Naga Mothers Association etc for working together for the common good of the Naga people. PTI NBS MM KIS --- ENDS --- In Bareilly and Delhi, people are distributing food and providing medical assistance to kanwar yatra pilgrims. By India Today Web Desk: Muslims in Bareilly set up a great example of communal harmony when they distributed food and provided medical assistance to kanwar yatra pilgrims. Kanwar Yatra, an annual pilgrimage of devotees of Shiva, requires them to fetch holy water from the Ganges. It takes place during July and August. Saifi Samaj Shamli arranged medical assistance for the pilgrims and distributed bananas and biscuits to them. advertisement Photo: Facebook/ISLAM HAQ HAI Photo: Facebook/ISLAM HAQ HAI The pilgrims walk for miles to complete their journey, and some even go barefoot. Such refreshments help them maintain their energy and continue the journey. The post went viral with 41,493 shares and 19,423 likes. Delhiites, who often complain about the increased traffic due to the kanwars, came together to serve drinks to the pilgrims at the Kalkaji temple. Shoulder To Shoulder Movement, another campaign, saw people from many religions coming together to serve these pilgrims. Members from all religions distributed Frooti to kanwars on August 1, 2016. Photo: Facebook/Shoulder to Shoulder This 'universal brotherhood movement' started with the idea of uniting like minded people across religions. --- ENDS --- Robinson residents will see a lower tax rate this upcoming year for the first time in five years, but by how much has yet to be determined. The city council Tuesday placed a proposal to adopt a tax rate of 49.95 cents per $100 of property value. The move ensures the tax rate will not go above that amount but leaves room for council members to set the exact rate. City Manager Craig Lemin said the maximum rate is already included in the citys proposed budget, which has been posted to the citys website. The council plans to have a special meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday at City Hall, 111 W. Lyndale Drive, to discuss the upcoming years budget. Council members also set two public hearings on the proposed tax rate for Aug. 30 and Sept. 6. Times and locations for the tax-rate hearings have not been announced. The proposed tax rate is lower than the current tax rate of 50.5321 cents per $100 property valuation. The rate has increased since 2011. In 2014, the tax rate was 48.0376 cents per $100 property valuation; in 2013 it was 47 cents; in 2012 it was 45.3750 cents; and in 2011 it was 41.5453 cents per $100 of property value. The proposed budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last years budget by more than $271,000, which is a 7.98 percent increase, according to the proposed budget. The property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is almost $67,000, and the citys appraised ad valorem property values increased more than $61,000. The proposed budget also includes capital purchases of a new patrol vehicle for the police department, a new truck for the water distribution department, a new truck for the wastewater department, and a new computer server for police department vehicles and body camera video storage. Lemin, who was hired in May, wrote that putting together the budget helped him gain valuable insight into the current conditions in the city and the city government. Lemin joined the city after retiring from the city of Azle, where he served as the city manger from February 2004 until January. While in Azle, he managed 130 employees and an $18 million annual budget. My hope is that this time next year I will have a greater understanding of all the various issues around the city as well as the desires of the community as to their hopes for the future, he wrote. Theres a great deal of work ahead, but this budget is the first step. The trials of being a new parent can cause stress and familial strife, but a new organization is hoping to provide early childhood development support for at least 75 McLennan County families before their children start kindergarten. Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support, or HOPES, will host a kickoff event from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday at Lions Park, 1716 N. 42nd St. Families can take in a free day of fun and amusement rides before school starts and learn about how HOPES can pair educators with households to help with child development through age 5. The event also will offer free vision screenings. HOPES operates statewide and is funded by grants from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, but this is the first affiliate for McLennan County, co-director Carlos Gutierrez said. One of the primary functions of the grant will be home visits aimed at engaging and guiding parents, and the local HOPES program uses the Parents as Teachers initiative as a model for the home visits, Gutierrez said. Parents as Teachers is a national organization that trains and certifies educators to work with families on enhancing school readiness, according to its website. The main focus of our program is to really provide that additional place of support in that crucial, early phase of life, Gutierrez said. Obviously, your child is going to have a lot of teachers throughout their life, but the first teacher they have is you as a parent. So we want to be able to give the tools and information to help them be able to be the best parents they can be. HOPES has three certified Parents as Teachers educators who can handle 25 families each. It also funds two Parents as Teachers for Waco ISD through its grant, Gutierrez said. The program is open to any family or parent looking for help, he said. Waco ISD has been using the Parents as Teachers model for about 20 years, he said. Educators go into a familys home for an hour at a time throughout the week and provide information, resources, activities and education about early childhood development, he said. The program is to strengthen a childs bond with mother and father, not to criticize a familys parenting styles, said Kenda Fox, one of the local Parents as Teachers educators. Im excited to be focusing on all of McLennan County, especially the rural areas that really dont have the different resources like people who live here in Waco, Fox said. Just getting to know the families and being a support for them as they prepare their kids for kindergarten is a huge thing. Im excited, too, because our program is a lot about reading books, and parents wanting to read books to their kids. Thats something I have always been passionate about, and so Im looking forward to teaching the parents the proper way to read to their kids, so their kids can enjoy it. HOPES co-director Amanda Harman knows exactly how essential that extra support can be, she said. The mother of a 2-year-old herself, she said having a strong support system is crucial to the parenting process. Having (positive parenting skills) modeled for you is a huge need, and having that extra support has been really helpful for me, Harman said. So often we dont realize we need help, so this is something that doesnt just say, Hey, I need help, Im not doing too well, but Hey, I could use this extra boost of confidence in my parenting abilities. Thats what I really hope HOPES can do and offer for families. For more information, call the HOPES office at 732-0482. Reyaz Ahmad was found dead near a Government Medical College. While the actual cause of his death is unknown, the autopsy report suggests that he had multiple pellets inside his body. In the current unrest the valley has seen a lot of bloodshed. More than 50 people have already lost their lives while above 3000 have been injured. By Shuja-ul-Haq : Reyaz ahmad, an ATM guard was found dead on Tuesday in Chattabal area of Srinagar. According to his family, he was returning back from duty when he was killed. The autopsy report carried out on him suggested he had multiple pellets inside his body. Though the exact circumstances of his death are yet to be known, the police has filed an FIR under the sections of murder against unknown persons. He seems to be the latest victim of the pellet guns used in the Valley and this has intensified the already raging debate on banning the use of these guns in crowd control. advertisement Reyaz Ahmad's dead body was found near the Government Medical College in Karan Nagar. The police had previously traced the cause of the death to injury caused by a sharp edged weapon. Even the J&K High Court has stepped in. A notice to the state and the centre government have been sent by the court asking them to file a response to a petition seeking direction to ban the use of pellet guns for crowd control in the Valley. A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray, said the notices had to be responded to by August 17. The court was hearing a PIL filed by the High Court Bar Association which sought direction to put an end to use of pellet guns during law and order situations. A top government source promising justice in the gruesome act said, "Those responsible for the cold -blooded murder of the youth will be identified and brought to justice." In the current unrest the valley has seen a lot of bloodshed. More than 50 people have already lost their lives while above 3000 have been injured. Among the injured is a peculiar kind, with pellet injuries to their eyes. The doctors have conducted some 100 surgeries already and say that most of these patients will not be able to regain their eye sights again. This has lead to a severe criticism of the usage of pellet guns by the security forces. The pump action gun or the pellet gun was introduced by the security forces in 2010 when 120 people were killed during the protests. The police had kept it under the non-lethal category of weapons. But with these gruesome stories coming to fore the activists are questioning the tag non-lethal with the gun. As per reports, one cartridge of a pellet gun contains a few hundred pellets which are like tiny ball bearings. When the gun is fired the cartridge bursts and throws these hundreds of pellet from a single point. It is like a spray of tiny fast traveling balls which hit the target it is aimed at from various angles. The specialist doctors who have treated the patients with pellet injuries in Srinagar say that these pellets end up rupturing the pupil of the eye and the surgeries are done reconstruct each one of the layer of the inner eye. That is the reason why the doctors don't really sound hopeful in saying whether these patients would regain their normal eye sights. advertisement The Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his recent visit accepted that the usage of pellet guns has been a concern. He even publicly announced that the security forces were asked to minimise the use of these guns however the CRPF which is actively involved in dealing with the law and order situation has said that this was the least-lethal weapon available with the force. Also read: Kashmir unrest: 7-member committee on pellet guns to submit its report in 2 months --- ENDS --- Whats in a name? Its a measure of Donald Trumps insidious reach, and of the potency of the political virus he carries, that I was thinking about this lately. Im hardly an obvious target of Trumps demagogy and contempt. Im not a Mexican rapist who hopped a fence. Im not a female pig whose dimensions dont conform to the demands of a pageant sash. Im not a Muslim, accused by Trump of knowing, and keeping silent about, the murderous plans of home-grown terrorists. I have no physical disability capable of triggering Trumps unerring instinct for gratuitous cruelty. Im a college-educated, white, heterosexual American male born in the latter half of the 20th century about the most privileged species on earth. Yet it occurred to me recently that the social toxins released by Trumps presidential candidacy can seep beneath even the most formidable social defense. When my wife gave birth to our second child, we had a name ready for the baby. But the little girl who emerged defied us. She looked too delicate for the tomboyish name we had prepared for her. We opted for a different one. There was no political or moral content to the decision. We just chose a different name, one that seemed better suited to the tiny being before us. It was a Muslim name, as it happens, not that we thought much about it. (My wife, who is Indian-American, has a Muslim name, as well.) Names are important. They tie families together across time and space. Distinguish individuals. Even, perhaps, point some of us toward professions. Because of Trump, the simple, joyful act of naming our daughter might be very different if she were born today. Would I want her to have a Muslim name at a time when the Republican presidential nominee is viciously attacking Muslims? If we gave her the name anyway, would an otherwise personal act of love be steeped in moral and political connotations? Would a simple name inevitably become a statement? The point is not that any member of my family least of all me is a particular victim of Trumps ugliness. Its that bigotry has second-level effects, indeed third-level and fourth-level and so on, that are impossible to predict, measure or contain. Demagogy seeps into social crevices and institutional arrangements in ways both conscious and unconscious. Czech statesman Vaclav Havel wrote: Even a purely moral act that has no hope of any immediate and visible political effect can gradually and indirectly, over time, gain in political significance. Something like the reverse is also true. A vicious strain of politics can ripple through apolitical corners of society, invading sanctuaries, altering morality, subtly poisoning relations and peoples. The histories of authoritarian and totalitarian politics, of the sort that for decades dominated Havels Czech homeland, are full of such encroachments. Trumps greatest reach, of course, is inside the minds of his own supporters. In interviews over the past year, many have pronounced variations on the theme that Trump says what everyone is thinking. They view Trump as their public fist waging rude, crude and brutal attacks on enemies, justifying hatreds, avenging hurt dignity. They relish the orgy of abuse at Trump events, and some even join in, heaping contempt on the chosen targets before returning to their communities, saturated in grievance, titillated by verbal violence (and occasionally physical), changed in ways that Trump does not say and that they themselves may not begin to grasp. Francis Wilkinson writes editorials on politics and U.S. domestic policy for Bloomberg View. He was previously a national affairs writer for Rolling Stone and a communications consultant. GREENWOOD The Greenwood Board of Trustees has approved a plan to route 3-phase electrical power to Church Road. The project is contingent on the receipt of a third bid, but the board voted July 27 for a $75,000 plan presented by retired electrical engineer and Greenwood resident John Swain and developed by Board Chairman David Moll. The project would see the village bore 3-phase power from Main Street to the south side of Church Road at Highway 6. The town would benefit a great deal from the project, Swain said. We need this, the former village trustee said. We need this desperately. Currently, the west side of the village is served entirely by three overhead power lines, Swain said. That includes the Midwest Farmers Co-op station located along the railroad. In the event of an ice storm, windstorm or other disastrous event, the entire west side of the village could lose power if those lines were taken down. If these lines go down, we are almost totally reliant on OPPDs timeframe to repair, Moll wrote in a summary of the project given to board members. Power going out at the co-op also can have a significant impact on the village, Moll said. During the harvest season, the operation spends sometimes up to $20,000 a month on power. Thats a lot of revenue for the town, which brings in a lot of dollars through providing electrical power. Trustee Harry Swenson called it the villages cash cow. The village would be able to place a junction box near the Yoders storage facility. Workers would then bore underneath the highway and the railroad to connect that junction box set on West Street. Permits would need to be obtained from the Nebraska Department of Roads and from Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Moll estimated the permit cost for BNSF would run $600. The addition of three-phase power would hopefully allow the village to meet power needs as they change. Three-phase power gives the village the ability to effectively balance power sources throughout the town, reducing the chance of brownouts. The village struggled with overheating power motors a few years ago, but has since balanced the current power infrastructure. With the project calling for a junction box at each intersection, re-phasing power would be a quicker process. Those brownouts affected the villages primary businesses, the co-op, Yoders and Bakers Candies. The proposed project carried with it a pledge to make good on a promise made to one of those businesses 14 years ago. When Bakers moved to its present location in 2002, the village board at the time agreed to supply three-phase power to the business, Moll said. Over the last decade and a half, that hasnt happened. That wasnt exactly yesterday, Swain said. Theyve been very patient. The company representative, Paul Baker, was present at the meeting, and called the concern a pretty major issue. He cited issues with the buildings voltage going down, reducing their ability to produce as well as the revenue directed to the city. With plans to build a machine shop, the business is looking for a fix. Its almost a must, Baker said. Especially with some of the machines were going to add here. In Molls summary, he estimated Bakers pays an average of $1,660 a month on electrical power. The highest billing can reach upwards of $2,000. Bakers would negotiate with the village to pay for bringing the power from Church Road to the business. Were not looking for a hand-me-out, Baker said. Were just asking for what we were promised when we didnt fight annexation. Bringing three-phase power to Church Road will also aid the village if it does expand in the future, Swain said. Any expansion would likely occur along Church Road to avoid flood plain issues on the west and train noise from the north or south. Were looking at the future, Swain said. Greenwood maintenance workers, reducing costs significantly from a $124,000 bid offered by OPPD, would complete much of the work on the project. The village would spend $62,203 this year and $13,264 in 2017 to fund the project. Money would come out of the villages power fund, which currently holds about $150,000, Moll said. Prior to holding the vote, Trustee Michelle Criswell said she would like to hold a public town hall meeting on the subject before final approval. Moll and Swain said they would rather see the project start as soon as possible. The board voted 3-1 to approve the project, with Criswell voting no. As far as the price tag is concerned, Swain said the work will more than pay for itself. Its 60 grand now, maybe 120, 130 grand in the future, he said. ASHLAND Since coming to the United States at the age of 16, Jorge Brito Galicia has worked in many restaurants, working his way up from dishwasher to head cook. Now, hes made it all the way to the top restaurant owner. Brito Galicia opened Roselyns Restaurant on June 28. It is named after his 8-year-old daughter, Roselyn. When Brito Galicia was deciding on the menu for his new restaurant, he chose dishes that are straight from an American diner classic fare like hamburgers, BLTs, patty melts and hot wings. But as soon as he opened his doors, people started asking for Mexican food. Everybody was asking me for enchiladas, he said. Ironically, Brito Galicia had never cooked Mexican food before. Hed made sushi, pizza, Chinese and American food at the restaurants hed worked at, but he was not familiar with Mexican cooking. While growing up in Mexico City, his mother tried to teach him to cook, but he was not an eager student. I thought it was hard, he said. Responding to his customers requests, Brito Galicia started coming up with traditional Mexican dishes with the touches Americans are accustomed to, like a side of beans or rice. A perfect example of the blend of Mexican and American can be found in the menu item Brito Galicia created called an Ashland burrito, with seasoned steak, refried beans, lettuce, tomato wrapped in a large tortilla. It comes with traditional salsa or salsa verde. There is one Mexican item on Brito Galicias menu that Americans may not be familiar with. It is the torta, a Mexican sandwich made with a special bread that resembles a large hoagie bun. It has a flavor to it and different texture, he said. He plans to have more Mexican items offered as specials throughout the week. And hed like to introduce his version of soup, called sopa in Spanish, to Ashland. Nobody knows about sopas, I think, so I will bring those in, he said. When Brito Galicia came to the U.S. as a teenager to live with his brother in Omaha, his first job was in a restaurant. I started washing dishes, he said. From there, he worked his way up to cook. With each new position, he picked up more knowledge of how to run a restaurant, until he felt it was time to strike out on his own. He was commuting from Lincoln to Omaha when he noticed the vacant restaurant along Highway 6. He liked the location and soon had the keys to the door. The former Jayz Cafe was in great condition, so with a few minor alterations it did not take Brito Galicia long to have the restaurant ready to open. He doesnt plan any major changes in the future, with the exception of adding a new exterior sign. Since opening the restaurant, Brito Galicia has come to appreciate Ashlands quiet nature and friendly citizens. I like it here because there are a lot of nice people, he said. Brito Galicia has taken the transition from employee to owner slowly, however. He continues to work at his current job at an Omaha restaurant in the morning and early afternoon, and then comes to Ashland by 4 p.m. to open Roselyns. Because of his work schedule, Brito Galicia has only been able to open the restaurant between the hours of 4 and 9 p.m. However, in mid-August, he will quit his job at the Omaha restaurant and devote his full time to his new diner. At that time, he will also expand the hours of the restaurant to serve breakfast and lunch, he said. He is planning to be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., then reopen at 4 p.m. and close at 9 p.m. Protesters used fake crocodile and shark to highlight that Delhi roads have become dangerous because of potholes. By India Today Web Desk: Delhi Congress's protest against potholes did have its fair share of fun, thanks to the usage of fake crocodile and sharks. During the launch of "JaagoYaBhaago" campaign, protesters used fake crocodile and shark to highlight that Delhi roads have become dangerous with potholes that lead to fatal accidents. Photo: ANI Following the death of a 45-year-old biker who was crushed by a tanker after being trapped in a pothole on the Mehrauli-Mahipalpur road on July 30, many party workers and local residents joined the symbolic protest in Munirka. advertisement Photo: ANI Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken had announced through WhatsApp that the campaign would be launched. He also said that pictures of the potholes with details of the name of the road/gali and name of the Assembly/Ward will be distributed to put pressure on Delhi government and BJP-ruled MCDs to fill these potholes. These protesters are not the only ones disturbed by the issue of potholes. Bollywood actor and director Farhan Akhtar tweeted about being fed up of potholes. Hey @TwitterIndia, the tweet in the attached image was rejected 3 times from being posted on my TL. Any reason why? pic.twitter.com/P8qVOuVcp1 Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) July 31, 2016 --- ENDS --- It has been two months since they wrote their last paper, but there is no news of when the results will be out. By Mail Today: Abhishek Damani, a first-year student at Kirori Mal College (KMC), is still waiting to decide on the subjects he wants to choose for the second year. Like hundreds of students, he has been desperately waiting for his semester results which have been delayed by more than a month. "There is no information about the semester results. Though the classes for the new semester have begun but the teachers are equally clueless about the results. Everything is on hold as of now," said Damani. advertisement RESULTS DELAYED In a mark of protest against a notification by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Delhi University teachers had boycotted the evaluation process, which has delayed the results of undergraduate courses. The examinations for various UG courses ended in May and the centralised evaluation process was scheduled to start at 13 centres from May 24. But, in line with the boycott call by the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA), none of the 3,000 teachers on evaluation duty turned up. "It has been two months since we appeared for the examination. But the results have still not been declared. Teachers are still saying that the evaluation is on and it will take another two-three weeks," said Sushmita Verma, a second year student of Hindu College. STUDENTS WORRIED The delay not only affected the first and second year students but also worried the final year students who had to apply for higher studies. The teachers lifted the boycott of evaluation for the final-year students on June 16 and decided to rejoin the admission process on July 5. The results have been declared a week back and the students have begun to apply for various universities. "We are glad that the teachers decided to evaluate our papers but even after that the results have come out quite late. The teachers might be having their own issues but they should not have played with any student's future," said Krishi Arora, a final year student of Hansraj College who passed out this year. The delay in evaluation of the answer sheets has led to a delay in the declaration of the results and the students are facing the consequences. "It's over a month and our results have not been declared even after the new session has started. We are still waiting for our results to get declared. Why do we have to suffer because of whatever happened in the past or still happening? I understand even teachers want their demands to be heard, but the administration should think about the students too," said Anoop Singh, a second year student. Sources in the administration said that the results are expected to come in next few weeks. "Most of the evaluation has been done and everything is on the final stage now. The results are expected to come out in next two weeks," a University official told Mail today. ALSO READ advertisement Is data of students who applied at Delhi University being leaked? --- ENDS --- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee chaired a meeting with health department officials at the State Secretariat, following reports of four deaths in the city due to vector borne disease dengue this season. By Indrajit Kundu: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee chaired a meeting with health department officials at the State Secretariat, following reports of six deaths in the city due to vector borne disease dengue this season. In a bid to discuss preventive measures, officials of both Kolkata Municipality and Bidhannagar Corporation held a meeting where the chief minister gave instructions to curb the spread of the disease. advertisement Mamata directed officials to take all measures to prevent dengue, malaria and diarrhoea during the monsoons. "Along with the posters, a list of preventive measures and tips should be put up across television channels to grab the attention of viewers. Also, there should be another list to explain what should be done in case someone is affected by the disease," Mamata said. STUDENT DIES DUE TO DENGUE This came after two students of a renowned city school who were hospitalised with symptoms of dengue died on Sunday, triggering renewed fear of the vector borne disease this season. At least 8 other children have also been admitted with high fever to various hospitals in the city. On Monday, few parents gathered outside the school gate to protest against authorities for neglecting cleanliness measures in the school premises. Following the protests, the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation inspected the school campus for possible mosquito breeding dens and found a large amount of mosquito larva in several places. Officials are likely to issue a notice to all schools, directing them to keep their premises clean and free of water accumulation. INSPECTION AT SCHOOLS The corporation conducted a similar inspection at few other schools in the eastern fringes of the city and now plan to do the same in few houses in Salt Lake area. The state health department also held a meeting with officials of various municipal bodies at Swastha Bhawan to assess the situation. Meanwhile, another prominent school in the city issued a circular, instructing parents of children who are suffering from fever, to keep them under observation for four days. Reports suggest that there has been a slew of dengue cases in the last two weeks. Doctors have advised precautions as the number of cases are likely to rise with the changing weather. 12 people killed by dengue so far this year Dengue cases: Delhi govt allows hospitals to increase bed capacity for 3 months --- ENDS --- 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. By Mail Today: Two workers at a popular private hospital in Gurugram allegedly gangraped a junior colleague, police said on Tuesday, adding to a grim litany of sexual attacks on women in the National Capital Region. The incident that purportedly took place on July 30 at Artemis Hospital in Sector 51 was the second such episode at a medical centre in the city in less than three months. advertisement LAST MONTH'S INCIDENT An Iraqi woman was allegedly molested by a contractual employee of another private institute on May 5. The accused from last months incident have been arrested and identified as Pradeep, a native of Mahendragarh in Haryana, and Mani Ram, who hails from West Bengal. VICTIM WAS COWORKER They were employees of an outsourcing firm associated with the hospital and the victim was working under them. The incident was reported in the hospital premises and the staff called up local police. Our investigation team soon visited the institute and took the victims statement. As the incident was related to a woman, an FIR under 376D (gang rape) and other relevant IPC sections was registered at a womens police station following the victims complaint,?? said Gurugram Police spokesperson ACP Hawa Singh. VICTIM WAS THREATENED Gurugram Police said the accused were eyeing the victim since she joined their company. On July 30 around 1pm, the accused cornered her in the housekeeping store. They also warned her to stay mum about the incident, but as soon as they released the woman, she raised an alarm. We have conducted a medical examination of the victim, which confirms rape. The victim has also recorded a statement before the city magistrate under CrPC section 164. The accused have confessed to the crime. We have produced both men in the district court and they have been sent to judicial custody for 14 days,?? the ACP said. When contacted, Dr Vishal Sehgal, the medical superintendent of Artemis Hospital, said, The incident was reported outside the hospital premises and we have learnt that the accused have committed the act with mutual consent of the victim.?? ALSO READ: Ruthless, organised and disgusting: All about the Bawariya gang behind Bulandshahr gangrape Bulandshahr gang rape: UP govt moves swiftly to install special highway patrol force --- ENDS --- Telefonica, S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services in Europe and Latin America. The company's mobile and related services and products comprise mobile voice, value added, mobile data and Internet, wholesale, corporate, roaming, fixed wireless, and trunking and paging services. Its fixed telecommunication services include PSTN lines; ISDN accesses; public telephone services; local, domestic, and international long-distance and fixed-to-mobile communications; corporate communications; supplementary value-added services; video telephony; intelligent network; and telephony information services, as well as leases and sells handset equipment. The company also provides Internet and broadband multimedia services comprising Internet service provider, portal and network, retail and wholesale broadband access, narrowband switched access, high-speed Internet through fibre to the home, and voice over Internet protocol services. In addition, it offers leased line, virtual private network, fibre optics, web hosting and application, outsourcing and consultancy, desktop, and system integration and professional services. Further, the company offers wholesale services for telecommunication operators, including domestic interconnection and international wholesale services; leased lines for other operators; and local loop leasing services, as well as bit stream services, wholesale line rental accesses, and leased ducts for other operators' fiber deployment. Additionally, it provides video/TV services; smart connectivity and services, and consumer IoT products; financial and other payment, security, cloud computing, advertising, big data, and digital telco experience services; virtual assistants; digital home platforms; and Movistar Home devices. It also offers online telemedicine, home insurance, music streaming, and consumer loan services. The company was incorporated in 1924 and is headquartered in Madrid, Spain. Chaos continues to plague the countdown to the 2016 census, amid privacy fears, calls for a boycott and overwhelmed phone lines unable to take the calls of Australians. The census next Tuesday will be the first time the names and addresses of 24 million Australians will be kept and linked to other data for four years, a change that has sparked outrage among public interest groups. "The whole concept behind privacy is control of your personal information," said Kat Lane, vice chair of the Australian Privacy Foundation. Patrick Norman Pat Chapman is a 34-year-old, Caucasian male who was last known to be in Piedmont which is near the area of Greenville, Missouri on May 10, 2020. Pat had stayed the night with a friend and his wife at their home. In the early morning when the friend woke to go to work. Pat was gone in his own Burgundy color 1995 Ford Escort. That is the last anyone was known to have seen him. The vehicle was later recovered on May 29, 2020 in Mill Spring, Missouri. By Mail Today: A 22-year-old Delhi girl, who was kidnapped by a gang in 2006, returned home after 10 years, having suffered tremendous sexual and physical abuse by her tormentors. She was kidnapped by a gang that picked up young girls and trafficked them across the country. ATTACKED She was first taken to Punjab and later to Gujarat along with quite a few other girls of her age. She recounted how she was raped and humiliated by various people over the years and how she was was attacked with knives every time she resisted. "When she retaliated, she was attacked with knives and rods. Her body has multiple injury marks and it seems that she has been brutally assaulted over these 10 years. She also claimed to have suffered burn injuries inflicted by cigarettes," a police official said. advertisement SOLD TO A FAMILY She was first taken to Punjab and then Gujarat, the 22 year-old victim, was finally sold to a family in Punjab who asked her to marry a man. The man died few months after her marriage. She gave birth to two kids but the family later asked her to quit the house, leaving her kids behind. Left with no option, she managed to get back to her home in Khajoori Khas area of North East Delhi. "She claims to have been kidnapped by a gang in July 2006, when she was just 12 years old. She said that she was taken from Delhi to Ambala by two men who forced her to stay in a village there. Later, the other accused took her to Gujarat from Ambala via train and in Gujarat, she was asked to stay with minor girls in a small room for months. "We are investigating the matter. We will add sections of IPC, including 376 (rape) after recording her statement," a Delhi Police officer said. According to the victim, she was one of the victims of a large human trafficking group that sells minor girls to various parts of India. "The girl claims that she was sold to many people in Gujarat who raped her." The police said that a case of kidnapping was registered in 2006 and further sections will be added after taking her statement. ALSO READ: Bulandshahr rape victims get security, assistance --- ENDS --- By PTI: Srinagar, Aug 3 (PTI) Chairmen of rival factions of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, today led peaceful sit-ins outside their houses here against the death of over 50 persons in the ongoing unrest in the Valley which was triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Geelani, accompanied by over two dozen activists and supporters, came out from his Hyderpora residence on Srinagar-Airport road this afternoon and staged the sit-in on the link road. advertisement Likewise, Mirwaiz along with a group of supporters also staged the token sit-in outside his Nigeen residence on the outskirts of the city to protest what he called "state terrorism". PTI MIJ GSN ZMN --- ENDS --- At the invitation of Samoa Customs Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Avalisa Viali Fautuaalii, WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya visited Apia, Samoa, on 29 July 2016. After a tour of Customs headquarters at the port, he met Minister for Revenue and Prisons, Mr. Tialavea Leniu Tionisio Hunt, and his Associate Minister. The Samoa Customs IT system has been extended to other border agencies and is now enhancing border security, in addition to its traditional function of revenue collection. Following a WCO mission to conduct a gap analysis in respect of the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC), Samoa is reviewing its Customs Code to bridge the gap identified and to move to formal accession to the RKC. The meeting also identified the needs and priorities with regard to capacity building, particularly from the perspective of small island economies. Secretary General Mikuriya was received by the Prime Minister of Samoa, Mr. Tuilaepa Fatialofa Lupesollai Aiono Neioti Sailele Malielegaoi, who underlined the importance of Customs for revenue collection and border security. In response, the Secretary General agreed that the WCO would provide assistance to Samoa Customs with respect to accession to the RKC, with a view to improving the business environment through efficient Customs procedures. He also provided information on an upcoming Revenue Package mission and the Regional Workshop on the WCOs Security Programme. The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the WCOs contribution and promised his support for Customs modernization. Secretary General Mikuriya also met with the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and other senior Cabinet members to discuss economic development in the Pacific region. The GST Bill, as it is known, has been in the making for over a decade. It entails the introduction of a single indirect tax regime across the country. By India Today Web Desk: A confident government will table the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014 in Rajya Sabha today, setting the stage for the Goods and Services Tax (GST), India's most ambitious tax reform ever. The GST Bill, as it is known, has been in the making for over a decade. It entails the introduction of a single indirect tax regime across the country. advertisement The bill has been long stuck as the BJP lacks a majority in the Rajya Sabha, and the main opposition Congress was so far not in agreement. GST IMPASSE OVER? But the Congress is satisfied now after two of its three key demands were met: doing away with the 1 per cent inter-state tax, and the setting up of a dispute resolution mechanism. The third demand of capping the tax rate in the Constitution was opposed by some states. Both the parties went into huddle before Parliament meets today. While the BJP top leadership is meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's house, the Congress is holding its meeting of Rajya Sabha members in Parliament. A time of five hours has been allocated for the debate and the government expects to conclude the debate and pass the bill today itself. Both the BJP and the Congress have already issued a whip to their members making it compulsory for them to be present in the Upper House today. A constitution amendment bill requires the support of two-third members of the House present and voting. The amendment will then have to be approved by 50 per cent of all the state assemblies. WHAT IS GST? The GST subsumes various central indirect taxes including the Central Excise Duty, Countervailing Duty, Service Tax, etc. It also subsumes state value added tax, octroi and entry tax, luxury tax among others. The GST bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 19, 2014, and was passed by the Lok Sabha around five months later on May 6. It was then referred to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha which submitted its report on July 22. These amendments will need to get the nod of the Lok Sabha again, following which at least 50 per cent of the states need to ratify the bill for it to become a statute. This again could be a long-drawn process, since states will have their own issues and queries. What is GST Bill GST Bill: Govt reaches out to opposition advertisement Watch video here: Stage set for GST Bill in Rajya Sabha: Unified tax to be a reality soon? --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) India has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mozambique to import 3,75,000 tonnes of pulses during 2016-19, Parliament was informed today. "The government has signed an MoU with the government of Mozambique, which fixes targets of minimum quantities of import of tur and other pulses from Mozambique over three financial years," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. advertisement In 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19, the quantity signed is 1 lakh tonnes, 1,25,000 tonnes and 1,50,000 tonnes, respectively. India imported pulses worth USD 3.90 billion in 2015-16 as against USD 2.78 billion in the previous fiscal. In quantity terms, pulse imports in 2015-16 stood at 57.97 lakh tonnes as against 45.85 lakh tonnes in 2014-15. Similarly, the country imported edible oil worth USD 10.48 billion last financial year. In volume terms, it was 156.39 lakh tonnes. Last month, the Union Cabinet approved doubling of import of tur and other dals from Mozambique to 2 lakh tonnes per annum in the next five years. Pulse production fell to 17.06 million tonnes in the 2015-16 crop year (July-June), from 17.15 million tonnes in the previous year. In 2013-14, output was over 19 million tonnes. The minister said the government has taken several steps to ramp up production of pulses and oil seeds and reduce dependency on imports. PTI RR ARD --- ENDS --- Kamal Haasan, who is recovering from a minor knee surgery, has revealed that he tried to walk with some assistance. By India Today Web Desk: Actor Kamal Haasan, who suffered the fracture after he slipped and fell in his Chennai office, has undergone two surgeries. Now, the Vishwaroopam actor, who is currently in the hospital, has finally revealed that he tried to walk with some assistance. ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan still under observation, doctors advise complete rest ALSO READ: I'm indebted to my fans and well-wishers, says Kamal Haasan advertisement He wrote on Twitter saying,"Was up on my feet. A small spin around the room. Of course with two to assist on either side like Gandhiji;). Today was less painful." Was up on my feet. A small spin around the room. Of course with two to assist on either side like Gandhiji;). Today was less painful. Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) August 2, 2016 Earlier to this, reports said that the actor was advised for a month's rest. "The doctors have instructed him to rest for a month. He was all set to commence the second schedule of his upcoming trilingual film from the last week of July. However, due to this unfortunate incident, the shoot has now been postponed to September," the source said. On the work front, Kamal will be next seen in a tri-lingual comedy film Sabash Naidu. The film is being directed by him after an unfortunate turn of events led to director TK Rajeev Kumar moving away from the project. Sabash Naidu will simultaneously be shot in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Now that the shooting of the film has been postponed, the film is expected to hit the screens next year. --- ENDS --- Fort Polk, LA (71446) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High 69F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with thundershowers developing overnight. Low around 60F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Search of Mayfield home snares alleged meth trafficker and two others Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 03, 2016 | BROOKPORT, IL By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 03, 2016 | 11:20 AM | BROOKPORT, IL A man that police are describing as "armed and dangerous" is on the loose in Massac County after an apparent incident, and police are saying you need to lock your doors and stay inside until they find him. According to Illinois State Police, residents in the Brookport, Unionville, Mt. Sterling, and Hamletsburg areas of Massac County need to be on the lookout for an armed and dangerous suspect threatening people in the area with a shotgun. Police are describing the suspect as a white male, 5' 11", 190 pounds, wearing grey camouflage and shorts. Police say if you spot this man do not approach or interact with him, and dial 911 immediately. Residents in the area are advised to lock their doors and stay inside until the man is taken into custody. State police did not describe the incident that prompted the manhunt in the initial press release issued to West Kentucky Star. By The Associated Press Aug. 02, 2016 | 12:10 PM | CARBONDALE, IL A Carbondale police officer has been released from the hospital after he was shot during a pursuit over the weekend. Carbondale police said Tuesday that 26-year-old officer Trey Harris was released from the St. Louis-area hospital where he was treated after the Sunday shooting. Details of his injuries weren't provided but police said they were serious. Officials said he has been with the department for three years and three months. The Southern Illinoisan reports that Harris will require further medical treatment but can recover at home. Harris was shot when someone opened fire from a vehicle speeding away from a shooting scene. Police say they're looking for two suspects and the shooting is under investigation. ___ Information from: Southern Illinoisan, http://www.southernillinoisan.com By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 03, 2016 | 04:16 PM | CARBONDALE, IL The Carbondale Police Department is taking donations for the family of an officer who was shot during a pursuit last weekend.Officer Trey Harris was on patrol late Sunday night near the 700 block of North Robert A. Stalls Street when shots were fired. He was shot as he attempted to stop a fleeing vehicle in the area.Harris has since been treated and released from a St. Louis area hospital. His injuries were described as serious, and he will require further medical treatment, although he will be able to recover at home.Police say they are continuing to investigate the incident, but have not arrested any suspects. The City of Carbondale is offering a $10,000 reward for information which leads to the identity, arrest and conviction of the suspects.Anyone who wants to give is being asked to bring monetary donations to the Carbondale Public Safety Building, with checks payable to CPD Injured Officers Fund. Funds may also be mailed to the following address:City of Carbondale Police DepartmentCPD Injured Officers Fund501 South Washington StreetCarbondale, Illinois 62901 By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 03, 2016 | 08:55 AM | FANCY FARM, KY The Republican Party of Kentucky announced Wednesday that Kentucky State Senator Ralph Alvarado will speak on behalf of the Trump-Pence Presidential campaign at Saturday's annual Fancy Farm Picnic."Fancy Farm is one of Kentucky's greatest political traditions and it's an honor to be asked to speak on behalf of the Trump-Pence campaign," said Sen. Alvarado. "I look forward to reminding Kentuckians of who Hillary Clinton is and why she cannot be trusted with the most powerful position in our nation."Alvarado has been a doctor in Winchester since 1998. He was elected in 2014 as the first Hispanic to hold a state office in Kentucky. He is Vice-Chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee in Kentucky's state Senate."You may not always like what Donald Trump says, but he's going to tell you what he thinks," said Alvarado. "I'd much rather have a president who wears their heart on their sleeve than one who's going to lie to your face like Hillary Clinton." Saturday's political speaking begins at 2 pm. By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 03, 2016 | 06:08 AM | MURRAY, KY One person was arrested and another is being sought by police after a traffic stop Tuesday night in Calloway County. The Calloway County Sheriffs Office said deputies stopped a vehicle with canceled plates on South 12th Street in Murray. Police said the driver, 29-year-old Kory Roach, of Murray, couldn't produce his license when asked. Deputies said Roach fled on foot when asked to get out of the vehicle. The passenger and owner of the vehicle, 46-year-old Kimberly Pearson, of Murray, consented to a search after Roach fled. Deputies reportedly found methamphetamine, a baggie of assorted pills, portable digital scales and other paraphernalia during their search. Pearson was charged with possession of methamphetamine, trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was booked into the Calloway Detention Center. Police say Roach is still at large, and charges against him are pending. The last time they met was on a winter morning in 1999 when the poet handed the painter three sheets of paper with seven couplets written on them. It was early morning and the poet was in his verandah writing away on his electronic typewriter as he always did, a cup of tea by his side. The painter was in a hurry. The poet urged him to sit for a while. He then handed him three pages, and smiled. "This is for you Masood. Paint these when you have the time," Agha Shahid Ali, who died in what he called "exile" had said. ON THE GATES OF PARADISE Years later, the painter, Masood Hussain, remembers the smile. It was a sad smile, he says. He often reads A Pastoral. He remembers the cinema halls of those days when a soldier and a civilian would buy tickets and watch movies together. He remembers his friend, the poet. It is like all those wish-knots he tied at the shrines, and never untied, because nothing changed. There are only maybes. That's how he paints. With a million maybes. "Now, when a member of a security force walks, he is covered by other men for protection. Now, the dynamics have changed. A security personnel is unimaginable without guns. I have only memories. The poem reminds me of our conversations. Shahid and I would speak about how everyone has left this city. We wondered if they would come back," he says. It is almost a prediction or a premonition of his death. There are characters who talk of their death and their return to unlock gates, and read letters left in abandoned houses. That's how hope converts here. The future is only beyond the barriers of death. He is having flashbacks and flash-forwards. advertisement THE COUPLET PRESENTATION In December 2001, he spoke to Shahid for the last time. He was in a hospital in Boston, USA."Pray for me," he said over the phone. He died a few days later. Hussain hadn't known about the brain cancer but had prayed for his friend. They met often when Shahid was in the city. He would come over to Hussain's house for dinner, and pack some leftovers for the day after. "He said we have relevance in terms of what I write and what you paint. We thought the same things. Like this painting of mine called Stampede. The title of one of his poems in the same," Hussain says. For years, the three sheets with the seven couplets remained in a green file. The painter often thought of Shahid and the time they had spent together. Agha Shahid Ali, Kashmir's poet laureate. Agha Shahid Ali, Kashmir's poet laureate. TRAGEDY ON A CANVAS He painted other tragedies in the meanwhile. He painted canvases of gloom, one of which he ripped apart and placed a thread and a needle saying that he is waiting for someone to come and heal them, for someone to come and stitch back the painting. He had forgotten about the seven couplets. But he remembered he owed the poet a commitment of sorts. They had both been nostalgists, forever carrying the longing for what they saw, and what they didn't. In equal measure. And yet the poet and the painter hadn't known each other until the poet summoned him in 1997, and asked if he could use one of his paintings as the cover for his book of poems: The Country Without a Post Office. Kashmir was their alter ego. They lived its agony and they lived in that suspended state of hope against all odds. Like when the painter spent days sitting at shrines watching men and women come with outstretched hands. That was when they had exhausted themselves with trips to the police stations, or even graves. He noticed how they would wail. AND THEN THERE IS HOPE... So, seven canvases lie on an uneven floor in his studio. In those canvases, there is despair in beauty. There is irony. There is every reference of blood and loss. At the time, he hadn't understood the context. He had wondered why Shahid had given him couplets about beauty when this was indeed paradise lost. He tossed them back in the file. advertisement One of Agha Shahid Ali's couplets rendered on canvas by Masood Hussain (2013). "One of his unfulfilled dreams in the form of words remained with me to find its way in colours. The idea of hope that he passed on to me was translated by me in a painting titled Hope which was the concluding painting of my series of work titled Death and Resurrection which was exhibited at Art Heritage in New Delhi in March 2005. "It took 14 years to fulfil the wish of my friend. The thought of not being able to devote time to the works burdened my heart for a long time and finally completed the work born from the words written by him years ago," he says. In 2013, he started painting. He would paint blood, and death, and beauty. He would once again paint paradise lost. He would paint from memory, and from the words. Like when the poet wrote "crimsoned spillage", he remembered how in the streets a worker stood in front of a shop during curfew. A stray bullet hit him. The painter was watching from the window. The worker cried. He shouted for help. Nobody came. And then, a little boy came by pushing an empty cart. He went to the fallen labourer. The labourer was from Bihar. He helped him on to the cart, and pushed it. There was hope in that. To him, that was crimson spillage in the couplet, Autumn Refrains in Kashmir. advertisement In the floods of 2014, Hussain lost everything but these canvases because he had to keep the commitment. He has not named the series yet. Each couplet has its own canvas. He left the obvious vague. The beauty was obvious. Hussain doesn't know what he would do with the canvases. They lie there encompassing in them the beauty of a land possessed. He awaits an exhibition so others can see how colours and words mix on paper. How a painter translates a poem and how a poet once dreamed of a translation in colours is what it is all about. These canvases are a testimony to a friendship, and a commitment to hope and despair. advertisement "Maybe if he was here, he would be happy. I wish he were. I read his poems often. I look for hope. I wish I could untie these knots in my lifetime," he says. --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain/M Zulqernain Islamabad/Lahore, Aug 3 (PTI) Thousands of activists of various religious and jihadi outfits led by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed today protested across different Pakistani cities against the visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, accusing him for the unrest in Kashmir. Activists of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Hizbul Mujahideen, United Jihad Council (UJC) and other such group protested to denounce Singhs trip, who arrived here earlier today to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial conference being hosted by Pakistan. advertisement Saeed led the rally in Lahores Mall Road and vent out his anger over the governments decision to welcome Singh despite his alleged "role in the killings of innocent Kashmiris". Saeed said Pakistan government has added insult to the wounds of Kashmiris by welcoming Singh. "We were not expecting that the Pakistani rulers would welcomeSingh whois responsible for the killings of innocent Kashmiris," he said, addingthe rulersshould have refused to receivethe Indianhome minister to lodge its protest over Kashmir atrocities. Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) also held demonstrations in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, Faisalabad and Muzaffarabad. In Islamabad, the JuD held demonstrations at three points simultaneously, forcing the government to seal offthered- zone. Syed Salahuddin, the leader of militant outfit Hizbul Mujahidden, who is also chief of UJC, and local leaders of other groups were seen during the protest in the capital. Another protest was organised by Mishal Malik, wife of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, in front of National Press Club here. Yesterday, a JuD caravan led by Talha Saeed, the son of Saeed, had staged a sit-in at the Line of Control near Chakothi in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), where they were stopped by Pakistani security forces. The protesters today continued their sit-in, demanding that India receives relief materials brought by them for Kashmiris. A JuD statement said that it has no plans to leave the place unless India receives relief goods, dry food and medicines for the Kashmiris. Hafiz Abdur Rauf, chief of Falayh-i-Insaniat Foundation, a sister organisation of JuD, said many doctors and paramedical staff were also present in the sit-in. "These doctors and para-medical staff want to go Sri-Nagar to treat our injured Kashmiri brethren," he said. Various religious and jihadi outfits in Pakistan are opposed to Singhs visit as they held him responsible for the unrest in Kashmir. Forty-nine people have been killed in Kashmir in clashes since security forces killed Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Earlier, Saeed has warned the government that Singhs presence in Islamabad may create "unrest" among Kashmiris as well as Pakistanis in the face of scores of killings in Kashmir. PTI MZ SH SUA AKJ SUA --- ENDS --- advertisement The two protesters were killed after the personal security guard of a senior government official opened fire to ward off a mob which was trying to set ablaze the vehicle of the official. By Ashraf Wani: Two more protesters were killed in fresh violence in Kashmir, even as normal life remained disrupted for the 26th consecutive day today due to strike called by separatists and curfew imposed by the authorities in some parts of the Valley. With this the death toll has gone up to 52. The incident took place at Lethpora area of Pulwama district on Srinagar-Jammu national Highway at around 8.30 pm on Tuesday. advertisement The deceased were identified as Farooq Ahmad and Suhail Ahmad of Lethpora in Pulwama. The two protesters were killed after the personal security guard of a senior government official opened fire to ward off a mob which was trying to set ablaze the vehicle of the official, police said. He said the government official, identified as Baburam, was stopped by a mob when he was on his way to Ramban in Jammu division and asked to alight from the vehicle. As soon as the official and his personal security guard got off the vehicle, the mob tried to set it ablaze prompting the security personnel to open fire. In another incident, a group of protesters pelted stones on a police station in Trehgam area of Kupwara district. The police personnel retaliated by firing tear-gas shells, resulting in injuries to three persons. Many shops and business establishments had opened after sundown as the separatists had announced a relaxation in the agitation programme to allow people to buy essentials in view of the prolonged shut down since July 9 in the Valley. The separatist groups have been spearheading the agitation to protest the civilian killings during the protests following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8. Protests broke out across Kashmir Valley on July 9, leading to clashes with security forces in which 50 people have been killed and over 5600 persons injured. Mobile Internet services continued to remain snapped in the entire Valley where the postpaid mobile telephony services have been restored across all networks. Also Read: Petrol bombs hurled at Jammu and Kashmir minister's home in Srinagar Kashmir unrest: MHA considering non-lethal riot control options Shinde lambasts Centres handling of Kashmir situation Kashmir unrest: Killing of Burhan Wani was an accident, says Deputy CM Nirmal Singh --- ENDS --- By PTI: Puducherry August 3 (PTI) Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today exhorted doctors to adhere to core values of profession and function as ideal healers of ailments of poor patients. Speaking at the seventh convocation of Centrally sponsored JIPMER after handing over degree certificates and medals to MBBS graduates and other streams, she said the country had invested massively for infrastructure and other facilities in medical colleges. Doctors passing out of the institutions should remain grateful to the nation and should respond to the challenges of requirements in health sector" she said. Patients approaching doctors are poor and could not have access to resources and hence doctors should be sensitive to their needs, she said . advertisement She said generally those in public service or in any profession should remain committed to promoting `ethical practices and core values and serve the nation with gratitude. It would be painful if professionals, including public servants, police officers, political appointees, doctors and teachers nurtured the thought of promoting themselves or aspiring for elevation in the career without any thought of serving the country` she said. A total of 246 candidates undergraduates and postgraduates were presented degree certificates. Gold medals were handed to proficient graduates. PTI COR APR APR --- ENDS --- When there's no one to help you, the government will step in. While this statement may lead to much laughter in most circles, a Kerala student is nothing but grateful for his government's gesture. By India Today Web Desk: Hailing from Kerala's Kasargod, Bineesh is a Scheduled Caste from a poor background. He had received a Rs 45 lakh scholarship from the renowned London School of Economics to pursue MSc in Social Anthropology. Bineesh's father Balan, and mother Girija, are daily wage labourers. In a home, where a battle is fought to survive on a daily basis, there came the news of the additional burden of an IELTS test as well as expensive plane tickets. advertisement Almost Rs 1.5 lakh was to be shelled out in order for Bineesh to take the IELTS course and give the test, apart from spending on flight tickets. This was when he sought help from the Kerala government. Media Focus The issue got media attention and the news that he might miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity was covered by local dailies. When Kerala's Minister of Welfare of SC, ST and OBC -- A K Balan -- came across this news, he called Bineesh personally to meet him at his office on Tuesday to help him out. After the meeting, Balan assured Bineesh that if the scholarship does not include his travel charges, the government would take care of it. Help On The Spot The fee for taking the IELTS course from British Council in Chennai and the fee for the test was around Rs 26,500. After learning of this, the minister handed over the amount to Bineesh on the spot. Balan asked Bineesh to leave for Chennai the very next day and the amount was credited to his bank account. Local reports claim that Bineesh is said to be among the first persons from the scheduled caste to secure a scholarship at LSE. Acclaimed Malayalam movie director Aashiq Abu shared Bineesh's story on his Facebook page and the post has already received over a 1,000 shares. --- ENDS --- Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 03/08/2016 (2277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Folkloramas Scandinavian pavilion will this year spotlight Nordic women a theme selected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of suffrage in Manitoba. Those women include one extended family, three generations of Scandinavian women, for whom volunteering at Folklorama is a family tradition. The involvement of this particular family started with Soren and Inger Godfredsen, who helped create the Scandinavian Pavilion in 1970. Their daughter, Jane Meech, and her sister, Emma, served as longtime food co-ordinators for the pavilion a role niece Janis Chase has since taken over. Chases daughters, Kennedy and Dani, began dancing at age three and, along with their cousins, came of age in the pavilion. Fifteen members spanning four generations of the Godfredsen family are involved with the Scandinavian Pavilion. You go to the pavilion and you see things that need doing, and you say, Oh, I can do that, Meech says. And all of a sudden, youve put in a lot of years at Folklorama. Meech, whose heritage is Danish with a little bit of Swedish clarifies that the Scandinavian Pavilion is technically a Nordic pavilion. Scandinavias Denmark, Norway and Sweden, but we also include Iceland and Finland, which are Nordic countries, she says. We just call ourselves Scandinavian. We have dances from all those countries, the music. Each country has its own cultural display. And then theres the food, which is all made from scratch. Everything from Icelandic vinarterta (the layered dessert that is said to now be more popular in Manitoba than in Iceland), to Danish smrrebrd (open-faced sandwiches) to Swedish meatballs will be on offer. People sometimes come to our pavilion just for the Swedish meatballs, Janis says. Chase has seen the dedication of Folkloramas volunteers first-hand. Theres so much behind the scenes, she says. Being the food co-ordinator, I have to get a lot of volunteers together myself just to do the cooking bees. We start planning in October for the next year, so it isnt just one week for us out of the year. During the week (of Folklorama), were there at 7, 8, 9 oclock in the morning and were there until midnight sometimes. Its a huge job, and its amazing the volunteers who come because they want to. They just love it. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Janis Chase (left), daughters Kennedy (second right) and Dani (right), and aunt Jane Meech are volunteers with the Scandinavian Pavilion. For Meech, its the people she meets that keep her coming back year after year. The camaraderie that you get its wonderful, she says. When you volunteer, youre not looking for a reward. The camaraderie is your reward. The pavilion is located at the Scandinavian Cultural Centre (764 Erin St.) and runs until Aug. 7. jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @JenZoratti Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/08/2016 (2278 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. It is becoming increasingly apparent that Omnitrax is seeking a buyout, and not a bailout. Its been little more than a week since the Denver-based company that owns the Hudson Bay Port Company and Hudson Bay Railway stunned northern Manitoba by shutting the former and curtailing freight traffic on the latter. Throughout most of that week, observers have been hard-pressed to figure out what Omnitrax wanted. Omnitrax has made no public statement to explain its actions. The provincial and federal governments have gone silent, for the most part. COURTESY CHURCHILL GATEWAY DEVELOPMENT CORP. / OMNITRAX The northern town of Churchill and the surrounding area have been hit with a crisis this week: the layoff of workers at the port, effectively ending the short shipping season, and a cut in rail service to one train per week. Last week, upset about the companys actions, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister went on a rant and ruled out any kind of taxpayer bailout. However, following a long weekend where concern over soon-to-be-high food prices spiked across the affected region, the province, too, went quiet. The federal government, meanwhile, continued to carpet bomb Manitoba with rhetoric and platitudes. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, the lead federal minister on the file, declined an interview request and issued yet another statement via email saying he was deeply disappointed by Omnitrax and currently in ongoing discussions with my cabinet colleagues, the province and local leaders about what to do next. And then, in the late morning Tuesday, a moment of clarity as Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr, the senior ranking Liberal MP from Manitoba, inadvertently brushed away some of the fog. At a news conference to confirm a $15-million federal contribution to the new Inuit Art Centre in Winnipeg, Carr said Omnitrax was no longer interested in its Manitoba operations. When pressed, Carr attempted to backpedal, suggesting it was just his interpretation of events. And perhaps thats all it was. However, there is increasing evidence to suggest Omnitrax is seeking a buyout, not a bailout, and in that context Carrs comments are telling. Moreover, it appears the companys preferred partner in such a transaction is government. A private-sector partner seems to be a non-starter. Closing the port and scaling back rail service have driven down the market value of Omnitraxs assets. That leaves government as the only viable option. Two big questions now come into focus: how much does Omnitrax want to go away and is anyone in government at either the federal or provincial level interested in purchasing these assets? It is not clear Omnitrax has put a price tag on its port and railway. Even those involved in a possible sale to a consortium of First Nations claim no firm asking price was reached. When Omnitrax does ultimately identify a price, you can bet it will have less to do with the actual market value and more with the political value and that is enormous. The railway, in particular, is a critical link between southern and northern Manitoba. Without it, the North would slowly and painfully recede further into economic and social isolation. It is for those reasons most informed observers believe government will have to eventually come to the table. Given Omnitrax now holds most of the cards in any negotiation, it is going to be a frustrating and potentially expensive process. However, even skeptics agree the railway and port should be re-nationalized. The hope a creative, innovative private owner could make the railway and port profitable has been revealed as a sham. After turning over the assets nearly 20 years ago, government has been forced to kick in tens of millions of additional dollars to maintain the rail line and port. It has paid millions more to fund task forces to study the economics of the port and market it to people all over the world. Omnitrax no doubt earned a profit on its Manitoba operations in the good years. In the bad years, or whenever major repairs or maintenance were needed, it stuck out its hand for taxpayer support. And none of that includes the subsidies paid to maintain passenger rail service to Churchill. Via Rail, the federal Crown-owned passenger service, pays millions of dollars every year to transport people to Churchill from Winnipeg. To The Pas from Winnipeg, payment is made to Canadian National Railway; north of The Pas, the money goes to Omnitrax. Via officials would not break down how much it pays to either CN nor Omnitrax. In 2015, Via spent more than $20 million in net costs to operate passenger service to Churchill from Winnipeg. On a subsidy per passenger basis, it is the most expensive regional rail service in the country. What did taxpayers get for the 1997 sale of the railway and port to Omnitrax? Tens of millions of dollars in direct and indirect taxpayer subsidies to a private-sector company that eventually grew weary of doing business in Manitoba and is now willing to eviscerate its operations to press its case for a sale. The port and railway should be publicly owned assets. Perhaps in the hands of an arms-length, not-for-profit authority of some sort, or a true public-private partnership. Buying Omnitrax out of its Manitoba operations is going to be difficult and potentially expensive. In the long run, however, its a small price to pay to avoid having a private company hold a region of the province hostage. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca North Korea launched a ballistic missile whose main body landed in Japan's economic exclusion zone. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the launch as a "grave threat" to Japan. By Reuters: North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Wednesday that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters for the first time, the latest in a series of launches by the isolated country in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The main body of the missile landed in Japan's economic exclusion zone, a Japanese defence official said, escalating regional tensions that were already high after a series of missile launches and the decision by the United States to place a sophisticated anti-missile system in South Korea. advertisement Read: North Korea does it again! Fires three ballistic missiles, flew 600 km, says South Korea 'GRAVE THREAT TO JAPAN' Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the launch as a "grave threat" to Japan and said Tokyo "strongly protested". The missile that landed in the Sea of Japan was launched at about 7:50 am Seoul time (2250 GMT Tuesday) from a region in South Hwanghae province to the southwest of the capital, Pyongyang, South Korea's Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. The launch showed North Korean ambition to "directly and broadly attack neighbouring countries and target several places in the Republic of Korea such as ports and airfields", the statement said, referring to South Korea by its official title. The missile appeared to be a Rodong-type medium-range missile that flew about 1,000 km (620 miles), it said. READ: North Korea threatens to turn the South into sea of fire if anti-missile system is deployed US CONDEMNS NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE TESTS The South Korean statement referred to just one launch, although the US Strategic Command said it had detected two missiles, one of which it said exploded immediately after launch. US state department says it strongly condemns "this and North Korea's other recent missile tests," which violate UN Security Council resolutions. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles that flew between 500 km and 600 km (300-360 miles) into the sea off its east coast. The North later said the launches were part of an exercise simulating preemptive strikes against South Korean ports and airfields used by the US military. The launches follow an agreement last month between South Korea and the United States to deploy an advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defence anti-missile system in the South. North Korea had threatened a "physical response" against the deployment decision. Japan also said its self-defence force would remain on alert in case of further launches. READ: North Korea fires missile from submarine but it appears to have failed: South Korea UN SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREA North Korea came under the latest round of UN Security Council sanctions in March after its fourth nuclear test in January and the launch of a long-range rocket the following month. advertisement Tensions have been high on the Korean peninsula since the January nuclear test. The two Koreas remain technically at war under a truce that ended fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. ALSO READ: North Korea test-fired missiles to simulate pre-emptive nuclear attack on South Korea Pakistan selling nuclear material to North Korea, China knows it: US sources --- ENDS --- Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 03/08/2016 (2277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The family of a Cross Lake man who died of a heart attack after visiting a northern nursing station and leaving with Tylenol is suing the federal and provincial governments. Tyson McKays mother, brother, uncle and lawyers arrived at the Winnipeg courthouse Wednesday morning to file the statement of claim. On June 23, 2015, McKay went to the nursing station at Cross Lake complaining of chest pain, cough and fever. McKay spent about 10 minutes with a nurse, who diagnosed him with acid reflux. She gave him an antacid and Tylenol before sending him home. ZACHARY PRONG / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Violet McKay holds a picture of her son Tyson McKay while at the courthouse Wednesday to deliver a statement of claim with son Kelvin and Tyson McKays uncle, Sidney Garrioch. The nurse didnt perform an EKG or any other heart-related diagnostic tests, the family alleges. McKays condition worsened the next day. That evening, a family member found McKay collapsed on his sofa, and he was rushed to the nursing station. He died in the early morning hours of June 25. He was 32 years old. Tysons life was cut short. A simple EKG and blood work or even a medical transport could have saved his life, said McKays brother, Kelvin McKay, outside of the courthouse. I am doing this essentially for my brother. I want to honour his life, which was cut short. But in the broader picture, I want to help our people, indigenous families across Canada, because we cannot see any more families hurt with this kind of lapse. We depend on professionals to come and help us, not to cut our lives short. The allegations have not been proven in court. The federal government (responsible for the nursing station), the provincial government (responsible for staffing it), Venture Healthcare Inc. (the agency that recruits nurses to staff the station) and the nurse are named as defendants. The lawsuit, filed by Sydney Garrioch, McKays uncle, administrator of his estate and former grand chief of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), states McKays right to life and equal treatment without discrimination under the 1982 Constitution Act were breached by the defendants by not providing him with proper access to health care. The Health Canada Act states that any Canadian, across the nation, has the right to proper health care, said Donnie McKay, a band councillor with Pimicikamak Cree Nation in Cross Lake. Following McKays death, the family called for a full inquiry into premature and preventable deaths of First Nations people on Manitobas northern reserves last December. Garrioch said federal authorities have not yet informed them if an inquiry will be called. The family also called for a hospital to be built in Cross Lake, which is one of the largest First Nations in Canada, with more than 8,000 band members and more than 6,000 living on the reserve. The nearest hospitals are located in Norway House and Thompson. The feds announced in July a $40-million hospital will be opened within the next five years on the remote reserve. Tysons life was cut short. A simple EKG and blood work or even a medical transport could have saved his life The family will also be advancing Charter of Rights and Freedoms arguments on the basis McKays constitutional and aboriginal rights were violated, which contributed to his premature and preventable death The 20-page statement of claim calls for the defendants to be responsible for the funeral expenses and a base amount of $40,000. It also calls for special damages and punitive damages to be determined at the trial. In response to the suit, a provincial spokeswoman said the the government will review the statement of claim but cannot comment on a matter before the courts. A Health Canada spokeswoman said the federal government takes the situation very seriously but cannot discuss issues related to individual patients and their care for privacy reasons. She also noted because the matter is before the courts, they cannot provide any further comments. A request for comment to Venture Healthcare was not returned. kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca 2016-08-03+Statement+of+claim+(as+filed) Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/08/2016 (2278 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA A former chief justice of the Manitoba Court of Appeal and a Winnipeg lawyer are among seven people who will help choose the next judge named to the Supreme Court of Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a new process for picking Supreme Court justices Tuesday that will see a non-partisan, independent advisory board review applications to the high court and deliver a short list of three to five candidates to Trudeau for consideration. The board will be chaired by former prime minister Kim Campbell, and will include four members designated by the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Judicial Council, the Federation of Canadian Law Societies and the Council of Canadian Law Deans, as well as three members appointed by the minister of justice, two of whom have to be from outside the legal community. Jeff Hirsch Two of the seven members come from the legal community in Manitoba. Justice Richard Scott, who retired as the chief justice of the Manitoba Court of Appeal in 2013 after 22 years in the role, is the designate of the Canadian Judicial Council on the board. Scott is currently working as an arbitrator and mediator at Hill Sokalski Walsh Olson in Winnipeg. Jeff Hirsch, a partner at the Winnipeg firm Thompson Dorfman Sweatman and the current president of the Federation of Canadian Law Societies, will represent that organization on the board. Its an honour, Hirsch told the Free Press Tuesday. Hirsch said the federation was approached within the last month about the possibility of a new Supreme Court appointment process, and while the federation wasnt consulted about the process, it is pleased to be involved on the board. He said having the legal regulatory community and the legal profession as a whole involved in choosing new Supreme Court justices is important. Justice Richard Scott We think its a very positive step in terms of process, Hirsch said. Scott couldnt be reached for comment Tuesday. Additional members of the board include: Camille Cameron, dean of the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University; former Northwest Territories premier Stephen Kakfwi; Lili-Anna Peresa, president of Centraide of Greater Montreal; and Susan Ursel, a senior partner at a Toronto law firm and chair of the Canadian component of the African Legal Research Team supporting Envisioning Global LGBT Rights. The first applications for the high court will be accepted until Aug. 25 at 1:59 a.m. Central. The next vacancy on the court will open in September with the retirement of Justice Thomas Cromwell. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/08/2016 (2278 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Less than two weeks ago, Bernadette Smith marked the eighth anniversary since her sister was last seen. Wednesday, she will be one of the family members on hand at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., as the federal government launches a long-awaited inquiry into the high rate of indigenous women who go missing or are murdered in Canada. But Smith isnt here to glad-hand the government. In fact, she worries the inquiry wont do anything but delay real action to address the issue of violence against indigenous women in Canada.Im anxious, Smith said, shortly after landing at the Ottawa airport Tuesday afternoon. Im not putting my eggs into this one basket. I want to see what the terms of reference are, but I want to see action on prevention stuff now.Smith said if the inquiry doesnt have a large component looking at the role of racist government policies, and biases in policing and the justice system, she doesnt want to participate. ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett is set to announce the commissioners for the inquiry and other details Wednesday morning. An inquiry fulfils an election promise made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last fall and was one of the calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report released in June 2015. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett is set to announce the commissioners for the inquiry and other details Wednesday morning. Smiths sister is one of more than 164 indigenous women currently listed as missing in Canada. Claudette Osborne-Tyo was only 21 years old when she disappeared on July 24, 2008. She was only two weeks from giving birth to her fourth child. Osborne-Tyos family has criticized the Winnipeg Police Service for failing to take their missing persons report seriously for more than two weeks. Family members were told Osborne-Tyos disappearance was related to her lifestyle the young mother had a drug addiction and disappeared after social workers said if she remained in the family home with her kids they would be taken away. By the time police began to investigate in earnest, two weeks had passed and the security tapes at the hotel where Osborne-Tyo was last seen had been erased. Although indigenous women account for four per cent of the Canadian population, they account for 16 per cent of homicide victims. RCMP data show more than 1,000 indigenous women were murdered in Canada between 1980 and 2012. Statistics Canada data suggest indigenous women are more than three times as likely as non-indigenous women to be victims of violence. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 03/08/2016 (2277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. GATINEAU, Que. A national inquiry looking at the high rate of violence against indigenous women and girls in Canada will begin Sept. 1 with a mandate to study the underlying causes and systemic issues that contribute to the problem, including police conduct and the role of the child-welfare system. Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett unveiled the details of the national inquiry Wednesday morning surrounded by totem poles and long houses in a ceremony in the grand hall of the Canadian Museum of History. For me, personally, this journey began over a decade ago when I first met with many of the families who are here with us today, she said. Their stories about their mothers, daughters, aunties and cousins who tragically had gone missing or were murdered were heartbreaking. Its because of these courageous women and families who knew something was very wrong that we are here today. CANADIAN PRESS FILES Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett unveiled the details of the national inquiry this morning. Bennett named Manitoba teenagers Tina Fontaine and Rinelle Harper among the names Canadians have come to know as representatives of a pattern of vulnerability and injustice that has to stop. Fontaine was 15 when she was murdered in Winnipeg in August 2014. Harper was 16 when she was sexually assaulted and left for dead on a Winnipeg riverbank in November 2014. They are but two of thousands of indigenous women and girls who have been murdered, gone missing or have suffered violence in Canada. The rate of violence against indigenous women is more than three times that faced by non-indigenous women. Bennett said this inquiry will be the first in Canada to have buy-in from all 10 provinces and three territories. Each will pass an order-in-council to allow the commission to operate in their jurisdictions, which will give it room to call witnesses and compel the production of records from public institutions across the country. Support from Manitoba Manitoba had been accused of dragging its heels to support the inquiry but Justice Minister Heather Stefanson said Wednesday the delay allowed the government to consult with aboriginal leaders in the province. We heard loud and clear they wanted us to move forward, she told reporters at the legislature. The government is now drafting the order-in-council to adopt the terms of reference in Manitoba. Stefanson also expressed disappointment there was nobody from Manitoba among the five commissioners, and said the federal government never asked the province for any names. The commissioners were selected from hundreds of names submitted to the federal government during the pre-inquiry process, and were chosen to be representative of the regions of Canada and to be linguistically and culturally diverse. Stefanson was and still is concerned the inquiry not redo work already done in Manitoba in other inquiries, such as the inquiry looking at the death of five-year-old Phoenix Sinclair. The mandate of the inquiry specifically says it is to consider any relevant reports and investigations it wants. The Sinclair report, and the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry were not among the eight specific reports referenced for the commission to look at but there is nothing stopping the commissioners from looking at them. Ottawa has set aside $53.8 million to pay for the inquiry, more than the $40 million listed in the recent federal budget. The inquiry will run through Dec. 31, 2018. The commission was given latitude to decide on its own how it will proceed, including the kind of hearings to be held and where and when they will be. Informal processes The inquiry is unlikely to include many typical courtroom-style hearings featuring a parade of witnesses; during consultations, most families told the government that is not what they wanted. Instead, more informal processes, including statement-taking as was done during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings is likely. The inquiry is also to ensure it reaches all the regions in Canada. No one asked for a sterile courtroom drama where people will be asked to testify, Bennett said at a press conference following the ceremony. The inquiry commission will be headed by Marion Buller, the first female indigenous judge in British Columbia. Buller was the commission counsel during the Caribou-Chilcotin Justice Inquiry in B.C., which looked at the poor relations between First Nations people in the Caribou-Chilcotin region and all levels of the justice system. Other commissioners include Michele Audette, the former head of the Native Womens Association of Canada and onetime Liberal candidate, Ottawa lawyer Qajaq Robinson, University of Saskatchewan law professor Marilyn Poitras and Brian Eyolfson, a First Nations lawyer from Ontario. The inquiry will not find criminal or civil wrongdoing, but if it reveals any instances of alleged misconduct that commissioners feel should be investigated, the information will be forwarded to the appropriate investigative bodies. Commissioners cannot compel police to re-open old cases deemed accidents or suicides in which family members firmly believe criminal wrongdoing was involved. Really surreal that this day has actually come Bernadette Smith, whose sister Claudette Osborne-Tyo has been missing since 2008, is among those concerned that there isnt a push to re-examine cases such as her sisters. Osborne-Tyo says police didnt take the case seriously for 10 days, allowing valuable evidence, such as security tapes, to be lost. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Minister of Justice and Attorney General Heather Stefanson Manitoba NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine, who has been an advocate for families of murdered and missing women for years, said she understands that disappointment. She watched the ceremony on the web Wednesday with the brother of a woman who has been missing for almost six years. He cant see how the national inquiry will actually help him, said Fontaine. And thats OK. Fontaine said it is not within the scope of a national inquiry to investigate specific cases, particularly open cases where releasing criminal investigation files to the public is not possible. She said an inquiry will never satisfy all families, who are all at different stages of their grief and experience but she believes the inquiry is a great step. As I watched everything live, it was, in some respects, really surreal that this day has actually come, she told the Free Press, adding Manitoba has been ground zero for the 30-year campaign to force national action on MMIW. Its going to be a long journey and a difficult journey but Im hoping it will make us better Canadians. The mandate for the inquiry was developed over the last seven months in 18 pre-inquiry design meetings with more than 2,100 participants, including many family members of the murdered and missing. Another 4,100 online submissions were made. Algonquin elder Claudette Commanda welcomed the launch event, calling the high rate of violence indigenous women and girls face a national tragedy and disgrace. She said she hopes the inquiry will ensure our women and our girls will no longer go missing or murdered and our men and our boys that they, too, can live in a society called Canada in peace and friendship and safety. The federal government is immediately launching family information liaison units in each province with $16 million. The units will serve as an access point for families to seek information about their loved ones cases. with files from Nick Martin mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/08/2016 (2278 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. On a day the federal government confirmed a $15 million commitment to the Winnipeg Art Gallerys construction of the Inuit Art Centre, the lingering question was, Where is the province? Winnipeg South Centre MP Jim Carr announced the federal contribution to the $65 million project at the WAG on Tuesday. This unique centre will bring the wonders of the north to the south and allow visitors to learn more about this majestic part of Canada; its people, its culture, its history and its future, Carr said. Canadas stories shaped by our immense diversity deserve to be celebrated and shared with the world. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg South Centre MP Jim Carr at Tuesday's anouncement supporting the Winnipeg Art Gallery's Inuit Art Centre. With this announcement we know that Winnipeg will continue to excel, but now not only in our own community and across this great nation, but around the world. Winnipeg deputy mayor Mike Pagtakhan was also at the ceremony, speaking to the citys previous commitment of $5 million. However, no member from the recently elected PC government was among the seated government representatives. The previous NDP government had committed $15 million towards the arts centre prior to being ousted in the April provincial election. Premier Brian Pallister has publicly stated that all NDP commitments are currently under review. In a prepared statement attributed to Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Rochelle Squires, she said the government is reviewing the commitment. We appreciate the WAGs understanding as we continue to engage on a value for money audit of commitments of taxpayer dollars, she said. Construction on the four-storey centre, to be build adjacent to the existing WAG, is expected to begin sometime early in 2017 and be completed in 2019. The project will include the construction of exhibition spaces, a glass-enclosed visible art vault, closed art storage, a conservation facility, art studios, a two-level interactive presentation theatre and classrooms. The Inuit Arts Centre will be the first of its kind in the world and contain 27,000 works. Its also part of a bigger picture, part of a larger plan, noted WAG director and CEO Stephen Borys. Canadians are among the leaders in an international effort to recognize the power, the importance and significance of indigenous culture and its vital role in a greater reconciliation. Everyone has a place on this journey and the Inuit Art Centre is just one of the ways the WAG is helping create a sustainable, respectful environment for understanding and healing. At its most creative, the centre will bring something of the Canadian Arctic to Winnipeg, he added. But at its strongest and most impactful, the Inuit Arts Centre will be a place of transformation to indigenous art, a place where we learn about each other as well as ourselves. Borys did refer to the the unprecedented support from our municipal and federal governments towards the project. When asked about the status of the provinces commitment, Borys said he was not really concerned. They have obligations, he added. We are in almost daily dialogue with them on this project. They are aware of it. And I expect a very positive outcome very soon. The fact is their pledge would be incredible. They have many things to review as a new government. And we have given them all the information that they require to make a decision. MICHAEL MALTZAN ARCHITECTURE Artist rendering of an aerial view of the Inuit Art Centre and Winnipeg Art Gallery. Carr, meanwhile, said the centre would be an addition to the very powerful constellation of attractions that include the Forks and Assiniboine Park Conservatory and Journey to Churchill exhibits. The MP was confident the investment would pay for itself in general revenue. We know that people will come here, they will spend money, they will stay in hotels, they will buy food, they will bring their friends, they will speak well of Manitoba and what it uniquely offers. And that can only be good for us, he said. And the Inuit artists? They will have access to millions of people who will see and appreciate their work, Carr added. Northerners have been very much a part of this from the beginning and will be very much a part of it in the future. Carr didnt want to speculate on the fate of the provinces commitment, however. The province will make its own decision, Carr said. Were making the argument that this is a priority for the government of Canada. Its a priority because we believe that the opportunity for Canadians, and really for citizens of the world, to have access to this magnificent collection which is the most important collection of its type anywhere that other levels of government will appreciate how important this is. randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @randyturner15 If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/08/2016 (2278 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The federal government is still not prepared to say how it will address the crisis at the Port of Churchill, eight days after the staff were laid off and the port shut down. Jim Carr, the minister of natural resources, and the senior Manitoba cabinet minister in the Trudeau government, said Tuesday he is gathering intelligence on the ground and is meeting with mayors and chiefs in Winnipeg Wednesday. This presumably will be a new chapter, Carr said about the history of the operation of the railway and the port that has faced many operational challenges since 1997 when Omnitrax acquired the railroad from CN and the port from Ottawa. SUPPLIED / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The Port of Churchill The operators of the port and of the railraod have determined they are no longer interested in those operations, said Carr. The government of Canada will look at the impact of those decisions on the people of the north and the people along the line. Carr would not give any indication what sort of action is being contemplated. He said there has been no communication that hes aware of between Omnitrax and Ottawa. The government of Canada will assess the impact of these announcements (by Omnitrax), we will talk to the people who are most affected, namely the people who live in Churchill and the people who are dependant on the railraod then across the government of Canada we will determine the appropriate next step, he said. When Carr meets with civic leaders and parties closely connected to the port and rail line Wednesday, hes going to hear them call for the federal government to re-nationalize the port. Thats what Churchill Mayor Michael Spence is calling for. Its also what the the 73-year old advocacy group, the Hudson Bay Railway Association, wants. Elden Boon, president of HBRA, will be at the meeting. It is critical that we get involved with the federal government on this, Boon said. It is going to take the feds to implement change up there. For one thing, the port needs to be re-nationalized. The Hudson Bay Railway Association is particularly interested in the movement of grain to the Port of Churchill. Boon said it was a drastic move to close the port because lots of grain was in place to be shipped there this year. He said there will be huge repercussions from the port shutting down. Our association has spent 73 years promoting the port and this this might be the most challenging situation we have ever had to deal with, he said. Regardless of what actions Omnitrax is currently engaged in, Carr, the former CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba, is well aware of the sentiment that Ottawa should play a larger role in the operation of the port. In 2011, when Carr was the CEO, the business council released a short report called A Northern Strategy for Manitoba. Among other recommendations, the report said, The governments of Canada and Manitoba should declare the Port of Churchill and the Hudson Bay Railway as critical national infrastructure. We need to bring the federal government into the discussion with strong support from the province and the business community. Manitoba cannot go at this file alone; the expenditures are too large and the national ramifications justify federal government involvement. Good policy and appropriate investments will improve Canadas competitiveness and stimulate economic growth. Don Leitch, Carrs successor as CEO of the business council, echoed those sentiments Tuesday. The federal government has to be a part of any solution, Leitch said. Now that Omnitrax said it wants to sell the operations, Leitch said it seems clear no one wants to buy it unless there is public money involved. If the public puts up the money, why give it to a third party, irrespective of how deserving they may be, if you are the one financially backstopping the whole thing? Leitch said. That is the problem. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 03/08/2016 (2277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Last weeks news of Canadian economic shrinkage splashed a little bit of cold water on Finance Minister Bill Morneaus sun-drenched plans for sharing the wealth in Canada. Sharing the wealth is a wonderful thing to do when the country has some wealth to share. Mr. Morneau has been hopping from one international gathering to another advising other countries they should all follow Canadas lead in expanding the middle class through taxation and spending programs. At a July 22 meeting of finance authorities in Chengdu, China, for example, Mr. Morneau said: I look forward to continuing to work with the G20 to create long-term, inclusive growth and prosperity that will benefit the middle class and those working hard to join it. Canadas pro-trade and pro-investment approach, focused on people, serves as a strong model within the G20. Together, we can create the kind of world where everyone can prosper. Concretely, he has increased the income tax rate for the wealthiest Canadians and mailed out July 22 payments to families under the new Canada child benefit program. Finance Minister Bill Morneau But a world where everyone can prosper has to include people (and companies) who are generating increasing wealth. Canadas pro-trade and pro-investment approach will serve as a stronger model within the G20 once Canada can show its partners it is enjoying economic expansion and using the fruits of expansion to bring more people into the middle class not only by dragging the wealthy down but also by boosting the most vulnerable. Statistics Canada found last week real gross domestic product in Canada fell by 0.6 per cent in May, the largest monthly decline since March 2009. The decrease in May was explained mainly by the shutdown of Alberta oilsands production on account of the wildfire that forced the evacuation of Fort McMurray. You can view it as a dramatic expression of the massive scope of the Fort McMurray fire. You can also view it as proof of the tenuous, fragile quality of Canadas recent economic growth. Canadas wealth creation is so narrowly based one big wildfire can pitch the country at least briefly into economic shrinkage. Canadas official growth strategy has been to wait for economic expansion in the United States and hope U.S. buyers of Canadian products will automatically buy more and slide our nation effortlessly into its own upward trajectory. The Bank of Canada knew in mid-July this was not happening. America was showing good employment growth and good consumer confidence, but no corresponding increase in Canadian exports to the U.S. had been seen. The bank predicted a one per cent drop in Canadian GDP in the second quarter; the 0.6 per cent decline noted in May is consistent with that prediction. Growing demand for Canadian exports should lead to increased investment and new businesses being created, the bank said last month but its been saying that for about three years and were still waiting. Bank of Canada governor Steven Poloz, for example, said in 2013: Evidence suggests we are now close to the tipping point from improving confidence into expanding capacity. Stronger investment means more new jobs will be created. It means more capital and better tools for workers, which will increase labour productivity. And yet the Canadian economy has underperformed relative to the U.S. in output growth and employment growth. Canada was close to the tipping point in 2013 and it may still be close today. But If Mr. Morneau wants to present the nation as a model for its G20 partners, getting close to the tipping point wont suffice. A new law in Minnesota requires college students to complete online training in preventing sexual violence, and requires colleges to keep and release more detailed records of those cases. But with fall classes beginning later this month, officials at Winonas three colleges say they dont need to change much to conform with the law, that steps theyve taken in the past few years have put them ahead of the curve. We were really in compliance already, said Lori Mikl, Title IX coordinator at Winona State University. With the student training, for instance, Mikl said the school will simply need to make its voluntary program a mandatory one. The law requires students to complete the training within the first 10 days of school or eventually face discipline, most likely a hold on their record. We had encouraged students to do it, Mikl said. But theres other things a student would rather do. Officials at the citys other two colleges Saint Marys University of Minnesota and Minnesota State College Southeast say the changes at their respective campuses wont be major. They, too, have been offering voluntary training. And they point to other existing infrastructure teams of counselors, confidential reporting systems and strong relationships with local law enforcement as evidence theyve been moving in the right direction. Weve had a pretty robust program to address sexual assault the past couple years, said Ann Merchlewitz, an administrator and the Title IX coordinator at Saint Marys. Weve gotten a lot of good feedback from students who have gone through the process. The new law, proposed by state Rep. Marion ONeill last year and passed at the end of the 2015 legislative session, is meant to reduce the number of sexual assaults on college campuses, and to improve the handling of those cases by strengthening ties between colleges and law enforcement. It pushes colleges across Minnesota to be more transparent in recording sexual violence, requiring them to release the number of cases they investigate and the number of cases that result in discipline. It also requires colleges to implement online reporting systems, and requires campus administrators and security officers to complete their own training program. ONeill, who said three of her children were in college when she proposed the bill, argued that campuses needed to modernize the way they address sexual violence. Its a very comprehensive law that attacks the problem from a lot of different angles, she said. The goal is to reduce incidences, hold victimizers accountable, empower the victims by giving them more options, and also hold the schools accountable. Nate Emerson, an administrator and the Title IX coordinator at Minnesota Southeast, said the law is the latest in a string of laws that address campus safety. He said colleges were recently allowed to share case information with one another, looking for trends and turning away predators who are likely to offend again. If theres a predator out there, he said, they used to just pop up at another school. Now theres certain things we can do so that doesnt happen. Victims of sexual violence often decide not to come forward, that reporting the crime would force them to relive it. Recently, some colleges have advocated for more victims to speak up meaning a college that records a high number of cases isnt necessarily more dangerous than a college that reports only a few. Since bolstering its programs three years ago, Mikl said the number of sexual violence cases reported to Winona State officials has tripled. Merchlewitz said numbers have remained steady at Saint Marys, but that it wouldnt necessarily be a red flag if they start to rise under the new law. Maybe our numbers do go up, she said. We just want people feeling comfortable reporting cases of sexual assault on our campus. Men who have travelled over 3000 km to one of the driest districts in Southern Tamil Nadu and have shown the local famers how faith and hard work can yield amazing results. By Akshaya Nath: The farmers, with smiles on their sun-tanned faces, move around carrying their plough and meticulously directing the water's flow. Later, they slowly move on to cut the mango trees' shrubs. As these Punjabis work, you might get an impression that one is in Punjab. But, well you will be surprised. These men are in Vallandhai village in Kamuthi taluk of Ramnad district and run the Akal Farm. Men who have travelled over 3000 km to one of the driest districts in Southern Tamil Nadu and have shown the local famers how faith and hard work can yield amazing results. advertisement THE JOURNEY Nine years back Manmohan Singh and a group of other Punjabis on the advice of their guru ji Baba Iqbal Singh moved to Ramnad district. They found this to be one of the driest districts in southern Tamil Nadu. Total dry lands were sold to the members of the Akal farms in throw away prices as low as Rs 10,000 per acre. For these Punjabis back then, hopes of a bright future was slim. Manmohan Singh recollects, "Baba ji said that it is easy to do farming in locations where there is water, electricity and other facilities. But to do agriculture in areas where there is nothing is what is required to help the people here. The people here have been very friendly and we have been working with them closely and in fact we even helped them with our tractors and also with our knowledge of farming." THE STRUGGLE One of the other senior member in the group, Sarabjeet Singh has a memory of struggle to share, "This place is very different from ours. It is very hot here, and also we didn't have a place to stay and proper food to eat. The initial days were difficult." But after all the hard time there is always a bright future. These men constructed their own dormitories, and some of them even brought their families with them. Also, they quickly learnt to overcome their language barrier and create friendly relationship with the locals. "One of our friend speaks really good Tamil, unfortunately he has gone home or you could have heard him deliver some famous dialogue," said Manmohan talking enthusiastically about a fellow farmer. GOOD FARMERS Other than vowing people with the language the other part that they were quick in doing was extending their helping hands to others in the neighbourhood. Helping them plough their fields with the help of the Akal farms tractors, giving the farmers tips on how to go about with the farming using latest innovative farming techniques. "This is one of the driest places in the country, and availability of water or rain is very less. So we have to make optimum use of our limited source," said Manmohan. The farmers practice drop farming in the farm and also ensure that the crops cultivated are those that requires less water. advertisement These hard working men have cultivated Amla and guava on 40 acres each, mixed dry fruits like cashew nuts and almonds on five acres, papaya on 10 acres and they have planted 5,000 mango trees on 80 acres besides coconut and timber-value trees on 10 acres each. An assortment of other fruits and vegetables and inter-crop like pumpkin, cucumber and watermelon has also been cultivated. While Manmohan and his team of men work on 200 acres of land now, they still have around 700 more acres of land that is yet to be cultivated. Their success has been an inspiration for the other people in this remote village. Though these men repeat that all the success is god's grace their pride shines on their faces when they know that they have become an inspiration for others. An otherwise very humble, Sarabjeeth Singh proudly says, "After seeing us able to create this, people here have been trying to cultivate their own farms and we have been helping them in whichever way possible." advertisement ALSO READ: Farmers committed suicide in MP as they were 'possessed by ghosts': State govt --- ENDS --- Viterbo Universitys Board of Trustees didnt have to look very far to find the campus next leader. Glena Temple, Viterbos vice president for academic affairs, will become the ninth president of Viterbo University, officials announced Tuesday morning. She will take over when Richard Artman retires Jan 1. I am truly humbled and grateful for the support, she said during the announcement Tuesday morning. I am honored by the boards confidence in me. A search process was set up earlier this winter when Artman announced his retirement plans, said Kent Handel, Viterbo Board of Trustees chairman. As the committee spoke with members of the Viterbo community on what the university needs in its next president, he said members realized they already had the ideal candidate on campus. It was clear as we went through (the search) process, Handel said. Her name rose to the top at every meeting. Temple said she hopes to continue contributing to the universitys 2015 five-year strategic plan, which focuses on growing enrollment, providing internships for students and a renewed focus on the universitys heritage as a Catholic and Franciscan institution. We have to be very responsive to the marketplace, she said, while keeping college affordable and providing students with career opportunities. She has 15 years of experience at Viterbo, starting as a biology professor in 2001. She returned to the university last year after being named vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies. Temple had left for a brief stint to serve as dean for online and distance education at the University of Wisconsin Colleges, a system of 13 campuses throughout Wisconsin. Her long history with the campus and good relationships with faculty and staff at Viterbo helped set her above other candidates, Handel said. Shes up to date and knows everything going on in this campus, he said. She is a terrific match for this university. Artman originally planned to retire at the end of the 2016-17 school year. Due to the board choosing an internal candidate, the transition has been sped up, with Artman saying much of work will involve introducing Temple to the La Crosse community and external stakeholders across the country. Rick and (his wife) Joan have touched many lives in the community during his time at Viterbo, Temple said, adding that the Artmans have been good mentors to her during her time at the university. During her time at Viterbo, Temple has served as associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of the School of Letters and Sciences. She earned her Ph.D. in botany and plant sciences from the University of California, Riverside, a masters degree in education policy and administration from the University of Minnesota and a bachelors degree from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. In his Monday column, Leslie Hittner has the wrong take on the investigation into the Benghazi affair. The purpose of all the hearings was not to put someone in jail, but to help the public understand what kind of leadership, diplomacy and decision making went into the Syrian and Libyan situations. To me, the facts and aftermath clearly show performance was poor by President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and the European nations. And as for Clinton, it doesnt help to make statements like, What difference, at this point, does it make? Wisconsins Department of Transportation has approved a $17 million plan to repair a rail bridge in Merrimac. An agency spokesman says state money will be available for the project. At Tuesdays meeting of the Pink Lady Rail Transit Commission, the DOTs chief of railroads said the agency has chosen a sustainable plan for repairing the more-than-a-century-old bridge at a cost of $15 million to $17 million. Spend the money now, do it right, David Simon said. You wont have to keep throwing money at it. He said state funding likely would be available next year. The project could be completed by the end of 2020. This report was welcomed by a local governing body that has pushed for improvements to the aging span over Lake Wisconsin since 1988. This is all good news, said chairman Alan Anderson. It looks like its going to get done. Commissioners noted that the DOTs support for the project doesnt guarantee funding from the Legislature. Theres always this risk, in this tight, tough budget cycle, Anderson said. Simon said the state is committed to maintaining the 70-mile line from Madison to Reedsburg, which it bought from Union Pacific Railroad in 2014. Were pretty confident we can pretty easily do the Merrimac bridge project even if we do it over multiple budget cycles, he said. Ken Lucht of the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, the lines operator, said the company will do its part. The railroad is willing to spend upwards of $3.4 million on improvements at and around the bridge, but will need to spread that cost over a few years. Lucht said the railroads work could be staged from 2018 to 2020. We think accomplishing this in one budget cycle will be very difficult, with all the other needs in the system, he said. The DOT has spent recent months working with Wisconsin & Southern and an engineering firm the company hired to develop a plan for repairing the bridge. A previous DOT proposal, with an estimated cost of $7.6 million, was scrapped because that project wouldnt have upgraded the bridges load capacity. Being able to ship loads weighing 286,000 pounds per car is considered critical to companies shipping freight to and from Sauk County. The bridge provides the only rail access route for businesses in Baraboo and Reedsburg. The parties developed two alternative plans. One called for doing the bare minimum at a cost of $12.6 million. The other, at a cost of up to $17 million, would ensure the bridges viability for 40 years. Trains could roll over the bridge at speeds up to 25 mph pulling cars weighing up to 286,000 pounds. The plan also would eliminate structures at the base of the bridge that pose a safety hazard to boats and snowmobiles. The DOT chose the latter option July 1. Commissioners said allowing trains to operate at industry standards for speed and payload will make shipping more efficient and cost-effective for companies reliant on freight service. Thats a big win, Anderson said. County Board Chairman Marty Krueger, who doesnt serve on the rail commission but attended Tuesdays meeting in Baraboo, suggested updating a 2011 study of the railroads economic impact. That study, conducted by the local University of Wisconsin-Extension office, found that Sauk County rail use had increased 292 percent since 1990. It estimated that losing rail service could cost the county 2,500 jobs and $5.7 million in commerce. Given that the economy has improved since then, Anderson said its likely rail use has grown. Itll be a more impressive number this time, he said. The Pink Lady commission promotes rail use in Sauk County, from Merrimac to Reedsburg. The Wisconsin River Rail Transit Commission, which represents the interests of nine counties, will discuss the DOTs plan for the Merrimac bridge during its monthly meeting Friday. A Baraboo man who sold heroin that authorities say resulted in multiple Sauk County overdoses was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison. As part of a deal with prosecutors, 32-year-old Daniel A. Kaiser must spend an additional three years on community supervision after his release. Because he spent the last seven months in the county jail, Kaisers actual time in state prison will be less than a year-and-a-half. It just so happens that my client was and is a heroin addict, Madison attorney Preston Smead said during a hearing in Sauk County Circuit Court. Thats not an excuse for his behavior. But it does provide some context here. The Sauk County District Attorneys Office filed charges of bail jumping and felony heroin possession with the intent to sell against Kaiser in January. The charges followed multiple reports of heroin overdoses throughout the Sauk County area that authorities said were tied to the distribution of an unusually strong batch of heroin. Sauk County District Attorney Kevin Calkins said Kaiser a drug dealer who used himself, but has been clean since he was incarcerated in January played a role in the reported overdoses. The information we had was he was selling to a number of individuals who suffered severe consequences as a result of that use as well, Calkins said. A month after his arrest, Kaiser sent a letter to the Baraboo News Republic in which he wrote that the allegations against him were lies. He referred to a news article that recited the allegations of law enforcement as libelous, and hinted at the idea of a lawsuit. During Tuesdays hearing, in which he pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with the intent to sell, Kaiser expressed regret and remorse for his actions. He said he is not an evil person, has no ill will toward others, and has too big of a heart at times. Ive never once asked for a second chance, or asked for help in my life, Kaiser told Sauk County Circuit Court Judge Guy Reynolds prior to sentencing. Im too proud for that. But Im begging for the chance now. I need help with my substance abuse issues, as do many others in the community with this heroin epidemic thats going on Your honor, I accept responsibility for my actions, and pray forgiveness from the court, the community, my family, my son, and my girl. In exchange for his guilty plea, the Sauk County District Attorneys Office agreed to dismiss the felony bail jumping charge against Kaiser. Reynolds accepted the joint recommendation of prosecutors and Kaisers attorney. He encouraged Kaiser to make the most of the treatment he is offered. If he doesnt, Reynolds said, there will come a point when he will lose the support of his family and friends who often reach a limit to the amount of sacrifice and suffering they can endure. Reynolds said he has witnessed drug defendants who go through the court process alone, because they have lost all support. Its as if they dropped out of the sky or were hatched somewhere, Reynolds said. While in prison, Kaiser must undergo a substance abuse assessment and follow through with any recommended treatment. He also may not possess any controlled substances upon his release, unless they are prescribed by a doctor. Once again, Wisconsin dairy producers have been reminded its not easy being cheesy. Theyve been victimized by a string of cheese crimes. This situation is not gouda. Its enough to leave us feeling bleu. The third theft of this year occurred recently in Oak Creek, where a semi trailer containing 20,000 pounds of cheese was stolen from a parking lot. The driver told police he dropped the trailer off at 2 a.m., and returned to find it gone. It vanished like a block of Colby at a tailgate party. The cheese, bound for New York, was valued at $46,000. Talk about scoring some major cheddar. Which rat took the cheese? Police are sniffing around. Its unique. Its a lot of cheese, Capt. Mike Bolender said. Its a high-value property, and were gonna take it seriously like we would any theft. Because theyre a sharp bunch, Wisconsinites have long appreciated the value of cheese. After all, pouring melted cheese over vegetables is the only way to make them edible. Suddenly thieves have awakened to the smell of our dairy air. Cheese may not be as elusive as Hamilton tickets, but it has spawned a cottage industry. This winter Wisconsin saw two major cheese heists, a crime only possible in a state where foam cheddar wedges are considered high fashion. The truckloads of cheese that got (pepper) jacked were valued at a combined $160,000. On Jan. 15, Marshfield police reported that some cheese whiz stole 41,000 pounds of Parmesan en route to Illinois. This grate amount was valued at $90,000. A semi picked up the cheese from a distributor but never reached its intended destination. Investigators received a tip that the semi was in Grand Chute, where they found the entire shipment unloaded into a warehouse, fully intact. Fortunately, no one had cut the cheese. A week later, another $70,000 worth of cheese was stolen from a Germantown distribution center. A 54-foot-long trailer and semi used to steal it turned up in Milwaukee a few days later, but the trailer was empty. These abominable thieves are absolute muensters. Unfortunately for police, they have mastered their Kraft. Police suspect the Marshfield theft was coordinated by organized crime. Oh great, Wisconsin has been infiltrated by La Queso Nostra. Fondue isnt the only hot cheese out there. Our states favorite export isnt even safe under lock and key. Why do thieves hanker for a hunk of cheese? Perhaps they know the average person eats 35 pounds of cheese each year. And thats just average people. I bet 35 pounds are eaten at the Chuck E. Cheese in Green Bay every Tuesday. Now that three cheese heists have taken place this year, we cant help but fear thieves will continue to descend on Americas Dairyland from across the country: Its a curd mentality. Its pretty fresh, Bolender told Fox6 in assessing the Oak Creek theft. Theres always a market for anything. I suppose the next one will have bratwurst or something. No whey can we let criminals begin intercepting another of our states beloved exports. If the cheese thieves turn to sausage, well know the cases are linked. On the eve of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the hypocrisy of the Democratic National Committee came into full view. A Democrat was forced to resign over an email scandal. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Congresswoman from Florida and chair of the DNC, was forced to resign when 19,000 hacked emails exposed she was working against Bernie Sanders, the almost Democratic nominee. Wasserman Schultz failed to take a page from Hillary Clinton by not deleting them. Of course, those emails were to other Democrats who were helping coordinate the effort, but when the DNC establishment came under fire, someone had to go. It was the person whose name was at the header of the stolen emails. Not having read the emails, I suspect it was a mass coordination of the Super Delegates who are given enough voting power to squash the voice of millions of primary voters who supported Sanders. In many states where Sanders won, Clinton received the most delegates because of the unusual power Super Delegates have. Isnt it ironic the party that screams that the Republican Party is trying to suppress votes by requiring that American voters prove their identity when casting a ballot is the same party that uses its political powers to actually suppress the vote? But then again, Democratic delegates have to show an ID before they receive their credentials to sit on the floor of the Wells Fargo Center. Thats as legitimate as needing to have an ID to purchase beer and cigarettes. If you live in Colorado, an ID also lets you by marijuana. Voting, on the other hand, is altogether different. Then again, why should we expect logic to dictate when there is a perfectly good agenda to politicize? Take for example the DNCs pro-abortion stance. It is perfectly acceptable to kill an unborn child, however someone who murders another person should not receive the death penalty because suddenly life has value. This is the same party that lectures extreme words against Muslim extremists are dangerous. While protecting Muslim extremists from these harsh words, they disregard the fact these are the same people who will kill someone simply because they have violated Sharia law by being gay. Then again, maybe a Coexist bumper sticker will fix this. This is the same party that claims to oppose racism, yet classifies everyone by the color of their skin. Why would they support welfare programs that enslave millions of blacks into poverty while promoting a practice that disproportionately kills black babies? Thirty-six percent of abortions are performed on the babies of black women who make up only 13 percent of the population. However, a 60 percent incarceration of black criminals who make up only 30 percent of the population is unjust. If it is about racism, why dont they take issue with both statistics? Of course, this is the week the DNC wants us to celebrate history claiming Clinton as a first (insert race/gender here). Forget the fact that Victoria Woodhall (white female) was the first woman to run for president. As a candidate for the Equal Rights Party, she ran with Frederick Douglass (black male) in 1872. Meanwhile, the party that claims to support womens rights called Sarah Palin every name in the book when she was the first female to run as a Republican vice-presidential candidate. It was quite the opposite of the reaction Geraldine Ferraro received as their partys first. If it is truly about womens rights, does it matter what party they represent when advancing women in politics? The DNC is championing a trillion dollar per year free college program and the need to give Americas impoverished even more assistance, despite losing the $22 trillion war on poverty. There is a $19 trillion debt and theyre throwing one of the most lavish celebrations in the country. Why not show solidarity and move to a less expensive venue with less pomp and circumstance? The Democrats love to fly home in their private jets while claiming humans alone are causing climate change. They preach against guns while surrounded by armed guards. If the rich are not paying their fair share, why dont the Clintons start by sharing more of theirs? Despite not filing charges, the FBI outlined a very thorough criminal case against Clintons email scandal. The Democrats still dont see any wrongdoing. Wasserman Schultzs emails were at least private and did not contain state secrets. One could even argue she was working to protect the party. But theyre not spending the week not talking about Clintons emails not even the deleted ones. GOP goes from McCarthy to Cohn to Donald Trump Hes a ballyhoo artist who has to cover up his shortcomings by wild accusations. Hes the desperate loudmouth and character assassin whose sensational allegations get the biggest headlines. Hes the greatest asset the Kremlin has. Hes Wisconsins late junior Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Bet you thought it was Donald Trump. Well, actually, it is now; but back in the 1950s, President Harry Truman applied these characterizations to McCarthy, Trumps demagogic lodestar. Twenty-something Trump mastered many of McCarthys sleazy techniques and even hired McCarthys, red-baiting consigliere, Roy Cohn, who subsequently served as Trumps mouthpiece and mentor for 13 years. In What Donald Trump Learned from Joseph McCarthys Right-Hand Man, The New York Times observed: Cohns influence on Trump is unmistakable the gleeful smearing of his opponents, the embracing of bluster straight out of the Cohn playbook. According to the Times, Cohn was disbarred for unethical, unprofessional and particularly reprehensible conduct. Facing disbarment, Cohn summoned Trump to testify to his character. McCarthy to Cohn to Trump: We 2016 electors are witnessing the passing of a torch bearing a smutty, smoldering foul flame, which if fanned in this Novembers election could conflagrate this country. Do the right thing: Extinguish it with your vote. Robert Reid, Wisconsin Dells A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Portage man charged with substantial battery after allegedly beating two men with a crowbar in a parking lot in May 2015. Kendrick Dukes, 26, was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday morning for a sentencing hearing, but he did not show up. The two felony counts of battery are the result of an incident on May 19, 2015, in which, according to court documents, an argument escalated into Dukes confronting two men outside an apartment near the Portage Market Basket store. According to one of the men, Dukes got out of his parked car and attacked them with a crowbar. The first man ran, while the other man escaped to the hallway of an apartment building after Dukes had driven away. There the man was found by police, attended by two female residents, as he drifted in and out of consciousness. On Aug. 5, 2015, a criminal complaint was filed and a summons issued, ordering Dukes to appear for a bond hearing. Following a failure to appear Sept. 2, a warrant was issued for his arrest, leading to Dukes being located and taken into custody at the end of that month. He was charged with two counts of substantial battery and held on $500 cash bond. At the end of February, Dukes posted bond and was released. He returned for an April 28 hearing in which he entered a plea of no contest to one of the two charges, with the other dismissed. Following a pre-sentence investigation, Dukes was due to appear in court Tuesday. Although Judge W. Andrew Voigt commended defense attorney Maura OConnell Melka for exceeding due diligence in her attempts to contact Dukes, Voigt told the court that he had no reason to believe a few extra days or another mailed summons would result in Dukes appearing for court. Voigt ordered that an arrest warrant be issued immediately. Demanding a thorough probe into the tragedy, Opposition said that concerned minister and officials of PWD department should be booked under Section 302 of IPC. By Mayuresh Ganapatye: Mahad tragedy's repercussions were today clearly seen in Maharashtra Assembly as Opposition targeted Fadnavis government in lower house. Demanding a thorough probe into the tragedy, Opposition said that concerned minister and officials of PWD department should be booked under Section 302 of IPC. Opposition also questioned why the 100-year-old bridge was open to the traffic. At least 22 people in two buses were swept away after the British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway on Tuesday night. advertisement Defending government over Mahad incident, PWD minister Chandrkant Patil told house, "Structural audit of same bridge was done in last may only where it was declared as fit, but National Highway Authority had a proposal to demolish this bridge and reconstruct it. Patil further said, "I have ordered inquiry of this incident." Due to heavy rain in Ionian area rescue and relief material reached late. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis himself was monitoring the help and relief work once he got the information post midnight. Since morning, NDRF teams from Pune were deployed and coast guard choppers did sorties for rescue. According to local reports, two state transport buses also swept away along with few other private vehicles when this bridge collapsed. Till now, two dead bodies were recovered rescue team from river Savitri. In two state transport buses 9 passengers each were travelling when the incident took place. There is no trace of these two buses and on board passengers. "If the audit of this bridge had taken place just few months back how did this bridge collapse? It means it wasn't done properly. Government should order thorough inquiry and punish the guilty." Said Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azami. Maharashtra Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao also expressed grief over the loss of life caused due to the collapsed of bridge. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also obtained details from Fadnavis and extended full support of the Union government. ALSO READ: British-era Mumbai-Goa highway bridge collapses, 20 missing, 2 bodies recovered --- ENDS --- Following an alleged violent incident involving three carnival workers, city officials will have a conversation with the Columbia County Fair Board. We do intend to meet with (fair leaders), said Portage Parks and Recreation Manager Dan Kremer. We are going to talk through that incident. Three carnival workers, who were working at the Columbia County Fair at Veterans Memorial Field in Portage, are accused of beating up an off-duty correctional officer outside a Portage bar last week. Steven Franke, 31, of Oak Creek, Nathan Starks, 21, of Webster, and Robert Hamm II, 32, of Palestine, Texas, appeared in Columbia County Circuit Court on Friday charged with felony substantial battery. That incident was raised at a meeting of city Parks and Recreation Board Tuesday. That city board oversees city parks including Veterans Memorial Field, the home of the Columbia County fairgrounds. The fair board has a contract with the city for use of the city park during the annual county fair. The city typically meets with fair officials prior to the fair and following the fair to discuss property concerns. This year, the post-fair meeting will involve a discussion about fair workers, according to Kremer. We are going to talk about it, he said, without going into specifics. The issue was raised by Common Council member Mike Charles, a member of the parks board. Charles did not blame the fair leaders for the incident but wanted to look into what could be done to prevent a similar incident in the future. Id like it to be looked into, Charles said. Another member of the city board, Common Council member Mark Hahn, noted that it has been past practice of the Portage Police Department to do sexual offender screenings of carnival workers that come into the city for various events. Hahn, a former police officer, said it was a good practice for that specific aspect of the transient workers backgrounds, but was not sure a broader criminal background check could be used to prevent similar problems. This years fair, the 165th, was held July 27-31. I spent a weekend in Chicago and went on this journey with a daughter and son-in-law. Motoring through southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois was a study in farm fields, villages and much traffic along the way. Upon entering the big city, it became a panorama for us of high buildings of concrete and glass jutting into the atmosphere. It became a hustle and bustle of cars, trucks and buses moving along the streets. It had been many years since I last visited the big city. To the side, the shore of Lake Michigan came into view. It is a wonder of how a city of this magnitude can hug the shore of the lake and grow out and up at the same time. We found our motel, got settled, and then went on tour. We paid a visit to the Shedd Aquarium and I never saw so many water creatures before. Fascinating how each animal in its own element, and how we, who might never have seen them before, could see how and where they survive. It makes one realize that there is another way of life within the waters of the world. We watched, applauded and laughed as the whales played their water games of leaping up out of the water and splashing down into the water, getting everyone in the front rows rather wet. At the conclusion of the whale performance, we viewed the tiny sea creatures no bigger than a goldfish in glass cages of their own environment. It was amazing. The museum is a unique study in life within water. We know of life on earth, breathe the air, but it is amazing to see that there is just as much life within the waters of the world. Since it was a weekend and we were in Chicago, it was an adventure to locate a church where we could attend Mass. Indeed, we found one and it was unique to us. The building seemed a study in space and nature. The glass walls behind the altar extended a view of blue sky, green grass and trees on a hillside. Music from a grand piano and a young lady leading the congregation in song was awesome. It was almost like attending Mass outside. Following the service, the pastor greeted the folks at the door. We said we were visiting from Wisconsin. With a big laugh, he said, I can forgive you for that! He asked where in Wisconsin? We explained. He said he had visited in the area at one time. It was the conclusion of a great weekend trip for us. After the visit to Chicago and all the sights and scenes, coming home has become a quiet time to get back into the routine of a small town and slower lifestyle seemed good to me. Ive been working on a church projectcreating prayer shawls for folks at the nursing home. Frustrating at times but the finished shawls are awesome and they will keep the shoulders or laps of folks at the nursing home warm on a chilly day. Still keeping the squirrels and rabbits happy with a bit of corn each day. My kitty finds the little critters interesting to watch from the glass door on the deck. Due to the rain, I decided to stay home from the Circus Parade. I truly missed it but was told it was awesome, but then, they always have been. So, until next time, back to the creation of prayer shawls, feeding squirrels and rabbits, recalling a trip with family to see things Id not seen before. Summer is in its midst with much to enjoy. By PTI: Mumbai, Aug 3 (PTI) Two Maharashtra state transport buses with 22 people have gone missing after the vehicles were swept away in the swollen Savitri River in Konkan region as an old bridge collapsed at Mahad. The bridge on the Mumbai-Goa Highway came down late last night, bringing traffic to a halt. Two buses of state transport with 18 passengers, two drivers and two conductors have gone missing in the Mahad tragedy, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said in a tweet today. advertisement Fadnavis, who is monitoring the situation closely since morning said, "There were two parallel bridges; one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one collapsed." The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar, he said. "Spoke to Raigad SP and Collector about bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa Highway. Administration has rushed to spot for rescue and immediate measures," Fadnavis said. "Traffic on highway is stopped. Administration is ascertaining strength and stability of new bridge," he tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Fadnavis today and was briefed about the bridge collapse. "The PM offered all help in rescue and relief operations," Fadnavis said. NDRF teams are already activated, he tweeted. The Coast Guard has deployed a Chetak helicopter to carry out search for people who were swept away from the bridge. Soon after the incident, Raigad SP Suvez Haque and Collector visited the spot where the bridge once stood. Darkness had hampered operations, which resumed this morning. PTI VT DK DV --- ENDS --- By PTI: Bengaluru, Aug 3 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has convened an all party meeting here on August 7 to discuss further course of action following the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunals interim order rejecting the states petition seeking 7.56 tmcft for drinking water projects. Members of Parliament from all the political parties will also be part of the meeting, the state government in a release said. It said government has also decided to go before the tribunal once again seeking some clarifications regarding its interim order. The Chief Minister today chaired a "high level" meeting that was attended by Home Minister G Parameshwara, Water Resources Minister M B Patil, Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav and other senior officials. Karnataka government, which has locked horns with neighbouring Goa on the larger issue of sharing Mahadayi River water between both the states had petitioned the tribunal seeking the release of 7.56 tmcft for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. The tribunal, which gave its interim order last week after hearing arguments from both Karnataka and Goa, had rejected states plea citing various grounds including ecological damage that the project may cause. The Kalasa-Banduri Nala (diversion) project, which will utilise 7.56 tmcft from the inter-state Mahadayi river, is being undertaken by Karnataka to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the districts of Belagavi and Gadag. Following the verdict, tension had gripped most parts of northern Karnataka like Gadag, Hubballi, Dharwad, Haveri, Belagavi, Naragunda, Navalagunda and other places as protests turned violent last week during which government offices had come under attack and damage was caused to public property. Normal life was affected as a state wide bandh was observed on July 30 in protest against the interim order. PTI KSU RA BN RG --- ENDS --- advertisement W&M faculty in the media this month Neal S. Devins is the Sandra Day O'Connor Professor of Law at the William & Mary Law School. He was recently quoted in The Washington Post about the possible expansion of presidential powers by Donald Trump if elected to office. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Brian Beach (right) is an assistant professor of economics at William & Mary. He was recently quoted by The Daily Press about politicians with business experience. Courtesy Photo John Hardin Young (right) is an adjunct professor of law at William & Mary. He was recently quoted by the U.S. News & World Report about voter turnout around the world. Courtesy Photo Dan Cristol is a Professor of Biology at William & Mary. He was recently quoted in Phys.Org about mercury poisoning in Alaskan shorebirds. Courtesy Photo Photo - of - Hide Caption Following are selected examples of William & Mary faculty and staff members in the media. - Ed. Donald Trump and the expanding power of the presidency In a July 30 Washington Post article, Neal S. Devins, Sandra Day OConnor Professor of Law at William & Mary, discussed the expansion of presidential powers. According to the Post, Donald Trump promised to take decisive action if elected to office. Possible measures would be the immediate suspension of immigration from countries known for terrorism and imaginable reneging of treaty responsibilities from the North American Treaty Organization (NATO). The article also noted that American presidents have been given many abilities from their predecessors that Trump could fulfill many of his promises legally and unimpeded by Congress. Every president expands the power of the presidency, said Devins. This is a constant pattern. They never shrink the presidency. A President Trump could say, Im going to use the Obama playbook and go pretty far. The difference between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is not going to be one of lawlessness but of the policies they pursue. But Devins also remarked, No one knows what Trump would really do, which is why people are so freaked out. If he did push the boundaries dangerously, it really would depend on Congress, and it would take an awful lot for Republicans to join with the Democrats to assert themselves and slap him down. Alaska's shorebirds exposed to mercury In a July 13 Phys.Org article, Dan Cristol, professor of biology at William & Mary, discussed why shorebirds in Alaska are being exposed to mercury. According to the article, atmospheric circulation and other factors can lead to birds getting mercury poisoning due to the fact mercury that humans make tends to gather in the Artic. Mercury exposure can reduce birds' reproductive health and even be lethal. "These species already face a lot of tough new challenges, from climate change to disappearing stop-over habitat, said Cristol. So throwing a neurotoxin in the mix that can reduce reproductive success is likely to harm their populations. Study: Business experience no predictor when it comes to local politics In a July 5 Daily Press article, Brian Beach, associate professor of economics at William & Mary, talked about his study politicians with business experience. The article states that in Beachs paper, there is no evidence that the election of a candidate with business experience generates an observable change in policy. Beach also found that city governments didnt have increased or decreased spending on parks or roads when officials with business experience were elected. Beachs paper reported that a Gallup poll found that 81 percent of respondents believed the United States would be better managed if someone with "business or management experience" was in control. "What we're saying is really that, if you're a naive voter you might want to be a bit hesitant about that," Beach said. Across the world, where are the voters? In a July 1 U.S. News & World Report article, W&M Adjunct Professor of Law John Hardin Young discussed voter turnout in elections around the world. According to U.S. News, voter participation rates in the United States are some of the lowest in the world, especially among minority groups and young people. The article also suggests that the U.S. isnt the only country having trouble mobilizing voters. It was noted that there are different attitudes between voters who live in newly established democracies and older ones. Those attitudes could revolve around the overall issues that is at stake. This was found most notably in Afghanistan which held its first presidential election in 2004, and Kenya in 2013. But Kenya and Afghanistan are countries where voting is viewed as critical to evolution of a democracy, where voting is viewed as essential, where it makes a difference and people believe that the only way their life is going to be better is if they vote in a government that will do that," said Young. By Rohini Swamy: The police department have found themselves in a very embarrassing spot after they were caught on video mercilessly beating up elderly people who were agitating against the decision of the Mahadayi water dispute tribunal. Six police officers have now been suspended as they were caught on camera for mercilessly assaulting elderly men who were being taken to the police station, advertisement Violent protests broke out on July 30th after the tribunal had rejected Karnataka's request for an interim order allowing to draw 7.56 tmcft of drinking water under the Kalasa Banduri drinking water project. VIDEO FOOTAGE Video footages, that were with the media, clearly showed how several elderly men were rounded off by the police as part of their investigation into the attack on the BSNL office in Navalgund as protestors decided to stone the office as a sign of protest. But what happened soon after was nothing short of being barbaric. Many were brought into the police station to be questioned, but before they entered, they were beaten with a lathi. Several of those who were brought in for questioning were elderly men but the cops standing at the entrance of the police station would hit them with the lathi before taking them in. The police department faced sharp criticism after the videos went viral forcing the Karnataka DGP Om Prakash to take a decision to issue orders to suspend six officers. The suspended cops include two from Navalgund police station while the others are from Belagavi and Vijayapura police stations. They were deployed in Navalgund as additional security cover as the situation had got quite tense in Navalgund. COPS SUSPENDED In our department we do not encourage or tolerate such acts where innocent people are beaten up. As soon as this came to our notice, we identified the police officers who were found beating up people and we immediately took action by suspending them. we would like to instill confidence among people that we are here to serve them and they should feel safe and that is what the police department always strives to be" , said Bhaskar Rao, Additional Director General of Police, Crime while speaking to India Today. The Director General of Police Om Prakash directed his officers to release all those who were aged 65 years and above as well as all those who were not involved in the violent protests that took place in Navalgund. "Those involved in violence will not be spared , but we are gathering information based on the CCTV camera images and video grabs provided by media channels to identify the miscreants so that law and order can be maintained , Om Prakash said. advertisement However, the police in their defence also said that some of the villagers manhandled a sub inspector and that vitiated the situation leading to the police to go to houses of people to try and identify those who could been involved in the act. The Dharwad Superintendent of police D K Meena said that action has been against the erring officers, but he also strongly denied that the police physically assaulted women by barging into their homes. ALSO READ: Mahadayi water dispute: Protestors including women, roughed up by cops Mahadayi river dispute: Bandh call disrupts life in Karnataka, film fraternity lends support --- ENDS --- 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 "It is too early to come to a conclusion, as the Forensics Sciences Lab is still analysing the evidence from the crime scene. But preliminary probe points fingers at the SIMI", a senior police officer said. By Mail Today: A Day after a crude bomb shattered a public toilet in the Mysuru district court complex in Karnataka, injuring three people, the police probing the blast are suspecting the role of activists of the banned outfit SIMI in it. PRELIMINARY PROBE POINTS TO SIMI Though the police are yet to zero in on the suspects, the modus operandi of the miscreants resemble that of SIMI activists. The police have cordoned off the area amid protests from advocates on poor security arrangements. "It is too early to come to a conclusion, as the Forensics Sciences Lab is still analysing the evidence from the crime scene. But preliminary probe points fingers at the SIMI", a senior police officer said. advertisement They have carried out similar blasts in other parts of the country. They have used a pressure cooker, gun powder and timers to set off the explosion," a senior police officer, who is part of the investigation team, said. KERALA POLICE COLLECTING INFORMATION The Kerala Police are in Mysuru to study the crime scene, as miscreants had set off a bomb in a similar manner in Kollam in June earlier this year. It was a low intensity explosion that had resulted in severe injuries to a by-stander. "The Kerala Police suspect that the same miscreants or people owing allegiance to the same group might have been involved. They will return to Kerala after collecting information. We are hoping to gain some leads," he added. The SIMI has been active in Karnataka with one of its activist placing the bomb on the Church Street in Bengaluru in 2014 to target Israeli diplomats. Back then too, the NIA had suspected the role of the SIMI and tracked the movements of the activists, eventually cracking the case. ALSO READ: Explosion rocks Mysore court, unidentified bags found --- ENDS --- Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea speaks to middle school girls and guests of the Blackstone Valley Prep young womens leadership camp about the importance of getting involved with politics. Four people were injured in a low intensity blast in the public toilet of Mysuru city court on Monday afternoon, sending panic waves across the city. By Pratiba Raman, Rohini Swamy: After a low intensity blast rocked the Mysuru city court on Monday, the National Investigation Agency, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh police are looking into the blast being the modus operandi of Indian Mujahideen. "The blast might have been executed by professionals who are experts with explosives, but we are yet to ascertain the group behind this," said a police source. advertisement Copper wires, steel splinters, batteries, gunpowder and a timer were used to trigger the blast said a investigating agency source. Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister Parmeshwara has said that there have been similarities in the modus operandi of the bomb blast in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka. He added that they will be handing over the investigations to the NIA. Kerala police even visited the site of the explosion as it was believed that the pressure cooker bomb, that was found at Mysuru city court, was similar to the ones found during a blast in Kollam on July 14 and Chitoor court on April 8. Pressure cookers bombs have been used in the Mumbai serial blasts in 2006 killing 200 people. The investigating agencies tried to get different pressure cookers to compare the steel and iron pieces found from the site. According to police the blast may have been planned to create panic among the VIPs who were attending the funeral Karnataka's chief minister Siddaramaiah's son Rakesh Siddaramaiah. WHAT HAPPENED Four people were injured in a low intensity blast in the toilet of Mysuru city court on Monday afternoon, sending panic waves across the city. The court sees an average of 2,000 footfalls a day. Right behind the premises, near the public toilet, there is a railway gate which is often crowded with passengers. "There are no CCTV cameras here. There are three gates and we have no security officials. We need to really look into these security lapses. That day the police force was diverted to Karnataka chief minister's son's funeral," says BR Dinesh, Advocate, Mysuru. The fact that the CCTV camera at the court entrance did not record any suspicious movement which implies that the person could have jumped over the compound wall at the back. The worker who cleans the toilet is also being interrogated. The NIA teams from Hyderabad and Delhi have also arrived in Mysuru to investigate the matter further. Also Read Explosion rocks Mysore court, unidentified bags found --- ENDS --- UK Parliamentary hearings assess Brexit impact 03 August 2016 Share Nuclear power and climate change were key topics in a discussion on the potential impacts of the UK's decision to leave the European Union held last month by the Energy and Environment Sub-Committee. The Committee, part of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the European Union, has since published transcripts of the meetings. At the first meeting, on 13 July, Michael Grubb, professor of international energy and climate change policy at University College London, said an "overarching question" is whether the UK stays within the internal energy market. If not, Grubb said, "There is an even larger group of unanswered questions about exactly what are the trading relationships." There are questions about the European Investment Bank, which has been a major supporter of UK energy investments, he said. If the UK were outside the internal energy market, such investments "presumably would flow more towards other European countries". The meeting's other witness, Antony Froggatt, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, said the question will be about future demand. "If there is a recession, will that lead to less demand in the UK, but also potentially globally? There is some analysis suggesting that there will be a decrease in global demand in 2016-17, but that would pick up again by the end of the decade," he said. "At the European level, in the near term there are really important parts of EU legislation that are scheduled to be published by the Commission. The energy efficiency package will be published in October. That is both the energy efficiency directive and energy efficiency buildings directive. The key package will be published in December, or possibly January, and will look at the 2030 renewable energy target and the energy governance framework. It will look at the issues around capacity markets and the new electricity design. These are crucial European frameworks for the period post 2020. How the UK leaving and what influence it has we will have to see." Froggart also noted that the UK was supposed to hold the presidency of the EU in the second half of 2017, which he said "would have been a key political landing point for these directives". He added: "In the slightly longer term, at the European level the issue will be the extent that the UK out of the negotiations changes the general framework and direction of European energy policy. There are probably two areas that are particularly important. One will be the issue of markets. The UK has been very strong in driving the liberalisation process. The new energy market framework is the fourth phase of a liberalisation process, so taking the UK voice out of that debate potentially changes it." Asked where there might be advantages to the UK in being free of potential European legislation, Grubb gave two. "There are serious doubts about whether the UK will deliver its 2020 target, and outside the EU we would not be subject to infringement proceedings," he said. The other area is state aid, but this advantage is a "double-edged sword for obvious reasons", he said. The state aid rules are there for a reason, but it increases one's freedom of manoeuvre to support certain kinds of industries looking for particular state support and potentially frees up some issues around the capacity market design." Both advantages risk "a little less confidence in what the UK is going for, and we may be more subject to straightforward lobbying pressures for state handouts," he said. Froggatt added: "If the UK wishes to have full access to the European energy markets a la Norway, we will still have to comply with state aid rules. So it is definitely the double-edged sword." Nuclear capacity Asked how Brexit might affect the UK's development of nuclear energy capacity, Froggatt said the first question was state aid. "If we look at the specific example of Hinkley, there is a challenge by the Austrian and Luxembourg Governments to the Commission approval of state aid. If the UK stepped back from the European electricity market, they would be freer to give certain types of support." He added: "You would have to balance that against the fact that you may be less free to exchange electricity with European neighbours. In particular this raises the Irish question, where you have an integrated energy market. In theory you could increase support, but does it make it less attractive? If you look at who is proposing to build nuclear power, it is not British companies, it is EDF, Toshiba, Hitachi and [CGN]. Will these companies be less interested in building purely in the UK or are they more interested in building into the European market?" Grubb said "one of the striking things about the EU" is the degree of powers left with member states on domestic energy policy. "Domestic choice of energy sources remains a national preserve anyway. If you look around Europe you see huge diversity of energy policy per se. The EU has had its influence partly through state aid issues," he said. "Most state aid decisions have allowed the UK to do roughly what it wanted, but after considerable discussion and negotiation." Trading arrangements Another area Grubb noted is the single energy market in the trading arrangements. "Environmental policy would be an area where much of what you have indicated might apply. If we were fully out there would be various areas of environmental policy that could be up for either repeal of the Single European Act or the implementation of directives. In part, the dilemma is that an awful lot of those issues have already been dealt with by the energy industry, or it has invested on the expectation that they are being dealt with and are in UK legislation. It is an open question to what extent Brexit was seen as an opportunity to weaken any of those environmental regulations." The "business of unravelling them" would be very complicated, he said, and would "inject more uncertainty". He said: "We deal with the fundamental challenge that energy is a very long-term business and what the industry wants more than anything else is certainty against which to invest [] If we were fully out of the single market there would be a fantastically complicated legislative operation with a lot of uncertainty." Froggatt noted that Switzerland has been negotiating a bilateral energy agreement with the EU for a number of years and it still has not been concluded. It has been suspended because of the issues around the movement of workers, he added. That illustrates two things, he said. "First, the complexity of it, but secondly, the extent to which those discussions and negotiations are subject to other political issues - so creating more uncertainty for the sector as a whole." Asked for the "best option" for Britain to seek in the energy market, Froggatt said, "We should seek as close integration as possible." He added: "In particular, electricity is a different commodity from others because of the difficulty of storage, the need for large infrastructure and the need for some sort of certainty [] We are talking about transforming the sector by decarbonising it. If, as all the scenarios are suggesting, you are going to increase the use of renewable energy, then having greater interconnection is good for the efficiency of the system. What we have seen in the EU over the last decade is an increase in cross-border flows of electricity. The UK was, and I hope still is, proposing to treble its interconnection - to move from three to ten gigawatts - which in part is to enable us to make more efficient use of renewables and make the whole system more efficient. In some ways stepping back from that, and saying that what we want to do is have less connection with Europe and less involvement in the single market, would seem to me to go against the interests of decarbonisation." In the meeting on environmental policy, on 20 July, Dr Charlotte Burns, a senior lecturer at the University of York, said that, "broadly speaking", there are two Brexit options. These are 'soft' - the Norwegian option of joining the European Economic Area - or 'hard' - where the UK has "some kind of trading relationship" with the EU. "The environmental repercussions from those two are very different," Burns said. Andrew Jordan, professor at the School of Environmental Sciences of the University of East Anglia, noted that the "environment did not feature at all in the new settlement negotiations that David Cameron undertook [with the European Commission] earlier this year and it did not feature very much in the referendum process". Environment policy He added: "During the referendum the discussion was, understandably, on how Brexit will affect the UK, but people on the continent are interested in how Brexit will impact EU environment policy, particularly in areas where the UK has generally led. I am thinking here about areas such as climate change, for example, the greening of the CAP, the reform of the common fisheries policy and better regulation, for good or bad. These are areas which, without the UK in the EU fighting hard over the next few years, are going to look rather different after Brexit." In the area of climate change, the effort-sharing decision essentially allocates emissions reductions outside the Emissions Trading Scheme, he noted as being very important. "Some have argued the Commission delayed negotiating the new package around the effort-sharing decision until Brexit was out the way. We will see now what happens with that," he said. Martin Nesbit, a senior fellow and the head of the Environment and Climate Governance Program at the Institute for European Environmental Policy, said the UK "has been one of the member states which has pushed for more ambition, in overall terms, on climate targets". Nesbit said: "I guess the UK not being part of the negotiating mix means there is likely to be less pressure for ambitious targets and ensuring that the EU delivers on its Paris Agreement commitments. There is also a question over the UK's share of those EU commitments we take with us, which will be a tricky process of negotiation." He added: "There is a risk that member states such as the Visegrad group of member states from eastern Europe, which tends to be less enthusiastic about climate policy, will now have more weight as part of the remaining EU 27 than they do with the UK there. Those are all quite difficult to judge, but overall it looks negative." Burns asked "what on earth is going to happen" to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, which is under review. "There have been debates about whether the UK can set up its own emissions trading scheme and then trade with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, which is all up in the air for the future and to be decided," she said. Asked if it is still possible for a non-EU member to participate in the ETS, Nesbit said the system "has provisions built in to allow it to link to other trading systems". He added: "Norway, technically, is linked through that mechanism rather than as part of its EEA membership. The difficulty is doing this from a position where the UK and UK installations are currently in the EU emissions trading system. We have a number of allowances on the market which do not have a specific member state label to them or a specific label about which year they need to be used in. The process of disentangling that is going to be genuinely very challenging for the UK and the Commission in thinking through the implications." Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Nuclear's response to 'future energy crisis' 03 August 2016 Share Imagining a future energy policy in the event of "blackouts that occurred across Europe in 2018", Jonathan Hart and Brett Longstaffe propose a pan-European nuclear fuel cycle that emerged "out of the necessity for secure, low carbon electricity supplies". In their Spark! Contest winning essay*, the two young engineers write that this new system "stood on three pillars" - a coordinated European strategy , technological developments and a new nuclear message. A coordinated European strategy The solution was to extend the scope of the Euratom Treaty in several areas, with the aim of fulfilling the lofty ambitions set out in the original 1957 treaty. This aimed to strengthen the European nuclear market by reducing barriers to entry, and increasing strategic cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. Nuclear research and development was targeted in three ways - funding nuclear innovation aimed at cost reductions; developing revolutionary technologies, including molten salt reactors; and creating national centres of excellence for research, with areas of expertise identified and prioritised in each nuclear nation, and research budgets 'pooled' across European states. To address the issue of financing nuclear new build, in 2019 the European Commission instructed the European Investment Bank to commence direct investment in nuclear power plant construction projects. This effectively removed the limit on Euratom loans which could be provided, enabling developers to access finance more readily and affordably than possible on the private market. Developers bid to be permitted by government to construct Gen III+ plants, giving nations control over the technologies that were built within their borders. Once construction was completed, the state effectively bought the plant from the developer, refinancing the project prior to offering shorter term 'contracts for difference' for the plant's operation. This generated competition between operators and effectively separated the benefit of guaranteed price from construction risk. Alongside this, a significant change was made to the European regulatory environment. A new pan-European regulatory body was established to provide a first point of contact for European pre-licensing support to developers, and to provide a mechanism by which harmonisation of the regulatory environment could be progressed. This aimed to: provide pre-licensing support to national regulators and developers of new designs, through a central regulatory body; increase collaboration of regulators across Europe; and develop regulatory expertise in new nuclear nations through the provision of training as part of Europes export offering. A third development was to coordinate exports. Following the successful rollout of Gen III+ reactors in the UK in the 2020s, and the French new build program of the 2030s, European leaders were determined to take advantage of the nuclear construction and manufacturing expertise that had been developed and to not lose these skills again, as had happened in the 1990s and 2000s. In order to provide a significant value proposition to aspiring nuclear nations of the rapidly developing world, Europe offered its services in an integrated fuel cycle package consisting of: fuel security via access to the Euratom Supply Agency; enrichment provided by Urenco in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK; fuel manufacture, including accident tolerant fuels, developed in the UK; large reactors designed and delivered by France; Small Modular Reactor plants designed and delivered by the UK, along with advanced manufacturing capabilities developed at the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre; construction and project management experience offered by a consortium of Franco-British organisations; regulator training provided by the European pre-licensing body; and export credit issued by the European Investment Bank. In order to allow the European offering to compete with established nuclear exporters (Russia, China and the United States), a coordinated effort was undertaken within Europe to reduce the challenges of export control. This allowed more open sharing of nuclear information and resources with Europe, allowing it to present itself as a larger unified exporter. Technological developments Along with reforms in research, finance and regulation, developments in technology were key in allowing nuclear power to flourish in the decades following the signing of the expanded Euratom treaty: emergence of SMRs and their application in 'load following'; integration of SMRs with increased renewable energy penetration; and progress toward establishment of a European 'super grid'. International concerns about the commercial viability of large nuclear power plants encouraged the rapid development of SMR plants across Europe in the 2020s, due to their more affordable capital requirements. As these financial concerns dissipated, and large nuclear new build programs got back on track, SMR developers adapted to fill a complementary role to large nuclear power. France was able to share its vast experience of load following operations for plants operating between 30% and 100% of rated capacity. This helped to underpin proposals to use extensive load following elsewhere across Europe. Having led the world in the development of renewable energy technologies, European nations continued to take the lead in a selection of innovative projects which brought together renewable energy and nuclear power in a direct, complementary manner. Large energy utilities came to the fore in this field, bringing their renewable and nuclear energy sectors together to cooperate on single projects. Europe was thus able to position itself as an exporter of associated services and expertise to the rest of the world. Europe's large-scale expansion of nuclear power had to be supported by a concurrent expansion and reinforcement of electrical distribution networks. This was vital in order to allow the energy sharing that formed an important part of the agreements that underpinned the pan-European fuel cycle. A new nuclear message Three strategies were employed here: enhanced cooperation with renewables; moving focus away from safety; and coordination of communications messages. Successful cooperation with the renewable energy industry, which traditionally had strong public support, helped to bring the public to view nuclear power in the same light. By demonstrating that nuclear power is working toward the same goal - clean, plentiful, secure, low carbon energy - the public started to realise that the solution to climate and energy security problems lay in a combination of renewable energy AND nuclear power, not renewable energy OR nuclear power. A significant change in nuclear communications was controversial at first, but proved invaluable. The European Commission requested that the European nuclear energy community cease leading with safety as the key message in public communications. Instead, the industry was sold on its benefits - plentiful and secure low carbon electricity which would prevent a repeat of energy shortages in future. That is not to say that safety became any less of a priority, merely that it was not the focus of external communications, as had become the norm around the turn of the century. Just as a restaurant would not highlight on its menu the absence of rats in its kitchen, the nuclear industry would not lead with a message of safety, keeping that argument in reserve in case the question is asked. Finally, public communications were coordinated across Europe. Following the lead of the UK's Nuclear Industry Council's workstream, a set of messages to be emphasised when communicating with the public was agreed upon. This brought the benefit of consistency in fact-based messages. Jonathan Hart and Brett Longstaffe Comments? Send them to editor@world-nuclear-news.org *The Spark! Contest is an international essay competition open to young professionals and students. In its inaugural year, the competitors were invited to prepare a ten-page essay entitled "The nuclear fuel cycle in 2040: The challenges and solutions to achieve sustainable nuclear generation in Europe". This year's award was presented to Jonathan Hart and Brett Longstaffe, two young engineers from Rolls-Royce, for their paper discussing the benefits of a proposed pan-European nuclear fuel cycle. This is an abridged version of that paper. One of the Spark! Contest's executive directors is Jean-Jacques Gautrot, World Nuclear Association vice-chairman. Related topics New evidence points to depression as a physical condition according to a Pfizer subsidized study. Scientists think they have found the speculative link between genes and depression. According to the journal Nature, Pfizer pharmaceuticals conducted a study that combed through genomes of 450,000 people to identify 17 genes associated with increased risk of developing depression. The results arm researchers with a better understanding, which will assist them in treating the condition more effectively. The examination found 17 genetic variations in total throughout 15 regions of the genome. These particular genomes are linked to severe clinical depression of individuals with a European ethnic heritage. To pinpoint the variations, scientists resourced 23andMe, a consumer genetic testing company that houses a data bank. They found, of the 300,000 test subjects, that 75,607 of them reported a clinical diagnosis of depression or were undergoing treatment. Researchers then compared the DNA of these individuals to a variable of healthy adults using a computer-based search. Genetic differences appearing more prevalently in those with the condition can signal the particular active genes. Roy Perlis, who led the study, advised that these rogue genes are not enough to confirm a direct link but instead direct scientists towards more revealing research. Perlis also insists the studys evidence defines depression as a de facto brain disease apart from low-spirits. Doubts surface, nonetheless, in using information from a consumer-based institution such as 23andMe. Jonathan Flint, for instance, from the University of California in Los Angeles, informed The Guardian self-reported figures are often skewed because individuals are not necessarily honest and precise; not to mention, many patients with severe depression never receive a proper diagnosis. The data, in addition, will shed more light on the stigma of depression than be sourced for certain drug therapies. But understanding that depression is a confirmed physical condition may usher those towards treatment. The studys outcome also pushes the need for larger datasets to research. The U.S. government recently initialized a program for a medicine-oriented database of millions of people to advance personalized health plans and treatments, The Technology Review reports. Source: Medical Daily The investigating team said that this is perhaps a deliberate move to cause panic and fear, rather than destruction of mankind or property. By Pratiba Raman: It does come as a huge shock when you think of the blast that rocked the heritage city of Mysuru on Monday. But what is even more appalling is the absence of security officials in all 3 gates of a prime building - the court. And no CCTV cameras except for the front, which could have been a crucial piece of evidence. advertisement "Yes, we have already held meetings with the bar council to look at all these security aspects and we are working on it," said B Dayananda, Mysuru Commissioner of Police. BLAST TRIGGERS FEAR AND PANIC AMONG ADVOCATES This has definitely triggered fear and panic among the advocates who were also eye witnesses during the blast. "There are 2000 people (on an average) who keep visiting the court. I saw the public toilet, which is behind the court building, enveloped in a cloud of dust. We are all agitated with regards to the lack of security, said BR Dinesh, Advocate, Mysuru. The investigating team said that this is perhaps a deliberate move to cause panic and fear, rather than destruction of mankind or property. "There were no sharp nails used. Going by the materials used, it seems like an effort to establish that their organisation is active," said B Dayananda, Mysuru Commissioner. It also explains the apt timing with just 4 people who suffered minor injuries. PRESSURE COOKER USED TO MAKE BOMB With four teams from NIA, ATS, IB and the police force of Kerala and Karnataka working together, the last 48 hours were spent on collecting every piece of evidence to connect the missing links. "It seems like a pressure cooker was used. Be it the materials like steel or the modus operandi, there are striking similarities between this and the Chittoor blasts in April or the Kollam court blast in June," said B Dayananda. The teams together tried to get cookers in different sizes to see, which of those would have ideally been used comparing them with steel and iron pieces found. MEMBERS OF FORENSIC TEAM GATHER EVIDENCE The forensic team was collecting iron pieces, Panasonic shells and finger prints for further investigation. Since the CCTV at the entrance to the court has not recorded any suspicious movement so far, the NIA has reason to believe that he could have jumped into the area over the compound at the back, thereby proving to be the handiwork of a professional/professionals. Police sources also say that after analysing the circumstancial evidence, they suspect the possibility of the perpetrator placing the bomb just 10 minutes before it took off. The cleaner of the toilets as well as eye witnesses of the blast are simultaneously being interrogated. advertisement The NIA is not ruling out links with the Bengaluru blasts as well. The one at BJP office as well as Church Street. Both the teams from Hyderabad and Delhi are here to further investigate. While Kollam and Chittoor blasts have seen no headway in terms of any arrests or detention, people of Mysuru are hoping the investigation in this blast will not meet with the same fate. ALSO READ: Mysuru court blast: Agencies suspect Indian Mujahideen's hand --- ENDS --- In love, this man travelled far out to meet his online girlfriend. After waiting at the airport for 10 days for the girl to show up, he had to be hospitalised. By India Today Web Desk: In true filmy style, a Dutch man travelled 4,500 kilometres to meet the love of his life and got stood up. Almost. Alexander Pieter Cirk, 41, was supposed to meet a woman he met online, at an airport in China. According to CCTV, the Dutch man began chatting with a 26-year-old woman -- Zhang -- over a social networking app. He then flew to central China's Changsha region in the hopes of finally meeting the woman. Photo: Facebook - CCTV News advertisement To his surprise, Zhang failed to show up. Lover-boy Cirk however, continued waiting. For 10 straight days he stubbornly waited for her. Eventually, when the wait took its toll and he started to look frail, Cirk had to be rushed to the hospital. Love is brutal. Ha! When Hunan television channel contacted Zhang, she was left baffled. "We had advanced our romantic relationship but later he seemed a little callous toward me," Zhang said. "One day he abruptly sent me a photo of air tickets and I thought it was a joke. He didn't contact me later." When Cirk tried to contact her after landing at the airport, Zhang's phone was switched off. She had signed up for a plastic surgery in another city and couldn't see Cirk's messages after he arrived in China. Just in case you think the girl bailed on him, hold your horses. Zhang told the TV channel that she would meet Cirk after recovering from her plastic surgery and that she was still interested in maintaining their relationship. --- ENDS --- After months of backroom talks with Arrium administrators, the Australian Workers Union (AWU) and other industry unions are demanding that workers at the companys Whyalla steel plant and iron ore mines in South Australia accept a 10 percent reduction in base pay rates and a two-year wage freeze. The pay cuts are part of a four-year enterprise agreement negotiated between the union and KordaMentha, the financial administrator of the heavily-indebted company. The deal is being presented to union meetings over the next fortnight, with formal enterprise agreement ballots to be held before the end of the month. Arrium, a spin off from the mining giant BHP Billiton and one of the two remaining steelmakers in Australia, went into voluntary administration in April this year owing more than $4.3 billion$2.8 billion to the banks and other creditors, $1 billion to suppliers and $500 million to its employees. Together with the administrator, the unions are insisting that workers must pay the price for the ongoing global slump that has caused a dramatic decline in steel demand and prices since 2011. Much of Arriums debt was incurred when it borrowed heavily to acquire iron ore mines and overseas plants after the 2008 global financial crisis, on the expectation that the mining boom, largely fuelled by Chinas rapid growth, would continue indefinitely. Any pay cut inflicted on the Whyalla workforce will set a benchmark for use against all Arrium employees, as well as other workers. The company currently has a workforce of about 6,800 across Australia, including over 2,000 in South Australia, 2,800 in New South Wales, 1,000 in Victoria, and 1,000 in Queensland. About another 1,300 workers are threatened in Arriums operations in 14 other countries, The union is attempting to blackmail workers, declaring that if they reject the proposed pay cuts, the Whyalla plant and the mines will be closed, destroying an estimated 3,100 jobs, including in associated industries, in the South Australian regional city of 22,000. The reduction in base pay rates will produce flow-on reductions in overtime and shift allowances and other penalty payments. It is expected to slash at least $17 million from the companys annual wage bill in South Australia. It is part of a $300 million restructure to boost the companys value and the chances of its sale before the end of the year. Morgan Stanley has been appointed to find a buyer for the companys Australian assets, mainly located in Australias eastern states. These include OneSteel Metalcentre, the Australian Reinforcing Company and OneSteel Reinforcing. Arriums profitable Moly-Cop mining consumables and steel-grinding-ball business, however, will be sold separately by Deutsche Bank and is expected to fetch $1.5 billion. The federal Liberal-National Coalition government and the South Australian state Labor government have agreed to provide $49.2 million and $50 million respectively to try to boost the companys sale price and keep the Whyalla plant and iron ore mines operating. Both governments insisted that the money was conditional on further cuts to jobs and conditions. Like their counterparts across Australia and internationally, the unions have played the central role in this assault, vowing to do whatever is required to implement the financial administrators demands. In April, when Arrium went into administration, AWU national secretary Scott McDine told the media the union would provide as much assistance as we possibly can to the administrator to get Arrium back on its feet and thriving as a major steel player. McDines offer followed the unions collaboration with Arrium management last October, and earlier this year, to axe over 300 jobs, slash overtime and impose other cost-cutting measures. AWU Whyalla branch secretary Scott Martina Labor Party candidate in the recent federal electiontold the media during last months negotiations that the union acknowledges that there needs to be a pay cut, the question is how deep that should be. The AWUs attack on Arrium workers is in line with its collaboration with BlueScope Steel at Port Kembla in New South Wales in 2011 and last year. BlueScope praised the union for helping axe 1,500 jobs, slash wages and conditions, and change dispute procedures to enable the continuous erosion of working conditions. Over the past three decadesbeginning with the Hawke Labor governments 1983-88 Steel Industry Planthe steel unions have collaborated with employers to destroy tens of thousands of jobs and drive up productivity. The Port Kembla steelworks, which had over 20,000 workers in the 1970s, now has a permanent workforce of less than 2,000. The Newcastle plant, which previously employed 12,000, was shut down in 1999. Whyalla, which once employed some 3,000 workers, faces the same prospect. In every case, the unions insisted that the destruction would protect jobs by ensuring the steel industry in Australia was internationally competitive. The AWU claims that Arriums Whyalla operations can be saved through procurement policies that mandate the government purchase of Australian-produced steel. These demands have been combined with stirring up anti-Chinese xenophobia, by blaming cheap steel from China for the threat to Arrium jobs. This is aimed at dividing workers along national lines and blocking a joint struggle to defend jobs and working conditions. Like their fellow workers around the world, Arrium steelworkers and miners are confronted with a global assault on jobs, wages and conditions. The companys collapse is part of an ongoing crisis in the steel and iron ore industries that threatens not only half a million jobs in China but hundreds of thousands in Europe, Britain and the United States. Arrium workers in Whyalla should reject the AWU-KordaMentha deal, which will set a new benchmark that the administrators and potential buyers will seek to impose on the companys employees across Australia. However, any struggle to defend jobs and conditions necessarily involves a complete break with the unions which have been the principal mechanism for imposing the attacks of companies such as Arrium on workers. What is needed is the formation of rank-and-file committees in every workplace and a turn to other sections of the working class facing similar attacks across Australia and internationally. Such a fight can only be based on a new political perspective aimed at establishing a workers government to implement socialist policies that place the steel, mining, manufacturing and banking industries under the collective ownership and democratic control of the working class. The author also recommends : Thousands of jobs threatened by Australian steel company collapse [8 April 2016] Economic nationalism and the global steel crisis [14 April 2016] Last Wednesday, the Catalan regional parliament voted in support of the report of the Committee to Study the Constituent Process laying out 11 conclusions and three steps towards Catalonian independence. The first step foresees the convening of a forum to discuss a future Catalan constitution. The second initiates three laws of disconnection from Spain not subject to control, suspension or challenge from any other power, court or tribunal. The third creates a Constituent Assembly in charge of drafting a constitution that would be put to a referendum. The report was passed by the separatist partiesthe Together For Yes coalition, comprising the Republican Left (ERC) and Democratic Convergence (CDC), and pseudo-left Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP)that together hold 72 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament. The regional front of Podemos in Catalonia, Yes We Can, voted against the report, the regional wing of the Socialist Party (PSC) abstained and the anti-separatist Citizens party and the Popular Party (PPC) walked out of the chamber before the vote took place. Following the vote, ERC leader Oriol Junqueras declared, We have the democratic mandate to build a new country, clean and fair, and a mandate, for us, it is a duty! CUP deputy Gabriela Serra said the decision was about disobeying the 78 regimea reference to the 1978 Spanish Constitution brought in following the end of the Francoist dictatorship. Acting Popular Party (PP) Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy instructed the Attorney General to stop the independence process and launched an appeal to the Constitutional Courtmoves fully supported by Socialist Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sanchez. On Monday, the court declared that the Constituent Process violates the constitution and has given the Catalan parliament 20 days to inform all deputies and lodge an appeal. It will decide by the end of August whether to charge the parliaments speaker, Carme Forcadell, which could lead to her imprisonment. Madrid, Spains capital, has threatened to retaliate economically, including freezing the Liquidity Fund that would leave many services bankrupt and civil servants without pay, and invoking article 155 of the constitution, which would effectively suspend the regional autonomy of Catalonia. The independence vote has deepened the political crisis in Spain, which has now been without a government for eight months. Two general elections have produced hung parliaments with no party or coalition of parties able to assemble a majority. The PP, which secured the largest number of Congress seats137 of the 350 totalhas been unable to obtain the parliamentary support of any other political forces to form a new government. In addition to the parliamentary deadlock, Madrid is under pressure from the European Commission to implement a massive austerity package targeting the working class. Although Brussels has cancelled threatened sanctions against Spain (and Portugal) for missing deficit reduction targets, Spain must now bring its 4.6 percent deficit below three percent by 2018, imposing up to 28 billion in budget cuts. The decision of the Catalan parliament to approve the Constituent Process report is tied up with a vote of confidence called by regional premier Carles Puigdemont for September 28. This is aimed at putting pressure on the CUP to support the approval of the 2017 austerity budget. Up to now, the pseudo-left group has voted against the budget but this has led to its fracturing between the most pro-Together for Yes elements and those who tactically see that support for austerity would expose them in front of the eyes of workers and youth. The no-confidence vote is an expression of the breakup of the European Union (EU) along national lines produced by the capitalist crisis. This has been accelerated by the Brexit vote in Britain, and poses the danger of increasingly sharp national antagonisms, fascism and world war. The call for independence is led by right-wing forces who want to establish Catalonia as a capitalist state within the EU to act as a low-tax, cheap labour investment and production platform for the banks and transnational corporations, freed from paying subsidies to the poorer regions of Spain. They use separatism to split the working class along national lines and conceal the socio-economic concerns of workers and youth, Spanish and Catalan alike, under a heap of nationalism. The Constituent Process vote will be used by the Spanish bourgeoisie to pressure the PP, PSOE and Citizens to cobble together a government that will confront Catalan separatism and impose EU diktats on the backs of the working class. An El Pais editorial this week, under the headline A Government Now! declared, the absolute priority in the following days must be a pact that guarantees a stable executive and as soon as possible. The steps taken last week by the Catalan separatists close the path to future hypothetical collaborationThus all the weight to form a government lies on the PP, in the first place, and second, also on Citizens and the PSOE. If the ruling class is able to exploit Catalan nationalism to divide and rule, it is because of the role of the pseudo-left. The CUP has emerged as the most aggressive advocate of independence. It puts pressure on the CDC and ERC to take a more confrontational and chauvinist line with central government and then uses the anti-democratic response of Madrid to urge separatism. This was the case with the recent revelations over Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diazs attempt to unearth real or alleged wrongdoings by Catalan government officials in order to discredit them. He also conspired with the security services to topple CDC leader Artur Mas and replace him with someone controlled by Madrid. CUP politicians claim the interior ministers activities were a significant factor in the rise in support for independence from 42.4 percent in March to 47.7 percent, revealed in a poll last week. Podemos Catalonia Yes We Can, by taking part in the Committee to Study the Constituent Process, is complicit in the regional bourgeoisies manoeuvres vis a vis Madrid. Its own programme calls for a referendum on independence. But it seeks to combine this opportunist orientation in Catalonia with efforts such as last months no vote to make clear its overarching loyalty to the Spanish bourgeoisiecombining empty left rhetoric with calls to form a government with the pro-austerity, pro-EU, pro-NATO PSOE. Less than two weeks ago police and security forces were mobilised in Munich in a huge emergency and civil war exercise following a terror attack by an 18-year-old youth. That mobilisation has now been followed by a massive police deployment Sunday in the city of Cologne for a Turkish demonstration. Under the slogan Yes to democracy, No to the coup, the Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD), which has close links to the ruling AKP party in Ankara, had called a mass rally to oppose the attempted military coup in Turkey two weeks ago. Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had narrowly escaped assassination on July 15 during the coup attempt. Two-hundred-sixty-five people died in the coup and evidence indicates that not only the US, but also the German government had reckoned with the success of the coup. Since then Erdogan has seized the opportunity to neutralise his opponents in the state apparatus and army and consolidate his power with dictatorial measures. As soon as the rally was announced, politicians of all parties in Germany spoke out against it. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Social Democratic Party, SPD) warned participants against transferring domestic tension from Turkey to Germany, and told the Suddeutsche Zeitung: Intimidating people with different political beliefs from whatever quarter, is unacceptable, and we will not permit it. In similar vein, the SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel declared on Facebook in German and Turkish that expressions of social divisions in Turkey could not be tolerated in Germany. Earlier this year, the very same Gabriel praised the hangman of Cairo at a press conference in the Egyptian capital as an impressive president. Gabriel favours close economic cooperation with the Egyptian despot, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. But with respect to Turkey, Germany is adopting a different tack. Christian Democratic Union (CDU) General Secretary Peter Tauber told Welt am Sonntag: Whoever applauds the dismantling of Turkish democracy has nothing in common with our constitution. Prior to the demonstration, Green Party leader Cem Ozdemir warned that any rally in Germany, for or against the Turkish leadership, must be based on the principles of our legal system. The Left Party adopted a particularly aggressive stance. Sevim Dagdelen, the representative of the Left Party on the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, demanded that Chancellor Angela Merkel be firmer in her dealings with Erdogan and told the online newspaper n-tv.de on July 24: Erdogans program is civil war. ... I think the federal government must take a hard line, and that means: Not a cent more for Erdogans rampage against democracy and the rule of law. ... We need sanctions against Erdogan, a travel ban and a freezing of his accounts. In the German media, the Cologne rally in support of the Turkish president was presented as a provocation, which would inevitably end in violence. The city administration and police tried initially to ban the rally completely, and then insisted on restrictive conditions. No less than five counter-demonstrations were allowed. The fascist ProNRW announced a march through the city centre of Cologne with the slogan: No tribute for Erdogan in Germany, stop the Islamist autocrats from Bosporus. Its demonstration was planned to pass directly by the Turkish rally and had been approved by the Administrative Court in Cologne and opposed the motion by the citys chief of police. The Young Socialists, Left Youth, Green Youth and JuLi (the youth organisations of the SPD, the Left Party, the Greens and the neo-liberal FDP, respectively) organized their own rally For democracy and human, rights under the slogan Stop Erdogans madness. At the same time as the Cologne Administrative Court approved the provocative rally of ProNRW despite police concerns, it banned a live video link to allow Erdogan to speak to the rally in Cologne. This then led to a fierce legal dispute. Police had initially prohibited both the use of video screens and the transmission of speeches by Turkish government members. This ban was then confirmed by the Administrative Court, which limited the use of video screens to speakers on the spot. For their part, the rally organizers requested the Constitutional Court to issue a temporary injunction. On Saturday night this claim was unanimously denied by the 3rd Chamber of the First Senate. The brief two paragraph-long justification of the Constitutional Court read: a constitutional complaint on the same matter would have obviously no prospect of success. There was no evidence that the contested decisions have violated the basic rights of the applicant. The Turkish government protested strongly against the decision and accused the Federal Constitutional Court of violating the basic right of free speech and assembly. In fact, the ruling has far-reaching significance. Germanys post-war Basic Law Article 5, Section 1 explicitly defends the right to free speech and assembly and forbids the forms of censorship that prevailed under the Nazi dictatorship. Special broadcasts and live blogs reported all day Sunday on the police operation in Cologne. A huge police contingent was mobilised in the cathedral city. The central Deutz bridge was completely blocked for several hours with water cannon and other armoured vehicles situated at both ends of the bridge. More than 2,800 police officers were deployed, according to the mayor of Cologne Henriette Reker (Independent). Eight water cannon and numerous other vehicles were in use, including a police helicopter. In the event, the rally of about 40,000 Erdogan supporters passed without incident and resembled a festival involving many families with their children. This was largely due to the prudent response of the Turkish organisers who accepted all the legal restrictions and then read out a written message from Erdogan at the end of the rallyto great applause. When a group of fanatical Erdogan supporters began calling out for the death penalty, politicians on the stage demanded they stop. A minutes silence was held not only for the victims of the attempted coup of July 15, but also for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris and Nice and the school shooting in Munich. Despite the peaceful nature of the rally, Mayor Reker called for a broad discussion on the issue of limiting the right to demonstrate. She had received countless letters, emails and phone calls from concerned citizens. The mayor declared, I understand their concerns very well and take them very seriously and promised to raise the issue in the city parliament and other forums. A 2010 correspondence found in the WikiLeaks Hillary Clinton Email Archive reveals that Michael R. Gordon of the New York Times met secretly with US State Department officials prior to the newspapers coverage of WikiLeaks Iraq War Logs. The correspondence was made public by WikiLeaks release of emails from a private, unsecured server used by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during her time as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. In view of the Times long record of parroting the official line of the Pentagon and the intelligence agencies, the revelation that the US government has become the papers unofficial editor comes hardly as a surprise. The purpose of Gordons meeting with officials of the State Department was nothing other than damage control: to warn them of what to expect far enough in advance to adjust their press releases accordingly, while making every assurance that his paper would cherry-pick leaked documents to spin coverage in favor of American foreign policy while burying its most criminal offenses. The hundreds of thousands of documents detailing war crimes in Iraqnow known as the Iraq War Logswere obtained by WikiLeaks from whistleblower Chelsea Manning. A private in the US Army at the time of the leaks, Manning has been treated with marked cruelty and brutality at the hands of the US government. She is now serving a sentence of 35 years and may be kept in solitary confinement indefinitely. The revelation of the correspondence again makes clear the degree to which the fourth estate is completely integrated into the capitalist state. Notwithstanding the sheer level of cynicism contained within the brief report, one is given a sense of just how much is the total subservience of the so-called free press to Washingtons military-intelligence apparatus. Names such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Brennan (director of the CIA) and Keith Alexander (director of the NSA) may as well be added to the masthead of every major American newspaper. Gordon, the Chief Military Correspondent for the Times, has a long history of service to US imperialism. He gained notoriety in 2002 after co-writing a story with Judith Miller that put forward the bogus claim that Saddam Hussein was procuring aluminum tubes to further a nonexistent nuclear weapons program. During the first phase of the Iraq War, he was the only journalist embedded with the Allied Command. For his part, Gordons coverage of the WikiLeaks documents over the rest of 2010 was extraordinarily tame, focusing only on details that presented American foreign policy in a favorable light. In one article, he invoked WikiLeaks to accuse the government of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad of funneling weapons to Hezbollah. Others included stories which accused both Iran and Syria of meddling in Iraq, accused Ukraine (then under since-ousted President Yanukovych) of illegally selling arms to southern Sudan, and criticized Frances attempt to sell a Mistral ship to Russia. The email in question held the subject line WIKILEAKS - OSD/PA MEETING WITH MICHAEL GORDON OF NYT and was written on October 20, 2010, two days before the official release of the documents to the Internet. The email appears to have been written by a lower-level State Department official and was then forwarded to Clinton by Jake Sullivan, former Deputy Assistant to President Barack Obama, National Security Advisor to Vice President Joe Biden, and Deputy Chief of Staff to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He is now top foreign policy advisor to Hillary Clintons 2016 election campaign. The content of the original email consisted of a summary report of the meeting with Gordon. He began by informing officials the exact time the first round of stories would be posted online. He then assured officials that the Times was not the major news player for WikiLeaks and that the organization was much more focused on European publications. In view of the fact that the Times was only one of a few major world publications given exclusive access to the documents before their release to the public, Gordons statement can only mean that the paper was committed to covering up the full extent of the criminality exposed within them. Gordon went on to describe, in detail, the official line the Times coverage would take. The report states: [Gordon] confirmed the 5-6 themes weve been discussing that will be the focus of NYT stories More on civilian casualties than has been public so far More on detainee abuse than has been public so far Iranian involvement in Iraq More on contractors than has been public so far - although on this one, he didnt seem like there would be any great surprises here A small report on the US hikers Gordon also informed officials of two stories the State Department evidently had not anticipated at all: The surrender to the helicopter issue, which is the focus of a story his colleague is working on - and, apparently, the focus of other news stories (he said this a couple of times); Kurdish-Arab tensions, and the US role in deconflicting those tensions. Gordon said that for him, this was the most important topic long-term but he also said this will be of much less interest to European papers doing stories. The email concluded with the following statement: NYT has adhered to the process followed after their first meeting at the WH (when the Af/Pak documents were released), and has gone to great efforts to redact names, as well as information regarding force protection and intelligence. This makes clear that not only had representatives of the Times (likely Gordon himself) aided in the cover-up of information deemed potentially harmful to the American ruling class, but that they had been meeting with government officials to discuss matters of the press for some time. Gordon is by no means the only Times journalist working overtime to downplay the revelations made by WikiLeaks. His colleague, Roger Cohen, penned a hack opinion-piece on WikiLeaks in December 2010 titled American Diplomacy Revealed As Good. Throughout the article, Cohen made the spurious claim that the only revelation WikiLeaks presented was the competency of the military-intelligence apparatus: They are, to judge from the WikiLeaks dump of a quarter-million of their private or secret cables, thoughtful, well-informed and dedicated servants of the American interest who write clear, declarative English sentences.. . Overall, my longstanding admiration for Americas conscientious diplomats has been redoubled. Bill Keller, then the Times Executive Editor, argued in favor of prior restraint in an extraordinary series of comments. In November of 2010, he made the infamous Orwellian statement: We agree wholeheartedly that transparency is not an absolute good. Freedom of the press includes freedom not to publish, and that is a freedom we exercise with some regularity. This statement by Keller was clearly addressed not to the majority of the Times readers, but meant to reassure the military-intelligence apparatus that uses the paper as a propaganda conduit. The secret passing of information by Gordon to the State Department is Kellers dictum put into practice. Although this is but one piece of evidence, damning as it may be, it must be viewed in light of the contemporary political context. The Times continues to play a crucial role in the political life of the liberal American ruling elite that today is seeking to manipulate public opinion into supporting already far advanced preparations for war against Russia and China. Health care plans sold on the Michigan insurance exchange set up under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could see double-digit premium increases next year. Insurers selling private plans for the program commonly known as Obamacare are asking state regulators to approve premium hikes averaging 17.3 percent. The requests of Michigan insurers for double-digit rate increases confirm the projections of a Kaiser Family Foundation report in June that ACA insurers in about one third of all major metropolitan areas would be seeking premium hikes of an average of 10 percent on the most popular Obamacare plans. A sampling of the requested 2017 rate increases in Michigan provided by the Detroit Free Press includes: Blue Care Network of Michigan14.8 percent average rate increase Blue Cross Blue Shield18.8 percent Priority Health13.9 percent Humana39.2 percent The new rates would raise the cost of an average mid-range silver plan to $477 a month for a 50-year-old male nonsmoker. While state regulators must approve these premium increases, in the past they have approved the insurance companies requests for hikes with very few changes, if at all. Currently, 345,000 Michiganders buy their health insurance on the Healthcare.gov exchange created under the ACA. Under the individual mandate of the ACA, signed into law in 2010 by Barack Obama, all those without insurance either from their employer or through a government program such as Medicare or Medicaid must obtain private insurance through either Obamacare or a private carrier, or pay a tax penalty. Low-income households receive modest subsidies to offset the cost of their ACA premiums. However, most of the least expensive plans come with deductibles in excess of $5,000. This means that services for all but the essential services designated by the law must be paid out of pocket before any coverage kicks in. According to Healthcare.gov, this individual shared responsibility payment is calculated two waysas a percentage of household income, or as a set amount per person/familywhichever is higher. The penalty is either 2.5 percent of household income (but not more than the total yearly premium of an average bronze plan, the least expensive); or $695.00 per adult and $347.50 per child under 18 (maximum $2,085). According to the per-person calculation, a household with an income of $50,000 could potentially pay a penalty of as high as $1,250. Those who qualify for a hardship exemption from the individual mandate are not required to pay the penalty, but they remain uninsured, facing the prospect of incurring debilitating medical bills or going without needed health care. Included among those in Michigan who will feel the financial impact of the rate hikes are Detroit city worker retirees who have been dumped off their city medical coverage and who are not old enough to qualify for Medicare, the government-run social health insurance program for the elderly and disabled. Others feeling the impact of the increases will be the unemployed and their families, the long-term unemployed, and those workers whose employers have stopped sponsoring insurance for their employees, or for workers spouses or families. Under Obamacare, insurers cannot exclude individuals or families from enrolling on the basis of preexisting health conditions. They must also provide a certain set of essential services that are not subject to co-payments and deductibles. But as the entire ACA operation is based on the for-profit health care system, insurers are balking at any encroachment on their profits. If the insurance giants profits are threatened, they demand increased premiums. If they do not feel they are bringing in significant profits, they stop offering their plans altogether on the ACA marketplaces. Last month, UnitedHealth, the largest US health insurer, announced that it is drastically cutting its public exchange offerings from 31 states to only 3, potentially affecting tens of thousands in the 28 states being dropped by the company. This drastic reduction in coverage comes despite the insurers revenues rising by 28 percent in the second quarter of 2016, to $46.5 billion, and profits jumping 13 percent, to nearly $3.4 billion. While insurers currently operating in the Michigan ACA marketplace claim that they must hike their rates, no mention is made of the profits insurers are making off the expansion of the Medicaid program under Obamacare. Medicaid HMOs (health maintenance organizations) in Michigan have significantly increased profitability in the past two years under Obamacare. According to an analysis by Crains Business Detroit, the state expanded the ranks of Medicaid enrollees by more than 619,000 and gave additional funding to support the newly insured population. Medicaid HMOs, according to Crains, increased their profits by 627 percent under their Medicaid business, rising to $298 million, or a 3.9 percent margin, for 14 plans in 2015 from $41 million, or 0.9 percent margin, in 2013. The proposed premium hikes requested by the private insurers for Obamacare plans are yet one more demonstration of the retrograde character of the Affordable Care Act. Claims made by President Obama at the laws inceptionthat it would provide high-quality, near-universal insurance coveragehave been continually exposed as lies. The true aim of Obamacare is to increase the profits of the private insurers and to force people to self-ration medical care for themselves and their families. This is already leading to reduced medical care, resulting in needless suffering and deaths. In the aftermath of the Republican and Democratic conventions, the US presidential election campaign has taken an extraordinary turn, bringing into the open a major crisis of the entire political system. The Democratic Party, the Clinton campaign, the Obama White House and much of the media have launched a ferocious attack on the fascistic Republican candidate Donald Trump. The character of the anti-Trump campaign, however, is itself right-wing and militaristic. The Republican convention in Cleveland marked the emergence at the very pinnacle of American bourgeois politics of a rabidly anti-immigrant, chauvinist and authoritarian tendency that seeks to exploit the grievances of social layers devastated by the breakdown of American and world capitalism and the reactionary policies of the entire political establishment. Both big business parties are responsible for fostering a reactionary political culture. The Republicans, in particular, have long cultivated a neo-fascistic element, utilizing talk radio, Fox News and other sections of the media and building up formations such as the Tea Party to shift the political spectrum ever further to the right. Now, however, there are serious concerns within the ruling elite over the implications of a Trump presidency. There are fears that a Trump administration would be so reckless and incite such a degree of popular opposition as to call into question the stability of the entire political system. At the same time, Trumps stated positions on foreign policyparticularly his reservations concerning Washingtons neo-colonial wars in the Middle East, his questioning of the US-dominated NATO alliance, and his friendly gestures toward Russian President Vladimir Putinare deemed so out of line with the bipartisan foreign policy consensus as to be simply unacceptable. Under these conditions, the Democratic Party sees an opportunity to reassert its historical role as the premier party of American imperialism and politically legitimize a highly militaristicand deeply unpopularforeign policy. Last weeks Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia was dominated by the promotion of racial and gender politics as the political means for rallying the partys upper-middle class base behind a program of militarism and war. In the midst of a convention overwhelmingly featuring black, women and gay speakers, the Clinton campaign and sections of the media, led by the New York Times, launched a neo-McCarthyite campaign on the basis of entirely unsubstantiated charges that the Russian government hacked into the Democratic National Committees Internet server, stole emails revealing efforts by pro-Clinton officials to undermine the primary campaign of her rival Bernie Sanders, and fed them to WikiLeaks in order to tilt the November vote toward Moscows supposedly favored candidate, Trump. The final night of the convention featured an appearance by Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of a Muslim-American Army officer killed in Iraq in 2004, who denounced Trump for his racist attacks on Muslims. When Trump responded with an anti-Muslim slur against the couple, the Democrats and much of the media launched a ferocious barrage against the Republican candidate, branding him as unpatriotic, hostile to the US military, and unfit to be the commander-in-chief of American imperialism. The crude quid-pro-quo on the basis of which the promoters of identity politics are lining up behind the Democrats war policy was summed up in the post-convention announcement that new Navy war vessels would be named after former civil rights activist and long-time congressman John Lewis and the gay San Francisco Board of Supervisors member who was assassinated in 1978, Harvey Milk. Coming out of the convention, the Clinton campaign is touting its support from billionaires such as Michael Bloomberg, Mark Cuban and Warren Buffett, from disaffected Republican officials, and from the military-intelligence establishment. Hence the array of 25 retired generals and admirals on the Democratic convention stage the night Clinton accepted the partys presidential nomination. The most recent declaration came from Paul Wolfowitz, deputy defense secretary under George W. Bush and one of the leading plotters of the Iraq war, who denounced Trump and said he would probably vote for Clinton. On Tuesday, Obama expanded on the theme of Trumps lack of deference for the military in an unprecedented attack on the Republican candidate as unfit and unqualified. His statements were particularly remarkable for the occasion: a joint White House appearance with the visiting prime minister of Singapore, an official diplomatic function normally off-limits to US domestic politics. Pointing to repeated denunciations of Trumps statements by top Republicans, particularly for his attack on the Khan family, Obama said, The question, I think, they have to ask themselves is, if they are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him? What does this say about your party that this is your standard bearer? The New York Times published an editorial Tuesday, no doubt coordinated with the White House, demanding that spineless Republicans withdraw their endorsements of Trump after his attack on the Khan family and remarks on Ukraine and Crimea that reinforced suspicions that he is sympathetic toward Vladimir Putin, Russias authoritarian, anti-Western president. The Obama administration and the Democrats are not waiting for the November election to escalate military action in the Middle East and ratchet up the confrontation with Russia. The decision to open up a new front in the US war nominally being waged against ISIS had already been made when Obama spoke at the convention, but he said nothing to the American people. On Monday, however, the US launched air strikes on the Libyan city of Sirte, in what the Pentagon called an extensive and open-ended campaign. And on Tuesday, the State Department said it was investigating charges that Syrian government forces used chemical weapons against US-proxy forces in Aleppo, a possible pretext for escalating Washingtons war for regime-change against the Russian-backed government in Damascus. The subject of war has been deliberately covered up in the 2016 election campaign. This was the particular responsibility of Clintons main challenger, the self-styled socialist Bernie Sanders, who confined himself to occasionally criticizing Clintons vote for the Iraq War 14 years ago while supporting the ongoing and equally criminal war policies of the Obama administration in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and Libya, and its preparations for war against Russia and China. The Socialist Equality Party is the only party that is fighting to mobilize the working class in the United States and internationally against imperialist war and the growing threat of a new world war. Our campaign in the 2016 elections, running Jerry White for president and Niles Niemuth for vice president, is based on the perspective that the international working class will play the leading role in the struggle against wara struggle that must be based on the fight to put an end to capitalism, the root cause of war, and establish workers governments and socialism. We urge all readers of the World Socialist Web Site to join and build this campaign. Vehicles were overturned and homes were ripped from their foundations in the historic Baltimore/Washington, D.C. suburb of Ellicott City this weekend when a fast-moving storm system dumped more than 165 millimeters of rain in Maryland in the span of two hours. The torrent caused the deaths of two motorists. Describing it as a devastating situation, Marylands Republican Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency on Sunday. A 35-year-old mother, Jessica Watsula, and 38-year-old father of three, Joseph Anthony Blevins, were both killed when their vehicles were struck by shoulder-deep floodwaters, carrying them off. Both Blevins and Watsulas bodies were found in the early morning hours Sunday after having been washed ashore near the Patapsco River, adjacent to Ellicott City. It looks like the set of a disaster movie...Cars everywhere, cars on top of cars, parts of the road are gone, many parts of the sidewalk are gone, storefronts are completely gone, said Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman of the devastation caused by the storm. On Monday, Kittleman toured the destroyed downtown area, stating that it would require months, if not years to rebuild the city. In addition, traffic and transportation ground to a halt in the heavily populated Washington, D.C.-Baltimore area, leaving many airline passengers stranded without transit. Flash floods were also reported in Wayne, New Jersey, and a flash flood watch was issued for parts of Pennsylvania and central and northern New Jersey. Many were faced with drowning, with over 120 swift-water rescues reported in the region during the storm. Four homes were completely destroyed and between 20 and 30 more were damaged by the floodwaters. Ellicott City is prone to flooding as it is positioned at the foot of the Tiber and Patapsco Rivers in eastern/central Maryland. The unincorporated suburb with a population of roughly 65,000, has seen numerous floods since its inception, including an 1868 disaster which claimed the lives of at least 39 people. The town is ranked among the most affluent in the United States. The storm is being called a 1-in-a-1,000-year rain event by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The majority of the 6.5 inches of rainfall that struck the mid-Atlantic region occurred in less than 90 minutes. This is over 1.5 times the states yearly average for the entire month of July. Since 2010, at least nine 1-in-a-1,000-year weather events have occurred in the United States. Last month, NASA scientists released data showing that the first half of 2016 had been the hottest year on record, the level of heat surpassing 2015, the previous record-holder. In an interview with the New York Times, Gavin Schmidt of NASAs Goddard Institute of Space Studies stated that world temperatures for 2016 were dancing with the limit set for heat emission at the Paris climate summit this past year. Maryland has seen similar levels of precipitation before the most recent flooding. Speaking to the Baltimore Sun in 2014, Howard County stormwater manager Jim Caldwell stated I think that the depth of the challenge is kind of defined by the fact that if somebody wanted to build Ellicott City today, you couldn't do it. While efforts to rebuild the region will draw heavily from state and federal aid, the required funds to protect state and local infrastructure are being depleted. Since 2010, the Obama administration has cut the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys water infrastructure spending by over $2 billion. In addition, budget cuts affecting public safety at the state level have been mounting, with the governor proposing a 2 percent across-the-board cut for all agencies in the most recent state budget. The reality of our financial situation requires us to find ways to work together in order to curb long term spending and protect the interests of taxpayers, said State Budget and Management Secretary David R. Brinkley in a letter to state legislators earlier this year. On Tuesday, US and British media published new claims of Syrian government use of chemical weapons in the rebel-held northern city of Saraqeb, in Idlib province. The story, put forward by the antigovernment Idlib Civil Defense or White Helmets group, alleges that 30 civilians experienced breathing troubles after chlorine gas canisters were dropped from a helicopter in a residential part of the city. No deaths were reported. The claim was first reported on the Idlib Civil Defence Facebook page. The group posted a YouTube video that purported to show area residents wearing oxygen masks. Saraqeb is located in the same region that saw a Russian helicopter downed a day earlier, killing all five servicemen on board. Moscow strongly denied that any chemical weapon attack had taken place. In a statement, Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov said that the Idlib Civil Defense claims were fabricated. Meanwhile, Syrian government claims that rebel groups had killed five people in a chemical weapon attack on the government-held portion of Aleppo were virtually ignored by Western media. This deadly attack was verified by Aleppos health director, Mohamad Hazouri. Five civilians were killed and eight others suffered suffocation due to a terrorist attack with shells containing poisonous gas, he told the state-run news agency, SANA. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported yesterday that rebel shelling of government-held parts of Aleppo had killed 30 civilians since Monday, including women and children. These facts were not reported in a lengthy Guardian article dedicated to the alleged government attack in Saraqeb. Other major US and British news sources, including BBC, Reuters, Fox and CBS, also focused their coverage on allegations of a government attack. US State Department spokesman John Kirby acknowledged that Washington is not in a position to confirm the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. Nonetheless, he threateningly added that if the allegations were confirmed, it would be extremely serious. Allegations and insinuations that the Syrian regime is waging chemical warfare should be taken as a warning. In August and September, 2013, the Obama administration seized on claims of a Syrian government sarin gas attacklater proven by journalist Seymour Hersh and others to be fabricatedto bring the US to the brink of yet another full-scale war in the Middle East. Obama ultimately decided against direct US involvement after the British parliament scuttled UK entry, and amid mass popular disaffection with war and sharp divisions within the military-intelligence apparatus. Obamas last-minute pullback from direct US involvement has been the source of sharp recriminations in American ruling circles. Proponents of an attack, including the current Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, viewed the decision as a humiliating retreat that would embolden Russia, which maintains its only foreign naval base in Syria. The new claims come amid a rapid erosion in the position of the US-backed Islamist rebels in Syria. Government forces, backed by Russian air power, have made consistent gains over the past year, culminating in the current siege on the rebel-held city of Aleppo. Western portions of the city are already in government hands. In an attempt to break the siege, rebel forces led by the Al Nusra Frontrecently rebranded as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (Front for the Conquest of Syria)have launched a last-ditch offensive, attacking Aleppo on its southwestern outskirts. The outcome remains unclear, though a Russian military spokesman, Sergey Rudskoy, claimed on Monday that the Islamist forces had been badly beaten. On Tuesday, rebel forces claimed that they had expanded their attack and that they had gained ground in certain Aleppo neighborhoods. This was disputed by Rami Abdel Rahman of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who stated that government forces had retaken five of the eight positions the rebels had gained on Sunday. Iranian forces and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah are also reportedly involved in the fighting against Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. [T]his is really their last stand, Middle East analyst Firas Maksad told Al Jazeera of the Islamist rebels. If they lose Aleppo, which theyve held a major portion of now for about four-odd years, they might as well have lost all the battle for Syria. The Islamists position is further threatened by the rapprochement between the Turkish government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and both Russia and Syria. Erdogan narrowly survived a US-backed coup on July 15, after he signaled his intention of normalizing relations with Damascus and Moscow. Erdogan, who was reportedly alerted to the coup by Russian intelligence, has responded to US machinations by taking further steps toward cooperation with Russia. He will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on August 9 to discuss greater economic cooperation, including a proposed natural gas pipeline, dubbed Turkstream, that would bypass the US client state in Ukraine. Turkey has been the main staging base for both Islamist fighters and weapons supplied by the US, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to fuel the fighting in Syria. With its five-year-old war for regime change in Syria failing, the Obama administration is prepared to do almost anything to prevent defeat in a war that has already killed over 400,000, made upwards of 10 million into refugees, and destroyed what had been, prior to 2011, one of the most advanced Arab societies. The US and its proxy fighters are clinging to sections of Aleppo, a city that had served as the major supply route for weapons distributed to Islamists across Syriaand where 250,000 people are believed to still reside. The US has sought to scuttle Russian proposals to evacuate the city through humanitarian corridors. US ambassador to the United Nations called the proposal chilling, and Secretary of State John Kerry has claimed that it is a ruse. For its part, Russia claims that Islamist militias are preventing residents from evacuating. The US has opposed every serious effort at a negotiated settlement to the war, insisting that there can be no peace discussions without the removal of Bashar al-Assad. That is, Washington insists that the bloodletting must continue until regime change is achieved and Syria is reduced to a vassal state of the US. Nearly hundred students from Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe were protesting against a scholarship scam that recently took place and reduction in their scholarship amount by the Bihar government. These agitating students were angry at their scholarship money been cut by the government and also the scholarship scam that has taken place. (Picture for representation) By Rohit Kumar Singh: Dalit students were lathicharged on Wednesday by the Patna police after they hit the streets to protest against the Bihar government over the scholarship scam and cut in their scholarships amount by the Bihar government from Rs 1 lac to Rs 15000. HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED Hundred of students from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe had gathered at the J.P round about in Patna under the banner of Indian Students Welfare Union to carry out a protest march from Kargil Chowk to Bihar Assembly. However, the police did not permit them to carry the protest march as Section-144 was imposed in the Assembly area due to ongoing monsoon session. advertisement On being denied permission to carry the protest march, these Dalit students got infuriated and began to break the police barricading. The police viewing the situation at hand resorted to lathicharge to disperse the students. The students who were not willing to move from the area were also chased by the police and caned. Six students have suffered injuries in the police action. These agitating students were angry at their scholarship money been cut by the government and also the scholarship scam that has taken place. Soon after this, the injured students were rushed to the Patna Medical College and Hospital where they have been admitted and undergoing treatment. POLITICAL TAKE The opposition leaders sensing an opportunity to attack the Nitish Kumar government immediately rushed to the hospital to meet injured students. BJP leader Sushil Modi and former CM and Hindustani Awam Morcha chief Jitan Ram Manjhi met the injured students and promised to take up their issue with the government. Sushil Modi said, "The government should immediately act against the policemen who lathicharged these Dalit students and also increase the scholarship amount from Rs 15000 to Rs 1 lac. Lathi charge against Dalit students is condemnable. We will raise the issue in the Assembly tomorrow and if need be, we will not allow the House to function". "The anti-Dalit face of the Bihar Government has been exposed", said former Chief Minister Manjhi. Also read: Dalit dilemmas --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 2 (PTI) The government through its research organisations, including CCRAS has launched a programme to integrate Ayurveda with the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), Ayush Minister Shripad Naik today said. In a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Naik said the Government has set-up the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) an autonomous organisation, with the mandate to undertake research in ayurvedic system of medicines and practice. advertisement The institutes under CCRAS are also engaged in extending health care services and research on life-style and non communicable diseases. The Central Ayurveda Research Institute for Cancer (CARIC) in Worli, Mumbai, especially, is carrying out some pioneering work in this area. The major objective of the programme is prevention and early diagnosis of these diseases, reducing complications, and reducing drug dependency through these systems. It also aims towards capacity building for human resource development. In response to another question on whether the government proposes to include Ayush under the Universal Health Insurance Scheme, Naik said, "The UHIS was launched in 2004-05 and was implemented by the four public sector insurance companies, but the scheme has now been discontinued. "The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) was launched by the Ministry of Labour, is now implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as centrally sponsored health insurance scheme with revamped provisions. Inclusion of Ayush systems in this scheme is not spelt out," Naik said. He added that the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has granted 200 patents for medicines/ formulations related to Ayurvedic/herbal/plant based products and processes. "22 patents have been granted to foreign entities for medicines/formulation related to Ayurvedic /herbal /plant based products and processes. At present applications under consideration of CGPDTM is 270," he said. PTI PR RG --- ENDS --- ALBANY, Ga. (AP) - Authorities say two children have been found dead after a house fire in southwest Georgia. District Attorney Greg Edwards tells WALB-TV (http://bit.ly/2aRg06r) that one boy and one girl are dead after the early Wednesday morning blaze in Albany. The station reports that a woman was taken to a hospital in grave condition, and a person who survived the fire is being interviewed. Authorities say fire crews were called to the home in northwest Albany around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. WALB-TV reports that the fire is under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Albany-Dougherty County child death investigation team. Few other details were immediately available. ___ Information from: WALB-TV, http://www.walb.com/ (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) TALLAHASSEE, FL. (WTXL) - Governor Rick Scott is reminding tourists that Florida is a "Safe State", after 10 more mosquito-transmitted cases of the Zika Virus are discovered in the Miami area. Health officials issued a warning Monday, urging pregnant women to stay away from a neighborhood in Miami that has been heavily affected by the virus. That travel advisory is also affecting international tourists, with British officials warning their residents who are looking to have children to avoid any non-essential trips to Florida. Tourism officials are expecting a record 115 million visitors this year, Governor Scott says, "Federal and State officials can only do so much". He says, it's important for residents to help stop the spread, by doing little things like getting rid of standing water. With the growing Zika threat Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says, Floridians are in a better position to fight the virus than other areas because of better infrastructure. According to Putnam, "We're going to beat this. We're going to move forward, and Florida is very much going to remain the state that is known for its exceptional outdoor activities and opportunities, and this will be just one of the more interesting chapters written about Florida." The Zika Virus generally produces mild symptoms and is specifically dangerous for pregnant women because it can lead to severe birth defects, including Microcephaly. More than 1,600 cases have been reported in the United States, most of them in Florida. HOLT, Fla. (AP) - A Florida Panhandle man has pleaded guilty to a drunken driving crash that left a motorcyclist dead. The Northwest Florida Daily News reported Monday that Alvaro Moreno-Colorado pleaded no contest to DUI manslaughter, driving without a license and DUI with property damage. He faces up to 16 years in prison at a Sept. 19 sentencing. Prosecutors say Moreno-Colorado was driving on U.S. Highway 90 near Holt in October 2015 when he crossed the center line and hit Joey V. Locke, who died from his injuries. Tests showed his blood alcohol level to be 0.19 percent. Florida law considers a driver impaired at 0.08 percent. TALLAHASSEE (WTXL) -- Tropical storm Earl is currently near Honduras with maximum sustained winds at 60 mph. Later this evening Earl is expected to strengthen to a category 1 hurricane with winds reaching 75 mph as it becomes more organized. After Earl passes through the Yucatan it is expected to weaken but it could restrengthen depending on how far it moves into the southern Bay of Campeche. Earl is continuing to move west at 14 mph. It's track remains virtually unchanged from the last update. There are watches and warning that are in affect; a hurricane warning is in effect for Puerto Costa Maya and along the Belize/Guatemala border. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Cabo Gracias a Dios which is west of Honduras. More than 2,000 members of various religious and terror groups protested outside the Islamabad airport as Rajnath Singh arrived for the two-day SAARC conclave. By India Today Web Desk: Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin today led a protest against Home Minister Rajnath Singh who is in Islamabad to attend a two-day SAARC conclave on terrorism, drugs and human trafficking. More than 2,000 members of various religious and terror groups protested outside the Islamabad airport as well as the venue of the two-day meeting, accusing Singh for the unrest in Kashmir. advertisement Apart from Hizbul Mujahideen, activists of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, the United Jihad Council (UJC) and other such groups protested to denounce Singh's trip to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial conference. Another protest was organised by Mishal Malik, wife of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, in front of National Press Club in Islamabad. A statement released by Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) said that it has no plans to leave the place unless India receives relief goods, dry food and medicines meant for the Kashmiris. On Tuesday, a JuD caravan led by Talha Saeed, the son of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, had staged a sit-in at the Line of Control near Chakothi in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), where they were stopped by Pakistani security forces. The protesters today continued their sit-in, demanding that India receives relief materials brought by them for Kashmiris. Earlier, Hafiz Saeed had warned the Pakistan government that Singh's presence in Islamabad may create "unrest" among Kashmiris as well as Pakistanis in the face of scores of killings in Kashmir. Forty-nine people have been killed in Kashmir in clashes since the security forces killed Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. ALSO READ | Don't come here, no one will welcome you, say anti-Indian elements in Pak over Rajnath Singh's visit --- ENDS --- Despite tempered growth, China's economy is witnessing some positive changes, notably better structure and different growth pace in its traditional and new sectors. A.J. Cooper, candidate for the State 15th District seat, left, thanks supporters in a video taken by supporter Gabriel Munoz following the release of the official state primary election at the Yakima County Courthouse in Yakima, Wash. Tuesday, August 2, 2016. (SHAWN GUST/Yakima Herald-Republic) By PTI: Hyderabad, Aug 3 (PTI) Tech firm RDP Workstations today launched 14.1" ThinBook which the company claims to be the most affordable laptop. Developed in strategic association with Microsoft and Intel, the new device priced at Rs 9999 aims to address the needs of entry-level consumers looking for an affordable yet robust device, RDP said in a statement. advertisement The companys new product was launched by Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao here. RDPs ThinBook comes with the Intel Atom x5-Z8300 processor, and the on-board high speed USB 3.0 allows 10X data transfer speeds vis--vis USB 2.0 offered on similarly-priced laptops. "The ThinBook runs on genuine Windows 10 software, helping users to be more productive with the intuitive operating system," it said. Vikram Redlapalli, Founder and Managing Director, RDP Workstations said, India is on the cusp of a digital revolution and there is a huge demand for affordable yet trustworthy computing devices to fuel this revolution further. "We believe that a lower price point at the cost of performance will not be accepted by the end consumers. We are proud to make the ThinBook available to consumers across India and are confident that the consumers will appreciate the overall package that has been designed to deliver sturdy performance and good looks all under Rs 9,999," he said. Priyadarshi Mohapatra, Country General Manager, Consumer Channel Group, Microsoft India, said they are working closely with local OEM partners to develop more affordable personal computing devices and assist uptake of technology in the country. "We have been making strategic investments towards expanding our OEM partner ecosystem to augment availability of affordable devices across price points and form factors, and our association with RDP for their new affordable ThinBook is a part of our ongoing strategy to further the Windows devices ecosystem in the country. "We are confident that ThinBook will introduce a much larger audience to Windows 10, helping them get the latest and most powerful computing experience," Mohapatra said. Anand Ramamoorthy, Director, Consumption Sales, Intel South Asia, said, "Intel India has been committed to collaborating with local device manufacturers to deliver amazing personal computing experiences in the country. This is a part of our ongoing effort to digitise India, one person at a time." PTI GDK NSK ABI PTP --- ENDS --- YAKIMA, Wash. -- The race to secure a place on the November ballot for a 15th District House seat tightened Wednesday between Republican Dave Submit An Obituary Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Go to form If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. By PTI: Pune, Aug 2 (PTI) Four persons, including a foreign national, were today arrested by custom officials and 159 kg of mephedrone hydrochloride, a banned drug, worth Rs 25 crore was seized from their possession in a raid at a factory near Daund. "Based on specific information, the officials of narcotic cell, Pune Customs yesterday raided the factory premises of M/s Samarth Laboratories in Kurkumbh MIDC area in Daund and seized 159.10 kg of mephedrone hydrochloride, worth Rs 25 crore," K Shubhendra, deputy commissioner of Customs said in a press release. advertisement He said four people, including the mastermind of the case, who is a foreign national, and one of the directors of the firm have been apprehended. Mephedrone hydrochloride, a psychotropic substance, has been notified under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as a banned drug. The raids started yesterday and went on till early hours today with the officials searching the residential premises of arrested people. All the suspects will be produced in the court tomorrow. PTI SPK NP RCB PTP --- ENDS --- About 40 fashion designers, consultants, and bloggers from the US and Canada visited Israel last week to discover its revitalized fashion industry. The trip, organized by the Jewish Womens Renaissance Project and sponsored by the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, was designed to give the women a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Israeli fashion industry and to allow them to gain inspiration from both Israeli designers and from the Land of Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter My goal is to build bridges between the international community and the creative community in Israel, Galit Reismann, founder of the TLVstyle touring company and co-coordinator of the tour, told TPS. I wanted to engage and inspire these ladies from all over the world with stories and faces and to let them discover the Israeli people and their creative spirit. The participants visited diverse fashion venues during their visit to Tel Aviv, such as Maskit, the first Israeli fashion house. Maskit was founded in 1954 by Ruth Dayan and shows the origins and evolution of the Israeli fashion industry. The fashion house went bankrupt in the 1990s, but was revived in 2013 by Sharon Tal, an Israeli designer who had a successful career in London yet decided to return to Israel. The women also met young Israeli designers at Beit Manor, a historic Tel Aviv building, which allowed them to have one-on-one conversations to hear personal stories about what it is like to be a designer in Israel. They also discovered an important trend in Israeli fashionmost of the designers try to use eco-friendly materials such as surplus soy from the production of tofu, which makes for high quality fabric. US and Canadian designers check out Israeli made accessories (Photo: Andrew McIntire/TPS) Once I learned that the textile industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, I realized that I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem, said Tom Moatti-Kedem, a designer who produces clothes from biodegradable materials under the brand Toosha. My aesthetics are organic and strive to evoke emotions from nature. The participants also visited a workspace for women entrepreneurs in Tel Aviv called WMN, where they met a collective of start-ups specializing in fashion. The collective included a company that produces three-dimensionally-printed clothing, an online platform for trading clothes, and a crowdfunding platform for designers that allows customers to play a part in creating new collections and to purchase items for reasonable prices. Israeli fashion (Photo: Andrew McIntire/TPS) I want to infuse the Israeli spirit into North American women, explained Adrienne Gold, who used to have her own fashion and beauty program on Canadian television for 20 years and then began working at the Jewish Womens Renaissance Project. Israeli women know that strength is as important as beauty. They love beauty, but you cant push them over. They also know what its like to carry a rifle and to run ten kilometers with full gear so this gives them a different sense of their bodies, which is reflected in the clothes they make, Gold contended. Israeli clothes flow and movement and thats what I like about themtheyre female friendly. The ministry of defense has announced that it is opening up a first of its kind ultra-Orthodox paratrooper platoon and that it has begun a campaign to draft ultra-Orthodox into it. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The first round of draftees will enter the unit in November. As with every other paratrooper platoon, the ultra-Orthodox draftees will have to undergo a strenuous selection process lasting several days. The selection process for the platoon will occur in September, and another session will occur closer to the date of the draft. IDF draft poster for the ultra-Orthodox paratroopers platoon Fliers for the platoon have been distributed throughout ultra-Orthodox communities in Israel over the past few days alongside ads for the units on ultra-Orthodox social media pages. There has been incitement against ultra-Orthodox soldiers from the community in recent years, and the ministry of defense is trying to stamp this out. Drafting the ultra-Orthodox - especially to combat roles - is no easy task. Posters printed by the ministry of defense are seeking to instill both pride in Israel and the IDF alongside pride in Torah study within the sector. The ministry seeks to convince the ultra-Orthodox that serving in the IDF won't affect their pious lifestyles. A special ultra-Orthodox paratroopers platton is opening The ads themselves portray a young ultra-Orthodox man wearing the paratroopers' signature red boots and in an IDF uniform in the middle of a jump with a title that reads "ultra-Orthodox in the paratroopers" next to a phone number for more information. However, despite the fact that the ads are modest and simple, ultra-Orthodox newspapers have so far refused to run the ads. The ministry has therefore turned to social media, where they are receiving a wide following. The ultra-Orthodox soldiers will serve in a base completely devoid of female soldiers, will be provided with glatt kosher food, and will have daily torah studies. After seven months of combat training, the approximately 100 soldiers will be integrated into one of the pre-existing paratroopers' platoons, and will begin their regular service in the various areas of operation. Ultra-Orthodox soliders train in the Netzah Yehuda platoon of the Kfir battalion The head of the battalion will be a paratrooper commander, and the other officers will all be religious, and include soldier who served in the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion of Givati. The platoon will operate similar to the Tomer platoon of the Givati battalion, whereby after serving for two years in a combat role, they will study for the third and final year of the service for either their matriculation exams, a vocational trade, or a mix of finishing their matriculation exams and beginning studying for a bachelors degree in order to integrate into the workplace. Lieberman gives his blessing Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman held a meeting at the defense ministry with the directorate responsible for the initiative. The minister gave his blessing to develop the initiative as much as possible. The next step in the framework to draft and integrate as many ultra-Orthodox into the military as possible will see a similar ultra-Orthodox tank unit be set up. The IDF is expected to draft 3,200 ultra-Orthodox soldiers in 2017. Ultra-Orthodox soldiers in the Netzah Yehuda platoon The IDF attempted to create additional ultra-Orthodox units three years ago, but cancelled the plans out of fear that it would inadvertently create a "shtetl" with the military. Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben-Dahan has been leading the initiative to draft more ultra-Orthodox into the IDF and fight against incitement in the ultra-Orthodox sector. Regarding the establishment of the new platoon, he said "there's no doubt that this is a positive step in terms of IDF service for the ultra-Orthodox. Them joining the paratroopers battalion one of the most prestigious in the IDF is an important milestone in their full integration. G-d willing, I will be able to continue working to successfully draft ultra-Orthodox into the IDF." The Border Police has suspended a soldier who was documented taking a Palestinian girl's bicycle from her and throwing it into nearby bushes. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Anwar Burqan, an eight year old Palestinian girl, lives in a-Salaimeh neighborhood in Hebron, near the Cave of the Patriarchs. On Monday of last week, she was playing with her siblings on a road not far from her home that is meant for the exclusive use of Jews and that Palestinians are barred from entering. The Border Policeman is seen in the video running towards the girl, an act that scared her, leading her to get off her bike. He is heard asking her "What are you doing here?" causing the girl to burst out in tears. : X The Border Policeman is seen stepping over the bicycle, preventing the girl from taking it. When another Border Policeman arrives, the girl is seen running away in tears, leaving her bicycle behind. One of the Border Policemen is then seen picking up the bike and throwing it into nearby bushes. "He ran towards me, tried to take my bike away and then told us to leave," Anwar said. The girl's mother said Anwar ran back home, and later one of the family members returned to the road to retrieve the bicycle. Raed Abu Ramileh, who lives nearby, documented the incident for B'Tselem. "The policemen took her bicycle away and threw them aside, but they didn't hit or hurt the girl," he said. "On this road there is complete separation between Palestinians and Jews for a few months now, after a roadblock was set up." The Border Police said in response that it "views the incident gravely and regrets it. At the end of an initial investigation, the Border Police commander instructed to immediately suspend the soldier from operational duty," adding that the Police Investigation Unit that will take over the investigation of the incident. Recommendations made concerning the Israel Police by a committee detailing the widespread institutionalized and racial discrimination against Ethiopian Jews have been removed from the committee's report. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The report, headed by the Ministry of Justice's director general, Emi Palmor, was compiled following extensive meetings with leaders, experts and representatives of the Ethiopian community in Israel. It contains 53 practical recommendations meant to combat racism against Israelis of Ethiopian descent and help integrate them further into society. The recommendations deal with a wide variety of fields, including law enforcement, education and the media. Members of the Ethiopian community protest against police brutality in Tel Aviv (Photo: Getty Images) The report also contains 15 recommendations concerning the Israel Police, which include limiting the use of Tasers and increasing supervision over them, equipping police officers in areas with a large community of Ethiopian Jews with body cameras, and handing out harsher punishments to police officers who are found to be racist. But these 15 recommendations were left out of the report, leaving it with only 38 recommendations. This caught some in the Ministerial Committee for the Advancement of Ethiopian Immigrants by surprise, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who heads the committee, as well as Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked. Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh and other senior police officers who appeared in front of the ministerial committee knew of the changes to the report. The recommendations to the Israel Police were removed from the report the night before, apparently due to pressure from Erdan. Members of the Ethiopian community protest against police brutality in Tel Aviv (Photo: Motti Kimchi) The Israel Police was furious with the report, claiming it was slandering the force while the recommendations it entails are already being implemented in the field. Those of Ethiopian descent who also attended the meeting, among them some members of the committee that compiled the report, threatened to leave in protest. "The commissioner refuses to accept these recommendations because of his ego," they accused, "Other ministries have also had reforms, and yet they accepted the report and are willing to implement it." Shlomit Berhanu, a social activist and a member of the committee, said she did not understand the police's objections, as it was a full partner in the inquiry process and in compiling the recommendations. "The claim that they are already implementing these recommendations in practice is detached from reality," she said. Members of the Ethiopian community protest against police brutality in Tel Aviv (Photo: Motti Kimchi) In response to the outrage, the prime minister announced that he will convene a meeting next week to discuss the recommendations concerning the Israel Police. The police, meanwhile, said it did not pressure the committee to remove the recommendations concerning the force from the report. "We didn't wait for the committee's report to act, and we've already been operating in the field for a year now, of our own initiative, to restore the relationship of trust with the Ethiopian community," the police said in a statement. "The report adopted our existing work plan, and the reason the recommendations were left out of the report is because these measures are already being implemented. The prime minister asked us to present our work plan in an additional meetingand so we shall do." Racism against Ethiopian national service volunteers Also this week, during a session of the Knesset's Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee, the head of the Authority for National-Civic Service, Sar-Shalom Jerbi, reported that some of the institutions enjoying the volunteer work of girls doing national service are discriminating against those of Ethiopian descent. Jerbi, however, refused to reveal which institutions did not accept girls of Ethiopian origin to volunteer with them, but said the displays of racism occurred in several institutions, and did not come from one group or another. "A situation in which there is no punishment to discrimination against Ethiopian immigrants cannot be," said committee chairman and Ethiopian immigrant MK Dr. Avraham Neguise. "Let me tell you something astounding," Jerbi responded. "The National-Civic Service directly funds 60-70 Israelis girls of Ethiopian descent out of its own pocket because some of the places they've been sent to will not fund them due to different and far fetched reasons. I've made a personal decision to not allow a situation whereby a national service volunteer from the Ethiopian community is left without a solution, so I provide the funds for them. This situation pains me." Sources familiar with the issuesaid that the volunteers of Ethiopian descent were politely rejected from working in villages for at-risk youth, NGOs aiding sick people, and otherssolely because of the color of their skin. "We're creating special programs for girls from the Ethiopian community who need them," Jerbi said. "Like improving their matriculation grades and life prep courses, so they could have an easier time joining the Israeli work force or studying." Jerbi also claimed that "different officials demanded that I retract my statements and are even threatening meI don't intend to take back my statements, because I exposed the truth." An underground barrier to defend against Hamas attack tunnels is on the way following a call from the Defense Ministry for companies to bid to construct the new defensive line around the Gaza Strip. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The closed tender has been submitted to 20 Israeli contracting companies. The first part of the defensive underground barrier will go along 10 kilometers of the Strip, with plans to extend the barrier around the entirety of the 60 kilometer border with Israel thereby completely encircling Gaza. The concrete barriers will extend several stories underground and will include above ground sections as well. Besides being used as a physical barrier against terror tunnels which cross into Israel, the sophisticated barrier will also be able to detect tunnel digging close to it, something which will enable the IDF to destroy these terror tunnels before they pose a threat. Exposed Hamas terror tunnel (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) Due to the sophistication of the project and the depth to which they will have to dig, Israeli contractors will require assistance from foreign corporations with experience in erecting underground barriers. Several international companies have already refused to work with the Israeli companies due to political issues. A representative of one of these companies who even took part in a tour of the area said that his company decided at the last minute not to cooperate on the project due to political sensitivities. The ministry of defense meanwhile announced that it doesn't know of any instances of companies refusing to work with Israel due to political considerations on this manner. Work is set to begin on these underground barriers in October 2016. The work will be divided between four Israeli companies, including Solel Boneh. The new defensive line will cost more that NIS two billion, and the first tenders which are to be issued will be worth several million shekels. . The barrier is supposed to end the tunnel threat once and for all, much like how Iron Dome has helped significantly reduce the number of rockets being shot by Hamas at the Israeli home front. Other companied who have issued tenders are Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries, Elta, and Ampers. BUJUMBURA - Burundi said it would refuse to allow United Nations police onto its territory to monitor the security and human rights situation after the UN Security Council voted to send 228 officers. More than 450 people have been killed since President Pierre Nkurunziza won a third term last year, a move his opponents say violated the constitution and a peace deal that ended a civil war in 2005. Government and opposition officials were among those killed in tit-for-tat violence by rival sides. About a quarter of a million people have fled the violence, which has alarmed neighbouring countries in a region where memories of Rwanda's 1994 genocide remain raw. Like Rwanda, Burundi has an ethnic Hutu majority and a Tutsi minority. Since the IDF opened up combat roles to women, the number of female combat soldiers has been steadily increasing. The number rose from 435 female combat soldiers in 2005 to 547 by 2012. The women were only in one battalion: Caracal. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter However, 2013 saw an explosion in women combat volunteers with 898 joining combat units. With the opening of another mixed-gender battalionLions of Jordanthe number jumped to 1,365 women in combat roles. Finally, 2015 saw the opening of the third mixed-gender battalionBardelasand the number increased to 2,047 female combat soldiers, a number which is expected to increase all the way to 2,100 women in combat roles. This constitutes a 400 percent increase in female fighters in a single decade. As if that weren't enough, the IDF is planning on opening up a fourth mixed gender battalion in the near future. Female combat soldiers in Caracal (Photo: Roee Idan) Eventually, the IDF plans on these battalions being the first lines of defense on the borders of Israel. The reason for this drastic increase in female combat soldiers is due to the elimination of the strenuous selection process before the draft day in exchange for a personal interview, followed by a two-week trial period for the women to see if they are the right fit for the job. Another reason is because the conditions for the fighters have improved across the board, from officer's benefits to living quarters. A host of new positions are available to female soldiers this draft cycle as well, positions which require women to serve the same 32-month service as men. This includes intelligence analysts, operational intelligence analysists, special operations lookouts, various cyber positions, and positions in the Lotar anti-terror unit. GENEVA- Civilian casualties from shelling, mines and booby traps in eastern Ukraine are at their highest in a year as government forces and pro-Moscow separatists constantly violate a ceasefire, the UN rights boss said on Wednesday. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said at least 69 civilians had been killed or wounded in June, double the figure for the previous month, with the figure at 73 in July. Casualties in eastern Ukraine casualties were the highest since August 2015, Zeid said in a statement. By Ravish Pal Singh: Airforce personnel today arrested a person who was trying to enter Maharajpura Airbase at Gwalior. Arrested person was trying to enter the base with bogus identity. On Wednesday, at Maharajpura Airbase in Gwalior airforce officials arrested a man who was trying to enter the base with a fake identity card. As per the initial investigation done yet, the person arrested is Saddam Husain. Saddam tried to enter the airbase with another name Jawed but was caught after officials at the airbase gate had some doubt on him. advertisement SADDAM HANDED OVER TO INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES After that, officials from the air force security grilled him at the base. During the inquiry he said that he hails from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. After questioning, Saddam was handed over to intelligence agencies. A case under section 419 of IPC and Indian Official Secret Act has been lodged against him in Maharajpura Police Station. It was not the first time of attempted entry in airbase with fake identity. In February this year, two people named Asghar and Feroz Khan were arrested when they were trying to enter the base with fake identity. After terrorist attack at Pathankot Airforce Station, security forces are on their toes specially near the sensetive airforce base in every corner of the country. ALSO READ: Rajnath Singh to raise Pathankot probe in visit to Pakistan next week --- ENDS --- The Government Press Office is taking steps against the Italian ANSA news agency and against journalist Michele Monni for allegedly working for Hezbollah. Monni interviewed a slew of Israeli government officials for what turned out to be a Hezbollah special detailing how the terror group kidnapped and killed two Israeli soldiers, thus starting the Second Lebanon War. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Monni managed to interview the Former Head of Military Intelligence Amos Yadlin, Former Defense Minister Amir Peretz, MK Tzipi Livni, and MK Eyal Ben-Reuven, seemingly at the behest of the Lebanese terror group. Further adding salt to the wound, Monni even allegedly offered Tomer Weinburg - one of the survivors of the attack and who currently suffers from PTSD - $2,000 to be filmed in front of Hezbollah footage of the attack taking place following an interview with him. Hezbollah footage from the kidnapping Monni, who typically works as a freelance writer, was able to trick people into interviews by claiming that the interviews would be broadcasted in Italy. "This is a severe situation which borders on fraud and misrepresentation, and which goes against professional journalistic standards," said Nitzan Chen, Head of the Government Press Office. "The GPO will take lessons learned from this case," he continued, "including taking steps against the Italian news agency if it turns out that one of their representatives be they a producer or journalist were involved in this incident which is being investigated." After the interviews were aired by Hezbollah, the head of the GPO called the head of the Italian news agency to demand an explanation. The head of the ANSA offices in Israel, Mossimo Lomokano said that "ANSA never gave freelance journalist Michele Monni any assignment to interview any of the people interviewed for the piece on the events from 2006. Monni never told ANSA that he was doing these interviews. Moreover, ANSA has never published any interviews conducted by Monni regarding those events." Walid al-Omri, the head of the Al Jazeera offices in Israel and the West Bank also claims that his network never requested the interviews, despite Monni's claims that he was specifically requested to do the interviews by the Qatari network. SEOUL - A medium-range ballistic missile fired Wednesday by North Korea flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed near Japan's territorial waters, Seoul and Tokyo officials said, one of the longest flights by a North Korean missile. The US Strategic Command said North Korea fired two presumed Rodong missiles simultaneously on Wednesday, not just one. The command's statement said initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. North Korea has recently claimed a series of technical breakthroughs over its goal of acquiring a long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental US. South Korean defense officials say North Korea doesn't yet have such a weapon, but some civilian experts believe the North has the technology to mount warheads on shorter-range Rodong and Scud missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. While there has been a decline in the number of incidents, police still have to deal with serious violence in East Jerusalem, as can be seen in security cameras footage of policemen in Ma'ale ha-Zeitim being attacked with fireworks launched directly at them from Ras al-Amud. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The police responded to the shooting of the fireworks from the Arab neighborhood with crowd dispersal measures. X Police are operating in Ras al-Amud and other areas of East Jerusalem to stop the fireworks shooting by making arrests, finding and seizing firework stocks and targeting the merchants selling the fireworks to the perpetrators. The residents of Ma'ale ha-Zeitim neighborhood, whose homes are adjacent to Ras al-Amud, have been suffering from barrages of stones and Molotov cocktails for years. The footage was captured by cameras installed by the residents dubbed "Anti-Terror TV," meant to help bring to light the violent attacks on the neighborhood. "There has been a significant drop in the number of attacks compared to last year, but there are still stone-throwing and attacks on the residents," said Joshua Wander, a member of the Ma'ale ha-Zeitim security committee. The homophobic pronouncements of Ramat Gan's chief rabbi, Yaakov Ariel, have led to the quickening of an LGBT center's establishment in that city. Over the past few days, activists from the LGBT community in the city have met with Mayor Yisrael Zinger, who promised to establish such a center, which has been discussed already for the past two years. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Three months ago, the Ramat Gan Municipality decided to set up an LGBT center in the city after two years of discussions with the LGBT community in the city. Ariel's statements managed to significantly speed up the project, which is expected to reach completion in 2017. Following a meeting last week at the mayor's between Zinger and representatives of the LGBT community, the former said, "I promised that Ramat Gan will be a home to every community as they are, and that's how it will be too for the LGBT community. The LGBT center in the city is not the end, but the means. Thus we'll be able to ensure that the LGBT community, which is an inseparable part of the Ramat Gan public, receives the services that it needs." Zinger said that the community's needs should be examined and that the center should not be established quickly just to justify the construction of its building. L-R: Aguda Executive Director Ohad Hizki, Local Activist Coordinator Gaya Polat, Mayor Yisrael Zinger, Deputy Mayor Tsachi Zelicha, Aguda Co-Chair Imri Kalman (Photo: Ramat Gan Municipality) Heading the committee to establish an LGBT center by the municipality are Deputy Mayor Tsachi Zelicha and Adjunct Mayor Adva Polak. Speaking to Ynet, Zelicha said, "The mayor gave me his blessing to do whatever it takes so that the new center will provide the right needs and conditions for members of the community. I can promise that by the end of the mayor's term, the center will be standing. This is our best response to the rabbi's outrageous statements, to establish an LGBT center." The Aguda The Israeli National LGBT Task Force Co-Chair Imri Kalman was present at the above-mentioned meeting with the mayor. "Even though the mayor gave his promise, said Kalman, "a political promise doesn't satisfy us. We wanted something legal Every rabbi who comes out against the LGBT community needs to know that he is promoting the community's fight in his city for acknowledgement, equality, and rights. There's no doubt that the city's rabbi significantly expedited the establishment of an LGBT center. It's important to say that declarations like that by rabbis first harm members of their own community who are in the closet and suffering from it. We are in contact with yeshiva students who are in the closet and are suffering." Members of the LGBT community have not yet decided on what model they would like to establish the LGBT center in Ramat Gan, but it's clear that it's not an attempt to imitate that of Tel Aviv's in Gan Meir. One idea being examined is a center that would serve the need of elderly LGBT residents. Last week, the Ramat Gan City Council decided to condemn the city's chief rabbi's statements. In their condemnation, they wrote, "The city council calls on the rabbi to retract his derogatory statements that exclude and hurt thousands of citizens in Israel and to apologize for his remarks." Moded Yunis, the mayor of the Arab Israeli town of Arara in northern Israel, recently offered 20 jobs in nursery schools in the town. Although not particularly well-paying, more than 250 women in the town of 23,000 in northern Israel applied. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Because of the lack of jobs, some women leave their homes at 5am and travel hours to southern Israel to work, Yunis told The Media Line, saying the town had opened special day care centers with longer hours to accommodate them. It is very frustrating for anyone who graduated college and then cant find a job. The Mossawa Center, the Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel, says that about 60 percent of Israels Arabs are poor, and 65 percent live below the poverty line. Mossawa invited Yunis and other mayors to a conference at Israels Knesset, also hosted by long-time Arab parliamentarian Ahmed Tibi, focusing on the need for more industrial zones in the Arab sector. While Arabs constitute than 20 percent of Israels populations, just 3.5 percent of all areas designated for light and heavy industry are in Arab towns. These industrial zones bring both money and jobs to the areas where they are located. We want to get concrete answers for the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Industry to budget for new industrial zones, Jafar Farah, the director of Mossawa told said. There is no possibility of economic independence without this. Participation in the labor force is significantly lower in the Arab sector than the Jewish one, especially among women. More than 60 percent of Jewish women work outside the home, while among Arab citizens of Israel it is half of that. That said, in 2015 efforts by the Israeli government to boost participation in the workforce among Arab women bore fruits. The discrepency between Arab and Jewish women's patricipation in the workorce outside the home can partially be attributed the fact that Arab women prefer to work closer to home. This stems from both traditional modesty and from thee fact that there are fewer day care facilities in Arab towns. Building industrial zones could solve some of these problems. The socioeconomic situation of many Arabs is very difficult, Knesset member Ahmed Tibi who chaired the session said. The government must fight poverty with a holistic plan to improve the existing infrastructure in Arab towns. Israeli government officials who spoke at the government session said the government has invested tens of millions of dollars in the Arab sector and has plans for more. MK Ahmed Tibi (Photo: AFP) In the last decade the government has invested $140 million in the non-Jewish sector, Yigal Tsarfati of the Ministry of Finance told the session. There are 55 industrial zones in non-Jewish areas and we are planning more. There is no doubt that an industrial zone is an important way to move the economy forward. Some of the Arab parliamentarians said that appealing to the Israeli government had not worked for decades and there was little chance it would work now. We have to start a public campaign, going out into the streets and holding protests, Arab MK Ayman Odeh told the session. Israeli officials agree there is a problem. In a recent report, State Comptroller Yosef Shapira said that efforts to integrate Arab citizens into the workforce were broken, ineffective and deficient. He also said that goals set by the government itself were not being met. Building industrial zones is a long-term project but has already proven that it works. In the town of Nazareth, Israeli Jewish industrialist Stef Wertheimer has built an industrial zone that has both Arab and Jewish companies and has created more than 1000 jobs over the past few years. Article writen by Linda Gradstein In Jerusalem, the few words, "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people"the heart of the Balfour Declarationdo not evoke excitement. Ramallah, on the other hand, sees them as the root of its national tragedy, "the Nakba," and has raised the ridiculous idea toprosecute the UK for the letter that its foreign secretary wrote to the head of the Zionist movement in Britain, Lord Rothschild, nearly a century ago. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Ramallah has as its key witness another member of the British cabinet at the time, Edwin Montagu, who led the opposition to the declaration. His being a Jewish man does not pose a problem in Ramallah, which is used to anti-Israeli Jews. Montagu saw Zionism as "a mischievous political creed" and considered the Balfour Declaration to be anti-Semitic, writing, "I assert that there is not a Jewish nation I deny that Palestine is to-day associated with the Jews." The man is also rather precise about the future: "I assume thatJews shouldbe peculiarly associated with Palestine in the same way that England is with the English or France with the French." He sarcastically proposed, "Perhaps also citizenship must be granted only as a result of a religious test." (A precursor to the "Who is a Jew?" debate.) Arthur Balfour (Photo: GPO) The prime minister, David Lloyd George, and Balfour, aware of the greatness of their undertaking, stated that the return of Jews to Zion was an historic event approved by divine order. The French ambassador to Britain, Paul Cambon, saw the declaration as a just remedy of past horrors suffered, and Woodrow Wilson, the US president, gave his approval. Ramallah, therefore, will have to enlarge the number of defendants. The Balfour Declaration supports the "establishment" of a national home, not that it should be "reconstituted," as the original draft read, as Montagu insisted on removing any historical connection between the Jews of his day to the Land of Israel. Here too, comes salvation, this time from the entire League of Nations, which included the sentence in the mandate that delivered the Land of Israel to the British, quoted word-for-word from the Balfour Declaration. Here is the reasoning for the positive discrimination that the Jewish people received with the Balfour Declaration, especially in these words: "nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine." The declaration recognizes only one "people" in the Land of Israel: the Jewish people. Arabs of the country are called "communities," and accordingly, their individual rights are guaranteedcivil and religious only. National rights are given only to the Jewish peopleas we would say: "One national home for one people." Why? Because that time was before the invention of "the Palestinian people," and because that same year the British divided the country and allocated Transjordan to local Arabs, and because the 22 countries that the Arabs have built for themselves are each "one state for one (Arab) people)," just as the Balfour Declaration promised to the Jewish people in its only country. Well, Montagu and Ramallah. But what is said about Jerusalem, wherein on Balfour Street resides the prime minister of Israel, and he has a vision of a second, Arab, state, inside the one national Jewish home that Balfour envisioned? How get along with this dissonance? WASHINGTON - Donald Trump is denouncing US foreign policy while Hillary Clinton was secretary of stateand suggested that that she should be recognized "as the founder of ISIS." Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, said Wednesday that he believed President Barack Obama regretted picking Clinton for his Cabinet. He blamed her Middle East policies for causing the creation of the terrorist group. "It was Hillary Clinton," Trump said in Daytona Beach, Florida. "She should get an award from ISIS as the founder of ISIS." A closing ceremony for Cope Taufan 16 was held at Butterworth Air Base, Malaysia on July 29, 2016. Cope Taufan 16 provided an excellent opportunity to improve combined readiness and interoperability between the U.S. and Malaysia. This large force employment exercise included operations in air superiority, airborne command and control, close air support, interdiction, air refueling and tactical airlift and air drop. During the closing ceremony, Col. Sun Thong, Royal Malaysian Air Force exercise director, briefed on the accomplishments of this years exercise, stating that the Force Integration Training had an 82 percent success rate. Despite poor weather and aircraft issues, the total force completed 345 sorties during the 14-day exercise. Throughout this exercise you were able to integrate all of these forces to focus on dissimilar air combat tactics, tactical airdrop, large force employment aerial refueling and combat search and rescue training, said Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Harwood III, Chief-Mobilization Assistant to Commander Pacific Forces. You executed these mission sets in a fast-paced and continually evolving complex exercise resulting in a truly interoperable team and underscoring what we do best air power, said Harwood. Enhancing U.S. and Malaysia readiness and capabilities during Cope Taufan 16 is necessary in order to promote regional security. This exercise has had a significant impact to security and stability in the region, said Harwood. Our combined air forces have enhanced readiness and interoperability reinforced commitment to the Indo-Asia- Pacific region and demonstrated the capability to project internal forces strategically in a dynamic environment. Also in attendance was, Maj. Gen. Datuk Hj Romiee Yahaya, Chief of Staff Air Operation Command Headquarters Royal Malaysian Air Force. Cope Taufan is an excellent platform for the U.S. and Malaysia, especially for the armed forces, to improve our combined readiness and corporation, said Maj. Gen. Yahaya. The exercise had exceptional benefits to training, readiness, and the U.S. alliance with Malaysia. Participation from both countries demonstrated U.S. commitment to the military rebalance in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. I strongly believe that both air forces have achieved the exercise aim, which is to enhance bilateral ties that will improve readiness, cooperation, and enhance combat capabilities by providing realistic live flying training opportunities, while also promoting regional peace and security, said Yahaya. Commander and USO thank young donor Col. James Dignan (right), 910th Airlift Wing commander, and Bruce Bille (right), Second Vice President of the USO of Northern Ohio, present a certificate of appreciation to Olivia Vaupel (center) at the Community Activity Center here, July 21, 2016. In 2014, Vaupel asked her family to donate items to Servicemembers serving locally and overseas instead of giving her a birthday present and gifts. Bille arranged for Vaupel, her mother and a small group of Olivias family and friends to visit YARS for a lunch with Dignan, the certificate presentation and a tour of the installation and a C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft in appreciation for the youths efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr.) This Account has been suspended. By PTI: Riyadh, Aug 3 (PTI) Saudi Arabia today agreed to swiftly resolve plight of thousands of laid-off Indian workers including providing them free passage to return to India and clearing their unpaid dues after Union Minister V K Singh apprised the Saudi government about the humanitarian crisis. The Minister of State for External Affairs held extensive talks with Saudi Labour Minister Mufrej Al Haqbani here who promised urgent action to resolve the difficulties being faced by around 7,000 Indians, most of whom are living in camps after losing their jobs due to economic slowdown in the oil-rich Gulf country. advertisement The Saudi government also agreed to allow transfer of Indian employees, who have lost their jobs, to any other company within Saudi Arabia. Singh arrived here today to assess the situation and finalise modalities to bring back the stranded Indian workers who even do not have money to buy food. As per reports, the Labour Minister issued orders to allow the Indian workers to immediately transfer their sponsorship (kafala) and renew their residencies. Under the kafala system, which is applicable to foreign workers, employees are not allowed to move to a new job without approval of their bosses. "We discussed all the issues related to Indian workers. It was brought out that the problem is because of one company which has not provided the humanitarian facilities as per the law of the land. "The government of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken serious note of this lapse and have taken immediate action to ensure that all camps where Indian workers were staying are provided facilities like medical, food, hygiene and sanitation," Singh said, describing his meeting with Haqbani as "very good". Satisfied over Haqbanis response, Singh said he was thankful to the Saudi government for "very positive action and maganimous attitude". Singh said Saudi government is also providing free passage to all those who want to go back to India and that they will also honour the claims filed by workers against the companies which have defaulted their payments. "They have also agreed to allow transfer (of employees) to any other company within Saudi Arabia. Necessary action is in hand by the embassy of India to prepare suitable lists for filing claims as well as for people to go back. I am thankful to the Saudi government for very positive action and magnanimous attitude exhibited," Singh said. MORE PTI MPB ZH AKJ ZH --- ENDS --- The 69-year-old leader had to cut short her road show in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi on Tuesday after she fell ill and had to be rushed back to the national capital in a chartered flight. By India Today Web Desk: Congress president Sonia Gandhi is stable and has been moved to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital from the Army's Research and Referral Hospital, where she was admitted in the ICU ward late on Tuesday night due to high fever. The 69-year-old leader had to cut short her road show in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi on Tuesday after she fell ill and had to be rushed back to the national capital in a chartered flight. advertisement CONGRESS CHIEF UNDER MEDICAL OBSERVATION Sources said doctors have kept Sonia under observation as she was running high fever yesterday and got dehydrated due to exhaustion during the road show. "Sonia Gandhi ji got sick due to frequent in and out of an AC vehicle during the rally in Varanasi. She is now recovering," Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, who was with Sonia in Varanasi, said. Manohar Parrikar to visit ailing Sonia Gandhi in Delhi hospital Her son and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi were by her side. Son-in-law Robert Vadra also visited. The Congress media cell in-charge Randeep Surjewala said she is stable and is recovering under medical supervision. "Yesterday itself, she had said that she would return to Varanasi to meet the people and to have 'darshan' of the historical temple of Kashi Vishwanath Ji. On return, she was admitted to a hospital in Delhi. She is stable and recovering under medical supervision", he said in a statement. Also Read: Unwell Sonia Gandhi back in New Delhi after cancelling Varanasi roadshow 7 saal UP behaal: Congress sounds poll bugle in Uttar Pradesh with 3-day bus yatra --- ENDS --- The 1974 accord that ceded Katchatheevu, however, ensured fishing rights for Indians around the isle, but the right was nullified in a subsequent agreement between foreign secretaries in 1976. By Akshaya Nath: For the last 50 years, 63 year old Anthony Sami has been going regularly into the sea, and as the trend follows his two sons also followed him into the sea. While Anthony during his early days had seen some good times, the last 30 odd years the sea has only offered suffering, fear and hardship. Venturing into the sea, the family lost all that they had. advertisement THE PLIGHT Anthony Sami had his first heart attack two years back when his boat was taken away by the Sri Lankan Navy, and the second attack was when he got news about his son getting arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. Anthony Sami said, "Everyday night my wife and I cry not knowing what to do? Whether to cry for this situation that we are in? Or cry for the Sri Lankan issue that we have? We don't know whom to cry, Should we cry to the gods or people here or the Sri Lankans there. We just don't know what to do. " KATCHATHEEVU PACT Now, for the second time when his son has been arrested he hasn't been informed about this. While the entire family is worried about the son's situation, Anthony sami thinks that his son has been away for 31 days fishing. The 1974 Katchatheevu agreement between India and Sri Lanka has caused the downfall of the Rameshwaram fishermen. Sagayam R, a fisherman from Rameshwaram, said, "Sri Lanka is considered as India's friendly neighbour, but then by their activities they don't look like they are our friendly neighbours." The Rameshwaram fishermen have had times when they used to stay in Katchatheevu and do their fishing and where Sri Lankan fishermen used to come and stay in India and continue with their fishing activities. The 1974 accord that ceded Katchatheevu, however, ensured fishing rights for Indians around the isle, but the right was nullified in a subsequent agreement between foreign secretaries in 1976. Yet, Tamil Nadu fishermen visited the island without any hassle till 1983. All that changed after a civil war broke out between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan army. Though the Eelam war is over, the Katchatheevu region still awaits peace. DO OR DIE SITUATION Though the fishermen, after a meeting with officials in the Centre, have decided to withdraw their indefinite strike and venture into the sea again from August 3, fear and anxiety is written on their faces. Emarit A, president, Rameshwaram Fisherman Association, said, "Indian fishermen go to the sea for livelihood but they are seen as criminals and handcuffed and taken away. For us the sea is our lifeline whether we die or live it will be in the sea." advertisement While standing in the shores of Rameshwaram and watching these men move into the sea it looks like a jolly ride, but travelling in their boat in their shoes will have a different story. A story of struggle, and battle with the sea on a day to day basis. ALSO READ: Country's first green train corridor opened between Rameswaram and Manamadurai --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Apart from being professional rivals on screen, actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, have always valued each other's friendship since the 80s. Kamal Haasan, who suffered the fracture after he slipped and fell in his Chennai office, underwent a second surgery at a private hospital in Chennai. ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan back on his feet, tweets improving health condition advertisement ALSO READ: Kabali- Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan to reunite for a special screening? ALSO READ: Thalaivar Rajinikanth's Twitter account hacked, handle retrieved hours later According to Indiaglitz, Kamal Haasan's niece and actor Suhasini Mani Ratnam, had informed Latha Rajinikanth that the actor has been going through a lot of pain. Upon hearing this news, actor Rajinikanth wanted rush to the hospital to be with his friend but it seems like Latha Rajinikanth denied the actor. She had to make this harsh decision as Rajinikanth himself was undergoing treatment in the US and he just returned to Chennai. It is also said that Kamal Haasan's health condition has caused an emotional distress to Rajinikanth. Also, Rajinikanth tried contacting his friend Kamal Haasan over phone but the latter was admitted in the intensive care unit and hence, he couldn't get through. Earlier to this, reports said that Rajinikanth arranged a special screening of Kabali for Kamal Haasan but the actor had to give it a miss after the fracture. Notably, actor Kamal Haasan flew to Singapore when Rajinikanth underwent a kidney dialysis in 2011. Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan is still recovering from the surgery. He tweeted that he tried to walk with some assistance. --- ENDS --- 4/8/2016 From a young age, Paul Glossop had always been interested in real estate. After finishing school, he completed an initial diploma in architectural technology, but it wasnt until his second degree and subsequent opportunities abroad that he realised how property was going to influence his life. It was an education degree that allowed Paul to live and work in London for two years where, in 2006, he became exposed to the local real estate boom. Living and working in London reignited my interest and love for real estate, although I became much more interested in how investors were using property as a vehicle to create wealth whilst continuing their chosen vocation, he says. PAUL'S BEST PIECE OF ADVICE Set stretch goals and objectives for the short, mid and long term. Align yourself with successful investors and take your time its not a race. Understand investing from every angle and not just the property youre buying, but how that property is going to help you achieve your short-, mid- and long-term goals. Dont be afraid to buy where you wouldnt want to live its a nonemotional purchase. I arrived back in Sydney in 2008 with my now wife and with $2,000 to our names... We both decided to get serious about buying our first property Paul explains that London, albeit on the other side of the globe, has a very similar market to some of our Australian major cities tight supply issues, high demand and strong yields. At the time of their previous growth cycle, they had a strong economy that was until the GFC exposed those too highly leveraged, he says. But, as history will show, London came out of the GFC, investors took advantage of a depressed market and they have made serious returns of 60- 80% since 2009. This is where Paul first recognised the power of research, property cycles and investing in fundamentals. I arrived back in Sydney in 2008 with my now wife and with $2,000 to our names, Paul says. At the time, we both decided to get serious about our careers and about buying our first property with the intent of investing sterically to create a property portfolio that would sustain capital growth into the future and also create a desired passive income position within 15 years. During this time, Paul worked in the pharmaceutical industry while his wife remained a teacher. We made our first investment at the bottom of a depressed market in Sydney (Cronulla) in 2010 with a $20,000 deposit, he says. Paul attributes this first purchase as the beginning of their success and the beginning of his new career as a property investor and founder of a successful property investment advisory firm. Strategising Paul explains that, on a personal level, he prefers to continually evolve his strategy while the end goals and objectives remain the same. He explains that every property investment journey is unique and there is no one size fits all approach. The strategies we set for our clients are always bespoke to their situations and what they are trying to achieve, he says. We have bought everything from one-bedroom units in areas dominated by young professionals with tight supply, to free-standing suburban houses with strong yield and long-term investment strategies, right up to small development sites turning a single property into a multiple townhouse investment, creating strong equity and cash flow. TOP 5 NEGOTIATION TIPS 1 Understand the motivation of the vendor. This is the key to understanding how much they truly need to sell. 2 Look to utilise contract negotiations in your favour to gain a reduced price or settlement conditions, which will also allow you to show prospective tenants prior to settlement to maximise cash flow. 3 Avoid competition where possible as this invariably means increased demand. 4 Get your finances sorted before you start your search. 5 Use a trusted and qualified buyers agent to maximise the savings on purchase price. LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT PAUL I once backpacked solo across the USA at the age of 17. I quit my high-paying corporate job at the age of 33 to establish my company (enabled through previous property investing). And Im a massive believer in doing what makes you happy. As an investment property expert and licensed buyers agent, Paul is now dedicated to helping busy professionals create financial freedom through education. We work with our clients to educate them on how to better leverage their income and equity to invest in highperforming properties. The strategies are easy to understand but extremely powerful, he explains. In terms of experience, Paul attributes his success and large portfolio to the industry insight and personal education he has acquired along the way. My background was not a financial one, he says. However, I am a tertiary educated teacher and have worked within some of the biggest companies in the world, in both sales and education settings. This experience taught me a large amount about what true success and true knowledge look like both from a personal perspective and also from a client experience perspective. Making plans Paul reveals his future plans for his company involves pushing the Australian property investment buyers agency space into the mainstream professional market. I want to build a reputation in the industry so that my company is a benchmark for both property investment outcomes and industry-leading education. [I want to] enable every investor to create successful and sustainable property portfolios which are aligned to their goals and objectives. On a personal level, Paul says his ambition is to continue to build their portfolio over time in a sustainable fashion. We have already created an extremely successful portfolio and are looking at opportunities such as small developments and equity gains, he says. The medium-term goal is to build our portfolio to around 20 properties, $6-7m in value, and then consolidate in our 40s with the option to sell down and generate a $250k passive income stream by our late 40s. We are definitely well on our way to achieving this. In the current market, Paul says his strategy focuses on areas that are showing strong infrastructure spending, both now and in the future. We are always looking for properties that dont rely on any negative gearing to turn a cash flow profit and are anywhere from a 10-35km radius of major metropolitan cities, he says. We look for areas that have a tight supply to demand ratio and always showing a sub 2.5% vacancy rate, amongst other things. In short, we are buying in a wide and varied scope of the Brisbane market, and parts of the Hobart market. We see opportunity in the future for parts of Perth and also areas within Adelaide. Looking back Without wanting to sound cliche, Paul admits that there is always a certain amount of regret with any journey. My biggest lesson early on in the piece was buying a property within the Hunter Valley based on one- to two-dimensional economic drivers, he says. I only did this once and I have learnt a great deal from that decision. It has not lost us money, but what it cost was the opportunity to invest elsewhere at the time and who knows what that could have achieved for us. Furthermore, Paul reveals that if he had his time over, he would invest further in a buyers agent who was focused on his personal goals and objectives to make certain he was investing in properties that suited his needs. The small amount it costs comparative to the investment is by far the best money we could have ever spent, he says. Passing on his wisdom Paul explains one of the most important lessons for anyone looking to start their own business is to not underestimate the time and commitment it takes. It should not be a lifestyle decision, as I work more hours now than I did in my corporate career, he says. However, it is an absolute passion, and if your heart is not in it, your head will not allow it. Also, I personally work off a company mission that good enough is not good enough. Im a very firm believer that if you are satisfied with close enough, you will only ever achieve a close enough outcome. He explains that one of the many benefits of running his own business is the constant exposure to the next markets to grow. We obviously always have great properties come to us at excellent price points, so from a personal portfolio perspective, it gives us the opportunity to buy great properties ongoing. "Hillary Clinton has proven herself unfit to serve in any government office," Trump said in a statement shortly after Obama challenged Republican leaders to withdraw support for their "woefully unprepared" nominee. By Reuters: US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump shot back at President Barack Obama's criticism of him as unfit for office, saying Democratic rival Hillary Clinton has embraced policies that have hurt national security and America's workers. "Hillary Clinton has proven herself unfit to serve in any government office," Trump said in a statement shortly after Obama issued a scathing attack and challenged Republican leaders to withdraw support for their "woefully unprepared" nominee. advertisement OBAMA'S ATTACK President Barack Obama had previously attacked Donald Trump on Tuesday for criticizing a Muslim family whose US Army captain son was killed in Iraq, and he challenged Republican leaders to withdraw support for their "unfit" nominee. Obama's comments added to a growing number of statements from Republicans and Democrats lambasting Trump for his criticism of Khizr and Ghazala Khan, who appeared at the Democratic National Convention last week. Trump questioned whether Mrs. Khan did not speak at the convention because she was prevented from doing so by her religion and he characterized Mr. Khan's criticism of him as "vicious." Families who lose sons or daughters who serve in the US military are called Gold Star families. "The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that had made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf or our country, the fact that he doesn't appear to have basic knowledge around critical issues in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia means that he's woefully unprepared to do this job," Obama said of Trump during a White House news conference. ALSO READ: Billionaire Warren Buffett ready to take on Donald Trump Khans are not always terrorists: Chorus against Donald Trump grows, Obama joins --- ENDS --- Latest News Washington, DC - Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Ziad Haider will visit Vientiane, Laos from August 2-5 and join Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Barbara Weisel and U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN Nina Hachigian for the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting. Special Representative Haider will discuss progress on U.S.-ASEAN Connect, which President Obama announced during the U.S.-ASEAN Sunnylands Summit in February as the new strategic framework for economic engagement in the ASEAN region. Special Representative Haider will highlight the efforts the U.S. government has already taken under U.S.-ASEAN Connect and preview the official launch for Connect, which will take place in September during the Presidents historic visit to Laos for the U.S-ASEAN Summit and East Asia Summit. Special Representative Haider will meet with representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce and U.S.-ASEAN Business Council to rally private sector support for programs and events to be launched in September under U.S.-ASEAN Connects four pillars: business, energy, innovation, and policy. He will also use this opportunity to discuss bilateral commercial and trade issues with senior Lao officials. Finally, Special Representative Haider will follow up on the momentum from the June 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Silicon Valley and meet with entrepreneurs to highlight the American brand of innovation while promoting shared prosperity and inclusive growth. Latest News Washington, DC - The Department of State has designated Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Mohamed Abrini as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons and groups determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. As a result of these designations, all property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Abrini have any interest is blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Abrini. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) is a splinter group of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) based in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. The group, founded by a former TTP leader in August 2014, has staged multiple attacks in the region targeting civilians, religious minorities, military personnel, and law enforcement, and was responsible for the killing of two Pakistani employees of the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar in early March 2016. In late March 2016, JuA carried out the suicide assault at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal amusement park in Lahore, Pakistan that killed more than 70 peoplenearly half of them women and childrenand injured hundreds more. The Easter Sunday attack was the deadliest terror attack in Pakistan since December 2014. Mohamed Abrini is a member of the Europe-based Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) cell responsible for the November 2015 Paris attacks and March 2016 Brussels attacks. Since his arrest on April 8, 2016 by Belgian authorities, Abrini has been identified as being the man in whitealso known as the man in the hatseen with two identified suicide bombers at Brussels Zaventem airport on March 22, just minutes before the attack that killed 16 people. Abrini is also believed to have taken part in the pre-attack surveillance for the November 2015 Paris attacks and to have assisted in planning attacks in the UK and Germany. The imposition of sanctions by the United States against terrorists is a powerful tool. Todays action notifies the U.S. public and the international community that Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Mohamed Abrini are actively engaged in terrorism. Designations of terrorist individuals and groups expose and isolate organizations and individuals, and result in denial of access to the U.S. financial system. Moreover, designations can assist or complement the law enforcement actions of other U.S. agencies and other governments. The poor professors have never had it so bad. There is nothing that they can do that does not run foul of the media. Especially if it has to do with dresses. Let them but whisper the words dress code, and the entire media brigade descends on them. Every Tomlinson, Dickinson and harried socialite wannabe is called in to pour out their outrage at these otherwise respected guys.

And it does not help that they look such fuddy duddys on TV. In this uneven contest they come out looking like dinosaurs, stuck in another age and knowing nothing about liberalism, freedom or fashion. No one could even remotely imagine letting their ilk set the agenda for what to dress.

But make no mistake about it, freedom has nothing to do with the issue. We do follow trends. And the anxiety to get it right could be terrible. In a college, or in any other non-fashionable place, it does not really matters. Who gives a care if someone walks in wearing a white lungi, or a faded kurta into a classroom. But say you are in an upmarket restaurant, and the first people to give you a stare if you go out dressed wrong would be the waiters, probably following you all around (their gaze, i.e!). It could be even worse in a nightclub you could be denied entry.

So it is just as necessary to go out not dressed in suits and ties to night clubs, as it is necessary to go out in them in a business conference.

Me, I am a fashion dinosaur. I make my capris by cutting off the bottom of my pyjamas, and I have yet to figure out the difference between my old jeans, which were torn when I fell off a moving bus, and the torn stuff that has been in rage.

So, you will understand my bewilderment at all this fashion fundamentalism. The bottomline though is that trends are set increasingly by the fashion designers, models, socialites and the P3P, and are religiously followed.

Why is this so?

One reason is that with the advent of the television age, suddenly people who were anybody (which means they have to appear of TV), could not afford not to be well groomed anymore. This thing has combined in recent days with our fanaticism to have experts for everything from baby food to military security the guy (or the gal) doing the advising must have unimpeachable credentials that s/he can actually do that.

So these citizens of the fashion world serve as experts for an important concern, look. And look muh dahlings is important. Witness how the packaging industry has grown. Witness also the concept that things need to be packaged properly, has grown. Everything today is packaged. There is the physical package and the metaphorical package. There is the packaged bottle of water, and there is the packaged tour. There is also packaged spirituality and others things that one never imagined deserved a package.

So how could humans not be packaged? The look dahlings, is the package. It puts the proper spin on the person. Puts him in perspective, gives him a context, and says something about him. Those who can afford it, do not dare to leave such an important thing to there own bumblings. They call in the experts.

This is as it were, looking at the issue from the inside. From the point of view of people who with a passion follow the fashion, (forgive the doggerel).

There is another way to look at it. From the point of view of the industry that thrives on it. This circle includes not just the designers and the models, but also the big retail chains (Westside and Shoppers Stop are an example) and branded clothing corporations. One may go on to say that it also includes all those who profit from the beauty industry: cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, (in twenty thousand colour for twenty thousand types of hair and I am not exaggerating dahlings) enhancements, spas (chocolate, wine milk, stones, are the new substitutes for plain old bath water), and then dance classes, etiquette, self development etc, etc.

Because Look is not only about clothing, but a lot other things besides.

This entire industry has a stake in keeping people perpetually anxious about their looks. No, I am not suggesting a grand conspiracy against the women, (and lately the men) of this earth but simply that a huge swathe of the corporate world thrives on our look-anxiety and therefore, quite naturally, do everything to subtly reinforce it. This happens through various means well funded researches on the virtues of being slim, expert opinions, etc but mainly through ads.

Have you noticed how the 21st century woman or the liberated woman or the empowered woman in the ads is always someone who has the perfectly shaped body and is draped in designer wear?

If you dont look like that, walk like that and talk like that it is subtly implied then you do not qualify for the above titles. Thats social conditioning for you.

There is nothing wrong in being look conscious. It is a sign of civilisation to bother about how you look. One must, without doubt, try to look ones best but that is where it should halt. One should not start trying to look like someone else, however gorgeous.

We all are unique. Different, without the help of any designer. What could be better than that?

By India Today Web Desk: Uber CEO and co-founder Travis Kalanick recently announced the merger of the travelling app's operations in China with rival company, Didi Chuxing. In the light of this event, Kalanick penned a moving letter for the UberChina team, thanking them for their "inspiring" performance. Calling it his "most rewarding experiences as an entrepreneur," Kalanick wrote about how Uber expanded to China and went on to have a successful run. advertisement Apart from the bits of corporate jargon, Kalanick's letter is a moving account of a entrepreneur that can inspire one and all. Read the full text here: "Team, I wanted to let you know that we have reached an agreement to merge UberChina with Didi Chuxing. UberChina's value will represent a 20% stake in the combined entity with Uber being Didi's largest shareholder. Let me explain why we are doing this. Three years ago, a small group of us went on a scouting mission to Beijing to see how we could expand into China. It was a big, bold idea, especially given that Uber was still a relatively small start-up and no one in China had ever even heard of us. And of course, anytime we got into a discussion about our efforts in China, most people thought we were naive, crazy - or both. We saw things differently of course. China is an inspiring country with astonishing opportunity. Many of the world's mega cities are Chinese, and their thirst for transportation innovation is second to none. Uber's mission to make "transportation as reliable as running water, everywhere for everyone" resonates especially strongly in China." Being an entrepreneur means you are an explorer by nature "Being an entrepreneur means you are an explorer by nature, doing what everyone thinks is impossible but with an optimistic perspective on the unknown. Uber entered this uncharted territory in February 2014, two years after Didi was founded. We were a young American business entering a country where most US internet companies had failed to crack the code, and with a product that needed rebuilding. Our China effort has been one of Uber's most entrepreneurial because we literally had to start from scratch. Since launching just over two years ago, we have expanded to over 60 cities in China and we are serving over 40 million rides per week. Our team is now 800 strong, nobly serving their cities. Our philosophy on people has always been to hire the best of the best and our incredible success in China is due to all of you. You are the smartest and most entrepreneurial sons and daughters of China whose mission has been to build a transportation system in every Chinese city, and to serve those cities and to serve the people." Your efforts have been an inspiration to me "In the startup community in Beijing and across China, our people and our systems for empowering them have set the gold standard for Chinese technology companies. Your efforts -- and the efforts of our China engineering and product teams back in San Francisco -- have not only been been an inspiration to our thousands of employees globally but to me personally. advertisement However, as an entrepreneur, I've learned that being successful is about listening to your head as much as following your heart. Sustainably serving China's cities, and the riders and drivers who live in them, is only possible with profitability. This merger paves the way for our team and Didi's to partner on an enormous mission, and it frees up a substantial resources for bold initiatives focused on the future of cities -- from self-driving technology to the future of food and logistics." I'm incredibly proud of everything we have achieved "Uber is a better, stronger company because of our China experience. Didi has been a fierce competitor and I respect all that Didi and their team have accomplished. UberChina certainly rose to the occasion and your hustle and work ethic is the stuff of legend. Working with and learning from all of you in this remarkable China journey has been one of the great experiences in my life. advertisement I want to thank Yanqi, Kate, Gang, Cleo, Zhen, Allen and the entire UberChina team for getting us to this point. A big shout out as well to our UberChina product and engineering team, led by Han, Vinay and Pedram, for all their hard work and creativity. China was a big bet for us and I'm incredibly proud of everything we have achieved. I will be doing an All Hands to talk to you all about our new journey forward, and how we will work with our new partner in serving China and her cities. Stay tuned for the exact time--Allen will send a note around shortly. With much UberChina love, Travis" --- ENDS --- Washington: US President Barack Obama on Wednesday commuted the sentences of 214 drug offenders, the single biggest act of presidential clemency in over a century. The White House said Obama had forgiven a fresh group of prisoners, including 67 who had been serving life sentences. Most were guilty of non-violent crimes, many involving possession or distribution of crack cocaine. The actions "represent the most grants in a single day since at least 1900," said Neil Eggleston, the White House counsel to the president. Obama has now made 562 commutations, "more commutations than the previous nine presidents combined," Eggleston said. The move is part of Obama`s effort to push ahead with criminal justice reform. The United States currently has among the world`s highest incarceration rates and puts a disproportionate number of black and Hispanic Americans behind bars. One often cited reason are mandatory sentencing laws for the use of crack that are tougher than those for cocaine. Nevada: A fighter jet crashed on Tuesday about five miles from the Naval Air Station at Fallon, Nevada, a US Navy spokesman said. The spokesman did not have information on the pilot of the F/A-18-C Hornet following the crash at about 10:45 am local time. The Reno Gazette-Journal newspaper reported that the pilot was taken to a nearby hospital after ejecting. A spokeswoman for the hospital declined to provide information on the pilot`s condition. Naval Air Station Fallon is about 55 miles northeast of Carson City in western Nevada. A Marine pilot was killed last week when an F/A-18 crashed during a training mission near Twentynine Palms, California. District of Columbia: The United States on Wednesday designated a suspect in the Brussels and Paris attacks known as "the man in the hat" as a global terrorist, blocking any US assets he may have. The sanctions targeted Mohammed Abrini, a Belgian of Moroccan descent who was caught on surveillance video with two suicide bombers minutes before the March 22 attacks at the Brussels airport. Abrini, 31, who was arrested April 8, has confessed to being "the man in white" or the "man in the hat" seen on the video. In all, 32 people were killed at the airport and a Brussels metro station. The State Department said he was a member of the Islamic State group cell that carried out the attacks in Brussels and in Paris on November 13, 2015, that killed 130 people. He is suspected of taking part in surveillance ahead of the Paris attack and of helping to plan attacks in Britain and Germany, according to the State Department. The United States reserves the "global terrorist" designation for foreign individuals or groups who have committed or are deemed to pose a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism that threaten US national security. The action freezes any assets Abrini may have in US jurisdictions, and prohibits Americans from engaging in any transactions with him. Beijing/Islamabad: Pakistan's Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif on Wednesday travelled to China's militancy-hit Muslim-majority Xinjiang province in a rare visit and met his Chinese counterpart General Fang Fenghui, promising to crackdown on Uighur militants. The two Generals discussed military-to-military relations, bilateral security cooperation and all dimension of long term China-Pakistan Economic Corridor security, according to a press release issued by Inter Services Public Relations. Fang said China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners and mutual support between their armed forces is critical for safeguarding regional peace and stability. On his part, Gen Sharif pledged to firmly crack down on terrorist forces like the al-Qaeda linked 'East Turkestan Islamic Movement' and protect the security of the economic corridor. Gen Sharif, who arrived in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi on a day-long visit, also met with Communist Party Secretary of Xinjiang province Zhang Chun Xian. They discussed bilateral ties and regional security issue with particular reference to USD 46 billion CPEC's completion and its security. CPEC will link the Pakistani city of Gwadar to China's Xinjiang via a vast network of highways and railways, allowing China access to Arabian Sea. Xinjiang is hit by a separatist movement whose supporters claim that the region is not part of China and they oppose settlement of majority Han population in the province which could change the Uyghur character of the region. Kathmandu: Nepal`s Parliament elected former guerrilla and Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal as prime minister Wednesday after his predecessor resigned following deadly unrest over a divisive new constitution. Dahal, better known by his nom de guerre Prachanda or "the fierce one", led a decade-long Maoist insurgency before transforming the rebel movement into a political party after a 2006 peace deal. He is now tasked with rebuilding the country after a devastating earthquake and resolving simmering unrest over a divisive new constitution adopted last September. "I pledge that I will unite everyone in the country," he said in an address to parliament ahead of the vote. "I have a responsibility to solve this problem. I feel that I have been put forward as a candidate to work as a bridge between (communities)," he said. Dahal, head of the Maoist party, ran unopposed and secured 363 out of 573 votes to become the Himalayan nation`s premier for a second time. He has served as prime minister once before, after the Maoists won elections in 2008, but only lasted nine months in office before resigning. Dahal, whose Maoists are the third largest force in parliament, pulled out of a coalition led by K.P. Sharma Oli -- the former prime minister -- three weeks ago and secured the support of the biggest party, the Nepali Congress. He also won the backing of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) -- an alliance of protesting parties -- paving the way for warmer ties between the new government and demonstrators from the Madhesi ethnic minority. Oli faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests against the charter, which triggered a months-long border blockade by demonstrators who say the constitution has left them marginalised. More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters. The new charter, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to bolster Nepal`s transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. But continuing discussions between the government and protesters over the constitution have failed to break the deadlock. United Nations: The Saudi-led coalition must address "very serious concerns" about the killing of children in Yemen, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said today, but the alliance remained off a blacklist of child rights violators. Ban reported to the Security Council on his controversial decision to temporarily remove the coalition from the UN list of shame, a move that sparked an outcry from human rights groups. Saudi Arabia reacted angrily to the decision in June to blacklist the coalition after a UN report found the military alliance was responsible for 60 percent of the 785 children's deaths in Yemen last year. "I still have very strong concerns about the protection of Yemeni children," Ban said, adding that the United Nations is continuing its review with the Saudi-led coalition. Last week, Saudi Arabia outlined in a 13-page confidential letter to the UN secretary-general the measures that the coalition is taking to prevent civilian deaths. In the letter obtained by AFP, Saudi Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi offered to share with the United Nations the results of 10 investigations of air strikes on hospitals, homes, a wedding party and markets. Ban said he had received information on the steps taken by the coalition, but that these fell short and that "the content of the report stands." "We will continue our engagement to ensure that concrete measures to protect children are implemented," he told a council debate on children and armed conflicts. Leila Zerrougui, the UN envoy for children in conflict, told reporters that the review was focused on future steps to protect children, suggesting that the coalition would not be put back on the list. "What happened in the past, for me, is behind," said Zerrougui. Speaking to reporters outside the council chamber, Mouallimi repeated that the de-listing of the coalition was "irreversible, final and unconditional." "I said that then and it is even more true today." The coalition has invited UN officials to come to Riyadh to discuss their concerns and to obtain information on the investigations, he added. In his letter, the Saudi ambassador said the coalition had set up a committee to compensate victims and opened a direct dialogue with aid organizations to guarantee the protection of hospitals. Mouallimi also provided details of steps taken to designate targets and ensure they have "identifiable military purposes." They include drawing up a list of prohibited targets such as schools and diplomatic missions and working with "local forces to identify and vet targets for airstrikes." Guwahati: Two Indigo aircraft had a miraculous escape when they averted colliding with one another over Guwahati, as per media reports. Reports said that the incident took place on Tuesday evening when an Indigo flight from Mumbai to Guwahati was about to land at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. At the same time, another Indigo flight, bound for Chennai, took off. It supposedly crossed the flight path of the first aircraft. An Indigo spokesman was quoted by media houses as saying that the flight en route to Guwahati had experienced turbulence due to monsoon and that had caused it to climb down by 250-300 feet. This was just when the Chennai-bound aircraft was taking off. However, the flight made a normal landing. By Rohini Swamy: Bangalore is all set to get its mojo back with its nightlife being extended till 1 am. But what is interesting is that the newly appointed Karnataka excise minister HY Meti defends the extension with his elitist comment. "Drunk people sleeping on footpaths is common in villages. But in Bengaluru, the people are educated and don't sleep on footpaths after consuming alcohol, Meti said. This was the minister's idea of trying to explain why liquor shops will be open till 1 am in the city. advertisement STATEMENT SHOWS THE URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE This comment has drawn sharp criticism as the minister's statement shows the urban-rural divide. The excise minister also said that his department will be taking stringent measures to curb illicit liquor that is being sold in villages, but the state is at no point of time considering implementing prohibition of liquor like in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. While speaking to the media Meti said, "No fresh licences would be issued for new bars and restaurants, but Mysore Sales International Ltd. will be allowed to open retail outlets wherever needed." Karnataka Home minister Dr Parameshwara said that he has no idea as under what context the minister made the statement. "I dont know why he made it and what the context is, but I do know that he said it with reference to the extended timings, thats all," Parameshwara added. ALSO READ: Own The Night: Head to these Bangalore hotspots for the "after hours" party --- ENDS --- New Delhi: AAP MLA and a former minister, Asim Ahmed Khan on Wednesday accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of trying to frame his family members in false cases and threatened to "expose" him. Khan said: "I know many things which would create problem for him (Kejriwal). This is why he want to frame my family members to silence me. But I will soon expose him." He said that Kejriwal should not involve his family in their quarrel. "This is being done by Kejriwal and his aides. I want to tell him that his fight is with me and he should not frame my family members in false cases," he said. This is not the first instance that Khan has accused the Delhi Chief Minister. Khan had earlier accused Kejriwal of conspiring to kill him. Now he says that he had prior knowledge of an August 2, incident, and had apparently even registered a police complaint preempting the incident. Khan alleged that on July 31, his sources in the Chief Minister's office tipped him off that his father Haji Munne Ali (68) might be implicated in a false molestation case. "On August 2, two to three women came to my father's shop in Meena Bazaar area in Old Delhi and started abusing him. The women then started shouting that my father had misbehaved with them," says Khan. New Delhi: A 12-year-old girl, who was abducted from Delhi in 2006, returned home after being sold eight times and raped by several men in the past 10 years. Her mother, who saw the girl at her doorstep, could barely believe her eyes. However, her joy was short-lived after the girl told her that she had been sexually assaulted by several men all these years. Saina (name changed), then 12, had gone to visit a relative nearby when was abducted by a couple at Janta Colony, Seelampur. She said that the couple dragged her inside a car and then drugged her. After she regained her consciousness, Saina found herself in a locked room with several other girls of her age in Ambala. She stayed in the room for next few days after which the couple sold her to a farmer in Gujarat. The girl's mother told media that for next years, Saina was kept confirmed in a petrol pump room were she was made to work in the field during the days. During this period, the farmer's son kept sexually assaulting her. The girl also claimed that the farmer's son used to beat her up regularly and even burnt her cigarettes. After two years, the couple who had abducted her, returned and took her to a Punjab village where she was forced to marry an elderly driver in an exchange of Rs 30,000 and then again to another man for Rs 40,000. Saina told her family during these ten years, she was sold at least eight times to different people and was raped by at least 30 men. Saina's mother said that the girl went missing in July 2006, however despite her regular visit to the local police station, the missing complaint was registered much later in September that year. According to the mother, the family lost all hope of her return after constant search for five years. The police said that now that the girl has returned home, a case will be registered and action will be taken against those involved in the crime. Ahmedabad: Anandiben Patel on Wednesday submitted her resignation as the Chief Minster of Gujarat to Governor OP Kohli. Earlier today, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accepted Patel's resignation, after she offered to resign saying she was soon going to turn 75. Patel, the first woman chief minister of Gujarat offered to quit keeping in mind the BJP`s tradition of leaders vacating their post as they turn 75. The BJP`s state legislature meeting will take place on Thursday under the leadership of party president Amit Shah to decide the next chief minister of the state. London: A 10-year-old Indian-origin girl has been crowned as Britain's brightest child after she won a popular television quiz competition in the UK. Rhea shot ahead in Tuesday's final of 'Child Genius 2016' on Channel 4 with six correct answers and then drew equal with her opponent Saffy on nine points as they entered the final head-to-head question round. Rhea, who moved to the UK with her family from the US six years ago and now lives in west London, correctly spelled the word "eleemosynary", meaning relating to charity, to claim the title at the end of four weeks of tough question rounds. "It's meant getting up early, going to sleep late, studying. It just feels really, really great," Rhea said after her win. Her mother Sonal, who gave up her job as an obstetrician to train Rhea, had stepped in to contest an incorrect answer that she had given during her specialist subject round on Florence Nightingale's influence on military and healthcare reform. Independent adjudicator Olivia van der Werff agreed the question had been too general and accepted Rhea's answer of Dr Duncan Menzies to the question: "To which medical officer did Florence Nightingale report to in the Crimea?" It meant that Rhea avoided a tie-break with Birmingham-born Stephen, who was ranked third, with Saffy and Rhea securing their place in the final. The move triggered some social media backlash against Sonal, who was branded as too "pushy". One Twitter comment read: "Rhea is such a smart young lady but her mother is shocking! This isn't about you..." "Rhea's parents are ridiculously pushy, poor kid," read another tweet. Earlier, Sonal had rejected concerns that programmes such as 'Child Genius' can put too much pressure on youngsters. "Rhea loved doing it. The show gives them a chance to be with kids like them, to be in that room and feel normal," she said. The quiz show is hosted by Richard Osman, who described this year's show as "the greatest final in the history of Child Genius". Shimla: Himachal Government today released five per cent interim relief to its employees and pensioners from August 1 this year. The Interim Relief (IR) would be paid on basic salary plus Grade Pay but would not be part of salary and no allowance would be payable on it, a notification issued by the government said. The pensioners would also get five percent interim relief from August 2016, payable along with pension for the month. The release of IR would put annual burden of about Rs 300 crore on the state exchequer, Additional Chief secretary, SK Baldi said. Chief minister Virbhadra Singh had made the announcement to release five per cent IR from August 1 during his budget speech in March this year. However, the government has not yet released the installment of six per cent additional DA to the employees which was due from January 1, 2016. Meanwhile, the government?today announced 8.1 per cent interest on general provident Fund and other such savings to the employees for current Financial Year. Ahmedabad: It seems Gujarat BJP chief Vijay Rupani is all set to become the next chief minister of Gujarat. According to sources, Amit Shah wants Vijay Rupani to be next Gujarat CM. BJP chief Amit Shah has called a meeting of the party's parliamentary board on Wednesday to pick the next chief minister of Gujarat. Reportedly, the party's board will meet at 9 am at 7, Race Course Road, PM Narendra Modi's official residence. Also, sources say that the next CM for Gujarat will be finalised after nod by PM Narendra Modi. KNOW ABOUT VIJAY RUPANI Earlier, on Monday, in a sudden move ahead of Gujarat Assembly polls, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel offered to resign, saying it was time for new leadership to take over since she is soon going to turn 75. During Patel's over two-year-old tenure, the BJP for the first time in the post-Narendra Modi era in Gujarat has faced multiple challenges including defeat in rural areas in the civic polls, a powerful agitation by Patel community for OBC quota and the ongoing Dalit unrest over the flogging incident after the skinning of a dead cow in Una. New Delhi: Realising the threat posed by the powerful China's People's Liberation Army, the Indian government, has decided to equip its Army with advanced version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. The missiles that will be deployed around the northeast border will have "trajectory manoeuvre and steep-dive capabilities" that would meet the requirements needed in the mountain warfare, 'The Times of India' reported. The report stated that the Cabinet headed by Prime Ministre Narendra Modi has given a go ahead for the Rs 4,300 crore regiment. Around 100 missiles will be deployed on the northeast frontier. BrahMos is a 290-km range supersonic land attack cruise missile. The fire-and-forget Missile has the capability to take on surface-based targets by flying a combined high-low trajectory, thus evading enemy air defence systems. The missile, having a range of 290-km and a Mach 2.8 speed, is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against sea and land targets. Brahmos is a joint venture between DRDO of India and NPOM of Russia. Beijing: China on Wednesday lodged a diplomatic protest with Japan accusing it of "deceiving" international community and stiring up trouble with its neighbours, a day after a Japanese defence white paper attacked Beijing for muscle-flexing in the disputed East and South China seas. "China is strongly dissatisfied with Japan's 2016 defence white paper over its groundless accusations against China's defence development and military activities," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement. China made solemn representations (diplomatic protests) to Japan over the irresponsible white paper, she said . In its statement, the Chinese Defence Ministry expressed strong opposition to the Japanese white paper calling the annual document hostile to the Chinese military and deceptive to the international community. "The white paper issued on August 2, full of hackneyed expressions, distorts China's justified and reasonable defence work, heightening issues in the South China Sea and the East China Sea," Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said in a statement. "Filled with hostility to the Chinese military, it stirs up trouble between China and its neighbours, and attempts to deceive the international community, " Wu said. The Defence paper released in Tokyo yesterday expressed Japan's heightened concern over China's muscle-flexing in the East and South China seas. This year's white paper adopted a more critical tone against Beijing's maritime activities and militarisation of the disputed waters compared with the previous report, Japanese news agency, Kyodo reported. Japan has no right to make carping comments on China's legitimate activities near Diaoyu Islands, Hua said, stressing that China's determination to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests is "unshakable. She noted that China's navy and air force activities are in line with international law, domestic law as well as national defence needs. She said China will not accept the "award" of the South China Sea arbitration initiated unilaterally by the Philippines, adding that China will continue to work for the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiation between countries directly concerned on the basis of respect for historical facts. Hua blamed Japan for fabricating excuses for military expansion through stirring up enmity on regional security. She asked Japan to earnestly learn from history, stick to a peaceful development path, act prudently in the military field and gain trust from its neighbours instead of undermining regional stability. Wu said the Chinese military has lodged solemn representations with Japan over the white paper. In the 480-page document, some 30 pages are devoted to irresponsible remarks on China's national defence and China's normal and legal maritime activities in the East and South China Seas, he said. New Delhi: Amid bilateral tensions over violence in Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday arrived in Pakistan to attend the seventh meeting of SAARC Home/Interior Ministers' Conference in Islamabad. After arriving in Islamabad, Singh met Amir Ahmed, the additional secretary of Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. Meanwhile, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin took to the streets of Islamabad to lodge protest against Singh's visit. Holding Singh responsible for the killings of his area commander Burhan Wani and Kashmiri protesters, the chief of United Jihad Council slammed the Pakistan government for welcoming the Indian Home Minister. A group of All Parties Hurriyat Conference workers also held a protest in Rawalpindi against Singh`s arrival. The protesters shouted anti-India slogans in Faizabad area of Rawalpindi, around 20 km from Islamabad where the two-day SAARC conference is being held. Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed led a rally in Lahore's Mall Road and vent out his anger over the government's decision to 'welcome' Singh despite his alleged "role in the killings of innocent Kashmiris". Saeed said the Pakistan government has added insult to the wounds of Kashmiris by welcoming Singh. "We were not expecting that the Pakistani rulers would welcome Singh who is responsible for the killings of innocent Kashmiris," he said, adding the rulers should have refused to receive the Indian home minister to lodge its protest over Kashmir atrocities. Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), a front for Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) also held demonstrations in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, Faisalabad, and Muzaffarabad. Before commencing on his trip, Rajnath Singh took to Twitter to say that he is looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime. Here is what he tweeted: Leaving for Islamabad to attend the SAARC HM Conference. This Conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 3, 2016 Looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 3, 2016 Issues related to most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and cross-border terrorism are likely to be the focus of Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the SAARC Interior/Home Ministers' meet tomorrow. It was not immediately clear whether Singh will meet his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan separately due to sudden strain in India-Pakistan relations after Islamabad glorified the death of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani. However, the Home Minister, in his speech at the SAARC meeting, is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan's support to Ibrahim and to terror groups operating in India and ask Islamabad to check Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and other groups based in that country. Singh is also likely to raise the issue of fake Indian currency notes being circulated at the behest of Pakistani agencies, sources said. Apart from terrorism, other key issues to be discussed include liberalisation of visa, illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and small arms and how to make coordinated and concerted efforts to combat such menace. Such meetings discuss regional cooperation on a number of security-related matters and take stock of progress in various regional mechanisms. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation leadership had agreed in 2005 during the 13th summit in Dhaka that Home/Interior Ministers of the SAARC nations may meet annually to strengthen cooperation in the area of counter-terrorism. The first meeting of Home/Interior Ministers was held in Dhaka on May 11, 2006. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi In order to curb illegal phone snooping, the government on Wednesday announced in Rajya Sabha that guidelines have been revised with an aim of tightening the process of obtaining telephone call data records (CDRs) of MPs and other citizens. The guidelines have been tightened as the government has found some of the police officers misusing CDRs, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said during Question Hour. Privacy of any citizen and confidentiality of telephone numbers being used by any citizen of this country for communication must be protected. If anybody breaches that, the government has to take serious action, he said. "Recently, on 28th (July), few days back, we have revised the guidelines. ...The initial guidelines were far general," the minister added. As per the revised guidelines, head of the police organisation's permission is required for obtaining CDRs of Members of Parliament. In city, Police Commissioner must authorise, Rijiju said. Only authorised officers and nodal designated officers in the Centre and state have been authorised with clear stipulation to maintain particular email ID and password to be updated timely, more preferably monthly, he added. That apart, every additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) or Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of the district, the Crime Branch, Economic Wing, Special Cell, IG Airport ACP and Special Cell, Crime Branch have been authorised to obtain CDRs, he added. Asserting that the government is taking serious note of misuse of CDRs, Rijiju said, "We have also found that some of the police officers are also involved. That's why we have been very strict. Within the system, we must have very strong measures in place..." The Delhi Police has detected two cases of illegal use of CDRs and many arrests have been made. "We are very confident that it will help in further getting into the similar cases as well as stop such cases in future," the minister noted. To a query by Sharad Yadav (JD-U) on any action taken against one capitalist allegedly involved in phone tapping of some ministers and even National Security Advisor, Rijiju said, "The case of phone tapping and the question on CDRs are inter-related. It is a serious issue." He said, "The Home Ministry has handed over the case to Delhi Police for investigation. We have also given all details to the court on this issue. A special cell has been set up and that is probing. The moment we get updates, we will inform the House." The MoS for Home Affairs, while refusing to disclose the details of the probe, said, "If I stand here and take stand when the inquiry is on, it will be unfair." With regard to phone tapping, he said approval of Home Secretary at the Centre and state is required. "We have taken this issue very seriously and hence have issued the guidelines," he said. The government is also strengthening centralised monitoring system, Rijiju added. Responding to another query, the minister said no external agency have been found in cases of illegal obtaining of CDRs. The Directorate of Revenue and NATGRID are among thers who have been authorised to conduct investigation. He also said the government is regulating use of imported phone tapping devices. It has seized some devices used for illegal purpose. The victim was left in the field by the criminals, who fled after committing the heinous act in Khadua road under CB Ganj police station. Vikas Khanna, Shipra Khanna and Ranveer Brar share recipes and food concepts you just have to know. Here are three books you just shouldn't miss out on this year. Picture courtesy: Facebook/Vikas Khanna and Instagram/shipras_kitchen By Shreya Goswami: All the homecooks out there would agree that nothing helps you teach how to cook better than cookbooks. Sure, it's great to watch TV food shows which explain the recipes with unforgettable visuals, but there's something more tangible and personal about a book. Of course, these days celebrity chefs are bringing together some amazing combinations of both TV and books--they shoot for a TV series, like Gordon Ramsay's Great Escape, and then come out with a cookbook with all the recipes from the show. advertisement While Indian chefs haven't exactly caught on to this trend, they are coming up with cookbook ideas that are unique, indigenous, and as good as (if not better) the books released by British or American chefs. So here are two fresh releases by Ranveer Brar and Shipra Khanna, and a much-awaited book by Vikas Khanna, that you should totally check out ASAP! Essence of Seasoning by Vikas Khanna There's not much about Chef Vikas Khanna that you'd want to miss, ever! And this book should be at the top of your must-have cookbooks list this year, simply because of the concept behind it. This is Vikas Khanna's 25th cookbook, and promises to be full of recipes and an anthology of apices. Picture courtesy: Facebook/Vikas Khanna This is Vikas Khanna's 25th cookbook, and promises to be full of recipes and an anthology of apices. Picture courtesy: Facebook/Vikas Khanna It's not just about the chef's all-time favourite recipes. All of Khanna's 24 books have a personal touch and connection, including his magnum opus,Utsav. So when he comes out with a new cookbook, you can be sure that it definitely has his personal favourites. This one is more than just that. It's about the ingredients with which you season food, and every stage of a spice's life, cinnamon and star anise for example. The Essence of Seasoning promises to be a cookbook and a food anthology that every foodie, homecook, and professional must read. Essence of Seasoning is set to release later this year. Also read: Chef Vikas Khanna makes it to the list of World's Most Influential Chefs Sinfully Yours by Shipra Khanna This MasterChef India-winner was unforgettable throughout the show, and after. If you thought her first book, The Spice Route, was remarkable, just wait till you find out what Sinfully Yours is about! Shipra Khanna's 2nd cookbook is all about her love for desserts. Picture courtesy: Amazon.com Here's a book that's going to give you everything sweet you ever craved for--chocolates, cakes, ice creams, and cookies. Khanna traces her culinary journey with all things sweet, from her grandmother and mother's recipes, to the ones that she baked to win MasterChef India. The concept of this book, a first by an Indian female chef, makes us wonder if she's going to do for desserts in India what Nigella Lawson did in the UK. Sinfully Yours, INR 219 (Paperback); INR 55 (Kindle Edition) Also read: Chef Ranveer Brar's new show is being telecast on Twitter. Yes, Twitter! Come Into My Kitchen by Ranveer Brar You've loved him in everything from Food Tripping to his more recent Twitter show, RanveerOnTheRoad. But nothing is as inviting as this celebrity chef's first cookbook and its contents. Ranveer Brar's first cookbook has the same engaging and fun-loving tone as his shows. Picture courtesy: Amazon.com Ranveer Brar's first cookbook has the same engaging and fun-loving tone as his shows. Picture courtesy: Amazon.com advertisement This book is all about the home, and comfort cooking. Brar shares some of his signature dishes, like Mithai Tiramisu, while describing how to use local products to their fullest benefit for flavour, aroma and texture. It also traces the chef's journey across the globe, from Lucknow to Boston, in search of the food we can all enjoy. Come Into My Kicthen, INR 384 (Paperback); INR 364.80 (Kindle Edition) If you love to cook and eat, if you love to prepare regular feasts for your family and friends, and if you are curious about food and how to use it with respect, these three books are must-reads. You'll find everything you need to know in these three books by Vikas Khanna, Shipra Khanna, and Ranveer Brar--from seasoning to spice up your life with, to comfort food at home, and everything sweet you've ever wanted to try. --- ENDS --- London: Hindu tradition does not allow conversion by means that amount to aggression on an individual's human rights, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said, emphasising that Hinduism is not a religion but a tradition which believes in accepting and respecting all identities. "After contemplating any philosophy or any religion, if one of his own will and wish decides to convert to it...Our tradition says every individual can independently decide what his faith should be. But using other means and converting people by lure or some other means, that is aggression on individual rights and that should not be allowed," he said. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh "Sarsanghchalak" was addressing a seminar on 'Identity and Integration', organised to mark the 50th anniversary of UK-based charity Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), in London last evening. Bhagwat also said that "Hindu is a sanskriti and not a religion". "Hindu is a tradition" which believes in "accepting, respecting and celebrating" all other identities, he said. "We have no problem with identities; we can live as an integrated society, humanity and universe. It has been achieved and lived by common people and can be found anywhere Hindus live. Hindu identity says diversity is to be celebrated," he said. Bhagwat quoted verses from the Atharva Veda to prove that diversity existed even in ancient times and "unity in diversity" was the central mantra of Hinduism. "Despite our history, we don't treat anyone like a foreigner...Only politics sometimes disrupts all this. But these are ripples and then we revert to normalcy because it is in our blood," he said. "Ultimately we are all human beings, all 'atmans' (soul). We respect and accept everyone's identity but have an eye on the underlying unity. That example has been created by Hindu society anywhere in the world and can resolve all conflict," he added. The 65-year-old RSS leader, who was surrounded by heavy security presence at the Navnat Centre in south London, was in the UK as chief guest of HSS UK's Mahashibir 2016, which concluded over the weekend. Yesterday's seminar concluded his UK tour and included panelists like Dr Girdharilal Bhan, former national president of VHP, Samani Pratibha Pragya, head nun of Jain Vishva Bharati London, and Gauri Das, managing director of Bhaktivedanta Manor ISKCON UK. In his message to the Hindu diaspora in the UK, Bhagwat said, "Hindus don't insist call yourself Hindu. But the values are all the same...We all believe in unity of existence and doing sewa (service) Don't fight among each other, stay united and work for the world's good." Kanpur: A minor girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by three persons who later dumped her on the outskirts of her village in this district, police said today. The girl has been admitted to a nursing home where her condition is said to be serious, her father said in his complaint to police. The 14-year-old had been kidnapped at Saibsu village on the evening of July 28 when she was returning home from the tomb of a local saint. When she did not return, her father did not inform police fearing "loss of face" in his village, but instead launched a search for her with relatives, Kanpur SSP Shalabh Mathur said. Two days later, the three accused -- Ashok, Vimlesh Mishra and Rohit, tried to leave the victim at her relative's place in a neighbouring village. They later dumped her at the outskirts of her village after the relative told them to drop the victim at her home. The SSP said the victim's father lodged an FIR only today, adding that a case has been registered. The girl was also sent for medical check-up today, he added. New Delhi/Kathmandu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday telephoned Prachanda, who was today elected by Nepal`s Parliament as the Himalayan nation`s new PM, and congratulated him. Prachanda, who led a decade-long insurgency that topped a feudal monarchy, was elected as the Nepal PM a week after KP Oli stepped down to avoid a no-confidence motion. The Indian PM also assured his Nepalese counterpart of full support and invited him to visit his country. Spoke to Nepal's PM-elect Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' ji & congratulated him. Assured him of our full support & invited him to India. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 3, 2016 Nepal has long been mired in political instability and Prachanda, 61, becomes its 24th prime minister since protests led to the establishment of a multi-party democracy in 1990. He has served once before, after winning power in 2008. Prachanda, whose real name in Pushpa Kamal Dahal, won 363 votes of the 573 votes cast in the 595-member Parliament. Lawmakers draped Buddhist prayer scarves around his neck after he was elected unopposed. "I will work for national unity, to promote the interest of the country and its people," the bespectacled leader had told lawmakers earlier. The return of Prachanda, who still uses his nom de guerre, which means "fierce", but has lost his former Robin Hood image, is unlikely to end the revolving-door politics that has sapped business confidence in one of the world`s poorest countries. Prachanda`s confirmation became possible with the support of Parliament`s biggest party, the centrist Nepali Congress, and several smaller parties. The Maoists are the third biggest group in the legislature. Under a widely reported power-sharing deal, Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to take over from Prachanda before Nepal holds a general election at the beginning of 2018. Party officials have declined to comment. The two leaders make for a disparate combination. New Delhi: Government on Wednesday approved the much- awaited Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 that proposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic norms including up to Rs 10,000 fine for drunken driving and Rs 2 lakh compensation for hit-and-run cases. The bill also has provision of up to Rs 10 lakh compensation in case of road fatality. "The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016. It is a historical step towards making our roads safe and save lakhs of innocent lives," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told PTI after the meeting. He said the proposals are based on the recommendations of transport ministers from 18 states, and the bill includes penalties in the range of Rs 1000-Rs 4000 for over-speeding. As per the bill, driving without insurance will be punishable with Rs 2,000 fine and/or three-month imprisonment, while driving without helmets will attract Rs 2,000 fine and 3-month suspension of licence. The provisions also include that guardian/owner will be deemed to be guilty in case of road offence by juveniles while registration of the vehicle will be cancelled. As per the new provisions "guardian/owner shall be deemed to be guilty and there will be a penalty of Rs 25,000 with three years imprisonment and cancellation of registration of the Motor Vehicle." Traffic violations also would now attract a penalty of Rs 500 in place of Rs 100 earlier while disobedience of orders of authorities will attract a minimum penalty of Rs 2,000 in place of Rs 500 earlier. Penalty for unauthorised use of vehicles without licence has been proposed at Rs 5,000 while those driving without license will have to shell out the same amount and those found driving despite disqualification would be fined a minimum Rs 10,000. The proposal also include penalties of Rs 1,000 in case of LMV and Rs 2,000 for medium passenger vehicle. Penalty for dangerous driving would be increased to Rs 5,000 from Rs 1,000 while drunken driving under the proposed new law would attract a fine of Rs 10,000. "If aggregators are found violating lincencing conditions, they will be charged a sum of up to Rs 1 lakh" while overloading of vehicles would attract a penalty of Rs 20,000. Those not wearing seat belts would attract Rs 1,000 fine and those found not wearing helmets while driving two-wheelers would be charged a penalty of Rs 1,000 while their licenses will be disqualified for three months. In the present Motor Vehicle Act, there are 223 Sections out of which the Bill aims to amend 68 sections. The Bill also proposes insertion of 28 new sections. "The important provisions include increase in compensation for Hit & Run cases from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh. It also has provision for payment of compensation upto Rs 10 lakh in road accidents fatalities," Gadkari said. The Minister said amendments mainly focus on issues relating to improving road safety, citizens' facilitation while dealing with the Transport Department, strengthening rural transport, last mile connectivity and public transport, automation and computerisation and enabling online services. He said the government is committed to reducing the accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent. The bill holds significance in the wake of India accounting for 5 lakh road accidents every year in which 1.5 lakh people lose their lives. The bill was pending for long as many states had earlier expressed reservations saying that it may encroach upon their administrative among other rights. "The states are on board now after a Group of Ministeral panel of 18 Transport Ministers from different political parties deliberating on the issue and recommending penalties," the Minster added. The GoM headed by Rajasthan Transport Minister Yoonus Khan had held three meetings and gave its recommendations to amend the present Motor Vehicle Act. Terming the proposed bill as "the biggest reforms in the Road Safety & transport sector" Gadkari said the Bill would overhaul the transport system bringing in transparency. The Bill propose to improve the transport scenario in the country by permitting the states to grant exemptions in stage carriage and contract carriage permits for promoting rural transport, public transport, last mile connectivity and for passenger convenience and road safety. It also proposes that the State Government can specify a multiplier, not less than one and not greater than 10, to be applied to each fine under this Act and such modified fine. The bill proposes that the State Government can regulate the activities in a public place of pedestrians and such means of transport. "Improving delivery of services to the stakeholders using e-Governance is one of the major focuses of this Bill. This include enabling online learning licenses, increasing validity period for driving licenses, doing away with the requirements of educational qualifications for transport licenses are some of the features," the Minister said. Also, to improve the registration process for new vehicles, registration at the end of the dealer is being enabled and restrictions have been imposed on temporary registration. In the area of road safety, besides proposing to increase penalties to act as deterrent against traffic violations, to help the road accident victims, Good Samaritan guidelines have been incorporated in the Bill. The Bill also proposes to mandate the automated fitness testing for the transport vehicles with effect from 1st October 2018. "This would reduce corruption in the Transport Department while improving the road worthiness of the vehicle. The penalties are also proposed for deliberate violation of safety/environmental regulations as well as body builders and spare part suppliers," Gadkari said. To bring harmony of the registration and licensing process, it is proposed to create National Register for Driving Licence and National Register for Vehicle registration through "Vahan" & "Sarathi" platforms, an official statement said. This will facilitate uniformity of the process across the country. The process for testing and certification for automobiles is proposed to be regulated more effectively. The testing agencies issuing automobile approvals have been brought under the ambit of the Act. As per the statement the driving training process will be been strengthened enabling faster issuance of transport licences. This will help in reducing the shortage of commercial drivers in the country. "To facilitate transport solutions for Divyang, the bottlenecks have been removed in respect of grant of driving licenses as well as alterations in the vehicles to make it fit for use of Divyang," the statement said. Meanwhile Gadkari expressed confidence that Parliament will take up the amendments next week and appealed to all parties to support the bill terming it a step in right direction to provide safe & public friendly transport ecosystem. Indian roads witness 400 deaths every day and see nearly five lakh road accidents a year in which 1.5 lakh people die and another three lakh get crippled. Jodhpur: Self-styled godman Asaram, facing rape charge, today hoped that his "painful" days will pass after he was produced in a court here in connection with the case. "Many accused get acquitted and many get bail. I would also have good days someday and these painful days will pass," he told reporters. Asaram, who is lodged in Jodhpur jail, also said that Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who had faced a black buck poaching case, had ben acquitted by a court. New Delhi: Amid continued tension in Kashmir, India on Wednesday said Pakistan's recent comments glorifying Hizbul 'commander' Burhan Wani reflected its continued attachment to terrorism and its usages as an instrument of state policy. Replying to questions relating to Indo-Pak ties in Lok Sabha, MoS External Affairs VK Singh said Pakistan putting an end to "anti-India terrorism" emanating from its soil would allow it to move forward in ties with India. Government has taken a number of initiatives for building a normal relationship with Pakistan and for addressing all outstanding issues, he said, adding progress in probe into Pathankot attack to bring the perpetrators to justice will contribute to a conducive climate. Singh's comments came on a day Home Minister Rajnath Singh left for Pakistan to attend the SAARC Home Ministers' conference. The Minister said India has strongly rejected all attempts by Pakistan to interfere in its internal matters. "Government has stated that Pakistan's recent official statements of glorification and support to the terrorist, who was a 'commander' in the banned terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen and carried an amount of Rs 10 lakh on his head on account of heinous crimes, including murder of elected representatives of local bodies and security forces/personnel, reflect Pakistan's continued attachment to terrorism and its usages as an instrument of state policy," Singh said. On Pathankot terror attack probe by Pakistan, he said Government was aware of the statements by Islamabad in February that based on initial investigation and the information provided by India, several individuals belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad were apprehended and offices of the organization were traced and sealed. He said Pakistan Foreign Secretary, during his visit here in April, was conveyed that it was time for reviewing progress in investigation in the Pathankot attack after visit of Pakistan's JIT which had gathered "all evidence" that it had wanted and that an Indian delegation could visit Pakistan for this purpose. "Government remains engaged with Government of Pakistan in this regard," said the Minister. United Nations: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be attending the General Assembly summit to be held in September, according to a provisional programme released by the UN and confirmed by diplomatic sources. Modi, who was in Washington in June to address the US Congress, had attended the last two UN summits. According to the provisional schedule, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is to speak on September 26, the last day of the general debate, which is the summit part of the Assembly session. The president-elect of the 71st Assembly session, Peter Thomson of Fji, has set as its theme, "The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our World." It follows up "Agenda 30", the 17 sustainable development goals to be reached by 2030, that last year`s 70th UN anniversary summit adopted. In 2014, as the newly elected Prime Minister, Modi presented at the UN summit his vision for India`s foreign policy that decisively moved away from the vestiges of the polemics of the anti-colonial era while committing to promotion of global democracy. He also pitched the creation of International Yoga Day, which was quickly adopted by the Assembly. Last year Modi`s address spotlighted his development agenda. At a summit on peacekeeping convened at the UN by US President Barack Obama, he reaffirmed India`s commitment to UN peacekeeping operations with an offer to increase India`s personnel contribution by sending three police units made up mostly of women and 850 troops. On the provisional list of those attending this year are 101 heads of state and 48 prime ministers from the 193 member countries. While the speeches get the limelight, the real action at the summit is in the series of meetings between world leaders gathered at one place. They are organised like speed-dating as they flit from one meeting to the next to maximise the face-to-face contacts. Who meets who - and who doesn`t meet who - and subtle gestures like a wave or an unscheduled meeting or informal chat send messages for pundits of diplomacy to analyse. Newly-minted British Prime Minister Theresa May is to make her debut on the world stage at the summit. Presidents Barack Obama of the United States and Francois Hollande of France, and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang are also scheduled to be there. But Russian President Vladimir Putin is not and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is to represent his country. From South Asia, Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan, Sheikh Hasina Wazed of Bangladesh, and Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan, and President Maithrapala Sirisena of Sri Lanka are expected at the session, as is the Prime Minister of Nepal. According to custom, Brazil`s president is the first speaker at the opening of an Assembly general debate. Brazil is in the throes of a political crisis and it is not certain who will take the black marble podium when the session starts on September 20. The summit will be preceded on September 19 by a high-level meeting on refugees and migrants. The world leaders will discuss the refugee crisis that has sent waves of hundreds of thousands of people into Europe while millions of the displaced languish in squalor in Turkey, Jordan and elsewhere in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. UN estimates that there are about 20 million refugees world-wide. Meanwhile, in a related matter of international diplomacy, a big question mark hangs over the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement that Venezuela is supposed to host. The meeting was originally set for last year but was postponed because of the political and economic upheavals there. According to Venezuelan media reports, the government of President Nicolas Maduro, had announced the summit would take place in July but couldn`t pull it off while the internal situation worsened. Now sources at the UN say that Caracas is scrambling to organise the summit around the time of the UN summit that is barely a month away. Venezuela`s Permanent Mission did not respond to calls by IANS. Islamabad: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday arrived in Pakistan to attend the SAARC Interior Ministers' conference, notwithstanding threats from terror groups. Singh, who arrived here this evening on his maiden visit to Pakistan, has been accorded tight security and was flown in a helicopter to the Serena hotel located in posh Islamabad locality. It is also the venue of tomorrow's meeting where Singh will be underlining the need for meaningful cooperation among South Asian countries. Despite tight security, around 100 people gathered outside the hotel shouting anti-India slogans and protested against Singh's visit. Notably, LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin had warned of a nationwide protest if Singh arrives in Islamabad to attend the SAARC ministerial conference which would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Roads leading to the hotel have been heavily barricaded by the police and paramilitary forces to ward off any threat from terror groups. In the past, there have been instances when terrorists rammed explosive-laden trucks into the hotels. Meanwhile, Sharif made provocative comments on Kashmir, calling the issue as the main pillar of Islamabad's foreign policy. Sharif, addressing the concluding session of the three-day conference of Pakistani envoys in Islamabad, stated that "desire of freedom is running in the blood of Kashmiris". Before leaving for Islamabad to attend the day-long SAARC Home Ministers' Conference, Singh, who is expected to tell Pakistan to stop sponsoring terror in India and rein in groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, said: Leaving for Islamabad to attend the SAARC HM Conference. This Conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 3, 2016 Looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 3, 2016 India has been demanding handing over of Dawood, who has been designated as a global terrorist by the anti-terror body of the United Nations, for running an organised crime syndicate from Pakistan. Tomorrow's meeting is preceded by the 7th Meeting of the SAARC Interior/Home Secretaries which is being held today. The Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who is leading the Indian delegation, arrived here yesterday. There is little possibility of Singh having a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the wake of strain in Indo-Pak relations after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in Jammu and Kashmir on July 8. Not only did Prime Minister Sharif praise Wani but he also remarked that "Kashmir will one day become Pakistan", a comment which evoked a sharp reaction from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who said his dream of the state becoming a part of his country "will not be realised even at the end of eternity". On the eve of the conference, Sharif said that Kashmir was witnessing a "new wave of the freedom movement" and asked Pakistani diplomats to apprise the world that Kashmir was "not an internal matter" of India. "Today Kashmir is witnessing a new wave of the freedom movement," Sharif said, needling India. Apart from terrorism, other key issues to be discussed include liberalisation of visa, illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and small arms and how to make coordinated and concerted efforts to combat such menace. The three-tier meeting began at the joint secretary-level and then moves on to Secretary and Home Minister-level meetings. The focus of the meeting will also be on strengthening networking among police forces of SAARC member-countries and also enhance information-sharing among law enforcement agencies. Srinagar: Here's a new shocker from Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti on the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Mehbooba Mufti has instructed the police to apologise to the Kashmiri youth for the killing of Burhan Wani. Reportedly, Mehbooba Mufti also instructed policemen to remain invisible from the roads and streets, a report in TOI claimed quoting a senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. Earlier, CM Mufti had shocked everyone when she said that security forces were not aware that Burhan Wani was among the three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists gunned down on July 8 during the raid of a militant hideout in Kokernag area of southern Anantnag. Mufti said the security forces may have given him a second chance, if they knew his identity. This statement by CM Mufti drew her severe flak from various sections. Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh said the Saudi Arabian government has "taken serious note" of violation of labour laws by a construction company resulting in financial crisis for thousands of Indian workers. By Indo-Asian News Service: The Saudi Arabian government has "taken serious note" of violation of labour laws by a construction company resulting in financial crisis for thousands of Indian workers, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh said on Wednesday. Singh, who reached Saudi Arabia early on Wednesday in the wake of reports that Indian workers in the Gulf kingdom were facing a financial and food crisis, said that he had a "very good meeting" with Saudi Minister of Labour and Social Development Mufrej Al Haqbani. advertisement "We discussed all the issues related to Indian workers," Singh said in a statement following the meeting in Riyadh. "It was brought out that the problem is because of one company which has not provided the humanitarian facilities as per the law of the land," he said. "The Government of KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) has taken serious note of this lapse and has taken immediate action to ensure all camps where Indian workers were staying are provided facilities like medical, food, hygiene and sanitation." Singh said that the Saudi government was also providing free passage to all those Indian workers wishing to go back home. "They will also honour the claims filed by workers against the companies which have defaulted their payments," Singh stated. "They have agreed to allow transfer to any other company within Saudi Arabia." VK SINGH THANKS SAUDI GOVT FOR POSITIVE ACTION He said the Indian embassy was also preparing lists for workers for filing claims and of those who wanted to go back to India and thanked the Saudi government "for very positive action and magnanimous attitude exhibited". Saudi Ambassador to India Saud Bin Mohammed Al Saty told IANS in New Delhi that his country's authorities have taken serious note of the lapse on the part of this one company. "This company that has violated Saudi labour laws will be fined," he said. "The Indian nationals working In Saudi Arabia are very much appreciated by Saudi society and government for their contribution to the development of the country and their respect for the laws of the land," Al Saty said, adding that relations between his country and India continue to be excellent. He said that companies which violate laws meant for protection of workers' rights would be dealt with strongly. Earlier on Wednesday, a senior official of the Gulf kingdom's labour ministry held a meeting with India's Consul General in Jeddah. "Director General of Branch of Ministry of Labour and Social Development in Makkah region, Abdullah Al-Olayan, held here today a meeting with Consul General of India in Jeddah, Mohammad Noor Rahman Sheikh and his companions to discuss the situation of Indian labourers affected due to their delayed salaries in one of the big companies in the governorate of Jeddah," the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. advertisement SPA said Al-Olayan explained that the ministry was currently providing facilities for 2,500 affected Indian workers in Jeddah, allowing them to transfer their sponsorships, and granting them re-entry visas. On Tuesday, giving a breakup of the figures, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said 4,072 workers belonging to construction company Saudi Oger in Riyadh were being provided shelter in 10 camps: nine in Riyadh and one in Damman. "In addition, there are 2,153 Indian workers belonging to Saudi Oger in six camps in Jeddah all of whom have been provided food by the Indian consulate," Swarup said. There are over three million expatriate Indians in Saudi Arabia, most of whom are blue collar workers. --- ENDS --- New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi was on Wednesday shifted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here, a day after she cut short her Varanasi roadshow and arrived back to the national capital. As per doctors, the Congress president is likely to undergo further tests for her fever and high blood pressure. "Sonia ji was brought to our hospital around 1.45 pm. Senior doctors are attending to her," a senior doctor told IANS. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital chairman Dr DS Rana said the Congress president was admitted under the care of Dr Arup Basu and his team from Department of Pulmonology. Giving details about her present health condition, Dr Rana said, "She is dehydrated, but is presently stable. Further investigation is being conducted and she has been advised rest." Meanwhile, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala told news agency ANI that her condition was stable. Earlier, Gandhi, who took ill in Varanasi on Tuesday, was admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital. According to doctors, she suffered from dehydration, fever and high blood pressure. The Ganga Ram Hospital doctor, who did not wish to be named, also said that a medical board was being set up to study Gandhi's overall health. She has previously been treated for several health complications including chest infection at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. (With IANS inputs) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to express an opinion on whether a lawmaker, after being expelled from a party, would attract disqualification under the anti-defection law for defying its whip during voting in the legislature. "We are not answering the questions," said a bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Arun Mishra and Prafulla C. Pant. It said the petitioners, Amar Singh and Jaya Prada, have already completed their Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha terms in the meantime. A two judge bench on November 15, 2010 referred seven questions to a larger three judge bench, including whether a lawmaker continues to be bound by the party whip vis-a-vis anti-defection law after being expelled. New Delhi: The number of incidents related to terrorist violence has shown a 60 per cent increase in first seven months of 2016 as compared to last year, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday. Replying to a question by newly-elected Samajwadi Party MP Amar Singh, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said the number of terrorist violence incident in the state up to July was 117 in 2014, 101 in 2015 and 163 this year. The minister said "cancellation of diplomatic initiative with militants by the central government" was not the reason for the rise in militancy. "Since a larger number of terrorist neutralisation has taken place, the terrorist organisations based in Pakistan are now increasing their efforts to promote radicalisation through vested interest groups and social media and increase the attacks on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir forcing them to retaliate and give it a shape of civil resistance," Ahir said in his reply. New Delhi: Undeterred by the threats posed by terror outfits like Jamaat-ud-Dawah and Hizbul Mujahideen, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Islamabad on Wednesday where he will also raise the issue of Pathankot airbase attack in which seven military personnel were killed by terrorists from Pakistan in January. The Home Minister will also raise Pakistan's lack of cooperation to go after terrorists who executed the attack and also the support to terror groups operating from Pakistan. Singh, 65, is the first senior Indian minister to visit Pakistan after the Pathankot attack, and at a time when Kashmir is on the boil. New Delhi blames Islamabad for supporting the unrest in Kashmir. At the 7th SAARC home/interior ministers' meet in Islamabad, the Home Minister will also raise concerns about fake currency and narcotics smuggling from Pakistan. Although Pakistan indicated a bilateral meeting of the Home Ministers was possible, India has firmly rejected any such suggestion. "There will be no bilateral meeting. On the contrary, India's posture will be tough," a senior Home Ministry official said. In a first, India had allowed Pakistan's Joint Investigation Team to visit the Pathankot base, collect evidence and interact with the National Investigation Agency. Pakistan, however, didn't either follow-up the leads nor did it allow an Indian team of investigators to visit Pakistan. Meanwhile, India has conveyed to Pakistan that Singh faces a threat from terrorist groups like the Jamaat-ud-Dawaah, Lashkar-e-Toiba, the United Jihad Council and its constituents like Hizbul Mujahedeen. "In Pakistan, the Home Minister faces multiple threats and this has been conveyed," a senior official was quoted as saying. Wanted terrorist Hafiz Saeed has threatened protests in Pakistan against Singh's visit. Srinagar: Curfew was on Wednesday extended to more areas of Kashmir Valley to maintain law and order in view of violent protests yesterday that led to death of a youth in Pulwama district and injuries to several others. Curfew remained in force in five police station area of old city and was extended to Batamaloo, Shaheedgunj, Soura, Zadibal, Qamarwari and Bemina areas of the city as a precautionary measure, a police official said. He said curfew was also imposed in Khanpora area of Baramulla district, Awanitpora and Pampore in Pulwama district while Anantnag town in south Kashmir also continued to remain under curfew. "There are restrictions on the assembly of four or more people under Section 144 CrPC in rest of Kashmir," he added. Meanwhile, body of an ATM security guard was found outside a hospital here. Body of Reyaz Ahmad, which bore a big perforation in the abdomen, was found outside SMHS Hospital, a police official said. He said while it was not clear how the youth had died, a postmortem was underway on the body to ascertain the cause of his death. The deceased was a resident of Bagiyas area of the city. Normal life remained affected for the 26th consecutive day in the Valley due to the curbs imposed by the authorities and separatist sponsored strike against the killing of civilians during clashes which erupted in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. Schools, colleges, business establishments, banks and private offices remained closed while public transport remained off roads. Attendance in government offices was also thin, the official said. Mobile Internet services continued to remain snapped in the entire Valley where postpaid mobile telephony services have been restored across all networks.The incoming facility on prepaid connections has also been restored, but outgoing calls are barred on such numbers. The separatist camp has extended the shutdown call in Kashmir till August 5, calling for march to Hazratbal shrine on Friday. Patna: It's the same old story of alleged criminals trying to foray into politics. This time it's jailed gangster Santosh Jha who is keen to join politics, ostensibly using his proximity to LJP leader Chirag Paswan. Jha has been in the jail in connection with the killing of two engineers of a private construction company in Bihar`s Darbhanga district. "I am keen to join politics to serve the people," Jha told mediapersons here. "I had expected to get a Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) ticket in the last Assembly election, thanks to Chirag Paswan`s help. However, in the last minute I was implicated in a false case and sent to jail," Jha said. In 2015, Jha was reportedly offered a ticket to contest the Assembly polls in the state. That despite his sinister track record -- he is the chief of Bihar People`s Liberation Army, a gang of notorious criminals involved in murder and extortion. No wonder Jha realises the importance of political clout and wants to make the most of it. Jha`s wish to be a politician has again revealed that dreaded criminals in Bihar have close connection with the political system. Jha, along with sharp shooter Mukesh Pathak, has been named in the killing of two engineers -- Brajesh Kumar and Mukesh Kumar. The two engineers were murdered in December, 2015 because they refused to pay extortion money. Jha is wanted in several cases for murder, extortion and other crimes. Over the years he had raised a private army called Parashuram Sena that targeted road contractors in Bihar and businessmen in Nepal. The gang operated under the garb of People`s Liberation Army in Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Sheohar and Vaishali districts. About two years back Jha was arrested from Kolkata by a crack team of Bihar Police. Jha`s name also figured in the killing of a former Maoist leader Gaurishankar Jha in 2011. Srinagar: Tempers ran high in Srinagar`s old city on Wednesday after a guard at an ATM booth was found dead, with hundreds of pellets fired from close range, officials and residents said. The cause of Riyaz Ahmad Shah`s death was confirmed by an autopsy report. Official sources told IANS that doctors who performed the post-mortem found over 300 pellets in his abdomen. Shah was found dead early on Wednesday under mysterious circumstances near the Government Medical College in Karan Nagar here. Police had earlier said he died of an injury inflicted by a sharp edged weapon. But the deceased`s family and locals alleged that he was killed by the security forces. "Those responsible for the cold blooded murder of the youth will be identified and brought to justice," a top government source said here. With the death of the youth, the total number of people killed in the ongoing cycle of violence that began here on July 9 has risen to 53. These include two policemen. This was the second death since Tuesday evening after a protester was shot dead on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. "One civilian was killed and another critically injured when the security guard of additional district development commissioner (Ramban) opened fire at a mob that attacked his vehicle at Lethpora in Pulwama district on Tuesday," a senior police officer said. Scores of protesters on Wednesday blocked roads and raised slogans in Srinagar, alleging the guard had been shot by security forces. Authorities imposed curfew in south Kashmir areas and restrictions in rest of the Kashmir Valley to maintain law and order. The restive Kashmir Valley had begun to limp back to some normalcy during the last two days as private transport and pedestrian movement was witnessed in uptown areas of Srinagar after more than three weeks of restrictions and separatist-called shutdown. Separatists have extended the protest shutdown call till August 5 asking people to resume normal activities after 6 p.m. each day. All educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities have remained closed since violence started here on July 9, a day after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani`s killing by the security forces. Staff at some government run educational institutions, however, reported for work in the last two days. Thiruvananthapuram: Former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, who was in contention for the top political post in Kerala after the May 16 assembly elections, was on Wednesday appointed chairman of the Administrative Reforms Committee (ARC), a post carrying cabinet status. Now, all eyes are on 92-year-old veteran leader, who remained the Chief Minister of Kerala during 2006-11, whether he will accept the post. After Pinarayi Vijayan was made the Chief Minister of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in May, Achuthanandan categorically said that none of those who know him will believe he is hankering after any post. Sources close to the former Chief Minister said once he receives the government notification, cleared on Wednesday by the state Cabinet, he will speak to the media. It is the first time that a former Chief Minister has been given the ARC post. On two previous occasions, the ARC was headed by serving Chief Ministers -- E.M.S. Namboodiripad and later by E.K. Nayanar. Senior Indian Civil Service officer M.K. Vellodi, who also served as a diplomat, also led the ARC at one point of time. The ARC post is seen as an attempt to mollify the veteran who was aiming for the Chief Minister`s post for the second time after leading the LDF to a huge win in the May 16 assembly polls. However, the national leadership of the Communist Party of India-Marxist honoured him with a ceremonial status of `Kerala`s Fidel Castro` and made his party colleague and arch rival Pinarayi Vijayan the Chief Minister. Last month, the Kerala assembly amended a 1951 rule to enable a legislator to take up the post of ARC chairman, which was opposed by the Congress-led opposition. Ever since Achuthanandan`s name was doing the rounds for the administrative reforms panel`s post, questions were raised as to whether he would accept it. Last month, a person moved the Kerala High Court on the proposed appointment. On Tuesday, the state government was directed to file an affidavit within three weeks as the petitioner pointed out that the post was not advertised and that Achuthanandan was merely Class 7 pass. Neemuch: Two women were on Wednesday arrested for their alleged involvement in beating two Muslim women at Mandsaur railway station on suspicion of carrying beef which later turned out to be calf meat, police said. "The two women, Rajni Tiwari alias Bitti and Manju Gurjar, were arrested from here after they were identified on the basis of video footage," Superintendent of Police, Railway, Mahesh Jain told reporters. They were arrested under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC, he said, adding they were not associated with any outfit. The incident of beating Muslim women--Salma and Shamim Bi- -on July 26 for allegedly carrying beef had drawn outrage. The opposition BSP and Congress had created uproar in Rajya Sabha over the incident. The accused women had been missing since the day of the incident. Police had printed pamphlets on the basis of video footage and distributed them in various towns and cities, the SP said. "Acting on a tip-off, we took into custody Rajni initially from Neemuch and after questioning she revealed that they were coming back from Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and boarded Ratlam-Agra Fort train for Neemuch," Jain said. They had boarded the train from Jaora and had a fight with the victims over a seat. When the train reached Mandsaur railway station and the victims were confronted by cow vigilantes, during which the two accused women also beat them, he said. The SP said that the two arrested women do not have any connection with any radical or other organisation. They were later released on furnishing a surety of Rs 5,000 each, Jain said. Two women, thrashed at Mandsaur railway station on the suspicion of carrying beef, had earlier alleged that they were beaten at the behest of Bajrang Dal workers. Subsequently, the GRP had arrested four persons in this connection. The case was initially registered by Mandsaur Police and later transferred to the Government Railway Police as the incident took place on the railway platform. The incident came close on the heels of the attack on Dalit youths in Gujarat for skinning a dead cow. Mahad: At least 22 people went missing after two state-run buses were swept away in flooded Savitri river when a British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway near here in Raigad district but no survivors or bodies have been found after a gruelling 14-hour search and rescue operation. The incident took place last night near Mahad, 170km from Mumbai, amid heavy rainfall. Besides the buses, several other vehicles are also believed to have fallen into the swollen river. Two state transport corporation buses with 18 passengers and four crew have gone missing in the tragedy, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in a tweet. Additional SP of Raigad district Sachin Patil said, contrary to reports, no bodies been found till now. "That was a false alarm, no dead body has been recovered till now. That (report of recovery of bodies) was a false call," he said late in the evening. Earlier in the day, Raigad Collector Sheetal Ugale had said bodies of two men were fished out from the river by rescuers. Patil said 28 Marine Commandos, over 100 jawans from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 25 personnel from the Coast Guard were promptly pressed into search and rescue operation. He said local divers and rafters also joined the massive operation which was called off (after 14 hours) for the night. Heavy rains hampered the search for the missing people and vehicles. "We faced a lot of problems due to inclement weather and darkness. We will resume the search and rescue operation on a war footing tomorrow morning," the police officer said. Another senior official said there are slim chances of finding any survivors and "but we will continue our efforts". Fadnavis, accompanied by PWD Minister Chnadrakant Patil and opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil of Congress, conducted an aerial survey of the area. "An eyewitness informed us that he saw a few buses, cars and vehicles being swept away in the river. After corroborating his statement with the State Road Transport Corporation, we found two of its buses have not reached their destinations. Therefore, we apprehend those two buses were the same which were swept away in the river," the Collector said. According to district officials, one of the buses was proceeding to Mumbai from Jaigad in Raigad, and the other was on its way to Borivali (Mumbai) from Rajapur. Fadnavis, who is monitoring the situation, said, "There were two parallel bridges, one a new one and one built during the British era. The old one collapsed. The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri." Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Fadnavis and was briefed about the tragedy. "The PM offered all help in rescue and relief operation," Fadnavis said. Collector Ugale said, "Two choppers of Navy and Coast Guard were involved in the operation while two choppers of IAF have carried out reconnaissance." The Coast Guard deployed a Chetak helicopter at about 8:15 AM. A Seaking 42C all-weather aircraft with a diving team was also pressed into service by the Navy. The Konkan area and several parts of Maharashtra had been experiencing very heavy showers in the last two days. According to district officials, the National Highway Authority along with an engineering consultancy had visited the old bridge in May and declared it safe. Savitri is one of the five rivers which originate inMahabaleshwar in Satara district. After reviewing the rescue work, Fadnavis announced at Mahad that the Government will carry out a safety audit of all old bridges in the state. "An in-depth inquiry will be conducted into today's incident," Fadnavis said. By PTI: Berhampur (Odisha), Aug 2 (PTI) A 29-year old man allegedly involved in at least a dozen criminal cases was today injured during an encounter with the police in Ganjam district. The accused, identified as Bulu Patra, sustained bullet injury on his right leg during the encounter with a police team at Babanpur Aska police station limits. He was immediately arrested. While the accused fired at least three rounds, the police retaliates by firing four rounds, Baleswar Gidhi, the inspector-in-charge, Aska police station, said. No police personnel were injured during the exchange of fire, he said. Patrolling was intensified to nab his accomplice, who escaped from the spot, he added. advertisement Some ammunition, a motorcycle and two mobile phone sets were recovered from the accused. Describing Patra as a wanted criminal, the police said he was involved in several crimes including murder, dacoity and robbery. Cases were pending against him in Aska, Buguda, Polasara, Kabisurya Nagara, Hinjili in Ganjam district and Bhubaneswar, the police said. He was one of the main accused in the dacoity of a jewellery shop, the police added. PTI COR AAM MM --- ENDS --- Nashik: Water level in the swollen Godavari river began to drop as the heavy rainfall, which lashed Nashik district for past three days, subsided on Wednesday, bringing much- needed relief to the people and the district administration. Besides Godavari, which flows through the city, water levels in many rivulets - which too were in spate - have started coming down, said an official release. Due to the swollen Godavari and streams, many areas in the district were inundated and the ancient temples on the banks of the river were submerged. An NDRF team, headed by an assistant commandant, rescued a total of 72 people trapped in flood at Karanjgaon and Chandori villages today, according to the release. Five people have been washed away in the district due to flash floods since Monday, according to the administration. State Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan visited Victoria bridge on Godavari river here to supervise flood situation earlier today. Nashik Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Abhishek Krishna, visited flood-affected areas at Dahipul, Saraf Bazaar, Bohorpatti in Old Nashik. Last evening, panic gripped citizens as Godavari crossed the danger mark. The situation compounded after authorities opened gates of Gangapur dam near the city to release the excess water, causing water-logging in many low-lying areas. The administration had apprised army of the situation and sought its help. Yesterday, irrigation department released thousands of cusecs of water from Gangapur, Darna, Palkhed and other dams following heavy rainfall, causing the water level to rise in Darna, Kadva and other rivers in the district. The department had opened all seven doors of the Nandur Madhmeshwar dam causing flood in Chandori and Saykheda villages. Nagpur: A rape convict walked out of Central Prison here 40 days before the completion of his term, thanks to a special scheme launched by the Maharashtra government under which a prisoner can earn remission by scoring well in a Yoga test. Sheetal Kawale became the first such beneficiary of the scheme launched by state prisons department. Kawale, convicted by a lower court here in 2012 for raping a relative, scored distinction in Yoga test held earlier this year. He walked out of the facility last week, 40 days prior to the expiry of his sentence. "As Kawale scored a distinction in the 100-mark test, he was granted a 40-day remission or reduction of sentence," Central Prison Superintendent, Yogesh Desai told PTI today. He said more than 100 inmates have qualified for the remission in due course. "However, Kawale and one more convict were being freed as they were close to completion of their (jail) period," Desai said. Inspector General of Prisons and Additional Director General of Police, Bhushan Upadhyaya said, "remission is not applicable to convicts of terror charges and those held guilty in narcotics crime (NDPS), as per Jail Manual." He said next examination of Yoga will be held in October this year. The decision to conduct Yoga test was taken after the central government had last year asked state governments to promote the traditional discipline in all walks of life. The state prisons department conducts the test in all seven central prisons in Maharashtra. The first exam was conducted between May and June in various prisons this year and the results were out by July end. The examination gives equal weightage (50 marks each) to written paper and practical test. Though Kawale was the first convict to walk out of the jail, eight prisoners, four each from Nagpur and Aurangabad central jails, have so far got remission ranging between 30 and 40 days. Among those whose remainder of sentence is being waived by virtue of clearing the Yoga test are two convicts who got seven-years under the charge of voluntary causing hurt with a dangerous weapon. Besides, there are four convicts undergoing jail term for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and two others who have been convicted separately for rape and graft. Mumbai: The opposition Congress on Wednesday raised the issue of JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar being refused entry into the visitors' gallery of Maharashtra Assembly here, saying he was not a terrorist and in a democracy anyone can watch the House proceedings. Raising the issue through a point of information, Congress MLA Nadeen Khan said there was no obvious reason for not allowing Kumar, who had a valid pass, in the Assembly. "Is Kanhaiya Kumar a terrorist that he wasn't allowed," Khan, a former minister, said. Speaker Haribhau Bagade told Khan that he will seek details of yesterday's incident. Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan termed the incident as "shameful". "He is not a terrorist. In a democratic set-up, anyone can come and watch the proceedings of the law-making bodies. There must be a probe as to who ordered him to be stopped," Chavan said. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union leader was in the city yesterday to attend an anniversary function of Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) of India. "I wanted to watch the proceedings of the Vidhan Sabha here. I specially wanted to listen to the debate on the issue of Vidarbha. But I was not permitted inside," Kanhaiya Kumar had said yesterday. He said he possessed a valid visitor's gallery pass duly issued by the authorities, but the legislature security barred his entry, and he later left for Raigad district. "They said my entry is 'on hold'. When I asked them to clarify, they had no reply. I wanted to watch the democratic process and had all the necessary permissions and a pass, yet I was stopped," he had said. Thane: Two policemen in Bhiwandi here were caught red-handed while they were allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000, Thane Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials said today. Constables Sandeep Vaidya and Rajendra Sonawane, both aged 30, attached to Police Control room at Bhiwandi, had recently demanded Rs 15,000 bribe from a complainant, a sand supplier, by threatening to lodge a false case against him, Inspector Sanjay Sadigle told PTI. According to the complainant, the two constables on many occasions in the past had intercepted his trucks supplying sand and use to threaten drivers asking to shell out money or else they will take action against him on charges of illegally transporting sand. He then filed a complaint with Thane unit of the ACB yesterday and after which a trap was laid at Vanzarpatti Naka last evening, the officer said. A case under relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act was lodged against the two constables and further investigations were on, added Sadigle. Mumbai: A British era bridge on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway collapsed in the wee hours of Wednesday due to excessive rains in the Konkan region in Maharashtra. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis also arrived at the bridge collapse site to review the relief and rescue work. Mumbai-Goa bridge collapse: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis at the spot pic.twitter.com/MbigFjUsQl ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 The rescuers have recovered two dead bodies from the overflowing Savitri river and a massive search is on for others who are missing, Raigad Collector Sheetal Ugale had confirmed. At least 44 people, two buses and several other vehicles went missing near Mahad city after the bridge, more than seven decades old and a critical link to the Mumbai-Goa National Highway, crashed around 1 am due to the flood waters rushing into the river. Two state transport buses with 11 passengers each are also missing and there was no contact with either their drivers or the passengers, Raigad Collector Sheetal Ugale said. Since the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses, which started from Mumbai, did not arrive at their scheduled Mahad depot, Ugale appealed people to get in touch with the concerned authorities about their missing relatives. Locals said that around five to six private vehicles were also missing and they were feared to be washed away in the floods. The ICG has meanwhile pressed Chetak Helicopters into search operations for tracing missing vehicles. Sea king 42C all weather aircraft with diving team has also been pressed into service by the Indian Navy. A massive search operation have been initiated, Ugale confirmed "The bridge was built during the British era. After discussion with the National Highways Authority, we have shifted traffic to the new parallel bridge nearby. We are trying to confirm reports of other missing vehicles," Ugale said. Pictures from the spot of bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa highway in Raigad (Maharashtra) pic.twitter.com/wSM49SYkbn ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today informed Lok Sabha that 4 NDRF teams comprising 115 personnel including divers along with 12 boats were immediately rushed to Maharashtra bridge collapse site. Centre stands with Maharashtra government in this hour of crisis and assures all possible help, Singh added. Meanwhile, the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today sought a judicial probe into the Mahad bridge collapse tragedy. Raising the issue in the Assembly, former CM Prithviraj Chavan said a judicial probe should be conducted and action taken against those guilty of allowing the old bridge to remain open for traffic. A case of IPC 302 should also be filed against PWD minister Chandrakant Patil, he added. Meanwhile, a 45-member National Disaster Response Force team has reached Raigad from Pune to assist in the rescue operations. Pictures of the bridge that collapsed on Mumbai-Goa highway in late night hours. Rescue operations underway pic.twitter.com/Q2Y1kebJAj ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 Maharashtra CM Fadnavis said that PM Narendra Modi had called him in the morning and assured all help from Centre. NDRF teams have reached and carrying out search operations, the Maharashtra CM added. As of now we have reports of two state transport buses missing with 22 people onboard, Fadnavis said. He also added that primary reason seems to be high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri as heavy rains continue to lash the catchment of Mahabaleshwar. Raigad Collector also confirmed that one way traffic has now resumed on the new bridge, he added. Incessant rains continue to lash the coastal Konkan, northern and western Maharashtra since past five days. Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who presided over the first meeting of the newly-constituted Cabinet on Wednesday, made several key decisions. Keeping prime social sectors like education and health high on agenda, the Cabinet has unanimously decided to accord a holistic approach to streamline these prime sectors for the welfare of the people. The Cabinet directed the departments of health and education to prepare holistic proposals which fill all gaps and live up to people`s aspirations for implementation by the government, a statement stated "Let us make Arunachal Pradesh a cent percent literate and healthy state," the Cabinet resolved. In this regard, the Cabinet approved the creation of posts for the establishment of an office of the Deputy Director of School Education in Longding and Capital Complex. It further directed the department to submit a proposal for the creation of DDSE Office in all the newly created districts in the state. Appreciating the hard work put in by the drivers, the state Cabinet approved enhancement of grade pay of drivers from the existing Rs 1,900 to Rs 2,400. The Cabinet further cleared many cases of pay anomalies in various departments that were lying pending for long. Shillong: Congress leader Mukul Wasnik today met all 30 Congress legislators, members of autonomous district councils and party workers in Meghalaya, to work on a strategy to prevent any rift within the party due to an open revolt within the party in the state. Accompanied by AICC general secretary in-charge of the state, C P Joshi, Wasnik met Congress legislator P N Syiem who has revolted against Chief Minister Mukul Sangma against his style of functioning. Syiem, who holds charge as the chief executive member of the Khasi Autonomous District Council (KHADC), had a long meeting with the Congress observers, during which he told them about the current situation of the party in the state. Syiem and the Chief Minister are at loggerheads following the legislation of a law last year wherein a legislator cannot hold two elected offices in the state. Several legislators who were also elected as members of tribal autonomous councils had resigned, but Syiem still holds both posts. The Congress central leaders later told reporters they were "satisfied" with the discussion held with the leaders and representatives at various levels. "We are very satisfied with the discussion... We will go back with all confidence and evolve a strategy to further strengthen the party for the upcoming 2018 elections. We will inform AICC president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi," Wasnik said. "On the basis of information and experiences they have shared, we will be coming out with a strategy which will help the Congress to come out as a much stronger party." he said. Chief Minister Sangma also appeared confident and satisfied and said the party will have its ways of handling the legislators who have revolted against him. "We have a mechanism to overcome and all these things will fall in place... When you are on the same boat you don't allow the boat to sink," he added. Chandigarh: The war of words between leaders of Punjab`s ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) escalated, with Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday declaring that the state government was "ready to admit AAP MP Bhagwant Mann in any of the rehab and de-addiction centres situated across the state". The statement from Badal, who is the president of the Akali Dal, came as a reaction to a demand made by some Lok Sabha MPs on Thursday to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to send Mann to a rehabilitation centre for alcohol de-addiction. The Lok Sabha MPs cited instances where the AAP MP has been reported to be under the influence of liquor while attending Parliament. Badal, who was in his Assembly constituency Jalalabad, nearly 300 km from here, said that the Punjab government was ready to help Mann. The Punjab government, headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, is under attack from opposition parties, particularly the AAP leadership, for the rampant drugs menace in the state. The AAP has openly accused ministers in the Badal government and Akali Dal leaders of patronising the drugs trade in Punjab. Comedian-turned-politician Mann, who represents the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency from Punjab, has been in the thick of controversy in the last few days after he was accused of compromising the security of Parliament by uploading a video of the entry gates, security system and other details on social media. Mann, who is an outspoken AAP leader, is facing a probe by a parliamentary panel over this matter. Lucknow: After facing flak for seeing a political controversy in the Bulandshahr gang-rape case, controversial Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan made a U-turn on the issue on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, Azam Khan said he never called the incident a political controversy and that he was misinterpreted by some sections of the media. I am a very sensitive person. State Govt is totally with the victims of Bulandshahr incident, I am personally with them more than everyone else, he said in a statement today. The culprits must be punished under the strict Islamic law for such a heinous offence, Khan told reporters. The clarification from Khan came after several political parties attacked him for playing politics over a highly sensitive issue like gang-rape. Khan had yesterday defined the brutal gang-rape of a mother-daughter duo in Bulandshahr as a political conspiracy by opposition against Samajwadi. Khan said since the state elections are approaching, a desperate opposition could stoop to any level to defame and disgrace the government. We must also probe whether this entire controversy is a move by some Opposition elements to defame the government. People who want to come to power may be stooping this low for political interests, he said. Khans statement comes at the time when the Samajwadi Party government is already facing flak from opposition parties over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. A woman in Bihar fell in love with her daughter's husband and went on to ditch her husband to marry him. By India Today Web Desk: It may sound stranger than fiction, but a woman in Bihar wed her son-in-law, leaving her 19-year-old daughter Lalita in extreme shock. 42-year-old Asha Devi got her daughter married to a man named Suraj a few years ago. She fell in love with her daughter's husband and went on to marry him in a court, where lawyers themselves became their witnesses. Seeing the new couple when they returned home, Devi's daughter fainted in shock. advertisement THE PLOT TWIST It all started when Asha Devi went to check on her unwell son-in-law Suraj at his village. The two fell in love and after Asha Devi returned home, the two began talking over the phone for long hours. Devi's husband worked in Delhi and in his absence, Suraj began visiting her and they both fell in love. Eventually, he left his wife to stay with his mother-in-law. PANCHAYAT APPROVES Baffled by the state of affairs, and the affair, villagers called for a Panchayat, but the verdict was not what one might expect. The Panchayat allowed Suraj and Asha Devi to stay together. They believed the two loved each other and it was for the best that they stay happily with each other. After the incident, Asha Devi's husband took his daughter with him to Delhi, saying her mother's wedding will only do her more harm. --- ENDS --- Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party leaders, who had made foul, objectionable and obscene remarks against expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh's minor daughter, have been identified. News agency IANS quoted a senior police official as saying on Wednesday. At least three BSP leaders have been identified through a video, the police official said. Among those who now face prosecution for making obscene remarks are State BSP chief Ram Achal Rajbhar, Atar Singh Rao, Naushad Ali and 22 second rung leaders from Mayawati's party. They will be pressed with provisions of POSCO, the official said. The wife of expelled BJP leader, Swati Singh, had earlier complained that a group of BSP leaders have made objectionable comments against her daughter, who is now very depressed. In an FIR, Singh's family had demanded that the BSP leaders be arrested for their disparaging comments and booked under POSCO. "A threadbare examination of the video has revealed that three leaders - Ram Ache Rajbhar, Atar Singh Rao and Naushad Ali - made indecent remarks against the minor girl. They shall be framed under POCSO Act now," the official said. A war of words broke out between the BSP and the Bharatiya Janata Party after Singh likened BSP chief Mayawati to a sex worker and alleged that she went for the highest bidder in giving tickets. Dayashankar Singh, who was slapped with many charges and expelled from the party, is in in judicial custody now. With IANS inputs Lucknow: The father of the minor girl, who was gang-raped in Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr district, has slammed the police and the doctors for their shoddy behaviour. The distressed father, who is a cab driver by profession said, We were looted and beaten and we all know what they did to my daughter. He threatened to commit suicide along with his family, if the culprits are not brought to justice. Speaking exclusively to NDTV, the 35-year-old woman, who was sexually assaulted by the bandits accused the doctor of not believing in their story even when her daughter was bleeding and she herself had bruises on her body. The dacoits had brutally raped the woman and her daughter at gunpoint after dragging them out of a car in Bulandshahr on NH-91 when they were travelling with their family from Noida to Shahjahanpur. "There were seven-eight men. They tied our hands and feet and beat us. They kept beating us even when we begged for water or we made any movement," the 39-year-old man said, alleging that they did not get any help on dialing police control room number 100. Despite arrest of three suspects, there seems to be no headway in the investigation into the gang-rape of a woman and her teenaged daughter on NH-91 last week even though Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had announced that the case would be cracked within 24 hours. Lucknow: As the Uttar Pradesh police finds hard to crack the Bulandshahr gang-rape case, another horrific incident of sexual assault of a teacher in a field along the state highway linking Delhi-Lucknow National Highway 24, has come to the fore. The latest gang-rape case has put serious questions on the Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh government's ability to maintain law and order situation in the state. The teacher was violated on Tuesday, when she was abducted by criminals and taken to nearby fields where she was gang-raped. The assailants videographed the entire crime incident and threatened to post it on social media sites if she complained. A forensic team was rushed to the spot today morning to collect evidence of the heinous crime. Already facing flak over the Bulandshahr gang-rape case, senior police officials led by the IG, DIG, SSP, City SP and SP (Crime) rushed to the spot and a case was lodged against three accused who are absconding. Additional Superintendent of Police Samir Saurabh said the teacher was abducted and gangraped while she was going to school Tuesday morning. He said that the accused later dumped her at Mathurapur on the national highway and escaped. Lucknow: The wife of expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh on Wednesday alleged that police was defending BSP general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui and not arresting him and other leaders for their remarks against her family members. "Police is defending Naseemuddin, who raised derogatory slogans against my daughter and mother-in-law. Despite providing CDs to the police in which Naseemuddin is seen, POCSO has not been invoked against him," Swati Singh alleged. Claiming that she was not given time to meet the Director General of Police (DGP) and the investigating officer was "not picking" her calls, Swati said, "It seems police is defending him." "When FIR was lodged against Dayashankar, STF teams started raiding our residence. Why similar action is not being taken against BSP leaders," she asked, adding her as husband is in jail and law is taking its own course "BSP leaders should also be arrested." She said BJP has expelled her husband for derogatory remarks against Mayawati, and asked the BSP supremo to "clarify" why similar action was not taken against her party leaders. Police has last week initiated proceedings to add certain sections of POCSO Act in the FIR against some BSP leaders for their alleged lewd remarks against Singh's family. But the act was not invoked against Naseemuddin, with police stating that it was analysing the CDs. Swati had been demanding inclusion of POCSO Act sections against the BSP leaders who allegedly made derogatory comments against her 12-year-old daughter and mother-in-law. "Sub-section (1) of section 11 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act will be included in the FIR lodged on the complaint of Dayashankar's mother Tetra Devi on July 22," a senior police officer had said. As per sub-section (1) of section 11 of POCSO Act, 2012, a person is said to have committed sexual harassment on a child when the person utters any word or makes any sound or gesture or exhibits any object or part of body with the intention that such word or sound shall be heard, or such gesture or object or part of body shall be seen by the child. On the complaint of Dayashankar's mother an FIR was lodged against BSP supremo Mayawati, state BSP chief Ram Achal Rajbhar, national general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui and national secretary Mewalal besides some unknown workers. An FIR was filed against Dayashankar on July 20 on the basis of a complaint filed by Mewalal for derogatory remarks against Mayawati. He was arrested from Buxar in Bihar on July 29. Dehradun: A 32-year-old woman from Assam, who had registered a rape case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Harak Singh, has withdrawn her complaint. Singh's PRO Vijay Singh Chauhan told BBC that the woman has withdrawn her complaint against the former minister. The complaint was filed on June 30 at Delhi's Safdurjung Enclave police station in which the woman had alleged that Singh raped her at his Green Park residence two years back. However, the Delhi Police officials were not willing to divulge much given that the matter was politically sensitive. According to a media report, a decade ago, the woman had alleged that Harak Singh, then a minister in the Congress government, was the father of her son. The minister had to resign from the government in 2003 and face a CBI probe. However, he was given a clean chit in the matter. Harak Singh then claimed that he knew the distressed lady but was not the father of her child. Rawat, who started his political career as student leader, has often found himself linked to scandals involving women. In February 2014, a woman had filed a police case against Harak Singh for allegedly molesting her. The 56-year-old was a prominent leader of a rebel MLA group that walked out of the Congress in Uttarakhand earlier this year, plunging the government into crisis and prompting the Centre to clamp Presidents Rule in the state. Singh along with nine other Congress rebels had joined BJP two months back Washington: The Asian-American and Pacific Islander community which is supporting Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has strongly criticised Donald Trump for his remarks against the father of a slain Pakistani-origin American Muslim soldier. By criticising the Khan family, Trump was not just attacking Muslims, but disparaging all American soldiers and veterans and the entire community, the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Victory Fund said in a statement. The repeated pattern of attacks on this family from the Republican candidate is reprehensible, the Victory Fund, a super Political Action Committee (PAC) found early this year said. The Victory Fund is endorsing Clinton for the Presidential elections in November. "As a proud American who is Muslim, we cannot remain silent when the Republican presidential candidate's platform is based on hate and bigotry," Dilawar Syed, co-founder and vice-chairman of the Victory Fund said. "Mr Khan's call to action in speech last week at the DNC was to vote, underscoring that this election is the most important of our lifetime and we must turn out the vote in every community," Syed said. "When Donald Trump attacks the Khans, he attacks my community too," Tung Nguyen, co-founder of the Victory Fund said. "Trump's comments against refugees, new Americans and anyone who does not hold his rigid ideology, is attacking the essence of what America is," he said. The Pew Research Center estimates that 28 percent of 3.3 million Muslims living in the United States are of Asian descent. "The American Muslim community is diverse and by attacking them, Trump directly attacks Koreans, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos and all AAPIs," Shekar Narasimhan, chairman of the AAPI Victory Fund said. "Prominent Republicans have spoken out against Donald Trump's actions, and some have even left the Republican party," Varun Nikore, vice chairman for strategy & operations said. "Regardless of political party, there comes a time where decency and respect of those who served must prevail. We must all take action at the ballot box to send a strong message that the AAPI community will not tolerate this behavior from a presidential candidate," he said. Washington: Republican Donald Trump insisted on Wednesday that his presidential campaign is unified, even as he faces open revolt from some in his party amid one of the most disruptive controversies of his unruly White House run. "There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before. I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support. Beat Crooked H!" the Republican nominee wrote on Twitter early Wednesday, referring to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. The message belied the chaos that has erupted in the Republican Party after the New York real estate magnate engaged for days in a public dispute with the parents of a Muslim American soldier who died in Iraq. The uproar has led many Republicans to distance themselves from Trump and voice support for the Khan family. Several media outlets reported on Wednesday that the campaign is in disarray and that Trump had rejected advice from his staff to drop the battle with the Khans. According to one news report, the Republican National Committee is looking at its options in case Trump drops out. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus is furious about the dispute with the Khans and has spoken with Trump repeatedly asking him to change course, ABC News reported Wednesday. It said senior officials are looking into how to replace Trump on the Republican ticket for the Nov. 8 election. The Trump campaign had no immediate comment on the report. Late on Tuesday, Meg Whitman, a prominent Republican fundraiser and chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, endorsed Clinton`s White House bid, calling Trump an "authoritarian character" and a threat to democracy. In an interview with The New York Times, Whitman said it was time "to put country first before party." Trump has had a running dispute with Khizr and Ghazala Khan since they took the stage at last week`s Democratic National Convention to cite their son`s sacrifice and criticize Trump`s proposal to combat terrorism by temporarily banning Muslims from entering the United States. Many Republican leaders, including House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain, have criticized Trump`s attacks on the parents of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who received the Bronze Star Medal after he died in Iraq in 2004. Trump hit back on Tuesday by denying both Ryan and McCain support in their re-election bids, in an interview with The Washington Post. Even Trump`s longtime ally, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, said on Tuesday it was inappropriate to criticize the Khan family. Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican in Congress to endorse Clinton, although several other Republicans in Congress have said they will not support Trump. The dispute over Trump`s treatment of the Khans, coming just two weeks after he was formally anointed the White House nominee at the Republicans` convention, was the latest rift in a party already frayed by internal dissent over Trump. A former reality TV star who has never held public office, Trump swept aside 16 rivals to win the party primary contests, winning support particularly from white blue-collar workers who feel neglected by the political establishment. His plans have included the ban on Muslims and building a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. He has also proposed renegotiating trade treaties, opening up to Russia, revamping NATO and has suggested Japan and South Korea should get nuclear weapons. Trump's incendiary and often off-the-cuff rhetoric on Muslims, women and Mexican immigrants has drawn widespread criticism, including from some Republicans. On Tuesday, Democratic President Barack Obama unleashed his strongest attack yet on Trump, calling him unfit for the presidency and asking Republican leaders why they continued to endorse him given their repeated criticisms of his actions. Dubai: A British-Iranian aid worker, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, detained since early April and accused by hardline Revolutionary Guards of trying to overthrow Iran`s government has appeared in court for the first time, her family said on Tuesday. Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, has dismissed the Revolutionary Guards` accusation. In a statement, the family said Zaghari-Ratcliffe, arrested as she tried to leave Iran after a short visit with her two-year-old daughter, appeared in the Revolutionary Court on Monday. The court handles security-related cases. "When I spoke to Nazanin yesterday, she was deeply upset," Richard Ratcliffe said. "She is desperate that our daughter has been kept away from her mother and father now for four months," he said, noting, "This remains a very cruel case." A judiciary spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a London-based charity that is independent of Thomson Reuters and operates independently of Reuters News. In a telephone conversation with her husband after the first hearing, Zaghari-Ratcliffe said that she would be allowed access to a lawyer. She was not allowed to share any of the details of that court session over the phone, the family said. "(Zaghari-Ratcliffe`s family) were instructed to present her lawyer`s name for approval by the judge," the family said. Such permission is required by Iranian law if an individual is accused of national security-related crimes. The lawyer must be approved by the head of the judiciary. John Ratcliffe, who is Nazanin`s father-in-law and a British lawyer, has approached the Iranian Embassy in London for a visa to attend the next trial. No date for the trial has been announced. Several Iranian dual nationals from the United States, Britain, Canada and France have been detained in the past few months and are being kept behind bars on various charges, including espionage or collaborating with a hostile government. In a statement, Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO Monique Villa said Nazanin-Ratcliffe "should soon be able to see a lawyer for the first time in her four months of detention, including 45 days in solitary confinement". "We do not know what the exact charges against her are." She said that, in her professional capacity at the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Nazanin had never dealt with Iran, and that the Foundation had no dealings with Iran whatsoever. "We are in permanent contact with Nazanins husband Richard, and have contacted all British authorities to intervene. We insist this matter should be resolved as soon as possible, not least given her precarious state of health," Villa said. Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told a conference of the country`s envoys on Wednesday that the relationship with China has transformed into a multi-dimensional partnership, and it was a "time-tested" friend of Pakistan. "We are determined to take Sino-Pakistani relationship to new heights as China is a time-tested friend of Pakistan. Relations with China have strengthened with the passage of time," Xinhua news agency quoted Nawaz Sharif as saying. Pakistani envoys from important capitals of the world as well as multilateral organisations were invited to the conference, starting Aug 3, to brief the government about the developments in the countries of their work. The Prime Minister was the chief guest at the concluding session at the Foreign Ministry to listen to the suggestions by the envoys and to share his vision about the foreign policy. "We are thankful to the government and people of China on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor`s project. It is not only an economic prosperity project but a game changer as with CPEC we are introducing a new vision of mutual relations in the region," he said. He described CPEC as the project of common economic interests and said there are also opportunities for Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. "We want to lay foundation of new relationship in region. The CPEC will guarantee regional peace and prosperity," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying. Talking about the country`s foreign policy, the Prime Minister said Pakistan believes in the policy of non-interference and respect of sovereignty of other countries. On Afghanistan, he said the process initiated by the Quadrilateral Coordination Group of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US (QCG) should be taken forward. The QCG that was started in December in Islamabad has been trying to broker direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban. However, there has been no success so far and the QCG is struggling to encourage the political dialogue in Afghanistan. "Pakistan will always support efforts aimed at reviving peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan has a clear stance that it will not allow its territory to be used against any other country," he said. Ashburn: Republican nominee Donald Trump was given a Purple Heart by a veteran today, prompting the Republican nominee to declare that this was "much easier" than serving in combat. Trump, who is embroiled in row over his criticism of the family of a slain soldier, said that a man approached him before his event in Ashburn, Va., and handed him his medal, which is awarded to soldiers wounded in combat. He told the crowd at his rally that he has "always wanted to get the Purple Heart." "I said to him, 'Is that, like, the real one or is that a copy?'" Trump recounted. "And he said, 'That's my real Purple Heart. I have such confidence in you.' And I said, 'Man! That's like, that's like big stuff.'" "I always wanted to get the purple heart. This was much easier," continued the celebrity businessman, who has never served in the armed forces. "But I tell you, it was such an honor." The veteran, Lt. Col. Louis Dorfman, declined Trump's invitation to speak at today's town hall. Yesterday, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, a non-profile service organization with 1.7 million members, released a statement calling Trump out of bounds for tangling with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, a Muslim family whose son, Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq in 2004. The fallen soldier was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. At last week's Democratic National Convention, Khizr Khan criticized Trump's call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States and accused Trump of sacrificing "nothing and no one." In response, Trump said he was "viciously attacked" by Khizr Khan and implied that Ghazala Khan, the soldier's mother, stood silently alongside her husband during the speech because, as a Muslim, she was restricted her from speaking. Trump, who has made helping veterans a centerpiece of his campaign, also drew criticism from some former servicemen recently when he was slow to produce millions of dollars he raised for veterans groups. And The New York Times reported yesterday that Trump received multiple student deferments and a medical deferment for a bone spur during the Vietnam War. "Our veterans are being treated horribly," Trump said today. "We're going to turn that around so fast your head is going to spin." In light of Tuesday night's Mumbai-Goa highway collapse, we take a look at some of the worst bridge disasters in history. By Vishakha Saxena: A bridge on the Mumbai-Goa highway collapsed late last night, seemingly due to high pressure caused by a flood in river Savitri after heavy rains. There have been various incidents of bridge and flyover collapses around the world, many of them in India. Here's a look at some of the worst bridge disasters in history: Angers Bridge collapse advertisement In 1850, Angers Bridge - a suspension bridge over the Maine River in France - collapsed while a battalion of French soldiers was marching across it, killing 226 people. Image: Wikimedia commons A powerful thunderstorm was already making the bridge oscillate wildly, when a battalion of soldiers came marching on it. Corroded anchors of two cables holding the bridge broke, throwing the soldiers into the river. The disaster led France to abandon suspension bridges until 1870. Quebec Bridge collapses The Quebec Bridge in Canada is the longest cantilever bridge span in the world, but was made at a great cost. In 1907, as the bridge neared completion, its south arm and a part of the central section collapsed, killing 75 workers. Images: searcharchives.vancouver.ca Due to various construction and planning faults, the actual weight of the bridge was far in excess of its carrying capacity. Image: ameriquefrancaise.org Then, in 1916, another 13 workers died when its central span fell into the river, while it was being raised into position. Finally completed in 1919, the bridge took 30 years and $25 million in all. Image: Wikimedia commons Even today there are concerns about the bridge and its safety. According to the National Trust of Canada, an estimated 60% of the bridge is covered in corrosive rust. Tangiwai disaster In New Zealand's worst rail accident, the Whangaehu River Bridge collapsed into the river while an express passenger train was passing over it in 1953. The train's engine and first six carriages fell into the river, killing 151 people. Subsequent inquiries showed that a dam holding back nearby Mount Ruapehu's crater lake gave way, creating a large lahar (volcanic debris wave) in the Whangaehu river. The rocky debris destroyed one of the bridge's piers, minutes before the train reached the bridge. Kansas Hyatt Regency skywalk collapse In 1981, the Hyatt Regency Kansas City hotel hosted a 'tea dance' in its lobby, which saw the attendance of approximately 1,600 people. Many of the revellers were on four elevated walkways (suspended from the ceiling) that overlooked the lobby. Due to a design and construction flaw, the fourth floor walkway collapsed onto the second floor walkway, both of which then fell on to the lobby floor. advertisement The incident killed 114 people and injured 219. Twenty-nine people were rescued from the rubble. Hintze Ribeiro disaster In 2001, the 110-year old Hintze Ribeiro Bridge collapsed in Portugal's Entre-os-Rios, killing 59 people, including those in the bus and three cars crossing Douro river. Image: Shutterstock The collapse was caused by "two decades of uncontrolled sand extraction, which compromised the stability of the bridge's pillars, together with underestimating the warnings from divers and technicians." Valigonda rail disaster In 2005, a flash flood swept away a small rail bridge near Valigonda town in Andhra Pradesh. As the incident remained unreported, the Delta Express hit the broken section shortly after, killing at least 114 people and injuring over 200. The engine and seven coaches of the train fell into the gap created by the broken line, killing passengers en route to visit relatives for Diwali. Bihar bridge collapse on train In 2006, a road overbridge collapsed on the Howrah-Jamalpur Express as it passed near Bihar's Bhagalpur station. The 140-year-old bridge was abandoned a few months before the tragedy, and government agencies were in the process of pulling it down. Two arches had already been demolished. Despite this trains continued passing through - a grave error that workers on site had cautioned against. Aftermath of the bridge collapse at Bhagalpur Station. (Image: PTI) advertisement Two days before the tragedy, one of the arches of the bridge gave way, throwing train services into temporary disarray. Then, on the fateful day, Howrah-Jamalpur Express halted just ahead of the bridge and approached the station, causing its pillars to shake. The bridge's pier and the arch ultimately caved in, killing 37 passengers, including 15 women and two children. Mississippi River bridge collapse In 2007, the I-35W Mississippi River bridge - an eight-lane, steel truss arch bridge - suddenly collapsed into the river during evening rush hour. Images: Getty (top & bottom left), Wikimedia commons (bottom right) A design flaw, aggravated by additional weight on the bridge, caused the collapse, killing 13 people and injuring 145. Kolkata flyover collapse In March this year, a 100-metre section of an under-construction Vivekanda flyover collapsed in the busiest and most congested parts of Kolkata - Burrabazar. The carnage caused by faulty and delayed construction killed 27 people. The damage could have been much worse, however, as 80 people were injured, 90 were pulled out of the rubble and many remained unaccounted for a day after the incident. advertisement Many pedestrians and vehicles were trapped underneath the collapse, and fires erupted due to petrol tanks of cars being crushed. A 140-tonne crane brought to the scene failed to lift a huge slab under which many people were feared trapped. According to reports, construction workers had heard nuts cracking in the cantilever hours before the collapse. Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse In 1940 the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed just four months after opening, after 60 kmph winds literally sent it fluttering. One dog died in the incident, but no loss of human life was reported. The collapse had a profound effect on science and engineering, and boosted research in the field of bridge aerodynamics-aeroelastics. In many Physics textbooks, the collapse is shown as an example of elementary forced resonance, with the wind providing an external periodic frequency that matched the bridge's natural structural frequency. Others believe aeroelastic flutter caused the collapse. A new Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened in the same location 10 years after the incident. --- ENDS --- Washington: Pitching for a good relationship with China and Russia, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump has said that it would be nice for the US to get along with China and Russia, as he slammed Hillary Clinton for having bad relationship with Vladimir Putin. "As far as I'm concerned, I want to get along with China. Wouldn't it be great if we got along with Russia? Wouldn't that be great?," Trump yesterday said at an election rally in Ashburn, Virginia, a suburb of Washington DC. Seeing a potential partner in Russia in wiping out the Islamic State terror group, Trump said, "If we actually had a relationship with Russia, instead of all the fighting and the problems, we could get Russia and others to partner up against ISIS." Having not seen any good done by the existing set of experts in the current global situation, Trump said he won't take advice from anyone. "Hillary Clinton will be worse. She has bad relationships with people like Putin. I'll give you an example. She has terrible relationships with Putin. This is a nuclear country we're talking about. Russia, strong nuclear country," he said. He further said that he wants tough people and Clinton is not tough. "I know tough people, she's not tough. I mean she's doing the handlers, they push her from place to place that's all it is." "She wants to play the role of the tough guy against Putin She should be tough on trade. Because right now we are being ripped off on trade like nobody has ever ripped us off in history. You look at our trade deficits with China," he said. On Barack Obama supporting Clinton for the Presidential race, Trump reminded people of the things Obama said about Clinton said years ago. "Eight years ago Barack Obama said things about her that were so bad, and today I just said, do me a favor look them up because I remember how bad. Now all of a sudden he's supporting her," he said. The 70-year-old White House hopeful warned the people about Clinton's plans to keep Obamacare, which he said will lead to "people pouring into our country". "Look it's a hope, because she's going to keep Obamacare, She's going to let the Syrian refugees come in and we don't know if they're ISIS, we have no idea," he said. Paris: US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump makes "you want to retch", French leader Francois Hollande said Tuesday, as he added his voice to a barrage of scathing criticism of the White House hopeful. "His excesses make you want to retch, even in the United States, especially when -- as was Donald Trump`s case -- he speaks ill of a soldier, of the memory of a soldier," Hollande told journalists in Paris. The French leader was referring to a feud between Trump and the Muslim parents of a slain US soldier, which has shaken the presidential campaign just three months before the November vote. Hollande criticised Trump`s "hurtful and humiliating comments". The Republican campaign to retake the White House is reeling from a series of self-inflicted scandals as Trump has in recent days criticised Muslims, babies, firefighters and the military, prompting his wincing Republican backers to issue awkward denunciations. US President Barack Obama also joined the fray, declaring Trump "unfit" to hold the country`s top office in his strongest rebuke yet of the 70-year-old mogul. Obama described Trump as "woefully unprepared" and "unfit to serve as president". "He keeps proving it," Obama added, as he called on Republican leaders to disown him. Trump swept the Republican primary, but is currently trailing Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton in general election polls by around four percentage points. "Democracy is also at stake, as we see more and more people tempted by authoritarianism," Hollande said, "especially" in the US. "Should the American people choose Trump, there will be consequences, because a US election is a global election," he added. Santiago: Chile's electoral authority inspired a rare display of unity across the political spectrum today by banning election campaigning on social media, drawing condemnation from both left and right. With politicians gearing up for local elections on October 23, the Chilean Electoral Service (Servel) issued a manual of guidelines on the country's new electoral law, including blanket bans on campaigning via Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or newspaper websites. Social networks have revolutionized election campaigning around the world by giving politicians direct, instantaneous and free access to the masses. But according to Servel's interpretation of a new electoral law passed last year -- which replaced ones dating back to the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1998) -- social media outlets are now off limits. Politicians of all stripes united in outcry. "Servel has overstepped its limits. Its interpretation of the law is absurd. It's a serious mistake. The legislation we approved did not in any way limit campaigning via the internet," said lawmaker Leonardo Soto of the ruling Socialist Party. "Social networks are a very efficient method. But inexplicably, there's been a misinterpretation" of the law, said Cristian Monckeberg, a lawmaker for right-wing party National Renewal. Washington: The federal government for the first time has given permission to a private Florida company to fly a spaceship beyond Earth's orbit and land on the moon. The Federal Aviation Administration gave clearance today to Moon Express to land a washing machine-sized vehicle on the moon that would take hops across the lunar surface. Moon Express CEO Bob Richards says the first USD 10 million mission is scheduled to launch late next year, probably out of New Zealand. His firm has five customers, including a company that is selling the opportunity to take people's ashes to the moon. His parents' ashes will be on the flight. However, Richards says his firm hasn't finished building the lander and the private rocket the company hopes to use has never flown before. Beirut: Lebanons Hezbollah said the partition of Iraq and Syria was a possible outcome of sectarian fighting across the region and there was no prospect of any end to the war in Syria until after November`s US Presidential Election. Sheikh Naim Qassem, deputy leader of the Iran-backed group, whose forces are fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad against rebels supported by Western and regional powers, said Hezbollah, Iran and Russia would stand by Assad until the end. In an interview with Reuters, he said recapturing Aleppo, Syrias second major city where a decisive battle is unfolding, remained an objective but was not an immediate goal. The US and its allies say that by waging war against his own people, Assad can have no future in Syria, while Russia and Iran, wholly opposed to regime change, maintain he is the legitimate president, albeit of a state shrunk by rebel gains. Both coalitions fear his sudden departure could destroy what is left of Syria after more than five years of civil war, bequeathing a shell state to the jihadis of Islamic State and Al Qaeda. Qassem said both Syria and neighbouring Iraq, where Islamic State has also seized territory, could split. "On the battlefield and in view of regional and international interventions I dont rule out that one of the ideas proposed is finding a state of partition in those two countries but will it succeed or not? "So far the forces that want the unity of Iraq and Syria are able to prevent the idea of partition but we should remain worried about ... the possibility that some countries might push these two countries or one of them into partition." Assad was the best protection against this, Qassem said. "With President Assad the solution can be logical and rational in finding political parameters that can give the opposition its share and the regime its share and there could be coordination which allows for putting things back in order and reviving authority in Syria, the white-turbaned sheikh said. DIE-HARD COMMITMENT The intervention of Russias air force since last September, after Iran, Hezbollah, and Iraqi Shiite militiamen had fought relentlessly to keep Assad in place, has confounded the designs of Washington and regional Sunni powers such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Qassem said, opening the way to a political solution. "Iranian and Russian relations with Syria helped achieve steadfastness on the ground because both support Assad staying in power and back a political solution, the Hezbollah number two told Reuters. The Syria war grew out of Arab spring-inspired protests in 2011 calling for democratic change. Before Iran, Hezbollah and Russia came to Assads aid, his grip on power appeared to be failing. Their support was seen by diplomats and Middle East experts as key to Assad`s survival. Syria`s civil war, now in its sixth year, has killed more than 250,000 people, displaced more than 6.6 million inside the country and forced another 4.8 million to flee, creating a huge influx into neighbouring countries and Europe. Qassem said the months-long push on rebel-held Aleppo by Assad`s government forces was aimed less at recovering Syrias major city than at separating the rebels from Idlib, their stronghold in the north-west, and choking their supply lines from Turkey. Aleppo, with a population of more than 2 million people now, has been divided for years into rebel and government areas. The main objective of the Syrian state and allies was to cut the road between the city of Aleppo and Idlib. As for liberating Aleppo that`s a different goal that may not be undertaken quickly..." "Regaining Aleppo will remain one of the goals of the Syrian state and its allies but we`re not tied to a timeframe", said the Hezbollah leader. FIGHTING GLOBAL THREAT The Lebanese group, a Shi`ite Islamist party with a powerful armed wing, describes its role as part of a struggle against the growing regional threat presented by Sunni Muslim jihadists, who it labels takfiris for their radical ideology, violent and uncompromising stance. The conflict in Syria has further fuelled an old regional rivalry between the Shi`ite Islamist government of Iran and the conservative Sunni Muslim kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one of the main sponsors of the insurgency against Assad. Qassem said the United States, one of the power brokers in finding a solution to the crisis, was distracted by its November presidential elections and not ready to commit to any action until a new president takes over next year. The US administration is convinced that the period ahead of the presidential elections is a wasted time, that it can await until the new president assumes power. Then, the prospects of a solution or of a prolongation of the crisis will be clear." He said the sacrifices of Hezbollah, which has lost hundreds of fighters in Syria, were worthy, otherwise the ultra-hardline jihadists of Islamic State would have taken control in Syria and expanded into Lebanon. "We have prevented the expansion of the crisis into Lebanon and this is a major achievement, we prevented the takfiris from disrupting the resistance and laid the basis for the steadfastness of Syria. These great achievements deserve every sacrifice," he said. He said Islamic State, which is being targeted by coalition air strikes, will increase its attacks in Europe and beyond, adding that the group has an expansionist strategy and will use any means to achieve its goals. "European pains are big and will increase more and more," Qassem said, adding that Islamic State "will not leave an opportunity in all the countries of the world without exception to attack when it can and when is able to." Paris: French President Francois Hollande has strongly criticized US presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying some of the things the Republican does make him sick. "Some excesses make your stomach turn, even in the United States, especially when as did Donald Trump he speaks ill of a soldier, of the memory of a soldier," Hollande said at a meeting yesterday with members of the French Presidential Press Association. Hollande was referring to Trump's recent comments about Capt Humayun Khan, a US Muslim soldier killed in Iraq in 2004. Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said Hollande's comments were a response to Trump's recent verbal attacks on France. "In this (US presidential) campaign, there are some extremely unusual types of comments," Le Foll told reporters following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Last month, Trump said France would be among countries he would subject to the "extreme vetting" he is proposing for those seeking to enter the United States, a move he says is necessary to deter attacks by people coming from countries "compromised by terrorism." France has been hit by a series of attacks carried out by Islamic extremists since 2015. Le Foll also said that President Barack Obama was "well qualified" to make comments describing Trump as "unfit" and "woefully unprepared" to serve in the White House. In June, the Hollande said he would consider Trump's election as dangerous and it would complicate relationships between Europe and the US, in an interview with Les Echos newspaper. Washington: Continued instability in Pakistan could impact the safety of its nuclear weapons and materials, a latest US Congressional report has said as it described the sale of two nuclear reactors by China to Pakistan a violation of the NSG guidelines. "While the US and Pakistani officials continue to express confidence in controls over Pakistan`s nuclear weapons, continued instability in the country could impact these safeguards. Furthermore, continued Indian and Pakistani nuclear weapons development could jeopardise strategic stability between the two countries," the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its latest report on nuclear weapons of Pakistan. CRS, which is an independent and bipartisan research body of the US Congress, prepares periodic reports on issues of importance for lawmakers for them to take informed decisions. It is not considered as an official view or report of the US Congress. In its 30-page report dated August 1, the CRS said that the China selling nuclear reactors to Pakistan for Chasa-3 and Chasma-4 are in violation of the current Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines. "US officials and other NSG members have said that the Chasma-3 and -4 sales by China are inconsistent with current Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines," CRS said in its reports, days after another US-based think-tank Arms Control Association (ACA) made similar allegations. Contracts for Chasma-1 and -2 were concluded before China joined the NSG in 2004. At that time, other NSG members agreed "to grandfather construction of plants in Pakistan which China had initiated," Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Countryman said during a May 12, 2015 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. In 2008, China and Pakistan agreed to the Chasma-3 and -4 construction "in response to the US-India Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement", according to a 2015 Nuclear Proliferation Assessment Statement submitted by the Obama Administration to Congress, it said. China argues that the contracts for Chasma -3 and -4 are grandfathered, but Countryman stated that the NSG did not agree to grandfather any additional reactors. The NSG changed its guidelines in 2008 to allow nuclear trade with India, but the group does not allow trade with Pakistan. "At present, China is apparently the only country planning to sell nuclear power reactors to Pakistan," CRS said. According to CRS report, although Pakistan has made significant reforms in this area, many observers continue to be concerned that other states or terrorist organisations could obtain material or expertise related to nuclear weapons from elements in Pakistan. CRS said, according to some observers, spent fuel from Pakistan`s Karachi and Chasma nuclear power plants could be vulnerable to theft or attack. However, Pakistani officials have expressed confidence in the security of its facilities and have said that Islamabad has no plans to transport spent fuel from either reactor, it said. Furthermore, CRS said chronic political instability in Pakistan and Islamabad's military efforts against the Taliban and al Qaeda have raised concerns about the security of the country`s nuclear weapons. "Some observers fear that Pakistan`s strategic nuclear assets could be obtained by terrorists or used by elements in the Pakistani government. However, US officials have generally expressed confidence in the security of Pakistan`s nuclear weapons," it said. "The collapse or near-collapse of the Pakistani government is probably the most likely scenario in which militants or terrorists could acquire Pakistani nuclear weapons," it said. Noting that the main security challenges for Pakistan`?s nuclear arsenal are keeping the integrity of the command structure, ensuring physical security, and preventing illicit proliferation from insiders, the report said some observers are also concerned about the risk of nuclear war between India and Pakistan. "The two countries most recently came to the brink of full-scale war in 1999 and 2002, and, realising the dangers, have developed some risk reduction measures to prevent accidental nuclear war," it said. "Nevertheless, Pakistan continues to produce fissile material for weapons and appears to be augmenting its weapons production facilities as well as deploying additional delivery vehicles? steps that will enable both quantitative and qualitative improvements in Islamabad's nuclear arsenal," it added. Some observers have also argued that Pakistan`s expansion of its nuclear arsenal, development of new types of nuclear weapons, and adoption of a doctrine called "full spectrum deterrence" indicate "the growing nuclearising of Pakistan`s national security policy." These developments have "sparked international concerns about the safety and security" of the country`s nuclear weapons, as well as raised "concerns that these weapons might be used through intentional, inadvertent, or accidental launch in a crisis or in limited warfare with India," CRS said. Islamabad: Pakistan has offered Turkey to take over a chain of schools allegedly run by Fateullah Gulen, a U.S. based cleric accused of being behind the recent failed coup in a move aimed at allaying Ankara's concerns over the presence of institutions in the country. The gesture was offered during the talks between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at the Foreign Office yesterday. The Turkish foreign minister also called on Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain. This is Cavusoglu's first visit to any country following the July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey. Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed Gulen behind the coup attempt. The country has since been seeking action against Gulen-run schools and other institutions across the globe, including in Pakistan. Cavusoglu in a joint news conference with Aziz expressed his concerns over the presence of a Gulen network in Pakistan and other countries. "It is not a secret that this organisation has institutions or their presence in Pakistan and in many other countries.We have to be very careful with such organisations and their causing risk and threat for the security and stability of every country that they have presence in," the Express Tribune quoted him as saying. He added that his country was taking "all necessary legal measures against the coup plotters, namely the terrorist organisation Feto, headed by Gulen". Cavusoglu thanked the Pakistani Government, Parliament and people for expressing solidarity with Turkey in the wake of the failed coup plot. Aziz promised to address Turkish government's concerns. However, for Islamabad which has historically close ties with Turkey reportedly is under pressure to act against the Gulen-run network of schools in the country. On one hand it cannot turn down Turkey's demand while on the other hand it has to deal with public backlash, especially from the parents whose children are studying in such schools. Pretoria: South Africans queued in the winter cold on Wednesday to vote in local elections seen as a referendum on President Jacob Zuma`s scandal-plagued leadership and an economy forecast to stagnate this year. The African National Congress (ANC) has held sway in most local authorities since white-minority rule in Africa`s most industrialised country ended 22 years ago. Any defeats could erode the party`s support before a national election in 2019. Opinion polls see a close race in the capital Pretoria, economic-hub Johannesburg and other key cities, alongside the symbolic Nelson Mandela Bay municipality named after the anti-apartheid icon. "I`m voting because I want access to electricity and water and other services. Unemployment is rife and I think voting will help change that," said William Mahlangu, 58, a pensioner, at a polling station in Pretoria. Outside a queue of people wearing jackets and hats to keep warm snaked to the polling station. At Diepsloot, a shantytown north of Johannesburg, voting had not yet started as ballot boxes were still being sealed. Some voters were seen standing around a fire. Voting was also taking place in Port Elizabeth, the capital of the closely-contested Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. Hundreds of people were standing in a winding queue in sheltering from strong winds and drizzle. "The way the opposition parties have carried out their campaigns and the way the ANC has responded, show the vote will be a referendum on Zuma and the performance of his government on the national economy as well as the local level," BNP Paribas Securities South Africa political analyst Nic Borain said. Zuma, who has been beset by a series of scandals, survived an impeachment vote in April after the Constitutional Court said he breached the law by ignoring an order to repay some of the $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his home. In December, he was widely criticised for changing his finance minister twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting and alarming investors. Zuma has rejected the accusations, saying he is fit to lead, and the ANC party has backed its president. But anger is rising in a country where one in four people are unemployed and the central bank expects zero growth this year. The economy is on the brink of a recession after shrinking by 1.2 percent in the January-March period. That is stoking fears of a downgrade by ratings agencies to "junk" status in reviews expected by December. The biggest threat to the ANC comes from the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), a mainly white party, which last year named Mmusi Maimane, a black man, as its leader. Seeking to widen its appeal in the "rainbow nation", it has been courting ANC supporters before the vote, promising to help create jobs and improve social services if elected. Beijing: A prominent Chinese human rights activist was today sentenced to over seven years in prison for subverting state powers, a day after another activist was given a three-year suspended sentence for the same offence. Hu Shigen has also been deprived of his political rights for five years, the No 2 Intermediate People's Court in Tianjin which conducted the trial said in its verdict. Hu, 61, pleaded guilty and said he will not appeal. He had been in prison previously, serving 14 years of a 20 year sentence from 1994 to 2008 for inciting, organising and leading "counter-revolutionary" activities. His brief trial came a day after the court issued a suspended three-year sentence to activist Zhai Yanmin. Both were arrested in July last year with two others as part of a nationwide crackdown on legal rights activists. About 300 lawyers and activists were initially seized and questioned before most were released. A further three activists from Zhai's law firm Fengrui, which specialises in human rights cases, are also on trial in Tianjin. Former Interior Minister and Former Chairman of Ministers of SAARC, Rehman Malik, criticised the Pakistan government's move to not allow any Indian private media house to travel to Islamabad for the coverage of 8th SAARC interior ministers meet. By Smita Sharma: Former Interior Minister and Former Chairman of Ministers of SAARC, Rehman Malik, criticised the Pakistan government's move to not allow any Indian private media house to travel to Islamabad for the coverage of 8th SAARC interior ministers meet. Only public broadcaster DD and news agency ANI and PTI are traveling with Home Minister Rajnath Singh on board today. advertisement The statement said, "It is so sad that to know that the private Indian media is not attending the SAARC conference. It may be recalled the entire Indian Media/from other members states attended the SAARC conference held in Pakistan and I think SAARC Secretariat should have worked in advance for allowing the private media to attend this conference. It is indeed sad news the absence of Indian private media from this important SAARC conference." WHAT MALIK SAID Malik said, "I firmly believe that media on both side can play a major role to improve relationships between Pakistan and India." "The outstanding issues between Pakistan and India should be resolved on priority bases to ensure peace in this region. Private media of SAARC countries would have projected their independent views on the out put of this conference in more transparent and effective manners for their respective countries," he added. I as former chairman of ministers of SAARC countries feel that this forum should be used effectively to create unity and harmony between the member states. I hold the SAARC secretariat responsible to deprive Indian Private media to attend this important SAARC conference in Pakistan. --- ENDS --- Tripoli: Libyan forces said Tuesday they were advancing inside the jihadist bastion of Sirte, as Washington conducted a second straight day of air strikes on Islamic State group positions in the city. US President Barack Obama defended the two-day-old air campaign, saying defeating the jihadists there was in America`s national interest. The IS bastion, located just across the Mediterranean from Europe, has been shaken by weeks of fierce clashes between jihadists and fighters allied to Libya`s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). The city, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli, has been controlled by IS since June 2015, and its loss would be a major blow to the jihadists, who have faced a series of setbacks in Syria and Iraq. Forces loyal to the Tripoli-based GNA said Tuesday they had gained full control of Al-Dollar, a central residential district in Sirte, after clashes that killed five of their members and wounded 17. The announcement came after US aircraft launched five air strikes on Monday against "several targets in Sirte, hitting IS members and vehicles", the GNA forces said in a statement. The Pentagon said the raids came in response to a request from Fayez al-Sarraj, the unity government chief. "It is in America`s national security interest in our fight against ISIL to make sure (the GNA are) able to finish the job," Obama told a White House news conference, using an IS acronym."We`re working in partnership with them to assure that IS does not get a stronghold in Libya, even as Libya begins what is going to be a long process to establish a functioning government and security system," the president said. Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the United States had conducted seven strikes so far: five on Monday and two on Tuesday. Two T-72 tanks were among the targets, and Davis said IS fighters had been killed, but he did not have an estimate of how many. While the Pentagon had conducted two previous air attacks on high-value IS targets in Libya since last year, Monday`s action marked the first US strikes in Sirte itself. The GNA press office said Tuesday that the latest strikes had destroyed an IS rocket launcher and a vehicle. IS has taken advantage of the chaos in Libya after the 2011 ouster of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi to increase its presence in the oil-rich country. The jihadists have claimed deadly attacks, including beheadings, and targeted foreign embassies. Sarraj`s unity government emerged as the result of a UN-brokered power-sharing deal in December, but it has struggled to assert its authority across Libya. A rival administration based in the country`s far east has refused to cede power to Sarraj`s government since he sailed into the capital under naval escort in March.More than 300 pro-GNA fighters have been killed and over 1,500 wounded since the start of the battle for Sirte, according to medical sources. Forces supporting Sarraj`s government entered Sirte on June 9, but their advance has been slowed by an IS fightback using suicide car bombs and sniper fire. The pro-GNA forces are mostly made up of militias from western Libya established during the 2011 revolt. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said on Monday that US strikes in Sirte would continue, without elaborating. Sarraj said the American involvement would be "limited in time and will not go beyond Sirte and its suburbs". The foreign ministry in Russia, which is carrying out anti-IS strikes in Syria at the request of the Damascus regime, stressed the need for "close coordination (in) the efforts of all countries engaged in the battle against terrorism". The American raids were carried out at the request of Libyan authorities, it noted. Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni of Italy, Libya`s former colonial ruler, spoke to Sarraj by phone on Tuesday and expressed Rome`s appreciation for the GNA`s "commitment against terrorism", a statement said. France reaffirmed its "full support" for Libya`s unity government, while at the same time seeking to mend fences over the presence of French troops in the east of the conflict-ridden country. Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, also speaking to Sarraj by telephone, "hailed the decision of the Libyan authorities to appeal for international aid", the foreign ministry in Paris said. Paris recognises the GNA, but it also supports anti-IS forces loyal to the parliament and government based in the east that are refusing to cede power to the UN-backed administration. mah-burs/srm/hc Mexico City: "The Devil" wanted to change his face, but the suspected drug lord with the demonic nickname was arrested before his appointment with a plastic surgeon in Mexico City. David Garza Avila, also known as Elias Garza Garcia, was arrested on Monday in Naucalpan, a suburb of the capital, along with three other people after authorities caught wind of his doctor's appointment, according to the National Security Commission. "He had come to get face surgery to avoid being identified," an official at the commission told AFP on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly. The 28-year-old suspect, known in Spanish as "El Diablo," had traveled from the northeastern state of Tamaulipas for the operation, but police and troops arrested him, without firing a shot, on the eve of his appointment. A commission statement said the suspect was in charge of drug trafficking operations to the United States for the Gulf cartel. "Characterized by his high level of violence," the suspect was accused of ordering murders in three cities of Tamaulipas, which borders the United States, the statement said. He's not the first cartel honcho to seek a new face. In 1997, the powerful drug baron Amado Carrillo Fuentes, alias "The Lord of the Skies," died during plastic surgery in Mexico City. Seoul: North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday from its western region into the sea off its east coast, South Korea`s military said. It was the latest in a series of ballistic missiles launched by the North in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. The previous launch was two weeks ago, when it fired three ballistic missiles into the sea. A South Korean military official did not immediately have further details of the missile when reached by telephone. Seoul: North Korea fired a ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time Wednesday, drawing an outraged response from Tokyo and ramping up tensions with the United States and South Korea. The US military said the North had actually launched two Rodong intermediate-range missiles simultaneously, but one appeared to have exploded on take-off. The launches followed a North Korean threat of "physical action" over the planned deployment of a sophisticated US anti-missile system in South Korea, and came just weeks before the start of large-scale, joint South Korea-US military exercises. Japan said the one missile had landed in the Sea of Japan, some 250 kilometres (155 miles) off its northern coast and within the country`s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). "It`s a serious threat against our country`s security," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters. "This is an outrageous act that cannot be tolerated." The United States condemned what it called a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea`s use of ballistic missile technology. "This provocation only serves to increase the international community`s resolve to counter (North Korea`s) prohibited activities," said Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross.US Strategic Command said the two missiles were launched from a site in western North Korea at around 7:50am Seoul time (22:50 GMT Tuesday). "Initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan," it said in a statement. It was the first time a North Korean missile has been fired direct into Japanese waters. The second stage of a medium-range missile fired over Japan had splashed down inside the EEZ off Japan`s Pacific Ocean coast in 1998. Japan`s top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga slammed Pyongyang for providing no advance warning of Wednesday`s test. "From the perspective of the safety of aircraft and ships, it is an extremely problematic, dangerous act," Suga said. The Rodong is a scaled-up Scud variant with a maximum range of around 1,300 kilometres (800 miles). Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile tests this year in defiance of UN sanctions imposed after its fourth nuclear test in January. On July 19 it launched three ballistic missiles -- including one Rodong -- in an exercise that the North said simulated a nuclear strike on the South.That came just days after Washington and Seoul announced an agreement to deploy the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system in South Korea by the end of next year -- a move condemned by Pyongyang and also vehemently opposed by China and Russia. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se said Wednesday`s missile test only served to "underline the need to deploy THAAD." Tensions on the divided Korean peninsula are also building up ahead of an annual South Korea-US military exercise later this month that involves tens of thousands of troops. North Korea says such drills are a provocative rehearsal for invasion, while Washington and Seoul insist they are purely defensive in nature. "Our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad," Ross said Wednesday. "We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation," he added. There are nearly 30,000 US troops permanently stationed in South Korea. Pyongyang has repeatedly warned of pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets there and elsewhere, although the main focus of its nuclear weapons programme is to develop a credible strike threat against the US mainland. Since its fourth nuclear test, North Korea has claimed a series of technical breakthroughs for its weapons programme. It said it had miniaturised a nuclear warhead and successfully tested an engine designed for an inter-continental ballistic missile that could reach the US mainland. While some experts say the claims are exaggerated, most acknowledge that the North`s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes have made significant strides. Dubai: The Emirates Airline said that one firefighter was killed while putting out a fire caused by a plane crash-landing earlier on Wednesday. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, the Chairman of Emirates Airline, confirmed that the firefighter lost his life in the rescue operations, Xinhua news agency reported. A Boeing 777 of Emirates Airline, flying from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai, made an emergency landing at 12.45 local time (0845 GMT) at Dubai International Airport. Sheikh Ahmed said earlier in a video message that a fire on the plane, which was reportedly delivered to Emirates in March 2003, was put out at 14.32 local time (1032 GMT). Altogether 300 people, including 18 crew members, were on board, all of whom are reported safe. The 282 passengers come from 20 countries, including 224 from India, 24 from Britain and 11 from the UAE, the Emirates said. Asked about the cause of the crash, Sheikh Ahmed said the investigations are still ongoing, stressing "all required maintenance and security checks on the plane were done in the past as scheduled". "Our priority is now the health and safety of our passengers," he added. The airport has resumed departure flights at 18.30 local time (1430 GMT). Dozens of Emirates flights and foreign airliners had to be delayed or completely cancelled, while some flights coming to Dubai International were diverted to Dubai`s second air hub, Al Maktoum International Airport. Moscow: The Russian defence ministry on Wednesday said that seven people died in an attack by Syrian rebels in the battleground city of Aleppo using weapons loaded with a "poisonous agent". Lieutenant-General Sergei Chvarkov was cited by Russia`s TASS news agency as saying that the Nureddin al-Zenki rebel group on Tuesday launched weapons packed with an unnamed "poisonous agent" from an opposition-held neighbourhood to a government-controlled area of Aleppo. Chvarkov, the head of Russia`s reconciliation centre in Syria, said that "as a result of this terrorist attack, seven people died and 23 were evacuated to hospitals in Aleppo with breathing problems and airway burns." He said the Russian authorities have informed the United States, which backs the rebels, of the attack. Syrian state media said on Tuesday that five people were killed and that eight others suffered injuries induced by suffocation after rebels fired rockets containing poison gases. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the toll from the rocket attack at six dead, saying the casualties were in fact soldiers. Speaking to AFP, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman could not confirm that any kind of gas had in fact been used. The Russian claim came a day after the Observatory reported 24 people suffered breathing difficulties in rebel-held Saraqeb, a town 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Aleppo, after a barrel bomb attack. Residents said chlorine gas had been used in the attack, but the monitor could not confirm this. The world`s chemical watchdog on Wednesday voiced concerns over reports of the use of chlorine gas in Saraqeb. The incident in Saraqeb took place close to where Russia said on Monday one of its military helicopters was shot down, killing the five people on board. Chvarkov said meanwhile that 372 Syrian civilians have used the "humanitarian corridors" set up by Russia to flee rebel-held areas of Aleppo to government-controlled turf. He also accused rebels of trying to prevent people from leaving the areas of the city under their control. In a statement on Tuesday, 35 NGOs called the humanitarian corridors initiative "deeply flawed". The UN says 300,000 civilians still live in rebel-held parts of Aleppo city, despite four years of fighting and near-daily bombing. Moscow: The Russian military informed the United States that rebels in the Syrian city of Aleppo launched an attack using toxic substances at 19:05 on August 02, Interfax news agency reported on Wednesday, citing a Russian general. As a result of the attack, seven people died and more than 20 people were sent to a hospital, Interfax reported. Aleppo: Syrian children in the besieged area of Aleppo have been burning old tyres in an attempt to form no-fly zones over their homes, media reports have claimed. In a footage released by pro-rebel news agency Halab News Network, young children are seen in the besieged rebel areas collecting tyres and burning them to form a 'smoke curtain' to hinder visibility from warplanes that have been carrying out bombing raids in the Syrian capital. As the children collect tyres and set them ablaze, they also croon simultaneously, what are reportedly victory songs, to display their courage and unity. Rebel-held parts of Aleppo have been heavily bombarded by Syrian government forces in recent weeks. Aleppo city has been divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since 2012. Pictures of these children burning tyres have emerged online and they have been called 'young heroes' on the social media. The images are being shared on Twitter under the hashtag, '#AngerforAleppo'. Mexico City: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pressed the US in a television interview broadcast today to extradite preacher Fethullah Gulen, saying waiting to get the alleged coup plotter was "intolerable." Erdogan complained in the interview with Mexico's Televisa television that US authorities were asking for documents for the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Gulen, whom he accuses of being behind last month's failed military putsch. "You have to be blind and deaf not to understand that he is behind all of this," Erdogan said. "If we request the extradition of a terrorist then you should fulfill that," he said. "If you start asking for documents and what not, then it's a huge obstacle in our way of fighting terrorism." "But at the moment we are running into the difficulty of not being able to receive a terrorist that we are asking to be extradited," he said. Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999 and has denied any involvement in the July 15 putsch bid. Turkish authorities sent a new package of documents to the American authorities for Gulen's extradition, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said. "In terms of fighting against terrorism, we have no time to lose, six months or one year, that's simply intolerable," Erdogan said. US Secretary of State John Kerry said on July 18 that Turkey must present "genuine evidence" and "not allegations" against the Muslim cleric for his extradition. Already strained ties between NATO allies Turkey and the United States have been aggravated by the failed putsch, with some government ministers even alleging Washington could have had a hand in the plot, which US officials firmly reject. Turkish authorities have detained some 18,000 people in a post-coup crackdown. District of Columbia: A police officer for the US capital city`s metro system was arrested Wednesday on charges that he tried to provide material support to the Islamic State jihadist group, prosecutors said. Nicholas Young, 36, had worked for Washington`s Metro Transit Police Department since 2003, the Department of Justice said in a statement. He communicated for years with undercover agents and an FBI informant, discussing his knowledge and interest in terror activities, prosecutors said. "Metro Transit Police alerted the FBI about this individual and then worked with our federal partners throughout the investigation up to and including today`s arrest," Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority General Manager and CEO Paul Wiedefeld said. "Obviously, the allegations in this case are profoundly disturbing. They`re disturbing to me, and they`re disturbing to everyone who wears the uniform," he said in a statement. Young met about 20 times in 2014 with the FBI informant who was posing as a US military reservist of Middle Eastern descent who wanted to join the Islamic State group, the Justice Department said. Young allegedly gave the man advice on travel to avoid detection by law enforcement, and also told him to watch out for informants. In June 2015, Young emailed undercover FBI agents asking for advice on how to send money to the IS group, prosecutors said. Last month, he sent an undercover agent $245 in gift cards to charge mobile messaging accounts that the Islamic State group uses in its recruiting efforts. Metro officials did not say what tipped them off to Young. He was fired from his job immediately upon his arrest, the agency said. He had been on law enforcement`s radar since 2010, when an acquaintance was arrested on charges of trying to provide material support to a terror group. The acquaintance ultimately pleaded guilty to the charge. According to the Justice Department, Young traveled to Libya in 2011 and tried to go a second time. Baggage searches at the time found that Young was traveling with military equipment such as body armor. He told authorities he had been with rebels attempting to overthrow dictator Moamer Kadhafi. That same year, Young met several times with an undercover agent while accompanied by Amine El Khalifi, an acquaintance. El Khalifi later pleaded guilty to charges related to his plan to carry out a suicide bomb attack on the US Capitol Building. If convicted, Young faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. New York: The US authorities have designated a Pakistan-based Islamist organisation, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, as a "global terrorist" organisation, the State Department announced on Wednesday. The organisation is a splinter group of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and is responsible for the Easter Sunday attack on a Lahore park targeting Christians in which 70 people were killed and for the killing of two US Consulate employees in Peshawar, the capital city of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, this year, the State Department said in a statement. "The group, founded by a former TTP leader in August 2014, has staged multiple attacks in the region targeting civilians, religious minorities, military personnel, and law enforcement," the announcement said. The designation as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorists" means that JuA`s property is frozen and people in the US are banned from having any dealings with it. The State Department also said that Mohamed Abrinia, a member of the Europe-based Islamic State cell now under arrest by Belgian authorities, was also added to the roster of global terrorists. The statement said he was responsible for the November 2015 Paris attacks and March 2016 Brussels attacks. United Nation: The United States and Japan will ask the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss Pyongyang`s launch of a ballistic missile that landed in Japanese-controlled waters, US Ambassador Samantha Power said. "We expect to be calling an emergency meeting of the Security Council for later this afternoon, with our Japanese colleagues," Power told reporters. Washington: A Washington Metro transit police officer was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly trying to provide "material support" to the Islamic State. The US Department of Justice said in a statement that Officer Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, Virginia, was arrested at the Metro police headquarters, thus becoming the first US law enforcement officer to be accused of trying to help the jihadist group. However, Young never posed a credible threat to the Washington Metro, the country`s second most heavily travelled subway system after the one in New York, according to what Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, told NBC News. The officer appeared briefly in court on Wednesday to be arraigned, EFE news reported. According to the accusation filed against him, Young had worked as a Metro Transit Police officer since 2003 and had been under surveillance by the FBI since 2010 due to several interactions with an informer and undercover agents. In 2011, Young met a number of times with an undercover agent and some acquaintances, including Amine El Khalifi, who later pleaded guilty to planning a suicide bombing at the US Congress in 2012. Also in 2011, Young travelled twice to Libya, where he met with rebels trying to topple the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. On one trip, he travelled with body armour, a Kevlar helmet and other military-style items, the accusation said. In an e-mail Young sent in 2015 to the informant, whom he thought had contacts with the IS, he asked how he could send money to IS leaders. In July, Young bought 22 telephone gift cards for $245 to be used to send messages from accounts that the IS allegedly used to recruit terrorists, EFE news reported. He sent the cards` code numbers to an undercover FBI agent, according to the accusation. If found guilty of the charges against him, Young could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh informs Defense Army soldier Gevorg A. Harutyunyan, born in 1996, received fatal wounds from mine explosion in the conservation area of a military unit located in the eastern direction of Defense Army. The Ministrys announcement reads: Overnight August 2-3 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime for 31 times by firing more than 350 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions in Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. On August 2, at 15:00, Defense Army soldier Gevorg A. Harutyunyan, born in 1996, received fatal wounds from mine explosion in the conservation area of a military unit located in the eastern direction of Defense Army. Investigation is underway to clarify the details. The NKR Defense Ministry shares the grief of the loss and extends condolences to the family members, relatives and fellow servicemen of the fallen soldier. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. On August 3 in accordance with the arrangement reached with the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the OSCE Mission conducted a planned monitoring of the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, in the Askeran direction near Bash Karvend village, press service of the NKR MFA informed Armenpress. From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring has been conducted by Field Assistant of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Jiri Aberle (Czech Republic) and staff member of the Office Peter Svedberg (Sweden). From the opposite side of the Line of Contact, the monitoring has been conducted by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk and his Field Assistant Khristo Khristov (Bulgaria). The monitoring passed in accordance with the agreed schedule. No violation of the ceasefire regime was registered. But the Azerbaijani side did not take the OSCE Mission to its frontlines. From the Karabakh side, the monitoring mission was accompanied by representatives of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. The investigation on the murder of Agos founder Hrant Dink has been accelerated since the coup attempt on July 15. As part of the investigation, 27 people, including officers from gendarmerie forces, are arrested, Agos reported. Abdullah Dinc and Yavuz Bozca, officers from Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command Intelligence Branch, were referred to the court with the demand of arrest. While Dinc is arrested, Bozca is released with judicial control decision. Investigating prosecutor Gokalp Kokcu, in the petition that he's sent to the court for demand of arrest, defined Dink murder as the first bullet of the process that led to the coup attempt on July 15. Taken into custody as part of investigation on the attempted coup, journalist Ercan Gun is arrested as part of Dink murder investigation. After July 15, 27 people have been arrested as part of Dink murder investigation. Public officials, who have allegedly have a hand in Dink murder, have been standing trial. The next hearing will start on August 8. Dink, the editor-in-chief of the Armenian Agos periodical, was shot dead by a teenager on Jan. 19, 2007 outside his office in Istanbul. Dink`s assassination organizer Yasin Hayal was sentenced to life imprisonment and the perpetrator Ogyun Samast was sentenced to imprisonment for 22 years by the decision of the court on January 17. 2012. In October 2014 Istanbul's 5th High Criminal Court made a decision to start the trial into the murder of Hrant Dink from zero. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan will pay a working visit to Russia on August 10, press service of the Presidential administration informed Armenpress. The Armenian President will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. The sides are going to discuss political, trade-economic, humanitarian issues, key issues of bilateral mutual cooperation, as well as issues related to the development of integration processes in the Eurasian area. The two Presidents will also exchange views on a number of international and regional issues. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs are seeking for opportunities to organize another meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents, American Co-chair James Warlick told RIA Novosti on August 3. The latest meeting of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev took place on June 20 in St. Petersburg in a trilateral format with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prior to that Sargsyan and Aliyev had a meeting on May 16 in Vienna. The peaceful solution of the confrontation in Yerevan causes a feeling of lightness for us. The confrontation and the public discussion in this regard confirms the importance of the fact that the path of achieving lasting peace is the negotiations process, which is acceptable for all sides and leads to a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, Warlick said. In his words, no decision can be forcibly imposed on any of the sides. By the assistance of high-ranking individuals of the co-chairing countries the sides are taking part in substantial negotiations and are working with co-chairs on the proposal of creating measures of decreasing the threat of violence across the line of contact. We are seeking for an opportunity of organizing another meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents for achieving additional progress in the peaceful process, Warlick said. Warlick announced that the meetings in Vienna and St. Petersburg were successful in terms of advancement of proposals on decreasing violence across the line of contact, resuming substantial negotiations and reducing threat of violence. It is necessary to continue this positive dynamics of the peaceful process by organizing another meeting of the Presidents. The co-chairing countries are committed to their undertakings in continuing dialogue between the Presidents and consider the possibility of another meeting soon, he said. Warlick also noted that the OSCE Minsk Group expects the sides of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict to commit their obligations of peaceful solution. Despite the fact that the situation along the line of contact and Armenian-Azerbaijani border is relatively stable, we are concerned by the recent ceasefire regime violation. We expect the sides to implement their assumed responsibilities for the peaceful solution of the conflict and will avoid escalation of violence, Warlick said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan arrived in Gegharkunik Province on a working visit. The PM reviewed the fish breeding process within the framework of developing and restoring the reserves of the Sevan trout. In Karchaghbyur, the PM visited the Sevan Trout Processing Factory and reviewed the process of the investment project. The construction of the factory is nearly completed, and processed fish will be exported to Russia, Georgia, and other international markets. PM Abrahamyan later visited Ecokat cheese factory of Akunk, where he reviewed the production and upcoming projects. 40 people are employed in the factory, which has recently been equipped with modern technologies. New investments are planned to expand the factory. Hovik Abrahamyan also visited the medical center and maternity home of Martuni city. Abrahamyan instructed authorized agencies to discuss the possibilities of improving the conditions of the medical center and to solve several problems of the maternity home. The PM also visited Gavar. Abrahamyan visited the kindergarten of Hatsarat neighborhood, which is in need of renovation. The PM instructed to make preliminary calculations and planning for the renovation works and include the project in the 2017 state budget program. Afterwards he visited the L. Kalantar Drama Theater of Gavar and reviewed the ongoing renovation works. The works will be completed until the end of 2016. The central park of Gavar is also being reconstructed. What's in celebrity handbags this week? Is it lip gloss and sunglasses? Car keys and chewing gum? We'll never know, because Us magazine this week deprives us of its weekly feature 'What's in my purse?' which gives "celebrities" aspiring to rise to the D-List the opportunity to fill their tote bags with healthy snacks they'd never usually eat, products they're paid to promote, and books they'd like to be seen reading. Has Us mag run out of celebrities? Has this window into stars' private lives become too intrusive? Or could it be because every "celebrity" purse carries the same dull, predictable contents week after week? And why have we seen inside dozens of celebrities' purses yet never encountered a single one with any condoms, soiled Kleenex, or medication for their bipolar disorder? They can't have dropped the feature because there's too much real news, because that's one thing sorely lacking in this week's celebrity magazines and tabloids. O.J. Simpson attempted a jail break, scooping out a shallow trench beneath the razor wire surrounding Nevada's Lovelock Correctional Center, claims the Globe, which says that he was caught red-handed. It's hard to imagine that one of the most recognizable inmates in the US prison system would try to escape under the eye of 213 prison guards and CCTV into a flat expanse of desert without any accomplices outside to help him flee, yet that's what the Globe would have us believe. Or maybe he was just walking too close to the fence, and tripped? The pro-Trump tabloids continue their attacks on Hillary Clinton, with mounting desperation. President Reagan's shooter John Hinckley Jr has won release from a mental institution, and is "set free to kill!' according to the Globe, which helpfully explains: "Why you should blame the Clintons." Evidently the judge who released Hinckley was "appointed when Bill and Hillary Clinton ran the White House." Because as every Globe readers knows, Hillary previously ran the White House for eight years, and personally appointed all members of the judiciary. The National Enquirer's front page screams that Donald Trump will take "revenge on Hillary & her puppets," and discloses his "plot to get even." Explaining that "Donald is determined to protect America," it unveils his "no hold-barred strategy to expose their darkest secrets." According to a "well-informed source," these secrets include "shocking details of President Obama's cocaine rampages and homosexual romps" in Chicago decades ago, and evidence that he was born in Kenya and is a "secret Muslim." But these aren't secrets. They are long-discredited, thoroughly disproved and unsubstantiated tabloid tales of yesteryear exhumed from the vault for the sake of political muckraking. Fortunately, the world knows that Trump would never recklessly repeat unproven allegations from the Enquirer. Unless, of course, it's to accuse Ted Cruz's father of plotting with Lee Harvey Oswald to kill President John F Kennedy, as Trump did in May. Are Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Garner pregnant? They are according to the Enquirer and Globe respectively, which means that both have simply been photographed with the slightest of stomach bulges, and the tabloids' crack team of psychic gynecologists made the medical diagnosis. For those watching the Nick Nolte Death Countdown, the excitement mounts: there are only two weeks left before he shuffles off this mortal coil, according to the Globe, which two weeks ago gave the actor just a month to live. This week Nolte is joined by a host of other dying stars who "fight for life" in their "sad last days," according to the National Examiner. Robert Redford, Julie Andrews, Al Pacino, Ryan O'Neal, Valerie Harper, Howie Mandel, Shelley Long, Gene Wilder, Joan Baez, Carol Burnett and Jim Nabors are all on their way out, claims the Examiner, which by the law of averages is likely to strike it lucky and be right with at least one of them in the coming year. Amazingly, Nick Nolte isn't on the Examiner's list. Don't they know he only has two weeks left to live? Nor is Cher, who has been given "weeks to live" numerous times over the past decade. According to the Globe, that's because Cher's "life was saved" by "controversial stem cell treatments." But there's a catch: "The life-saving therapy destroyed her body and her famous face," says the Globe, which claims her visage is "drooping and sagging." I believe doctors call this phenomenon "aging," but evidently the Globe thinks that 70-year-old Cher should still look like she did at 30. Then they ruin it all by including a photograph of Cher without makeup looking, frankly, sensational for her age, with no sign of jowls, no wrinkles, no wattle neck. Maybe they didn't bother looking at her photo when they wrote the article. Fortunately we have Us magazine's crack investigative team to tell us that Yara Shahidi (Who she, Ed?) wore it best, that US Olympic athlete Simone Biles is "a Justin Bieber fan" whose favorite color is purple, and the stars are just like us: they skateboard, carry groceries, and walk their dogs. Country singing star Blake Shelton tells how Gwen Stefani "saved my life," which evidently didn't include a near-drowning rescue at sea, and had more to do with how they comforted one another as their marriages fell apart, according to Us mag, which simply lifted its quotes from an interview Shelton gave to Billboard magazine and put them on its cover. We don't know what's in a celebrity purse this week, but by way of compensation Us mag tells us what's in the lunch box of the seven-year-old daughter of 'American Pie' actress Alyson Hannifin. Because enquiring minds want to know that her little girl loves "a banana and almond butter sandwich shaped like an owl." Well, who doesn't? TV's 'Bachelorette' JoJo Fletcher's choice of Jordan Rodgers as the love of her life dominates the cover of People magazine, which reveals that "she calls him 'lovey;' he calls her 'babe.'" And that's about as revealing as it gets. For truly chilling news we must turn to the National Examiner, which reveals that "children with soulless black eyes terrorize residents foolish enough to let them in" across the globe. Once considered an urban legend, inspiring a clutch of horror movies, the Examiner claims that there really are black-eyed children who appear on doorsteps seeking shelter, bringing paranormal mayhem in their wake. One woman who encountered two such children claims that since they departed, "three of her cats have gone missing and her husband has had severe nosebleeds and skin cancer." There's no way that could be a statistical anomaly it has to be the curse of the "horror kids," with eyes "as chilling and empty as the void of deep space." I fully expect the Enquirer to reveal next week that Hillary Clinton was a black-eyed child in her youth. Onwards and downwards . . . This famed 5,000-year-old rock carving on the island of Tro, near Nordland, Norway, depicting a figure on skis, is one of the most important historical sites in the country. Two teenagers may be prosecuted for scratching into the stone to make the artwork clearer. (Above: image at left is before, right is after.) The boys came forward last week, and apologized for their actions. "It was done out of good intentions," said local mayor Bard Anders Lang. "They were trying to make it more visible actually, and I don't think they understood how serious it was." According to The Telegraph, the teens may still face prosecution under Norway's Cultural Heritage Act. "It's a sad, sad story," Nordland Country archaeologist Tor-Kristian Storvik said. "The new lines are both in and outside where the old marks had been. We will never again be able to experience these carvings again the way we have for the last 5,000 years." Pentagon officials told reporters today that at least 33 active-duty American service members, one of whom is a pregnant woman, have Zika. They are said to have contracted the virus in countries where the disease has been identified. Since January, the Defense Department has been keeping track of each Zika virus case in men and women serving abroad. The total number of cases hit 33 in August. From the New York Times: Pentagon officials did not name the countries where the service members contracted the disease, but noted that they were all in nations that have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as places where Zika-carrying mosquitoes reside. The Pentagon has informed its personnel in affected areas to take precautions, Major Sakrisson said, and pregnant women in those regions are being given the option of relocating. Photo: Daniele Santos, 29, holds her son Juan Pedro who is 2-months-old and born with microcephaly, after bathing him at their house in Recife, Brazil, February 9, 2016. The Zika virus may be particularly adept at entrenching itself in parts of the body that are shielded from the immune system, making it harder to fight off and possibly lengthening the timeframe in which it can be transmitted, say leading U.S. experts. Picture taken February 9, 2016. [REUTERS] If you felt as though you were seeing the future when watching the 2015 science fiction thriller Ex Machina you were right, and it looks like that future is nearly here. If you felt as though you were seeing the future when watching the 2015 science fiction thriller Ex Machina you were right, and it looks like that future is nearly here. A robot called Alter that can make eerily natural movements will be on display in Japans National Science Museum for a week, according to Engadget. The android, with its human-like face and exposed robotic body, looks frighteningly similar to the robot played by Alicia Vikander in "Ex Machina." Strangely familiar, no? It relies on an embedded neural network to form its movements, which give it the appearance that it is very much alive. According to Engadget, the technology relies on 42 pneumatic actuators, as well as a central pattern generator. The CPG has a neural network that mimics the neurons found in the central nervous systems of animals, like humans. This neutral network allows the Alter to come up with its own movement patterns, based on sensors that pick up proximity, temperature and humidity. The end result is that Alter moves its arms, head and adjusts its postures based on its own decisions. For example, if its proximity sensors pick up a lot of people nearby, its torso may shudder in response. Alter doesnt look like a human. It doesnt really move like a human. However, it certainly has a presence, Kohei Ogawa, a professor at Osaka Universitys intelligent robotics laboratory, told Engadget. Until now, making androids talk or interact for 10 minutes was an incredible amount of hard work simply to program something to react for that long. Alter, moving for itself, can do so easily. And in what seems straight out of a sci-fi horror flick, Alter can also 'sing.' The nightmarish melody is apparently how it vocalizes its finger movements. The robot was built by robotics researchers at labs in Tokyo and Osaka, and will be on display until August 6. Then itll be returned to the lab. We can only hope that there isnt a sudden onset of unexplained power outages there. By Barbara Lewis and Susan Taylor LONDON/TORONTO (Reuters) - De Beers' Gahcho Kue diamond mine in Canada's Northwest Territories is expected to reach full commercial production early next year, Anglo American said on Wednesday. Output at the roughly $1 billion project, which Anglo describes as the world's largest new diamond mine, will be an average of 4.5 million carats per year over its anticipated 13-year life. "Starting the ramp-up to production at Gahcho Kue - on time, on budget and in a challenging environment - is a remarkable achievement," De Beers Chief Executive Bruce Cleaver said in a statement. De Beers, the world's largest diamond producer by value, has a 51 percent stake in Gahcho Kue, with the rest held by Mountain Province Diamonds . First diamond production at the Arctic mine began in late June, BMO Capital Markets analyst Edward Sterck said in a note to clients, two to three months ahead of schedule. Output from the mine, which officially opens in September, will not result in a supply surge because it will replace production coming offline, De Beers said. Anglo American, which has an 85 percent stake in De Beers, has set diamonds, precious metals and copper at the core of its restructured portfolio as it seeks to recover from a commodities rout. De Beers has placed the emphasis on value rather than volume and in any case says large new finds are rare, predicting demand growth will "almost certainly" outstrip growth in carat production in the next 10 years. The volume of carats recovered from first production has not been announced, but Mountain Province said two gem quality stones of 24.65 carats and 12.1 carats were recovered. "Now that production has commenced, investor focus likely will turn to the first diamond tender and initial realized prices," Sterck wrote. "New mine production generally takes some time to establish itself in the market ... thus, there is some pricing risk around the first tender." (Additional reporting by Esha Vaish in Bengaluru; Editing by Susan Thomas and Bill Trott) By Denis Dumo JUBA (Reuters) - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir fired six ministers allied to his long-time rival Riek Machar late on Tuesday, widening a political rift in the world's newest nation and drawing threats of more fighting. Kiir filled the vacant posts, including petroleum minister, with people linked to a breakaway faction of Machar's SPLM-IO party, further aggravating divisions between senior politicians in the oil producing nation. About 60,000 people have fled an outbreak of fighting between supporters of the two men in the past three weeks, the United Nations said, on top of the hundreds of thousands already forced to flee in two years of ethnically charged violence. U.N. emergency relief coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, told a news conference during a visit to Juba that the violence and "the culture of impunity" must stop before the humanitarian crisis worsened even further. The two years of civil war that erupted after Kiir sacked Machar as vice president in 2013 has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than 2 million, many of whom fled to neighboring Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan. The personal rivalry between Kiir, from the Dinka group, and Machar, a Nuer, has worsened ethnic splits in a country awash with weapons. Both sides agreed a peace deal last year and set up a unity government. But the ceasefire broke down several times and Machar left the capital last month, demanding an international force intervene to keep their forces apart. The chaos has dismayed regional and world powers who helped broker South Sudan's secession from Sudan in 2011, and had hoped its independence would draw a line under decades of war and instability that spread across east Africa. In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner voiced dismay at the conflict and appeared to blame both sides. "The United States is deeply disappointed in the leadership of South Sudan, that given the opportunity of independence, and then frankly a second chance that came with the August 2015 peace agreement, have thus far failed to put aside personal power struggles for the good of their people," he told a daily briefing. Toner said the United States was putting pressure on both sides to end the violence. Kiir dismissed the ministers of the interior, petroleum, higher education, labor, water, as well as lands and housing in a statement read out on state television. The replacements were made on the recommendation of Vice President Taban Deng Gai, who announced he was taking over the SPLM-IO in July. "We are not surprised by the steps taken by ... Kiir and Taban Deng Gai," said Machar's deputy spokesman, Nyarji Jermlili Roman. He said Machar's supporters would march to Juba "and end this drama' if a foreign protection force demanded by Machar was not deployed. (Writing by George Obulutsa. Additional reporting by Arshad Mohammed in Washington.; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Grant McCool) PITTSBURGH, Aug. 03, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SkinJect, Inc., a Pittsburgh-based company, today announced its completion of a license with the University of Pittsburgh to its novel, minimally invasive treatment for common forms of non-melanoma skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. Two million new cases of basal cell cancer are reported each year in the United States, and more than half of all patients suffer a recurrence. The new product under development could dramatically change the way these skin cancers are treated. The SkinJect patch is a thumb-sized array of dissolvable microneedles that will deliver a chemotherapeutic agent to kill an existing skin cancer. The SkinJect patch will be applied once a week, for three weeks, in the doctors office. The microneedles, less than a millimeter long, dissolve within 15 minutes of application. Louis D. Falo, M.D., Ph.D., who chairs Pittsburghs Department of Dermatology, is a co-inventor of the microneedle patch, along with O. Burak Ozdoganlar, Ph.D., Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University. Both inventors serve as scientific advisors to the company as it develops the array. The SkinJect patch is a promising novel approach to combating cancer, said Falo. Right now, a standard of care for basal cell carcinoma is Mohs micrographic surgery, which can be expensive, painful, and disfiguring. The SkinJect patch will offer a cost-effective way to treat an existing cancer and potentially prevent it from coming back again later in life. President and CEO of SkinJect Jim Nolan said SkinJect was being watched closely by both the medical and investment communities. This device has the potential to transform the fields of dermatology and oncology. Its commercial future is extremely promising, said Nolan. Were excited to have concluded this deal with a company headquartered in Pittsburgh, said Marc Malandro, Founding Director of the University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute, who also serves as Chairman of Pennsylvania Bio, the states life sciences trade organization. A number of local biotech entrepreneurs including Anthony Florence, who played a pivotal role in providing early seed money for this project have supported SkinJect. The companys success is an affirmation of our regions growing biotech community. The company plans to file an IND (Investigational New Drug) application, a request to the FDA to begin administering the device to humans, by late 4th quarter 2016 or early 1st quarter 2017. About SkinJect, Inc. SkinJect is a novel, minimally invasive treatment for common forms of non-melanoma skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. Based in Pittsburgh, SkinJect, Inc. has secured a licensing deal with the University of Pittsburgh for the product which is under development. The patch is made up of a thumb-sized array of dissolvable microneedles that delivers a chemotherapeutic agent to kill an existing skin cancer. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 3, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) has increased the delivery of pool and spa education around the world to improve the health and safety of pools and patrons. Since 1984, an outstanding 139 active NSPF Instructors outside of the US have provided CPO Certification opportunities in 97 countries and certified over 19,900 students. The non-profit organization has accomplished much in the year 2016 in terms of bringing a higher standard of pool care to numerous countries. May was a busy month internationally and began in Barcelona with NSPF representatives and Consejo Superior de Normalizacion y Seguridad Integral en Piscinas (CNORSIP) members meeting with the governor from Tarragona, Spain. Evidence that minimum educational requirements help keep pools safer and encourage more people to live happier and healthier lives was presented to a roundtable of peers. Ishtvan Kokhan represented NSPF in Ukraine at Aquatherm Kyiv providing information on standards/requirements for public pools in the U.S. and how CPO Certifications can benefit operators, patrons, and facility owners. Kokhan had an incredibly active Q&A session which demonstrates that the Ukrainian pool industry is ready to grow and learn. Over 420 companies from 20 different countries joined Aquatherm Kyiv and NSPF was on the forefront of providing answers to the eager crowd. NSPF held an Instructor Training Course in Puerto Rico recently. Students from Canada, Dubai, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela became new NSPF Instructors. NSPF Instructor, Rudy Stankowitz, also held the first CPO Certification course in Guyana, South America. The director of engineering at the Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown wanted the custodial staff of eight to be certified for the country's upcoming Golden Jubilee. "The CPO Certification has such a long and incredible history in protecting swimmers at aquatic facilities throughout the world. I was extremely flattered at the opportunity to bring this program into the country of Guyana," stated Rudy Stankowitz, CEO and President, Aquatic Training & Consultants. "You could see the tremendous amount of pride and excitement in the faces of the individuals at this facility as they received their test results knowing that they were making swimming pool history in being the first in their entire country to earn this certification." NSPF is continuing its efforts in Australia and Mexico to impart pool care knowledge. An NSPF Instructor Course, CPO Certification Course, and marketing seminar will take place at the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show on August 15-17 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Center in Australia. NSPF will also have an exhibit booth at SPLASH! Candidates participating in the NSPF Instructor course will hail from Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Australia The Asociacion De Profesionales de la Piscina A. C. (APPAC) will conduct, for the fifth consecutive year, a CPO Certification Course during the Expo Tecno Agua in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from August 31-September 2, 2016. NSPF has had a long standing partnership with APPAC, who has trained over 25 NSPF Instructors, who have, in turn, certified over 900 students with the CPO Certification The National Swimming Pool Foundation has had a busy summer, and intends to continue educating countries around the world about pool and spa operation. Keeping pools open and safer begins with providing knowledge and imparting skills to aquatic professionals that will foster healthier recreational waters. To learn more about bringing CPO Certification to a new country, email service@nspf.org. About NSPF We believe everything we do helps people live healthier lives. We believe we can make a difference by making pools safer, keeping pools open, and attracting more people to use pools, spas and aquatic facilities. We do this by offering the world's leading NSPF and Genesis educational products and programs that are technically sound, convenient, and beautifully designed. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, proceeds from all of our educational products fund research and help create swimmers through our Step Into Swim campaign with a goal to create 1 million more swimmers within 10 years. To find ways we can serve you, please visit www.nspf.org, email service@nspf.org, or call 719-540-9119. Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=41005 CONTACT:Jacki Krumnow PR Specialist 719-540-9119 jacki.krumnow@nspf.org 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 Inevitably running the site and the blog takes time and costs money. I have added a donate button for anyone who has found the advice/help given useful and who would like to make a donation towards running the sites. Naturally any donation is entirely voluntary and, while much appreciated, will make no difference to the level of advice offered. I make no charge for any advice given through either my www.investdrinks.org site or through my investdrinks-blog. Rouhanis decision to order a review of these positions would seem to give support to those who claim that the current Iranian president is moderate in comparison to his predecessors and the rest of the regime. Indeed, the BBC gives Rouhani credit for speaking out on womens rights issues, and for praising the election of several new women to Irans parliament this year, the vast majority of whom were associated with his political faction. But the BBC also notes that activists have criticized Rouhani for doing little to back up his nice-sounding statements on womens rights in general and on female employment in particular. Iranian women make up 60 percent of the countrys population of university graduates, and yet only 12.4 percent of women are active members of the workforce. And if anything, this situation has deteriorated for women under Rouhanis presidency, as has the general status of womens rights. It remains to be seen whether the review of civil service jobs will lead to additional, more proactive steps by the administration. But if it does not, then the review alone cannot be expected to do much to seriously encourage the hiring of women, especially at a time when national and various local authorities have been pushing measures to expand the enforcement of gender segregation while actively urging women to remain in the home and raise families beginning at an early age. Last week, Iran News Update reported upon some of the recent gender-oriented crackdowns that have taken place in the Islamic Republic, including several raids of mixed-gender parties, the imposition of strict bans on very young children swimming together, and the arrest of various women for riding bicycles in public parks. These trends represent a situation that has by most accounts gotten worse over the past three years, during which time Rouhani has occasionally made moderate-sounding statements on the issues, but has not taken any recognizable steps to counteract hardline authorities efforts. Rouhani has defended himself by saying that the Iranian judiciary, which prosecutes women for such crimes as inadequate compliance with the countrys forced veiling laws, is an independent body not under the control of the presidency. But while this is true, some human rights organizations have responded by saying that independence is not synonymous with intractability, yet Rouhani has made no clear effort to influence the judiciary in positive directions. Quite the contrary, when challenged over the regimes notoriously high rate of executions Rouhani has said that the laws leading to those executions are either Gods laws or reflective of the will of the people. But in many cases, those laws are decidedly vague, leading to situations in which the judiciary can implement arbitrary punishments. In such cases, the Iranian president could presumably take serious steps toward pushing parliament to clarify the law while also urging the judiciary to avoid prosecution in cases where it is not completely clear that there has been a violation of the law. The problem of vagueness is certainly an issue when it comes to some laws relating to womens rights or sexual crimes. This fact was illustrated by IranWire on Tuesday, in an article exploring the legal topic of illicit sexual activity. The laws of the Islamic Republic clearly allow for a sentence of execution by stoning in cases where a man and a woman commit adultery with each other. Other situations call for execution by hanging, but lower punishments such as flogging are prescribed for situations that are often less clearly defined. This has led different judges to interpret the law with varying degrees of strictness. But some have determined that illicit sexual activity does not even have to involve physical contact. Some unmarried romantic couples have been charged with crimes for exchanging amorous messages by telephone or by text message. IranWire even cites one particular case in which a young woman was charged with committing sinful acts in public by drinking coffee in a provocative way. Whats more, the sorts of laws that allow for prosecution of these individuals can also be used by the regime to attack organizations and groups that are or may be advocating for reform within the Islamic Republic. Existing laws call for intervention and prosecution in cases of the promotion of corruption or promiscuity, but they fail to define these terms. Meanwhile, the regime frequently cites issues of public morality in its crackdowns, whether or not these are justified with explicit reference to the law. In July, for instance, the Basij civilian militia held a ceremony to destroy an estimated 100,000 satellite dishes, in a renewed attempt to cut off the Iranian people from access to foreign media. The head of the Basij, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naghdi, used the occasion to claim that access to such programming and information was responsible for a range of social problems including drug addition, an extremely high divorce rate, and inappropriate behaviors by young people. On Tuesday, Reuters revealed additional dimensions of the crackdown on alternative media of which this satellite television obstruction is one part. Although it was already well known that the regime had made efforts to gain access to user information for relatively secure social networking and communication apps, it has now been revealed that state-affiliated hackers recently succeeded in penetrating approximately three quarters of the Iranian accounts for the particularly popular Telegram instant messaging app. There are an estimated 20 million active users in Iran, many of whom have been known to use the app for activist organizing or for the expression of dissent. The 15 million people who have had their information compromised may now be at additional risk of monitoring or arrest, although information technology experts believe that these individuals can still keep their accounts secure in the future. Even so, the massively large-scale hacking leaves little doubt about Tehrans commitment to monitoring and suppression of dissent, or about the fact that this aspect of the regime has not diminished in the three years since Rouhani assumed office. This latter point was further emphasized by 92 Iranian university student groups, which jointly issued a letter on July 27 explicitly criticizing the Rouhani administration for failing to take steps toward the fulfillment of any of his major campaign promises. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran quoted that letter as describing an atmosphere of fear and intimidation related in part to intimidation of students on social media and expanded enforcement of gender segregation policies. The International Campaign also reported that Rouhani himself has claimed that the situation has improved during his time in office, saying for instance that the difference between the climate now and the one in 2013 is like night and day. But the student associations letter strongly suggests that young Iranians do not see it this way. And this in turn casts doubt upon the prospects for Rouhani to spearhead reforms regarding women in the workplace. Meanwhile, any who tries to do so from outside the government may be subject to severe reprisals from an unchecked hardline faction of the regime. Not only are activists and dissidents subject to political imprisonment and arbitrary, but supposedly legally justifiable punishment; so too are many of their lawyers. This fact was discussed in another report published Tuesday by the International Campaign. The report listed numerous such lawyers who have been jailed or banned from practicing law after they represented members of groups like the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran. The report also touches upon the use of vague moral laws to justify attacks on political organizations. For instance, it pointed out that numerous lawyers were put in jail and that some of them still remain there as a result of being accused of acting against national security by establishing the Defenders of Human Rights Center. Naturally, the formal bans on such organizations and the unofficial bans on representation of individual political prisoners will make it extremely difficult for Iranians to advocate for the rights of women and other targets of repression. This difficulty has been variously exposed in the international media and will presumably continue to be exposed in this way, even as the Rouhani administration claims to have brought about improvements. The Guardian reported on Tuesday that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the Iranian-British mother accused of vague national security crimes in April, has finally seen the inside of a courtroom for the first time. But although she faced her first hearing on Monday, she was not expected to be given an opportunity to choose a lawyer to represent her until the following day. It is not yet clear whether this plan went forward, but Iran is notorious for obstructing access to lawyers and rejecting defendants choices of representation. And this practice also has persisted throughout Rouhanis term as president. Mohaddessin said, Ali Khameneis religious dictatorship in Iran in yet another brutal crime this morning hanged 20 Sunni prisoners. This inhuman crime took place simultaneous with the anniversary of the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in Iran. The mullahs regime is facing absolute social isolation and widespread abhorrence by the people and thus is resorting to increased executions to create a climate of fear and to prevent the possibility of a nationwide uprising. More than 2500 people have been executed in Iran under Hassan Rouhani, who falsely claimed to seek moderation. For as long as the mullahs regime is in power, there will continue to be further executions, torture and other crimes. If this regime halts torture and execution even for a single day, it would immediately lead to its overthrow. He went on to condemn the silence of the international community, calling it, shameful for modern day humanity. If this regime and its leaders and officials are not prosecuted for crimes against humanity, then what good are the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court? The UN Security Council has an obligation to bring the regimes criminal record before a competent international court. Ali Khamenei, [former President] Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, Hassan Rouhani and other such criminals who have had a direct role in the execution of 120,000 political prisoners to date, including the 1988 massacre, must be brought to justice. Some 30,000 political prisoners, mainly activists of the main Iranian opposition group Peoples Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI or MEK), were summarily executed in the summer of 1988 in what has been described as Irans biggest prison massacre. Mrs. Rajavi called for protests and solidarity within Iran, and urged Shiite and Sunni clergies around the world to raise their voices in denouncement of Ali Khamenei, the great enemy of the people of Iran and the region, for his crimes against the true teachings of Islam, as well his greater crimes against humanity. She added, The mullahs anti-human regime carried out the mass execution of our Sunni brothers on the anniversary of the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in Iran. They are trying in vain to contain the volatile social atmosphere and popular protests by terrorizing the public. The massacre of political prisoners in Iran in 1988 is ranked as one of the largest since World War II. The victims were primarily members of the main opposition group Peoples Mojahedin (PMOI), also known as the Mujahedin Khalq (MEK). Over the past 37 years, the clerical regime continues to commit crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. Mrs. Rajavi says, The time has come for the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Security Council to end their silence and bring the record of the Iranian regimes crimes before the International Criminal Tribunal. Ali Khamenei and other leaders of the regime as well as direct perpetrators of these crimes must be brought to justice. In an additional shocking piece of cruelty, the regimes Judiciary told the families that they had until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon for a final visit at the prison with their children. Before they could arrive, the Ministry of Intelligence contacted the families and told them to go to the Coroners of Kahrizak to pick up the bodies of their loved ones. Prison authorities declared a state of emergency, disconnected all telephone booths and prevented prisoners from referring to the prisons dispensary. Among the Sunni prisoners who were executed, was Shahram Ahmadi, who was wounded in April 2009 when he was arrested by Intelligence agents. He lost one kidney and part of his intestine, after which he was tortured for 43 months in the Intelligence Departments detention center in Sanandaj. As a result of this horrendous treatment, he contracted various illnesses and lost his hearing to a large extent. In October 2012, he was sentenced to death on the alleged charge of Moharebeh, or waging war on God. His younger brother, Bahram Ahmadi who was under 18 years old at the time of arrest, was executed in Ghezel Hessar Prison in January 2012 along with five other Sunni political prisoners. Eugene Robinson Eugene Robinson is an Associate Editor and twice-weekly columnist for The Washington Post. His column appears on Tuesdays and Fridays. In a 25-year career at The Post, Robinson has been city hall reporter, city editor, foreign correspondent in Buenos Aires and London, foreign editor, and assistant managing editor in charge of the paper's award-winning Style section. In 2005, he started writing a column for the Op-Ed page. He is the author of "Coal to Cream: A Black Man's Journey Beyond Color to an Affirmation of Race" (1999) and "Last Dance in Havana" (2004). Robinson is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and has received numerous journalism awards. New ARFF Station Ready at Hilo International Airport "Keeping airport users safe is an enormous responsibility that we take to heart. This new and improved fire station will help our dedicated state firefighters and emergency medical responders with their day to day responsibilities, which includes responding to emergencies," said Ford Fuchigami, the Hawaii Department of Transportation's director. State and local officials and the Hawaii Department of Transportation's Airports Division personnel celebrated the opening of the new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station at the Hilo International Airport last week. The new two-story, 21,000-square-foot facility includes an emergency operations center, four drive-through truck bays, a fueling area, and improved work and living quarters for firefighters. Hawaii DOT reports the building accommodates larger ARFF vehicles and provides training facilities for firefighters. "Keeping airport users safe is an enormous responsibility that we take to heart. This new and improved fire station will help our dedicated state firefighters and emergency medical responders with their day to day responsibilities, which includes responding to emergencies," said Ford Fuchigami, the Hawaii Department of Transportation's director. Nearly 87 percent of the $18.8 million total spent on the facility was provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, with the Airports Division providing the remaining $3 million. The new station is fully compliant with FAA requirements, according the the state agency. "We extend our gratitude to the FAA leadership for their support and dedication in bringing these improvements to Hilo," said Ross Higashi, deputy director of the Airports Division. "We also thank the skilled firefighters and emergency medical responders who rush to an emergency when called upon." Firefighters' move-in date will be coordinated with HDOT and the contractor to ensure there is no lapse in coverage during the transition to the new facility. (Bloomberg) -- Keppel Corp.s Brazil problems just keep growing. The worlds largest builder of offshore oil rigs has seen investments plummet in one of its most important markets. A major client, Sete Brasil Participacoes, has entered bankruptcy protection. Then last month a former agent fanned the flames of an ongoing corruption investigation by saying in court that the Singapore-based companys top managers authorized him to pay bribes to win work with state-controlled Petroleo Brasileiro SA. Zwi Skornicki, the former third-party commercial representative for Keppel in Brazil, told a judge that five leading executives, including current Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Chow Yew Yuen, authorized him to bribe public officials in exchange for Petrobras contracts that often exceeded a billion dollars. Keppel denied the allegations in a July 24 statement, said it has zero tolerance for illegal activities, and that it will "take all necessary steps to eradicate such conduct if discovered." The other Keppel executives who allegedly knew about and authorized the kickbacks are Tong Chong Heong, a former senior executive at Keppel Corp.; Tay Kim Hock, a former CEO of Keppel Fels Brasil; Tay Kim Hock, the current CEO at Keppel Fels Brasil; and Choo Chiau Beng, a former Keppel Corp. CEO, according to Skornickis testimony given on July 21 to judge Sergio Moro, who heads the so-called Carwash investigation. The testimony was published on a court website as part of the court record. To read more about Brazils Carwash case, click here "The agency relationship with Mr. Skornicki had been put on hold. In view of his admission to illegal payments, we will terminate the agency relationship," Keppel said in an e-mailed response on July 29. Attempts to reach the five executives through Keppel werent successful. Choo was Singapores non-resident ambassador in Brazil at the time of the alleged bribing. The embassy declined to comment. Skornicki said he had his own firm, located inside Keppels office in Brazil, and a formal contract to represent the company, with enough autonomy to sign contracts with Petrobras on behalf of Keppel. Story continues Skornicki presented his contract with Keppel to the judge, in which he would get a percentage of the deals. He used the same accounts where Keppel paid him his formal fee to then bribe officials, he said. The kickbacks went to Petrobras officials and people including Joao Vaccari, who was the treasurer for the then-ruling Workers Party, Skornicki said. The party ruled Brazil from 2003 until May, when President Dilma Rousseff was suspended after Congress started an impeachment trail against her for unrelated charges. In the so-called Carwash case, leading politicians from the ruling coalition used their influence to hand pick members of Petrobrass top management, who then collected bribes and shared the proceeds with their political benefactors. Vaccari was sentenced in 2015 to 15 years in jail for corruption and for managing bribes for the Workers Party. Vaccaris lawyer Luiz DUrso denied wrongdoing and said his clients sentence was only based on plea bargain testimonies, without proof of illegalities. Petrobras has repeatedly said it was a victim of a few rogue employees and that is collaborating with authorities. Keppels legal departments in Singapore and in Brazil reviewed all contracts, Skornicki said in court. Keppel was first cited in the Carwash case in Feb. 2015, and Skornicki also claims he paid bribes to win work with Sete Brasil, which stopped making payments to shipyards last year and filed for bankruptcy protection in April, after being implicated in the graft probe. Sete didnt reply to a request for comment. --With assistance from Kyunghee Park To contact the reporter on this story: Sabrina Valle in Rio de Janeiro at svalle@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: David Marino at dmarino4@bloomberg.net, Peter Millard, Carlos Caminada 2016 Bloomberg L.P. Armenian president Serzh Sarkisian on Monday called for "radical changes" in the country after a tense stand-off with 20 anti-government gunmen holed up in a police station left two officers dead and triggered mass protests. "One thing is clear, the process of the radical changes in Armenia's social and political life" must be sped up, Sarkisian said at a meeting with civil society representatives, religious leaders and government officials, his office said. "Yes, it is true that the Armenian authorities are not perfect. Yes, it is true that there are many problems and complex issues in Armenia. Our goal is to give them a speedy resolution." The 20 pro-opposition gunmen surrendered Sunday after seizing a police station in Armenia's capital Yerevan on July 17. The crisis, which saw the gunmen take police officers and medical personnel hostage, sparked demonstrations by opposition supporters in Yerevan that sometimes descended into violence. The gunmen were demanding the release of jailed opposition leader Zhirair Sefilyan and the resignation of Sarkisian, a former communist party leader who came to power in 2008. Sefilyan is a fierce government critic who was arrested along with six supporters in June. They were accused of preparing to seize government buildings and telecoms facilities. A statement published on Sunday by one of the gunmen inside the police station vowed the group would continue its fight from prison. More than 1,000 people took to the streets in downtown Yerevan on Monday night in an anti-government protest calling for leniency toward the armed group, according to local media. - 'Not Beirut or Aleppo' - The gunmen plunged Armenia into turmoil when they stormed the police station, killing an officer and taking several others hostage. They let the officers go but then seized four medical workers before freeing them too. On Saturday a second officer was killed by a sniper who authorities said was firing from inside the police compound, a claim denied by the gunmen. Sarkisian vowed that the country would not allow anyone to "undermine the foundation of our state." "Problems in Armenia will not be solved through violence or arms," he said. "Yerevan is neither Beirut nor Aleppo." Sarkisian also called for a "thorough investigation, a comprehensive and unbiased examination and an open trial" over the incident. Human Rights Watch accused the Armenian police of using "excessive force against peaceful protesters" and said it had "assaulted journalists reporting on the demonstrations" on Friday. Giorgi Gogia, South Caucasus director at HRW, said Armenia's investigation into Friday's assaults on demonstrators "should be swift and thorough." The public could also participate in the GECommunity by attending open exhibition for promising startups as well as research and innovation agencies Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak announced today that Malaysia will host the first Global Entrepreneurship Community (GECommunity) event in Kuala Lumpur on November 2-3, 2016. The GECommunity will offer a platform for Malaysian, ASEAN and global entrepreneurs, policymakers, industry leaders, investors and other startup community participants to connect and participate in specially curated programmes designed to build strategic linkages and drive real change. The GECommunity, part of a week-long Malaysia Entrepreneurship Week, aims to reinforce the governments strong commitment to transform Malaysia into the worlds next innovation capital. Also Read: Malaysia Boleh! Project Merdeka celebrates Malaysian entrepreneurship in conjunction with Malaysias 59th Independence Day The event is a programme under the National Entrepreneurship Development Office (NEDO) under the Ministry of Finance, the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) and supported by Community Partner the Global Entrepreneurship Movement (GEM). The GECommunity will focus on 12 main business clusters: Biotechnology, Food and Agriculture, Retail and Tourism, Smart Cities, Alternative Resources, Education and Finance, Media and Creative Industries, Healthcare, as well as Transport and Logistics. Each cluster will bring together 100 key players from the sector to exchange ideas, share industry best practices and leverage on the knowledge-based economy to integrate local businesses into the global market place. The event also aims to initiate cross-border collaboration and partnership, as well as create real and measurable impact on the future of the global entrepreneurship ecosystem. Also Read: Penang tech mafia Curry Khoo on growing a startup community in Penang and launching Second Startup Aside from the cluster discussions, the GECommunity expects another 1,200 entrepreneurs to attend special fireside chats or mentoring sessions with key personalities from each of the business clusters. Story continues Members of the public could also participate in the GECommunity by attending the events open exhibition for promising startups as well as research and innovation agencies. To cater for startups in the later stage of business growth, the GECommunity will also hold a Malaysian Commercialisation Year segment, the result of a partnership with the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). The segment will offer commercialisation opportunities for Malaysian entrepreneurs within the technology, innovation and research space. Also Read: Malaysias SITEC to spearhead symposium/hackathon on best practices in e-commerce, aims to present white paper on topic The GECommunity will conclude with the Global Startup Awards ceremony, where the worlds best startups will be celebrated after months of careful curation, screening and judging process. Although the GECommunity is by-invitation only, interested entrepreneurs are invited to apply by explaining how and what they can contribute to the event visit . Entrepreneurs are a critical component of the drive for Malaysia to achieve fully developed nation status by 2020. Through their innovation, creativity and inherent willingness to embrace risk, entrepreneurs make invaluable contributions to our countrys growth, said Dr. Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, Secretary General of the Treasury, Ministry of Finance Malaysia as well as Chairman of MaGIC and Patron of GEM, in a press statement. They are the cornerstones of the knowledge economy and integral to helping achieve our goal of becoming a high income nation. Through GECommunity, we intend to create a global entrepreneurship ecosystem in which growth-oriented entrepreneurial business can thrive and contribute to innovation, employment and the economy, he added. The post Malaysia to host first Global Entrepreneurship Community in KL, aims to transform the nation appeared first on e27. Lord Alton writes, For many years, the plight of religious minorities in Iran, especially the Christian community, has been a priority issue for me and many of my colleagues in the Parliament. We have also highlighted the plight of hundreds of Bahais who have been killed, executed, tortured or imprisoned, and the tens of thousands who have lost jobs, access to education, and other rights all solely because of their religious belief. and adds, Christians in Iran are prevented from openly exercising their belief or promoting their religion. According to Lord Alton, the Christian community continues to be harassed by repressive security forces, including the Revolutionary Guard Corps. He cites Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which insist on freedom of religion or belief, and which is not honoured in Iran, making it one of the worlds 10 most inhospitable countries for Christians and in recent years. Many Christian priests, pastors and believers have been subjected to arbitrary arrest and long prison sentences. He says, Two days after the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued their latest human rights assessment, reports appeared about the plight of a Christian prisoner, Maryam Naghash Zargaran, who has been denied unconditional release by an Iranian court at the request of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS). Maryams case, and that of her co-worker, Saeed Abedni, illustrate what is happening to Christians in Iran while the world chooses to look away. She is serving a four-year sentence at Evin prison, charged with acting against national security. She was previously arrested in January 2013 for her work at an orphanage with the Christian pastor, Saeed Abedini. Mr Abedini was freed in January this year as part of a U.S.-Iranian prisoner swap. Ms. Naghash Zargaran is now twenty days into a hunger strike that threatens her already fragile health. Staff at the prison have confirmed that her blood pressure is very low; that she has pains and numbness in her feet possibly early signs of Multiple Sclerosis. Mr Abedini joined tens of thousands of Iranians at the annual gathering of Irans democratic opposition movement, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), in support of a free and democratic Iran. In his remarks at the Free Iran rally, he told of the torture that he and many other prisoners of conscience had to endure, recalled how prison guards said he would never come out of prison alive, and left him in solitary confinement for refusing to make false confessions. He also described the horror of watching other prisoners being taken to be hanged. Lord Alton describes an optimistic note, when Abedini pointed out that his very presence in the gathering on that day proves that each act of resistance will be a victory for freedom. Prior to the gathering in Paris, nearly 80 church leaders from the UK and US, issued a joint statement regarding their grave concern about the mistreatment of Christians. Repression of Christians has not only continued but intensified during the presidency of Hassan Rouhani, the statement said, adding, In such circumstances, we call on all Western countries to consider the deplorable situation of human rights in Iran, particularly the painful situation of Christians and the intensification of their oppression, in navigating their relations with Iran. Lord Alton applauded the National Council for Resistance of Iran (NCRI) President-elect Maryam Rajavis 10-point democratic platform for a future Iran that promotes human rights, gender equality and freedom for average Iranian citizens, and envisions the end of discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities. It is truly unique for a Muslim woman to lead an organised opposition against a theocratic regime and to present such a progressive platform. I have no doubt that it is in the best interests of anyone who cherishes the right to hold religious beliefs but who also insists on the rights of those who do not to support the courageous Mrs. Rajavi and her 10-point democratic platform in Iran. he said, and concluded, As Mrs Rajavi said in her recent message to Christian leaders of the world, The Holy Bible teaches us to support and encourage the oppressed Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed (Isaiah, 1:17). The human gut is a complex and amazing system, and the more we learn about it, the more amazed we are. It turns out LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Anglo American (LSE: AAL.L - news) said on Wednesday the De Beers' Gahcho Kue mine, which it describes as the world's largest new diamond mine, in the Northwest Territories of Canada was expected to reach full commercial production early next year. Output at the roughly $1 billion project will be an average of 4.5 million carats per year over its anticipated 13-year life. "Starting the ramp up to production at Gahcho Kue - on time, on budget and in a challenging environment - is a remarkable achievement," De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver in a statement. De Beers has a 51 percent stake in the Gahcho Kue joint venture with the rest held by Mountain Province Diamonds (Toronto: MPV.TO - news) . (Reporting by Barbara Lewis in London and Esha Vaish in Bengaluru; Editing by Alexander Smith) * Healthy renewables output weighs on prices * Power consumption set to ease * Curve prices off as fuels prices decrease * German Cal '17 contract at 3-week low FRANKFURT, Aug 3 (Reuters) - European prompt power fell on Wednesday on high wind and solar power output and with some sizeable nuclear outages priced in. "There will be some hefty wind power spikes on Thursday before a slowdown in the first half of next week," one trader said. He added the medium term outlook for the summer weather was choppy, and that France and Germany showed differing day-on-day patterns well into next week. German baseload power for day-ahead delivery was down 1.7 euros at 28.05 euros ($31.41) per megawatt-hour (MWh). The equivalent French contract was at 29.1 euros/MWh, down 1.5 euros. Latest Thomson Reuters (TR) data showed that wind power output in Germany exceeded forecasts for Wednesday by 1.4 gigawatts (GW), standing at 10.1, and was due to rise to 11.2 GW on Thursday. German solar output will gain 1.6 GW to Thursday to 6.1 GW and remain near 6-7 GW over the next fortnight, the data also showed. Power demand will likely go down by 0.4 GW in France and Germany combined by Thursday, and follow a receding trend in both markets towards next week. In the nuclear sector, plant availability in France was 1.5 percentage points up from Tuesday, partly offsetting two lengthened reactor outages in Germany and a scheduled one in Switzerland of the country's biggest nuclear plant at Leibstadt. Prices along the forward power curve were dragged down along with weaker oil, coal and gas while carbon showed some sharp gains. German baseload power for next year, the Cal '17 contract, was down 30 cents at 26.75 euros/MWh, the lowest in three weeks. The equivalent French contract, which is less liquid, shed 35 cents to 32 euros/MWh. Oil fell as fuel oversupply and stuttering economic growth weighed on markets, although crude prices did receive some support from a weaker dollar. Story continues European coal prices for 2017 lost 1.8 percent to $60.15, only narrowly above the psychologically important $60 level it had recently gone above. Front-year EU carbon allowances jumped 2.3 percent to 4.52 euros a tonne. In eastern European power, the Czech year-ahead position shed 25 cents to 27.5 euros while the day-ahead position lost 1.4 euros 28.8 euros. ($1 = 0.8931 euros) (Reporting by Vera Eckert, editing by Alexandra Hudson) The residents of Camp Liberty are mainly members of the Peoples Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI/ MEK) which Jorgensen mentions has a unique relationship with the USA. From 19997-2012, MEK was on the US terror list, allegedly at the regimes request during negotiations but they were removed after the US found no recent history of terrorist activities; in fact, they had been providing the USA with information on the terrorist activity in Iran. Several US politicians from both major parties condemned the attacks including US Senator John McCain. The former presidential candidate said: Sadly, this is not the first time the residents of Camp Liberty have been the victims of horrific attacks. He added: And I remain deeply concerned about their safety. While I am pleased by the State Departments effort to expedite the residents resettlement to a safe location, this latest attack demonstrates the need for the United States and Iraq to do more to ensure the security of Camp Liberty during this process. Jorgensen cited the support for the Iranian resistance demonstrated in the Free Iran rally in Paris last month, which brought together over 100,000 people. The gathering, organised by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), focused on building a democratic Iran. It attracted politicians, religious leaders, and civilians from around the world. She wrote: Almost every American speaking at NCRI mentioned Camp Liberty. Former White House director of public liaison Linda Chavez said, Lets honour and commend the bravery and dedication of Camp Liberty residents. Francis Townsend, a former homeland security adviser to President George W. Bush, brought up the bipartisan advocacy on the part of Americans [and said] Were not done with that work until the last person leaves Camp Liberty, we will not be stopped. Camp Liberty is a former US military base, where Iranian refugees are housed, supposedly protected by international law until they can reach a safe country. The refugees were previously evicted from Camp Ashraf, also a US base. They set up camp in Iraq in 1986, after fleeing persecution in Iran. During the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, American military forces took control of the base. Then, the MEK surrendered its weapons in 2004 and received protected status under the Geneva Convention. She wrote about Retired Colonel Wesley Martin, the first U.S. military official to serve as base commander in 2006. She wrote: During his time at Ashraf, Martin developed a professional relationship with the MEK, and when his tour of duty ended he continued to stay in communication with the groups leaders on behalf of the State Department and the Pentagon. But when President Obama pulled out of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Iraq in 2009, U.S. support for camps such as Ashraf went away as well. The camp was turned over to Iraqs government. Iraq then tried to close the camp, which required the United Nations to intervene as a mediator. When this failed, Martin Kobler, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) issued a plan for relocation which was agreed to by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The residents were moved to the smaller, and less well-equipped Camp Liberty where they are now under the care of the United National High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This was supposed to be a short-term fix until the residents could be moved to safe countries but four years later the camp still exists with 1,300 residents. Martin blames this on the UN and said that America must stick to its guns in terms of relocation and monitor the camp to prevent any further attacks. He said: The UN is not a pure origination, there are a lot of political motivations. Martin added: All we gotta do is put [the refugees] on buses, put them on planes, get them to Albania. And then no problems, [the Albanians] were happy to take them. Thankfully, Jorgensen notes that Americans are taking more aggressive action. She wrote: McCain pushed a resolution, S.Con.Res.42, to the Foreign Relations committee, where it passed unanimously, and now heads to the Senate for a floor votethe bipartisan support of humanitarian efforts to rescue people in Camp Liberty give the U.S. an even stronger voice on the issue, one expected to end by 2017. DGAP-News: Phoenix Solar Aktiengesellschaft / Key word(s): Disposal The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Phoenix Solar photovoltaic power plant in France sold to Obton A/S - All conditions are met, closing concluded - Proceeds mainly to be used for redemption of debts Sulzemoos, August 3, 2016 / Phoenix Solar SAS, Lyon, France, a 100% subsidiary of Phoenix Solar AG (ISIN DE000A0BVU93), a leading international photovoltaic system integrator listed on the official market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, has sold its Batisolaire 3 photovoltaic power plant located in France to the Danish investment firm Obton A/S, specialized in PV investments in France and Germany. An agreement to this effect had been signed between the parties on April 26, 2016. After the conditions precedent were now completely met, the closing of the agreement was concluded on July 28, 2016. The parties agreed not to disclose any further details of the terms of the transaction. As Phoenix Solar is not active as an independent power producer, the power plant was regarded as a non-core asset. The proceeds are to be used mainly to repay debt. Built in 2012, Batisolaire 3 is a 2.0 MWp array of rooftop systems installed on top of agricultural buildings in the Auvergne region. Obton Partner and CFO Andreas D. Duckert said: "The negotiations with Phoenix Solar and the entire process went very smoothly. The mutual understanding is excellent. So, if an opportunity for future cooperation might occur, we shall be pleased to be in touch again." About Phoenix Solar AG Phoenix Solar AG, with headquarters in Sulzemoos / Munich, Germany, is an international photovoltaic systems integrator. The Group develops, plans, builds and operates large-scale photovoltaic plants. As an EPC contractor specializing in the design and execution of solar power plants, Phoenix Solar places special emphasis on the "on-time and on-budget" construction and delivery of solar power plants, optimized to deliver superior output. With subsidiaries on three continents, the company has designed and built some 800 MWp of turnkey systems since its founding. The shares of Phoenix Solar AG (ISIN DE000A0BVU93) are listed on the official market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. www.phoenixsolar-group.com. About Obton A/S Obton A/S is an investment company based in Denmark. Solar plants can provide investors with an attractive return at a relatively low risk. Since 2007, Obton has provided investors with several investment opportunities based on solar energy and refers to an extensive track record and an increasing demand for its investment projects. Through its large network in Scandinavia, Obton A/S represents a considerable number of retail investors and manages a substantial volume of assets. It positions itself as an invaluable partner for development and construction companies (EPCs) that wish to attract capital from northern Europe and as an important ally to financial institutions that wish to provide debt services to solar plants for an attractive return. Contact: Phoenix Solar AG Dr. Joachim Fleing Investor Relations Representative Tel.: +49 (0)8135 938-315 Fax: +49 (0)8135 938-399 j.fleing@phoenixsolar.de www.phoenixsolar-group.com 2016-08-03 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Bern, 03.08.2016 - The foreign ministers of the ten ASEAN member states have accorded Switzerland sectoral dialogue partner status. Switzerland has just received official confirmation of its new status, which will allow it to take part in high-level meetings of the most important regional organisation in Southeast Asia, strengthen its bilateral relations with the ASEAN member states and extend its presence and ties in the Asia-Pacific region. ASEAN's economic importance about 600 million people currently live in the 10 ASEAN member states and its commitment to peace, security and stability mean that the association plays a key role in the Asia-Pacific region. The economies of the ASEAN member states are experiencing rapid growth by international comparison and hold great potential for the Swiss economy. The trading volume between ASEAN and Switzerland has grown in recent years to over CHF 20 billion per year. Switzerland is also one of the 10 biggest foreign investors in ASEAN. These are all good reasons to be present in the region and maintain regular contacts. Switzerland sought to be accorded the status of a sectoral dialogue partner in its Foreign Policy Strategy 2016-2019, which provides for this strengthened strategic cooperation with ASEAN. Switzerland will be able to increase the impact of its foreign policy thanks to privileged access to ASEAN institutions and regular participation in high-level meetings. It will also hold regular dialogues with ASEAN on issues of common interest, such as strengthening economic relations, human security and human rights, and disaster risk reduction. Switzerland presented its application to be accorded ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner status to Malaysia, the ASEAN chair at the time, on 16 November 2015. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok. Its member states are Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. In 1993, the member states established the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), and in 2003 they decided to create the ASEAN Community, which covers economic, security and sociocultural aspects of cooperation. Address for enquiries FDFA Communication Federal Palace West Wing CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53 Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55 E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Twitter: @SwissMFA Publisher Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Bern, 03.08.2016 - On Wednesday 3 August, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, was welcomed by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in Bogota on an official visit. This is the first visit by a Swiss president to Colombia. The South American country is a priority for Switzerland with regard to peace-building, humanitarian aid and economic development. In addition to President Santos, the Swiss president met foreign minister Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, finance minister Mauricio Cardenas Santamaria, trade minister Maria Claudia Lacouture and minister of health Alejandro Gaviria in Bogota. Talks focused on the peace process in Colombia, Switzerland's contributions in the post-conflict period, and economic cooperation. The anticipated end to the oldest armed conflict on the American continent is one of the most promising developments of current times, Mr Schneider-Ammann declared. Switzerland has from the outset closely followed the peace negotiations with the FARC. Mr Schneider-Ammann reiterated that Switzerland would continue to support Colombia in the post-conflict period. A joint declaration on the strategy for development was signed on Wednesday. In addition, Switzerland and Colombia signed two visa agreements, and an air transport agreement that will relax legal restrictions on the airlines from both countries. Further topics of discussion included trade, investments and infrastructure, as well as competitiveness and innovation. Mr Schneider-Ammann, who travelled to Colombia with an economic affairs delegation, then joined planning minister Simon Gaviria Munoz and Monica de Greiff, executive president of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, in opening an international innovation conference in Bogota. In addition, he met representatives of Swiss non-governmental organisations in Colombia for talks. Following its visit to Colombia, the Swiss delegation will attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, 5 August. On Thursday, 4 August, a stop is scheduled in Brasilia for talks with the Brazilian government. Address for enquiries EAER Information Service 058 462 20 07, info@gs-wbf.admin.ch Publisher Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research http://www.wbf.admin.ch We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain. Ares Management is reportedly seeking to raise more than $45bn for its latest batch of funds. YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Armenpress inquiry over the arrest of the Russian citizen with Armenian origin Marat Ueldanov-Galustyan in Azerbaijan. Marat Ueldanov-Galustyan has been arrested on June 9 under the Article of 234.4.3 of the Azerbaijans Criminal Code which proposes punishment for illegal preparing, producing, acquiring, maintaining and transferring large amount of drugs. His sister Mariana Mirzoyan insists that false charge has been accused against his brother, and it is already one and a half months they have no information about him. Earlier she also informed that during that period the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan has not visited his brother. The Russian MFA told Armenpress that respective measures are being taken towards the protection of rights of the Russian citizen. We are taking measures towards the Russian citizens protection of rights set by the law regardless of his nationality within the framework of the international law and bilateral agreements, the Russian MFAs statement says. The letter of the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan addressed to Mariana Mirzoyan says the Russian Embassys representative has visited her brother Marat Ueldanov-Galustyan. In response to our request, the Azerbaijani side has provided relevant information over the case. On July 28 the Embassys representative has visited Marat Ueldanov-Galustyan. Currently the investigative operations are underway. He doesnt find him guilty. A lawyer has been hired for him, the letter reads. The Embassys representative conveyed Mariana Mirzoyans letter to her brother, and then Marat Ueldanov-Galustyan wrote the response letter. Armenpress also talked with Mariana Mirzoyan who confirmed she received her brothers letter. My brother wrote everything is good with him, but we all understand that he could not write the contrary. When will all these end? It is unfortunate that the Russian Embassy acts in such a way. I again called the Embassy, wanted to talk with the representative dealing with brothers case, I was informed he left for a working trip until August 12. They didnt say who now deals with brothers case. I am terrified from the thought what can happen with Marat during this period, Mariana Mirzoyan said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS. The Guardian published an article on the everyday lives of the residents of Movses village, Armenia. Anzhela Ayvazyans granddaughter was coming out of kindergarten when the shooting started. As soon as the five-year-old heard the gunfire, she put her head down and ran straight home. Shes a clever girl, says Ayvazyan, she knew not to stop anywhere. This time nobody was hurt, but everyone knows that in Movses, a tiny village in the north-east Berd region of Armenia, the snipers will attack again. As Ayvazyan says, its just a matter of time. For families in Movses, this attack in late July is part of daily life. The village sits just 300m from the Azerbaijani border and locals say that 90% of their village is under surveillance from an Azeri observation post to the east, with many homes in plain view of snipers. Ararat Avalian, the mayor of Movses, has lived in the village for all his 55 years. You can hardly find anyone whose house does not bear bullet marks, he says. His house was shelled in September last year. They just shoot randomly. They know people live in the area, so they are sure at least a little harm will come to someone, the mayor told The Guardian. For local people living in villages on the volatile border, life is getting harder with each outbreak of renewed fighting. Anahit Badalian, who runs the Berd Womens Resource Centre, an organisation employing women to produce traditional handicrafts, is researching the psychological impact of the conflict. She says more than 86% of women suffer from mental health issues such as depression, stress and neuropsychological conditions thought to be related to the hardships of life on the border. Ayvazyan says her life is filled with constant stress. Her husband served on the frontline for 22 years before retiring, and now her son is in the military. When on duty, men can be away for two-and-a-half months at a time. Ayvazyan has trouble sleeping and worries for her son as the toll of fighting has affected the nerves in his face. He has problems controlling his mouth and his vision has been impaired. Nearby, down the only road that snakes through Movses, past the school, the rows of shops outside of which children play with stones in the beating afternoon sun, lives Kima Alipyan. She wearily shows a bullet still lodged in her bedroom wall. Last August it was crazy, every evening at 7pm they would start shooting. If one day they didnt shoot at 7pm everyone wondered why arent they shooting? We got so used to it. So many years have already gone by and here we are. I am so tired of this. Our children grew up with this and our grandchildren are growing up with this. It isnt getting better, its getting worse. Today Movses has a population of 2,156, but Avalian estimates that between 300-400 will leave for Russia this year. It is like that for every family, there are no jobs, so they leave, says Ayvazyan. Ayvazyan once tried to leave, too. Years ago I went to Moscow, to find work, but I only stayed for four months, it was too difficult to be away from Armenia, Movses, my home. I lost eight kilos, I just couldnt live there. This is my home, it is what I know. Along with fellow residents Taguhi Adamyan and Hasmik Zaqinyan , Ayvazyan is determined to stay, keep her village alive and provide for her family. Working at the Berd womens centre, they use crochet skills they learnt as children to make and sell delicately woven toys and Christmas decorations. Since I was five years old I have been doing crochet, my grandmother taught me, soon I was making things for friends, family, neighbours, says Ayvazyan. Badalyan, working in partnership with Timothy Straight who runs the Yerevan-based Homeland Development Initiative Foundation, saw the potential in craft skills and knew they could find a export market for them. Right now, Ayvazyan is making dozens of snowman decorations to send to the United States. When I am making the snowmen I always think that I was never able to go to America or go travelling or anything, but now, with my snowmen, in a way I can go to all the places that I wasnt able see, she says. The women now have more orders than they can fulfil. But we want more, and we keep getting more, we make things so fast, our work is flying away! says Alipyan. For Ayvazyan, her daily batch of crochet takes her mind off her troubles and the stresses of village life and gives her enough money to survive. My crochet is more than a hobby or a job, it is my life. Dean spoke to Breitbart News at the Free Iran conference last month in Paris, hosted by the National Council for Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). During the interview, Dean said he believes that the term radical Islamic terrorism is a manufactured phrase for political, domestic consumption in America. Dean also spoke about the nuclear deal, I respect the president and I certainly didnt oppose the deal but I dont think it was a good deal. That is, I think we did give away a lot more than we needed to. And I think the Iranians are the largest sponsor of state terrorism in the world. And they are making lives very difficult for a lot of our allies. So I didnt oppose the deal. I think it had its pluses and minuses, and I think were not going to know, for a few years, whether the deal makes any sense or not. And interestingly, I think the presidents reputation as a good or not-so-good president will depend on what happens with that deal. According to Dean, most Muslims are not terrorists. In fact, I teach a foreign policy course at Yale. I had three Muslims sit in from other countries. And they pointed out to the class that their families were at greater risk from Daesh [ISIS] than ours because they live with them every day, around the corner. So I think its important for us not to crank up a religious war. That, of course, falls into the hands of Daesh. So I think to call it Islamic terrorism is really just more for political, domestic consumption in America rather than something that youd want to do in the world. I think these people are thugs, and theyre murderers. I dont give them a cause. I dont believe I think theyre crazy, I think theyre lunatics, pathetic lunatics. Dean concludes by saying, I think Iran is the farthest thing from an Islamic Republic, with some of the highest rates of execution in the world, torturing political prisoners, one of the worst human rights records in the world, a destructive force in the world. Theres nothing good about the Islamic Republic of Iran. And its not an Islamic republic; its a republic thats been hijacked by thugs and murderers. And I think the legitimacy and the real government of Iran would be a secular government, which treated women equally with men. Ibec have today warned that a decisive and immediate national response to the Brexit "currency shock" is currently needed. The group has warned that the brexit has left many key export businesses reeling with jobs already under threat. The warning from the countrys main business organisation comes as a new survey highlights the intense currency strain on exporters following the UK vote. The survey found that the negative exchange implications of the UK vote is by far the biggest concern of business. Almost half (45%) saw this as the main threat. Ibec claim exporters are operating with a major competitive handicap in the UK market while domestic firms are facing the prospect of cheaper UK imports grabbing market share. Separate economic analysis from Ibec also found that the impact on UK focused export sectors, such as agri-food, will be particularly severe. The analysis of the historical exchange rate and agri-food export relationship shows that a 1% weakness in sterling results in a 0.7% drop in Irish exports to the UK. If sterling was to weaken further towards the 0.90 mark, this would translate to losses of over 700 million in food exports and about 7,500 Irish jobs in that sector alone. Ibec Director of Policy Fergal O'Brien said, "This is now a full blown currency crisis. For exporters, the speed of sterlings decline is on a par with the 1992 currency crisis. Irish exporters to the UK are already 15% less competitive and things could get much worse. The problem demands urgent government attention." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Modified On Aug 03, 2016 04:51 PM By Nabeel The year 2016 has had its ups and downs for the auto industry. The year started with the Delhi diesel ban and odd-even rule, but since then, things has gotten a lot smoother. Now, we have entered the second half of the year and its time for some exciting new and facelift/update launches. While these cars will be launched across the span of next five months, most of them are expected to arrive around the festive season. Here is a list of 19 cars which will cost less than Rs 19 lakhs. The chatter for this car began a long time ago and it was finally teased to the Indian audience at the 2016 Auto Expo. The 0.8-litre Kwid is doing phenomenally well in the Indian market with its segment above features and muscular looks. The 1-litre and AMT variants are also expected to be very successful in the market. The 1.0-litre Kwid has made its debut in Brazil alongside other India bound cars like the Kaptur and the Koleos. The Tata Tiago has started to gain momentum in the market. This car will soon be launched with an AMT transmission, which will make it more attractive in the market. The AMT offers a comfortable city drive which becomes a blessing in the bumper to bumper traffic. The car features a 1.2-litre Revotron, three-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.05-litre Revotorq three-cylinder diesel engine out of which, the petrol is expected to get the automatic upgrade. Another entry from Tata, this car is highly acclaimed for its design. It is essentially a Tiago with a boot. This sedan looks beautiful and might get some feature upgrades too. It is expected to carry the same engine options of the Tiago and cost somewhere around the Rs 4.2 lakh mark. This car has been on the books for a long time. Finally, there are signs that this car will debut around September. The car has also been spotted in the country, which means it is in its final phase of testing. Chevrolet Beat ACTIV and Essentia (Beat sedan) were showcased at the Auto Expo and now the carmaker has confirmed that Beat Activ, Beat facelift and Essentia compact sedan will make it to production. Expected to launch this month, this Mahindra is being entrusted to revive the Bolero name in the country. As this will be smaller than four metre in length, the carmaker will most likely install a 1.5-litre mHawk diesel engine, which is also found in the other sub-four metre SUVs of the brand. The 1.5-Litre TDI engine of the Polo and the Vento is undergoing a turbo update. This engine will develop more power and will be launched soon. While the current tune generates 104PS in the Vento, the update will bump it up to 109PS. This update is expected to happen in October. Launched recently, the Ameo is the first sub-four metre sedan by the German automaker. The sedan is as of now only available in three petrol trims and the diesel variants will be on sale in the festive season. The petrol mill in the Ameo is a 1.2-litre unit and the diesel will be a 1.5-litre unit borrowed from the Polo hatchback. The TDI Ameo was last spotted testing a few days back, check it out. A phenomenal success, the Elite i20 is one of the highest-selling Hyundai models. To take it a step further, Hyundai will soon introduce an automatic variant of the car, which will be mated to the petrol engine. This gasoline mill is a 1.2 MPi unit which has a power output of 83PS. The Baleno on steroids, this car has fans eagerly waiting ever since it was showcased at the Auto Expo. Featuring a turbocharged 1.0-litre motor, this car has the power of 108 horses under its belly and gets disc brakes all around. This car will most likely be launched in late October. The entry-level Toyota sedan will undergo minor changes this year. The facelift will have reworked front and rear bumper along with minor body changes. Also, there might be a digital instrument cluster and some minor tweaks in the interiors. Showcased at the Auto Expo, this crossover hatchback is a more luxurious avatar of the Avventura. It is expected to come with a 1.4-litre petrol motor and a 1.3-litre 16V MULTIJET engine. It will also feature plush interiors with a five-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It's about time Skoda rolls out the updated Rapid. This car will feature minor body tweaks along with an upgraded equipment list. The facelift might have a similar front look as seen on the Octavia and the Superb, with sharp rectangular headlamps and vertical black coloured slats. The car will get a new bonnet, ORVMs with integrated side blinkers and redesigned headlamps and taillamps. Tata's take on an adventure vehicle, this pickup has been the go-to vehicle for the people who like to take the road less travelled. Now, Tata is coming out with a facelift for this pickup which will boast both equipment and design changes. Tata Motors has launched an updated Xenon in South African, called 'Evolve'. The updated includes a new front bumper, a roll-over bar, nudge guards at the front and the rear and updated alloy wheels. Inside, it gets leather upholstery, power windows, integrated music system with navigation and Bluetooth and a tilt-adjustable steering. SsangYong has seen some success with the Rexton SUV in India. To further capture the SUV space, it will launch the Tivoli in India, which is a global success. This is a compact SUV and will rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta and Renault Duster. The Tivoli in Europe has a 1.6-liter petrol and diesel engines. These are most likely to enter the Indian market. The next-gen Elantra is all set to be the next head turner for Hyundai. It has a beautiful shape and comes packed with features. It is based on the second iteration of Hyundais Fluidic Sculpture design language and will be launched in September in India. This sedan will feature a 4.2-inch LCD screen which will provid a host of information. Also, it will come with Hyundais latest 7.0-inch and 8.0-inch infotainment systems, which support both Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto. Tata's answer to the Innova Crysta, the Hexa will be a sedan SUV cross and has muscular looks. It will come feature packed with a 400Nm diesel engine. This vehicle will come equipped with six airbags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP). Also, the car will have four drive modes -- Automatic, Comfort, Dynamic and Rough-Road. The Toyota Innova Crysta has witnessed an overwhelming response in India. It has become the highest-selling MPV/SUV in the country, beating the likes of the Hyundai Creta and the Vitara Brezza. The bookings for the petrol variants of the MPV have begun and it will be launched soon. The mighty Polo GTI is all set to rip off its rubber on Indian tarmac. This car launches itself from 0 to 100 kmph in 6.7 seconds, courtesy the 1.8 TFSi petrol motor which produces 192PS of power and 250Nm of torque. The next big thing from Maruti, the Ignis hatchback will be placed below the Baleno and above the Swift and will most likely be sold through the NEXA outlets. The car will most likely feature the 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.3-litre diesel engine. There is also a possibility of Maruti introducing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the hatchback. There are some reports which suggest that this car will now be launched in 2017 so as to cope with the rising demand for the Vitara Brezza. These cars have the potential to change the Indian automotive market. With majority of the cars being from Tata, Maruti and Hyundai, customers all over India will soon have a wide new range of vehicles to choose from. Also Read: Maruti Cars Get Costlier By Up To Rs 20,000 Published On Aug 03, 2016 02:27 PM By Alshaar Having travelled through the southern and western parts of the Indian peninsula, the Land Rover Experience tour will now be making its way to the National Capital. The off-roading extravaganza will be organised at the Gateway Resort Damdama Lake in Gurgaon between August 5 and August 7. The event has now entered into its fourth year after its inception in 2013. So far, the tour has covered cities like Kochi, Bengaluru and Aamby Valley. Following on the same trails, Land Rover customers in Delhi will also get to explore some of the toughest off-road terrains with the companys eclectic range of vehicles. The muscular Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque SUVs will play muse for the participants during the tour. This one of its kind event will bring customers closer to real life adventure and offer them an experience they will love for life, the company believes. Highlighting the increasing interest of Indian customers in off-roading and adventure sports, the tour has so far witnessed participation from over 130 customers in Kochi, over 220 customers in Bengaluru, over 165 customers in Hyderabad and over 195 customers in Aamby Valley. READ: JLR's new technical centre While Delhi will be the fifth city to witness the Land Rover Experience tour, the Indo-Brit manufacturer aspires to keep up the momentum in terms of such events. President of Jaguar Land Rover India (JLRIL), Rohit Suri said, We are delighted with the response of our customers to such events who are amazed by the capability of Land Rover cars showcased as a part of the drive experience. The number of credit unions suing Wendys over its recent data breach has soared in recent weeks, and other members of the industry are also piling into the class action suit against the fast food chain. The case against the burger chain now includes 19 credit unions, three banks, four credit union leagues and CUNA. In July, a Pennsylvania District Court Judge consolidated the suits. First Choice Federal Credit Union, one of the initial plaintiffs, alleged that, among other things, Wendys failed to delete cardholder information from its systems after authorizing transactions, failed to protect against malware and viruses, didnt have an adequate firewall, didnt limit or track access to the card data, failed to disclose the breach in a timely manner and didnt covert to EMV. It also alleged that that the point-of-sale systems at Wendys were out of date. NAFCU Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and General Counsel Carrie Hunt on Tuesday told NCUA that a NAFCU report shows no premium assessment may be necessary for the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund in 2016. Hunt, writing to NCUA Board Chairman Rick Metsger and Board Member J. Mark McWatters, also urged the agency to set an estimated premium range for 2017 comparable to the range for 2016, which was zero to six basis points. A report from NAFCU Chief Economist and Director of Research Curt Long and his research team predicts the NCUSIFs equity ratio will remain above 1.2 percent in 2016. Under the Federal Credit Union Act, the NCUA is required to charge a premium or establish a restoration plan if the fund dips below 1.2 percent. The report forecasts the equity ratio under base-level, optimistic and pessimistic conditions and finds that assessments would not be necessary under any of the scenarios. Currently the NCUSIF operating level is set at 1.3 percent. Under base-level and optimistic predictions for 2017, the need for an assessment will be well-avoided, Hunt wrote. Only under economic conditions mirroring the last economic recession, an extremely low-probability event at this point, would the share insurance equity ratio fall below the 1.2 percent threshold. Therefore, NAFCU believes the premium range should be maintained at the current range of zero to six basis points for 2017. Talking Points Australian Dollar little changed after Caixin China PMI report China services PMI 51.7 vs. 52.7 prior, composite PMI 51.9 vs. 50.3 prior Employment component falls to 49.3 in July versus 50.9 in June The Australian Dollar offered a reserved reaction to the Caixin China PMI report Wednesday morning. The important trade link between Australian and China has been superseded recently by the intensified focus on monetary policy. During yesterdays session, the AUD/USD generated more volatility than follow through in the aftermath of the Reserve Bank of Australia rate decision in which the central bank cut rates to a record low. The gauge of the countrys service sector health showed a reading of 51.7 in July, slower than the 52.7 reading in June. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below marks contraction. The overall Composite PMI sped accelerated to 51.9 versus the previous 50.3. Noteworthy in the reports details, the employment component declined, printing 49.3 in July versus 50.9 in June. Meanwhile, business expectations rose to the highest reading since April 2016. The services report showed that the consumer portion of Chinas economy is expanding, albeit slower than in June. China is attempting to transition from a manufacturing-based to consumer-oriented economy. Perhaps the minimal reaction from the sentiment linked Aussie can be further explained by key upcoming event risk. This Friday, the US will release Julys NFPs as the intensity of speculation over Fed rates has increased. Meanwhile, the DailyFX Speculative Sentiment Index (SSI) is showing a reading of -1.3 following the announcement, meaning that for every long AUD/USD position, there are 1.3 short exposures. The SSI is a contrarian indicator at extreme levels, implying further AUD/USDstrength ahead. Want to learn more about the DailyFX SSI indicator? Click here to watch a tutorial. Shutting Down Nuclear and Building Renewables; Easier Said than Done by Don Eichelberger As the state implements SB350, a season of energy compromise is being called for that will transform the California energy market. Energy agencies and board rooms are hopping these days. Plans are being made to transform the California energy landscape as nothing has since energy deregulation in 1996. Two are big ideas. One would shut down nuclear power in California, replacing the lost power with renewable energy, conservation and storage. The other would redesign how energy is delivered in the state by forming a Western States Power grid aimed at sharing power more efficiently and developing renewables. The shut down of Diablo Canyon, negotiated between PG&E, environmental organizations, unions and others, hinges on what some consider too long a time line. The utility gets nine more years, until their NRC licenses run out, for the reactors to continue challenging geology. Others consider the deal a success, Only nine more years of reactor operation! Unfortunately, we have seen this beast resurrect before. If it really does happen in nine years, and all goes well along the faults, despite production of tons more waste with nowhere to be put, it may be, as Lt. Governor Gavin Newsome calls it, the best deal we could get. PG&E, who came to the party late, will use the nine year time line to catch up, implementing a portfolio of renewables and conservation to replace 55% of the 2200 MW of power lost from the reactor shutdowns by 2030 The deal will soon go before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for consideration, and no guarantee of approval. Another set of agencies are planning to allow a short-term spike in coal fired energy in to our state grid. In exchange, we are promised shrinking coal use in the future. It will be replaced mainly with wind through an interconnected multi-state grid that can take advantage of the best wind resources, mostly located far from large population centers. California Senate Bill 350 (SB350)the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Actwas passed in 2015 to set a process for getting 50% of the power going in to the California grid to be produced by renewable energy sources and lowering grid demand through conservation by 2030. Part of the legislation called on California Independent System Operator (CALISO or ISO), a non-profit agency set up during deregulation to develop an energy marketing system and maintain the states grid integrity, to study the feasibility of uniting Californias grids with other grid systems in the west to allow regional energy sharing. A July 26 hearing in Sacramento sponsored by CALISO and attended by representatives from CPUC, California Energy Commission (CEC) and California Air Quality Management District (CAQMD) heard testimony from researchers on the economic and environmental benefits of joining the grids, and discussed the politics of governance. Economically, there is strong potential for economic growth, from primary construction jobs in wind, solar and conservation, to secondary suppliers and transporters of hardware, to the multiplier effect supporting more jobs, and long-term savings to consumers. The first ten years, the build-out period, will produce more jobs in construction, manufacturing and transport. After 2030, with the build-out complete, longer-term benefits will accrue from an estimated $1-1.5 Billion annual savings by California consumers. That will be money that will likely stay in California; on average 70% of household income goes to pay for local services, as opposed to being sent out of state to pay for solar panels and other hardware in the construction phase. Joining the grids was shown to help in developing both wind and solar power. Californias demand for renewable energy, it is felt, can help fuel wind farm constructions in the more sparsely populated mountain states, particularly Wyoming and New Mexico. These are also areas of great economic disadvantage, and are expected to be helped by job availability and cleaner environment. Environmentally, the plan to join the grids is seen as a positive for land use, and especially the environmental impacts of large wind farms. California does not lend itself to large scale project footprints like wind farms and solar arrays due to the density of population, the biological diversity, and fertile agricultural lands of the state. It is felt the prairies and deserts of the mountain states and their resources of regular wind make an ideal match. Joining the California grid and its solar resources with the mountain grids wind resources would help promote growth of both industries and greater availability of renewables through out the grid. The big environmental drawback to the plan, besides the grid itself, is the incorporation of coal-fired electricity in to the grid. PacifiCorp, whose grid goes from Montana through Wyoming and Colorado, owned by Warren Buffets Berkshire-Hathaway, currently has an energy mix that includes 60% coal-fired energy. Estimates are that in the first ten years of the integration, coal fired energy will increase slightly in the regional grid, then go down appreciably by 2030, when a more stout wind infrastructure is emplaced by PacifiCorp. Jonathan Weisgall of PacifiCorp said the company is committed to lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, saying they have already closed four coal processing plants due to lack of demand, and are making plans to retire or convert to natural gas 2800 MW of energy production, with a goal of going from 60% coal to 24% by 2035. The eventual goal at one of their other utilities in the region is wind capacity of 85%, which will not be possible, he says, without this regional grid. Sierra Club was one of the first organizations present who voiced specific concerns about the prospect that coal, called unspecified power in the agreement, could get a boost from the grid unification. It did not help that in the Governance section of the agreement, the goal of carbon tracking of resources was dropped as a key part of the proposal. CALISO assured that they will be tracking carbon within the state and conforming with lower GHG rules that have been legislated, and felt this responsibility could not be assigned to a regional entity. Still, coal power will be in the mix flowing in the grid, but California will not be buying it, for the most part. People were urged to take a long term view, which indicates there will be substantial cut-back in GHG production from coal by 2030 and beyond. A number of groups present gave their support to a greater or lesser degree. The Save the Grid Coalition (GE, NRDC, UCS, others), Building Trades Council, Northwest Safe Energy Coalition, CBE and a number of renewable energy businesses and associations, spoke in favor of the agreement, some with reservations. The Safe Energy Coalition, for instance, wonders about investors, through investor-owned utilities, taking value out of the system. The Utility Reform Network (TURN) had the most questions, about the process, how the agreement was written, who took part, etc.; technical questions on capacity markets; the proposed Western States Commission scope; and the need to protect against California giving away too much autonomy on environmental issues, among others. That sentiment was echoed by Mary Nichols of the CAQMD, saying we need assurances in the agreement as a mitigation factor that coal will not be given a new lease on life. The most stringent and vocal attacks on the agreement came from public interest attorney, Mike Aguirre, who said there is too much focus given to new production of Wyoming and New Mexico wind and not enough to conservation and localized grids and solar rooftops. He went on to call the agreement an effort to privatize ISO, an unconstitutional delegation of authority where investor-owned utilities and generation owners will get to choose the board. He calls the proposal monstrous, and unworkable, given the number of jurisdictions involved, and warned that this idea had been in the original deregulation legislation, but was dropped because it was not seen as workable, then dredged back by SB350. At Abalone Alliance Safe Energy Clearinghouse, we share the concern that such a large, centralized grid could undermine a decentralized, smaller scale grid design and gives unfair market advantage to investor-owned utilities (IOUs), who own the regional grids. Solar designs should allow us--should have the goal of--getting rid of a lot of wires. We do understand, though, the effort of this proposal to unlock the far away wind resources of Wyoming and New Mexico. Local politics will likely not enable the shut down of coal fire and the rise of wind power in those states, but the economic incentives in this agreement are clear, but only to a point. Carbon emissions need to be tracked and squeezed out of the market economically in the whole grid, not just Californias wires. We feel, if such a grid is established, that governance should adopt a consensus or super-majority type model. Consensus demands that we have a basis of unity, that we all know what each other want out of the agreement and nobody objects. The smaller the decision-making body, the higher supermajority should be employed. There are ways to incorporate a quick decision-making process for urgent matters. While consensus is a deliberative process, when used correctly, it can incorporate a wide diversity of opinions, as long as there is real basis of unity around the goals. CPUC Commissioner, Mike Florio said it would be easier to incorporate just the coast states of California, Oregon and Washington, but it is more difficult to incorporate the coal power and different political climate of the mountain states. Perhaps we should start small, with the coastal grid, and add grid partners, like an EU, when they meet certain requirements, to be determined? Bakersfield, Calif.Amid reports of multiple suspected deaths of farm workers from the heat in and around Kern County, United Farm Workers leaders will sound the alarm on proactive steps all employers should immediately take to prevent fatalities and illness when temperatures hit triple digits. The UFW and UFW Foundation are actively investigating reports of as many as three recent fatalities involving farm workers in the Kern County region. At Tuesdays event, UFW Secretary-Treasurer Teresa Romero and union National Vice President Erika Navarrete will credit some employers for taking measures to protect workers such as reducing work hours and providing special work breaks, shade and water as required under the state of Californias pioneering heat standards. Romero and Navarrete will also highlight reports from workers that some employers are threatening them with retaliation if they report illnesses or violations of heat rules.As an example, the UFW will on Tuesday produce a text sent to a table grape worker by the daughter of a farm labor contractor forewoman denouncing the worker in Spanish because she voiced concerns about the heat while laboring at a table grape vineyard outside Richgrove, Calif. If you cant put up with the heatyou should not have come [to work], the forewomans daughter texted. The real truth is you are worth shit. Get to work and dont be lazy.The UFW convinced then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to first issue the heat standards in 2005. Cal-OSHA, the state work safety agency, beefed up the standards in 2015. Enforcement was improved as a result of the settlement of lawsuits in May 2015 between the state of California and farm workers partnering with the UFW.Who: UFW Secretary-Treasurer Teresa Romero and union National Vice President Erika Navarrete.What: UFW leaders will sound the alarm on steps employers should immediately take to prevent deaths and injuries from the heat in the wake of multiple suspected deaths of farm workers in and around Kern County.When: 11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016.Where: UFW Foundation office, 220 - 18th St., Bakersfield, CA 93301.United Farm Workers Amy Adams has announced: Ian Callinan QC, a former Justice of Australias highest court, was appointed by Ms Adams on 19 March 2015 to provide advice on Mr Bains claim. Mr Callinans report was received by the Minister on 27 January 2016. Mr Callinans report found that Mr Bain has not established his innocence on the balance of probabilities. As such, no statement of innocence or compensation payment will be made to Mr Bain. This means Callinan has found that it is more likely David Bain killed his family, than Robin Bain did it. This will be a huge relief to friends and remaining family of Robin. However, the Crown recognises that the compensation application process has lasted nearly six and a half years and that this has been an incredibly difficult and complicated case for all involved. Reaching this point has taken longer than anyone would have wanted it to. In addition, since receiving Mr Callinans final report it has become evident that Mr Bain and his advisors didnt accept Mr Callinans findings. They made it absolutely clear that they intended to legally challenge that report, leading to considerable further cost and delay in this matter. While the Crown is confident in the strength of its position in any such review, its clearly desirable to bring finality to this case and avoid the cost and uncertainty of further proceedings. In my view, no one benefits from this matter continuing to drag on. In light of that, the Crown has agreed to make an ex gratia payment of $925,000 in recognition of the time involved and expenses incurred by Mr Bain during the compensation process, and the desirability of avoiding further litigation. Mr Bain has accepted this payment in full and final settlement of all matters. This is unprecedented Id say. The Government has been advised that David Bain is not innocent on the balance of probabilities, yet it has given him almost one million dollars. I think this is a bad precedent. If Cullinan had found Bain innocent on balance of probabilities, I would have supported compensation for him (even without extraordinary circumstances). But it seems wrong to pay money to someone not found likely to be innocent. There is a difference between not being guilty beyond reasonable doubt, and being innocent on balance of probabilities. The only good thing is that there is finally a conclusion to this log saga. This resolution is a pragmatic one that recognises the unique circumstances of this case and a desire on all sides to bring this matter to a close, says Ms Adams. While many New Zealanders hold strong views on the case, the complexities of the evidence and the opinions that evidence has given rise to, are such that those views are likely to continue to be firmly held without clear resolution. That is for sure. Mr Callinans reports are available online at here and here. Once I have read them I may do a further post. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr Stuff reports: The Maori Party doesnt support former Prime Minister Helen Clarks nomination for the top job at the United Nations. In the same week Clark awaits the results of a second straw poll to assess her chances of getting the Secretary-General role, Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox said her party unequivocally do not support her bid. That position wont change but Clark could go some way to fixing her relationship with Maori by apologising for her mistakes of the past, Fox said. She didnt want to sign up to the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People under the United Nations, she resisted that strongly. Also with the foreshore and seabed we saw that as the largest modern day confiscation of land for Maori. And then there was her support in the Tuhoe raids. Based on her record of dealing with indigenous rights, we feel we can not support her nomination, Fox said. Ottawa, ON The caseload in the The caseload in the Actos bladder cancer multi-district litigation continues to swell as Actos side effects lawsuits such as that filed by plaintiffs Matthew Gasparovic and Sumico Yamana are brought into the fold. In the meantime, were just beyond the 5-year anniversary of an investigation into Actos and bladder cancer by the Canadian equivalent of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health Canada. The latter announced on June 17, 2011 its intention to undertake a safety review of Actos (pioglitazone). In light of studies suggesting an increased risk of bladder cancer with the diabetes drug pioglitazone, as well as actions taken by other regulatory agencies, Health Canada is informing healthcare professionals and Canadians that it is undertaking a review of the drug's status, the release stated.Should the on-going review identify new safety information, Health Canada will take appropriate action as necessary. This can include updating Canadians with new recommendations regarding pioglitazone and the potential risk, for Actos bladder cancer.Less than a year later that investigation was complete. On April 16, 2012 Health Canada alerted doctors and healthcare professionals as to the real, albeit rare potential for Actos and bladder cancer in association with the use of pioglitazone.Findings from new studies reveal that there is a potential increased risk of bladder cancer in patients treated with pioglitazone-containing products, Health Canada stated. Most telling in the Health Canada release was reference to a fifth-year interim report of an ongoing ten-year observational cohort study in patients with diabetes.Interim results from this study suggested that taking pioglitazone longer than 12 months increased the relative risk of developing bladder cancer in any given year by 40 per cent, which equates to an absolute increase of three cases in 10,000 from approximately seven in 10,000 (without pioglitazone) to approximately 10 in 10,000 (with pioglitazone).Meanwhile, in the US the Gasparovic Actos lawsuit has been transferred to Cook County Court from its original jurisdiction governed by the Illinois Supreme Court, for consolidation in Actos multidistrict litigation for pre-trial discovery.Gasparovic alleges that his use of Actos for ongoing treatment of Type 2 diabetes exposed him to Actos bladder cancer. The defendants in the Actos bladder cancer lawsuit, filed in March of this year, are Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Walgreens and Eli Lilly. Gasparovic seeks compensation for medical expenses, bodily damage, pain and suffering, anxiety and mental anguish, disability and the loss of a normal life.The Actos lawsuit is Gasparovic v. Takeda Pharmaceuticals et al, Case No. 16-L-300. - At about 5000 members of the Reformed Oodua Peoples Congress stormed the Imushin community in Ogun State, to confront suspected militants in the area - The President of the OPC group, Dare Adesope, said their presence in the community was to assure residents of their security OPC members At about 5000 members of the Reformed Oodua Peoples Congress stormed the Imushin community in Ogun State, to confront suspected militants in the area, Punch is reporting. According to the report, the OPC members, which did not carry any weapon, were only armed with charms, which they claimed had powers arrived the town from Lagos and Ogun states. READ ALSO: Danger! UN reveals shocking evidence of how north, Niger Delta is ruining Nigeria A palace source who was quoted said, They were over 5,000 and they filled the whole community. They carried all kinds of charms and a few of them even carried placards, protesting militants invasion of the South-West. They said they were ready to enter into the creeks to face the militants and kill them and all they needed was the permission of the traditional ruler. Some of them said they could transform to snakes and lions, once they get into the creeks. The traditional ruler, after thanking them for their concern, asked them to leave because he had not received authority from higher authorities to allow them fight the militants. He urged them to get approval from the government before doing anything in the community." On his part, the President of the OPC group, Dare Adesope, said their presence in the community was to assure residents of their security. On July 19, we issued a 14-day ultimatum to the militants to end their activities in the South-West and we said if they didnt leave, we will challenge them and defend our people. That ultimatum elapsed yesterday (Monday). The recent military action against the militants might have been influenced by our ultimatum, because prior to the release, the Federal Government didnt do anything. READ ALSO: The REAL reason there is an on-going military operation in Bayelsa Army We decided to go to the community in 107 buses and some cars, to show that the Reformed OPC is still on the ground and our aim is to protect the lives and property of everyone that is residing within our area of jurisdiction. Our silence all this while is not an act of cowardice. It is because we believe in dialogue before action. It is wrong for anyone to be kidnapping, raping, robbing and killing our people. We say no to that and we dont want anything like that again in Yoruba land. After today, if we hear anything again in the area, we know what to do. Source: Legit.ng Do you want to travel to Zanzibar for your honeymoon or visit the tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro? For you to have access to any of these locations, you will need a Tanzanian visa. Now, if you were a citizen of some foreign (oyinbo) countries like America (of course), Britain, and others you dont need to apply for a visa; just show up with your International passport, and thats hasta la vista to Nigeria. Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa, popularly known for Mountain Kilimanjaro, Lake Victoria, and the world famous vacation spots in Zanzibar. Tanzania Visa Requirements Nigerians, as usual, always need a visa to enter most countries except West African nations. So to go to Tanzania, you would need a few things before you start the journey. First, you will need to decide which type of visa you will have to get. You may require a tourist or business visa. Two passports photographs on a white background. A recent and updated international passport, valid for six months from the application date. A letter of introduction from your boss or company. Evidence of your Hotel Booking. A teller for the payment of NGN25, 000 to UBA Bank, for your visa. (Prices are different depending on the kind of visa you are applying for). Yellow card. Copy of Official Identity Card. Things to Take Note of When Applying For Tanzania Visa in Nigeria Here are some things to take note of during your application process: You need to verify the visa application before paying the amount to any UBA bank. Your documents cannot be couriered. You need to submit your application before noon; the collection time is 2:30 pm. Ensure you add your marriage certificate and birth certificate. You have to submit the application yourself and to only Government workers, organizations, and Religious officials. The Tanzanian Embassy is in Maitama Abuja, so get ready to travel if you are not living in Abuja. Your visa processing will take at least 2 days. How to get Tanzania Visa on Arrival In Tanzania, getting a visa upon arrival as a foreigner is not as difficult as you might think. Below are seven easy steps you should follow, and you will have no problem obtaining a visa on arrival in one of the most prized jewels of Africa, Tanzania. READ ALSO: The highest mountain in Africa and its location Correctly and adequately fill the visa forms that will be provided while you are in transit, or you can wait to obtain these forms at the entry port. At the port of entry, ensure that you follow the directional signs for international visitors and find your way to the immigration desks. Join the queue or simply walk-up to any of the immigration agents if you are lucky and theres no queue. Submit the visa forms you have filled alongside your international passport. Be ready to pay for the visa, either in cash or by credit card (Take some money with you just in case the POS machine is not working) On completing your paperwork, you will be told to hang around, somewhere close enough to hear your name when its called. You will be called after approximately 20 minutes, depending on the number of people present, to collect your passport which, by now, should include a full-page visa sticker. With your visa secured, head to immigration, and you will receive the stamp that will take you into Tanzania. Whether you are applying for Tanzania visa from Nigeria, or you prefer to get it upon arrival, it doesnt matter. The only thing that counts is that you have all you need to obtain the visa to Tanzania. READ ALSO: What is the largest lake in Africa and where is it located Source: Legit.ng Editors note: President Muhammdu Buhari has faced heavy criticism concerning what many termed as lopsided that seems to favour the north and Muslims. In this opinion by Femi Fani-Kayode, he quotes Pastor Bright Bayo Oladeji, who asks Christians why they are sideline in Buhari's appointments and responds that true change will not come until Christians and southerners are treated as equals. The letter I am glad that Father Mbaka of the Catholic Church has finally seen the light and that he has denounced the Buhari regime. This coming from a man that once supported the President vigorously, even when members of his own flock and faith were being slaughtered, marginalised and humiliated, is cheery news. Yet there are still many more Church leaders that supported the Buhari government, that sold their souls to the devil and that need to follow Mbaka's example and recant. The great philosopher, writer and intellectual Mr. Dante Alighieri once said that "the hottest place in hell is reserved for those who maintain their neutrality at a time of moral crisis". To add to this it was our very own Professor Wole Soyinka, the distinguished Nobel Laureate, that said "the man died in him who remained silent in the face of tyrrany". I have no doubt in my mind that this is the time to speak out because we are not only in a time of great moral crisis in our country but we are also facing persecution and wholesale tyrrany. I am making this contribution not out of fear for the plight of the Christendom in Nigeria because I know that, as the Holy Bible says, "the gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church". It also says "He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps". It follows that no matter what the enemies of the gospel throw our way, including one million President Buhari's, at the end of the day we shall prevail. I am making this contribution not out of fear or to divide our nation but rather in an attempt to inform the Nigerian people and the world about what is really going on in President Buhari's Nigeria. What many fail to appreciate is that the Church and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ was built and spread by the blood and the bones of the Christian martyrs. It follows that the more you persecute, jail and kill Christians and the more you subject them to terror, shame, insensitivity and humiliation the more the Church grows. Where the so-called "great" Christian leaders of Christendom with the mega-Churches and the better known Pastors and Bishops in the land have compromised with evil and have chosen to either side with the enemy or remain silent when confronted with the tyrrany of the state, the Lord will raise other voices to stand up for and speak for His people. Nobody is indispensible to the Living God, no matter how large, rich and powerful your Church is and no matter how many people you have in your congregation. Once you have betrayed the faith and joined hands with those that seek to destroy the gospel and persecute Christians in our country you are finished and your end has already been determined by God. It is just a matter of time. Yet thankfully there are some men and women of God that have refused to be silenced, that have proved to the world that they are not cowards and that have chosen to remain true to the faith. These are the true believers who have not sold their heritage, faith and future for a mess of pottage. These are the faithful remnant who have refused to sit back silently and watch our Lord and His message being crucified all over again. These are the true saints whose reward is the Kingdom of God. READ ALSO: Niger Delta group accuse northerners of deadly plot An example is Pastor Bright Bayo Oladeji, who is a journalist by profession and a Baptist preacher by calling. On the 2nd August 2016 he wrote the following on his Facebook page. "Where are the Christians who sold the Church? The Islamic agenda is being perfected. Professor Ishaq Oloyede, a prominent Islamic fanatic who said he was not aware Christians are being attacked and killed is now to head JAMB replacing Prof Ojerinde, a Baptist. Four Muslims were not replaced but left to continue. Out of the 17 offices, 9 new replacement are Muslims and 4 retained are Muslims. 13 out of 17 are now Muslims. NUC, Muslim. JAMB, Muslim. TETCOM, Muslim. Where are those Christian leaders who sold the Church for a plate of porridge? Where are those telling us Professor Yemi Osinbajo would stand for the Church being a Pastor? Do they involve him in all these lopsided appointments in favour of the North and Muslims or not? Do we have Christians among the APC leaders? Does Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of the ruling party really belong to the Catholic church? The fact that Buhari released these appointments the same day that the PUNCH Newspaper published an editorial titled"Buhari's parochial appointments" (this is a paper that endorsed his candidacy) is a dirty slap on the nation. To say the least, it is a corruption with impunity. Many are afraid to speak out and are being intimidated by the security operatives. Have we become second class citizens in our own country?" Pastor Bayo, as insightful and courageous as ever, has asked a pertinent question. Sadly the answer to that question is "YES": since Buhari came to power Christians have become second class citizens in Nigeria. We warned our people but they wouldn't listen. Nigerians said they wanted "change" and now they must live with it. Every Christian that supported President Buhari and the APC, including some of the most prominent Church leaders, should bow their heads in shame. As long as this evil continues we will not remain silent and neither shall we be intimidated. No matter how hard they try Nigeria will NEVER be Islamised and neither will our Christian faith be rubbished. When Christians are treated with respect and dignity and when they are honored in the land that is when we will know that true change has come. When Yoruba Muslims are allowed to lead their northern counter-parts in prayer in the mosque that is when we will know that true change has come. When the secularity of the Nigerian state is reiterated and confirmed that is when we will know that true change has come. When southerners are regarded as being on the same levell as northerners in the affairs of our nation that is when we will know that true change has come. When the murderous Fulani herdsmen and militias are finally diasarmed and when they stop slaughtering our people with impunity and without any fear of retribution from the state that is when we will know that true change has come. READ ALSO: Group rains knocks on Buhari over the sack of Ibe Kachikwu When Christians are no longer murdered in cold blood in some parts of the north simply for exercising their faith whilst the govetnment turns a blind eye that is when we will know that true change has come. When Christians leaders are no longer subjected to insults and brutal assault by over- zealous security agents simply for praying and reading the Holy Bible that is when we will know that true change has come. When the Igbo people are not treated as pariah citizens and when their children are no longer shot in the streets like stray dogs simply because, as a people, they have their own dreams and aspirations and simply because they are protesting against the manifest injustice that they have been subjected to in the land, that is when we will know that true change has come READ ALSO: Former Muslim man writes letter to Christians Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo When Middle Belters and the northern minorities are allowed to carve out their own identity and when they are freed from the intimidation, harassment, hegemony, genocide, cultural imperialism and slavery of the core Muslim north then we will know that true change has come. Until then the change that the Buhari administration has offered and served to the Nigerian people is nothing but fake. It is a classic case of 419. It is evil. It is wicked. It is nothing but a monuemental fraud. Femi Fani-Kayode This article expresses the authors opinion only. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Legit.ng or its editors. Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@naij.com drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest contributors. Were ready to trade your news for our money: submit news and photo reports from your area using our Citizen Journalism App. Contact us if you have any feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments. We are also available on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to Legit.ng Opinion page! Source: Legit.ng While DC comics and Marvel has continued to feed us heroes, whom we love watching and have come to connect with, we also have Nigerian superheroes. A special breed of superheroes created by comic houses in Nigeria, that are slowly gaining recognition in Nigeria, Africa and even off the continent. Ready to meet them? 1. Avonome Created by Comic Republic Nigeria, Avonome is from Benin. Her full name is Hilda Avonomemi Moses. She was born in 1937, in the remote village of Etunor, a settlement in Ighara, Edo state. She disappears without a trace only to reappear in a cemetery in recent times. She returns with no memory of who she was or where she had been all this while, except a knowledge of her name, a mysterious companion and an unbelievable gift - the ability to see spirits. READ ALSO: 5 things you didnt know changed in Nigeria; no 3 will surprise you (photos) 2. Eru Eric Kukoyi might look like a normal man. But he is not. According to Comic Republic, he doesn't age or sleep. He lectures at the University of Lagos, and doubles as a par time psychiatrist and parapsychologist. At night, he becomes 'Eru' (Fear). He haunts the streets of Lagos bringing retribution. 3. Ireti Ireti's story began many decades ago in the Yoruba kingdom. A king desperate for a child makes a deal with a deity. The result? The birth of a child, Ireti. The child grows into a mighty warrior with powers that surpass normal men greatly; leading armies to battle, conquering kingdoms and protecting her people. Her legacy is passed down generation after generation. 4. Guardian Prime Guardian Prime was created by Comic republic. He is Tunde Jaiye, the fifth element, one of the five essential elements on earth (earth, air, water, fire and man). He is the perfect man created how God intended man to be ( in his image). He can do everything a normal man can do only magnified to almost godlike levels. He is the Guardian born to the human race as is customary every 2000 years. He is Nigerian. He is Guardian Prime. READ ALSO: 3 amazing dishes Nigerians missed when tomato was expensive 5. Strike Guard Strike Guard was created by Vortex comics. His story goes thus: Abolaji was an undergraduate at the University of Lagos, who was killed by cultists and thrown in the same well as Ajagbeja, a general of the Sango army thrown into as well in ancient times. Ajagbeja's soul makes a deal with Abolaji's soul which was still wandering on earth. The deal was that Ajagbeja will have a chance to live again by coexisting in Abolaji's body. Imbuing him with powers. There are many more of course. But, out of the five named above, who is your favorite superhero? Source: Legit.ng [August 02, 2016] Crystal Icenhour, PhD Elected First Woman Chairman of Virginia Bio Crystal Icenhour, PhD, CEO of Aperiomics, has just become Board Chairman for Virginia Bio, the first woman in the organization's 24-year history to hold this position. Dr. Icenhour has served on the 24-member Board since 2007 and as Vice Chairman for the past two years, focusing much of her energies toward capital formation for the association's member companies. She has worked with Virginia Bio staff and Board of Directors to develop greater awareness in the Commonwealth of Virginia about the importance of the biotech industry and to advance supportive policies and funding. She will continue efforts to engage the investment community and to "help the world appreciate what a great resource the Commonwealth of Virginia is for companies in the biotechnology industry." Citing a positive confluence of proximity to federal government agencies and resources, of some of the best higher education institutions in the world, and of earnest support from Governor Terry McAuliffe and state agencies, Dr. Icenhour sees Virginia as a biotech hub that will continue to develop and create products, jobs, and a healthy economy to benefit the state, the nation, and the world. "It's been a great pleasure to work with our staff and my fellow volunteers with Virginia Bio for the past several years. I am excited to continue our work at a new level for my two-year term as Chairman." "Dr. Icenhour's experience and success in translating science from university research to the clinic and maretplace, and building high-tech biotech companies provides great perspective and insights into our membership and the opportunities ahead for Virginia," said Jeff Gallagher, CEO of Virginia Bio. "We are so fortunate to have a Chairman who is not only a consummate entrepreneur, but also a believer in working collectively to 'grow the pie' - across the industry, the Commonwealth and the region." As she looks ahead to her first year as Chairman, Dr. Icenhour is especially excited about the upcoming Women Building Bio: The XX Factor event to be held September 29, 2016 at the Inova (News - Alert) Center for Personalized Health in Fairfax, VA. This first-time event in Virginia will showcase women leaders in the bioscience industry in a day-long event focused on building inclusive and stronger research, companies, institutions, teams, and individuals. The intended audience is for all stakeholders (men and women) in the BioHealth Capital Region. With topics ranging from diversity and inclusion to identifying sources of capital, conference leaders come from the highest echelons of biotech companies, research institutions and government. ABOUT CRYSTAL ICENHOUR, PhD Crystal Icenhour, PhD, was recruited as the founding Chief Executive Officer of Aperiomics, a biotech firm based in Ashburn, VA. Before joining Aperiomics in 2014, she was President and Chief Science Officer of Charlottesville-based Phthisis Diagnostics, where she was a co-founder and led the company until it was acquired in 2013. She also created the consulting firm of Icenhour Biotech in 2014. She was recently invited to participate in the White House Microbiome Initiative hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Aperiomics was selected this spring by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce as the 2016 Health & Life (News - Alert) Sciences Innovator of the Year in their annual Greater Washington Innovation Awards competition. She was a finalist for the 2016 Women in Technology's Annual Leadership Awards in the category of Small Business Entrepreneur. In addition, Aperiomics was selected as a member of this year's competitive Springboard Enterprises Health Innovation Hub which accepts only ten companies each year for a concentrated mentoring program designed to serve as an ongoing accelerator program for women-led entrepreneurial companies. Aperiomics has developed technology that pairs next generation sequencing with data analysis to provide accurate pathogen identification; from a single test their process can detect the presence of over 16,000 microbial species, including bacteria, virus, fungus, and parasites. Dr. Icenhour holds a PhD in Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and a BS in Biology from the University of Tulsa. She was a Research Fellow at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and a Senior Research Fellow at Duke University Medical Center. In 2007, she was Chair of the National Postdoctoral Association. ABOUT Virginia Bio Founded in 1992, the Virginia Biotechnology Association (Virginia Bio) is the statewide trade group that promotes the scientific and economic impact of the biotechnology industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the official state affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry Association and one of the three founding partners of Mid-Atlantic Bio, the first regional bioscience convention that combines academia, the commercial bioscience industry, and the venture capital community in one event. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia Bio sponsors student internships, workforce development initiatives, and serves as the primary contact point for the media, government officials, researchers and students regarding the bioscience industry in Virginia. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160802006954/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 03, 2016] Gigamon Fortifies Security Analytics with Certificate Metadata SANTA CLARA, Calif. and LAS VEGAS, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gigamon Inc. (NYSE: GIMO), the leader in traffic visibility solutions, today announced that the Metadata Engine, a key part of the GigaSECURE Security Delivery Platform (SDP), can now generate Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate metadata. Gigamon's GigaSECURE expedites the time to detection of potentially malicious web servers and unwanted SSL communications by providing security analytics technologies with the information they need to identify invalid SSL certificates. SSL-based attacks are on the rise and many phishing sites use fake SSL certificates to appear legitimate so that targets and infected machines will connect to them. Security analytics tools like Security Information and Event Management Systems (SIEMs) can spot these potentially harmful web communications by flagging inconsistencies in the fields of SSL certificates. Still, the certificate data needed for the detection can be difficult to retrieve pervasively and continuously from broad and distributed networks. GigaSECURE can expedite anomaly detection by monitoring SSL certificate exchanges and providing metadata that includes indicators of potentially falsified certificates. Examples of the Gigamon-supplied metadata include, information about the issuing certificate authority, requested and responding domain names, dates of expiry, which ciphers are being used and whether the certificates are self-signed. "Sifting through raw packet streams to identify alicious network activity can be a slow and cumbersome process in a world where real-time threat identification and remediation is critical," said Robert Lowe, Information Security Manager, Fannie Mae. "Gigamon's network visibility and new HTTP SSL certificate metadata capabilities provide an added layer of intelligence and the context needed to more quickly, effectively and efficiently protect both network infrastructure and data." Certificate metadata lets Gigamon, together with its ecosystem partners in the security analytics and SIEM markets, leverage the network to shorten the time to detection and response. "Organizations know that their network traffic contains a lot of potential intelligence that can help remediate breaches," said Jai Balasubramaniyan, Director, Security Product Management, Gigamon. "Gigamon is revolutionizing big data security analytics by uniquely extracting metadata from this data-in-motion and delivering it at network speeds to security technologies that use it to detect and remediate threats faster." Delivered as one pillar of the GigaSECURE Security Delivery Platform, the Metadata Engine generates the following security analytics enabling information: NetFlow/IPFIX records URL/URI information CDP/LLDP information SIP request information HTTP response codes DNS queries Certificate information To explore the capabilities of the GigaSECURE Security Delivery Platform and learn more about the Metadata Engine, stop by booth 1307 at Black Hat USA 2016 or visit: https://www.gigamon.com/products/technology/netflow-and-metadata-generation Follow @Gigamon and #BHUSA16 on Twitter for the latest updates from the event. Gigamon Gigamon (NYSE: GIMO) provides active visibility into physical and virtual network traffic, enabling stronger security and superior performance. Gigamon's Visibility Fabric and GigaSECURE, the industry's first Security Delivery Platform, deliver advanced intelligence so that security, network, and application performance management solutions in enterprise, government, and service provider networks operate more efficiently and effectively. See more at www.gigamon.com, the Gigamon Blog, or follow Gigamon on Twitter, LinkedIn , or Facebook. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150209/174350LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gigamon-fortifies-security-analytics-with-certificate-metadata-300306271.html SOURCE Gigamon [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Thank you for reading The Cascadia Advocate, the Northwest Progressive Institutes journal of world, national, and local politics. Founded in March of 2004, The Cascadia Advocate has been helping people throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond make sense of current events with rigorous analysis and thought-provoking commentary for more than fifteen years. The Cascadia Advocate is funded by readers like you and trusted sponsors. We dont run ads or publish content in exchange for money. Help us keep The Cascadia Advocate editorially independent and freely available to all by becoming a member of the Northwest Progressive Institute today. Or make a donation to sustain our essential research and advocacy journalism. Your contribution will allow us to continue bringing you features like Last Week In Congress, live coverage of events like Netroots Nation or the Democratic National Convention, and reviews of books and documentary films. Become an NPI member Make a one-time donation Yesterday, Samsung announced the latest Galaxy Note. As has become the custom, with smartphones in an era of maturity that does not lend itself well to innovation, the brand new Note 7 offers little in the way of excitement. If youre a diehard Note fan, the latest installment has enough of the lines core features to entice you. Its a handsome device with a large, gorgeous QHD Super AMOLED display, a super fast processor, healthy 4GB of RAM and, of course, the S Pen stylus. It is also nearly identical to the Galaxy S7 Edge. Which begs the question: do we still need the Galaxy Note? This year, the Note 7 does not offer the usual bump in specifications that has become synonymous with the line since the Note 2. Generally, Samsung releases the latest S phone in the Spring, and the newest Note in the Fall. The latter of the two brings a bigger screen, more RAM, a better processor. Over the years, the Note has been considered the phone for power-users, but at this point in the life of the smartphone, nearly every flagship has enough on board to satisfy every type of user. Many expected the Note 7 to come with a Snapdragon 823 processor and 6GB of RAM, but Samsung opted not to juice up its specs. Thus, while it is still a phone with enough power to satisfy the heaviest of users, the Note 7 has taken a clear step back in Samsungs lineup. As Forbes states, the Note used to be the top-of-the-line offering from Samsung, giving the company two definite flagships with their own set of appealing features. New Samsung mobile chief DJ Koh seems intent on making one clear flagship for the company, and having the rest of the portfolio exist in support of the premiere line. That is evident when you place the Note 7 and S7 Edge side-by-side. Save for a slight difference in size and internal memory, the two devices are largely the same. They have the same resolution, same camera system, same curved display, same processor and RAM. Besides one other new feature that well get to in a moment, the S Pen is the biggest draw the Note 7 has. The stylus always offered users a wholly distinct set of features not found on other smartphones, but are those features enough to warrant a completely separate line? There are some entrenched users, but many employ it only occasionally, or hardly ever at all. Instead, people often find their use of the S Pen diminishes after the initial excitement wears off. The pen is better than ever on the Note 7, with a significantly finer point (just 0.7mm), water resistance and a host of new features including a clever GIF creation tool. You also can no longer stick it in backwards and ruin everything. Still, even with the host of improvements, the S Pen is not the kind of killer feature that alone can make the case for keeping the Note alive. We dont need the Note. If Samsung were to end the line after this year, little would be lost. Some would mourn the S Pen, but the majority of users wouldnt miss it. Samsung, now that its moved the S line to two phones every year, with the Edge variant the larger of the two in 2016, could easily kill the Note and just offer the S Edge as the largest phone in its portfolio. But the Note is too big a brand to go away quietly, and with the companys mobile devices in a renaissance after struggling the last few years, the death is unlikely to come for some time, if ever. So what should the device represent, now thats its standing as the power user phone has been taken away? Experimental tech. From the beginning, the Note has been experimental. The first was, itself, an experiment to see if users wanted or could handle a phone with an absurdly large screen. It was also the first phone to come with a stylus built in, an idea few other companies have even dared to run with. The Note continued to be about experimentation with its overpowered specs and, in 2014, the line introduced the first Samsung device with a bent display, the Note Edge (the 2013 Galaxy Round was the companys first curved display phone). The latest also has experimental flair. The phone features an iris scanner, which can be used in lieu of the fingerprint scanner to unlock your phone. Early reports are the feature, while a bit awkward to use, works as advertised. The iris scanner isnt a top-notch feature, but it does keep Samsungs spirit of experimentation and innovation alive. The South Korean company has always been one of the bravest on the market, packing its phones with various features other companies wouldnt dare put into production. Many of them have been gimmicks or half-baked ideas that annoyed droves of critics, but Ive appreciated Samsungs willingness to try something different, even if it didnt fully come together. In the current state of smartphone boredom, where every device from every manufacturer feel related to one another, we could use some of Samsungs nutty forward thinking. The Note would be a perfect spot for Samsung to put its experimental energy. If its going to play second fiddle to the S line from now on, why not at least be on the cutting edge of smartphone technology? Even if it means a few swings and misses, itll give the storied phablet a renewed sense of excitement rather than a destiny of spending years as a larger version of the S Edge with a stylus. Its been a barometer for what the S line may be in past with the Note Edge, and could slide into that role easily for the future. In fact, two main features of the Note 7, the iris scanner and USB-C for charging, will likely show up in the Galaxy S8. The Note 7 is certain to be an excellent phone. The S7 and S7 Edge are already two of the best phones money can buy, and the Note 7 will likely offer much the same experience with a few distinct features. But it cant be denied the latest Note is also boring. Samsung has positioned the once powerful Note to be a clear secondary player to the premiere S line, leaving the former with little to hang its hat on. The South Korean company could spice things up again by funneling its experimental tendencies into the phablet. Otherwise, it may be time to hang up the S Pen for good. [August 03, 2016] Esri Helps Youth Locate First Job Advocates of the Opportunity Youth Network (OYN) have called for employers nationwide to embrace young people entering the workforce through the organization's First Job Compact. The compact urges companies to earmark entry-level positions for young workers, nurture new employees with training and education, and give recent graduates the valuable employment experience they need to begin their careers. For geographic information system (GIS) software development company Esri, supporting young people in the labor force is paramount. Because employers prioritize hiring candidates with previous work experience, individuals under 25 years old are three times more likely to be unemployed than the remaining labor pool, leaving young people at a disadvantage if they haven't secured their first job yet. To bridge this gap, Esri has offered thousands of internships at its Redlands headquarters and regional offices. It's not uncommon for interns to translate these experiences into fulltime jobs. Esri's lead product engineer for spatial statistics development, Lauren Bennett, began her career with a solution engineering internship at Esri's Washington, DC, office. To enhance her abilities, Esri supported Bennett's education as she pursued a master's degree as well as a doctorate while working full-time. "I feel incredibly lucky to have been fostered from undergrad all the way through my PhD by Esri. I have grown tremendouly through each of these opportunities," said Bennett. "And it all started with a summer internship." To support the ConnectED Initiative, Esri pledged $1 billion of ArcGIS Online software to K-12 schools nationwide, allowing an estimated 165,000 students to build skills in the interdisciplinary mapping technology used by thousands of governments and businesses. These students are guided by over 1,000 volunteer GeoMentors, GIS professionals who help schools incorporate geography into classroom curriculum. Esri also employs a traveling team of education managers that strengthen GIS through spatial awareness-driven discussions at schools and universities. These educators promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning, which build critical thinking. Also, Esri's Young Professionals Network (YPN) aids young people pursuing a GIS-related career path. YPN fosters mentorship, professional relationships, internships, and training opportunities. Here, students and recent graduates are connected to entry-level positions at Esri and beyond. Discover how you can support Esri support America's youth by visiting geomentors.net. About Esri Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS technology, Esri software is used in more than 350,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at esri.com/news. Copyright 2016 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, ArcGIS, GIS by Esri, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005418/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Bajaj Maxima C three-wheeled cargo carrier has been priced at INR 1,89,075 (ex-showroom, New Delhi). The company claims that the new product is the most powerful three-wheeled cargo carrier in the country. Available in a CNG variant, the Maxima C is powered by a 199 cc 4-stroke engine which is tuned to deliver 7 KW of power at 5,500 rpm and 14.6 Nm of torque at 3,750 rpm. Bajaj claims a minimum durability of 1 lakh kilometers. The Maxima C CNG is designed to carry heavy loads like cylinders, cement, beverages, food boxes, general grocery and other household supplies. The vehicle is suspended by what the company describes as Power Suspension. It comprises helical coil compression spring & hydraulic shock absorbers. The Maxima C CNG produces 14.6 Nm of torque (image is used for representative purpose only). The Maxima Cs loading bay measures 1,650 mm in length, 1,425 mm in width and 275 mm in height. The company hasnt revealed the payload capacity but has assured that it is higher than the rivals. The load carrier features a cabin with doors, modern instrument console and a driver seat which is described as comfortable by the company. The company also highlights shorter turning radius and service brakes. Bajaj also claims that Maxima C will be easier to maintain than its rivals. Also read Bajaj Qute exported to over 20 countries including US Positioned as a last mile goods transport solution, the Bajaj Maxima C CNG is available across the CNG belts in the country in Green paint job. Bajaj Qute Photos In an attempt to curb rising pollution all across the Delhi NCR region, the Supreme Court had issued notifications where use of old vehicles in Delhi was concerned. The Supreme Court verdict had banned 15 year old petrol vehicles and 10 year old diesel vehicle from plying within the city limits. This ruling gave rise to many complaints from commuters while in a recent video, the Delhi Police have explained the ruling in a more explicit and concise manner. The Supreme Court ruling banning 15 year old petrol and 10 year old diesel vehicles is a blanket ban. It applies not only to those vehicles bearing a Delhi registration number plate but is also applicable to those vehicles passing through the city, carrying a non Delhi registration number. Those cars, trucks, buses, or any other vehicle found breaking this regulation, will be fined. The owner of the vehicle will have to sign an affidavit to guarantee that the vehicle will never be brought onto the Delhi roads ever in the future. Delhi Police can even seize the vehicle at the first instance while court will then decide what is to be done with the vehicle. There is also a minimum fine of Rs.15,000. Below is a short video by Delhi Police, explaining the new ban. Random checks of Registration Certificates of vehicles have commenced by both the Delhi Police and Traffic Police in the Delhi/NCR. The Delhi RTO has also been intimated that no NOC should be issued for old vehicles, so that old vehicles from Delhi NCR are not sold in other Indian States. Extension of registration period of old vehicles is also banned. Apart from plying these old vehicles in the city, the National Green Tribunal has also banned parking of such vehicles in any public area. If such a vehicle is found parked in public space, Delhi Police has the authority to seize the vehicle and scrap it without informing the owner of the vehicle. Below is a detailed video, explaining the current situation faced by owners old vehicles. The video is created by Transport TV. There is, however, no rule regarding what should be done with the vehicles once they are impounded. Under the Delhi Scrapping of Vehicles Rules 2018, all impounded vehicles, including two wheelers, cars, trucks, buses, LCVs, etc; should be sent directly to empanelled scrap dealers for dismantling. On top of this, owners will have to pay scrapping charge. This new ruling has potentially affected the livelihood of thousands in the region. New BMW G310R is powered by a single cylinder liquid cooled 313 cc engine, which is rated at 34 hp at 9,500 rpm and 28 Nm at 7,500 rpm. This engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox. Weighing 158.5 kgs, power to weight ratio stands at 212.7 hp/tonne, which is lesser than rival KTM Duke 390s 262 PS/ tonne. Claiming a mileage of about 36 kmpl, it has a fuel tank capacity of 11 liters. Some of the highlights include upside down forks in the front, mono shock rear suspension, disc brakes with dual channel ABS, short wheelbase for easy manoeuvrability, Michelin tyres hugging the 17 inch 5 spoke alloys, 300 mm front disc with 4-piston fixed caliper and 240 mm rear disc with 2-piston floating caliper, LED side indicators, center stand, 12V charging socket, etc. Expect price to be in the INR 2 lakh range in India. Making global debut late last year, India will get the BMW G310R by March 2017. This new naked motorcycle is the first fruit under BMW Motorrad TVS JV which was formed in 2013. Under this JV, BMW and TVS will jointly launch a series of new motorcycles in India in the under 500 cc segment. The technology co-operation agreement between BMW Motorrad and TVS sees the German entity responsible for product development. TVS is responsible for manufacturing both new bikes. Production should commence at TVS Hosur plant. The first motorcycle is a BMW product, second will be a TVS product a fully faired motorcycle based on the G310 platform. This was showcased as a concept at the 2016 Auto Expo, called Akula 310. We expect it to be named Apache 300 upon launch. Speaking about product rivalry between TVS and BMW, distinct body styles will eliminate a situation of cannibalization, and help both manufacturers reach out to target audiences. BMW G310R Techspecs As far as images reveal, this convertible version of Maruti Jimny seems good enough to be considered for factory production Update on 11-07-2016: FCA Indias misleading press release quoted the starting price of the Linea 125 S as INR 7.82 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The company today issued an updated statement saying that it is actually the starting price of Linea petrol range (for the base 1.4L naturally aspirated FIRE engine). We have learnt through dealers that the Linea 125 S has an on-road price of around INR 11.5 lakhs (on-road, Delhi). Original article dated 8-07-2016: The Fiat Linea 125 S which was showcased at the Auto Expo earlier this year has been launched at a starting price of INR 7.82 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The most powerful petrol sedan in its class aims to attract some much-needed attention towards the neglected nameplate. The Honda City rival is powered by a pumped up version of the 1.4-litre T-Jet turbocharged petrol engine which is tuned to deliver 125 PS and 210 Nm of torque. The sedan gets automatic wipers and headlamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, one-touch power windows and much more. The same motor dishes out 114 PS on board the regular Linea and 145 PS and 140 PS under the hoods of the Abarth Punto and Abarth Avventura respectively. A 5-speed manual transmission drives the front wheels. The Linea 125 S gets a special blue exterior color option, blacked out 16-inch multispoke alloy wheels, gloss finish for the front grille and ORVMs with integrated turn signals. Inside, enhancements come in the form of a new centre console that houses a 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and several other additional features. The centre console is revised to accommodate the new touchscreen infotainment system. Equipment highlights include dual airbags (with dual-stage driver airbag), rain sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, cruise control, single-touch power windows, ambient lighting, rear sun visors and disc brakes on all the four wheels. Also read There is no next gen Fiat Punto Sergio Marchionne The car gets 3-year / 1,00,000 km warranty. Service interval stands at 15,000 km. Photos BS6 Ford Figo, Aspire and Freestyle have started arriving at dealerships. Today, Ford India announced the official launch of the three cars. There are no major exterior changes to all three cars. Ford Figo, Aspire, Freestyle BS6have lost some features that were available in BS4 variants. This is probably being done to keep prices in check. As you can see, in some cases prices have reduced by as much as Rs 40k, inspite of the BS6 updgrade. Starting with Figo, the hatchbacks Titanium trim has lost features such as fog lamps, rear wiper and rear defogger. On the inside, BS6 Figo is likely to discontinue features such as automatic climate control, Fly Audio touchscreen infotainment system, and glossy gear lever top. Replacing the Fly Audio system on Figo is a 2 DIN system that bears close resemblance to the unit installed on Ford Ka+ in the UK. Variants New Price Old Price Diff 2020 Ford Aspire BS-VI Ford Aspire BS-IV FORD ASPIRE BS6 1.2l Ti-VCT PETROL Ambiente INR 599,000 INR 598,500 INR 500 Trend INR 659,000 INR 663,400 INR -4,400 Titanium INR 709,000 INR 737,400 INR -28,400 Titanium+ INR 744,000 INR 782,400 INR -38,400 FORD ASPIRE BS6 1.5l TDCi DIESEL Trend INR 749,000 INR 737,400 INR -11,600 Titanium INR 799,000 INR 817,400 INR -18,400 Titanium+ INR 834,000 INR 862,400 INR -28,400 Variants New Price Old Price Diff 2020 Ford Freestyle BS-VI Ford Freestyle BS-IV FORD FREESTYLE BS6 1.2l Ti-VCT PETROL Ambiente INR 589,000 INR 591,400 INR -2,400 Trend INR 644,000 INR 681,400 INR -37,400 Titanium INR 694,000 INR 721,400 INR -27,400 Titanium+ INR 729,000 INR 756,400 INR -27,400 FORD FREESTYLE BS6 1.5l TDCi DIESEL Trend INR 734,000 INR 745,900 INR -11,900 Titanium INR 784,000 INR 790,900 INR -6,900 Titanium+ INR 819,000 INR 836,900 INR -17,900 Variants New Price Old Price Diff 2020 Ford Figo BS-VI Ford Figo BS-IV FORD FIGO BS6- 1.2l Ti-VCT PETROL Ambiente INR 539,000 INR 523,000 INR -16,000 Trend (New Variant) INR 599,000 NA NA Titanium INR 635,000 INR 599,900 INR 35,100 Titanium Blu INR 695,000 INR 664,900 INR 30,100 FORD FIGO BS6 1.5l TDCi DIESEL Trend (New Variant) INR 686,000 NA NA Titanium INR 725,000 INR 689,900 INR 35,100 Titanium Blu INR 785,000 INR 754,900 INR 30,100 Coming to Ford Aspire, the sedan will continue using Fly Audio system and automatic climate control. However, it loses on glossy gear lever top, just like Figo. Although many features have been discontinued, there are some additions as well. For example, both cars now get 15-inch dual tone alloy wheels. These will be offered as standard on Titanium trim of Ford Figo as well as Aspire. Another thing to note is that both Figo and Aspire will not be offering the advanced SYNC3 infotainment system. BS6 Ford Figo and Aspire will be offered in both petrol and diesel engine options. One of these will be BS6 version of the existing 1.2-litre petrol engine, capable of generating 95 bhp of max power and 120 Nm of max torque. Diesel variant will be powered by BS6 version of existing 1.5-litre diesel engine that generates 99 bhp and 215 Nm. Safety features are the same as earlier in all three cars. Existing variants of Figo, Aspire and Freestyle are well-equipped in terms of safety, as they offer a range of features such as 6-airbags, ABS with EBD, hill launch assist (HLA), electronic stability program (ESP), electric power assisted steering (EPAS), rear-view camera, high speed alert system, perimeter alarm and engine immobilizer. We have been working relentlessly to make our products surprisingly affordable both at the point of sale and service, said Anurag Mehrotra, president & managing director, Ford India. Thanks to increased localization & alignment of features, we have been able to keep the prices virtually unchanged, thereby passing on the benefits to consumers directly. As humanity grapples with coronavirus pandemic, theres an urgent need to find the right solutions While vaccines are being tested and ventilators are being manufactured, some innovations can also be seen on the streets. These new ideas to fight coronavirus are coming from the common man, who is among the worst affected by the pandemic. As reflected in the proverb necessity is the mother of invention, these innovations show that good ideas may not always be the preserve of the elite. The latest innovation comes from an auto rickshaw driver, who has created four separate compartments for passengers. All four compartments are sectioned using plastic sheet, which essentially ensures contactless travel even when riding in the same vehicle. Even the driver section has been completely partitioned, so that direct contact with passengers can be avoided. While 100% safety is not guaranteed with this approach, it is certainly better than having no protection at all. The idea is practical and affordable, so it could be considered for an upgrade. Even Anand Mahindra, Chairman Mahindra Group has appreciated the idea. On his Twitter handle, Mahindra said that the auto rickshaw driver could be appointed as an advisor to the companys R&D product development teams. In another such innovation coming from the common man, a bike has been modified to comply with the principles of social distancing. The bikes wheelbase has been increased substantially with the addition of a customized frame. The long central chassis has increased the gap between the rider and pillion by at least one meter. The inventor believes that the modified bike will be helpful in avoiding Covid-19 infection. However, this idea seems less effective as compared to the earlier one. Theres no barrier between the rider and pillion and gap of one meter may not be enough to prevent coronavirus infection. It has been reported in research studies that coronavirus can travel up to 8 meters via droplets released through sneezing. Nonetheless, the limo-bike is certainly better than a standard bike where theres hardly any gap between the rider and pillion. Even though not foolproof, such ideas need to be encouraged in these tough times. Everyday challenges faced by the common man are way too many. It wont be possible to find solutions to all these issues in a research facility. Governments, organizations, NGOs and other stakeholders can probably support such innovations. Such ideas can be refined and improved, so that they can be effectively used to fight coronavirus. A Jet Airways bus, carrying cabin crew crashed into a stationary Air India plane at the International Airport in Kolkata. Initial reports claim that the reason for the crash was that bus driver Momin Ali dozed off while at the wheel, and rammed into the Air India aircraft wing and propeller. The said plane has suffered extensive damage and has been grounded. The aircraft was parked in a bay at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The driver has been arrested under Sections 279 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code while investigations are on. Air India technical team from Delhi have been called in to assess extent of damage to the aircraft and undertake repairs. It is believed that the cost for repairing the INR 400 crore aircraft cold run into tens of crores. It is also possible that aircraft could be completely scrapped, that could result in a loss of INR 400 crore to Air India. The incident occurred on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 5.25 am. It was a clear and fogless morning and there was no way in which the driver could have missed seeing the aircraft VT-ABO (ATR 42) which was standing at Bay 32. The aircraft was scheduled for takeoff to Silchar and Shillong at 7.30 am and hence there were no passengers on the aircraft at the time of the crash. Also See Maruti Suzuki Baleno after accident with truck, 4 passengers killed Kolkata Airport director Anil Kumar Sharma has confirmed that Ali has been put through a medical test and breath analysis. Tests have revealed that he was not under the influence of alcohol but the driver has admitted that he fell asleep while driving the bus. Passengers scheduled to fly on aircraft VT-ABO (ATR 42) had to be accommodated on other flights while complaints have been registered with Airport Authority of India (AAI), NSCBI airport police station, Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). This accident also brings to the fore the long working hours of ground staff at Indian airports. Hopefully the officials will take this incident as a signal and make changes accordingly. via TimesofIndia.com [August 03, 2016] $67 Billion North America Cyber Security Market 2016: Analysis and Forecasts to 2022 - Research and Markets DUBLIN, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "North America Cyber Security Market: Analysis and Forecast (2016 to 2022)" report to their offering. The North America cyber security market is estimated to grow over $67.28 billion by the end of 2022. Currently, cyber security solutions are acquiring a major share of the market because of increasing cyber attacks in this region. The U.S. is acquiring a major market value because of continuous cyber attacks on application verticals such as healthcare, banking and financial services and manufacturing, among others. This market study includes an extensive overview and analysis of the North America Cyber Security market by solutions and services, application verticals and countries, along with developing a comprehensive outlook of the market. The report provides extensive insights of the different developments, trends and key participants. Cyber crimes cost have reached around $100 billion in the country. Canada and Mexico globally stands at the 13th and 17th position respectively as major sources of cyber crimes. North America needs to build a strong resilience system for managing cyber crimes. Various forms of cyber crimes such as ransom ware are rapidly increasing in North America which can further lead to business interruptions and financial losses. The verage cost of cyber crime in the U.S. accounts to $15 million and the cost have doubled since 2010. Increasing cyber attacks from Iran, Russia and China, among others are also posing serious threats to this region. Cyber attacks on the U.S. government have witnessed a 10% rise as compared to 2014. The attacks on government organizations and telecom operations caused a breach of 21.5 million personal information records and affected 15 million customers. In Canada, there has been a huge increase in spear phishing emails and computer network breaches over the recent years. The financial sector has always been the target of cyber attacks in Mexico. Moreover, cyber criminals are now targeting healthcare, manufacturing, government and retail sectors as well. Cyber space is continually expanding with new and innovative developments like Internet of Things' and Big Data', which will add to more levels of complexities and security challenges with regard to the various networks and systems. Therefore, cyber security will prove to be an important element of any organization and will attempt to provide a range of opportunities to a number of vendors to foster cyber security solutions in the North America region. Some of the leading companies in the North America Cyber Security market are IBM, Cisco, Dell, Intel, FireEye, Symantec, among others. Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary 1. Research Scope and Research Methodology 2. Market Overview 3. Competitive Overview 4. Industry Analysis 5. North America Cyber Security Market: Solutions and Services 6. North America Cyber Security Market by Application Verticals 7. North America Cyber Security Market by Countries 8. Company Profiles - Bae Systems - Dell Corporation - Fortinet Inc. - Lockheed Martin - Northrop Grumman Corporation - Palo Alto Networks - Security Services Provider - Security Solutions Provider - Security Solutions and Service Provider - Booz Allen Hamilton - Checkpoint Software Technology - Cisco Systems inc - IBM Corporation - Intel Corporation - Kaspersky Labs - Sophos Group plc - Symantec Corporation - Trend Micro Inc. For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d8cjzb/north_america Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Codenamed Mahindra W601, next-gen XUV500 is expected to be launched in early 2021 The eagerly anticipated second generation Mahindra XUV500 will not arrive this year. In a recent media interaction, the companys managing director Dr. Pawan Goenka confirmed that the new gen premium crossover will hit the market in fourth quarter of this financial year (sometime between January to March 2021). Till then, the existing XUV500 will continue to solider on with BS6-compliant powertrain. The top official also confirmed that the next gen Scorpio will be ready only by May 2021. This means, the only the next generation Mahindra Thar is coming this year. The off-roader is slated to be introduced in the coming weeks with completely overhauled hardware and styling. The 2021 Mahindra XUV500 pre-production prototypes have been testing extensively across the country for the past several months now, giving an impression that the launch is set sometime in 2020. The test mules are fully camouflaged and employ makeshift headlamps and taillights but the decided shift in styling language is apparent. The new Mahindra XUV500 will be adopting Mahindras new design philosophy which was previewed by the open-top Funster EV concept. The trademark seven-slot front grille will get narrower and will be complemented by sleek LED headlamps. The DRL design would be similar to the one seen on the XUV300. If the prototypes are anything to go by, the 2021 XUV500s silhouette is also quite different compared to its predecessor. The vehicle appears to be considerably longer, which means the third row passengers are likely to benefit from additional leg room. It is safe to assume that the crossover will receive a fresh interior, complete with all-new dashboard. We expect the build and material qualities to go up by a few notches. Mahindra is sure to pack its popular SUV with with a loads of technology and equipment. To be underpinned by a new monocoque platform, the 2021 Mahindra XUV500 will be powered by a new 2.0-liter diesel engine. It is being reported that the new motor will be significantly more powerful than the existing 2.2-liter unit which is good for 155 hp. There will also be a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine on offer. The SUV will be available with both manual and automatic transmission options. The fully-loaded variant will also boast all-wheel-drive system. The new Mahindra XUV500 will lock horns with the likes of Tata Gravitas (Harrier 7-seater) and MG Hector 7-seater. Going by Mahindras track record, one can expect the new model to be priced very competitively. The ban on diesel car registrations called for by the National Green Tribunal in Delhi till January 6, 2016 has caused automakers to literally shut shop. Fresh demands for diesel cars are on hold and company dealerships find piling stocks to the extent of INR 1,000 crores. While dealerships have to contend with piling stocks, the NGT ban on diesel cars has left customers anxious. Customers who have already made bookings have to deal with extended waiting periods while some are cancelling registrations of diesel variants outright and switching to petrol engined options. Some customers are also seeking to register vehicles outside of Delhi in Noida and Gurgaon regions but this is not an easy task as they have to provide valid address proof. Audi India launched the new Q7 in Delhi last week. It is offered only with diesel engine option. Similarly, there are many such luxury car models from Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo which are only offered with diesel engine option. Delhi being the largest market for luxury vehicles has seen luxury automakers the most affected lot with dealers asking for support from parent companies. Delhi accounts for 7% of car and SUV sales in the country while premium and top variant models also see higher demand in Delhi. 36% of cars sold are diesel variants while this goes upto 90% in the case of SUVs. Mahindra and Mahindra with its entire lineup of diesel variants face the most challenge while automakers Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Honda with just 30-40% of sales from diesel variants are in better position as far as this ban and piling stocks are concerned with a wide range of petrol variants in their lineup. Stock piles are slated to go up even further in the coming days as it is the time of the year when the industry doles out large discounts and customers avail of these year-end discounts fearing rising prices in the New Year. New Audi Q7 Diesel Delhi Launch Photos via IndiaTimes.com How do you shoot the video of a car going from 0-400 kmph? If you are one of the 40 million+ people who have watched the 0-400-0 kmph video of the mighty Bugatti Chiron with F1 legend Juan Pablo Montaya at the wheel, you probably wondered which car did the film crew use to track the Chiron from the rest to up to nearly 400 kmph. Bugatti prepared a behind-the-scenes video of the film production, but sadly, it never saw the light of day. Al Clark of Outrun, one of the main members of the film crew which shot the stunning video, took to YouTube to release exclusive behind-the-scene clips while reminiscing what was one of the most elaborate automotive shoots he has ever done so far. He reveals the kind of equipment used to shoot the video in addition to how it was done and the challenges faced. The video was shot at VWs Ehra-Lessien test track near Wolfsburg and on one of the highlights of the video was the tracking shot of the Chiron launching like a missile and accelerating at a scarcely believable rate. All that while, a tracking camera car was keeping up pace with the Veyron successor almost till 400 kmph. The video of the car hurtling down the track has not been doctored (not artificially sped up). Shooting the Top Speed of Worlds Fastest Car So, which could keep pace with the world-record-setting Chiron, you ask? Well, if you think about it, it can only be another Chiron! The idea of mounting a camera rig on a Chiron was so outrageous for most of us to imagine and hence we overlooked the obvious. As Clark shows in this video, a compact sophisticated camera and equally sophisticated rig was mounted on the right edge of the tracking Chirons rear bumper. After multiple trial runs, the film crew and Juan Pablo nailed the hair raising clip. The Bugatti Chiron is powered by a massive 8.0-liter W16 quad-turbo petrol engine which produces a colossal 1,500 hp and 1,600 Nm of torque. The French hypercar can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 2.3 seconds before hitting a top-speed of well over 400 kmph. A 7-speed dual-clutch transmission drives all the four wheels. The Chiron SuperSport 300+ variant set a world speed record of 304.773 mph (490.48 kmph). In August 2017, the Bugatti Chiron set a world record for 0-400-0 kmph run with an incredible time of 42 seconds. Just a couple of months later, the hypercar rival Koenigsegg Agera shattered the record by registering a time of 37.28 seconds and coming to a halt a nearly 600 meters earlier than what the Bugatti Chiron managed. With Tiagos popularity on the rise, thanks to attractive design, innovative features and unbeatable price, Tata Motors has now launched a new and more affordable AMT variant of their new small car. Tata Tiago AMT is now available with both XT and XZ trim. It will be offered only with the petrol engine option. It comes with same features as seen on the respective XT and top-end XZ trim. The AMT variants also gets the creep feature, which will make driving in traffic easier. New Tiago AMT will rival with the likes of Celerio AMT and Alto K10 AMT in the entry level automatic car segment. Price of the XT AMT starts from INR 4.85 lakh and that of XZ AMT starts from INR 5.35 lakh. The respective manual transmission variants are priced from INR 4.49 lakh and INR 5.23 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi. Based on a new generation platform, Tata Tiago is currently offered in a choice of petrol and diesel engine options. Both these engines are from Tatas new family of three-cylinder engines. Petrol engine is from the Revotron family while the diesel is from the Revotorq family. AMT will only be offered with petrol engine as of now. Diesel Tiago could get AMT at a later date. Tiagos 1.2-liter petrol engine is rated at 85 PS and 114 Nm, while the 1.05-liter diesel is rated at 70 PS and 140 Nm. Both mated to 5 MT, mileage claimed is 23.84 kmpl and 27.28 kmpl respectively. Expect the AMT variant to deliver same mileage as that of the petrol variant, making Tiago AMT one the most fuel efficient automatic cars in India. There are already over 65,000 Tiago owners in India. Management Speak According to Mr. Vivek Srivatsa Head Marketing, PVBU, Tata Motors AMT is ideally suited for Indias traffic conditions, reducing the stress of driving at an affordable price, without compromising on fuel efficiency. Tata Motors EASY SHIFT AMT comes with additional features like Crawl Function, Sports Mode and Manual shift option, making it an advanced AMT package. As per our turnaround strategy, we are working with a renewed focus and energy to improve our market share and bring products faster to market. To cater to the increased demand for AMT, we introduce the attractively priced TIAGO XTA, aiming to consolidate our growth in the hatchback segment. Tata Tiago Photos Japanese two and three wheeler makers, Terra Motors will be investing $5,000,000 (INR 33.59 crores) in India. This increased investment will be directed towards development of new products, purchase of factory machinery and for added working capital. This investment is in addition to the $2 million already invested in India. Terra Motors, operating from India, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Japan and exporting e-rickshaws to markets such as Africa, Nigeria, Nepal, and Bhutan sells the Y4 Alfa e-rickshaw in India priced at INR 1.30 lakhs. The company current sells around 300 units per month with plans to extend sales to 1,000 units by 2017. Terra Y4 Alfa e-rickshaw is priced higher than others in its class primarily due to the higher quality battery pack which promises longer life. Plans are on the cards to bring down this price with mass production and increased localization, in excess of the current 80%, so as to compete in the market. The battery pack on board Terra Y4 Alfa e-rickshaw offers a range of 100 kms on full charge. The e-rickshaw weighs a total of 380 kgs and accommodates 4 passengers in addition to the driver. Terra battery, produced in Bengaluru, is priced at INR 27,000 and comes in with 1 year warranty. The battery weighs 112 kgs and can be recharged in 7 hours. The battery pack has a life of 18 months which is more than regular batteries in its class which goes a long way in reducing operation costs for drivers. Besides this e-rickshaw, Terra Motors also plans to introduce an electric load carrier vehicle, an electric scooter and e-motorcycle in India while dealerships in the country, which currently stand at 50, will be enhanced to 150 in due course. Photos TVS Motor Company today launched a special TVS Scooty Zest 110 Himalayan Highs edition. The bike commemorates Anam Hashims TVS Scooty Zest 110 ride to Khardung La. The epic ride is now listed in India Book of Records as the first 110 cc Scooter to reach Khardung La in the Himalayas. TVS Scooty Zest 110 Himalayan Highs special edition is available in an exclusive Himalayan High Brown colour with beige pigmented panels. Features include a tapeset, body colour mirrors, and body colour cover switch panels. The special edition scooter wears a special emblem that honours the highest motorable road ride at 18,380 feet. Aniruddha Haldar, VP Marketing, TVS Motor Company says Scooty is an iconic mobility brand in India. It makes perfect sense that the first 110 cc scooter to reach the highest motorable road is a Scooty Zest 110. The rider, Anam Hashim is a 21 year old Scooty Zest owner. The brand continues to enhance the new age Indian womans riding experience. Anam began her Scooty Zest 110 ride in Jammu and rode across Srinagar, Kargil, Zoji La, Leh to Khardung La over a period of 20 days last year. Anam says riding is her passion. She has always enjoyed trying new challenges, and was thrilled to ride TVS Scooty Zest 110 to Khardung La. The engine did not run out of breath even at 10,000 feet and ride quality was top-notch despite long riding hours. Despite dangerous turns, awful weather and vertigo-inducing heights, TVS Scooty Zest 110 cc was a reliable and dependable ride. Setting the record is truly an epic feeling. TVS Scooty Zest 110 is available at a price of Rs. 46,113 (Ex-Showroom Delhi). TVS Scooty Zest Specs The first known household survey examining the collateral harm to pregnancy services in areas affected by the West African Ebola epidemic suggests a significant slide backwards in child and maternal health. The study, conducted in Liberia, points to the deep disruptions caused by the Ebola epidemic -- even in parts of the country with relatively limited transmission. The 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic killed approximately 11,300 people, but its long term effects on the region's health is expected to be compounded by many factors including the deaths of at least 500 health care workers. In addition, many facilities closed while other preventive and therapeutic services were interrupted. "We also know that the stigma associated with Ebola interfered with people seeking healthcare services, in addition to the perception that people can contract Ebola if they go to health facilities," explains the study's senior author John Kraemer, JD, MPH, assistant professor of health systems administration at Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies. "It appears these perceptions are a major factor in the decrease of the number of people utilizing health facilities." Kraemer and his colleagues, including those from Last Mile Health, an organization focused on health in rural Liberia, set out to measure the indirect health consequences of Ebola so that a fuller understanding could inform efforts to restore health care in Ebola-impacted areas. They focused specifically on maternal health services, which are dependent on functioning health systems. Their findings are published in PLOS Medicine. The researchers compared the odds of facility-based delivery among 686 births in the period before the Ebola epidemic with the 212 births during the epidemic in a specific rural area. They found a 30 percent reduction in the odds of facility-based delivery during the Ebola outbreak. "The district we surveyed had one Ebola cluster and its health facilities remained open, unlike in other parts of the country where the epidemic was more intense," Kraemer explains. "Given that, our results most likely underestimate the impact on facility births in high-burden areas where there were closures." The drop appears to be correlated with fear, Kraemer says. The odds of facility-based delivery were 41 percent lower among women who reported a belief that Ebola was or may be transmitted in health facilities, but not significantly lower among women who reported believing that Ebola was not transmitted in health facilities. "Prior to the Ebola epidemic, Liberia made big gains in the rate of babies being delivered at health facilities, which translates into healthier moms and babies." Kraemer says. "Maternal health, like almost all other health services in Liberia, was badly damaged by the epidemic. It is critical that we stay focused on rebuilding Liberia's health care system, which will require long-term investment." "Building and maintaining stronger health systems will be critical to preventing future global public health emergencies," says John Ly, MD, co-lead author of the study and medical director at Last Mile Health. "Last Mile Health is supporting the Government of Liberia and the Ministry of Health to build a more robust health system, one that will ensure a well-trained and equipped health worker in even the most remote communities." Bringing "virtual dental homes" to schools, nursing homes and long-term care facilities can keep people healthy -- reducing school absenteeism, lessening the need for parents to leave work to care for an ailing child, and helping to prevent suffering for millions of people who have no access to a dentist, a six-year study by University of the Pacific demonstrates. The findings were reported by the Pacific Center for Special Care, a program of the university's Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Pacific developed the teledentistry system and has evaluated it in more than 3,000 patients across California since 2010. More than $5.5 million in federal, state and other grants supported the demonstration project. The virtual dental home is a community-based oral health care delivery system that uses telehealth technology to link specially trained dental hygienists in the community with dentists in dental offices and clinics. The approach was developed by Pacific Center Director Paul Glassman, a professor of dentistry at University of the Pacific, who collaborated with a broad range of stakeholders to leverage advances in dentistry and telehealth, create training programs for dentists and hygienists, and win policy and other changes needed to pilot and evaluate the system. "Our six-year demonstration project confirms that this is a safe, effective way to bring care to people who need it," Glassman said. "Basing a virtual dental home in a school, a nursing home or other community setting allows dental hygienists to prevent or treat the majority of oral health problems on site, and also brings prevention information to patients, families and caregivers. Finally, it connects on-site care in the community to dentists in dental offices." Since the demonstration project began, Glassman and his team have implemented the system in 50 California Head Start preschools, elementary schools, community centers, residential care facilities for people with disabilities, senior centers and nursing homes. Preliminary findings persuaded Oregon, Hawaii and Colorado to also pilot the system. One of the first virtual dental homes opened its doors at Harmon Johnson Elementary School in North Sacramento, where almost 100 percent of students are eligible for Medi-Cal. advertisement The school's dental "home" is a cheery room, just off the cafeteria, where kids can have their teeth checked by a dentist via telehealth. The school's part-time, grant-funded dental hygienist cleans teeth, treats some small cavities, and teaches tooth brushing, flossing and tooth-friendly nutrition. She gives away free toothbrushes to children and their family members, with as many free replacements as needed. "Our students and families are excited because the preventive dental care takes place at school, a safe and caring learning environment that's a second home to them. There are smiles all around, even among staff," said Michelle Rivas, president of the Twin Rivers Unified School District Board of Trustees. "When children have less need to travel to a dental office, they are less likely to miss hours of critical instructional time in the classroom. Being able to receive preventive care will also help keep them healthy and better able to learn." Other children's advocates also endorse the approach. "California's children are facing an oral health care crisis," said Mayra Alvarez, president of The Children's Partnership, a California-based national children's advocacy organization. "The virtual dental home helps bring critical, comprehensive care to children where they are. With care in the community by oral health providers working at the top of their expertise, we are helping to better meet the diverse needs of California's children and families." California Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) also argues that more schools and other community settings should have on-site teledentistry care. advertisement "Results from the research further demonstrate the benefits of this oral health care delivery system and how this program can reach children and communities that would otherwise likely go without," Low said. He is author of a bill now before the Legislature, which would provide $4 million in funding to expand virtual dental homes statewide. The measure is cosponsored by The Children's Partnership and California Dental Association. "AB 648 will supply more community-based sites across the state with access to preventive and basic dental care through the virtual dental home model," Low said. The California State Auditor underscored the need in a 2014 report. It found that in 32 of California's 58 counties there were too few dentists to serve children enrolled in Medi-Cal. Five counties had no active Medi-Cal dentists. In 11 counties, not a single dentist accepted new Denti-Cal patients. In California, 24 percent of all children complete elementary school without ever having seen a dentist. The situation is even worse for low-income children. In 2013, only 41 percent of children eligible for Medi-Cal received any dental services. Findings of the six-year report include: Examining dentists using the telehealth system determined that approximately two-thirds of children and about half of seniors and people with disabilities in long-term care facilities can have their oral health needs met by dental hygienists in the community, without the need to see a dentist in person. No adverse outcomes were reported for any of the procedures performed by hygienists. The virtual dental home system delivers significantly more prevention and early intervention at less cost per patient than the current Denti-Cal system. Financial projections based on the demonstration project experience indicate the system could be financially viable in the Denti-Cal system. The Pacific Center for Special Care is committed to improving the oral health of underserved people throughout California and nationally. In addition to creating best-practice models, it advocates for improved access to dental care for anyone who faces challenges to receiving oral health services through the traditional oral health care system. These include people who have difficulty maintaining good oral health or accessing oral health services because of medical, physical, social, economic or geographic conditions. New research led by the University of Leicester has overturned a long-standing theory on how vertebrates evolved their eyes by identifying remarkable details of the retina in the eyes of 300 million year-old lamprey and hagfish fossils. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, led by Professor Sarah Gabbott from the University of Leicester Department of Geology, shows that fossil hagfish eyes were well-developed, indicating that the ancient animal could see, whereas their living counterparts are completely blind after millions of years of eye degeneration -- a kind of reverse evolution. The researchers examined the eye tissue in two fossil jawless fish species -- Mayomyzon (a lamprey) and Myxinikela (a hagfish) found in the Carboniferous age Mazon Creek fossil bed, Illinois. Using a high-powered scanning electron microscope to magnify the eye 5,000 times they could see that the fossil retina is composed of minute structures called melanosomes -- the same structures that occur in human eyes and prevent stray light bouncing around in the eye allowing us to form a clear visual image. This is the first time that such details in fossil vertebrate eyes have been brought to bear on the tricky problem of how their eyes evolved. The eye is a complex structure and must have evolved through small step-by-step changes but these are not recorded in living animals and until now it was thought that these anatomical details could not be preserved in fossils. advertisement Professor Gabbott explains: "To date models of vertebrate eye evolution focus only on living animals and the blind and 'rudimentary' hagfish eye was held-up as critical evidence of an intermediate stage in eye evolution. Living hagfish eyes appeared to sit between the simple light sensitive eye 'spots' of non-vertebrates and the sophisticated camera-style eyes of lampreys and most other vertebrates." The details of the retina in the fossil hagfish indicates that it had a functional visual system, meaning that living hagfish eyes have been lost through millions of years of evolution, and these animals are not as primitively simple as we originally believed. As a result they are not the most appropriate model for understanding eye evolution. Professor Gabbott added: "Sight is perhaps our most cherished sense but its evolution in vertebrates is enigmatic and a cause celebre for creationists. We bring new fossil evidence to bear on an iconic evolutionary problem: the early evolution of the vertebrate eye. We will now scrutinize the eyes of other ancient vertebrate fossils to see if we can finally build a picture of the sequence of events that took place in early vertebrate eye evolution." The team also found the earliest evidence of skin pigment patterning in a fossil. She added: "This heralds the realistic possibility of inferring details of the ecology and behavior of our ancient ancestors. Animals today have stripes for many reasons from camouflage to sexual display- we now have the potential to understand behavior in long extinct vertebrates." The study was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Professor Gabbott worked with researchers from the University of Bristol, University of Manchester and University of Texas at Austin. Household insects -- our most overlooked roommates -- are grabbing the spotlight after centuries in the shadows. Prior research in the growing study of life indoors has shown that our homes support a variety of bugs in the far reaches of cupboard corners and attic alcoves. Now, researchers are looking beyond the nooks and crannies to consider the socioeconomic context of these households. A team from the California Academy of Sciences, North Carolina State University, and the Natural History Museum of Denmark surveyed the number of different insects in 50 urban homes and determined that wealthier neighborhoods host a greater number of species types than their lower socioeconomic counterparts. The findings are published today in the journal Biology Letters. "The sheer amount of life thriving within your home -- under carpet, in closets -- is astonishing," says Dr. Misha Leong, lead author and post-doctoral researcher at the Academy. "Now we're learning that neighborhood affluence was one of the primary predictors for the number of different bug types -- mostly non-pests -- living inside, which really surprised me. We hope our findings inspire people to reimagine the context of their homes and apartments within the larger environment." Modern urbanization has greatly influenced the ecological environment, particularly in terms of the variety and abundance of life that surrounds us. Aside from urban variations in climate and environment, this new study points to socioeconomics as a key player in determining the types of life we find inside our concrete jungles. This work suggests that the management of neighborhoods and cities can have effects on biodiversity that extend from trees and birds all the way to the bug life in bedrooms and basements. The luxury effect Urban ecologists have been observing how socioeconomics impact species diversity for nearly two decades. Previous studies have determined that higher affluence is frequently associated with more biological diversity across species of plants, birds, bats, and lizards -- a phenomenon coined the "luxury effect." Scientists have only recently begun examining the relationship between socioeconomics and arthropods, a group that includes insects and their close relatives. Arthropods can have six legs (like moths), eight legs (like spiders), or sometimes one hundred legs (like centipedes), and fly or wander from the outside environment into the indoor world. "The biodiversity of the indoor environment is still a relatively unexplored area of research," says Michelle Trautwein, co-author and curator of entomology at the Academy. "Our houses are really permeable and dynamic. Through our studies, we hope to inspire citizens all over the globe to get curious about the species in their everyday lives. We still have so much to learn about indoor ecology and the ever-evolving relationship between humans and arthropods." A hands-and-knees investigation advertisement With the help of headlamps and knee pads, the research team surveyed 50 urban homes in Raleigh, North Carolina to collect samples of arthropod species. The specimens, stored in glass vials for safe transport to the lab, were painstakingly identified under a microscope to determine the number of arthropod families represented, indicating overall arthropod diversity in each household. Besides average neighborhood income, the study took into account such factors as the homes' square footage, size, surrounding vegetation, and more. Houses tend to serve as light and bait traps, passively collecting species that find their way inside from vegetation outside. The study found that homes in higher income neighborhoods had higher arthropod diversity. A likely mechanism is that homes in these neighborhoods host a greater diversity of plants that, in turn, allowed for a greater variety of plant-loving arthropods to find their way inside and thrive indoors. The scientists found that individual houses without significant plant coverage in the yard could still support high arthropod diversity when located within more affluent neighborhoods. This finding suggests that features such as parks and communal landscaping that are characteristic of wealthier neighborhoods as well as lush landscaping choices of neighbors can compensate for local choices of homeowners. "Seeing how these community-wide planning decisions cascade through the neighborhood and into homes is fascinating," says Leong. "Besides parks and communal landscaping, the decisions made at the micro-scale of individual property owners collectively scales up. This influences the ecological dynamics within their respective neighborhoods and cities, which can then impact the biodiversity you find in your bedrooms and basement." Insects in the great indoors? "Don't panic" The scientists researching indoor arthropods describe home environments as their own unique, thriving ecosystems. Roughly 100 different species of arthropods are found inside the average home. One common misconception: the mistaken belief that most of these species are pests. "Even though we spend billions of dollars each year to control for cockroaches, ticks, termites and other infestations, there are still a number of overlooked, benign species," says Leong. "Don't panic -- most bugs aren't the problem roommates we make them out to be." The study's authors are traveling the globe to better understand our tiny, closest companions. Trautwein, Leong, and their colleagues are in the midst of a multi-year project sampling arthropods (and collecting face mite samples) alongside citizen scientists in homes on all seven continents, exploring the overlooked life that shares our homes and bodies on a daily basis. Past expeditions include Sweden, the Peruvian Amazon, and houses in the Academy's own San Francisco backyard. The scientists will continue collecting house-dwelling arthropods in Australia, Madagascar, China, and Antarctica through 2017. [August 03, 2016] Aircraft Health Monitoring Systems Market Worth 4.71 Billion USD by 2021 PUNE, India, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Aircraft Health Monitoring System Market by IVHM Technology (Prognostic, Diagnostic, CBM & Adaptive Control), Sub-System (Aero-Propulsion, Aircraft Structure, Avionics And Ancillary System), Fit, Type & Region - Global Forecast to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global market is projected to reach USD 4.71 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 6.53% from 2016 to 2021. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 95 market data Tables and 95 Figures spread through 167 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Aircraft Health Monitoring System Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/aircraft-health-monitoring-systems-market-954.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization On this report. Increased need for short mission cycle time, reduced unscheduled maintenance, and increasing asset utilization along with cost effective maintenance and increasing volume of data generated to analyze the aviation aircraft are expected to drive the aircraft health monitoring systems market. The diagnostics segment led the aircraft health monitoring system market in 2015 In terms of IVHM technology, the global aircraft health monitoring systems market has been segmented into diagnostics, prognostics, and condition-based maintenance & adaptive control. The diagnostics segment led the overall market, and is estimated to exhibit a similar trend during the next five years, due to the increase in maintenance, repair and operations for an aircraft. The avionics segment is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period The global Aircraft Health Monitoring Systems Market, by sub-system, has been segmented into aero-propulsion, aircraft structures, avionics, and ancillary systems. The avionics segment of the aircraft health monitoring systems market is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, among all sub-systems. The growth is attributed to the incresing demand for advanced avionics from the airline industries. The aircraft health monitoring system market Europe region to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period The aircraft health monitoring system market in the Europe region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2016 and 2021. Factors such as passenger traffic growth and increasing aircraft deliveries are fueling the aircraft health monitoring systems market growth in this region. Inquiry Before Buying : http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=954 Airbus Group (Netherlands): One of the key players in the aircraft health monitoring systems market The other major players in the aircraft health monitoring systems market are the Boeing Company (U.S.), United Technologies Corporation (U.S.), Honeywell International, Inc. (U.S.), and General Electric Company (U.S.). Browse Related Reports Aviation Analytics Market by End-User, Business Function (Finance, Operations, Maintenance & Repair, Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain) Application (Fuel, Flight Risk, Inventory & Revenue Management, Customer Analytics, Navigation) - Global Forecast to 2021 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/aviation-analytics-market-26274177.html Commercial Avionics Systems Market by Sub-System (FMS, FCS, CNS, HMS, and Electrical & Emergency Systems), Platform (Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing), Fit (Forward and Retro) and Geography - Global Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/commercial-avionic-system-market-138098845.html Know More About our Knowledge Store @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Knowledgestore.asp About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical info graphics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India Tel: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit MarketsandMarkets [email protected] http://mnmblog.org/market-research/aerospace-defence Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Every day, more than 3,000 new abstracts are uploaded to PubMed, the main biomedical literature reference database. Even in a researcher's narrowly-defined field, it is impossible to stay on top of the ever-evolving webs of interconnections between these papers. For example, a new gene is described -- might it be relevant to a researcher's specialty? It could take many painstaking hours of searching to discover the answer. Now a new tool developed in the A.C. Tan lab at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and described today in the journal Bioinformatics helps researchers make these connections. The free tool, HiPub, is available for download as plugin for the Chrome web browser. "HiPub looks through all this text and tries to recognize what is being called genes, proteins, drugs and diseases. It extracts this information and visualizes it in a network. Especially in molecular biology or cancer biology, it's useful to see the connections between these things in their biological context," says Aik Choon Tan, PhD, investigator at the CU Cancer Center and associate professor at the CU School of Medicine. Tan gives the example of a hypothetical researcher who reads a paper exploring the genes KRAS and MEK, known to influence the development of certain cancers. "The researcher wants to know if these genes have any relevance to her specialty, maybe something like p53 [another gene known to influence cancer]." The researcher queries "P53" along with the new article and HiPub visualizes how the researcher's interest is connected to the genes in this new paper. If connections seem compelling, the researcher could design experiments to test these links. "The idea of text mining isn't new," Tan says. "Computer scientists have been doing it for ten or twenty years. But the real application of text mining in biomedical research is very limited. HiPub is a way to use text mining to streamline the process of knowledge discovery." The project is a collaboration between Tan and colleagues in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Korea University in Seoul, Korea, including first author Kyubum Lee and co-senior author Professor Jaewoo Kang. Korea University hosts the HiPub description page, http://hipub.korea.ac.kr/, which includes download link and user guide. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths, accounting for about a third of all tumor-related deaths. Adenocarcinomas, a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), account for about 40 percent of cancer diagnoses, but few treatments are available for the disease. A team of investigators led by Elena Levantini, PhD, a research associate in Hematology-Oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, have identified a subtype of human adenocarcinoma. The research could help determine which individuals are at greatest risk of developing lung tumors that may be amenable to a new therapy to inhibit their progression. The results -- done in collaboration with the Cancer Science Institute at the National University of Singapore (CSI NUS) -- were published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine. "Advances in lung cancer therapy require a greater understanding of the molecular origins of this deadly disease," said last corresponding author Levantini, who is also a researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Technologies at the Italian National Research Council (ITB-CNR). "Understanding the differences among lung cancers also could lead to innovations in treatment strategies and allow us to overcome drug-resistance, relapse and disease progression." Levantini and colleagues previously showed that NSCLC tumor cells frequently express too little or none of a transcription factor called C/EBP, a protein that regulates gene expression and cell proliferation in lung tissues. It's also known to play a role in a form of leukemia, as well as liver cancer, squamous cell skin carcinomas, squamous cell cancers of the head and neck and other cancers. In their previous work, the scientists suspected that C/EBP may act as a tumor suppressant in normal cells, but the mechanism by which its absence promoted lung cancer tumors remained unclear. In a series of in vitro experiments, the researchers demonstrated that C/EBP indeed works as a tumor suppressant by restraining the expression of another molecule known to play a role in triggering and maintaining tumor growth. This molecule, called BMI1, is an oncogenic protein that has been implicated in colon cancer, a form of leukemia and breast and gastric cancers. To determine the relationship between the suspected tumor suppressor (C/EBP) and the oncogenic protein (BMI1), the researchers first altered a line of human adenocarcinoma cells to overexpress C/EBP. That led to a marked reduction in the expression of BMI1. When the team analyzed tissues from 261 patients with NSCLC, they found an inverse correlation between the two molecules; that is, more than 80 percent of patient tissues with low levels of the tumor suppressing C/EBP were positive for BMI1 expression. Likewise, an analysis tissue samples from patients with lung adenocarcinoma with no or low C/EBP expression revealed that those with lower levels of BMI1 were more likely to survive, a pattern that has prognostic value, the researchers wrote. "Our findings suggest that the lung cancer subtype defined by the loss of C/EBP expression might specifically benefit from therapies that inhibit BMI1," the scientists wrote. "Thus, identifying factors that modulate its expression has generated major clinical interest." The research team was also able to validate its findings in mice. In one set of experiments with mice engineered to express no C/EBP, the scientists found an inverse relationship between the transcription factor and BMI1 that was nearly identical to its data from human adenocarcinoma. By manipulating BMI1 expression in vivo, the researchers were also able to confirm that decreasing the expression of the oncogenic protein was enough to fully inhibit tumor formation and even significantly arrest tumor growth. "BMI1 plays a substantial role in many solid tumors, including one of the most aggressive models of lung cancer, and its expression is linked with tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, prognosis and recurrence," Levantini said. "Our findings could help us design better therapies for the subset of adenocarcinoma patients with low C/EBP and high BMI1 expression pattern." Study coauthors include first author Kol Jia Yong, Henry Yang, Bhavin M. Thakkar, Ross A Soo and co-corresponding author Daniel G. Tenen, all of the CSI NUS; BIDMC investigators Daniela S. Basseres, Robert S. Welner, Wen Cai Zhang, Meritxell Alberich-Jorda, Junyan Zhang, Lorena Lobo de Figueiredo-Pontes, Chiara Battelli, Christopher J. Hetherington, Min Ye, Hong Zhang, Karen O'Brien, Olivier Kocher, Pu Zhang and Bing Lim; Benedict Yan; Giorgia Maroni; Maria Cristina Magli; Alain C. Borczuk; Lyuba Varticovski; Young-Choon Moon; Nadiya Sydorenko; Liangxian Cao; and Thomas W. Davis; Atsushi Iwama; Balazs Halmos and Donna Neuberg. For a full list of contributors and their institutions, please see the full article online. This work was funded by National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI P50 CA90578) Project 2 grant; the NCIS Yong Siew Yoon Research Grant through donations from the Yong Loo Lin Trust, the Singapore Ministry of Health's National Medical Research Council under its Singapore Translational Research (STaR) Investigator Award, and by the National Research Foundation of Singapore and the Singapore Ministry of Education under its Research Centres of Excellence initiative; FAMRI YCSA initiative; FAMRI YCSA 052409 and FAMRI CIA 103063, FAMRI YCSA 072165, Doctor's Cancer Foundation Award, IASLC Award, MIUR Flagship Interomics Project and MSMT Navrat grant LK21307. Researchers were supported by Jose Carreras fellowship, FIJC-10; NCI T32/K12/R25 award; the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; the National Medical Research Council of Singapore (NMRC/CG/NCIS/2010) and the DF/HCC Cancer Center Support Grant 5P30 CA006516. You could say being a seizure detection dog has its moments. Like this one. And this one. Dodo Shows Dodo Heroes Woman Devotes Her Life To The Stray Dogs Of Bali And ... jeez. That's Jerry Springer, a certified seizure dog, you know ... working. His boss is a 3-year-old girl named Keanna who lives with intractable epilepsy. Jerry's mission? Cuddle the bejesus out of her. And then - this is the part where Jerry truly shines - about half an hour before Keanna is going to have a seizure, Jerry alerts the rest of the family. He just knows. And he's always right. Keanna's family gets time to prepare for the attack, giving the girl medication that can even prevent the seizure from happening. It's a crucial alert that has saved the girl's life on countless occasions. "When Keanna is having issues with her seizures or not feeling good, Jerry is stuck to her like glue," George Leonard, a master dog trainer with MSAR Service Dogs in Winnipeg, Canada, tells The Dodo. It's good work if you can get it. Especially, when you literally worked your way up from the streets. Before he landed the job, Jerry was hauled into a shelter by animal control as a stray. That's where a dog trainer from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found him. He sent a message to Leonard: "I have found a dog that will be amazing. I am sending him to you. You will do great things with him, believe me." At MSAR, Jerry's naturally friendly disposition and keen mind made him the perfect candidate for training to become someone's cuddle buddy lifesaving seizure dog. Someone like Keanna. Her condition means every seizure she has takes a physical toll on her brain. Leonard says if the attacks were not significantly reduced by the time she turned 3, Keanna would need surgery. But then, a year ago, Keanna met Jerry Springer. After just two days in the family home, Jerry would let Keanna's mother know of an impending attack. At first, it was just a warning of a few minutes. Then 10 minutes. And, finally, half an hour. And soon, the dog who once needed rescuing so badly was rescuing his little girl every day.

W.O.L.F. Sanctuary

Just a month ago, Castiel had nothing - not a home, not a family and certainly not a name. He was alone, a stray "dog" found wandering aimlessly across the suburbs of Los Angeles. Castiel | W.O.L.F. Sanctuary Whether he was formerly someone's pet or not was unclear - what was obvious was the fact that Castiel had been on his own for a long time, long enough to become severely emaciated and riddled with parasites, and lose chunks of his fur to mange. While Castiel appeared to be a normal dog from a distance, rescuers soon realized he was actually a wolf-dog hybrid. W.O.L.F. Sanctuary From there, a race began to find him a sanctuary that would take in a hybrid - otherwise he faced a high risk of being euthanized by a shelter unable to give him the care he needed. Thankfully, Colorado's W.O.L.F. Sanctuary, which rescues wolves and wolf dogs, was able to step in and save the 1-year-old Castiel. W.O.L.F. Sanctuary After receiving initial veterinary care, Castiel was transferred to an off-site infirmary where he could reside until he was healthy enough to make the trip to the sanctuary. Dodo Shows Comeback Kids Family Stops At Nothing To Help Their Great Dane Run W.O.L.F. Sanctuary The first thing staffers noticed about Castiel was the fact that he was extremely timid and scared of his new environment, preferring to stay in corners - just to keep away from humans. W.O.L.F. Sanctuary After a few days in the the infirmary, however, Castiel started learning how to relax, although he spent a majority of his time resting. W.O.L.F. Sanctuary But there was something else staffers noticed about Castiel as well. Castiel and his stuffed owl | W.O.L.F. Sanctuary "Our director had a number of dogs," Michelle Proulx, director of animal care at W.O.L.F. Sanctuary, told The Dodo. W.O.L.F. Sanctuary "The infirmary was located at her house and we noticed him getting really, really interested in other dogs. So we knew he was starting to get lonely for canine companionship and wanted to find a companion for him." W.O.L.F. Sanctuary Once Castiel started to become more active and curious about his surroundings, the sanctuary deemed him well enough to make the big move to his forever home - and began the hunt to find him the perfect partner. Castiel arriving to the sanctuary | W.O.L.F. Sanctuary Proulx said W.O.L.F. reached out to a network of sanctuaries that deal with wolves and wolf dogs to see if a young female wolf dog was in need of a home. "We got a hit almost immediately," Proulx said. "This is an indicative of the problem that's out there, that there's so many of them in need of homes." That was how staffers made the trip to the Gray Wolf Wolfdog Rescue in Wisconsin to pick up 3-year-old Tenali. Tenali | W.O.L.F. Sanctuary "They said she was really sweet and that there isn't an animal she doesn't get along with," Proulx said. W.O.L.F. Sanctuary "We thought that would be great for Cas, who needs that friendship. We didn't want to have him, while he's not feeling well, feel like he has to defend or protect himself from an animal that isn't quite a good match," she continued. W.O.L.F. Sanctuary Compared to Castiel, Tenali is a bundle of energy. "When we first put them in together, she just wanted to play and Castiel was just a little bit overwhelmed with the attention," Proulx said. "He went from not having much and being alone for who knows how long to having this girl." Tenali taking a swim in her bucket | W.O.L.F. Sanctuary As a result, Castiel was standoffish at first - but Tenali was great at reading the situation and his communication. When Castiel shied away, she didn't push, but found something else to do instead. Castiel (left) and Tenali(right) in their enclosure together | W.O.L.F. Sanctuary "After a couple of days, he started to realize that she wasn't going to hurt him," Proulx said. "He started to feel more confident in himself and we've been seeing progressively, within the last week or two, that their playing together has become more frequent and more involved." Castiel, who was once so painfully shy, has finally found the perfect wolf dog to open up to. Now the two continue to strengthen their bond day by day. Tenali (left) and Castiel (right) | W.O.L.F. Sanctuary Want to help W.O.L.F. Sanctuary continue doing good work for animals in need? Consider making a donation here. W.O.L.F. Sanctuary ANNAPOLIS, MD.Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh says his office is appealing a judges order granting a new trial to a man convicted of murder in a case that was featured in the Serial podcast. Frosh said in a telephone interview that his office filed the notice of appeal Monday. The attorney generals office has asked that any new trial for Adnan Syed be halted during the appeals process. Syed was convicted of killing his former high school girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999. He was sentenced to life in prison. Retired Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Martin Welch ruled Syed deserved a new trial, because his lawyer didnt challenge testimony in the case that became the focus of the podcast, which captivated millions of listeners around the world. SHARE: When a Peterborough family set out on a hike inside Quebecs Gatineau Park, they didnt expect to see a cave, let alone a shirtless prime minister popping out of one. It was like a 20-foot-wide round hole and Justin (Trudeau) emerged with his family in tow and said, This is the moment of truth; do we stop here or do we carry on? said Jim Godby, who was on a five-day camping trip at the park last week with his wife, Arlene, and two kids Alexander, 13, and Charlotte, 10. They had decided to go on a hike on one of the trails near their campsite Tuesday and happened upon the Lusk Cave, a marble cave thousands of years old in the centre of the park. As they went to take a peek inside, Godby heard the familiar voice. Thats when Trudeau, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and two of their children surfaced in what Godby described as a casual chance encounter that humanized the prime minister. It was just said with such an enthusiastic, joyful tone that thats what kind of struck me, Godby said of Trudeaus comment, which appeared to be referring to whether the family should continue hiking or not. He evidently enjoys leading. . . . It seemed pretty characteristic of his personality. Godby only spoke with an excited Gregoire Trudeau, who urged the family to venture inside the cave: Youve got to try this! she said, noting the waist-high stream inside, which explained Trudeaus shirtlessness. The couples keenness made Godby want to venture inside, but he says he and his family werent dressed for it. The cave, a 45-minute drive from Ottawa, was featured on CBC last year as one of Ottawas hidden gems. Its 100 metres long and lies in the Lac Philippe section of the 360-square-kilometre park. It was formed after the ice age as glaciers melted, and a stream carved out the marble. Godbys son, Alexander, asked for a selfie and Trudeau obliged. A few body guards were stealthily circling, appearing at first to be hikers not exactly dressed for hiking, Godby said, adding he realized who they were thanks to their earpieces. He chatted with them and they, too, were very nice people. Godby said he realized who Trudeau was because of his voice, which seemed more relaxed in the outdoor setting. It was a pretty normal dad moment, he said. I think some of the other people walking by had no idea it was the PM. It was a really neat encounter not only for Godby and his wife, but for their children as well. Since the family talks about politics a lot, Alexander and Charlotte knew who they were dealing with at the cave. It was just like, Wow, thats crazy! We just met the PM, he said. After the exchange, both families went their own ways. The Prime Ministers Office said it could not confirm Trudeaus whereabouts or activities while he is on personal time. Godby later put his sons selfie with Trudeau up on Facebook in a post reading, When you step out your front door, you never know what adventures await. The post was later picked up by Peterborough blog PTBO. Godbys fondness for the Trudeaus dates back to Pierre Trudeaus time in office. The Peterborough dad became old enough to vote for the elder Trudeau six months after his last election. Godby noted the hike even seemed like something the elder Trudeau may have done with his son. As for the scion, I have nothing to complain about, Godby said. I think personally that hes doing a great job and that hes just a real down-to-earth guy. In this case, that he was literally. Read more about: SHARE: Canada must be a nation of innovators. 684 ideas for #CdnInnovation, Navdeep Bains, the federal minister for innovation, science and economic development, wrote on Twitter on Monday. Have you submitted yours yet? Bains added a link to the website for the federal governments Innovation Agenda, which features a one-minute video assuring visitors that, indeed, Canada is a nation of innovators. Perhaps this is because they have had so much practice. By my count, Bains is the fourth industry minister (as people in his office used to be called) to launch an innovation agenda since the turn of the century. Jean Chretiens minister Allan Rock had one. Stephen Harper sought to contrast with the Liberals by refusing to mention innovation. Then he appointed a panel on innovation, and then, noticing several years later that he was still prime minister, he appointed another. Now we have another federal innovation agenda. With a panel. And a public consultation one of 70 public consultations this eager new government has launched since it came to office nine months ago. Thats a seven with a zero at the end. If you run into a Liberal this summer, you will probably not escape without being consulted about something. Bains colleague Catherine McKenna wants to know what #CANClimateAction youre taking. Maryam Monsef, the minister for democratic institutions, hopes youre #EngagedInER. (Thats electoral reform.) There are consultations on trade deals, on home mail delivery, on appointments to high office. Unfortunately the number of consultations may be outstripping the available supply of Canadians with clever ideas. A month ago I wrote here that Monsefs electoral reform consultation came with its own Twitter hashtag, #EngagedinER, which people were encouraged to use as they spread the word about their own local meetings, in garages or living rooms or church basements, around the theme of changes to Canadas electoral system. Back then, the hashtag had only been used six times. I wondered whether Id provoke an avalanche of #EngagedinER activity by putting that information in a prominent newspaper. I neednt have worried. As of yesterday, the hashtag had been used 41 times, 26 of them from a single account (a woman in Guelph who seems genuinely excited about a chance to debate electoral reform). If spontaneous local electoral-reform meetings are popping up all over Canada in the dead of summer, I can find no evidence of it. Bains says he has received 684 ideas for #CdnInnovation. This looks like innovative counting. The governments (fourth!) innovation website lists several dozen proposals submitted by earnest Canadians. Some ideas are repeated many times (start science and tech education earlier). Others are spectacularly off-brand (Decrease immigration volumes). But the only way I can get the number of ideas to nearly 700 is to throw in another part of the website, which gathers social-media commentary from Twitter, Facebook and other platforms under the title, What Youre Saying. I suppose it depends who you are. From Twitter, the website gathers input from such ordinary Canadians as Bardish Chagger, the minister for small business; Kirsty Duncan, the minister for science; a public-relations staffer at Torontos MaRS Discovery District, which swims in lakes of provincial government funding; the federal Competition Bureau; and the Canadian embassy in Moscow. Almost none of these ideas is an idea. They are mostly messages urging Canadians to submit their ideas. On all of YouTube, two videos use the suggested #CdnInnovation hashtag. Both were posted by Bains own department. On one of them, the CEO of Shopify says it would be great if computer science were taught more broadly in schools. This has the virtue of being probably true, not a new idea, and outside federal jurisdiction. Theres no need to assume bad faith on the part of all these ministers. Listening is better than not listening. If even four useful ideas come up, thats four useful ideas. I wont claim itll have been worth the money. That will really depend on the ideas. But the instinct to ask Canadians is understandable. Will the outcome be healthy? It depends. The ominous apathy greeting Monsefs electoral reform process, in particular, is striking. She argues that a referendum would not reach as many Canadians as other consultation methods. Her preferred method is off to a shaky start. A few dozen meetings, attended by the usual suspects, will not be a revolution in democratic legitimacy. They could, instead, reveal a lack of public engagement that would endanger the entire electoral-reform project. Read more about: SHARE: Just under two weeks after he was convicted of raping a fellow York University doctoral student, Mustafa Ururyar was released on bail Wednesday. Superior Court Justice Michael Quigley overturned the lower courts decision last week to revoke Ururyars bail. He did not release his reasons immediately, but the previous day in court he openly questioned whether the judge in the case, Ontario Court Justice Marvin Zuker, had a mind that may be a little too full with academic texts and tomes on gender-based violence, rape and trauma to deliver a fully impartial ruling. That was a jaw-dropper, said Quigley, referring to the number of academic references cited in Zukers judgment that had not been introduced as evidence during the court case. That raises questions of having a predisposed mind. After a six-day trial spread out over six months, Zuker convicted 29-year-old Ururyar on July 21 of sexually assaulting Mandi Gray. The two had been hooking up for two weeks before the night of the assault in January 2015. Ururyars defence had been that the two had consensual break-up sex, and Gray fabricated the rape charge to exact revenge and further her political agenda to become a champion of sex assault victims across the country. (Gray has waived the publication ban on her name.) Zuker, in the end, found Gray very credible and trustworthy and said Ururyars version of what happened that night was a fabrication, credible never. Four days later, he revoked Ururyars bail. He wasnt worried about Ururyar fleeing the country or reoffending while awaiting his sentencing, he said. His concern was the message his release would send to greater society, breaking confidence in the administration of justice. What is the significance of rape if a person doesnt go to jail? Zuker said. If he set him free for three months, before sentencing, it would make a mockery out of what this man has been convicted of. Ururyars defence team appealed the conviction and asked for bail in the meantime. Usually, appeals are not heard until after the sentence is delivered and the case fully closed, but Quigley agreed with the defence that this was a rare and unusual case. The appeal will be heard after sentencing by a Superior Court judge. Ururyars defence teams appeal raises six concerns about Zukers judgment, the biggest one being he displayed a reasonable apprehension of bias towards Gray and sexual assault victims in general. This case was more about commenting on social policy and the perceived inequities sexual assault complainants face in the criminal justice system than fairly reviewing the evidence, said Mark Halfyard, a member of Ururyars defence team. The judge, Halfyards affidavit argued, acted not as an impartial judge, but as an advocate and witness. A big factor in Halfyards argument was that Zuker cited 13 social science books and articles in his 179-page ruling, supporting his positions on things like memory fragmentation and victim response to trauma, none of which had been introduced as evidence during the case. Some of the sources the trial judge relies on are not even from impartial research sources, said Halfyard, pointing out a manual put out by the National District Attorneys Association called Victim Responses to Sexual Assault: Counterintuitive or Simply Adaptive cited by Zuker. Breese Davies, the vice-president of the Criminal Lawyers Association, said it was unusual for judges to cite social science research on issues, without giving counsel an opportunity to make submissions or perhaps call evidence to refute it. But University of Toronto law professor Denise Reaume said it was a little piece of ideological idiocy to think that judges, unlike other people, wouldnt draw from their personal knowledge in making decisions. I worry less about Zuker, who actually put all his influences on the table, than about judges who tell young women if theyd kept their knees together, they just wouldnt have been assaulted, Reaume said, referring to Alberta Justice Robin Camp, who last year told an alleged rape victim why couldnt you just keep your knees together? (Camp is facing a disciplinary review before the Canadian Judicial Council in September.) Hes not telling you where he gets that from. And its not a reputable source. Asked for her reaction, Gray said she was disappointed to learn about the appeal. Judges have been biased towards women for centuries, she wrote in a text message. This merely strengthens my opinion that expert opinions should be called by the Crown to explain to defence lawyers how trauma and memory work. Ururyar will be expected to re-enter custody Sept. 13, the day before his sentencing, Halfyard said. The terms of his bail stipulate that he live with his girlfriend, Alison Moore, in a Vancouver apartment theyve just rented together. Catherine Porter can be reached at cporter@thestar.ca . Follow her on twitter @porterthereport SHARE: Drug-trafficking charges against two people in Whitby, Ont., have been dismissed after a judge ruled that a Durham Regional police officer stopped them based on racial profiling. Beverly Ann OGrady and Jeffrey Ferguson-Cadore were jointly charged with four counts of possessing controlled substances for the purposes of trafficking in September 2014 after police searched the car OGrady was driving and said they found marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine and Oxycocet tabs. OGrady and Ferguson-Cadores lawyers applied to have the evidence excluded because they said stopping and searching the vehicle represented several violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. According to the background facts laid out in Justice Robert Charneys written decision, Const. John MacKinnon started following the car after he saw a young looking white female in the drivers seat with a black man in the passenger seat leaving a motel parking lot, and became suspicious that the woman was a prostitute accompanied by a pimp. Charney ruled the officer had no lawful authority to stop the vehicle. He wrote that the officer took advantage of the arbitrary detention to unlawfully search the vehicle and ruled that the stop represented very serious violations of the charter. MacKinnon said he saw the car leaving a motel that was known as a hotbed of prostitution and drug activity, and he was concerned for the womans safety. He pulled the car over after running the licence plate, noting that neither person in the car appeared to match the description of the vehicles listed owner, who was born in 1965. The police officers initial suspicions and concerns for the safety of the young white female were based on the fact that she was seen in the company of a black male, Charney said in his written decision. There was really nothing more to it than that. When MacKinnon pulled over the car, OGrady asked why she had been stopped and the officer told her she didnt look like she was born in 1965. The officer said he smelled a strong odour of marijuana in the car, and noticed ash on the console and gearshift. He then called for backup and searched the car, finding marijuana, the ruling said. The couple was then arrested, and when the officers continued to search the car, the decision said they found other drugs as well. The officers arrest report stated that his primary reason for stopping the car was the fact that the driver and passenger didnt match the registered owner. Charney ruled that this was a pretext for the stop, and there was no road safety justification behind it. In the first place, there is nothing illegal, unusual or suspicious about a driver not matching the description of the registered owner. Family members frequently share the same car. The registered owner may be a different gender or a different age than the driver. This is commonplace and innocent conduct, his decision reads. He added that the constable was aware that this was not a sufficient basis to stop the vehicle at 3:30 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. That is why he ran the plate through the PARIS system to see if he could find some legitimate basis to stop the car. OGradys lawyer, Jonathan Pyzer, said the Crown called no evidence in the case after Charney ruled the evidence obtained from the search should be excluded, and the charges were dismissed. SHARE: Ontario and Michigan are teaming up in a bid to stem the flow of auto industry jobs to the southern United States and Mexico. Premier Kathleen Wynne and Gov. Rick Snyder signed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday to find better ways to collaborate and make the Great Lakes region more competitive. They will concentrate on new technologies such as self-driving cars, connected vehicles, lightweight materials and alternative fuels along with workforce skills development. Were better off if we can share expertise and support each other, Wynne told a news conference in Traverse City, a popular Lake Michigan tourist spot hosting the annual Centre for Automotive Research conference this week. Of course we will compete with each other from time to time but, overall, were competing with jurisdictions to the south of us. Ontario and Michigan account for 26 per cent of vehicle production in North America. The provinces share has shrunk in recent years despite a sharp decline in the value of the Canadian dollar, which has made production here relatively cheaper. Snyder said his state and Ontario already work closely on environmental and other issues, so it only makes sense to pool resources particularly with the planned Gordie Howe International Bridge improving the flow of shipments across the Detroit River. The auto industry is huge to both our jurisdictions, said Snyder, a Republican who paid tribute to the Canadian government for spearheading the bridge effort. There is no budget for the joint auto effort, but there could be a lot of things depending on the ideas generated, Snyder added. Weve got a lot more work to do now that weve signed this. With about a dozen new auto or parts plants open or being built in Mexico, Wynne said Ontario and Michigan need to find a niche in terms of factors that will entice auto industry operations. That may well be the highly educated workforce that prompted General Motors to announce it will hire 700 engineers and software developers to its research and development centre in Oshawa, the Liberal premier suggested. If thats our advantage wed better make sure we build on that, she added, noting were not going to be Mexico in a reference to lower labour and production costs there. You dont hear about research and development in Mexico like you do in the Great Lakes, added Snyder. Its trending our way we need to reinforce our strengths. More auto industry research and development in Ontario and Michigan improves the odds of getting production jobs in the region, he said. If youre not designed in, youre not going to show up later in the process. The memorandum of understanding, proposed by Ontario in June, follows last years appointment of Ray Tanguay, former chief executive of Toyotas highly successful Canadian manufacturing operations, as the countrys auto czar. Tanguay, who was at the conference with Wynne, has advised the federal and Ontario governments to make sure their auto-industry incentive programs competitive with those from the southern United States and Mexico. His appointment as a special adviser followed concerns Ontario was losing out in the race for new auto business as the nations share of North American production fell to 14.2 per cent from a high of 17.6 per cent several years ago. SHARE: SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OFNorth Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea on Wednesday, South Koreas military said, the fourth reported weapons launch the North has carried out in about two weeks. The missile fired from the Norths western Hwanghae province flew toward the water off the countrys east coast, the Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. South Korean military officials were analyzing what type of missile it was and how far it flew, according to Seouls Defence Ministry. North Korea routinely conducts missile and other weapons tests, but the latest launch came after North Korea warned of unspecified physical counter-actions against a U.S. plan to deploy an advanced missile defence system in South Korea by the end of next year. Seoul and Washington officials said they need the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system to better cope with what they call North Koreas increasing military threats. North Korea called the system a provocation that it says is only aimed at bolstering U.S. military hegemony in the region. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, according to Seoul defence officials. The Norths state media later confirmed that it fired ballistic rockets carrying trigger devices for nuclear warheads as part of simulated pre-emptive atomic attacks on South Korea. North Korea is expected to perform more weapons launches in coming weeks to protest annual U.S.-South Korean military drills that begin later this month. North Korea describes the drills as an invasion rehearsal. North Korea is pushing to manufacture a warhead small enough to be placed on a long-range missile that can reach the continental U.S., but South Korean defence officials say the North doesnt yet have such a miniaturized warhead. Some civilian experts, however, believe the North has the technology to put warheads on shorter-range missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. Read more about: SHARE: U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel ruled Tuesday that a lawsuit alleging Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps now-defunct university was a fraud can proceed to trial in November. At the same time, Curiel rejected a request by media organizations to allow the public release of hours of videotaped testimony by Trump in a California lawsuit over Trump University. The two rulings offered Trump mixed results from the federal judge he has repeatedly attacked as biased, accusing Curiel of being unable to rule fairly in the case because of his Mexican heritage. Curiel rejected a motion for summary judgment in the case, in which former students of Trumps real estate seminars argue they were defrauded by false advertising. Trumps lawyers had argued the case should not go trial because, they said, there was no evidence Trump operated the program and could be held responsible for advertising that the former students allege was fraudulent nor that the ads were, in fact, false. Curiel ruled there was indeed enough evidence that Trump University ads were false and that Trump had a hand in their creation that a jury should be allowed to decide the issue. Trumps criticisms of Curiel came as the San Diego based judge ordered the release of hundreds of pages of internal documents that showed how Trump University convinced students to sign up for more and more expensive programs. Trump told the Wall Street Journal in June that the Indiana-born judge had an absolute conflict because of his Mexican heritage. Im building a wall, OK? he said on CNN, referencing his promise to erect a barrier on the U.S.-Mexico border to stop illegal immigration. Those comments were widely condemned by Democrats and Republicans and on June 7, Trump said in a written statement that his comments had been misconstrued as a categorical attack against people of Mexican heritage. He defended Trump University, citing positive surveys from students who attended and said he did not plan to continue speaking about the issue. Trump has been deposed twice in the case, once in December 2015 and again in January. The transcripts of those sessions have been filed in court and released publicly. They show that Trump repeatedly indicated he had never met instructors at Trump University, despite advertisements for the program indicating that its staff had been handpicked by the mogul. A coalition of media groups, including the Washington Post, had sought the release of video of the sessions. The group was supported by the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who have argued Trumps costly real estate sessions amounted to fraud. They argued Trumps facial expressions and tone, only available via video would add understanding of the testimony. Trumps attorneys countered that video would serve no legal purpose in the case but would instead be used against him during the presidential campaign and would taint the jury pool for the scheduled trial in the case. Curiel found those arguments had some merit and that courts have held that video should be held to a higher standard for release than written transcripts. He wrote that it is nigh-inevitable that excerpts of the videos would be used in media reports and political ads around the country, increasing the likelihood that prospective jurors would be exposed to the material before the trial. Curiel wrote that while there is a legitimate public interest by the media in the content of the tapes that interest can largely be served through the transcripts of Trumps testimony. Read more about: SHARE: For one Dutch man, what began as a grand romantic gesture ended in a futile 4,830-km. voyage, a 10-day stay in an airport terminal and a brief trip to the hospital. Alexander Kirk, 41, first met Ms. Zhang, 26, who is only identified by her last name in Chinese state media and TV station reports, in a messaging app. Over the two months that followed, We had advanced our romantic relationship, but later he seemed a little callous toward me, Zhang told a local TV station, according the BBC. So imagine her surprise when he sent her a photograph of airplane tickets that would take him from his home in the Netherlands to hers, in the Hunan province of China. I thought it was a joke, Zhang told the TV station. As she would soon learn, it was no joke. Kirk arrived in the Changsha Huanghua International Airport. Zhang did not. Kirk spent 10 days in the airport waiting for Zhang to meet him, to no avail. And when he finally did leave, it was not by choice; he was taken by emergency services to a local hospital to be treated for exhaustion. Kirk, a diabetic, fell unconscious after getting little sleep and not eating much during his stay. Where was Zhang all this time? She had reportedly travelled to a neighbouring province of China for plastic surgery on parts of her face. And she said her phone was turned off during her surgery and part of her recovery. So whether or not Kirk attempted to message her while he was in the airport, she didnt receive it, Zhang said. And even if she had, it would be too difficult for her to travel to the Changsha province to see him because she was still recovering from surgery, she told the Chinese state media. Kirk was discharged from the hospital and returned home to the Netherlands on Monday. He and Zhang have still never met in person. All hope is not lost. Zhang told the TV station she still intends on meeting him. Users on Weibo, Chinas primary social media site, would probably recommend against Kirk repeating the trek. According to the BBC, one user said, echoing many others, Doesnt he know that everything in China is fake? Read more about: SHARE: REYKJAVIK, ICELANDOn the edge of an asphalt expanse, behind a big-box retailer and a car wash, folks were sitting talking politics. The future of democracy was taking shape. Or so the participants hoped. What we think we could do is raise taxes on the wealthy even more, said Ragnar Hannes Gudmundsson, as he typed on a laptop, sending bullet points to a projection screen nearby. The estate tax should go from 20 per cent to 30 per cent. Doesnt Finland have 30 per cent? Haraldur Ingisson said from his side of the table. And we have to take more steps to make sure that government doesnt control the fisheries, Olafur Sigurdsson chimed in. The men, six agricultural and office workers, many over the age of 40, were ordinary citizens drafting legislation as part of a new vision for democracy. They convened at the headquarters of the Icelandic Pirate Party, one of the Wests most unusual political groups. With populist movements sweeping the West the drive in Britain to leave the European Union, Syriza in Greece, the National Front in France and the Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders campaigns in the U.S. the Pirate Party is following the trend of aiming to return power to the people. Icelands Pirates offer a more radical interpretation of the concept; rather than simply replacing establishment politicians with outsiders, the Pirates argue for doing away with much of the representative system altogether and moving to a purer form of one-person-one-vote system. Supporters conceive of a world without lobbyists, bureaucrats and career politicians. Imagine, they say, if ordinary people could propose major legislation on subjects as varied as taxes, copyrights and foreign affairs, and could vote on them in a national referendum. Most Icelanders most people in Western democracy have never had that option, said Jon Thor Olafsson, a Pirate Party leader who, in 2013, became one of the partys first members of Parliament. Skeptics say that could be a recipe for chaos, even anarchy. If power were truly turned over to people, whats to stop them from voting out necessary legislation? How can a party that espouses such a small measure of government govern? It sounds great, said Reynir Hardarson, an executive at a digital startup who said he is intrigued by the Pirates. But how would it work? I mean, who would actually vote for taxes? The Pirate Party was founded in Sweden a decade ago by Rick Falkvinge, an Internet activist troubled by what he saw as a suppression of online freedoms. The name came from a file-sharing website called the Pirate Bureau. Soon it mushroomed into a movement built on the idea that a new culture of technology can breed civic engagement and government accountability and allow a more direct form of democracy. The Pirates began to plant seeds in various European countries, arriving in Iceland about four years ago with the help of the technology activist and poet Birgitta Jonsdottir, the Icelandic head of the Icelandic party. It quickly took off. Partly this was the result of young supporters more interested in authenticity and credibility than in ideology. But it also was a function of Icelands idiosyncratic political culture, which is characterized by a maverick national spirit and disenchantment with mainstream leaders. That culture had already fuelled the political rise of Jon Gnarr, a popular comedian who, on a lark and as a kind of performance-art gesture, ran for mayor of Reykjavik in 2010. (He named his movement the Best Party and said he would work only with legislators who had watched the HBO series The Wire.) To widespread amazement and his own he won. Gnarr served a rocky but hardly ineffective four-year term. The Pirate movement did not need huge numbers to make a difference in a nation of just 330,000 people, even small efforts can have a wide reach. In 2013, the Pirate Party won seats in Parliament for the first time, securing 5 per cent of the national vote and three of the 63 seats. The Pirates have continued to attract support since the Panama Papers scandal, which included leaked financial documents that led to the resignation of right-wing Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson in April. The party also benefits from cynicism fed by tabloid stories of the superrich such as a recent helicopter crash of a banker supposedly under house arrest for crimes in the 2008 financial crisis. Dissatisfaction and distrust in Iceland is high, said Eva Heida Onnudottir, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Iceland who has studied the Pirates. When you combine that with voters becoming more volatile after the financial crisis and the Panama Papers, the Pirate Party really stands to benefit. More than a fifth of voters now support the party, according to recent polls. If those numbers hold in an election scheduled for the fall, the Pirates would become key players in a new government. Under Jonsdottir, the Icelandic Pirates have focused on reforming the amorphously written and much-criticized constitution, relaxing Internet copyright standards, increasing government transparency and accountability and remedying income inequality. In a stance that echoes that of Sanders in the U.S., they want to increase taxes on Icelands wealthy and regulate the corporate-dominated fisheries, which they see as a public resource. In the process of doing all this, they could also provide a laboratory and an inspiration for Pirate Parties elsewhere. The old system is not totally going to blow up, but we can shift responsibility from the close-knit circle of the political elite to the people themselves, said Finnur Gunnthorsson, a local party leader who also helps runs many of the grassroots meetings. There is a way to trust the people more. Critics say grassroots rule can sound better in theory than it works in practice. They argue that the movements goals are unwieldy, unrealistic and even dangerous. If people can vote on every issue, they argue, it could lead to instability and emotional decision-making at the expense of long-term progress. Some say the act of inviting in so many people creates a higher expectation of results that might simply lead to more infighting. The Pirates are a much more lively party, and thats whats difficult, said Gunnar Helgi Kristinsson, a political scientist at the University of Iceland. They may attract a lot of people but to quarrel. Direct participatory democracy is not as easy as it sounds. SHARE: TOKYOA woman who downplays Japans wartime actions and is known to have far-right views was named defence minister in a Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, a move that could unsettle relations with Asian neighbours with bitter memories of World War II-era atrocities. Tomomi Inada, a former reform minister who most recently held one of the top posts in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will replace Gen Nakatani as defence minister. Shes the second female to fill the post. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe changed more than half of the 19-member Cabinet in a bid to support his economic, security and other policy goals. A lawyer-turned-lawmaker, Inada is one of Abes favourite cronies. She is a regular at Tokyos Yasukuni Shrine, which honours war dead including convicted war criminals, a gesture seen by neighbours as an endorsement of Japans militaristic past. She also has made remarks defending Japans wartime atrocities, including forcing many Asian women into sexual servitude in military-run brothels, and has led a party committee to re-evaluate the judgment of war tribunal by the Allies. Her link to a notorious anti-Korea group was acknowledged by a court this year in a defamation case she lost. Inada also was seen posing with the leader of a neo-Nazi group in a 2011 photo that surfaced in the media in 2014. Inada, 57, is a supporter of Abes long-cherished hope to revise Japans postwar constitution. She has said parts of the war-renouncing Article 9 should be scrapped, arguing that they could be interpreted as banning the Self-Defence Forces. Finance Minister Taro Aso, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga were among key Cabinet members who retained their portfolios, while 10 ministers were replaced in the reshuffle. Abe, whose key policies include womens advancement, will have two other female Cabinet members, including one who will serve as Olympic minister after being shifted from environment minister. Tokyo is set to host the 2020 Summer Games. While campaigning for last months upper house elections, Abe promised to focus on economic revitalization in the short term, and to later seek to revise Japans pacifist constitution. Since he took office in late 2012, Abe has sought to boost growth by pumping massive amounts of money into the worlds third-biggest economy. But lavish monetary easing and public works spending so far have failed to reignite growth as much as hoped. The reshuffle was the third since Abe took office, and the first since October. Read more about: SHARE: PORTLAND, MAINEA Maine sheriffs department is investigating whether the rights of Muslim protesters were violated when they were booked into a county jail. The Cumberland County Sheriffs Office announced an investigation on Tuesday to determine whether booking photos showing the four Muslim women without their hijabs were improperly released to the public. On Monday, a man told the Portland City Council that the women were intimidated into removing their religious head scarves following their July 15 arrest at a protest in the city. The man told council members that the women were promised that jail officials would not release photos showing them without their hijabs. The women were booked into the Cumberland County Jail, which requires Muslim women to have their booking photos taken with and without their hijabs. SHARE: Days after Donald Trump mocked the silence of a Muslim mother of a decorated American soldier killed in Iraq, Muslim activist groups have launched a social media campaign asking women to speak out using the hashtag #CanYouHearUsNow. Leading the charge internationally on Twitter is Dr. Alaa Murabit, a UN high level commissioner who was raised in Saskatoon, Sask. and Zawiya, Libya. One of her tweets shows her laughing with former American President Jimmy Carter: Hey D. I spend my time creating solutions w presidents & the like (so I guess well never meet) It shouldnt take Donald Trump for our communities to stand with the women who have built and shaped them, Murabit tweeted Wednesday. As a #Muslimwoman I use to think our success was rare, she also tweeted. Its not. The recognition and appreciation of our success &respect for our agency is. Ghazala Khan stood beside her husband Khizr Khan who spoke at the Democratic National Convention on July 28, when he held up a copy of the U.S. Constitution and denounced Trump as unpatriotic. Their son, Humayun Khan, was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004. Trump insinuated in an ABC interview that her silence may have had to do with oppression, saying, She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasnt allowed to have anything to say. You tell me. Ghazala Khan bristled at Trumps suggestion. Here is my answer to Donald Trump, she wrote in the Washington Post, Because without saying a thing, all the world, all America, felt my pain. I am a Gold Star mother. Whoever saw me felt me in their heart. #CanYouHearUsNow calls to mind #TraditionallySubmissive that bubbled up early this year in the U.K. after then Prime Minister David Cameron reportedly called Muslim women traditionally submissive in private. The current #CanYouHearUsNow Twitter campaign features many tweets by members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Murabit tweets that shes a proud, strong Canadian-Muslim woman. One of her Tweets: Whoa. for everyone sending me msgs about how I dont deserve to be #American: Jokes on you cause Im #Canadian LOL #CanYouHearUsNow #YesYouCan Such sentiments have struck a strong chord. Rim-Sarah Alouane, who describes herself as a PhD candidate and researcher in public law, adds: @realDonaldTrump Im a #humanrights scholar, trying to make sure rights & freedoms are protected. What did you do? #CanYouHearUsNow More reactions captured below: Read more about: SHARE: AUSTIN, TEXASTexas agreed Wednesday to weaken its voter ID law, which federal courts have said discriminated against minorities and the poor and left more than 600,000 registered voters potentially unable to cast a ballot. The state worked fast to soften the law before Novembers election, moving from requiring voters to show one of seven forms of suitable ID a list that included concealed handgun permits, but not college IDs to letting those without such an ID to sign an affidavit. That will allow them to cast a regular full ballot, and their vote will be counted. Texas must also spend at least $2.5 million (U.S.) on voter outreach before November, according to the agreement submitted to U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, who must still approve the changes. The changes come as judges across the U.S. are blocking several Republican-controlled states from imposing stricter election rules this November. Donald Trump referenced the rulings Tuesday while reiterating his concerns that the presidential election will be rigged against him. North Carolina last week was found to have not only discriminated against minorities but passed tougher election rules with the intent on doing so. A court isnt done considering whether Texas had the same motives, but for now, the state and U.S. Justice Department agreed on looser voter ID rules to get through this election year. The joint proposal was the result of negotiations between Texas, the Justice Department and minority rights groups who sued over the 2011 law, which a federal appeals court said last month violated the federal Voting Rights Act. The provisions weve agreed to now are critical safeguards for voters, said Houston attorney Chad Dunn, one of the lead attorneys in the lawsuit against Texas. Its a critical leap forward. A spokesman for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. In 2014, Gonzales Ramos accepted findings from opponents that more than 600,000 Texas voters lacked a suitable ID under the law, which is 4.5 per cent of all registered voters in the state. More than 30 states have some form of voter ID rules. But President Barack Obamas administration in recent years joined the fight on a new breed of voter ID laws passed in Republican-controlled statehouses, sending the U.S. Justice Department to join lawsuits in Texas and North Carolina. Other states also have had election rules sidelined for the coming November election. In addition to the North Carolina law that required photo identification, federal courts loosened a similar measure in Wisconsin and halted strict citizenship requirements in Kansas. North Dakotas voter identification requirements is on hold after a federal judge Monday sided with a group of American Indians who said the law unfairly burdens them. Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, speculated this week that people without proper identification are going to vote 10 times during an interview on Fox News Channels The OReilly Factor. Trump suggested at a rally Monday that he fears the general election is going to be rigged without offering any immediate evidence. You dont have to have voter ID to now go in and vote and its a little bit scary, Trump said on Fox News. The proposed Texas changes would require registered voters to, in addition to signing an affidavit, present a certified birth certificate, utility bill, bank statement, a paycheque or a government document. Election officials would be prohibited from questioning a voters inability to obtain an ID under the Texas law. SHARE: U.S. conservatives have long warned that progressive policies will make America more like France, while many progressives wish the U.S. was more like France: Universal healthcare and a generous social safety net, for starters. But which is better -- for the economy and for helping more people in the long run? The answer one gives to that question is generally a function of ideology, but the contrasting trends over three decades between France and the U.S. provide some interesting fodder for the debate. The Financial Times' columnist Martin Wolf told me in 2011, "U.S. incomes are extraordinarily under-taxed, particularly of the seriously wealthy." One basic premise of progressivism is that income of higher earners should be taxed at higher rates to redistribute wealth through a socio-economic safety net. Most Americans and certainly most Europeans have long accepted if not supported this basic principle. Passions rise over the appropriate degree and precise mechanisms of income redistribution. Marginal tax rates, entitlement levels and eligibility requirements are the primary variables in that debate. In a free market, beneficiaries of redistribution eventually and increasingly outnumber payers. Better entitlement benefits incite more participants while negative economic feedback from higher marginal tax rates further increases the beneficiary universe by increasing unemployment and undermining real wage growth while shrinking the taxable income base. The diversion of more capital to the central government away from private/free market participants invariably results in the deployment of that capital in ways that generate lower returns. This dynamic is clearly understood by economists but difficult to measure. It is often ignored by policymakers in favor of static assumptions on the taxable production of the economy when calculating incremental revenue from tax increases or decreases. This absurd approach persists despite tax policy directly impacting the economics of capital allocation. Can we glean any insight into the tradeoff between allowing more private sector capital reinvestment via lower tax rates and regulation versus a broader and more generous current safety net requiring higher tax rates? Of course we can. A comparison of the U.S. and France provides an instructive profile of this tradeoff. Between 1980 and 2014, the median in annual revenues collected by the U.S. Treasury was 30% of GDP versus 49% for France. Big difference, and one that generally informs Wolf's belief that Americans are "under-taxed." By the 34th year, the U.S. had grown government expenditures per capita, excluding defense spending, by 35% more than France, despite France increasing its non-defense spending as a percentage of GDP from 43% to 55%, while the U.S. only increased from 27% to 31% (France had to keep raising more taxes as GDP growth slowed and safety net spending increased). In the same period, median unemployment in France was 9% compared to 6% in the U.S., and the real, per capita GDP growth rate was 0.8% versus 1.7%, respectively. France increased its draw on GDP from 46% to 54% between 1980 and 2014, while the US only increased from 31% to 32%. U.S. GDP per capita grew at more than twice the compounded rate of France, while unemployment in the latter was 50% higher. These are massive differences in economic value and its distribution across the population. Advocates of social democracy might argue factors other than negative economic feedback from higher tax rates and incentives to participate in the safety net explain the massive production growth differential -- that the "counterfactual" is absent. I would not disagree that the framework does not prove cause-and-effect, but the U.S. is the counterfactual and the data is both intuitive and compelling. Alternative explanations are welcome. It would certainly be argued much social good was done in France with the extra per capita federal spending. The policy question posed, of course, is what is the optimal tax and regulatory regime for society, balancing short versus long-term benefit, and accounting for sustainability? As President John F. Kennedy said to the Economic Club of New York in December 1962: "Our true choice is not between tax reduction, on the one hand, and the avoidance of large Federal deficits on the other. It is increasingly clear that no matter what party is in power, so long as our national security needs keep rising, an economy hampered by restrictive tax rates will never produce enough revenue to balance our budget just as it will never produce enough jobs or enough profits." Apparently Kennedy didn't buy into the Keynsian multiplier. The wealthier members of society lack the numbers to alter policy through the ballot box when contending with larger numbers of voters promised "more" by politicians. Instead, they influence policy via the impact of their actions on the economy, including reinvestment as small business owners, entrepreneurs and corporate capital allocators at larger corporations (they also donate money to political campaigns and causes). Capital investment is the single most potent factor in production growth and when it is weak, as it has been for the last decade and a half, policy makers have historically been compelled to consider whether an adjustment to tax rates and regulatory regimes is necessary to harness animal spirits in free markets. So, who do you want to be when you grow up, France or the U.S.? This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned. Armed with $3.8 billion in cash, Occidental Petroleum (OXY) is on the hunt for acquisitions. On a conference call to discuss second quarter earnings, CEO Vicki Hollub said the Houston oil and gas company is looking to pick up properties in its core region in West Texas' and New Mexico's Permian Basin, both for its enhanced recovery and resources units. But she made clear it would be several smaller acquisitions, not the purchase of an entire company. "We can play the 'Pac-Man' approach and acquire smaller assets that could total up to make a material difference for us as a cumulative acquisition," she said. "Because of our position, we can make it fit to be synergistic with our operations." Occidental has been rather quiet on the acquisition front as its smaller competitors have been picking up assets on the cheap from struggling players. Instead, it's been focused over the last few years on shedding properties to bring in cash for its more promising ones. In 2015 it sold its properties in North Dakota's Bakken Shale to Lime Rock Resources Inc. for $600 million, sources say, a far cry from original expectations of $1 billion to $3 billion. It's also believed to have shed 14,300 net acres in the San Juan Basin's Gallup oil window last year to WPX Energy (WPX) for $26 million. CFO Chris Stavros said asset sales are over, save for its stake in Plains GP Holdings PAGP, the general partner of Plains All American (PAA) . It hopes to sell the interest after Plains completes its simplification process later this year (its 80 million units are valued at $800 million). Occidental has been named in the past as a potential takeover target, possibly by the likes of Exxon Mobil (XOM) , because of its position in the Permian. For now, Occidental's management seems focused on expansion, saying it plans to add two rigs to the company's resources business in the Permian later this year with the aim of having "profitable growth" next year. "I don't see us getting back to 25 rigs unless we expand our footprint - maybe up to 15 rigs reasonably and still have the capital to do it," Hollub said. The company's historic target has been 4% to 6% growth per year but Hollub said she hopes to hit the high end of that mark and eventually achieve 10% year-over-year growth, reiterating her interest in acquisitions. "We are certainly looking at acquiring assets and expanding our presence in the Permian," she said. "For the right project, for the right opportunity, we would be willing to use our equity to do that." Hollub said she expects oil prices to be $50 per barrel or above next year, versus $40.80 this afternoon. "We're not as bullish as some people," she said. "We're taking a conservative view." The company reported a second quarter loss of $139 million, or 18 cents per share, slightly better than the consensus of 20 cents and the 25 cents expected by Piper Jaffray's Simmons & Co. International. Its operating cash flow before working capital came in at $935 million, or $1.22 per share, beating the $1.13 consensus and Simmons' estimate of $1.17. "This was a solid quarter for OXY relative to our expectations," Simmons analyst Guy Baber said in a note. Simmons has a neutral rating on the stock with a price target of $70 per share. Occidental's shares were up 1% in afternoon trading at $73.85. Occidental exceeded expectations on production with 609,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which was up 10% year-over-year, at the high end of guidance (600,000 to 610,000 barrels) and beat Simmons' expectation of 603,000 barrels. The beat was driven mostly by production at its Al Hosn project in the United Arab Emirates as its resources operations delivered less than expectations. Total sales came in $1.625 billion, up 27% over last quarter but down 30.6% over the same period last year. Capital expenditures were lower than expected at $657 million versus its full-year expectations of $2.8 billion to $3 billion. Its cash reserves grew $500 million quarter-to-quarter to $3.8 billion but its debt also ballooned to $11.5 billion versus its previous $10.4 billion. Occidental Petroleum is held in Jim Cramer's charitable trust Action Alerts PLUS. See all of his holdings with afree trial. Capital One wrote $6.53 billion in auto loans during the second quarter, a 20 percent increase from $5.43 billion a year earlier. (David Zalubowski/Associated Press) Capital One Financials earnings disappointed Wall Street and sent its stock price tumbling. But there was one bright spot, the companys chief executive told investors: an increase in subprime auto loans. The loans dubbed subprime because they are given to borrowers with low credit scores have grown in popularity since the financial crisis and have emerged as a potentially risky source of growth for the McLean-based financial services company, which generates most of its revenue from its credit card business. When Capital One said this quarter they were starting to write more auto loans, that definitely got everyones attention, said Kyle B. Sanders, an analyst for Edward Jones. At this point, were still comfortable with their practices. But its something were very focused on. Were looking at the monthly data every single month; were looking at default rates. Both the Justice Department and the New York District Attorneys Office have subpoenaed Capital One for more information related to its subprime auto business, the company reported in February 2015. The inquiries were part of a broader investigation into such practices at a number of large banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Santander Consumer USA. As of March 31, about half of Capital Ones auto loans were held by subprime borrowers, or those with credit scores of less than 660, according to a company filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nationally, subprime auto loans account for about 23 percent of the $1.07 trillion auto-loan market, according to the credit-reporting agency Equifax. Lenders doled out 6.1 million subprime auto loans last year, an 8 percent increase from the year before and 118 percent more than in 2009, according to Equifax. Capital One was particularly aggressive in its pursuit of subprime auto loans in the aftermath of the financial crisis, when analysts estimate that as much as 70 percent of the banks total auto loans were subprime. In recent years, however, the company had pulled back, citing increased competition from other lenders. Immediately after the Great Recession, we had a unique opportunity in auto that we vigorously pursued, Richard Fairbank, chairman of Capital One, told analysts during an earnings conference call. Gradually as competition intensified, some subprime players adopted more aggressive underwriting practices that we chose not to follow. But in recent months, a number of lenders have stepped back from subprime auto lending, clearing the way for Capital One to jump back in. Wells Fargo said last year that it would cap subprime auto loans at 10 percent of its total auto lending, and other lenders have announced similar efforts. Whats riskier about this business today is that after several years of improvements in used-car values, they are likely to decline in 2016, said Moshe Orenbuch, a managing director for Credit Suisse. For Capital One to [increase subprime lending] is going against the grain. In all, Capital One wrote $6.53 billion in auto loans during the second quarter, a 20 percent increase from $5.43 billion a year earlier. The company did not disclose what proportion of those loans were subprime, but Fairbank said it was a higher portion than in prior quarters. The delinquency rate for car loans that went unpaid for more than 30 days rose to 5.6 percent from 5.1 percent in the previous quarter. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and and his wife Ho Ching for a state dinner. ( / Reuters) For the state dinner in honor of Singapores prime minister, first lady Michelle Obama wore an ivory-colored strapless gown by the designer Brandon Maxwell. The sculptural dress had a rounded bodice that flowed into a split train that swept the ground as she walked. Who is Brandon Maxwell? A Texas native, he launched his collection in New York in 2015 after working as a fashion assistant and stylist for several years. He continues to work as Lady Gagas fashion director. Maxwell helped to transform her image from that of a meat-wearing, pop provocateur into a more elegant, multitalented entertainer. Of the many fledgling designer labels that Obama has patronized, Maxwells is not even out of its infancy. As Obama enters the twilight of her time in the White House, during which she has used fashion as a form of communication, what more can she say with her clothes? What else can they symbolize? What more can they say about the fashion industry? She has embraced the sleeveless sheath as the contemporary womans business uniform, encouraged the mixing of high-priced designs with mass-market merchandise, elevated the work of mom-and-pop small businesses and celebrated the enduring style of Americas mammoth legacy brands. Obama has promoted the fashion designs of immigrants, minorities, women and even students. She preached globalism by incorporating Jean Paul Gaultier, Duro Olowu, Alexander McQueen, Moschino and other non-American labels into her wardrobe. She made fashions sheer beauty and luxury plain and with her actions and every now and then, even her words declared that there was nothing anti-feminist or irredeemably frivolous about an educated, serious woman indulging in frocks. Michelle Obama, right, and Ho Ching, wife of Lee Hsien Loong, walk into the White House. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg News) And on grand, formal occasions, she has given the best of the American fashion industry a place in the spotlight alongside a judiciously chosen selection of this countrys music, food and art. For state dinners, in particular, fashion has become nonpartisan politics and subtle diplomacy. She even turned the once barely-known Jason Wu into a household name. And now, perhaps, Maxwell. And so, on the evening of the Obamas 13th state dinner as the first couple appeared at the North Portico to welcome Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife, Ho Ching, to the White House, what further message is there left to be taken from her fashion? Perhaps the simplest note of all: What a pretty dress. In June, Maxwell won the Swarovski Award for new fashion talent from the Council of Fashion Designers of America for his womenswear. In an emotional acceptance speech, he recalled being a chubby kid from meat-and-potatoes America who was enamored with fashion and mesmerized by the stylish women he saw in his grandmothers boutique. While his work has been seen by a wide audience thanks to his association with Lady Gaga, who has worn his clothes on the red carpet, his clothes take on greater stature and resonance thanks to this singular gown worn by the first lady and photographed for the history books. The prime minister and the president both wore traditional black tuxedos. And Ho Ching chose a scarlet and metallic gold floor-length ensemble that was accessorized with a gold evening bag and scarlet wrap. In the afternoon, for the outdoor arrival ceremony, as well as a visit to the National Gallery of Art, Obama wore a sleeveless, sunflower yellow lace dress by designer Naeem Khan. (The White House noted during a preview of the dinners table settings that yellow symbolizes friendship.) Khans work has made multiple appearances at state dinners, from the first in 2009 for India to the one in honor of Nordic countries in May. Ho chose a black and pewter pantsuit in a lush floral pattern. The prime minister wore a two-button gray suit. The presidents suit was charcoal gray. First lady Michelle Obama and President Obama wait for the arrival of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore and his wife, Ho Ching. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Singapore is known for its fashion consumption, with brands including Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Michael Kors each boasting multiple stores there. And like many other countries, Singapore hosts a fashion week. But among designers who call the country home, most lack an international profile something that boosters in both Singapore and on Seventh Avenue have been trying to change. In 2015, Singapore Fashion Week, in collaboration with the CFDA, launched a kind of study abroad program that brings Singapore-based designers to New York to visit showrooms, boutiques and factories. The second group of designers to participate in the program Danielle Woo, Max Tan and Elyn Wong recently arrived in New York. Singapore Fashion Week has also attracted international designers such as Victoria Beckham and Diane von Furstenberg . Keen to take advantage of the regions high median income and fashion enthusiasm, they have presented their runway collections there. A fitted sheath from a former pop star, a classic wrap dress from a fashion veteran or a white architectural evening gown from a fresh-faced designer can evoke an endless list of connotations. And certainly Obama has expertly exploited fashions ability to speak in terms that are both broad and nuanced. A garment can symbolize things both universal and deeply personal. In its propriety or daring a dress can demolish stereotypes, challenge assumptions and provoke conversation. But sometimes, it can simply be quietly lovely. And if we can appreciate a bit of man-made beauty on a warm summer evening just look at it and smile then fashion has fulfilled its most fundamental role. Summer may feel as if its winding down, but there are still plenty of activities to check off your list before unpacking the fall wardrobe. There is no shortage of outdoor workouts around the region, whether yoga in the park or stand-up paddleboarding on the Potomac. And the best part? The ones youll find here are all free. Check out some of what the area has to offer to keep you healthy and fit long after bikini season. SUP Yoga on the Potomac Rise and shine for stand-up paddleboard yoga at 8:30 a.m. every Saturday at the Washington Sailing Marina in Alexandria. The marina, in partnership with the Trust for the George Washington Memorial Parkway, is hosting the class through Sept. 24. Were hoping to connect millennials with all the Potomac River has to offer, and really encourage a healthy living, said Mari Lou Livingood, president of the trust. The turnout so far has been pretty remarkable. All equipment is provided by the trust, and theres no need to be a paddleboard or yoga expert. If youre game, be sure to sign up fast. Space fills up quick, and many of the late-summer classes are already booked. (There is a wait list.) Livingood said the trust is considering adding a second class later in the morning. Wake up early for a stand-up paddleboard yoga class in Alexandria, offered every Saturday through Sept. 24. (Trust for the George Washington Memorial Parkway) Washington Sailing Marina 1 Marina Dr., Alexandria eventbrite.com Westfield Annapoliss Summer Fit Series If you want to mix up your fitness routine and get a little shopping done, check out this mall series. There is something for everybody, including Pilates, Zumba and yoga. All you need is a mat and maybe a towel to mop up the sweat. Classes are held every Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the J.C. Penney court, between Starbucks and the Apple Store. You must register online to secure a spot now through Aug. 27. Westfield Annapolis 2002 Annapolis Mall, Annapolis The Golden Triangle BID also hosts barre classes at the plaza at 2100 M St. NW. The classes are held every Monday through Sept. 29. (A.E. Landes Photography) westfield.com/annapolis TriFit Youve probably seen at least one of these events on your way home from work: dozens of yogis practicing a downward dog in the middle of Farragut Park or groups of people holding plies at the plaza outside an office building at 2100 M St. NW. The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District has been hosting these outdoor classes since May, but the so-called TriFit series runs through Sept. 29. You can try out ballet-inspired barre on Mondays at the plaza at 2100 M St., yoga on Tuesdays at Farragut Park or Pilates on Thursdays at Farragut Park. We want to mix it up for people and let them try new things, said Leona Agouridis, the Golden Triangle BIDs executive director, who also teaches group fitness classes in her spare time. All classes begin at 5:30 p.m., but arrive at least 10 minutes early to be entered to win prizes from area businesses. Organizers recommend bringing a yoga mat. Agouridis said yoga has been the most popular class by far, with attendance topping 100 people at times. Farragut Park 17th and K streets NW Plaza at 2100 M St. NW goldentriangledc.com Papillons DC Monuments at Night Ride Join fellow cyclists Aug. 13 for an evening tour of area attractions, including the Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The capital city is a wonderful place, and the monuments are beautiful at night, said William Fuchs, who organized the event. What better time to take it all in? Ride out from the Papillon Cycles bike shop in Arlington at 7 p.m. or start your journey at Lady Bird Johnson Park, near the Mount Vernon Trail, at 7:30 p.m. for a shorter trip. Organizers expect the ride to take about two hours. Fuchs, who started the ride three years ago, said the event typically draws a dozen people. He said its a casual ride, meaning the pace is measured enough for families with cargo bikes to take the kids. Fuchs recommends riders take water and have good front lights to illuminate the road. Papillon Cycles 2805 Columbia Pike, Arlington papilloncycles.com HIIT Yoga with LavaBarre at the North Face Georgetown It makes all the sense in the world to fuse high-intensity training and yoga. If youre going to push your body with explosive moves such as jump squats and burpees, youre going to want to do quite a bit of stretching afterward. Instructors from LavaBarre, a fitness studio in Rosslyn, are taking this dynamic workout to the North Face store in Georgetown this Sunday. The hour-long class kicks off at 9:30 a.m. Stay after class for a complimentary breakfast catered by Kind Snacks and Dean & DeLuca. For more information, call LavaBarre at 703-522-2000. The North Face Georgetown 3333 M St. NW stores.thenorthface.com @DaniDougPost on Twitter MARYLAND Motorcyclist killed in Capitol Heights crash A motorcyclist was killed in a three-vehicle collision in Maryland last week, police said Tuesday. About 11:20 p.m. Friday, officers were called to the intersection of Central Avenue and Cindy Lane in Capitol Heights after a crash was reported, Prince Georges County police said in a statement. When officers arrived, they found 29-year-old Christopher Jordan of Applegarth Place in Capitol Heights, who had been riding a motorcycle, suffering from critical injuries, and Jordan was pronounced dead at the scene, the statement said. An investigation revealed that Jordan was traveling westbound on Central Avenue approaching Cindy Lane while a car was traveling eastbound on Central Avenue. The car was attempting to make a left turn onto Cindy Lane when it collided with the motorcycle, according to the statement. The collision forced that car to collide with another car that was stopped at the intersection, but the drivers, who were not named by police, were not hurt and remained on the scene, the statement said. Justin Wm. Moyer VIRGINIA Driver fatally strikes Alexandria pedestrian Police are investigating after a 92-year-old man driving a vehicle struck two men in Old Town Alexandria, killing one. About 10 a.m. Tuesday, police said, the man was attempting to park in a bank parking lot at 100 S. Fairfax St. when he struck a parking attendant, then abruptly accelerated forward, driving into Swift Alley and striking and killing a maintenance worker. Police identified the man who was killed as Jeremais Herrera Rodriguez, 44, of Alexandria. The parking attendant had only minor injuries, Alexandria police Deputy Chief David Huchler said, and was treated at the scene. The driver, who remained on the scene, has not been identified by police. Huchler said police do not believe that this was malicious. Rachel Weiner and Justin Wm. Moyer Man arrested in fatal stabbing in Manassas A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a double stabbing that left one person dead at a Prince William County apartment complex. At 8:35 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to the 7400 block of Willoughby Lane in Manassas to investigate a double stabbing, Prince William County police said in a statement. There, 35-year-old Manuel Ernesto Gaitan of Chantilly forcibly entered an apartment and stabbed two people he knew, police said in the statement. Jose Juan Portillo-Argueta, 35, of Manassas died at the scene of injuries suffered in the attack, the statement said. Authorities said a woman, who was not named, was being treated at a hospital. Gaitan is charged with murder, aggravated malicious wounding and burglary while armed, police said. Justin Wm. Moyer and Peter Hermann By the time David Baldwin cycled past the Lincoln Memorial and down the Mall on Sunday afternoon, he had already logged 3,500 miles on his bike since embarking on a cross-country ride nearly two months ago. Just minutes before, as he was crossing the Potomac, three Marine helicopters likely carrying the president flew by overhead. Welcome to D.C., Baldwin thought, as he scrambled to capture the moment on his GoPro. Baldwin, 53, is cycling across the United States in a campaign called the Pursuit Ride to raise money for and awareness about the lack of employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. The money raised will help fund The Center, a Houston-based nonprofit for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities where Baldwin serves as a board member. Baldwins expedition has taken him from the shores of Astoria, Ore., where he ceremoniously dipped his bicycle tires in the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean to mark the beginning of the journey, which crossed 14 states. He and his crew of riders have cycled past the vineyards of Oregon, the strange and rugged topography of the South Dakota Badlands, the lakes of Minnesota, the rush-hour traffic of Chicago, the bucolic farmlands of Indiana and the rolling hills of Maryland. David Baldwin, a cyclist-activist, left, rides with his wife, Maire, and Joudan Ellis, as he nears the end of a 3,500-mile, cross-country bike ride to raise awareness of adults with development disabilities. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post) With the journey set to culminate at Rehoboth Beach, Del., on Wednesday, the team has raised $12.5 million tantalizingly close to its goal of $13.5 million. It was a crazy goal, and to think that weve come so close is just awe-inspiring, Baldwin said. We started with just a few volunteers. Today there are over a thousand people working on this project. Weve had over 100 people ride with me. Baldwin, who is an engineer by training and the co-president of SCF Partners, an energy company, came up with the idea of a cross-country bicycle expedition a year ago. He had been lying in bed, sleepless and restless, worrying about the financial challenges confronting The Center. He got out of bed and went on an early morning bike ride to clear his head. As he was pedaling, an idea dawned on him: Why not cycle across the country to raise money for The Center? In recent times, our financial status has gotten tighter and tighter, Baldwin said of The Center. The state of Texas turns down federal funds that are allocated to support our clients. . . . So the financial viability of our large organization is always in question. Across the nation, only 17.5 percent of people with a disability are employed, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in June. About 8 in 10 people with a disability are not in the labor force at all. Its an amazingly untapped workforce, and we need to as a country do a better job of getting them employed, Baldwin said of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The challenges that The Center faces is compounded by the fact that Texas ranks near the bottom of the nation 49th in providing fiscal support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to a 2011 report published by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. In addition to raising much-needed funds, Baldwin used the Pursuit Ride to learn how different organizations in the country are helping people with disabilities. In brainstorming sessions, Baldwin and his team talked to other leaders in the field about the need for continued advocacy to address federal and state funding shortfalls; opportunities to build partnerships with other nonprofit groups and businesses; the need for greater entrepreneurship and innovation in their field; and other issues. Weve learned that there are a lot of people out there doing amazing work to support people with intellectual and development disabilities, Baldwin said. Weve also learned that over the last 20 or 30 years, the advances of organizations like The Center have helped people with [disabilities] live and work independently. Because of that, life expectancies have more than doubled. Since starting the ride all those miles ago, Baldwin has lost about 15 pounds. Averaging about 73 miles on riding days, Baldwin said he burns through some 6,000 calories. To ensure that he is properly fueling his body, he consulted with the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston for nutrition advice and computes his daily caloric input and output. And just because hes burning all those calories doesnt mean hes pigging out to his hearts content: He still has to carefully plan his meals, focusing carbohydrates in the morning and proteins in the afternoon. He has also grown very attached to his fiberglass road bike. Ive even had dreams now about sleeping on my bicycle, Baldwin said. Thats probably not a healthy sign, but Ive gotten very comfortable on my bike. Asked whether, with the campaigns culmination hours away, he now thought of himself as an athlete or an activist, Baldwin answered neither. I think of myself as just lucky, he said. I got to take two months off from my desk job. I got to ride with hundreds of friends across the country. I got to help something thats really important to my wife and I. And I got to meet people . . . and see the country in a way that almost nobody gets to see the country. For people considering a fundraising expedition, he had these words of advice: Dont wait. The chance to break the monotony of what you do every day really try to push yourself and do something that helps others is something that you will remember for the rest of your life. This has been the greatest two months of my life, he said. Everybody should plan a pursuit. The chance to help someone helps give you a chance to help yourself. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay in a case involving a transgender teen who is suing his school board for the right to use the boys bathroom at his Virginia high school, a move that halts a court order that would have allowed the student to use the bathroom of his choice when the school year begins. Gavin Grimm, 17, sued the school board in Gloucester County, Va., last year after it passed a policy requiring students to use bathrooms corresponding with their biological sex, resulting in him being barred from the boys bathroom. Grimms lawsuit alleging civil rights violations was initially dismissed, but in April the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit sided with Grimm, saying his case could move forward. It deferred to the Obama administrations position that barring transgender students from bathrooms that coincide with their gender identity is a violation of Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination. [Federal appeals court sides with transgender teen, says bathroom case can go forward] A U.S. District Court judge later granted Grimm a preliminary injunction that would have allowed him to use the boys bathroom. The school board, which plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the case, fought the court order, saying that allowing Grimm to use the boys bathroom would disrupt the school and cause irreparable harm. The board asked for the high court to halt the order while it prepares an official request to hear the case. In an unusual 5-to-3 decision, the high court said it would stay the judgment and halt the order until it decides whether to take the case. If the Supreme Court declines to take the case, it will lift the stay. Justice Stephen G. Breyer said he was joining the conservative justices in granting the stay as a courtesy that would preserve the status quo while considering the school boards request to review the case. It takes only four justices to accept a case, but Breyers statement indicated he should not be considered the necessary fifth vote to overturn the appeals court. The three other liberal justices said they would not have issued the stay. Joshua Block, an attorney with the ACLU who is representing Grimm, said it is disappointing that the court granted the stay. Its disappointing that Gavin is going to have to begin yet another school year being stigmatized and isolated from the rest of the students, Block said. The Gloucester County School Board praised the Supreme Court's decision and defended its policy of barring Grimm from the boys' bathroom and instead allowing him to use unisex bathrooms at school. "The School Board welcomes the Supreme Courts decision as the new school year approaches," the school board said in a statement. "The Board continues to believe that its resolution of this complex matter fully considered the interests of all students and parents in the Gloucester County school system." This story has been updated. Fairfax County These were among incidents reported by the Fairfax County Police Department. For information, call 703-246-2253. Fair Oaks District THEFTS/BREAK-INS Armfield Farm Dr., 3500 block, July 28. Items were stolen from a vehicle. Beech Down Dr., 3600 block, July 28. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. Beeker Mill Pl., 3900 block, July 25. A credit was stolen from a vehicle. Cinnamon Oaks Ct., 12900 block, July 28. A check was stolen from a residence. Fair Lakes Shopping Ctr., 12900 block, July 29. Shoes were stolen from a business. Fair Lakes Shopping Ctr., 13000 block, July 26. A phone was stolen from a residence. Fair Oaks Shopping Ctr., 12000 block, July 29. Merchandise was stolen from a business. Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy., 12000 block, July 28. An electronic was stolen from a vehicle. Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy., 13000 block, July 29. Merchandise was stolen from a business. Monument Dr., 12100 block, July 28. Cash was stolen from a vehicle. Mountain View Ct., 13600 block, July 28. Sunglasses and cash were stolen from a vehicle. Old Chatwood Pl., 13600 block, July 28. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. Sunrise Valley Dr., 13800 block, July 25. A necklace was stolen from a residence. VEHICLE THEFTS Apple Orchard Ct. and Fair Ridge Dr., July 26. A 2010 Acura TSX. Clifford Dr., 9800 block, July 27. A 2008 Cadillac DTS. Franconia District SEXUAL ASSAULT Springfield Mall, 6600 block, 5:45 p.m. July 24. Police responded for a report of a man who was taking videos of women up their skirts. An investigation determined that the victims were unaware of the videotaping and that the suspect was also touching himself inappropriately while doing so. Responding officers located the suspect and arrested him. Miguel Avelar-Medina, 32 of Edgewater, Md., was taken to the adult detention center and charged with one count of masturbating in public and two counts of unlawful videotaping. A sexual assault was reported. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Belmont Blvd., 10300 block, July 25. Property was stolen from a residence. Beulah St., 7100 block, July 28. Property was stolen from a residence. Bland St., 6900 block, July 27. A wallet was stolen from a residence. Dunn Ct., 6300 block, July 25. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. Elgar St., 7700 block, July 26. Items were stolen from a residence. Franconia Rd., 6100 block, July 26. A wallet was stolen from a residence. Frontier Dr., 6600 block, July 26. Tools were stolen from a vehicle. Frontier Dr., 6600 block, July 27. A license was stolen from a vehicle. Gunston Plaza, 7700 block, July 25. Liquor was stolen from a business. Hagel Cir., 9700 block, July 26. A toy was stolen from a residence. Harrington Falls Lane, 5600 block, 6:45 a.m. July 28. A resident reported that someone entered the residence and took property. The residents vehicles were also entered and property was taken. Highdale Cir., 5900 block, July 27. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. Hogarth St., 7300 block, July 25. A wallet was stolen from a residence. Industrial Dr., 5600 block, July 25. A phone was stolen from a vehicle. Iron Pl., 6600 block, July 27. Copper was stolen from a residence. Kingstowne Blvd., 5700 block, July 29. Merchandise was stolen from a business. Kingstowne Blvd., 5800 block, July 27. A purse was stolen from a business. Little River Tpke., 7100 block, July 28. Property was stolen from a business. Lorton Market St., 9400 block, July 26. Cash was stolen from a business. Oakland Dr., 3600 block, July 28. A purse was stolen from a vehicle. Old Keene Mill Rd., 7000 block, July 25. A backpack was stolen from a business. Rock Ridge Lane, 7100 block, July 29. Cash was stolen from a vehicle. Rose Hill Dr., 6100 block, July 25. A beer was stolen from a business. Sandra Marie Cir., 6900 block, July 29. A GPS device was stolen from a vehicle. South Van Dorn St., 5700 block, July 27. Tires and rims were stolen from a vehicle. South Van Dorn St., 6900 block, July 25. Property was stolen from a residence. Springfield Towne Ctr., 6400 block, July 27. Sunglasses were stolen from a business. Springfield Towne Ctr., 6500 block, July 25. A phone was stolen from a business. Springfield Towne Ctr., 6500 block, July 25. Shoes were stolen from a business. Springfield Towne Ctr., 6500 block, July 25. Sunglasses were stolen from a business. Springfield Towne Ctr., 6600 block, July 25. Items were stolen from a vehicle. Springfield Towne Ctr., 6600 block, July 29. Merchandise was stolen from a business. Springfield Plaza, 6300 block, July 26. A laptop was stolen from a vehicle. Stoddard Ct., 6000 block, 4 p.m. July 22. A resident reported that someone entered their residence and took property. Sumner Rd., 6000 block, July 28. Documents were stolen from a vehicle. Telegraph Square Dr., 7200 block, July 29. A copper was stolen from a business. Vincent Gate Terr., 5500 block, 8:54 a.m. July 28. An employee reported someone entered the business and took property. The male suspect was described as 17 to 19 years old, with an olive complexion, 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, and 120 to 140 pounds. He was wearing black shorts, black T-shirt, black shoes, black hat, and carrying a black backpack. Wilby Ct., 4800 block, July 25. Cash was stolen from a residence. VEHICLE THEFTS Exeter St., 4700 block, July 25. A 1997 Honda Passport. Haynes Point Way, 7700 block, July 25. A 2006 Yamaha R1 motorcycle. Kings Manor Dr., 7000 block, July 25. A 2001 Mercedes Benz ML430. Malone Ridge St., 5500 block, July 25. A 2011 Suzuki motorcycle. Mason District THEFTS/BREAK-INS Annandale Rd., 3000 block, July 28. Merchandise was stolen from a business. Arlington Blvd., 6100 block, July 25. Cash was stolen from a residence. Arlington Blvd., 6500 block, July 27. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. Backlick Rd., 4300 block, July 25. A medication was stolen from a business. Beauregard St., 4800 block, July 25. A wine was stolen from a business. Bentwood Ct., 3900 block, July 25. A license was stolen from a vehicle. Briary Lane, 9200 block, July 25. A phone was stolen from a residence. Columbia Pike, 6900 block, July 26. A license was stolen from a vehicle. Highland Lane, 3300 block, July 25. 2001 Jeep Wrangler. John Marr Dr., 4200 block, July 25. A phone was stolen from a business. John Marr Dr., 4200 block, July 26. Watches were stolen from a residence. Leesburg Pike, 5500 block, July 28. Shoes were stolen from a business. Leesburg Pike, 5500 block, July 29. Merchandise was stolen from a business. Moncure Ave., 3500 block, July 27. A phone was stolen from a business. Seminary Rd., 5500 block, July 25. Packages were stolen from a residence. South Manchester St., 3100 block, July 29. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. Wadsworth Ct., 4100 block, July 25. A grill was stolen from a residence. Westmoreland Rd., 6900 block, July 25. A phone was stolen from a residence. VEHICLE THEFT Arlington Blvd., 7400 block, July 28. A 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan. McLean District ROBBERIES Faber Ct. and West St., 11:15 p.m. July 28. Robbery reported. Fairmont St., 3000 block, 12:25 a.m. July 22. Robbery reported. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Balls Hill Rd., 1400 block, July 25. A phone was stolen from a residence. Burford Dr., 7600 block, July 29. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. Chain Bridge Rd., 1900 block, July 26. Cash was stolen from a business. Cornerside Blvd., 1500 block, July 27. Cash was stolen from a business. Dale Dr., 2300 block, July 25. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. District Ave., 2900 block, July 27. A furniture was stolen from a residence. District Ave., 2900 block, July 28. A bench was stolen from a business. Dominion Way, 2100 block, July 25. Property was stolen from a residence. Gallows Rd., 1900 block, July 25. A license was stolen from a vehicle. Gallows Rd., 2900 block, July 29. A phone was stolen from a business. Lee Hwy., 8300 block, July 27. An electronic was stolen from a business. Lee Hwy., 8300 block, July 28. An electronic was stolen from a business. Lee Hwy., 9300 block, July 25. Items were stolen from a vehicle. Lee Hwy., 9300 block, July 29. A license was stolen from a vehicle. Lee Hwy., 9400 block, July 25. A bag was stolen from a residence. Leesburg Pike, 7500 block, July 25. Merchandise was stolen from a business. Leonard Rd., 1900 block, July 29. A generator was stolen from a residence. Old Meadow Rd., 1600 block, July 26. A purse was stolen from a business. Tyler Ave., 7200 block, July 25. A purse was stolen from a residence. Tysons Corner Ctr., 8000 block, July 29. Sunglasses were stolen from a business. Tysons One Pl., 7900 block, July 25. Money was stolen from a business. Union Church Rd., 1000 block, July 26. Documents were stolen from a residence. Williams Dr., 3000 block, July 29. A purse was stolen from a vehicle. Mount Vernon District ASSAULT Lockheed Blvd., 3100 block, 2:35 a.m. July 25. Malicious wounding. ROBBERY North Kings Hwy., 6100 block, 2:53 a.m. July 25. Commercial robbery. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Belle Haven Rd., 2100 block, July 25. A watch was stolen from a residence. Belle View Blvd., 1500 block, July 27. A guitar was stolen from a residence. Brockham Dr., 8300 block, July 25. Property was stolen from a vehicle. Elkin St., 1900 block, July 25. Beer was stolen from a business. Fairhaven Ave., 2400 block, July 27. Beer was stolen from a business. Flamingo Dr., 7900 block, July 27. Items were stolen from a vehicle. Frye Rd., 8400 block, July 25. Snacks were stolen from a business. Furman Lane, 3100 block, July 25. A laptop was stolen from a residence. Gramercy Cir., 4300 block, July 27. A phone was stolen from a residence. Janna Lee Ave., 7900 block, 2 p.m. July 22. A resident reported someone entered their residence and took property. Janna Lee Ave., 7900 block, 4:44 p.m. July 28. Trespassing. Janna Lee Ave., 7900 block, July 29. A phone was stolen from a residence. Lindberg Dr., 7500 block, July 25. Items were stolen from a vehicle. Monte Vista Pl., 3800 block, July 26. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. Parkers Lane, 2500 block, July 27. A purse was stolen from a business. Parkers Lane, 2500 block, July 28. Cash was stolen from a residence. Quander Rd., 6500 block, July 25. A phone was stolen from a school. Richmond Hwy., 6600 block, July 25. Merchandise was stolen from a business. Richmond Hwy., 6600 block, July 26. A purse was stolen from a business. Richmond Hwy., 7600 block, July 27. Cash was stolen from a residence. Richmond Hwy., 7800 block, July 28. Merchandise was stolen from a business. Richmond Hwy., 8400 block, July 29. Cash was stolen from a residence. Richmond Hwy., 8600 block, July 25. Liquor was stolen from a business. Sonora Pl., 3900 block, July 28. Items were stolen from a residence. South Kings Hwy., 6300 block, July 25. Beer was stolen from a business. Southlawn Ct., 8500 block, July 25. A credit was stolen from a residence. Wakefield Dr., 6600 block, July 25. Property was stolen from a residence. Reston District ROBBERIES Soapstone and South Lakes drives, 4:30 p.m. July 23. Robbery reported. Sunset Hills Rd., 12100 block, 9:25 p.m. July 25. Robbery reported. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Cameron Glen Dr., 1800 block, July 28. A purse was stolen from a business. Cameron Glen Dr., 1800 block, July 29. Items were stolen from a vehicle. Caris Glenne Dr., 11000 block, 9:30 p.m. July 22. Trespassing. Chatham Colony Ct. and Moorings Dr., July 25. A license was stolen from a vehicle. Freedom Dr., 11900 block, July 26. A laptop was stolen from a business. Georgetown Pike, 9800 block, July 29. Liquor was stolen from a business. Georgetown Pike, 9800 block, July 29. Merchandise was stolen from a business. Hunters Woods Plaza, 2300 block, July 28. Beer was stolen from a business. Lake Fairfax Dr., 1400 block, July 25. A phone was stolen from a residence. Market St., 11900 block, July 27. Merchandise was stolen from a business. North Shore Dr., 11100 block, July 25. Food was stolen from a business. Plaza America Dr., 11600 block, July 26. A purse was stolen from a vehicle. Potomac Hills St., 8700 block, July 25. A purse was stolen from a vehicle. Purple Sage Ct., 12100 block, July 27. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. Sully District ASSAULT Lee Hwy., 14700 block, 9:02 p.m. July 25. Robbery with malicious wounding. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Centrepointe Way, 10900 block, July 27. Between 6 and 9 a.m. An investigation determined property was taken from an unlocked vehicle parked in the homes garage. Further investigation determined the garage had been left open that morning. Compton Valley Way, 14100 block, July 29. Property was stolen from a vehicle. Haversack Rd., 6500 block, 9:54 a.m. July 28. Trespassing. Hollow Oak Lane, 5700 block, July 26. An item was stolen from a vehicle. Housatonic Ct., 6100 block, July 27. A phone was stolen from a vehicle. Lavender Mist Lane, 13600 block, July 25. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. Stone Maple Terr., 6700 block, July 25. A watch was stolen from a residence. Stonecroft Blvd., 4900 block, July 28. Items were stolen from a vehicle. Westfields Blvd., 5100 block, July 25. Liquor was stolen from a business. Woodmere Ct., 14400 block, July 28. Shoes were stolen from a residence. Woodmere Ct., 14400 block, July 29. Items were stolen from a residence. VEHICLE THEFT Auto Park Cir., 4100 block, July 29. A 2016 Ford Explorer. West Springfield District THEFTS/BREAK-INS Amber Ct., 5300 block, July 28. Property was stolen from a residence. Americana Dr., 4700 block, July 26. Packages were stolen from a residence. Burke Centre Pkwy., 5700 block, July 25. Liquor was stolen from a business. Burnside Landing Dr., 5900 block, July 25. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle. Corporate Ct., 8000 block, July 26. Cash was stolen from a vehicle. Dequincey Dr., 5000 block, July 25. A phone was stolen from a residence. Forest Glen Ct., 4400 block, July 26. A bicycle was stolen from a residence. Laurel Crest Dr., 8300 block, July 29. A bicycle was stolen from a residence. Market Commons Dr., 4400 block, July 25. A phone was stolen from a business. Markham St., 4300 block, July 28. A phone was stolen from a residence. Meadow Edge Terr., 8600 block, July 26. A wallet was stolen from a residence. Rolling Rd., 6100 block, July 26. A package was stolen from a residence. Rolling Rd., 7900 block, July 25. A phone was stolen from a business. Rolling Rd., 7900 block, July 27. Beer was stolen from a business. Springfield Towne Ctr., 6700 block, July 28. A wallet was stolen from a business. Fairfax City These were among incidents reported by the Fairfax City Police Department. For information, call 703-273-2889. SEXUAL ASSAULT Willard Way, 10300 block, 9:34 p.m. July 25. The victim, a 39-year-old City of Fairfax woman, reported that as she was walking through the parking lot an unknown male subject approached her from behind, crouched down and pinched her. The suspect then ran away on University Drive. He was described as white, possibly in his teens, 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a thin build and long brown hair. He was wearing a long-sleeve orange shirt and dark-colored gym shorts. The Patrol Division is investigating the case. A sexual assault was reported. ROBBERY Old Pickett Rd., 3200 block, 12:19 p.m. July 27. Armed robbery. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Hill St., 3800 block, 8:54 a.m. July 26. Larceny. Layton Hall Dr., 10300 block, 9:07 a.m. July 27. Unlawful entry. Main St., 9600 block, 7:36 p.m. July 24. Shoplifting. Main St., 9600 block, 7:35 p.m. July 28. Shoplifting. Falls Church These were among incidents reported by the Falls Church Police Department. For information, call 703-248-5056. ASSAULTS Cherry St. S., 200 block, midnight July 24. Assault reported. Wilson Blvd., 6700 block, midnight July 22. Simple assault. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Hillwood Ave., 100 block, midnight July 19. From building. Washington St. N., 400 block, midnight July 20. Counterfeiting or forgery. VANDALISM Broad St. W., 300 block, midnight July 20. Destruction of property. Broad St. W., 1000 block, midnight July 18. Graffiti or destruction of property. Chanel Terr., 100 block, midnight July 22. Damage to property. Oak St. N., 500 block, midnight July 18. Destruction of property. Wilson Blvd., 6700 block, midnight July 21. Damage to property. Wilson Blvd., 6700 block, midnight July 21. Damage to property. Herndon These were among incidents reported by the Herndon Police Department. For information, call 703-435-6846. ASSAULTS Branch Dr., 900 block, 4:37 a.m. July 24. Assault reported. Broad Oaks Dr., 900 block, 6:40 p.m. July 19. Simple assault. Cordell Way, 700 block, 3:22 a.m. July 18. Simple assault. Elden St., 1100 block, 1:01 a.m. July 24. Simple assault. Elden St., 1100 block, 1:11 a.m. July 24. Simple assault. Raven Tower Ct., 2100 block, 11:31 a.m. July 21. Harassing or obscene phone calls. Worldgate Dr., 13000 block, 11:43 p.m. July 21. Simple assault. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Burwick Dr., 1000 block, 3:54 p.m. July 19. Cooper Station Rd., 1200 block, 6:44 a.m. July 20. From vehicle. Elden St., 400 block, 2:57 a.m. July 24. Shoplifting. Elden St., 1000 block, 3 p.m. July 18. From building. Elden St., 1100 block, 9:24 a.m. July 19. Shoplifting. Elden St., 1200 block, 5:46 p.m. July 23. Shoplifting. Grant St., 1300 block, 10 a.m. July 20. From vehicle. Laurel Way, 100 block, 8:58 a.m. July 18. Worldgate Dr., 13000 block, 8:55 a.m. July 20. From building. Worldgate Dr., 13000 block, 4:47 p.m. July 23. FRAUD Elden St., 1000 block, 7:38 p.m. July 19. Impersonation. Monroe St., 1300 block, 2:47 p.m. July 23. Credit card fraud. Snowflake Ct., 1500 block, 4:26 p.m. July 24. Credit card/ATM fraud. Vienna These were among incidents reported by the Vienna Police Department. For information, call 703-255-6396. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Commons Driver NW, 200 block, 6:45 a.m. July 18. Tampering with a vehicle. Commons Dr. NW, 200 block, 8:10 a.m. July 18. Tampering with a vehicle. VANDALISM Glyndon St. SE, 100 block, 10:30 a.m. July 27. Destruction of property. A family walks down Main Street in Ellicott City, pulling a wet vacuum cleaner as residents clean up after the weekend flood that killed two people and caused millions of dollars in damage. Aug. 1, 2016 A family walks down Main Street in Ellicott City, pulling a wet vacuum cleaner as residents clean up after the weekend flood that killed two people and caused millions of dollars in damage. Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post See what the scene looks like after flooding in historic Ellicott City See what the scene looks like after flooding in historic Ellicott City Howard County officials closed off flood-ravaged downtown Ellicott City to all but emergency personnel Wednesday afternoon because of the impending collapse of two buildings along the historic Main Street corridor. County Executive Allan Kittleman (R) said officials were preparing to escort residents and merchants into the historic district shortly after midday when he was informed that two adjacent commercial buildings in the 8100 block of Main Street were close to collapse. Kittleman apologized to residents anxious to reenter their homes and businesses. But he said the safety of the public and emergency responders had to take priority. Nobody wants you going back in sooner than we do, he said at a late-afternoon news briefing at the county government center. But Kittleman said he could not estimate when access could be restored. The two buildings, one of which houses Joan Eve Classics and Collectibles, cannot be safely shored up and will have to be demolished, county officials said. The city was also coping with other fallout from the Saturday flood that claimed two lives and damaged nearly 200 homes and businesses in the historic district, which dates to the 1770s. Late Wednesday afternoon, workers were still attempting to repair an overflowing sewer leaking sewage into Sucker Branch, a tributary of the Patapsco River. The overflow is on a pace to dump an estimated 5 million gallons a day into Sucker Branch. Repairs have been hampered by steep terrain but were expected to be complete by Wednesday evening, said Andy Barth, a county spokesman. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan will not release $80 million that the legislature agreed to shift from the states rainy-day fund toward other programs. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan wont release most of the $174 million that the legislature fenced off this year for special purposes, such as helping local school systems pay for employee pensions and demolishing an abandoned Baltimore jail, citing a desire to bolster the states rainy-day fund amid flattening revenue. Budget Secretary David R. Brinkley announced the decision Wednesday, saying the administration is taking a defensive posture toward fiscal matters in light of the states uncertain outlook. Were trying to shore up the bottom line so we can deal with any revenue revisions, he said. Brinkley said the chances of Hogan (R) proposing new tax cuts next year are uncertain because of the current fiscal environment. Certainly, the governor would love to see additional tax relief, but we have to deal with that as a long-term goal, he said. Right now, were dealing with short-term challenges based on what we expect to be lower tax receipts. Marylands Board of Revenue Estimates projected in March that the state would collect $51.4 million less than expected for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. The difference is small relative to the states $17 billion general fund, but it could disrupt the anticipated $360 million surplus for the current budget cycle. House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) said that Hogans decision was an example of his administrations inability to compromise with the General Assembly to help middle-class Marylanders across our state. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) said the governors decision will have ramifications in every county. The General Assembly approved legislation this year to shift $80 million Hogan slotted for the rainy-day fund toward other programs, but the state constitution gives the governor authority to decide whether to comply. The budget language required Hogan to choose all or none of the proposals in that category of spending. The plans included spending $19 million for teacher pensions; $6.6 million to raze the old Baltimore City Detention Center; $6.1 million for school renovations; $14 million to increase Medicaid reimbursements for health-care providers; and $9.2 million to enhance public-safety communications. Brinkley said the administration will save the $80 million for future needs but that it plans to find about $45 million from within existing agency budgets to help pay for some of the programs, including higher reimbursements for Medicaid, money to prevent lead poisoning in Baltimore and funds for public-safety communications. He said the state will not similarly look for money to help pay for teacher pensions, adding that it would largely benefit wealthy jurisdictions that offer the greatest retirement benefits. We just think its shortsighted and irresponsible to take money we dedicated for the rainy-day fund and spend it on some of these programs, he said. For the aging-schools program, Hogan included $6.1 million for it in his original capital budget, but Democrats voted to move the program into their all-or-nothing proposal, which the governor described as an effort to coerce him into accepting plans that he otherwise would not support. This year, the legislature set aside $94 million more from other parts of the governors budget for special purposes, but Hogan could pick and choose from those plans. The administration will release about $77 million of that money, Brinkley said, to help pay for programs including state-run college-savings plans, substance-abuse services, building infrastructure to attract the FBIs new headquarters to Maryland and teaching veteran-owned small businesses to succeed in the federal contracting market. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Maggie L. McIntosh (D-Baltimore) said the governor just doesnt approve of the legislature having any role or voice in the budget process. Patrick Moran, president of AFSCME Maryland Council 3, the largest union representing Maryland public employees, accused Hogan of playing politics with his decision not to release the $80 million. Betty Weller, head of the Maryland State Education Association, said Hogan appears more concerned with scoring partisan points than addressing overcrowded schools, lowering class sizes, and providing students and educators the support they need to be successful. Hogan spokesman Matt Clark said the governor has repeatedly said he would not play politics with budget items and that the legislatures tactic of fencing off dollars for critical programs like public safety, lead remediation, addiction services and state highway funding are the kinds of stunts that Marylanders have come to resent. Obituaries of residents from the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Ruth Kent, nurse, volunteer Ruth Kent, 98, a nurse and hospital volunteer at Fairfax County hospitals who during World War II was an Army nurse at the Battle of the Bulge in Europe, died June 29 at her home in Fairfax County, Va. The cause was heart disease, said a daughter, Barbara Suidikas. Mrs. Kent was born Ruth Jines in Dahlgren, Ill., and had lived in the Washington area since 1978. She was a volunteer from 1977 to 2012 and helped start the thrift shop at what is now Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. She was a member of Fairfax United Methodist Church. Gary Hughes, animator, sculptor Gary Hughes, 86, an artist who owned and operated animation and sculpting companies in Montgomery County, Md., died July 6 at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Del. The cause was complications from a stroke, said his wife, Ellen R. Hughes. Mr. Hughes was born in Columbia, S.C. From 1963 to 1983, he ran an animation company in Kensington, Md., that created hundreds of film animation sequences for advertising agencies, the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institution, NBC and PBS. For the next 20 years, he was a Bethesda sculptor, primarily working in bronze. His works are in private collections and in Washington-area galleries. In 2013, he moved to Rehoboth Beach from Bethesda. Elizabeth Hill, author, publisher Elizabeth Hill, 93, a cookbook author and publisher of calendars and small books with an academic bent, died June 29 at an assisted-living center in Haverford, Pa. The cause was an infection resulting from a bite by a rabid raccoon while she was sunning on her patio, said a daughter, Alice Hill. Mrs. Hill was born Elizabeth Willis in Richmond, and she moved to the Washington area in 1950. From 1968 to 1972, she was manager of the Simeon Bookstore in the District. She was a career counselor at American University, a co-publisher with Martha Starr of literary calendars featuring pictures and quotes from authors and then from 1982 to 2000 co-publisher with Starr of Starr Hill Press. She was co-author of a cookbook, Guests Without Stress. In 2004, she moved to Haverford from Washington. Dulaney F. de Butts, FAA engineer Dulaney F. de Butts, 93, a Federal Aviation Administration engineer who oversaw airport runway and lighting maintenance on the East Coast, died June 19 at a hospital in Washington. The cause was heart disease, said a son, Ed de Butts. Mr. de Butts, who lived in Alexandria, Va., was born in Lima, Ohio, and settled in the Washington area in 1968. In the 1950s, he ran a boat dealership in Annapolis. He worked for the FAA from 1963 until he retired in 1985. Cecelia Parise, FDA official Cecelia Parise, 65, a pharmacist who retired from the Food and Drug Administrations Office of Generic Drugs in 2014, died July 6 at an assisted-living center in Chapel Hill, N.C. The cause was breast cancer, said a daughter, Katherine Morgan. Mrs. Parise was born Cecelia Sokol in Youngstown, Ohio, and settled in the Washington area in 1979. She was a pharmacist at George Washington University Medical Center and then at the Clinical Center Pharmacy at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. In 1991, she joined the FDAs Office of Generic Drugs, where she was a consumer safety officer and regulatory policy adviser. When she retired, she was coordinator for the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. A former resident of Silver Spring, Md., she moved to Chapel Hill two years ago. Richard S. Beatty, lawyer Richard S. Beatty, 82, a Washington lawyer and an officer in projects and agencies of the Episcopal Church, died July 9 at his home in the District. The cause was complications from Alzheimers disease, said a daughter, Alix Beatty. Mr. Beatty, a fifth-generation Washingtonian, retired in the mid-1990s from the Washington law firm which then was Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge after about 10 years with the firm. Earlier, he had been associate chief general counsel to the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency and a lawyer with the firm of Alston, Miller and Gaines. He was a former senior warden of St. Patricks Episcopal Church, general counsel of Episcopal Senior Ministries, director of the Episcopal Church Foundation and a member of the founding board of the D.C.-based Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys, a tuition-free school for children from historically underserved communities. Floyd Siler, GSA employee Floyd Siler, 94, a 33-year employee of the General Services Administration who retired in 1981 as a fire alarm specialist, died July 8 at a nursing and rehabilitation center in Jamestown, N.C. The cause was complications from Parkinsons disease, said a daughter, Brenda Siler. Mr. Siler was born in Bennett, N.C. In 1991, he moved to High Point, N.C., from Washington. Henry Smoot, developer Henry Smoot, 89, who with his siblings and mother developed large parcels of a long-held family farm into the central core and surrounding neighborhoods of McLean, Va., died June 20 at a hospital in Arlington, Va. The cause was a heart attack, said a son, Bart Smoot. Mr. Smoot, a McLean resident, was born in Washington. He was a partner in Smoot & Company from 1950 to 2008, playing a role in subdividing and developing sections of the Salona Farm, which had been held by his family since before the Civil War. This would encompass much of central McLean, Langley and Salona Village shopping centers, parcels that would become the McLean Baptist Church, a bank, and other landmarks in the center of town. Robert S. Pomerance, lawyer Robert S. Pomerance, 69, a tax lawyer who served with the Justice Departments tax division and later as counsel to the chief judge of the U.S. Tax Court, died June 23 at a hospital in Washington. The cause was metastatic papillary thyroid cancer, said his wife, Betty Ferber. Mr. Pomerance, a resident of Chevy Chase, Md., was born in Chicago. He began his Justice Department career in 1978, then in 1992 moved to the legal staff of the U.S. Tax Court, where he retired in 2011. In retirement, he was an adjunct professor at Washington-area law schools. Franco J. Boccia, businessman, author Franco J. Boccia, 72, proprietor of an auto-parts retail and wholesale business in La Plata, Md., and an Army platoon leader in Vietnam who wrote about his combat experience in the 2013 book The Crouching Beast, died June 21 at a hospital in Fairfax County. The cause was respiratory failure and cardiac arrest as well as amyloidosis related to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, said a friend, James Sheahan. Mr. Boccia was born in Rome and came to the United States with his family in 1947, settling in Washington. After working in La Plata in the 1970s, he spent about 25 years as an auto-parts businessman in Franklin Park and McHenry, Ill. He was attending the 55th reunion of the class of 1961 at Washingtons Gonzaga College High School when he was taken ill and died. William C. Brewer, lawyer William C. Brewer, 94, a lawyer who served as general counsel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and later as a NOAA representative to the Law of the Sea Treaty negotiations, died July 25 at his home in Galesville, Md. The cause was complications of dysphagia, a disorder that makes swallowing difficult, painful or impossible, said his wife, Collot Guerard. Mr. Brewer was born in Brooklyn. For 25 years, he practiced law in Boston, specializing in international law, before coming to Washington in 1974 as NOAA general counsel. In 1977, he returned to private legal practice, in the course of which he was a NOAA representative to the Law of the Sea Treaty negotiations, which took place between 1973 and 1982. He retired in 1984. In 1991, Mr. Brewer moved to Galesville from Washington. He was a member of the Annapolis Yacht and the West River Sailing Clubs. For years he rode a bicycle in the Galesville Fourth of July Parade, guiding his wife and her horse, Miss Rosie, along the parade route. Charles M. Smith, soil scientist Charles M. Smith, 94, a soil scientist and Agriculture Department officer in the 1980s whose specialties also included alternative farming programs and natural resources, died June 26 at a retirement center in Mitchellville, Md. The cause was pulmonary fibrosis, said a son, Dan Smith. Dr. Smith was born in Rose Hill, Iowa, where he helped his family operate a small farm. He later taught soil and crop science at universities in the Midwest and Great Plains before joining the USDA in 1980. He retired in 1991. He was a resident of the Alexandria area of Fairfax County before moving to Mitchellville in 2011. Gennaro Ferrigno, executive chef Gennaro Ferrigno, 78, a Washington restaurant worker who in 1992 became the founding chef of Thats Amore restaurant in Rockville, Md., died July 23 at his home in Springfield, Ill. The cause was cancer, said a great-niece Kristine Willhite. Mr. Ferrigno was born in Naples, Italy, where his family ran a bakery. He came to the United States in the 1970s and worked in restaurants in Chicago and in the Washington area before he became chef at Thats Amore. In 2003, he moved from Washington to St. Augustine, Fla. About six months ago, he moved to Springfield. Walter E. Basye, auto mechanic Walter E. Basye, 93, a Northern Virginia auto mechanic who worked for Edmonds Motors and Dick Blanken Ford in Arlington and Jerrys Ford in Alexandria, died July 16 at his home in Alexandria. The cause was a heart attack, said a daughter, Irma Peil. Mr. Basye was born in Arlington. He began working at Edmonds Motors in 1942 and continued working there for about 30 years. He then worked at Dick Blanken Ford and for about six years at Jerrys Ford before he retired around 1990. Christopher Dinisio, D.C. police officer Christopher Dinisio, 67, a D.C. police officer for 22 years who retired in 1992 at the rank of lieutenant, died July 23 at a hospital in Towson, Md. The cause was a heart attack, said a daughter, Kristen Jones. Mr. Dinisio, a resident of Marriottsville, Md., was born in Baltimore. After his retirement in Washington, he served as a deputy sheriff in Anne Arundel County until 2006. Richard K. Thompson, pastor, bishop Richard K. Thompson, 73, a bishop in the AME Zion Church for 24 years and a former pastor of Trinity AME Zion Church in Washington, died July 16 at his home in Washington. The cause was prostate cancer, said his wife, Georgia Thompson. Bishop Thompson was born in Kannapolis, N.C. He was pastor of Trinity AME Zion Church from 1972 until 1992, when he was elected an AME Zion bishop at the churchs general conference in Atlanta. At his death, he presided over 300 churches in the Mid-Atlantic. Wylie H. Whisonant Jr., tourism consultant, commissioner Wylie H. Whisonant Jr., 89, a tourism specialist and consultant who served in the late 1990s as commissioner of tourism for the Virgin Islands, died June 22 at a care center in Potomac, Md. The cause was metastatic prostate cancer, said a daughter, Alicia Whisonant. Mr. Whisonant, a Washington native and resident, was a stockbroker with Bache & Co. in New York in the 1960s, then an executive with American Express. He returned to the D.C. area in 1989 and became deputy undersecretary in a travel and tourism unit at the Commerce Department. In retirement, he was a substitute teacher in the D.C. public school system. Eugene F. Bud Mueller Jr., flight safety supervisor Eugene F. Bud Mueller Jr., 100, who retired from the Transportation Department in the mid-1970s as a fire safety adviser for aircraft and airports, died May 25 at his home in Washington. The cause was senile degeneration of the brain, said a daughter, Laura L. Sailer. Mr. Mueller, a native Washingtonian, surveyed land in the 1940s for airports in the eastern United States for what would become the Federal Aviation Administration. He was a national director of the Credit Union National Association and a member of All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington and Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, Md. A recreational pilot, he was a member of the American Flying Club into the 1970s. Michael Dixon, drywall installer Michael Dixon, 63, a drywall worker on construction jobs around the Washington area, most recently for Laurel, Md.-based R&L Carmichael Construction, died June 26 at a hospital in Leesburg, Va. The cause was a heart attack, said a friend, Ken Downs. Mr. Dixon, a resident of Sterling, Va., was born in Baltimore and grew up in Wheaton, Md. He retired about 1 1/2 years ago. Frank A. Jose, consumer affairs officer Frank A. Jose, 86, a lawyer who retired in 1988 as deputy director of the Montgomery County consumer affairs office, died June 24 at a hospital in Silver Spring, Md. The cause was cancer, said a son, Andrew Jose. Mr. Jose, a resident of Wheaton, Md., was born in Indianapolis. He was a deputy attorney general for the state of Indiana before moving to the Washington area in 1961. He was a lawyer with the Federal Trade Commission and then managing attorney of Neighborhood Legal Services in Washington before joining Montgomery Countys consumer affairs office. Lloyd E. Kurtz, plumbing, heating technician Lloyd E. Kurtz, 91, a retired plumbing and heating technician, first with Voneiff Plumbing & Heating in Laurel and later with the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, died June 30 at a hospital in Frederick, Md. The cause was a gastrointestinal infection, said a daughter, Robin Kurtz. Mr. Kurtz, a native Washingtonian, retired in 1988 after about 10 years with the park and planning commission. For more than 20 years before that, he had worked for Voneiff. On retirement, he moved to Myrtle Beach, S.C., from Kensington, Md. A year ago, he moved to an assisted-living center in Frederick. Douglas D. Waters, school teacher Douglas D. Waters, 69, a retired Prince Georges County elementary-school teacher, died July 13 at his home in Lanham, Md. The cause was cardiac arrest and renal failure, said a daughter, Rachel Waters. Mr. Waters was born in Cokesbury, Md., and moved to the Washington area 50 years ago. He was a Prince Georges schoolteacher for 30 years, mostly at Gaywood Elementary School in Lanham and mostly as a sixth-grade teacher. He retired in 1998. C.W. Bill LaSalle II, U.S.I.A. officer Claude William Bill LaSalle II, 82, who directed public affairs programs for the U.S. Information Agency in the 1980s and 1990s at U.S. embassies in the Netherlands and Congo, died June 11 at his home in Washington. The cause was complications from high blood pressure, said a friend, Ashley Wills. Mr. LaSalle was born in Jeanerette, La., and served as a cultural officer in Romania, India and Indonesia as part of the Foreign Service in the 1970s and early 1980s. He also had an executive role in Washington with the USIA and its book donation program. After retiring in the late 1990s, he occasionally worked as a State Department contractor. He served on the board of the International Book Project, a Kentucky-based organization that ships books to overseas schools, libraries and community organizations. Howard A. Dawson Jr., tax judge Howard A. Dawson Jr., 93, the longest-serving judge on the Tax Court of the United States, both as an active judge and as a retired judge on recall status, died July 15 at his home in Bethesda, Md. The cause was cardiac arrest, said a daughter, Suzanne Vanyur. Judge Dawson was born on a family farm near Okolona, Ark., and moved to the Washington area during childhood. He held a variety of positions with the Internal Revenue Service before his appointment to the Tax Court in 1962. During his years on the court, he served three terms as chief judge, totaling six years. He wrote more than 1,100 opinions and presided over 170 trial sessions in 46 cities. He retired as an active judge in 1985 but continued as a senior judge to hear cases until his death. In 2008, the court established an award in Judge Dawsons name to honor exemplary service by Tax Court employees. Alfred D. Fred Steinberg, NIH scientist Alfred D. Fred Steinberg, 75, a rheumatologist who researched treatments for lupus, died June 14 at a care center in Rockville, Md. The cause was complications from Lewy body dementia, said a son, Robert Steinberg. Dr. Steinberg, a longtime resident of Potomac, Md., was born in Queens. From the late 1960s to the early 1990s, he was a senior investigator and chief of the cellular immunology section of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, and he published articles in medical and science journals. As a consulting physician-scientist, he later did research for the Mitre Corp. in McLean, Va., including studying organisms used in bioterrorism and how the federal government could combat them. He was active with the Washington Bridge League, and he ran a Torah study group at Temple Har Shalom in Potomac. Jean B. Quinnette, film production aide Jean B. Quinnette, 82, a researcher, writer and producer in a film production operation at the Smithsonian Institution, died June 28 at a hospital in Fairfax County, Va. The cause was complications from pneumonia, said a daughter, Kate Quinnette. Mrs. Quinnette, a resident of Springfield, Va., was born Jean Beitzell in Washington and had worked for NBC in Washington and San Francisco before joining the Smithsonian Institution staff in 1972. She retired in 1994. Fred C. Leone, statistics expert Fred C. Leone, 93, who spent 15 years as executive director of the American Statistical Association before retiring in 1988, died July 14 at an assisted-living center in Galion, Ohio. The cause was congestive heart failure, said a son, Peter Leone. Dr. Leone was born in New York City, the son of Sicilian immigrants. He served on the faculty of what is now Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and the University of Iowa before coming to the Washington area in 1973. He was co-author of Statistics and Experimental Design in Engineering and the Physical Sciences (1964), a text for applied statistics. A former resident of Silver Spring, Md., he moved to New Jersey in 2013 and to Ohio in 2015. From staff reports D.C. police have opened a criminal investigation into anti-Semitic graffiti found on a crosswalk Wednesday morning near the Chinatown Metro station. The crosswalk at Seventh and H streets NW is decorated with pictures of symbols in the Chinese zodiac. Someone wrote the word Jew on an image of a rat. A picture was circulated on Twitter. Aquita Brown, a D.C. police spokeswoman, confirmed the investigation and said authorities are urging anyone with information to call the department at 202-727-9099. Brown said that the D.C. Department of Transportation worked to remove the graffiti. A spokesperson for the transportation department said the graffiti was removed by Wednesday afternoon A man was fatally stabbed early Tuesday in the Mount Pleasant area of Northwest Washington, D.C. police said. They said Pedro Sixto Esparragoza,32, of Northwest Washington, was found about 4:35 a.m. in a house in the 1800 block of Newton Street NW. He had an apparent stab wound and died at a hospital, the police said. In a statement, police said Edy Dinora Portillo Martinez,28, of Northwest, was arrested and charged with second degree murder. Police described the incident as domestic related. A man was shot and wounded Wednesday morning in Southeast Washingtons Anacostia neighborhood, one block from where a man was killed hours earlier, according to D.C. police. It was not immediately clear if the two shootings are related. The latest gunfire occurred about 10:50 a.m. in the 1600 block of W Street SE, a residential area away from the neighborhoods commercial strip. A police spokeswoman said the man was shot in the lower extremities and was reported conscious and breathing at an area hospital. Police are looking for two men, one wearing a mask, in a silver Honda Accord in connection with the shooting. Earlier Wednesday, about 2:40 a.m., police said Robert Lee Vinson, 20, of Northwest, was shot in the 1600 block of V Street SE. Police said officers found Vinson on the street, semiconscious and barely breathing, suffering from several gunshot wounds. Vinson was pronounced dead at an area hospital, police said. Authorities were looking for a white Volkswagen Jetta with D.C. license plates. The homicide was the fifth in the District since Saturday, when three people were killed, including a woman inside an apartment who police said was shot in the head by her boyfriend as she held her 2-month-old child. A man was fatally stabbed Tuesday in home in Mount Pleasant. [Man fatally stabbed in Mount Pleasant] Before Saturday, the District had gone 14 days without a homicide. As of Tuesday, 73 people had been slain in the District, down 16 percent from the 87 killed at this time in 2015, when homicides spiked 54 percent. Three other people were shot in Southeast and Northeast Washington starting Tuesday night. The first of these occurred about 11:30 p.m. in the 2400 block of 14th Street NE, in Brentwood. Police said a man was shot in the upper body and was conscious and breathing. A police report said the victim refused to cooperate with police when questioned about who shot him. [Three killed in spate of shootings, including woman holding infant] About 1:50 a.m., police said a man was shot in the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, in Congress Heights. Police said that the shooting occurred inside a residence and that the victim was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Police said another man was shot about 3 a.m. in the 4300 block of Wheeler Road SE. A police report says the victim had gone to a house to find his brothers and got into an argument with people inside. During the argument, the victim told police that he was robbed by four men and one woman of $40 and a gold chain with a Versace pendant. He was shot in the right forearm and upper chest, according to police report. The victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a hospital. Taser International displayed a model at an exhibition in January 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/GETTY IMAGES) Gun rights advocates have asked a federal court in Washington to strike down the Districts ban on stun guns, taking a cue from a March ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that suggested possessing stun guns and electronic weapons is protected by the Second Amendment. Three city residents, identified in a 17-page lawsuit filed Tuesday as a conservative blogger, a nurse who sometimes works at night and an armed-robbery victim, said the D.C. law violates their constitutional right to arms for self-defense that are not unusually dangerous. The Supreme Court has clearly stated that the Second Amendment is not limited to guns. It extends to all arms commonly possessed and used for self-defense, said their attorney, George L. Lyon Jr., a D.C. resident and Arlington lawyer. Lyon is a firearms instructor who was a plaintiff in a landmark 2008 Supreme Court case that struck down the citys long-standing ban on handguns and a later case that voided a ban on carrying weapons outside the home. He said that the Taser ban is a remnant of D.C.s anti-self-defense mind-set that the Supreme Court rejected in the 2008 D.C. case, known as the Heller case. Its time for it to go. The lawsuit was assigned Wednesday to U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss. Robert Marus, a spokesman for D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine (D), said: As with other newly filed litigation against the District, we cant comment on this suit at this time. The lawsuit comes after the Supreme Court released an unsigned, five-paragraph unanimous ruling March 21 in a stun gun case out of Massachusetts. The states highest court had upheld a ban on possessing the weapons, but that decision was overturned by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court did not strike down the ban but rejected the state courts reasoning that the Second Amendment didnt apply to stun guns, saying that the Heller decision covered weapons even if they did not have a military use and were uncommon when the amendment was enacted. [Supreme Court seeks deeper look at Mass. ban on stun-gun possession] Eugene Volokh, a law professor at the University of California at Los Angeles who filed a brief in the Massachusetts case, said that although the Supreme Court left open the door to a fuller argument over stun-gun laws, the District could face an uphill battle to defend its outright ban. (The professor also writes for a blog, the Volokh Conspiracy, that appears on The Washington Posts website.) Attorneys for the city will have to make some strong enough showing of public safety need to prohibit non-deadly weapons such as stun guns, when deadly weapons such as firearms are allowed, Volokh said. (The professor also writes for a blog, the Volokh Conspiracy, that appears on The Washington Posts website.) Regulation of stun guns has been an issue nationwide. New York, New Jersey, Hawaii and Rhode Island and several cities ban possession of stun guns, Volokh said. States including Wisconsin and Michigan in recent years have legalized their possession by people licensed to carry concealed weapons. Localities including Anne Arundel and Harford counties repealed stun-gun bans in 2013 and 2014 for adults who pass a background check, Volokh said. The lead plaintiff in the D.C. case, Crystal Wright, said: I wanted to be part of this lawsuit on principle because I have a right to bear arms. Wrights Conservative Black Chick blog describes her as a principal owner of a public relations firm in Northwest Washington and a television commentator. Wright said in an interview that she has filed police reports and company complaints after being stalked and threatened on social media. Wright said she paid Lyon about $350 for a firearms course last year and has a pending application for a D.C. concealed weapons permit. However, Wright said she would prefer to be able to use a Taser. As a lethal weapon, using a gun carries potential criminal, psychological, social and civil liability risks, she said. A Taser would be preferable, she said, because of what she characterized as its proven effectiveness and its proven record of minimizing injury to suspects and/or assailants. The other plaintiffs in the D.C. lawsuit are Traci Dean and Brendan Turner, both of Northwest. Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, Va., was arrested Aug. 3 at Metro Transit Police headquarters in Washington. He was charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State. Here's what you need to know. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, Va., was arrested Aug. 3 at Metro Transit Police headquarters in Washington. He was charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State. Here's what you need to know. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) For seven years, while Nicholas Young patrolled the Washington areas Metro system as a transit police officer, other law enforcement agents were watching him. In those years, authorities say, he threatened FBI agents, gave advice to suspected terrorists and mused about joining the Islamic State. But it was not until last week that federal agents concluded that Young, 36, of Fairfax, Va., had committed the crime of attempting to support a terrorist organization. He was arrested at Metro Transit Police headquarters Wednesday and terminated; he appeared in court still wearing part of his patrol uniform. The arrest marks the first time a U.S. law enforcement officer has been accused of trying to aid a terrorist group. Young, a convert to Islam, sent codes for mobile messaging cards to an undercover federal agent in the belief that they would be used by Islamic State fighters overseas to communicate, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Alexandria. He came under surveillance because Metro Transit Police had alerted the FBI to unspecified concerns, Chief Ron Pavlik said. According to authorities, Young has been with the transit police since 2003. Obviously, the allegations in this case are profoundly disturbing. Theyre disturbing to me, and theyre disturbing to everyone who wears the uniform, Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld said in a statement. Since coming under scrutiny, Young was in touch with FBI agents, an undercover agent and a person working secretly for the agency. His first public conversation with the FBI was in September 2010. From January 2011 to February 2012, he was in touch with an undercover agent. The investigation appeared to stall for more than a year. Then, in 2014, Young began communicating with a person working for the FBI who pretended to be a disillusioned U.S. military reservist of Middle Eastern descent. That person spoke with Young regularly until October 2014, when he pretended to join the Islamic State abroad. The account he had set up to speak with Young was then taken over by undercover agents. Authorities said that in the years they watched and interacted with Young, there never was any credible or specific threat to the Metro system. The court papers detail vague threats over the years to kill FBI agents or bring guns into federal court. Young allegedly threatened to kidnap and torture an agent who interviewed him and to leave the head of anyone who betrayed him in a cinder block at the bottom of Virginias Lake Braddock. [The Islamic States suspected inroads into America] But according to the criminal complaint, Young was focused on activity abroad, not in the D.C. area, and the FBI did not take his threats against agents seriously. He told law enforcement at one point that he had traveled to Libya twice in 2011 to fight against Moammar Gaddafi. And he allegedly gave a person working with law enforcement advice on how to travel to Syria including how to avoid undercover agents. Believing the person had actually made it abroad, authorities said, Young then complied with a request to purchase gift cards for mobile messaging accounts used in Islamic State recruiting. The codes, worth $245 according to authorities, were redeemed by the FBI, not by ISIS. In a message to that person he allegedly praised the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack in France, writing, Hopefully now people understand there are some lines you dont cross . . . this gave the West a taste of what Muslims face every day. Dina Ahmad, who has lived in the neighborhood for 13 years, speaks to members of the media as police search the home of Metro Transit Police officer Nicholas Young. "Something was off about him," says Ahmad. "it's crazy he's a police officer." (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post) In a brief court appearance, Young wore a plain white T-shirt and the black uniform pants of a Metro police officer. He did not yet have a defense attorney. At various points, according to the criminal complaint, Young told agents that he tortured animals as a child, had dressed up as Jihadi John at a 2014 Halloween party and also has dressed up as a Nazi and collected Nazi memorabilia. For the Jihadi John costume, according to the complaint, Young stuffed an orange jumpsuit with paper to portray a headless hostage, and he carried that around with him throughout the party. [Im risking my life: Some Metro riders worry as serious crimes rise] He described that costume when police came to his house in June in response to an allegation of domestic violence, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities on Wednesday had police tape around Youngs suburban Virginia townhouse. Dina Ahmad has lived in Youngs neighborhood for 13 years. Like many other residents, she often saw Young in his front yard working on his truck. She said that Young appeared to keep to himself but that something seemed off about him as well. I would never just look at somebody and say, Hey, theyre a terrorist, but I can believe it, she said. He was just weird. There was something off about him. You could tell. She was more surprised and concerned to learn that he was a police officer. That makes it even worse, she said. Young appears to own a large number of firearms. A Metro police officer told authorities that during an off-duty weapons training event in March 2015, Young brought an Egyptian AK-47, a Kimber 1911 .45-caliber pistol and an AK-47 AMD rifle. The training officer told the FBI that Young also owned a semiautomatic AK-47 RPK, an 8mm Mauser rifle and a World War II-era Russian Nagant rifle, according to the court papers. During the years he was surveilled and contacted by both FBI agents and undercover operatives, Young expressed concern about such tactics. He told associates that he had several burner phones, according to a court affidavit, and regularly took the battery out of his cellphone to avoid detection. He warned associates to avoid social media and communication by email. When trying to move money out of the country last year, Young allegedly said, Unfortunately I have enough flags on my name that I cant even buy a plane ticket without little alerts ending up in someones hands. Young is the seventh person this year to be charged in a terrorism-related case in Northern Virginia. Like the others, he is accused of having contact with other radicals without being part of an organized group, as Islamic State encourages lone-wolf attacks in the United States. In all but one, the plans were encouraged by operatives working for FBI. This case reflects the challenges that law enforcement is facing from the dangerous spread of violent radicalization that threatens our communities at home and abroad, an FBI spokesman said. Adam Goldman, LaVendrick Smith, Faiz Siddiqui, Lori Aratani, Dana Hedgpeth and Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report. Mercy Carrion greeted the officers who arrived at her Loudoun County home in April to investigate a report of animal cruelty in a blood-soaked white shirt, according to testimony at her trial Wednesday. Blood was smeared around the doorway of the home, a large knife was found next to the kitchen sink, and the decapitated bodies of two roosters were discovered in a filing cabinet, officers told a judge. Despite the grisly scene, Carrion, 43, of Sterling, Va., argued in Loudoun County Court on Wednesday that the animal cruelty charges brought against her violated her First Amendment right to freedom of religion. She is a priestess in the Afro-Caribbean religion of Santeria, whose practitioners sometimes offer animal sacrifices. I tried to explain to [the officer] you offered the bodies of the animals to the saints, Carrion told the court through a Spanish interpreter. There are elders in my church, and I was instructed to do this. A Loudoun County prosecutor sidestepped the religious issue, arguing that Carrion could sacrifice the birds, but she flouted Virginia law by failing to care for them beforehand and then slaughtering them in an inhumane way. Mercy Carrion ( Loudoun County Sheriff's Office ) She has a right to practice her religion, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Alexandra Hazel said in her closing argument. She deprived these animals of food, water and shelter and then cruelly killed them. A judge ultimately sided with the prosecutor, convicting Carrion of three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, but not before an unusual trial played out that featured testimony about a rooster autopsy, or necropsy, and an expert on religions of the African diaspora. Loudoun County animal control officers testified that they were called to Carrions home on April 25 for a report of animal cruelty. They found three roosters in feces- and urine-soaked beer boxes in Carrions basement. One officer said the birds could not properly move in the boxes. Officers returned the next day at 1 a.m. to serve a search warrant on Carrions home and found her in the bloody shirt. Carrion testified that she killed the birds just before officers knocked on her door because she wanted to follow through on the sacrifice. Santeria is a religion that combines elements of Catholicism, West African religious beliefs and the traditions of the indigenous people of the Americas. It is often practiced by the descendants of slaves brought to the Americas. The officers testified that they found no evidence of food for the roosters in the house and that Carrion told them that the roosters she had killed had died over the course of three to five minutes, a period Hazel argued was not humane. They also recovered one live rooster. Michael Gast, a veterinarian, testified that the dead birds and the live rooster were emaciated and showed signs that their muscles had wasted away. He said the dead birds heads were severed in a careful manner after examining them during a necropsy. There was an intricate cut, Gast testified. It would take some skill to do that. Gro Mambo Danthoula Novanyon Idizol, executive board secretary of the National African Religious Congress, testified for the defense that Carrion, who is originally from Ecuador, was a certified priestess in Santeria. Mercy Carrion is her given name. Idizol said Santeria practitioners should keep animals properly, before they are slaughtered humanely, and should be disposed of in a proper fashion. She said animals are often prayed over and bathed with herbs before they are killed. Idizol said Carrions handling of the animals was not inhumane. In this country that we live in, people do not have access to all of the things necessary in our belief systems, Idizol testified. If youre asking me if this is inhumane, I dont think so. When she took the stand, Carrion testified that she fed the roosters and had purchased them in the condition the officers found them. She told the judge that she had owned them for only two to three days before the slaughter. Michelle Welch, director of Attorney General Mark Herrings Animal Law Unit, said that under Virginia law, people cannot treat animals cruelly, even if it is for religious reasons. The issue is with the manner of the killing of an animal and whether it constitutes cruelty, Welch said in a statement. Virginia State Code does not include a specific religious exemption that would allow someone to kill an animal in a way that constitutes cruelty. Judge Deborah C. Welsh sentenced Carrion to a suspended jail sentence and ordered her to undergo training in how to properly sacrifice animals through a class Idizols group offers. Carrion and her attorney declined to comment on the outcome of the trial. Patricia Wudel is the executive director of Josephs House, which provides end-of-life care for homeless men and women in Washington. Phillip Brooks and Wudel chat outside of Joseph's House on Saturday in Washington. (Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post) Not long ago, Becky Deen Tai would never have imagined herself attending a civic meeting about police officers treatment of African Americans. Shed grown up a white girl in a family with roots in the Deep South, and only recently had become more aware of how unaware I am, she said, later recalling her astonishment at learning via social media that black mothers often lecture their sons on how to avoid being targeted by law enforcement. Yet Tai had felt compelled to attend the recent forum in Silver Spring, Md., after watching a stream of amateur videos in the news showing fatal encounters between police and blacks across the country. There was Ferguson, Mo., South Carolina, Minnesota that very week, in fact, a video had flashed of a North Miami policeman shooting and wounding a black male caregiver, even as he lay on the ground with his hands raised. Now theyre taping it and its harder to stay away, said Tai, 53, a special education teacher who moved to Silver Spring from Atlanta a year ago. I didnt have to think about the problem because I didnt have to see it. Now its in front of me. As the nations first African American president completes his second term, the countrys racial divide has grown more pronounced, bursting into full view during heated debates over issues such as income inequality, jobs, educational opportunities and, perhaps most prominently, how the criminal justice system treats blacks. [Poll: Majority of Americans think race relations are getting worse] At the same time, videos documenting police officers shooting African Americans widely shared on social media are forcing the nations white population to confront head-on evidence suggesting that blacks still face an onerous set of challenges. The videos influential role recalls how television news footage shaped white public opinion during the civil rights movement, when cameras captured Southern police officers using hoses and dogs to control black demonstrators. A few years later, television coverage of the Vietnam War had a similar galvanizing effect. Michael Hartmann holds a sign during a Black Lives Matter protest in Oakland, Calif., in July. (Noah Berger/Reuters) The change in sentiment is visible in a growing number of whites attending Black Lives Matter protests and staging rallies focused on racial justice, as well as the Black Lives Matter T-shirts worn by the mainly white Wyoming delegation at the Democratic National Convention. Yet in many cases, the evolution is far more subtle, surfacing in unspoken shifts in perspective, a change in the tenor of everyday interactions or desires to gain greater understanding. Many whites remain intolerant in their racial views, yet recent polls have shown that a growing percentage of whites think that the country needs changes to give blacks parity with whites. A Washington Post poll asking this question last year found 53 percent of whites saying more changes are necessary to ensure equal rights for black people, jumping from 39 percent before Michael Browns death in 2014. Concern about equality rose among both white men and women, those with and without college degrees, and among white conservatives and liberals. The phrase Black Lives Matter first received national attention in summer 2014 and, since then, has become part of conversations on race in America. Here's how the phrase became a movement. (Claritza Jimenez,Julio Negron/The Washington Post) The shift was not fleeting. An identical 53 percent of whites in a Pew Research survey this spring said more changes are needed to ensure equality. Dealings with police stood out as the area of greatest concern, with half of whites saying that blacks are treated less fairly in such encounters. In interviews, some white Americans said that Trumps rise and the overt racism and xenophobia voiced by some of his supporters have heightened their awareness of racial fissures. [The Obamas: Refusing to give into the haters after years of threats and abuse] But news reports about African Americans dying during encounters with officers have been especially jolting, providing whites a glimpse of what blacks long have insisted was commonplace. Patricia Wudel is the executive director of Josephs House, which provides end-of-life care for homeless men and women in Washington. (Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post) Patricia Wudel, 63, the white executive director of a hospice center for the homeless in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, said she realized that her sense of the African American experience was far too limited several years ago as she ate breakfast with colleagues after a Florida jury exonerated George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. I said, I cant believe they let that guy off, Wudel recalled. A black woman seated next to her, she said, so close, our arms were touching had tears coming down her face and she whispered, I always knew he would. In that instant, Wudel said, I realized that her response surprised me, and I knew my world view was too small. And I knew I had to make room to talk to people. As a result of her deliberations, Wudel said she felt compelled last year to attend the funeral of a stranger Freddie Gray, the black man who suffered fatal injuries while in the custody of Baltimore police. As she got out of her car in downtown Manassas, Va., a 68-year-old white woman said the incidents involving police and blacks were a reminder of the advantages available to her that African Americans dont have. Im looking for ways to dig into white privilege, to become more cognizant of it, said the woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she said she fears retaliation from racist whites. When an African American opens the door for her, the woman said, she finds herself making a mental note to be sure to open the door for a black person when there is the opportunity. She also told her neighbor a black woman to no longer refer to her as Miss Beverly because it made her uncomfortable. As for the police, the woman said she is rethinking her long-held belief that stories of misconduct were the result of a few bad officers. You hear about so many you have to wonder if its more than a few, she said. Alanna Mensing, 34, says she "feels sympathy for the mothers who have to worry that this is going to be their childrens future. (Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post) A block away, Alanna Mensing, 34, who was walking with her 18-month-old son, said that when she takes the boy to play groups, she thinks about what black children will face when they grow up. A few years ago, that would never have occurred to me, said Mensing, a music teacher. She said she becomes upset when she reads about racial incidents on social media. I feel insanely guilty about everything, Mensing said. I feel guilty that its not white people who are getting shot. Its always black people. More to be done In the 1950s, the driving force behind the civil rights movement was a nexus of black church and community leaders who organized protests such as the Montgomery bus boycott. All of the participants were African American. It was not until 1960 when large numbers of whites became involved in the movement, joining sit-ins at a Woolworths in Greensboro, N.C. They joined the Freedom Riders through the South, attended the March on Washington in 1963, and traveled to Selma, Ala., in 1965 after Bloody Sunday. Protesters hold signs during a Black Lives Matter movement protest at Lykes Gaslight Park in downtown Tampa. (Octavio Jones/AP) Black Lives Matter protests the police shooting death of Philando Castile with members of the American Teachers Federation in Minneapolis. (Adam Bettcher/Reuters) Whites participation, said Taylor Branch, the historian who has written a widely praised history of the civil rights movement, helped disseminate the importance of the movement to the broader public. It meant a lot to have distinguished, highly credentialed white people submitting to the discipline of a movement run by black people, Branch said. There were some white people across the country who wouldnt care about black people going to jail in the South. But they would care if some college students from Yale got beaten up or killed. Referring to current demonstrations against law enforcement, Branch said: Its vital to have white people involved in the issue of police justice because it makes it not purely a racial issue of black versus white. This is about right versus wrong. The echo of the civil rights movement is partly what drew Lisa Reed, 58, a paralegal, to attend the Silver Spring forum sponsored by the Montgomery County government last month. Before an audience of more than 400 people, African Americans stood and recalled what they described as unwelcome encounters with the police. The evenings most riveting moments included when a white woman recalled her recent outrage over seeing police officers pulling down the pants of a black man they had detained on the street. I kind of felt like the civil rights movement had passed me by, and I realize now that it hasnt, Reed said later. Theres a lot to be done. While she looks for ways to become involved, Reed also revisits her own background growing up in Atlanta. Whether she likes it or not, she said, she was influenced by her father, a man she described as prejudiced who told her when she was 10 that Martin Luther King was assassinated because he was a rabble rouser. You cant be raised with the level of isolation that I was raised with without absorbing certain prejudices, she said. All these years later, she said, she finds herself aware of reflexive perceptions such as when she encounters a black attorney and thinks its unusual. It took a long time of me stopping my brain and telling myself that was a stereotype and to let it go, she said. Instead, she tells herself: This is a person who attended law school and has a family. This is not an exception. This is what black men do. I can do both Joel Teitelbaum, 77, a retired anthropologist, participated as a student in sit-ins for housing integration and civil liberties in Maryland in the 1950s and 60s. (Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post) Like Tai, Joel Teitelbaum, a white retiree who lives in the Washington suburbs, said he has become more focused on race after watching the videos of police shootings on the news. The nation has crossed the line of fracturing the decency of our relationships with one another with the repeated violence against minorities, said Teitelbaum, 77, an anthropologist. Weve got to consider whats happening. The night after the Silver Spring forum, a second meeting was held in Germantown, this one also drawing an overflow crowd that was a mixture of blacks and whites. Barry Filderman, 57, a white mortgage loan officer who lives in Potomac, attended the meeting because he wants to understand black anger toward the police. It doesnt happen to me, he said. Yet Filderman also considers himself pro-police. I get angry at the police, and I get angry at the black community, he said. I can also sympathize with the black community and the police. I can do both. Seated in the same row, Sylvia Darrow, 79, said she went to the meeting primarily to support the police. She described herself as sick and tired of hearing the term white privilege, and added: We need to squelch some of this perception that the police are brutal and theyre mistreating people of color. Yet, after listening to more than a dozen African Americans speak about their experiences with the police, Darrow also came up with an idea. A raffle designed to raise funds for survivors of police who are killed could also be used for another purpose: to help sponsor meetings at which African Americans and police officers can talk to one another. I guess I do have the sense that maybe we do need to have more dialogue, she said. Scott Clement contributed to this report. An artists rendering of the interior of the planned Purple Line commuter trains in Maryland. (Purple Line Transit Partners) Construction of the light-rail Purple Line in the Washington suburbs could be delayed based on a federal judges ruling Wednesday requiring that the projects ridership forecasts be redone to account for Metros deterioration and declining ridership. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon ordered that the Maryland Transit Administrations record of decision on the Purple Line the federal stamp of approval on the projects environmental analysis be set aside until the state recalculates the ridership projections done for that study. Leon said he couldnt turn a blind eye to the recent extraordinary events involving seemingly endless Metrorail breakdowns and safety issues. The Purple Line will not be part of Metro, but it will connect to four Metro stations, and more than a quarter of the Purple Lines riders are expected to be Metro passengers feeding into the light-rail system. The lawsuit before Leon was brought by Purple Line opponents who said state and federal agencies had given short shrift to the lines potential environmental impacts. Leon wrote that the Federal Transit Administration showed a cavalier attitude when it argued that Metros safety lapses and falling ridership which he called serious issues will not affect the Purple Line because it will be separately owned and operated. Metros problems, the judge said, pose serious questions about the Purple Lines future viability. The FTAs dismissal of Metros potential impact on Purple Line ridership raises troubling concerns about their competence as stewards of nearly a billion dollars of federal taxpayers funds, he said. Maryland is seeking $900 million in federal transit construction aid for the 16.2-mile line. Major construction had been scheduled to begin late this fall. Whether Leons decision will delay that start is not clear. However, during a June 15 hearing in the case, attorneys for the MTA and the federal government said refiguring the ridership forecasts could push back the project by six months and unravel its $5.6 billion, 36-year public- private partnership. In a subsequent court filing, lawyers for the Maryland Attorney Generals Office said having to redo the ridership forecasts would be profoundly disruptive and could jeopardize the Purple Line project because it could have cascading consequences on the project schedule and financing arrangements. Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn said the state will appeal the ruling. We are deeply disappointed that this puts the Purple Line in jeopardy, Rahn said in a statement. We will work closely with the Attorney General to seek a quick decision from the court of appeals. Maryland officials had scheduled a public event for Monday to sign a funding agreement in which federal officials are expected to commit $900 million in grants toward the projects $2 billion construction, according to three officials with knowledge of the event. The signing of that agreement was considered the last major hurdle before construction could begin. The Purple Line, with 21 stations between Bethesda in Montgomery County and New Carrollton in Prince Georges County, is to be built and operated by the MTA. However, passengers transferring to and from Metro were projected to make up 27 percent of Purple Line riders. The ridership forecasts were done as part of the states cost-per-rider analysis before it decided in 2013 to build a light-rail line instead of a less-expensive bus option. John M. Fitzgerald, a Chevy Chase lawyer and one of the plaintiffs, said he was heartened by the judges finding that proceeding with the Purple Line before considering Metros potential impacts would make no sense. Fitzgerald said he hopes state and federal officials also will reexamine cheaper options, such as a rapid bus system, and consider holding off on building a Purple Line until Metro has been rehabilitated. Maryland officials have said they think Metros backlog of maintenance and safety work will be done by 2022, when the Purple Line is scheduled to open to passengers. By then, they have said, Metro passengers who have stopped riding because of safety concerns and unreliable service will have returned. After peaking at 225 million passenger trips in 2009, Metro ridership began to fall and has continued to drop. The Purple Line, Maryland officials also have said, will run on different technology than the 40-year-old, heavy-rail Metro system. Its smaller trains will travel more slowly than Metro, mostly along local streets and powered by an overhead electrical line. However, Maryland officials also have long argued that the Purple Line is needed, in part, to provide a faster, more reliable connection to the states spokes of the Metro system. Fitzgerald and the other plaintiffs the Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail and Chevy Chase resident Christine Real de Azua filed the lawsuit in 2014. They argued that Marylands environmental review of the project and the federal governments approval of that study were flawed. After Metro suffered high-profile safety and maintenance lapses, the plaintiffs recently increased their emphasis on their argument that the Purple Line ridership forecasts were flawed because they presumed a robust Metro system. Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report. When the Metro Riders Advisory Council first sought applicants in 2005, a seat on the 21-member citizens board was four times as hard to gain as admission to Harvard University. A decade later, interest in the body that represents Metro riders inside the system has withered, with fewer people seeking seats, panel members expressing dissatisfaction and the transit agency showing indifference. As of May, the Metro employee who since last fall had been in charge of carrying the councils concerns to agency managers was out of the role. Metros assistant general manager, Lynn Bowersox, would take over, but her schedule was so full she wasnt able to attend monthly meetings. Since that shift, two of the advisory councils most vocal members John Major Nelson and Chris Barnes have bolted, and other current and former members say they are unhappy that the groups influence is ebbing. We can talk a big talk, but when the rubber hits the road, there was no point to being there, said Nelson, 49, the groups vice chair for Virginia, who resigned in June. The waning of the council, along with a failed effort to establish a riders union, has left Metro commuters without a unified voice as the lives of thousands are disrupted by Metros massive rebuilding projects. Activists on the council say members should be fierce, unapologetic advocates for riders as the founding members were while pragmatists argue that it is important to work with Metro brass. The council chair, Barbara Hermanson, a former business analyst for The Washington Post, said she devotes 20 to 30 hours a week to advisory council business, juggling relationships with Metro leaders and council members with whom she doesnt always agree. Theres a need to maintain good relationships with staff and the [Metro Board of Directors] that creates a tension between that and our need to be advocates at times, sure, Hermanson said. That tension flared publicly this summer when two council members resigned a half-year after they had joined it. Why advocate when LITERALLY no one is listening to the message? Nelson wrote in his resignation letter. We exist to be a facade that says [the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority] cares about the riders when they dont. Attempts to make changes were impeded by bylaws and debate over procedure, or changes took a long time to achieve, the pair said, pointing to the example of the years-long process to get Metros approval of a social media presence for the council. Chris Barnes, firebrand and Twitter personality @FixWMATA, who founded the now-disbanded Metro riders union, said council meetings became a waste of time. Metro doesnt give the RAC [advisory council] the ability to be anything functional, Barnes said in an interview. They dont support it. They dont go to it for questions. Theyre just not interested in what the RAC has to say. Pent-up demand for change The pattern of optimism, frustration and, finally, burnout isnt new. Dennis Jaffe, the groups first chair, said it operates in a cycle: Change-minded leaders join the body with an enterprising spirit and big ideas and, confronting the systemic hurdles, lose their enthusiasm. They get burned out from the effort involved to get the agency to change, he said. For an agency whose purpose is to move people, it is notably hard to move the agency to change. But in its earliest iteration, the advisory council was a haven for activism. At Jaffes first meeting as chair of the riders group, members put forth a motion to hold a public forum on MetroAccess, which at the time was under fire for poor service because of problems with a contractor and Metro oversight. In Jaffes recollection, there were attempts to block that forum. But under pressure from media outlets and the advisory council, Metro later formed an ad-hoc committee, co-chaired by Jaffe, to hear directly from customers about the service. The Metro board chair later publicly apologized for the poor MetroAccess service and ushered in changes recommended by the committee. Jaffe said that as Metro makes critical decisions affecting commuters, a strong rider voice is urgently needed. At a time when Metro has proposed permanent elimination of late-night Metro service, its especially critical that riders have ways to organize and influence the decisions that are made, he said. David Alpert, founder and editor of Greater Greater Washington, who served on the council for three years and was D.C. vice chair in 2010 and 2011, resigned his seat in 2012, believing there were more effective ways to spend his time. The efforts of change agents, he said, are limited by the fact that the Metro board ultimately picks the groups representatives. Board members, in general, dont want to appoint someone like Chris [Barnes] or me or whoever because theyre going to be trouble, Alpert said. They would rather appoint a quieter voice. It perpetuates itself. Officially, the council reports to Metros Board of Directors. Hermanson, the advisory council chair, delivers monthly briefings at board meetings. Metros board chairman, Jack Evans, was unavailable Tuesday for an interview about the council. Some council members said they need more access to Metro staff members to make meaningful suggestions and that eliminating the senior staffer who had access to top officials was a step in the wrong direction. The role of Metro staff is limited to technical assistance and logistics, Metro spokeswoman Sherri Ly said in a statementexplaining the change, adding that the needs of the riders could be supported by existing staff. Metro declined an interview with Bowersox to discuss the state of the advisory council. In response to several questions concerning Metro staffs role and the records it keeps on the council, Metro answered with one sentence: Its a board matter. Several top staffers have shown a willingness to work with the body in recent months: General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld, Chief Safety Officer Pat Lavin and Bowersox have all made appearances. And the council has achieved some objectives. It was the council that first recommended a grace period for riders to exit stations without being charged, a change that would be especially welcome during long service delays. Metro also agreed to be more open with its train-location data this year following media coverage and a push by council members. New advisory council members were pushing for change as the makeup of Metros board was changing. There was a great deal of enthusiasm and anxiousness to turn things around, said member RAC Colin Reusch, 32. I think that there was also a lot of pent-up demand for change at that point. New members urged Metro to relieve Blue Line crowding, to make refunds to riders after major service disruptions and to waive peak fares during SafeTrack when service would be significantly reduced. In the absence of a riders union, the council sought to be the advocacy arm. But the two council resignations, Reusch said, were a setback. The council also became entangled in internal bickering after Hermanson chided members in May for leaking to news reporters a letter from the council that asked the Metro board to reconsider charging peak fares during SafeTrack. The fact that this leaked out is a strike against the RAC, Hermanson said at a council meeting, because we cant be trusted to deal with things with protocol. But the leak also exposed the fault lines over what posture the advisory council should take. I spend whole days downtown trying to build relationships with both the board and the staff, Hermanson said. Because we dont have the authority to tell them what to do, we need to be able to persuade them that our knowledge is good, and we have good intentions, and we have good advice. And I felt like that leak burned my relationship with those people. Ahmed Zewail, winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize for chemistry, holds a bottle of champagne at the conclusion of a news conference at the California Institute of Technology. (Fred Prouser/Reuters) Ahmed H. Zewail, a winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry who grew up on the banks of the Nile River in Egypt and used the heat from his mothers Arabic coffee maker in one of his earliest excursions into science, died Aug. 2. He was 70. The California Institute of Technology, the Pasadena-based university where he had been a faculty member and administrator for years, announced the death but did not provide further information. He was a resident of San Marino, a suburb of Los Angeles. Dr. Zewail, the first Egyptian and Arab to win a Nobel in science, fulfilled the ambitions of his devoted mother, who, well before he received his PhD, hung on his door in the family home a sign declaring him Dr. Ahmed. He received the Nobel in 1999 for work that used lasers to probe the intricacies of chemical reactions as they occurred step by step, instant by instant, over intervals of time almost too small to imagine. His pioneering work came in an area known by the exotic sounding name of femtochemistry, where femto is a prefix used to suggest quantities and time intervals on the order of a millionth of a billionth of those encountered in the everyday world. Egypt-born chemist Ahmed Zewail receives the gold Nile Necklace, the country's most prestigious award, from Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak, in Cairo in 1999 for winning the Nobel Prize. (Reuters) Pulses produced on such a scale by laser made it possible for Dr. Zewail to speak of chemical reactions and transformations occurring over areas of atomic dimensions and within almost infinitesimally small moments of time. Just as slow-motion photography revealed aspects of common events hidden from the scrutiny of the unaided human senses, femto techniques, embodying laser capabilities, gave science new insights into how chemical reactions proceed. Professor Zewails contributions have brought about a revolution in chemistry and adjacent sciences, since this type of investigation allows us to understand and predict important reactions, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced at the time of the Nobel awards ceremony. With such advances, it became possible to watch as chemical bonds formed, broke and formed again. It offered the opportunity to witness each step of the process by which atoms and molecules absorbed energy and expelled it, or exchanged it, or used it to rotate and vibrate. Permitting unprecedented understanding of chemical behavior at its most detailed, Dr. Zewails advances in femtochemistry pointed the way to greater control over the actions of atoms and molecules. It enhanced scientists ability to create new compounds and to manipulate old ones. Ahmed Hassan Zewail was born in Damanhur, a city about 100 miles northwest of Cairo, on Feb. 26, 1946. He grew up in Desouk, another northern city, in a family of four children, and steps away from a landmark mosque whose imam encouraged broad-based learning. Education was in the fabric of our culture and religion, he later wrote. His father was a government employee who also ran a private business. His mother, a homemaker, doted on her four children and on the science-minded Ahmed her only son in particular. As a boy it was clear that my inclinations were toward the physical sciences, he wrote in a Nobel autobiographical statement. Mathematics, mechanics, and chemistry were among the fields that gave me a special satisfaction. Social sciences were not as attractive because in those days much emphasis was placed on memorization of subjects, names and the like, and for reasons unknown (to me), my mind kept asking how and why. In my teens, he added. I recall feeling a thrill when I solved a difficult problem in mechanics, for instance, considering all of the tricky operational forces of a car going uphill or downhill. . . . In my bedroom I constructed a small apparatus, out of my mothers oil burner (for making Arabic coffee) and a few glass tubes, in order to see how wood is transformed into a burning gas and a liquid substance. I still remember this vividly, not only for the science, but also for the danger of burning down our house! He graduated in 1967 from Egypts Alexandria University, where he also received a masters degree in chemistry in 1969. Because of the Arab-Israeli wars of that era and the United Statess backing of Israel the Egyptian government did not offer financial support or other incentives to study in America. Instead, Dr. Zewail was left to find his own fellowships and scholarships to leave for the West. He did, ultimately completing a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974. Subsequently, he went to the Berkeley campus of the University of California to continue his research on an IBM postdoctoral research fellowship. In 1976, he joined the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) as an assistant professor and later became the first holder of a chair named for Linus C. Pauling, one of the few winners of two Nobels (one for chemistry and one for peace). Dr. Zewail wrote hundreds of scientific papers and contributed to more than a dozen books. He held medals, prizes and other honors from governments and scientific institutions around the world. A dual American and Egyptian citizen, he was a member of President Obamas science and technology advisory panel from 2009 to 2013 and also served as the presidents special envoy for science to the Middle East. In 1989, he went to Saudi Arabia to receive the King Faisal International Prize. While there, he met Dema Faham, the daughter of a man receiving the same prize. They married months later. Besides his wife, survivors include their four children, according to Caltech. Dr. Zewail worked for years to raise money and generate political interest in creating a science-based university and research campus near Cairo. The Zewail City of Science and Technology was inaugurated in 2011 to stem a brain drain of Egypts talented scientists. In the aftermath of the 2013 Egyptian military coup and previous uprisings at Tahrir Square and elsewhere, he wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times that lambasted the country for emphasizing the expansion of the security apparatus and mega resorts and vanity projects over educational opportunities. He said the restless and teeming young people had few avenues to a stable and decent life. A part of the world that pioneered science and mathematics during Europes dark ages is now lost in a dark age of illiteracy and knowledge deficiency, he wrote, adding that he wished the $1.5 billion in annual support that the United States gives to Egypt would accent scientific and industrial cooperation instead of going overwhelmingly toward the purchase of military equipment. U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen at his home in Saylorsburg, Pa. (Charles Mostoller /Reuters) It was a weekday night in the Poconos, quiet but for the sound of cicadas in the wooded hills of rural Pennsylvania. In the secluded compound where he preaches nonviolence, tolerance and the value of education, Fethullah Gulen sat in a well-lighted room, handing out candy to children. Half a world away in his native Turkey, the 77-year-old Muslim cleric with a global following had just been accused of orchestrating the bloody July 15 coup attempt that left more than 200 people dead and a major U.S. ally in chaos. Gulens many adherents and admirers have dismissed the allegations, which he has denied, as the ravings of a paranoid Turkish government and an attempt by its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to rid himself once and for all of a former ally whose popularity challenges his increasingly autocratic rule. Critics say Gulen is a conniving leader of what Turkish government lawyer Robert Amsterdam calls a cult, bent on taking over Turkey. They charge that the international network of universities, hospitals, charities, business associations, news outlets and schools more than 1,000 of them spread across more than 150 countries over which, they say, he presides, is little more than a front for the spread of what Erdogans government has labeled a deviant religious ideology. Since the coup attempt, the Turkish government has arrested more than 10,000 people and dismissed nearly 70,000 from their jobs. It has set up a hotline for people to call if they suspect someone of being a Gulenist. [Post-coup crackdown fuels U.S. concern about Turkish democracy] Turkish officials have accused the United States of harboring Gulen and suggested U.S. involvement in the aborted coup. The government in Ankara has asked for Gulens extradition as both a legal matter and a profession of loyalty and respect. A Justice Department team is sifting through what U.S. officials say are some 85 boxes of evidence that Turkey says describes the infiltration of Gulenists into every part of Turkish society, including the judiciary, the police and the military faction that launched the coup attempt, and proves Gulens direct role as mastermind of the plot. Turkey sees the matter of Gulens extradition as one of trusting a NATO member and a leading partner in the fight against the Islamic State. For Gods sake, were talking about a country that has been a loyal ally to the United States for 60 years, Serdar Kilic, Turkeys ambassador to the United States, said in an interview. They have to give unreserved support to Turkey. Imagine if a group of generals had decided that Obama was not taking the right course of action in Syria or in Europe or wherever, he said, and had commandeered aircraft to bomb Congress, ordered civilians to be shot at, taken the military chief of staff hostage, and come within 15 minutes of trying to kidnap or assassinate the president all of which happened during the coup attempt. What, Kilic asked, would the immediate U.S. reaction be? At the very least, he said, Turkey deserved the benefit of the doubt from the U.S. government. The United States, which spent years trying to send Gulen home after his 1999 arrival here as a tourist before a court granted him a green card, says the process is a legal one in which politics and alliances have no role. President Erdogan and Turkey have a strong belief that Mr. Gulen, who is in Pennsylvania, who is a legal resident of the United States, is somehow behind some of these efforts, President Obama said a week after the coup attempt. We have a process here in the United States for dealing with extradition requests made by foreign governments, Obama said. Its governed by treaties, governed by laws, and it is not a decision that I make but rather a decision that our Justice Department and investigators and courts make alongside my administration in a very well-structured and well-established process. Gulen denies involvement. If one-tenth of this accusation is correct . . . let them take me away, let them hang me, he told CNNs Fareed Zakaria on Sunday. A "No trespassing" sign is seen at the entrance to the Golden Generation Worship & Retreat Center, run by U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, in Saylorsburg, Penn., on Dec. 19, 2014. (Charles Mostoller/Reuters) An extensive network The son of a small-town imam in Turkey, Gulen is revered by millions around the world, even if few Americans have heard of him. In 2008, readers of Foreign Policy magazine and Prospect, a British publication, voted him the worlds top public intellectual. His U.S. network to which his organization says he is only loosely tied through his teachings includes some 160 schools, the vast majority of them government-funded charters. A nationwide federation of Gulen-linked Turkish American civic and business organizations competes effectively with similarly named groups tied to the Turkish government. What is globally known as the Hizmet movement service in Turkish was already taking root here by the time Gulen arrived in 1999 and converted a former summer camp into what is now known as the Golden Generation Worship & Retreat Center. [A tour of Gulens secluded 25 acres in the Poconos] Here, the movement has replicated elements of a pattern it established in Turkey and in countries across Central Asia and beyond. First was the Concept Schools, a chain of charters that opened in Cleveland in 1999, followed by Harmony Public Charter Schools, launched in Texas in 2000. Today, 160 Gulen-inspired schools operate in at least 20 states. Many of them are high- performing. Harmony, in Texas, won a $30 million grant from the Obama administrations Race to the Top competition. But some schools have also had problems. In Oklahoma, state auditors this year found evidence of financial fraud and contract bidding violations in the network of Dove charter schools. In Georgia, state authorities in 2014 shut down two Gulen-inspired charter schools after an audit found that they had violated rules for awarding contracts and that they had defaulted on bonds. In 2013, the Loudoun County School Board in Virginia denied a charter application, citing curriculum, management and budget problems, and a lack of community support. Most of the charter schools, which do not teach religion, deny any formal connection with Gulens movement. (There are no ties of any kind to any religious movement, reads a line on the Harmony website.) But all have the same distinguishing features: They were opened by Turks and focus on math, science and technology, as per Gulens emphasis in education. Many use identical mission terminology in their handbooks and offer opportunities to learn the Turkish language or culture. 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) Other elements of the Hizmet network have carefully cultivated political influence, hosting conferences and luncheons across the country. Some are sponsored by the Rumi Forum, which opened in Washington in 1999 to foster interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Others with similar missions, which describe themselves as Gulen-inspired, include the Pacifica Institute, which opened in the San Fernando Valley in California in 2003, and the Niagara Foundation, established in 2004 in Chicago. Several are overseen by the Alliance for Shared Values, Hizmets New York-based umbrella organization, which also facilitates access to Gulen and his retreat. Gulen serves as honorary president of some of the groups and is cited as the inspiration to them, according to their websites. Their members attend state and White House dinners, and host government officials for conferences and ceremonies. The annual dinner of the Turkic American Alliance, an umbrella for regional Turkish groups also linked to the Alliance for Shared Values, draws high-level Americans including former president Bill Clinton, who addressed the 2008 event by video. In recent years, individuals and organizations linked to Gulens movement have donated tens of thousands of dollars to political campaigns, including those of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, former House speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), former Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry (R) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), among others, according to federal filings. Since 2007, more than a dozen organizations with ties to Gulens movement have also sponsored 289 congressional trips, nearly half of all congressional visits to Turkey during that time period, according to an examination of those filings by The Washington Post. The lack of transparency in terms of how the various Gulenist organizations are run with many contributors unnamed in federal filings, and the hierarchy and sources of funds unclear has given rise to suspicion. [Graphic: How the Turkish government regained control] The FBI has launched a number of past and current investigations into possible financial irregularities at a number of Gulen-tied enterprises, ranging from individual schools to business associations, according to U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the cases. No charges have ever been filed. A USA Today investigation last year found that some Gulenist groups that identified as nonprofits for the purpose of funding congressional trips never actually registered as nonprofit organizations with the IRS, or misrepresented their spending on tax forms. Emre Celik, the president of the Rumi Forum, where Gulen is the honorary president, said the movement is far too loose to exercise oversight over the various entities that adhere to Gulens ideology. All institutions have a board, and the boards are legally responsible for what they do and dont do, Celik said when asked about the irregularities. Gulen, he added, doesnt hold any official office or any official position. And his day-to-day duties, beyond writing and speaking, do not involve the running of any single institution in any country. A man attaches a mask with the image of Fethullah Gulen on a makeshift gallows on Kizilay Square in Ankara, Turkey, on July 29. Gulen is accused of orchestrated a failed coup attempt earlier in the month. (Ali Unal/AP) While Gulen admirers praise his calls for ecumenicism, early speeches quoted at length in the Israeli media contained flashes of anti-Semitism and criticism of Israel. In a 2013 interview with the Atlantic, Gulen said that some of his words may have been taken out of context, but also said that he had had an evolution in his thinking about other religions. A host of non-Muslim academics, religious leaders and officials have embraced Gulen as a voice of peace and tolerance in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Board and advisory board members of Gulenist organizations include evangelical, Catholic, Baptist and Jewish religious leaders. As Islamic movements go, Graham Fuller, a former senior CIA official and vice chairman of the National Intelligence Council, wrote last month in the Huffington Post, I would rank Hizmet high on the list of rational, moderate, socially constructive and open-minded organizations. It is not a cult; it sits squarely in mainstream modernizing Islam. Fuller, who has written extensively on the Middle East, wrote a letter in support of Gulens green card application. David Tittensor, an expert on Turkish politics at Australias Deakin University who has written extensively on Gulen and his movement, described him as avowedly nonviolent. That has been a consistent line. Tittensor and other experts, including John Esposito, a professor of Islamic studies at Georgetown University, said they find it unlikely that Gulen could have masterminded a coup attempt. Gulen for many years has been living in exile, in relative seclusion and in poor health, said Esposito, who sits on the advisory board of the Rumi Forum. Esposito said he wouldnt rule out the possibility that disaffected Turkish Gulenists could have participated in the coup attempt. But if Gulen was the mastermind, he said, then the Turkish government should provide proof to support its extradition request. Kilic, the Turkish ambassador, said that such views are the naive conclusions of those who fall prey to Gulens campaign to portray himself as [the leader of] a peaceful, Westernized . . . Islam. Western admirers, he said, dont see the dark side spread through writings and videos behind closed doors. A child waves a Turkish flag near a poster of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in front of Erdogans Istanbul residence on July 26 during a demonstration to show solidarity with the Turkish government following the failed July 15 military coup attempt. (Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) About politics and power Turkeys coup attempt has brought to U.S. shores the political intrigue that has dominated that country for two decades, as Gulen and Erdogan first fought as political allies against the entrenched power of Turkeys military and its enforced secularism, and ultimately turned against each other. While they took different paths to prominence and power, with Erdogan turning to overt politics and Gulen establishing his educational and cultural network from an overseas base, as recently as 2010, Erdogan publicly thanked our friends across the ocean for his victory in constitutional battles with secular forces. And Hizmet leaders acknowledge that many within the movement long believed that Erdogan was the man to carry Turkey toward a vibrant and prosperous democracy. In 2011, Erdogan began his third term as prime minister of the Islam-inspired Justice and Development Party, known as AKP, that Gulenist support had helped prosper. At that point, however, their alliance began to unravel as the two men, having successfully sidelined their joint enemies, found themselves in competition. It was about politics and power rather than ideology, said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish research program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Both wanted to shape Turkey in their own image, and have more of the economic pie. In 2012, there were rumors that Gulenists were no longer getting government contracts, Cagaptay said. Erdogan closed one of Gulens biggest Turkish enterprises, the cramming schools that prepared Turkish students for the nationwide test to determine whether they can pursue higher education. The subterranean competition between them broke into open war at the end of 2013, when judges aligned with the movement pursued corruption charges against Erdogan and other prominent members of his government, Cagaptay said. Despite the growing animosity and government charges, it was not until last month, following the coup attempt, that Turkey first formally requested Gulens extradition from the United States. Since the split with Erdogan, Gulens presence in this country has been a source of Turkish suspicion. For nearly a decade after he appeared here on a tourist visa, U.S. immigration officials sporadically tried to push him out. Gulens 1999 arrival followed a crackdown against Islamist leaders by Turkeys secular government at the time. With nascent elements of his organization already established here, he was granted an immigrant visa in 2001 as a religious worker. Eighteen months later, he applied for permanent residence. Before that application was adjudicated, the government revoked his religious visa for undisclosed reasons. Gulen successfully appealed that decision, even as he filed, in late 2006, a new permanent residence petition, this time as an educator under a special program for persons with extraordinary ability. In November 2007, that application was denied. Gulen appealed and was again denied, but he had already filed a federal civil suit charging he had been mistreated. For more than a year, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania fought the case, arguing that Gulen, who had not attended high school or taught in a classroom, was neither an educator nor extraordinary. His movement, the government said in court documents, was primarily religious and political, not educational. Evidence presented of Gulens extraordinary abilities, it said, has nothing whatever to do with education. Plaintiff has never performed scholarly research in the field of education. And [his] consulting on conferences about his own work is essentially continuing to promote himself and his movement by paying academics to write papers about him. Gulen submitted letters of support from former Turkish and U.S. officials, along with boxes of documents and numerous books and testimonials that in some cases appear to contradict the organizations later insistence that he has no direct involvement in its network of schools. In July 2008, Gulen won. Not only did he demonstrate his prominence and acclaim in the field of education, Judge Stewart Dalzell ruled, but his activities were certainly a benefit to the United States in these times of tensions between adherents of different religions. Dalzell ordered the government to issue him a green card and pay his legal expenses. U.S. diplomats in Turkey had also raised alarms. In May 2006, the U.S. consul general in Turkey, Deborah K. Jones, expressed concerns about the increasing proportion of Gulen supporters among Turkish applicants for U.S. visas. They are almost uniformly evasive about their purpose of travel and their relationships to Gulen, she wrote in a diplomatic cable addressed to the State Department and intelligence agencies. The six-page cable was among hundreds of thousands of leaked U.S. diplomatic communications made public by WikiLeaks in 2011. In a lengthy December 2009 cable, James Jeffrey, the ambassador to Turkey, described the murky nature of the group and its expansion, along with the politically motivated pressures it was under. He expressed concern that the United States, while promoting a non-secular Turkey, was seen as sheltering Gulen. If asked, Jeffrey wrote, U.S. officials should respond that Gulens green card had been granted by a federal court and that his presence in the U.S. should not be viewed as a reflection of U.S. policy toward Turkey. Followers call Gulen Hocafendi which translates roughly as master teacher in Turkish. They extol his mastery of the Turkish language, his eloquent interpretations of Islamic texts and his artful use of poetry. They emphasize his gentle nature. Hes able to attract people like myself, who are interested in the integration of science and the arts and Islam . . . people who dont like violence . . . people who are looking for a spiritually competent version of Islam, said Alp Aslandogan, executive director of the Alliance for Shared Values, who guided a reporter during a visit to the Poconos. But most of Gulens millions of adherents never see him, apart from his video appearances. Frail and puffy-eyed, he rarely emerges from his own modest apartment, furnished with a bed, a desk and a treadmill, or the community center where it is housed. The salon outside his room features a long, backlit photo of the Bosporus and an Istanbul sunset. He reportedly keeps soil samples there, from all over Turkey. Robert OHarrow Jr., Steven Rich, Julie Tate, Anu Narayanswamy and Alice Crites contributed to this report. Read more: Pentagons top general seeks to cool anti-American sentiment in Turkey How the U.S. military scrambled in Turkey to keep working during the coup attempt Turkeys Erdogan blasts foreign leaders over coup reaction Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told supporters in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 1 that he worries the Nov. 8 election "is going to be rigged." (The Washington Post) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told supporters in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 1 that he worries the Nov. 8 election "is going to be rigged." (The Washington Post) Of all the dangerous things Donald Trump has said, perhaps the most concerning is his assertion that the election might be rigged. This irresponsible, unsupported suggestion augurs poorly for Trumps behavior in the increasingly likely event of his loss. The elections going to be rigged, Trump warned at a rally in Ohio. Im telling you, November 8, wed better be careful, because that election is going to be rigged, he told Fox Newss Sean Hannity. Those comments set the stage for an explosive outcome the likes of which this country has never seen. It is not far-fetched to imagine Trump inciting his partisans against accepting the verdict of voters, further inflaming an already toxic political climate in Washington. As much as Republicans sought to ensure President Obamas failure from the moment of his election, their animus toward a President Hillary Clinton would be that much greater even without Trump piling on. Clinton would enter office as a more divisive figure; after all, the GOP argument that she is disqualified to hold the office, whether by virtue of Benghazi or emails, preceded Trumps Crooked Hillary attack. If Clinton is elected, Republicans will have been shut out of the White House for three elections in a row, for the first time since 1948. And if Democrats retake control of the Senate, Republicans eyeing the 2018 map when 25 Democrats (and independents caucusing with Democrats) and only eight Republicans face reelection would have every incentive to impede Clintons initiatives. They would try to make her not just a one-term president but a two-year one. 1 of 60 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Photos of Donald Trump on the campaign trail View Photos The Republican presidential candidate is out on the trail ahead of the general election in November. Caption The GOP presidential nominee is pressing his case ahead of Election Day. Nov. 7, 2016 Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at SNHU Arena in Manchester, N.H. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Add to this predictable ugliness a losing nominee who rouses supporters with assertions that the election was somehow stolen from him and you have a recipe for turmoil of a most un-American variety. Just how un-American can be judged by looking to Al Gores gracious concession to George W. Bush. The Democratic nominee had won the popular vote; he had every reason to believe that, but for a botched election and a butterfly ballot in Florida, he would have won the electoral college majority as well. Nonetheless, Gore, in the aftermath of the Supreme Courts ruling, spoke of meeting with Bush so that we can start to heal the divisions of the campaign and the contest through which weve just passed. He invoked Sen. Stephen Douglas on being defeated by Abraham Lincoln Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism and added, This is America, and we put country before party. We will stand together behind our new president. There is every reason, from his current comments and his history, to think that Trump would respond in a different, far less elevated manner. Consider Trump 2012, who unleashed a stream of unhinged tweeting about Mitt Romneys loss unearthed by my Post colleague Stephen Stromberg. The president lost the popular vote by a lot and won the election. We should have a revolution in this country, Trump proclaimed, although Obama in fact won both the popular vote and the electoral college. A few minutes later: The phoney [sic] electoral college made a laughing stock out of our nation. The loser one! A few minutes later: We should march on Washington and stop this travesty. Trump notwithstanding, the election was not a total sham. The electoral college, for better or worse, is specified in the Constitution. Calling for revolution? Imagine what Trump might do when the loser is himself. In his interview this week with The Posts Philip Rucker, Trump offered an unsettling preview. The United States, Rucker noted, has a tradition in which losers concede graciously and try to get their supporters on board like Al Gore did in 2000. Would you? Trump: I dont want to jump the gun. I dont want to talk about that. Im just saying that I wouldnt be surprised if the election . . . theres a lot of dirty pool played at the election, meaning the election is rigged. Trumps evidence, such as it is, of prospective rigging involves the string of recent court rulings invalidating voter-ID laws and the phantom menace of voter fraud. The voter ID situation has turned out to be a very unfair development, Trump claimed to Rucker. We may have people vote 10 times. There is no such evidence. The provisions of North Carolinas restrictive voting law, a federal appeals court just ruled, impose cures for problems that did not exist. Trump is dangerous, and the threat he poses might not be extinguished by a loss at the polls. Read more from Ruth Marcuss archive, follow her on Twitter or subscribe to her updates on Facebook. FOR MORE than a month, Secretary of State John F. Kerry has been pressing the regime of Vladimir Putin to accept what, for Moscow, would be a sweetheart deal on Syria. The United States would grant Russias long-standing request to carry out joint operations against Syrian rebels deemed to be terrorists, in exchange for another Kremlin promise to restrain bombing by the regime of Bashar al-Assad in some parts of the country. This cave-in to Mr. Putin would be so sweeping that some senior Obama administration officials have not concealed their doubts: In an interview with The Posts David Ignatius, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. questioned whether Russia could be expected to deliver on any promise it made in Syria. Sure enough, it turns out that Mr. Putin had other ambitions. Rather than settle for the partial victory offered by Mr. Kerry, Russia has joined with the Assad regime in a new campaign to drive all anti-regime forces out of Aleppo, the countrys largest city a feat that would essentially win the war. Last week, Moscow unilaterally declared that it was creating four evacuation corridors out of rebel-held districts and invited the 300,000 civilians and armed combatants in them to evacuate. Anyone who remained, the Russians suggested, would be mercilessly targeted. That assault is already underway: Having cut off the last road into the rebel-held area nearly three weeks ago, regime forces have been systematically bombing its remaining hospitals and other medical facilities. As even State Department spokesmen were obliged to acknowledge, the Russian operation, which the Kremlin cynically described as a humanitarian mission, was little more than a preemptory demand for the oppositions unconditional surrender that ignored the ongoing U.N.-sponsored political process and violated a Security Council resolution. For their part, the rebels responded with a major offensive to break the Aleppo siege. On Monday, the deadline set by U.N. Resolution 2254 for an agreement on a political transition in Syria, some of the heaviest fighting of the year was underway. Once again, the Obama administration appears to have been blindsided by Mr. Putin, just as it was when Russia dispatched its forces to Syria in September. On Friday, Mr. Kerry said he had been on the phone to Moscow seeking clarification about the Aleppo move, which he said posed the risk, if it is a ruse, of completely breaking apart the level of cooperation. By Monday, he had no answers. These are important days to determine whether or not Russia and the Assad regime are going to live up to the U.N., he said, adding, the evidence thus far is very, very troubling. Unfortunately, Mr. Putin has no reason to respect such warnings from Mr. Kerry. Time and again, the secretary has declared that Russia must deliver or suffer consequences, such as a U.S. Plan B for Syria. Each time, Moscow has disregarded the jawboning and Mr. Kerry has responded not with consequences but with new appeals for cooperation and more U.S. concessions. On Monday, he said, We will see in the course of the next hours, few days, whether or not that dynamic with Russia can be changed. But then, he spoke nearly the same words six months ago. The writer is a retired U.S. Army major general. I am a former soldier who served our nation in uniform for more than 34 years. I was also Capt. Humayun Khans combat brigade commander in Diyala province, Iraq, in 2004. I came to know Humayun after taking command of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, in Germany in 2002. The motto of our unit was No mission too difficult. No sacrifice too great. Duty First! Humayun was a wonderful person, liked and respected by all who knew him. I used to joke with him about the tank platoon he once led, which I had led 20 years earlier. I often told him that we were kindred spirits. I remember clearly the day he died. Both Republicans and Democrats are publicly responding to the row between GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and Khizr Khan. Khan's son was killed while serving in Iraq. Here's what politicians from both parties said. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) Humayun was a great officer. The 201st Forward Support Battalion, Humayuns unit, was the most motivated and combat-oriented logistics unit I had ever seen. It supported our 4,000-person brigade, protected wheeled convoys and was responsible for guarding the gates at our large forward operating base: Camp Warhorse. We employed more than 1,000 Iraqi citizens at Camp Warhorse. We were slowly making progress in the province, the economy and security were improving, and the insurgents were losing steam. Security at Camp Warhorse was extremely tight. Unfortunately, we had killed or wounded several innocent Iraqi drivers at our gates over the previous month for failing to heed our warning signs and our gate guards instructions. Each of these incidents potentially hurt our relationship with local Iraqis. Humayun had fostered a warm relationship with our local workforce, and he and his unit were determined to break the cycle of violence by reducing or eliminating unnecessary deaths and injuries at our gates. On the morning of June 8, 2004, the gate guards alerted Humayun to an orange-and-white taxicab slowly moving through our serpentine barriers during the rush hour of Iraqi day workers coming onto camp. Humayun probably moved toward the suspicious vehicle to avoid killing the driver unnecessarily, but at some point, he concluded that something was wrong and ordered his men to hit the dirt. The driver detonated his car bomb, killing Humayun and two Iraqi citizens. Humayun died trying to save the lives of innocent Iraqis. His brave effort to approach the vehicle probably saved American lives as well. I raced to the gate upon hearing the huge explosion. It was an awful scene. Battalion commander Lt. Col. Dan Mitchell and his soldiers had resecured the destroyed gate, but we lost more than a gate, we lost a member of our team of our family. Humayuns death caused sadness throughout our entire brigade combat team. There were three memorial services for him one with our soldiers at Camp Warhorse, a second with our rear detachment and family members at our home base in Vilseck, Germany, and a third with the Khan family in United States. We named the 201st Battalion headquarters on Camp Warhorse the Khan Building in his honor. Humayun was one of 36 men and one woman in our brigade who died during our year in Iraq. Our fallen comrades were of all races, religions and genders. They represented sacrifice, service, duty and the essence of what makes our country great. And, yes, it is a great country right now. Despite our flaws, the United States remains a beacon of hope around the world. Blue Star families are those with a member deployed to combat in the service of our country. Gold Star families are families that have lost a loved one in a combat zone. In our military culture, we hold Blue Star families in the highest regard. But we have absolute reverence for our Gold Star families. I join all those who stand in support of the Khan family. This family is our family, and any attack on this wonderful American Gold Star family is an attack on all patriotic and loyal Americans who have sacrificed to make our country great. Any politically or racially motivated attack on the Khans is despicable and un-American. 1 of 14 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad The most memorable moments from the Republican and Democratic conventions View Photos From a tender moment between President Obama and Hillary Clinton to Trumps flashy entrance, heres a look at top moments from the conventions. Caption From a tender moment between President Obama and Hillary Clinton to Trumps flashy entrance, heres a look at top moments from the conventions. Democratic National Convention President Obama embraces presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia after endorsing her and imploring the public to reject fear, to summon whats best in us. Melina Mara/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. I am no politician. I have stayed away from politics my entire adult life. My family has been Republican ever since my maternal grandparents migrated from Jim Crow South Carolina to Philadelphia in the late 1920s. My grandmother voted for Herbert Hoover in 1928. Though I am a Republican, I have voted my conscience for both Democrats and Republicans for the past 32 years. Im going to vote my conscience again this year. We live in a dangerous and complex world. We need leaders who are steady, patient and empathetic, especially at the national level, during this troubled time. We need somebody who has respect for our Gold Star families. But, above all, our country needs more men and women like Humayun Khan and the countless others who willingly and humbly served this great nation of ours without reservation or recognition. Duty First! CHARLESTON -- Steve Shirley of Mattoon won the Coles County four-wheel drive, gas truck pull Tuesday evening with his 1976 Chevrolet, the oldest truck in this class. In addition, Tyler Poland of Mattoon won the county four-wheel drive, diesel truck pull with his 2006 Dodge during this grandstand event at the Coles County Fair. Shirley won the gas truck competition with a pull of 288.49 feet. The veteran truck puller said he has won first place in this event nine times now, second place two times, and third place once since he started pulling with his 76 Chevy in 1986. Shirley said he always enjoys seeing the old truck out pull newer models. "It makes my whole year," Shirley said while smiling, adding that he does not plan to retire the 76 Chevy from pulling anytime soon. Shirley said he used his 76 Chevy as a work truck for many years, but "now it's just a toy." His youngest daughter, 15-year-old Sue Ann Shirley, said she was proud when her dad drove the 76 Chevy to pick her up on the last day of high school this year. She was there Tuesday night with her family to cheer him on at the truck pull. "I am really proud of him. He gives it his all," Sue Ann said. She added that she also is a big fan of the 76 Chevy because "It's pretty sweet!" The other competitors in the gas truck pull were: second place, Gene Cox of Mattoon, 2004 Ford, 274.56 feet; third, Tyler Gordon of Mattoon, 2000 F350, 273.02; fourth, Jesse Cox of Mattoon, 1998 Dodge, 272.86; fifth, Clint Pierce of Humboldt, 2013 GMC, 262.87; sixth, Troy Carrell of Mattoon, 1979 GMC, 238.26; seventh, Austin Swango of Charleston, 2008 GMC, 230.58; and eighth, Travis Campbell of Charleston, 1999 Dodge, 208.09. Poland won the diesel truck pull with a distance of 341.23 feet. The other competitors in the diesel pull were: second place, Jason Clodfelder of Charleston, 2012 Dodge, 306.31 feet; third, Derek Fasnacht of Ashmore, 2007 Dodge, 301.44; fourth, Landon Thompson of Lerna, 2006 Ford, 299.27; fifth, Seth Newhart of Mattoon, 2003 Ford, 287.74; sixth, Dustin Salmons of Charleston, 2015 Dodge, 283.98; seventh, Dalton Cox of Mattoon, 2004 Ford, 281.55; eighth, Sawyer Overton of Mattoon, 2003 Ford, 278.38; ninth, Jordan Pollard of Charleston, 2005 Ford, 275.99; and 10th, John Haney of Humboldt, 2015 Chevy, 274.71. Jeff Flake and Mike Pence were the best of friends. Both men ran conservative free-market think tanks before getting into politics, and both were elected to the House in the Republican class of 2000. Both were affable young lawmakers, happy warriors inspired by Ronald Reagan; covering Congress, I came to know and admire both of them. Pence in 2012 went home to Indiana as governor. Flake won election to the Senate the same year. He was my closest friend during my time in the House, and I still see him whenever he comes to D.C., Flake told me this week. I think a lot of Mike. But in recent weeks, the two friends made very different choices. Flake became, arguably, the most outspoken critic of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump among elected Republicans. And Pence agreed to be Trumps running mate. The two met in Phoenix on Tuesday night. Pence had come to speak at a rally and hold a fundraiser for the Republican ticket. Flake declined to attend either. The two men and their wives met privately, avoiding politics. It was almost all family and memories, Flake told me Wednesday. After a bad week for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, some in the Republican Party are reaching new levels of panic. Here's why picking a new nominee might not be the answer. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) Its becoming clear that Flake made the better choice. The Trump campaign seems to be imploding and is likely to take down Pence and other Republicans who saluted Trump. The attack on Gold Star parents. The botched statement about Ukraine. The refusal to support party leaders such as House Speaker Paul Ryan and Sen. John McCain. Trumps reported nonchalance about using nuclear weapons. His reckless remarks about the stock market and a rigged election. The Republicans belatedly heading for the exits vindicate Flakes long and lonely stand against Trump. The senator has no interest in gloating, but he welcomes the company. I would have thought that it would have occurred earlier, he said. Its just the accumulation of it, and at some point people say Thats enough. . . . In conversations with colleagues and then just seeing the speed and forcefulness of the statements that have come out, I sense theres a bit of change. For all the ominous political developments, its worth pausing to remember that there are still good and courageous leaders none more so in recent weeks than the self-effacing Mormon from Arizona. Somebodys got to push back, and thats what Im doing, Flake said. Im not interested in being an apologist. Earlier this month, Flake met Trump at a Senate Republican caucus lunch. Youve been very critical of me, Trump said. Yes, I have, Flake replied, launching into fresh criticism of Trumps statements. Trump threatened to work against Flake in November. Flake informed Trump that he isnt up for reelection until 2018. Flake refused to attend the Republican convention, saying, Ive got to mow my lawn. During the convention, he took to Twitter to object to the Republicans lock her up attack on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. When Trump proposed his ban on Muslims entering the country, Flake visited a mosque to highlight the contributions of Muslim Americans. Flake hailed McCains statement saying that Trump doesnt have an unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us. Flake has made frequent TV appearances, including one on CBSs Face the Nation in June asking fellow Republicans to withhold endorsement of Trump because of his beyond-the-pale actions. Flake told me he gives a pass to McCain, Ryan and Pence for supporting Trump, but he acknowledged being surprised that more didnt join him sooner. His outspokenness has hurt him with donors and constituents. If youre looking at reelection, theres a clearer path not doing what Im doing, he said. Flakes answer to his critics: Trump cant win, and he could cause Republicans to lose the Senate, thereby offering no resistance to liberal Supreme Court nominees. But Flakes position is less a political one than a principled one. He said theres no excuse for Trump calling an Indiana-born judge Mexican, and he said its a stake in the heart to see Republicans turn against immigration. Flake thinks Republicans overpromising for example, that they could repeal Obamacare contributed to Trumps rise, and hes not optimistic that Trumps defeat would fix things. Were inevitably going to have another autopsy, he said, and after again resolving to be more tolerant, some new populist will rise up, and there we are again. Pence, who has had pragmatic tendencies as governor, probably would have agreed with Flake, and perhaps he still does. Flake speculates that his friend thought he could influence Trump to take a more sensible course. Ive got to think that that was his calculation. But time is running out, and Pences imprint is yet to be seen. Theres little evidence, Flake said, that hes rubbed off on him. Twitter: @Milbank Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. As Russian intelligence agencies escalate their use of the U.S.-created Internet as a tool of political sabotage, its haunting to recall the famous communist dictum: The capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them. Against this menacing background, the subject of Internet governance long an arcane topic of discussion among geeks and technologists takes on crucial political importance. Who will protect the integrity of the basic structure of domain names and addresses on which the Internet operates? What protects the world from future efforts by Russia or China, or the United States, for that matter, to subvert a free and open Internet? The hero of this story turns out to be a little-known, quasi-private oversight group known as ICANN, which stands for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It was founded in 1998 to take over an informal system that had been managed by an early Internet guru named Jon Postel, an eccentric computer-science professor at the University of Southern California. Postel and his techie friends created a structure for public use of the communications network that had been built in the late 1960s by the Pentagon. The engineers created a system of domain names the now-universally familiar array of .mil, .gov, .edu, .org, .net and .com. To help people find their way electronically to the right computer, they built a naming system that had minimal central management and great autonomy for users. The genius of the early system was that it was, essentially, ungoverned. The Internet had little control at the core and innovation at the edges, explains Steve Crocker, the current chairman of ICANN, in an interview. Rather than bureaucratic rules and boundaries, there were engineering protocols. Postel died in 1998, just before the Bill Clinton administration launched its plan to charter ICANN to take over the operations that had been run, figuratively speaking, out of Postels shoebox of index cards at USC. The new corporation had a contract with the Commerce Department to maintain the system. So in that sense, the United States had oversight, but ICANN officials say it was rarely exercised. ICANN also supervised Postels system of national suffixes, such as .uk or .ru, which helped other countries join the network. This unitary, unregulated Internet quickly spread to every corner of global life and commerce. This technological Arcadia inevitably drew complaints from countries that resented ICANNs U.S. base. These critics proposed a takeover by the International Telecommunication Union, a stodgy, bureaucratic U.N. agency that was headed at the time by a Russian-educated engineer from Mali, who was succeeded last year by the Chinese deputy secretary-general. But the advocates of a free and open Internet fought back. Fadi Chehade, an Egyptian American who was then president of ICANN, began campaigning to keep control out of the hands of governments, bureaucrats and potential censors. Chehade and the Obama administration both recognized that after the Edward Snowden revelations in 2013, the price of ICANNs continued control would be severance of its ties to the U.S. government. Chehade made that pitch to Brazil, China and India three countries that had been eager for ITU control. And amazingly enough, he succeeded. Chehade says in an interview that the argument he made was simple: If the ICANN-managed system broke, we no longer have one Internet. ICANNs contract with the Commerce Department is set to expire Sept. 30. A few Republicans, led by Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.), are trying to block the transition, arguing that it will give control of the Internet to Russia, China and other potential abusers. But Crocker and Chehade argue that continuation of this peculiar, independent, tech-driven body is in fact the only way to keep the system open and honest. Crocker explains the protections that ICANN has designed into the system. If any nation, or private hacker, tried to introduce bad information into the architecture, it would be detected instantly. And sabotaging domain names would be impossible because the information is so widely distributed. A committee of engineers, drawn from the United States, Europe and Asia, will oversee the root system that Postel created. Another global panel of engineers will guard the systems security. The genius of the Internet is that nobody owns it. The vulnerability of the information that rests atop this platform was shown by the recent Russian hacks of the Democratic National Committee. But the underlying system looks more secure and is probably best protected by ICANNs global alliance of geeks, rather than any government or agency. Read more from David Ignatiuss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. IN ANY good play, actors charm their audience with the feeling and flair they bring to the stage. But much of the magic in a successful production and a successful company happens behind the scenes. Arena Stage co-founder Zelda Fichandler, who died Friday at 91, was a fine magician. Sixty-six years ago, a 25-year-old Ms. Fichandler took some time out from finishing her masters thesis at George Washington University to turn a run-down movie house in Northwest Washington into a 247-seat arena. It was the first new theater in Washington since 1895. Ms. Fichandler soon realized she and her partners were transforming more than just a building: In creating Arena Stage, which moved to Southwest D.C. in the early 1960s, they had recast the role of regional theater in American culture. Arena Stage gave birth to the Districts theater scene. Until Ms. Fichandler, theater happened in New York, and it happened on tour, often with the hope of getting to New York. Regional repertory shows were mostly unheard of; in smaller cities, summer stock was about as good as it got. Ms. Fichandlers theater was founded as a for-profit, but under her stewardship it became a nonprofit a model that allowed Arena Stage to thrive and one that drives the national theater scene today. Though other cities followed suit, Ms. Fichandler, in most cases, was there before the rest of the crowd: Arena Stage was the first regional theater to transfer a production to Broadway. Since then, it has sent 19 more. In 1973, the theaters resident company toured behind the Iron Curtain. In 1976, Arena Stage was the first theater to win a Regional Theatre Tony Award a prize created in the wake of the movement Arena Stage itself spurred. Arena Stage broke barriers for civil rights, too: It was the first theater in D.C. to welcome all races into its space, and the first to integrate its company. Ms. Fichandler retired from Arena Stage in 1990. By then, the District had cemented its status as a cultural center as well as a political one. Today, about 90 professional theater companies operate in the District. Before Ms. Fichandler came onto the scene, there were none. There is a hunger to see the human presence acted out, Ms. Fichandler once said. In the District, she helped satisfy that hunger. She also increased our appetite for the arts. BETTER LATE than never, federal courts are turning back the tide of voter suppression measures enacted by Republican-controlled state legislatures with the all-too-transparent intent of discouraging minority and other Democratic-leaning citizens from exercising their clout at the polls. On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit threw out a particularly obnoxious North Carolina law whose provisions target African Americans with almost surgical precision in an effort to tilt the electoral playing field to the GOP. In a similar opinion last week, a federal judge in Wisconsin ruled the states voter-ID law unconstitutional and ordered election officials to broaden the types and accessibility of acceptable IDs. For years, Republican state lawmakers have been devising an array of voting measures whose burdens fall disproportionately on black, Hispanic and young voters, who tend to vote for Democrats. Their project amounts to a legislative strategy of playing to the whistle testing the boundaries of constitutional tolerance before federal judges gag and call foul. Some of the GOP-sponsored state laws are more blatantly discriminatory than others. North Carolinas elicited the ire of the appeals court because of its brief list of acceptable photo IDs and an accompanying suite of other restrictive rules, including ones forbidding voters from registering to vote on Election Day, from registering before reaching the voting age of 18, and from casting early ballots. The timing of North Carolinas law also reinforced suspicions that the GOP agenda was voter suppression along racial lines. Republicans wrote and enacted it immediately after the Supreme Court lifted a long-standing requirement, in force since the Jim Crow era, that the Justice Department preapprove any change to the states voting laws. An equally egregious example is the voter-ID law in Texas, where federal courts have found that more than 600,000 people would be unable to procure or afford an ID deemed valid, and that disproportionate numbers of them are black and Hispanic. A federal district judge is fixing the law in time for Novembers elections. Other measures elsewhere are subtler. In Virginia, expert testimony in an ongoing federal challenge to the states voter-ID statute, enacted in 2013, indicates that the laws burden of inconvenience falls disproportionately on black and Hispanic voters, who are less likely to have the mandated forms of ID. However, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson concluded that despite the laws disparate impact on minorities, the inconvenience does not amount to a substantial burden on voting. Besides, Judge Hudson wrote, Virginias law is a reasonable response to public anxiety about electoral fraud. Never mind that, as the judge acknowledged, theres no evidence such fraud exists or that the anxiety he cited is the byproduct of a feedback loop manufactured by Republicans as justification to solve a nonexistent problem. The effect of the GOP crusade of disenfranchisement will be to reinforce the alliance between minority voters and Democrats for years or decades to come. It subverts efforts by so-called moderates to burnish Republicans appeal to minorities and cements the GOPs image as the party of exclusion and racial bias. The Republican presidential candidate is out on the trail ahead of the general election in November. The Republican presidential candidate is out on the trail ahead of the general election in November. With their national party conventions in the rearview mirror, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are showering attention on the Western battleground state of Colorado. Despite some recent public polls showing Clinton with a wide lead over Trump, both camps are warning: Dont listen to the polls because the state is very much still in play. For proof of how fierce the competition is likely to get, look no further than their recent schedules. Trump has held two campaign rallies in Colorado in less than a week, and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, held two more on Wednesday. Clinton held a dueling rally nearby on Wednesday afternoon, just miles from where Pence appeared. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton toured a facility in Denver on Aug. 3 where ties and other clothing is manufactured. She criticized Republican nominee Donald Trump for manufacturing many of his branded products overseas. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post) In Denver, Clinton zeroed in on the economy, criticizing Trump for making his products overseas and touting her jobs plan. We think we can put into effect a jobs program that will create millions of new jobs with rising incomes, Clinton said at her Commerce City rally. Earlier in the day, Clinton toured the Knotty Tie companys headquarters to highlight a small business that makes its products in the United States. The campaign will also release a new battleground-state TV ad showing Trump admitting in an interview with David Letterman that his products were made in countries such as Bangladesh and China. If he wants to make America great again, he should start by making things in America - and theres a lot he could learn by coming here, Clinton said at the tie company. Meanwhile, Democrats in the state have been working to cast Trump as unfit, offensive to women, minorities and, now, military families. Trump became embroiled in controversy in the past week for criticizing the family of Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed in 2004 while serving in Iraq and was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart. After a bad week for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, some in the Republican Party are reaching new levels of panic. Here's why picking a new nominee might not be the answer. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) [The Fix: Basically nothing is sacred to Donald Trump] In a state where we have such a large military presence, Donald Trump to be disrespecting Gold Star families is putting Republicans in a very tough spot, said Rick Palacio, chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party. Democrats arent alone. The controversy has shaken Republicans in Colorado and across the country. They worry that Trumps comments may have finally crossed a critical line. I keep waiting for Donald Trump to exercise the discipline and professionalism that I know hes capable of, but Im not seeing it, said Ryan Call, former chairman of the Colorado Republican Party. Im hopeful that Trump really does apologize for some things for something that has been I believe crossing the line. Hes made some major missteps and unless he reverses his positioning, really does walk back some of those comments and remarks, thats something that will continue to really hurt him among veterans and active-duty military that call Colorado home, Call added. Democrats have long hoped that they could make the state more firmly blue. Its relatively large Hispanic population, numerous college campuses and fast-growing urban centers seem to work in their favor. But the state still quietly holds onto its Wild West roots, especially when it comes to politics. Statewide and local races have swung from one party to the other in recent elections. Colorado has its own independent way of being, and it is still very much still up for grabs, said former senator Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), who was also President Obamas first interior secretary. Here, Clinton faces the same challenge she may face elsewhere: uncertainty. Republicans say that Trump could change the electorate in unpredictable ways. Call said he sees evidence that Trump is attracting a new contingent of voters, some of whom have never participated in presidential politics before. I was watching people register to vote for the first time, said Call, who attended Trumps rally Sunday in Colorado Springs. It was different from any Republican rally or function I had ever attended. A lot of them werent even Republican, he added. Trump has been sharply criticized for his proposal to build a wall across the countrys border with Mexico. But the states Hispanic population is diverse, Call said. It consists of both new immigrants as well as more conservative-leaning Hispanic Americans who have called Colorado home for generations, Call said. Trump has also run an unconventional campaign here just as he has in the rest of the country. Republicans and Democrats say there is very little evidence of his campaign deploying a robust ground game though the national Republican Party and state party are more organized on the ground and there is no radio or television advertising to speak of. Instead, the big draw has been Trump himself. His rallies attract thousands, and his comments make a thousand headlines. The risk Democrats say they face is that he will ultimately unify the Republican base and draw enough unconventional or disillusioned voters to make a difference in the general election. You have that base: Many of them may not see Trump as their favorite candidate, but they have who they have, Salazar said. Then he goes after independents and disillusioned Democrats and tries to build from there. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he's "running against a rigged press" during a campaign rally on Aug. 2 in Ashburn, Va. (The Washington Post) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he's "running against a rigged press" during a campaign rally on Aug. 2 in Ashburn, Va. (The Washington Post) Donald Trump, trailing narrowly in presidential polls, has issued a warning to worried Republican voters: The election will be rigged against him and he could lose as a result. Trump pointed to several court cases nationwide in which restrictive laws requiring voters to show identification have been thrown out. He said those decisions open the door to fraud in November. If the election is rigged, I would not be surprised, he told The Washington Post in an interview Tuesday afternoon. The voter ID situation has turned out to be a very unfair development. We may have people vote 10 times. Those comments followed a claim Trump made Monday, to an audience in Ohio, that the election is going to be rigged. That same day, in an interview with Fox News Channels Sean Hannity, he beseeched Republicans to start watching closely or the election will be taken away from us through fraud. Like much of what Trump says, the rigged riff defies the recent norms of politics. And it taps into fears that long predate his campaign. One is a growing and unsubstantiated worry that elections are being stolen. The other is a broader unease that regular Americans are being cheated by Wall Street, by Washington and by a duplicitous media. 1 of 60 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Photos of Donald Trump on the campaign trail View Photos The Republican presidential candidate is out on the trail ahead of the general election in November. Caption The GOP presidential nominee is pressing his case ahead of Election Day. Nov. 7, 2016 Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at SNHU Arena in Manchester, N.H. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Those worries have found voice in both parties this year, with Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) both rallying their supporters during the Republican and Democratic primaries with the assessment that the system is rigged. Now, Trump is reviving the theme to highlight the possibility of voter fraud in November. [Trump refuses to support Ryan, McCain in upcoming Republican primaries] Since the 2000 election, which ended in a legal battle that stopped recounts of ballots in Florida, paranoia about the nations election system has mushroomed. According to a Pew Research Center survey, just 48 percent of Americans were confident that the votes across the country were accurately counted in the 2004 election. After 2012, an election with a wider popular vote margin, that percentage fell to 31 percent. Among Republicans, it was 21 percent. The idea that the person who won the presidency did so illegitimately is not new, said Jesse Walker, the author of The United States of Paranoia, a history of conspiracy theories. Whats new is the possibility of a possible loser in the presidential contest making an issue out of it. I cant think of another example in the last century. Jokes about Democrats counting votes from dead people or bused-in fraudsters are part of the Republican lingua franca. During his unsuccessful presidential bid, Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) often encouraged his audiences to bring friends and family to the polls with a joke about Democratic election theft. I want you to vote 10 times, he would say. Dont worry were not Democrats. In his interview with The Post, Trump offered that his chief concern about fraud was that states without strict identification requirements would see rampant repeat voters. If you dont have voter ID, you can just keep voting and voting and voting, he said. On Fox News, Trumps only evidence for fraud consisted of precincts where there were practically nobody voting for the Republican in the 2012 election. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told supporters in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 1 that he worries the Nov. 8 election "is going to be rigged." (The Washington Post) In reality, voter fraud is rare. A 2014 study by Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Law School, found just 31 possible instances of fraud over 14 years of elections with a total of 1 billion votes cast. The low Republican vote in some urban centers squares with the low support black voters gave GOP nominee Mitt Romneys campaign in 2012. Still, the battle against voter fraud has made gains with Republican lawmakers and conservative journalists. Since the 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder undid some requirements of the Voting Rights Act, restrictive new voter ID and registration laws have passed through Republican-run states. [Obama: Trump is unfit to serve as president] Those laws have been challenged successfully in court, with North Carolina, North Dakota and Wisconsin losing cases in the days before Trump made his rigged comments. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory accused judges of undermining the integrity of our elections. In an interview Tuesday with CBS12 in Florida, Trump seemed to condemn the rulings against the states. Some bad court cases have come down, he said. Some of his more freewheeling supporters went even further, with the radio host Alex Jones warning listeners that the Obama administration might cancel the election, and off-again, on-again adviser Roger Stone telling Breitbart News that Trump needed to be ready for a violent post-election contest. I think hes gotta put them on notice that their inauguration will be rhetorical, Stone said. I mean civil disobedience, not violence, but it will be a bloodbath. The government will be shut down if they attempt to steal this and swear Hillary in. To Ari Berman, a reporter for the Nation and the author of the voting rights history Give Us the Ballot, Trumps worry about rigging sounded like an adaptation of something already mainstream among Republicans. Theres been a two-decade campaign on the right to drum up fears of voter fraud stealing elections, Berman said. Theyre trying to say that these voting rights victories will lead to more fraud. They want to spin these court victories not as something thats good for democracy, but something that will hurt democracy. Thats what Trump is buying into. At the same time, many supporters of Sanderss presidential run have argued that the Democratic nomination was effectively stolen from him another sentiment Trump has tried to exploit. Long before the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Sanders supporters asked whether a purge of New York voters, Californias slow ballot count or the closure of polling places in Arizonas largest county had suppressed their votes. The Bernie Sanders folks dont believe all the ballots were counted, Chuck Pennachio, an academic and a Sanders delegate from Pennsylvania, said at a news conference last week. They dont believe that the process was clean. If you look at the exit polls, they dont match up with the results in 11 of the 12 closest states. Every theory about how the primaries were stolen has been debunked. The famous New York purge, for example, disproportionately affected nonwhite voters, who had been breaking for Clinton. The same was true of the long lines in Arizonas Maricopa County, which resulted from a decision by the countys Republican-run elections team. But in trying to explain how some early exit poll results diverged from vote totals, debunkers found themselves struggling to convince their listeners. Joe Lenski, the lead pollster for exit poll provider Edison Research, explained to the skeptical left-wing site Counterpunch that Sanders voters and young voters had been more likely to fill out the surveys. That did not stop the spread of theories that millions of Sanders votes might have been switched or suppressed. Last week, when more than 200 Sanders supporters invaded a media tent at the DNC, some left behind charts attempting to prove that vote-counters skewed the election. Clintons 2.9 million-vote margin in the primaries may have set the upper bounds for speculation that an American election had been stolen. Sanders supporters also latched onto internal emails between staff members at the Democratic National Committee, in which they speculated about a Clinton nomination even before the primaries were over. Trump, who previously accused Republicans of rigging primaries through the delegate selection process, found solace in the email scandal. Like Sanders, whose voters he wants to convert, he had found the idea of a rigged process syncing perfectly with his outsider brand. On Fox News, Trump tried to tell Sanderss supporters that they already had seen an election wrested away by the political elite. It was rigged a little bit [against] me, and we won, he said. It was rigged a little bit against Bernie Sanders. We know it was rigged, Hannity said. Weve seen the emails. Philip Rucker contributed to this report. The Washington Posts Philip Rucker explains how unusual it is that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is withholding his endorsements of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in their primary races. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post) The Washington Posts Philip Rucker explains how unusual it is that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is withholding his endorsements of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in their primary races. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post) Turmoil in the Republican Party escalated Wednesday as party leaders, strategists and donors voiced increased alarm about the flailing state of Donald Trumps candidacy and fears that the presidential nominee was damaging the party with an extraordinary week of self-inflicted mistakes, gratuitous attacks and missed opportunities. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was described as very frustrated with and deeply disturbed by Trumps behavior over the past week, having run out of excuses to make on the nominees behalf to donors and other party leaders, according to multiple people familiar with the events. Meanwhile, Trumps top campaign advisers are struggling once again to instill discipline in their candidate, who has spent recent days lurching from one controversy to another while seemingly skipping chances to go on the offensive against his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. A new level of panic hit the street, said longtime operative Scott Reed, chief strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Its time for a serious reset. Trump allies on Wednesday publicly urged the candidate to reboot, furious that he has allowed his confrontation with the Muslim parents of dead Army Capt. Humayun Khan to continue for nearly a week. They also are angry with Trump because of his refusal in an interview with The Washington Post on Tuesday to endorse two of the GOPs top elected officials House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) and Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) ahead of their coming primary elections. After a bad week for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, some in the Republican Party are reaching new levels of panic. Here's why picking a new nominee might not be the answer. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) [Donald Trump refuses to endorse Paul Ryan and John McCain in GOP primaries] Former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), one of Trumps most loyal defenders, warned that his friend was in danger of throwing away the election and helping to make Clinton president. The current race is which of these two is the more unacceptable, because right now, neither of them is acceptable, he said. Trump is helping her to win by proving he is more unacceptable than she is. Gingrich said Trump has only a matter of weeks to reverse course. Anybody who is horrified by Hillary should hope that Trump will take a deep breath and learn some new skills, he said. He cannot win the presidency operating the way he is now. She cant be bad enough to elect him if hes determined to make this many mistakes. Campaigning in Florida, Trump sought to pivot away from his problems. He addressed the controversy and speculation, saying his campaign is doing really well and has never been this well united, then focused renewed attacks on Clinton and President Obama. But the idea that the campaign was fully united was undercut when Mike Pence, Trumps vice-presidential running mate, told Fox News Channel that he strongly endorsed Ryan in his primary campaign. Other Republicans viewed the endorsement as a sign that he is having some influence within the campaign, said a person familiar with Pences role. Campaign manager Paul Manafort went on cable news channels earlier in the day to try to tamp down the rampant criticism of the GOP nominee, saying that reports of a campaign staff in crisis were incorrect. He said the campaign is focused, in very good shape and moving forward. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump found himself in the middle of a whole bunch of controversies, all in the space of a few days. Here's a breakdown. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post) Throughout the day, there were also persistent reports that allies of Trump, including Priebus, Gingrich and former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, were trying to arrange a meeting with Trump to urge him to refocus his candidacy. Manafort, when asked on Fox News about such a meeting, said he knew nothing about it. Not me, Gingrich said in an email when asked if he were part of an upcoming meeting. A knowledgeable GOP strategist said, Its not happening, then added, It doesnt take a genius to know that calling Donald Trump and yelling at him is never going to work. At past moments of crisis in the campaign, Trumps children have played an influential role, and there was some hope within the party that they could again provide help. Bloomberg Politics reported Wednesday afternoon, however, that Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump had left for a hunting trip outside the country. [Transcript of Donald Trumps interview with The Washington Post] Friends and allies of Manafort disputed reports that the top adviser had given up on Trump, describing him as fully committed to waging a successful campaign. But they said Manafort has been frustrated by Trumps apparent lack of discipline on the stump and in his many media interviews. Paul has good influence with Donald, said Charlie Black, a longtime GOP strategist and former business partner of Manaforts. But hes Donald, and hes going to operate stream of consciousness a lot of times. You just hope hell have more days on message than days on consciousness. A second GOP strategist who also knows Manafort said Trumps campaign manager is the most aggressive guy Ive ever met. My guess is hes trying to make the best of this for the campaign, said this strategist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid. But this is not the plan. Theres no way to explain that this is what you want done in the middle of your campaign. From Washington to state capitals nationwide, a feeling of despair and despondence fell over the Republican establishment. Trump suffered two defections Wednesday when Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), an Iraq War veteran, said on CNN that he is unlikely to vote for Trump because the nominee was beginning to cross a lot of red lines of the unforgivable in politics. Former Montana governor Marc Racicot, a former RNC chairman and a close associate of former president George W. Bushs, also said he wont vote for Trump. Im not accusing people of being appeasers, but what I am saying is that theres a transcendent set of values throughout our history that we subscribe to above party, Racicot told Bloomberg Politics, adding that he thinks Trump lacks those values. Reed, who managed Robert J. Doles 1996 presidential campaign, said Trump should stop doing silly interviews nine times a day that get you off message and deliver a major address seeking to reset the campaign establishing himself as the change candidate. Reed said such a pivot is mandatory for Trump to be successful, as is smoothing relations with Ryan, McCain and other GOP leaders. If Trump decides he wants to go it alone, it is a lonely road, he said. Two weeks ago at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, GOP leaders were buoyed by what they saw in Trump. But he quickly reverted to his old ways, setting off alarms in some parts of the party. Im pulling for him, but hes not driving on the pavement. Hes in the ditch, said Henry Barbour, an RNC member and longtime strategist in Mississippi. Im frustrated. Theres time to fix it, but theres one person who can fix it. Its up to him. A Republican consultant who is working on Senate and gubernatorial races nationwide says the situation is wreaking havoc. The level of uncertainty with Trump just throws everyone off. It really hurts all of them, the consultant said. The Republican Party to him is like any kind of real estate deal. Its all transactional. . . . Hes willing to burn the house down. If the situation has not improved by Labor Day, the RNC may need to begin redirecting resources to bolster vulnerable House and Senate candidates, as it did when Doles defeat became apparent in the fall of 1996, a senior Republican said. Many top GOP fundraisers and donors are taking refuge in the Senate races, pouring their time and money into trying to protect the Republican majority. I have had a number of very successful calls today raising money, said Virginia developer Bob Pence, who is serving as the finance chairman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. People are very animated for Senate races. Steve Duprey, another RNC member from New Hampshire and a confidant of McCain and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), both of whom Trump attacked in the Post interview, said Republican leaders are pretty unhappy. People are more frustrated than they have been with past indiscretions, Duprey said, referencing Trumps intraparty attacks as well as his feud with the Khan family. People are just going, Can you believe this? . . . Our nominee is losing opportunities to make the case why he should be elected instead of Mrs. Clinton and instead spending all of his time dealing with controversies of his own creation. Trump has not taken advantage of Fridays report showing slow economic growth in the last quarter or of an interview Clinton gave to Fox Newss Chris Wallace on Sunday in which she said that FBI Director James B. Comey had generally agreed with her characterizations of her use of a private email server when she was secretary of state. The interview has drawn criticism from fact checkers at news organizations. At some point, he needs to be immeasurably better than Hillary Clinton, but hes not going to have an opportunity to govern if he doesnt begin to bring Republicans together and then, eventually, bring independents and even Democrats on board and convince them that he can do this job, Barbour said. Barbour said he, like others, has been frustrated by missed opportunities since the Democratic National Convention ended Thursday night. The last several days have made this election a referendum on Donald Trump. We want this to be a referendum on Hillary Clinton and the wrong direction the countrys on. RNC chief Priebus has had multiple conversations with Trump and his campaign, although he was not in direct contact with the candidate in the immediate hours after Trump declined to endorse Ryan. Calling Priebus very frustrated, a knowledgable GOP strategist said, Its the totality of the week. The whole Khan thing kicking off the week was a concern to him, and then obviously all the other smaller issues were. Hes been going after this all week. The [failure to endorse Ryan and McCain] was like the cherry on the cake. Gingrich said Trump is continuing to operate on instincts that helped him in business and in the primaries but said the GOP nominee doesnt realize that those skills are not adequate for a general election. He cant learn what he doesnt know because he doesnt know he doesnt know it, Gingrich said. Karen Tumulty contributed to this report. U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel on Tuesday rejected a request by media organizations to allow the public release of hours of videotaped testimony by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in a California lawsuit over Trump University. At the same time, Curiel also refused an effort by Trumps attorneys to toss the case over his now-defunct real estate seminars, allowing it to proceed to trial. The two rulings offered Trump mixed results from the federal judge he has repeatedly attacked as biased. Trump has accused Curiel of being unable to rule fairly in the case because of his Mexican heritage. Curiel rejected a motion for summary judgment in the case, one of two pending in California in which former students of Trumps real estate seminars argue that they were defrauded by false advertising. The second case is slated to go to trial in November, not long after the election. The judge ruled that this case also can be heard by a jury, despite arguments from Trumps lawyers that there was no evidence that Trump operated the program and could be held responsible for the advertising that the former students allege was fraudulent. They also argued that there was no evidence that the ads were false. Curiel ruled that there was enough evidence that Trump University ads were false and that Trump had a hand in their creation. He said a jury should be allowed to decide the issue. Daniel Petrocelli, a lawyer representing Trump in the case, said: Although todays decision merely holds that the case should proceed to a trial, we believe the case should have been dismissed now because it has no merit. We fully expect to prevail at trial. Trumps criticism of Curiel came as the San Diego-based judge ordered the release of hundreds of pages of internal documents that showed how Trump University persuaded students to sign up for more and more expensive programs. Trump told the Wall Street Journal in June that the Indiana-born judge had an absolute conflict because of his Mexican heritage. Im building a wall, okay? he said on CNN, referencing his promise to erect a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border to curb illegal immigration. Those comments were widely condemned by Democrats and Republicans, and on June 7, Trump said in a written statement that his remarks had been misconstrued as a categorical attack against people of Mexican heritage. He defended Trump University, citing positive surveys from students and said he did not plan to continue discussing the issue. Trump has been deposed twice in the case, once in December 2015 and again in January. The transcripts of those sessions have been filed in court and released publicly. They show that Trump repeatedly indicated that he had never met instructors at Trump University, despite advertisements for the program indicating that its staff had been handpicked by the real estate mogul. A coalition of media groups, including The Washington Post, had sought the release of video of the sessions. The group was supported by the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who have argued that Trumps costly real estate sessions amounted to fraud. They argued that Trumps facial expressions and tone, available only via video, would add understanding of the testimony. Trumps attorneys countered that video would serve no legal purpose in the case but would instead be used against their client during the campaign and would taint the jury pool for the scheduled trial in the case. Curiel found that those arguments had some merit and that courts have held that video should be held to a higher standard for release than written transcripts. He wrote that it is nigh-inevitable that excerpts of the videos would be used in media reports and political ads nationwide, increasing the likelihood that prospective jurors would be exposed to the material before the trial. He wrote that although there is a legitimate public interest by the media in the content of the tapes, that interest can largely be served through the transcripts of Trumps testimony. By Yang Jun in Guiyang and Luo Wangshu in Beijing (China Daily) A representative from State Polytechnic Samarinda in Indonesia tries a high-speed railway control system in Guiyang, Guizhou province, on Tuesday.ZENG JUN/CHINA DAILY Chinese colleges signed strategic agreements with counterparts in Southeast Asian countries to train skilled railway transportation talent for ASEAN member countries. The agreements, signed in Guizhou province on Tuesday, included Chinese universities at various levels - Beijing Jiaotong University and Guiyang Vocational and Technical College, for example - to jointly train international students in two-year college programs and four-year bachelor's programs. As China has added contracts with ASEAN countries to build new railways, the need for technicians skilled in railway construction, operations and maintenance has grown. Under the agreements, faculty members and students will be able to visit each other and exchange their experiences and programs. It is the latest development in relations between Chinese schools and their Association of Southeast Asian Nations counterparts, after a deal on Monday at China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week established a railway transportation training league. By Tuesday, 13 Chinese railway enterprises, including Chinese CRRC Corp and China Railway Group, 36 Chinese universities and colleges specializing in the railway industry and about 20 colleges from Southeast Asia, had joined the league, including Siam University in Thailand and the University of Surabaya in Indonesia. "The league can enhance communication between colleges from China and ASEAN countries, increasing the number of international students and improving communication and cooperation between schools and enterprises," said Wang Hong, director of the Railway Transportation Commission of the China Vocational Education Association. Liu Luming, vice-president of Guiyang Vocational and Technical College, said the school has 36 students from a province in Laos enrolled in courses related to the railway industry. Laos and China have agreed to build a rail line between Vientiane, the Laotian capital, and Kunming in Yunnan province. Zeng Jun contributed to this story. Contact the writers at luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn CHARLESTON -- Tickets are now available for the Coles County Extension Foundations raffle featuring a John Deere Z355E riding mower with 48-inch deck or $2,500 cash as the grand prize. The raffle will be held tonight during the 4-H Livestock Auction at the Coles County Fairgrounds in Charleston. Foundation president Brenda Stone says proceeds from the raffle are used to support University of Illinois Extension education programs including 4-H, as well as scholarships for local youth who will continue their education beyond high school. Other prizes include a $150 Walmart gift card, $100 Lambos BP gift card, $50 gift card from deBuhrs Feed and Seed, and five tickets to the 2017 Coles County 4-H Barbecue to be held in April. In addition to grand-prize sponsor Alliance Tractor LLC, sponsors include Peoples Bank and Trust of Charleston, E-K Petroleum, deBuhrs and BP Lambos. Stone says tickets are $20 each and only 275 will be sold, so the odds of winning a prize are pretty good. Tickets may be purchased from deBuhrs Feed and Seed in Mattoon, Alliance Tractor LLC, the Coles County Extension office (707A Windsor Rd., Charleston), or Foundation board members including Bernie deBuhr, George Edwards, Jane Keller, Woody Reinhart, Tom Sherman, Brenda Stone, Stan Uphoff, Matt Webb or Sandy Elam. For more information, contact Stone through the Coles County Extension office at 217-345-7034. President Barack Obama is the first sitting US President to visit a federal prison, in a push to reform one of the most expensive and crowded prison systems in the world. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) President Obama granted clemency to a record 214 inmates on Wednesday, far surpassing his previous single-day record, as part of an ongoing effort to release federal inmates serving prison terms deemed to be unduly harsh. To date, Obama has commuted the sentences of 562 federal inmates, more than the previous nine presidents combined. The White House said in a statement that the president will continue commuting the sentences of inmates through his remaining months in office. Today began like any other for 214 federal inmates across the country, but ultimately became a day I am confident they will never forget, said Neil Eggleston, the White House counsel. The 214 inmates freed represent the most commutations in a single day since at least 1900, Eggleston said. [Obamas crusade against a criminal justice system devoid of second chances] Typically, Obama has granted clemency to 40 or 50 inmates a month. In this case, 67 of the 214 inmates had been sentenced to life in prison. Almost all of those released from their sentences on Wednesday had been convicted of nonviolent drug crimes, according to the White House. The White House said the large number of commutations underscores the need for broader criminal justice reform, which has some bipartisan support but has stalled in Congress. While we continue to work to act on as many clemency applications as possible, only legislation can bring about lasting change to the federal system, Eggleston said. It is critical that both the House and the Senate continue to work on a bipartisan basis to get a criminal justice reform bill to the Presidents desk. [Obama sent these 28 people home from prison early. Then what happened?] According to the Justice Department, those whose sentences were commuted by Obama on Wednesday were: Timothy Adams Hartsville, S.C. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); Middle District of North Carolina. Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Aug. 2, 1995). Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Asher Adkins Columbia City, Ind. Offense: Distribution of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting (two counts); distribution of methamphetamine (three counts); use or carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime (two counts); distribution of more than 100 grams of methamphetamine (two counts); Northern District of Indiana. Sentence: 624 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (Jan. 3, 2000). Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Dec. 1, 2016. Jamonte L. Allison Carbondale, Ill. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine; Southern District of Illinois. Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $500 fine (September 6, 2005). Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Dec. 1, 2016. Joe Alvarado Ogden, Utah. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (two counts); possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted a felon; District of Utah Sentence: Life imprisonment (October 13, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Tyrell L. Anthony Kershaw, S.C. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack cocaine); willfully failing to appear; District of South Carolina Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 28, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Reinaldo A. Arocho Lake Station, Ind. Offense: Drug conspiracy; maintaining a drug house; distribution of crack cocaine; carrying a firearm during drug trafficking; attempting to corruptly persuade a witness; Northern District of Indiana Sentence: 387 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 19, 2000); amended to 300 months imprisonment (January 18, 2011) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jose Carlos Arras, Jr. Albuquerque, N.M. Offense: 1. Conspiracy to import; conspiracy to wit: possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms and more of marijuana; District of New Mexico 2. Supervised release violation (Importation of a quantity of marijuana); Western District of Texas Sentence: 1. 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (November 4, 2002) 2. 10 months imprisonment (consecutive) (November 4, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Sidney J. Ball Lenox, Ga. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 12.04 kilograms of cocaine; Southern District of Texas Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 30, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Lloyd Battles Columbia, S.C. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; Southern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (December 6, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. .David Bell Miami, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (three counts); Southern District of Florida Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (February 12, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. .Pauline K. Blake West Valley City, Utah Offense: Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; conspiracy or attempt to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); establishment of a manufacture operation; possession of a listed chemical (two counts); District of Utah Sentence: 210 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $2,000 restitution (January 7, 2002); amended to 292 months imprisonment (January 27, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Deborah Lucille Blue Alcoa, Tenn. Offense: 1. Distribution of cocaine base (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee 2. Supervised release violation (distribution of cocaine hydrochloride); Eastern District of Tennessee Sentence: 1. 292 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (February 23, 2007); amended to 234 months imprisonment (May 16, 2014) 2. 3 months imprisonment (consecutive) (February 23, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Marston Edward Blue District Heights, Md. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute heroin and cocaine; felon in possession of firearm; possess with intent to distribute heroin, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 25, 2002 (on remand)) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Lucius Boswell Madison, Ga. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); Middle District of Georgia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 5, 1997) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Joshua Boyer Tampa, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; possession of a firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 288 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (November 27, 2001) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Debra R. Brown Nashville, Tenn. Offense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base to a person under 21; Middle District of Tennessee Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 18, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Eddie Lee Brown Brunswick, Ga. Offense: Distribution of cocaine hydrochloride (two counts); Southern District of Georgia Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; six years supervised release (June 12, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Patrick A. Brown Alexandria, Va. Offense: Felon in possession of a firearm, aiding and abetting (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment; three years supervised release (August 8, 1997) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Timothy Aaron Brown Warren, Ohio Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Central District of Illinois Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 3, 2009) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jose Luis Buenrostro Stockton, Calif. Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; Eastern District of California Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 8, 1997) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Barry Charles Butler Shelby, N.C. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (March 30, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months imprisonment. Charles Bynum Torrance, Calif. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; Northern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (May 27, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Annette Maria Canania DeSoto, Mo. Offense: Conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine; possession of pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (December 22, 2006); amended to 210 months imprisonment (April 27, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jose Manuel Candelario Miami, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute Schedule II (crack cocaine) controlled substance; possess with intent to distribute Schedule II (crack cocaine) controlled substance; Southern District of Alabama Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (April 21, 1994); amended to 360 months imprisonment (May 17, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Ralph Casas North Miami Beach, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 9,445 kilograms of cocaine; District of Puerto Rico Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (April 19, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 292 months imprisonment. Willie Chester Waco, Tex. Offense: Possession of a firearm by felon; false statement in acquisition of firearm; Western District of Texas Sentence: 264 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $3,000 fine (March 26, 1992) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Donyelle Childs Clearwater, Fla. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (January 12, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment. Kenneth Choice Chicago, Ill. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver narcotics; possession with intent to deliver narcotics; Northern District of Illinois Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (September 24, 1999); amended to life imprisonment; eight years supervised release (June 9, 2004); amended to 324 months imprisonment (February 1, 2016) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Osvaldo Cisneros-Gutierrez Earlimart, Calif. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of methamphetamine; Northern District of Texas Sentence: 292 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (October 13, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 228 months imprisonment. Mark Anthony Clark Rockford, Ill. Offense: Conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute amphetamine; possession of a firearm by a felon/fugitive from justice and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; six years supervised release (September 1, 1995) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Antonio Cobb Bloomington, Ill. Offense: Distribution of cocaine base; Central District of Illinois Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (February 28, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months imprisonment. Jimmie Clyde Collins Joshua, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute; possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting; using a drug involved premises and aiding and abetting; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Texas Sentence: 370 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (February 11, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Dewayne L. Comer Syracuse, N.Y. Offense: Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise; conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base (two counts); possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of New York Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (December 8, 1997) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jason Andrew Comer Weyers Cave, Va. Offense: Aid and abet in the possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (October 23, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Delaria Antwan Conway Laurens, S.C. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine and a quantity of cocaine (two counts); District of South Carolina Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (December 17, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Eugene Ross Cousins GreenvIll.le, Va. Offense: Distribution of methamphetamine (two counts); possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (two counts); drug user in possession of firearm (two counts); Western District of Virginia Sentence: 406 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (August 8, 2007); amended to 397 months imprisonment (April, 4, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Lavon A. Crockett Kansas City, KS Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base (crack cocaine); District of Kansas Sentence: 188 months imprisonment; four years supervised release (December 6, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Darnell Crookshank West Covina, Calif. Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture phencyclidine; manufacture with intent to distribute phencyclidine, aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine; Central District of California Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Dawan Croskery Buffalo, N.Y. Offense: Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise; money laundering; Western District of New York Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (December 16, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Andrew Crumbly Fort Myers, Fla. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of cocaine base, crack cocaine (three counts); Middle District of Florida Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; six years supervised release (February 14, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Morris Dabbs Trenton, N.J. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (crack); Middle District of North Carolina Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (February 29, 2000); amended to 291 months imprisonment (August 2, 2011); amended to 240 months imprisonment (October 6, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Ricky Darden Kinston, N.C. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 16, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Lenwood Davies Wabasso, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Florida Sentence: 180 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (November 15, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Richard Lawrence Davis St. Louis, MO Offense: 1. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri 2. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 1. 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 15, 2004) 2. 93 months imprisonment (concurrent) (March 4, 2005); amended to 75 months imprisonment (November 18, 2011) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Terry Davis Monroe, LA Offense: Distribution of cocaine base; Western District of Arkansas Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 8, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Christopher M. Dees Pensacola, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $1,000 fine (September 1, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jose Del Valle Philadelphia, Pa. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and aiding and abetting; Eastern District of Pennsylvania Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 7, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Maynard Dennis Liverpool, N.Y. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Northern District of New York Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (September 7, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Bobbie Jo Diers Romeoville, Ill. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); Central District of Illinois Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 12, 2010) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. James J. Dino Upper Tumon, Guam Offense: 1. Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; District of Guam 2. Supervised release violation (possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine); District of Guam Sentence: 1. 240 months imprisonment;10 years supervised release (October 19, 2006) 2. 60 months imprisonment (concurrent) (October 19, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 193 months imprisonment. Scottie Ladon Dixon Atmore, Ala. Offense: 1. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; 2. Violation of supervised release (conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine); 1. Southern District of Alabama; 2. Southern District of Alabama Sentence: 1. Life imprisonment; 2. 33 months imprisonment (concurrent); 1. 10 years supervised release (1. & 2. May 18, 2010) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 221 months imprisonment. Thomas Duncan Columbia, Tenn. Offense: Possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of five grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute; Eastern District of Tennessee Sentence: 352 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (September 23, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Vincent Duval Bradenton, Fla. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (October 28, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. William Ennis El Paso, Tex. Offense: Conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, to wit: cocaine more than five kilograms; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, to wit: cocaine more than five kilograms; using a communication device to facilitate the commission of a felony; Western District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $5,000 fine (July 17, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Kenneth Evans Fort Worth, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base and aiding and abetting; use and carry firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment plus 60 months; five years supervised release (August 20, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Ronald Evans Norfolk, VA Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and a mixture containing cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute heroin (three counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing cocaine base (two counts); Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (July 30, 1993); amended to 360 months imprisonment (March 16, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Ronald Evans New York, N.Y. Offense: 1. Possession with intent to distribute in excess of five grams of cocaine base; District of Maine 2. Supervised release violation (possession with intent to distribute cocaine base); District of Maine Sentence: 1. 270 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (August 13, 2003) 2. 12 months imprisonment (concurrent) (August 13, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. James Oliver Fambro Decatur, Ga. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense; Northern District of Florida Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release, $500 fine (April 5, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. J.B. Farris, Jr. Atlanta, Ga. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Georgia Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 26, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Corey Ferguson Bowling Green, Ky. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; distribution of cocaine, aiding and abetting; Western District of Kentucky Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (May 5, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 202 months imprisonment. Alejandro Flores Mission, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; traveling in interstate commerce to facilitate a criminal activity; Northern District of Georgia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 10, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Raul Camargo Flores Lubbock, Tex. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas Sentence: 292 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (February 7, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Felix Monroe Fort Birmingham, AL Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of Alabama Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; four years supervised release (November 18, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months imprisonment. Raymond Fox New York, N.Y. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Southern District of New York Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 2, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Charles Franklin St. Louis, MO Offense: Possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of cocaine base (crack); possession with the intent to distribute heroin; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 7, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Cleveland R. Franklin, Jr. Indianapolis, Ind. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing cocaine base; carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Southern District of Indiana Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $1,000 fine (November 17, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Michael L. Franklin Kansas City, Mo. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Western District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 3, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Toddrick Onterio Franklin St. Petersburg, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm in and affecting interstate commerce; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 120 months supervised release (March 21, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. William Anthony Freeman Detroit, Mich. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; Eastern District of Michigan Sentence: 480 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (December 14, 1990) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Thomas R. Fuller Kansas City, Mo. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; aiding and abetting to distribute crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; Western District of Missouri Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 7, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. John Nicholas Gargano Folcroft, Pa. Offense: 1. Conspiracy to distribute methylenedioxymethamphetamine and ketamine; distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distributing and possessing with intent to distribute ecstasy; Southern District of New York 2. Conspiracy to commit identification fraud and credit card fraud; unauthorized use of access devices; Southern District of New York 3. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine; District of New Jersey Sentence: 1. 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 30, 2004) 2. 10 years imprisonment (concurrent); three years supervised release; $212,379.38 restitution (November 30, 2004) 3. 100 months imprisonment (concurrent); five years supervised release (September 8, 2010) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Enrique Garza Zolfo Springs, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; attempt to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 480 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jesse James Gentry Grand Prairie, Tex. Offense: Possession of more than 50 grams of crack cocaine with intent to distribute; Northern District of Texas Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (February 3, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Bernard Gibson, Sr. Temple Hills, Md. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled drug substances: heroin and cocaine; District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 15, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Steve P. Gillespie Greeneville, Tenn. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (August 16, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Derrick Glass Youngstown, Ohio Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (March 14, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Fred M. Glover Washington, D.C. Offense: Unlawful distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base; unlawful distribution of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school (three counts); unlawful distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (two counts); District of Columbia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (October 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Will A. Goines, Jr. Chicago, Ill. Offense: Distribution of cocaine base (crack) (three counts); Central District of Illinois Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 14, 2010) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 120 months imprisonment. Michael Goldsby Cleveland, Ohio Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 5.88 grams of cocaine base; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: 383 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (November 19, 1997); amended to 360 months imprisonment (August 31, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Ramon Gonzalez San Juan, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute 4506.65, kilograms of marijuana; possession with intent to distribute 4506.65 kilograms of marijuana; Southern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; life term supervised release (January 20, 2009) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Edgar Gonzalez-Valentin Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Offense: Conspiracy to import cocaine, aiding and abetting; importation of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of firearm in relation to drug trafficking crime (two counts); District of Puerto Rico Sentence: 595 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (July 10, 1992); amended to 511 months imprisonment (August 19, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Christopher Green Waycross, Ga. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine hydrochloride and crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine (two counts); Southern District of Georgia Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 23, 1997) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Randy P. Green Sikeston, Mo. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 7, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Samuel Grooms Clinton Township, Mich. Offense: Conspiracy with intent to distribute heroin; attempted possession with intent to distribute heroin; Eastern District of Michigan Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (May 23, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Steven C. Hall Gonzales, La. Offense: 1. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base; Middle District of Louisiana 2. Supervised release violation (conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base); Middle District of Louisiana Sentence: 1. 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 22, 2005) 2. 45 months imprisonment (consecutive) (February 16, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Stephen Ramont Hardridge Tulsa, Okla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine and 50 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; Northern District of Oklahoma Sentence: 292 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $10,000 fine (November 25, 2002 (on remand)); amended to 240 months imprisonment (June 10, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of the $10,000 fine remitted. Steven R. Hardy Tampa, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base; Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 14, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Donella Marie Harriel Stuart, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; District of South Carolina Sentence: 264 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (March 17, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment and 10-year term of supervised release commuted to a four-year term of supervised release. Benjamin Harris Dallas, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute MDMA, cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Louisiana Sentence: 226 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (February 23, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months imprisonment. Christopher J. Heath Ridgway, Ill. Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; Southern District of Illinois Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $500 fine (February 24, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Wilson Henderson Hollywood, Fla. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (incorrectly listed on the judgment as cocaine); use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Southern District of Georgia Sentence: Life plus 60 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 20, 1992) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. John A. Hill Cleveland, Ohio Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: Life imprisonment (July 16, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Robert Hill Washington, D.C. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (three counts); Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: 480 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 20, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Marcell Hogans St. Louis, Mo. Offense: Distribution of cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 168 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (August 21, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Kenneth Bronson Hughes Charlotte Court House, Va. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base; possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 334 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (September 3, 2003); amended to 272 months imprisonment (September 2, 2008); amended to 218 months imprisonment (March 4, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Deangelo Hunt Richmond, Va. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: 180 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (February 1, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Courtney D. Hurt Tamms, Ill. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; Southern District of Illinois Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release; $1,000 fine (July 25, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, and unpaid balance of $1,000 fine remitted, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Alfonzo Ingram Rowlett, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of Illinois Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $1,000 fine (June 16, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment. Anthonial Irick Cameron, S.C. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Georgia Sentence: 180 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (May 18, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Albert Jackson Mount Vernon, Ill. Offense: 1. Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; distribution of cocaine; 2. Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine; Central District of Illinois Sentence: 1. 262 months imprisonment; 2. 480 months imprisonment (consecutive); 1. 10 years supervised release; 2. eight years supervised release (1. August 19, 1991; 2. November 7, 1994) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Dickey Joe Jackson Boyd, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (two counts); felon in possession of a firearm; possession of an unregistered firearm (two counts); Northern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (May 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Elmer Jackson Bushnell, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base (four counts); Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (December 19, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Eugene Ernst Jackson Baltimore, Md. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics; distribution and possession with narcotics, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 19, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Tommy Merrel Jackson Boyd, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Northern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (May 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Tyrand James Youngstown, Ohio Offense: Distribution of cocaine (two counts); distribution of cocaine base; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (March 16, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Bernard Jennings Vero Beach, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base (three counts); Southern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 12, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Douglas George Jensen Whitefish, Mont. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; District of Montana Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (February 24, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Derrick Anthony Johnson Richmond, Va. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; as principle or aider and abettor, possessed with intent to distribute cocaine base; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Frederico Johnson Kansas City, Mo. Offense: Distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Missouri Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (July 23, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment. Matthew Troy Johnson Baltimore, Md. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (November 12, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Walter Lee Johnson Shreveport, La. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Louisiana Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 14, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Arnold Ray Jones Lubbock, Tex. Offense: Distribution of less than 50 grams of cocaine base and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; four years supervised release (November 22, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jeffrey Lynn Jones Eugene, Ore. Offense: Manufacturing methamphetamine; conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; District of Oregon Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (November 3, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Vernon Jones Evansville, Ind. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base (mixture); distribution of cocaine base (mixture) (two counts); Southern District of Indiana Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (June 9, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Albert J. Josey, Jr. Sayreville, N.J. Offense: Possession of 50 grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $1,000 fine (October 3, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of the $1,000 fine remitted. Keldren Joshua Los Angeles, Calif. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance; Central District of California Sentence: 188 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (August 21, 2006); amended to 168 months imprisonment (November 10, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Cory Baker Kamerud Aberdeen, SD Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Northern District of Iowa Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (May 7, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Charceil Kellam Berryville, Va. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base; distribute more than 5 grams of cocaine base; Western District of Virginia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 24, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 160 months imprisonment. Kenneth Lee Kelley Westville, Okla. Offense: Felon in possession of firearm after former conviction (two counts); possession of stolen firearm; attempt to manufacture methamphetamine (three counts); possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Oklahoma Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (April 27, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Milton Kemp Jewell, Ga. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute crack cocaine; distribution of crack cocaine; Southern District of Georgia Sentence: 280 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 19, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Joseph Willie Kennedy Randallstown, Md. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 14, 1992) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Delinege King Houston, Tex. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base; Eastern District of Louisiana Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 27, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Vince Cordell King Detroit, Mich. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); using or carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; Eastern District of Michigan Sentence: Life plus five years imprisonment; eight years supervised release (May 21, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Kent Edward Kiser Manassas, Va. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: 270 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (March 10, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment. James LaRon Knight Jonesboro, Ga. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; Southern District of Alabama Sentence: 292 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (November 23, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Derrick Tyrone Lamb Fort Pierce, Fla. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Southern District of Florida Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (March 3, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 151 months imprisonment. Charlie Lawuary Springfield, Ill. Offense: Possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute; Central District of Illinois Sentence: Life imprisonment; eight years supervised release (July 27, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Josephine Ledezma Rialto, Calif. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance (cocaine); being aided and abetted by others, did unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally possess and cause to be possessed, with intent to distribute, a Schedule II controlled substance (cocaine); Western District of Tennessee Sentence: Life imprisonment (October 30, 1992) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. James Allen Ledford Auburndale, Fla. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 16, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 235 months imprisonment. Eric L. Lemon St. Petersburg, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 188 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 6, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Gregory Allen Liningham Los Angeles, Calif. Offense: Possession of more than 50 grams of crack cocaine with intent to distribute; Western District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $3,000 fine (December 1, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Antonio Lopez Grand Prairie, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Eastern District of Texas Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (October 26, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jeffrey Lundin Livingston, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States; conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine while aboard a United States vessel; Southern District of Florida Sentence: 324 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (September 15, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Edwin M. Mack Fort Myers, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base, crack cocaine; distribution of a quantity of cocaine base, crack cocaine (two counts); possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, crack cocaine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of an unregistered firearm (incorrectly listed on the judgment as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon); Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 1, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Alonzo Mackins, Jr. Charlotte, N.C. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine, cocaine base, heroin, and marijuana; conspiracy to commit money laundering; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (October 8, 1999); amended to 360 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (August 14, 2006); amended to life imprisonment (September 2, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Alberto Maisonet Philadelphia, Pa. Offense: Distribution of cocaine base (two counts); distribution of cocaine (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine; illegal use of a communication facility (four counts); Eastern District of Pennsylvania Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (February 23, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Sheldon Paul Mangiapane Hot Springs, Ariz. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 13, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Tommy M. Martinez Sparta, Ill. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; distribution of crack cocaine; Southern District of Illinois Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release; $4,000 fine (April 7, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of the $4,000 fine remitted. Robert L. Matthews Memphis, Tenn. Offense: 1. Distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Northern District of Mississippi 2. Supervised release violation (possession with intent to distribute cocaine base); Western District of Tennessee Sentence: 1. 280 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (June 13, 1997) 2. 15 months imprisonment (consecutive) (September 30, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. James A. McGee Chidester, Ark. Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture methamphetamine (three counts); Southern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (April 4, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Artis Sangria McGraw Saluda, S.C. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; use of firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm with obliterated serial numbers; District of South Carolina Sentence: 270 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (September 30, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Reba L. McIntyre Hayti, Mo. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (June 26, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Torey A. McKay Wesley Chapel, Fla. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute and distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (two counts); possession with intent to distribute and distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribute a quantity of cocaine; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (March 29, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Rudolph McKinnon, Jr. Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Florida Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $1,000 fine (October 26, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. John Anthony Mickens Louisa, Va. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 211 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (June 25, 2007); amended to 181 months imprisonment (October 21, 2008); amended to 180 months imprisonment (October 14, 2011) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. David Dean Millard Grimes, Iowa Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; use of communication facility to distribute methamphetamine (two counts); Southern District of Iowa Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (October 10, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Titus Jerrard Mobley Groveland, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 210 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (June 23, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Tyrone Montgomery Lexington, Ky. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of Kentucky Sentence: 288 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 27, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 209 months imprisonment. Ronald Perry Moon Commerce, Ga. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Northern District of Georgia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $2,000 fine (February 10, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of $2,000 fine remitted. Martin Brandon Moore Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base and more than 5 kilograms of a mixture and substance containing cocaine; principal to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and more than 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; Northern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (May 30, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months imprisonment. Michael L. Moore Mount Vernon, N.Y. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine; distribution of five kilograms or more of cocaine; Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (June 5, 1998); amended to 292 months imprisonment (October 27, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Amir Morgan Evansville, Ind. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine (mixture); Southern District of Indiana Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (December 19, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 1, 2017. Lucille Mae Morse Billings, Mont. Offense: Distribution/possession with intent to distribute heroin/methamphetamine (two counts); possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (six counts); District of Montana Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 29, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Luciano Murga Houston, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana; Northern District of Florida Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $800 fine (January 25, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Robert Earl Nettles Fort Pierce, Fla. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Florida Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (January 22, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Linton C. Nichols Cleveland, Ohio Offense: Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack); possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 15, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Robert Lee Nickles Mobile, Ala. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; Southern District of Alabama Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 27, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Hilario Nieto, III San Antonio, Tex. Offense: 1. Possession with intent to distribute heroin; Western District of Texas 2. Distribution of a controlled substance, heroin; Western District of Texas Sentence: 1. 188 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (February 5, 2004) 2. 188 months imprisonment (60 months consecutive to above offense, the remainder concurrent); three years supervised release (August 9, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Francisco Olivera Modesto, Calif. Offense: 1. Use of a communication facility in the commission of a drug offense; Eastern District of California 2. Conspiracy to manufacture and to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute; attempted manufacture of methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; possession of a listed chemical knowing that it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; Eastern District of California Sentence: 1. 48 months imprisonment; 12 months supervised release (March 16, 1998) 2. 324 months imprisonment (consecutive); 36 months supervised release (November 3, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 288 months imprisonment. Kenyatta ONeil San Antonio, Tex. Offense: Distribution of cocaine base (two counts); Western District of Texas Sentence: 188 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (March 30, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Candido Ortiz-Martinez Pagedale, Mo. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime (two counts); distribution of cocaine; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 592 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (December 12, 1991); amended to 535 months imprisonment (March 30, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Lonnie Dwayne Payne St. Louis, MO Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; interstate transportation of a firearm by a felon; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 324 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 25, 2003); amended to 240 months imprisonment (April 21, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jeremy Payton Winnfield , La. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Louisiana Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 8, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Erenio C. Perez Colorado Springs, Colo. Offense: Conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting the manufacture in excess of one kilogram of methamphetamine; possession and aiding and abetting the possession of ephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); possession and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (two counts); District of Colorado Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 19, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Sharon Price Nacogdoches, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to commit money laundering; Western District of Texas Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; three years supervised release; $20,000 fine (June 6, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of the $20,000 fine remitted. Thomas Jefferson Price, III Kernersville, N.C. Offense: Conspiracy: possess with intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine; possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine (three counts); Middle District of North Carolina Sentence: 330 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (May 24, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jack Dewhan Randolph Charlotte, N.C. Offense: Possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting the same (two counts); Western District of North Carolina Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (November 29, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Evans Ray, Jr. Fort Washington, Md. Offense: Distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine, aiding and abetting; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: 324 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (May 7, 2007); amended to life imprisonment (May 15, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Keith Ray Minneapolis, Minn. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; Northern District of Illinois Sentence: 263 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $2,500 fine (April 17, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Richard D. Reid Wilmington, Del. Offense: Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (five counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a cocaine base (crack); possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession of crack cocaine; possession of marijuana; District of Delaware Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 4, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Ricardo Renteria Irving, Tex. Offense: 1. Conspiracy to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine; Western District of Texas 2. Conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine; Eastern District of Texas Sentence: 1. 235 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $1,000 fine (August 22, 2007); amended to 188 months imprisonment (August 24, 2015) 2. 135 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (October 8, 2008); amended to 108 months imprisonment (November 13, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment. Richard L. Reser Sedgwick, Kan. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of firearm while trafficking in drugs (two counts); possession of a firearm by a felon; distribution of methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; District of Kansas Sentence: 480 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (December 20, 1989) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Samuel Reyes Coral Springs, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute detectable amount of cocaine; Southern District of Florida Sentence: 210 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (November 24, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Broderick Richardson Louisville, Ky. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Western District of Kentucky Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 27, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. William C. Robertson, Sr. New Orleans, La, Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of Florida Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $1,000 fine (November 8, 2001) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Derwlyn Rosborough Lake View Terrace, Calif. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; District of Wyoming Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; five years supervised release, $2,000 fine (December 5, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Thomas R. Ross Fairfield, Calif. Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute pseudoephedrine with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that it would be used to manufacture a controlled substance; distribution of pseudoephedrine with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe it would be used to manufacture a controlled substance and aiding and abetting; Eastern District of California Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (April 26, 2001) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on September 2, 2016. Jerome Rowser Birmingham, Ala. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of firearms; Northern District of Alabama Sentence: Life plus 60 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 19, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Alphonso P. Rubalcava Rock Island, Ill. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; Central District of Illinois Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 19, 2002); amended to 327 months imprisonment (June 22, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Breon Montez Sanders Wilmington, N.C. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack) and five kilograms of cocaine; Eastern District of North Carolina Sentence: 295 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (August 17, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Michael Sandmeyer Rockford, Iowa Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) after having previously been convicted of a felony drug offense; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Iowa Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 22, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Kelvin Jerome Shears, Jr. Rock Island, IL Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Southern District of Iowa Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (April 23, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Andrew Simmons, III Lake Charles, La. Offense: Possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Western District of Louisiana Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 14, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Martin Ruiz Singh Marshalltown, Iowa Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; distribution of methamphetamine (three counts); felon in possession of a firearm ; Southern District of Iowa Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 12, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Kenneth H. Smith Nashville, Tenn. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine); convicted felon in possession of firearms; false written statement to licensed firearm dealer; Middle District of Tennessee Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 29, 2001) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Kenneth Junior Smith Brooklyn, N.Y. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, aid and abet (three counts); felon in possession of a firearm; District of South Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 14, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Noriel K. Snider St. Louis, Mo. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 196 months imprisonment; four years supervised release (June 8, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Martin Souza Chicago, Ill. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 15, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Christopher Stanton Pensacola, Fla. Offense: Possession of firearm by a convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (July 25, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Sandy Steen, Jr. San Antonio, Tex. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base; Western District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 3, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Cedric DeWayne Stephens Waco, Tex. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana; conspiracy to commit money laundering; Western District of Texas Sentence: 120 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $2,000 fine; $2,000,000 forfeiture (July 15, 2011) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and obligation and payment of forfeiture remitted. Terry Storeby Waverly, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 29, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 300 months imprisonment. Minnie Pearl Thomas Allentown, Ga. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; distribution of cocaine; Middle District of Georgia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 20, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Vincent Thomas Gonzales, LA Offense: Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act (two counts); Eastern District of Louisiana Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (March 26, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Derrick Anthony Timmons Herndon, Va. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 1, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. John L. Tolliver Holly, Mich. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Southern District of Illinois Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $250 fine (June 23, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and 10-year term of supervised release commuted to five-year term of supervised release. Terrence Upshaw Yonkers, N.Y. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base; Northern District of New York Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 29, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Ronald Wade Daytona Beach, Fla. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride; Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release; $25,000 fine (April 5, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, and unpaid balance of the $25,000 fine remitted, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jimmy L. Walden, Jr. Morristown, Tenn. Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana; Eastern District of Tennessee Sentence: Life imprisonment (May 19, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Rodney Edward Wall Rockingham, N.C. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a protected area; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 7, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Clarence Ward Hollywood, Fla. Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (four counts); felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (December 20, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months imprisonment. Richard Douglas Warrick Englewood, N.J. Offense: Drug conspiracy: controlled substance, sell, distribute or dispense mixture of cocaine base; controlled substance, sell, distribute or dispense mixture cocaine base (two counts); Northern District of Alabama Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $500 fine (January 10, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jamel Washington Austin, Tex. Offense: Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute; felon in possession of a firearm; Western District of Texas Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (December 1, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Dennis Merrimon Waters Hendersonville, N.C. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (October 1, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Dennis L. Webb Washington, D.C. Offense: Unlawful distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base (two counts); unlawful distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (incorrectly listed on the judgment as cocaine); unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; District of Columbia Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 13, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Billy Whitehead North Little Rock, Ark. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; aiding and abetting the distribution of less than five grams of cocaine base (two counts); distribution of more than five grams of cocaine base (two counts); aiding and abetting the distribution of more than five grams of cocaine base (two counts); Eastern District of Arkansas Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 21, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Patricia Widener Glade Spring, Va. Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $10,950 restitution (November 13, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 151 months imprisonment, and unpaid balance of restitution obligation remitted. Ralph K. Williams Baltimore, Md. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; District of Maryland Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $6 million forfeiture (February 25, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment and obligation and payment of forfeiture remitted. Byron Willis Knoxville, Tenn. Offense: Distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride; Eastern District of Tennessee Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (March 7, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Damion M. Wilson Caruthersville, Mo. Offense: Distribution of five grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 188 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (March 19, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. David Dejuan Wise Montgomery, Ala. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and aiding and abetting; possession of cocaine base; Middle District of Alabama Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (July 13, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Karen Denise Witherspoon Lenoir, N.C. Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: 324 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (September 10, 2007); amended to 262 months imprisonment (November 19, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Ervin Darnell Worthy Akron, Ohio Offense: 1. Felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm with an altered serial number; Northern District of Ohio 2. Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: 1. Life imprisonment (February 7, 1996) 2. Life imprisonment (February 7, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. James Wright Baltimore, Md. Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (May 4, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that Texas' strict voter ID law discriminates against minorities and the poor and must quickly be scrubbed of those effects before the November election. (Eric Gay/AP) Texas agreed Wednesday to weaken its voter-ID law, which federal courts have said discriminated against minorities and the poor and left more than 600,000 registered voters potentially unable to cast a ballot. The state worked fast to soften the law before Novembers election, moving from requiring voters to show one of seven forms of suitable identification a list that included concealed handgun permits, but not college IDs to letting those without such identification sign an affidavit. That will allow them to cast a regular full ballot, and their vote will be counted. Texas must also spend at least $2.5 million on voter outreach before November, according to the agreement submitted to U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, who must approve the changes. The changes come as judges across the country are blocking several GOP-controlled states from imposing stricter election rules this November. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump referenced the rulings Tuesday while reiterating his concerns that the election will be rigged against him. North Carolina was found last week to have not only discriminated against minorities but to have also passed tougher election rules with the intent on doing so. A court isnt done considering whether Texas had the same motives, but for now, the state and U.S. Justice Department agreed on looser voter ID-rules to get through this election year. This year more states than ever will require potential voters to show photo ID in order to vote in the election. Here's why this is so controversial. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) The joint proposal was the result of negotiations between Texas, the Justice Department and minority rights groups who sued over the 2011 law, which a federal appeals court said last month violated the federal Voting Rights Act. The provisions weve agreed to now are critical safeguards for voters, said Chad Dunn, one of the lead attorneys in the lawsuit against Texas. Its a critical leap forward. A spokesman for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. In 2014, Gonzales Ramos accepted findings from opponents that more than 600,000 Texas voters lacked a suitable form of identification under the law, which is 4.5 percent of all registered voters in the state. More than 30 states have some form of voter-ID rules. But the Obama administration joined the fight on a new breed of voter-ID laws passed in Republican-controlled statehouses, sending the Justice Department to join lawsuits in Texas and North Carolina. Other states also have had election rules sidelined for the coming election. In addition to the North Carolina law that required photo identification, federal courts loosened a similar measure in Wisconsin and halted strict citizenship requirements in Kansas. North Dakotas voter-identification requirement is on hold after a federal judge sided Monday with a group of Native Americans who said the law unfairly burdens them. In an interview this week on Fox News Channels The OReilly Factor, Trump speculated that people without proper identification are going to vote 10 times. Without offering any immediate evidence, he suggested at a rally Monday that he fears the general election is going to be rigged. Fannie Maes low-down-payment mortgage plan known as HomeReady or Freddie Macs program Home Possible Advantage could help get you out of your rental apartment and into a home of your own by early fall. (Associated Press) Are you or is someone you know needlessly missing in action this summer, leaving near-historically low mortgage money at 3 percent to 3 percent on the table? You might be, if you fit this profile: Youre renting, although your goal is to buy a home. You assume you cant qualify for a mortgage because todays underwriting rules are so strict and inflexible. You dont have a lot of extra cash in the bank, and you doubt that you could scrape together enough money for a down payment. Your credit scores arent great just under 700 FICO but thats mainly because youre young and dont have a deep credit history. Sound familiar? Well, heres good news. Giant mortgage investor Fannie Mae last week revised and improved its low-down-payment mortgage plan known as HomeReady. Fannies competitor, Freddie Mac, has a similar program, known as Home Possible Advantage. Either one could be key to your getting out of your rental apartment and buying a house or condo by early fall. [More Harney: Congress agrees on changes that may make condos easier to buy and sell] Check out the basics of Fannies program. Start with the 3 percent down payment. Theres no minimum cash contribution requirement out of your wallet as long as youre buying a single-family house to live in. You can supplement your cash on hand with gifts from relatives or other sources. You can also increase your effective income for mortgage-qualification purposes by including so-called boarder or in-house rental payments. Say the downtown rowhouse you want to buy has a long-term tenant in a basement unit whod like to remain there. That rent could count toward your income. Another point of flexibility: Say youre part of an extended family, and there will be other household members living in the house with you who earn incomes but dont want to be on the mortgage note as a co-borrower. You can use their documented earnings to increase the maximum debt-to-income ratio (DTI) youre allowed on your mortgage. Take this hypothetical example. Youre single, earning a solid $72,000 a year, and want to buy a house. However, your current monthly debt load of $2,820 makes you ineligible for most conventional mortgages because your DTI is 47 percent. But if a relative earning $2,000 a month moves in with you, HomeReady may greenlight your 47 percent DTI, even if the relative contributes nothing in rent. [More Harney: Many owners seem unaware of the home equity they could easily tap] As you might suspect, that kind of underwriting flexibility comes with some requirements. HomeReady and Home Possible Advantage are targeted at moderate-income buyers first-timers, minority purchasers, extended family groups and other underserved borrowers so not everybody can participate. In most locations around the country, your income cannot exceed the areas median income. (Both companies websites have look-up features to help you find the median for your area.) In designated low-income census tracts, there is no income limitation. Both programs also require some form of homeownership credit education: either an online course or, under Fannies latest version, counseling sessions with any of a network of housing counselors around the country. Where do you get more information or start an application? Hundreds of lenders and brokers are already participating in these programs Fannie says it has a roster of more than 700 lenders and they can help. Some of them are actively promoting the program; some are simply offering it as an alternative to loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Mat Ishbia, president and chief executive of United Wholesale Mortgage, told me were doing a lot of HomeReady mortgages nationwide, including for many millennial first-timers. Laura Reichel, a senior vice president at Ditech Financial, says shoppers are running the numbers on monthly payment costs comparing a HomeReady loan with a 3 percent down payment and cancelable private mortgage insurance against a standard FHA 3.5 percent down payment and non-cancelable insurance and are often opting for HomeReady. But not all lenders are sold on Fannies and Freddies programs. Paul Skeens, president of Colonial Mortgage Group, says HomeReady is tilted to favor applicants with higher FICO scores. Once an applicant has a credit score below 680, he says, mortgage insurance and other fees combine to make the program virtually unusable, forcing borrowers to go with an FHA loan. The bottom line: Dont assume youre frozen out of the mortgage market. Check out the new generation of flexible, low-down-payment loans that are aimed at consumers like you if you fit the profile. Ken Harneys email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. Meitu, one of the world's most popular beauty apps, is based in Xiamen, in China's southern Fujian province. (Emily Rauhala/The Washington Post) The selfie, we all know, is an art form. That cast of light. That tilt of the chin. Not that youre trying. But at the southern Chinese headquarters of Meitu, the maker of some of the worlds most popular beauty apps, the selfie is also science. Here in the companys sparse, oh-so-start-up offices, tables of 20-somethings are using facial recognition and 3-D modeling to build a suite of apps that, quite literally, transform. Their eye-widening, skin-lightening, chin-narrowing photo apps and beautifying video platform are ubiquitous in China, downloaded a billion times in total, according to the company. They are known by fans as zipai shenqi, or godly tools for selfies. [What do selfie filters say about beauty standards in China?] The company has hundreds of millions of monthly users, a valuation in the billions of dollars, according to estimates, and plans for global expansion. If you havent heard of Meitu, chances are you will. If youre reading this on your phone, watch this space. The extraordinary popularity of Meitu says much about todays China. When Americans think about Chinas Internet, many gravitate to one thing: censorship. While its true that the countrys Great Firewall keeps the Web here tightly controlled and painfully slow, Chinese tech firms are flourishing nonetheless, building products that capitalize on the spending power of a billion-plus consumers. [Internet activists are finding ways around Chinas Great Firewall] In 2015, four of the worlds top 10 Internet companies ranked by market capitalization were Chinese, according to the data website Statista. China is now the world leader in e-commerce, with ordinary Chinese using their phones to invest, buy groceries or pay for street food. To compete, U.S. businesses need to understand the forces shaping Chinas digital culture and commerce. Understanding Meitu helps. The company behind some of the worlds biggest beauty apps started out as something much humbler. The offices of Meitu, one of the world's most popular beauty apps. Most of the workers at the tech giant are in the early 20s. (Emily Rauhala/The Washington Post) When Cai Wensheng and Wu Xinhong founded the company in 2008, selfie had yet to be added to the Oxford English Dictionary, and Meitu was a desktop photo processor inspired by Googles Picasa. Bei Gou, a former portrait photographer who is now Meitus senior vice president for product, said the goal was to bring simple photo editing to China, allowing users to, say, quickly crop a shot of Shanghai's skyline. The team soon realized that many users seemed focused on one type of editing: fixing their faces. Meitu adjusted accordingly, creating the one- or two-touch beautifying options that became their signature. We recognized a good concept and optimized it, Bei said. Their timing was excellent. In the past five years, Chinas Internet population has soared. There are now almost 700 million Chinese Web users, about 20 percent of the worlds Internet users. The Washington Post That growth is partly explained by the rapid rise of affordable smartphones. Many of the people coming online here are doing so on mobile. And with each new mobile customer comes the potential for taking and sharing a photo or video, whether its a pouty selfie or a live broadcast of a tasty lunch. [In China, smartphones are wrecking marriages and dividing families] The focus on beauty and self-expression resonates in particular with Chinese women, who are a rising consumer force. A 2012 Boston Consulting Group report estimated that female earnings in China will grow from $350 billion in 2000 to $4 trillion in 2020. Meitu sits at the intersection of two exploding forces: Chinese mobile use and rising Chinese women, said Jeffrey Towson, a professor of investment at Peking University in Beijing. I dont know if they saw that coming, but they went with it. Meitus users went with it, too, sharing billions of selfies on their social and online dating accounts. The most devoted users, like Apple fanboys, form groups to share news and arrange offline meetups. Beautifying selfies is big business in China and one of the the country's most popular beauty app creators, Meitu, has plans to expand internationally. But will the Meitu concept of beauty resonate outside of China? (Emily Rauhala,Jason Aldag/The Washington Post) Zhu Tingting, a 24-year-old college senior from Nanjing, is among the fans who regularly attend Meitu events. She said, without irony, that Meitu changed her life. She spends about two hours a day taking selfies. Nowadays, when girls go out, it just means finding a place to take pictures and post them on social media, she said. Though youd think that an app designed to beautify your face might inspire feelings of inadequacy, superfans insist it gives them confidence, providing an escape from real-world pressure. The Washington Post Wang Bei, a 33-year-old civil servant from Hebei province, said she appreciates the compliments she gets when she posts beautified selfies. I wish I could live in the world of my Meitu phone forever. Among the tools the company features: MeituPic, a one-touch beauty app that put Meitu on the map; Meipai, a video platform with flattering filters; and a line of souped-up cellphones with twin 21-megapixel cameras optimized for you guessed it selfies. The challenge for Meitu is how to spin the selfie craze into hard cash. The companys revenue comes mostly from in-app advertising and its line of premium, selfie-centric cellphones a real but modest revenue stream. Investors are impressed by the size and spending potential of Meitus young, female user base. What the company has to do now, analysts said, is to lock in those users by creating a sense of community and new ways for them to spend. Im still looking for a strong business model for Meitu, said Terry Zhu, a partner at BlueRun, a Beijing-based venture capital firm. The companys plan so far seems to lean toward digital try-on, which lets users upload selfies and experiment with different looks. It wants to develop what it calls a beauty ecosystem where brands and shopping are part of the experience. Meitu is expanding aggressively. Outside mainland China, it now has offices in Santa Monica and Palo Alto, Calif., and people on the ground in London; Mexico City; Tokyo; New Delhi; Singapore; Hong Kong; Taipei, Taiwan; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. But there is one important question facing the company as it tries to grow: whether the Meitu conception of beauty will resonate elsewhere. The app spread quickly in Southeast Asia, but the challenge of localization may be harder in the United States, where the idea of one-touch beauty particularly skin lightening, Meitus signature feature may seem both offensive and out of date. Last year, in a feature titled Women photoshop themselves with an Asian beauty app, BuzzFeed filmed a multiethnic group of American women experimenting with Meitus BeautyPlus app. Wait, theres a filter called whitening? asks one. Oh, gosh, I look really white, says another. It definitely just stripped my brownness away. Asked to comment on skin lightening, Meitu emphasizes its push to localize its offerings. Its fascinating to see how a womans definition of beauty changes from one market to the next, the company said in a statement. Tech analysts say Meitu can become a global brand even without success in the United States. The sheer size of Chinas domestic market means the Webs center of gravity is shifting east. Companies like this will go global, but it all circles back to their Chinese users in some form, said Towson, the Peking University investment professor. If you are the biggest beauty ecosystem in China, you are the biggest in the world. Xu Yangjingjing contributed to this report. Read more: What Chinese women want: Pale skin, big eyes and a pointy chin Why Iranian men are putting on the veil Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, meets then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on her arrival at the APEC summit in Vladivostok, Russia, in 2012. (Mikhail Metzel/AP) Is Donald Trump our man? Thats the question that Komsomolskaya Pravda, a leading Russian tabloid, asked its readers on Wednesday, summing up a debate that has intrigued and exasperated readers from the Capitol Beltway to the Moscow Ring Road. In the United States, Trumps professed affinity for Vladimir Putin as a strong leader, and his offbeat statements, including a call on Russia to release the rest of Hillary Clintons emails after a hacking attack on the Democratic National Committee, prompted surprise and some breathless derision of him as the Siberian candidate. That aspersion has been mocked in Russia as a throwback to Cold War rhetoric, and the Kremlin has hotly denied it favors a candidate in the U.S. elections. But Trumps stated readiness to consider lifting sanctions, to tacitly accept the annexation of Crimea, andto reduce support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would all seem to be pluses for officials here. Some are convinced the Kremlin has cast its vote. Absolutely, theyre for Trump, said Aleksei Makarkin, a political analyst, noting expectations that Trump would craft a foreign policy more amenable to Moscow. Or, failing that, he added, at least make America weaker. I dont see many arguments for Clinton. And yet, while there is a general agreement here that there is little upside to a Clinton presidency, which would probably leave the icy relationship between Moscow and Washington in place, there is also no consensus that a Trump presidency would be much more than a roll of the dice. It sounds very attractive but it could end as a catastrophe for everyone, one lawmaker in Russias upper house of parliament said this week of a potential Trump presidency, requesting anonymity to speak frankly about the U.S. elections. The problem? He is unpredictable. Some of Russias more outspoken politicians, including the firebrand Duma deputy speaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky whose general demeanor resembles Trumps have spoken warmly of Trump. Russian television has followed his campaign closely through the lens of an outsider fighting the system. But the loudest political voices dont necessarily reflect the Kremlins, analysts said. Clearly the conservatives are pro-Trump, but that doesnt necessarily mean that the top people really want Trump, said Maxim Trudolyubov, a senior fellow with the Kennan Institute and editor at large with Vedomosti, Russias main business newspaper. It could be incredibly disruptive. Can you imagine if all the things he has said come true? Among those, he said, were suggestions by Trump that nuclear proliferation to Japan or other countries would not be against the interests of the United States. Or developments seen as working in Moscows favor, like a potential rift between the United States under Trump and Europe, that could have unforeseen consequences. I think that there are very few sane politicians of any kind, including Russians, who would actually want a Trump presidency, Trudolyubov said. But they are enjoying the spectacle of seeing an American candidate for president being called a foreign agent. More than a Trump presidency, the Kremlin may also just enjoy a competitive, bruising election cycle that would divide the American public and leave the winner exhausted. As Grigory Golosov, another Moscow-based political analyst, put it: This campaign is a gift to the Russian media. For conservative members of the siloviki, or security apparatus, Trumps stated foreign policy views offer an intriguing and complete revolution with the foreign policy consensus in the United States, said Dmitry Suslov, a professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics and program director at the Valdai Discussion Club. Much of what he is saying really coincides with the Russian analysis of the world. But they have been disappointed before, he added, noting a promising relationship between Putin and President George W. Bush that began with a 2001 summit in Slovenia but then soured following the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The emerging consensus is not to have great expectations, but still to keep a preference with Trump, Suslov said. Trumps detractors, some of them prominent voices in Russias foreign policy community, have focused primarily on his inconsistent disposition, arguing that suggestions he would mend relations with Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine or Syria were just wishful thinking. Igor Ivanov, the president of the Russian International Affairs Council, wrote last month that a newcomer can be harder to deal with: inconsistent, unpredictable, given to subjective and emotional decisions that can be very hard to rectify later on. On Wednesday, Pavel Demidov, a professor at the Russian state MGIMO University, warned in a newspaper column that a flighty and irascible populist who changes his mind three times a day at the head of a nuclear superpower may pose danger to the whole world and for Russia in particular. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Russian officials in public statements have been reserved. Konstantin Kosachev, head of the international affairs committee in the Federation Council, told the Izvestia newspaper last week that under a Trump presidency, a certain window of possibilities may naturally appear. But not all those possibilities may be desirable, he added. The set of options is significantly wider with Trump, he said. Amazingly, they change the current situation both for the better and for the worse. Trump is not predictable enough. Read more How the Kremlin is sure to keep its fingerprints off any cyberattack Inside Trumps financial ties to Russia and his unusual flattery of Vladimir Putin The roots of the hostility between Putin and Clinton Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the militant group the Haqqani network, speaks during an interview in Miram Shah, Pakistan, on Aug. 22, 1998. (MOHAMMED RIAZ/Associated Press) The Pentagon has withheld $300 million in military assistance to Pakistan, U.S. officials said Wednesday, a potential blow to U.S.-Pakistani ties and a sign of ongoing frustration with Islamabad for not acting against militants fueling violence in Afghanistan. Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesman, said that Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter had decided against making a certification to Congress stating that Pakistan is taking sufficient action against the Haqqani network, a Taliban affiliate blamed for attacks on U.S. and allied personnel in Afghanistan. Stump said the decision, which means Pakistan will not receive $300 million in military reimbursement funding, was based on the continuing operations of the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani militants on Pakistani soil. The move ends a year of speculation about an aid program that has been fundamental to Pakistani military operations, and reveals the strains in Washingtons relations with an ally that many officials have accused of double-dealing with militant groups. The decision comes as the Obama administration grapples with deteriorating security in Afghanistan, where a resurgence in Taliban activity has derailed plans to definitively end the long military effort there. It is the first time the Obama administration has withheld military aid to Pakistan because of the Haqqani group, which has been a primary source of U.S. concern in Afghanistan and which in the past some U.S. officials have asserted had links to Pakistani intelligence. Carters decision has not been previously reported. Shamila Chaudhary, a former White House official and senior fellow at New America, a Washington think tank, said the decision could foreshadow additional steps increasing pressure on Pakistan to crack down on militants causing trouble in Afghanistan. It is a way of sending a signal to the Pakistani military of whats to come, in the sense that the United States is no longer willing to give blank checks to Pakistan, she said. Under the Coalition Support Funds (CSF) program, the United States reimburses Pakistan for its support of U.S. and allied operations in Afghanistan and helps Pakistan pay for operations it conducts against militants on its soil. Since 2002, reimbursements under the program have totaled about $14 billion, representing a significant portion of Pakistans defense spending. In addition to helping fund operations, Pakistans military also used the money to buy food and ammunition, the Pentagon has said. Nadeem Hotiana, a spokesman for the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, said the CSF program had allowed the United States to support Pakistani military actions, particularly in the countrys restive tribal areas, that had benefited both countries. Pakistan will continue to work with its partners in a long-term effort for ensuring security and stability in these areas, he said. The CSF program is an important element of the massive assistance package that Pakistan has received each year since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, much of it focused on securing Pakistani support for U.S. operations in Afghanistan. In that time, though, U.S. ties with Islamabad have been rocky, as officials have struggled to negotiate tensions over CIA drone strikes and the belief of many U.S. officials that Pakistan has allowed certain militant groups, including the Haqqanis and the Afghan Taliban, to shelter in its western tribal region. The Haqqani network, named for former anti-Soviet resistance leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, is blamed for some of the boldest attacks on U.S. targets in Afghanistan, including a 2011 assault on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Washingtons ties with Pakistan grew particularly strained after the United States secretly launched the raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in 2011. Later that year, the Obama administration temporarily suspended $800 million in security aid. Although tensions have eased since then, a stark reminder of the reasons for bilateral friction came this May, when a U.S. drone killed Taliban leader Akhtar Mohammad Mansour on Pakistani soil. Pakistan, which has been the target of repeated militant attacks, has denied support for extremist groups. Seeking to increase pressure on Pakistan, Congress introduced new requirements related to the Haqqani network in annual defense legislation beginning in fiscal 2015. Earlier this year, lawmakers also blocked Pakistan from using another pool of U.S. military aid to buy American F-16 jets. Before Carters decision to withhold the certification, the United States already had reimbursed $700 million in fiscal 2015. Chaudhary said the U.S. support was crucial for Pakistan, which does not receive such generous military aid from other allies. The Pakistani military is the one that loses out, she said. This money has been helping them for well over a decade now. Pentagon officials said the CSF decision was not meant to repudiate other actions that Pakistan has taken against militants, including a major military operation launched in 2014 in North Waziristan. Hotiana said that Pakistan had cleared that area of militants from a range of groups, at great cost to its people and armed forces. Pakistan will continue its fight against terrorism and ensure that areas cleared by the security forces do not slide back into the control of terrorist networks, he said. U.S. officials contend that Pakistans actions have mostly targeted groups threatening the Pakistani state, and are not active in Afghanistan. A senior defense official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said the Pentagon had informed Pakistan of Carters move to deny a portion of the CSF funding. Lawmakers also have moved to increase the carve-out subject to the same certification requirement. In a law passed for fiscal 2016, it stands at $350 million. The message to the Pakistanis is a lot like the message to lots of people in this whole counterterrorism realm: We always need to look for more that we can do, the official said. A senior staff member at the House Armed Services Committee, which oversees annual defense legislation, said Pakistans actions against militants were even more important as the U.S. military footprint grows smaller in Afghanistan. We are very focused on making sure that the appropriate incentives are out there in making sure Pakistan acts in a manner that is consistent with both of our national security interests, and certainly with ours, the staff member said. While Afghan troops are doing the bulk of the fighting against the Taliban, the United States plans to leave a force of 8,400 troops in Afghanistan when President Obama steps down next year. Read more: Republicans say the Obama administration paid a ransom for four American prisoners held in Iran. Here's what really happened. (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post) Republicans say the Obama administration paid a ransom for four American prisoners held in Iran. Here's what really happened. (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post) Reports of $400 million paid in cash to Iran soon after four Americans were released from prison in January has breathed new life into charges that Washington paid a ransom for their freedom. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) was among those who seized on the timing and cloak-and-dagger delivery method, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, saying it proved suspicions that the Obama administration had tried to hide a payment for the four Americans, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian. GOP candidate Donald Trump called it an example of the administrations foreign policy failures. Obama administration sent plane load of cash to #Iran as ransom as part of deal on hostages. Just unreal, tweeted Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a long-standing critic of the Iran talks. In fact, the money was earmarked to settle a decades-old Iranian claim on the money, plus $1.3 billion in interest. The funds were deposited by Iran before the 1979 revolution to buy U.S. military equipment, and they were frozen under President Jimmy Carter after Americans were taken hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Iran has been trying to recover the money ever since, at one point contending that it was owed $10 billion or more with accrued interest. The White House and the State Department both denied on Wednesday that the money was part of a quid pro quo arrangement to win the prisoners freedom. [Freeing a reporter: Secret talks and back channels] Former diplomats and scholars of Iran say that the transaction is as much about perception as provable reality. The timing may look awkward, but on the other hand, this dispute had been festering for more than three decades, and it was good to get it resolved and to get Jason and the others out, said Barbara Slavin, acting director of the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council. Those who opposed the nuclear deal will call it ransom and those who supported it will call it compensation. The broad contours of the transaction have been known since Jan. 17, the day the White House announced the prisoner release and a settlement in a case at the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal in The Hague. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Wednesday that three separate teams of negotiators were assembled to conduct talks with Iran on the nuclear deal, the prisoner swap and the financial settlement. That move to silo the teams allowed the administration to argue that the deals were not linked and that the $1.7 billion saved taxpayers money because the United States most likely would have paid more if the matter had gone to arbitration. Let me be clear: The United States does not pay ransom, said White House press secretary Josh Earnest, rejecting the assertions of those who are falsely accusing us of paying a ransom. There is a long history of Iran getting back part of its frozen assets after Americans are released. As part of an agreement that led to the 52 remaining embassy hostages being freed in 1981, Iran received $3 billion of its $12 billion in frozen assets. The rest was used to repay American creditors or put into escrow to cover judgments against Iran. The $400 million settlement in January was one of those cases. I thought settling this issue at the same time as all these other things were being settled was as good as you could hope for, said Gary Sick, the chief Carter aide on Iran during the embassy hostage crisis and now a scholar at Columbia University. I thought it was a brilliant stroke to get things taken care of, leaving us a tabula rasa to begin afresh if we do decide to resume diplomatic relations. All the old lingering, festering doubts and cases will have been removed. The case was important to the Iranians. They raised it in one of the very first meetings in 2001 attended by Hillary Mann Leverett, then a diplomat who led a U.S. dialogue with Iran on Afghanistan. It was always at the top of the agenda, with everybody I encountered, she said. But Leverett said that in her experience, the Iranians do not usually demand large payouts for individual detainees. She cited the case of the American hikers who strayed into Iran and were accused of espionage. The remaining two were released in 2011 and left the country, forfeiting $500,000 in bail each. We may think the bail paid was too high, Leverett said. But it was $1 million, not $400 million or $1.7 billion. That sum of money is linked to cooperation with the United States, not to specific detainees. Congress is not the only place where the payment was characterized as ransom. Commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were quoted in state media saying bluntly that the money was paid in exchange for the American prisoners. Omri Ceren, a senior adviser at the Israel Project and critic of the nuclear deal with Iran, said the administrations lack of openness raised suspicions. It seemed like there was smoke because of the timing and the Iranian claims, he said. The administration was repeatedly asked, Show us theres no fire here. And they refused. Which is why I and many other people went ahead with the presumption which is now confirmed. Bob Baer, a former CIA case worker in the Middle East who is now an author, said the settlement was bound to look bad, simply because it involves Iran. Technically, the State Department may be right, he said. But given the archaeology of our relations with Iran, it looks very bad. They take people. They get money back they think is theirs. Greg Jaffe contributed to this report. Read more: Assessing the Iran nuclear deal one year after its completion Plane leaves Iran with Jason Rezaian, others in prisoner release Banks still shun Iran, and Tehran blames Washington South Koreans watch a TV news program airing file footage of a North Korean rocket launch. North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea close to Japan on Aug. 3. (Ahn Young-Joon/Associated Press) North Korea shot a ballistic missile startlingly close to Japan on Wednesday, sparking stern condemnations from Tokyo, Seoul and Washington. The medium-range Rodong missile splashed down about 150 miles off the countrys northwest coast, Japans Defense Ministry said, suggesting it could have landed inside Japans exclusive economic zone. Wednesdays actions were the latest apparent protest from North Korea over a decision by Seoul and Washington to bring an antimissile battery system to South Korea. North Korea has never sent a missile into Japans exclusive economic zone on the Sea of Japan side of the island chain, although in 1998, North Korea fired a Taepodong-1 missile ostensibly launching a satellite over Japan and into its economic zone on the Pacific Ocean side. Map coordinates showed the missile landing about 160 miles from the Japanese coast, within Japans 200-mile EEZ. This would put it within a minute of reaching Japan itself, said Euan Graham, who served as a British diplomat in Pyongyang, North Koreas capital. Its a clear case of walking right up to the line and just putting a nose over it, said Graham, now an East Asian security expert at the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney. Its a provocative act. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff and the U.S. Strategic Command said they detected two simultaneous launches of Rodong intermediate-range ballistic missiles from the North Korean launch site in the southwest of the country shortly before 8 a.m. local time Wednesday. One appeared to explode shortly after launch, they said. But the other appeared to fly over the peninsula and, some 12 minutes later, to land 620 miles away in the waters off the Akita prefecture. [Pentagon to deploy antimissile system in South Korea] The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, aimed at intercepting North Korean missiles, is set to be deployed near the rural area of Seongju, South Korea, some 200 miles southeast of Seoul, by the end of next year. The plan is controversial among residents in the area, many of whom fear they will become a target for North Korea. Pyongyang has called the THAAD battery vicious warmongering and has threatened a nuclear strike against the site. Meanwhile, China views the deployment as a thinly disguised attempt to keep it in check. Beijing seized on Wednesdays launch as further proof that the United States plan to deploy the system was causing instability in the region. South Korea is putting the cart before the horse in their pursuit of national security, as the key to security lies in good neighborly and friendly relations with its neighbors, rather than a bunch of U.S.-made missiles, the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua said in a commentary. South Korean military officials told reporters in Seoul that Wednesdays launches, the latest in a volley of missiles North Korea has fired in recent months, suggested Pyongyang was trying to show off its ability to target and perhaps even hit nearby countries it deemed hostile. After the launch of shorter-range Scud missiles last month, North Korean state media ran footage showing Kim Jong Un sitting in front of maps that put all of South Korea, right down to the southern port city of Busan, within range. With Wednesdays launches, Pyongyang was signaling to Tokyo that it also had the capacity to strike Japan, Graham noted. And, although North Korea relies on the support of China, the latest act will probably set alarm bells ringing in Beijing because it means the Chinese capital is also in range. Kims regime would almost certainly never hurl missiles toward China, but its ability to do so could increase Beijings rationale for developing its own missile defense system, Graham said. [North Korean missile test a failure, Seoul says in April] Fears about North Koreas technical abilities have been mounting. While some of North Koreas recent missile launches, especially of the Musudan-type missile, appear to have been failures, analysts say that the Norths scientists are honing their technology with every test. The progress North Korea is making might embolden the regime and encourage it to take even more incendiary action, Tokyo said in its annual defense white paper released Tuesday. North Korea appeared to be making progress in its aim to make nuclear warheads capable of being carried to the mainland United States, it said. Among U.S. allies, there was sharp condemnation Wednesday of North Koreas latest defiance of a United Nations ban on missile testing. The launch was an unforgivable act of aggression that represents a grave threat to the security of Japan, said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. A spokesman for South Koreas Unification Ministry called the missile launch a serious provocation to South Korea and the international community. The Pentagon urged North Korea to refrain from ratcheting up tensions in the region. It should focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations, said Gary Ross, a U.S. Navy commander. But analysts expect North Korea to continue with missile launches and other provocations over the next few weeks, as South Korea and the United States prepare for another round of joint military exercises. [North Korea says it has been practicing to blow up South Korean airports] Separately, Abe promoted a hawkish politician to be defense minister during a cabinet reshuffle Wednesday, potentially inflaming tensions with Beijing, Seoul and Pyongyang. She is Tomomi Inada, a conservative who supports revising Japans pacifist constitution and who makes a habit of visiting the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, a memorial to Japans war dead that China and South Korea say honors war criminals. Fourteen Japanese who were convicted of Class A war crimes after World War II are memorialized at the shrine, along with 2 million other Japanese who died in various wars. The bespectacled Inada is sometimes called Japans Sarah Palin because of her hard-line conservative views. She is the second woman to serve as defense minister, following Yuriko Koike, who briefly did the job during Abes first stint as prime minister in 2007. Koike was elected the first female governor of Tokyo on Sunday. Read more: Tokyo elects first female governor to tackle Olympic-size tasks North Korea leader hails nuclear and missile advances as rare party congress opens South Koreas president vows all-out push to punish North for provocations Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world WSWS correspondents interviewed workers, professional people and young people at the rallies called in Sydney and Melbourne last Saturday to protest against the brutal abuse of boys in Northern Territory (NT) juvenile detention facilities. They expressed disgust at the revelations broadcast last Monday on the Four Corners program and hostility to the Turnbull governments proposed royal commission, saying it was another official coverup. In Sydney, sisters Kaliah and Jayde, both students, said they felt horrified and ashamed by the treatment inflicted on the children in the juvenile prisons. I didnt know things were this bad, Kaliah said. I had tears in my eyes today. Jayde said: We need to build communities, and not prisons. Its not the fault of these kids. We need to rehabilitate, not torture. They need to feel safe and be nurtured. They come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Whats happened to them is built into our society Its also a class issuethis violence is directed against all the vulnerable people. Kaliah added: We live in a materialist world. You walk down the streets with huge upmarket stores and theres homeless people sitting under the signs. This is an issue that really hurts us. How can rich people go out and spend $500 on something like a luxury watch when theres people sitting there, or starving and dying? Jayde commented: Capitalism has broken our society. Capitalism says that classes dont exist. Yes they do! You walk down the street and you see homeless people within five minutes, on the ground, in the cold. Class is here, its real The gap is becoming bigger and bigger, and the middle class is getting abolished. Its now the lower class and the upper class. The gap is not just a racist gap, its a class gap, and its ridiculous. I cant believe that this is happening in the 21st century. Things are getting worse over the years, not better. We cant just protest, we have to live this every day. In Melbourne, Miguel said: It is inhuman when young men were tortured. It is a very big problem that kids and teenagers are being tortured. When they finish their time in jail they still have social problems. It is like in my country Chilemany teenagers are in jails. They suffer in those places. There is no rehabilitation. Its just punishment In Chile there is a big polemic. Many kids died in these centres, there was sexual violence, every kind of violence. Over 10-15 years about 200 kids died in these centres. Its like the way the system treats non-productive people, but does not create proper jobs for them. Sarah said: I have just moved from Alice Springs where I was involved in campaigns again the NT police-military intervention into Aboriginal communities, the police measures against Aboriginal people and the draconian measures again Aboriginal people in the town camps. The situation in Alice Springs is terrible. Children are being removed from their families because of poverty, the government is cutting youth services, legal services and family services, which means kids have nothing to do. If they do have problems at home they find it really hard to cope at school. There are weekly tragedies where kids are dying at 12 years old from inhaling or sniffing of inhalants. All these tragedies are normalised. While the images on Four Corners are really shocking, it actually wasnt a surprise for all the people in the NT. The intervention has being going on since 2007 and it has had a devastating impact on peoples lives It intrudes in every aspect of Aboriginal peoples liveseven going to the shops and having to use the basics card. Massive amounts are being injected into child protective services to remove children and then families are fighting to get their kids back. I think it is important that people can speak out but the proposed royal commission is not independent. It is the NT government investigating itself The only thing that the NT government is shocked about is that they were caught out. Anne said: This is not new, the abuse of indigenous people in prison, their over-representation there. It has been going on since I was a child, and Im 61 now. They talked about deaths in custody, about the stolen generation Black deaths in custody are still happening, Ive not heard of any substantial changes or improvements in that area. It concerns mesocial justice and human rights generally. Its like offshore detention of refugees. I used to vote Labor but I dont like their treatment of asylum seekers. They turn a blind eye to inequity in our own country. Peg and Des had witnessed police assaults on indigenous youth. Peg said: The royal commission is just a bandaid over a festering sore When we lived in Brisbane, we often saw police attacking Aboriginal youth in our own street. We would go outside and tell them to stop. They would tell us to go inside and shut the door. It is endemic in the systemthe government turns a blind eye to it. Who puts the youth in the detention centres? Its the police force and the justice system. Such a high percentage of Aboriginal people are in the detention system. It is another form of genocide in a way. Anita, a university language and learning adviser, said: After watching Four Corners I could not express in words what I saw and I had to come today. I am a middle class white Australian and I thought I had to do something I am really concerned about the Turnbull government and the appointment of the royal commissioner from the NT. The NT government should have nothing to do with that at allit is responsible. This has happened under Labor governments too I think we need to stand together with Aboriginal people in solidarity. We can never really understand Aboriginal peoples predicament but I do think it emanates from a working class position. Fairlie said: Im disgusted in all tiers of government who in 2009 said they would invest in the early years for Aboriginal children to close the gap As an early childhood teacher, I know investing in early years saves money for governments on correctional services and other welfare services later in life. They know it too. I want to know why theyve reneged on the investment in early years. Why are they building prisons for the future and cutting childcare services? You dont have to delve very deep to find there are reports all over the country of that sort of stuff going on in juvenile detention centres. Im here. Im passionate. Its time for change. US airstrikes on the Libyan coast city of Sirte, which began on Monday, continued yesterday as part of what American officials have made clear will be an ongoing military campaign. While nominally directed against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militias, the fresh eruption of American militarism is more broadly aimed at ensuring US dominance in the region. Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis told the media that the US had hit five locations in Sirte on Monday and two yesterday, targeting tanks, vehicles, a rocket launcher and ISIS positions in the city. According to Associated Press, Marine Corps strike aircraft based on the USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship in the Mediterranean, participated in the raids. The UN-backed puppet regime in Tripoli, the Government of National Accord (GNA), gave Washington the fig leaf of its formal approval to conduct the airstrikes. GNA units drawn from various militia groups are currently engaged in an offensive to drive ISIS fighters out of Sirte. Davis declared that the US military was simply assisting the GNA to retake Sirte, saying that the duration of the operation will be measured based upon the length of time it takes for them to do that objective. He claimed that the US airstrikes would likely last weeks not months. Davis indicated, however, that the commitment to the GNA absolutely will endure, even though for right now the target was Sirte. Unnamed US officials told Reuters that Mondays raids marked the start of a sustained air campaign rather than another isolated strike. The previous US airstrikes took place in February on an ISIS training camp in the western city of Sabratha. Washington has been preparing a new military intervention in the oil-rich North African nation for months. General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters in late May that a long term mission involving thousands of US troops was imminent. The delay has been in securing the GNAs seal of approval. Speaking to the Military Times, US officials would not say whether there were US soldiers on the ground in Libya. However, they did acknowledge that small contact teams of special operations troops had gone into and out of the country in recent months to gather intelligence and forge alliances with local militias. British, French and Italian special forces have also been active in Libya. While Washington is justifying its new military operations in the name of the war on terror, the US-led military intervention in Libya in 2011 is directly responsible for creating ISIS and giving it a foothold in the country. The US and its allies relied heavily on militias linked to Al Qaeda to topple the Libyan government and murder its leader Muammar Gaddafi. The same Islamist militias, along with large quantities of Libyan arms, were then shipped off to take part in the new US-sponsored regime-change operation in Syria. The ISIS forces that seized control of Sirte last year are the US proxies that returned from the bloody Syrian civil war. The US claim to be acting in the name of a legitimate government is a sham. The unelected pro-Western GNA regime headed by Fayez al-Sarraj was patched together out of competing factions as part of an agreement signed just last December with the approval of the UN Security Council. It was only installed in Tripoli in March. A rival government based in the eastern city of Benghazi is headed by General Khalifa Haftar, a long-standing CIA asset who was prominent among the American proxy forces that ousted Gaddafi and is bitterly opposed to the GNA. Yesterday, Ahmed Mesmarri, a spokesman for Hafters forces, denounced the US airstrikes, declaring that Washington had no permission, even under the cover of fighting extremism. A parliamentarian representing the eastern government Abubaker Baira told the Wall Street Journal: Unfortunately all sides of the Libyan conflict happily open their doors to this so-called military or political support, even if covertly, in the hope it will empower them against their domestic enemies. Like Tripoli, Benghazi is a cesspool of international intrigue. Even though formally recognising the GNA, France has provided support to the Haftar regime along with Egypt and some of the Gulf States. French involvement was graphically exposed last week when President Francois Hollande acknowledged that three French security agents had been killed when their helicopter was shot down near Benghazi earlier last month. Yesterday, France attempted to mend relations with Tripoli by declaring its full support for the GNA and its efforts to unify the country. The new US military intervention in Libya takes place amidst rising tensions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe with Russia as well as in the Asia Pacific with China. The airstrikes in Sirte, which are undoubtedly the opening shot of a far broader operation, are not only designed to consolidate Washingtons grip over Libya and its oil fields but are meant as a warning to Moscow and Beijing. The decision to launch a new war was taken behind the backs of the American population with no attempt to secure congressional approval. The Obama administration absurdly cited the 2001 Authorisation for Use of Military Force that approved military action against those who had planned and carried out the 9/11 terrorist attacks. ISIS not only did not exist in 2001 but is now the sworn enemy of Al Qaeda. Obama issued no formal statement on the launching of another war, but made a few perfunctory remarks at a joint press conference yesterday with Singapores prime minister. After justifying the 2011 intervention as necessary to prevent a bloodbath, he declared that the new military operations were to begin what is going to be a long process to establish a functioning government and security system there. In reality, as in Iraq and Syria, the latest front in US imperialisms never-ending war on terror will only spell new disasters for the Libyan people as Washington resorts to ever more desperate and reckless measures to secure its economic and strategic interests against its rivals. Recent court rulings concerning attacks on the right to vote in several statesNorth Carolina, Wisconsin, Kansas and North Dakotaunderscore the deeply anti-democratic character of Voter ID laws, as well as the significance of the 2013 gutting of the Voting Rights Act by the US Supreme Court. The Republican campaign against alleged vote fraud is itself a fraud, a means of blocking access to the polls on the part of votersmainly minorities and youthlikely to vote Democratic. Impersonation of a voter is both exceedingly rare and highly inefficient as a means to steal an election. The much more likely methods of election rigging, through stuffing ballot boxes or manipulation of software in the tabulation of votes, are entirely unaffected by voter ID laws. On July 29, the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit struck down key provisions of a North Carolina ballot access law that targeted African Americans and working class voters, in the words of the court ruling, with almost surgical precision. The Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly prepared the law in question, SL 2013-381, on the day after the US Supreme Court handed down the reactionary ruling in Shelby County v. Holder in 2013, that struck down the preclearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The timing of the bill underscores its anti-democratic intent, and confirms the prediction of the World Socialist Web Site that the emasculation of the Voting Rights Act would encourage attacks on the right to vote. According to the opinion by Judge Diana Motz, the Republican legislators behind SL 2013-381 requested data about the state voting practices and their use by race. Based on the data, the General Assembly prepared to disenfranchise likely Democratic voters, using race as a predictor of voter intent. (The court found that in North Carolina, race was a more accurate predictor of voter intent than even voting in a partys primary). The new law restricted early voting, imposed photo ID requirements, ended same-day registration and preregistration for minors, and ended out-of-district provisional voting. Although the new provisions target African Americans with almost surgical precision, they constitute inapt remedies for the problems assertedly justifying them and, in fact, impose cures for problems that did not exist, the opinion stated. U.S. District Judge James Peterson similarly characterized parallel laws in Wisconsin, also on Friday. He described the photo ID provisions of the Wisconsin statute in question as aimed to disenfranchise likely Democratic voters, and ordered the state to facilitate means for all voters to obtain a free photo ID that would be valid for voting purposes. He also struck down restrictions on absentee and out-of-district voting, an increase in residency requirements from 10 to 28 days, and a prohibition on using expired student IDs to vote. In the third such ruling on Friday, a judge for Sedgwick County, Kansas suspended a proof of citizenship requirement that would have affected some 17,000 voters in yesterdays legislative and local elections, and up to 50,000 in the November election. Losing ones vote is an irreparable harm in my opinion, Judge Larry Hendricks said. Irreparable harm is something that the plaintiffs must usually show to obtain an injunction to block a law temporarily. The proof of citizenship requirement was the brainchild of Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a leading figure in the Republican-led attacks on voting rights. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland struck down a North Dakota voter ID law, finding that it created an undue burden for Native Americans. No eligible voter, regardless of their station in life, should be denied the opportunity to vote, he said. In 2015, North Dakota lawmakers tightened photo ID requirements, banning college IDs and most tribal ID cards. The court found that nearly 24 percent of Native American voters lacked necessary ID, compared to 12 percent of non-Native voters, and that about 48 percent of Native Americans lacked the documents needed to obtain one. It also found that on average, Native Americans had to travel twice as far as non-Native Americans to obtain a drivers license. Earlier this month, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down provisions of a Texas law containing an aggressive and partisan photo ID law, which allowed concealed-carry weapons permits as valid ID for voting, but not student ID cards from state universities, a combination intended to favor likely Republican voters and hinder younger voters, who tend to vote Democrat. Details of the North Carolina bill follow those of other states, differing only in the brazenness of their discriminatory intent. SL 2013-381 kept valid only the kinds of photo IDs more commonly held by whites, including driver licenses, while it invalidated public assistance IDs. The bill sharply reduced early voting, from seventeen to ten days. This move eliminated one of two souls-to-the-polls Sundays, which are get-out-the-vote initiatives rooted in the Democratic-leaning African American churches. According to the court record, the proponents of the bill conceded that [c]ounties with Sunday voting in 2014 were disproportionately black and disproportionately Democratic. Thus, in what comes as close to a smoking gun as we are likely to see in modern times, the States very justification for a challenged statute hinges explicitly on racespecifically its concern that African Americans, who had overwhelmingly voted for Democrats, had too much access to the franchise, the court said. The court also found that the bills advocates specifically targeted and dismantled the states popular preregistration program, which allows high school students and others nearing voting age to register to vote at school before they turn 18. Preregistration increased youth, African American and working class voting, and was associated with zero incidents of even alleged voter fraud. The author also recommends: US Supreme Court guts Voting Rights Act [26 June 2013] US Supreme Court ruling sparks new attacks on voting rights [3 July 2013] alone bleak foreboding thinking It's the leading disability worldwide and it can kill. Yet for decades, scientists have known surprisingly little about what genes are linked with the development of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). A new study aims to change that. In their paper, published Monday in the journal Nature Genetics, a team of scientists pinpointed 17 genetic tweaks, or SNPs (pronounced "snips"), that appear to be tied to MDD. The researchers combed through a trove of genetic data from thousands of people who submitted their information to the personal genomics company 23andMe. Scientists have been looking for such genetic hallmarks of depression for years. And while some, including a 2013 study in the journal The Lancet and a 2015 paper in the journal Nature, have yielded some promising clues, none have been able to spot any precise, reliable genetic hallmarks of the disease. And least not until now. "My group has been chasing depression genes for more than a decade without success, so as you can imagine we were really thrilled with the outcome," Harvard psychiatry professor Roy Perlis, one of the leading authors of the paper and the Associate Director of the Psychiatric Genetics Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, told Business Insider. The hope is that identifying these watermarks in our DNA tiny areas on genes where high amounts of variation tend to occur among individuals will help usher in a series of new, more precise treatments for people suffering from the disease. "But this is really just the beginning. Now the hard work is understanding what these findings tell us about how we might better treat depression," said Perlis. Using 23andMe data to uncover clues about depression 23andMe kit 23andMe is a personal genomics company that lets you spit in a tube and get your DNA analyzed for $199. Most of the attention they've attracted recently has been focused on its tiffs with federal regulatory agencies like the FDA, who eventually restricted several aspects of its tests because they were giving unauthorized "medical advice." Story continues But other research that the company is involved with has attracted less fanfare. In a recent StarTalk interview with host Neil de Grasse Tyson, 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki said, "We are about individuals accessing, understanding, and benefiting from the human genome. The genome has a massive potential to transform healthcare. And we got a million people genotyped, so now we have a million people running around going to their doctors and talking about genetics, and that has the potential to be disruptive." This study which drew from 23andMe data could be one example of this disruptive potential. Psychiatric diseases, since they are the result of a complex mix of genetics, environment, and behavioral factors, require large numbers of people, or what's known as a large sample size. In the past, recruiting these large numbers of people, not to mention screening and interviewing each potential participant, has been extremely expensive and labor-intensive. In contrast, the current study drew from research that had already been done. "We thought, what can we do with this huge set of data thats already been collected by 23andMe?" said Perlis. Quite a lot, it turns out. Using data from more than 75,600 people who said they'd been clinically diagnosed with depression and from more than 231,700 people who reported no history of depression, Perlis and his team were able to identify 15 areas on our DNA that appear to be linked with Major Depressive Disorder. They also found some ties between these areas and those which have been previously identified as possibly playing a role in other psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. Still, the data has some limitations. For one thing, its based on self-reports, meaning that only people who were experiencing problematic symptoms and went to a doctor to seek help were included. As a result, the data could exclude the many people who experience major depressive disorders, but have not yet been diagnosed. On the other hand, it could also include people who have been wrongfully diagnosed. "What we might be identifying here is something much more to do with help-seeking behavior than anything to do with a psychiatric illness," University of California, Los Angeles professor of psychiatry Jonathan Flint told The Guardian. Regardless of its limitations, however, the research hits home the message that diseases of the brain, such as depression or Alzheimer's are no less real and no less serious than diseases of the body, like cancer. "Beyond giving us this so much data to explore," said Perlis, "being able to show that depression is a brain disease, that there is biology associated with it, I think that's really critical for people to understand that these are brain diseases. They're not someone's fault. They are diseases, like any other." NOW WATCH: Doing this for 5 minutes every day can help people who suffer from depression More From Business Insider The world may have just found out about Bachelorette couple JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers's romantic engagement, but the two have been sneaking around for months since taping Monday's finale. The happy couple revealed the secrets of how they've kept their secret romance going while the show was airing, including lying low in Bachelorette-provided weekend private getaways across the country. "We've been in hiding we bounce around every couple of weeks to these safe houses," Rodgers told Kelly Ripa and Anderson Cooper on Tuesday's Live with Kelly. "We're not allowed to go outside, can't be in the front yard." "You can't be seen together?" Cooper asked. "Nope, not at all," said Rodgers. Of course, rules and made to be broken and just because they were not supposed to be together outside of their "safe house" visits didn't mean Fletcher, 25, and Rodgers, 27, didn't see one another. "There was one time she was staying at a hotel in Hollywood, and I kind of threw on a mullet wig and a trucker hat," Rodgers said, explaining how he snuck in an unscheduled visit. "No one knows this I'm going to get in trouble," Fletcher laughed. For more on The Bachelorette, including exclusive photos and updates from JoJo Fletcher, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday Jordan Rodgers Broke Bachelorette Rules and Wore a Disguise See JoJo Fletcher After Filming| The Bachelorette, People Picks, TV News, JoJo Fletcher RELATED VIDEO: The Bachelorette's JoJo Fletcher Is Engaged! Did She Make The Right Choice? Bachelorette JoJo is Engaged! Did She Make The Right Choice?" data-ad-channel="peoplenow" data-ad-subchannel="peoplenowupclose" data-auto-play="no"> So what exactly did the pair do while in their safe houses? "A lot of Netlix," Fletcher spilled, explaining that they binged Bates Motel and American Horror Story. "We have nothing to do but just watch shows all day." It's hasn't all been fun though. Fletcher and Rodgers both admitted they've both really struggled with not being able to openly talk about one another. "We're not able to publicly support each other and show people how happy we are," Rodgers said. "Now we can, which is nice," Fletcher said, holding her fiance's hand. Live with Kelly airs weekdays (check local listings). From luxurious hotel rooms and HDB estates to grassy banks by the waterfront, heres a list of where to go for the best views of the fireworks on National Day. Image: Conrad Centennial Singapore Even if you lack those coveted tickets to the National Day Parade (NDP), there are plenty of ways to celebrate the nations 51st birthday on Aug 9. The fireworks display of course, are a perennial favourite. But where should you go for the best views of these bursts of bright lights? Held at the National Stadium instead of the floating platform at Marina Bay this year, the NDPs new venue means new vantage points for photographers. While part of the pyrotechnics will be set off indoors within the National Stadium itself, pedestrians will still be able to catch sights of the outdoor fireworks that will be launched from the barrages of Kallang Basin. Just head to the nearby riverside locations early on to secure a good viewing spot, before the fireworks kick off shortly after 8pm. Do leave the cars at home, though, to avoid the hassle of dealing with road closures. And bring a tripod with you for your camera if possible. Even with steady hands, you run the risk of getting blurry shots at night, with all the pyrotechnic action going on. With these tips in mind, check out the following venues for your fireworks-viewing party. Singapore Sports Hub, Kallang Wave Mall Youre right in thick of where the action is, with likely the best views around. Youll get to see the fireworks that are set off close to the ground. But watch out for the crowds and their selfie sticks, and do leave the cars at home. Getting around might be a hassle due to the roadblocks, to say the least. Marina Promenade (along Republic Avenue) This area is among the top fireworks-viewing spots near the waterfront. Just remember to leave the car at home and alight at the Nicoll Highway station for easy access to this section of the Marina Promenade boardwalk. Once here, go onto the Merdeka Bridge for the best views. Story continues Kallang Riverside Park Pack food and drinks, a picnic mat and go early to get a good spot along the grassy banks by the river for waterfront views of the pyrotechnics. Its located just across the river from the National Stadium, so youll get a panoramic view when the lights go up. Tanjong Rhu Promenade It might take a longer walk to get to this park but the views will be worth your while. To get here, alight at the Stadium circle line station and make your way towards the Tanjong Rhu suspension bridge. Likewise for this venue, pack some food and drinks, and arrive early to secure your spot on the bridge. Nicoll Highway Park Youre further away from the fireworks at this location but youll still get good views; not a bad thing if youre crowd-averse. Take the train to Nicoll Highway station to get here. Walk further down south along the river, if youre looking for a cosier spot to see the fireworks. Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck Youll get a birds eye view of the fireworks display, set against the citys skyline. The cons? The crowds of course. Its often crowded with tourists milling around for great views, and is likely to be even more so on National Day. Youll also have to pay a fee to get access to the observation deck. Singapore Flyer You do get a panoramic view of the waterfront while on the Singapore Flyer. But you need to get your timing right, else you might just miss that crucial moment if youre not in one of the cabins at the top when the fireworks go off! HDB estates at Beach Road, Pine Close, Mountbatten Although the residents are used to the sight of eager photographers snapping away in their estate come National Day, do be courteous. These are still residential areas, so try not to cause too much of a disturbance to the residents who live here. Conrad Centennial Singapore This hotel at Millenia Singapore is situated just across the National Stadium, so youll get magnificent views in the comfort of the rooms provided youre facing the right direction. Room rates start from about $475 per night, as part of its National Day special package. The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Splurge on a luxurious staycation, paired with champagne and of course, views of the festive lights. Also located within the Millenia Singapore complex, hotel rates here start from $740 per night, as part of its Celebrate with the Nation room package. Parkroyal at Beach Road Looking for a more affordable staycation? Room rates start from $180 per night for stays from Aug 9-10. The swimming pool area at this hotel offers good views of the fireworks, and a good excuse to head to the pool long before the fireworks display begins. Marina Barrage While you do get partially obscured views from this location, the crowd situation might just be more manageable here. Good for those just keen to take in the atmosphere, and for that cosy picnic with your loved ones. From Cosmopolitan The Hills' 10-year-anniversary special, That Was Then, This Is Now, finally aired on MTV on Tuesday after what felt like an eternity of teasers. The special was 99 percent Lauren Conrad and if you're a hardcore LC fan, it was everything. For the better part of the hour, viewers had a front-row seat of Lauren driving while her hair perfectly blew in the wind, visiting her parents (who still live in beautiful Laguna), analyzing ~memories~ with talent producer Sophia Rossi, and working (being the boss lady at a Paper Crown photo shoot and chiming in with an idea at a meeting for her Kohl's collection). If you want to relive what you just saw or don't want to bother with all the reruns MTV will probably offer, here's what also happened: 1. She says the name of the special less than one minute into the program. "Everyone talks about the soundtrack to their lives. Ten years ago, this was the soundtrack to my life. That was then, this is now." 2. Lauren has at least 10 different outfit changes. She also has fun dresses for when she's in Thailand and Guatemala. 3. Lauren walks through a hallway of framed Lauren Conrad magazine covers at her mom Kathy and dad Jim Conrad's house in Laguna Beach. LC says this is her mom's doing. 4. Kathy tells Lauren to her face, "Academics wasn't what you did best," after some half-encouraging words about how they always "felt like you gravitated to what you do best." 5. Lauren reveals that Heidi made the first move in their friendship during textiles class. "It was rough, I didn't make a lot friends. Heidi walked up to me, sat down next to me and basically said,'Wanna be friends?' She was the friendliest person I'd ever met. We split a cab on the way home and she was my friend." 6. Zayn's "Pillowtalk" plays in the background as Lauren talks about how she never loved being on camera while "a lot of people wanted to be on camera." It's at this moment that an old clip of Spencer and Heidi leading a pack of partygoers plays. (Interesting editing job, MTV). The segment ends with Lauren saying, "I don't really remember everything that happened. It doesn't always bring back the best of memories." Story continues 7. Lauren tries a joke, telling her Paper Crown models, "You guys look super pretty. You should be pretty as a job, professionally." 8. ~Unaired footage break~. Lauren and Jason talk about his problems as present-day LC reveals that Jason wasn't sober the day they filmed that breakup scene. She says she felt responsible for taking care of him. 9. ~Unaired footage break~. Young Kim Kardashian parties at Speidi's house and asks about their jellyfish tank. 10. Lauren reveals that her epic fight with Audrina - the one that ended in #MascaraTear - started when Audrina put a lock on her guest house while living with Lauren. "We just weren't getting along when we were living together." So relatable, Lauren. 11. MTV wrote a script for Lauren and Heidi's Les Deux encounter before they even got there. The script read, "The party's in full swing. Heidi and Spencer may or may not make an appearance. Heidi and Lauren eye each other from across the room. Lauren is on a lookout for a guy." Present-day Lauren tells Sophie, "You know this is super creepy right. This is creepy that you guys wrote ... this is how your night's gonna be." 12. ~Unaired footage break~. Lauren's voice can be heard over a clip of Spencer partying at Les Deux on the night of the fight. She says, "MTV should care what Spencer did to me. It's not OK that they let him up there It's not fucking funny when you guys do that. I'm gonna go home now. I don't want to film in the same vicinity as them." Present day Lauren speaks again: "I definitely felt set up... I was so hurt by these people, I didn't want to be in the same room as them." 13. Lauren corrects talent producer Sophia Rossi in saying her birthday booze cruise - the one where she had an emotional conversation with Heidi - was in fact "a boat party." 14. Lauren reflects on saying good-bye to Heidi and their friendship. "It was us mourning the loss of a friendship, and being like, 'I'm always gonna love you, this is really sad that this happened.' We just can't be in each other's lives." 15. Lauren reveals her husband has only seen one clip of The Hills, and it's of Lauren telling Brody how she's at the Roosevelt pool every Sunday. 16. Lauren makes an interesting remark about high fashion/designer brands while talking about her Kohl's line. "This whole brand we're building is based on accessibility. We want everyone to feel good about how they dress. You don't want to be like, 'This [motions height with hand] is where we are, don't you want to be fancy like this?' Let's all wear clothes together. We have a feel good vibe in our brand." 17. ~Unaired footage break~. Lauren asks, "Can we please be done?" after kissing Brody during filming. "It's the most awkward thing ever. Please. I'm so awkward." No lies were told. I mean, look at them. 18. Sophia and Lauren reveal that the Parisian babe was told to kiss Lauren after their motorcycle ride. Apparently, she "ran like a thief." 19. Lauren and William's two dogs Chloe and Fitz make brief appearances near the end. (TBH, they deserved more screen time). 20. Lauren proclaims she would "absolutely" do The Hills again. No word on whether or not she would use the same ending the second time around. Follow Peggy on Twitter. From Esquire The standoff with police started Monday morning over a months-old traffic violation and ended hours later in a hail of bullets. When it was all over, police had shot and killed Korryn Gaines, a 23-year-old black woman. Her five-year-old son was also shot, but is expected to survive. Now people are questioning why it had to happen in the first place and whether videos Gaines posted to Facebook during the incident were deleted. Here's what we know so far. Around 9:20 a.m. on Monday, police arrived at an apartment complex in Baltimore County to serve a warrant on Gaines and her boyfriend, 39-year-old Kareem K. Courtney. Gaines was wanted on traffic violations as well as resisting arrest and disorderly conduct charges from March; Courtney was wanted on assault charges. According to authorities, police knocked on their door several times and heard a man and woman talking as well as a child crying. No one answered. They got a key from the landlord and opened the door. That's when they saw Gaines sitting on the ground holding a five-year-child in one arm and a 12-gauge pistol grip shotgun in the other, according to The Washington Post. At the same time, Courtney ran out of the apartment holding a one-year-old child. He was arrested. Photo credit: AP A standoff ensued. Police said she pointed the gun at them multiple times. Around 3 p.m., according to the Baltimore Sun, Gaines pointed the gun at officers and said, "If you don't leave, I'm going to kill you." An officer then fired at Gaines. She fired two shots, but didn't hit an officer. "We discharged one round at her," Police Chief James Johnson told reporters on Monday night. "In return, she fired several rounds back at us. We fired again at her, striking and killing her." Gaines was hit several times, according to the Associated Press, and pronounced dead at the scene. Her son was hit in a limb. It's unclear whether the bullet that struck him came from Gaines or the police. Story continues It's also unclear whether police were wearing body cameras, which they'd recently put into use. Rest in peace to my step-cousin Korryn Gaines. I'm so sorry your baby girl & boy have to live w/o a mother. pic.twitter.com/l9T1EoPy4s - Taylor Champ (@tchampp) August 2, 2016 Gaines is the ninth black women killed by police this year, according to The Washington Post. Her death, which comes roughly a month after the police killings of Philando Castille near St. Paul, Minnesota, and Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has sparked a strong reaction, particularly from members of the Black Lives Matter movement. Baltimore is also where Freddie Gray, a black man, was killed while in police custody. Questions have also arose over whether Gaines posted videos of herself and the boy during the standoff to Facebook. Those videos, people on Twitter allege, were removed from her Facebook account. On Twitter-where Korryn Gaines was the top trending topic on Tuesday afternoon-people have posted video they claim she shared during the standoff. They also questioned why she had to die and called on people to "say her name." Baltimore County officials confirmed on Tuesday that Facebook granted their emergency request during the standoff to take down Gaines' social media accounts. Police Chief Jim Johnson said Tuesday that the department made the emergency request to have Gaines' social media accounts suspended after she posted videos online showing the standoff. People who saw the postings, Johnson said, responded by encouraging her to not comply with police. At least one video shows Gaines asking her son what the police are trying to do. "They trying to kill us," the boy says. "Do you want to go out there?" "No," he says. Facebook reactivated her account after the standoff, but blocked videos that don't comply with its standards. Authorities in Baltimore County are expected to release the names of the officers involved in the shooting sometime this week. With reporting from The Associated Press. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thirty-three members of the U.S. military, including a pregnant woman, are believed to have contracted the mosquito-borne Zika virus overseas, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. Air Force Major Ben Sakrisson, a Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. service members are believed to have been infected outside the continental United States, but cautioned that it is hard to tell where exactly they may have contracted Zika. Florida authorities last week reported the first signs of local transmission of the virus in the continental United States in a Miami neighborhood. The Zika outbreak was first detected last year in Brazil. U.S. health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Will Dunham) 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. When you suddenly start sharing updates on LinkedIn, making radical changes to your LinkedIn profile or begin disappearing from the office, you send red flags to colleagues and your manager. It's important for your job security to keep your job search a secret from your fellow employees and your manager. Here are some things you need to know about launching a confidential job search. [See: 10 Ways You're Inadvertently Broadcasting Your Job Search.] Don't make radical changes to LinkedIn. LinkedIn is one of the top choices for recruiters and employers to search when looking for talent. Will your LinkedIn profile show up in search results? Before you make any fixes to your LinkedIn profile, change the notifications settings off. You will find the option to toggle this setting when you are in your profile's edit mode. Make sure your profile is complete and includes the right skills for the jobs you are interested in. Begin spiffing up your profile by making changes to older jobs, adding samples of work, or by making changes that don't scream you are on the hunt for a new job. For example, changing your headline from your current job title to something self-promotional like, "Project Manager in search of my next great opportunity" is unwise. One headline change that won't tip off your employer is: "Technical Project Manager. Overseeing the software life cycle at X Company." By keeping the company name in the headline, you don't look like you are actively job hunting, yet you've still promoted some desirable skills. Do not use company resources. Don't use your work computer or phone for your job search, not even after hours or during breaks. You spend eight or more hours in the office, so it's tempting, but don't do it. And using your own phone or computer inside the office can be detrimental if someone sees what you are doing. The best practice is to only job search during your personal time out of the office. [See: The 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.] Post your resume with caution. Of course you want to add your resume to various resume databases, but use caution. You don't want your current employer to see your resume. Before you post your resume, remove your name and contact information from the resume. Instead, list your profession as your name and list only your city and state. Your email and phone number could easily allow a curious manager to find your information. Next, replace your most current company name with "confidential," "current employer" or describe the company industry, product or service, such as "Manufacturer of Molded Plastics." If your resume contains any other information that would tip off your current employer, such as specific product names or clients, clear this information from your resume. Story continues Posting your resume to a board like Indeed, CareerBuilder or Monster is likely to generate a lot of spam. You may want to create a separate email account just for your job search. And remember, only a small percentage of people secure a job based on having a resume online. Tell people your job search is confidential. You do not need to confess to anyone you are job searching. In fact, it's best to network and not bring up your search. If asked, or if you decide you do want to share your current career info, make sure you tell the person you are still employed and would like to keep your job search confidential. People understand how important this is and will keep your secret. [See: 10 Things Your Mom Didn't Teach You About Job Searching.] Arrange networking meetings after or before work. Meeting with past colleagues is one of the best ways to share the news about your job search. Arrange to meet with people you know one-on-one, either via phone or in person before work or at the end of the day. When reaching out to invite your contact for a meeting, explain that you want to catch up or reconnect. If you are actively networking and managing your online visibility and reputation, you will find it much easier to launch your confidential job search. In fact, the best career strategy is to consistently stay connected with your network, online and off, and offer help when people reach out to you. More From US News & World Report You know how Jason Bourne always disappears in between movies, impervious to any sort of detection, only to pop up just in time for the next movies crisis? Well, thats something that can only happen in the world of movies or America. If Jason Bourne were in Singapore, hed be caught within 5 minutes of arriving. While yes, Mas Selamat did elude us for quite awhile back there, Jason Bournes a little different. Hes big and hes Caucasian, and he sticks out like a sore thumb. Plus theres surveillance equipment everywhere. So heres 5 ways that Jason Bourne could be caught right after entering Singapore. The bane of all drivers. (LTA) 1. Through Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries Every car, nay, every vehicle nowadays is equipped with an in-vehicle unit so that your dollars can be sucked out every time you pass under an ERP gantry. But its not just a money-draining machine the ERP is perfectly capable of tracking cars. Add to the fact that ERP gantries are now in the heartlands, and any vehicle that Jason Bourne hijacks will giveaway his locations faster than you can say cashcard. When our giant ERP satellite system is up, Jason Bourne will be caught within 1 minute of entering Singapore. ICAs enhanced Immigration Automated Clearance System. (Home Team News) 2. enhanced-Immigration Automated Clearance System So you know how those ICA automated systems makes our lives much easier when were entering/leaving Singapore? Theyll also be the reason that Jason Bourne is caught. I know, I know, youre going to say that those gantries can be hacked, since thats exactly what he did in the movie. But youre forgetting that Singapore is going to block Internet access for public servants. That means no hacking. Jason Bourne will be caught the minute he pulls that fake passport out. Whos watching? (Alibaba) 3. Closed-circuit television CCTV cameras are everywhere now, thanks to the fact that theyre cheap and easy to install. Even libraries are installing CCTVs now, which is testament to their ubiquity. While the resolution might not be crystal clear, its hard to mask Jason Bournes size, since hes easily twice the girth of the average Singaporean. Story continues The security guards will red flag him once they spot him. Hell be really obvious. (United International Pictures) 4. By being a Caucasian So after that whole Holland Village Standard Chartered bank robbery, Singapore are especially alert when it comes to spotting Caucasians. It also doesnt help that they really are the minority in Singapore. Its difficult to blend in when youre Caucasian and everyone else is Chinese/Malay/Indian. Once news of Jason Bourne starts spreading, everyone will be on a look out for him. Heck, he wont even be able to go to a McDonalds toilet without someone spotting him. People will complain about anything, including parkour. (Superfly Monkey Dragons) 5. By performing all sorts of crazy stunts If youve read forum letters in local newspapers lately, youll noticed that Singaporeans will complain about anything thats the slightest bit dangerous, from sewing in MRT trains to phobias created by library fines. And Jason Bourne is the champion of dangerous stunts hes got abilities surpassing those of normal men, which is why hes so dangerous, right? Hell inevitably leap off tall buildings and barrel roll through heavy traffic, some bored auntie will write a complain letter, and then Jason Bourne will get caught. The guy already looks dangerous anyway, so someone will definitely complain about him at the airport. So how would you catch Jason Bourne? Marcus Goh is a Singapore television scriptwriter. Hes also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. He Tweets/Instagrams at Optimarcus and writes at marcusgohmarcusgoh.com. The views expressed are his own. While authorities have deemed Tuesday's fatal shooting of a 5-year-old Louisiana boy by his 9-year-old brother an accident, PEOPLE confirms authorities are investigating to determine whether criminal charges are warranted against the boys' mother, who allegedly left them home alone while she attended to an elderly neighbor. According to a police statement obtained by PEOPLE, the two boys were playing in a closet just after 6:30 p.m. on Saturday when they came across a handgun. As the older of the two boys was handling the weapon, it fired, hitting the 5-year-old in the face. The boy was pronounced dead soon after emergency medical technicians arrived at the family's home in Marrero, Louisiana. The 9-year-old's name is not being released by police. A preliminary investigation revealed the accidental nature of the shooting. A semi-automatic handgun was found lying next to the 5-year-old's body. Police have identified the boys' mother as Generra Brown, 29. She was across the street, tending to an elderly neighbor, when the gun went off. Brown called 911 as soon as her 9-year-old told her about the shooting, police say. No criminal charges have been filed but authorities continue to investigate the incident. Police are still attempting to identify the gun's owner. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Tuesday's fatal shooting is the latest in a string of deadly incidents over the last year that have involved children. In June, an unsupervised 4-year-old boy fatally shot himself in the head in Iowa, and in March, a North Carolina woman was charged with reckless conduct after her 2-year-old son allegedly went into her purse, found her gun, and shot himself in the stomach. Two months ago, a 5-year-old Louisiana girl died after accidentally shooting herself as she played with a gun. In March, a 13-year-old Pennsylvania boy was killed when his 14-year-old friend started playing with a gun that accidentally fired. If youre selling your home and finally accepted an offer youre happy with, it seems like all your stress is over. Its time to pack up and move on! But sometimes life throws you a curveballsuch as another buyer who is smitten by your fabulous home and steps up with a higher offer. Whats a seller to do? Its a good dilemma, to be sure, but that doesnt make it easy. Overall, switching to a higher offer after youve already accepted one isnt something experts recommendits unpleasant, unethical, and could even land you in legal hot water. Once a seller has accepted an offer, its very difficult to back out, even if you receive a higher one, says Realtor Bill Golden with Re/Max Metro Atlanta Cityside. Most deals allow a buyer to back out, but not a seller. Still, money talksand if the higher offer is something you want to consider, heres what you can expect. Review your contract When a seller accepts an offer, that doesnt mean the deal is truly done. For one, did you sign a contract? Until youve got your John Hancock on that document, a home is still technically available, says Julia Towle of Avant Realty Group in Massachusetts. This contractoften called a home purchase agreementdefines the responsibilities of each party, deadlines, and specific contingencies. Once its signed, anyone backing out could face Lady Justice. Its important to fully understand the language in the sales contract to ensure each party is aware of their responsibilities and repercussions for breaching such obligations, says Towle. That usually includes the nondefaulting partys right to pursue lawful remedy against the defaulters. Check your contracts contingencies Even if you have signed the contract, if it includes contingencies, then theres still some wiggle room. Contingencies cover the obligations that must be met by both buyer and seller before a real estate transaction can close. For the seller, a buyer closing a mortgage within 30 days is a typical contingency. If the buyer fails to meet that deadline, a seller may be legally able to call the sale off. Story continues For the buyer, one common contingency is that the home passes inspection. If it doesnt because of major flaws with, say, the foundation or roofing, then the buyer may walk away without incurring penalties, or ask the seller to pay for repairs. An inspection contingency is typically put in place to protect a buyer, but it could work in a sellers favor, too (see our next point). Accept the higher offer as backup Sellers dont have tons of options when it comes to backing out. But one thing a seller can dothough its not guaranteed to workis to accept the higher offer as a backup. The seller can then play hardball with the first folks when it comes to any inspection items they want fixed, says Golden. The goal for the sellers would be to make the buyers with the initial offer back out on their own by not meeting their inspection contingency demands. Once the original buyers walk away, the seller could move on to the higher offer. The big danger, however, is that once you let one buyer go, the second folks could then ask for even more repairs or back out altogether, Golden says. The bottom line when letting go of one strong offer in favor of a higher one: Its a big risk. Fill the original buyer in If a seller decides to go with a higher offer, she must communicate that to the original buyer immediatelyand return any deposit presented with the initial offer. But heres another option: A seller could allow the original buyer to present a counteroffer. Granted, the buyer may not want to. Instead, he could just collect his deposit and take the seller to court. Seek legal counsel Realty laws vary from state to state, based on the contracts. Here in Georgia, if a seller just wants to back out of the contract, the buyer and the agents can sue, says Golden. The suit can be used to force the seller to sell the original buyers the home or to pay a specified amount of damageswhich could include the price of seeking alternate housing like a hotel and legal fees. Either way, it wont be pretty. I would most definitely advise a seller to seek legal counsel before making any attempt to back out of a contract, says Golden. or avoid such drama at the outset One way to circumvent legal battlesand bad karmais to ask yourself before you put your house on the market what youd do in such a circumstance. If youre the type of person who wants to take all comers, its advisable to list the property as contingent, accepting backup offers. This would avoid any and all repercussions to the seller, says Towle. The reason: If a seller communicates upfront that all backup offers will be considered, the buyer cannot reasonably claim he relied on the offer acceptance as a sign hes guaranteed the keys. The downside? Some buyers might be scared off, knowing that their dream home could disappear on a dime. The post You Accepted an Offer, Then Got a Higher One? Heres What to Do appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com. Related Articles (Recasts with sale of shares completed and cash freed up for other investments; adds background) By Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Allison Lampert BOSTON/MONTREAL, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Billionaire investor William Ackman has exited his hedge fund's investment in railway company Canadian Pacific, freeing up roughly $1.5 billion in cash to make other future investments. Pershing Square Capital Management and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd on Wednesday said the New York-based hedge fund had sold its remaining 9.8 million shares in the Canadian railroad, representing a 6.51 percent stake, through trades organized by J.P. Morgan, Credit Suisse and BofA Merrill Lynch. The sale marks the end of one of Ackman's most profitable and successful investments, but comes at a time the prominent activist investor is facing double-digit losses in his highly concentrated investment portfolio. Pershing Square began buying into the under-performing railroad around late September 2011 and mounted one of the hedge fund industry's bitterest and most closely watched proxy battles, only to win seven seats on the company's 16-member board in 2012. In the end, Pershing Square earned some $2.6 billion on its investment, and Ackman privately said winning the board contest would ensure that no company in the world could afford to ignore his firm. Ackman said he plans to keep his board seat until the company's next annual meeting. Earlier this year, Paul Hilal, a key architect of the investment, resigned his CP board seat when he left Pershing Square. Pershing Square sold down its stake in Canadian Pacific earlier this year but told investors later that it still had full confidence in the railway's management. Late last year, Ackman played a key role Canadian Pacific's efforts to buy rival railroad Norfolk Southern, an effort that eventually collapsed. While Canadian Pacific will go down as one of Ackman's big winners, he is currently known more for his fund's losers - namely his investment in Valeant Pharmaceuticals International , which he made in 2015 and which has cost his investors billions in paper losses as the stock price crashed 91 percent in the last 52 weeks. Ackman's exit from Canadian Pacific has some similarities to his exit three years from a losing bet on J.C. Penney ; he relied on Citigroup to help him exit an 18 percent position by selling 39.1 million shares. (Reporting by Allison Lampert; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler) Mexico City (AFP) - The actress Kate del Castillo, accused of obstructing justice after meeting Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, has asked prosecutors to drop an investigation against her, her lawyer said Tuesday. The Mexican actress, who filed papers seeking a court injunction demanding prosecutors "either charge her with a crime or close the criminal investigation" has not been allowed to access documents in the probe, lawyer Harland Braun said in a statement. "We only know that she is being accused of obstruction of justice and money laundering because the Attorney General's office was forced to inform a federal judge of the accusations through a constitutional injunction," he said. The authorities opened the investigation after del Castillo and Oscar-winning American actor Sean Penn met the boss of the Sinaloa cartel in his mountain hideout in October 2015, when he was a fugitive after his second escape from a maximum security prison. The meeting -- to discuss making a film about Guzman's life -- was made public in January in a Rolling Stone article by Penn. Guzman he was re-arrested soon after in his native Sinaloa after the meeting inadvertently helped lead the authorities to his hideout. He had staged a spectacular jailbreak last year, becoming the world's most-wanted drug lord until his recapture. He is currently being held in a federal prison in the northern city of Ciudad Juarez as his lawyers fight the Mexican government's decision to extradite him to the United States. He is wanted in Texas and California on charges including homicide, drug trafficking and money laundering. "Kate has consistently made clear that her only goal was to produce an artistic and journalistic project of Guzmans life story and turn it into a compelling and informative film project that would help Mexicans and Americans understand the deadly business of the drug cartels," Braun said. The actors said at the time that Guzman, who wanted to make the film, organized the meeting with del Castillo, who in turn contacted Penn. "Regardless of what comes next, Kate is committed to completing the film project for which she has already committed so much of her time," Braun said. The AES Corporation AES is scheduled to report second-quarter 2016 results before the opening bell on Aug 5. Last quarter, the company posted a negative earnings surprise of 31.58%. The company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters, still recording an average negative surprise of 9.89%. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. AES CORP Price and EPS Surprise AES CORP Price and EPS Surprise | AES CORP Quote Why a Likely Positive Surprise? Our proven model shows that AES Corp. is likely to beat earnings this season because it has the right combination of two key ingredients. A stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy) or #3 (Hold) to be able to beat estimates, and AES Corp. has the right mix. Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is +11.11%. This is because the Most Accurate estimate stands at 20 cents, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged slightly lower at 18 cents. This is a meaningful indicator of a likely positive earnings surprise. Zacks Rank: AES Corp.s Zacks Rank #3, when combined with a positive ESP, makes us reasonably confident of an earnings beat this quarter. Conversely, Sell-rated stocks (#4 or #5) should never be considered going into an earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Whats Driving the Better-than-Expected Earnings? During the first quarter earnings call, the company hinted at relatively weak first-half 2016 earnings per share due to a scheduled major maintenance in the second quarter. It also mentioned that its first-quarter operating performance was impacted by adverse movements in FX, lower power prices in the U.S. and the expiration of the power purchase agreement at Tiete in Brazil. This will likely continue in the second quarter as well, adversely impacting the bottom line. However, the company remains on track to achieve its three-year $150 million cost reduction and revenue enhancement goals. AES Corp. aims to achieve $50 million in 2016 and the remaining $100 million through 2018. Moreover, the impact from hydrology in Latin America should be negligible this year. AES Corp. excepts the second quarter to be lower than normal. In fact, it had forecast that 70% to 75% of its 2016 adjusted earnings per share would be recorded in the second half of 2016 versus about 60% in past years. The company has been under pressure of currency headwinds over the past few quarters. Unlike most of the utilities in the U.S., AES Corp. has its presence in many countries, exposing it to currency risk. For that, it is streamlining its business risk profile. During the second quarter, AES Corp. has signed an agreement to sell its entire equity interest in AES Sul in southern Brazil to CPFL Energia S.A. CPL, the largest private utility in the country. If the U.S. dollar continues to remain strong compared to emerging market currencies, AES Corp.s earnings may be impacted. Stocks to Consider Here are a couple of operators in the electric utility space worth considering, as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter: Pattern Energy Group Inc. PEGI has an Earnings ESP of +100.00% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is scheduled to release second-quarter results on Aug 8. Great Plains Energy Inc. GXP has an Earnings ESP of +14.63% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is expected to release second-quarter results on Aug 4. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CPFL ENERGI-ADR (CPL): Free Stock Analysis Report AES CORP (AES): Free Stock Analysis Report GREAT PLAINS EN (GXP): Free Stock Analysis Report PATTERN ENERGY (PEGI): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Diane Bartz WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Health insurer Aetna Inc , which is seeking to save its merger with rival Humana , urged a judge to hear its case in the fall and before hearing a second merger of two other insurance companies that antitrust enforcers are trying to stop. In court filings late Tuesday, the Justice Department, Aetna and Anthem Inc - which is looking to merge with Cigna Corp - all said that the cases should be heard separately rather than jointly. Aetna and Anthem asked for hearings to be held in the fall while the government has asked for next year. The Justice Department filed lawsuits on July 21 asking a federal court to stop Anthem's planned $45 billion purchase of Cigna as well as Aetna Inc's $33 billion planned acquisition of Humana. Judge John Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia will be deciding if the deals can go forward. The Justice Department argues the deals would reduce competition, raise prices for consumers and stifle innovation if the number of large, national insurers fell from five to three. The department believes that there is no settlement possible in either case, according to a source familiar with the agency's thinking. In its filing with Humana, Aetna urged the judge hearing the case to hold a trial in the mid-fall in hopes of getting a decision before Dec. 31, a deadline for the deal's completion. They asked for a two-week trial. Aetna argued that a single question will dominate the trial: Does Medicare Advantage, which is managed by insurance companies, compete with Medicare, which is managed by the government? The government says that the two products do not compete while insurers argue that they do. The government, for its part, said that they could be ready for trial by Feb. 17. "Defendants' proposals are impractical," it said in a filing late Tuesday. Anthem expressed concerns that Cigna would bolt if there was no decision by April 30, 2017, pointing in its court filing to reports detailing the companies' contentious relationship. The government brushed this aside, saying: "Whether defendants are getting along (or not) should not cause the court to rush its schedule or deprive plaintiffs of an adequate opportunity to prepare for trial." (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Bernard Orr) The past week saw St. George, Utah-based SkyWest, Inc. SKYW report impressive numbers for the second quarter of 2016, comfortably beating earnings and revenue estimates. Allegiant Travel Company ALGT also trumped both the estimates but the revenue beat was quite marginal. Meanwhile, low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines SAVE revealed mixed results, beating on earnings but missing revenues. On the non-earnings front, Delta Air Lines DAL and Alaska Air Group ALK reported traffic data for the month of July. Deltas reported a 7% decline in consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM: a key measure of unit revenue) in July, which has hurt the stock significantly. Moreover, the travel warning issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pertaining to the mosquito-borne Zika virus led to a widespread decline in airline stocks. TRANSPORTATION-AIRLINE Industry Price Index TRANSPORTATION-AIRLINE Industry Price Index (Read the last Airline Stock Roundup for Jul 27, 2016). Recap of the Past Weeks Most Important Stories 1. Spirit Airlines beat on earnings, aided by low fuel costs. The carriers second-quarter 2016 earnings (on an adjusted basis) came in at $1.11 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.07. Earnings also improved 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. Spirit Airlines reported operating revenues of $584.1 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $586 million. An increase in non-ticket revenues led to a 5.5% year-over-year increase in the top line. In the reported quarter, operating revenue per available seat mile fell 14.3% year over year while load factor (% of seats filled by passengers) increased to 86.4% from 86% in the year-ago quarter. The rise in load factor was driven by a 23.8% growth in traffic which outpaced capacity expansion of 23.1%. Average economic fuel price per gallon declined 29.3% to $1.47. 2. SkyWests second-quarter earnings of 77 cents per share were well ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 68 cents. Earnings also improved approximately 26.2% from the year-ago figure. Quarterly revenues of $801 million comfortably beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $765 million and expanded 1.65% on a year-over-year basis. Results were aided by lower operating costs due to fewer aircraft in service apart from maintenance cost savings. Story continues 3. Allegiant Travel Companys second-quarter 2016 earnings per share of $3.68 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 14 cents. Quarterly revenues increased 7.1% year over year to $345 million, edging past the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $344 million. Air traffic rose 15.5% year over year on an 18.2% rise in capacity, while load factor stood at 83.9% compared with 85.7% recorded in the year-ago quarter. Fuel expense declined 34% to $1.36 per gallon in the reported quarter. For the third quarter of 2016, the company expects cost per available seat mile (CASM), excluding fuel, to grow in the range of 4% to 6% primarily driven by the implementation of the new pilot agreement. The five-year deal has taken effect from Aug 1, 2016. Total revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) in the third quarter is likely to decline in the band of 10.5% to 8.5%. In a separate development, the company inked a deal to buy 12 new Airbus A320ceo Aircraft, in line with its objective to maintain an all-Airbus fleet by 2019. 4. Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines, posted a significant rise in air traffic for Jul 2016. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) a measure of air traffic improved 7.8% on a 9.6% capacity expansion. Load factor decreased to 86.7% from 88.1% in Jul 2015 as capacity expansion outpaced the increase in traffic. 5. Delta revealed a 1.2% increase in RPMs for the month of July while capacity improved 2.1%. Load factor decreased to 87.1% from 87.9% in Jul 2015 as capacity expansion outweighed the increase in traffic. However, Delta witnessed a 7% drop in PRASM in the month, due to foreign exchange woes apart from the ongoing supply-demand imbalance in the Transatlantic and softness pertaining to domestic yield. 6. Airline stocks are faced with multiple headwinds at present. The latest blow came from the Zika outbreak in Miami which has led to fears of declining travel demand to Florida. The breakout has prompted the CDC to issue an advisory for pregnant women to avoid the Zika-affected Miami neighborhood. Naturally, airline stocks are feeling the pinch as reduced travel is likely to weigh on their top lines. Performance The following table shows the price movement of the major airline players over the past week and during the last 6 months. Company Past Week Last 6 months HA -3.43% 32.28% UAL -5.32% -6.66% GOL -5.19% 195.00% DAL -5.28% -16.92% JBLU -8.58% -18.38% AAL -7.19% -10.66% SAVE -10.03% -9.33% LUV -5.33% -3.53% VA -0.76% 82.43% ALK -3.08% -3.54% The table above shows that all airline stocks traded in the red over the past week, leading to the NYSE ARCA Airline index declining 5.27% to $84.60 mainly due to the bearish PRASM performance in July at Delta apart from Zika fears. Shares of Spirit Airlines depreciated the most (10.03%). Over the course of six months, the NYSE ARCA Airline index appreciated 9% on the back of huge gains at GOL Linhas and Virgin America VA. What's Next in the Airline Space? We expect airline heavyweights Southwest Airlines LUV and United Continental Holdings to report their July traffic numbers in the coming days. Focus will also remain on earnings reports from the likes of Virgin America. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines ongoing dispute with some of its labor groups (pilots and flight attendants), demanding the removal of the carriers top executives, is likely to be in the news. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report SOUTHWEST AIR (LUV): Free Stock Analysis Report DELTA AIR LINES (DAL): Free Stock Analysis Report SKYWEST INC (SKYW): Free Stock Analysis Report ALLEGIANT TRAVL (ALGT): Free Stock Analysis Report ALASKA AIR GRP (ALK): Free Stock Analysis Report SPIRIT AIRLINES (SAVE): Free Stock Analysis Report VIRGIN AMERICA (VA): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research So far this earnings season, the quarterly releases show no marked improvement in any of the sectors, barring the slight uptick witnessed by a few companies. As per the recent Earnings Trends report, almost 60% of the companies have already reported their Q2 numbers. Around 1000 companies, including 116 S&P 500 members, are scheduled to release results this week and by the end of it, nearly 87% of the index members will have reported the same. Despite the low key results this quarter, growth is expected to pick up comparatively by the end of this year across some sectors. Airline Stocks Earnings Performance Airline stocks are part of the broader Transportation sector. In the second quarter, transportation stocks have posted an earnings beat of 64.3% and revenue beat of 42.9%. However, earnings and revenues have declined 12.5% and 1.1%, respectively, which is a cause of concern. Airline stocks across the board have been impacted by terror attacks and macroeconomic woes resulting in delayed, cancelled plans along with low demand. Moreover, the average ticket price has also been on a decline, which is a major drag for the top line. Earnings beat this quarter mainly came on the back of lower costs, resulting from low fuel prices. However, airline companies will need to make significant efforts to boost earnings and improve operational efficiency to avoid low margins in case fuel prices rise. Lets take a look at two airline stocks which are scheduled to report their Q2 numbers on Aug 4. Bristow Group, Inc. BRS provides helicopter services to the global energy industry in addition to production management services for oil and gas facilities in the Gulf of Mexico. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an Earnings ESP of -50%. This is because both Most Accurate estimate stands at 3 cents while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is poised at 6 cents. According to our proven model, a company needs the right combination of two key ingredients a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better to increase the odds of an earnings surprise. Thus, Bristow is not likely to beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate this quarter. Story continues BRISTOW GROUP Price and EPS Surprise BRISTOW GROUP Price and EPS Surprise | BRISTOW GROUP Quote Republic Airways Holdings Inc. RJETQ is the holding company of Republic Airlines and Shuttle America and operates flights across the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. The company has a combination of Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at 10 cents. Although a Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of ESP, we need a positive Earnings ESP to be confident of an earnings beat. Hence, our proven model doesnt conclusively show that Republic Airways will beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate this quarter. REPUBLIC AIRWAY Price and EPS Surprise REPUBLIC AIRWAY Price and EPS Surprise | REPUBLIC AIRWAY Quote Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BRISTOW GROUP (BRS): Free Stock Analysis Report REPUBLIC AIRWAY (RJETQ): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Donald Trump 's behavior in recent days, from criticizing the parents of a fallen American soldier to declining to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan , has strained the nerves of his campaign staff as he falls behind in the polls. I exchanged messages Tuesday evening with a longtime ally of Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, whom I asked about who was calling the shots in the campaign. The response indicated that Manafort, a veteran of Republican politics brought in this spring for the transition from primaries to the general election, has lost control over his candidate. "Manafort not challenging (Trump) anymore," Manafort's ally wrote. "Mailing it in. Staff suicidal." After I tweeted those remarks, Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller wrote to me, "The idea that Paul Manafort's mailing it in is completely erroneous. Our campaign just finished up our strongest month of fundraising to date, we're adding talented and experienced staffers on a daily basis, and Mr. Trump's turning out bigger, more enthusiastic crowds than Hillary Clinton ever could." Miller also sent a tweet quoting a conservative writer who called me "unabashedly liberal and very biased against conservatives." Miller tweeted a critical article about my role as moderator in last fall's CNBC debate, in which I asked Trump if he were running "a comic-book version" of a presidential campaign. Strains between candidates and their staffs are commonplace in stressful moments of presidential campaigns. But Trump's campaign is unusual for the candidate's singular control over its daily message, which thwarts attempts at traditional discipline. Trump's freewheeling style won him the Republican nomination over a crowded field of rivals. But the general election environment, and target audience, is far different. The bombastic billionaire appeared to recognize that by jettisoning his first campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, now a commentator on CNN. Manafort's experience in national politics had reassured Republican veterans that a fall Trump campaign would more closely resemble the norms of recent presidential campaigns Story continues Yet the recent Republican convention, marred by controversy and a high-profile speech in which primary rival Ted Cruz declined to endorse the nominee, was not up to recent Republican standards. And Trump's extended skirmishing with the parents of fallen U.S. soldier Capt. Humayun Khan, among other controversies, has caused increasing numbers of Republicans to criticize the party's candidate. On Wednesday, Manafort told Fox News everything was good with the campaign. UPDATED: This column was updated to include Wednesday's remarks from Manafort to Fox News. More From CNBC From Popular Mechanics According to The Washington Post, the United States is hacking other countries through the unlikeliest of methods: on the bottom of the ocean, via submarine. The process is part of a longstanding tradition of using America's stealthiest and most elusive ship to learn enemy secrets. According to the Post, vessels such as the attack sub USS Annapolis have the capability to locate undesea fiber optic cables, close with them, and install listening devices capable of intercepting Internet traffic. Alternately, the submarines can use mast-mounted antennas and collection systems attached to the conning tower, plucking wireless signals out of the air. This sort of data collection, simply scooping up wireless networks or Internet traffic as it passes by, is a less intrusive form of spying. Instead of stealing a secret and making off with it, this is more akin to standing at the end of a river filled with information and taking notes as the information drifts downstream. It also makes noticing-and proving-data theft much more difficult. Navy submarines have been doing something like this for decades. During World War II in the Pacific, submarines would act as listening posts at far-off islands, waiting for Japanese ships and planes to enter the area and begin broadcasting. During the 1960s and 70s, the United States Navy tapped undersea communications cables in the Sea of Okhotsk in the northwest Pacific. The nuclear submarine USS Halibut placed devices on cables that recorded Soviet military communications traffic, providing vital information to American intelligence analysts. The Navy plans to extend the reach of its manned subs with the use of UUVs-so-called unmanned undersea vehicles. Smaller than manned navy submarines, UUVs will be able to get close to hostile shorelines, dive deeper, and act farther away than their manned mothership subs. You Might Also Like Things got real on NBC's America's Got Talent on Tuesday night as comedy daredevil Ryan Stock was struck in the neck by a flaming arrow shot by his fiancee on live television. Stock - known for performing death-defying stunts with drills and chainsaws - was about to stun audiences again with a stunt involving a target strategically placed inside his mouth (and down his throat). His assistant - AmberLynn Walker - was instructed to fire a flaming arrow at the target, but missed the mark, hitting Stock's neck. Stunned, judge Howie Mandel urged Stock to see the show's Emergency Medical Technician despite the Canadian entertainer's protests that he was "okay." Stock later took to Twitter to tell viewers that he was doing well, and "fortunate" to walk away from the mishap. We had a serious mishap tonight outage live on @nbcagt. A very unfortunate mechanical failure but I am very fortunate to walk away from it. - Ryan Stock (@comedydaredevil) Aug. 3, 2016 Stock's act is a favorite of judge Simon Cowell, who told Billboard the squirm-inducing pair have a chance to do well in Las Vegas. "I think they like all that stuff in Vegas. It's like watching a horror movie," he said. "You kind of don't like it, but you do like it and you want to see more of it." Watch the video below. This article originally appeared on Billboard.com. Johannesburg (AFP) - South Africans voted Wednesday in a closely contested municipal elections that could deal a heavy blow to the African National Congress (ANC), which has ruled since leading the struggle to end apartheid. Polling stations closed at 1700 GMT, where voters chose mayors and other local representatives responsible for hot-button issues including water, sanitation and power supplies. The election is seen by some as a referendum on President Jacob Zuma, who has been weakened by corruption scandals, court cases and dire economic data, including an unemployment rate of 27 percent and zero percent GDP growth. "Voting proceeded smoothly at voting stations throughout the country," chief electoral officer Mosotho Moepya said. "No significant incidents of unrest or deliberate disruption to voting were reported." Counting begins immediately. Nelson Mandela's former party risks losing control of key cities including the capital Pretoria, the economic hub Johannesburg and coastal Port Elizabeth, according to some polls. Development in South Africa has been patchy since Mandela won the first multi-racial elections in 1994, with many black communities still enduring poor housing, inadequate education and a lack of opportunities. With the economy stalling and unemployment hitting record levels, the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) and the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) both hope to secure major gains. In Johannesburg's Soweto township, residents queued to vote at a school near the former homes of Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "We are tired of this self-serving leadership. People are tired, even grannies are sick and tired of this government," Nathi Mulaudzi, a 40-year-old unemployed truck driver, told AFP. But Zuma retains widespread support, especially in rural areas, and the ANC's patronage network and deep coffers could help it maintain a hold in the majority of the 278 municipalities. Story continues "There are so many negative things that are said about ANC but I'm thinking about what (Mandela) went through under apartheid so I'm just doing it for him," said Lebogang Maponyane, a 43-year-old unemployed woman from Soweto, after voting for the ANC. The DA, which controls in Cape Town, is looking to take new cities and build momentum ahead on the 2019 general election. "It is a historic day today, we have got to do everything in our power to vote for change. This is our moment," said Mmusi Maimane, the party's first black leader, as he cast his ballot in Johannesburg. - Fight for the cities - The final polls by Ipsos showed the DA ahead in Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth) and in a close fight in Tshwane (Pretoria) and Johannesburg. The results, most of which are expected on Thursday, may pile pressure on Zuma, 74, to step down before his second term ends in 2019. He exuded confidence as he voted in his rural village Nkandla, where publicly-funded upgrades to his sprawling homestead have been one of the biggest controversies of his administration. Adding to the vote uncertainty is the revolutionary socialist EFF party, which has not stood in municipal elections before, but has drawn large crowds to its rallies. "EFF will perform very well," party leader Julius Malema said after he voted in the northern province of Limpopo. "Young people will come out -- they are not apathetic and politically active and the EFF will mobilise them." The party, which won six percent of the vote in the 2014 general election, advocates land redistribution without compensation and the nationalisation of mines. "If ANC lose some big metros, it will be a dire situation for President Zuma," Judith February, a researcher with the Institute of Security Studies, told AFP. "It would be hugely symbolic to lose Nelson Mandela Bay or Johannesburg -- cities of black workers. But we should never underestimate the ANC." A record 26.3 million people registered to vote, but low turnout may be a factor more than two decades after the euphoric 1994 elections that brought Mandela to power. Ansel Elgort has come on board Jonathan, playing both twin roles in the independent movie, which is set to begin shooting next month in New York. Bill Oliver is directing from a script he co-wrote with Peter Nickowitz. Randy Manis and Ricky Tollman are producing and Neal Dodson is exec producing. Elgort will portray Jonathan and his twin brother John, who have agreed to not have girlfriends. Jonathan is a successful architect while John sleeps all day and spends the night socializing and starting to fall in love with a woman. Jonathan forces John to end the relationship, and then starts a new relationship with the woman himself. Elgorts credits include The Fault in Our Stars, the three Divergent films, the upcoming remake of The Billionaire Boys Club and Baby Driver from director Edgar Wright. Hes been in talks to star in Dungeons and Dragons for Warner Bros. Oliver directed the 2005 short Guilt from his own script. Elgort is repped by CAA, Brookside and Morris Yorn. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood. Related stories Ansel Elgort in Talks to Star in 'Dungeons & Dragons' Movie Eiza Gonzalez Joins Ansel Elgort in Edgar Wright's 'Baby Driver' Suki Waterhouse Joins 'Billionaire Boys Club' Remake (EXCLUSIVE) Antonio Sabato Jr. claims that hes been bullied endlessly in the days following his appearance at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Not only online, but by Hollywood directors who have blacklisted him. On July 18, the actor opened the RNC in Cleveland with a speech about why hes supporting Donald Trump, calling him the unity candidate, who would secure borders and protect citizens. Sabato Jr. reached out to Variety to share what he says happened next. Antonio Sabato Jr.: I think this country allows you freedom of speech. Anybody should be allowed to say whatever they want. When youre in my business, you cant talk about [conservative] politics. You just cant. Youre attacked viciously in a way that Ive never been attacked before. On Twitter, theres been name calling, and celebrities attacking me. Thats fine. I see it, but I dont read it. I block them and delete them and move on. Theres so much negativity you can be taken into that. But Ive also heard from celebrities: If he can do it, I want to speak my mind too. They are fed up with the way this country has been running and by all these lies. I was never a politician. I care about my country. I put God first. For the last seven-and-a-half years, Ive seen this country led by a leader thats made mistakes. I spoke my mind about it. But because Im in the industry, you cant talk about that. The media and the liberals act the way they act: The will back up the president until the end. Its been interesting. Ive had fantastic directors who have said officially to my agents and managers they will never hire me again. They will never even see me for projects. Thats unfair. Its just like Communism. Were in the business. Youre supposed to be hired based on your talent and abilities, not because of how you feel about politics or religion. But thats how they do things. Its not just me. I know a lot of people in the industry who are in the same boat. The reality is if youre associated with the Republican Party, the casting directors and producers already blacklist you based on that. I know people that just showed up, they didnt speak and they are not getting work because of it. Story continues Hollywood is very liberal, but they contradict themselves all the time. They dont want the war, but theyll have a president who voted for the war. Hollywood wants to help the entire world. They do the opposite government under the Democratic Party has done absolutely nothing. I choose Trump. I support everything hes going to do. A lot of people in America feel the same way. The industry doesnt like that. A lot of the bosses, a lot of the executives, they own the channels, they own the media. They donate millions to Hillary Clinton and President Obama. Im just a normal dude speaking my mind. So be it. I will keep fighting for what I believe, and I will keep looking for work. My work and my life is based on God. My leader, the one I look up to, is Jesus Christ. Ive seen people in the industry say, Im not going to talk to this guy, because he talks about Jesus Christ. It shows the true personalities of these people. Well, I wouldnt want to work with them anyway. But if I acted the same way as they did, I would never work for anybody. They are all with Hillary. I think its a disgrace that the Democratic Party is using [the Khan family] for their own good. All of a sudden, we hear about a father losing his son? I send my condolences. But at the same time, they are using it for their own benefit. Its not right. Hillary was for the war. The guy is talking about losing his son for a war that Hillary was part of. I have my hands in all kinds of businesses. Im never going to leave Hollywood. Im going to go after it one way or another. Im just speaking the truth people dont know how this business works. I feel strongly about the fact that Donald Trump is going to win. I think hell be elected in November. This interview has been edited and condensed. Related stories Clint Eastwood Would Choose Trump Over Clinton, Says We're Living in 'P---y Generation' Barbra Streisand Slams Trump Repeatedly in Concert Tour Opener Could Donald Trump Return to NBC? 'I Have No Idea,' Says Network Chief Water utility Aqua America Inc.s WTR second-quarter earnings of 33 cents per share were on par with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, earnings were a penny higher than the year-ago figure. The yearover-year increase in earnings was attributable to higher earnings at the Regulated business segment and proper management of expenses. Total Revenues Second-quarter total revenues of $203.9 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $209 million by 2.4%. Total revenues were 0.9% lower year over year. Rates, surcharges and acquisitions increased regulated revenue by nearly $5.1 million. However, lower consumption and divestitures in market-based activities offset the increase by $7.2 million, resulting in an overall decrease in revenue of $1.9 million in the second quarter. Highlights of the Release Year to date, Aqua Americas state subsidiaries in Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Virginia have received rate awards or infrastructure surcharges, resulting in an annual increase in revenues of $5 million. Total operating expenses in the reported quarter decreased 7.2% to $74 million. Divestitures in market-based activities, lower production expenses and other non-recurring factors helped in the reduction of operating expenses. Interest expenses increased 6.4% to $20.1 million from $18.9 million in the year-ago quarter. AQUA AMER INC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise AQUA AMER INC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | AQUA AMER INC Quote Financial Highlights Current assets were $132.4 million as of Jun 30, 2016, up from $128.4 million as of Dec 31, 2015. Long-term debt was $1,775.9 million as of Jun 30, 2016, marginally higher than $1,720.5 million as of Dec 31, 2015. The company invested nearly $168.6 million in the first half of the year to improve its infrastructure systems. Guidance Aqua America reiterated its 2016 earnings guidance in the range of $1.30 to $1.35 per diluted share. The company expects the customer base to expand by 1.5% to 2%. Ageing infrastructure is a pressing problem for most of the water utilities. For 2016, the companys capital investment budget is $350 million. It expects to invest nearly $1.1 billion in the 2016 to 2018 time period. Peer Releases California Water Service Groups CWT second-quarter 2016 operating earnings per share of 24 cents lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 26 cents by 7.69%. SJW Corp.s SJW second-quarter 2016 operating earnings per share of 66 cents surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 41 cents by 60.98%. Upcoming Releases American Water Works Company AWK is expected to report second-quarter 2016 results after market close on Aug 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 72 cents. Our View Aqua America reported on par earnings in the second quarter as it benefitted from constructive rate decisions in different states. The company continues its inorganic growth strategy to increase its customer base and expand service territories. Aqua America added nearly 5,400 customer connections through acquisitions in the first half of the year, which increased its customer base by 0.6%. We consider this to be a smart strategy for expansion in the fragmented water utility space. Aqua America currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AMER WATER WORK (AWK): Free Stock Analysis Report CALIF WATER SVC (CWT): Free Stock Analysis Report SJW CORP (SJW): Free Stock Analysis Report AQUA AMER INC (WTR): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. A 20-year-old man is in custody in connection with the double homicide of two Atlanta-area teens on Monday, PEOPLE confirms. Jeffrey A. Hazelwood was arrested Wednesday and will be charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Carter Davis and Natalie Henderson, both 17, Roswell police said in a news release obtained by PEOPLE. Hazelwood was identified as a suspect and then questioned Wednesday morning by Roswell police, according to the release. Police executed a search warrant Wednesday morning at a Roswell residence that was neither the home of Davis nor Henderson, police said. It was not immediately clear if they had searched Hazelwood's residence or how their search might be connected to his arrest. Hazelwood's connection to the victims was not immediately clear, and Roswell Police Chief Rusty Grant declined at a Wednesday news conference to comment on motive. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Arrest Made in Homicides of Georgia Teens Found Shot in the Head Behind Supermarket| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime "Drugs were not involved," Roswell police's Zachary Frommer previously told PEOPLE earlier on Wednesday, adding, "It could be some kind of relationship-based situation. "It may end up not being that. That was just an initial, quick assessment." Police say Davis and Henderson, both rising seniors in the upscale Atlanta suburb, were found by delivery drivers behind a Publix supermarket about 6 a.m. Monday. They had each been shot once in the head, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office. Monday would have been Davis' first day of school. "Their lives were snatched at a very young age," Chief Grant said. With reporting by ELISSA ROSEN A joint investigation by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch has found that the Australian government is deliberately ignoring reports of abuse from refugees on Nauru in order to deter further migration, the groups said Tuesday. The joint report detailed accounts of mistreatment and neglect from asylum seekers on the remote Pacific island, including denial of medical care, physical and sexual abuse from locals and inhumane living conditions. The report also highlighted the prevalence of mental-health problems, with many refugees attempting suicide. Australias policy of exiling asylum seekers who arrive by boat is cruel in the extreme, said Anna Neistat, senior director for research at Amnesty International, who conducted the investigation on the island for the organization. Few other countries go to such lengths to deliberately inflict suffering on people seeking safety and freedom. About 1,200 people, who tried to seek asylum in Australia by boat, have been forcibly sent to Nauru, a tiny island about 4,000 km off the northeastern Australian coast. The Australian governments policy of detaining asylum seekers in offshore processing centers has long been a subject of controversy. Driving adult and even child refugees to the breaking point with sustained abuse appears to be one of Australias aims on Nauru, said Michael Bochenek, senior counsel on childrens rights at Human Rights Watch. According to the Australian Broadcast Corp., the report will be used as part of a global campaign to close the detention center. What I found on Nauru is what I can only describe as a deliberate, systematic abuse, said Neistat. Australia has been transferring asylum seekers to Nauru since 2012, and in the 2015 fiscal year spent the equivalent of $314 million on its operations there, according to the report. By James Regan SYDNEY, Aug 3 (Reuters) - An environmental regulator in Australia on Wednesday recommended the rejection of a proposal by Cameco of Canada to mine uranium in the country's far west because it fails to protect underground fauna. Cameco, the world's second largest supplier of uranium for nuclear power, is seeking permission to mine up to 7,500 tonnes of uranium oxide annually from the Yeelirrie deposit 630 kms (390 miles) northeast of Perth, which it acquired from BHP Billiton for $430 million. The Western Australia Environmental Protection Agency said the proposal would threaten more than 70 species of underground fauna, known as "stygofauna", and recommended the state's environment minister reject the plan. "Of the nine factors assessed, one - subterranean fauna - was unable to meet the EPA's environmental objectives," Tom Hatton, the agency's chairman said in releasing the recommendation. "Therefore, the EPA concluded the proposal would threaten the viability of some species of subterranean fauna, animals which live underground, such as stygofauna," he said. In a statement Cameco said it respected the findings and would continue to seek a resolution. "We believe that with further sampling and research, subterranean fauna can be appropriately managed at Yeelirrie and we will work with government agencies and stakeholders to find a way forward," it said in a statement. The EPA's report to the Minister for Environment is now open for a two-week public appeal period, closing August 17, according to the agency. Cameco has been exploring for uranium in Australia since 1996. Besides Yeelirrie lode, it also owns the undeveloped Kintyre deposit in Western Australia, which it bought off Rio Tinto in 2008. The Kintyre project received environmental clearance last year. Any timeframe for development of both projects hinges on a recovery in uranium prices, according to a spokeswoman for Cameco, Amanda Walker. "We are still looking for signals that the market is turning," she said. "Our corporate message for the moment is lower for longer." Cameco last week reported a C$137 million ($104.4 million)quarterly loss, which it blamed on weak uranium demand and prices. Uranium sells (UX-U3O8-SPT) for around $25 a pound, the lowest since 2005. ($1 = 1.3119 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Michael Perry) By Jeb Blount RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The biggest problem some Australian rowers are having to adjust to in Rio de Janeiro is minding their strokes in the face of the majestic views on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon course. "The only problem I've had so far is focusing on rowing in the face of all this awesome scenery," said Karsten Fosterling, a member of the country's quadruple sculls entry, one of Australia's two main hopes for gold. As with other watersports venues at Rio 2016, the Lagoon, a dark-blue, brackish tidal lake that sits between the outstretched right arm of the Christ the Redeemer statue atop a line of jungle-covered granite mountains and the beach front neighborhood of Ipanema, has faced harsh criticism. Studies found high levels of bacteria and other pathogens in the water despite promises to clean up the Lagoon. During test events, some athletes blamed the venue for making them sick. Part of the Australian team, but not the rowers, were critical of unfinished or damaged rooms at the Olympic Village and alleged that computers were stolen after a small fire broke out there last week. Fosterling, 36, his boat mates Cameron Girdlestone, 28, James McRae, 29, and Sasha Belonogoff, 26, say they are taking "normal" precautions. These include keeping water bottles in ziploc bags and using mouthwash and taking showers after training, said team leader Ray Ebert. Fosterling's biggest worry is holding off powerhouses Germany, Estonia and Ukraine, and getting the ore-feel for the Lagoon, Fosterling said. He said the brackish lagoon, a mix of sea water and spring and rain-fed mountain streams, is denser and more buoyant than their more recent freshwater racing and training locations. Kim Brennan, 30, Australia's gold medal favourite in the women's single sculls, said the problems brought up before Olympics tend to get overblown. "My experience is very different than what we read in the press," she told Reuters. "There has been a lot of criticism about the water in the lake, but this would have to be close to the most picturesque place I've ever been in my life." The water quality, she added, appears better than when she trained in Rio last year and she has faced bacterial risks before, even at her home club on Australia's Yarra River. "I'm from Melbourne and after heavy rains people can smell something that isn't restricted to Rio," she said. Australia has won 10 Olympic rowing gold medals, but went winless in London in 2012 after collecting two golds in 2008. (Editing by Andrew Both) On 3-5 October 2017 Kyiv is going to host the Space and Future Forum to network international experts and youth, many of whom will also participate at the first CosmoHack in the world. Joinfo provides media coverage of the Forum, and some of its topics were already discussed ... By James Regan SYDNEY, Aug 3 (Reuters) - From gold to graphite to zinc to lithium, Australia's army of "penny dreadful" stocks is rising from the ashes of the mining bust and growing at rates that majors like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto can only wish for. Micro miners are posting double or even triple-digit gains, buoyed by a belief that metals prices have bottomed, while companies that managed to come through the downturn are being aided by cheaper labour and operating costs. "It's about the growth and the profit that can come very quickly," said Perth-based retail investor Tim Larmont, who has been dabbling for over two decades in a sector that's known as a hothouse for day traders and speculators. "There's always that expectation it will end tomorrow, but it looks like it could last longer this time. These companies aren't burning through money like they used to. Anyone that's survived is more responsible." Renewed optimism is reflected in near-record attendence at this week's Diggers and Dealers mining conference, where some 1,800-plus prospectors, miners and bankers are crowding into the outback town of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia's goldfields. Gold miners were like "rock stars", Evolution Mining chairman Jake Klein told the conference. "Investors are happy, investment banks love us. I've never had more invitations to corporate and sporting events and we've even upgraded our accommodation. We used to be in the caravan park." Metals prices have started to turn up after years of declines. Zinc is up 41 percent so far this year and nickel up 21 percent, while gold is trading at near record highs in Australian dollar terms. Small cap gold miners are "absolutely minting it", said UBS small companies portfolio manager Stephen Wood, while lithium, used in batteries, is grabbing interest as a transition away from fossil fuels. LOW COSTS, LITTLE DEBT While the mining bust spelled the end for legions of small miners, those that remain are in the best shape in years. Story continues Labor costs have dropped by as much as 50 percent since 2010 and an inability to borrow during the lean years means most miners carry little debt. Machinery used to power the iron ore and coal mining booms in the last decade can now be purchased on the cheap, keeping overheads to a minimum, said Frank Lee, general manager of Ross's Auctioneers and Valuers in Kalgoorlie. And a soft oil price is providing cheaper diesel to many Australian mines and exploration sites that operate far from the electricity grid. Lithium miner Pilbara Minerals easily raised A$85 million ($64 million) in a heavily oversubscribed placement in April and a further A$15 million from retail investors. "Everything is cheaper today and that removes a lot of the cost pressures new mining projects face," said Pilbara chief executive Ken Brinsden. Nickel and gold miner Independence Group raised A$250 million last month in an issue that was 2-1/2 times oversubscribed, while gold miner Ramelius Resources and nickel prospector S2 Resources have also easily raised extra capital. The Australian Stock Exchange's (ASX) Small Resources Index is up 65 percent this year, more than triple the gains for the big miner-weighted ASX 200 Resources Index, while the ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index has surged over 100 percent. By comparison, sector big-leaguers BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have risen around 10 percent. Citi is forecasting earnings per share growth in the overall mining sector to turn from a fall of 53.1 percent in fiscal 2016 to growth of 14.8 percent in 2017. Any confidence in the rally, though, is being kept on a short leash after years of bruising falls in an industry notorious for going down as fast as it goes up. "We are in the midst of what is an embryonic resource sector recovery," said Gavin Wendt, an analyst for MineLife, which specialises in small Australian mining companies. "It's still early days, of course." Bigger miners with diversified portfolios, who are generally more measured in their public statements, have also been less enthusiastic about the prospect of a lasting upturn. BHP Managing Director Andrew Mackenzie recently told investors to "expect a period of prolonged lower commodity prices and volatility" and others also are cautious. "The sector is looking better than it has in a long time ... but we live in volatile times, so one should be careful not to get too optimistic," said Shaw and Partners analyst Peter O'Connor. ($1 = 1.3316 Australian dollars) (Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Richard Pullin) VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern said on Wednesday that he would start a discussion among European heads of government to quit talks with Turkey about joining the European Union because of the country's democratic and economic deficits. European leaders have voiced concern over Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's crackdown on suspected dissidents after a failed coup attempt month, identifying his idea of reintroducing the death penalty in Turkey as a red line barring accession to the EU. Kern sharpened the critical rhetoric in an interview with Austrian broadcaster ORF. "We are all well advised to now say we're pressing the reset button," he said, calling accession talks a "diplomatic fiction". "We know that the democratic standards are clearly not sufficient to justify (Turkey's) accession ... The economic question is at least just as significant because the Turkish economy is too far from the European average." When asked whether Austria will table a proposal to stop accession talks at a European council meeting on Sept. 16, Kern said Austria would "start a discussion about this. We will ask for an alternative concept." (Reporting By Shadia Nasralla, editing by Larry King) The Philippines told its fishermen Wednesday to steer clear of a fishing ground in the disputed South China Sea to avoid harassment from Chinese authorities. The warning came despite a recent ruling by a UN-backed tribunal in favour of the Philippines, as it dismissed China's territorial claims to large swathes of the waters. Beijing angrily rejected the court's judgement and on Tuesday it announced penalties for "illegal" fishing in its waters including the disputed areas. "We are aware that China is occupying Scarborough Shoal, so let us wait for clarity on how our fishermen can return there without being subjected to harassment anymore," Manila's foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose told reporters. Jose said that while the tribunal ruling was clear, the "reality on the ground" was different. "The reality is that China is there so we must discuss this," he said. Asked if this meant Filipino fishermen should avoid the shoal for now, Jose said: "This is for the safety of everyone." Manila's position is likely to anger critics of President Rodrigo Duterte's new government, which has been accused of taking a soft line with Beijing. The question of who has the right to fish in the disputed South China Sea has been a major bone of contention between Beijing and Manila, which brought the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Manila lodged the case under its previous government in 2013, saying that after 17 years of negotiations with Beijing it had exhausted all political and diplomatic avenues to settle the dispute. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to the sea, through which over $5 trillion in annual trade passes. In 2012 China took control of the Scarborough Shoal, 230 kilometres (143 miles) from the main Philippine island of Luzon after a stand-off with the country's navy. It has since driven away Filipino fishermen attempting to fish in the area, sometimes using water cannons. Story continues Duterte has said he wants to repair relations with China that were battered during the term of his predecessor Benigno Aquino. Duterte, who assumed the presidency on June 30, said he would send former president Fidel Ramos to Beijing as an envoy to negotiate on the issue. "This is one of the priority issues that we must take up when we go into direct talks with China," Jose said Wednesday. By Harro Ten Wolde FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German publisher Axel Springer (SPRGn.DE) cut its 2016 sales guidance on Wednesday as a drop in the British pound caused by the UK's vote to leave the European Union hits advertising revenues from Britain. "That will be the main effect on our sales outlook," finance chief Julian Deutz told journalists on a conference call. The publisher of Europe's largest daily Bild had earlier said it now saw flat revenue this year compared with a previous forecast for growth by a low single-digit percentage. Chief Executive Mathias Doepfner also said political and economic instability had increased uncertainty for the rest of the year. Axel Springer generates about 12 percent of its sales in the United Kingdom, accounting for about 10 percent of its earnings before interest, tax, amortisation and depreciation (EBITDA). As costs related to those sales are also booked in pounds, Springer does not expect the weak currency to weigh on its earnings for the year and reaffirmed its guidance for a low to medium single-digit percentage rise in adjusted EBITDA. The publisher's shares were down 2.9 percent at 1006 GMT, one of the worst performers on the STOXX Europe 600 Media index (.SXMP), which was 1.7 percent lower. Axel Springer said second-quarter EBITDA, excluding special items, was flat at 147 million euros (123.31 million), just above consensus for 142 million in a Reuters poll, with estimates of eight analysts ranging from 131 million euros to 149 million. Sales rose 0.7 percent to 801.9 million euros, just below average expectations for 806 million. The Berlin-based publisher, which also owns news website Business Insider and last year launched a European version of Politico, is betting on digital products, which now account for 67 percent of revenue and 72 percent of core profit. Its online classified ads unit has been the main contributor to the transition and is now the company's largest unit in terms of EBITDA. The classified ads unit booked a 16 percent rise in EBITDA during the quarter to 88.2 million euros. Paid models, which include Springer's magazines and Bild newspaper reported a 21 percent EBITDA decline. (Editing by Maria Sheahan and Susan Thomas) This Bachelor in Paradise contestant stood up to a serious bully, and we applaud her This Bachelor in Paradise contestant stood up to a serious bully, and we applaud her Last nights premiere of Bachelor in Paradise was not the magical slice of heaven it was meant to be, because Hurricane Chad rolled into town and swept everyone up in his wake. On the first night in Paradise, Chad made a connection with Lace. The two were having a fun, if a little bit of a weird time, but that didnt last. Soon things got creepy and dangerous. Lace and Chad Lace definitely didnt feel very safe, and she started trying to get away from Chad. In return, he called her one of those words that you are NOT allowed to use when describing a woman, and he kept grabbing or pushing her. It definitely made us all feel a little icky. And we werent the only ones. Sarah, a Paradise vet, then stood up to Chad, and now shes our hero! Sarah single The way youre talking about women is so disrespectful. I want nothing to do with it. You go, Sarah! We wanted nothing to do with it either. Even when Chad lashed out at her, she didnt back down. Sarah standing He responded, Fuck that one-arm bitch. Yeah, he went there. But if you think Sarahs gonna let Chad mock her and not say something, youre so wrong! Sarah responded with class and simply said, Dude, I think you gotta go. Sarah basically threw the show an ultimatum. Bachelor Sarah Gif Either you leave, or I leave. She was so mad that they might let Chad stay on the show and talk about women the way that he does, and frankly, so were we. This is not how I wanted to spend my first night in Paradise. Yeah, even the palm trees and fruity drinks couldnt make the place feel like paradise after that. Luckily, host Chris Harrison heard everyones complaints. Chris And the next day, he showed up to send Chad home. And our girl Sarah helped make sure it happened. Sarah shade No one wants you here. She is throwing shade so hard, and we love it because shes SO right! Bye Felicia. sleeping beauty The post This Bachelor in Paradise contestant stood up to a serious bully, and we applaud her appeared first on HelloGiggles. Credit: courtesy ABC JoJo Fletcher's journey has come to an end on the 2016 season of The Bachelorette and--as of filming, at least--found the man of her dreams. That person is... Jordan Rodgers! Rodgers got down on one knee during tonight's finale and popped the question to the Dallas beauty in picturesque Phuket, Thailand, and she said "yes." RELATED: Looking Back on Bachelor Nation's Most Spectacular Weddings Unfortunately, that means Robbie Hayes went home alone after finding love with the 25-year-old. ABC called the decision a "surprising, explosive ending" and we, for one, have to agree. This reveal comes after both suitors had the chance to meet JoJo's parents, Soraya and Joseph, as well as the rest of her immediate family. Her family didn't hold back with comments after they met both contestants, clearly favoring Hayes after he asked both her parents' blessing for her hand in marriage. Rodgers, who also met her parents, did not ask her parents for permission during their meeting, causing tension with Fletcher afterwards (he eventually called her parents later to ask for permission). VIDEO: 5 Surprising Celebs Who Love The Bachelorette 4997611282001 As is customary in the Bachelor franchise, JoJo ends up with a Neil Lane engagement ring that Rodgers chose especially for her leading up to the big proposal--an oval cut diamond with plenty of bling around the band, worth an estimated $80K. We have to give it up to Rodgers on his ring selection because it's *exactly* what JoJo wanted. RELATED: Bachelorette JoJo Fletcher Tells Us What Her Dream Engagement Ring Looks Like Hopefully things are still going well for JoJo and Rodgers--but let's get a check-in via the "After the Final Rose" special and pray we find out who the next Bachelor star is sooner rather than later. Chad Johnson may have been eliminated early from The Bachelorette, but he refused to disappear from the public eye. On Tuesday night's two-hour season premiere of Bachelor in Paradise, Johnson made a violent and offensive return. At the end of the episode, the meat-loving luxury real estate agent was asked to leave by none other than Chris Harrison. ("You told everybody at this hotel last night to suck a d---. You had a chance to turn over a new leaf and you didn't, and so on behalf of everybody, I'm sorry, I thought this could work out, it didn't. I'm going to have to ask you to leave.") Here's a timeline of the craziest Chad shenanigans. Aug. 2: He got kicked off Bachelors in Paradise for being as Chad-y as ever. We are going to present a few of his quotes from the episode, without comment. On nemesis Evan Bass: "I didn't murder him, so that's good. I didn't rip his head off and shove it down his own mouth. Like yeah, I still kind of want to rip his head off and throw it in the water." On everyone: "I'll murder everyone here. I'll kill your children and murder your family. Dolla, dolla bills, yo." On Sarah Herron, a woman born with only the upper half of her arm due to a medical condition: "F--- that one-armed bitch." On Harrison: "You don't even watch this. You went to sleep last night with a mimosa and a robe on. F--- you, dude. Go drink your mimosas. You think this is all fun and games? This is my life. You're going to sit here and try and make me look like a bitch? F--- you, Chris Harrison. Come at me." Aug. 1: He lobbied to be the next Bachelor on After the Final Rose "There's probably a lot of people out there that think I'm a bad guy because of the way that I was on the show," Johnson said. "When they watch Bachelor in Paradise, it'll probably only be amplified." (No kidding.) July 26: His antics were so over-the-top that sweet ol' 'Saint' Nick Benvenutti got up to fight him. "This is the same egotistical bullsh-- that we had to listen to all season," Benvenutti said while walking down onto the stage. "Chad's really good at issuing threats, but I'm going to step down from the table of gentlemen and I'm going to bring it down to your level right now." Shockingly, it didn't come to blows. July 14: He wanted to steal Jordan Rodgers' brother When he's not trying to steal contestants' exes, he's trying to steal their family members. The villain decided to address the situation surrounding Jordan's estranged brother Aaron Rodgers, by tweeting: "I'm thinking next I'm gonna steal Jordan Rodgers brother Aaron Rodgers and make him my brother. #MrStealYoFamily #TheBachelorette." Story continues I'm thinking next I'm gonna steal Jordan Rodgers brother Aaron Rodgers and make him my brother. #MrStealYoFamily #TheBachelorette a Chad Johnson (@realchadjohnson) July 14, 2016 Clearly there's nothing Chad won't "steal." July 14: He stole yet another contestant's ex. Chad has dubbed himself as "Mr. Steal Yo Girl," and his mission to literally find his former housemates' exes continues. The latest victim? Grant Kemp. "Mr. Steal Yo Girl Don't sneak around your producer girlfriends back and use her to make connections to get on a reality show, bud," Chad captioned the photo showcasing Kemp's ex-girlfriend. Mr. Steal Yo Girl Don't sneak around your producer girlfriends back and use her to make connections to get on a reality show, bud. @jen.not.jenn A photo posted by Chad Johnson (@realchadjohnson) on Jul 14, 2016 at 1:04pm PDT Kemp added fuel to the fire by addressing the photo with the following tweet and roping in Robby Hayes (Chad's first victim): "They all need Gatorade #extrathirsty @RobbyHHayes." So I finally watched the show at my sisters.. Holy tits now I understand why some people hate me! Haha but some parts were hilarious too LOL @tiffjohnson24 A video posted by Chad Johnson (@realchadjohnson) on Jun 14, 2016 at 10:49pm PDT June 14: He finally watched himself on The Bachelorette. Johnson finally took the plunge and sat back and watched an episode of The Bachelorette with his sister. He delighted fans by having his sibling record him while watching a scene. "So I finally watched the show at my sisters.. Holy tits now I understand why some people hate me!" Johnson captioned an Instagram video. "Haha but some parts were hilarious too. LOL" June 13: He lobbied to join the Entourage cast. Though Johnson had trouble connecting with the other guys on The Bachelorette, Entourage star Kevin Connolly thinks he's totally bromance material, tweeting, "Chad looks like a fun dude to chill with!" Johnson appreciated the compliment, writing back on Twitter, "You get me!" June 12: He compared himself to Rambo. Johnson is out for vengeance when he returns to the Bachelorette next week, and has thinks he has the perfect role model in Sylvester Stallone's Rambo. Johnson has repeatedly said on the show that he hasn't been the one to instigate things with the other guys a but that he will be the one to finish it, and that sounds an awful like the fictional Vietnam vet. For those who haven't seen 1982's First Blood, it centers on Rambo attempting to reintegrate into society after Vietnam. He finds himself mistreated by local police, eventually waging a one-man war on them after traumatic memories from the war are triggered. Let's hope things are a little more peaceful in next week's episode. June 11: He wanted to befriend another reality TV villain. Vanderpump Rules star Jax Taylor has faced his share of controversy, and believes he and Johnson might hit it off. "So I am told chad and I should be friends from the #Bachelorette," Taylor tweeted last week. "I like him already." Johnson responded in kind, writing, "Our friendship would be so awesome it would probably cause people's brains to explode inside their heads... " Our friendship would be so awesome it would probably cause people's brains to explode inside their heads... 2much4tv https://t.co/GqKst6giOv a Chad Johnson (@1ChadJohnson) June 11, 2016 June 10: He lobbied Donald Trump to be his running mate. Johnson thinks he can help the presidential hopeful make American great again. "I hear you need a VP Running Mate. Look no further. Let's do this," he tweeted Friday. Unfortunately, at 28, Chad is seven years too young to be considered for the VP spot. See you in 2024, Chad? @realdonaldtrump I hear you need a VP Running Mate. Look no further. Let's do this #MakeAmericaGreatAgain #MakeTheBachelorGreatAgain a Chad Johnson (@1ChadJohnson) June 11, 2016 While Johnson was eliminated from BiP, we are certain this isn't the last we'll hear from him. After all, Twitter exists. Barbra Streisand kicked off her first concert in three years Tuesday singing many of her greatest hits and taking more than a few hits at Donald Trump. The 74-year-old chanteuse ripped the Republican presidential candidate repeatedly at Los Angeles Staples Center, where she began a nine-date tour entitled Barbra: The MusicThe MemriesThe Magic! After sharing the stage between songs for a comedic bit with mind reader Lior Suchard, Streisand quipped, The only persons mind he cant read is Donald Trumps because he doesnt have one. While she got the crowd swooning by singing her most memorable songs over a six-decade career, Streisand left them laughing as well by telling them how much she delighted in seeing many of the missteps Trump had been making on the campaign trail in recent days, labeling the election a doozy. Before launching into her classic People, Streisand recounted how she learned that no matter what the color of your skin or where you were born Cuba, China, Malaysia, Madagascar our genetic make up is 99.9% identical to every person on the face of the earth. The other .1% is Donald Trump, she cracked. Streisand also made her support for Hillary Clinton clear as she recounted that she had sung Happy Days Are Here Again for three sitting presidents (John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton). And I hope in a few months from now I will be singing it for the next President Clinton, she said. Streisand is touring in support of her 35th album, Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway, out Aug. 26th. She was joined on stage by several of the performers who will be featured alongside her on the album, including Jamie Foxx, Seth MacFarlane and Kenny Babyface Edmonds. Related stories Concert Review: Barbra Streisand is Joined Onstage by Jamie Foxx, Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds Antonio Sabato Jr. Says Hollywood is Blacklisting Him for Supporting Donald Trump Could Donald Trump Return to NBC? 'I Have No Idea,' Says Network Chief Hillary Clinton used her first speech as the Democratic Partys nominee in Philadelphia last week to lay out her qualifications to be commander in chief and take down rival Donald Trump as too dangerous to handle the nuclear codes. Imagine him in the Oval Office facing a real crisis, Clinton said. The GOP nominee has since spent the following days reinforcing her argument. In the latest for the rhetorical blackhole that is Trump, he seemed to equate his real-estate work with two parents loss of their son, a Muslim-American Army captain killed in Iraq in 2004. This followed Trump calling four-star ret. Marine Gen. John Allen, formerly President Obamas envoy to the anti-ISIS coalition, a failed general. And that sparring came as Trump denied Russia invaded Ukraine despite its annexation of Crimea, encouraged Moscow to hack Clintons email, and pronounced that the former secretary of state was the devil. On Tuesday, Obama declared Trump had proven himself to be unfit to be commander in chief. This summers dog days may be more about the heat than any 2016 lull. Sign up for FPs Editors Picks newsletter here to receive Battleground 16, our take on the presidential race, each Wednesday through November. We Dont Need Generals to Become Cheerleaders at Political Conventions Retired senior military officers should not let political parties trade on their service in uniform by becoming high-profile partisan endorsers of presidential candidates. PETER FEAVER I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier. Donald Trump at a Tuesday Aug. 2 rally in Ashburn, Va., after veteran ret. Lt. Col. Louis Dorfman gave him a copy of his military medal. The Bureaucrat at the Center of Hillarys Scandals Patrick Kennedy has been linked to Benghazi and Hillary Clintons private email server. Heres how he survived years of GOP and FBI investigations. JOHN HUDSON Story continues He wears an aw shucks demeanor, as one former diplomat put it, donning cardigans in the winter and sweater vests in more temperate seasons. And yet Patrick Kennedys survival is the stuff of legend. The State Department official is largely unknown to the general public, but for Republicans in Congress, he is the dark force behind two of the biggest controversies of Hillary Clintons career. Obama Skewers Trump As Unfit to be Commander in Chief The president slams the Republican nominee as woefully unprepared and lacking basic knowledge. MOLLY OTOOLE Following GOP nominee Donald Trumps criticisms of the parents of a fallen Muslim-American service member and seeming denial that Russia had invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea, President Barack Obama gave his strongest repudiation yet of Donald Trump. On Tuesday, he slammed the Republican presidential nominee as unfit to serve as president, woefully unprepared to do this job, and lacking in basic knowledge. 7 pts Hillary Clintons post-convention bump, according to a CNN/ORC poll released Tuesday Aug. 2. In a head-to-head, general election face-off, Clinton now tops Trump 52 percentage points to 43 percentage points. Hillary the Hawk: A History From Haiti to Syria, the Democratic candidates long record suggests shes looking forward to being a war president on day one. MICAH ZENKO Sign up for FPs Editors Picks newsletter here to receive Battleground 16, our take on the presidential race, each Wednesday through November. Photo credit: John Moore/Getty Images) From offices around the country to even the U.S. Capitol, people were eager to measure up against Donald Trump, or at least his hands. Trump has been mocked for having small hands ever since it came to light that he is very self-conscious about his mitts after being poked fun at in a magazine article years ago. On Wednesday, The Hollywood Reporter gave readers a chance to see how their hand size compares to that of the GOP presidential nominee with an actual impression of Trump's right hand. People were quick to share their results over social media, along with plenty of jokes. See some of the best posts below. Currently posted in a Rayburn bathroom. @uscapitol @realDonaldTrump small hands for a small man pic.twitter.com/Eygwtwo3e8 - Kamran Ali (@thelilkam) August 3, 2016 My Chihuahua's hand, er, paw #TrumpMyHand pic.twitter.com/9CRuOXAlrL - Jenny Fulle (@JennyFulle) August 3, 2016 It's silly and I did it. #TrumpMyHand https://t.co/KamXNrTd88 pic.twitter.com/Sq9Q8fX4Az - Janice Min (@janicemin) August 3, 2016 I am a proud long-fingered Vulgarian #trumpmyhand pic.twitter.com/dhep24y3Qq - Oliver Laughland (@oliverlaughland) August 3, 2016 My office made #TrumpTurkeys with the #TrumpMyHand templates. pic.twitter.com/m9pOcWYGEz - Michael Bednar (@Gwain) August 3, 2016 Melania I am assuming you still have my cell number. #TrumpMyHand pic.twitter.com/kT04q5c2X9 - Daniel Foster (@DanFosterType) August 3, 2016 #TrumpMyHand pic.twitter.com/DquKReKp8f - Domingo (@LaDanzaMacabre) August 3, 2016 She just turned 14 #TrumpMyHand pic.twitter.com/x7xRg793DT - JennyRebecca Lapizco (@JennyrebeccaL) August 3, 2016 Donald Trump & I have nothing in common except, apparently, our hand size. Fun item in today's issue. #TrumpMyHand pic.twitter.com/XEoUnsNrNp - Rebecca Ford (@Beccamford) August 3, 2016 @seanmdav My dog almost has bigger paws than @realDonaldTrump 's tiny hands! #TrumpMyHand #ChocolateLab pic.twitter.com/sGZOVJBG2d - JstJoan (@JstJoan) August 3, 2016 Story continues #TrumpMyHand 6-toed cat is not impressed.#tinyhands #Trump#ImWithHer pic.twitter.com/ErDurtw8fP- TrueBlue Meow (@R__Lynn) August 3, 2016 Read more: Revealed at Madame Tussauds: Donald Trump's Actual Hand Size Consumers are quickly becoming more comfortable buying mattresses without ever trying them out. In fact, the latest Consumer Reports' mattress survey shows that many people bought their mattresses at retailers with few brick-and-mortar outlets or that sell mattresses online, and they like what they're finding. Of the four mattress stores that scored highly in our mattress store Ratings for overall satisfaction, Original Mattress Factory has stores in just nine states (though it ships to most). Costco stores display mattresses standing up, which makes them difficult to try, and sells more than half of its mattresses online. The other two, online retailers Amazon.com and QVC, don't sell mattresses at walk-in stores at all. The 20,000 subscribers surveyed were the least satisfied with Big Lots, a discount retailer with more than 1,400 stores in 47 states. Subscribers who shopped there were particularly displeased with that chains mattress selection and the cleanliness of floor models; they were also among the most likely to report shopping-related problems. Just slightly better was Sleepys, which was lowest rated in 2013, the last time we asked our subscribers about mattress stores. Sleepys is now owned by Mattress Firm, which placed in the middle of the pack in our Ratings. But much like Sleepys, it also gets dinged for its prices. (Check out the best and worst mattress brands.) Major Mattress Retailers Don't Impress In our survey, traditional sellers, mattress chains, and department stores fared the worst. Our subscribers shopped mostly at Sleep Number mattress stores, and that retailer scored well except for price. Macys did about the same but with one notable difference: Eight percent of respondents who shopped at Macys, as opposed to just three percent for Sleep Number, said they'd buy from a different retailer given the chance to do it over again. But Macy's wasn't the only retailer that left some respondents wishing for a do-over. Shoppers were even more dissatisfied with their experiences at Big Lots, Rooms to Go, Sleepy's, Mattress Warehouse, and JC Penney. Story continues In our survey, we also asked subscribers to tell us about the stores they rejected. In other words, they shopped there for a mattress but changed their mind and bought elsewhere. Here, too, is worrying news for traditional retailers. Of those subscribers who shopped around for a mattress, 11 percent rejected Macys, 10 percent rejected Sears and Mattress Firm, 9 percent said no to Sleep Number, and 8 percent rejected Sleepys. Price is what seals the deal for many shoppers, and Amazon, Costco, IKEA, and Walmart got excellent marks on that score. None of the retailers got top marks for selection, although eight did very well and only one, Original Mattress Factory, aced the Service score. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. By Devika Krishna Kumar and Jennifer Ablan NEW YORK, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Investors in junk-rated energy bonds, who have made a mint this year betting on this battered sector, are paring their holdings as oil flirts with sub-$40-a-barrel levels on concerns about a persistent overhang in supply and choppy demand. Thanks to the two-year slump in the price of oil, energy debt securities yielded a whopping 21 percent in February when crude hit its lowest in over a decade at about $26. That brought in opportunistic buyers who watched prices rise, pushing yields to around 9.5 percent now, a level that these investors see as overvalued relative to oil's weakening price. Energy debt prices have managed to continue to rally even as the price of oil headed lower in July, as investors believed that the bankruptcies that resulted from the two-year slump were largely behind the market. U.S. crude futures settled on Tuesday below $40 for the first time since April, on heightened worries of a crude glut despite peak summer fuel demand. Oil lost nearly 15 percent in July, the biggest monthly loss in a year, triggering liquidation among bond investors. Other bond investors who benefited from the recent risk-on rally in energy debt are paring holdings, viewing the massive run-up as an opportunity to take profits. "We're neutral on energy bonds," said Dan Ivascyn, group chief investment officer at bond giant Pacific Investment Management Co, which oversees $1.5 trillion in assets. He said the firm is "cautious after their huge run," having moved to an underweight position in their high-yield holdings. The BofA Merrill Lynch (BAML) U.S. High Yield Energy Index posted a return of 26.7 percent from the start of the year through mid-July. Since then, though, the index is slipping, having dropped for 11 days straight, shedding about 3 percent in that period. About 50 percent of the weight of this index is in double-B bonds, the highest-rated of junk debt. Those spreads are at 4.82 percentage points above comparable Treasury debt, yielding about 6 percent. Story continues While still junk-rated, these securities reflect the lowest probabilities of default. Given that oil has dropped more than 20 percent from its June 9 peak, investors are finding it difficult to argue for real value for those bonds. "You obviously regret the performance you missed, but a lot of these names are struggling and will continue to struggle," said Gregory Peters, senior investment officer at Prudential Fixed Income with more than $621 billion of assets. Prudential has some energy names but well under the index amount. The BAML high-yield strategy team recommends a modestly overweight positioning in energy and within the sector, have an overweight target for exploration and production companies. S&P Global Ratings in May said it expects corporate defaults to keep rising, dominated by energy companies. Between the start of 2015 and March 2016, the energy sector accounted for half of all corporate debt defaults in the United States. Given expectations for continued low prices for oil and natural gas in 2016, this sector is expected by S&P Global Ratings to continue to dominate the default total, with the high likelihood of its proportion growing throughout the year. One factor that has kept some investors positive on high-yield bonds is the notion that the current slump is not fully reflective of the fundamentals of oil. While crude prices have been pressured by resurgent output and a glut in refined products, some analysts believe global supply and demand are roughly balanced, driven by steady declines in U.S. production. Daniel Loeb's $16 billion Third Point LLC said that the bottom in oil was earlier this year. Last week, Third Point said its investments in energy credits drove positive returns during the first half of the year and it is devoting over $1 billion to energy corporate credits. Third Point said it is currently focused on debt of "companies with high-quality assets and deleveraging catalysts where we can make good returns while limiting downside risk should commodity prices stagnate." Societe Generale oil analyst Michael Wittner said he expects crude prices to bottom out in the high $30 range. "We do not think that we will return to $35 or $30 or $26-27, as we saw in Q1 16," he said in a note. (Reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar and Jennifer Ablan in New York; Editing by M Choy) bill gross sunglasses Bill Gross has some tough question for the global economy, though maybe not as tough as one he once got from his youngest son. In his latest investment outlook, Gross poses five questions about the sustainability of the global economy that he said were just as difficult as one posed by his son Nick. Evidently, Nick happened upon a Victoria's Secret catalog (full of, as Gross puts it, "plain and unattractive models") and asked him, "Dad, what is Victoria's Secret?" Gross framed the examination of the global economy around a meandering explanation of his discovery of how babies are born and subsequent passing of that knowledge to his children. (For instance, his mom asked him when he was 14 years old whether he knew where kittens came from. He responded, "the pet store," so she left it at that.) This culminated in his son's awkward question. "Well now, I quickly thought, does he mean what is Victoria's Secret or what is Victoria's Secret?" Gross wrote. "If it was the former, it could be just an innocent question about the mailer itself. If the latter, well, it was a path down which I wasn't willing to travel." To divert attention, Gross posed the same kitten question to his son that his mother once asked. Gross then received the same "pet store" response he had given to his own mom all those years ago, breathed a sigh of relief, and moved on. Eventually, Gross did relate this to financial markets. "There are equally important questions in today's economy and financial markets, so I thought I'd condense a few of them to hopefully explain our current situation, perhaps a little more honestly than my 'kittens in a pet store' ruse or what 'Victoria's Secret' really was," he said. The questions were: "When does our credit-based financial system sputter/break down?" "Can capitalism function efficiently at the zero bound?" "Can $180 billion of monthly quantitative easing by the ECB, BOJ, and the BOE keep on going? How might it end?" "When will investors know if current global monetary policies will succeed?" "What should an investor do?" Story continues Essentially the answers to these five questions summed up the totality of Gross' recent ideas and letters: The credit-fueled economy is running out of steam, and central banks can continue with their easing but doing so will distort the markets. These two realities, Gross said, will eventually lead to disaster and terrible returns for investors unless there is serious GDP growth pickup. Gross therefore thinks investors should be wary. This means people should stay away from normal financial assets. "I don't like bonds; I don't like most stocks; I don't like private equity," Gross wrote in his latest note. "Real assets such as land, gold, and tangible plant and equipment at a discount are favored asset categories. But those are hard for an individual to buy because wealth has been 'financialized.'" And where, you might ask, does Gross suggest getting exposure to such assets? The Janus Global Unconstrained strategies, which conveniently are run by ... Bill Gross. Other than that, Gross advised that investors just relax. "Have a great summer," he concluded. "Hit the beach. Don't worry, be happy. Visit a pet store." You can read Gross' full outlook here NOW WATCH: We asked a Navy SEAL what he ate during training, and his answer shocked us More From Business Insider Bill OReilly confronted Donald Trump over why he got into an on-going feud with the Khan family on The OReilly Factor on Tuesday night. Trump has repeatedly attacked Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Muslim parents of a fallen U.S. war hero, who spoke out against the GOP nominee at last weeks Democratic convention. OReilly asked Trump if in hindsight he should have simply ignored the Khan family. I was watching television all of the sudden I was viciously attacked on stage at the Democratic National Convention by Mr. Khan, Trump said. I responded to that vicious attack. Also Read: Could the Khan Family Spell the End of Donald Trump? Trump blamed the press for making it a big deal and said he has the right to respond. OReilly agreed with Trump that the media played it up, but said, It wasnt wise to bring the mother in to the drama, referring to Trump speculating that she didnt speak at last weeks Democratic convention due to her religion. Trump didnt back down, saying many people said the same thing and it wasnt a big deal until he said it. OReilly advised Trump against punching down, telling him that the left-winged press will use it against him and the GOP nominee appeared to agree. Watch the video above. Donald Trump vs The Khans: A Timeline (Photos) donald trump khizr khan ghazala khan Getty Images/NBC khizr khan donald trump CNN donald trump abc news ABC News ghazala khizr khan NBC News donald trump khizr khan tweets Twitter Donald Trump Mike Pence Getty Images Donald Trump Tries to Steal Dems Thunder by Hosting AMA Session Getty Images john mccain Getty Images Previous Slide Next Slide 1 of 8 How the Republican candidate came to criticize parents of fallen Muslim-American soldier Here's a timeline of Donald Trump's fight with Muslim-American immigrants Khizr and Ghazala Khan, who have criticized his proposal to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the United States. View In Gallery Related stories from TheWrap: Could the Khan Family Spell the End of Donald Trump? Will Smith 'Furious' Over Donald Trump's Treatment of Women: 'Absolutely Fing Insanity to Me' Obama Scolds GOP for Endorsing Trump: 'He's Woefully Unprepared to Do This Job' (Refiles to fix tyopgraphical error in headline) By Lawrence Delevingne NEW YORK, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Billionaire hedge fund manager Seth Klarman said on Wednesday he would work to get Hillary Clinton elected president of the United States because he finds recent comments by Donald Trump "shockingly unacceptable." "His words and actions over the last several days are so shockingly unacceptable in our diverse and democratic society that it is simply unthinkable that Donald Trump could become our president," Klarman said of the Republican presidential nominee. The president and chief executive of The Baupost Group told Reuters in an emailed statement that Trump's suggestion "that the election will be rigged is particularly dangerous." "I will continue to find ways to support Hillary Clinton and defeat Donald Trump," he said. On Monday, Trump told a town hall event in Columbus, Ohio, that he thought the November election might be "rigged." Trump's attacks on the Muslim parents of a decorated American soldier, Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq, have drawn sharp rebukes since Khizr Khan and Ghazala Khan appeared at last week's Democratic convention. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Klarman, whose Boston-based investment firm manages $29 billion, is registered as an independent voter. But a review of filings showed that his political giving has largely benefited Republicans over the years, including donations this election cycle to political action committees that supported primary candidates Jeb Bush, Chris Christie and Marco Rubio. He has also given to the campaigns of Democrats, including now-U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Mark Warner, according to the filings. He contributed $4,600 to Hillary Clinton's 2007 presidential race, while also giving to the campaigns of Republicans John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. In June, Klarman gave $5,400 to Clinton's campaign. "He is completely unqualified for the highest office in the land," Klarman said in his statement, without specifying how he would further support Clinton. (Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Toni Reinhold) By Lawrence Delevingne NEW YORK (Reuters) - Billionaire hedge fund manager Seth Klarman said on Wednesday he would work to get Hillary Clinton elected president of the United States because he finds recent comments by Donald Trump "shockingly unacceptable." "His words and actions over the last several days are so shockingly unacceptable in our diverse and democratic society that it is simply unthinkable that Donald Trump could become our president," Klarman said of the Republican presidential nominee. The president and chief executive of The Baupost Group told Reuters in an emailed statement that Trump's suggestion "that the election will be rigged is particularly dangerous." "I will continue to find ways to support Hillary Clinton and defeat Donald Trump, he said. On Monday, Trump told a town hall event in Columbus, Ohio, that he thought the November election might be "rigged." Trump's attacks on the Muslim parents of a decorated American soldier, Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq, have drawn sharp rebukes since Khizr Khan and Ghazala Khan appeared at last week's Democratic convention. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Klarman, whose Boston-based investment firm manages $29 billion, is registered as an independent voter. But a review of filings showed that his political giving has largely benefited Republicans over the years, including donations this election cycle to political action committees that supported primary candidates Jeb Bush, Chris Christie and Marco Rubio. He has also given to the campaigns of Democrats, including now-U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Mark Warner, according to the filings. He contributed $4,600 to Hillary Clinton's 2007 presidential race, while also giving to the campaigns of Republicans John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. In June, Klarman gave $5,400 to Clinton's campaign. "He is completely unqualified for the highest office in the land," Klarman said in his statement, without specifying how he would further support Clinton. (This story has been refiled to fix tyopgraphical error in headline) (Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Toni Reinhold) * Breach is second-largest ever after Tokyos Mt Gox * Bitfinex is worlds No. 1 US-dollar exchange for bitcoin * 119,756 bitcoin stolen from users accounts * Stolen bitcoin worth $72 mln at time of theft (Adds details throughout) By Clare Baldwin HONG KONG, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Nearly 120,000 units of digital currency bitcoin worth about US$72 million was stolen from the exchange platform Bitfinex in Hong Kong, rattling the global bitcoin community in the second-biggest security breach ever of such an exchange. Bitfinex is the worlds largest dollar-based exchange for bitcoin, and is known in the digital currency community for having deep liquidity in the U.S. dollar/bitcoin currency pair. Zane Tackett, Director of Community & Product Development for Bitfinex, told Reuters on Wednesday that 119,756 bitcoin had been stolen from users accounts and that the exchange had not yet decided how to address customer losses. The bitcoin was stolen from users segregated wallets, he said. The company said it had reported the theft to law enforcement and was cooperating with top blockchain analytic companies to track the stolen coins. Last year, Bitfinex announced a tie-up with Palo Alto-based BitGo, which uses multiple-signature security to store user deposits online, allowing for faster withdrawals. Our investigation has found no evidence of a breach to any BitGo servers, BitGo said in a Tweet. With users funds secured using multi-signature technology in partnership with BitGo, a lot more is at stake for the backbone of the bitcoin industry, with its stalwarts and prided tech under fire, said Charles Hayter, chief executive and founder of digital currency website CryptoCompare. The security breach comes two months after Bitfinex was ordered to pay a $75,000 fine by the U.S. Commodity and Futures Trading Commission in part for offering illegal off-exchange financed commodity transactions in bitcoin and other digital currencies. BITCOIN SLUMP Story continues Tuesdays breach triggered a slump in bitcoin prices and was reminiscent of events that led to the 2014 collapse of Tokyo-based exchange Mt Gox, which said it had lost about $500 million worth of customers Bitcoins in a hacking attack. Bitcoin plunged just over 23 percent on Tuesday after the news broke. On Wednesday it was up 1 percent at $545.20 on the BitStamp platform. Tackett added that the breach did not expose any weaknesses in the security of a blockchain, the technology that generates and processes bitcoin, a web-based cryptocurrency that can move across the globe anonymously without the need for a central authority. A bitcoin expert said the scandal highlighted the risks of companies using cryptography for their ledgers. The more you rely on its benefits, the greater the potential for damage when keys are stolen. We still have some way to go to create highly secure but convenient systems, said Singapore-based Antony Lewis. The volume of bitcoin stolen amounts to about 0.75 percent of all bitcoin in circulation. It is not yet clear whether the theft was an inside job or whether hackers were able to gain access to the system externally. On an online forum, Bitfinexs Tackett said he was nearly 100 percent certain it was no one in the company. Bitfinex suspended trading on Tuesday after it discovered the breach. It said on its website that it was investigating and cooperating with the authorities. The security breach is the latest scandal to hit Hong Kongs bitcoin market after MyCoin became embroiled in a scam last year that media estimated could have duped investors of up to $387 million. The bitcoin trading company closed after the scandal. The president of the Hong Kong Bitcoin Association said the only way to protect information is to disperse it in so many small pieces that the reward for hacking is too small. For an attacker, the cost-benefit strategy is quite easy: How much is in the pot and how likely is it that Im getting the pot? said Leonhard Weese. (Additional reporting by Hera Poon in HONG KONG, Jeremy Wagstaff in SINGAPORE and Jemima Kelly in LONDON; Editing by Will Waterman) By Clare Baldwin HONG KONG (Reuters) - Nearly 120,000 units of digital currency bitcoin worth about $72 million (54 million) was stolen from the exchange platform Bitfinex in Hong Kong, rattling the global bitcoin community in the second-biggest security breach ever of such an exchange. Bitfinex is the world's largest dollar-based exchange for bitcoin, and is known in the digital currency community for having deep liquidity in the U.S. dollar/bitcoin currency pair. Zane Tackett, Director of Community & Product Development for Bitfinex, told Reuters on Wednesday that 119,756 bitcoin had been stolen from users' accounts and that the exchange had not yet decided how to address customer losses. "The bitcoin was stolen from users' segregated wallets," he said. The company said it had reported the theft to law enforcement and was cooperating with top blockchain analytic companies to track the stolen coins. Last year, Bitfinex announced a tie-up with Palo Alto-based BitGo, which uses multiple-signature security to store user deposits online, allowing for faster withdrawals. "Our investigation has found no evidence of a breach to any BitGo servers," BitGo said in a Tweet. "With users' funds secured using multi-signature technology in partnership with BitGo, a lot more is at stake for the backbone of the bitcoin industry, with its stalwarts and prided tech under fire," said Charles Hayter, chief executive and founder of digital currency website CryptoCompare. The security breach comes two months after Bitfinex was ordered to pay a $75,000 fine by the U.S. Commodity and Futures Trading Commission in part for offering illegal off-exchange financed commodity transactions in bitcoin and other digital currencies. BITCOIN SLUMP Tuesday's breach triggered a slump in bitcoin prices and was reminiscent of events that led to the 2014 collapse of Tokyo-based exchange Mt Gox, which said it had lost about $500 million worth of customers' Bitcoins in a hacking attack. Story continues Bitcoin plunged just over 23 percent on Tuesday after the news broke. On Wednesday it was up 1 percent at $545.20 (BTC=BTSP) on the BitStamp platform. Tackett added that the breach did not "expose any weaknesses in the security of a blockchain", the technology that generates and processes bitcoin, a web-based "cryptocurrency" that can move across the globe anonymously without the need for a central authority. A bitcoin expert said the scandal highlighted the risks of companies using cryptography for their ledgers. "The more you rely on its benefits, the greater the potential for damage when keys are stolen. We still have some way to go to create highly secure but convenient systems," said Singapore-based Antony Lewis. The volume of bitcoin stolen amounts to about 0.75 percent of all bitcoin in circulation. It is not yet clear whether the theft was an inside job or whether hackers were able to gain access to the system externally. On an online forum, Bitfinex's Tackett said he was "nearly 100 percent certain" it was no one in the company. Bitfinex suspended trading on Tuesday after it discovered the breach. It said on its website that it was investigating and cooperating with the authorities. The security breach is the latest scandal to hit Hong Kong's bitcoin market after MyCoin became embroiled in a scam last year that media estimated could have duped investors of up to $387 million. The bitcoin trading company closed after the scandal. The president of the Hong Kong Bitcoin Association said the only way to protect information is to disperse it in so many small pieces that the reward for hacking is too small. "For an attacker, the cost-benefit strategy is quite easy: How much is in the pot and how likely is it that I'm getting the pot?" said Leonhard Weese. (Additional reporting by Hera Poon in HONG KONG, Jeremy Wagstaff in SINGAPORE and Jemima Kelly in LONDON; Editing by Will Waterman) By Clare Baldwin HONG KONG (Reuters) - Nearly 120,000 units of digital currency bitcoin worth about US$72 million was stolen from the exchange platform Bitfinex in Hong Kong, rattling the global bitcoin community in the second-biggest security breach ever of such an exchange. Bitfinex is the world's largest dollar-based exchange for bitcoin, and is known in the digital currency community for having deep liquidity in the U.S. dollar/bitcoin currency pair. Zane Tackett, Director of Community & Product Development for Bitfinex, told Reuters on Wednesday that 119,756 bitcoin had been stolen from users' accounts and that the exchange had not yet decided how to address customer losses. "The bitcoin was stolen from users' segregated wallets," he said. The company said it had reported the theft to law enforcement and was cooperating with top blockchain analytic companies to track the stolen coins. Last year, Bitfinex announced a tie-up with Palo Alto-based BitGo, which uses multiple-signature security to store user deposits online, allowing for faster withdrawals. "Our investigation has found no evidence of a breach to any BitGo servers," BitGo said in a Tweet. "With users' funds secured using multi-signature technology in partnership with BitGo, a lot more is at stake for the backbone of the bitcoin industry, with its stalwarts and prided tech under fire," said Charles Hayter, chief executive and founder of digital currency website CryptoCompare. The security breach comes two months after Bitfinex was ordered to pay a $75,000 fine by the U.S. Commodity and Futures Trading Commission in part for offering illegal off-exchange financed commodity transactions in bitcoin and other digital currencies. BITCOIN SLUMP Tuesday's breach triggered a slump in bitcoin prices and was reminiscent of events that led to the 2014 collapse of Tokyo-based exchange Mt Gox, which said it had lost about $500 million worth of customers' Bitcoins in a hacking attack. Story continues Bitcoin plunged just over 23 percent on Tuesday after the news broke. On Wednesday it was up 1 percent at $545.20 on the BitStamp platform. Tackett added that the breach did not "expose any weaknesses in the security of a blockchain", the technology that generates and processes bitcoin, a web-based "cryptocurrency" that can move across the globe anonymously without the need for a central authority. A bitcoin expert said the scandal highlighted the risks of companies using cryptography for their ledgers. "The more you rely on its benefits, the greater the potential for damage when keys are stolen. We still have some way to go to create highly secure but convenient systems," said Singapore-based Antony Lewis. The volume of bitcoin stolen amounts to about 0.75 percent of all bitcoin in circulation. It is not yet clear whether the theft was an inside job or whether hackers were able to gain access to the system externally. On an online forum, Bitfinex's Tackett said he was "nearly 100 percent certain" it was no one in the company. Bitfinex suspended trading on Tuesday after it discovered the breach. It said on its website that it was investigating and cooperating with the authorities. The security breach is the latest scandal to hit Hong Kong's bitcoin market after MyCoin became embroiled in a scam last year that media estimated could have duped investors of up to $387 million. The bitcoin trading company closed after the scandal. The president of the Hong Kong Bitcoin Association said the only way to protect information is to disperse it in so many small pieces that the reward for hacking is too small. "For an attacker, the cost-benefit strategy is quite easy: How much is in the pot and how likely is it that I'm getting the pot?" said Leonhard Weese. (Additional reporting by Hera Poon in HONG KONG, Jeremy Wagstaff in SINGAPORE and Jemima Kelly in LONDON; Editing by Will Waterman) Boeing 777 200LR On Wednesday, a Boeing 777-300 operating as Emirates Flight EK521 crash-landed and burst into flames at Dubai International Airport after declaring an emergency. Emirates has confirmed that all 300 passengers and crew members aboard the flight are safe. Even though this marks the fifth Boeing 777 to be written off in five years, the model remains one of the safest airplanes to ever fly. In the 21 years since the plane entered service, only six Boeing 777s have been written off, because of fire, crashes, or disappearances, with Wednesday's Emirates flight being the sixth. A mere 0.4% of the 1,412 777s ever produced have been involved in crashes or incidents that left the plane damaged beyond repair. Compare that with the 4% of the 1,522 747s that have been written off over the years; the 747 itself is considered an incredibly reliable and safe aircraft. The first 777 incident took place in 2008, when a British Airways jet suffered engine failure on landing and crashed on the runway at Heathrow Airport. The aircraft operating as BA Flight 38 experienced a sudden loss of power, and the cause of the incident was eventually traced back to a design fault in Rolls-Royce's Trent turbofan engines that allowed ice to build up in the fuel lines. Though nearly 50 people were injured, no one died in the crash. British Airways Flight 38 Boeing 777 The second incident took place in 2011, when an EgyptAir 777 caught fire while parked at a gate at Cairo Airport. All passengers were able to deplane, and only a few people were injured. Egyptian investigators believe the fire was caused by a short circuit and was fed by the pilot's onboard oxygen supply. The third hull loss and first fatal accident involving a 777 occurred in 2013, when Asiana Flight 214 crashed while landing in San Francisco. Three of the 291 passengers were killed, while all 16 crew members survived. Investigators at the NTSB attributed the crash to pilot error. Story continues The fourth incident took place on March 8, 2014, when a Malaysia Airlines 777-200ER operating as Flight MH370 disappeared while flying from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing. The 600,000-pound plane registration number 9M-MRO vanished with 239 passengers and crew aboard. So far, only pieces of the plane have been located. The fifth Boeing 777 lost was Malaysia Airlines MH17, shot down over Ukraine in July 2015. All 298 of its passengers and crew were killed when the airliner was reportedly struck by a Russian-made BUK surface-to-air missile. Asiana Flight 214 Of those incidents, only the EgyptAir one can be attributed to a failure with the plane, though that could change if investigators are able to locate the wreckage of MH370 and if an investigation of the Emirates crash finds the plane to be at fault. Since entering service in 1995, the 777 has become a workhorse for long-haul international airlines. Along with the Airbus A330, the 777 helped revolutionize modern air travel eventually rendering the jumbo jet obsolete. Boeing developed the 777 from scratch in the early 1990s with a 10,000-person team at an estimated cost of $5 billion. It was the seventh all-new jetliner introduced by the airplane maker. Boeing 777 debut 1994 The 777 was conceived to fill a hole in the market at the time that called for a large wide-body long-haul airliner, smaller than the company's legendary 747 jumbo but bigger than the 767, a "mini-jumbo." The plane exploded in popularity in the 2000s. Much of this can be attributed to a spike in the cost of fuel and the repeal of regulations barring twin-engine airliners from flying certain long-haul routes. In the process, the 777 and its Airbus counterparts became the perfect fuel-efficient, long-distance aircraft. As a result, four-engine airliners such as Boeing's 747 jumbo and Airbus' A340 have been relegated to near-relic status. Emirates is the largest operator of the 777, with a fleet of 156 of the Boeing jets. The Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based airline flies 11% of all 777s ever produced. The aircraft involved in Wednesday's crash, A6-EMW, was delivered to Emirates on March, 28, 2003, and was the 434th triple-seven to roll out of Boeing's Everett, Washington, factory. Boeing 777 300 Emirates NOW WATCH: This $300 million Boeing 787 is unlike any private jet you have ever seen More From Business Insider Donald Trump Donald Trump's refusal to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan, his unabashed criticism of a family whose son was killed fighting in Iraq, and a series of other high-profile missteps have infuriated key members of the Republican Party and left his campaign staff demoralized, according to multiple reports published Wednesday morning. One source close to the campaign described the apparently bleak situation to CNBC by characterizing the Trump staff as "suicidal." "Manafort not challenging [Trump] anymore," said the source, described as an ally of campaign chairman Paul Manafort. "Mailing it in. Staff suicidal." Another source told NBC News it was "way worse than people realize," while others were said to have referred to the campaign as "Crazytown." Officials within the GOP didn't seem to have much more optimism. ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl reported that "senior officials at the party are actively exploring what would happen if Trump dropped out" and are wondering about "how to replace him on the ballot." "He is so unpredictable right now, they are so unable to control his message that they just don't know and they clearly think it is a possibility, which is why they're looking at these rules," Karl said on "Good Morning America." A top Republican told NBC News that Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman, was "apoplectic" over Trump's refusal to endorse Ryan in his House reelection race. Priebus was described as "furious" by sources who spoke with Karl. Even Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Trump's running mate, distanced himself from Trump by telling Fox News on Wednesday that he "strongly support[s]" Ryan and endorses his reelection. And former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, one of Trump's most ardent supporters, blasted him for what he called "self-destructive" behavior. "Trump is still behaving like as though it was the primaries and there were 17 candidates," Gingrich told Fox Business Channel on Wednesday. "He has not made the transition to being the potential president of the United States, which is a much tougher league." Story continues Republicans close to Trump were plotting an intervention to protect other Republican candidates who will also be up for election this November, NBC News reported. Top Republicans were said to be hoping that Trump's children could help rein him in. A CNN reporter cited a Trump adviser who said the media needed to focus more on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and less on Trump: .@KellyannePolls says a big part of the frustration inside the Trump campaign is that the media is focused too much on him/not HRC. Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) August 3, 2016 Trump spokesman Jason Miller pushed back on the reports of turmoil within the campaign, tweeting out a statement. "The idea that Paul Manafort is mailing it in is completely erroneous," the statement said. "Our campaign just finished up our strongest month of fundraising to date, we're adding talented and experienced staffers on a daily basis, and Mr. Trump's turning out bigger and more enthusiastic crowds than Hillary Clinton ever could." Manafort has also denied the reports: #PaulManafort just told me @JohnJHarwood report wrong -- that all is ok on the #Trump Train. From outside of course it looks like no rails. Howard Fineman (@howardfineman) August 3, 2016 And Trump stood firm, saying nothing was amiss. He tweeted Wednesday morning: There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before. I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support. Beat Crooked H! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 3, 2016 NOW WATCH: Trump spokeswoman: Capt. Khan's 2004 death was probably caused by Obama's and Hillary's policies More From Business Insider - World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury was provisionally suspended in June over the presence of a banned substance, the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) organisation confirmed on Wednesday. Fury's ban, which was not made public at the time, has been lifted pending a hearing of the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP). The 27-year-old British fighter had said on Tuesday he would sue UKAD over reports he had used a performance-enhancing substance. UKAD also said it suspended Hughie Fury, Tyson Fury's cousin, and that he too would have his case heard by the NADP. The Sunday Mirror reported in June that traces of the banned substance nandrolone were found in a urine sample taken from Tyson Fury in February 2015. Fury refuted the claim and his legal team say the result of tests from March and May 2015 were contradictory. AFP Bradley Cooper spoke out about angering American Sniper fans with his attendance at last weeks Democratic National Convention. Cooper, who received an Oscar nomination for playing Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in American Sniper, told James Corden on The Late Late Show Tuesday that he attended the convention with his mother to see President Barack Obama speak, and was surprised by the angry reaction. I was not expecting that, Cooper said. Republicans were up in arms that I was there watching the president speak. Fellow guest Todd Phillips, who directed Cooper in the Hangover trilogy, said Republicans getting upset with Cooper is like the mob being mad at De Niro for being in the The Intern, drawing giant laughs from both Corden and Cooper. Cooper said attending the convention to see Obama speak was unbelievable. To be there, it was probably one of the last times well hear him speak, Cooper said. I think he was an incredible president. I was really excited. By Maria Carolina Marcello BRASILIA (Reuters) - A Senate report found on Tuesday that Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff violated the constitution by manipulating government accounts, moving her drawn-out impeachment trial closer to deciding her fate. The report is expected to be approved by the impeachment committee on Friday and by the full Senate next Tuesday, leading to the final trial phase in which the 81 Senators must reach a verdict at the end of August or first days of September. The impeachment of the unpopular leftist leader has paralyzed Brazilian politics for seven months and held interim President Michel Temer in a legal limbo that has hindered his efforts to pull Brazil from fiscal crisis and severe recession. Rousseff is accused of altering official budget figures and using funds from state-run banks to cover up the real state of Brazil's faltering economy as she ran for re-election in 2014. Her impeachment would mark the end of 13 years of rule by the left-of-center Workers Party and leave Latin America's largest economy in the hands of the Temer, Rousseff's conservative vice president. Brazil's stock market and currency have strengthened since Rousseff was suspended by the Senate on May 12 as investors bet on her removal and replacement by Temer, who has outlined policies favoring private business. But Temer has avoided unpopular austerity measures needed to balance Brazil's overdrawn accounts until he is definitely confirmed in the job to serve out Rousseff's mandate to 2018. While 54 votes are needed to convict Rousseff, or two-thirds of the Senate, Brasilia-based political consultancy ARKO Advice says between 56 and 60 Senators today favor removing her, a narrow margin that is unlikely to be reversed because Temer is seen delivering political and economic stability. "The majority sentiment in the Senate is that market expectations regarding the economy are improving significantly and that the return of the suspended president would put the country in a difficult situation again," ARKO said in its monthly analysis for clients. Efforts to defend Rousseff by her Workers Party and its founder, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who faces corruption charges, have not been enough to save her, Arko said. The Senate impeachment committee listened to the author of the report, Senator Antonio Anastasia, read out from its 440 pages detailing the alleged illegalities of the accounting methods that Rousseff used to augment her government's spending power in the run-up to the 2014 election. Anastasia, a member of the PSDB, the main opposition party to Rousseff's administration, said there was enough evidence for the impeachment trial to proceed. "What we found was an expansive spending policy that was not fiscally sustainable and lacked transparency with operations that bypassed Congress and did not follow good practices of budget management," Anastasia said in his report. Rousseff has denied she broke budget laws and maintains she is the victim of a right-wing conspiracy to overthrow her government that advanced the interests of Brazil's poor. In her written defense last month Rousseff said Brazilians knew an honest woman was being put on trial and she called the impeachment a "farce" and her alleged crimes no more than "routine acts of budgetary management." The trial phase in the Senate will be presided over by Brazil's Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski. According to the Supreme Court, if the Senate approves Anastasia's report next Tuesday - only a simple majority is needed - the final trial session would begin on Aug. 26 and last about a week, with a final vote on Sept 2. Temer aides hope the trial will end sooner so he can attend the summit of G20 nations in China at the beginning of September without any doubts about his legitimacy. Temer has said he will not go to the meeting otherwise. (Reporting by Maria Carolina Marcelo and Alonso Soto; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Tom Brown) By Paul Kilby NEW YORK, Aug 3 (IFR) - Brazilian miner Vale returned to the debt markets for a second time in a matter of months on Wednesday, approaching investors with a US$1bn 10-year offering to fund bond redemptions. The mining giant, having seen its bond prices rally of late, also looked to be taking advantage of stronger iron ore prices and a renewed bid for Brazilian and emerging markets assets. The company is highly exposed to China, where the growth in demand for iron ore is slowing down, meaning prices could well tumble in the second half of the year. "Vale is being very savvy here," one New York-based trader told IFR. "They know there could be pricing pressures on iron ore in the second half of the year." On the back of a modest US$3bn order book, the company launched a US$1bn deal at 6.25%, opting for size even as some observers thought fair value was closer to 6.125%. But others had drawn the line at 6.25%, particularly as Brazil's headline risks remain significant and taking into account the fact that Vale sold US$1.25bn of debt in June. "Below 6.25% didn't make much sense for a lot of accounts," said an investor. "There seems to be some pricing sensitivities, which is normal considering how far the market has run and that Vale was in market just a few months ago." The new trade fills an obvious gap in Vale's curve, where it lacks a 10-year benchmark, while also attending to US$1.25bn of bond maturities next year. Proceeds will pay part of the redemption price on its 6.25% 2017s, also helping create a natural bid for the new bond, which was up at plus 1/4 to 3/8 in the grey market following launch. This is part of a broader effort to deleverage as the company looks to shed assets and improve its capital structure. Fitch Ratings said that Vale's projected net leverage of 3.5x for 2016 is still high for its BBB+ rating, but this could fall to 2.7x by next year if Vale can sell US$5bn of assets. Vale bonds have rallied since early June bolstered by surprisingly strong iron ore prices, which are now hovering around US$60 per dry metric ton. Story continues "A lot of people were completely short the name, and everyone thought iron ore prices would be lower than they are today," said the investor. Mid-market yields on the company's 2022s bonds hit a recent low of around 4.88% on Monday, in from 6.62% on June 16, according to Thomson Reuters data. That stands in contrast to the 12.38% yield seen earlier in the year at the height of the commodities. Last year's dam burst at Samarco - a joint venture between Vale and BHP Billiton - has also been weighing on the company's bond prices as investors fret about the final cost of the environmental disaster. Vale's net income fell 34% in the second quarter, in part due to provisions for potential losses from the Samarco catastrophe. "When we finally get the Samarco problems solved, Vale will be back in business again," said Klaus Spielkamp, head of fixed-income sale at Bulltick, a brokerage and asset manager focusing on Latin America. "I love that Vale has been under stress, as it only gives me a chance to step in and buy it cheap, which would otherwise be impossible." Vale's bond was expected to price later on Wednesday through leads BB Securities, BNP Paribas, Bradesco BBI, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley. Ratings are expected to be Ba3/BBB-/BBB. (Reporting by Paul Kilby; Editing by Marc Carnegie) (This version of the Aug 2 story corrects final paragraph to say 0.3 percentage points not 0.4 percentage points) BERLIN (Reuters) - Brexit is expected to reduce Britain's economic growth by 0.3 percentage points this year and 1.2 points in 2017, a study by Germany's DIW economic institute found, according to the Handelsblatt newspaper. A spokeswoman for the Berlin-based DIW confirmed the gist of the Handelsblatt article but gave no specific details. The study, to be released Wednesday, echoes findings from a July 20 Reuters poll of economists, which cut the corresponding forecasts by 0.5 points and 1.5 points compared with a survey on June 8. It is also in line with finding from the Markit/CIPS UK purchasing managers' index (PMI) released on Monday, which showed UK manufacturing shrinking at its fastest pace in over three years in July following the June 23 vote to leave the European Union. Citing DIW, Handelsblatt also said German economic growth would be reduced by 0.3 percentage points in 2017. The institute said in June that German growth could be reduced by half a percentage point next year. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; editing by John Stonestreet) Dakota Meyer has something to say. The 28-year-old war veteran and son-in-law of Sarah Palin took to Twitter on Tuesday to speak out against Donald Trump, calling for an apology to the Khan family. WATCH: 'Celebrity Apprentice' Stars Reveal What They Really Think of Donald Trump "If @realDonaldTrump wants to be the Commander in Chief, he needs to act like one. And that cant start until he apologizes to the Khans," Meyer tweeted. If @realDonaldTrump wants to be the Commander in Chief, he needs to act like one. And that cant start until he apologizes to the Khans. Dakota Meyer (@Dakota_Meyer) August 2, 2016 Meyer, who received a Medal of Honor in 2011 for his bravery during a six-hour fight in Afghanistan, was referring to Khizr and Ghazala Khan, who gave a stirring speech about their son at the Democratic National Convention last week. In an emotional moment during the DNC, Khan and his wife, parents of fallen U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, addressed Trump and his policies directly. "You have sacrificed nothing and no one," Khan said. "If it was up to Donald Trump, he never would have been in America," he added, in reference to his son. WATCH: Khloe Kardashian Majorly Shades Donald Trump, Says She 'Hated Every Minute' Of 'Celebrity Apprentice' Trump promptly responded by rejecting Khan's comments and suggesting that the couple's Muslim faith might be the reason his wife stayed silent during their speech. Ghazala Khan later responded, saying that it was her grief, not her religion, that prevented her from speaking on her son's behalf. "Without saying a thing, all the world, all America, felt my pain," she wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post. "I am a Gold Star mother. Whoever saw me felt me in their heart." Story continues Although Trump received an outpouring of backlash from both Democratic and Republican sides, the GOP's presidential nominee has maintained his position, tweeting that he feels attacked by the Khans. "Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same Nice!" he tweeted on Monday. Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same - Nice! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2016 Trump has definitely been a source of controversy, even for those who want no part in politics. In fact, Blake Shelton recently spoke out after finding himself the center of twisted words that sounded like an endorsement for the 70-year-old presidential hopeful. WATCH: Jon Stewart Returns to TV, Rips Into Donald Trump Supporters: 'This Country Isn't Yours' See more in the video below. Related Articles Sarah Palin may have endorsed Donald Trump but her son-in-law, Dakota Meyer, apparently doesn't think the GOP nominee has what it takes to be commander-in-chief. Meyer, Bristol Palin's husband and Marine Corps veteran who received the Medal of Honor, is calling on Trump to apologize to the parents of slain Muslim-American Army Capt. Humayun Khan after the GOP nominee criticized their appearance at the Democratic convention last Thursday. Meyer tweeted on Tuesday, "If @realDonaldTrump wants to be the Commander in Chief, he needs to act like one. And that cant start until he apologizes to the Khans." If @realDonaldTrump wants to be the Commander in Chief, he needs to act like one. And that cant start until he apologizes to the Khans. a Dakota Meyer (@Dakota_Meyer) August 2, 2016 Trump's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton was quick to retweet Meyer's comment to her more than 8 million followers on Twitter. If @realDonaldTrump wants to be the Commander in Chief, he needs to act like one. And that cant start until he apologizes to the Khans. a Dakota Meyer (@Dakota_Meyer) August 2, 2016 Bristol Palin's Husband, a Medal of Honor Recipient, Tells Donald Trump to Apologize to Khan Family| 2016 Presidential Elections, politics, Bristol Palin, Donald Trump, Sarah Palin Trump said Tuesday that he has no regrets about his comments toward the Khan family. "I said nice things about the son, and I feel that very strongly," he said in an interview with Washington D.C.'s ABC news affiliate, WJLA. "But of course I was hit very hard from the stage, and you know, it's just one of those things. But, no, I don't regret anything." Trump has come under fire from top members of his own party for his attacks on the family of Capt. Khan, who was killed in a suicide bombing in Iraq in 2004. After Kahn's father spoke out against Trump at last week's Democratic convention, Trump claimed he'd been "viciously attacked" and questioned why Khan's mother didn't make her own remarks. Related Video: Family of Fallen Muslim Soldier Fire Back at Trump After He Made Comments About Wife Arizona Sen. John McCain, a war hero who himself has been criticized by Trump, said in a statement Monday that Trump had no right to "defame those who are the best among us." "I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump's statement. I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers, or candidates," he continued. Meyer, 28, broke political ranks with his mother-in-law in February when he endorsed Trump's rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. "This election is a turning point for our country," Meyer said in a statement at the time. "In these dangerous times we need a strong, principled conservative in the White House. We need a Commander-in-Chief who works with our allies and makes it known that certain actions against the United States and its allies will not be tolerated." Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) - The world's tallest moving observation tower, the i360, opens to the public on Thursday, a futuristic landmark that has transformed the historic seafront in the English tourist resort of Brighton. A 162-metre (530-foot) high steel tower is ringed by a doughnut-shaped glass observation pod that gently glides up and down. The design is meant to be a 21st-century take on the Victorian pleasure piers that characterise British seaside towns: this time, a vertical pier in the sky, according to project chiefs. It is hoped that the attraction will further boost tourism in the southeastern resort of Brighton, a gem of 1700s and 1800s architectural grandeur. Designed by David Marks and Julia Barfield, the tower is the sequel to their London Eye observation wheel, which opened in the British capital in 2000 and is one of its most popular visitor attractions. Several places wanted a copy of the giant wheel, but the husband-and-wife team felt the concept wasn't viable in smaller cities. Instead they took the chance to recalibrate it for Brighton, already Britain's most popular seaside destination for foreign tourists, in this project that has taken 13 years of work to come to fruition. "The key ingredient, as with the London Eye, is moving very slowly to a great height for a fantastic view," said Barfield. - 'The architecture of pleasure' - The i360 sits at the entrance to the 1866-built West Pier, which burnt down in 2003. With a height to diameter ratio of 40 to one, it is the world's slenderest tall tower, according to Guinness World Records. "This is very much in the spirit of the West Pier, whose purpose was to delight, entertain and inspire people," Marks told AFP, standing at the top of the tower. "Just as it invited Victorian society to go out and walk on water, the i360 turns that concept vertically and invites people to walk on air and get a new perspective on the city. Story continues "Everybody seems to love a great view," he added. "It's a pleasure both to the eyes and the intellect not only to gaze at the horizons but to look beyond them." The tower cost A46 million ($61 million, 55 million euros) to build but promises to break even as long as it attracts around half its estimated annual 700,000 visitors. From the top, visitors can see for 26 miles (42 kilometres) along the coast and out over the English Channel. Until now, the Royal Pavilion has been Brighton's standout landmark: an over-the-top, mock Indian palace completed in 1823 as a seaside residence for King George IV, who was known for his indulgent lifestyle. The Sussex city is also known for its Georgian and Regency terraces, as well as its later Victorian piers, and is now home to an up-and-coming arty crowd and is often considered Britain's "gay capital". The tower's designers say the new structure, which dominates the city's skyline, is in keeping with Brighton's history of bold architecture built for pleasure, but it has not been universally welcomed by locals. The tower's nicknames range from the "iSore" to more sexually innuendoed names, and some residents decry the local authority taking on a A36 million loan to fund the project -- though the city council insists it is charging the i360 a higher rate than the borrowing costs. - Alien spacecraft-style pod - The 18-metre diameter pod -- technically an oblate ellipsoid shape -- is pulled up by a giant cog and steel cable winch system, located underground. It also uses a counterweight within the tower. Christian Bouvier, vice-president of French cable car experts Poma, which built the pod and the drive mechanism, said the vertical lift system was a new technical challenge for the company. "This has never been done before," he told AFP. The 200-capacity pod looked like a visiting alien spacecraft when first assembled next to a cornfield in France, Bouvier said. Looking out from his maiden ride in the pod, he said: "It's really the wow effect. It is sensational to see, as if in a helicopter." Bouvier compared the i360 to Paris's most famous tower. "David Marks is really the Gustave Eiffel of our century," he claimed. The tower's lattice steel cladding is designed to diffuse the wind so that it does not wobble, and to protect it from expanding in the sun. "The results of this actually turned out better than the theory," said Bouvier. The pod, which will cost visitors A15 (18 euros/$20) per ride, will travel up and down around 200 times a week, and is set for its first wedding in September. MUMBAI (Reuters) - More than 20 people aboard two buses and other vehicles are feared missing after a colonial-era bridge in western India was washed away in the early hours of Wednesday in a river swollen by recent heavy rains. The two buses were on their way to Mumbai when the older of two parallel bridges on the Mumbai-Goa highway, said to have been built under British rule, collapsed near Mahabaleshwar, media reports quoted eyewitnesses as saying. "The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains," Devendra Phadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra state, said on Twitter. Mahabaleshwar is a hill station 230 km (140 miles) south of Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra. "There is no confirmed assessment about casualties since the area is very dark. Administration will ensure speedy rescue and relief operations," Fadnavis said in another tweet. O.P. Singh, chief of the state-run National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), said 80 rescuers, including divers, had rushed to the area but their efforts were being hampered by heavy rains. "We have not even spotted the buses so far," said Rakesh Ranjan, deputy commandant of operations at the NDRF. He said the river's current was very strong. Ranjan said 183 people have died and 7.7 million people have been displaced in four northeastern Indian states alone due to monsoon rains and floods so far this season. In neighboring Nepal, 84 people have died and 37 were injured in incessant rains, with another 10 still missing. At least 42 people have died in the flooding in Bangladesh, while around 1.5 million people have been affected, officials said. (Reporting by Swati Bhat; Addditional reporting by Malini Menon, Gopal Sharma and Ruma Paul; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Paul Tait) Lahore (Pakistan) (AFP) - A British woman suspected to have been the victim of an "honour killing" in Pakistan had been suffocated according to a forensic report, police said Wednesday. Mukhtar Kazam, in a complaint to police, has said his wife Samia Shahid was murdered during a visit to her family in a village in Punjab province on July 20. Shahid's father has denied the charge and claimed his daughter died of natural causes. At an emotional press conference last week Kazam presented a copy of a post-mortem report which said the 28-year-old had marks on her neck, suggesting she had been strangled. Police said the latest forensic report had confirmed Shahid died an unnatural death. "The forensic report has been received by a three-member special investigation committee set up by chief minister Punjab and according to it Samia Shahid's death occurred due to asphyxia," Abubakar Khuda Bakhsh, the chief investigator, told AFP. Kazam has described his wife's death as an "honour killing", a near daily occurrence in Pakistan in which a relative is murdered by another for bringing what is deemed dishonour to the family. Kazam and Shahid, who was a dual British-Pakistani citizen, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai, police have said, adding that it was Shahid's second marriage. Kazam has said his wife converted to Shia Islam, his own sect, before their wedding, a move which had irked her parents. Shahid's first husband Mohammad Shakeel, her parents and a cousin are being investigated, police have said. "Honour killings" came under the international spotlight last month with the killing of Qandeel Baloch, a polarising social media star. Her brother has confessed to the murder, saying his sister's behaviour had been "intolerable". The victims of "honour" killings are overwhelmingly women, with hundreds killed each year. The crimes have long polarised Pakistan, with progressives calling for tough legislation against them and conservatives resisting. Story continues But the murder of Qandeel Baloch appears to have spurred politicians to take action. The law minister has announced that bills aimed at tackling loopholes that ease "honour" killings would soon go before parliament. Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan. Jan 3, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe (95) and linebacker Shane Ray (56) sack San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports The Denver Broncos have absolutely owned the San Diego Chargers since 2012, and will have a prime opportunity to pull away with two victories right in the midst of the upcoming season. AROUND COVER32 Madden Monday: A look at the new features for this years game Fantasy Football: Where to draft suspended players Fantasy Football: Ranking the top ten kickers of 2016 Free Agency: Five teams that should call Devin Hester Theyll visit the Chargers in Week 6 before coming back to the Mile High City to host them two weeks later. Though San Diego has given Denver its problems, the Broncos have gone 8-1 against Philip Rivers squad since Peyton Manning joined them in 2012. And we all remember the days when the Chargers were Mannings Kryptonite. So heres another visit from San Diego. What can we expect? The Chargers were busy in the offseason, signing Travis Benjamin to make their passing game stronger. They also signed Brandon Mebane, a quality leader on defense, and drafted Joey Bosa as the face of the franchise. But once again, the Broncos should be able to contain Rivers and co. and pull off a win here. We all know San Diego has arguably the NFLs worst offensive line, so Rivers doesnt get time to throw the ball to his receivers. Even if he does, facing the No Fly Zone is no easy task. The Chargers also havent established a ground game since LT left, so the one-dimensional offence makes life easy for Denver to shut them down. Itll be the same ol story when these two teams meet, as Denver records its third-straight season series sweep of San Diego. Prediction: Broncos 21, Chargers 10 The post Broncos vs Chargers: Early Week 8 season preview appeared first on Cover32. One big way the federal government could help entrepreneurs and small-business owners is through innovation. That was one of the messages U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer received during a field hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship at Nebraska Innovation Campus on Wednesday morning. A panel of five experts talked about what hurdles small businesses face and how the federal government can help them get started and grow. By innovation, the panelists were not suggesting earthshaking changes but things as simple as updating software, streamlining applications and simplifying tax code. Eric Dinger, founder and CEO of Powderhook, a one-stop marketplace to help people find places they can hunt and fish, jokingly said he'd like a "three-page tax code." But more seriously, he said, the process of doing taxes is a drain on business resources. "The process is a value suck to our economy," Dinger said. T.J. Casady, a vice president at Union Bank & Trust, noted that regulations surrounding Small Business Administration lending have changed little in the nearly two decades he's worked at the bank while the process of doing business has changed dramatically. He said even minor changes such as reducing the amount of documentation required could speed up the process and allow more businesses to get loans. Jon Anderson, manager of advanced R&D at Li-Cor Biosciences, noted instances where businesses trying to get small-business research grants have had applications rejected because of a mismatch in the versions of software the business and government agency are using. He said something as simple as staying current on software upgrades could result in fewer technical problems that slow down the process. The federal government isn't the only problem for entrepreneurs, or even the biggest one. Dan Hoffman, CEO of Invest Nebraska, said even though Nebraska improved from a tie for last in venture capital funding in 2011 to 25th place last year, there is still a dearth of local investors willing to provide late-stage capital, especially in amounts of $2 million or more. Other potential "headwinds" Hoffman identified were not enough women and minorities starting high-growth businesses, the need for more start-up activity outside the Omaha and Lincoln areas, and a lack of investment in local biotech firms. Though the federal government and investors could do more to help entrepreneurs and small businesses, the panelists said it's ultimately up to those people themselves to produce their own success. Julia Parker, executive director of the Omaha Small Business Network, and the other member of the panel said entrepreneurs need "grit." "You've got to have grit to start, own and maintain a small business," she said. Nairobi (AFP) - Burundi's government has rejected the deployment of 228 UN police to the troubled African nation, saying a French-led UN resolution authorising the force was made without its consent. The UN Security Council on Friday agreed to deploy the force in its strongest move to date to try to end more than a year of violence. "The government of Burundi rejects every aspect of this resolution linked to the deployment of any force on its territory," said spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba in the first official reaction to the move. The UN resolution was "in violation of the fundamental principles required of the UN family and above all violating its sovereignty," he added in a statement released late on Tuesday. The council adopted the resolution on dispatching the police to the capital Bujumbura, and throughout Burundi, for an initial period of a year. Nzobonariba said any UN resolution must be approved by the country it affected, which was "unfortunately not the case". The planned police deployment has sparked fury from the authorities, who after initially saying they would accept up to 50 unarmed officers rejected even this small number in the statement. Burundi's own security forces were "in perfect control of the situation in the country's interior and throughout the territory," the spokesman said. He added that 200 African Union observers and military experts due to be deployed remained welcome, although just under a quarter of that number have so far taken up their posts. The rebuttal had been expected after thousands of people marched through the streets of Bujumbura on Saturday to protest against the measure in a rally organised by the authorities. - 'Better across the border' - Burundi also lashed out at neighbouring Rwanda in the statement, whom it accuses of training armed rebels that mount frequent attacks on government troops. Nzobonariba suggested the police force would better serve its purpose across the border, "to keep an eye on the recruitment sites and training facilities for these terrorist forces that disturb the security of Burundi." Story continues Burundi has been in turmoil since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced plans in April last year to run for a third term, which he went on to win. More than 500 people have since died, many of them in extrajudicial killings blamed on Burundian police, security forces and militias linked to the ruling party, according to the United Nations. At least 270,000 people have fled the country. LONDON (Reuters) - The tents and shelters of Calais' infamous "jungle" camp have been rebuilt in London in a new installation hoping to teach Britons more about Europe's migrant crisis. The "Encampment" exhibit, which runs until Aug. 7, features structures rebuilt with materials used by the residents of the migrant camp in northern France, which have now been temporarily set up outside London's Somerset House venue. Earlier this year, French authorities dismantled the southern half of the camp, where thousands of migrants fleeing war or poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia have massed, hoping to make their way to Britain. The installation has been created by the Good Chance Theater group, which set up a temporary theater at the Calais camp for its residents, and A Home For Winter, which builds shelters for the displaced. Among those on display are structures with graffiti reading "hello UK" or "humans after all". One bears the writing of Syrian refugee Hamoude Khalil, now in Britain, who wrote "We just want to go in England please". "All of my dreams were inside this," the 24-year old, who fled Aleppo some 11 months ago, told Reuters. "Now all of my dreams are coming with me. This has happened and I made it." Good Chance Theater has also transported and set up the dome structure it used for performances at the Calais camp on London's South Bank. It will host performances as well as discussions around Europe's refugee crisis. Last month, Calais' mayor said authorities would soon announce that the remaining half of the camp would be dismantled. (Reporting By Alex Fraser, editing by Larry King) (Reuters) - A blaze that has scorched some 43,000 acres (17,400 hectares) and destroyed dozens of homes near California's famed Big Sur coast was sparked by an illegal, unattended camp fire in a state park, authorities said on Tuesday. The so-called Soberanes Fire, which erupted on July 22, began as a small blaze, 2 feet (60 cm) in diameter, ignited by unknown individuals in a section of Garrapata State Park that was closed to camping and campfires, according to U.S. Forest Service spokesman Don Jaques. No arrests have been made, he added. The more than 5,450 fire personnel battling the blaze have been able to draw containment lines - a measure of how much of its perimeter has been cleared by fire crews of unburned vegetation - around only 18 percent of the wildfire so far. Steep, mountainous terrain as well as hot, dry conditions have hampered efforts to quell the fire tearing through drought-parched chaparral, grass and timber. One person, a bulldozer operator hired by property owners to help battle the flames, died last week when his vehicle rolled over. It was the second California wildfire-related death in a week. In addition, 57 homes and 11 other structures have been destroyed while some 2,000 remained under threat on Tuesday, fire officials said. About 350 residents have been ordered to evacuate the area, though some evacuation orders have since been lifted. The fire threat, coming in the middle of the region's summer travel season, has prompted the closure of several popular California campgrounds and recreation areas along the northern end of the Big Sur coastline, including Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Another fire broke out on Saturday in grass and brush about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Fresno, in central California. It has since charred about 2,020 acres (817 hectares) and is threatening 400 structures, prompting evacuations in the area, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Five structures, including three homes, have been destroyed, fire officials said. On Tuesday morning, the so-called Goose Fire was listed as 30 percent contained. (Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles and Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Tom Brown) By Steve Gorman (Reuters) - Crews battling a deadly wildfire burning well into its second week near California's Big Sur coast have carved buffer lines around a quarter of its perimeter, steering flames more deeply into the forest and away from populated areas, officials said on Wednesday. The gradual but steady progress being made against the so-called Soberanes blaze comes as wildfire season in the western United States was reaching its traditional peak, intensified by prolonged drought and extreme summer heat across the region. The 13-day-old conflagration near Big Sur is one of nearly 30 major wildfires reported to have scorched roughly 700 square miles (1,813 sq km) in 12 states, mostly in the West, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. "It's bad now and it's going to get worse," AccuWeather long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok said. Authorities said on Tuesday they had traced the origins of the Soberanes blaze to an illegal campfire left unattended in a state park about a mile from the famously scenic coastal drive known as Highway 1, south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Since erupting on July 22, the fire has blackened nearly 46,000 acres (18,600 hectares), destroyed at least 57 homes and claimed the life of a bulldozer operator who died when his tractor rolled over as he helped property owners battle the blaze. He became the sixth wildfire fatality in California this year. Efforts to quell the Soberanes fire have been complicated by steep, rugged terrain and persistently hot, dry weather, said Erik Scott, a spokesman for the fire command. As of Wednesday morning, a firefighting force that has grown to more than 5,500 had managed to hack through enough unburned vegetation to carve containment lines around 25 percent of the fire's perimeter, up from 18 percent a day earlier. With the fire now largely hemmed in on its northern flank, closest to communities that were threatened, the blaze is moving primarily in a southeasterly direction deeper into the Los Padres National Forest, Scott said. Some evacuation orders have been lifted, but fire officials said about 300 residents remained displaced and about 2,000 structures were listed as threatened. Several popular California state parks and campgrounds also were closed. Another fire, burning north of the San Francisco Bay Area along the Yolo-Napa county line, has scorched 4,000 acres of grass and oak woodlands since it erupted on Tuesday, prompting evacuations of a campground and residential community. Dubbed the Cold fire, that blaze was listed as just 5 percent contained. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and James Dalgleish) Cameron Douglas is living up his newfound freedom in New York City. The 37-year-old son of Michael Douglas and his ex-wife, Diandra, was released from prison early after serving nearly seven years on drug charges. Cameron was transferred to a halfway house in Brooklyn weeks ago, and he has been spotted hitting the streets with his girlfriend, yoga instructor Viviane Thibes. Elder Ordonez/INFphoto.com EXCLUSIVE: Michael Douglas Says the Best Moment in His Career Was Meeting Catherine Zeta-Jones So, what has Cameron been up to following his release? Modeling! (Apparently the hot trend for former convicts.) He wrote alongside one shot of him posing in a tank top, Dreaming big today & So grateful for it His biggest post-prison reveal? A giant stomach tattoo featuring his fathers face from Michaels Oscar-winning role as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street and his grandfather, legendary The Bad and the Beautiful actor Kirk Douglas, with TIMELESS scrawled underneath. Cameron also shared a tribute to his 99-year-old grandfather, captioning it, They dont make them like this anymore. This man inspired me through my entire bit RELATED: Michael Douglas Revealed That Both of His Kids Want to Get Into Acting Otherwise, Cameron is just generally documenting being a New Yorker, except with fewer selfies on his Instagram. (Give him time to catch up.) And with Page Six reporting that he plans to write a book about his years in prison and his struggles as the child and grandchild of Hollywood icons, Cameron promised to start sharing poems with his fans. Cameron was sentenced to five years for possession of heroin and selling methamphetamine in 2010, a sentence that was extended when he admitted to smuggling drugs into prison. In 2013, he penned an op-ed for The Huffington Post about the outdated justice system. Im not saying that I didnt deserve to be punished or that Im worthy of special treatment, he wrote. I made mistakes and Ill gladly and openly admit my faults. However, I seem to be trapped in a vicious cycle of relapse and repeat, as most addicts are. Unfortunately, whereas the effective remedy for relapse should be treatment, the penal systems answer is to lock the door and throw away the key. Story continues Related Articles TORONTO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) said it has invested $280 million in U.S. waste collection company Advance Disposal Services, which postponed a planned stock market listing earlier this year. Advanced Disposal is the fourth largest solid waste company in the United States, serving customers across 16 states and the Bahamas. It was acquired by private equity firm Highstar Capital in 2006 but put off a planned initial public offering in February, citing volatile market conditions. CPPIB said it saw the deal as an opportunity to become a key long-term investor in a business with a solid track record of growth. It said the firm's organic growth could be supplemented by acquisitions in the future. (Reporting by Matt Scuffham) By Allison Lampert and Jessica Resnick-Ault MONTREAL/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Irving Oil said on Wednesday it agreed to buy Ireland's only refinery from Phillips 66 , scooping it up at a discount in a deal that will extend the Canadian company's reach across the Atlantic. The value of the deal, expected to close by the end of the third quarter, was not disclosed in a news release from Irving, which operates Canada's largest refinery in the province of New Brunswick. Irving did not respond to a request for comment, but two people familiar with the transaction said the refinery had sold for less than $90 million. The closely held Canadian company, controlled by the billionaire Irving family, will take full ownership of the Whitegate refinery near Cork, Ireland. Irving said it will maintain Whitegate's existing work force, which includes 160 employees as well as many contract workers. It gives them a product terminal asset that could be valuable: Ireland still has need for refined product, whether its produced locally or imported," said John Auers, executive vice president of Turner, Mason & Co, a consultancy in Dallas. "It gives them some assets across the Atlantic in a market where theyre already present and export diesel already. The east coasts of the U.S. and Canada and parts of Western Europe and the UK form a single Atlantic-basin refining market. Decreased refining capacity in the region, as other plants have shuttered or cut operations, may allow Irving to operate the refinery more profitably in the long-run, according to refining experts. Phillips 66 had made repeated attempts to sell the refinery since it first put it up for sale in 2013, but poor refining margins had dampened interest. Previous attempts to divest the plant in 2003 and 2007 were unsuccessful, despite interested bidders during the high refining margins seen in 2007. Phillips shares closed up 3.3 percent on Wednesday at $78.66 on the New York Stock Exchange. Irving said Whitegate can process up to 75,000 barrels of crude oil per day and produces transportation and heating fuels such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene. Its gasoline production is 15,000 barrels a day, and it makes 30,000 barrels a day of refined fuel, Phillips 66 spokesman Dennis Nuss said. The refinery is not a sophisticated plant, and scores 4.2 on the Nelson complexity scale, a metric for evaluating refineries' ability to process crude into gasoline. That is significantly below the average 11.4 complexity of the Phillips system in total. (Reporting By Allison Lampert and Jessica Resnick-Ault; Editing by W Simon and Tom Brown) ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / August 3, 2016 / Today, Stephan Bogner from Rockstone Research published an update on Commerce Resources Corp. (CCE.V). When the company attended the Argus Metal Pages REE Conference a month ago in Denver, Colorado, they were the only REE junior present that was active on their project. Yes, there were other REE juniors in attendance, but these were companies working on new technologies, as alternatives to the industry standard of solvent extraction (SX). And no, Commerce Resources is not looking for success from any new technologies as standard processing works very efficiently for Ashram. No doubt, the REE market has changed dramatically in the last 5 years, and the main takeaway from this conference is something that would probably surprise most market pundits. It's that everyone can see the exponential drop in prices over the last 5 years, but very few realize that actual REE demand and usage have increased over the same time period. These seemingly contradictory trends, with lower prices not being a reflection of lowered demand, is something highly unusual, and the simple answer for this behaviour is that prices went too high in the aftermath of the panic in the streets following the Senkaku boat incident and the Chinese cutting off supplies to Japan. Additionally, the fallout from 2011 means that there has been at least one general design change in the permanent magnets and their REE recipe, coming from the work of Siemens. This change of recipe has reduced the percentage amount of dysprosium being used a negative to any REE junior whose economics are mostly tied into the value of dysprosium and then the concomitant percentage increase in either neodymium or praseodymium. This means that the REE market has actually morphed into being even more in line with the distribution of the Ashram Deposit than it was previously a deposit which has a leading global enrichment in those magnet feed REOs. Story continues The full report can be accessed with the following links: English (PDF): http://rockstone-research.com/images/PDF/Commerce19en.pdf English (web version): http://rockstone-research.com/index.php/en/research-reports/1391-Carbonatites:-The-Cornerstones-of-the-Rare-Earth-Space German (PDF): http://rockstone-research.com/images/PDF/Commerce19de.pdf For Android smartphones, an APP is available from Rockstone Research in the GooglePlayStore. Disclaimer: Please read the full disclaimer within the full research report as a PDF as fundamental risks and conflicts of interest exist. SOURCE: Rockstone Research Firefighters extinguished a small fire in the kitchen at the Nebraska State Penitentiary a little after 11 Monday night. A bucket of rags was on fire in the kitchen. Officials investigated and determined it was an accidental kitchen fire, according to Nebraska Fire Marshal's Office spokesman Ray Nance. No one was injured. From Woman's Day It is a truth universally acknowledged: If a wife has a list of things she wishes her husband would throw away, his cargo shorts are most certainly on it. Even though the baggy, utilitarian bottoms haven't been in style since the late 90s, retailers in the U.S. still manage to sell $700 million worth of the lumpy shorts every year-adding to the disappointment and frustration of straight women everywhere, apparently. "Every time I put them on, I am conscious of the fact that I am now being disobedient in my marriage," Tom Lommel, 46, of Los Angeles told the Wall Street Journal. He insists he only wears the "socially acceptable sweatpants" on days when he's working from home, when his spouse isn't around. But his wife, Lyndsay Peters, begs to differ: "I wish that were the truth. If he was only wearing them when I could not look at him, that would be perfect," she said. Why are so many husbands and wives at odds over this practical, albeit shapeless and fairly unattractive, wardrobe staple found in nearly every man's closet? In a recent piece titled, "Nice Cargo Shorts! You're Sleeping on the Sofa!," the WSJ's Nicole Hong summed up the relationship-threatening fashion epidemic as follows: Relationships around the country are being tested by cargo shorts...Men who love them say they're comfortable and practical for summer. Detractors say they've been out of style for years, deriding them as bulky, uncool and just flat-out ugly. For one, admitting to your significant other's (lack of) personal style evolution is cringeworthy. Cargo shorts were first popularized in the mid-to-late 90s by retailers like Abercrombie, Gap, and Old Navy-aka the mall stores you hit up when you were "trying to dress like a cool kid in middle school," as GQ puts it. "Those teenagers are now married, and they don't get rid of their clothes. They don't evolve," said Joseph Hancock, a design and merchandising professor at Drexel University, who wrote his Ph.D. thesis about (yes, really) cargo pants. Story continues Jen Anderson, 45, of Brooklyn, New York, told the paper she does not like going out in public with her husband when he's wearing the shorts. "It's a reflection on me, like 'How did she let him out the door like that?' " she said. (When her husband brought home his latest pair, a denim version, Jen mocked him until he returned the purchase.) Other wives have adopted a different approach: Ashleigh Hansen, 30, of Pleasant Grove, Utah, has stealthily removed 15 pairs of cargo shorts from her husband's closet over the course of 11 years of marriage, at first trashing them, then (when he caught on and "fished them out") taking them to Goodwill when he's not home. (h/t Wall Street Journal) Follow Woman's Day on Instagram. Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CPRX is scheduled to report second-quarter 2016 results on Aug 9. Catalyst has maintained an impressive track record so far. The company reported narrower-than-expected losses in two of the last four quarters, with a positive average surprise of 7.1%. Let's see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors Influencing This Quarter Given that Catalyst does not have any revenue-generating products in its portfolio yet, investor focus will remain on pipeline and regulatory updates. At present, Catalyst has three candidates under development Firdapse, CPP-115 and CPP-109. In Jun 2016, Catalyst reached an agreement with the FDA for a confirmatory phase III study protocol on lead candidate Firdapse for the symptomatic treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). The company was handed a refusal-to-file letter from the FDA in Feb 2016 in connection with its New Drug Application (NDA) for the product. The agency had determined that the companys NDA was insufficient after a preliminary review. As part of the clinical protocol for the confirmatory study, the company plans to initiate a small, single-center study on Firdapse in the second half of 2016. Catalyst is also evaluating Firdapse for the treatment of certain types of congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) and a specific form of myasthenia gravis. The company has initiated an investigator-sponsored phase II/III study on Firdapse for the symptomatic treatment of MuSK-antibody positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG) in Feb 2016 and top-line results from this study are expected in 2017. Apart from Firdapse, the company is looking to develop CPP-115 for the treatment of epilepsy (initially infantile spasms), and other selected neurological indications such as complex partial seizures and Tourettes disorder. Catalyst is also working on a generic version of Sabril (vigabatrin), which is marketed by Lundbeck, for the treatment of infantile spasms and complex partial seizures. Story continues Consequently, its R&D spending is expected to go up in 2016 due to clinical development efforts on Firdapse in the pediatric CMS population and MuSK-MG. CATALYST PHARMA Price and Consensus CATALYST PHARMA Price and Consensus | CATALYST PHARMA Quote What Our Model Indicates Our proven model does not conclusively show that Catalyst is likely to beat expectations this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy) or #3 (Hold) to be able to beat estimates. That is not the case here, as you will see below. Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is 0.00%, since both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stand a loss of 8 cents. Zacks Rank: Catalyst carries a Zacks Rank #3. Though this increases the predictive power of ESP, the companys ESP of 0.00% makes surprise prediction difficult. Note, we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or #5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into an earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks That Warrant a Look Here are some health care stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter: Mylan, Inc. MYL has an Earnings ESP of +1.75% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is expected to release second-quarter results on Aug 9. Impax Laboratories Inc. IPXL has an Earnings ESP of +3.03% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is expected to release second-quarter results on Aug 9. Ironwood Pharmaceuticals IRWD has an Earnings ESP of +13.33% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is expected to report earnings on Aug 4. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report IRONWOOD PHARMA (IRWD): Free Stock Analysis Report CATALYST PHARMA (CPRX): Free Stock Analysis Report IMPAX LABORATRS (IPXL): Free Stock Analysis Report MYLAN NV (MYL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research (Adds adjusted earnings, market expectations, share activity, background) Aug 3 (Reuters) - U.S. nitrogen fertilizer producer CF Industries Holdings Inc reported an 87 percent plunge in quarterly profit - more than expected - and warned on Wednesday that prices would likely remain weak into next year due to abundant supplies. Nitrogen prices have been pressured by China's growing exports of urea, and new capacity coming on stream in North America. Chinese export volumes have started to dip, however, according to Integer Research. Net earnings for the second quarter fell to $47 million, or 20 cents per share, from $352 million, or $1.49 per share, a year earlier. Excluding items, it earned 33 cents per share, lower than average analysts' estimates of 68 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Net sales fell 14 percent to $1.13 billion, matching the average analysts' estimate. The Deerfield, Illinois-based company's shares dipped 3 percent after normal trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Bernard Orr) Old emotional wounds were painfully reopened last week for Chandra Levy's mother, Susan, as she learned the man she thought had killed her daughter may not have done it. "It's been very hard," Susan tells PEOPLE. "I feel shattered ... it's hard to accept that my daughter's death is a cold case again. Many cold cases don't always get solved. "You know you won't ever get your child back, but you want to know what really did happen." On July 28, federal prosecutors dropped all of the criminal charges against Ingmar Guandique, an undocumented immigrant, meaning the man who'd been convicted of murdering Chandra in 2001 will be deported back to El Salvador. A statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia attributes last week's dismissal to "recent unforeseen developments that were investigated over the past week." Susan says investigators told her new audio evidence had surfaced indicating the government's star witness provided false testimony during Guandique's trial. "It has unraveled the whole case," Susan tells PEOPLE of the recordings. "I am overwhelmed. I only wish we could get the person who killed her. Someone knows something and they need to come forward." (The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment on Susan's claim about new audio.) Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. While Guandique's 2009 arrest brought some solace for Chandra's grieving parents, they now face the prospect they'll never actually know the truth about their daughter's death. The 24-year-old Chandra vanished in 2001 while jogging. Her disappearance made national headlines after it was revealed that Chandra was romantically involved with a California lawmaker, then-U.S. Rep. Gary Condit. (Detectives eventually ruled Condit out as a suspect.) For more on the latest developments in the Chandra Levy murder case, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday. At Guandique's trial, prosecutors argued that Chandra's death fit a pattern of attacks that Guandique had committed against female joggers. He had been convicted of assaulting two other women in Rock Creek Park around the time of Levy's disappearance. After his conviction for Chandra's murder, Guandique was sentenced to 60 years in prison. But his conviction was overturned last year, and his new trial had been scheduled for October, until the case was dropped. Susan tells PEOPLE she's hopeful last week's development breathes new life into her daughter's death investigation and that closure finally comes for her family after 15 years of heartache. "There's never closure, and these wounds, they don't heal," Susan says. "They scab over and then they get picked at. It is hard for us, and it has affected our whole family. But it is what it is. I think my daughter would have contributed a lot to the world." Chelsea Handler doesnt think Gretchen Carlson did anything especially courageous by filing a lawsuit accusing ousted Fox News CEO Roger Ailes of sexually harassed her. Did it take courage? I dont think so. I think that its your duty to come forward when somebody treats you like that, she told TheWrap. We spoke with the host of Netflixs Chelsea about both Carlsons lawsuit and a New York Magazine report that Megyn Kelly told investigators that Ailes also sexually harassed her, about a decade ago. Ailes denied the allegations, but resigned after 20 years leading Fox News. Also Read: Chelsea Handler Reveals She Had Two Abortions at 16: 'I'm Grateful' for Roe v Wade Especially at the level that theyre at, I think its your responsibility, Handler continued. They did the right thing and I would expect nothing less. If youre sticking up for other women that made claims that you know to be true, then yes, it is absolutely your responsibility to confirm that. When Handler left E!s Chelsea Lately to launch Chelsea, she suddenly became Netflixs in-house Rachel Maddow. Though most cable new hosts would love to have Donald Trump as a guest, Handler thinks hes already received enough attention and is supporting Hillary Clinton: I think right now its important to focus on just making sure she gets elected. Handler is so pro-Clinton, in fact, that we talked to her in Philadelphia last week before she headed off to the Democratic Convention to attend Clintons acceptance speech. TheWrap: Youve been very outspoken on politics on Chelsea. Did you mask your political views on E!, or is it simply that were in an election year? Handler: I think its a combination. I mean, obviously this is an important election as they all are, I think that Im just in a different space in my life. You grow up and you think about like, OK, can I start to do something a little more meaningful and a little more mindful? Luckily, with Netflix its such a global audience, theyre in 190 countries, so you can do stuff that is heavier and has a little bit more gravitas. Story continues Lets talk about the situation at Fox News. You mean Mr. OReilly? Also Read: Rupert Murdoch Thanks Fox News Staff in Memo, No Mention of Roger Ailes Drama I actually was going to ask about Roger Ailes. Oh sorry, lets discuss both. I like the idea of Mr. Ailes potentially joining the Trump campaign, if he hasnt already. This is the only campaign in politics where they would take someone coming off of a sexual harassment lawsuit who had to step down and hire them for a campaign. Like, thats the strategy. Lets get somebody who just had to step down from a 20-year job. What do you think about Kelly reportedly taking a decade to come forward with a harassment allegation? Well, you know, better late than never, I guess. It happens in swells with sexual abusers. Look at Bill Cosby, all these women came forward at the same time and its sad. If youre coming up in a job, its sad that you dont feel powerful enough to do that. Thats why when you do have that power, you need to exercise it in a positive way. To support other women is always a priority. Do you think there will be an evening newscast on Netflix? I dont know about that. I dont know. I think the evening news is something thats on its way out, not on its way in. Can Netflix revamp the format by hiring a splashy host and releasing a daily newscast that viewers can watch at their leisure? Maybe thats what theyre looking for. If there were a place that was going to do it, it would definitely be Netflix. They would come up with a new way to kind of make that hip and cool and more watchable than it is right now. Its not where people go to get their news anymore. Also Read: Megyn Kelly Ripped for Baring Flesh During Convention Coverage Megyn Kellys contract is up next year [Interrupts] Oh, should I hire her as my cleaning lady? I was going to make a bold prediction that shell be the first Netflix evening news host if she leaves Fox. Im fine with that. That is a bold prediction, though. Do you want to make a bet? Ill tweet you if Im right. How do you consume news? From the paper [laughs]. Im trying to keep something old going. L.A. Times? The New York Times, I dont like the font of the L.A. Times. Its large. I read the paper and I obviously go online and read all that stuff. I have a bunch of news roundups I get every morning, like Jason Hirschhorns and TheSkimm is a cute little one. I just am interested. Its easy to stay abreast of things when youre interested. I dont have to read gossip anymore. I didnt even know what happened with Taylor Swift and Kanye the other day, I was so excited. Also Read: Taylor Swift and Kanye West: A Timeline of the Epic Feud (Photos) I assume that would have led the roundtable on your old show. Right. Somebody brought it up and I had no idea. It was refreshing. Do you find yourself more in touch with important things going on in the world because of the format of your new show? Yeah, I just want to be more mindful of the things that are going on around me. Im 41, so it would be nice to pay attention to things that are outside my actual, natural predilection and open my mind a little bit. But, you know, Im doing that also in like a backhanded way because its fun to ask questions about things you pretend to know about, but you dont really know about. A lot of us are faking it a lot of the time. People are embarrassed to ask the questions they dont know the answers to, but Im not. Also Read: Bill O'Reilly Blasted for 'Slaves Were Well Fed' Response to Michelle Obama's DNC Speech (Video) OK, you wanted to discus Bill OReillys comments that the slaves who built the White House were well-fed? They were well-fed, I suppose. Not as well fed as our governor from New Jersey. Do you ever watch Fox News? Yeah, sometimes if Im trying to fall asleep. Netflix in August: What's Coming and What to Watch Before It's Gone netflix the verdict YouTube holding the man The Fast and the Furious 2001 inconvenient truth funny or die art of deal donald trump Funny or Die david cross YouTube trex claressa shields T-Rex st vincent St. Vincent Film no country for old men Miramax the getdown YouTube Louis CK Live at the Comedy store Getty Images bowfinger steve martin eddie murphy the best man taye diggs terrence howard YouTube charlies angels YouTube inside man denzel washington Universal Movies the road viggo mortensen pursuit of happyness will smith jaden smith YouTube freddy revenge nightmare on elm street Previous Slide Next Slide 1 of 19 From hit movies like No Country for Old Men and The Best Man to original series such as David Cross: Making America Great Again and The Get Down: Part 1, check out your streaming options for next month Even though favorites like "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "The Best Man" are taking a leave of absence, there are plenty of new options to Netflix and chill with during the height of summer. View In Gallery Related stories from TheWrap: Netflix Renews 'Lady Dynamite,' 'Chelsea,' 'Real Rob' for Second Seasons Chelsea Handler Reveals She Had Two Abortions at 16: 'I'm Grateful' for Roe v Wade Chelsea Handler, Rami Malek and Bob Newhart Join Television Academy's Salute to Broadcast Networks By Karen Pierog and Dave McKinney CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled a plan on Wednesday that he called "an honest approach" to save the city's biggest retirement system from insolvency with a water and sewer tax to be phased in over five years starting in 2017. The municipal retirement system, which covers about 71,000 current and former city workers, is projected to run out of money within 10 years as it sinks under an unfunded liability of $18.6 billion. The new tax would generate $56 million in its first year and increase to $239 million annually by 2020, the mayor's office said. "Today, one of the big question marks that hung around the city because of past decisions - or past decisions that were not made - we have addressed," Emanuel told an investor conference in Chicago, adding that the city has now identified specific revenue streams to support each of its four retirement systems. The plan requires city council approval, which Emanuel said he intends to seek in September. Chicago then needs the Illinois state legislature to approve a five-year phase-in of the city's contribution to the pension system to boost the funded level to 90 percent by 2057 from the current 32.9 percent. The tax would follow an increase in water and sewer rates between 2012 and 2015 to generate money to repair and replace aging infrastructure. Revenue rose from $644.1 million in 2011 to $1.125 billion in 2015. Pension contributions by new municipal workers would increase and not all affected unions have signed on to the plan. Anders Lindall, a spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, said the plan is under review. The rescue plan for the municipal system follows previous action by the city to boost funding for police and fire pensions through a phased-in $543 million property tax increase, and its laborers' system through a hike in a telephone surcharge. Story continues Chicago's big pension burden was a driving factor in the downgrade of the city's credit rating last year to the "junk" level of 'Ba1' by Moody's Investors Service. But in March, the task of fixing the city's pensions became harder after the Illinois Supreme Court threw out a 2014 state law that reduced benefits and increased city and worker contributions to the municipal and laborers' funds. (Editing by Chris Reese, G Crosse) (Adds current funded level, comment from union) By Karen Pierog and Dave McKinney CHICAGO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled a plan on Wednesday that he called "an honest approach" to save the city's biggest retirement system from insolvency with a water and sewer tax to be phased in over five years starting in 2017. The municipal retirement system, which covers about 71,000 current and former city workers, is projected to run out of money within 10 years as it sinks under an unfunded liability of $18.6 billion. The new tax would generate $56 million in its first year and increase to $239 million annually by 2020, the mayor's office said. "Today, one of the big question marks that hung around the city because of past decisions - or past decisions that were not made - we have addressed," Emanuel told an investor conference in Chicago, adding that the city has now identified specific revenue streams to support each of its four retirement systems. The plan requires city council approval, which Emanuel said he intends to seek in September. Chicago then needs the Illinois state legislature to approve a five-year phase-in of the city's contribution to the pension system to boost the funded level to 90 percent by 2057 from the current 32.9 percent. The tax would follow an increase in water and sewer rates between 2012 and 2015 to generate money to repair and replace aging infrastructure. Revenue rose from $644.1 million in 2011 to $1.125 billion in 2015. Pension contributions by new municipal workers would increase and not all affected unions have signed on to the plan. Anders Lindall, a spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, said the plan is under review. The rescue plan for the municipal system follows previous action by the city to boost funding for police and fire pensions through a phased-in $543 million property tax increase, and its laborers' system through a hike in a telephone surcharge. Story continues Chicago's big pension burden was a driving factor in the downgrade of the city's credit rating last year to the "junk" level of 'Ba1' by Moody's Investors Service. But in March, the task of fixing the city's pensions became harder after the Illinois Supreme Court threw out a 2014 state law that reduced benefits and increased city and worker contributions to the municipal and laborers' funds. (Editing by Chris Reese, G Crosse) SANTIAGO (Reuters) - A ban on the use of social media for campaign purposes ahead of local elections in Chile in October has been criticized as overly restrictive and prompted a cross-party group of lawmakers to present a motion on Wednesday to have it overturned. According to the guidelines of Servel, the electoral service, "Carrying out electoral propaganda through social networks like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, among others," would be against the rules. Campaigning in the media will only be allowed via the press and radio between set dates, it says. Proposals to curb online speech in a number of countries have alarmed policymakers who see the internet as a medium for debate and expression. In Chile's Andean neighbor Bolivia, supporters of President Evo Morales want to regulate social media after it was blamed as a key factor in Morales' failure to win a February referendum on his continued rule. In Chile itself, politicians said Servel had poorly interpreted a new law aimed at improving transparency. "Servel's interpretation is like putting a muzzle on candidates," lawmaker Cristian Monckeberg said in broadcast comments. The motion to overturn the ban is supported by lawmakers from both the left-leaning government and the right-wing opposition, who have said they hope the government will treat the proposal with urgency. (Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Leslie Adler) A 13-year-old Lincoln boy is in custody after police got word he held a shotgun to his stepmother's head. The woman's sister called police about 10 p.m. Monday after receiving a message on a smartphone application to call 911. The stepmother's phone is deactivated and she couldn't call 911, court documents say. When police got to the boy's home, she said he had not pointed a gun at her but that he had a shotgun earlier in the evening. The boy's stepfather told officers he took the gun away and stored it in the garage, documents say. Police said the gun's barrel measured 14.25-inches, indicating it had been sawed off and is thus illegal in Nebraska. Officers found a spent shotgun cartridge and a handful of unspent cartridges in the teenager's room, documents say. The boy told officers a friend gave him the gun and that he shot it twice in Waverly and carried it around 25th and B streets in Lincoln Sunday night. He said he intended to use the gun to rob another person, but the robbery didn't happen, documents say. Prosecutors charged the teenager, who was already on probation in Lancaster County, with possession of a short rifle. Prosecutors have asked to transfer the case from juvenile to adult court. HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's top prosecution body has cast a thin, bespectacled teenage activist from Hong Kong as a pro-independence advocate backed by the United States in an online video that warns against uprising movements across the country. Joshua Wong, a student leader who rose to fame at the age of 15 for forcing the Hong Kong government to shelve a pro-China national education scheme in schools, appears in a video with a caption that says "American-led Western power". The video, released on August 1 by the Supreme People's Procuratorate via its official Weibo account, depicts harrowing images of refugees from Central Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe dying or in horrific conditions. The video then contrasts this with pictures of a strong and stable China. Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang, are singled out, as are dissident activists who are "damaging China's internal stability and harmony by hook or by crook. Behind all these incidents, we can often catch a glimpse of the dark shadow of the Stars and Stripes," the video states. Wong, now 19, said on his Facebook page that he viewed the video statements as a joke and had not advocated for Hong Kong independence. The democracy activist was found guilty by a Hong Kong court on July 21 for unlawful assembly related to demonstrations that paralyzed key arteries of the Chinese-ruled city in 2014. The 79-day "Occupy Central" street demonstrations crippled parts of Hong Kong and were one of the boldest populist challenges to Beijing's Communist Party leaders in decades. Hong Kong is technically part of China but governed by separate laws under a "one country, two systems" framework agreed with the British when it was handed back from colonial rule in 1997. Relations between the two have frayed in the year and a half since the end of the protests. The video ends with a message warning watchers to "Protect China, be cautious against color revolutions." (Reporting by Farah Master, additional reporting by Sharon Shi and the Beijing newsroom) Women have a reputation for taking eons in the bathroom, but something tells us theyve been thrown under the stereotype bus. In China, men hog the mirror to rub in a bit of skin-whitening cream, pluck their eyebrows, splash on some high-end cologne and fight for the blow-dryer all before their morning bowel movement. Boy, oh, boy. The market for male skin-care products in China is expected to reach 11.5 billion yuan, or $1.7 billion, in 2020. Thats up 50 percent from 2014, according to London-based market research firm Mintel. The common assumption is that most men dont give two hoots about their appearance, but this male pampering (mampering, if you will) is standard in China. In fact, the men may have more fancy face creams concealers, skin-nourishing lotions, skin-whitening sunscreens, cleansing creams and silky, anti-aging moisturizers than the women do. Alibaba and JD.com, the two biggest online marketplaces in China, all tout the virtues of male beauty with specific sections of cosmetics care for men. Now, China is on the fast track to becoming the worlds biggest market for male grooming but, in a land of 1.4 billion people, scaling up isnt all that hard. Indeed, the Middle Kingdom is full of young, urbane, white-collar metrosexuals (bailing linan ) who are fueling Asias beauty boom to Miss Universelevel extremes much like Korean flower boys, Taiwanese boy bands and Japanese herbivores, or men who prefer fashion over sex, in the rest of region. Its all about putting your best face forward, says Neil Wang, the China managing director at consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. Men are relying on their slick style and soulful appearance to gain attention in the marriage market, respect in the workplace and a foothold in high-class society because makeup is just as important as muscles, says Wang. Lest you think any of this mampering cuts down on a mans street cred, a clean-cut look actually bespeaks sophistication in a quickly modernizing culture, says Kam Louie, an expert on Chinese masculinity at Hong Kong University. Masculinity in China is expressed differently than in the West, with strong and soft existing as complements rather than contrasts. Historically, ideal masculinity was constructed as having achieved both cultural attainments and physical prowess, or wen and wu, says Louie. Simply put, a caveman reeking of body odor and sporting an untamed beard will not make the cut in the upper echelons of high society. Story continues But then again, boys will be boys, right? Related Articles BEIJING (Reuters) - A court in China sentenced an activist to seven and a half years in prison on Wednesday for subverting state power, state media reported, the latest jailing linked to a crackdown on human rights lawyers. President Xi Jinping's administration has tightened its grip on almost every aspect of civil society since 2012, citing the need to improve national security and stability. Dozens of lawyers and activists associated with the Beijing Fengrui law firm, which has represented several high-profile clients, have been swept up in the crackdown and held since July last year, triggering international criticism. State media has accused the firm and its associates of orchestrating protests outside courts and politicizing ordinary legal cases in order to attract international attention. Activist Hu Shigen, 60, sentenced in the northeastern city of Tianjin, was associated with the law firm. The official Xinhua news agency cited prosecutors as saying he had used his "illegal religious activities" at an underground church as a platform to "spread ideology of subverting state power". On Tuesday, Tianjin authorities convicted another prominent activist Zhai Yanmin, 55, on similar charges. They are expected to prosecute other associates of the firm, including director Zhou Shifeng and activist Gou Hongguo. Hu encouraged Zhai to organize professional petitioners to "cause chaos" and "fire-up hatred for the government", Xinhua said. "I wanted to discredit the courts, public security and the government," the news agency cited Hu as saying, adding that he was "deeply involved with foreign anti-China forces". "The defendant and defenders did not object to any evidence present by prosecutors," Xinhua said. The court did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. The U.S. embassy in Beijing called on China to release Hu and the other activists, saying it was disappointed that Hu had been convicted on the "vague and apparently politically motivated charge". "The United States remains concerned by the Chinese government's continuing efforts to harass, intimidate and prosecute defense lawyers and human rights activists for their work," the embassy said in a statement to Reuters. China rejects any criticism of its human rights record, saying it adheres to the rule of law and violators can expect to be punished. Its judicial system is strictly controlled by the ruling Communist Party, however, and generally do not challenge its accusations. U.S. legislators in July criticized China's detention of the lawyers, a year after the crackdown against them began, while Germany urged China to live up to its human rights obligations. (Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Robert Birsel) Beijing (AFP) - The number of web users in China -- already the world's largest online population -- has risen over 700 million, authorities said Wednesday as they seek to turn the internet into a new growth driver. The country had 710 million internet users -- defined as those who have gone online at least once in the past six months -- by June, up 3.1 percent from the end of December, the government-linked China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) said in a statement. The number is more than double the number of people in the United States and means more than half of the world's largest national population are now using the internet. Beijing imposes strict controls on online content, while e-commerce is a vital part of its efforts to transform the economy into one driven more by consumer demand. The government is pushing for a so-called "internet plus" project that aims to expand the application of online technology in industry as part of attempts to modernise. The CNNIC said that 92.5 percent of Chinese users go online through their mobile phones. "The social lifestyle formed by the mobile internet was further developed and the internet plus project facilitated the government and companies diversifying and mobilising their services," it said. But the number of rural users remained low -- accounting for less than a third of the total -- as residents in the countryside either have no knowledge of computers or the internet, or are not interested, said the CNNIC. Several Chinese tech firms, such as Jack Ma's Alibaba, have become multi-billion-dollar giants in recent years as the country's online population has boomed. At the same time Beijing blocks websites it deems politically sensitive in a system dubbed the "Great Firewall of China", and social media companies censor user-generated content. The days of nations jockeying for position in the resource-rich waters of the South China Sea arent even close to being over, despite last month's historic legal decision rejecting Chinas claim to the majority of the region. On Tuesday, Chinas top court said there was a clear legal basis for China to safeguard maritime order, marine safety and interests, and to exercise integrated management over the countrys jurisdictional seas." The regulation states that those who engage in illegal hunting or fishing in Chinas waters will be pursued for criminal liability. "This is kind of an ominous suggestion that they will be prosecuting people who enter the waters that China claims, Michael Davis, a law professor at Hong Kong University told CNN. The Chinese courts ruling is Chinas way of saying that it has the right to continue to do what it wants in the South China Sea, despite the verdict from the international court in favor of the Philippines," Robert Kaplan, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and author of Asias Cauldron, told Business Insider. On July 12, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a 500-page unanimous ruling in Republic of Philippines v. Peoples Republic of China, a case brought by the Philippines in 2013. The court found that Beijing had violated the Philippines economic and sovereign rights and concluded there was no legal basis for Chinas nine-dash line, which encompasses approximately 85% of the South China Sea. And while the ruling is only binding between Beijing and Manila, it does, however, set a legal foundation by determining that the rules of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNLCLOS) take precedence over Chinas historic claims. In short, if there is no nine-dash line, other territorial claimants in the South China Sea may be inspired to file lawsuits against China if Beijing refuses to compromise on access to the resource-rich waters. Story continues And rival territorial claims from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Taiwan, and China make these waters one of the most disputed regions in the world. However, Beijing has maintained that the Hague-based court ruling has no bearing on its rights in the South China Sea. "It appears that China is establishing the legal basis to enforce violations of Chinese domestic law in the South China Sea," Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider. "There is still ambiguity, however, since China has not clarified what it means by its jurisdictional seas. It remains to be seen whether this announcement from a Chinese court is intended for domestic purposes or will be used to assert sovereignty within the nine-dash-line, Glaser added. NOW WATCH: The US Navy just flexed its muscles in the worlds most contested region More From Business Insider China navy PLA aircraft carrier Liaoning Since the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague ruled against China's nine-dash line in the South China Sea, there has been a marked increase in rumblings of the unimaginable: War in the Pacific between China, it's neighbors, and their ally, the US. China had given signs that it had no intention to respect the Hague's ruling, but lately rhetoric has been stepped up a notch, with the AFP reporting that a Beijing minister urged preparations for a "people's war at sea." In fact, China's state-run media has been awash with bluster on the subject of their military and sovereignty. China's Global Times went as far as to challenge Australia directly, saying: "If Australia steps into the South China Sea waters, it will be an ideal target for China to warn and strike." On Weibo, a state-regulated blogging site, Lian Fang, a professor at the military-run National Defense University said that, "The Chinese military will step up and fight hard and China will never submit to any country on matters of sovereignty," Reuters reports. Beijing has even gone as far as to unilaterally announce a "no sail zone" in international waters, which directly violates international maritime laws and courtesy. This kind of unilateral action would undoubtedly prompt a response from the US, whose navy regularly patrols the waters of the South China Sea even as China builds up military outposts in the region. Usually, regional powers are deterred from making power plays on international waters and shipping lanes by the deterrent factor of the US's massive military, but Beijing seems emboldened by both their own rapidly advancing military might as well as the US's preoccupation with the presidential election. US Navy uss lassen Story continues "The People's Liberation Army is ready," one source with ties to the military told Reuters. "We should go in and give them a bloody nose like Deng Xiaoping did to Vietnam in 1979," the unnamed source continued, making reference to China's brief invasion of Vietnam to punish Hanoi. But despite China's impressive ballistic and cruise missile programs, the country's military is largely untested in modern warfare. Conversely, the US navy is stretched thin seeing to interests around the globe, and they would face huge difficulties in abandoning their posts worldwide to focus on China. A war between China and it's neighbors also has the dangerous possibility to divide the world. The US will no doubt come to the aide of it's allies, and China and Russia have increased military ties which could further complicate the scenario. china navy The fact is a war between the world's two largest economies, who are both nuclear-armed naval powers, would be a full on disaster with the brunt of that damage being felt by civilians in the Pacific and the world at large. One unnamed Chinese source seemed especially aware of the potential for catastrophe in the military posturing in a statement to Reuters: "Our navy cannot take on the Americans. We do not have that level of technology yet. The only people who would suffer would be ordinary Chinese" NOW WATCH: The US and 25 other nations are working together in the worlds largest maritime exercise More From Business Insider GENEVA (Reuters) - Civilian casualties from shelling, mines and booby traps in eastern Ukraine are at their highest in a year as government forces and pro-Moscow separatists constantly violate a ceasefire, the U.N. rights boss said on Wednesday. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said at least 69 civilians had been killed or wounded in June, double the figure for the previous month, with the figure at 73 in July. Casualties in eastern Ukraine casualties were the highest since August 2015, Zeid said in a statement. "Civilians are once again having to flee to improvised bomb shelters in their basements, sometimes overnight, with increasing frequency the price of the ceasefire violations is too high for the women, men and children in eastern Ukraine," he said. Forces must disengage and implement a full and sustainable ceasefire, in line with the Minsk agreement of February 2015, he said. "The many casualties we have documented in recent weeks suggest that neither Ukrainian forces nor the armed groups are taking the necessary precautions to protect civilians," he said. Shelling was responsible for more than half the recorded casualties in June and July, with the rest due to mines, explosive remnants of war, booby traps and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). "U.N. human rights teams on both sides of the contact line have documented reports of civilian homes looted, schools and hospitals shelled or used by Ukrainian forces and armed groups," Zeid said. The 12-point Minsk peace deal was brokered by Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France in February 2015. The aim was to end a conflict that the U.N. rights office said on Wednesday had killed over 9,550 people, including soldiers, civilians and members of armed groups, since April 2014. Conditions including a complete cessation of fighting, pull-back of heavy weapons from the front line, and release of prisoners of war have not yet been fulfilled, raising concerns the ceasefire agreement could collapse. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Richard Balmforth) The Los Angeles Dodgers moved ace Clayton Kershaw to the 60-day disabled list Wednesday, in a bit of roster shuffling that also sent two more pitchers to the DL. [Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Baseball contest now] Kershaw moving to the long-term disabled list might seem like season-dooming news for the boys in the blue. Truth is, Kershaws health status remains unchanged and the team needed a roster spot. The Dodgers now say hes eligible to come off the disabled list on Aug. 27. He had been on 15-day DL since July 1 because of back problems. Kershaw isnt throwing, so the prospect of him being back in the Dodgers rotation in three weeks isnt promising, no matter which disabled list hes listed on. A throwing program, more than a transactional classification, is what Dodgers fans should be watching for in anticipating Kershaws return. The strategy in moving Kershaw to the 60-day DL was to open a spot on the 40-man roster for pitcher Josh Ravin, whose PED suspension ended Wednesday. Ravin was added to the 40-man roster but not the 25-man big-league roster and then assigned to Triple-A. The other half of the Dodgers moves Wednesday should be more concerning. They also put relievers Louis Coleman and Adam Liberatore on the 15-day disabled list, both retroactive to July 30. That brings the Dodgers season total of players who have spent time on the disabled list to wait for it 25. Yep, an entire rosters worth. Theyre two behind the all-time DL record, which is 27 and held by the 2012 Boston Red Sox. The Dodgers already set the NL record. That came Tuesday when they put newly acquired pitcher Rich Hill on the disabled list, making him their 23rd player on the DL. The fact that Hill was traded to the Dodgers on Monday and DLd on Tuesday says everything you need to know about the injury-riddled Dodgers season. The good news as it pertains to Hill is that he could be ready to start by Saturday,according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. At this point, you have to figure Dodgers pitchers deserve some good news. Story continues More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports: Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! By Valerie Volcovici and Rory Carroll WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign has solicited advice from California regulators on how to revamp a federal regulation requiring biofuels like corn-based ethanol be blended into the nation's gasoline supply, according to campaign and state officials. The move is the clearest sign yet that, if elected, Clinton would seek to adjust the regulation, called the Renewable Fuel Standard, possibly hurting her chances in corn-growing states like Iowa where she faces a tough battle against Republican rival Donald Trump in the Nov. 8 election. The Renewable Fuel Standard, created by Congress in 2005, mandates that transportation fuel sold in the United States contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels. It was intended to cut greenhouse gas emissions and expand the U.S. renewable fuels sector while lowering reliance on imported oil. It is opposed by the oil industry and environmentalists and has been criticized as a mere subsidy to corn producers. Clinton advisers have contacted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to discuss whether a policy like California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a market-based system rather than a mandate, could be applied at a national level to replace or augment the Renewable Fuel Standard, and other issues, CARB officials said. Mary Nichols, head of the CARB, said she discussed the state's regulations with Clinton advisers. While a backer of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Nichols said she told Clinton's advisers they could avoid political backlash by focusing on other carbon-reduction strategies instead, such as expanding electric vehicle sales and cleaning up emissions from coal-fired electricity. Nichols did not provide further details on the discussions. A Clinton campaign official, who asked not to be named, confirmed the discussions with CARB but gave no further details. A campaign spokesman, Tyrone Gayle, said the campaign has been seeking advice from "a diverse set of stakeholders." He added that the Clinton campaign "does not support replacing the RFS with a national low-carbon fuel standard but did not elaborate. Former Obama administration climate and energy adviser Heather Zichal said on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week that the Renewable Fuel Standard was broken, but that a Clinton administration could make "modifications" to fix it. "Mandates aren't necessarily a perfect way to regulate," Zichal said at the event. The U.S. corn lobby hopes to convince both Clinton and Trump to uphold the regulation, which requires a doubling of U.S. biofuels use to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022, when congressionally mandated volume targets are set to expire. The program is designed to last indefinitely after that. Environmentalists, anti-hunger activists and the oil sector have called for the rule to be repealed or changed because they say it raises food and fuel costs without delivering the emissions reductions that it was intended to achieve. MARKET-BASED SYSTEM The California regulation, a key part of the state's effort to combat climate change, requires a 10 percent reduction in the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by 2020, but leaves it up to companies to decide how to reach that target. California enacted the Low Carbon Fuel Standard in 2007 targeting oil refiners and distributors that sell in the state's market. It angered Midwestern ethanol interests because the regulation counts the carbon dioxide footprint of transporting biofuels into the state for blending, effectively blocking many of those imports. Oil companies have complained that the regulation is costly. Clinton in May expressed support for the federal Renewable Fuel Standard in an opinion piece published in an Iowa newspaper, but said it could be improved. Clinton's openness to overhauling the Renewable Fuel Standard appears to contrast with Trump's position. During the state-by-state battle for the Republican presidential nomination, Trump said he supported the biofuel mandates set out in the Renewable Fuel Standard. Corn and ethanol industry lobbyists said they have been talking with both the Clinton and Trump campaigns to argue in favor of the Renewable Fuel Standard. (Additional reporting by Joe White in Detroit and Chris Prentice in New York; Editing by Will Dunham and Leslie Adler) Both the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln reported record hauls in sponsored research funding last year. UNMCs all-time high of $115.1 million eclipses its previous record of $115 million set in 2009-10, which was bolstered by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars. Were pretty excited about reaching this milestone, said Jennifer Larsen, UNMCs vice chancellor for research. UNMC increased its overall research funding by 23 percent over last year, Larsen said, and the college saw boosts in each classification of funding. * Federal awards, primarily from the National Institutes of Health, increased 20 percent. * Funding from commercial sources got a 24 percent bump. * State research funding increased 36 percent. * Other sources, which include foundations, gifts and subcontracts from government agencies, increased 31 percent. UNMCs research funding growth over the past decade the university reported $74.9 million in funding during the 2005-06 fiscal year has been the result of targeted hiring of early career scientists as well as experienced faculty researchers who bring grant projects with them to Omaha. Chancellor Jeff Gold said UNMCs mission of providing quality health care, research and training to future health care professionals has led the university to top its previous record. That is what distinguishes academic medicine, in the United States and around the world, that we not only provide great quality care and educate the next generation, but were figuring out what causes diseases, how to prevent them, how to detect disease in the early stages and how to turn our research into effective clinical practice, Gold said in a statement. Larsen said UNMC is aiming for a new goal in research funding $200 million that wont come easy. Congressional gridlock will likely keep budgets of federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health flat over the next few years. But UNMC has a strategy. Recruiting new faculty, both young and experienced, is ongoing in all departments. More faculty members on campus are gaining experience in successful grant writing, which is important, Larsen said. The more people who have been successful, youre likely going to be more successful the next time around, she said. UNMC also benefits from demonstrating to potential recruits that its research has practical uses, too, and can be commercialized, while its ongoing work with private companies is also a recruiting tool. Facilities like the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center nearing completion are important, as well as other state and private development in the area, Larsen said. More research brings seminars, speakers and conference attendees who spend time and money in Nebraska, which leads to further recruitment efforts. Being a great place to live and work at the same time has been very attractive, she said. We have a lot of things to attract people here, and I think thats an important thing for the state of Nebraska to realize, because their investment in the university pays off. In Lincoln, UNL is also celebrating a milestone. The universitys flagship campus reported a record-breaking $146.9 million in sponsored research funding for 2015-16, including $116.7 million from federal agencies. (Reuters) - Britain's competition watchdog Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has accepted in principle merger undertakings between Tullett Prebon Plc and ICAP Plc. The CMA said on Tuesday that it has not taken a final decision on the Tullett and ICAP deal. (http://bit.ly/2b0iU4T) ICAP said in June that it had offered to sell its London-based oil desks to help address competition concerns over the merger of its global hybrid voice broking business with Tullett. CMA said on Tuesday that the companies had proposed mid-sized commodities and forex brokerage INTL FCStone Ltd as the buyer for the oil desks to be spun off. ICAP and Tullett declined to comment on the decision. The companies last year agreed to the 1.11 billion pounds deal in a sector where trading volumes have shrunk due to regulation designed to rein in the riskier trading activities of their traditional investment bank clients. Tullett expects to save at least 60 million pounds by eliminating duplicated management and support costs, with more savings expected over time. Tullett said on Tuesday a fall in the value of sterling after Britain voted to leave the EU would have a positive impact on reported revenue. The U.S. Department of Justice in July had also given its approval to the proposed restructuring of Tullett Prebon's acquisition of ICAP's voice-broking business. (Reporting by Parikshit Mishra; Editing by Ruth Pitchford and Sunil Nair) Bogota (AFP) - Colombia will undertake emergency measures against illegal migration, including deporting thousands of Cuban and other migrants and reinforcing its borders following a massive influx of people bound for the United States, the government said late on Tuesday. "The national government has given the instruction to initiate an emergency plan" to stop "this irregular migration from proceeding through our territory," migration director Christian Kruger said at the presidential residence, following an emergency government meeting that included President Juan Manuel Santos. Colombia will reinforce its southwestern border with Ecuador and along the Gulf of Uraba near Panama, where migrants have traveled in the hope of making it to the United States. The plan will involve military and police on the border and include prosecuting those who knowingly provide transportation and housing to undocumented migrants, Kruger said. Migrants may voluntarily request deportation, he added, and be granted safe passage to their home countries or to the last country they were in before entering Colombia -- Cuba or Ecuador for many of them. Otherwise, the authorities will proceed with "mandatory deportation." Colombia has deported more than 5,800 migrants over the past two months, most of them from Haiti and Cuba, according to official figures released last week. They are set to be joined by more than 1,200 Cubans who have been stranded in the country after Panama shut its southern border in June. Among them are almost 300 minors and 11 pregnant women housed in a 2,000 square-foot (200-square-meter) warehouse in the port town of Turbo. They had asked the government to arrange an airlift to Mexico, from where they would continue to the United States, which grants asylum to most Cubans who make it to US soil. However, the authorities rejected their request on Tuesday and are awaiting a court notice to enter the warehouse housing the Cubans in order to deport them, Kruger said. Story continues Mexico would not allow the flight, he added, saying illegal migration constitutes human trafficking and that an airlift risked prompting more migration. "In neighboring countries like Ecuador, Brazil and Guyana, there are more than 50,000 irregular migrants that might demand the same treatment," Kruger said. Last year, Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico adopted similar policies after Nicaragua closed its border to migrants, prompting a humanitarian crisis among thousands of Cubans heading to the United States. The number of Cubans attempting to reach the US border has risen over the past two years following the rapprochement between Havana and Washington, which many fear will end its preferential treatment of Cuban migrants. Over the years, the Student Loan Ranger has offered a range of data points that students and their families should consider when deciding on college. Comparing a school's default rate, average debt levels and graduation rates are just some of the things students should look at when determining which school might give them a better path to success and a good return on investment. Another important but often overlooked aspect of an institution's value is accreditation. Accreditation is a process in which accrediting agencies assess the quality of education that higher education institutions offer and ensure they meet certain standards. [Discover how to tell if an online program is accredited.] Many consumers are under the incorrect assumption that the federal government is responsible for accrediting colleges and universities. In fact, accreditation is just one part of a three-pronged approach to school oversight: -- The Department of Education has regulatory oversight responsibility for the way schools handle federal student aid funds and to ensure equal access to education. -- Individual states ensure that schools comply with the state's consumer protection laws and authorize the schools to operate in that state. -- The accrediting agencies ensure that the schools or their programs meet certain levels of quality. While the Department of Education has no real authority over the robustness or content of schools' programs, it does have some indirect authority. For schools to receive federal financial aid funds, they must have a Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency accredit them. If the agency isn't up to par, then the schools using that agency can't receive aid -- and most schools require federal aid to attract students. The Department of Education recently voted to cease recognition of one large accrediting agency due to a series of complaints related to the agency's oversight and other practices. Once the decision is finalized -- and if the court doesn't block the decision -- schools using this agency will have 18 months to find new accreditation or risk losing their eligibility for federal student aid. Story continues Lost federal aid can hurt the schools' current students. For example, students may have difficulty finding schools willing to accept the credits from an institution that lost its accreditation and failed to find new credentials, leaving them with student debt and no degree. [Here's what to know if your college loses federal funding.] What Accreditation Means to Students Understanding accreditation and how schools' accreditation is viewed can help students and their families as they evaluate whether their school of choice is a good financial fit for their current and future economic situation. Remember, just because schools are accredited doesn't mean they are eligible to receive federal financial aid funds -- as previously stated, schools must use one of the Department of Education's approved accrediting agencies. Students should keep this list on hand as they review their college choices. Students also need to understand that not all accreditation is considered equal. Regional accrediting agencies are generally considered more robust than national accrediting agencies. In general, regionally accredited schools tend to be academically oriented rather than trade oriented. Regionally accredited schools, including state schools, also are more likely to be nonprofit. [Consider these Best Value Schools.] Certain accrediting agencies also review different aspects of schools. Institutional accrediting agencies review the entire school, while programmatic or specialized accrediting agencies focus on schools' particular areas of study, such as teaching or medical-related education. Examples of specialized accrediting agencies include the American Bar Association and the American Academy of Forensic Science. The Council of Higher Education Accreditation maintains a full list of such accrediting agencies. The type of accrediting agency that approves schools can be very important not only for the recognition but also for credit transfer. Institutions are much more likely to accept credits from schools with regional accreditation or specialized accrediting agency-approved programs. If students already have student loan debt from taking classes at one school, they certainly don't want to incur more debt to take those same classes at a new school. Students and faculty can also use accrediting agencies to help ensure schools are maintaining educational excellence and quality. All accrediting agencies maintain a complaint process that students and faculty can use to resolve education-related disputes with the institution or to notify the agency of an overall issue with the institutions or their programs. Student loan holders with c omplaints specific to student loans or other federal aid, though, must file those concerns directly with the loan holder or the Department of Education. Accrediting agencies play an important role in ensuring that students are receiving a quality higher education experience. As such, it is important for students and their families to understand this role and consider schools' accreditation as an important data point when choosing a college. Betsy Mayotte, director of regulatory compliance for American Student Assistance, regularly advises consumers on planning and paying for college. Mayotte, who received a B.S. in business communications from Bentley College, responds to public inquiries via the advice resource "Just Ask" and is frequently quoted in traditional and social media on the topics of student loans and financial aid. Things got real on America's Got Talent as comedy daredevil Ryan Stock was struck in the neck by a flaming arrow shot by his fiancee on live television. Stock -- known for performing death-defying stunts with drills and chainsaws -- was about to stun audiences again with a stunt involving a target strategically placed inside his mouth. His assistant -- AmberLynn Walker -- was instructed to fire a flaming arrow at the target, but missed the mark, hitting Stock's neck. Stunned, judge Howie Mandel urged Stock to see the show's EMT's despite the Canadian entertainer's protests that he was "ok." Stock later took to Twitter to tell viewers that he was doing well, and "fortunate" to walk away from the mishap. We had a serious mishap tonight outage live on @nbcagt. A very unfortunate mechanical failure but I am very fortunate to walk away from it. - Ryan Stock (@comedydaredevil) August 3, 2016 Stock's act is a favorite of judge Simon Cowell, who told Billboard the squirm-inducing pair have a chance to do well in Las Vegas. "I think they like all that stuff in Vegas. It's like watching a horror movie," Cowell said. "You kind of don't like it, but you do like it and you want to see more of it." Cowell has a point, as Twitter exploded the second AmberLynn missed her mark. Watching #AGT live shows and this chick literally just shot her fiance in the collar with a flaming crossbow on accident. This show is crazy - Scott Shelton (@GreatScott_11) August 3, 2016 Finally #AGT figures out what #amurica wants to watch, a chick shooting her fiance in the chest with a crossbow. - Jen Schimmenti (@shortmenti) August 3, 2016 Man she had a laser sight on that crossbow, and she missed. Yikes. #AGT - Eunice Swagpants (@spencemo) August 3, 2016 The Q2 earnings season is well past the halfway mark, so far having unveiled modest improvement compared to the last couple of quarters, and investors are still on the lookout for companies that can beat estimates. Per the latest Zacks Earnings Trends report as of Jul 29, out of the 317 S&P 500 members that have come up with their quarterly numbers, approximately 72.9% have posted positive earnings surprises, while 53.6% beat top-line expectations. According to the report, earnings for the 317 S&P 500 companies that have reported so far are down 3.3% from the same period last year, while revenues have dropped 0.9%. The report further projects that earnings for the total S&P 500 companies will decline 3.4% from the year-ago period, and total revenue will dip 0.4%. We observe that this reporting cycle is likely to be the fifth straight quarter, if the index witnesses a decline in earnings. The performance of the index is not restricted to a single sector, and of the 16 Zacks sectors, 8 are expected to witness an earnings decline in Q2, with Basic Materials, Industrial Products, Oil/Energy, Aerospace, Finance and Transportation being a big drag. The Consumer Staples sector is also portraying a soft trend. Total earnings for the Consumer Staples sector are expected to drop by 1.4%, whereas revenues are anticipated to remain flat. As of Friday, 51.6% of the total number of S&P 500 companies in this sector had reported their results, wherein 81.3% delivered an earnings beat and about 43.8% cruised ahead of revenue estimates. While earnings grew 2.2% year over year, revenues fell 1.7%. Cosmetic stocks form part of the Consumer Staples sector. Among cosmetic stocks lined up to report, lets take a sneak peek at two companies. Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. NUS, developer and distributor of anti-aging personal care products and nutritional supplements, is slated to report second-quarter 2016 results on Aug 4. Unfavorable currency has been a concern for Nu Skins revenues since quite some time. Last quarter, currency fluctuations negatively impacted sales by 5%. For the second quarter, revenues are expected in a range of $560 million to $580 million, assuming a negative foreign currency impact of approximately 4%. Earnings are projected in the band of 7579 cents per share. In addition, multi-level marketer Nu Skin has been witnessing a decline in Greater China since the past few quarters. This is a concern as the company generates more than a third of its total revenue from the region, which includes Taiwan and Hong Kong. Nevertheless, Nu Skin plans to continue rolling out new products in the second half of the year. (Read: What's in Store for Nu Skin this Earnings Season?) Story continues NU SKIN ENTERP Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise NU SKIN ENTERP Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | NU SKIN ENTERP Quote Our proven model does not conclusively show that Nu Skin Enterprises is likely to beat earnings estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. Nu Skin Enterprises has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% as the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate both stand at 79 cents. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2, which increases the predictive power of ESP. However, its ESP of 0.00% makes surprise prediction difficult. In the trailing four quarters, the company missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 1%. Another cosmetic stock, Elizabeth Arden, Inc. RDEN is expected to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2016 results on Aug 4. This beauty products company has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter currently stands at a loss of 78 cents. In the trailing four quarters, the company underperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 52.6%. ELIZABETH ARDEN Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise ELIZABETH ARDEN Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | ELIZABETH ARDEN Quote Church & Dwight Co. Inc. CHD, manufacturer and marketer of household, personal care, and specialty products, is slated to report second-quarter 2016 results on Aug 4. The company has an Earnings ESP of -1.27% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is currently pegged at 79 cents. In the trailing four quarters, the company outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 2%. CHURCH & DWIGHT Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise CHURCH & DWIGHT Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | CHURCH & DWIGHT Quote Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ELIZABETH ARDEN (RDEN): Free Stock Analysis Report NU SKIN ENTERP (NUS): Free Stock Analysis Report CHURCH & DWIGHT (CHD): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Istanbul (AFP) - The head of a top European rights watchdog Wednesday backed a "cleaning up" of Turkish institutions after a failed coup blamed on supporters of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. Despite growing concern over the post-coup crackdown, Council of Europe chief Thorbjorn Jagland said there had been insufficient understanding in Europe about the challenges faced by Turkey. His comments came as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a rare apology, asked forgiveness for having an alliance with Gulen in the early years of his political career. Almost 26,000 suspects have now been rounded up after the coup, which Ankara blames on followers of Gulen who built up a presence in key institutions including the military. Gulen denies the accusations. Jagland's comments accepting the need for a crackdown contrasted with the tone of several EU officials who while condemning the coup have expressed alarm over the scope of the arrests. "I recognise that of course there is a need for taking on those who were behind this coup and also on this secret network," Jagland said after talks with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara. "I would like to say there has been too little understanding from Europe over what challenges this has caused to the democratic and state institutions of Turkey," said Jagland, referring to Gulen's group. "We however have been informed about it for a very long time. So therefore of course we see a need for cleaning up all of this," added Jagland, one of the most senior European officials to visit Turkey in the wake of the botched July 15 putsch. - 'Intolerable' - According to Interior Minister Efkan Ala, 25,917 people have now been detained, 13,419 of whom have been remanded in custody over their roles in the coup. The CoE promotes democracy and the rule of law in Europe and its members include states who are not EU states like Turkey and also Russia. But Jagland, who was later to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also emphasised the importance of all moves being carried out within the rule of law and the European Convention on Human Rights. Story continues Turkey has declared a three-month state of emergency after the coup and said it will suspend the rights convention for this period. Cavusoglu said: "We have never made compromises on our understanding of democracy and will never do." Later the foreign minister took to Twitter to praise Jagland's stance, saying he hoped the solidarity of the CoE chief "sets an example for our other European friends." "Europe should realise how it moves away from its own values as it excludes Turkey," Cavusoglu said. Turkey has sent an array of documentation to the United States asking for Gulen's extradition and has so far expressed exasperation over the slowness of Washington in taking up the issue. "You have to be blind and deaf not to understand that he is behind all of this," Erdogan said in an interview with Mexican television, describing any delay in extradition as "intolerable". - 'Forgive us' - Gulen's influence in Turkey goes back to the premierships of Bulent Ecevit in the 1970s and he was a strong presence in Turkish politics before anyone had even heard of Erdogan. As a new and untested forces in politics, Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) was happy to team up with Gulen after it came to power in 2002, sharing a conviction that Islam should lie at the heart of politics. But in his first apology on the issue, Erdogan said he had failed to see the "true face" of his former ally. "I know that we have to give account both to our God and to our people. Let my God and my people forgive us," he said. Turkish intelligence services have identified almost 56,000 alleged Gulen followers through years of intercepted messages on the app ByLock, a Turkish official told AFP. "Decryption work is continuing," he said. The coup was led by disgruntled elements in the military who the authorities say were followers of Gulen fast-tracked to senior positions by rigging in examinations. In a symbolic sign of how he has regained control of the military, Erdogan on Wednesday visited the chief of staff headquarters for the first time since the putsch. OMAHA -- The Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System is out of the nuclear business, decades after entering the atomic age with a small-scale reactor. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission terminated the operating license for the Alan J. Blotcky Reactor Facility, effective Monday. It had run in the basement of Omaha's VA Medical Center for more than 40 years. VA researchers used the reactor primarily for neutron activation of biological samples from 1959 to 2001. It also was used to train operators of the Fort Calhoun nuclear plant but was shut down soon after 9/11 because of security concerns. The reactor's 58 spent fuel rods were removed quietly in 2002. Last year, the VA spent $1.3 million to dismantle what was left of the reactor, in addition to $5.9 million spent in 2001 and 2002. System officials have haven't found any health or safety concerns after inspecting the space in the months since. The results were confirmed in surveys by Oak Ridge Associated Universities. VA spokeswoman Anna Morelock said the future of the former reactor space is undetermined, but officials hope to convert it into offices soon. "Right now, it's still an empty room," Morelock said. "In our space-deficient hospital, we're always anxious for more space. (Reuters) - A Crescent Point Energy pipeline in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan leaked 100 cubic meters (630 barrels) of oil emulsion on Tuesday, a government official said on Wednesday. The spill happened on land near the village of Pennant and did not affect wildlife or water that bears fish or is used for drinking, said Laurie Pushor, deputy minister of Saskatchewan's ministry of economy. Emulsion is a mixture of oil and mostly water. Crescent Point shut in the line and recovered the spilled oil, Pushor said. The leak ran into a slough in a farmer's field, where it was contained, said Crescent Point spokesman Trent Stangl, adding that clean-up is nearly finished. The incident comes as Husky Energy Inc cleans up a larger spill into the North Saskatchewan River last month, which has forced two cities in the province to find other sources of drinking water. (Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by Chris Reese and Marguerita Choy) Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f165466%2ff223152148094bbba9069d56e74ec868 Amid the dozens of cargo ships now steering through the North Sea, one vessel stands apart: the Avontuur, a 144-foot-long schooner powered only by the wind and sun. Stocked with crates of artisanal gin and vodka, the emissions-free cargo ship is making its maiden voyage from the tiny town of Elsfleth in northwest Germany and around the tip of Denmark to Rostock, on Germanys northeast coast. SEE ALSO: All of Germany's new cars could be emissions free by 2030, report says After Rostock, the crew plans to spend the next one to two years hauling organic wines, fair trade coffee and other sustainable fare to ports across Europe, North America, the Caribbean and, eventually, Australia. The Avontuur, whose name means adventure in Dutch, is the newest and biggest member of a growing fleet of cargo ships that combine centuries-old technology sails and masts with modern inventions like solar panels and battery generators. The goals of the emissions-free shipping movement are two-fold, said Cornelius Bockermann, the Avontuurs captain and founder of Timbercoast, the company behind the mission. The first is to capitalize on the rising consumer demand for products with little to no carbon footprint. After all, how good for the planet are organic blueberries from Chile if shipping them to New York means burning diesel bunker fuel or aviation fuel? More people want this to be shipped to their doorsteps in a sustainable way, and not the traditional way, Bockermann told Mashable. The only way to combine this organic produce and the consumer demand is with a cleaner way of transport. The second and more important goal is to draw the worlds attention to the broader environmental challenges facing the shipping sector, which hauls roughly 90 percent of globally traded goods. We carry a lot more than cargo. We carry a message, Bockermann said. We want to make people think about the consequences of their consumption. Story continues The shipping exception As countries and companies work to reduce planet-warming emissions from power plants and automobiles, theyve made far less progress on limiting emissions from two particular modes of transportation: marine shipping and aviation. Both of these sectors have been exempted from the U.N. climate treaty process, including the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. The Avontuur, shown in red brackets near the top center, makes its way around Denmark, Aug. 3, 2016. Image: Vesselfinder.com As with the aviation industry, a big reason why emissions from cargo ships are so difficult to regulate is that, unlike a stationary coal plant, the ships travel from country to country, making it harder for a single government to monitor and regulate them. Yet if policymakers and the shipping industry dont shake things up, carbon emissions from shipping could rise anywhere from 50 percent to 250 percent by mid-century compared to todays levels, depending on economic growth, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). With emissions expected to decline in other sectors, that means shipping will make up a bigger slice of the carbon pie, rising from about 2.5 percent of total global carbon dioxide emissions in 2012 to 17 percent by 2050, according to the IMO. Shipping is still out-of-sight, out-of-mind. People dont see ships like they do trucks, said Charlene Caprio, an attorney and expert on maritime, energy and environmental law in New York City. A conventional petroleum-powered container ship. Image: Getty Images The lack of effective oversight could make it harder to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement specifically the temperature target of limiting warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels through 2100. A quest for cleaner shipping The upward sloping curve of shipping emissions makes the carbon-free shipping movement seem downright contrarian. The ships they're sailing may look like mere specks next to the behemoths that carry most of the world's cargo, but the movement they represent is likely to make some waves. Caprio is a member of Sail Med, a team of energy experts and devoted sailors who advocate for wind-powered cargo shipping. Based in Greece, Sail Med is currently outfitting a 43-foot square rigger to handle a small load of cargo about 10 tons for local shipping in the Aegean Sea and beyond. The Avontuur can haul nearly eight times that amount, with a capacity for 77 tons of cargo. The 96-year-old schooner embarked on its first mission on July 28 and is expected to arrive in Rostock by Aug. 11 for the start of Hanse Sail, a festival featuring other old-school vessels, though none of the others are equipped to carry cargo. Bockermann said he spent more than 700,000 euros ($786,000) from his personal savings to upgrade the Avontuur into a working cargo ship. A team of more than 100 volunteers from around the world helped carry out the renovations and take it for test runs. Avontuur Shipping Co., as the project is formally called, is now seeking to raise around 630,000 euros ($708,000) from individual investors, who can purchase small shares in the company and would split the profits from the Avontuurs import-export business. We want this to rest on as many shoulders as possible, Ben Decosse, a spokesperson for Timbercoast, said by phone from Germany. The small-investment model is similar to the approach used by Fairtransport, one of the clean shipping movements pioneers. Based in the Netherlands, the company has operated a 105-feet-long schooner, named the Tres Hombres, since 2009. The refurbished ship can haul up to about 39 tons of rum, wine, cacao beans and other goods, and, with its set of 12 sails, looks more like a ship captained by pirates than a modern cargo vessel. Tres Hombres is now making its way back to Europe after its seventh TransAtlantic voyage to the Americas and Caribbean. Fairtransport is also part of an ambitious European Union-backed initiative to build a large hybrid ship that runs on both engine power and wind-assisted ship propulsion offering shippers a middle option between Christopher Columbus-style schooners and diesel-guzzling mega-ships. A rendered image of the proposed Ecoliner. Image: Dykstra Naval Architects One of the proposed ships to come out of the EU initiative is the Ecoliner. Designed by Dykstra Naval Architects, it will use historic weather data and computer simulations to find routes with the best trade winds, allowing its sails to do most of the legwork and limiting the ships overall appetite for fuel. The projects founders are now searching for investors to permit them to actually build the boat. Greening the regular fleet At the same time as the Avontuur and other relatively small wind-powered vessels are cruising the seas carrying specialty goods, conventional cargo ships are also becoming somewhat cleaner. This is due to advances in aerodynamic designs, energy-efficient engines and other modern upgrades that limit the use of fuel. Making their vessels more fuel-efficient is a priority for many shippers, since it is such a large part of a voyage's costs. Maersk Group, the Danish shipping giant, is building a new line of mammoth cargo ships that it claims will reduce carbon emissions by 35 percent per container shipped, compared to the industry average on routes from Asia to Europe. These "Triple-E" ships stretch more than 1,300 feet long and can carry more than 18,000 20-foot containers per trip, about 16 percent more than Maersk's previous largest ship, and orders of magnitude greater than the comparitively tiny Avontuur. Despite the ships size, Maersk claims that the Triple-E is actually the most energy-efficient way to move cargo, due to its energy-saving designs and because the behemoth vessel can replace several smaller cargo ships on a particular route. Shipping's carbon challenge Yet all of these advancements wont be enough to keep the global shipping sectors emissions from rising in coming decades, experts said. As the worlds population booms and the middle class expands in developing economies, more boats will make more trips to bring food and goods to billions of consumers. Youll see an industry that goes from currently being only responsible for 2.5 percent of carbon emissions to growing into the double digits, Ian Petty, general manager of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI), told Mashable. And thats going to be happening at a time when other industries are making significant reductions in their carbon emissions, he added. SSI is a coalition of global shipping companies and major exporters. Large container ships at the Port of Los Angeles. Image: Getty Images Petty said SSI is pushing the IMO and industry groups to enact concrete measures for cutting emissions and fuel use. The IMOs next chance to act will be at its 70th Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting, slated for late October in London. That needs to happen sooner rather than later, Petty said about the measures. Were just putting off the inevitable by delaying. Bockermann, the Avontuurs captain, said he recognizes that carbon-free shipping will make only a minuscule dent in the industrys use of fossil fuels. He also acknowledged that while a niche group of people will pay a premium for sustainably shipped spirits or coffee, many consumers will continue to buy cheap commodities moved by hulking, petroleum-powered vessels. Instead, the captain said he hopes that the Avontuur and projects like it will raise pressure on the shipping industry to curb emissions and compel consumers to contemplate their own carbon footprints. We wont change the world, we wont change the shipping industry, Bockermann said. But we want to set an example and we want to use this ship as an ambassador and show what's going on. By Matthias Blamont PARIS (Reuters) - U.S. pharmacy benefit manager CVS will drop Sanofi's main insulin drug Lantus from the list of medicines it reimburses on behalf of health insurers, dealing a blow to the French drugmaker's key diabetes business. CVS said it would switch instead to Ely Lilly's cheaper biosimilar drug Basaglar from 2017. Biosimilars are cheaper copies of protein-based biotech drugs such as Lantus, which are no longer protected by patents. They cannot be precisely replicated like conventional chemical drugs but have been shown to be equivalent in terms of efficacy and side effects. U.S. pharmacy benefit managers such as CVS help private-sector medical insurers negotiate better prices from drugmakers and also draw up so-called formularies, which are exclusive lists of drugs they reimburse for the insurers they work for. CVS, which has nearly 80 million plan members, announced on Tuesday a number of changes to its formulary, saying they would lead to significant savings. The company also said it would no longer reimburse Toujeo, Sanofi's next-generation diabetes drug. Sanofi shares were down 1.4 percent at 1250 GMT. "Sanofi is disappointed by this decision. Healthcare professionals and patients should have a choice regarding their treatment," a spokesman for the French group said in an emailed statement. "We will continue our ongoing discussions with other insurers," he said, adding CVS's announcement did not change the group's forecasts. The patent on Lantus expired in 2015 in the United States, the world's largest drugs market, and Sanofi hopes to revive declining diabetes sales with Toujeo, launched in March 2015. Switzerland's Novartis and Actelion were also dealt blows by CVS's new formulary. In a research note, Citi analysts said CVS's new formulary marked the "dawn of the biosimilar era". Kepler Cheuvreux analyst David Evans said CVS's decision meant investors should brace for the pessimistic end of Sanofi's target range to limit the decline in diabetic drug sales to 4-8 percent per year until 2018. Sanofi published lower second-quarter sales and profit last week, partly hurt by its diabetes division, whose sales were down 3.5 percent at constant exchange rates to 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion). When asked at the time about the threat from biosimilars in the United States, Sanofi's head of diabetes Peter Guenter told investors that, given the number of Lantus patients, it was hard to imagine hundreds of thousands of patients being switched. ($1 = 0.8929 euros) (Additional reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Mark Potter) biologic drugs medicine pharmacy The sticker shock for newer, innovative medicines can be overwhelming not to mention price increases for existing drugs are happening all the time. But CVS Health thinks it has the solution to help save customers billions. The company, in addition to being one of the largest drugstores in the US, also negotiates to get lower prices for drugs that it supplies in its pharmacies. And on Tuesday, it announced that in 2017 it would no longer supply two branded drugs in favor of their copycat versions, called biosimilars. Biosimilars are a bit more complicated than your average competing medicine: Unlike generics for chemical-based drugs, such as antibiotics, that can be interchangeable with branded versions, the copycats of biologic medications have a few more caveats. The two biosimilars CVS will supply are the bone marrow stimulant Zarxio, the biosimilar version of Neupogen, and Basaglar, an insulin drug that's approved in Europe as a biosimilar to Lantus. (The insulin is also approved by the Food and Drug Administration, just not as a biosimilar.) CVS included a list of 33 other pricey drugs that it wouldn't include on its formulary the list of drugs it supplies. The company has been doing this since 2012 and said in the release that the exclusion of certain drugs will have saved clients $9 billion by the end of 2017. Among the drugs no longer covered by CVS are Gleevec, a drug used to treat a rare kind of leukemia with a list price of about $120,000 per year in 2015, and those made by Concordia Pharmaceuticals and Valeant Pharmaceuticals. CVS is also excluding prostate cancer drug Xtandi, which Congress singled out earlier this year for its high list price. NOW WATCH: Scientists just collected a mysterious 'purple orb' at the bottom of the ocean, but no one could anticipate what happened next More From Business Insider A century or so ago, tuberculosis was everywhere. It killed babies and brides, firemen and heads of state. The colloquial term of the era, consumption, littered the obituary pages and underscored how ubiquitous the disease was. Tuberculosis was so pervasive it eventually consumed you. Actually, consumption got its name from the severe weight loss that so many of the afflicted suffered. The other 19th-century nickname for tuberculosis was even more evocative: the white plague, on account of the ashen complexion of its victims. The novelist Charles Dickens wrote of tuberculosis in 1838 as a dread disease which medicine never cured, and which wealth never warded off. An illness in which death and life are so strangely blended, that death takes the glow and hue of life, and life the gaunt and grisly form of death. Health officials once predicted tuberculosis would be eradicated by 1915. They were wrong. Yet in the United States, where tuberculosis has been on the decline since 1992, theres a vague perception that it is a historic diseaselong since cured and largely forgotten. Recommended: How Helicopter Parenting Can Cause Binge Drinking That is not the case. Tuberculosis remains a major killer. As antibiotic-resistant strains of the disease spread across the globe, its getting harder to wipe out. In the next three decades, drug-resistant strains of the bacteria could drive up tuberculosis deaths by 2.4 million per yearto some 4 million fatalities annuallyaccording to a report published last year by the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. In fact, tuberculosis is now the leading cause of death from infectious disease worldwide, Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told me. It is understandablethough not excusablethat people in the United States think this is not really a problem. Most of the time people dont think beyond our borders. Story continues * * * Of the nearly 10 million people who get tuberculosis every year, some 1.5 million people die. And although the death rate among tuberculosis patients has plummeted since the 1990s, the rate of the decline is slowing as drug-resistant forms of the illness create new challenges for treatment. These days, half-a-million people are sickened with antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis each year, a statistic that David Perlin, the executive director of the Public Health Research Institute at Rutgers University, calls the most troubling aspect of an already deadly disease. We cannot delude ourselves into believing that TB has gone away in the USA... he told me in an email. It always looms large. Recommended: The Cheap, Easy Fix to the Olympics Sewage Problem Now, scientists and doctors are scramblingwith relatively little public research funding to support themto prevent a catastrophic scenario in which antibiotics stop working on tuberculosis altogether. Decades ago, before there was a a lot of multiple- and extensive-drug-resistant tuberculosis, we would be able to treat it no problem, Fauci told me. But what we have now is the danger that if one does get infected it is a very, very difficult disease to treat. Sooner or later, when you do that, it comes back to bite you. To understand the emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis, it helps to begin with the global distribution of the disease in 2016. About 2 billion people worldwide are already infected with tuberculosis, including 13 million people in the United States. The overwhelming majority of them have whats called latent tuberculosis: meaning, theyre carriers of the M. tuberculosis bacteria, but they arent infected withnor can they spreadthe disease. Still, people with latent TB are at a higher risk of acquiring active tuberculosis at some point in their lifetimes; about a one-in-10 chance overall, Fauci says. Other groups, like people with HIV and other immunosuppressed patients, are also at a higher risk of infection. In general, tuberculosis is spread through human-to-human contact and through the air, when someone whos infected coughs or sneezes. But there are two main ways that people get sick with drug-resistant TB. The first way is that people who are sick with tuberculosis fail to take a full course of antibiotics, and the bacteria develops a resistance to drugs that would otherwise knock it out. The second way is that a person is infected with a strain of the bacteria thats resistant to antibiotics to begin with. (Extensively drug resistant TB, sometimes called total drug-resistant TB, is an even more severe category of multi-drug resistant TB.) Drug-resistant tuberculosis in the United States is still quite rare. There were 91 such cases in the U.S. in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But foreign-born people in the United States are much more likely to have drug-resistant tuberculosis than those born in the United States; 88 percent of the U.S. cases of antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis in 2014 were among foreign-born patients. These figures are meaningful especially in a country where immigrants face deep discrimination from wide swaths of the population. For the United States, the challenge is probably people coming in from immigrant populations who are already stigmatized, said Glenda Gray, the president of the South African Medical Research Council and an expert on tuberculosis and HIV. You need an environment thats not going to be punitive [to care for] the people that are the refugees, the people that are on the fringes of society, and the people who are less educated. Recommended: Ben Carson: The Khans Should Apologize to Donald Trump Drug-resistant tuberculosis is a huge problem in South Africa. Although the precise number of cases is unknown, public health officials estimate that, of the hundreds of thousands of people who develop tuberculosis in the country each year, tens of thousands of them have drug-resistant strains. (Like South Africa, India, China, and several countries in eastern Europe are considered high burden areas for their outsized populations of patients with antibiotic-resistant TB, according to the World Health Organization.) The true number of those who have the disease may be much larger. In South Africa, for instance, mineworkers are at an exceptionally high risk of catching and spreading tuberculosis due to overcrowded working and living conditions and prolonged exposure to poorly ventilated workspaces. But mine workers are also less likely to have or seek access to effective treatment for the disease. Some of them may be unaware that they have the disease, or they may resist being tested for fear of losing their jobs. We dont have enough drugs to help us. For TB, were running out of options. Youre not going to have people jumping up and down saying, Test me! Test me! Gray said. Its a very complex social issue that you have to address. Particularly in America, youre going to stigmatize an already-stigmatized community, so how do you raise awareness without stigmatizing people? Antibiotic resistance only complicates an already daunting public-health crisis. We dont have enough drugs to help us, Gray said. For TB, were running out of options. Medicine to treat tuberculosis has existed for decades, but it hasnt changed much in that time. In order to be effective, a course of antibiotic treatment lasts for a full year, sometimes two, an unusually long duration that researchers in a 2007 PLoS Medicine paper described as a fundamental problem in tuberculosis treatment. The drugs that work are toxic to the person taking them, which makes the side effects particularly grueling. Oh my God, its terrible, said the physician and humanitarian Paul Farmer, who has written extensively on community-based healthcare models as a way to quell the spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis and other diseases. Its awful. Its been 40 years since weve had new drugs. Its so sad. Farmer calls the lack of community-based care the Achilles heel of the health care system in the U.S., which incentivizes frequent and costly hospitalizations for patients with TB and other chronic diseases who have few other options for care. They get bounced in and out of hospitals or halfway houses, where if they had a community health worker checking in on them every day, you always see decreased use of emergency rooms. The idea behind community-based care is to set up a system where nurses and other workers visit people who need care each day, encouraging them to take medicine, taking vital signs if necessary, and so on. Eligible patients for such visits might be people who have HIV, TB, mental illness, or diabetes, he says. For tuberculosis specifically, Farmer says, community-based care would help people stay on course with their antibiotics; a crucial component of keeping drug-resistant TB at bay. Without community-based care, I dont see how it can work, he said. Theres not a lot of evidence that anything else works. It costs a lot more to give bad care in a facility than to give good care with community health workers. At the same time, Farmer, Gray, Fauci, and other public health leaders emphasize the need for an infusion of research funding for development of new and better medicine to treat tuberculosis. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated tens of millions of dollars in grant money to pursue a tuberculosis vaccine, but public funding for such research is scant. TB is now a standout poor performer compared with research focused on most bacterial infections, parasitic infections, and viral infections, Farmer told me. Meanwhile, existing drugs may become obsolete due to antibiotic resistant strains of the disease. Youre facing the valley of death because theres nothing on the horizon. Given the link between HIV and TBa huge proportion of HIV deaths are linked to TB, as people living with HIV are up to 30 times more likely to develop active tuberculosis than people without HIVscientists often point out how much better HIV researchers have been at securing funding for fighting that disease. All the things that we have with HIV are in stark contrast to what we have with TB, Fauci told me. With tuberculosis, we dont have a good way to monitor the disease, we dont have good biomarkers, we dont have good ways to figure out the efficacy of treatment. In other words, theres urgent need not just for newer drugs with less burdensome treatment regiments; but also a need for a faster way to diagnose TB, and drug-resistant TB in particular. But it may be impossible to secure financing for such efforts in a public funding environment in the United States that is, many scientists told me, grossly isolationist. (See also: The Congressional failure to fund Zika research.) The United States, as a wealthy country, has a moral obligation to take action, Fauci says, but investing U.S. dollars in the fight against tuberculosis is also a practical matter of protecting Americans. We cant say, Because this is a problem somewhere else, we cant or shouldnt make major investments, Fauci told me. Sooner or later, when you do that, it comes back to bite you. Gray, the physician in South Africa, says the planets only hope of someday eradicating tuberculosis rests with the United States, an affluent nation where cases of the disease are, for now, contained among small and somewhat predictable portions of the population. But global eradication of tuberculosis is a pipe dream too far off to even consider seriously, several scientists told me. The first step is to get the diseaseand drug-resistant strains of the bacteriaunder control, and to do so quickly. Before things get worse. Its a shame, Farmer said, because the history of tuberculosis control is really one of forgetting. This is a transnational disease. So is Zika. So is Ebola. Without investments in the health system, the dream of rounding those last cases up? Its really not a good dream. Its more like a nightmare. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Copenhagen (AFP) - A Danish Muslim group has offered to bury one of the jihadists who murdered a French priest, after Muslim leaders in France refused to do so, a newspaper said Wednesday. Adel Kermiche, a 19-year-old jihadist, was shot dead by French police on July 26 after he and another assailant attacked a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvroy in northern France, murdering priest Jacques Hamel and seriously injuring another hostage. After standing in solidarity with Christians mourning the victims of the attack, Muslim leaders in France have refused to grant Kermiche an Islamic burial. "It is a human right to be buried, no matter what you have done," Kasem Said Ahmad, who heads the Danish Islamic Burial Fund, told Danish daily Jyllands-Posten. The church attack, which shocked France just days after the July 14 attack in Nice that left 84 people dead, "is an un-Islamic action that we naturally distance ourselves from," Ahmad said. However, "if we get a request from the family to bury him, then we will do it... If they want to move his body here, he can be buried in Denmark in the Muslim cemetery," he said. When contacted by AFP, the organisation declined to comment. The group last year organised the burial of Danish-Palestinian jihadist gunman Omar El-Hussein, who killed a filmmaker outside a Copenhagen free speech event and a Jewish security guard outside a synagogue. "It is a support for the family, not for him," Ahmad said at the time. Some 500 people attended Hussein's funeral. Kermiche and Abdel Malik Petitjean pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group before they attacked the Normandy church during morning mass on July 26. Mohammed Karabila, who leads a French Muslim group, said his community would not give Kermiche a Muslim burial. "We will not taint Islam with this person," he told AFP. Fleeing ahead of Islamic militants, Jamal Aldakhi escaped the Yazidi enclave of Khana Sor with nothing but the clothes he was wearing. He left behind his jewelry shop, where he worked as a goldsmith, and the beauty salon, the wholesale store and the pharmacy he owned in the Iraqi town roughly the size of Kearney, 6 miles from the Syrian border. That was two years ago, when the Islamic State began a genocidal campaign against the religious minority group. The confusion of that day -- the second anniversary of the genocide was marked by Lincolns Yazidi community on Wednesday -- is clear in Aldakhis memory. Speaking through interpreter Hadi Pir, Aldakhi recalled the flight from his town. The Kurdish forces charged with defending the region from the Daesh -- the Yazidis' derogatory name for the IS -- fled, clearing the way for the militants. Not a single bullet was fired as the Islamic States trucks rolled into town. They were telling us, 'Dont worry, just raise a white flag, nothing is going to happen to you,' he said. All this was a lie. Then they started killing young people, and taking women and children. Gulie Khalaf, a Lincoln teacher and international Yazidi activist, said the IS massacred 5,000 Yazidis in the Sinjar region in August 2014, abducting 7,000 more -- many of them women sold as sex slaves, or children sent to become extremists themselves. Ninety percent of the Yazidis living in their ancestral homeland -- predating the existing borders of Iraq, Syria and Turkey, and where they co-existed peacefully with Muslims and Christians alike -- have been displaced. At least 42 Yazidi religious sites have been destroyed, and homes, livelihoods and graveyards desecrated. Since the attack, Khalaf said, nearly 2,600 Yazidi women and children have escaped or been rescued from the Islamic State. Those who fled the genocide -- declared earlier this year -- have been placed into refugee camps, where the conditions are not much better. Aldakhi is one of the lucky ones -- relatively speaking. He packed his car with his wife and children and was the last one out of town, driving north toward the Kurdistan region, leaving behind the prosperous little town where he estimates he lost $350,000 in assets in a matter of minutes. Imagine people having to choose between their kids -- which ones to leave in order to save others because they didnt have a choice, Aldakhi said. In my case, I had one car I had to put the women and children in and I left my young brothers behind. Those brothers were among the 50,000 Yazidis who sought refuge on Mount Sinjar, where for nine days they were without food and water, surviving on tree leaves until airdrops brought supplies, and military forces opposing the IS were able to open the road north to Turkey. His father and uncle, both suffering from diabetes, stayed behind in Khana Sor, believing the Islamic fighters would ignore them due to their age and conditions. But other Yazidis, who snuck from a nearby farm into Khana Sor for supplies, later saw Aldakhis father and uncle being loaded onto trucks. It was the last time they were seen alive. When the regions surrounding the Sinjar mountains were liberated by Kurdish forces last November -- although Aldakhi said its more accurate to say the IS abandoned the area -- a mass grave was discovered. Somebody told me about the mass grave, so I went there, Aldakhi said. They found an ID of my uncles wife in the clothes near the bones. Aldakhi recognized his father and uncles clothing among the skeletal remains, as well as the diabetes medicine his father used and a set of keys. Returning to his fathers house in Khana Sor, Aldakhi said he slid the key in the lock. The latch opened. I knew it was them, he said. Yazidis in Lincoln and across the country and the world have been working with governments to provide aid to their family and friends living in refugee camps, still wary of the Islamic State, said Khalaf David Piso. Supplies and protection are difficult to come by, and countries with the power to help have been slow to offer support, he said. Hadi Pir said Yazidi activist groups have distributed reports to European countries, as well as the U.S. and Canada, detailing the conditions for Yazidis in the refugee camps, urging action. But with little in the way of political capital, rallies like Wednesdays at the Nebraska State Capitol have been their most successful tool in appealing to political leaders. Politics is like a business, and its tough, he said. We attack the conscience. Maris Currans Five Nights in Maine opened to a small, intimate crowd at the ArcLight Hollywood, Tuesday, bringing out the films leads David Oyelowo and Dianne Wiest. With Maine being Currans first film, Oyelowo used the premiere to tackle one of Hollywoods ailments that is close his heart, the lack of women directors. I simply cant understand how the population of this nation is 51 percent female but its not reflected behind the camera, said Oyelowo. I think women bring something different than men behind the camera. They are more open to emotionality and more keen to investigate that. Maine follows Sherwin (Oyelowo), a young African-American man reeling from the tragic loss of his wife, who travels to rural Maine to seek answers from his estranged mother-in-law, Lucinda (Wiest), who is confronting guilt and grief over her daughters death. Oyelowo said, Just being in a scene with Dianne was a masterclass in giving yourself over to the material. He added, Much of what we did was emotionally painful and we would leave scenes like we left bits of ourselves behind. A major part for Wiest getting into character was Currans writing. I think Maris expresses so much that cannot be expressed and I feel when I watch the film, she does the same thing with us, with Maine and the rainfall. Its her gift. Five Nights in Maine opens in select theaters August 5. Related stories Amma Asante's 'A United Kingdom' to Open BFI London Film Festival Cannes: Amazon, STX Team on Untitled Nash Edgerton Movie Watch: Lupita Nyong'o's 'Queen of Katwe' First Trailer For the first time, a U.S. law enforcement officer has been charged with aiding the Islamic State. And his job was to protect the subway system of the nations capital, an enticing target for any terrorist group. On Wednesday, Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, Va., was arrested at Metro Transit Police headquarters in Washington and charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. Young had been under surveillance since 2010, when he was questioned in connection with Zachary Chesser, an American booster of Islamist jihad who threatened the creators of the South Park television show for mocking the Prophet Muhammad. Since then, Young had multiple meetings with undercover FBI informants, who recorded the Metro cops trip to Libya to fight with anti-Qaddafi rebels in 2011. By 2014, he was advising the undercover agent on how to avoid detection while traveling. In June 2015, Young asked the undercover informant, who he thought was his contact already fighting overseas with ISIS, how he could financially support the group. In July of this year, Young sent mobile-messaging gift cards to what he thought was his contact in ISIS but what in reality was an FBI agent. According to an indictment filed in federal court in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Young sent the codes, worth about $250, to an undercover U.S. law enforcement agent in the hope that they would be used by the Islamic State. Officials said Young was never a threat to the Metro system, which serves Washington and its suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. Obviously, the allegations in this case are profoundly disturbing. Theyre disturbing to me, and theyre disturbing to everyone who wears the uniform, Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said in a statement. But according to the indictment, Young had a broad array of targets he wanted to strike. That included FBI agents, who he threatened to kill. He also wanted to bring guns to federal court. Young also vowed to kidnap and torture an FBI agent who had interviewed him; he said he would leave the severed head of anyone who turned on him at the bottom of a lake. But the agents never took his threats seriously, and it appears as if Young was more focused on striking targets abroad as opposed to inside the United States. He was ultimately busted when he counseled someone working with law enforcement on how to travel to Syria. Once convinced his contact had made it successfully to the Middle East, he bought the messaging gift cards. Photo credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Getty Images There are a lot of dangerous acts on Americas Got Talent and Tuesday night, one almost turned deadly. Daredevil Ryan Stock, along with his fiancee AmberLynn Walker, has been shocking the AGT judges and audiences all season by sticking stuff in his nose, putting a blow torch out on his tongue, and holding a chainsaw in his mouth. During their live performance, Ryan had stuck a tube down his throat with a bullseye on the end of it, and AmberLynn set up on a ladder to shoot a flaming arrow through the bullseye and into the tube. Unfortunately for Ryan, AmberLynn missed and hit him in the collarbone. Ryan was, obviously, stunned by the arrow and quickly pulled the tube out of his mouth. After a few moments of shock and disbelief, Ryan stumbled down toward Nick Cannon and announced that he was okay. All of the judges were concerned with the daredevils well-being, even though he repeatedly said he was okay. Eventually, Simon Cowell told Ryan to go to the hospital and get checked out. Toward the end of the show, Nick announced that Ryan had been checked out and was going to be just fine. What a day for Demaryius Thomas and his family. The Denver Broncos receiver got word that his grandmother, Minnie Pearl, is one of 214 low-level federal prisoners to have their sentences commuted on Wednesday by President Barack Obama. Most of the offenders, like Pearl, were low-level drug offenders. Wanna Thank the @POTUS for everything he's done for my family, and a lot more families giving them second chances. Couldn't be a better day! Demaryius Thomas (@DemaryiusT) August 3, 2016 Minnie Pearl and Thomas mother, Katina Smith, were arrested in 1999. Pearl was given a life sentence without parole for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; she was accused of running a small drug ring out of an abandoned gas station. Despite never having done drugs, sold drugs and without a prior criminal record, Smith received a mandatory 20-year sentence for keeping a small amount of money in her home for Pearl. Prosecutors offered Smith a plea deal of just four years if she testified against her mother, but she refused. Smiths sentence was commuted by Obama in July 2015, and she was able to be in the stands at Super Bowl 50 to watch her son play and win against the Carolina Panthers. Thomas wrote a letter for President Obama thanking him for granting his mothers release, and was able to deliver it in person when the Broncos visited the White House in June. NEWS BRIEF The Democratic National Committees email hack has claimed more victims. Just over one week since chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned her post, the organization announced Tuesday that three of its top staffers are leaving: CEO Amy Dacey, whose departure was reported earlier Tuesday by multiple news organizations; communications director Luis Miranda; and chief financial officer Brad Marshall. In a mid-afternoon press release, the staff changes were framed as part of the committees move into the general election phase of the 2016 campaign. But thats certainly not all it is: The three officials had been in the spotlight in recent days for emails theyd sent during the Democratic primary, which were subsequently made public. Marshall, in particular, drew fire from Bernie Sanders supporters for suggesting the candidates religious views be questioned. Dacey, who reportedly resigned, may have done so because the emails, and their disclosure, occurred on her watch. Recommended: Is the Trump Campaign Collapsing? Thanks in part to the hard work of Amy, Luis, and Brad, the Democratic Party has adopted the most progressive platform in history, has put itself in financial position to win in November, and has begun the important work of investing in state party partnerships, interim DNC chair Donna Brazile said in the release. Im so grateful for their commitment to this cause, and I wish them continued success in the next chapter of their career. She also announced a general-election transition team. U.S. intelligence officials strongly suspect the Russian government hacked the DNC, though the American government hasnt publicly charged the Kremlin with doing so. Somehow, staffers emails made their way to Wikileaks, which published them before the Democratic National Convention began last week. The big problem with their correspondence? The emails seemed to confirm Sanders supporters suspicions that the DNC opposed his candidacy. After the Wikileaks release, Schultz resigned and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee discovered its system had been compromised, too. Story continues CNN has more on the internal strife at the committees headquarters: The committee is looking to clean house in the wake of leaked emails that appeared to show the committee favoring Clinton over Bernie Sanders during the primary. The changes at the DNC come as the Clinton campaign is moving to take greater control of party headquarters in Washington and in states across the country. Democrats are also trying to get ahead of the disclosure of more emails and internal documents from hacked computer systems, fearful of more embarrassing revelations. And there could be additional departures to come: Other senior aides have been expecting the axe to fall on them, too, Politico reported Tuesday, and theres been a chill around the offices just off Capitol Hill as staffers wait for more resignations or firings. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Donald Trump really is different. So say his critics, particularly those on the left: Hes dangerously ignorant about policy, and incurious about the world. His views on women are radical and unacceptable. His business career aint what its cracked up to be. He doesnt have the temperament to be president. Hes a fascist. His positions are the most extreme any Republican has proposed since Goldwater. On Tuesday, President Obama amplified the attack during remarks with the prime minister of Singapore, saying Trump is woefully unprepared to do this job of being president. What does this say about your party that this is your standard bearer? he asked Republicans. This isn't a situation where you have an episodic gaffe. There has to be a point in which you say, This is not somebody I can support for president of the United States. To which some American conservatives wearily reply: Oh, you dont say? Jaundiced after hearing past GOP candidates described in similarly extreme terms, some conservatives feel that Democrats and liberal pundits have cried wolf, describing past Republicans with such elevated levels of alarm that warnings about Trump dont elicit the same urgency. Recommended: Is the Trump Campaign Collapsing? Dangerously ignorant about policy and incurious about the world? That was the line on George W. Bush 16 years ago. Radical, unacceptable views about women? Said of any number of Republicans. Overrated business career? Just ask Mitt Romney about that one. (Not only was Romneys success credited to his fathers connection, The New York Times reported,Mr. Romney, though, never ran a corner store or a traditional business. Instead, he excelled as a deal maker, which sounds eerily familiar.) A temperament unsuited for the Oval Office? Some said the same thing about John McCain. Fascism? Two videos uploaded by users to a MoveOn contest likened Bush to Adolph Hitler in 2004.* Extreme positions? Hes the most conservative nominee that theyve had going back to Goldwater, top Obama aide David Plouffe said of Romney in 2012. Story continues Once youve already used all of these insults once before, they start to lose their sting. Thats the point of Godwins Law, the theory that as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazism or Hitler approaches 1, and of critiques of likening various politicians to the Nazi leader. Once youve compared someone to Hitler, you have both used up your one chance to compare her to historys greatest monsterand youve risked downplaying the significance of Hitler by diluting the insult. The wolf-crying problem plays out in ways both large and small. I saw several conservative writers throwing up their hands in protest at Paul Krugmans column Monday, in which he wrote, Yet the great majority of these not-crazy Republicans are still supporting Mr. Trump for president. And we have a right to ask why. The New York Posts Kyle Smith snarkily dismissed the plea: Krugman's plea to "non-crazy Republicans" today would work better if it weren't the first time he has admitted not all Republicans are crazy Kyle Smith (@rkylesmith) August 1, 2016 Kevin Glass added: Krugman spent 2012 tirading that Paul Ryan is an evil lying budget-cutting demon who wants poor people dying on the streets. Kevin Glass (@KevinWGlass) August 1, 2016 But Donald Trump is totally worse than that, Glass concluded. Sorry you used up all your ammo in 2012. Recommended: The Narcissist In keeping with the theme of hyperbole, I dont recall Krugman saying quite that, though he did call Ryan a fraud and con man given to brazen dishonesty. These critiques carry a bit more weight because many of them come from conservatives who are disgusted with Trump and have denounced him, but still think Democrats erred by overreaching in their rhetoric. During one of the many recent Trump outbursts, Republican operative Tim Miller joked on Twitter: Remember when the MSM and Dems spent a week OUTRAGED that Mitt wanted to cut PBS funding? Good times. Tim Miller (@Timodc) July 27, 2016 Miller, who was communications director for Jeb Bushs ill-fated presidential campaign, has been a consistent and outspoken Trump critic, but he still argued that overheated reaction to past Republicans had hurt the effort to beat Trump. I was also just thinking about the time a top Obama aide confronted me and asked how I could sleep at night supporting Mitt Romney, he told me. The phenomenon affects Trump supporters, too, in the form of voters who simply dismiss what they hear on the news because theyve decided the press is untrustworthy. When the political world was briefly enthralled Tuesday afternoon with Trumps contretemps with a baby, Justin Green of the Independent Journal Review looked askance: if you freak out when trump makes an obvious joke, people won't listen when you tell them he's not joking Justin Green (@JGreenDC) August 2, 2016 Perhaps some progressives are a mite remorseful about their rhetoric in the past: Next to Trump, Mitt Romney doesnt look so bad and John McCain (at least the John McCain of 2008) looks downright, um, acceptable. Some of the same publications that were critical of Romneys presidential run lavishly lauded him for speaking out against Trump. On Tuesday, Obama drew a distinction between policy criticisms he leveled against his two opponents and the idea that they were unqualified. I think I was right, and Mitt Romney and John McCain were wrong on certain policy issues, but I never thought that they couldnt do the job, he said. Recommended: This Is Why Black Lives Matter Is Not Going Away The cried wolf paradigm is not sufficient to explain whats going on, nor is it a single-party phenomenon. For one thing, some of these attacks might be true. You could make an argument that Mitt Romney really was the most conservative candidate since Goldwaterafter all, the Republican Party has been moving rightward, although FiveThirtyEight found Romney to be slightly more centrist than George W. Bushand it could still be true that Trump is more conservative. Romney surely benefited from his fathers career. Abortion-rights advocates see any number of Republican candidates as extreme and threatening. And so on. For another, refusing to believe the news does not make it wrong or false. I was just thinking about the time a top Obama aide confronted me and asked how I could sleep at night supporting Mitt Romney. Nor are Republicans and conservatives innocent of excess. Attacking the media has been a popular page in the Republican playbook for years, even if Trump has taken it to virtuosic levels. Conservatives have also happily indulged in hyperbole. Members of both camps have employed Hitler analogies. Back in the 1990s, Republicans hated Bill Clinton so much that they impeached him and tried to remove him from office. By the middle of Barack Obamas presidency, they were fondly remembering Clinton as a dealmaker, an honest broker, and essentially a good guyat least compared to Obama. Michele Bachmann even said that Solyndra (remember that?) makes Watergate look like childs play. Nonetheless, my colleague Russell Berman found that many Republicans at the partys convention last month preferred Obama to Clinton. It doesnt matter if a president or candidate is already the worst; theres always room for worse than that. The prevalence of wolf-crying, rather than being the fault of any particular party or even specific politicians or pundits, is a symptom of a particularly toxic, polarized moment in American politics. Hyperbole is just about the only way to live in such a moment, and who better to exemplify it than a man who once justified his lies as truthful hyperbole (whatever that means)? That doesnt mean the concern is misplaced. At some point, warnings really will become meaningless, and there will be no room for effective debate. The challenge is figuring out how to release some of the tension in todays political world. Needless to say, thats unlikely to happen anytime between now and Election Day. Stop me if youve heard this one, but the next three months are going to be absolutely the worst ever. * This article originally stated that MoveOn had likened Bush to Adolf Hitler. In fact, the comparisons were made in two videos submitted for its "Bush in 30 Seconds" contest. We regret the error. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Dennis Haysbert thinks Syfys new dystopian thriller, in which he co-stars as the super-scary head of security, is not so far-fetched. Incorporated is set in a near future where corporations have unlimited power, including the authority make their own laws and to torture, and execute, employees. It centers on Ben Larson (Sean Teale), an executive who conceals his true identity to infiltrate a dangerous corporate world to save the woman he loves. Among the elements of the show super-luxurious Green Zone for the 1%-ers, super-poverty Red Zone for the not so fortunate all those things were headed to, in my estimation, Haysbert said this morning at TCA. It reads very real for me. He believe that, Even though its not quite there yet, a few misplaced politicians and some other crazy things happening in the world will put us there. Later in the Q&A, Haysbert elaborated: I have children, so Im constantly worrying about the world they are going to inherit. Intolerance of people, against other people, is growing. This had been going on for a years, and what we are doing now is pulling back the veil. He forecast that nothing will change until we learn some tolerance, until we learn that we are all one, our DNA is the same, were all human beings. Haysbert added: I think the first time white was used was in the 1600s. Generally we were described by where we came from. All of a sudden this word white came through, and now everyone is going for their own sense of power to figure out whos on top. There is always that 1% who looked down upon everyone else and kept us fighting each other. Until we figure that out and stop, this is where were headed. Julian, Haysberts security specialist-cum-inquisitor character on the show, is someone much to be feared, but youll also see a lot of compassion out of this man. He is a man who is trying to protect his family, the actor said. Story continues In February Syfy gave a 13-episode series order to Incorporated, thw futuristic thriller pilot from Matt Damon, Ben Affleck & Jennifer Todds Pearl Street Films, CBS Television Studios and Universal Cable Prods. Syfy also said today that the series will debut Wednesday, November 30. Amanda NDuka contributed to this report. Related stories ABC Boss On The Cancellations Of 'Castle', 'Nashville' And ... 'Body Of Proof' - TCA 'The Bachelor' Needs More Diverse "Pool Of Candidates", Says Programming Chief Channing Dungey - TCA ABC Renews 'Celebrity Family Feud', 'Pyramid', 'Match Game' & 'To Tell The Truth' -TCA By Natasha Bowler ATHENS (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - If Mustafa had known what it would be like living in a refugee camp in the Greek capital, he would never have left Syria. Four months of living in a broken tent by Athens' Pireaus harbor, waiting for his asylum claim to be processed has caused Mustafa to bitterly regret his decision to leave Aleppo. "Anywhere. Anything is better than this," he said as a tear trickled down his cheek. Only 38, Mustafa, who like many asylum seekers declined to give his full name, looks much older - as does his wife Nadia, 37, who sits beside him, sweaty and squashed in their small tent. Outside the temperature rises to more than 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). The couple left most of their family behind in Syria, except for Mustafa's parents who made it to a refugee camp in Turkey. "We didn't think we'd be here long but we've yet to have our first (asylum) interview," Mustafa told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "They've delayed it over and over again. At this rate we'll be here for years. Sometimes, I just want to take my wife's hand and jump into the sea." Since 2015, Greece has been the main entry point into Europe for refugees and migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and beyond. A European Union (EU) deal with Turkey has helped stem the flow of migrants making the narrow but precarious sea crossing from Turkish shores to outlying Greek islands - but many are still getting across. More than 160,000 people have arrived in Greece by crossing the Mediterranean so far this year, almost half of them from Syria, according to the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR. The majority of new arrivals have applied for asylum in the EU. To receive asylum in Europe, migrants in Greece must go through a rigorous process through EASO, the European Asylum Support Office. This entails a minimum of two interviews in Greece, spread over several weeks or months, and then at least two additional interviews in their country of relocation. "The time it takes for a relocation request to go through in Greece really depends on the member state in question. Some are relatively fast and some are not," said Iota Peristeri, who works at the Greek asylum service. "You could be lucky and you're only in Greece for three months or so, or it could take much longer," Peristeri told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. SMUGGLED BACK TO TURKEY The whole process can take months if not years. And for those who arrived after the EU-Turkey deal in March, the wait could be much longer as EU member states continue to fill up their asylum quotas and become increasingly cautious about who they grant asylum to. "The relocation process is so slow. I think life would be easier back in Syria," said Maha, 38, who left Aleppo with her three children in February after her husband died of a stroke. Maha spent time in two refugee camps - one on the Greek-Macedonian border, the other by Piraeus port - before ending up in Athens' Eleonas camp, which hosts about 1,500 people. Although she registered her and her family as refugees with EASO in March, they are yet to have their first interview. "Being at Eleonas camp is the hardest part of my journey so far. I just want them to hurry up or at the very least send us back to Syria," Maha said. "The food here is inedible ... but we have no choice but to eat it. A lot of people regret coming at all, and many are being smuggled back to Turkey." While many asylum seekers like Maha are placed in official refugee camps, the majority are forced to sleep on the streets in Athens as they wait for their applications to be processed. Those accepted on a relocation program are put in a house as they wait to be flown to their new home. "I shared a house with several other guys ... It was pretty basic and missing a lot of things but I was thankful to have it," says Muhammad, 24, from Damascus. "In the past, people applying to be reunited with their families also got them but they don't have enough houses so this has stopped. That's why so many people are sleeping on the streets." DESPERATE, DEPRESSED When migrants arriving on Greek islands like Samos or Lesbos get the call for their first asylum interview, they must pay for a ferry to Athens. The journey is often very expensive for families who have spent their life savings getting to Europe. These asylum seekers are meant to be provided with accommodation in Athens but this did not happen for Damascus-born Nama Abdullah, 28, and her three children who live in Kara Tepe, a refugee camp on Lesbos. In May, Abdullah was told she and her family had an interview in Athens but unable to afford the 178 euro ($200) journey to get there, she sought financial help from other refugees. She said she received no help with accommodation. "I couldn't afford to rent a hotel for the night and all the camps in Athens sent us away," Abdullah said. "Nobody helped us, no volunteers, nobody." Altogether, Abdullah and her children spent two nights in Athens, the time it took her to raise the money to sail back to Lesbos. Again, other refugees funded her journey. She will go back to Athens for a follow-up interview on Sept. 9. "People are so desperate here, they'll really do anything," said Safi, a former NATO employee and translator. "Everyone is depressed here, myself included. Nobody ever feels good." "I have friends who are saying they'll go back to join Al Qaeda or worse, because they feel like they have no other choice. And, you know what? I don't blame them." (Editing by Katie Nguyen. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org to see more stories) A report out this morning about a planned intervention in Donald Trumps presidential campaign brings to mind a point in the career of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood when he was doing so many drugs that Keith Richards -- Keith Richards! -- forced him into rehab. NBC News says that Trumps behavior over the past few days has become so undisciplined and erratic that former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and former House speaker Newt Gingrich are being called on to meet personally with the former reality television star in hopes of restoring some order and decorum to his campaign. Related: Trump Slams U.S. Military Arms as He Swoons Over Russian Military Consider that for a minute. How over-the-top does your rhetoric have to get for Rudy Giuliani -- this Rudy Giuliani -- to tell you that you really ought to dial it back a bit? How undisciplined do you have to be for Newt -- We interrupt this campaign for a Mediterranean cruise -- Gingrich to tell you to step up your game? If its a mark of desperation that Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus is roping in Giuliani and Gingrich, its certainly understandable. Over the past two days, Trump has repeatedly made unforced errors that make political operatives cringe, Democrats rejoice, and his fellow Republicans running in Novembers election worry seriously about down-ballot consequences of an electoral college wipeout. Against all logic, Trump has not just continued, but escalated his public fight with the parents of US Army Capt. Humayun Khan who died in Iraq in 2004 protecting his soldiers from a suicide bomber. Khans father noted, in a smoldering speech at the Democratic National Convention, that Trumps proposed ban on Muslims entering the US would have blocked his son from entry when he came with the family from Pakistan at age 2. Related: Trumps Supporters Now Include a Child Screaming Curses at Clinton (Weve Got Audio!) In a radio interview, Trump went so far as to suggest that the Khan family objected to preventing terrorists from coming to the United States. Story continues Trumps criticism of the Gold Star family for what he repeatedly called a vicious attack had prompted rebukes from the normally non-partisan Veterans of Foreign Wars as well as from Republicans like Arizona Sen. John McCain, who endorsed Trump. At an event in Virginia yesterday, Trump made a show of the fact that he had accepted a Purple Heart from an elderly veteran he met at the high school where he was speaking. Ive always wanted to get the real Purple Heart, Trump said, of the decoration awarded to US service personnel, according to the Pentagon, who are wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces. This was much easier, Trump added. The exchange came on the same day that The New York Times reported on the five deferments Trump received in order to avoid military service during the Vietnam War. Related: Heres What Happens If Trump Decides to Quit Also on Tuesday, Trump said that he was not prepared to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the nations highest-ranking elected Republican, in a primary election against a relative political unknown. He also attacked New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, another Republican, who is locked in a tough reelection battle, and refused to endorse McCain in Arizona. He also raised eyebrows by appearing to publicly mock a woman with a crying baby at his rally in Virginia, by accusing fire marshals in various town of conspiring against him by enforcing occupancy rules at his events, and by floating the idea that the general election may be rigged against him. As all this was happening, Republicans like former Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman, long-time Jeb Bush aide Sally Bradshaw, and New York Congressman Richard Hanna all announced that they would support Democrat Hillary Clinton for the presidency over their own partys candidate. Whitman called Trump a demagogue who has undermined the character of the nation. At this point, its unclear why Republican leaders might think that Trump will listen to Giuliani and Gingrich -- or to anyone for that matter -- but desperate times call for desperate measures, and it is difficult to imagine a party in more desperate straits than the GOP right now. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Devon Energy Corp. DVN reported second-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings per share of 6 cents, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate was a loss of 22 cents. In second-quarter 2015, the company reported earnings of 78 cents per share. Second-quarter results were better than market expectations, thanks to the companys cost saving initiatives and a marginal improvement in commodity prices during the second quarter. On a GAAP basis, the company reported a loss of $3.04 per share compared with a loss of $6.94 per share in the year-ago quarter. The difference between operating and GAAP figures in the reported quarter was due to asset impairment of $1.91, restructuring and transaction costs of 3 cents, deferred tax asset valuation allowance of 91 cents and foreign currency adjustments of 25 cents. Revenues Devons quarterly revenues of $2.49 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.27 billion by 9.7%. However, total revenues were 26.7% lower than year-ago revenues of $3.4 billion. Highlights of the Release In the second quarter 2016, Devons total production averaged 644,000 barrels of oil-equivalent (boe) per day, down 4.4% from the year-ago level. Total production in the reported quarter came primarily from its core assets, which touched 545,000 boe per day. Production from core assets exceeded the mid-point of the guidance by 6,000 boe per day, driven by solid contribution from STACK, Delaware Basin and Canadian operations. At the field level, the company is effectively controlling its costs. Thanks to its initiatives, lease operating expenses (LOE) were down 26% year over year to $416 million. DEVON ENERGY Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise DEVON ENERGY Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | DEVON ENERGY Quote Realized Prices Realized oil prices in the quarter were $41.56 per barrel, down 20.9% from $52.52 per barrel in the year-ago quarter. Realized prices for natural gas were down 34.3% to $1.40 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) from $2.13 per Mcf in the year-ago quarter. Total realized prices in the second quarter, including cash settlements, were $17.97 per boe, down 46.7% year over year due to lower commodities prices. Financial Health As of Jun 30, 2016, the company had a cash balance of $1,723 million, down from $2,310 million as of Dec 31, 2015. Long-term debt as of Jun 30, 2016, was $12,357 million compared with $12,056 million as of Dec 31, 2015. Devons cash flow from operating activities in second-quarter 2016 was $335 million compared with $1,101 million in second-quarter 2015. Capital expenditure was $489 million, lower than $1,432 million a year ago. Guidance Devon Energy estimates total production from its core assets for the third quarter of 2016 in the range of 560,000590,000 boe per day. The company now expects 2016 total daily production in the range of 598,000623,000 boe, up from the previous expectation of 531,000555,000 boe. Capital expenditure (capex) in the third quarter is expected in the range of $340$420 million. The company raised its 2016 capex guidance to the range of $1,370 million to $1,645 million. The 2016 capex budget was increased by $200 million at both ends to fund E&P activities. Devons 2016 E&P capital investment is estimated in a $1,100 million to $1,300 million range and, for the third quarter, it is expected in a range of $275 million to $325 million. Devon Energy further lowered its 2016 LOE outlook by $150 million to a range of $1.6 billion to $1.7 billion. The company expects its field-level costs, which include both LOE and production taxes, to decline by $600 million in 2016 from 2015 levels. Devon now anticipates G&A expenses to decline to a range of $600 million to $650 million for the full year. Other Company Releases Anadarko Petroleum Corporation APC reported second-quarter 2016 adjusted loss of 60 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 77 cents. TOTAL S.A. TOT reported second-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 90 cents per share, easily surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 75 cents by 20%. Chevron Corp. CVX reported second-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 49 cents per share, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents by 58%. Our View Devon Energy was able to beat second-quarter estimates primarily due to its cost saving initiatives, which helped the company to overcome the challenges of a soft commodity price environment. Devons focus on high-quality North American properties has led to robust oil output. We expect continued strong production from the Eagle Ford and Delaware Basin assets and Canadian heavy oil operations to help it to maintain its production levels. Devons streamlining operations have taken the shape of divesture of non-core assets. Year to date, the company has signed agreements to divest non-core assets worth $3.2 billion, exceeding its divesture target of $2$3 billion for 2016. The company intends to utilize these proceeds to lower its existing debts and make strategic investments in high-quality resource plays. Oil prices staged a comeback during the second quarter from historic lows. However, most of the gains have lately been eaten away by new production hitting the market, bringing the prices down. Notably, cost-saving initiatives of the company are also in full force and are expected to generate total savings of nearly $1,000 million from 2015 levels, a big positive amid challenging circumstances. Devon Energy currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CHEVRON CORP (CVX): Free Stock Analysis Report TOTAL FINA SA (TOT): Free Stock Analysis Report DEVON ENERGY (DVN): Free Stock Analysis Report ANADARKO PETROL (APC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Shares of DexCom Inc. DXCM fell 5.7% in after-hours trading on Aug 2, following another disappointing earnings release. The company reported loss of 24 cents per share in the second quarter of 2016, much wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 11 cents. DexCom had reported a loss of 5 cents in the year-ago quarter. Revenues surged 47.3% year over year to $137.3 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $133 million. Average selling price (ASP) was in the range of $70$75 per sensor while ASP for Dexcoms hardware was stable (approximately $850 to $850 per starter kit) in the quarter. International revenues surged 45% year over year to $18 million in the quarter. DexCom bought its distributor Nintamed, which operated in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. DexCom also established direct team in the U.K. Notably, in Germany, the G-BA agreed to provide reimbursement for the companys continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device. The reimbursement approval is anticipated to benefit DexComs top-line growth beginning 2017. Dexcom Inc. - Earnings Surprise | FindTheBest Operational Details Gross margin contracted 850 basis points (bps) year over year to 62.3%. The gross margin was affected chiefly by increased warranty expense as well as a write-down of excess and obsolete inventory of approximately $3.5 million related to the companys receiver recall. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses surged 53.3% on a year-over-year basis to $69.3 million. Research and development (R&D) expense also jumped 48.8% year over year to $36.3 million. Overall, operating expenses were up 51.7% year over year to $105.6 million. The higher expenses can be attributed to increased payroll related costs and expenses related to work on the companys product pipeline. DexCom also incurred considerable expense related to its Verily partnership. DexCom also spent more on its four key strategic initiatives the Verily partnership, manufacturing capacity expansion (in Arizona), international expansion, and investment in advanced data platforms. The company plans to spend a total of $40 million on these four initiatives through full-year 2016. DexCom reported an operating loss of $20.1 million compared with an operating loss of $3.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Story continues DEXCOM INC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise DEXCOM INC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | DEXCOM INC Quote Regulatory Action On Feb 23, 2016, DexCom issued a customer notification in its website and certified mail to patients that alerted customers of a potential issue affecting the audible alarms and alerts associated with the speaker component of certain receivers. The company started voluntary recall (class II) of those affected receivers that were experiencing problems with audible alarms and alerts. After an inspection in late March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified the recall as Class I due to the extreme importance of alerts and alarms in a CGM system. Accordingly, DexCom issued a press release on Apr 11 and also posted the class I recall notice on its website. During the second quarter, DexCom received FDA approval for a more robust speaker for the current receiver. The company is in the process of planning the production of this newly configured receiver. DexCom also filed its next generation touchscreen receiver with the FDA during the quarter. The company also submitted for a firmware update on the transmitter and a software update for its mobile app that will enhance the performance and reliability of the G5 Mobile transmitter. While recently, the Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Toxicology Devices Panel of the FDA voted in favor of the proposed non-adjunctive indication for DexComs G5 Mobile CGM system. This indication would designate the G5 Mobile CGM system as a replacement to finger-stick glucose testing for diabetes treatment decisions. DexCom had filed a pre-market approval (PMA) supplement with the FDA for this indication, for which the review by the advisory committee was conducted on Jul 21. Product Details DexCom launched its next-generation G5 Mobile CGM system in the U.S. and Europe in 2015. According to management, G5 Mobile system is the first and only CGM system approved by the FDA for both adults and children as young as two years of age that sends glucose data directly to a smartphone. DexCom plans to launch the Android version of the G5 Mobile app in the third quarter. The U.S. Android launch is now dependent upon the transmitter firmware revision that the company filed for the FDA approval in the second quarter. The company now expects the U.S. Android launch to happen in late 2016 or early 2017. DexCom also plans to submit and possibly launch an enhanced version of G5 Mobile app to provide additional features and functionality, such as insulin onboard data obtained from the companys pump partners in 2016. The new G5 insertion system and transmitter is expected to be filed for the FDA approval within the next few weeks. With respect to Gen 6, DexCom obtained IDE approval in the second quarter. Guidance For fiscal 2016, DexCom now projects revenues in the range of $550 million to $575 million as compared with previous guidance of $540 million to $565 million. DexCom anticipates warranty costs as a percentage of sales to decline in the third quarter of 2016 and is expected to normalize before the end of the year. DexCom forecasts gross margin to be in the mid-to-upper 60% range for the second half of the year and in the mid-60% for the full year of 2016. Zacks Rank & Key Picks Currently, DexCom carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Better-ranked stocks in the medical sector are Cepheid CPHD, Masimo Corp MASI and Natus Medical BABY. All the three stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CEPHEID INC (CPHD): Free Stock Analysis Report MASIMO CORP (MASI): Free Stock Analysis Report NATUS MEDICAL (BABY): Free Stock Analysis Report DEXCOM INC (DXCM): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Rembrandt may have traced his celebrated self-portraits from optical projections created by assemblies of mirrors or lenses, a new analysis suggests. Two U.K.-based researchers Francis O'Neill, an artist and art teacher; and Sofia Palazzo Corner, an independent physicist have identified several arrangements of a flat and curved mirror, or a flat mirror and a lens, which they say can recreate the perspectives, proportions and lighting seen in the self-portraits of the famed 17th-century Dutch painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. "The evidence suggests he used lenses and projections," O'Neill and Palazzo Corner wrote in a paper published online July 13 in the Journal of Optics. "The similarity of his images to projections, in their lighting and soft focus, along with the use of lens technology by his peers and fellow artists, and the contemporary literature on the subject, all support this." [See Photos of How Rembrandt May Have Created His Self-Portraits] O'Neill told Live Science that the new findings follow the work of British artist David Hockney and American physicist Charles Falco, who proposed in 2001 that Rembrandt and other artists had used optical instruments to capture details and proportions with almost photographic accuracy such as the camera obscura, which projects an upside-down image into a darkened room. "But I knew there was this hole in the theory, about self-portraits," O'Neill said, "because if they're using a camera obscura, where the subject is in the light and the artist is in the dark, how would they do self-portraits?" In 2012, when O'Neill began painting his own self-portraits from his reflection in a flat mirror, he discovered how difficult it was to accurately paint his face while giving attention to both his reflection and his work on the canvas. "By this stage, I'd been drawing for 20 years, and I'm teaching drawing ... but my skills did not transfer as well to the self-portrait as they did if I was drawing someone else," he said. "And I was thinking, 'How has Rembrandt done his best work in his self-portraits, if it is such a demanding physical discipline?' And so I thought, 'It has to be done this way [with optics].'" Story continues Through the looking glass After discussing his ideas with other artists, O'Neill began experimenting with a pair of cosmetic mirrors bought at a pharmacy one flat and one concave. He arranged them to project his reflection onto a metal surface so that the projected image would be as bright as possible. At first, O'Neill used aluminum foil as the projection surface. "It wasn't the best surface, but you could achieve projections," he said. "And then I got myself some copper etching plate, and from there, I was able to make bigger and better projections and that convinced me that this was how it was done." The research paper by O'Neill and Palazzo Corner details several combinations of subjects, mirrors and a projection surface that result in projected images that almost exactly match the physical measurements taken from a sample of Rembrandt's self-portraits. The researchers also analyzed other features of Rembrandt's self-portraits that they think indicate he was using projections to guide his initial drawings and final paintings, including the off-center eye line an effect that O'Neill said was impossible to achieve accurately without using a flat mirror with a concave mirror or a refracting lens. [Gallery: Hidden Gems in Renaissance Art] Even Rembrandt's famed use of contrasting light and dark regions, which art historians call "chiaroscuro," appears to be an artifact of the "soft focus" at the edges of a projected image. This results in very little detail where there is very little light, and a lot of detail in areas that are strongly lit, O'Neill said. Secrets of the Old Masters O'Neill said some art historians criticized his research; no historical record exists of Rembrandt ever using mirrors or other types of optics to help him create his paintings, they argued. But O'Neill pointed out that leading artists of the time were often secretive about their techniques, and said the historical evidence for his theory can be found by examining the paintings. Meanwhile, work by Hockney, Falco and other researchers has demonstrated that knowledge of optical techniques, such as the use of curved mirrors and camera obscuras, was known to artists in Europe from as early as the 1350s, O'Neill said. The new research supports the ideas proposed by Hockney and Falco that the development of optical instruments and techniques in Europe after the 14th century had a profound impact on Western art, as they did on scientific thought, O'Neill said. "This becomes really obvious having studied it, that the invention of the lens gives mankind the possibility of seeing their position in the world," he said. "So they see the stars, and astronomy begins in earnest; they start to look through microscopes, so they're seeing the minutiae of the world. They're seeing the enormity of space, and they're seeing their own position in the world, because they are using lenses to look at themselves." Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Wall Street is in a bit of a funk. Stocks (^DJI, ^GSPC, ^IXIC) started the day little changed as investors dissect the latest round of corporate results and keep close tabs on oil prices (CL=F). Meanwhile, private sector employment came in better than economists expected last month. Employers added 179,000 jobs in July. However, all the hiring was in the service sector, according to ADP and Moodys Analytics. Time Warner invests in Hulu Time Warner (TWX) shares were sharply higher in early trading. The media giant is buying a 10% stake in Hulu and signed an agreement for all of its Turner networks to be carried on Hulus live-streaming services. The company also announced second-quarter earnings that beat expectations. However, revenue fell short of forecasts due to slow growth in its HBO and Warner Brothers businesses. Earnings watch list Tesla (TSLA) results are on tap after the market close. Analysts expect sales to be over $1.6 billion for the quarter. Tesla has dealt with a lot of bad news recently, including how the autopilot feature played a role in one fatal crash. Fitbit (FIT) shares soared in early trading. The maker of fitness-tracking wristbands delivered better than expected earnings and revenue for the second quarter. Sales soared nearly 47% from a year ago. Profit fell as operating expenses more than doubled with new investment on research and development of new products and marketing. Etsy (ETSY) got a nice pop this morning. The online crafts marketplace raised its outlook for the year after revenue topped estimates for the second quarter. Sales jumped 39% thanks to strong growth in seller services and users. Electronic Arts (EA), the video game publisher behind titles including FIFA and Star Wars Battlefront, swung to a profit last quarter. Revenue also beat estimates as players downloaded more digital versions of its games. However, the companys revenue forecast for the current quarter was a tad less than what analysts were expecting. Story continues HP CEO backs Clinton Meg Whitman may be a Republican, but shes backing Hillary Clinton. On LinkedIn, Whitman wrote, Donald Trumps demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character. Meanwhile, the Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) CEO praised Clinton for her temperament and global experience, which she says are major characteristics needed for a president. Bitcoin robbery Investigators are trying to find out whos responsible for a major bitcoin heist. Almost 120,000 units of bitcoin were stolen from the Bitfinex exchange platform in Hong Kong. The Bitcoins are worth about $72 million. A special pooch just received new chance to fulfill a good, doggone life. Nine-month-old Cola was brutally punished by his owner's next-door neighbor when the dog was caught chewing on the back of the mans shoes in Thailand. Despite several efforts by Colas former owner to pay the neighbor for damages, the man attacked the poor pup, severing his two front legs. Read: 3-Legged Pitbull Cuddles with Kittens Nearly 10 Years After Rescue From Michael Vick Dogfighting Ring The Soi Dog Foundation was notified of the cruel attack, immediately taking Cola to a veterinary clinic, and even covering all of the dog's expenses. The clinic team then fit Cola with his very own custom-made prosthetic legs after his recovery. However, with his owner surrendering him to the rescue team, Cola was without a home and a family to love him. Read: Heroic Stray Pit Bull Rushes to Woman's Rescue During Knife Attack According to Soi Dog Communications and Content Manager, Maeve Henry, the neighbor, who brutally attacked Cola, was charged under the Animal Welfare Act and sentenced to one month in prison. The Soi Dog Foundation was founded by Margot Homburg Park and John and Gill Dalley in 2003, a time when the stray dog population grew rapidly in the city of Phuket, Thailand. Co-Founder Gill Dalley collected Cola from Bangkok and welcomed him into her home and the two instantly bonded as Dalley also uses prosthetics when she lost both of her legs while rescuing a dog in 2004. Leaving his troubled past behind him, the pooch now lives with the Dalleys, and enjoys tons of belly rubs and walks on the beach. Cola can now look forward to better days with his loving new family and forever home. Watch: Watch This Silly Dog Attempt to Hula Hoop By Spinning in Circles Related Articles: A North Carolina family had a joyous reunion with their dog after she was swept away in rough river rapids in Ontario. David Kareken and his family were on a camping trip in the Boundary Waters area of Canadas Quetico Provincial Park in early July when Kali, their 7-year-old golden retriever/border collie mix, fell into the violent rapids of a waterway called Rebecca Falls and disappeared. Kareken and his family searched for hours, and left the park sure that Kali had drowned. We werejust beside ourselves, Kareken told the CBC. You know, it was a nightmare. Almost two weeks later, Kareken was back home in Asheville, North Carolina, when he received a phone call from the park saying that a dog matching Kalis description had been found alive and well, the CBC reported. He then drove up to Ontario to collect his pet who had survived alone in the wilderness for 10 days. A video of the reunion shows an ecstatic Kali jumping all over Kareken. Reuniting was extraordinary, Kareken told the CBC. Dominion Resources Inc. D reported second-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 71 cents per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings were within the guidance range of 65 cents to 75 cents per share. Operating earnings decreased 2.7% from 73 cents per share a year ago. The decline was due to the impact of a milder weather, a planned refueling outage at Millstone, and share dilution. GAAP earnings were 73 cents per share compared with 70 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. The difference between GAAP and operating earnings in the reported quarter was due to one-time adjustments. Total Revenues Dominions operating revenues of $2,598 million in the second quarter missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,737 million by 5.1%. Revenues also decreased nearly 5.4% year over year. Highlights of the Release Total operating expenses in the quarter decreased 5.8% year over year to $1,818 million. The decline in total expenses was primarily due to a 49.5% drop in the cost of purchased gas and a nearly 6.8% decline in electric fuel and other energy-related expenses. Interest and related charges in the reported quarter were $239 million, up 8.1% from the year-ago quarter. Dominion Virginia Power recorded 0.96% year-over-year growth in its customer base. However, warmer temperatures led to a 5.8% year-over-year decline in electricity sales volume to 18,920 Gwh in the second quarter. DOMINION RES VA Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise DOMINION RES VA Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | DOMINION RES VA Quote Segment Update Dominion Virginia Power recorded a net income of $104 million or 17 cents per share in the second quarter of 2016, down 11.1% year over year. Dominion Energy recorded earnings of $162 million or 26 cents per share, up 25.6% year over year. Dominion Generations earnings were $171 million or 28 cents per share, down 31.6% year over year. Corporate and Others swung to a profit of $4 million from a year-ago loss of $67 million or 11 cents per share. Financial Update Dominion exited second-quarter 2016 with cash and cash equivalents of $377 million, down from $607 million as of Dec 31 2015. Long-term debt as of Jun 30, 2016, was $24.8 billion compared with $23.5 billion at the end of 2015. Cash from operating activities in first-half 2016 was $2.01 billion, down 6.6% from $2.16 billion in the year-ago period. Looking Ahead Dominion expects to generate third-quarter 2016 operating earnings in a range of 95 cents to $1.10 per share. Earnings in the year-ago period were $1.03 per share. Dominion reaffirmed the earnings guidance for 2016 in the range of $3.60 to $4.00 per share. Other Company Releases American Electric Power Co., Inc. AEP reported second-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 95 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents by 5.6%. DTE Energy Company DTE reported second-quarter 2016 operating earnings per share of 98 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents by 8.9%. NextEra Energy, Inc. NEE reported second-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of $1.67 per share, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.58 by 5.7%. Our View Dominions earnings were in line with expectation. However, milder weather led to a year-over-year decline in earnings. The company is nonetheless well poised thanks to its organic and inorganic growth strategies. Dominions 1,358-megawatt natural gas combined-cycle facility started operation in the second quarter ahead of expectation and within budget. The company also started construction on the 1,588-megawatt Greensville County combined cycle power station, which will be able to provide power to nearly 400,000 customers. In the reported quarter, Dominion served more customers across all customer classes than the year-ago quarter, the only exception being industrial. Overall, customer volume increased 0.9% year over year, which will definitely have a positive impact on Dominions performance in the future. Dominion Resources holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AMER ELEC PWR (AEP): Free Stock Analysis Report NEXTERA ENERGY (NEE): Free Stock Analysis Report DTE ENERGY CO (DTE): Free Stock Analysis Report DOMINION RES VA (D): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Whether or not Donald Trump becomes president of the United States, he's set to stand trial after the November election on racketeering claims. On Tuesday, a California federal judge rejected his summary judgment bid in a class action lawsuit brought over the operation of Trump University, the enterprise that offered to teach students Trump's secrets in making it big in the real estate industry. The plaintiffs led by Art Cohen point to the marketing campaign used to hype Trump University, alleging that what they got for their money never lived up to statements about "hand-picked instructors" and "the next best thing to being his Apprentice." Trump argued that the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act - a law that's most famously been used to prosecute mobsters - shouldn't be extended to consumer class action cases in the civil context. U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel declined the invitation to draw this line, writing in his ruling, "It is not for this Court to effectuate Defendant's policy preferences in contravention of the settled approach of the higher courts." The judge also concluded that it is a triable issue whether Trump participated in the operation or management of Trump University and whether the marketing statements wereor misleading. Trump has been arguing that calling the enterprise a "university," for example, amounts to puffery, but Curiel ruled that a jury should decide such interpretations along with the question of whether Trump knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud when representations were made about "hand-picked instructors." Trump has been firm that he won't settle this litigation, which means it will linger through his election bid. In the past, he's attacked the impartiality of the judge in controversial comments about the judge's Mexican heritage. Despite this, Curiel gave Trump a minor victory on Tuesday by denying media organizations who sought the unsealing of video of his depositions. Transcripts have already been made public. CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, The New York Times and the Washington Post argued that the paper transcript does not reflect the full contents of these exhibits as observers deserve to see his intonations and facial expressions. Story continues Curiel agreed with Trump that "it is nigh-inevitable that 'cut' and 'splic[ed]' segments of Defendant's deposition videos would appear in both media reports and in political advertisements aired nationwide prior to the trial date in November, increasing the likelihood that prospective jurors would be exposed to information about the case, as well as to evidence that could be introduced at trial to impeach Defendant's testimony." The judge looked at prior cases involving video depositions of celebrities, including one featuring the late musician Prince in an intellectual property fight. He also weighed factors like a lower presumption of public access to discovery materials not yet entered into evidence, and while he acknowledged that some factors like Trump's running for the highest office in America favor disclosure, Curiel ultimately came to the conclusion that the limited benefits aren't worth the increased difficulty in seating an impartial jury. The media may have struck out in efforts to obtain these tapes, but they are waging more legal battles for access to Trump documents in other cases. For example, Time Inc. presently has a motion in New York federal court aimed at unsealing a nearly two-decade old settlement in a lawsuit concerning the use of undocumented Polish workers to build Trump Tower. It has been a wild week of controversy for Republican nominee Donald Trump, with the business mogul seemingly moving from one firestorm to another in the postconvention fray. The bizarre week began with a Trump interview that aired Sunday on ABC. Trump started pushing back against Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq. In a speech last week at the Democratic National Convention, Khan said that Trump had sacrificed nothing and no one and that his policies, such as a ban on Muslims entering the U.S., made him unfit to be president. Trump did not back down from the criticism, arguing to ABCs George Stephanopoulos that he had sacrificed through business success. He doubled down on his comments later in the day, arguing that Khan did not know him and has no right to question his knowledge of the Constitution. The GOP candidates most provocative comment about Khan, however, came in a pair of jabs in which he questioned why Khans wife was silent during the DNC speech implying that a strict adherence to Islam was to blame. Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same Nice! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2016 Trump also said in the ABC interview that Russian President Vladimir Putin Is not going into Ukraine, a statement that apparently overlooked the fact that Russia moved armed troops into the Crimean Peninsula and annexed the region in 2014. Trump clarified his position the next day on Twitter. So with all of the Obama tough talk on Russia and the Ukraine, they have already taken Crimea and continue to push. That's what I said! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2016 It was Trumps various statements about Khan that led to Republican leaders including House Speaker Paul Ryan to quickly distance themselves from their own partys nominee. Arizona Sen. John McCain, the GOP nominee in 2008 who has stated his support for Trump, issued a particularly passionate denunciation of Trumps comments. Story continues In recent days, Donald Trump disparaged a fallen soldiers parents. He has suggested that the likes of their son should not be allowed in the United States to say nothing of entering its service, McCain said in a statement. I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trumps statement. I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers, or candidates. Other Republicans went further and announced that they would break with the party and vote for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. On Monday, former Jeb Bush adviser Sally Bradshaw said Monday she would vote for Clinton if her home state of Florida were close on Election Day. On Tuesday, Rep. Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., became the first elected official to endorse Clinton. Also on Tuesday, Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman and longtime Chris Christie aide Maria Comella said they would support Clinton over Trump. Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pa. (Photo: Evan Vucci/APac) President Obama on Tuesday also joined the chorus of voices calling on leading Republicans to distance themselves from Trump. The question [Republicans] have to ask themselves is: If you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him? Obama said at a press conference. What does this say about your party that this is your standard-bearer? President Obama speaks at a news conference with Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the White House on Tuesday. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) Less than an hour later, Trump was making headlines again. At a rally in suburban Virginia, Trump was given a copy of a veteran supporters Purple Heart and joked that he had always wanted the medal which is given to wounded U.S. military personnel and not something most people desire. Trump also earned a round of high-profile headlines by jokingly ejecting a baby from the event after it cried repeatedly during his remarks. But Trump wasnt done stirring the pot there. Late on Tuesday, the Washington Post published an interview with Trump in which he pointedly declined to endorse either Ryan or McCain in their upcoming GOP primary races. I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country, Trump said, echoing the language Ryan used before endorsing his own candidacy. We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And Im just not quite there yet. Im not quite there yet. Trump gave a shout-out to Ryans primary opponent the day before: Thanks to @pnehlen for your kind words, very much appreciated. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2016 In his Washington Post interview, Trump also criticized McCain and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., who had also issued a statement blasting Trumps criticism of Khizr Khan. He argued that McCain, a former POW, was weak on veterans issues and that Ayotte was weak and disloyal. On Tuesday night, Trump campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson said on television that Obama and Clinton were probably to blame for the 2004 death of Khans son in the Iraq War despite the fact that neither was in office then. She walked back that claim in another interview Wednesday morning. Trump also generated controversy this week by directly predicting that the November election would be rigged against him. He said at a Monday rally, Im afraid the election is going be rigged, I have to be honest. Later that day, he added on Fox News: Im telling you, Nov. 8, we better be careful, because that election is going to be rigged. The overall maelstrom apparently led to reports that the Trump campaign is reeling from the weeks events, with some staff members reportedly telling CNNs Dana Bash that they feel like they are wasting their time. The CNN story, published Wednesday morning, was joined by other reports, one from ABC News indicating that senior GOP officials are exploring their options if Trump were to drop out. And the week is only half over. NEWS BRIEF House Speaker Paul Ryan endorsed Donald Trump in the spring, lending the Republican candidates campaign legitimacy and ushering in a period of alleged party unification. But Trump wont return the favor. On the same day President Obama called out leaders like Ryan for continuing to support the Republican nominee, Trump told The Washington Post in a Tuesday interview that when it comes to endorsing Ryan, hes not quite there yet. Hes also withholding support from Arizona Senator John McCain, and spoke critically of New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte. The three lawmakers have something in common: They are voting for Trump, but have also publicly criticized some of his more controversial comments. Most recently, all three released statements decrying Trumps remarks about the Khan family, who lost their son in combat in 2004. McCainwho Trump once suggested isnt a war hero despite his prisoner-of-war status during the Vietnam Warhasnt done enough to help U.S. veterans to win Trumps support, he told the Post. And Trump hit Ayotte for giving him zero support in his race against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Recommended: Is the Trump Campaign Collapsing? Trump seems to have chosen his language deliberately when discussing Ryan, who presided over the Republican National Convention in July. His not quite there yet comment sounds like Ryans own statements this past spring describing why he was holding off on endorsing his partys then-presumptive nominee. To be perfectly candid, Im not ready to do that right now, Ryan told CNNs Jake Tapper in May. It was a conspicuous lineand one he echoed over and over in the interview. Trump, it seems, hasnt gotten over Ryans delayor simply isnt happy with his response to Trumps feud with the Khans. Heres the Post with more from the interview: Story continues With Ryans Wisconsin primary scheduled for next Tuesday, Trump praised the House speakers underdog opponent, Paul Nehlen, for running a very good campaign. Trump said that Ryan has sought his endorsement, but that as of now he is only giving it very serious consideration. I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country, Trump said. We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And Im just not quite there yet. Im not quite there yet. Trumps refusal to back Ryan represents an extraordinary breach of political decorum and signals that the Republican Party remains divided two weeks after a national convention in Cleveland staged to showcase party unity. The Nehlen campaign couldnt be reached for comment, but Ryans office told reporters that no one from the speakers team has asked Trump for his endorsement. Earlier this week, Trump sent a tweet to Nehlen thanking him for recent declarations of support. In hindsight, it seems like a tease of Trumps comments Tuesday. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Donald Trump was given a Purple Heart from a military veteran on Tuesday but it was the GOP nominee's controversial reaction that made headlines and waves on social media. "I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier," Trump told supporters at a campaign rally in Ashburn, Virginia. The comment, which was criticized as disrespectful and " insensitive" by some on Twitter, comes one day after The New York Times reported that Trump received five draft deferments during the Vietnam War, four for education and one for heel spurs. Trump's military service or lack thereof has come under scrutiny amid his ongoing feud with the Muslim-American, Gold Star parents whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004. Watch Tim Kaine Do His Best Donald Trump Impression The veteran who gave Trump his Purple Heart, an award given to service members who are wounded or killed in action, was identified by the GOP nominee's campaign as Lt. Col. Louis Dorfman. Trump said Dorfman came up on stage at the start of the rally and gave the GOP nominee the medal, telling him it was his real Purple Heart. The man who gave Trump his purple heart told me earlier today, it was a copy of his purple heart. a Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) August 2, 2016 But NBC's Katy Tur said the veteran told her it was a copy. Donald Trumps campaign on Wednesday denied a report that said the Republican presidential nominee had repeatedly asked an international foreign policy expert why the U.S. couldnt use nuclear weapons. MSNBCs Joe Scarborough claimed that the expert, who he did not name, advised the real estate mogul earlier this year during an hour-long briefing in which Trump had allegedly asked about using nuclear weapons three times, Scarborough said on Morning Joe. Trumps campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement to TIME that there was no truth to the report. Trump has spoken publicly about his thoughts on nuclear weapons in other interviews, saying they should be the absolute last step and calling proliferation a serious problem, while also noting he would never, ever rule out using them and suggesting that some other countries might need to a develop nuclear arsenal. Heres what Trump has said during the five times he has talked about nuclear weapons during the campaign so far: Biggest problem, to me, in the world, is nuclear, and proliferation Trump said nuclear capability was the single biggest problem facing the world in a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times in March. Asked whether the U.S. should be the first to launch a nuke during a confrontation with an enemy, Trump said that should be the absolute last step. Power of weaponry today is beyond anything ever thought of, or even, you know, its unthinkable, the power, he said. Its a very scary nuclear world, he added. Biggest problem, to me, in the world, is nuclear, and proliferation. I dont want to rule out anything Trump reiterated the fact that he would be the last to use nuclear weapons during an April interview with NBCs Today show. But he said the option is still on the table. I dont want to rule out anything, he said. I will be the last to use nuclear weapons. Its a horror to use nuclear weapons. I will not be a happy trigger like some people might be, he added. But I will never, ever rule it out. Story continues We have nuclear arsenals which are in very terrible shape In the same New York Times interview in March, Trump indicated that Japan and South Korea might need to obtain their own nuclear arsenal to protect themselves from North Korea and China if the U.S. is unable to defend them. Its a position that we have to talk about, he said. If the United States keeps on its path, its current path of weakness, theyre going to want to have that anyway with or without me discussing it, because I dont think they feel very secure in whats going on with our country. At some point, we cannot be the policeman of the world. And unfortunately, we have a nuclear world now, he later added. Trump also said Japan and Korea might need to pay more for their own defense. You know, when we did these deals, we were a rich country. Were not a rich country. We were a rich country with a very strong military and tremendous capability in so many ways. Were not anymore, he told the newspaper. We have a military thats severely depleted. We have nuclear arsenals which are in very terrible shape. They dont even know if they work. Maybe its going to have to be time to change Trump discussed his stance further with CNN in late March, saying the U.S. might need to change its decades-old policy of preventing Japan from getting a nuclear weapon. Can I be honest are you? Maybe its going to have to be time to change, because so many people, you have Pakistan has it, you have China has it. You have so many other countries are now having it, Trump told CNNs Anderson Cooper. Trump later appeared to contradict himself, saying he doesnt want more nuclear weapons. I will have a military thats so strong and powerful, and so respected, were not gonna have to nuke anybody Trump wouldnt be nuking anybody because he wouldnt need to, given Americas defense force, he said in an interview with GQ magazine last November. I will have a military thats so strong and powerful, and so respected, were not gonna have to nuke anybody, he said, adding that he would be amazingly calm under pressure. Still, Trump told the magazine he wouldnt get rid of the nuclear weapons because other people have them and are unfortunately gaining more and more. It is highly, highly, highly, highly unlikely that I would ever be using them, he added. DreamWorks Animation rather quietly reported impressive quarterly financial results on Wednesday, though the stock didn't budge, given the company behind Shrek and Kung Fu Panda is in the midst of being acquired by Comcast. The company, run for now by CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, posted revenue of $221 million while Wall Street analysts had predicted just $182 million. Operating income of $16 million easily beat projections of a loss of $3 million; ditto for per-share earnings, which came in at 10 cents while estimates were for a loss of 7 cents. All four of the company's segments reported a gross profit, and they all showed significant growth in revenue: feature films revenue was $98 million, up from $88 million; television series and specials was $72 million, up from $55 million; consumer products was $23 million, up from $12 million; and new media grew to $28 million from $15 million. Shares of DWA were falling a penny in midday trading to $40.99. Comcast said in April it had agreed to purchase the company for $3.8 billion, and regulators are expected to approve the deal. The Dress: An Alexander McQueen dotted tulle style from the fall 2016 collection featuring a gold sequin-embellished unicorn. The Wearer: Australian beauty Margot Robbie, who stars as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad. Thanks to her stylist Kate Young, the actress has been crushing it style-wise during the film's press tour, rocking Gucci, Rosetta Getty, Elie Saab and Altuzarra. A photo posted by Kate Young (@kateyoung) on Aug 1, 2016 at 2:35pm PDT The Event: The New York premiere of Suicide Squad, where Robbie was joined by co-stars Cara Delevingne (in Anthony Vaccarello), Jared Leto (in Gucci), Will Smith, Karen Fukuhara (in Valentino) and Joel Kinnaman (in Burberry). Why It Matters: The 26-year-old thought outside the box. It's easy to imagine another actress being swallowed up by a flashy, rearing mythical creature, but Robbie didn't let the whimsical motif overwhelm her, thanks in part to her simple beauty look (neutral nails, an oxblood lip and a loose low bun) as well as her decision to line the sheer, dotted tulle dress, rather than wear the revealing version which Sarah Burton sent down the runway over nude briefs. Still, the message was this: I'm a mythical creature, here to celebrate a movie about mythical creatures. MAGIC: Margot Robby in Alexander McQueen at the 'Suicide Squad' New York premiere on Aug. 4. (Photo: Getty Images) From Popular Mechanics A company called Zipline plans to begin delivering blood and medicine through drones to rural parts of the United States, the same way it does with remote areas of Rwanda. Zipline plans to deliver medical supplies to remote and rural communities like Maryland's Smith Island, Native American reservations in Nevada, and the San Juan islands in Washington. The company chose these three areas as places to start with the hoping the need for efficient deliveries there will lead to quicker FAA approval, which it expects to get in six months. Zipline's tiny drones, which the company calls Zips, fly at a little over 60 mph with twin electric motors, and a wingspan of almost eight feet. Earlier this year, the company signed a deal with the Rwandan government to take care of 50 to 150 daily deliveries of blood and emergency medicine to various hospitals and clinics. Notably the drones do not land but parachute their payloads from a low altitude, expediting their trips. The United States is facing a looming physician shortage. According to a study by the Association of American Medical Colleges, within ten years America will face a shortage between 61,700 and 94,700 physicians. It's expected that such a shortage would hit rural communities especially hard, given how only a tenth of all physicians in America work in such regions. "When you look at rural or isolated communities, particularly Native American populations, populations that live on islands, you have serious health outcome inequalities," says Keller Rinaudo, Zipline's founder and CEO. "There's a linear relationship between how far away you live from a city and your expected lifespan. So our hope is that this type of technology can solve those kinds of inequalities." Drone delivery isn't just good for Amazon packages, after all. Source: The Verge You Might Also Like Bill Kintner needs to be prepared to resign immediately if he's been found to have flouted rules governing state computer use. And Nebraskans deserve some answers. Right now, reports involving the state senator from Papillion are filled with words like allegedly, reportedly and possibly. According to multiple sources Kintner did something not smart with his state-owned laptop computer, and it wasnt in keeping with the family values that he espouses. The Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission is expected to address Kintners situation at its regular meeting this Friday. Gov. Pete Ricketts has called on Kintner to resign if the allegations of personal very, very personal use of a legislative computer against him are found to be true. If problems are found, Kintner shouldnt waste any time in resigning. If they aren't, the public still deserves some explanation. The Nebraska State Patrol turned over its investigation to Accountability and Disclosure in November. And more than a year ago, Kintner initiated this situation himself when he reported computer problems in connection with an exchange of videos. It appears those videos were sexually explicit in nature, although at this point no one has been able to produce a copy of them. Sen. Bob Krist, chairman of the Executive Board, said he heard about Kintners situation last summer. He felt it was a matter best handled by Ricketts, in part because Lauren Kintner, the senators wife, is Ricketts policy research director. That seems like a perfect recipe for a creating a situation that would be -- or could be perceived as -- a conflict of interest. Perhaps Krist was hoping for Ricketts to use private persuasion rather than a public process, but Nebraska statute clearly puts the ball in the Legislatures court. Nebraska Revised Statute 49-14, 137 says this: The penalties prescribed in the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act do not limit the power of the Legislature to discipline its own members or impeach a public official and do not limit the power of agencies or commissions to discipline officials or employees. Ricketts has no authority to discipline a state senator himself, but its hard to believe he couldnt have been clearer in recusing himself from the case and more forceful in urging Krist and the Legislature to act quickly. In explaining the hurdles to expelling Kintner from the Legislature, Speaker Galen Hadley told the Journal Stars JoAnne Young, What right does the Legislature have to say that he shouldnt represent (his 38,000 constituents) no matter what he did? Thats a curious and disturbing line of reasoning that offers little confidence that the Legislature has the intestinal fortitude to police itself. Krist suggests as a long-term solution the creation of the Legislatures own ethics committee. Thats not a bad idea. But the handling of this issue so far would indicate legislators could all use some training before someone gives them the keys to that car. No one emerges looking particularly good in this incident. The best thing the public can hope for is a quick and decisive resolution as soon as the full facts are known. The Hague (AFP) - A Dutch court Wednesday ruled that ground staff working for the KLM airline were barred from going on strike just hours before they were due to down tools at Amsterdam airport. The court, in the Dutch town of Haarlem, said it needed more time to examine the issue, adding it would hand down a decision on August 11. Until then all strikes and work stoppages were barred. KLM welcomed the ruling saying in a statement it was "satisfied". It had calculated that only 150 to 250 out of some 14,500 ground staff would take part in the strike which had been due to start at 7:30 pm (1730 GMT). But it had voiced concerns that any such industrial action could "potentially impact thousands of passengers resulting in delays, missed connections and/or baggage remaining behind." And it estimated the airline faced potential losses of up to 4 million euros ($4.47 million). "This is disproportionate to the small group of FNV supporters who are bringing matters to a head," the KLM-Air France company said in its statement. During the planned 90-minute strike, handlers belonging to the FNV trade union had warned no luggage would be loaded or unloaded from planes and no aircraft would be guided to the takeoff runway. FNV is calling for a wage increase, and on Tuesday refused a management invitation to rejoin discussions on a collective labour agreement, even though four other unions have resumed negotiations. "We want to sit across the negotiating table from KLM, but only if it is useful or if KLM indicates it is ready to move," said Zakaria Boufangacha, from the union's aviation branch. Schiphol airport in Amsterdam is one of Europe's busiest travel hubs, and was hit by a pilots' strike on Monday against British carrier easyJet which led to several cancellations. Over the weekend and on Tuesday, KLM also revealed that some 14,000 suitcases and bags had been left behind when Schiphol's baggage system broke down. KLM spokeswoman Manel Vrijenhoek told AFP the airline was working to dispatch the luggage as quickly as possible to its owners. From Road & Track Yesterday, we reported that Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone's mother-in-law Aparecida Schunck had been rescued, bringing the bizarre story of her kidnapping to a close. Now, Brazilian police have revealed that the Ecclestone family's helicopter pilot has been arrested for allegedly masterminding the entire plot. Motorsport reports that two suspects were arrested and a third was detained on Monday under suspicion of orchestrating the failed kidnapping scheme. The number one suspect is Jorge Eurico da Silva, a helicopter pilot who works for the family and is thought to be the one responsible for planning the kidnapping. Da Silva was arrested after police investigated phone calls between him and the other two suspects, Vitor Oliveira Amorim and David Vicente Azevedo. Schunk, the mother of Ecclestone's wife Fabiana Flosi, was held for several days before police were able to find her. According to Motorsport, the kidnappers left behind fingerprints and were caught on camera switching cars after the initial getaway. No shots were fired and no ransom was paid in the resolution of the kidnapping. CAIRO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Business activity in Egypt shrank for the 10th consecutive month in July as output, new orders and employment all declined, although the speed of contraction slowed, a survey showed on Wednesday. The Emirates NBD Egypt Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for the non-oil private sector was 48.9 points in July, an improvement from June's 47.5 points but still below the 50 point mark that separates growth from contraction. Egypt has been struggling to revive its economy since a popular uprising in 2011 and subsequent political upheaval that has driven away investors and tourists, depriving it of the foreign currency it needs to import raw materials. "Although the PMI is still pointing to weakness in Egypt's private sector, some consolation can be found in July's report as the pace of contraction is starting to ease," said Jean-Paul Pigat, Senior Economist at Emirates NBD. "Addressing the FX liquidity shortage will be key to seeing a further stabilization in the PMI in the second half of the year." The survey showed output in the non-oil private sector also continued to fall for a 10th month but at a slower rate, reaching 48.8 points in July from 46 points in June. "There were some reports of an improvement in underlying demand, but these were outnumbered by mentions of liquidity shortages, higher costs and subdued customer turnout," Markit, which compiled the data, said in a report. The new orders sub-index also fell at a slower pace in July. It reached its highest since September, at 49.1 compared with 46.1 points in June. New export orders fell sharply however, in July, to 45 points in July from 45.9 points in the previous month, the fastest pace of decline in three months. Egypt has been wrestling with a currency crisis that economists blame on an overvalued pound. The central bank devalued the pound to 8.78 per dollar from 7.73 in March and has said it will pursue a more flexible exchange rate. The employment sub-index came in at 45.7 points from June's 46.8, signalling another drop in monthly payroll numbers -- the 14th in a row -- is likely in July. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has pledged to reduce the jobless rate to 10 percent over the next five years. It stood at 12.7 percent in the first quarter of 2016, according to official figures, but analysts believe it is much higher. Economic growth slowed to 4.5 percent in the first half of financial year 2015-16, from 5.5 percent a year before, which experts say is too slow for a population that has expanded by 1 million to 91 million in the past six months. - Detailed PMI data are only available under licence from Markit and customers need to apply to Markit for a licence. To subscribe to the full data, click on the link below: http://www.markit.com/Contact-Us For further information, please phone Markit on +44 20 7260 2454 or email economics@markit.com (Reporting by Ola Noureldin; Editing by Catherine Evans) ((Ola.Noureldin@thomsonreuters.com;)) Elon Musk It's no wonder Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is the most interesting man in tech he's got adventure in his blood. Musk's maternal grandparents were Dr. Joshua and Wyn Haldeman, celebrities in their time for their expeditions to find the Lost City of the Kalahari, which legends held was located somewhere in southern Africa's Kalahari Desert. In 1948, at age 45, Dr. Haldeman, a chiropractor in Sasketchewan, Canada and a leader in local politics, got his pilot's license. With his small, single-engine airplane, he could spend more time at his practice and less time traveling by train, according to an article by the Canadian Chiropractic Association. By that point, he and his wife Wyn, a dance instructor, had three daughters: Lynne, and twin daughters Maye (future mother of Elon) and Kaye. The plane became a family hobby, as they jetted around North America so Dr. Haldeman could attend chiropractic conferences. 1957. Kalahari Desert. Canadians exploring Africa. Exciting childhood. Camping, reading. No TV, computer, AC, pool. Happy kids. #Botswana A photo posted by Maye Musk (@mayemusk) on Apr 24, 2016 at 7:33am PDT on Apr 24, 2016 at 7:33am PDT Then, in 1950, The Haldemans moved from Canada to South Africa, with only six months notice, despite never having so much as visited the country. Historical sources are torn on whether Dr. Haldeman, a chiropractor by trade, wanted the move because he saw a moral decline in Canada. Other reports indicate that he was getting restless and wanted adventure. Either way, they crated up Dr. Haldeman's tiny plane and brought it with them on their 30-day boat trip to South Africa. After the move to South Africa, the Haldemans became minor celebrities for their aerial exploits: One 1954 trip, up the coast of Africa and across part of Asia to get to Australia, was a 30,000-mile trek, says the Canadian Chiropractic Association. A dead civilization But the Haldemans' real passion was searching for the Lost City of the Kalahari, which explorers had been looking for since 1885, when Canadian explorer Guillermo Farini claimed to have found ruins of a dead civilization in the desert. Story continues Starting in 1953, the Haldeman family, often including the children, went on 12 expeditions to find the Lost City. The second expedition, at least, was an 8,200-mile trek flying 200 feet over the desert sands. When son Ankor Lee Haldeman was born in 1955, he joined along too. More #earthday Kalahari Desert pics due to popular demand. My Mom baked our bread. I'm stirring stew in this iron pot. No water to wash clothes. We survived. Can you see the model potential? A photo posted by Maye Musk (@mayemusk) on Apr 22, 2015 at 9:51am PDT on Apr 22, 2015 at 9:51am PDT Though they never found any evidence for the Lost City in about a decade of regular expeditions, the searches alone made the Haldemans famous in certain circles, and they curated slideshows and maps of their adventures that they would show to friends and strangers alike. "My parents were very famous, but they were never snobs," Maye Musk told the New York Times earlier in 2016. Dr. Haldeman passed away in an air crash in 1974, and is said to have believed in the Lost City of the Kalahari for all of his life. Maye Musk, Elon's mother, went on to an accomplished 50-year career in modeling and entrepreneurship. As a coda to the story, a 2016 episode of the Travel Channel's Expedition Unknown claimed to have found buildings in the Kalahari that could potentially match the legend, possibly presenting a solution to the mystery that vexed the Haldemans. NOW WATCH: You can print your photos as pancakes now More From Business Insider Sen. Deb Fischer said Tuesday she has begun to look for creative funding ideas that could help finance a major new infrastructure construction and repair program advocated by both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. "I'm mulling around a bunch of ideas," the Republican senator said during an interview in Lincoln. That kind of "thinking outside the box" helped Fischer gain enactment of signature legislation funding accelerated road construction in Nebraska when she was a state senator, she recalled. Fischer chose to fund the measure by earmarking revenue from the existing state sales tax rather than increasing the state gas tax. With both presidential candidates promising to push a major infrastructure program, Fischer is positioned to be a player as chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's surface transportation subcommittee. Fischer was chosen as a member of the Senate-House conference committee that helped shape the first long-term highway funding bill in two decades last year. With the nation poised to elect a new president in November, Fischer said she hopes a better working relationship can be established between the White House and the Congress next year. The current distance and lack of a healthy working relationship between the president and the Congress has been "very disappointing," she said. During her first three months in office in 2013, Fischer said, President Barack Obama "tried to reach out" as he was beginning his second term. Fischer went to the White House for two dinners, one with 12 Republican senators and the second with other female senators. She also had dinner with Vice President Joe Biden. "Then it ended," Fischer said. "I hope the new administration will reach out," she said. Prior to the interview, Fischer met with about 30 participants in what she calls "listening sessions" with constituents, this one held at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. Fischer said Washington remains "pretty polarized," but she is determined to "try to work with colleagues on the other side of the aisle." Answering concerns expressed by one participant about Trump's alleged ties to Russia and the positive statements he has made about President Vladimir Putin, Fischer noted that "rumors are not facts." "I will continue to support Trump," she said. "What I hear from Nebraskans is that they are really, really concerned about regulations," Fischer said. After visiting with Trump, she said, "I think he understands how regulations impact families and drive up costs." Fischer originally endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for the Republican presidential nomination, but rallied behind Trump when he emerged as the GOP victor. The first question she encountered at the listening session was about gun control, centering on the need for increased background checks. Fischer said she has supported some Republican proposals that failed to win enactment, but is determined to protect 2nd Amendment gun rights. Questioned about the Affordable Care Act's cost and funding challenges, Fischer said she believes that's "a rolling disaster that's coming." Summing up the hour-long session, Fischer said: "I don't want to see government grow. That's who I am." CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / August 3, 2016 / Emerald Bay Energy Inc. (TSX Venture: EBY) (the "Corporation" or "Emerald Bay") reports that it has entered into a loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement") with two shareholders of the Corporation holding an aggregate 67,549,193 common shares between them (approximately 32%) (collectively, the "Lender") in the principal amount of $350,000 (the "Loan"). The Loan will bear interest at a rate of 10% per annum, compounded monthly, with a term ending December 1, 2016. The proceeds of the Loan will be used primarily to pay certain of the Corporation's outstanding accounts payable with remaining funds being used for general working capital. The Loan is secured via a Lender's option to acquire the Corporation's current interest in a private oil and gas company. About Emerald Bay Emerald Bay Energy Inc., based in Calgary, is a junior oil and gas producer with production properties in Western Canada and South Texas. The common shares of Emerald Bay trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "EBY". Please visit our website at www.ebyinc.com. For further information, please contact: Emerald Bay Energy Inc.: President, Shelby D. Beattie, by telephone at (403) 262-6000 or by email at info@ebyinc.com, OR CHF Investor Relations: D'Arcy Funfer, (403) 669-5157, darcy@chfir.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Emerald Bay Energy Inc. An Emirates aircraft en route from Thiruvananthapuram, India, to Dubai made an emergency landing at Dubai International Airport on August 3. Emirates said on Facebook that flight EK521 had been involved in an accident, and that 282 passengers and 18 crew were aboard. Our main priority at this time is the safety and wellbeing of all involved and full co-operation is being extended to the authorities and emergency services managing the situation, the statement said. Dubais Media Office confirmed on Twitter that all passengers and crew had been safely evacuated from the plane. This footage shows the Emirates aircraft skidding to a halt after the emergency landing. Credit: YouTube/Edmund Basil Istanbul (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday asked forgiveness over his past alliance with US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen whom Ankara blames for last month's attempted coup. In a rare show of public humility, Erdogan said he had failed to see the "true face" of Gulen, who cooperated closely with the Turkish strongman while he was mayor of Istanbul in the 1990s and after his Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2002. Gulen, who has lived in exile since 1999 after charges were laid against him by Turkey's then secular authorities, has vehemently denied from his Pennsylvania compound all accusations of involvement in the coup. "Despite everything, I feel sad that I failed to reveal the true face of this traitor organisation long before," Erdogan said in a televised speech, referring to Gulen's network which Turkey alleges is a terror group. "I know that we have to give account both to our God and to our people. Let my God and my people forgive us," he said. Gulen's influence in Turkey goes back to the premierships of Bulent Ecevit in the 1970s and he was a strong presence in Turkish politics before anyone had even heard of Erdogan. As a new and untested forces in politics, the AKP was happy to team up with Gulen, sharing a conviction that Islam should lie at the heart of politics. But friction came to the fore in 2013 when a vast corruption scandal struck at the heart of the government, as well as Erdogan and his inner circle, that the authorities blamed on Gulen. "I personally helped this structure despite differences of opinion on many issues due to a belief that we can agree at least on common denominators," Erdogan said. "We tolerated them because they said 'Allah'," he added. The Turkish strongman has accused Gulen of running "the biggest theft ring in history which hijacked the past and future of tens of thousands of people." Story continues With the government implementing a relentless crackdown in the wake of the coup, Erdogan vowed the harshest consequences for anyone who even supported Gulen. "From now on, anyone who lends an ear to the raving of that charlatan -- that terrorist chief in Pennsylvania -- has accepted what's coming to them." Tens of thousands of people have been suspended from their jobs and more than 18,000 detained. "From this moment, the era of suspicion is over and the era of fighting has started," he said. Lugansk (Ukraine) (AFP) - The yellow M-shaped logo, long noisy queues, children with balloons in their hands: at first glance it seems McDonald's has reopened its doors in separatist hub Lugansk in eastern Ukraine. But in fact this is only a replica after the building where the US fast food chain once had its restaurant was taken over by rebels and now local entrepreneurs have opened their own cafe -- with just a few tweaks. Its facade has been modified and now reads "Burger", the name of the new restaurant, and it is decked out with a flag of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic. Inside hungry diners cannot tuck into the world-famous "Big Mac" -- but they can enjoy a very similar "Big Mag" burger. "That's how it goes here: department stores and cafes are taken over by the authorities, they only change the name slightly," said 18-year-old student Nikita, who refused to give his surname due to security fears, enjoying a meal with four friends. "They can't invent anything new." Nikita and his classmates have been visiting the "Burger" restaurant regularly since it was reopened two months ago. The students say they used to come to the McDonald's before the conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists tore through this industrial region, claiming some 9,500 live since April 2014. But they complain about the significantly increased prices in the place since it reopened under the new management. "Now we can afford only two portions of French fries. It has become too expensive here, although initially this place was designed for students," Nikita laments adding that a serving of fries costs some 90 rubles (about one euro). The US firm, which in 2014 closed all its restaurants in the rebel-controlled areas, said in a statement that they "have nothing to do with business activities in the premises of McDonald's" in the rebel strongholds of Lugansk and Donetsk. Story continues The company has complained to the Ukrainian government about the "illegal seizure of the premises" in the conflict zone. But local customers say they find the food being served now similar enough to original. Dan Bertsch, an American from Virginia in his fifties who arrived in Lugansk three years before the start of the conflict to marry a local woman, is among them. "In America I do not eat a lot in McDonald's but in Lugansk I think it is nourishing to have a hamburger," said Bertsch, who wore a t-shirt with the image of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We don't have a lot of food choices in Lugansk because of war." - Anti-US rhetoric - The manager of "Burger", 25-year-old Sergei, who gave only his first name, said the higher prices are down to difficulties in getting food delivered to the conflict-wracked region-- but he insisted quality has gone up. "Although there are similarities in our ingredients, we are not McDonald's," he said. "There is a difference in the quality of ingredients, ours are better. We bring them frozen from Finland via Russia." In Donetsk, another rebel stronghold in eastern Ukraine, two other former McDonald's opened their doors under the named "DonMak" in early July. Similar to the one in Lugansk, they are located in the former premises of the US chain and offer the same kind of products. Their opening was a sensation in the de facto capital of the pro-Russian separatists -- despite the rebel leadership frequently slamming the United States as an enemy as it emphasises cultural ties with Russia. Within a few days people were already lining up in queues for over an hour outside the fast-food restaurants in anticipation of their Coke, burger or fries. Housewife Elena waited 40 minutes in the crowded establishment to place an order for her son. "Before they opened this place, I always wondered where to go with my child. Now we can celebrate his birthday here," the 24-year-old said. The fact the restaurant had opened even though rebels denounce any presence of Western influence in the area under their control does not seem to bother the young woman. "It might be worth opening something Russian-style," she laughed, as she waited for her burger. Brussels (AFP) - The EU on Wednesday cleared a tie-up between British mobile phone giant Vodafone and US media tycoon John Malone's Liberty Global cable group in the Netherlands, subject to the sale of some assets. "The decision is conditional on Vodafone divesting its consumer fixed line business in the Netherlands," the European Commission said in a statement. The Commission, the European Union's executive arm, said it had been concerned that the deal would reduce competition in the Dutch market but the Vodafone sale "fully addresses" this issue. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said telecoms were "of strategic importance for our digital society." "I am pleased that we have been able to approve the creation of the joint venture ... the commitments offered by Vodafone ensure that Dutch consumers will continue to enjoy competitive prices and good choice," Vestager said in a statement. Separately, Vodafone and Liberty Global welcomed the EU decision and said they would now proceed with the sale process for the consumer telecoms business. Brussels (Reuters) - An EU lawmaker says dating app Tinder breaches the bloc's data protection rules because it uses personal data without explicit consent and should be investigated by the European Commission. The dating app, owned by website operator Match Group Inc, imposes unlawful conditions on users, pushing them to consent to unclear clauses that allow the company to use their data even after they close their accounts, socialist lawmaker Marc Tarabella said in a statement. "Once you subscribe, the company can do whatever it wants with your data. It can show them, distribute them to whomever or even modify them. The lack of transparency cannot be the rule," Tarabella said. The Belgian politician , who in 2014 was among the leading European parliament members calling for a break-up of Google's search engine from its commercial services, also accused dating app Happn and jogging app Runkeeper of violating EU data protection rules. He called for a European investigation into these companies and urged the European Commission to adopt heavy sanctions against companies that impose "abusive clauses" for the use of their apps. Tinder representatives were not immediately available for comment. A Commission spokeswoman said it was up to national authorities to enforce EU rules on data and consumer protection. However, the Commission has conducted such investigations in the past. "The problem is always the lack of transparency and the notion of consent," Tarabella said, adding that companies often sell users' data to third parties without consumers being aware or having explicitly consented to it. EU rules protect consumers who no longer want their data to be used. Companies are also required to provide "easy-to-understand information" and to obtain an explicit consent from users to process personal data. (Reporting by Manon Jacob and Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Susan Fenton) LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - European stocks rose slightly on Wednesday with banks putting in a rare day of outperformance helped by strong gains for HSBC, SocGen and Credit Agricole. The pan-European STOXX 600 index, which had fallen in the last two sessions, and the similar FTSEurofirst 300 both advanced by 0.2 percent at the open. HSBC rose 3.7 percent as its plans to buy back up to $2.5 billion worth of its shares soothed investors, even as HSBC reported a drop in profits. SocGen shares also climbed 4.4 percent after the French bank reported higher net profits, while its rival Credit Agricole rose 3.6 percent after it finalised a major overhaul of ties with its parent. Nevertheless, the STOXX Europe 600 Banking index remains down by around 30 percent so far in 2016 - the worst-performing sector in Europe, while the broader STOXX 600 index is down 8 percent so far this year. Concerns over bad debts and weak capital positions have hit the European banking sector, with shares in Germany's Commerzbank touching a record low on Wednesday. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Vikram Subhedar) Nebraska's growing immigrant population plays a vital role in the state's economy, a new study documented Wednesday as business, civic and cultural leaders launched a new campaign for federal immigration reform. "We need Congress to update our antiquated immigration laws in order to grow Nebraska's economy, drive innovation and keep our communities strong," said Jim Partington, executive director of the Nebraska Restaurant Association. The study was released as immigration reform emerges as a major issue in this year's presidential campaign. Republican nominee Donald Trump has made a crackdown on illegal immigration a centerpiece of his campaign. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has proposed comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship. A 40-page study of immigrants in Nebraska revealed the growing impact of immigration here. * In 1990, immigrants made up 1.8 percent of the state's population; by 2010, it was 6 percent; between 2010 and 2014, the immigrant population grew at a 10 percent rate, far greater than the 2.3 percent native-born growth rate. * Undocumented immigrant workers "contribute to a range of industries that could not thrive without a pool of workers willing to take on highly labor-intensive roles," and that includes meatpacking plants and service industries. * Nebraska is now home to more than 120,000 foreign-born residents, 73 percent of whom are in their prime working years. Less than 50 percent of the native population is in their prime working years. * Immigrant Nebraskans contributed $616 million in taxes in 2014. "Immigrants have played a large role helping Nebraska avoid the type of population decline that has hurt many other states in recent years, depriving businesses of customers and cities of the taxpayers they need," the report stated. An estimated 41,484 undocumented immigrants now live in Nebraska, the vast majority of whom came here for work opportunities, according to the study. In most cases, they are "taking jobs few Americans are interested in pursuing," like meat-processing. "In Nebraska, there is evidence that undocumented immigrants are playing an important role in the workforce," the report stated. "Undocumented immigrants in Nebraska contribute to a range of industries that could not thrive without a pool of workers willing to take on highly labor-intensive roles." The report estimated that 84.5 percent of the state's undocumented population has been in the United States for five or more years and that more than 40.4 percent "speak English well, very well or fluently." Release of the report marked the launch of an immigration reform campaign called Reason for Reform in all 50 states. It's an effort sponsored by the Partnership for a New American Economy that has enlisted business, civic and cultural leaders. "We know that updating our immigration laws is the right thing to do to preserve the unity of families who make up the cornerstone of strong communities," said John Griffith, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha. "This report confirms that new immigration laws are also wise economic policy," he said. "We must act now to stop the unnecessary and devastating impact of family separation caused by our current outdated system." (ADVISORY- Follow European and UK stock markets in real time on the Reuters Live Markets blog on Eikon - see cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets) * STOXX 600 steady, still down 8 pct in 2016 * HSBC rises on stock buyback plans * ING shares jump as Q2 results beat forecasts * But auto stocks fall as VW shares retreat By Sudip Kar-Gupta LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - European stocks were steady on Wednesday as a rebound in the shares of the region's struggling banks, such as HSBC and ING, offset weaker auto stocks. The pan-European STOXX 600 index, which had fallen in the last two sessions, was up 0.1 percent. The index, which slumped in the immediate aftermath of Britain's vote in June to quit the European Union, is down 8 percent so far in 2016. "Earnings have not been too bad, but I remain bearish on the markets. A lot of companies in Europe are beating estimates, but if you look at the results, most of the companies are not actually growing their sales or profits," said Terry Torrison, managing director at Monaco-based McLaren Securities. Volkswagen shares fell 1.5 percent after the company warned of a hit to its sales in China next year, while tyre maker Continental fell after its results came in below some market forecasts. The STOXX Europe 600 Autos index fell 1.1 percent, the weakest sector in Europe. Swiss money manager GAM also slid 14.7 percent after posting lower profits, but other financial stocks fared better, with the STOXX Europe 600 banks index rising 1.7 percent. The banking index has fallen around 30 percent so far in 2016, hit by concerns over bad debts and weak balance sheets. However, the sector put in a rare day of outperformance on Wednesday, helped by strong gains for HSBC, ING and SocGen . HSBC rose 3.6 percent as its plans to buy back up to $2.5 billion worth of its shares eased investors' concerns as the bank reported a drop in profits. ING jumped 7 percent after its Q2 profits beat forecasts while SocGen shares also climbed 4.4 percent after the French bank reported higher net profits. Story continues Francois Savary, chief investment officer at Geneva-based fund management and consultancy firm Prime Partners, said that even though some banking stocks were rebounding, the overall earnings trend in Europe remained negative. According to data from Thomson Reuters StarMine, second quarter earnings on the STOXX 600 index are down 18 percent from a year ago - whereas on the U.S. S&P 500 index earnings have fallen by a more modest 1.8 percent. "European results look quite poor compared to the U.S, which is why a lot of investors are still taking their cash out of Europe," said Savary. (Editing by Hugh Lawson) Eva Mendes opens up about the beautiful reason she named her daughter Amada Eva Mendes opens up about the beautiful reason she named her daughter Amada Eva Mendes is almost as notorious for her incredible onscreen talent and presence as she is for her privacy. The actress and her famous longtime partner, Ryan Gosling, very rarely share details about their personal lives with the rest of the world, despite the fact that we all desperately want to know (because seriously, theyre beautiful and amazing and why wont they just let us live with them already?). pines But Mendes opened up big time in a recent interview, sharing some intimate details of the personal life she so often avoids talking about. While talking to Latina magazine, Mendes was asked about her second child that she and Gosling quietly welcomed into this world earlier this year. My older little girl is not yet 2 years old. My little one is still an infant, and right now its really about surviving those nights and trying to enjoy this time as much as possible with them, and start the bond between Esmeralda and Amada, she explained. Its a really, really special time. Im loving it. Thats when Mendes went on to explain exactly why they named their new little bundle of joy Amada Lee, a name she actually shares with her older sister, Esmeralda Amada. Mendes explained that the name Amada originally comes from her grandmother, and that it just felt right to use it for BOTH their daughters. We had a few names picked out for our new baby, and when she was born, we didnt feel like those names were her we just kept going back to Amada. She had to explain to Gosling that its extremely common to reuse names in Latin culture, which made it easy to settle on the name they felt like was right in the first place. So we went with Amada because it was something we kept going back toWe thought how beautiful to go with what made us emotional and with what felt like her. When we looked at her, we thought, Aww, Amadita.' Knowing the story behind this name (and the thoughtfulness behind the beautiful parents who picked it) makes us feel very Awwwwww, too. ryan The post Eva Mendes opens up about the beautiful reason she named her daughter Amada appeared first on HelloGiggles. Derek Hough is gearing up for NBC's Hairspray Live!. If the Dancing With the Stars vet is nervous about performing in the live TV musical production on Dec. 7, he at least has his younger sister, Julianne, who starred as Sandy in Fox's Grease: Live, to lean on for advice. RELATED: Sean Hayes and Rosie O'Donnell Join NBC's 'Hairspray Live!' "Grease definitely raised the bar as far as the way it was shot and the way it was done," a clean-shaven Hough, 31, told ET's Leanne Aguilera at NBC's Television Critics Association press day on Tuesday. "And for this musical, it kind of lends itself to that similar style, I suppose." In the holiday telecast, Hough will play Corny Collins, the eccentric host of The Corny Collins Show. "We have a great team, amazing directors, amazing camera operators," he said, revealing that "they're actually building a studio for us just for this. It's pretty incredible." Hairspray Live! will take a page out of Grease: Live's book, utilizing Universal's backlot in Universal City, California, and embracing whatever natural elements may come in December. RELATED: Ariana Grande Says 'Hairspray Live!' Is 'Way Much More Fun' Than Pop Music "We were at Universal Studios the other day and it was this frame of a studio -- nothing there yet, so we're going to be christening this brand new place," Hough added. On Tuesday, fellow Hairspray Live! star Ariana Grande adorably showed her excitement over being a part of the all-star cast. "I don't even know what's happening. My theater geek inside, which is what I am, I can't take it. It's very overwhelming and very exciting. Penny's been my favorite character since the start," the 23-year-old pop star said at Tuesday's Television Critics Association press tour for the live musical. RELATED: Find Out Who's Playing Amber Von Tussle and Link Larkin in NBC's 'Hairspray Live!' "This is such a dream come true for me because at heart, theater is everything to me," Grande added. "Pop music is so fun, but this is way much more fun. So much more." Story continues Hairspray Live! also stars newcomer Maddie Baillio, Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, Martin Short, Kristin Chenoweth, Dove Cameron and Garrett Clayton, as well as newest additions Rosie O'Donnell and Sean Hayes. Hairspray Live! airs Dec. 7 on NBC. RELATED: Vanessa Hudgens Delivers Spectacular 'Grease: Live' Performance Related Articles lNEWS BRIEF New York City police commissioner Bill Bratton will resign in September after nearly three years on the job, Mayor de Blasio announced Tuesday afternoon. He is the architect of our neighborhood policing strategy, de Blasio told reporters at a news conference, with Bratton at this side. Bratton will be replaced by James ONeill, who has served as chief of the New York Police Department since 2014. De Blasio appointed Bratton to the top police job in 2014. Bratton previously held the role from 1994 to 1996, during the Giuliani administration. He told reporters late last month that he would leave the job by the end of 2017. Bratton said Tuesday he has worked to redefine the image of police officers in New York communities. When you see a policeman, remember that is your friend, he said. "Thats the vision. and that is happening, but it doesnt happen overnight. Recommended: The Democrats Who Cried Wolf New York City has seen a decrease in crime during Brattons latest stint. But his recent tenure has coincided with high-profile police killings of black men in the city, like Eric Garner in 2014, and elsewhere in the United States that have prompted widespread protests against police brutality and fueled a resurgent national debate over policing and race relations. Bratton has drawn some criticism for racially charged comments, including his description in May of so-called rap artists as thugs. De Blasio said Tuesday he had developed an intense bond with Bratton in the last three years. The relationship between de Blasio and some police officers became strained in late 2014, when the mayor said he had to literally train his son Dante, who is biracial, how to interact with police officers. The remarks came after grand juries chose not to indict the officers involving in the killings of Garner and Michael Brown, a teenager in Missouri. The line angered many New York police officers, and thousands of them turned their backs in protest when de Blasio spoke during the funeral of a slain police officer in January 2015. Bratton defended the mayor, calling the officers gesture very inappropriate. Story continues Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. From Popular Mechanics The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has achieved its first air-to-air kill. According to the F-35 program office an -A version of the controversial fighter, destined for the U.S. Air Force and other flying forces around the world, fighter shot down a drone off the coast of California on July 28. The weapon of choice was a AIM-9X Sidewinder, the latest version of the venerable air-to-air missile. First fielded in the 1950s, the Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missile that uses a nose-mounted imaging infrared sensor to lock onto and intercept the target. The missile has an 20-pound high explosive warhead and a range of approximately ten miles. The AIM-9X was launched from a rail on the airplane's left wing. The F-35A can carry up to two Sidewinders at a time-one on each wing-but would not normally carry when flying against highly capable adversaries (the missiles hanging off the wing would make the plane less stealthy and easier to detect). Instead, the F-35 would carry four AIM-120C AMRAAM radar-guided missiles, which can be stowed internally where they wouldn't show up on an enemy's radar. The F-35 also fired an AMRAAM during the exercise, but, according to DoDBuzz, it missed. In other F-35 news, the fighter is apparently so stealthy that it has trouble participating in exercises. According to Air Force Times, F-35As training against simulated surface-to-air missile defenses ran into a problem: the planes were so stealthy the air defenders couldn't detect them. Eventually, the stealth fighters had to turn on their transponders so the air defenders could detect them. The transponders were probably the F-35A's Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders, which send an encrypted signal identifying the sender as friendly to other friendly local forces. The F-35A can currently attack ground-based air defenses with two GBU-31 1,000 pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) satellite-guided bombs, or two GBU-12 500 pound laser guided bombs. Future software upgrades, scheduled to start rolling out next year will add even more types of weaponry. Story continues Not being visible to air defenses is obviously a good problem to have. The Air Force will have to adjust training procedures for the F-35A accordingly, perhaps flying them with drop tanks or Sidewinder missiles (see above) to at least partially compromise the fighter's radar signature. You Might Also Like With Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them just a little over three months away from hitting theaters, Warner Bros. has announced its plans for a sequel, which the studio has dated for Nov. 16, 2018. The first film, which will bow Nov. 18 and is being dubbed a spinoff of the studios hugely successful Harry Potter franchise, marks author J.K. Rowlings return to the big screen. The Harry Potter author wrote the Fantastic Beasts screenplay, which delves back into the wizarding world made famous by Rowlings seven books that were turned into eight films. Rowling, who made her screenwriting debut on the first film, is penning the sequel, which will move deeper into an increasingly dark time for the wizarding world, where Newt Scamander and the storys other heroes have to decide on their allegiances. Director David Yates, who directed the final four Harry Potter films as well as Fantastic Beasts, will return to the directors chair for the sequel, which brings back producers David Heyman, Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram. Neil Blair, Rick Senat and Danny Cohen will serve as executive producers. Though Warner Bros. made no mention of Fantastic Beasts stars like Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller and Katherine Waterston, all are expected to return for the second outing. The announcement was made by Warner Bros. Greg Silverman, president of creative development and worldwide production, and Sue Kroll, president of worldwide marketing and distribution. The move comes as Rowlings world of wizards and magic continues to expand. The new play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, opened this past weekend to rave reviews in London, creating a frenzy with sold-out performances. The script of the play, just published, has already sold 2 million copies in two days, according to Scholastic. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks at Universal Studios in Orlando, Hollywood and Osaka, Japan, are drawing record crowds. And Warner Bros. Studio Tour London The Making of Harry Potter is now online and generating robust business. Related: Comic-Con: New Trailer for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Flies Into Hall H When Don Wilhite hears politicians say they dont believe in climate change, he responds with dry sarcasm. Well, climate change is not a religion, he said during a recent interview from his cozy office on the seventh floor of Hardin Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincolns East Campus. The scientific evidence is overwhelming that climate change is real and that humans are the driving cause. Wilhite has spent his adult life examining issues of climate, focusing on drought monitoring, response, planning and preparedness. Countries around the world have looked to the University of Nebraska to help them prepare for drought because of the resources, expertise and faculty Wilhite has helped gather. He joined UNL in 1977 and during his time as the university's Dr. Drought, Wilhite has flown more than 2 million miles and visited 70 countries. He retired this summer, taking on the title of professor emeritus. Wilhites career took off as federal officials began taking a serious interest in how to prepare for, mitigate and respond to drought in the wake of one that left the southeastern United States parched from 1985 through 1987. He was the impetus behind the creation of UNLs International Drought Information Center in 1988, then went on in 1995 to be the founding director of National Drought Mitigation Center. He also spent five years as director of UNLs School of Natural Resources, starting in 2007. Wilhite has authored or co-authored 150 or more journal articles, monographs, book chapters and technical reports. And hes credited with lassoing more than $20 million of external funding for projects Chancellor Ronnie Green has worked closely with Wilhite over the years and calls him a committed and respected climate scientist who leads both in Nebraska and internationally. The importance and impact of the work -- especially in this era of significant climate change and increase in variability -- motivated Wilhite, Green said in an email. Robert Stefanski, chief of the agricultural division of the World Meteorological Organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, said Wilhite is the worlds foremost expert on drought monitoring and management. He has tirelessly advocated for better drought management and preparedness plans for countries and local communities around the world," Stefanski said in an email. "These concepts that are used today were developed by him and his team at UNL. For Dr. Drought, retirement doesnt mean sipping fruity drinks on the beach. But it does give him the flexibility to focus on projects close to his heart, like spending time with family, producing a second edition of his book, "Drought and Water Crisis," working on an atlas of Nebraska to be published next year, chairing management and advisory committees of the Integrated Drought Management Program sponsored by the UN's World Meteorological Organization and participating in the Mid East/North Africa drought management project sponsored by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization. And continuing to champion another issue a little closer to home: Spreading knowledge of the implications of climate change for Nebraska and urging the state to take it seriously. This is such a critical issue, not just for today, but for the future that we just cant continue to sort of just dabble around the edges," Wilhite said. "We have to jump into this. Politics and the fossil fuel industrys attacks on the science of climate change have made progress difficult and hard-fought, he said. We have a governor in the state who doesnt believe in climate change. This is a really difficult issue. State agencies need to be working together to try and address this issue in the best interest of Nebraska, and you dont see a lot of that happening. It starts at the top. Gov. Pete Ricketts has called himself a skeptic of human-driven climate change. The governor believes the climate is always changing," Ricketts spokesman Taylor Gage said in an email Monday. "The question is what level of impact man is having on the climate, and on this question the science is still unsettled. Wilhite disagreed, saying the comment is based on politics not on a knowledge of science. He points to reports by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which engaged more than 1,000 scientists. "Climate change is real, and humans are the principal cause," Wilhite said. In 2014, he was lead author of the landmark report Understanding and Assessing Climate Change: Implications for Nebraska. Wilhite then went on to be part of eight roundtable discussions around the state to address the issues it raises. As the amount of greenhouse gases in the earths atmosphere rise, the UNL study said, Nebraska will see more severe storms, floods, warmer nights, scorching summers and withering drought. Its findings have fueled grassroots groups in Nebraskans seeking to pressure the state to action. Wilhite proposed UNL do an independent study because state legislators at the time planned to commission another climate change study that would not have allowed human influences to be mentioned as a cause. The Legislatures proposed study eventually was dropped. Humans will adapt to the changing climate, Wilhite said. They have no choice. But the world needs to take seriously the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate warming of the globe. The huge danger here is that the projected changes in the temperature of the earth to mid-century and beyond are such that our ability to sustain agriculture and life on this planet that we know are really in jeopardy here, he said. By Kate Kelland LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes could be let loose in Florida's battle against the Zika virus if regulators approve them - and a decision is expected imminently, according to British firm Oxitec that engineers the insects. Modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes - genetically altered so their offspring die before being able to reproduce - are under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for possible use in the United States. Oxitec wants to conduct an investigational trial in the Florida Keys region to evaluate the GM strain's effectiveness in reducing populations of Aedes mosquitoes, which can spread diseases including Zika, dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya. Efficacy trials in Brazil, Panama, and the Cayman Islands showed that its genetically modified mosquitoes can reduce localised Aedes aegypti populations by more than 90 percent. As well as FDA approval, the Florida district's board has pledged to seek residents' approval before going ahead. Some Florida residents have signed a petition expressing concern about the release of the GM insects, saying they could have unknown and unintended effects on the ecosystem. Oxitec's head of field operations Andrew McKemey told reporters in London on Wednesday that his firm had been invited by the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District to propose a pilot study of the technology. "We expect a decision (from the FDA) any minute now," McKemey said. "We've already built a laboratory there (in Florida) - a mass production unit - so (with approval) we could start immediately." The Zika outbreak was first detected last year in Brazil, where it has been linked to more than 1,700 cases of microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies. The virus has spread rapidly through the Americas and Caribbean and its arrival in the continental United States, where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes thrive in the warmer southern states, had been widely anticipated. Story continues Florida health officials have so far confirmed 15 non-travel related cases of Zika. Oxitec, now a UK subsidiary of U.S. synthetic biology company Intrexon Corp, is a spin-off company from Britain's Oxford University. (Editing by Louise Ireland) Nine-year-old Caidyn is perched on the front porch steps of a house in The Ninth Ward of New Orleans, in a neighborhood known as the Musicians Village. He attempts to play Gloryland on his trumpet while his 7-year-old cousin Mike pounds away at his drum with makeshift sticks. A few feet away, Calvin Johnson and Shamarr Allen, both established local musicians, keep the beat. Its not a scheduled music lesson: Both Johnson and Allen were coming home from rehearsal when the kids approached them for help learning the hymn they wanted to play at an aunts funeral the next morning. Johnson, 30, a bandleader who also teaches in the K-12 system, says, When you go back to the various Nations of Africa, there were tribal communities. The village took it upon themselves to raise individuals, and thats something that has followed [them] through the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. We took that with us to America. We had that in New Orleans until Katrina, which broke up the neighborhoods. But we were recipients of that upbringing. Thats what we do because it was done for us. Recommended: Is the Trump Campaign Collapsing? In a culture where children produce dizzying footwork to Mardi Gras anthems and are often given brass instruments before they can reasonably hold them, music is more than an extracurricular. It is a predominant part of their identitiesparticularly for black Americans, who make up about 60 percent of the citys population. The reverence for rhythm stems from a legacy that began in the early 1800s. New OrleansCongo Square, to be exactwas the first place slaves and free people of color were permitted to congregate, dance, and play music. Here, West African beats were woven into European sounds, influencing the birth of jazz around a century later and merely a few blocks away. Nationally, the struggle to retain or expand art and music programming in public education has intensified in the past decade, and thats been especially true in post-Katrina New Orleans. Music has not been a priority for New Orleans schools struggling to reconstruct buildings and entire academic programs, wrote the music critic Jon Pareles in a 2007 New York Times piece about high-school band culture before and after the storm. But limited funding isnt whats incited the most concern; the public-school system had limited music-education funds long before Katrina. More than a decade after Hurricane Katrina, the post-disaster upheaval of the community-based teaching approach is what many say has posed the biggest threat. Story continues Recommended: How Helicopter Parenting Can Cause Binge Drinking The rigorous back-to-basics education-reform movement that New Orleans experienced directly following the storm gave charter schools the autonomy to focus on traditional academics rather than arts and music education. Meanwhile, in the 110 out of 126 schools in the city that were damaged by Katrina, instruments were lost or destroyed, and veteran band instructors were displaced. In the citys school system, which is now 92 percent charters, music instructors often hailed from other cities and were unfamiliar with New Orleanss musical traditions. Residents of all racial backgrounds want their children to retain the culture of the city, though, and its an effort that has been gaining some traction as of late. This duty has largely rested upon the city's professional musiciansmany of whom teach, sometimes to supplement their income, but with the intention of perpetuating a tradition of music mentorship. And while the country has looked to the sometimes inaccurately projected statistics regarding improved academic performance of this reform and marveled, it is in fact this citys technique to sustain community-based music education that could veritably be the model worth examining. * * * In late 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which builds on and amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Essentially, in efforts to encourage more well-rounded curricula, the law states that arts- and music-education programs will be eligible for Title 1 fundsa huge pot of money aimed at ensuring equitable access to education for all students. Arts advocates are hopeful that the law will mean more funding for music programming in New Orleans, particularly for the younger students. Recommended: It Shouldn't Have Taken a Khizr Khan In recent years, many high schools started to re-establish their music-education programming with the goal of revitalizing their marching bands, which have been a cultural staple for the citys families and have often kept children out of troublebut such opportunities are still scarce at the elementary-school level. More arts funding for younger students could be a binding force in the citys still-suffering education system, asserts Tonya Boyd-Cannon, 36, a vocalist, former contestant on The Voice, and educator in New Orleans. The law could also signal a chance to bring local musicians into New Orleanss classrooms. Boyd-Cannon for her part used to work as a music teacher at KIPP McDonogh 15, a charter elementary school, implementing an ARTcedemics curriculum that combined music with core subjects, before being let go in 2013 because the school was moving in a different direction. Her dismissal is hauntingly reminiscent of the phase that followed Katrina a decade ago, when 7,500 teachers were fired in New Orleans, as The New York Times cites, most of them black, damaging the citys black middle-class economically and politically. The new charter administrations made room for well-meaning but often savior-minded young recruits from all over the country, with little to no knowledge of the citys culture. This recruitment might work elsewhere, but New Orleans has a dialect of its own, which affects learning styles, as well as cultural rituals specific to the city. Take Mardi Gras, which warrants its own weeklong vacation from classes. (The district that oversees charter schools in New Orleans did not respond to a request for comment.) Nowadays they get people who go out and teach without being able to perform themselves and they call themselves music educators. Melissa Lopez, who has a background in music and performing-arts education, moved from Brooklyn two years ago to teach theater at KIPP New Orleans Leadership Primary. Emphasizing her schools focus on creativity (all students are required to take music classes), Lopez says the differences in culture require a deep level of investment from outsider teachers. Lopezs classes in Brooklyn consisted of students from an array of backgroundsAfrican American, West Indian, white, Asian, and Hispanic, for example. The kids at KIPP Leadership Primary are almost all African American whose families have lived in New Orleans for generations. When you have a more homogeneous circumstance, it feels like a much deeper culture. They all like the same kind of music; they all like the same kind of dancing, she says. Obviously, youre going to integrate that [culture into your teaching] to get their attention ... if you want to reach them. This past July, the schools administration created a professional-development component that encourages teachers to integrate lessons on black New Orleans culture into the curriculum as part of an effort to make learning more culturally relevant for its students. The progress is promising, albeit delayed: For those students and families who have made their way through a less culturally sensitive system, this acknowledgment from the administration feels 11 years late. Whereas New Orleanss charter-dominated education system in many ways seeks to control the volume and manner of students expression through strict policies such as no excuses discipline, music classrooms, according to Johnson, offer students an important outlet. For one, Johnson says its easier to keep a student focused by using music than by enforcing rules of conduct. Plus, as highlighted in an Education Week study from 2013, a nonacademic setting can give students who have behavioral problems in school a different way to focus on the skills of discipline and commitment; the study concluded that students can benefit from communicating emotion without words. You know theres that cliche that kids should be seen and not heard, says Boyd-Cannon. I disagree with that. Kids should be seen and heard. Ultimately, experts say that in order for students to feel invested in their practice, they need guidance from experienced musicians. By learning about all aspects of the musicreading, writing, and performancestudents are educated as professionals rather than as children. One of the citys foremost music educators and saxophonists, Sir Edward Kidd Jordan, now 81, played with Ray Charles and taught visionaries like Branford Marsalis and Donald Harrison when they were teenagers. Now the artistic director of the Louis Satchmo Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, a nonprofit program in New Orleans open to youth from across the country, Jordan is deeply concerned about the quality of music instruction students are getting in school. When Calvin [Johnson] and them were coming up, there were some people who were really into the whole teaching process, he says. Nowadays they get people who go out and teach without being able to perform themselves and they call themselves music educators. So Jordan and his team curate carefully. The Jazz Camp aims to develop the next generation of jazz artists by hosting high-profile musicians to teach the history of the genre while leading master classes. Johnson is on the teaching faculty while some past artists-in-residence include Nicholas Payton and Wynton Marsalisboth of whom are from New Orleans. Jordan also rallies for a stronger focus on music instruction because of the sense of purpose that comes along with it. If you get into the instrument you wont be running around the streets doing this and that, he says. Youre thinking about how much time you need to be practicing, how youre going to get better and the challenges youll deal with. As idealistic as it sounds, the sounds heard on Frenchman Street or driving around in The Seventh Wardbounce, blues, gospel, jazz, zydecoare a salve of sorts. Violence is everywhere, thats a given. However, when you give a baby a trumpet, that is their peace. When you give a baby a pair of drumsticks, that is their healing, says Boyd-Cannon. Its important that our kids in New Orleans are given other outlets. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Paris-based Films Distribution has clinched a bevy of pre-sales on Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe, one of the high-profile European titles bowing on the Locarno Festivals Piazza Grande, the gatherings biggest platform for licensing deals on more accessible arthouse fare as well as occasional mainstream titles, such as this years Jason Bourne. The second feature as a director for German actress-turned-helmer Maria Schrader, Stefan Zweig charts the years in exile of Stefan Zweig, an Austrian Jewish novelist who at the time of the film 1936 to 1942 rated with Thomas Mann as the most-read German-language writer in the world. In all-rights deals, Films Distribution has licensed Spain (Caramel Films), Brazil (Esfera Culturas), Denmark (Camera Film), Greece (Videorama), Portugal (Alambique), Hungary (Mozinet) and the countries of the former Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom). Further territories are under negotiation. Of distribution pacts struck by the films producers, Stefan Zweig: A Farewell to Europe will open in France via ARP Selection, one of the countrys foremost arthouse distributors, on Aug. 10. It was released in Austria (via Filmladen) on July 15 and Germany, with X-Verleigh distributing, five days later, earning a robust two-country 1.79 million ($2.0 million) through July 31. Set between Brazil, Buenos Aires and New York, and written by Schrader and Jan Schomburg, Stefan Zweig kicks off as Zweig arrives in Brazil in 1936, his books banned by Hitlers National Socialists back in Germany. Struck by the country, he nurtures the illusion, expressed at a sumptuous banquet, that Brazil could be the answer to the most simple and vital question of all: a peaceful co-existence in todays world, despite all our differences of race, class and religion. He refuses to denounce Nazi Germanys war-mongering at a 1936 PEN Club Conference in Buenos Aires because, he argues, it was too easy an option, had little effect, and he would not condemn a whole country. But he battles to help fellow Jews secure visas to settle in Brazil and the U.S. As a pacifist, he struggles to find the right intellectual reply to Nazi Germany, remains fascinated by the beauty of Brazil, and despairs as Europe tears itself apart. Story continues Zweigs tragedy was his being a highly sensitive master of all the different shades of gray living at a time in which only black and white existed, Schrader told DW. While a biopic to some extent, more than that, it is the story of how, when horrible things are happening somewhere around the world, no one is innocent we all have to feel responsible, said Nicolas Brigaud Robert, a Films Distribution partner. He added: Everyone can understand how contemporary this theme is in a terrorist-torn world. Zweig was in some ways ahead of his time, dreaming of a Europe without borders, though he didnt expect it in his lifetime. That and the films central theme of displacement also give the film a sense of contemporaneity. Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe has garnered some rave reviews in Germany, with Spiegel calling it acute, disturbing and absolutely current. Director Schrader is best known as an actress for her roles in Aimee and Jaguar, which won her a Berlin Silver Bear, and in Deutschland 83, where she plays Martin Rauchs aunt. Stefan Zweig is lead-produced by X-Filme Creative Pool, one of Berlins preeminent production houses. Ideale Audience, Dor Film and Maha Productions co-produce, along with Frances Arte Cinema France, the production arm of upscale free-to-air Franco-German broadcaster Arte. Related stories Locarno Fest Sets Industry Agenda: Digital Platforms, Euro Soft Money, Market Demand Golden Leopard Winner Milagros Mumenthaler Returns to Locarno With 'The Idea of a Lake' Locarno Fest Open Doors Set to Give South Asian Film Industry a Boost Fiserv Inc.s FISV second-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings from continuing operations of $1.08 per share came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings however improved 13.7% from the year-ago quarter Total revenue increased approximately 5% year over year to $1.36 billion but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.38 billion. Adjusted revenues grew 6% year over year to $1.29 billion. Segment-wise, Payments and Industry Products adjusted revenues increased 8.8% year over year to $763 million. Financial Institution Services revenues were up 0.7% year over year to $612 million. Internal revenues rose 4% driven by growth in Payments (up 7%) and Financial (up 1%) segments. Internal revenues had a negative impact of 80 basis points (bps) due to lower termination fees, EMV deferral and foreign currency impact. Source-wise, total Processing and services revenues increased 4.5% on a year-over-year basis to $1.159 billion while Product revenues rose 7.9% year over year to $204 million. Margins Adjusted operating income increased to $413 million, up 5.9% from $390 million in the year-ago quarter. The companys adjusted operating margin of 31.9% increased 10 bps on a year-over-year basis. Other Financial Details As of Jun 30, 2016, Fiserv had cash and cash equivalents of $263 million compared with $275 million as on Dec 31, 2015. Fiservs cash from operating activities for the six-months ended Jun 30, 2016 was $687 million, up nearly 15% from the prior-year period. The companys free cash flow came in at $442 million, an increase of 0.7% on a year-over-year basis. Long-term debt at quarter-end was $4.548 billion. Fiserv repurchased 2.8 million shares for $283 million in the quarter. Fiserv had 11.2 million shares remaining for buyback as of Jun 30, 2016. Guidance For 2016, Fiserv now expects adjusted earnings per share in a range of $4.38 to $4.45, up from $4.32 to $4.44 projected earlier. This represents a growth rate of 13% to 15% over 2015 levels. Story continues It continues to project adjusted internal revenues to increase 5% to 6%. Our Take Fiserv commands a leading position in the financial and payment solutions business backed by a broad customer base and key contract wins. Additionally, the strong user base of Mobiliti ASP remains a major growth driver. Moreover, the company expects revenues from base solutions like DNA, Agiliti, EMV and Now to drive growth. In the second quarter, Fiserv extended its 16-year old credit processing contract with John Deere Financial, a division of Deere & Company DE by another 10 years. This apart, the company added Bangkok Bank and Panin Bank to its client list in the quarter. The company remains focused on expanding its product portfolio. In June, Fiserv launched a palm authentication biometric tool, Verifast, to enable banks and credit firms to reduce frauds and transaction time and improve branch service efficiency. However, investors should keep in mind that increasing regulations in the banking and financial services industry and intensifying competition from the likes of Equifax Inc. EFX, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. FIS and Global Payments Inc. remain concerns. Currently, Fiserv has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). FISERV INC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise FISERV INC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | FISERV INC Quote Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report EQUIFAX INC (EFX): Free Stock Analysis Report DEERE & CO (DE): Free Stock Analysis Report FIDELITY NAT IN (FIS): Free Stock Analysis Report FISERV INC (FISV): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Former White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush, Ari Fleischer, weighed in on why he sees the Trump campaign message as focusing on the wrong opponents. He has to start making Hillary his opponent, not the Khan family, not a judge who is an American from Indiana, this is his problem: Hes focused on the wrong people, Fleischer told the FOX Business Networks Stuart Varney. Fleischer raised concerns that the narrow window of opportunity for Trump to change his message and focus on Hillary Clinton could hurt the candidate come November. He has had two terrible weeks in a row in a campaign that only has 14 weeks left. This is math and its timing and if he does not get better at message discipline he will turn out to have been the biggest loser that he can imagine. Hes throwing out a winnable race. Fleischer then pointed out that Trump missed an opportunity to take on the Obama Administration and Hillary Clinton over the state of the U.S. economy. Think about last Friday when he was given the golden opportunity the United States government validated everything Donald Trumps been saying. The economy grew at a 1.2% clip for the quarter, slowest recovery since 1949, But, Fleischer continued, Does Trump immediately pounce on it, does he make that the message of the day, does he call Hillary 1.2% Hillary and make the case [that] this is why incomes are flat, this is why there is income inequality, this is how come people cant pay their college loans? No, hes still fighting about the Khans. Fleischer then had one final tip for Trump before the Republican candidates campaign becomes damaged beyond repair. Stop counterpunching, youve gotten to be such a good counterpuncher youre about to knock yourself out. Related Articles We are in the thick of the Q2 earnings season and investors arent satisfied as there is no sign of growth. Having said that, the rate of decline is seen to be moderating from the previous quarter, pacifying investors' concern to an extent. The quarter is on track to be the fifth in a row to record an earnings decline for the S&P 500 index. If we summarize the performance of the 317 S&P 500 members that have reported financial results so far, we will see that 72.9% of the companies beat on earnings and 53.6% surpassed revenue estimates, as per our Earnings Preview report. However, total earnings for these companies were down 3.3% year over year while revenues declined 0.9%. In this scenario, investors are resorting to safe haven stocks and the consumer staples sector appears to be quite reliable. Overall, the sector has reported modest results this quarter. Lower gas prices, an improving job scenario and increasing consumer confidence have been supporting the improvement in results. In the consumer staples sector, 51.6% companies have reported Q2 earnings as of Jul 29. Out of these, 81.3% of the companies have posted an earnings beat, while 43.8% have surpassed revenue estimates. Though total earnings for the sector are expected to drop 1.4% due to flat revenues and 0.2% lower margins, it might prove to be profitable in the long term. Food stocks are particularly doing well in Q2. Leading firms from the industry like The Hersheys Company HSY, Pinnacle Foods, Inc. PF, B&G Foods, Inc. BGS, Colgate-Palmolive Co. CL, Mondelez International, Inc. MDLZ and many others have delivered better-than-expected Q2 earnings results despite currency headwinds and the sluggishness in emerging markets. Here we have four food stocks, which are scheduled to release their second-quarter numbers on Aug 4. Let's see how things are shaping up for their respective announcements. The Kraft Heinz Company KHC is scheduled to report after market close. The packaged food manufacturer has an Earnings ESP of +2.82% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the second quarter earnings is pegged at 71 cents per share. Additionally, the company has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 4.46% in the trailing four quarters. Story continues Kraft Heinz has been seeing top-line weakness over the past several quarters. The company is witnessing lower volumes and share losses in the U.S. due to weak category trends. Despite relatively soft sales, cost savings have led to better margins, primarily in the developed markets of the U.S. and Europe. We expect the trend to continue in the second quarter. (Read: Kraft Heinz: What Will Q2 Earnings Release Unveil?). KRAFT HEINZ CO Price and EPS Surprise KRAFT HEINZ CO Price and EPS Surprise | KRAFT HEINZ CO Quote Kellogg Company K is slated to release its results before the opening bell. The company has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second quarter earnings is pegged at 91 cents. The cereal and snacks company delivered positive earnings surprises in each of the past four quarters with an average surprise of 3.29%. Kellogg has been struggling to drive sales over the past two years primarily due to weak performance by its cereal products in developed markets as well as a soft U.S. snacks businesses owing to lower demand. Though cost savings from its re-structuring program, Project K, are being deployed for renovation, innovation and brand support, the U.S. snacks business remains a drag. Further, currency headwinds will limit revenue growth to some extent in the second quarter. (Read: Can Kellogg Keep the Earnings Streak Alive in Q2?). KELLOGG CO Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise KELLOGG CO Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | KELLOGG CO Quote Post Holdings, Inc. POST is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded ready-to-eat cereals in the United States and Canada. It will report its results after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +14.89% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 47 cents. Additionally, the company has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 345.14% in the trailing four quarters. POST HOLDINGS Price and EPS Surprise POST HOLDINGS Price and EPS Surprise | POST HOLDINGS Quote Treehouse Foods, Inc. THS will report its results before the opening bell. This food manufacturer has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 54 cents. Additionally, the company has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 9.17% in the trailing four quarters. TREEHOUSE FOODS Price and EPS Surprise TREEHOUSE FOODS Price and EPS Surprise | TREEHOUSE FOODS Quote Stay tuned! Check later on our full write-up on earnings releases of these stocks. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report HERSHEY CO/THE (HSY): Free Stock Analysis Report B&G FOODS CL-A (BGS): Free Stock Analysis Report KELLOGG CO (K): Free Stock Analysis Report TREEHOUSE FOODS (THS): Free Stock Analysis Report COLGATE PALMOLI (CL): Free Stock Analysis Report POST HOLDINGS (POST): Free Stock Analysis Report MONDELEZ INTL (MDLZ): Free Stock Analysis Report PINNACLE FOODS (PF): Free Stock Analysis Report KRAFT HEINZ CO (KHC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Japanese police arrested four people Wednesday in connection with a multi-million dollar bank heist, including a member of a group affiliated with the country's biggest organised crime syndicate. The 1.8 billion yen ($17.8 million) haul reportedly involved more than 100 people making a series of cash withdrawals from some 1,700 ATMs across Japan using fake credit card data from a South African bank. Investigators had already made at least two arrests after launching a nationwide manhunt in May but are yet to unveil exactly how the crime was organised and carried out. The latest four are accused of having coordinated to steal a total of 3.8 million yen from ATM machines located at five convenience stores in Ichihara city, east of Tokyo, according to an investigator with Chiba prefectural Police. The group included Takanari Fukuda, 49, a member of an underworld, or "yakuza", group affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest organised crime syndicate, the investigator told AFP. The four men carried out the withdrawals from 6:45 am through 7:54 am on May 15, he said. "This is part of the some 1.8 billion yen" that was stolen, said the investigator, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity. But the four are mere rank-and-file members of the coordinated crime, and have not been able to provide significant clues to advance the investigation, he added. The organised heist was allegedly carried out by thieves armed with fake credit card details from South Africa's Standard Bank. Standard Bank acknowledged it was a victim of the crime and put its losses at around $19 million. The friend of a partygoer that was shot dead Saturday night outside Seattle is breaking her silence after the weekend bloodbath. Melanie Marshall, who was victim Anna Buis best friend, told Inside Edition that she's still coming to grips with the tragedy that unfolded over the weekend. Read: Teen Tech Whiz Arrested in House Party Shooting: Cops This is a nightmare. This is an absolute nightmare and I wish I could wake up from it, she said. Allen Ivanov, 19, is accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend, Bui, and two other partygoers. Police say Ivanov was furious when he saw Bui with another guy at the crowded party in an affluent neighborhood. Ivanov allegedly went to his car, grabbed an assault rifle he had purchased a week before, returned to the party and opened fire. Bui, her friends Jake Long and Jordan Ebner were killed. Another teenager, Will Kramer, was seriously wounded. Marshall says Bui was not happy in her relationship with Ivanov, which lasted about a year-and-a-half. She confided in my mom and she was telling her how she didn't feel comfortable in the relationship, Marshall said. She was very unsure about him. Bui recently returned home from a trip to Europe, and it was reportedly Ivanov's intention to resume their relationship. Days before the shootings, he posted a photo of his new assault rifle with three bullets on social media. He posted to Twitter: First and last tweet. I've been through it all. He also left behind a long letter to his family and friends, telling his mom: I wish I was everything you wanted. You're such a strong independent woman. Read: Supermodel's Billionaire Heir Son Arrested For Fleeing $28 Cab Fare: Cops And to a friend, he wrote: "Im sorry about that girl. Don't make the same mistake I made." Ivanov was arrested in the ensuing hours following the shooting as cops say he sped down a freeway many miles from the grisly scene in Mukilteo, Washington. Story continues Mukilteo Mayor Jennifer Gregerson addressed the press, telling reporters Saturday: "We grieve with the families who have lost those in this horrible event." Watch: Cop Killed In Baton Rouge Ambush Wrote Chilling Post: I Get Nasty, Hateful Looks Related Articles: Italys Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena would seem to be the archetype of a good, locally based, non-exploitative financial institution. The oldest bank in the world, with headquarters located in the medieval palazzo of one of Italys most beautiful cities, it was founded in 1472 as an answer to the problem of providing nonusurious credit to the deserving poor. The American poet Ezra Pound took it as a model for how all banks should operate, explaining in the 1930s that there were two types of banks the bank of the devils (of which he thought the best example was the Bank of England) and Monte dei Paschi. Pounds homage to Dante in Canto 42 also includes a tribute to the bank: That is a species of bank damn good bank, in Siena A mount, a bank, a fund, a bottom an institution of credit a place to send cheques in and out of and yet not yet a banco di giro In short, it was a bank that really served people and, as Pound explained, gave hope that Italy was the only possible foundation or anchor or whatever you want to call it for the good life in Europe. Remarkably little has changed at Monte dei Paschi since Pound offered that praise. But if the bank, Italys third largest, serves as any sort of foundation today, it is the foundation of a financial crisis one that could determine the political future of not just Italy but the entire European Union. Over the past 10 years, Monte dei Paschi has required recapitalization three times, receiving a total of 16 billion euros in capital from private sector investors, mostly Italian banks, though not from the Italian government. Last Friday, Italians learned it was the only bank to clearly flunk the most recent European stress tests on financial institutions. The question is what the Italian government will decide to do next in Rome and in Brussels. Its nothing new for Italian banking crises to be intertwined not just with general economic stress but fundamental political transformation. In 1893, a property price crash lead to the revelation of fraudulence at the Banca Romana, one of the countrys note-issuing banks, and the banks subsequent failure led to the collapse of the countrys center-left government and a reordering of politics. There are fears that a 21st-century banking crisis could be analogous and destroy the present center-left government of Matteo Renzi. That would lead to a completely new political constellation in which the populist opposition party Five Star Movement, which has already taken over local governments in Rome and Turin, would form a government with the explicit task of having Italy abandon the euro. Story continues But the history of Italian banking crises is also old in the sense of being old-fashioned. Unlike most European banks that have struggled since the start of the 2008 financial crisis, Italian banks have never really been part of the global trend of hyper-financialization. While banks in Germany were busy channeling funds into repackaged U.S. mortgage securities, Italian banks were much more locally focused. The loans on the balance sheets of Italys local banks werent made to consumers spending beyond their means, or speculative house purchasers, but mostly to local businesses. Their customers were primarily the countrys large number of small- and medium-sized enterprises, often family-run, with business models not that different from the very dynamic enterprises of southern Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, which concentrate on making niche products specialized textile machinery, for instance for international markets. This throwback banking model insulated Italian banks from the fast-developing financial shocks of 2007 and 2008. At the beginning of the global crisis, as other European governments spent large sums bailing out their banking systems, it looked as if Italy had the most solid banks in Europe. The European Central Banks calculation of the fiscal cost of bank bailouts for the 2008-2013 period shows a cost for Germany of 8.8 percent of GDP and for Spain of 4.9 percent, with much higher amounts for European countries that required a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (Ireland, 37.3 percent; Greece, 24.8 percent; and Portugal, 10.4 percent). Italy, by contrast, spent less than 0.2 percent of GDP. But this encouraged a dangerous complacency in Italy, as a slow-moving economic crisis gradually rotted the countrys financial foundation. A long-standing failure to undertake structural reforms has condemned the country to exceptionally sluggish growth, even before the 2008 crisis. Italys clothing and textiles sector has been hit by the move of production to Asia or to lower-cost producers in southeastern Europe; even luxury manufacturers are beginning to outsource production. Eventually, the weaknesses of the Italian economy hit the countrys banks with a massive volume of nonperforming loans the current estimate is 360 billion euros. (It didnt help matters that the Italian government is often a hindrance; there are many stories of businesses that contract with the government only to find they are never paid.) Among the Italian financial institutions struggling with nonperforming loans are big international banks like UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo (in both cases around 15 percent of their total loans). Both will need to retreat from some of their international exposures. It is likely, for instance, that UniCredit, which acquired a big central European portfolio when it merged with the German HypoVereinsbank that owned Bank Austria, will sell off its Polish bank holdings. But the drama of this years stress tests focused on Monte dei Paschi. It was the only bank in Europe to get a negative result in the tests, which indicated it would be insolvent in the event of a new European economic downturn. The two larger Italian banks are clearly systemically important, but Monte dei Paschi is also very large, and a failure would destroy confidence not just in the economy but also in the Italian political system. As with the 19th-century Banca Romana, the failure of this bank would destroy the countrys political system. The problem is that the Italian government cant really do much about this situation because its hands are tied by EU rules. In response to the bank bailouts elsewhere in Europe, as well as to the political controversies they engendered, the EU reformulated its approach to bank rescues and insisted that some bank creditors, as well as the capital owners, should bear the price of the rescue so that the taxpayer would not be obliged to pay for the incompetence or fraudulence or bad judgment or excessive risk proclivity of bankers. But these rules will have especially severe political consequences in Italy because of how its banks have funded themselves. For years, Italian banks have not just taken deposits; they have sold risky subordinate bonds to Italian retail investors with little financial knowledge while encouraging the investors to think of the bonds as very safe investments. As some of these banks ran into trouble in recent years, those investors lost large parts of their retirement savings, leading to widespread hardship. After an elderly holder of subordinated bonds of Banca Etruria, Luigino DAngelo, killed himself in 2015, the Italian finance minister commented that such bonds had been sold to people with a risk profile which isnt compatible with the nature of these securities. The EU commissioner for financial services, Jonathan Hill, echoed this critique with the now-familiar accusation that banks were selling unsuitable products to people who maybe didnt know what they were buying. The Italian response was to set up a special fund to assist on a case-by-case basis those who lost large amounts in the course of any resolution of a failed bank. For Monte dei Paschi, shareholders have already lost almost all of their investment. But the government does not want to see a repeat of the bank resolutions of 2015, even though some European policymakers argue that the bondholders who might lose are mostly quite wealthy people and not the poor pensioners whose bailing in would be politically toxic. The Italian government has argued that since its banking crisis originated in a different way than other European countries, those peculiar origins should be taken into account when it comes to designing a policy response. But policymakers in northern Europe simply respond that Italy is facing the penalty for its delay in action on a central economic issue. The new rules came into effect at the beginning of this year and clearly mean that Italy cannot bail out its banking sector today. The Italian governments hands are firmly tied. So all the government can do is organize an international rescue from private investors, backed by the promise of a breakout from Italys low-growth trajectory. The first phase of this years Monte dei Paschi rescue involves transferring about 9.2 billion euros of bad loans (whose nominal value is some 27 billion euros) to a rescue fund called Atlante, financed by Italian banks, insurance companies, and pension funds. Once a substantial part of the bad-loan portfolio is no longer on the books, there will be a 5 billion euro capital increase underwritten by a consortium of banks led by JPMorgan Chase and Mediobanca and involving six other investment banks with pre-underwriting agreements: Goldman Sachs, Santander, Citi, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In short, the international banking system is being brought in to rescue Monte dei Paschi. Whats remarkable is that throughout this budding crisis, Italian policymakers and regulators have maintained their consistently upbeat refrain, at least in public, about the prospects of Monte dei Paschi. This was true even two years ago, when the banks previous chairman, CEO, and chief financial officer were jailed for misleading regulators about the banks condition. Alessandro Profumo, Italys best-known international banker, who had negotiated UniCredits merger with HypoVereinsbank, was chosen to replace Giuseppe Mussari as chairman and claimed in May 2014 that he had done his job. [Monte dei Paschi] is no longer a problem for this country. It has gone back to being a normal bank and is healed, he said. Just over a year later, Profumo stepped down. At the beginning of this year, Prime Minister Renzi said: Today, the bank is healed, and investing in it is a bargain. [Monte dei Paschi] has been hit by speculation, but it is a good deal. It went through crazy vicissitudes, but today it is healed its a good brand. Perhaps this process of finding partners will last several months, because they must stand together with others. These upbeat assessments by policymakers are the key element of Italys rescue strategy. They clearly amount to some implicit political guarantee to private investors who might be wondering why they support an institution that has already burned through so much capital. A general economic recovery is just around the corner, the Italian government is saying, and when those conditions improve, the banks profitability will return. The upshot is that the only way to avoid dramatic political changes in Italy, which would have political fallout across Europe, is to preemptively make policy changes at the EU level. But in order for its rosy scenario to play out, the Italian government has no choice but to push for an end to the EUs commitment to fiscal austerity. Renzis government believes there is substantial support for such a shift in other European countries, above all in France, and it has recently been pushing for a much larger EU public spending initiative, directed primarily at infrastructure investment. In Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusas great novel The Leopard, Tancredi Falconeri states: If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change. If the government isnt allowed to help banks directly, it has to commit itself to a new growth dynamic for the entire continent. It remains quite uncertain that it can or will be allowed to follow up on that promise. Photo credit: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images RACINE A man who reportedly crashed his car into a house early Monday morning tried to report it as a robbery. Everett Jacoby, 30, of the 1600 block of Warwick Way, allegedly crashed his car into a tree and then into a house after trying to turn at a high speed, according to the criminal complaint. When police first arrived at the scene at 2108 Oregon St., they found the car abandoned next to the house, the complaint states. Police reported about 40 feet worth of skid marks in the grass before the car hit the tree. The car was locked, and police smashed a window for entry. When they identified Jacoby as the vehicles owner, they also discovered he was calling in a robbery near the intersection of Indiana and 21st streets, according to the complaint. Jacoby returned to the scene where officers saw several scrapes on his knees. Police searched him and found he had the keys to the car, the complaint states. Police believed Jacoby was lying and arrested him. While being taken to jail, Jacoby twice slipped his handcuffs from behind his back to the front and had to be recuffed, the complaint said. He faces one count of disorderly conduct and two counts of obstructing an officer for moving his handcuffed hands from his back to his front twice. Jacoby is scheduled for a pretrial conference Sept. 1. I am still undecided on which presidential candidate will get my vote. I agree with some of her positions on issues but not with others. Much of what he claims he'll do in office is pretty extreme, but maybe we have to be open to unconventional action in order to shake us out of our political stagnation. I'm hoping to gain greater clarity, though in the voting booth Nov. 8, it really could be a coin flip that decides whether I vote for Dr. Jill Stein or Gov. Gary Johnson. Wait, you didn't think I would actually consider casting a ballot for either of those other two criminals, did you? Before you start ranting, know that I've heard over and over how voting for a third-party candidate is "the same as voting for Trump" and how this election is "too important" and how I need to think about the future nominations to the Supreme Court. Even considering those rationalizations, I still see no lasting value in the expediency of supporting a bad person for president: Yes, to me, both Trump and Clinton are bad people. I say they are bad not because of what they propose to do but rather because of the things they have done and what those things say about them as human beings. Read more: Michael Wolff on Hillary's "Self-Delusion," Trump's "S Show" and the Media's Final, Frantic 100 Days While I despise the ugliness that flows from the Trump maw, I do agree with some of what he advocates: that we need to force our treaty partners to hold to the rules of the agreements they have made; that the "carried interest tax loophole" enjoyed by billionaire private equity managers has to be closed; and, like Trump, I would like to see true campaign finance reform. But The Donald, from what I've read, is a dishonest racist. His Trump University was a fraudulent scam, using bait-and-switch tactics to separate those searching for economic hope from their money. And, much worse, Trump's family's real estate business, while he was its president, was prosecuted twice by the government for illegally discriminating against black renters. The evidence in those cases clearly points to their/his guilt. Story continues Yes, it is great that Hillary has been a senator and secretary of state. It also is great that she is, well, not Donald Trump. But I can never forget that her husband was accused of raping a woman named Juanita Broaddrick and sexually assaulting another named Kathleen Willey. I have researched both claims, and I firmly believe the stories those women tell are true. Of course, Hillary didn't participate in these alleged assaults, but, according to Carl Bernstein's book on Clinton, she did actively undertake to manage the fallout from the many accusations made against her husband. In fact, Ms. Broaddrick says that Hillary confronted her two weeks after the rape occurred, trying to get her to keep silent. It's very clear that the candidate who has said, "Every survivor of sexual assault deserves to be heard, believed and supported," did and does none of that when it comes to accusations against her husband. Read more: Anti-Hillary Economy Exploding in Merch, Movies and Books Hillary has made it known that her first man will have an important role in her presidency. Wouldn't those who are "with Hillary" be freaking right now if there were multiple sexual assault claims against Don Trump Jr. and he had flown on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's "Lolita Express" 26 times, and then his father made it clear that, if elected, he was planning on putting Don Jr. "in charge of revitalizing the economy"? The reason for my, and the public's, distaste for the Democratic and Republican candidates (both have unfavorability ratings of 58 percent) is not situational but rather systemic. Where else in American life is the citizenry content with a choice of just two? If the only phone on sale was the iPhone, there would be grumbling but not a movement for change. But if we could only buy one of those flip phones with the big dial pad that they sell to old people, nobody would stand for it. Our political system should be a mature market by now. The electorate shouldn't only be offered one more viable choice for head of state than a citizen in Egypt, North Korea or Brunei has. Yes, this election is important, but which of those in the past wasn't? Do you think there will be a Supreme Court in the future where all of its members are in their mid-40s and POTUS will have no effect on the court's makeup? Only through an affirmative push by voters to investigate, support and promote third-, fourth- and fifth-party candidates will we ever get out of this trap of having to choose the "least worst" nominee. And we need to start now, not because this election isn't "so important" but because all of the future elections are. This story first appeared in the Aug. 12 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. By Joern Poltz MUNICH (Reuters) - Two former Yugoslav intelligence chiefs were jailed for life by a German court on Wednesday for masterminding the murder of a Yugoslav dissident in the southern German state of Bavaria more than three decades ago. The court in Munich found Croats Josip Perkovic, 71, and Zdravko Mustac, 74, who were top officials in the communist-era Yugoslav secret service, guilty of complicity in the murder of Stjepan Durekovic, also a Croat. Durekovic was found dead of gunshot wounds and head injuries in a garage in the town of Wolfratshausen in 1983. The crime went back three decades to the period before the break-up of Yugoslavia in war in the early 1990s leading to the emergence of seven independent Balkan states. "The prime motive was to kill a regime critic, a separatist," presiding judge Manfred Dauster told the higher regional court in Munich. "Durekovic was to be muzzled - politically, but also physically." Croatia extradited Perkovic and Mustac in 2014, under pressure from Germany. Defense lawyers plan go to Germany's federal high court to appeal Wednesday's ruling in Munich. If the sentences are upheld, Perkovic and Mustac will be able to apply to serve them in Croatia. Another man, the owner of the garage who had managed to win Durekovic's confidence, was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany in 2008 for his part in the murder. At the time, the court established that 22 Croats were murdered in West Germany, at the behest of the Yugoslav leadership. Croatia initially refused to comply with Germany's extradition requests for the two men, triggering a diplomatic dispute in 2013 that threatened to overshadow the state's accession to the European Union. Shortly before joining the EU on July 1 2013, in a move that irked its EU partners, Zagreb changed its laws to prevent the extradition of suspects in crimes committed before 2002, when new EU extradition rules took effect. The Zagreb government said at the time that it wanted to protect veterans of Croatia's 1991-95 independence war from facing potential prosecution elsewhere in the EU. It denied any connection with the Perkovic case and pointed out that some EU member states had the same 2002 time limit. The government later removed the time restriction after the European Commission warned it could face legal action, including possible loss of EU development funds. Perkovic helped set up Croatia's national intelligence agency as it seceded from Belgrade in 1991, when Yugoslavia broke up in bloodshed, and held senior security posts through the 1990s. (Reporting by Joern Poltz; Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Richard Balmforth) ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a core condition of a $918 million International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid deal on Tuesday, breaching the terms of a three-year programme meant to fix an economy dogged by high public debt. The lawmakers passed the Bank of Ghana (BoG) Amendment Bill to allow central bank financing of the government's budget deficit up to a ceiling of 5 percent of the previous year's total revenue, instead of the zero financing demanded by the IMF. Until now the bank was authorised to finance the deficit at up to 10 percent of revenue. Implementation of the zero financing requirement is one of the targets the government was expected to meet in order for the Fund to conclude Ghana's third programme review and disburse the next tranche of aid. However, Deputy Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson told Reuters that, despite the law, the government will not finance its deficit with central bank funds. "We have demonstrated enough that the government is committed to expenditure control and we will remain on course, irrespective of today's decision by parliament," he said. (Reporting by Kwasi Kpodo; Editing by Aaron Ross and John Stonestreet) The Soberanes fire, currently burning near Monterey, California, was imaged by a NASA satellite on Sunday afternoon, as the blaze continued to swallow up tens of thousands of acres of land. The fire, which has been burning for a little more than three weeks, had destroyed over 33,000 acres on Saturday (July 30), according to the Los Angeles Times. But in just a few days, the engulfed area has expanded to include 43,400 acres (67.8 square miles or 175.6 square kilometers) according to the state wildfire management agency, Cal Fire. The image of the fire, trailing white smoke out over the Pacific Ocean, was captured with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA's Aqua satellite at 4:35 p.m. EDT (20:35 GMT). The red lines on the image show actively burning areas detected by MODIS. The resolution of the image is 820 feet (250 meters) per pixel, and the image shows an area about 3,730 miles (600 km) long and 260 miles (420 km) wide. A black line representing the California border with Nevada is imposed on the image. Due to the fire, 350 residents have been evacuated, and a total of 57 residences and 11 outbuildings (such as barns and sheds) have been destroyed, according to Cal Fire. Another image taken by the Aqua satellite on July 31 shows the northern section of California, as well as Nevada, Oregon, Washington and part of Idaho. You can see more images of the fire in this NASA image gallery, by searching "sobranes" (which is how it's spelled on the site). The Aqua satellite is a NASA mission to study the water cycle on Earth, and its suite of instruments takes measurements of evaporation from the oceans, water vapor in the atmosphere, clouds, precipitation, soil moisture, sea ice and land ice. It also tracks snow cover on the land and ice, vegetation cover on the land, phytoplankton, and dissolved organic matter in the oceans, among other things. Imaging wildfires is not specifically part of Aqua's mission, but most NASA satellites do more than what's on their list of mission objectives, said Jeff Schmaltz, a support scientist for the MODIS instrument. Story continues "There are many side benefits that can be gained by different innovative uses of the data [from a NASA satellite]," Schmaltz told Space.com in an email. "This is one example where the imagery from MODIS is used to show folks many of the natural (and man-made) phenomena that we can see from space." Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 SPACE.com, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Experts recommend that teenagers should wait as long as possible before wearing heels and only for special occasions. (Photo: Getty Images) Seeing your little one go from trying on mommys heels while playing dress-up to becoming a teenager who wants to rock her own pair of high heels isnt an easy transition for most parents and celebrity dads and moms are no different. The Shade Room shared a viral Snapchat video (warning: colorful language) by Russell Simmons yesterday in which the celebrity dad basically freaks out after realizing that one of his daughters with Kimora Lee Simmons, Ming Lee Simmons, is wearing high heels and sky-high Valentino Rockstud ones, no less. Ming, who had come to Simmonss office to visit her father, is 16 years old. Other daughter Aoki, 13, also appears in the video, shrugging off her dads reaction in classic teenage fashion. Russell Simmons, center, freaked out when he saw his 16-year-old daughter, Ming Lee Simmons, left, wear high heels. Also pictured, his other daughter, 13-year-old Aoki Lee Simmons. (Photo: Getty Images) So what is an appropriate age for teenage girls to wear heels? A 2013 Today poll of more than 8,000 people found that 47 percent of its responders said it was permissible to wear heels between the ages of 13 and 16, right in line with Mings age. That was closely followed by people (42 percent) who felt the right age was older than 16. Multiple parents on Circle of Moms agreed that age 15 and older is fine for teens to start wearing heels, while others felt it should only be for certain events. For special occasions or a date, heels could be a great thing, wrote Kitty, but for everyday use it may be better to encourage a sassy strappy sandal or a cute [first] boot. But not every parent thinks that heels at a young age is a good idea. Heels arent good for you, commented Jodi. I wouldnt let any child whose bones are still developing wear heels on a regular basis. And experts tend to agree. The later, the better, but at least until 13 years old, Isaac Tabari, M.D., chief podiatrist at NYC Podiatry Center of Excellence in New York, told the Stir. Thats because as anyone who has ever worn high heels for more than a few hours can attest they arent great for your feet, ankles, and back particularly for adolescent girls whose bones are still forming. Story continues One expert, cancer specialist David Agus, M.D., even suggests that wearing high heels regularly for years can increase the risk of developing cancer, saying that the pain they cause can lead to chronic, low-level inflammation. We know that inflammation probably contributes to the risk of various types of cancers, Jack Jacoub, M.D., a medical oncologist and director of thoracic oncology at Californias MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center, previously told Yahoo Beauty. When its not controlled by the body, it usually does detrimental things to the bodys health and that applies to the risk of cancer and chronic medical diseases. That said, the American Podiatric Medical Association says its fine for adolescents and adults to wear heels once in a while. High heels are OK for special occasions, according to the APMA. Consider selecting platform or wedge heels instead of stilettos. Lower and broader-based heels are best, spreading the childs weight across the surface area of the shoe, Pat Basu, M.D., chief medical officer at Doctor on Demand, an online site where parents can consult with physicians, told the Stir. Chunky heels are better than thin heels, a wedge heel is better than a single heel. The shoe should also have a wide toe area. Avoid the pointy-toed shoes and anything else that is restrictive to the foot. Bottom line: Its up to parents as to whether they feel their teen is ready for high heels, but having your adolescent wait as long as possible before wearing them with the exception of special occasions is a smart move for health reasons. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Baghdad (AFP) - Messages of solidarity from Nice and other cities hit by attacks were delivered to Baghdad residents Wednesday, a month after the deadliest single bombing ever to strike the Iraqi capital. At a small event held on Baghdad's central Tahrir Square and organised by the Avaaz global campaigning group, activists put up posters and handed out postcards carrying the messages. "My heart and thoughts are with all the victims, we will never forget you," read one message signed by Manon, from the French Riviera city of Nice, where a truck ploughed through a crowd on July 14, killing 84 people. That attack was claimed by the Islamic State group, although the attacker's links to the group remain unclear. The jihadist organisation, which has its roots in Iraq, also claimed responsibility for a July 3 suicide truck bomb attack in Baghdad's busy Karrada neighbourhood which the government said killed at least 323 people. Dozens of suicide attacks have hit Baghdad this year alone, and organiser Ahmed Twaij said those killed in the Iraqi capital often attract little solicitude from the West. "It's just a statistic," the activist said. "One hundred people dead, 200 people dead... they're not seen as someone's brother who just passed away, or someone's sister, someone's mother. "Iraqi lives are just as important as lives in the West," said Twaij. "So these are letters from around the world in a sign of solidarity towards the people of Iraq to show that... they are not alone." Many of the messages were from Nice and Paris but others originated from a number of other countries, including the United States. "People from every corner of the world have been hit by brutal terror attacks in recent weeks, but from Paris to Baghdad, Mogadishu to Kabul we stand united against these attempts to divide us," Luis Morago, Avaaz campaign director, said in a statement. "Iraqis know all too well what can happen when we split apart and turn on each other," he said. According to the Iraqi health ministry, 208 of the people killed in Karrada a month ago required DNA testing to determine their identities. Goldman Sachs GS has agreed to pay $36.3 million over allegations that its former employees gained access and used confidential documents from the Federal Reserve. The Fed claims that GS employees used the confidential information in order to gain the business of clients. The Reserve has ordered the bank to enact a program which insures that violations like this dont happen again. The Fed is also attempting to fine and place a permanent banking ban against former management director Joseph Jiampietro, who allegedly disclosed Fed secrets when he worked for Goldman Sachs in 2014. The Fed believes that Jiampietro got the Fed documents from a Goldman Sachs banker who previously worked as an employee at the New York Fed. That banker, Rohit Bansal, was barred from banking and the securities industry last year. The Fed has been taking a tougher stance against crimes commited within the industry in recent history. 6 bankers were banned from banking in 2015, and this represents a 100% increase compared to the number of bankers barred from practice in 2014, according to expressnews. Goldman Sachs had to pay a $50 million penalty to New York state regulators last year because of this incident, so some may think that the Feds decision to pursue Goldman Sachs now is unusual. Goldman Sachs stock is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The Zacks Rank is a truly marvelous trading tool. Our ranking system has beaten the S&P 500, yielding an average return of 25% per year for the last 29 years! Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report GOLDMAN SACHS (GS): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research RACINE A family was displaced Wednesday morning after a fire broke out in their duplex unit. The fire was reported at about 9:27 a.m. at 3704 Sovereign Drive in a side-by-side duplex, according to a Racine Fire Department press release. The family in the unit was able to evacuate once the fire was discovered. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the room of origin on the second floor; however, the rest of the unit sustained smoke, heat and water damage. The unit was deemed not inhabitable, the release said. No injuries were reported and damage to the structure is estimated at $20,000, according to the release. The fire did not spread to the adjoining unit. The Red Cross was contacted to aid the family with their immediate needs, fire officials said. The cause of the fire was still under investigation as of Wednesday. Google is doing things a little differently this year when it comes to its newest Android release. Rather than waiting until fall, Google will update compatible Nexus devices to the final Android 7.0 Nougat version at some point in the coming weeks. And Google usually releases new hardware thats able to best showcase some of the best features of a new Android version right after it's released. As a result, most people assumed that Googles exciting 2016 Nexus handsets would be released pretty soon after Nougat is let loose. But now a new report says that might not be the case. MUST SEE: 10 awesome Galaxy Note 7 features you won't find on any iPhone Looking at the recent Nougat and new Nexus rumors, but also at LGs claim that the LG V20 will be the first device to launch with Android 7.0 Nougat on board, Droid-Life let it slip that the HTC Sailfish and Marlin will be released on October 4th at the earliest. The news reportedly comes from a source who has been accurate time and again when it comes to Nexus devices. Assuming the source is correct, it means you wont be able to buy new Nexus handsets when Android 7.0 is released at some point in the coming weeks. That also means that V20 will indeed likely be the first new smartphone to ship with Nougat preloaded, beating the new Nexus devices to market. Obviously, by the time the V20 launches, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P will already run Android 7.0. But strictly speaking about brand new devices, the LG V20 will come out as the winner. On a related note, Android Police has learned that Google is about to make some significant changes to key software features of the new Nexus handsets read more about them here. Trending right now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com (DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.)Their party in crisis, Republicans frustration with Donald Trump reached new heights on Wednesday as GOP leaders scrambled to persuade the presidential nominee to abandon divisive tactics that have led to sinking poll numbers and low morale. Party chairman Reince Priebus appealed to the New York billionaires adult children to help. Worried that that may not be enough, Priebus also joined a handful of high-profile Trump allies in considering whether to confront the candidate directly following a series of startling stances and statements with Election Day quickly approaching. Trump has exposed deepening party divisions by refusing to endorse GOP House Speaker Paul Ryans re-election and continuing to criticize the family of a slain U.S. soldier. An official with direct knowledge of Priebus thinking was granted anonymity to discuss internal strategy after one of the most tumultuous weeks of Trumps presidential campaign. Trump on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that the GOP frustration was hurting his campaign, even as he openly contemplated an Election Day loss. Wouldnt that be embarrassing to lose to crooked Hillary Clinton? That would be terrible, he said during a campaign stop in battleground Florida shortly after he declared, Weve never been this united. Yet the most powerful Republicans in Washington and New Yorks Trump Tower concede things will not change unless Trump wants them to. The candidate is in control of his campaign, campaign chairman Paul Manafort told the Fox News Network Wednesday afternoon, highlighting his inability to control the nominee. And Im in control of doing the things that he wants me to do in the campaign. Clinton, meanwhile, kept up her assault on Trumps business practices, holding up a Trump-branded tie as she spoke at the Knotty Tie Company in battleground Colorado. Story continues I really would like him to explain why he paid Chinese workers to make Trump ties, she told employees in Denver, instead of deciding to make those ties right here in Colorado. Trump blamed the media so dishonest for growing criticism of his recent statements and his unwillingness to accept guidance from senior advisers. Priebus, Trump confidants and numerous GOP lawmakers have been particularly irked by his repeated criticism of an American Muslim family whose son, a U.S. Army captain, was killed in Iraq. The soldiers father appeared at the Democratic National Convention last week. I would say in the last couple of weeks, he has been remarkably underperforming and well see whether or not he can take a deep breath and learn these lessons, said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Fox Business News. Gingrich may join Priebus and another Trump ally, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, in specifically urging Trump to adjust his approach, according to the Republican official. Trumps vice presidential nominee, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, tried to put a better face on a recent difference during a phone interview with Fox. Pence said he spoke with Trump Wednesday morning about my support for Paul Ryan and our longtime friendship. He strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesdays primary. And Im pleased to do it. Trump stunned Republicans by telling The Washington Post in an interview Tuesday that he wasnt ready to endorse Ryan, who faces a primary contest in Wisconsin next week. Ryan has backed Trump despite deep differences on policy and temperament, and has encouraged other Republicans to unite behind the partys nominee. The turbulent week, including Trumps criticism of the Muslim soldiers family and sinking poll numbers, has led to low morale within his small campaign team. After months of Trump promising to adopt a more presidential tone, Republicans are beginning to lose hope of a pivot for the general election. Hes incapable of changing. Hes irremediable, said Republican strategist Rick Tyler, who previously worked for Trump adversary Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Former Trump adviser Barry Bennett acknowledged signs of poor morale among the campaign staff he maintains contact with, but he also said it would be silly dismiss Trumps chances with three months before Election Day. This would be the end of any other Republican candidate in the history of the country. And hes only 5 or 6 points behind, Bennett said. Indeed, Trump on Wednesday reported raising $80 million in July for his campaign and the Republican Party, a significant improvement from past months. Clinton raised about $90 million over the same period. Clintons aides see opportunity in Trumps missteps. The Democrats campaign is expanding its outreach to moderates and independents, particularly women in key battleground states. Winning some of those voters could offset expected losses among the white working class voters drawn to Trumps anti-trade, anti-illegal immigration message, Clinton aides say. A pro-Clinton super PAC released a new ad on Wednesday featuring footage of 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney and other Republicans questioning Trumps character and foreign policy credentials. Manafort dismissed reports of a so-called intervention by Priebus, Gingrich and Giuliani. The campaigns focused and the campaign is moving forward in a positive way, Manafort told Fox. The only need we have for an intervention is maybe with some media types who keep saying things that arent true. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN member states have rejected a UN proposal to resettle 10 percent of the world's refugees annually as part of a new global effort to tackle the worst refugee crisis since World War II. A document adopted late Tuesday failed to include the resettlement proposal from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that would have been the centerpiece of a UN summit on refugees in New York on September 19. Human rights groups voiced disappointment, dismissing the document as a meaningless political declaration and warning that the September gathering of world leaders was shaping up as a missed opportunity. Ban's adviser on the summit, Karen AbuZayd, said, however, that she was "very pleased by the agreement" and was looking forward to negotiations on a new global compact for migrants to begin next year. Under Ban's proposal, world leaders were to agree on a new "global compact on responsibility-sharing" to address the refugee crisis and launch talks on a second agreement on migration. The final document makes no mention of the responsibility-sharing deal and proposes talks on migration beginning early next year, with a view to adopting that accord in 2018. "The Refugee Summit was a historic opportunity to find a desperately-needed global solution to the refugee crisis," said Charlotte Philipps from Amnesty International. "Instead, world leaders delayed any chance of a deal until 2018, procrastinating over crucial decisions even as refugees drown at sea and languish in camps with no hope for the future." Ban put forward his proposals in May to address the crisis from some 65 million people fleeing wars and poverty, the largest displacement crisis since the Second World War. Following weeks of negotiations, the proposed resettlement goal of 10 percent of world refugees was deleted from the document and replaced by a general pledge to take in more refugees. Story continues "We intend to expand the number and range of legal pathways available for refugees to be admitted to, or resettled in, third countries," the document said. - Obama's refugee summit - Opposition to the UN proposal came from a broad range of countries including the United States and the European Union, as well as Russia, China and India. "There are serious questions now about whether this summit will be able to generate a response commensurate to the greatest displacement crisis the world has seen since World War II," said Akshaya Kumar, Human Rights Watch's deputy UN director. With expectations for the UN summit now low, attention shifted to a separate gathering at the United Nations on September 20 that will be hosted by President Barack Obama. At that summit, the United States will ask countries to come forward and announce the number of refugees they are willing to take in along with any other support they can offer. "The issue of resettlement targets can be dealt with at the pledging summit, where some states might make big offers," said AbuZayd. The United Nations had hoped that the new deal would have lifted some of the burden on developing countries in the refugee crisis, which has been fueled by the five-year war in Syria and other conflicts. A handful of countries are currently bearing the brunt of the global refugee crisis, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Eight countries host more than half of the world's refugees: Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya and Uganda. UN member-states endorsed Ban's proposal for a global campaign against xenophobia. "Demonizing refugees or migrants offends profoundly against the values of dignity and equality for every human being to which we have committed ourselves," said the document. London (AFP) - Rower Katherine Grainger will bid to become Britain's most decorated Olympian after a desperate struggle to get a place in the team. The 40-year-old has a gold from London 2012 and three straight silvers with Anna Watkins in the double sculls. That puts her level with swimmer Rebecca Adlington on four medals when she defends her title in Rio with a new partner Vicky Thornley. The manner in which they claimed places suggests Grainger, who has a doctorate in homicide, will do well to kill off her rivals' hopes this time. At one stage she and Thornley tried the women's eights but did not make the British Olympic team. Grainger and Thornley faced a nervous wait of more than two weeks in June before being named in the doubles again. She called it a "rollercoaster" and said getting the record breaking medal would be "the biggest challenge of my career." Her struggles could be explained by a shaking off of the cobwebs and getting used to her new and younger partner -- Thornley is 28 -- having taken a sabbatical after winning gold at the London Games. She made it crystal clear that she would not return just to make up the numbers in Rio. - No t-shirt trip - "I didn't take time out, then come back, to go to a fifth Olympics and just get a T-shirt," she told the BBC. "Vicky and myself both want a medal and we haven't lowered our sights." Certainly the sabbatical was not wasted as Grainger gained a doctorate in human rights law to add to the law degree she passed when a student at Edinburgh University. Part of her course work for her doctorate in homicide -- which she worked on prior to the London Games -- was a 100,000 word thesis on psychopathic killers and their mental health. She even drew a parallel to the extremes she went in order to reach peak fitness. "It's not the lightest of reading matter of an afternoon but it is a lot about human behaviour, whether on the criminal side or society's side in their reaction to things at an absolute extreme end," she told Channel 4 in 2012. Story continues "In some ways I probably work (row) at the extreme end of human behaviour anyway - there are some parallels potentially but I consider it very different from sport." For that thesis she was obliged to consult with senior judges, police chiefs and politicians including one Theresa May then the Home Secretary and now prime minister. May is the member of parliament for Maidenhead where Grainger lives. Grainger, though, is not the exception to the rule in maintaining an interest in meatier issues outside the confines of her training and competing. "Itas amazing given how straightforward and uncomplicated the sport is how remarkably intelligent some of the people in it are," she told The Daily Telegraph newspaper in 2014. "And I think because everyone is so single minded, they have very strong opinions on everything. In the crew room the conversation ranges from Syria to Iam A Celebrity to the weather. "The truth is when I do eventually retire -a and I know I canat go on beyond Rio -a I will leave this sport as a much wiser person." Rowing will be the poorer for her departure but her future outside the sport looks assured. Aleppo, Syrias commercial capital before the civil war began more than five years ago, is the scene of what one rebel fighter is calling a great epic battle as rebel groups have launched a major offensive against government positions. Their target, as the Guardian notes, is the Ramouseh district, in southwest Aleppo, capture of which would cut off the citys western half. Heres more: Humanitarian agencies believe control of Ramouseh could in effect place the western half of the city, which is under regime control, under siege. If successful, the rebels would likely use their advantage as a bargaining chip to secure humanitarian access to the eastern half of the city, which they control, rather than attempt to break the siege itself by military means. Last month, troops and militias loyal to President Bashar al-Assad began an offensive, supported by Russian airstrikes, to retake Aleppo. The citys eastern half is rebel-held, while the government controls the other portion. The rebel offensive is an attempt to break that logjam. Recommended: Missouri's Governor Wouldn't Fund Public DefendersSo He's Been Ordered to Serve as One Himself The rebels are a coalition of moderate and Islamist groups. A rebel source in Jaish al Fatah, one of the Islamist groups, told Reuters that 10,000 troops, 95 tanks, and several hundred rocket-launcher vehicles were involved in the three-stage battle dubbed the great epic battle of Aleppo. Amid the fighting are claims and counterclaims of the use of chemical weapons. Cylinders of chlorine gas were reportedly dropped in Saraqeb, in Idlib province, where a Russian helicopter was shot down Monday. Russia has denied using any such weapons, which would be a violation of its international treaty obligations. Separately, the government alleges rebels carried out a gas attack in Aleppo. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Gusto CEO Josh Reeves Gusto, a startup with 300 employees in San Francisco and Denver, just became the first midsize company in the US to cover fertility treatments in a way that will help single women and same-sex couples, according to Cigna. Fifteen states require employers to offer some fertility coverage, reports the San Francisco's Chronicle's Marissa Lang, but that coverage often hinges on a being diagnosed as clinically infertile, as defined by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. A gay couple might not be clinically infertile (incapable of getting pregnant after a year of unprotected heterosexual sex), but they still can't biologically conceive a child together. A single woman can't biologically conceive on her own either. So Gusto is offering insurance that ditched the medical diagnosis requirement and will cover up to $20,000 worth of treatment anyway. Gusto CEO Josh Reeves was inspired to extend this fertility provision by one of his employees, Katie Evans-Reber, and her wife Amy. The couple had one child together and were trying for a second but their fertility treatments were not working. After a lot of heartache and $40,000 worth of attempts, they couldn't afford to keep trying. When researching insurance that covered infertility treatments in this less restrictive way, Reeves was surprised by how few employers ever researched the question. Cigna told the Chronicle that it estimated there were perhaps four other companies offering this benefit nationwide. "My hope is Gusto can lead by example and inspire other businesses to do the same," Reeves told Business Insider. While Reeves may be motivated by kindness (he's known to be a very nice guy), in many ways, it makes good business sense for Gusto to pioneer this benefit, too. Gusto offers payroll and insurance benefit software to small and mid-sized companies. It's pitch is that it's software treats people more humanely, Reeves tells Business Insider. Story continues NOW WATCH: Watch the Air Force drop 8 armored Humvees out of a plane from 5,000 feet More From Business Insider WATERFORD Village residents who live along the Fox River on Tuesday emphatically said no to any and all plans to lower the level of the waterway each and every winter. About 60 residents, many of them living along the river, gathered at the Waterford Village Hall Tuesday night to discuss how continuing efforts to dredge nearby drainage canals would negatively affect the waterway. The Racine County Drainage District wants to draw down the Fox River between the Waterford and Rochester dams every winter to help dredge drainage canals of excess silt and to control erosion and flooding. In a drawdown, the rivers water level is slowly lowered in the fall until the level decreases between 4 and 5 feet. The river is refilled in the spring and returned to its normal level. But residents and village officials on Tuesday night said recent drawdowns have destroyed fishing, decreased property values and had a major impact on the rivers recreational opportunities. We want to preserve our river, said Village President Tom Roanhouse. We never, never, never want there to be a drawdown again. In the past several years the village has invested a lot to develop the river and the nearby land. In June, the village opened kayak and canoe launches at Village Hall Park with easy access to the river. The activity on the river is amazing, Roanhouse said. And village officials and residents said that they want to keep it that way. We want to be a recreation destination, and we need the river to do that, said Barbara Messick, the villages administrative analyst. A citizens group that opposes the drawdowns has suggested the drainage district use hydraulic dredging which can be done almost any time of the year on the canals, and that there is no evidence that an annual drawdown is helpful. The district wants to use mechanical dredging, which requires frozen ground for the heavy excavating equipment. Were not opposed to dredging, said resident Fred Koeller of the citizen group. We believe you can dredge without drawing down the water. The drainage district is in the third year of a five-year permit from the state Department of Natural Resources to dredge the canals. But despite drawing down the river in 2014 and 2015, no dredging has occurred. The drawdowns have left that section of the river shallow and mostly mud. We dont like the mud or the stench, Koeller said. The village has been dealing with the issue since January 2015, when many residents complained about the effects of the previous drawdown. In March 2015, more than 100 people with land along the river, other concerned citizens, and state and county officials gathered to discuss the drawdowns. Officials from the village, county and state have been working to resolve the issue ever since. State Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, State. Rep. Dave Craig, R-Waterford, and Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave, who all attended Tuesdays meeting, urged residents to contact legislators, write letters and enlist neighbors to keep the issue on the front burner. These letters and calls can make a difference, Wanggaard said. Its a different level of special for me tonight, Gwen Stefani told the crowd about two-thirds of the way through her show at the DTE Energy Music Theatre Tuesday night in suburban Detroit. And she wasnt kidding. A few seconds later Stefanis squeezeBlake Shelton strode on stage for a rendition of their hit country duet Go Ahead and Break My Heart from Sheltons latest album, If Im Honest. Both Shelton and Stefani, as well as the four members of her band, grinned broadly as they worked their way through the song, and the couple gave each other a warm squeeze after they finished, with Stefani going on to finish the 26-song show. Gwen Stefani Brings Bullying Victim on Stage: Watch Shelton and Stefani have performed Go Ahead and Break My Heart live several times, starting with its debut on the May 9 episode of The Voice and on the same date an iHeartRadio private concert. They also played it at this years Billboard Music Awards on May 22, during Sheltons set June 18 at the Country Jam in Colorado and at Stefanis concert on July 16 in Virginia Beach, Va. Stefani had already declared the night special, noting to the Michigan audience that my dad is from Eight Mile (Road), Detroit! She later spoke about picturing her father traveling to Lake Michigan while he lived there and told the fans, I feel like Im connected to you cause I am. I feel like this needs to be one of the best nights of my life. Stefanis This Is What The Truth Feels Like Tour continues Thursday in Toronto and wraps Oct. 16 at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Shelton plays NBCs Today Show Summer Concerts series on Friday in New York City and has his own dates booked into October, including a two-night stand at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. So long, #squadgoals! Hailee Steinfeld, a member of Taylor Swifts world-famous group of girlfriends, revealed in a new interview that she and the pop superstar, 26, arent as close as people may assume. PHOTOS: Taylor Swift's Celebrity BFFs! Chatting with Seventeen magazine for their September cover story, 19-year-old Steinfeld suggested that her friendship with Swift doesnt extend far beyond walking red carpets together, starring alongside each other in the celeb-packed Bad Blood music video and being oft featured on the Grammy winners Instagram page. "I think people think we spend a lot more time together than we actually do!" the Starving songstress admitted. "She's amazing though. PHOTOS: Stars Share Secrets: Read Celebs' Shocking Confessions Last November, Steinfeld told Refinery29 that maintaining friendships in the public eye can be rather odd. "It's weird, I guess. Its different. It's a weird sort of thing. I can tell you there's a lot that isnt observed, and those are some of my favorite moments, the True Grit actress explained. I have found that I'm rarely at the same place at the same time as my friends. PHOTOS: Taylor Swift's Best Surprised Faces Whether she gets to hang out with her pals in private or is forced to catch up at a Hollywood event, Steinfeld never turns down a chance to clock some quality time with her besties. PHOTOS: Taylor Swift's Red Carpet Style Evolution If there's a moment, whether it's an awards show or a girls' night in, no matter where or what it is, any opportunity to see my friends, I'm there, she shared with R29. Its exciting and it makes it much more of a thing when were all together and it is public." Harley-Davidson Museum Honors Drag-Racing Legend Ray Price Legendary drag racer Ray Price has been honored with a special exhibit in the Harley-Davidson Museum. The display, "Drag Racing: America's Fast Time," runs through September 5, 2016. The exhibit features Price's "Funny Bike" a 1975 Sportster, which ran a 107-cubic inch Shovelhead that made 450 hp and exceeded 182 mph. Price won the NHRA title in 1980. He drag raced Harleys for 40 years, designed the first motorcycle wheelie bar, and the 2-speed racing transmission. Ray Price He was a Harley and Triumph dealer in Raleigh, North Carolina for many years, passing away last year. The show is a collaboration between Harley and the National Hot Rod Association. funny2 Were honored to have two iconic American institutions pay tribute to Rays impact on the sport of drag racing by displaying his drag bike, racing uniform and stories behind his many innovations, said Ray Hendrix, general manager of Ray Price, Inc. The Harley-Davidson Museum is open year round and offers free parking. The riverfront building, many years in the making, includes a restaurant and a bar. After all, it is in Milwaukee. London (AFP) - The script of a new Harry Potter play is achieving record sales in Britain and the US, though it is failing to match the popularity of the novels about the young wizard. "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" has sold more than 680,000 copies in Britain since being published on Sunday, Britain's highest single week sales of a script this decade. The popularity of the print version of the play in its first two days made it the biggest-selling hardback at bookseller Waterstones since the 2009 release of Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol". "By the end of this first week, we expect to exceed 'The Lost Symbol' sales and to match the lifetime sales of our bestselling script book ever, 'An Inspector Calls' by J. B. Priestley," said Kate Skipper, buying director at Waterstones. "There's no doubt about it; this will be our biggest book of the year." The script of the two-part play, which opened in London's West End on July 30, recounts the adult life of Harry Potter and his family. "The Cursed Child" was written by Jack Thorne and directed by John Tiffany, in collaboration with Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling. In the US and Canada the screenplay sold more than two million copies in the first two days, an "unprecedented" result for a script book according to publisher Scholastic. Despite the success of the script, initial sales of the book fell far behind those of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", the seventh and final novel in the series. Within 24 hours of being released in 2007, "The Deathly Hallows" sold 2.65 million copies in Britain, publisher Bloomsbury said, while Scholastic recorded 8.3 million copies sold in the US. Globally the seven Harry Potter novels have sold more than 450 million copies since the first book hit the shelves in 1997. The wizard's adventures have been translated into 79 languages and eight films. Story continues An additional 250,000 tickets of the Harry Potter play are due to go on sale on Thursday, for performances at the Palace Theatre until December 10, 2017. With speculation that the new play could be taken to Broadway in New York, Rowling said she was enthusiastic about performances abroad. "I'd love it to go wider than that. I'd like as many Potter fans to see it as possible," Rowling told journalists at the gala opening. On Monday afternoon, universally recognized investor, chairman, and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway BRK.B Warren Buffett issued a direct challenge to Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump. He wants Trump to meet with him, bring his tax returns, and let the public inquire about the filings. For some time now, Trump has resisted releasing his returns, citing that he is being audited by the IRS. However, Buffett responded by stating that he too is being audited, and that it is not a reason to avoid disclosing his returns. For the last 40 years, every major party presidential candidate has released their tax returns, so it is fishy to some that Trump remains hesitant in doing so. The so-called Oracle of Omaha and the Donald have differing ideologies on quite a few things. Both also stand in different positions socially, as well as in terms of net worth, and influence, although some of these can be a bit subjective. Lets break down just how unlike each other these two are. The Battle for Attention For years now, Donald Trump has found some way to stay in the spotlight. With interviews spanning back to the 80s to his controversial show, The Apprentice, which he was on from 2004 until 2015, Trump has done much to stay relevant in the public domain. He has filmography spanning back to 1985, and as recently as 2015 hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live. Trump also owned part or all of the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants, which has had its own share of controversy as well. In this regard, there is a stark difference between Trump and Buffett, who according to his biographer used to throw up before public speaking, and arranged my life so that I never had to get up in front of anybody. Given his recent speech introducing Hillary Clinton and calling out Trump on his taxes, we know Buffett is no longer the stranger to public speaking that he once was. Overall, Buffett has never done much to bring himself into the spotlight. Although making public appearances here and there, to speak about the market, endorse a candidate, or serve as an economic adviser, Buffett is not as hungry for attention as his counterpart. Story continues Path to Wealth In 1975, Donald Trump inherited a real estate business from his father, Fred Trump. At the time of inheritance, the business was worth $40 million. He claims his current net worth to stand at around $10 billion, although there is some disagreement over that number. Between then and now, Trump has grown his business through building his brand name hotels and towers across different parts of the U.S. First, he concentrated entirely on New York, which was quite the gamble, but has since built properties on both coasts of the U.S. and in between, Canada, Panama, Mumbai, the Philippines, and other countries as well. Trump has also concentrated on building his brand through his dedication to remaining in view of the public (as discussed above). The son of a Republican Congressman, Warren Buffetts life as an entrepreneur began quite early, when as a child he sold chewing gum, soda bottles, and weekly magazines door-to-door. The world knows him for purchasing Berkshire Hathaway. He gained control of the company in 1964 as a textile business, which he soon cut and expanded into the insurance industry. In the years since, Berkshire Hathaway has acquired and holds stakes in many major companies. Much of Buffetts estimated $63.3 billion net worth comes from his holdings in Berkshire Hathaway, which manages a portfolio worth over $132 billion. His company has grown over 1.8 million percent since Buffett took over, yet another testament to his legendary reputation. What Kind of Influence Do Each Have? On the topic of influence, both that of Trump and Buffett are massive in their own regard. Over the years, Buffett has been the subject of countless studies, books, and a shift in the way that many approach investing. His value investing methodology has gained many supporters, followers, and practitioners. Buffett has also pledged to donate 99% of his worth to charity, an impact that is currently immeasurable due to the vast amount of uses that money can have in the future. Furthermore, the market responds to Buffetts movements. When Buffett announces a stake in a company, its stocks soar, which goes to show how much people value his expertise. Donald Trump has had a monstrous amount of influence as well. Between making his catchphrase youre fired resonate in households across the nation to now becoming the Republican presidential nominee, Trump has become quite well-known. The ethicality of his influence is not for me to comment on, but he has done much to bring disgruntled Americans out of the woodwork and onboard to support his message. Bottom Line Warren Buffett and Donald Trump are very different people, in just about every way. Both have made names for themselves, are some of the wealthiest on Earth, and are influential enough to have articles written about them. One things for sure, and that is that both names will show up in history books, although under different pretenses. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BERKSHIRE HTH-B (BRK.B): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f16520%2fc195cb4219934e4c951d48d6571f6aa8 As the country draws closer to the inevitable end of the Obama presidency, we must savor the last few Barack-and-Michelle moments while America's First Couple still rules the White House. C-Span captured one such moment ahead of Tuesday's White House state dinner in honor of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's U.S. visit. In the clip, Michelle wipes some unidentified speck from her husband's nose, as loving partners do. SEE ALSO: Michelle Obama's Carpool Karaoke is here, wins everything Treasure these moments, everyone. Soon we won't have up-to-date coverage on what's going on with Barack's mystery face feather/hair/dust particle/booger. [H/T: The Cut] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 28, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid - RTSK40N Via Dave Lutz, head of ETFs at JonesTrading, here's a super-quick guide to what traders are talking about right now: Good Morning! Spoos adding to worst loss in a month, losing 20bp and firmly below the 2060 support we have seen over the last 3 weeks as Asian markets get whacked on the upward mojo of the Yen. Euro Markets are mixed to red, with the DAX unchanged as the EU Banks rebound 1% with HSBC popping on buyback plans, while ING and SocGen are jumping on #s. Eyes remain on the Italian Banks, as they climb 1% but remain well off overnight highs. London is losing some ground as the Bond Proxies get hit, knocking the FTSE for 30bp to multi-week lows. Turnover is mixed, with the Continent trading about 10-20% better, while London trade is down 25% from normal levels. Asia stocks biggest drop in more than a month as Fins got hit - Nikkei lost nearly 2% as peeps were disappointed in Abes latest stimulus - Aussie lost 1.4% as the Big Banks got clubbed, while Shanghai lost 30bp. EM Asia all closes in the red. 10Y JGBs remains near weeks lows, with their yields down small in the overnight German and US yields are down 1-2bp early. The DXY is higher, climbing from 5week lows as Euro drops despite a Stronger PMI print, while $/Y rebounding from below 101, while the Pound is basically unch into BOE tomorrow as UK business activity suffers 'biggest ever' fall. Commodities are mixed, with Metals all dropping as Ore was off small in China with Copper, Zinc and Silver are all down 50bp+ but Gold unch near a 3week highs. Energy commodities are mixed, with Oil bouncing from lows, but remains downside $40 as Gasoline weighs on the complex due to inventory data. Softs are all marginally higher. Employment week kicks off in earnest with ADP Employment at 8:30, right when the Treasury posts their quarterly refunding announcement. At 9:45 we get the Markit US Services PMI, just ahead of the Official ISM print at 10. The Online Help Wanted Index hits at 10 as well, then attention turns to DOE data for Crude Last night API showed U.S. crude supplies decreased 1.3 million barrels in the week (street looking for -900k) - Gasoline stocks decreased 450,000 barrels (-300k estimate), while distillate stocks expanded by 539,000 (-100k estimate). Quiet down in DC as the House and Senate remain in recess. Story continues NOW WATCH: The 'Zulu Cobra' helicopter is one of the Marines' most powerful weapons More From Business Insider By Amanda Becker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Calling Donald Trump an "authoritarian character" and a threat to democracy, Meg Whitman, a prominent Republican fundraiser and chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton's White House bid late Tuesday. "To vote Republican out of party loyalty alone would be to endorse a candidacy that I believe has exploited anger, grievance, xenophobia and racial division. Donald Trumps demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character," Whitman posted on Facebook about the Republican nominee. In an interview with the New York Times, which first reported the endorsement, Whitman said it was time "to put country first before party" and that she would give a "substantial" contribution to Clinton's campaign. Whitman told the Times that Trump is a "dishonest demagogue" and said that those who look at other failed democracies and believe "it can't happen here" are mistaken. "Trump's unsteady hand would endanger our prosperity and national security. His authoritarian character could threaten much more," Whitman wrote on Facebook. Whitman's endorsement is the latest from a string of business leaders who have moved to back Clinton in recent days, including other high-profile Republicans. Clinton reached out to Whitman personally about a month ago, according to the Times report. Her campaign also courted former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who delivered an endorsement speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week. Clinton's campaign viewed Bloomberg, a billionaire Republican and household name, as being able to go toe-to-toe with Trump's claims he is best suited to run the country given his own business credentials, according to those familiar with the discussions. Dallas Mavericks owner and television personality Mark Cuban also backed Clinton last week, calling her campaign chairman John Podesta on the night she accepted her nomination to say he was ready to support the former secretary of state. Story continues Cuban on Saturday made a surprise appearance at a Clinton rally in Columbus, Ohio, reversing course from earlier statements that he would likely vote for Trump. "Leadership is creating consensus in our amazing country and letting everybody know that American exceptionalism and the American dream are alive and well, thats what leadership is, thats what Hillary Clinton is," said Cuban. Clinton's campaign released a list in June with business leaders from whom they had secured support. Among them were several high-profile Republicans, including Dan Akerson, a former chairman and chief executive at General Motors. (Reporting By Amanda Becker; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) RACINE High school students at Racine Unified schools will see changes to their grading, and the process to select valedictorians for the class of 2020 will also be different. Rosalie Daca, chief academic officer for Unified, said during Monday evenings school board officials were surprised when they found discrepancies when they reviewed the grading practices of different schools. We discovered that there were inconsistencies as far as class-to-class and school-to-school, Daca said. We want an established, consistent practice across the district. Parents and students with questions will have the opportunity to talk to Unified administrators, teachers and college admissions officers at meetings to be set up in September. Monday Daca presented to the board a plan to eliminate weighted classes, the addition of plus/minus grades, an updated online course policy, greater access to advanced placement and International Baccalaureate courses and changes to valedictorian selection. We have students that are putting pressure on themselves, and our counselors can attest to this, theyre skipping lunches so they can take another class, Daca said. Theyre trying to take two and three online classes so they could boost their (grade point) average in the middle of that, theyre losing the love of learning. Daca outlined two grading options for teachers, percentages and a 10-point system, and informed the board that the district will be moving to a standards-based grading system. Semester exams, Daca said, will also be valued the same across schools, which wasnt necessarily the case in the past. Some (teachers) may weigh them 20-30 percent in their final grade calculation for the semester, and others can count at 5 percent, Daca said. We are going to weigh exams 15 percent consistently across the school in all classes in all schools. Changes for class of 2020 Under the old system, weighted classes allowed students to get five points for an A rather than four points for a typical class, but now across all high schools for freshmen, weighted classes will be gone. Those are the classes students are skipping lunch to take, Daca said, adding colleges and universities look beyond grade-point average to activities and volunteer work. More and more of these colleges are looking at a holistic student. The valedictorians for the class of 2020 will not only need to have the highest grade-point average, but they also must have completed several AP classes or be a full IB diploma candidate. In order to be in those classes, we have to make sure students have access to those classes, Daca said. She added that officials want to be more flexible for students who may be just below the grade requirements for those advanced classes. Daca said its possible for schools to have several students who could be valedictorian. At Mondays meeting several teachers and counselors who worked with Daca were present to vouch for the need for changes. Jennifer Muffick, a counselor at Case High School, said these changes will help students in the future. What we have right now, the only people that can become valedictorian in Racine, cant take a lunch all four years of high school because they will take eight weighted classes, Muffick said. They come in as (ninth) graders and they say What does it take for me to be valedictorian? And unfortunately the answer is no lunch, extra online courses, you have to do weighted (classes) to me its so unhealthy. Muffick said the evaluation of students has evolved from several decades ago. Its so competitive to get into a college now, weighted or not it does not matter, (students are) going to take the most rigorous, most difficult classes they can pick, Muffick said. At one point weighted grades were necessary; at this point were ready to go onto something else. Correction: There was incorrect information in the Unified grading systems article published Wednesday. The valedictorians for the class of 2020 will not only need to have the highest grade-point average, but they also must have completed several AP classes or be a full IB diploma candidate. IB is only offered at Case High School. The original article stated students must be an IB candidate and have completed several AP classes. Also Rosalie Daca outlined two grading options for teachers, percentages and a 10-point system, and informed the board that the district will be moving to a standards-based grading system. The original story incorrectly worded what changes will be made. (Fixes typo in "she" in ninth paragraph) By Amanda Becker WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Calling Donald Trump an "authoritarian character" and a threat to democracy, Meg Whitman, a prominent Republican fundraiser and chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton's White House bid late Tuesday. "To vote Republican out of party loyalty alone would be to endorse a candidacy that I believe has exploited anger, grievance, xenophobia and racial division. Donald Trump's demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character," Whitman posted on Facebook about the Republican nominee. In an interview with the New York Times, which first reported the endorsement, Whitman said it was time "to put country first before party" and that she would give a "substantial" contribution to Clinton's campaign. Whitman told the Times that Trump is a "dishonest demagogue" and said that those who look at other failed democracies and believe "it can't happen here" are mistaken. "Trump's unsteady hand would endanger our prosperity and national security. His authoritarian character could threaten much more," Whitman wrote on Facebook. Whitman's endorsement is the latest from a string of business leaders who have moved to back Clinton in recent days, including other high-profile Republicans. Clinton reached out to Whitman personally about a month ago, according to the Times report. Her campaign also courted former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who delivered an endorsement speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week. Clinton's campaign viewed Bloomberg, a billionaire Republican and household name, as being able to go toe-to-toe with Trump's claims he is best suited to run the country given his own business credentials, according to those familiar with the discussions. Dallas Mavericks owner and television personality Mark Cuban also backed Clinton last week, calling her campaign chairman John Podesta on the night she accepted her nomination to say he was ready to support the former secretary of state. Story continues Cuban on Saturday made a surprise appearance at a Clinton rally in Columbus, Ohio, reversing course from earlier statements that he would likely vote for Trump. "Leadership is creating consensus in our amazing country and letting everybody know that American exceptionalism and the American dream are alive and well, that's what leadership is, that's what Hillary Clinton is," said Cuban. Clinton's campaign released a list in June with business leaders from whom they had secured support. Among them were several high-profile Republicans, including Dan Akerson, a former chairman and chief executive at General Motors. (Reporting By Amanda Becker; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) By Samia Nakhoul, Laila Bassam and Suleiman Al-Khalidi Beirut (Reuters) - Lebanons Hezbollah said the partition of Iraq and Syria was a possible outcome of sectarian fighting across the region and there was no prospect of any end to the war in Syria until after November's U.S. presidential election. Sheikh Naim Qassem, deputy leader of the Iran-backed group, whose forces are fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad against rebels supported by Western and regional powers, said Hezbollah, Iran and Russia would stand by Assad until the end. In an interview with Reuters, he said recapturing Aleppo, Syrias second major city where a decisive battle is unfolding, remained an objective but was not an immediate goal. The U.S. and its allies say that by waging war against his own people, Assad can have no future in Syria, while Russia and Iran, wholly opposed to regime change, maintain he is the legitimate president, albeit of a state shrunk by rebel gains. Both coalitions fear his sudden departure could destroy what is left of Syria after more than five years of civil war, bequeathing a shell state to the jihadis of Islamic State and Al Qaeda. Qassem said both Syria and neighboring Iraq, where Islamic State has also seized territory, could split. "On the battlefield and in view of regional and international interventions I dont rule out that one of the ideas proposed is finding a state of partition in those two countries but will it succeed or not? "So far the forces that want the unity of Iraq and Syria are able to prevent the idea of partition but we should remain worried about ... the possibility that some countries might push these two countries or one of them into partition." Assad was the best protection against this, Qassem said. "With President Assad the solution can be logical and rational in finding political parameters that can give the opposition its share and the regime its share and there could be coordination which allows for putting things back in order and reviving authority in Syria, the white-turbaned sheikh said. DIE-HARD COMMITMENT The intervention of Russias air force since last September, after Iran, Hezbollah, and Iraqi Shiite militiamen had fought relentlessly to keep Assad in place, has confounded the designs of Washington and regional Sunni powers such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Qassem said, opening the way to a political solution. "Iranian and Russian relations with Syria helped achieve steadfastness on the ground because both support Assad staying in power and back a political solution, the Hezbollah number two told Reuters. The Syria war grew out of Arab spring-inspired protests in 2011 calling for democratic change. Before Iran, Hezbollah and Russia came to Assads aid, his grip on power appeared to be failing. Their support was seen by diplomats and Middle East experts as key to Assad's survival. Syria's civil war, now in its sixth year, has killed more than 250,000 people, displaced more than 6.6 million inside the country and forced another 4.8 million to flee, creating a huge influx into neighboring countries and Europe. Qassem said the months-long push on rebel-held Aleppo by Assad's government forces was aimed less at recovering Syrias major city than at separating the rebels from Idlib, their stronghold in the north-west, and choking their supply lines from Turkey. Aleppo, with a population of more than 2 million people now, has been divided for years into rebel and government areas. The main objective of the Syrian state and allies was to cut the road between the city of Aleppo and Idlib. As for liberating Aleppo that's a different goal that may not be undertaken quickly..." "Regaining Aleppo will remain one of the goals of the Syrian state and its allies but we're not tied to a timeframe", said the Hezbollah leader. FIGHTING GLOBAL THREAT The Lebanese group, a Shi'ite Islamist party with a powerful armed wing, describes its role as part of a struggle against the growing regional threat presented by Sunni Muslim jihadists, who it labels takfiris for their radical ideology, violent and uncompromising stance. The conflict in Syria has further fueled an old regional rivalry between the Shi'ite Islamist government of Iran and the conservative Sunni Muslim kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one of the main sponsors of the insurgency against Assad. Qassem said the United States, one of the power brokers in finding a solution to the crisis, was distracted by its November presidential elections and not ready to commit to any action until a new president takes over next year. The US administration is convinced that the period ahead of the presidential elections is a wasted time, that it can await until the new president assumes power. Then, the prospects of a solution or of a prolongation of the crisis will be clear." He said the sacrifices of Hezbollah, which has lost hundreds of fighters in Syria, were worthy, otherwise the ultra-hardline jihadists of Islamic State would have taken control in Syria and expanded into Lebanon. "We have prevented the expansion of the crisis into Lebanon and this is a major achievement, we prevented the takfiris from disrupting the resistance and laid the basis for the steadfastness of Syria. These great achievements deserve every sacrifice," he said. He said Islamic State, which is being targeted by coalition air strikes, will increase its attacks in Europe and beyond, adding that the group has an expansionist strategy and will use any means to achieve its goals. "European pains are big and will increase more and more," Qassem said, adding that Islamic State "will not leave an opportunity in all the countries of the world without exception to attack when it can and when is able to." (Editing by Philippa Fletcher) From Good Housekeeping A Louisville, Kentucky, high school is under fire after the parent of an incoming sophomore posted pages from the school's new dress code, which bans three of the most popular styles for women with natural hair. Attica Scott, whose daughter attends Butler Traditional High School, posted the photos on her Twitter account: Soooo...my daughter had registration today and let's just say she's not happy abt the #JCPS no natural hair policy. pic.twitter.com/ApPDyv3sbo - Attica Scott (@atticascott) July 27, 2016 The first lines of the "Hair/Personal Grooming" section read as follows: Hair styles that are extreme, distracting, or attention-getting will not be permitted. No dreadlocks, cornrolls, twists, mohawks, and no jewelry will be worn in hair. First question: What makes these hairstyles - ones traditionally worn by Black women - more distracting than, say, a high ponytail or a French braid? And if the insinuation that dreadlocks, cornrows (ahem, not "cornrolls") and twists are somehow "extreme" rubs you the wrong way, you're not alone. With more than 1,000 retweets, Scott's post quickly led to an emergency meeting to discuss the policy, and both parents and students weighed in on the debate. "That's our way of life," student Shayla Ford told Click2Houston. "Because if I don't have my twists, if I don't have my cornrows, if I don't have my hair braided, then I get complaints from the kid behind me that he can't see." As a result, the school opted to suspend the hair policy, meaning students will be permitted to wear whichever style they choose when school starts back up in the fall. Historically, school dress codes in relation to natural hair don't have a great track record. Just last year, an eighth grader in Toronto was sent home for wearing her hair in a manner that her school's principal deemed "unprofessional" and "too poofy." At the time, the young girl told CityNews Toronto that she "didn't see what the big deal was about my hair because it wasn't bothering anybody." Considering kids are in school to learn, let's take the phot Follow Sam on Instagram and Twitter. [h/t The Cut] Highwoods Properties Inc. HIW reported second-quarter 2016 funds from operations (FFO) of 82 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2 cents. Further, the bottom line improved 5 cents year over year. Results reflected strong growth in same-property net operating income (NOI) and average occupancy. Total revenue for the quarter rose 12.3% year over year to $166.9 million. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $164.1 million. Quarter in Detail Highwoods leased 907,000 square feet of second-generation office space during the quarter. Same property cash NOI rose 4.5% year over year. Highwoods Properties Inc. (HIW) EPS BNRI & Surprise Percent - Last 5 Quarters | FindTheCompany During second-quarter 2016, Highwoods acquired land in the Maryland Farms submarket of Nashville for $9 million. Also, the company sold one building in Kansas City for $14.2 million. As of Jun 30, 2016, Highwoods had $2.4 million of cash and cash equivalents, down from $5 million as of Dec 31, 2015. 2016 Outlook Highwoods has narrowed its 2016 FFO outlook to $3.20$3.28, from the earlier guidance of $3.18$3.30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.25 falls within this range. Our Viewpoint Improving operating performance promises bright prospects for the company. In particular, Highwoods has been focusing on shifting its portfolio mix toward high-growth Sun Belt markets, where long-term favorable demographic trends are expected to drive above-average job growth. However, a large development pipeline exposes the company to higher construction costs, lease-up risks and entitlement delays. Moreover, increasing competition in the space restricts its ability to command relatively higher rents. HIGHWOODS PPTYS Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise HIGHWOODS PPTYS Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | HIGHWOODS PPTYS Quote Highwoods currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Investors interested in the REIT industry may consider stocks like Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. APLE, CoreSite Realty Corporation COR and CubeSmart CUBE. Each of these stocks carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Note: All EPS numbers presented in this write-up represent funds from operations (FFO) per share. FFO, a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs, is obtained after adding depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses to net income. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report HIGHWOODS PPTYS (HIW): Free Stock Analysis Report CORESITE REALTY (COR): Free Stock Analysis Report CUBESMART (CUBE): Free Stock Analysis Report APPLE HOSP REIT (APLE): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research * Sets aside $208 mln more for Obamacare business * 2nd-qtr revenue up 2 pct, beats estimates * Profit $2.30/share vs est. $2.23 (Adds details) By Amrutha Penumudi Aug 3 (Reuters) - Humana Inc reported a 28 percent drop in quarterly profit as it set aside more money to cover losses in its Obamacare business, and the company said it would discontinue next year most of these plans sold off public exchanges. The U.S. health insurer, whose acquisition by rival Aetna Inc has been challenged by U.S. antitrust authorities, said it planned to shrink its individual commercial business to 156 counties next year from 1,351 currently. Under the business, Humana offers individual insurance plans both on and off the public exchanges set up under President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. The company said it expected premiums of $750 million-$1 billion in 2017 from its Obamacare plans, way lower than the $3.4 billion estimated for 2016. U.S. health insurers, including Anthem Inc and UnitedHealth Group Inc, have been losing money in their Obamacare businesses due to high medical costs. Humana set aside about $208 million more in the second quarter to cover losses in the business, which it currently operates in 15 U.S. states. The company said it would shrink the business to 11 states next year and had already limited memberships in the four states where it no longer intended to offer the plans. Humana had said in May it would exit the Obamacare business in some states. The company and Aetna announced a deal on Tuesday to sell a portfolio of about 290,000 of their Medicare Advantage members in 21 states to Molina Healthcare Inc to win U.S. antitrust approval for their merger. Humana's individual commercial memberships fell by nearly a quarter in the three months ended June 30. Net income fell to $311 million, or $2.06 per share. Excluding items, the company earned $2.30 per share, beating the average analyst estimate of $2.23, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Revenue rose 2 percent to $14.01 billion, topping the average estimate of $13.59 billion. (Reporting by Amrutha Penumudi in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirti Pandey) On Tuesday's season premiere of Bachelor in Paradise, many of the contestants were hoping for love but they got a whole bunch of drama when the infamous Chad showed up. Chad was asked to leave the past season of The Bachelorette for threatening multiple contestants. He hoped to have a second shot at love but unfortunately he followed the second shot with a third, fourth, and fifth shot. On the first night Chad got belligerently drunk and repeatedly insulted Lace, a contestant who initially was attracted to him. When Carly tried to confront the very drunk Chad, he said, "F*** that one-armed b***." Ever the wordsmith, Daniel said of his buddy, Chad, "When he's intoxicated, he's like, you know, a crazy drunk poet, who's f***ed a pirate." Chad continued his rampage into the night. In the morning Chris Harrison called all the contestants together and asked Chad to leave. Hurricane Chad stormed out, slamming production equipment and even challenging Chris Harrison himself. By John McCrank NEW YORK, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Intercontinental Exchange Inc was "fortunate" to have scrapped a potential counterbid for the London Stock Exchange in May, ahead of Britain's vote to leave the European Union, the head of the New York Stock Exchange operator said on Wednesday. ICE would have had to make its bid to derail LSE's planned $27 billion merger with Deutsche Boerse just ahead of the June 23 referendum, which ICE's management expected would result in "Brexit," or the UK leaving the EU, Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Sprecher said on a quarterly earnings conference call. "We decided given that we didn't have good information and given that we thought the landscape was going to change that it was not an appropriate time for us to do a transaction," he said. "I will tell you that I think we were fortunate in making that decision." ICE, which has futures and clearing operations in Europe, earlier on Wednesday reported a better-than-expected second-quarter profit, with net income up 26 percent at $357 million, or $2.98 per share, from $283 million, or $2.54 per share, a year earlier. Market volatility following the Brexit vote helped boost volumes for exchange operators in the quarter. The LSE-Deutsche Boerse merger has received backing from the shareholders of both companies, but it remains unclear whether the deal will get approval from financial regulators in Germany and Britain, along with European Union antitrust authorities. The head of Germany's markets regulator said in June it was hard to see how the head office of the merged group could be in London given that Britain was leaving the EU. ICE still has around three months to reconsider and make an offer for LSE, provided it has approval from the British Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, or if the LSE-Deutsche Boerse merger falls through or another bidder comes in for the UK bourse. But Sprecher said ICE also has other options to expand its footprint in Europe and highlighted the ongoing uncertainty there. He said further fragmentation in Europe following the Brexit vote could create new demands from ICE's customers. "We're set up for change, but I don't know what the change is going to be," he said. "It's hard for anyone in any position in financial services to discuss what the outcome of Europe is going to look like." (Reporting by John McCrank, editing by G Crosse) RACINE COUNTY A state senator representing Racine County says he will introduce a bill aimed at ensuring insurance companies pay death benefits. State Sen. Bob Wirch said Tuesday he was spurred by a recent "60 Minutes" story reporting that nearly three dozen insurance companies are under investigation for not paying death benefits when the beneficiary is unaware there was a policy. Wirch's legislation would require companies to compare their records against the Social Security Administration's "Death Master File" and determine whether a customer has died, according to a news release. Companies would then have to take "reasonable steps to contact the beneficiary and pay out the benefits." Whether it would make an impact in Wisconsin remains to be seen. J.P. Wieske, deputy commissioner in the state's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance said, "In short, no," when asked if the office had seen such problems in Wisconsin. Wieske declined further comment on the bill, saying the insurance commissioner's office would look at the proposal after it is introduced. Wirch, who is running unopposed in the Nov. 8 election, said he plans to formally propose the bill when the Legislature comes back into session in January. According to the "60 Minutes" report, 25 of the nation's biggest life insurance companies have agreed to pay more than $7.5 billion in back-death benefits. Wirch called it a "huge rip-off that could impact millions of American families, taking billions of dollars out of their pockets." "Clearly, if you pay the premiums all your life for the policy, it should pay off upon your death," Wirch said. This iconic makeup brand is coming back to the States and we are SO excited This iconic makeup brand is coming back to the States and we are SO excited As a little girl growing up in the 90s, I spent a big chunk of my time sitting backstage at dance shows getting my makeup done by someones mom or older sisterand I always felt super glamorous because I had my own set of Max Factor cosmetics, reserved exclusively for these types of occasions. If you were anything like me, your heart broke a little when the beloved beauty brand was wiped clean from U.S. drugstore shelves in 2009. Citing diminishing sales, Max Factors parent company, Procter & Gamble, decided to focus its efforts on marketing Max Factor internationally, where it was earning the bulk of its $1.2 billion in annual sales. But now the iconic brand is back in the U.S. with a limited-release capsule collection that features a few essentials: two lipsticks, a liquid eyeliner and a mascaraeverything you need to create the Old Hollywood look the brand is known for. max factor collage Mr. Max Factor was a Russian immigrant who rocketed to success in Hollywood in the early 20th century. Known for creating the iconic beauty looks made famous by Jean Harlow, Ava Gardner and other leading ladies, he began selling his own line of products for the everyday woman in 1916. In 1920, he launched his full collection, and hes said to have coined the term make-up. Talk about leaving a legacy! Show me what you've got! On August 1st, Max Factor is releasing a Limited Edition Capsule Collection in the U.S., starring all the essentials you need to create a MAJOR cat eye look: mascara and eyeliner, plus two shades of lipstick. Tag #MaxFactorUS with your most DIVINE cat eye with for a chance to have me repost your work xxPat A photo posted by Pat McGrath (@patmcgrathreal) on Aug 1, 2016 at 6:03am PDT In an interview with Allure, Max Factors global creative design director, Pat McGrath (who was also behind this years highly-coveted Skin Fetish 003 highlighter), said now was exactly the right moment for the brand to return. Story continues With the rise of social media, beauty vloggers and Instagrammers, inspiration comes from anywhere. And with this renewed interest in makeup artistry, plus the tons of fans demanding the brands return to the U.S., Max Factor decided it was the right time to bring back a limited-edition collection. Cant wait to get your hands on these gorgeous new products? Get them from Drugstore.com, Amazon.com, Target, and Walgreens. The post This iconic makeup brand is coming back to the States and we are SO excited appeared first on HelloGiggles. By Marwa Rashad RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has agreed to assist thousands of laid-off Indian workers stranded in the kingdom without money or food, an Indian minister said on Wednesday. A sharp drop in oil prices has forced cuts to state spending in Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter. Construction firms have been squeezed financially and have laid off tens of thousands of south Asian and other foreign workers. More than 6,200 of the stranded Indian workers were employed by construction firm Saudi Oger, a conglomerate owned by the family of former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, which has been unable to pay workers' salaries for months, according to Indian officials. India's junior foreign minister Vijay Kumar Singh, visiting Riyadh on Wednesday to meet Saudi Labour Minister Mufrej al-Haqbani, said the Saudi government had provided assurances that it would resolve the crisis and ensure workers' financial claims were pursued, even if the workers returned home. "Things are not as bad as they have been shown and projected," the minister said in joint remarks with Haqbani after their meeting. "Things are very fine. We are in constant touch with all the officials and the various departments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." Haqbani said Saudi Arabia's King Salman had directed officials to take all measures to resolve the problem at the government's expense, and Riyadh would hire lawyers to pursue the workers' claims and make sure their rights were respected. "Yesterday, we contracted all the providers to provide health, catering, maintenance and everything, and we contracted the airlines to send back anybody who wants to go there upon the approval of the Embassy of India, Haqbani said, according to a text of the remarks provided by his ministry. STRANDED A Lebanese newspaper reported on Wednesday that the Saudi government was in talks with Hariri on a proposal to take over Saudi Oger. Under the proposed deal, the buyer would assume all debts and financial obligations of Saudi Oger. Saudi Oger officials and Saad al-Hariri could not be reached for comment. In the past, the company has declined to speak publicly about its finances. Saudi officials were also not available to speak about the reported takeover proposal. A total of about 7,700 Indian workers were stranded, according to Indian officials. Of these, 4,072 were staying in worker camps in Riyadh while 2,153 were in Jeddah. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Saturday the workers faced a "food crisis" because employers had not paid their wages. The Jeddah consulate was distributing emergency rations to the workers pending efforts to repatriate them. Saudi Arabia says it investigates any complaints of companies not paying wages and if necessary obliges these firms to do so or risk fines and other penalties. Other foreign governments, including France, the Philippines and Bangladesh, have been pressing Saudi authorities and company executives to ensure that construction firms pay their workers. Before the economic slowdown, about 10 million foreigners, largely from south Asia, southeast Asia and other parts of the Middle East, worked in Saudi Arabia, many in low-paid jobs in sectors Saudis spurn such as construction, domestic service and retailing. (Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Andrew Torchia and Janet Lawrence) NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - India's July oil imports from Iran rose by over a fifth from June, surging to its highest level in five months as two state- run refiners resumed shipments from Tehran after a gap of years, preliminary tanker arrival data obtained by Reuters show. Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Bharat Petroleum , India's second- and third-biggest state-owned refiners respectively, halted Iranian oil imports after western sanctions against Tehran's nuclear programme barred insurance cover for plants processing Iranian oil. India shipped in 461,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian oil in July, a nearly 21 percent increase from June and more than double than the about 215,000 bpd imported a year ago, tanker arrival data and ship-tracking services on the Thomson Reuters terminal show. India's oil imports from Iran for the fiscal year that began in April are set to surge to a seven-year high, with the nation's state-owned and private refiners together buying at least 400,000 bpd. While BPCL previously took an oil cargo from Iran in November 2011, HPCL last imported oil from the country in May 2013, according to data available to Reuters. For the first seven months of 2016, India imported about 359,000 bpd of Iranian oil, up 67 percent from the same period a year ago, the data showed. In April to July, the first four months of the current fiscal year, India's Iran oil purchases rose about 43 percent to 404,000 bpd from about 283,000 bpd in the same period a year ago, the data showed. Indian Oil Corp, the country's biggest refiner, was the top buyer of Iranian oil in July, shipping in about 158,000 bpd oil, while Essar Oil slipped to the No. 2 position with 126,300 bpd, the data showed. Since a landmark nuclear deal was reached with major powers in 2015 leading to the lifting of sanctions, Iran has been planning to boost crude production and exports to the pre-sanction levels. Imports of Iranian oil by four major buyers in Asia in June jumped 47.1 percent from a year ago to the highest level in more than four years. (Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's July oil imports from Iran rose by over a fifth from June, surging to its highest level in five months as two state- run refiners resumed shipments from Tehran after a gap of years, preliminary tanker arrival data obtained by Reuters show. Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL.NS) and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL.NS), India's second- and third-biggest state-owned refiners respectively, halted Iranian oil imports after western sanctions against Tehran's nuclear programme barred insurance cover for plants processing Iranian oil. India shipped in 461,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian oil in July, a nearly 21 percent increase from June and more than double than the about 215,000 bpd imported a year ago, tanker arrival data and ship-tracking services on the Thomson Reuters terminal show. India's oil imports from Iran for the fiscal year that began in April are set to surge to a seven-year high, with the nation's state-owned and private refiners together buying at least 400,000 bpd. While BPCL previously took an oil cargo from Iran in November 2011, HPCL last imported oil from the country in May 2013, according to data available to Reuters. For the first seven months of 2016, India imported about 359,000 bpd of Iranian oil, up 67 percent from the same period a year ago, the data showed. In April to July, the first four months of the current fiscal year, India's Iran oil purchases rose about 43 percent to 404,000 bpd from about 283,000 bpd in the same period a year ago, the data showed. Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS), the country's biggest refiner, was the top buyer of Iranian oil in July, shipping in about 158,000 bpd oil, while Essar Oil slipped to the No. 2 position with 126,300 bpd, the data showed. Since a landmark nuclear deal was reached with major powers in 2015 leading to the lifting of sanctions, Iran has been planning to boost crude production and exports to the pre-sanction levels. Imports of Iranian oil by four major buyers in Asia in June jumped 47.1 percent from a year ago to the highest level in more than four years. (Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Indonesian seaweed farmers on Wednesday sued Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production for potentially more than A$200 million ($152 million) to cover damages from Australia's worst oil spill in 2009. A total of about 30,000 barrels of oil were estimated to have spewed into the Timor Sea over 74 days after an explosion at PTTEP's Montara drilling rig, and lawyers behind the case say it reached far as Nusa Tenggara Timur in Indonesia, more than 200 km (124 miles) away. A Darwin-based lawyer, Greg Phelps, has pushed for compensation for Indonesian seaweed farmers whose livelihoods he believes were affected by the oil spill. Funding for the case will come from UK-based Harbour Litigation Funding. "If the company thought that this issue would go away because the farmers are Indonesians, or because they didn't understand their legal rights, they were sorely mistaken," said Ben Slade, the lawyer at Maurice Blackburn running the class action suit on behalf of more than 13,000 seaweed farmers, said in a statement posted on the firm's website. PTTEP Australasia said on Thursday it has always accepted responsibility for the Montara explosion but added that satellite imagery, aerial surveys and models concluded no oil reached the Indonesian coastlines and there has been "no lasting impact" on ecosystems in the areas closest to Indonesian waters. "We are confident the results of these independent studies would stand up to the highest scrutiny," PTTEP said in a statement on its web site. (www.au.pttep.com) The case was launched in the Federal Court in Sydney. PTTEP's shares fell 1.6 percent on Thursday while the broader Thai market was up 0.2 percent. (Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) By Wilda Asmarini JAKARTA, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Indonesia's newly appointed resources chief urged Freeport-McMoRan Inc on Wednesday not to push for a quick extension of its contract to operate the giant Grasberg copper mine, amid a planned revision of the country's mining law. In his first remarks on Freeport since his appointment as Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister late last month, Luhut Pandjaitan, a trusted advisor of Indonesia's President, said the government was "evaluating everything". "Freeport shouldn't push us. We are a sovereign state and we know what we are doing," Pandjaitan told reporters, referring to contract talks to extend Freeport's right to mine in Indonesia beyond 2021. Freeport wants assurances on a contract extension before investing $18 billion to expand its operations, including underground, but under existing laws cannot legally begin talks on a contract extension until 2019. "We will also look carefully at what we can do without breaking the law," said Pandjaitan. Indonesia's existing 2009 mining law is expected to be revised by parliament this year. Freeport, which runs one of the world's biggest copper mines in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua and is one of Jakarta's biggest taxpayers, is also waiting on an extension of its copper export permit, which is due to expire on Aug. 8. Pandjaitan said he planned to discuss the export permit with newly appointed Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arcandra Tahar, and hoped to be able to provide more details on this and Freeport's contract in one or two weeks. Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama said the company was waiting for the government to provide "legal and fiscal certainty" for it to continue operations through to 2041, and was "optimistic" it would be granted a new export permit. Freeport usually produces about 220,000 tonnes of copper ore a day and a prolonged stoppage in shipments would hit the company's profits and deny Jakarta desperately needed revenue. Story continues The U.S.-based miner and the government are also at loggerheads over a governent drive to increase revenues from its minerals, after Indonesia ruled that from Jan. 12, 2017 copper concentrate exports will be banned. Freeport currently processes only about a third of its copper concentrate in Indonesia. Freeport CEO Richard Adkerson said last week he did not believe that Indonesia would go through with the ban on copper concentrate exports, as it would harm the country's economy. He also said Freeport had received assurances that it would get an export permit by Aug. 8, while discussions on extending the miner's long-term contract had been "constructive". (Reporting by Wilda Asmarini; Writing by Fergus Jensen; Editing by Richard Pullin) Rome (AFP) - Italy's Serie A giant Inter Milan said Wednesday it has snapped up Lazio winger Antonio Candreva on a four year contract. "I am really happy and proud to be here," Candreva told Inter Milan's website. "I always wanted to come to Inter and I'm really excited to become a Nerazzurri player at last," he said. While the club provided no details on his transfer fee, Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport put it in the region of 25 million euros ($27.9 million). Candreva, 29, began his Serie A career against Inter while playing for Udinese in a goalless draw on 27 January 2008. Since then he has made 238 appearances and scored 48 goals in the top flight. This interview question was just banned in one stateheres why its so important This interview question was just banned in one stateheres why its so important Its so infuriating to think that in 2016, women still face so much discrimination in the workplace that laws literally have to be written reminding employers to pay women equally and treat them like the hard-working, totally capable humans that they are! Because, DUH, women should be paid equally for equal work. Sadly, it takes these laws a long, LONG time to catch up on equality. But in better news, one state has taken huge steps in the right direction. Massachusetts just passed a pay equity law that requires employers to pay men and women equally for equal work. (Sidenote: Why are we just making this a law now?!) via GIPHY But when women on average make 79 cents for every dollar that men make, and fill very few top executive positions, legislation like that passed in Massachusetts is absolutely necessary. It is a huge move forward to breaking the glass ceiling, a phenomenon where women are able to succeed in their jobs to a certain point, but eventually face a ceiling or a gender-based discrimination, that is so subtle that it is transparent, yet so strong that it prevents women from moving up the corporate hierarchy. via GIPHY The new law has also prohibited employers from asking job candidates about their salary history. Now, they can only inquire about this information after extending a formal offer that included how much the candidate will be paid at the new position. This change is also an important one for women. Because they are so often paid less than men, if they are asked about their salary histories during the interview process, employers can get away with paying them less based on their current salaries. via GIPHY Basically, the new law addresses a self-perpetuating cycle where women are initially paid less and are often not confident enough to ask for raises, and are therefore paid less by future employers, who use their lower salaries to justify paying them less. These kinds of realities are why we need feminism, and why women like Beyonce, who assert their importance and value, are so important and inspirational. Sorry not sorry! A photo posted by FEMALE COLLECTIVE (@femalecollective) on Aug 2, 2016 at 8:00pm PDT The post This interview question was just banned in one stateheres why its so important appeared first on HelloGiggles. BEDMINSTER, NJ and DUBLIN, IRELAND / ACCESSWIRE / August 3, 2016 / Amarin Corporation plc (AMRN) will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss the results of the second quarter 2016, to be held Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 7:30 AM Eastern Time. To participate in this event, dial 877-407-8033 domestically, or 201-689-8033 internationally, approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the beginning of the call. Additionally, you can listen to the event online at www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=175153 as well as via the Amarin website (www.amarincorp.com). If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the event archive will be available at www.investorcalendar.com or www.amarincorp.com. You may access the teleconference replay by dialing 877-660-6853 domestically or 201-612-7415 internationally, referencing conference ID # 13641286. The replay will be available beginning approximately 2 hours after the completion of the live event, ending at midnight Eastern on August 18, 2016. About Amarin Amarin Corporation plc is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the commercialization and development of therapeutics to improve cardiovascular health. Amarin's product development program leverages its extensive experience in lipid science and the potential therapeutic benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Amarin's clinical program includes a commitment to an ongoing outcomes study. Vascepa (icosapent ethyl), Amarin's first FDA approved product, is a highly-pure, EPA-only, omega-3 fatty acid product available by prescription. For more information about Vascepa visit www.vascepa.com. For more information about Amarin visitwww.amarincorp.com. SOURCE: Investor Calendar VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 3, 2016 / B2Gold Corp. (NYSE MKT: BTG) (BTO.TO) will host a live webcast to discuss the results of the second quarter 2016, to be held Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. To participate in this event, go to www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=175166. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the event archive will be available at www.investorcalendar.com. About B2Gold Corp. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, B2Gold Corp. is one of the fastest growing intermediate gold producers in the world. Since its inception in 2007, B2Gold has evolved into an international gold mining company, with four operating mines, one mine under construction and numerous exploration projects across four continents in various countries, including Nicaragua, the Philippines, Namibia, Mali and Burkina Faso. Construction of B2Gold's Fekola mine in southwest Mali is on schedule and on budget, and is projected to commence production at the end of 2017. As a result, B2Gold is well positioned to maintain its low-cost structure and growth profile, with production increasing to approximately 800,000 to 850,000 ounces of gold annually by 2018, with declining production costs. SOURCE: Investor Calendar WEST MELBOURNE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 3, 2016 / RELM Wireless Corporation (NYSE MKT: RWC) will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss the results of the second quarter 2016, to be held Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. To participate in this event, dial 877-407-8031 domestically, or 201-689-8031 internationally, approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the beginning of the call. Additionally, you can listen to the event online at www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=175181 as well as via the RELM Wireless website (www.relm.com). If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the event archive will be available at www.investorcalendar.com or www.relm.com. You may access the teleconference replay by dialing 877-481-4010 domestically or 919-882-2331 internationally, referencing conference ID #13641. The replay will be available beginning approximately 2 hours after the completion of the live event, ending at midnight Eastern on September 4, 2016. About RELM Wireless As an American Manufacturer for almost 70 years, RELM Wireless Corporation has produced highspecification twoway communications equipment of unsurpassed reliability and value for use by public safety professionals and government agencies, as well as radios for use in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications. Advances include a broad new line of leading digital twoway radios compliant with APCO Project 25 specifications. RELM's products are manufactured and distributed worldwide under BK Radio and RELM brand names. The Company maintains its headquarters in West Melbourne, Florida and can be contacted through its web site at www.relm.com or directly at 18008212900. The Company's common stock trades on the NYSE MKT market under the symbol "RWC". SOURCE: Investor Calendar CORPUS CHRISTI, TX / ACCESSWIRE / August 3, 2016 / TOR Minerals International, Inc. (TORM) will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss the results of the second quarter 2016, to be held Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. To participate in this event, dial 877-407-8033 approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the beginning of the call. Additionally, you can listen to the event online at www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=175174 as well as via the TOR Minerals International, Inc. website (www.torminerals.com). If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the event archive will be available at www.investorcalendar.com or www.torminerals.com. About TOR Minerals International, Inc. Headquartered in Corpus Christi, Texas, TOR Minerals International, Inc. is a global manufacturer and marketer of specialty mineral and pigment products for high performance applications with manufacturing and regional offices located in the United States, Netherlands and Malaysia. SOURCE: Investor Calendar SAN JUAN, PR / ACCESSWIRE / August 3, 2016 / Triple-S Management Corporation (GTS) will host a live webcast to discuss the results of the second quarter 2016, to be held Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. To participate in this event, join the event online at www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=175149 or via the Triple-S Management Corporation website (www.triplesmanagement.com). If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the event archive will be available at www.investorcalendar.com or www.triplesmanagement.com. About Triple-S Management Corporation Triple-S Management Corporation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. It is one of the leading players in the managed care industry in Puerto Rico. Triple-S Management has the exclusive right to use the Blue Cross Blue Shield name and mark throughout Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Costa Rica. With more than 50 years of experience in the industry, Triple-S Management offers a broad portfolio of managed care and related products in the Commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid markets under the Blue Cross Blue Shield marks. In addition to its managed care business, Triple-S Management provides non-Blue Cross Blue Shield branded life and property and casualty insurance in Puerto Rico. SOURCE: Investor Calendar Donald Trump Top Republicans excoriated the Obama administration on Wednesday after news broke that the US had secretly airlifted $400 million in cash to Iran on the same day Tehran released four Americans in January. "It's a disgrace," Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said during a Florida rally. "$400 million in cash, how does the president do that?" he asked. "How does he do that? ... This is in cash. In currency." Obama administration officials flatly denied the $400 million cash drop was a ransom payment, as critics alleged. The State Department, instead, insisted the payment was part of a $1.7 billion financial settlement the US reached with Iran as part of the nuclear deal. That didn't do much to quell criticism from across the aisle. Sen. John McCain of Arizona called the news "disturbing" in a statement, adding that it's "hardly surprising given" the Obama administration's "long record of concessions to America's adversaries." "Whatever the Administration may claim, it is clear that this payment was a ransom for Americans held hostage in Iran," he said. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois concurred with McCain, calling the news proof that the transfer of cash to Iran was a "ransom payment." "Paying ransom to kidnappers puts Americans even more at risk," he said in a statement. "While Americans were relieved by Irans overdue release of illegally imprisoned American hostages, the White Houses policy of appeasement has led Iran to illegally seize more American hostages, including Siamak Namazi, his father Baquer Namazi, and Reza Shahini." Calling it another piece of what is an "ongoing saga of misleading" Americans as it pertains to the Iran deal, if true, House Speaker Paul Ryan demanded an explanation for why the administration went to great lengths to "accommodate the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism." Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas went further than the three elected GOP officials and the Republican nominee, calling for the Iran deal to be "ripped to shreds immediately before more damage is done." Story continues The Texas Republican called the deal "with the mullahs" a "fundamentally illegitimate" agreement. "It is nothing but a series of bribes and secret agreements that will do nothing to prevent Iran from reaching nuclear capability, yet will provide funding for their sponsorship of terrorism and encourage them to detain more of our citizens," he said in a statement. NOW WATCH: Watch Trump relentlessly slam Hillary Clinton in his big RNC speech More From Business Insider Baghdad (AFP) - Iraq's chief prosecutor has filed a complaint against officials including the parliament speaker who were accused of corruption by the defence minister, a judicial spokesman said on Wednesday. Defence Minister Khalid al-Obeidi accused speaker Salim al-Juburi and several lawmakers of corruption while he was himself being questioned in parliament on Monday over graft allegations. The head of Iraq's public prosecution filed a complaint against "all those whose names were mentioned" by Obeidi during the questioning, spokesman Abdelsattar Bayraqdar said in a statement. Juburi has meanwhile filed a suit against Obeidi for making "false accusations and misleading public opinion and slander and defamation and insulting sovereign state institutions," his office said in a statement, adding that a "team of lawyers" is following the case. The members of parliament accused by Obeidi included Alia Nasayif -- who had brought the corruption allegations against the minister -- as well as Hanan al-Fatlawi and Mohammed al-Karbouli. Obeidi said he was being questioned in retribution for his rejection of graft, and accused Juburi and the MPs of seeking to blackmail him in order to pass corrupt contracts. Juburi later held a news conference rejecting the allegations against him and the lawmakers. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi directed Iraq's anti-corruption body to investigate the matter, and also ordered a temporary travel ban for all those whose names were mentioned during Obeidi's questioning. But Juburi rejected the bans, saying it was the exclusive prerogative of the judiciary to issue them. Corruption is widespread in Iraq's government, from senior officials to low-level functionaries, and while Iraqis have repeatedly demonstrated for change in the past year, little in the way of real reform has taken place. A leading Irish Archbishop has said he will stop sending his trainee priests to study in the countrys main Catholic college due to allegations of a gay culture. Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop of Dublin, will be sending his seminarians, or students, to the Irish College in Rome, Italy, instead of to St Patricks College in Maynooth because of a quarrelsome attitude. Speaking on RTE, Irelands national television and radio broadcaster, Dr Martin said that he was unhappy about sending his students to Maynooth and made the decision to send them to Italy instead some months ago due to a whole series of anonymous allegations in the form of letters and blog posts. Referring to the allegations, he said: One [allegation] is that there is a homosexual, or gay culture, and that students have been using an app called Grindr, which is a gay dating app. This would be inappropriate for seminarians not only because they are training to be celibate priests, but because an app like that would be fostering promiscuous sexuality which is certainly not in any way the mature vision of sexuality one would expect priests to understand. Dr Martin went on to say that Maynooth is that it is a very comfortable college, where students have their breakfast and their tea served up to them. He added: Id probably want a more challenging [college] where there is a more strong integration and dialogue between those who are responsible for information and students. A spokesperson from Maynooth has since told the Irish Times that it has no concrete or credible evidence of the existence of any alleged active gay subculture. [RTE] A debate about the effectiveness of flossing has erupted this week, with one leading academic saying there is only weak evidence to say that it helps keep teeth and gums healthy. The hoo-hah began when the Associated Press asked the US Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services to share their evidence that flossing works. Not only did they fail to do any research of their own, the government departments also quietly deleted a recommendation that Americans floss from their official guidelines. The move has prompted the NHS to reconsider its guidelines on dental health too. It turns out that theres not really a great deal of concrete evidence to back up flossing as a way to keep your teeth and gums disease-free. A leading British dentist and advisor to the British Dental Association, Professor Damian Walmsley, of Birmingham University, explained that accurate studies are very difficult to carry out. The difficulty is trying to get good evidence. People are different and large studies are costly to do until then you cant really say yes or no. Prof Walmsley advocates for more sophisticated trials before official guidelines can be issued. Its important to tell people to do the basics. Flossing is not part of the basics, he said. Do you floss? Will you carry on given the lack of evidence? Let us know on Twitter @YahooStyleUK. Related reads: Gwyneth Paltrows Wackiest Goop Tips Of All Time Chef Becomes Instagram Sensation By Sharing Delicious Meals You Can Make For A Pound Or Less Someones Finally Invented A Machine That Stop Avocados Going Brown Lead image: Mood Board/REX/Shutterstock Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli officials declined to comment Wednesday on reports that the government issued a tender for the construction of an underground wall around Gaza to block attack tunnels from the Palestinian territory. The Ynet news website reported Wednesday that the Defence Ministry had issued tenders for the building of an underground structure to prevent tunnels being dug into Israel. The report said the barrier would have sensors to detect digging and would eventually run the length of the 60-kilometre Gaza border. It did not say how deep the wall would be, but said the tender had been submitted to 20 Israeli companies for bids. "The Ministry of Defence is not commenting on the report," a spokeswoman told AFP. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also declined to comment. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, used underground tunnels crossing the border to carry out surprise attacks in the last war between the two sides in 2014. Israel has described the tunnels as a strategic threat and Hamas has repeatedly said it is building new ones. Twice this year Israel has announced the discovery of tunnels reaching across the border, with the second occasion in May leading to the worst flare-up on the border since the 2014 war. The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade for around a decade and its border with Egypt also remains largely closed. A leading Republican state lawmaker and Iraq War veteran said Wednesday that he isnt ready to support his partys presidential nominee, Donald Trump, and chastised Trump for his harshly critical exchange with the family of a fallen U.S. soldier who was Muslim. Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield, is vice chairman of the Legislatures joint finance committee. He also is a U.S. Army reservist who served in Iraq. In an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal, Kooyenga said Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton have failed to articulate policy views and to bring Americans together. Kooyenga said that makes him currently an undecided voter. I expect more from both candidates, Kooyenga said. Both candidates are failing to unite Americans. Kooyenga said hell watch the presidential debates to inform his decision on whom to support. He hinted he may look to a third party, saying Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson is an option. Kooyengas comments came in response to Trumps recent exchange with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, parents of Humayun Khan, a U.S. Army soldier of Pakistani descent who died in combat in Iraq in 2004. Kooyenga said Trumps remarks were out of bounds when directed at the family of a dead soldier. When they serve and the sacrifice is made, we should be reverent and respectful, Kooyenga said. (New throughout, adds background) By Olivia Oran Aug 3 (Reuters) - An Italian prosecutor has proposed that Morgan Stanley pay 2.9 billion euros to settle derivative transactions, the bank said on Wednesday in a securities filing. The proposed claim argues that at least some of the derivative transactions were "improper," as was their termination, Morgan Stanley said in a 10-Q filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The derivative transactions originated between 1995 and 2005 and were terminated in December 2011 and January 2012, according to the filing. Morgan Stanley received the proposed claim on July 11 from the public prosecutor for Court of Accounts for the Republic of Italy. "We believe that this proposed claim is groundless and we will defend ourselves vigorously," a Morgan Stanley spokesman said. Beginning in 2010, several Italian regions sought compensation for allegedly being misled by banks in swap deals that were intended to relieve their debt burdens. In Milan, Depfa Bank, Deutsche Bank AG, JPMorgan Chase & Co and UBS AG were fined $1.2 million each in 2012 on fraud charges in the sale of derivatives contracts. An appeals court in 2014 overturned the convictions. Italy's Lazio region also sued 11 banks, claiming $109 million in compensation for alleged hidden costs in derivatives. In 2008, the Italian government banned the use of derivatives by Italian municipalities. (Reporting by Olivia Oran in New York; editing by Grant McCool and David Gregorio) ROME (Reuters) - A Syrian man was arrested in the northern Italian city of Genoa on Wednesday on suspicion of planning to travel to his home country to join Islamist militants, police said. Anti-terrorism officers detained the unemployed 23-year-old on charges of supporting international terrorism, though there was no indication he was planning any attacks in Italy, police added. Also on Wednesday, Rome's police commissioner unveiled new anti-terrorism measures for the city, which is seen as a potential target partly due to the Vatican and Pope Francis. The arrested Syrian is suspected of wanting to join the Nusra Front Islamist rebel group, which re-branded itself last week as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and cut ties with the al Qaeda jihadist network. Police said they were investigating the arrested man's relationship with other foreigners in the Genoa area to determine whether they were trying to recruit fighters. The man's brother and three Libyans were among those being investigated, and several mosques or Islamic cultural centers in Genoa and the city of Rapallo about 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) away had been searched, police sources said. In Rome, new security plans include stationing police at entry points to the Colosseum amphitheatre and extending an existing "maximum security zone" around St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. In an apparent response to last week's murder of a priest in a French church, Rome increased surveillance of religious sites around the city, the police commissioner said in a statement. Authorities will also inspect shopping centers to prepare contingency plans, an apparent reaction to the shooting dead of nine people in a Munich mall last month. Rome police will also step up checks on cruise ship passengers and night clubs, and "clean up" illegal settlements along the banks of the Tiber river. On Tuesday, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said Italy had expelled a 26-year-old Pakistani man who authorities said supported Islamic State and was planning to go to Syria to join Islamist militants. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Additional reporting by Isla Binnie in Rome and Lisa Barrington in Beirut; Editing by Tom Heneghan) ROME (Reuters) - Italy signaled it would most likely allow the use of its airbases and airspace for strikes against Islamic State militants in Libya if the United States asks, Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti said on Wednesday. "The government is ready to consider positively a request to use airbases and national airspace, and support the operation, if it is believed that it would lead to a more rapid and effective conclusion of the ongoing action," Pinotti said in testimony to the lower house of parliament. U.S. planes began bombing Islamic State targets in Libya on Monday at the request of the U.N.-backed government in Tripoli to help push militants from their former stronghold of Sirte. (Reporting by Steve Scherer and Stefano Bernabei, editing by Isla Binnie) Fine, Italy invented the Slow Food movement (personally: overrated), but who says fast food cant be Italian and delicious? That in order to be premium and genuine, our cuisine must be slow, traditional, respectful of cooking rules and original recipes zzzz zzzz. Thats bullshit. Look at what Ive created, says Marco Pirovano, a volcanic and on-the-run young chef who founded Il PolentOne, an eccentric street-food chain in northern Italy serving delicious takeaway polenta with a modern twist. Hold on, first things first: Polenta, a peasant cornmeal mush believed to have aphrodisiac powers farmers gulped down huge quantities in the past so they could have lots of babies to boost their family workforce is the emblem of the city of Bergamo. Like the Coliseum is for Rome. Locals here still make it following a ritual: slowly cooked on the fireplace, hours and hours spent turning the mush around in a pot to get that gluey texture. Topping: tomato sauce with sausages. But crazy Marco turned it into a street fast food, playing on the pun Il PolentOne, a slightly derogatory term used by southerners in Italy to describe their northern brothers: no sense of humor, slow in thought and action, densely sluggish and colorless, just like their yellowish-white polenta that has a neutral taste if savored on its own. (Pirovano, for the record, is totally the opposite: Just talk with him for two seconds and your ears go on fire.) Alongside boosting sexual desire (which never hurts), it has powerful digestive properties. But how about adding to plain polenta porcini mushrooms, yogurt, bacon, salad, sprinkled sugar, mozzarella cheese, deer, hare too bad his city recently banned the addition of yummy little birds artichokes and Nutella? Yup, you got it: that heavenly hazelnut-and-chocolate cream that once you open the jar, 10 seconds later its already empty. Pirovano created rectangular finger-food sticks of polenta biscuits to dip into a hot cup of milk or cappuccino. He serves the mush in colorful plastic ice cream cups, rather than on the usual wooden platter, with pink spoons to scoop it up and chopsticks as cutlery. Its pure eat-and-go: You can either sit on the outdoor stools or grab a takeaway bag to enjoy at home. Thats revolutionary. Story continues 13 Marco Pirovano making polenta sexy. Source: Courtesy of Polentone Most Italians would turn their noses up in disgust: Ew, no thanks, thats sooo American! Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen: Wasnt corn imported from the New World when Christopher Columbus landed unexpectedly on the other side of the Atlantic? So, please, lets not be too obtuse. Pirovano covered in tattoos and earrings, dressed like a rapper defeated local traditions and recovered the original American gene of polenta: Cmon, man, why cant we have our own fast foods, with typical Italian products but served in a different way from ordinary taverns? Plus, polenta is healthy: It kills cholesterol and is gluten-free (its made of maize). And alongside boosting sexual desire (which never hurts), it has powerful digestive properties. Pirovanos motto is: Just as quickly you eat it up, as quickly it goes down the stomach, all the way to the bottom exit! And so his Il PolentOne is now a cool foodie hot spot, not just in town but beyond. All over Italy. Hes even opened one in Rome, which fills him with pride: Wow! Defying and then winning over the stuck-up Romans who call us polentoni that was a victory. And, being restless and frenetic, he exported his polenta fast foods across Europe, starting with Spain (makes sense: Columbus set sail from there). But on one thing hes dogmatic: Pushing forth innovation doesnt mean violating quality. The type of polenta he serves is of the highest quality and comes from farms where it is still crushed in stone mills, like in the old days. Just as Pirovanos granny did, who raised him on steaming cups of polenta, milk and Nutella. If in faraway America, Italian-style cornmeal might not be at hand, try taking a slice of white pizza, cut it open like a sandwich and fill it with Nutella until it drips. Hmm-hmm, an absolutely divine salty-sweet concoction. Thank you, Marco. Related Articles Abidjan (AFP) - France has done it with Champagne, Italy with Parma ham and Japan with Kobe beef; now Ivory Coast wants to protect the status of one of its most popular foods. Attieke -- pronounced atchekay -- is a side dish made from fermented ground cassava. It looks a bit like couscous, takes a couple of days to make from scratch and is popular all over country. Government spokesman Bruno Kone said the ministry of industry had been instructed to "take the necessary measures to ensure legal international protection of the appellation 'attieke' as well as the production method of this foodstuff." The aim is to establish an "international products and services marque" he added. "Because of its renown, this food is increasingly being produced outside the country and marketed using the same name by countries which only partly follow the (correct) production process," said Kone. Making attieke involves peeling and then grating cassava, mixing the resulting paste with a small portion of already-fermented paste, and letting the lot sit for a day or two to ferment, allowing the tuber's natural acidity to dissipate. The paste is then dried in the sun and then simply steamed for a few minutes before being served. Attieke is also popular in neighbouring countries, with several tonnes being exported every month to Burkina Faso, Mali, France and the United States. This year, five attieke factories sprang up around the capital. Kone said the government would lodge protection initiatives at the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation. James Houghton, the founder of Off Broadways Signature Theater, died at his home in Manhattan Aug. 2 following a battle with stomach cancer. He was 57. Houghton had a 25-year tenure at the Signature, which he founded with the idea of devoting a full season of programming to a single playwrights work. As the company grew in prominence, Signature significantly expanded, launching hefty new residency programs and opening a multi-venue theater complex in midtown in 2012. In 2005 the theater launched a headturning ticket subsidy program that is still in effect today, with tickets for the initial engagements of all shows currently sold for $30 each. Last year, following the diagnosis of his cancer, Houghton announced he would step down as Signatures artistic director. LCT3 alumna Paige Evans stepped into the post this summer. Over Houghtons career, he also served as the artistic director of the Eugene ONeill Theater Centers National Playwrights Conference from 2000-2003, and since 2006 he was the director of the drama division at Juilliard. Prior to founding Signature in 1991, Houghton was an actor with the Acting Company. His work as an actor with the playwright Romulus Linney led to the idea behind Signature Theater, Houghton said in interviews. Other writers who have been the focus of Signature seasons include Edward Albee, Paula Vogel, Tony Kushner, Adrienne Kennedy, Sam Shepard and Arthur Miller. The 2016-17 season at Signature Theater will showcase several works by Suzan-Lori Parks as well as new works by Annie Baker, Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins and Will Eno. Related stories Off Broadway Review: 'Men on Boats' Off Broadway Review: 'Daphne's Dive' by Pulitzer Winner Quiara Alegria Hudes Starry Playwrights Set for 2016-17 Season at Off Broadway's Signature Theater By Tim Kelly TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's annual defense review on Tuesday expressed "deep concern" over what it sees as China's coercion, as a more assertive Beijing flouts international rules when dealing with other nations. Japan's Defence White Paper comes amid heightened tension in Asia less than a month after an arbitration court in the Hague invalidated China's sweeping claims in the disputed South China Sea, in a case brought by the Philippines. China has refused to recognize the ruling. Japan called on China to adhere to the verdict, which it said was binding. Beijing retorted by warning Tokyo not to interfere. In the defense review approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government, Japan warned that "unintended consequences" could result from Beijing's assertive disregard of international rules. "China is poised to fulfill its unilateral demands without compromise," the government said in the review. China's official Xinhua news agency condemned the review for hyping up the "China threat" theory, which aimed to tarnish the country's image. In a statement, China's defense ministry said Japan sought excuses to step up military spending, accusing it of "evil intentions" towards China's legitimate defense needs. "China's military is extremely dissatisfied with this and resolutely opposed to it," it said. China claims most of the 3.5-million-square-km (1.35- million-square-mile) South China Sea, with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also staking claims. Japan has no territorial claims there, but it fears Chinese military bases will bolster Beijing's influence over a region through which $5 trillion in trade passes every year, much of it to and from Japanese ports. Rather than confront China directly by sailing warships past its man-made island bases in the sea, Japan provides equipment and training to Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam that are most opposed to China's territorial ambitions. Beijing's most powerful adversary in Asia is the United States, with its Seventh Fleet operating from bases in Japan and South Korea. Japan has Asia's second-biggest indigenous navy.. The defense review noted China's growing capability to threaten naval vessels with its growing armory of anti-ship missiles. At 484 pages, Japan's report is more than a tenth longer than last year's, and lays out other security concerns, such as the threat from neighboring North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear bomb programs and a revival of Russian military strength in the Far East. It takes 50 pages to outline Japan's deepening alliance with the United States, as Tokyo steps back from its war-renouncing constitution by easing curbs on overseas operations for its Self Defence Forces. (Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) By Elaine Lies and Kiyoshi Takenaka TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appointed a conservative ally as defense minister in a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday that left most key posts unchanged, and he promised to hasten the economy's escape from deflation and boost regional ties. New defense minister Tomomi Inada, previously the ruling party policy chief, shares Abe's goal of revising the post-war, pacifist constitution, which some conservatives consider a humiliating symbol of Japan's World War Two defeat. She also regularly visits Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine for war dead, which China and South Korea see as a symbol of Japan's past militarism. Japan's ties with China and South Korea have been frayed by the legacy of its military aggression before and during World War Two. Asked if she would visit Yasukuni on August 15, the emotive anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two, Inada sidestepped the query. "It's a matter of conscience, and I don't think I should comment on whether I will go or not," she told a news conference. Inada, a 57-year-old lawyer, is the second woman to hold the defense post. The first, Yuriko Koike, who held the job briefly in 2007, was recently elected Tokyo governor. The foreign ministries of China and South Korea had no immediate comment on the appointment. She also echoed Abe in emphasizing the danger posed by North Korea's missile launch, and the need for close regional ties. "We will steadily strengthen ties with neighboring countries such as China and South Korea, and proceed with talks with Russia for a peace treaty," Abe told an earlier news conference. Japan and Russia never signed a formal treaty after World War Two because of a territorial dispute. "Today, North Korea yet again carried out a ballistic missile launch. It appears to have fallen within Japan's EEZ, which poses a grave threat to Japan's security and is an unforgivable outrage," he said. A Japanese defense official said the main body of the missile launched by North Korea, following a series of missile tests by the isolated country, landed in Japan's offshore exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Abe is expected to travel to China in September for a Group of 20 summit, where he may meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to help mend ties also strained by a row over tiny isles in the East China Sea and China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. China is North Korea's main ally but it disapproves of the North's nuclear program and missile tests. GOING FOR GROWTH Abe, who is trying to rekindle growth as he ponders the possibility of staying in office after his term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ends in 2018, said on Wednesday that his top priority was the economy. On Tuesday, his outgoing cabinet approved 13.5 trillion yen ($133.58 billion) in fiscal steps to try to revive the economy. Abe, who took office in December 2012, will retain his righthand man, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, along with Finance Minister Taro Aso and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. Economics Minister Nobuteru Ishihara will also be kept on, along with Health, Welfare and Labour Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko will become trade and industry minister. Tamayo Marukawa, the environment minister in the previous cabinet, was appointed minister to oversee preparations for Tokyo's 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Abe also appointed a new LDP executive line-up. The appointment of Toshihiro Nikai, 77, as LDP secretary general was seen as signaling Abe's hopes for a third term. But Abe said there was plenty of work to do over the next two years and he was not thinking of extending his term. (Additional reporting by Kaori Kaneko, Nobuhiro Kubo, Tetsushi Kajimoto, William Mallard, Minami Funakoshi and Tim Kelly in Tokyo, James Pearson in SEOUL and Michael Martina in BEIJING; Writing by Linda Sieg; Editing by Robert Birsel and Clarence Fernandez) Tokyo (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday picked a close confidante with staunchly nationalist views as the new defence minister, a move likely to raise concerns in China and South Korea. Lawyer-turned-politician Tomomi Inada, 57, was formerly policy chief of Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and shares his hawkish views on Japan's 20th-century history. She becomes the second woman to oversee the defence ministry after Yuriko Koike, who served briefly in 2007 and was elected governor of Tokyo on Sunday. Inada, a four-term lawmaker who replaces Gen Nakatani, was named to the post as part of a partial cabinet after the LDP's big win in upper house parliamentary elections last month. Her appointment came on the same day North Korea, a major security headache for Japan, fired a ballistic missile that landed just 250 kilometres (155 miles) off its coast -- hitting Japanese-controlled waters for the first time. Inada, a mother of two, has a history of irritating Asian neighbours such as China and South Korea. She has been a regular visitor to Tokyo's contentious Yasukuni war shrine and has played a leading role in an LDP study group launched last year to review Japan's history, reportedly taking up controversial issues such as the Nanjing massacre and the Tokyo war crimes trials. In 2011 she and two other conservative Japanese politicians had planned to visit Ulleung island, the closest South Korean territory to the Seoul-controlled Dokdo islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), which are known in Japan as Takeshima. They flew to a Seoul airport to push Tokyo's claim to the disputed islands and refused to fly back home for hours after their entry to South Korea was denied. Japan is also embroiled in long-running territorial disputes with China and Russia. Inada appeared to take a careful approach in initial remarks Wednesday. "I will give my utmost in order to ensure peace and security by cooperating with nations that share interests and values," she told reporters, specifically citing Japan's security alliance with the United States. Story continues Asked whether she planned to visit the Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, she declined to give a straight answer, saying that such a decision is a "matter of the heart". In the cabinet revamp announced by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, Abe left most key posts untouched. Fumio Kishida, the foreign minister, and Taro Aso, finance minister and deputy prime minister, were among those keeping their jobs. Abe also tapped Suga, his right-hand man, to stay on. Besides Inada, other new picks include Hiroshige Seko for economy, trade and industry minister and previous environment minister Tamayo Marukawa as the minister in charge of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. By Linda Sieg TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was widely expected to appoint conservative ally Tomomi Inada as defense minister on Wednesday, a move that could upset China and South Korea, while keeping key ministers in their posts in a cabinet rejig. Inada, the ruling party policy chief, shares Abe's goal of revising the post-war, pacifist constitution, which some conservatives consider a humiliating symbol of Japan's World War Two defeat. The 57-year-old lawyer regularly visits Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine for war dead, which is seen as a symbol of Japan's past militarism in China and South Korea. Japan's relations with Beijing and Seoul have often been frayed by the legacy of Japan's military aggression before and during World War Two. "Ms. Inada is an ultra-conservative politician and this will be taken as preparation for achieving constitutional revision and adopting a stern stance toward China," said Takashi Kawakami, a security expert at Takushoku University. Inada would be the second woman to hold the defense post. Abe is trying to rekindle economic growth and cope with several diplomatic challenges as he ponders the possibility of staying in office after his term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ends in 2018. He is expected to travel to China in September for a Group of 20 summit, and may meet Chinese President Xi Jinping there. Sino-Japanese ties have also been strained by a row over tiny isles in the East China Sea and China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. Abe, who took office in December 2012, will retain his right-hand man, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, along with Finance Minister Taro Aso and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, media reported. Economics Minister Nobuteru Ishihara may be kept on along with Health, Welfare and Labour Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki. Public broadcaster NHK has said Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko would become trade and industry minister. Shigeru Ishiba, minister for regional revitalization, was expected to leave the cabinet, media reported, to prepare for a run at replacing Abe as prime minister when his term as LDP leader expires. Abe will also appoint a new LDP executive line-up on Wednesday. The expected appointment of Toshihiro Nikai, 77, a big-spending advocate with good ties with China, as LDP secretary general was seen as signaling Abe's hopes for a third term. Nikai has said he would support an extension for Abe, which would require a change in party rules. On Tuesday, Abe's outgoing cabinet approved 13.5 trillion yen ($133.58 billion) in fiscal steps to try to revive the economy. Some analysts worry Abe will devote too much energy to trying to revise the constitution after his ruling bloc and allies obtained the two-thirds majorities in both houses of parliament needed to begin the process. Changes must also be approved in a referendum. ($1 = 101.0600 yen) (Adds comment from NJEA, U.S. Attorney's office, political scientist) By Hilary Russ Aug 3 (Reuters) - New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney, the state's top elected Democrat, on Wednesday asked state and federal prosecutors to investigate alleged threats by a labor union that he said amounted to bribery and attempts to corrupt public officials. The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) threatened to withhold campaign contributions until Sweeney and other lawmakers passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would boost the state's public pensions, Sweeney said. "These threats clearly cross the line from lobbying to attempted bribery and conspiracy," he said. The allegation was contained in two identical letters, released by Sweeney's spokesman, to both U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman and state Attorney General Christopher Porrino. In a statement, NJEA President Wendell Steinhauer said the union "vehemently rejects" Sweeney's assertion "that any of our leaders or staff have done anything illegal or unethical." He said that the NJEA "has been very clear that the pension amendment is our members' number one priority." "Staff and leaders informed senators that Senate President Sweeney has failed to meet his explicit commitment" to advance the legislation, he said. The ballot measure at issue would force the state to make its full annual contribution to its pension funds. Voters would then be able to approve or reject the constitutional amendment in November - if legislators first pass it. The measure has been delayed in part because lawmakers said they would not advance it until they passed a separate, stalled effort to raise the state's gasoline tax in order to fund state transportation projects. "NJEA's support for politicians is not an entitlement," Steinhauer said. "NJEA has simply informed legislators and party officials that we are withholding support that we are under no obligation to give." A spokesman for Fishman said they had not received the letter. A Porrino spokesman said his office had received the letter and is reviewing it. Story continues Sweeney is a long-time ironworker union member and presumed 2017 Democratic gubernatorial candidate, but his relationship with labor has not always been cozy. He alienated some when he worked with Republican Governor Chris Christie to reform the state's public pension system in 2011. "No one is under obligation to give anybody a check," said Ben Dworkin, a political scientist at New Jersey's Rider University, who said the allegations raise legal questions as much as a political ones. "The denial of a check is neither here nor there," he said. "It is simply, you used to have a friend in politics, now you don't." (Reporting by Hilary Russ in New York; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) By Svea Herbst-Bayliss BOSTON (Reuters) - New Jersey's state pension fund plans to slash its hedge fund investments by half, becoming the latest large investor to protest high fees and poor returns after New York and California made similar moves. The New Jersey Investment Council on Wednesday unanimously voted to reduce its exposure to hedge funds to 6 percent from 12.5 percent, the state and a union official said. The state has roughly $9 billion invested in hedge funds including ValueAct Capital Partners, Brevan Howard LP, and Och-Ziff Capital Management. The decision followed months of mounting pressure from unions that complained about the pension funds paying hundreds of millions of dollars in fees to poorly performing hedge funds. "It was done because hedge funds have failed to deliver," American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said in a statement, praising the decision for saving "working people hundreds of millions over the coming years." Less than four months ago New York City's largest public pension voted to exit all hedge fund investments after their consultants said the pension could reach targeted investment returns with less-risky portfolios. New York City's Public Advocate Letitia James famously told board members of the New York City Employees System (NYCERS) to let hedge fund managers "sell their summer homes and jets, and return those fees to their investors." In 2014, the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CALPERS) became the first prominent public pension fund to abandon its hedge fund investments, saying they were too costly and complex. New Jersey has invested with roughly two dozen hedge funds and it pays many of them their typical fees of a 2 percent management fee and 20 percent of their profits. Now the pension fund plans to cut the number of funds it will use and the amount of fees it pays them. Many of the hedge funds used by New Jersey have performed poorly this year. It has money with William Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management whose Pershing Square Holdings fund has lost 19 percent this year through July. In its annual report, New Jersey said its hedge funds returned 4.21 percent during fiscal year 2015, lagging the benchmark which gained 6.10 percent. Story continues This year the average hedge fund has climbed 1.2 percent through the end of June, data from Hedge Fund Research showed, lagging the broader U.S. stock market Standard & Poor's 500 Index' 7.7 percent gain through July. The teachers said New Jersey retirees would have earned $1.1 billion more if trustees had not allocated money to hedge funds, and would have saved $1.6 billion in fees the pension paid to hedge fund managers. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Sandra Maler and David Gregorio) (New throughout, adds details on decision) By Svea Herbst-Bayliss BOSTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - New Jersey's state pension fund plans to slash its hedge fund investments by half, becoming the latest large investor to protest high fees and poor returns after New York and California made similar moves. The New Jersey Investment Council on Wednesday unanimously voted to reduce its exposure to hedge funds to 6 percent from 12.5 percent, the state and a union official said. The state has roughly $9 billion invested in hedge funds including ValueAct Capital Partners, Brevan Howard LP, and Och-Ziff Capital Management. The decision followed months of mounting pressure from unions that complained about the pension funds paying hundreds of millions of dollars in fees to poorly performing hedge funds. "It was done because hedge funds have failed to deliver," American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said in a statement, praising the decision for saving "working people hundreds of millions over the coming years." Less than four months ago New York City's largest public pension voted to exit all hedge fund investments after their consultants said the pension could reach targeted investment returns with less-risky portfolios. New York City's Public Advocate Letitia James famously told board members of the New York City Employees System (NYCERS) to let hedge fund managers "sell their summer homes and jets, and return those fees to their investors." In 2014, the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CALPERS) became the first prominent public pension fund to abandon its hedge fund investments, saying they were too costly and complex. New Jersey has invested with roughly two dozen hedge funds and it pays many of them their typical fees of a 2 percent management fee and 20 percent of their profits. Now the pension fund plans to cut the number of funds it will use and the amount of fees it pays them. Many of the hedge funds used by New Jersey have performed poorly this year. It has money with William Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management whose Pershing Square Holdings fund has lost 19 percent this year through July. In its annual report, New Jersey said its hedge funds returned 4.21 percent during fiscal year 2015, lagging the benchmark which gained 6.10 percent. Story continues This year the average hedge fund has climbed 1.2 percent through the end of June, data from Hedge Fund Research showed, lagging the broader U.S. stock market Standard & Poor's 500 Index' 7.7 percent gain through July. The teachers said New Jersey retirees would have earned $1.1 billion more if trustees had not allocated money to hedge funds, and would have saved $1.6 billion in fees the pension paid to hedge fund managers. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Sandra Maler and David Gregorio) New for 2016, French travel operator Safrans du Monde is offering a 22-day, all-inclusive tour around the world, from November 19 through December 10. Starting in Paris, passengers will board a spacious Airbus A340 and travel to 10 of the worlds top destinations in South America, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean. From snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef to trekking through the Imperial City of Brazil, this exclusive air cruise will offer guests the chance to form once-in-a-lifetime memories. At each stop along the way, travelers will stay in the finest local hotels and enjoy guided excursions and explorations of nearby natural landscapes. Two travel classes are available: The basic LEspace Safrans starts from roughly $25,000 per person, while La Premiere Classe is priced from roughly $51,000 per person. (safransdumonde.com) More From Robbreport.com The Acura NSX GT3 Is Put to the Test Jet Off in a Private Airbus A340 for a 22-Day Trip around the Globe This Jewelry Designer from Amsterdam is a Well Kept European Secret The Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde SW Lady Celebrates Feminine Strength and Style New Private-Jet Journeys Across the Globe 157-Year-Old Burgundian Wine Label Brings its First Overseas Venture to Oregon The past few days of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trumps campaign have been fraught with missteps and controversy. But things took a more chilling turn when on Wednesday, Joe Scarborough, alongside his MSNBC colleagues, was chatting with retired four-star Gen. Michael Hayden and the Morning Joe host relayed an anecdote about Trump he had been told. Ill have to be very careful here, Scarborough said slowly. Several months ago, a foreign policy expert on international level went to advise Donald Trump, and three times he asked about the use of nuclear weapons. Three times he asked, at one point, If we have them, why cant we use them? Thats one of the reasons why he just doesnt have foreign policy experts around him. Scarborough, previously a Republican congressman from Florida, clearly startled his colleagues with this story. Trump, asked a nonplussed Mike Barnicle. Trump asked three times? Three times, in an hour briefing, confirmed Scarborough. Why cant we use nuclear weapons? CBS News reporter Sopan Deb, covering the Trump campaign for his network, tweeted, Trump camp says There is no truth to this, referring to [Scarboroughs] claim about Trump asking about why we cant use nuclear weapons. Hayden, who also served as director of the NSA and CIA under both Democratic and Republican presidents and has yet to endorse any candidate for president, explained to the MSNBC panel that if a President Trump wanted to use nuclear weapons, he could use nuclear weapons. Its scenario-dependent, Hayden said. But the system is designed for speed and decisiveness. Its not designed to debate the decision. Oy, responded Scarboroughs co-host Mika Brzezinski. Fareed Zakaria Calls Donald Trump Bulls*** Artist During Live CNN Segment: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or leave your comments below. The body of a New York woman was found by her own father Tuesday night after she never came home from an evening run. NYPD officials say Karina Vetrano's body was found in a marshland hours after she disappeared following a 911 call placed by her retired New York Fire Department official father, who quickly formed a search party to find her, according to reports. Police said Wednesday they have reason to believe Vetrano, 30, may have been strangled. Her jogging pants were reportedly partially pulled down. Read: Bodies of Murdered Teens Found Behind Grocery Store: 'We All Are Devastated by This Tragic News' However, investigators have given no official cause of death. Police are also determining whether Vetrano was the victim of sexual assault, according to PIX 11. Vetrano's body was found at about 10:30 p.m. in a weeded area of Howard Beach. Read: JonBenet Ramsey's Brother Breaks His Silence Nearly 20 Years After His Sister's Murder The striking brunette was an active Instagram user who frequently posted photos of her world travels, summer fun with friends and her fitness endeavors. Vetrano's friends took to the social media service to express their shock, outrage and condolences in the hours after her body was discovered. "RIP Karina. I am praying for you so hard right now," read a comment from @Gabby.Loren. @vinnymanfredi wrote: "Baby girl I just spoke to u last week this can't be true RIP Princess." Watch: Parents Forgive Sons Accused of Trying to Kill Them Related Articles: New York (AFP) - JPMorgan Chase wanted to buy troubled Italian rival BMPS but abandoned the plan over fears it would be vetoed by US regulators and opposed in Italy, people close to the deal told AFP Wednesday. Jamie Dimon, chief executive of the largest US bank by assets, and Daniel Pinto, the London-based head of JPMorgan's investment and finance department, are behind the plan to bail out the Banca Monte Paschi di Siena unveiled Friday, according to the sources, who asked to remain anonymous. Their first idea, the sources said, was the outright purchase of the heavily indebted BMPS, which the European Central Bank last week cited as the financial institution most susceptible to bankruptcy according to EU bank stress tests. Contacted by AFP, JPMorgan declined to comment. JPMorgan has deep pockets -- last year the firm had $24.44 billion net profit. In contrast, BMPS is in a stock plunge: The Italian bank was valued at a little more than $800 million on the market Wednesday. The problem is that the current environment is hostile to megabanks, one of the sources indicated, adding that JPMorgan hesitated to pursue a bid fearing US authorities would take an unfavorable view of a US bank rescuing a European firm. US regulators want to force large financial institutions considered a potential systemic threat to the financial system to reduce their size. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, they have imposed significant increases in capital requirements of banks deemed "too big to fail" and tightened their oversight. JPMorgan also feared a backlash to the acquisition in Italy and in Europe where big banks are not favorably viewed in the press, the other source explained. The US bank now believes the best solution would be an injection of funds, the support of the government and improved governance, the two sources stated. According to its calculations, 5-6 billion euros ($5.6-$6.7 billion) would be sufficient to stabilize BMPS. Story continues Dimon discussed this with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi while he was in Italy in early July for the 100th anniversary of JPMorgan's presence in the country, the sources said. He also discussed it with the BMPS management team. JPMorgan's rescue plan for BMPS is twofold. The first part entails the resolution of bad debts estimated at 27.7 billion euros at the end of March, which would be put in a specific financial instrument. The second part is a capital injection of five billion euros, to which Goldman Sachs and Citigroup have already agreed, according to one source. Banco Santander, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and Bank of America Merrill Lynch also were expected to participate, according to the Financial Times. The rescue is aimed at restoring confidence in and stabilizing BMPS through the end of the year, preparing it for a merger with a stronger banking group, the other source close to the situation explained to AFP. Via The Morning Call A Lehigh County judge has denied an unusual request from prosecutors to drop all charges in the homicide case against former WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Superfly Snuka. The request was made after Judge Kelly L. Banach had already deemed Snuka incompetent to stand trial. Banach denied the request, which was only made after she also refused a motion that would force Snuka to undergo outpatient treatment, as well as previous motions to send him to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation. Despite the request, Chief Deputy District Attorney Charles Gallagher still believes that Snuka is guilty of the 1983 murder of then-girlfriend Nancy Argentino. He also believes that the former pro wrestler is lying about his increasing dementia: Hes practiced his whole life by being a malingerer in his wrestling field. Hes been an actor his whole life. Expert testimonies regarding Snukas competency were conflicting, with the defense claiming he was a shell of a man who did not recognize his own wife. A forensic psychiatrist testified that based on the interactions he observed, Snuka was simply putting on an act to avoid going to jail. With the case seemingly stuck in a holding pattern, Gallagher requested the charges be dismissed, saying, If you believe that hes not going to become competent, then whats the point? Snuka was charged with Argentinos death back in September 2015 after the case had been reopened the year before. Snuka is currently out on bail and living in Florida, and not set to return to court until December. Via The Morning Call From Harper's BAZAAR Update 11/7: Two months after news of a Kanye-Drake musical collaboration was confirmed, the Toronto rapper fueled more speculation about the project with a mysterious Instagram photo. "There goes the neighborhood," Drake captioned a black-and-white photo of himself and West, which he posted earlier today. Fans soon began to question the meaning of the photo (if there is one at all). Is Drake hinting that they've just finished recording the project? Is the music releasing soon? Complex points out that the caption could be referencing the fact that both artists live in Calabasas. Plus, they've been name-dropping their city in promoting the collab (see below). West's new manager Scooter Braun even reposted the photo and wrote: "It begins..." Both artists have yet to confirm whether new music is actually coming soon. Perhaps Drake is just teasing us with a friendly Yeezy selfie. Update, 9/3: After fans speculated about (and prayed for) a Yeezy-Drizzy collaborative album, Kanye West confirmed that he and Drake are indeed working on new music together. "We're just working on music, working on a bunch of music together, just having fun going into the studio. We're working on an album, so there's some exciting things coming up soon," West said in an interview. Rumors first began to spread when West performed with Drake at the OVO Fest in Toronto last month. He hinted they were working together when he asked the audience, "Is you [sic] ready for this album?" referring to himself and the Views rapper. The rumors gained momentum weeks later, when a mysterious billboard appeared in Los Angeles reading, "Calabasas is the new Abu Dhabi" with Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music Label logo and Drake's OVO Sound label logo at the bottom. G.O.O.D. Music even tweeted a photo of the sign, giving some legitimacy to the suspected news. Original post, 8/2: Kanye West and Drake might still be basking in the success of their 2016 releases, The Life of Pablo and Views, respectively, but they could already be working on some new music-together. Story continues The rumor started last night at the Toronto-based OVO Fest, where the highlight of the evening-despite Rihanna making a surprise appearance for the second night in a row-was a duet between Drake and West, who joined Drizzy on stage for a performance of "Pop Style" followed by a special announcement. "Toronto, I've got one question for you: is you [sic] ready for this album?" West asked the audience as his song "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1" began to play. He immediately stopped the music. "No, I wasn't talking about Pablo, I wasn't talking about Views," West clarified. "I wanna ask y'all right now: y'all ready for this album?" he asked again, this time pointing at Drake, as the Canadian rapper stepped forward and pointed back at West. The crowd responded with wild cheers, and Yeezy resumed his performance. As exciting as the announcement seems, it's hard to tell whether West is being serious. Remember, this is the same guy who announced at last year's VMAs he'll be running for president in 2020. But if West's announcement is true, this wouldn't be his first time working with Drake. Besides "Pop Style," Kanye was featured on Drake's song "Forever" back in 2007, and the two have together appeared on tracks like Big Sean's "Blessings" in 2015. This also wouldn't be either artist's first joint album, as West shared 2011's Watch the Throne with Jay-Z and Drake released What a Time to Be Alive with Future last year. Until their possible collaboration drops, Kanye and Drake still have their newest albums to be proud of. Drake's Views, released on April 29, is celebrating 12 consecutive weeks at number 1 on the Billboard 200 charts, while Ye's The Life of Pablo, released February 14, is still creating a buzz-thanks to its track "Famous" and accompanying music video, as well as the Taylor Swift feud. Drake and Kanye's announcement and OVO performance come nearly a week after West joined Drake on stage in Chicago and publicly responded to Kim Kardashian's Snapchat videos exposing Taylor Swift. "I'm so glad my wife has Snapchat," he announced to a cheering crowd. [h/t Complex] You Might Also Like Batman and Robin, Han Solo and Chewbacca, Kanye West and Drake? The pairing seems to be a reality, as Kanye, 39, made an announcement on Monday, implying that he and Drake were collaborating on a new album. NEWS: Kanye West Crashes Drake's Chicago Concert "Toronto, I got one question for you ... Is you all ready for this album?" he asked the audience during a surprise appearance at Drake's OVO Fest in Toronto. "I'm not talking about Pablo. I'm not talking about Views. I want to ask y'all, y'all ready for this album?" Later Drake, 29, took the stage to further clarify. "What my brother was asking before was, are you ready if we make an album?" he said. "That's what he was asking." WATCH: Kim Kardashian Shares Video of Kanye West Asking Taylor Swift's Permission for 'Famous' Shout-Out Their joint project would be a highly-anticipated follow-up to West's The Life of Pablo, which was released in February, and Drake's Views, which dropped in April. While no other details were made known about their collaboration, one glaring issue to be worked out would be which platform the music would be released on. Both artists released their latest albums exclusively on their streaming services of choice. West sided with TIDAL, while Drake opted for Apple. That conversation will give Kanye a chance to brush up on his negotiation skills, which is a talent that could come useful in his presumptive run for office in 2020. Story continues After first announcing that he would make a presidential bid in 2020 at the MTV VMAs last year, the GRAMMY winner recently spoke to BBC Radio 1 about how he's still up for the challenge. RELATED: If Kanye West Runs for President in 2020, Here Are 8 VP Candidates He Should Consider "When I talk about the idea of being president, I'm not saying I have any political views," West said in the interview on Monday. "I just have a view on humanity, on people, on the truth. If there is anything that I can do with my time and my day, to somehow make a difference while I'm alive I'm going to try to do it." Related Articles Aug 3 (Reuters) - Kate Spade & Co's quarterly revenue rose 13.7 percent, beating analysts' estimates, as luxury handbags and accessories under its kate spade new york brand attracted shoppers. The company, which has been focusing on its top-range brands and strengthening its online business, said on Wednesday net sales rose to $319.7 million in the second quarter ended July 2 from $281.1 million, a year earlier. Analysts on average had expected $318.5 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Net income jumped to $26.8 million, or 21 cents per share, from $8.5 million, or 7 cents per share, a year earlier. (Reporting by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirti Pandey) Donald Trump campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson admitted her timeline was off when she suggested that President Obama and Hillary Clinton were somehow to blame for the death of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who died in Iraq in 2004 when George W. Bush was commander in chief. What I was talking about is Donald Trump has no connection with anything to do with Capt. Khan, Pierson said on CNNs New Day Wednesday morning. Hillary Clinton voted for the war in Iraq. She did not support the surge. Barack Obama made things worse by invading more countries than President Bush did. Donald Trump wasnt there, she added. That was the only point. Donald Trump is being blamed for something he had nothing to do with. During a discussion with CNNs Wolf Blitzer the night before, Pierson was asked if her boss had any plans to apologize to the Khan family for suggesting that Ghazala Khan, Humayuns grieving mother, was not allowed to speak at last weeks Democratic National Convention because she is Muslim. What exactly is Mr. Trump supposed to be apologizing for? Pierson asked. It was under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that changed the rules of engagements that probably cost his life. The gaffe went viral overnight, as a hashtag (#KatrinaPiersonHistory) mocking her grasp of history began trending on Twitter. #KatrinaPiersonHistory Obama introduced John Lennon to Yoko Ono and well, you know pic.twitter.com/Hr7HExbhPr EGCollins (@EGCollins) August 3, 2016 According to Trump spox Katrina Pierson, were it not for President Obamas failed policies, Abraham Lincoln would still be alive. RUSS BENGT$ON (@russbengtson) August 2, 2016 #KatrinaPiersonHistory Remember the Alamo? Obama and Hillary let it happen. pic.twitter.com/mupfFdKsr8 Scott Wooledge (@Clarknt67) August 3, 2016 We would have won the Vietnam War if it wasnt for Obama Katrina Pierson Just Maybe (@ShomahKhoobi) August 3, 2016 Obama knew about that iceberg but didnt warn the captain of the Titanic #KatrinaPiersonHistory Tara Rodham Dublin (@taradublinrocks) August 3, 2016 Pierson even used the hashtag herself. Story continues But it backfired. The war of words between Trump and the Khans began at last weeks Democratic National Convention, where Khizr Khan delivered a stinging rebuke of Trump over his call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States a policy that would have prevented his son from serving in the U.S. military. Donald Trump, youre asking Americans to trust you with their future, Khan said. Let me ask you: Have you even read the United States Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy. Look for the words liberty and equal protection of law. Khizr Khan said Piersons comments were another example of a lack of factual correctness among Trumps surrogates. Please, show some decency, Khan said on CNN Tuesday following Pierson, a frequent guest on cable news. On Wednesday, Pierson admitted she was absolutely wrong to assert Obama and Clintons actions cost Khan his life. Thats why I used probably, she said. I was just going through the timeline. Because since then, we have had tens of thousands of soldiers that have been lost, 1 million wounded. Six trillion dollars later, how can we possibly put any of the onus on Donald Trump? Its absolutely absurd, and thats why you see so much confusion around this issue. But no one was blaming Donald Trump for Captain Khans death, CNNs Alisyn Camerota said. You were blaming President Obama and he wasnt president yet. From Town & Country In our increasingly digital age, penmanship is becoming something of a lost art. Between Common Core standards that dictate teaching time and the universal adoption of smart phones, tablets, and computers over pen and paper, the importance of cursive seems to have gone the way of quills and parchment. But not in Alabama. "Lexi's Law," which was signed by Governor Robert Bentley in May and took effect on Monday, requires schools to provide cursive writing instruction by the end of third grade, reports the New York Times. Just like with math and writing, schools are now required to report proficiency levels in the handwriting style once a year, and the Alabama Board of Education sent out suggested guidelines for the cursive curriculum last week. "It's really an art form that personally identifies you," said Alabama state representative Dickie Drake to the Times. "I think your cursive writing identifies you as much as your physical features do." The law is named after Drake's granddaughter, and is similar to recent laws recently enacted in Florida and North Caroline to protect cursive writing skills. Proponents of handwriting like Dr. Laura Dinehart suggest that children who learn penmanship are actually learning how to be better writers. "If I learn how to produce the letters efficiently, which is the goal of developing 'good handwriting,' then I can become more efficient at writing words, writing sentences, and ultimately, writing in general," she told the Huffington Post last year. However, detractors from the movement argue the loops and lines of cursive are rarely seen in the "real world," and that class time should be spent learning more practical skills such as math and reading or even forward thinking tech programs like coding. Is Kourtney Kardashian ready to find love again? On Tuesday, the 37-year-old reality star posted a handful of videos on her Snapchat where she explained how her doctor prescribed her "love potion" yes, it's a real thing. In the videos, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star is sitting in her makeup chair and explaining to her glam squad the reasoning behind her new potion-filled water. "My doctor told me that I subconsciously think I don't deserve love so he gave me these water blessings," she said while flashing a small blue bottle. "So, I put this in water everyday 32 drops and I drink it throughout the day." So, does it actually work? "We don't know if it opens my heart up or what the hell it does," Kardashian admitted. Unconscious thinking that don't deserve love A video posted by Kourtney's Snapchat (@kourtneysnapchat) on Aug 2, 2016 at 5:31pm PDT A video posted by Kourtney's Snapchat (@kourtneysnapchat) on Aug 2, 2016 at 5:32pm PDT A video posted by Kourtney's Snapchat (@kourtneysnapchat) on Aug 2, 2016 at 5:34pm PDT RELATED VIDEO: Kourtney Kardashian Hangs Out with Ex Scott Disick: 'People That Have 3 Kids Together Spend Time Together' Kardashian has remained single after splitting from her longtime boyfriend Scott Disick, 33, in July of 2015, following his infamous trip to Monte Carlo, France, where he was photographed getting cozy with friend Chloe Bartoli. The pair continue to co-parent and recently went on a family getaway with their kids to Nantucket, where the Mason, 6, Penelope, 4, and Reign, 19 months indulged in beach and ice cream dates with their parents. Keeping Up with the Kardashians airs Sundays (9 p.m. ET) on E! Love Potion No. 9? Kourtney Kardashian is ready to open herself up to love, and this time she has a whole new approach. The 37-year-old mother of three took to Snapchat on Tuesday to talk about her doctor's new solution to her lack of romance. WATCH: Scott Disick Posts Family Photo With Kourtney Kardashian, Calls Khloe Kardashian Friendship 'Relationship Goals' "So my doctor told me that I subconsciously think that I don't deserve love," she said in one clip. "So he gave me these, water what is it? Blessings?" She holds up a small vial of liquid, saying, "Ok, so I put this in water every day, 32 drops, and I drink it throughout the day Ok so, we don't know if it opens my heart or what the hell it does." MORE: Kourtney Kardashian Rocks a Barely-There Slip Dress, Shows Off Her Tan Legs The reality star has been single since her July 2015 split from longtime love, Scott Disick. The reality star was caught getting cozy with his ex, Chloe Bartoli, in the South of France, and since then, Disick and Kardashian have been rebuilding their friendship for the sake of their children. Disick has joined the famous family on several vacations and recently traveled to San Diego to celebrate the birthday of Kourtney's grandmother, Mary Jo. Related Articles Thomas Edwin Blanton, Jr., the former Ku Klux Klan member and last living convicted bomber who took part in the 1963 attack on a church in Birmingham, has been denied parole. Blanton, 78, was not convicted until 2001, four decades after he took part in the bombing that killed four black girls at the 16th Street Baptist Church. He is serving four back-to-back life sentences for his crime at the St. Clair Correctional Facility, and has reportedly not accepted responsibility or expressed remorse for the bombing, but sought to be released to die as a free man. His petition was denied by an Alabama parole board on Wednesday, the Associated Press reports. Those present at the hearing reportedly greeted the news with applause. Two other KKK members were also convicted in the bombings, and have died in prison. Blanton was convicted in part thanks to furtive recordings made by a KKK friend of his who became an informant for the FBI. Blanton bragged about the bombing in the tapes, using offensive language and saying, I was on the corner watching the big blast and They aint going to catch me when I bomb my next church. The four victims, Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, all 14, and Denise McNair, 11, were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2013. Correction: The original version of this story misstated Thomas Edwin Blanton, Jr.s age. It is 78. Kylie Jenner has opted for an indefinite moratorium on the LBs. The reality star is trying out Instagram's newly released filters, choosing to completely block comments on her photos. "I'm done w people self promoting & the 'LB's," Kylie wrote on Tuesday. WATCH: Kylie Jenner Rocks Sheer Catsuit While Celebrating 19th Birthday With Sisters and Tyga So I'm trying out disabling my comments on Instagram because I'm done w people self promoting & the "LB"s Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) August 2, 2016 FYI: "LB" is Instagram-speak for "like back," and as Kylie gets all set to turn 19 on Aug. 10, she's apparently had enough of it! Kylie has already posted several photos testing out the new feature, and things have been pretty quiet (by design), although we have to admit, we wish we had SOME outlet to tell her that these new boots are fire: WATCH: Kylie Jenner Gets a Booty Tattoo, Surprises Unsuspecting Fans With New Kyshadow Kits This is not the first time Kylie has expressed her need for more control over the interactions she has with fans. Last year, the fashion model opened up on Snapchat about the struggle of essentially growing up in front of millions of people on social media. "It's kind of crazy I have four million people watch my Snapchats. Half of you guys think I'm weird, and the other half think I'm funny," she explained in June 2015. "But I've been bullied since I've been nine. From the whole world, it feels like sometimes... and I think that I've done a really great job in handling all this." WATCH: Kylie Jenner Is Sad About Turning 19 -- But Look at How Much She's Already Crushed Adulthood! Other celebs have gotten in on the new Instagram feature as well, including Chrissy Teigen, who didn't turn off comments outright, but did ban certain words, including "trump, colon, cleanse," and a few others that are more NSFW, explaining that it's been "like a therapy exercise, typing everything u have ever been called lol." Story continues I'm actually having a hard time filling this filter thing out. It's like a therapy exercise, typing everything u have ever been called lol christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) August 2, 2016 Meanwhile, Kylie rocked a stunning sheer bodysuit to her recent 19th birthday party in West Hollywood, California, which is something you can't comment about on Instagram, but can watch below! Related Articles Despite Californias expanded film incentives program, TV and digital pilots shot in Los Angeles actually declined 13% in the 2015-2016 development cycle compared to a year ago, according to a new report from FilmL.A., the citys film office. The culprit: Comedy pilots, which declined from 70 shot in L.A. last year to 54 this year, a 23% decline. In the most recent cycle, 79 pilots overall were filmed in the Los Angeles region, compared to 91 the year before. Drama pilots went up from 21 last year to 25 this year a 19% increase. Altogether, FilmLA estimates that pilots generated $296 million in production spending for the region in the most recent cycle. Despite the decline, LA is still by far the favorite locale for pilots. According to FilmLA, the next closest competitor is New York, whose 28 pilots this year are 51 less than LAs. Vancouver had 25; Atlanta had 15, and Toronto had 12. LAs share of drama pilots has been on the up-tick since 2013, when it had 17% of all drama pilots produced. This year the city has 20% of the drama pilots a far cry from the 38% the city hosted in 2011, and far below the 63% it had in 2006 (see the chart below, courtesy FilmL.A.). Related stories On-Location Filming In Los Angeles Up 5.8% In Q2 L.A.'s Share Of Total Pilot Production Falls Below 50% For First Time Ever Bring Blockbusters Back To California With Increased Film Incentives, Says FilmL.A. RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- The last house of a Rio de Janeiro slum near the Olympic park that was once home to 700 families was demolished late Tuesday. Market vendor Augusto Pereira told the Associated Press that there was too much pressure on him to leave the area and that he needed to carry on with his life somewhere else. The Vila Autodromo favela was once home to around 700 families. Most left or accepted offers of compensation or resettlement in a nearby housing complex. Favelas are dotted around Rio de Janeiro. Some are small and some house tens of thousands of residents. Until recently 20 families had refused to move out because proposed new homes did not provide paved streets and public lighting, but the issue was resolved this week for most of them. Pereira was the very last to stay in the area. ''I requested some conditions to leave, but the City Hall was stalling me. I was getting so depressed that I just decided to go anyway,'' Pereira said. ''Staying here during the Olympics would hurt me even more.'' The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics will be on Friday. Clearing space for the Olympic venues has brought a political cost for Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes. The bulldozing of Vila Autodromo was made to build a complex of 31 high rises that will become upper-class housing in the city's west zone. Paes initially said residents could stay if they wanted, but changed course and ordered evictions. He said a few months ago that the homes built in that area will cost between 3 million to 3.5 million reais ($800,000 to $930,000), but sales have been slow so far. Felipe Pena, a visiting professor at New York University who recently released an award-winning documentary on Vila Autodromo, said that the demolition of the last home in the region is a symbol of how Rio's authorities dealt with the Olympics. ''Demolishing working-class housing next to the Olympic Park shows how much exclusion there is in these Games,'' Pena said. ''What happened to Vila Autodromo is a representation of what might happen to the rest of the country. The mayor, the governor and the interim president belong in the same party. Politicians are fine with this.'' Activists and lawmakers have pledged to keep the pressure on Paes to improve conditions for former residents of Vila Autodromo in their new homes. An Emirates Airline plane arriving from India crash landed at Dubai Airport on Wednesday. The Dubai Government Media Office confirmed that the passengers were evacuated from the plane, with no injuries reported so far, the WAM news agency reports. A statement issued by Emirates said, Emirates can confirm that today, 3rd August 2016, flight EK521 travelling from Trivandrum International Airport in Thiruvananthapuram, India to Dubai has been involved in an accident at Dubai International Airport. There were 275 passengers and crew on board. The Boeing 777 aircraft, departed at 10.19am from Trivandrum International Airport and was scheduled to land at 12.50pm at Dubai International Airport. We are in the process of opening our customer assistance line and will share these details soon but at this stage we have no further information on what may have caused the accident. Our priority remains with the passengers and crew involved. As per preliminary reports, it is said that the crash landing took place due to mechanical failure, or more specifically the failure of the landing gear. ANI Images ANI and Twitter #Emirates plane on fire at Dubai Airport; no injuries reported, says Dubai Media Office (Picture Source: Al Arabiya) pic.twitter.com/JlRgh6ywLU ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 BREAKING NEWS: An Emirates airline flight [Boeing 777] from India has crash-landed at Dubai Intl Airport -Officials pic.twitter.com/4IO14QM05Y IG: RAINBOW 94.1 FM (@Rainbow941fm) August 3, 2016 Emirates aircraft at DXB today no idea yet why this happened but it is believed no one is hurt (nmp) #Dubai #DXB pic.twitter.com/hpgpR1gSBh dazM33 (@dazM33) August 3, 2016 BREAKING: Boeing jet crash lands at Dubai airport. 275 people on board. No reports of injuries right now. pic.twitter.com/HuyOJw4E06 ABC World News Now (@abcWNN) August 3, 2016 Emirates Flights From Thiruvananthapuram Crash Lands In Dubai Dubai: An Emirates plane https://t.co/gIoxGeM8Rc pic.twitter.com/kgwKkmULj6 @Rana@ (@ranaalikash) August 3, 2016 Emirates: 275 passengers and crew all safely evacuated from #Dubai crashed plane, no injuries reported pic.twitter.com/qDBtLgIc36 Four Counties News (@Heart4CNews) August 3, 2016 #Emirates jet from India crash-landed at #Dubai intl airport. All 275 passengers + crew on board safely evacuated. pic.twitter.com/ggmUfQ8oXb Haidar Sumeri (@IraqiSecurity) August 3, 2016 Lauryn Hill will be hitting the road later this month with a conceptual tour spanning into the fall. Lauryn Hill Says Tax Problems in Recent Reports Aren't New: 'We're Getting Over the Hump' The MLH Carvan: A Diaspora Calling! tour will pull elements from Hill's inaugural Diaspora Calling! music festival held in Brooklyn in April and each show will include guest performances by artists "from throughout the African diaspora," according to a press release. "The MLH Caravan allows me to continue the theme of unity and celebration of the many facets of cultural and artistic beauty throughout the African diaspora while on tour this summer and fall," said Hill in a statement. "In these days of tension, tumult and transition, an exchange of this kind can yield direction, expression, understanding and empowerment as well as connection, self Love and appreciation that hopefully overflows into our respective communities." Ms. Lauryn Hill Launches 'Diaspora Calling' Music and Art Series in Brooklyn Hill's Diaspora Calling! festival included performers Machel Montano (Trinidad), Stephen "Ragga" Marley (Jamaica), Stonebwoy (Ghana) and others. Full lineups and additional dates for The MLH Carvan: A Diaspora Calling! tour will be announced in the coming weeks. Lauren Hill The MLH Carvan: A Diaspora Calling! tour dates: 08/27 Philadelphia, PA - The Mann Center 09/01 Chicago, IL - Ravinia 09/02 Detroit, MI - The Fillmore 09/04 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 09/13 Louisville, KY - The Louisville Palace 09-16 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall 09-18 Cleveland, OH - Hard Rock Live Rocksino 09-22 Indianapolis, IN - The Murat Theatre 09-24 Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park 09-25 Tuscaloosa, AL - Tuscaloosa Amphitheater 10-01 Boston, MA - Wang Theatre 11-01 San Diego, CA - Copley Symphony Hall 11-06 Seattle, WA - McCaw Hall 11-08 Vancouver, British Columbia - Queen Elizabeth Theatre 11-12 Las Vegas, NV - The Foundry at SLS 11-13 Phoenix, AZ - Comercia Theatre Leonardo DiCaprios relationships with models come and go (a fact were sure Nina Agdal is well aware of), but his bromance with Jonah Hill endures. The Oscar winner pulled a prank on his Wolf of Wall Street co-star and buddy on Monday. As Hill stood, with earbuds in, fiddling with his phone outside a restaurant in Manhattans West Village nabe, DiCaprio pretended to be a paparazzo as he raced up to him, phone in hand, pretending to be taking his photo while yelling at him. (Paps have a charming way about them sometimes.) While Hill who had on a ridiculous outfit for the steamy summer weather looked startled at first, he then embraced his friend. DiCaprio arrived on Citi Bikes with about seven other dudes (do they still go by the P**** Posse, or did that end when Tobey Maguire went off and got married?), and the guys started chatting and then walked off to do whatever it is celebrities and their entourages do at 1 p.m. on a Monday. Leo may be keeping company with model Agdal this summer with the make-out sessions to prove it but his love for Jonah runs deep The friendship first hit our radar in 2012, when Jonah accompanied Leo aboard a boat filled with a bunch of topless models. It was business as usual for the Great Gatsby star, but the Superbad actor looked pretty confident himself in that boss hat Just look at Jonahs face in this photo taken in 2014. He loves his Leo and hes said as much. Hes the greatest, Hill told E! News in 2013. Talking about their characters in Wolf, he added, I was really happy with how their relationship is, you know, the business partners and best friends, and I think if I didnt love and respect Leo and have that love for him, that wouldnt have come through as much as it did. In addition to hanging at Hollywood events, pranking each other, and going on yacht trips, the guys are bike buddies. Here they are taking a spin on their rental bikes, in 2015. Someone needs to gift these guys a bicycle built for two. BRUSSELS, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The European Commission has authorised on Wednesday a joint venture in the Netherlands between British telecoms firm Vodafone and U.S. cable operator Liberty Global in exchange for concessions. The EU executive gave its approval conditional on Vodafone selling its consumer fixed line business in the Netherlands, the Commission said in a statement. "The divestment offered by Vodafone fully addresses these concerns, allowing the Commission to clear this telecoms merger in Phase I," the Commission said. Brussels also rejected a request to refer the assessment of the transaction to the Dutch competition authority. The decision confirms what was exclusively reported by Reuters last week. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio) (Adds companies' comment; Adds shares) BRUSSELS, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The European Commission authorised a joint venture in the Netherlands between British telecoms firm Vodafone Group Plc and U.S. cable operator Liberty Global Plc in exchange for concessions. The EU executive gave its approval, conditional on Vodafone selling its consumer fixed line business in the Netherlands, the Commission said in a statement on Wednesday. "The divestment offered by Vodafone fully addresses these concerns, allowing the Commission to clear this telecoms merger in Phase I," the Commission said. The companies said in a joint statement they welcomed the clearance and had received a number of expressions of interest for the fixed line unit. Brussels also rejected a request to refer the transaction to the Dutch competition authority. Reuters exclusively reported the Commission's decision last week. Vodafone shares were up 1.1 percent at 229.35 pence at 0245 GMT, while Liberty Global shares were up 1.4 percent at $31.86. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio in Brussels and Mamidipudi Soumithri in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) Tripoli (AFP) - Sirte, where Libyan pro-government forces are battling Islamic State group militants with American air support, has been in the hands of the jihadists since June 2015. Here is some background on the fight for the city. - Strategic importance - Sirte is on the Mediterranean coast roughly half way between Tripoli in the west and Benghazi in the east. A major port city, it lies just 350 kilometres (220 miles) from the Italian coast. It is also a mere 150 kilometres west of Libya's main oil-producing area and export terminals. Oil is a vital source of income for Libya, and several groups have fought to control its wells and pipelines since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The presence of the Islamic State group in Sirte had raised fears it would attempt to seize the fields to fund its North Africa operations. US President Barack Obama has defended the air campaign, saying defeating IS there was in America's national interest. - IS headquarters - Forces allied with Libya's Government of National Unity (GNA) entered the city on June 9, four weeks after launching an offensive to oust IS from the city. The jihadists are now holed up in an area around the Ouagadougou conference centre. Kadhafi erected the centre to host international and African summits and serve his pan-African policy. It was the birthplace of the African Union with the signing of the Sirte Declaration in 1999. IS now uses the location as its command centre, but has become surrounded there as GNA forces have taken other parts of the town. GNA forces also seized the port of Sirte, its international airport, an important air base and a hospital in June. - Kadhafi's birthplace - Kadhafi, who was born in Sirte in 1942, made great efforts to turn his birthplace into the capital of his "Jamahiriya" -- a "state of the masses" run by local committees. He created a new province around the town in addition to the three existing regions of Cyrenaica in the east, Fezzan in the southwest and Tripolitania in the north. Story continues In the 1990s, he ordered ministries to be created in Sirte, and even set up a parliament there, but eventually gave up on his plans. Kadhafi was captured and killed in the city on October 20, 2011. - Black flags - After Kadhafi's ouster, Sirte was largely left to its own devices until it fell into the hands of IS jihadists in June 2015. Since then, the black flag of IS has flown over public buildings and jihadists have roamed the streets in pickup trucks to check that people are praying at the correct times and women are not venturing out of the home without a male minder. - Population - Sirte used to have about 120,000 residents, most of them in the city centre or spread along the coast. All but around 30,000 have fled since IS took over, a spokesman for pro-government forces, Reda Issa, told AFP. Most people in Sirte belong to three major tribes including the Kadhadfa tribe of Kadhafi. Looking to ensure continuity, the Locarno Film Festival has extended artistic director Carlo Chatrians mandate through 2020, boosted the role of international chief Nadia Dresti to deputy artistic director, and promoted former head of sponsorship Raphael Brunschwig to deputy COO. These moves reflect fest president Marco Solaris strategy to keep the fests positive course on track in terms of the cinematic vision of Chatrian, who is now at his fourth edition, and also maintain the ongoing growth of the fests significant industry side and overall scope. Four years ago when Solari appointed Chatrian, who was then 41, there were rumblings that the young, soft-spoken Italian critic who was a longtime Locarno collaborator but had never headed a fest before may not have the chops. Those doubts have been dispelled as Chatrian gradually raised the bar with an increasingly diverse mix of esoteric and more accessible titles. Dresti over the years has systematically expanded and enhanced Locarnos market side with innovative initiatives including the Open Doors co-production lab to help international filmmakers in areas where the industry is nascent; Alliance for Development, which aims to tighten co-production bonds between France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland; and this year a new European Casting Directors Award which she hopes can inspire the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to start having an Oscar for casting directors. Dresti, who besides being head of international previously held the title of delegate of the artistic director, said she has not yet discussed her new role, but noted she didnt think its actually going to change much. I am not in charge of the selection outside of the Piazza Grande, she said. This means I will probably be boosted in this capacity, as in going to Los Angeles to negotiate with the studios for the Piazza Grande; but this is a task Carlo and I share. Brunschwig being promoted to deputy COO from head of sponsorship indicates his ability to keep the Swiss fest well-funded. He is also in charge of the project to renovate Locarnos ExRex cinema venue. Story continues Related stories Films Distribution Rolls Out Pre-Sales on 'Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe' (EXCLUSIVE) Locarno Fest Sets Industry Agenda: Digital Platforms, Euro Soft Money, Market Demand Golden Leopard Winner Milagros Mumenthaler Returns to Locarno With 'The Idea of a Lake' Film producers are scarce in South Asia, the featured region at the upcoming Locarno Film Festivals Open Doors co-production lab dedicated to cinematographies in areas where making movies is especially tough. So directors often just turn to private investors, says Sophie Bourdon who heads the initiative. Therefore you have people mentioned as producers who are not producers at all, she notes. And very often the producers are the filmmakers themselves. Interestingly, most non-commercial movies that come from South Asia are documentaries, Bourdon points out. The objective at Open Doors is not to exclude documentaries, but we want to produce more fiction films, she says. The key to doing that is to identify talents who can make the leap from shorts to feature films. The Open Doors lab, which will run August 4-9, wont just just cover business or industry issues such as how to finance a film, or how to find distribution. It will start from how to develop a project, segue into the creative relationship between director and producer at script stage, and cover other aspects, like casting. Bourdon has noticed that one of the big issues in the region for independent films is proper post production because most of the films are Bollywood films, which are dubbed, she says. So within the producers lab there will be a kind of mini-workshop on how to be more creative in post. Locarno earlier this year announced that as part of their research remit to explore cinematographies that are relatively or totally unknown but with great potential they would be focussing over the next three years on eight countries in South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The eight selected projects for the Open Doors Hub are: Cinema, City and Cats, by Ishtiaque Zico, Bangladesh Zicos first fiction feature weaves three tales of a film school teacher, a movie theatre projectionist, and a home delivery boy. All experience the impact of migration and seek hope in contemporary Dhaka, Nepals capital The directors prior works include the short 720 Degrees, the first and only Bangladeshi entry at Venice, where it screened in Horizons in 2010. Story continues Craving (Ta Ku Tha Lo Chin Thee), by Maung Okkar, Myanmar Okkars first feature is a drama set in modern-day Myanmar which turns on three families and their cravings in life. The directors previous works include Charcoal boy, a short documentary shot in 2010. Day After Tomorrow, by Kamar Ahmad Simon, Bangladesh This is the second installment of a water-trilogy that started with non-conventional docu Are you listening!, which won the Grand Prix at the Cinema du Reel fesival in Paris. The director travelled more than 200 kilometres by waterways to shoot it, while also making a metaphorical journey through the mainly Muslim population of Bangladesh, on the eve of an election. House of My Fathers, by Suba Sivakumaran, Sri Lanka This first feature is set entirely in the jungles of Sri Lanka, in the villages of Tamil and Sinhala. It is described as having a dystopian vision and being about a widow, an ex-revolutionary and a priest who venture into the jungle to confront their past memories and search for the future. Season of Dragonflies (Jhyalincha), by Abinash Bikram Shah, Nepal This first feature based on the filmmakers personal history will aim to provide a glimpse into the restlessness of Nepal, especially the struggle of women, caught between age-old traditions and modern day aspirations while also having to contend with poverty and disasters. The directors previous works include the short I Am Happy, which played at Busan. The Cineaste, by Aboozar Amini, Afghanistan Aboozar Aminis first feature is based on the eponymous novel by Afghan author Asef Soldanzadeh. Set in Bamiyan, in central Afghanistan where the Taliban blew up two giant Buddah statues, it is described as a poetic ode to civilization and a powerful fight back against barbarism. The directors previous works include the short Angelus Novus which premiered in 2015 in Rotterdam. The Red Phallus, by Tashi Gyeltshen, Bhutan This first feature is described as being about the paradox that sees people killing other people while talking about attaining enlightenment in the same breath. It is part of a trilogy, the first two instalments being shorts. The second instalment, The Red Door, screened in 2014 in Rotterdam. Then They Would be Gone (Mela Chaar Dinan Da), by Maheen Zia, Pakistan In Pakistani villages, the arrival of a mela, or street fair the word is Sanskrit for gathering with its music and dance, used to be looked forward to by families. But nowadays melas are disappearing due to religious hardliners just as cable TV permeates the country and money dries up for the performers. This is the directors second feature-length docu. She previously co-directed Lyari Notes which premiered at the International Documentary Filmfestival in Amsterdam. Open Doors Hub projects will vye for the Open Doors prize worth worth $49,000, mostly financed by the Swiss production fund Visions Sud Est, and also some smaller grants. The Open Doors Lab will be bringing over a group of producers and directors from South Asia for international industry training and personalized support. The producers and directors-producers who will participate in the Open Doors Lab are: Aadnan Imtiaz Ahmed, Kino-Eye Films, Bangladesh Abu Shahed Emon, Batayan Productions, Bangladesh Rubaiyat Hossain, Khona Talkies, Bangladesh Jigme Lhendhup, Evolving Artists, Bhutan We Ra Aung, Green Age Film Production, Myanmar Thu Thu Shein, Third Floor Production, Myanmar Wang Shin Hong, Myanmar Montage Productions, Myanmar Min Bahadur Bham, Shooney Films Pvt. Ltd., Nepal Related stories Films Distribution Rolls Out Pre-Sales on 'Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe' (EXCLUSIVE) Locarno Fest Sets Industry Agenda: Digital Platforms, Euro Soft Money, Market Demand Golden Leopard Winner Milagros Mumenthaler Returns to Locarno With 'The Idea of a Lake' 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. Digital platforms, Euro soft money, market demand. These are just some of the issues which will play out over table talk, panels and presentations at the 69th Locarno Festival, Europes biggest mid-summer film event which opens Aug. 3 with Glenn Close zombie pic The Girl With All the Gifts. Further highlights include awards to David Linde, Harvey Keitel, Bill Pullman and Roger Corman. Locarnos industry discussions and initiatives, among the most structured and numerous of any Euro festival, will take place at as, for another year, the Swiss festival looks set to see a robust presence of European and world cinema industry players. Through Aug. 1, accredited attendance at Locarnos Industry Days screenings was running at 1,050, on track to reach 2015s final head count of 1,105 attendees, said Nadia Dresti, Locarno head of international. Thats not far short of the Venice Film Markets 1,387 delegates last year and an extraordinarily high attendance level despite its taking place smack in the dog days of summer in a continent whose industry professionals value their vacation. Explanations cut various ways. One is Locarnos business value. The buyers, like sellers, turn up. We sign numerous deals here and initiate negotiations which we finish at Toronto, said Eric Lagesse, head of Paris-based arthouse sales agent Pyramide Intl., which world premieres Frederic Mermouds Moka and Yousry Nasrallahs Brooks, Meadows and Lovely Faces at the Festival, Moka on the Piazza Grande. Lagesse also pointed out that Carlo Chatrians intelligent programming ranges from upscale popular films to edgier auteur fare from burgeoning young talents, so caters for each and every taste. Matteo Lovadino, at Paris-based Reel Suspects, will bow Interchange at Locarnos open-air Piazza Grande, the first Malaysian film to have such a privilege. Placed in the middle of the European summer, Locarno is a must attend, because of its human-sized event, with a great selection of films, screened at one of the biggest open-air cinemas in the world, he said of the Piazza Grande. Story continues He added: Even if half of the industry is on vacation , the spotlight that this selection brings to the film is highly crucial for its future career in festivals and distribution. Also, since launching Locarnos Industry Days three-days of screenings of key festival titles Dresti has built a broad spectrum of industry events which brings a large spread of industry execs to the event. Some initiatives provide training and inspiration for less experienced international execs, others state-of-the-industry reflection for those who hardly have time to reflect on where their business is going at more pressured macro events. Put together, they offer a bigger-picture take on major industry trends and more dynamic film-producing territories. *Launched in 2011, First Look, a pix-in-post competition, will showcase movies from Poland. *A pilot project in 2015, Alliance for Development, a France-Germany-Italy co-production rendez-vous, now celebrates its first edition, hosted by Switzerland; *Match Me, now in its second year, is a networking forum for young production houses, this year from Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Israel and Turkey, who are joined by Swiss producers. *Far longer running, the 14th Open Doors, a world cinema platform, highlights eight producers and eight projects from lesser-known filmmaking powers Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan are just three. *A training workshop for young industry execs which has now celebrated international versions at Mexicos Morelia, in Brazil and at New Yorks Lincoln Center, the 2nd Locarno Industry Academy runs Aug. 4-9. *On Aug. 5, at Step In, a Locarno industry think-tank launched in 2012, Toronto Fests Cameron Bailey and Hussain Amarshi, at Canadian distributor-sales agent Mongrel Media, analyse the impact of digital distribution platforms. *One day later, the European Audiovisual Observatorys Julio Talavera will detail how European governments spent the 2.29 billion ($2.6 billion) they on average ploughed into film and TV over 2010-14. Digital distribution and public funding are of course connected. The launch of Netflix and Amazon dynamized the U.K. pay TV window, Netflix now enjoying 5.2 million subscribers, according to Enders Analysis. For Spain, Netflix looks like a serious international distribution option for many top-tier movie titles. In general, however, VOD has not taken up the slack from the implosion of physical video sales. 2015 serves as a reality check. Although the [European VOD] market is growing rapidly, for the majority of producers it is still generating low revenues, a Cannes Film Markets Focus study claimed this May. Meanwhile, TV sales of foreign indie and arthouse movies has plunged, meaning that the prices commanded by these types of movies on the international market has largely plummeted as well. Theatrical film production, followed at a large distance by spend on TV production, accounted for 41% of public film-TV funding over 2010-14, according to the EAO Film Funding Report which Talavera presents at Locarno, which rose 13.4% over the period. Europe produced 1,492 features in 2010, 1,603 in 2014, Talavera said. In other words, as the international market for most European films has contracted, ever more films, often with public backing, are getting made. In Switzerland, there are multiple film financing facilities for the production of films, but we dont always see these films, Dresti said. She added: Is it enough to say: This is the fault of sales companies and distributors? Or maybe the question is whether there are too many films. Via its industry panels and programs, Locarno is reacting in multiple ways. The Industry Days give a platform to executives who have thought through the issues. At Step-In, Carolle Brabant, from Canadas Telefilm, will outline how a major public funding entity is meeting new market demand and has channelled its production spending. Via the Alliance, Match Me and Open Doors, Locarno is also pushing, implicitly, international co-production, a strategy which pretty well guarantees distribution, at least in some overseas territories, while raising a movies budget, so potential production values. Above all, Locarno is focusing on not just helping more projects to get made but rather their quality and market viability, as it attempts to hone the skills of a new generation of executive which will help films find a market. The Locarno Film Academy students are young sales, distribution and exhibition executives. Open Doors has initiated a new focus, Open Doors Lab, to highlight eight South Asian producers. One of its aims is to take filmmakers from the region through the role of a creative producer and the creativity of post-production, said Open Doors head Sophie Bourdon. The Alliance for Development showcases nine bi-lateral co-productions between France, Germany or Italy. The goal is, however, not so much to introduce pics producers to more potential co-producers but rather to distributors and sales agents who can deliver market feedback as to whether, in distribution terms, the projects might fly, Dresti said. Films must be for everyone or someone, 20th Century Foxs Jim Gianopulos once said. Locarnos Industry Days would buy into that dictum. Related stories Films Distribution Rolls Out Pre-Sales on 'Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe' (EXCLUSIVE) Golden Leopard Winner Milagros Mumenthaler Returns to Locarno With 'The Idea of a Lake' Locarno Fest Open Doors Set to Give South Asian Film Industry a Boost LONDON (Reuters) - London's police force will deploy an additional 600 armed officers across the capital to protect against the threat of attacks, authorities announced on Wednesday. The threat level in London remains at "severe" and the increase is not in response to any specific intelligence but is a long-term response to a spate of deadly attacks in European countries. "Anyone who's been following events in Europe over the past few weeks will understand why we want to show our determination to protect the public," Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe said in a statement. In line with British policing methods, the majority of London police officers do not carry firearms. "The reality of having to deal with armed and deadly attackers is that you need firearms officers who will use force to stop those attackers in their aim. Our firearms officers are the ones who will run towards the danger," said Hogan-Howe. The additional armed officers will be visible to the public and will work across London, both on foot and in vehicles. London was hit by coordinated suicide bombings on July 7, 2005, when four Islamist extremists targeted three underground trains and one bus, killing 52 people. Since then, numerous plots have been foiled and there have been smaller-scale attacks, such as the killing of an off-duty soldier on a street in south London by two extremists in May 2013. (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) James Grays The Lost City of Z, starring Charlie Hunnam, will have its world premiere as the closing night screening at the 2016 New York Film Festival. With a cast that also includes Sienna Miller, Robert Pattinson and Tom Holland, Lost City of Z centers on Lieutenant Colonel Percy Fawcett (Hunnam), an explorer who spent decades in search of a lost city in the wilds of the Amazon, at great cost to his personal life. Writer-director Gray returns to NYFF after his 2014 outing, The Immigrant, screened as part of that years festival. Presented annually by Film Society of Lincoln Center, the New York Film Festivals tightly curated main slate of 25-30 features can serve as an important festival show case in the run-up to awards season. Prior projects to bow as part of NYFF include The Social Network, Hugo, Life of Pi, Gone Girl and Bridge of Spies. At the moment, Lost City of Z has no distributor attached. Filmmakers anticipate a 2017 release, which would mean that the movie would sit out the 2016 awards derby. The movie joins a developing NYFF lineup that also includes Ava DuVernays The 13th and Mike Mills 20th Century Women. The full main slate is due to be announced next week. Produced by Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Anthony Katagas and Dale Armin Johnson, and Exec produced by Brad Pitt and Marc Butan, Lost City of Z will bow Oct. 15. The 2016 New York Film Festival runs Sept. 30-Oct. 16. Related stories '20th Century Women' With Annette Bening Gets Centerpiece Bow at 2016 New York Film Festival 2016 New York Film Festival to Open With Ava DuVernay Documentary 'The 13th' Studiocanal Acquires Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson's 'Lost City of Z' for Multiple Territories (EXCLUSIVE) 2,000 families could face food shortage in Sindhupalchok Around 2,000 families in Sindhupalchok could face food shortage as a result of recent floods that damaged the Araniko Highway. Theres a machine that stops avocados going brown and OMG we need it Theres a machine that stops avocados going brown and OMG we need it Everyone we know, including us, is still pretty obsessed with avocado toast (or, actually, just avocados in general). We love to put chilli flakes on ours, with a squeeze of lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste simple but effective, dont you think? People love avocados so much, in fact, that theyve even turned them into burger buns and roses. There might even be an avocado shortage coming, people are consuming the precious green delicacies so much. While avocados might be totally delicious and hella healthy, however, one thing still irks us. Avocados go pretty brown and gross quickly once you cut them open. Brown Avocado Ergh. This might be one of lifes most annoying and upsetting processes. While we know that a little spritz of lemon juice and some tight saran wrap will (hopefully) keep the other half of our beloved avocado nice and green, its not always the case that this stops the browning purpose occurring. Avocados go brown because, when put in contact with the air, an enzyme causes the flesh to oxidize. By covering an avocado in lemon juice and saran wrap it helps stop the oxidization process, although not for long. Thats why one company in Australia have decided to solve all our avocado woes and build a MACHINE that can stop these green beauties from going brown. The Natavo Zero is a machine that completely inhibits, or as they say switches off, the oxidization process previously mentioned by using steam, which also helps prevents the growth of disease causing bacteria. Basically, what this means is that ill-fated avocado shortage we mentioned earlier might not actually come to pass. Speaking to Mashable, Jeff Hastings, an agricultural engineer at the company Naturo Technologies which invented the Natavo Zero, said that the machine just accepts sliced and cut avocado where they are treated for 4-6 minutes. Story continues Natavo Zero in action Okay, so were going to need one of these, like, yesterday. Unfortunately, at the moment the machines only deal with large quantities of avocados, with two models able to work at 250 kilograms (551 lbs) and 500 kilograms (1,102 lbs) an hour. These are, essentially, for mass production. Natavo Zero Machine Our focus is definitely on the industry, [to those] who provide a finished product to consumers, like fast food restaurants or airlines,Hastings said to Mashable. However, its not impossible for us to develop a consumer scale product in future. *EXTREME SAD FACE* We guess until this machine makes its way into our kitchens, were going to have just stick to some lemon juice, saran wrap, and a lot of good will. The post Theres a machine that stops avocados going brown and OMG we need it appeared first on HelloGiggles. From Cosmopolitan According to the Odessa American, 30-year-old Jason Gregg was arrested Saturday after he allegedly brutally beat his girlfriend at her apartment. The couple had been out dancing originally, but when they got home and he saw her Snapchatting with her friend from Australia, he reportedly threw, bit, and kicked her. The Odessa, Texas, police department pulled the unnamed victim over as she was speeding away from the scene at 3:30 a.m., The Daily Beast reports. The officer who stopped her "right off the bat could tell something wasn't right," police spokesman Cpl. Steve LeSueur told the site. He noticed blood running down her face. The victim told police she'd left "to let Jason calm down" and that the fight escalated quickly at home. When Gregg allegedly choked her and threw her into the counter, she began screaming. He reportedly silenced her by covering her mouth and nose until she couldn't breathe. According to police, Gregg eventually let her go and she was transported to Medical Center Hospital after she was pulled over. Police then found Gregg outside the apartment, where they detained him. Though he was released from Midland County Jail on $75,000 bond, Gregg is charged with the second-degree felony of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. Follow Tess on Twitter. A 58-year-old man is accused of groping a sleeping female passenger seated next to him on a recent overnight flight to New Jersey, after which he allegedly tried to brush off the incident with an offer of a free drink, PEOPLE has confirmed. Veerabhadrarao Kunam was arrested Saturday and charged with one count of abusive sexual contact soon after his Virgin America flight from Los Angeles landed in Newark, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on bond following a Monday court hearing, defense attorney Alex Spiro tells PEOPLE. Spiro declined to comment on the allegations against Kunam, but said he would be investigating the incident to determine all the facts. Investigators allege in a criminal complaint that Kunam had been massaging the private parts and buttocks of a female passenger over her clothes. The woman was seated in the middle seat next to him on the flight and had fallen asleep, according to the complaint. Kunam was also allegedly "rubbing his bare feet against the [victim's] bare feet," according to the complaint. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. The woman awoke on the flight to find Kunam allegedly still groping her, according to the complaint, and her friend, seated by the window on their row, also witnessed the alleged crime. The victim and her friend traded seats and the friend "confronted" Kunam, who allegedly told them "he wanted everyone to forget about the incident and offered to buy [the friend] a drink for any trouble he may have caused," according to the complaint. She declined and instead alerted a member of the flight crew, who ordered Kunam into another seat, according to the complaint. A Virgin America spokesman described the flight member's actions as quick-thinking: "Our crew are trained for such situations, and they immediately moved the individual in question to another seat, monitored him to ensure he did not move from his seat, and alerted law enforcement," he tells PEOPLE. Kunam, who federal authorities say is from Visakhapatnam, India, has been described in local reports as a businessman. According to The Hindu, he runs a seafood exporting company in India. A watershed moment for Nepals transitional justice Rights defenders say the trial in a British court proves that universal jurisdiction does get attracted Trying to come up with a unique proposal idea? Take a hint from this Kentucky man, who popped the question moments after he was stabbed on the beach. Read: Man Dressed as a Flying Monkey to Propose to Dancer Boyfriend Backstage at 'Wicked' Steve Worthington told InsideEdition.com that he was on vacation at Daytona Beach with his girlfriend, Allison Crowe, and his 12-year-old daughter when he said he heard a man tell the girl, "You have a nice a**." In an interview with WKMG, Worthington said, "He was clearly drunk." Worthington then retorted, before pushing the man away. Cops said the man, John Debow, then allegedly pulled out a switchblade from his backpack, and in mid-struggle, Worthington's arm was caught in the blade. Debow then fell on his own knife, slashing himself in the arm, Worthington told InsideEdition.com. "The guy passed out from loss of blood," Worthington said. "He threw the knife away and collapsed on the ground." Police soon arrived on the scene arrested Debow on aggravated battery, before loading Worthington in an ambulance to treat his wounds. Despite the blood and distress, Debow seemed to have something else on his mind. "I planned to propose on the beach," he later told InsideEdition.com. He said he wanted to write it in the sand, and drop down to one knee in front of family members for a romantic proposal. But, as his girlfriend fretted over his well-being, Worthington thought, "This is the perfect opportunity. There's never going to be a greater proposal story than this. "I have a weird sense of humor," he joked. As firemen hosed blood off the scene, Worthington said he pretended to get dizzy and stumble as he got out of the ambulance. As Crowe ran to his side to help him back to his feet, he pulled out the ring, and popped the question. "She said yes," Worthington said. "She said it was classic me. She was waiting for it all to be an act." Story continues Read: Firefighter Pretends He's Climbing into Burning Building to Propose to Girlfriend Now, they're planning to tie the knot the weekend after Thanksgiving. Debow, on the other hand, posted $25,000 bail and was released the following day. He has since pleaded not guilty to the incident and will be appearing in court later this month. Watch: Wrestler Pops the Question to Opponent Girlfriend in the Middle of Match Related Articles: Mana's 1992 classic "De pies a cabeza" is getting a new version featuring urban superstar Nicky Jam. The Mexican rock band took to social media to tease the new single, which is set to drop this Friday (Aug. 5). #DePiesACabeza - @NickyJamPR - #NuevoSingle pic.twitter.com/tErvZSLavQ - Mana (@manaoficial) August 2, 2016 Back in June, Mana and Nicky teased studio sessions on social media saying it was a "historical" reunion. This is the first collab between Nicky Jam and Mana. "I've always wanted to work with Mana, I've been a fan of them since I started singing reggaeton in 1992. They were already my idols and today they continue to be. I never thought I'd work with them so this is a blessing," said Nicky Jam in a statement. "We had been wanting to do something and Nicky Jam is a very talented man, and yes it is a different genre but all the genres can mix," added Mana's frontman, Fher Olvera. Aqui haciendo musica para el verano con el maestro @manaoficial A photo posted by NICKY JAM (@nickyjampr) on Jun 24, 2016 at 5:46pm PDT Mana & Nicky Jam Tease Studio Session on Social Media The upbeat track, which was included in the band's album Donde jugaran los ninos?, spent one week in the top 20 of the Latin Pop Airplay chart in 1995. Nicky Jam is currently on The Fenix Tour in Latin America while Mana is set to kick off their Latino Power Tour in the U.S. on Sept. 9 in San Diego. The trek is being billed as a call to Latinos to go out and vote in the upcoming presidential election in November. The manufacturing sector is hungry for new orders. Singapores purchasing managers index (PMI) cant quite catch a break as the July reading posted a 0.3 point drop from the previous month, registering the 13th straight month of decline. According to a report by the Singapore Institute of Purchasing & Materials Management (SIPMM), the decline was due to lower orders and new exports, as well as lower factory output. Manufacturing inventory recorded a slower rate of expansion, whereas the finished goods recorded a slightly faster rate of expansion, the release said. Meanwhile, the imports index recorded expansion readings for 15 months, while input prices for raw materials have now recorded 13 months of contractions. The overall employment index has recorded contraction readings since November 2014, with more manufacturing companies undergoing restructuring of their labour force, the report said. More From Singapore Business Review By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's parliament on Wednesday elected Prachanda, who led a decade-long insurgency that topped a feudal monarchy, as the Himalayan nation's new prime minister, a week after K.P. Oli stepped down to avoid a no-confidence motion. Nepal has long been mired in political instability and Prachanda, 61, becomes its 24th prime minister since protests led to the establishment of a multi-party democracy in 1990. He has served once before, after winning power in 2008. Prachanda, whose real name in Pushpa Kamal Dahal, won 363 votes of the 573 votes cast in the 595-member parliament. Lawmkers draped Buddhist prayer scarves around his neck after he was elected unopposed. "I will work for national unity, to promote the interest of the country and its people," the bespectacled leader had told lawmakers earlier. The return of Prachanda, who still uses his nom de guerre, which means "fierce", but has lost his former Robin Hood image, is unlikely to end the revolving-door politics that has sapped business confidence in one of the world's poorest countries. "I don't think he will be stable," said Guna Raj Luitel, editor of the daily Nagarik. "There is no agreement between parties on a basic agenda for the country. They have only agreed for convenience, and there is already a deal to change the prime minister after nine months." POWER SHARING Prachanda's confirmation became possible with the support of parliament's biggest party, the centrist Nepali Congress, and several smaller parties. The Maoists are the third biggest group in the legislature. Under a widely reported power-sharing deal, Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to take over from Prachanda before Nepal holds a general election at the beginning of 2018. Party officials have declined to comment. The two leaders make for a disparate combination. Deuba headed the cabinet that offered a bounty of 5 million rupees ($50,000) for Prachanda in 2001, at the peak of the insurgency. Two years later, Maoist guerrillas shot up Deuba's convoy in west Nepal, but he escaped unhurt. Frequent changes of government are blamed on politicians who are seen as selfish and power hungry, and who show little concern for the plight of Nepal's 28 million people. Nearly a quarter live on less than $2 a day. Politics in Nepal, which has great potential to generate hydroelectric power, is closely watched by giant neighbours China and India as they vie for influence over the country that is home to Mount Everest and the birthplace of Lord Buddha. In 2008, Prachanda visited China before India, breaking a tradition of new Nepali leaders making New Delhi their first foreign port of call. On a March visit, Oli cosied up to China with a deal to use its ports for trading goods with third countries, ruffling feathers in India, which controls landlocked Nepal's main overland trade route. India is blamed in Nepal for imposing a blockade on fuel and essential goods last year after its Madhesi minority protested against the first post-monarchy constitution. India denies the accusation. Prachanda said his government would continue the pacts Oli signed with China and India. The Madhesis, mostly southern plains dwellers with ties to India, say the charter weakens their position in the central government by dividing their homeland. The new leader also faces a huge reconstruction effort after earthquakes that killed 9,000 people last year, besides overseeing settlement of war crimes cases against the Maoists and the security forces. (Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Douglas Busvine, Robert Birsel) By Heather Somerville and Elzio Barreto SAN FRANCISCO/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) $1 billion investment in car-hailing app Didi Chuxing in May helped accelerate Uber's decision to agree a halt to a costly two-year battle with its rival in China, people close to the companies and analysts said. Didi Chuxing Technology Co and Uber Technologies Inc raised billions of dollars in funding and spent heavily on discounted rides as they slugged it out for drivers, passengers and market share in the world's second-biggest economy. Uber finally ceded this week, realizing it was no match for a cash-rich rival with the backing of three of the world's largest technology giants. It agreed to give up its independence in return for a nearly one-fifth stake in a bigger Didi. Didi raised far more money than Uber China - making China the first market where Uber's strategy of outspending its chief competitor faltered, pushing it to surrender. Apple's support for the Chinese firm made it clear it would be difficult to beat Didi just through funding. "The Apple investment is one of the factors that influenced the decision," said a person close to the companies, who couldn't be named because the discussions were private. "Both sides raised enormous amounts of capital. They were probably thinking this was going to escalate to nuclear warfare, which raised the question: do we really want to assure mutual destruction?" Didi unveiled a $7.3 billion funding round in June from investors including Apple, China Life Insurance Co Ltd, Ant Financial and other new shareholders, giving the company a $28 billion valuation - making it the world's third highest-valued venture-backed start-up. With backing from Chinese Internet giants Alibaba Group Holding (BABA.N) and Tencent Holdings , Didi says it has $10.5 billion in available funds. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick set out a year ago to woo investors, with a need to match Didi's fundraising so it could also match its rival's spending. In the end, Uber China raised more than $1.5 billion from China Life, state-owned banks, search giant Baidu Inc (BIDU.O) and others, valuing it at about $8 billion. It also counted on funds from Uber Technologies in the U.S. Story continues Uber says it is profitable in the United States, Canada and about 100 cities, and used those earnings to subsidize its China operations. Didi says Uber China made less than $60 million in net profit last year. As recently as June, Uber was hoping its rapid growth in China would help it overtake Didi by 2017. In a March interview with Reuters, Kalanick rebuffed talk that Uber was considering a sale of its China business, and said he was committed to the country for the long term. TEAMING UP Didi and Uber discussed a potential combination at least five times and started actively pursuing a deal about three months ago, investors familiar with that process and advisers to the companies said. The eventual deal offered Uber a way to raise $1 billion and keep its $62.5 billion valuation. Bill Gurley, a partner at Benchmark Capital and Uber board member, said Uber was never financially stressed in China: "Capital raising was never the issue," he said. "There has never been a company with as much success in capital raising as Uber." Still, in May, around the time talks began in earnest between Uber and Didi, Apple announced its $1 billion investment in Didi - reinforcing Uber's belief it was going to be too difficult to beat its rival, according to three people familiar with the deal, with huge corporate investors lining up behind Didi. "With Apple's investment it became even more difficult for Uber to raise money," said Hans Tung, managing partner at GGVCapital, which backed Didi. Apple's announcement coincided with a meeting Kalanick had planned that week at Apple headquarters. It's unclear who that meeting was with or what it was about. "Apple's investment in Didi likely spurred Uber to think harder about doing some kind of deal here," said Jan Dawson, an Uber analyst at Jackdaw Research. "Uber and Apple have been partners in other markets, so for Apple to side with Didi must have been something of a red flag that things weren't going to go Uber's way." Apple and Uber have some relationships - Uber passengers can pay with Apple Pay, and Uber provides its drivers with iPhones. But Uber has been eager to nail down a deeper partnership with Apple, according to some investors. Now that Uber is aligned with Didi, Tung said, opportunities may open up for such a partnership. (Reporting by Heather Somerville in SAN FRANCISCO and Elzio Barreto in HONG KONG, with additional reporting by Denny Thomas in HONG KONG; Editing by Ian Geoghegan) By Andrea Shalal BERLIN, Aug 3 (Reuters) - European defence manufacturer MBDA will submit its proposal for a $4.5 billion German missile defence system by late September, two months later than planned, but still hopes Germany can approve the project early next year, it said on Wednesday. Germany chose the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), made by MBDA and Lockheed Martin Corp, last year over Raytheon Co's Patriot system, but said the firms would have to meet tough performance milestones to retain the contract, one of Germany's biggest arms projects. If the project is not approved by the German parliament in early 2017, it could well slip into 2018 or later due to German elections next year, which would delay fielding the next-generation missile defence system until 2023 or later, a German government source said this week. MBDA, jointly owned by Airbus Group, Britain's BAE Systems Plc and Italy's Leonardo Finmeccanica SpA , said the companies involved in the project needed more time to negotiate and finalise details of their proposal. "We expect to submit the proposal by the end of September, and would assume that the German parliament can review the plans early next year," said MBDA spokesman Roland Kuntze. German officials are determined to avoid the costly delays and technical challenges that have plagued another big European programme, the Airbus A400M military transport plane. Kuntze said MBDA was separately assessing whether it could find a European source for an exciter, a component on the MEADS fire control radar, instead of the one developed independently by Lockheed and tested on the MEADS system. The study should be completed in coming weeks, he said. Airbus and Leonardo also build such equipment, but would have to carry out costly and potentially time-consuming work to develop and test the required component, according to two sources familiar with the programme. Germany, however, has already expressed interest in buying the Lockheed part, the sources said. U.S. officials have signed off on the possible sale of Lockheed's component, a deal that would be worth tens of millions of dollars to the U.S. company, according to one of the sources. (Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Susan Fenton) (L-R): Eddie Peng, Louis Koo and Sean Lau will be visiting Malaysia this month. 3 Aug Want to meet your favourite actors Louis Koo, Sean Lau and Eddie Peng in person? Well, here's your chance! The three stars will be stopping by Malaysia soon to promote their upcoming movies, "Line Walker" and "Call of Heroes". Hong Kong star Louis Koo will be making his visit first, coming to town this Friday, 8 August, for a meet and greet with fans at eCurve, Petaling Jaya. The Meet the Fans Gala Night is open for public and will be taking place from 8pm to 9pm, giving fans the chance to catch the "Line Walker" star up close. Though Louis is also part of the main cast for "Call of Heroes", he will not be joining his co-stars Sean Lau and Eddie Peng to promote the action movie. Hong Kong star Sean and Taiwanese heartthrob Eddie, who is making his first movie promotion in Malaysia, will be dropping by to meet with fans a little later on Tuesday, 16 August, to be exact. Catch the heroic duo at Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya, on that day from 7.30pm onwards. Fans who want to be the first to catch the movie and also be up close and personal with both stars can purchase the Gala Premiere Package, which allows fans to get an exclusive meet and greet as well as a lucky draw session with the stars at the cinema event area, a gala premiere screening ticket and movie merchandise. "Line Walker" opens in cinemas this 11 August while "Call of Heroes" come calling on the big screen this 18 August. (Photo source: Next Magazine Taiwan) Attorney General Phuyal resigns Attorney General and Nepal Government's legal advisor, Hari Phuyal, today resigned from his post. The statement issued by the family of Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff paints a misleading picture, as it only deals with one aspect of the Internal Security Departments (ISD) investigation, said the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ministry was responding to a statement from Zulfikars family that was sent to various newsrooms, saying that the 44-year-old Singaporean does not support the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group. Calling him a "loving family man, Zulfikars family claimed that he does not condone violence. The social activist was issued an Order of Detention under the ISA for two years for actively spreading radical ideology online and helping to radicalise at least two other Singaporeans. In response to Yahoo Singapores queries, an MHA spokesman noted that Zulfikars family suggested he did not post any radical views after 2014, which is untrue. "It is also clear that Zulfikar supported violence by ISIS, including beheadings, and that at a broader level, he supported the idea of a global Islamic caliphate and the use of violence to achieve this, added the spokesman. ISDs investigation into Zulfikar was for terrorism-related activities, and covered a number of aspects. These included Zulfikars own admissions to ISD during its investigation, his online public statements and evidence from other individuals interviewed by the security agency. The spokesman said, "On the basis of all the evidence, Zulfikar was established to be a security threat to Singapore and an Order for Detention was issued against him. Zulfikar will have the opportunity in due course to present his case to the ISA Advisory Board, which advises the President whether the Order of Detention should remain in force. The Nation divides over many lines, but a basic split is between Lena Dunham, who made a primetime appearance July 26 at the Democratic National Convention, and Willie Robertson, a star of Duck Dynasty and a celebrity endorser at the Republican convention. No longer an actual aspect of political decision-making, party conventions are wholly symbolic affairs, an elaborate messaging apparatus and targeted media platform. In this instance, Dunham represented a cosmopolitan, millennial, pansexual, women-focused view, abhorrent to a significant part of the country, and Robertson a nativist, older, gun-associated, military-inclined, white-male-focused view, abhorrent to the Dunham part. In any effort to achieve the political middle, or extend the base of support, both figures would seem supremely counterproductive, except that either side - in a world divided not just by politics but by sensibility, cultural experience and media habits - likely is only dimly aware of the meaning of the other. Quadrennial party conventions, once an argument to the country as a whole, are now a clash of cultures that don't know each other - and whose members would probably despise each other even more if they did. Read more: Revealed at Madame Tussauds: Donald Trump's Actual Hand Size There's something body-snatching about attending American political conventions, as I did for these two weeks of oppressive heat and bombast in Cleveland and Philadelphia. It's as intense a propaganda experience, as skillful and certainly as expensive as any in your average authoritarian regime. It is, if you are sitting in the arena, four days of message-vetted speakers yelling at you. (Once upon a time, conventions actually were a stage for opposing intraparty views - but no more, save this year for the fringy Bernie Sanders remnant in Philadelphia, mostly outside the convention perimeter, and Ted Cruz's "vote your conscience" Trump snub in Cleveland.) Given crowds, security, complex credentialing, long hours in your seat, difficulties getting in and out of the bathroom, and scarce food (though alcohol and catered dinners were available to elite box holders and, if you had an invitation, there was the CNN Grill, a free restaurant), it's a pretty sensory-deprived experience - not an exercise in democracy as much as in thought control. The Democrats' staging evoked a Scientology event, and the Republicans' something like a Hunger Games reality show. But these are open conventions, and their real importance is not to people on the floor, but to television viewers and - for the first time with great significance - social media consumers. A key part of the propaganda strategy is to force the message through the media filter and make it part of the public perception, hence the repetitions, straight-faced lies, celebrity endorsements, promotional films, sob stories and choreographed demographics. The result is quite a distortion between the real event and the televised one. Protests that were mere murmurs became roars on TV; patently insane (or inane) moments - the Benghazi rescue duo at the RNC - are suddenly serious and meaningful stuff. And, of course, cable news experts - hundreds, it seemed - are there to make politics seem rational and to take speakers at their word. This is all part of how you get someone like my friend Aarthi, an astute, reasonable and otherwise skeptical woman, to tweet about Hillary Clinton's lusterless, cut-and-paste acceptance speech: "I think every woman in the US will remember where they were when Hillary accepted the nomination to become President." That's a propaganda accomplishment. Certainly it was a propaganda victory and precursor to a nice bounce that, emerging after four days of Clinton encomiums and Trump bashing at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia - at a remote location from the city itself, with most people in the arena held there from midafternoon until midnight - it was for nearly every attendee impossible to believe there could be any way in hell that Trump could win. Although, of course, there is. The Democrats' strongest card was to present Trump as an existential threat and to foresee the breakdown of democracy's fail-safe mechanisms. This also was quite an alarming approach. The guttural "Lock her up!" chants at the RNC seemed extreme enough. But in a way, the Democrats' position was much more radical. Trump cannot be allowed; Trump is immoral; Trump is - the ultimate disqualifier - insane. In other words, if Duck Dynasty-type voters carry the day in November, that would not be an example of democracy but a failure of it. Read more: Mark Cuban Endorses Hillary Clinton: "Im Ready to Vote for a True Leader" The historic departure here is in arguing legitimacy over policies. In this, the Democrats appear to have two fears. The first is that traditional political techniques don't work anymore and that Trump has significantly more mastery over the new techniques. The Democrats have spent $68 million on advertising so far. Trump: $6 million. How do you fight someone who doesn't have to spend? The second is that the party's own policies, pushed left by Bernie Sanders and focused on usually undependable young voters, are up against a backlash that it doesn't know how to defuse and is opposed to accommodating - a protest vote by culturally adrift, undereducated white voters without precise political moorings, an identity group the Democrats hardly knew had an identity (this already may be a cliched portrait of the Trump voter, a broad approximation of people whom the media doesn't know). As President Obama acknowledged, seeming to scratch his head, it's not right nor left anymore, but something much more fundamental and frightening - but beyond that, he seemed as clueless as anyone. The Democrats' approach, in a convention whose television ratings outpaced the Republicans until the final day (Trump himself remains a bigger draw than Hillary) was to argue that there is an onrushing Trump apocalypse, but not to address any of the issues causing people to vote for the apocalypse. "Some people are angry, I get that," said former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, but, more clearly, she was wholly bewildered, and not getting at all - along with the entire lineup of Democratic speakers - whatever it is that's bothering Trump voters. In fact, if anything, the Democrats doubled down on many of the issues and cultural currents that seem most threatening to the Trump side, rather believing that Trump's illegitimacy gave them the freedom to go increasingly left. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton One drawback of successful propaganda is that instead of fooling everybody else, you only fool yourself. Accordingly, Clinton was reinvented as quite a fantasy of women's politics. "She never forgets who she's fighting for," said Chelsea Clinton, a game but cloying figure, pausing just long enough for many reasonable people to reflexively complete the sentence with the answer "herself." But the answer was "the children." Indeed, much of the depiction of Hillary's resume and her qualification to be president was focused on the four years after law school when she did public advocacy work, without a mention of her long career at the Rose Law Firm, or her quarter-century of Machiavellian intrigue at the pinnacle of American power. Her speech, proper homework for anyone actually paying attention, proposed that the nation elect her because she was a good person, one without a clear point of view other than an eagerness to help: a do-gooder good at do-gooding. If the age calls for a strongman, Hillary in fact has the resume for it. Like Margaret Thatcher and Angela Merkel, a woman who survives and flourishes at the top of this backstabbing business is surely made of steel. Donald Trump, in comparison, is rather a fancy man. But her obvious desire to be liked, and the hurt she feels that she isn't (and, boy, she isn't), have led her to try to want to be thought of now, in her reimagining, as cuddly, caring and inclusive. That may be a risky bit of self-delusion. By contrast, in Cleveland, the Republicans offered an unscripted version of a political convention. Not, of course, a place for debate, but a stage dominated by the weird, the unprepared and, sometimes it seemed, the stoned - and, even more discordantly, by Trump's wife, Melania, and his family, a version of villainous richie-sort characters in a Disney film. The almost formal political term here became "shit show." Read more: Hillary Clinton Appears on Fox News for Post-Convention Interview: My Mom "Was a Big Fox Viewer" The Cleveland convention seemed to produce the same, though unintended, propaganda effect as the Philadelphia one: the certainty, at least among the 20,000 or more media people in attendance, that Trump was toast. And yet, the reason he seemed to be toast was in its own way, ominously, a counterintuitive winning message. Trump was Trump. You could be guaranteed that he wouldn't ever be less Trump; he would always be more Trump. If this was horrifying to what was increasingly judged as normal America, including Democrats and Republicans alike, it was as likely galvanizing to abnormal America, this confounding population of Trump voters. In Cleveland, the entire premise and fundamental strategic understanding of American politics seemed to be turned on its head: There would be no pivot to the center, no effort to be presidential, no political ritual or propriety at all. Indeed this, as much as Trump's policies - most of them still unknown or yet to be formed - is what's causing the Democrats and horrified Republicans to see him as ineligible for the office. This lack of political temperament. This unpredictable behavior. This failure to observe any political convention. Everything he did - and everything he did seemed to egg him on more and more - was designed to shock and appall respectable America. The difficult predicament here is that respectable America kept saying he was shocking and appalling, which seemed quite likely the exact reason not-respectable America found him so satisfying and compelling. Every time the good people and the established people and the economically motivated people and the women and the LGBT people (there was much debate at the DNC about whether to include the Q) and any other diversity subgroups shuddered and crossed themselves ("God help us," declared Michael Bloomberg at the DNC, surely a better slogan than "Stronger together"), Trump seemed likely to cement another vote. His very lack of acceptability was his success. Not to be politically correct, which was in essence his entire platform - to mock, taunt, defy and crap on every modern aspect of advanced social and political propriety - caused horror among the bourgeoisie and perhaps a great belly laugh among the unwashed. Read more: Donald Trump Blasts Hillary Clinton's "Fantasy Universe" DNC Speech The annoyed response to my sidewise look, in Cleveland, when the thick-necked fellow next to me let out a piercing whistle during the Trump acceptance speech: "Does it make your pussy hurt?" (In contrast, at the DNC, the large black woman from North Carolina next to me during Hillary's acceptance speech was, in a grandmotherly fashion, shushing people around us and then passing out gumdrops.) In the days following the close of the Democratic convention, Trump rolled out a series of tweets and comments yet even more appalling and unimaginable to non-Trump America. Not only did he go after the easy targets, he went directly for the emotional high point of the Democrats' event - a Muslim father's grief-stricken account of the death of his son, an Army captain, in Iraq. The respectable people's response was beyond outrage and disbelief, again the certainty that this had finished him off, that he had gone too far. And, at the same time, a complete inability to understand the ways in which Trump's temerity in the face of such universal opprobrium might among the vast unknown Trump base inspire the opposite reaction. If Hillary is now, despite the contrary impression formed in the country's 25 years of knowing her, mirabile dictu, a dutiful, caring, civic-minded sort, Trump is so much himself that - quite a first for a modern media-world political candidate - he doesn't have to edit what he says. It's all instant reflex and always, however appalling - the more appalling the better - headline grabbing. His is a simple bet: He wins by violating the political norm. Read more: Anti-Hillary Economy Exploding in Merch, Movies and Books The Democrats' comfort at this point is in the numbers, if not in their candidate. It's a "bleak electoral map" for Trump, declared The New York Times, joining the rest of respectable media in quite a daily drum beat against Trump. Every Democrat seems to know the swing states at issue and knows too that, in any conventional understanding of political resources, it is, at best, implausible, if not impossible, that Trump can pull this off. Unless he continues to tactically mobilize the anger and bitterness of his supporters - that Duck Dynasty contempt and, for the rest of us, unfathomable humor - toward that self-regard and certainty that he cannot win. Or if the Democrats, as they often seem determined to do, overplay their Lena Dunham hand - actually not realizing how distasteful the Lena Dunham world is to possibly more than half of America. Trump's message is clear: The other side's virtue always is at the expense of the interests of Trump voters. The other side's advantage exists because the system is rigged against Trump and his supporters. In this next stage of the campaign, the debates are, of course, in the Trumpian world view, rigged. He will challenge their legitimacy, making his ultimate appearance there his personal drama and powerful counterattack against the rigged system. His language will escalate, turning Democrats and the rest of the establishment into scolds and prudish schoolmarms, ever more certain that his campaign is self-destructing. And yet, each day of the 100 or so left, he will raise the stakes more. Hillary, with pursed lips and long-suffering disapproval, will end up representing prim virtue and stoic composure. Hence, it's a stage that is set for just one Trumpian moment of outrageous clarity during the debates, one mock-innocent goof on the system and its self-regard, one break in her self-control, for him to win. Let's hope she is in fact made of steel. This story first appeared in the Aug. 12 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a State Dinner for Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the White House on Tuesday, and only a select number of politicians, dignitaries, industrialists and celebrities were invited. The short guest list included Keri Russell and her Americans' co-star, and boyfriend, Matthew Rhys, who dressed to impress. Russell rocked a black and gold gown while Rhys donned a traditional, fitted tux. Getty Images WATCH: Keri Russell Welcomes First Child With 'Americans' Co-Star Matthew Rhys Not only did the couple, who share a 2-month-old son, manage to snag a ticket to the wildly exclusive event, they also sat at the first family's table. Rhys, sporting a bushy beard, sat immediately next to the First Lady, and the two were spotted laughing and talking throughout the black tie event. Getty Images WATCH: Everyone's Losing Their Minds Over Michelle Obama's Amazing Vera Wang Dress The actors -- who happen to play deep-cover Russian spies on their hit FX drama -- were the only actors on the entire 200-person guest list. It certainly wasn't the first time a celeb has attended a State Dinner. (Remember when Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively stepped out to honor Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Sasha Obama adorably freaked out?) WATCH: Sasha Obama Fangirls Over Ryan Reynolds, Gets the Seal of Approval From Big Sis Malia Obama With only six months left in the White House, this is rumored to be the Obama's final State Dinner -- although that hasn't been officially confirmed by the President's aides -- and the cute couple continued to prove just how adorable they really are. Getty Images Last week, FLOTUS brought the house down at the Democratic National Convention with an amazing, emotional speech about raising her daughters in the political spotlight, and the lessons she's learned from her time in the White House. Check out her powerful oration in the video below. Story continues Related Articles In less than one year, Brandon Maxwell has transitioned from Lady Gaga's celebrated stylist to Lady Gaga's label of choice - and he's not stopping there. Though he's dressed a slew of celebrity clientele, including A-listers Naomi Campbell, Karlie Kloss, Kerry Washington and Kate Hudson, the self-taught designer catapulted into a new realm of prestige Tuesday night by dressing the first lady of the United States. Michelle Obama stepped out in a custom, strapless white gown by Maxwell, which she styled with a sleek, slicked back 'do and drop earrings. The occasion was a state dinner for the prime minister of Singapore and his wife at the White House, which Michelle hosted with her husband, Barack, who definitely approved of her look (see his thumbs up, above). Read more: Dress du Jour: Margot Robbie as Magical Unicorn The achievement adds to a long and growing list for Maxwell, who, after launching his celebrated collection last September, placed one of his designs on the Oscars red carpet (on Gaga, of course), was named a finalist for the 2016 LVMH prize and then officially added to the CFDA's roster. "A very proud moment," wrote Maxwell on Instagram. "It has been an incredible honor for me and my team to create this dress for the First Lady. Strong and elegant, she is the embodiment of the woman that inspires me to create, and a role model for women all over the globe. I am very thankful for this opportunity." As for Michelle, this marks the second time in two weeks that she's repped a young American designer on the national stage. At last week's Democratic National Convention, FLOTUS hit the stage in a royal blue dress by Christian Siriano. Many saw the choice as a vote of support for the Project Runway alum and his message of inclusion, after he volunteered to outfit Leslie Jones for the premiere of Ghostbusters when she claimed that other designers refused. FIRST COUPLE: Michelle and Barack Obama at the White House on Aug. 5. (Photo: Getty Images) Michelle Obama wore one of Lady Gagas favorite designers to a state dinner and were just trying to remain calm Michelle Obama wore one of Lady Gagas favorite designers to a state dinner and were just trying to remain calm When it comes to Michelle Obama, weve always been huge fans of her fashion choices, from the second she stepped onstage as the newly-minted First Lady to her blue power dress at the DNC. Her choices are always bold without being too flashy, and fun without being too frivolous. And the gown she chose last night is even more epic than usual. How is that possible? you might ask, so well tell youits from one of Lady Gagas favorite designers. Thats right. The same person who dresses Mama Monster also put FLOTUS in a gorgeous gown. via GIPHY In case you were hoping for something vaguely resembling a meat dress, we wish we had better news. But if you wanted to see FLOTUS in a gorgeous, cream-colored strapless gown with insane architectural details, youre in luck! Behold the glory that is this cream-colored dress: US President Barack Obama (R) and First Lady Michelle Obama (2nd L) greet Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (2nd R) and his wife Ho Ching for a state dinner at the White House in Washington, DC, on August 2, 2016. / AFP / NICHOLAS KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) Its as if shes part Grecian goddess and part futuristic space queen, and its just SO GOOD. POTUS looks fantastic in his tux, too, but come on. Clearly, Michelle is the life of this party. It was designed by Brandon Maxwell, a favorite designer of Lady Gaga who has also designed for Kristen Wiig, Uma Thurman, and Gwyneth Paltrow. The state dinner was in honor of Singapores prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, and his wife, Ho Ching. Maxwell told WWD via email that designing for Michelle was an incredible honor. Strong and elegant, she is the embodiment of the woman that inspires me to create, and a role model for women all over the world. We couldnt agree more that the dress is the perfect embodiment of all MObama stands for. Lets get one of the back of the dress, which we think is just as stately and incredible as the front: US President Barack Obama (R), First Lady Michelle Obama (2nd L) walk into the White with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (2nd R) and his wife Ho Ching (L) for a state dinner at the White House in Washington, DC, on August 2, 2016. / AFP / NICHOLAS KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) And just in case you wondered if this Maxwell masterpiece got Baracks approval? YAAAAS. It totally did. Because President Obama gave a sly thumbs up at his wife, basically cementing our love for these two. Well be so sad to see them leave the White House this November, but have high hopes for both of their fashion (and political) futures. The post Michelle Obama wore one of Lady Gagas favorite designers to a state dinner and were just trying to remain calm appeared first on HelloGiggles. GettyImages 578136994 Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Wednesday endorsed House Speaker Paul Ryan, a significant break with his running mate, Donald Trump, who tossed acid on an already-tepid relationship with the Wisconsin Republican by declining to support his reelection bid the day before. Pence told Fox News in a phone interview that he was "strongly encouraged" by Trump to support his longtime friend in Tuesday's primary. "He strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next week's primary, and I'm happy to do it," Pence said. The endorsement came just one day after Trump shocked the political world by refusing to back Ryan, the highest-ranking elected Republican in the country. "I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country," Trump said in an interview with The Washington Post. "We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet. I'm not quite there yet." Paul Nehlen, Ryan's long-shot primary rival, has fully embraced Trump's ideology, railing against the finance industry and the speaker's support for some international-trade agreements. In an interview with Business Insider on Tuesday, Nehlen said that Trump was "fed up" with Ryan over the distant relationship between the two Republican Party leaders. "Why does he weigh in on issues that, on the negative side, every time with Mr. Trump?" Nehlen asked of Ryan. Trump is "our nominee. He takes every opportunity to take a shot at Mr. Trump." NOW WATCH: Trump on Pence voting for the Iraq War: 'I don't care' More From Business Insider Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence endorsed House Speaker Paul Ryan 's re-election bid Wednesday, a day after running mate Donald Trump declined to do so. In a phone interview with Fox News, Pence backed the Wisconsin congressman in his bid against a primary challenger. The Indiana governor said Trump and Ryan would "do great things" if elected. "I spoke to Donald Trump this morning about my support for Paul Ryan, our longtime friendship. He strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday's primary. I'm pleased to do it," Pence told Fox. Trump told The Washington Post on Tuesday that he was not ready to endorse Ryan or Sen. John McCain of Arizona in their primary bids. Ryan endorsed Trump months ago, but the billionaire developer said he was "not quite there yet" on endorsing the Wisconsin Republican. Trump's comments to the newspaper marked just one strange turn in a bizarre few days for his presidential campaign. He said Ryan asked for his endorsement, a statement Ryan's office later denied. Trump previously praised Ryan's opponent Paul Nehlen, who came to Trump's defense in a public spat with the parents of a Muslim-American soldier killed in combat. The Khan family criticized Trump at the Democratic National Convention and in media appearances following the event. More From CNBC While Donald Trump has yet to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan in his upcoming primary race, his running mate offered his support. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence told Fox News Wednesday that he strongly supports Ryan in his reelection bid in Wisconsin, even if the Republican presidential nominee wouldnt, calling Ryan a longtime friend and a strong conservative leader. I strongly support Paul Ryan, strongly endorse his reelection, Pence said. I believe we need Paul Ryan in leadership in the Congress of the United States to rebuild our military, to strengthen our economy and to ensure that we have the kind of leadership in this country that will make America great again. Pences comments come just a day after a Washington Post interview with Trump where the Republican nominee said that he not quite there yet on backing Ryan, words that echo the House Speakers hesitation to back Trump. The drama comes only a couple weeks after the GOP convention, where the party was supposed to be united. This isnt the first time Pence has had to play cleanup, releasing a statement Sunday that cleared up Trumps feud with the family of Capt. Humayun Khan, who spoke out against the billionaire in a Democratic National Convention speech. Pence told Fox that Trump was fine with the endorsement. I talked to Donald Trump this morning about my support for Paul Ryan and our longtime friendship, Pence said. He strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesdays primary and Im pleased to do it. U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Wednesday that the troubling reach of terrorism was demonstrated by the shocking news of a Washington, D.C., transit police officer being charged for trying to help the so-called Islamic State. Nicholas Young, of Fairfax, Va., was arrested Wednesday morning at the Metro Transit Police headquarters in the nations capital and charged with attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization. During a wide-ranging interview in Detroit later that day, Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric asked Lynch to provide some insight into the first terrorism-related charges being brought against a law enforcement officer in the United States. Lynch began by noting that the case is ongoing and that there would be more to discuss after the suspects court appearance in Virginia. (He requested an attorney and is scheduled for a second hearing on Thursday.) What I can say is, however, that obviously, we have always been concerned about individuals here citizens, people who live here, who grew up here, being drawn in to the rhetoric of any group, ISIS, al-Qaida all of them, and then acting in interests that are against America, she told Couric. Lynch explained that Young, 36, a police officer with the Metro Transit Police Department, was caught trying to help someone he thought was an ISIS sympathizer figure out the best way to travel abroad and join the terrorist group. He is also suspected of having purchased nearly $250 in gift cards in July that were intended to help ISIS purchase mobile apps for secretive communication, according to court documents. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Young had been under surveillance since 2010 and was actually in contact with agents from the bureaus Joint Terrorism Task Force who were posing as terrorists. That mindset is disturbing. That mindset is something that is of great concern to us, obviously. Because it does illustrate the reach of this radical thought process on a number of people, she said. Story continues U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch speaks during a memorial service for three slain Baton Rouge police officers at Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, La., July 28, 2016. (Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Reuters) Lynch said its important to note that, at this time, they have no evidence that he was involved in plotting any attacks against the homeland. Couric asked Lynch if the U.S. Department of Justice would deal with police departments differently as a result of this arrest. After all, she said, law enforcement agencies have a lot of resources at their fingertips that could hypothetically fall into the wrong hands and help the Islamic State group plan a terrorist attack. I think what youll see from this case is that this was a matter in which we worked very closely with the police department making sure that we knew what this individual was doing and tracking his movements, Lynch responded. I will certainly say that, as we look at the larger issues of national security and terrorism, our local law enforcement officers are some of our greatest partners in this effort. Lynch said that local law enforcement departments will continue to be valued partners in the fight against terrorism. Weve seen this threat shift and morph over the years from the large-scale 9/11 attacks to the homegrown extremists, she continued. And often, it is our local partners and colleagues who are first on the scene, who are the first responders or who are the first to notice these issues and bring them to our attention. Benghazi explosion: Suicide bomb kills 18 in Libyan city At least 18 people have died in a suicide bomb blast targeting soldiers in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. Tim Burtons Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children will premiere at Fantastic Fest ahead of its Sept. 30 nationwide launch by Fox. Burton is scheduled to appear at a red-carpet screening of the offbeat drama at festival, which will run from Sept. 22-29 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin. The film, based on the Ransom Riggs novel of the same name, centers on a 16-year-old boy who accidentally works for a mysterious woman on a mysterious island where he helps a group of orphaned children, all with strange powers. Eva Green stars with Asa Butterfield in the lead roles. Chris ODowd, Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Terence Stamp, Judi Dench and Samuel L. Jackson also star. The festival also hosted the world premiere of Burtons Frankenweenie in 2012. Fantastic Fest, now in its 12th yeas as one of the largest genre fests, will also screen the world premiere of Phantasm: Ravager; a special screening of Phantasm: Remastered with Don Coscarelli and cast in attendance; and Texas native Sasha Lane hosting Andrea Arnolds American Honey, which also stars Shia LeBeouf. We really wanted to challenge the edges of what genre means this year, said Tim League, Fantastic Fest Founder and Alamo Drafthouse CEO. This world of cinema has evolved so dramatically since our first festival in 2005, and we want to be part of the change by exposing audiences to films, formats and filmmakers that they may never otherwise see. Im proud of the diversity of experiences well be bringing to Austin this September. The festival has hosted the premieres of Bone Tomahawk, Machete Kills, Red Dawn, There Will Be Blood, Red, Apocalypto and Zombieland in past years. The festival will include a spotlight on Indian cinema, including the U.S. premiere of Anurag Kashyaps 2016 cops and crime story Psycho Raman and screenings of S.S. Rajamoulis Magadheera and Sughash Ghais Khalnayak. It is a dream come true to bring the glorious excess and pageantry of Indian cinema to Fantastic Fest, said Evrim Ersoy, the festivals head of programming, in a statement. We are celebrating not only Bollywood but also Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam cinema, highlighting the kaleidoscope of textures and content that is as wide and varied as the subcontinent itself. Story continues Related stories Vidcon Brings Out Film, TV Marketers in Search of Young Consumers CinemaCon: 'Birth of a Nation,' 'La La Land' Stand Out in Blockbuster Fray Watch: Tim Burton's 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' Gets First Trailer SEOUL (Reuters) - A missile launched by North Korea early on Wednesday that landed in or near Japanese waters shows North Korea's "ambition to attack neighboring countries", an official at South Korea's joint chiefs of staff of said. North Korea fired a ballistic missile from its western region into the sea off its east coast, South Korea's military said, the latest in a series of launches in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. The missile appeared to be a medium-range Rodong missile which flew for about 1,000 km (620 miles), the official said. (Reporting by James Pearson and Ju-min Park; Editing by Paul Tait) (Reuters) - Price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com Group Plc said Chief Executive Peter Plumb would step down by May next year, but did not cite any reasons for his departure. Plumb, who took over as chief executive in 2009, has seen the company's share price jump from 45 pence to 302 pence and its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation rise at a 20 percent compound annual growth rate, Chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown said. "This looks a net negative for us as we think he has done a good job, but certainly not indicative of issues/problems," Investec analysts wrote in a note. Plumb is stepping down citing personal reasons and he has not planned a new position yet, Investec analysts said. Shares in the company fell as much as 5 percent on Wednesday on the London Stock Exchange. The company said a formal process to appoint Plumb's successor had begun. Peel Hunt analysts said Plumb's resignation would interest and possibly unsettle the market. "This change comes at a time of broader corporate moves within the PCW (price comparison website) sector, suggesting a swift resolution would be welcome," Peel Hunt analysts said. The company, which started as a mortgage listings firm in 1993, reported a 6 percent rise in adjusted operating profit at 53.8 million pounds in the six months to June 30, in line with its guidance. Revenue rose 10 percent with strong growth in its money and home services, said the company, whose brands include TravelSupermarket.com and MoneySavingExpert.com. The group, which calls itself the largest price comparison website operating in the UK, saw single-digit growth in July and said it was confident of delivering its expectations for the full year. Analysts expect it to post an operating profit of 98.10 million pounds for the year, according to Thomson Reuters data. MoneySuperMarket.com shares were down 4.5 percent at 288.5 pence at 0757 GMT, underperforming the Stoxx Europe 600 Eur Price Index. (Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair and Gopakumar Warrier) Youd like to think there are certain types of corporate malfeasance that really only exist in the realm of Hollywood fantasy. For example, the soulless biotech company that, through a combination of shortsighted greed and scientific hubris, decides to play God with Mother Natureonly to unleash a host of unintended consequences, which said company then refuses to acknowledge and instead continues to pursue its reckless technology to devastating ends. Sounds like the plotline of dozens upon dozens of dystopian sci-fi flicks, right? Or maybe its just the ongoing saga of Monsanto and the superweeds. Yes, the story has taken far longer to unfold than any feature film, but still, your average teen whos taken a semester of biological sciences would get the gist in a flash: A generation ago, Monsanto rolled out its patented line of genetically engineered crops that, in a (diabolical?) bit of corporate synergy, were designed to survive being doused with the companys trademark weed killer Roundup, made with the herbicide glyphosate. Monsanto billed its crop systemthe Roundup Ready GMO seeds combined with Roundup itselfas a revolutionary boon for farmers: higher yields with fewer chemicals. Yep, fewer chemicals. Its worth remembering today, when the use of glyphosate has soared by more than tenfold in the past decade, that the original bill of goods Monsanto sold to farmers centered on the argument that because Roundup Ready seeds could withstand glyphosate, farmers wouldnt have to use as much of the chemical to kill all those nuisance weeds. RELATED: Would You Buy a GMO Apple Just Because It Doesnt Turn Brown? Thats not exactly what happened, as were reminded once again by the latest Monsanto-related headlines this week. As NPR reports, a scourge of superweeds that have become resistant to glyphosate is plaguing soybean farmers in parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri. Theyre not alone. This graph from the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds shows how the number of unique cases of herbicide resistance in weeds in the U.S. shoots off like a rocket in the years following Monsantos introduction of Roundup Ready GMO seed in the mid-1990s. Story continues Monsantos own solution to this escalating problem would seem as laughably predictable as a bad Hollywood sequel if it werent all too real: Lets roll out more GMO crops designed to withstand being doused with even more weed killer. Monsanto calls its next-generation line of GMO soybeans Xtend, and these are capable of not only surviving heavy applications of glyphosate but an older, more potent herbicide known as dicamba. Federal regulators have yet to approve the new dicamba-based weed killer Monsanto formulated to pair with its dicamba-resistant GMO soybeans. But that apparently hasnt stopped some desperate farmers from spraying dicamba anyway. And because the chemical has a nasty tendency to drift to neighboring fields, Monsantos new GMO crops arent only upending the natural order, they appear to being upending the social order in tight-knit farming communities too: Neighbors are accusing neighbors of illegally spraying dicamba and killing off crops that havent been engineered to tolerate the chemical. Dozens and dozens of complaints have been filed in Missouri and in Arkansas, but that may only be the beginning in the next chapter of the Monsanto saga. If the companys new herbicide wins federal approval and certain farmers start spraying it, surrounding farmers might have no choice but to plant Monsantos dicamba-resistant GMO crops tooor risk their own crops dying from herbicide drift. As one crop scientist at the University of Arkansas tells NPR: [These farmers are] afraid theyre not going to be able to grow what they want to grow. Theyre afraid that theyre going to be forced to go with that technology. That is, of course, until the next generation of superweeds develops its own resistance. Take the Pledge: Let's Put an End to Food Waste Related stories on TakePart: Doctors and Environmentalists Are Fighting for a Ban Against Monsanto Whats for Breakfast? How About Some Monsanto Weed Killer? A Week in Photos: LGBT Italy Snaps and Chile Fights Monsanto Original article from TakePart Moon Express MX-1 lander BELLEVUE, Wash. Moon Express says it has received preliminary clearance for the robotic lander that it plans to send to the moon next year, after a voluntary payload review involving the Federal Aviation Administration and other federal agencies. The clearance doesnt represent final regulatory approval for the mission, although some reports may be giving that impression. The FAA will still have to grant a launch license before Moon Express can blast off. Naveen Jain Nevertheless, Moon Express executives hailed the successful payload review as a significant step toward what could be the first commercial mission to another celestial body. Moon Express CEO Bob Richards called it a landmark decision. We are now free to set sail as explorers to Earths eighth continent, the moon, seeking new knowledge and resources to expand Earths economic sphere for the benefit of all humanity, Richards said in a statement issued today. Seattle-area tech entrepreneur Naveen Jain, the companys co-founder and chairman, was equally effusive. The sky is not the limit for Moon Express it is the launch pad, he said. This breakthrough ruling is another giant leap for humanity. Space travel is our only path forward to ensure our survival and create a limitless future for our children. Jain said the effort also pays tribute to Americas entrepreneurial spirit. Landing on the moon, even getting permission to leave Earth orbit, just shows that a dedicated group of entrepreneurs can achieve anything that they can imagine, he told GeekWire during an interview in his Bellevue office. To me, this is a story about entrepreneurs taking a real moonshot. In this case it happens to be a literal moonshot but really, its taking a symbolic moonshot, too. He said other entrepreneurs may be inspired to take different kinds of moonshots for example, curing cancer or pioneering clean energy. Story continues Jains moonshot began in 2010, when Moon Express was founded to go after a piece of the Google Lunar X Prize. That competition offers a $20 million grand prize to the first private-sector team that can land a probe on the moon, have it travel at least 500 meters, and send back high-definition video and images from the lunar surface. To win the prize, the feat has to be accomplished by the end of 2017. Sixteen teams are in the race, but so far, only Moon Express and Israels SpaceIL have secured verified launch contracts. Moon Express MX-1E micro-lander is set to be launched by Rocket Labs Electron rocket from either New Zealand or the United States sometime next year. Rocket Lab says its New Zealand launch site is nearly ready to go, and it expects to conduct its first test launch by the end of this year. Peter Beck and Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle The flight plan calls for the Electron rocket to send the MX-1E into a looping orbit that brings it to the moon over the course of several weeks. Jain emphasized that winning the $20 million prize isnt Moon Express only objective. He and other company executives see the mission as the opening gambit in what could be the development of FedEx-style transport services to the moon and back. The company already has raised more than $30 million from investors including Autodesk and the Founders Fund. In order to keep moving ahead, Moon Express was looking for assurances that its first lunar mission wouldnt get tangled up in red tape. Its a complicated issue, because Congress has never defined the scope of regulations for commercial activities in deep space. Thats why Moon Express asked the FAA and other agencies for the enhanced payload review in April. Such reviews are typically done to ensure that the payload complies with federal and international requirements, including the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. For months, Moon Express application was reviewed not only by the FAA, but also by NASA, the State Department and other relevant agencies. The company said it received formal approval from the FAA on July 20, the 47th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The payload review gave Moon Express the assurances it was looking for, but thats not the final word. Moon Express and Rocket Lab still have to complete the FAAs license application process for next years launch which means the moonshot is still a bit up in the air, so to speak. If a launch operator applies to the FAA for a license to launch a vehicle carrying the MX-1E payload, the favorable payload determination will be incorporated in our review of the license application, the FAA said in a fact sheet about last months decision. White House officials have said theyd like to see a more formal process for approving commercial missions beyond Earth orbit, but thats up to Congress. The FAA said the type of review that Moon Express went through was a one-off, and would not set a precedent for other missions. Any future requests for a payload determination from Moon Express Inc. or another entity will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, the FAA said. At least one future request is already looming: SpaceX has said it plans to launch a privately funded, robotic mission to Mars as soon as 2018. More from GeekWire: Aug 3 (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley received a proposed 2.9 billion EUR claim from a public prosecutor in Italy related to derivative transactions, the bank said on Wednesday in its second quarter earnings filing. The derivative transactions were originally entered into between 1995 and 2005 and were terminated in December 2011 and January 2012, according to the filing. The proposed claim said that Morgan Stanley was acting as an agent of Italy and that some of the derivative transactions were "improper." It said the termination of the transactions were also "improper." Morgan Stanley received the proposed claim on July 11. "We believe that this proposed claim is groundless and we will defend ourselves vigorously," a Morgan Stanley spokesman said. (Reporting by Olivia Oran in New York; editing by Grant McCool) By Olivia Oran (Reuters) - An Italian prosecutor has proposed that Morgan Stanley pay 2.9 billion euros (2.4 billion) to settle derivative transactions, the bank said on Wednesday in a securities filing. The proposed claim argues that at least some of the derivative transactions were "improper," as was their termination, Morgan Stanley said in a 10-Q filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The derivative transactions originated between 1995 and 2005 and were terminated in December 2011 and January 2012, according to the filing. Morgan Stanley received the proposed claim on July 11 from the public prosecutor for Court of Accounts for the Republic of Italy. "We believe that this proposed claim is groundless and we will defend ourselves vigorously," a Morgan Stanley spokesman said. Beginning in 2010, several Italian regions sought compensation for allegedly being misled by banks in swap deals that were intended to relieve their debt burdens. In Milan, Depfa Bank, Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE), JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) and UBS AG (UBSG.S) were fined $1.2 million each in 2012 on fraud charges in the sale of derivatives contracts. An appeals court in 2014 overturned the convictions. Italy's Lazio region also sued 11 banks, claiming $109 million in compensation for alleged hidden costs in derivatives. In 2008, the Italian government banned the use of derivatives by Italian municipalities. (Reporting by Olivia Oran in New York; editing by Grant McCool and David Gregorio) BERLIN (Reuters) - Most Germans do not blame the government's expansive refugee policy for two Islamist attacks last month, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday. But police report that violence against refugee centres remains widespread, suggesting the arrival of large numbers of migrants - 1.1 million of whom reached Germany last year - has done nothing to ease social tensions. The poll by Forsa, to be published in Thursday's Stern magazine, showed 69 percent of respondents saw no direct link between the arrival of a record number of mainly Muslim asylum seekers and the two attacks claimed by the Islamic State group. A Syrian whose application had been rejected and was facing deportation to Bulgaria was killed in a failed suicide attack on July 24 in the Bavarian town of Ansbach. There were no other fatalities. Six days earlier, police shot dead a 17-year-old asylum seeker believed from either Afghanistan or Pakistan in Wuerzburg, also in Bavaria, after he attacked five people with an ax. That violence, as well as two other fatal assaults not claimed by militant groups, put the spotlight back on the migration policy of Chancellor Angela Merkel, who gained in popularity after Britain voted in June to leave the European Union and has since defended her refugee policy. The Forsa poll, which questioned 1,007 people on July 28 and July 29, showed 28 percent of respondents believed that policy, which mainly benefited migrants fleeing wars in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, was to blame for the attacks. Among supporters of the anti-immigrant party Alternative for Germany (AfD) that number rose to 78 percent. Support for the AfD rose by 2 percentage points to 12 percent after the attacks, a separate poll last month showed. In June, German officials reported a 42-percent rise in far-right violence in 2015, including many attacks targeted against refugees. On Wednesday, the BKA federal police agency said it had logged 665 attacks so far this year against migrant accommodation, roughly on a par with the 1,031 incidents reported in 2015. A BKA spokeswoman said it was unclear if the number of arson and other attacks had spiked after the two Islamist attacks, but security and intelligence sources reported a noticeable uptick in verbal aggression against asylum-seekers. On July 23 a deranged German-Iranian teenager shot dead nine people in Munich before killing himself, and a day later a machete-wielding Syrian refugee killed a woman in a town near Stuttgart. Neither of those attacks was claimed by Islamists. (Reporting by Holger Hansen and Andrea Shalal) Fresh clashes erupted between security forces and mourners on Wednesday in Indian-administered Kashmir after two more civilians were killed in the restive region, a police officer and an AFP photographer said. Paramilitary forces fired tear gas and pellet guns at angry mourners gathered near Pampore town for the funeral of a resident shot dead the day before, the unnamed officer said. "Thousands of people gathered in the area and many from other areas crossed the river avoiding restrictions. Now we have clashes after the young man was buried," the local officer, who is not authorised to speak to media, told AFP. The resident was killed on Tuesday night when the bodyguard of a top district administrator fired his service weapon at protesters who had stopped the pair's car, witnesses said. The demonstrators had blocked the main highway, angry over alleged police raids on mosques in the area, the witnesses said. "One protester died in the shooting and another was critically wounded," deputy inspector general of police for the area, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, told AFP. With the latest shooting the death toll reached 52 in ongoing anti-India protests in the disputed territory and clashes with government forces that have also left nearly 4,000 injured. In a separate incident, a security guard of a bank ATM also died on Tuesday night when he was driving his scooter to work in Srinagar. Doctors at the main hospital in Srinagar, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he had been shot with a pellet gun from close range. Mourners for the ATM guard shouted anti-India slogans and clashed in Srinagar with security forces, an AFP photographer on the scene said. "We are receiving a number of people injured with pellets," the same doctor at the SMHS hospital said of those clashes. The killing of a young and popular rebel leader, Burhan Wani, on July 8 in a firefight with government forces sent the region spiraling into daily protests against Indian rule and clashes with government forces. Story continues The region has remained locked down since, as separatists opposed to Indian rule called for strikes and protests and authorities responded by suspending most mobile networks and internet and clamped rolling curfews in large parts of the territory including Srinagar. Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan since the two gained independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in its entirety. Several rebel groups, including Wani's Hizbul Mujahideen have fought for decades hundreds of thousands of Indian forces deployed in the territory, demanding independence for the Himalayan region or its merger with Pakistan. Rights groups say 70,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting since 1989 when the armed rebellion against Indian rule began. Civil to acquire Unique Finance After signing a merger agreement with International Leasing & Finance Limited (ILFC), Civil Bank has signed another pact to acquire Unique Finance Limited. With Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, J.K. Rowlings beloved wizarding world has been safely transported to the stage in Londons West End, feeding the appetite of its passionate book-and-movie fan base. Critics have been nearly unanimous in their praise for the two-part production, which officially opened July 30 and has already announced an extension of its run to December 2017. (Tickets for the second half of 2017 go on sale Aug. 4.) The question now is where the franchise can go next. Besides the play, theres the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, where fans can walk around the Harry Potter movie sets at Leavesden Studios; The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Studios theme parks in Los Angeles, Orlando, and Osaka, Japan; and Harry Potter: The Exhibition, a global tour of Potter movie artifacts, including props, costumes, and creatures. Theres also the Pottermore digital platform, which publishes new writing from Rowling about the wizarding world, as well as videos and articles on all things Potter. Its a very well-produced and very well-managed exploitation of rights in all areas, says brand expert and talent agent Charles Finch. Rowling also has projects in the works that are separate from the world of magic. She is involved in the move from page to screen of her crime novels, written under the nom de plume Robert Galbraith and featuring the detective Cormoran Strike. Rowling serves as an executive producer on the seven-part TV miniseries The Cormoran Strike Mysteries, which is being made by Bronte Film and Television for the BBC. For the Potter franchise, potential areas of development exist in gaming, television, and movie spinoffs centered on ancillary characters and storylines in the novels. Finch believes movie spinoffs are a safer bet than a move into TV. A movie gives you a lot stronger basis to develop ancillary rights and projects, he says, but the investment is much more significant. Story continues But, Finch warns, when working with ancillary characters, theres a degree of risk involved around potentially diluting stories and characters that have been embedded in the public consciousness. Rowling and Warner Bros. have decided to take that gamble with the upcoming movie trilogy Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which chronicles the adventures of writer Newt Scamander, who receives only passing mentions in the Harry Potter books. The films are set 70 years before Potter reads Scamanders textbook as a student at Hogwarts. The first installment, starring Eddie Redmayne in the title role, is scheduled for release in November, and heralds Rowlings debut as a movie screenwriter; the second movie also penned by Rowling will be released in November 2018, and the final film is expected to come out in November 2020. Talent agent Duncan Heath says Rowling made an excellent decision in teaming up with producer David Heyman, who has been skillful in mediating between Rowling and Warner Bros. He has been very sensitive to what she wanted and had the clout, the brightness, and the hard [work] to make sure it happened, Heath says. Beyond the trilogy, Rowlings agent and executives at Warner Bros. have given no indication of other Potter-related projects in the pipeline. Warners says no movie version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which was written for the stage, is being planned. However, the studio said Wednesday that, in relation to Rowlings Wizarding World brand, There is much more on the horizon. Breathing space between iterations may not be a bad thing. There is a public threshold, and it is often quite hard to recognize when people are going to become tired of a franchise, Finch says. In the meantime, Rowling continues to engage with the vast Potter fan base via social media. That rapport is paying dividends with the #KeepTheSecrets campaign on Twitter, which urges Cursed Child audiences to avoid divulging plot points. Rowling understands her fan base and their custodianship of the narrative, says PR expert Mark Borkowski. If you treat them with respect, they gather around and give back. Its all about quality and about how much control J.K. Rowling has over her brand. And about the quality of partnerships, Borkowski adds. If the wrong people get involved and theyre looking at the franchise as a spreadsheet and are not seeing it as a living, breathing cultural entity thats where things go wrong. Related stories 'Fantastic Beasts' Sequel in the Works With J.K. Rowling and David Yates, Release Date Set J.K. Rowling Says She's 'Done' With Harry Potter Character 10 Questions About 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' Answered By Lucas Jackson and Barbara Goldberg NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nazar Naqvi has faithfully voted Republican for more than three decades. After Donald Trump's feud with Muslim parents who lost a son in battle for the United States, he has vowed not a single Republican will get his vote. Naqvi, 69, a retired U.S. government engineer from Newburgh, New York, is a member of a small community of Muslims who are among America's Gold Star families, those whose loved ones were killed while serving in the U.S. military. His son Mohsin Naqvi, who was born in Pakistan, enlisted in the U.S. Army four days after Sept. 11, 2001, and was killed in 2008 by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Trump lashed out at Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Pakistani American parents of slain U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, after they appeared at last week's Democratic convention in Philadelphia to criticize the Republican presidential hopeful for proposing a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country. "I'm going to vote for anyone but Republicans because of this one person, this man who has gone out of his mind," Naqvi said this week. "Not any office should get our vote. He has been nominated not by one person - the Republican Party nominated him." Naqvi said he was pressing his registered Republican friends to do the same. The Pentagon says that 3,939 active duty service members have identified themselves as Muslim, less than 1 percent of the 1.3 million active duty U.S. military troops, but a Pentagon spokesman said there is no record of how many Muslims have been killed in action. Reuters reached out to a dozen Muslim Gold Star families who lost a loved one in action after Sept. 11, 2001. The families are not organized as a group and some did not want to talk. But those who did agreed that Trump's comments upended their political loyalties, and moved them to take action to register and motivate other voters to keep Trump out of the White House in November. Nooshin Razani, 43, an Iranian-American pediatrician in Oakland, California, whose 19-year-old brother Omead Razani died while serving as a U.S. Army medic in Iraq in 2004, said Trump's comments sparked her to speak to the press for the first time. "When I saw there was this person who was willing to use religion in this negative way, I decided I'm coming forward," said Razani. Trump rebuked Khizr Khan for suggesting that he should read the U.S. Constitution and said his wife Ghazala may have stood silently by her husband because she might not have been "allowed" to speak. Although Trump did call their son a hero and said his aim was to end radical Islamic terror, the ensuing uproar has caused many Republicans to distance themselves from him and to support the Khan family. Razani joined more than 20 Gold Star families in signing an open letter calling for Trump to apologize to the Khans and said she is going to volunteer to register voters, mainly because of Trump's comments about Ghazala Khan, which she said insulted all Muslim women. "I want to be an active part of making sure people's voices are heard. Even people Trump thinks don't speak up," Razani said. Trump's ongoing dispute with the Khans has become a call to political action for Kevin Ahearn of Phoenix. His brother, Army Major James Ahearn, converted to Islam to marry a woman with whom he fell in love in Iraq, brought to the United States and with whom he had a daughter before he was killed by a bomb in Iraq in 2007. Kevin Ahearn, 48, said on Tuesday that he and his husband planned to go to Democratic Headquarters in Phoenix to volunteer for the first time. "It makes me all the more determined that he does not make it to the White House," said Ahearn, whose Muslim niece now is 10. The soldier's mother said she was shocked by Trump's rhetoric and wishes she could talk to her late son about it. "He was always a staunch Republican because they backed the military. I cant imagine how he would feel now," said Constance Ahearn, 75, who lives in the San Francisco area. (Reporting by Lucas Jackson and Barbara Goldberg; Additional reporting by Emily Hubbard and Joseph Ax in New York; Editing by Toni Reinhold) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss Pyongyang's launch of a ballistic missile that for the first time landed in Japanese-controlled waters. The United States and Japan called for the urgent talks, which are to begin at 4 pm (2000 GMT). North Korea fired two intermediate-range missiles simultaneously, but one appeared to explode on takeoff, according to the US military. The second missile landed in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), some 250 kilometers (155 miles) off Japan's northern coast and within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is "deeply troubled" by the latest test launch, his spokesman said, adding that "such actions seriously undermine regional peace and stability." "We reiterate the call on the DPRK to heed the united call of the international community to reverse its course and return to the process of sincere dialogue," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, using the initials for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name. Britain's Deputy Ambassador Peter Wilson said: "This is the first time that a DPRK missile has landed in the Japanese EEZ. I think this is something that the council should take extremely seriously." Wilson said the latest launch was "a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions" that prohibit North Korea from developing missile technology. The US Strategic Command said the two missiles were launched from a site in western North Korea around 7:50 am Seoul time (2250 GMT Tuesday). The council has repeatedly condemned North Korea's missile launches, but a US-drafted statement circulated last month following an apparent submarine-launched missile test has bogged down in discussion with China, the North's closest ally. On June 23, the council adopted a statement condemning North Korea for two medium-range missile tests. North Korea has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since it first tested an atomic device in 2006. The council in March adopted its toughest sanctions resolution to date, banning exports of coal, iron and other minerals from North Korea and imposing other restrictions, in particular in the banking sector. It's 7 o'clock on Sunday morning, and outside Pyongyangs train station the trams and buses are already packed with commuters -- urged on their way to a full-day's work by a drum-beating, flag-waving propaganda troupe. For anyone unsure of the performance's underlying message, a large placard erected in front of the troupe and replicated in work units across the country offers a blunt clarification: "Comrade, have you carried out your battle plan today?" The martial tone is echoed in combative posters and giant red-and-white slogans adorning buildings and roadsides across the North Korean capital. Their combined focus is a 200-day mass mobilisation campaign, aimed at boosting an economy struggling with a fresh round of substantially upgraded UN sanctions imposed after the countrys fourth nuclear test in January. Coming hard on the heels of a similar 70-day campaign that only ended in May, the 200-day version kicked off in early June, pushing extra hours and working weekends. "We're here every morning and we perform for one hour," said the leader of the all-female propaganda team that was sweating through its routine outside the train station. "It's not so tiring. We're proud to do it. We want to encourage and cheer all the people in Pyongyang who are taking part in the campaign," she told AFP through an official translator. - Muted response - With their red flags and drums, and a high-decibel loudspeaker soundtrack, the 30-strong troupe was colourful and loud enough, but the public response was muted, with few sparing it more than a glance as they moved on their way. Outside experts say the economic benefits of such campaigns are dubious at best, with some suggesting they have a negative net impact on productivity as exhaustion fuels inefficiency. New York-based Human Rights Watch has condemned them as mass exercises in "forced labour" that use political coercion to extract economic gain. Story continues Andrei Lankov, a veteran North Korea watcher and professor at Kookmin University in Seoul, said the modern-day campaigns were more show than substance -- a strategy from a bygone socialist era that was long past its sell-by date. "Back in the 60s and 70s, these military-style mobilisations were a genuine battle, with people expected to work 14 hours a day, seven days a week," Lankov said. "These days it's really more of a ritual. They organise them because, well ... because that's what they did before. I don't think many people take it particularly seriously," he added. - Output claims - State media has, predictably, already hailed the campaign as a success, with the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun trumpeting increases during the first month of between 120-130 percent in electricity and coal production. The primary focus is on industrial output, with top priority given to reducing a yawning energy deficit that acts as a constantly tripping circuit breaker on economic growth. The Rodong Sinmun offered no verifiable data to support its production claims, and power outages remain commonplace in Pyongyang which, as the countrys showcase capital, receives privileged utilities supplies. Heavy batteries and power saving LED lights are popular items in markets for those who can afford them, while the balconies of Pyongyangs apartment blocks bristle with solar panels to keep basic household appliances running. The past decade or so has seen the emergence of a closely monitored but tolerated grassroots capitalism in North Korea, born out of a spirit of survivalist self-sufficiency that got many through the catastrophic failure of the state distribution system in the famine years of the 1990s. This unofficial economy is seen as playing an increasingly important role in propping up the regime, but defectors now living in South Korea say mass mobilisation campaigns disrupt its operations by eliminating the free time people need to tend to small-scale, private commerce. - Five-year plan -- The current 200-day campaign was launched to kick-start a new five-year economic plan unveiled by supreme leader Kim Jong-Un at a ruling party congress in May. The plan was long on ambition but short on detail, offering no clear hint of reform despite Kim's call to "expand our method of economic management". According to South Korea's central bank, the North Korean economy contracted by 1.1 percent last year -- the first downturn since 2010. Given the paucity of economic data released by the North, estimating its GDP is a hazardous exercise, but experts say upgraded sanctions are clearly posing a challenge that old-school, mass mobilisation campaigns are simply no match for. Dahal elected 39th prime minister of Nepal CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been elected as the 39th prime minister of the country after securing the require majority in the Parliament NBC's Hairspray Live is adding to its impressive cast. Producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan announced Tuesday at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour that they have recruited Sean Hayes and Rosie O'Donnell to the December production. Based on the Broadway musical, Hairspray Live! takes place in 1962 Baltimore. Teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV program, so when she wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets a colorful array of characters, including the resident dreamboat, Link; the ambitious mean girl, Amber; and an African-American boy, Seaweed, in detention. Tracy soon begins on a quest to integrate the dance show. Hayes (who has an overall deal with Universal Television and executive produces NBC's Grimm and Hollywood Game Night) will play Mr. Pinky, the owner of Hefty Hideaway, an integrated women's clothing boutique. O'Donnell will play the gym teacher. The Hairspray Live cast includes Derek Hough as Corny Collins; Ariana Grande as Penny; newcomer Maddie Baillio as Tracy; Tony winner Harvey Fierstein as Edna; Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle; Martin Short as Wilbur; Kristin Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle; Dove Cameron as Amber; and Garrett Clayton as Link. Like all of NBC's live musicals, Hairspray Live is exec produced by Meron and Zadan with Kenny Leon attached to stage direct and Alex Rudzinski also on board as the live TV director. The production will be staged on the Universal backlot - similar in fashion to what Fox did for its Grease Live. Asked if there was any musical that Meron and Zadan would not want to tackle for NBC, Zadan deadpanned, "Oh! Calcutta!" - the musical which centers on sex-related topics. Said Meron: "They're very family-oriented. There are certain musicals that wouldn't work in this context right before Christmas. All of them are part of the family-oriented subject matter." The casting reunites Hayes with Zadan and Meron, who executive produced NBC's Broadway drama Smash, in which the Will and Grace alum had a recurring role. By Tom Westbrook and Jarni Blakkarly SYDNEY (Reuters) - Four weeks after Australians went to the polls in a tightly contested election, vote counting is almost finished and has left the government with a razor-thin majority and a Senate brimming with economic protectionists who could hinder trade ties with the likes of China, Indonesia and the United States. "Pro-protectionist forces are a concern because ultimately they will degrade Australian living standards and harm Australian jobs," Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo told Reuters. The new-look parliament is scheduled to sit August 30. While the last few votes are still being counted after the July 2 election, it is clear that independent or minor party Senators will control the balance of power in the upper house. This means the ruling Liberal-National coalition, which has a slim, one-seat majority in the lower house, will need either their political opponents or eight to 10 independents or minor party Senators to pass laws in the upper house. Far-right One Nation, which has won at least two Senate seats, has already demanded that Treasurer Scott Morrison block the sales of electricity network Ausgrid and healthcare firm GenisisCare Ltd to Chinese interests. "Why would Communist China want to own our electricity...I know how Australians feel about selling our assets, we've had enough. We do not want our assets sold," said One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in a video posted to her Facebook page. Such sentiment also threatens to scupper the sale of Australia's largest farmland holding S.Kidman & Co, about the same size as Ireland, to a China-led consortium, another deal which requires the treasurer's approval. Australia has already rejected a A$371 million ($282 million) bid for Kidman by Hunan Dakang Pasture Farming Co Ltd 002505.SZ (Dakang), which would have seen a minority 20 percent Australian interest, ruling it was not in the national interest. The consortium has put a fresh bid on ice, concerned it could be derailed by protectionist Senators. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had called the election to clear away an obstructive Senate, but the move backfired at the ballot box, so much so that political scientist Haydon Manning says the government will now struggle to legislate. "I can't expect anything but a government profoundly frustrated," said Manning, an associate professor at Flinders University in Adelaide. "Free trade is going to be tricky...I don't see much headway there." Trade minister Ciobo, in Jakarta this week to seek a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Indonesia, said in a statement that "negotiations are making good progress". But an Indonesian FTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, due to come before parliament in the coming sitting, will face headwinds in the Senate. The latest Senate tally on Tuesday showed Turnbull's coalition winning at least 27 seats, Labor 25, Greens 8 and the independents and minor parties winning a total of 8 seats, with eight seats still in doubt. In the lower house, the opposition Labor party on Tuesday won the final seat, by only 37 votes, leaving the government with 76 seats, Labor 69 and a further five seats split between independents and minor parties. (Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Michael Perry) (SEOUL) A medium-range ballistic missile fired Wednesday by North Korea flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed near Japans territorial waters, Seoul and Tokyo officials said, one of the longest flights by a North Korean missile. The U.S. Strategic Command, meanwhile, said North Korea fired two presumed Rodong missiles simultaneously on Wednesday, not just one. The commands statement said initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. According to the South Korean and Japanese announcements, one suspected Rodong missile lifted off from the Norths western Hwanghae province and flew across the country before falling in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it strongly condemns the missile launch because it explicitly shows the Norths intentions of being able to launch missile attacks on South Korea and neighboring countries. Japans Defense Ministry said the missile landed inside Japans exclusive economic zone, the 200-nautical-mile offshore area where a nation has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources. Japanese media reported it was the first North Korean missile that has splashed down in Japans EEZ. It imposes a serious threat to Japans security and it is unforgivable act of violence toward Japans security, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. North Korea previously fired Rodong and other missiles into the sea but South Korean analysts say Wednesdays 1,000 kilometer flight was one of the longest for a North Korean test. Several North Korean rockets have gone further and even over Japan. But Pyongyang called them satellite launches while Washington, Seoul and Tokyo said they were disguised tests of missile technology. After several failures, the North put its first satellite into space aboard a long-range rocket in December 2012 and conducted another successful satellite launch in February. Story continues In June, North Korea, after a string of failures, sent another type of mid-range missile known as Musudan more than 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) high. Analysts say the high-altitude flight meant North Korea had made progress in its push to be able to strike U.S. forces throughout the region. North Korea routinely conducts weapons tests, but the latest launch came after North Korea warned of unspecified physical counter-actions against a U.S. plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year. Seoul and Washington officials said they need the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system to better cope with what they call North Koreas increasing military threats. North Korea called the system a provocation that it says is only aimed at bolstering U.S. military hegemony in the region. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, according to Seoul defense officials. The Norths state media later confirmed that it fired ballistic rockets carrying trigger devices for nuclear warheads as part of simulated pre-emptive atomic attacks on South Korea. Analyst Kim Dong-yub at Seouls Institute for Far East Studies said the launch appeared to be aimed at showing an ability to attack U.S. military bases in Japan, a major source of reinforcements for U.S. troops should a war break out on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea is expected to carry out more weapons launches in coming weeks to protest annual U.S.-South Korean military drills that begin later this month. North Korea describes the drills as an invasion rehearsal. North Korea is pushing to manufacture a warhead small enough to be placed on a long-range missile that can reach the continental U.S., but South Korean defense officials say the North doesnt yet have such a miniaturized warhead. Some civilian experts, however, believe the North has the technology to put warheads on shorter-range Rodong and Scud missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. North Korea is known to have an arsenal of estimated 300 Rodong missiles whose maximum range is 1,300 kilometers (800 miles). The North has never flown its full range. A Rodong fired in March flew about 800 kilometers (500 miles) while two other Rodongs launched in 2014 flew about 650 kilometers (400 miles). The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea and tens of thousands of more in Japan. Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. blessIT amanda For the first time, North Korea fired a ballistic missile near Japanese-controlled waters on Tuesday. A simultaneous launch of two "No Dong" intermediate-range ballistic missiles near the western city of Hwangju were detected by US Strategic Command (STRATCOM). STRATCOM said one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the other was tracked over North Korea before ultimately landing in the Sea of Japan. According to a statement from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missile that landed in the Sea of Japan was launched at approximately 7:50 a.m. local time from a region in South Hwanghae province to the southwest of Pyongyang. The launch showed the isolated nation's ambition to "directly and broadly attack neighboring countries and target several places in the Republic of Korea such as ports and airfields," the South Korean office said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the launch as a "grave threat" to Japan and said Tokyo "strongly protested." Japan also said its self-defence force would remain on alert in case of further defiant launches from the rogue nation. missile defense THAAD A US State Department spokesman condemned the Hermit Kingdom's launch, and said it would "only increase the international community's resolve to counter" North Korea's actions. The audacious missile tests have expanded since the bilateral decision between Seoul and Washington to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to the region. As one of most advanced missile defense systems in the world, THAAD interceptors are able to hunt and obliterate incoming enemy threats both inside and outside of the atmosphere. Story continues Last month, South Korea's defense ministry said THAAD will be located in Seongju, in the southeastern part of the country. In conjunction with the US, Seoul plans to have the unique air-defense system operational by the end of 2017. thaad sk map Following that announcement, the Hermit Kingdom fired three ballistic missiles that had a range (between 300 and 360 miles) capable of reaching all of South Korea. And at the end of July, the North held a ballistic missile test simulating a strike on South Korean ports and airfields, which are heavily operated by US military forces. Currently the US maintains approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea. Pressure to deploy THAAD was spurred after Pyongyang tested its fourth nuclear bomb on January 6 and then launched a long-range rocket on February 7. Despite North Korean aggression, US Army Secretary Eric Fanning told reporters last week that the annual war games between the US and South Korea will commence next month. Reuters contributed to this report. NOW WATCH: Meet THAAD: Americas answer to North Korean threats More From Business Insider By Ju-min Park and James Pearson SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Wednesday that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters for the first time, the latest in a series of launches by the isolated country in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The main body of the missile landed in Japans economic exclusion zone, a Japanese defence official said, escalating regional tensions that were already high after a series of missile launches this year and the decision by the United States to place a sophisticated anti-missile system in South Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the launch as a grave threat to Japan and said Tokyo strongly protested. Japan also said its self-defence force would remain on alert in case of further launches. A U.S. State Department spokesman condemned the launch, and said it would only increase the international communitys resolve to counter North Koreas actions. The U.S. Strategic Command said it had detected two missiles, one of which it said exploded immediately after launch. The missile that landed in the Sea of Japan was launched at about 7:50 a.m. Seoul time (2250 GMT Tuesday) from a region in South Hwanghae province to the southwest of North Koreas capital, Pyongyang, South Koreas Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. Slideshow: North Korea nuclear tests and rocket launches >>> South Koreans watch a TV news program airing file footage of a North Korean rocket launch at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) The launch showed North Koreas ambition to directly and broadly attack neighbouring countries and target several places in the Republic of Korea such as ports and airfields, the South Korean office said, referring to South Korea by its official title. The missile appeared to be a Rodong-type medium-range missile that flew about 1,000 km (620 miles), it said. TENSIONS HIGH The United States will begin large-scale annual drills with its ally South Korea later this month that it bills as defensive in nature and not provocative. North Korea typically protests against the drills, which it says are a rehearsal for invasion. Story continues The North Koreans seem to have been timing their recent short-range and medium-range missile tests to the weeks ahead of U.S.-South Korean joint exercises, said Joshua Pollack, editor of the U.S.-based Nonproliferation Review. If the allies can exercise their armed forces, so can the North, he said. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles that flew between 500 km and 600 km (300-360 miles) into the sea off its east coast. Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani (C) speaks to the media regarding North Korea's missile launch, in Tokyo, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo August 3, 2016. (Kyodo/via REUTERS) The North later said the launches were part of an exercise simulating preemptive strikes against South Korean ports and airfields used by the U.S. military. The latest launches follow an agreement last month between South Korea and the United States to deploy an advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defence anti-missile system in the South. North Korea had threatened a physical response against the deployment decision. The North came under the latest round of U.N. Security Council sanctions in March after its fourth nuclear test in January and the launch of a long-range rocket the following month. Tensions have been high on the Korean peninsula since the January nuclear test. The two Koreas remain technically at war under a truce that ended fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. (Additional reporting by Jack Kim in Seoul and Nobuhiro Kubo in Tokyo; Editing by Tony Munroe and Paul Tait) Norway's royal heartthrob might be off the market! Crown Princess Mette-Marit's 19-year-old son Marius Borg Hoiby has gained a legion of loyal admirers, but there may be heartbreak ahead for fans of the blond teen idol. According to Norweigian outlets, the young royal has found a new girlfriend. The woman who has apparently won the heart of North Europe's most desirable bachelor is 20-year-old Linn Helena Nilsen from Drammen, 26 miles east of the national capital. Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. "The young couple was observed holding hands in the middle of downtown Oslo," Drammens Tidende reports. "And on social media [they've] made no secret of their admiration for each other." The duo is currently on vacation together in the U.S., according to reports. A photo from Nilsen's now-private Instagram account shows the young couple sharing a moment together inside an American car. Nilsen smiles at the camera, while Hoiby looks at the road from behind the wheel. Is Norway's Most Desirable Royal Off the Market? All About Marius Borg Hoiby's New Love| The Royals She captioned the photo: "We're here forever," adding emojis of a palm tree and an American flag. In mid-June, Nilsen left a sweet comment on one of Hoiby's photos. "I'm lucky to have you," she wrote. Late night skate with @nikolaiferreiraa A photo posted by Marius Borg HAiby (@marius_borg) on Jun 13, 2016 at 3:11pm PDT Nilsen comes from a prominent family in Drammen, according to the outlet, who also revealed that Nilsen has a net worth of more than $750,000 and enjoys an annual income from modeling of more than $12,000. Norway's Royal Palace has refused to comment, but constitutional expert Kjell Arne Totland, 71, told the nation's TV2 broadcast network that Marius, as a member of the royal family, should expect increasing public scrutiny. Story continues A photo posted by Marius Borg HAiby (@marius_borg) on Oct 27, 2015 at 4:14am PDT "Marius is currently 19 years old, and like most of his contemporaries, is a frequent social media user," Totland said. "Photos of him today abound, and my understanding is that he's put them out there using social media." Pippa Middleton Is Engaged to Hedge Fund Multi-Millionaire James Matthews! "As a member of the royal family, with a face most people recognize immediately, this is probably something he should expect, whether he likes it or not." The son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit is technically not a hereditary prince, but the Norwegian court has adopted him as one of their own. Marius' dad is Mette-Marit's ex, advertising exec Morten Borg. (Reuters) - A Norwegian man was arrested on Wednesday after sending emails threatening to kill police in Maine with explosives and high-powered rifles, officials said. Police departments across the United States are on high alert following attacks in Dallas and Baton Rouge last month that killed eight police officers. Portland police said in a statement that Espen Brungodt, 28, sent the threats to the Portland Police Department and local media outlets around 8:45 a.m. (1245 GMT) on Wednesday and was arrested unarmed and without incident roughly four hours later. Police said Brungodt entered the United States on July 26 through Boston and was traveling with family members. The Portland Press Herald newspaper published online a copy of the email it had received from Brungodt, which stated in part: "Time for more police to die." "Very soon, my partners will head down to Portland Police Department ... There they will shoot and kill as many police officers as they can," the message read, according to the newspaper. The message also said a nearby parking garage had been booby-trapped with explosives. Police said the threats prompted the closure of the Cumberland County Courthouse after investigators determined the suspect was likely in the area. Brungodt faces federal charges related to transmitting threatening communications, Portland police said. The police statement said local authorities were assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It was not immediately clear if Brungodt had retained an attorney. A spokesperson for the police department could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by James Dalgleish) Dahal expresses commitment to move ahead on consensus Parliamentarian Pushpa Kamal Dahal informed the Legislature-Parliament meeting on Wednesday about his candidature to the post of Prime Minister in accordance with the Article 298 (3) of the Constitution of Nepal and the Rule 49 (4) of the Legislature-Parliament Regulations, 2073 BS. Proactive Outreach to Focus on Increasing Awareness and Enhancing Shareholder Value MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 3, 2016 / Novus Acquisition and Development Corp. (NDEV), the nation's first healthcare insurance plan in the medical cannabis field and property and casualty sector, today announced that it has retained Hayden IR, a fifteen-year old, highly-recognized national investor relations firm. The focus of the engagement is to raise Novus' visibility and strengthen its relationships with the investment community, increase awareness and enhance shareholder value. Novus generates and services its members through their automated web portal at: http://www.getnovusnow.com. Over the past year, Novus insurance programs have diversified from a single oriented line of business, medical cannabis plans, to multiple liability and specialty lines of business and revenue streams. No one knows Novus' brand in the cannabis space better than their own team, which is why they have taken control of their digital marketing approach from third party vendors to in-house marketing strategies resulting to cost-effectively convert and acquire customers. "Over the past year, our Novus team has successfully taken a vision, implemented a business plan and created an infrastructure in the rapidly moving legalized cannabis industry. Our company is entering a very exciting phase as legalized medical cannabis continues to expand state-by-state and now encompasses 24 states. We are excited by our progress to-date as we look to take advantage of this emerging trend," said Frank Labrozzi, Novus' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe it is an appropriate time to retain a national investor relations firm to help us target and expand our investor audience and ensure we are communicating effectively with Wall Street. We look forward to working with the team of professionals at Hayden IR to execute this important goal." Hayden IR is a premier investor relations consulting firm, connecting undervalued emerging growth companies with institutions, hedge funds, independent portfolio managers, buy-side and sell-side analysts, retail brokerage firms and accredited individual investors. Hayden's team of IR professionals draw from "Wall Street," finance, agency and media backgrounds and continuously strive to maximize the ongoing corporate visibility and market capitalization of clients though a comprehensive, multi-tier proactive program. Hayden IR always puts its clients in front of investors who can take action immediately, not when the client is larger or further along the corporate lifecycle. Over time, Hayden IR helps its clients navigate up the Wall Street food chain, broadening their audience. Hayden IR also consistently adds to its database, from online tools and conferences, as it builds relationships, one at a time, so there is a history and an understanding of each contact; it's not just a name in the database. The Hayden IR team brings dozens of years of collective experience and brings a range of expertise to the benefit of its clients. Story continues Stephen Hart, Head of Corporate Advisory at Hayden IR, added, "We are very excited to be working with Novus, a company with a unique and much-needed product offering in an underserved emerging growth market. Its business model and plans for expansion into additional insurance lines of business and revenue streams, make Novus well positioned to take advantage of the expected growth of regulated cannabis over the next few years. The team at Hayden IR looks forward to articulating this opportunity to the professional investment community." About Novus Novus Acquisition & Development Corp. (NDEV), through its subsidiary Novus Medical Group, Inc. and WCIG Insurance, provides health insurance and related insurance solutions within the wellness and medical marijuana industries in states where legal programs exist. Novus has positioned itself to gain market share within many lines of insurance business within and outside of the MMJ sector. Novus will work as outside developers and will not cultivate, handle, transport grow, extract, dispense, put up for sale, put on the market, vend, deliver, supply, circulate, or trade cannabis or any substances that violate the United States law or the Controlled Substances Act, nor does it intend to do so in the future and will continue to follow state and federal laws. The statements made about specific products have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided on these press releases or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. Once a push notification is competed the transaction is solely between the state-licensed dispensary and the registered patient. The state laws are in conflict with the federal Controlled Substances Act. The current administration has effectively stated that it is not an efficient use of resources to direct federal law enforcement agencies to prosecute those lawfully abiding by state designated laws, allowing the use and distribution of medical marijuana. However, there is no guarantee that the current administration, nor any future administration, will not change this policy and decide to enforce the federal laws strongly. Any such change in the federal government's enforcement of current federal laws could cause significant financial changes to Novus Medical Group. While we do not intend to harvest, distribute or sell cannabis or cannabis related products, we may be harmed by a change in enforcement by federal or state governments. For more information, check out: http://www.getnovusnow.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release includes forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and reflects management's current expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Some of these factors include: general global economic conditions; general industry and market conditions and growth rates; uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; increasing competition; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of services; changes in the economy; changes in laws and regulations, includes codes and standards, intellectual property rights, and tax matters; or other matters not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. Novus Medical Group disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact Information Corporate: Chairman and CEO Frank Labrozzi frank@ndev.biz 855-228-7355 Investors: Hayden IR hart@haydenir.com 917-658-7878 SOURCE: Novus Acquisition and Development Corp. bill bratton New York Police Department Commissioner Bill Bratton said he's very troubled by Donald Trump's candidacy. In a series of interviews on Wednesday, the commissioner, who announced he would step down in September, asserted that the Republican presidential nominee's seeming lack of knowledge of in-depth policy issues and tendency to lash out at people who criticize him makes him "unfit" to serve as president. "Mr. Trump scares me, scares the hell out of me, to be quite frank," Bratton said on CBS on Tuesday. "I just don't get it in terms of the support for him." Bratton specifically criticized Trump's comments about veterans and veterans' families, saying Trump's acceptance of a purple heart at a campaign rally on Monday demonstrated his lack of respect for the military. "As a Vietnam veteran, I'm amazed by veterans groups are so charmed by him. The purple heart medal incident it was appalling," Bratton said. "Amazing. No recognition of the significance of that medal. No sensitivity there." Speaking to MSNBC in a separate interview, Bratton also questioned Trump's attempt to frame himself as the "law-and-order candidate," questioning whether the real-estate magnate had the restraint necessary to serve as president. "I think I know a little about law and order and policing. I wouldn't trust that he'd be able to do much about that, to be quite frank with you," Bratton said. "I wonder if he's actually ever taken a punch in his life, an actual physical punch. It's nice to talk tough, but I'd have some serious concerns about his abilities in that area." Though he's largely remained quiet on Trump's candidacy throughout the election, Bratton rejected Trump's offer to speak to NYPD officers after several police officers were shot in Dallas earlier this year. NOW WATCH: Watch Hillary's brutal attack ad showing children watching Trump's controversial statements More From Business Insider WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration said on Wednesday that $400 million in cash paid to Iran soon after the release of five Americans detained by Tehran was not ransom for them as some Republicans have charged. The five, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, were released on Jan. 16 in exchange for seven Iranians held in the United States for sanctions violations. The prisoner deal coincided with the lifting of international sanctions against Tehran. At the time, the United States said it had settled a longstanding Iranian claim at the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal in The Hague, releasing $400 million in funds frozen since 1981, plus $1.3 billion in interest that was owed to Iran. The funds were part of a trust fund Iran used before its 1979 Islamic Revolution to buy U.S. military equipment that was tied up for decades in litigation at the tribunal. The link between prisoner release and payment to Iran are completely false, State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Twitter in response to a Wall Street Journal article that Washington secretly organized the cash airlift. White House spokesman Josh Earnest heatedly beat back suggestions the money transfer to Iran was ransom, or a secret. The United States, under President Obama, has not paid a ransom to secure the release of Americans unjustly detained in Iran and were not going to pay a ransom, he said at a daily White House briefing. Earnest said the Republicans who have long opposed the Iran nuclear deal are seizing on how the money was paid to Iran as a way to undermine the deal. Theyre struggling to justify their opposition to our engagement with Iran, he said. I understand the interest in details for a more colorful story but I dont understand what this does to the broader outlines of an agreement that has been in place for six months now. While there have long been questions about the timing of the payment to Tehran, one Iranian concern was that the Obama administration would face too much domestic political criticism if it delayed acting on the tribunals decision. Story continues Due to the international sanctions against Iran, the payment, made in euros, Swiss francs and other currencies, had to be made in cash. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump blamed his opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for launching the talks with Iran. Our incompetent Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was the one who started talks to give 400 million dollars, in cash, to Iran. Scandal! Trump said in a Twitter post. Republican National Committee spokesman Reince Priebus also weighed in. The Obama-Clinton foreign policy not only means cutting a dangerous nuclear deal with the worlds number one state sponsor of terrorism, it also means paying them a secret ransom with cargo planes full of cash, he said in a statement. House Speaker Paul Ryan was more measured, saying that: If true, this report confirms our longstanding suspicion that the administration paid a ransom in exchange for Americans unjustly detained in Iran. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Susan Heavey; Editing by John Walcott and James Dalgleish) Even though some of his political opponents have been demanding a greater use of force against ISIS in the Middle East, President Obama has refused to base his military strategy on a political talking point. Whether domestic or foreign officials have prompted the commander in chief to shift tactics in his fight against the Islamic State in Libya, his decision to provide air support to Libyan ground forces is a strategic pivot in Americas war against radical Islamist terrorism. The good news is that we now have the beginnings of a government in the Government of National Accord, Obama said during a press conference on Tuesday. They are serious about trying to bring all the factions together to start creating a basic security structure, to begin to monitor Libyas borders, and to cooperate internationally to deal with issues like ISIL penetration on their territory. Related: Americas High-Tech F-35 Is Poised to Purge ISIS from 30,000 Feet Supporting the Libyan GNA, the U.S. military conducted "precision air strikes against ISIL targets in Sirte, Libya," the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement on Monday. The president authorized these airstrikes following a recommendation from Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford. This is the third time in eight months the United States has attacked ISIS in Libya, but this is the first time the Obama administration has agreed to provide air support to the Libyan governments ground troops at the request of that government. It is in Americas national security interests in our fight against ISIL to make sure that theyre able to finish the job, he said. An anonymous review of the Obama administrations war against ISIS in the Wall Street Journal, praised the president for finally assisting the Libyan government in preventing the expansion of the Islamic State. The Libyan effort is crucial to the larger anti-ISIS campaign, especially as pressure grows on the terror groups strongholds in Iraq and Syria, the op-ed outlined. If the jihadists are forced to flee Mosul or Raqqa, they would love to be able to raise their black flag over cities in Libya. Islamic States appeal depends on its ability to hold territory to pretend its a state. It also needs areas where it can train recruits without fear of U.S. air strikes. Story continues Still, Obamas move could be premature, given the ongoing rivalries between the new GNA and the Libyan National Army, which is loyal to the government in eastern Libya. Jason Pack of Eye on ISIS in Libya told The Economist that there is no unity government, just a rebranding of Misratan militias. He said you cant count on their loyalty. Including the president, there have been some who believe a ground war against ISIS is exactly what the terror group wants. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in December 2015 requested additional airstrikes, weapons and intelligence from the United States, but stressed his country didnt want combat troops on the ground to carry [out] military missions on the ground. Related: After the Victory at Fallujah, How to Destroy ISIS Once and for All Some have disagreed with this defense tactic. Russian President, Valdimir Putin, said in December 2015 that hed be sending in ground troops into Syria to wipe out evil Islamic State. Others have questioned Obama's no-ground-troops policy, claiming the presidents argument, which has been in opposition to the Bush administrations nation-building strategy, is fundamentally flawed. Critics of the Obama administration insist that ISIS is growing stronger because Washington has not been aggressive enough in attacking the terrorists in Syria and Iraq, said Tom Mockaitis, counter-terrorism expert at DePaul University, in a blog post. They point to the wave of attacks in Europe, the San Bernardino shootings, and the Orlando night club massacre as compelling evidence that more strident military measures must be employed against this pernicious organization. But eliminating ISIS requires a comprehensive, long haul strategy that combats the threat at all levels, he said, indicating the importance of a carefully employed military force. While he didnt comment on Libya specifically, he did acknowledge that sending ground forces into Syria would be a mistake. Focused airstrikes, direct action by Special Forces and assistance to regional allies is producing results, and with fewer adverse effects than would an increased U.S. presence in the Middle East, Mockaitis noted. Countering radicalization and degrading the ISIS network is just as important as attacking the parent organization and requires painstaking efforts by law enforcement and intelligence agencies around the world. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama cut short the prison terms of 214 convicts on Wednesday, the largest number of commutations a U.S. leader has granted in single day since at least 1900, the White House said. Obama has now granted a total of 562 commutations during his presidency, more than the number by the past nine presidents combined, it said. In Wednesday's batch, 67 convicts were serving life sentences. The convicts were serving time for crimes including possession of crack cocaine and methamphetamine, with intent to distribute. Some were imprisoned on charges of gun possession. One of the convicts, James Wright of Baltimore, Maryland, was serving a 20 year sentence that began in 2006 for possession of crack with intent to distribute. He will be released in December. Obama has worked to reform the U.S. criminal justice system and reduce the number of people serving long sentences for nonviolent drug offences. It is a rare issue on which Obama gets support from Republican lawmakers. For years crack offenders faced stiffer penalties than powder cocaine offenders, even though the substances are similar at the molecular level. Critics have said the disparity has unfairly harmed minority and poor communities. In 2014, Obama announced the most ambitious clemency program in 40 years, inviting thousands of drug offenders and other convicts to seek early release. But the program has struggled under a flood of unprocessed cases. "Our work is far from finished," White House counsel Neil Eggleston said about the commutations. Eggleston urged Congress to take action. "While we continue to work to act on as many clemency applications as possible, only legislation can bring about lasting change to the federal system," he said. The program automatically expires when Obama leaves office next January and it is uncertain whether the next president would continue with a similar plan. Donald Trump, the Republican candidate in the Nov. 8 election, has championed "law and order" in his campaign. Democrat Hillary Clinton has called for criminal justice reform. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Andrew Hay and Steve Orlofsky) Gathabandhan presses for quid pro quo deal The Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist Centre) have agreed, in principle, to find a political solution to the Tarai crisis in exchange for support of the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, an alliance of Madhesi and Janajati parties, in the government formation process. By Jeff Mason and Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama issued a scathing attack of Donald Trump on Tuesday for criticizing a Muslim family whose U.S. Army captain son was killed in Iraq, and he challenged Republican leaders to withdraw support for their "unfit" nominee. Obama's comments added to a growing number of statements from Republicans and Democrats lambasting Trump for his criticism of Khizr and Ghazala Khan, who appeared at the Democratic National Convention last week. Trump questioned whether Mrs. Khan did not speak at the convention because she was prevented from doing so by her religion and he characterized Mr. Khan's criticism of him as "vicious." Families who lose sons or daughters who serve in the U.S. military are called Gold Star families. "The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that had made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf or our country, the fact that he doesn't appear to have basic knowledge around critical issues in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia means that he's woefully unprepared to do this job," Obama said of Trump during a White House news conference. The Democratic president noted that leading Republicans, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, and one-time Republican presidential nominee John McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, had criticized Trump for his remarks but have stood by their endorsements of him. "The question I think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him?" Obama said. "What does this say about your party that this is your standard-bearer?" Obama said. Obama spoke during a White House news conference with Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong. Obama has endorsed his former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president. Obama said that even if he had lost his White House races in 2008 to McCain and in 2012 to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, he would not have doubted their abilities to lead the country. That was not the case for Trump, a businessman from New York, Obama said. "There has to come a point at which you say, somebody who makes those kinds of statements doesn't have the judgment, the temperament, the understanding to occupy the most powerful position in the world," Obama said. (Additional reporting by Mohammad Zargham and Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday it is in the U.S. national security interest to support Libya's emerging government's fight against Islamic State, a day after his administration said it launched air strikes there. The move marks the opening of a new front by the U.S. administration in the war against Islamic State, which, under added pressure in its Syria and Iraq strongholds, is increasingly resorting to planning attacks abroad. Obama said the air strikes were undertaken to make sure that Libyan forces were able to finish the job of fighting the radical militant group and to increase stability there. The United States, Europe and countries around the world "have a great interest in seeing stability in Libya because the absence of stability has helped to fuel some of the challenges that weve seen in terms of the migration crisis in Europe and some of the humanitarian tragedies that weve seen in the open seas between Libya and Europe," Obama told reporters. Islamic State has struggled to win local support in Libya but has exploited the chaos that followed the ouster of dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Its presence in Sirte has been reduced to a few hundred fighters who once controlled what was Gaddafi's hometown. A U.S. government source familiar with American intentions said the U.S. military's plan was to pulverize Islamic State militants through aerial bombardment to deny them the safe haven of Sirte, even though such a strategy risks dispersing the group's forces to neighboring countries and beyond, where they may carry out attacks to show they are still "a force to be reckoned with." The U.S. administration's tactics in Libya, two American officials said, were largely a product of the administration's use of manned and unmanned aircraft against Islamic State, and intended to avoid committing "any meaningful level of ground support." There is little public or political support for sending U.S. ground troops to Libya, which remains deeply divided. The United Nations-backed government, struggling to assert its authority over the fractured country, has hesitated to call for U.S. support until now for fear of a public backlash. However, the U.S. officials said that if Islamic States growing external operations branch manages to mount a major terrorist attack in the West, "the administration may end up paying a higher price for this tactic than it would if it had decided to send the support thats needed to encircle places like Sirte and Mosul (in Iraq) without turning to other groups." U.S. warplanes so far have conducted strikes on seven targets in and around Sirte over the past two days, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said at a news briefing on Tuesday. The targets included two tanks, an Islamic State fighting position, construction vehicles, military vehicles, a rocket launcher and an excavator. The strikes already have helped Libyan forces gain ground against Islamic State, Davis said. "That had really proved to be a menacing problem for the GNA," he said, referring to Libya's United Nations-backed Government of National Accord. "It was something they (Islamic State) had used repeatedly to beat back advances." The strikes are being carried out by both crewed planes and drones, Davis said, declining to give further details on where the aircraft were based. Some Islamic State fighters have been killed in the strikes, he said, though he declined to give a number. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner, Ayesha Rascoe, Yeganeh Torbati, Mark Hosenball, John Walcott and Jonathan Landay in Washington; Editing by Yara Bayoumy, James Dalgleish and Jonathan Oatis) We have reached the final stretch of the Q2 earnings season with results from 317 S&P 500 members that combined account for almost 75% of the indexs total market capitalization. Total earnings for these companies are down 3.3% from the same period last year on 0.9% lower revenues, with 72.9% positive earnings surprises and 53.6% beating revenue estimates. (Data from the Earnings Preview report dated July 29, 2016). Energy Remains the Biggest Drag Expectedly, the Energy sector has been a big drag on the aggregate growth picture. For the sector components on the S&P 500 index that have reported Q2 results, total earnings are down 76.5% on 24.6% lower revenues. Though 66.7% of the companies outperformed earnings estimates, the positive surprises have undoubtedly been aided by easy-to-beat estimates. In fact, we have seen sub-standard reports from a number of major players in the sector, like Exxon Mobil Corp. XOM and Royal Dutch Shell plc RDS.A. E&P Companies are the Hardest Hit While all crude-focused stocks stand to lose from falling commodity prices, companies in the exploration and production (E&P) sector are the worst placed, as they are extracting less value for their products. Consequently, with oil prices recently collapsing to their lowest levels in years, upstream firms have seen their revenues, earnings and cash flows being hit hard. Moreover, with no refining business to help neutralize low oil prices, these companies have suffered the most. As oil sales floundered, producers got fewer revenues. To survive the period of weak profits, they took more debt. Some of them especially the smaller and the more speculative ones with the most leverage now face an existential crisis, while for the others the time bomb is ticking with crude prices stuck below $50 a barrel. While mid- and large-sized energy producers are in a better position to weather the storm due to better financial flexibility, they still face declining profits and in some cases widening losses. Story continues Oil Exploration Stocks to Watch for Earnings on Aug 4 Lets see whats in store for five such companies expected to come up with second-quarter numbers on Thursday, Aug 4. Lets take a look at how things are shaping up at their end. EOG Resources Inc. EOG is expected to report results before the opening bell. In the first quarter of 2016, this Houston, TX-headquartered large-cap energy explorer with operations in major producing basins in the U.S., offshore Trinidad and the U.K. North Sea reported better-than-expected numbers on the back of substantial well productivity improvements and cost reductions. Moreover, the company has an excellent track of earnings surprises, having beaten estimates in each of the last four quarters at an average rate of 147.36%. However, our proven model shows that an earnings beat is uncertain for EOG Resources this time around. This is because, as per our proven model, a stock needs to have both a both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to beat earnings. Simultaneously, we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell rated) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. For the quarter to be reported, EOG Resources has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%, while it carries a Zacks Rank #3. (Read more: Will EOG Resources Surprise this Earnings Season?) EOG RES INC Price and EPS Surprise EOG RES INC Price and EPS Surprise | EOG RES INC Quote Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. CNQ is also set to report second-quarter 2016 results before the opening bell. Coming to earnings surprise history, the Western Canada-focused upstream player has a good track of having beaten estimates in all but one of the last four quarters. But we do not expect Canadian Natural to beat earnings expectations in the to-be-reported quarter. This is because Canadian Natural is a Zacks Rank #3 stock but has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. (Read more: Can Canadian Natural Resources Q2 Earnings Surprise?) CDN NTRL RSRCS Price and EPS Surprise CDN NTRL RSRCS Price and EPS Surprise | CDN NTRL RSRCS Quote Apache Corp. APA is another oil and gas finder to report second-quarter results tomorrow again prior to the market open. Notwithstanding the crude collapse, the company has outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 100.02%. Our quantitative model, though, does not hint at another earnings beat for this Houston, TX-based company primarily looking for oil and gas in North Americas Permian basin. While a Zacks Rank #2 increases the predictive power of ESP, Apaches ESP of 0.00% makes surprise prediction difficult. (Read more: Apache: What's in the Cards this Earnings Season?) APACHE CORP Price and EPS Surprise APACHE CORP Price and EPS Surprise | APACHE CORP Quote WPX Energy Inc. WPX, a Tulsa, OK-based independent, oil and gas exploration and production company, will release second-quarter results before the opening bell. Our model does not indicate that WPX Energy is likely to beat on earnings this time around, given the combination of a Zacks Rank #2 and Earnings ESP of -4.55%. As it is, the company has a poor track of earnings surprises, having missed estimates in three of the last four quarters at an average rate of 7.66%. (Read more: What's in Store for WPX Energy in Q2 Earnings?) WPX ENERGY INC Price and EPS Surprise WPX ENERGY INC Price and EPS Surprise | WPX ENERGY INC Quote Finally, we have independent oil and natural gas producer Synergy Resources Corp. SYRG coming out with second-quarter numbers tomorrow this time after the market closes. Our model does not indicate that the Denver, CO-based upstream player with primary operations in the Wattenberg Field is likely to beat on earnings this time around. This is because Synergy Resources is a Zacks Rank #3 stock but has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. SYNERGY RES CP Price and EPS Surprise SYNERGY RES CP Price and EPS Surprise | SYNERGY RES CP Quote Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CDN NTRL RSRCS (CNQ): Free Stock Analysis Report ROYAL DTCH SH-A (RDS.A): Free Stock Analysis Report EXXON MOBIL CRP (XOM): Free Stock Analysis Report APACHE CORP (APA): Free Stock Analysis Report EOG RES INC (EOG): Free Stock Analysis Report SYNERGY RES CP (SYRG): Free Stock Analysis Report WPX ENERGY INC (WPX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Steve Keating RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The health risks of competing in the polluted waters of Guanabara Bay at the Rio Olympics are no greater than if swimming in Vancouver, the chief medical officer for the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said on Wednesday. Asked if concerns over pollution levels in the bay and sea, where sailing, windsurfing and long-distance swimming events are being held, were over-hyped, Canada's Chief Medical Officer for the Olympics Bob McCormack was quick to say they were. "I'm from Vancouver, if I went swimming in False Creek or English Bay I would have the same potential risk of getting sick but the risk is low and the water meets recognised international standards," McCormack told reporters. "If you are from the west coast you know that occasionally the beaches around Stanley Park are closed because they fail to meet international standards." While Vancouver, which hosted the 2010 Winter Games, is routinely ranked as one of the world's most livable and eco-friendly cities, Rio de Janeiro has been rocked by criticism over is sewage-infested waters and those concerns have flared in recent months. Two academic studies seen by Reuters in June showed the waters were infected by drug-resistant super bacteria and microbes normally found only in hospitals. However, the State Environmental Agency (Inea), which is conducting daily monitoring of water quality with the World Health Organization (WHO), insists the levels are fine, helped by the rapid movement of water through the mouth of the bay where events will be held. Despite daily picture of dead fish, used condoms, raw sewage and floating debris in the Olympic waters, McCormack said the COC and Canadian athletes would rely on Brazilian water quality data and daily testing by the International Olympic Committee and World Health Organisation. "Our athletes are not concerned," McCormack said. "There are a number of jurisdictions in Canada that have problems with water quality. "When that report came out that one spoon of water there was a 99 percent chance you will get sick we paid a lot of attention but what I can say is none of the athletes in the test event for open water swim, 10km of putting your face in the water, none of those 50 athletes go sick," he added. "Looking at the water quality reports that we continue to monitor closely the water quality for the open water swim and triathlon is excellent. "It is as good as the water in most of Canada; it meets all the international standards." (Editing by Ed Osmond) By Amy Tennery RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Britain's rowing performance director said he was satisfied with the water quality at Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, where rowing events will take place at this year's Rio Olympics. His comments come after months of debate over the quality of water at the venue, which some experts have warned contains dangerous levels of pollution and bacteria. Reuters reported in June that scientists found dangerous drug-resistant "super bacteria" off beaches in Rio de Janeiro that will host Olympic swimming races and in the lagoon, where rowing events are scheduled to begin on Saturday. But British rowing performance director David Tanner said he was comfortable with the water quality at the venue. "We know that if there's some major weather event, the water quality can deteriorate, but in its normal way, which it is now, we are as happy as can be about the water," Tanner told a news conference at Lagoa Stadium on Wednesday. "There is hardly anywhere that we row that is totally perfect." World Rowing Federation signed off on the facility's water quality in November. Pete Reed, a member of Britain's men's eight crew, said the level of care over water safety was beyond anything he has seen before. "I've been to my third Olympic Games now and a lot of different regattas, and I've never seen precautions like this," Reed said. "It's not because there's a big threat but because it's the Olympics and it's important." Rowing training was canceled on Monday amid high winds that made practice impossible at the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas facility, where sprint canoe events are also scheduled to take place. (Editing by Ed Osmond) Heres one thing you never noticed about Henry on Once Upon A Time Heres one thing you never noticed about Henry on Once Upon A Time When we first met Henry Mills at the beginning of Once Upon A Time Season 1, he was 10-years-old and his schoolteacher was Mary Margaret. Now lets flash-forward five seasons, and now Henry is pushing 16 (omg) and Mary Margaret isnt just his teacher, shes also Snow White and his grandmother, because of course she is. ouat three ouat one Obviously, a lot has come and gone, and changed drastically over the last few seasons in Storybrooke, but many things have certainly remained the same. The heart and soul of the show is still this family aspect, and even though Mary Margaret is no longer Henrys teacher, shes still there for him and he, her during all their epic adventures. The family that fights the Dark One together, stays together. ABC's "Once Upon a Time" - Season Four And wait. Hold up. Wait a second. Mary Margaret might not be Henrys teacher anymore, but wait IS HENRY EVEN STILL IN SCHOOL? Think long and hard about that. When was the last time we saw Henry in a class room? He is 16-years-old! He like, kinda needs to be in school!! Or at least homeschooled! Even if he and David just ran some calculus problems every morning! Unless Storybrooke is very YOLO when it comes to primary education, and Henry is getting his education out there in the real (fairytale) world. Since this is something we need to know, when you come face to face with the lad behind Henry, Jared Gilmore, you ask him. HelloGiggles got the chance to talk to Gilmore during this years San Diego Comic-Con, and yeah, we asked about school, obviously. You know, okay, sohonestly, I cant even tell if Henry is still in school, Gilmore explained, laughing. So Im just going to say, that when [Henry] became the Author, all this knowledge flooded his head, and he didnt even need to go to school anymore. Automatic genius. Boom. His on-screen adoptive mother, Lana Parrilla, chimed in too (also laughing): I would agree. So there you have it. Henry Mills, current Author and school dropout. But not so fast, because Henry is actually incredibly wise beyond his years, and also has a newfound wealth of knowledge as the Author. He can literally rewrite stories. There are some things you cant just learn from textbooks storybooks on the other hand, are a different ~story~. The post Heres one thing you never noticed about Henry on Once Upon A Time appeared first on HelloGiggles. House committee directs govt to provide resources The Social Justice and Human Rights Committee of Parliament has directed the government to arrange for human resource, funds and necessary laws within 15 days to facilitate the works of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappeared Persons. Reading a Supreme Court ruling of last January in a widely expansive way, a divided Delaware Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down that states death penalty law. It ruled that the Supreme Courts most recent ruling on death sentencing requires that the ultimate choice of life or death can only be made by a jury, not a judge. (credit: Flickr) The state court majority based the decision on the Sixth Amendment right to a jury in criminal trials, not on the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The state court did not rule that the state could not have a death penalty law, leaving it up to the state legislature to try to pass a valid one. The five-member state courts ruling, made in four separate opinions that totaled 148 pages, could set the stage for a deep new inquiry by the Supreme Court into death penalty procedures if state officials decide to attempt an appeal there and persuade the Justices to hear it. The Supreme Court has never ruled specifically that the final life-or-death choice in capital punishment cases must be made by the jury. (UPDATE: Delawares governor, Jack Markell, praised the ruling, and voiced the hope that there would never be another execution in the state. The state legislature has been divided on the issue.) The ruling does fit into a recent effort across the country to narrow, and maybe even abolish, executions in the U.S., making Delaware the nineteenth state (along with Washington, D.C.) to ban or rule against the death penalty. Much of that effort, however, has centered on the Eighth Amendment, not the Sixth. But the ruling may turn out to be more significant for the way it interpreted the Justices ruling last January striking down Floridas death sentencing law (in the case of Hurst v. Florida) a case in which only Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., dissented. (The late Justice Antonin Scalia, in the majority in the case, died a month later.) The crux of the debate between the majority and dissenting judges on the Delaware Supreme Court was on this specific issue: did the Supreme Court lay down the rule that the final choice of life or death for a person convicted of murder must be made only by the jury, or was the Hurst decision limited to enhancing the jurys role in deciding who might be eligible for a death sentence, leaving the final choice to a judge? Story continues The main opinion, a 91-page survey of the history of the death penalty since the Constitutions founding more than two centuries ago, was written by the states Chief Justice, Leo E. Strine, Jr. It was joined in full by Justices Randy J. Holland and Collins J. Seitz, Jr. Justice Holland wrote a separate opinion for those three, coming to the same conclusion on somewhat narrower reasoning. Refusing to rely on a lengthy list of Supreme Court precedents on the death penalty, many of them based on the Eighth Amendment, the chief justice argued that the focus should be a fresh look directly at the Sixth Amendment and the historic role of the jury as the conscience of the community. In trying through a wide array of decisions since 1972 to build a constitutional edifice that treated death as a unique form of punishment, the chief judge wrote, the Supreme Court had gone too far toward diminishing the jury trial right for those on trial for the most serious crimes. The problem, Strine wrote, began with the 1972 decision in Furman v. Georgia, which for the first time relied on the Eighth Amendment to declare the death penalty unconstitutional. (After 1976, the penalty was revived in many states in new laws. Several Justices in recent years have questioned whether the death penalty is a violation of the Eighth Amendment; Justice Stephen G. Breyer is the latest to suggest that the Court take on that issue.0 While conceding that the Supreme Courts decision in the Hurst case could be interpreted more narrowly than he did, Strine said the Court had turned to the Sixth Amendment in that case and had gone back to the basics of the jurys role. The flaw in Floridas capital punishment scheme, the chief justice wrote, was not that it shut the jury out of deciding who would be potentially eligible for a death sentence, but that it allowed the judge to make the final decision about whether death should be the penalty actually imposed. The Hurst opinion, the opinion said, should properly be read as dealing with the latter Sixth Amendment defect. I conclude, the main opinion said, that Hurst is best read as restoring something basic that had been lost. To do otherwise, the chief justice wrote, would be to ignore nearly 200 years of our nations customs and traditions, giving juries the central role in making the most awesome choice that is to be made in law: whether a human being is to live or die. The ruling came in a murder case titled Rauf v. State of Delaware. Because of the Supreme Courts ruling in the Hurst case, and because some of Delawares death penalty procedure was like that in Florida, a lower state court judge had sent up to the states highest court five separate questions about the Delaware law. Here is the way the three-justice majority answered them: First, does the Sixth Amendment jury trial right allow a judge to decide whether a death sentence could be justified in a given case, based on the judges finding of aggravating circumstances? The answer is No; that is for the jury, and Delawares law lets the judge perform that task Second, if that is a task for the jury, must it be unanimous and must it make its choice on all factual issues beyond a reasonable doubt? The answer is Yes. Delaware does not require a unanimous jury on that point. Third, does the Sixth Amendment require the jury, not the judge, to balance negative and positive factual findings the ultimate balance that could lead to a death sentence? The answer is Yes, and Delawares law differs on that point. Fourth, in that ultimate weighing function, for or against life or death, must that choice be unanimous and be found beyond a reasonable doubt? The answer is Yes the same as the answer to Question 2. Fifth, can any part of the Delaware capital punishment law be enforced if any part of it violates the Sixth Amendment, with the jury in future cases told by the judge to ignore the flawed parts? The answer is No, because the Delaware law is so intertwined in assigning the roles of jury and judge that there is no way to separate out the invalid parts. If the state legislature moves to reinstate capital punishment, that is its choice, the court said. Chief Justice Strines opinion dropped a hint that the state court did expect its ruling to be appealed. In discussing the possible revival of the death penalty by the state legislature, he wrote that the lawmakers would have to take account of this new decision if our ruling ultimately becomes final. Justice Karen L. Valihura filed a separate opinion partly joining the majority results and partly dissenting. She agreed that the judge in a death penalty case could not find aggravating circumstances because that is for the jury. She agreed that the jury had to be unanimous, but only because she said the state constitution required that, but she did agree that the jurys findings on that weighing issue had to be unanimous under the Sixth Amendment. She disagreed that the Sixth Amendment required that the ultimate choice of life or death had to be made by the jury. She based that argument on her view that the Hurst decision did not mandate that life or death be a jury issue. She agreed that the law as a whole had to be struck down because of her agreement with the majority about the judges role in the aggravating circumstances issue and the inability to separate that out. The only member of the state court to dissent on all points was Justice James T. Vaughn, Jr. He answered all of the questions in a way to support his view that the Delaware capital punishment law was in no way invalid under the Sixth Amendment. Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011. Denniston has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com, where this post first appeared. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily A brief history of pocket constitutions and their meaning Women, the White House and presidential campaigns Constitution Check: Does the First Amendment protect a wedding cake as an art form? Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f166263%2forlando-header If you're Lord of the Rings fan, your teenage dreams may have involved naked Orlando Bloom paddle boarding while you chill out, drinking a beer. Katy Perry lives in that world. Bloom and Perry Berry, as they should certainly be called enjoyed a day at the beach untethered by the responsibility of the couple's Tamagotchi children, as documented by The New York Daily News. The photos, taken in Sardinia, Italy, are censored by the Curse of the Black Box. But you can always count on the fine people of the internet to using their imaginations to determine whether Bloom's packing a hobbit or an orc. They will not rest until they have the real thing. Bloom was recently spotted at the Democratic National Convention supporting his girls, Katy and Hillary, but he opted to wear pants on that occasion. By Abu Arqam Naqash MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) - Hundreds of Pakistani supporters of a militant-linked charity tried to cross into the Indian part of the divided Kashmir region on Wednesday to deliver aid after weeks of violent protests there. But the activists from the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), the charitable arm of the anti-India Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, did not have permission from either the Pakistani or Indian authorities to cross the contested border and were stopped in a village on the Pakistani side where they staged a protest. "We will continue the sit-in until these essential food supplies are sent across the divide into the curfew ridden Kashmir valley," Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a senior official of the charity, told Reuters. The United States designated the charity a "foreign terrorist organization" in 2010. The group denies any militant activity. The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been divided since shortly after India and Pakistan gained independence from Britain in 1947. The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars over it and the border between them in the region is an old ceasefire line known as the Line of Control (LoC). The United Nations still monitors the well-fortified positions on both sides of the tense divide. Forty-six people have been killed and more 5,000 wounded, including Indian security forces, since protests erupted there after the killing of a militant commander on July 8. Most of the violence has been in the Kashmir Valley, the most populous part of Indian Kashmir, which includes the main city of Srinagar. The JuD activists, chanting "annihilation of India", tried to approach the LoC but were kept well back by steel barricades erected by Pakistani security forces in the village of Chakothi. The protest came hours before Indian Interior Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, for regional talks, according to footage broadcast on the Pakistani television news channel Geo. A Kashmiri militant commander led a protest in Islamabad against Singh's visit earlier on Wednesday. About 300 people attended. The militant leader, Syed Salahuddin, said Singh was "a killer of Kashmiris" and Pakistan should cut diplomatic ties with India over the violence in Indian Kashmir. (Writing by Asad Hashim; editing by Robert Birsel) Rami Kashou's designs are worn by Hollywood stars and royalty but for the past few days he has been back home in the occupied West Bank rather than London, Paris or New York. As on most days, Yasser Arafat Square in central Ramallah was crowded with pedestrians, taxis with screaming horns and fruit sellers lugging their goods on carts. But tucked behind a nondescript door another world beckoned: one of burgundy walls and floor-length mirrors, as Kashou hosted a three-day pop-up fashion shop. A handful of women of all ages browsed the elegant designs, occasionally trying on clothes under the watchful eyes of Kashou, who rushed to dispense fashion advice when needed. The US-based fashion designer has a list of celebrity clients including Hollywood actress Jessica Alba, reality TV star Kim Kardashian and Queen Rania of Jordan. But Kashou, who is 40 and was born in Jerusalem, has now made copies for Palestinian women of his creations that they would otherwise only see in magazines. He left for the United States in 1996 and now lives in New York. "I was away for a long time," the bearded, shaven-headed Kashou, dressed in black, told AFP in the store. "I usually come to visit my family, (but) this is the first time I brought my designs here." - Project Runway - Kashou shot to fame in 2008 when he appeared on the fourth season of the "Project Runway" reality television. He reached the finals, coming second to Christian Siriano, who designed the dress worn by US First Lady Michelle Obama as she addressed the Democratic National Convention last week. Kashou said the show opened doors for him in America and elsewhere. "I benefited a lot. It was a big advert, especially for me as a Palestinian designer," he said. "And the Arab world became aware of me." He is now developing his brand in Arab countries. In Ramallah, the Palestinian political capital in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, he showed off his unique style of dresses, including one resembling a bouquet of flowers with a pink and red collar, which he said was inspired by a trip to Puerto Rico. Story continues The garments, including a magenta cocktail dress designed for supermodel Heidi Klum, feature a range of exquisite fabrics such as chiffon, georgette, lame and silk. Suha Hussein, 32, inspected herself in the mirror as she tried on a sleek black Moroccan-style dress with beads engraved around the neck, based on an original made for Queen Rania. "I feel proud because we have such a talent and he is still interested in returning to his country," she said. Turning to the dress, she smiled: "I hope it isn't too expensive, so I can buy it." A single Rami Kashou dress can cost several thousand dollars, a sum impossible to imagine for the vast majority of Palestinians, where the unemployment rate is around 27 percent and one in five of those in work makes less than $380 a month. Does the designer who has made it big in America really see opportunities in the Palestinian territories? "There is an important market here," he said. "It is extremely important to study the market to know the customers and their needs." "And it is wedding season, women here want glamour." Paul Ryan The Wisconsin businessman challenging House Speaker Paul Ryan in next week's primary sharply criticized the speaker as a "soulless globalist" but expressed skepticism that GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has spoken favorably of him, would come to his aid with an endorsement. Paul Nehlen, who faces near-impossible odds of defeating Ryan in Tuesday's race, railed against the speaker in a Tuesday-night phone interview with Business Insider, characterizing him as "the most open-borders, anti-worker, pro-Wall Street member of Congress on either side." "Paul Ryan is a soulless globalist, and he would send our jobs overseas in a heartbeat if it meant more money in his campaign coffers," he said. Nehlen chastised Ryan for weighing in on the debate centered on the family of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq that has earned Trump widespread condemnation from those both within and outside the GOP. "Why does he weigh in on issues that, on the negative side, every time with Mr. Trump?" Nehlen said. "He's our nominee. He takes every opportunity to take a shot at Mr. Trump." "Mr. Trump said good things about our fallen hero, those Gold Star parents had the opportunity to take the stage, and Mr. Trump thinks they squandered an opportunity," he continued, using the term for family members of military members killed in battle. "Speaker Ryan needs to focus on what he needs to focus on and stop taking every opportunity to take a shot at Mr. Trump. Speaker Ryan is about to lose his job, that's what he needs to focus on." Nehlen's remarks came after Trump praised him and, in an unprecedented move, abstained from endorsing Ryan's reelection bid Ryan is the highest-ranking elected Republican official. "Well, I don't know if it'll have any impact on my election," Nehlen said. "I mean it's flattering comments certainly." Paul Nehlen Nehlen said he was "not looking for Mr. Trump to make an endorsement of me," adding, "I actually doubt that he would." Story continues "You know, Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment," he said, which is that thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican. He said he thought Trump "was just being a decent human being" for thanking him. "I wrote an article and he thanked me for it and I said of course," he said. "The real story here is that Paul Ryan's comments are beneath the dignity of the speaker, and this whole thing isn't about Mr. Trump and it isn't about me it's about Paul Ryan and his policies." Nehlen said Ryan hadn't been loyal to Trump "by any stretch of the imagination" while Trump had remained "quiet about this race" and was "loyal to the speaker." "But I think he's fed up," he said. "I don't know. You'd have to ask those guys." Ryan's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. On Tuesday, Trump said he was "not quite" ready to endorse Ryan. "I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country," Trump said in an interview with The Washington Post. "We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet. I'm not quite there yet." The phrasing used by Trump was similar to what Ryan said when he initially declined to endorse the Manhattan billionaire shortly after Trump became the presumptive GOP nominee in May. At the time, Ryan told CNN he was "just not ready" to endorse "at this point." "I'm not there right now," he told CNN host Jake Tapper. Ryan eventually did endorse Trump in June. He also spoke at the GOP convention last month as a sign of party unity between the two leaders. Donald Trump The move came just one day after Trump offered praise to Nehlen on Twitter for defending him online in a controversy regarding Trump's criticism aimed at the Gold Star family. Ryan had released a strongly worded statement over the weekend that again rejected Trump's plan, which he has since toned down, to indefinitely bar all Muslims from entering the US. Ryan's statement was in response to Trump's retaliation against Ghazala and Khizr Khan, the Gold Star parents who appeared at the Democratic National Convention last week with a message critical of Trump. "Thanks to @pnehlen for your kind words, very much appreciated," the Manhattan billionaire tweeted Monday night. "@realDonaldTrump my pleasure, Sir," Nehlen responded. "Just want to Make America Great Again." Trump told The Post that Nehlen, who has been reliably pro-Trump, was running "a very good campaign," but he also said he didn't offer his support, merely thanking him for "sending their love." "[Nehlen] is a big fan of what I'm saying big fan," Trump told The Post. "His opponent, who's running a very good campaign, obviously, I've heard his opponent sent me a very scholarly and well-thought-out letter yesterday and all I did was say thank you very much for your very nice letter. You saw my statement." NOW WATCH: Watch Hillary's brutal attack ad showing children watching Trump's controversial statements More From Business Insider A Pennsylvania judge ruled Tuesday that Lee Kaplan, the Festerville man arrested in June after police allegedly rescued 12 girls from his home, will stand trial for sexual assault and related charges, PEOPLE confirms. Bucks County Assistant District Attorney Kate Kohler tells PEOPLE that the parents of many of the 12 girls, who ranged in age from 6 months to 18 years old, will also stand trial. The girls' father, Daniel Stoltzfus, was charged with conspiracy to commit statutory sexual assault and child endangerment. Their mother, Savilla Stoltzfus, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. When Kaplan, 51, was arrested, Savilla Stoltzfus was also living in Kaplan's home. According to authorities, the Stoltzfuses allegedly "gifted" their then 14-year-old daughter, now 18, to Kaplan in exchange for financial help. Authorities allege Kaplan impregnated the girl and that she had two children by him: a six-month-old and a 3-year-old. Nine of the 12 girls living in the home were sisters of the 18-year-old; the remaining three were the 18-year-old and her two daughters, authorities allege. Kaplan is only charged with sex crimes relating to the now 18-year-old, but police are investigating whether Kaplan abused the other girls in the home, Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler previously told PEOPLE. The 18-year-old, whose name has not been made public, testified at Tuesday's hearing that she and her nine sisters were made to live in the home. Pennsylvania Man Allegedly Found with 12 Girls in Home Will Stand Trial, Judge Rules| Crime & Courts, True Crime Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Mother's Attorney: Statutory Rape Case Hard to Prove Because Government Doesn't Know Girl's Age Savilla Stoltzfus's attorney, William Craig Penglase, tells PEOPLE his client is Amish, and that a sex crime case against her will be difficult to prove because the government "has no idea how old the young girl in question actually is." "No birth records of her, no birth certificate," says Penglase. "So in a statutory rape case where age of the victim is the most important factor, the government apparently has no idea how old she is. The only information [they have] is what the child has told them." Penglase says that the Stoltzfuses promised Kaplan their daughter's hand in marriage, but added, "that happens in cultures all over the world." Penglase adds, "Apparently Mr. Kaplan, the other gentleman involved, took advantage of that plan. They expected a wedding. The plan was for them to get acquainted and see if they would hit it off and eventually matrimony." Prosecutor: Stoltzfuses Became Business Partners with Kaplan After Leaving Amish Community In a previous interview, Heckler told PEOPLE that when authorities went Kaplan's home in 2014 after a neighbor had called to complain that he was allegedly burning garbage in his yard, Kaplan told them he was watching the girls as a favor to his business associate. Daniel Stoltzfus owned a metal fabrication business but lost his company and home in 2009 due to foreclosure, Heckler said, after which Stoltzfus and Kaplan met at an auction involving metal fabricating equipment. According to Kaplan's arrest affidavit, which was obtained by PEOPLE, Daniel Stoltzfus "gifted" his then 14-year-old daughter to Kaplan "in thanks for helping his family out of financial ruin." Heckler and Penglase both said Stoltzfus was Amish but that at the time of his relationship with Kaplan, he had left the Amish community. Daniel Stoltzfus and Kaplan are being held on $1 million bond while Savilla Stoltfus is being held on $250,000. Daniel Stoltzfus' attorney, Tim Barton, did not return PEOPLE's calls for comment. Kaplan's attorney, Ryan Hyde, declined comment to PEOPLE. None of the three defendants have entered pleas. Donald Trump An official with the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, said that Donald Trump made "an unfortunate mistake" when the presidential candidate said that the capital city "looked like a war zone" from the window of his airplane. At a campaign rally on Tuesday, Trump said that the city of 49,673, which he had recently flown over in his private jet, "looked like a war zone where you (once had) these massive plants," according to The Associated Press. A Harrisburg city official fired back on Tuesday night. "Mr. Trump has made an unfortunate mistake in disparaging Pennsylvania's capital city after a mere glance from the window of his airplane," Joyce Davis, the city's director of communications, said in a statement released on Tuesday. "Harrisburg is renowned as the heart of our commonwealth and a capital of unique beauty and charm. Mr. Trump should know that Harrisburg and its residents are an integral part of the United States, which he is vying to lead," she said. along w/ insulting babies & a Gold Star family, Trump also compared Harrisburg to a "war zone" Harrisburg responds: pic.twitter.com/HuVFSmORK9 Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24) August 2, 2016 Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump has repeatedly insisted that he is going to win Pennsylvania, which is a crucial battleground state. "I think we're going to win Pennsylvania easily," Trump said during a news conference in North Dakota after he clinched the GOP nomination in May. Trump's war zone comment came amid a series of attacks within the last week targeting a Gold Star family, fire marshals, House Speaker Paul Ryan, and a crying baby. NOW WATCH: Tim Kaine on Trump calling out a crying baby: 'Sometimes you wonder who the baby is' More From Business Insider House panel tells Supply Ministry to allow gas bottlers to obtain bullets The parliamentary Industry, Commerce and Consumer Welfare Protection Committee told the Supply Ministry on Tuesday to withdraw its decision forbidding Nepali gas bottlers from obtaining bullets to transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). From Good Housekeeping There's no denying tuna sandwiches are a busy mom's best friend. But environmental group Greenpeace says there are some unfortunate practices taking place to get this fish into cans. That's why the organization sent a letter to 40 food retailers in the United States to ask them to stop selling some of the world's biggest tuna suppliers, including Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee Foods and Starkist. "Thai Union's U.S. brand, Chicken of the Sea, continues to supply destructive tuna," John Hocevar, Greenpeace's oceans director, wrote in the letter published last week. "It is time for U.S. retailers and foodservice companies to ... demand Chicken of the Sea improve or start canceling contracts." In the past, Chicken of the Sea has been accused of using forced labor and fishing habits that destroy marine habitats. They're also known for using extra-long fishing lines and fish aggregating devices that lure fish into small areas before netting them. However, this often results in other animals, such as sharks and turtles, being caught as well. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 100 million sharks (including endangered breeds) die as a result of these practices each year. Even though environmental groups have been advocating about the unsustainable practices of tuna companies for years, they've found little change in the U.S. But they hope this letter to companies like Walmart, Target, Costco and Kroger makes them finally listen - and they're convinced it's only a matter of time until they do. "These companies know what should happen," David Pinsky, a Greenpeace campaigner, told The Huffington Post. "I have no doubt things are going to shift. It's just a question of which companies are going to take that action." [h/t The Huffington Post] Just weeks after Rodrigo Duterte won the Philippines presidential election, a powerful front-page photograph of a woman cradling the limp body of a slain rickshaw driver has ignited an outcry over the new leaders zero-tolerance crackdown against drugs. Michael Siaron was reportedly killed by gunmen while he was working in Manila on July 23. In the moments afterward, photographers captured the scene as Siarons partner, later identified as Jennilyn Olayres, held him as a crowd looked on. The words drug pusher were written on a cardboard sign left next to Siarons body. Olayres recalled the night to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which published an intimate picture by photographer Raffy Lerma on the front page: When I was cradling him, I was thinking, How long have you been lying here? Nobody bothered to help him. I was furious. The 26-year-old told the newspaper that Siaron had used drugs but denied he was a dealer. Duterte, the longtime mayor of Davao City who has bragged about killing criminals in the past, won the presidency on the back of promises of a violent crackdown on drug dealers, which rights groups say has included the use of death squads to target criminals. We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier and the last pusher have surrendered or been put behind bars or below the ground if they so wish, Duterte said in his first State of the Nation address to lawmakers on July 25, the New York Times reported. Rights groups allege Dutertes anti-drug campaign has left hundreds dead and inspired vigilantes to take the law into their own hands. More than 100,000 people have turned themselves in to authorities as users or pushers, the Times added, citing national police statistics. Phelim Kine, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, told TIME the image has humanized the cost of this war on drugs, and raised concerns among those who may have supported the presidents anti-crime campaign. I suspect it will be part of a growing sense of buyers remorse among the Filipino population that voted him into office. Kine said only time will tell if the image helps turn the tide against Duterte. I think its spooking people in a positive way and we hope that will cause some momentum in terms of public demands for accountability, he said. Were seeing movement and whether that actually moves the needle in terms of what the government and police and vigilantes are doing, thats a longer-term battle. For her part, Olayres told the Inquirer she doesnt expect justice. I know we wont get that, especially since people believe the cardboardscardboards can never prove if the slain person is really a pusher, she said. I just want to clear my husbands name. The photo of Siarons corpse did not escape the presidents attention, according to the Inquirer. Duterte slammed the image as melodramatic and dismissed those who likened it to a work of renaissance art. From Cosmopolitan Vice President Joe Biden has officiated a gay wedding, a first for the early proponent of same-sex marriage. Biden presided over the union of Joe Mahshie and Brian Mosteller, both longtime White House aides. The White House says the couple asked Biden to officiate. Biden has never officiated a wedding before, so he got a special temporary certification from the District of Columbia to make it legal. He posted a photo of the wedding on Twitter, and later, Biden's wife Jill tweeted: "Love is love!" The afternoon ceremony took place Monday at the Naval Observatory, the vice president's official residence, with immediate family attending. Biden publicly backed gay marriage in 2012 in the run-up to President Barack Obama's re-election. The announcement put pressure on Obama to declare his own support shortly after. Other prominent officials who have officiated gay weddings include New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f165434%2fairplane5 It's 2016, but some Americans still see flight attendants as sex objects, not paid professionals in need of respect. An American Airlines pilot, whose name has not been released, made headlines recently after he took down 25-year-old passenger, Michael Kerr. Kerr had been slurring his words, appeared to be intoxicated, and had just thrown a female flight attendant to the ground. SEE ALSO: Heroic dog dies protecting family from 4 deadly cobras "Enough! You don't put your hands on my flight attendant!" the pilot says in the video. The incident took place on July 21st, as the plane was making its way from Lexington, Kentucky, to Charlotte, North Carolina, although the video only went viral in the last 48 hours. 23-year-old Brian Colon, who is an attendant for Norwegian Airlines, was on the plane at the time and filmed the incident. Colon explained to The News and Observer he had never seen anything like this before: I was scared. I was very scared. I felt like the flight attendants life was in danger, and I felt like someone else needed to step in, the way he treated her," Colon told The News and Observer. After landing the plane, the pilot came out to speak with Kerr. When Kerr shoved the attendant and then threatened to break the pilot's jaw, the pilot held him down for close to 20 minutes until police could arrive. Kerr has since been charged with assault, interfering with the duties of the flight crew, and public intoxication. He has been released on $25,000 bail and is waiting to stand trial. The flight attendant is currently receiving physical therapy for injuries incurred by the assault. Donald Trump Donald Trump's recent feud with a Gold Star family was significantly damaging to his campaign, according to two polls released on Wednesday. A poll from Fox News found that 69% of respondents familiar with Trump's recent criticism of the Khan family said that his remarks were "out of bounds." Among Republicans, 41% said that it was "out of bounds." The Khans, whose son, Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed during the Iraq War in 2004, denounced Trump during a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on Thursday. Trump then spent days after the address lobbing various criticisms at the family while noting that their son was a hero. Elsewhere, a Wednesday Morning Consult poll showed that 34% of registered voters were less likely to vote for Trump as a result of the feud. That number was 53% among Democrats, 31% among independents, and 14% among Republicans. Just 14% of respondents said that the feud made them more likely to vote for Trump. NOW WATCH: Trump spokeswoman: Capt. Khan's 2004 death was probably caused by Obama's and Hillary's policies More From Business Insider In memoriam The only thing constant about life is change and all we can leave behind are memories How Portlands new school dress code could change the high school experience forever How Portlands new school dress code could change the high school experience forever If you thought the days of getting kicked out of class for wearing a skirt shorter than the length of your fingertips were overthink again. Girls all over the country get dress-coded every day for wearing tank tops or shorts deemed too short by teachers and school administrators. Why? Because showing all that skin is distracting for boys. *Insert dramatic eye roll here* Thats why Portland, Oregon middle schooler Sophia Carlson took a stand last year and challenged her schools dress code policy. She and her friends, who attended Irvington School, had been kept out of class for dress code violations one too many times. Its a very embarrassing and shaming moment, to get dress-coded, said Carlson, now 14, in an interview with Bitch. The loss of educational time disproportionately targets girls. Carlson and other advocates proposed changes to the districts dress code that would make it less restrictive overall and, more importantly, gender-neutral. They suggested, for example, removing phrases like sexually suggestive and ending bans on tops with spaghetti straps, which affected girls far more often than boys. They suggested, for example, removing phrases like sexually suggestive and ending bans on tops with spaghetti straps, which affected girls far more often than boys. A photo posted by Ariel Winter (@arielwinter) on Jun 2, 2016 at 8:16am PDT Last week, the Portland Public Schools board ruled in their favorand the high school experience will never be the same. Finally, kids in Portland will be able to wear clothing that fits their styleand the weatherwithout getting reprimanded or kicked out of class. The new dress code requires students to wear tops that cover the front and sides of the bodyincluding opaque fabric over the breastsand bottoms that cover the genitalia, buttocks and undergarments, excluding waistbands. Theyre still banned from wearing clothing that depicts: hate speech; drugs, alcohol, marijuana or other controlled substances; pornography, nudity or sexual acts; and gang identifiers. Did you ever get dress-coded in school? What were you wearing? The post How Portlands new school dress code could change the high school experience forever appeared first on HelloGiggles. Aug 4 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Headlines * EDF chief admits knowing of Hinkley delay in advance. (http://bit.ly/2b3M9DO) * Saatchi chairman quits after gender row. (http://bit.ly/2b3LtyE) * Finra fines Barclays $1.3 mln for reporting violations. (http://bit.ly/2b3LUZx) Overview * EDF Chief Executive Jean-Bernard Levy knew the British government wanted to take more time to review the Hinkley Point nuclear contract before the French utility's board voted to approve the investment, he said in a letter to top executives. * Kevin Roberts, the chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi, quit after sparking uproar by saying a lack of women in high-powered jobs in advertising was not a problem and that some women lacked the "vertical ambition" to make it to the top. * U.S. securities-industry watchdog Finra has fined Barclays , the UK-based bank, $1.3 million for "systemic" reporting violations. (Compiled by Parikshit Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler) Aug 3 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - America's biggest companies logged a fourth straight quarter of shrinking profits and tepid sales, as weakness from energy companies and lower business investment more than offset U.S. consumer strength. http://on.wsj.com/2aNXVG2 - The Obama administration secretly organized an airlift of $400 million worth of cash to Iran that coincided with the January release of four Americans detained in Tehran, according to U.S. and European officials and congressional staff briefed on the operation afterward. http://on.wsj.com/2ayjkOU - Top executives at Riverstone Holdings LLC, one of the world's largest energy investment firms, face the prospect of returning more than $300 million of profits they made from investments before the oil bust erased those gains, according to securities filings and people familiar with the matter. http://on.wsj.com/2agXrb3 - Donald Trump is confronting the roughest patch of his presidential campaign, with even some of his strongest supporters urging him to shift gears and focus more on policy than personality. http://on.wsj.com/2ak7G9R (Compiled by Aurindom Mukherjee in Bengaluru) The wAit is over. Two weeks after Pretty Little Liars left Us with an epic proposal cliffhanger, the show returned Tuesday, August 2, to deliver answers about one couples romantic fate, one characters surprising past and anothers shocking death. PHOTOS: TV's 10 Most Shocking Deaths of the 2015-2016 Season On the Case The drama kicked off with the Liars sitting in the official keeper of all of Rosewoods secrets, the Brew coffee shop. During a heated debate on if Elliott (a.k.a. Archer Dunhill, played by Huw Collins) could possibly be alive, Ali (Sasha Pieterse) walked in wearing the red jacket that Caleb (Tyler Blackburn) turned over to A.D. to save Hanna (Ashley Benson) in season 7s premiere. After a quick quip about how the jacket was a gift from A.D., its safe to say that Ali was not quite over the whole telling-their-torturer-that-she-was-Charlotte's-killer thing. PHOTOS: Best TV Couples of All Time Ali quickly got a text from Mary Drake (Andrea Parker) saying that crime-solving enthusiast and elevator-makeout aficionado Detective Marco Furey (Nicholas Gonzalez) was at her house with some answers. Spencer (Troian Bellisario) went home with Ali, where she listened to her ghost of hookups past (yes, that's Detective Furey) tell them that he believes Archer is still alive, and that Ali is in great danger. After he promised Ali that she would have 24-hour police watch, Marco left and was followed out by Spencer, who told him that their makeout couldnt happen again. PHOTOS: Stars They're Just Like Us! Hes bAck While sitting in the Brew, Hanna heard a cellphone ringing and realized it was Archers burner phone that she took from his car. She picked it up and heard Archers voice say, Next time you bury someone, make sure theyre dead. She later told Aria (Lucy Hale) about the call, who told her to calm down because, you know, they buried him. But if Ali's and Monas pasts have taught us anything, its to never trust a Pretty Little Liars death plotline. They. Always. Come. Back. Story continues Aria told Hanna that Ezra (Ian Harding) proposed, and that she told him she had to think about it. Aria explained her hesitation to Hanna saying, I cant promise Ezra forever when my future could be spent behind bars. Hanna responded saying that the choice to be with a possible convicted felon was Ezras to make. Ah, modern romance. Hanna then threw her fake engagement ring and finally admitted she and Jordan broke up. You didnt want Spencer to know, Aria said, rather than asked. If the whole trying-to-catch-criminals-who-torture-them thing doesnt work out, these ladies should consider careers in counseling. She's Got a Secret At her bar, Emily (Shay Mitchell) saw Sara Harvey (Dre Davis) going up to Jennas hotel room and decided to bring up their room-service order. In one of the most underrated PLL scenes of all time, she walked in to find Jenna playing the flute alone on the couch with zero explanation for this whatsoever. She used the moment to to snoop through Jennas computer, but was interrupted by Sara. Things quickly escalated into a screaming match as Emily yelled at Jenna, Someone is threatening us again, and I think its you. Jenna explained that Charlotte was her friend, as Jenna was once helping Charlotte find her birth mother. Sara told Emily not to come back, to which she responded that shes not afraid of Jenna. I'm not talking about Jenna, Sara pleaded. "Im talking about " More cliffhangers, perfect. End of Spaleb Finally, some good news: Caleb came back! He walked into the bar and sat down with Ezra, who almost immediately asked him what the deal was with Spencer because WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH HIM AND SPENCER? Caleb mysteriously said, I dont know what we are right now, which is great, because no one else does either. After a bromantic chat about their lives, Caleb left brooding Ezra to talk to Spencer and officially break up with a tear-filled goodbye. Into the Ring Aria goes to Ezras apartment and tells him about the night Archer died. He proposed to her again, and finally, she said yes. There are many lessons to be learned here, but one of them is definitely that it is possible to marry your bar-bathroom makeout six years after the fact. Anything is possible. You know what they say: in sickness, in health, for better or for soon-to-be-convicted-of-manslaughter. Love is great. On the attAck Hanna and Spencer met in a park late at night to sit on swings, drink beer and have a heart-to-heart, as adults do. Their conversation was interrupted as the burner phone rang. It was once again Archer, who said, First you turn her in then you leave her alone, stupid bitches. They immediately called Ali, who ran outside and asked the police officer guarding her house to come in until backup arrived. The officer adjusted his humanlike face mask and followed her into the home before he quickly disappeared. Ali followed him into a dark room, where she stared at a wall reading, Honey, Im home. The officer, presumably Archer, attacked her and ran away when a police siren sounded. Ali picked up a piece of his face mask from the floor and gave it to the police as evidence. Sad Goodbye Sara frantically packed her bags as she heard a knock on the hotel room door. She opened the with a terrified look on her face. Later, a hotel maid found her murdered in the shower. Digging Their Grave Hanna and Spencer went into the woods to the spot where they buried Archer, although they were now convinced that he is the one who attacked Ali. They dug up the grave to find Archers still body laying in ground, just as they left it. Tell Us: How soon will Aria and Ezra get married? Pretty Little Liars airs on Freeform Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. moon express lunar lander antenna art On Tuesday, Moon Express, a privately funded commercial space company, announced that it has gotten official permission to land on the moon. Moon Express is the first private company given the green light for a lunar landing. A moon landing has only been accomplished by three nations the United States, the Soviet Union, and China. Since it was founded in 2010, Moon Express has been working diligently towards its goal of joining these three nations. If we succeed, not only will we become the first private company to land on the moon but the fourth superpower, Naveen Jain, one of three co-founders of Moon Express, told Popular Science. If a small group of entrepreneurs can do something that only had been done by superpowers, thats a huge shift in whats possible. Providing humanity with a plan B Rephrasing John F. Kennedys famous line, Jain explained that Moon Express chose to the go to the moon not because it is easy, but because it is profitable. Although the lander will be equipped with scientific instruments, the company's main goal is mining for metals, fuels, and moon rocks which some estimates have valued at $16 quadrillion dollars. We see this as a first step in providing humanity with a plan B, rather than living on a single point of failure called Spaceship Earth, Jain said. Jain said that the fact that something that cost NASA billions of dollars a few years ago can be done for under $10 million dramatically transforms space exploration. Moon Express is one of 17 contenders for Googles Lunar X-Prize, a $30 million dollar challenge to land a spacecraft on the moon, travel 1,640 feet, and transmit high-definition photos and video back to Earth. It is the first private space company ever to ask for permission to travel beyond Earths orbit, setting a precedent in space regulations. In order to be more persuasive, it came up with its own temporary framework, allowing the US government to oversee the mission. Story continues Although it hasnt yet chosen a landing site, they plan to stay away from the Apollo landing sites and other NASA artifacts. The beginning of our lives in space The company hopes to launch toward the end of next year aboard an experimental rocket built by Rocket Labs, an aerospace company. Although it has developed and tested a large prototype lander, Moon Express still needs to produce a miniaturized version for the mission. Jain said that they are currently testing the navigation and propulsion system. They also need to work out the payloads and the software that will land the rover on the moon. While NASA has had its eyes on Mars in recent years, Jain believes that the best way to learn to live there is to start by living on the moon. Its much better to learn to live off the planet when youre only a few days away rather than months on Mars, Jain said. Were going to need to go the Moon first. Thats our stepping stone, and the beginning of our lives in space. NOW WATCH: Geophysicists discovered that the Moon is triggering earthquakes in California More From Business Insider Leopard strays into Matatirtha, killed Locals of Matatirtha in Thankot killed an adult leopard on Monday night in what is seen as a retaliatory attack. By Michel Rose and Paul Sandle PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) - Kevin Roberts, the chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi, quit after sparking uproar by saying a lack of women in high-powered jobs in advertising was not a problem and that some women lacked the "vertical ambition" to make it to the top. "'Fail Fast, Fix Fast, Learn Fast' is a leadership maxim I advocate," Roberts said in a statement after he stepped down from the Publicis-owned (PUBP.PA) agency. "I failed exceptionally fast," said Roberts, a British-born advertising boss who spent more than four decades telling some of the world's biggest companies how to pitch their products. But Roberts, born in 1949, veered dramatically off message when he was quoted in an interview with Business Insider as saying that he doesn't spend any time on gender issues as the gender diversity debate was over in the advertising world. Publicis, one of the big four global ad groups, suspended Roberts on Monday, saying it did not tolerate "anyone speaking for our organisation who does not value the importance of inclusion". Roberts said he was sorry for the upset and offence his comments had caused. "I have inadvertently embarrassed Saatchi & Saatchi and Publicis Groupe, two companies I love and have been devoted to for almost 20 years," he said on Wednesday. The row which cost Roberts his job at Saatchi & Saatchi comes days after Roger Ailes resigned as chairman and chief executive of Fox News Channel following allegations of sexual harassment. 'CIRCULAR AMBITION' In an interview with the Business Insider website, Roberts said some women at key junctures in their careers did not want to lead businesses and people, and that managers should reflect on how to deal with the ambitions of female and male employees who "simply want to be happy and do great work". In the interview, Roberts appeared to argue that "idiotic dinosaur-like men" were trying to make women conform to Darwinian urges to acquire wealth, power, and fame. Story continues "Their ambition is not a vertical ambition, it's this intrinsic, circular ambition to be happy," Roberts was quoted as saying. The interview caused consternation in Saatchi & Saatchi and the wider group, its chief creative officer Kate Stanners said, while provoking a storm of criticism on social media. The agency's worldwide CEO also said Roberts' views did not reflect the position of the agency, which he said was a meritocracy. Publicis Groupe has a roughly 50-50 gender split amongst all its staff, while around 65 percent of Saatchi & Saatchis staff are female, as the agency wants to reflect the buyers of the types of products it is advertising, Roberts told Business Insider. Roberts, who started his career at London fashion house Mary Quant before working for Gillette, Procter & Gamble and Pepsi, said he would bring forward his retirement to Sept. 1 from May next year. He said there was a "lot of learning to reflect on" in the debate sparked by his comments. "Within the thousands of tweets, comments and articles there are many powerful and passionate contributions on the changing nature of the workplace, the work we do, what success really looks like, and what companies must do to provide women and men the optimal frameworks in which to flourish," he said. (Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Susan Thomas) Premier semiconductor manufacturer Qorvo, Inc. QRVO reported first-quarter fiscal 2017 GAAP net loss of $5.7 million or a loss of 4 cents per share as against net income of $2.0 million or a penny per share in the prior-year period. Despite higher revenues, the year-over-year decrease in earnings was primarily due to higher operating expenses during the quarter. Non-GAAP earnings in the reported quarter were $143.1 million or $1.08 per share, down from $168.5 million or $1.09 per share in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted earnings (with stock-based compensation adjustments) of 85 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny, although it improved from the year-ago tally of 78 cents. Quarter Details Non-GAAP revenues for first-quarter fiscal 2017 improved to $697.6 million from $672.7 million in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year increase in revenues reflected better-than-expected customer demand due to strength in Mobile products in China, a large customer smartphone ramp and growth in Infrastructure and Defense products (IDP). Revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $650 million. By segment, Mobile Products revenue was approximately flat year over year and increased 18% sequentially to $547 million due to launch of a number of premium smartphones and a strong market demand in China. Revenues from IDP grew 24% year over year and 6% sequentially to $151 million due to design wins and robust customer activity, especially in GaN (gallium nitride) power amplifier. Qorvo continues to reposition its IDP product portfolio to support high growth markets that is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 17% to $7 billion by 2020. Fiscal 2017 first-quarter non-GAAP gross margin was 48.2% versus 50.0% in the year-ago quarter, impacted by low-band PAD (power amplifier+duplexer) business. Non-GAAP income from operations was $167.6 million versus $160.6 million in the prior-year quarter. QORVO INC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise QORVO INC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | QORVO INC Quote Acquisition During the quarter, Qorvo acquired privately-held Netherlands-based GreenPeak Technologies, a leader in ultra-low power, short range RF (radio frequency) communication technology. The acquisition will facilitate Qorvo to expand its customer offering to include highly integrated RF solutions and systems-on-a-chip for the connected home and the rapidly growing Internet of Things (IoT) market. Qorvo extended its portfolio with a broad range of proprietary antenna products and multiple receiver architecture technologies with the acquisition of GreenPeak. GreenPeak solutions offer superior range, robustness and best-in-class WiFi interference rejection with no latency in production-ready reference designs that allow quick time to market for integration into smart home and IoT applications. Balance Sheet & Cash Flow At quarter end, cash and cash equivalents were $433.0 million, while long-term debt was $988.4 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $59 million with free cash flow of $76.1 million at the end of the quarter. Capital expenditures were $130 million, primarily due to growing premium filter demand. Outlook Qorvo expects non-GAAP revenues in second-quarter fiscal 2017 to be approximately $820$850 million, given a healthy demand schedule. The company expects gross margin of approximately 47% and earnings within $1.35 and $1.45 per share. Currently, Qorvo carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the same space include Amkor Technology, Inc. AMKR, Cirrus Logic Inc. CRUS and FormFactor Inc. FORM, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report QORVO INC (QRVO): Free Stock Analysis Report FORMFACTOR INC (FORM): Free Stock Analysis Report CIRRUS LOGIC (CRUS): Free Stock Analysis Report AMKOR TECH INC (AMKR): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research From Esquire Update, 8/2: After months of rumors swirling, Calvin Klein has officially confirmed the hire of Raf Simons as its new chief creative officer. The brand announced the news in a statement shared on Facebook, detailing Simons new role at the American fashion brand. The new hire follows the announcement of Calvin Klein's new global strategy, introduced back in April. CEO of Calvin Klein, Steve Shiffman said in a statement: "The arrival of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer signifies a momentous new chapter for Calvin Klein. Not since Mr. Klein himself was at the company has it been led by one creative visionary, and I am confident that this decision will drive the Calvin Klein brand and have a significant impact on its future. Raf's exceptional contributions have shaped and modernized fashion as we see it today and, under his direction, Calvin Klein will further solidify its position as a leading global lifestyle brand." Following a three-year stint as creative director at Dior, the move marks Simons first foray into American fashion. It was announced just last month that Simons would be replaced by Valentino's Maria Grazia Chiuri at Dior. Fashion's never-ending game of designer musical chairs continues-and Simons taking the helm at Calvin Klein will surely be one to watch. Read the full statement on Simons's new hire at Calvin Klein below: Original Article, 6/9: Calvin Klein (the person) may have just dropped a major hint at the next creative director of Calvin Klein (the brand). During an interview with Andy Cohen at Sirius XM, the designer discussed his nakesake label as well as the void that's been left since Francisco Costa stepped down as creative director back in April. When it came to revealing the fashion house's next creative director, Klein didn't name any names but he did drop a major bombshell hint at who could be lined up. For months now, the fashion industry has speculated that Raf Simons, who exited Dior back in October 2015, would be headed to Calvin Klein. Simons has been the only candidate rumored to fill Costa's shoes and Klein seemed to hint at that in his statement, "They just finally made changes in the design staff. They won't announce [who it is] publicly because it's under contract. But the whole industry knows." Simons's non-compete agreement with LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is set to expire at the end of July, just in time for Calvin Klein to announce a new creative director before Spring 2017 collections kick off in September. Let the designer musical chairs-watch begin. The E.U. nations, Switzerland and Norway saw a record 1.3 million migrants apply for asylum in 2015, accounting for about one-tenth of all applications (11.6 million) received by those countries in the past 30 years. According to the Pew Research Center, which analyzed data from the E.U.s statistical agency Eurostat, last years 1.3 million applications is close to double the last record, set in 1992, of 697,000 asylum applications. That surge was caused by the fall of the Iron Curtain after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 2015, Germany was the primary destination for asylum seekers. The country received 442,000 applications, the highest annual number recorded by a European country for the past three decades. Hungary received the second largest number of applications in 2015 with 174,000, followed by Sweden, which received 156,000. Per capita, Hungary received the highest number of first-time requests for asylum in 2015, some 1,770 applications per 100,000 people. The number is well above the total European rate of 250 applicants per 100,000. Sweden came second to Hungary with 1,600 first-time asylum applications per 100,000 people, followed by Austria (1,000 per 100,000 people) and Norway (590 per 100,000). More than half of all asylum applicants in 2015 came from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. East European regions like Ukraine, Albania, Russia and Kosovo contributed to 17% of all asylum applications in the E.U., Switzerland and Norway. wegmans salad bar A regional grocery chain that most Americans have never visited has been named the best in the US and now, it's expanding. On Tuesday, news broke that Wegmans is planning to make a greater push into North Carolina, including considering "multiple sites" in the Raleigh-Durham area, reports Democrat and Chronicle. Wegmans ranks as Americans' favorite grocery chain, according to Market Force Information's annual survey of the industry, which was released in April. 2016 was the first time in four years that Trader Joe's missed out on the No. 1 spot in Market Force's survey. The discount chain slipped 5% in customer satisfaction since its win in 2015. While last year Wegmans didn't even earn enough votes to make the list, this year the 88-location grocery chain doubled its support just as the chain prepares to expand. With a score of 76% satisfaction, Wegmans beat out No. 2 Publix and No. 3 Trader Joe's. Wegmans Wegmans was founded in 1916, and it is based in Rochester, New York. The chain was founded by brothers Walter and John Wegman and is still family-owned, with Danny Wegman serving as CEO and his daughter, Colleen Wegman, serving as president. wegmans store Wegmans stores are larger than the average grocery store, emphasizing variety and fresh products. The company reports that locations stock 50,000 to 70,000 products in the largest stores compared to the slightly more than 40,000 products that Food Marketing Institute reports the average supermarkets stock. Wegmans Because they carry more products, Wegmans is usually about 75,000 to 140,000 square feet, with the company emphasizing the stores' "spacious aisles" in contrast to Trader Joe's often cramped ones. The stores also have to be large enough to fit various extras that are foreign to many supermarkets. wegmans bento box Many locations have cafes, pizzerias, sushi bars, and buffets, plus seating areas for 100 to 300 people where customers can eat their food. Story continues wegmans beer locker The chain is also known for its extensive beer market, with a large selection of craft brews. Some locations even have walk-in beer lockers. Many customers love Wegmans because of the dedicated customer service. Wegmans "Its focus on employee training to ensure customers have the best experience has been a winning strategy that creates superfans eager for a new location to open near their home," reports Market Force. In return for employees' dedication, Wegmans serves as a superior employer in the grocery industry. The company offers healthcare coverage for workers as well as college scholarships, paying around $4.5 million in tuition assistance to employees each year. wegmans grocery store All of these factors combine to create an army of Wegmans fans, responsible for the grocery chain's top ranking. In 2015, the company reported that 7,300 customers contacted Wegmans to report how much they enjoyed their shopping experience or the way employees treated them. Sunday trips to weggys! #wegmans #wegmanssub #buffalo #buffalove #buffalofoodie #buffaloeats #getinmybelly #sunday #sundayfunday A photo posted by Buffalo Foodie (@buffalovefoodie) on Apr 10, 2016 at 11:23am PDT on Apr 10, 2016 at 11:23am PDT Wegmans is currently focused on expanding, with planned openings in states including Maryland and Virginia later this year, in addition to its plan to expand in North Carolina. According to Wegmans, more than 4,000 people contacted the company asking for a store in their community in 2015. These eager Wegmans' fans include North Carolinians, with a page called 'Bring Wegmans to the NC Triangle Area Please' earning 830 likes. Wegmans The company's efforts are paying off. Wegmans reported annual sales of $7.9 billion in 2015. That's not as much as Trader Joe's, where annual sales reached an estimated $11.3 billion, according to Packaged Facts. But it's pretty impressive when comparing the number of locations: Trader Joe's has more than 400 stores, while Wegmans has just 88. However, to compete in North Carolina, Wegmans will find itself facing off against new rivals. Kroger has 160 stores in the state, while Publix has 14 and plans to open another 20 in the coming year, reports reports Democrat and Chronicle. NOW WATCH: Grocery shopping is way more fun in this Dutch supermarket turned dance club More From Business Insider By Tim Kelly and Kiyoshi Takenaka TOKYO (Reuters) - Tomomi Inada will have precious little time to settle into her new job as Japan's defense minister, as events on her first day in the office underlined. Hours before the hawkish lawyer was appointed to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet in a limited reshuffle, a North Korean missile landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters for the first time. The show of force, part of Pyongyang's increasingly provocative arms testing, is a reminder of how strained relations between countries in northeast Asia have become, from North Korea's nuclear program to China's assertiveness in the disputed waters of the South and East China Seas. Into the mix steps Inada, a conservative ally of Abe whose support for his goal of revising Japan's post-war, pacifist constitution risks exacerbating tensions. The 57-year-old, previously policy chief for Abe's Liberal Democratic Party, will be watched closely in Beijing and Seoul, where Japan's legacy of military aggression before and during World War Two remains an open wound. Inada has been a regular visitor to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine for the war dead, an act that infuriates both countries because they see the shrine as a symbol of Japan's past militarism for which they believe it has never fully atoned. When asked by reporters on Wednesday whether she would visit the shrine again ahead of the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan's surrender in 1945, Inada declined to comment. "It's a matter of conscience and I don't think I should comment on whether I will go or not," she said. Political analysts expect Inada to put pragmatism first in her new role. "She is the kind of person who regularly listens to a wide range of people. I believe she will employ a practical policy," said Bonji Ohara, a research fellow at the Tokyo Foundation think-tank. "Personnel change presents a good opportunity (to improve ties). It gives China an opportunity to say what has happened has happened under (outgoing defense) minister (Gen) Nakatani, not minister Inada, and to shift its stance." COMMON CAUSE IN NORTH KOREA? Japan, and Inada, may in turn reach out to China and others as they seek to neutralize the threat to security posed by North Korea. Japan has already said it is upgrading its missile defenses in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to counter more advanced North Korean weapons, part of increased military spending in the region that reflects worsening ties. China is North Korea's main ally, although Beijing disapproves of Pyongyang's nuclear program. Abe is expected to travel to China in September for a Group of 20 summit, where he wants to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "We will steadily strengthen ties with neighboring countries such as China and South Korea, and proceed with talks with Russia for a peace treaty," Abe told a news conference announcing his new cabinet. Japan and Russia never signed a peace treaty after World War Two because of a territorial dispute, while Tokyo and Beijing both claim jurisdiction over islands in the East China Sea. In fact, Inada was one of three Japanese lawmakers who were reportedly denied entry into South Korea in 2011 because they planned to visit islands which both countries say are theirs. Also in her in-tray is the row over who owns what in the South China Sea, where Japan has no direct claim but through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually, much of it to and from Japanese ports. Rather than confront China directly by sailing warships past its man-made island bases in the sea, Japan is providing equipment and training to the Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam, which are most opposed to China's territorial ambitions. Beijing's most powerful adversary in Asia is the United States, with its Seventh Fleet operating from bases in Japan and South Korea. Japan's annual defense review, published on Tuesday, warned of "unintended consequences" if China disregarded international rules, after an arbitration court in The Hague invalidated Beijing's sweeping claims to most of the sea. China rejected the ruling and refused to participate in the case. (Additional reporting by Elaine Lies; Writing by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Alex Richardson) By Jeremy Wagstaff LAUNCESTON, Australia, (Reuters) - The future of communications may be 5G, where mobile networks push bandwidth-heavy video to phones and pull data from self-driving cars, but some firms see an alternative: farm irrigation equipment, donation boxes and oysters, connected by a technology called LoRa. LoRa (for Long Range) is among a clutch of narrow band technologies that connect devices cheaply over unlicensed spectrum and vast distances, needing very little power. The catch: they can only send small parcels of data rather than the gigabytes most wired and mobile standards aspire to. But, advocates say, that may be more than enough. "It turns out you don't need that huge an infrastructure, and it can be driven by small devices that are very smart and not very expensive," says Mike Cruse, CEO of Definium Technologies, which is building LoRa-based devices for farmers, universities and mines. The so-called Internet of Things (IoT) has long promised to hook up devices, from aircraft to hair dryers, enabling owners to monitor, control and collect data from them remotely. Spending on the IoT will hit $6 trillion between 2015 and 2020, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. But the reality has been slow catching up. Ericsson this year almost halved the number of connected devices - including smartphones - it sees by 2020 to 28 billion. Part of what's holding things back, critics say, is that solutions are too expensive and elaborate for what is needed. Most involve cellular connections, which are either impractical in rural areas or beyond a user's budget. Take Richard Gardner, who runs a 2,500 hectare (6,178 acre) farm in Tasmania and pays A$1,200 per sensor for a cellular-based soil moisture measuring system. He's working with Definium to design one costing a tenth of that. "There's a lot of technology out there that works now, it's just very expensive. We've got something now that we think has better attributes and is cheaper," says Gardner, who has invested in Definium and says he already has other farmers keen to buy the company's products. Story continues LORA AND FRIENDS Making all this possible is LoRa, a narrow band standard adopted by the likes of Cisco and IBM, where the thumbnail-sized radios that send and receive data sell for a dollar or less. Dutch enthusiasts are building a global community of open-source LoRa gateways, called the Things Network. Nodes send and receive messages - about a tenth of the size of an SMS - every couple of minutes to once every few hours. Followers have rolled out their own experimental networks using the community's software in cities from Colombia to Russia. Founder Wienke Giezeman says a $300 gateway - the router connecting the LoRa nodes to the Internet - will be available next month. Half a dozen would be enough to cover an average-sized city. "This," he says, "is going to push the next phase of growth." And LoRa isn't the only narrow band technology in town. Weightless, a British-based alliance, is one. Another is a proprietary U.S. technology run by a company called Ingenu, as is Sigfox, a French firm, which has raised $150 million from companies including Samsung Electronics. POTENTIAL LOSERS The biggest potential losers are the telecoms companies, the traditional gatekeepers to the coverage these networks now claim. Ericsson says only 1.5 billion of the 16 billion IoT devices it reckons will be connected in 2021 will rely on cellular networks. Some telecoms firms are counting on NB-IOT, a narrow band standard adopted by the industry that would use their existing cellular networks. Others are hedging their bets by building LoRa and other narrow band networks. SK Telecom, for example, has rolled out a network across South Korea which it said would cost users a tenth of what they would pay to attach devices to its 4G network. Lagging, however, is how best to use these networks. Charles Anderson, an analyst at IDC, says governments and companies are still pondering what might work, and what end users might want. In the meantime, smaller players are feeling their way. One visitor to a booth at a recent IoT show in Singapore suggested connecting donation collection boxes so she'd know when they need emptying. Rishabh Chauhan of The Things Network says the community is still experimenting - from remotely monitoring mouse traps to whether moored rowboats have filled with water. "It seems people have a use case, but want to see it on a small level. They're still prototyping," he said. CITY LIMITS Much of the pioneering work is outside cities, where existing networks are poor. Gardner, the farmer, for example, sees the potential for monitoring water flow and levels, the voltage in his electric fences, or his crop sprinklers. Knowing whether they're working properly would save two trips a day and cut fuel bills, he says. In a back-room lab, Definium's Cruse shows some of the sensors he's designing for clients, all of which could easily connect to a LoRa network. They include one for measuring salt levels for shrimp farmers in Bangladesh; an LED street lamp for a mining company that could be controlled remotely; a squirrel trap which would alert a catch, and a biosensor attached to an oyster to gauge its health. (Reporting by Jeremy Wagstaff; Editing by Ian Geoghegan) From Road & Track Growing up on the north side of Charlotte, North Carolina, Anthony Foxx remembers the geography of his childhood being defined by a quiet neighborhood of ranch-style houses, well-kept lawns-and an imposing brick wall at the end of the block. On the other side of the wall, there ran a high-speed on-ramp that connected the eastbound lanes of Interstate 85 with the southbound lanes of Interstate 77, two highways that cradled the northeast corner of the neighborhood. For Foxx, the wall, the highways, and the hum of traffic blended into the background. He knew nothing different. Over time, he came to understand they weren't part of the neighborhood at all but more like interloping house guests. "Those freeways were there to carry people through my neighborhood, but never to my neighborhood," said Foxx, now Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. It wasn't always that way. When his grandparents purchased the house in 1961, Crestdale Drive connected with surrounding streets. But soon after, fresh transportation dollars provided by the federal government flowed into Charlotte. In support of America's maturing automobile age, engineers placed the path of new highways and their accessory roads through the established neighborhood. Construction crews amputated Crestdale Drive on one side to make room. It now ends in a small traffic circle. Those freeways were there to carry people through my neighborhood, but never to my neighborhood, said Foxx Next door, a high-speed thoroughfare was born. It was as foreign an object in the neighborhood as a meteor that had hurtled in from the sky. Houses were razed. Local businesses relocated. Property values diminished. "The corner store was gone, because the corner was gone," Foxx said. That history of his family home left a lasting impression. Decisions that policymakers and transportation engineers make can enhance the fabric of cities-or destroy them. As he rose through the ranks as a member of Charlotte's city council and then as the city's mayor, he developed a strong interest in land-use cases and urban planning. Stories of city highways supplanting established, often minority, neighborhoods became all too familiar. Story continues Now, in his twilight months as DOT secretary, Foxx is taking steps to undo the sins of the interstate's past and examining how some of the neighborhoods torn apart by highway planners a half-century ago can now be healed. Last month, Foxx unveiled the Every Place Counts design challenge, a program to identify areas, like the neighborhood where he grew up, where roads have cordoned off communities and offer potential solutions. "Deeply embedded in our infrastructure are the values of past eras that accepted disconnections and that accepted a view of our country as folks who were in and folks who were out," Foxx said. "I think we've got to have a different idea in the 21st century." Over the past four weeks, federal officials have visited four cities-Philadelphia, Nashville, Minneapolis, and Spokane, Washington-to gather input from urban planners, architects, and community members and help them envision ways to reconnect neighborhoods dominated by highways. Depending on whether those roads are above grade, already at street level, or below grade, those visions could include building parks on top of roads, lowering elevated structures to ground level, or removing the roads altogether. City Highways Have Barricaded Neighborhoods In Spokane, Interstate 90 cuts the city in half, separating the heart of the city from the working-class streetcar suburb of East Central Spokane. In Nashville, Interstate 40 was built in the 1960s through the heart of predominantly African-American neighborhoods; city officials now want to reconnect them. In Minneapolis, the construction of Interstate 94 divided the Rondo neighborhood, another minority community. And in Philadelphia, city officials say, the Interstate 676 spur has "impeded" three neighborhoods from receiving economic investments and prevented residents from accessing local parks. When DOT officials visited last week, Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney wrote, "They took the time to walk the crosswalks and to hear the noise of I-676 and to feel the hard line that it draws through the community." Unlike the Smart City Challenge, a recent DOT competition that ultimately awarded $40 million in federal funds to Columbus, Ohio, to implement an innovative network of connected transportation options, there's no funding attached to the Every Place Counts challenge. At this stage, the support is only in technical planning, though transportation officials say they'll help communities pursue funds for implementation. But both competitions highlight the way federal officials are examining transportation's role in revitalizing urban cores and helping some of the country's poorest residents gain access to health care, education, public spaces, and better jobs. In the case of Every Place Counts, the program is analyzing how transportation contributed to these problems in the first place. The idea of reconnecting urban communities displaced by highways isn't new. The first removal occurred in Portland, Oregon, more than 40 years ago. At first, few projects followed. But successful projects in San Francisco and Boston helped quell fears that severe traffic gridlock would ensue in the highways' absence, and the economic-development prospects in newfound urban land are getting hard to ignore. Currently, the DOT's interest and Foxx's candid comments are further signals that highway removal is gaining favor. "The writing is on the wall," said Ian Lockwood, an urban designer with Toole Design Group, who served as the city transportation planner in West Palm Beach, Florida, and led an effort in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to transform an urban highway spur into a park. "These things are going to change. The question is, 'Which generation is going to do it?' It's an honest question. Are we the ones, or do we need to wait until your kids or grandkids do it?" Increasingly, the answer is that it will be done now. Removal Often Cheaper Than Repairs Advocates have no shortage of principled reasons to rid cities of their tangled ribbons of roads; but removal and capping discussions are in vogue because of more practical considerations. Sixty years ago, when President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, the federal government contributed an initial $25 billion toward the construction of more than 41,000 new miles of roadways. The law encouraged growth: Federal officials paid for 90 percent of project costs, asking state and local governments only to come up with the remaining 10 percent. Today, those dollars have largely disappeared. The federal Highway Trust Fund, largely fueled by a gasoline tax, teetered on the verge of insolvency for years as lawmakers provided only short-term fixes until offering $51.9 billion in funding last December. America has largely stopped funding and fixing its infrastructure. America has largely stopped funding and fixing its infrastructure. And when highways reach the end of their useful life, it is often cheaper to extract them than it is to replace or repair them. Cost was the overriding factor when San Francisco decided to replace the Embarcadero's elevated freeway, which straddled the city's northeast border. This project began quite by accident. Voters rejected the idea of removing the highway in a 1987 vote by nearly a two-to-one margin. But the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged the structure less than three years later. Faced with a $49 million bill to remove the structure or a $69.5 million one to replace it, city officials chose the cheaper route. Starting in 1991, it took the city a decade to replace the elevated highway with a six-lane boulevard surrounded by a 25-foot-wide pedestrian promenade. Available housing in the area increased by 51 percent in the five years after crews completed the project, and property values in the adjacent neighborhoods increased 300 percent, according to a 2012 study conducted by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP). Milwaukee's Park East: A Tipping Point If the Embarcadero project showcased the possibilities offered by highway removal, the case of Park East Freeway in Milwaukee demonstrated it'd be more complicated to win support when the need couldn't be attributed to a force of nature. Construction on the elevated Park East Freeway, initially intended as a three-mile link between Lake Michigan and Milwaukee's southern suburbs, began in 1971. One year later, it stopped. Both community opposition and construction cost overruns left the project at a standstill with only one phase finished, an elevated one-mile spur from Interstate 43 to downtown. More than a decade passed. With the project in perpetual flux, voters elected John Norquist mayor in 1988, in no small part based on his opposition to completing the highway. In fact, he aspired to tear the first phase down. Opposition formed in every corner. Business leaders feared motorists would no longer reach their stores. Commuters feared ensuing gridlock. A regional planning commission loathed the idea. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Norquist recalls, warned the city would be forced to repay federal funding that paid for the first phase. "People said I hated cars and was trying to create congestion, and that kind of stuff," said Norquist, who had already rejected other planned freeways in the city before they grew beyond blueprints. "Those freeways would have killed Milwaukee. The city would have a much lower population now if they built those freeways. They would have been deadly, like Detroit." A freeway dumping into the grid is like getting a fire hose when you want a drink of water. A 1991 renewal of the Federal-Aid Highway Act gave municipalities broader latitude on how to spend transportation dollars. If there had been any concern before that Milwaukee would need to repay dollars, there was none now. It took almost another decade of wrangling with opponents, but removal of Park East began in 2002 and was completed in 2003. Demolition, as in the case of the Embarcadero, was cheaper than the alternative. It cost $25 million, with the federal government paying 80 percent of those expenses. Completing and maintaining the freeway would have cost an additional $50 to $80 million, according to the Milwaukee Planning Department. Between 2001 and 2006, the average assessed land values in the Park East area grew by 180 percent, according to the ITDP, and the average assessed land values in the Park East Tax Increment District grew by 45 percent in the same period. Streets reconnected on the local traffic grid. Developers created three new neighborhoods with mixed-use purposes on the land, which brought in roughly $250 million in new investments. Milwaukee served as the inspiration for other projects. New York began tearing down a portion of the West Side Highway in 2001, Chattanooga replaced its Riverfront Parkway in 2004, San Francisco tore down another freeway in 2005, and Seattle extracted the Alaskan Way Viaduct in 2011. Capping projects, in which highway corridors are relocated to below-grade levels so the at-grade land can be redeveloped, also are gaining popularity, though they carry significantly more expense. Boston's famous Big Dig put the city's main traffic artery into a tunnel and opened more than 300 acres of space above for commercial and residential development and public space when it was completed in 2007. Between 2009 and 2012, Dallas built Klyde Warren Park, a 5.2-acre public space on top of Woodall Rogers Freeway. Beyond the four cities examined by the DOT, active proposals for teardowns or caps are underway in Louisville, Austin, Syracuse, and New Haven, Connecticut. Others are eyed in places like Buffalo, Providence, Tampa, Baltimore, and Charlotte. Even Detroit. "The idea of tearing these things down is still pretty new, and for a lot of people, still pretty weird," said Norquist, who became chief executive officer of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), an organization now consulting on the Every Place Counts challenge, after his tenure as mayor ended in 2004. "Their first reaction is, 'You want to do what?' So it's going to take time." Inevitably, the same arguments arise: Without the highways, traffic will come to a standstill. Businesses will suffer. Traffic Horrors Haven't Arrived For the record, Norqust doesn't hate cars. He hates traffic. "The love affair with the automobile has a lot to do with context," he said. "In the ads the car companies show, you drive down a boulevard, and people can see your beautiful car. You can't do that on a superhighway when you're sitting in traffic." Curbing traffic and the ever-expanding infrastructure dedicated to handling it is one reason he's been in favor of highway teardowns. Greater highway capacity begets more traffic, a phenomenon traffic engineers call "induced demand." Build it, and they will come. But building roadways to accommodate more and more cars, he says, is akin to loosening a belt buckle to solve obesity. In their peak years, 61,000 vehicles used the Embarcadero Freeway and 93,000 drove along the Central Freeway in San Francisco every day. Roughly 31,000 used the Park East Freeway in Milwaukee, and about 25,000 utilized Harbor Drive in Portland. In Seattle, 100,000 took the Alaskan Way Viaduct. On its face, the premise that so many cars could seamlessly shift elsewhere seems absurd. Yet it is clear from the experiences of those cities and others that Carmaggedon-like traffic spikes never materialized. Less certain is what happened to all the cars. The changes more than halved the number of motorists driving along the replacement streets. The number of vehicles on the Central Freeway fell to 45,000, and approximately 26,000 drivers per day used the Embarcadero, a drop of 57 percent. Drivers along the Embarcadero reported a "slight increase in travel times," according to a 2010 CNU study, while traffic times actually decreased at three of 10 measurement spots on Octavia Boulevard, the Central Freeway's replacement. Where did the rest of the traffic go? Public transit wasn't as viable an alternative as many envisioned. Only 3 percent of drivers on the Embarcadero report switching to public transportation after the project was complete, according to the ITDP. Some drivers either changed their scheduled activities or eliminated trips altogether, according to a 1998 study from University College in London, which examined 60 worldwide cases in which highway capacity was removed. A 2011 study from the University of Connecticut said the traffic patterns required further study, but it suggested city traffic grids had been underutilized in the presence of the freeways and, in their removal, proved resilient in absorbing and dispersing large amounts of traffic. Highways offer value in carrying vehicles long distances at high rates of speed, but they're inefficient in a city environment, where bottlenecks form around on-ramps and exits. Wider use of city-street grids negate this problem. "A freeway dumping into the grid is like getting a fire hose when you want a drink of water," Norquist said. "It concentrates the traffic. You don't want to concentrate the traffic." Beyond that functional disconnect, there's a greater one. In the 1950s, transportation officials extolled the interstates as a means of spreading wealth to the fledgling suburbs. That didn't happen. The highways didn't spread prosperity; they exported it entirely. And while they eroded tax bases from the city, they siphoned away something else. Foxx said city dwellers lost their dignity. "They paid a heavy price for the system we depend on every day," he said. "But we're all still paying a price for this." In that sense, the ongoing discussions about highway removals and relocations aren't about traffic and transportation. They're about those people. Every Place Counts may be a fledgling idea, but it represents a fundamental shift in thinking in a country where growing percentages of the population live in urban areas. For the first time in the 60 years since the interstates arrived, needs of commuters and suburbanites are holding less sway. Decisions regarding America's cities are increasingly prioritized for the people who live in them. This article originally appeared on Car and Driver. Mi Notebook Air to make Nepal debut next month The Chinese electronics company recently launched two variants of the Mi Notebook Air12.5-inch and 13.3-inchin the Indian market with price tags of IRs35,300 and IRs51,400 Donald Trump is facing rebukes from military veterans again this time for making a joke about how easy it is to get a Purple Heart after a veteran handed him one as a gift at a rally on Tuesday. Illinois Rep. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost both of her legs when her helicopter was shot down in 2004, led the way, posting a photo of herself in a hospital bed wearing the medal on her gown. "This is how one usually looks when you are awarded a Purple Heart. Nothing easy about it," she wrote. She was joined by other veterans who posted pictures with their Purple Hearts, medals awarded only to servicemen and women who are wounded or killed in uniform. ".@realdonaldtrump, this is how one usually looks when you are awarded a Purple Heart. Nothing easy about it," Illinois Rep. Tammy Duckworth, a double amputee veteran who has two prosthetic legs after being woundd in Iraq, posted on Twitter. The fresh criticism comes after the GOP nominee cracked wise after he was given a Purple Heart by retired Army Lt. Col. Louis Dorfman on Tuesday at a campaign rally in Ashburn, Virginia. Dorfman told Trump: "That's my Purple Heart. I have such confidence in you." "I always wanted to get the Purple Heart," Trump told supporters at the rally. "This was much easier." Iraq war veteran Sean Barney, a Democrat from Delaware running for Congress, uploaded a pair of Twitter photos aimed at Trump, that show Barney in a hospital bed, and another of Barney holding his Purple Heart medal. . @realdonaldtrump, this is how one usually looks when you are awarded the Purple Heart. Nothing easy about it. pic.twitter.com/K59HLnzmhK a Tammy Duckworth (@TammyforIL) August 2, 2016 "I fought in Iraq, was injured & was awarded a #PurpleHeart," Barney captioned the latter photo. "No one should ever want a #PurpleHeart." Trump has yet to publicly respond to the backlash. Story continues WATCH: What Role Will Ivanka Trump Play If Donald Is Elected President? New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said during a Wednesday appearance on MSNBC that he was "appalled" by Trump's comment. "The Purple Heart, along with the medals for bravery, the highest award you could give ... The idea to treat it so lightly? [I'm] amazed. Absolutely amazed and appalled," Bratton said. . @realDonaldTrump, you donat understand what earning a Purple Heart means. pic.twitter.com/llhurrTorG a Sean Barney (@SeanBarneyDE) August 2, 2016 @realDonaldTrump I fought in Iraq, was injured & was awarded a #PurpleHeart. No one should ever want a #PurpleHeart. pic.twitter.com/njwaOknRFc a Sean Barney (@SeanBarneyDE) August 2, 2016 The new controversy comes as Trump finds himself under scrutiny for comments he made about Ghazala and Khizr Khan, the parents of a fallen Muslim U.S. Army soldier. During a Tuesday interview with CNN, Khizr Kahn said the presidential hopeful should not have accepted the Purple Heart from the veteran. No one wants a Purple Heart @realDonaldTrump a Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) August 2, 2016 The man who gave Trump his purple heart told me earlier today, it was a copy of his purple heart. a Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) August 2, 2016 "You did not serve. You know what you should have done?," Khizr said, addressing Trump. "You should have pinned that back to that veteran's chest and should have hugged him and thanked him." jeff immelt GE CEO Jeff Immelt is a Republican who knows Donald Trump and used to like him. Immelt worked with him back when GE owned NBC, the network that airs Trump's reality show, "The Apprentice." Immelt says he always found Trump to be "fun to work with, endearing, competitive, lots of good things." But he can't bring himself to endorse Trump. Quite the opposite. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Immelt condemned Trump's comments about Mexicans and Muslims, saying such attitudes have no place in corporate America or the country. Here's the full exchange: VF: "What do you make of Donald Trump?" JI: "I knew him a little bit when we owned NBC and did 'The Apprentice.' And I always found him to be fun to work with, endearing, competitive, lots of good things. But there's just no place for discrimination in our place or any other company or in the US, so the comments about Mexico or Muslims, that's unacceptable to us. The Donald Trump that I had a chance to work with, I found to be fun to work with. The words? I can't reconcile with anything I believe in, or that I think the country stands for or that the company stands for." Immelt certainly isn't the only high-profile Republican CEO to feel disenfranchised by the GOP's nominee, especially in the wake of Trump's back-and-forth comments with the parents of a slain Muslim American soldier who died protecting his unit in Iraq. Earlier this week, Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman went so far as to "urge all Republicans to reject Donald Trump this November" and to vote for Hillary Clinton instead. "To vote Republican out of party loyalty alone would be to endorse a candidacy that I believe has exploited anger, grievance, xenophobia, and racial division," Whitman posted on Facebook. "Trump's reckless and uninformed positions on critical issues from immigration to our economy to foreign policy have made it abundantly clear that he lacks both the policy depth and sound judgment required as president." Story continues NOW WATCH: How to find Pokemon in 'Pokemon Go' More From Business Insider Washington (AFP) - A prominent Republican activist and fundraiser says she will back Democrat Hillary Clinton for president and give money to her campaign to stop her party's nominee Donald Trump, repudiating him as a dangerous demagogue. "I will vote for Hillary, I will talk to my Republican friends about helping her, and I will donate to her campaign and try to raise money for her," Meg Whitman told The New York Times Tuesday. The billionaire Whitman is CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and used to be chief executive of eBay. Whitman funded her own, ultimately failed campaign to be elected governor of California in 2010. Whitman told the Times that Trump is a "dishonest demagogue" and that electing him to the White House would lead the United States "on a very dangerous journey." Whitman said she stood by remarks earlier this year in which she compared Trump to Hitler and Mussolini, and said dictators often come to power by democratic means. "Time and again history has shown that when demagogues have gotten power or come close to getting power, it usually does not end well," Whitman said. She also disclosed that Clinton had reached out to her about a month ago in a telephone call. Whitman said she is even willing to campaign for the former secretary of state. Whitman will donate an amount in the "mid-six figures" to the Clinton campaign, the Times said, quoting an aide to her. Whitman was a top fundraiser for Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign and chaired New Jersey governor Chris Christie's finance team this year until he pulled out of the race. When Christie endorsed Trump, Whitman accused the governor of an "astonishing display of political opportunism, the Times said. By Alana Wise and David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions in his party on Tuesday by denying two leading figures, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain, support in their re-election bids. Trump told The Washington Post in an interview that he could endorse neither Ryan, the top U.S. elected Republican, nor McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona and a former Republican presidential nominee, as they face challenges in their states' primary contests ahead of the Nov. 8 general election. Both Ryan and McCain had criticized Trump's feud with the family of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who died in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for bravery after his death. The discord comes just two weeks after the Republican National Convention in Cleveland that formally nominated Trump for president. It is the latest rift in a party already frayed by internal dissent over its standard bearer, seen in stark relief at the convention where McCain was among high-level party members who essentially snubbed Trump by choosing not to attend. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, and former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush also did not attend the convention. Trump has had a running dispute with Khizr and Ghazala Khan since they took the stage at last week's Democratic convention to cite their son's sacrifice and criticize Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. The uproar has led many Republicans to distance themselves from Trump and voice support for the Khan family. Trump, mirroring the language Ryan used about supporting the nominee before his eventual endorsement, told the newspaper he was "not quite there yet" on endorsing Ryan in next Tuesday's Wisconsin primary, and that he had "never been there" with McCain, who will be on the ballot in primary elections in Arizona later this month. Story continues McCain had a "very friendly" meeting with Trump's vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, on Tuesday in Arizona, where Pence was visiting, a McCain spokeswoman said. Trump said Ryan had sought his endorsement, but that as of now he is only "giving it very serious consideration." Ryan's campaign office quickly responded that "neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement." "And we are confident in a victory next week regardless," campaign spokesman Zack Roday said in a statement. Ryan is favored to win against primary challenger Paul Nehlen, who Trump praised as running "a very good campaign." In a mid-July survey by Harper Polling, Ryan was ahead of Nehlen by nearly 50 points. Trump, a former reality TV star, has troubled many in the Republican establishment with his off-the-cuff, often insulting style, and controversial policies, including the proposed ban on Muslims and his plan to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. President Barack Obama on Tuesday blasted Trump as unfit to be president and questioned why any Republican would support the New York businessman, who is seeking his first public office. "The question I think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable: Why are you still endorsing him?" Obama, a Democrat, said at a White House news conference with Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong. CONGRESSMAN ABANDONS TRUMP The chorus of complaints against Trump grew on Tuesday. Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican in Congress to endorse Democratic nominee Hillary, although several other Republicans in Congress have said they will not support Trump. Hanna, who is retiring from the House of Representatives rather than seek re-election, said his decision was prompted by Trump's attacks on the Khan family. He called Trump "deeply flawed in endless ways," "unrepentant" and "self-involved." New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Trump ally once viewed by Trump as a potential running mate, called criticisms of the Khan family "inappropriate." Trump's son Eric told CBS News on Tuesday that his father's comments about the Khans have been "blown hugely out of proportion." Trump has fallen behind Clinton in opinion polls made public since the parties held their nominating conventions last month. Clinton extended her lead over Trump to 8 percentage points, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, from 6 points on Friday. About 43 percent of likely voters favor Clinton, 35 percent favor Trump, and 9 percent picked "other." Trump also has trailed Clinton in fundraising. Clinton reported raising nearly $90 million in July for her campaign and the Democratic Party, with more than half the donations coming from new donors. Interviewed on the Fox Business television network, Trump brushed off billionaire investor Warren Buffett's blistering critique of his business acumen. Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, scorned Trump's 1995 move to list Trump hotels and casino resorts on the New York Stock Exchange, saying the business lost money for the next decade and that a monkey would have outperformed Trump's company. Trump, who has said his business success qualifies him to lead the country, defended his record running his hotel and casino business in Atlantic City, New Jersey. "I had great timing. I got out," after seven years, he told the network on Tuesday. "I took a lot of money out of Atlantic City, which is what I'm supposed to do. I'm a businessperson." (Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, John Whitesides, Jeff Mason and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Caren Bohan; Editing by Howard Goller and Leslie Adler) Republican lawmakers are fuming Wednesday over a report that the U.S. government secretly sent the equivalent of $400 million to Iran last January as four Americans were released by Tehran. Details of the payout were first reported by the Wall Street Journal. It represents the first installment of $1.7 billion the White House agreed to pay Iran to resolve a scuppered 1979 arms deal signed just before the fall of Irans last monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The existence of the payment has been known since January, when four detained Americans Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian; Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine; Christian pastor Saeed Abedini; and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari were released by Iran. But new details about the actual exchange of cash, delineated in euros, Swiss francs and other currencies, have stoked outrage among Republicans, who accuse President Barack Obama of putting more Americans at risk of being taken prisoner by hostile regimes. Paying ransom to kidnappers puts Americans even more at risk, Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said in a statement. While Americans were relieved by Irans overdue release of illegally imprisoned American hostages, the White Houses policy of appeasement has led Iran to illegally seize more American hostages. In response, State Department spokesman John Kirby said their release and the $400 million payment had nothing to do with one another. Any suggestion otherwise is, according to Kirby, utterly false. We just dont pay ransom. This was not ransom, he said, adding there was no secret about the payment. It was their money, Kirby said on Fox News Wednesday, noting the funds were frozen and it made no sense for us to continue to drag out their claim. The payment settles a claim against the United States made by Iran before an international tribunal in The Hague. The timing of the settlement came the same weekend as the landmark nuclear deal between Iran, the United States and other global powers was implemented. Story continues With the nuclear deal done, prisoners released, the time was right to resolve this dispute as well, President Barack Obama said at the White House on Jan. 17. He did not disclose the $400 million payout at the time. Kirby insists the the arms deal settlement and the nuclear deal had nothing to do with one another. As weve made clear, the negotiations over the settlement of an outstanding claimwere completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home, State Department spokesman John Kirby told the Journal. Not only were the two negotiations separate, they were conducted by different teams on each side, including, in the case of The Hague claims, by technical experts involved in these negotiations for many years. That hasnt stopped Republicans from linking the two. On Wednesday, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus tweeted, Obama-Clinton foreign policy not only means cutting dangerous deal w/ # 1 state sponsor of terrorism it also means paying them secret ransom. The logistics of this payment literally delivering a plane full of cash to evade U.S. law shows yet again the extraordinary lengths the Obama administration will go to accommodate Iran, all while hiding the facts from Congress and the American people, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., added in a statement. Hundreds of millions in the pockets of a terrorist regime means a more dangerous region, period. And paying ransom only puts more American lives in jeopardy. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump used the report to attack his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, who served as Obamas secretary of state from 2009 to 2013. On Wednesday morning, he tweeted, Our incompetent Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was the one who started talks to give 400 million dollars, in cash, to Iran. Scandal! Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas) went as far as to link the payment with the Iran-Contra affair, in which Reagan administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran. Reports of the U.S. paying Iran $400 million in pallets of cash, using other currencies in order to circumvent American law, is something of Hollywood films and is reminiscent of the Iran Contra scandal. Have we not learned we cannot trust the worlds largest state sponsor of terrorism? This post has been updated with Pompeos comments. Photo credit: SAUL LOEB/Getty Images As the Q2 earnings season is drawing to a close, lets take a look at how the widely popular restaurant stocks have fared so far. We note that in spite of the high expectations for the group, most of the stocks reported below-par figures as they have mainly struggled with the top line this earnings season. McDonald's Corp. MCD posted weaker-than-expected Q2 results. Though the company recorded positive comps growth across all its segments, it was lower than the preceding quarter due to soft industry growth. Currency headwinds also kept profits under pressure. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.s CMG second-quarter results were marred by the continued food-safety issues. Starbucks Corporations SBUX third-quarter fiscal 2016 sales growth also disappointed investors. Meanwhile, though Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc.s DNKN earnings beat estimates, a decrease in sales at company-operated restaurants as well as dwindling ice cream and other products revenues limited top-line growth at the company. A number of restaurant companies are set to report their quarterly numbers on Aug 4. Lets take a look at what might be in store for them this quarter: Restaurant Brands International Inc. QSR posted a positive earnings surprise of 50.00% last quarter. In fact, the companys earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 17.63%. RESTAURANT BRND Price and EPS Surprise RESTAURANT BRND Price and EPS Surprise | RESTAURANT BRND Quote For the second quarter, the company has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarters earnings is pegged at 35 cents. Menu innovation, re-imaging and premium offerings have been driving comps growth over the past few quarters. We expect the trend to continue in Q2. However, costs incurred to execute the sales initiatives might continue to hurt profits (read more: Restaurant Brands Q2 Earnings: What's in Store?). Wingstop Inc. WING recorded a positive earnings surprise of 14.29% last quarter. Moreover, the company posted positive earnings surprises in all of the past four quarters, with an average beat of 19.23%. Story continues WINGSTOP INC Price and EPS Surprise WINGSTOP INC Price and EPS Surprise | WINGSTOP INC Quote The company has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the second quarter of 2016. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarters earnings is pegged at 14 cents. We expect the companys enviable streak of positive comps for 12 years to continue in the to-be-reported quarter as well, backed by menu innovation and unit growth. However, higher costs and expenses might dent profits (read more: Wingstop Q2 Earnings: What to Expect?). El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. LOCO registered a 5.56% negative earnings surprise in the previous quarter. However, the companys earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 8.85%. EL POLLO LOCO Price and EPS Surprise EL POLLO LOCO Price and EPS Surprise | EL POLLO LOCO Quote The company has an Earnings ESP of +5.56% and a Zacks Rank #4 for the second quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarters bottom line is pegged at 18 cents. We expect the companys trend of posting positive comps for 19 consecutive quarters, on the back of various sales and digital initiatives, to continue in the to-be-reported quarter. However, higher costs and expenses related to sales initiatives might mar profits (read more: El Pollo Loco Q2 Earnings: What's in the Cards?). Noodles & Company NDLS recorded a positive earnings surprise of 14.29% in the preceding quarter. However, the trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise stands at a negative 34.13%. NOODLES & CO Price and EPS Surprise NOODLES & CO Price and EPS Surprise | NOODLES & CO Quote The company has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at a loss of 2 cents per share. Higher costs and expenses have been hurting profits over the past few quarters. We do not expect any significant improvement in Q2. Nonetheless, menu innovation, increased focus on catering coupled with various sales and digital initiatives should boost comps (read more: Noodles & Company Q2 Earnings: What to Expect?). Dont miss out on our full earnings release articles for these stocks, as the actual results might hold some surprises! Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CHIPOTLE MEXICN (CMG): Free Stock Analysis Report STARBUCKS CORP (SBUX): Free Stock Analysis Report MCDONALDS CORP (MCD): Free Stock Analysis Report RESTAURANT BRND (QSR): Free Stock Analysis Report DUNKIN BRANDS (DNKN): Free Stock Analysis Report WINGSTOP INC (WING): Free Stock Analysis Report EL POLLO LOCO (LOCO): Free Stock Analysis Report NOODLES & CO (NDLS): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research j crew may 27 Retailers are resorting to desperate measures to save their businesses. It's no secret that businesses have recently been forced to employ constant sales to attempt to lure consumers with lower prices. But as more and more retailers struggle to get rid of apparel and boost sales, they've adopted a new strategy in hopes of getting shoppers to purchase goods: putting things on final sale, Elizabeth Holmes of The Wall Street Journal reports. This strategy, which prohibits shoppers from returning steeply discounted items, could be backfiring. These so-called final sales run so rampant that they are no longer enough to reel in shoppers, even if they once inspired a sense of urgency in consumers. Wendy Liebmann, Chief Executive of WSL Strategic Retail, told the Wall Street Journal that "the threat of final sale has really lost its power." Sometimes, putting apparel on sale isn't even enough to get a consumer to shop. "Everyone finds themselves in a tough environment, and they're doing what they can to stimulate sales," Nordstrom's president of merchandising, Peter Nordstrom, said on an earnings call in May. "And I think it just depends on your customer. For some, I guess that means price promotion is a lever that's going to really compel their customers. I think what you're hearing from us is that's not the most compelling lever for our customers. So what can we do about that?" Further, these final sales mean that consumers can't return the apparel and it's irritating some consumers, Holmes writes. Final Sale Banana Republic In fact, one shopper told The Wall Street Journal that final sales make her feel "trapped or manipulated." This puts retailers in a tricky situation. After all, retailers are having a hard enough time scaling back on promotions to get consumers to shop at full price. In fact, Gap Inc. CEO Art Peck likened this arduous process to "a game of chicken" during May's earnings call. But apparently, there's such a thing as too much. Story continues Banana Republic May 23 It appears that, then, that the best thing for retailers to do is convince consumers that they need to buy apparel at full price which is hard, since fast fashion companies sell runway-esque apparel at bargain-worthy prices. "It [excessive discounting] starts to train the customer to expect 30% off or 40% off going forward, and the only way to untrain her is to have a big fashion hit that they happen to buy very little of, and train her to start [shopping] more like [the store was] a fast fashion retailer," Mizuho Securities Managing Director, Betty Chen, told Business Insider in May. NOW WATCH: The biggest security mistakes people make when buying things online More From Business Insider By Nate Raymond NEW YORK (Reuters) - An armed, retired New York City police officer was taken into custody outside Trump Tower and charged for resisting U.S. Secret Service agents while they were protecting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, authorities said on Wednesday. Anthony Shark, 54, was arrested on Tuesday night after refusing instructions to leave a street outside the building that agents had closed off while protecting Trump, according to a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan federal court. According to the complaint, Shark, who was carrying a firearm in a holster, tried to push through a human wall that agents formed to prevent him from moving forward, and grabbed at agents as they sought to restrain him. The complaint was made public on Wednesday. The Secret Service said in a statement the arrest took place just prior Trump's motorcade arriving and that agents later determined Shark had a lawful gun permit. Shark expressed no "direction of interest" toward Trump or anyone else under Secret Service protection, the Secret Service said. Annalisa Miron, a court-appointed lawyer for Shark, told reporters after a court hearing on Wednesday that the case was "just another example of Donald Trump ruining another person's life." At the hearing, Miron said her client posed no danger and works near Trump Tower as a security guard at luxury jeweler Harry Winston's headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. Shark was released after the court hearing and ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses to stay out of Trump Tower. "Can I trust you to stay away from the Secret Service?" she said. "Yes," Shark replied. Shark faces one count of assaulting and resisting a Secret Service agent. He faces a maximum of eight years in prison. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York, editing by G Crosse) Swiss filmmaker Frederic Mermouds second feature, Moka a complex psychological thriller starring Emmanuelle Devos and Nathalie Baye, primarily lensed in Switzerland will screen at the Locarnos Festivals Piazza Grande. its prime location for more accessible crowd-pleasers. Mermouds debut Complices (Accomplices) played at Locarno, in 2009. He also directed episodes 5-8 of the first season of the hit French supernatural TV series, Les Revenants (The Returned), a game-changing series for France which was broadcast on the Sundance Channela and became the first fully-subtitled series broadcast on the U.K.s Channel 4 in more than 20 years.. Mermoud, who lives between Paris and Lausanne, talks to Variety about his latest feature. What were the main challenges in adapting the novel by Tatiana De Rosnay? After working with the actress Emmanuelle Devos on Accomplices, I wanted to work with her again, in a project in which she would appear throughout the film. After I read Tatianas novel, it seemed to be the perfect project and Diligence Films acquired the rights. Tatiana gave me complete freedom to develop the script as I wished. The initial versions of the script were closer to the dramatic structure of the novel, which was in the form of a chronicle with many flashbacks. But I ended up by focusing on the final part of the novel. The scripts narrative structure is fairly different from the novel. Tatiana saw the film one month ago and said that shes very happy with it, that it remains faithful to the novels spirit and characters. How did working on a major French TV series (Les Revenants) influence the way you approach making feature films? I work in a different way for cinema and TV. I think film is more elliptical. It transports us to a dreamlike state. It has a kind of hypnotic effect on the spectator. A TV series is based on a more addictive process, whereby we primarily want to know what will happen next. Both areas have very noble ambitions, but they work with time in a different way. Story continues There are certain recurrent themes in your work, in particular the threshold that exists between life and death, and using the present to retrieve things or people that have been lost in the past. Its true that Im interested in the presence of a phantom, or of death, because this obliges characters to take action. They cant hide. They have to find a new reality and redefine themselves and learn how to live with the phantom. Death can act as a trigger that each person interprets in a different way. In Moka, the main character has to redefine herself and also come to terms with the loss of her son. At the end of the film we feel that she lets him go at various levels, granting him his own existence, separate from her. You seem to be particularly interested in powerful, complex female characters, tortured by their past. What-s your fascination? Theres something mysterious and intriguing about strong female characters. That is why I like the actress Emmanuelle Devos, as well as actresses such as Julianne Moore or Faye Dunaway. On the one hand, Emmanuelle is very articulate but also very mysterious. At the beginning of the film, she has a fairly conventional bourgeois life, but the loss of her son sets her on a quest, obliging her to become the driving force in her own life. She needs to overcome her grief and at first seems to be driven by vengeance but during the film she discovers and learns more about herself and comes to terms with her own complex identity. How would you classify Moka in terms of film genre? I like working on the frontier between different genres that dance between one genre and another. For example, Accomplices was a mixture of a police procedural and a love story. Moka combines a thriller with intimate character portrait. Im a great admirer of Hitchcock who shows us very strong, very serious female characters who at the same time are very mysterious. At the beginning, we dont know who the woman is, and whether shes a bit crazy. In a Hitchcock film, were not sure whether were dreaming or being paranoid. The landscape plays an important part in your film The geography of Moka is very important. Lake Geneva separates the two main locations the towns of Lausanne in Switzerland and Evian in France. Water is almost omnipresent in the film the lake, the sound of water fountains, the thermal spa, the rain. Water is paradoxical. It can generate both life and death. It is sensual and seems to be impregnated with memories. The surface of the lake seems very beautiful and soft, but something more violent is hidden beneath. This is also a bit like the main female characters. When we see the Alps theres something similar. The mountains seem to be domesticated, beautifully formed, a bit like in a Japanese painting, but theres also something wild and untamed about them. The main characters also have these two sides. They can suddenly change violently, just like the weather can also change very quickly around the lake. Ive always been interested by the geography of a film. But this was the first time that I filmed the landscape in a more metaphorical manner. This was perhaps influenced by working on Les Revenants which also forges an organic link with the landscape. What will your next project be? Im working on a TV movie, called The Last Voyage, based on a fait divers that occurred in Switzerland in 1994, involving the collective suicide of 74 people from a neo-Templar sect the Ordre du Temple Solaire. I became interested in this complex subject above all in order to understand what makes people abandon their individuality and embark on a mission that will lead to their own destruction. Related stories Films Distribution Rolls Out Pre-Sales on 'Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe' (EXCLUSIVE) Locarno Fest Sets Industry Agenda: Digital Platforms, Euro Soft Money, Market Demand Golden Leopard Winner Milagros Mumenthaler Returns to Locarno With 'The Idea of a Lake' Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - First came Coca-Cola, then the riot cops, then the Olympic flame, and finally the relay runner who pulled down his pants -- this torch relay in Rio was never going to be dull. The flame's arrival in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday after an odyssey around Brazil began in carefully scripted form. Navy seamen in white uniforms rowed one of Brazil's Olympic sailing heroes ashore to hand the flame to Mayor Eduardo Paes, who ran a short way with the torch and danced to live samba music. But then the torch, which will light the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony late Friday, was passed on and the deeper the relay penetrated into the host city the wilder things became. By the time the cavalcade arrived outside the Rio Museum of Art, there were hundreds of people lining the sidewalks. For many, unable to afford tickets, this would be the closest they got to the Olympic fiesta. The first thing the excited crowds encountered was not the torch but two large Coca-Cola trucks staffed by young men and women distributing free samples of the soft drink widely criticized as a key to the global obesity epidemic. Then it was the turn of the police. They came in cars, rifles poking out the windows. They came on motorbikes with rifles strapped cowboy-style at their sides. And they came in long lines on foot, wearing helmets and black armor as if headed to a riot, not a celebration. - Let the fun begin - Yet the moment the flame appeared, the party began. Fans tried to run alongside the torch and riot police held onto each other's shoulders so they wouldn't become separated. Whistles and cheers rained down from windows and balconies. There was barely room for everyone in the narrow street of ramshackle but picturesque houses. When musician Tarcisio Cisao, dressed in the regulation yellow and white shorts and shirt for relay runners, took the torch, the tempo rose another notch. A band of trumpet, trombone and drum players appeared and Cisao drew huge cheers as he danced down the street, holding the flaming torch high above his head. Story continues And then he pulled down his shorts. Although Rio's mayor insists that the Olympics have transformed the city for the better, many are upset at what they see as an expensive distraction during national recession and near-bankruptcy for the state government. Others are also upset that elected president Dilma Rousseff is almost sure to be removed from office for allegedly breaking budget laws, then replaced by her enemy Michel Temer, Brazil's interim president. Cisao is one of those. He pulled down his Olympic relay shorts, revealing a leopard-print thong and a backside emblazoned with the words: "Temer out." - Sadness behind the happiness - "It's a coup d'etat," Cisao, 31, told AFP after he was hustled away by police and the torch was passed to the next runner. Actor Daniel Galvao, who was in the street band playing while Cisao ran, said the stunt was meant to embarrass Temer and protest what he called the "facade" of the Olympics. Many shared that bitterness. "In a way the Olympics is good for Brazil to help us develop, but the country is very sad, full of violence and unemployment," said Carlos Roberto, 56, a dockyard worker. "You go into a hospital and can't find a doctor or medicines." As the torch and its entourage disappeared, so did the excitement, leaving at best mixed feelings. "It will bring some happiness, yes it will," pharmacist Edna Carla Assis, 31, said after watching the relay from her store. Then her face fell. "But nothing more." Modi congratulates Dahal, invites to visit India Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated his newly elected Nepali counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal on his election to the top executive post. An unexpected Jedi knight has emerged during the production of the next Star Wars movie. Several insiders say Tony Gilroy, an uncredited writer on Disneys upcoming spinoff Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, has been empowered to take the lead on postproduction for the Dec. 16 release, even as director Gareth Edwards remains involved in the project. Gilroy, 59, writer of several Bourne movies and director of The Bourne Legacy and Michael Clayton, became the driving force behind Rogue Ones extensive, recently wrapped reshoots, which ran around five weeks. Now he is said to be supervising the edit with input from Edwards, who scored the Rogue One job after his 2014 Godzilla reboot impressed Lucasfilms Kathleen Kennedy. Edwards, 40, remains very much involved and still is the face of the movie, appearing at Star Wars Celebration in mid-July. One insider painted the Edwards-Gilroy pairing as collaborative, which should be no surprise: Gilroy, who has a relationship with Kennedys producer husband, Frank Marshall, from the Bourne series, also helped Edwards out during the making of Godzilla. Related: Suicide Squads Secret Drama: Rushed Production, Competing Cuts, High Anxiety There are not two separate editing rooms; they are all in there with their ideas, says one source close to the production. Tonys a strong force, but theyre all working together. The Gilroy-backed reshoots tackled several issues, according to sources, the ending of the film among them. The Death Star heist project, the first stand-alone Star Wars movie to deviate from the seven Episodes released between 1977 and 2015, is said to lead straight into the original Star Wars: A New Hope. This isnt the first time Gilroy has gone from behind the keyboard to behind the camera. As a writer on 2002s The Bourne Identity, he helped Marshall when the producer took over the film from director Doug Liman. And none of these developments is likely to spell doom for Rogue One, which is expected to be one of the years biggest hits. Story continues In fact, the movie follows Star Wars long and storied history of dramatic productions. The original films cantina scene, where Han Solo faces off with Greedo, was completely revamped during reshoots. Empire Strikes Backs shoot went so off-schedule and so overbudget that creator George Lucas fired Gary Kurtz, his producer on Star Wars and American Graffiti. And for Return of the Jedi, Lucas installed Richard Marquand as director but actually supervised swaths of the shooting himself. Disney declined comment on Gilroys involvement. A version this story first appeared in the Aug. 12 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. NBCUniversal vice chairman Ron Meyer will receive the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Humanitarian Award at the organization's 2017 National Tribute Dinner - the Oscars for L.A.'s Jewish community - on April 5 at The Beverly Hilton, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. Jeffrey Katzenberg will chair the dinner, which will be presided over by SWC founder and dean, Rabbi Marvin Hier, a two-time Oscar winner and member of the Academy. Past recipients include Katzenberg, Elizabeth Taylor, Billy Crystal, Jim Gianopulos, Ted Sarandos, Harvey Weinstein (who urged Jews to "kick [anti-Semites] in the ass") and Jon Feltheimer, the 2016 honoree (who said tolerance is something "some of our presidential candidates" should learn). "Ron Meyer has co-chaired the Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance dinners for more than 20 years," Hier tells THR. "He is the quintessential mensch who is the perfect candidate to be the recipient of the center's highest honor." A version of this story first appeared in the Aug. 12 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. Moscow (AFP) - The Russian defence ministry on Wednesday said that seven people died in an attack by Syrian rebels in the battleground city of Aleppo using weapons loaded with a "poisonous agent". Lieutenant-General Sergei Chvarkov was cited by Russia's TASS news agency as saying that the Nureddin al-Zenki rebel group on Tuesday launched weapons packed with an unnamed "poisonous agent" from an opposition-held neighbourhood to a government-controlled area of Aleppo. Chvarkov, the head of Russia's reconciliation centre in Syria, said that "as a result of this terrorist attack, seven people died and 23 were evacuated to hospitals in Aleppo with breathing problems and airway burns." He said the Russian authorities have informed the United States, which backs the rebels, of the attack. Syrian state media said on Tuesday that five people were killed and that eight others suffered injuries induced by suffocation after rebels fired rockets containing poison gases. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the toll from the rocket attack at six dead, saying the casualties were in fact soldiers. Speaking to AFP, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman could not confirm that any kind of gas had in fact been used. The Russian claim came a day after the Observatory reported 24 people suffered breathing difficulties in rebel-held Saraqeb, a town 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Aleppo, after a barrel bomb attack. Residents said chlorine gas had been used in the attack, but the monitor could not confirm this. The world's chemical watchdog on Wednesday voiced concerns over reports of the use of chlorine gas in Saraqeb. The incident in Saraqeb took place close to where Russia said on Monday one of its military helicopters was shot down, killing the five people on board. Chvarkov said meanwhile that 372 Syrian civilians have used the "humanitarian corridors" set up by Russia to flee rebel-held areas of Aleppo to government-controlled turf. Story continues He also accused rebels of trying to prevent people from leaving the areas of the city under their control. In a statement on Tuesday, 35 NGOs called the humanitarian corridors initiative "deeply flawed". The UN says 300,000 civilians still live in rebel-held parts of Aleppo city, despite four years of fighting and near-daily bombing. By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian court sentenced a former mayor and vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin's allies to 12 1/2 years in jail on Wednesday in a graft case the liberal opposition said was trumped up to end its fledgling success in the regions. A court in Yaroslavl, 250 km (156 miles) northeast of Moscow, sentenced Yevgeny Urlashov to serve his term in a maximum security prison after finding him guilty of accepting a bribe and of trying to extort another. Footage of the courtroom sentencing, broadcast by the Dozhd TV station, showed Urlashov, 49, saying he had been framed. "Everything will be different soon," he shouted as he was led away by three uniformed men after hearing the sentence. "I have been tried for spitting in the face of United Russia. It's a political order." Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a Putin ally, is the chairman of United Russia which has dominated Russian elections for over a decade. The Kremlin denies using the judiciary for political ends. The sentence, handed down at a time when Russia is grinding its way through a prolonged economic crisis, comes just over a month before nationwide parliamentary elections which United Russia is expected to win comfortably. The margin of its victory is expected to be slimmer than recent years however with some polls showing apathy levels are high. There are also some signs of Kremlin nervousness; it carried out a reshuffle of regional leaders last week in areas where dissatisfaction with living standards is above average. Urlashov, who left United Russia after becoming disenchanted with it, beat the Kremlin's candidate to become mayor of Yaroslavl in 2012 in what was seen as an important symbolic victory for the opposition after a series of large protests in Moscow and St Petersburg. Just over a year later, in July 2013, Urlashov, who had campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, was dragged from his car late at night and accused of graft. Shortly before his arrest, he had helped organize a rare protest meeting against United Russia where he had denounced the ruling party's monopoly on power, mocked it, and said he wanted to challenge it for the region's governorship. "Urlashov was sentenced to 12 1/2 years for his attempt to take power away from the United Russia party in the regions," Vladimir Milov, a former Russian deputy energy minister who is now an opposition campaigner, wrote in a blog on the Ekho Moskvy radio station's website. "There was not a single shred of evidence against him." The two men who accused Urlashov of offering to bribe them were both local politicians who at the time were representing United Russia. Urlashov's lawyer said she would appeal the sentence. (Editing by Richard Balmforth) * "I failed exceptionally fast," says Kevin Roberts * Roberts quits after saying women lack 'vertical ambition' * Roberts says he is sorry for any upset and offence * Saatchi CEO says Roberts views not those of Saatchi (Adds Roberts statement, background) By Michel Rose and Paul Sandle PARIS/LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Kevin Roberts, the chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi, quit after sparking uproar by saying a lack of women in high-powered jobs in advertising was not a problem and that some women lacked the "vertical ambition" to make it to the top. "'Fail Fast, Fix Fast, Learn Fast' is a leadership maxim I advocate," Roberts said in a statement after he stepped down from the Publicis-owned agency. "I failed exceptionally fast," said Roberts, a British-born advertising boss who spent more than four decades telling some of the world's biggest companies how to pitch their products. But Roberts, born in 1949, veered dramatically off message when he was quoted in an interview with Business Insider as saying that he doesn't spend any time on gender issues as the gender diversity debate was over in the advertising world. Publicis, one of the big four global ad groups, suspended Roberts on Monday, saying it did not tolerate "anyone speaking for our organisation who does not value the importance of inclusion". Roberts said he was sorry for the upset and offence his comments had caused. "I have inadvertently embarrassed Saatchi & Saatchi and Publicis Groupe, two companies I love and have been devoted to for almost 20 years," he said on Wednesday. The row which cost Roberts his job at Saatchi & Saatchi comes days after Roger Ailes resigned as chairman and chief executive of Fox News Channel following allegations of sexual harassment. 'CIRCULAR AMBITION' In an interview with the Business Insider website, Roberts said some women at key junctures in their careers did not want to lead businesses and people, and that managers should reflect on how to deal with the ambitions of female and male employees who "simply want to be happy and do great work". Story continues In the interview, Roberts appeared to argue that "idiotic dinosaur-like men" were trying to make women conform to Darwinian urges to acquire wealth, power, and fame. "Their ambition is not a vertical ambition, it's this intrinsic, circular ambition to be happy," Roberts was quoted as saying. The interview caused consternation in Saatchi & Saatchi and the wider group, its chief creative officer Kate Stanners said, while provoking a storm of criticism on social media. The agency's worldwide CEO also said Roberts' views did not reflect the position of the agency, which he said was a meritocracy. Publicis Groupe has a roughly 50-50 gender split amongst all its staff, while around 65 percent of Saatchi & Saatchi's staff are female, as the agency wants to reflect the buyers of the types of products it is advertising, Roberts told Business Insider. Roberts, who started his career at London fashion house Mary Quant before working for Gillette, Procter & Gamble and Pepsi, said he would bring forward his retirement to Sept. 1 from May next year. He said there was a "lot of learning to reflect on" in the debate sparked by his comments. "Within the thousands of tweets, comments and articles there are many powerful and passionate contributions on the changing nature of the workplace, the work we do, what success really looks like, and what companies must do to provide women and men the optimal frameworks in which to flourish," he said. (Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Susan Thomas) Need to boost investment in agriculture Growth of the farm sector over the last decade has remained very low and investments in the sector have also been very limited Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f164993%2fartboard_1 Food Standards Australia has released a warning asking consumers to step away from the fruit, amid fears of a salmonella outbreak amongst our fine rockmelon. Roughly 80 cases have been reported thus far and a product recall has been announced. The official warning outlined that pregnant women, children and the elderly should take precaution with the fruit. What are the rest of us? Chopped liver that deserves to be bed ridden with a casual bout of gross bacteria? SEE ALSO: The fast food cake made from pizza and burgers is heaven and hell all at once Official statement from the Food Standards Authority of Australia and New Zealand. Image: FOODSTANDARDS.GOV.AU SCREENSHOT The outbreak has reportedly been linked to a grower in the Northern Territory and the contaminated balls of juicy mush and broken dreams have been recalled after a rise in cases of salmonella across several states. The South Australian government have issued a statement essentially saying that all other states should quit their moaning, since as many as a quarter of cases have occurred in South Australia itself. Local twitter users took the opportunity to confirm a truth universally acknowledged, that rockmelon is the worst and most disappointing of all the fruits. It is the creepy uncle at family gatherings, it is the pen that stops working when your crush asks for your number, it's filler fruit. And now, it can actually poison you. Not surprisingly, those dwelling outside the fair shores of Australia took issue mostly with the name of the ridiculous fruit. What would you prefer we call it? A cantaloupe the weird hybrid of "can't" and "elope?" The fruit looks like a weird lumpy rock okay, we call it how we see it. Rockmelons have been linked to salmonella outbreaks in the past, most memorably in the '50s, '60s, and 2002 in the U.S. Can we just throw rockmelon into the fire now? Saudi Arabia took steps on Wednesday to help around 2,500 Indian workers stranded without money in the kingdom after a plunge in oil prices sparked construction layoffs. India's minister of state for external affairs, V.K. Singh, said he had a "very good meeting" with Saudi Labour Minister Mufarrej al-Haqbani during which they discussed the plight of the workers. Singh arrived in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Wednesday to negotiate the repatriation of the migrant workers who lost their jobs and were left without enough money to return home. He said on Twitter that the Saudi government had taken "immediate action to ensure that all camps where Indian workers were staying are provided facilities like medical, food, hygiene and sanitation". The government was also "providing free passage to all those who want to go back to India," he added. Speaking to reporters in Jeddah, Singh added: "All the people who want to go back can go back at the expense of the government of Saudi Arabia." Riyadh would also honour workers' claims against companies that had defaulted on payments and had agreed to allow workers to transfer to other companies in the kingdom, he said. Under the kafala system, applied on foreign workers in Gulf countries, most employees are restricted from moving to a new job without their boss's consent before their contracts end, leaving many trapped. It has been criticised by rights groups as a form of bonded labour or even slavery. Asian activists and officials have said that thousands of jobless Indians, Filipinos, and Pakistanis are stranded and destitute in Saudi Arabia following the layoffs. Some of them have been forced to beg or sift through garbage to survive after going unpaid for months, according to officials. The Okaz daily on Wednesday quoted labour ministry official Abdullah al-Alyan as saying that the kingdom had promised "urgent" action to help around 2,500 Indian workers. Story continues - 'Urgent' action - But Alyan did not mention thousands of Saudi-based Filipino and Pakistani workers and dismissed as "rumours" that about 10,000 Indian workers had been left to starve. Alyan said the "immediate and urgent action" was to resolve the issues of "2,500 Indian workers from Saudi Oger who have faced difficulties due the delays in their salaries" and cut-offs in electricity and food supplies from their camps. Singh told reporters that "things are not as bad as they have been shown" and insisted that only one company was involved. Sources in March told AFP that delayed receipts from the government, whose oil revenues have dropped significantly in the past two years, left construction workers struggling while they wait for salaries. Haqbani said that Saudi Oger's actions were "not accepted." Saudi Oger, the once-mighty construction giant led by Lebanon's billionaire former prime minister Saad Hariri, is among the affected companies. It employs about 50,000 people of various nationalities. "We will protect the rights of the workers, not from India alone, but from all countries (whose citizens are working) in this company," Haqbani said without giving details. Saudi Oger has built some of the most grandiose complexes in Riyadh, including the palatial Ritz-Carlton hotel. In May, Saudi Binladin Group -- one of the world's largest construction companies -- began paying delayed wages to its remaining staff. The company had also laid off tens of thousands of employees because of financial difficulties. According to our earnings preview report, 48.6% of consumer discretionary companies have already reported second-quarter 2016 results. Of these, 88.2% have surpassed earnings estimates and 47.1% beat revenue expectations. Total earnings of these consumer discretionary companies increased 4.1% on 1.9% increase in revenues. As the U.S economy is recovering at a steady pace, marked by improving employment levels and positive consumer confidence, education companies are implementing initiatives to attract students. These initiatives are focused on improving the affordability of the programs, upgrading the programs to improve their outcome, and ensuring that the students complete their graduation. Companies are reaching out to students with new campuses and online programs to improve accessibility. The focus remains on training students to be a part of a workforce that enjoys strong demand in the employment market. However, there is still reluctance among students to enroll in academic programs and take loans to fund them. In the current scenario, while some education companies are doing well, things are not as positive for the others. Among the few that have reported, Capella Education Company CPLA posted impressive second-quarter 2016 results on Jul 26, beating estimates on both counts. The company recorded a year-over-year increase in earnings per share and revenues, driven by positive enrollment levels recorded at Capella University. However, Strayer Education, Inc. STRA reported disappointing second-quarter 2016 results on Jul 27 despite positive enrollment levels. The company missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for both revenues and earnings per share. In addition, earnings, revenues and margin declined year over year, owing to lower revenue per student and slower payment from corporate alliance partners. Two more companies from the education sector are set to report their second quarter results on Aug 4. Let's see how things are shaping up for their respective announcements. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. LOPE Grand Canyon Education posted a positive surprise of 4.55% in the last reported quarter. Moreover, the company has surpassed estimates in each of the past four quarters, resulting in an average positive surprise of 5.47%. Story continues GRAND CANYON ED Price and EPS Surprise GRAND CANYON ED Price and EPS Surprise | GRAND CANYON ED Quote The company has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second quarter 2016 is pegged at 54 cents. Universal Technical Institute, Inc. UTI A leading provider of post-secondary education in the United States, Universal Technical Institute posted a negative surprise of 658.82% last quarter. The company has missed estimates in each of the past four quarters, resulting in an average negative surprise of 423.04%. UNIVL TECH INST Price and EPS Surprise UNIVL TECH INST Price and EPS Surprise | UNIVL TECH INST Quote The company has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third quarter 2016 is pegged at a loss of 25 cents. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report STRAYER EDUC (STRA): Free Stock Analysis Report CAPELLA EDUCATN (CPLA): Free Stock Analysis Report UNIVL TECH INST (UTI): Free Stock Analysis Report GRAND CANYON ED (LOPE): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Dark money just got a bit of light shined on it, thanks to a new search tool unveiled today by the Center for Public Integrity. The Center downloaded 850,000 forms from about 250,000 nonprofits that were recently released in electronic format by the IRS; we extracted the grant data and made $170 billion reported over five years searchable. Nonprofits, while not required to publicly disclose donors, are required to report grants given to other nonprofits. The new tool allows researchers, reporters and average citizens to search for a so-called dark money group, or any other nonprofit, and find out if it got money from another nonprofit. Related: Nonprofit network promo This story is part of Inside Publici. Stories were working on, the impact of our investigations, news about our fundraising efforts, and other issues that shape our work. Click here to read more stories in this topic. Don't miss another Inside Publici investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. For example, conservative American Future Fund has spent at least $9.8 million in the 2016 election cycle on political expenditures, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. But unlike super PACs, dark money nonprofits like American Future Fund are not required to reveal donors. A search using the Center for Public Integritys new tool shows the group received $300,000 from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in the tax year ending December 2010. Search Patriot Majority USA, a Democratic dark money group, and find a $1 million donation from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, a union representing government workers, for the tax year ending December 2012 and another $650,000 for the tax year ending December 2014. The tool reveals some of the funding sources of nonprofits active in politics and policy that were previously invisible, said Chris Zubak-Skees, the news developer who created it. Or the sources were visible, but you would have to sort through a million tax forms by hand to find those. Story continues The database does not contain grants from tax forms filed on paper. And it doesnt yet include grants from private foundations or from some nonprofits which received less than $200,000 in a tax year. The Center for Public Integritys analysis included about a quarter of the 3.4 million forms filed over five years on which grants must be disclosed. The search is just one small step toward transparency for the billions of dollars nonprofits exchange. The vast majority of grants go to charitable causes. Readers can find thousands of grants unrelated to political dark money using this search, but more and more nonprofit giving has come under scrutiny in recent election cycles. Thats because the role of nonprofits became much more important following the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The court ruled that corporations including nonprofit corporations could spend an unlimited amount on political races provided the corporations did not coordinate with candidates. Those nonprofits are permitted to accept unlimited amounts from for-profit corporations and labor unions. But the IRS is required to keep the identity of the donors secret. And the Federal Election Commission does not require these donors to be disclosed. John Dunbar, politics editor and deputy executive editor at the Center for Public Integrity, said the new search tool will be a valuable resource for those who value transparency in elections. We were using it in-house at first, he said. But we decided it was too valuable and too important not to share with the world. Related: The Nonprofit Network This story is part of Inside Publici. Stories were working on, the impact of our investigations, news about our fundraising efforts, and other issues that shape our work. Click here to read more stories in this topic. Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C. Miami (AFP) - US health authorities Wednesday launched the second human trial of a vaccine against the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which can cause birth defects and is now spreading in the US and Latin America. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Zika virus investigational DNA vaccine will be given to 80 healthy volunteers aged 18-35 at three study sites in the United States, said the federal agency. The first dose was delivered Tuesday, the NIAID said in a statement. "A safe and effective vaccine to prevent Zika virus infection and the devastating birth defects it causes is a public health imperative," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci. "Results in animal testing have been very encouraging. We are pleased that we are now able to proceed with this initial study in people." Fauci, who has previously warned that any vaccine against Zika would take years to develop, described the trial's launch as "an important step forward." The drug is a DNA vaccine that is similar to another experimental vaccine developed by NIAID against West Nile virus. It cannot infect people with Zika, but is designed to make the body mount an immune response to Zika. DNA vaccines "have been shown to be safe in previous clinical trials for other diseases," the NIAID statement said. The first Zika vaccine trial got under way last month. Led by Pennsylvania-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals, the phase 1 trial using a Zika DNA vaccine called GLS-5700 is being conducted in Quebec City, Canada, as well as Miami and Philadelphia. - Active transmission - The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say more than 50 countries and territories, mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean, currently have active transmission of Zika virus. The United States last month announced its first locally transmitted cases of Zika in Miami, with more than a dozen infections among non-travelers. The CDC has issued a travel warning for a square-mile area where the Zika-infected mosquitoes are believed to be lurking. Story continues There is no cure for Zika. In four out of five cases, it causes no symptoms. People who do feel sick from it may experience a rash, joint pain or eye infection. However, in pregnant women Zika can cause permanent damage to the developing fetus, including microcephaly, a condition in which the infant's skull and brain are unusually small. Women who are pregnant or want to become pregnant are urged to avoid areas where Zika is circulating, and take steps to prevent mosquito bites. Barrier methods of contraception are also recommended, since the virus can be spread by sexual contact. Initial results from the NIAID vaccine trial are expected in January 2017. If it appears safe, a phase 2 trial in Zika-endemic countries could begin soon after. A study out last month in the journal Science projected that the Zika pandemic would fizzle out in the next two to three years. Zika cannot infect the same person twice, so once a large number of people build up immunity to it, the surge in cases will subside, argued lead author Neil Ferguson, a professor at Imperial College London's School of Public Health. "This means by the time we have vaccines ready to be tested, there may not be enough cases of Zika in the community to test if the vaccine works," he said. Beth Comstock When you're a top executive at a major US corporation with more than 300,000 employees, it's crucial you know how to work well with others. As Beth Comstock, vice chairwoman of General Electric, said in a recent interview with Adam Bryant of The New York Times, "When you get the teamwork right, it's like magic because everybody has a role. You're different, but you come together and you have a mission." But as Comstock admitted to Bryant, she's never been an innate people person. The GE executive explained that she is naturally more like her father, who she describes as "reserved, very creative, a quiet person," and she has tried throughout her career to emulate her mother, who is more outgoing and knew everyone when she was growing up in their hometown of Winchester, Virginia. "If you sit next to my mother on a plane, she'll know your life story. Whenever we wanted to know something, we went to my mother to do the reconnaissance," Comstock told Bryant. While Comstock admitted she feels more comfortable in reserved kinds of roles, she appreciates the ease with which her mother could make friends. "I could not do that early in my career, but I see both of those things in myself now," she said. Early on, Comstock said she really had to work on not letting her shyness hold her back. Beth Comstock "There were times in a work setting that I wasn't being heard. I'd leave a meeting, and I'd be thinking, 'ugh, I didn't speak up,' Comstock said. "So I'd start to feel like I wasn't able to contribute like I wanted, and I had to force myself out of it." Since then Comstock said she's grown much more comfortable really liking people and delighting in hearing their stories. "Being part of collaborative teams, I've come to appreciate the power of them a lot more than I did early on," she told Bryant. Read the full New York Times interview here. NOW WATCH: 5 professions that are more profitable than playing in the NFL More From Business Insider (Reuters) - Indian shares fell as much as 1 percent on Wednesday, posting their fourth straight session of losses, as markets await the outcome on the goods and services tax bill with investors booking profit in recent outperformers. The broader NSE index (.NSEI) ended 0.91 percent lower at 8,544.85. The benchmark BSE index (.BSESN) ended 1.02 percent lower at 27,697.51, its lowest closing in over 3 weeks. The indexes posted their biggest percentage fall since June 24. Automakers and logistics stocks fell as investors remained wary of the ongoing tax debate in parliament. These sectors are expected to benefit from a more unified tax system. Maruti Suzuki India (MRTI.NS) fell 2.3 percent. The stock hit a record high on Tuesday on robust July sales. Transport Corp of India (TCIL.NS) lost 5.1 percent. (Reporting by Samantha Kareen Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier) Seth Meyers last night provided more details of NBCs generous offer to give Donald Trump a 13-episode order for a new scripted primetime drama series, Chicago President, in which the GOP nominee could be the President you want to bewithout the pesky bother of the press, voters, or the Constitution. Among the perks, a salary of $400K a year, $10K higher than the actual POTUS job, which would help Trump get back on his feet from a financial tumble Meyers continues to insist he knows to be the real reason Trump wont release his tax returns. And, the series would have flashbacks to show people how great you always were. Just this week, for instance, Trump took heat for attacking the father of a soldier who died in combat, who responded that Trump had never sacrificed. And it has been noted Trump did not serve in Vietnam after getting a medical deferment for bone spurs in his foot, though, in a 2015 clip shown by Meyers, Trump declined to say which foot, saying he did not know. Some are sayingmaybe that was a phony foot injury, Meyers said. On Chicago President we could set the record straight. And tonight wed like to like to read a scene which takes place in 1968, when the doctor gave you terrible, terrible news you would be unable to fight in Vietnam. Related stories Viewers Wont Adopt Existing Series If They Cant Easily Access All Past Episodes, NBC Research Chief Says - TCA Sean Hayes, Rosie O'Donnell Added To NBCs Hairspray Live! Cast - TCA 'Blindspot Season 2: Lighter Tone, Questions Answered & More Rich Dotcom - TCA Get more from Deadline.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter Teaming for their first co-production, Amazon in the U.S. has joined with the UKs Sky on original drama series, Britannia. Written by Jez Butterworth, this will be Amazons first series entirely produced overseas. In April, Deadline revealed that Kelly Reilly was in talks to star; she will now be joined by The Walking Deads David Morrissey along with Zoe Wanamaker (Harry Potter And The Sorcerers Stone) and Stanley Weber (Outlander). Vertigo Films (Monsters) is producing the 10-part event drama in association with Penny Dreadfuls Neal Street Productions. The story is set in 43 A.D. and charts the Roman invasion of what would become Great Britain. The determined, yet terrified, Roman Imperial Army returns to crush the Celtic heart of Britannia, a mysterious land ruled by wild warrior women and powerful druids who can channel the forces of the underworld. Reilly and Wanamaker play arch-rivals Kerra and Antedia who must set aside their differences to combat the invasion, led by the towering figure of Aulus Plautius (Morrissey). Hugo Speer, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Stanley Weber, Eleanor Worthington-Cox and Ian McDiarmid round out the cast. Shooting on location in Prague and Wales, Britannia will air on Sky 1 in the UK and Ireland and be available on Amazon Prime Video Stateside in 2017. Vertigos James Richardson will executive produce with Pippa Harris and Nicolas Brown from Neal Street, and Anne Thomopoulos (Rome, Band Of Brothers). Star Wars Rick McCallum produces. Jez and Tom Butterworth (Fortitude) are lead writers with Richard McBrien (Spooks). International sales will go through Sky Vision. WME and Sky Vision negotiated the deal with Amazon. Butterworth, whose feature credits include Spectre, Black Mass and Edge Of Tomorrow, calls the drama the Heavyweight Clash of All Time, the one which most shapes who we are today. And we see it all from a human perspective, of individual survival, ambition, courage, lust, loss, revenge. Story continues For Sky, Britannia joins such upcoming originals as The Young Pope, whose first two episodes will premiere at the Venice Film Festival; Guerrilla; Tin Star; Delicious; Riviera; Jamestown; and The Last Dragonslayer. Amazons originals on deck include Goliath, Good Girls Revolt, Sneaky Pete and Patriot. Related stories 'Sneaky Pete' Casts Karolina Wydra & Pej Vahdat In Recurring Roles Tate Donovan Joins 'The Man In The High Castle' 'The Last Tycoon' Drama Picked Up To Series By Amazon Amazon is set to head into the world of swords and sandals, having joined forces with U.K. pay-TV broadcaster Sky to produce a major new historic original drama. Britannia is set in 43AD, at the start of the - eventually - successful Roman invasion of Britain, ordered by emperor Claudius (Caesar had tried twice before and failed). The 10-part drama sees the Roman Imperial Army - determined and terrified in equal measure - return to crush the Celtic heart of what was then Britannia, a mysterious land ruled by wild warrior women and powerful druids rumored to be able to channel powerful forces of the underworld. The conquest would eventually lead to the rise of Boudica, queen of the Iceni tribe, who led an uprising against the Romans and would become an icon in British history. Penned by Jez Butterworth, who was among the writers for the latest 007 outing Spectre, Britannia will star Kelly Reilly (True Detective, Calvary), David Morrissey (The Walking Dead, The Hollow Crown), Zoe Wanamaker (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, My Family) and Stanley Weber (Outlander). The series is shooting on location in Prague and Wales and will be available in 2017 on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S. and on Sky 1 in the U.K. and Ireland. It was commissioned by Amazon Studios head Roy Price, alongside Sky's head of drama Anne Mensah, commissioning editor Cameron Roach and Sky 1 director Adam MacDonald. Vertigo Films' James Richardson (Monsters, Bronson) will executive produce with Pippa Harris and Nicolas Brown from Neal Street Productions (Penny Dreadful, Call the Midwife) and Anne Thomopoulos (Rome, Band of Brothers). It will be produced by Rick McCallum, who produced the Star Wars prequels, while Jez and Tom Butterworth (Fortitude, Tin Star) will lead as writers with Richard McBrien (Spooks, Merlin). "Besides being hard, hard warriors, the Celts have a belief system which makes them almost invincible. It's a deep, heavy magic," said Jez Butterworth. "Last time the Romans tried to invade, the mighty Julius Caesar took one look, turned round and went straight home. Now, almost a century later, the Romans are back. Here we have a war between two pantheons - the Roman gods vs the Celtic gods. It's the heavyweight clash of all time, the one which most shapes who we are today." Story continues Sky's Mensah described Britannia as "one of the most ambitious dramas" the broadcaster had made. "Jez Butterworth has written an incredible drama that is entertaining and emotional but also asks important questions about what drives men and women to stand and fight," she said. "This is a battle for the heart of Britain like you've never seen before." Sky's international sales arm Sky Vision will handle international distribution rights. WME and Sky Vision negotiated the deal with Amazon. Read more: Idris Elba, John Ridley Team for 1970s Civil Rights Drama at Showtime Skydiver Luke Aikins became the first person to jump from a plane without a parachute or wingsuit this past weekend, carrying out the daring stunt on live television. Aikins jumped from a height of 25,000 feet (7,600 meters) and, after a two-minute fall, flipped onto his back to land in a 100-foot-by-100-foot (30 m by 30 m) net, according to news reports. How did the daredevil pull off such a heart-stopping stunt? To accomplish such a jump with a parachute, a skydiver would typically jump from the plane, free-fall at 120 mph (190 km/h) or faster and then, at higher than 2,500 feet (760 m) above the ground, deploy the parachute, according to Nancy Koreen, spokeswoman for the U.S. Parachute Association. The parachute works to slow the skydiver's descent enough for a safe landing, she told Live Science. Without a parachute, a skydiver would continue to fall at 120 mph, a speed at which it would be fatal if the person hit the ground, she said. However, instead of hitting the ground, Aikins fell into a net in Simi Valley, California, reported CBS News. "That was what he used to survive," Koreen said. [8 Craziest Skydives of All Time] But did Aikins' movements, such as flipping onto his back or tumbling in the air, slow his fall? Not by much, Koreen said. To slow down, a skydiver can spread his or her limbs to increase surface area, but "that will only slow you down maybe 10 miles an hour [16 km/h] not substantially. You're still falling above 100 miles an hour [160 km/h]," Koreen said. Yet, even in a jump without a parachute or wingsuit, locating a landing site (in this case, a large net) is not as difficult as people may think, said Jean Potvin, a professor of physics at the Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology at Saint Louis University in Missouri. "And obviously he practiced that move a lot," Potvin told Live Science. Finding the net Aikins' helmet gave him GPS alerts throughout the dive, and lights on the net, visible from altitudes of more than 25,000 feet (7,600 m), turned red when he was off-track and white when he was on course, according to CBS News. Story continues Still, finding the net is not as simple as jumping out of a plane directly above the target and falling straight down, Potvin said. The plane is moving forward at the time of the jump, which means the skydiver leaves the plane on a forward trajectory, Potvin said, speculating that Aikins probably jumped from the plane before it flew over the net. So how does a falling skydiver steer his body toward a target on the ground? Aikins' maneuvers in the air were efforts to do just that, Potvin said. As Aikins falls from the plane, he does something called "tracking." "Instead of falling like an X he brought his arms back along his body, and so we call that tracking, so it means that what he did there is he started to glide forward and direct himself to the center of the net," Potvin said. Skydivers can also direct themselves backward, he added. [Photos: Skydiver Sean MacCormac 'Surfs' on Thunderstorm Clouds] Safe landing And just before hitting the net, Aikins flipped over onto his back so that his body would bend in the direction the back is flexible toward the front, Potvin said. "[Aikins] had to land on his back to not break his spine, basically," he said. A skydiver falling at high speed has a lot of kinetic energy, and that energy has to transfer somewhere upon landing, Potvin said. If you hit the ground, the kinetic energy is "dissipated into the ground, then reflected back into your body and breaks your body into a million pieces," he said. But the net, made of a polyethylene cord that is twice strong as steel, prevented that from happening, reported National Geographic. "The net absorbed his fall, dissipated his energy, and allowed him to survive the jump and actually walk out of it," Potvin said. Potvin, who is a skydiver himself, said he was impressed by the feat. But not everyone was captivated by Aikins' jump. Michael Turoff, a skydiver and co-author of the book "Parachuting: The Skydiver's Handbook" (Para Publishing, 2007), called it "a ridiculously dangerous stunt that could have easily resulted in a fatality." Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. blur There is no such thing as too much stealth for America's military pilots or for the sister-service branches, period. The F-35 Lightning II has had a turbulent march towards combat readiness, and there are critiques that the fifth generation jet simply has too much stealth, technology, and capability for pilots to handle. To that, the US Marine Corps top aviator says "that's bologna." "Who knows where we are gonna fight next?" asked Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for aviation, during a discussion on the readiness and future of Marine aviation at the American Enterprise Institute on July 29. "I know what the service culture is: anywhere, anytime, any place, against anybody. That's why you have the Marine Corps ... We need the electronic warfare capabilities that airplane delivers, it's fantastic," Davis said of the F-35. At a cool $100 million a jet, Lockheed Martin's F-35 was designed to marry stealth and avionics. blur f35 The fighter is equipped with radar-evading stealth, supersonic speed, and "the most powerful and comprehensive integrated sensor package of any fighter aircraft in history," Jeff Babione, the head of Lockheed Martin's F-35 program, said in a statement. In short, the F-35 gives pilots the ability to see and not be seen. What's more, Davis added that the "jack-of-all-trades" jet proved to be "phenomenally successful" during testing. "It does best when it's out front, doing the killing," he said. Davis, who has flown copilot in every type of model of tilt-rotor, rotary-winged, and tanker aircraft in the Marine inventory, said that the F-35 is a "jewel" and the Corps is excited about exploiting the fifth-generation jet's capability. f35 "We are equipping these young Marines this generation that doesn't know any bounds for technology and they're leveraging this technology and doing great things," Davis said. Story continues At the end of his remarks, Davis shared a story from his last meeting with legendary Marine Corps aviator Frank Petersen, the first African-American Corps aviator and general, who passed away last year. During his meeting with Petersen, Davis explained that the Marines were getting critiques for getting "too much technology," like the F-35. "I was shot down in Korea and shot down in Vietnam. Never once did I think I had too much technology under my rear end," Petersen told Davis. "Go tell them they're idiots," he added. On Tuesday, the US Air Force declared their first squadron of F-35A's combat ready. Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, the F-35 program's executive officer, said that the Air Force's decision to declare the F-35A's initial operational capability (IOC) "sends a simple and powerful message to America's friends and foes alike, the F-35 can do its mission." Similarly, Davis said that the Marine Corps is "kinda the insurance policy against the darkness that's out there. I am totally confident in our track and our course." NOW WATCH: The F-35 has hit another snag this time because its too stealthy More From Business Insider south africa elections South Africans are heading to the polls on Wednesday in what Barclays analysts have dubbed "the most important elections since the 1994 democratic transition" back when Nelson Mandela was elected in the country's first elections post-Apartheid. What makes these 2016 local government elections so significant is that they come at time when the ruling party, the African National Congress, is starting to see its support slip. "We view these elections as the most important since [1994] because they could herald a sea change in South African politics with much greater contestability than ever before," wrote Barclays' Peter Worthington and Miyelani Maluleke in a note to clients last week. "This raises particular challenges for South Africas young democracy, but we believe that political democratic pluralism is key for political and economic progress over the long run." The ANC has been the major party in South Africa since 1994 when it pushed against the white minority rule. But, over the last few years, support for the party has been trickling down, and it's now facing competition from other parties, including the main opposition: the Democratic Alliance (DA). Additionally, if ANC does poorly in these elections, the BBC notes that there could be added pressure on scandal-prone president Jacob Zuma to step down. He survived impeachment in April and previously dealt with accusations of corruption and rape. He also went through three finance ministers over the course of several days in December, agitating the markets. Screen Shot 2016 08 03 at 11.44.35 AM Already in the 2014 national election, the ANC's vote in the several big cities fell to around 50%, Steven Friedman, the Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg, noted in a post for Brookings Institute. Story continues This time around, people are watching out for three key urban spots Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Port Elizabeth where the ANC could see some chafing. The New York Times' Norimitsu Onishi explains that these three are key given that the DA has traditionally been a party whose support came from whites, South Africans of mixed race, and middle class blacks. So, he writes, if they win in any one of the aforementioned cities, "where blacks are clearly in the majority, [it] would be a significant breakthrough: The party could present itself to all black voters as a viable alternative." And this is particularly notable given that the ANC is "the party of Nelson Mandela." Still, Friedman writes that the ANC is still quite popular elsewhere, which he argues reflects an economic post-1994 development of "insiders and the outsiders" where although the former are now black and white, the latter are still predominantly black. "As in many other countries, South African local elections are less about their ostensible purpose electing governments in 278 municipalities than a test of support for national parties," Friedman argued in his Brookings post. "They may signal whether the next national election, in 2019, will be another foregone conclusion for the governing [ANC] or the most competitive in the country's democratic history." south africa vote elections In the background of all this, South Africa has been marred by economic problems over the last few years, which the BBC noted would be "one of the main issues as people vote." The country's economy sharply contracted by an annualized 1.2% in the first quarter of 2016 the most recent figure available compared with the previous three months when it expanded by 0.4%, according to the statistics office. Moreover, South Africa has been struggling with extremely high unemployment, which economists have attributed to poor education system and structural problems left over from the Apartheid era. The rate hit a 12-year high of 26.7% in the first quarter of 2016. And as a subset of that, there's also a huge youth unemployment problem. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that the country saw a youth unemployment rate of 52.9% in 2014 which is particularly noteworthy given that 46.95% nearly half of the population is under the age of 24. "South Africa's ailing economy is clearly heading in the wrong direction," noted Capital Economics' Africa Economist John Ashbourne back in June. south africa elections Notably, there has been some rising discontent in the lead up to the elections with several ANC local councilors being shot and killed. In light of that, Worthington and Maluleke argued that the biggest risk would come if parties or a large segment of the voters reject the election's result. "We think the main danger lies in the immediate wake of the elections, once the [Independent Electoral Commission] announces the results. There is a real risk that parties and voters who dislike the results may be tempted to dismiss them as 'rigged,'" the Barclays duo wrote in their note. "How parties and the electorate react to these results will be a key test of the political maturity of South Africas young democracy," they continued. "A willingness on the part of all parties and the electorate to work patiently with the IEC and the courts to resolve any hiccoughs, and to accept the final election results would be a very encouraging signal for the country, just as its converse would not." Polls officially closed at 7 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET), and preliminary totals are expected to come in 24 hours later. NOW WATCH: We asked a Navy SEAL what he ate during training, and his answer shocked us More From Business Insider Oli vacates Baluwatar Outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday left his official residence at Baluwatar with the Parliament certain to elect a new premier. By TJ Strydom PRETORIA (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party took an early lead on Thursday as vote counting continued in local government elections where it faces the risk of losing control of key cities for the first time since coming to power. The party, which toppled white apartheid rule after the country's first democratic elections in 1994, is up against its stiffest electoral challenge to date against the backdrop of high unemployment, a stagnant economy and controversies surrounding President Jacob Zuma. With 5 percent of the votes in so far, the ANC held a 54 percent lead, against 33 percent for the Democratic Alliance (DA) and 5 percent for the Economic Freedom Fighters, which is participating in only its second election. The ANC won 62 percent in the last municipal elections in 2011 while the DA garnered 24 percent. Vote tallies are expected to trickle in throughout the day on Thursday, but the final national results are not expected before Friday. A significant loss of support for Nelson Mandela's ANC, which led South Africa's decades-long struggle against oppressive white minority rule, would be a blow ahead of the next major test - the 2019 national elections. Opinion polls see a particularly close race in the capital Pretoria as well as the country's economic hub, Johannesburg, and the symbolic Nelson Mandela Bay municipality named after the anti-apartheid icon. The DA is expected to maintain control of Cape Town, the only big city not run by the ANC. The DA is a historically white-dominated movement hoping to expand support under its new black leader Mmusi Maimane. "I voted DA because I'm sick of the rotten, corrupt ANC," said Simpiwe, an unemployed 55-year-old surrounded by shacks in a rundown Nelson Mandela Bay township on the southeast coast, after casting his ballot on Wednesday. Many South Africans who queued up to vote said they were worried about Zuma's performance and the state of Africa's most industrialised economy, where only one in four in the labour force is unemployed. Senzo Makhubela, a 32-year-old security guard, said the ANC needed to build more houses and do more to develop areas like Diepsloot, the shantytown where he lives north of Johannesburg. But he was sticking with the ruling party for now, despite the travails of its leader. "Zuma doesn't make decisions alone so the ANC is not Zuma alone, it's a collective," he said. Zuma survived an impeachment vote in April after the Constitutional Court said he breached the law by ignoring an order to repay some of the $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his private home. In December, he rattled investors after changing his finance minister twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting. The currency has since recovered. Zuma has said he would repay some of the funds spent on his home and rejected criticism of his conduct, but anger is rising in a country on the brink of recession. Analysts also predict a downgrade by credit ratings agencies to "junk" status. "A very weak outcome for the ANC, getting less than a 55 percent national vote share and losing three metros, would likely be viewed as a market positive," said Nomura emerging market analyst Peter Attard Montalto. (Additional reporting by Nqobile Dludla in Pretoria, Mfuneko Toyana and Tanisha Heiberg in Johannesburg, Siphiwe Sibeko in Limpopo, Joe Brock in Port Elizabeth and Wendell Roelf in Cape Town, writing by Stella Mapenzauswa, editing by G Crosse) By Nqobile Dludla and Mfuneko Toyana JOHANNESBURG/PRETORIA (Reuters) - South Africans voted in local elections on Wednesday that could see the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and its scandal-hit leader lose control of the capital and other key cities for the first time since the end of apartheid. Many queuing in the winter cold said they were worried about President Jacob Zuma's performance and the state of Africa's most industrialised economy, where one in four is unemployed the central bank expects zero growth this year. Analysts say the ANC is facing the toughest electoral challenge in its history - a narrow win in key cities would still be a significant blow for a movement which embodied South Africas liberation struggle. Its next major test comes in national elections in 2019. "Where I live I don't have electricity and we use paraffin stoves to cook. We're struggling. For 22 years the ANC has been in power but nothing has changed," said Philemon Mathebula, an unemployed 35-year-old from Johannesburg. He told Reuters he had switched his allegiance to the main opposition Democratic Alliance party, a historically white-dominated movement that is hoping for growing support under its new black leader Mmusi Maimane. Opinion polls see a particularly close race in the capital Pretoria, economic-hub Johannesburg and the symbolic Nelson Mandela Bay municipality named after the anti-apartheid icon. The Democratic Alliance was expected to keep hold of Cape Town, the only major city not run by the ANC. "The vote will be a referendum on Zuma and the performance of his government on the national economy as well as the local level," said BNP Paribas Securities South Africa political analyst Nic Borain. ZUMA SCANDALS "I'm voting because I want access to electricity and water and other services. Unemployment is rife and I think voting will help change that," said pensioner William Mahlangu in Pretoria, declining to say whom he was backing. Security guard Senzo Makhubela said the ANC needed to build more houses and do more to develop areas like Diepsloot, the shantytown where he lives north of Johannesburg. But he was sticking with the ruling party for now, despite the travails of its leader. "Zuma doesn't make decisions alone so the ANC is not Zuma alone, it's a collective. They just need to change a few things," said the 32-year-old. Zuma survived an impeachment vote in April after the Constitutional Court said he breached the law by ignoring an order to repay some of the $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his home. In December, he was widely criticised for changing his finance minister twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting and alarming investors. The rand has since recovered. Zuma has said he would repay some of the funds spent on his home and rejected the accusations, saying he is fit to lead. But anger is rising in a country on the brink of recession. Analysts predict a downgrade by ratings agencies to "junk". The leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led by firebrand Julius Malema, Zuma's one-time protege and former ANC youth leader, is another challenger. Malema plans to redistribute among poor blacks wealth still largely held by whites. Edward Mariba, 44, in Johannesburg said he voted for the EFF. "I wanted to give the new kids on the block a chance." ANC loyalists said they remained confident On the east coast, Danny Jordaan, the ANC mayor in Nelson Mandela Bay municipality said he expected the ANC to win at least 55 percent of the vote. "The ANC will win," said Stonie Sizani, a 62 year old civil servant and lifetime ANC supporter in the region's main city Port Elizabeth. "Any party would find it difficult with a struggling economy. The global economy is bad, not just South Africa." A Reuters witness said voting was delayed after roads leading to some polling stations in Vuwani town in the northern Limpopo province were blocked overnight by unknown people. Some locals had said they would boycott the vote, protesting against a change in municipal boundaries which led to riots in May after residents said social services would suffer. The government has said it deployed 2,000 troops to hotspots countrywide to prevent any violence, including in Vuwani. "I have just voted so that whoever is elected can enrich themselves, maybe one day I'll be lucky and they can look after me," said a 27-year old man in Vuwani, who declined to give his name for fear of reprisals from residents calling for a boycott. (Additional reporting by Sipiwe Sibeko in Limpopo, Tanisha Heiberg in Johannesburg, Joe Brock in Port Elizabeth and Wendell Roelf in Cape Town; Writing by James Macharia; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Juba (AFP) - South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has fired five ministers, according to an official decree, in a move that removed figures known for close ties to ex-rebel leader Riek Machar. Under a peace agreement signed in August 2015, Kiir headed the government while Machar was given the position of first vice president. Thirty ministerial posts were distributed between their two parties and others. But a presidential decree issued on Tuesday showed that cabinet posts including the interior and petroleum portfolios in the oil-rich state had been filled with allies of the new vice president, Taban Deng Gai. Deng, who leads a faction of Machar's SPLM/A (IO) party, was named vice president by Kiir after being fired as a minister by his own party leader. Among those removed were water resources minister Mabior Garang, the son of the figurehead of South Sudan's independence movement, and the minister for higher education, Peter Adwok, an influential ex-rebel. Their sacking strains the delicate balance of ethnicities in the government, analysts said. Garang is an opposition figure but a Dinka like the president, while Adwok is a Shilluk, a group which has now lost an important voice in government. Kiir did however retain powerful rebel figure Alfred Lado Gore in his government, moving him from the interior ministry to housing. Machar ally Gore hails from the Equatoria region, where the capital, Juba, is located and which is seen as a hotbed for opposition recruitment. The move also comes just days after Lam Akol, a minister representing another opposition grouping, resigned with the intention of organising the government's opponents into a more consolidated force, he said, while declaring the peace deal dead. South Sudan's political tensions date back to December 2013, just over two years after the state achieved independence from Sudan. Kiir accused Machar of planning a coup, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings that degenerated into a ruinous civil war. The two agreed a peace deal and power-sharing arrangement in August 2015, but problems have lurked beneath the surface. Renewed fighting in July led the UN Security Council to consider a visit this month to Sudan and South Sudan to push for a return to peace efforts. Machar has not returned to Juba since the clashes. By Renee Dudley BOSTON (Reuters) - Shortly after David Coleman took over as CEO in 2012, the College Board began redesigning its signature product, the SAT college entrance exam. The testing company also hired a consultancy to identify the risks associated with the monumental undertaking. Among the red flags that consultant Gartner Inc raised in an October 2013 report: The not-for-profit College Board needed to better protect the material being developed for the new SAT. Plans to secure the new test from leaks or theft had not been developed by the organisation, the consultancy wrote in the report, reviewed by Reuters. At risk were thousands of items, or questions, that were being prepared for the redesigned SAT. In 2014, employees at the New York-based College Board also raised concerns, arguing for limits on who could access items and answer keys for the revamped SAT, an email shows. They were right to be worried. Just months after the College Board unveiled the new SAT this March, a person with access to material for upcoming versions of the redesigned exam provided Reuters with hundreds of confidential test items. The questions and answers include 21 reading passages each with about a dozen questions and about 160 math problems. Reuters doesnt know how widely the items have circulated. The news agency has no evidence that the material has fallen into the hands of what the College Board calls bad actors groups that the organisation says will lie, cheat and steal for personal gain. But independent testing specialists briefed on the matter said the breach represents one of the most serious security lapses thats come to light in the history of college-admissions testing. To ensure the materials were authentic, Reuters provided copies to the College Board. In a subsequent letter to the news agency, an attorney for the College Board said publishing any of the items would have a dire impact, destroying their value, rendering them unusable, and inflicting other injuries on the College Board and test takers. College Board spokeswoman Sandra Riley said in a statement that the organisation was moving to contain any damage from the leak. The College Board is taking the test forms with stolen content off of the SAT administration schedule while we continue to monitor and analyse the situation, she said. Riley declined to say whether those steps would involve cancelling or delaying upcoming tests. The next sitting of the SAT is October 1. The breach is a serious criminal matter, Riley wrote. A thorough investigation is ongoing, therefore our comments must be limited. The College Board did not grant requests for interviews with CEO Coleman and other employees named in this article. The SAT is used by U.S. universities to help evaluate more than a million college applicants a year, and so a major security lapse could cause havoc for admissions officers and students alike. That College Board security was breached is a problem of a massive level, one that could put into question the credibility of the exam, said Neal Kingston, who heads the Achievement and Assessment Institute at the University of Kansas. If unscrupulous test-preparation centres were to obtain the items, the impact on the SAT would be devastating, said James Wollack, director of the Center for Placement Testing at the University of Wisconsin. Everyone will pull out all stops to try to compromise this test, Wollack said. That items for upcoming exams have leaked is very alarming, very concerning indeed. Its too soon to know what damage the leak could cause. Harm can be minimized if the items arent widely distributed. But Wollack and Kingston noted that the latest incident is more serious than the widespread SAT cheating reported in East Asia during the past few years. As Reuters reported in March, the College Board has been unable to prevent foreign test-preparation operators from giving their clients an advance look at exam questions. Those problems were primarily a result of the organisations reuse of previously administered exams. This breakdown involves test items that have never been given. The materials provided to Reuters contain a wealth of items for upcoming tests: reading passages drawn from novels, historical documents, scientific journals, essays and other texts, each accompanied by questions. Also among the materials were math problems involving geometry and quadratic equations. The security breach comes as the College Board already faces pressure from U.S. universities to better protect its marquee test. The Reuters reports earlier this year detailed how an East Asian industry is exploiting the College Boards routine practise of recycling items from past tests. Cram schools drill their students on questions harvested from previous tests, conferring an enormous advantage over students who see the items for the first time when the exam is given. In a statement at the time, the College Board pledged to do more to protect the exam. University admissions officers, however, continue to voice concerns to College Board officials about reuse of exams. If the College Board cant keep test material secure, schools are left with the impossible task of determining whether an applicant saw questions before taking the exam and therefore gained an unfair edge. UNEXPLAINED LEAKS Questions about security inside the College Board emerged earlier this year. Internal documents reviewed by this news agency showed that material for past exams had been compromised, a term the College Board uses to describe tests whose contents have leaked outside the organisation. In February, Reuters asked the College Board how it went about protecting exam materials. Spokesman Zach Goldberg described the organisations use of lock boxes to help prevent the theft of SAT booklets sent to international testing locations. But lock boxes, he acknowledged, would not preclude a leak that originated earlier in the content development and distribution cycle. The question related to a confidential June 2013 PowerPoint presentation the College Board prepared after a major security breach in South Korea. After local test-prep operators obtained the test in advance, the College Board cancelled the May 2013 sitting in South Korea. The PowerPoint also noted a type of breach that differed from the exploitation of recycled tests: outright leaks of new test booklets. According to the PowerPoint, SAT tests on specialised subjects two in Mathematics Level II and one in biology had been compromised. These were new forms that is, tests that had never been administered in the United States or abroad. The PowerPoint gave no explanation for how those subject tests leaked. The College Board has cautioned that cartel-like companies in China and other countries will stop at nothing to enrich themselves. EXAM INSECURITY Historically, the development of questions to be used on the SAT was primarily handled by the non-profit Educational Testing Service, or ETS. Based in Princeton, New Jersey, ETS also oversees security for the College Board when exams are administered. After Coleman took over, however, the College Board began handling many aspects of the SAT redesign in-house rather than through contractor ETS, documents reviewed by Reuters show. The College Board also began managing the Item Bank, the repository of questions created for the SAT. In the past, that responsibility had belonged to ETS. Taking on these roles gave the College Board greater control over the material, internal documents show. Developing a single version of the SAT typically takes about 18 to 30 months and costs about $1 million. The College Board knew that assuming those roles presented challenges. As its staff worked on the new exam in 2013, the outside consultant was brought in to evaluate the risks the organisation faced as it worked to finish the redesign. In an internal report from October 2013 labelled FINAL DRAFT, Gartner advised the College Board to develop and document a programme security plan to handle test materials. The plan should address not only the physical security of printed exam booklets, but also the safeguarding of the College Boards network, servers, storage and data, the consultant recommended. The security issues, the consultant concluded, presented a medium risk to the College Board. A medium risk was defined as having a potential material impact...on programme success that needs to be addressed proactively at this time. Risks considered high included the issues related to the schedule and budget for redesigning the test. The report also recommended appointing a manager to protect the new exam. It suggested the College Board explicitly assign a Security Lead to the Program with overall responsibility for all aspects of security related to the Assessment Redesign Program and the redesigned assessments. Officials should clearly document the responsibilities and mandate of this role. Its unclear whether the College Board named a security chief or what steps, if any, it took to protect exam materials stored digitally. In a statement, spokeswoman Riley said the consultant later assessed how the College Board responded to the recommendations and determined we made significant progress in every area, including our security policies and procedures. A spokesman for consultant Gartner declined to comment about its findings or recommendations. An internal email shows that security concerns about access to test items remained months after the consultants October 2013 report. In a June 16, 2014 email to a College Board official, test development team member Daming Zhu wrote that he and his colleagues were concerned that too many people inside College Board had access to such secure data. Zhu helped manage the digital repository of items being developed for the new SAT. The subject line of his email reads, Secure Item/Test Information Sharing. Zhu sent the email to Sherral Miller, vice president of assessment design and development for the College Board. Zhus worries were wide-ranging. We are very concerned that IT is duplicating key information of our items and test in a parallel system, he wrote. Another College Board unit also wanted exam information, Zhu explained. He told Miller that storing such important secure test data in more than one place...is hard for us to understand. Zhu said the item bank team believes that we ought to limit the access to the secure item/test data, especially the [answer] keys, to the minimum possible, according to the email. Nowadays system hacking is not a surprise anymore, Zhu wrote. Expanding the sources for secure test data will not help the security of test information of high stake programs such as SAT Zhu said the team would appreciate some policies/guidelines from the department or division upper management. Miller replied the same day, June 16. You are right to be leery of them at this time, she said of the requests Zhu mentioned. Miller said she would be discussing the matter with her boss and will then get back to you so we can set guidelines and policy. College Board spokeswoman Riley said the reference to several internal inquiries to access test item information in Zhus email were potential scenarios that never manifested. Riley said Zhu asked Miller to confirm College Boards policies and guidelines in order to respond to these inquiries, which Dr. Miller subsequently provided. Riley declined to share the guidelines, or to say how many College Board employees and contractors had access to the test items. Testing specialists said the damage from the current breach can be limited so long as the items arent widely distributed. They cautioned, however, that major breaches have the potential to jeopardise the very existence of a standardized exam. A test like the SAT is so important and so consequential and is taken by people all over the world, Wollack said. The College Board, especially for this programme, needs to be leading the industry in terms of security. (Edited by Blake Morrison) NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 3, 2016 / Spherix Incorporated ("Spherix") (SPEX) an intellectual property development company committed to the fostering and monetization of intellectual property, today announced the pricing of a firm commitment underwritten public offering of up to 1,592,357 shares of its common stock at a fixed price to the public of $1.57. The gross proceeds to Spherix from this offering are expected to be $2,500,000, before deducting the underwriting discount and other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The offering is expected to close on or about August 8, 2016, subject to customary closing conditions. In addition, Spherix has granted the representative of the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 231,350 additional shares of its common stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. is the sole book-running manager for the underwritten offering. Spherix intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. A shelf registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the securities was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is effective. A final prospectus supplement and related prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and related prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may be obtained from the offices of Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., 546 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY, 10036, telephone: 212-953-4900 or by email at syndicate@laidlawltd.com. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Story continues About Spherix Spherix is committed to advancing innovation by active participation in all areas of the patent market. Spherix draws on portfolios of pioneering technology patents to partner with and support product innovation. Spherix has acquired over 100 patents from Rockstar Consortium Inc., and several hundred patents issued to Harris Corporation, covering a variety of methods and components involved in switching, routing, networking, optical and telephone technologies, as well as in the wireless communications and telecommunication sectors. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), not limited to Risk Factors relating to its patent business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Contact: Investor Relations Contact: Hayden IR, LLC Brett Mass Phone: (646) 536-7331 Email: brett@haydenir.com www.haydenir.com Spherix Contact: Phone: (703) 992-9325 Email: info@spherix.com www.spherix.com SOURCE: Spherix Incorporated rocket Schonfeld Strategic Advisors, a multibillion-dollar hedge fund firm, is expanding its reach in quant trading. The New York-based firm is backing a new quant fund from Eric Tavel, who previously worked at Goldman Sachs Asset Management and the Canadian bank RBC. Schonfeld is seeding its new quant investment with $100 million. The new firm, Masa Capital, plans to launch in the first half of next year with as much as $150 million under management, including Tavel's own cash. Tavel headed RBC's quant proprietary trading group, GAT, from 2010 through last year, according to a LinkedIn page. He oversaw Goldman's quantitative investment strategies group and comanaged the Global Alpha Fund from 1996 through 2010, according to a Schonfeld press statement. The new fund will focus on quant trading in futures and currencies, among other strategies, Tavel told Business Insider. While Schonfeld already runs quant strategies in its book, chief investment officer Ryan Tolkin said the new addition would help the firm diversify. "Many of our strategies are statistical arbitrage strategies," Tolkin said. "That basically means relying or using historical pricing information to help predict future price movement of stocks. Many of them are equity based, and what Eric is doing differently is trading different asset classes from a quantitative perspective." Softbank robot Schonfeld managed about $4 billion, including leverage, at the start of the year, according to a regulatory filing. That means Masa will make up a tiny bit of the firm's overall portfolio when it launches, but the move to back Masa coincides with Schonfeld's backing and acquisition of more talent, Tolkin said. The launch comes as more asset managers push into quant investing. Steve Cohen, for instance, is investing $250 million in a Boston-based quant firm, Quantopian, which makes trades based on algorithms sent by thousands of traders. Cohen's family office, Point72 Asset Management, which manages his billions, already has a separate quant arm called Cubist Systematic Strategies. Story continues Correction: This article originally said that Schonfeld managed $4 billion excluding leverage, according to a regulatory filing. That figure includes leverage. NOW WATCH: Self-made millionaire reveals the biggest money mistake you might be making More From Business Insider On August 3, 1994, Stephen Breyer was confirmed as the 108th Justice to serve on the Supreme Court. His path to the nations highest court included stops at Harvard, the federal court system, and a brief stint as a Watergate counsel. Breyer was 55 years old at the time of his confirmation and viewed as a centrist federal appeals court judge. News broke in May 1994 that Breyer would be President Bill Clintons second and last Supreme Court nomination. A year earlier, Breyer had been a finalist for the nomination that went to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Clinton had reportedly considered three people to replace the retiring Harry Blackmun: Breyer, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and Arkansas federal judge Richard Arnold. The New York Times reported that Breyer was known as a builder and a pragmatist whose court rarely produces a dissenting opinion. He already has bipartisan support in the Senate, where he worked as an aide during the 1970s and helped build coalitions across party lines to deregulate the airlines. Babbitt was reportedly Clintons first choice, but he also faced a Senate confirmation fight. In comparison, Breyer was well-known and respected for this work with the Senate before accepting a federal court appointment in 1980. Breyer was born in California, attended Stanford University, Harvard University, and Oxford University, and he taught at Harvard. Breyer also clerked for Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg in his first year after law school. After joining Harvards faculty in 1967, Breyer served as Assistant Special Prosecutor of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force in 1973, where he worked with Archibald Cox. Breyer left that position to become a counsel, and then chief counsel, to the Senate Judiciary Committee. His work on airline deregulation drew praise from Republicans and Democrats. President Jimmy Carter appointed Breyer to the First Circuit Court Of Appeals in 1980, after Breyer reportedly declined an opportunity to become the dean of Harvards Law School. In 1990, Breyer was named Chief Judge of the First Circuit Appeals Court. Story continues During the drama over Clintons first Supreme Court nomination in 1993, Breyer met with Clinton despite serious injuries Breyer had received in a bicycle accident. The reportedly chaotic 1993 nomination process included Mario Cuomo and First Lady Hillary Clinton as potential nominees to replace Justice Byron White. President Clinton chose Ginsburg as his first appointment. In 1994, Blackmun announced his retirement in April and the White House took five weeks to consider his replacement. President Clinton made the decision quickly to nominate Breyer, calling him 30 minutes before the public announcement and not giving Breyer enough time to make it to a public ceremony. Breyer was confirmed after a week of hearings in the Senate by an 87-9 vote. The responsibility of that position is awesome, rather humbling, Breyer said at an appearance with President Clinton after his confirmation. Ill do my best. Among Breyers supporters was Republican Strom Thurmond. Judge Breyer does not seem to have an ideological bent to move the court in one direction or another, the conservative Senator said during the nomination process. Recent Historical Stories on Constitution Daily Happy 58th Birthday, NASA! Looking back: The Supreme Court decision that ended Nixons presidency Women, the White House and presidential campaigns Here are 5 stocks added to the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) List today: Acadia Healthcare Company Inc ACHC develops and operates inpatient psychiatric facilities, residential treatment centers, group homes and substance abuse facilities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 7.6% downward over the last 30 days. Amerisafe, Inc. AMSF an insurance holding company, provides workers compensation insurance in the United States. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has declined 3.1% over the last 30 days. Arctic Cat Inc ACAT designs, engineers, manufactures and markets snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and recreational off-highway vehicles under the Arctic Cat and MotorFist brand names. It has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings being revised a whopping 376.2% downward over the last 30 days. Autoliv, Inc. ALV develops, manufactures, and supplies automotive safety systems to the automotive industry worldwide. The Zacks Consensus Estimate revision for its current year earnings was a negative of 5.2% over the last 30 days. Braskem SA BAK produces and sells thermoplastic resins. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has moved 3.5% lower over the last 30 days. View the entire Zacks Rank #5 List Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AUTOLIV INC (ALV): Free Stock Analysis Report AMERISAFE INC (AMSF): Free Stock Analysis Report ARCTIC CAT INC (ACAT): Free Stock Analysis Report BRASKEM SA (BAK): Free Stock Analysis Report ACADIA HEALTHCR (ACHC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Alisha Sijapati is an arts and culture reporter at The Kathmandu Post, primarily covering human interest stories. She is intrigued by history, culture and films. Before joining the Post in 2015, she worked as a journalist for The Himalayan Times and ECS Media. Suicide Squad director David Ayers took to Twitter to defend the film following some disappointing reviews. Just 34% of critics deemed it positive on Rotten Tomatoes, aside from Margot Robbies praised turn as Harley Quinn. Ayers expressed his thoughts with a quote attributed to the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata. Prefiero morir de pie que vivir de rodillas Emiliano Zapata David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) August 2, 2016 Zapata quote is my way of saying I love the movie and believe in it. Made it for the fans. Best experience of my life. David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) August 2, 2016 His defense of the film came hours after he apologized for voicing a quick, four-letter outburst targeted at DC Comics arch-rival Marvel Comics at the pics New York premiere. The director was responding to and repeated a comment shouted out at him from the crowd. Related stories 'Suicide Squad' Review: Margot Robbie Steals The Show In Pic Starring DC Comics Badasses 'Suicide Squad' Will Rock August As 'Nine Lives' Cozies Up To Family Audience - Box Office Preview 'Suicide Squad' Director David Ayer Apologies For Four-Letter Anti-Marvel Outburst At NY Premiere BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government forces launched air strikes against six hospitals in the Aleppo area within a week in attacks that amounted to war crimes, a U.S.-based rights group said on Wednesday. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said it was the worst week for attacks on medical facilities in the Aleppo region since the beginning of Syria's five-year conflict, which has killed more than 250,000 people. The medical facilities were hit between July 23 and 31, the New York-based group said. The city and province of Aleppo have been among the areas hardest hit by intensifying violence as peace efforts earlier this year failed and a fragile ceasefire crumbled. "Since June, we've seen increasing reports of attacks on civilians in Aleppo and strikes on the region's remaining medical infrastructure," PHR's director of programs Widney Brown said in a statement. "Each of these assaults constitutes a war crime," Brown said. Government forces and their allies, with Russian backing, have advanced in recent months and imposed a siege on the rebel-held sector of Aleppo since early July, when they closed the main road from opposition areas out of the city. "The bombings, the lack of humanitarian aid and the failure of the United Nations to deliver any kind of assistance means the death toll may soon be catastrophic," Brown said. PHR said it has documented more than 370 attacks on 265 medical facilities during the war, and the deaths of 750 medical personnel. 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 Tom Heneghan) From Town & Country As far as trends go, they're going to Austin. That's most palpable along South Congress Avenue, just across the Colorado River from downtown and once a diaspora for Austin's hippie crowd. Today, it's minted with a palette of trendy shops and restaurants scintillating with neon signs. Startups and discerning boutiques run the city, while every emerging craft has chased another. Already known for its live music, Austin now beckons chefs to headline a broader cultural landscape-kitchens aren't just for cooking, but for milling heritage grains in-house, or for distilling house-made spirits. A renaissance of high-brow taste is served with Southern charm and Austin's laid back manner. Here's how to enjoy one of the hottest cities in the country right now. WHERE TO SHOP ByGeorge Sure, the former honkey-tonk aesthetic is never far from reach, but head to ByGeorge and take stock of the contemporary city's groomed style. The newest of its three locations now stands on the bustling South Congress Avenue with a kempt array of women's and men's apparel. Downtown wares by Helmut Lang nod to Austin's refined edge while flowing, distinct prints are subtly eccentric. Household items round out a mix of labels, from glossy ceramics and crafted utensils, to more pertinent items like small-print periodicals and designer color-blocked towels-necessary pieces for any daytime lounge at Austin's swimming holes. Multiple locations, 877-472-5951 Roadhouse Relics Photo credit: Todd Sanders To get the ultimate Austin vibe, stop by RoadhouseRelics to get your own neon sign. The appointment-only shop is where Todd Sanders, a neon artist, crafts his signature bright designs that glow along the best of South Congress Avenue's restaurants, shops, and hotels. Altogether unique, Sanders signs are all handmade, ranging from cowboy boots to bloomed roses. And luckily, Sanders's shop has several hanging installations that, thanks to the glass facade, are visible from the street-no appointment needed. Story continues 1720 South First Street, Austin, 512-442-6366 WORK Photo credit: Gideon Tsang If you have the wheels, WORK is a five minute drive from South Congress. The strip-mall space was once a pawnshop, and in a sense, still is; Hoiden Supply Co., Noah Marion Quality Goods and Golden Eagle Creative all operate under the same roof, but with miscellaneous goods. While the latter is a branding agency, Hoiden Supply Co. commands the room and stocks items that are just as edgy as frilly-think leather jackets alongside denim skirts and accessories made for the open road, like motorcycle helmets in red, white, and blue, or even rusty glitter. Towards the back of the shop, Noah Marion Quality Goods is the working studio for Noah Marion himself. Here, Marion crafts all-things-leather (specifically undyed, natural vegetable tanned leathers) from wallets to mousepads to backpacks, underneath a neon sign that reads "Live Well." 2053 South Lamar Blvd., Austin WHERE TO DIP Hamilton Pool Preserve A bevy of natural springs in and around Austin makes a bathing suit essential to any packing list. Minutes from downtown, the three-acre Barton Springs is the most visited (read: most crowded), so our recommendation is Hamilton Pool Preserve (read: it's reservation-only). A limited crowd with foresight to book a spot in advance - currently, the wait runs two weeks out - dip into a box canyon fed by a 50-foot waterfall that's just outside the city. 24300 Hamilton Pool Road. Dripping Spgs, 512-264-2740 WHERE TO EAT Elizabeth Street Cafe Austin's self-proclaimed "weirdness" is on display at Elizabeth Street Cafe, a Vietnamese-French mashup best known for brunch. Checkered floors contrast with colorful seating - floral smocks on the waiters, too - make this one dandy diner. When ordered with the ranch-sourced short-rib, banh mi gets a southern distinction, served on a fresh baguette from the in-house boulangerie. Best to arrive before the brunch rush to ensure yourself a fresh-baked pastry, like an everything-bagel croissant stuffed with sweet cream cheese that's best savored with iced Vietnamese coffee. 1501 S 1st Street, 512-291-2881 Emmer & Rye This airy restaurant hits every zeitgeisty note. It's centered on the daily harvest with a menu that's changed accordingly; there's an in-house fermentation program; and yes, the unwavering ethos also leads to milling heritage grains for its breads and pastas. Emmer & RyeEmmer & Rye'ss classics like cacio e pepe get a touch of nuance from homespun durum pasta and dandelion greens, and a cart of dim sum is the daily du jour: a handful of small plates highlight each day's harvest. 51 Rainey Street #110, 512-366-5530 Launderette Just a mile from downtown in East Austin, Launderette joins a crowd of entrepreneurs resetting the formerly working-class suburbia with upmarket business. Opened last year in a once laundromat, with simple decor and rustic, mid century touches, is nevertheless clean and open. Certainly one of Austin's most talked about restaurants, the Mediterranean-inspired menu highlights the usual roster of bright, seasonal flavors, but above all, shines with dessert - the celebrated pastry chef, Laura Sawicki, is a hit on social media with her twee birthday cake ice cream sandwich, but other items like a buttermilk panna cotta served with roasted cherries and a toasted brioche ice cream are elegant, too. 2115 Holly Street, 512-382-1599 WHERE TO BBQ If you can withstand the swelter, Austin's best barbecue joints come with lines that often last two hours. The current match is between Franklin Barbecue and La Barbeque, both with nascent pedigree and the fanfare to prove it. Though picking the best might be hard, go for the brisket no matter what. At Franklin's, it's smoked for around 18 hours using only post oak wood, and at La Barbecue, it's smoked in homemade pits and served from a well-trafficked trailer. Franklin Barbecue, 900 E 11th Street, 512-653-1187; La Barbeque, 1906 E Cesar Chavez Street, 512-605-9696 WHERE TO DRINK Jeffrey's Restaurant and Bar The 40-year-old Jeffrey's was among the city's first forays into fine-dining. And after a refresh three years ago, it's still a contender. Polished cocktails are served by buttoned-up bartenders in a lavishly clubby interior. Expect riffs on classics, like a "Jeffrey's" Vodka Fizz, a nod to Texan flavors with a helping of watermelon juice. 1204 W Lynn Street, 512-477-5584 Half Step Ten years ago, a swath of bars began to grace downtown's Rainey Street after the stretch was rezoned for commercial development. Aclutch of bungalows lining the two-block radius are now refashioned as craft cocktail bars. The converted homes, stocked with local spirits and a fresh batch of mixologists, make room for Austin's patio culture (the properties come complete with decks and spacious backyards), as well as spirited strolls between each house like a well-heeled bar crawl. Chief among them, Half Stepconverted a former home with woody, vintage accents, and now serves a tidy list of classics, like a Prescription Julip and a Kentucky Colonel. Make this your first stop of many. 75 1/2 Rainey Street, 512-391-1877 LIVE MUSIC Geraldine's Geraldine's, a restaurant and lounge on the fourth floor of downtown's new Hotel Van Zandt gives fresh air to Austin's live music scene - not to mention hotel bars in general. A curated lineup of musicians swagger nightly on an intimate stage under a vaulted wood ceiling. A breather from the venues that heave with crowds downtown, musicians croon every night of the year alongside views of Austin's skyline. Straight-forward and crafty cocktails are aplenty, while even gimmicks are welcome: Named Willie Nelson, a longtime Austin resident, a Willie's Cup is made with double rye and hemp seed milk, garnished with sage and dressed in Nelson's trademark bandana. 605 Davis Street, 512-476-4755 WHERE TO STAY Hotel Saint Cecilia Named after the patron saint of music, Hotel Saint Cecilia projects rock and roll throughout a tucked Victorian estate two blocks from South Congress Avenue. Fourteen rooms contour the edges of old-school glamour without a note of gimmick; a pristine and vintage Citroen parks permanently behind the gates, unapologetically for show - luxury for luxury's sake. Locals vie for an invite to the private pool, which has only grown more popular amongst celebrities and musicians alike since the property opened eight years ago. Each room has its own character, but all are outfitted with a palette of luxuries, like Swedish mattresses stuffed with horsetail hair, in-room record players for playing the hotel's library of tunes, and monogrammed linens. 112 Academy Dr, Austin, 512-852-2400 Hotel Van Zandt If you're checking out the live music at Geraldine's, it's also worth checking in at Hotel Van Zandt, the Kimpton Hotel that just opened downtown. Over three hundred rooms make the hotel welcome for crowds, but are all made intimate with a calm palette of steely greys and blues, with plush furnishings and bronze accents for a touch of polish. A clutch of bespoke specialty suites are the ultimate bookings; their roster of exclusive perks include items from poker tables to soaking tubs, and even one with a piano if you're inclined to key into your own live music. Any of the lake view rooms are a worthy choice, too, with framed views over Lady Bird Lake's calm waters, and a series of bridges that cross the Colorado River. 605 Davis Street, 512-542-5300 BEST PLACE FOR HAVING IT ALL South Congress Hotel On the main drag, South Congress Hotel is among Austin's newest boutiques - it shines accordingly, fully attuned with the neighborhood's newfound edge. Everything is in order in the hotel's cool-and-collected interiors: just 83 minimalist rooms are rich with wood grains and brassy accents, while the lobby is like a sequential showroom of fine mid century modern furniture in myriad seating areas that surround the swanky lobby bar. Here, the intention is communal; the hotel pockets more than just rooms, as the ground level is also home to new restaurants, boutique stores and regular events that draw locals to its complex. Its must-try restaurant, Central Standard, is like a mid century saloon whose Berkshire Pork Chop is one of Austin's best dishes, served in a pool of milk-braised leeks and sprinkled with fennel pollen. It's the type of place where you can get the best cup of coffee, best entree, best outfit, and, if you can't get a room at the always-booked Hotel Saint Cecilia, the next best room in town. 1603 S Congress Ave, 512-920-6405 Washington (AFP) - Internal party turmoil over Donald Trump spilled into public alarm Wednesday after unprecedented self-inflicted mistakes by the Republican nominee, as some conservatives prepared to do the unthinkable: vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton. While "dump Trump" calls have continued since the 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney trashed the billionaire's candidacy early this year, it is unclear whether the trickle of defections to Clinton's camp will become a flood after a series of bad stumbles by Trump. A nightmare 48 hours for the embattled Republican flagbearer -- he deepened his public feud with the parents of a fallen Muslim American soldier, refused to back House Speaker Paul Ryan's re-election bid and used crass language while accepting a supporter's Purple Heart as a gift -- has highlighted Republicans' concerns. Trump allies openly upbraided their candidate Wednesday for his inability to stay on message, demanding more self-discipline by the political neophyte. "He has not made the transition to being the potential president of the United States," former House speaker Newt Gingrich, a loyal Trump defender, told Fox Business Network Wednesday. In another interview, he warned that Trump will hand Clinton the election unless he changes tack. "Trump is helping her to win by proving he is more unacceptable than she is," Gingrich told The Washington Post. Meanwhile, a Fox News poll showed Clinton with a 10 point lead over Trump, at 49 to 39 percent. Just a month ago that figure stood at six points, Fox News said. Trump sought to dispel panic earlier Wednesday, reassuring voters at a Daytona Beach, Florida rally that his campaign has "never been so well united." A growing list of Clinton converts suggests otherwise. - Trump 'demagoguery' undermines America - Prominent tech executive Meg Whitman became the latest high-profile conservative to throw her support behind the former secretary of state, saying in a statement Wednesday that "Donald Trump's demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character." Story continues Whitman is chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and used to be CEO of eBay. She spent some $140 million of her own money in an unsuccessful run for California governor in 2010. Her defection comes amid deep concerns at the top of the Grand Old Party about Trump, after a seemingly never-ending stream of controversies that include the nominee urging Russia to hack into Clinton's emails. Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus backs Trump, but on Wednesday Priebus was being described as "incredibly upset" that the New York real estate mogul refused to endorse Ryan's congressional re-election campaign. Trump's running mate Mike Pence sought to assuage concerns, but his Wednesday endorsement of Ryan for re-election suggested he and Trump were not on the same page. "I talked to Donald Trump this morning about my support for Paul Ryan and our longtime friendship," Pence told Fox News. "He strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday's primary and I'm pleased to do it." Meanwhile, Whitman joins other key Republicans who have announced their backing for Clinton. Richard Armitage, who served as deputy secretary of state for George W. Bush and deputy secretary of defense under Ronald Reagan, defected in June. Brent Scowcroft, respected national security advisor to two Republican presidents, endorsed Clinton, as did former Republican senator Larry Pressler of South Dakota, who cited Clinton's support for stricter gun laws. Bush Treasury secretary Hank Paulson, a former CEO of Goldman Sachs, announced in a Washington Post column that he will vote for Clinton in the hope she can "do the things necessary to strengthen our economy." "To my Republican friends: I know I'm not alone." Richard Hanna on Tuesday became the first Republican member of Congress to cross the aisle and publicly back Clinton. Trump "is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country," Hanna wrote in a column for Syracuse.com. While Hanna said he disagrees on many issues with Clinton, "she stands and has stood for causes bigger than herself for a lifetime. That matters." One Republican, Reagan administration official Doug Elmets, went so far as to announce his support for Hillary Clinton at last week's Democratic National Convention, where he told delegates: "I knew Ronald Reagan, I worked for Ronald Reagan. Donald Trump, you are no Ronald Reagan." Other Republican stalwarts, while stopping short of endorsing Clinton, are shunning Trump or the party itself. Top Jeb Bush advisor Sally Bradshaw said she is leaving the Republican Party to become an independent. And House Republican Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, a US Air Force veteran, told CNN he woke up Wednesday realizing that Trump has "crossed so many red lines" that he can no longer support the nominee, "no matter what the political cost to me." * Investment Commission says Uber misrepresented business * Uber said business was IT platform, not transport - Commission * Final decision to be made on Aug 11 * Uber has right to appeal - Commission * Company says wants to work with Taiwan government (Adds Uber response in bullet point and 6th and 7th paragraphs) By Faith Hung and Yimou Lee TAIPEI/HONG KONG, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Investment Commission said on Wednesday it is set to order Uber Technologies Inc to exit the domestic market, saying the global ride-hailing giant misrepresented its business as an internet-based information technology platform rather than a transportation service. Emile Chang, Executive Secretary at Taiwan's Investment Commission, said a final decision will be made by Aug. 11. The commission oversees Taiwan's inbound and outbound foreign investments. The move comes amid a major strategic shift at Uber that will see its operations in China taken over by a mainland firm. Earlier this week, Uber said it was selling its China business to rival Didi Chuxing after a bruising two-year price war in a challenging market. Taiwan's decision adds to a string of official complaints aimed at the fast-growing U.S. start-up. It has faced similar legal scrutiny in markets across Asia, including both in Hong Kong and China. "Taiwan's government has communicated many times with Uber...The worst scenario is to order (it) to leave the market," Chang said, adding Uber can appeal the decision to Taiwan's cabinet. Likai Gu, general manager of Uber Taiwan, said the company hopes Taiwan authorities will "rule in favour of innovation" and "open a meaningful dialogue with Uber". "We want to work with the Taiwanese government to help them understand the role of technology in creating economic opportunity and meeting the transportation needs of Taiwan," Gu said. The company entered the Taiwan market in 2013, triggering anger from domestic taxi drivers, who staged a massive protest against Uber as recently as July. (Reporting by Faith Hung in TAIPEI and Yimou Lee in HONG KONG; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) (Adds details from earnings call, context, information about lawsuit) HOUSTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Targa Resources on Wednesday said three liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) export cargoes were canceled out of its Galena Park terminal near Houston, Texas in the past two months amid fluctuating Asian demand and collapsing prices. The midstream operator received cancellation fees for the cargoes, which included one in June and two in July, executives said on the company's second quarter earnings call. Last week, Targa's competitor Enterprise Products Partners , which operates a 16 million barrel per month LPG terminal on the Houston Ship Channel, disclosed three LPG cargoes were canceled from its facility in July, and five have been canceled for August. LPG prices have fallen sharply as a supply glut has weighed on the market and pushed the spot price for propane below levels customers previously agreed to lift cargoes under long-term contracts. While Targa expects LPG export volumes to decline in the third quarter, as it allows for potential cancellations and deferrals, its guidance for exports through the end of 2016 remains on track at around 5 million barrels per month, executives said. Targa executives on Wednesday said the company was "well positioned relative to LPG demand fluctuations." In June, Targa sued China Soft Packaging Group in the Harris Country District Court in Texas over allegations it failed to fulfill payments for propane purchases. Targa suffered damages of more than $1 million, its lawsuit said. (Reporting by Liz Hampton; editing by Grant McCool) Some four decades after Robert De Niro uttered what would become four of cinema's most iconic words, his career-defining 1976 hit Taxi Driver has been given a brand new poster. Park Circus, the U.K.-based classic film distributor which represents Martin Scorsese's post-Vietnam drama internationally, unveiled the one-sheet Wednesday, ahead of its 40th anniversary re-release. Theatrical screenings are due to kick off later this month in Austria and Switzerland, followed by more releases across the rest of Europe, plus Latin America and Australia, from September through to the end of the year. Read more: 'Taxi Driver' Oral History: De Niro, Scorsese, Foster, Schrader Spill All on 40th Anniversary The anniversary reissue will use the 2011 digital restoration of the film carried out by Sony Pictures, following a full 4K workflow from the original camera negative under the guidance of Scorsese and original cinematographer Michael Chapman. In case anyone forgot how Taxi Driver looked, a new trailer was released earlier this week. Preserving the arts through books Chandra Man Munikar, the founding Chairman of Vajra Kala Kunja, recently published a translation of his book on the mystical Charya dance form. The book, Vajrayana Tantrika Charya Dance, which was previously published in Nepali, has been widely appreciated not only in Nepal but various part of the world for its promotion of the dying dance form. In this interview with The Post, Munikar, a dancer himself, talks about his love for the Charya Dance and why art forms need to be documented. Excerpts: Teachers in Dubuque, Iowa, must adhere to a new, districtwide dress code. (Photo: Getty Images) Officials at a community school in Dubuque, Iowa, are challenging faculty members to dress more professionally and to lead by example when it comes to their attire. The school district leaders have drafted a set of guidelines (theyre careful not to call them rules) to help teachers dress in a more consistently professional way, according to the Telegraph Herald. If a teacher does wear something that goes against the guidelines, though, he or she might be required to change and that article of clothing might be banned going forward. Were trying to bring it to a standard of professionalism across the district so its not sort of hit-and-miss in a building or between buildings, Superintendent Stan Rheingans said, according to the site. The powers-that-be arent asking for anything outrageous; theyre simply requesting that teachers dress in a way thats acceptable in a business environment, citing flip-flops, yoga pants, and graphic T-shirts as prime examples of unacceptable apparel. Ultimately, school officials hope the new sartorial standards will encourage the employees to present themselves as positive role models and create a level of respect from the students, school board Vice President Tami Ryan was quoted as saying. Not a tall order, considering students (ideally) look up to their teachers to begin with. Dress codes are nothing new in schools, of course, and neither is controversy surrounding them. The rules are typically imposed on students, though, which is why the Dubuque officials decision is so noteworthy. Sexism and discrimination have been at the center of most dress-code scandals to make news in recent years. According to an article the Guardian, enforcing dress codes [often] teaches girls to be ashamed, not modest. The article cites a Virginia student who was kicked out of prom because her dress incited impure thoughts in some male chaperones, as well as a junior high school in Illinois that banned girls from wearing leggings because they were too distracting to boys. Whether fair or not, Dubuque officials guidelines against anything revealing or provocative address the same concern for teachers. Story continues Dress codes may just be making their way to faculty rooms, but theyre nothing new in office environments, of course. Typically, the rules are pretty standard, and casual Fridays have become increasingly common. But sometimes, office dress codes go above and beyond as in the case of Swiss bank USBs highly publicized (and ridiculous) 44-page dress code that barred black nail polish and unruly beards, and even included tips on personal hygiene, according to the BBC. Theres also the story thats been making rounds on the Web about a group of interns who were fired en masse after protesting the dress code at their workplace (and calling out the footwear of a disabled co-worker). Scandals aside, dress codes at their core have been an ever-evolving means of maintaining decorum in an official setting. The New York Times cites the Casual Friday movement of the 1990s and the success of the Facebook I.P.O. in 2012 with its hoodie-wearing billionaires as possible reasons for the loosening standards of professional attire. That said, gender equality and fluidity were also listed as reasons for the shift in attitude when it comes to workplace garb. Case in point: Due to new guidelines set forth by the New York City Commission on Human Rights, employees are protected from having to wear ties, heels, or anything based on sex or gender. Perhaps its because of all this controversy in the classroom, in the boardroom, and even at prom that Dubuques new, pretty reasonable guidelines seem so bold. Or maybe its because the district is quietly equalizing the dress-code debate and holding teachers to the same standards as the students whose outfits they frequently police. Or it could just be refreshing that Dubuque is recognizing teaching as a career just as important and legitimate as banking or law. As Ryan of the Dubuque school board put it, We want to get the message out that [teaching] is a profession. Dress professionally. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Someday, moviegoers may be able to watch 3D films from any seat in a theater without having to wear 3D glasses, thanks to a new kind of movie screen. The new technology, named Cinema 3D, overcomes some of the barriers to implementing glasses-free 3D viewing on a larger scale, but it's not commercially viable yet, the researchers said when describing their findings. Although 3D movies can offer unique perspectives and experiences, one major drawback is the cumbersome eyewear that moviegoers typically have to wear. Although glasses-free 3D strategies already exist, these technologies currently cannot be scaled up to movie theaters. [10 Technologies That Will Transform Your Life] For example, glasses-free 3D methods for TV sets often use a series of slits known as a parallax barrier that is placed in front of the screen. These slits allow each eye to see a different set of pixels, creating the illusion of depth. However, for parallax barriers to work, they must be placed at a set distance from viewers. This makes parallax barriers difficult to implement in larger spaces such as theaters, where people can sit at a variety of distances and angles from the screen. In addition, glasses-free 3D displays have to account for the different positions from which people are watching. This means that they have to divide up the limited number of pixels they project so that each viewer sees an image from wherever he or she is located, the researchers said. "Existing approaches to glasses-free 3D require screens whose resolution requirements are so enormous that they are completely impractical," study co-author Wojciech Matusik, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at MIT, said in a statement. But in the new method, the researchers used a series of mirrors and lenses to essentially give viewers a parallax barrier tailored to each of their positions. "By careful design of optical elements, we can achieve very-good-quality 3D content without using glasses," study co-author Piotr Didyk, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics and Saarland University, both in Germany, told Live Science. Story continues "This is the first technical approach that allows for glasses-free 3D on a large scale," Matusik said in a statement. In addition, the scientists reasoned that instead of displaying images to every position in a theater, they would need to display images only to a relatively tiny set of viewing positions at each theater seat. "In our solution, we exploit the layout of the audience in a cinema," Didyk said. The scientists developed a simple Cinema 3D prototype that could support a 200-pixel image. In experiments, volunteers could see 3D versions of pixelated figures from a number of different seats in a small theater. The scientists cautioned that Cinema 3D is currently impractical to implement commercially. For instance, their prototype requires 50 sets of mirrors and lenses, but the screen is just barely larger than a pad of paper. The researchers hope to build a larger version of their display and further boost the image resolution. "It remains to be seen whether the approach is financially feasible enough to scale up to a full-blown theater," Matusik said in a statement. "But we are optimistic that this is an important next step in developing glasses-free 3D for large spaces like movie theaters and auditoriums." The scientists detailed their findings July 26 at the SIGGRAPH computer graphics conference in Anaheim, California. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Georgia police are investigating the slayings of a boy and girl, both 17, found dead behind a supermarket in Roswell on Monday, reports say. Natalie Henderson and Carter Davis were both found with fatal gunshot wounds to the head behind a Publix supermarket just before 6 a.m., the Associated Press reports. "Early indications are that they were killed there. We don't really have reason to believe they were killed elsewhere," Roswell police Det. Zachary Frommer told the AP. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage of the area and searching for witnesses in the shooting, ABC News reports. Roswell police told ABC that there were indications that the killings were a "relationship-based crime but that can't be confirmed yet." The bodies were found on the ground near two vehicles, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. No arrests have been made in the case, but police told the AJC that there are several leads. Both Natalie and Carter were entering their senior year of high school Natalie at Roswell High School and Carter at River Ridge High School, the AP reports. Roswell High School's band director, Michael Moon, remembered Natalie in a statement posted Monday to the band's Facebook page. "Natalie Henderson was a thriving member of the Color Guard a fun, smart, talented young woman who was loved by so many," he said in the statement. "Her absence will be felt by each of us tomorrow and for a long time to come." In a Facebook post, officials with River Ridge High School's lacrosse team uploaded a photo of Carter. "Our Knights family is in mourning over the loss of our own Carter Davis," the post read. Georgia police are investigating the slayings of a boy and girl, both 17, found dead behind a supermarket in Roswell on Monday, PEOPLE confirms. Natalie Henderson and Carter Davis were both found with fatal gunshot wounds to the head behind a Publix supermarket just before 6 a.m., Zachary Frommer, with the Roswell Police Department, tells PEOPLE. Frommer says delivery drivers found the teens' bodies near two vehicles behind the supermarket. "Early indications are that they were killed there. We don't really have reason to believe they were killed elsewhere," Frommer told the Associated Press reports.. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage of the area and searching for witnesses in the shooting, Frommer tells PEOPLE. "Drugs were not involved," Frommer says. He adds: "It could be some kind of relationship-based situation. It may end up not being that. That was just an initial, quick assessment." Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. No arrests have been made in the case, there are no suspects and police have not determined a motive for the killings, Frommer says. Both Natalie and Carter were entering their senior year of high school Natalie at Roswell High School and Carter at River Ridge High School, according to a police statement obtained by PEOPLE. Roswell High School's band director, Michael Moon, remembered Natalie in a statement posted Monday to the band's Facebook page. "Natalie Henderson was a thriving member of the Color Guard a fun, smart, talented young woman who was loved by so many," he said in the statement. "Her absence will be felt by each of us tomorrow and for a long time to come." In a Facebook post, officials with River Ridge High School's lacrosse team uploaded a photo of Carter. "Our Knights family is in mourning over the loss of our own Carter Davis," the post read. Yahoo Finance is tracking the stocks youre following, based on your Yahoo Finance ticker searches. Tesla (TSLA) The electric automaker is set to report second-quarter results after the bell Wednesday. Analysts are expecting an adjusted net loss of 52 cents on revenue of $1.62 billion. Wall Street will be looking for an update on the number of reservations for Teslas Model 3 and any comments on the potential financial impact of its deal to acquire SolarCity (SCTY). Etsy (ETSY) The online retail marketplace reported mixed quarterly results, posting a loss per share of 6 cents on revenue of $85.35 million. Etsy reported that it had approximately 1.7 million active sellers and 26.1 million active buyers during the quarter. Etsy also raised its full-year revenue outlook. Kate Spade (KATE) Weak tourism weighed on Kate Spades quarterly results as the company lowered its yearly forecast and quarterly earnings fell short. Kate Spade now expects sales between $1.37 billion and $1.4 billion, down from its previous range of between $1.39 billion and $1.41 billion. 3D Systems (DDD) The company beat Wall Street earnings estimates by 6 cents but missed on revenue, reporting earnings per share of 12 cents on revenue of $158.1 million. 3D Systems CEO Vyomesh Joshi noted, We see clear opportunities for improvements in 3D printers and on-demand manufacturing services as we drive operational excellence and focus on providing reliable end-to-end solutions. Ryanair Holdings (RYAAY) It was a record month for Ryanair Holdings as its traffic rose 12% to 11.3 million customers in July. The carriers load factor rose one percentage point to 96%. Office Depot (ODP) The company reported same-store sales fell 1% during the second quarter while sales in its North American Retail Division dropped 7%. Office Depot also said a strategic review led to a three-year plan with goals of accelerating opportunities in its contract channel, reinventing the North American retail model and implementing multi-year cost reductions. Toyota (TM) The automaker is delaying the launch of its plug-in Prius model by about three months instead of its original plan to roll out the vehicle this fall. Toyota did not give a reason for the delay. (AUSTIN, Texas) Texas agreed Wednesday to weaken its voter ID law as courts across the U.S., with only months before the November election, are blocking Republican-controlled states from imposing polling place restrictions that critics say target minorities and the poor. The changes must still be approved by a federal judge. But the looser rules have the important blessing of the U.S. Justice Department and minority rights groups, who sued over the 2011 law and said that 600,000 voters would otherwise lack a suitable ID to cast a ballot this fall. Those voters would now be allowed to sign an affidavit to cast a regular full ballot, and their vote would be counted. Texas must also spend at least $2.5 million on voter outreach before November, according to the joint proposal that Texas and opponents of the law submitted to U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. The provisions weve agreed to now are critical safeguards for voters, said Houston attorney Chad Dunn, who is one of the lead attorneys in the lawsuit against Texas. Its a critical leap forward. A spokesman for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Texas worked fast to soften the law before Election Day after a federal appeals court last month ruled that the tough ID restrictions which accepted concealed handgun permits at polling place, but not college student IDs violated the federal Voting Rights Acts. That was followed by courts Friday dealing setbacks to Republican efforts in three other states to restrict voting: blocking a North Carolina law requiring photo identification, loosening a similar measure in Wisconsin and halting strict citizenship requirements in Kansas. North Dakotas voter identification requirements are also on hold after a federal judge Monday sided with a group of American Indians who said the law unfairly burdens them. More than 30 states have some form of voter ID rules. But the President Barack Obamas administration in recent years joined the fight on a new breed of voter ID laws passed in Republican-controlled statehouses, sending the U.S. Justice Department to join lawsuits in Texas and North Carolina. hacking-dnc Shutterstock On Tuesday, Democratic National Committee CEO Amy Dacey stepped down from her position as the Democratic Partys hacked email scandal roars on. Dacey is the highest-ranking official to resign from the DNC in response to a dump of stolen emails on WikiLeaks. Fox News revealed that two more DNC officials CFO Brad Marshall and director Luis Miranda have joined Dacey in resigning their positions. Dacey follows Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who surrendered her post as DNC Chair right before the Convention began, out the door. DNC Vice Chair Donna Brazile stepped in to run the Democrats Convention in Philadelphia last month and will continue acting as interim chair until November. Hillary Clintons campaign has been taking over more and more DNC operations of late. In July, her campaign moved the research department into their Brooklyn headquarters, and Politico reports that Clintons team has begun combining the two teams rapid response responsibilities there as well. The controversy began when WikiLeaks dumped months of internal DNC emails online, many of which showed DNC staffers bias against Bernie Sanders and toward Clinton. In the days that followed, U.S. Intelligence said they have high confidence that the Russian government is responsible for the hack. It was later reported that both the DCCC and the Clinton campaign were also compromised by Russian hackers. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, for his part, has encouraged hackers, stating, Russia, if youre listening, I hope youre able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. (Via Politico & CNN) By Nina Chestney (Reuters) - French state-owned energy company EDF's (EDF.PA) plan to build the first new nuclear plant in Britain for 20 years is being reviewed by the British government under the leadership of new Prime Minister Teresa May. If construction starts on the 3.2 gigawatt Hinkley Point C plant in 2019 as is currently envisaged, it would likely take at least a decade before it comes online and then it would provide around 7 percent of Britain's electricity generation. The timeline of the project is outlined below. July 2006: A government energy review, launched under former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, said nuclear could make a significant contribution to Britain's energy mix but the private sector would have to construct, fund and operate any new plants and cover the full cost of decommissioning and long-term waste management. February 2007: Vincent de Rivaz, the chief executive of EDF Energy, EDF's UK division, said Britons would be cooking their Christmas dinners powered with energy from a new nuclear plant in Britain in 2017. September 2008: EDF bought British Energy, then operator of Britain's existing fleet of nuclear plants, for 12.4 billion pounds ($16.5 billion). The deal included a joint venture with UK utility Centrica (CNA.L), which took a 20 percent stake in EDF Energy and the option to participate in its nuclear new-build program. EDF said it wanted to build two European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) at the Hinkley Point site in Somerset where nuclear plant Hinkley Point B was in operation and Hinkley Point A was being decommissioned. October 2010: The British government said Hinkley Point was one of eight locations it thought suitable for future nuclear power plants. October 2011: EDF submitted an application for development consent to the Infrastructure Planning Commission. November 2012: The UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation awarded a nuclear site license to EDF. December 2012: Regulators approved the use of the EPR design in Britain. Story continues February 2013: Centrica withdrew from EDF's new nuclear build program, citing higher-than-expected construction costs and a longer timetable after a safety review of new nuclear reactors was ordered by the British government after Japan's Fukushima disaster. March 2013: The government grants planning consent but agreement was needed between EDF and the British government on the fixed "strike price" the company would be given. The strike price would guarantee EDF a certain price for each unit of power the new plant produced. The difference between the market price and the guaranteed price would be topped up with subsidies. Total installation costs were expected to be 14 billion pounds. October 2013: A provisional agreement was reached between EDF Energy and the government over the strike price, which would be 92.50 pounds per megawatt hour for 35 years. The cost of the project had meanwhile reached 16 billion pounds. EDF said Hinkley would now not produce its first power until 2023, subject to a final investment decision in July 2014. December 2013: The European Commission opened an investigation into whether the project breached state aid rules. May 2014: Preparatory works such as temporary construction roads start to be done at the site. October 2014: The European Commission approved the project, but said the plant will cost 24.5 billion pounds. June 2015: The Austrian government filed a legal complaint with the European Commission regarding state aid for Hinkley Point C. September 2015: EDF said the project would not be completed by 2023 and a final investment decision would be taken the following month. The British government announced an initial 2 billion pound loan guarantee for Hinkley. October 2015: EDF signed a deal with China General Nuclear Power Corporation, which took a stake of a third in the project and provide 6 billion pounds. Start-up was scheduled for 2025. February 2016: EDF said the start of actual construction would not start until 2019. March 2016: EDF's finance director resigned as the project would put too much stress on EDF's already stretched balance sheet. July 2016: EDF's board of shareholders narrowly voted to proceed with the project. An EDF board member quit ahead of the vote saying the project was financially risky. Britain's new Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark, said the government would not sign the contract over the next few days as expected, but delayed the decision until the autumn to consider the project. (Editing by David Evans) Sanghai, others sent to 7-day custody Laltipur District Court on Tuesday extended the custody of four persons, who were arrested on charge of abetting a drug racket based in Thailand, to seven days. New York (AFP) - Crooner Tony Bennett celebrated his 90th birthday on Wednesday, declaring himself in great health and ready for a new collaboration -- with Beyonce if she's interested. With his cheery grin and stylish renditions of pop standards, Bennett has been called the last in a generation of singing greats who included his friend and fellow Italian American Frank Sinatra. Bennett -- born in 1926 in New York's Astoria neighborhood though his most famous song is "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" -- was feted by his hometown where the Empire State Building prepared a light show set to his songs. On hand to turn on the lights was Lady Gaga, who in 2014 joined him for an album of traditional pop, entitled "Cheek to Cheek," and accompanying tour. NBC television announced a tribute concert, "Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet To Come," to air on December 20 with Lady Gaga and other top stars including Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder. Bennett himself has not slowed down, with a full tour schedule that will resume in Detroit next week. "I feel like I have so much more to learn yet," he told NBC's "Today" show for his birthday. "My doctor keeps telling me, 'There's not a thing wrong with you. Just keep going at it,'" he said. Bennett said he hoped to record another album with Lady Gaga, who scrapped her trademark flamboyant outfits for a more subtle approach when performing with him. "I'd like to do something again with Lady Gaga -- she's a terrific talent," he said, adding: "But I like that Beyonce." There was no immediate word on whether Beyonce, long rumored to be working on an album with her rap mogul husband Jay Z, was interested in duets with Bennett. Bennett, in a separate interview with Billboard magazine, said he hoped to record with Lady Gaga next year as she is busy in 2016, when she is expected to release a new solo album. Story continues Bennett said he exercises three times a week and credited his wife Susan with ensuring his health. With "Cheek to Cheek," Bennett, then 88, became the oldest artist to hit number one on the US album sales chart. Bennett has won 18 Grammys as well as a lifetime achievement award. A television special on him, "Tony Bennett: An American Classic," won seven Emmys in 2007. On Wednesday, August 3rd, Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) will release its second quarter earnings results. The company is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and shares are down just over 5% year-to-date. Watch our video to see David's thoughts on Teslas past earnings, looks at what is currently going on with the company, and he'll give us his thoughts on their upcoming earnings announcement. Furthermore, Dave looked into some potential options trades for investors looking to make a play on Tesla ahead of earnings. Tesla Motors Inc. in Focus Tesla Motors Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles and stationary storage products in the United States, China, Norway, and internationally. It primarily offers sedans and sport utility vehicles. The company also offers electric vehicle powertrain components and systems to other manufacturers. Tesla Motors Inc. sells its products through a network of Tesla stores and galleries, as well as through the Internet. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Tesla is coming off of first quarter earnings miss, where the company posted earnings that were 58.97% lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Looking back over its last 4 quarters, Tesla has only posted an earnings beat once, and has reported an average earnings surprise of -84.91%. TESLA MOTORS Price and EPS Surprise TESLA MOTORS Price and EPS Surprise | TESLA MOTORS Quote Heading into this earnings report, our Most Accurate Estimate for Tesla is -$1.15, which is in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate, representing an earnings surprise prediction of 0%. Tesla has weathered a string of bad news around an investigation into what role its Autopilot, a suite of driver-assistance features, has played in at least on fatal accident, and criticism of its proposed deal to buy solar installer Solar City. CEO of Tesla Elon Musk also recently released his long-term master plan, further adding to the interest surrounding the company and its Q2 earnings report. The plan was as short as its goals were lofty, and analysts and investors are sure to demand more specifics as the plan likely means a continuation of the cash burn from the company and that profits will not be coming in the foreseeable future. Story continues Over the last 60 days the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter has continued to fall, with 2 analysts lowering their estimates for the company. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q2 stands at -$1.15, compared to the previous estimate of -$0.87 60 days ago. Subscribe to our channel to be notified of future live streams and make sure to check out our other videos for more stock information. Dave Bartosiak is the editor of the Momentum Trader and Home Run Investor service. He has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry. He has traded forex, futures, stocks, and options. Mr. Bartosiak is a frequent guest on popular business news TV channels such as Bloomberg TV. Hes also the host of a light-hearted, Millennial-minded series of videos called Trending Stocks. Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report TESLA MOTORS (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research (Corrects storm location in second paragraph) MEXICO CITY, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Earl bore down on Central America's Caribbean coastline late on Wednesday, strengthening as it was expected to strike land in the next few hours, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The storm was about 395 miles (636 km) east of Belize City blowing maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour (97 kph), and is expected to reach the coast of Belize, famed for its coral reefs, by Thursday morning. While Earl is not yet forecast to strengthen into a hurricane, a hurricane watch is in effect from Punta Allen, Mexico, southward to the border between Belize and Guatemala. The NHC said in a statement the storm was first expected pass just north of the Honduras Bay Islands. The Miami-based center said Earl may cause "hurricane conditions (that) could begin in Mexico and Belize" by Thursday morning while dumping between 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) of rain over a wide swath of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. "These rains could result in life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," the NHC said. Once the storm passes over Mexico, the NHC forecasts that on Friday it will enter into the southern rim of the Gulf of Mexico where national oil company Pemex operates dozens of oil platforms. The shallow water areas off the Gulf between the states of Veracruz and Campeche account for about three quarters of Mexico's total oil output. Earl is the fifth named storm of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season and formed in the northwest Caribbean on Tuesday. (Reporting by Arpan Varghese in Bengaluru and David Alire Garcia in Mexico City; Editing by James Dalgleish and Sandra Maler) Donald Trump has operated at the periphery of political power for decadeswriting big checks as a campaign donor, meeting foreign leaders as a wealthy businessman, and cutting deals with the U.S. government on real-estate projects. But as soon as the next few days, hell get a glimpse of government life hes never had before: a classified intelligence briefing. The Democratic and Republicans candidatesboth for president and vice presidentare eligible to begin receiving briefings once they have been formally nominated by their parties. The end of the nominating conventions serves both as a kickoff of the general-election campaign and as a turning point in the government-wide effort to ensure a smooth transition to the next president. Beginning this week, the Trump and Clinton campaigns also have access to federally-funded office space in Washington provided by the General Services Administration. Recommended: Is the Trump Campaign Collapsing? Both campaigns have set up transition teams in the months since they clinched their primary victories. Yet while public-service advocates have worked to cleanse pre-election transition preparations of their measuring the drapes stigma, neither campaign is saying much publicly about the work they are doing. Trump named Chris Christie as his transition chief in May, and the New Jersey governor has brought on a pair of allieshis former chief of staff Richard Bagger and a top fund-raiser, William Palatuccito help run the day-to-day operation. We will not be discussing the plans or activity of the transition committee, Palatucci wrote in an email on Tuesday. Clinton hasnt formally announced a transition leader or committee, but The New York Times reported that three senior aidesAnn OLeary, Ed Meier, and Sara Lathamwould oversee the planning and report to John Podesta, Clintons campaign chairman and the man who led President Obamas transition in 2008. Story continues Until 2008, presidential transition efforts had largely been informal, even ad hoc, operations. But owing to the enormous task of taking over the entire federal government in a mere 73 days between the election and inauguration, officials in and out of government have worked to formalize the process in recent. Mitt Romney quietly amassed a shadow government of hundreds of staffers (separate from his campaign) in 2012, and advocates have pushed both the Trump and Clinton teams to do the same this year. Recommended: It Shouldn't Have Taken a Khizr Khan It remains unclear whether the campaigns will adopt the Romney model; there are no requirements that they do so, but new legislation passed by Congress mandates that the outgoing administration set up transition councils, coordinate with the campaigns, and provide them office space. Denis McDonough, the White House chief of staff, called Christie and Meier last Friday to officially congratulate their candidates on winning the nomination and to invite them to meetings with the governments transition councils. McDonough emphasized the president's commitment to working with both teams in a non-partisan manner to ensure a seamless transition, said Brandi Hoffine, a White House spokeswoman. Nominees for president and vice president receive these briefings by virtue of their status as candidates, and do not require separate security clearances before the briefings. With the conventions over, the campaigns can begin sending the administration names of officials whom they want to receive security clearancespart of the push to have people in place as soon as the election is over and to begin filling the 4,000 political positions that will be open come January 20. The candidate security briefings are not new to this election, but they have become more than a formality as the campaign between Trump and Clinton has grown nastier. Democrats have shuddered at the thought of the loose-lipped Republican gaining access to sensitive intelligence and using it, either directly or indirectly, to deepen fears of terrorism among voters or undercut U.S. alliances. House Speaker Paul Ryan, meanwhile, has cited Clintons use of a private email server as secretary of state to demand that she be barred from receiving the standard intelligence briefing. James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, denied Ryans request in a letter last month. Nominees for president and vice president receive these briefings by virtue of their status as candidates, and do not require separate security clearances before the briefings, Clapper wrote. Briefings for the candidates will be provided on an even-handed non-partisan basis. Recommended: The Narcissist The candidates dont actually receive the same daily briefings that the president does, according to an intelligence official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the process. The meetings occur once or twice and are strategic-level briefings that provide broad threat overviews, the official said. Operational and policy matters are not addressed. The briefings figure to be old hat for Clinton, who would have been read in to much higher levels of classified intelligence during her four years as secretary of state (like the raid that killed Osama bin Laden), and perhaps even during her time on the Senate Armed Services Committee. But for a political outsider like Trump, this first taste of government secrets is sure to be a new and heady experience. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Donald Trump greets Mitt Romney during a news conference in Las Vegas in 2012. (Photo: Julie Jacobson/AP) On election night 2012, Donald Trump called for a march on Washington after President Obama defeated the Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, whom Trump endorsed. We cant let this happen. We should march on Washington and stop this travesty. Our nation is totally divided! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012 Trump issued the call while predicting that Romney would win the popular vote but lose the electoral. (Obama won both.) Needless to say, there was no march. But if Hillary Clinton defeats Trump in 2016, one of the Republican nominees former campaign advisers predicts there will be protests. I mean civil disobedience, not violence, but it will be a bloodbath, Roger Stone told Breitbart News in a recent interview. The government will be shut down if they attempt to steal this and swear Hillary in. Stone left Trumps immediate orbit last year, but the veteran GOP consultant told Yahoo News last month that he keeps in touch with his former boss. On Monday, Trump, who is currently trailing Clinton in national polls, told supporters at a rally in Ohio that the fix is coming. The election is going to be rigged, he said. And on Tuesday, Trump told the Washington Post that he wouldnt rule out contesting its result if he lost. I dont want to jump the gun. I dont want to talk about that, he said. Im just saying that I wouldnt be surprised if the election theres a lot of dirty pool played at the election, meaning the election is rigged. Trump pointed to his experience in the Republican primary as evidence of muddy water. It started with me in Louisiana when I won Louisiana and I got fewer delegates than Ted Cruz, Trump said. I said, Whoa! Whoa! What happens here? And then I polled well in Colorado. And instead of voting, the bosses picked it. I said, Whats going on here? It took me a little while to get accustomed to the world of politics, Trump said. And then once I did we started running them off. But, who wouldve thought that was going to happen? I win a state, I get fewer votes. Then, I poll great in Colorado and all of a sudden the voters arent going to choose. The bosses are going to choose. Story continues Back in 2012, Trump blamed the Electoral College for Romneys defeat, warned of voting machine malfunctions and called on his followers to fight like hell and stop this great and disgusting injustice. More reports of voting machines switching Romney votes to Obama. Pay close attention to the machines, dont let your vote be stolen Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012 If you experience any harassment or heckling at the polling places from Obama supporters, make sure you report it immediately. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012 Lets fight like hell and stop this great and disgusting injustice! The world is laughing at us. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012 This election is a total sham and a travesty. We are not a democracy! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012 Our country is now in serious and unprecedented troublelike never before. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012 Our nation is a once great nation divided! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012 The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012 He also issued a now-familiar refrain. SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Tuesday rejected Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps pretrial bid to throw out a lawsuit brought by Trump University students who said they were defrauded by its real-estate seminars. U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel said in a written ruling that there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Trump knowingly participated in a scheme to cheat the students, who paid up to $35,000 to learn Trumps real estate investing secrets from his hand-picked instructors. Curiel said there was extensive evidence Trump had not personally met, interviewed or selected Trump University instructors. In a July 22 hearing, Curiel tentatively denied the bid by Trump to dismiss the lawsuit in California, one of three over the defunct Trump University venture. Trumps lawyers had argued that the lawsuit, filed in 2013 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, should be dismissed because the New York real estate mogul, though personally involved in developing the concept and curriculum, relied on others to manage Trump University by the time the plaintiffs purchased seminars. Donald Trump, left, listens as Michael Sexton introduces him at a news conference in New York where he announced the establishment of Trump University on May 23, 2005. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Trumps lawyers claimed that references in marketing materials to secrets, hand-picked instructors or university were sales puffery and there was no evidence Trump intended to defraud students. Separately, Curiel rejected an effort to make public video excerpts of Trump testifying under oath. Trumps lawyers had fought against the release of the excerpts, saying they would be exploited by the media and others during the presidential campaign. Trump set off an uproar in May when he accused Curiel of being biased against him because of the candidates pledge to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico. Curiel was born in Indiana and is of Mexican descent. (Reporting by Jim Christie in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Karen Freifeld in New York; Editing by Richard Chang and Leslie Adler) Paris (AFP) - US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump makes "you want to retch", French leader Francois Hollande said Tuesday, as he added his voice to a barrage of scathing criticism of the White House hopeful. "His excesses make you want to retch, even in the United States, especially when -- as was Donald Trump's case -- he speaks ill of a soldier, of the memory of a soldier," Hollande told journalists in Paris. The French leader was referring to a feud between Trump and the Muslim parents of a slain US soldier, which has shaken the presidential campaign just three months before the November vote. Hollande criticised Trump's "hurtful and humiliating comments". The Republican campaign to retake the White House is reeling from a series of self-inflicted scandals as Trump has in recent days criticised Muslims, babies, firefighters and the military, prompting his wincing Republican backers to issue awkward denunciations. US President Barack Obama also joined the fray, declaring Trump "unfit" to hold the country's top office in his strongest rebuke yet of the 70-year-old mogul. Obama described Trump as "woefully unprepared" and "unfit to serve as president". "He keeps proving it," Obama added, as he called on Republican leaders to disown him. Trump swept the Republican primary, but is currently trailing Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton in general election polls by around four percentage points. "Democracy is also at stake, as we see more and more people tempted by authoritarianism," Hollande said, "especially" in the US. "Should the American people choose Trump, there will be consequences, because a US election is a global election," he added. Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Briar Woods High School in Ashburn, Va., on Aug. 2. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP) Donald Trump has no remorse about his prolonged hostility toward the family of a slain Muslim American war hero and appears to be ignoring advice to let go of the feud. Please remember, I was viciously attacked and all I did was respond to it and it ends up being a four-day story, he later said in an interview with Fox News Channels The OReilly Factor. I dont regret anything, the Republican presidential nominee told WJLA-TV on Tuesday. I said nice things about the son and I feel that very strongly, but of course I was hit very hard from the stage and, you know, its just one of those things, but, no, I dont regret anything. The GOP candidates war of words with the parents of fallen U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan began last week after the soldiers father delivered a scathing reprimand of Trump during the Democratic National Convention. Khizr Khan addresses delegates at the Democratic National Convention on July 28. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP) Khizr and Ghazala Khans son was killed by a car bomb in Iraq in 2004. With his wife standing quietly at this side, Khizr Khan criticized Trump, saying he consistently smears the character of Muslims and questioned what sacrifices the business mogul had made for his country and if he had ever read the Constitution. Trump immediately lashed out at the Khans, even floating the idea that that Ghazala Khan had been forcibly silenced. While I feel deeply for the loss of his son, Mr. Khan who has never met me, has no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim I have never read the Constitution, Trump said in a statement over the weekend. The clash has brought Trump admonishment from both the left and the right. On Tuesday, Trump told the Washington Post that he wouldnt be endorsing the upcoming re-election bids of two top Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain and House Speaker Paul Ryan. Both have chastised Trumps belittling of the Khans. Trump aides on Tuesday circulated a memo to campaign delegates urging them to express gratitude for the Khans sacrifice, but added that Trump had a right to defend himself, a person who received the document told The New York Times. Story continues Veterans advocate Al Baldasaro speaks in support of Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York City on May 31. (Photo: Lucas Jackson/Reuters) New Hampshire State Rep. Al Baldasaro, a retired Marine and Trump adviser on veterans issues, said Khizr Khan disgraced his son by exploiting him as a political pawn. Donald Trump has every right to challenge Mr. Khan because his personal agenda overruled his son being a warrior, and its shame that he did that, Baldasaro told WBIN-TV. Ive been bitching and complaining for a long time, stop using veterans as political pawns, he told the Concord news station. Hes a Gold Star father. I respect that. But he used his son for the wrong reasons. On Monday, The New York Times reported Trump did not serve in Vietnam because of four student deferments and one medical deferment due to bone spurs in his heels. Trump told Fox News he did nothing wrong. I had some academic exemptions. It was a very minor thing, he said. They didnt even talk about the draft number I got. I got a 356 draft number. The New York Times is unbelievably dishonest. Theyre failing. Its a failing newspaper. Its losing a fortune probably it wont be around in two to three more years. They write and they keep writing. I believe if they write something wrong, I believe in fighting back a little bit. I dont know if I should, maybe I shouldnt. So far it has been working in all fairness. Khizr Khan seized the moment to denounce Trump again. You had the time. You did not serve, he told CNNs Anderson Cooper on Tuesday. You dodged the draft. Jason Sickles is a national reporter for Yahoo News. Follow him on Twitter (@jasonsickles). Shadows from the past It is in the national interest to conclude the peace process soon ASHBURN, Virginia -- The mounting concern among foreign policy experts about Donald Trumps apparent affinity for Russian strongman Vladimir Putin does not appear to be much of a concern to the Republican presidential nominee, who used a speech here to reiterate his hope to improve US-Russia relations and to compare the US military unfavorably to Russias. In the midst of remarks about China and trade policy, Trump suddenly veered into a discussion of the relationship between the US and Moscow. Related: Trumps Supporters Now Include a Child Screaming Curses at Clinton (Weve Got Audio!) By the way, wouldnt it be great if we got along with Russia? he asked to huge applause. If we had a relationship with Russia? Instead of all the fighting and the money and the problems if we could get Russia and others to partner up and go and knock the hell out of ISIS? Again, huge applause. These people are so obsolete, he said, talking about the United States current foreign policy establishment that has balked at the idea of cozying up to Putin. He did not mention that their reluctance stems from the fact that Putin recently invaded a sovereign country in Eastern Europe, is supporting an armed rebellion against the government of that same country, and has for the past several years engaged in dangerous military gamesmanship with other nations, including the US. But to Trump, an adversarial relationship with Putin, even as his forces occupy Ukraines Crimean peninsula, is one of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clintons great failings. She has terrible relationships with Putin, he said. Related: Heres What Happens If Trump Decides to Quit This is a nuclear country were talking about. Russia, he continued. Strong nuclear country. And so are we. But their stuff is newer. Their stuff is newer. And they have more! someone shouted from the crowd. And they have more, Trump quickly agreed. I didnt want to say. They have a lot more. Story continues He continued, Look at Russia, how theyve built up their military. Look at what theyve done. Look at what theyve done on the nuclear weapons front. How theyve built up their military and how were so far behind. And our equipment is obsolete in many cases. And we have jet fighters that are so old that they have to go to graveyards -- airplane graveyards and museums to get parts for current jet fighters. And we have pilots, our wonderful incredible pilots saying, it didnt used to be this way. Weve got to get smart, folks. Weve got to get smart. Were falling way behind. Related: Warren Buffett Scolds Donald Trump: Have You No Sense of Decency, Sir? The thing is, according to most military analysts, thats just not true. Look at this chart assembled by The Military Times: Military But as is often the case at political rallies, the actual truth of Trumps claims about Russian military superiority was unimportant. What mattered was their usefulness in painting a picture of a United States in decline -- a decline that Trump insists at every opportunity that only he can reverse. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: A Donald Trump spokesperson just got caught trying to blame Barack Obama for something he couldnt possibly have had anything to do with, and Twitter is not letting her live it down. Katrina Pierson appeared on CNN for an interview with Wolf Blitzer about Trumps continued war of words with the parents of slain soldier Capt. Humayun Khan, and said Obamas changes to the rules of engagement in Iraq likely cost the soldier his life. The only problem, of course, is that Khan died in 2004, when George W. Bush was president, and Obama was just a state senator in Illinois. Also Read: Could the Khan Family Spell the End of Donald Trump? Twitter caught on to the goof right away, and devised the hashtag #KatrinaPiersonHistory, which is being used to place blame for other historical events on Obama. The South was totally winning the Civil War, but then Obama issued a Stand down order, joked one user. According to Trump spox Katrina Pierson, were it not for President Obamas failed policies, Abraham Lincoln would still be alive, said another. Also Read: Veteran Groups, Gold Star Families Condemn Donald Trump Over Attacks on Khan Family Critics say Trump went too far when he attacked Humayuns parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son died after saving hundreds of his fellow soldiers. Khizr Khan who criticized Trump for his proposed ban on Muslims entering the U.S. during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week is now appealing to Republican voters, urging them to disavow their nominee. This candidate is void of empathy, so I will continue to reach out to Republican voters to refrain from voting for this candidate, Khan told NBC News on Monday. He needs to mend his way. Also Read: Veteran Groups, Gold Star Families Condemn Donald Trump Over Attacks on Khan Family Read tweets lampooning Piersons misstatement below. Ronald Reagan is alive, and is living in Russia under the alias "Vladimir Putin" #KatrinaPiersonHistory Dreamweasel (@Dreamweasel) August 3, 2016 He was warned about that asteroid, but when it came time to act, he let millions of endangered dinosaurs die. #KatrinaPiersonHistory Justice Wainwright (@JusticeBlaine) August 3, 2016 #KatrinaPiersonHistory Obama mixed the cool aid at Jonestown Mya Buttreaks (@MButtreaks) August 3, 2016 "We would have won the Vietnam War if it wasn't for Obama" Katrina Pierson Just Maybe (@ShomahKhoobi) August 3, 2016 #KatrinaPiersonHistory The South was totally winning the Civil War, but then Obama issued a "Stand down" order. Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 3, 2016 According to Trump spox Katrina Pierson, were it not for President Obama's failed policies, Abraham Lincoln would still be alive. RUSS BENGT$ON (@russbengtson) August 2, 2016 Katrina Pierson explaining to @wolfblitzer that #Obama invented time travel, went back in time and killed Cap. Kahn and then brought Zika. Girls Really Rule. (@girlsreallyrule) August 2, 2016 How can you be so dense, shameless, and clueless, @KatrinaPierson that you actually make that baboon Trump look worse? Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) August 2, 2016 #KatrinaPiersonHistory Obama was on the grassy knoll in Dallas and Katrina has a copy of his ticket from Kenya to Dallas Tony Huffman (@huffman_tony) August 3, 2016 The last dinosaur died in 1956 , shot by a young Dick Cheney #KatrinaPiersonHistory pic.twitter.com/lzc37rXURt St Peter (@stpeteyontweety) August 3, 2016 Obama started 14th century Europe's Black Death pandemic, causing 75 million deaths. Because, you know, BLACK. #KatrinaPiersonHistory Simon Ford (@SimonFordComedy) August 3, 2016 Obama knew about that iceberg but didn't warn the captain of the Titanic #KatrinaPiersonHistory Tara Rodham Dublin (@taradublinrocks) August 3, 2016 #KatrinaPiersonHistory Obama is the real reason why Lucy always had so much splainin' to do to Ricky. pic.twitter.com/Sh9HFCSVV1 The Hashtag Game (@TheHashtagGame) August 3, 2016 #KatrinaPiersonHistory Obama is the reason why Raymond Babbitt kept missing Wapner. Definitely. Yeah, Definitely. pic.twitter.com/4WyA9pYHER The Hashtag Game (@TheHashtagGame) August 3, 2016 Obama gave Amelia Earhart directions to Kenya. #KatrinaPiersonHistory pic.twitter.com/OS7uJ1YCMy Scott Wooledge (@Clarknt67) August 3, 2016 #KatrinaPiersonHistory Obama introduced John Lennon to Yoko Ono and well, you know pic.twitter.com/Hr7HExbhPr EGCollins (@EGCollins) August 3, 2016 Obama totally started chowing down before the Lord said grace. #KatrinaPiersonHistory pic.twitter.com/QmkkZsm3lK Sha (@quip1) August 3, 2016 Related stories from TheWrap: Veteran Groups, Gold Star Families Condemn Donald Trump Over Attacks on Khan Family Donald Trump v The Khans: 5 Reasons His Latest Fight Is So Disastrous John Oliver Blasts Donald Trump as 'Sociopathic Narcissist' for Response to Khan Family (Video) Donald Trumps camp has tried to deflect blame in recent days after the Republican candidate cast aspersions on the parents of a fallen Muslim American soldier, Capt. Humayun Khan. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have condemned him for disrespecting a Gold Star family, but the Trump campaign is still trying to save face without apologizing. In an interview with Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday, Trumps spokeswoman Katrina Pierson tried to blame President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for Capt. Khans death, saying it was under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that changed the rules of engagement that probably cost his life. But Khan died in Iraq in 2004five years before Obama took officewhile George W. Bush was president. Blitzer subsequently ran a fact-check on air, and social media users coined a new hashtag to mock the spokeswoman: #KatrinaPiersonHistory. Obama gave Amelia Earhart directions to Kenya. #KatrinaPiersonHistory pic.twitter.com/OS7uJ1YCMy Scott Wooledge (@Clarknt67) August 3, 2016 #KatrinaPiersonHistory Obama introduced John Lennon to Yoko Ono and well, you know pic.twitter.com/Hr7HExbhPr EGCollins (@EGCollins) August 3, 2016 Obama totally started chowing down before the Lord said grace. #KatrinaPiersonHistory pic.twitter.com/QmkkZsm3lK Sha (@quip1) August 3, 2016 #KatrinaPiersonHistory Remember the Alamo? Obama and Hillary let it happen. pic.twitter.com/mupfFdKsr8 Scott Wooledge (@Clarknt67) August 3, 2016 #KatrinaPiersonHistory Obama shot Hamilton with Hillary as his second. (Broadway's run by liberal revisionists.) Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) August 3, 2016 Obama and Clinton kidnapped the Lindbergh baby.#KatrinaPiersonHistory Allan Brauer (@allanbrauer) August 3, 2016 Pierson tried to get in on the action by using the hashtag herself, in a slightly different context: A 78-year-old Donald Trump supporter was arrested last week after allegedly throwing his pro-Hillary Clinton wife to the ground during an argument about politics in their Florida home. According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, the altercation between registered Republican Lawrence Littman and his wife Elvia, a Democrat, occurred Wednesday. In a 911 call placed by 73-year-old Elvia, she reportedly told the operator she and her husband had been in a fight about politics. Read: Man Tries to Flush Baby Down Toilet Before Hours-Long SWAT Standoff: Cops Elvia told police her husband "called her many derogatory names then grabbed her wrist and threw her on a chair in the bedroom" according to the police report. According to the report, Elvia said the confrontation became physical when she tried to go to a different room to get away but her husband followed her. Read: Wife Wearing 'Stop Domestic Violence' Shirt Arrested... for Domestic Violence She said she hurt her backside in the fall. Police said they found no visible markings. Mr. Littman reportedly told cops his wife "tried to slap him in the face" and he was retaliating. Nonetheless, police arrested Littman for battery of a person over 65. Littman has since been freed on $500 bond on the felony change, for which he pleaded not guilty. Watch: Cops: Sarah Palin's Son Track, 26, Is Arrested on Domestic Abuse Charges Related Articles: Donald Trumps Wednesday rally in Daytona Beach, Fla., was something of a highlight reel of some of his most famous campaign-trail controversies from last year. The GOP nominee noted his displeasure with a recent Hillary Clinton campaign ad that depicted children watching him make crude comments. He began by arguing that his infamous comment about Megyn Kelly having blood coming out of her whatever was misconstrued. Trump had made the remark about Kelly last August while accusing her of being overly aggressive while moderating the first GOP debate. I meant her nose or her ears or her mouth, Trump said at the event in Daytona Beach. But these people are perverted and they thought I was talking about somewhere else. And I cut [the comment] short because I was talking about taxes or economic development. I wanted to get back on the subject. The business mogul then moved on to defending his depiction of a disabled New York Times reporter at a rally at the end of last year. Trump reenacted the reporter, Serge Kovaleski, supposedly flailing his arms while retracting an old story about Muslims in New Jersey celebrating the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack. Donald Trump attends a campaign event at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Photo: Eric Thayer/Reuters) Kovaleski had accused Trump of misinterpreting his story and said Trump was familiar with his condition, which limited his arm movement. He was trying to change his story, Trump said of the incident. I didnt know the reporter. But then the reporter said he met me. He said I knew him and I knew what he looked like. I dont know him. And Ive spent millions on buildings for people with disabilities. Later in the rally, he boasted that he invested in making his buildings accessible to the disabled. He offered a similar defense as the controversy was raging last year, leading the Daily Beast to report that his properties have been sued a number of times for violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act. I spend millions of dollars on ramps, on all sorts of things in buildings. In some cases, many cases things I didnt have to do, Trump said. Trumps decision to rehash these old controversies was striking given that he has for days been embroiled in a series of new firestorms. The fresh controversies prompted a new round of handwringing by Republican operatives concerned about his ability to stay on message. By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi named a little-known technocrat as prime minister on Wednesday after parliament ousted Habib Essid in a vote of no-confidence over his handling of economic reforms and security. Opposition parties quickly denounced the appointment of Youssef Chahed, an agricultural science specialist and junior minister under Essid, saying he lacked the credentials for the job and had been chosen simply because he was a pliant ally of the president. Since its 2011 revolution to oust Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has grown into a model of democracy in a turbulent region. But Islamist militant attacks on tourist spots last year have tested the government, and political infighting in the ruling coalition has slowed economic progress needed to ease social tensions especially among the young employed. Essebsi had been pushing for a new national unity government in an attempt to overcome Tunisia's current woes. Chahed, who is also a senior member of the secular Nidaa Tounes party, told reporters: "The president has put me in charge of the national unity government. This is a message of confidence for young people also. In this delicate time, we need a lot of audacious decisions." "Our priorities are a war on corruption, winning the war on terrorism, push for growth and balancing public finances," he said. He dismissed reports he had any family ties to Essebsi, responding to opposition criticism and local media that he was a distant relative of Essebsi. Nidaa Tounes and the Islamist Ennahda party, both part of the ruling coalition, control a majority of the seats in parliament, meaning that Chahed's nomination is likely to be accepted by lawmakers when they vote on his approval. IMF PRESSURE Essebsi already faces widespread criticism over what some see as his attempt at a hereditary transfer of power to his son Hafed, the new leader of Nidaa Tounes. This has split his party with critics breaking to form a new movement. "Essebsi succeeded in getting those close to him into power and turning the political system to his favor," Adnen Monsar, leader of the Alirada opposition party. "Now he has a premier who will follow his instructions." Chahed has 30 days to name a new government. But he will be under pressure to deliver on reforms demanded by Tunisia's multilateral lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Among the economic reforms needed in Tunisia are to overhaul investment and fiscal codes, and reduce high public subsidies as well as promoting job growth. Many young people in central and southern regions long dependent on agriculture say they feel abandoned by Tunis and let down by the revolution's promise of opportunity. (Reporting by Tarek Amara; writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Richard Balmforth) ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey needs to take on those responsible for the failed coup last month, but this needs to be done in conformity with the rule of law and human rights, the head of human rights body the Council of Europe said on Wednesday. Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland also said at a joint news conference with Turkey's foreign minister in Ankara that there had been little understanding in Europe on the extent to which a secret network had infiltrated the Turkish army and judiciary. Jagland is the most senior European official to visit Turkey since the failed July 15 putsch, when a faction of the army commandeered tanks, helicopters and fighter jets in an attempt to overthrow the government. Turkey blames followers of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen for the putsch. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, denies the charges and has denounced the coup. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Nick Tattersall) Squatters in Valley hate police but cant do without: Report Members of squatter communities in Kathmandu, who live in constant fear of being subjected to torture and ill-treatment, dread police the most but turn to them for help in crisis, according to a report. On August 9, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to St. Petersburg, where he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time since November 2015. For the past two weeks, a steady parade of Turkish ministers have flown to Moscow to lay the groundwork confirmation that the Turkish-Russian relationship, on ice for the past eight months, is headed for a summer thaw. But the St. Petersburg meeting is more than just another summit it is the opening ceremony for a broader Turkish tilt toward Moscow. The bases for this Russian-Turkish rapprochement are manifold, but the primary impetus is Bashar al-Assads near-restoration in Syria. In the past, Assad had been the major obstacle to improved ties between Russia and Turkey. The countries poor relations reached a boiling point when Turkey shot down an Su-24 Russian fighter jet last November. The situation in Syria has changed dramatically since that episode, however. The Russian-Iranian offensive in support of Assad has checkmated Turkey, shutting Ankara out of northern Syria. Now, Moscow and Tehran are in the midst of an operation to restore Assads control over Syrias second city of Aleppo. Even an obstinate leader like Erdogan cannot ignore the hard reality that Assad is here to stay. Thus, in a remarkable about-face five weeks ago, Erdogan apologized to Putin for the Su-24 shoot-down and asked the family of the killed pilot to excuse us. Two weeks later, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim stated that Turkey might even entertain normalizing relations with Syria someday. What to make of this sudden change? By sidestepping the question of Assad, Erdogan is attempting to unlock cooperation with Russia on his other major priorities the defeat of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) and the consolidation of domestic power. The PKK is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that has fought a separatist war against the Turkish state for decades. Its Kurdish sister organization in Syria is the Democratic Union Party (PYD). For the past two years, the PYD has systematically built up its political control in northern Syria under the guise of fighting the Islamic State. Turkey has tracked the PYDs rise along its border with alarm especially since the group crossed west of the Euphrates, a traditional Turkish red line, to participate in the fight to capture the Syrian city of Manbij from the Islamic State. From Ankaras perspective, PKK and PYD poses a more ominous threat than the Islamic State even after the Istanbul airport attack of June 28. Story continues Erdogan understands that in order to stop the PKK and PYD from establishing themselves along the Turkish border, he must deny them international support most notably, from their natural regional patrons, Russia and Iran. This sets up a possible transaction in St. Petersburg next week: In return for Russia withholding its support for the PKK and PYD, Turkey may agree to look the other way on Assad. Moreover, Erdogans domestic politics only reinforce his regional calculations for tilting toward Russia. The aftershocks of the attempted coup against Erdogan by a faction of the military on July 15 are steadily pushing Turkey away from the West and toward Russia. From the outset, as the coup unfolded, Putin reportedly offered support for Erdogan, in contrast to Secretary of State John Kerrys initial equivocations. Predictably, that contrast has only grown sharper over the past two weeks: While Russia has raised no objections to Erdogans purges of key institutions, the West has regularly criticized his crackdowns, with Kerry even threatening Turkeys membership in NATO. For the Turkish press, the narrative is simple: The United States is pitted against Erdogan-inspired Islamic nationalists and shielding the alleged coup mastermind, Fethullah Gulen. One Turkish minister even flatly accused the United States of orchestrating the coup. Incensed Turkish protestors have marched on Incirlik Air Base, the key facility from which the United States flies combat missions against the Islamic State. As Turkey turns inward and anti-Western sentiment rises, Turkish military readiness will suffer. More than ever, Erdogan will rely on the key player on the ground, Russia, to limit the PYD and PKK. President Barack Obama and his administration are not without options, however. To keep Turkey from moving toward Russia, the United States should widen its aperture beyond the Islamic State to include Turkeys strategic interests in Syria. It should also recalibrate its criticisms of Erdogan, whose paranoia seems justified by the coup. In this endeavor, the Obama administration might draw useful lessons from its predecessors management of the crisis in Pakistan in 2007. Rather than alienate its ally, the George W. Bush administration worked behind the scenes to craft a series of incentives and disincentives that influenced Pakistani President President Pervez Musharrafs decision-making and ultimately solved the crisis. Today, the United States should stand by the democratically elected government of Turkey, while privately nudging Erdogan to show restraint against his domestic enemies. Most importantly, the United States should offer Turkey assurances about the future political order in Syria while deepening cooperation against the PKK. Our current posture risks not only alienating a crucial NATO ally, but pushing it straight into the arms of Moscow. Photo credit: YURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty Images Istanbul (AFP) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at Turkey's Western allies over last month's failed putsch, accusing them of supporting "terror" and demanding Washington extradite a preacher he says orchestrated the coup. Erdogan, who blames the attempt to unseat him on US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, described the July 15 coup as a "scenario written from outside" in an allusion to foreign involvement. And he lashed out at the United States for dragging its heels over Ankara's request to extradite him, describing it as "a huge obstacle" to Turkey's fight against terror. Since the putsch, Erdogan has pursued a relentless crackdown, detaining more than 18,000 people and firing tens of thousands of others, with the latest sweep hitting Turkey's football association and medical staff at Ankara's military hospital. The purge has set alarm bells ringing in the West, which has voiced growing concern over the scope of the operation, drawing a fierce response from Erdogan. "Unfortunately, the West is supporting terror and standing by the coup plotters," Erdogan said in a typically combative speech at his presidential palace, denouncing "those who we imagined to be friends". He lashed out at Germany's judicial authorities for not allowing him to address by video link a weekend rally supporting him in Cologne, saying Berlin had previously permitted leaders from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to do so at earlier events. And he all but accused foreign powers of having a hand in drawing up the putsch, which was carried out by a rogue faction within the military. "This coup was not just an event planned from the inside. The actors inside acted out a scenario for a coup written from the outside," Erdogan said. - 'A huge obstacle' - Addressing Washington over Gulen, he asked: "How can it be, when we are strategic partners... you keep on hiding and sheltering him?" Story continues And in a television interview with Mexico's Televisa, he accused Washington of dragging its feet over his extradition by asking for documents. "You have to be blind and deaf not to understand that he is behind all of this," he said. "If we request the extradition of a terrorist then you should fulfil that," he said. "If you start asking for documents and what not, then it's a huge obstacle in our way of fighting terrorism." US Secretary of State John Kerry said on July 18 that Turkey must present "genuine evidence" and "not allegations" against the Muslim cleric for his extradition. The failed putsch has aggravated already-strained ties between the two NATO allies with some government ministers even alleging Washington could have had a hand in the plot, something US officials have dismissed as "ludicrous". In Ankara, police on Tuesday rounded up some 50 staff, including doctors, at Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) hospital, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported, quoting police sources. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Turkish official told AFP warrants had been issued for the detention of 98 staff suspected of helping fast-track Gulen supporters into the military through favourable medical reports. It was the first time a medical establishment has been targeted in a clampdown under a three-month state of emergency that has also hit journalists and academics. Turkey's football federation meanwhile confirmed it had fired 94 officials including referees and assistant referees. As Western concern grows over human rights in Turkey, the head of the Council of Europe, a top European rights watchdog, was due to begin a two-day visit later Wednesday, including a meeting with Erdogan. - 'Gulen, a flight risk' - Ankara has also staged a sweeping overhaul of state institutions, sacking tens of thousands of civil servants, with Prime Minister Binali Yildirim saying the government was engaged in "virus and traitor cleansing" to weed out Gulenists from state institutions. Another 36 people were detained over a sex tape scandal that felled the leader of the main opposition party in 2010, with prosecutors linking the affair to Gulen. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, has denied any involvement in the attempted putsch. Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag on Tuesday confirmed sending a new package of Gulen-related documents to Washington, saying: "He needs to be arrested urgently as we have intelligence that he might flee to a third country." Turkey has said the coup could cost its economy up to $100 billion ($89 billion euros) overall. By Ece Toksabay and Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey will soon complete an overhaul of its intelligence agency and make new appointments to its gendarmerie as it tries to rid its security apparatus of the followers of a U.S.-based cleric blamed for an attempted coup, officials said on Wednesday. President Tayyip Erdogan said new appointments in the gendarmerie, responsible for security in rural areas and key in the fight against Kurdish militants, would come within 48 hours. Interior Minister Efkan Ala said work on restructuring the MIT intelligence agency was ongoing and "should not take too long". More than 60,000 people in the military, judiciary, civil service and education have been detained, suspended or placed under investigation following the July 15 coup attempt, prompting fears among Western allies and rights groups that Erdogan is using the events to crack down on dissent. The government says the purges are justified by the gravity of the threat to the state. More than 230 people were killed in the attempted putsch and parliament was bombed by the country's own aircraft and tanks for the first time in its history. In a speech to the Religious Affairs Directorate, the country's top religious authority, Erdogan said he had initially misread the intentions of cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose network of followers were at one time close to his ruling AK Party. "We did not see this structure had insidious plans," Erdogan said, dismissing Gulen as the "charlatan in Pennsylvania", where he has lived in self-imposed exile since 1999. "I am very saddened by the fact that we were unable to see the true face of this cruel group before ... May my people and God forgive me," he said. Mehmet Gormez, Turkey's top cleric, said Gulen's movement should not be seen as a religious community, describing it as a terrorist organization and saying it was "our moral duty" to stand against such structures. "An organization that can massacre innocent people in one night cannot be associated with Islam," he said. In interviews from his retreat in the Poconos mountains, Gulen has condemned the coup and denied any involvement. The 75-year-old preaches Sunni Islam together with a message of interfaith dialogue and has built a worldwide network of schools and institutions over several decades. After their rise to power in 2002, the Islamist-rooted AKP founded by Erdogan became dependent on the Gulenists in their common fight against the army, which had long seen itself as guardian of the secular order. It was mainly Gulenist prosecutors who, after Erdogan and his party narrowly escaped being banned in 2008, built two big conspiracy trials targeting the upper echelons of the military. SCIENTISTS PURGED The purges of Gulen's suspected followers extended to the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Tubitak), which saw its offices raided on Sunday, an official there said. Broadcaster NTV said "many people" had been detained, but the official gave no details. Tubitak funds science research projects in universities and the private sector and employs more than 1,500 researchers, according to its website. In the first visit to Turkey of a high-profile European official since the coup, the head of human rights body the Council of Europe said Turkey needed to take on those responsible for the putsch but stressed that this needed to be done in line with the rule of law. Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland also said that there had been little understanding in Europe on the extent to which "this secret network" had infiltrated the army and judiciary, posing a challenge to Turkey's democratic institutions. "The coup attempt was outrageous ... Last time there was a coup in Turkey, its membership at the European Council was suspended. If the coup makers had won that very night, the same would have happened, I am quite sure," he said. "We see a need for cleaning all this up. (It is) important that this is done in conformity with the rule of law and human rights," he told a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara. Erdogan and many Turks have been frustrated by U.S. and European criticism of the crackdown that has followed the coup, accusing the West of greater concern about the rights of the plotters than the gravity of the threat to a NATO member state. Erdogan has issued two decrees dismissing around 3,000 members of NATO's second-biggest armed forces since the coup, including more than 40 percent of generals. He has also shut down military high schools and brought force commanders under tighter government control. (Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Can Sezer, Ercan Gurses and Gulsen Solaker in Ankara; Writing by Nick Tattersall; editing by Philippa Fletcher) By Ece Toksabay and Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey will soon complete an overhaul of its intelligence agency and make new appointments to its gendarmerie as it tries to rid its security apparatus of the followers of a U.S.-based cleric blamed for an attempted coup, officials said on Wednesday. President Tayyip Erdogan said new appointments in the gendarmerie, responsible for security in rural areas and key in the fight against Kurdish militants, would come within 48 hours. Interior Minister Efkan Ala said work on restructuring the MIT intelligence agency was ongoing and "should not take too long". More than 60,000 people in the military, judiciary, civil service and education have been detained, suspended or placed under investigation following the July 15 coup attempt, prompting fears among Western allies and rights groups that Erdogan is using the events to crack down on dissent. The government says the purges are justified by the gravity of the threat to the state. More than 230 people were killed in the attempted putsch and parliament was bombed by the country's own aircraft and tanks for the first time in its history. In a speech to the Religious Affairs Directorate, the country's top religious authority, Erdogan said he had initially misread the intentions of cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose network of followers were at one time close to his ruling AK Party. "We did not see this structure had insidious plans," Erdogan said, dismissing Gulen as the "charlatan in Pennsylvania", where he has lived in self-imposed exile since 1999. "I am very saddened by the fact that we were unable to see the true face of this cruel group before ... May my people and God forgive me," he said. Mehmet Gormez, Turkey's top cleric, said Gulen's movement should not be seen as a religious community, describing it as a terrorist organisation and saying it was "our moral duty" to stand against such structures. "An organization that can massacre innocent people in one night cannot be associated with Islam," he said. In interviews from his retreat in the Poconos mountains, Gulen has condemned the coup and denied any involvement. The 75-year-old preaches Sunni Islam together with a message of interfaith dialogue and has built a worldwide network of schools and institutions over several decades. After their rise to power in 2002, the Islamist-rooted AKP founded by Erdogan became dependent on the Gulenists in their common fight against the army, which had long seen itself as guardian of the secular order. It was mainly Gulenist prosecutors who, after Erdogan and his party narrowly escaped being banned in 2008, built two big conspiracy trials targeting the upper echelons of the military. SCIENTISTS PURGED The purges of Gulen's suspected followers extended to the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Tubitak), which saw its offices raided on Sunday, an official there said. Broadcaster NTV said "many people" had been detained, but the official gave no details. Tubitak funds science research projects in universities and the private sector and employs more than 1,500 researchers, according to its website. In the first visit to Turkey of a high-profile European official since the coup, the head of human rights body the Council of Europe said Turkey needed to take on those responsible for the putsch but stressed that this needed to be done in line with the rule of law. Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland also said that there had been little understanding in Europe on the extent to which "this secret network" had infiltrated the army and judiciary, posing a challenge to Turkey's democratic institutions. "The coup attempt was outrageous ... Last time there was a coup in Turkey, its membership at the European Council was suspended. If the coup makers had won that very night, the same would have happened, I am quite sure," he said. "We see a need for cleaning all this up. (It is) important that this is done in conformity with the rule of law and human rights," he told a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara. Erdogan and many Turks have been frustrated by U.S. and European criticism of the crackdown that has followed the coup, accusing the West of greater concern about the rights of the plotters than the gravity of the threat to a NATO member state. Erdogan has issued two decrees dismissing around 3,000 members of NATO's second-biggest armed forces since the coup, including more than 40 percent of generals. He has also shut down military high schools and brought force commanders under tighter government control. (Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Can Sezer, Ercan Gurses and Gulsen Solaker in Ankara; Writing by Nick Tattersall; editing by Philippa Fletcher) The Singapore police have arrested two more suspects who were allegedly part of an eight-member gang involved in robbing a moneychanger of $624,036 at a carpark in Aljunied in 2014. The suspects, aged 29 and 30, were handed over by the Royal Malaysia Police to the Singapore police on Tuesday (2 August). They will be charged in court on Thursday (4 August) with the offence of armed robbery with hurt. With the strong assistance from our foreign law enforcement partners, the Police will persevere and ensure that criminals who remain on the run will be brought back to justice no matter how long it takes, the Singapore police said in a statement on Wednesday (3 August). The suspects, along with six others, ambushed and robbed moneychanger Ali Yousouf Saiboo at the carpark at Blk 110 Aljunied Crescent on 5 November 2014. The gang was said to have planned the robbery for months by staking out the victims home and car. On the day of the robbery, the victim was ambushed in his car by five men wearing balaclavas and face masks, according to media reports. Three of the robbers have been sentenced for their offences earlier this year. They were given jail sentences ranging from seven to nine years, and given 12 strokes of the cane each. Another suspect, 31-year-old Selvam Karupaya, was charged on 15 April. The remaining robbers are still at large. By Trevor Hunnicutt NEW YORK, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Withdrawals from U.S.-based international stock mutual funds in the latest week hit the highest level since the Brexit vote, Investment Company Institute data released on Wednesday showed, as investors worried about European and Japanese growth. U.S.-based world stock mutual fund outflows grew to $2.9 billion in the week ended July 27, ICI said, the largest since the seven-day period that included Britain's June 23 referendum on leaving the European Union. "Weaker economic prospects in Europe and Japan remain a concern," said Todd Rosenbluth, director of ETF & mutual-fund research at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Global equity prices slipped for a third straight day on Wednesday, pressured by surging Japanese government bond yields and a strengthening yen. Dropping oil prices and concerns about the strength of European banks have also weighed on markets in recent weeks. Investors continued to pull money out of developed-market exchange-traded funds in the latest week. The Deutsche X-trackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF posted $476 million in outflows and the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF recorded $386 million in outflows, according to data service FactSet Research Systems Inc. The data reinforce U.S. investors' rotation this year from stocks to bonds. Investors pulled $65 billion from U.S.-based stock mutual funds and ETFs in the first half of 2016, and poured $104 billion into bond funds, ICI data shows. Including ETFs, U.S.-based bond funds took in $6.1 billion in the latest week, the fund trade group said, roughly offsetting the amount that cascaded out of stock funds. Mutual funds invested in investment-grade bonds took in $3.5 billion, the largest since the week ended June 8, while high-yield mutual fund inflows slowed to $193 million from $2.5 billion two weeks ago, according to ICI. "Demand for fixed-income products remained strong last week, but investors shifted toward investment-grade corporate mutual funds that offer a combination of stronger credit profiles and moderately higher income," said Rosenbluth. "Previous demand for high yield slowed significantly." The following table shows estimated ICI flows for the past five weeks, excluding ETFs (all figures in millions of dollars): 7/27 7/20 7/13 7/6 6/29/2016 Total equity -11,168 -12,618 -7,988 -2,880 -5,193 -Domestic -8,225 -10,349 -7,218 -4,315 -2,001 -World -2,943 -2,269 -770 1,435 -3,192 Hybrid 475 -779 -1,106 -275 -2,582 Total bond 4,901 7,612 6,115 1,265 -2,488 -Taxable 3,374 6,156 4,344 160 -3,664 -Municipal 1,527 1,457 1,771 1,105 1,176 Total -5,792 -5,784 -2,980 -1,890 -10,263 The following table shows estimated ICI flows, including ETFs (all figures in millions of dollars): 7/27 7/20 7/13 7/6 6/29/2016 Equity -6,183 -8,142 9,504 531 -10,033 -Domestic -4,135 -8,158 8,837 1,156 -8,041 -World -2,047 16 667 -625 -1,992 Hybrid 491 -761 -1,078 -291 -2,485 Bond 6,132 8,178 11,490 7,344 -155 -Taxable 4,438 6,491 9,574 5,987 -1,410 -Municipal 1,694 1,687 1,916 1,357 1,255 Commodity -362 486 -268 2,158 2,098 Total 77 -240 19,648 9,743 -10,575 (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Richard Chang) Aug. 5, 2016: This story has been corrected. Investigators for the United Nations found 48 child soldiers in Afghanistan last year, with more than one-fourth working for government-backed forces such as the Afghan National Army and the Afghan Local and National Police. But that news somehow never made an impact in Washington. In an annual report released on June 30 that names 10 foreign countries known to use and recruit child soldiers, the State Department didnt include Afghanistan a country with forces labeled as persistent perpetrators by the United Nations in a report issued just two months earlier. The discrepancy is partly a matter of legal interpretation but mostly one mired in international politics, it turns out. Countries that employ child soldiers in their armed forces are barred from receiving specific types of U.S. military assistance or weapons, under a U.S. law enacted in 2008. But the Obama administration says Afghanistan is not subject to the law because its Local Police force which uses child soldiers, and experts say operates like a militia or a paramilitary group is not part of the armed forces. This claim has allowed the U.S. Defense Department to give the Afghan Local Police a total of $470 million as of April 2015, according to a tally made by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. But nonprofit groups and independent experts on Afghanistan and the use of children in armed conflicts say the administration has misinterpreted the U.S. law or abused some ambiguities in its text. Not including Afghanistan sends out the message that children who have been recruited by police forces deserve less protection, said Charu Lata Hogg, an associate fellow at the independent London-based institute Chatham House, who has worked extensively on the issue of child soldiers. More children are likely to be recruited and used by militias than the military themselves. Even if the decision is not a violation of the law, it constitutes a breach of the spirit of the law, said Jo Becker, childrens rights advocacy director at the nonprofit organization Human Rights Watch in New York. Story continues The law states that certain types of military assistance and armaments cannot flow to countries with government-supported armed groups that use child soldiers. It also makes clear that these groups include paramilitaries, militias [and] civil defense forces. The law does not explicitly mention police, however. Child soldiers are defined as those under the age of 18 who are recruited by such groups to work as soldiers or perform other tasks, including working as cooks or porters. This story is part of Up in Arms. National security-related events, reports and findings that deserve more attention. Click here to read more stories in this series. Don't miss another National Security investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. In 2015, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani signed a presidential decree criminalizing the recruitment of child soldiers, but the problem persists, experts say. The U.N. report, which included Afghanistan in a list of 14 countries that use and recruit child soldiers, noted that the number of verified cases last year was double that in 2014. It said the majority of the cases involved the Taliban and other armed groups, but five children were in the Local Police, five in the National Police, and three in the National Army. There is continuing concern about allegations of cross-border recruitment of children and of use of religious schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan for child recruitment and military training by the Taliban and other armed groups, said the report, which was issued under Secretary General Ban Ki-moons name. I am concerned about the lack of oversight mechanisms for Afghan Local Police recruitment involving children. The State Department, in its annual human rights report for 2015, itself takes note of these and other "reports." But when asked to explain why Afghanistan was not included on the U.S. list of nations with child soldiers, a State Department spokesman in the Bureau of Public Affairs, who said he could not be named, wrote in an email that although the Afghan Local Police is a government security force, it falls outside of the armed forces of Afghanistan. The spokesman also wrote that in the administrations view, Afghanistan is taking useful steps to address the use and recruitment of child soldiers. A somewhat different account of the Local Polices role in armed conflict is given in Kabul. The Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs, asked in an email if it should be considered part of the national government, said it is an armed defense force funded by the national government and that its purpose was to operate at the village level to secure the insecure areas. Other documents make clear the force is not like police in Western nations: It does not investigate crime or arrest suspects. Its only function is instead to fight the insurgency, much like a militia. This is what NATO and the U.S. military state in a 112-page 2011 guide to the function and structure of Afghan police forces, labelled for official use only but posted online and confirmed as authentic by a NATO spokesman. The account is echoed in the Ministry of Interior Affairs' 11-page procedural guide for the Afghan Local Police, prepared by four high ranking members of the Afghan Local Police and the nations Deputy Minister for Security in 2010. The Afghan Local Police constitute an armed group because they are engaging in conflict with other security groups against the Taliban, said Becker, who investigates the use and recruitment of child soldiers by armed forces around the world. Therefore, Afghanistan belongs on the list, she says. Experts note that a 10-year-old member of the Afghan Local Police, Wasil Ahmad, became famous in the region after fighting the Taliban in 2015; he clutched a machine gun to his chest in photos taken before he was killed by insurgents earlier this year. As recently as last October, a 17-year-old member of the Afghan National Police told the London-based advocacy group Child Soldiers International that at the age of 15 or 16 he used a false identification card to register for the force, according to the advocacy groups March 2016 report on Afghanistan. He said the only person who questioned his age was the doctor who completed the medical examination. The boy also told them he met roughly 15 kids younger than him at police training in Kabul. One of the drafters of the 2008 law, Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said in an email that in his view the use of child soldiers is unacceptable in any nations military, and the United States has an added responsibility to help eradicate the practice in countries where we are engaged. In Afghanistan, he said, there does seem to be a greater problem in the Afghan police forces than in the military. But he also said the laws provisions do not cover police, highlighting what he considers a loophole that warrants a closer look. Congress already amended the law once before, Durbin wrote, and it can do so again. He was referring to a change made in 2013 to amend the law to prohibit providing peacekeeping funding for countries with child soldiers, a type of aid that had not originally been included in the law. This occurred after the U.S. listed Somalia a country that has long employed child soldiers but continued sending military aid through peacekeeping accounts. Ironically, even if the provisions of the law were drawn tightly enough to cover all the foreign forces that might employ child soldiers, the president still has the authority to exempt countries from the funding ban, keeping aid going if needed for U.S. national security a waiver that Obama issued last year for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan. In the Congo alone, U.N. investigators verified the recruitment of 488 children in 2015 by 12 different governmental and non-governmental armed groups. In some cases in the DRC, children were abducted from their homes, according to Marie de la Soudiere, an expert consultant who led Child Soldiers Internationals field work in the country. The United States authorized roughly $14 million in peacekeeping funds for the DRC for 2016. In Nigeria, children manned checkpoints and operated as spies in a government militia, known as the Civilian Joint Task Force, according to the U.N.s report. In Somalia, the army recruited 218 children; in South Sudan, U.N. investigators said they saw children wearing military outfits throughout the country. Many children engaged in direct conflict. Don't miss another National Security investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. Afghanistan is not the only country that the United States omits. Unlike the U.S. list, the U.N. list of nations with child soldiers includes Colombia, the Central African Republic, the Philippines and Mali. The U.N. has a more comprehensive definition for countries on the list; it includes all governmental and non-governmental armed groups that use and recruit child soldiers in each nation -- including police. But while the U.N. list has remained relatively stable since 2010 at roughly 14 countries the U.S. list has grown from six countries in 2010 to 10 countries in 2016. This dismal trend has generally not, however, impeded U.S. foreign aid to the problem countries, despite the ambition of the 2008 laws drafters to use such aid as a cudgel to force improved behavior. The Obama administration has authorized over $100 million in peacekeeping funds for Somalia and roughly $30 million for South Sudan for 2016 alone, according to estimates provided by the Stimson Center, a nonprofit Washington-based global security think tank. Overall, it withheld just 5.8 percent of roughly $1 billion in military assistance and 1.7 percent of over $300 million worth of arms sales from 12 countries that have been identified on the U.S. child soldiers list since 2010, according to Stimsons analysis of funds subject to the law. In that same period, the administration authorized at least $7.8 billion in military assistance and arms sales for Afghanistan that would have been prohibited by the child soldiers law. Experts say that putting countries onto the child soldier list sometimes has useful consequences. After the United States put Chad on the list in 2010, 2011, and 2013, the government signed an action plan with the United Nations in 2011 to address the issue; by 2014, the U.N.s own list of groups that use and recruit child soldiers no longer included Chad. Leaving Afghanistan off the U.S. list of nations that employ child soldiers even if it subsequently gets a waiver gives others a clear roadmap [to] get around the law, says Jesse Eaves, who works with the U.S.-based foundation Humanity United on issues related to human trafficking. These countries can just change the name of their armed forces and not even get lsted. Its just a blatant runaround of what the law was intended to do." Lauren Chadwick is a Scoville Fellow at the Center. Correction, Aug. 5, 2016, 2:51 p.m.: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that more than half of the child soldiers verified by the United Nations worked for government-backed forces in Afghanistan. Over one-fourth worked for government-backed forces. This story is part of Up in Arms. National security-related events, reports and findings that deserve more attention. Click here to read more stories in this series. Related stories Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C. Study team pins blame on India Technicians say the incident occurred due to failure on Indias part to implement a decision taken two years ago By David Ingram NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve Board said on Wednesday it had ordered Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) to pay a $36.3 million (27.18 million) civil penalty for the unauthorized use and disclosure of confidential information. The Fed Board also said in a statement that it was seeking to impose a fine on a former Goldman managing director, Joseph Jiampietro, and bar him from the banking industry for what the board said was his and his subordinates' unauthorized use and disclosure of confidential information. A lawyer for Jiampietro, Adam Ford, called the allegations against him demonstrably false and said his client would fight them. "As Mr. Jiampietro has said from the start, he never requested confidential supervisory information from anyone, and never used it for his or anyone's benefit. The Fed has the law wrong and the facts wrong," Ford said in a statement. Goldman said it was pleased to have resolved the matter, which centred on a former Goldman associate, Rohit Bansal, who admitted to illegally obtaining documents from a friend at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Goldman said it notified regulators. "We previously reviewed and strengthened our policies and procedures after Bansal was terminated. We have no tolerance for the improper handling of confidential supervisory information," the bank said in a statement. Bansal was fined but spared a prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to a misdemeanour charge of theft of government property. The Fed Board also ordered Goldman to implement an enhanced program to ensure the proper use of confidential supervisory information. (Reporting by David Ingram in New York; Additional reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Jonathan Oatis) (Recasts lead, adds background) NEW YORK, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Assets of U.S. money market funds that invest only in Treasury debt and other government-related debt surged in the latest week as fund companies have been converting some of their prime funds to government-only ones before new regulations that take effect in October, according to a private report released on Wednesday. U.S. government-only money fund assets rose by $42 billion in the week ended Aug. 2 to $1.564 trillion, the Money Fund Report said on Wednesday. This was the biggest weekly rise in government money fund assets since the week of June 28 when they saw $51.4 billion in inflows, it said. In contrast, prime money funds that could invest in riskier debt, including commercial paper and certificate of deposits issued by banks, lost about $27 billion in assets from a week earlier to $970 billion, according to the report, published by iMoneyNet. On Oct. 14, the Securities and Exchange Commission will require prime money funds used by institutional investors to float their per-share net asset value or impose redemption gates and liquidity fees on redemptions in times of market stress. Some prime funds have changed over to government-only funds which are exempt from these SEC rules. This move has reduced demand for bank CPs and CDs from money funds, analysts say, making it more expensive for banks to borrow in money markets. On Wednesday, the London interbank offered rate on three-month dollars, a benchmark for more than $300 trillion of financial products around the world, reached a fresh seven-year high at 0.77760 percent. Since October 2015, prime fund assets had fallen by about $500 billion with most of the money going into government-only money funds, according to UBS analysts. In the latest week, overall U.S. money market fund assets increased by $12.88 billion to $2.718 trillion. Taxable money market fund assets increased by $14.64 billion to $2.534 trillion, while tax-free assets decreased by $1.76 billion to $184.16 billion. The average seven-day simple yield on taxable money-market funds held at 0.11 percent, while the average 7-day simple yield on tax-free and municipal money-market funds rose to 0.08 percent from 0.07 percent the previous week. (Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) Aug 3 (Reuters) - Humana Inc's quarterly pretax income fell nearly 20 percent as the U.S. health insurer set aside more money to cover losses in its business that sells individual plans under the Affordable Care Act, known better as Obamacare. Humana said on Wednesday it had limited Obamacare memberships on public exchanges in four states, where it would discontinue coverage altogether next year. The company also said it intended to discontinue nearly all off-exchange individual commercial plans in 2017. Humana, whose acquisition by larger rival Aetna Inc has been challenged by U.S. antitrust authorities, said pretax income fell to $636 million, or $2.06 per share, in the second quarter ended June 30 from $793 million, or $2.85 per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 2 percent to $14.01 billion. (Reporting by Amrutha Penumudi in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirti Pandey) (Reuters) - An F/A-18-C Hornet fighter jet crashed on Tuesday near the Naval Air Station at Fallon, Nevada, after the pilot ejected safely from the aircraft, the U.S. Navy said. The pilot was recovered by emergency response personnel following the 10:50 a.m. crash and was taken to a medical facility for evaluation, according to a statement released by the Navy. There were no other injuries in the crash and no structures were damaged on the ground, the Navy said. The F/A-18C Hornet was on temporary assignment to Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Detachment Fallon, from Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 232 at the time of the incident. According to an earlier Navy statement, the pilot was returning to the base following a routine training flight at the time of the crash. The cause of the accident was under investigation. Naval Air Station Fallon is about 55 miles northeast of Carson City in western Nevada. A Marine pilot was killed last week when an F/A-18 crashed during a training mission near Twentynine Palms, California. (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati and Adrees Ali in Washington, D.C., and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Leslie Adler and Dan Grebler) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence on Wednesday said he endorsed U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is seeking re-election in a primary contest next week. Pence made the comments in an interview on Fox News, one day after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump declined to endorse Ryan in the Wisconsin race. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and Tim Ahmann; Editing by James Dalgleish) As Iran released four American hostages in January, some $400 million dollars were flown into Tehran, according to a report. A cargo plane loaded with Euros, Swiss Francs and other currencies made its way to Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing U.S. and European officials and congressional staff who were made aware of the operation after the fact. The money, the U.S. asserts, was not a ransom payment, but rather the first installment of some $1.7 billion the Obama administration has agreed to pay Iran to resolve a decades-old failed arms deal. With the nuclear deal done, prisoners released, the time was right to resolve this dispute as well, President Barack Obama announced at the White House on Jan. 17without acknowledging the $400 million cash settlement being flown to Iran. The four hostages, including journalist Jason Rezaian and former Marine Amir Hekmati, were released a day earlier in what was looked at as a diplomatic breakthrough. There is no link to the payment and the prisoner exchange, according to senior U.S. officials cited in the WSJ report, who say that the two arrangements coming together at the same time was a coincidence. As weve made clear, the negotiations over the settlement of an outstanding claim at the Hague Tribunal were completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home, State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. The funds that were transferred to Iran were related solely to the settlement of a longstanding claim at the U.S.-Iran Claims Tribunal at The Hague. Ubisoft Motion Pictures confirmed today that Jessica Chastain has joined the cast of The Division, based on the Tom Clancy video game. Jake Gyllenhaal is already attached, and the pairs production companies will co-develop the pic with Ubisoft. The Division, a third-person action role player game, sold more copies in its March launch in the first 24 hours than any game in Ubisoft history. Jessica McNamee (Sirens) has been tapped to join Warner Bros shark movie Meg, which Jon Turtletaub will helm. She joins Jason Statham and Fan Bingbing in the cast of the pic, which was given a March 2, 2018 release date. Its based on Steve Altens novel about a former Naval deep sea diver who joins Chinese scientists in an underwater observation program to face off against a living Megalodon an extinct species of shark believed to reach up to 60 feet in length. Variety had this story first today. ITN Distribution has acquired North American rights to Clowntown, the horror thriller directed by Tom Nagel and penned by Jeff Miller about a group of friends who become stranded in a seemingly abandoned town and are stalked by a gang of violent psychopaths dressed as clowns. It is loosely inspired by a true story. A September 30 theatrical release will be followed by a VOD and DVD bow October 4. Robert Kurtzman (From Dusk Till Dawn) co-produced and Archstone Distribution is handling foreign sales. Related stories Jessica Chastain Thriller 'Miss Sloane' To Debut During Awards Season Statham Vs Shark Pic 'Meg' To Hit Theaters March 2018 First Big Cannes Deal Near? STX In Exclusive Talks For 'Molly's Game' In $9 Million Buy * Trio of issuers offer first bank capital deals since late May * Better backdrop enables lenders to restart issuance By Alice Gledhill LONDON, Aug 2 (IFR) - UBS, BNP Paribas and Lloyds will reopen the European bank capital market after a two-month hiatus later on Wednesday, providing the first test of investor appetite for this type of debt since the UK's Brexit referendum. The Swiss and French banks have opened books on respective US dollar Additional Tier 1 and euro Tier 2 trades, the first bank capital deals in Reg S format since late May. In sterling, Lloyds is selling down a 385m TSB Tier 2 bond, 2016's first sterling bank capital trade. It has been a difficult year for subordinated bank debt after a massive sell-off in the first quarter derailed borrowers' capital raising plans. Additional Tier 1 issuance has been particularly challenging, with 2016's 5.5bn-equivalent supply in the euro and US dollar Reg S markets well under the half the amount raised by this point in 2015. But the backdrop has improved. Bank of America Merrill Lynch's CoCo index has widened to 5.93% in recent days, but is still inside the pre-referendum level of 6% and much tighter than the 6.4% it hit in the days after. "There is some merit in going ahead now. The rally may fade further, and there are a few upcoming data points to be cognisant of," said a banker away from the trade. "There has been a bit of profit taking and tidying of books before the holidays, but nothing is fundamentally different. This will be the litmus test for others to follow in August." European banks, which must raise billions of loss absorbing debt to meet new regulations, had been expected to take advantage of the better sentiment as they emerged from second quarter earnings. UBS started marketing its self-led US$1bn no-grow perp non-call five at guidance of 7.00%-7.25% in Asian hours. Books had reached over US$5bn by late in the European morning. Bankers said it makes sense to push ahead despite signs of weakness as bank stocks tanked in the wake of Europe's stress test results, with the dearth of supply in all asset classes proving supportive. Story continues The banker said Asia would be critical to the success of the deal, though UBS is also targeting European and US offshore investors. Asia bought 20% of a US$1.5bn 6.875% perp NC5 that UBS sold in March this year. That bond was yielding 6.8% on Tuesday, according to Eikon prices, though some bankers saw it tighter and pegged the new issue premium at up to 60bp. "It's wider than perhaps I thought, but it's the right ballpark and a sensible starting point," said another banker away. The bond, expected to be BB+/BB+/BBB- by S&P/Fitch/Scope, will be permanently written down if the bank's Common Equity Tier 1 ratio drops below 7%. TLAC MOUNTAIN BNPP started marketing a self-led 10.5-year Tier 2 euro benchmark (expected Baa2/BBB+/A/AH) at IPTs of mid-swaps plus 210bp area. The bank has the largest shortfall to meet its TLAC 2019 ratio requirement from a risk weighted asset perspective, at 44bn, according to ABN Amro analysts. It has been touted as a likely issuer of Additional Tier 1 capital in August, along with RBS and HSBC. Lloyds Bank is marketing a secondary placement of TSB Banking Group's 385m 5.75% 2026 Tier 2 bond callable in May 2021 at Gilts plus 525bp area. The Baa3 rated bonds were originally bought by Lloyds Banking Group. (Reporting by Alice Gledhill, editing by Helene Durand and Julian Baker) By Elias Biryabarema KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda's cabinet agreed on Wednesday to allow the energy ministry to grant three oil production licences to France's Total, the presidency said. Commercial crude reserves were discovered in the east African country a decade ago but production has been repeatedly delayed amid wrangling over taxation and field development strategy. The absence of key infrastructure, such as a crude export pipeline, has also slowed progress to production. According to a statement issued by the president's office, the cabinet approved a request from the minister of energy to allow the issue of three petroleum production licences to Total E&P. The licences cover the Ngiri, Jobi-Rii and Gunya fields in the Albertine rift basin, the area along the country's border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The licenses will be valid for 25 years and can be renewed for an additional 5 years, the presidency said in the statement. Total is the second oil firm to be offered a production license after one of its partners, China's CNOOC. Tullow Oil, which also co-owns fields with Total and CNOOC, has also applied for production licences and has been waiting for approval for years. In April, Uganda agreed with Tanzania to jointly develop a pipeline to the Indian Ocean port of Tanga to help export Uganda's crude reserves, which are estimated at 6.5 billion barrels. (Editing by Louise Heavens) Syria Aleppo siege: Fighting rages as Russian jets strike Intense fighting has continued around the Syrian city of Aleppo, where a rebel offensive is trying to break a government siege of rebel-held areas. Copious amounts of tobacco, cigarette-rolling papers, duct tape, cheap cellphones and a few drugs should sound alarm bells especially when theyre being carried around by an ex-con near a prisons barbed-wire perimeter. Officials at U.S. federal correctional institutions know to look up for over-the-fence drops and sometimes even contraband-filled care packages delivered by drone. But what theyve been failing to do is pat down prison staff, who can double or even triple their salaries by smuggling in controlled substances and goods. A recent Department of Justice report shines a bright light on the Federal Bureau of Prisons dark track record in controlling the smuggling of drugs, cellphones and weapons to Americas most notorious. The DOJ report scolded authorities for these unacceptable practices and demanded changes. The resulting crackdown, experts say, will make it even harder to smuggle contraband into prisons. So business-savvy prisoners, and those who help them, are looking at an already major industry in U.S. prisons thats set to explode even further. The main source of contraband introduced into the system is through employees. Contraband and the incarcerated have long gone hand in hand, from the smuggling of metal shards as tools of escape to modern treasures revolving around addiction and communication. A lack of data makes it hard to pin down exact figures, but researchers estimate that black markets account for nearly 23 percent of global GDP. And economist David Skarbek, who has studied shadow economies in correctional facilities, says smuggling behind bars is bigger business than ever. All prisoners have jobs on the inside, but they earn mere cents per hour. To be comfortable, you need about $40 a week, says M.B., a serial burglar on parole from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, who prefers not to use his real name. To earn that kind of money, convicts often rely on prisons thriving black markets, which have been aided by serious holes in security. The DOJs nine-month probe into contraband interdiction efforts found outmoded security cameras with blind spots known to inmates and staff and unmanned lobbies with poor physical controls. It also said no reported random pat searches occurred in 99.5 percent of shifts, meaning its been fairly easy for guards to smuggle goods to the prisoners. The Bureau of Prisons says it will develop and propose changes to the staff search policy before the end of September. Story continues Once new rules come into effect, federal inmates can expect to pay more for smuggled items, says former New York City corrections commissioner Martin Horn. After smoking was banned in New York City jails in 2003, he says, the cost of a single cigarette inside shot up from its street value to $20. Horns department began using the relative strength or weakness of the market for contraband smokes as an indication of how well they were keeping the goods out. The more successful we were, the higher the price, he says. But this profitability growth also breeds corruption, Horn says, making it worthwhile for prisoners to pay off prison staff to smuggle stuff in for them. The main source of contraband introduced into the system is through employees, says retired NYPD detective sergeant Chris Cincotta, a theory confirmed, at least anecdotally, by recent arrests. Corrupt guards can be paid cash by inmates contacts on the outside, or simply given prepaid, untraceable debit cards. Gettyimages 107520204 Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images While cigarettes are still big business, e-cigarettes are now gaining a foothold on the inside. The contraband being smuggled tends to change with the times. J.D., an ex-con released from Brooklyns Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) three years ago, says he paid as much as $25 for a cigarette on the inside, then doubled his money by reselling individual drags. And while cigarettes are still big business, e-cigarettes are now gaining a foothold on the inside. Marijuana is always popular among inmates, but now more synthetic drugs like K2 are increasingly in demand, and for a simple reason: They cant be picked up by traditional drug tests. Technology in prison advances as it does in the outside world, albeit at a far slower rate. Prison-restricted MP3 players can be purchased legally at the MDCs commissary, for example, for $88.40. Inmates can download 15 clean versions of songs per day from a curated catalog, with prices ranging from 80 cents to $1.55 per song unless, of course, they happen to know the enterprising Russian doing time for computer crimes, whom J.D. says managed to crack the players operating system, circumventing restrictions and undercutting prices by as much as 90 percent. And while contact with the outside world has traditionally involved closely monitored, costly calls from prison phones, illegal cellphones have become coveted items at all correctional institutions. Were constantly finding five, six, 10 cellphones in a couple hours on sweeps, says Joe Orlando, public information officer for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Contraband cellphones, which come in via drones, rectums and once even in a dead cat thrown over the fence, can cost up to $1,000 in prison. Could cracking down on such subversion be a bad thing? Although one might assume that black markets in prison would stoke mayhem, Skarbek once wrote that jailhouse rackets can also help maintain order. The violence associated with a Hobbesian jungle ignores the fact that self-interested people often have incentives to develop mechanisms to reduce conflict. But that argument is unlikely to hold water with authorities, who continue to classify more items as contraband each year. Its a world of enforced scarcity, Horn says. There have always been black markets in prison, but today its even worse because there are so many more things we prohibit. Related Articles Grabbing a pint at a Heathrow pub before spending six hours in a middle seat on a flight to the U.S. is a sacred rite for some air travelers, but British lawmakers may soon make that difficult by limiting the sale of alcohol in British airports. Newly-appointed British Aviation Minister Tariq Ahmad is considering cracking down on the sale of alcohol in the wake of several high profile incidents involving drunk passengers disrupting flights, including a woman who tried to open a door mid-flight and an airplane brawl by a drunken bachelor party that forced a plane to land. Ahmad is not trying to prevent people from drinking away their pre-flight jitters, but instead is hoping to address excessive alcohol consumption that leads to flight disruptions. The first step will be an investigation into where alcohol consumption gets most out of hand at the airports. Its important that passengers who board planes are also responsible and have a responsibility to other passengers, and that certainly should be the factor which we bear in mind, he said, according to The Guardian. If you are a young family travelling on a plane you want to go from point A to Byou dont want to be disrupted. The suggestion comes after the U.K. aviation industry released their first-ever guidelines for dealing with unruly fliers: the Code of Practice on Disruptive Passengers. The target of potential restrictions would be airport bars and restaurantsmany of which are open and serving alcohol 24-hours daythat serve obviously intoxicated travelers, as well as duty free shops where it is easy to purchase large quantities of alcohol that can then be consumed in the airport or on the flight. Ahmad also suggests training flight crew to screen drunk passengers, although that may not be all that easy, as one Guardian columnist noted: Im British. If theres one thing I am good at, its concealing that I am drunk when the occasion demands it. Ahmad is not the first person to try to quell alcohol consumption in airports. According to the Evening Standard, in 2015 both Manchester and Glasgow airports started testing selling Duty Free alcohol in sealed bags so passengers could not imbibe before getting on the plane. Related Articles London (AFP) - The European Union's response to the surge in migrant arrivals has been "lamentable", a committee of British lawmakers said Wednesday, slamming the bloc as unprepared to deal with the crisis. Some 1.3 million asylum-seekers, mostly from conflict-torn Syria and Iraq, have flooded into Europe since the start of 2015, stretching resources and aggravating popular resentment in some countries. The bloc has struggled to respond to the crisis -- the biggest movement of people to hit the continent since World War II -- which has threatened the collapse of the EU's cherished passport-free Schengen zone. Concerns about a surge in immigrants was a major factor in why the British public voted to leave the European Union in June. "Europe's efforts to address this colossal refugee crisis has been lamentable," said Keith Vaz, chair of the parliamentary Home Affairs Committee, which published the report. "The EU and its member states failed to anticipate the scale of migrant flows, and did not have the structures and mechanisms in place to cope. "As a result, the EU has been too slow to respond in a coordinated way," said the report, which was based on a year-long inquiry. The cross-party committee described a controversial deal with Turkey to send back Syrians who land on Greece's islands as a "meaningful response," but one that had come "far too late". So far this year more than 256,000 people have reached European shores, while more than 3,100 have been reported as dead or missing, according to the UN refugee agency. The Home Affairs Committee said individual countries such as Greece and Italy should not be left to cope alone, and called for a greater focus on stopping people-trafficking boats from Libya. Lawmakers also said Britain did not have full control of its shores, describing the number of Border Force vessels in operation as "worryingly low". Story continues France on Monday introduced sea patrols for passenger ferries to and from Britain, as part of increased security measures following a number of jihadist attacks in the country. The UK committee said the large number of unregistered migrants in Europe's border-free Schengen "exacerbates existing security threats", but urged London to uphold its commitment to refugees from Syria. Britain has said it will receive 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020, of more than 4 million who have fled the country's civil war. Milan (AFP) - UniCredit, Italy's largest bank, said Wednesday its second-quarter net profit soared 75 percent to 916 million euros ($1.0 billion) on increased revenues and cost-cutting measures. Meanwhile the bank, which has been offloading assets to strengthen its capital base, also announced it had sold its credit-card processing activities in Italy, Germany and Austria to the Sia group for 500 million euros. The second-quarter announcement beat the consensus of analysts surveyed by Factset Estimates, who had expected 714 million euros. "All divisions contribute positively to quarterly performance" and "asset quality continues to improve," said the bank. It said the level of net impaired loans had fallen by over a billion euros during the quarter to 36.7 billion euros, or 7.5 percent of the total. Like many of its Italian counterparts, UniCredit has seen its share price hammered, falling by over two-thirds since the beginning of the year. Investors are increasingly concerned about whether the 360 billion euros in bad loans in Italy will choke the nation's lenders and economy. They have also been worried UniCredit's asset disposals may not be enough to meeting rising regulatory requirements for capital, which would prompt the bank to issue new shares. The bank said its CET1 fully loaded capital ratio -- the benchmark followed by regulators for the amount of funds a bank has available to absorb losses -- slid to 10.33 percent at the end of June from 10.85 percent at the end of March. That figure does not include the sale to Sia, but does incorporate two recent sales of 10 percent stakes in its online bank FinecoBank and Polish unit Pekao. UniCredit was among the worst performers in European bank tests of the ability of lenders to withstand crisis. Its shares fell by 16 percent in the two days after the test results were released at the weekend. On Wednesday, its shares plunged by more than 10 cents after the results were announced, but later recovered to a drop of 1.5 percent at 1.82 euros. Aug 3 (Reuters) - Britain's RMT union said on Wednesday that industrial action over proposed cuts and changes to working conditions for maintenance workers on Shell's North Sea oil and gas platforms would go ahead on Thursday. "Following a continuing failure by the Wood Group to come up with any solutions in talks...the next phase of industrial action scheduled to start in the morning goes ahead," the RMT said in a statement on its website. Last month, around 400 Wood Group oil and gas maintenance workers protested against pay cuts and tougher working conditions. "Despite strenuous efforts by our negotiators in talks with the company we have so far been unable to make sufficient progress that addresses the concerns of the workforce," RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said. Wood Group said in a statement, that they were disappointed by the decision of the workers. Dave Stewart, CEO of Wood Group's eastern region business said, "We have urged the unions to show willingness to reengage with us with a clear objective of reaching a resolution that safeguards employment opportunities for our employees, both now and in the future". Shell said in a separate statement that it was also disappointed with the result and urged the unions and Wood Group to continue discussions. (Reporting by Parikshit Mishra; Editing by Alexander Smith) Top Saarc businessmen to get India Business Cards Prominent businessmen will get the card and it will contain a record of their travel history, according to regulations For Immediate Release Chicago, IL August 03, 2016 Zacks Equity Research highlights United Rentals, Inc. (URI) as the Bull of the Day and SKECHERS USA, Inc. (SKX) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on PCM Inc (PCMI), Gigamon Inc (GIMO) and TTM Technologies Inc (TTMI) . Here is a synopsis of all five stocks: Bull of the Day : United Rentals, Inc. (URI) is coming out of the slowdown due to the energy downturn. This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) is finally on the path to growing earnings again. United Rentals is the largest rental company in the world. It has 895 rental locations in 49 states and 10 Canadian provinces serving the construction, industrial, utilities, municipalities and homeowner customers. It rents out 3200 classes of equipment across all industries, at an original cost of $8.94 billion. Online Sales Come to United Rentals On July 26, United Rentals announced that its new online rental service, long in the planning stages, had actually launched. On the site, you can browse, price, reserve and schedule equipment from any internet-enabled device, including your phone. The new ordering service is available to all commercial and consumer renters. Is the Energy Sell Off Over? On July 20, United Rentals reported its second quarter results and beat the Zacks Consensus for the second straight quarter. Earnings were $2.06 compared to the consensus of $1.84, for a 22 cent beat. Rental revenue still decreased 1.6% year-over-year as the company is still dealing with the negative impacts of the energy downturn. But, there is hope on the horizon. In May and June, month-over-month sequential rates increased 50 and 60 basis points, respectively. This was the first increases in sequential rates in 16 months. United Rentals now doesn't see the 2016 rental rates as weak as it did before. It expects a smaller year-over-year decrease. Strong areas included Trench Safety and Power & HVAC, which, combined increased 15% year-over-year, primarily on a same store basis. Story continues Canada continues to be a challenge, especially in Alberta which is getting crushed due to the oil downturn. In the United States, most of the energy equipment has been moved and absorbed, but there was not yet an upturn in the energy market. But at least energy was no longer a drag on the business and that's a positive. Bear of the Day: SKECHERS USA, Inc. (SKX) has fallen to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) after its second quarter earnings miss. The analysts are bearish, and have been lowering estimates for 2016 and 2017. SKECHERS makes footwear for men, women and children. It sells in the United States and over 160 countries worldwide. It operates 1545 SKECHERS company-owned stores and also sells through department and specialty stores as well as on the Company's e-commerce website. An Earnings Miss in Q2 On July 21, Skechers reported second quarter results and missed on the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3 cents. Earnings were $0.48 versus the consensus of $0.51. However, net sales rose to $877.8 million from $800.5 million the year before. Gross profit also rose to 47.4% of net sales from 46.8% a year ago. The quarter was boosted by the international business, which accounted for 41.9% of total sales in the quarter. Sales in the domestic wholesale business were pulled forward from April into March which reduced shipments in April. That led to a sales decrease of 5.4% in the second quarter. The shifting between quarters still left the company with a 6-month increase in domestic sales of 3.2%. Emphasis on International International expansion continues unabated with new store openings. It opened 144 SKECHERS stores in the second quarter bringing the total to 1548 with 1144 of those outside the United States. It will be opening its first retail stores in Uruguay, Paraguay, Botswana and Sri Lanka before the year is out. Estimates Cut It wouldn't be unusual for analysts to adjust full year earnings after an earnings miss. But the analysts didn't just adjust for the 3 cent second quarter miss. The cuts were bigger. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2016 fell to $1.81 from $2.11 in the last 60 days, as 4 estimates were lowered. 2017 also saw cuts. The Zacks Consensus fell to $2.05 from $2.53. Additional content: 3 Tech Stocks Seeing 400% Earnings Growth This Year There are several growth-oriented investment prospects in the market, and it is not too surprising to see that many of these investment candidates are companies that operate in the ever-advancing technology sector. Indeed, technology has shaped our world into what it is today, and there is no question that it will continue to impact and change many facets of our lives going forward. Weve found some great Buy-ranked tech companies that have seen their share prices heading upwards in recent history. These investment candidates are expected to see incredible EPS (earnings per share) and sales growth this year, and they are also small-cap companies, so they could have the potential to grow their market caps significantly over the long run. PCM Inc-(PCMI) PCM Inc. engages in providing technology solutions to businesses, government and educational institutions, and individual consumers. The company recently posted its second quarter results for 2016, and the company has made great strides over the quarter. Compared to the same quarter last year, sales and gross profit grew by 21% and 34% respectively. The company has increased their full-year earnings outlook for two straight quarters in a row, and it now expects full year adjusted EPS to be between $1.51 and $1.64. PCM Inc. is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and it has a market cap of $209 million. PCMs earnings are projected to grow by a whopping 728.95% this year. Its sales are also forecasted to increase significantly, with projected revenues growth of 33.62% for fiscal 2016. On top of all this, PCMI stock looks cheap, as it trades at a forward PE of just 11.40. PCMI INC EPS Diluted (Quarterly) | PCMI INC Quote Gigamon Inc-(GIMO) Gigamon provides intelligent traffic visibility solutions for enterprises, data centers, and service providers. Their Unified Visibility Fabric delivers pervasive visibility of network traffic across communication networks. The fabric enables IT firms to forward traffic from network infrastructure to management, analysis, and compliance and security tools. The company recently topped sales expectations when it reported its second quarter results. Sales grew to $75.1 million, and this represents a year-over-year increase of 46%. GIMO is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and sales are projected to grow by 32.39% this year. The company is profitable, and it has a trailing twelve month net margin of 16.46%. Gigamons earnings are expected to grow significantly, with EPS forecasted to increase by 905.55% this year. Our current year EPS consensus for GIMO stands at $0.48 right now. GIGAMON INC Revenue (Quarterly) | GIGAMON INC Quote TTM Technologies Inc-(TTMI) TTM Technologies provides time-critical, one-stop manufacturing services for highly complex printed circuit boards. These boards are used in all kinds of devices, such as routers, switches, computer memory modules, and communications infrastructure equipment. The companys sales grew by 35% compared to the same quarter last year, and Q2 revenues totaled $601.8 million. TTM beat the EPS consensus estimate by 42% for the most recent quarter. Within the last seven days, our current quarter EPS has increased, going from $0.26 to $0.32. TTMI is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and it has a beta of 1.71. The company has seen its shares rally by over 22% since reporting its earnings results, but it is still trading at a low forward PE of 9.84. This year, sales and earnings are expected to grow by 18% and 417.86% respectively. Its worth noting that TTM Technologies scores an A in each of our Style Score Categories for Value, Growth, and Momentum. TTM TECHNOLOGIE Revenue (TTM) | TTM TECHNOLOGIE Quote The Zacks Rank is a truly marvelous trading tool. Our ranking system has beaten the S&P 500, yielding an average return of 25% per year for the last 29 years! Get todays Zacks #1 Stock of the Day with your free subscription to Profit from the Pros newsletter: About the Bull and Bear of the Day Every day, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research select two stocks that are likely to outperform (Bull) or underperform (Bear) the markets over the next 3-6 months. About the Analyst Blog Updated throughout every trading day, the Analyst Blog provides analysis from Zacks Equity Research about the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. About Zacks Equity Research Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Continuous analyst coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Click here to subscribe to this free newsletter today. About Zacks Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. 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Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer . Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report UTD RENTALS INC (URI): Free Stock Analysis Report SKECHERS USA-A (SKX): Free Stock Analysis Report PCMI INC (PCMI): Free Stock Analysis Report GIGAMON INC (GIMO): Free Stock Analysis Report TTM TECHNOLOGIE (TTMI): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Nestor Reverol, General Commander of the Venezuelan National Guard, attends the annual state of the nation address by President Nicolas Maduro at the National Assembly in Caracas January 15, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo The US government has named two high-level Venezuelan officials, both former members of that country's antidrug agency, as suspected drug traffickers in an indictment that was unsealed on Monday. The indictment, filed in January, charges Gen. Nestor Luis Reverol Torres, the former general director of Venezuelas National Antidrug Office (ONA) and former commander of Venezuelas national guard, and Gen. Edylberto Jose Molina Molina, the former sub-director of ONA and currently Venezuelas military attache to Germany, with taking part in an international cocaine-distribution conspiracy. According to court documents related to the case, from January 2008 to December 2010 both men, acting in their official ONA capacities, took payments from drug traffickers in return for helping move cocaine destined for the US. As part of their alleged arrangment, Reverol and Molina alerted traffickers about upcoming drug raids and the locations of counternarcotics activities. They also allegedly interfered in drug investigations in Venezuela on behalf of traffickers and arranged for people arrested on drug charges and money seized in narcotics investigations to be released. They are also accused of preventing arrests, deportations, and extraditions related to drug charges. Nicolas Maduro Venezuela military officials corruption While neither of the men have commented on the unsealed indictment, Reverol dismissed the suggestion he was involved in the drug trade in an interview in January. "How am I going to be a drug trafficker if I have 30 years fighting against drug trafficking and searching for capos?" he asked Runrun.es. "I sent 21 capos to the authorities of the United States." Story continues 'Global hub for cocaine trafficking' The indictments unsealed this week are the latest salvo in a US government investigation targeting high-level officials who are suspected of turning Venezuela "into a global hub for cocaine trafficking and money laundering," The Wall Street Journal reported last year. In 2013, two indictments were unsealed in New York, revealing charges against two officers in Venezuela's national guard accused of running an international drug-trafficking ring, making use of their access to military resources to move tons of cocaine from Colombia through Venezuela. The 2013 indictments, coupled with those unsealed against Reverol and Molina, underscore suspicions that Venezuela's armed forces are deeply involved in international drug trafficking and other criminal activities. Venezuela Maduro military politics As Colombian authorities, backed by the US, upped their campaign against traffickers in that country in the early 2000s, those smugglers and criminal organizations looked east to Venezuela. By 2002 or 2003, Venezuela became a major transshipment point for cocaine coming out of Colombia. According to Mike Vigil, a former chief of international operations for the US Drug Enforcement Administration, every year about 200 metric tons of cocaine travel through Venezuela on to points in the US and Europe. It's believed this trade has largely been facilitated by military and government officials with the means and opportunity to profit from drug smuggling. The groups believed to be involved in the trade have come to be called the Cartel of the Suns, though they operate more like cells in the different service branches, rather than a traditional hierarchical cartel. "I have seen a ton of creditable evidence that points in the direction of significant involvement of opportunity" by military forces in the drug trade in Venezuela, particularly those stationed along the Colombian border, Alejandro Velasco, a professor at New York University, told Business Insider last year. Colombia Venezuela deportations Reverol was in charge of the national guard in August last year, when President Maduro ordered the military to shut the border with Colombia, which remains closed today. As Venezuela's political and economic crises have deepened in recent years, the military which has many leaders who are closely tied to late President Hugo Chavez and to the current government has seen its role in national affairs, and thus its freedom to operate, expand. Because there's been this greater militarization of society in general, and because of the military's larger role in domestic policy, Velasco said, there have been "greater opportunities for corrupt elements within the military to cement their operations and their presence in the drug trade. "The military has a sort of comparative advantage, as it were, and of course they also enjoy a sort of a larger degree of impunity than they might otherwise, which makes it easier," Velasco added. A motorcycle rides past a mural depicting late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, near his mausoleum in Caracas March 5, 2015. REUTERS/Jorge Silva "The National Guard has been key to opening up the doors into Venezuela for Colombian drug-trafficking organizations and subversive groups," Vigil, the former DEA official, told Reuters in December. "They have transformed Venezuela into a massive pipeline for cocaine into the United States and Europe." As Venezuelas economy spirals out of control more individuals will turn to the drug trade and Colombian cartels and subversive groups will take advantage of the situation," Vigil told Business Insider after the indictments were announced this week. 'A perverse logic' Drug trafficking suspicions extend beyond the military, as many in high-level government officials and their relatives are believed to have gotten involved in trafficking and other illegal activities. Two nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested last year in Haiti on accusations of trying to smuggle about 1,700 pounds of cocaine to the US. Efrain Campo Flores, 29, and his cousin, Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas, 30, were arrested in Haiti in November last year, after they made contact with a DEA informant in Honduras in order to solicit help smuggling drugs to the US. Cilia Flores (C), deputy of Venezuela's United Socialist Party (PSUV) and wife of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, talks to the media after a failed session of the National Assembly for lack of quorum in Caracas, January 12, 2016. REUTERS/Marco Bello The nephews are just the tip of the iceberg, Bruce Bagley, an expert on South American drug trafficking at the University of Miami, told Univision. Corruption is rampant in power circles in Venezuela. This case suggests a culture that drug trafficking is routine and daily fare for someone with contacts in the presidential palace. Campo allegedly undertook trafficking operations because family members would not let him share in their access to state corruption, according to notes from a DEA agent included in court documents. While Campo and Flores are fighting the charges (their lawyers are trying to have purported confessions they made thrown out), their arrests seem to underscore the idea that there is a web of corruption and illicit activity spreading out from the highest levels of the Venezuelan government. According to The Wall Street Journal's report, US investigators have zeroed in on Diosdado Cabello, who is the former speaker of the Venezuela assembly, generally considered the No. 2 man in the government and believed to have power rivaling that of President Maduro himself. Cabello, who became close with former President Chavez while the two were in the country's military academy, has been minister of public works and housing (giving him oversight of the country's airports and ports) as well as vice president and interior minister. Other officials targeted by the US investigation include former director of military intelligence Hugo Carvajal (who was briefly detained in Aruba last year), former interior minister and current Aragua state Gov. Tarek El Aissami, Diosdado's brother and head of the country's industry ministry and tax-collection agency, Jose David Cabello, and the national-guard general in charge of the central part of the country, Luis Motta Dominguez. Venezuela cocaine seized But accusations against such high-level officials are unlikely to deter those who are engaging in criminal activity, especially considering the current political situation in Venezuela. President Maduro is increasingly embattled, and his government is currently trying to fend off a recall referendum that the opposition is pushing and which could force a new presidential election if done before January next year. The need to maintain political allies, as well as the importance of keeping the military on his side, means Maduro is unlikely to act on any extradition request made by the US. "As long as Maduro remains in power US indictments will not deter anyone because he protects officials involved in the drug trade," Vigil told Business Insider. "He will never extradite them to stand trial in the U.S. And, by unsealing the current indictments, the US government has effectively admitted it won't be able arrest Reverol or Molina, former prosecutors told The Journal. While Venezuela's deteriorating economic and political situation has done much to push Venezuelans with knowledge into the arms of US investigators, government and military officials who have been implicated are likely to move closer to Maduro. "There is also a perverse logic whereby anybody with an indictment or subject to sanctions suddenly has extremely high exit costs" if they were to start opposing the Maduro administration, David Smilde, senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America, told Business Insider. "This makes them extremely attractive to the Maduro government as core defenders." Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro Diosdado Cabello Not only has Maduro heaped praise on the military in the recent past, but he also quickly moved to bring Reverol into the fold after his indictment were announced. Reverol was named Venezuela's interior and justice minister on Tuesday night, putting him in charge of the country's police forces and aligning his fate with Maduro's. "I offer all my support" to Reverol, Maduro said during the announcement. "He has been attacked by the U.S. empire." "That is not simply an attempt to slap the US in the face, but rather a rational move for Maduro, since he knows Reverol will now fight to the end," Smilde told Business Insider. Maduro's embrace of Reverol may further divide the military's ranks between those aligned with armed forces as an institution and those heavily involved in illicit activity. It may even drive more defections from security forces, Brian Dean of ACG Analytics wrote in a note on Wednesday. NOW WATCH: Colombian authorities seized 3 tons of cocaine bound for the US hidden in a 'narco-submarine' More From Business Insider Nantes (France) (AFP) - American international midfielder Alejandro Bedoya will join Philadelphia Union in the MLS after leaving Nantes, the French club announced on Wednesday. "Alejandro Bedoya won't be wearing Nantes colours this season. After three years... the US international has chosen to take a new direction in his career," read a statement on the Ligue 1 side's website. Bedoya, 29, arrived in France from Swedish outfit Helsingborgs in 2013 and scored 11 goals in 87 league appearances for Nantes. (Photo: Associated Press) US President Barack Obama welcomed Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to the US at an arrival ceremony on 2 August at the White House. But the US Presidents address during the red-carpet greeting was not without a small gaffe. According to the Washington Times, the US President mispronounced the name of Singapores founding father Lee Kuan Yew. Describing Singapores progress, Obama said, In less than a generation, under the vision and stewardship of Prime Minister Lee Kew, er, Wan, er, Lee, Lee Kuan Yew, Singaporeans transformed their nation from third world to first. The US president chuckled at his mistake, while Lee briefly glanced away. Before that, the US President managed to make Lee laugh when he described the APEC Summit tradition as dressing in shirts that are somewhat colourful, a tradition we will reserve only for those summits that we are not duplicating today. You can watch the moment below: Barack Obama Washington secretly airlifted $400 million to Tehran amid a prisoner swap in January in which seven Iranians detained in the US were exchanged for Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and three other Iranian-American prisoners, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Administration officials denied that the $400 million cash transfer was tantamount to critics' assertion of a ransom payment, insisting that the funds were part of a $1.7 billion financial settlement the US had reached with Iran as part of the nuclear deal. "As we've made clear, the negotiations over the settlement of an outstanding claim were completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home," State Department spokesman John Kirby told The Journal. "Not only were the two negotiations separate they were conducted by different teams on each side, including, in the case of the Hague claims, by technical experts involved in these negotiations for many years," he added. But the fact that President Barack Obama failed to disclose the transfer of foreign hard currency to Iran via an unmarked cargo plane has once again raised questions about the administration's transparency in its dealings with Iran. "We were right in January 2016 to describe the administration's $1.7 billion transfer to Iran as a ransom payment," US Sen. Mark Kirk, a Republican from Illinois, said in a statement on Wednesday. He continued: "Paying ransom to kidnappers puts Americans even more at risk. While Americans were relieved by Iran's overdue release of illegally imprisoned American hostages, the White House's policy of appeasement has led Iran to illegally seize more American hostages, including Siamak Namazi, his father Baquer Namazi, and Reza Shahini." Amir Toumaj, an Iran expert at the Washington, DC-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted in an email that neither the prisoner swap nor the payments seem to have deterred Iran from detaining Americans. Story continues "Instead of holding the regime and IRGC accountable for their actions, they have been rewarded," Toumaj told BI. "The Guard has arrested six dual nationals since January, and dozens of unlucky Iranians who do not have Western passports." United States Secretary of State John Kerry (L) meets with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, at the United Nations in New York, September 26, 2015. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith The prisoner swap itself fueled skepticism about the extent to which the US may have appeased Iran in the name of finalizing the landmark nuclear deal. The exchange was later revealed to have been a year in the making, despite claims by administration officials that the subject of a prisoner release was never broached during nuclear-related negotiations. The swap was also finalized on the same day the nuclear deal was implemented and the nuclear-related sanctions on Iran were lifted a "coincidence," as officials characterized it, that left some experts wondering whether the exchange was aimed at bolstering overall support for the deal inside Iran. "The administration announced the transfer of the $1.7 billion, of which the $400 million is the first installment, in January," Toumaj said. "Still, the timing of this first installment is suspicious," he added. "And its difficult to imagine that the prisoner swap and money transfer were not part of a quid pro quo arrangement." The negotiations leading up the exchange were apparently kept so far under wraps that even some Washington officials and insiders were not aware they were happening. The secrecy surrounding the issue fueled one of the biggest criticisms of the Iran deal namely, that it did not force Iran to release its American prisoners even as Tehran was due to receive sanctions relief. Jason Rezaian Chase Foster, a State Department official who leaked details of the prisoner-swap talks to The Huffington Post, apparently quit his job out of frustration that a release was not secured by the US as part of the broader nuclear deal. Michael Pregent, an adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute and a former Defense Department adviser on Iraqi security forces, told Business Insider at the time of the exchange that "for the White House to say they were negotiating for the release of illegally detained Americans would have been embarrassing after the Bergdahl fiasco." He was referring to the US's exchange of five Taliban prisoners for Bowe Bergdahl, a soldier who was held captive by the Taliban after he walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009. Now the report that the US handed $400 million in cash over to Iranian officials at the same time as the American prisoners were released apparently because of demands from Tehran for cash "to show they had gained something tangible" is likely to fuel suspicions that the American prisoners were used as bargaining chips, even though they were illegally detained in the first place. "There are arguments by some analysts that downplay the transfer as a ransom payment because this was money owed to Iran in principle and interest," Toumaj, of the FDD, said. "But we wouldnt be having this discussion if the Islamic Republic were a government that abided by international norms and did not arbitrarily hold hostages as bargaining chips." Christophe Deloire, the secretary-general of Reporters Without Borders, expressed similar concerns in a statement released immediately following the swap. "We are thrilled to see [Washington Post reporter] Jason Rezaian finally free, but he should have never been imprisoned in the first place," Deloire said. "Jason was innocent. It is outrageous that he has been used as a bargaining chip." NOW WATCH: Watch Trump relentlessly slam Hillary Clinton in his big RNC speech More From Business Insider USA Network announced on Wednesday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour that the Inception-y drama Falling Water as well as the crime thriller Eyewitness will debut in October. RELATED USA Network Renews Suits for Season 7 Premiering Thursday, Oct. 13 at 10/9c and starring Lizzie Brochere (The Strain), David Ajala (Fast & Furious 6) and Will Yun Lee (Hawaii Five-0), Falling Water tells the story of three unrelated people who slowly realize that they are dreaming separate parts of a single common dream. And the deeper they dig, the more they come to realize that the visions found in their common dream just might hold the key to the fate of the world. RELATED Shooter Update: USA Network Delays Sniper Dramas Launch (Again) Eyewitness, meanwhile, premieres Sunday, Oct. 16 at 10 pm and delves into the lives of two teen boys after they secretly meet up in a cabin, bear witness to a shooting and barely escape with their lives. Desperate to keep their relationship a secret and in fear of being found by the perpetrator, they remain silent but soon learn that what has been seen cannot be unseen. Adapted from the Norwegian drama yevitne, the series stars Julianne Nicholson (Masters of Sex), Gil Bellows (11.22.63), Tyler Young (The Avatars) and James Paxton (Texas Rising). USA Network recently shelved its Ryan Phillippe-starring sniper drama Shooter until fall, after preempting its mid-July premiere in the wake of multiple real-life gun-related tragedies. Related stories Mr. Robot Trio Weigh In on 'Spectacular' Alliance and That Harrowing [Spoiler] Suits Renewed for Season 7 Suits Stars Preview Louis' New Love: Has the Lawyer Met His Perfect Match? Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela's opposition steeled itself for a new battle in its campaign to remove President Nicolas Maduro in a referendum, vowing nationwide rallies to pressure the crisis-hit government. Seventeen years after his late mentor Hugo Chavez launched Venezuela on the path of socialist "revolution," Maduro is clinging to the helm of a country in deep crisis. The once-booming country, home to the world's largest oil reserves, is gripped by severe shortages of food, medicine and basic goods that have triggered violence and looting. The opposition, which blames Maduro for the mounting chaos, wants to get rid of him with a recall referendum. It won a key battle Monday when the National Electoral Council (CNE) announced it had collected nearly double the 200,000 signatures required to start the process. But it appears the war has just begun. Maduro's camp has vowed to fight tooth and nail. Complicating matters, the opposition says he controls both the electoral council and Supreme Court. The president's opponents face a long, complicated struggle. To trigger a recall vote, they must now gather four million signatures in just three days at a time yet to be decided. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles called two days of nationwide rallies for Wednesday and Thursday to start mobilizing support. Other opposition leaders camped out early Tuesday at the electoral council's headquarters, awaiting the official certificate declaring they had gathered the necessary signatures to complete the first phase. After receiving it, they flashed it before television cameras. They said they would immediately file their formal request for a recall vote. The council has 15 days to respond. "We're just one step away from the day when our people will exercise their constitutional right and enable us to resolve this crisis," said Juan Carlos Caldera of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), the broad opposition coalition behind the referendum drive. Story continues The opposition is racing to force a referendum by January 10, four years into the president's six-year term. Any time after that, a successful recall vote would simply transfer power to Maduro's hand-picked vice-president rather than trigger new elections. - 'Can't get rid of me' - Political analysts say the opposition faces an uphill battle. "The next step will be as long and hard as the first," said Luis Vicente Leon, head of the polling firm Datanalisis. "The CNE's potential game isn't to avoid a recall referendum, just delay it. And that game's not over." Maduro took to national TV Monday evening vowing new "victories" and "more socialism" in 2016. "The right can't get rid of me," he said, calling the recall drive against him a "failed process" marred by alleged fraud. He also named as the new interior minister a military general indicted on drug-related charges in the United States this week. Maduro's opponents are hoping pressure from Venezuelans desperate over the collapsing economy will force the government's hand. But the fragmented opposition has struggled to convene mass protests. Venezuelans are too busy standing in line for scarce food and basic goods. Many also fear violence or a government crackdown. Maduro has declared a state of emergency and given his military sweeping powers over food production and distribution. In a first step toward a referendum, the opposition submitted 1.8 million signatures in May. Signatories then had to show up at electoral offices to confirm their identity with fingerprint scans, braving long lines and sweltering heat. Once the second petition drive is complete, the council will have 15 business days to validate the signatures. If there are enough, it is supposed to organize a referendum within three months. To win, Maduro's opponents would need more votes than the number with which he won the presidency in 2013 -- around 7.5 million. A recent poll found 64 percent of Venezuelans would vote to remove Maduro. However, his allies have an arsenal of possible delaying strategies. They have filed thousands of legal challenges to the recall petition and called for MUD to be banned for alleged fraud. The electoral council's chief, Tibisay Lucena, said Monday the authorities had detected more than 1,000 apparently fraudulent signatures, saying the cases would be referred to prosecutors. US election 2016: Republican divisions grow over Trump Fresh divisions are emerging within the US Republican Party over its presidential candidate Donald Trump. Virgin America Inc. VA is set to report second-quarter 2016 earnings on Aug 5, before market opens. In the first quarter of 2016, the company had reported better-than-expected earnings per share. Results were aided by low fuel costs. Things do not appear to be so rosy this time around as our quantitative model doesnt hint at an earnings beat. Heres why: Virgin America doesnt have the right combination of the two key ingredients positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better for increasing the odds of an earnings beat. Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP for Virgin America is +5.98%. This is because the Most Accurate estimate of $1.24 is 7 cents ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Zacks Rank: Virgin America carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Please note that we caution against Sell-rated stocks going into the earnings announcement. Looking at the fundamentals, here are the factors that should be at play: More than the earnings numbers, investors await updates on the impending acquisition of Virgin America by Alaska Air Group ALK. The deal, worth approximately $4 billion inclusive of debt and capitalized aircraft operating leases, was inked in Apr 2016. Also, it was recently approved by the shareholders of Virgin America and is expected to close by the end of this year. Apart from updates on the merger, focus will remain on operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM a key measure of unit revenue) as Virgin America, like most other carriers such as Delta Air Lines DAL, is struggling with respect to unit revenues. VIRGIN AMERICA Price and EPS Surprise VIRGIN AMERICA Price and EPS Surprise | VIRGIN AMERICA Quote Stock to Consider With Virgin America likely to disappoint, we present below a transportation stock likely to beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate this earnings season, as per our quantitative model. Story continues LATAM Airlines Group S.A. LFL has an Earnings ESP of over +100% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is expected to report second-quarter results on Aug 11. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report LATAM AIRLINES (LFL): Free Stock Analysis Report DELTA AIR LINES (DAL): Free Stock Analysis Report ALASKA AIR GRP (ALK): Free Stock Analysis Report VIRGIN AMERICA (VA): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research From Road & Track After being caught selling nearly 500,000 cars with emissions-cheating diesel engines in the U.S., Volkswagen is scrambling to fulfill its regulatory obligations. Alongside its $14.7 billion settlement, which includes $10 billion earmarked to buy back affected U.S. cars, the automaker is hard at work developing a fix to make the cars emissions-compliant. Or at least, it's attempting to make them compliant. VW is working with the California Air Resource Board to test a possible fix for its cheating 2.0-liter TDI engine, according to a Reuters report. The automaker hopes to improve the affected vehicles' emissions to within 80 to 90 percent of the legal requirement. VW's settlement requires the automaker to offer to buy back all affected customers' vehicles, but an approved fix would give those customers the opportunity to keep their cars. "They brought in a whole new team of people to work on various aspects of this," CARB chair Mary Nichols told Reuters. "There's just a greater sense that we're dealing with people who have access to the decision makers in Germany, and who understand their credibility is on the line." U.S. regulators cut VW a little slack in allowing the automaker to offer a partial fix, rather than aiming to make the affected TDI vehicles fully compliant with emissions law-which some say would be impossible. As part of its U.S. settlement, VW will invest in various clean energy initiatives as a way to offset the excess emissions its cars produced. VW still hasn't made any progress on its cheating 3.0-liter V6 diesels, a fix for which was recently rejected by CARB. via Autoblog The Walking Deads David Morrissey and True Detectives Kelly Reilly are going to war in Amazons forthcoming drama Britannia. RELATEDThe Tick Pilot: Amazon Releases New Photos From Absurd Reimagining The new series, which takes place in the year 43 A.D., will follow Kerra (Reilly) and Antedia (Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stones Zoe Wanamaker), arch-rivals in a land ruled by warrior women and powerful Druids capable of channeling the underworld. When Aulus Plautius (Morrisey) leads the Roman Imperial Army in an invasion of Britannia, they are forced to set aside their differences and work together to stop him. Stanley Weber (Outlander) and Hugo Speer (The Musketeers) co-star. RELATED Matt Bomers The Last Tycoon Gets Series Order at Amazon Jez Butterworth (Spectre) will pen Britannia, which is set to shoot on location in Prague and Wales and debut in 2017. The news was first reported by Deadline. Will you be bingeing on Britannia next year? Intrigued by its casting? Sound off below. Related stories The Tick Pilot: Amazon Releases New Photos From 'Absurd' Reimagining Matt Bomer's The Last Tycoon Gets Series Order at Amazon Man in the High Castle @ Comic-Con: 'Chameleon' Juliana, Tagomi's Vision and a New 'Sassy, Flirty Nazi' The list of Republican names jumping off the Trump train and publicly endorsing Hillary Clinton is growing. And now, you can add one more to that: Wall Street. Back in May, I surveyed more than 50 financial professionals across the board. And the overwhelming majority said they were secretly planning on voting for Trump come Election Day. But that was two months ago and now the tides have turned. With the last piece of convention confetti dropped and all of the red and blue balloons popped, I decided to check back in with the financial folks a few days ago. And now, Wall Street is leaning toward Hillary Clinton. I would say roughly 60 percent of the people I spoke to in my (highly unscientific) poll said if the election were held today, they'd vote for Clinton. It's widely known that Clinton has taken a ton of money from the Street but she has recently joined Donald Trump in talking tough against the industry. She is making income inequality and financial regulation part of her campaign narrative. She has vowed to re-regulate the financial industry and go after the trillion-dollar derivatives industry to protect taxpayers. But most Wall Streeters see that as an effort to placate the Democratic base and reel in Bernie Sanders votes. "They both have to talk against the industry," said Bill, a hedge-fund portfolio manager. "Otherwise, they'll lose votes." For sure, Wall Streeters think both Trump and Clinton are dishonest in some ways. But it's not about honesty for them. It's about the risk factor. And Trump is a gigantic risk. "I don't like her," Michael, a hedge-fund trader said. "But she's a known quantity and being a New York senator, she's industry friendly. And that's why I've changed my mind on voting for Trump." "I was going to vote for Trump, but she's the safe pick." said John, a program trader. "With Trump, there's too much uncertainty. It's not good for the markets." Story continues On Wall Street, there's something known as "headline risk." It's basically the possibility that a news story will unfavorably affect a stock's price or the entire market in general. And most of the people I spoke with who are still considering a Trump vote voiced this as their biggest concern. "Trump is a loose cannon," said Nancy, a sell-side trader. "He's not particularly talented or smart. And he's full of sh--. I think his policies are anti-growth and if he wins there's a much higher chance of black swan events." (Those are events that occur beyond normal expectations a phrase popularized by risk expert Nassim Taleb in his book, "The Black Swan.") But there are still some on the Street who plan on voting for Donald Trump. One of the more influential industry professionals beating the Trump drum is Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge Capital. He believes Trump will be good for the economy because he'll cut back on business-limiting regulations and bring in tax reform. Trump also has the backing of hedge-fund titan John Paulson and billionaire investor Carl Icahn . Despite their best efforts, the possibility of a Trump win isn't priced into the market. "Donald Trump can't move the markets," Bill said. "He can say anything and the market doesn't believe him. But Clinton needs to be much more careful with her words. She can move markets." If investors believed that Trump was going to be victorious, then you'd see an asset allocation out of U.S. businesses that produce their goods overseas and into the companies that deal solely with domestic customers and suppliers. You would also expect a sharp selloff of the Mexican stock market. And as of yet, nobody is placing their Trump casino chips down on the election roulette table. The consensus? Stocks don't lie politicians do. Commentary by Turney Duff, a former trader at the hedge fund Galleon Group. Duff chronicled the spectacular rise and fall of his career on Wall Street in the book, "The Buy Side." He is a commentator on CNBC's "Filthy Rich Guide" and a consultant on the Showtime show, "Billions," starring Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti. Follow him on Twitter @turneyduff. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCOpinion on Twitter. More From CNBC (ALEXANDRIA, Va.) Prosecutors on Wednesday brought the first-ever terrorism charges against a law enforcement officer in the U.S., alleging that a patrol officer with the D.C. regions Metro Transit Police was caught buying $250 worth of cards for ISIS. Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, was arrested Wednesday morning at Metros headquarters in Washington. He is charged with a single count of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist group, and is scheduled for an initial appearance Wednesday afternoon at U.S. District Court in Alexandria. According to an FBI affidavit, Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards last month that he intended for ISIS to use to purchase mobile apps that would facilitate communication. But Young actually gave the gift cards to an undercover FBI source. Documents show Young has been under surveillance since 2010, and that he traveled to Libya twice in 2011, where he said he joined rebel forces seeking to oust dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Joshua Stueve, spokesman for the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said Young posed no threat to the Metro system. Court documents show Young directed his efforts at seeking to help ISIS overseas. FBI spokesman Andrew Ames confirmed that Young is the first law enforcement officer to be charged under the federal governments terrorism law. Prosecutors said it was Metro Transit Police that initiated the investigation, and then worked cooperatively with the FBI. Obviously, the allegations in this case are profoundly disturbing. Theyre disturbing to me, and theyre disturbing to everyone who wears the uniform, Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said in a statement. Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said Young has been fired. The documents show Young was an associate of two other persons who were charged with terror-related crimes. In 2010, law enforcement interviewed Young because of his links to Zachary Chesser, who eventually pleaded guilty to trying to join the militant group al-Shabab and to issuing threats to the makers of the South Park cartoon series after they penned an episode he found insulting to Islam. Story continues Young also met regularly with Amine El Khalifi, who pleaded guilty in a sting operation in which he planned to attempt a suicide bombing at the U.S. Capitol in 2012. In 2014, Young met about 20 times with an FBI informant, and Young gave the source advice on how to avoid detection as he purportedly planned to travel overseas to join ISIS. Young frequently advised to source to watch out for informants. While Youngs arrest is a first for a U.S. law enforcement officer, he is one of more than a half-dozen individuals from northern Virginia alone who have been charged with terror-related crimes, mostly in government sting operations. The FBI says it has ongoing investigations in all 50 states. The Hague (AFP) - The world's chemical weapons watchdog Wednesday voiced concern over reports of a chlorine gas attack near the battleground Syrian city of Aleppo. Some 24 people reportedly suffered breathing difficulties in Saraqeb, a town 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Aleppo, after a barrel bomb attack on Tuesday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Residents said chlorine gas had been used in the attack, but the Britain-based Observatory could not confirm this. "These reports are of great concern," Ahmet Uzumcu, the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said in a statement. The UN-backed group based in The Hague "continues to examine any credible reports" of chemical weapons use, he added. The incident took place close to where Russia said on Monday one of its military helicopters was shot down, killing the five people on board. Uzumcu added that under international conventions the use of chemical weapons "by anyone under any circumstances" is seen "as reprehensible and wholly contrary to the legal norms established by the international community". Syria's conflict has killed more than 280,000 people and drawn in world powers since it erupted in March 2011, as protests calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad's regime escalated into all-out civil war. In January, the OPCW announced all Syria's declared chemical arms stockpile had been completely destroyed. But concerns remain that undeclared amounts of sarin gas and other chemical weapons have still been used in the conflict. A joint investigation set up by the UN probing nine chemical weapons attacks in Syria in 2014 and 2015 is due to report its findings this month. Weird Al Yankovic, the undisputed king of song parodies who has been spoofing radio hits since he was a teenager, usually has artists tell him they're honored by his renditions. " Lady Gaga called it a 'rite of passage,'" Yankovic tells PEOPLE. " Kurt Cobain said you haven't really made it until there's a Weird Al spoof." But not all musicians have been on board with the jokes. The one who consistently said no, time and time again? Prince. "It's too bad," says Yankovic. "I hadn't approached him in about 20 years because he always said no, but I had this fantasy that he'd come out with a new song, I'd have a great idea, he'd finally say yes and it would erase decades of weirdness between us. But that's obviously not going to be the case." Yankovic, who got the blessing of every other artist he's ever parodied, from Michael Jackson ("He had a great sense of humor about it!") to Kurt Cobain ("He asked if it was going to be a song about food") says he approached the Purple One many times over the years, but always got a no. "I had a parody of 'Let's Go Crazy' that was about The Beverly Hillbillies," he says. "And I wanted to do something funny with 'When Doves Cry,' and 'Kiss.' For '1999,' I wanted to do an infomercial where you could get anything you wanted by dialing 1-800-something-1999." But despite the setback with Prince, Yankovic has had an astounding career that began 40 years ago, with his first spoof making its way to radio in 1976. "I've been coming up with parodies since I was a kid," he says of how he fell into the career. "I would just change the lyrics to songs to amuse my friends, and it's a phase I never grew out of!" A cover of The Knack's "My Sharona," which he turned into "My Bologna," earned Yankovic a record deal in the early '80s, and his version of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" ("Another One Rides the Bus") brought him even more fame but it wasn't until 1984's "Eat It," a spoof of MJ's "Beat It," hit the charts that he knew he'd made it big. "It was No. 1 in Australia," he says. "The actual 'Beat It' only went to No. 3 there!" For more on Weird Al, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now. Story continues Weird Al Yankovic Reveals the One Musician Who Always Said No Prince| Prince, Weird Al Yankovic He also credits MTV for the song's success. "Michael Jackson wasn't just cool about my parody of 'Beat It,' but he also loved my version of 'Bad,' which was 'Fat.' He even let me use the actual 'Bad' subway set for the 'Fat' video. He was very supportive, which was huge with opening the doors with other artists. Because if Michael Jackson signed on, you couldn't really say no." RELATED VIDEO: Weird Al' Yankovic Puts His Spin on Some Iconic People Covers Now touring the world for his Mandatory Fun album, playing the newer hits like "White and Nerdy" and "Tacky", Yankovic says an entirely new crop of kids are discovering him through YouTube. "They talk to their parents, like 'Hey mom, have you heard of this Weird Al guy? And they roll their eyes, like, 'Yeah yeah, we've heard of him!'" Donald Trumps conquest of the Republican party has sparked panic about what would happen to America if he wins the general election. These concerns change daily as Trump spouts an increasingly erratic and dangerous array of policy prescriptions. Will he pull the U.S. out of NATO and sanction a Russian-led invasion of Eastern Europe? Will he round up Muslims? Will he deport Mexicans? Will he tweet classified information? Will he paint the White House gold and build monuments of himself on the National Mall? But there is another troubling question that is less frequently asked, though it concerns the most likely outcome in November: What if Trump loses? For over a year, pundits especially Republicans who have a stake in legitimizing their partys abject surrender have been claiming that Trump will eventually pivot from his extremist positions. They said this before the primaries, they said it after the primaries, and they said it even after the GOP convention, when, as on other occasions, Trump was deemed presidential for his ability to read a script off a teleprompter. But his moment of relative composure was short-lived. Trump has spent the last week encouraging Russia to hack Hillary Clintons emails and attacking the family of a deceased Muslim war veteran just two examples of gaffes that, in a regular election, would destroy a candidacy. But this is not a regular election, and Trump is never going to pivot. What Trump is doing and has been doing all along is pivoting Americans toward his bigoted and paranoid worldview. He has made extremism mainstream to the point that David Duke now feels comfortable running for Senate. With his encouragement, his supporters have attacked non-white and non-Christian Americans. And, in its desperation for ratings, the financially struggling U.S. media has been key to normalizing Trump, giving him more airtime than any other candidate and often failing to challenge him on his lies and his bigotry. But Trump is not just a media creation. He has stoked bigotry and fury over the state of the economy abetted by the media but these problems existed long before his campaign. After all, the middle class has been declining since the mid-1970s, when wages began to plummet and manufacturing jobs disappeared. And if Trump loses, these problems now hitched to a virulent strain of nativist politics will remain. What will America look like under the presidency of Hillary Clinton? It will look a lot like the America we have right now: suffering, anxious, and violent. To describe the country as merely divided is, unfortunately, too optimistic. This election has exposed deep rifts within both the Democratic and the Republican parties and highlighted the prevalence of radical views on both the right and left that range from neo-Nazism to anarchism. Social media has spread conspiracy theories and hate speech, helping shift the fringe to the center, while Trumps new role as GOP standard-bearer has confused what it means to be mainstream. We do not know who we are, as a country, anymore. The center cannot hold when no one can find it. Wary of Trumps rise and the violence that has surrounded his campaign, the Democrats are doing their best to rebuild this center. The big tent approach of the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Convention which featured passionate speakers representing a vast array of ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, professions, and ideologies showcased an America that is diverse, but united in its patriotism and desire to improve the public good. It is a message that will need to be put into practice should Clinton win precisely because Trumps candidacy threatens to leave behind three particularly toxic legacies. First is the continued rise of right-wing extremism and militia groups. On June 26, five people were stabbed in a face-off in Sacramento between neo-Nazi white supremacists and anti-racist activists, some of whom were self-proclaimed anarchists clad in black. You may have forgotten this event a story that would have once dominated headlines given the weeks of violence that followed: the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, the killings of police in Baton Rouge and Dallas, and a series of terror attacks abroad, not to mention the Orlando massacre two weeks before. In a post-Trump America, five people stabbed at a White Power rally is an afterthought. But the rise of hate groups is part of a long-brewing trend. Since Obama took office, the number of militia and white supremacist patriot groups has soared from 150 in 2008 to 1400 in 2012. We do not know how many new hate groups have emerged since Trump launched his campaign, but we know that he has attracted and emboldened them. If Trump loses, neither he nor his followers will take it well. Some pundits wonder whether Trump will even concede. On August 1, Trump declared that the election will be rigged: a preemptive move to delegitimize a possible loss as his poll numbers fall. The next day, Trumps advisor, Roger Stone, proclaimed there will be a bloodbath if the election is stolen. When I interviewed Trumps supporters in March, several told me they would form militias if he did not get the nomination, and other reporters have heard the same. Trumps loss could be the cause that unites disparate hate groups across the country, potentially leading to standoffs against the government like that of the Bundys in Oregon, or to violent clashes like the neo-Nazi rally in Sacramento. The second major challenge is that, thanks to Trump, economic discontent has become linked to white populism. In an attempt to diagnose the Trump phenomenon, D.C. wonks have written profiles of imaginary Trump fans, as if his fan base were a monolith. In fact, the Americans voting for Trump are as diverse in their reasoning open bigotry, economic agony, hatred of Clinton, vague longing for change as the supporters of any other candidate. Where they are not diverse is race: Trumps fan base is almost uniformly white. It includes the militia and hate organizations described above. But many Trump fans are simply down-and-out white male workers. This factions primary concerns are jobs, trade, and a feeling that the government has abandoned them while crowing about misleading statistics of low unemployment. The problem is that, while not always openly racist, these voters implicitly condone racism through their support for Trump, contributing to the mainstreaming of white supremacy. The appeal of Trumps racialist version of the economic discontent argument is so great that it has extended to surprising audiences. A small but vocal contingent of the Bernie Sanders fan base seems to have migrated to the Trump camp. Ideologically, this switch makes no sense, but given the precedent set in the primaries, it is not surprising. The Democratic primaries were the most racially divided in U.S. history states with black or Latino populations of over 10 percent almost always went to Clinton. As white men with disparate ideological perspectives unite under the Trump banner, many of them have come to espouse or condone his racist views, tainting their legitimate economic grievances with an ugly nativist edge. Meanwhile, Americas much-vaunted economic recovery is still failing to create enough well-paying jobs. As a result, white populism is set not only to keep growing, but to become further incorporated into mainstream American politics. The third major challenge is the continued decline of the media. As a major contributor to the rise of Trump, the mainstream media should not be dismissed (though it may be despised). That said, you dont know what youve got until its gone. Since January, a large number of outlets have shuttered or laid off staff: Al Jazeera America, Mashable, HuffPost Live, Yahoo News, the Guardian, the New York Times, and so on. The media industrys anxiety over its long decline is why it promoted Trump in the first place. Network heads like Les Moonves have bragged that Trumps campaign may not be good for America, but its damn good for CBS. This sentiment shared by other networks, including CNN, which hired Trumps campaign manager Corey Lewandowski (who once assaulted a female reporter) as a paid commentator. When the Trump train grinds to a halt, mainstream outlets will see more lost funding and more layoffs, leading to poor coverage of the new administration and an even more fractured political discourse. The media has learned that the exploitation of violence, riots, and bigotry brings clicks and cash. This is not a new lesson as the old saying goes, if it bleeds, it leads but the 2016 campaign has shown the mainstreaming of extremism to be uniquely lucrative. As the two disaffected white fan bases described above lash out at Clinton, her supporters, and non-white citizens, we should expect these men to be portrayed as one of two equally legitimate sides not as a threat to the safety of other Americans, but as a mainstream perspective. As with Trump, the shock will eventually fade, and continual exposure to extremist views will make it harder for Americans to recognize them as such. What will Trump himself do now that he is no longer a candidate? Media insiders are predicting the rise of Trump News, a media empire that will cater to, as one insider said, a base of the population that hasnt had a voice in a long time. If the media organization mirrors Trumps campaign, that base will include Klansmen, militia members, and everyday racists, and will likely circulate conspiracy theories and lies, further muddling reporting in a decimated media economy. These are merely three aspects of a Trump loss, but they all follow the same theme, perhaps the main theme of the Trump phenomenon: the mainstreaming of extremism. Trumps campaign has pulled the fringes to the center, exposed weaknesses in the media and the two-party system, and exacerbated discontent. Whether he wins or loses, his campaign has already caused a profound and dangerous shift in American political culture. Come November, it may not officially be Trumps America but we will still have to live in it. Photo credit: JOE MAHONEY/Getty Images US election 2016: Trump hits back at 'disastrous' Obama Donald Trump has dismissed Barack Obama's time in the White House as a "disaster" after the US president said he was not fit to succeed him. Washington (AFP) - The White House denied renewed accusations that it paid Iran ransom for the release of four American prisoners, parrying a tidal wave of condemnations from Republicans. Amid revelations that the US helped airlift $400 million worth of Swiss francs and euros to Iran after a prisoner release, the White House insisted the two were not linked. In January, five American prisoners were released as Washington granted clemency to seven Iranians and withdrew arrest warrants for 14 others. Within hours President Barack Obama announced he had also agreed to repay $1.7 billion owed to Tehran -- one of a string of agreements that followed a deal to curb Iran's nuclear program. The White House said it was returning cash from a 1970s Iranian military order that was not fulfilled because of the Islamic Revolution. On Tuesday the Wall Street Journal reported a chunk of that cash was loaded on wooden pallets and secretly airlifted to Iran in an unmarked cargo plane. "This $400 million is actually money that the Iranians had paid into a US account in 1979 as part of a transaction to procure military equipment," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. Explaining the airlift, Earnest said "the fact of the matter is the United States does not have a banking relationship with Iran." Earnest heatedly denied accusations that a ransom was paid. "It is against the policy of the United States to pay ransom for hostages." - On the attack - Republicans, who have spent weeks reeling from scandals over the party's presidential nominee Donald Trump, leapt at the opportunity to go on the attack. "If true, this report confirms our longstanding suspicion that the administration paid a ransom in exchange for Americans unjustly detained in Iran," said House Speaker Paul Ryan. "It would also mark another chapter in the ongoing saga of misleading the American people to sell this dangerous nuclear deal." Story continues "Yet again, the public deserves an explanation of the lengths this administration went to in order to accommodate the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism." Republicans had alleged that Iran would use a sanctions windfall worth hundreds of billions of dollars to fund terrorism. Trump issued a statement on what he called the "terror money airlift," saying the money would "undoubtedly find its way into the hands of terrorists." Earnest pushed back on Republicans' assertions. "People who made that prediction were either badly misinformed or lying to the American public, and I'll leave it to them to explain why their predictions didn't come true," he said. The White House and independent experts have insisted the funds would be much less than Republicans predicted and most of the cash would have to be spent on fixing Iran's economy. "We know that Iran supports Hezbollah and the Assad regime, and it certainly is possible that some of the money that Iran has is being used for those purposes, too," said Earnest. "But the bulk of the money we know has been going to shoring up their economic weakness, and that's exactly what we predicted." "They used that money to prop up their currency that had been significantly devalued by the sanctions regime." The House Oversight Committee Wednesday requested in a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry that he testify before the panel about the "contemporaneous hostage release and cash delivery." The State Department said it had received the note and would respond. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Wednesday that President Obamas Administration is committed to a smooth transition to the next president. Earnest said at a press briefing that White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough placed calls to both Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons campaigns at the end of last week to make them aware of the variety of resources that can be used to benefit their transition-planning activities, including office space the General Services Administration made available for the campaigns transition teams and intelligence briefings. The President made clear at the beginning of this year that one of his goals for the year, one of his top goals for this year, was to ensure a smooth transition from the Obama Administration to the next president, Earnest said. Earnest said Obama has previously recognized how his Administration and the public benefitted from President George Bushs effective planning and that Obama aspires to meet at least the same standard. These comments come on the heels of Obamas critique of Trump on Tuesday, when the president said Trump is unfit to be president. This Administration is committed to working both effectively with the Democratic nominee and the Republican nominee to ensure that once the American people have made a decision about who should lead our country that that transition can take place smoothly, Earnest said. Whoopi Goldberg would like it to be known: She is not the hatchet woman for The View. Goldberg went into a Twitter rant against British publication the Daily Mail, after the Mail reported that Goldbergs View cohort Paula Faris blamed Goldberg for getting Faris air time cut down from five episodes to one per week. In response, the Sister Act star fired up her Twitter account and opened up an economy-size can of Whoopi-ass on the Mail. Also Read: 'The View': Paula Faris Compares Ted Cruz Campaign to 'Dumb and Dumber' (Video) Contrary to what u might read in the I do NOT run ABC nor do I own or produce, not involved in hiring4 the View so dont send ur resumes, Goldbergs social-media jeremiad began. Im not responsible 4 firing or moving people around or negotiating my coworkers contracts. I LIKE having a gig and as much as Id like to rule the entire universe, I have enough to do in my life than to take mean girl pleasure at some one else WRONGLY perceived change. Goldberg then took aim at the Mail specifically, writing, Also daily mail knowing that people talk A lot do you honestly think I would talk or act in such a way that would give u ANY ability to know anything I think?? No daily mail I wouldnt, so if your going to continue to accuse me of doing this kind of thing could you make something someone my age would do. For goodness sake the only botch fest is the one in talks minds.no fight here just clearing up an untruth. Save some of that for Hot Topics, you dreadlocked firecracker. Also Read: Whoopi Goldberg Close to Clinching 'The View' Extension Heres Goldbergs full screed: Contrary to what u might read in the I do NOT run ABC nor do I own or produce,not involved in hiring4 the View so dont send ur resumes Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) August 3, 2016 Im not responsible 4 firing or moving people around or negotiating my coworkers contracts. I LIKE having a gig and as much as Id like to Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) August 3, 2016 Rule the entire universe, I have enough to do in my life than to take mean girl pleasure at some one else WRONGLY perceived change. Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) August 3, 2016 Also daily mail knowing that people talk A lot do you honestly think I would talk or act in such a way that would give u ANY ability to know Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) August 3, 2016 Anything I think?? No daily mail I wouldnt, so if your going to continue to accuse me of doing this kind of thing could you make something Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) August 3, 2016 Someone my age would do. For goodness sake the only botch fest is the one in talks minds.no fight here just clearing up an untruth Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) August 3, 2016 26 Daytime Talk Show Personalities Ranked by Popularity (Photos) Sharon Osbourne Previous Slide Next Slide Story continues 1 of 26 From Ellen DeGeneres to Kelly Ripa to The Ladies of The Talk and The View heres how they rank by likability, according to Q Score as of Sept. 2013 Ellen DeGeneres, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Q Score: 30 View In Gallery Related stories from TheWrap: Whoopi Goldberg Signs on for Another Year of 'The View' Whoopi Goldberg Close to Clinching 'The View' Extension 'The View': Whoopi Goldberg Remembers Condoleezza Rice Is Black (Video) Rival executives have been predicting the downfall of Fox News for years, but the networks demise has yet to pass. Theyre back at it again, but the Roger Ailes sexual harassment scandal does make things a little different this time around. CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker was featured in a splashy magazine cover story coinciding with Tuesdays ratings news that CNN won primetime during the month of July among the key demo of adults age 25-54. Zucker is notoriously careful with his words, but his boss not so much. Turner Broadcasting CEO John Martin was quoted as saying, Its a question of when, not if CNN will surpass Fox News. Also on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times wrote, CNN is getting larger in the rearview mirror of Fox News. Also Read: CNN Wins Primetime Demo, Fox News Tops Total Viewers in July Ratings These predictions have become a tradition since the turn of the century, but they havent come to fruition. Back in 2001, then-Turner CEO Jamie Kellner told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that CNN would be well ahead of Fox in six months to a year. Its been 15 years and Fox News has finished first in total viewers for 175 straight months. Ailes, the former Fox News boss, stepped down in disgrace last month after several female Fox News staffers, led by former host Gretchen Carlson, accused him of sexual harassment. Rupert Murdoch is serving as head of the network until a permanent replacement is named, and Fox News has yet to take a hit in the ratings department. An on-air personality from a rival network told TheWrap that if Fox News does lose viewers who are offended by Ailes, they will probably turn to conservative networks such as Newsmax and One American News, as opposed to CNN and the left-leaning MSNBC. There are no signs of this happening anyway, a point punctuated by Murdochs recent memo to his staff, thanking them for another great month. Also Read: Rupert Murdoch Thanks Fox News Staff in Memo, No Mention of Roger Ailes Drama Story continues Zucker was asked when CNN would surpass Fox News back in 2013 and said, Come back to me in three years. We have miles and miles to go. He nailed this one, as its been exactly three years and CNN has won the primetime demo in five of the last 11 months, but still has a long way to go in other categories. Fox News Channel dominated primetime in July among total viewers, averaging 2.8 million compared to CNNs 1.7 million and MSNBCs 1.3 million. The network is on track to have its highest-rated year ever, and July was the networks fifth-highest-rated month ever. So CNNs growth clearly isnt eating into Fox News share of the market at least, not yet. CNN did grow 226 percent in the primetime demo compared to last July. But Fox News also grew 77 percent, indicating that extra eyeballs overall are tuning into cable news during the current crazed election year. Zucker is aware of the presidential bump and has plans for 2017. Also Read: Why Megyn Kelly Stopping by CNN Grill Isn't a Big Deal Next year were going to offer them original series that werent part of the equation when large audiences came to CNN in past years like after the election of Barack Obama in 2008, Zucker told the Times. We have a whole new swath of programming that will fin. MSNBC president Phil Griffin told New Republic in 2013 that his network is in a knife fight for every viewer and believed it could surpass Fox News by 2014. Griffin was wrong and MSNBC finished behind both Fox News and CNN in every major ratings category during July. It remains to be seen whether Ailes replacement will tweak programming enough to turn off Fox News conservative viewership. But if the last 15 years are any indication, rival execs may want to wait on scripting those eulogies. Fox News Shows, Ranked: Who Is Highest-Rated Between Megyn Kelly, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly (Photos) Fox News Bill O'Reilly Fox News Gretchen Carlson Fox News Happening Now Fox News Shepard Smith Fox News Outnumbered Fox News Neil Cavuto Fox News America's Newsroom Fox News Sean Hannity responds to Stephen Colbert over comparison to 5-year-old Fox News Fox News The Five Fox News Bret Baier Fox News Channel Fox News The Kelly File Megyn Kelly Fox News Bill O'Reilly Fox News Previous Slide Next Slide 1 of 14 What is the most popular show on Fox News? The Top 13 most-watched programs on cable news during the first quarter of 2016 are all on Fox News Channel. So which Fox News show is the most popular? View In Gallery Related stories from TheWrap: Rupert Murdoch Thanks Fox News Staff in Memo, No Mention of Roger Ailes Drama CNN Wins Primetime Demo, Fox News Tops Total Viewers in July Ratings Why Megyn Kelly Stopping by CNN Grill Isn't a Big Deal The amount of higher education debt in the U.S. is scary: More than 43 million Americans owe $1.3 trillion in student loans. Even scarier: Many of them don't understand how their loans work before they decide to get one. While tens of thousands of students will become borrowers or add to their debt load as they head to college this fall, one in five don't know the terms of their student loans, according to the annual National Financial Capability Study, which for the first time included questions about student loans. And more than half didnt know what their monthly payments would be when they took out a loan. At first, this may seem surprisingif you take out federal loans, you must complete a mandatory student loan counseling session online or in-person (depending on the school). You'll also need to go through exit counseling upon graduation. Only a handful of schools require borrower-education courses for private student loans. But financial aid and college financing experts say the problem is that the information sessions are inadequate. The counseling prospective students get is not even close to sufficient, says Heather Jarvis, a lawyer who specializes in student loan issues. She says the "counseling" sessions aren't so much about making sure students understand their responsibilities and how they'll pay it back as it is about informing them about terms and disclosures. "Counseling is not personalized in a way that makes sense or is useful, says Jarvis. Many schools use the Department of Educations online entrance student loan counseling tool, which takes less than 30 minutes to complete and walks students through an ambitious agenda that includes defining terms such as capitalized interest and a worksheet to estimate your annual school expenses. Yet many borrowers who do the mandatory counseling dont even remember taking it. A survey of high-debt borrowers found that 40 percent had no memory of receiving any student loan counseling, according to a January 2016 report by nonprofit TG Research. Story continues Changes Coming for Federal Loan Counseling Its not that the federal government or colleges dont want students to understand what they are getting into, says Betsy Mayotte, director of consumer outreach and compliance American Student Assistance, a nonprofit focused on helping students finance college responsibly. The federal government, which issues the loans, wants to reduce student loan default rates, which are higher than any other consumer debt. Colleges also have incentive to provide student loan counseling. Last fall, the Department of Education began requiring schools to publish loan default rates and colleges can be sanctioned for high default rates. The issue is that federal student aid is similar to an entitlement program, like Medicare or Social Security. Federal regulations limit what colleges can say to students about their loans and cant restrict students from getting aid they are entitled to receive. The government and universities arent allowed to say you cant borrow the money because they think its too much, says Mayotte. The Department of Education has stepped up efforts to make counseling more robust. In 2012, it created a financial awareness counseling tool to walk students through the basics of loans, advice on managing debt and repayment options. Its voluntary but is prominently displayed on the same site as the entrance counseling. In mid-July, the undersecretary of the Department of Education Ted Mitchell announced plans to launch a pilot program to let some colleges and universities require additional loan counseling beyond what's already mandated by federal law. Financial Literacy Needs to Start Earlier Part of the reason that mandatory counseling falls short is because it comes too late in the process of figuring out how to pay for college. Its a lot of complex information to take in at one time and the timing is lousy, says Mayotte. The student does the counseling just a few weeks before school starts. At that point, the decision has likely already been made to take the loan out. Understanding the consequences of student loans should come well before a tuition bill is due, says Mayotte. But students say they get little guidance on how to pay for college when they are young. A Consumer Reports nationally representative survey of 1,500 Americans earlier this year found that borrowers report getting little information in high school about how loans work or the dangers of taking on a lot of debt when researching schools. Half of Americans with student loan debt say they didnt attend any financial aid information sessions in high school before enrolling in college, according to the Consumer Reports survey. And those who did said that the information was about process, such as how to fill out the financial aid paperwork and deadlines for filing. Less than half said terms and conditions of loans were explained or that different payment options were discussed. Before You Take Out a Student Loan If youre planning to take student loans to pay for college, answer these questions before you sign on the dotted line. How much debt can I afford? Dont borrow more than you expect to earn annually in the early years of your career or roughly 10 percent to 15 percent of your expected gross income. If more than 15 percent of your earnings goes to student loan payments, youll struggle to pay and need to cut spending in other areas of your life. Whats the difference between federal and private loans? You may be tempted to take out lower-rate private loans over federal loans. But a private loan rate is likely to be variable and can rise over time, so you may owe a lot more in interest in total. Federal loans have fixed rates and come with more consumer protections and flexible payment plans than private loans. How will I repay the money? One in five people with student loans dont know what repayment plan they are enrolled in, according to the NFCS survey. Though borrowers get a standard 10-year repayment plan by default, you have many repayment options that can help you manage payments if you fall behind or want to retire your loan early. For more help on managing your student loans, check out the American Student Assistances SALT program, which provides courses, individual counseling and online tools. Student Loan Debt Crisis Student Debt Crisis Special Report Faces of Student Debt Costing It Out: The Way You Repay Really Matters Student Debt: Lives On Hold 10 Key Questions Every Family Should Consider Before Taking On Student Loans Student Loans vs. Mortgages: What Makes Student Debt Different More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. Former BuzzFeed operations chief Jon Steinberg is convinced that the TV business as it exists now is finished. While TV execs await the mainstream arrival of the "skinny bundle" and inspect the entrails of subscriber losses for hints about the future of the business, Steinberg is going all in on over-the-top distribution, the delivery of content to viewers over the internet without the need for a cable box. Steinberg's new venture is Cheddar, a business news network aiming to sell its shows directly to online platforms like Netflix, DirecTV Now and Hulu, which have traditionally licensed the bulk of their content from library holders like Disney and Time Warner. Cheddar launches its new studio on the ground floor of the Flatiron Building in Manhattan on Friday. "My bet is that all of these platforms are going to turn to the Time Warners and say, 'The cable news channels are charging us too much,'" Steinberg tells The Hollywood Reporter. "What they need is unrestricted content." Riding this wave, Cheddar announced a partnership with Amazon in July and has been broadcasting regularly on Facebook Live, the social media site's new live video platform. Cheddar Live, Cheddar's flagship program, usually gets around 80,000 views per broadcast. But the wave could crash on top of Cheddar as easily as it could propel the business to a successful start. Steinberg estimates that there are only currently about 15 platforms, like Netflix or Hulu, that he's targeting to sell Cheddar content to. He'd like to see that market widen. Likewise, Facebook has been slow to monetize Facebook Live, which is holding another potential revenue stream in abeyance. Facebook has said that it's now "testing monetization with select media partners." "I never rely on these platforms," says Steinberg. "You've always got to have your own revenue streams in place." For Cheddar, as for many successful startups within new media like BuzzFeed and Vice, that means native advertising and branded content. Fidelity investments signed on as Cheddar's first financial sponsor, and several minutes of the Aug. 2 Cheddar Live broadcast were devoted to showcasing its stock ticker app, much in the style of a live-read radio ad. Story continues Cheddar has generated ad revenue so far of $1.5 million, according to Steinberg, but that's just icing on the cake. The licensing fees that will constitute the bulk of Cheddar's topline are still in the oven. The Gramercy-based company is aiming to appeal to millennials with its content as well as its distribution method, focusing its coverage on more fashionable topics like tech, media, startups and entrepreneurship. "No oil and power, no Fed, not too much macro," says Steinberg. "We really want to focus on tech and consumer products." There's no denying that Cheddar's intended audience is growing: Between 2011 and 2016, 40 percent of millennials' TV viewing time migrated to streaming video and other activities, according to the most recent Nielsen Total Audience Report. A survey last year by consulting firm Deloitte found that 39 percent of millennials' total viewing time is now devoted to streaming. "I don't think the format is broken," stresses Steinberg. "People still want informative, dynamic, ambient content. That content just needs to adapt." Read more: Silicon Beach 25: L.A.'s Most Powerful Digital Players We are aiming to reach 10 percent market share Satoshi Uchida, managing director of Suzuki Motors India, recently visited Nepal to attend a dealer conference organised by VG Automobiles, the authorized dealer of Suzuki two-wheelers in Nepal. Prahlad Rijal of the Post caught up with Uchida to gain some insight into Suzukis Nepal market and its strategies and plans. Excerpts: Health insurer Aetna Inc. AET announced its second-quarter financial data after the bell Tuesday, and despite beating our estimates for both earnings and revenue, the company highlighted some troubling signs about the effectiveness of the Affordable Care Act. Aetna said that it expects to lose about $300 million dollars on its Obamacare business this year. The company also announced that it is cancelling plans to expand its Obamacare offerings to five new states, and it will reassess its existing business in the 15 states it already covers. While we are pleased with our overall results, in light of updated 2016 projections for our individual products and the significant structural challenges facing the public exchanges, we intend to withdraw all of our 2017 public exchange expansion plans, and are undertaking a complete evaluation of future participation in our current 15-state footprint, said Aetna CEO Mark T. Bertolini. Aetna joins a growing list of health insurance companies that are struggling to make money from the new law. United Healthcare UNH, the countrys largest insurer, already announced that it will be scaling its Obamacare business down from 1,200 counties in eight states to just 156 counties across 11 states. Insurance companies are also requesting higher premium hikes for next year. On average, insurers have requested that premiums for the benchmark silver plan, which federal subsidies are based upon, increase by 9%, with some requests hitting double digits in several markets. In 2016, premiums for this benchmark plan increased by 2%. A large numbermore than halfof the co-op insurers created and funded by Obamacare have also failed. As insurance providers disappear from markets, individuals have limited choices and often must pick from only one or two companies. Insurers are saying that premiums are simply too low to cover the new patients, who tend to get sicker and be more costly to cover. People who are covered under Obamacare plans are more prone to serious diseases and, on average, cost 22% more per month to cover than those with employer plans. Story continues As a result, insurance companies need to either raise premiums or cut their own costs. One method that weve seen insurers look towards to shave costs is consolidation. Two massive mergers have been attempted, with Anthem ANTX looking to purchase Cigna CI for $54 billion and Aetna attempting to buy Humana HUM for $37 billion. By consolidating their businesses, these companies are looking to increase efficiency and cut down on operating costs. This would, however, reduce the amount of major players in the industry from five to just three. In an effort to protect competiveness in the market, the Department of Justice recently sued the companies involved in these deals to block the mergers. The DoJ is presumably most concerned with the effects that these new insurance giants would have on smaller companies in the industry. The mergers could also result in more expensive prices as individuals have less options to choose from. Both Anthem and Aetna have already responded to the DoJs suits by promising to fight the blockage. As for right now, it looks like these massive mergers and/or increased premiums will eventually come as a result of the difficult climate for Obamacare providers. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CIGNA CORP (CI): Free Stock Analysis Report AETNA INC-NEW (AET): Free Stock Analysis Report HUMANA INC NEW (HUM): Free Stock Analysis Report UNITEDHEALTH GP (UNH): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Investors are always looking for stocks that are poised to beat at earnings season and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. IRWD may be one such company. The firm has earnings coming up pretty soon, and events are shaping up quite nicely for their report. That is because Ironwood Pharmaceuticals seeing favorable earnings estimate revision activity as of late, which is generally a precursor to an earnings beat. After all, analysts raising estimates right before earningswith the most up-to-date information possibleis a pretty good indicator of some favorable trends underneath the surface for IRWD in this report. In fact, the Most Accurate Estimate for the current quarter is currently at a loss of 13 cents per share for IRWD, compared to a broader Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 15 cents per share. This suggests that analysts have very recently bumped up their estimates for IRWD, giving the stock a Zacks Earnings ESP of 13.33% heading into earnings season. IRONWOOD PHARMA Price and EPS Surprise IRONWOOD PHARMA Price and EPS Surprise | IRONWOOD PHARMA Quote Why is this Important? A positive reading for the Zacks Earnings ESP has proven to be very powerful in producing both positive surprises, and outperforming the market. Our recent 10 year backtest shows that stocks that have a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better show a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and have returned over 28% on average in annual returns (see more Top Earnings ESP stocks here). Given that IRWD has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an ESP in positive territory, investors might want to consider this stock ahead of earnings. Clearly, recent earnings estimate revisions suggest that good things are ahead for Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, and that a beat might be in the cards for the upcoming report. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report IRONWOOD PHARMA (IRWD): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Jason Terry isnt shy about making bold proclamations. Before the 2010-2011 season, he got a tattoo of the Larry OBrien trophy on his right bicep. Fortunately for him, the Dallas Mavericks went on to defeat the Big 3 era Miami Heat, a stunning upset to one of the better assemblages of talent the league had ever seen. Maybe thats why he isnt so quick to inaugurate a new so-called super-team. In a recent interview with Yardbarker in Las Vegas, Terry offered his thoughts on whether he believes the Golden State Warriors meet the criteria now that theyve added Kevin Durant to the equation: Related Links: You look at Durant, Curry, Thompson, and Draymondthey got super talent. You do have two MVPs. But if you look at the history of the NBA, Lew Alcindor/Oscar Robertson, Kareem and Magic, every team in the league back in the day had two or three superstars, but you werent calling them super-teams, Terry says in the video. I think its more about the way they playBecause they have super individuals doesnt make them a super-team. To me, its more about what theyre able to accomplish. Its yet to be seen, so I refuse to give them that label right now. Jet goes on to point out that his own 2011 Mavs boasted two future Hall of Famers of their own in Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki, along with an assortment of talented role players, using that as motivation to take down LeBron, Wade, and Bosh that season. On the one hand, Terry is right. All that matters is what they accomplish, and we wont know the answer to that until next spring. But its also just a question of either semantics or the criteria you want to use to define a super-team. Adding a former MVP and four-time scoring champ to a squad that already boasts three All-Stars, not to mention probably the two best shooters in league history, sure has the look of a super-team to most people. The 2016 Democratic National Convention will go down in history as the one in which Hillary Clinton became the first woman nominated for president by a major political party. This veteran journalist wont soon forget being there to see a powerful woman stand in the same place where FDR and JFK and even William Jennings Bryan stood. You didnt have to be a Democrat, or a woman, or even an American to feel that the world had changed forever. That may be what I remember most about this, my ninth political convention. But it may not be. Because there was also the soaring rhetoric of Michelle and Barack Obama, bringing us back to the audacity of hope, to our highest aspirations, and to 2008, another moment when a political convention and a general election made history. And there was the golden oratory of Bill Clinton, the happy old warrior pulling one more hugely ingratiating speech from somewhere in his politicians soul. The 42nd president whispered. He roared. He made us believe how much he still loves Hillary. And he probably even convinced a few skeptics that they should love (or at least vote for) her, too. The primetime memories of Philadelphia will not soon dim. But on the flight home to Los Angeles, they were crowded in my mind with other sounds and images. A powerful woman stood in the same place where FDR and JFK and even William Jennings Bryan stood. You didnt have to be a Democrat, or a woman, or even an American to feel that the world had changed forever. The Rev. William J. Barber II, a Protestant minister in North Carolina, got the convention rocking on Thursday night, well before Clintons historic acceptance speech. In rising volume and spiraling cadences, he described how Trump had put democracy on life-support with his gloom-and-doom prophecies and his slams on immigrants and Muslims. Barber urged Americans to vote, and to return the U.S. to the true spirit of a brown-skinned, Palestinian Jew named Jesus Christ. He described our need to become moral defibrillators, prepared to shock the heart of America back into the proper rhythm after the damage Trump had done. Story continues Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was one in a parade of Republicans and former Republicans who said they would vote for a Democrat for the first time ever in their fervor to defeat Trump. After Trumps dystopian message from Cleveland a week earlier, the Democrats pounded away again and again that America is better together. Sometimes events around the periphery of political conventions leave the biggest impressions. I could hardly tell you what happened at my first: the 1996 Republican convention in San Diego. The most memorable thing might have been the fireworks show put on by The San Diego Union-Tribune. Newspapers were then in their heyday, and the U-T could afford to put $1 million of pyrotechnics into the night sky. I know that the lingering memories of last week will be small moments, the intangibles that make each political house party its own. Philly 2016 was all about steamy weather and thundershowers that seemed timed to descend every time we had to make the half-mile walk from the security perimeter to the front doors of the Wells Fargo Arena. The 80% humidity and repeated downpours had even the most well-coiffed TV hosts scrambling for makeovers. And there was the tall, gangly busker with a row of missing teeth who stood on a downtown street corner and delivered a rendition of Amazing Grace as sweet as any Al Green ever laid down. I shared a late-night dinner with attorney Gloria Allred and heard how, as a woman who had married and had a child before she graduated from college, she never dreamed she would go on to finish near the top of her law school class. And I stopped to chat with former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, still more than two years removed from a likely run for California governor, but pumping hands in the Wells Fargo Center like the election was next Tuesday. In a mark of how time and history speed quickly along, a stooped old man and his wife ambled ever so slowly toward their seats. Barely anyone on the floor gave Michael and Kitty Dukakis a second glance. On the arena concourse, Bernie Sanders delegates wearing green Robin Hood caps made uneasy peace with Hillary Clinton delegates in blue Im With Her T-shirts. And in a mark of how time and history speed quickly along, a stooped old man and his wife ambled ever so slowly toward their seats. Barely anyone on the floor gave Michael and Kitty Dukakis a second glance. As Carole King crooned Youve Got a Friend on the conventions final night, and then Sheila E.s band pounded out a syncopated beat, the bedraggled conventioneers formed long lines for $10 hoagies to provide the fuel needed to get through the hours of speeches to come. There were so many chants of USA! USA! and hosannahs to the U.S. military that it felt like I had plopped right down at the 2012 Convention in Tampa the one held by the Republicans. For all the air of celebration, there was also sadness for what has been lost. The threat of terrorism meant that the Philadelphia arena was fenced off and armored, separating it from the City of Brotherly Love like a fortress. The daily struggle just to get to the giant black fence that ringed the Wells Fargo Center will stay with me, unfortunately, almost as much as President Obamas ringing rhetoric. There were endless putdowns of the Republican nominee. Attendees would hear that Donald Trump is everything from a con man to a dangerous demagogue, and that he cares about a constituency of only one himself. There were invocations of another convention: the Constitutional Convention of 1787, held, reportedly, during another sweltering Philadelphia summer. It was all supposed to sum up Our Way of Life. But nothing on the convention floor not even the stirring tribute by Khizr Khan, who, many of us now know, lost his son, Army Capt. Humayun Khan, in a suicide bombing in Bagdad 12 years ago could bring it all together like the cab driver who took me to the train station when the convention was done, and helped me track down the rental car I somehow had misplaced. A Pakistani Muslim, the cabby described how he had arrived in the U.S. 30 years ago and invested his life savings in a Pakistani/Indian restaurant, then sold it and helped put his two children through college. Now his daughter is on the verge of becoming a doctor. His children give him great pride. They help other people. They give what they can, said the driver, who declined to give his name. All they want is to work hard. For them, that is America. He remembers no time better then when Bill Clinton was president and so he will vote for his wife. For me, he was the best, he said, and paused before asking a question: Maybe it can happen again? Related stories Leonardo DiCaprio to Host Hillary Clinton Fundraiser (EXCLUSIVE) Star Jones Is Certain Hillary Clinton Will Become the Next President 'The Simpsons' Cast Their Vote for Hillary Clinton (Watch) Investors are always looking for stocks that are poised to beat at earnings season and Manulife Financial Corporation MFC may be one such company. The firm has earnings coming up pretty soon, and events are shaping up quite nicely for their report. That is because Manulife Financial is seeing favorable earnings estimate revision activity as of late, which is generally a precursor to an earnings beat. After all, analysts raising estimates right before earningswith the most up-to-date information possibleis a pretty good indicator of some favorable trends underneath the surface for MFC in this report. In fact, the Most Accurate Estimate for the current quarter is currently at 35 cents per share for MFC, compared to a broader Zacks Consensus Estimate of 34 cents per share. This suggests that analysts have very recently bumped up their estimates for MFC, giving the stock a Zacks Earnings ESP of 2.94% heading into earnings season. MANULIFE FINL Price and EPS Surprise MANULIFE FINL Price and EPS Surprise | MANULIFE FINL Quote Why is this Important? A positive reading for the Zacks Earnings ESP has proven to be very powerful in producing both positive surprises, and outperforming the market. Our recent 10 year backtest shows that stocks that have a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better show a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and have returned over 28% on average in annual returns (see more Top Earnings ESP stocks here). Given that MFC has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and an ESP in positive territory, investors might want to consider this stock ahead of earnings. Clearly, recent earnings estimate revisions suggest that good things are ahead for Manulife Financial, and that a beat might be in the cards for the upcoming report. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report MANULIFE FINL (MFC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research RIO DE JANEIRO Every four years, the United States gets to tell a distinctly American story in a very unique way by selecting a flag bearer for the Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony. This year, the U.S. chose a story that has been told before. The selection of Michael Phelps, as decided by athlete vote, is certainly a good one. He is the greatest Olympian of all time, not only synonymous with his sport but someone who has lifted swimming in an unprecedented way. The fact that Phelps is so familiar to all audiences is a tribute to how hard hes worked and how much hes accomplished. He is a legendary American. But the choice of flag bearer is an opportunity to say, This is who we are. Everyone around the world knows Phelps is who we are. But not everyone knows the stories of some of the other candidates, and why they are so meaningful. Not everyone knows the story of Ibtihaj Muhammad. Muhammad, raised by a police officer and a teacher, is a fencer who went to Duke, where she got degrees in African and African-American Studies and International Relations. She is also a devout Muslim. She will become the first American Olympian woman to compete in a hijab. Too often, the sight of a hijab or even the mention of Muslim brings misconception and fear. Just recently, there was a woman on an airplane who asked to move seats because she saw a woman in a hijab texting Allah on her phone. At a recent presidential town hall event, one voter in New Hampshire challenged the candidate to replace TSA workers in hijabs. Why arent we putting our military retirees on that border or in TSA? she asked. Get rid of all these hebee-jabis they wear at TSA. Ive seen them myself. We need the veterans back in there to theyve fought for this country and defended it, theyll still do it. Lost on this voter was the fact that many of those who wear hijabs have represented our country, served our country and sacrificed for our country. There are nearly 6,000 Muslims in the military, according to the Department of Defense. Many Muslims have died for our country, and that was made powerfully clear in Khizr Khans speech at the Democratic National Convention. He is a Gold Star parent, as his son gave his life defending the U.S. in Iraq in 2004. The media has focused on what Khans speech means for the upcoming election, but Khans turn in the spotlight has brought more attention to the complex meaning of being Muslim in America. So did Kareem Abdul-Jabbars speech. So did the national reflection on the passing of Muhammad Ali. Story continues [Slideshow: Michael Phelps with each of his Olympic medals] The easy response to support for Ibtihaj Muhammad as flag bearer is that choosing her would be politicizing the Opening Ceremony. That it would be picking sides in a heated presidential race. But this argument doesnt hold up. Choosing Muhammad would have simply been an expression of Americas diversity, and that in these Games, because of her accomplishment, we are a little more diverse than ever. This is not only who we are, but this is who we are now. Other Olympians tell a similar story of change and growth. Carlin Isles missed his chance as a sprinter in 2012 and now comes to Rio as a rugby player in the sports return to the Olympics after nearly a century. Bernard Lagat is here, at age 41, as the oldest American Olympic runner ever. Jordan Burroughs fought extremely hard to keep wrestling as an Olympic sport. Water polo player Tony Azevedo is in his fifth Olympics, returning to the city of his birth. [Fourth-Place Medal: Phelps meets idol Novak Djokovic in Rio] Its not that these choices would have been better than Phelps. These are all American heroes, and when the team walks into the Maracana Stadium on Friday, all Olympians are the same. But Phelps has had, and will always have, the opportunity to tell his own story. He will always have a rapt audience for whatever he does. The flag bearer gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to tell his or her story simply by walking in with Old Glory. He or she also gets to tell the evolving story of a nation. America is different now than it was in 2012, and in 2008. Thats the best story to tell, in the Opening Ceremony and in every Olympics. More Summer Olympics coverage on Yahoo Sports: Categories Shopping Following Junes historic Brexitin which Britain voted to leave the European Unionthe British pound has been a topic of conversation as its been affected greatly by the decision. Its now reported that the value of the pound is down 10 percent against the euro, solidifying Britains position as the cheapest market in the world for luxury goods, according to Business of Fashion. What does this mean? The weakened currency has resulted in lower pricesthe article cites that British luxury brands Burberry, Mulberry and Jimmy Choo in particular are likely to see a boost as a result of the current situationmaking goods cheaper there than they would be in the US and Asia. The numbers break down to a pretty staggering differenceBoF notes that a classic Burberry trench coat retails at 1,495 or about $1,995 at current exchange. In China, the same coat is priced 32 percent higher at 17,500.00 or about $2,639. If youve been in the market for the investment piece, now is an opportune time to bite the bullet. While we understand traveling all the way there just to make a purchase is unrealistic, its worth noting for anyone vacationing in the area to take advantage of. Its not often a designer classic comes at such a (relatively) low price. From Cosmopolitan Catherine Byrne's 27-year-old son, Staff Sgt. Raymond T. Harmon, has served in the U.S. Air Force since 2008. So on Monday, Byrne, 52, went to a Mike Pence rally in her hometown of Carson City, Nevada, according to CBS News, to ask Pence, whose own son is a U.S. Marine, what he thought of Donald Trump's recent criticism of the parents of a Marine killed in combat. Pence gave his stump speech and then turned to the audience for questions. Byrne stepped forward, telling the crowd that her son was in the military. They cheered and, according to Politico, she continued: "Time and time again, [Donald] Trump has disrespected our nation's armed forces and veterans. And his disrespect for Mr. Khan " The boos and jeers from the audience were immediate, loud, and fierce, Politico said. But it didn't stop Byrne. "You've got a son in the military, how do you tolerate this disrespect?" she asked Pence. "Will there ever be a point in time when you're able to look Trump in the eye and tell him enough is enough?" Trump has been widely condemned by Republicans and Democrats, veterans organizations, and former military officers for feuding with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, Muslim Americans who spoke at the Democratic National Convention, saying Trump has sacrificed nothing for his country. The Khans' son, Captain Humayun Khan, a U.S. Marine, made the ultimate sacrifice when he was killed in combat. Photo credit: Getty Asked about the Khans in an interview on Sunday, Trump indicated he had made sacrifices, said Hillary Clinton's staff wrote Khizr Khan's speech (they didn't), and questioned why Ghazala Khan didn't speak - suggesting she wasn't allowed to talk because of her religion. In a powerful op-ed for The Washington Post, Ghazala explained why she didn't speak: "Without saying a thing, all the world, all America, felt my pain. ... Whoever saw me felt me in their heart." It wasn't because of her religion. Story continues Attention has also turned to Pence, who's spoken proudly of his son, a member of the U.S. Marines. In Carson City on Monday, Pence let the audience boo the mother of a military member for about 10 seconds, according to Politico, before silencing them. Photo credit: AP "That's what freedom looks like, and that's what freedom sounds like," he said. After calling Capt. Khan an "American hero," Pence told the audience that Trump is devoted to veterans. In an interview with CBS News, Byrne said she didn't think Pence answered her question. With reporting from the Associated Press. Winona Ryder admits that Hollywood has changed since her days as the leading lady of the '90s but so have her own ambitions. In an interview with Porter magazine, the actress opens up about her headline-grabbing past, including her 2001 arrest for shoplifting. However, Ryder views the incident as more of a blessing in disguise than the "crime of the century." "Psychologically, I must have been at a place where I just wanted to stop," she said. "I won't get into what happened, but it wasn't what people think. And it wasn't like the crime of the century! But it allowed me time that I really needed, where I went back to San Francisco and got back into things that ... I just had other interests, frankly." After years of success, the Oscar-nominated actress made the decision to take a break from Hollywood, despite warnings from others. "People would tell me, 'Oh you should be doing this, or that, and you have to keep working otherwise people will forget about you.' But I learned to stop listening to those voices," Ryder said. Related Video: Winona Ryder's Changing Looks But Ryder did struggle to find roles when she returned to acting in her late 30s. The actress said filmmakers continued to associate her with the 1990s and didn't see her for her true age. "It's that line in First Wives Club 'There are three ages for women: babe, district attorney and Driving Miss Daisy!' I just never got to play that district attorney!" she explained. The actress continued to search for a role appropriate for her age and found a fit in the Netflix series Stranger Things. In the 1980s-set drama, Ryder plays the mother of the boy who disappeared amid supernatural events. And no matter what her age, she says the thrill of acting still inspires her. "I can only see my own character's point of view! I'm just not a business person, you know? I wish I was in a way," she said. "But acting still excites me. I don't sleep the day before a new job. I'm sure it's psychosomatic but still." The actress says a perk of being an industry veteran is not sweating the small stuff and knowing what's truly valuable in life. "You know, what's great about getting older is you realize that other things are more important than this business!" Ryder shared. "Time is just more precious now." Will support government for good deeds: PM Oli Outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the new government would be supported for its good deeds. Shes over it. Fifteen years after she was infamously arrested for shoplifting at Saks Fifth Avenue, Winona Ryder looked back at her headline-making incident during a new interview. PHOTOS: Winona Ryder's Most Iconic Movie Roles Psychologically, I must have been at a place where I just wanted to stop, the Stranger Things actress, now 44, said in the fall 2016 issue of Porter magazine. I wont get into what happened, but it wasnt what people think. And it wasnt like the crime of the century! But it allowed me time that I really needed, where I went back to San Francisco and got back into things that I just had other interests, frankly. PHOTOS: Stars at Court Ryder was arrested in December 2001 after she allegedly stole more than $5,000 worth of designer clothes and accessories from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. Ryder was convicted of grand theft and vandalism. She was acquitted on a burglary charge but was sentenced to three years probation, 480 hours of community service, $3,700 in fines and $6,355 in restitution to the department store. She was also ordered to attend psychological and drug counseling. Following the arrest and much speculation about her mental health, the Golden Globe winner says she decided to take a break from Hollywood. People would tell me, Oh, you should be doing this, or that, and you have to keep working otherwise people will forget about you, she recounted to Porter. But I learned to stop listening to those voices. PHOTOS: Celebrity Mugshots When Ryder finally returned to the acting world, filmmakers associated her with the 1990s. I wasnt that anymore, the Heathers star explained. And they didnt really buy me as my age. Its that line in First Wives Club There are three ages for women: babe, district attorney and Driving Miss Daisy! I just never got to play that district attorney. As for her new role in Netflixs buzzed-about new show Stranger Things? You know, whats great about getting older is you realize that other things are more important than this business, she told Porter magazine. Time is just more precious now. With 317 S&P 500 members reporting their quarterly numbers (as of Jul 29), we are past the mid-way of Q2 earnings. Although growth pace in the quarter seems to have improved, expectations for earnings growth is still negative. This indicates toward a fifth straight quarter of negative growth, emphasizing the fact that we are still in Earnings Recession. As per the recent Earnings Preview, total S&P 500 earnings are expected to decline by 3.4% due to 0.4% lower revenues. The growth estimates of Q2 might not be the scraping end of the barrel as even Q3 estimates are leaning into the negative territory, adding to the woes. However, we anticipate positive earnings growth in the last quarter of the year which may scale even higher in 2017. Focus on Wireless Equipment Industry At present, the broadcast industry ranks 193 out of 265 industries as per the Zacks Industry Rank. This industrys bottom of the pile position makes its outlook a negative one. Let us focus on 3 stocks of the wireless equipment segment that are due to release their earnings on Aug 4. Motorola Solutions, Inc. MSI is engaged in providing communication equipments, software and services. It focuses on providing public safety communications ranging from infrastructure to applications and devices. The company, scheduled to release its second-quarter 2016 results, has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and Earnings ESP of 0.00%. This is because both Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stand at 90 cents. According to our proven model, a company needs the right combination of two key ingredients a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 or better to increase the odds of an earnings surprise. Thus, Motorola Solutions doesnt conclusively show that it is likely to beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate this quarter. (Read more: Will Motorola Earnings Disappoint Investors in Q2?) MOTOROLA SOLUTN Price and EPS Surprise MOTOROLA SOLUTN Price and EPS Surprise | MOTOROLA SOLUTN Quote Story continues Sierra Wireless Inc. SWIR is a leading provider of wireless data communications products. The company has a combination of Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of 0.00% for second-quarter 2016. This is because both Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at 5 cents. Although Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of ESP, we need a positive Earnings ESP to be confident of an earnings beat and hence Sierra Wireless doesnt conclusively show that it is likely to beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate this quarter. SIERRA WIRELESS Price and EPS Surprise SIERRA WIRELESS Price and EPS Surprise | SIERRA WIRELESS Quote Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. UBNT is engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing and selling broadband wireless solutions globally. The company, slated to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2016 numbers, carries a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. This is because both Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at 61 cents. As per our model, Ubiquiti Networks doesnt conclusively show that it is likely to beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate this quarter. UBIQUITI NETWRK Price and EPS Surprise UBIQUITI NETWRK Price and EPS Surprise | UBIQUITI NETWRK Quote ViaSat Inc. VSAT designs, produces and markets advanced digital satellite telecommunications along with other networking and signal processing equipment. The company is scheduled to report its first-quarter fiscal 2017 results and has a Zacks Rank #3 and Earnings ESP of 0.00%.This is because both Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stand at 15 cents. As per our model, this combination doesnt conclusively show that ViaSat is likely to beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate this quarter. VIASAT INC Price and EPS Surprise VIASAT INC Price and EPS Surprise | VIASAT INC Quote Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report VIASAT INC (VSAT): Free Stock Analysis Report SIERRA WIRELESS (SWIR): Free Stock Analysis Report MOTOROLA SOLUTN (MSI): Free Stock Analysis Report UBIQUITI NETWRK (UBNT): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research When a poor feline disa-purr-ed under the hood of a Florida woman's car, she was happy to tear the vehicle apart, piece by piece, all to save one of her kitty's nine lives. Read: Man Arrested for Attacking 'Pinky' the Dancing Flamingo in Busch Gardens Denise Williford-Neal of Vero Beach said she could hear her poor kitten purring from underneath her car's dashboard for twenty hours. "I was worried about the heat of the day," Williford-Neal said in an interview with WPEC. She took to Facebook, asking everyone she could for advice, or help, to no avail. In an effort to save the newly adopted kitten, mechanics dropped by and started taking the car apart, piece by piece. Eventually she was given an ultimatum either her cat survives or her car does. According to the mechanics who responded to the scene, the dashboard needed to be torn out, and the firewall had to be cut open, which would leave her vintage Monte Carlo totaled and unable to be driven again. But Williford-Neal didn't even hesitate to say, "yes, cut it." Twenty hours after getting stuck, the kitten was rescued. In honor of the 1995 Monte Carlo, Williford-Neal named the cat, Monte. Though she traded the $600 car to save a kitten she adopted for free, she said it was worth every penny. Read: Dog Stuck on Iron Fence in Shocking Photo: 'He Got Himself Impaled' But the woman's boyfriend did not share her view on the rescue. In an emotional Facebook post, Pat Padgett clearly did not share her view, writing: "With the blink of an eye, got my car ripped apart cuz a little kitten got stuck in a firewall of the only transportation we got." The couple is now raising money for a new car through a GoFundMe campaign. Watch: Heroic Stray Pit Bull Rushes to Woman's Rescue During Knife Attack Related Articles: By Madeline Kennedy (Reuters Health) Women with a common ovary problem should be screened for blood sugar and cholesterol problems, but a new survey of obstetricians and gynecologists found few were ordering those tests. In the U.S., up to 12 percent of women have poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormone disorder that causes irregular periods, acne, weight gain, and difficulty getting pregnant. Most women with PCOS have multiple cysts on their ovaries. They're also at increased risk for cholesterol and blood sugar problems, the researchers write in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Recognition of these abnormalities can allow the provider and the patient to work together to determine the next steps in health care improvement including nutritional changes and exercise, weight loss, starting a medication, and/or referral to a specialist, said lead author Dr. Amy Dhesi of Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that all women with PCOS get screened every two to five years for high blood sugar and every two years for high cholesterol. The tests recommended are a 2-hour glucose tolerance test and a fasting lipid profile, but many doctors use less sensitive blood sugar tests that may not pick up on early issues. In an online survey, Dhesi and her team asked gynecologists what tests, if any, they would order for PCOS patients at a first visit, and what follow-up tests they would conduct. The research team got complete responses from 157 physicians. About half said at least 10 percent of their patients have PCOS. About 22 percent said they would not order any screening test at the first visit for at least half of their PCOS patients. The most common tests doctors used to screen for blood sugar issues in PCOS patients were the less sensitive hemoglobin A1C, which shows the average blood sugar level over the past few months, and fasting glucose tests. Only 7 percent said they would order a 2-hour glucose test for at least the majority of their PCOS patients at the first visit. The doctors were more compliant with cholesterol testing recommendations; 54 percent said they would order a fasting lipid profile in at least half of their PCOS patients. Only nine of the doctors said they typically order both a lipid profile and a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test at the initial visit for most patients with PCOS. The main reason doctors gave for not ordering 2-hour oral glucose tolerance tests was that it's inconvenient for patients. Also, more than one in five doctors said glucose test results would not affect how they treat the patient. Most said they wouldn't order a repeat blood sugar test unless the patient's medical history changed. But 76 percent said they would order repeat cholesterol tests even in PCOS patients with normal cholesterol levels. Dr. Richard Legro, vice-chair of research at Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey, emphasized the importance of catching blood sugar and cholesterol issues in the early stages.Early detection can lead to prevention of developing diabetes and heart disease," said Legro, who wasn't involved with the new study. "Patients are more likely to change their lifestyle when they know they have a related abnormality. Legro told Reuters Health by email that follow up tests are vital to monitor how these issues may change and if they are improving with treatment. Dhesi said it's important for PCOS patients to talk to their doctors about possible health risks and monitoring for them. It is important for patients with PCOS and their health care providers to discuss the common metabolic abnormalities associated with PCOS . . . and work towards a common goal to improve their health for the future, Dhesi told Reuters Health by email. SOURCE: bit.ly/2atNfZO American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, online July 22, 2016. London (AFP) - World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury was provisionally suspended in June over the presence of a banned substance, the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) organisation confirmed on Wednesday. Fury's ban, which was not made public at the time, has been lifted pending a hearing of the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP). The 27-year-old British fighter had said on Tuesday he would sue UKAD and the boxing authorities over reports he had used a performance-enhancing substance. UKAD also said it suspended Hughie Fury, Tyson Fury's cousin, and that he too would have his case heard by the NADP. "In response to public comments made by Tyson and Hughie Fury's representatives, UK Anti-Doping can confirm that both boxers were charged on 24 June 2016 with presence of a Prohibited Substance," a UK Anti-Doping spokeswoman said "Mandatory Provisional Suspensions were imposed pursuant to Article 7.9.1 of the UK Anti-Doping Rules. "The UK Anti-Doping Rules allow athletes to challenge the imposition of a Provisional Suspension and the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) today lifted the athletes' suspensions, pending full determination of the charges. "These charges will be heard at a hearing before the NADP in due course." The Sunday Mirror reported in June that traces of the banned substance nandrolone were found in a urine sample taken from Tyson Fury in February 2015. Fury refuted the claim and his legal team say the result of tests from March and May 2015 were contradictory. Speaking earlier this week, Fury's legal team said proceedings had been issued in the High Court over the allegations. "The two boxers strenuously deny taking any performance-enhancing drugs," lawyer Lewis Power said. "However, during the last five weeks, leaks about these charges have appeared in the press and both boxers have been the targets of continual abusive language on Twitter." Story continues Since beating Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA and WBO heavyweight titles in November, Fury has found himself embroiled in a series of controversies over his often outrageous comments. He has been accused of homophobic, anti-semitic and sexist remarks, including an unpleasant jibe about Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill in the build-up to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards last year. Fury, who also holds the IBF and IBO belts, is due to make the first defence of his heavyweight titles in an October rematch against Klitschko. An interim judgement on his suspension is expected before then. The bout was due to take place in Manchester on July 9 but Fury pulled out after failing to recover from an ankle injury. Former tour guide Yang Yin, who is facing charges for swindling an elderly widow of $1.1 million, told the court on Wednesday (3 August) that he had received a $40,000 hongbao from the woman to buy a car. The hearing resumed after Yang decided to claim trial to two charges of criminal breach of trust after he had previously told the court that he intended to plead guilty to the charges. During cross-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Sanjiv Vaswani, Yang said the money was a hongbao that was remitted to him by Singaporean Chung Khin Chun, now 89, after he passed his driving test in China in November 2008. Yang claimed that he had earlier called Chung from China to inform her about him passing the test, and Chung had given him the cash to buy a China-made sedan to practise driving. But DPP Sanjiv told the court that Yang had lied to Chung, saying the Singapore permanent resident received his China-issued drivers license in August 2009. He added that Yang had taken advantage of the situation to get the $40,000 from the widow. On the phone call that Yang claimed that he made to Chung from China, DPP Sanjiv cited records by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority that showed Yang was in Singapore at the time. Yang said, I could not recall. Maybe I told her in person that I passed the test. He insisted that he did not ask Chung for the money and that Chung had given him the cash to buy the car. At the hearing, Yang also explained why Chung had given him two other hongbaos. He said a sum of $4,000 was a gift from Chung to recognise him as her grandson while another $12,000 was a Chinese New Year hongbao. DPP Sanjiv also questioned Yang about his frequent overseas travels while he was in Singapore, focusing on his trips to Japan between 2013 and 2014. Yang claimed that the trips to Japan were for business as he had to attend several arts exhibitions. It was during one of the trips when Yang bought a painting of the Goddess of Mercy for $100,000 at an auction. On 31 May, Yang pleaded guilty to 120 charges involving falsification, immigration and cheating-related offences. Another 227 charges will be taken into consideration when Yang is sentenced after the current trial. Chung gave Yang control over her welfare and assets via a Lasting Power of Attorney in 2012 but this was contested by her niece Hedy Mok in 2014. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL August 03, 2016 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Chevron Corp. (CVX), TOTAL S.A. (TOT), Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), Royal Dutch Shell plc (RDS.A) and ConocoPhillips ( COP). Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free. Here are highlights from Tuesdays Analyst Blog: Oil & Gas Stock Roundup It was a week where oil prices fell to their lowest levels since mid-April, while natural gas futures rallied to its highest in nearly a month. On the news front, earnings from the top global integrated oil firms remained front and center. While Chevron Corp. (CVX) and TOTAL S.A. (TOT) defied low crude prices to beat per-share forecasts,Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) and Royal Dutch Shell plc ( RDS.A) disappointed. Overall, it was a mixed week for the sector. While West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 5.9% to close at $41.60 per barrel, natural gas prices ended up 3.5% to $2.876 per million Btu (MMBtu). (See the last Oil & Gas Stock Roundup here: Schlumberger, Halliburton Report Q2 Beats .) Oil prices booked another weekly loss after the U.S. Energy Department's latest inventory release showed a surprise build in domestic crude stockpiles, while an uptick in gasoline inventories has rekindled fears about the fuels demand. Things further worsened with the Baker Hughes report revealing a fifth straight rise in the U.S. oil rig count indicating resurgence in shale drilling activities. However, a weaker dollar that made the greenback-priced crude cheap for investors holding foreign currency provided some support. Oils-Energy Sector Price Index Natural gas, on the other hand, moved north following a historically small build. The upward movement could also be attributed to predictions of strong cooling demand with forecasts of hot weather across the country over the next few days. Story continues Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories 1. The worlds largest publicly traded oil company Exxon Mobil Corp. posted second-quarter earnings of 41 cents per share, widely missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 64 cents. The bottom line, also, deteriorated nearly 60% from the year-ago quarter amid the impact of sharply lower commodity prices and tumbling refining margins. Production averaged 3.957 million barrels of oil-equivalent per day (MMBOE/d), down 0.6% year over year as project ramp-up was more than offset by field decline and downtime mainly resulting from the Canadian wildfires. Liquid production increased 39,000 barrels per day to 2.3 million barrels per day. Natural gas production was 9.8 billion cubic feet per day, down 366 million cubic feet per day from the prior-year period (Read more: Exxon Mobil Misses Q2 Earnings & Revenue Estimates ). 2. U.S. energy giant Chevron Corp. reported strong second-quarter earnings, buoyed by the success of its cost savings initiatives. The company reported earnings per share (excluding special items) of 49 cents, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents and the year-ago earnings of 30 cents. Exploration costs nosedived from $1,075 million in the second quarter of 2015 to just $214 million. Chevron spent $5,523 million in capital expenditures during the quarter, a considerable decline from the $8,724 million incurred a year ago. Chevrons total production of crude oil and natural gas edged down 2.6% from the year-earlier level to 2,528 thousand oil-equivalent barrels per day (MBOE/d). The U.S. output decreased 6.6% year over year to 682 MBOE/d, while the companys international operations (accounting for 73% of the total) fell 1.1% to 1,846 MBOE/d. Moreover, decline on the production front were accompanied by the sharp downfall in oil and gas prices, the net effect resulting in a huge loss for the upstream division to the tune of $2,462 million. (Read more: Chevron Overcomes Low Oil Prices to Q2 Earnings Beat ). 3. Europes largest oil company Royal Dutch Shell plc reported dismal second-quarter results amid continued weakness in commodity prices, depressed refining margins and costly integration of the BG acquisition. The sole bright spot for the company was higher production due largely to the BG assets. Upstream segment recorded a loss of $1,325 million (excluding items) during the quarter, significantly wider than the $469 million (adjusted) loss in the year-ago period. In the Downstream segment, the Anglo-Dutch super-major reported adjusted income of $1,816 million, 39% less than the $2,961 million earned in the year-ago period. Shells upstream volumes averaged 2,628 thousand oil-equivalent barrels per day (MBOE/d), 24% higher than the year-ago period. While crude oil production increased 24%, natural gas output was up 23%, thanks to the contribution from BG Group that was acquired earlier in the year. (Read more: Royal Dutch Shell's Q2 Earnings Hit by Low Oil Price ). 4. French integrated oil and gas company TOTAL S.A. reported second-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 90 cents per share (0.79 per share), easily surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 75 cents by 20%. The companys strict cost discipline and addition of low-cost assets have brought down the breakeven point. In addition, the recovery in oil prices in the second quarter boosted its earnings. Total hydrocarbon production during the second quarter of 2016 averaged 2,424 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, up 5% year over year. The increase was primarily driven by new project startups, partially offset by the security situation in Nigeria and forest fires in Canada. TOTALs production is expected to increase 4% in 2016, after reaching 4.5% growth in the first half. The startup of Upstream projects Incahuasi in Bolivia and Kashagan in Kazakhstan in the second half will drive production. TOTAL continues to work on cost management initiatives and targets to invest in the range of $18$19 billion in 2016. (Read more: TOTAL Beats Q2 Earnings & Revenues on Oil Recovery ). 5. Houston-based energy major ConocoPhillips (COP) reported wider-than-expected second quarter loss amid a production dip and low oil prices. Daily production from continuing operations averaged 1.546 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE) in the quarter, down from 1.595 MMBOE in the year-ago quarter. Average realized price for oil was $42.72 per barrel, compared with $58.00 in the year-earlier quarter. For 2016, ConocoPhillips has further reduced its capital expenditure guidance to $5.5 billion from $5.7 billion. The decrease is mainly attributable to efficiency improvements across the portfolio. The world's largest independent exploration and production company raised its full-year production guidance to 1,540 to 1,570 MBOED about 2% above prior guidance reflecting strong year-to-date performance across most of the portfolio. For the third quarter, production from continuing operations is expected at 1.5101.550 MMBOE. (Read more: ConocoPhillips Posts Wider-than-Expected Loss in Q2 ). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free. About Zacks Equity Research Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today. About Zacks Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CHEVRON CORP (CVX): Free Stock Analysis Report TOTAL FINA SA (TOT): Free Stock Analysis Report EXXON MOBIL CRP (XOM): Free Stock Analysis Report ROYAL DTCH SH-A (RDS.A): Free Stock Analysis Report CONOCOPHILLIPS (COP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL August 03, 2016 Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Publishing, part 1, including McClatchy Company (MNI), New York Times Company (NYT), Gannett Co., Inc. (GCI) and E.W. Scripps Company ( SSP). Industry: Publishing, part 1 Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/87446/publishing-industry-stock-outlook---august-2016 Will Diversification Herald a Better 2016? The U.S. newspaper publishing industry has long been grappling with sinking advertising revenues, and the global economic meltdown has only worsened the situation. The downturn in the newspaper publishing industry witnessed over the last few years was further aggravated, as print readership declined, with more readers opting for free online news, thereby making the print-advertising model increasingly irrelevant. Changing consumer preferences and the advent of new and innovative technologies have been altering the way news is offered and read. Readers now have a myriad of choices to collect and read articles or news through devices such as netbooks, tablets or other hand-held devices. These have been weighing on the print industry, as advertisers now get low-cost avenues to reach their target audience more effectively. We believe that an alternative and stable source of revenue is the demand of time, to salvage the dwindling print newspaper industry. Waning Newspaper Advertising Revenues Advertising remains a significant source of revenue for the industry that in turn depends on the health of the economy. The macroeconomic factors such as sluggishness in business spending, high unemployment and falling home sales may affect the level of national, retail and classified advertising revenues, as advertisers cut their budget in response to weak economic conditions. Advertising volumes remain under pressure as advertisers still deter from making any upfront commitments in an economy under recovery. The McClatchy Company (MNI) witnessed a 16.6% drop in print advertising revenues during the second quarter of 2016 following a decline of 5.2% in the first quarter. Print advertising revenue fell 14.1% in second-quarter, following a decline of 9% in the previous quarter at The New York Times Company ( NYT). Story continues Newspaper Companies Adapting to Changing Trends Newspaper companies have now been remodeling and restructuring themselves to better align with the growing need of marketers, targeting younger people, affluent households and other demographic groups with multiple web and print publications. The publishing companies are adapting to the changing face of the multi-platform media universe, which currently includes Internet, mobile, tablet, social media networks and outdoor video advertising in its portfolio. Newspaper publishing companies have been offloading assets that bear no direct relation to the core operations, diversifying revenue base and even separating their broadcasting and digital properties from the sluggish print business. The companies are gradually advancing toward the pay-and-read model. The New York Times Company, on Mar 28, 2011, launched a pricing system for NYTimes.com, whereby after browsing a certain number of free articles, readers will be asked to subscribe for complete access to its articles on phones, tablet computers and the Internet. The recent trend witnessed in the industry is that of consolidation. Diversified publishing conglomerate Gannett Co., Inc. ( GCI), in Oct 2015, entered into a deal to acquire Journal Media Group, Inc., the owner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and other newspapers. In Apr 2016, the company completed the acquisition of all of the remaining shares. Journal Media Group was formed after Journal Communications and E.W. Scripps merged their broadcasting operations and split the newspaper business. The merged broadcast and digital media company, headquartered in Cincinnati, retained the name The E.W. Scripps Company ( SSP) . Zacks Industry Rank Within the Zacks Industry classification, Publishing forms part of the Consumer Staples sector, one of the 16 Zacks sectors, though the media industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. We rank all the 260 plus industries in the 16 Zacks sectors based on the earnings outlook and fundamental strength of the constituent companies in each industry. To learn more visit: About Zacks Industry Rank. As a point of reference, the outlook for industries with Zacks Industry Rank #88 and lower is 'Positive,' between #89 and #176 is 'Neutral' and #177 and higher is 'Negative.' The Zacks Industry Rank for Publishing Newspaper is #176. Analyzing the Zacks Industry Rank, it is apparent that the outlook on the Publishing Newspaper industry is showcasing a Positive view. Earnings Trends The broader Consumer Staples sector portrays a soft trend. In the second quarter of 2016, total earnings for the sector are expected to decline 1.4%, while total revenue is anticipated to remain flat year over year. As of Jul 29, 2016, 51.6% of the total number of S&P 500 companies in this sector had reported their results, wherein 81.3% delivered an earnings beat and about 43.8% cruised ahead of revenue estimates. While earnings improved 2.2% year over year, revenues dropped 1.7%. For more details about earnings for this sector and others, please read our Earnings Trends report. About Zacks Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Click here for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com/performance Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report MCCLATCHY CO-A (MNI): Free Stock Analysis Report NY TIMES A (NYT): Free Stock Analysis Report GANNETT CO INC (GCI): Get Free Report EW SCRIPPS CO (SSP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE (Reuters) - Anti-riot police used batons to break up a peaceful march in Zimbabwe's capital on Wednesday, the latest public protest against how President Robert Mugabe's government has handled the economy. Mugabe, 92, and in power since independence from Britain in 1980, is increasingly under pressure from angry Zimbabweans, as well as his war veterans allies, who last month rebuked him as a manipulative dictator, calling on him to step down. At a meeting of its politburo in Harare, Mugabe's ZANU-PF party expelled nine senior officials, including four war veteran leaders linked to the July 21 statement that denounced Mugabe, the party's administration secretary said, as a purge against Mugabe's former allies intensified. Zimbabwe has witnessed several anti-government protests in recent months, including the biggest stay-at-home demonstration by activist pastor Evan Mawarire's #ThisFlag movement in July. Hundreds of people marched on the streets of Harare on Wednesday against government plans to introduce local bank notes, as authorities grapple with a serious dollar crunch. Police kept watch and the marchers presented a petition at ministry of finance offices in central Harare. But baton-wielding police charged at the protesters as they approached the Parliament building, beating them until they dispersed. The police beat three reporters, including a BBC journalist, and broke his camera. Some protesters threw rocks at the police, who also had water cannons, but did not use them. "We don't want bond notes because they will wipe out the few U.S. dollars left. They have come to destroy the country. We do not want them," said protester Wesley Chawada, who was waving the old Zimbabwean dollar currency, which was dumped in 2009. Former vice president Joice Mujuru on Tuesday challenged the planned issuance of the bond notes at the Constitutional Court. Demonstrators denounced Mugabe, accusing ZANU-PF of failing to create up to 2.2 million jobs that it had promised during its campaign for the 2013 presidential vote, which Mugabe won amid opposition charges of rigging. "Mugabe just quit, I will forgive you", read one placard, while another said "No to police state, you have failed Mr Mugabe." Mugabe plans to contest the next election in 2018, his last under a new constitution. That has deepened divisions in ZANU-PF, with war veterans opposing his bid and supporting Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to take over from Mugabe. Three war veteran leaders were charged with undermining and insulting the office of the president by a Harare magistrates court, as Mugabe continues a crackdown on his former allies. The three veterans were freed on $300 bail. (Editing by Richard Balmforth, Larry King) An outbreak of anthrax that has killed more than 2,000 reindeer and sickened 13 people in Siberia has been linked to 75-year-old anthrax spores released by melting permafrost. It's an event of the sort many scientists have warned about: Warming temperatures reviving dormant diseases, perhaps even pathogens long-thought extinct. There are, however, ways to protect both livestock and humans from an anthrax infection, and the current outbreak is likely to end quickly, said George Stewart, a medical bacteriologist at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. "This particular outbreak is going to fizzle out very quickly now that public health officials are in place," Stewart told Live Science. [Zombie Animals: 5 Real-Life Cases of Body-Snatching] Zombie diseases The anthrax currently infecting reindeer and people in western Siberia likely came from the carcass of a reindeer that died in an anthrax outbreak 75 years ago and has been frozen ever since until an unusually warm summer thawed permafrost across the region this year, according to local officials. Bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that cause anthrax, are capable of surviving in the soil for centuries, so it's no surprise that melting permafrost could resurrect a long-dormant plague, Stewart said. Anthrax spreads through soil. Grazing animals pick up the bacteria, which quickly gain a toehold and start reproducing like mad in the animals' blood. Unlike many pathogens, which aim to keep the host alive long enough to reproduce, anthrax wants to kill, and it produces toxins to do so, Stewart said. That's because anthrax demands a dead and decomposing host to spread: Once oxygen enters the rotting animal, the bacteria transform into spores. "Spores are basically a bacterial cell in a really tough protein shell," Stewart said. They're in a state of suspended animation, and they stay that way in the soil until another grazer accidentally ingests them. Story continues In the United States, anthrax occasionally pops up along the cattle trails of the Old West, Stewart said, because cows stricken with anthrax were left to rot. Because anthrax is so hardy, it's no surprise that it could survive in permafrost. Researchers warned in 2011 in the journal Global Health Action that outbreaks such as this one could become common as the remains of livestock killed in earlier outbreaks thaw. There are also fears that other pathogens may lurk in the frozen soil of Siberia. In 2015, researchers discovered that a 30,000-year-old virus isolated from permafrost was still infectious (though, fortunately, not dangerous to humans). Human infection The humans infected with anthrax in the Siberia outbreak likely got it from butchering and eating infected animals, Stewart said. There are three forms of human anthrax, he said. About 80 percent of cases are cutaneous, or introduced through the skin. These cases are eminently treatable with antibiotics and have a mortality rate of 10 to 20 percent if left untreated. Pulmonary anthrax occurs when the spores are inhaled. Without treatment, pulmonary anthrax is almost always fatal, Stewart said. During the 2001 anthrax attacks, in which someone mailed anthrax spores to politicians and news media offices, 22 people were infected and five died. The rarest form of human anthrax, gastrointestinal anthrax, is the form that has sickened people in Siberia, killing one 12-year-old boy. It's hard to pinpoint the mortality rate of gastrointestinal anthrax, because it's rare and people usually aren't diagnosed until late in the disease, Stewart said. But if left untreated, this form probably causes between 50 and 75 percent of patients to die. According to local news reports, 90 nomadic people have been tested for the disease as a precaution so that anyone who is infected can start treatment quickly. In places where anthrax is a known threat, cattle get vaccinations, Stewart said. Outbreaks can also be quelled by burning livestock that died of the disease, or burying corpses very deep in the ground so that spores won't penetrate to the surface. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Officials want to know why a little boy was apparently put inside the Dublin Zoos rhino exhibit as an adult took photos. Authorities opened an investigation after images posted on social media showed the child standing on a rock inside the enclosure while holding the hand of a man on the other side of a fence, according to local reports. Read: Sanctuary Welcomes Birth of Adorable Baby Rhino From Critically Endangered Species The photos were taken over the weekend. "Just a child inside the rhino enclosure," architect Ciaran Ferrie posted to Twitter. Another poster, Adrianna Straszewska, wrote this man had the child in behind the fence for good 20 minutes! Gillian Bird, of Dublins SPCA, totally and utterly condemned the zoo visitor. This is horrendous, from the point of view of what is being done to the child, but also from an animal welfare point of view, she told Irelands Herald.ie. this man had the child in behind the fence for good 20 minutes ! pic.twitter.com/BzhhUW5Obr Adrianna Straszewska (@Adriannasss) July 31, 2016 Rhinos are often unpredictable animals and can move quickly, she said. Read: This Tiny Rhino Loves Taking Morning Walks With His Friend... a Goat A spokeswoman for the zoo said the investigation was being handled internally. Watch: Critically Endangered Rhino Gives Birth to Rare Baby Girl Related Articles: By Deborah M. Todd SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc on Wednesday reported improvements in gender and ethnic diversity in June as the U.S. technology company stayed ahead of fellow Silicon Valley power houses Google and Facebook Inc in hiring minorities. Apple also said in its annual diversity and inclusion report that it had closed pay gaps over the last year by analyzing salaries, bonuses and annual stock grants. It had also opened up its annual stock grants program to retail employees for the first time. As of June, Apple's overall U.S. workforce was 56 percent white (up 2 percent from a year ago), 19 percent Asian (down 1 percent) 12 percent Hispanic (up 1 percent), and 9 percent black (up 1 percent). Apple's workforce includes a pool of retail employees that Google and Facebook do not have. In Apple stores, blacks and Hispanics respectively comprised 12 percent and 17 percent of general employees, and 5 percent and 10 percent of the leadership. At Alphabet Inc's Google unit, blacks and Hispanics respectively made up 2 and 3 percent of the overall workforce and 1 and 3 percent of its tech employees, little changed from last year. At Facebook, blacks and Hispanics were respectively 2 and 4 percent of the workforce and 1 and 3 percent of tech employees. Apple's global workforce was 32 percent women, up 1 percent from the end of June 2015. Women held 23 percent of technical positions, up 1 percent from a year ago, and 28 percent of leadership positions, unchanged from June last year. Reverend Jesse Jackson, who confronted Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook in 2014 about the company's lack of diversity and unfair compensation, applauded its efforts to connect with engineers of color through partnerships with historically black colleges and universities and scholarship organizations. "They are clearly setting the pace, making measurable progress for three consecutive years. They've acted with intention, not just aspiration," Jackson said in a statement. Amazon Inc, which employs a large number of workers at distribution centers, reported late last year that its ethnic diversity exceeded the U.S. average, with a global workforce that was 21 percent black, 13 percent Hispanic, 11 percent Asian and 5 percent other ethnicities. In management positions at Amazon, however, representation dropped to 4 percent for blacks and Hispanics, 3 percent for other races, and climbed to 20 percent for Asians. (Reporting by Deborah M. Todd; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Richard Chang) News accounts have abounded in recent days of computer hacking, systems intrusions, big data grabs and the like, with examples that range from the recent takeover of Twitter accounts belonging to high-profile executives to the suspected state-sponsored hack of the Clinton campaign and other affiliated political organizations. Against that backdrop, the team behind the hit USA network TV series Mr. Robot, a cyberthriller now a few episodes into its sophomore season, not only found the perfect moment to tell the story it wants to tell. Its a story focused on an antisocial hacker, Elliot Alderson, as well as his personal demons and the fallout of a major action he and his friends took in season one. DON'T MISS: iPhone 7 survival guide: Release date, specs, pricing and more The series has also won plaudits (from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, among others) for its depiction of the interplay between hackers, coders and the assortment of computers and digital gadgets at their command. And thats no surprise, since cybersecurity professionals have had a hand behind the scenes in shaping the look and feel of the show. To prepare for season two, Mr. Robot director Sam Esmail reached out to technical consultants at the cybersecurity startup Tanium. The companys director of security, Andre McGregor, is a former FBI cyber special agent, which is why he was tapped to help out. McGregor, in turn, recruited Tanium chief security architect Ryan Kazanciyan to work on the shows hacking scenes. The best stories are guided by truth, and the shows creators, including lead technical writer Kor Adana, are really committed to getting the details right, McGregor said in an email to BGR. The creatives working on the show in its writers room already had a solid outline of where the new season was headed when McGregor and Kazanciyan sat down with them back in January. But they wanted more detail to help plug gaps in character development and to flesh out some scene accuracy. Story continues McGregor said they discussed, among other things, specific hacks that were planned and brainstormed ways to maintain the realism. The images and commands shown on screen during the show are real, as are the dialogue and context around them, he said. The show has done a good job of lining up the right tools and techniques that would be used if the depicted hacks were to be carried out in the real world. Its easy to get the intricacies wrong of any particular field, and its amazing how much effort the team puts into avoiding over-simplification. The hacking on this show is as accurately portrayed as possible for TV because it makes for better drama -- and it helps viewers better understand their real-life vulnerability to cyber attack. One of the things he praises about the show is how he says its found a way to demonstrate how ubiquitous hacking has become, and how there are fewer obstacles to pulling one off than the average person probably thinks there are. Its the kind of show, McGregor says, that forces people to ask themselves pointed questions: how much of this is art imitating life, and what are we doing about it? Kyle Lady, an engineer at Duo Security in Ann Arbor, Mich., told BGR he thinks the team behind the show has struck the right balance between technical perfection and pushing the story along. In Star Trek, the writers could get away with writing Captain, the tech is teching! and have someone else fix the sentence later, because it's an unfamiliar universe, Lady said. Movies and TV seem to have often used this approach for shows set in the modern day or near future. The problem with this is that, being set in the present means it's a subject that many people know well. We can point to movies where computer terms are just thrown about to sound legitimate, like Jurassic Park's It's a Unix system; I know this! The difference there is that tons of people are familiar with Unix systems and immediately lose the suspension of disbelief as we fly through a 3D file system that no one would actually want to use. While the hacks that are present in Mr. Robot seem to someone in the infosec industry like Lady that they take less time or are a bit more convenient, they nevertheless still feel plausible. And that satisfies him in a way similarly themed pop culture fare doesnt, or cant. In addition to avoiding deus ex machine scenarios, the ongoing dialogue between the shows technical consultants and the rest of the team results in attacks that involve lots of hard work with incremental advances, Lady says. Its not just wait, I forgot about the switch on the back! with two minutes left in the episode. So far, the new season certainly feels a bit darker than season 1, which found Elliot and the fsociety hacker collective pull off a massive hack. The major characters this season are still dealing with the ramifications of that, among other new developments. One of the new series early episodes shows a lawyer with a smart home laden with Internet of Things gadgets. Hackers take it over, doing things like raising the shower temperature, blasting music through the speakers and setting off the homes alarm. The show has found a way to effectively demonstrate how ubiquitous and easy hacking has become in mainstream society, McGregor said. Its a scary reality for everyone in the world today. The stakes are high. A show like Mr. Robot raises awareness not only among people who may not think about this all the time, but also for government leaders who are not exposed to this new global threat day in and day out. Trending right now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com Hong Kong (AFP) - A major Hong Kong-based Bitcoin exchange has suspended trading after $65 million in the virtual unit was reportedly stolen by hackers -- sending the digital currency plunging more than 20 percent. Bitfinex said it had suspended all transactions after discovering that some users' Bitcoins had been taken. "Today we discovered a security breach that requires us to halt all trading on Bitfinex, as well as halt all digital token deposits to and withdrawals from Bitfinex," the company said in a statement posted on its website late Tuesday. "We are investigating the breach to determine what happened... we will look at various options to address customer losses later in the investigation," it said. Bloomberg News reported hackers took 119,756 Bitcoins, or about $65 million at current prices, from the platform. The value of the often-volatile currency plunged Wednesday to as low as $482.82 from $603.06 Tuesday, according to Bloomberg News data, before rising to $539.53 Wednesday afternoon. "Yes, it is a large breach," said Fred Ehrsam, co-founder of Coinbase, a cryptocurrency wallet and trading platform. "Bitfinex is a large exchange, so it is a significant short-term event, although Bitcoin has shown its resiliency to these sorts of events in the past." - Rollercoaster ride - The breach is the latest blow to digital currencies after the New York Times reported in June that hackers diverted more than $50 million from an experimental fund of another platform that trades Ether, a similar unit to Bitcoin. But the biggest case was in 2014, when the Tokyo-based Mt Gox trading exchange, then the largest in the world, declared bankruptcy when hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoins vanished or were stolen. The company admitted 850,000 coins -- worth around $480 million at the time -- had disappeared from its digital vaults. The collapse left a trail of angry investors calling for answers and denting the virtual currency's reputation. Story continues Its former CEO Mark Karpeles is facing allegations that he fraudulently manipulated data and pocketed the cash. His lawyers said last month he had been released on bail in Japan a year after his arrest on embezzlement charges. In the wake of the scandal, Japanese lawmakers passed a bill stipulating that all "virtual currency" exchanges must be regulated by the country's Financial Services Agency. Bitcoins are generated by complex chains of interactions among a huge network of computers around the planet, and are not backed by any government or central bank. Bitcoin was launched in 2009 as a bit of software written under the Japanese-sounding name Satoshi Nakamoto. Earlier this year Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright claimed that he was the creator, but some have raised doubts over his claim. Other digital currencies followed the launch of Bitcoin but it was by far the most popular. In 2013 Bitcoin's value peaked at more than $1,200 -- almost as much as an ounce of gold. But it has never reached those heights again, its value rising and falling regularly. From Popular Mechanics Alphabet, Google's parent company, has received permission from the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to begin testing its delivery drones in the United States. The decision is a major victory for Alphabet, which first released its Project Wing drones in 2014 and plans to begin commercial usage in 2017. In terms of corporate shipping drones, Project Wing drones share more in common with DHL's drones than they do Amazon's. Both Wing and DHL have fixed-wing designs more like planes than copters, and Wing plans on flying up to 400 feet in the air, which is the distance the FAA just approved, and making deliveries. Beyond a vague promo video released in 2014, neither Google, Alphabet, or X, Alphabet's experimental division, have given much explanation on how their drone delivery system will work. Based on recent patents, one can speculate that Alphabet's drones will work with "mobile delivery receptacles" that will be the drones' robotic partners on the ground. The drones could be guided to the receptacles, which would then drive the packages to their rightful owners. The FAA will allow Alphabet to test several aspects of their shipping plans, including carrying packages beyond the pilot's line-of-sight. The approval was part of a major drones push delivered by the U.S. government, which is also spending over $35 million on drone research and testing over the next five years. The White House also announced $5 million to support development of a traffic management system for drones in upstate New York. Source: The White House via Engadget You Might Also Like Full Galaxy Note 7 reviews won't hit the web for a while yet but if you read our extensive hands-on preview then you already know: Samsung's new Galaxy Note 7 is the best phablet the world has ever seen. It's everything the Note 5 was and so much more, offering better hardware, more powerful specs, a refined S Pen experience and plenty more. Samsung just took the wraps off of its next-generation flagship phablet on Tuesday but with Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus lurking around the corner, the company is wasting no time. The brand new Galaxy Note 7 is available for preorder beginning immediately, and we'll show you exactly how to purchase one in this post so that you can make sure you have the latest and greatest Samsung phone in your hands as soon as possible. DON'T MISS: 10 awesome Galaxy Note 7 features you wont find on any iPhone First, a quick refresher. The all-new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 features a 5.7-inch quad HD Super AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 64GB of UFS 2.0 storage, microSDXC support up to 2TB, a 12-megapixel rear Dual Pixel camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, an iris scanner and a fingerprint scanner, a 3,500 mAh battery, IP68 water- and dust-resistance, and Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. You can check out our Galaxy Note 7 hands-on preview for more info, but you already know you want one. Here's how to make sure that you have a new Galaxy Note 7 in your hands on release day. Samsung is making preorders for the new Note 7 available beginning today, August 3rd. The easiest place to preorder one is probably directly from Samsung. Simply visit this page on Samsung's website and click the pre-order button. You'll be able to choose from any of the four major US wireless carriers, and you'll also be able to select your color. In the US, Samsung is selling the Galaxy Note 7 in Black Onyx, Silver Titanium and Blue Coral, which has rose gold trim. Story continues With each preorder, you'll also be able to choose a free gift either a 256GB microSD card or a Gear Fit2 fitness tracker. With the first option, you're basically purchasing a 320GB Galaxy Note 7 for about the same price as a 64GB iPhone 6s Plus. As for pricing, it varies a bit depending on which carrier you use. T-Mobile and Sprint are both selling the Galaxy Note 7 for $849.99, while Verizon Wireless and AT&T have decided to charge a bit more $864.99 and $879.99, respectively. Verizon scraped by with $30.5 billion in revenue last quarter while AT&T's second-quarter revenue grew 22% to a measly $40.5 billion, so it makes sense that the carriers would need to squeeze a few extra dollars out of subscribers. Carriers are also offering their standard installment plans when purchasing the new Galaxy Note 7. Here's the breakdown: Verizon Wireless: $0 down, $36/month for 24 months if you have "great credit" or $345.60 down and $21.60/month if you're "working on your credit." AT&T: $29.34/month for 30 months or $36.67/month for 24 months. T-Mobile: $70 down, $32.50/month for 24 months. Sprint: $0 down, $35.42/month for 24 months. Of note, you'll get your free gift (a 256GB microSD card or a Gear Fit2) from any of the carriers above, but you'll have to wait for it to arrive in the mail. If you want your memory card or fitness tracker on day 1, Best Buy is the way to go. You'll find details in our earlier post, or you can preorder the Galaxy Note 7 now by visiting this page on Best Buy's website. Trending right now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com I love the smooth, not-bitter taste of cold brew coffee (produced without heating the ground beans), but I don't exactly appreciate the fact that it takes me 24 hours to prepare a batch of concentrate. While some use a 12-hour process that saves some time, the Prisma (starting at $229 plus shipping, release date TBA) is a new cold brew machine that promises to complete a batch in less than 10 minutes. The Prisma is the brain-child of FirstBuild, a Louisville, KY-based company that is currently raising funds for production on Indiegogo. If you're skeptical of giving money to a company you may not have heard of, FirstBuild is backed by GE Appliances, which it claims allows access to "world-class design and engineering talent." MORE: Would You Order a Coffee Via Drone? Specialty Coffee Association of America member Blake Nail is advising FirstBrew and claims that the Prisma doesn't compromise on quality in order to achieve its fast brew cycle. The Prisma supposedly manages this feat of speed by using a specialized vacuum infusion process, which is far from the standard steep-in-water process for 12 to 24 hours that most (myself included) use. Prisma's instructions appear to be just as simple as the traditional slower process, as you just need to add finely ground coffee and water to the chamber, press a button and wait for it to drain into the carafe. That automatic draining is a step up from standard cold brew processes, which require me to set an alarm to remember when to manually drain the batch. The other difference between this and the popular Toddy T2N Cold Brew System ($34.95 on Amazon) is that the Prisma uses standard paper coffee filters, unlike the Toddy's custom filter discs. While the Prisma is much more expensive than the Toddy, I might save up for my own if it can produce a batch that's just as good. It certainly beats having to remember to plan my days around being home to finish a brew. Story continues As of this writing, backers have pledged $69,030, which is 46 percent of the $150,000 fixed goal. We'd love to get a visit from the FirstBuild team to see and taste Prisma coffee for ourselves, and we will let you know if that happens. Copyright 2016 Toms Guides , a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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 In a rather unprecedented move, President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the sacking of all health workers at Nakawuka health Centre III in Wakiso district. This follows an investigation conducted by the Health Monitory Unit that unearthed filth at the Centre and complaints from residents over the poor service delivery at the facility. The residents cited challenges like absenteeism of the health workers and poor handling of patients. The president has said all the health staff who have been at this Centre should be handled by the relevant authorities. He was addressing residents at Nakawuka Health Center III after residents complained that about the poor health service delivery at the facility. He has thus ordered the chairman of the Health Service Commission Pius Okong to take get a new team to run the health center and take appropriate action against the culprits. Story By Benjamin Jumbe By Yeom Won-gyun South Korea is walking on a tightrope over its national policy caught in a tug of war between the United States and China. The international tribunal's recent ruling on China's territorial claims in the South China Sea has raised tension in the region. While the U.S. and China doubt each other's intentions, South Korea has to demonstrate the art of maintaining a balance between the two countries' policies which are sometimes at odds with each other. This dilemma is being acutely felt these days as we are confronted by an increasing nuclear threat. In response, South Korea has justifiably reinforced its missile defense posture by deciding to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense or THAAD battery in the small southeastern city of Seongju. China has responded sensitively to this decision by saying that it would endanger its national security. Korea has many reasons to maintain a close relationship with China. It is South Korea's largest trading partner and is a nation that can influence the unpredictable regime in North Korea. However, in the midst of increasing nuclear threats and continued missile upgrades by the North, South Korea has no choice but to take self-defensive measures for its own national security. China is well aware of the fact that the THAAD in Korea will have no impact on the effectiveness of its missile employment system unless it conducts missile attacks against South Korea. The reason that China was so annoyed by this defensive system was that the deployment of THAAD would invite a broader missile defense system of US in the Ease Asia and perceivably mitigate its "anti-access/anti-denial" strategy. During the 1950-1953 Korean War, as U.S.-led United Nations troops crossed into what is now North Korea and advanced toward China, China intervened. Eventually, the United Nations forces failed to seize the entire Korean peninsula, and retreated to the original border between the two Koreas. After the fierce battle reached a stalemate, the two sides agreed to stop hostilities by signing the Armistice 63 years ago (July 27, 1953). Sadly, the confrontational reality between the U.S. and China has not changed. It is conceivable that major crises in North Korea such as the sudden collapse of the regime, nuclear weapon proliferation, and massive humanitarian crisis might trigger a repeat of the Korean War, and would potentially lead to more catastrophic consequences. South Korea wants to bring the two Koreas together through peaceful unification. By estimations, the costs of unification would top 1 trillion dollars. The effort to bridge the social and cultural gaps between the two Koreas would be enormous. However, South Korea has great potential and the tenacity to achieve this monumental task, as evidenced by the rapid achievements of economic growth and the development of a democratic government from the ruins of war. However, without a solid strategic partnership between the U.S. and China, a unified Korea would still be a distant dream. If walking a geopolitical tight rope is the destiny of South Korea, it should be more focused on efforts to increase transparency and build a favorable strategic environment conducive to both nations. * * * The writer, a retired brigadier general, is currently taking a degree program at Harvard University Kennedy School. No Yes, a light case Yes, two or more light cases One serious case Two or more serious bouts Vote View Results ANGOLA After six years over seas, a 2007 Angola High School graduate is starting a new leg of her adventure in the United States. Lindsay Bienz spent a week visiting family and friends after returning from an 11-month Christian mission trip. She left Sunday for Denver, where she will be teaching English for Spanish-speaking sixth- to eighth-grade students in an inner city middle school. Bienz, the daughter of Mark and Jean Bienz of Crooked Lake, started the World Race in September. She went to 11 countries Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In each country, we partnered with a local ministry and helped wherever help was needed. The ministries included teaching English, preaching in churches, house visits and prayer, working on farms, university ministry and street kids ministry, said Bienz, who received her elementary education degree from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and taught English in Casablanca, Morocco, for four years. During that time, she earned a masters degree in teaching English as a second language The World Race brought a new dimension to Bienz experience. We saw a lot of poverty and people who were hurting, she said. In Uganda, the missionaries worked with girls who had been abducted by the army and forced to be child brides. They met Ethiopians who lived in one-room mud huts and visited a leper colony in India. I think after the whole trip, one of the biggest things I learned is that there is always hope, said Bienz. There were girls in Uganda who had been forced to kill family members, kids in Honduras who had been raped by their parents and all kinds of other horrible things, but no matter what they had been through, they loved hearing the gospel and were quick to accept it, hearing and believing of the hope they have in Jesus. It gave me perspective on what bad really is around the world, but it also showed me the power that the gospel has and the hope that we always have in the Lord. Restoration and transformation occurring in the communities Bienz visited were seeds of hope. In Uganda, the girls are learning trade skills to support their family, they are receiving counseling, and they are coming to learn what a relationship with Jesus looks like. They lead worship each night, and there is more joy, laughter and dancing than one could imagine, Bienz said. Throughout their journey, the teams representing the World Race helped set up homes and ministries to protect and heal those hurt by poverty, sex trafficking and violence. The World Race is a Christian mission that rotates squads of people through various countries to assist with basic infrastructure and human care. The first groups launched from Mexico in January 2006. The goal is to serve the least of these in 11 countries in 11 months, interacting with real and raw community, says the web site at theworldrace.org. Bienz raised more than $16,000 for the opportunity with significant help from Peace Lutheran Church in Fremont and Casablanca International Church in Morocco. INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame (IMVHOF) is calling for nominations for its third class of veteran honorees. The not-for-profit organization honors Hoosier veterans for service during and after active duty. To date, the IMVHOF has recognized 34 men and women for their outstanding military and civilian service. Up to 15 veterans will be honored for military service achievements and/or community contributions. To be eligible, a nominee must meet any one of these criteria: Born in Indiana Entered military service in Indiana Lived in Indiana for a minimum of eight years All branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, all ages, living or deceased, and males and females will be considered equally. The induction ceremony will take place on Nov. 4 at the Garrison at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Lawrence. The complete nomination packet and criteria can be found at imvhof.com/nominate/. Nominations will be accepted through end of day, Sept. 16. Tax deductible donations can be made via check or money order made payable to IMVHOF and sent to IMVHOF, P.O. Box 269098, Indianapolis, IN 46226. Online donations can also be made at www.imvhof.com. About the IMHOF: The Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 organization that was founded in 2014. Formed by representatives from government, business, and retired military, the organization strives to publically emphasize the honor brought to the state of Indiana and the nation by the sacrifice of Indiana military veterans and their families. Indiana follows only a handful of other states who have established similar organizations. HUNTERTOWN Its happening. The Huntertown Heritage Days Festival committee hopes its never again a question. One year after not having a festival because of a lack of volunteers and help, the Huntertown Heritage Days Festival is set to run Thursday through Saturday at various locations around town. Events will take place at the Huntertown Family Park, Huntertown Elementary School, Huntertown Town Hall, the Huntertown Fire Station and the pavilion behind Huntertown Elementary School. Festival committee chair Jenny McComb took the reigns shortly after last years festival was cancelled and said she is happy with the lineup the five-person committee has put together. If the public walks away smiling as much as I have been smiling the last few days, they will be fine and I will be happy, McComb said. While McComb spearheaded the effort to have the festival return, she knows she couldnt have done it without the help of the rest of the committee. Other members include: John Widmann, Kelli Brandt, Barb Wagner, Angie Keck and Diane Harris. I hope the public looks at what six people can do and think, boy, imagine how big it could be with 10 people, or 15 people. We can make it bigger, McComb said. McComb is also thankful for the numerous volunteers who will be assisting throughout the three days and was especially grateful for the Friends of Huntertown Parks Inc. board members for allowing the festivals carnival to be housed at the Huntertown Family Park, located off of Lima Road, near Woods Road, in downtown Huntertown. The park board has worked closely with us and us with them in order to set (the carnival) up. Some special arrangements needed to be made and they have worked hard, McComb said. Widmann, a member of the Huntertown Utility Service Board, pleaded with resident during the USB meeting on Monday that bar tenders are needed for Friday and Saturday at the festival. Anyone interested can contact Widmann at 637-7045 or McComb at 637-6232. This years festival theme falls in line with the State Bicentennial celebration. Parade floats should be themed to honor the states 200th birthday and a 200-inning wiffle ball game is being played at 6 p.m. on Friday. Tickets for the carnival can be purchased in sheets of 20 in advance of the festival for $15 at Farmers & Merchants Bank of Huntertown and the Garrett State Bank location on Dupont Road. Tickets will be $1 a ride once the festival begins. A complete schedule of events is listed below: Thursday, Aug. 4 4-10 p.m. Carnival (Huntertown Family Park) Friday, Aug. 5 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Flea Market (School) 4-11 p.m. Carnival (Huntertown Family Park) 5-7:30 p.m. Huntertown Lions Club Fish Fry with proceeds benefiting the festival (Pavilion) 6 p.m. 200-inning Wiffle Ball game (Ball diamonds) 6-8 p.m. TBA (Family Event Tent across the street from Huntertown Elementary School) 8-11 p.m. Pottsies Pastime Band (Beer Tent) Saturday, Aug. 6 11 a.m. Presentation of colors and national anthem with flyover by Sweet Aviation (Downtown Huntertown) 11:05 a.m. Parade (Downtown Huntertown) 12-1:30 p.m. Entries submitted for Pie Contest (Fire Station) Noon Flea Market, crafts, vendors (School) 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Carnival (Huntertown Family Park) 12-4 p.m. Indiana Historical Display (Fire Station) 12-4 p.m. Huntertown Family Historical Display (Pavilion) 12-1 p.m. Fort Wayne Ballroom Company demonstration (Family Event Tent) 12:15 p.m. Proper U.S. flag disposal demonstration (Town Hall) 1-2:30 p.m World War II slide show (Town Hall) 1 p.m. Marks Ark demonstration (Family Event Tent) 2:30 p.m. Soarin Hawk Raptor Rehab demonstration (Family Event Tent) 2:30 p.m. Military chatter (Town Hall) 3 p.m. Pie contest winners announced and auction (Fire Station) 3-6 p.m. Local Talent (Family Event Tent) 8-12 p.m. High Roller Band (Beer Tent). HUNTERTOWN Betty Gorrell walked into her classroom at Oak View Elementary School in late July of 2004 to prepare for the upcoming school year. Something wasnt right. I just didnt want to do this anymore, Gorrell said. I just thought God wanted me to do something else. I didnt know what. So she retired. Soon, in her own words, her life in education was redirected. For the last 14 years, Gorrell has been more intimate with her teaching. Through participation with a missionary group, she has home-schooled American families all over the world, including Dallas, Texas; Guinea, West Africa; and Siberia. This filled my heart, Gorrell said. That educational intimacy can also be seen in the landscaping on her front lawn. Gorrell has a world-wide registered Little Free Library at her home, located at 2011 County Road 72, technically in DeKalb County, but with a Huntertown address. The library can be found by turning east off of Coldwater Road onto County Line Road and traveling two miles. Her home is on the left, immediately after County Road 19. The library allows the community to take a book and leave a book. She also has a library inside her home with nearly 20,000 titles covering multiple genres. With the new school year on the horizon, Gorrell is challenging the local community to read one book from her library before school begins. Any way I can promote reading and writing, I will, Gorrell said. I think kids are so involved with their fingers on (technology). I try to hit any step that I can to spark someone to read. The library has books for all ages, bookmarks and even a note pad to provide suggestions on what types of books you would like to see. She said she gets between 8-10 visits per week. Her library is one of nearly 40 Little Free Libraries in Allen County and one of 10 within a 10 mile radius of Huntertown. It is the lone library with a Huntertown address. A map of all locations can be found online at littlefreelibrary.org. The library is painted with two special characters. On top, nestled between the words Take one Leave one is a butterfly painted by one of the girls she taught in Guinea. Her landscaping is also shaped like a butterfly wing. On the side is Clifford the Big Red Dog, a popular character in a series of childrens books written by Hoosier author Norman Bridwell. Bridwell had painted a portrait for Gorrell in 1982 and until Bridwells passing in 2014, Gorrell would have students in whatever environment she was teaching in, write to him. He corresponded every time. It may not be the best literary work, that big red color is what will show for (babies and young children), Gorrell said. Plus, the author is originally from Kokomo, Indiana and I think its important to keep an Indiana author going. Gorrells journey to education is different from most. She graduated from Monroeville High School in 1961 and was married two weeks later. Her first child was born on her one-year anniversary. She didnt start teaching in Northwest Allen County Schools until 1976 and had less than a handful of educational stops in between. She helped start the pre-K program at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Harlan and taught at Southwick Elementary and Woodlan Elementary, but spent most of that time raising three children while attending college. She taught kindergarten and first grade at Huntertown Elementary School for 18 years and taught another 10 years at Oak View before moving to a new chapter. If she taught today, shed make sure to read to her classes multiple times a day, every day. My belief is to read at least two stories close to the start of the day. I always do a chapter book every single day. It can be worked in with all the demands. Now that kindergarten is full-day at most places, I would put another story in there, she said. You cant get too many books read to them. You just read in a different voice. Fathers, especially between kindergarten and first grade, take moments to read and have your kids hear a male voice. They need to hear both voices. She also said teachers need to bring other people in to read as often as possible. Their enthusiasm and what they enjoy will stretch you farther, she said. She also advises expecting parents to read to the child while they are in the womb. Her husband, Stan, passed away in 1982 and the couple had three children, Greg, Julie and Gary. She has nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren with a third on the way. Shes beaten breast cancer and is currently fighting uterine cancer. Shes attended conferences all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavia and spoils her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with books throughout the year. Whatever I can learn about reading and writing in other cultures and what they do, I want to find out and see how I can use it to influence others, she said. I wanted (my Little Free Library to portray) a little bit of fun and a little bit of whimsy, because that is just the way I am. Reading has always been very important to me. WASHINGTON (TNS) With the conventions over and Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton locked in a close contest, a ground-level fight for an edge in the presidential race will unfold this summer in the nations courts. Legal challenges to state election laws are still working through federal courts and possibly on to the Supreme Court this fall. The outcome of those cases on issues such as photo identification, polling locations and registration could affect voter turnout in about a dozen swing states. The courts have been siding with challengers to election law changes, including rulings in July to soften voter ID laws in Texas and Wisconsin, block a voter ID law and other election changes in North Carolina, halt a voter ID requirement in North Dakota, and strike down a registration law in Kansas. The ground game of the presidential campaigns could matter even more this year. Besides the presidency, control of the U.S. Senate is at stake and the fate of other down-ballot races could rise and fall on the same currents. In Michigan, for example, a federal judge in July struck down a Republican-backed state law ending straight-party voting, a practice in which a voter can cast a vote for all offices with one mark. Now the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit is expected to decide on the issue before the Nov. 8 election. It does show you at places where the election can be expected to be close, the sides are fighting what can be a game of inches, said Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine who follows election law litigation. Long lines at the polls were one of the voting issues that surfaced in states in the 2012 election. And the issue is back, most notably in Maricopa County, Arizona, the states most populous, where long lines during the March 22 primaries resulted from fewer polling places ostensibly as a cost-saving measure. The Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit over that and other voting provisions that it says disenfranchises minorities. The issue isnt just that voting locations were severely cut back, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, then chairwoman of the DNC, wrote in May in an op-ed column for The Arizona Republic. Many polling locations have been moved or changed, causing more unnecessary confusion, the Florida congresswoman wrote. In fact, almost half of all Maricopa County polling locations changed between 2006 and 2008, and election officials actually have more changes planned before Election Day in November. Oral arguments in the DNCs request for a judge to order Maricopa County to avoid those problems is set for Sept. 2. The challenges this year have a similar theme: Republican state lawmakers changed election laws, often in the name of ensuring the integrity of the vote, in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision in Shelby v. Holder in 2013 that gutted a key enforcement provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That provision had required nine states and other jurisdictions including Arizona, Texas, Virginia and dozens of North Carolina counties to get preclearance from the Justice Department before they could implement voting changes. Without it, states could make changes without seeking approval that some considered discriminatory. Democratic groups challenged those changes in the name of voter protection. In some ways, its the same old, same old in that we have litigation over voter rules working their way through, Hasen said. Whats different this time is there seems to be an emerging recognition that some restrictions on voting have gone too far and courts need to come in and provide some relief. Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit stopped North Carolinas voter photo identification law put into place in 2013, ruling that the state General Assembly enacted provisions of the law with discriminatory intent. The order also stops changes to North Carolinas elections that curtailed early voting, same-day registration, out-of-precinct voting and preregistration. The North Carolina Board of Elections said in a statement that it will not ask voters to show photo ID this election, absent alternative guidance from the courts. This ruling will very likely have a noticeable impact on elections in November, both at the state and national level, said Kerry Haynie, an associate professor of political science at Duke University. North Carolina is now, without question, a battleground state in which the Hillary Clinton campaign and other Democrats have received a major boost. North Carolina, which has 15 electoral votes, split in the two most recent presidential elections with Barack Obama carrying it in 2008 and Mitt Romney winning there in 2012. Two Republican legislative leaders in North Carolina said they would appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, which remains shorthanded with eight justices. If the Supreme Court is tied, that ruling would uphold the lower courts order and give no further guidance on photo ID. If North Carolina takes that route, it likely wont be the only one asking the Supreme Court to step in and resolve an election dispute in the months before the vote. There will be a flurry of emergency applications getting to the Supreme Court between now and November, said Edward B. Foley, an Ohio State University professor who specializes in election law. Yet to be fully resolved are decisions from courts that curbed voter photo identification laws in Texas and Wisconsin, which are much less dramatic wins for those challenging the laws and that could influence turnout as well. The courts in those cases seemed to find a middle ground that didnt invalidate completely a voter ID law, but insisted on accommodation for voters who genuinely would be disenfranchised from voting because they have trouble obtaining one, Foley said. As a legal proposition, that works, Foley said. But turnout is not just about disenfranchisement, its about convenience. In that way, the Texas and Wisconsin laws could still prove to be a hurdle to voting for those who arent too motivated to participate in the election. It does show you at places where the election can be expected to be close, the sides are fighting what can be a game of inches. Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine A support group for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one will be meeting for six weeks in September and October. The sessions will be held every Tuesday starting on Sept. 13 and ending on Oct. 18. The meetings are scheduled at 10 a.m. at Black River Memorial Hospital in the Barb Mason Conference Room. There is no cost to attend. Material and information on the grieving process will be shared with participants. The group will provide those who have lost a loved one the opportunity to meet with others who are experiencing the same sense of loss and provide the tools to help people go through the grieving process. To register for the sessions or for more information, contact Kevin Newell at (715) 284-1343 or (715) 896-1475. From the public files of the La Crescent Police Department. Friday, July 22 Houston County Sheriffs Office records check for permit to carry firearm applicant, Main St. 2:11 a.m. 26-year-old Holmen, Wis., man cited for driving after revocation. 6:11 a.m. Emergency medical, S. Second St. 10:53 a.m. La Crescent resident applied for bicycle license, Old Hickory Dr. 11:39 a.m. La Crescent resident applied for bicycle license, Regent Dr. 1:20 p.m. Auto unlock, S. Third St. 2:04 p.m. Welfare concern, Main St. 4:48 p.m. 19-year-old Houston man issued citation for driving after revocation, S. Oak St. 5:20 p.m. Shore Acres Road bypass opened for oversized vehicle. 5:36 p.m. Phone call into PD regarding a neighbor dispute, N. Third St. Officer responded and mediated dispute between the two neighbors. 7:07 p.m. Harassment complaint, La Crosse. 9:27 p.m. Hang-up 911 call, Regent Dr. Everything was in order. 11:33 p.m. A lost key was reported. Saturday, July 23 4:30 a.m. 24-year-old La Crescent man was arrested for fourth-degree criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct, S. Third St. 6:47 p.m. Assisted other agency with a theft case. Sunday, July 24 5:41 a.m. Assault reported, N. Elm St. 9:48 a.m. Camper trailer reported stolen, Sycamore St. 2009 Coyote brand camper. Check Facebook for picture and further details. 12:50 p.m. Emergency medical, Hwy. 16. 1:49 p.m. License plate found, S. 14th St. Owner to be contacted. Monday, July 25 11:14 a.m. Motor vehicle unlock, Jonathan Ln. 11:27 a.m. Shore Acres bypass opened. 12:27 p.m. La Crescent resident requested incident reports, S. Third St. 12:39 p.m. Trouble with juvenile, La Crosse. Fake social media site created and unwanted messages received. 4:00 p.m. Driving record request, Hwy. 16. 4:32 p.m. Shore Acres bypass opened. 6:27 p.m. Shore Acres bypass opened. 11:53 p.m. 20-year-old Mauston, Wis., man arrested for driving after revocation, driving with stolen license plates, and no insurance, Hwy. 14/61. Tuesday, July 26 6:59 a.m. Driving complaint, S. Third St. 10:10 a.m. Overnight security for church event, S. Second St. 10:51 a.m. Assist Winona County on an alarm call, CTH 1. 1:24 p.m. La Crescent resident applied for permit to purchase, S. 12th St. 1:39 p.m. Opened Shore Acres bypass for oversized vehicle. 5:12 p.m. Male kitten stray brought to police department, Hillview Blvd. 7:35 p.m. Motorist assist, Hwy. 14/61. 10:59 p.m. Arrested 25-year-old Dresbach man regarding an active Houston County arrest warrant, S. Third St. Wednesday, July 27 10:41 a.m. Assist Winona County Sheriffs Office with a disturbance call in Nodine, CTH 12. 11:58 a.m. Opened Shore Acres bypass for oversized vehicle and high water. 2:44 p.m. Keys found. 3:51 p.m. Auto unlock, N. Hill St. 5:01 p.m. Multiple calls reporting concern for two kids riding their bicycles in the construction area going toward Interstate 90. Officer responded and located the kids. Kids transported back to La Crescent. 6:41 p.m. Emergency medical, S. 14th St. Thursday, July 28 8:43 a.m. La Crescent resident applied for bicycle license, N. Maple St. 9:40 a.m. Open Acres bypass opened for oversized vehicle. 10:11 a.m. Temporary parking permit issued, Juniper St. 10:17 a.m. Driving records request, Redwood East. 3:21 p.m. Craigslist scam attempt, Hwy. 26. 3:27 p.m. La Crescent resident applied for permit to purchase, West Ln. 4:00 p.m. Drivers license record request, Main St. 4:46 p.m. Found property report, S. Second St. Property returned to owner. 5:37 p.m. Auto unlock, Kistler Dr. 8:26 p.m. Welfare check, Welshire Dr. Again this year, the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation board, staff and regional partners set out on a regional bus tour. We serve a large area 20 counties of south-central and southeastern Minnesota, which houses 30 percent of greater Minnesotas population and this bus trip is a good opportunity for all of our stakeholders to get a better sense of whats happening in the region. Its a great chance for our board and staff to see firsthand the impact of our foundations work. Economically, geographically and demographically, southern Minnesota is quite diverse, and comparing this years trip to our three easternmost counties (Goodhue, Wabasha and Winona) to last years western counties (Brown, Faribault, Martin and Watonwan) highlighted some of those differences. When I was in Congress, I would often refer to southeastern Minnesota as the New England of the Midwest. The rolling river bluffs, winding back roads and fall colors bring a range of tourists. Our bus ride was quite a contrast from last years straight-lined farm fields on the prairie of our south central counties. However, just like last year, we had a chance to hear about the challenges, opportunities, changing demographics as well as causes for celebrations in the eastern part of our region. In all, SMIF has invested nearly $7.8 million in grants and loans in these three eastern counties. We were able to see some fruits of our investments along the way: ABA Water Systems in Plainview, our first loan client; a one-year recap of SE MN Together from Bill Spitzer, which was seeded by a SMIF One Big Thing grant; and barn murals along the Zumbro River and a chat with Red Wing Ignite on their new entrepreneurial efforts, both which were assisted by SMIF grants. Here are some other take-aways from the day: First, our foundations AmeriCorps members are making change beyond their early childhood placements. We heard from Sam Brown in Winona, who started the Midwest Music Festival as part of his summer AmeriCorps project. Not only did he raise money for a tricycle course at the Winona Head Start, but the festival is now in its eighth year and draws 2,000-3,000 visitors annually. Sam also opened the Midwest Music Store to support local artists. Second, workforce continues to be a top concern. We heard from city and county administrators and business owners alike that finding skilled workers is increasingly difficult. The foundation gave a One Big Thing grant to SE MN Together, a collaborative process to address workforce issues. But, given the scale of the workforce issue, its one that many regional partners must keep working on if we hope to attract new businesses to our region. Throughout the day, ideas from mentoring programs to closer collaboration with community colleges were discussed. Third, in Plainview, the point was made that while there have been losses businesses, jobs, older residents there have also been gains. Judith Jordan, the EDA director for Plainview, talked about how some businesses were lost in the recession, but how others such as Kwik Trip and Family Dollar have moved into town. As Rochester goes, so Plainview goes, she said. This seems to be the case with many of our smaller communities surrounding the ever-growing Rochester and its Destination Medical Center. Towns recognize both the challenges and benefits of that proximity, and this dynamic is one that will continue to be explored. Fourth, tourism along the river is a major factor for many of our eastern communities. Wabashas National Eagle Center is a resounding success and a great example of what community members coming together can accomplish. It drew 83,000 visitors in 2015 from all over the world. We learned that the direct visitor spending of these visitors contributes more than $2.5 million to the Wabasha area. I would be remiss not to mention that in keeping with our support of local foods we came home a little heavier and happier thanks to donuts from Bloedows Bakery in Winona (an old college haunt of mine), lunch from Hanischs Bakery in Red Wing, and ice cream at the end of the day from LARK Toys in Kellogg. Additionally, our partners at Renewing the Countryside joined us for the ride and spoke about all the exciting local foods activity in southeastern Minnesota. Overall, everywhere we went we were greeted with a warm welcome and people happy to talk about their communities. We look forward to next years bus trip! I welcome your comments and questions. You can reach me at timp@smifoundation.org or 507-455-3215. Tim Penny is the president and CEO of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. If he defeats Sean Duffy in the Aug. 9 Republican primary and wins election as 7th District U.S. representative on Nov. 8, Don Raihala wants voters to decide a referendum with several questions. One would ask if U.S. Supreme Court members should serve 10-year terms instead of having lifetime appointments. Another would ask if congressional term limits should be set. And a third would ask if a balanced federal budget should be required. People arent satisfied with the kind of representation they are getting, said Raihala, a Superior man who is running for a third time for the 7th District Congressional seat. That representation since first taking office in 2011 has been provided by U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy, who lives in Wausau. Attempts to interview Duffy for this story were unsuccessful. Duffy has campaigned on reducing the national debt, which is $19 trillion. On his website, he says the nation borrows nearly a $1 trillion a year. The borrow-and-spend mentality is impractical, unacceptable, and without leadership to change course, a sure recipe to end up in the same financial dire straits as Greece and Spain, he said. Duffy blames the Obama Administration for not acting on measures to lower the nations debt. We need to decrease the size of government and cut spending across the board, he said. Boehner ally By having a balanced budget, I hope (Congress) becomes more responsible, Raihala said. He says Duffy continues to follow the legacy of former House Speaker John Boehner, who retired from Congress last year. For the majority of Seans record it reflected John Boehners record, said Raihala, who is a licensed real estate broker. He said he attended a town hall held by Duffy in Superior and asked the 40 people there if they thought Boehner was a great guy, and two people raised their hands. On another issue, Raihala said the nations southern borders must be secured. He said potential immigrants from war-torn Syria must be properly vetted before being allowed in the United States. The same holds true from people from any areas with a high terrorism risk, he said. Energy position Duffy said the nation should take an all-of-the-above stance to energy policies. He said the country should develop alternative energy technologies and also expand the countrys production of oil and natural gas. Duffy also favors completing the Keystone Pipeline, which would transport oil from Canada to refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. Tim Hass was earning $18 an hour in the bottling house at La Crosses City Brewing Co. when someone suggested he apply for an apprenticeship in the maintenance shop. Joining the four-year pro-gram would mean an initial $7 an hour drop in pay, and hed be heading back to school at age 38, but after being laid off from other manufacturing and construction jobs, he wanted something with a better pay scale and more job security. I looked at the long-term, he said. And the benefit of having a trade. Hass graduated in May, and is now making $24 an hour way above what I would have been and I have the skills. He was one of more than 10,000 Wisconsin workers enrolled in the states registered apprentice program, which provides on-the-job training in dozens of professions and is touted as one of the keys to addressing the states growing labor shortage. The program has helped generations of Wisconsins workforce develop in-demand skills that employers need and earn a paycheck at the same time, said Ray Allen, the states secretary of workforce development, who was in La Crosse Wednesday to meet with employers who struggle to fill job openings. With an aging population, Wisconsins workforce is not expected to grow noticeably over the next three decades, which Allen said will put increasing pressure on the state to train and retain skilled workers. Allen said the apprenticeship program which was established in 1911 and served as a model for a national program is the anchor of Wisconsins workforce development. Participation in the program dropped sharply over the past 15 years, although it has shown signs of recovery in the past three years, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Allen said increasing interest in youth apprenticeships which last year reached a 10-year high will result in better growth for the adult program. More than half of the participants are in construction trades, though the industrial trades have seen steady growth. In recent years the program has also been expanded to offer apprenticeships in information technology and healthcare jobs. Apprenticeships are open to anyone age 18 or over, though most employers require at least a high school diploma or equivalent degree. Last year the average participant was almost 29 years old with 12.5 years of schooling, according to DWD statistics. Ninety four percent of the participants were male. Openings are posted just like other jobs. Kathy OSullivan, who oversees the apprentice program in southwestern Wisconsin, said the strongest demand now is for plumbers, electricians and industrial mechanics and electricians. For the brewery, apprenticeships are a way to ensure there are skilled workers to take over as more than a quarter of the companys 66 maintenance workers hit retirement age in the next five years. We are all competing for the same people, said Monica Redmond, human resources manager for the brewery, which has 489 full-time employees. Theres just more opportunities than there are people. These types of positions keep us open and running. Steve Fuchs, whos maintenance staff is responsible for the thousands of motors, valves and pumps that keep the brewhouse working, said his apprentices are as good or better than most mechanics. For workers, its a chance to develop skills while earning a paycheck. Haakon Folkedahl spent six years in the Air Force security forces, but felt he couldnt support his family while going to school to become a police officer. He went to work at a sand mine, where he got into the millwright apprentice program. Like others who were laid off as a result of falling oil prices, he was able to transfer to the brewery and is now entering his second year. Zach Dutton joined the apprentice program right out of high school noting he worked for the brewery for three years before he was old enough to legally sample its products. Now entering the final year of the four-year program, Dutton said he had no interest in going to college and didnt want to join his familys concrete business. You get paid to go to school, said Frank Fogel, a third-year millwright apprentice who previously worked as an auto mechanic. Youve got to be stupid not to take it. DAKOTA, Minn. There are no suspects in an early Tuesday morning assault that sent a Dakota man to the hospital with serious injuries. The Winona County Sheriffs Department received a call at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday from Gunderson Medical Center in La Crosse reporting the admission of a 47-year-old man with serious head injuries, sheriff Ron Ganrude said. Deputies learned the man had been brought to the hospital by friends after being found in his driveway about four feet from the drivers side of his pickup, Ganrude said. Deputies were told that man had been at a Dakota bar Monday night, leaving between 11 and 11:30 p.m. after an uneventful evening. The man said he returned home between midnight and 1 a.m. Tuesday, pulled into his driveway, got out of his pickup and was hit from behind by an unknown assailant. He was knocked to the ground and said it hurt too much too move and remained where he fell until he was found and assisted by a neighbor Tuesday morning. The man suffered a wound to the top of his head and had a large lump on the side of his head. Surgery was scheduled for Wednesday, Ganrude said. Ganrude said the man had no idea of who assaulted him or why. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Winona County Sheriffs Department at 507-457-6368. TOMAH The idling of the Unimin Corp. sand mining facility in Tunnel City was short-lived. Unimin announced Tuesday it has added 19 full-time employees at the plant. The announcement comes five months after Unimin announced it would idle the plant and lay off most of its 65 employees. Plant manager Mark Massicotte said the plant ceased shipments for a week in March in preparation to idle, but orders quickly rebounded and no employees were laid off. The company had originally planned to begin layoffs March 21 and phase them in through May 21. The plant began operation in late 2013. We have seen a steady increase in production the last three months, Massicotte said. In fact, we are closely monitoring demand and opportunities that could require additional staffing in the future. Massiciotte said the plant now employs 84 full-time workers. Monroe County Economic Development Coordinator Steve Peterson said Unimins intentions in March were misinterpreted. It was going to be a slow process, and they were going to be back sooner rather than later, Peterson said. They were just trying to be upfront with the public. Town of Greenfield chairman Joe Bargle welcomed the news. The town stood to lose $200,000 annually from a 2011 agreement with Unimin that paid the town 10 to 15 cents per ton of sand extracted. Bargle said in March that the town was using the revenue for one-time expenditures to upgrade the towns roads. Unimin Corporation has served as very good neighbors, and we welcome their continued growth and expansion, Bargle said. Demand for western Wisconsin sand, used to break open crude oil trapped in underground rock formations, has been sustained by recent expansion of drilling projects in Texas even as projects in North Dakota have been curtailed. Peterson said Unimin didnt have difficulty filling the positions. Frac sand jobs are good jobs, he said. Theyre the kind of good-paying jobs with good benefits you want to apply for. U.S. Rep. Ron Kind is wrong about corporate trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Well continue to have plenty of trade without this particular set of rules written in secret, by and for the benefit of the largest corporations. Its a terrible proposal that must be stopped, and since Kind is so committed to it, he must be stopped, too. The idea that this particular set of rules is essential to trade is ludicrous. Look inside and see what it does. Of course the agreement likely will facilitate shipping more jobs out of the United States, but thats not the worst of it. Of dozens of examples, it extends the patent provisions on prescription drugs so we can pay more. To top it off, the partnership puts a tribunal of corporate lawyers in charge of deciding which U.S. and state laws will be negated because they hamper business profits. Environmental laws, labor laws, consumer protection laws corporations get to decide what we can enforce. There is one simple and sensible thing to do. Vote this thing down or dont even bring it up for a vote. Nothing falls apart; legislators can even go back and renegotiate it in public this time. Kind is representing the big-money crowd. We need somebody who will represent us. Myron Buchholz is that guy. He gets trade policy right, and a lot of other things important to working people. Vote for good representation early this week or vote Aug. 9 in the Democratic primary. As a champion of Wisconsin seniors, Rep. Ron Kind must be re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He continually has supported Medicare and has led the fight against Republicans who want to turn it into a voucher system, which would remove the security of this stable, high-quality health care program for our seniors. Kind supports strengthening and improving Medicare, and protecting it for years to come. Regarding Social Security, Kind again has led the fight against privatizing this program, as some Republicans have been trying to do for several years. Kind believes we cannot leave our nations retirement money subject to the ups and downs of the stock market. As a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Kind is committed to finding responsible solutions to address the financing challenges facing Social Security so that it remains strong for todays seniors, all the while making sure that it is available for future generations. Kind believes that the Social Security fund should be reserved for Social Security payments, protecting the surplus from being raided for other programs. Groups that mounted a successful court challenge to a Wisconsin law restricting abortions now are asking the state to reimburse nearly $1.8 million in legal costs. If a judge grants the request, it would put Wisconsin taxpayers on the hook for legal expenses incurred by plaintiffs to the lawsuit, which include Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union. A court filing from last week in the case requests the sum for attorneys fees, costs and expenses, with the vast majority going toward legal fees. A spokesman for the state Department of Justice said the agency would fight the request. DOJ has a duty to ensure that the state is not paying more than it should be for those fees, Johnny Koremenos said. Also Wednesday, the Walker administration announced findings of a statewide audit of family planning clinics, including several run by Planned Parenthood, seeking reimbursement for Medicaid payments that the state said were overbilled. In 2013, Planned Parenthood and ACLU challenged a requirement in state law that said abortion doctors must have admitting privileges to hospitals within 30 miles of the clinics at which they work. The law was passed that same year by Republican legislators and signed by Gov. Scott Walker. A judge barred enforcement of the admitting privilege requirement also immediately after it was enacted, saying evidence suggested no medical purpose is served by this requirement. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Texas. In the 5-3 majority opinion in that case, Justice Stephen Breyer cited similar laws in other states, including Wisconsin, saying they unconstitutionally infringed on a womans ability to get an abortion. The Wisconsin case was resolved shortly afterward when the nations high court declined to hear an appeal from Attorney General Brad Schimel to reconsider the Wisconsin law. The amount spent on the case was dictated in part by the DOJ twice filing appeals in the case. Koremenos said Schimel stands by the litigation decisions he made. As the states chief legal counsel, the Attorney General has a duty to defend and enforce the laws that are duly enacted by our elected legislature, Koremenos said. Those challenging the admitting privileges requirement called it a sham pretext to limit womens access to abortions in Wisconsin. They said it would force the shutdown of a clinic in Milwaukee because its doctors could not get admitting privileges. Proponents of the law said it would ensure a woman who suffers an abortion-related complication has an advocate who can explain what happened when she reaches a hospital. The audit findings released by the Walker administration Wednesday came from the state Department of Health Services Office of the Inspector General. In an audit of Medicaid payments to eight family planning clinics around the state, it found $63,813 in overpayments, or nearly 50 percent of total Medicaid payments to the accounts audited. Four of the audited clinics were Planned Parenthood locations in Appleton, Green Bay, Madison and Milwaukee. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Russ Feingold, vying to unseat Sen. Ron Johnson, faces a challenger in the Aug. 9 primary, Scott Harbach. Harbach did not answer a Wisconsin State Journal candidate questionnaire, but his website says he is a private investigator. The website slams political correctness and a biased media while pledging to make religious freedom and national security his top issues. Why are you the best candidate to represent your party in the November election? Feingold: Since launching this campaign, Ive visited each of Wisconsins 72 counties at least twice. And what I hear from Wisconsinites from Polk to Dane County is the same: middle class and working families are struggling to get by in an economic system that favors multi-millionaires and corporations over working families. ... Ill stand up to the D.C. special interests and fight for middle class and working families. What vote by members of your party last session do you disagree with most? Feingold: Im firmly against the Trans Pacific Partnership because its a raw deal for Wisconsins workers and businesses. Over the years, bad trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA have consistently shipped jobs overseas, upending hardworking middle class families. ... I know the TPP would be more of the same, which is why I stood up to a Democratic president, urging both Democrats and Republicans to vote against it. What is your top agenda item that you would like to pass if elected? Feingold: My top priority is to create an economy that works for Wisconsins middle class and working families. I would immediately focus on passing a federal minimum wage increase, enacting guaranteed paid leave for workers, protecting the retirement security of working Americans and seniors alike, and making higher education more affordable. ... We must also use all of our resources to defeat ISIS and other groups who seek to attack the United States. Boy, I have had some great months in my life, but the one we just got over does not rank among them! I started July with Lyme disease and two weeks later, when I started feeling a little better, I reacted to the medication with some such or other stomach disorder, so I was really sick again. On top of it all, the medication advisories recommended Do Not Use Alcohol! Talk about insult to injury. My ambition recovered this last week and I got back to mowing some of our trails and the ridge road and several food plots. The clover and root veggies in the wildlife plots have been overgrown with Queen Annes lace and a few tall thistles, some reaching as high as the roll bar on the tractor. I tried to miss the many milkweed plants as I mowed to leave them for the butterflies. It was disturbing to see hundreds of Japanese beetles crawling on and falling off some of the taller plants as the John Deere roared over them. I hope I smashed a few at least. My better-half has been making war on the Japanese beetles. She sprays some bug spray in an ice cream pail and then uses the lid to invite the copper/green nasties to take a swim. Shes got quite a few. Early Sunday morning, Vince Ruetten and I motored north out of Goose Island in search of a fish fry. After drifting around Gundersen Bay a bit, we finally found fish. We had fun catching little bluegills and every so often tossing one decent fish into the livewell. We caught sunfish, white bass, perch, sheepshead, some small bass and one decent flathead catfish. When the menagerie was filleted down in a bowl for frying, the Ruttens had enough for a dandy supper. Bella and Jenny fixed Vince and me eggs and bacon with some sliced tomatoes and avocado for a late breakfast, too. It dont get no better. Our neighbors told us to help ourselves to their sweet corn patch, so El and I dropped up and visited with Andy Beitlich before we filled a five-gallon pail with perfect corn. He told us Angie had a new a new baby girl this past week. Congratulations, kids! Three boys and a girl. Wow! Very cool. We plan to fix some of their sweet corn and steak and tomatoes for supper. We will probably toast the new baby girl, Callie and her parents I finished my meds yesterday and I can have a cocktail again. Whew! Steak, sweet corn, and fresh tomatoes is my almost favorite summer meal. The best summer meal is basil, brie and tomatoes as I have written so many times before. We will have that later this weekwith wine, maybe. If youre interested, mark your calendar for Aug. 20 when the Wisconsin Conservation Congress Mississippi River Committee (of which I am the secretary) is meeting at the Stoddard Legion at 9:30. The public is invited to attend. On Sunday, Ellen and I met Jonus, pronounced JAY ness from Denmark. He is a foreign exchange student staying with our neighbors the Sikoras. As far as first impressions go, he nailed it with us. Not sure how we did with him. Anyway, I look forward to getting to know him. Until next time, get out... I used to work around some news directors who actually cared about real news back in the 1970s and 1980s. People like Gene Carlson, Mark Quade and John T. Hoffland for example. What I see today on the networks and I dont care which one it is is all just inflated hyperbolic malarkey. One presidential candidate insulting another is not news. It doesnt matter who. I propose that everyone write their national news outlets. ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNBC, CNN, NPTV and NPR, Bloomberg and even Comedy Central and their local papers and demand that they never mention the candidates for president unless they say something of importance, something newsworthy, like presenting a new plan to fix Social Security or defeat ISIS or make the IRS fair. A real plan, not cheap shots with details and facts. Why would that be so hard? There must be a few paragraphs of national and international news about wars and refugees, the Olympics, fires, floods, famine, drought, revolutions, etc. People actually working together to help someone maybe? Something more news more worthy than calling someone crooked or thin-skinned or racist or traitor. Who cares? So what? Tell me something that matters in the real world. It is pretty obvious these slurs stick to both sides. You want to do something that gets their attention for real? Quit watching these news programs and reading these news sources altogether and see how they like it then. Believe me, it could work. Go fishing. Enjoy! Road trips have been popular with Americans for almost as long as their love of cars. But when gasoline prices are high, people abandon the highway. This summer, gasoline prices have fallen. And, more Americans are taking road trips once again. The American Automobile Association say more than half of Americans are driving on highways this vacation season. Wherever they might travel, there is much to see along the way. The U.S. is well known for its so-called roadside attractions. Roadside attractions are generally found near highways. They are usually free and are often huge representations of ordinary things. They are also often a bit weird. What is that? No one knows exactly how many roadside attractions there are in the United States. Not everyone agrees on what makes something a roadside attraction. June Julien is with the Steuben County Indiana Visitors Bureau. She says the website Roadside America lists about 15,000 such attractions. Well, some of the reasons to go to roadside attractions would be youve been in the car for hours, the children are antsy, the pets need some attention, and you can get out, you can stretch your legs, you can have a little bonding time with your family on something and youre looking at something thats different, you don't see it every day. Each state has hundreds of roadside attractions. Some are as simple as the meeting of three states in the middle of a lonely dirt road. A small sign marks the place where you can stand in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio at the same time. Others are huge, and can be seen for kilometers. The Smiley Face water tower in Indiana is one of more than 30 smiling water towers across the country. Stretch and rest your mind Zack Dunaway is on a 12-hour road trip from Atlanta, Georgia, to Michigan. He is creating his own attractions along the way by taking selfies at every state line rest stop. Weve stopped several times to stretch your legs and rest your mind from the road. Mike Swartz is from Toledo, Ohio. He says stopping at roadside attractions is a great way to teach his children. Kids get see different a lot of different parts of the United States, put the screens down and get to talk to your mom and dad. Older kids probably dont like that as much, but the younger kids -- its important for them to learn. Roadside attractions gained popularity after World War II, when soldiers returned home. The men had seen the world and were excited to explore their own country. As the highway system began to be developed, people started to travel. And this was before the advent of fast food restaurants. And there just werent a lot of places to pull off. And areas started to say hey, we want these people off the roads, we want them in our areas spending money, and they started to maybe build things that would attract people. The bigger the better Restaurants and stores tried all sorts of tricks to appeal to travelers, including bright, big paintings on building walls and wild statues. Calling something the worlds largest of its kind is a common title. These objects include the largest ball of twine, the largest rocking chair, and the largest tire. Not all roadside attractions are manmade. Kokomo, Indiana, is home to the Worlds Largest Bull. Old Ben died in 1910, and is now stuffed and under glass. He weighed 2140 kilograms and was almost 2 meters tall. There are also the strange sites, like trees with shoes hanging from their branches. A twisted house in the shape of an arrow brings in visitors too. In Huntington, Indiana, there is an outhouse collection open to the public. As strange as these things are, Julien believes that roadside attractions do more than give travelers a break and bring money to the local communities. The more you travel, the wider your worldview is and the easier it will be for all of us in the long run to get along. Im Ashley Thompson. Caty Weaver wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Are there similar (and strange!) exhibits along roads where you live? Tell us about them in the Comments Section below or post a message on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story abandon v. to stop doing or having (something) : to give up (something) completely highway n. a main road that connects cities, towns, etc. attraction n.something interesting or enjoyable that people want to visit, see, or do weird adj. unusual or strange selfie n. a picture that you take of yourself especially by using the camera on your smartphone kids n. a son or daughter screen n. the usually flat part of a television or computer monitor that shows the images or text advent n. the time when something begins or arrives: the first appearance of something outhouse n. a small outdoor building that is used as a toilet An international free trade agreement has become an important issue in the American presidential election. The agreement appears to be a big issue in what political watchers consider swing states. These are states that move from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, or back the other way, from one election to the next. The trade agreement is called TPP, short for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Officials from 12 countries negotiated the treaty. Those countries control 40 percent of the world economy. Supporters of the TPP believe it would increase trade among the 12 nations. They believe this would increase the worlds economic growth. Opponents believe it would mostly help large companies and send jobs to countries where wages are low. Both Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, oppose the trade agreement. Senator Bernie Sanders, who sought to become the Democrats presidential nominee, also opposes the TPP. Last week, Sanders supporters said the agreement is an example of the way government policies have ignored American workers. His supporters demonstrated against the TPP at the Democratic Partys national convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Guy Anthony is a retired machinist and labor union organizer from Pennsylvania. He calls the agreement an absolute disaster. Its bad for working people, he said. Anthony was a delegate to the convention. Pennsylvania is on the eastern edge of what is often called the Rust Belt, a region where manufacturing is especially important to the economy. The Rust Belt has lost many jobs to factories in other countries. Voters in many of the states could play an important role in deciding the presidential election in November. For the last 20 years, most people in Rust Belt states have voted for Democratic candidates. In 2012, five of the states -- Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa -- voted for President Barack Obama, a Democrat. But this year, in part because of his strong opposition to the TPP and other trade agreements, many people in the Rust Belt are supporting Donald Trump. Public opinion surveys show Trump has almost as much support throughout the Rust Belt as Hillary Clinton. In some states he has more. If Trump wins some or all of the states, he could become the next president. One of the most important swing states in the Rust Belt is Ohio. Dennis Kucinich was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state. He is a Democrat and a former presidential candidate. He has opposed free trade agreements for many years. He told VOA that the agreements are among the reasons voters in the state support Trump. He said workers have been sold out by both political parties. Trade agreements have cost this country millions of jobs, lowered the standard of living, knocked down wages, cut benefits and reduced pensions, he said. Voters in the Rust Belt may also be supporting Trump because of Clintons support for earlier trade agreements. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, signed the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993. Some experts have blamed the agreement for a loss of jobs. Some observers believe if Hillary Clinton becomes president, she will change her opposition to the TPP. They note that when she was secretary of state, she helped write the agreement. Then, when she began running for president, she announced her opposition to it. Susan Hall is a Sanders delegate from Pennsylvania. Im pretty confident shell flip her position back on it if she becomes president, Hall said. Clinton representatives say she will not change her position. They note that the TPP does not meet her demands for protecting American workers. But Trump believes Clinton is only temporarily opposed to the deal. We all know (what) is going to happen if she wins the presidency, he told reporters last week. But even though many politicians and reporters are talking about the TPP, surveys show that many Americans do not even know what it is. Earlier this year, one study showed 72 percent of Americans either had not heard of the agreement or had not heard much about it. Charley Ballard teaches economics and organizes opinion surveys at Michigan State University. Ill bet if we asked a sample of people what the TPP is, a lot would say, toilet paper something, he said. Before the election, many Americans did not know what the TPP was. Ballard said I think it probably still isnt well-known, even when it is being discussed during the campaign. Gary Hawley of Wisconsin was a delegate to the Democratic convention. He is a retired carpenter and union member. He says many people in his state may not believe the TPP is an important issue. I dont think people know enough about the TPP, and youve got to know about something before you can agree or disagree with it, he said. Im Christopher Jones-Cruise. VOAs William Gallo reported this story from Philadelphia. It was adapted for Learning English by Christopher Jones-Cruise. George Grow 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 swing state n. a US state in which the Democratic and Republican candidates both have a good chance of winning (also called battleground state) region n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way sold out phrasal verb to do something that does not agree with your beliefs, values, etc., especially in order to make money standard of living n. the amount of wealth, comfort and possessions that a person or group has knocked down adj. informal reduced; lowered benefit n. something extra (such as vacation time or health insurance) that is given by an employer to workers in addition to their regular pay pension n. an amount of money that a company or the government pays to a person who is old or sick and no longer works confident adj. certain that something will happen or that something is true flip v. to change; to return to a previous position, opinion or belief sample n. a group of people or things that are taken from a larger group and studied, tested, or questioned to get information South Korean and U.S. military officials say North Korea carried out a ballistic missile test early Wednesday. U.S. officials say two missiles were launched. One was successful. The other missile reportedly exploded immediately after launch. The test is the fourth such missile launch in recent weeks, although North Korea faces strong international restrictions linked to the activity. The United Nations, South Korea and the U.S. have placed economic and trade sanctions on North Korea because of its nuclear and missile programs. In addition, the U.S. has placed sanctions on North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong-un, for human rights abuses. The launch Wednesday took place from the countrys western Hwanghae province. One missile traveled about 1,000 kilometers to the east before landing close to or in Japanese waters. Japan's Prime Minister called the launch a grave threat to his countrys security. Japans defense ministry said the missile fell into the sea inside the countrys exclusive economic zone. The United States condemned the launch as a possible threat to U.S. interests in the area Wednesday. State Department spokeswoman Anna Richey-Allen said, We remain prepared to work with our allies and partners around the world to respond to further DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) provocations, as well as to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said he was deeply troubled by the test. A UN spokesman urged North Korea to reverse its course and return to the process of sincere dialogue. The launch comes after South Korea and the United States announced the deployment of a U.S.-made missile defense system known as THAAD. North Korea is said to be seeking to develop a warhead small enough to be placed on a ballistic missile. South Korean defense officials say North Korea does not have the technical ability to do this yet. The latest missile tests also come as the U.S. and South Korea prepare to hold additional military exercises in the area this month. North Korea denounced the training as provocative and preparation for an invasion. Im Mario Ritter. This story is based on reports from VOA's Joshua Fatzick and Victor Beattie. Mario Ritter adapted their reports for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story ballistic missile adj. a kind of missile able to travel long distances before returning to earth sanctions n. actions, usually economic or trade penalties, placed on a country to cause it to follow international law grave adj. very serious exclusive adj. available to only one person or group provocations n. acts meant to cause tension sincere adj. honest, to show true feelings dialogue n. discussion, talk between two or more people Gold Star families have been in the news a lot in the United States over the past week. But not all Americans know the term, which is important to military families. Gold Star families are immediate relatives of U.S. Armed Forces members who died in battle or in support of certain military activities. These relatives can be parents, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters or other loved ones. The term Gold Star was first used in World War I, when families flew flags with stars representing each loved one fighting in the conflict. Gold Star traditions The flags had a blue star for each immediate family member serving in the U.S. military during any period of war or hostilities. If a loved one was killed while serving, the blue star was replaced by a gold star. The gold stars were worn on clothing and added to flags to let communities know the sacrifices made by armed forces members and their families. The stars were used to represent the honor and glory of the soldiers killed. The Department of Defense presents immediate family members of fallen service members a flag with a gold star or a lapel pin with a gold star. The exact number of Gold Star families is not known. The National Gold Star Family Registry reports at least 472,045 fallen military members have been registered by relatives. Military importance of families The U.S. Army says honoring Gold Star families is a sign of their importance to the military. The strength of our army is our soldiers, it said. The strength of our soldiers is our families. The army recognizes that no one has given more for the nation than the families of the fallen. Other groups followed the Gold Star program. In 1928, a group of military mothers organized American Gold Star Mothers. Since 1936, the United States has observed Gold Star Mothers Day on the final Sunday of September. Gold Star Wives was formed during World War II by a group of founding members including Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of President Franklin Roosevelt. It was created as a way for survivors to support each other and work together to improve the assistance they receive. Gold Star families have been in the news since the parents of a U.S. soldier killed in battle spoke last week at the Democratic National Convention. The parents, Khizr and Ghazala Khan, are Muslim. They appeared together on the convention floor. Gold Star controversy The father shared how his son, Army Captain Humayun Khan, was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004. Noting his sons sacrifice, Khan rejected Republican presidential nominee Donald Trumps proposal to restrict Muslim immigration. Khan also held up a copy of the U.S. Constitution and urged Trump to read it. His comments led the candidate to criticize Khan in television broadcasts and on social media. Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over TV doing the same -- Nice! Trump tweeted on Monday. In another tweet, he said: This story is not about Mr. Khan, who is all over the place doing interviews, but rather RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM and the U.S. Get smart! Trumps criticism was condemned by Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate in 2008. Trumps comments were also criticized by other members of Congress, family members of fallen military members and veterans groups. President Barack Obama did not react directly to Trumps comments in a speech this week to the Disabled American Veterans of America. But he praised Gold Star families for making a sacrifice that most of us cannot even begin to imagine. They represent the very best of our country. They continue to inspire us every day, every moment. They serve as a powerful reminder of the true strength of America. We have to do everything we can for those families - and honor them, and be humbled by them. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on a report from VOAnews.com. Additional material came from the Associated Press and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story glory n. something that brings praise or fame to someone lapel n. a piece of fabric on the front of a jacket or coat vicious adj. deliberately cruel or violent disparaged adj. someone or something described as weak or unimportant humble adj. showing modesty, not proud An unusually heavy downpour hit Durban for two days before the BRICS summit's debut on African soil, but interest for a better platform for emerging markets were still sparked at the summit. As toxic algae blooms continue to wreak havoc along Florida's Atlantic coast, state leaders are stopping short of doing the one thing environmentalists say is critical to solving the crisis: purchasing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of land owned by the sugar industry. Officials meet as toxic algae crisis intensifies Purchasing land owned by the sugar industry could be key to solving crisis The land, which sits south of Lake Okeechobee, could be used to store discharges of polluted water from the lake that scientists believe are causing the blooms. Gov. Rick Scott and the independently-elected Florida Cabinet have the authority to purchase land on behalf of the state but at their August meeting on Tuesday lacked both the political will and the money to do so. While supportive of a land-buy, Florida Chief Financial Jeff Atwater, a Republican, said the legislature would have to appropriate funds before the cabinet could exercise its purchasing authority through the Florida Forever program. "I think that's where this process should continue to pursue. That's was what it was made available for, it's been contracted, it's been optioned. I think you're going to have to ask some people 'why aren't we appropriating these dollars to get this done,'" Atwater suggested. The legislature, however, won't begin the appropriations process until its regular session early next year. When it adjourned this year's session in March, the algae bloom issue had yet to reach crisis status. Gov. Scott, whose political committee accepted a $100,000 contribution from the U.S. Sugar Corporation on June 10, has been largely dismissive of acquiring land to address the problem. Earlier this year, Scott's South Florida Water Management District appointees nixed a deal negotiated by former Gov. Charlie Crist that would have transferred millions of acres of U.S. Sugar land to the state for a cost of roughly $350 million. Instead, the governor has increased pressure on the federal government to repair a dike he believes isn't adequately containing the size of the discharges. Scott also plans to ask lawmakers for funding to replace damaged septic tanks and has asked environmental regulators for long-term strategies that can be used to prevent polluted water from entering canals and estuaries. "When you look at reclamation and what you can do now, it's really amazing. If we can get more people, especially in those highly concentrated areas, onto that advanced wastewater treatment, certainly our water quality will benefit from that," said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson. Earl is now a hurricane -- the fifth named storm of the season. Earl is well south of the U.S. Winds have increased to 70-75 mph Florida will see no effect from storm Earl did get more organized today. But it ran out of time to strengthen before making landfall in Belize. It will move directly west over land, causing it to weaken quickly as it moves into Mexico. On Sunday, Earl was a weaker tropical wave but knocked down power lines and started a fire that killed six passengers on a bus in the Dominican Republic. Stay with Bay News 9 and the Bay News 9+ app for updates. A University of South Florida researcher recent study into lightning should serve as yet another reminder to Tampa Bay residents to get indoors when they see lightning or hear thunder. Study analyzed power contained in single lightning strike Study utilized new method involving fossilized pieces of sand Matthew Pasek, associate geology professor at USF, says lightning is understudied, especially its effects on rocks. He and his team began their work in a sand mine in Lake Wales. They scoured the sand for fulgurites -- fossilized pieces of sand formed by lightning strikes. [Lightning] vaporizes the sand," said Pasek. "Imagine the energy you need to vaporize sand. Its a lot. Fulgarites are fossilized pieces of sand formed by lightning strikes. (Erin Maloney, staff) Some of the fulgurites Pasek and his team examined were thousands of years old. What we found is that the average energy of a lightning strike is about 1 megajoule per meter, said Pasek. Pasek equated that level of power output per meter to the energy used by a car driving 60 miles per hour. Its also equal to the amount of energy expended if you ran your microwave for 30 minutes straight. Typically, lightning strikes can be anywhere from 10 to 100 meters long. And in the Bay area, generally considered the lightning capital of North America, the strikes come fast and furious. Weve seen on our lightning counters, in excess of four or five hundred lightning strikes over a 15 minute period in a small area, said Meteorologist Josh Linker. The new study is a good reminder to head inside this summer when you see lightning or hear thunder. Paseks research was published in the journal Scientific Reports. Mumbai: The Bombay High Court today asked Rabia Khan, mother of late actress Jiah Khan whose body was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her house in 2013, to draw a list pointing out anomalies, if any, in the probe made by police and CBI into the death of her daughter. While the Mumbai police and the CBI have concluded that it was a case of suicide, Rabia Khan claimed her daughter was murdered and demanded that Jiah Khan's actor boyfriend Suraj Pancholi should be tried for murder and not for abetment of suicide. Khan is demanding a probe by Special Investigation Team (SIT) alleging that CBI, currently investigating the case, had concurred with the finding of the Mumbai police that Jiah Khan's death was a case of suicide and not homicide. A division bench headed by Justice Naresh Patil asked Rabia to prepare the list of anomalies and submit it on 23 August. The bench said the list should have three columns one listing anomalies in police probe, the second enumerating anomalies in CBI investigation and the third mentioning Mrs Khan's views on the points left out in the probe. Khan's lawyer Dhairyasheel Patil pointed out anomalies saying the probe had not taken into account the BBM (mobile) messages exchanged between Jiah Khan and Suraj Pancholi. He claimed Pancholi had deleted these messages but this aspect was not considered in the probe. Patil also pointed out that the post mortem report had mentioned that Jiah Khan's neck bore an injury mark which indicated she might have been strangulated or assaulted but this too had not been considered by the investigating authorities. Read on Firstpost: Jiah Khan was not murdered; she committed suicide, says CBI to Bombay HC Additional solicitor general Anil Singh, however, said that CBI had consulted on the injury mark an expert from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) who had ruled out murder while asserting that it was a case of suicide. Singh also said that the probe done by CBI was in the right direction and the allegations levelled by Khan were baseless. Pancholi was arrested on charge of abetting her suicide on 10 June 2013, a week after the body of the actress was found hanging at her residence here. He was released on 2 July 2013, after the high court granted him bail. New Delhi: Apple CEO Tim Cook during his visit met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and spoke of possibilities of manufacturing, but the company has not submitted any proposal with the IT Ministry to set up its plant in India, Parliament was informed today. Cook visited Hyderabad on 20 May to launch the technology centre relating to their maps division in presence of Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekar Rao, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology P P Chaudhary said in a reply to the Lok Sabha. "He also called on the Prime Minister on 21 May, 2016. He shared Apple Inc's future plans for India and spoke of possibilities of manufacturing and retailing in India. There is no proposal with this ministry from Apple Inc to set up a manufacturing unit in the country," Chaudhary said. After meeting senior officials from manufacturing giant Foxconn, partner of Apple, the then telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in May had said the Cupertino-based technology major was coming to manufacture iPhones in India. Apple has been lobbying hard for exemption from the mandatory 30 percent local sourcing on the ground that its products have such high-end technology that these cannot be sourced locally here. The government in June relaxed FDI norms by giving a three-year exemption from local sourcing to foreign players in single-brand retail and a further five-year relaxation for 'state-of-the-art' and 'cutting-edge' technology. The long-awaited Goods and Services Tax Bill is expected to be passed on Wednesday in Rajya Sabha. With the major opposition party, Congress now agreeing to the passage of the bill, major hurdles for the Bill have been cleared. With the introduction of the new law, businesses will be motivated to remodel their financial infrastructure and bring more efficiency, said businessmen in India Inc. Duties paid can now be claimed back/ taken credit as opposed to the existing chain effect of taxes (CST, Octroi/local body tax/ central excise/ Service tax) levied upon previous ones. Such additional cost will now not get absorbed at each level. The tax cascading will be minimised. GST will replace VAT, Central Excise, service tax and some other indirect taxes. The incidence of tax, tax structure and set-off mechanism under GST will be significantly different compared with the existing indirect taxes since it is a consumption-based tax. Any interstate movement of goods will attract tax even though it is not a sale, informs Kaustubh Roplekar, Chief Financial Officer, Racold Thermo Pvt Ltd. The government has constituted GSTN for creating online platform for returns and compliances. Hence, internal tax infrastructure needs to be aligned to those needs. All compliances will be online and will have very high information requirement since data to be uploaded would be at the transaction level. The existing ERP/IT system needs to be assessed and upgraded in order to support incremental information/data requirements under GST regime. India Inc is keenly awaiting its passage. Many hail it as a tremendous reform and the biggest since liberalization in 1991. The GST will help us tremendously, said Adi Godrej, scion of the over 100 year-old Godrej Group. Taxes will come down. For the group, the GST will go a long way as logistics, operational costs will come down. It will be beneficial to consumers, producers. So will the price of companies products come down? Godrej said that can be decided only after the GST bill is passed. Unless the final GST rate on each product category is known such calculation will be speculative, analysts said. With GST, overall taxes on goods are likely to come down and make them cheaper. However, there may be some teething troubles as the new law comes into effect. In the long run, the lower tax burden could translate into lower prices on goods for consumers. Organisational restructure Organisations will have to upgrade technology infrastructure, as most of the processes are automated in GST regimes in respect of tax credit, redesigning of invoices and other procedural aspects. Since all indirect taxes will be subsumed in GST, it will bring in significant change in processes, training teams and developing IT systems. Most organisations have put any major warehousing or logistics decisions on hold till they have clarity on GST law. At Racold, the company is prepared for it, said Roplekar, CFO. We have sensitised the relevant functions for designing a supply chain which takes into account the set-off mechanism under GST and prevent any tax loss in the value chain. To pioneer the uniform understanding of GST across the value chain, we have commenced discussions and training to our vendors to ensure they will be fully compliant under GST regime since only then can Racold avail set-off credits." The automotive sector will be benefitted, feel some. It will be positive primarily because of the removal of cascading effect, said A K Rastogi, GM (Finance), Nippon Audiotronix. Currently most car manufactures are located in a few states in India. When they sell cars to other states, they charge 2 percent CST, which includes the cost of car as it is not creditable. However, in GST regime, credit is available. Currently, the MRP-based payment of excise is applicable on accessories which cause higher landed costs, while with GST, this will no longer be applicable. With easy credit mechanism, all taxes on inputs will be set-off against the output liability of GST. Input may be capital goods or input service, credit of all is available for set-off, said Rastogi. Win-win, says India Inc Many see it as a win-win situation for manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and suppliers as they will all be able to recover GST incurred on input costs in the form of tax credits which will reduce the cost of doing business. However, companies will need to reassess their logistic delivery and invoicing systems. Normally, companies set up warehouses in every state to avoid taxes because transfers of inventory from one state to another are not subject to CST while trade is. The new law will motivate businesses to remodel their logistics and warehousing solutions, said Alok Dubey, CFO, Acer. The law, giving enough incentive for companies to declare transaction in order to claim tax credits, will reduce overall tax evasion. Normally, a number of government departments (tax departments) exist which need to be dealt with. Businesses will now only have to deal with State and Central GST Departments instead of a variety of state and central departments. This will hopefully bring down disputes, litigation and cost of compliance. One of the greatest benefits of GST is that it is built ground-up as a technology-enabled tax system, says Bharat Goenka, Managing Director, Tally Solutions Pvt Ltd. In the past, it was not feasible for the government to systematically mitigate the risk of fraud, since there was no practical human ability to keep track and trace the culprits who could or would repeatedly create phantom organisations, and/or phantom invoices. However, GST gives extraordinary traceability. For one, it fully eliminates the ability to have phantom invoices. That alone, will massively reduce the problem, says Goenka. Goenka suggests that with the near ubiquity of Aadhaar, and the passage of the Aadhaar Bill, the government must mandate that all GST registrations are traceable to individuals based on their Aadhaar identity. The Monsoon session of Parliament 2016 will go down in history as the one which passed the landmark The Constitution (122nd Amendment) (GST) Bill, 2014 with 203 Ayes and 0 Noes. The AIADMK which had wanted six amendments, as expected walked out after registering their point. All present and voting in Rajya Sabha were for passage of the Bill. No one opposed it. That meets the constitutional requirement for a constitutional amendment bill that it shall be passed by no less than half of the members of total strength of the House and no less than two-third of present and voting. Since the Rajya Sabha introduced a few amendments while passing the bill, the Lok Sabha will now have to pass the revised bill before the Monsoon session ends on 12 August. But given the numbers of the NDA in Lower House and all parties arriving at a larger consensus, its passage is not expected to be problematic. With Congress and BJP moving from totally conflicting positions on the bill over the past few years to arriving at a virtual unanimity, the passage of the bill shall forever be quoted as a test case to all students of politics, economics and law. But what changed between then and now? Or to be more precise between the last Monsoon session and this one? Let's turn the clock to exactly a year ago. The 2015 Monsoon session was a complete washout. The winter session 2015 was no different. Since then, there has been a strategic change in the thought process in the BJP and Congress leadership. The bill was critical for Prime Minister Modi to show the world that his resolve to reform the economy was strong. He had learnt his lessons from Land Acquisition Bill. Patience and consensus building was the key. Modi and his core team of ministers realised that an unending confrontationist, aggressive mode vis-a-vis Congress and its leaders where the ministers would not lose even a second to retaliate and verbally mow down the main opposition party leaders, with or without provocation, was of no help to anyone. Electorally, Congress had been vanquished and the BJP's verbal onslaught against it inside the Parliament was only resulting in vociferous protests. The Congress, on the other hand, realised that its unreasoned protests were building a very negative perception about it. It was getting isolated on most issues. It too changed its strategy. The government had to extend a friendly hand. The Prime Minister took the necessary steps. First, he shuffled his Cabinet and contained lightning and thunder by placing the softer faces of Anant Kumar and SS Ahluwalia at the helm to deal with parliamentary affairs. Next, he made it clear to his ministers and party leaders that he didn't want any unnecessary fireworks inside Parliament. They were told to not pro-actively react to any provocation inside Parliament House. Adversaries had to be fought strongly out on the streets and electoral arena but Parliament was to be spared for debate and discussion. The BJP's measured reaction to Rahul Gandhi's Arhar Modi barb is indicative of that changed thought process. So when Arun Jaitley hit a roadblock with Congress, he began exploring an alternate route by engaging with chief ministers -- Mamata Banerjee, Nitish Kumar, Akhilesh Yadav-Mulayam Singh Yadav, Navin Patnaik, Jayalalitha, Chandrababu Naidu, K Chandrashekhar Rao, Pinarayi Vijayan and regional players such as Mayawati, Lalu Yadav and Sitaram Yechury. Most of these leaders belonged to "consuming" states, which are going to be major beneficiary of the proposed GST bill. To evolve a structured mechanism, he twice held meeting of state finance ministers and top officials. It left Congress practically without an option. In the end it seemed like there were still a few ego issues on both sides, but when the right atmosphere was created for dialogue, the issues were resolved. Jaitley and P Chidambaram's speeches gave interesting insights. "A legislation of this kind can't be based on partisan considerations. Every major party is part of power in some parts of the country, likely to be," Jaitley said. He then narrated how the deliberations proceeded and some of their suggestions gave way to amendments in clauses of the bill. Jaitley gave credit to the first head of empowered committee, Asim Dasgupta, the then finance minister of a Leftist West Bengal Government (2003), the erstwhile Vajpayee government and the UPA government which first talked about GST in the then finance minister P Chidambaram's annual Budget speech in 2005. Jaitley is right when he says arrival at a "consensus on GST shows democracy at its best". For once Chidambaram didn't contest Jaitley and instead said Congress "welcomes the friendly and conciliatory tone of government. The attitude and approach has changed in the past three-four weeks." He added that in the last few weeks, government had serious engagements with his party leaders. Even his criticism of government's attitude was witty and mildly sarcastic. He said how during the last two years in office he used to reach for the "Char Dhams," - the Prime Minister, the leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and the empowered committee of the finance minister. "We tried to pass the bill with Opposition BJP's support, we failed. In the last few months you (BJP) tried to pass the bill without main Opposition party's support. You also failed." The bill has gone through intense deliberations in various forums in the past decade. That time span notwithstanding, Jaitley will forever bask in glory as the finance minister who succeeded in having achieved a uniform taxation policy in the country. India moved one step closer to adopting the historic Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime with the Rajya Sabha, on Wednesday, passing the 122nd constitutional amendment with full majority. This sets the stage for the start of the biggest tax reform India has seen post independence. The constitutional amendment is, however, only the beginning of a long process of rolling out the GST in Asias third largest economy. The NDA-government has set a deadline of 1 April, 2017 for the final roll out. The NDA government will have to pass supporting legislations, the Central and interstate GST Bills and majority state governments will have to ratify the Bill post that. The government has to formulate the GST council that will decide the rate structure. The Congress, has insisted that the GST should be presented as a finance Bill not a money Bill, so that it will demand a discussion in the house. Jaitley has so far refused to commit to this demand and has only said that he will go by the constitution. Besides P Chidambaram, other Congress leaders including Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal and Gulam Nabi Azad too have asked the government to make sure the GST Bill comes as a finance Bill. The issue of final GST standard rate is another key puzzle the government will have to work out. The Congress wants the rate to be capped at 18 percent in the GST Bill, not in the Constitution. But the government hasnt yet committed on this. Jaitley, however said the objective is to bring down this rate, but the final figure will have to be worked out. I share your objective that rate has to be low, Jaitley said, adding its more of an arithmetic exercise. Jaitley also called upon the opposition leaders not to make GST a Congress-BJP issue. No consensus yet on Central, interstate GST? Anand Sharma, senior Congress leader and a key Congress negotiator on GST, said there is no consensus yet with BJP on separate GST Bills, signaling the continuing uncertainty on agreement on the finer details of the Bill. Sharma sought more clarity on central GST, integrated GST and state GSTs and reminded the NDA-government the need for including the 18 per cent cap in the GST Bill and the need for a strong dispute resolution mechanism. Sharma too repeated the logic of seeking 18 percent rate cap saying the Congress drew the figure from CEA Arvind Subramanians recommendations. Here, again, pressure mounts on the BJP on the rate-front. The task on finalising a rate will be difficult considering that many states have demanded a GST standard rate above 20 percent (as indicated by Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac). Besides, Sharma also seeks clarity on the items that will be excluded from the Central and state list. Sharma makes a pitch for inclusion of petroleum and alcohol in the GST list. The key take away from the Jaitleys response in the House is that the BJP and the NDA-government are willing to settle for a reasonable rate, leaving scope for consensus. But, the question is whether Jaitleys explanation on rates will help to take Congress party into confidence. States raise concern on revenue loss Jaitley also sought to address the concerns on the impact of states fiscal autonomy, saying the idea is to share power with the states not take away power. D Raja, senior leader of CPI, had raised the much debated issue of fiscal federalism, the longstanding concern of left parties in the context of uniform tax regime. This is a question the Modi government will have to face increasingly in the coming days as the government progresses on the implementation of the landmark reform. States must have fiscal autonomy. Once the GST regime subsumes all state level taxes including Octroi, the states and local bodies will have to wait for assistance, which, comes from Centre. Here too, the Centre has a hard task to convince states like Maharashtra about the continuation of adequate funds to the states in the GST regime. New Delhi: Government has imposed a penalty of Rs 2,313 crore on telecom operators for violating subscriber verification norms till 31 May, telecom minister Manoj Sinha informed Parliament Wednesday. "For all cases of non-compliant CAFs (Customer Acquisition Form), TERM Cells have taken actions which include imposition of penalty on non-compliant CAFs and filing of complaints/FIRs against apparently forged cases as per guidelines issued from time to time," Sinha said. He was responding to a question on action taken by the government for violation of verification norms by telcos. The minister shared details of Rs 2,313.05 crore penalty levied on telecom operators till 31 May. As per the data, state-run telecom firm BSNL tops the chart with a penalty of Rs 583.09 crore followed by Rs 377.51 crore on Reliance Communications, Rs 328.15 crore Tata Teleservices, Rs 300.34 crore Airtel, Rs 285.62 crore Vodafone, Rs 218.04 crore Idea Cellular, Rs 108.82 crore Aircel and Rs 53.14 crore on MTS. Penalty on rest of the players was below Rs 20 crore. "In case of non-compliant CAF, Service Provider has to either disconnect the connection or submit the compliant CAF to TERM Cells within 72 hours," Sinha said. Replying to a separate question on action taken for poor broadband service quality, Sinha said "financial disincentives up to Rs 50,000 per parameter for first contravention and Rs 1 lakh for second and subsequent contraventions have been prescribed by Trai for non-compliance with the benchmarks." He shared data of penalty imposed by Trai in last three financial years starting 2013-14 and till 27 July of current fiscal. As per the data, Trai has imposed Rs 1.46 crore penalty on telecom operators with highest of Rs 24 lakh being imposed on Bangalore-based Atria Convergence Technologies, followed by Rs 19 lakh on Bharti Airtel, Rs 18 lakh on MTNL, Rs 15.5 lakh on BSNL, Rs 13.5 lakh You Broadband and Rs 10 lakh on Tata Teleservices during the period. Penalty on rest of the companies was below Rs 10 lakh. Mumbai: The proposed auction of Kingfisher House, the erstwhile headquarters of Vijay Mallya-led group's long-grounded airline, may prove to be a damp squib yet again tomorrow as bidders have remained elusive even at a reduced reserve price of Rs 135 crore. This is the second attempt by the banks to recover part of their unpaid loans from Kingfisher Airlines through auction of this prime office property near domestic airport here, after not even a single bidder turned up at an earlier auction in March at a reserve price of Rs 150 crore. Sources said same fate awaits for the one-hour auction scheduled for tomorrow, as not even a single bidder deposited the earnest deposit money within the deadline of August 1. Besides, the still high reserve price, the numerous legal issues facing the group may also be keeping the bidders away. Kingfisher House is just one of the several properties, together worth over Rs 700 crore that lenders and the tax department will put under hammer this month to recover part of their outstanding dues totalling thousands of crores of rupees from the airline. The auction of Kingfisher House, which has a built-up area of over 17,000 sq ft and is located in the plush Vile Parle area, is scheduled to begin at 1100 hrs tomorrow. The 17-bank consortium, led by State Bank of India, revalued the property in May and reduced the reserve price by 10 per cent to Rs 135 crore, after they failed to attract a single bidder during the earlier auction in March. The airline, owned by beleaguered Vijay Mallya, who left the country on March 2, using his diplomatic passport, owes over Rs 9,000 crore including penal interest to banks. Mallya's luxurious personal jet along with everything inside that include cushy couches and even a bathrobe will be auctioned by the service tax department on August 18. Besides Kingfisher House, lenders have also separately put up for sale some of the movable secured assets worth Rs 13.70 lakh lying at this office property. The items on sale would include eight cars -- Toyota Innova, Honda City, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, among others. The reserve price of each car has been set differently in the range of Rs 90,000-2.50 lakh. These assets will be auctioned separately on August 25. On the same day, banks will also re-auction brands and trademarks of the airlines including the Kingfisher logo as also the once-famous tagline 'Fly the Good Times'. The other trademarks on sale included Flying Models, Funliner, Fly Kingfisher and Flying Bird Device. The reserve price for auction of brands and trademarks has also been reduced to Rs 330.03 crore from Rs 366.70 crore earlier. In the heydays of Mallya-led group, the Kingfisher brand itself was valued at over Rs 4,000 crore by Grant Thornton when the airline was at its peak. In its annual report for 2012-13, KFA said at its peak, it was the largest airline in the country with a five-star rating from Skytrax. The airline's brand had been registered separately from the Kingfisher beer trademarks. Banks will also soon auction Kingfisher Villa situated at Condolim, in north Goa, which they took possession from the group in May this year after a long legal battle. The date for the auction of Kingfisher Villa has not been announced so far, but it can also happen in August itself. According to sources, valuation process by the banks is underway for the Villa, which has come out to be around Rs 90 crore. DELHI/MUMBAI, India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Officials launched investigations on Wednesday into child deaths in India's mica mines after the Thomson Reuters Foundation revealed children were being killed in illegal mines and their deaths covered up. A three-month investigation in the mica-producing states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh found at least seven children have been killed since June, mining for mica, the valued mineral that puts a sparkle in make-up and car paint. But these deaths have gone unreported as victims' families and mine operators do not want to end the illegal mining that is the only source of income in some of India's poorest regions. Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi's child protection group Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) said these deaths in unregulated mines falling into disrepair were just the tip of the iceberg and estimated fewer than 10 percent of mica deaths are reported. Jharkhand's Minister of Labour, Raj Paliwar, said on Wednesday he was launching an investigation immediately. "I have ordered a probe. I have directed the Labour Commissioner to investigate and submit a report," Paliwar told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "Children engaged by anybody as child labourers is illegal and we will take strong action against such people whoever they may be and however powerful they are." Iqbal Khan, joint Secretary of Mines in Rajasthan, said the authorities were unaware of child workers in mica but would investigate. "We will look into the matter and take necessary action," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Other officials expressed concern about the deaths of children in mining of mica, a grey, crystalline mineral that has gained prominence in recent years as an environmentally-friendly material, used by major global brands in the car and building sectors, electronics and make-up. SCHOOLING NOT MINING India is one of the world's largest producers of mica but it is estimated 70 percent of its output comes from illegal mines, many abandoned in the 1980s and 1990s due to stricter laws on deforestation and the discovery of lower cost mica substitutes. By law children in India below the age of 18 cannot work in mines and other hazardous industries but many families living in extreme poverty rely on children to boost household income. Investigations by the Thomson Reuters Foundation found children working in and around mica mines in northern Jharkhand, southern Bihar and in Rajasthan in India's northwest. Dutch campaign group SOMO estimates up to 20,000 children are involved in mica mining in Jharkhand and Bihar. Y.S. Kataria, spokesman for the Ministry of Mines, said child labour in mica mines was a serious issue. "Children have to be protected from being exploited like this," he said. "The government is taking steps to stop all illegal mining. For example, we are currently developing technology where we can monitor legal mines and identify illegal ones using satellites." Kariya Munda, parliamentarian for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party from Jharkhand, voiced his concern but also expressed the difficulty in tackling this issue with illegal mining the lifeline for many families. "I am aware that illegal mining is going on, but I also understand this is a matter of livelihood for many people since there are no other alternatives in these areas," he said. "The central and state governments should work together to solve this problem." State governments in India are facing pressure from mining companies and activists to grant licences to illegal mines to crack down on the black market and child labour in mica but also provide training in other industries and schooling. Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia Director of Human Rights Watch, said this investigation exposed concerns both about right abuses around illegal mining and the risk to child workers. "The authorities should immediately investigate violation of rights, shut down illegal mining and evaluate the failures to keep children in schools instead of being employed in the worst forms of labour," she said. Save the Children India's Advocacy Director Bidisha Pillai said reports showing child labour is rampant in mica mining should force the government to take immediate remedial steps. "The government needs to check and halt the involvement of children in labour in these mines, which are functioning without regulations and precautionary practices of any kind, impacting the safety and well being of children they illegally employ," she said. (Additional reporting by Jatindra Dash and Nigam Prusty, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith @BeeGoldsmith; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights and climate change. Visit news.trust.org) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The BJP is to announce its new Chief Minister for Gujarat on Friday afternoon, a senior party official said on Wednesday after Chief Minister Anandiben Patel formally handed over her resignation to the Governor. BJP state in-charge Dinesh Sharma told reporters that Anandiben's successor would be decided at a meeting of the BJP Legislature Party after national president Amit Shah flies down here to oversee the transition on Thursday. He said the announcement of the new chief minister could come around 3 pm on Friday. Anandiben handed over her resignation to Governor O P Kohli. He requested her to continue as the working Chief Minister till the next incumbent is decided. Earlier, her resignation was accepted by the BJP Parliamentary Board. Anandiben was accompanied by state BJP president and Cabinet Minister Vijay Rupani and several other senior ministers as well as Sharma when she met the Governor. Guwahati: Flood situation in Assam marginally improved on Wednesday, although nearly eight lakh people are suffering across 14 districts in the state. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), more than 7.69 lakh people are still affected across 638 villages in 14 districts. Till Tuesday, nearly 10 lakh people were affected by the floods across 804 villages in 19 districts. The death toll in the current wave of floods stood at 34 across the state. As of now, the affected districts are Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Golaghat, Bongaigaon, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Morigaon, Kokrajhar, Dibrugarh, Biswanath, Nagaon, South Kamrup and Goalpara. Among them, Dhubri is the worst affected with nearly five lakh people still suffering, followed by Barpeta with almost one lakh and Goalpara with 86,000 people currently hit by the floods, the ASDMA said. Authorities are running 118 relief camps and distribution centres, where 23,405 people are taking shelter across 11 districts. Over 20,000 hectares of crop area are still under flood waters across the state, besides washing away number of roads, embankments, bridges and other infrastructure. Currently, Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at Nematighat in Jorhat and Dhubri town. Meanwhile, state industry minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said at a press conference that the government has Rs 654 crore under SDRF, out of which Rs 47.53 crore has been released to the districts for flood relief and rehabilitation measures this year. He said the government will soon start working on strengthening of the embankments. Brahmaputra, Barak and its tributaries have a total of 4,474 km embankments spread across the state, he said. Days after the Bulandshahr rape case horror in Uttar Pradesh, a 19-year-old teacher, while on her way to school, was kidnapped, driven to an isolated location and gang raped by three men in Bareilly on Tuesday, as reported by CNN News18. The perpetrators forced the survivor into a van, and then drove to a sugarcane field along a state highway linking Delhi-Lucknow National Highway 24, where the crime was committed. The entire incident was filmed on camera, as reported by The Indian Express. As per the report, the criminals fled from the crime scene leaving the victim in the field. Following the incident, the inspector of CB Ganj police station Rajesh Singh was suspended by IG Vijay Singh Meena, as reported by CNN News18. According to the news channel, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia issued a statement saying that the matter had been raised and that it will be rectified. The survivor, informed her family and later lodged an FIR. She alleged that the culprits had taken a video of the incident and threatened to make it public on social media, if she approached the police, as reported by The Deccan Herald This incident comes four days after the Bulandshahr incident, where a woman and her daughter, were gang raped at gunpoint by a group of dacoits, on a National highway in Uttar Pradesh. The deteriorating condition of law and order, in the state has lead to wide spread criticism of the SP government, as this Firstpost article points out. The BJP has also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. New Delhi: The Central district administration on Wednesday imposed a ban on public meetings, protests and shouting of slogans near Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence for next 30 days in view of "serious and law and order problems". Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) BK Jha issued an order under Section 144 of the CrPC, restricting demonstrations, making of speech by any political party outside Kejriwal's residence on Flag Staff Road in North Delhi's Civil Line area. Following the order, the Delhi BJP condemned the ban, saying "this must be the first time" since Police Commissioner system came to the national capital that an SDM of Delhi government has imposed such a ban. "It has been reported that various political parties and pressure groups may hold protests, demonstrations, dharnas, processions etc on political and others issues in front, near or around the residence of the chief minister, GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi), which may create serious law & order problems..." These protests need to be prohibited in order to "prevent public nuisance, obstruction to traffic and persons, danger to inhuman lives or safety and public property," the SDM (Civil Lines) said in his order. He said in August, there are many festivals such as Independence Day, Raksha Bandhan, Parsi New Year, Janamasthmi and people in general use to visit the chief minister and officers' residence in festive season. "Therefore, it is apprehended that any demonstration, protests or dharna etc will create public nuisance and serious law and order problems. It will also cause obstruction to the vehicular traffic movement, danger to human lives and property," the order stated. Condemning the move, Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay in a statement said, "It seems the ban has been imposed through SDM as autocrat Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is in no mood to tolerate any democratic demonstration or protest against him." Upadhyay also said it was "really shocking" that such an "anti democratic step" of banning demonstrations has been taken by a government whose head once staked his government to demonstrate & obstruct the nation's republic day function. London: Hindu tradition does not allow conversion by means that amount to aggression on an individual's human rights, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said, emphasising that Hinduism is not a religion but a tradition which believes in accepting and respecting all identities. "After contemplating any philosophy or any religion, if one of his own will and wish decides to convert to it...our tradition says every individual can independently decide what his faith should be. But using other means and converting people by lure or some other means, that is aggression on individual rights and that should not be allowed," he said. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh "Sarsanghchalak" was addressing a seminar on 'Identity and Integration', organised to mark the 50th anniversary of UK-based charity Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), in London last evening. Bhagwat also said that "Hindu is a sanskriti and not a religion". "Hindu is a tradition" which believes in "accepting, respecting and celebrating" all other identities, he said. "We have no problem with identities; we can live as an integrated society, humanity and universe. It has been achieved and lived by common people and can be found anywhere Hindus live. Hindu identity says diversity is to be celebrated," he said. Bhagwat quoted verses from the Atharva Veda to prove that diversity existed even in ancient times and "unity in diversity" was the central mantra of Hinduism. "Despite our history, we don't treat anyone like a foreigner...only politics sometimes disrupts all this. But these are ripples and then we revert to normalcy because it is in our blood," he said. "Ultimately we are all human beings, all 'atmans' (soul). We respect and accept everyone's identity but have an eye on the underlying unity. That example has been created by Hindu society anywhere in the world and can resolve all conflict," he added. The 65-year-old RSS leader, who was surrounded by heavy security presence at the Navnat Centre in south London, was in the UK as chief guest of HSS UK's Mahashibir 2016, which concluded over the weekend. Yesterday's seminar concluded his UK tour and included panelists like Dr Girdharilal Bhan, former national president of VHP, Samani Pratibha Pragya, head nun of Jain Vishva Bharati London, and Gauri Das, managing director of Bhaktivedanta Manor ISKCON UK. In his message to the Hindu diaspora in the UK, Bhagwat said, "Hindus don't insist call yourself Hindu. But the values are all the same...we all believe in unity of existence and doing sewa (service) Don't fight among each other, stay united and work for the world's good." Jaggi Vasudev's Isha Foundation has denied allegations made by a couple that its Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore is holding their two daughters captive. The foundation released a statement on Wednesday saying that the two girls Maa Mathi and Maa Maayu, born Geetha (34) and Latha (31), had chosen to live at the centre. "We would like to clarify that the duo, like other full-time volunteers, have been staying here on their own," the statement said. "We understand that their decision may have caused pain to their parents, which is not our intention at all. We have respectfully requested the parents to reconcile with the decisions they have made as well-educated adults and refrain from making baseless allegations against the Foundation and its founder." The Foundation also shared with the media a copy of a letter signed by the two women and addressed to the deputy superintendent of police, Perur Sub-division, Coimbatore. In the letter, the women claim that they are living at the centre voluntarily and when they tried to explain this to their father at the DSP's office, he began shouting at them and using abusive language instead of listening to them. They also sought help from the police to protect them against their father. Meanwhile, Ananth Anto, a full-time volunteer at the in Isha Yoga Centre between 2009-2012 reached out to Firstpost with his own story: "I used to volunteer full-time at the Isha Yoga Centre between 2009 and 2012. My father unable to bear the sight of his US-returned son working for a charity without any salary did exactly the same thing as was mentioned in the article. He filed police complaints saying that I was 'mentally vulnerable' and requested the help of the then district collector. All of this is of course total nonsense. This is just a case of parents not able to see their children leaving their socially-accepted path to pursue their own interests. The case that this particular article talks about is about two volunteers whom I know very well. They are 30+ years old and they used to have formidable professional careers before coming to the ashram. They were definitely not held against their own will. It is an easy way out for their parents who disagree with their decision to label them as 'brainwashed'." On Monday, the women's father Kamaraj had written to the district collector of Coimbatore alleging that his two daughters, had been "brain washed" when they had gone to the yoga centre to learn yoga. He also alleged that the centre's head was not allowing Kamaraj and his wife to meet their daughters, who were M Tech and B Tech degree holders and holding good posts. Letter From Isha Foundation by Firstpost on Scribd With inputs from PTI Srinagar: Tension gripped Kashmir Valley on Wednesday after the death of a protester on Srinagar-Jammu national highway and a bank guard in Srinagar late Tuesday, police said. "One civilian was killed and another critically injured when the security guard of additional district development commissioner (Ramban) opened fire at a mob that attacked his vehicle at Lethpora in Pulwama district on Tuesday," a senior police officer said. A bank ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) guard was killed under mysterious circumstances during the night in Chattabal area of Srinagar city. Police said the guard had been attacked and killed with some sharp edged weapon. Scores of protesters on Wednesday blocked roads and raised slogans in Chattabal area alleging the guard had been shot at and killed. Authorities imposed curfew in south Kashmir areas and restrictions in rest of the valley to maintain law and order. Things had started showing up during the last two days as private transport and pedestrian movement was witnessed in uptown areas of Srinagar. Apprehending defiance of imposed restrictions in old city areas of Srinagar and other places in the valley, heavy deployment of police and paramilitary central reserve police force (CRPF) has been made on Wednesday. Separatists have already extended protest shutdown call till 5 August asking people to resume normal activities after 6 pm each day. All educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities have remained closed ever since violence started here on 9 July, a day after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani's killing by the security forces. Staff at some government run educational institutions has, however, reported for duties during the last two days. Two bodies have been recovered in the search operations following the collapse of a British-era bridge, on the Mumbai-Goa highway across the river Savitri. The incident happened around at around 2 am on Tuesday. Reports also added that at least around 20 people are missing. Four NDRF teams comprising 115 personnel are deployed in the rescue ops, including divers who have been pressed into rescue operations, Rajnath Singh said in parliament. The teams have reached the spot and rescue operations have begun. Mumbai-Goa highway bridge collapse: 2 bodies have been recovered so far, says Raigad district collector, Sheetal Ugale ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 The coast guard has joined the rescue operation, as reported by Times Now. With the Prime Minister having been apprised of the situation, the centre too has offered assistance to the state government. The Navy has also been pooled in as two aircraft and a Chetak helicopter are also deployed to expedite the rescue process. Pictures of the bridge that collapsed on Mumbai-Goa highway in late night hours. Rescue operations underway pic.twitter.com/Q2Y1kebJAj ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 Pics of Indian Navy's all weather aircraft deployed at site of bridge collapse in Raigad (Maharashtra)for search ops pic.twitter.com/ifnaIx7ohs ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 Speaking on the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis has said that all efforts are being made to locate the two buses save any survivors. A massive search operation is underway, and the Prime Minister has assured of all help from the Centre, Fadnavis said, as reported by ANI. Minister for Public Works Eknath Shinde told reporters that a structural audit of all bridges in Maharashtra been ordered after the tragedy. The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also told the House that the Centre is coordinating with the state government and will provide the necessary help for the rescue operations. Singh made the statement after Vinayak Raut of Shiv Sena raised the issue, saying the incident happened as the bridge remained operational even though it was considered unsafe and another bridge over the river was constructed by the state government. The Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today sought a judicial probe into the Mahad tragedy. Raising the issue in the State Assembly, former CM Prithviraj Chavan also said a case under IPC section 302 should also be filed against PWD minister Chandrakant Patil. Meanwhile, Raigad SP, Buvez Haque has said that the rescue operations are being impeded due to continuing heavy rainfall and swift flow of the Savitri river but NDRF teams but all possible efforts were being made to locate any survivors, as reported by Times Now. He also advised people to refrain from going out while heavy rainfall continued. He also said that helplines are active to provide any information. According to reports on CNN-News18, two Maharashtra government-run buses, which left Chiplun and Ratnagiri, are said to be missing while several cars have been washed away. The two buses, that went missing, included 18 passengers, two drivers and two conductors. The bridge that collapsed was about 5 km from the town of Mahad in Raigad district, about 170 kilommtre south of Mumbai. Officials told media that flooding of the river Savitri could be the reason behind the collapse. However, NDRF DG also said that rescue operations will be hampered due to continuous rainfall. "Heavy rains are likely to hamper rescue operations. We hope conditions improve when our teams reach the collapse site." Chetak helicopters were deployed at around 8 am on Wednesday to carry out search operations to look for those who were swept away after the collapse. The local deputy superintendent told Firstpost that 80 percent of the bridge had collapsed due to heavy rainfall. #BREAKING | Eyewitness says two cars were washed away during the bridge collapse; No casualties confirmed yet in Maharashtra bridge collapse News18 (@CNNnews18) August 3, 2016 #UPDATE | 2 state buses missing, reports suggest many cars have been washed away News18 (@CNNnews18) August 3, 2016 One team deployed with 50 people from Pune; Heavy rains are going to hamper rescue operations, says NDRF DG OP Singh to CNN-News18 News18 (@CNNnews18) August 3, 2016 "The bridge which collapsed was constructed during the British era. One eyewitness said two cars were washed away. We are trying to confirm the same. The operations are underway. NDRF teams are on their way from Pune," Raigad Collector Sheetal Ugale told CNN-News18. "After talking to NHAI, the traffic has been moved to the new bridge which has been built parallel to the damaged bridge," Sheetal added. Pictures from the spot of bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa highway in Raigad (Maharashtra) pic.twitter.com/wSM49SYkbn ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 There are two parallel bridges on the river Savitri. The bridge which collapsed was constructed during the British era and could not withstand the tumultuous rain, news reports said. According to reports, traffic has been redirected from the spot. Officials are expecting fewer casualties and lesser damage since the collapse happened late in the night. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted that the primary reason for the collapse seems to be "the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar." Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with Fadnavis and was updated with all the details related to the incident. Spoke to Raigad SP & Collector about bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa highway. Administration has rushed to spot for rescue&immediate measures. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 There were 2 parallel bridges : one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one got collapsed. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 Traffic on highway is stopped. Administration is ascertaining strength & stability of new bridge. Once confirmed, traffic will be resumed. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 There is no confirmed assessment about casualties since the area is very dark. Administration will ensure speedy rescue & relief operations. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 Raigad Collector confirms that one way traffic is now resumed on the new bridge. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 Meanwhile, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan demanded judicial enquiry in this incident and members of the Opposition also demanded for the resignation of the PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil. Heavy rainfall has been going on over coastal Maharashtra for the past few days and the last 24 hours have seen torrential downpour that pounded the state. With 389 mm of rain, Mahabaleswar received the highest rainfall in the country in a span of 24 hours from 8:30 am on Monday, Skymet reported. This was also the highest rainfall recorded in 24 hours during the last 10 years. With inputs from PTI Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday sought to put onus on the Centre to resolve the contentious Vidarbha statehood issue and asserted there was no threat to his post over the emotive matter on which the ruling allies BJP and Shiv Sena are deeply divided. Making a statement on the issue in the Legislative Council a day after doing so in the Assembly, Fadnavis reiterated there was no proposal before his government to grant statehood to the region. "The Constitution of the country gives the right of creating separate states to the Centre and not to the state government. The Centre has blanket and overriding powers in this regard. As far as the issue of Vidarbha is concerned, there is no proposal for a separate statehood for the region before the state government," Fadnavis said. "I am the CM of a unified Maharashtra and there is no threat to my post. As a party, BJP favours creation of smaller states but Sena favours a unified Maharashtra. But in the government, both parties are working in tandem," he said. Narayan Rane (Congress) then asked Fadnavis to clarify in the House whether he would continue as the Chief Minister of a united Maharashtra in future as well. Responding to him, Fadnavis said, "I know you want me to remain the CM forever, which will happen... There is no need to dwell on the intricacies of words". Tell the cynics to take a break. There's so much to a name. The Bard, wherever he is, got it all horribly wrong when he said a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. He should speak to Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar to understand why. Gurgaon is so much a better place to live after bring named Gurugram forget the traffic jams, roads under water after a spell of shower or the crime rate; these are minor distractions in the great story of a city taking the magnificent leap through time and space. Now that there is an effort to change the name of West Bengal, it should be welcomed with enthusiasm. Banga, Bangla or whatever they come up with will certainly cause a magical transformation in Mamata Banerjees state. Is there a hint of sarcasm in the story thus far? If so, it is unintended. Coming back to names, Bombay was prosaic, Mumbai is so lyrical. Madras was heavy on the tongue, Chennai rolls off it so smoothly; Calcutta just had one 't' too many and the u just didnt make sense, Kolkata carries no such unnecessary weight. Bangalore was so 'phoren' and Bengaluru sounds so grounded. Theres nothing wrong if Mamatadi wants to call West Bengal by another name. As changing names go, this one was long overdue. Some had started calling the state Waste Bengal; some had read too much into the work culture of the state and called it Rest Bengal, and others were tempted to call it Bandh Bengal. Even the Leftists, who made bandhs as much a part of everyday life as bureaucratic lethargy and virtually turned so many areas of the state unproductive are not averse to a new name. Losing power after 34 years of misrule, they would like to forget the past, the name of the state included, and make a fresh beginning. The thought appears to have a very mundane origin though: Its the position of 'W' in the alphabet. "Since the name of the state starts with a W, our representatives get to speak only at the end of any function when most of the audience has left. To do away with the problem, the chief minister has suggested the name be changed," a minister of the state said some time ago. A genuine problem indeed! Imagine 'Best Bengal' instead of 'West Bengal'. It would have sounded awful for sure but would have solved this problem with the alphabetical order easily. Now that the move is afoot, expect people to be creative and swing between the silly and the sublime. Some names have come up already. Best Bengal is one of them. Some have suggested, in jest of course, Mamtakhand, Mamatapur and Mamataland. One person has come with 'Bekaristan' (Land of the unemployed) and another with 'Dadaland'. The latter needs no elaboration. West Bengals association with Sourav Ganguly is well-known. Rest assured, the brilliant collective Bengali genius will certainly come up with something nice a name that would encapsulate the greatness of the state and its rich traditions. The name change may have unintended consequences, though, especially for Uttar Pradesh. When Bengal moves out of the bottom of the alphabetical league, it will leave Uttar Pradesh holding that dubious position. Surely, Akhilesh Yadav will think of something. If he fails to get imaginative, theres help at hand. He can drive down to Haryana and consult his counterpart Khattar. Actually, if weighed down by confusion, Mamatadi could also do that. Gurgaon: A woman working as a duty attendant in a prominent city based private hospital and was allegedly gangraped by two colleagues in the hospital premises, a police officer said on Tuesday. The police said the incident was reported from the hospital located in sector-51 on 30 July, where some employees of the hospital informed the police about a female staff allegedly gangraped by two hospital employees. "A complaint was received to Gurgaon police control room by some hospital staff members about the gangrape, the police reached the spot and recorded the statement of victim. We have registered a case under section 376d (gangrape) and other relevant IPC sections in Woman police station in Gurgaon, following the statement of victim," ACP and PRO of Gurgaon Police Hawa Singh said. The two accused Mani Ram and Pradeep on 30 July around 1 pm, took the victim to a corner where they gangraped her and later threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed their crime. But the survivor raised an alarm and shared her ordeal with other hospital staff who informed the police Medical examination of the survivor confirmed gangrape, he said. Mani Ram, a native of West Bengal and his associate, Pradeep, a native of Mahendragarh in Haryana, both of them, were working as a supervisors in housekeeping department in the hospital and associated with the hospital through an outsourcing company. The survivor also recorded statement before city magistrate under CrPC section of 164. Both the accused have been arrested and were produced in Gurgaon Civil court which send them to 14-days judicial custody of 14 days. Koderma/Bhilwara/Sydapuram: In the depths of India's illegal mica mines, where children as young as five work alongside adults, lurks a dark, hidden secret the cover-up of child deaths with seven killed in the past two months, a Thomson Reuters Foundation investigation has revealed. Investigations over three months in the major mica producing states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh found child labour rife, with small hands ideal to pick and sort the valued mineral that puts the sparkle in cosmetics and car paint. But interviews with workers and local communities discovered children were not only risking their health in abandoned "ghost" mines off official radars, but they were dying in the unregulated, crumbling mines, with seven killed since June. In the mud-and-brick village of Chandwara in Bihar in eastern India, a father's grief laid bare the ugly reality of the illegal mining that accounts for an estimated 70 percent of India's mica output. Vasdev Rai Pratap's 16-year-old son Madan was killed in a mica mine along with two other adult workers in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand on 23 June. "I didn't know how dangerous the work in the mines is. Had I known, I would never have let him go," said Pratap, sitting on a charpoy outside his home, surrounded by friends and family who had come to mourn the teen's death. "They said it took almost a day to dig out his body after the mine collapsed. They cremated him without telling me. I didn't even see my boy before they set him alight." Pratap, like other victims' families and mine operators, has not reported the death, choosing to accept a payment for his loss rather than risk ending the illegal mining on protected forest land that brings income to some of India's poorest areas. The farmer said he was promised a one lakh rupees payment from the operator of the mine but has yet to receive it. The mine where Madan was working is illegal, and no one was available to comment on the teenager's death. Indian law forbids children below the age of 18 working in mines and other hazardous industries but many families living in extreme poverty rely on children to boost household income. The Thomson Reuters Foundation findings were backed up by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi's child protection group Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) which documented over 20 mica-related deaths in June including that of Madan and two other children double the monthly average. BBA discovered four children were killed in July. India is one of the world's largest producers of the silver-coloured, crystalline mineral that has gained prominence in recent years as an environmentally-friendly material, used by major global brands in the car and building sectors, electronics and make-up. 'Blood Money' A spokesman for the Ministry of Mines said safety in mica mines was a matter for state governments who are facing mounting pressure from the mining industry to grant licences to illegal mines. Social activists also support these calls, claiming it will help crackdown on the flourishing black market in mica, worker exploitation and abuse, and child deaths. "The central government has no machinery to inspect or control the mines," the spokesman YS Kataria told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. BBA workers, who have been trying to stop child labour in Jharkhand's mica mines for almost a decade, said Madan's death and that of six others in the past two months were just the tip of the iceberg, estimating fewer than 10 percent of mica mine deaths are reported to the police. "Although there are no official figures on child deaths in the mines as it is all illegal, we hear about them through our networks in the villages where we work," said Raj Bhushan, BBA's Jharkhand Project Coordinator. "Normally, we hear about 10 fatalities on average in a month. But in June, we documented over 20 deaths, including two of boys aged around 15 years old." Officials from the Directorate of Mines Safety were not available to comment on the number of child fatalities. The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a government organisation, conducted a fact-finding mission in Jharkhand's Koderma and Giridih districts in June and found children as young as eight mining mica. "We didn't get any reports of children being injured or dying due to mine accidents such as collapses as it is all illegal and not reported openly. But it may be happening," said the head of the fact finding mission of NCPCR, Priyank Kanoongo. A senior official from Jharkhand's labour department, which is responsible for ensuring child labour laws are followed, said there were no reports of children dying due to mica mining. "Firstly it is a violation of the law of the land if people are mining without any approval and if they are engaging child labour, they are committing a double crime," said Principal Secretary of Jharkhand's labour department SKG Rahate. Officials know of child labour District officials admit child labour is a problem in some mines but say it is restricted to remote pockets where government services and welfare schemes have failed to reach the poor with training in new industries and schooling. "There are some portions where mica mining is going on and where children are involved, and we're trying to roll out schemes to support families to generate other income such as training in goat breeding, masonry and making pickles," said Uma Shankar Singh, district collector for Giridih. Dutch campaign group SOMO estimates up to 20,000 children are involved in mica mining in Jharkhand and Bihar. Investigations by the Thomson Reuters Foundation over three months found children working in and around mica mines in northern Jharkhand, southern Bihar and in Rajasthan. In vast open-pits in Jharkhand, children as young as six squatted among glittering rocks scouring with their bare hands for shiny, brittle mica flakes, while older ones descended rickety ladders into shafts seeking better quality silicate. In Giridih's Tisri area, Basanti sifted through the reddish earth searching for pieces of mica while her 10-year-old son Sandeep climbed into a rat-hole dug in the side of the hill and descended 10 feet to pound on the wall with a pick-axe. His mother said the skinny boy in checked shorts and a white T-shirt has been working in the mines since he was seven and, with his contribution, the family earns 300 rupees ($4) daily. "I know it's dangerous but that's the only work there is," she said, squatting on the ground, a metal dish partially filled with mica beside her. "I know Sandeep doesn't want to do it but it is what it is. If he was able to go to school and learn and become something then that's good, but first we need to eat." 'Even adult mine workers aren't safe' In Bhilwara district in Rajasthan, boys as young as five were seen climbing down narrow, crumbling shafts to cut mica with a hammer and chisel, working for up to eight hours a day. Their sisters sifted and separated the mica on the surface, squatting on their haunches and using their bare fingers. Older girls also separated the mica and took it to a collection point. "Mine owners say the children aren't working inside the mines, they're outside. That they're just earning a little extra for the family," said Rana Sengupta, chief executive of the non-profit Mine Labour Protection Campaign in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. "But the children have no business being anywhere near the mines, inside or outside. Even adult mine workers aren't safe." At a mine in Bhilwara's Tiloli village, two young girls sat on a mound of dirt, sorting mica pieces by the side of a mine partly filled with rain water. "I don't go into the mine. It's too deep, I get scared," said Pooja, who looked about seven years old. "I sort bigger pieces from smaller pieces. It's not so hard." A few feet from her sat nine-year-old Payal, also sorting mica pieces with her bare hands. Dhanraj Sharma, a commissioner in Rajasthan's labour ministry, said he was not aware of child workers in the mines in Bhilwara or "anywhere else in the state". "Their parents are working in the mines, and the children stay with them. They may be playing there, they may be doing some small things for the parents. That doesn't mean they are working," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The recent surge in demand for mica has revived a flagging industry in India that dates back to the late 19th century when the British discovered mica in a belt spanning Jharkhand's Koderma, Giridih and Hazaribag and Bihar's Nawada, Jamui, Gaya and Bhagalpur districts. Once boasting over 700 mines with over 20,000 workers, the industry was hit by 1980 legislation to limit deforestation and the discovery of substitutes for natural mica, forcing most mines to close due to cost and stringent environmental rules. In 2013-14 India only had 38 reporting mica mines, according to India's Bureau of Mines. Threats and intimidation But renewed interest in mica from China's economic boom and a global craze for "natural" cosmetics has sent illegal operators scurrying to access the hundreds of closed mines in India and created a lucrative black market. Figures from India's Bureau of Mines show the country produced 19,000 tonnes of mica in 2013-14. But the same data shows exports were 128,000 tonnes, with more than half, or 62 percent, going to China followed by Japan, the United States, the Netherlands and France. Despite numerous emails and phone calls, no one could be reached at the Bureau of Mines to comment on the discrepancy in the numbers. Leading Indian colour and pigment maker Sudarshan said experts estimate about 70 percent of mica production in India is from illegal mining in forests and abandoned mines. This mica is sold to various traders, processors and exporters with deals conducted on mobile phones leaving no paper trail as it leaves India for manufacturers overseas. "We sell the mica to an agent in town, who sells to a big buyer from Kolkata, who exports to China, the United States, Germany and Brazil," said mine operator Dhara Singh, who said he and his brother owned a half dozen mines in Bhilwara. When asked about the two young girls sorting mica at the site in Bhilwara's Tiloli village, he said they were volunteers. But within minutes, four men arrived on two motorbikes, forcing all visitors from the site. The abuse of workers and threats of violence and intimidation tainting the industry have added to the mounting demand within the industry for the government to intervene to ensure all mines are operated legally while also helping impoverished communities find new sources of income. "The stock is there, the demand is there but the government is not granting licences," said one Giridih-based businessman, who exports mica to China, Germany and Britain. "Exporters continue to work, buying the mica from here and there. But there is a general sense of insecurity that the government could crack down any time. It is better they grant the licences and take the royalty." Schools instead of mines While the industry is economically unfeasible for some countries due to the need for manual labour, it remains a key earner in India where labour costs are low particularly when child workers are used. Child rights campaigners say authorities have overlooked these child labourers for years but hope drawing attention to child deaths in the mica mines may highlight the dangers and force governments to act. Occupational hazards include head injuries, cuts and abrasions, skin and respiratory infections like silicosis, tuberculosis and asthma but the risks from mining in poorly maintained, unregulated mines were also proving lethal. BBA's Bhushan said he and his workers met with most of the families of those who died in mining accidents in June, and found their only means of survival was this unlicensed mining. "All were poor households who are dependent on mica mining for an income," Bhushan told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "They fully understand these places are death traps, but they also realise they have little choice but to go back there the next day. It is essential that authorities address this issue before more children die." In a huge open quarry inside the dense forests of Domchanch in Koderma district in Jharkhand, Sushila Devi diligently pounds at glinting grey rocks with a hammer, breaking away chunks of mica and tossing them into a large plastic basin. The 40-year-old mother of six has been collecting mica every day for over a decade, yet she like most other workers has no idea what it is or its price on the global market. "We don't know what mica is, where it goes and what it is used for. All I know is that if I work hard and collect it, I will get some money," she said, adding that she gathers around 10 kg of the mica daily which earns her 80 rupees. "We take it to a nearby mica dump and the dealer buys it for eight rupees per kilo. I don't know how much he sells it on for. He would never tell us. Why would he risk losing more profit?" The mark-up is huge, say activists. Mica is bought from miners at a maximum of 25 rupees a kilogram, yet top quality sheet or "ruby" mica sells for up to $2,000 a kilogram, according to USGS data, helping boost demand for synthetic mica. Unique mineral British cosmetics company Lush, which prides itself on its handmade products and ethical trading, switched from natural to synthetic mica in 2014 due to concerns about child labour. Lush's head of ethical trading Simon Constantine said he knew something was amiss when armed guards were needed to accompany auditors to one Indian mine supplying their mica. But the retailer, which has stores in almost 50 countries, then discovered this year that the synthetic mica it was using instead also had traces of natural mica. The company said it is tackling that. "Mica took us a bit off guard as it was a new material that we had not really used before," Constantine told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview in Lush's head office in the English south coastal town of Poole. "But buying is an imperfect system that doesn't end ... it's always more of an improvement than a finished product." Up to 10 percent of mica globally is used in cosmetics. Estee Lauder Cos Inc is another cosmetics company using mica in its products but said it only sourced 10 percent of its mica from India and was working with BBA to tackle child labour, helping fund schools in villages in mica areas. "We strongly believe that education is a cornerstone in this effort, helping young people stay in school and providing the skills that will allow them to later on get work outside the mica industry," Estee Lauder said in an email statement. "While this programme has yet to end child labour in mica mines, it shows that responsible business practices and sustained collaboration can create better prospects for children living in the mica-mining region." L'Oreal said more than 60 percent of its natural mica came from the United States while the rest came from other countries including India. "In India, mica mainly originates from socially and economically challenged regions where there is a risk of child labour, unsafe working conditions, and where the supply chain involves multiple actors," the company said on its website. L'Oreal said it was important all players worked together and a summit in February in Delhi on responsible mica sourcing, organised by French non-profit organisation the Natural Resources Stewardship Circle (NRSC), was a good first step. NRSC's Executive Director Catherine Peyreaud said child abuse in mica had been going on for years but it was only when revelations about mica being used in cosmetics hit global headlines two years ago that action really started. She said NRSC was now completing a five-year plan with concrete steps to tackle child labour and improve living conditions in mica areas so children did not return to mining. In Koderma's Dhab, one of about 45 villages where BBA is working, Pooja, 13, proudly shows off the run-down school she has attended for almost two years since she left mica mining. Dressed in her school uniform a pristine white short-sleeved shirt and a navy skirt the bare-footed girl excitedly points out her classroom amongst the row of blue doors in the white-washed building. "I like going to school. I have friends here and I get to play and also get to study and learn things. I am happy that BBA came and helped our parents to understand that making children work is not good," said Pooja, who dreams of becoming a teacher. "The mining was dangerous. When we were down there, we were always looking up thinking the earth and rocks might fall on us. It happened to me once, but I managed to get out as my friend Munni helped me. I got badly hurt that time." Company action Pooja is one of the lucky ones and many more companies sourcing mica from India are now making efforts to stop children from working in the mines and provide alternatives. German drugmaker Merck KGaA discovered children were collecting mica at mines used for its supplies in 2008 so cut some of its suppliers and now only sources from Jharkhand and child-free legal mines. The company said in a website statement that it had also set up mica sources in the United States and Brazil and was producing some effect pigments based on synthetic mica. Another major buyer, Chinese pigment manufacturer Fujian Kuncai Material Technology Co Ltd, said its audits had found no evidence of child labour in its supply chain although acknowledged that it was a complex challenge. A Fujian Kuncai spokesman said the company was setting up its own firm in India to buy directly from and audit mines. It was also joining forces with child rights group Terre des Hommes and helping to fund a programme to save 10,000 children from child labour in Koderma and Giridih districts of Jharkhand. "Alone one cannot make the difference and we are looking forward to work together reaching our shared ambition: no child labour in the mica supply chain," the spokesman said. With companies needing mica willing to fund community initiatives, campaigners believe legalising the industry could undermine the black market in mica and help improve health and safety standards as well as combating child labour. However environmental campaigners would not welcome the reopening of these mines. Many mines are now on protected forest land and would not get approval to operate legally. Sengupta from the Mine Labour Protection Campaign in Rajasthan said a first step to combat child labour would be to mandate that all mines have an operator to report to the state to ensure workers' safety and earnings and no child workers. "In many instances, children are being forced to work because their parents aren't getting paid properly or because the father has fallen ill and has no health care," he said. "If operators are in place at every mine, we would go a long way in checking child labour." Some legal mines have managed to tackle child labour. The Sri Venkata Kanakadurga and Uma Maheshwari mica mines in Talupur in Andhra Pradesh are among the oldest and biggest licensed mines in the area but mine supervisor Syed Ismail said children don't work in the mines anymore. "In these parts, mica has always been traditional work that entire families have engaged in. My father worked in a mine and we would visit," said Ismail who has been in and out of mines since the age of five. "Over the years access to schools has made sure children are no longer in the mines. Now children here say M is for Mica." While campaigners hope that a renewed push to clean up the mica industry will help generations of children, it is too late for Pratap who has lost his youngest son, Madan. The last time he saw Madan was in April when the teen left the village in search of a life beyond farming and cattle, filled with dreams of returning home as a businessman. "He told me he was going to do something with his life and I was happy for him so I let him go," said Pratap. "How could I know the work he was doing was going to kill him?" New Delhi: Asim Ahmed Khan, who was sacked from Delhi Cabinet over graft allegations, today claimed that his family was being targeted by AAP, days after he alleged that he was receiving "death threats" from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and some of his partymen. The Aam Aadmi Party, however, rejected the allegations, saying Khan had teamed up with BJP to attack it. Khan claimed that on 1 August, he had received a tip off from a "well-wisher from the AAP" that his father will be targeted by the party and a false complaint of molestation would be filed against him. The lawmaker claimed that AAP was unhappy as he was raising "uncomfortable issues" in the party. "On the same day, I brought this to the notice of the Jama Masjid Police Station. "Yesterday (On Tuesday), three women entered our shop and started misbehaving with my father. They wanted to register a false case against my father, but we called the police following which they left," the Matia Mahal MLA claimed. He also demanded scanning of phone records of the three women, who he claimed had criminal record. The former Delhi Food and Civil Supplies and Environment Minister was sacked by Kejriwal last October for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs six lakh for allowing construction of a building in his constituency. Khan said he will soon "spill the beans" about AAP. He also claimed that two days back some miscreants tried to snatch his guard's gun outside his residence at 3.40 AM. "Two such incidents after I said there is a threat to my family's life say a lot," he added. Khan said he has been facing threats after he raised the issue of sacrilege of Koran in Malerkotla in Punjab. The Punjab Police had on 24 July arrested AAP's Mehrauli MLA Naresh Yadav in connection with this case. "This issue is very sensitive to us. We are demanding a probe into the matter by the party. What action is the party taking against its MLAs? At least probe the charges. Instead I and my family are facing threats," Khan said. "What I have been indicated is that the top AAP leadership, including Kejriwal ji, is behind the conspiracy to slap a false case against my father," he alleged, adding, "Target me. Why are you targeting my father? Your fight is with me." AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai said Khan is left with no other work but to attack the Aam Aadmi Party. "He was sacked by the Delhi government for corruption. The only job he has left is to team up with the corrupt BJP and attack the AAP," Bajpai said, rejecting the MLA's allegations. Chandigarh: Hours after a panel probing Bhagwant Mann's video issue was granted two more weeks and the leader asked not to attend the House till a decision is taken on the matter, the AAP MP said he should be allowed to take part in the proceedings till the committee files its report. The Sangrur MP said he is being "stopped from raising the voice of people including those of poor and Dalits". "They (Lok Sabha panel) can throw me out. But at least they should make the decision fast. Now they have taken two more weeks...Let the panel probe the matter but I should be allowed to attend the House till then. I am not held guilty yet. They want to suppress my voice," Mann told PTI. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan granted two more weeks to the House panel probing the issue and asked him not to attend the proceedings till a decision is taken. "Now with the grant of two weeks more to the panel, I am virtually out of the Parliament session which will go on till 12 August. I wanted to raise the issue of poor, the Dalits, the unemployed. Now I will not be able to raise these issues," he said. He said he will not change his reply given to the Lok Sabha Speaker on this issue. "They (panel) want me to change my reply. They want me to delete the name of Prime Minister and ISI. I will not do that," he claimed. In a letter to the Speaker, Mann had said the Prime Minister was "100 times more guilty" than him for "inviting ISI" to probe the 2 January terror attack on the Pathankot airbase that had left seven security personnel dead. Mann said he does not know what the panel wants to do with him. "I am clear I never intended to put the Parliament's (security) in danger. I had tendered my unconditional apology. But despite that the panel was formed and it means my apology was not accepted," he said. "I am ready to sacrifice my seat for the sake of democracy. I don't have problem if they want to throw me out. But they cannot throw me out of people's heart. I wanted to bring people closer to the democracy. They are not talking about the lucky draw and they are just stuck on security breach," he said. He said he would hold eight rallies between 7 August and 10 at several places in Punjab. To a query on demand of three Parliamentarians requesting the Speaker to send him to a "rehab centre", alleging he comes to the House "intoxicated", Mann, said, "What proof they have". Akalis are scared of their defeat in 2017 Punjab elections and are launching wrong propaganda against me." The panel was set up a week after Mann had put out in the social media a video of his vehicle passing security barricades and entering the Parliament complex. He had also videographed a room where Parliament questions were being sorted. On 1 August, a defiant Mann told the panel that he has not breached the security of Parliament complex. On Wednesday, the BJP Parliamentary Board held a meeting to decide the fate of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel who had resigned from the post of CM on Monday. The panel convened after 9 am and the members agreed to accept Patel's resignation. No announcement was made regarding the next Gujarat CM, but the announcement is likely to be made on Wednesday. BJP members Venkaiah Naidu, Amit Shah, Gujarat's representative in the Parliament Arun Jaitley, Thavar Chand Gehlot and JP Nadda convened at PM Modi's residence for the meeting. Anandiben Patel's resignation has been accepted by BJP Parliamentary board: Venkaiah Naidu pic.twitter.com/T8hnH9muem ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 After the meeting ended, Venkaiah Naidu announced that Anandiben Patel's resignation had been accepted, "Anandiben Patel ji will go to Raj Bhavan today and submit her resignation to the Governor." Many speculated that BJP President Amit Shah would be next in line to take up the CM post, but Naidu squashed the rumours. "No question of Amit Shah ji. Party wants him to lead us in national politics." No question of Amit Shah ji. Party wants him to lead us in national politics: Venkaiah Naidu on next Gujarat CM pic.twitter.com/PePR2YJ6Tq ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 "The next Gujarat chief minister will be from the state," Naidu added. He also said that BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari and Saroj Pandey will be appointed as observers, who will go to Gujarat and hold meetings to decide the next CM. Naidu also applauded Patel's 18 years of service to Gujarat as a minister. On Monday, Anandiben Patel, who will turn 75 in November, offered to resign on Facebook and gave age as the reason for relinquishing the post. Many speculated that the party top brass was unhappy with the outgoing chief minister for her failure to contain the Patel agitation, as Patels are a key vote bank for the party in the poll-bound state. To make matters worse, her relationship with Amit Shah was also not amiable. The Gujarat Assembly elections are slated to happen in 2017. Kolkata: Even as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been targeting the saffron brigade on a range of issues, BJP national President Amit Shah on Wednesday refrained from taking on the Trinamool supremo. On his maiden visit to the city after the West Bengal assembly polls, Shah, in his nearly 40-minute address to party workers, spoke mostly about the development works initiated by the BJP governments at the Centre and in several states, and urged them to prepare for the 2018 rural polls in the state and the subsequent Lok Sabha polls. He also exhorted the people to elect the BJP to power in the state. While Shah is known for his sharp attacks on Mamata, and the party workers had hoped for some caustic barbs, on Wednesday the BJP chief harped mostly on development. "The biggest difference between a BJP government and that by the Congress, Communists or the Trinamool is that we work for the people, we bring development. That is why, in whichever state BJP has come to power, nobody has been able to uproot us," said Shah who went on to enumerate a host of schemes by the Narendra Modi government to buttress his claims. "There is no scope for the party workers to rest until BJP comes to power in Bengal. We have the maximum number of MPs, MLAs and chief ministers. We are the largest party in the country, but that is not complete until we come to power in Bengal and Kerala," Shah asserted. "Infiltration of Bangladeshis will stop only if BJP comes to power in Bengal," said Shah, who had earlier accused Mamata of compromising national security by allowing Bangladeshis to infiltrate in the state. He also said the GST Bill held significance for Bengal as it will initiate new economic reforms in the country. After coming to power in the state for the second consecutive term, the Trinamool chief had asserted that despite the party's "ideological differences" with the BJP, it will cooperate with the Modi government on the passage of the long-pending GST Bill. Shah also ridiculed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over his foreign visits. "People criticise Narendra Modi's foreign visits but it was Manmohan Singh who undertook more foreign visits. People think Modi had travelled more because no one noticed when Singh went for his visits. "Singh carried written speeches, read them and came back. Often those speeches would get interchanged and he would end up of reading speech meant for Indonesia in Malaysia and that of Malaysia in Indonesia," added Shah. As Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel started to read a well-written exit script, duly vetted by her bosses Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah on Monday, she was unable to control her emotions and came to tears a few times. She eventually managed to compose herself, and finally delivered a speech worthy of a method actor. She explained the reasons behind her exit and reposed faith in the party's younger generation, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership. Though reluctantly, she played by the script that was in the making for some time. For the past two months, there were unmistakable signs pointing to her exit. She was given the short-shrift in the matter of choice of officers. Top officials in her state were being posted directly from New Delhi. Along side, Anandiben was being given enough hints to make way for the younger generation. Anandiben's chief principal secretary, Kuniyil Kailashnathan who was also Narendra Modi's go-to man in the same capacity worked overtime to persuade the chief minister to see the writing on the wall. Finally, Patel acquiesced and agreed to play out the script of a voluntary departure. There is bound to be a touch of surrealism when the BJPs central parliamentary board (CPB) meets to decide on Anandiben's successor. There is little doubt that the issue was clinched long before she decided to face the cameras to declare her resignation on Monday. Yet, the formality of a meeting is a technical requirement that will have to be fulfilled on Wednesday. (The CPB meeting is on at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi as this report is being filed.) In all probability, the CPB might dispatch a team of observers to hold consultations with the local leadership, before formally announcing Anandiben's successor. There is nothing new in this practice as the BJP, like the Congress, has also internalised the practice of imposing the high commands decisions on states without appearing to be undemocratic at the state level. The contrived consensus on the choice of a new chief minister, which will most likely be worked out at some informal meetings in Delhi and Gandhinagar will be imposed on the Gujarat unit within the next few days after the charade of the legislature party meeting is conducted. Politics often plays out on a familiar script mimicking the past. But the underlying message of Anandiben's dethroning is more significant than has been understood so far. It is public knowledge that Anandiben owed her position to her unflinching loyalty to Modi. She was keen to stick on and even tried convince her leadership that she would win the Assembly elections next year. But Modi, according to top party sources, refused to buy her arguments as his ears are rooted to the ground in Gujarat where he could sense some ominous signals. Anandiben's tenure as the chief minister was seen by a section of bureaucrats as a relief, because of her easy going nature. Unlike Modi, who was on a perpetual campaign mode, Patel turned out to be quite a conciliatory, if unimaginative figure. For BJP workers, who were attuned to Modi's flamboyance, Anandiben came across as unimpressive and tactless, especially when it came to dealing with the intricate caste politics of the state. But what seems to have finally clinched the issue are the complaints made by the industry bodies about the functioning of the chief minister and the state bureaucracy. Sources in Gandhinagar point out that at the time of the 2015 Vibrant Gujarat summit a flagship event carrying the imprimatur of Modi industrial bodies were quite upset over the manner in which Gujarat was losing steam. That is something that Modi cannot afford, said a senior BJP leader. Truly, it would indeed have been a tough decision to ask a loyalist and a seasoned leader like Anandiben to step down. But her continuation would have entailed the risk of upending the story of Gujarat on which Modi has built his entire political edifice. Perhaps Anandiben must have realised late in the day that in politics the price of loyalty is quite ephemeral. This was best summed up in an Urdu couplet by one of the most cunning Congress politicians of the 1980s, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, when Indira Gandhi asked him to step down as Uttar Pradesh chief minister. Bahuguna had recited: Main bawafa tha isliye nazron se gir gaya, shayad unhe talaash kisi bewafa ki thi. (I was faithful so I fell from grace, she was perhaps looking for someone unfaithful.) Will the heavens fall if Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is preparing to serve Punjab in an altogether new avatar, finally joins Aam Aadmi Party? The answer is a big no. There are for three reasons why: First, there already exists a huge pro-AAP wave, if not a tornado, that sweeps across almost all regions of Punjab at this point of time. Second, the Badals and the Majithias are on the verge of getting blown away by anti-incumbency. And third, the Congress, which could have otherwise been the natural claimant for power in Punjab, finds the AAP campaigns too hot to handle and is in no position to pull back Arvind Kejriwal's party that has already surged miles ahead. Sidhus entry into the AAP will, at best, work as an added psychological booster in favour of AAP and a further demoralising blow to the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on the other. To understand all this better, you need to take a look at what most of the opinion polls have been saying about Punjab lately. The survey done by VDP Associates gives AAP 100 of the total 117 assembly seats with 46.1 percent vote share. The SAD-BJP combine, in sharp contrast, might not bag more than 13 seats with a vote share of 26 percent. And the Congress, with a vote share of 24 percent, would find itself placed at the bottom with just 3 seats. Another survey conducted by Huffington Post C-Voter presents more or less the same picture. It gives 94-100 seats to the AAP. The SAD-BJP combine are, on the other hand, projected to get 8 to 14 seats. And the Congress would have to remain third with 6 to 12 seats. India Trending Now has also conducted an opinion poll. According to this survey, the AAP would get 85 to 89 seats with a vote share of 39 percent to 43 percent. The SAD-BJP alliance would bag anything between 9 to 13 seats with a vote share of 21-25 percent. This survey which was conducted in March this year, however, gives the Congress 16 to 20 seats with a vote share of 29-33 percent. The opinions of opinion polls might not be considered sacrosanct, especially in the aftermath of Delhi and Bihar results. But multiple opinion polls giving two-third majority to a first-timer is indeed unprecedented. Those who claim to know Punjab inside out believe that the number of seats projected by the pollsters this time might not necessarily hit the bulls eye, but their general direction of projections looks correct. Jayesh Bhatia, a young Punjabi, who often writes in Quora talked to many of his friends and relatives back home to unfold the so-called mystery of the APPs political blitzkrieg in Punjab. Here is how he sums up his findings in telegraphic language: "Arvind Kejriwal is loved by people. More on the ground. Even more on the fields. The hate that you see on the social media is politically funded/backed. Who will not love a CM who gives you 100 percent compensation for crop loss and basic amenities at nominal costs? Many people hate Kejriwal due to misinformation campaign done by the BJP in particular." The young Punjabi further writes: "AAP has a strong volunteer network. The volunteers work tirelessly to spread Delhi Governments works comparing it with highly inefficient BJP-SAD group. This strategy took AAP way ahead of Congress, which was slowly reviving under Captain Amarinder." Bhatias exuberance apart, it is pertinent to note that even in the Modi wave of 2014, the AAP had bagged 4 of the total 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state. And, if you break the figures down across Assembly segments, you would notice that they had beaten all adversaries in 35 constituencies and came second in another 25 places. That was in itself a commendable feat by a new-comer party. And remember, this had happened before Kejriwal's spectacular victory in the Delhi state elections. Now, like it or not, the AAP is a much stronger force. Lets now get back to the issue of Navjot Singh Sidhu who is, according various TV channels, slated to formally declare his independence from the BJP and accept membership of the AAP on August 15. No doubt, the AAP will further be bolstered with the arrival of an "eminently recognisable face" in Punjab. That Sidhu is a fiery speaker apart from being a crowd-puller and an entertainer. Punjab will have to wait to hear from the horses mouth till the Independence Day. And, in the meantime, guns will go probably silent in any case with Kejriwal doing vipassana at a Himalayan tourist spot close to the abode of Dalai Lama in Dharamkot. The BJP and the Badals can afford to relax for ten days! Yes, can you image what happens when Kejriwal goes silent? Its perhaps time for wit and humour to prosper on the otherwise nasty political front. Here is how Firstposts Bikram Vohra argues in his inimitable witty style: "The only logical reason why Kejriwal is doing this is wreck everyones happiness. The media, for instance, will be so badly hit that they might have to retrench staff as TRPs/sales fall. Reading a newspaper or site with nothing from Kejriwal is akin to a chicken party without any chicken in it." To expect the Congress to win the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh is like betting on India to top the medal tally at the Rio Olympics. As Raj Babbar said before his party's road show in Varanasi, the Congress needs a miracle to return to power in the state. Yet, the impressive crowd at the road show in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency suggests the Congress is at least getting noticed as a serious player in the state. Nobody can say with certainty if the people who gathered on the streets of Varanasi on Tuesday were just curious onlookers out to watch a spectacle led by Sonia Gandhi, those with personal loyalty to local heavyweight Ajay Rai or potential Congress voters. But the Congress can take heart from the fact that it managed to create a buzz in the city and mobilise workers. On paper, the Congress attempt to kick-start the campaign made political sense. Since Prashant Kishor, the poll strategist hired by the Congress for its UP campaign, is working on a plan to keep the Congress in the news, the media attention to the road show gets him an A plus. Nowhere else in India would a party with less than 10 percent votes and just around 5 percent seats would have got so much attention and prime time coverage. But, the crafty mix of Sonia Gandhi and Varanasi worked for the Congress. The Congress is in the Uttar Pradesh fray with the intention of attracting Brahmin voters, enticing them to do a political ghar wapsi. Its poll strategists hope that if, and it is a big if, Brahmins return to the Congress, the state's minority voters would also be tempted to look at it as a viable option. Varanasi was chosen carefully with this math in mind. According to the Economic Times, the Lok Sabha constituency has 15,32,000 voters. Muslims form the largest block of voters with around 3 lakh voters. Brahmins account for 2.5 lakh, Kurmis of Patels (an OBC community heavily backing Modi) 1.5 lakh, Yadavs 1.5 lakh, Kayasthas 65,000, Vaish 2 lakh, Chaurasias 80,000, Bhumihars at 1.5 lakh and Dalits 80,000. Obviously, Varanasi is a test case for the Congress with a large population of the voters it is eyeing. If it succeeds in forging a Brahmin-Muslim alliance here, the Congress would be emboldened to try it elsewhere. All these permutations and combinations, of course, exist only on paper. If the Congress is really keen on revival, instead of just working on the poll arithmetic of the state, it should focus on clearly communicating to voters what it stands for. Rahul Gandhi's predilection for guerrilla attacks and one-liners may have generated ephemeral interest in the party, but voters still do not have a clear reason for trusting the party, voting it back to power. What is the vision Rahul Gandhi, assuming that he would once again try his luck in the political sweepstakes in 2019, has for India? What does he have to offer apart from sporadic criticism of the NDA government and jibes aimed at headlines? How does he plan to do govern India--if he gets the opportunity, that is--differently from the BJP? The Congress should consider itself lucky that it is generating disproportionate amount of interest because of its UP campaign. It should thank its stars for the TRP time it is consuming. But, if it doesn't use the opportunity to communicate with voters, spell out its policies and vision to voters, the gains from the current high tide would be limited. if nothing else, the crowd in Varanasi shows the Congress finally has an audience. It is time the party started talking some sense. New Delhi: BJP Parliamentary Board on Wednesday authorised party president Amit Shah to pick the successor to Gujarat Chief Minister Anadiben Patel after accepting her offer to resign. Shah will be travelling to Gujarat on Thursday where he will hold consultations with party leaders and attend the legislature party meeting, likely to be held on Friday to elect the new leader. The meeting of the Parliamentary Board, which was chaired by Shah and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appointed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP general secretary Saroj Pandey as party's central observers to hold consultations with the MLAs for electing the new leader, senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters. Ruling out the candidature of Shah, also an MLA, for the chief ministerial position, Naidu said the party needs him to lead it at the national level. He said Patel's successor will be from among the MLAs. "Such a question does not arise. He is the party president and going to remain party president. The party needs his leadership at the national level. There is no such discussion at all," he said when asked about reports that Shah was also in the contention. Shah has taken the party to "great heights" and led it to many successes, he said. Anandiben Patel had offered to resign on Monday maintaining it was time for a fresh face to take over the state's reins as she would be soon turning 75, understood to be the undeclared age bar in the party for holding ministerial position. "The Parliamentary Board gave its approval to Anandiben Patel's wish to quit," Naidu said and insisted that the Board did not discuss names of any candidate to replace her. Washington: Donald Trump has hit back at Barack Obama for terming him unfit for presidency, saying the "terrible president" would go down as the worst in American history. "Well he's a terrible president. He'll probably go down as the worst president in the history of our country, he's been a total disaster," Trump told Sinclair Broadcast group in an interview on Tuesday. "You look at what happens in the Middle East, in Syria and his line in the sand. I think it just means he's concerned I'm going to win," he claimed. "Don't forget last time he said I would never get the nomination, now he is saying I wouldn't get the election now all of a sudden he said the other day maybe I can win the election, no I guess he probably has to say that kind of thing," Trump said when asked about Obama's statement. "I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president. I said so last week and he keeps on proving it," Obama told reporters at a joint news conference with the Singapore Prime Minister. Trump reiterated his stand and said he does not regret having criticised the parents of a slain Pakistani-origin American Muslim soldier Humayun Khan who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004. "I don't regret anything. I said nice things about the son and I feel that very strongly but of course I was hit very hard from the stage and you know it's just one of those things but no I don't regret anything," he said. Trump's own party leaders have come out openly against the Republican presidential nominee for being critical of family members of the soldier. He also did not had regret calling his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as a devil. "No, I don't think so, I think it is what it is. She's a very deceitful person, she lies, she cheats, no I don't think that's too far at all," he said. He maintained his belief that the upcoming presidential election is rigged. "I'm talking about at the voter booth. I mean we've seen a lot of things over the years and now without the voter ID's and all the things going on and some bad court cases have come down," Trump said. "I just hear things and I just feel it and I felt it having to do with the primaries. I looked at Bernie Sanders I said 'he isnt going to win." "I thought this whole thing was rigged and I think the general election is gonna be, we're gonna have a lot of problems we have to be very careful," Trump said. During the interview Trump refused to entertain the challenge posed to him by Warren Buffet on revealing his tax returns, saying he does not know Warren Buffet and has never met him. WASHINGTON U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi in a phone call on Wednesday discussed the importance of sustaining the fight against Islamic State and efforts to enhance Baghdad security, the White House said. The leaders also discussed "the urgency of humanitarian and stabilization efforts for the Mosul campaign and the importance of mobilizing international support for those efforts," the White House said in a statement. (Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. BRASILIA A Senate report found on Tuesday that Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff violated the constitution by manipulating government accounts, moving her drawn-out impeachment trial closer to deciding her fate. The report is expected to be approved by the impeachment committee on Friday and by the full Senate next Tuesday, leading to the final trial phase in which the 81 Senators must reach a verdict at the end of August or first days of September. The impeachment of the unpopular leftist leader has paralysed Brazilian politics for seven months and held interim President Michel Temer in a legal limbo that has hindered his efforts to pull Brazil from fiscal crisis and severe recession. Rousseff is accused of altering official budget figures and using funds from state-run banks to cover up the real state of Brazil's faltering economy as she ran for re-election in 2014. Her impeachment would mark the end of 13 years of rule by the left-of-centre Workers Party and leave Latin America's largest economy in the hands of the Temer, Rousseff's conservative vice president. Brazil's stock market and currency have strengthened since Rousseff was suspended by the Senate on May 12 as investors bet on her removal and replacement by Temer, who has outlined policies favouring private business. But Temer has avoided unpopular austerity measures needed to balance Brazil's overdrawn accounts until he is definitely confirmed in the job to serve out Rousseff's mandate to 2018. While 54 votes are needed to convict Rousseff, or two-thirds of the Senate, Brasilia-based political consultancy ARKO Advice says between 56 and 60 Senators today favour removing her, a narrow margin that is unlikely to be reversed because Temer is seen delivering political and economic stability. "The majority sentiment in the Senate is that market expectations regarding the economy are improving significantly and that the return of the suspended president would put the country in a difficult situation again," ARKO said in its monthly analysis for clients. Efforts to defend Rousseff by her Workers Party and its founder, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who faces corruption charges, have not been enough to save her, Arko said. The Senate impeachment committee listened to the author of the report, Senator Antonio Anastasia, read out from its 440 pages detailing the alleged illegalities of the accounting methods that Rousseff used to augment her government's spending power in the run-up to the 2014 election. Anastasia, a member of the PSDB, the main opposition party to Rousseff's administration, said there was enough evidence for the impeachment trial to proceed. "What we found was an expansive spending policy that was not fiscally sustainable and lacked transparency with operations that bypassed Congress and did not follow good practices of budget management," Anastasia said in his report. Rousseff has denied she broke budget laws and maintains she is the victim of a right-wing conspiracy to overthrow her government that advanced the interests of Brazil's poor. In her written defence last month Rousseff said Brazilians knew an honest woman was being put on trial and she called the impeachment a "farce" and her alleged crimes no more than "routine acts of budgetary management." The trial phase in the Senate will be presided over by Brazil's Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski. According to the Supreme Court, if the Senate approves Anastasia's report next Tuesday - only a simple majority is needed - the final trial session would begin on Aug. 26 and last about a week, with a final vote on Sept 2. Temer aides hope the trial will end sooner so he can attend the summit of G20 nations in China at the beginning of September without any doubts about his legitimacy. Temer has said he will not go to the meeting otherwise. (Reporting by Maria Carolina Marcelo and Alonso Soto; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Tom Brown) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. London: Britain's anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) was plunged into disarray Wednesday after the favourite to take over its leadership was barred from the race for submitting his application 17 minutes late. Immigration spokesman Steven Woolfe was excluded from the contest to replace Nigel Farage, who stood down after achieving his life's mission of Brexit in the 23 June referendum on Britain's EU membership. The decision triggered immediate chaos within UKIP Britain's third-biggest party by the popular vote with three members of their ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) resigning in protest. Woolfe, a member of the European Parliament (MEP), said he suffered technical problems submitting his papers ahead of the midday Sunday deadline. UKIP's Adam Richardson, who is overseeing the election process, said a panel led by the NEC sat on Tuesday to discuss the eligibility of candidates. "By a clear majority of NEC members, Steven Woolfe MEP's application was considered to be ineligible as a result of a late submission and as such he did not meet the eligibility criteria," he said. The announcement immediately led to claims of foul play. Woolfe said he was "extremely disappointed" to have been excluded from the contest and said the NEC was "not fit for purpose". Businessman Arron Banks, the party's main financial backer, said the decision to exclude Woolfe was the "final straw", calling it effectively a "coup". The three NEC members who quit said in a statement that the body was "collectively in pursuit of oligarchy, self-promotion and cronyism", with some board members suffering from "escalating megalomania". "Steven Woolfe is a popular candidate among UKIP's members and should be permitted to represent those that wish to vote for him," they said. "To purposefully trawl for technicalities upon which to base a decision to deny his inclusion is not in the best interests of the membership and truly injurious to UKIP." UKIP instrumental in Brexit Farage and the rise of UKIP, an anti-EU, anti-mass immigration party, played a key role in the push for a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union. UKIP scored the third-highest number of votes in the 2015 general election, taking 12.7 percent of the vote, but only won one constituency. They campaigned all-out for Britain to leave the EU in the June referendum on its membership of the bloc. Farage, who first became UKIP leader in 2006, stepped down after the vote to quit the EU, saying his "I want my country back" mantra was now "I want my life back". The six candidates allowed to stand are MEPs Jonathan Arnott, Bill Etheridge and Diane James, local authority councillor Lisa Duffy, NEC member Elizabeth Jones and Phillip Broughton, who stood as a prospective member of parliament. Changes made in July ruled out several possible leadership candidates, including the party's only MP Douglas Carswell and former MP Mark Reckless. Bookmakers immediately installed home affairs spokeswoman James, who narrowly lost a high-profile parliamentary by-election in 2013, as their new odds-on favourite. Ballot papers are to be issued to members on 1 September, with the new leader declared on 15 September at the party's annual conference. Ashburn: Republican nominee Donald Trump was given a Purple Heart by a veteran on Tuesday, prompting the Republican nominee to declare that this was "much easier" than serving in combat. Trump, who is embroiled in row over his criticism of the family of a slain soldier, said that a man approached him before his event in Ashburn, Va., and handed him his medal, which is awarded to soldiers wounded in combat. He told the crowd at his rally that he has "always wanted to get the Purple Heart." "I said to him, 'Is that, like, the real one or is that a copy?'" Trump recounted. "And he said, 'That's my real Purple Heart. I have such confidence in you.' And I said, 'Man! That's like, that's like big stuff.'" "I always wanted to get the purple heart. This was much easier," continued the celebrity businessman, who has never served in the armed forces. "But I tell you, it was such an honor." The veteran, Lt Col Louis Dorfman, declined Trump's invitation to speak at Tuesday's town hall. On Monday, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, a non-profile service organisation with 1.7 million members, released a statement calling Trump out of bounds for tangling with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, a Muslim family whose son, Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq in 2004. The fallen soldier was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. At last week's Democratic National Convention, Khizr Khan criticised Trump's call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States and accused Trump of sacrificing "nothing and no one." In response, Trump said he was "viciously attacked" by Khizr Khan and implied that Ghazala Khan, the soldier's mother, stood silently alongside her husband during the speech because, as a Muslim, she was restricted her from speaking. Trump, who has made helping veterans a centerpiece of his campaign, also drew criticism from some former servicemen recently when he was slow to produce millions of dollars he raised for veterans groups. And The New York Times reported on Monday that Trump received multiple student deferments and a medical deferment for a bone spur during the Vietnam War. "Our veterans are being treated horribly," Trump said on Tuesday. "We're going to turn that around so fast your head is going to spin." Colorado: As Republican loyalists continue to flee, Donald Trump ignited new party tensions Tuesday by refusing to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan or Arizona Sen. John McCain, a remarkable display of party division just three months before Election Day. The Republican presidential nominee told The Washington Post he's "just not quite there yet," when asked about an endorsement of Ryan, who faces a primary election next week. In doing so, he echoed the House speaker's comments of almost three months earlier, when the Wisconsin congressman was initially reluctant to embrace Trump as his party's standard bearer. Trump's statement comes amid intense fallout over his criticism of the family of the late Capt. Humayun Khan, a U.S. Army soldier who died in Iraq in 2004. Indeed, just two weeks after a Republican National Convention that tried to focus on party unity, the Trump-driven rifts inside the GOP appear to be intensifying. On Tuesday, retiring New York Rep. Richard Hanna became the first Republican member of Congress to say he will vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton in November instead of Trump. "He is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country," Hanna wrote in a column published in The Post-Standard newspaper of Syracuse, New York. "He is unrepentant in all things." Later Tuesday, Hewlett-Packard executive Meg Whitman a prominent Republican fundraiser threw her support behind Clinton, saying, "Donald Trump's demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character." Also Tuesday, the woman who helped shape New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's national image declared that she's voting for Clinton. "As someone who has worked to further the Republican Party's principles for the last 15 years, I believe that we are at a moment where silence isn't an option," former Christie senior aide Maria Comella told CNN. They join dozens of high-profile GOP leaders who have previously said they would not vote for Trump, including the party's 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. A day earlier, Sally Bradshaw, an architect of the Republican National Committee's 2013 "Growth and Opportunity" report, said she's leaving the GOP. While not a household name, her decision to leave the party rocked those who make politics their profession. Bradshaw was one of the five senior Republican strategists tasked with identifying the party's shortcomings and recommending ways it could win the White House after its losing 2012 presidential campaign. She said she will vote for the Democratic nominee if the race in her home state of Florida appears close come Election Day. "Trump has moved in exactly the opposite direction from our recommendations on how to make the party more inclusive," said Ari Fleischer, who worked with Bradshaw on the GOP's so-called post-election autopsy and was a senior adviser to President George W. Bush. Fleischer still supports Trump over Clinton. But Bradshaw and Comella are among a group of top Republican operatives, messengers, national committee members and donors who continue to decry Trump's tactics, highlighting almost daily with fewer than 100 days before the election the fissures created by the billionaire and his takeover of the party. Veterans and families of fallen soldiers continue to call on Trump to apologize for his treatment of the Khan family, who spoke out against Trump at last week's Democratic National Convention. Trump said the grieving father had "no right" to criticize him, only later acknowledging their son is a hero. "If @realDonaldTrump wants to be the Commander in Chief, he needs to act like one. And that can't start until he apologizes to the Khans," Dakota Meyer, one of a handful of living Medal of Honor recipients and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's son-in-law, wrote Tuesday on Twitter. Trump invited more tension Tuesday when he told The Washington Post he's not ready to endorse Ryan in next week's Republican primary contest against Paul Nehlen, praising the underdog for running "a very good campaign." Tensions were already running high between the two high-profile Republicans, who will have to work together closely should Trump win the presidency. Said Ryan's campaign spokesman Zack Roday, "Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement. And we are confident in a victory next week regardless." In the Post interview, Trump also declined to support McCain's re-election and dismissed New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte as weak. Both had been among Trump's harshest critics in the wake of his comments about the Khan family, particular McCain, a former prisoner of war who said Trump did not have "unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us." Christie, the New Jersey governor, continues to be one of Trump's biggest supporters. But Comella, his former aide, said the very survival of the party depends on stopping the celebrity businessman. "Instead of speaking out against instances of bigotry, racism and inflammatory rhetoric, whether it's been against women, immigrants or Muslims, we made a calculus that it was better to say nothing at all in the interest of politics and winning elections," she told CNN. "For me, if our party has a future, we have to change that trajectory and lead by example." New York: The head of the largest city police department in America on Wednesday joined a growing list of people calling Donald Trump unfit to lead, saying the Republican mogul "scares the hell" out of him. "Mr Trump scares me, scares the hell out of me to be quite frank with you," New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton told CBS News a day after announcing that he would retire in September. Bratton, who has spent 45 years in public service, said he did not "get" why the Republican nominee, whose home he has visited, commanded so much support. "I'm amazed that veterans groups are so charmed by him," said the outgoing police chief, who himself served in Vietnam. "I've just watched this whole campaign and I just shake my head." The internationally respected police officer chastised the tycoon's "lack of depth on issues," his lack of compassion, questioned his refusal to apologise to the parents of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq and said he believed he was not fit to be president. "I wonder if he's ever actually taken a punch in his life," Bratton told CBS. "It's a lot tougher being soft and understanding when you need to be soft. Like, the apology to this family," he said of bereaved parents of a fallen soldier who assailed Trump's portrayal of Muslim Americans. "There's no compassion there, it's all about him and never about anybody else. Strange times," said the police chief. Bratton said he had known Trump "for 20 odd years" and had been to his apartment, but was not close or intimate with him. "I know many people who are, who are very strongly supportive of him, although they have questions. But again, it's troubling," he said. President Barack Obama on Tuesday delivered a virtually unprecedented rebuke of a presidential nominee, calling Trump "unfit" to be president and called on Republican leaders to disown him. Nepal's parliament elected former Maoist rebel chief Prachanda, who led a decade-long insurgency that toppled a Hindu monarchy, as prime minister on Wednesday after predecessor KP Oli resigned rather than face defeat in a vote of no confidence. Pushpa Kamal Dahal, 61, who still uses a nom de guerre that means "Fierce", won 363 votes out of the 573 cast in the 595-member parliament, Speaker Onsari Gharti said. He becomes the 24th prime minister in 26 years since the Himalayan nation adopted multi-party democracy in 1990 and the eighth since the 239-year-old monarchy was abolished eight years ago. Nepal's parliament met on Wednesday in a crucial session that was expected to confirm former Maoist rebel chief Prachanda as the Himalayan nation's new prime minister after K.P. Oli stepped down to avoid a no-confidence motion. Nepal has been mired for years in political instability, and the new leader will be its 24th prime minister after weeks of deadly protests established multi-party democracy in 1990. This will be the 61-year-old Prachanda's second turn as premier after his party of former guerrilla fighters won national elections in 2008. Analysts say the return of Prachanda, has lost his former Robin Hood image dating back to the insurgency, is unlikely to end the revolving-door politics that has sapped business confidence in one of the world's poorest countries. "I don't think he will be stable," said Guna Raj Luitel, editor of the daily Nagarik. "There is no agreement between parties on a basic agenda for the country. They have only agreed for convenience and there is already a deal to change the prime minister after nine months." Prachanda's confirmation was virtually assured thanks to the support of the centrist Nepali Congress, the biggest party in parliament, and an alliance of several small parties. Under a widely reported power-sharing deal, Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to take over from Prachanda before Nepal holds a general election at the beginning of 2018. Party officials have declined to comment. Frequent changes of government are blamed on politicians who are seen as selfish and power hungry, and who show little concern for the plight of Nepal's 28 million people. Nearly a quarter live on less than $2 a day. GREAT POWER RIVALRY Political change in Nepal, which has great potential to generate hydroelectric power, is closely watched by China and India as they vie for influence over the country that is home to Mount Everest and the birthplace of Lord Buddha. In 2008, Prachanda visited China before India, breaking a tradition of new Nepali leaders making New Delhi their first foreign port of call. During a visit in March, Oli cosied up to China with a deal to use its ports for trading goods with third countries, ruffling feathers in India which controls landlocked Nepal's main overland export route. India is blamed in Nepal for imposing a blockade on fuel and essential goods last year following protests by the Madhesi minority against Nepal's first post-monarchy constitution, an accusation India denies. The Madhesis, who mostly live on the southern plains and have historical and family ties to India, have protested against the charter saying it weakens their say in the central government by dividing their homeland into several provinces. The new leader also faces the task of rebuilding homes, roads and monuments destroyed by earthquakes that killed 9,000 people last year as well as oversee settlement of war crimes cases against the Maoists and the security forces. Alexandria: Prosecutors on Wednesday brought the first-ever terrorism charges against a law enforcement officer in the US, alleging that a patrol officer with the DC region's Metro Transit Police was caught buying $250 worth of cards for the Islamic State group. Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, was arrested Wednesday morning at Metro's headquarters in Washington. He is charged with a single count of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist group, and is scheduled for an initial appearance Wednesday afternoon at US District Court in Alexandria. According to an FBI affidavit, Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards last month that he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile apps that would facilitate communication. But Young actually gave the gift cards to an undercover FBI source. Documents show Young has been under surveillance since 2010, and that he travelled to Libya twice in 2011, where he said he joined rebel forces seeking to oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Joshua Stueve, spokesman for the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said Young posed no threat to the Metro system. Court documents show Young directed his efforts at seeking to help the Islamic State overseas. FBI spokesman Andrew Ames confirmed that Young is the first law enforcement officer to be charged under the federal government's terrorism law. Prosecutors said it was Metro Transit Police that initiated the investigation, and then worked cooperatively with the FBI. "Obviously, the allegations in this case are profoundly disturbing. They're disturbing to me, and they're disturbing to everyone who wears the uniform," Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said in a statement. Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said Young has been fired. The documents show Young was an associate of two other persons who were charged with terror-related crimes. In 2010, law enforcement interviewed Young because of his links to Zachary Chesser, who eventually pleaded guilty to trying to join the militant group al-Shabab and to issuing threats to the makers of the "South Park" cartoon series after they penned an episode he found insulting to Islam. Young also met regularly with Amine El Khalifi, who pleaded guilty in a sting operation in which he planned to attempt a suicide bombing at the US Capitol in 2012. In 2014, Young met about 20 times with an FBI informant, and Young gave the source advice on how to avoid detection as he purportedly planned to travel overseas to join the Islamic State. Young frequently advised to source to watch out for informants. While Young's arrest is a first for a US law enforcement officer, he is one of more than a half-dozen individuals from northern Virginia alone who have been charged with terror-related crimes, mostly in government sting operations. The FBI says it has ongoing investigations in all 50 states. Jerusalem: Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday said that he is looking forward to his visit to India later this year to further solidify bilateral relations for enhancing cooperation in fields like security and innovation. "The cooperation between the two countries is something that is said all over. The cooperation is not only in innovation but you know very well that we are trying our very best to address problems of agriculture, water, energy, cyber and every need of security that we have to work out in order to be prepared for the kind of burden of security that is imposed on both people," Rivlin said. "I would like to see your Prime Minister here. I know that I am going to visit your wonderful country in the next few months", the 76-year-old Israeli President said after Indian Ambassador Pavan Kapoor presented his credentials to the Israeli Head of State. Kapoor thanked the Israeli leader for his country's support to India in many areas, particularly for the timely support to New Delhi during the Kargil war. "We have been receiving Israel's help in a number of areas, including defence for a long time. We always remember the great help Israel gave to us in 1999 when we were faced with aggression from our neighbour," he said. "Since then we have been seeking and received very good help in agriculture, which is something very important from us. There has been further exchanges in the area of water. We are suffering a lot on the water front. Unfortunately, we either have droughts or floods in our country. We have a lot to learn from Israel," Kapoor added. The Indian envoy also mentioned that the visit of Minister of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, Uma Bharti, which had to be postponed at the last moment due to her medical condition is likely to be scheduled again soon. "We are looking forward to your visit to India very soon. I know that there were some dates in the middle of September that were suggested but unfortunately our President would be away at that time but we are looking at other possible dates to have you there. I think it would be a landmark visit," Kapoor asserted. The Israeli President also complimented the Indian students studying in Israel, saying "they are among the best" of the lot. "I am told that 10 per cent of students from abroad learning in Israel are from India. They are among the best students we have, not only among the foreign students but among the best of all students. We are proud that they find Israel attractive to learn," Rivlin said. The Israeli leader highlighted that among many things in common between India and Israel is the "readiness to learn and readiness to improve". "We both are ready to find any kind of innovation to our lives for the betterment of our people and for our mutual interest," he said. BERLIN Most Germans do not blame the government's expansive refugee policy for two Islamist attacks last month, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday. But police report that violence against refugee centres remains widespread, suggesting the arrival of large numbers of migrants - 1.1 million of whom reached Germany last year - has done nothing to ease social tensions. The poll by Forsa, to be published in Thursday's Stern magazine, showed 69 percent of respondents saw no direct link between the arrival of a record number of mainly Muslim asylum seekers and the two attacks claimed by the Islamic State group. A Syrian whose application had been rejected and was facing deportation to Bulgaria was killed in a failed suicide attack on July 24 in the Bavarian town of Ansbach. There were no other fatalities. Six days earlier, police shot dead a 17-year-old asylum seeker believed from either Afghanistan or Pakistan in Wuerzburg, also in Bavaria, after he attacked five people with an axe. That violence, as well as two other fatal assaults not claimed by militant groups, put the spotlight back on the migration policy of Chancellor Angela Merkel, who gained in popularity after Britain voted in June to leave the European Union and has since defended her refugee policy. The Forsa poll, which questioned 1,007 people on July 28 and July 29, showed 28 percent of respondents believed that policy, which mainly benefited migrants fleeing wars in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, was to blame for the attacks. Among supporters of the anti-immigrant party Alternative for Germany (AfD) that number rose to 78 percent. Support for the AfD rose by 2 percentage points to 12 percent after the attacks, a separate poll last month showed. In June, German officials reported a 42-percent rise in far-right violence in 2015, including many attacks targeted against refugees. On Wednesday, the BKA federal police agency said it had logged 665 attacks so far this year against migrant accommodation, roughly on a par with the 1,031 incidents reported in 2015. A BKA spokeswoman said it was unclear if the number of arson and other attacks had spiked after the two Islamist attacks, but security and intelligence sources reported a noticeable uptick in verbal aggression against asylum-seekers. On July 23 a deranged German-Iranian teenager shot dead nine people in Munich before killing himself, and a day later a machete-wielding Syrian refugee killed a woman in a town near Stuttgart. Neither of those attacks was claimed by Islamists. (Reporting by Holger Hansen and Andrea Shalal) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. SYDNEY Four weeks after Australians went to the polls in a tightly contested election, vote counting is almost finished and has left the government with a razor-thin majority and a Senate brimming with economic protectionists who could hinder trade ties with the likes of China, Indonesia and the United States. "Pro-protectionist forces are a concern because ultimately they will degrade Australian living standards and harm Australian jobs," Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo told Reuters. The new-look parliament is scheduled to sit August 30. While the last few votes are still being counted after the July 2 election, it is clear that independent or minor party Senators will control the balance of power in the upper house. This means the ruling Liberal-National coalition, which has a slim, one-seat majority in the lower house, will need either their political opponents or eight to 10 independents or minor party Senators to pass laws in the upper house. Far-right One Nation, which has won at least two Senate seats, has already demanded that Treasurer Scott Morrison block the sales of electricity network Ausgrid and healthcare firm GenisisCare Ltd to Chinese interests. "Why would Communist China want to own our electricity know how Australians feel about selling our assets, we've had enough. We do not want our assets sold," said One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in a video posted to her Facebook page. Such sentiment also threatens to scupper the sale of Australia's largest farmland holding S.Kidman & Co, about the same size as Ireland, to a China-led consortium, another deal which requires the treasurer's approval. Australia has already rejected a A$371 million ($282 million) bid for Kidman by Hunan Dakang Pasture Farming Co Ltd 002505.SZ (Dakang), which would have seen a minority 20 percent Australian interest, ruling it was not in the national interest. The consortium has put a fresh bid on ice, concerned it could be derailed by protectionist Senators. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had called the election to clear away an obstructive Senate, but the move backfired at the ballot box, so much so that political scientist Haydon Manning says the government will now struggle to legislate. "I can't expect anything but a government profoundly frustrated," said Manning, an associate professor at Flinders University in Adelaide. "Free trade is going to be tricky...I don't see much headway there." Trade minister Ciobo, in Jakarta this week to seek a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Indonesia, said in a statement that "negotiations are making good progress". But an Indonesian FTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, due to come before parliament in the coming sitting, will face headwinds in the Senate. The latest Senate tally on Tuesday showed Turnbull's coalition winning at least 27 seats, Labor 25, Greens 8 and the independents and minor parties winning a total of 8 seats, with eight seats still in doubt. In the lower house, the opposition Labor party on Tuesday won the final seat, by only 37 votes, leaving the government with 76 seats, Labor 69 and a further five seats split between independents and minor parties. (Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Michael Perry) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Seoul: After North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday condemned a the test missile that landed 250 kilometres (155 miles) off Japan's coast as an "outrageous act" which posed a serious threat. "It's a serious threat against our country's security," Abe told reporters. "This is an outrageous act that cannot be tolerated." Defence minister Gen Nakatani said the missile landed in the Sea of Japan off the north coast in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) the first time a North Korean missile has landed in Japan's EEZ since 1998. North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan, South Korea said, in an apparent show of force against the planned deployment of a US missile defence system. Washington quickly hit back, with the State Department saying it was aware of the reports and warning it was prepared to "defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation". The latest test also comes amid mounting tensions ahead of a planned US-South Korea joint military exercise later this month. Last year the drills involved 30,000 US soldiers and 50,000 South Korean troops. The missile was launched from near the western North Korea city of Unyul at around 07.50 am Wednesday (22.50 GMT Tuesday), South Korea's defence ministry said. The projectile flew some 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) and was believed to be a Rodong mid-range missile, the defence ministry added. Japan's defence minister Gen Nakatani told reporters the missile was estimated to have fallen into Tokyo's exclusive economic zone 250 kilometres off its northern coast at 8.05 am on Wednesday (2305 GMT on Tuesday). The test follows the launch of three ballistic missiles on 19 July in what the North said were simulated nuclear strikes on the South. Pyongyang has carried out a series of missile tests this year in defiance of tough UN sanctions, and vowed to take "physical action" against the planned deployment of a US missile defence system in the South announced in July. Since leader Kim Jong-Un took over from his late father Kim Jong-Il, who died in 2011, North Korea is believed to have tested 16 Scud missiles with a range of between 300 km and 1,000 km, six Rodong missiles, six Musudan missiles with a range of up to 4,000 km and three submarine-launched missiles, according to the South's Yonhap news agency. UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from developing ballistic missile technology. Pyongyang has repeatedly warned of pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets, although the main focus of its nuclear weapons programme is to develop a credible strike threat against the US mainland. A series of missile tests this year aimed at backing up that threat led to an agreement between Seoul and Washington to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or Thaad, system by the end of next year. North Korea-US tensions had already been stoked by Pyongyang's fury at Washington's decision to personally target Kim with sanctions related to human rights abuses. Together with the Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise, the Ulchi Freedom Guardian to be held this month is one of the two US-South Korea joint military exercises that are carried out every year on a massive scale. North Korea regularly condemns the drills as a "declaration of war". New Delhi: Hitting back at Pakistan over its parliament passing the resolution condemning human rights violations in Kashmir, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said that Pakistan should be concerned about PoK. "Pakistan should look inwards rather than trying to act smart by interfering in Indian matters. Pakistan should be more concerned about PoK," Naidu told reporters here. Pointing at Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Naidu was hinting at the protests which happened during recently held elections there. Last evening, the Pakistan parliament unanimously passed a resolution, condemning the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir and demanding the UN Human Rights Commission to send a fact finding mission to the valley to investigate it. It said the use of pellet guns is "deplorable and is against the canons of international humanitarian laws". The resolution reiterated Pakistan's continuing political, moral and diplomatic support for the struggle in Kashmir. The resolution pressed the government to urge the international community, inter-governmental and inter-parliamentary organisations, international non-governmental organisations and civil society and media to ask India to immediately stop alleged violations of the human rights. It also demanded that the Human Rights Commission in Geneva should be requested to immediately send a fact finding mission to Kashmir to investigate alleged Human Rights violations by Indian security forces. Kathmandu: For Maoist chief Prachanda, whose first premiership stint ended after a run-in with the army, life has come full circle as the former guerrilla leader takes over as the Prime Minister for a second time to steer his country marred by deep divisions over the new Constitution. The career of 61-year-old Pushpa Kamal Dahal -- better known by his nom-de-guerre of Prachanda (the fierce one) -- has been characterised by his ceaseless battle to turn his country into a socialist-communist people's republic. It was for this ideal that he fought a bloody 10-year war against the monarchy, going on to serve a brief stint as prime minister from 2008 to 2009 before a disagreement with the military over his attempt to sack the army chief brought his period in office to an early end. During the period of monarchy, Prachanda spent years hiding in Nepal's jungles, directing a guerrilla war against the state that ended with a 2006 peace deal. He headed the first Maoist-led government in the country. Prachanda also led the former rebels in their decade-long armed struggle against the 240-year-old monarchy. Remaining underground for 24 years, very little was known about the elusive leader who scripted the 2006 peace process with Nepali Congress patriarch G P Koirala before the former rebels' surprise victory in the April 10 Constituent Assembly polls. Prachanda's elevation comes at a time when the country is battling deep divisions over the country's new Constitution. Nepali Congress and CPN Maoist Centre signed a three- point agreement with the Madhesi Front to secure support from the Madhesi parties for their bid to form a new government led by Prachanda, who was the only official candidate for the race. The Prime Minister's post had been left vacant since last week after CPN-UML chairman K P Sharma Oli tendered his resignation following the Maoist's withdrawal of support to the coalition government. The former guerrilla leader, who was inspired by Peru's Shining Path communist movement, is known to have an anti-India stance which seems to have softened of late with observers saying that his elevation may be good for Indo-Nepal ties which experienced turbulence under Oli. Born to Muktiram Dahal and Bhawani Dahal in 1954 in Kashki district in western Nepal, Prachanda entered active politics in 1979 by joining CPN-M. He became central member of the party in 1985 and elected general secretary of CPN-M in 1990. Dahal received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science. He was also a school teacher for four years. Prachanda became the general secretary of CPN-Maoist in 1995, a year after the party lost all its seats in the polls. He then became the party's president in 2000. He was given the title of the Supreme Commander of the People's Liberation Army, the Maoist guerrilla force in 2001 taking the reins of the party from Baburam Bhattarai. Islamabad: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday arrived in Islamabad to attend the Saarc Interior Ministers' conference on Thursday during which he is expected to raise the issue of most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and cross border terrorism. Accompanied by a delegation comprising officials from his ministry and external affairs, Singh, who is on his maiden visit to Pakistan, will be underlining the need for meaningful cooperation among the South Asian countries. Before leaving for Islamabad to attend the day-long Saarc Home Ministers Conference, the Home Minister said he was "looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime." "This Conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security," said Singh, who is expected to tell Pakistan to stop sponsoring terror in India and rein in groups like Lashker-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Singh's visit comes notwithstanding threat by LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, who warned of a countrywide protest in Pakistan by his outfit if Singh arrives in Islamabad to attend the Saarc ministerial conference. Thursday's meeting is preceded by the 7th Meeting of the Saarc Interior/Home Secretaries which is being held on Wednesday. The Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who is leading the Indian delegation, arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday. There is little possibility of Singh having a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the wake of strain in Indo-Pak relations after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in Jammu and Kashmir on 8 July. Not only did Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif praise Wani but he also remarked that "Kashmir will one day become Pakistan", a comment which evoked a sharp reaction from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who said his dream of the state becoming a part of his country "will not be realised even at the end of eternity". Apart from terrorism, other key issues to be discussed include liberalisation of visa, illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and small arms and how to make coordinated and concerted efforts to combat such menace. The three-tier meeting began at the joint secretary-level and then moves on to Secretary and Home Minister-level meetings. The focus of the meeting will also be on strengthening networking among police forces of SAARC member-countries and also enhance information-sharing among law enforcement agencies. TOKYO Tomomi Inada will have precious little time to settle into her new job as Japan's defence minister, as events on her first day in the office underlined. Hours before the hawkish lawyer was appointed to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet in a limited reshuffle, a North Korean missile landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters for the first time. The show of force, part of Pyongyang's increasingly provocative arms testing, is a reminder of how strained relations between countries in northeast Asia have become, from North Korea's nuclear programme to China's assertiveness in the disputed waters of the South and East China Seas. Into the mix steps Inada, a conservative ally of Abe whose support for his goal of revising Japan's post-war, pacifist constitution risks exacerbating tensions. The 57-year-old, previously policy chief for Abe's Liberal Democratic Party, will be watched closely in Beijing and Seoul, where Japan's legacy of military aggression before and during World War Two remains an open wound. Inada has been a regular visitor to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine for the war dead, an act that infuriates both countries because they see the shrine as a symbol of Japan's past militarism for which they believe it has never fully atoned. When asked by reporters on Wednesday whether she would visit the shrine again ahead of the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan's surrender in 1945, Inada declined to comment. "It's a matter of conscience and I don't think I should comment on whether I will go or not," she said. Political analysts expect Inada to put pragmatism first in her new role. "She is the kind of person who regularly listens to a wide range of people. I believe she will employ a practical policy," said Bonji Ohara, a research fellow at the Tokyo Foundation think-tank. "Personnel change presents a good opportunity (to improve ties). It gives China an opportunity to say what has happened has happened under (outgoing defence) minister (Gen) Nakatani, not minister Inada, and to shift its stance." COMMON CAUSE IN NORTH KOREA? Japan, and Inada, may in turn reach out to China and others as they seek to neutralise the threat to security posed by North Korea. Japan has already said it is upgrading its missile defences in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to counter more advanced North Korean weapons, part of increased military spending in the region that reflects worsening ties. China is North Korea's main ally, although Beijing disapproves of Pyongyang's nuclear programme. Abe is expected to travel to China in September for a Group of 20 summit, where he wants to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "We will steadily strengthen ties with neighbouring countries such as China and South Korea, and proceed with talks with Russia for a peace treaty," Abe told a news conference announcing his new cabinet. Japan and Russia never signed a peace treaty after World War Two because of a territorial dispute, while Tokyo and Beijing both claim jurisdiction over islands in the East China Sea. In fact, Inada was one of three Japanese lawmakers who were reportedly denied entry into South Korea in 2011 because they planned to visit islands which both countries say are theirs. Also in her in-tray is the row over who owns what in the South China Sea, where Japan has no direct claim but through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually, much of it to and from Japanese ports. Rather than confront China directly by sailing warships past its man-made island bases in the sea, Japan is providing equipment and training to the Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam, which are most opposed to China's territorial ambitions. Beijing's most powerful adversary in Asia is the United States, with its Seventh Fleet operating from bases in Japan and South Korea. Japan's annual defence review, published on Tuesday, warned of "unintended consequences" if China disregarded international rules, after an arbitration court in The Hague invalidated Beijing's sweeping claims to most of the sea. China rejected the ruling and refused to participate in the case. (Additional reporting by Elaine Lies; Writing by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Alex Richardson) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. WASHINGTON U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions in his party on Tuesday by denying two leading figures, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain, support in their re-election bids. Trump told The Washington Post in an interview that he could endorse neither Ryan, the top U.S. elected Republican, nor McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona and a former Republican presidential nominee, as they face challenges in their states' primary contests ahead of the Nov. 8 general election. Both Ryan and McCain had criticized Trump's feud with the family of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who died in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for bravery after his death. The discord comes just two weeks after the Republican National Convention in Cleveland that formally nominated Trump for president. It is the latest rift in a party already frayed by internal dissent over its standard bearer, seen in stark relief at the convention where McCain was among high-level party members who essentially snubbed Trump by choosing not to attend. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, and former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush also did not attend the convention. Trump has had a running dispute with Khizr and Ghazala Khan since they took the stage at last week's Democratic convention to cite their son's sacrifice and criticise Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. The uproar has led many Republicans to distance themselves from Trump and voice support for the Khan family. Trump, mirroring the language Ryan used about supporting the nominee before his eventual endorsement, told the newspaper he was "not quite there yet" on endorsing Ryan in next Tuesday's Wisconsin primary, and that he had "never been there" with McCain, who will be on the ballot in primary elections in Arizona later this month. Trump said Ryan had sought his endorsement, but that as of now he is only "giving it very serious consideration." Ryan's campaign office quickly responded that "neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement." "And we are confident in a victory next week regardless," campaign spokesman Zack Roday said in a statement. Ryan is favoured to win against primary challenger Paul Nehlen, who Trump praised as running "a very good campaign." In a mid-July survey by Harper Polling, Ryan was ahead of Nehlen by nearly 50 points. Trump, a former reality TV star, has troubled many in the Republican establishment with his off-the-cuff, often insulting style, and controversial policies, including the proposed ban on Muslims and his plan to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. President Barack Obama on Tuesday blasted Trump as unfit to be president and questioned why any Republican would support the New York businessman, who is seeking his first public office. "The question I think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable: Why are you still endorsing him?" Obama, a Democrat, said at a White House news conference with Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong. CONGRESSMAN ABANDONS TRUMP The chorus of complaints against Trump grew on Tuesday. Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican in Congress to endorse Democratic nominee Hillary, although several other Republicans in Congress have said they will not support Trump. Hanna, who is retiring from the House of Representatives rather than seek re-election, said his decision was prompted by Trump's attacks on the Khan family. He called Trump "deeply flawed in endless ways," "unrepentant" and "self-involved." New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Trump ally once viewed by Trump as a potential running mate, called criticisms of the Khan family "inappropriate." Trump's son Eric told CBS News on Tuesday that his father's comments about the Khans have been "blown hugely out of proportion." Trump has fallen behind Clinton in opinion polls made public since the parties held their nominating conventions last month. Clinton extended her lead over Trump to 8 percentage points, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, from 6 points on Friday. About 43 percent of likely voters favour Clinton, 35 percent favour Trump, and 9 percent picked "other." Trump also has trailed Clinton in fundraising. Clinton reported raising nearly $90 million in July for her campaign and the Democratic Party, with more than half the donations coming from new donors. Interviewed on the Fox Business television network, Trump brushed off billionaire investor Warren Buffett's blistering critique of his business acumen. Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N), scorned Trump's 1995 move to list Trump hotels and casino resorts on the New York Stock Exchange, saying the business lost money for the next decade and that a monkey would have outperformed Trump's company. Trump, who has said his business success qualifies him to lead the country, defended his record running his hotel and casino business in Atlantic City, New Jersey. "I had great timing. I got out," after seven years, he told the network on Tuesday. "I took a lot of money out of Atlantic City, which is what I'm supposed to do. I'm a businessperson." (Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, John Whitesides, Jeff Mason and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Caren Bohan; Editing by Howard Goller and Leslie Adler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. WASHINGTON U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions in his Republican Party on Tuesday, denying leading figures support in their re-election bids, while his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton won her first endorsement from a Republican lawmaker. President Barack Obama blasted Trump as unfit to be president and questioned why any Republican would support the New York businessman seeking his first public office. "The question I think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable: Why are you still endorsing him?" Obama, a Democrat, said at a White House news conference with Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong. Trump, a former reality TV star, has troubled many in the Republican establishment with his off-the-cuff, often insulting style, and controversial policies including a proposed ban on the entry of Muslims to the United States and his plan to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. The latest exchanges cast a shadow over the show of unity the party sought to project at the Republican National Convention that formally nominated Trump for president in July. Interviewed by The Washington Post, Trump said he could endorse neither House Speaker Paul Ryan nor Senator John McCain, both of whom face Republican challengers in primary votes in their states ahead of the Nov. 8 general election. Both lawmakers had rebuked Trump over his feud with the family of a slain Muslim-American Army Captain Humayun Khan. Mirroring the language Ryan used about supporting Trump before his eventual endorsement, Trump told the newspaper he was "not quite there yet" in endorsing Ryan, the highest ranking elected Republican, in next Tuesday's Wisconsin primary. Trump praised Ryan's opponent, Paul Nehlen, for running a very good campaign. Trump said Ryan had sought his endorsement, but that as of now he is only giving it very serious consideration. HANNA ABANDONS TRUMP Although several Republicans in Congress have said they will not support Trump, Representative Richard Hanna of New York was the first to take the extra step and endorse Secretary of State Clinton, the Democratic nominee. Hanna, who is retiring from the House of Representatives rather than seek re-election, said his decision was prompted by Trump's attacks on the parents of Captain Khan, who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004. The Republican lawmaker called Trump "deeply flawed in endless ways," "unrepentant" and "self-involved." "For me, it is not enough to simply denounce his comments: He is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country," Hanna wrote in a letter posted on syracuse.com, the website of the Post-Standard newspaper in New York. Hanna's retirement gives him the leeway to risk upsetting colleagues and voters. Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, one of the most outspoken Trump critics in Congress, said he would never join Hanna in voting for Clinton. Trump has had a running feud with Khizr and Ghazala Khan since they took the stage at last week's Democratic convention to cite their son's sacrifice and criticise Trump's proposed ban on Muslims. The uproar has led many Republicans to distance themselves from the New York businessman and voice support for the Khan family. Obama said Trump's attacks on the Khans showed he was "woefully unprepared" to be president. Republican Chris Christie, a Trump ally once viewed by Trump as a potential running mate, joined the fray on Tuesday, calling criticisms of the Khan family "inappropriate." Ryan and Republican Senate Majority Leader McConnell have offered support to the Khans, but no Republican leaders have withdrawn their support for Trump as the party's presidential pick. 'HUGELY OUT OF PROPORTION' Trump's son, Eric Trump, told CBS News on Tuesday his father's comments towards the Khans have been "blown hugely out of proportion." Trump has fallen behind Clinton in opinion polls made public since the parties held their nominating conventions last month. Clinton extended her lead over Trump to eight percentage points, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, from six points on Friday. About 43 percent of likely voters favour Clinton, 35 percent favour Trump, and 9 percent picked "Other." Trump also has trailed Clinton in fundraising. The Democrat reported raising nearly $90 million in July for her campaign and the Democratic Party, with more than half the donations coming from new donors. Interviewed on the Fox Business television network, Trump brushed off billionaire investor Warren Buffett's blistering critique of his business acumen. Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc BRKa.N, scorned Trump's 1995 move to list Trump hotels and casino resorts on the New York Stock Exchange, saying it lost money for the next decade and that a monkey would have outperformed Trump's company. Trump, who has said his business success qualifies him to lead the country, defended his record running his hotel and casino business in Atlantic City, New Jersey. "I had great timing. I got out," after seven years, he told the network on Tuesday. "I took a lot of money out of Atlantic City, which is what I'm supposed to do. I'm a businessperson." (Additional reporting by David Morgan, Susan Cornwell, John Whitesides and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Caren Bohan; Editing by Frances Kerry and Howard Goller) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Islamabad: Home Ministers from seven Saarc countries, minus Bangladesh, are meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday for a two-day conclave with regional affairs, terrorism, drugs and human trafficking on the agenda. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) interior ministers meet is being held at a local five-star hotel. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is to officially inaugurate the session. It is expected to be attended by interior ministers from all Saarc states except for Bangladesh, which is sending senior diplomats and officials for the meet. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh is also attending the conference. Singh is not to hold a one-on-one with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. The Saarc group includes Pakistan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The platform aims to boost ties and cooperation between member states. BEIRUT Syrian government forces launched air strikes against six hospitals in the Aleppo area within a week in attacks that amounted to war crimes, a U.S.-based rights group said on Wednesday. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said it was the worst week for attacks on medical facilities in the Aleppo region since the beginning of Syria's five-year conflict, which has killed more than 250,000 people. The medical facilities were hit between July 23 and 31, the New York-based group said. The city and province of Aleppo have been among the areas hardest hit by intensifying violence as peace efforts earlier this year failed and a fragile ceasefire crumbled. "Since June, we've seen increasing reports of attacks on civilians in Aleppo and strikes on the region's remaining medical infrastructure," PHR's director of programs Widney Brown said in a statement. "Each of these assaults constitutes a war crime," Brown said. Government forces and their allies, with Russian backing, have advanced in recent months and imposed a siege on the rebel-held sector of Aleppo since early July, when they closed the main road from opposition areas out of the city. "The bombings, the lack of humanitarian aid and the failure of the United Nations to deliver any kind of assistance means the death toll may soon be catastrophic," Brown said. PHR said it has documented more than 370 attacks on 265 medical facilities during the war, and the deaths of 750 medical personnel. 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 Tom Heneghan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the West on Tuesday of supporting terrorism and those who tried to carry out the coup d'etat in Turkey on 15 July. During a speech delivered before several international investors, Erdogan said, "Now I ask: Does the West give support to terror or not? Is the West on the side of democracy or on the side of coups and terror? Unfortunately, the West gives support to terror and stands on the side of coups." "We have not received the support we were expecting from our friends, neither during nor after the coup attempt," EFE news quoted the President as saying. Erdogan also regretted that no Western leader had come to Turkey to express condolences with the Turkish people and said, "It's sufficient to look at the statements issued during and after the coup to see this." Furthermore, he said all available evidence shows that the mastermind of the coup was Islamist preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is in exile in the United States, and who has dismissed any links between him and the failed military coup. GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. At a time when U.S.-Russia relations are tense, Washington is seeking to foster pragmatic cooperation with five former Soviet Republics from central Asia, despite concerns that include human rights offenses and human trafficking. As VOA State Department correspondent Nike Ching reports, this effort to expand relations was evident (Wednesday) as foreign ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan gathered for the first time in Washington. Not so long ago, American tech giants viewed China as theirs for the taking: 1.4 billion people, a growing middle class, an affinity for American pop culture from Titanic and Friends to Michael Jackson. And, apparently, a tendency to see U.S. goods and services as attractive or superior. That triumphal script was again rewritten as Uber conceded defeat in its no-holds-barred dust-up with Didi Chuxing. After a costly battle in which both sides shelled out billions subsidizing rides, Chief Executive Travis Kalanick decided to call off the war, agreeing to a deal in which the local champion acquires Ubers China operations in return for a seat on Didis board and a slice of the Chinese company. The move came only a year after the famously brash Uber impresario declared China, the worlds largest ride-hailing market, his most important target. In other words, Kalanick came, he saw, he most certainly didnt conquer. Ubers approach to markets around the world has been fairly arrogant, from flouting local taxi regulations to threatening to sabotage media critics by digging up personal dirt, says Zennon Kapron, managing director of Shanghai-based consulting firm Kapronasia. But arrogance is a very difficult attitude to have to be successful in China. The particular twists and turns of Ubers battle for market share in China are distinct it went up against a nimble competitor backed by deep-pocketed internet standard-bearers Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. But its ordeal reflects a changing reality for Silicon Valley stalwarts like Amazon.com Inc. or Apple Inc. that may view China as a gold mine, but wind up floored by formidable competition and shifting consumer tastes. As Kalanick said in announcing Ubers withdrawal, U.S. technology companies struggle to crack the code. The days of simply entering China with something new a soda brand or a novel smartphone are gone, said Tom Birtwhistle, a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Hong Kong. Now if youre entering China, youre having to compete with lots of companies already there. Moreover, its no longer the case that Chinese consumers and companies are happy with crappy, as one China hand explained to The Atlantic Monthly in 2007. Observe how Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo have taken a big bite out of Apple, a series of successes stemming from savvy marketing and homegrown tech wizardry. The local competition has improved dramatically. Look at smartphones: the Chinese smartphone manufacturers used to offer phones that were cheap and crappy, but now theyre both affordable and very good, Birtwhistle said. There also used to be a challenge around branding, he said. But today, a lot of the newer companies are doing brand and marketing as well as western brands. Now they can offer high specs, low price-tags, and world-class branding thats hard to beat. Silicon Valley grew cocky after successes in Europe, where Googles runaway dominance, for instance, has seen it defending against anti-trust accusations. But perhaps Europe is the exception, suggests analyst Duncan Clark, author of Alibaba: The House that Jack Ma Built. In a market the size of China, there should be a home court advantage, driven as much by culture and language as by government diktat or influence, he said. Many U.S. companies had got used to the fact that they could succeed overseas through their dominance in Europe. But China is different; it has a ready supply of entrepreneurs and capital, and a government that if anything prizes dominance over competition. The deal Uber finally accepted retreating from direct competition in China, in exchange for shares in a Chinese champion echoes a similar arrangement struck between Yahoo and Alibaba in 2005. Ebay saw its early promise in China eclipsed when Alibaba found better ways to attract consumers in a low-trust environment: using escrow, instead of up-front fees for goods. Google chose to pull its search engine in 2010, rather than accept Beijings censorship terms (and following discoveries of hacking, it said). To be sure, the Middle Kingdom doesnt always tease, and leave suitors empty-handed. Apple iPhones have sold handily in China as both tech gadgets and luxury objects, although with the smartphone market increasingly saturated and competitive, Apples future prospects are now less certain. Its market share in China has eroded over the past year, driving down earnings. But the company has displayed smarts in China in the past, winning consumers over with a hardware-software-apps ecosystem thats proven tough to replicate. Its reliance on Foxconn and other manufacturers with factories in China creates hundreds of thousands of jobs winning points with Beijing. Therere still sectors where foreign companies have the edge, especially where product safety and cutting-edge technology hold sway think infant formula, computer processors, automobiles, passenger aircraft and engines. While Google, Yahoo, Ebay, and now Uber have retreated from China or settled for a narrow market position, some like Microsoft, Qualcomm and Apple are still slugging it out. Meanwhile, one Silicon Valley behemoth, currently blocked from China, is gunning for its chance. Facebook was briefly allowed in China, before being blocked in 2009. In recent years, founder Mark Zuckerberg has made clear his intention to bring the platform to China. To win favor, much to the amusement of Chinese netizens, hes handed out copies of Xis tome, The Governance of China, to Facebook employees; showed off his Mandarin skills; and posted photos of himself jogging through hazardous Beijing smog. It remains to be seen whether that multi-faceted courtship will be effective. All the kowtowing and meeting the leadership maybe wont matter so much if Facebook wont agree to allow some level of censorship, or allow the Chinese government access to data on the site, in exchange for market access, Kapron said. LinkedIn Corp. operates in China, but only by agreeing to abide by content restrictions. Otherwise, hes just hitting his head against the wall. More fundamentally, in the age of WeChat, do Chinese consumers still need Facebook? Tencents ubiquitous service has a virtual lock on mobile social media, while dozens of other niche services cater to all sorts of needs. Globally, maybe 7 or 8 years ago, when social networks went mainstream, the general consensus was that there will be one social network to rule them all. Wed all join one, and it would be dominant, says PwCs Birtwhistle. But what were actually seeing is a huge proliferation of a variety of social networks. The rise of Chinese tech powerhouses isnt exactly new, even if its recent headlines the pounding of Uber, the faltering of Apple that have caught readers attention overseas. What a lot of western policy makers and institutional investors have not recognized [] theyve been focused on how the outside world is going to change China. What many people have missed is actually how China is going to change the world, says Andy Mok, managing director at Red Pagoda Resources in Beijing. He cited how Chinese audiences are now influencing Hollywood casting decisions. The more and more the Chinese middle class becomes a driving force globally of product decisions, thats becoming more apparent. Elliot Ng, now director of product management at Google, returned to California in 2015 after four years in China leading development projects for the company. He thinks that tech companies in Silicon Valley may have to settle for changing half the world, counter to the industrys mantra. China demands total focus and optimization in order to win [] and practically speaking, most companies have to choose whether to accept those terms, or instead focus on the 40, or 70, or 190 countries and markets that global companies would define as the world ex-China. Indeed, while Ubers Kalanick may have mis-gauged his companys prospects in China, one prediction he made about the country could turn out to be true. At a Geekpark conference in Beijing in January, he told reporters: In the next five years, there will be more innovation, more invention, more entrepreneurship happening in China, happening in Beijing, than in Silicon Valley. This week, he was proven right. Christina Larson, Bloomberg Italian financial police have arrested the former CEO of Veneto Banca and seized millions in cash, shares and property as part of a wide-ranging investigation. Police said yesterday that prosecutors in Rome are investigating allegations of market rigging and interfering with regulatory authorities dating from 2013-2014. The regional lenders former CEO, Vincenzo Consoli, has been placed under house arrest. Veneto Banca, based north of Venice, was rescued in June by a private recapitalization fund organized by the government. Prosecutors are investigating allegations that the bank loaned money to customers so they could buy shares, while concealing the transaction from regulators, in an exercise aimed at making the bank appear more solid than it was. Consoli resigned last year after two decades as CEO. The bank had no immediate comment. A Chinese court issued a suspended three-year prison sentence to a human rights activist charged with subversion of state power after a brief trial yesterday, the first publicly acknowledged hearing in a secrecy-shrouded year-long case involving hundreds of rights activists. The official Xinhua News Agency said a court in the northern city of Tianjin issued the sentence to Zhai Yanmin, who was arrested in July last year as part of a nationwide government campaign against legal activists. About 300 lawyers and activists were initially seized and questioned before most were released. Zhais case is the first of four expected to be heard this week. Prosecutors announced in July they would try a lawyer, Zhou Shifeng of the Beijing law firm Fengrui that worked extensively on human rights cases, and three activists who worked with the firm, including Zhai. More than a dozen others remain jailed, their legal status uncertain. Xinhua said Zhai confessed in court that the group of lawyers, citizens and petitioners who believed in pushing the wall a Chinese expression for overthrowing the government methodically hyped politically sensitive cases. It quoted him as saying they organized popular rallies during controversial human rights cases to draw international attention and undermine the Chinese state remarks that echoed previous government accusations toward the group. Xinhua said the court was told that Zhai, 55, and the three others conspired and plotted to subvert state power, and established a systematic ideology, method and steps to achieve it. In a video from the trial shown on state television and posted on government websites, Zhai read a statement saying he accepted all the charges against him, was extremely regretful of his actions and would not appeal his sentence. Zhai said he would urge others not to be used by hostile foreign forces and domestic opportunists, or be blinded by so-called democracy, human rights and justice. I hope the court will give me an opportunity to correct my mistakes and start life anew, Zhai said, standing in the defendants box and flanked by two bailiffs. The court permitted Hong Kong journalists to attend the session, although foreign diplomats were barred. Zhai and his fellow activists worked alone or in affiliation with law firms to gather evidence of government abuses and lead clients and the disgruntled in protesting outside courts and government offices. Their actions were harshly denounced by the authorities as interference in the legal process. Many wives of the detained activists say they and their retained lawyers have been denied access to the detainees for more than a year, receiving only occasional updates by word of mouth, while some family members seeking information have been briefly detained themselves. Zhais wife, Liu Ermin, was taken into custody on Sunday night and returned late Monday to her Beijing home, where she said she is effectively held under house arrest by security agents outside her door. Its unfair, its too unfair, she said in a text message upon learning of Zhais verdict. She said she intends to appeal the verdict but does not know how to reach his government-appointed lawyer, whose identity has not been disclosed to relatives or in state media reports. Zhais three-year sentence was suspended for four years, meaning he will not go to prison but will have to live under considerable restrictions and supervision. He also will lose all political rights for the same period, making him ineligible to run for local councils or other offices. He can be sent to prison to serve his sentence if he disobeys the rules set for his release during the four-year period. A three-year sentence is the minimum for people convicted of subversion, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. It is an unprecedentedly light sentence [] almost a symbolic punishment, said Beijing political commentator Zhang Lifan. That may be a deliberate move by the ruling Communist Party, which permits no political opposition, to demonstrate that those who cooperate can be treated leniently, while harsh penalties await those who refuse, Zhang said. The point is not whether you committed any crime, but whether you obeyed or not, Zhang said. The trial also fits a pattern established under the administration of President Xi Jinping to use more sophisticated legal means to attack perceived opponents as it maintains pressure on activists and non-governmental organizations. Police cordoned off the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court yesterday, one day after protesters flanked by foreign diplomats demanded more information about the cases. The trial was attended by five foreign media outlets invited by the court and other observers, according to Xinhua, in an apparent attempt to address criticism from the activists supporters about a near-total lack of transparency surrounding the cases. It isnt clear whether Zhai will be allowed to immediately return home. A lawyer and legal assistant who were recently released have been videoed apparently recanting their actions, but their whereabouts remain unknown. Helene Franchineau, Gerry Shih, AP A Hong Kong police officer who allegedly fled to Macau after having stolen approximately one million Hong Kong dollars in bail money, was arrested while trying to return to Hong Kong on Monday, according to a report by South China Morning Post. The 43-year-old man, surnamed Cheung, was intercepted by immigration officers at the Shenzhen Bay border checkpoint. Cheung had reportedly spent all the stolen money on gambling in Macau, before returning to the city. On May 2, Cheung, in command of the safe at the Arsenal Street stations report room, was reported to the police by his colleagues. They were informed that HKD1.07 million in bail money had disappeared after Cheung unexpectedly left his duty on that same day. Cheung was immediately suspected of having left the city to go to Macau, before moving on to mainland China. An initial investigation showed that Cheung was heavily in debt but he had not declared it as unmanageable to the force as per regulation. Cheung joined the Hong Kong police force in 1992 and was promoted to officer in command last June. He was living with his 21-year-old daughter and his wife in a police quarter before his disappearance. Cheungs case marks one of the most serious money stealing cases in Hong Kong in recent years. In 2006, an officer at the Mong Kok Police Station took more than HK430,000 in bail money and was later sentenced to jail for 18 months. A cross-border logistics platform will be built in Luau municipality, Moxico province, to link Angola to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia via the Benguela railway, Angolan Transport Minister Augusto da Silva Tomas announced. The Luau cross-border logistics platform will altogether comprise an integrated and varied multipolar front in economic relations with Angolas neighbouring countries, said Tomas, who spoke on Saturday during the opening session of a conference on The National Logistics Platform. Construction of this infrastructure is vital, because many countries in the Great Lakes region and others in southern Africa do not have maritime borders, he said, stressing that it could eventually play a decisive role and become a factor for attracting international trade, both imports and exports. In the report from Angop news agency, the minister indicated that plans called for the creation of 44 logistics platforms, from first to third level, for urban, regional, port and cross-border typologies as well as for air cargo centres at the countrys major airports. MDT/Macauhub The Macau Gaming Research Associations (MGRA) recent survey, conducted by a Hong Kong research company, showed a three percent year-on-year decline on the regions customer service level, TDM reported. Mystery clients visited 13 gaming venues, including nine frontline departments to conduct the study during the first half of the year. The survey, which aimed to evaluate employees friendliness, proactiveness and tolerance of customers, has garnered some 1,800 respondents. As cited in the report, the study showed that the index of proactiveness has dropped to 109 points during this years second quarter, accounting for a three percent drop compared to the same period last year. The checkpoints for each casino include customer services in cloakrooms, bus and washrooms, staff at slot machine areas, security staff, cashiers, dealers, and staff at the free food and beverage areas. The regions overall gaming service index from April to June 2016 went up by 12.8 percent compared to the first quarter of the year. According to the study, the friendliness index of casino frontline workers was up by 6.3 percent quarter-to-quarter during the three months, which the association described as the second highest in the reports history. The report also showed a 14 percent quarter-to-quarter increase in the gaming workers tolerance index. Since 2013, the Gaming Service Index has been compiled periodically to facilitate the trend analysis in a bid to monitor the service level of the gaming industry. Pagcor retracts 124 online gaming licenses The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) has revoked 124 online gaming licenses as it imposes President Dutertes order to curb online gambling, The Inquirer reported. Andrea Domingo, Pagcors president and chief executive officer said Pagcor could lose up to P10 billion in revenue as a result, but this measure is not expected to deviate from meeting the agencys revenue target of P50 billion next year. Domingo added that the projected losses would be felt once Pagcor does not renew the license of 302 e-Games stations and 324 e-Bingo outlets that cater to local bettors. Meanwhile, Bernstein analysts said in a note that the news is likely to be positive for Macaus gaming industry as online gaming in the Philippines often targets Chinese gamblers at a small scale. Any impediments to existing VIP practices in the Philippines could lead to some VIP business migrating back to Macau (although we do not see this happening in the near term), said Pagcor. The government of Guinea-Bissau has begun distributing to farmers the agricultural production resources, namely seeds and fertilizer, donated by China at a ceremony last weekend in Bafata. Official information indicates that the donation involves 500 tons of rice seed, 617 tons of fertilizer and 20 tons of peanuts, along with bean varieties, and also six new tractors and several power tillers. They will be placed at the disposal of farmers in the countrys 39 sectors and eight regions, including the Autonomous Sector of Bissau. Agriculture Minister Rui Nene Djata said that these production means should enable more than 400 hectares to be planted with peanuts and a similar area with beans. The rice seed should lead to a harvest of 30,000 tons. Prime Minister Baciro Dja presided at the ceremony. He said the time had come to transform the family-based farming currently practiced in Guinea-Bissau into mechanised agriculture, to increase agricultural production and productivity. Dja stated that one of his governments goals is to create conditions to enable farmers to harvest up to 80,000 tons of rice, with a view to reducing imports of that cereal. Beijings ambassador to the West African country notified the media last week that Chinese technical personnel would soon be arriving in Bissau to begin a project to manufacture tractors and other agricultural machinery. Wang Hua made his statement at a ceremony on Friday, during which he said that the delivered goods are meant to help Guinea-Bissau produce rice so that the country can become self-sufficient in this cereal. The ambassador stressed that Guinea-Bissau has natural resources such as plentiful water, arable land, a good climate and above all farmers, whereby the country can produce enough for domestic consumption and also export surpluses. Guinea-Bissauan President Jose Mario Vaz in turn thanked China for the donation, adding that the production goods would delivered directly to his countrys farmers. Vaz said that agricultural transformation and diversification are currently a national priority, which will necessarily involve gradual mechanization of the production chain and eventual marketing of the products in Guinea-Bissau. MDT/Macauhub German airline Lufthansa repeated a warning that terrorism fears would weigh on bookings and profits in the second half of the year as it reported a solid increase in underlying profits in the first half thanks to cost controls and lower fuel prices. Once stripping out one-off factors that distort annual comparisons, Lufthansa said yesterday that adjusted earnings before interest and taxes the companys usual profit gauge rose 61 million euros to 529 million euros (USD585 million) in the same period last year. If those one-off factors are included, net profit more than halved to 429 million euros from 954 million euros, when profits were boosted by 503 million euros through the early conversion of a convertible bond. The airline credited strict management of seat capacity for an increase of 3.8 percentage points to 5.2 percent in the profit margin at its passenger airline business. However, Lufthansas cargo business saw a fall of 95 million euros in first-half earnings due to massive market overcapacities while yields from air freight had fallen to levels last seen during the financial crisis in 2009. Lufthansa shares fell 3.9 percent to 10.31 euros in midday trading in Europe. CEO Carsten Spohr said in a statement that the company achieved a solid result in the first half, but warned that our industry has to prepare for a difficult second half. The company has already had to abandon its earnings forecast for the full year, saying it expects profits to be below last years, instead of slightly above. The terrorist attacks in Europe and also the increasing political and economic uncertainties are having a tangible impact on passenger volumes, said Spohr, who noted a particular impact on forward bookings for long-distance flights to Europe. Europe has witnessed a series of attacks over the past year, including last Novembers in Paris which killed 130 people and the bombings at the Brussels airport and subway in March that killed 32. On July 14, an attacker drover a truck through a crowd in Nice, France, killing 84. Recently, Germany itself has witnessed an ax-and-knife attack by a 17-year-old Afghan refugee who injured 5 people in Wuerzburg on July 18 and a suicide bombing that injured several people outside a wine-bar in Anspach, Germany on July 24. Britains vote to leave the European Union and a failed military coup in Turkey have added to political and economic uncertainty in Europe as well. The turbulence is affecting other airlines; Air France has warned that the global context is highly uncertain and noted a special concern about France as a destination. EasyJet has warned that the events in Turkey and the Nice attack continue to impact consumer confidence. David McHugh, Frankfurt, AP A group of lawyers asked by Mitsubishi Motors Corp. to investigate mileage cheating at the Japanese automaker found a divided company that had set unrealistic goals, to which employees simply couldnt say, No. The Tokyo-based automaker acknowledged in April it had systematically falsified mileage data on its eK wagon and eK Space minicars, also produced for Nissan Motor Co. The investigative panel said yesterday such data falsifying went on for 25 years, and the wrongdoing was systematic, extensive and escalated with time. The probe, which included interviews with more than 150 people, found the company lacked a system for checking on the team assigned to improve mileage. The company said employees did not feel compelled to respect the law or fix the wrongdoing and each department was concerned only with its own performance. There was utterly no consciousness that the company must work as one to make and sell cars, the panels 37-page report said. The government earlier found Mitsubishi had overstated mileage on its vehicles by up to 16 percent. Mitsubishi Motors, which makes the Outlander sport-utility vehicle and the i-MiEV electric car, struggled for years to win back consumer trust after an auto defects scandal in the early 2000s over cover-ups of problems such as failing brakes, faulty clutches and fuel tanks prone to falling off dating back to the 1970s. Panel members, speaking at a news conference at the companys Tokyo headquarters, acknowledged their recommendations might not be followed, just as with past scandals. Shortly after the problems were made public, Nissan announced it was taking a 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi to help its turn-around. The scandal surfaced after Nissan, which sold Mitsubishi minicars under its own brand, did its own tests and pointed out inconsistencies in data. Mitsubishi has said it didnt lie about mileage on models sold overseas. The company is offering a cash rebate to customers in Japan who bought the vehicles for which it had reported inflated mileage, to make up for the extra gas. Mitsubishi Chairman Osamu Masuko, who helped engineer the Nissan deal, reiterated an apology and promised the company will penalize managers found responsible for the cheating. We hope this will mark a new beginning for us as a manufacturer, he told reporters after the panels findings were released. Yuri Kageyama, Tokyo,AP President Barack Obama found common cause with the leader of Singapore in the face of growing political headwinds against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, warning that to pull up a drawbridge on trade would only hurt the United States and its workers. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged the United States to maintain its indispensable role in the Asia-Pacific and ratify the TPP as he joined Obama at the White House to celebrate the 50th anniversary of U.S. diplomatic relations with the Southeast Asian city state. Obama said that people have legitimate fears about the impact of globalization and being left behind but the answer cannot be to back away from trade and the global economy. To try to pull-up a drawbridge on trade would only hurt us and hurt our workers. The answer is to make sure that globalization and trade is working for us and not against us, Obama told joint news conference after talks with Lee in the Oval Office. TPP is designed to do precisely that, Obama added. Singapore, a close U.S. partner, is one of the 12 nations in the TPP, an agreement key to Obamas effort to boost U.S. exports and build strategic ties in Asia. But Lees Washington visit comes as opposition to the TPP intensifies in the United States. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton are both against it. Asked about that opposition, Obama responded: Right now Im president and Im for it, and I think I have the better argument. Calling Singapore a rock solid partner, Obama welcomed Lee after an elaborate ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, where hundreds of U.S. military members in blue and white uniforms formed an honor guard. Lee will also be honored with a state dinner today [Macau time]. The U.S. president said they shared a common vision of a peaceful and prosperous Asia-Pacific and a more secure world. He paid tribute to the tiny nations transformation from third world country to a first world country, describing it as a red dot on many maps, but with a very big impact on the world. On his arrival at the White House, Lee also acknowledged that some Americans are anxious and frustrated with economic uncertainty and the uneven result of globalization and trade, but said the U.S. is strengthened by its engagement in Asia. Singapore fervently hopes that the U.S. will stay engaged and maintain its indispensable role in the Asia-Pacific. In particular, we hope, and Im sure the president shares this hope, that Congress will ratify the TPP soon, Lee said. The Obama administration says it remains determined to try and win congressional approval for TPP, but the chances of achieving that in the lame duck session after the Nov. 8 election and before the new president takes office Jan. 20 appear slim because of the depth of political opposition, not least from Obamas fellow Democrats. Obama said he was ready to sit down publicly with people on both the right and left of the political spectrum to go through provisions of TPP to address misinformation about the agreement. The deal would eliminate trade barriers and tariffs, streamline standards and encourage investment between the 12 countries that include Mexico, Japan, Vietnam and Australia. But critics say the pact undercuts American workers by introducing lower-wage competition and gives huge corporations too much leeway. Singapore, a city state of 5.7 million people, is heavily dependent on international trade for its prosperity. In 2004, it became the first Asian nation to strike a bilateral free trade agreement with the U.S. Last year, the bilateral trade in goods totaled $47 billion, with the U.S. enjoying a $10 billion surplus. Singapore is also a strong advocate of the U.S. security role in Asia although it retains cordial ties with China too. Under Obama, the U.S. has deployed littoral combat ships in Singapore, and last December, deployed a P-8 Poseidon spy plane there for the first time, amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea. Lees meeting with Obama will be watched for reaction to an international tribunal ruling July 12 that invalidated Chinas historical claims to most of the disputed South China Sea. The U.S. says the ruling is binding but China has rejected it. Southeast Asian nations have been reluctant to speak out against Beijing. The state dinner for Lee will be the first held for a Singaporean leader since October 1985, when Ronald Reagan hosted Lees father, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. The U.S. and Singapore opened diplomatic relations in 1966, a year after the U.S. recognized Singapores independence from Malaysia. Josh Lederman, Matthew Pennington, AP It was a national scandal. Perus then-vice president accused two domestic intelligence agents of staking her out. Then, a top congressman blamed the spy agency for a break-in at his office. News stories showed the agency had collected data on hundreds of influential Peruvians. Yet after last years outrage, which forced out the prime minister and froze its intelligence-gathering, the spy service went ahead with a USD22 million program capable of snooping on thousands of Peruvians at a time. Peru a top cocaine-producing nation joined the ranks of world governments that have added commercial spyware to their arsenals. The purchase from Israeli-American company Verint Systems, chronicled in documents obtained by AP, offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look into how easy it is for a country to purchase and install off-the-shelf surveillance equipment. The software allows governments to intercept voice calls, text messages and emails. Except for blacklisted nations like Syria and North Korea, there is little to stop governments that routinely violate basic rights from obtaining the same so-called lawful intercept tools that have been sold to Western police and spy agencies. People tracked by the technology have been beaten, jailed and tortured, according to human rights groups. Targets identified by the AP include a blogger in the repressive Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan, opposition activists in the war-ravaged African nation of South Sudan, and politicians and reporters in oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. The status quo is completely unacceptable, said Marietje Schaake, a European Union lawmaker pushing for greater oversight. The fact that this market is almost completely unregulated is very disturbing. The Verint documents that AP obtained in Peru, including training manuals, contracts, invoices and emails, offer more detail than previously available on the inner workings of a highly secretive industry. There is just so little reliable data on this, said Edin Omanovic, a researcher at Privacy International, a London-based advocacy group. These commercial tools are being used in a strategic and offensive way in much the same way that military tools are used. The scope and sophistication revealed in the Peru documents approximates, on a small scale, U.S. and British surveillance programs catalogued in 2013 by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. That trove showed how the U.S. government collected the phone records of millions of Americans, few suspected of crimes. Even after some reforms, there is still much to be done in the U.S. and abroad to rein in Big Brother, privacy advocates say. Reached at Verints corporate headquarters in Melville, New York, an assistant to CEO Dan Bodner said the company would have no comment. We typically dont comment to reporters, said Barbara Costa. Verint and its main competitors hail from nations with well-funded spy agencies, including the United States, Israel, Britain and Germany, and have operated with limited oversight. With more than $1 billion in yearly sales, Verint is a major, longtime player in an industry whose secrecy makes its size difficult to quantify. Verint Systems Ltd., the subsidiary that sold the surveillance package to Peru, is based in Herzliya, Israel, outside Tel Aviv. In regulatory filings, the parent corporation boasts upward of 10,000 customers in more than 180 countries, including most of the worlds largest companies and U.S. law-enforcement agencies. The company says its products help businesses run better and make the world a safer place. In 2007, Verint provided Mexico with a U.S.-funded, $3 million surveillance platform aimed at fighting drug cartels. Surveillance sales account for about a third of its business. However, the company discloses little about those products, which it says collect and parse massive data sets to detect, investigate and neutralize threats. It also does not identify its law enforcement and intelligence agency clients, but the AP independently confirmed through interviews and documents that it has sales in countries including Australia, Brazil, the United States, Mexico, Colombia and Switzerland. About half of Verints surveillance dealings are in the developing world, said analyst Jeff Kessler of Imperial Capital in New York. The Peru installation known as Pisco, a nod to the local brandy illustrates how the private surveillance industry has piggybacked on multibillion-dollar government research in the West. Many security experts who honed their skills in Israels military have gone to work in the private sector, effectively putting their tech chops at the service of less sophisticated nations for a fraction of the cost. Like spy tools wielded by larger nations, Pisco lets officials intercept and monitor satellite networks that carry voice and data traffic, potentially putting private communications of millions of Peruvians at risk. A software manual offers step-by-step instructions on how to intercept those communications with Verint equipment: Connect to a satellite, identify the callers, then open a voice product their jargon for a phone call. Frank Bajak, Jack Gillum, AP Typhoon Nida made landfall at 3.35 a.m. yesterday at the Dapeng Peninsula in the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, according to local weather authorities. The strong typhoon, which picked up speed with winds reaching up to 151.2 km per hour, was at the time moving northwest at 25 km per hour and was expected to sweep across the cities of Shenzhen, Dongguan, Guangzhou, Foshan and Zhaoqing and into neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Guangdong provincial weather authorities informed the Xinhua news agency. Due to its passage, nearly 200 train trips were suspended yesterday, including 180 bullet train trips, according to the Nanning Railway Bureau. Trains from Guangzhou to Nanning, capital of Guangxi, and Guiyang, capital of southwest Chinas Guizhou Province, were among those suspended. More than 2,000 soldiers and paramilitary forces, as well as over 100 ambulances, were prepared for the emergency response in Shenzhen, the citys armed police headquarters said. The Guangdong provincial government on Monday evening requested the suspension of projects, businesses, markets, schools and transportation. Companies and organizations that do not provide critical services or urban operations were also encouraged to offer a day off yesterday. All ships scheduled to end their fishing ban on Monday were asked to delay their departure and stay at port to avoid the rainstorm. MDT/Xinhua Wildfires are raging in several Western states, with some fueled by wind and dry conditions. The fires have forced evacuations as they destroyed homes, threatened many others, and left thousands of firefighters battling the blazes. Here's a look at some of the fires: IDAHO Federal officials mobilized two U.S. Department of Defense retardant-dropping aircraft to help fight wildfires in the West. The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise said the C-130s will go into action on Wednesday and initially be based in Boise. More than 1,400 firefighters were battling a blaze in rugged terrain in southwest Idaho that grew to 66 square miles and has destroyed a popular, state-operated backcountry yurt. The $60,000 yurt is a round, tent-like structure with a dome roof and plastic skin. Several more are threatened. CALIFORNIA A deadly wildfire that continues to spread near California's scenic Big Sur was started by an illegal camp fire. Fire information officer Deborah McClain said Tuesday investigators determined the blaze started July 22 in a day camping area of Garapata Park where campfires are prohibited. Officials are still trying to determine who started the fire before it charred more than 69 square miles and destroyed 57 homes, McClain said. More than 5,400 firefighters from across California are fighting the blaze that is threatening 2,000 structures. It was 25 percent contained. All California state parks in the area are closed. In California's Central Valley, crews got a lot more control over a stubborn wildfire that has destroyed three homes and is threatening another 400 northeast of Fresno. Authorities said firefighters increased containment to 60 percent. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said about 300 people were under evacuation orders from homes just outside Sierra National Forest. The 3.4-square-mile blaze started Saturday and quickly spread through steep, rugged terrain covered with dry vegetation and dead trees. MONTANA Firefighters were bracing for strong winds as they battled a blaze in western Montana that destroyed 14 homes and may have contributed to a man's death. The fire had burned nearly 7 square miles in Bitterroot National Forest. Residents of about 630 homes southwest of Hamilton were evacuated while another 215 homes were warned to be ready to leave. Residents were allowed back into the burned area Monday, but it was closed again Tuesday due to expected high winds and low humidity. Family members say a 64-year-old man died of a heart attack while trying to evacuate Sunday. NEVADA Firefighters expected dry, hot winds and the possibility of erratic flames in a series of wildfires that have charred almost 75 square miles of rangeland in northwest Nevada. Officials predicted humidity in the single-digits in the Virginia Mountains with wind gusts up to 45 mph. Containment of the fires was estimated at about 40 percent. Residents in some rural areas have been told to prepare to evacuate quickly if necessary. Pyramid Lake was closed. A nearly 8-square-mile wildfire was burning in the scenic Poodle Mountain Wilderness Study Area, about 50 miles farther north. OREGON Crater Lake National Park remained open as a wildfire grew to more than 400 acres. The fire has led to the partial closure of the Pacific Crest Trail from Dutton Creek Camp to Red Cone Springs. Fire officials said West Rim Drive could be intermittently closed over the next couple of days. The cause of the fire remained under investigation. Officials said it could have resulted from an escaped campfire. WASHINGTON A fast-moving fire in central Washington that started Tuesday afternoon has been brought under control with some homes and outbuildings lost. The Grant County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday night the fire was still burning about 7 miles north of Moses Lake. Officials say they don't yet know how many structures have burned or the amount of land. Shelters have been set up for people and livestock from about two dozen evacuated residences. Also on Tuesday, fire crews were making headway on a blaze that started Saturday night in south-central Washington on the U.S. Army's Yakima Training Center. The fire that has scorched about 276 square miles was up to 20 percent contained, from 10 percent Tuesday morning. It's the largest of several wildfires burning in Washington state WYOMING Evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes northwest of Dubois as progress was made against a wildfire. Firefighters have gained 50 percent containment of the fire that has burned about 22 square miles on private land and in Shoshone National Forest. The fire began July 11. In Bridger-Teton National Forest, a fire that has burned about 46 square miles was 84 percent contained. In southwest Wyoming, a fire that has burned about 2 square miles near the Utah border is now 36 percent contained. Residents of about 75 homes that had been evacuated last week were allowed to return. Last week I had the chance to sit down with Jace and Giddi Carmichael. I spent more than an hour with them in the Twin Falls visitor center parking lot discussing and documenting their unique way of life. After the opportunity arose to purchase a Dodge Sprinter 2500, the Carmichaels decided to pursue their dream of a nomadic lifestyle. They built a bed, kitchen and office space within the van and have been living out of it since Easter Sunday of this year. Listening to their story was great, but the shoot brought with it a certain set of challenges. I underestimated how small the space would actually be, a rookie mistake that could have been avoided if I did my homework. Because of this, my widest lens was my 24-70 mm. This will help give a mental image of the area. Their mobile apartment was about the size of my walk-in closet at home, and Im a single guy with a limited-at-best fashion sense. This was a SMALL space. Instinctively when I realize I am unprepared for a shoot, I immediately start going into frantic mode. I start shooting without thinking and wasting space on my memory cards for photos that will never be used. I dont recommend this technique. Its just a guttural reaction. Fortunately my time in this profession has taught me a trick or two. Id like to share these with you in case you ever find yourself in a challenging shoot. First off, stop what youre doing. If youre praying and spraying (shooting blindly and hoping for the best), youre not going to get images youre proud of. At least not consistently. Take a moment to collect yourself. Typically when Im on a shoot, I wont snap my first frame within the first five minutes of being there. I like to take the time to think about where I am, what my angles are, where the light is and how I can make it work for me. In this situation, the light was streaming in through the side door of the van. I knew if I was shooting from the door, the van would be evenly lit. Moving inside and incorporating the light into my photo could add a soft glow. I used this with my closeups of Giddi, whos six months pregnant. By overexposing the background it softened the features of her face, adding a more soothing feel to the image. Once I figured out my lighting, the next challenge was working with the limited space. There were three of us in this area, and no one had very much room to move. For situations like these, sometimes the best option is to just work your angles. I systematically made my way around the room, testing every angle I could think of to utilize the space I had. I found that sticking my camera in the corner of the room and using higher angles helped expand the area. With the low kitchen counters and desktop, a high angle better displayed the layout of the room. The low angle had the opposite effect. The subject was larger, adding to the idea of this condensed space. Both techniques are useful and both helped illustrate the story. The moment when I failed on this shoot is when I left before getting a detail shot. This particular story could have been a great one to tell with extreme closeups. Bumper stickers on the back of the van, the odometer, the dog bowl next to the door, even the tiny plant on the desk could have all added another layer of depth to my package. When shooting, dont just consider your angles, but also your proximity to the subject. Get a wide angle shot to set the scene. Move in closer to get an image of the subjects interacting within the already established scene. Finish with a closeup photo that adds something extra to your story that cant be captured in a wide shot. These are basic rules that dont apply to every situation, but they will help flesh out your stories if youre struggling to find variety in your images. I hope some of these techniques can help the next time you find yourself in a tricky shoot. You can also follow the Carmichaels on their Instagram @OurHomeOnWheels. One sip of this soup is like getting wrapped in your warmest, coziest sweater. Between the thick chunks of vegetables, tender cubes of potato, juicy shreds of chicken (take your pick of boneless breasts or thighs), and thick, creamy broth, it truly doesnt get more comforting than chicken potato soup. As the temps begin to dip, this is a family-friendly soup to keep on repeat all through fall and winter. BOISE A federal judge has declared invalid the U.S. Forest Service's approval of a gold mining company's plan to reopen a 4-mile road in a central Idaho wilderness and drill core samples to find out if two of its claims are profitable enough to be mined. U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill in a ruling Tuesday says the agency violated environmental laws in approving American Independence Mines and Minerals Co.'s plan in the Frank Church River Of No Return Wilderness. Winmill sent the case back to the Forest Service to do another analysis. The Idaho Conservation League and four other groups sued the Forest Service following the agency's June 2015 approval of the mining company's plan that includes 571 motorized trips into the wilderness area to build 11 drill pads. Vehicles would include four-wheel-drive pickups, a dump truck, a flatbed truck, a bulldozer and a small excavator. "The Frank Church Wilderness is a national treasure that deserves the utmost protection against needlessly destructive mining activities," said Bonnie Gestring of Earthworks in a statement. "We're pleased the court is requiring a more thorough analysis of less harmful measures." The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Clearwater and Wilderness watch also took part in the lawsuit. It's not clear when the Forest Service will complete the supplemental environmental impact statement as directed by Winmill. The agency didn't return a call from The Associated Press on Wednesday. Winmill said the Forest Service violated the law by basing its decision possibly using information supplied by the company but withheld from the public. Winmill said it was unclear because he didn't have the information either. Winmill also said that federal officials failed to make available their reasoning leading to the decision to approve the mining company's work. He also said the Forest Service violated environmental laws by not considering the reduction in motorized trips by having workers walk the 3 miles through the wilderness to the mine. David Lombardi, a Boise-based attorney with Givens Pursley who represents the mining company, said Winmill's decision reminded him of the admonition by math teachers to show your work. Winmill "did not invalidate the plan," Lombardi said. "He simply said you have not done the process correctly. Go back and do it again." Some of the withheld information Winmill referred to is considered proprietary by the company. Lombardi said the company would make available information the Forest Service needed to meet Winmill's requirements. In the 28-page ruling, Winmill noted the difficult task the Forest Service has in balancing the 1872 Mining Law that opens federal lands to mining and the Wilderness Act passed 92 years later intended to keep designated wilderness areas pristine. "The conflict between these laws is obvious mining will never be compatible with wilderness," Winmill wrote. The mining company's claims predate the 1980 formation of the River of No Return Wilderness. The company wants to mine two of those claims but must first prove they are valid claims with marketable amounts of minerals. To do that, Winmill said, noting the company's right to mine in the wilderness, the company must be allowed to do work that includes activities that wouldn't normally be permitted in a wilderness area. JEROME A Jerome County judge issued a no-bond bench warrant Wednesday for the 43-year-old Nevada man suspected of absconding with a runaway 14-year-old Jerome girl. Police are seeking the publics help to find the missing teen, Anni Gwin, who was last seen by her family about 2 a.m. Monday. They believe Gwin ran away with Charles Isaac Ike McLaughlin, 43, of Silver Springs, Nev. Theres no reason to believe she was forcibly abducted, and this doesnt meet the criteria of an Amber Alert, Jerome Police Chief Dan Hall said Wednesday. But obviously shes in danger being out of the control of her parents and with somebody of McLaughlins age. Police believe Gwin and McLaughlin may be headed to eastern Idaho, near Bear Lake or Montpelier, or to Nevada. McLaughlin is believed to be driving a black 2000 Chevrolet Impala with Idaho license plates 2T 27538. Gwin was last seen wearing an orange sweatshirt over a pink T-shirt, her family told police. She has at least two piercings in her bottom lip, a tattoo of three small music notes behind her ear and a tattoo of a large treble clef on her forearm. Shes also travelling with a brown puppy. A neighbor reported seeing Gwin sneaking out of her house about 4 a.m. Monday with McLaughlin, said Wendy Nieto, the owner of Bail-Out by Wendy. Nieto is interested in finding McLaughlin because she posted his $30,000 bond last week, she said. McLaughlin was due in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing on a felony charge, but he failed to appear and a judge issued a no-bond bench warrant for his arrest. Court records also show a sealed case for McLaughlin, meaning there could be a warrant on other charges. Court records obtained Wednesday by the Times-News show McLaughlins felony charge for which he was due in court Wednesday stems from a July 20 incident involving Gwin. According to a sworn police affidavit, Gwin sneaked out to be with McLaughlin that night and had sneaked out to be with him at least once before. Early on July 20, Gwins parents picked her up at 3 a.m. in Twin Falls after she had been caught with McLaughlin, the affidavit said. Later that night, about 11:50 p.m., police found McLaughlin and Gwin sitting in a pickup truck in the parking lot of Candlelight Park on South Davis Street in Jerome. Police arrested McLaughlin on suspicion of lewd conduct with a minor, but he was charged only with a felony count of attempted destruction of evidence. Prosecutors said McLaughlin attempted to destroy evidence at the scene. The night police found McLaughlin and Gwin in the car, the girl told officers her parents didnt know she had left the house, court documents said. Officers reported that McLaughlin was sweating heavily and he appeared very nervous. I asked him to explain what he was doing at the park with a 14-year-old at midnight, an officer wrote in the affidavit. He stated that they were talking about life. He told me (Gwin) was a family friend. HAMMETT Matthew David Conrad, 34 of Hammett, died after allegedly trying to carjack three vehicles, then pointing a gun at two Elmore County sheriffs deputies, Idaho State Police said Tuesday evening. Two Elmore County deputies shot Conrad who reportedly stole a pickup, led officers on a chase, attempted to carjack three different vehicles and then pointed a firearm at the deputies, according to Idaho State Police. Conrad died, but no officers were injured in the incident that escalated on Interstate 84 just west of Hammett, according to Elmore County Sheriff Rick Layher. Idaho State Police is investigating the case. Elmore County Coroner Jerry Rost said he took custody of the body. An autopsy is planned for Wednesday at the Ada County Coroners Office. The names of the deputies who shot him have not been released. Interstate 84 was shut down in both directions for hours while officers investigated the scene. It had fully reopened as of 1:45 p.m., according to the Idaho Transportation Department. Initially, around 8:45 a.m., a Hammett resident called into dispatch to report their pickup truck had been stolen. The suspect was known to law enforcement, said Teresa Baker, ISP spokeswoman. There was evidence he had stolen vehicles in the past, she said. Multiple deputies searched for Conrad. He was ultimately located near Hammett, and started a chase that led to westbound I-84. Deputies attempted multiple maneuvers to stop the pickup; after one such attempt near mile marker 110, the pickup went off the road and crashed through a barbed wire fence, Baker said. The suspect got out on foot after the truck was disabled, she said. He ran across the westbound lane (and) went to the eastbound lanes. A semitrailer had slowed down because Conrad was near the freeway; he then aimed a gun at the driver in an attempt to carjack the semi, Baker said. The driver sped off, heading east. Then Conrad did the same thing to the driver of a passing red car. That motorist also sped away, continuing east. Conrad raised his gun another time, pointing it at the driver of a SUV. That driver evaded him, turned around and got onto westbound I-84, later describing their experience to deputies. Investigators are searching for the occupants of the red car and the semi to get more information about the case, Baker said. Deputies pursued Conrad on foot. After the SUV drove away, he turned toward the two deputies and pointed his gun at them. Thats when both deputies fired their weapons, Baker said. If you witnessed the shooting, call 208-587-2100. I-84 was closed in both directions between Hammett and Mountain Home for hours. Police diverted traffic at exit 99, just east of Mountain Home, and brought vehicles back on I-84 at exit 114, just east of Hammett, according to ITD. The shooting comes about four days after the results of another ISP investigation into an officer-involved shooting were released. The Idaho Attorney Generals Office reviewed ISPs findings in the shooting of Adams County rancher Jack Yantis and decided not to bring criminal charges against the deputies who shot him. TWIN FALLS More than 700 teachers are in Twin Falls for the Idaho Career & Technical Education summer conference. The event kicked off Tuesday and continues through Thursday at the College of Southern Idaho. Nationwide, theres a push for more specialized training for students to help fill in-demand jobs and shrink the skills gap in the workforce. And that often means helping students see options other than a traditional four-year college degree. Career and technical education is becoming remarkably cool in America, keynote speaker Mark Perna told the crowd. Hes the founder of Tools for Schools, a marketing and consulting firm. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies and is an expert on the Millennial generation. Hes also an advocate for career and technical education. Idahos school programs cover topics such as agriculture and natural resources, business, engineering technology, family and consumer sciences, health occupations, and technical training in areas like diesel technology and automotive repair. It also includes student organizations such as FFA, Business Professionals of America and Health Occupations Students of America. On Tuesday, crowds of teachers filled CSIs Fine Arts lobby, looking at vendor booths before the opening session. Attendees also signed up for local industry tours, slated for Wednesday afternoon. Other attendees included Marilyn Whitney, senior special assistant for education and government services for Idaho Gov. C.L. Butch Otter, and Ken Edmunds, director of the Idaho Department of Labor. CSI President Jeff Fox welcomed the crowd, saying changes in career and technical education are pretty amazing. CTE has evolved in recent years, he said, by bringing outside industry into education and getting students into the workforce in different ways. Dwight Johnson, state administrator for career and technical education, told teachers he appreciates the passion and dedication they bring to their classrooms. The conference also offered a special track for 76 participating school counselors and career advisers. Nationwide, theres a skills gap, Perna said, with unemployed people, but open jobs going unfilled. The problem is too many people are getting an education they dont use or need, he said. And the total student loan debt in the U.S. is mounting, he added: $1.7 trillion. Of that, 11 percent is more than 90 days in default. Perna said a common phrase in the education world is college and career ready. I think what we should be doing in this country is making students career ready. Period, he said. The audience applauded. Perna said hes not against four-year college degrees if a student needs that level of education to be successful in a chosen career. Perna told a story about his youngest son, Nick, whos now 28 years old. Nick hated to go to school and didnt turn in his homework. He had a 1.5 GPA as a high school sophomore. But he had a 4.0 understanding of everything that was taught to him, Perna said. One day, Nick walked into a career center and sat in on a software and development class. That night, he told Perna he wanted to spend the rest of his life as a software engineer. He earned a four-year college degree and now has a job making more than $80,000 per year, Perna said. All I have to say is, Thank you, career and technical education. TWIN FALLS A handful of offices at the College of Southern Idahos main campus in Twin Falls will extend their hours to prepare for fall semester. Offices will be open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 17 and 18 and 1-5 p.m. Aug. 20. Participating departments include the registrars office, admissions, bookstore, financial aid and advising. New CSI students must apply for fall semester by Aug. 15. Classes start Aug. 22. New students are also required to complete the Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) program. For more information, contact the CSI admissions office at 208-732-6221. FILER This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Twin Falls County Fair, and there will be plenty of fun and some new features for all who come, plus a new Gold Buckle Club for people who want to help support the rodeo. For starters, there is a new gate to welcome people to the fair from U.S. 30, which will feature flags flying on the pedestals commemorating the 100th anniversary. And, the fair has an app this year, with the schedule, maps and other helpful features, that you can download on your smartphone, Fair Manager John Pitz told county officials and the media at a kickoff event at the Fairgrounds on Tuesday. The fair kicks off with McDonalds Day on Wednesday, Aug. 31, as it has for the past several years, followed by Chobani Day on Thursday, Farm Bureau Day on Friday, with more events all day Saturday and Sunday, and ending with KMVT/Fox 14 Pal Day on Monday, Sept. 5. Wednesday evenings monster truck show will feature six trucks instead of the usual four, with quad racing in-between as the trucks cool down. And, it will feature $15,000 worth of fireworks to be shot off from a nearby beet dump, which, Pitz said, Amalgamated Sugar has agreed to provide and to keep free of beets until after the show. And, there were be a pre-show party in the pit from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. where people can meet the truck drivers and get autographs. On Thursday, people can get $3 knocked off an adult admission by bringing two cans of food, which will be donated to the Salvation Army Food Pantry. On Friday, attendees can get the same discount with proof of Farm Bureau membership. The Magic Valley Stampede PRCA Rodeo is Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and a high-definition big-screen TV will be raffled off each night. On Sunday evening, the country music band Sawyer Brown is playing. Monday is designed to be a child-friendly day its smoking and alcohol-free, and the fairgrounds will close at 9 p.m. so the kids can get home in time for school the next day. And, two children can take a ride for the price of one. Pitz said the same offer was popular last year, and the fair was crowded that day. That promotion has caught on very well, he said. Also new this year is the Magic Valley Stampede Gold Buckle Club, a sort of VIP club for people who want to support the rodeo. The club was organized by Dan Carter, a hay broker who has been on the rodeo committee for seven years, and is modeled on Gold Buckle Clubs that support rodeos elsewhere in the West. Were pretty happy with the community getting behind us, Carter said. Membership is sold to couples, Carter said, although businesses can also buy them and send a couple of employees to enjoy the rodeo and the free dinner and drinks on all three nights of the rodeo that come with membership. The only time you have to spend money in the Gold Buckle room, Carter said, would be if you want to tip the wait staff. The idea is that members will be there all three nights of the rodeo, but if they cant make it, they can send a guest in their stead. Also, members can bring a guest couple, who for $150 for both get dinner, drinks, free parking and all the other perks for the night that club members enjoy. For $75, its well worth it, Carter said. The Club will also have three other events every year, Carter said. There will be a website and Facebook page up in the next few days, he said, including information on how to join up. This year, he said 16 couples or businesses have already bought memberships. He said they had planned to have 20 spots, although they will probably end up having a few more spots available since some of the members who have already signed up will have to work at times during the fair. Initial dues are $2,000, a chunk of which goes toward buying a gold belt buckle with Magic Valley Stampede GBC engraved on it for man and a pendant with the same engraved on it for woman. Dues are $1,000 a year after that. The main point of the Club is to help support the rodeo, although it will also probably give money to charities too Carter said members would be able to suggest ones to support. Carter said he is working on reciprocity agreements with other Gold Buckle Clubs, so people who are in the Twin Falls club can go to their rodeos and events and be treated just like members and vice versa. JEROME For eight years, Sister Claudia Rae Brown walked to work from her apartment nearby, and if the weather was nice shed cross the bridge in the park behind St. Lukes Jerome. It was this same park where her sisters used to eat outdoors, and where the community has enjoyed picnics, barbecues and weddings. During a ceremony Tuesday, the Benedictine Sisters blessed the new Memorial Bridge now offering access in the park across the North Side Canal. The bridge replaces a worn one that underwent many repairs throughout the years. Dedicated to the Benedictine Sisters who founded the hospital, and the late Marjorie Marj Mason, the St. Lukes Jerome Memorial Bridge was funded by community donations. We have raised nearly $100,000 in support of this project today, St. Lukes Jerome Site Administrator Curtis Maier said. Maier contributed 60 hours of volunteer work himself. St. Lukes Magic Valley Foundation Executive Director Dawn Soto said they raised more than the $80,000 goal, and paid for almost the entirety of the project. She estimated more than 200 people donated through sponsorships, money and in-kind contributions. In her blessing of the bridge, St. Lukes Jerome Mission and Spiritual Care Director Sister Barbara Glodowski acknowledged the valiant women that shaped the hospital. The Benedictine Sisters from the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood established St. Benedicts Family Medical Center in Jerome in 1952. The hospital integrated with the St. Lukes Health System in 2011. Marj Mason was a registered nurse at St. Benedicts and St. Lukes Jerome for more than 19 years and received a St. Lukes Presidents award for her service to patients and colleagues in 2012. Her husband, Bruce, was instrumental in the bridge design process and was present at the ceremony. Glodowski also said a blessing for those employees working there today and using the bridge. Help remind them of the valiant people that walked before them, she said. Braun, 79, worked at St. Lukes Jerome five different times in her life for a combined almost 30 years. She held assorted supervisor roles and served as director of mission and pastoral services for 12 years. She returned to the Monastery in 2009 and continues to work there in development. I think its wonderful, really, Braun said about the bridge. Community life is important to our order. MURTAUGH Emergency crews cut into the side of a silo Tuesday afternoon to rescue a 16-year-old boy caught in an auger. The teen was working about 12:40 p.m. Tuesday in the Pure Grain Commodities silo at Archer Street and Third Street when he took a step backward and became caught in the auger, the Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. Twin Falls County deputies, Magic Valley Paramedics and Rock Creek Fire responded to the scene where crews entered the silo to stabilize and treat the teen, the statement said. But because of the difficulty of getting a stretcher up the ladder, firefighters cut a hole in the side of the silo to rescue the teen. The boy was taken by air ambulance to a Boise hospital about 1:50 p.m. WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama on Tuesday called Donald Trump "unfit" to be US president amid bipartisan outcry following the Republican presidential nominee's feud with the family of a fallen US Muslim soldier. "I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president," said Obama here at a press conference. "I said so last week and he keeps on proving it." "The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that has made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesn't appear to have basic knowledge around critical issues in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, means that he's woefully unprepared to do this job," said Obama. Trump provoked bipartisan blame over the weekend after he derisively answered criticism from Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim American solider killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq. Khan, during last week's Democratic National Convention, blasted Trump for his divisive remarks and proposal to temporary ban Muslims entering the country and divisive tone. The bellicose Republican standard-bearer responded by implying that Ms. Khan, who accompanied his husband on stage on the final day of the Democratic National Convention, was forbidden to speak. The decision to remove Saudi Arabia from the list of child rights violators in a UN report on the issue was unwelcomed by Iran. Irans Permanent Representative to the UN Gholamali Khoshrou told a Security Council Open Debate on children and armed conflict that this behavior is tantamount to betraying the most vulnerable people on the planet instead of protecting them. He added that the surprising removal of Saudi Arabia from the list after it was held directly responsible for 60% of child casualties in Yemen during bombing campaigns discredits the report and seriously damages the universality of the application of International Humanitarian Law. Riyadh had questioned the report, naming the coalition among the child rights violators due to its operations in Yemen, when it was first published. The name of Saudi Arabia was dropped after the report review, a move applauded by Saudi Ambassador to the UN, Abdullah bin Yahya al-Moalimi. The diplomat called on the UN to use reliable sources as basis for its reports or data. He also condemned child rights violators and hailed the coalition forces for returning all the children recruited by the Houthi Movement and their allies to the Yemeni authorities for reunion with their families. Moalimi claimed that the coalition has adopted clear rules of engagement to protect civilians, and in February, established a team to investigate all allegations of civilian casualties. A report will be sent to the UN. The head of the Yemeni delegation to the UN-led talks in Kuwait, Foreign Minister, Abdulmalik al-Mekhlafi, said they are leaving Kuwait but not the talks, after the delegation signed a peace process agreement proposed by UN special envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. The Houthi Movement is still in Kuwait but is reluctant to sign the proposal claiming that the agreement should be comprehensive and include all other major issues. Mekhlafi said the governmental delegation will return to Kuwait whenever the other side agrees to sign the document which calls on the Houthi Movement and their allies to withdraw from three major cities, including Sanaa, return occupied state institutions and hand over heavy arms. Both sides need to agree to the proposal before a new round of talks on forming a transitional coalition government could begin. The UN Special envoy said the departure of the Yemeni government does not mean it is quitting the peace talks. The warring parties decided to continue the talks until we agree on the next steps in the coming days, he said. Ismails proposal and plans are being blocked by the Houthis as they insist that the formation of a transitional national unity government with a president appointed by consensus should be prioritized over withdrawal and disarmament agreement. The Houhti delegation is still in Kuwait as the deadline set by the Kuwaiti government a fortnight ago to end its hosting of the talks falls this week. Fighting is still ongoing in Yemen and on Tuesday, two suicide car bombings struck an army base in the city of Habilayn, in Lahj province, killing at least six soldiers and wounding twelve others. Irans President Hassan Rouhani sent a message to the United States saying that it did not successfully pass the test regarding last years nuclear agreement and did not precisely respected its commitments under the deal because international financial restrictions against Iran are still in place. Rouhani stressed in a televised speech that Washington has requested to negotiate on regional issues but the experience of the nuclear negotiations proves that this would be a lethal poison. We cant trust them on any subject, he said. Last week, CIA Director John Brennan said there is still a lot of discussion going on between the two governments on a number of outstanding issues, including how the international financial system is going to be able to react to an Iran that is now less encumbered by sanctions. Rouhani argued that Tehran could have had more trust and engaged in negotiations on other subjects if Washington had implemented the agreement with good faith and precision while reducing the obstacles and delays. US State Department spokesman John Kirby said they are honoring their side of the deal but Irans deputy foreign minister Majid Takht Ravanchi, a member of the nuclear negotiating team, said there are two messages coming from the US. The State Department states that banks and financial institutions can do business in Iran while the Treasury Department sends a contradictory message making the institutions wary of prosecution in the US, he explained. Rouhani acknowledged that oil exportations have increased since the lifting of sanctions after the nuclear agreement while in other sectors, things have moved slowly. He added that if the other party had acted properly, we would be in a better situation today but unless the nuclear agreement is implemented by the US, talks on regional issues which could have been in the interest of the region, the United States and us will continue to be suspended. About 60 million euros in cash were stolen from the house of a former Equatorial Guinean minister, the countrys state television reported on Tuesday. The victim of the robbery, Jeronimo Osa Osa Ecoro, was the former minister of information and Secretary General of Equatorial Guinean ruling Democratic Party. He was appointed to the position in October 2013. According to AFP, twenty million euros have been recovered and four of the thieves have been arrested, some flew to neighboring Cameroon. The thieves, reportedly Burkina Faso nationals and employees of the former minister, disappeared with the money in mid-July, while Jeronimo Osa Osa Ecoro was at his nightclub, RTVGE TV station reported. Obiangs regime has frequently come under fire for widespread corruption. The U.S. State Departments latest human rights report accuses Obiangs government of a litany of abuses from arbitrary arrests to corruption and discrimination. The ruling partys government officials are suspected of keeping huge sums of monies from dubious origins at home. With a population of around 700,000 and a territory divided between the African mainland and islands in the Gulf of Guinea, Equatorial Guinea boasts the highest GDP per capita in Africa thanks to its extensive oil and gas reserves with oil revenues accounting for over 70 percent of national income. Yet, the country ranks 144 out of 187 states listed on the United Nations 2014 Human Development Index. An opposition supporter was killed on Tuesday by a soldier in the Democratic Republic of Congo as Police fired shots and teargas to break up a crowd before a political rally by opposition supporters. According to members of the opposition UDPS (Union for democracy and social progress), the thirty-year-old biker was killed by a soldier of the army because he was wearing a t-shirt bearing the image of President Tshisekedi. The head of the Kinshasa police, General Celestin Kanyama, confirmed that a soldier had shot a motorcyclist. Meanwhile, police spokesperson Colonel Ezekiel Mwanamputu said insisting on the bikers clothes bearing the image of the UDPS logo and a picture of Tshisekedi is meant to politicize the incident. Political tension is high in Congo, where opponents of President Joseph Kabila say he is trying to cling to power beyond the end of his mandate in 2016. More than 40 people were killed in violent protests over the issue last year. Since then, authorities have arrested dozens of critics of Kabila. The United Nations and human rights groups say the arrests are conducted on trumped up charges. Opposition groups called for the protests after the countrys Constitutional Court ruled two months ago that Kabila, in power since his fathers assassination in 2001, could remain in a caretaker capacity beyond the expiry of his second term in December. Kenyan Uber drivers went on strike on Monday after the company announced a 35 percent fare reduction last week. Hundreds held placards on Tuesday calling on Uber to reverse the fare change or must go. Drivers also contest the 25 percent levied on drivers earnings and ask to lower the rate to 15 percent. Since the introduction of the taxi hailing service in Kenya, a lot of drivers signed on to it while other traditional taxi drivers protested against the company for killing other taxi business. Uber made a drastic change to our contract without consulting us effectively as partners. That is going to impact negatively our businesses. We will not be able to make a return on our investments, head of the protesting drivers union, Emmanuel Kasina, told local media. Uber however said in a statement that they have improved the services and they are open for dialogue. Uber has improved the drivers experience with flexibility, increased economic opportunity and established communication channels, the statement read. Anyone can speak to us at any time. There are many ways driver-partners can let us know if they have any individual concerns. The Company has faced threats of violence from taxi drivers scared of being put out of business. Additionally, Uber has had more competition in the region than it anticipated. 'Like' us on Facebook Follow us: Posted on: July 14, 2016 SAI SADGURU THE PRECEPTOR UNPARALLELED Episode - 3 FLYING HIGH WITH SAI The life-transforming moments of Sai alumnus Mr. Pratim Banerjee as he learns how to enrich one's life the true way and excel in it to emerge with flying colours to the great satisfaction of his Divine Master Part 01 || Part 02 || Part 03 Part - 4 In 2007 Pratim moved to the Prasanthi Nilayam campus to pursue his Masters in Sciences (majoring in Mathematics). He continued to sing in the Divine presence, now with more confidence than before. In November 2009, Pratim was part of the convocation drama of the university. Swami was very involved in the making of the drama. He came to witness the rehearsal several times. Needless to say, it was a commendable presentation on the evening of November 22, and Bhagawan was very pleased. Pratim continues, All of us who were part of the drama were happy and sad. Happy that Swami was so happy with our offering. Sad that all those moments of beautiful interactions with Him because of the drama were now over. We had to get back to our regular academic routine. Even as we were missing Him and reconciling with the inevitable, suddenly there was a welcome bolt from the blue. The warden sent all of us a message: Swami wants another drama to be staged in two days' time. An important dignitary, who is an intellectual, is visiting Prasanthi Nilayam. The most cherishable moment of the convocation drama, 2008 A Beautiful Opportunity Beckons That was it. We got back to it full throttle. It was December 1, 2009. The drama was to be ready to be presented on December 3. There was hardly any time for anything. We had to think of the story, do the dialogues, write the songs, record them, rehearse our acting, lip-sync with the recording, prepare the costumes, sets and lighting, etc. Everything had to be completed in 48 hours. Believe me, we did it! Wrong! He made it happen! Absolutely. Even till this day I have no clue how everything fell into place in such a short time! I remember the dialogues were written just 10 minutes before we recorded them. In fact some of them were being written as we were recording! There was no time to practise anything. On December 2 morning Swami was already in the institute auditorium to watch the rehearsal. We presented whatever we had put together. Bhagawan sat through the drama but just before the last scene started, He left. This disturbed us greatly. So we went back to the drawing board and redid that scene. During the convocation drama rehearsals, Swami had guided us at various points. In fact in that drama too we had changed the last scene as Swami wanted the message to be conveyed more emphatically. We now did the same with this drama too. We were now more satisfied with the shape it had taken. But there was no opportunity to present it to Bhagawan again. The next day was the day of the performance. On the evening of December 3, Swami walked into the institute auditorium along with India's most respected industrialist, Mr. Ratan Tata. After they took their seats, the drama began. It went on for an hour with no glitch. Mr. Tata was glued to the stage. When the curtains came down, there was thunderous applause. Swami seemed so pleased. In fact Swami was so happy that He looked at us and playfully asked, Shall I come to the stage for photographs? Oh my God! We said, Swami, this is the moment we have been waiting for! Please come Swami! Then the Lord ascended, and soon beckoned Mr. Tata to join him on the stage. Like a proud mother He started talking about us to the honoured guest. These are My torch bearers. They will take My message. When they go to society, they will work for Me. Their love for Me is their biggest service to Me. Mr. Tata was so touched. He said, I can see that love and devotion in their eyes, Swami! Bhagawan then started talking individually to the boys. To one He said, Very nice voice. To another He asked the course he was pursuing. To a third He guided him about what he should do next, and so on. In fact when Bhagawan arrived onto the stage I took the opportunity to tell Him, Swami, please always be with us. Swami immediately responded saying, Baba is always with you, always with you. Then looking into my eyes and gently touching my heart, He said, I am there, I am there, I am there. The profundity of that moment, truly, is beyond any parallel. But that was not the only such moment that evening. Later, when Swami asked me what I was studying, I replied, M.Sc. Mathematics, and I grabbed that opportunity to seek His advice. After this, should I do MBA Swami? The Master Planner Plans Pratim's Future Generally most of the students who do masters in Mathematics go on to do Masters in Technology. Pratim too was in a dilemma. His relatives had suggested that it was better to do MBA as M.Tech. is too technical a profile. But this was not what had prompted him to think of MBA. It was actually a dream of my sister, he reveals. She was very concerned about my future and when Swami came in her dream she asked Him what I should pursue. Bhagawan clearly told her, Ask him to do MBA. So this was what was weighing on my head. Still I wanted physical confirmation from Swami. And that morning presented a great chance. Should I do MBA, Swami? I asked again and Swami looked at me and said, Take padanasmakar. So I bowed down and touched His feet. As I lifted my head, He said, Yes, I promise you. I will give you a seat for MBA. Wow! What else did I need? My future was done. When I think deep about it, literally, my future was assured that morning because Swami had said this to me in front of Mr. Ratan Tata, and today I am among those select few candidates who have been chosen for TAS Tata Administrative Service, the prestigious leadership programme for corporate executives. I appeared for this in 2011, and after a series of challenging tests and interviews, was selected and posted in the UK for initial training. My precious moments of that beautiful evening of December 3 were not limited to these alone. After Bhagawan spoke to all of us on the stage, He signalled to brother Satyajit to bring a tray of watches. This is again very significant to me for a special reason. He Watches Our Minds When I was in my XI grade Swami had once given watches to all of us with Lord Hanuman embossed on it. I wore it always until the day it stopped. So I gave it to my father to repair it. When he took it to a mechanic, he was told, This watch is of a local make. It cannot be repaired. I correct only branded watches. When I heard this I was mentally enraged at the mechanic for demeaning the gift the Lord had given me. I told my inner Swami, How could anyone talk so insultingly of what You have given me? I cannot take this! I will not wear any watch from now on. I will wear only when You give me a branded watch. Else I don't need a watch. True to my decision, I never wore watches from that day. That evening, December 3, the tray next to Swami was full of branded watches! I could not resist looking at them. In fact I got so carried away that I started admiring their designs and straps and started praying, Swami, please give me the one with the thick strap. Bhagawan picked up the ones with ladies straps and asked for those who had done female roles in the drama. Next He selected one watch with a thin strap and started looking at me. But I began telling Him mentally, Not this for me, Swami. The strap is not nice. How stupid I was! Now when I think of it I feel ashamed of myself for having the audacity to choose and refuse a gift coming directly from His hand. But then at that point in time, I was so taken in by all those shining timepieces on the tray, and so carried away by His proximity. Bhagawan looked at me top to toe and was about to hand that over to me but He stopped, smiled, and said, The strap in this is not nice. That just hit me like a ton of bricks! I was stunned by His all-pervasiveness. The compassionate mother that He is, Swami then picked up the watch that I was eyeing and with much love placed it on my palms and said, Take padanamaskar. I bent down again and offered myself at His feet. I knew with greater certainty than ever before that the Lord is ever with us; He is constantly WATCHing our Words, Actions, Thought, Character and Heart. He is indeed the wind beneath our wings and the strength of our limbs. Every word of Swami is so multi-dimensional and enigmatic. I will give you good wind conditions to fly was the promise made by Bhagawan to Pratim. It is His push that has propelled Pratim to be a TAS officer today and fly to the United Kingdom to work for one of the most prestigious business groups of India and the world. But for Pratim what matters more are these moments with the Avatar that have shaped me and continue to chisel me. Whenever I revisit these memories, they silently clean my inner being and chip out all those parts that have inadvertently got into me but are not me. I feel purified, wholesome and energized to be what He really wants me to be. I want to fly high to be a star in His sky. One can fly high only when one is light. Once the ego drops, the Divine takes over. Then there is no limit to the altitude the mind can reach, and the beatitude the soul can experience. - Bishu Prusty Radio Sai Team In an ideal medical research landscape, clinical data would quickly be made available to all public and private researchers in the quest to speed up medical advances. The research community is getting closer to that ideal thanks, in part, to the work of the Yale Open Data Access (YODA) Project, but more work needs to be done, according to an article in the Aug. 4 New England Journal of Medicine. The article on the current state of clinical trial data sharing is co-authored by Yale YODA Project leader Harlan Krumholz, M.D., and Johnson & Johnson chief medical officer Joanne Waldstreicher, M.D. The YODA Project performs independent scientific reviews of requests for data access by non-study investigators. This complete decision-making authority over the release of the data allows all requests for clinical data to be fairly judged and decided upon by an independent academic partner. Krumholz and Waldstreicher examined the data sharing environment, including YODA and the recent International Committee of Medical Journal Editors' (ICMJE) proposal for sharing clinical trial data. They found that the research community has made great progress in data sharing, but the transformation is just beginning. "The medical editors of research journals are reminding us that we scientists have a principal responsibility to society and to patients who agreed to participate in our studies," said Krumholz, professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. "The YODA Project demonstrates that, by having researchers quickly share information with those at other organizations, the sky hasn't fallen and worthwhile independent research projects that could not have been done otherwise are proceeding." In their article, Krumholz and Waldstreicher take stock of the progress to date by pointing to several key examples: ICMJE has proposed to accelerate the transformation to a culture of open science. The pharmaceutical industry has articulated principles that support data sharing, and many companies, including Johnson & Johnson, have implemented programs to make their data assets available. Regulatory agencies, including the European Medicines Agency, are requiring greater sharing by companies seeking to market drugs and devices. Krumholz and Waldstreicher also point to efforts by influential organizations like the Gates Foundation policy requiring that data underlying published results be made available and open immediately. "At Johnson & Johnson, we believe sharing clinical trial data advances the science that is the foundation of medicine," said Waldstreicher. "As our environment continues to evolve, we are encouraged that more and more stakeholders are adopting policies to allow for greater access to clinical trial data. We believe collaboration among all stakeholders including industry, academia, patient groups and governmentis essential to developing a solution that truly advances science, medicine and ultimately public health." Krumholz and Waldstreicher added, "The ultimate measure of our success will be whether this approach creates a culture of openness on par with those of other scientific disciplines and increases the volume of high-quality medical science." Explore further Yale YODA Project announces first availability of medical device trial data A Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant was among the people in Hawaii infected with Hepatitis A. The state Department of Health says the attendant was on 33 flights from Honolulu to California, Nevada, Australia and Hawaii's neighbor islands in July and served food and drinks to passengers. The risk of airline passengers contracting Hepatitis A from a flight attendant is extremely low because flight attendants are well trained in terms of maintaining hygiene, said Sarah Park, state epidemiologist. "Knowing that the risk is extremely low, we can't overlook the possibility," Park said. "From our perspective, it's about trying to control the outbreak, and what we don't want to see is more fallout from contacts with cases." More than 90 people in Hawaii have contracted Hepatitis A since mid-June, and Park said the numbers are continuing to mount. The state hasn't yet identified the source of the outbreak, which is difficult to pin down because the incubation period is long and those sickened are asked to recall everything they ate and drank over several weeks, Park said. "It's incredibly frustrating," Park said. "It's very common for a Hepatitis A outbreak to go unsolved." Anyone who's concerned about contracting the virus can talk to their health care provider about getting a vaccine, which is effective if administered within two weeks of infection, Park said. The state doesn't have a database tracking vaccinations, she said. Those who don't recall whether they were vaccinated can talk with their doctors, but it doesn't hurt to get re-vaccinated, she added. Hawaiian Airlines is screening all crew members who worked with the infected attendant, and no other crew members have reported infections, said Alex Da Silva, spokesman for Hawaiian Airlines. Hawaiian Airlines released a list on its website of the flights on which the sickened attendant worked. "We've been concerned for a while in terms of not just spreading to other states, but also the other way around," Park said. The health department said Tuesday that a food service employee at a Chili's restaurant in Kapolei on Oahu also was infected. An employee at Chili's referred calls to an outside phone number, and a message left there wasn't immediately returned. The federal government awarded $3.7 million to the state Department of Health to fight infectious diseases like and Hepatitis A and the Zika virus. State Health Director Virginia Pressler said the money will help Hawaii investigate the Hepatitis A outbreak. Pressler said Tuesday the funds also will help the state prevent local transmissions of the Zika virus in Hawaii. The health department urged Hawaii residents traveling to the Olympics to prevent mosquito bites to reduce the risk of contracting Zika and bringing it back to Hawaii. Officials say anyone returning to Hawaii from areas affected by the Zika virus should see a doctor if they fall ill within two weeks of returning home. Explore further Hawaii reports first US case of Zika-linked brain damage 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The idea that plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is protective against coronary heart disease has been part of medical conventional wisdom for five decades. HDL-C has traditionally been considered the most important component of so-called "good cholesterol" HDL. However, drug trials that increased HDL-C have failed to support a causal role for the amount of cholesterol carried in HDL in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. With advances in the separation of lipoproteins by size and functionality, research has intensified to identify HDL measures that may be better predictors of coronary heart disease than the traditional HDL-C. Recent evidence suggests that small, dense, protein-rich particles in HDL may be more atheroprotective than large, buoyant cholesterol-rich particles. To explore this further, 274 Arabs and 230 Jews residing in Jerusalem were recruited for a new study by researchers at the Braun School of Public Health in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Faculty of Medicine. This work, led by Prof. Jeremy Kark of the Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, was undertaken by Dr. Chobufo Ditah, a physician from Cameroon, as his thesis for the Braun School's International Masters of Public Health program. The researchers used Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to identify the numbers and sizes of plasma HDL particles, and helical CT-scanning to identify calcification in their coronary arteries, reflecting the overall burden of coronary atherosclerosis. With these data in hand, they looked for associations between the concentrations and sizes of different HDL particles, and coronary artery calcification. Their findings, published in the prestigious journal Atherosclerosis, showed a statistically significant inverse association of both the number of HDL particles (HDL-P) and the concentration of small and medium-sized HDL particles (MS-HDL-P) with coronary artery calcification, after adjusting for age, statin use, smoking, and other factors. There was no association between large HDL-P and coronary artery calcification in either population group. The association with HDL-C was weaker and inconsistent between men and women. "Our findings indicate that HDL-P and MS-HDL-P are better independent markers of coronary artery disease, as reflected by coronary artery calcification, than HDL-C, at least in this bi-ethnic population of Israelis and Palestinians," said Dr. Chobufo Ditah. "These findings support previous reports, based on studies in other population groups, suggesting that small dense HDL particles are protectively associated with risk of coronary heart disease. The consistency of this finding in a new population of urban Arabs and Jews, using different disease outcomes and different separation methods, add more strength to those findings," added Dr Ditah. "With a better understanding of HDL's complexity and a better ability to measure its components, it is now possible to move past HDL-C to more refined measures that better reflect HDL's role in coronary heart disease risk. Based on the accumulating evidence, incorporation of MS-HDL-P or HDL-P into the routine prediction of coronary heart disease risk should be considered," said Prof Jeremy Kark. Explore further Measuring HDL particles as opposed to HDL cholesterol is a a better indicator of coronary heart disease More information: Small and medium sized HDL particles are protectively associated with coronary calcification in a cross-sectional population-based sample. Atherosclerosis, Volume 251, August 2016, Pages 124131. Chobufo Ditah, James Otvos, Hisham Nassar, Dorith Shaham, Ronit Sinnreich, Jeremy D. Kark. Small and medium sized HDL particles are protectively associated with coronary calcification in a cross-sectional population-based sample., Volume 251, August 2016, Pages 124131. Chobufo Ditah, James Otvos, Hisham Nassar, Dorith Shaham, Ronit Sinnreich, Jeremy D. Kark. DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.06.010 People travelling overseas to countries where measles is endemic, such as Indonesia, should have their vaccination status checked to ensure they are protected. Credit: Shutterstock Unimmunised travellers visiting family and friends overseas remain the biggest source of measles outbreaks in Australia, according to new research by the University of New South Wales (UNSW). The research has revealed that many who acquired measles did not seek health advice prior to travel because they did not believe they were at risk, or they had travelled overseas previously with no problem. The study, published in the journal Vaccine, also found the children of parents who refused vaccinations were also a key source of outbreaks in Australia. Lead author UNSW Professor Raina Macintyre said almost 60% (44) of all measles cases in 2013 in NSW and Victoria were in people who had travelled overseas, especially for vacations and to visit friends and relatives, during or immediately prior to the onset of measles. "Four cases in 2013 also occurred in the children of parents who refused vaccination," Professor Macintyre said. Depsite the World Health Organization (WHO) announcing in 2014 that measles elimination had been achieved by Australia, the country has been plagued by recurrent epidemics of the disease. "The No-Jab, No-Pay policy introduced in Australia may go some way to improving vaccination in infants, but we still need to address the risk of outbreaks posed by vaccine refusers and by international travel," Professor Macintyre said. She said the larger and longer than usual measles outbreaks in recent years had heightened the need to close immunisation gaps in young adults, unimmunised children and migrants. "We recommend that people travelling overseas, particularly to countries where measles is endemic such as Indonesia (Bali), Thailand and China, have their vaccination status checked to ensure they are protected," Professor Macintyre said. Explore further Measles outbreaks underscore need for vaccination More information: C.R. MacIntyre et al. The role of travel in measles outbreaks in Australia An enhanced surveillance study, Vaccine (2016). Journal information: Vaccine C.R. MacIntyre et al. The role of travel in measles outbreaks in Australia An enhanced surveillance study,(2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.07.023 Clinicians should think twice when prescribing opioid medication to patients for the first time to relieve pain, migraines or severe coughs. To prevent possible addiction, doctors and pharmacists should err on the side of caution when considering dosages or subsequent refills. This was highlighted in a study led by Richard Deyo of Oregon Health and Science University in the US, in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, published by Springer. A substantial increase in opioid prescriptions over the past two decades in the US has gone hand-in-hand with a significant rise in overdoses and addiction treatment. These trends have prompted calls for the more selective use of opioids for medical reasons. Deyo's team wanted to shed light on how much and for how long opioids can be prescribed for the first time to so-called opioid-naive patients without their inadvertently becoming long-term users. They focused their attention on Oregon, the US state with the highest rate of non-medical opioid users in a 2012 survey. One year's data was obtained from Oregon's prescription monitoring program about outpatient prescriptions filled for controlled substances, including opioids, at all non-state or non-federal retail pharmacies. Data from Oregon vital records and a statewide hospital discharge registry were also included.Deyo's team began with data from 3.6 million opioid prescriptions filled for 874,765 patients. Of these, 536,767 people (61.4 percent of the total study group) were opioid-naive patients. After analyzing this first-time user group further, it was found that 26,785 (5.0 percent) became long-term opioid users who received six or more opioid fills within a year. This trend was higher among rural than urban residents (6.1 percent versus 4.4 percent respectively), while the likelihood of long-term use increased with age. The researchers then analyzed the information of patients younger than 45 years old who did not die within one year of receiving their first opioid prescription. This excluded most cancer or palliative care patients, but still left the research team with 243,427 patients. Among those with a single prescription fill, just two percent became long-term opioid users. The odds ratio of becoming a long-term opioid user was 2.25 higher among patients who received two prescription fills compared to one. It was also 2.96 higher for those initially receiving between 400 and 799 cumulative morphine milligram equivalent dosages within 30 days, compared to patients on lower doses. Long-acting opioids were associated with a higher risk than short-acting drugs. Data from this study show that the risk of long-term use can be minimized by starting off a patient with a single prescription of a short-acting opioid with no refills. Its cumulative dose should be less than 120 morphine equivalents. "The increasing risk of long-term use even at low cumulative doses supports the Centers for Disease Control recommendation of limiting therapy to three to seven days for most patients," Deyo notes. "Our data suggest the value of attention to high-risk prescribing, over which clinicians have greater control," he adds. "This in part reflects concern that we are dealing with risky drugs, not risky patients." More information: Richard A. Deyo et al, Association Between Initial Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Subsequent Long-Term Use Among Opioid-Naive Patients: A Statewide Retrospective Cohort Study, Journal of General Internal Medicine (2016). Journal information: Journal of General Internal Medicine Richard A. Deyo et al, Association Between Initial Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Subsequent Long-Term Use Among Opioid-Naive Patients: A Statewide Retrospective Cohort Study,(2016). DOI: 10.1007/s11606-016-3810-3 The thicker thread (top) is the multifilament, while the thinner thread (bottom) is the monofilament. Credit: Imperial College London Researchers are urging surgeons to reconsider using a particular type of thread for a procedure to prevent premature birth, after new research found this thread was associated with an increased rate of premature birth and baby death compared with a thinner thread. In a new study, researchers at Imperial College London analysed 671 UK women who received a cervical stitch procedure to prevent miscarriage or premature birth. The procedure, which is performed on around two million women a year globally, is offered to women deemed at high risk of miscarriage or premature birth. The process involves surgeons placing a stitch in the cervix to hold it closed and delay labour. The closed cervix also acts as a barrier to infection, and so shutting it with a stitch prevents bacteria passing through the cervix and into the womb. Surgeons use one of two types of thread for the stitch - the majority use a thicker woven thread, and around 20 per cent use a thinner thread. The study results, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, suggest the thicker thread is associated with a three-fold increase in rate of baby death in the womb when compared to the thinner thread, and is associated with an increased rate of premature birth. It's thought the thicker woven structure of the thread encourages the growth of dangerous bacteria. The team suggest switching to the thinner thread for all procedures could prevent 170,000 premature births globally every year, and 172,000 intrauterine baby deaths every year across the world. Professor Phillip Bennett, lead author of the study from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial, said: "Although the cervical stitch procedure still holds benefits for women overall, our results suggest the thicker thread may encourage the growth of potentially dangerous bacteria in the cervix. This may lead to premature birth or even loss of the baby. We strongly advise that the thicker thread - which is currently used in the majority of procedures - only be used in a research setting whilst we thoroughly investigate the risks this may hold." Around 50,000 babies are born prematurely ever year in the UK. Defined as birth between 24 and 37 weeks of pregnancy, premature birth is the leading cause of neonatal death in the UK. It is triggered by the cervix opening too early in the pregnancy, causing the baby to start moving down the birth canal. The causes are unknown, but infection in the birth canal is thought to be a factor. Women are recommended to undergo the cervical stitch procedure if they are deemed at high risk of late miscarriage or premature birth - for instance if they have had a previous miscarriage later in pregnancy or a baby who was born too early. During the procedure, also called cervical cerclage, surgeons use one of two types of thread to close the cervix. One is a thin nylon thread, around 1mm think and very similar to fishing line, called monofilament. The other is a thicker thread - around 5mm thick - that is comprised of smaller threads woven together like a shoe lace. The thicker woven thread - called multifilament - is used in around 80 per cent of procedures as surgeons believe it to be stronger, and more efficient at holding the cervix closed. In the new study, the team looked at 671 women who had the procedure at five UK hospitals over the last ten years. Around half had the thinner 'fishing line' thread, while the other half had the thicker 'shoe lace' thread. The results revealed the thicker thread was associated with increased rate of intrauterine death compared to the thinner thread (15 per cent compared to 5 per cent). The rate of intrauterine death in a normal pregnancy is around 0.5 per cent. The thicker thread was also associated with an increased rate of preterm birth rate compared to the thinner thread - 28 per cent compared to 17 per cent. The rate of preterm birth among the general population is around 7 per cent, but the cervical stitch procedure is only performed on women already deemed at high risk of premature birth. To understand the difference in outcomes between procedures using the two threads, the team conducted a second study with 50 women who were due to have the cervical stitch procedure. Half received the thinner thread, while half received the thicker thread. The team then monitored the women at 4, 8 and 16 weeks after the procedure through ultrasound scans and analysis of bacteria collected using vaginal swabs. The results suggested that women who received the thicker thread had increased inflammation around the cervix. There was also increased blood flow, which is associated with the cervix opening before labour. Crucially, the team also found women who received the thicker thread had more potentially harmful bacteria in the vagina and around the cervix. Dr David MacIntyre, scientific lead of the study, also from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial explained: "At the beginning of the trial, all women had similar types of naturally-occurring bacteria, called Lactobacillus, in their birth canal and around their cervix. However four weeks after the procedure 45 per cent of the women who received the thicker thread had these harmless bacteria replaced with potentially dangerous bacteria that have previously been associated with poor outcomes during pregnancy, like preterm birth and infection in babies. Women who received the thinner thread maintained normal levels of harmless Lactobacillus bacteria in the birth canal or cervix." The team also performed lab-based experiments to examine how easily bacteria grew on the two types of thread. Dr MacIntyre added: "We found potentially dangerous bacteria grew more easily on the thicker thread. This may be because bacteria can latch onto the woven structure of the thick thread more easily than the smooth thin thread. " There is a randomised clinical trial of 900 patients currently underway, organised by University of Birmingham, which is looking at the comparative risks of the two threads. Professor Bennett added: "Our current study suggests the thick multifilament thread is associated with increased risk of complications. Even after factoring in the age and overall health of the patient, this effect still existed. However there are other factors that may influence the risks, such as surgical technique. Only by performing a large randomised clinical trial can we confirm whether the thicker thread itself is triggering complications, to ensure this procedure is as safe and effective as possible for the mother and baby." Professor Bennett added that anyone concerned about the cervical stitch procedure should speak to their healthcare team. Professor Jeremy Nicholson, head of the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial, explained the research also provides insights into how a women's naturally occurring bacteria may influence pregnancy: "This research showed that all 50 women in the second part of the study had a higher level of potentially dangerous bacteria in their birth canal than a healthy pregnant woman - even before undergoing the cervical stitch procedure. This links to our ongoing work that suggests a woman's bacterial mix in the birth canal - called the microbiome - has an important role in pregnancy. It also shows, for the first time, that treatments that change the bacteria in the vagina may lead to bad outcomes in pregnancy. We need to further investigate the role of a woman's vaginal microbiome in pregnancy to help ensure more babies are born healthy, and at the right time. "This is part of a much broader work programme in our department aimed to understand the normal microbial composition of the body, and how changes to this may link to a range of non-infectious diseases." Jane Brewin, chief executive of the charity Tommy's, added: "The really good news is that a safe and proven treatment to prevent pre-term birth has just been made safer by this new finding. A treatment which has been around for many years has been shown to prevent pre-term birth but no-one really understood why it seemed so effective in some people but not in others; now we have a plausible explanation and success rates should improve as a result of this work. It's important that women who have this procedure ask their obstetrician about what stitch they will receive because clinical practice can take time to catch up with research findings." Explore further Breakthrough in predicting premature birth More information: "Relationship between vaginal microbial dysbiosis, inflammation, and pregnancy outcomes in cervical cerclage," Science Translational Medicine, stm.sciencemag.org/lookup/doi/ scitranslmed.aag1026 Journal information: Science Translational Medicine "Relationship between vaginal microbial dysbiosis, inflammation, and pregnancy outcomes in cervical cerclage," Russian media claims Gazprom has opened plant in Tskhinvali By Messenger Staff Russias media is speculating that very soon Russias energy giant Gazprom will open a plant in Georgias eastern occupied territory of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), which is currently controlled by Russia following the Russia-Georgia war in 2008.The company [Gazprom] will take care of the gasification of South Ossetia, Spitnik Ossetia reported.The news agency continued on to claim that Gazprom representatives have already arrived in Tskhinvali and met with de-facto President Leonid Tibilov."Many options were discussed, but in the end we agreed on a decision which has been approved by Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.Gazprom is responsible for the operation of all plants in and the supply of these territories. Gazprom is responsible for all gas-related financial, economic and legal activities, said Gazprom representative Valery Golubev.Earlier this year, Georgia discussed an opportunity to fill the exiting gas deficit for the country with Gazprom gas supplies. However, the discussions caused large-scale protests and a backlash amongst the opposition, civil sector and the general public.The protesters stressed that Georgia must never become dependent on Russian energy.In the end, the Government declared that Georgia had reached an agreement with Azerbaijan over additional gas supplies.Georgias natural gas supply deficit challenge is now solved until 2030, as over the next 14 years Georgia will receive an additional 500 million cubic metre (m3) of natural gas from Azerbaijanis national oil company SOCAR, raising the amount it receives from 800 million to 1.3 billion m3 per year.To date, Georgia has received 200 million m3 of natural gas per year from Russia in return for gas transit to Armenia, said Georgias Energy Ministry.As Gazprom represents the Government of Russia, Moscow uses it to exert political influence through its control of gas supplies.Both the country and the company ignore fundamental principles with regards to Georgia, which once again means that Georgia should refrain from any long-standing and serious deals with Russian companies which might somehow make Georgia dependent on Moscow. The News in Brief Catholics win discrimination lawsuit in Georgia Catholics in Rustavi, 20km south of the Georgian capital, have won a courts backing that they were discriminated against after failing to get a construction permit to build a church there. The Catholic community in Rustavi applied for permission to build the church on April 16, 2013. There is no church for them in the city, and they currently have to congregate in private homes. But the application process took longer than normal, and in 2014, they sued the city for the first time, and won. But City Hall refused to comply with the ruling, which decided that a construction permit had in effect been given due to the long bureaucratic delay. The city challenged the court, offering the Catholics to build a church at another location on the outskirts of town. This offer was rejected. After going back to court again, this time represented by the Education and Monitoring Center of Human Rights (EMC), Rustavi City Court decided in favor of the religious community. The ruling said City Hall has deliberately been dragging the process out in time. Local followers of the Orthodox Christian Church are opposed to the Catholics getting permit to build a church. They are backed by clerics and some members of the city council. (dfwatch.net) Autograph Collection Hotel to Open on Freedom Square in 2018 Hotel construction works on the place of the former building of Tsekavshiri has moved to active phase. The top-class hotel will open in 2018. The projects investment value makes up 90 million USD, the Co-investment Fund representatives noted. The hotel will comprise 220 suites of 6 categories, presidential apartments, conference spaces and office spaces, spa and fitness centers, cable railway station that will connect the hotel with Sololaki. It should be noted Autograph Collection, a brand of Marriott International, will manage the new hotel on Freedom Square. Autograph Collection will also manage two other hotels in Georgia. Construction works of Shekvetili based hotel will be completed by the end of 2016. The projects investment value is 75 million USD. Another 200 million USD project will be implemented in Sololaki and the project implementation will be finished in 2019. (cbw.ge) Drivers slowing down speed only near surveillance cameras to be also fined from autumn As Deputy Interior Minister of Georgia Shalva Khutsishvili has declared, most of surveillance cameras are not turned off in Georgia but 30% of them include the cameras that do not function well. As reported by Shalva Khutsishvili the cameras have already been counted throughout the country and procedures of purchasing new ones are underway. According to him the new, improved system will be installed in autumn throughout the whole country. It will not be a minimum chance for anyone to violate the traffic rules and avoid fine. The program will increase the control effectively. We will purchase the technique that corresponds to our reality the most. The program is able to calculate the distance between two cameras and what distance should be covered by a driver by average speed. So if a driver slows down only while approaching a camera it will be perceived by the camera. As for the distance between the cameras it will be of rational length, - the Deputy Interior Minister has said. According to him the mechanisms have proved effective in Latvia and the number of road accidents have reduced by 50%. (IPN) Georgian army unit returns from Afghanistan Another unit of the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF) has successfully ended a seven month deployment within a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. A United States Air Force plane brought 130 soldiers of the Bravo Company of the III Infantry Brigade safely back to Georgia's capital Tbilisi on Saturday, July 23. The company-sized unit were welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Defence of Georgia Besik Loladze, along with Deputy Chief of General Staff of the GAF Lieutenant Colonel Nikoloz Agladze and other high ranking military commanders. The 130 soldiers spent seven months serving in Afghanistan. Photo from the Ministry of Defence of Georgia. I would like to extend my gratitude to each and every service member. We are proud of these soldiers. I congratulate them with the safe return to their homeland and wish them further success," Loladze told reporters following the ceremony. The Deputy Minister of Defence added the unit had "brilliantly executed" its responsibilities within the mission. The company-sized unit spent seven months serving within the German contingent in Afghanistan's third largest city Mazar-i-Sharif. The unit was tasked with serving as the Quick Reaction Force at the Camp Marmal military base of the German armed forces, responding to security challenges and emergency situations facing their allies in the area of operation. The returning company was replaced in Afghanistan by the Reconnaissance Company of the II Infantry Brigade of the GAF. Georgian troops will continue to participate in the NATO peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan after the alliance approved plans on extending the Resolute Support Mission beyond 2016 at its recent Warsaw Summit in Poland. (agenda.ge) The News in Brief Kumsishvili Submitted Projects worth seven billion to Chinese corporations The Vice-Premier discussed the Georgian economic environment, the country's favourable investment climate and ongoing reforms at the business forum held in Shanghai, which was attended by the leadership of a number of big corporations. We will present investment projects worth seven billion at our business forum and I am sure that it will have a positive response, Dimitri Kumsisihvili declared to representatives of the media before the beginning of the forum. The first Vice-Premier has introduced macroeconomic indexes to the participants of the forum. According to him, the Georgian economy has the best result of economic growth despite a recent slowdown. He also said that Georgia has a direct foreign growth pace. He then talked about trade development, investment growth and Chinese companies in Georgia, as well as the new Silk Road Project and its development. He noted the negotiations of free trade expansion, which should be finished before the end of 2016. Dimitri Kumsishvili has also discussed another meeting between Georgia and China, and the formation of a a joint trade and investment council. According to the agreement, the secretaries of the council will be established and representatives of the private and state sector should be invited. After the presentation, meetings were held at the business forum after the presentations and representatives of business circles of Georgia and China discussed issues of future cooperation. (cbw.ge) Thousands benefit from new 24-hour water supply For the first time, roughly 5,500 residents of the Tsnori village in Kakheti will have access to a clean 24-hour water supply thanks to a new project and financial contribution of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Union (EU). Georgia received an 11 million GEL (about $5 million/5 million*) loan to rehabilitate Tsnoris central water system. In particular the rehabilitation works included building a new reservoir, pumphouse and chlorination stations. The work is expected to be concluded by February 2017. The United Water Supply Company of Georgia announced that more than 160 locals will be employed in the rehabilitation process. Today there is no drinking water in Tsnori, and residents can only access drinking water from the district's wells. (agenda.ge) So-called Prime Minister of Abkhazia resigns The so-called PM of Abkhazia, Artur Mikvabia, has resigned. As reported by the ApsnyPress news agency, Mikvabia said that he has already written an application requesting formal recognition of his resignation. We have started a great deal of work in complicated conditions caused by a shattered society and social tension. All measures taken by the government would be more noticeable if there were different circumstances, especially our increases in salaries and pension. I do not think any other government could solve the tasks that were faced with in so many many social and economic fields. Our efforts should be perceived positively, Mikvabia said. He became Abkhazia's PM in March 2015. No information on any potential successors has been reported yet. (IPN) Archil Gegeshidze retains the post of Ambassador to the United States - Georgias FM Georgias Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze told reporters that Georgias Ambassador to the U.S., Archil Gegeshidze, remains in the post. As reported by Janelidze, all issues concerning Gegeshidze have been resolved. Archil Gegeshidze remains in the post. He has made explanations as to his recent concerning conduct. Naturally an ambassador should be more careful with his words but all the issues have been resolved, the FM claimed. Several weeks ago, Archil Gegeshidze told media that there are pro-Russian people in the Georgian government, though they do not affect the process of decision-making. (1tv.ge) A meeting with the Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India has been held Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India Sujata Mehta, as a guest of honour, addressed the participants of the Ambassadorial 2016. Sujata Mehta focused on the main directions of bilateral relations between Georgia and India, on the global role of India and on the countrys foreign policy priorities. In the frames of the Ambassadorial, Sujata Mehta held a bilateral meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze. The session was very active. I informed the ambassadors of Indias vision of the world and on how the policy of India has developed in terms of the international issues. The ambassadors shared their views on various issues, Sujata Mehta said. The delegation of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India, led by Sujata Mehta, paid an official visit to Georgia on 25-26 July. In the frames of the visit of the delegation, the second meeting of the Georgian-Indian interagency economic committee and the 5th round of political consultations between the Georgian and Indian Foreign Ministries were held. Talking points included the issues of bilateral co-operation in the political, economic, cultural, educational and sectoral spheres. The two sides reaffirmed their increasing interest towards the enhancement and strengthening of bilateral co-operation in future as well. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) A man who solicited more than $24,000 from investors to make a cowboy documentary he claimed would be narrated by Clint Eastwood was given a final chance Tuesday to obtain a mental health evaluation. If Matthew McClintock has not scheduled an appointment by Aug. 16 to determine if he is fit to proceed in his criminal case, Missoula District Court Judge Robert Dusty Deschamps said he would have him taken into custody and sent to the Montana State Hospital for the evaluation. McClintock was charged with six felonies in August after securities officials found that the film, which he had told investors would air on PBS, was fake, and that the money had been spent on McClintock's personal expenses. McClintock has said that while he intended to produce the documentary, he had never spoken to Eastwood. In his pitch to investors in 2014 and 2015, he said the film would have a University of Montana professor as an adviser, which was not true, and that part of the proceeds would go to the Western Montana Breast Cancer Fund, which does not exist. Investors were told they would receive royalties or that their names would appear in the films credits. Seventy Montana residents were defrauded of a total of $24,232, according to court documents, with one investor putting $10,000 into McClintocks venture. McClintock has pleaded not guilty to six fraud and theft charges, including embezzlement and three counts of fraudulent practices. In January, District Court Judge Mike Menahan of Helena issued a permanent injunction barring McClintock from selling securities in the state of Montana, and froze his assets and bank accounts. Since May, state prosecutors have requested McClintock obtain a mental health evaluation to decide if he is competent to stand trial. During a hearing in early June, McClintocks appointed public defender, Ethan Lerman, said the first doctor had chosen not to continue the evaluation process after a falling out with McClintock. Lerman said Tuesday another doctor had provided a referral to a third doctor, and he and McClintock were attempting to schedule an appointment. Brett ONeil from the Montana Attorney Generals Office renewed a request made in May that McClintock be sent to the state hospital to get the evaluation done. Nothings been done, at all, he said. Deschamps said McClintock has until Aug. 16 to schedule the appointment or he would grant the prosecutions request. Im going to give you two weeks to get something scheduled and in place, he said. It doesnt have to be finished, just scheduled. McClintock is on probation for a deceptive practices conviction in Madison County and was previously convicted of fraud and obtaining money under false pretenses in Oklahoma. In that case, he used online dating sites to scam multiple women out of thousands of dollars, and was nicknamed the Casanova Con by Oklahoma securities officials. Missoulas airshed got a mixed blessing Tuesday, earning a long-sought pollution-free status just as it was getting socked in from wildfire smoke. And the afternoon winds that cleared much of that smoke away were likely to aggravate the growth of forest fires that may compromise air quality for much of August. The designation "referred to pollution sources we have some sort of control over, Missoula City-County Air Quality specialist Sarah Coefield said of the federal label the community has tried to shake for decades. Fortunately, we cant go into non-attainment" the formal name for the designation "over wildfire smoke. On Tuesday, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality formally asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to declare Missoula in compliance with national air quality standards. Missoula has been considered a moderate nonattainment area since 1990 because of the amount of particulate matter 10 micrometers or smaller in the air. That material, known as PM-10, typically came from wood smoke and road dust trapped in the airshed by Missoulas surrounding mountains. Over the past two decades, city and county officials passed rules prohibiting installation of wood-burning stoves and heaters in the valley, reduced the amount and kinds of traction sand applied to icy roads and stepped up cleaning efforts to remove sand after the ice had melted. Those sources made up about 92 percent of the PM-10 pollution. Monitoring data showed Missoula hasnt violated the federal PM-10 standard since 1989 for either average or peak levels. The federal nonattainment designation was important because it forced businesses like Roseburg Forest Products to use stricter standards in its facility improvements than similar factories in places with less air pollution. Under the new designation, companies like Roseburg will have to show that their changes wont cause new ambient air quality violations, according to DEQ public policy director Kristi Ponozzo. Montanans value clean air and water, and the community of Missoula has led the way to move the City into compliance with air quality standards, noted DEQ Director Tom Livers. Once Missoula is re-designated, business and industry will have increased opportunities to grow, expand, and create good-paying jobs. That doesnt help the immediate air quality, which was rated unhealthy in Hamilton on Tuesday afternoon because of smoke from the Roaring Lion wildfire just southwest of town. Missoulas air quality was nearing that level before forecast late-afternoon winds began reaching the valley. It was rated good late Monday afternoon. I was looking at maps from all the weather stations in the region, and those strong winds are everywhere but Missoula and the Bitterroot, Coefield said on Monday afternoon. The winds will scour the valley clean, but with the caveat of what that means for fire activity. If the fire blows up more, well see more smoke. Wildfire smoke is an issue every summer, and its more of a concern than it was 15 or 20 years ago. Its become the primary source of pollution in Missoula for the time being. And just to complicate matters for Missoula, its not Roaring Lion smoke thats filling the local air. Most of that pollution is blowing toward Butte. Instead, another blaze called the Cedar Fire 11 miles south of the Powell Ranger Station in Idaho has a wind channel for shooting smoke into the Missoula Valley. That fire has burned 1,371 acres in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and is not being actively confronted. The bill died in 2015, but the debate around allowing Montana K-8 school districts to expand to K-12 is still alive although it could look different in 2017. At the Montana School Boards Association delegates assembly in June, delegates voted on proposed revisions to several resolutions. One regarding district expansion was "the stickler for us at the end of the session," MTSBA board of directors vice president and Missoula County Public Schools trustee Ann Wake said at a June board meeting. The amended resolution passed 42-16, and will move on to the Montana Conference of Educational Leadership in October, where more than 200 trustees from around the state will vote on resolutions, and any amendments. In the resolution, delegates asked the MTSBA to support legislation allowing an elementary district to expand into a K-12 district with the approval of both the K-8 and K-12 school districts' school boards. It would remove voters from the process a key component in Senate Bill 107 in 2015. "These proposed changes would allow local school board trustees to have the opportunity to vote and exert local control when considering high school organization due to the changing demographics of our communities," according to the delegates' resolution. State Sen. Taylor Brown, R-Huntley, carried SB107, but he's termed out. He doesn't agree with the amendment. "I think the voters should have a say," Brown said. "The voters who are putting up the money to build the new high school should vote on it. It's their money. This whole bill is about local control. The local school district and local families should be able to decide how they want to educate their kids." *** The resolution came from the Lockwood school board, but Lockwood superintendent Tobin Novasio also isn't a fan of the amendments. From December to February, MTSBA member districts and the MTSBA board of directors could send resolutions for consideration at the June assembly. Resolutions that passed in June move on to the general member meeting in October. If a resolution passes there, it becomes part of MTSBA's legislative platform. MTSBA director of government relations Bob Vogel said he believes the gist behind deleting voters from the resolution is that trustees "in essence are accountable to their own voters." Because it adds the larger school district's trustees and removes voters from the process, Novasio said the amendments likely came from a larger school district. Vogel said there isn't a record of who amended the resolution or how each delegate voted. "That's what was really shocking to me on the resolution," Novasio said. "I can see them trying to put something in there to where both communities had to agree to it, but to take that away from our voters... ." Vogel said he believes the idea behind adding both school boards to the resolution is to encourage communication. "I think that's the direction that the delegates saw in our delegate assembly, is trying to get both districts talking to one another because ... there are big impacts on the large district for a decision that might be made by the independent elementary district," Vogel said. But that's been a struggle, particularly between Billings and Lockwood, whose relationship was strained earlier this year after Billings backed out of a joint meeting with Lockwood. In terms of what's coming in 2017, Novasio said "we've got things in the works," though he didn't specify a legislator carrying a bill. One thing that won't be included is division of assets since "it muddied the water" in 2015. "Compare it to a divorce," he said. "You keep everything, we just want to be divorced." *** Three elementary districts Lockwood, East Helena and Hellgate led the charge supporting SB107. This time around, Hellgate superintendent Doug Reisig said his district has moved this issue "to the back burner." "Our issue, once that legislative session was done, turned completely to dealing with expansion of the elementary," he said. "We have not been involved in these recent discussions. We have been focused on trying to take care of the overcrowding we have in our elementary district and seeing if we can get a bond passed by our voters to build another middle school, to accommodate the overcrowding." In September, Hellgate voters will decide whether the district should build a new middle school, expand its road system and add recreation areas due to increasing enrollment. This summer, Hellgate's trustees also voted not to join the Montana Rural Education Association, which focuses on issues affecting Montana's small, rural school districts. Hellgate had joined in the past because of the SB107 effort. "Since we are not an active player at this point, we felt it would not be the wisest use of taxpayer dollars to continue to belong to the organization, whether or not that organization continues to support expansion," Reisig said. MCPS superintendent Mark Thane is in the same "back-burner" boat, preferring to focus on strengthening relationships with MCPS' feeder districts than potential district expansion legislation. East Helena superintendent Ron Whitmoyer pointed to recent facilitated joint meetings with Helena Public Schools, saying they're working to "find some middle ground." "It's not exactly what I think my community was looking for, but again, it's just one more option," he said of the MTSBA resolution. "No one knows the outcome of what perfection would be. We've got to look at every option so when we go to the legislature we can say look, we left no stone unturned. We tried to talk through everything with an open mind and the best solution is we do it this way, whatever way that happens to be." *** All of this stems from a 1993 law that effectively put a freeze on new high schools. According to 20-6-326, five conditions must be met to create a high school district in order to expand a K-8 to a K-12: The nearest elementary school building is located at least 40 miles from the nearest accessible high school. The trip from the nearest elementary school building to the nearest accessible high school is 60 minutes or more over the shortest passable route. Periodically during the school year, the condition of the road makes it impractical to attend the nearest accessible high school. At least 50 high school students live in the elementary district. The taxable valuation and boundaries of the combining elementary and high school district are the same. No elementary district meets all five criteria. "When they (a local school board) want to spend a big chunk of our money, then bring it back to us, let us vote on that, convince us it's the right thing to do. But right now, that's not the way it is," Brown said. "They say you can't even discuss it, weve already decided that. Back in the '80s, we decided you dont need a new school for your kids, ever." After passing the Senate 34-16 last year, SB107 was carried on the House floor by state Rep. Debra Lamm, R-Livingston. There, the second reading passed 50-49, but by the third reading, seven legislators had flipped and the bill failed, 52-48. "It's one of those issues that it's really difficult to get a handle on because you have two opposing sides that are having troubles coming together and negotiating a resolution," Wake said in June. After a contentious year of public debate, the Marshall Woods forest thinning project has started showing results. Hikers and bikers along the main Rattlesnake National Recreation Area trail corridor couldnt miss the dozens of head-high piles of slash around the Spring Gulch trail intersection. Immature tree stands shady enough to support mushrooms have been replaced with sunny vistas punctuated by big Ponderosa pines. It looks like theyve done a thoughtful job, said hiker Kathy McCort on Tuesday morning. You wonder about the habitat cover the wildlife will have to make arrangements because they cant move as covertly anymore. You can see a lot more than you could before. A private contract crew hired by the Lolo National Forest finished its first 120 acres of work Monday. They concentrated on the initial 2 miles of meadow and flat ground above the main recreation area parking lot. In a few days, they will shift to the Woods Gulch area, east of the parking lot, where they will continue to thin small trees and hazardous fuels near private property. Plans to do forest management work in the hills north of Missoula came and went for most of the past decade as community members discussed the scope of the work necessary. The landscape ranges from the congressionally designated Rattlesnake Wilderness Area beginning 3 miles north of the parking lot to former commercial timberlands on the east side of Mount Jumbo, one creek drainage over. A roundtable of forestry, environmental and community interests has long agreed on the need for rehabilitation in the Marshall Creek drainages old logging scars. But the coalition broke apart over proposals to allow some commercial logging in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area south of the federal wilderness. The latest version of the Marshall Woods project was unveiled last summer, but bogged down over objections to its more intensive treatment plans along the Rattlesnake trail corridor. Most of those items were withdrawn in the final environmental assessment released in January. But Missoula District Ranger Jen Henseik retained the hazardous fuels treatments intended to restore some of the open forest character along Rattlesnake Creek. Some people had no idea any work was being planned, and theyre curious as to whats going on, said Dave Atkins, a retired Forest Service forester on temporary contract to explain the project to the public in the Rattlesnake. So far, the overall reaction has all been positive. Atkins himself had objected to the earlier Marshall Woods plans for failing to do more extensive work on fuels reduction and thinning along Rattlesnake Creek. The piles will remain until at least next spring. That should give them enough time to dry out so they can be burned when its safe to do so without risking a runaway fire. The piles have a layer of waxed paper near the top to keep the interior dry and make them burn more completely. Other parts of the creek drainage may get a broadcast burn to knock back underbrush and help aspen and more mature conifers grow better. The work will also replace some culverts and other sediment problems impeding water quality in Rattlesnake Creek. Work crews treated the area to prevent the spread of invasive species like knapweed. The landscape was a remarkable one for Alise Noel and Fabrice Camtraine, who were visiting the Rattlesnake with their toddler Anna from Belgium. Forests in Europe tend to be much more tightly managed and cultivated than American woods, they said. In Europe, all the woods are forested to get lumber out, Camtraine said. Thats part of the reason we like it here in Montana. As tourists we prefer this kind of scenery. But its comparable to hunting, Noel added. In Europe where you dont have predators hunting the deer, the deer are killing all the trees. The city of Missoula won its eminent domain case to buy Mountain Water Co. in a 5-2 decision Tuesday from the Montana Supreme Court. In the majoritys opinion, Justice Patricia Cotter said the state high court gave the record an exhaustive review and found the lower courts detailed factual findings supported public ownership. The justices said Missoula County District Court correctly concluded the evidence showed ownership of the water system by the city was "more necessary" than its use by a for-profit enterprise. Mayor John Engen took on one of the largest equity firms in the world when he took The Carlyle Group to court with support from the Missoula City Council. Tuesday, he said he wanted to let people know he appreciated their patience throughout the case. I know that it has felt risky and expensive and long, but Ive been convinced from Day One that it was my responsibility to work with the community to figure this out and that the courts would help us get there, Engen said. We have placed our trust in the system, and my sense is that the system has worked. And long after people have forgotten any of our names, they wont have to worry about who owns their water, and that has nothing to do with me. It has everything to do with this community and it has everything to do with what is right. Mountain Water president John Kappes could not be reached for comment; The Carlyle Group did not comment. We are reviewing the decision and decline further comment at this time, said Carlyle spokesman Chris Ullman. The ruling The high court repeatedly noted that the justices were satisfied that Judge Karen Townsend's order after a spring 2015 trial was based upon substantial credible evidence. The following are among the issues it reviewed from the record: The District Court first considered public opinion, and concluded that the Missoula public supports city ownership of the water system, the opinion said. The court concluded that the citys use of a poll, even if it was not methodologically perfect, was a reasonable measure of public opinion. The District Court also looked at evidence about the condition of the water system and differences under public or private ownership. Experts for the city also testified that 20 percent of the water system mains and 75 percent of the service lines have exceeded their useful life, but Mountain Water invested less than $1 million per year in replacing water distribution mains from 2004 to 2014. The court concluded that no matter who owns the water system, significant capital expenditures will be required, but that under municipal ownership, long term maintenance planning and capital expenditures can occur under the management of a stable, long term owner. The Supreme Court also evaluated real and projected administrative expenses in the decision. A witness for the city testified at the spring 2015 trial that the administrative costs paid by Mountain Water exceed every other Montana water system by $2 million, and that Mountain Waters administrative cost per customer is the highest in the state. The opinion cited $48,000 that goes to "travel and entertainment," a $103,000 "board of directors fee, and $1.3 million for salaries of staff in California." The Carlyle Group has since sold the Missoula water system to Liberty Utilities, the subsidiary of a Canadian company. At the trial, Libertys president testified Mountain Water would be required to make similar payments for corporate personnel and oversight to a home office in Canada, read the opinion. The District Court recognized that under either owner, significant capital expenditures will be required to replace and maintain key infrastructure. However, under private ownership, the cost of needed capital improvements will be increased by a rate of equity (currently 9.8 percent), whereas no such increase would be seen under municipal ownership. Justices Jim Rice and Laurie McKinnon dissented. At trial At the District Court trial last spring, witnesses testified that Missoula was the only city in Montana that didnt control its own water. Tuesday, the mayor said the city has been preparing to take over the utility and transition the operations, and it is ready to cut a check to buy the water company. We will begin working with attorneys first thing in the morning to finalize some work weve done around final order of condemnation, a motion to take possession, and we have to have a conversation with defendants about an orderly transition, Engen said. In a separate court proceeding, water commissioners set the value of the utility at $88.6 million. But the way the transfer will take place remains to be seen because Carlyle was named in the proceeding, and it has since sold the water system to Liberty Utilities. As we all know by now, the University of Montana has suffered tremendously from five painful years of bad publicity, the loss of several thousand students, the accompanying loss of millions of dollars in revenue, and devastating cuts that have gutted its budget and curriculum. Meanwhile, the UM president and the Commissioner of Higher Education have failed to address the unfolding crisis. Instead of accepting any responsibility for the abysmal state of the university, they have assigned surrogates and proxies to attack their critics, portraying them as an isolated and disgruntled minority, all the while continuing to blame the root causes of the present crisis on an array of external and at times irrelevant factors. After five years of alarming decline, we have no choice but to confront the stubborn facts in front of us, especially because they have a direct impact on the Missoula and Montana economies: 1. Since 2011, the University of Montana has lost more than 3,000 students; 2. Since 2011, the University of Montana has lost tens of millions of dollars; 3. In addressing budgetary shortfalls, the UM administration has cut low-paid staff positions, as well as a significant number of academic positions either by direct cuts or by not filling positions that have become vacant due to retirements. The administration has, however, refused to cut high-paid administrators. In fact, the UM administration has spent millions on hiring a team of administrators who have not been able to address the financial and academic challenges confronting UM. Neither the Commissioner of Higher Education nor the UM president seem to understand the fundamental fact that throwing money at pricey bureaucratic positions is not a sustainable solution for an institution fighting for its survival. 4. The plan for downsizing UM originated in the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education in Helena, the same office which has added new administrative positions for itself. Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian, whose present salary stands at $302,000, is expected to receive a $455,000 bonus, while UM President Dr. Royce Engstrom expects to receive a $500,000 bonus. Christian was appointed to the commissioners post after the Board of Regents decided not to conduct a national search for the position. At the same time, the regents did away with the requirement that the commissioner hold a doctoral degree: Christian holds only a bachelors degree. By all objective measures, UM suffers from inept leadership both in Helena and Missoula. Worse, the sharp drop in enrollment numbers has had a profound impact on Missoulas economy. Under these circumstances, it is troubling to see that Gov. Steve Bullock has refused to address the numerous petitions that his office has received, signed by hundreds of Montana residents pleading with him to address the alarming situation at UM. As a Democrat who has voted for Bullock, I expect no less of him than to act like a true leader and confront this situation head-on. Montana higher education cannot be used as a political tool in this or any election year. Montanas universities are the states economic engines and they play a central role in educating and training the workforce for the great state of Montana. What is to be done? First, the leadership of the Montana University System should be recruited through open and transparent national searches, which would allow the best and the brightest, as well as the most competent and experienced, to rise to the top. Second, rewards and bonuses should be paid based on performances and outcomes. If, after five years of abysmal performance, a leader and a team cannot produce positive results, a culture of accountability demands that they should be replaced by a new group of leaders who can produce the necessary results. Third, the Board of Regents is ultimately responsible for addressing the present crisis at UM. Instead of acting like a social club of friends and buddies, the board is obligated to take a deep look at the underlying causes of the decline and hold open meetings in which a diverse set of voices are heard. UM is a public institution and its leadership should be held accountable by Montanas taxpayers. Accountability is the cornerstone of good governance. I have just finished re-reading Eric Collier's book, "Three Against the Wilderness," about his adventures in the remote Canadian wilderness near the Fraser River in British Columbia, beginning in the 1930s. He and his wife and son built a home in the wilderness and, as he brazenly states, built ponds out of marshes to restore beaver habitat, on land within his trapping boundaries, but not his ownership, without a government permit. When he tried to obtain a permit, the government declined it. The lunacy continues in the Peoples Republic of Missoula. As if more roundabouts, a $5 million bike bridge over Reserve Street and ridiculous parking meters werent enough, Molly Short Carr, the International Rescue Committees new director, made a soft landing in Missoula, from where else? Nairobi, Kenya. She wants to prepare Missoula for the first (of how many?) Congolese refugees due in the next couple of months. And God knows theres work to be done! Bringing dozens of illiterate, unskilled mouths to house and feed from equatorial Africa to northern Montana requires not only a lot of work but a healthy dose of naivete, bad judgment and downright stupidity. Soon enough Carr will fly out of Missoula to round up more refugees and leave the mess shes creating for Missoulians to deal with. Good grief. Heres a hot flash for you: A more practical solution might be to fly back to Kenya and work to set up refugee housing, job training, medical care and clean water right where these refugees need it most. It would certainly be preferable to flying them halfway around the world to a strange culture, a cold climate and a dubious reception. And you could save the U.S. taxpayers the cost of English-as-a-second-language classes. Where is your common sense? And this goes for your soft landing buddies as well. G. Anderson, Missoula BUTTE A Dillon man killed in a fatal rollover crash Tuesday on Highway 43 near Wisdom has been identified, officials said. Beaverhead County Deputy Coroner Julie Briggs said 61-year-old Billy Dingley died of blunt force trauma. His body will be transported to the Montana State Crime Lab on Thursday. The Montana Highway Patrol reported that speed was a factor when Dingley failed to negotiate a left turn traveling westbound in a semi-truck and trailer about 3 p.m. on Highway 43, 12 miles west of Wisdom. The cab and trailer flipped and traveled down a steep embankment adjacent to the narrow, windy highway, Beaverhead County Sheriff Franklin Kluesner said Wednesday. Several pine trees were knocked over. The semi-truck and commercial flatbed trailer, which was carrying round hay bales, overturned. Dingley was wearing a seat belt. He died at the scene. Kluesner said law enforcement officers and responders were at the crash site for more than seven hours Tuesday. As of Wednesday, the Highway Patrol reported 107 fatalities on Montana roadways. At this time last year, 108 fatalities were reported. BILLINGS A prison sentence of 110 years means Jessy Lee Williams won't be eligible to seek parole until he is at least 60 years old. The 35-year-old Williams was sentenced Tuesday to the Montana State Prison on charges of sexual intercourse without consent, aggravated burglary and aggravated assault. Before handing down the sentence, Yellowstone County District Judge Gregory Todd said he was "hard pressed" to find any mitigating factors in Williams' case. "Rehabilitation I will not say is impossible, but highly unlikely," Todd said. Williams apologized to his victim during the sentencing and said he prayed for her family as well as his own family. Williams was convicted Nov. 6, 2015, after a four-day trial during which his victim and her children testified about the night in March 2014 that Williams broke into their home. At trial, the woman told the court about how she had woken up with a man's hands around her neck. I couldnt yell, I couldnt breathe, I couldnt scream, the woman said. I tried to get the hands off of my neck, and I could hear my baby screaming in his crib. The woman passed out, and when she came to she could no longer hear her baby and remembered thinking the baby, and her two other kids left sleeping in the living room, were dead. The victim, who was pregnant at the time, said she next felt Williams raping her. She later asked Williams if she could get some water, which he allowed, following her out of the bedroom. The woman ran outside where Williams tackled her, shoving her head in the snow and dragging her back into the house by her hair. Her children watched from the porch as Williams tackled their mother. The 9-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy held knives they had grabbed from the kitchen in an attempt to help their mother. The older sister also held her baby sibling in her arms. The woman and her son ran for help, leaving behind the daughter and baby. The woman, dressed only in a tank top on the freezing sub-zero night, made it to a neighbor's house where law enforcement was contacted. Williams ran from the home before law enforcement arrived. Williams has maintained the sex between him and the victim was consensual. At Williams' sentencing hearing, Yellowstone Deputy County Attorney Brett Linneweber provided photos of the bruising of the victim to show the marks around the woman's neck from Williams strangling her. Probation and parole officer Krystal Stevenson said after interviewing Williams, she believed he should never be allowed back into society. Michael Sullivan, a clinical social worker who performed a psycho-sexual evaluation, said Williams did not appear to learn from experience and showed a tendency to lash out at people. He said there was a high chance Williams would commit more crimes if released. Williams was convicted in 2003 of three counts of robbery. He was one of five people who broke into a house together. Williams was armed with a gun and threatened to kill the residents. He has spent time in both federal and state prison. Williams spent 884 days in jail prior to sentencing and will receive credit toward his sentence. He was designated a level 2 sex offender and ordered to pay restitution to his victim in the amount of $1,700. Pushed by winds that included gusts up to 50 miles per hour, the Roaring Lion Fire grew nearly 3,000 acres last night. It never really got going until about 6:30 p.m., but then the right combination of weather and wind set it up for a big push, said Fire Information Officer Mike Cole. The fire has now burned more than 7,130 acres. On Monday, the acreage stood at 4,392. Most of the new fire activity occurred on the south end of the fire toward the Ward Creek drainage, which contained a large amount of beetle-killed and drought-stressed heavy timber. Additional firefighting resources continue to arrive in Hamilton. We had a lot more engines arrive yesterday, Cole said. As of Wednesday morning, there are 524 firefighters assigned to the blaze, 33 engines, five dozers, 15 water tenders and nine helicopters. Cole said two single-engine air tankers drop retardant Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to cool into the 70s and relative humidity levels should be up from Tuesday. Cole said winds are expected to be at about 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph Wednesday. Tuesday night saw sustained winds from 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph. That 50 mph really got the pot stirred, he said. This should be a good day for working on the line. U.S. Highway 93 has reopened with a reduced speed south of Hamilton. The road was closed for about five hours Tuesday night due to heavy smoke. A 49-year-old Texas man accused of fatally shooting a Whitehall man and injuring two other men will be tried in Butte on Sept. 12. The jury trail for Tony Dwade Sawyer was continued from Sept. 6 because of a scheduling conflict of a key witness, Montana state medical examiner Dr. Jaime Oeberst, according to court documents. Sawyer faces felony charges of deliberate homicide and two counts of attempted deliberate homicide in Butte district court. He is being held at the county jail on $1 million bond. At his arraignment last December, Sawyer pleaded not guilty to killing Joe Powers, 37, and wounding two other men in a triple shooting about 13 miles southeast of Butte in November 2015. Sawyer fled the scene on Fish Creek Road near state Highway 2 with the alleged weapon and was arrested by law enforcement a day later in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Judge Brad Newman on Jan. 29 denied the defendants motion to reduce his bail to $100,000. A pretrial conference was set for Aug. 25. Reacting to a quick and alarming rise in temperature and drop in flows, the Jefferson River Watershed Council will meet Wednesday morning "to see if there's a way to keep the river from drying up," said Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Ron Spoon. Spoon said that as of Tuesday afternoon, the Jefferson's flow at Waterloo Bridge was 19 cubic feet per second considerably below the 50 cfs considered a healthy minimum. Upstream at Twin Bridges, flow dipped to 275 cfs just below the 280-cfs trigger point for action by the watershed group, which immediately scheduled Tuesday's meeting. Spoon said that the landowners who control four major irrigation diversions between Waterloo and Twin Bridges will participate. "Generally a Trout Unlimited member attends too," he said. "If we have too large a group you don't tend to get into good problem-solving mode." "This came on with a fury," said Ted Dodge, watershed coordinator. "In a typical year we'd have known this was coming a little sooner, and we could have geared up sooner. But this happened very quickly." "Ninety-degree weather with a little bit of a breeze it's like a blowtorch," said John Kountz, chairman of the watershed council. "You need to be out in it to understand it." Kountz, one of the four principal irrigators, said he spent Tuesday "up in the hills," checking on springs and other water sources for his livestock. "In our meeting tomorrow we'll try to discuss with some of the other ditch companies what we can do," Kountz said. "We'll figure out how to put some (water) back in, if we can." Spoon said the next six or seven weeks will be the toughest to manage. "We always pull out of it by the 20th of September or so," he said. "Depending on when they are haying, sometimes they (irrigators) can stagger what they take a little bit to help us get through." Spoon said the rising water temperatures are a real concern for the Jefferson's fish population. "Down canyon at Sappington Bridge, near Lewis and Clark Caverns, we predictably see dead fish when things get real stressful," he said. "The water temperature was 82 there the other night when I checked it. Usually anything above 80 and we start seeing dead fish." The first species to show stress, he said, is the mountain whitefish, a native species that is a little more sensitive to water temperature than trout. "Sometimes we've seen hundreds of dead fish there," he said, but added that so far this year he's seen only two. "The mortality that we don't see" occurs in juvenile fish, Spoon says. "The adult fish generally do OK if they pool up" in deep water, he said, "but the juvenile fish in the shoreline habitat are vulnerable to predators." He said we "always have weak year classes" after such conditions. The water in the Jefferson is "over-allocated," Spoon said. The landowners "have the water rights, definitely, and whatever they do is voluntary." He said that "in that stretch between Twin Bridges and Waterloo, there are 800 cfs of water rights, with 275 available right now." Kountz said his company, the Parrot Ditch Company, is a shareholder in the Ruby River Reservoir, and "we own a little water in the reservoir. We've only got so many days of flow, so we have to figure out when to let it out to help the river," he said. "Do you do it now or do you wait? Those are the sorts of things we'll be talking about." Kountz said whatever water that's released from the reservoir "has to make it a long way" before it reaches the lower Jefferson. "It's more to help the river than help us," he said. Kountz said he's been "talking to the membership" of the upstream Ruby, Beaverhead and Big Hole watershed associations. "Those guys are all facing the same thing," he said. "I know they're trying. That's all we can do." Dodge, the watershed coordinator, said, "The Jeff gets what's left. We're at the bottom end of things." He said that all four watershed councils the Jefferson, Ruby, Beaverhead and Big Hole will do their best to coordinate their efforts. "These are major economic issues for landowners, for guides, for everyone," he said. "We have a great relationship" with the landowners and irrigators, who have "been very supportive" over the years. "We've dodged a bullet many times" because of their efforts, he said. "Back in 2013 we were down to 199 cfs at Twin Bridges," and the four councils held a joint meeting, Spoon said. "It wouldn't surprise me if in two or three weeks that happened again. But the key thing is we're all talking." Jodi Kountz, who has worked as a drought management coordinator for the watershed council, said, "These irrigators contribute significantly. If everybody knew or cared, they would see how much they have given up" in the past. "We're going to have to do something in the good years to help reduce the pressure in the bad years," Dodge said. "But that is going to have to work economically for the landowners." The crisis is not likely to go away any time soon, he said, given climate change trends. "If you work in this field you read the data and the literature," Dodge said. "This is what we're going to be dealing with from here on out." The town of Sheridan waited almost four weeks to alert the public to elevated lead levels in the city's drinking water supply. During routine sampling, the Department of Environmental Quality analyzed the drinking water for Sheridan on July 8 and notified the town of the problem the same day, officials said Wednesday. DEQ spokesperson Kristi Ponozzo said the town has 60 days in which to "educate the public" on DEQ's findings, so the town's Aug. 3 notification to the media fell within state regulations. Madison County spokesperson Bonnie O'Neill concurred, saying the town had a period of time to inform the public and that, "they (town officials) responded as quick as they could." Sheridan residents are being provided free bottled water. O'Neill told The Montana Standard that by mid-afternoon Wednesday, 45 people had picked up free water. "There's no confusion. There's no panic," O'Neill said. Authorities arent sure of the lead source, but are working on the problem, and are providing the bottled water as a precaution. Town officials are holding both a town hall for meeting the public and a news conference at 12 p.m. Thursday at the Sheridan Fire Department, 103 E. Hamilton Street. Elevated levels of 32 parts per billion were found in the samples collected by DEQ, said Ponozzo. Twenty-six samples were taken. The action level set by EPA is 15 parts per billion in drinking water. Anything over that triggers a response. Residents will continue to receive free bottled water until the situation is remedied. Ponozzo said DEQ pays for the bottled water. A notice and a brochure will be mailed to the residents of Sheridan, population 700, addressing the health effects and ways to reduce exposure. Sheridan is working in conjunction with DEQ, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and Madison County. DEQ is providing free individual blood-lead tests and free home water lead-testing kits for Sheridan residents. Drinking water and home water lead-testing kits are available from Sheridan Town Hall. Blood sampling will be performed at the Ruby Valley Hospital. Ponozzo said DEQ has been collecting water sampling data from Sheridan since 1975 and this is the first time lead has shown up in the sampling over the action level. Sheridans drinking water comes from several groundwater wells, said Ponozzo. Tap water that contains elevated lead levels can be drunk in moderation for most people, but children, pregnant women and people with kidney problems or high blood pressure should drink bottled water only, she said. However, the bottled water will be available for everyone out of an abundance of caution, said Ponozzo. The city of Butte does not have elevated lead levels in its drinking water, said Dave Schultz, Butte-Silver Bow Public Works director. Jim Dennehy, Buttes water treatment manager, said he had about 90 percent of Butte's drinking supply sampled and analyzed this summer and all have come back below the drinking water standard for both lead and copper. Dennehy added that the county injects a corrosion inhibitor to coat pipes to prevent metals from leaching or precipitating in the water. The recent Flint, Michigan, crisis of lead in its drinking water happened over the last two years because that town switched its drinking water supply to a local river and failed to add a corrosion inhibitor at the source. The river water corroded the lead piping, according to The New York Times. Sheridan is about 60 miles southeast of Butte on Highway 287, just south of Twin Bridges. When I was commanding men and women on the battlefield, I never asked what their religious affiliation was. It didn't matter in war. What matters is the individual next to you is patriotic, capable, and willing to put their life on the line for their country and their unit. Every soldier, sailor, airman, marine, or coastguardsman who serves honorably and pays the ultimate sacrifice should be honored and their family thanked. Both of our candidates for president have picked fights with and said extremely regrettable things to the families of service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation. As a grateful nation, we cannot allow this to become the norm, and we cannot allow it to go without notice. Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton should swallow their pride and apologize to the families and service members they have offended. Politics has no role in the military. I have been to too many funerals. I've folded too many flags, and I've consoled too many parents, widows, and small children who lost their loved ones. My own daughter is a Navy diver, my son-in-law is a Navy SEAL, and one of their daughters just turned six years old. I cannot imagine losing one of them. My 23 years of service has taught me about what we should be focusing on: how to make sure we don't have to fold any more flags or console any more families. We need to address the threat that is killing our troops and that is radical Islamic terrorism. When I fought in Iraq I proudly fought beside Jews, Atheists, Catholics, Lutherans, and yes Muslims. We built an American-led coalition of Muslim nations and tribes to defeat tyranny and extremism. We respected each other and defended one another. Going forward it will take the same level of trust and respect to defeat our determined enemy. Honoring our troops and their families is not a red or a blue issue, it's a red, white, and blue issue. We should come together and embrace our military and Gold Star Families. Use them as an example of what makes us better, not what drives us apart. United we stand divided we fall. -- -- U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican, is Montana's at-large congressman and a 23-year U.S. Navy SEAL veteran. Is it treason? Donald Trump, as a major party nominee for president, has encouraged Russia, an adversarial power, to hack the emails of a former Secretary of State, his electoral opponent. Is that treason? Clearly, it is at least treachery, a violation of faith, allegiance and confidence in our constitutional system. It says Vladimir Putin, you can execute our laws better than we can here in the USA, help me out. Perhaps Trump could care less about the states under Putins threat: the Baltics, the former Soviet states, Poland. Perhaps Trump just wants to make a deal, as did Neville Chamberlain with Hitler. Or just maybe, Donald Trumps thinking is closer to Aaron Burr's, who came near being president, but then decided to ally with Spain with an eye toward becoming emperor of the American Southwest. Or maybe it is what it seems like, a treacherous and treasonous act by a man who could care less about the consequences for the world and his country? -- Ed Chaberek, Superior Montana Gov. Steve Bullocks use of a state plane for campaigning continues, according to election finance reports in which his campaign paid the state $1,155 for airfare. Campaign finance reports filed Monday by the Bullock Campaign with the Commissioner of Political Practices, didnt go into detail about the expenses covered. But an invoice from the Office of the Governor included nine flights, for which the state requested Bullocks campaign pay for pilot salaries and benefits associated with waiting for Bullock, a Democrat, to return from non-government events, such as fundraising. The invoice listed 15 hours of pilot time, and the dates in which the hours were incurred. The governors office didnt disclose what, if any, official purpose the flight had, or where the government airplane was flown, or the campaign events for which the pilots shift was extended. Tim Crowe, Bullocks communications director, said the invoice is intended to capture costs, not destinations, which have no bearing on what the campaign owes the state. By combining flight tracking data for the states Beechcraft King Air with known Bullock campaign events, The Billings Gazette was able to confirm that most, but not all, of Bullocks campaign-related flights were included in the states bill to the governors re-election campaign. Included in the bill were several "Birthday Party for Bullock" events in April that involved flights to communities where the governor held campaign fundraisers before leaving town. One birthday party not on the list took place after business hours at the Billings Depot, where attendees were encouraged to wish the governor happy 50th birthday. Tickets were $50 to $1,320 depending on level of support. Two fundraising events in July also were not included. Crowe said the July campaign events involving the state plane would be included in a future report. Crowe said the April 6 event in Billings was not included with the other birthday party fundraisers because no additional cost to the taxpayer was found. Neither of the salaried pilots who flew on the sixth were in overtime status for the flight and didnt require reimbursement, Crowe said in an email. The governors use of the plane for campaigning has angered Republican legislators. Is it the citizens of Montanas responsibility to provide transportation to Steve Bullock while he campaigns? said Rep. Ryan Osmundson, R-Buffalo. I dont think he should be campaigning on our tax dollars. Osmundson and fellow Republicans balked at Bullocks plane use during the 2015 Legislature, when the central Montana farmer was chairman of the Joint General Government subcommittee. Osmundson noted that Bullock was using the plane to fly from Helena to Butte, two communities that are 67 miles apart by car. The state plane cost $1,650 an hour to operate, said Osmundson, who reasoned taxpayers would be better off if Bullock drove. In February, a public records request by The Billings Gazette revealed that the governor was piggybacking campaign fundraisers onto business trips in which a state plane was used. State political law says that with few exceptions "a public officer or public employee may not use public time, facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel, or funds to solicit support for or opposition to any political committee, the nomination or election of any person to public office, or the passage of a ballot issue." Bullock, who previously served as Montanas attorney general, reviewed state law and concluded his campaign should have paid for plane costs associated with campaigning. The campaign then paid the state $2,672 for portions of 21 state business trips that also involved campaign functions. Republicans quickly accused Bullock of shortchanging the state. Arguing the average repayment price of $127.23 a flight was too low, they promised in the next Legislature to put new restrictions on state plane use Assyrian Brother and Sister Who Fled Syria Now in University Nineb Yousef, 18, left, and Ninwe Yousef, 20, an Assyrian brother and sister who arrived in Canada in January after leaving their home in Tel Temir, Syria, have each been awarded four year scholarships to study at Western University. ( Craig Glover/London Free Press) Fleeing their war-torn village in Syria, Nineb Yousef and sister Ninwe left their family, friends, home and middle-class life behind. But the siblings made sure to pack their high school transcripts, knowing the documents would be their ticket to a better future in Canada. Ten months later and more than 9,000 kilometres travelled, Nineb and Ninwe are two of 10 Syrian refugees selected for all-expenses-paid scholarships at Western University. The pair say the four-year scholarship is an opportunity to achieve their dreams and build better lives in their new country. "We will do well in Canada," Nineb said with confidence. Living in Tel Tamer, a town in northeastern Syrian where their father was a doctor, the Yousefs weren't initially affected when a peaceful uprising against Syria's longtime president, Bashar al-Assad, turned violent in 2011. But that changed when the Islamic State started targeting members of the Assyrian community, a minority Christian group to which the siblings belong. As the situation continued to deteriorate last fall, Nineb and Ninwe's parents sent them to neighbouring Lebanon, where they registered as refugees with the United Nations. Their father refused to leave his town, now under protection from the Kurdish YPG militia, because he's the only doctor for the remaining few hundred Assyrians still in the area. In December, he survived a triple truck bomb at his clinic that killed 50 and injured dozens of others, an attack claimed by the Islamic State. Nineb, 18, and Ninwe, 20, arrived in Canada on Jan. 14 as privately sponsored refugees, moving into an apartment at Huron Street and Highbury Avenue with a cousin Members of the North Park Community Church, who co-sponsored the siblings, helped them apply for the scholarships at Western. "We don't want these kids to lose their future. We want them to be amazing," said Ron Burdock, director of global outreach at North Park, a church of 1,500 parishioners who have sponsored 24 Syrian refugees and co-sponsored 28 others. "We really believe that they ought to have the same opportunity to live up to their potential as we did." The siblings are taking English as second language courses through CultureWorks at Brescia University College, where both have proven to be quick studies. The pair, who had high school averages in the nineties, say they're feeling both excitement and nervousness about starting at Western early next year. Nineb will study biochemistry at university, while Ninwe is going into nutrition. Though some Syrian refugees hold out hope of returning to their country, Nineb and Ninwe now consider Canada their home. "Of course we want to build lives here," Nineb said. And they aspire to bring their family here, but know their father will be reluctant to leave. "Everyday I ask him, 'when will you come here?'" Ninwe said. As the Syrian conflict showed no sign of ending last year -- more than 400,000 have been killed and 11 million others displaced -- post-secondary schools in London offered scholarships to refugees. In addition to the 10 spots at Western, Fanshawe College provided 10 scholarships, with Medix and the North American Trade School each adding five. London has settled more than 1,100 Syrian refugees -- the third most of any Ontario city -- through both government and private sponsorships, with hundreds more expected by the end of the year. 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 ORIGINAL NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION CitiFinancial Servicing LLC Plaintiff, vs. Margaret K. Hildebrandt a/k/a Margaret K. Beukenhorst; Parties in Possession; Unknown spouse, if any, of Margaret K. Hildebrandt; Unknown spouse, if any, of John D. Beukenhorst; H&R Accounts, Inc.; All Unknown Heirs, Devisees, or Claimants with an interest in Property of John D. Beukenhorst, deceased; John D. Beukenhorst, Jr.; Unknown spouse, if any, of John D. Beukenhorst Jr.; Benjamin T. Beukenhorst; Unknown spouse, if any, of Benjamin T. Beukenhorst; Stacey Beth Hoback; Unknown spouse, if any, of Stacey Beth Hoback; State of Iowa - Department of Revenue; State of Iowa - Department of Revenue, et al. Defendants. You are notified that a petition has been filed in the office of this court naming you as a defendant in this action. The petition was filed on June 1, 2016, and prays for foreclosure of Plaintiffs mortgage in favor of the Plaintiff on the property described in this notice and judgment for the unpaid principal amount of $60,388.98, with 8.256% per annum interest thereon from August 7, 2013, together with late charges, advances and the costs of the action including (but not limited to) title costs and reasonable attorney's fees, as well as a request that said sums be declared a lien upon the following described premises from December 20, 2005, located in Muscatine county, Iowa: The Following Described Real Estate in Muscatine County, Iowa : Lot 54 of Second Section of Avenue Addition to the City of Muscatine, as per Auditor's Plat thereof, subject to Easement of Driveway, Purposes as recorded in Book 92 of Lots, page 449, in the Office of County Recorder of Muscatine County, Iowa Also correctly described as: Lot 54 of Second Section of Avenue Addition to the City of Muscatine, as per Auditor's Plat thereof, subject to Easement of Driveway, Purposes as recorded in Book 92 of Lots, page 449, in the Office of County Recorder of Muscatine County, Iowa; As Per Auditor's Plat Thereof, Subject to Easement of Driveway Purposes as recorded in Book 92 of Lots, Page 449, in the Office of the County Recorder of Muscatine County, Iowa, Exempt Pursuant to Iowa Code Section 428A.2(11) Being the same property conveyed by Fees Simple Deed from John D. Beukenhorst and Margaret K. Beukenhorst f/k/a Margaret K. Hilkdebrandt, husband and wife, to John D. Beukenhorst and Margaret K. Beukenhorst dated 12/17/2001, recorded on 12/31/2001 in Document No 2001-09948 in Muscatine County Records, State of IA and from First National Acceptance Co. by Deed Dated 12/14/2001, recorded 12/31/2001 in Instrument No # 20001-9947 , commonly known as 211 East 8th, Muscatine, IA 52761 (the "Property") The petition further prays that the mortgage on the above described real estate be foreclosed, that a special execution issue for the sale of as much of the mortgaged premises as is necessary to satisfy the judgment and for other relief as the Court deems just and equitable. For further details, please review the petition on file in the clerk's office. The Plaintiffs attorney is Halley Ryherd, of SouthLaw, P.C.; whose address is 1401 50th Street, Suite 100, West Des Moines, IA 50266. NOTICE THE PLAINTIFF HAS ELECTED FORECLOSURE WITHOUT REDEMPTION. THIS MEANS THAT THE SALE OF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY WILL OCCUR PROMPTLY AFTER ENTRY OF JUDGMENT UNLESS YOU FILE WITH THE COURT A WRITTEN DEMAND TO DELAY THE SALE. IF YOU FILE A WRITTEN DEMAND, THE SALE WILL BE DELAYED UNTIL TWELVE MONTHS (OR SIX MONTHS IF THE PETITION INCLUDES A WAIVER OF DEFICIENCY JUDGMENT) FROM THE ENTRY OF JUDGMENT IF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY IS YOUR RESIDENCE AND IS A ONE-FAMILY OR TWO-FAMILY DWELLING OR UNTIL TWO MONTHS FROM ENTRY OF JUDGMENT IF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY IS NOT YOUR RESIDENCE OR IS YOUR RESIDENCE BUT NOT A ONE-FAMILY OR TWO-FAMILY DWELLING. YOU WILL HAVE NO RIGHT OF REDEMPTION AFTER THE SALE. THE PURCHASER AT THE SALE WILL BE ENTITLED TO IMMEDIATE POSSESSION OF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY. YOU MAY PURCHASE AT THE SALE. You must serve a motion or answer on or before 7th day of September, 2016, and within a reasonable time thereafter file your motion or answer with the Clerk of Court for Muscatine County, at the county courthouse in Muscatine, Iowa. If you do not, judgment by default may be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. If you require the assistance of auxiliary aids or services to participate in a court action because of a disability, immediately call your District ADA Coordinator at 563-326-8783. If you are hearing impaired, call Relay Iowa TTY at 1-800-735-2942. By: Jeff Tollenaer CLERK OF THE ABOVE COURT Muscatine County Courthouse 401 East 3rd Street, Muscatine, IA 52761 IMPORTANT: YOU ARE ADVISED TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE AT ONCE TO PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS. MUSCATINE, Iowa Picked early Wednesday morning, a truckload of corn was taken from the fields to the Muscatine Center for Social Action kitchen where it was prepared for freezing and donation to the Muscatine County Food Pantry. The corn was grown and donated by Monsanto in Muscatine. Volunteers worked in assembly-line fashion to get the bounty ready for freezing. The preparation process included taking off the husk, blanching the ears in boiling water and putting them into ice water to stop the cooking. Once the ears were cool enough to handle, volunteers cut the kernels off the cob, bagged them and took them to the freezer. Volunteers from Monsanto, United Way and the Iowa State University Extension Service worked alongside community volunteers to process the corn. MCSA Executive Director Charla Schafer came down to the kitchen and saw how everything was going. She said this was a great opportunity for the community and for MCSA. We are extremely pleased to be a part of the collaboration between businesses, volunteers and organizations in the community, Schafer said. We are also pleased to see our newly renovated kitchen be the site to make that happen. Monsanto plant manager assistant Chris Boar said the first inkling of the event started in the spring of this year. Early this spring, we had a conversation in the community about the best way to help, Boar said. Education was the most important (goal) but also hunger and nutrition. We try to find new ways to achieve those goals. Volunteers such as Jennifer Livermore and her son Jackson were out in the cafeteria husking the corn. I saw on Facebook that there was a need for volunteers and I had the afternoon off. I coerced my son Jackson to come with me and help, Jennifer said. I saw it was a great service and a way to support people in our community. Other volunteers were right outside the kitchen, picking corn from a giant pile and pulling off the husks. At one point, there were 11 people husking corn. The frozen corn will benefit patrons at the Muscatine County Food Pantry. MUSCATINE, Iowa Muscatine will host drum corps from Iowa, California, Louisiana, and Texas during Drum Corps International Muscatine 2016. The program will open at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5 with the Mighty Muskie Marching Band performing a short preview of what they have been learning during band camp this week, in preparation for their fall show, Swan Lake, arranged by Jair Klarfeld. After the Muscatine High School band performs the National Anthem, the Colt Cadets of Dubuque, Iowa, the Blue Devils B of Concord, California, Gold of Oceanside, California, the Louisiana Stars of Lafayette, Louisiana, the Guardians of Houston, Texas, and the Vanguard Cadets of Santa Clara, California will all perform. Janet Clark, a DCI committee member, said the performances are a unique opportunity for Muscatine. "It's something you can't get very close to home," she said. Clark said there are many misconceptions about drum corps performances, but she enjoys "the dance moves, and the finesse." The members practice all day, and often travel across the country to play and compete. "It's family entertainment," she said. Tickets for the event are $10, and children 5 and under are free. "It's cheaper than a movie and popcorn," Clark said. The ticket money will go directly to the Muscatine High School band program. "It pays for things throughout the year. It helps fund band camps for kids, or instructors to come from outside," Clark said. Tickets are available through neighborhood band members, Hy-Vee on Hwy. 61 in Muscatine, mail order, various locations in Muscatine throughout the summer, and at the gate on the day of the show. Visit www.muskiebands.org for a printable order form. For more information or to view drum corps videos visit the event's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DCIMuscatine/?fref=ts or call 563-447-1647. MUSCATINE, Iowa On the brick walls to the left of the front door of the Muscatine Water Pollution Control plant, Muscatine High School graduate Shae Stamler painted over the faded red brick to create a colorful mural inspired by nature. "The biggest (challenge) was the learning curve of painting on brick. It's very rough and has a lot of texture. Doing the details can be harder on brick," she said. "It was a learning experience for all of us." Stamler hopes to have it finished by the end of this week. She was given the task early in the summer as part of a project to change one of the drab, brick walls into a landscape that is inspired by Iowa wildflowers and wild grass to promote "green infrastructure," Water Pollution Control plant director Jon Koch said. "These plants have roots that can be six feet deep," Koch said. "They can soak up a bunch of water and provide good filtration." Koch said the project was funded from their public education section of their budget. Koch and Water Pollution Control Plant chemist Patti Fuller-Bloechl said they found Stamler through Patti's son, who attended Muscatine High School with Stamler. On the first day, Stamler approached the wall where she would create the mural undaunted and excited, even though the mural was a bit out of her comfort zone since she didn't do a lot of nature drawings. "It was very exciting, but it was very slow at the beginning because it all had to be painted white," Koch said. "Two weeks ago was when everything really started to pop out." Although Stamler was the only one in charge of drawing the mural, she wasn't without help during the process. Koch reminisced about the first day, when Stamler was turning the wall into a white, blank canvas. "Here she was, out there with her little arms trying to paint the wall white," he said with a smile. "So I had a crew come out and help her." Shae's mother Angela said this was a good experience allowing her to demonstrate her commitment to a project. It also provided a piece for her portfolio as she prepares to study animation at Brigham Young University in Utah in the fall. Koch and Fuller-Bloechl said Stamler did a phenomenal job capturing their vision and raising awareness about the importance of wild flowers and grass. "I just want people to realize we have a beautiful landscape around Iowa," Stamler said. Koch said the success with this mural has them considering painting more murals on the walls around the plant. WILTON, Iowa Founded in 1860 and home to one of the oldest soda fountains in America, the Wilton Candy Kitchen is now under new ownership. Wilton native Lynn Ochiltree has purchased the business from owner Thelma Nopoulos. She and her late husband George turned the storefront into a place where political candidates, out-of-towners and locals liked to gather for a sweet treat. George Nopoulos passed away on June 14, 2015. He was 95. Since her husband's death, Thelma had been looking for someone who could continue the legacy of the Candy Kitchen. Ochiltree was interested in purchasing it and came to Thelma with an offer. She agreed in February of this year. She believes the business is in good hands with Ochiltree at the helm. She has known him for 20 years. Im happy that Lynn purchased the store and will continue the stores legacy, Thelma said. The Wilton Candy Kitchen was opened in 1860 by Robert McIntire. After 49 years, ownership fell into the hands of Thelmas father-in-law in 1906. George and Thelma took ownership of the Candy Kitchen in 1946 after he returned home from military service during World War II. From then on, George's jokes and mimic of a cardinals call became almost a signature of the store. He also crafted homemade syrups and ice creams for people to enjoy. Thelma said people from across the world stopped in Wilton to see the Candy Kitchen. We had a wonderful life there because of the people who have come from all over the world, she said. Although the recipes are in the family, Thelma said she gave Ochiltree an eight-page book with many of the recipes George used. Thelma was happy to see the place where she and her husband worked for most of their lives continue. Were very pleased it (the Wilton Candy Kitchen) will continue to serve Wilton, Muscatine County and the whole wide world, she said. WEST LIBERTY, Iowa A downtown street is slated for a facelift just in time for the holiday season in West Liberty. No residents spoke during a public hearing for the proposed Spencer Street Improvements Project during Tuesday night's city council meeting, but City Engineer Leo Foley said the project will involve replacing curb, improving drainage, and overlay. "This is not your normal overlay," Foley said. "It should look really good when it's done." Foley estimated the cost at $277,000. "We're hoping to get good bids," he told the council. Construction is expected to begin in September and be completed before the annual downtown Holiday Open House in November. In other business: The council approved payment of claims totaling $392,240; The council approved Change Order No. 3 of $24,246 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project, raising the total cost to $3,114,051. The contractor is Ricklefs Excavating of Anamosa; The council set a work session for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16 to hear a comprehensive plan update; The council approved a request from the West Liberty High School cheerleaders to hold a car wash Aug. 13 on the frontage street between Casey's and Midwest One Bank; The council went into closed session to review records required by law to be kept confidential; During a work session prior to the regular meeting, the council heard a presentation by Council Member Melody Russell on setting SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely, Russell said. WILTON, Iowa There will be a community blood drive from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at the Wilton Community Center. Potential donors must be at least 17 years old, although 16 year olds can donate with parental permission and by filling out a form through www.bloodcenter.org. Donors also must bring in a photo I.D. and weigh more than 110 pounds. In addition, donors who last gave blood on or before June 14 are eligible to donate. "[T]he return of this information to the public marks my end," Edward Snowden told the Washington Post's Barton Gellman prior to telling that public -- under the auspices of several journalists and publications -- about the NSA's PRISM program and other horrors of the modern American surveillance state. Snowden did indeed suffer for his good deeds: These days he lives in exile in Russia, awaiting a day when he might return home to some fate other than life in a prison cell at the hands of the criminals whose misdeeds he exposed. It's a shame to see Snowden picking a public fight with Wikileaks, an organization dedicated to a similar mission whose leader, Julian Assange, himself suffers a form of exile in Ecuador's London embassy (one of his sources, American political prisoner Chelsea Manning, has it worse: She's serving a 35-year sentence in Leavenworth for her heroism in exposing US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan). On July 28, Snowden took Wikileaks to task via Twitter: "Democratizing information has never been more vital, and @Wikileaks has helped," he wrote. "But their hostility to even modest curation is a mistake." Presumably Snowden's ire applies to previous Wikileaks operations such as "Collateral Murder" and "Cablegate," not just to this last week's uncensored dumps of emails exposing the internal workings of Turkey's government and of the US Democratic National Commitee. The Wikileaks response (presumably tweeted by Assange) dripped vinegar: "Opportunism won't earn you a pardon from Clinton & curation is not censorship of ruling party cash flows." I hesitate to criticize Snowden, or to impute to him the motives implied in the Wikileaks response. The sacrifices he's made command a great deal of respect from those of us who value truth and transparency. Nonetheless, Wikileaks is right and Snowden is wrong here. Good and honest motives or not, Snowden and the journalists who help him disseminate "curated" selections from the information in his possession have set themselves up as little governments. They're not "return[ing] this information to the public" which theoretically owns it. They're merely parceling out the information THEY'VE decided it's OK for the public to have. But the the NSA and the US State Department do the same thing. Snowden and friends differ from those organizations merely on content selection criteria, not on the principles involved. Snowden and Assange both serve the public. But only one of them seems to actually trust that public. Thomas L. Knapp (Twitter: @thomaslknapp) is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism (thegarrisoncenter.org). He lives and works in north central Florida. We're not going to spend a lot of time talking about what happened. Not that Austin Police Officer Bryan Richter's June 2015 takedown let's not dignify it by calling it an "arrest" of 26-year-old school teacher Breaion King is not worthy of discussion. As seen in a dashcam video unearthed last week by the Austin American-Statesman, Richter, who is white, hauls King, who is African American, out of her car, twice slams her to the ground, shackles her hands behind her back and forces her down to the hood of his patrol car, her arms held high to maximize pain and compliance. King's sin? During a traffic stop, she gave Richter a little lip. "Could you please hurry up?" she snips. And he proceeds to lose his mind. So what happened is certainly worth talking about. But it is what was said afterward that is ultimately more insidious. King, shackled in the back of a police cruiser, is convinced her mistreatment is related to the color of her skin. She asks another white officer, Patrick Spradlin, if he believes racism still exists. Spradlin answers affirmatively. "But let me ask you this," he says. "Do you believe it goes both ways?" She says yes, but starts explaining about how whites have more power. Spradlin isn't buying it. "Why are so many people afraid of black people?" he asks. "...Violent tendencies. ... That's why a lot of the white people are afraid and I don't blame them." Spradlin is speaking, mind you, to a slightly built woman his beefy colleague just violently assaulted for no reason other than pique. More to the point, he is speaking to a woman whose heritage includes 400 years of kidnapping, lynching, bombing, burning, rape, riot and, yes, police brutality, at the hands of people who look like him. But it is "black people" -- note that no other qualifier is necessary -- who, he says, have these supposed "violent tendencies." And let us not ignore Spradlin's talk of how racism "goes both ways." Here's what King was trying to explain when he cut her off: The black person who doesn't like white people can call names, maybe even physically assault some individual. But she has virtually no power to express that bigotry with impunity upon multiple victims through public institutions. If she is a cop she cannot, for example, physically assault white motorists for no reason and expect to get away with it. By contrast, do you know how Bryan Richter was "punished" for his brutality? He had to go for counseling. Oh, and extra training. Spradlin is not alone in embracing false equivalence, though. A 2011 study by Professors Michael Norton of Harvard and Samuel Sommers of Tufts University, finds that many white Americans now identify bias against them as a bigger problem than bias against blacks. They can point to no statistic to support this absurd idea -- there is none. Unfortunately, the new American ethos, as illustrated vividly last week at the GOP Convention, holds that the truth you "feel" is more authoritative than the truth that is actually, well ... true. Since the video of Richter's brutality came to light, the police chief and various city officials have pronounced themselves appalled and there is talk of reform. That's all well and good, but this is bigger than police. Police reflect the society they serve. So, though most of them would know better than to say it out loud, Spradlin's thinking recurs in landlords who won't rent, bankers who won't lend, doctors who won't treat, executives who won't hire. It recurs in an ongoing daily act of battery upon African-American aspiration. And hope. And faith. Bryan Richter assaulted Breaion King. Of that, there can be no doubt. By contrast, Spradlin only talked to her, their conversation calm and composed. But make no mistake. He assaulted her, too. Leonard Pitts is a columnist for The Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, Fla., 33132. Readers may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@miamiherald.com. Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes [] Effective Measure has released its website traffic statistics for July 2016, revealing that News24 is the largest website in South African with 6.15 million unique local browsers. Effective Measure is the official traffic measurement partner of the IAB South Africa, and provides accurate traffic and demographics statistics for SAs top websites. Gumtree was ranked second with 4.41 million local browsers, followed by TimesLive with 3.76 million. The table below shows the top websites in South Africa, based on South African unique browsers. Only IAB-affiliated websites running Effective Measures tracking code are included in the table. A comprehensive look at South Africas websites and their visitor numbers is available here: South African Internet Map. Top Websites in South Africa Rank Website Unique Browsers Page Views 1 news24.com 6,154,592 65,994,820 2 gumtree.co.za 4,419,188 150,200,129 3 timeslive.co.za 3,761,661 21,731,511 4 iol.co.za 2,881,339 27,256,902 5 msn.com 2,443,056 62,140,236 6 ewn.co.za 1,795,211 8,207,988 7 mybroadband.co.za 1,646,499 6,464,682 8 BBC Sites 1,548,283 11,070,281 9 fin24.com 1,532,325 6,235,725 10 sowetanlive.co.za 1,529,466 16,434,380 11 soccerladuma.co.za 1,509,353 61,431,991 12 dstv.com 1,484,874 9,775,085 13 enca.com 1,450,500 4,994,281 14 autotrader.co.za 1,433,611 68,707,454 15 sport24.co.za 1,396,716 10,929,158 Top online publishers in South Africa Effective Measure also measures statistics for online publishers, showing the total reach of a publishers websites. The table below shows the top online publishers in South Africa, ranked according to local readership. Top Online Publishers in South Africa Rank Online Publisher Unique Browsers Page Views 1 24.com 14,536,056 354,665,274 2 Times Media LIVE 5,912,426 49,758,279 3 Kagiso Media Limited 4,465,451 89,607,421 4 Gumtree 4,419,188 150,200,129 5 Caxton Digital 4,075,157 23,198,747 6 Independent Online 3,022,545 28,556,466 7 DStv Digital Media 2,721,583 29,422,095 8 Primedia Online 2,439,669 14,630,066 9 MyBroadband 2,403,053 9,177,741 10 Sabido 1,710,275 8,109,413 11 BBC Sites 1,548,295 11,070,301 12 Soccer-Laduma 1,509,427 61,433,517 13 Auto Trader 1,507,811 75,953,619 14 PNet 1,313,821 24,314,049 15 Cars.co.za 1,158,743 39,621,612 More on websites Dont fall for fake news websites in South Africa South Africas biggest municipalities websites ranked You might not think the heat of Qatars desert has much in common with the Moon, but a team of German scientists has found it to be the ideal environment to test their prototype Moon rover. The compact solar-powered rover was developed by the Google Lunar X-Prize team known as The Part-Time Scientists, one of 16 teams from around the world competing for the $30m prize. In order to take home the multi-million dollar prize pot, the team needs to drive their rover a distance of 500m on the lunar surface and send high quality video back to Earth. With the cost of rocket launches in the millions of dollars, the stakes are high, so ensuring that the rover is ready for the challenges of the lunar surface is imperative. The rover has already survived gruelling lab-based tests, but this is the first time it has faced the natural extremes of a desert. The sand in the desert is more diverse than we expected, explained Robert Bohme, CEO of PTScientists. We identified at least three different surface profiles for testing. These difference in surface textures allowed the team to assess how well the rover was able to manoeuvre and resulted in some unexpected findings. The rover performed much better at climbing slopes in reverse than it did going forwards, said the teams rover driver, Karsten Becker. This is something that we will investigate further when we analyse the full data in our lab in Berlin. Using a specialised infrared camera, they were also able to observe how the rovers 3D-printed wheels absorbed heat from the ground and transferred it to the inner drive motors. They found that the aluminium wheels radiated heat to the inner electronics faster than expected, but despite reaching temperatures of around 52C none of the electrical components failed. Further analysis of the results will allow the team to optimise the rover before it is launched to the Moon, which the team hope to manage by late 2017, early 2018. Perfecting the rover is only part of the challenge teams face. Ensuring a soft landing on the Moons surface also requires significant work. To overcome this challenge, the PTScientists have designed an autonomous landing module to land the rover on the Moon. The ALINA spacecraft also includes a propulsion system to transport the rover and the lander to the Moon from Earth-orbit. As well the capacity to transport two rovers to the lunar surface, ALINA can carry up to 20kg of additional cargo to the Moon. This means that the team can carry a range of experiments to be conducted on the lunar surface. The PTScientists hope that their designs will not only win them the Google Lunar X-Prize, but will provide a commercially viable option for lunar science. If they succeed in bringing down the costs associated with lunar science, it may no longer be limited to national space agencies, but could also be used by universities as a way of inspiring the next generation of space scientists. Al Jazeera More science news Virgin Galactic gets Spaceship licence You say we arent living in a computer simulation prove it July 23 1:17 a.m.: Officers responded for a dispute in the 1300 block of Lincoln Avenue. An intoxicated subject was refusing to leave a local business. Officers contacted the subject, admonished him for trespassing, and the subject left the business. 1:44 a.m.: Officers responded back out to the 1300 block of Lincoln Avenue for another disturbance. The subject from earlier had returned and possibly assaulted another patron. The intoxicated subject fled prior to officers arriving and the victim declined to press charges. 3:32 a.m.: Officers responded for a group of subjects possibly drinking at Pioneer Park. Officers located a group of seven subjects who had been drinking previously. The subjects were advised that the park was currently closed and the subjects left the park. 3:48 p.m.: Officers responded for a neighbor dispute in the 700 block of Washington Avenue. A resident reported they had been assaulted by a neighbor. A report was taken and officers are investigating the situation. 10:08 p.m.: Officers responded to the 1200 block of Lincoln Ave. for a report of dogs in distress. Officers located two dogs locked inside a truck. The dog owner was contacted and admonished. Temperatures are rising and your dog can suffer severely in a hot vehicle. July 24 1:43 a.m.: Officers responded for a loud music call in the 1200 block of Foothill Boulevard. Officers located the source of the music and had it turned off. 9:05 a.m.: Officers responded for a loose dog in the 2900 block of Foothill Avenue. Officers located a large white lab that was guarding the wrong driveway. Apparently the dog was protecting the neighbors house; however, it failed to recognize the neighbor. The overzealous pooch was returned home and advised that the neighbor is indeed allowed to enter their own driveway. 11:02 a.m.: Officers responded for a report of two loose dogs in the 1700 block of Reynard Lane. Officers located the pups and their family. The pups were advised that, while we appreciate them being out and exploring, they need to be with their parents while doing so. 3:59 p.m.: Officers responded for a roommate dispute in the 900 block of Washington Avenue. The roommates were having a verbal argument over the borrowing of a vehicle. Both parties were counseled. 10:44 p.m.: Calistoga Police Department responded out to assist Napa Sheriff Deputies on a 911 Disconnect in the 3500 block of Evey Road. Sheriff deputies determined that the call was a misdial and there was no disturbance at the residence. 11:13 p.m.: Officers returned to the 900 block of Washington Avenue for another dispute. The roommates from earlier were having another dispute. One of the involved parties was now intoxicated and reportedly assaulted the other roommate. The suspected roommate was arrested and charges were filed with the Napa County District Attorneys Office. July 25 12:39 a.m.: Officers responded for a noise complaint in the 1400 block of Myrtle Street. Several subjects were being loud and possibly drinking in the parking lot. Officers contacted a group of subjects and they moved inside for the evening. 12:44 p.m.: Officers responded for a found dog in the 1100 block of Mitzi Drive. Officers were unable to locate the dog's family, so Animal Control responded and took the dog back to their shelter. 7:19 p.m.: Officers responded for a vandalism report in the area of Spring Street and Myrtle Street. The victims vehicle was damaged sometime during the night and a possible suspect was identified. Officers took a report and are investigating the situation. July 26 7:20 a.m.: Officers responded for a vandalism report in the 1100 block of Spring St. The victims vehicle was damaged sometime during the evening. A possible suspect was identified and officers are investigating the situation. The information has been forwarded to Code Enforcement for investigation. 11:22 a.m.: A subject came into the Calistoga Police Department for fingerprinting service. It was determined that the subject had an outstanding warrant out of San Mateo County. The subject was arrested on the warrant, issued a citation and released with a court date in San Mateo County. July 27 7:45 a.m.: Officers responded for a noise complaint in the 1100 block of Lincoln Avenue. A construction crew was performing work prior to 7 a.m. The crew was contacted and advised of City Ordinances relating to construction work and appropriate hours. 2:39 p.m.: A loose dog was brought into Calistoga Police Department. The dog, a light brindle pit mix, was found wandering in the area of Foothill Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue. Animal Control picked up the pup and transported him to the shelter. 6:00 p.m.: Officers responded for a disturbance at the Lincoln Avenue bridge. A subject at the bus stop appeared to be intoxicated and harassing passing citizens. Officers contacted the subject and determined he was intoxicated. The subject was arrested for being drunk in public and unable to care for himself, and transported to Napa County Department of Corrections. 9:18 p.m.: Fire units and officers responded for a natural gas odor investigation in the 1400 block of Lake Street. The gas odor was limited to a single residence and fire units assisted the homeowner. July 28 12:28 p.m.: Officers responded for a noninjury accident on Myrtle Street near Lincoln Avenue. While assisting with the exchange of information, officers determined one of the subjects had a warrant out of Woodland Police Department. The subject was issued a citation and released with a court date with Woodland Police Department. 9:30 p.m.: Officers responded for a theft report at the Napa County Fairgrounds. The victim had a bicycle stolen while they were at the Fairgrounds. The bicycle is described as a gray 21-speed mountain bike with green trim on the handle bars. The name brand of the bike is Giant. July 29 1:52 a.m.: Officers responded out for a noise complaint in the 1900 block of Fair way. A resident was slamming a car door repeatedly. Officers contacted the subject and advised them to be more respectful of the neighbors. 10:08 a.m.: Officers responded for a disturbance in the 1300 block of Pine Street. Officers contacted the residents and determined a possible assault had occurred. A report was taken and officers are investigating the situation. 12:32 p.m.: Officers responded for a theft report in the 1800 block of Cedar Street. The victims bicycle was taken sometime in the evening. The bicycle is described as a light-blue 20-inch Electra bicycle. 6:25 p.m.: Fire units and officers responded for a vegetation fire in the 100 block of Petrified Forest Road. The fire was contained to the hill side east of Petrified Forest Road. A power pole was damaged and there was a power outage in the area for a short period. PG&E responded out to repair the pole and restore power to the area. 8:49 p.m.: Officers responded for a barking dog complaint in the 2600 block of Foothill Boulevard. The area was quiet when officers arrived. Officers remained in the area for several minutes and did not hear any additional barking. 11:05 p.m.: Officers responded out for a suspicious subject in the 1500 block of Lake Street. A subject was seen carrying various items in and out of the residence. Officers contacted the resident and determined they were simply getting prepared for a garage sale in the morning. Alzheimers workshops Collabria Care, formerly Napa Valley Hospice & Adult Day Services, will host a series called Alzheimers & Dementia Caregiver Workshops in American Canyon. The workshops are geared towards caregivers living with loved ones who have moderate to advanced Alzheimers disease or related dementias. The presentation will be followed by a Q-and-A session. The topics to be covered are: Thursday, Aug. 25: Positive Approach to Brain Change Teepa Snows training on the Gems Approach. Thursday, Sept. 15: Learning to Speak Alzheimers Learn tools and techniques for successful communication The series is free and open to all. Workshops will take place at American Canyon Library, 300 Crawford Way, from 1-3 p.m. on the dates listed above. Pre-registration is required. To register or to request additional information, contact Jillian McNab at 258-9087 ext. 272 or via email at jmcnab@collabriacare.org. Course materials will be provided at no cost and light refreshments will be available. Fed association meeting National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, Vallejo Chapter 16 will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at the Florence Douglas Senior Center, 333 Amador St., Vallejo. The speaker will be Christina Snyder, executive vice president, Mare Island Dry Dock. Come and hear what is going on at Mare Island. Fresh off the passage of Measure H, the Napa Valley Unified School District is embarking on a multi-year to-do list of infrastructure changes covering seismic upgrades, new school construction, campus safety measures and more. District officials briefed the school board last Thursday night on the first phase of its facilities master plan that will implement $187 million worth of work between now and 2020. The funding will come from $269 million in school bonds authorized by Measure H that voters approved in June. Work will begin as soon as this fall on several fronts, according to Don Evans, the districts head of school construction. Evans told trustees that his office is now searching for architects and consultants to get rolling on various projects. For instance, designing the new American Canyon middle school should begin in late 2017, said Evans. The project, which will cost $37.4 million, will be completed by summer 2020. Movement on another American Canyon project the relocation of Napa Junction Elementary School may start as soon as this fall. First, the district must decide on where to rebuild Napa Junction, which currently sits atop the West Napa Fault. Evans told the school board that they have identified an empty parcel of land near the wetlands. The land in question, situated at the northeast corner of Eucalyptus Drive and Commerce Boulevard, is owned by the Steve Brock family. The district has not started negotiating with the Brocks, according to Evans. They intend to first ask permission to conduct soil sample testing to better gauge the suitability of the parcel. We cant buy that land until weve done that, said Evans in an interview following the school board meeting. The projected completion of the new Napa Junction Elementary is August 2019. It will cost $36.2 million. Evans also said voters can expect to see many other developments in the next 12 months, thanks to the passage of Measure H. The district has promised to improve campus security at many schools by installing perimeter fences. Some of these new barriers will be up before the end of this year, Evans said. It is very important for our community to know, said Evans, that the district is not trying to lock people out or lock kids in, but to establish safer environments for students during the school day. The installation of fences, alarms and security cameras at NVUSD campuses is expected to cost about $5.1 million and be completed by 2020. The district plans to spend more than $18 million next summer on the first of many seismic safety upgrades at older schools. First up will be Napa High School, Vintage High School, Valley Oak High School and West Park Elementary School during summer 2017. Evans said many of Napa Highs buildings constructed in 1972, including those housing administration, the cafeteria, music and social studies, will get new ceilings and wall reinforcements to better anchor them in the event of another earthquake. Vintage Highs buildings, built that same year, will receive ceiling modification to make them stronger as well. The seismic work planned for West Park and Valley Oak will be different. There, the building walls are made of basalite blocks that may not withstand violent shaking during a quake, according to Evans. It is so rigid, it wont just crack [in an earthquake], said Evans, it will just blow out in a big earthquake. To keep this from happening, the district will open up the basalite-based walls and add steel and wood components to make them flexible if the earth beneath them shifts. Valley Oak and West Park will also get new windows to make the buildings more energy efficient. Seismic upgrades will be made at other schools, too. In 2018, it will be Redwood, Silverado and Harvest middle schools. In 2019, it will be Northwood, McPherson and Donaldson Way elementary schools. Evans said his office will place signs at every school in the district to inform parents and others what work is scheduled and when it will happen in the coming months and years. Other infrastructure changes expected to take place over the next four years include: Expand El Centro Elementary School to make room for its consolidation with Salvador Elementary School. Completion: August 2018. Cost: $18.6 million. Relocate River School to Salvadors campus. Completion: August 2019. Cost: $21.7 million. Rebuild Snow Elementary School. Completion: August 2019. Cost: $28.2 million. Evans did not provide a cost or timetable for Stone Bridge Elementary School. Like Snow and Napa Junction, the charter school has the West Napa Fault running through its campus. The district will either rebuild Stone Bridge on its existing site, or move it to another location within NVUSD. Evans told the board he would return with options at a future meeting. Measure H funds will also be allocated to help improve school lunches. Parents have complained for months, if not years, about the quality of food being served to students. The district has resisted making wholesale changes to the program, including ending its three-decade relationship with food contractor Sodexo. Instead, NVUSD will expand the number of centralized kitchens preparing meals from one currently near Harvest Middle School to four by upgrading kitchens at Silverado, Redwood, and American Canyon Middle School by August 2019 at a cost of $2.5 million. The change will allow these schools to provide lunches to nearby elementary schools, and reduce the time meals sit in delivery trucks, Evans said. The district also will spend $2 million to upgrade kitchens at 10 elementary sites by 2020. Lastly, all schools throughout the district will receive technology upgrades to improve wireless access and phone systems. This work, to cost $17 million, will start this October and end by August 2020. Proponents of a proposed oak woodland measure have appealed a Napa County Superior Court decision that at this point will keep the measure off the Nov. 8 ballot. Napa County Registrar of Voters John Tuteur in June disqualified the measure on a technicality and Napa County Superior Court Judge Diane Price on July 22 agreed with his decision. Now the California 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco will have the final say. Its a race against time for initiative proponents. The county Board of Supervisors has until Aug. 12 to place measures on the November ballot. There is no court date set, said Jim Wilson, a co-author of the Water, Forest and Oak Woodland Protection Measure, on Monday. But proponents are asking for a ruling by the middle of next week. The Board of Supervisors last scheduled meeting before Aug. 12 is on Aug. 9. Wilson said proponents hope the board would call a special meeting, if need be. Our profound hope is its soon enough, Wilson said. Were asking the Board of Supervisors to do everything in its power to help us get this on the ballot. Proponents gathered 6,298 signatures to place the measure on the ballot, and the county Election Division said the necessary 3,791 signatures were valid and from registered voters. But the county decided the petition failed to include the full text of the initiative, as required by state law. The Water, Forest and Oak Woodland Protection Measure petition included the entire text of the initiative itself. But the initiative refers to policies in an existing county oak woodland plan appendix and the county said the petition needed to include this appendix. The measure seeks to strengthen county laws governing hillside developments such as new vineyards in agricultural watershed zoning areas. Among other things, the measure would increase buffer zones near streams and limit how many oaks could be cut down on a property. Opposing the measure are Napa Valley Vintners, Napa Valley Grapegrowers, Napa County Farm Bureau and Winegrowers of Napa County. They say the county already has strong watershed protection laws. After Prices ruling, Napa Valley Grapegrowers Executive Director Jennifer Putnam said the measure suggests that vineyard owners dont care about the health of their properties. Her organizations 700 members care deeply about the environment, she said. Wilson and initiative proponents say the county must still do more. Our oak woodlands are essential to a healthy watershed, Wilson said. Watersheds are essential to clean and abundant water for us now and for the future we should have the right to vote on matters for our health. Weeks after former tenant Kastner Honda moved from its longtime home at 282 Soscol Ave., a proposal to build a new commercial center in its place will be presented Thursday night to the Napa city Planning Commission. Applicant Pacific Properties Group is requesting approval to construct two buildings totaling about 21,750 feet on the two-acre site on the southeast corner of the Soscol Avenue and Kansas Avenue intersection. We believe this project will greatly improve the aesthetics of the corner and will integrate well with the nearby commercial uses, the application asserts. We are supporting the development based on the findings in in the staff report, said city of Napa senior planner Scott Klingbeil. It meets the appropriate design guidelines and zoning requirements, he noted. Specific tenant names for the project, called Soscol Corner, have not been announced. The project includes a total of 92 to 95 parking spaces. Retail or restaurant uses are proposed for the first building of approximately 9,350 square feet. A dialysis clinic or retail tenants would occupy the second building, which could range from 11,000 to 12,200 square feet. The old Kastner Honda building would be demolished to make room for the new construction. Elisa Raygoza, the project representative from Pacific Properties Group, could not be reached to comment on this story. According to the application, the proposed buildings will be one story. The intent is to incorporate design features that embrace the rich tradition of agricultural and vinicultural building of the Napa Valley, the application stated. The design will use a combination of board and batten, corrugated metal siding, stone walls and plaster rusted metal trellises. A color palette includes greens, brown and grays. The details of the trellis work, landscaping and lighting are taken from our favorite building techniques. Landscaping will be selected to complement the building with planters containing native and water-conserving plant material. Sustainable design features will also be incorporated into the site design to conserve water and aid in the natural heating and cooling of the buildings. Soscol Corner will be planned to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, although at which level was not noted in the application. As required by the city, the project will include public art with a cost of at least $250,000. A work of art could be placed on the southwest corner of the site, near the Soscol/Kansas intersection. Pacific Properties Group of Chico is the same developer who built Napa Crossing North on Trancas Street opposite Bel Aire Plaza and an adjacent development at Soscol and Kansas, Napa Crossing South. Tenants of Napa Crossing North include Ulta Beauty, Panera Bread, Chipotle and Habit Burger. Tenants of Napa Crossing South include Michaels, HomeGoods and Marshalls, Chipotle and Habit Burger. Kastner Honda hasnt left Napa. In early July, the dealership relocated to a new, expanded facility at 480 Soscol Ave. The St. Helena Planning Commission directed developer Daniel Schoenfeld to talk to his Sylvaner subdivision neighbors before redesigning his plans, again, for a single-family home. Schoenfeld is seeking a permit to demolish a ranch-style home, built in 1980, at 1695 Chardonnay Way, and he wants the Planning Commissions approval of his design for a new 2,763-square-foot single-family home with a 400-square-foot detached second unit and a 277-square-foot, single-car garage. The commissioners voted unanimously to postpone the item until its Oct. 4 meeting, thus saving Schoenfeld $600 that it costs to hold another public hearing. If the commission had denied the demolition permit and new house design, as several neighbors sought, it would have cost Schoenfeld $5,000 to appeal the decision to the St. Helena City Council. Commissioner Bobbi Monnette said the decision to approve the design is a tough one for her, because I like the construction technology, which Schoenfeld likened to the technology used to build the all-electric Tesla vehicles. But, Monnette added she was surprised that the developer did not discuss the process with his neighbors. The developer said he has already redesigned the project three times, but its clear architect Kevin Patrick OBrien from Roseville will redraw it one more time. Schoenfeld talked about the technology he will use to build the stucco and concrete block home, which he says is essentially a one-story home with a loft inside. Theres no room for a staircase down below. Theres no way this will ever become a two-story home. Instead of a more common stick-built home, the concrete block home is the most energy-efficient home there is, Schoenfeld claims, and it is fireproof and impervious to earthquakes. He added it will never have problems with mold and mildew, since plaster is used to cover the interior, instead of sheetrock. St. Helena needs this type of housing, it is built to last 1,000 years, he claims. We like to think of ourselves as the Tesla of homes, adding that the technology has been used for about 20 years, though not on the West Coast. During the public hearing, eight neighbors spoke Vintage Hall, where the meeting was held, was unusually packed with people and most were concerned with two things: the homes height, 21 feet, 6 inches, which is 5.5-feet taller than the existing one-story home; and the detached second unit. The plans for the single-family home show it having 1 stories, which neighbors claim is not allowed by the neighborhoods CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions). Neither is a detached second unit allowed. One of the neighbors who spoke was Donna Oldfield, who has lived in the neighborhood for the past 27 years. The intent of the CC&Rs was to create single-family homes, Oldfield said, not two-story homes that overlook someone elses backyard. The CC&Rs are legal documents and are enforceable, she said. We ask that you not approve the design permit, because it violates the CC&Rs. At the very least, we ask you to continue this item, so we can meet with the developer and tell him our concerns. If this is approved, it sets a precedent, she said. City attorney Tom Brown, though, disagreed with Oldfields claims, stating that the Planning Commission did not have the power to enforce the CC&Rs and could not use them as a basis for its decision. He indicated that the CC&Rs can only be enforced by a homeowners association. Another neighbor, Dick Rogers, said he had lived in the neighborhood since 1990. Although the CC&Rs allow a split-level home, Rogers said what Schoenfeld wants to build does not meet that definition. Were looking at a large building that is not consistent with the neighborhood. It is not a single story, even if you call it that, he said. If the project cannot be denied, then it should be delayed. Another neighbor, Mary Stephenson, said when she looks at the proposed project, it is systematic of what is happening throughout St. Helena: People are tearing down older homes and building larger ones. Most likely, it would become a second home, because working families cannot spend $2 (million) to $3 million for a home, she said. In other action, the Planning Commission approved a use permit, requested by Val Toland, to replace a fence on the corner of Spring Mountain Court and Spring Mountain Road; continued a request to renew a short-term rental permit for a property at 1243 Stockton St.; and held its sixth study session to discuss changes in the citys General Plan, with an eye to reviewing the entire General Plan and its EIR, possibly at its Sept. 20 meeting. Now that the Menegon building is finished, my construction fascination has moved a few blocks west, to the St. Helena Catholic Churchs new Parish Life Center. Its taking shape before our eyes, Dear Readers. Take a gander if you havent already. *** Surely Im not the only one who misses Jeff Popicks witty ruminations on our local weather patterns. Having taught viticulture at Walla Walla Community College for the last six years, Jeff is pulling up stakes once again and moving with his girlfriend to Tennessee, where they will help her mother. St. Helena misses you and your limpid prose, Jeff. (And how about your beloved Orioles holding onto first place in the AL East? Are you ready for a Baltimore-SF World Series?) *** Back in June, the St. Helena Public Library hosted a book signing and talk by Richard Mendelson, the author of Appellation Napa Valley: Building and Protecting an American Treasure. Now the Paris-based International Organization of Vine and Wine has awarded the book the grand prize in its Law and Economy Category an award Mendelson will accept in Paris on Oct. 17. The book represents a major contribution to the worldwide understanding of wine culture, raves Jean-Marie Aurand, the organizations director general. Mendelson says hes honored to receive the award for recounting Napa Valleys transformation from a sleepy farming community into a true national treasure. By the way, Mendelsons previous book, From Demon to Darling: A Legal History of Wine in America, won a grand prize in 2009. Congratulations to Richard and to the library for recognizing early on how extraordinary the book was. *** Heres to a classy move by Gabe Gundling, owner of the Napa Valley Balloon Co., and Paul Manuel of Lake Countys Chacewater Winery and Olive Mill for donating the proceeds from last Saturdays balloon flight to victims of the Valley Fire. Lake County is still getting back on its feet after the devastating fire, and Im sure every last bit of help is appreciated. *** St. Helena cyclist Jack Bittner is riding in the 2016 Pan-Mass Challenge to raise money for cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. The fundraiser challenges 6,500 cyclists to ride up to 192 miles, in hopes of raising a total of $46 million. Riders from 40 U.S. states and seven countries are converging on Massachusetts on Aug. 6-7 to ride for a cure. Good luck, Jack. What a great cause youve chosen. *** Can you believe school is starting Aug. 17? It seems like we just had high school graduation. The St. Helena Public Library is celebrating the end of the summer with a visit from storyteller Michael Katz at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11. According to the librarys Megan Jones, Katz tells stories with his own highly energetic, animated and interactive style of storytelling. His performances awaken the audience to the richness of a story, weaving together both the comic and the profound. Michaels incredible character voices, inventive movements and rubber-like, expressive face captivate audiences of all ages. As with so many of the librarys programs, this one is made possible thank to the Friends & Foundation, St. Helena Public Library. *** In the last few months Ive learned that if theres a St. Helena native attending college somewhere, chances are he or she is on the Deans List. The latest high achiever is John Pearson, who earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the spring semester at Vermonts Champlain College, where hes studying broadcast and streaming media. Very well done, John. I strongly condemn North Koreas ballistic missile test today, which caused one missile to land in Japans Exclusive Economic Zone. This is yet another in a series of missile tests in clear and direct violation of several United Nations Security Council Resolutions, including Resolution 2270, which require that North Korea cease all activities related to its ballistic missile programme. The persistent provocative behaviour of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea is of deep concern and undermines international security. NATO calls on Pyongyang to immediately cease and abandon all its existing nuclear and ballistic missile activities in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. North Korea should re-engage in international talks and refrain from any further provocative actions. Netanyahu expects return to power after 5th Israeli election in 4 years Azerbaijan talks possible deliveries of its gas to international Turkish hub CSTO leaders to meet in late November: Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border will be discussed Dollar, euro continue falling in Armenia Russias Putin to have private talks with Armenias Pashinyan, Azerbaijans Aliyev Pentagon strategy doesn't rule out use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear threats French National Assembly plans to pass resolution proposing certain sanctions against Azerbaijan Mher Grigoryan: There are no other corridors in the trilateral statement other than Lachin's Konstantin Zatulin: Russia should have made maximum efforts so that there would be no war in Karabakh The Hill: The American people deserve to know how the war in Ukraine will end Sochi to host trilateral talks of Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders on October 31 Poland receives first Turkish drones Hungarian government may extend price limits on fuel and some basic foodstuffs Armenias Simonyan attends meeting of heads of EEU countries parliaments Polish general appointed as head of EU mission to train Ukrainian troops Russia MP: Karabakh status decision is in fact its Armenians safety guarantee Zatulin: West seeks to push Russia out of negotiation process at any cost Legislature head proposes to organize, under CIS auspices, return of Armenians detained in Azerbaijan Iran prevents bomb explosion in Shiraz crowded street Iraqi parliament expresses vote of confidence in new cabinet France lawmakers visit Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Putin: Moscow is doing everything possible to normalize relations between Yerevan and Baku Annual shopping festival kicks off in Dubai on December 15 Lazarevsky Club: Minute of silence held in memory of fallen Russian and Armenian soldiers Bayramov and US Assistant Secretary of State discuss Yerevan-Baku relations Expansion of cooperation with Interpol is important, Armenia PM says Armenia defense minister briefs Austria envoy on situation due to recent Azerbaijan military aggression (PHOTOS) Australia can't rule out energy price caps Armenia parliament speaker: Use, threat of force undermine processes aimed at establishing peace Garo Paylan is in Yerevan Barack Obama tries to help Democrats win midterm elections Azerbaijan president, Russia first deputy PM discuss North-South transport corridor project PM Pashinyan receives France-Armenia friendship group delegation from French parliament Taiwan urges China to start talking Armen Grigoryan and Toivo Klaar discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiation process Matviyenko: Russia will continue mediation for signing Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty Politico: Scholz and Macron threaten U.S. trade retaliation CIS premiers sign several agreements at Kazakhstan meeting Konstantin Zatulin: Nagorno-Karabakh peoples right to self-determination must be respected Armenia legislature head: Policy of threats, coercion is unacceptable to us U.S. must strengthen its defense against growing threats from both China, Russia Karabakh ex-President: Necessary to rule out mistakes, miscalculations which will have irreversible consequences EU reaches agreement to ban new cars with internal combustion engine by 2035 Benny Gantz: Future of Israel and Turkey is promising EU Special Representative for South Caucasus arrives in Armenia Lazarevsky Club meeting underway in Yerevan, Moscow Yellen sees no sign of recession in U.S. economy in near future Cannes palm trees promenade named after Charles Aznavour Pashinyan: Armenia agrees to work on basis of main principles proposed by Russia CIS prime ministers meeting kicks off in Kazakhstan Newspaper: Karabakh people to make appeal to Armenia authorities Viking swords embedded in mound 1,200 years ago discovered in Sweden Residents of Moldova asked not to go out into street in dark Bloomberg reports fuel shortages in some parts of Europe British schoolboy writes book that became bestseller Lebanon, Israel sign deal on maritime border demarcation Spanish prime minister twice mistakes Kenya for Senegal during his speech Peskov: CSTO meeting to be held before Armenia-Azerbaijan-Russia summit Putin says he is ready to negotiate with Ukraine Putin compares Indian Prime Minister Modi to icebreaker Putin warns Seoul about risk of ruining relations with Russia by supplying weapons to Ukraine Interpol Secretary General visits Armenia Putin: Russia will not abandon the historical legacy of the USSR and the Russian Tsarist Empire Putin sees no point in nuclear strike on Ukraine Olaf Scholz says solution can be found to curb speculative spikes in gas prices Putin calls Russians and Ukrainians one people who find themselves in different states Putin: We proposed Armenia give 5 districts Putin: Washington version provides for recognition of Azerbaijan's sovereignty over whole Karabakh Putin calls Erdogan consistent and reliable partner, although not easy one Italy plans to double national gas production to 6 billion cubic meters a year Putin: The West, as a minority, has no right to impose values on the world Putin: As long as nuclear weapons exist, there is always a danger of their use Putin outraged by US assassination of General Soleimani: What is this all about? FM Abdollahian: Iran will not allow its interests to become plaything of terrorists Mirzoyan and Lavrov discuss preparations for CSTO Collective Security Council Putin proposes to discuss changing structure of UN and UN Security Council Pashinyan's wife accompanied in Tavush by mothers of servicemen who died in first and last days of war Shell reports almost $9.5 billion in profits Putin calls on West not to shift blame on intrigues of Kremlin Hungarian PM expresses readiness to buy electricity from Azerbaijan via Georgia Newsweek: The biggest foreign threat to the U.S. is not Russia or China. It's the EU Putin: In recent years, West has taken steps to exacerbate situation in world Armenian Defense Minister and French delegation discuss possibilities of developing defense cooperation Australia to send 70 soldiers to UK to help train Ukrainian troops Scholz condemns Turkey's stance questioning Greek sovereignty Armenian Defense Ministry: Azerbaijan hands over 10 bodies of killed servicemen to Armenian side Dollar, euro lose value in Armenia Turkish Central Bank raises inflation forecast for the end of 2022 to 65.2% U.S. State Department official visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex in Yerevan Prime Minister Pashinyan sends letter of condolence to Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi Secretary of Armenian Security Council and representatives of French Ministry of Defense discuss cooperation prospects Israel and Turkey to resume defense cooperation Scholz says solidarity is the only way to deal with the energy crisis Israeli and Turkish defense ministers meet in Ankara Turkey to rewrite inflation forecasts again after rate cut Azerbaijan does not want checkpoint on border with Armenia, it wants only 'corridor' Putin plans to attend meeting of CSTO leaders CSTO special session to be held Friday, assistance to Armenia to be discussed Estonia urges Rishi Sunak to increase UK defense spending Moscow perplexed by information about ban to enter Armenia for Konstantin Zatulin and Margarita Simonyan YEREVAN. - Explain to me the laws of Armenia, and I will come here to teach craftsmen. Armenian jeweler and silversmith from Istanbul, Stepan (Istepan) Belik, who is the owner of Antik Silver company, told the aforementioned to Armenian News NEWS.am. The company produces and exports silver utensils to the USA, UK, Israel, Iran and other countries. In 2015, Balik took part in Yerevan Show jewelry exhibition, where he had an opportunity to compare the simplicity level of customs clearance in Armenia and Turkey. Lots of papers are required here. 3-4 days may be needed to handle everything. And the entrepreneur doesnt have so much time. Whereas in Turkey, only several minutes are needed to complete the paper work with sending goods to America. Ten minutes at most, and the work with the papers is done. You send the goods today, and tomorrow at 11 a.m. they are already in the shop! Let the working procedures be simpler here too so that people can come and work. For instance, I want to open business here and teach craftsmen. Not for my profit. Let them learn here and earn themselves, especially considering that I have seen the works of local craftsmen: some of them are very talented, Balik said. The Turkish government always strives to create the best conditions for exporters, he added. Turkey has an understanding that the country gets rich thanks to production and export. Thus, when they see a working man, they help him. You have to pay a tax? You wont pay it for 2-3 years. You should pay for electricity? This is also cancelled. You are going abroad to take part in an exhibition and present your goods? The state returns you 70 percent of the expenses. But, of course, you should be honest before the state in all your papers, the entrepreneur said. It is desirable to see some facilitations if not exemptions in Armenia so that the foreign entrepreneurs (including those of Armenian descent) do not hesitate to open business here too, he added. At a joint press conference with the visiting President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe at the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari assured Nigerians that the epileptic power situation in the country would soon give way for stable power supply. President Gnassingbe was in Nigeria to inspect the ongoing refinery project by the Dangote group in Lagos. Stressing that the resources were available, President Buhari said his administration was committed to realizing the objective of a stable power supply. The President also disclosed that the Republic of Benin was experiencing similar lapses in power supply as it depended on Nigeria for power. He said: "They say seeing is believing. You can see the efforts private investors are making. We are also building pipelines but it is not as formidable as what Dangote is doing. We are improving on it. We also have the NLNG that is helping is to liquefy the gas and then turn it into gas with modern technology and modern technology is making it flexible. "And If you will recall, I made mention to President of Benin. We have power problem and Benin has power problem because they depend on us and we are working very hard to stabilize the situation. The resources are available, the technology is available we are trying to stabilize the situation. "If "we improve power, it means our productivity can be competitive; and God willing, we are going to achieve our objectives. "We also discussed the unfortunate incidents in South Sudan, Burundi. It is an agonizing situation. Several citizens are living under primitive conditions. We hope at the AU meeting, we will be able to stabilise" the situation in South Sudan and Burundi with the efforts being made." The visiting Togolese President who also spoke, said he was impressed by Dangote's string of investments in Africa. In his words: "I'm impressed by the investment of Dangote because we have been talking of Socio-economic integration and promoting trade among African countries "If you want to promote trade, you have investors that are very competitive and will contribute to reduce import from non-african countries." President Buhari was invited by the visiting dignitary, to attend the maritime summit holding in Togo in October this year. The African Union, AU, has appointed former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to lead its Election Mission, the African Union Elections Observation Mission, AUEOM, to the Zambian general elections slated for October 11, 2016. According to a statement posted on the AU's website on Tuesday, Jonathan would be leading members of the short term mission to join the continental body's deployment of long term election experts who are already on ground in Zambia. The appointment has been approved by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The statement read: "The Chairperson of the AUC has approved the deployment of African Union Elections Observation Mission, AUEOM, to the General Elections scheduled to place in the Republic of Zambia on October 11, 2016. "The deployment of the AUEOM will take place in two phases. The first phase comprise the deployment of long term election experts and took place from July 14 to August 22, 2016 and it is made up of 10 observers. "For the first time, the AU long term experts include election/ legal political/media/campaign analysts. "The objective is ensure that the AUEOM approaches its work with added professionalism and factual analysis of the legal, political, electoral, media and campaign aspects of the electoral process in Zambia. "At the second phase of the Mission, the long term experts will to be joined by Short Term observers from the August 1 to 15, 2016. "The Short Term Mission will be headed by Goodluck Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. "The AUEOM draws its mandate from various African Union instruments, most importantly: (a) the AU Guidelines for Elections Observation and Monitoring Missions, 2002; (b) the OUA/AU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, 2002; African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, 1981, and (c) African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, 200), among others. "The objectives of the Mission is (a) to provide an accurate and impartial reporting or assessment of the quality of the 25th October General Elections in the United Republic of Tanzania, including the degree to which the conduct of the elections meets regional, continental and international standards for democratic elections; (b) to offer recommendations for improvement of future elections based on the findings; and, and (c) to demonstrate AU's interest to support Tanzania's elections and democratisation process to ensure that the conduct of genuine elections contributes to the consolidation of democratic governance, peace and stability in Tanzania in particular and the East African sub-region in general." On Tuesday, the Nigerian military, disclosed that it deployed troops and equipment to Bayelsa State in order to forestall the threat of secession. The personnel and hardware were deployed on Monday in response to threats by a militant group, the Adaka Boro Avengers, to declare an Independent state of Niger Delta on that same day. The group reportedly shelved the plan after the intervention of leaders including former President Goodluck Jonathan. The joint military force responsible for security in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, said that it would however, remain "professional and civil" in dealing with security threats by militant groups in the area. Commander of the joint operation, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, who made the statement in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital, also said that the deployment of troops and equipment noticed on Monday at Kaiama in Bayelsa was part of normal operations to keep the region safe. 19:31 Former J-K CM Omar Abdullah reacts to Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Islamabad for the SAARC summit. "I've been a strong supporter of Indo-Pak engagement but Pakistan's conduct during @rajnathsingh-ji's visit was childish at best." The current strain in Indo-Pak relations was apparently evident when Home Minister Rajnath Singh came face-to-face with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan for the first time on Thursday and the two leaders barely shook hands. The two leaders barely touched their hands, not even a formal handshake, before Singh moved ahead to enter the meeting hall. Members of the Indian media, which came from New Delhi to report the conference, were not allowed to capture the moment or the conference and was kept at a distance by Pakistani officials, leading to a verbal duel between a senior Indian official and a Pakistani official. The only broadcaster allowed inside the venue was state-owned Pakistan Television, the reports said. However, India described the reports of a 'blackout' as "misleading". "With reference to the home ministers meeting in Islamabad earlier, media reports of a 'blackout' of our home minister's statement are misleading. "It is the standard SAARC practice that the opening statement by the host country is public and open to the media while the rest of the proceedings are in camera, which allows for a full and frank discussion of issues," a government source said. In Islamabad, an interior ministry official also said that there was no such blackout of Rajnath's speech as none of the speeches of participating ministers was shown. "It is true that his (Rajnath's) speech was not shown live because (the) speech(es) of none of the participating ministers was shown live by the state media." He said only the inaugural session was shown live when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan made welcome speeches. The official said Singh was not discriminated at all by the state media and he was given full official protocol. The home minister also skipped the lunch being hosted by Khan after the meeting as the host had left the venue. Speaking in Hindi at the conference, Singh said there should be "strongest action not only against terrorists or organisations but also against those individuals, organisations and nations who support terrorism." "It also needs to be ensured that terrorism is not glorified and is not patronized by any state," Singh said in a veiled dig at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Singh's comments came against the backdrop of Sharif's praise of Burhan Wani who was killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir on July 8 and his description of Hizbul Mujahideen commander as a martyr, much to India's ire. UF Health Shands Hospital tied for top in state in 2016 U.S. News hospital rankings University of Florida Health Shands Hospital is now tied for top adult hospital in Florida, according to the 2016-2017 U.S. News & World Report adult specialty rankings of the nations hospitals, released today (Aug. 2). UF Health has been ranked nationally in eight medical specialties, up from seven in the 2015-2016 rankings. Earlier this summer U.S. News also recognized UF Health Shands Childrens Hospital as one of the nations best hospitals for children in nine medical specialties, seven of which are the highest-ranked in Florida. These rankings reflect our unwavering dedication to providing high-quality care for our patients, and our focus on continually evolving our standard of care, said David S. Guzick, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president for health affairs at UF and president of UF Health. Our continued rise in the rankings validates the work that our physicians, nurses and staff do every day. U.S. News & World Report assessed 16 adult medical specialties ranging from cancer to urology in approximately 5,000 hospitals. As ever, it is UF Healths goal to develop a health care system centered around our patients needs, said Michael L. Good, M.D., dean of the UF College of Medicine. Our faculty and staffs attention to providing positive outcomes for our patients is reflected in these rankings. Nephrology, tied for 11th, is the highest-ranking UF Health specialty. Also ranked are neurology and neurosurgery (21st), pulmonology (25th), gynecology (29th), geriatrics (33rd), urology (42nd), diabetes and endocrinology (tied for 48th) and cancer (49th). Neurology and neurosurgery jumped to 21st from last years 40th place. Of these, UF Health is highest-ranked in Florida in four specialties gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, and pulmonology. Mark Segal, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the division of nephrology, hypertension and renal transplantation within the UF College of Medicines department of medicine, credits nephrologys ranking in part to an effort to provide a range of specialty services to patients from across the state. In 2010, the division began a campaign to provide subspecialty care for complicated kidney diseases, providing a place for referring physicians from across the state to send patients. We have to give patients a really great reason to travel five hours to come see us. By having these subspecialty clinics, we feel they receive great, specialized clinical care for their investment in time, and these subspecialty clinics have enhanced our reputation among referring physicians in Florida, Segal said. To be tied for 11th is a real honor. UF Health was also rated as high performing in three specialties: cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, and orthopedics. The specialty rankings are based on three dimensions of health care: patient safety and survival; resources related to patient care, such as the hospitals volume and nurse staffing; and the hospitals reputation among specialists for developing and sustaining the delivery of high-quality care for patients who have the most challenging conditions or need difficult procedures. While the specialty rankings focus on patients with complicated diseases that come to UF Health, many people still need routine care and U.S. News & World Report has also begun evaluating these procedures. Among these, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve surgery, colon cancer surgery, hip replacement, lung cancer surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure were given a high performing rating at UF Health. At UF Health, we focus on care not only for patients with rare conditions, but also the everyday health conditions that plague us all, said Ed Jimenez, chief executive officer of UF Health Shands. These rankings and ratings show that our physicians, nurses and staff represent a range of expertise, and are fully equipped to take good care of not only patients here in Gainesville, but patients who travel across the state and country to find care here as well. UF Health Jacksonville was also recognized for excellence in patient care, ranked No. 3 in the Jacksonville metro area and tied for No. 18 overall among 255 health care organizations in the state. UF Health Jacksonville was singled out for its treatment in several areas of patient care, receiving high-performing marks in the specialties of nephrology and urology, and high-performing marks for procedures in heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Of the nearly 5,000 hospitals assessed, 153 were ranked in at least one specialty and 1,628 received a high-performing rating in one or more specialties, procedures or conditions. In June, U.S. News & World Report recognized the UF Health Shands Childrens Hospital in nine medical specialties. The childrens hospital was ranked in diabetes and endocrinology (tied for 18th), cancer (22nd), neonatology (23rd), cardiology and heart surgery (24th), pulmonology (27th), nephrology (tied for 32nd), gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery (40th), urology (40th) and neurology and neurosurgery (46th). The new hospital rankings and methodology are available at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) interior ministers meet is being held at a local five-star hotel. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is to officially inaugurate the session. It is expected to be attended by interior ministers from all Saarc states except for Bangladesh, which is sending senior diplomats and officials for the meet. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh is also attending the conference. Singh is not to hold a one-on-one with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. The Saarc group includes Pakistan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The platform aims to boost ties and cooperation between member states. --IANS ahm/rn ( 149 Words) 2016-08-03-17:12:03 (IANS) Further, the board announced that Arun Kumar Vora will be retiring as Director on August 14th 2016 after a distinguished tenure and long association with Tata International. Premnarayen is the Executive Chairman and founder of ICS Group, a real estate, asset management and financial services company that is headquartered in Mumbai and is involved in executing projects across India and Africa. He has a diverse career spanning four decades across the Indian corporate sector and has been following his entrepreneurial aspirations since 1995. Amongst other directorships that Premnarayen holds are working at Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd, FirstRand Bank, South Africa and Triangle Real Estate India Fund LLC. Also, he has led and is involved in several CII committees and is the champion of a number of African countries. He has led CII's business delegations to Libya, Norway, Sweden and South Africa. (ANI) New Delhi, Aug 3 (ANI-BusinessWireIndia): Preparations are in full swing as Nucore will be showcasing a range of innovative solutions and newly introduced tools such as Travel BI, Travel CRM, Low fare finders, Seat Hunter and Unused ticket trackers - designed to unlock the potential and to accelerate the scale of their clients' businesses. But their biggest exhibition piece is TRAACS - a robust and highly scalable Mid-Back Office solution enriched with a range of helpful features for travel agents. TRAACS is Nucore's flagship product, which is a specialized ERP for Travel agents. The system is a complete web and having Multi GDS integration with key features like Automatic BSP Reconciliation, Automatic Invoicing, Multi Currency support etc to facilitate faster selling, reporting and remitting. Moreover TRAACS also provides an integrated finance management required for a Travel Agent. In the early stages, back office was Nucore's primary focus, but they have evolved into a complete travel agency management solution which ranges from Mid Office, Back Office, CRM, and many more revenue boosting solutions for Travel agencies. Through these solutions travel agency business owners enjoy improved efficiency and increase in revenues as they are kept abreast with industry trends and technological edges that positions them one step ahead of the competition. "Nucore has always helped our clients to augment efficiency of business operations. We have automated various Mid Office operations to increase the profitability, transparency and revenues of the businesses using advanced technologies," said Chief Executive Officer Suhail VP. As it relates to TRAACS, Director and Head of Business Development, Mohan Das P.U, said, "We are committed to travel agency management solutions. As part of the strategy for providing customers with global technology, we envision making TRAACS, a strong backbone for the travel agencies globally." Nucore has dominated markets in the Middle East and African countries; namely; KSA, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Lebanon, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. NUCORE has more than 400 customers spread across these countries. The company has also drafted an aggressive plan for India and a number of agencies are already on board. HTM, a travel division of Etihad Airways, Saudi World Holidays, ELAF Group KSA, ATS Travels UAE and Kurban Travels Lebanon are just few of the travel agencies that currently benefit from the suite of innovative solutions offered by Nucore. However, with more than 50,000 visitors from around the world expected to attend WTM London 2016, the company will be making the most of its potential at WTM and has already set its sight on increasing their global market share. (ANI-BusinessWireIndia) As a result of the bridge collapse in the early hours of Wednesday, two buses and several vehicles were reported missing with at least 20 persons missing. Speaking to reporters at the state legislative assembly complex, Dhavalikar said: "Negligence cannot be of the Maharashtra government. It is a department's mistake, engineers' mistake." He was asked by reporters, if negligence on part of the Maharashtra government could have led to the major accident along the National Highway 17. Dhavalikar also said that there were three major bridges in Goa's Bicholim, Sanvordem and Quepem areas which were constructed during the Portuguese era. The minister also said that every bridge in Goa was being examined by engineers from his department every six months. "As of today, we have no problem," Dhavalikar said. At least two buses and several other vehicles went missing near Mahad city after a bridge on Savitri river collapsed on Wednesday due to torrential rains in the Konkan region. The bridge is located on the NH-17 connecting Panvel, on the outskirts of Mumbai, and Goa. --IANS maya/pgh/dg ( 217 Words) 2016-08-03-16:56:02 (IANS) Hyderabad-based actor-musician Yalamanchili Revanth has made a documentary titled "Repair N Despair", a story of three volunteer youth groups and their contribution to rebuild Nepal that was struck by earthquake twice in 2015. Released last month by The Vibe -- a digital platform that tells first-hand alternative stories from the perspective of the youth of India -- the film weaves together the perspective of Revanth, also a social entrepreneur, who had orchestrated different teams -- FORE (Friends of Royal Enfield), BibekSheel Nepali and I am Helping Hands -- to support the rebuilding of Nepal. "I am an avid trekker myself and every year, I make sure to go for adventure trips to Nepal. And whenever I went there, I always met humble people. So, I wanted to go there and do whatever I could. "One was to document it and second was to stay and work along with people I've met over the years for the relief and rehabilitation," Revanth told IANS in a telephonic interview from Hyderabad. The "Intinta Annamayya" actor stayed there for about 45 days and provided help to the many victims of the natural disaster. There was drastic loss of life and property. "I was not there after the first earthquake. After the second one in May, I went there. Since monsoon was about to arrive, people there needed shelter over their heads. Temporary shelters were erected on a large scale. We helped in treating people at lower cost. "We tried to cover as many villages and districts as possible, including Sindhupalchowk, which was one of the worst-affected areas," he said and added that it was amazing to see many individuals trying to make a difference. "The documentary is an attempt to get the real stories out," he said. Revanth said he met the three groups in Nepal itself and hadn't planned on focusing on them only when he set out to make the documentary. He found it most touching to see people's willingness to share in the tough times. "In such situations, you generally see people struggling for supplies as you don't know when you will get the next meal. But whatever ration they had, they would share with others... Even if they had the last cup of tea. "If one village had received relief, they would say that they had already received it and would suggest us to help others," he said. The video has received over 100,000 views on Facebook, and Revanth is happy as more people are offering help after watching it. In fact, he believes the film has been able to reach out to so many people since he chose the digital platform. "I think most people are always online. It is the best way to reach out to a lot of people," he said. While his and other groups' efforts to rebuild Nepal continues even now, the artiste has plans of making more documentaries on different subjects. "I am planning to make one on North Korea. Whatever we see online or read about, all have some kind of political connection to them. I would like to focus on its other aspects like their people and culture," said the 28-year-old. What about a documentary on India? "There is one which I am hoping to do, but I would like to keep that under wraps," he signed off. (Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalia.n@ians.in) --IANS nn/rb/vm ( 574 Words) 2016-08-03-11:42:02 (IANS) Actress Isha Talwar hopes forthcoming Tamil romantic-drama "Meendum Oru Kadhal Kadhai", a remake of Malayalam film "Thattathin Marayathu", creates the same kind of impact on the audiences as the original. "This is a nicely adapted film. Although it features the same story, treatment-wise it's very different. The fact that it's being made in Tamil means you're catering to different audiences and different sensibilities," Isha told IANS. Directed by Mithran Jawahar, the film is the story of Vinod (Walter Philips) and Aisha (Isha), belonging to Hindu and Islam communities respectively, falling in love and the conflict arising out of it. "The impact my character from the original left on the audience was phenomenal. In Kerala, people have walked up to me in the airport and have told me how my film inspired them to open up to the idea of inter-caste marriage," she said. "I hope the Tamil version too leaves a similar effect on the audience. I know friends who have had problems marrying out of their community and this kind of situation is prevalent everywhere and it exists in all strata of society," she added. Produced by Sangili Murugan, the film is slated for release in cinemas on Friday. --IANS hp/nv/vm ( 214 Words) 2016-08-03-11:44:01 (IANS) "Soniaji was brought to our hospital around 1.30 p.m. Her condition is stable now. Senior doctors are attending on her," a senior doctor told IANS. Earlier, Gandhi, who took ill in Varanasi on Tuesday, was admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital. According to doctors, she suffered from dehydration, fever and high blood pressure. A Ganga Ram Hospital doctor, who did not wish to be named, told IANS that a medical board was being set up to study the Congress chief's health. She has previously been treated for several health complications, including chest infection, at the Ganga Ram Hospital. A health bulletin issued by the Ganga Ram Hospital stated that Gandhi's condition was stable. "Sonia Gandhi is under medical care of a team headed by pulmonary medicine expert Arup Basu. She is dehydrated but is presently stable and her further investigations are being conducted. She is advised rest," said the bulletin. --IANS rup/rn/dg ( 202 Words) 2016-08-03-16:48:03 (IANS) Nashik's major dams, Gangapur across Godavari River and Darna dam have breached the danger mark following which an alert has been sounded to the residents staying on the banks. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team yesterday moved to Nashik from Sudumbare due to heavy rainfall in the region. As a precautionary measure, all educational institutes were closed for afternoon session. Nashik's Guardian Minister Girish Mahajan, District Collector, Police Commissioner and officials of the Nashik Municipal Corporation are personally monitoring the situation. All the rivers in Raigad are flowing in spate following which an alert has been issued. The fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea. In Konkan's Sindhudurg district, two students have reportedly drowned in Terekhol River. In Mumbai's neighbouring Thane and Palghar districts, 78 villages have been put on alert after two reservoirs, Modak Sagar and Tansa supplying water to Mumbai started overflowing last night. In Ratnagiri district too, contact has been lost with 40 villages after all major rivers in the region started overflowing. Mumbai, on the other hand is facing intermittent rains. The sky is overcast and the weather department has predicted intermittent rain or showers in city and suburbs in the next 48 hours. (ANI) Ahead of General (Retd.) Singh's visit, the Indian embassy has launched an initiative to collect details of the Indians laid off by their employers. MEA officials said that Singh is scheduled to return on Friday. Currently, a total of 7,700 affected Indian workers are living in 20 camps. Thousands of workers including Indians, Filipinos and Pakistanis have lost their jobs due to slowdown in Saudi economy, triggered by low oil prices and cut in spending by government of that country. Making a statement in Parliament, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said the workers will be brought back home, asserting that not one of them will go hungry. She further said that the government is in touch with the foreign and labour offices in Saudi Arabia to ensure early evacuation of Indian workers. Garry Martinez, Chairman of the Migrante International, which works for the millions of Filipino overseas workers worldwide said that some Filipinos are forced to beg or sift through garbage to survive after going unpaid for months. Meanwhile, Pakistan said, 8,520 of its nationals in Saudi Arabia had not been receiving their salaries for several months. A Foreign Ministry statement said that most of the workers want to leave these companies but only after settling their dues. The Pakistan embassy had set up special centres and a fund to provide aid, food, medicine and shelter. (ANI) Taking a strong exception to Azam Khan for hinting at a political conspiracy behind the gang-rape of a mother-daughter duo in Bulandshahr, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said the Samajwadi Party leader should be sent to Agra's mental asylum for check-up as only a mental patient can make such an indication. "There is no sense of his statements. He should be sent to Agra's mental asylum for check-up. At times, he divides the soldiers who have died in Kargil on the basis of religions, he raises unnecessary questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore visit and includes some mafia's name in that. The way he has tried to politicize the Bulandshahr rape incident.only a mental patient can do so," BJP leader Prem Shukla told ANI. Khan earlier said that a desperate opposition could stoop to any level to defame and disgrace the government since the state elections are approaching. However, the Samajwadi Party leader defended his remarks. "I never said there is a conspiracy by the opposition. I said that as the elections are near, we all should find from where these protests and incidents are coming from. I never said that this was a conspiracy by the opposition," Khan told ANI in Lucknow. "If we were not sensitive about them then how such a quick response would have been made. It is because of their pain that we are saying that accused should be arrested as soon as possible and a proper investigation should be done to find out the truth. This case requires strict action," he added. A fast track court in Bulandshahr earlier on Monday sent the three accused arrested in connection with the case to 14-day judicial custody. The incident took place earlier on Friday night when a 35-year-old woman and her daughter were allegedly gang-raped by a group of robbers in Bulandshahr district. The victims were on their way from Noida to Shahjahanpur with the other family members when their vehicle was stopped near a cycle repairing shop in Dostpur village on NH-9, which connects Noida and Bulandshahr. (ANI) The BJP parliamentary board will today meet in the national capital to discuss the issue of change of guard in Gujarat following the offer of resignation by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah had said that the party's Parliamentary Board will take a decision on Gujarat Chief Minister's resignation and her successor. Patel, who took over as Gujarat's first woman chief minister after Narendra Modi took charge as the Prime Minister, citing age issues had in her Facebook post earlier urged the BJP to relieve her from the coveted post. In a post on the site, she wrote, "I have been working actively with the BJP for last 30 years and I have got the opportunity to manage several responsibilities the party entrusted on me. I am fortunate to have been offered prime positions and major responsibilities by the party." "I consider it a privilege to manage the women's wing of the party to eventually becoming the chief minister. The party has helped in my development. I have tried my best for result oriented governance and constantly contributed to innovations while working in various departments of the state." Patel said that she had two months earlier sought to resign from the party to give "enough time to the new incumbent to prepare for important events like the upcoming 'Vibrant Gujarat Summit'. Her government was criticised for its handling of the outrage created by the public flogging of four Dalit men by self-styled cow protection groups. (ANI) The much awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill is all set to be approved by the Rajya Sabha today. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will move four amendments to the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, meant for the rollout of the GST in the Rajya Sabha, when it is taken up for consideration and passage. Union Minister Ananth Kumar yesterday said the leaders of the various political parties have assured support to the government in the passage of the GST Bill. "The honourable Prime Minster had in the all-party meeting and the NDA meeting prior to the beginning of this session urged all that the GST is in favour of the country, a win-win situation for all and extremely necessary for India's economic development," Kumar told the media here. Kumar, who is the Ministers for Chemicals and Fertilizers, expressed optimism that the GST Bill, which would be passed by majority, will boost the nation's economy. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued whip to all its members in the Rajya Sabha asking them to be present in the House for the next three days. The Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha has earmarked five hours discussion for the bill, which seeks to introduce a system for uniform taxation across the country. The Congress yesterday assured full support with regard to the GST Bill passage in the Rajya Sabha and said if the Centre doesn't come up with something new then this tax reform might get its nod. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the grand old party does not have much to do with the GST Bill, adding it is for the Centre to work it out with the states and help the bill sail through in the Parliament. "The Congress has levied its full support in the regard. The details are yet to come; the Congress has nothing more to do with it. The government now has to work it out with the state governments. And if there are no more surprises in store then I think that the bill will get the needed nod tomorrow," said Singhvi. The Union Cabinet had cleared changes in the Bill earlier on Wednesday dropping one percent additional tax on inter-state sales and providing guarantee to compensate states for any revenue loss in the first five years of rollout. The government needs the support of two-third members of the Upper House to amend the Constitution to turn the GST into law. The GST Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in May last year but is stuck in the Rajya Sabha due to resistance from the opposition. (ANI) "We are not answering the questions," said a bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Arun Mishra and Prafulla C. Pant. It said the petitioners, Amar Singh and Jaya Prada, have already completed their Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha terms in the meantime. A two judge bench on November 15, 2010 referred seven questions to a larger three judge bench, including whether a lawmaker continues to be bound by the party whip vis-a-vis anti-defection law after being expelled. --IANS pk/py/vm ( 126 Words) 2016-08-03-11:50:01 (IANS) The BJP Parliamentary board today accepted the resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and decided to send observers to the state to discuss selection of new Chief Minister with the state legislators.The party however, put at rest the expectation that Chief Amit Shah was being considered to lead the state. Talking to reporters after the parliamentary board meeting which was held at the PM's office, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said, ' ' Amit Shah is the National President of BJP. Party wants him to lead us in national politics. No question of him as Gujarat CM.''He said the Parliamentary board has appointed Mr Nitin Gadkari and senior BJP leader Saroj Pandey as observers, who will go to Gujarat and hold meetings with state legislators.The meeting was attended by Mr Modi, Mr Shah, organisation general secretary Ramlal, Mr Naidu, Mr Gadkari and Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, JP Nadda and others.UNI RG/NAZ AKC ADG 1140 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0129-868964.Xml Allahabad High Court has observed that a grandson should also be considered as dependent of the deceased.In its ruling yesterday, Lucknow bench of the court said,''We form rules and regulations to facilitate people. The Court has instructed officers concerned to reconsider allotment of government shop of ration to grandson of the deceased.'' Justice Rituraj Awasthi passed this order on petition of one Ahok Kumar. Grandfather of the petitioner had government's ration shop. His father had died earlier and his grandfather passed away on March 12, 2014. He applied for allotment of shop on his name but the officer concerned denied saying that it cannot be done as applicant is grandson of deceased, and as per norms, only wife, son and unmarried girl can be considered as dependent of the deceased. The court ordered that petitioner was fully-dependent on the deceased, hence he should be given the benefit. UNI XC-JDM MB SV ADG 1200 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0435-868792.Xml The animal was spotted on July 29 following which the forest officials rescued the gazelle and brought it to Jodhpur forest centre for treatment. They suspect that it sustained injuries from barbed wires located in the border areas. Forest officials said they have spotted a white gazelle for the first time. "These have been reported to exist in the border areas, but have never been rescued so far. People have seen it before in the Churu district. Whenever we go for monitoring or rescue purposes, we have heard that people claim to have seen a white coloured Indian gazelle. We have seen it for the first time this closely and it is undergoing treatment," said a veterinary doctor at Jodhpur forest centre, Shravan Singh Rathor, on Tuesday. Indian gazelles are among the most endangered species and are usually found in dry and arid areas in Rajasthan. The antelope is also found in neighbouring Pakistan where rampant hunting has decreased its population drastically. However, India is relatively a safer haven for these antelopes where the count is roughly more than one million. There are around 80 protected areas across the country for the gazelles from illegal poaching, hunting and human settlements. (ANI) Praying for the speedy recovery of Sonia Gandhi who is currently undergoing treatment after she fell sick during her mega road show in Varanasi, UP chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday asserted that the rally in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency by the Congress Chief was a historic one. Speaking to ANI here, Dikshit said that the road show in Varanasi was epic, adding that instead of the duration of the scheduled two hours, it took six hours as the Congress convoy was swarmed by supporters, mostly women. "I don't think a rally of this magnitude has ever happened in our nation. If this is the response in the Prime Minister's constituency, then you can imagine what will happen in other places," she added. Talking about Sonia Gandhi's condition, the former Delhi chief minister stated that her health took a turn for the worse due to the constant climatic change to her body. "She was travelling in an AC car and she kept coming up to greet the people in the blistering heat. This constant movement, which was mostly her being out in the sun, affected her. But I'm sure she will be fine and I pray that she recovers soon. I don't think there is anything to be worried about and she is currently undergoing treatment," Dikshit said. Meanwhile, the Congress Chief has been shifted from the Army Research and Referral Hospital to the Gangaram Hospital, after a day of observation. Earlier today, the Congress party said that Sonia Gandhi, who developed high fever during her road show in Varanasi, is now stable and recovering. Speaking to ANI here, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that Sonia is stable and recovering and is under medical supervision. "She has also thanked all fellow countrymen and crores of congress men for their concern and good wishes expressed over the last 24 hours," he added. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met the Congress Supremo at the hospital here. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered help to Gandhi, who had to cut short her Varanasi visit after falling ill, by sending a doctor for her health check-up and a plane for her transportation back to the national capital. Sources told ANI that Prime Minister Modi also spoke to Sheila Dikshit, and enquired about Gandhi's health. Earlier, the Congress president, who had to leave the party's roadshow in Varanasi midway after she developed a high fever, said she was sad to have cut short her visit to the temple town. In a statement, Gandhi said, I am saddened that due to my ill health, I had to cut my visit to Varanasi short. I could not visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple either." "I will come back very soon, and then visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple," she added. The Congress president was leading a massive roadshow in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency for the party's campaign for the 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. She, however, had to cut short the roadshow towards the fag end of the march route in the evening after she fell ill. The doctors advised her to cut short her visit after which she left for the national capital. Later on, she was treated at the Varanasi Airport's VIP Lounge. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today presented a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh to Valli, wife of veteran actor Pasi Narayanan, following reports that she was living in trying circumstances. An official statement here today said, after she learnt through media reports that the family of Pasi Narayanan was living in penury, the Chief Minister had last week announced Rs 10 lakh aid to Valli and said that the amount would be deposited in her name in the Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure DevelopmentCorporation as a fixed deposit and the monthly interest of Rs 8,125accrued from it, would be provided to her. In line with her announcement, Ms Jayalalithaa presented the document for Rs 10 lakh deposit to Valli at the Secretariat here. The actor's wife expressed her gratitude to the Chief Minister, the statement said. Narayanan had acted in over 500 films, including with AIADMK founder and former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran.UNI GV CS 1614 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-869490.Xml Minister of State for External Affairs Gen VK Singh is today in Saudi Arabia to assess the ground situation, regarding the crisis arising out of thousands of Indian workers having been rendered jobless in the West Asian country. Gen Singh arrived first at Jeddah early in the morning and later flew to Capital Riyadh. Besides discussing the situation with staff of the Indian missions and representatives of the Indian workers, the Minister would also be meeting Saudi authorities to sort out the issue. There are a total of 7,700 Indian workers, who have been rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia and were stranded in different camps for the past several weeks. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said the Government was closely monitoring the situation and would see that no Indian worker was left without any assistance. According to the breakup given by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Vikas Swarup, there were 4,072 workers belonging to M/s Saudi Oger in Riyadh in 10 camps nine in Riyadh and one in Damman. Besides, 1457 workers belonging to M/s SAAD Group were in two camps in Dammam, and five workers belonging to M/s Shifa Sanay and 13 workers belonging to M/s Taiya Contracting were in one camp at Riyadh. In all, there are a total of 5,547 Indian workers in 14 camps, which are being taken care of by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. In addition, there are 2,153 Indian workers belonging to M/s Saudi Oger in six camps of Jeddah, all of whom have been provided food by the Indian Consulate. UNI NAZ CJ RJ RSA 1552 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-869386.Xml Briefing newspersons after a three-day general council, which concluded here, AIYF President Afthaf Alam Khan said the proposal by a Parliamentary panel to raise the retirement age from 60 would adversely affect vast army of unemployed rpt unemployed youth in the country. In fact it would be another blow to the youth, hit hard due to lack of employment opportunity in the country, he said adding the proposal came at a time when the Narendra Modi government miserably failed to fullfil its electoral promise of two crore jobs every year. He said the council also flayed the government for not filling about 50 lakh vacancies in Central and Public Sector Units in the country as part of its ''anti-youth'' policy. In a resolution adopted at the council, it wanted the government to roll back the decision by University Grants Commission (UGC) to nullify reservation on the appointment of assistant and associate professors in the country. He said the youth federation would take out a march to Parliament on November 22 demanding, among others, like implementation of Bhagat Singh National Empolyment Guarantee Act (BNEGA). Other demands included ending violence against dalits, tribals and minorities, commercialization of education, job reservation in private sector too, and electoral reforms. The federation also decided to launch country-wide agitation titled 'Don't Crush Dalits' against the on going violence against them and minorities in the country, he added. Eighty five general council members from 23 states participated in the 3-day meet. AIYF General Secretary R Thirumali, Secretary, Tapas Sinha and working committee member Prasanth Rajan, among others, were present at the press meet.UNI PCH CS 1807 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-869831.Xml The ruling Samajwadi Party came out in spirited defence of its senior leader Mohammad Azam Khan facing all round flak for his insensitive statement on gangrape incident in Bulandshahr. The party also condemned the derogatory statement by a BJP leader against Khan. The SP blamed the BJP for the controversy saying, "The saffron party has deliberately misinterpreted the statement of Azam Khan and is trying to create mountain out of a molehill". SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdhary said here today that the BJP, by misinterpreting the statement of Azam Khan on Bulandshahr incident, has also hurt the sentiments of the victims and their family. He said a BJP leader, by issuing a highly derogatory statement against Azam Khan dragging his family members, has demonstrated his moral and ethical standards. He said the attack against Khan in a filthy language was not without a reason and it was part of well planned conspiracy. He alleged that following its failure to incite communal trouble in UP, the BJP leaders have started pouring vitriol on Azam Khan so as to cause communal divide. Flaying the BJP, he said even state Governor Ram Naik has praised Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for the prompt action to nab the culprits of Bulandshahr incident and penal action against senior police officials. Ignoring all this and the honour of women, BJP is out to politicise the rape incident for its narrow political ends, SP leader alleged.UNI MB CJ SB 1944 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-870086.Xml India and Vietnam today called all countries which are party to the South China Sea dispute to resolve the issue peacefully in the light of UN convention. The issue along with the entire gamut of bilateral relation was discussed during 8th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) and 5th Strategic Dialogue held here today. The two sides also held deliberation on cooperation in political and security related matters, trade and investment, cooperation in health, in addition to energy and agriculture sector lines of credit and other capacity building projects in Vietnam. The Indian side was led by Ms Preeti Saran, Secretary (East) and the Vietnamese side was led by H E V Hng Nam,Vice Foreign Minister of Vietnam. During the meet, Vietnam reaffirmed its support for India's candidature for a Permanent seat in an expanded UNSC. UNI XC RSA SB 2005 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-870148.Xml Two IndiGo flights had a close shave, as the two aircraft came into close proximity, facing each other mid air with passengers on board near Guwahati. Both flights have been grounded for further inquiry. The statement issued by the Airlines said, "Indigo flight 6E 813 from Guwahati to Mumbai experienced turbulence due to monsoon, causing the aircraft to climb 250-300 feet. At the same time, aircraft 6E 136 was crossing the flight path of aircraft 6E 813. Following the protocol, the pilot took advisory action to maintain relevant separation." The airline spokesman said the flight finally made a normal landing. The four passengers and two cabin crew were given medical assistance. An Indigo aircraft 6E-136 from Mumbai to Guwahati was going to land at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and another Indigo flight 6E-813, bound for Chennai, had taken off. The Chennai-bound flight was crossing path with the Mumbai-bound one and they flew dangerously close to each other. At least six people, including two air-hostesses, have been reportedly injured as two Indigo aircraft narrowly missed colliding with each other over Guwahati, leaving passengers and crew of the planes shaken.UNI ADP RJ 1947 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0429-870088.Xml Uttar Pradesh Congress today condemned the statement made by Samajwadi Party (SP)and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders over recent rape cases and claimed that the two parties had shown no sensitivity over the `issue' and instead were trying to make political gain out of it. Showing his deep concern over sudden spurt in cases of attack on modesty of members of fairer sex in the State, chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) Media Cell, Satyadeo Tripathi said here that cabinet minister Azam Khan is always known for his absurd, insensitive and controversial statement but the BJP, which is on street under the banner of `Beti Bachchao Abhyiyan', had now themselves attacked on daughter and wife of another leader. ``What BJP leader wanted to tell by making insensitive remarks on Azam's family members", questioned Tripathi, adding that the dignity of every women is same and no one had any right to make an attack on it. "It is strange that the BJP leaders who were demanding action against Bahujan Samaj Party leaders for targeting Dayashankar Singh's family members had now taken no action against IP Singh, when his statement is no different than what made by BSP leaders", asserted Tripathi while questioning senior BJP leaders that what they were now doing for `Beti Bachchao", in which their own leader was involved. ``Government must take same action against IP Singh as what the BJP leaders were demanding against BSP leaders", advised Tripathi while demanding a case should be registered against IP Singh. Mr Tripathi further said that instead of joining hands with the government or law enforcing agencies to support them so that stern action can be taken against those involved in crime against women, the leaders of both SP and BJP were trying to make political gain out it by giving it communal color. While one leader demanded a probe into Bulandshahr rape case apprehending some political conspiracy behind it, the leader of the other Party instead of showing any sensitivity, had too went on to alleged that so-called secular forces where responsible for growing crime against members of fairer sex. Notably, after cabinet minister Azam Khan's controversial statement on Bulandshahr gang rape, BJP spokesman IP Singh escalated the row by saying that his (Azam's) eye would open if his "wife and daughter were gang raped". "Miyan Azam Khan ke beti aur bibi se gang rape ho jaye tab Azam ki aankh khulegi Bulandshahr highway par 12 saal ki beti aur maa ke saath gang rape par ochhi baat kahi," (Miyan Azam Khan's eye would open if his daughter and wife were gang raped, he has made absurd comments of Bulandshahr gang rape of 12 year old girl and her mother)," Singh tweeted from his Twitter handle @ipsingh1432. Azam had earlier stoked controversy by suggesting that the Bulandshahr highway gang rape could be an outcome of political conspiracy against the ruling party, drawing condemnation from rival parties. He termed the gangrape of the minor girl and her mother by a group of bandits near Bulandshahr last week as attempt to "malign" the Samajwadi Party (SP) government by those who want to "come to power" in poll-bound UP. Assembly elections in UP are due early next year. UNI MB CJ 2010 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-870173.Xml The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gave its approval for signing of new Air Services Agreement(ASA) between India and Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The Agreement is expected to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries bringing it in tune with the developments in the civil aviation sector, an official spokesman said adding it will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security. Under the agreement, the designated airlines of the two countries shall have fair and equal opportunity to operate the agreed services on specified routes. The routes and frequencies shall be decided subsequently. ASA is the basic legal framework for any air operation between the two countries. UNI ADP SS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0429-870298.Xml The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved upgradation of 13 existing Government Medical Colleges and Institutes (GMCIs) under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana(PMSSY). The upgradation will be done at a cost of Rs.200 crore for each GMCI (Central share: Rs.120 crore and State Share Rs 80 crore). Accordingly the total upgradation cost shall be Rs.2,600 crore out of which Central Share will be Rs.1,560 crore and that of State will be Rs.1,040 crore. It will be completed in time period of 36 months. These collages are Government Medical Colleges/Institutes, PMCH, Patna, GMC Bhagalpur, GMC Gaya, Bihar; GMC Bilaspur, GMC, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh; UCMS-GTB Hospital, Delhi; GMC, Surat and GMC, Bhavnagar, Gujarat; GMC, Indore, Madhya Pradesh; GMC, Cuttack, Odisha; GMC, Jaipur, Rajasthan; GMC Agra and GMC Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Upgradation of existing GMCIs will create tertiary care facilities. The Tertiary Care Institutions will serve as composite centres for continued professional education, treatment, patient care and multi skilling of health workers.The upgradation of medical colleges under PMSSY broadly involves strengthening of the existing departments as well as building Super Speciality Blocks / Trauma Centres or other necessary facilities as Centres of Excellence etc. However, the upgradation process will vary from one institution to another as per the specific local needs. The facilities to be augmented during upgradation will be decided after proper gap analysis involving all stakeholders.The population in eight States namely Uttar Padesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Odisha will be benefited where these colleges are located.The Central Scheme, PMSSY was first announced in August 2003 with the primary objective of correcting the imbalances in availability of affordable / reliable tertiary level healthcare in the country in general, and to augment facilities for quality medical education in under-served or backward States, in particular. This scheme had two components (a) establishment of new AIIMS and (b) Upgradation of existing government medical colleges.Under PMSSY, 58 Government Medical Colleges have been approved for upgradation. Of these, work has been completed in 16 colleges while it is in progress at other places.UNI ADP SS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0429-870354.Xml "If they were committed to their promises accurately, and did not hinder the process of nuclear deal implementation, we could count on them and sit to discuss other issues with them," Xinhua news agency quoted Rouhani as saying in a live televised speech. Rouhani's remarks were a reaffirmation of the country's top leader's Monday comments on the implementation of the nuclear deal clinched between Iran and world powers in 2015. "The United States has violated its obligations (over the implementation of the nuclear deal) and is busy destroying Iran's economic ties with other countries," Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday. In some areas, Iran still has problems in the transfer of money via the large international banks for the transactions that it has with its economic partners, Rouhani said. The Iranian President expressed the hope that such problems will be gradually solved in the future. --IANS lok/ ( 182 Words) 2016-08-03-06:32:01 (IANS) The US Air Force today declared an initial squadron of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35A fighter jets ready for combat, marking a major milestone for a program that has faced cost overruns and delays.The move is another achievement for the 379 billion dollars program, the Pentagon's largest weapons project. The Air Force follows the US Marine Corps, which declared a first squadron of F-35s ready for combat in July 2015."The US Air Force decision to make the 15 F-35As at Hill Air Force Base combat ready sends a simple and powerful message to America's friends and foes alike - the F-35 can do its mission," F-35 program chief, Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, said in a statement.Officials say the F-35 will give the US military the ability to detect enemy aircraft and other threats far beyond current ranges, allowing the jets to strike targets and disappear long before they are detected.The US Air Force plans to buy a total of 1,763 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing jets in coming years and will operate the largest F-35 fleet in the world.The Pentagon's F-35 program office on Monday announced that the F-35A had launched an AIM-9X air-to-air missile to hit and "kill" a target simulating a drone over a military test range off the California coast on July 28."After launch, the missile successfully acquired the target and followed an intercept flight profile before destroying the drone, achieving the first F-35 air-to-air kill or 'Boola Boola,' which is the traditional radio call made when a pilot shoots down a drone," the program office said.The same F-35 pilot who hit the drone also used an internally carried AIM-120C missile against another target drone that was beyond visual range, telling it to self-destruct right before impact, the program office said in a statement.Lockheed is building three models of the F-35 Lightning II for the US military and 10 countries that have already ordered the jets: Britain, Australia, Norway, Italy, Turkey, Denmark, the Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and Japan."It will provide airmen unprecedented lethality and survivability, a capability they will use to defend America and our allies for decades to come," Lockheed Martin said in a statement.The Pentagon's F-35 program office said it remained in negotiations with Lockheed about long-delayed contracts for the next two batches of F-35 jets, deals worth about 15 billion dollars."We're seeking a fair deal for the F-35 enterprise and industry," said F-35 program spokesman Joe DellaVedova.The program, first launched in 2001, has made strides in recent years after huge cost overruns and technical problems that sent the project cost up by nearly 70 per cent.Earlier problems with the fighter jet included issues with the radar software and complications which increased the risk of neck injury to lightweight pilots when they ejected from the aircraft.Industry and US defense officials say they are working hard to continue driving down the cost of the new warplanes to around 85 million dollars per plane by 2019, as well as the cost of operating the jets."The program is not doing everything they wanted it to do... But they're at a point now where it is stabilizing and so it is progress," said Todd Harrison, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.REUTERS RSD 0016 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-868720.Xml A British-Iranian aid worker, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, detained since early April and accused by hardline Revolutionary Guards of trying to overthrow Iran's government has appeared in court for the first time, her family said today.Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, has dismissed the Revolutionary Guards' accusation.In a statement, the family said Zaghari-Ratcliffe, arrested as she tried to leave Iran after a short visit with her two-year-old daughter, appeared in the Revolutionary Court yesterday. The court handles security-related cases."When I spoke to Nazanin yesterday, she was deeply upset," Richard Ratcliffe said."She is desperate that our daughter has been kept away from her mother and father now for four months," he said, noting, "This remains a very cruel case."A judiciary spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a London-based charity that is independent of Thomson Reuters and operates independently of Reuters News.In a telephone conversation with her husband after the first hearing, Zaghari-Ratcliffe said that she would be allowed access to a lawyer. She was not allowed to share any of the details of that court session over the phone, the family said."(Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family) were instructed to present her lawyer's name for approval by the judge," the family said.Such permission is required by Iranian law if an individual is accused of national security-related crimes. The lawyer must be approved by the head of the judiciary.John Ratcliffe, who is Nazanin's father-in-law and a British lawyer, has approached the Iranian Embassy in London for a visa to attend the next trial. No date for the trial has been announced.Several Iranian dual nationals from the United States, Britain, Canada and France have been detained in the past few months and are being kept behind bars on various charges, including espionage or collaborating with a hostile government.In a statement, Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO Monique Villa said Nazanin-Ratcliffe "should soon be able to see a lawyer for the first time in her four months of detention, including 45 days in solitary confinement"."We do not know what the exact charges against her are."She said that, in her professional capacity at the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Nazanin had never dealt with Iran, and that the Foundation had no dealings with Iran whatsoever."We are in permanent contact with Nazanin's husband Richard, and have contacted all British authorities to intervene. We insist this matter should be resolved as soon as possible, not least given her precarious state of health," Villa said.REUTERS RSD 0018 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-868723.Xml Czech President Milos Zeman believes his country should refuse to take in refugees to ensure they cannot commit "barbaric attacks", his spokesman said today.Zeman, whose role is largely ceremonial, is the country's most vocal opponent of immigration, opposing even the government's modest plan to take in 80 Syrian refugees this year, a tiny proportion of the millions fleeing civil war.Zeman's spokesman told a regular news conference that Islamist attacks in France and Germany in recent weeks proved his point."Our country simply cannot afford to risk terrorist attacks like those that occurred in France and Germany. By accepting migrants, we would create fertile ground for barbaric attacks," Jiri Ovcacek said."The president does not agree with any acceptance of migrants in the Czech territory."The Czechs and other central Europeans have been the most critical of the European Union's response to the migration crisis, in which over a million people entered the bloc last year.The government opposes an EU quota system to redistribute asylum seekers but has not followed Slovakia and Hungary in challenging it in the courts. Hungary is holding a referendum on October 2 to ask its citizens whether they accept the EU system.It is not clear how Brussels will be able to force those countries to take in refugees against their will.Germany's European commissioner, Guenther Oettinger, blasted Zeman's comments."The refugee quotas were agreed by a large majority and are now European law," Oettinger, commissioner for digital economy and society, told the German broadcaster ffn. "A president who so defames European legislation weakens Europe as a whole."Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka's government has agreed to taking in 80 Syrian refugees from a Turkish camp.Sobotka has said it is not possible to have uncontrolled migration, but that using "collective guilt and saying every Muslim is a terrorist" is not the way to proceed.He was unavailable to comment today.A CVVM institute poll in May found 61 per cent of Czechs were against taking in war refugees, up from 52 per cent in October. Another 34 per cent said refugees should be allowed to stay only until it was safe for them to return home.REUTERS RSD 0030 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-868728.Xml Bavarian state premier Horst Seehofer plans to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in October, risking a repeat of the firestorm caused by their meeting in February, a German newspaper said today.The Straubinger Tagblatt, citing an internal document, reported that Seehofer's meeting with Putin was planned for October 5 as part of a broader visit to Moscow that will also include a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.Seehofer, an ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel who has blamed her open-door refugee policy for a spate of recent violent attacks in Germany, sparked tensions in Berlin's right-left coalition government when he met Putin in February.Critics accused him of pursuing an alternate foreign policy.But Seehofer defended the visit, arguing for the need to maintain political and economic ties with Russia, while Merkel has taken a tough line on Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine.A spokesman for the Bavarian premier's office confirmed Seehofer's plans for another visit to Moscow, but declined comment on the dates reported by the newspaper.German-Russian ties were strained early this year when Moscow stepped into a row over the alleged rape of a German-Russian girl in Berlin by migrants, heightening suspicions in Germany that Russia was trying to erode public trust in Merkel by exploiting the immigration issue.Seehofer's Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party to Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), has been among the strongest voices demanding that Merkel close the frontiers and send back migrants with no right to political asylum.The two politicians had sought to mend fences earlier this summer, but three separate attacks in Bavaria last month - including two blamed on Islamic State - prompted Seehofer to renew criticism of the chancellor.REUTERS RSD 0131 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-868740.Xml French President Francois Hollande said today a victory by US presidential candidate Donald Trump could make politics more conservative around the world and said the real estate magnate made people "feel nauseous".A Trump victory in November could also affect France's presidential election in the spring of 2017, said Hollande, who has not yet announced if he will seek reelection."If the Americans choose Trump, that will have consequences, because an American election is a world election," the Socialist leader told journalists."It could lead to a very strong turn to the right in the world, or to a correction ... the American campaign shows issues that will be reflected in the French campaign," said Hollande, who will face strong competition from far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen if he chooses to run."A certain number of excesses have ended up making people feel nauseous - even in the United States - especially, as Donald Trump did, when criticises the memory of a soldier," he said.President Barack Obama on Tuesday called Trump "unfit" to become the US head of state amid a bipartisan outcry following the Republican candidate's feud with the parents of a US Muslim soldier killed in Iraq in 2004.Hollande said he was hearing "hurtful, humiliating comments" during the election campaign. Speaking about politicians in general, he said "they should be respected when they are respectable." REUTERS RSD 0206 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-868744.Xml European Union attempts to tackle the migration crisis have been a failure, amounting to "too little, too late" with not enough being done to tackle people-smugglers, a committee of British lawmakers said today."Europe's efforts to address this colossal refugee crisis have been lamentable," said Keith Vaz, chairman of the British parliament's Home Affairs Committee."The atrocious conditions in migrant camps within and on the borders of the richest countries on earth is a source of shame."A flood of refugees from the Middle East and Asia, many escaping conflict in Syria and Iraq, has grown into Europe's worst migration crisis since World War Two.The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said yesterday more than 257,000 migrants and refugees had entered Europe by sea this year and at least 3,000 others had died.Following a year-long inquiry, the British committee said the failure of members of the Schengen area system, which allows free passage between most EU states, had made the problem worse by failing to agree on control of its external borders."The EU's March 2016 agreement with Turkey on return of migrants is arguably a first step towards a meaningful response but it has come far too late and is itself highly controversial for a number of reasons," the committee said.The lawmakers said too much was being left to the countries most affected, such as Italy, Greece and Turkey, and Vaz said naval deployments in the Mediterranean had failed to deter the migrant flows or disrupt people-smuggling gangs."The EU's response in combating people-traffickers who are exploiting, exacerbating and profiting from this crisis has been poor," he said.Closer to home, the committee said recent figures suggested Britain was unlikely to meet its own target of resettling 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020, and said maintaining an agreement with France for British border checks at French Channel ports should be a priority for the British government.There has been speculation that the deal could be at risk following the vote in June for Britain to leave the EU."Our priority is to offer humanitarian support to those most in need while maintaining the security of our borders," said a Home Office (interior ministry) spokeswoman, adding that Britain was committed and on track to meet its target for Syrian refugees. REUTERS RSD 0436 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-868766.Xml North Korea fired a ballistic missile today from its western region into the sea off its east coast, South Korea's military said.It was the latest in a series of ballistic missiles launched by the North in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. The previous launch was two weeks ago, when it fired three ballistic missiles into the sea.A South Korean military official did not immediately have further details of the missile when reached by telephone. REUTERS RSD 0531 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-868774.Xml Justices Musarrat Hilali and Qalandar Ali heard the case on Tuesday after petitioner's counsel Qazi Muhammad Anwar told the court that an inmate attacked him, reports the Express Tribune. Anwar said the Indian national was kept in the barrack after the attack and then shifted to death cell, adding the superintendent later ordered his shifting to the hospital. The counsel said that his client was neither shifted to the hospital nor given a secure place and was kept with dangerous prisoners. Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Musarratullah said that if the Indian High Commission has any reservations, it should take up the issue with the Pakistani Government rather than contacting Ansari's lawyer. Indian national Hamid Nehal had entered Pakistan with a fake identity card sent in by Facebook friends, who left him in a Kohat hotel on November 14, 2012, before he was arrested. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment for espionage. (ANI) This comment in the White House East Room came on Tuesday after Trump's criticism of the family of a slain Muslim U.S. soldier. "The Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president.. He keeps on proving it," CNN quoted Obama as saying at a White House news conference. Describing his feelings about Trump as unprecedented, Obama recalled disagreements with previous GOP presidential nominees Senator John McCain and Mitt Romney. "The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesn't appear to have basic knowledge of critical issues in Europe, the Middle East, in Asia, means that he's woefully unprepared to do this job," he said. Obama was speaking alongside Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in the White House East Room. He pointed out there are now weekly episodes in which even Republican party leaders distance themselves from Trump. "There has to be a point at which you say, 'Enough,'" he added. He also placed responsibility for Trump's statements on his fellow Republicans, many of whom denounced his statements on the slain soldier's family but didn't withdraw their support. The Republican presidential nominee and the family of the slain soldier have been locked in an bitter dispute over Muslims in America and the nature of patriotic sacrifice, after Khizir Khan, father of the soldier killed in a suicide bombing in Iraq, said that Trump had sacrificed nothing. Khan made the statement at last week's Democratic National Convention following which the Republican nominee claimed he had been viciously attacked. (ANI) A Thai national was arrested in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh for trafficking nearly 20 kg of drugs, police said on Wednesday. Chaiyapong Phisaiphan, 52, was arrested in Sen Sok district on Monday while transporting the drugs, Xinhua news agency reported. The confiscated drugs included nine kg of crystal methamphetamine, 0.66 kg of heroin, and 52,000 methamphetamine pills. --IANS ask/py/mr ( 69 Words) 2016-08-03-12:56:02 (IANS) Nepal's parliament today elected Prachanda, who led a decade-long insurgency that topped a feudal monarchy, as the Himalayan nation's new prime minister, a week after K.P. Oli stepped down to avoid a no-confidence motion.Nepal has long been mired in political instability and Prachanda, 61, becomes its 24th prime minister since protests led to the establishment of a multi-party democracy in 1990. He has served once before, after winning power in 2008.Prachanda, whose real name in Pushpa Kamal Dahal, won 363 votes of the 573 votes cast in the 595-member parliament. Lawmkers draped Buddhist prayer scarves around his neck after he was elected unopposed."I will work for national unity, to promote the interest of the country and its people," the bespectacled leader had told lawmakers earlier.The return of Prachanda, who still uses his nom de guerre, which means "fierce", but has lost his former Robin Hood image, is unlikely to end the revolving-door politics that has sapped business confidence in one of the world's poorest countries."I don't think he will be stable," said Guna Raj Luitel, editor of the daily Nagarik."There is no agreement between parties on a basic agenda for the country. They have only agreed for convenience, and there is already a deal to change the prime minister after nine months."POWER SHARINGPrachanda's confirmation became possible with the support of parliament's biggest party, the centrist Nepali Congress, and several smaller parties. The Maoists are the third biggest group in the legislature.Under a widely reported power-sharing deal, Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to take over from Prachanda before Nepal holds a general election at the beginning of 2018. Party officials have declined to comment.The two leaders make for a disparate combination.Deuba headed the cabinet that offered a bounty of 5 million rupees (50,000 dollars) for Prachanda in 2001, at the peak of the insurgency. Two years later, Maoist guerrillas shot up Deuba's convoy in west Nepal, but he escaped unhurt.Frequent changes of government are blamed on politicians who are seen as selfish and power hungry, and who show little concern for the plight of Nepal's 28 million people. Nearly a quarter live on less than 2 dollars a day.Politics in Nepal, which has great potential to generate hydroelectric power, is closely watched by giant neighbours China and India as they vie for influence over the country that is home to Mount Everest and the birthplace of Lord Buddha.In 2008, Prachanda visited China before India, breaking a tradition of new Nepali leaders making New Delhi their first foreign port of call.On a March visit, Oli cosied up to China with a deal to use its ports for trading goods with third countries, ruffling feathers in India, which controls landlocked Nepal's main overland trade route.India is blamed in Nepal for imposing a blockade on fuel and essential goods last year after its Madhesi minority protested against the first post-monarchy constitution. India denies the accusation.Prachanda said his government would continue the pacts Oli signed with China and India.The Madhesis, mostly southern plains dwellers with ties to India, say the charter weakens their position in the central government by dividing their homeland.The new leader also faces a huge reconstruction effort after earthquakes that killed 9,000 people last year, besides overseeing settlement of war crimes cases against the Maoists and the security forces. REUTERS PS BD1630 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-869505.Xml An Emirates Airlines aircraft met with an accident today, while landing at Dubai international airport. There were 275 passengers on the board, but no casualties have been reported. The aircraft involved in the accident is Boeing 777-300 that was delivered in March 2003. According to government officials, all the passengers were evacuated safely. "An Emirates plane coming from India has been involved in an accident on landing at Dubai International," Dubai Media Office said on its Twitter account."All passengers were evacuated safely and no injuries have been reported so far," it said, adding that all departures from Dubai International have been halted "until further notice."Emirates Airline also confirmed the accident of its flight EK521, travelling from Trivandrum International Airport to Dubai, but has not confirmed the number of casualties in it. In a statement, the Airline said, ''At this stage, no further information is available on what may have caused the accident. Airline's priority remains with the passengers and the crew involved.''The Boeing 777 aircraft departed at 1019 hrs from Trivandrum International Airport and was scheduled to land at 1250 hrs at Dubai International Airport. We are in the process of opening our customer assistance line and will share these details soon but at this stage, we have no further information on what may have caused the accident. Our priority remains with the passengers and the crew involved. ''We are expecting a four-hour network wide delay, more information will be available on the Emirates website and social media channels.''UNI ADP RJ RSA 1632 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0429-869504.Xml An Emirates Airline flight from India caught fire after making an emergency landing at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, but all 300 passengers and crew escaped from the burning fuselage, authorities said.Video purportedly showed a tower of flame bursting from the front of the aircraft, and then a thick black plume of smoke rising into the sky. Reuters was unable to verify the footage independently.Photographs posted on social media showed a plane lying crumpled on its belly on the tarmac with black smoke pouring from its upper section.A spokesperson for operator Dubai Airports said all passengers and crew aboard flight EK521 coming from Thiruvananthapuram had been evacuated and emergency services were managing the situation.A man waiting for relatives who were on the flight said he had spoken to them by phone. "They said they're safe and alright, but that they felt a great panic as the plane was on fire. I'll be comfortable when I see they are safe."Another man said his family had also told him they were OK and there had been a problem with the landing gear.ARRIVALS, DEPARTURES SUSPENDEDOperator Dubai Airports said all arrivals and departures at Dubai International had been suspended until further notice and an update on the status of operations at the airport would be issued at 5 pm (1830 IST).The live arrivals page on Dubai Airports' website showed that no flights had arrived or landed at any of the airport's three terminals since about the time of the incident at 1415 IST.According to air traffic control recordings cited by Aviation Herald, a respected independent website specialising in information on air accidents, controllers at Dubai had reminded the crew of the Boeing 777 to lower the landing gear as it came into approach.Shortly afterwards, the crew announced they were aborting the landing to "go around," a routine procedure for which pilots are well trained, but the aircraft came to rest near the end of the runway instead, Aviation Herald reported.There was no immediate confirmation on whether the landing gear was extended when the aircraft touched the ground.Emirates Airline initially said there had been a total of 275 passengers and crew aboard the plane, a Boeing 777-300 delivered to the airline in 2003, but later updated that number to 282 passengers and 18 crew.Planemaker Boeing said in a statement it was monitoring the situation in Dubai and it would be working with Emirates to gather more information.REUTERS PS BD1721 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-869663.Xml Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived here this evening to take part in the SAARC Interior Ministers' Conference, at which he was likely to flag the issue of cross-border terrorism, drug trafficking and other issues, related to the regional peace and security. ''Looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime,'' Mr Singh had tweeted, just before departing from New Delhi. The visit is taking place at a time of heightened tension between India and Pakistan. The two countries have, for the past few weeks, indulged in a frequent war of words over the killing of Hizbul Commander Burhan Wani in an encounter and the ensuing violence and deaths of civilians in action by security forces. As soon as Mr Singh landed here, Hizbul Mujahedeen chief Syed Salahuddin and members of various other religious and terror groups held a protest outside the international airport and venue of the SAARC meeting, blaming India for the unrest in Kashmir. However, despite threat by these groups, including Jamatuddawa chief Hafiz Saeed to disrupt Mr Singh's visit, he kept his date with SAARC, as India held that the visit was part of its effort to promote regional peace.Though the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi had said no bilateral meetings would take place, clarifying that the Home Minister was going for a purely multilateral event, some brief and informal bilateral interaction on the sidelines of a SAARC conference, were not ruled out. This is the first visit of any Minister, since the terror attack on Pathankot airbase. Mr Singh was received at the airport by Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale and Secretary General of SAARC Arjun Bahadur Thapa.UNI NAZ CJ RJ 2023 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0094-870293.Xml TIANJIN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Zhai Yanmin, an unemployed resident of Beijing, was sentenced to three years in prison with a four-year reprieve after being found guilty of subverting state power Tuesday. Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court ordered that Zhai, 55, will have to serve a minimum three-year term should he fall foul of the law within the four-year probation period. The court also deprived Zhai of his political rights for four years. He pled guilty and declined his right to appeal. Zhai was first exposed to concepts such as the "color revolutions" and "peaceful transition" online, the court said in a statement. He then joined an underground church led by Hu Shigen and gradually developed plans to overthrow the state socialist system. According to testimony by Liu Yongping, another member of the underground church, the "church" was not a genuine religious organization. Over half of its membership were "professional petitioners." Hu acted as the "spiritual leader" of the "church" for subversive purposes. Since 2012, Zhai has attempted to incite people to subvert state power by use of the online resources, the court said in a statement. Zhai, together with underground church members and lawyers, engaged and managed illegal petitioners to organize public gatherings, hype up legal cases and incidents, attack the country's judicial system and carry out activities aimed at subverting the state power and socialist system, the statement said. These activities endangered the state and society, it added. "I accept all the charges," Zhai said in his final statement, "With the help and education of the government, I recognize the severity of my crimes. I plead guilty and express my sincere remorse. "I am sorry to the country and my family... If I could go back I would never have become a member of hostile forces or associated with those individuals driven by ulterior motives," he said. He added that he would like to be used as an example of the consequences of listening to and supporting hostile forces overseas and at home, and to inform the public of the dangers of the so-called "democracy," "human rights" and "public benefits" flaunted by them as a mask for criminal activities. The court handed down a light sentence because he confessed, testified against others and repented, according to court statement. Moreover, the court decided that Zhai posed no major threat to the community, it said. The second branch of the People's Procuratorate of Tianjin Municipality filed charges against Zhai with Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court on July 15. To safeguard the defendant's rights and interests and ensure a fair and efficient trial, a pretrial conference was held on July 22. It was attended by the prosecution team, defendant and defence counsel, presiding judge Cai Shuying said. During Tuesday's trial, Cai informed the defence team of Zhai's rights and obligations in litigation. The defence team had no objection with any of the evidence used in the trial. Altogether 48 people, including 20 journalists from home and overseas observed the trial. Prosecutors told the court that Zhai, together with three others -- Hu, Zhou Shifeng and Li Heping -- had conspired and plotted to subvert state power, and had "established a systematic ideology, method and steps to achieve it." The defendant was accused of organizing multiple mass protests to influence public opinion and court sentences. One such case was a fatal shooting incident at a railway station in Heilongjiang Province in May 2015. On May 2 of 2015, police officer Li Lebin shot dead Xu Chunhe at Qing'an County Railway Station. Xu had attacked Li and continued to assault the police officer despite multiple warnings. Follow-up investigations confirmed that Li had acted within the law. After the shooting, Zhai organized protests at the railway station and in front of the county government buildings in support of Xu. Zhai influenced online opinions and led public demonstrations that misrepresented the incident as police brutality. Moreover, lawyers were organized to turn up at protest locations so that the issue gained more traction, Zhai said in his testimony adding that, "they all followed a fixed process." Once an incident had become a "hot issue," lawyers, citizens and petitioners would fan the flames online and plan further protests with each individual assigned "work" for each activity, Zhai said. "I was the 'chief commander' on site. I attacked current laws and smeared the image of the police," he said. "We wanted every issue to gain as much exposure as possible, so we would send ordinary people out on the streets and initiate conflict between the people and officials. We wanted the international community to interfere, (with the aim of) overturning the CPC and launch our own 'color revolution,'" Zhai continued. "None of the sensational cases I took part in have anything to do with my personal interests," Zhai said. "I did not even know the truth in those cases, but I did not care." When asked about the motivation for his crimes, Zhai said he hated the government and the political system because of a failed business venture. "My life went from glory to a failure, and that led to a disgruntled mind," Zhai said in his confession. "I started to impute my personal failure to the government." In addition, he said he had been radicalized by people with ulterior motives. According to the evidence presented in court, Zhai met with 15 people, including Hu Shigen, Zhou Shifeng and Li Heping, in a Beijing restaurant on Feb. 1, 2015. The discussion covered how they could use the workers' rights movement and other sensitive incidents to promote their own agenda. "We had met at the restaurant to gather lawyers like Zhou and Li, 'citizen movement' leaders like Hu and 'doers' like me to discuss how to topple the current regime, we wanted to overthrow the CPC," Zhai confessed, adding that they reviewed the subversive activities of the previous year, and formulated plans for 2015. Zhai said his confessions were made "by my own free will." "I think today's trial is fair and my rights have been protected during the procedure. My two lawyers have communicated appropriately with me and issued very professional opinions." "I am 55 years old. For the first 50 years of my life, I was a patriotic, law-abiding citizen. Joining this criminal ring has finally led me to the court as a criminal convict." Zhai said he plans to restart his business. BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Ministry on Tuesday expressed strong opposition to Japan's 2016 defense white paper, calling the annual document hostile to the Chinese military and deceptive to the international community. "The white paper issued on August 2, full of hackneyed expressions, distorts China's justified and reasonable defense work, heightening issues in the South China Sea and the East China Sea," said Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian in a statement. "Filled with hostility to the Chinese military, it stirs up trouble between China and its neighbors, and attempts to deceive the international community, " Wu said. He said the Chinese military has lodged solemn representations with Japan over the white paper. In the 480-page document, some 30 pages are devoted to irresponsible remarks on China's national defense and China's normal and legal maritime activities in the East and South China Seas. On the South China Sea issue, Wu said Japan was attempting to cause trouble for its own benefit. "What we want to remind Japan is that freedom of navigation has never been a problem in the South China Sea, while interference by Japan and other non-regional countries jeopardizes peace and stability in the region," Wu said. On the East China Sea issue, Wu said the Diaoyu Islands are part of China. He said Japan has hyped up repeatedly the so-called "abnormally close encounter" of Chinese and Japanese military aircraft, but claimed that the video released by the Chinese Defense Ministry in June 2014 clearly showed who was at fault. As for the accusations in the white paper of increased Chinese military activity near the Diaoyu Islands, Wu said what the Chinese military did was entirely in line with the islands belonging to China. He said Japan's ultimate purpose was large-scale changes to its military policy, increased arms and a revision of its pacifist constitution. He urged Japan to create conditions for improved China-Japan ties through concrete action. Japan released its first white paper on defense in 1970 and has compiled a new version each year since 1976. Related: Commentary: Japan's defense white paper hypes up "China threat" for hidden agenda by Xinhua Writer Zhu Feng TOKYO, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Japan's government approved a defense white paper on Tuesday, with a large portion of the document focusing on China's normal and legal maritime activities in the East and South China Seas. BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to continue to support Laos as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, said State Councilor Yang Jiechi on Tuesday. Yang made the remarks while meeting with Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Laos, said Yang, calling on both countries to forge ahead the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. China would like to work with Laos to advance the China-ASEAN cooperation, he added. United States President Barack Obama makes remarks during the third session of the 2016 Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Photo Credit: Ron Sachs/CNP/AdMedia) WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday called Donald Trump "unfit" to be U.S. president amid bipartisan outcry following the Republican presidential nominee's feud with the family of a fallen U.S. Muslim soldier. "I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president," said Obama here at a press conference. "I said so last week and he keeps on proving it." "The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that has made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesn't appear to have basic knowledge around critical issues in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, means that he's woefully unprepared to do this job," said Obama. Trump provoked bipartisan blame over the weekend after he derisively answered criticism from Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim American solider killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq. Khan, during last week's Democratic National Convention, blasted Trump for his divisive remarks and proposal to temporary ban Muslims entering the country and divisive tone. The bellicose Republican standard-bearer responded by implying that Ms. Khan, who accompanied his husband on stage on the final day of the Democratic National Convention, was forbidden to speak. DAMASCUS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army carried out offensive against a town held by the Islamic State (IS) group in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour on Tuesday, killing 60 of them, state news agency SANA reported. The military units attacked IS positions in the town of Jnaineh, two kilometers west of Deir al-Zour, said SANA. It added that the military units also foiled an attack by the IS on government-controlled parts in that oil-rich province, killing dozens of them, including the commander who was leading the attack. The IS controls much of the countryside of Deir al-Zour province, except the city, which is still under the government control, but besieged by the IS. Russian aircrafts frequently carry out airdrops of aid and food to the besieged people in that city. Deir al-Zour holds a strategic importance to the IS, due to its proximity to the IS-controlled areas in neighboring Iraq. ROME, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Tuesday that Italy's judges did their jobs by the constitution in a case to investigate a son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The words of Renzi came after Erdogan said earlier a money-laundering probing into his son Bilal in Italy might pose a threat to bilateral relations. "In Italy we have an autonomous, independent judiciary, which acts according to the law and combats all forms of lawlessness," Renzi was quoted by ANSA news agency as saying. "Judges answer to the Italian constitution and not to the Turkish president. We call this system the rule of law, and we're proud of it." Prosecutors in Italy's northern city of Bologna have been investigating Bilal, who is studying in Bologna, as part of the probing into a money-laundering case. Local media said Erdogan's son was put in the list of people under investigation. It follows a petition to the authorities from Turkish businessman Murat Hakan Uzan, a political opponent who is wanted by the Turkish government and currently in exile. The petition asks Italian police to investigate potential sums of money brought to Italy by Bilal, 35, who returned to Italy in autumn 2015 to resume PhD studies which he began in 2007 in Bologna. Erdogan said earlier that the criminal investigation involving his son could jeopardize the Turkish-Italian relations. In an interview with Italy's broadcater RAI News 24, Erdogan said the probe would put the bilateral ties "in difficulty." U.S. President Barack Obama (R) speaks during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong at White House in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Aug. 2, 2016. At the invitation of U.S. President Barack Obama, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made an official visit to the White House on Tuesday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan) WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Singapore on Tuesday affirmed a continued commitment to advancing their strategic partnership, pleading to enhance economic and security cooperation between the two sides. At the invitation of U.S. President Barack Obama, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made an official visit to the White House on Tuesday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. "For half a century, the two countries have built a strong relationship anchored by robust economic cooperation, security and defense cooperation, and enduring people-to-people ties," said a joint statement issued by the United States and Singapore on Tuesday. "Singapore's own ties with the United States have remained steadfast through nine U.S. Presidents -- five Republican and four Democratic -- and three Singapore Prime Ministers," Lee said at a ceremony held at the White House. At a joint press conference held by the two leaders, Lee noted that Singapore is the U.S. largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and the United States is Singapore's largest foreign direct investor. Over 3,700 U.S. companies are located in Singapore, making Singapore a premier destination for U.S. businesses, said the joint statement, adding that a growing number of Singapore companies have also established a presence in the United States. In the joint statement, Obama and Lee affirmed efforts to support expanding economic ties between the two countries through closer cooperation on bilateral tax issues, and forged new cooperation on Smart City development and digital innovation. They also emphasized the importance of all participating countries to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement expeditiously, and both committed to strengthen trade capacity building among TPP members. The TPP deal involves Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. On security issues, the two leaders reaffirmed the strong bilateral defense partnership, and vowed to broaden cooperation to promote an "open, interoperable, reliable, and secure" global Internet. The United States deploys aircraft and ships to Singapore on a rotational basis to conduct a variety of regional maritime patrol activities covering counterpiracy, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response. In addressing regional and global challenges, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment as Counter-IS (Islamic State) coalition members to degrade and defeat the extremist group. "Singapore was the first country in Southeast Asia to join in the global coalition to destroy ISIL," Obama said at the press conference. "And we are grateful that Singapore is making new contributions to this effort by providing valuable medical support to coalition forces." LONDON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-British relations are "at an important historical juncture" and the two nations should value the current "hard-won momentum" of bilateral ties, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming has said. Speaking at a reception on Monday to mark the 89th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Liu said the two nations' shared commitments "have served as the cornerstone of China-UK bilateral relations." Next year will mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial diplomatic relations between the two countries. "The journey over the past four decades and more highlights the importance of shared commitments to mutual respect, equality and taking into account each other's core interests and major concerns," the diplomat said. These commitments "are the basis for sustained growth and improvement of our relationship," he added. "What China and the UK have achieved in recent years is proof enough that these commitments are crucial as we carry on to further advance our relations," he told the audience. Liu said the two countries should value the current hard-won momentum of the Chinese-British relations. "We should bear in mind our responsibilities and the fundamental interests of our two peoples; we should work together to achieve win-win results not only for China and Britain but countries and regions beyond," he suggested. The ambassador continued that this is the way to "ensure that the growth of our relations will always benefit our two peoples." On military-to-military ties, Liu said they are an important part of the Chinese-British bilateral relations. "We are pleased that recent years have witnessed stronger cooperation and deeper mutual trust between our militaries," he said. Since early this year, there have been frequent reciprocal visits by high-ranking military officers, and a number of exchanges have been carried out across services at various levels and in multiple fields, according to the ambassador. WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. federal government has awarded 16 million U.S. dollars to 40 states and territories to help them fight the Zika virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Tuesday. The money will be used to establish, enhance, and maintain information-gathering systems to rapidly detect microcephaly, a serious birth defect of the brain, and other adverse outcomes caused by Zika virus infection, the CDC said in a statement. The funding will also help states and territories ensure that infants with birth defects are referred to appropriate health and social services. "It is critical to identify infants with birth defects related to Zika virus so we can support them and their families," said CDC Director Tom Frieden. "This CDC funding provides real-time data about the Zika epidemic as it unfolds in the United States and territories and will help those most devastated by this virus." Last month, the U.S. agency provides 25 million dollars to states and territories as part of its preparedness and response funding to areas at risk of outbreaks of Zika. On Monday, the U.S. CDC advised pregnant women not to travel to a Miami neighborhood where 14 Zika infections caused by local mosquitoes were confirmed. RIGA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Inga Kolegova, Latvia's current head of the State Environmental Service, has been officially nominated to take the helm of the State Revenue Service, Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis said Tuesday. Kolegova, a candidate handpicked and nominated for the vacant position by Finance Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola, has already voiced her readiness to become Latvia's next tax chief. Following a meeting of the government coalition, the prime minister said that the ministers will probably decide on Kolegova's appointment at a Cabinet meeting next Tuesday. Kucinskis told the press that in the meantime, Kolegova will meet with representatives of coalition parties to present her perspective on the revenue service's work and answer politicians' questions. The prime minister's centrist Greens and Farmers Union is for the time being the only coalition partner to have endorsed Kolegova's candidacy. The center-right Unity and right-wing National Alliance will decide on their position after interviews with Kolegova, the parties' representatives said. Unity representative Evards Smiltens said Kolegova is a relatively unknown candidate and it is therefore necessary to obtain more information about her vision of the revenue service's future work and media reports about her own involvement in business deals. Kolegova has already met with several entrepreneurs' organizations, but they too refrained from expressing clear support for her candidacy. After the State Revenue Service's previous director-general Inara Petersone stood down at the end of June, a public tender was held to fill the vacant position, but none of the candidates who applied in the competition was found to be suitable. It was then decided to look for a candidate among Latvia's top-ranked public servants without organizing a new tender. Apart from Kolegova, the job was also offered to Treasury head Kaspars Abolins and Baiba Vitolina, the head of the Consumer Rights Protection Center, but they refused to run for the position. LAGOS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government on Tuesday said it would pump gas across the West African sub-region in furtherance of the objectives of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) project. President Muhammadu Buhari made the pledge in Abuja, the country's capital city while addressing a joint news conference with the visiting Beninese President Patrice Talon. The Nigerian leader said the country was considering converting gas to liquid form for easy export to countries of the sub-region. "The world knows that Nigeria has plenty of gas and what we need to do is to stabilize the environment so that this gas can be regularly pumped to the sub-region through the infrastructure already in place," he added. "Also the Nigerian LNG is not doing too badly, the gas can be turned into liquid form; the technology is now available; it can be transferred to Benin Republic to power their power stations," he said. Buhari thanked Benin Republic for its continued support to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram in the North East. In his remarks,, President Talon said Benin was looking forward to reactivating the existing bilateral relationship between Benin and Nigeria especially in the areas of trade relations, economy, energy development and education. However, Talon raised alarm over increased activities of smugglers along border areas between Benin and Nigeria. He stressed the need to deal with smuggling, noting that doing so would help enhance revenue generation in both countries. DAMASCUS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The sweeping progress made by the Syrian army against the rebels in the northern province of Aleppo is "strategic and pivotal and will entirely change the conflict map," a Syrian political expert told Xinhua in an interview. The Syrian army was able to lay a full siege on rebel-held areas in the eastern part of the Aleppo city, after effectively severing their last supply route into the city, an achievement that will have positive repercussions on the political tracks to resolve the Syrian crisis. "This victory will enable the Syrian state to wrest back control over one of the very important regions, which has an economic, demographic and political importance," said Danura, who holds a PhD in political science and is a member in the government delegation to the Geneva talks on Syria issue. Danura said the progress made in Aleppo is the result of a long strategic coordination between the Syrian and Russian forces, adding that it also came after the Turkish side, which was active in supporting the rebellion in Aleppo, was marginalized following the failed coup attempt in Turkey last month. The Turkish coup has made Ankara busy rearranging its inner home, which led to lifting the cover from the rebels, who were largely supported by Turkey. "The rebel losses in Aleppo will usher in further defeats, which could lead to softening the reluctance stance of the exiled opposition," he said. Speaking of the opposition, Danura continued that the Western powers and the United States must play a more positive role in finding a solution to the crisis, by pushing the opposition to lower their expectations and their "wooden language." Regarding the future of the Syrian crisis after the military progress in Aleppo, Danura said the Syrian government will continue to fight terrorist groups, as long as they keep their terrorist mentality. He said the pardon offered by Assad recently is a step toward achieving a national reconciliation, which, itself, is a step toward a solution to the crisis. Late last month, the Syrian army stormed the Bani Zaid area, a main rebel stronghold in the eastern part of Aleppo. The progress came days after the army severed the last rebel supply route connecting rebel-held areas in the northern countryside of Aleppo, with rebel-controlled parts in the eastern part of the city. Severing the Castello road has dealt a strong blow to the rebels inside Aleppo. With the progress made, the Syrian army has fully besieged eastern Aleppo, urging the rebels to surrender themselves and the civilians to cooperate. Moreover, President Bashar al-Assad announced an amnesty for the rebels who surrender themselves and their weapons to the authorities. The Syrian authorities in cooperation with the Russians also opened three safe passages for civilians wishing to leave eastern Aleppo. They also opened a fourth one for the rebels who would want to surrender themselves. On Tuesday, state news agency SANA said dozens of families evacuated eastern districts in Aleppo, the second batch to leave the city since the government offered the safe passages. SANA also said rebel fighters surrendered themselves to the authorities. Video clips of rebels surrendering were aired on several Syrian TVs. With the Syrian army making all this progress in Aleppo, the rebels, including jihadi ones, unleashed several attacks over the past week to try to break the government-imposed siege. However, all of their efforts have been rendered flat so far, as the government siege on rebel-held areas is still in place. Aleppo, Syria's largest province and once a thriving economic metropolis, has witnessed intensified violent battles lately as the Syrian army advances against the rebels in the north. A still image taken on August 2, 2016 from a video said to be taken on August 1, 2016 posted on social media shows two men standing over a man on a bed, making him sit up as he breathes through a mask in what is said to be in Saraqeb, Idlib province,Syria. (Reuters photo) DAMASCUS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Syrian opposition activists and state-run media have traded accusations on Tuesday about possible, recent chemical attacks in northern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a shelling by barrel bombs filled with chlorine gas hit the town of Saraqeb in the northwestern province of Idlib on Monday evening, causing suffocation and breathing difficulties to 20 people. The UK-based watchdog group said the type of gas was difficult to be identified, saying it has based its report on local testimonies. The Syrian National Coalition opposition group cited activists as saying that it was the government forces who bombed the town of Saraqeb with chlorine-filled barrel bombs, placing the number of those affected at 30. It urged the UN to take action, and said the alleged chemical attack took place in an area close to where a Russian helicopter was downed a day earlier. On Monday, the rebels in Idlib countryside downed a Russian helicopter, with reports saying that all five crew members were killed. Meanwhile, state-run SANA news agency blamed the rebels for firing a rocket containing poisonous gas on the government-controlled part of the northern city of Aleppo over the past 24 hours, killing five people, and eight others suffered suffocation. SANA spelled no further details, but pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said that Moscow will investigate the terrorists' use of chemical weapons in Aleppo, and will also urge Washington to cooperate. Chemical weapons are believed to have taken place in several areas in Syria in the past years, with the government and the rebels trading accusations. As many as 1,400 people were killed when several opposition-controlled areas in the suburbs around Damascus were struck by rockets containing the chemical agent sarin on Aug. 21, 2013. Both the opposition and the government traded accusations. In the same year, a chemical attack hit the then government-controlled town of Khan al-Asal in the countryside of Aleppo, in which several Syrian soldiers and civilians were either killed or suffered from suffocation. The government accused the rebels, who, in turn, denied the accusation. In October 2013, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) officials arrived in Syria to monitor the dismantlement of the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal, after Damascus officially joined the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Convention. The OPCW later said that the government has made its chemical weapon production facilities inoperable. The dismantlement of the Syrian chemical weapons was due to a U.S.-Russian understanding, the first sign of a consensus between both powers on the Syrian conflict. Since then, reports of poisonous gas attacks kept emerging once in a while. KIGALI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- More investments will be allocated toward establishment of water processing plants in different areas of Rwanda while building new water supply systems. Rwanda's Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi announced this while addressing Parliament on Tuesday about the status of water and sanitation in the country. He reaffirmed government's commitment to increasing potable water access from 74.2 percent in 2010 to 100 percent in 2017. "We remain committed to 100 percent target by 2017. We have to move faster to achieve it," he said. Currently, nearly 85 percent of Rwandans have access to potable water. Murekezi cited several projects are underway to provide water in rural areas, in various districts of the country. Particular mega projects to be implemented this fiscal year 2016-2017 include the optimization of Nzove II water processing plant in Kigali to produce 40,000 cubic metres per day from current 25,000 cubic metres. The new Nzove I water processing plant will also be built, expected to produce 40,000 cubic metres per day. Three water processing plants to produce 10,000 cubic metres per day will be built in Nyagatare, Nyanza and Kayonza. The premier also announced plans to train private water supply companies across the country to supplement government efforts. Men inspect the wreckage of a vehicle following clashes between forces loyal to eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar andBenghazi Defence Brigades (BDB), an Islamist-leaning armed group, in the Magrun area, south of Benghazi, Libya July 21, 2016. (Reuters photo) BENGHAZI, Libya, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) A suicide bomb attack killed at least 22 people in Libya's Benghazi on Tuesday, targeting security forces, military and medical sources said. Dozens of others were wounded in the attack on the outskirts of the city, a hospital official said. A coalition of Islamist militias, called the Shura Council of Benghazi Rebels, claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. "The artillery of the Shura Council of Benghazi Rebels targeted a gathering of the forces of Hafter with howitzer in Gwarsha area," the group said on its Twitter account. The attack came after the U.S. launched on Monday the first airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) targets in the Libyan city of Sirte, at the request of Libya's UN-brokered government. Benghazi, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been witnessing a violet war between militant groups and the Libyan army since May 2014 when General Khalifa Haftar launched military operation "Dignity" against militants in the city. Meanwhile, forces of the UN-backed unity government have been engaged in a fierce war against the IS in Sirte. OTTAWA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Canada will change the way it selects Supreme Court justices, allowing qualified lawyers or judges to apply for the openings on the top court themselves, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday. In Canada, the prime minister picks Supreme Court justices and the choice is not subject to parliamentary approval. "Gone are the days of governments -- Liberal and Conservative alike -- nominating Supreme Court justices through a secretive backroom process," Trudeau said. Under the new system, any qualified Canadian lawyer or judge who is functionally bilingual and representative of the diversity of Canada can nominate themselves for the top court's job. The application period will end on Aug. 24 this year just before Justice Thomas Cromwell retires in September this year. Former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell will chair a seven-member, non-partisan advisory board who will recommend three to five candidates to Trudeau for consideration. But their recommendations are non-binding. The eventual nominees will be questioned by lawmakers of all parties. The previous selection system sparked controversy when then Prime Minister Stephen Harper tapped Marc Nadon, a semi-retired Federal Court of Appeal judge, for one of three slots reserved for judges from Quebec on the top court. The Supreme Court rejected Harper's pick, saying Nadon was not qualified. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) is scaling up its assistance to reach more than 1.5 million people in desperate need in the Lake Chad Basin, a UN spokesman said here Tuesday. "A brutal insurgency by Boko Haram has increased humanitarian needs in what was already a deeply vulnerable region," Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. WFP had earlier been assisting 1 million people in the area, but it is increasing its work, both because the needs are greater as more people are driven into displacement and because it can do more as further areas become accessible inside Nigeria, he said. The Chad Basin is the largest endorheic drainage basin in Africa, centered on Lake Chad. It has no outlet to the sea and contains large areas of desert or semi-arid savanna. The basin spans seven countries, including most of Chad and a large part of Niger. Across the Lake Chad Basin, the UN estimates that more than nine million people need humanitarian assistance, the spokesman said. In the areas affected by Boko Haram violence, nearly 5 million face hunger, he said. "Unless life-saving assistance is provided fast, hunger will only deepen during the current lean and rainy season, which lasts until September." WFP needs urgent support to continue to provide food and nutritional assistance to displaced people and host communities alike, with 122 million U.S. dollars required until the end of the year, he said. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- "The United Nations is deeply disturbed by the ongoing destruction of civilian infrastructure, particularly medical facilities" across Syria, and the world body called for an end to the destructive action and save the hospitals from war damage in the country, a UN spokesman said here Tuesday. "Over recent days, the UN has received reports of five hospitals hit by airstrikes, including three in Aleppo governorate and one each in Dara'a and Idleb," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. Dozens of casualties and injuries resulting from these strikes have been reported, including pregnant women and children." Prior to the reported strikes, these medical facilities provided life-saving healthcare to tens of thousands of people, he said, adding that as a result of the destruction, "many of the facilities are no longer functioning." Further attacks on civilian infrastructure, including those on July 31 and Aug. 1, reportedly damaged Aleppo's electricity and water distribution infrastructure, Dujarric said. "This has resulted in an electricity blackout throughout the city and has left residents throughout Aleppo with no access to water through the public water network." "The UN continues to call on all parties to the conflict to end the destruction of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure that is essential for the civilian population, and to respect their obligations under International Humanitarian Law and the International Human Rights Law," he said. In late April, airstrikes have hit a hospital in a rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo, killing at least 27 people, including three children and the city's last paediatrician, reports said. CARACAS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela on Tuesday rejected the allegation that there is a vacancy in the leadership of the five-member Southern Common Market (Mercosur) trade bloc, made by its members Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The controversy emerges within the trade block over its leadership as Brazil and Paraguay objected to Venezuela's succession to the rotating presidency. "Venezuela categorically rejects the invention of a fraudulent idea ... expressed in the false assumption that there is a vacancy in the pro-tempore presidency, which we have been legally fulfilling since July 29," Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement. Uruguay's presidency of the bloc expired at the end of July and Venezuela was next in line to fill Mercosur's rotating six-month presidency. However, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay have refused to acknowledge the succession, maintaining that the seat remains vacant. Paraguay cited alleged human rights violations in Venezuela. The incident underscores the political rift in South America as the three Mercosur members ruled by right-of-center governments are ideologically opposed to Venezuela's ruling socialist party. Venezuela "denounces the machinations of the extreme right" in South America, the ministry said, adding Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay "comprised a new Triple Alliance" that was working against it. The alliance is willing to destroy Mercosur in the process, the ministry warned, while expressing its willingness to continue to work to strengthen the bloc to further regional integration. SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired one ballistic missile into east waters from its west region at about 7:50 a.m. local time, Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday citing South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Liu Jieyi, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, addresses a Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, May 11, 2016. Liu Jieyi called on internet service providers to enhance self-discipline and take initiative in the fight against terrorism. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The international community should prevent children from becoming the victims of terrorist and extremist ideologies, a Chinese envoy said here on Tuesday. Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, made the appeal at a Security Council debate, while calling on countries to take effective measures to combat the use of internet by terrorists to spread terror. "We should increase education of children and help children form a mentality of respect, openness and tolerance, reject violence and avoid negative influence of terrorist and extremist ideologies," said Liu. "We should give full play to the role of families, schools and communities to form a protective umbrella against the encroachment on children by terrorist ideologies," he added. In addition, Liu noted there should be a resolute fight against terrorism and the international community should firmly combat the crime of killing, abuse and abductions of children by terrorists. At the debate, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said "children still pay the highest price in wartime." "Extremists are torturing, detaining and killing children, sending them on suicide missions and selling them as sex slaves," Ban said. According to a UN report on children and armed conflict, children have been significantly affected by violent extremism in recent years and were often the direct targets of terrorist acts. In this regard, Ban called on the Security Council to do everything possible to protect children from the scourge of armed conflict and spare others in the future. People attend a rally to protest against deploying the U.S. missile defense system, called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), in front of the defense ministry in Seoul, South Korea, July 13, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Jiahui) by Xinhua writer Chen Shilei BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- South Korea should stop playing with fire by hosting the U.S. anti-missile system on its own soil, as the move will not only isolate itself but also undermine regional stability. Less than two weeks ago, South Korea and the United States reached the agreement to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in the southern region of South Korea, despite continued opposition from neighboring nations. Although the two countries claimed THAAD will not target any other third party but will be operated only in response to nuclear and missile threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the deployment is no doubt a key step in the U.S. strategy of pivoting to Asia and will escalate tensions in Northeast Asia, especially on the Korean Peninsula. It is believed that Seoul knows what the consequences of hosting THAAD are, but its siding with Washington for whatever reasons on THAAD shows its short-sightedness and poor diplomatic judgment. While being useless in the face of the DPRK's short-range missiles and artillery, THAAD is already pushing the DPRK to be aggressive. The DPRK warned it would take "physical measures" and it test-fired three short-range ballistic missiles in a show of force against its southern neighbor's decision. Escalating tensions on the peninsula will only shatter the Korean people's dream of peace and reunification, which will be the bitterest legacy of the Park Geun-hye government and the biggest misfortune of the Korean people. People from Seongju county hold banners to protest against the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), during a rally in Seoul, capital of South Korea, on July 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) Seoul's move will also damage its relations with China and Russia, and it will lose the two countries' support on the DPRK nuclear issue. Even worse, it will lose its independence when it comes to foreign policy making. The reason why Beijing and Moscow firmly reject the missile defense system is that with the shield's X-band radar, Washington is able to peer conveniently into China and Russia, posing a grave threat to the security interests of the two countries and to regional peace. Seoul's picking of a date to announce its decision ahead of the announcement of the award on the South China Sea arbitration is a severe misjudgment, assuming that China will be too occupied to respond to the deployment of THAAD. Such an irresponsible act on South Korea's part is eroding the strategic trust Beijing once placed in it. Besides, the deployment of THAAD will adversely affect the economic and trade relations between South Korea and China, Seoul's largest trading partner. Seoul has yet to fully understand that accepting the deployment of a missile shield will only let South Korea become the frontline for possible strategic confrontation between the world's major countries. It is advisable that Seoul should seriously consider whether it would really benefit from a THAAD deployment and reconsider its dangerous move to avoid an escalation of regional tensions and safeguard hard-won peace and stability. by Sylvia B. Zarate BOGOTA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- As Colombia's government and largest guerrilla force prepare to put an end to five decades of civil war with a definitive peace deal, the challenges and opportunities of a post-conflict era are coming into greater focus. Colombia is preparing to reap the benefits of peace, and to take on the complex tasks of dismantling the war machine and rebuilding not just communities, but also lives. The end of fighting between government troops and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) should bring peace. Unfortunately, landmines, one of the legacies of the conflict, threaten to continue to inflict death and destruction in many parts of Colombia for years to come. A demining campaign agreed to by both sides has already begun in what is considered to be Colombia's most heavily mined location, the El Orejon trail in the department of Antioquia. Members of the FARC's 36th front are believed to have planted some 3,000 mines in this area. According to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), "Colombia suffers from widespread suspected landmine and explosive remnant of war contamination." "There have been reports of mine and UXO (unexploded ordnance) incidents in over 60 percent of Colombia's municipalities, and in 31 out of 32 administrative departments," UNMAS said. While the number of people killed or injured from stepping on a mine is on the decline, "Colombia still has the second highest number of new victims registered each year, with 219 new victims reported in 2015," including many children, the UN agency said. Ending the conflict will also put an end to the rebels' recruitment of minors to join the armed leftist movement. It should free some 8,000 Colombian youth, who today form part of the guerrilla group, to rejoin their families and pursue education. For those children and others living in rebel strongholds, the Colombian government needs to invest to provide free or affordable quality education if it wants to counter the influence of still active guerrilla groups, like the smaller National Liberation Army, or the lure of criminal organizations. In addition, the government will need to spur the creation of jobs for the nearly 10,000 FARC fighters who will be laying down arms to rejoin society. Providing opportunities for decent employment will ensure the fighters and their families to make a smooth transition to normal life, and prevent them from falling victim to criminal bands. Some 50 percent of Colombia's criminal gangs involved in extortion and drug trafficking are believed to be former members of paramilitary groups that were disbanded, but were left without alternative livelihood. The peace accords between the government and the rebels carry their own price tag. Observers estimate that to implement the agreements, including a government pledge to develop the countryside, will require between 5 and 18 billion U.S. dollars a year. Colombia is partly banking on financial cooperation with the international community, with countries such as China, Canada, the United States and the European Union pledging aid. But the country also expects to see industry and production thrive in the post-conflict era, as death and destruction give way to building and creation. Three economic sectors hold particular promise, namely agriculture, tourism and foreign investment. Perhaps the sector most devastated by the conflict has been agriculture, as fighting forced thousands of families to flee the countryside and take refuge in the cities. The Agriculture Ministry has already announced a series of reforms to spur development, though the big challenge lies in drawing the younger generation back to the countryside. How effectively Colombia fights drug trafficking and production is another factor. The government will have to convince about 70,000 families who currently make a living from planting illicit crops to switch to alternative plants. UN statistics show coca production has doubled in recent years, amounting to 96,000 hectares, mainly in the departments of Cauca, Narino, Putumayo, Norte de Santander and Guaviare. Colombia is expected to see a rise in tourism, especially in parts of the country that were off limits due to the fighting. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said recently that the end of the conflict will allow national and foreign visitors to travel to regions with abundant wildlife that were formerly "red zones." The United States has warned its citizens about traveling to Colombia because of the conflict, but that will change once a peace deal is signed, said Santos. To prepare for a larger influx of visitors, Santos plans to beef up the country's tourism police force from the current 900 officers to 1,300 by 2017. Investment flows are also expected to increase. According to Santos, the government plans to earmark 25 billion dollars to develop infrastructure, competitiveness and technology in the coming years via projects that will attract foreign investors. CANBERRA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A salmonella outbreak in Australia has been linked to rockmelons, prompting authorities to warn pregnant women, infants and the elderly to avoid eating the tropical fruit. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) on Wednesday launched an investigation into the fruit after it was linked to a spike in salmonella cases throughout a number of Australian states. A statement released by FSANZ on Wednesday said while there was no sure source of the salmonella, those who cannot afford to risk their health should avoid the purchase and consumption of rockmelon. "While we wait for further information, the best advice is that consumers, especially infants, the elderly, pregnant women or people with compromised immune systems, should not consume rockmelon," the statement read. "(FSANZ) will continue to work with the state and territory enforcement agencies and the Federal Department of Health and update its advice to consumers." Rockmelons have previously been linked to cases of salmonella in the United States as recently as 2002, but also in both the 1950s and 1960s, and food authorities have said that rockmelons could carry salmonella as a result of water contamination, or contact with pests, wild animals or fertilizers. Australians have been warned to keep rockmelons well refrigerated, to wash their hands before and after handling the fruit, and to rinse it with cold tap water before consumption. Australia's latest outbreak follows a similar spate of cases earlier this year. In February, more than 200 cases of salmonella were reported as a result of poorly washed lettuce. KIEV, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Nadiya Savchenko, who spent two years in a Russian prison, announced on Tuesday a new hunger strike to speed up the release of other Ukrainian prisoners of war. "I've attempted many methods of fighting for these guys as the world fought for me. Now I am fighting for them as I fought for myself," Savchenko told reporters in Kiev. "The hunger strike will continue until the positive result is achieved," Savchenko added. Savchenko has been campaigning for the release of two dozen Ukrainians still held in eastern Ukraine via prisoner swap. She called on relatives of those still in captivity to protest outside government and presidential buildings in Kiev on Monday. Savchenko also said she is ready to go to the conflict area in eastern Ukraine for negotiations with the leadership of independence-seeking insurgents over the prisoner release. The exchange of the detainees is a key part of the Minsk cease-fire agreement, designed to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed some 9,400 people since April 2014. SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A new Cold War is haunting Northeast Asia as Washington and Seoul agreed to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile shield in South Korea, an expert on inter-Korean relations told Xinhua in a recent interview. "If THAAD is deployed (in South Korea), Northeast Asia will be placed under the shroud of a new Cold War," said Hwang Jae-ok, deputy director of the Institute for Peace and Cooperation in South Korea. As she sees it, the THAAD deployment is "aimed at containing China and strengthening U.S. hegemony in Northeast Asia." South Korea's decision to host THAAD puts regional security in peril, and countries in the region would have to choose sides in a looming confrontation, Hwang added. Seoul and Washington made a surprising announcement in July about their decision to install one THAAD battery in Seongju county, some 250 km southeast of Seoul, by the end of next year. The planned deployment triggered strong objection from China and Russia as radars of the U.S. missile shield can easily snoop Chinese and Russian territories. "The THAAD deployment decision caused uneasiness among scholars studying inter-Korean relations as well. They wonder how China and Russia will respond," said Hwang, adding that she expects the two countries, two major players in the region, to take diplomatic, economic and military countermeasures. Noting that the X-band radar of THAAD can detect all of Chinese territory and Russia's Far East, Hwang believed that the U.S. missile defense system does target China and Russia. "The THAAD deployment is not an issue for South Korea alone but an issue involving all countries in the region." Considering that the THAAD battery set to be deployed on South Korean soil will be operated by the U.S. Forces Korea, South Korea will have less room for maneuver as its armed forces actually become a part of the U.S. missile defense program with the THAAD installations, Hwang said. Moreover, THAAD is incapable of protecting South Korea from nuclear and missile threats from the North as the majority of DPRK missiles fly at an altitude of 20-30 km, lower than THAAD's intercepting altitude of 40-150 km, she added. ' Seoul and its surrounding areas will not be protected under the THAAD system as its interceptors have a maximum range of 200 km and the chosen site is some 250 km southeast of the capital city. For South Korea, THAAD is by no means a cure-all against nuclear and missile threats from the DPRK, said Hwang, adding that dialogue is the only solution to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. She called for a rapid resumption of long-stalled six-party talks involving the two Koreas, China, Russia, the United States and Japan. China-proposed a double-track approach on the issue, which underlines parallel efforts on denuclearization and peace talks, should be put on the agenda once the six-party talks are resumed, she said. MELBOURNE, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese company has bought one of Australia's largest cattle stations for 76 million U.S. dollars. Shanghai Zhongfu, trading in Australia as Kimberley Agricultural Investment (KAI), acquired the 476,000-hectare Carlton Hill station in far north Western Australia (WA). The sale, approved by the federal government's Foreign Investment Review Board in March according to the Australian newspaper, paves the way for KAI to invest in food processing plants in nearby Kununurra. "The matter was assessed by the government prior to the election and not deemed to be contrary to the national interest," Treasurer Scott Morrison's spokesman told News Limited on Wednesday. Among investment opportunities being considered for food processing in Kununurra are a 300 million U.S. dollars sugar and biofuel mill, a grain grading facility, cattle abattoir and a cotton gin. Senator Matthew Canavan, Minister for Northern Australia, welcomed Shanghai Zhongfu's continued investment in the area, telling News Limited that the company was renowned as a good citizen and employer in the Ord irrigation area. The approval of the sale in March came shortly before Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's government rejected -- for the second time -- the sale of the Kidman cattle empire to a Chinese consortium for 280 million U.S. dollars. The previous owner of Carlton Hill, Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC), will continue to run 50,000 head of cattle on grazing land unfit for crops as part of a 10-year free leaseback included in the property's sale. TOKYO, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Japan on Wednesday condemned a missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and lodged an official protest with Pyongyang saying the launch was in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told a press briefing that what was believed to be a Nodong medium-range class ballistic missile flew for around 1,000 kilometers and landed in seas off Oga Peninsula, to the west of Akita Prefecture, in Northern Honshu. Nakatani said that the missile landed within what Japan describes as its exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan and said his agency is currently "analyzing the situation." The defense minister also said that his agency and the coast guard were currently determining whether any damage had been caused to aircraft vessels in the vicinity. "The launch is in defiance of clear UN Security Council resolutions and is an extremely problematic act from the standpoint of securing the safety of aircraft and vessels at sea,"the Japanese government was quoted as saying in a statement. Nakatani ordered the nation's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to be on high alert following the launch, which is believed to have taken place from an area in the South Hwanghae province which lies to the southwest of the DPRK capital Pyongyang and is the first such kind to have landed in what Japan believes to be its territorial waters. The spate of recent launches, government officials here have said, have been a show of defiance against UN Security Council resolutions slapped on the DPRK for its ongoing nuclear and ballistic missile technology programs which are banned under the council's resolutions. The DPRK in addition to a number of missile launches and attempts has also conducted four nuclear test which have also been resolutely condemned by Japan and the UN Security Council. Enditem MOSCOW, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea poses a threat to Russia and China and undermines peace and stability in the region, a Russian military expert has said. "By doing so, conditions are created for solving the nuclear problem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with military means. This is very dangerous and this may have unpredictable consequences," Konstantin Sivkov, an associate member of the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, told Xinhua in a recent interview. On July 13, Seoul and Washington announced an agreement to install one THAAD battery in the Seongju county by the end of next year, claiming that it is aimed to deter ballistic missiles from the DPRK. Russia and China have expressed strong objections to the THAAD installation in South Korea, as it damages their security interests and breaks the strategic balance in the region. Sivkov said the deployment of the territorial missile system would reduce the potential of Russian and Chinese tactical nuclear weapons, which served as a means of nuclear deterrence. He said the data collected by radars of the system were suited for spotting and monitoring targets not only on the territory of the DPRK, but also China and Russia. The AN/TPY-2 early missile warning radar can detect a 600-800 km range with a terminal mode, which South Korea plans to adopt, but it can be converted at any time into a forward-based mode that ranges as far as 2,000 km because the two versions have the same hardware. Thus it is believed that once the system is placed in South Korea, the United States would be able to peer conveniently into China and Russia, posing a threat to the security interests of the two countries and to regional peace. The expert believed that the deployment of THAAD called for strengthening military cooperation between China and Russia. In his view, Russia's nuclear potential, which serves as a deterrence to the United States, could complement the potential of China in guaranteeing its national security. Meanwhile, China's general military might is important for Russia, primarily its ground troops and, to a lesser extent, its navy, which has already become a serious force, as well as its industrial potential, he said. "Therefore, we are two countries that objectively need each other. Only together we can withstand modern challenges and threats," Sivkov said. Russia earlier indicated the possibility of deploying missile units in the country's eastern region in response to the deployment of THAAD, while the Chinese Defense Ministry has confirmed recently that Beijing is testing its own anti-missile systems to ratchet up self-defense capabilities. Sivkov ruled out the possibility of South Korea renouncing the THAAD deployment. The government in Seoul is a "puppet of the United States," which is really afraid of the DPRK's nuclear capability into the bargain, the expert said. JAKARTA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Mount Gamalama volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted earlier on Wednesday, forcing local authorities to close an airport, an official of disaster agency disclosed here. A 4.6-magnitude quake triggered the volcano to erupt at 6:28 a.m. local time, spewing a column of ash by up to 600 meters high, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster management agency. The volcanic ash was spread to the southeast and south of the crater, but there is no evacuation so far, he added. "Babullah airport in Ternate city is closed because of the volcanic ash," he told Xinhua via phone. The volcanic ash from volcano eruption in eastern part of Indonesia has often disturbed flight with route to Indonesia and Australia. Mount Gamalama is one of Indonesia's 129 active volcanoes. SYDNEY, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Three Chinese financial technology start-ups have begun their three-month long residency in Australia as part of the largest cross-border incubation. Australia is seeking to become the financial technology (FinTech) hub of the Asia-Pacific region through their FinTech Asia program, while removing regulatory barriers and implementing other mechanisms to help drag the economy away from mining led growth. "FinTech Asia is all about helping bring the best that Australian FinTech has to offer (in) key markets across Asia, and likewise entice some of the key start-ups from those markets to Australia to support them in terms of their market entry... and leverage the Australian market as a fantastic opportunity and test market in terms of going into the western hemisphere," the initiative's proponent, Stone & Chalk chief Alex Scandurra said at the official welcome in Sydney on Wednesday. "This isn't a country versus country play. We are helping governments, regulators and key organisations across Asia to adopt best practice and to collaborate with one another by creating a FinTech superhighway across Asia." The three start-ups creating cloud-based accounting software, QR-code point of sale systems for businesses servicing Chinese tourists and a "bank for entrepreneurs" that is streamlining cash management were selected via a highly competitive pitching competition at People Squared Shanghai during April's Australia Week in China. "These Chinese startups chosen for this program have a keen global focus, and will be in a position to commercialize and enter an entirely new market with the support and expertise of the Stone & Chalk community and our program partners," Scandurra said. Asia is fast becoming the center of the global technology revolution after investors poured 4.5 billion U.S. dollars into financial startups in 2015, a near four-fold increase on 2014, via mobile telecommunications. Mobile technology has allowed Asian consumers to purchase everything from insurance to every-day products. FinTech itself is one of the fastest growing sectors in global financial services industry, with total investments in peer-to-peer lenders, payment services companies and internet insurers rising 60 percent to 19.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2015. "I believe the global economic center of gravity has shifted away from places like the United States and (the United Kingdom)... to a line on the earth that runs somewhere between Shanghai and Sydney and picks up half the world's GDP, the fasted growing middle class and the fasted growing group of people anywhere in the world that is (embracing) technology," New South Wales state trade minister Stuart Ayres said at the welcome. "(The Chinese start-up's) contribution to this ecosystem won't just strengthen what's happening in FinTech here in Australia, but it sends an incredibly powerful message across the rest of the world that Sydney is the place to be when it comes to FinTech." Stone & Chalk, Australia's leading startup incubator, is a coup for the New South Wales state government as it seeks to make Sydney the innovation hub for financial services in the Asia-Pacific against stiff competition from Melbourne in Victoria state. Over the next 12 weeks, the three Chinese start-ups: MEGI Software (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Royal Pay and S. Capitol will receive ongoing support and mentoring from Stone & Chalk as well as access to their 23 domestic and international corporate partners while working alongside over 90 of Australia's leading fintech start-up companies. Enditem by Xinhua Writer Wang Haiqing BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reportedly fired a ballistic missile Wednesday morning. The launch, if proven to be true, would be a new violation against UN resolutions, but it also deserves deeper thinking at a time when regional security is in peril. The launch, already the third missile fired by the DPRK after Washington and Seoul announced their decision on July 8 to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile shield in South Korea, could easily be interpreted as a protest against the planned installation of the system. It also serves a reminder to policymakers in Seoul that by allowing THAAD deployment, South Korea is putting the cart before the horse in their pursuit of national security, as the key to security lies in good neighborly and friendly relations with its neighbors, rather than a bunch of U.S.-made missiles. Seoul's decision to host a battery of the U.S. global missile defense system has triggered massive protests in the country, threatening to rip apart the society. The Washington-Seoul agreement also drew criticism from China and Russia as the X-band radar of the system could easily snoop on the territories of the two countries. Considering strong opposition from both the domestic front and neighboring countries, and the fact that the THAAD system is useless against low-altitude missiles from the North, it would be wise for South Korean decision makers to give a second thought. As many analysts and geopolitical pundits have pointed out, the deployment of THAAD fulfills U.S. intention to sustain its military supremacy in the region, rather than the declared purpose of protecting South Korea from nuclear and missile threats from its northern neighbor. Regarding Seoul's security predicament with Pyongyang, the system could only make it worse, as testified by what happened Wednesday. Achieving lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula is no easy task, but Seoul should know better than simply giving nod to whatever Washington proposes. Northeast Asia faces better prospects for peace without THAAD. If Seoul is not moved by pleas of its own citizens, or persuaded by China and Russia, it should at least take heed of the launch and rethink: Does THAAD really make it safer? SYDNEY, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian seaweed farmers are taking the Australian subsidiary of Thailand's national petroleum explorer to court after an oil spill in the Timor Sea devastated the local industry. Acting on behalf of over 13,000 Indonesian seaweed farmers from Indonesia's Nusa Tenggara Timur province (NTT), Australian lawyers filed a 200 million Australian dollar (151.94 million U.S. dollar) class action lawsuit in Sydney's Federal Court on Wednesday claiming the company responsible for Montara oil rig explosion in August 2009 were negligent, and thus are entitled to compensation. "Things were going really well for their community, and in fact, they had a bumper year in 2008, but toward the end of 2009 everything stopped and their crops died,"lawyer acting on their behalf, Maurice Blackburn principle Ben Slade, told Australia's national broadcaster. "It was really quite a horrific incident and the company has for many years now tried to avoid compensating the Indonesians who suffered so greatly." It took approximately 10-weeks for the spill that gushed 300,000 litres of oil per day to be plugged following the Montara's blowout in Australian waters, approximately 250 kilometers south east of Rote Island (NTT), becoming Australia's worst offshore petroleum disaster. The rig's operator, the Australian subsidiary of Thailand's national petroleum exploration and production company PTTEP, have consistently accepted responsibility for the accident, but deny oil reached Indonesian shores. PTTEP Australasia also claim an independent analysis it commissioned following the spill shows no lasting impact on the highly sensitive and diverse ecosystem. "We are confident the results of these independent studies would stand up to the highest scrutiny, as would our assertion that it is reasonable to extrapolate from the studies that if the reefs closest to Montara where the oil and dispersant concentrations were at their greatest did not show lasting impacts, then it is highly improbable that the seas and coastline of NTT would have been impacted,"PTTEP Australasia said in a statement on Wednesday. In 2013, PTTEP Australasia said the Timor Sea was given"a clean bill of health"following a series of studies by the Montara Environmental Monitoring Program. The program was developed in partnership with Australian authorities. But relying on Indonesian tax records, the farmers had taken many years to get back to any sense of normal seaweed production following the spill, Slade said, though conceded it would be difficult to prove. "This case is replete with many problems. The analysis of the losses is difficult, but there are records, people paid tax," Slade said. "The records are there, it's just a big job to get it together." Indonesia's seaweed industry is world leading and used in a variety of products from foodstuffs to cosmetics and medicine. BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- China is "strongly dissatisfied" with Japan's 2016 defense white paper over its groundless accusations against China's defense development and military activities, according to a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. Spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement that China made solemn representations to Japan over the irresponsible white paper. Japan has no right to make carping comments on China's legitimate activities near Diaoyu Islands, Hua said, stressing that China's determination to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests is "unshakable." She noted that China's navy and air force activities are in line with international law, domestic law as well as national defense needs. China will not accept the "award" of the South China Sea arbitration initiated unilaterally by the Philippines, said Hua, adding that China will continue to work for the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiation between countries directly concerned on the basis of respect for historical facts. The spokesperson blamed Japan for fabricating excuses for military expansion through stirring up enmity on regional security. She urged Japan to earnestly learn from history, stick to a peaceful development path, act prudently in the military field and gain trust from its neighbors instead of undermining regional stability. Chinese Defense Ministry on Tuesday also expressed strong opposition to the Japanese white paper. HANGZHOU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Yang Weize, former Communist Party chief of Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, stood trial on Wednesday for accepting bribes. Yang was accused of accepting bribes worth over 16.43 million yuan (around 2.48 million U.S. dollars) either by himself or through his wife, according to the indictment. BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Wednesday pledged to tighten the crackdown on official misconduct in food and drug safety, taking down the "protective umbrella" shielding criminals. Procuratorates at all levels should target job-related crimes involving serious food and drug safety incidents, the SPP said in a statement. Officials who are found to have turned a blind eye to illegal activities in the food and drug industries; failed to transfer criminal cases to judicial organs; and those suspected of falsifying the results of food tests or animal and plant quarantine, will be harshly punished, it added. Procuratorates will also tighten inspection to address dereliction of duty or graft to dismantle the "protective umbrellas" that shield criminals. By Matt Walsh CANBERRA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The literacy and numeracy proficiency of Australian students has plateaued despite record levels of federal government funding, the latest results showed Wednesday. Released by the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), the results showed Australian students had not improved on their 2015 results, prompting Minister for Education Simon Birmingham to release a statement which said, while there was no overall decline in the results, the plateau was not good enough. He said the government would focus on "evidence-based" measures to get better results of a wide range of year levels -- from year 3 up to year 9. "This NAPLAN data clearly shows that while strong levels of investment in schools are important, it's more important to ensure that funding is being used on initiatives proven to boost student results," Birmingham said on Wednesday. "We need to focus on evidence based measures that will get results for our students because today's results once again show that, despite significant funding growth, we are not getting sufficient improvements in student outcomes. "That's why the Turnbull government has clear, evidence-based policies focused on quality educational outcomes for our children." According to the Education Department, the NAPLAN results showed an increase in reading scores of just 0.40 percent since 2013, a decrease in writing scores of 0.20 percent and an increase in numeracy of 1.26 percent across all year levels. In that time, there has been a 23.7 percent increase in federal school funding. Chief executive of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), Robert Randall, said the data was concerning, particularly given the record levels of funding in the education sector. "When we look to last year there's not the sustained effort that we would like to be seeing on a year-to-year basis, so we're a bit concerned it's leveling off, that's not what anyone wants to see," Randall told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Meanwhile education experts have questioned the need for the NAPLAN testing, with the University of Canberra's Misty Adoniou slamming the lack of progress despite the implementation of the tests. "It makes you wonder why we're doing NAPLAN, because I think the rationale was to show us where our weaknesses were so we could intervene and make improvement," Adoniou told the ABC. "We've now had five years of NAPLAN results in writing and we're either staying where we are or going backwards, so something's not working." Birmingham said the government would continue to invest more money into education, as educated workers would be the cornerstone of Australia's economic future. "Of course investment in our schools is important, which is why we will continue to grow funding from a record 12 billion U.S. dollars this year to 15 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, all to be allocated based on need," Birmingham said. "Our funding growth is sustainable but will be tied to a range of evidence-based initiatives to support students by focusing on outcomes in literacy, numeracy and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects, helping lift teacher quality and better preparing our children for life after school." According to the results, students in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) scored best for reading and grammar, while Victorian students had the best writing and numeracy scores. Students in Queensland and Western Australia continued to show the most improvement across the board. SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday fired two ballistic missiles into east waters in an apparent protest against the deployment in South Korea of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). Two DPRK ballistic missiles, estimated to be Rodong, were fired eastward from South Hwanghae province at about 7:50 a.m. local time, but one exploded with an unsuccessful launch, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The other flew around 1,000 km. The DPRK missile reportedly landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), marking the first time that a DPRK missile fell on Japanese waters. Citing South Korean military authorities, Yonhap news agency reported that the landing in Japanese waters was aimed at displaying its missile capability of reaching U.S. troops in Japan as well as in South Korea. The test-firing came after the DPRK test-fired two medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles and one shorter-range Scud missile on July 19 to protest against the decision between Seoul and Washington to deploy THAAD in South Korean soil. On July 8, South Korea and the U.S. abruptly announced an agreement to deploy one THAAD battery by the end of next year. Five days later, the deployment site was designated at Seongju county, some 250 km southeast of Seoul. One day after the announcement, Pyongyang test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off its east coast to demonstrate against the THAAD deployment decision. In times of military conflict, it is hard to detect and track SLBM with THAAD's X-band radar. THAAD is incapable of intercepting Rodong and Scud missiles targeting South Korea as the DPRK missiles travel at an altitude of 20-30 km. The U.S. anti-missile system is designed to shoot down missiles at a much higher altitude of 40-150 km. The DPRK military has threatened to take"physical measures"against the THAAD deployment site. On July 19, Seoul's unification ministry said Pyongyang appeared to have been in a state of conducting another nuclear test at any time given increased activity in its main Punggye-ri nuclear test site. All of the four DPRK underground nuclear tests had been carried out in Punggye-ri since 2006. The latest took place in January this year. China and Russia have strongly opposed to THAAD in South Korea as it raises tensions in Northeast Asia. The U.S. missile defense system also breaks strategic balance in the region and severely damages security interests of China and Russia as the X-band radar can peer into Chinese and Russian territories. Seoul claims that it will adopt the terminal mode radar with a detectable range of 600-800km, but it can be converted at any time into a forward-based mode capable of detecting at least 2,000 km. The modified version allegedly needs no conversion, spotting as far as 3,000-4,000 km. South Korea's capital city and its adjacent metropolitan area cannot be protected by the THAAD battery as its interceptors have a maximum range of 200 km Seongju is about 250 km away from the capital. It's a clear evidence to support a claim that THAAD in South Korea is not aimed at intercepting DPRK missiles, but supervising and pressuring China and Russia as part of U.S. efforts at its Pivot-to-Asia strategy. BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- What South Korea truly needs to ensure its national security is a friendly neighborhood rather than a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system at the cost of the interests of surrounding countries such as China. The joint decision of Seoul and Washington in early July to deploy the system on the Korean Peninsula breaks the strategic balance in Northeast Asia, threatening if not dooming regional peace and stability with a possible onset of a new Cold War. With the system's X-band radar commanding surveillance of an area that extends over 1,900 km from the peninsula, the United States can spy on almost half of China's territory and the southern part of Russia's Far East, endangering the two countries' national security. Seoul's move represents a departure from its past successes marked by a courageous shift from confrontation to cooperation to break the curse of the Cold War seen in hosting the 1988 Olympics. That event earned it a turning point in history to enable economic prosperity in a better security environment. Good relations with surrounding countries have helped its economy tide over the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the global turmoil in 2008, and made it a big winner in Northeast Asia and the whole world. Geographic location has made its connections with China both necessary and convenient as China has become its biggest trading partner and biggest investment destination. South Korea's annual trade with China is worth 300 billion U.S. dollars, which exceeds the total volume of its trade with the United States, Japan and the European Union combined, with 60 percent of its trade surplus coming from China. South Korea's economy has benefited much from cooperation with China as well as joint efforts toward regional peace and stability. On top of these, membership of Beijing-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and a bilateral free trade deal are expected to drive it further forward on the way to economic success. However, its decision to deploy THAAD regardless of Beijing's repeated opposition risks the prospect. As a THAAD system on its soil fits well into Washington's planned missile shield against China in the Asia-Pacific, the diversion from its 30-year fruitful commitment to regional peace and stability damages its political mutual trust with China. Meanwhile, as the move is expected to stimulate Pyongyang to go further on its way of nuclear development, a vicious cycle of military confrontation is looming on an already volatile Korean Peninsula. Disregarding old war memories, Cold War wounds and new lessons from intervention by outside forces in West Asia and North Africa, Seoul may face an outcome it cannot afford by tying itself to the U.S. chariot of Asia-Pacific re-balancing, or rather reducing itself to a ladder to be kicked down after serving the U.S. purpose of hegemony. Enditem SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's e-commerce exports posted a double-digit increase in the second quarter thanks to demand in China for South Korean cosmetics and clothing, a government report showed Wednesday. Sales in cyberspace to foreign countries reached 497.4 billion won (446 million U.S. dollars) in the April-June period, up 83 percent from the same period of last year, according to Statistics Korea. Online purchase from overseas grew 5 percent from a year earlier to 411.8 billion won in the second quarter, sending the surplus to 85.6 billion won in the cited period. The statistical agency attributed the second-quarter surge in e-commerce exports to strong demand for South Korean cosmetics and clothing coming from a popularity of the K-drama "Descendants from the Sun." E-commerce exports to China, South Korea's largest trading partner, amounted to 373.2 billion won in the second quarter, accounting for 75 percent of the total. It was followed by the United State with 7 percent, Japan with 6.4 percent and Southeast Asian nations with 3.9 percent. The upward trend, however, is not expected to continue in the second half of this year as the decision between Seoul and Washington to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korean soil damages Beijing-Seoul relations and may result in weak demand for South Korean products. Many experts predict a fall in the number of Chinese tourists visiting South Korea as the THAAD deployment seriously damages security interests of China and Russia and breaks strategic balance in the region. Trade between China and South Korea, which heavily depends on the world's second-largest economy for exports, is expected to weaken in accordance with the worsening of the bilateral ties. CANBERRA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- People are encouraged to report any debris they suspect that might relate to the missing Malaysian Airline MH370 aircraft to local authorities, the Joint Agency Coordination Center (JACC) said in its weekly report released on Wednesday. JACC said that since the disappearance of MH370, many items of suspected debris have been handed in by members of the public. These items are potentially very important and people should continue to do so. JACC explained the procedure of examination of suspected debris. When debris is reported, photographs of the item are reviewed by Malaysian authorities, in consultation with relevant experts including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft. This preliminary examination can often quickly discount items as not being from an aircraft. Should the item be identified as coming from an aircraft, Malaysia negotiates with the government of the country in which the debris is found to secure custody of the item so that a detailed examination can be undertaken. In some instances, the construction, composition and presence of unique details and markings have been able to definitively link items to a Boeing 777 and in some cases a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777. This in turn allows for the conclusion to be drawn that the item is almost certainly from MH370. This kind of analysis can be conducted in Malaysia, with assistance from the aircraft manufacturer but at Malaysia's request, is sometimes conducted in Australia, JACC said. Some items that have shown evidence of marine life have had further analysis undertaken by Australian experts from Geoscience Australia, the Australian National University and other institutions in the hope that additional information relevant to the search can be gleaned. In addition, drift analysis is being conducted by the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in an attempt to determine if debris could have originated from the search area. Whether items come to Australia to be examined is determined by the Malaysian Investigation Team in consultation with the ATSB on a case by case basis. JACC noted in the report that more than 110,000 square kilometres of the seafloor have been searched so far. At a meeting of ministers from Malaysia, Australia and China held on July 22, 2016, it was agreed that should the aircraft not be located in the current search area, and in the absence of credible new evidence leading to the identification of a specific location of the aircraft, the search would be suspended upon completion of the 120,000 square kilometre search area. This does not mean the termination of the search, JACC said. "Should credible new information emerge which can be used to identify the specific location of the aircraft, consideration will be given to determining next steps," it said. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board, most of them being Chinese nationals. A number of debris have been found off the coast of Africa. Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester confirmed that one piece has been confirmed to be from the missing aircraft and five other pieces are highly likely to be from the aircraft. People from Seongju county hold banners to protest against the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), during a rally in Seoul, capital of South Korea, on July 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday fired two ballistic missiles into east waters in an apparent protest against the deployment in South Korea of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). Two DPRK ballistic missiles, estimated to be Rodong, were fired eastward from South Hwanghae province at about 7:50 a.m. local time, but one exploded with an unsuccessful launch, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The other flew around 1,000 km. The DPRK missile reportedly landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), marking the first time that a DPRK missile fell on Japanese waters. Citing South Korean military authorities, Yonhap news agency reported that the landing in Japanese waters was aimed at displaying its missile capability of reaching U.S. troops in Japan as well as in South Korea. The test-firing came after the DPRK test-fired two medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles and one shorter-range Scud missile on July 19 to protest against the decision between Seoul and Washington to deploy THAAD in South Korean soil. On July 8, South Korea and the U.S. abruptly announced an agreement to deploy one THAAD battery by the end of next year. Five days later, the deployment site was designated at Seongju county, some 250 km southeast of Seoul. One day after the announcement, Pyongyang test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off its east coast to demonstrate against the THAAD deployment decision. In times of military conflict, it is hard to detect and track SLBM with THAAD's X-band radar. THAAD is incapable of intercepting Rodong and Scud missiles targeting South Korea as the DPRK missiles travel at an altitude of 20-30 km. The U.S. anti-missile system is designed to shoot down missiles at a much higher altitude of 40-150 km. The DPRK military has threatened to take"physical measures"against the THAAD deployment site. On July 19, Seoul's unification ministry said Pyongyang appeared to have been in a state of conducting another nuclear test at any time given increased activity in its main Punggye-ri nuclear test site. All of the four DPRK underground nuclear tests had been carried out in Punggye-ri since 2006. The latest took place in January this year. China and Russia have strongly opposed to THAAD in South Korea as it raises tensions in Northeast Asia. The U.S. missile defense system also breaks strategic balance in the region and severely damages security interests of China and Russia as the X-band radar can peer into Chinese and Russian territories. Seoul claims that it will adopt the terminal mode radar with a detectable range of 600-800km, but it can be converted at any time into a forward-based mode capable of detecting at least 2,000 km. The modified version allegedly needs no conversion, spotting as far as 3,000-4,000 km. South Korea's capital city and its adjacent metropolitan area cannot be protected by the THAAD battery as its interceptors have a maximum range of 200 km Seongju is about 250 km away from the capital. It's a clear evidence to support a claim that THAAD in South Korea is not aimed at intercepting DPRK missiles, but supervising and pressuring China and Russia as part of U.S. efforts at its Pivot-to-Asia strategy. Photo provided by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 24, 2016 shows a scene of an underwater test-fire of submarine ballistic missile in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). (Xinhua/KCNA) KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia has assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of August, the foreign ministry said here in a press release Wednesday. This is the second time Malaysia has assumed the position since the country's election to a non-permanent member of the council for the 2015-2016 period, Malaysia plans to convene an open debate on weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) on Aug. 23, with the aim to address new threats and challenges in preventing the proliferation of WMDs, related materials and technologies to non-state actors, according to the statement. The country will also chair a debate on the protection of children in armed conflicts and hold discussions regarding the issues of Palestine, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon, among others, the ministry said. It will also facilitate the selection process for the next UN secretary-general, who is expected to succeed Ban Ki-moon after the end of his term in December 2016, the ministry added. The presidency of the Security Council rotates among its 15 member states - which is comprised of five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members - based on the English-language alphabetical order of the countries' names on a monthly basis. SYDNEY, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A Western Australian zoo is in mourning following the death a Sumatran tiger named Setia that had to be put down after a health check revealed that it had an aggressive tumor growing in her abdomen. The Perth Zoo said the decision to put down the animal was made on Tuesday after the lumps were discovered on the 16-year-old tiger during a routine health check at the zoo's veterinary hospital. In a statement on Wednesday, the zoo said it was not uncommon for older animals such as Setia, to develop cancer and other age-related health problems. Setia was born at the Perth zoo in 2000 and went on to have four cubs, contributing greatly to the global Sumatran breeding program. One of her cubs, Jaya, is at Perth Zoo, while another cub Melati, recently gave birth to cubs at the London zoo. Sumatran tigers are a critically endangered species with only 400 believed to remain in the wild today. SINGAPORE, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Two more tree kangaroos settled down in Singapore Zoo on Wednesday, making the zoo a home of four tree kangaroos in total. They now live in the newly opened Goodfellow's tree kangaroo exhibit at the Australasian Zone. Tree kangaroos stand among the rarest animals kept under human care, with only approximately 50 in zoos around the world. The recent arrivals are Makaia and Nupela, who are selected as a couple to enhance the sustainability of the global population of this species. As its name suggests, Goodfellow's tree kangaroos live in trees and have well-developed and muscular forelimbs, which serve them well when navigating their canopy homes in the forests of Papua New Guinea. Makaia is already a star dubbed "miracle baby" in Australia. Makaia, whose name means magic in a Papua New Guinea dialect, came from Australia's Adelaide Zoo. Nupela hailed from Sydney's Taronga Zoo, and was a local celebrity in her own right, being the first Goodfellow's tree kangaroo to be born in the Australian zoo in over 20 years. Goodfellow's tree kangaroo numbers have dwindled drastically in the last century, and in 2012, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) set up a Global Species Management Plan (GSMP) to ensure their survival. Under the GSMP, participating zoos in Australia, Europe, North America, Japan, and Singapore would cooperate to enhance the sustainability of the global population under human care, and also act as an assurance population should there be a catastrophic decline in the wild. Farmer Shin Jeong-geun speaks to journalists about the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in Seongju county, South Korea, Aug. 2, 2016. It is not difficult to feel how deeply and severely locals are enraged at their government, which agreed with the United States to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in their hometown. Banners expressing opposition to the U.S. missile defense system are found almost everywhere inside the Seongju county, in which one THAAD battery is set to be installed by the end of next year. Oriental melon farming is an economic mainstay of the county, which yields more than 70 percent of the country's total melon crops. THAAD's X-band radar is known to emit super-strong microwave detrimental to human body. It also causes an environmental hazard, boosting concerns about the farming in Seongju. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye's approval rating posted a double-digit decline in her political home turf following a decision to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in its soil. Park's support rate in North Gyeongsang province, a traditional home ground for herself and the ruling Saenuri Party, tumbled 14.8 percentage points from a month earlier to 27.7 percent, according to a survey of 1,224 adults conducted by local pollster Research View between July 29 and 31. It was the first time Park's approval rating fell below 30 percent, once called a cemented supporting level. Negative assessment on Park's management of state affairs was 57.7 percent, more than double the support rate of 27.7 percent. Another political hometown of the conservative party, South Gyeongsang province, posted 28.7 percent in support rate for President Park. Negative assessment in the region almost doubled at 56.8 percent. The THAAD deployment decision alienated people in the southeast regions from President Park. Early last month, Seoul and Washington abruptly agreed to install one THAAD battery in Seongju county, some 250 km southeast of Seoul, by the end of next year. Seongju residents and people in adjacent regions were enraged at the out-of-the-blue announcement without any prior notice and discussions. Villagers have held a candlelight rally every night to protest against the decision, while collecting anti-THAAD signatures to deliver those to White House. Nationwide approval rating for Park inched up 1.4 percentage points from a month earlier to 28.0 percent, but it was less than half the negative assessment of 59.8 percent. The main opposition Minju Party surpassed the conservative party in its approval rating in the southeast regions for the first time in history. The Minju Party gained a support rate of 34.8 percent in North Gyeongsang province, higher than the Saenuri Party's 32.1 percent. In South Gyeongsang province, the former won 35.9 percent in approval rating, with the latter winning 30.2 percent. Nationwide approval rating for the main opposition party ranked first with 30.6 percent, followed by the ruling party with 29.7 percent, People's Party with 15.7 percent and Justice Party with 5.0 percent. Related: China Voice: ROK should rethink THAAD deployment BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- With the Republic of Korea (ROK) continuing to stress the need to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system on its territory, Seoul has been tied to Washington's chariot. The ROK has become the outpost of the United States missile defense system. Apparently, the ROK has been dangerously coerced by the United States. The ROK media have been quite clear about this. Full story Feature: Outcry nonstop from enraged S.Korean locals over THAAD deployment SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- It is not difficult to feel how deeply and severely locals are enraged at their government, which agreed with the United States to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in their hometown. Banners expressing opposition to the U.S. missile defense system are found almost everywhere inside the Seongju county, in which one THAAD battery is set to be installed by the end of next year. Many are found wearing a band around heads that reads "Absolute Objection to THAAD." Full story Spotlight: DPRK launches ballistic missile amid THAAD complication BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile, two weeks after three short-range ballistic missiles were test-fired in a show of force against the decision by Seoul and Washington to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile shield in South Korea. Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn (R) meets with outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aug. 3, 2016. Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Wednesday that Chinese assistance has importantly contributed to the development of Cambodia, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Chum Sounry. (Xinhua/Sovannara) PHNOM PENH, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Wednesday that Chinese assistance has importantly contributed to the development of Cambodia, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Chum Sounry. The minister made the remarks during a meeting with outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo. "On behalf of the government and people of Cambodia, His Excellency expressed sincere and profound gratitude to China for having provided assistance to and cooperation with Cambodia in all fields," the spokesman told reporters after the meeting. "He underlined that the assistance and cooperation (from China) have importantly contributed to the current development of Cambodia," said Sounry. "The minister also underscored that Cambodia's all-field development today could not be detached from China's assistance and cooperation," the spokesman added. During the meeting, Prak Sokhonn highly appreciated Ambassador Bu for her active contributions to further enhancing Cambodia-China relations and cooperation during her three-year diplomatic mission in Cambodia. For her part, Bu thanked the minister and officials at the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for working closely with the Chinese Embassy here during her tenure. TOKYO, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, retained almost half of his ministers in their current positions although controversially appointed Tomomi Inada, the former head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, to take on the defense minister portfolio replacing Gen Nakatani. The reshuffle, following his LDP and its coalition Komeito partner expanding their power base in an upper house election in July, marks Abe's third since he retook power in 2012 and has seen eight of his former 19-member lineup retained in their current roles, including his top spokesperson Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Finance Minister Taro Aso. The reshuffle has been pitched at underscoring the prime minister's intentions to shore up the nation's stagnant economy via the actualization of the latest installment of his "Abenomics" blend of economic policies and comes on the heels of the approval of a 28.1 trillion yen (277.74 billion U.S. dollar) stimulus package a day earlier. However, the appointment of Tomomi Inada, the former head of the LDP's Policy Research Council, as defense minister, replacing Gen Nakatani, was made due to Abe's ongoing push to expand the operational scope of the nation's Self-Defense Forces, observers have said. DALIAN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A deal to export 15 locomotives made by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) to New Zealand was signed on Tuesday in China's northeastern city of Dalian, the company said. It was the fourth group of locomotives that CRRC has exported to the country, raising the total number it has exported to New Zealand to 63. The 15 high-end locomotives will have upgraded brake systems and improved energy conservation, according to CRRC Dalian Co., Ltd. A joint venture with investment by CRRC Dalian and a New Zealand company was set up on Tuesday to provide technical consultancy and maintenance service for locomotives in New Zealand. CRRC, formed from the merger of former rivals CNR Corporation and China CSR, has been actively bidding for contracts in overseas markets in recent years and has sold equipment to more than 100 countries and regions. KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will make his first official visit to Malaysia from Aug. 3 to 5, the first visit in the history of bilateral relations of the two countries, said Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. Noting the visit marks elevation of ties between the two nations, the ministry said Poroshenko and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will exchange views on a range of global and regional issues of common concern, said the ministry. Both leaders will also witness the signing of a number of bilateral agreements and treaties aimed at further promoting cooperation between the two countries, it added. The press release provided by the ministry did not specify the details of the agenda, but expectations are high on whether the two leaders will talk about the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in July 2014. An investigative report concluded last year that the plane was downed by a Russian-made Buk missile, but did not say who fired it. After Malaysia, Poroshenko will continue his trip to Southeast Asia with a state visit to Indonesia from Aug. 5 to 7, during which he will meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. People from Seongju county hold banners to protest against the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), during a rally in Seoul, capital of South Korea, on July 21, 2016. More than 2,000 people from Seongju county, where one THAAD battery will be deployed, gathered at a square in Seoul for a rally on Thursday, to protest against the deployment of THAAD. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) MOSCOW, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea poses a threat to Russia and China and undermines peace and stability in the region, a Russian military expert has said. "By doing so, conditions are created for solving the nuclear problem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with military means. This is very dangerous and this may have unpredictable consequences," Konstantin Sivkov, an associate member of the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, told Xinhua in a recent interview. On July 13, Seoul and Washington announced an agreement to install one THAAD battery in the Seongju county by the end of next year, claiming that it is aimed to deter ballistic missiles from the DPRK. Russia and China have expressed strong objections to the THAAD installation in South Korea, as it damages their security interests and breaks the strategic balance in the region. Sivkov said the deployment of the territorial missile system would reduce the potential of Russian and Chinese tactical nuclear weapons, which served as a means of nuclear deterrence. He said the data collected by radars of the system were suited for spotting and monitoring targets not only on the territory of the DPRK, but also China and Russia. The AN/TPY-2 early missile warning radar can detect a 600-800 km range with a terminal mode, which South Korea plans to adopt, but it can be converted at any time into a forward-based mode that ranges as far as 2,000 km because the two versions have the same hardware. People from Seongju county hold the national flags of South Korea and banners to protest against the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), during a rally in Seoul, capital of South Korea, on July 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) Thus it is believed that once the system is placed in South Korea, the United States would be able to peer conveniently into China and Russia, posing a threat to the security interests of the two countries and to regional peace. The expert believed that the deployment of THAAD called for strengthening military cooperation between China and Russia. In his view, Russia's nuclear potential, which serves as a deterrence to the United States, could complement the potential of China in guaranteeing its national security. Meanwhile, China's general military might is important for Russia, primarily its ground troops and, to a lesser extent, its navy, which has already become a serious force, as well as its industrial potential, he said. "Therefore, we are two countries that objectively need each other. Only together we can withstand modern challenges and threats," Sivkov said. Russia earlier indicated the possibility of deploying missile units in the country's eastern region in response to the deployment of THAAD, while the Chinese Defense Ministry has confirmed recently that Beijing is testing its own anti-missile systems to ratchet up self-defense capabilities. Sivkov ruled out the possibility of South Korea renouncing the THAAD deployment. The government in Seoul is a "puppet of the United States," which is really afraid of the DPRK's nuclear capability into the bargain, the expert said. RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A rapporteur of the Brazilian Senate's special commission on the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff advised on Tuesday that the suspended president should be submitted to trial. Senator Antonio Anastasia, the commission's rapporteur and a member of the opposition, presented his findings in a report and concluded that there was a crime of financial responsibility and advised that the president be put on trial. Rousseff was accused of committing a crime of financial responsibility by resorting to fiscal measures to close the 2014 budget and ensure the payment of social benefits. But the president's defense stated that the fiscal measures to which the president resorted did not constitute a crime of responsibility under the Brazilian law, and that the entire impeachment process was a coup. In this phase of the impeachment process, both the accusation and the defense present their arguments. Senators Katia Abreu and Gleisi Hoffman, supporters of Rousseff, presented a document with conclusions much diverse from Anastasia's. They reaffirmed the stance that the impeachment process was a coup and an aggression against the Brazilian democracy. The two senators said several recorded calls between Sergio Machado, former head of state-owned Petrobras' transportation company Transpetro, and high-profile opposition politicians, disclosed a couple months ago, clearly showed that the impeachment process was a maneuver orchestrated to halt the investigations of the Carwash Operation, which uncovered a huge corruption scheme at Petrobras. Senators in the special impeachment commission will analyze Anastasia's report and vote whether to accept his recommendation on Thursday. Next week, the entire Senate will analyze the report and vote whether to start a trial or shelve the case. Only a simple majority is necessary for a trial to be started. In that case, the suspended president will face trial in the Senate, presided over by the head of the Supreme Court. If the Senate approves the trial, the final trial session will take place in late August. Rousseff was suspended by the Senate on May 11 for up to 180 days pending a decision on impeachment trial. Related: Brazil's Rousseff and Lula to miss Olympic Games Opening Ceremony RIO DE JANEIRO, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's suspended president Dilma Rousseff and her predecessor Luiz Inocio Lula da Silva announced Tuesday that they would not attend the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Aug. 5, local media reported. The press secretaries of both politicians told the Globonews TV station that they would not attend, due to disagreements with the interim government of President Michel Temer. Full story Brazil's Rousseff likens impeachment drive to failed Turkish coup RIO DE JANEIRO, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff on Saturday said the drive to impeach her was akin to Friday's failed military coup attempt in Turkey. Both were attacks on democracy, she said. Full story Rousseff vows never quit as interim gov't invites her to Olympics RIO DE JANEIRO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff vowed on Friday that she would never stand down, one day after she was invited to attend the Rio Olympics in August. U.S. Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton gestures to spectators on the last day of the 2016 U.S. Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the United States , on July 28, 2016. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has formally accepted the U.S. Democratic Party' s nomination for president and pledged more economic opportunities for Americans and "steady leadership". (Xinhua/Li Muzi) by Matthew Rusling ASHBURN, United States, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Supporters of U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Tuesday blasted his rival Hillary Clinton for corruption at an event in Virginia, while demanding the Democratic nominee be locked up. "The American people need the truth. We're tired of lies," a Trump supporter identified only as Krishna told Xinhua outside the campaign event. "She's got to pay for it," the woman said when asked about Clinton's alleged negligence concerning U.S. national security. Such calls have been heard among Trump supporters across the country in recent weeks, on the heels of the Federal Bureau of Investigation chief's statement that Clinton was "extremely careless" in dealing with the nation's secrets while she was secretary of state during U.S. President Barack Obama's first term. While Clinton was cleared of any wrongdoing, critics are slamming her for using a personal email account and a private server at home to conduct business as secretary of state. Outside the event on Trump's campaign trail, in which he spoke to an audience of around 1,000, hundreds of supporters waited to see the New York billionaire in a line that snaked around the building. On the street outside the local high school where the event was held, several dozen anti-Trump protesters held placards -- many of them students at the high school -- and got honks of support from the horns of passing motorists. For Trump supporters, their reasons for supporting the brash businessman vary, including his economic policy, foreign policy to his support to the nation's police after two incidents in which officers were ambushed and shot dead by anti-cop assailants. A supporter, who identified himself as Judge, claimed that "this country has been corrupt since Barack Obama's been president." Of Clinton's email controversy, he said it is an example of her corruption. "I think she should be in prison," he said. A young woman who identified herself as Sally said she would vote for anyone except Clinton. "She's a criminal," she said. Inside the event, before Trump took the stage, the crowd broke into chants of "Lock her up! Lock her up! Lock her up!" Indeed, Clinton's email scandal overshadowed last week's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, when pundits and U.S. media focused on the issue for the first day or two. Clinton has also been embroiled in another controversy in recent weeks. Leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee showed that it tried to tip the scales in favor of Clinton to win against her opponents, mainly Democratic rival Bernie Sanders, in the primaries. The scandal grabbed headlines nationwide and had sparked angry protests by Sanders supporters outside the convention's venue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sanders supporters said the email scandal showed that the Democratic Party rigged the system to allow Clinton to unfairly grab the party's nomination for president. Trump has been quick to pounce on Clinton's alleged corruption, and is continuing his narrative of "crooked Hillary," which is a major part of the billionaire's strategy in the campaign. During his speech in Ashburn on Tuesday, Trump mocked Clinton and asked the crowd: "Does she seem presidential to you?" "No!" chanted the audience. Some protesters outside the event, however, told Xinhua a different story, with one student whose parents immigrated from abroad saying Trump's statements about immigrants are "heartbreaking." Indeed, Trump has in the past compared Mexicans to rapists and called for a halt of Muslims coming to the United States. Another anti-Trump protester who identified himself as Matthew said that he did not support Trump's views or morals. "This is where I grew up, and I will not let someone preach bigotry and hate in a place that I call home," he said. The two candidates were last week running neck and neck in the Real Clear Politics poll average, with Trump ahead by a hair. As of Tuesday, Clinton has slid ahead by four points, although there is a 2-point margin of error in most polls, which means the two candidates are essentially still running even. Related: Hillary Clinton accepts Democratic presidential nomination PHILADELPHIA, the United States, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday formally accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for president and pledged more economic opportunities for Americans and "steady leadership." "My primary mission as president will be to create more opportunities and more good jobs with rising wages right here in the United States from my first day in office to my last," Clinton said on the final day of the Democratic National Convention. Full story News Analysis: Hillary needs to show she's agent of change despite being around for three decades by Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, July 28 (Xinhua) -- As a political figure around for three decades, U.S. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton will face a tough challenge to show Americans that she's an agent of change in Thursday night's acceptance speech, amid a lackluster economy and a sense that the U.S. is losing ground abroad. Clinton's speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) comes at a time when the former U.S. secretary of state is running neck-in-neck in the polls against her Republican rival Donald Trump, who is ahead by a hair. Full story News Analysis: Hillary Clinton has secret weapon in her husband by Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Despite much recent controversy surrounding U.S. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, she has one secret weapon: her husband, former President Bill Clinton. Photo taken on July 30, 2016 shows tents on grassland during a tent festival in Shiqu County, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing) CHENGDU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Tired of the heat and typhoons of the summer? For those who live in one of China's harshest climates, the warm days are worthy of celebration. The Tent Festival is a four-day carnival held last Saturday to Tuesday in high-altitude Shiqu County in southwest China, which endures over 10 months of winter each year. Photo taken on July 30, 2016 shows a Tibetan herder at the festival in Shiqu County, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Wang Di) During the festival, thousands of hand-made tents were set up to accommodate over ten thousand performers and spectators from all over the county in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, Sichuan Province. Photo taken on July 30, 2016 shows tents on grassland during a tent festival in Shiqu County, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing) On Saturday, over 300 young people performed Zhenda Guozhuang, a Tibetan folk dance listed as an intangible cultural heritage of the province. People of the Tibetan ethnic group perform Guozhuang dance during a tent festival in Shiqu County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 30, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Di) "Guozhuang dances in other places are mainly gentle, while Zhenda Guozhuang is famous for its free and passionate movements," according to Guo Song, head of the county's cultural authority. "Our performers are all ordinary Tibetans, but it did not take us much time to rehearse since everyone from Zhenda Township can do it." People of the Tibetan ethnic group perform Guozhuang dance during a tent festival in Shiqu County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 30, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Di) In addition to traditional performances, such as Guozhuang and Tibetan Opera, the festival also featured horse races and massive parades of sheep and yaks. Photo taken on July 30, 2016 shows a yak parade during the tent festival in Shiqu County, Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Wang Di) Here are more pictures taken at the festival. Photo taken on July 30, 2016 shows a scene from Tibetan Opera at the opening of the tent festival in Shiqu County, Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Wang Di) Photo taken on July 30, 2016 shows Tibetan riders at the opening of the tent festival in Shiqu County, Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Wang Di) Photo taken on July 30, 2016 shows a group of Tibetan performers before the opening of the tent festival in Shiqu County, Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Wang Di) HANOI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- One patient in Vietnam's central Phu Yen province, some 950 km south of capital Hanoi, was confirmed to be positive with Zika virus on Wednesday. According to Phu Yen health department, the 27-year-old patient called Duong Dinh Tinh started getting fever on June 27, 2016, together with symptoms of muscle and joint pain, reported Vietnam's state-run news agency. With appearance of dotted rash on his body, Tinh was hospitalized in Phu Yen's Son Hoa district general hospital on June 30. The patient's samples were tested and showed that he was negative with dengue virus but positive with Zika virus, reported VNA. As soon as learning about the Zika infection, Phu Yen health department set up a monitoring group at the patient's home and other 30 surrounding households. As of Wednesday, no more Zika case has been reported in the area. Local health authorities urged close coordination with relevant agencies in the province in detecting suspected cases to prevent the disease from spreading, according to VNA. The patients who received medical treatment in Son Hoa general hospital from June 30 to July 7 will also be monitored. In early April, Vietnam reported two Zika infection cases in southern Khanh Hoa province and Ho Chi Minh City. The country declared free of Zika cases in late April. Zika is known as a virus that spreads through bites from Aedes aegypti mosquito. The virus is particularly risky for pregnant women as it is thought to be linked to a rare birth defect, which causes newborn babies to have unusually small, damaged brain. BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Slower economic growth, deteriorating export competitiveness and weak liner shipping profitability are putting pressure on the fees Chinese port operators can charge, said a new Moody's report. Overcapacity in the liner shipping industry, the key customer of port operators, is exacerbating the pressure on port operators' margins, according to the report titled "China Ports -- Slower Economic Growth Is Challenging the Sector." Consequently, shipping lines are facing significant pressure on freight rates, which in turn will make it increasingly difficult for port operators to negotiate higher container handling charges, it said. The China Containerized Freight Index, a barometer of the country's shipping market, saw an average composite index of 688.6 for the first seven months of 2016, dropping from the annual average of 875.9 in 2015, according to the Shanghai Shipping Exchange. Port operators in China are facing major headwinds from slower economic growth and a weaker throughput outlook, which could lead to margin pressure, the report noted. Export-oriented ports such as Shanghai and Shenzhen will be particularly affected by slowing container throughput amid muted export growth in China, said Osbert Tang, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst. These pressures are somewhat mitigated by the manageable capital expenditure (capex) plans for the port operators, as most have sufficient capacity to handle mega container ships. The credit rating agency noted that China's Belt and Road Initiative will increase merger and acquisition capex for the port operators as they expand overseas, although most operators have thus far been selective in their investment decisions. In the short term, such geographical expansion will raise the capex burden and increase political, execution and currency risks for the operators. However, in the longer term -- and subject to their ability to manage these challenges -- it will allow the operators to achieve synergies and increase their geographical diversification, the report predicted. WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Apple has replaced its hand gun emoji with a green water pistol in the wake of growing concerns in the United States over continuing gun violence. The gun swap came as the tech giant announced this week the release of over 100 new and redesigned emoji characters for the iOS 10, the new version of the operating system for iPhones and iPads, which is expected this fall. The emoji update shows women doing stereotypically male jobs, including as a detective, police officer, and construction worker. It also includes new female athletes, a rainbow flag and family options for single parents. In a statement, Apple said the update "brings more gender options to existing characters," but it did not directly address the replacement of the gun emoji. Weapon emojis have landed people in trouble with the law. In 2015, a Brooklyn teenager was arrested for posting Facebook updates with gun emojis pointing to police emojis. In France, a court sentenced a man to three months in prison for texting the pistol emoji to his ex-girlfriend after ruling the character could constitute a death threat. With a plastic trigger, the new green and orange water gun emoji looks like a harmless toy and will replace the black and silver revolver. The decision is not Apple's first foray into cartoon gun control. Unicode Consortium, the company which regulates and standardizes the emoji keyboard, nixed a proposed rifle emoji in June. An organization called New Yorker Against Gun Violence started a campaign last year to get Apple to replace its version of the pistol emoji, urging the company to remove the firearm emoji "as a symbolic gesture to limit gun accessibility." Gun violence has grown rampant in the United States in recent years. According to the group Mass Shooting Tracker, there have been more than 200 mass shooting incidents in the country so far this year. ISLAMABAD, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least five militants were killed in a shootout with security forces in Pakistan's northwest Chitral district on Wednesday, local Urdu media reported. Dunya News said the exchange of firing was triggered off when militants opened fire at security forces in Kalash area of Chitral, a district located near Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The forces gave a befitting response and killed the five militants, while their accomplices fled the scene, leaving the bodies behind. The troops took custody of the bodies and shifted them to a nearby hospital for investigation. The forces cordoned off the area and kicked off a search operation to hunt down the on-the-run insurgents. The identities of the killed militants have not been revealed yet. The incident happened after Afghan Taliban launched two attacks in Chitral, the district in the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and stole hundreds of cattle. In one of the attacks on Sunday, the Afghan Taliban killed two shepherds and took away their herd of over 400 cattle to Afghanistan with them. DUBAI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A plane of Dubai's state-owned Emirates Airline flying from Thiruvananthapuram, India, to Dubai made a crash-landing at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, local media reported. According to Dubai daily Gulf News, all passengers have been "escorted to safety." Black smoke can be seen in footage of the crash site, which has been cordoned off. Emirates, on its Twitter account, confirmed that "an incident" happened at the Dubai Airport at 12:45 local time (0845 GMT). Gulf News said there is currently no take-off or landing at the airport. BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- "Hi! This could be the last greetings from me!" The Sina Weibo farewell message posted four days ago by user "Jade Rabbit Lunar Rover," which posts first-person accounts of Yutu, China's lunar rover, caused a stir on China's social media. Yutu and his antics have continued to proved hugely popular across China. "The moon says it has prepared a long, long dream for me, and I'm wondering what the dream would be like-- would I be a mars explorer, or be sent back to earth?" the lunar rover continued. The post received nearly 100,000 shares, likes and comments. "Good night bunny, Chinese astronauts will bring you home and you will never be alone," said netizen "running snail." "Have a sweet dream! You will get countless carrot pies in your dream," said another netizen. It's not the first time that the rover has sent a farewell message, but this time the message appears to really be the last. Yutu has ceased operation after 972 days of service on the moon, according to a source from the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, cited in the People's Daily on Tuesday. But many netizens were not willing to believe that Yutu is really gone. "Please, never say farewell, just say 'see you later.'" said netizen "Luojiahuanghou." Named after the pet rabbit of the moon goddess Chang'e, the health status of the lunar rover has rarely left the public imagination. The greeting, "Hi, anybody there?" posted on February 13, 2014, just two hours after the rover "woke" again and narrowly survived after having experienced mechanical difficulties, prompted over 60,000 reposts and 40,000 comments. Designed to survive just three months, Yutu has been operating on the moon for over two years, lasting longer than the Soviet Union's 1970 moon rover Lunokhod 1, which spent 11 months on the moon. Reflecting on his own life, the lunar adventurer seemed satisfied. "I'm a rabbit that has seen the most stars!" It also said there were many questions left unanswered and was looking forward to future exploration. "If you are going to explore the deep universe, remember to take pictures and share with me," it said. Many Chinese netizens were deeply upset after reading Yutu's last post. "I don't know why I am so heartbroken. It's just a machine after all," said netizen "bazinga bagz." Alongside sending their best wishes to the lunar probe, wistful netizens created an imaginative ending for Yutu's life. "Years later, an astronaut, one of the many young fans of Yutu as child, finds a chip among a pile of metal objects (on the Moon). Seconds after he inserts the chip in his computer, to his great surprise, a message pops up: 'Hi, my dear, I've been waiting for you. From Yutu.'" wrote netizen "Sunxiaoshe NZ Lengbaike." NEW DELHI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Two bodies have been recovered while over 20 others are feared missing after a British-era bridge collapsed on a highway in the western Indian state of Maharashtra in the wee hours of Wednesday, plunging around a dozen vehicles into the water, officials said. The 50-feet highway bridge over Savitri river in Mahad town near the state's Raigad district, connecting Mumbai with the popular holiday destination of Goa, gave way due to heavy rains. "So far, two bodies have been fished out of the river that has risen over the danger mark. The National Disaster Response Force, along with Indian Navy divers, are looking for those missing in the incident," a senior official said, on condition of anonymity. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and offered all assistance in the rescue and search operation. In the Parliament, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that two passenger buses and four private cars are suspected to have been washed away after the bridge collapsed. The two state transport buses, with 11 passengers each, started from Mumbai but did not arrive at their destination. The vehicles, unable to see the missing section in the dark, fell into the river, officials said. Earlier, the Maharashtra chief minister said that he spoke to district administration and police officials and instructed them to take immediate rescue and relief measures. "There were two parallel bridges - one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one got collapsed. The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of the Savitri river due to heavy rain in the catchment of Mahabaleshwar," he tweeted. Bridge collapses are common in India. In March this year, an under-construction flyover collapsed in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, killing 27 people and injuring more than 80 others. ABIDJAN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese experts are expected to arrive in Abidjan soon to reinforce agricultural cooperation between China and Cote d'Ivoire, and help modernize the latter's agricultural sector, an official source said Tuesday. "China's agriculture ministry will send in September about 30 Chinese with different expertise to evaluate national needs in domains such as cocoa, cashew nuts, rice, pineapples and mangoes," Cote d'Ivoire's agriculture ministry said in a statement. Cote d'Ivoire's Agriculture Minister Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly just concluded his working visit to China between July 19 to 24, during which he signed a memorandum of understanding with his Chinese counterpart "for increased exchanges between the two countries." The visit to China enabled Coulibaly and his delegation to meet with investors in the agriculture sector and to visit different factories that are involved in agricultural mechanization as well as transformation of cocoa and cashew nuts. Coulibaly further appealed for five Cote d'Ivoire villages, instead of three, to benefit from the program dubbed "One village-one company" that was initiated by China to increase income for farmers. The project will be carried out in 100 African villages. China currently provides support for Cote d'Ivoire's agriculture sector through Guiguidou hydro-agricultural project, 180 km south of Abidjan. The project implemented on a 400 hectares piece of land is used for rice farming. DUBAI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A plane of Dubai's state-owned Emirates Airline flying from Thiruvananthapuram, India, to Dubai crash landed at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, local media reported. According to Dubai daily Gulf News, all passengers have been "escorted to safety." Black smoke can be seen in footage of the crash site, which has been cordoned off. A total of 275 passengers and crew members were on board flight EK52, said the government-run Dubai Media Office. Emirates, on its Twitter account, confirmed that "an incident" happened at the Dubai Airport at 12:45 local time (0845 GMT). Gulf News said there is currently no take-off or landing at the airport. All departure flights from Dubai have been delayed until further notice, said the Dubai media office. Earlier incidents at Dubai airport included the crash on Sept. 3, 2010, of a UPS cargo jet shortly after take-off from Dubai, killing two on board. The other one happened on March 12, 2007, involving a Biman Bangladesh Airlines plane at take-off, led to the injury of 14 passengers. The airport had to be closed off for eight hours. Related: Emirates Airline plane crash lands at Dubai airport; all aboard safe NIAMEY, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A contingent of 850 Nigerien soldiers is preparing to leave Niger soon heading for Northern Mali under the UN Integrated Mission for Stabilization of Mali (MINUSMA), a security source in Niamey said Tuesday. The first convoy essentially comprised of logistical materials left Niamey on Tuesday morning while the rest of the troops will follow soon, the same source said. The 850 soldiers from various units of Niger Defense and Security Forces will form the 4th Nigerien battalion to serve under MINUSMA for a period of one year. They underwent an intense 10-week training program in Ouallam, 100 km north of Niamey, on peacekeeping operations in conformity to the UN requirements. The training ended on Friday last week and each of them was awarded a certificate during a ceremony presided over by Niger's Army boss, Gen. Seyni Garba. Garba urged the Nigerien soldiers to redouble their vigilance and to always be alert. He further asked them to always remain disciplined while in Mali, just as they had always been in Niger. Niger deployed its first contingent of 680 soldiers in Mali in January 2013, to help fight terrorist groups occupying the northern region and restore the country's territorial integrity. Niger and Mali share a long border of over 800 kilometers, with millions of people on both sides of the border who share the same languages. COTONOU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The 11th edition of Stars of African Cultural Integration (SICA) festival will be held in Benin's economic capital, Cotonou, between Sept. 15 to 18, organizers told Xinhua on Tuesday. "This festival which will bring together several music artists, not just from the African continent, but also from the entire world, aims to promote the upcoming artists by giving them a platform to express themselves and learn more," the festival's promoter Ali Wassi Sissi said. "Our dream is to see a peaceful Africa, with no wars. We seek to use African cultural integration as a tool for development, and to ensure that Africans can mingle with the people from the rest of the world through art, music, dance and cultural tourism," he added. Besides artists from about 20 African countries, Sissi said, the 11th SICA edition will also bring to Cotonou African ministers of culture and renown personalities in the world of art. He said festival goers will equally be entertained with traditional Beninese music under what has been dubbed as "A night of local colours." JUBA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Tuesday evening sacked six Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in Opposition (SPLM-IO) ministers and two deputies. The affected ministers, who were sacked in a televised presidential decree on the national broadcaster, included Interior Minister Alfred Lado Gore, who was replaced by Michael Tiangjiek Mut. Gore, the second in command in opposition faction, was however retained and named the Minister of Land, Housing, and Urban Development, replacing Mary Alfonse Nadio Lodira. Kiir replaced Dak Doth Bishok, the minister of petroleum with Ezekiel Lul Gat. The former minister of higher education Peter Adwok Nyaba was replaced with Yien Tut. Mabior Garang De Mabior, the former minister of water resources and irrigation was replaced with Sofia A. Gai. Peter Marcello, the minister of labour was replaced with Gabriel Duop Lam. The president also replaced Diop Lam who was the deputy minister with Rieu Gatliek Gai and named Natake Allan as deputy minister for labour to replace Elizabeth Achuei. Kiir said the reshuffle was carried out based on recommendation from the newly appointed First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai who took over from ex-rebel leader Dr. Riek Machar. The reshuffle comes after Lam Akol resigned as Minister of Agriculture, calling for regime change, saying the peace deal which was aimed at ending more than two years of fighting is "dead'. All the ministers who were sacked on Tuesday are loyal to Machar who fled Juba on July 9 following heavy clashes which erupted between forces loyal to him and President Kiir. According to UNHCR, the deadly clashes between the two rival factions have sent thousands of civilians fleeing city including 60,000 others who have fled to neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, President Kiir has reiterated his rejection of the regional force being mooted by the international community to help stabilize South Sudan. Information Minister Michael Makuei accused the African Union (AU), the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and UN for creating political turmoil in a bid to colonize South Sudan. Makuei told journalists on Tuesday evening in Juba that the two bodies are out to prove that the transitional government that was put in place in April is not working so that they can prolong their stay in the country. "We do not understand what the bodies mean by intervention when we are fully a sovereign state," he said, adding that the call for intervention is simply a new way of colonizing the country and tear it apart. IGAD, AU and the UN have called for the deployment of third force to guard key government institution and act as the buffer zoon between the two rival armies in July. The regional countries are due to hold a summit in Ethiopia this weekend to finalize plans to send troops from East African countries to Juba. But Makuei said the action is not acceptable since it is not within the mandate of the organizations. "This move is tantamount to the colonizers coming back in form of organization and claim to work for humanity with hidden agenda," he added, accusing the former political detainees for accepting to be used to cause chaos in the country. CAPE TOWN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The 2016 municipal elections kicked off on Wednesday, with polling stations, except for a very few, around the country officially opened. With 26.3 million registered voters due to cast their ballots at 22,612 voting stations countrywide, this election promises to attract one of the highest voter turnout numbers since democracy. Major political parties all expressed confidence that they would win the elections. Members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) including the organization's leadership were out on the streets in major cities, making door-to-door visits to encourage citizens to go out and vote. The ANC reaffirms its confidence in the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to oversee a peaceful, legitimate, free and fair and incident-free election, ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said. "The ANC joins South Africans in calling for a peaceful election and urges all our members and structures to actively play their part in ensuring the election takes place incident-free. "The ANC further calls on its members who will be voting in areas where there have been high levels of political tension, to exercise tolerance and restraint, even in the face of provocation," he said. All South Africans and first time voters in particular should exercise their hard-won right to vote, Kodwa said. "Participatory democracy is inextricably linked to people's power, a principle the ANC continues to advance," he said. President Jacob Zuma cast his vote at the Ntolwane Primary School in his native place of Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province. On Tuesday, Zuma visited the IEC Results Center in Pretoria and expressed confidence that polling would take place under strictly regulated conditions being administered by the IEC. Voting went on peacefully around the country, with no report of major incidents, the IEC said. At a polling station in Century City, Cape Town, voters began arriving early in the morning. More than 100 people were waiting in a long que, under the watchful of police. Emerging from a voting booth at the voting station, Babacar Gouden, a construction worker in his 30s, said he had cast his vote for a "clean" party which would put people first, refusing to give its name. The City of Cape Town is under the control of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), but the African National Congress (ANC) has vowed to take over Cape Town from the DA. The elections were seen by many as being the most contested since 1994. For the first time in history, this election saw 200 political parties and over 61,000 candidates participating. The parties are contesting 4,392 wards in all 213 municipalities. The ANC, haunted by a series of corruption scandals,would probably lose control of major metropolitans like Johannesburg, Pretoria and Nelson Mandela Bay. About 2,000 SA National Defence Force members have been deployed to help the SA Police Service in all nine provinces during the municipal elections, marred by violence that has claimed the lives of at least 25 people, 14 of them candidates fielded by political parties. The soldiers would be on duty until August 10. "Security will remain highly visible, to ensure that no one is prevented from exercising their hard won democratic right of voting or participating in any political process leading to the elections," Zuma said before the elections. BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The surprise merger of China's two largest ride-hailing businesses, Didi and Uber, has stoked concerns over the possible rise of a monopoly and potential damage caused to the sharing economy business model. Chinese on-demand mobility (ODM) firm Didi announced on Monday that it would effectively draw a line under the bruising competition between the two companies by taking over its U.S. rival, Uber's China business, creating a 35 billion U.S. dollar powerhouse. Didi did not disclose the stake it will take in Uber, but it was reported that Uber will hold a 5.89 percent stake in Didi. Despite the merger, Uber's China service will continue to operate independently. The two companies have been locked in a bitter battle for business in China, which has been marked by huge customer discounts. "Uber has been a grand rival and we have had an epic battle ...We raged an earth-shaking war, and when we join hands, our love will last until the end of time," Didi CEO Cheng Wei and President Jean Liu wrote in an internal email on Monday. Cheng and Liu pointed out that the intense rivalry helped the two parties to grow quickly and contributed to soaring market growth, making China the world's largest ODM market. FEAR OVER A RISING GIANT The merger made headlines, with many Chinese customers worried about the prospect of higher fares and drivers concerned about lower pay as the two companies could form a monopoly that disrupts market competition. In the first quarter of the year, Didi took the lead in the ODM market with a market share of over 85 percent, followed by Uber, Yongche, and Shenzhou Zhuanche. The combined market share of Didi and Uber reached over 93 percent, according to a report from data provider CNIT-Research. "I am worried about fewer discounts and higher fees," said Wang Rong, a 27-year-old resident of Hangzhou, capital of eastern China's Zhejiang Province. "I hope my salary will not decrease in the future," said Shen Yangfei, a Hangzhou driver. Didi claims that the merger will not significantly change ODM prices, and they will continue to offer subsidies to passengers and drivers for some time as they still only reach about one percent of China's 800 million urban population. In China, if two companies planning a merger have a combined China-wide annual revenue of at least 2 billion yuan (about 302 million U.S. dollars), with each individual company having a China-wide turnover of at least 400 million RMB, they must file an approval report to China's anti-monopoly bureau. The Ministry of Commerce, said Tuesday that they had not received a declaration from the two parties yet, pointing out that related watchdogs should conduct investigations if the case is found to exclude competition according to Chinese laws and regulations. According to Didi,the two companies have yet to make a profit, and Uber China did not meet the declaration standards last year. Wei Dong, CEO of Shouqi Limousine & Chauffeur, another ODM market player, believes that the existence of other ODM platforms offering different competition make a Didi and Uber monopoly unlikely. THE SHARING ECONOMY The merger comes just a few days after China legalized ODM services, the first country in the world to do so at national level. "This is landmark progress as the Chinese government shows a clear stance towards business model reform and innovation ... We are representatives of the development trend of industry and society, and we will keep on going," Cheng and Liu wrote in the email. The recent growth of the ride-hailing business is indicative of the boom in China's sharing economy, which covers a range of areas, including home rentals and social dining. A Nielsen report last year showed that 94 percent of young Chinese have shown an interested in the sharing economy, almost double the rate in North America. There is also government support for the business model, as Premier Li Keqiang stressed developing the sharing economy in this year's government work report. Li reiterated the government's position while addressing the opening of the Summer Davos meeting in June, saying that the sharing economy offered everyone a chance to participate and benefit, which will contribute to a fairer distribution of income and a stronger middle class. China's sharing economy market value reached about two trillion yuan in 2015 and is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 40 percent over the next five years, according to a report released by the Internet Society of China earlier this year. PORT LOUIS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Mauritius Prime Minister Aneerood Jugnauth has urged participants at a global anti-corruption conference to enhance the fight against the vice, especially in the area of procurement in government departments. The prime minister was speaking on Tuesday during the second global conference on the fight against corruption in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) that he opened in the capital Port Louis. "The biggest challenge is to ensure that procurement systems are strong, transparent and corruption-free," he said, adding that procurement systems that are strong and meet international standards, can help ensure that money is well spent." Effective complaints mechanisms are imperatively required to report bribery, collusion or other corrupt practices, he affirmed. Some of the objectives of the conference is to identify challenges in the procurement process and share the best international procurement practices. The event was organized by Mauritius ministry of financial services, good governance and institutional reforms in collaboration with the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The three-day conference is being attended by business leaders and government representatives from about 20 small island nations. DUBAI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- All 300 passengers and crew members aboard an Emirates Airline plane that crash-landed on Monday at Dubai International Airport have been safely evacuated, Dubai authorities said. The plane, flying from Thiruvananthapuram, India, to Dubai, was involved in "an incident" at the Dubai airport at 12:45 local time (0845 GMT), Emirates said on its Twitter account. Earlier reports put the total number of passengers and crew members aboard at 275. A fire breaking on the Boeing 777-300 were put out at 14:32 local time (1032 GMT), the government-run Dubai Media Office said. Dubai-based TV channel Al Arabiya said the crash-landing site was not on the main runway. According to local daily Gulf News, the Boeing 777-300 was delivered to Emirates in March 2003. All departure flights from Dubai have been delayed until further notice, and some flights coming to Dubai International were diverted to Dubai's second air hub, Al Maktoum International Airport. Earlier incidents at Dubai airport included a crash on Sept. 3, 2010, of a UPS cargo jet shortly after take-off from Dubai, killing two on board. The other one happened on March 12, 2007, involving a Biman Bangladesh Airlines plane at take-off, led to the injury of 14 passengers. The airport had to be closed off for eight hours. nSEOUL, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Wednesday denounced the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s launch of ballistic missiles, which were conducted in an apparent protest against a decision to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korean soil. Seoul's foreign ministry said in a statement that it was in a blatant violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a sternly provocative act toward the international community as well as South Korea. The ministry said it will take necessary measures in close cooperation with major countries, while strengthening sanctions and pressures against the DPRK together with the international society. The statement followed the DPRK test-firing two ballistic missiles, estimated to be Rodong, eastward from its west region on Wednesday morning. One exploded right after the launch, but the other traveled about 1,000 km into east waters. It was the third launch by the DPRK of its ballistic missiles since South Korea and the United States early last month announced the agreement to install on THAAD battery in Seongju county, some 250 km southeast of Seoul, by the end of next year. Just a day after the announcement, the DPRK test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off its east coast to demonstrate against the THAAD deployment decision. In times of emergency, the SLBM is very hard to detect and track with the THAAD's X-band radar. On July 19, Pyongyang launched two medium-range Rodong missiles and one shorter-range Scud missile. The THAAD system is incapable of Rodong and Scud missiles as the DPRK missiles fly at an altitude of 20-30 km, much lower than the altitude of 40-150 km at which THAAD interceptors shoot down missiles. Related: DPRK fires 2 ballistic missiles to protest S.Korea's THAAD deployment BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A claim by a Chinese scientist to have invented new gene-editing technology has come under fire from fellow scientists unable to reproduce his results. Hebei University of Science and Technology in north China, where Han Chunyu, 42, is an associate professor, told Xinhua on Monday that Han will "publicly verify" his findings under the supervision of an "authoritative third party" in around a month. Han published a paper in the May edition of "Nature Biotechnology" describing new genome editing technology NgAgo that could be an alternative to the mainstream CRISPR/Cas9 technique. With China currently in desperate pursuit of heavyweight scientific achievements, Han became an overnight sensation. Beyond the "discovery" itself, he was widely praised for successfully pursuing such ground-breaking research at a university with very little standing in the filed of genetic sciences. Doubts immediately emerged with other researchers declaring that the results cannot be replicated, among them Dr. Gaetan Burgio of the Australian National University. On Friday, Burgio said in an online article that his laboratory had tried to establish Han's protocol over the last two months, but found "no evidence for genome editing with NgAgo after multiple attempts with various settings and three different genes." Burgio went on to call for researchers to be more open with their results, rather than to "chase high impact publication and be secretive." On Tuesday, "Nature Biotechnology" announced that several researchers had contacted the journal with similar doubts and the issue is now under investigation through a well-established procedure. As a condition of publication in any Nature Research journal, authors are required to make all material, data, code, and associated protocols promptly available to readers. Han, in the other hand, said scientific achievements should be subject to the tests of time and practice, adding that he is confident his results will be reproduced by other researchers. In earlier media interviews, he claimed the experiment had been repeated many times in his laboratory. Some Chinese biologists, who declined to be named, have come to Han's lukewarm defense, suggesting new techniques sometimes need modifications and is not unusual for doubts to be expressed. Han said that the skeptics had gone to far. He has been bombarded every day by email and phone calls, some late at night, accusing him of faking his results. KATHMANDU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, has been elected as the 39th Prime Minister of Nepal on Wednesday. Nepal's Parliament elected Dahal as the head of the government nearly two weeks after Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli stepped down from the post. Dahal, 61, secured 363 votes to become the prime minister when 573 Parliamentarians cast ballots in the prime ministerial election. While, 210 Parliamentarians voted against him. He was the sole candidate in the PM elections. Dahal secured majority votes as he was backed by the largest party in the Parliament, Nepali Congress, Madhes-based parties and some other fringe parties. However, the CPN (UML), second largest party in the Parliament and fourth largest party Rashtriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPPN) voted against Dahal. This is the second time Dahal became the prime minister since his Maoist party joined the mainstream politics in 2007 after signing the peace deal with the then government ending the 10-year armed conflict that started in 1996. Dahal ended his nearly three-decade-long underground politics in 2006 when his party and other mainstream political parties became successful to compel the former King Gyanendra to end his direct regime after a successful people's movement. The Prachanda-led Maoist was able to become the largest force in the Nepalese Parliament in 2009. However, his party emerged as the third largest party facing a humiliating defeat in the Second Constituent Assembly elections due to split within the party. Married and with three children, Dahal was born into a high Brahmin caste family on Dec. 11, 1954 in Kaski district, some 140 km west of capital Kathmandu. A former school teacher, Dahal once was a brilliant student and gained a bachelor's degree in agriculture. The Dahal-led government, in which the Nepali Congress will be main coalition partner, has a long list of challenges and problems to be solved in Nepal. Dahal, who played a key role in the promulgation of the new constitution in September last year, has many challenges as the new prime minister in the days to come. Firstly, Dahal has to work toward effective implementation of the new Constitution by addressing genuine demands of Madhes-based parties who claim the new Constitution as discriminatory. Secondly, it would be essential for Dahal taking confidence of other parties including opposition parties CPN (UML) and Rashtriya Prajatantra Party Nepal while implementing the new constitution. Thirdly, Dahal has responsibility to speed up works rebuilding the damaged physical infrastructures shattered by the April 25 devastating earthquake last year that killed nearly 10,000 people. Similarly, he has to provide relief to tens and thousands of earthquake-hit people in far-flung villages of the country. A Kathmandu-based political analyst, Somat Ghimire, told Xinhua that Dahal has also challenge to enhance cordial relationship with neighboring countries China and India as per the changed context. "The new government has to work sincerely to implement the bilateral deals reached with Chinese government during the erstwhile Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli's visit to Beijing this year in March," he said. Ghimire said that the new government has also challenge to create conducive environment to hold the local bodies elections and provincial level elections as well as Parliamentary elections within February 2018 as per the constitutional provisions. Addressing the Parliament, the newly-elected prime minister reiterated to resolve Madhes problem by addressing genuine demands raised by Madhes-based parties and expedite works related to post-earthquake reconstruction. Dahal also vowed to maintain excellent relationship with neighboring China and India. SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least two civilians were killed in two different incidents in Indian-controlled Kashmir, reigniting the anger and ongoing uncertainty in the restive region, officials said Wednesday. A civilian was killed and two others wounded, one of them critically, after a policeman posted as a security guard with a civilian official fired on protesters in Lethpora village of Pulwama district, about 23 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. Following the killing, the angry protesters set ablaze the official vehicle. "Last evening some protesters had blocked highway at Lethpora and tried to stop an official vehicle. However, a policeman inside the vehicle fired upon them, killing one and wounding two others," an eyewitness said. Police officials said the policeman feared for his life and fired to scare away the protesters. "After the incident, the official, policeman and driver abandoned the vehicle and fled from the spot to take refuge at a nearby paramilitary camp," a police official posted in Awantipora town said. "The three men have been detained and will be questioned." The fresh killing triggered overnight protests in the area. In another incident, a guard posted at a bank automated teller machine (ATM) was found dead. Police officials described his death "mysterious". Local media quoting autopsy reports Wednesday said the guard was hit by barrage of pellets. His killing triggered massive protests in the area. Locals defied curfew restrictions and carried his body to 'martyrs' graveyard situated at Eid Gah locality in Srinagar. Muslim majority areas of Indian-controlled Kashmir have been experiencing a curfew and protest shutdown for the past since 26 days. Shops, businesses, educational institutions and offices remained closed in the region in the wake of shutdown and restrictions. Traffic has also remained off the roads. The locals are complaining about dearth of eatables and essentials in most of the towns including Srinagar city. Health officials said they were also experiencing shortage of medicines. Protests in the region broke out following the killing of a top militant commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) Burhan Muzaffar Wani, along with his two associates, on July 8. The 22-year-old Wani was poster boy of HM, region's indigenous militant outfit. Wani's killing triggered violent protests and clashes after which authorities imposed curfew. Police firing on civilian protesters defying restrictions has so far resulted in killing of more than 50 people, mostly teenagers and young, besides injuring over 2,200. The cellphone and internet services continue to remain suspended in the region since July 8 in a bid to prevent people from mobilizing. The local government has placed key separatist leaders under house arrest fearing their participation in demonstrations would intensify anti-India protests and mobilize people in large numbers. The protests have been going on unabated ever since the protests broke out and mosques dotting the localities often blare with songs praising militants and advocating Kashmir's secession from India. Prior to this, in 2010, a similar wave of violence hit the region and claimed over 100 lives during clashes that continued for months together. A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Nepal's newly elected Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal (C) waves after winning the election in Kathmandu, Nepal, Aug. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Pratap Thapa) KATHMANDU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, has been elected as the 39th Prime Minister of Nepal on Wednesday. Nepal's Parliament elected Dahal as the head of the government nearly two weeks after Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli stepped down from the post. Dahal, 61, secured 363 votes to become the prime minister when 573 Parliamentarians cast ballots in the prime ministerial election. While, 210 Parliamentarians voted against him. He was the sole candidate in the PM elections. Dahal secured majority votes as he was backed by the largest party in the Parliament, Nepali Congress, Madhes-based parties and some other fringe parties. However, the CPN (UML), second largest party in the Parliament and fourth largest party Rashtriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPPN) voted against Dahal. This is the second time Dahal became the prime minister since his Maoist party joined the mainstream politics in 2007 after signing the peace deal with the then government ending the 10-year armed conflict that started in 1996. Dahal ended his nearly three-decade-long underground politics in 2006 when his party and other mainstream political parties became successful to compel the former King Gyanendra to end his direct regime after a successful people's movement. The Prachanda-led Maoist was able to become the largest force in the Nepalese Parliament in 2009. However, his party emerged as the third largest party facing a humiliating defeat in the Second Constituent Assembly elections due to split within the party. Married and with three children, Dahal was born into a high Brahmin caste family on Dec. 11, 1954 in Kaski district, some 140 km west of capital Kathmandu. A former school teacher, Dahal once was a brilliant student and gained a bachelor's degree in agriculture. The Dahal-led government, in which the Nepali Congress will be main coalition partner, has a long list of challenges and problems to be solved in Nepal. Dahal, who played a key role in the promulgation of the new constitution in September last year, has many challenges as the new prime minister in the days to come. Nepal's newly elected Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal (C) waves after winning the election in Kathmandu, Nepal, Aug. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma) Firstly, Dahal has to work toward effective implementation of the new Constitution by addressing genuine demands of Madhes-based parties who claim the new Constitution as discriminatory. Secondly, it would be essential for Dahal taking confidence of other parties including opposition parties CPN (UML) and Rashtriya Prajatantra Party Nepal while implementing the new constitution. Thirdly, Dahal has responsibility to speed up works rebuilding the damaged physical infrastructures shattered by the April 25 devastating earthquake last year that killed nearly 10,000 people. Similarly, he has to provide relief to tens and thousands of earthquake-hit people in far-flung villages of the country. A Kathmandu-based political analyst, Somat Ghimire, told Xinhua that Dahal has also challenge to enhance cordial relationship with neighboring countries China and India as per the changed context. "The new government has to work sincerely to implement the bilateral deals reached with Chinese government during the erstwhile Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli's visit to Beijing this year in March," he said. Ghimire said that the new government has also challenge to create conducive environment to hold the local bodies elections and provincial level elections as well as Parliamentary elections within February 2018 as per the constitutional provisions. Addressing the Parliament, the newly-elected prime minister reiterated to resolve Madhes problem by addressing genuine demands raised by Madhes-based parties and expedite works related to post-earthquake reconstruction. Dahal also vowed to maintain excellent relationship with neighboring China and India. LAS VEGAS, United States, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A fundraiser for U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton' s campaign will be held in Las Vegas at Black Hat, a major cybersecurity conference currently underway in the city. Jeff Moss, founder of the Black Hat and DefCon cybersecurity conferences, which are being held after Black Hat, will attend the funderaiser on Wednesday, Black Hat public relations manager Meredith Corley told Xinhua on Tuesday. However, the event is not organized by Black Hat USA 2016, which attracts prominent cyber security experts and hackers from around the world. "It's not a Black Hat show," Corley said. For anywhere from 100 U.S. dollars for a "Young Professional" to a maximum of 2,700 dollars for the "Host Committee," donors can also mingle with former Homeland Security Department official Jake Braun and the Clinton campaign' s cybersecurity working group coordinator Michael Sulmeyer. Cybersecurity issues have plagued Clinton' s campaign for months, from her long-running email controversy to the recent hacks of the Democratic National Committee and Clinton' s own campaign network. The two hour-long fundraiser scheduled for the hackers community will be held just days after new reports surfaced that a number of emails of the Democratic National Committee were published by hackers on the Wikileaks website. But Black Hat is not a safe place. "Not even the slot machines are safe at Black Hat USA," Neil Wyler, head of the network operations center at Black Hat posted on Twitter. Whoever comes from the Clinton campaign, it is better to "stay off the network, like turn off their wi-fi and Bluetooth on their phones and pray," Wyler said to Xinhua. TIRANA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Albanian police seized 5.1 kg of heroin in Tirana, capital of Albania, during an operation coded "Summer 2016," Albanian Daily News reported on Wednesday. The police arrested two drug dealers and declared two others as wanted. Tirana' s deputy police chief Ermal Mucaj said the two drug dealers were selling heroin in an area known as the former Bus Lot and the Ring Road in the capital. During the raid, the police found that the two had 10 packs of heroin with them. According to Mucaj, these drugs have a market value of half a million U.S. dollars. The police also seized guns in the vehicle of the two suspects. MOSCOW, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The upgrade of the U.S. B61-12 bomb will threaten nuclear security, as its combat characteristics increase the risk of its use, senior Russian Foreign Ministry officials said Wednesday. "It is no coincidence that some American experts rushed to call the new warheads more 'ethical' because, as they say, their application will have less dramatic humanitarian consequences," said Mikhail Ulyanov, director of the ministry's Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control. "But this is precisely the negative aspect: characteristics of such weapons would objectively increase the temptation to use them," Ulyanov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti news agency. According to the diplomat, the unified nuclear warhead has been designed primarily to substitute obsolete U.S. nuclear weapons in five European countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, as well as for its own storage in Washington. The upgrade of the U.S. nuclear arsenal in Europe is a long-term extension of the practice of joint NATO nuclear missions, in which pilots of non-nuclear countries are preparing to use U.S. nuclear weapons, Ulyanov said, adding that it's a "flagrant violation of the letter and spirit of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)." Ulyanov recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly said Moscow would not get dragged into a new costly arms race but it would certainly take care of the efficient provision of its national security. The B61 nuclear bomb, designed in 1963, is one of the U.S.'s primary thermonuclear weapons. U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) said in a statement on Monday it had authorized production of an upgraded B61-12 nuclear warhead from 2020, which will have greater accuracy and lesser destructive force and is expected to replace the existing U.S. B61 bombs of its old modifications. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) TOKYO, Aug.3 (Xinhua) -- A new principal Hong Kong economic and trade representative in Tokyo pledged here Wednesday to promote closer and deeper ties between Hong Kong and Japan in hopes to see more exchanges between the two places in future. "Hong Kong and Japan have enjoyed a mature and stable relationship for many years," said Shirley Yung, Principal Representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)'s Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo, at a media luncheon here on Wednesday. "Japan is, as always, one of the top destinations for Hong Kong people," said Yung, who assumed office in late March this year. Some 1.5 million Hong Kong visitors visited Japan in 2015, while Hong Kong received about 1 million Japanese visitors last year. Bilateral trade remains robust, and Hong Kong continues to be the No.1 export market for Japanese agricultural and food products in 2015, amounting to about 180 billion yen (1.78 billion U.S. dollars). "Besides strengthening economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and Japan, another important mission of our office is to promote cultural exchanges," said the principal representative, shouldering the mission to promote closer economic and trade ties, understanding and cooperation, as well as cultural and tourism exchange between the two places. "To this end, we have been organizing various events and activities," she said. The office supported the "Osaka Asian Film Festival" in March this year to run a "Special Focus on Hong Kong" to showcase Hong Kong's movies to Japanese movie lovers. In June, the office supported the annual "Yokohama Dragon Boat Races" to organize the "Hong Kong Cup dragon boat race." In August, the Asian Youth Orchestra, which is a Hong Kong based performing group, will come to Japan to play four concerts. To promote youth exchange, the office organized the "Hong Kong Cup All Japan University Student Ambassadors English Program" last year. This year, it will continue to organize the program to select four "student ambassadors" to promote better understanding of Hong Kong among university students in Japan. "Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. We are planning a series of events to celebrate this important year," said Yung. Introducing the latest situation in Hong Kong, the principal representative said "with strong fundamentals, Hong Kong has remained economically stable and financially healthy, despite global economic turbulence and financial market volatility." In 2016, for the 22nd consecutive year, the Heritage Foundation ranked Hong Kong the world's freest economy. In May this year, Hong Kong is again ranked the world's most competitive economy, according to the "International Institute for Management Development World Competitiveness Yearbook." As Asia's prime business hub and global financial and services center, Hong Kong "is well recognized as a good platform for raising capital," she said. Last year, the Hong Kong stock market raised about 34 billion U.S. dollars through IPOs, ranking first globally. Hong Kong is also the world's largest offshore RMB business hub, with the world's largest pool of RMB liquidity. Hong Kong's increasing economic integration with the Chinese mainland has also made the city an even more important gateway to China than before. The aerial photo shows the damaged bridge on the overflowing Savitri river due to torrential rain in Mahad, Indian state of Maharashtra, Aug. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Stringer) NEW DELHI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Two bodies have been recovered while over 20 others are feared missing after a British-era bridge collapsed on a highway in the western Indian state of Maharashtra in the wee hours of Wednesday, plunging around a dozen vehicles into the water, officials said. The 50-feet highway bridge over Savitri river in Mahad town near the state's Raigad district, connecting Mumbai with the popular holiday destination of Goa, gave way due to heavy rains. "So far, two bodies have been fished out of the river that has risen over the danger mark. The National Disaster Response Force, along with Indian Navy divers, are looking for those missing in the incident," a senior official said, on condition of anonymity. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and offered all assistance in the rescue and search operation. In the Parliament, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that two passenger buses and four private cars are suspected to have been washed away after the bridge collapsed. The aerial photo shows the damaged bridge on the overflowing Savitri river due to torrential rain in Mahad, Indian state of Maharashtra, Aug. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Stringer) The two state transport buses, with 11 passengers each, started from Mumbai but did not arrive at their destination. The vehicles, unable to see the missing section in the dark, fell into the river, officials said. Earlier, the Maharashtra chief minister said that he spoke to district administration and police officials and instructed them to take immediate rescue and relief measures. "There were two parallel bridges - one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one got collapsed. The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of the Savitri river due to heavy rain in the catchment of Mahabaleshwar," he tweeted. Bridge collapses are common in India. In March this year, an under-construction flyover collapsed in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, killing 27 people and injuring more than 80 others. by Jon Day TOKYO, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's appointment of Tomomi Inada as defense minister following a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday has underscored his intentions to forge ahead with a controversial push to amend the nation's pacifist Constitution and further expand the scope of the nation's military, observers here have said. The prime minister, nevertheless, has maintained that the reshuffle was aimed at speeding up the pace of the nation's sluggish economic revival, following multiple failed installments of his "Abenomics" economic policy mix, following the approval a day earlier of a 28.1 trillion yen (277.74 billion U.S. dollar) stimulus package. However, political observers attest that the hawkish Inada, 57, a particularly close ally of Abe's, yet a novice when it comes to security issues, being given the defense minister's portfolio demonstrates the prime minister's intention to use his coalition's newly-gained dominance in both chambers of parliament to advance his legacy-led mission to fundamentally reshape Japan's security paradigm in the biggest, most controversial shift since WWII. Security experts as well as senior members within the defense ministry itself believe that Inada, Japan's second female defense minister following Yuriko Koike, herself recently elected to be Tokyo governor who held the position briefly in 2007, is ill-equipped and lacks the necessary experience to hold the defense ministry's top post. Inada is currently only serving her fourth term as a lower house lawmaker and previously held the post of state minister in charge of administrative reform for just two years and has chaired the ruling Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council again for just two years. Defense, security and military affairs are not in her repertoire, experts close to the matter have maintained. Inada, however, is known to share the prime minister's singular goal of revising Japan's postwar, pacifist constitution and is also, along with Abe and a number of other prominent cabinet members, a visible member of the ultra-right wing Nippon Kaigi fraternity. "Inada has long been a member of Abe's inner coterie and shares his fundamental beliefs about the future course of the nation's political and security direction," Asian affairs commentator Kaoru Imori told Xinhua, ahead of Inada's widely-expected appointment. "She is also a known right-wing revisionist and has made a number of controversial remarks about Japan's history, and her membership to the right wing Nippon Kaigi group is evidence of her tendentious political and nationalistic views," Imori added. Nippon Kaigi is an ultranationalistic nonparty entity with around 300,000 members who all believe in praising the Imperial family (The Emperor), changing the war-renouncing, pacifist Constitution, promoting nationalistic education in schools and supporting parliamentarians' visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. It is the biggest right-wing organization in Japan and Abe has, ostensibly, cherry picked his Cabinet members from this group to run the country, with these "Shinto Conservatives" believing that Japan should not apologize for its wartime acts of brutality, despite the legitimacy of proven historical events. The appointment of Inada as defense minister will almost certainly ruffle the feathers of Japan's neighbors, experts claim. "The mood now is to try to promote cooperation," Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University in Tokyo, was quoted as saying of the current situation regarding ties between Japan and its immediate neighbors. "That could change if she makes a pilgrimage to Yasukuni in a couple of weeks," Kingston added. "Inada supports the prime minister and all parliamentarians' visits to Yasukuni (shrine) and has openly contested The International Military Tribunal for the Far East after World War II. She also believes that Japan should not apologize for its internationally-recognized war crimes committed and is a proponent of denying Japan's wartime atrocities," Imori said. To this end, Abe appointed her chairperson of the LDP Policy Research Council in September 2014, despite the fact that the position is almost always exclusively held by party members who have had lengthy political careers. CHANGSHA, Aug 3 (Xinhua) -- An 8-year-old boy from central China's Hunan Province is seeking compensation for being infected with AIDS after receiving hospital treatment. According to Zhangjiajie health authority, the boy was confirmed HIV positive in July 2015, after receiving a blood transfusion in January, 2014 when he was seriously injured in a traffic accident. The authority said that although the boy had definitely been infected, it was difficult to determine the exact source and route of the infection. During a period of 18 months, he was hospitalized eight times in three different hospitals: Zhangjiajie people's hospital, the provincial children's hospital in Changsha and a Shanghai hospital. He passed HIV screening tests before the hospital operations. However,the boy also spent considerable time outside the hospitals, which makes ascertaining the precise source of the infection difficult. In addition to the three hospitals, the co-defendants also include the Zhangjiajie city blood station and a Chinese biological company that produced the human serum albumin, which the boy received in a transfusion during his first operation. ISLAMABAD, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told a conference of the country's envoys on Wednesday that the relationship with China has transformed into a multi-dimensional partnership. "We are determined to take Sino-Pakistani relationship to new heights as China is a time-tested friend of Pakistan. Relations with China have strengthened with the passage of time," Nawaz Sharif said. Pakistani envoys from important capitals of the world as well as multilateral organizations were invited to the conference, starting Aug. 3, to brief the government about the developments in the countries of their work. The prime minister was the chief guest at the concluding session at the Foreign Ministry to listen to the suggestions by the envoys and to share his vision about the foreign policy. "We are thankful to the government and people of China on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor's project. It is not only an economic prosperity project but a game changer as with CPEC we are introducing a new vision of mutual relations in the region," he said. He described CPEC as the project of common economic interests and said there are also opportunities for Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. "We want to lay foundation of new relationship in region. The CPEC will guarantee regional peace and prosperity." Talking about the country's foreign policy, the prime minister said Pakistan believes in the policy of non-interference and respect of sovereignty of other countries. On Afghanistan, he said the process initiated by the Quadrilateral Coordination Group of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the U.S. (QCG) should be taken forward. The QCG that was started in December in Islamabad has been trying to broker direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban. However, there has been no success so far and the QCG is struggling to encourage the political dialogue in Afghanistan. "Pakistan will always support efforts aimed at reviving peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan has a clear stance that it will not allow its territory to be used against any other country," he said. HELSINKI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Finnish financial company OP Financial Group announced on Wednesday its April-June profits hit a record high. The group's profit reached 331 million euros(370.44 million U.S. dollars)in the second quarter, a 7.5 percent increase from the same period last year. However, the profit of the group's banking sector registed a year-on-year decline of 10 percent from April to June. OP's CEO Reijo Karhinen told media that due to the company's strong capital base, the OP Group endured fluctuations in the investor markets. He also cited the result of a recent European bank stress tests, which showed OP was one of the strongest banks in Europe. The group's capital adequacy was well above the minimum official requirements even in an operating environment of an extremely adverse scenario. The financial group, which has over 1 million customer-owners, is the largest financial institution in Finland. The cooperative nature of OP has aroused suspicions from competitors. The group allows its customer owners to pay less than its regular customers for banking and insurance services. Last year, a key competitor in the insurance sector asked competition authorities to find out whether OP was dumping insurance prices. OP CEO Reijo Karhinen then dismissed the criticism as an attack against the Finnish cooperative system. In its Q2 report, the OP Group said that the Finnish economy witnessed a slight rebound in the first half of the year. This was based on a recovery in the domestic market, especially construction. Weak world economic growth has not been sufficient to stimulate Finnish exports. TOKYO, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday that he is not considering remaining in his position as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) beyond his second term which will see his tenure end in September 2018. Abe made the remarks following a cabinet reshuffle and shaking up the ruling party's executive lineup earlier in the day. "I'm not considering it at all," the prime minister was quoted as saying at a press briefing following the announcement of his newly rejigged cabinet and party executives. LDP Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai who took up the portfolio Wednesday in the reshuffle had been pushing for the ruling party to amend its rules to allow for its presidents to serve a third term. The current LDP party rules limit its presidents to just two terms, however. Nikai had previously said if it served the party's and the leader's interests he would support an extension for a third term. Abe also said in the briefing that his new cabinet will commit to the challenges that Japan is currently facing and following the inauguration ceremony, maintained that the economy would be the top priority as well as reforming working conditions here. However, his controversial appointment of Tomomi Inada, former head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, as defense minister, replacing Gen Nakatani, has led political observers to believe the prime minister's goals also include the revision of the nation's pacifist Constitution by a referendum. Should the potential referendum go the prime minister's way, the nation's Self-Defense Forces could see their operational scope broadly extended, in the biggest security shift since WWII. Inada is known as a political hawk, with contentious views on history and a right wing stance on the future course of the nations politics. She is also a close ally of Abe's and the pair share many of the same political views. A roma holds posters beside a Romani Flag during a demonstration against Roma expulsion made by French government in front of French Embassy in Brussels, capital of Belgium, Sept. 4, 2010.(Xinhua/Wu Wei) BRUSSELS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Tuesday commemorated the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, saying it remains committed to improving Roma integration. European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Commissioner Vera Jourova said in a statement that the holocaust of the Roma is an under-taught and under-recognized topic. "People must not forget that till today there are too many Roma facing discrimination, and who are victims of hate speech and hate crime in Europe," they said. "Against a backdrop of increasingly divisive rhetoric, hate speech and hate crime, it is important to recall these dark moments in our history and learn the lessons of the past. Many people have little or no knowledge that the Roma were targeted by the Nazi regime," the statement added. The European Parliament's resolution of April 15, 2015 officially recognized Roma Holocaust Memorial Day. "We hope that all member states will recognize it," said the statement. On the night of Aug. 2 to 3, 1944, around 3,000 Roma men, women and children from the "Gypsy family camp" of Auschwitz-Birkenau were murdered in gas chambers. They were among hundreds of thousands of victims of the Roma genocide, killed by the Nazis and their allies. The Roma were one of many groups who fell victim to the holocaust. A senior police officer (Front) argues to a doctor from the Kenyatta National Hospital outside the Ministry of Health headquarters in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Aug. 28, 2014. A large group of Kenyan doctors and nurses from public hospitals protested over thier unpaid salaries here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Fred Mutune) NAIROBI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A senior Kenyan official has called upon African governments to curb the number of doctors moving to work abroad that has cost sub-Saharan Africa up to 2 billion U.S. dollars invested in training the clinicians. The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Dr. Fred Matiangi, said the medical experts are emigrating to the West due to poor pay and low level of scientific research. "The number of qualified doctors moving abroad to work in the West has been high over the years, where nine sub-Saharan African countries have ended up losing 2 billion dollars as the clinicians seek work in more prosperous nations," Matiangi said during the occasion of the opening of the 6th Annual Medical Education Partnership (MEPI) Symposium in Nairobi. He said Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe have suffered the worst economic loses due to the clinical brain drain while Australia, Canada, Britain and the United States have benefited the most from recruiting doctors trained in Africa. Doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital go on strike to demand for better pay, in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Dec. 5, 2011.(Xinhua/Ding Haitao) "The migration of trained health workers from poorer countries to richer ones exacerbates the problem of already weak health systems in low-income countries battling epidemics of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) and malaria and lately, Ebola," Matiang'i said. The three-day forum has brought together local and international players in medical education and includes representatives from MEPI Schools across Africa, representatives from the funding institutions, and other partners who support medical health training and research development in sub-Saharan Africa. Matiangi said there is a strong relationship between education and development, with studies having shown that increases in educational attainment precede improvements in health status. "This relation between education and health arises because higher education leads to healthier life style, and because higher educated people gather, process and interpret information about healthy behavior better," he noted. The CS said in Kenya all trends in maternal health indicators favored the more educated women compared to those with no or low education. "Indeed this is why the Kenyan government has embraced universal basic education to improve enrolment and transition levels," Matiangi said. The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Nathan Bakyaita, said MEPI programs have contributed towards improvement of the quality of medical education and learning facilities, curriculum reforms, e-learning and faculty retention. "Although life expectancy in Africa has been recording gains hence improvements in longevity, the quality of life in Africa is greatly diminished by heavy disease burdens, high morbidity rates and high risks to life," he said. In 2013, WHO studies showed that an estimated 24.7 million people were living with HIV, accounting for 71 per cent of the global total, whereas the number of health staff has remained low. The recent Ebola crisis also highlighted the continent's doctor shortages with for example Uganda, with a population of 35 million people registering less than 5,000 doctors and 30,000 nurses. Bakyaita said whereas Africa is home to 13.4 per cent of the world's population it contributes barely 1.1 per cent of scientific researchers in the world, with just about one scientist or engineer per 10,000 inhabitants. The resulting shortage of qualified faculty in African universities, especially in the scientific and technical fields, affects the quality of graduates entering the industry workforce, with 11 million new graduates entering the African job market annually devoid of the relevant skills to develop African solutions for African challenges. HANGZHOU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) - Hangzhou resident Yang Chizhen does not speak a word of English, but has decided to spend the next month picking up some simple English phrases. Hangzhou, in east China's Zhejiang Province, is the host city for the 2016 G20 summit on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5. "What if I run into some of the foreign guests in street and cannot even say 'hello' to them? How shameful that will be!" Yang said. Yang, 69, is a retired government employee."I learned some Russian back in school, but I don't know any English. It certainly will be hard for me to study a language at this age, but I will try my best anyway," she said., She plans to grasp some greetings and learn how to give directions. Yang is among dozens of elderly Dongshannong residents taking an English course specially organized for G20. One of her teachers is Timothy Clancy, 31, from Australia. Clancy is studying clinical medicine in Zhejiang University and became a G20 volunteer in March. Besides teaching English, he has been working with West Lake District, making videos of the lake, a popular tourist destination in the city. "The G20 summit is a great opportunity for Hangzhou to be better known to the world. I am honored to be part of this event," he said in fluent Chinese. Hangzhou has recruited 3,760 G20 volunteers, mostly college students and teachers who can speak a foreign language. Wang Linhui, 33, has also been teaching English, but will be a driver for foreign guests during the summit. "I expect many foreigners will get to know Hangzhou through the G20. It's good for different cultures to mingle at events like this," he said. With a history of over 2,000 years, Hangzhou is a city of idyllic beauty and rich cultural heritage. It was described as "the most splendid city in the world" by Marco Polo eight centuries ago and has given a facelift ahead of the summit. Zhao Yide, Communist Party chief of Hangzhou, said preparations for the event are basically complete. Besides improvements to venues and hotels, over 600 projects have improved the city environment, including beautifying streets, and renovating old communities. Mantoushan in the downtown area, once dilapidated with an inadequate sewage system, has seen unlicensed building demolished and new toilets built since November. Li Yaqin, 93, has been living in Mantoushan for nearly half a century. "This place is more beautiful than ever before," she said. Built in 1878, the Mituo Temple in the West Lake District has fallen into disrepair since the 1970s when many people moved into the area to live. Those people have now been relocated and, after eight months of renovations, the temple has been restored to its former glory. "It is so much better than before. I will come back here once in a while just to enjoy the scenery," said Ruan Xiuhua, a former resident of the area. Hangzhou, home to Alibaba and considered China's e-commerce capital, registered a 10.8 percent GDP growth during the first half of this year, well ahead of the country's 6.7 percent in the same period. Zhao Yide said the city's preparations for G20 are for the benefit of local people in the long run. "Preparing for the summit is our immediate plan, but improving the city and making it more international is the long-term mission," he said. KINSHASA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Calm has been restored in Kinshasa after the clashes that broke out on Tuesday evening between opposition supporters and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) police. Eyewitnesses told Xinhua police were forced to use tear gas to disperse supporters of the opposition party, Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS). The situation remained confusing with both sides giving contradictory explanation regarding the origin of the incidents. According to Augustin Kabuya, the spokesman for the UDPS president Etienne Tshisekedi, violence broke out after one of the party's supporters was shot and killed by police near the party's headquarters. Kabuya accused the police of having attempted to take away the body of the victim when UDPS supporters tried to retrieve it. However, police spokesman Mwana Mputu said the violence was caused by a scuffle between two families who were fighting over a dead body at Saint Joseph hospital in neighbouring Limete commune. Mputu said one of the families called a soldier who was nearby to come and separate the two families. "In his desire to restore calm, corporal Cesar Lakala opened fire. A stray bullet hit a member of the feuding families and he died on the spot. Then people wearing UDPS uniforms came and picked the body of one of the family members and took it to the party's headquarters from where they started burning tyres and barricading the road," police spokesman said, adding that this is when police were forced to intervene to restore order. Mputu said calm had been restored and traffic was flowing along the 10th street that leads to Tshisekedi's residence. Regarding the soldier who opened fire, the police spokesman said he had been arrested and will soon appear in a military court. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (L) and Timoleon Jimenez (R), the top leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), exchange pacts while Cuban President Raul Castro witnesses in Havana, capital of Cuba, June 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) by Sylvia B. Zarate BOGOTA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- As Colombia's government and largest guerrilla force prepare to put an end to five decades of civil war with a definitive peace deal, the challenges and opportunities of a post-conflict era are coming into greater focus. Colombia is preparing to reap the benefits of peace, and to take on the complex tasks of dismantling the war machine and rebuilding not just communities, but also lives. The end of fighting between government troops and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) should bring peace. Unfortunately, landmines, one of the legacies of the conflict, threaten to continue to inflict death and destruction in many parts of Colombia for years to come. A demining campaign agreed to by both sides has already begun in what is considered to be Colombia's most heavily mined location, the El Orejon trail in the department of Antioquia. Members of the FARC's 36th front are believed to have planted some 3,000 mines in this area. According to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), "Colombia suffers from widespread suspected landmine and explosive remnant of war contamination." "There have been reports of mine and UXO (unexploded ordnance) incidents in over 60 percent of Colombia's municipalities, and in 31 out of 32 administrative departments," UNMAS said. While the number of people killed or injured from stepping on a mine is on the decline, "Colombia still has the second highest number of new victims registered each year, with 219 new victims reported in 2015," including many children, the UN agency said. Ending the conflict will also put an end to the rebels' recruitment of minors to join the armed leftist movement. It should free some 8,000 Colombian youth, who today form part of the guerrilla group, to rejoin their families and pursue education. For those children and others living in rebel strongholds, the Colombian government needs to invest to provide free or affordable quality education if it wants to counter the influence of still active guerrilla groups, like the smaller National Liberation Army, or the lure of criminal organizations. In addition, the government will need to spur the creation of jobs for the nearly 10,000 FARC fighters who will be laying down arms to rejoin society. Providing opportunities for decent employment will ensure the fighters and their families to make a smooth transition to normal life, and prevent them from falling victim to criminal bands. Residents gather during the broadcast of the signing ceremony of the ceasefire agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla group in Havana, in Bogota, capital of Colombia, on June 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Jhon Paz) Some 50 percent of Colombia's criminal gangs involved in extortion and drug trafficking are believed to be former members of paramilitary groups that were disbanded, but were left without alternative livelihood. The peace accords between the government and the rebels carry their own price tag. Observers estimate that to implement the agreements, including a government pledge to develop the countryside, will require between 5 and 18 billion U.S. dollars a year. Colombia is partly banking on financial cooperation with the international community, with countries such as China, Canada, the United States and the European Union pledging aid. But the country also expects to see industry and production thrive in the post-conflict era, as death and destruction give way to building and creation. Three economic sectors hold particular promise, namely agriculture, tourism and foreign investment. Perhaps the sector most devastated by the conflict has been agriculture, as fighting forced thousands of families to flee the countryside and take refuge in the cities. The Agriculture Ministry has already announced a series of reforms to spur development, though the big challenge lies in drawing the younger generation back to the countryside. How effectively Colombia fights drug trafficking and production is another factor. The government will have to convince about 70,000 families who currently make a living from planting illicit crops to switch to alternative plants. UN statistics show coca production has doubled in recent years, amounting to 96,000 hectares, mainly in the departments of Cauca, Narino, Putumayo, Norte de Santander and Guaviare. Colombia is expected to see a rise in tourism, especially in parts of the country that were off limits due to the fighting. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said recently that the end of the conflict will allow national and foreign visitors to travel to regions with abundant wildlife that were formerly "red zones." The United States has warned its citizens about traveling to Colombia because of the conflict, but that will change once a peace deal is signed, said Santos. To prepare for a larger influx of visitors, Santos plans to beef up the country's tourism police force from the current 900 officers to 1,300 by 2017. Investment flows are also expected to increase. According to Santos, the government plans to earmark 25 billion dollars to develop infrastructure, competitiveness and technology in the coming years via projects that will attract foreign investors. BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday opened a website on the South China Sea, complete with historical maps, articles and research, according to the State Oceanic Administration (SOA). Run by the National Marine Data & Information Service, the Chinese language site has 10 sections that cover basic information, news, historical archives, development and management, expert opinion, law and regulations, a timeline of major events, pictures and videos and Q&A. "The South China Sea has drawn huge attention, but some information online is not accurate," said Zhang Haiwen, SOA official in charge of international cooperation. "We hope that this website will enable domestic and overseas people to better understand it and learn about the truth behind the 'dispute' over it." According to Zhang, the website contains not only maps and archives but also exclusive analysis and expository articles based on experts' research of thousands of maps. Zhang cited that a map often used by Vietnam to prove that it owned the Xisha Islands was actually pieced together by two maps, which have already been obtained by experts and might be used to refute the country's claim. Zhang said new findings will be published on the website once verified. According to the SOA, information on the website must first be reviewed by an expert panel and be "comprehensive, authoritative, detailed and accurate." "The website is founded with the aim of positively publicizing our policies, claims, historical proof, legal basis and international cooperation while serving as a reliable channel for domestic and overseas government departments, research groups and individuals to learn about the South China Sea," said SOA spokesman Shi Qingfeng. The website has now six domain names, including www.thesouthchinasea.org and www.china-nanhai.org, due to "information unification and security concerns," according to the SOA. Chiefs of State and government representatives pose for the official photography of the 49th Summit of Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR, for its acronym in Spanish), in Luque town, metropolitan area of Asuncion, capital of Paraguay, on Dec. 21, 2015. (Xinhua/Luciana Granovsky/TELAM) CARACAS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela on Tuesday rejected the allegation that there is a vacancy in the leadership of the five-member Southern Common Market (Mercosur) trade bloc, made by its members Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The controversy emerges within the trade block over its leadership as Brazil and Paraguay objected to Venezuela's succession to the rotating presidency. "Venezuela categorically rejects the invention of a fraudulent idea ... expressed in the false assumption that there is a vacancy in the pro-tempore presidency, which we have been legally fulfilling since July 29," Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement. Uruguay's presidency of the bloc expired at the end of July and Venezuela was next in line to fill Mercosur's rotating six-month presidency. However, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay have refused to acknowledge the succession, maintaining that the seat remains vacant. Paraguay cited alleged human rights violations in Venezuela. The incident underscores the political rift in South America as the three Mercosur members ruled by right-of-center governments are ideologically opposed to Venezuela's ruling socialist party. Venezuela "denounces the machinations of the extreme right" in South America, the ministry said, adding Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay "comprised a new Triple Alliance" that was working against it. The alliance is willing to destroy Mercosur in the process, the ministry warned, while expressing its willingness to continue to work to strengthen the bloc to further regional integration. TAIPEI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The number of Chinese mainland tourists to visit Taiwan in May and June decreased by 12.2 and 11.9 percent compared with the same months last year, though mainlanders remained the biggest group to visit the island in the first half of the year. About 2.21 million tourists from the mainland visited the island in the first half, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all visitors . Despite the marked drop in May and June, visitor numbers still grew by 3.1 percent in the first six month. The businesses serving tourists on the island are worried that the number of mainland tourists will continue to fall in the months to come. Johnny Tseng of Ezfly International Travel, said people in tourism industry wanted a change. About 90 percent of his company's clients are from the mainland. He said that the number of mainland tourists had declined sharply since May when Taiwan's new leader Tsai Ing-wen assumed office. CHANGSHA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Dongting Lake in central China is a quiet place these days: a sign by the lake reads, "No Fertilizer." This forms a sharp contrast with summer scenes from 2014 when boats would clutter the lake, carrying fishermen as they fed the fish. "Sometimes they poured in as much as 100 tonnes of fertilizer in a single day," said Xu Haijun, general manager of the Shanpo Lake fishery. Dongting Lake is China's second largest freshwater lake. Fertilizer thrown into the lake over many decades has boosted the growth of highly-invasive water hyacinth, as well as polluting the water. "During the worst periods, the water turned dark and smelly," Xu said. Since 2014, fisheries near the lake in counties such as Anxiang, Taoyuan and Linli, in Hunan Province, were ordered to stop feeding the fish with fertilizer. As a result, fishermen began planting water grass and putting algae in the water to feed the fish instead. Their efforts paid off. In the past two years, water quality has improved from level five, the worst on a five-tier assessment scale, to level three, which means the water is acceptable for drinking and swimming. But the ban on fertilizer reduced the amount of fish. "Fertilizer could speed up growth of the fish," said Xu Haijun. "Now we can only allow them grow naturally." Output of fish before the ban was close to 2 million kilograms per year. Last year the number dropped by half a million kilograms, and revenues fell by more than 6 million yuan (about 900,000 U.S. dollars). More than 200 households from the Shanpo Lake fishery saw their annual income decrease to 50,000 yuan last year, 20,000 yuan lower than the previous year, Xu told Xinhua. Measures have been taken to make up for the loss. Fish from the lake are now labelled as "organic," which commands a price two yuan per kilogram higher. Shanpo Lake fishery has also planted lotus flowers in the water to attract tourists. Sponsored by the local fishery, Cao Jingxin, a 40-year-old fisherman, who started fishing as a teenage boy, spent more than 100,000 yuan to renovate his house: it is now a family inn. "I work in a fishery, so surely I can cook fish," he said. "My cooking skill is as good as a chef." A further 12 households have also started to run family inns to make money. At the same time, however, some fishermen note that the water quality is not stable, especially on rainy days when sewage washes into the lake. "Improvement of water quality in a lake is a big project and we need comprehensive remediation," said Gao Dali, vice head of the managing bureau of East Dongting Lake national natural reserve. "We hope that the government can give subsidies and incentives to fishermen, so as to encourage more people to protect the water in Dongting." DUBAI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Dubai International Airport will resume flights about six hours after a plane crash-landing earlier on Wednesday, according to an official statement. Dubai Airports, the state-owned holding company of Dubai International Airport, tweeted that the airport will restart departure operations at 18:30 local time (1430 GMT), and larger aircraft will be given priority to leave. A Boeing 777 of Emirates Airline, flying from Thiruvananthapuram, India, to Dubai, made an emergency landing at 12:45 local time (0845 GMT) with 300 people, including 18 crew members, on board, all of whom are reported safe. The 282 passengers come from 20 countries, including 224 from India, 24 from Britain and 11 from the UAE, the Emirates said. Thiruvananthapuram is the largest city of the southern Indian state of Kerala. Over 80 percent of the more than 2 million Indian nationals living in the UAE are from Kerala. Emirates Airline chairman Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said in a video message that a fire on the Boeing 777-300, which was reportedly delivered to Emirates in March 2003, was put out at 14:32 local time (1032 GMT). All departure flights from Dubai had been delayed and 21 flights had to be cancelled, while some flights coming to Dubai International were diverted to Dubai's second air hub, Al Maktoum International Airport. Dubai International Airport is the world's busiest civil aviation hub, which accommodated more than 78 million passengers in 2015. MOGADISHU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least four Al-Shabaab militants were on Wednesday killed in heavy fighting between the group and security forces at Bula-Haji, 90 kilometers west of Kismayo in southern Somalia, officials said. Spokesman of Jubbaland State, Sayid Ahmed told reporters that special security forces conducted the successful operation that led to the death of the insurgents. "Jubbland special security forces carried out the operation at Bula-Haji location, there was heavy fighting, but our forces overpowered and killed 4 Al-Shabaab militants," Ahmed said. "They recovered four Ak47 rifles and a civilian bus in which they robbed from locals in this town, we will hand over the car to a female who belonged to it soon," he added. Ahmed did not however said if there were some casualties from the security side during the fighting. But the group has been facing backlash from several areas in Lower Jubba region in the same areas in the past three months after Somali, African Union troops and U.S. drones conducted airstrikes and ground battle against the militants. SINGAPORE, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- China Jinjiang Environment (Jinjiang Environment) listed on the Mainboard of Singapore Exchange (SGX) on Wednesday. The listing of Jinjiang Environment will bring the total number of SGX Mainboard companies to 586, with a combined market capitalization of about 902 billion Singapore dollars (671.6 billion U.S. dollars), said SGX. Wang Yuanluo, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of China Jinjiang Environment, said listing on the SGX Mainboard will further enhance Jinjiang's brand image and recognition, and provide the company with a platform to expand business internationally, especially with a focus on Southeast Asia. "We intend to leverage on our reach and extensive network to enhance our future growth, technical expertise and research and development capabilities, allowing us to innovate and adapt to the demands of the waste-to-energy industry," she added. SGX welcomes China Jinjiang Environment to its Mainboard. Chew Sutat, Head of Equities and Fixed Income of SGX, said the bourse looks forward to supporting the company as it looks to tap international investors and expand its business in the Southeast Asia region. Jinjiang Environment is the first private waste-to-energy operator in China, with the largest treatment capacity. Its business primarily focuses on the planning, development, construction, operation and management of waste-to-energy facilities. TEHRAN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Intelligence Ministry said on Wednesday that it has dismantled a "terrorist" cell in the western province of Kurdistan suspected of attacks on security forces, Press TV reported. The members of the "Tawhid and Jihad" group had killed 20 Iranian officials and people, injured 40 others, and were involved in armed robbery during the past seven years, the ministry said in a statement. Some of the cell members were killed and some others were arrested in clashes with police and security forces, it added. Iran's seven million Kurds make up around 10 percent of the population. Most of them live in Kurdistan and other northwestern provinces on the border with Iraq. Many Kurds seek greater rights for their region. The area has seen increased clashes between Kurdish militants and government security forces in recent months. ZAGREB, Aug. 3 Xinhua) -- The lawyer of Josip Perkovic, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a German court, said on Wednesday his client would appeal the verdict. Earlier on Wednesday, the Higher Regional Court in Munich found the Yugoslav-era Croatian intelligence official Perkovic and his then colleague Zdravko Mustac guilty of the murder of a Yugoslav dissident Stjepan Durekovic in 1983 and sentenced both of them to life in prison. The lawyer, Anto Nobilo, said the ruling was not based on the facts and it was unfair. "We will start consultations in order to request revision as soon as possible," he was quoted by Croatian News Agency Hina as saying. Mustac, 74, a head of the Croatian branch of the Yugoslav State Security Service (SDS), and Perkovic, 71, the head of the department responsible for emigration, were accused of complicity in the murder of Durekovic in a garage in the town of Wolfratshausen, nearby Munich in 1983. "The motive for the removal of Djurekovic was his hostile actions (against Yugoslavia) and involvement in a fraud at (Croatian energy company) INA," according to the court. Djurekovic, also a Croat, was the marketing director of state-owned energy company INA before fleeing to Germany in 1982. He was murdered to stop him from disclosing an alleged illegal business dealings of INA, involved high-ranking Yugoslav officials, according to local media. Both Mustac and Perkovic had denied the charges. They were extradited to Germany in the first half of 2014. LHASA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Days of heavy rain has caused a dam to burst in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, local authorities said Wednesday. The dam in Lhaze County, Xigaze Prefecture, was breached on Tuesday as water in the Yarlung Tsangpo River rose. Water from the dam flooded three villages, with more than 100 hectares of crops and forest inundated, according to the local government. Soldiers have been working overnight to repair the dam. No casualties have been reported. Since the high water season began in early June, flooding has left hundreds of people dead or missing in China. BUJUMBURA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Burundian government Wednesday issued a statement whereby it rejected a resolution of the UN Security Council on the deployment of 228 UN police agents to monitor Burundi's deteriorating security and human rights situation. "The Burundian government was surprised to hear that the UN Security Council hastily adopted Resolution 2303 of sending 228 UN police agents to Burundi. The decision has terrible consequences for other countries because the decision was taken without the consent of Burundi," said Burundian government spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba in the statement. He stressed that the resolution was adopted in violation of Chapter Six of the UN Charter that provides that such a decision would have been taken "after consulting" the involved state. Nzobonariba indicated that Burundi had earlier made its proposal through diplomatic channels, but the proposal was not taken into account by France, the country that initiated the resolution. "Burundi is against any decision on the deployment of foreign troops on the country's territory after violating the UN Charter and the sovereignty and the independence of Burundi," said Nzobonariba. He indicated that peace and security have improved as defense and security forces have been doing well countrywide. Nzobonariba added that the deployment of 200 African Union (AU) military and human rights monitors will soon take place as talks are underway between the AU and the Burundian government. According to him, final touches are being made on the Memorandum of Understanding between the AU and the Burundian government. "The international police force should rather be sent to Rwanda because those who are destabilizing Burundi are trained in refugee camps hosting Burundians in Rwanda as evidenced by the UN Security Council in several reports," he said. Through the statement, Nzobonariba reiterated the Burundian government commitment to collaborate with the UN on all issues related to peace, security and human rights. "We are also glad on the step reached in the inter-Burundian dialogue and we commend efforts made by Benjamin Mkapa, facilitator in the conflict and former Tanzanian President. No one should however interfere in his assignment," said Nzobonariba. According to him, the deployment of an international police force will "strengthen terrorists" and might be at the origin of a genocide as the Rwandan experience showed in 1994. "We are convinced that foreign troops will protect terrorists," he said. On July 29, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2303 authorizing the deployment of up to 228 police forces to Burundi for an initial period of a year. However, the Burundian government said it would only accept no more than 50 UN police forces. On July 30, thousands of Burundian citizens staged a march in the streets of the capital Bujumbura, protesting against the deployment of a UN international police force into Burundi. Burundi plunged into bloody chaos from April 2015 when the east African country's President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his intention to vie for the presidency for a third five-year-term. More than 500 people in Burundi have been killed and some 270,000 people fled to neighboring countries, mostly Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo since the outbreak of the crisis. PARIS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Muslim community in France has a key role in preventing radicalization of youth attracted by online terror propaganda, but it's up to French authorities to fight terrorism at home, said Abdallah Zekri, general secretary of French Council of Muslim Faith. "The Muslim community in France denounces terrorist attacks and is committed to preventing radicalization, but fighting terrorism is the responsibility of the government," Zekri told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday. "We are focused on fighting radicalization through imams who are working to show youth that fighting in Syria is not a combat for democracy but for killing others," he added. Zekri noted that Muslims' participation in last Sunday's Catholic masses in several parts of France was a way to curb extremism and show solidarity in the battle against terrorist attacks. "We Muslims are alongside Christians. Daesh (another name for Islamic State) wants to divide us but it didn't succeed. On the contrary, it helped to cement relationship between the two communities," he stressed. On July 26, two teenagers took six hostages in a church in northern France before slaughtering a priest and seriously wounding a second person. They were shot dead by police. The first assailant, identified as Adel Kermiche, tried to reach Syria twice in 2015. Pending trail on terrorism charges, he was put under house arrest and wore an electronic tag. His accomplice Abdel-Malik Nabil Petitjean was on a security watchlist since June 29 for becoming radicalized and being a potential terrorist. The church attack, claimed by Islamic State, came a few days after the Nice carnage in which a 31-year-old man drove his heavy truck into crowds killing 84 people in the southern French city. The recent attacks ignited criticism of Islamic fundamentalism and fueled feelings of insecurity in Europe and beyond. "I'm convinced that anti-Muslims acts will increase significantly following an exaggerated debate on security, Islam and terrorism," said Zekri, also president of the National Observatory of Islamophobia. "Muslims are not terrorists. Islam does not call on people to kill others and commit crimes. They [the attacks] are terrorists who want to spread terror and tarnish the image of Islam," he added. From January to June this year, 69 attacks against the Muslim community were reported, according to Zekri. In the wake of the church attack, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called on "Islam of France to react and to build a new relationship with Islam in France." He proposed banning foreign financing of mosques and the training of imams in France. "Youth are being radicalized via the internet. The government has to stop that," Zekri said. French authorities must investigate "the origin of terrorism financing" and not point the finger at mosques, he added. France, home to Europe's largest Islamic community at 5 million Muslims, bans Muslim headscarves and other religious symbols from schools. JUBA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The South Sudan peace agreement is still intact, despite former first vice president Riek Machar's conspicuous absence from the capital Juba in the aftermath of intense fighting in July between his rebel troops and soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir, analysts have said. President Kiir replaced his erstwhile political foe Machar with his former chief negotiator Taban Deng, in the wake of fighting in Juba on July 8-11 that killed about 300 people and forced over 60,000 South Sudanese to flee to neighboring countries like Uganda, Kenya and Sudan. This brings the total number of refugees to have fled the impoverished oil rich country to 900,000 since outbreak of the December 2013 conflict, according to United Nations Refugee agency (UNHCR). Deng has since assumed the vice presidency on the pretext of article 6.4 of the signed August 2015 peace agreement, brokered by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) that calls for replacement of the position within 48 hours in case the holder suffers physical incapacity or infirmity. Machar has since dubbed the appointment of his former mining minister in the transitional unity government illegal, and vowed to take over the capital Juba unless the IGAD intervention force agreed upon by the African Union sets foot in Juba to separate the two rival forces. Juba has since rejected any deployment of foreign troops, saying the 12,000 United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) peacekeeping force is strong. And in the way of cementing his position, the recently inaugurated Deng has gone on a charm offensive with his first stop in New York, to attend the UN General Assembly, where he will explain details on his new office and position on peace agreement of his Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in opposition (SPLM-IO) breakaway faction from Machar's mainstream SPLM-IO. "The president sent his first vice-president to the UN general assembly as a peace gesture and a sign of his commitment to the peace agreement," said Presidential Spokesman Ateny wek Ateny on Wednesday in Juba. Ateny added that Deng has since shown commitment to working with President Kiir to expeditiously implement the stalled peace agreement. This came on the back of recent eruption of fighting in areas of Lanya and Nasir in the oil-rich Upper Nile state where some sizable number of troops loyal to Machar remained, after he returned to Juba in April 26 to take up his position. Machar's spokesman James Gatdet Dak, said their forces were within proximity of the capital Juba, and that the SPLA-IO is determined to overrun Juba if the government fails to restore order and stability after he accused the South Sudan army (SPLA) of continued attacks on their forces believed to have dispersed around Lanya. However, South Sudan army spokesman Brigadier Lul Ruai Koang told Xinhua that the recent fighting in Nasir on Sunday that went on for three-days was started by the armed opposition shelling their positions. "They are the ones who started shelling our positions on Sunday. It took three days and yesterday there was limited shelling but of course we are still in control," he told Xinhua on Phone Wednesday. He said the SPLA-IO is now split into two factions, the now SPLA-IO peace wing led by Taban and SPLA-IO led by Machar. Zacharia Diing, senior policy analyst at the Sudd Institute think tank, said the peace agreement is still intact despite the now elusive SPLM-IO leader Machar saying to the contrary on being replaced as first vice president. "He does not have to recognise Deng. The question is he still committed to the peace agreement. There are no two parties right now; SPLM-IO is still in Juba. What was done to replace him with Deng was done within the peace agreement," Zacharia observed. He explained that Machar and his troops in the aftermath of the fighting are in a weak position to mount any serious challenge to the sitting government. "Even if Machar was to come back I don't see him taking over the position from Deng because the new first vice president has shown strong interest," he revealed. And this has been corroborated by Ateny, when he disclosed to Xinhua that Deng's appointment, contrary to earlier assertions that he would vacate the position as soon as Machar returned, was well calculated to leave out the latter completely as Deng is now the substantial deputy to the president. "It is no longer a temporary position anymore because we have used article 6.4 of the peace agreement. So it is bygone," Ateny revealed. Zacharia argued that the current developments is good for South Sudan, as it won't create power grid lock as Deng is willing to work in harmony with president Kiir unlike Machar who craves for political power despite the peace agreement creating a powerful vice presidency. The signed peace agreement between the two parties, calls for consultation between the president and vice president before major decisions are undertaken, hence creating two power centers of influence. Abraham Awolich, a Juba-based political and security analyst says the appointment of Deng came after SPLM-IO senior party officials in Juba failed to communicate with their leader Machar in the aftermath of recent fighting. "His own party officials are trying to reach him but he can't be found and this creates a power vacuum," he noted. He added that the appointment of Deng has salvaged the fragile peace agreement from collapsing. "It has been saved by a partner to work with the president. He cannot make his own decisions without a partner," Awolich said. Zacharia also added that the unity government was the only viable vehicle for securing peace and stability on condition the international community works with it in terms of provision of badly needed financial assistance for it to function. Niger President Mahamdou Issoufou and Chinese ambassador to Niger Shi Hu cut the ribbon at the inauguration of Niamey General Referral Hospital on Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Hassane Yaye) NIAMEY, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- China has given Niger an aid of 300 million yuan (over 45 million U.S. dollars) to fund several development projects including a modern hospital, an official source has said in Niamey. The source said the economic and technical cooperation agreement was signed on July 29 in Beijing by Niger's Deputy Foreign Minister El Back Zeinabou Tari Bako. She was in the Chinese capital to attend the meeting of coordinators monitoring the implementation of agreements during the Forum on China Africa Cooperation held in Johannesburg last year. The funds will enable Nigerien government to complete construction of a referral hospital in Niamey, the third bridge along River Niger, as well as other development projects. Cooperation between China and Niger dates a long time ago and China has invested considerable resources to support Niger's development actions in different socio-economic sectors. Some of the projects constructed by China include General Seyni Kountche stadium, various roads, the second bridge on river Niger, the water project in Zinder, schools and training equipment in the health sector. The newly-built Niamey General Referral Hospital. (Xinhua/Hassane Yaye) The Niamey general referral hospital, inaugurated by Niger President Mahamdou Issoufou on Tuesday morning, has a capacity of 500 beds and is the biggest and most modern referral hospital in West Africa. The hospital will be able to provide all services, including emergency, cardiology, 16 operation rooms, laboratory, blood bank, imaging and hospitalization. It will equally serve as a medical training center and will provide both in-patient and out-patient services. Tari Bako said the expected completion of the third bridge on river Niger will help to ease traffic on both sides of the river in Niamey. "African countries should continue supporting the implementation of projects agreed upon during the Johannesburg Forum for the benefit of our states," she concluded. Turkey president names local affairs minister Youssef Chahed, 40, as prime minister-designate tasked with forming a unity cabinet to tackle major economic and security challenges. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) TUNIS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi on Wednesday officially named Local Affairs Minister Youssef Chahed as prime minister of the national unity government. The nomination came after parliament ousted incumbent Habib Essid in a no-confidence vote due to his perceived poor handling of economic reforms and security. Chahed dismissed reports of any family ties to Essebsi, in response to opposition charges that he was a distant relative of the president. Chahed, 41, had served as a vice-minister of fishing before becoming minister of local affairs in the Essid government. Born in Tunis in 1975, Chahed earned several degrees, including a doctorate in agronomic science, in France. He also taught in France and Tunisia, and is famous for his role in shaping agricultural production policies in Tunisia. His political career began after joining the Nidaa Tounes party as a senior member of the party founded by Essebsi. Nidaa Tounes is the second most influential party in the current political scene, after losing its parliamentary majority to Ennahdha party. As a member of Nidaa Tounes' executive bureau, Chahed was assigned by Essebsi to mediate discussions among party members, playing a crucial role during the divisive crisis the party underwent in the past few months. Following his nomination, Chahed has 30 days to form a ministerial team which then needs to earn a vote of confidence from the majority of parliament members. A long line of voters is seen at a polling booth in Cape Town on Wednesday when South Africa municipal elections kicked off. (Xinhua/Willem Van de Merwe) CAPE TOWN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The 2016 municipal elections kicked off on Wednesday, with polling stations, except for a very few, around the country officially opened. With 26.3 million registered voters due to cast their ballots at 22,612 voting stations countrywide, this election promises to attract one of the highest voter turnout numbers since democracy. Major political parties all expressed confidence that they would win the elections. Members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) including the organization's leadership were out on the streets in major cities, making door-to-door visits to encourage citizens to go out and vote. The ANC reaffirms its confidence in the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to oversee a peaceful, legitimate, free and fair and incident-free election, ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said. A voter registers before casting her vote on Wednesday when South Africa municipal elections kicked off. (Xinhua/Willem Van der Merwe) "The ANC joins South Africans in calling for a peaceful election and urges all our members and structures to actively play their part in ensuring the election takes place incident-free. "The ANC further calls on its members who will be voting in areas where there have been high levels of political tension, to exercise tolerance and restraint, even in the face of provocation," he said. All South Africans and first time voters in particular should exercise their hard-won right to vote, Kodwa said. "Participatory democracy is inextricably linked to people's power, a principle the ANC continues to advance," he said. President Jacob Zuma cast his vote at the Ntolwane Primary School in his native place of Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province. On Tuesday, Zuma visited the IEC Results Center in Pretoria and expressed confidence that polling would take place under strictly regulated conditions being administered by the IEC. Voting went on peacefully around the country, with no report of major incidents, the IEC said. At a polling station in Century City, Cape Town, voters began arriving early in the morning. More than 100 people were waiting in a long que, under the watchful of police. Emerging from a voting booth at the voting station, Babacar Gouden, a construction worker in his 30s, said he had cast his vote for a "clean" party which would put people first, refusing to give its name. The City of Cape Town is under the control of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), but the African National Congress (ANC) has vowed to take over Cape Town from the DA. The elections were seen by many as being the most contested since 1994. For the first time in history, this election saw 200 political parties and over 61,000 candidates participating. The parties are contesting 4,392 wards in all 213 municipalities. The ANC, haunted by a series of corruption scandals,would probably lose control of major metropolitans like Johannesburg, Pretoria and Nelson Mandela Bay. About 2,000 SA National Defence Force members have been deployed to help the SA Police Service in all nine provinces during the municipal elections, marred by violence that has claimed the lives of at least 25 people, 14 of them candidates fielded by political parties. The soldiers would be on duty until August 10. "Security will remain highly visible, to ensure that no one is prevented from exercising their hard won democratic right of voting or participating in any political process leading to the elections," Zuma said before the elections. Ahead of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit from 25-27 September, and to mark the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, a 10-minute film introducing the sustainable development goals was projected onto United Nations headquarters, north facade of the Secretariat building, and west facade of the General Assembly building on Sept. 22, 2015. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations was deeply troubled by the latest test firing of missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said a UN spokesperson here on Wednesday. Earlier Wednesday, the DPRK fired two ballistic missiles into east waters, one of which was reportedly landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone. UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said "such actions seriously undermine regional peace and stability" and are not conducive to reducing tensions in the Korean Peninsula. "We reiterate the call on the DPRK to heed the united call of the international community to reverse its course and return to the process of sincere dialogue," Dujarric told a daily briefing. The UN Security Council will hold a closed-door meeting on the DPRK concerning the missile test-firing at 4:00 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Wednesday. The launch came two weeks after three short-range ballistic missiles were test-fired in an apparent protest against the decision by Seoul and Washington to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile shield in South Korea. An Emirates Airline flight is seen after it crash-landed at Dubai International Airport, the UAE August 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) DUBAI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Emirates Airline said that one firefighter was killed while putting out a fire caused by a plane crash-landing earlier on Wednesday. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, the Chairman of Emirates Airline, confirmed that the firefighter lost his life in the rescue operations. A Boeing 777 of Emirates Airline, flying from Thiruvananthapuram, India, to Dubai, made an emergency landing at 12:45 local time (0845 GMT) at Dubai International Airport. Sheikh Ahmed said earlier in a video message that a fire on the plane, which was reportedly delivered to Emirates in March 2003, was put out at 14:32 local time (1032 GMT). Altogether 300 people, including 18 crew members, were on board, all of whom are reported safe. The 282 passengers come from 20 countries, including 224 from India, 24 from Britain and 11 from the UAE, the Emirates said. Asked about the cause of the crash, Sheikh Ahmed said the investigations are still ongoing, stressing "all required maintenance and security checks on the plane were done in the past as scheduled." "Our priority is now the health and safety of our passengers," he added. The airport has resumed departure flights at 18:30 local time (1430 GMT). Dozens of Emirates flights and foreign airliners had to be delayed or completely cancelled, while some flights coming to Dubai International were diverted to Dubai's second air hub, Al Maktoum International Airport. JUBA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Top UN relief official wrapped up his three-day visit to South Sudan on Wednesday by expressing shock and dismay over reports of violence against civilians and sexual violence against women and girls committed during the recent fighting in South Sudan. "The people of this country have suffered far too much, and for far too long," Stephen O'Brien, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator told journalists in Juba. He called on all parties involved in the violence to cease hostilities immediately and punish those responsible for abusing the rights of civilians. "I express my shock and dismay at the reports of violations committed against civilians during fighting in recent months, including Juba in particular. I condemn the heinous acts of sexual violence carried out against women and girls, including members of the organized forces," he said. O'Brien who said he met President Salva Kiir and also toured two camps for internally displaced persons in Wau and Aweil, said reports of widespread violence against civilians throughout the country are alarming. "I am outraged by the heinous acts of violence that have been committed against civilians, including by members of the armed forces, and call for swift and decisive action to halt these abuses and bring the perpetrators to account." The UN relief official said he witnessed for himself "enormous and complex multifaceted" humanitarian crisis and widespread hunger all over the country. O'Brien, who is also the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, stressed that access for humanitarian workers and those on a humanitarian mission is a right that is guaranteed under international laws. He added that conflict had severely restricted aid access, if not prohibited altogether, in some instances. "The people of this country have suffered far too much. There is no military solution to this conflict; the fighting must stop and the atrocities must end immediately. I call on all armed actors to immediately silence the guns, end the culture of impunity and allow civilians to live in peace," O'Brien said. The humanitarian situation in South Sudan is catastrophic. More than half of the population - some 6.1 million people - are in need of humanitarian assistance. An estimated 4.8 million people are severely food insecure across the country, with a quarter of a million children facing severe acute malnutrition. Forced displacement remains a defining feature of the crisis, with some 1.6 million people internally displaced, and more than 900,000 having fled to neighbouring countries, including more than 60,000 who fled to Uganda in July alone. O'Brien emphasized that humanitarian workers are driven by humanitarian needs. They operate on the basis of independence, impartiality and neutrality, and must be given free, unimpeded access to reach all people in need, wherever they may be. The U.N mission peacekeeping mission in South reported last week that it document over 100 cases of sexual violence and rape against unarmed innocent civilians, including gang rapes and sexual abuse of minors since the outbreak of conflict on July 8. O'Brein also condemned the killing of aid workers in the war-torn country, urging authorities to investigate the killings and bring perpetrator to book. "Today, the number of aid workers killed since December 2013 is 57 and many more are still missing. This is absolutely unacceptable, and I urged the president to take immediate action to end the impunity that has prevailed to date," he said. The humanitarian chief appealed to donors to meet their pledges to help fund the remaining 700, 000 million U.S dollars as part of the 1.3 billion dollars humanitarian appeal for South Sudan in 2016. RAMADI, Iraq, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Wednesday retook control of a border crossing point with the neighboring Syria in Iraq's western province of Anbar, after clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants, a provincial security source said. "The security forces and allied paramilitary units of Sunni tribes launched an operation in the morning and freed al-Walid crossing point and surrounding desert area near the border with Syria," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The troops, backed by the U.S.-led coalition aircraft, fought clashes with the extremist militants and forced them to withdraw after leaving nine militants dead and four IS vehicles destroyed, the source said. Imad al-Dulaimi, mayor of the nearby town of Rutba, some 370 km west of Baghdad, said that the troops also freed a residential district adjacent to the crossing point and raised the Iraqi flag on the government buildings. The operation near the border with Syria came as part of a major offensive aimed at driving out IS militants from the international roads between Baghdad and neighboring Jordan and Syria. In addition, the offensive was designed to recapture rural areas in north of Euphrates River after the government troops and allied militias previously reclaimed key cities and towns, including Ramadi and Fallujah. Iraq has witnessed worsening violence since the IS took control of parts of its northern and western regions in June 2014. Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence and the rise of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the U.S. that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003, under the pretext of seeking to destroy weapons of mass destruction. The war led to the ouster and execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, but no such weapons have been found. by Larry Neild LONDON, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Royal Navy warships should be used to patrol the waters around Britain, the chair of a powerful House of Commons committee said Wednesday. Keith Vaz, chair of the Home Affairs Committee, was commenting after a report from his committee showed the number of Border Force patrol ships on duty in coastal waters was "worryingly low". The committee has been investigating a Europe-wide failure to anticipate and tackle "colossal" migration crisis. "Criminal gangs continue to exploit weaknesses in security at small ports in Britain to illegally transport migrants from the continent. Despite maritime security being critical to an island nation, Border Force is operating worryingly low numbers of vessels to protect our borders. Royal Navy vessels must be used in our sea war against the traffickers," Vaz said. He described Europe's efforts to address the "colossal" refugee crisis has been lamentable. "It is horrifying that large numbers of the 85,000 unaccompanied children already in the EU have gone missing shortly after arrival, facing abuse and exploitation. They have become the EU's "disappeared ones". It is unacceptable that the 157 unaccompanied children in Calais with family in the UK have still not arrived here," he said. The committee said the recent attacks in France demonstrated that terrorists are exploiting the refugee crisis by using the human tragedy as a cloak to re-enter Europe. "The EU external border must improve security, including deploying specialist equipment to fingerprint and check everyone against security databases. This is not happening. Terrorists do not see borders as barriers to their barbarism," said Vaz. The Home Office, responsible for interior matters, says it makes use of radar and aerial surveillance and has ordered eight more patrol boats. Currently Britain has five Border Force vessels, but one has been deployed to the Mediterranean and another is in dock for maintenance. MPs on the committee also called in Wednesday's report for security to be stepped up at smaller ports around Britain. Crime agencies in Britain have warned that people smugglers are targeting smaller ports to bring illegal immigrants into Britain away from the bigger high-security ports. On Security issues, the committee said it is clearly in the interest of all EU countries for there to be effective security checks at EU external borders. "The UK's own measures since the Paris attacks are welcome, but no country can protect its borders alone. The UK and others need their European neighbors, and the countries on the EU external borders, to take equally rigorous steps," the committee report noted. "Smaller ports are now being used by criminal gangs to move people between the continent and the UK. UK Border Force has been given a key role in implementing strengthened coastal security measures but it is clearly under-resourced. Royal Navy vessels should be made available to Border Force to make up for shortfalls, where necessary," it added. A military vehicle of Iraqi security forcesisseen in Falluja,Iraq,June 25, 2016. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) RAMADI, Iraq, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Wednesday retook control of a border crossing point with the neighboring Syria in Iraq's western province of Anbar, after clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants, a provincial security source said. "The security forces and allied paramilitary units of Sunni tribes launched an operation in the morning and freed al-Walid crossing point and surrounding desert area near the border with Syria," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The troops, backed by the U.S.-led coalition aircraft, fought clashes with the extremist militants and forced them to withdraw after leaving nine militants dead and four IS vehicles destroyed, the source said. Imad al-Dulaimi, mayor of the nearby town of Rutba, some 370 km west of Baghdad, said that the troops also freed a residential district adjacent to the crossing point and raised the Iraqi flag on the government buildings. The operation near the border with Syria came as part of a major offensive aimed at driving out IS militants from the international roads between Baghdad and neighboring Jordan and Syria. In addition, the offensive was designed to recapture rural areas in north of Euphrates River after the government troops and allied militias previously reclaimed key cities and towns, including Ramadi and Fallujah. Iraq has witnessed worsening violence since the IS took control of parts of its northern and western regions in June 2014. Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence and the rise of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the U.S. that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003, under the pretext of seeking to destroy weapons of mass destruction. The war led to the ouster and execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, but no such weapons have been found. A military vehicle of Iraqi security forces is seen in Falluja, Iraq, June 25, 2016. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) RAMADI, Iraq, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Wednesday retook control of a border crossing point with the neighboring Syria in Iraq's western province of Anbar, after clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants, a provincial security source said. "The security forces and allied paramilitary units of Sunni tribes launched an operation in the morning and freed al-Walid crossing point and surrounding desert area near the border with Syria," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The troops, backed by the U.S.-led coalition aircraft, fought clashes with the extremist militants and forced them to withdraw after leaving nine militants dead and four IS vehicles destroyed, the source said. Imad al-Dulaimi, mayor of the nearby town of Rutba, some 370 km west of Baghdad, said that the troops also freed a residential district adjacent to the crossing point and raised the Iraqi flag on the government buildings. The operation near the border with Syria came as part of a major offensive aimed at driving out IS militants from the international roads between Baghdad and neighboring Jordan and Syria. In addition, the offensive was designed to recapture rural areas in north of Euphrates River after the government troops and allied militias previously reclaimed key cities and towns, including Ramadi and Fallujah. Iraq has witnessed worsening violence since the IS took control of parts of its northern and western regions in June 2014. Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence and the rise of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the U.S. that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003, under the pretext of seeking to destroy weapons of mass destruction. The war led to the ouster and execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, but no such weapons have been found. 76 people died and around 1,300 houses collapsed in Sudan due to the recent heavy floods. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) KHARTOUM, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's Interior Minister Ismat Abdel Rahman said Wednesday that 76 people died and around 1,300 houses collapsed due to the recent heavy floods and rains in Sudan, Sudan's Ashorooq net reported. "The recent rains and floods have caused great loss in lives and properties in 13 states of Sudan, which led to the death of 76 people," the Sudanese minister was quoted as saying. He said the situation is still worrying because of possible following threats like continuing heavy rains and rising level of the Nile. The Sudanese National Council for Civil Defence had expected heavy rainfall during the coming days throughout Sudan. Sudan's Ministry of Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity has urged the citizens in the Nile areas in Khartoum, Nahral Neel and Northern States to take the necessary precautions to protect lives and properties due to the rising levels of the Nile. DAMASCUS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian air force carried out 100 airstrikes against rebel positions in the northern province of Aleppo Wednesday, foiling the latest rebel offensive in that area, state news agency SANA reported. The strikes came as the rebels have unleashed their third offensive in a bid to break to the recently imposed military siege on rebel-held areas east of Aleppo. SANA said over 64 rebels have been killed over the past 24 hours in the government airstrikes targeting rebel-held positions at Khan Assal, Mansourah, Ma'rata, Zarbeh, Dahret Abd Rabo, Khan Touman and Urum Kubrah. Meanwhile, a military source told Xinhua that the army thwarted the third rebel attack within a couple of weeks. He said the intensity of battles in the southern countryside of Aleppo has largely declined. Late last month, the Syrian army stormed the Bani Zaid area, a main rebel stronghold in the eastern part of Aleppo. The progress came days after the army severed the last rebel supply route connecting the rebel held northern countryside of Aleppo with eastern part of the city under rebel control. With the progress made, the Syrian army has fully besieged eastern Aleppo, urging the rebels to surrender themselves and the civilians to cooperate. Moreover, President Bashar al-Assad announced an amnesty for the rebels who surrender themselves and their weapons to the authorities. The Syrian authorities in cooperation with the Russians also opened three safe passages for civilians wishing to leave eastern Aleppo. They also opened a fourth one for the rebels who would want to surrender themselves. On Tuesday, state news agency SANA said dozens of families evacuated eastern districts in Aleppo, the second batch to leave the city since the government offered the safe passages. SANA also said rebel fighters surrendered themselves to the authorities. Video clips of rebels surrendering were aired on several Syrian TVs. With the Syrian army making all this progress in Aleppo, the rebels, including jihadi ones, unleashed several attacks over the past week to try to break the government-imposed siege. However, all of their efforts have been rendered flat so far, as the government siege on rebel-held areas is still in place. Aleppo, Syria's largest province and once a thriving economic metropolis, has witnessed intensified violent battles lately as the Syrian army advances against the rebels in the north. RABAT, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The number of tourists who visited Morocco between 2010 and 2015 increased by 10 percent, local media reported on Wednesday. The number of tourists who arrived in the North African Kingdom exceeded for the first time 10 million tourists in 2013, alyaoum24.com news site quoted the Moroccan Tourism minister Lahcen Haddad as saying. This period was marked by an increase of 31 percent of hotel capacity (241,000 beds) and the creation of 60,000 additional jobs in the tourism sector, the minister said. As for 2015, tourist flow and booking declined, including French tourists, in comparison with the same period one year earlier, he noted. Traditional source markets, such as France and Spain, recorded a respective drop of 15 percent and 8 percent while the German and British markets have increased significantly respectively by 17 percent and 7 percent, the minister pointed out. The decline is due to terror attacks in France, Tunisia and Turkey, he said. HOUSTON, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Debates among Americans over gun control and solutions to curb gun-related violence have deepened further in the aftermath of recent shooting incidents in the U.S. states of Texas and Louisiana. Those divisions, a reflection of the political fault line between conservative Republicans and progressive Democrats, are evident in Texas, home to a rising number of mass shooting incidents and where death by guns is almost a daily occurrence. Texas conservative Republicans argue that aside from the right to bear arms guaranteed by U.S. law, guns help protect and safeguard families. Robert Chase, a pipefitter supervisor in Cleveland, said that he believes gun ownership, even of military-style guns with multiple-round magazines, is necessary for the average citizens to combat a growing number of criminals and possible terrorists armed with assault weapons. "If I only have a single-shot pistol and the bad guys have the assault rifles, I am leaving myself and my family in jeopardy," Chase, 58, told Xinhua. "The answer is to enforce the laws, allow law-abiding citizens the right to rapid-fire guns for their safety, and deport the criminals, including any criminal caught with an illegal weapon." Chase said that shootings would be reduced if the federal government allowed the enforcement of current laws instead of being afraid of a "politically incorrect" label through profiling likely gun-wielding criminals because they belonged to particular ethnic or religious groups. Houston Police Sgt. J. Nessenthaler, a conservative in his 60s, told Xinhua that he agrees with left-of-center advocates for more extensive background checks. Currently, he said, such checks don't flag people with psychological issues because American law does not require gun buyers to disclose their medical information. "This, I believe, needs to be changed," Nessenthaler said. Both the nightclub shooter in Orlando, Florida and the shooter in California were on the FBI watch list due to their radical Islamic beliefs, but they were still able to obtain weapons they used later in mass shootings. "Any individual who has psychological problems, or belongs to radicalized organizations that state they want to do harm to the citizens of this country should be banned from purchasing a firearm and banned from this country," he said. On the issue of restricting guns now legal for purchase, however, Nessenthaler reflects the conservative objection that such a ban would go against the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment. "(President Barrack) Obama and his liberal cronies just want to step all over our Constitutional rights to bear arms," he said. During Obama's two terms, there have been more mass shootings across the country than during the tenure of any other president. After each incident, the issue of gun control has risen as an issue and, ironically, has driven record numbers of fearful Americans to gun stores to purchase weapons. "In his eight years in office, Obama increased gun ownership in this country more than any other president before him," Nessenthaler said. The United States currently has about 300 million firearms in circulation among a total population of 319 million. Nessenthaler's recipe for gun safety includes adding all medical and arrest records, and all FBI information, to the databanks checked by gun sellers. "Ban all foreigners who are not citizens of this country from gun ownership, especially radicalized individuals," he said. "Hold parents responsible for their kids' murderous acts. Especially if they buy them a firearm knowing that they are disturbed and are suffering from psychological problems." A progressive Democrat, Susan Stiteler, a former Houston art teacher, told Xinhua of her outrage that the right-wing media and political focus of the Orlando shooting seemed to center around the American-born shooter's questionable religious zealotry rather than his access to a military-style weapon. People who trade in terror are already in the United States, Stiteler said, and they are Americans. "No civilian has a right to, or needs such firepower. Gun owners' Second Amendment rights end when the public safety is in complete jeopardy," Stiteler said. She has no objection to legally purchasing a handgun for home safety or hunting rifle after requisite background checks show no record of assault or attempted crime with a deadly weapon. Stiteler cited Australia's buy-back program, ban of assault rifles and tightening of gun regulations following a 1996 mass shooting, actions that led to a drop in gun-related deaths by 50 percent and a reduction of mass shootings to zero. "Gun control works," she said. "Australia's citizens do not own weapons that can kill 50 people in a matter of minutes. But America's citizens do." Stiteler blames efforts of the National Rifle Association (NRA) to lobby members of the U.S. Congress. She even posted on her Facebook page the names of the 40 senators who voted against gun-control legislation defeated in the week following the Orlando killings. She also posted the amount the NRA lobby had contributed to each of those senators, amounts ranging from 2,500 to 7.74 million U.S. dollars. Included were Texas's Senator and former U.S. presidential candidate Ted Cruz, with 75,450 U.S. dollars and Senator John Cornyn with 57,135 U.S. dollars in NRA contributions. Both voted against expansion of criminal background checks for people who wished to purchase a gun. "Until we end the NRA's death-grip on our greedy Congress, nothing will happen, except 'thoughts and prayers' and a moment of silence on the Senate floor (after the latest victims are) mowed down," Stiteler said. Kenda Daniel, a progressive Houston real estate broker in her late 20s or early 30s, said that there are several reasons for the uptick in mass shootings in the United States. "I believe the evidence of recent mass shootings point to shooters suffering from some form of mental illness," Daniel told Xinhua. "Additionally, there are no meaningful restrictions on the purchase of guns or ammunition that would prevent these individuals or those with a proclivity for violence, terrorism ties, or even previous criminals from acquiring such items." Removing social stigmas associated with mental health and providing better treatment for the mentally unstable will help solve the problem, she said, but more near-term goals include enhanced and increased gun license restrictions, required background checks prior to purchase large quantities of ammunition and a ban on sales and manufacture of semi-automatic, automatic and large-magazine weapons. "I even favor limits on the number of guns that an individual should be able to own," Daniel said. "We have a Second Amendment right to bear arms, (but) we have, as a society, abused that right, taken it to an extreme." Daniel said that it is nonsense to claim a right to purchase types of weaponry used by the military, weapons that enable individuals to commit horrible acts of violence America has become accustomed to seeing on a regular basis. "I think we are capable of correction and change," Daniel said. "It will take courage and sacrifice by our politicians. It will require standing up to the gun lobby and extremists. It will take time and patience. But, something has to break through of any correction or change is to ever occur." A study published earlier this year by the National Center for Biotechnology Information showed an average of 90 people died daily through gun violence in the United States. The study spanning 1966-2012 also found that the nation had more public mass shootings -- defined by four or more victims not including gang or family members -- than the rest of the world, which had a combined total of 292 such attacks during the period. From 2011 to 2014, according to an analysis by the Harvard School of Public Health and Northeastern University, multiple shootings tripled, occurring every 64 days on average, an increase from 200 days on average during the previous quarter century in the United States. Despite the debate and division on gun control and gun safety among the Americans, a new law came into effect on Monday in the Lone Star state that allows students to carry concealed guns on campuses. Texas now becomes one of the eight U.S. states that allows students to carry guns into college buildings. The law went into effect on the same day marking the 50th anniversary of the 1966 mass shooting when a sniper climbed to the observation deck of a 307-foot clock tower in the University of Texas at Austin and shot dead 16 people, wounding 31 others before being killed by police. KHARTOUM, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A Sudanese official declared that the Chinese companies acquire 75 percent of foreign investments in the country's oil sector, Sudan Tribune reported Wednesday. Mohamed Zayed Awad, Sudanese Minister of Petroleum and Gas, also announced entry of new Chinese companies to invest in fields of gas and petroleum in the country. He said that a delegation of the China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) will arrive in the country late this month to get acquainted with new projects. The company is willing to enter into new projects at a number of oil blocks, he said. Sudan is seeking to increase its oil production after losing 75 percent of its oil revenues following the separation of South Sudan in 2011. Before separation, Sudan's oil production amounted to 450,000 barrels a day. MOSCOW, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova on Wednesday said it is impossible for the anthrax to further spread out of the country's northwestern Siberian region of Yamal. "One should not be scared of the infection's spread to other regions of the country. It's impossible," Skvortsova was quoted by TV channel Rossiya One. She stressed that the infection was linked exclusively with the habitat of animals. The highly lethal bacterial disease was triggered by abnormal summer heat wave in the region this year, which has killed over 2,300 animals before spreading to people who are mostly nomadic herders. On Monday, a 12-year-old boy died after being diagnosed with anthrax. Ninety more people were put under observation in hospital of Yamal's administrative center of Salekhard. The region is currently under quarantine with herders being moved to a safer location, as a state of emergency has been declared. According to regional government, currently 44 veterinary physicians were controlling the situation and more were expected to arrive shortly. Interfax news agency on Tuesday quoted Anna Popova, head of the consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor and the country's chief epidemiologist, as saying that the anthrax hotbed had been contained. VIENNA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows greatly concern over the reports of "extrajudicial killing" of suspected drug dealers and users in the Philippines, the office chief said on Wednesday in Vienna. "I join the United Nations Secretary-General in condemning the apparent endorsement of extrajudicial killing, which is illegal and a breach of fundamental rights and freedoms," Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of UNDOC said. He noted such responses contravene the provisions of the international drug control conventions, do not serve the cause of justice, and will not help to ensure that "all people can live in health, dignity and peace, with security and prosperity", as agreed by governments in the outcome document approved at the UN General Assembly special session on the world drug problem. Fedotov told Xinhua in an interview before that when combating against the illicit drug, the drug policies should put people first so as to protect people from the drug abuse. UNODC said it stands ready to further engage with the Philippines and all countries to bring drug traffickers to justice with the appropriate legal safeguards in line with international standards and norms, and promote prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration approaches based on evidence, science, public health and human rights. UNODC supports balanced, people-centred, evidence- and rights-based approaches to drug control, rooted in the agreed international conventions and standards. BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Argentina on Thursday to meet with his counterpart Susana Malcorra, in order "to continue the renewed bilateral work agenda established by both countries," the Argentinean Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday. Kerry, who met Malcorra in Washington in March, will lay a traditional floral wreath in San Martin Square, to honor Argentinean independence hero Jose de San Martin. The two diplomats will then hold a private meeting, before hosting a meeting of foreign ministry officials from both sides, followed by a press conference. During the 24-hour visit, Kerry is also set to meet with President Mauricio Macri and attend a bilateral trade summit with the Argentinean-American Chamber of Commerce. Ties between Washington and Buenos Aires picked up speed in March during the official visit to Argentina by U.S. President Barack Obama, who expressed support for the economic changes introduced by Macri. Policemen are briefing residents about the shooting case in Dallas, the United States, July 7, 2016. Four police officers were killed and seven others injured as a sniper opened fire in downtown Dallas during a protest against officer-involved shooting. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing) HOUSTON, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Debates among Americans over gun control and solutions to curb gun-related violence have deepened further in the aftermath of recent shooting incidents in the U.S. states of Texas and Louisiana. Those divisions, a reflection of the political fault line between conservative Republicans and progressive Democrats, are evident in Texas, home to a rising number of mass shooting incidents and where death by guns is almost a daily occurrence. Texas conservative Republicans argue that aside from the right to bear arms guaranteed by U.S. law, guns help protect and safeguard families. Robert Chase, a pipefitter supervisor in Cleveland, said that he believes gun ownership, even of military-style guns with multiple-round magazines, is necessary for the average citizens to combat a growing number of criminals and possible terrorists armed with assault weapons. "If I only have a single-shot pistol and the bad guys have the assault rifles, I am leaving myself and my family in jeopardy," Chase, 58, told Xinhua. "The answer is to enforce the laws, allow law-abiding citizens the right to rapid-fire guns for their safety, and deport the criminals, including any criminal caught with an illegal weapon." Chase said that shootings would be reduced if the federal government allowed the enforcement of current laws instead of being afraid of a "politically incorrect" label through profiling likely gun-wielding criminals because they belonged to particular ethnic or religious groups. Houston Police Sgt. J. Nessenthaler, a conservative in his 60s, told Xinhua that he agrees with left-of-center advocates for more extensive background checks. Currently, he said, such checks don't flag people with psychological issues because American law does not require gun buyers to disclose their medical information. "This, I believe, needs to be changed," Nessenthaler said. Both the nightclub shooter in Orlando, Florida and the shooter in California were on the FBI watch list due to their radical Islamic beliefs, but they were still able to obtain weapons they used later in mass shootings. "Any individual who has psychological problems, or belongs to radicalized organizations that state they want to do harm to the citizens of this country should be banned from purchasing a firearm and banned from this country," he said. On the issue of restricting guns now legal for purchase, however, Nessenthaler reflects the conservative objection that such a ban would go against the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment. "(President Barrack) Obama and his liberal cronies just want to step all over our Constitutional rights to bear arms," he said. During Obama's two terms, there have been more mass shootings across the country than during the tenure of any other president. After each incident, the issue of gun control has risen as an issue and, ironically, has driven record numbers of fearful Americans to gun stores to purchase weapons. "In his eight years in office, Obama increased gun ownership in this country more than any other president before him," Nessenthaler said. The United States currently has about 300 million firearms in circulation among a total population of 319 million. Nessenthaler's recipe for gun safety includes adding all medical and arrest records, and all FBI information, to the databanks checked by gun sellers. "Ban all foreigners who are not citizens of this country from gun ownership, especially radicalized individuals," he said. "Hold parents responsible for their kids' murderous acts. Especially if they buy them a firearm knowing that they are disturbed and are suffering from psychological problems." A progressive Democrat, Susan Stiteler, a former Houston art teacher, told Xinhua of her outrage that the right-wing media and political focus of the Orlando shooting seemed to center around the American-born shooter's questionable religious zealotry rather than his access to a military-style weapon. People who trade in terror are already in the United States, Stiteler said, and they are Americans. "No civilian has a right to, or needs such firepower. Gun owners' Second Amendment rights end when the public safety is in complete jeopardy," Stiteler said. She has no objection to legally purchasing a handgun for home safety or hunting rifle after requisite background checks show no record of assault or attempted crime with a deadly weapon. Stiteler cited Australia's buy-back program, ban of assault rifles and tightening of gun regulations following a 1996 mass shooting, actions that led to a drop in gun-related deaths by 50 percent and a reduction of mass shootings to zero. "Gun control works," she said. "Australia's citizens do not own weapons that can kill 50 people in a matter of minutes. But America's citizens do." Stiteler blames efforts of the National Rifle Association (NRA) to lobby members of the U.S. Congress. She even posted on her Facebook page the names of the 40 senators who voted against gun-control legislation defeated in the week following the Orlando killings. She also posted the amount the NRA lobby had contributed to each of those senators, amounts ranging from 2,500 to 7.74 million U.S. dollars. Included were Texas's Senator and former U.S. presidential candidate Ted Cruz, with 75,450 U.S. dollars and Senator John Cornyn with 57,135 U.S. dollars in NRA contributions. Both voted against expansion of criminal background checks for people who wished to purchase a gun. "Until we end the NRA's death-grip on our greedy Congress, nothing will happen, except 'thoughts and prayers' and a moment of silence on the Senate floor (after the latest victims are) mowed down," Stiteler said. Kenda Daniel, a progressive Houston real estate broker in her late 20s or early 30s, said that there are several reasons for the uptick in mass shootings in the United States. "I believe the evidence of recent mass shootings point to shooters suffering from some form of mental illness," Daniel told Xinhua. "Additionally, there are no meaningful restrictions on the purchase of guns or ammunition that would prevent these individuals or those with a proclivity for violence, terrorism ties, or even previous criminals from acquiring such items." Removing social stigmas associated with mental health and providing better treatment for the mentally unstable will help solve the problem, she said, but more near-term goals include enhanced and increased gun license restrictions, required background checks prior to purchase large quantities of ammunition and a ban on sales and manufacture of semi-automatic, automatic and large-magazine weapons. "I even favor limits on the number of guns that an individual should be able to own," Daniel said. "We have a Second Amendment right to bear arms, (but) we have, as a society, abused that right, taken it to an extreme." Daniel said that it is nonsense to claim a right to purchase types of weaponry used by the military, weapons that enable individuals to commit horrible acts of violence America has become accustomed to seeing on a regular basis. "I think we are capable of correction and change," Daniel said. "It will take courage and sacrifice by our politicians. It will require standing up to the gun lobby and extremists. It will take time and patience. But, something has to break through of any correction or change is to ever occur." A study published earlier this year by the National Center for Biotechnology Information showed an average of 90 people died daily through gun violence in the United States. The study spanning 1966-2012 also found that the nation had more public mass shootings -- defined by four or more victims not including gang or family members -- than the rest of the world, which had a combined total of 292 such attacks during the period. A gun shop owner in Houston's Chinatown is receiving interview from Xinhua reporter. (Xinhua Photo) From 2011 to 2014, according to an analysis by the Harvard School of Public Health and Northeastern University, multiple shootings tripled, occurring every 64 days on average, an increase from 200 days on average during the previous quarter century in the United States. Despite the debate and division on gun control and gun safety among the Americans, a new law came into effect on Monday in the Lone Star state that allows students to carry concealed guns on campuses. Texas now becomes one of the eight U.S. states that allows students to carry guns into college buildings. The law went into effect on the same day marking the 50th anniversary of the 1966 mass shooting when a sniper climbed to the observation deck of a 307-foot clock tower in the University of Texas at Austin and shot dead 16 people, wounding 31 others before being killed by police. This file photo taken on June 07, 2016 shows Miami-Dade mosquito control worker Carlos Vargas looks for the Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae at a home in Miami, Florida. (AFP Photo/Rhona Wise) WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government has launched its first clinical trial of a Zika vaccine in humans, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said Wednesday. The early-stage study, led by the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), will evaluate the experimental vaccine's safety and ability to generate an immune system response in participants. The vaccine will be tested in at least 80 healthy volunteers, aged 18 to 35, at three sites -- the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, the University of Maryland in Baltimore and Emory University in Atlanta. NIAID Director Anthony Fauci said that his agency has worked expeditiously to ready the vaccine, which has been shown to be "very encouraging" in animal testing. "We are pleased that we are now able to proceed with this initial study in people," Fauci said in a statement. "Although it will take some time before a vaccine against Zika is commercially available, the launch of this study is an important step forward." The vaccine is similar to an investigational West Nile vaccine developed by the NIAID, which was found to be safe and induced an immune response when tested in an early-stage clinical trial. It includes a small, circular piece of DNA, called a plasmid, that scientists engineered to contain genes that code for proteins of the Zika virus, the NIH said. When the vaccine is injected into the arm muscle, cells read the genes and make Zika virus proteins, which self-assemble into virus-like particles to induce an immune response. Such DNA vaccines do not contain infectious material, so they cannot cause a vaccinated individual to become infected with Zika and have been shown to be safe in previous clinical trials for other diseases. Volunteers will be divided randomly into four study groups of 20 people each, and all will first receive a vaccination via a needle-free injector. Half of the participants will receive one additional vaccination eight weeks or 12 weeks later. The remaining participants will receive two additional vaccinations: one group will receive a second vaccine at week four and a third at week eight; the other group will receive a second vaccine at week four and a third at week 20. Initial safety and immunogenicity data from the trial are expected by January 2017. If results show a favorable safety profile and immune response, a larger trial could begin in early 2017 in Zika-endemic countries, the NIH said. So far, there are no vaccines or specific therapeutics to prevent or treat Zika virus disease. WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. and five Central Asian countries on Wednesday agreed to launch five regional projects aimed at expanding cooperation on counterterrorism, economic development and climate change. The agreement was reached at the second U.S.-Central Asia (C5+1) foreign ministerial meeting hosted by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, which was also attended by foreign ministers from Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. "So today, we hope to make further progress through a new regional approach built around initiatives on counterterrorism, trade and investment, economic development, and clean energy," Kerry said in the opening remarks. The United States plans to support the five projects with up to 15 million U.S. dollars, the U.S. State Department said in a news release. The six countries agreed to launch the Global Counterterrorism Forum Regional Dialogue in order to "counter the challenges of foreign terrorist fighters and radicalization to violence in Central Asia." The dialogue will bring together policymakers and experts from Central Asia and abroad to share perspectives on the threat of foreign terrorist fighters, including best practices and regional approaches for countering the radicalization, departure, and return of fighters, the State Department said. Under the Central Asia Business Competitiveness project, the six countries will seek to make it easier for businesses in Central Asia to increase exports and enter new markets. They also agreed on the Transport Corridor Development (TCD) project, which aims to reduce the cost and time of moving goods across borders in Central Asia, as well as improve the quality of transport and logistics services throughout the entire region. The Power the Future project will help energy sector policymakers to scale up renewable energy throughout Central Asia. It will provide technical and planning assistance on U.S. and international best practices to increase renewable energy sector development. Under the Supporting National and Regional Adaptation Planning project, the countries will seek to increase the capacity of Central Asian states to plan for adaptation against the impacts of climate change, including identifying regional priorities and cross-border challenges for climate change adaptation. The first C5+1 meeting was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in November 2015, with the six ministers agreeing to develop regional projects to improve security, promote economic connectivity, and fight climate change. VANCOUVER, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- An average Canadian family of four will pay 11,494 CAD (8,792 U.S. dollars) for public health-care insurance in 2016, a new study released on Wednesday revealed. The study, released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank, said health care in Canada isn't free, which is contrary to what many believe. "While Canadians may not pay directly for medical services, they pay a substantial amount of money for health care through their taxes," said Bacchus Barua, senior economist in the Fraser Institute's Center for Health Policy Studies and co-author of The Price of Public Health Care Insurance. Most Canadians are unaware of the true cost of health care because they never see a bill for medical services and may only pay a small public health insurance "premium" tax (in provinces that impose them), the study added. Moreover, general government revenue-not a dedicated tax-funds health care, makes it difficult for Canadians to decipher how many of their tax dollars actually go towards public health insurance. However, using data from Statistics Canada and the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the study finds that the average Canadian family with two parents and two children earning 122,101 CAD will pay 11,494 CAD for public health-care insurance. Due to Canada's progressive tax system, there's great disparity in how much Canadian families pay for health care. For example, the 10 percent of Canadian families with the lowest incomes (earning 14,028 CAD on average) will pay an average of 443 CAD for public health insurance in 2016, while the families among the top 10 percent of income earners (earning 281,359 CAD on average) will pay 37,361 CAD. "Hopefully these dollar amounts will help Canadians better understand just how much they pay for public health-care insurance and decide whether they're getting good value for their money," Barua said. Residents gather at the site of a bombattackinSyria's northeastern city of Qamishli on July 27, 2016.A massive bomb blast claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 44 people and wounded dozens in the Kurdish-majority Syrian city. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) DAMASCUS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed and 20 others suffered suffocation and breathing difficulties from chemical gas attack in Aleppo, state news agency SANA said on Wednesday, citing a Russian observation center. The Nour Addien al-Zinki rebel group on Monday fired rockets filled with poisonous gas on the government-controlled Salahuddien district in Aleppo, said the report. Russia had informed the U.S. about the rebel use of poisonous materials in Aleppo, reported SANA. Meanwhile, the rebels also accused the government on Tuesday of dropping barrel bombs stuffed with chlorine gas on the rebel-held town of Saraqeb. Both sides have repeatedly traded accusations about the use of chemical materials in the battles. SANA said seven people were killed and 41 others wounded on Wednesday by fresh rebel shelling on the government-controlled parts of Aleppo. Aleppo has seen intensified battles and violence recently with the government troops tightening the noose on the rebel-held areas in the eastern part, while the rebels unleashed several offensives to break government siege on rebel-held areas. HAVANA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cuba announced on Wednesday that two French companies will take over the management and renovation of Havana's Jose Marti International Airport amid a substantial increase in tourism to the island. According to an official statement, Havana authorized Aeroports de Paris, the French government-controlled firm that runs various airports in Europe, to operate the capital' s international airfield. Furthermore, Havana's airport will be renovated by the French company, Bouygues Batiment, and expanded close to the nearby town of San Antonio de los Banos, about 40 km south of the capital. "This decision will improve the quality of services and operations at Jose Marti International Airport where over 50 percent of the nation's tourists arrive," said the statement. This renovation and expansion are set to become one of the most important infrastructure projects in Cuba, and the largest French-Cuban deal since President Francois Hollande visited the island in May 2015. "The license provides financing options for immediate use to improve the quality of services at the airport as well as medium and long-term changes caused by the estimated increase in travelers," added the statement. Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero said earlier this week that more than 2 million tourists visited Cuba in the first half of this year, putting the country on track for a record number of visitors in 2016. Marrero added that Cuba expects to receive 3.8 million tourists this year. The surge is being credited to a wave of international interest in Cuba prompted by the restoration of U.S.-Cuba relations in 2015. Meanwhile, Josefina Vidal, Cuba's head of U.S. affairs, said on Twitter that 138,000 Americans visited in the first half of 2016, an 80 percent increase from last year. Bouygues Batiment has extensive construction experience in Cuba and is currently building two hotels in Havana and one in the nation's most important beach resort, Varadero. MEXICO CITY, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's Ministry of Health has announced it would launch a campaign to curb smoking and littering with cigarette butts, which pollute the environment. The move follows a request from Mexico's Lower House for stronger measures to combat cigarette pollution, after legislators warned that a single discarded cigarette butt can pollute up to 50 liters of potable water. The high concentration of cadmium in filters represents a health risk to the community at large, not only smokers, they said, citing a study from the Ocean Conservancy, which recommends cigarette butts be treated as hazardous waste. On Tuesday, the ministry said it will devise a series of measures to educate smokers about the dangers of littering. An estimated 14 million Mexicans smoke approximately 250 million packs of cigarettes a year, meaning some 50 billion cigarette butts are thrown away annually, according to the news website Siete24. The problem is that most of these cigarette butts do not end up in the trash, but in streets, on beaches, in parks, rivers and other areas, polluting the environment, it said. Staff members help a doctor to carry out a B-scan ultrasound examination for a pregnant sea lion at Harbin Polarland in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 2, 2016. Harbin Polarland invited a doctor of ultrasound department of the No. 2 Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University to examine the sea lion, which is expected to deliver a baby at the end of August. (Xinhua/Wang Song) : 9 2013 . 9 . . Feature Oh No, William and Mary Wont Do Surviving the university experience newsandtech.com expired on 10/18/2022 and is pending renewal or deletion. Backorder Domain Woman battered to death - no charges yet Grant, 44, of John Elie Road, Chase Village, Chaguanas was employed as a security officer with the National Maintenance Training and Security Company Limited. Reports are that on July 26, while on duty at Waterloo Community Centre, the suspect repeatedly struck her on the head with a hammer and left her for dead. He then drove from the crime scene to the Chaguanas Police Station where he reported the matter and retrieved from his vehicle, the hammer which he said he used to commit the crime. Grant succumbed to her injuries. Relatives told police the man, an estranged lover had constantly abused her. She was laid to rest last week Friday. An autopsy showed she was struck at least three times in the head with the hammer with such force that her skull was shattered and brain matter spilled out. Meanwhile two villagers from Palo Seco yesterday appeared before a Justice of the Peace charged with a total of six offences including the murder of Siparia father, Terrence Cain, 45, and three counts of armed robbery at a bar. Anthony Figaro and Clinton Clepto Martin, appeared before Justice of the Peace (JP) Norisha Pundit yesterday evening in the San Fernando Magistrates Court. She denied them bail and remanded them into police custody to appear before a magistrate in the said courthouse today. The charges against them alleged that on July 22, at Real Steel Restaurant Bar in De Gannes Village, Siparia, they shot and killed Cain. Cain, a father of one, of Gamble Street, Siparia, was at the time of the incident assisting the bar owner. Police also charged the duo with the armed robberies of patrons- Nigel Subero, Riaz Mohammed and George Birjah. The two other charges against Martin and Figaro alleged that on the same date and place they had in their possession a firearm and ammunition. Murder in El Dorado Newsday understands that Bramble was standing outside his home, when a white Nissan Tiida pulled up and one of the occupants shot him in the back. Bramble was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Relatives who wished not to be named told reporters yesterday that they had no idea why anyone would have wanted to kill Bramble. Newsday was told that Bramble, who made his living as a labourer in the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation was expecting a third child, who is due this month. Homicide detectives have not yet ascertained a motive for Brambles murder and no arrest has been. Duke ordered to pay $140,000 for defamation The order was delivered by Justice Peter Rajkumar in the Portof- Spain High Court yesterday. Duke, who is before the courts on allegations of sexual assault of a union employee, was also ordered to pay interest on the sum at a rate of six percent as well as Alis legal costs. Ali, in March 2015, had filed a libel and defamation lawsuit against Duke for allegations he raised against her in a letter to the chairman and board of the ERHA. According to Ali, the words written by Duke in the letter dated February 5, 2015, were libellous. She also alleged that Duke read out the contents of the letter during a protest at the Sangre Grande Hospital on the same day, which was published and broadcast in the media. The lawsuit said the words which were uttered were false and malicious. Ali was represented by attorneys Avory Sinanan,SC, and Kelvin Ramkissoon. In her lawsuit, the former ERHA chief executive said Duke never disassociated himself from the words published, or verified the accuracy of the statements since he intended to defame Ali and fabricated the allegations made against her. Ali said the statements published by Duke has disparaged her in her profession, and had caused her considerable embarrassment and distress as her name has been tarnished. It has also led to irreparable harm in her personal and professional capacities. The lawsuit insisted that she had always performed her duties and responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer in the highest professional and ethical standards. Ali resigned as CEO of the ERHA in February, of last year, following the protest action. She said her decision to do so was in the best interest of the public, and the authority. According to Ali, the allegations called into question her personal conduct and professional integrity, which she said she has strived diligently throughout my life to build and protect. No bail for bank card fraud accused Thornhill was arrested on July 24 in Marabella and appeared before a Justice of the Peace on Friday last. Yesterday, Magistrate Cheryl- Anne Antoine read the 20 charges to Thornhill, whom she was told, had been deported from the United Kingdom in 2013, for cocaine possession. The charges read to Thornhill in the San Fernando Magistrates Court, allege that between July 23 and July 24, at Tropical Plaza, Marabella, he did defraud persons of sums of money, contrary to the Electronic Transfer of Funds Act. The charges were laid indictably and involved alleged fraudulent transactions committed at RBCs ATM machines in La Romaine and St James Street, San Fernando. In addition to allegedly defrauding customers, the magistrate read to Thornhill, that he made use of ATM cards that were fraudulently obtained. Attorney Jason Jackson, who represented Thornhill, pleaded for bail saying that the accused lived at Circular Road in Marabella. However, the courts police prosecutor PC Cleyon Seedan, objected and told magistrate Antoine that Thornhill had given police officers six addresses where he resided, none of which proved bonafide. Two such places of abode were Ethel Street in Vistabella and Drayton Street, San Fernando. Upon Thornhill informing police that he lived there, heavily-armed police officers went to an apartment on Drayton Street and conducted a search of the premises of an occupant who was taken by surprise. The mans apartment was ransacked and even his car was stripped by police officers. Officers also searched, acting on the accused Thornhills claim that he lived at Ethel Street, Vistabella, an apartment there as well, but to no avail. Seedan said, Your worship, the defendant has given the police six addresses and, when it was checked out, none was ascertained as being correct, including the address on Drayton Street. Jackson admitted to Antoine that Thornhill had been living in Marabella, only six months ago and, alone. Teen shot in shoulder, police looking for Sweetman Boyce remains warded at the San Fernando General Hospital nursing a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. His friend, Wendell Moze, 19, escaped injury. According to a police report, at about 9.30 pm on Monday, Moze of George Street, La Romaine was a passenger in a grey Nissan Sunny B15 car driven by his friend Boyce of Lillian Street, La Romaine. Upon reaching Charles Street, the victims told police they observed two men, one of them identified as Sweetman approaching the vehicle. The men took out their guns and proceeded to open fire on them. Boyce was hit on the shoulder. Sgt Ramroop is investigating. Pan Trinbago remembers Patrick Manning A host of activities is scheduled from August 5 to August 30, organised by the steelband parent body and its regions while others like the Laventille Steelband Festival (August 6), Pan on DAvenue (August 27) are supported by the Association. This year, the opening activity will be under the banner of the Northern Region. The after work lime at CAL Invaders Pan Theatre, Tragarete Road, will take place on Friday with a number of steelbands in attendance. Pan Trinbago, in a statement to the media yesterday, stated that August has been dubbed Steelband Month because of a number of significant events associated with the steelpan. Primarily, it was during the tenure of the late prime minister, Patrick Manning, that the steelpan was declared the national instrument of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and secondly, the formation of the Steelband Association, the release said. While it has been the norm to start the celebrations with an Interfaith Service, this activity will take place on August 21 at City Hall, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain from 10 am. The high point of the service is the blessing of the flags of the various member steel orchestras, followed by a civic reception. Other events include 1,2,3 Plus Concert at the Desperadoes Pan Theatre, Frederick Street, Port of Spain, on August 26; Steelband pioneer Milton Wire Austin will be honoured by the South/ Central Region on August 14 at Skinner Park, San Fernando, from 4pm. The focus will shift to the city with Love Yuh Own. The two day activity is scheduled for August 20 and 21 at the Renegades Pan Theatre, Charlotte Street, at 7 pm and 4pm respectively; Sport and Family Day will be held on August 28 at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. The younger members of the organisation will have their very own day on August 30, Youth Fest. This event is under the aegis of the Eastern Region and the LH Pan Groove at the LH Pan Theatre, La Horquetta, Arima. The month of activities ends with Independence Day brunches at various panyards/venues on August 31 including Starlift and Invaders. ATTIC wants more speed gun usage The Association recognises the Minister of Works and Transport Fitzgerald Hinds and all stakeholders including the former administration for their involvement in finally implementing the use of Radar Speed Guns. In an emailed press release, ATTIC stated that during the initial weeks of the introduction it observed a sudden shift in the driving behaviour of motorists as well as a reduced number of road fatalities, especially on the major highways. ATTIC firmly believes this reduction was directly influenced by the implementation of speed detection devices. ATTIC therefore encourages the daily and widespread use of Radar Speed Guns throughout Trinidad and Tobago as well as the implementation and adoption of other noted road safety tools, initiatives and changes in legislation to bolster the safety of our nations roads. While there has been a reduction in road fatalities for 2016, every life counts. The following are some other suggested recommendations which we hope will be adopted: The implementation of a Drivers Education programme in schools; implementation of a graduated licensing system for new and young drivers; installation and maintenance of proper barriers between multiway highways; enforcement of the inspections of private vehicles five years and older; establishment of the points system as already provided in the current legislation and; changes to the legislation governing the form and design of motor insurance certificates. ATTIC also appeals to all citizens to assume greater responsibility for their own driving practices as well as that of their friends, family and hired transport. The Association is also pleading with pedestrians to be more responsible road users by using walkovers, pedestrian crossings and obeying traffic signals. Meanwhile, ATTIC has called on home-owners and businessmen to be ready for the Rainy Season and used heavy flooding after showers on July 14 as the reason for this call. The association extended sympathy to those who have suffered losses as a result of this disaster. ATTIC is also advising homeowners to protect their property and belongings from damage that can be caused by floods. The following are some quick tips to reduce the effects of floods: if you live in a high-risk area, it is a good idea to have a gobag ready in case you need to leave quickly. A go bag should include: A few changes of clothing for you and family members, essential toiletries, sufficient money for at least a week and your insurance policy numbers, your agents phone numbers and insurance companys main number. ATTIC said it was also wise to have an evacuation route mapped out and a safe location to relocate, such as the home of a close friend or relative or a nearby hotel. It advised people to find out more about insurance that covers flood damage. This is especially important if you live in a community that is prone to flooding. It is also advisable that you insure both your property and belongings. Floods are more likely to affect the contents of ones property rather than the structure itself. Policyholders must also recognise the importance of updating Insurance policies so that they reflect present repair costs. Preventative measures keep your home in good repair, move valuables out of waters way, create good drainage around your home, if you believe water will begin to accumulate in your home, shut off the main power supply, but DO NOT stand in water to do so. For policyholders who have sustained floods, ATTIC advises. contact your Insurance Company, agent or broker and immediately notify them of any potential claims; present bills, photographs or some proof of ownership of lost items to support your claim, if possible; if your building or vehicle has been damaged, submit estimates for repairs along with a claim form; expect to hear from an Insurance Adjuster who will visit the location where the loss occurred to verify the claim. ATTIC is also cautioning against some of the human activities that causes floods. These include: Pollution of waterways; Deforestation; Poor land use practices, eg. Slash & Burn and illegal quarrying. During the rainy season, floods are a common challenge faced by many homeowners. However there are ways to protect yourself, your loved ones and your possessions. For further information on insuring against disasters such as floods, go to the ATTIC website at www.attic.org.tt BPTT prepares for Juniper The Mahogany Bravo installation served as a hub for the Mahogany Alpha and Savonette platforms that are tied back to this facility. The Juniper platform, which is currently being fabricated, and its corresponding sub sea infrastructure will tie into the Mahogany Hub network following the turnaround. During the 33 day turnaround, the Mahogany Hub Bypass Project will also be executed which will allow the Mahogany Bravo facility to be taken offline to facilitate vessel inspections while allowing production from the Savonette and Mahogany Alpha platforms to continue. BpTT said it is working with the National Gas Company and other industry stakeholders to minimise the impact to gas supply downstream. Cabinet meets on GATE today Government officials were uncertain yesterday as to exactly how long the meeting would last or if a decision would be announced at the end of the Cabinets deliberations on this one issue. Officials hinted that if no announcement is made today, it could be done at the weekly post-Cabinet news conference which takes place on Thursday. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will chair todays special meeting of the Cabinet. Rowley proceeds on leave tomorrow for a period of two weeks. Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who will act as prime minister during Rowleys absence, will chair the Cabinets weekly meeting on Thursday. Todays special Cabinet meeting was announced by Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs, Stuart Young, at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair on July 28. Young told reporters at that time that during his recent Official visit to Jamaica, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley made it clear that Government will give careful consideration to the report on GATE. Were going to have a special session to consider the report No decisions have been made by the Cabinet of TT with respect to GATE, he added, Young said, Each individual minister has been reading through the report and then we are going to come together as the Cabinet and we are going to have a special session to consider and then make decisions as to how we go forward with GATE. He reiterated that Government is fully aware of how many lives GATE affects and we recognise as a caring government, how carefully it must be considered. What about Land for the Landless? Observing that the Peoples National Movement (PNM) will soon mark one year in office, Moonilal said, The Government must clearly state whether it has scrapped the innovative Land for the Landless initiative, through which residential lots were to be provided to thousands of deserving citizens throughout TT. In a statement, the Oropouche East MP claimed, Several applicants have revealed that they were turned back by the Land Settlement Agency (LSA)and told that the project no longer exists. According to Moonilal, The programme was conceptualised to further assist in easing the huge backlog for homes and residential land. He boasted this initiative, complemented the largest construction and delivery of homes in Trinidad and Tobagos history, including the delivery of over 100 homes a week for several months in 2015. Moonilal claimed a total of 45,000 people applied and paid the relevant fees in order to benefit from the Land for the Landless initiative. Now, without explanation and justification, the Government has so far failed to implement the essential project and by extension, is also failing the people, he said. Moonilal called for, the restoration of the programme in order to assist the thousands of qualified and deserving applicants. On May 12, 2015, then Opposition Leader (now Prime Minister) Dr Keith Rowley said the Parliament already has very generous squatter regularisation laws in places. Referring to Act 25 of 1998, Rowley said this specific law was unanimously agreed to by all parliamentarians, as the countrys response to the squatting issue. He stated, To go outside of this for politicking, is to encourage new squatting, something which the law forbids. Cuffie calls for Caribbean ICT solutions The conference began on July 31 and ends today. Recognizing the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement in enabling the achievement of national and regional ICT development goals, Trinidad and Tobago has participated in CANTOs flagship event, the Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition over the years. As a panelist on the first Ministerial Roundtable of the Conference that was held on August 1, Minister Cuffie - according to a press release from his Ministry - acknowledged the varied membership of CANTO including major international telecommunications/ ICT providers who had a significant presence in the Caribbean Region. He called upon these providers to make a greater effort in developing solutions that meet the specific needs of Caribbean countries and urged them to avoid pre-determined solutions that may have been utilized elsewhere and which had not resulted in expected benefits despite significant investments on the part of Governments. The Ministerial Panel included the Medford Nicholas, Minister of State and Information, Antigua and Barbuda; Catherine Hughes, Minister of Communications for Guyana and Vincent Byron, Attorney General and Minister of Communications for St Kitts and Nevis. CANTO, previously the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organisations, is a key regional trade association through which telecommunication and ICT organizations in the Caribbean Region exchange information and expertise aimed at facilitating the development of the telecommunications/ ICT sector and the achievement of the Regions wider development objectives. Trinidad and Tobago is one of thirty-four Member States of CANTO, which represent roughly one-third of the total 141members. What you need to know about the Octagon Art Festival on Sunday in Ames news More proof NSA dragnet surveillance doesnt keep us safe Remember those antiquated party lines? At any time, when you picked up your receiver, you might hear one of your neighbors chatting. They were on the same circuit, along with other neighbors. The protocol was to say Oh, excuse me, and immediately hang up. Only the nosy busybody would cover the mouthpiece and keep listening. Youd make your call when their conversation was done. If it were an emergency, youd shout and the other party would immediately disconnect. From those lackadaisical days, the tumultuous buildup to code cracking and the information age made giant leaps in the decades surrounding World War II. IBM supplied punch cards to the Third Reich, while a small group led by visionary mathematician Alan Turning cracked the code from Germanys Enigma machine. The definition of information even changed from a communication that had meaning, to any signal was being transmitted through a wire. Or shall we now say, anything that goes through WIFI? Do we really know what the NSA, CIA, FBI, Director of National Intelligence (DONI) do with our data? Fast-forward to todays sprawling complex of interconnected global digital signals, where any phone call, transaction, medical or financial record, email, tweet, photograph, or any digital print you make can be recorded, analyzed, stored and used by a vast, ever-enormous and ever-growing list of governmental agencies. The Fourth Amendment is supposed to protect us from unwarranted searches and seizures without probable cause. But your phone calls are now on a surveillance party line, and your location is freely available. Phys.org reports, Police dont need a warrant to obtain mobile phone location data for a criminal investigation, a US appeals court ruled . . .[Judge Diana Motz] wrote that the Constitutions Fourth Amendment . . . does not apply in this case, because the phone users have no reasonable expectation of privacy. Drones use SIM cards to track their target. Do you feel safer now? Its under the guise of our own security and safety that were being subject to this vast multiplexed surveillance state. And if that was the truth, wouldnt there be ample evidence that these invasive methods are working? Especially since, according to TheIntercept.com, the NSA and CIA doubled the number of warrant-less searches on U.S. citizens for foreign intelligence purposes between 2013 and 2015. And that doesnt count the FBI. But terror is on the increase. NewsMax.com has reported thirteen attacks that are related to Islamic Jihad from 2003 to 2015. Their list doesnt include the recent Orlando incident. One striking conclusion is that of those 13 attacks, over half of them occurred at the same time the NSA and CIA were sweeping more Americans into their sights. Terror attacks and surveillance are both at an all time high. What gives? Edward Snowden has been called many things since he released documents describing the scope of NSA surveillance. Regardless of what camp you may be in, i.e., whistle blower, traitor, CIA operative or other, its clear that the conversation about our nations vast overreach of security measures is still being fleshed out. The torrents of media propaganda, disinformation methods, NSA collection methods, false flag events and actual terrorist strikes can be very difficult to sort out. TheIntercept.com poses five relevant questions, ranging from the nuanced meaning of the law, to who is watching those who watch us? Heres another way to ponder the safety question. According to TechJuice.pk, the odds of dying in any kind of terrorist attack worldwide is 1 in 9,300,000. Your bath tub and heart disease area actually much more dangerous. Sources: Phys.org ComputerWorld.com TheIntercept.com NewsMax.com TheIntercept.com TechJuice.pk Science.NaturalNews.com (Photo credit: Thestar.com) Submit a correction >> Russias rising, modern sub fleet said to overshadow dwindling NATO capabilities in Europe (NationalSecurity.news) The Russian navys undersea warfare capabilities are rapidly expanding after years of debilitating stagnation following the end of the Cold War, and now threatens to overtake all of NATOs European-based multinational submarine force, a new report warns. The Center for Strategic and International Studies notes in its report that the undersea balance of power is shifting towards Moscow, as Russia puts more resources into its sub fleet while NATO countries have cut back on all military expenditures. Russia is expanding its use of undersea warfare in a broader strategy of coercion aimed at its neighbors, NATO, and the United States. Suspected territorial incursions in the Baltic Sea and provocative patrols in the North Atlantic have not only caused alarm among NATO and partner nations, but have underscored the extent to which U.S. and European antisubmarine warfare capabilities have atrophied since the end of the Cold War, says a summary. The reports authors note that it analyzes Russian intentions and capabilities in the near to mid-term and the ability of NATO and partner nations to respond effectively to Russian activities in the undersea domain. To be sure, Russia today is a shadow of itself during the heady days of the Soviet Union. The Russian economy has contracted dramatically as global oil prices have fallen, oil being one of Moscows chief exports. Also, Western sanctions imposed after Russian forces took over the Crimea and are suspected of aiding rebels in eastern Ukraine have hampered economic output. As Breaking Defense reports, Russian shipyards remain a rusting mess, and the Russian submarine fleet is roughly one-fifth its Soviet size. That said, Russia is building a cadre of professional sailors deployed on ultra-modern subs that are comparable to USS Virginia class submarines in terms of stealth, sonar and armament. Whats more, the Kremlin is making good use of its budding modern sub force. It is now more active than at any time since the end of the Cold War in 1991, and while patrols still remain below those levels, Russian subs are nevertheless believed to have made politically important incursions into Finnish and Swedish waters, as well as approaches to Britains sub base in Faslane, Scotland. Russia operates a small number of very small, nuclear powered submarines that are capable of diving in excess of several thousand meters, said Andrew Metrick, a co-author of the report, Britains The Sun noted. You can imagine what a clandestine deployable deep submergence vehicle could be used for. He continued: Its pretty scary to think about some of the types of missions. Its probably the most shadowy part of the Russian undersea apparatus. Its not operated by their navy, its operated by a separate branch of their Ministry of Defense. The CSIS report also documented the deteriorating state of NATO navies sub forces, including the once-formidable British submarine fleet. The organizations, relationships, intelligence, and capabilities that once supported a robust ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) network in the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea no longer exist, the CSIS study said flatly. Were in a bad place as an alliance with regard to Russias underwater resurgence, Jerry Hendrix, a retired Navy captain with Center for New American Security, told Breaking Defense. The British navy has been especially hard hit, retiring its only aircraft carrier in 2014 and getting out of the maritime patrol business. Some good news for British seafaring capabilities: London continued developing and building the HMS Queen Elizabeth-class of new carriers, and has agreed to buy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from Boeing, which resembles a 737. Also, Britain is building the acclaimed Astute-class nuclear submarine and is developing a new Type 26 destroyer, both of which will come equipped with major anti-submarine warfare capabilities. One other hang up, however the U.S. Navys sub fleet is shrinking as well. Los Angeles-class attack submarines built in the 1980s are being retired faster than Virginia-class boats can be built to replace them. And in Europe, the U.S. can only maintain a few subs on station, compared with about 10 or so new or newer Russian subs in its Northern Fleet. More: NationalSecurity.news is part of USA Features Media. Submit a correction >> Scientists: Your skin communicates with your liver You may already know that your skin is your bodys largest organ, but scientists from Denmark have recently uncovered groundbreaking details of how the skin actually functions. The Dutch researchers found that the functionality, health and vitality of your internal organs is in fact quite dependent on the integrity of your skin. In a collaborative project from the University of Southern Denmark, scientists revealed that the skin actually communicates and interacts with the rest of the body. This suggests that when the skin is not in good condition, it is likely that what is on the inside is also not in good shape. The study, led by Professor Susanne Mandrup and her team, also made another shocking discovery in their research. In working with another research group from the universitys Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mandrup and her team observed that the human skin directly communicates with the liver and other vital organs. The team had been conducting research on special mice that were missing an important fat-binding protein. Some of the mice presented had greasy fur and difficulty being weaned from their mothers, both of which were strange occurrences. The mice also had difficulty processing fat through their livers, and had excess fat accumulate in their liver tissue. This led the researchers on a quest to know more. Further research indicated that there was much more to this metabolic abnormality than just the missing protein. The researchers took a second look at the mice, this time noticing the excessive water loss through their skin that seemed to occur simultaneously with the greasy fur. The researchers posited that losing extra water made the mice more susceptible to cold and consequently led to the excess deposition of fat in the liver. Their theory was proven to be true. After external measures to prevent the mice from losing their warmth, it was noted that the excess deposition of fat in the liver was brought to a grinding halt. The study authors stated, We have showed that the skin affects the metabolism in the liver, and that is quite a surprise. We believe that the leaking of water from the skin makes the mice feel cold, and that this leads to breaking down of fat in their adipose (fat) tissue. The broken down fat is then moved to the liver. The mice move energy from the tissues to the liver. It is truly amazing how connected our bodies really are. Keeping your entire body in optimal condition is paramount to good health and overall well-being. Sources: NaturalNews.com ScienceDaily.com Submit a correction >> Human Rights Watch, welcomed Moroccos new law regulating work for domestic workers saying that such a legislation is ground breaking in as far as it will protect the rights of this social category. This new law could help protect thousands of women and girls from exploitation and abuse, said the international rights watchdog in a note on its website. By providing domestic workers with legal, enforceable protection, Morocco is delivering the message that even the most vulnerable workers deserve humane conditions, said Ahmed Benchemsi, MENA communications and advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. Now that Morocco has established legal protections for domestic workers, it should ratify the ILO Domestic Workers Convention, said Benchemsi. By ratifying the convention, it can be a leader for other countries in the region in protecting domestic workers. The Moroccan House of Representatives adopted the new law on July 26, 2016. The law will enter into effect one year after publication in the official gazette. The new legislation requires written contract and sets 18 as the minimum age for a domestic worker. It also limits working hours and guarantees 24 continuous hours of weekly rest and a minimum wage of 1542 dirhams per month ($158.) The law also provides for financial penalties for employers who do not abide by the legal provisions. HRW urged Morocco to open a public awareness campaign to ensure that both domestic workers and employers are aware of the legislation provisions. The government should also train labor inspectors and other officials in enforcing the law, and publicize penalties against employers who violate the laws provisions, the NGO said, adding that labor inspectors should have the authority to inspect anywhere a domestic worker is employed, and to interview domestic workers privately about their working conditions. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images Police in Washington, D.C., arrested the nations first police officer accused of terror-related charges on Wednesday. Nicholas Young, a 13-year veteran of the D.C. Metro Transit police, is accused of providing material support for ISIS by sending money for mobile messaging accounts often used for recruiting. Young who traveled to Libya, where he says he helped fight Muammar Qaddafis regime was never actually communicating with ISIS, though. Instead, he was ensnared by the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force and its undercover officers. Investigators first began looking into Young after Metro police noted concerns about him. As far back as 2011, Young met with an undercover agent expressing an interest in terrorism-related activity, according to court records. Young also met many times with an FBI informant who posed as an Army reservist who wanted to join ISIS. Young often communicated his admiration for ISIS terror attacks to the informant and bragged about his Jihadi John Halloween costume. Last week, Young finally crossed a line when he tried to send $245 worth of gift-card codes to ISIS to assist in recruiting. Of course, the gift-card codes he sent went to the FBI, not ISIS. If convicted, Young could go to prison for 20 years. Meg Whitman speaks at the HP Discover 2016 Conference in Las Vegas on June 8. Photo: Jacob Kepler/Bloomberg via Getty Images Last week, the Democratic National Convention made a blatant appeal to Republicans horrified by Donald Trump by featuring a former Reagan staffer, a retired four-star general, and repeated reminders that someday your children will ask why you made a loutish reality-TV star leader of the free world. But that was just one aspect of the campaigns effort to convince Republicans that they must vote for a woman theyve despised for more than two decades. According to the New York Times, Clinton has been aggressively courting Republican leaders for months, and on Tuesday, her efforts paid off. Meg Whitman, Hewlett Packard CEO and prominent GOP fundraiser, announced that she is endorsing Clinton, and will even work to raise money for her. I will vote for Hillary, I will talk to my Republican friends about helping her, and I will donate to her campaign and try to raise money for her, Whitman told the paper. She said Clinton called to ask for her endorsement last month, and she told her shed make her decision after watching both conventions. In sharp contrast to Republican officials who have spent the past few days condemning Trumps attacks on a Gold Star family, while refusing to rescind their endorsement, Whitman was very clear about the threat she believes Trump poses to America. Per the Times: Using remarkably blunt language, she argued that the election of Mr. Trump, whom she called a dishonest demagogue, could lead the country on a very dangerous journey. She noted that democracies had seldom lasted longer than a few hundred years and warned that those who say that it cant happen here are being naive. Ms. Whitman also said she absolutely stood by her comments at a private gathering of Republican donors this year comparing Mr. Trump to Hitler and Mussolini, explaining that dictators often come to office through democratic means. Time and again history has shown that when demagogues have gotten power or come close to getting power, it usually does not end well, Ms. Whitman said. She asserted that Mr. Trump had already undermined the character of the nation. In addition to shoring up Clintons support among billionaires including Mark Cuban, Michael Bloomberg, and Warren Buffett Whitmans endorsement may help Clinton tap into a new source of campaign funding. Whitman was one of the top fundraisers for Mitt Romneys 2008 presidential campaign, and she was the national finance co-chair for Chris Christies presidential campaign this year. (Shes called his endorsement of Trump an astonishing display of political opportunism.) As the New York Times Maggie Haberman points out, Whitmans wealthy Republican friends wouldnt even have to out themselves as Clinton supporters: If Meg Whitman is giving to super PACs for Clinton, opens the door to Republican $ folks giving to Democratic c4s. Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 3, 2016 With a c4, GOP donors can give money to Dems but not have it disclosed. Not all will be like Whitman and want to be a signal donor. Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 3, 2016 Running for president does require an obscene amount of money, but Clinton already has a strong fundraising lead over Trump. (And he seems entirely uninterested in traditional campaigning. Clinton, and super-pacs supporting her, have reserved $98 million in TV advertising, compared to $817,000 purchased by a Trump super-pac.) Whitmans endorsement may be far more valuable as a move that emboldens other Never Trump Republicans. Earlier on Tuesday, President Obama called Republican leaders hypocritical for condemning Trumps remarks but not the man himself, and the Times reported: Republicans now say Mr. Trumps obstinacy in addressing perhaps the gravest crisis of his campaign may trigger drastic defections within the party, and Republican lawmakers and strategists have begun to entertain abandoning him en masse. Its a lot easier to abandon Trump when the masse includes a business leader and top GOP fundraiser, not just a lone congressman and some former campaign aides. When electoral votes are deposited in this ornate box in December, faithless GOP electors could throw the contest to the House. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images With all of this weeks swirling speculation about how Republicans might somehow be rid of Donald Trump as their presidential candidate, a new and final option has now popped up, thanks to a Republican presidential elector from Georgia named Baoky Vu. As the Atlanta Journal-Constitutions Jim Galloway has reported, Vu, a naturalized citizen originally from Vietnam, has now publicly threatened to withhold his electoral vote from the Republican nominee if Trump carries Georgia in November. Could he do that? Yes. Georgia is one of 21 states that do not formally bind individual electors to the popular-vote winner in that jurisdiction. The other 29 states (plus D.C.) do legally bind them, and offer sanctions for noncompliance, which suggests something less than a complete assurance that faithless electors can be stopped even in those states. But heres the stab-in-the-back scenario for Trump. Lets say he wins the electoral vote by a spare handful on November 8. Between then and when electors vote in December, just enough Republican electors to deny Trump a majority get together and vote for somebody else say, Paul Ryan. The contest would then be thrown into the House, where each state delegation would cast a single vote for one of the three top electoral-vote winners. Ryan (or whomever the faithless electors settled on) would be just as legitimate a candidate in that scenario as Trump or Clinton, and the temptation to House Republicans of seizing this final opportunity to save their party and the country from a President Trump by electing their own leader would be very, very powerful. Indeed, putting Ryan into play would not even require a single elector beyond the minimum needed to stop Trump just south of 270. This has obviously never happened, at least at the presidential level. But there is precedent for faithless electors throwing a vice-presidential election into the Senate, as the Constitution provides. In 1836, 23 Virginia electors got wind that Martin Van Burens running mate, Richard Johnson of Kentucky, was living in sin with an African-American women. Good southern white racists that they were, they abstained in the Electoral College balloting for vice-president, denying Johnson a majority. The Senate duly elected the alleged miscegenist anyway, but the Virginians kept their lily-white political petticoats all clean and starchy. Now, obviously, if Republican electors begin abandoning Trump not because hes a know-nothing but because his campaign is a garbage fire, this is all pretty moot, because the tycoon wont be winning any on-paper Electoral College victories that need to be overturned. And in fact, its unlikely any more faithless Republican electors will emulate Vus public stance, since the conspiracy to elect Paul Ryan (or whomever) will only work if Trump does well on November 8 just not too well. But given all of the signs of paranoia in Team Trump past and present, Baoky Vu has, if nothing else, supplied them with a new nightmare and conspiracy theory. Tim Huelskamp and other conservative losses in a Kansas GOP primary show the limits of ideology. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call The defeat of House Freedom Caucus firebrand Representative Tim Huelskamp in a Kansas GOP primary is being generally treated as a national political story about (as Molly Ball framed it) the revenge of the Republican Establishment over one of its tea-party tormentors. And it is true that national groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Ricketts family super-pac fought a proxy war with Huelskamps allies in the Club for Growth and Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity in Kansass 1st congressional district. But in a very real sense what Huelskamps defeat showed is that ideology does not always trump local factors, even in the ideological hothouse of the contemporary Republican Party. The endorsement that really lifted the challenger Roger Marshall to victory was probably one from the Kansas Farm Bureau. Huelskamps district, which covers most of western Kansas, is dominated by farm and ranch interests; it famously has more cattle than people, and grows wheat, sorghum, sunflowers, and hay. So it mattered a great deal when Huelskamp, then a House freshman, was kicked off the Agriculture Committee for serial defiance of the GOP leadership. Even more eyebrows were raised when Huelskamp became one of just 12 House GOPers to vote against the last omnibus farm bill in 2013, partially because of its SNAP (food stamp) spending levels, but also because the whole bill included a lot of corporate welfare. The revolt against the farm bill by House tea-partyers struck at the very heart of the ancient urban-rural compact that supported agricultural programs deemed essential to places like the 1st congressional district of Kansas. In retrospect, its rather amazing Huelskamp survived as long as he did. But there was another primarily local factor that contributed to Huelskamps demise: a backlash from Republican voters against the ideologues closely associated with Governor Sam Brownback, whose tax-cutting experiment in Kansas produced a fiscal disaster and a particular crisis in public education. In yesterdays GOP primary, pro-Brownback state legislators lost ten of 16 contested seats; the Wichita Eagle called it a brutal night for conservatives. Reality matters, and if Tip ONeill overstated things by saying All politics is local, its clear local issues do matter when they are in sharp conflict with ideology. In many respects, the overriding story in Republican politics for a very long time has been the conquest of the party by conservatives who imposed a rigid ideology on themselves and others not just in the right-wing fever swamps of the Deep South or the Mountain West, but across the country. Whats happening in Kansas right now doesnt indicate conservatives are losing their grip on the GOP; a stronger data point for that proposition would obviously be Donald Trumps hostile takeover of the national ticket. But Kansas is showing there are limits to the power of ideology. Someone quoted the Beyonce lyric boy bye during a CNN panel, and thats not why it was crazy. Birther allegations against President Obama were just about the only thing Donald Trump carefully avoided during his campaign, but former Trump campaign manager turned paid CNN contributor Corey Lewandowski revived the conspiracy theory on Tuesday night by suggesting that Obama did not release his Harvard transcripts because they may reveal that he wasnt born in the U.S. When Don Lemon asked why he would even bring that up, Lewandowski explained: Look, the only reason its germane is because [commentator Angela Rye] brought the issue up, and said Donald Trump raised the issue of his Harvard transcripts. And I just simply said, Have those transcripts ever been released? And the question was, Did he get in as a U.S. citizen, or was he brought in to Harvard University as a citizen who wasnt from this country? I dont know the answer! In true Trumpian fashion, Lewandowski went on to claim that his statement had no racial implications, and conceded that the president was born in Hawaii. The incident came hours after a Trump spokesperson claimed in a CNN interview that Obama is partly to blame for U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khans death in 2004, and CNN president Jeff Zucker defended the networks decision to hire Lewandowski. The reason we hired Corey is that now that we are in the general election, I think its really important to have voices on CNN who are supportive of the Republican nominee, Zucker told Variety. Its hard to find a lot of those. Our competitors tried to hire him too. You know, its so hard to find commentators who will promote debunked theories about the presidents citizenship these days. Donald Trump. Photo: DSK/AFP/Getty Images Most weeks, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich speaks with contributor Alex Carp about the biggest stories in politics and culture. Today: the fallout from the Trump-Khan feud, the question of standing up to Trump, and Hillary Clintons post-convention bounce. In the wake of Donald Trumps protracted feud with the Khan family, President Obama has openly called on Republican leaders to withdraw their support for Trump, arguing that repeated criticisms of his missteps are meaningless unless they come with real consequences. At this point, would it be more dangerous for the GOP to abandon Trump or to defiantly double down on him? The most dangerous thing for America, assuming we care more about the country than either political party would be for Trump to be elected president. The most patriotic thing would be for Republican leaders to abandon Trump and do anything possible to stop him. But most GOP leaders have other priorities: gaining the White House for their party no matter who the chief executive or what the price, holding their House and Senate majorities, and retaining statehouses. They are not going to mount an effort to repudiate Trump unless they think those partisan political goals especially holding Congress are in serious jeopardy. Thats their sole principle. The only dangers they care about are threats to their own hold on power. Only when polls unambiguously tell them that they are on the Titanic and that they are going down with it will they leap into the lifeboats. The only dangers they care about are threats to their own hold on power. For many liberals, as for Obama, Trumps nasty belittling of the Khans was a Have you no sense of decency? turning point to rival that famous moment in the 1954 ArmyMcCarthy hearings when the counsel Joseph Welch so effectively stood up to the bully Joe McCarthy, hastening his demise. But many Republicans dont see it that way at all. Writing in The Hill, the conservative columnist Charles Hurt surely spoke for many Trump supporters and GOP leaders when he wrote that Khizr Khan had been tricked by the Clinton campaign into being used as a tool to divide people. Hurt argues that the Gold Star father was given center stage at the Democratic convention only so he could be exploited as a Muslim of Pakistani heritage to pander to racial political correctness. John McCain and Paul Ryan criticized Trumps attack on the Khans, but they continue to support Trump out of fear of Republican voters who share Hurts point of view. They support Trump even though he told the Washington Post yesterday that he refuses to endorse either of them in their own upcoming primaries. What does it say about McCain, who stood up heroically to his North Vietnamese captors, that he is not brave enough to stand up to a bully like Trump out of fear of losing his reelection bid? What a sad and ignoble twilight to his career. And what does it say about Ryans much-touted intellect that he thinks that Trump, if elected president, will allow him to pursue his sacred conservative agenda in Congress? President Trump will humiliate and disregard the Speaker of the House, whether Ryan or Nancy Pelosi, just as candidate Trump is doing now. When Trump withheld his support for Ryans reelection yesterday, the reason he gave was his skepticism that Ryan was capable of very, very strong leadership. On this point, at least, Ryan has proven Trump completely right. Obamas remarks didnt seem to draw out any immediate reaction from GOP leaders, and they came on the same morning that Representative Richard Hanna said hed be the first Republican in Congress to vote for Clinton in the fall. What will be the fallout if Republicans like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell fail to set a tone for the partys response? Good for Hanna, but lets note that he is retiring from the House at the end of his current term, so he has nothing to lose by opposing Trump. Hes typical of the Republican elites who have most forcefully spoken out against Trump; they are, with few exceptions, politicians and operatives who are out of power or were defeated in the primary. Or they are conservative pundits who had no clout to begin with. In other words: the Bush family and its retainers; the Romney crowd; Ted Cruz and those around him who hope he will inherit the partys ruins if Trump loses; and the right-of-center op-ed writers of the Times and Washington Post. These #NeverTrump-sters are held in utter contempt by Trump voters and by Trump publicists like Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham. They have no constituency except in the press, which this week chronicled the anti-Trump defections of the Jeb Bush adviser Sally Bradshaw and the failed GOP California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, as if their actions actually meant anything to anyone beyond their own vanquished Establishment cohort. Ryan and McConnell have set a tone they are quislings. They missed any chance to be heroes by not repudiating Trump when it mattered, before the Republican convention. Their tone is matched by most of their peers, including the oleaginous Marco Rubio, who offered his latest profile in cowardice this week by floating the theory that Trump would grow in office once he is in the White House. Weve actually reached the point where the Koch brothers, the rare donors who have persistently refused to lend financial support to Trump, are the moral standard-bearers of the GOP. The fallout for the Republican Party of the Great Ryan-McConnell Wimp-Out is anyones guess, but my own is this: The dethronement of both congressional leaders and the rest of the so-called GOP Establishment that began in the primary will be complete. The party will be inherited by the Trump base, a.k.a. the Palintea party base, that has risen from the grass roots since 2008, when Obama came to power, and consolidated its power ever since. In the first set of post-convention polling, Hillary Clinton has come out with a clear lead. Is this post-convention bump likely to stick? God knows. At the Times, the Upshot now gives Clinton a 74 percent chance to win. Given that this is the same prognosticating operation that failed to spot Trumps rise during the primaries and kept spotting a Rubio victory around the corner, its Clinton bullishness is not necessarily good news for Clinton. And contrarily enough, one of its analysts, Nate Cohn, recently wrote that Trumps popularity with white voters without a college degree, and particularly white men without a degree is enough to keep the election close and could even be enough for him to win. Then again, over at FiveThirtyEight, Nate Silver downplayed the importance of Trumps predominantly white, working-class base because, he wrote, its a smaller share of the electorate than you might think. So, pick your Nate! What gives me hope that Trump is in trouble at least for the moment are not the polls, or the musings of any poll analysts, or even the fresh reports of disarray and division in the Trump campaign, but the actions of the man himself. Trumps ranting this week that the election is rigged and his ludicrous efforts to change the dates of the debates suggest that he thinks he is in trouble and is laying the groundwork for a blame game the morning after. If he loses, the two people we know for certain he wont blame are himself and Vladimir Putin. I saw you from across the room. Photo: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images; David Becker/Getty Images From the standpoint of the United States, the prospect that a President Donald Trump would be unduly influenced by Vladimir Putin has paled beside the far more harrowing prospect that he would be Vladimir Putin. Still, Trumps relationship with Putin is creepy and mysterious. Some of its elements lie perfectly visible the exchange of compliments between the two men, Putins efforts to help elect Trump, Trumps adoption of unusually Russophilic policies on Ukraine, and the financial ties between Trumps campaign and the Kremlin. The latter is coming more clearly into view with several new reports today. 1. Paul Manafort, Trumps campaign manager, previously worked on behalf of a pro-Russian candidates effort to bring Ukraine back into Moscows orbit, a campaign that enjoyed Russian support. Michael Crowley reports that Manaforts joining the Trump campaign was an inflection point. Despite a fondness for Putin as a strong leader who crushes his enemies, Trump had a hawkish line on his aggression against Ukraine. We should definitely be strong. We should definitely do sanctions, said Trump, who described Putins seizure of Crimea as taking Ukraines heart and soul. Since Manafort signed on, his tone has changed radically. 2. A second source of influence on Trumps Russia policy is his Russia adviser, Carter Page. Christina Wilkie and S.V. Date report that, just days before Trumps convention (where his campaign beat back a plank to endorse defensive weapons for Ukraine), Page traveled to Russia and delivered speeches criticizing American policy toward Russia as hypocritical, and called for an end to the sanctions imposed after the Ukraine invasion. As Masha Froliak notes, Page is heavily invested in Gazprom. Gazprom is not merely a Russian firm the way Apple is an American one. It is a lever of the regimes power, used to dispense patronage to allies and threaten countries that stand in the way of Russias foreign-policy goals. Page has complained that the sanctions hurt his energy firms bottom line. 3. Jeff Nesbit delves into the murky and largely hidden financial connections between Trump and Russia. This is the most potentially explosive piece of the relationship, and also the most inscrutable. Nesbit cites a lawsuit against Trump Soho, a hotel project that attracted financing from Russian underworld figures. (Read Michael Idovs 2008 New York feature on the murky construction of the building.) A lawsuit cited by Nesbit alleged that a primary source of funding for Trumps big projects with Bayrock arrived magically from sources in Russia and Kazakhstan whenever the business interest needed funding. (Bayrock denies this and says that the allegation is absent from an amended version of the lawsuit.) This gets closer to the deepest suspicion surrounding Trump: Because his multiple bankruptcies have made him un-creditworthy banks dont like lending money to people who make a practice of not paying back the loans he has had to turn to unconventional sources. It is possible Trump is merely intertwined with Russians, as with other sources of capital. But it is also possible he has grown uniquely dependent on them in a way that gives Russia leverage over his policies. The Trump-Russia connection would be a first-tier campaign scandal and probably a complete disqualification by its own volition, if it were not for the daily parade of jaw-dropping offenses that have commanded attention. Theres a reason why the Russian propaganda apparatus on television and the internet have thrown themselves behind Trump, and why the Russian hack of the Democratic National Committee was released at just the time when it could do the most damage. What we dont know for certain is just what that reason is. On this mornings episode of Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough dropped a bomb about Donald Trump. During a conversation with former CIA director Michael Hayden, Scarborough said a foreign policy expert on the international level advised Trump several months ago and the Republican nominee for president asked questions about nuclear weapons that might terrify you. Three times he asked about the use of nuclear weapons. At one point, If we have them, why cant we use them?, Scarborough said that Trump had inquired. Three times in an hour briefing, Why cant we use nuclear weapons? Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images In recent days, Republicans like Paul Ryan, Kelly Ayotte, and John McCain have publicly scolded Donald Trump for smearing the parents of American Muslim and war hero Humayun Khan. They have not, however, retracted their endorsements of Trump for president, which they continue to depict as essential to prevent Hillary Clintons reign of tyranny. And so Trump tells the Washington Posts Philip Rucker he has not yet decided to endorse them against their right-wing primary challengers. Trumps putative reasons for withholding support make about as much sense as his reasons for anything else he does. Trump claims he cant support McCain because He has not done a good job for the vets a hilarious use of McCains one unambiguously heroic trait as a reason not to trust him. Ryan is allegedly too lacking in strong leadership: I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country, Trump said. We need very strong leadership. Trump even mimics Ryans own language from May, before his endorsement, when Ryan said of his still-pending decision to endorse, Im not there right now. (Trump tells Rucker, Im just not quite there yet.) With Ayotte, Trump does not know enough to make up a reason and simply says she has given me zero support. While bizarre on its face, Trumps behavior follows many of the principles that have guided his campaign to date. When faced with criticism of any kind, from either the media or other candidates, he lashes out almost automatically. Trump also believes in leverage. In the summer of 2015, he refused to promise to support the party nominee because, he explained, he needed to dangle the possibility of withholding support in order to ensure fair treatment. And the decision reflects Trumps assessment of the relative power dynamics within the party. On the surface, Trump is playing a perilously weak hand. He now trails in the polls substantially, he creates toxic brand problems among racial minorities and college-educated whites, and other Republicans will be tempted to abandon him in order to escape his taint. But Trump views the situation the other way around. From where the nominee sits, he commands the loyalty of most Republican voters, if not their political or intellectual elite, and thus any Republican who crosses Trump also crosses most of his own base. In the wake of his showdown with the nominee in Cleveland, Ted Cruz saw his polling collapse and even donors desert him. Trump clearly believes that Ryan, Ayotte, and McCain are endorsing Trump because they need to do so for their own viability. Trumps actions reveal one other thing. If elected president, Trump will not be subject to restraint by Ryan or anybody else. His only mode of cooperation is dominance. A Trump presidency means a Trump party and a Trump state. The latest sign that the Trump campaign is in serious disarray: It took them five whole days to figure out how the feud between Donald Trump and a Gold Star family is actually President Obamas fault. And their explanation involves a time machine. Tuesday on CNN, Wolf Blitzer pressed Trump spokesperson Katrina Pierson on whether the the candidate has apologized to the parents of U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan. After Blitzer asked the same question for a fourth time, Pierson asked what exactly Trump was supposed to be apologizing for. Blitzer recapped the insane feud thats unfolded over the past few days, and Pierson countered that Trump was just confused about why he was being held responsible for Captain Khans death (which no one ever suggested). But surely you can understand the confusion, considering how Donald Trump never voted for the Iraq War, Hillary Clinton did, Pierson said. Then she didnt support the troops to have what they need. It was under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that changed the rules of engagement that probably cost his life! So I dont understand why its so hard to understand why Donald Trump was confused. Blitzer thanked Pierson and ended the interview. Then a few minutes later he issued a fact check, noting that Captain Khan died in 2004, during the George W. Bush administration: .@WolfBlitzer fact checks Trump spokeswoman after she says Obama and Clinton are to blame for Capt. Khan's death https://t.co/nZAfYTh2J9 The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) August 3, 2016 Still, how can we blame Trump for the lawlessness of Illinois State Senator Obamas America? Photo: Jeremy Woodhouse Throughout his topsy-turvy campaign, one thing that Donald Trump has actually been consistent on is immigration. Deport the 11 million undocumented immigrants living here. Ban Muslim migrants, too. And maybe the greatest hit of all: Build a big, beautiful wall between the U.S. and Mexico, since Mexican migrants are rapists, drug dealers, and criminals. But contrary to the narratives advanced by Trump and his nativist peers, theres tons of criminological research suggesting that immigration doesnt bring crime. It stops it. While no one knows precisely why the national crime rate has cratered in the past 30 years today, its at about half of the peak in 1991 lots of scholars think that immigration is a big cause. Since the Immigration Act of 1965, some 59 million immigrants have come to the U.S., now accounting for 13.7 percent of the population. And they may be the main reason America is being made safe again. In a 2007 working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, researchers analyzed the 1980, 1990, and 2000 censuses and found that each year, young men the most crime-prone demographic who were immigrants had lower incarceration rates than the native-born. The margin widened every decade, and by 2000, the institutionalization rate of immigrants was 20 percent of that of the native-born. Analyzing the 2010 census, among men aged 18 to 39 without a high-school diploma, native-born Americans had a 10.7 percent incarceration rate, while Mexican men had a 2.8 percent rate, and both Salvadoran and Guatemalan men had a 1.7 percent rate. Adding it up, while 3.3 percent of native-born young men were in jail in 2010, it was just 1.6 percent for immigrant males. Research indicates that when you adjust for personal backgrounds, first-generation immigrants are 45 percent less likely to commit a violent act than third-generation immigrants, while the second generation is 22 percent less likely to commit violence than the third. The effect that immigrants have on cities appears to be significant. A 2010 study of cities of over 50,000 people found that the cities across the U.S. that received the most immigrants from 1990 to 2000 experienced the greatest drops in murder and robbery rates. In a 2010 study, a team lead by Northeastern criminologist Ramiro Martinez did a longitudinal analysis of homicides in San Diego neighborhoods from 1980 to 2000. Martinez and his colleagues found that areas with lots of immigrants saw reductions in violence over time, with a noted decline in homicides. Harvard sociologist Robert Sampson has found that the more languages that were spoken in a given neighborhood in Chicago in the 1990s, the fewer homicides there were from the 1990s to 2006. New York City where two million immigrants have arrived since the 1980s is a case study: An analysis of immigration trends in the city from 1975 to 2013 found that for every 1-percent increase in the immigrant population for a given precinct, 966 fewer crimes were committed per year on average. New York is also a case study in how immigrants vitalize a place. In 2006, the average income of blacks passed that of whites in the borough of Queens, attributable to the swelling increase of people moving there from the West Indies. And that 1975-to-2013 analysis found that immigrants are responsible for a $188 billion boost to home equity citywide, especially outside of Manhattan. Indeed, in 2008, according to the report, immigrants accounted for about a third of the urban centers gross product a cool $215 billion. Economist John Roman, formerly a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, tells Science of Us that immigrants change the culture of entire neighborhoods. Specifically, he says midsized cities like D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia have greater rates of home-ownership among relatively poor people, and if you own a row house in D.C. that gentrifies rapidly, you could create a ton of wealth (importantly, this is a form of economic mobility that isnt dependent on income, but rather property). And while urban rehabilitation programs might target the city core from the top down, gentrification grows from the bottom up in areas the municipal government may be overlooking. You can go to Baltimore and go to where Freddie Gray was killed, he tells Science of Us, and some of the housing stock is three-story row houses that are twice as wide as anything youd see in New York or Philadelphia its beautiful property and its been completely abandoned, in a neighborhood thats been completely segregated and isolated racially. (And segregation and isolation, criminologists know, is a prime driver of violence look at Chicago.) But according to Roman, if youre a member of a new immigrant class, it might be attractive to you: near the city core, with fantastic, if neglected, housing. You get a property that is exceptionally undervalued compared to the rest of the region, he says, and as a place to start out as a multifamily or multigenerational dwelling, its extremely attractive. Then the economic engines start firing. Theres all this nice housing stock, and then the neighborhood, with the mix of populations, begins to look and feel safer. Then come the gentrifiers. Then more investors. And more investors. Soon enough, you live a 12-minute walk from Whole Foods. If Im going to gentrify, what I want to see is a lot of recent immigrants, Roman says. Thats a strong signal to me to buy. Thats why, he says, the smartest cities have becoming really welcoming to immigrants. In the early 1990s, as immigration was starting to roll into Washington accounting for half the Districts population growth from 1990 to 2000 the relationship between the city and immigrants was punctuated by broken-windows-style policing, leading to riots in 1991. But since then, the city has put in effort to make itself available to recent immigrants, many of them from Latin America; for instance, you can do all your business with the District in Spanish (as well as in Chinese, French, Korean, Vietnamese, or the Ethiopian language Amharic). In New York, all city agencies offer translation into Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Italian, or Haitian Creole. Its a sign of how when you consider the data, reducing crime isnt just matter of more or fewer cops. Its more and more immigrants. Barack and Michelle forever. Photo: Getty Images On Tuesday morning, your favorite parents Barack and Michelle Obama lined up in front of the White House to welcome the prime minister and first lady of Singapore in preparation for that evenings state dinner. They chatted as the drums rolled and the trumpets blared, and then if you read her lips very closely Michelle said, Youve got a little something Was it a hair? A stray booger? Its hard to say, but whatever it was, Michelle took care of it. Let me see, she said. Yeah, youre good. God, you guys are so embarrassing. I should go on the fashion spot for this but I'm too lazy, does anyone know who is on the September vogue cover? Reply Thread Link Cara Delevingne Reply Parent Thread Link I...don't hate this. So Kendall is def not getting a cover huh? Reply Parent Thread Link I thought that was the UK cover Reply Parent Thread Expand Link That's UK Vogue, isn't it? Reply Parent Thread Link Cara Delevingne is on the September UK Vogue cover. Still don't know who got the U.S. version, although the Kendall Jenner rumors are really strong. Reply Parent Thread Link it's kendall jenner Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Looking forward to her Taylor Swift-like makeover then Reply Thread Link oooooomg Reply Parent Thread Link Hft Reply Parent Thread Link nooo omg Reply Parent Thread Link LMFAOOO Reply Parent Thread Link L M A O Reply Parent Thread Link "Let's bleach it, Debbie" Reply Parent Thread Link what if hillary got a taylor style makeover from anna lmao Reply Thread Link lmao rise punk Hillary! Reply Parent Thread Link lmao yesssss Reply Parent Thread Link I actually kind of love Hillary's boring but also weird Space Queen Outfits. Reply Thread Link I agree. At least she's got a style. Reply Parent Thread Link same tbh Reply Parent Thread Link same, and it hides her vest pretty well so fashion and function tbh! Reply Parent Thread Link my mind is blown rn Reply Parent Thread Link yep Reply Parent Thread Link o_0 idk US presidential candidates wore bulletproof vests on the campaign trail but it makes sense when y'all had a President who was assassinated by shooting, tho the more logical step would have been restricting guns. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link omg, i had no idea she was wearing a vest. i noticed that her shape seemed a little weird, but i just thought it was some age-related pooch. Edited at 2016-08-04 03:06 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Anna and Hillary go way back. Anna called her up and put her on the Vogue Cover when Hillary was First Lady and the Bill Clinton lawsuits were going on. Politics aside, I think it's really cool that they're friends. Reply Thread Link 'Twas a beautiful cover Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Beautiful and elegant. Reply Parent Thread Link i miss simple covers like this so much Reply Parent Thread Link this cover is a mess Reply Parent Thread Link I like this. Reply Parent Thread Link Shit I want this Reply Parent Thread Link never trust anyone who hair and style hasn't changed in 25+ years Reply Thread Link this makes no sense. it means they're steady. Reply Parent Thread Link steady is fine ,but why keep that haircut that doesn't work for you . I feel like her hair is going to break her tiny neck Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Or it just means that their hair and style haven't changed in 25 years. It's almost as if someone's appearance doesn't necessarily reflet their character... Reply Parent Thread Expand Link But wasn't she wearing her hair long like sometime within the last few years Edited at 2016-08-03 02:04 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I've always thought the same. Reply Parent Thread Link damn i feel the xact opposite. you wouldn't fuck w me i've had the same haircut since i was six. 20 years later a bob and blunt bangs remains the look Reply Parent Thread Link i got to see hillary speak yesterday! it was fun but i'm miserable because i got a terrible sunburn. i have pics! i just gotta figure out how to post em. Reply Thread Link omg yesss post pics! How was the speech? Reply Parent Thread Link posted below! it was a nice speech. the trump dragging was worth the sunburn. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link omg thats awesome!! I feel you though I waited for Obama at my school in 08 in the middle of winter like FUCK Reply Parent Thread Link the printed tunic suits she's been wearing have been god tier though #getinline Reply Parent Thread Link aw bb sour cream! <3 Reply Parent Thread Link aw her hat is cute in the third one Reply Parent Thread Link Why is the blazer so long Reply Parent Thread Link nnnn United colors of Hillary Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I like the green one . I hope her wardrobe is organize like this Reply Parent Thread Link Aren't the last two in the wrong order? The penultimate looks more purple-ish to me. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I loved long haired barefoot future prez Reply Parent Thread Link I'm digging that green one Reply Parent Thread Link lmao i love those pantsuits Reply Parent Thread Link lol this is cute. She's so short. Reply Parent Thread Link the green one is for sure the best. it has an interesting fit and texture. i hate all the boxy ones Reply Parent Thread Link I actually really love the green one. Reply Parent Thread Link I wish I could rock a pantsuit, too short for that Reply Parent Thread Link she's almost Leo walking in that lemon ensemble Reply Parent Thread Link Reminds me of this: Reply Parent Thread Expand Link pantsuit and mandarin collar. "the hillary" Reply Parent Thread Link my grandma is obsessed with pantsuits, i keep telling her that i work in education, mostly with young children and so it's just not an outfit choice that works for me, but she keeps saying no one will take me seriously if i don't wear a pantsuit!!!!! like, neither my 2nd graders nor my toddlers care lol Reply Parent Thread Link ngl, i love her pantsuits. I even bought the rainbow pantsuit bumper stick on her site, even though i fucking hate bumper stickers. idec, i'll mount it to a magnet Reply Parent Thread Link not that it should even matter, but it shows. hillary has been looking great on the campaign trail. Reply Thread Link I wish someone would help Trump and his nasty ass suits. The fact that anyone would buy anything he wears is astounding. Reply Thread Link i bet that thing is tailor-made and probably cost a cool 20k Reply Parent Thread Link it looks like it is made from slinky fabric If I was a rich man I would only wear bespoke suits Reply Parent Thread Link his pants are just as saggy as his awful flabby face Reply Parent Thread Link he doesn't deserve to be helped. Reply Parent Thread Link i mean, he has money, he can't get a better stylist? Reply Parent Thread Link I can't believe he has so much money and looks this bad. It's not even the suits, it's whatever is going on with his hair and also his terrible tan with his pasty eye circles. Reply Parent Thread Link wanna make it look like your whole leg is an extension of your wrinkly ballsack?! we got the pants for you! Reply Parent Thread Link I love her pantsuit rainbow collection! Reply Thread Link i've always found women's 'business wear' so hard to figure out. there's no clear rules like they have with mens. Reply Thread Link the only ~rule i know is close toed shoes lmao Reply Parent Thread Link obvs women's toes are not appropriate for the workplace Reply Parent Thread Expand Link but yeah, i got pretty close! it was cool. i loved ha shoes yesterdaybut yeah, i got pretty close! it was cool. Reply Thread Link That's awesome you were really close! Was she any different in person? Reply Parent Thread Link not really? she was really just...the same. she seemed pretty nice to everyone, i was on the second tier of the railing so i didn't get to shake her hand. you needed some green vip band or something, it was stupid. Reply Parent Thread Link these aren't good photos but it's the experience that matters Reply Parent Thread Expand Link omg you got so close! And those shoes are so cute, they're very Legally Blonde laywer chic lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link how was the event????? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link You were so close to our next president! Wow Reply Parent Thread Expand Link aah I am so jealous! her shoes are v cute, A+ Hillz Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I love it!!! Reply Parent Thread Link I honestly think Hillary looks better with longer hair that doesn't remind me of my 85 year old grandma on her way to church. A nice bob would look better than the windblown hairspray look. Reply Thread Link her scrunchie and big glasses phase was the best. Reply Parent Thread Link I like her longer hair too. Reply Parent Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link I miss the long hair Reply Parent Thread Link IA, the longer hair looked more current. Reply Parent Thread Link Replying to myself, but this was a good look. Replying to myself, but this was a good look. Reply Parent Thread Link She's getting older, her hair is probably starting to thin out, especially at the edges. Reply Parent Thread Link I'd love for her to grow out her hair Reply Parent Thread Link It was "risky" for her to have hair like that in the first place because CERTAIN KINDS OF PEOPLE treat you like you are dumb if you look younger than them (and longer hair makes you look younger, often). CERTAIN KINDS OF PEOPLE also treat you like you're stupid if you're attractive. At a previous workplace, I kept my hair, makeup, and clothes "old" to avoid being treated like a ditz. :( Reply Parent Thread Link I think she was and is quite attractive. But I told my mom the same thing once (she's like a decade younger than HRC) and she looked at me like I was crazy. But she thinks Sarah Palin/Laura Bush are gorgeous so I'm not sure she understands that nerd-hot for younger and older women is a thing. Edited at 2016-08-03 01:34 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Laura Bush is so basic , I can barely remember how she look Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I think the GOP's ~Hillary the nagging shrewish ice queen~ propaganda is firmly entrenched in a lot of people's minds, even liberals/Democrats to some extent. Objectively speaking Hillary is a completely normal-looking person, even on the cute side of normal when she was younger, but they have a notion of her as masculine/aggressive and ofc any woman that doesn't fit their preconceived notions of femininity well enough has to be 'ugly.' Reply Parent Thread Expand Link she was dorky but cute IMO Reply Parent Thread Link Edited at 2016-08-03 02:09 am (UTC) IA. A lot of people drag her for her looks but I've always found her conventionally pretty! Reply Parent Thread Link Too lazy to edit & source but Karlie left a comment on her post. Reply Thread Link Aw cute Reply Parent Thread Link her bro looks like tom cruise in this gif. Is it the eyes? Reply Parent Thread Link nothing will ever top last years lmao. Reply Thread Link What was last year's? Reply Parent Thread Link Edited at 2016-08-03 07:04 pm (UTC) a picture of Calvin with karlie in the background lmao it was embarrassing Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I can't believe it's been a year lmao Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like "exquisite" is a strange thing to call your friend Reply Thread Link It's a word my friend who I think is a super try hard wannabe "intellectual" person would use. I agree. Reply Parent Thread Link It kinda seems like a word you should use to describe an orchid or a piece of jewelry, not a person Reply Parent Thread Link Lol mte. I keep picturing a snotty pointed nose man describing a meal Reply Parent Thread Link She's been around since she was 15 so that's probably why you think she's older Reply Parent Thread Link I thought she was Taylor's age, that bob she had when she first "hit the scene" made her look a lot older. Reply Parent Thread Link NEVER FORGET Reply Thread Link lmao. She's such a bitch for doing this. Reply Parent Thread Link lol calvin harris posted a snapchat from this kitchen last night (at least i thought it was?) and all i could think of was this picture Reply Parent Thread Link I died when some ONTDer shopped this w/ question marks all around Karlie lol Reply Parent Thread Link that was great Reply Parent Thread Link Lmao it's not even a cute Pic of karlie Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lmao mte. Reply Parent Thread Link lmao this was so weird Reply Parent Thread Link The more important question is why did no one remove the brand sticker from the dutch oven pot before cooking with it. Is this a promo for Le Creuset or is everyone dumb? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link the fact that taylor deleted this pic after she and calvin broke up lmao Reply Parent Thread Expand Link aw i think she looks p cute in it Reply Parent Thread Link I thought she was trolling the Kaylor stans lol Reply Parent Thread Link The best part is how neither of them were checking for this picture. Like sis you didn't even try. Reply Parent Thread Link Even when wishing her friend a happy birthday, she has to be front & center. Reply Thread Link weird to think that she is only 24, she's been modeling forever Reply Thread Link i can't believe she's younger than me (by 6 months lol), i honestly thought she was maybe 28 or so. Not that she looks old but like you said, models start young. But even then I would guess Cara Delevingne who is turning 24 next week to be younger than Karlie. Reply Parent Thread Link sad. I was waiting for the first hiddleswift insta pic on this day. Reply Thread Link Smh, last year's post was SO much better! Reply Thread Link i do wish she had given us a pic with tom hiddleston in the front. as an aside, i legit had trouble thinking of tom's last name just now, all i could think was hiddleswift. Reply Thread Link I keep accidentally referring to him as that now... Reply Parent Thread Link he might as well change his name, honestly Reply Parent Thread Link 24??? She looks 30 Reply Thread Link Really?! My mom and two sisters are Leos and I think Karlie's nothing like them. She seems stable. Lol. NO OFFENSE LEOS. Reply Parent Thread Link All offense to leos tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link I suppose at one point, we were. Reply Parent Thread Link Yep. I am still Kaylor af. Reply Thread Link All my Taylor ships are dead. SHE HAS RUINED EVERYTHING. My FF was JUST getting good. Reply Parent Thread Link Hey Kaylor kind of still lives! So we have that! Was the fic deleted or something? Because that is the worst. Did Taylor delete it? Reply Parent Thread Link I'm waiting to buy it on vinyl tbh Reply Parent Thread Link Damn Hillary is a terrible actress lol Reply Parent Thread Link theres no reason this song shouldnt be top 10 on the charts rn smh Reply Thread Link No reason except for her lack of promo :( Reply Parent Thread Link Agreed. It's kinda depressing to see her just be like "here, lol" posting links to the music on FB and then not giving a fuck. It's as if she went to the Xtina school of how to promote her music. Reply Parent Thread Link And lack of personality Reply Parent Thread Expand Link seriously, it should have been fucking song of the summer Reply Parent Thread Expand Link right? it's an amazing pop song Reply Parent Thread Link Give up, Adriana. This song won't happen. Perform Side to Side at the VMAs, that's your only chance at a top 5 from this album now. Don't forget to make Everyday, Sometimes and Touch It singles tho. Reply Thread Link Waiting for "Everyday" to become a single tbh! Reply Parent Thread Link My fave! (see icon) Edited at 2016-08-03 07:55 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Everyday is a smash Reply Parent Thread Link It's such a groove! Reply Parent Thread Link her vocals are incredible Reply Thread Link i love this song tbh Reply Thread Link this song is so good edit: also i LOVE her voice Edited at 2016-08-03 07:45 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Her pitch control is out of this world. That on top of a beautiful voice. Magic. Reply Thread Link I would kill for her pitch control Reply Parent Thread Link this song deserves better, idg why she's refusing to promo basically everything Edited at 2016-08-03 07:47 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link did she talk about her breakup or something? Reply Thread Link Nah I just needed a prompt question lol Reply Parent Thread Link ohh lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Have you broken up recently, ONTD?' FUCK that, boyfriends are for the weak. Edited at 2016-08-03 07:50 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link I don't know why I love this response. Lol. Reply Parent Thread Link gimme a dark vid for forever boy, reina! Reply Thread Link As someone who likes her, what is wrong with she and her team? This album has obvious hits but they aren't doing shit for it. Did donutgate really kill her? Reply Thread Link nah, she's just poorly managed Reply Parent Thread Link She def likes the studio/ singing part more than the promo/ touring so maybe she's just not feeling it Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like she's genuinely in it for the music and does what she wants to do. Like, I feel like she feels like she's earned "enough" and I totally respect that. Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like labels barely promote anymore and just rely on pop stars to generate their own popularity either via social media presence or going viral Reply Parent Thread Link Yes. Although I like the opening line of the album version more. The clear, strong vocals she's giving us here are lovely, but don't really carry that line with the same impact. I just really, really like that line, okay? Reply Thread Link You mean the slow buildup to the first line? That part is magical. Reply Parent Thread Link Another oil price downturn threatens to deepen the plunging levels of investment in upstream oil and gas production, which could create a more acute price spike in the years ahead. Oil and gas companies have gutted their capex budgets, necessary moves as drillers went deep into the red following the crash in oil prices. But the sharp cutback in investment means that huge volumes of oil that would have otherwise come online in five or ten years now will remain on the sidelines. The industry will cut spending by $1 trillion through 2020, according to Wood Mackenzie. Those reductions are creating a ticking time bomb for oil supply. The consultancy projects that the market will see 5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (mboe/d) less this year, compared to expectations before the collapse of oil prices. And next year, the industry will produce 6 mboe/d less than it otherwise would have had the spending cuts not been made. This is creating the conditions for a supply crunch and a price spike. The reason is simple: demand continues to rise by some 1.2 million barrels per day each year, but supplies are no longer growing because of the spending cuts. That is not a problem today as production still slightly exceeds demand and high levels of crude oil and refined products sit in storage. But by as early as the end of 2016 the oil market could tip into a supply deficit. And because the industry has scaled back so intensely on capex, global supplies could fall short of demand for quite a while. The end result could be a dramatic price spike. This scenario has been described before by Wood Mackenzie, which published an estimate earlier this year that put the total value of cancelled projects over the past two years at $380 billion, projects that would have yielded 27 billion barrels of oil and gas. So far, the markets are not pricing in the brewing supply crunch. Oil prices continue to fall, and speculators have taken the most pessimistic position in months, selling off long bets and buying up shorts. Related: Oil Prices Fall Below $40 As OPEC Ramps Up Output Oil analysts and forecasters do not see a rapid rise in prices either. A Bloomberg survey of 20 analysts revealed a median price forecast of just $57 per barrel in 2017. No doubt that record levels of inventories are on their minds even if oil production itself flips into a supply/demand deficit, it could take years to work through storage levels. Were looking at a market thats still in a very slow process of rebalancing and we dont think that youll get a sustainable deficit until the second quarter of 2017, Michael Hsueh, a strategist at Deutsche Bank AG, told Bloomberg. Those deficits are necessary to draw down global inventories, but that will still take until the end of 2018, it appears. But the swing from surplus to deficit could be more dramatic than many think. Now that oil is once again entering a bear market, with WTI and Brent dropping to $40 per barrel, the industry could be forced to slash spending even deeper than it already has, leaving even more oil reserves undeveloped. And in any case, it is possible that high storage levels and the two-year production surplus is leading to a myopic view of the future just because the markets are oversupplied today does not meant that they will in several years time. Wood Mackenzie says that while U.S. shale has been the hardest hit by the steep fall in investment, the shale industry will be the first to bounce back because of the short-cycle nature of shale drilling. The price spike will lead to a resurgence in shale, and Wood Mackenzie is predicting that shale production doubles from the 2015 high-watermark of 4.5 million barrels per day to 8.5 mb/d by the mid-2020s. But that is a long way off for oil executives dealing with deteriorating balance sheets and rising debt levels. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Austrian Energy Group OMV does not believe Iranian oil contracts are fit for investment, according to statements made by the groups CEO on Wednesday. In January, Iran struck a deal regarding the status of the countrys nuclear program with the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia and Germany, causing several sanctions against the struggling Iranian economy to be lifted. Four months later, OMV signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Iranian Oil Company regarding the terms of several new development projects. CEO Rainer Seele of OMV said the process to finalize the details of an international model contract with Iran had not been completed yet, making it difficult for new projects to start. "This process is still ongoing, this is taking quite a long time... We have not yet defined a clean framework for the projects that are interesting for us," Seele said to Reuters in an interview when asked about how long developing a contract might take. "We can make an investment decision only when we really know what the framework and the conditions are." OMV has demonstrated interest in two major Iranian oil fields: the Zagros area in western Iran and the Fars field in the south. The company has previously commenced operations in Cheshmeh Kosh and Band-e-Karkheh fields in 2001. Irans state broadcaster IRIB said the countrys state cabinet had approved a draft bill for new and old oil and gas contracts, which laid out 150 changes to the previous model contract. OMV has also been awaiting Irans repayment of a previous debt related to exploration and development activities in the countries. "If you owe me money and you're not giving it back to me and then want to proceed with me in the future, would you think that's a good combination?" Seele said regarding the debt linked to OMV's activities before international sanctions on Iran went into effect in 2006. "We are in intensive talks (about this) that have not yet achieved their objective." By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A report from Japanese auto manufacturer Nissan concluded that charging stations for electric autos will surpass fuel stations in the United Kingdom (UK) by August 2020. As reported on Wednesday by edie.net, an average of 129 British gas stations have been lost each year since December 2005. In contrast, during that same time, approximately 911 electric vehicle (EV) charging sites have been added each year. Therefore, Nissan believes around 7898 EV charging stations will be found throughout the UK in four years, which is twenty-nine more than the forecasted number of gas stations. As EV sales take off, the charging infrastructure is keeping pace and paving the way for convenient all-electric driving, Edward Jones, EV manager of Nissan Motors division in the UK said. Combine that with constant improvements in our battery performance and we believe the tipping point for mass EV uptake is upon us. An average of one electric car is registered in the UK every thirteen minutes, per information from the Go Ultra Low campaign spearheaded by the British government and car industry. The organization thinks EV will become the main form of propulsion for autos in the UK by 2027. In addition, a recent Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) noted the promising impact of the EV industry on the British economy. Connected and autonomous EVs could generate as much as US$67 billion per year by 2030 and could lead to 320,000 newly created industry jobs. As with similar breakthrough technologies, the adoption of electric vehicles should follow an S-curve of demand. A gradual uptake from early adopters accelerates to a groundswell of consumers buying electric vehicles just as they would any other powertrain, Jones added. Nissans interest in the EV market is looking beyond Britain on a more global scale with its Leaf car serving as the worlds best-selling electric auto. Autoblog mentioned that Nissan Future Lab has partnered with the United States Air Force to examine the viability of EV use to support the electric grid. One possibility is the use of Leaf cars to store excess electricity created by power plants and then transfer that power back during periods of high energy demand. By Erwin Cifuentes for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A new restaurant called the Wall Street Drink Exchange will open in Elm Grove on Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. The new eatery, located at 890 Elm Grove Rd., takes the place of Rewined Modern American Grill, which closed this year after a nine-month run. Prior to Rewined, the space was occupied by longtime tenant The Grove. Myren Grosenick, owner of JoJos Martini Lounge, 418 N. Mayfair Rd., is behind the new casual fine dining restaurant that will offer lunch, dinner and late-night options. During the remodeling process, which began June 1, Grosenick and his team opened up the space to including a dining area that seats about 80. The bar area seats about 40 and was augmented by new lighting and amenities, including purse hooks. The kitchen also received an upgrade, including the addition of new equipment. A deck to the north will offer an intimate, casual space for diners to linger. Meanwhile, a patio will be added to the courtyard on the south of the building, offering 20-30 additional seats for al fresco dining. Wall Street refers not only to the street that flanks the restaurant to the south, but also to its theme, which revolves around the imagery of New York City. Murals, painted by local artist Gustavo Rojas, surround the dining area. One such mural pays homage to some of New Yorks most infamous mobsters. Meanwhile, windows on the northern walls offer up a live Earthcam view of Times Square and other scenes from NYC. "We really worked to make the concept unique and fun," says Hugo "Well offer people something that theyve not seen in this area, giving them a little piece of New York in Elm Grove." Flores says theyve already begun planning for a New Years Eve party, complete with a New York-style ball drop. Food and drink An extensive wine list will feature 98 offerings by the bottle with 22 available by the glass. Flores says the selection includes an emphasis on California varietals, along with a nice selection of international varietals. Meanwhile, a cocktail menu, which was designed by bartender Stephanie Aker and her team, will feature seven signature New York-themed cocktails with names like Market Close, Blue Chip, Money Maker and the Mula, priced $8-12. The bar will also serve a bacon Old Fashioned made with house infused bacon bourbon. Chef Ricky Garcia, whose experience includes work at HoM Wood-fired Grill in Brookfield, as well as the Villa at Heaven City, will head up the kitchen. "My style is really very simple, fresh," he says. "I love creating dishes with just a few quality ingredients. So this concept is really based on fresh, farm-to-table dishes classics with a twist." A lunch menu offers up many of the same options as the dinner menu, with a larger selection of sandwiches, including a vegetable pita with pickled onions, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, cucumbers, lettuce and avocado aioli for $9, and a classic Reuben ($10). The menu features a variety of starters, including familiar items like bacon-wrapped water chestnuts with chili-soy maple glaze ($12). There are also wings prepared with barbecue sauce, buffalo sauce or dry rub ($9), Oysters Rockefeller, cognac mushrooms gratin ($14) and a tower of beer battered onion rings ($9). Shrimp cocktail which is grilled, rather than boiled is served with cocktail sauce and rosemary gremolata in a martini glass ($14). Salads include caprese and Caesar ($8-10), along with the classic steakhouse wedge ($11) and a house salad served with champagne raspberry vinaigrette. Entrees run the gamut from burgers to pastas and steaks. The Wall Street Burger features sauteed apples, caramelized onions, Jones bacon, barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese on a brioche bun ($14) Steaks include filet mignon ($36-40), bone-in ribeye ($49) and a southwestern-style New York strip with smoky chili rub ($33). Theres also the "ultimate" surf and turf, featuring a six-ounce filet with crisp Jones bacon, scallops and grilled shrimp served atop quinoa salad with a Cabernet demiglace ($45). Wild mushroom ravioli features pasta filled with mascarpone cheese with wild mushrooms, white truffle oil, Asiago and microgreens ($18). Other options include a double-boned pork chop with red pepper coulis, quinoa, caramelized onions and apples ($26), broasted chicken ($19), shrimp scampi ($24) chicken parmesan ($23) and zucchini pasta with marinara, fresh roasted vegetables, asiago cheese and microgreens ($18). Desserts will include selections including banana bread pudding served with Purple Door salted caramel ice cream. The restaurant will offer specials, including a Friday fish fry, Saturday prime rib and a brunch buffet on Sundays. Flores says the restaurant will also offer live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. Beginning Aug. 8, hours for the Wall Street Drink Exchange will be Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a brunch buffet offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PORTLAND During a recent first visit to Portland, Ore. we, naturally, felt compelled to visit nearby city Milwaukie. Milwaukie, which was named after "our" Milwaukee, was settled in 1847 by Lot Whitcomb, who named it "Milwaukie." At the time, the Wisconsin city was also frequently spelled "Milwaukie." One story claims that a newspaper changed the spelling in the 1800s and it stuck. During our visit, we attempted to draw comparisons between Milwaukie and Milwaukee, and came up with very few similarities. We found a bowling alley, beer store, tattoo shop and a "Scott Street," which was exciting to us because our house is on Scott Street in Milwaukee. Milwaukie, which is a suburb of Portland near the Sellwood neighborhood, is an outdoorsy place surrounded by nature and with a small-town vibe. It is home to the famous Dark Horse Comics and has a thriving Farmers Market. I remembered I knew someone who lived in Milwaukie and, through Facebook, got in touch with my former pal and roommate Colin Wall, who grew up in Green Bay and lived in Milwaukee for eight years. Wall moved to Portland 22 years ago and bought a house in Milwaukie almost a decade ago. "I really love it here. Last year, Milwaukie got its own light rail line from Portland and a new riverfront boat ramp," says Wall. "But there are some things actually many things I miss about Milwaukee." Wall bought his house in Milwaukie because, at the time, it was cheaper than purchasing in Portland. "Now it's hot property with 40,000 people moving to the metropolitan area last year and an expectation of 30,000 a year for the next few years," says Wall, who works as a school maintenance person and teaches art, mural painting and river guiding. During our visit, we walked into Wind Horse Coffee & Tea, and when we disclosed to the barista that we were from Milwaukee, Wis., he said, "Oh, you must be one of those people who try to correct my spelling on the internet." We have now put Milwaukee, North Carolina on our travel bucket list to complete the Milwaukee-Milwaukie-Milwaukee trifecta. For now, here are 10 more photos of Milwaukie, Ore. 1. Milwaukieans kayak 2. Milwaukie: founded in 1847 3. Milwaukieans bike: A lot 4. Milwaukieans drink beer 5. Milwaukie City Hall 6. Milwaukieans bowl 7. Milwaukie Masonic Lodge 8. Milwaukie Timber Co. 9. Milwaukieans have light rail 1o. So long, Milwaukie! Reprinted from Paul Craig Roberts Websitte (Image by Katehon) Details DMCA On Monday, Aug 1, I was interviewed by *Katehon. Read the transcript below... Paul Craig Roberts Bernie Sanders won the presidential nomination, but he was cheated out of it by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which is the operating body for the Democratic Party. The DNC helped Hillary win the nomination by the combination of vote miscounts with appointment of super delegates, who no one elected, to vote for Hillary. So, she won this nomination illegitimately. All of Bernie Sanders' supporters know that. They have turned against Hillary, and it is unlikely that many of them will vote for Clinton. When the email scandal hit, the Democratic National Committee, hoping to shift the blame elsewhere, asked: "Who do Americans dislike more than Hillary" and answered "the Russians." Washington has been demonizing the Russians for last three-four years. So, the Americans are told to dislike the Russians. That's why the DNC and the presstitute media blame Putin for the WikiLeaks release of the emails that showed that Democrats were cheating Sanders out of the presidential nomination. Putin was made the issue instead of Hillary. Hillary is a crook in many ways. But she has escaped from prosecution, because she is too useful to the oligarchs. So they shift all that blame to Putin, saying that this is a Russian plan to get Donald Trump elected. But I don't think it will fool many people. Only the stupid ones. It will play in the media, because the media is not honest, not independent. The American media is like the old Soviet Media -- it has to answer to the Master and can't say much independently. It's not going to fool the American people that all this e-mail scandal is the work of Putin. Democrats are looking for a boogeyman, for somebody to shift the blame away from them. They don't even realize that their allegations make Russia look like a cyber superpower. Well, Russia may be a cyber superpower, but we all know that Clinton's e-mails did not reach WikiLeaks via Russia. It's just something Clinton operatives made up. The media simply went along with it, reporting it without investigating it. I don't think that many people will believe that Putin is behind the leak of Hillary's incriminating emails. It just makes the Democratic National Committee look even more ridiculous. The DNC steals an election from the candidate that people wanted and tries to blame Putin for doing that. Bernie Sanders, when he supported Clinton at the Democratic convention, discredited himself and demoralized all his supporters. Therefore, they turned from him too. That eliminates Sanders as a leader. He ruined it for himself. If he had gone to the convention and said: "You stole the presidential nomination from me! I am the one who won," he would be the most popular American today. He could run as an independent candidate and win. But he didn't have the courage to do that. He gave up, surrendered. The oligarchs are accustomed to people surrendering to them. They think that Putin will surrender to them. And that China will surrender. And Iran. Bernie Sanders does not have the support of the oligarchs. The military security complex, Wall Street, and the Israel Lobby are not behind him. He is not their agent. His support came from the Democratic voters themselves. So he doesn't have the power to prevail, unless he really takes the fight to Hillary. But he wasn't willing to risk that. Bernie Sanders is considered as an outsider by oligarchs. They did not fund his campaign. His endorsement of Hillary has broken him as a political leader, and it is the end for him as a potential leader. Hillary has chosen a war-mongering general as her vice-president. The American media, which is bloodthirsty for war, will support Clinton and attack Trump. But the media has lied so much that the media has lost its credibility. Fewer people depend on the media, because it was lying so much and for so long. Much more important is how Trump handles himself. If he continues to say that he doesn't want a conflict with Russia, that NATO is a problem and not a solution, and continues to denounce the offshoring of American jobs that have destroyed the middle class, Trump will win the presidential election regardless of the opposition from oligarchs and the media. The fact that corporations moved the middle-class jobs offshore really hurts Americans and the American economy. Trump is against having tensions with Russia. He realizes that there is no real need for NATO. So, Americans are supporting him for these reasons. If Trump sticks to these issues -- he will win, if the election is not stolen, But the question is: what could he achieve, if he gets the office? It may turn out that he could do nothing, but he's the only hope we have. Does Trump know who to appoint in order to achieve his aims, or will his government be appointed by the establishment who will "advise" him and thereby control him? If a Trump victory seems in the cards, Democrats will try to steal the election by programming the electronic voting machines that leave no paper trail. So, whoever programs the voting machines can determine the vote outcome. And nobody will ever know that fraud has occurred. Unless Trump has experts who can ensure that the voting machines are programmed correctly, I suspect that the machines will be programmed to vote for Hillary. Trump cannot trust the Republican political establishment, because it is opposed to him. If Trump relies on them, they will cooperate with Hillary's people and program the machines so that Hillary wins. There are no paper ballots to be recounted. This is the way a lot of elections have been stolen in recent years in the US. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Article Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their articles after publishing them. To see if the article was renamed or re-published, please click here. While SSRI antidepressants are arguably still the most consumed drug class in the US, sales peaked in 2008 and have declined by four percent every year since, according to Research and Markets. There are many reasons for declining SSRI sales from unwanted side effects like weight gain and sexual dysfunction to "Prozac Poop-out" in which patients develop tolerance and the pills quit working. Still, a major reason for declining sales are SSRI's strong links to suicide and birth defects. In 2004, the FDA added "Black Box" warnings to SRRIs, highlighting suicide risks and the need for close monitoring of children and adolescents for suicidal thoughts and behavior. Reaction from pro-drug doctors who appeared to be defending industry sales was swift. The warnings might scare away doctors and patients, they objected--as if that weren't the point of warnings. The pro-drug voices even tried--unsuccessfully--to blame the warnings for a rise in suicides. Unfortunately, they were using data from the wrong year. Further validating SSRI suicide risks, in September of 2015, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) confirmed what drug safety activists had charged for 15 years--that the original safety data for Paxil had misclassified suicide gestures to make the drug look safer; Paxil actually carried higher suicide risks for young people than reported. SSRIS in Pregnancy As reports of SSRI-linked birth defects began to surface more than ten years ago, a similar phenomenon occurred. In 2005, the FDA warned health care professionals and patients that the SSRI Paxil "increases the risk for birth defects, particularly heart defects, when women take it during the first three months of pregnancy." The next year, doctors writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) associations countered that women who went off their antidepressants during pregnancy would "relapse" in their depressions. The authors, it turned out, had 60 financial relationships to pharmaceutical companies and the lead author was a paid speaker for seven drug makers. JAMA was forced to publish a correction. Pharma tries to downplay SSRI birth defect risks (Image by Martha Rosenberg) Details DMCA Since then, the birth defect warnings have only increased. In 2012, a prominent study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found an association between SSRIs and the heart-related disorder "persistent pulmonary hypertension" in newborns. Last year, ABC News reported a study of thousands of pregnant women who took antidepressants that found an increase in birth defects. 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 Smirking Chimp On Friday, President Obama signed bill S.764 into law, dealing a major blow to the movement to require GMO labeling. The new law, called the "Deny Americans the Right to Know" (DARK) Act by food safety groups, has at least three key parts in it that undermine Vermont's popular GMO labeling bill and make it nearly impossible for you and me to know what's in our food. The law claims to set a federal labeling standard by requiring food producers to include either a QR bar code that can be scanned with a phone, or a 1-800 number that consumers can call to find out whether a product contains genetically modified ingredients. But according to the Institute for Responsible Technology, this bill doesn't require most processed foods to have a label, the bill defines genetic engineering so narrowly that most GMOs on the market don't qualify, and the bill gives the USDA two more years to come up with "additional criteria" -- also known as "more loopholes." This is disappointing for American consumers who honestly just want to know what their food contains, but the issue surrounding GMOs isn't just about what these companies are putting into our food and stocking our stores with. What's potentially more devastating for the planet is that genetically modified organisms developed by companies like Monsanto and DuPont can escape into our ecosystems and potentially wreak havoc before they are even tested or approved as safe. That's not wild-eyed conspiracy theory or speculation, it's a matter of fact. On Friday, the same day that Obama signed the DARK Act, the US Department of Agriculture confirmed that a farmer found 22 experimental and unapproved wheat plants in one of his fields that had been genetically modified by Monsanto. The reactions to the finding have been swift, despite being ignored by the mainstream media. Federal and state investigators announced that they are looking into the matter of how the unapproved mutant wheat found its way to a field that hasn't been planted since 2015. South Korea, the fifth-largest market for US wheat, announced in response that it will be stepping up quarantine measures for milling and feed wheat shipments from the US in response. Monsanto told The Associated Press that these wheat plants are a type that was evaluated in limited field trials in the Pacific Northwest from 1998 to 2001, but the variety was never approved. Nonetheless, this is the third time in as many years that varieties of Monsanto's GMO Roundup-ready wheat has cropped up in the area. In two of those cases, federal officials have no idea how the wheat got into the field or where else it might have spread to. All we do know is that the USDA is testing the farmer's other fields to see if the wheat is growing anywhere else, and that the FDA has stated that there is no evidence that the wheat has entered the market. Beyond that, we really don't know how this Round-up ready wheat will impact local ecosystems, whether it will wipe out non-GMO wheat, or whether it could bio-accumulate in the food chain and eventually have an impact on top predators, like humans. That should set off some alarm bells, because we've dodged a similar bullet before with Klebsiella planticola, a soil bacteria that aggressively grows on plants' roots. In the early 1990s, a European genetic engineering company was preparing to field test its genetically modified version of Klebsiella planticola, which it had tested in the lab and presumed to be safe. But if it weren't for the work of a team of independent scientists led by Dr. Elaine Ingham, that company could have literally killed every terrestrial plant on the planet. 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 Alon Ben-Meir Blog Two weeks ago, President Obama announced that the US will draw down its troops in Afghanistan from 9,800 to 8,400, altering his original plan to reduce the number to 5,500. His decision suggests that conditions on the ground are not as promising as he expected them to be, and maintaining a larger number of troops is important as he believes "it is in our national security interests...that we give our Afghan partners the best opportunities to succeed." The president, however, did not spell out what success actually means. If he meant that Afghanistan will eventually become a stable and functioning democracy, he is fundamentally mistaken. Indeed, even if the US stations three times as many troops for another 15 years or more, given the multiple conflicts, ruthlessness, and duplicity of the players involved and the country's long history, the US cannot rescue Afghanistan from the quagmire in which it finds itself. The president's concluding remarks strongly suggest that the US' military presence in Afghanistan is essentially open-ended, saying: "...given the enormous challenges they face, the Afghan people will need the partnership of the world, led by the United States, for many years to come." [emphasis added] The facts on the ground remind us of the Vietnam War -- a needlessly prolonged conflict with no prospect of victory -- except that the war in Afghanistan is even more complicated and becoming increasingly intractable. To understand what the US strategy should be to end a war that has lasted more than any other in US history, consider the following: First, Afghanistan is a landlocked country with a rugged and mountainous terrain replete with thousands of caves, some of which are miles long and familiar only to the indigenous population. Historically, no power has been able to conquer and sustain its conquest of Afghanistan from the time of Alexander the Great, including the Mongols, the British Empire, and Soviet Russia. Demographically, the country has a population of 32 million, 99 percent of whom are Muslims, composed of tribes and kinship-based groups in a multilingual and multi-ethnic society. As such, the country is politically divided and lacks social and political cohesiveness. Second, given the history and determination of the Taliban, bringing them to submission was always a non-starter. Even though the US is fully aware that many Taliban militants operate from safe havens inside Pakistan and other hard-to-reach areas, the US is still unwilling to confront Pakistan, giving the Taliban no incentive to negotiate in earnest. As long as this situation remains unchanged, the touch and go negotiations over the past 14 years will lead to nowhere. Just like the Vietcong, the Taliban strongly feel that they will eventually wear out any government in Kabul, and will keep fighting and make all the sacrifices until they exhaust the US and eventually prevail. Third, Afghanistan's border with Pakistan -- the Durand Line -- stretches through the entire southern and eastern boundary between the two countries and is poorly delineated and unprotected. It divides the Pashtun tribes of the region between Afghanistan and Pakistan and has been a source of increasing tension between the two countries, which explains Pakistan's unique concerns and determination to protect its national interests and have a say about Afghanistan's current and future political order. There is concrete evidence, revealed by the former head of Afghanistan's main intelligence agency, Rahmatullah Nabil, that Pakistan fully supports the Afghani Taliban to achieve a dual purpose: maintain its influence in Afghanistan, and prevent India from establishing a presence in the country, thereby thwarting any effort by New Delhi from encircling it. Chris Alexander, Canada's former Citizenship and Immigration Minister and former Ambassador to Afghanistan, flatly stated, "Canada and its allies must take a united front against Pakistan because it is a sponsor of terrorism that threatens world security." That said, the Obama administration was and still is unwilling to confront Pakistan because the US views the country as an ally in the war on terror, and the Pakistani military serves to secure the US' strategic interests in south and central Asia. Fourth, the growing presence of ISIS and the return of strong elements of al-Qaeda, numbering between 1,000 and 3,000 fighters, have become increasingly evident in the mountainous region along the Pakistani border. Their recent attack against the Hazara minority killed 80 people, presumably because members of the community provided some support to the Assad regime in Syria. US military spokesman Brigadier General Charles Cleveland aptly put it: "That's our concern, these high profile attacks, they are effective because they're not that difficult to achieve." It can be expected that ISIS attacks will become more frequent, especially because of its steady retreat in Iraq and Syria, while further destabilizing Afghanistan and complicating the war efforts regardless of the extent of the US' continuing military backing. Fifth, the premature introduction of democracy to Afghanistan is inconsistent with the culture of tribalism and dominance of Islam orthodoxy in the country. Although the new constitution recognizes gender equality, participatory politics, and some civic and political rights, it has also institutionalized tribal nationalism and ethnic hierarchy. Given the above, one might ask why did the US, under both the Bush and Obama administrations, feel that it could go to any Muslim country, such as Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and others, ravage them, and then impose political values of which they are not disposed or willing to accept? Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Pak-Turk schools to be protected: Turkish FM ISLAMABAD: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that Turkey, in collaboration with the Pakistani government, is working out a solution to protect the students of Pak-Turk schools in Pakistan, and added that no decision will be made that adversely affected their academic career. Had both Turkey and Pakistan not been sensitive to students and their families, these schools would have been closed since December 2013, the Turkish foreign minister said during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when questioned about the fate of Gulen-sponsored schools in Pakistan. Turkey had declared Fethullah Gulens organisation as a terrorist entity following the July 15 unsuccessful coup. Flanked by Adviser to the PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, the Turkish foreign minister expressed satisfaction that Pakistan was fully cooperating over the issue of Pak-Turk schools. However, Cavusoglu pointed out that there was a need to be very careful of the activities of these organisations, which could pose a threat to the security and stability of the host country. Sartaj said, We are going to protect the schools and students of Pak-Turk schools as these institutions are being professionally managed and providing good education. He said that efforts were afoot to find out an arrangement for Pak-Turk schools to continue their working in Pakistan. On the Kashmir issue, the Turkish foreign minister said that Turkey was fully supportive of Pakistans stance on Jammu and Kashmir, and believed that the issue could be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, and not with war. He asked the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) secretary general to mobilise Contact Group on Kashmir and send a fact-finding mission to the occupied territory to assess the situation. He also said that there was a dire need to end violence in Kashmir. Sartaj Aziz and Cavusoglu earlier held one-on-one and delegation-level meetings, and said their interaction focused on exchange of in-depth views on bilateral relations. Aziz said that signing of a free trade agreement with Turkey was expected in the next few weeks, which would prove to be a milestone. He said the need for lasting political solution in Afghanistan also came under discussion. He said Pakistan and Turkey were host to the largest refugee population in the world and expressed hope that the international community would be mindful of the burden. The adviser expressed Pakistans unequivocal support to the dynamic leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and congratulated the visiting delegate on the successful defeat of the military coup in his country. He mentioned that Turkish people coming out in streets in support of democracy was a sight to behold. Cavusoglu said Pakistan was the first country he was visiting after the coup attempt in Turkey, and acknowledged the support of the Pakistani nation and government for their solidarity in this hour. He expressed gratitude to both Houses of Pakistani parliament for adopting a unanimous resolution in favour of democracy in Turkey. He said that Turkey was taking all necessary measures against the perpetrators of coup. He dismissed the impression that Turkey would slide into a state of chaos following the state of emergency, adding that it was not meant to target public but the state structure to ensure stability in the country. The Turkish foreign minister said Pakistan was a second home to Turkish people and the two nations reciprocated feelings of affinity for each other. Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey fully supports Pakistans war against terrorism. Turkey also supports the efforts of Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) for bring peace back to Afghanistan. He told the press conference that during the meeting he briefed Sartaj Aziz on how Turkey was normalising its relations with Russia and Israel. Earlier, during their meeting, both the leaders expressed satisfaction over the ever-growing cooperation between the two countries and agreed on the need for sustained engagement for enhanced cooperation in diverse spheres. Population census not possible before March: Federal Govt ISLAMABAD: The federal government has taken a firm stand before the Supreme Court that population census in the country is not possible before March next year and that too if required strength of army personnel is available. Earlier also the government had told the apex court that proposing a schedule for holding census was currently not possible because of non-availability of around 167,000 army personnel for deployment during the exercise. The reason cited for non-availability of army personnel is their deployment in Zarb-i-Azb military operation against terrorists and for other security-related tasks. A fresh report has been submitted to the court by Additional Attorney General Mohammad Waqar Rana on behalf of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The court is seized with a case, initiated on a suo motu notice, on the delay in the conduct of census. In case necessary strength of the armed forces is made available, a date will be proposed to the Council of Common Interest (CCI) for holding the census in the country, possibly in March/April 2017, the three-page report says. After rejecting the reasons for delay in conducting census, the court on July 15 had ordered the government to come out with a definitive time-frame for holding the much-needed head count. The report says that the statistics division held a meeting on census with the defence ministry on July 22 which was also attended by representatives of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), the military operations directorate of the GHQ and the PBS. The meeting discussed position for holding census under the supervision of the armed forces with a particular reference to the use of Nadras database in aid of census results and the use of latest technology like android cell phones/tablets during the exercise instead of traditional methods. After deliberations, the report says, the meeting decided that the CCI will be informed about proceedings of the meeting which was told that a decision about availability of armed forces for census would be made by the military operations directorate at the end of this year. The meeting also decided that on completion of the computerised national identity cards verification exercise, Nadra through interior ministry would inform the PBS about blocked and cancelled CNICs issued to Afghans and other aliens. Meanwhile, the PBS will make preparations for the use of latest technology in data collection i.e. android cell phones/tablets to the possible extent. The status will also be immediately submitted to the inter-provincial coordination division, the report says. Census is now mentioned in part-II-9 of the constitution and falls within the purview of the CCI. It says that funds required for census have been allocated by the finance ministry in the budget 2016-17 and the PBS, entrusted with the function of holding census under Section 31 of the General Statistics (Re-Organisation) Act 2011, has completed arrangements on the civil side for holding census. According to the report, the first four censuses were held in the country on time in 1951, 1961, 1972 and 1981. They were conducted by the Population Census Organisation in collaboration with the provincial governments. The fifth census wad due in 1991. It says that the house listing operation carried out in 1990 showed abnormal growth in population in some parts of the country, not justified by normal demographic indicators. Consequently the government decided to postpone the 1991 census, it says. Another effort was made in 1994 which could not succeed due to pressure by political parties and ethnic groups, which wanted to manipulate the census process to their advantage. Finally it was decided to conduct census in 1998 with the support of the armed forces, an idea broadly accepted by all political parties, the report says. The sixth census was due in 2008 but it could not be conducted because of law and order situation in the country, shortage of staff and financial constraints, it says. Residential plots in Lahore and Peshawar the highest 03 August, 2016 Related News Imran Khan distributed loan cheques under Kamyab Jawan Programme PTI govt to face all challenges coming its way: Imran khan More on this View All Tips for Taking Incredible iPhone Travel Photos Top 2021 Accessories We Know You Will Love Types of Casino Payment Methods Best Poker Hands ever played on a Casino Are Slot Developers Important for players? Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry Ways that Players Used to Take Advantage of Slot Sites ISLAMABAD: Under the new property valuation formula, notified by the Federal Board of Revenue for 12 major cities, the value of residential plots in Lahore and Peshawar is the highest in a maximum number of areas. The new property tables, which came into effect on July 31, 2016, will be used for the calculation of federal taxes capital gains tax (CGT), withholding tax and section 111 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. On Tuesday, the FBR notified value tables for Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur in Sindh; Peshawar, Mardan and Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Lahore, Rawalpindi and Sargodha in Punjab; Quetta and Gwadar in Balochistan; and Islamabad. A tax official told reporters that the FBR and realty stakeholders had applied different formulas to increase the existing deputy commissioner (DC) rates in all cities for the levy of federal taxes. However, DC rates for provincial taxes would remain unchanged, the official said. We have just used the DC rate as a benchmark to work out new tables with higher values for these cities, the official clarified. There is little uniformity in the units of land measurement used for valuation. While land holdings are calculated in marla for Lahore and Peshawar, measurements from Islamabad are in square yards. The tables for Karachi, however, feature square yards for residential, commercial and open industrial plots, while built-up industrial property and apartments are valued in square feet. In addition, there is no distinction between commercial and industrial property in the tables issued for Lahore and Peshawar, while in Islamabad, rates are assigned sector-wise. Karachi New values were notified for properties in 193 areas of the metropolis. Properties in various areas have been segregated into eight categories, with category I having the highest value and category VIII having the lowest value properties. A property that does not appear to fall in any of the categories will be valued at the rate of the lowest adjacent category in the list. No values were notified for the four industrial areas of the city KPT Industrial Area, Landhi Industrial Area, Korangi Industrial Estate and SITE Industrial Area. Of the 193 localities notified, residential open plot and built-up properties in around 45 areas were placed in category I. The value of a residential plot in category I is calculated at Rs25,000 per square yard or Rs625,000 per marla, while the value of a residential built-up plot comes to Rs32,000 per square yard, or Rs800,000 per marla, according to conversion values commonly used by real estate agents. For commercial areas, the value of an open plot in category I will be Rs 75,000 per square foot or Rs1,875,000 per marla, while in the case of a built-up commercial plot, the rate will be Rs54,000 per square foot or Rs1,350,000 per marla, which is lower than that of open commercial plots in the same area. Lahore The values of property in Lahore are segregated by township and no categories of value are used here. The only difference is between residential and commercial areas, with no distinction between open plots or built-up ones. A total of 228 localities are placed in Allama Iqbal Town, where the highest rate for residential plots is Rs612,500 per marla in the Abdalian Co-op Society, while the lowest rate is Rs96,000 per marla in Mehndipur. In the same town, the highest valued commercial property, worth Rs5.7 million per marla, is located in Green Fortress Phase III, while the lowest valued commercial property, worth Rs145,750 per marla, is located in Mehndipur and parts of Raiwind located outside UC-148 and 149. There are 52 localities in Aziz Bhatti Town; 187 in Data Gunj Buksh Town; 87 in Gulberg Town; 119 in Samanabad Town; 165 in Ravi Town; 97 in Shalimar Town; 68 in Wagha Town; and 231 in Nishtar Town. The values show that in most residential areas, plots were valued between Rs200,000 to Rs500,000 per marla, with a few exception where prices are as high as Rs5 million per marla. In 36 residential areas, the per marla price is calculated at over Rs1m, but less than Rs2m. In 16 places, the per marla value is calculated at more than Rs2m, but less than Rs3m. And in three places, the value is over Rs4m, but less than Rs5m. As a result, Lahore emerges as the city with the highest values of DC rates for determination of taxes. Peshawar In Peshawar city, 335 areas are listed. Like Punjab, there is no distinction in the value of an open plot and built-up properties here either. The highest per marla value of a residential property is calculated at over Rs1 million in 70 areas of Peshawar city, making Peshawar the city with the second highest values for residential plots in the maximum number of areas. The per marla value was calculated at over Rs3 million in Gari Abdul Majid, Tehkal Bala & Payan, Sufaid Deri Jamrud Road and Abadi Peshawar. In 22 areas of the city, the per marla price of a residential plot is less than Rs100, 000. Islamabad The valuation of table in Islamabad is divided sector-wise. The per marla value of a residential plot in the upscale F-6, F-7 and F-8 sectors is calculated at Rs1,213,750. The per marla value of a residential property is lowest in sector I-16 and the highest in E-7, at Rs1,428,750. Valuation tables are also notified for the sectors---D-12, E-11, E-12, F-10, F-11, G-7 to 11 and I-9 to 16. However, rates have not been revised for sectors B-17, C-15, C-16, D-13, D-17, B-17, D-17, G-13, G-14, G-15, G-16, F-14, F-15, F-16 and F-17. Islamabads rural areas were also not considered for revaluation. Quetta In Quetta city, 634 areas have been identified in the new valuation. The values are placed in three categories commercial plot, non-commercial and adjoining-street plot. The measurement unit used is per square foot. The most expensive residential plots are on Price Road, valued at Rs8,505,000 per marla, while the lowest per marla rate of Rs1,350 applies to the Killi Zafran area. Tussle bwtween Federal Sindh govt over Rangers ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The federal and Sindh governments were at loggerheads on Tuesday over the issue of Rangers special powers, with the centre rejecting the provinces summary restricting policing powers of the paramilitary force to Karachi. Informed sources in Islamabad told reporters that the centre wanted the extension of Rangers policing powers to the whole of Sindh an idea not acceptable to the provincial government. A source said the summary would be sent back to the Sindh government with an advice to prepare a fresh summary equipping the Rangers with policing powers for the entire province. But the Sindh government said Islamabad had not officially communicated its rejection of the summary. We have not sent the summary about special powers (of Rangers) to the federal government, but we have sent a letter to Islamabad informing it about the governments notification, said a spokesman for the CM House quoting Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. On Monday, the Sindh chief minister signed a summary extending Rangers policing powers in Karachi for another 90 days and their stay in the province for one more year. Talking to media men PPPs parliamentary leader in the Senate Saeed Ghani said Article 147 of the Constitution, under which Rangers had been called, was very clear. Under the law, he added, the provincial government was empowered to attach any condition for entrusting any of the functions falling under its executive authority. He recalled that a multi-party conference held with the prime minister in the chair had decided that the special policing powers of Rangers would be only for Karachi, when a decision about launching an operation in the city had been taken. He said the Sindh government could give powers to Rangers in line with the decisions taken at the multi-party conference as well as by the provincial assembly. Senator Ghani held the federal government responsible for the current state of confrontation over the issue and warned this attitude could sabotage the national consensus on the war on terror. He said the centre could not dictate its terms to the Sindh government because the chief minister was answerable to the provincial assembly and the people who elected it. Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister on Information Moula Bux Chandio accused the centre of making Rangers stay in Sindh controversial and warned that any confrontation over the issue would harm the centre as well. He regretted the threatening language being used by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who talked about other options in case a summary from the Sindh government was not received. We also have options, Mr Chandio said, but did not explain. Addressing a press conference on Monday, the interior minister said Rangers would stay in Sindh and hinted at exercising alternative legal options if the centre did not receive a requisition from the Sindh government. He had specifically mentioned Articles 148 and 149 of the Constitution. The Article 148 highlights obligations of the provinces and federation and its Article 148 (1) reads: The executive authority of every province shall be so exercised as to secure compliance with federal laws which apply to that province. Article 149 (1) states: The executive authority of every province shall be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice exercise of the executive authority of the federation, and the executive authority of the federation shall extend to the giving of such directions to a province as may appear to the federal government to be necessary for the purpose. The Article 149 (4) empowers the federal government to give directions to a province for the purpose of preventing any grave menace to the peace and tranquility or economic life in any part of the country. PPP senators and legislators slammed the interior ministers remarks and reports showing the federal government had rejected the Sindh governments summary. The reports quoting sources in the interior ministry said the Sindh government had violated the constitution by not according policing powers to Rangers in the whole province. They (federal government) have neither communicated us through correspondence nor we have got any response from telephone, said the CM House spokesman. Besides, he said the provincial government had also confirmed that the reports about rejecting the summary had not been officially released to the media. Now, it is hard to understand whether such reports are released officially, or we think it as media gossip, said the spokesman. The issue of extension in Rangers powers and their mandate to entire Sindh was first raised by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar on July 19, when he wrote to then chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, requesting him to extend the Rangers policing powers to the whole of province. The PPP government and party leadership deliberated upon the issue against the backdrop of a controversy involving Asad Kharal and a demand of the establishment seeking removal of then home minister Sohail Anwar Siyal. While Qaim Ali Shah lost his job in the process, Mr Siyal managed to be included in the new cabinet, though this time he would be heading the agriculture ministry instead of the powerful home ministry. Morocco never left Africa, even when it was no longer a member of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the Ambassador of the Royal Kingdom of Morocco to Ghana, Madam Nezha Alaoui Mhammdi, stated on the occasion of the commemoration of the 17th anniversary of the accession to the Throne of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The country is an African nation and will always be, and all of us Moroccans shall remain at the service of Africa. We shall be at the forefront of actions to preserve the dignity of African citizens and ensure respect for our Continent, the ambassador assured. By returning to the African family, the ambassador said Morocco sought to keep up its commitment to Africa and strengthen its involvement in all matters it feels strongly about. From within, Morocco will contribute to make the AU a more robust organisation; one that is both proud of its credibility and relieved of the trappings of an obsolete era. Madam Mhammdi stressed that the time of ideology was over and our people needed concrete and tangible actions. One can neither change geography, nor can one escape the burden of history. Morocco should not remain outside its African institutional family and should regain its natural and rightful place within the AU, she noted. She said cooperation, which is already intense with more than 40 African countries at the bilateral level, will be further expanded and revitalised. Moroccan know-how could, therefore be offered on an even broader scale and in a more streamlined framework. This is particularly true, she noted, regarding issues relating to security and the fight against terrorism. The Moroccan expertise, which was widely recognised at the international level and sought by many countries, including European states, would be leveraged to promote security and stability in all African countries, particularly those in West and Central Africa, Ambassador Mhammdi stated. The ambassador recalled the words of His Majesty King Hassan II in his message to the 20th OAU Summit on November 12, 1984 announcing Moroccos withdrawal. She said those words by the late king proved prophetic and the conclusion today was obvious, as Morocco had kept its promise. Three decades later, Africa has never been so much at the heart of Moroccos foreign policy and its international action as it is today, she pointed out. South-South cooperation Madam Mhammdi announced at the function, also known as The Feast of Throne, that the Kingdom had forged a unique, authentic and tangible south-south cooperation model which had made it possible not only to consolidate cooperation in the traditional areas of training and technical assistance, but also to engage in new, strategic sectors such as food security and infrastructural development. She said, This process will not be ending any time soon. And like it or not-- it is irreversible. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Credit: Charles Rondeau/public domain (Phys.org)A team of mathematicians met last week at Kyoto University in another attempt to understand a proof unveiled almost four years ago by Shinichi Mochizukione that he claims offers a proof of the ABC conjecture. If the proof turns out to be verifiable, most in the field believe it will be a truly historical event. The ABC conjecture involves expressions of the form a+b=c and connecting prime numbers that are factors of b with those that are factors of c. To the uninitiated, the problem might seem simple, but great minds have put in their best effort to come up with a solution to no availat least not until 2012 when Mochizuki posted a four-series proof on his website along with a claim that after a decade of work he had finally found the solution. Others in the field took notice because Mochizuki is well-known and respected in the math fieldfew believed he would post a proof of the conjecture if he did not believe he had solved it. The proof ran into problems right away, however, because Mochizuki had come up with a new type of math that allowed for creating such a proofand because he is a recluse, refusing to leave the safe confines of his place of work, Kyoto University. Things did not improve much late last year when a group of mathematicians met at Oxford to discuss the proof Mochizuki did not join them of course, which made the meeting very nearly moot. But now, at least according to some who have attended the latest meeting to discuss the proof at the Inter-universal Teichmuller Theory Summit at Kyoto University, some progress has been made. Mochizuki has been attending the conference, presenting his proof and answering questions. He has also reportedly become more cooperative and has been offering outlines and other forms of guidancepassages have even been highlighted that offer the most insight. Some attendees have also suggested that the new information gained has shown that effort to understand the proof will likely payoff someday. But not very soondespite the progress most at the conference apparently came away believing that it will take at least a few more years of work by many other mathematicians to understand the proof and then to either agree that it is valid or to reject it as another failed attempt. Explore further Meeting of math minds fails to clear up ABC conjecture proof 2016 Phys.org Credit: McGill University Search and rescue operations in Nunavut have more than doubled over the past decade. In the communities of the vast northern Canadian territory, it's commonly felt that climate change is one factor making hunting riskier in the spring and fall. A new study shows a strong link between environmental conditions and search and rescues cases across Nunavut, moving scientists closer to understanding the impact of climate change on Inuit. "Hunting and travelling on the land and sea are an essential component of food security and cultural identity for many in Nunavut. The effects of climate change threaten this way of life for the Inuit." says Dylan Clark, a member of the Climate Change Adaptation Research group headed by McGill geography professor Prof. James Ford. Tracked sales of gasoline To conduct the study, Clark, a Ph.D student used data from Canada's National Search and Rescue Secretariat for search operations in 2013 and 2014 in communities across Nunavut, along with weather records from Environment Canada. He also used gasoline sales in Nunavut communities to identify days when people may have gone out on ATVs, snowmobiles or boats. "We wanted to be able to say there were a lot of people out on this particular day and no one needed a search, but very few people were out on another day and the search was needed," Clark says. "Now, what were the weather conditions on each of those days?" Clark found that the risks peak around -3 C, confirming what he had been hearing from community members. "This study puts us one step closer to understanding climate change impacts on land safety," Clark says. "Hunters may want to take extra precautions when they go out on those days and search and rescue volunteers may want to ensure they're ready for a mission. Now that we know environmental conditions are linked to risk, we will need to look at the bigger picture to understand how social and environmental changes are interacting to impact risk". Explore further Support for local community programs key to climate change response in Arctic More information: The role of environmental factors in search and rescue incidents in Nunavut, Canada, by D.G. Clark, J.D. Ford, L. Berrang-Ford, T. Pearce, S. Kowal W.A. Gough in Public Health, The role of environmental factors in search and rescue incidents in Nunavut, Canada, by D.G. Clark, J.D. Ford, L. Berrang-Ford, T. Pearce, S. Kowal W.A. Gough in Public Health, DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2016.06.003 Credit: European Science Foundation Recently, a team of astrobiologists from the EU funded MASE (Mars Analogues for Space Exploration) project descended 1.1 kilometers below Earth's surface to the Mars-like environment of the Boulby Mine in the UK looking for answers about life on other planets. Six members of the MASE team headed to the mine on the North East coast of England to study ancient formations of honey-comb like hexagonal patterns that were formed 250 million years ago. Similar geological formations have been observed on Mars and the analysis of these rocks will help future space missions to better identify potential sites to look for biosignatures. Speaking about the recent investigation, MASE Scientific Coordinator Professor Charles Cockell from the UK Center for Astrobiology explains: "In Boulby the rocks were formed around 250 million years ago, in a giant inland sea. We think the polygonal shapes are connected to the expansion of salt when the sea periodically dried out, similar to the processes we see in places like Death Valley in California today. These features are similar to some environments we see on Mars. We suspect that the rims contain clay, iron and organics and we want to test the hypothesis that they contain signatures of life." The objective of the campaign to Boulby Mine was to collect solid samples to study their composition whilst at the same time testing different life-detection instruments that can be used to study salt deposits on Earth and elsewhere. The campaign was also part of the UK Centre for Astrobiology's MINAR (Mine Analog Research) work that seeks to advance science and technology for planetary exploration using the mine. The overall aim of MASE, a collaborative, four-year research project supported by the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7 - Grant Agreement n 607297), is to provide new insights into the adaptations of life to Mars-like conditions and the potential preservation of their biosignatures. The European Science Foundation (ESF) leads the co-ordination and dissemination strategy for MASE which is running from January 2014 to December 2017. Speaking about their involvement, ESF Chief Executive, Jean-Claude Worms said: "The European Science Foundation works closely with the MASE team, supervising the administrative and scientific progress of this unique project. ESF has a long track history in key European initiatives to advance research on life-detection in extraterrestrial environments. Through sampling of analogue sites, studying and stressing anaerobic organisms as well as mimicking the natural fossilisation processes, the MASE project addresses our current limitations in knowledge and will advance our ability to assess the habitability of Mars and detect life. " The MASE team is drafting the first scientific publications, which will be publicly available in Open Access format and widely disseminated through scientific databases. Explore further Scientists begin Mars exploration in a deep mine For certain products, branding really matters. If you're selling consumer goods such as coffee, clothing, or shampoo, standing out from the competition is one of the keys to survival. Then there are bulk agricultural goods. Take Washington State apples or Florida oranges, for example. Each grower's fruit gets mixed in with those of neighboring growers before shipping to market. The produce can't easily be identified as coming from, say, Farmer Brown, which means that Farmer Brown isn't as concerned as he might otherwise be about the quality of his fruit. Stanford GSB finance professor Timothy James McQuade calls these products without an individual brand "untraceable goods," and points out that the negative impact of such supplier anonymity can range from bruised apples to human tragedy. Dark tales lie behind some unbranded imports. In 2015, reporters from the Associated Press uncovered a human trafficking scandal in which thousands of poor workers were enslaved and forced to work on fishing boats in Southeast Asia. The fish they caught ended up in U.S. supermarkets and pet food factories. The reporting, which won a Pulitzer Prize, resulted in 2,000 slaves being freed. The fishing companies interviewed by the AP claimed it was difficult to police subcontractors. After an internal investigation, food giant Nestle admitted that its Thai seafood suppliers had abused workers, and said it would impose new requirements on its vendors. In a new study, McQuade and coauthors Stephan Salant of the University of Maryland and Jason Winfree of the University of Idaho delve into solving the quality problems that sometimes arise with untraceable goods, focusing in particular on China. Their solution: more governmental regulation by the countries where the suppliers are based. The U.S. buys a significant amount of untraceable goods from China. In 2008, imports from China accounted for 60% of the apple juice sold in the U.S., more than 50% of the garlic, and 10% of the shrimp, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). "Over the last decade," the researchers write, "Chinese firms have exported toys, drywall, infant formula, toothpaste, cold medicines, blood thinners, pet food ingredients, and other products laced with lead, antifreeze, and other poisons." Product recalls by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have affected as much as 10% of China's monthly toy exports to the U.S. and 20% of its furniture imports. The challenge is even greater for Chinese agricultural imports, because production is spread among millions of small farmers, says McQuade. China has some 400,000 food or feed manufacturers, of which only about 15,000 are registered, making them legally eligible to export, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Yet McQuade and his colleagues point out that more than one third of U.S. imports from China come from non-registered firms. "China doesn't seem to implement strict quality controls itself," McQuade explains. The result is inconsistent quality. "China accounts for a disproportionately large share of imports refused entry to the United States" by the FDA, McQuade and his colleagues write. In 2007, China accounted for 5.8% of all agricultural imports, but 8.6% of FDA refusals. What's the best way to encourage producers of these unbranded goods to improve the quality of their products? Previous research has suggested consolidating production among a smaller number of players. McQuade and his colleagues reject that solution, arguing that having fewer producers would lead to higher prices for consumers. The better option, they say, is government intervention, in the form of strong domestic regulations. China does have an FDA-equivalent, but it has been the focus of much controversy in recent years. In 2007, the government executed the former head of the State Food and Drug Administration, after authorities determined that he'd taken bribes in exchange for approving medicine that had not been tested. McQuade believes a stronger regulator in China "would increase the profits of all Chinese firms and increase the welfare of world consumers," because consumers would be getting better goods. The same theory applies to U.S. policy as well, the researchers contend. For years, the USDA has advocated stronger quality standards for a range of domestic produceFlorida oranges, Michigan cherries, and Texas grapefruit, to name a fewbut those efforts have been blocked by the antitrust arm of the Department of Justice, which argues that setting such standards would harm consumers by raising prices and limiting volume. But McQuade's research finds that imposing quality standards in just one jurisdiction is good for all consumers. Those who continue to buy from producers in regions where regulations are lax benefit because prices drop even though quality remains unchanged. And those who buy goods produced in areas with strong regulations might end up paying more, but they'll almost certainly see an improvement in quality. As the researchers put it, "Unilaterally imposed minimum quality standards always benefit consumers." Credit: National Institutes of Health There is new evidence that the "mother's curse" - the possibility that moms may transmit genes to their children that harm their sons but not their daughters - holds true in animals. Such a possibility arises because there are two independent parts of the genome in the eukaryote cells, which are found in plants and animals, and the two are locked in a "conflict-driven molecular arms race" that impacts human health and wellness. The lion's share of the genome is located in the cell nucleus. But there is also a much smaller secondary portion located in the mitochondria. According to the generally accepted theory, mitochondria were originally independent bacteria that developed an ability to tap highly toxic oxygen molecules as a powerful energy source. Eukaryotes lacked this capability, so some of them found a way to swallow the mitochondria's ancestor without digesting it - converting it into an "endosymbiont," an organism that lives within the body of another organism. Unlike the nuclear genome, which is built from a combination of father's and mother's genetic material, the mitochondrial genome is passed down exclusively from the mother. As a result, male offspring are an evolutionary dead end. While natural selection actively suppresses mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that weaken females, there is no direct mechanism for weeding out those that weaken males: a situation that leads to the mother's curse. While natural selection actively suppresses mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that weaken females, there is no direct mechanism for weeding out those that weaken males: the situation that makes the mother's curse possible. Now, a team of biologists from Vanderbilt University and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have discovered a mtDNA mutant in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster that substantiates the mother's curse hypothesis in animals: It reduces male offspring's fertility as they age but does not have any observable effect on female siblings. "In the 20 years since this possibility was recognized, a few mitochondrial mutants have been reported that have deleterious effects on male offspring," said Maulik Patel, assistant professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt who headed the study, "but none of them convincingly showed that the mutants did not have any negative effects on the females. Our study is the first to look comprehensively for possible effects of male-harming mtDNA mutants on females and we were fortunate to find one such mutant that has a negative impact on male offspring without having, as far as we can assess, any adverse effects on the female siblings." The discovery is described in an article published online Aug. 2 in the journal eLife. The "mothers curse" is one of the more bizarre consequences of natural selection. According to evolutionary theory, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA are locked in an unending competition. As one accumulates beneficial mutations, then the other is forced to adapt. This is known as the "Red Queen hypothesis." The name is derived from a statement made by the Red Queen in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass: "...it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place." In plants, which have much larger mitochondrial genomes that contain a larger number of genes, striking instances of male-harming mitochondria have already been discovered. The mitochondrial genome in animals is much smaller, however, making it much harder to detect similar male-harming mutations. The experiment that ultimately discovered the male-harming mtDNA mutant was something of a tour-de-force that took more than four years to complete. The scientists set up 18 independent lines of fruit flies, each consisting of 300 females and 100 males. In 12 of these lines virgin females were collected every generation and mated with males from the original stock. The researchers did this for 35 generations (about 70 weeks). In the remaining six lines the females were allowed to mate with the sibling males of their choice. Throughout this period the researchers were monitoring fitness of flies to determine whether males were getting harmed. "Ganesh Miriyala, Aimee Littleton and I spent a year and a half 'flipping flies' with no idea of whether we would end up with anything meaningful," said Patel. Miriyala and Littleton were research technicians at the Hutchinson Center. Fortunately, when they were done, the researchers found that a single-point mtDNA mutant had taken over one of the lines. This produced a single amino-acid change in the chemical structure of a subunit of an enzyme called cytochrome C oxidase. The researchers determined that the mutation causes the sperm production and sperm motility of the males to drop prematurely as they age, but it does not appear to have any other effects on males or females. "We weren't looking specifically for mutants that affect fertility," said Patel, "but, in retrospect, it makes sense. Mutants that affect males but not females must be affecting tissues that are different in males and females." Their findings are consistent with a hypothesis that has been advanced to explain an association between a human mtDNA mutant and reduced sperm motility: That mtDNA mutations may be a significant contributor to untreatable male subfertility, known to affect 7-10 percent of men. The researchers also discovered that the mutant enzyme was temperature sensitive. Turning up the temperature in their cages by four degrees Celsius caused the male carriers to become almost completely sterile. This allowed the scientists to perform an additional experiment to test a second prediction of the mother's curse hypothesis: that the nuclear genome should evolve mechanisms for restoring male fitness by suppressing the activity of male-harming mtDNA mutants. They mated females with the mutant mtDNA with males from a number of different fruit fly strains collected from a number of different locations around the world. Then they assayed the male offspring's fertility and were surprised to discover that the nuclear genomes from many of the strains were capable of completely restoring the males' fertility. "The strategy that we used in this study, combined with advances in methods for manipulating mitochondrial genomes, provides us with exciting new opportunities to explore the 'dark side' of one of the oldest and most important symbioses on the planet. We hope this will lead to ways to treat mitochondrial diseases, only a few which currently can be treated, and which are inherited by one newborn in every 200 and become manifest in about one adult out of 5,000," said Patel. Explore further Mothers curse linked to male infertility More information: Maulik R Patel et al. A mitochondrial DNA hypomorph of cytochrome oxidase specifically impairs male fertility in, eLife (2016). Journal information: eLife Maulik R Patel et al. A mitochondrial DNA hypomorph of cytochrome oxidase specifically impairs male fertility in,(2016). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.16923 The fossil of a 300-million-year-old primitive jawless fish -- a lamprey -- about 6 cm in length. The eyes are the two dark circles on the right-hand side and are so well-preserved the retina and lens can be seen in high magnification. Credit: Rober Sansom New research led by the University of Leicester has overturned a long-standing theory on how vertebrates evolved their eyes by identifying remarkable details of the retina in the eyes of 300 million year-old lamprey and hagfish fossils. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, led by Professor Sarah Gabbott from the University of Leicester Department of Geology, shows that fossil hagfish eyes were well-developed, indicating that the ancient animal could see, whereas their living counterparts are completely blind after millions of years of eye degeneration - a kind of reverse evolution. The researchers examined the eye tissue in two fossil jawless fish species - Mayomyzon (a lamprey) and Myxinikela (a hagfish) found in the Carboniferous age Mazon Creek fossil bed, Illinois. Using a high-powered scanning electron microscope to magnify the eye 5,000 times they could see that the fossil retina is composed of minute structures called melanosomes - the same structures that occur in human eyes and prevent stray light bouncing around in the eye allowing us to form a clear visual image. This is the first time that such details in fossil vertebrate eyes have been brought to bear on the tricky problem of how their eyes evolved. Professor Sarah Gabbott on fieldwork in Illinois digging for new fossil specimens. In her hand is a hard nodule formed 300 million years ago on a warm, shallow sea floor. Credit: Thomas Clements The eye is a complex structure and must have evolved through small step-by-step changes but these are not recorded in living animals and until now it was thought that these anatomical details could not be preserved in fossils. Professor Gabbott explains: "To date models of vertebrate eye evolution focus only on living animals and the blind and 'rudimentary' hagfish eye was held-up as critical evidence of an intermediate stage in eye evolution. Living hagfish eyes appeared to sit between the simple light sensitive eye 'spots' of non-vertebrates and the sophisticated camera-style eyes of lampreys and most other vertebrates." The details of the retina in the fossil hagfish indicates that it had a functional visual system, meaning that living hagfish eyes have been lost through millions of years of evolution, and these animals are not as primitively simple as we originally believed. As a result they are not the most appropriate model for understanding eye evolution. Professor Gabbott added: "Sight is perhaps our most cherished sense but its evolution in vertebrates is enigmatic and a cause celebre for creationists. We bring new fossil evidence to bear on an iconic evolutionary problem: the early evolution of the vertebrate eye. We will now scrutinize the eyes of other ancient vertebrate fossils to see if we can finally build a picture of the sequence of events that took place in early vertebrate eye evolution." The team also found the earliest evidence of skin pigment patterning in a fossil. She added: "This heralds the realistic possibility of inferring details of the ecology and behavior of our ancient ancestors. Animals today have stripes for many reasons from camouflage to sexual display- we now have the potential to understand behavior in long extinct vertebrates." Explore further Jawless fish brains more similar to ours than previously thought More information: Pigmented anatomy in Carboniferous cyclostomes, and the evolution of the vertebrate eye, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, rspb.royalsocietypublishing.or .1098/rspb.2016.1151 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B Pigmented anatomy in Carboniferous cyclostomes, and the evolution of the vertebrate eye, GLENS FALLS Werner Feibes sat quietly onstage while a handful of dignitaries stressed the impact his $11 million donation will have on The Hyde Collection and the region. But when asked about the art collection he and his late husband, James Schmitt, amassed over more than five decades, a boyish smile lights up his face. "I could talk about art all day," he said. The Schenectady-based architect bequeathed his 160-piece art collection valued at $10 million to The Hyde, an announcement the museum made publicly Wednesday at a ceremony attended by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, state Assemblyman Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, members of The Hyde board of trustees and the city Common Council, and art enthusiasts. Feibes also donated $1 million toward the creation of a modern art gallery in which to showcase the collection. "I didn't want it to end up in storage," Feibes said, explaining his decision to give his collection to The Hyde instead of some of the larger museums that have borrowed the pieces in the past, including the Guggenheim, the Whitney, the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Fine Arts and Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The impact Feibes and Schmitt's donation can have on the area was the crux of the event. "It's an investment in The Hyde's future, but it's an investment in the future of Glens Falls, because when one arts organization rises, we all rise," said Erin Coe, director of The Hyde Collection. The effect of the arts on the economy is significant, Stefanik said. The congresswoman recalled a conversation earlier in the day with a local restaurant owner who said many of his customers arrived wearing Hyde Collection stickers when the highly successful Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit, "Modern Nature," was displayed three years ago. "I see the tremendous economic impact visitors to The Hyde have," she said. "When arts organizations have success, it helps the broader community." Bill Belcher, The Hyde's director of external affairs, estimates the Feibes & Schmitt Gallery will attract an additional 5,000 to 8,000 visitors a year, 40 percent of whom will be from at least three hours away. On average, the museum has between 28,000 and 30,000 visitors a year (that number skyrocketed to 52,000 the year "Modern Nature" was exhibited). "It truly positions The Hyde as the visual arts institution in the Capital Region," Belcher said earlier this week. "It will be a hub for Old Masters, significant 19th century European and American art, and now, postwar modern art." The donation's impact, though, goes beyond fueling the local economy. "It's an exciting new development in the evolution of this extraordinary institution," Coe said. That evolution centers strongly on Coe's vision of making the museum accessible and relevant to the community. Under her leadership, The Hyde has further embraced technology, renovated its gift shop and lobby spaces, and extended its gallery space. Addressing the crowd Wednesday, Coe noted that museum founder Charlotte Pruyn Hyde's trust established the museum while looking to the future. "Her vision was not a fossilized institution that stays forever in time, but one that evolves," Coe said. "Today, we're on a brink of a new chapter in the history of the museum." The 1,500-square-foot Feibes & Schmitt Gallery will be built in what is now storage space adjacent to the Wood Gallery. The space was built in 2002-03 and designed by Glens Falls-based JMZ Architects and Planners so it could someday be converted into exhibition space. "I never thought all those years ago, over all those conversations I had with (former Hyde Director) Randy Suffolk in his office, I never thought I'd see the day it would happen, let alone be the one who would lead it," Coe said, choking up at the lectern. "This gift not only enhances our reputation," she said, "it expands our educational opportunities and impacts visitors' experience." Stec grew up in the area and vividly recalls school field trips made to The Hyde. "Not many communities our size have institutions like this," he said. "But I see great value. Most of us are caught up in the mechanics of life, but certainly the arts are the next level. They separate us from the animals, and that is life not the mechanics." As a parent in the community, he said he's grateful for the opportunity The Hyde having an even broader collection gives his son. The Hyde, said Karl E. Seitz, chairman of the museum's board of trustees, is one of the region's cultural landmarks. "It's something to be treasured, no less significant than Lake George or the Adirondacks in contributing to the economic vitality of the region," he said. As he thanked Feibes for his generosity, he said he hopes the gift inspires other to volunteer or donate when they can. "I enjoy the fact I can make a difference," Feibes said. "Let's not forget this transformation, this transformational gift, is about creating a legacy," Coe said. "From Charlotte creating the museum to Charles Wood, and now the torch is passed to Werner Feibes and the late James Schmitt and ensures the vitality of The Hyde to future generations as it is to us today." EASTON A 75-year-old man was killed Wednesday morning in a motor vehicle accident on Route 40 in Easton near the Rensselaer County line. The accident happened just after 9:30 a.m. The man was traveling south in a Ford Ranger truck when he attempted to make a left turn into Beecrofts sporting goods store, according to Trooper David Mosher. The man went into the path of a Nissan pickup truck heading north. The driver of the Ford truck was taken to St. Marys Hospital in Troy, where he was pronounced dead. His name is not being released pending notification of relatives. Alcohol or drugs were not factors in the crash. Mosher said the likely cause was driver inattention. The 60-year-old driver of the other vehicle and his 84-year-old passenger were transported to Albany Medical Center, according to Mosher. State Police were assisted at the scene by Easton/Greenwich EMS and Easton and Greenwich fire departments. Both vehicles were declared total losses. One lane of Route 40 was closed, with alternating traffic, while the scene was investigated and cleared. Both lanes reopened about 1:30 p.m. ICS is a UK-government funded development programme that brings together young people from around the world and equips them as volunteers to make an impact in communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America - a once in a life-time volunteering opportunity open to all 18-25 year-olds. The volunteers are helping 8 businesses in Kumasi for 12 weeks and are working in twos (one Ghanaian volunteer and one British volunteer) to analyse each business and then suggest new strategiesto be implemented. Through the programme, the businesses will gain access to opportunities for low-cost financing, trade partnerships and other forms of business support. One of the businesses receiving support through the programme is Kente Master. Founded in 2014, Kente Master is a fabric artisan company committed to promoting African culture through the sale of premium Kente graduation stoles to buyers across Ghana and around the world. In doing so, Kente Master hopes to raise incomes and economically empower the Ashanti weaving communities. Peter Paul Akanko, CEO of Kente Master, says he is very excited as the program promises to put his business on the right trajectory. Akanko is particularly grateful for the possibilities to expand into new markets and to gain financial support and business advice.If you are interested in receiving support for your business, visit Challenges Worldwide and ICS are now looking to recruit Ghanaian volunteers for the next 12 week cycle. It is a life-changing opportunity which increases the employability of volunteers, giving them international business experience, management training andtuition for a qualification from the Chartered Management Institute in London. Three Ghanaian ICS alumni have gone on to become Challenges Worldwide staff whilst many others have successfully started their own businesses. To apply, visit and Challenges Worldwide and ICS are working in Kumasi for the first time and collaborating with the Kumasi Hive, in Kentinkrono. The Kumasi Hive is an innovation hub for the rapid prototyping of ideas, the development of local innovations and the promotion of entrepreneurship through support for start-ups. It has a Makerspace equipped with cutting-edge technology (including 3D printers and a laser cutter) where entrepreneurs can prototype and develop new products. The Hive also has a start-up incubator and runs skills and training programmes on technology, product development, business and entrepreneurship. Visit GREL believes it is a lasting approach at addressing the current price impasse between the company and outgrowers; the companys second main suppliers. It will be recalled that Rubber Out growers in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region early this year took to the streets of Agona Nkwanta to demonstrate against GREL accusing them of shortchanging the farmers. According to the farmers, Rubber Out growers in neighboring Ivory Coast [whose price per kilogram is also determined by the Singaporean Market, same as Ghana] are paid higher prices for a kilogram of rubber than farmers in Ghana. They however threatened to sell their produce in Ivory Coast if price per kilogram was not increased. But in an interview with pulse.com.gh, the project director for the Rubber Outgrower Plantations project at GREL, Emmanuel Akwasi Owusu noted that the price of rubber on the international market like other commodities have gone down, and it has affected GREL as a company to the point we had to declare some workers redundant this year. By the agreement with our out growers, when the price of rubber decreases or increases on the world market, it affect [the Free On Board, FOB percentage] pricing of the commodity paid to the farmers. The situation is different in Ivory Coast where they have a fixed percentage rate. "To tell you the truth, when the price of rubber is good on the world market, we have Ivorians who also wants to sell to Ghana because Ghana will be paying attractive FOB. We have communicated this to our out growers but they will not take it. They think we are cheating them because of the price of a kilogram of rubber at Ivory Coast. Mr. Owusu bemoaned. Currently the price of rubber on the world market has taken a downward decline since 2013. It pledged to do so in late 2014, as part of the CHARGE (Collaborative for Harnessing Ambition and Resources for Girls Education) Initiative. The initiative is co-led by No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project and the Center on Universal Education at the Brookings Institution. This pledge also coincides with the UN Global Goals on ending poverty and fighting injustice and inequality by 2030. Camfed has surpassed the 2015 goal by more than 42 percent, totaling 389,793 girls supported to date under the commitment, it said in a statement. Camfeds growth and impact is being multiplied by CAMA, the organizations 55,358 member-strong alumnae network. In line with Camfeds goal to create a sustainable model of opportunity and community support, CAMA and community partners supported more than 60 per cent of these girls. The organisation invests in girls and women in the poorest rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa, it also helps them into new lives as entrepreneurs and community leaders. Graduating students of Camfed then become CAMA alumnae, many of whom return to school to train and mentor new generations of students. Since 1993, Camfeds innovative community-led education programs have benefited nearly four million children in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Tanzania and Malawi. CEO of Camfed, Lucy Lake said the organisation takes it role of female education seriously by putting our hearts and experience together for the service of girls and women. Weve seen that providing girls with the education and skills they need, empowering them to succeed, and to in turn support their communities creates astounding returns on investment. Camfed Ghana launched in 1998, working in the Northern Region, and is now operating in four regions and 31 districts. The bill among other things seeks to guarantee the independent of the central bank. This means the Bank of Ghana will not be subjected to controls in the performance of its functions by the government or any other person. In addition, the bill empowers the central bank to come to the aid of struggling microfinance institutions and other financial institutions. A Deputy Finance Minister who serves on the BoG board as government representative will no longer be there as a board member. However, Parliament refused to agree to the zero financing of government by the Bank of Ghana as required per Ghana's $918 million aid deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Finance Committee instead reduced the rate at which government could borrow from the central bank from 10 percent to 5 percent. The new bill could make it harder for Ghana to secure the third tranche of the aid package because IMF was insisting on Zero financing. The International Monetary Fund said in a document issued in December 2015 that Ghana should: "Submit to Parliament a revised Law that strengthens the functional autonomy of BoG (and) sets a zero limit on monetary financing to the government and public institutions." It is also believed that the move will stop the practice of government borrowing its idle funds at commercial banks to finance its budget at an interest. Finance Minister Seth Terkper revealed this at his presentation of the 2016 supplementary budget last week. Out of the number of accounts at the BoG, 3,160 were closed and 700 have been set up under the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS). Work is currently going on to streamline the remain+ing 1,640 at the BoG and those at the commercial banks. This, he said, Will prevent these funds remaining dormant or idle, while government borrows sometimes its own funds to finance the budget. This was after several failed attempts by management of the facility to get government to meet its budgetary obligation for more than three years. Speaking to Pulse.com.gh, Emmanuel Febiri, a nurse and member of the Public Affairs directorate at the hospital said that the facility has owed its suppliers since 2013. We are actually owing suppliers since 2013 to the tune of 4.1 million. So now, they have stopped supplying the hospital in terms of detergents, gloves, nothing at all to run the hospital. So basically the whole month of July, we have been depending on donations from corporate bodies and individuals, and now what they gave us, it can actually last till the end of the week, he explained. Telemedicine is the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients by means of telecommunications technology meaning patients and health care providers can be connected around the world digitally and health care can be delivered with the same level of dexterity as would a physical contact treatment. Family Health Hospital, one of Ghanas leading health care providers are the local partners for Apollo Hospitals and will make available their facilities and personnel for the practical health care delivery. Speaking at the launch of the innovative health care services at the premises of Family Health Hospitals in Teshie, Airtels Head of Corporate Communications, Richard Ahiagble said Access to healthcare is critical to productivity at all levels. Every year thousands of Ghanaians travel out of this country to seek health care overseas resulting in increased cost and reduced productivity. Telemedicine is a direct answer to this. Through this innovative partnership, Family Health and Apollo Hospitals will collaboratively provide quality health care delivery to meet the needs of all patrons in Ghana. The entire process starts with a simple call to Family Health hospital and is available to all Airtel customers as well as customers on other local networks. However, Airtel customers enjoy a whopping discount when accessing this facility. He continued At Airtel, we believe that technology must be fully harnessed to address the challenges that confront us. We have led the way in data and digital innovation to provide relevant solutions that address the lifestyle needs of our customers. We are powering this partnership with our Communication, Connectivity and Collaborative solutions to support the health needs of our customers and Ghanaians across the country. That is the power of the Internet of Things and we are excited to be leading the way in this. Through this service patrons can now have access to medical services from world class doctors and consultants in preventive and curative medical care. On his part, Professor Yao Kwawukume, President of Family Health Hospital and Medical School said Family Health Hospital, the Medical School and Nursing School is excited to be associated with this innovation which will enhance our teaching by exposing our students and doctors to what pertains in the frontiers of medical care. Family Health believes strongly in sharing and caring and in any knowledge which will strengthen and protect the family unit, the very structure of society is our focus. He added in education, our medical students, post graduate students and the nursing students would have complete access to this facility all day round and this would enhance the number of lecturers they will have. The telemedicine facility will also facilitate continuous medical education with our counterparts in other parts of the world so that our students would not feel disadvantaged. I am therefore happy to see many professors, lecturers, good friends and family coming to this launch. Secondly, the telemedicine facility allows patients and healthcare professionals the platform to seek second opinions in the health sector so that in cases of doubtful diagnosis we can discuss our problems with the rest of the world especially with our partner practitioners in the diaspora who have already shown a lot of interest in joining us to teach our medical students Dr. Alok Ranjan, Senior Consultant at Apollo Hospitals said, Apollo hospitals has partnered with hospitals in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mauritius, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait to provide telemedicine services and it is now the largest telemedicine provider in India with 71 centers. And, we are excited to partner with the Smartphone Network and the Family Health Hospital in Accra to bring global standard telemedicine services to residents of Ghana. Honourable Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman, Minister of Education who was the Special Guest of Honour commended the partners for launching the initiative. She said this initiative will shape the teaching and practice of medicine in Ghana and all the partners must be commended for conceiving and executing this innovation. I want to congratulate Dr. Kwawukume for his vision and how for hes brought the Family Health hospital. I also want to commend Airtel Ghana for their supporting this laudable initiative and for providing the technology that will power it. I know they have been involved in supporting education and health care facilities including their enormous support that led to the construction of infrastructure for the University of Cape Coast Medical School. The launch was chaired by Professor Ernest Aryeetey, immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana who praised the partners for expanding the frontiers of medical care and education. This partnership follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Airtel Africa signed with Apollo to expand the frontiers of medical services through the provision of telemedicine services on the continent. Family Health Hospital is one of Ghanas leading health care provider in preventive and curative services. Apollo Hospitals is an internationally acclaimed health care provider based in India. Michelle Obama has pulled yet another stunner with her outfit for the state dinner held in honour of the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee HsienLoong and his wife HoChing. The First lady glowed in an ivory column Brandon Maxwell gown custom-made by the former stylist of Lady Gaga for the black-tie event which also saw her big brother Craig Robinson and Steve Jobs' widow, Laurene Powell with her boyfriend, the former mayor of Washington, D.C., Adrian Fenty in attendance. Rev. Wengam called on the public to assist the council with information to crack the whip on officers who engage in this dubious act. He believes the council has an image to protect and will not allow its officers to drag it into the mud. Well in every human institution there are bad nuts and you always have people with that tendency, like we have read in the story, we have received complaints from the general public, the only disappointing aspect is that when you ask to provide evidence, they are scared, they give all kinds of excuses, of course this is wild allegations, some have been complaints from some ex-convicts, inmates themselves, I know in the past, the directorate has investigated some and those who were found culpable were punished READ MORE: The survey, which focused on the root causes of corruption in Ghana, also showed that majority of Ghanaians are forced to pay bribes in order to be given fair treatment from superiors and other officials. He believed the immediate passage of the Right to Information Bill was the only way forward in finding a solution to the menace. The crusade against corruption will actually go into high gear if we make information available we need to get that [the RTI bill]. If we get that, it will be easier for us even to question about how do they get money he said. Yaw Osafo Marfo, Former Minister of Finance contributing to the discussion during the IEA Roundtable discussion. Below are excerpts of the survey findings: READ ALSO:Montie FM Saga Dzifa Ativor visits Montie trio with goodies The three, Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, are serving a four-month jail term handed to them by the Supreme court for contempt. The duo, Alister Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn were threatened to kill justices of the supreme court on an Accra-based Montie FM. The chiefs who pleaded on their behalf stated that their action was in line with the period of reconciliation observed ahead of the annual Homowo festival of the people of Accra. But speaking on an Accra-based Class FM Sam Okudzeto said the chiefs to be neutral in their decision and should not allow themselves to be were swayed into the Montie FM saga. YOUR EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA FLAGSTAFF HOUSE ACCRAJOINT PETITION TO YOUR EXCELLENCY, JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, FOR THE EXERCISE OF YOUR PREROGATIVE OF MERCY UNDER ARTICLE 72 OF THE 1992 CONSTITUTION Humbly, the joint petition of Salifu Maase (alias Mugabe) (1st Petitioner), Godwin Ako Gunn (2nd Petitioner) and Alistair Tairo Nelson (3rd Petitioner) (collectively referred to as Petitioners) states as follows:We are citizens of the Republic of Ghana, who are now in Nsawam Prisons. We are in prison by reason of conviction by the Supreme Court for contempt of court in a judgment dated 27th July 2016.That 1st Petitioner was, prior to his conviction, the host of Pampaso a radio discussion Programme on Montie 100.1 fm (the Programme). 2nd and 3rd Petitioners were panelists on the Programme.That on 24th and 29th of June 2016, during the Programme, we made certain statements about the Honourable Chief Justice and some Justices of the Supreme Court which, after reflection, were most unfortunate and regrettable.We concede that the statements should not have been made at all, and, indeed, we never intended to harm anybody.As soon as we realized that we should not have made the statements, we, in subsequent broadcasts, expressed remorse and rendered unqualified apologies for our statements.We continue to express remorse and apology for the statements we made. As punishment, the owners of the radio station suspended 1st Petitioner as host of the Programme, and banned 2nd and 3rd Petitioners from appearing on the Programme.On 12th July, 2016, the Supreme Court summoned us to appear before it, together with the owners of the radio station, to show cause why we should not be committed to prison for contempt of court for:scandalizing the court;defying and lowering the authority of the court; and bringing the authority of the court into disrepute.We, the Petitioners, admitted our guilt and apologized for our conduct, and pleaded for mercy and forgiveness. We also pleaded for leniency.The court, however, convicted us and, despite our plea for leniency and obvious show of remorse, sentenced each of us to four (4) months imprisonment, together with a fine of GHc 10,000.00 each or in default a further term of 1 month.We have since paid the fines and are currently serving our prison terms at the Nsawam Medium Security prison.We admit that our statements were unguarded, but we plead that the sentence is harsh and excessive.We humbly reiterate that we never intended to harm anybody.1st Petitioner says that he is a practicing journalist, and that he unfortunately got carried away whilst hosting the Programme.2nd and 3rd Petitioners say that they made the unfortunate statements as panelists during a topical discussion on our electoral processes and related matters.We unreservedly apologized for our conduct before the court, and continue to do so.We humbly petition Your Excellency, the President of the Republic, to exercise your prerogative of mercy under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution. We are law-abiding citizens of this dear country of ours who were contributing to topical issues of the day, but, unfortunately, got carried away.We are first offenders.We expressed, and continue to express, remorse for our unguarded statements and humbly reiterate that in making those statements we never intended to harm any person.We have learnt our lessons and promise to be guided by this bitter and painful experience.In petitioning Your Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, to exercise your prerogative of mercy, we humbly ask you also to please take into consideration the fact that we have young families who have been embarrassed and devastated by our unfortunate conduct and our subsequent incarceration.Your humble Petitioners have been completely devastated by both the severity and harshness of the custodial sentences together with the fines.Your Excellency, Mr. President, we pray for mercy from you as the father of the nation.Wherefore your humble Petitioners pray that you, Your Excellency, may kindly exercise your prerogative of mercy under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, and grant relief to your humble Petitioners. Your humble Petitioners pray accordingly.1. SALIFU MAASE (alias MUGABE)2. GODWIN AKO GUNN3. . ALISTAIR TAIRO NELSON The alleged comments did not go down well with the ruling National Democratic Congress, with the party subsequently asking the police to investigate the legal practitioner. But in his response, Sam Okudzeto said his comments were misconstrued. "If they dont know the English language, they should come and I will teach them. I was educated there and I know the language. If I tell somebody that if you do this it is your own funeral, is that a threat? If they dont understand there are professors at Legon they should go and ask what the meaning of the word. If somebody says if you want to do this its your own funeral, it means the consequences is yours, not mine. Is that a threat? he asked. If they had called me...I would have taken the time to explain to them, Sam Okudzeto added. He, however, stressed that the president will be undermining the work of the judiciary if he gave in to the pressure mounting on him to grant the presidential pardon to the three Montie FM contemnors. READ ALSO: Dzifa Ativor visits Montie trio with goodies The petition book was opened by pro-government group Research and Advocacy Platform (RAP) to collect signatures of Ghanaians to implore the president to free the three contemnors. The three were sentenced to four months in prison by the Supreme Court following contempt proceedings against them. Im also amazed that the lawyers were asking all of them to say that we are guilty. We are not guilty of anything because the process is wrong in the first place. The process is completely wrong, he told TV Gold in an interview. READ ALSO: Dzifa Ativor visits Montie trio with goodies Woyome believed the Attorney General should have acted as it has always done in many matters including his [Woyome] own case. The AG should have done something and I agree with Justice Sophia that the AG should have acted, I agree with that aspect. Because this also gave them the chance, I mean if I am the one and you bring the person to me I will be so angry and I can make a mistake. Im saying that the Supreme Court has erred in this ruling, they have erred and erred bitterly. The only solution to put everything back is for us all to be happy in this country and the Supreme Court also to be happy is for the President to exercise his right under Article 72, I dont think it is going to hurt anybody. "If people are on radio and on TV being partisan, Im not part of that. The issue is that all these lawyers of this country and judges know that the process is wrong and that the Supreme Court has erred. That is why I am here to try to gently tell my president that he should reflect, it is not a force, the people who are expressing their sentiments, some could be emotional, some could be saying anything but I think that for the good of this country, Article 72 must be invoked to serve as precedent. It checks everything," he said. The petition book was opened by pro-government group Research and Advocacy Platform (RAP) to collect signatures of Ghanaians to implore the president to free the three contemnors. The three were sentenced to four months in prison by the Supreme Court following contempt proceedings against them. The National Secretary of the party said though they do not know the truth or otherwise, of the allegation, the Electoral Commission must investigate the matter. Dr Bawumia is being accused of enticing two workers of the Electoral Commission with a total sum of GHC10,000 in order to verify his voter registration status in the comfort of his home. The two workers of the Electoral Commission are believed to have broken the law, and Dr Bawumia accused of bribery. Two EC officials were sacked after the incident. Though the NPP has vehemently denied this allegation the EC has maintained the two sacked officials flouted the rule. General Secretary of the NDC Asiedu Nketiah said the law must be no respecter of persons. "We will push for the laws of election to be applied to everyone without fear or favour. We are leaving the Electoral Commission to do their investigation and then whatever will come out of the investigation we will pursue it." Asiedu Nketiah said if the findings prove the allegation is true, the Dr Bawumia would have to explain his intent for doing that. Addressing a press conference Wednesday in Accra, the General Secretary of the NDC accused the NPP of publicly dissociating themselves from decisions they contribute to in private. "We have observed that the NPP will first participate actively in all engagements to seek consensus together with all other parties and stakeholders, commit their authorised signatures to all the agreements reached and yet come out publicly not only to dissociate themselves from but actually attack these decisions and putting the blame on other innocent stakeholders, " Asiedu Nketiah said. These comments come on the back of the NPP's decision to kick against the electronic transmission of the results of the Presidential elections. Even though the EC had responded earlier and accused the NPP of malice, Nketiah revealed that it was actually the NPP that proposed the idea of E-transmission of results. "What the EC did not disclose is that the whole idea of e-transmission of results was a proposal from none other than the NPP which was exhaustively debated and accepted by the committee before approval by IPAC and finally accepted by the Electoral Commission." According to Asiedu Nketiah, the NPP in a proposal presented to the EC which was signed by the then Chairman of the party, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey said: "the Commission may adopt the use of satellite transmission of results to the National Tallying Center pending the receipt of pink sheets from the regions." Asiedu Nketiah also quizzed Mac Manus claim that he wasnt satisfied with answers he got to his questions. When we issued the communique, it was signed by everybody. Where were the questions he claims were unanswered and why did he [Mac Manu] sign when his questions had not been answered? He encouraged the NPP to stick to their words instead of continuously going back on their words. The primary became necessary after the party's parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Anthony Osei Gyimah resigned. Even though he cited personal reasons in his letter to the regional executives, he later blamed the leadership of the party for his resignation. Ghanas High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland first contested the Abuakwa North seat in 2012 and lost to the late JB Adu Danquah by 6,000 votes. Victor Smith has savaged the late MP and the New Patriotic Party for doing little for the constituency. He expressed optimism of winning the seat for the NDC, saying he has 60 to 70 percent chance of emerging as the winner. I can tell that I think have a 60 to 70percent chance of winning that set as of today but I can tell you that as time goes on, the people of Abuakwa North will give me the mandate because of what I have done for that constituency in the last five years. The President made this known in a tweet after he visited his hometown Bole in the Northern Region to ensure he can vote in the upcoming general elections. President Mahama in his tweet encouraged registered voters to verify their details as well. He tweeted I was at my polling station in Bole yesterday to check my name in the voter's register. Have you checked yours? Meanwhile, President Mahamas main contender Nana Akuffo Addo was also at the Rock of Ages B Exhibition Centre in the Akyem Abuakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region, to check his details on the register. 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! Speaking at a briefing, CEO of Gaurapad Charities and chairman organising committee, Bolaji Rosiji said the goal of the festival is to "celebrate cultural unity and diversity for national and global peace vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family). The Festival of India, with the Ratha Yatra (chariot) Festival as its central spectacle, has an inestimable impact on the minds and hearts of literally countless casual visitors and active participants in major cities worldwide. The Ratha Yatra (chariot) Festival originated in the holy city of Puri, India, and has been celebrated for thousands of years. It is a grand culmination of a series of celebrations spread over the summer and the monsoon month and is the most splendid of them all." Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! The Kenyan Star reports that Mbaithe flew into a serious rage during an argument with Githuka and picked up a knife with which she stabbed him several times in the chest after he returned home in the early hours of Saturday, July 30, in their apartment in Tinganga village, Kiambu town. The victim's mother, Elizabeth Wanjiku, while narrating how the incident happened to Star reporters, said he worked at a neighbouring school and usually returned at about 10pm and that the couple had been married for five years with a four-year-old child. "My son and I live in the same compound. I heard confrontation from my house past midnight. I got out of bed and went to my son's apartment where I found him arguing with his wife. She was accusing him of coming home late and drunk but David stood his ground, saying he was the head of the house who should not have been confronted over the matter. I did not know that Mbaithe had a knife since she folded her arms during the argument. It was not a physical confrontation but my son's wife suddenly attacked and stabbed him in the chest with a knife." "After my son was stabbed I called for help from neighbours but upon reaching hospital, he was pronounced dead due to loss of blood. Ashitey, who is popularly known as Zaga, was arrested by residents of Tema Newtown after his attempt to kill Norteye failed on Sunday, July, 31, Adom Online reports. In a police report, the victim who had gone for a party in the area, decided to spend the night in his close friend's room, not knowing that the man he thought was his friend, had other plans for him and that was to kill him for rituals. In the police statement, it was gathered that at 4am, Ashitey decided to carry out his plans by using a sharp knife to slit the throat of Norteye but the victim woke up and began struggling with the suspect, resulting in multiple cuts in his palm and abdomen. But luck was on his side as he was able to escape with the knife and was rushed to his aunts house where he was taken to the Tema Newtown Police Station to lodge an official complaint, before being taken to the Tema General Hospital for treatment. The statement reads: Fellow Nigerians, in a desperate attempt, corrupt Speaker Dogara and the 3 others have opened a register for a vote of confidence signature. The register is opened at his Asokoro guest house located at Wilbeford Juta crescent. Hon members are given $25,000 to sign. This disgraceful act is coordinated by Hon Zakari Mohammed, Hon Jagaba Adams Jagaba and DCOS to Mr Speaker Hon CID Maduabum. My stand is that the corrupt Speaker Dogara, Lasun, Doguwa and Ogor must listen to Nigerians, reconvene the house immediately and step aside. Investigation by anti-graft agencies is already on and I pledge to support the investigation and prosecution of these corrupt public officers. I am also obliged to respond to some allegations that I am sponsored by some external forces to destabilize the House of Representatives. The worthless and laughable allegation is orchestrated by Speaker Dogara and his gang of thieves to discredit my unstoppable mission. No external forces in this matter, if there are any, they deserve commendation for sponsoring a struggle to wipe out corruption in the House. In any case, are the external forces responsible for the massive theft and abuse of office by Speaker Dogara and the 12 other members? He will soon resort to religious blackmail forgetting I was the one, Muslim from northwest that spearhead & mobilize resources for his election. I had a very good meeting with my party APC yesterday. I thank the party for their objectivity & I will continue to cooperate with the party. But I stand by my allegations against Speaker Dogara and his corrupt gang of 12. We shall continue this struggle. There is no going back!!! The judge remanded Agbele till Thursday, August 4, when he will rule on his bail application. The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Agbele today, August 3, on 11 counts of money laundering involving the sum of N1,219,000,000 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Nineteen Million Naira). The money is believed to be part of N4,685,723,000 (Four Billion, Six Hundred and Eighty-five Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty-three Thousand Naira) allegedly transferred unlawfully from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser. Others suspects arraigned alongside Agbele were a former minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Lt. A. O Adewale and Olalekan Ogunseye - all are said to be on the run. Three companies - Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited and Spotless Investment Limited, were also arraigned with the accused. Counsel to the accused person, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) urged the court to grant Agbele bail on self-recognition, adding that the accused person had earlier been granted administrative bail by the EFCC. ALSO READ: How Fayose allegedly moved funds from Zenith to other banks But the prosecuting counsel, Johnson Ojogbane, asked the court to remand the accused in prison throughout the trial period, adding that the judge should rather grant an order of accelerated hearing. The Adamawa State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Ghazzali, has also been criticised by indigenes of the community over his handling of the matter. The Adamawa police boss explained why he did not deploy policemen to Kodomun saying My men were on the ground. We would not risk our men to be there just to give security to one side so that the other side will not think we have taken side with one side. There are two different people involved in these clashes: the herdsmen and the farmers. And we have to be very careful in handling such type of communal clashes. Expressing his displeasure, the traditional ruler of the area, the Hama Bata, His Royal Highness Alhamdu Teneke, said A lot of people have been killed. Today they would go and see for themselves the corpses of those slain in the attacks some of which they would find in the town and those yet to be brought in lying in the bush. According to a statement posted on AUs website on Tuesday, August 2, Jonathan will be leading members of the short term mission to join the continental bodys deployment of long term election experts who are already on ground in Zambia. The statement reads: The Chairperson of the AUC has approved the deployment of African Union Elections Observation Mission, AUEOM, to the General Election scheduled to take place in the Republic of Zambia on October 11, 2016. The deployment of the AUEOM will take place in two phases. The first phase comprised the deployment of long term election experts and took place from July 14 to August 22, 2016 and is made up of 10 observers. For the first time, the AU long term experts include election/ legal political/media/campaign analysts. The objective is to ensure that the AUEOM approaches its work with added professionalism and factual analysis of the legal, political, electoral, media and campaign aspects of the electoral process in Zambia. At the second phase of the Mission, the long term experts will be joined by Short Term observers from the August 1 to 15, 2016. The Short Term Mission will be headed by Goodluck Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The AUEOM draws its mandate from various African Union instruments, most importantly: (a) the AU Guidelines for Elections Observation and Monitoring Missions, 2002; (b) the OUA/AU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, 2002; African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, 1981, and (c) African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, 200), among others. The objectives of the Mission is; (a) to provide an accurate and impartial reporting or assessment of the quality of the 25th October General Elections in the United Republic of Tanzania, including the degree to which the conduct of the elections meets regional, continental and international standards for democratic elections; (b) to offer recommendations for improvement of future elections based on the findings; and, and (c) to demonstrate AUs interest to support Tanzanias elections and democratisation process to ensure that the conduct of genuine elections contributes to the consolidation of democratic governance, peace and stability in Tanzania in particular and the East African sub-region in general. ALSO READ: I am not on exile Jonathan debunks report Speaking to journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on the purpose of his visit to the President, Jonathan said he mostly visited Buhari at night as he has become a state property. You asked why I came to see the president today; one key thing is that having been a head of government, a former president, you become a state property, he said. Thats the privilege you have but every privilege has its corresponding responsibility, and once you become a state property, most of your international engagements that have to do with public addresses and some international assignments, they become national assignments; you brief the President. Even when I was here, the former presidents used to do that and see me. I have been coming; most times I come in the night; thats why you dont see me. I came to brief the president about some of my engagements. As you are aware, I will leading the AU elections monitoring team to Zambia, I came to brief the president about some of these external engagements. It is the tradition," the former president said. On the Niger Delta crisis, Jonathan said to find lasting solutions to the pipeline bombings, all the stakeholders in the Ijaw ethnic nationality - traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders, must be involved. We have been in touch to see that peace reigns in the country; those of you that have followed my talks when I was here, my emphasis was always that we need a united Nigeria and I always emphasise that Nigeria is great not just about the oil. So many countries produce more oil than Nigeria but nobody notices them. We are great because of our size, the human resources we have, the diversity we have. If we fragmentise the country into small components, we will be forgotten by the world. That has been my focal position and without peace there cannot be development anywhere in the world; we are all working collectively to see that issues are resolved, he said. ALSO READ: Jonathan denies buying 15M UK property IPOB also expressed its support for the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) who it described as freedom fighters. The group made the comment via a statement released by its spokespersons, Emma Nmezu, and Clifford Iroanya on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. The statement reads: It is understandable that MEND and the federal government are scavenging for relevance from their moribund status but they should not use the sacred name of IPOB or its leader as a means of survival. MEND and the federal government can conveniently carry out their operation without dragging the name of IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu into that shenanigan, as we are not interested in their devilish acts. IPOB and their leader Mazi Kanu are in full support of any group of dedicated and hardcore freedom fighters such as the Niger Delta Avengers [NDA], as we share the same aspiration which is the liberation of our people. We have stated unequivocally and without any fear of contradiction that we are fully in support of the NDA as they embark on freeing themselves from the British criminality called Nigeria, a contraption led by a man that committed treason on December 31, 1983. What MEND and federal government must know is that Biafra is a spirit because Nnamdi Kanu, by the grace of God, brought spirituality into the agitation for Biafra independence. The fact that many people claiming to be fighting for the interest of the people have sold out in the past or that the so called elites engaged in the mortgaging of their soul to the devil does not mean the emergence of clean, conscientious and patriotic Biafrans is no longer possible. A lot of people thought the agitation for Biafra was dead before the emergence of Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB, one thing remains certain things can never be the same after this. We assert that IPOB is not in the business of betrayal and we would die rather than renounce Biafra. The restoration of the nation of Biafra is not subject to negotiation, if there should be any form of negotiation at all, it must be centred on asset sharing between Nigeria and Biafra and on the payment of reparations for money stolen from Biafrans by Nigeria through the 1970 twenty pounds deal and other subsequent acts of thievery by Nigeria against Biafrans. We want to make it categorically clear that MEND and the federal government are strictly on their own and do not in any way, shape or form represents IPOB or the leader of IPOB, Mazi Kanu, when we say Biafra or Death, and we meant every syllable of that phrase. Again, we reiterate that Nnamdi Kanu is not Ralph Uwazuruike and IPOB is not MASSOB. Therefore, anybody thinking that our leader will renounce Biafra is certifiably mad. For both IPOB and their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, it is either we get Biafra or we die getting Biafra. There is no middle ground. ALSO READ: IPOB says its mandate is from God The kano state lawmaker who was invited by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 accused Dogara and three other lawmakers of opening a Vote of Confidence Register at the speaker's guest house in Asokoro. According to him, lawmakers were been offered $25,000 to sign the register. "In a desperate attempt, corrupt Speaker Dogara and the 3 others have opened a register for a vote of confidence signature", he said. "The register is opened at his Asokoro guest house located at Wilbeford Juta Crescent. Hon members are giving $25,000 to sign "This disgraceful act is coordinated by Hon Zakari Mohammed, Hon and deputy chief of staff to the speaker, Hon The lawmaker dismissed allegations that he was being sponsored by external forces to destabilize the House. "I'm also obliged to respond to some allegations that I am sponsored by some external forces to destabilize the House of Representatives. The worthless and laughable allegation is orchestrated by Speaker Dogara and his gang of thieves to discredit my unstoppable mission. "No external forces in this matter, if there are any, they deserve commendation for sponsoring a struggle to wipe out corruption in the House. "He will soon resort to religious blackmail forgetting I was the one, Muslim from northwest that spearhead & mobilize resources for his election." Speaking in Abuja when he hosted the Deputy Chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Shehu Sani, the elder statesman said he was chosen because of his reputation. What happened was the accident of history," he said. When you have lost your leadership and there was crisis and you dont know what to do and it happened that those within your constituency chose you, what would you do? I was lucky enough within the military at that time and all the officers knew me by reputation had no intention to become head of state but it is the opportunity, if opportunity presents itself and people ask you to do it then do it. What I have achieved is (because of) God. I had never thought of becoming head of state but there was a coup and all my senior colleagues were killed and I was the only one that survived. My plan was to rise in my profession and hopefully become a head in my profession but that did not happen. I didnt know what happened but I had the duty and responsibility to ensure the coup in Lagos did not succeed, Gowon recalled. He urged Nigerian youths to position themselves for opportunities, saying they should prepare themselves academically and morally. ------------------------------------------------- The actor popular for his role in TV Series, Ultimate Paradise died on Monday, August 1, 2016 at the KorleBu Teaching Hospital according to Starr FM 103.5FM Ghana. The radio station said a close relative of the actor confirmed this. Williams fondly called Uncle George was known for his contribution and influence in the Ghanaian movie industry. Before his death, he was a teacher at the Accra Film School. Williams was also a broadcaster who had previously worked with the British Broadcasting Corporation, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service, and the Liberian Advertising Service. He acted in several films and TV series including Mama, Genesis Chapter X, Bloody Kids and "My Sister's Honour". Fans of the actor took to Twitter to mourn his demise. Guests were treated to the best of music, comedy, fun, and culture exhibition. Super-star musicians including 9ice, Sexy Steel, 2sec among others performed live on stage. Comedians like Julius Agwu, Mc Bonus, Pencil among others were also at the event, host for the night was the energetic hype man Jimmie with his partner in crime Ehiz. Nigeria two hottest Djs; Dj Spinall and Dj Neptune were on the wheels of steel dropping crazy mixes to keep the crowd entertained and turnt. The Bayelsa APC made the accusation via a statement released by Publicity Secretary, Fortune Panebi. The statement reads: Our attention was today(yesterday) drawn to a mischievous and loose statement credited to the Bayelsa state Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, apparently in clear exhibition of arrogance and shallowness that APC leaders from Bayelsa state were yet to attract development to the state. From the statement, it was clear that the governor was either being misled by his own imagination or was merely expressing another misguided view of our party, the APC. In our view, the statement was reckless even as it was a shameless show of brazen arrogance by a man whose party, the PDP had an ample opportunity to develop Bayelsa state that looked the other way. Does it not show much of political liability that while Jonathan, a son of Bayelsa state held sway for six years, the state is yet to take off on? What template of development did the former president lay before he was voted out of office? For us in the APC and indeed the generality of Bayelsans, both Jonathan and his party, the PDP were liabilities than they were assets to the people of the state, they underdeveloped Bayelsa state. May we use this medium to remind Governor Dickson that rather than chasing shadows and engaging in blackmail, he should consider the plight of Bayelsa workers and pay their salaries, the level of hunger, despair and insecurity occasioned by poverty we thought, could be of paramount interest to him. It is a shame that despite the God given opportunity, Jonathan and his party decided to impoverish the people of Bayelsa state just as Governor Dickson, like an emperor, has taken solace in a conquest-like squeeze of the people. Ortega, a 70-year-old former guerrilla leader, made the announcement as he registered his own candidacy for re-election. He has previously described the "joint government" with Rosario Murillo as a symbol of equality between the sexes. "We don't doubt that (the vice presidential candidate) had to be a woman, and who better than the partner who has already been tested with work and proved to be very efficient and disciplined?" said Ortega, cheered by dozens of supporters. Murillo previously served as the government's chief spokeswoman. The Nov. 6 vote will also elect Nicaragua's 90-member national assembly. The opposition Independent Liberal Party and Constitutionalist Liberal Party are also running, although a poll published last week put Ortega's support at 65 percent and his opponents trailing far behind. Ortega first ruled the Central American country in the 1980s and returned to power as head of the leftist Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) party in 2007. Anti-terrorism unit officers detained the unemployed 23-year-old on charges of supporting international terrorism, though there was no indication he was planning any attacks in Italy, the force added. He was suspected of wanting to join the Nusra Front, a Syrian Islamist rebel group which emerged at the start of Syria's civil war. It re-branded itself last week as Jab hat Fat al-Sham and cut ties with international jihads network al Qaeda. Police said they were investigating the arrested man's relationship with other foreigners in the Genoa area to determine whether they were trying to recruit fighters. The man's brother and three Libyans were among those being investigated, and several mosques or Islamic cultural centres in Genoa and the city of Rapallo about 28 kilometres (17.4 miles) away had been searched, police sources said. Lighting the way to McAfee Pass a waning moon led 21 locals the 10.7 miles that climb almost 3,000 feet to the top of the Silver Peak Range on their way from Fish Lake Valley to the Old School Saloon terminus 34 miles away in Silver Peak for the 22nd annual Silver Peak or Bust hike. Whether it was the noisy engine room in the belly of the Motor Vessel Mississippi or the cal BLUE GRASS Blue Grass residents voted 263-42 Tuesday to sell the citys water system to Iowa American Water. Of the 1,126 registered voters in the city, 305 voters cast ballots. Mayor Tim Brandenburg has said that aldermen decided to let the voters determine what was to be done with the citys obsolete water system, which would cost $6 million to $8 million to upgrade. We have healthy water, Brandenburg said Tuesday night. Its just the necessity of having the proper pipes and stuff installed to get it to our residents. He said Blue Grass has about 1,600 residents. The upgrades include laying water pipe that is of a greater diameter to meet the citys increasing water needs. The water tower, built in the 1950s or early 1960s also needs to be upgraded or a second water tower needs to be built. Without raising taxes and fees, Brandenburg said, We dont have the revenues to make happen what needs to happen. Iowa American Water offered to buy the citys water infrastructure for $1.3 million. We are extremely appreciative of the overwhelming support and vote of confidence we received from Blue Grass voters this evening, Iowa American spokeswoman Lisa Reisen said Tuesday night. The sale of the Blue Grass water system to Iowa American Water is truly a win-win for the community and its residents as well as our company, she added. We are ready to partner with Blue Grass to improve their water system infrastructure and water quality in the future and help them grow their community." A preliminary hearing was postponed Tuesday for a Rock Island man charged in the shooting death of 15-year-old Jescie J. Armstrong in late April. Trey B. Gustafson, 19, dressed in yellow jail garb, appeared at the Rock Island County Justice Center with his attorney, Herb Schultz, who asked for the postponement. He will be back in court Aug. 16. Gustafson, who was arrested July 13, is charged with one count of first-degree murder. His co-defendants, Kire G. Carr, 18, and Chelsea M. Raker, 21, also are charged in Armstrongs death. Rock Island County State's Attorney John McGehee has said Armstrong was killed while Gustafson, Carr and Raker were committing an armed robbery. He has declined to comment on the specific role each played in the teenager's death. However, several applications for search warrants filed in Carr's case have revealed new details surrounding the fatal shooting on April 27. According to the search warrants: Just before 2 p.m., Rock Island police responded to a home in the 500 block of 20th Avenue for a report of a shooting. Inside, officers found Armstrong bleeding from the head and lying on the ground in the kitchen. They also found two 9mm Luger shell casings one in the dining room and one on a kitchen shelf near the refrigerator and suspected marijuana and a scale on the dining room floor. Officers later located Gustafson, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the buttocks, at 29th Street and 6th Avenue in Rock Island. Gustafson told police that he was at the home at the time of the shooting and that Carr had pointed a gun at Armstrong. Gustafson said Carr and Armstrong struggled with the gun prior to him being shot in the buttocks. Gustafson said he and Carr then left the area with a female in a smaller, black car. Officers later spoke with Armstrongs brother, who was present when Armstrong was shot. He told police that he and Armstrong had called and texted with someone Armstrong referred to as Trey to set up a cannabis deal. Carr was arrested the following day at an apartment in the 5400 block Floral Circle South in Columbus, Ohio, by the U.S. Marshals Service. During his arrest, a Ruger 9mm Luger handgun was found in plain view inside the apartment. The gun was seized along with a magazine and multiple rounds. Marshals seized other items from the apartment, including a Sig Sauer P250 9mm handgun with one magazine loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, a spent shell casing that was jammed inside the gun, and an empty box of 9mm ammunition. Marshals also found a gray 2015 Ford Fiesta with a Florida license plate that was registered to Raker. Among evidence discovered inside the car, police found a hooded sweatshirt with "possible blood stains," juvenile paperwork belonging to Carr and a purse with 9mm cartridges. Carr is charged with four counts of first-degree murder. He has a pretrial conference Sept. 30. McGehee has said it is alleged that Raker was in Columbus with Carr after the shooting, but was not present when he was arrested. She was arrested May 28 in Chatham County, Georgia. Raker, who was arrested in late May, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. She also is charged with aiding a fugitive to flee. She has a pretrial conference Friday. WASHINGTON Two Rock Island men are among 214 federal inmates who had their sentences cut short Wednesday by President Barack Obama in what the White House called the largest batch of commutations on a single day in more than a century. Alphonso P. Rubalcava, 59, was sentenced to life in prison on July 19, 2002, in U.S. District Court, Rock Island, on a charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The sentence was amended to 327 months in June 2007. Kelvin Jerome Shears Jr., 30, was sentenced to 235 months in prison in April 23, 2007, in U.S District Court, Davenport, on a charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. Rubalcava's and Shears sentences now will expire Dec. 1. Almost all of the 214 prisoners were serving time for nonviolent crimes related to cocaine, methamphetamine or other drugs, although a few were charged with firearms violations related to their drug activities. Almost all are men, although they represent a diverse cross-section of America geographically. Obama's push to lessen the burden on nonviolent drug offenders reflects his long-stated view that the U.S. needs to remedy the consequences of decades of onerous sentencing requirements that put tens of thousands behind bars for too long. Obama has used the aggressive pace of his commutations to increase pressure on Congress to pass a broader fix and to call more attention to the issue. All told, Obama has commuted 562 sentences during his presidency more than the past nine presidents combined, the White House said. Almost 200 of those were serving life sentences. "All of the individuals receiving commutation today incarcerated under outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws embody the president's belief that 'America is a nation of second chances,'" White House counsel Neil Eggleston wrote in a blog post. Eggleston said Obama examines each clemency application on its specific merits to identify the appropriate relief, including whether the prisoner would be helped by additional drug treatment, educational programming or counseling. He called on Congress to pass a criminal justice overhaul to bring about "lasting change to the federal system." Presidents tend to use their powers to commute sentences or issue pardons more frequently at the end of their presidencies, and Obama administration officials said the rapid pace would continue during Obama's final months. "We are not done yet," Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates said. "We expect that many more men and women will be given a second chance through the clemency initiative." Most of those receiving commutations Wednesday will be released Dec. 1. Although there's broad bipartisan support for a criminal justice overhaul, what had looked like a promising legislative opportunity for Obama's final year has mostly fizzled. As with Obama's other priorities, the intensely political climate of the presidential election year has confounded efforts by Republicans and Democrats in Congress to find consensus. Obama has long called for phasing out strict sentences for drug offenses, arguing they lead to excessive punishment and incarceration rates unseen in other developed countries. With Obama's support, the Justice Department in recent years has directed prosecutors to rein in the use of harsh mandatory minimums. The Obama administration also has expanded criteria for inmates applying for clemency, prioritizing nonviolent offenders who have behaved well in prison, aren't closely tied to gangs and would have received shorter sentences if they had been convicted a few years later. Civil liberties groups praised that policy change but have pushed the Obama administration to grant commutations at a faster pace. The Clemency Resource Center, part of NYU School of Law, said more than 11,000 petitions are pending at the Justice Department and that the group thinks 1,500 of them meet the administration's criteria to be granted. But the calls for greater clemency have sometimes sparked accusations from Obama's opponents that he's too soft on crime, an argument that is particularly resonant this year as presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton trade claims about who is best positioned to keep the country safe. "Many people will use words today like leniency and mercy," said Kevin Ring of the group Families Against Mandatory Minimums. "But what really happened is that a group of fellow citizens finally got the punishment they deserved. Not less, but at long last, not more." CEDAR RAPIDS Presumptive Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein has accomplished something Hillary Clinton hasnt. Shes filed the paperwork to be on the general election ballot in Iowa. The Green Party has submitted paperwork for Stein to be on the Nov. 8 ballot, according to the Iowa Secretary of State Office. Before her name and the name of her running mate, human rights activist Ajamu Baraka, go on the ballot, the 2,140 signatures submitted must be verified. Secretary of State spokesman Kevin Hall said no irregularities have been found, but the verification wont be complete until after the filing period for federal candidates closes Aug. 19. Challenges may be filed until Aug. 26. So far, Republican nominee Donald Trump and Stein are the only presidential candidates who have submitted the necessary paperwork, Hall said. He expects Clintons to arrive before the end of the week. For Stein and other candidates nominated by non-political party organizations to get on the ballot, they must submit at least 1,500 signatures of voters in at least 10 counties. The GOP and Democratic parties have ballot status based on having won at least 2 percent of the vote in the most recent gubernatorial or presidential election. The Greens achieved ballot status in 2000 when their presidential candidate, consumer activist Ralph Nader, received 29,374 votes or 2.2 percent of the total votes cast for president that year. However, the Iowa Green Party lost ballot status after its candidate for governor did not receive 2 percent of the total votes cast in the 2002 election. Stein, whose policy proposals include single-payer health care, tuition-free public education and creating jobs in renewable energy, hopes to win the support of progressives, including supporters of Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, and voters with unfavorable views of both major party candidates. We know how Bernie's campaign ended, but I was one of his supporters that just cannot bring myself to support either Clinton or Trump, said former Sanders supporter Shawn Ketcham of Cedar Rapids. Linda Hagge of Ames said shes supporting Stein because the Green Party has become the sole voice of progressive politics in the United States. Whether it was the noisy engine room in the belly of the Motor Vessel Mississippi or the calm of the pilot house on top, the public toured the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' flagship and mingled with the crew during a stop Tuesday in Davenport. Plenty of history was on display as the Corps celebrated its 150th anniversary. Crew members, who number 75 during a typical voyage, were eager to show off every nook and cranny of the vessel that the Corps dubs the "largest towboat ever built" in the country. "There are nothing but legends on this boat," said Walker Dayton "W.D." Mohon of Tennessee, an assistant engineer who works in the engine room. A member of the crew for about 30 years, Mohon said he spends two-thirds of the year on the boat. In the engine room, a book referred to as the "record of events during each watch" was open to Tuesday's date with "checked crew room #58 air conditioner" written under remarks. The massive five-story, 241-foot-long vessel was built in 1993. "It serves several missions, one of which is to carry the Mississippi River commissioners on their annual inspection trips," Capt. Lee Hendrix said. "We're on the way to St. Paul to start the low water inspection. This is an activity that's been going on since the 1880s with the Corps of Engineers. We have town hall meetings along the way, to give people who are stakeholders of the river a chance to voice opinions about issues involving the river." The boat is scheduled to arrive in St. Paul on Friday, Hendrix said. After St. Paul, the commission is expected to travel back downriver and arrive in Hannibal, Missouri, for a public meeting set for Aug. 11. Ninety percent of the time the MV Mississippi is a "working towboat," Corps public affairs officer Allen Marshall said, adding the other 10 percent it is used to transport the seven-person, president-appointed commission. "We were lucky enough at the Rock Island District of the Corps to have it here in conjunction with our 150th anniversary," Marshall said. The Corps estimates that between 500 and 800 people toured the boat during the three-hour open house at River Heritage Park, which is off East River Drive just upstream from Lock and Dam 15. "It's pretty impressive," said Jeff Turner of Durant, adding he has never before seen a boat that big. Noah Schott, 7, of Calamus, Iowa, also was impressed by the size of the boat and shared one new thing he had learned from his tour. "I learned that the ship can go through those dams over there," Noah said, pointing to Lock and Dam 15 from the fifth-floor deck of the vessel. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy I was very disappointed in with the Times coverage of the emergency training seminar in the July 27 newspaper. The conversation about concealed weapons in church was only a small part of a presentation by several police officers, and that presentation was only one part of the agenda. DES MOINES A Waterloo woman says her son was beaten by staff and denied necessary medical attention while he was serving a sentence in the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. Bertha Johnson of Waterloo said that two weeks ago, her son Terrance Sayles was physically assaulted by staff at the state prison after he asked for medical assistance and that he was not receiving necessary medication. Johnson spoke at a rally Wednesday outside the offices of the Iowa Department of Corrections. The event was organized by Sayles family and a pair of advocacy organizations: the Des Moines Workers Alliance and the Des Moines Catholic Worker. I want them to free Terrance. Hes done his time, Johnson said. And give him his medical attention that he needs. Sayles, 26, has served about six years of a 20-year sentence for prohibited acts with a firearm, but he is scheduled for release in 2020. Johnson said Sayles spent 11 months in solitary confinement at the Iowa State Penitentiary and he did not receive necessary medical treatment. Johnson said Sayles asked for medical care two weeks ago, and prison staff sprayed him with pepper spray and physically assaulted him, including forcing his head into the cells toilet. Johnson said that at one point, Sayles stopped breathing. Robert Cook, a Presbyterian minister who says he was granted visiting rights to Sayles, said that during the incident, Sayles was maybe talking out of his mind. Well, who wouldnt be talking out of their minds after 11 months in isolation, Cook said. When asked about the allegations, Iowa Department of Corrections spokesman Fred Scaletta issued a statement: Interactions with Terrance Sayles by staff at the Iowa State Penitentiary were in compliance with Iowa Department of Corrections medical, mental health and operational policies and procedures. Speakers at Wednesdays rally called for criminal justice reforms, including ending solitary confinement and reducing prison sentences. Sayles has since been moved to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville. Johnson said her son is now receiving medical attention and is a totally different person because of it. He was more uplifting (in) his spirits, more talkative, Johnson said. When he was in Fort Madison, he was a zombie. He wasnt talking, just staring at you. He would just look at you in a daze. This move has been great. Its been a blessing, said Sayles sister, Laquetta Sayles, of Waterloo. Friday, Aug. 5 8 p.m., Autograph, Iron Horse Saloon 9 p.m., Harley & the V-Twins, Knuckle Saloon 10:30 p.m., Willie Nelson, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 10:30 p.m., Finger Eleven, Iron Horse Saloon 11 p.m., Judd Hoos, Loud American Roadhouse Saturday, Aug. 6 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Free Pancake Breakfast, Sons of Light Ministry, Buffalo Chip 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, Rimrock Community Center, Rapid City, $9 2 p.m., Motorcycles As Art Grand Opening, Event Center. This internationally renowned exhibit allows you to explore dozens of unique custom bikes paired with corresponding 2-dimensional artwork. Get an up-close look at the work of some of the industry's most influential master builders and artists during this free annual display at the Buffalo Chip's Russ Brown Event Center. 7 p.m., Molly Hatchet, Full Throttle Saloon 8 p.m., Drowning Pool, Iron Horse Saloon 8:30 p.m., One The Only Tribute to Metallica, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 8:30 p.m., Tripwire and Judd Hoos, Loud American Roadhouse 9 p.m., Nova Rex, Knuckle Saloon 10:30 p.m., 3 Doors Down, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 10:30 p.m., Hell Yeah, Iron Horse Saloon Sunday, Aug. 7 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Free Pancake Breakfast, Sons of Light Ministry, Buffalo Chip 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Trinity United Methodist Church, Lead, $7 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Rochford Community Hall, $8 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Breakfast, United Methodist Church, Belle Fourche, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, Rimrock Community Center, Rapid City, $9 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Freedom Ride Poker Run registration, 10 a.m. ride, Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home, Hot Springs 9 a.m., Moto-X, Jackpine Gypsies Clubgrounds 10 a.m., The 'Good Ride' with Carey Hart leaving from Indian Motorcycle ending in Belle Fourche. A newly organized event makes its way to Sturgis with the first annual Good Ride, a charity ride that will benefit the Sturgis Brown High School welding class. The event is led by motocross legend and RCH Factory Suzuki race team owner Carey Hart. The event begins at 2130 Main St. in Sturgis and accepts only the first 125 riders. Lunch will be served at the end of the ride and there will be memorabilia and an invitation for a pool party hosted by Hart. Registration is from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. To register, visit sturgissuperstore.com/carey-hart-good-ride. 8 p.m., Clare Dunn, Iron Horse Saloon 8:30 p.m., Lita Ford, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 9 p.m., Nova Rex, Knuckle Saloon 10:30 p.m., Kid Rock, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 10:30 p.m., Jerrod Niemann, Iron Horse Saloon Monday, Aug. 8 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, First Presbyterian Church, Sturgis 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Free Pancake Breakfast, Sons of Light Ministry, Buffalo Chip 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Trinity United Methodist Church, Lead, $7 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Breakfast, United Methodist Church, Belle Fourche, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Rochford Community Hall, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Rally Breakfast, Canyon Lake Senior Center, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, Rimrock Community Center, Rapid City, $9 9 a.m., City of Riders Mayor's Ride, Harley-Davidson 10 a.m., Hillclimb, Jackpine Gypsies Clubgrounds 11 a.m., Legends Ride registration, Silverado-Franklin, Deadwood. Participate in an unrivaled rally tradition with an event dedicated to bringing rally goers together to raise significant funds for local charities. The Legends Ride kicks off the rally with an unparalleled live custom motorcycle auction right on Deadwoods historic Main Street. Following the auction, riders will enjoy a self-guided, scenic ride alongside hundreds of fellow Legends Riders through the beautiful Black Hills. All riders will reconvene at the special riders-only reception complete with complimentary food, drinks and admittance into the Buffalo Chip amphitheater for free headlining performances on the main stage from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Elle King. To reserve your tickets, go to rallytickets.com/sturgis or call 605-347-9000. 7 p.m., Mothership, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 7 p.m., Foghat, Full Throttle Saloon 8 p.m., Badlands House Band, Iron Horse Saloon 8:30 p.m., Elle King, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip. 9 p.m., Rude Band, Knuckle Saloon 10:30 p.m., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 10:30 p.m., Hairball, Iron Horse Saloon Tuesday, Aug. 9 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, First Presbyterian Church, Sturgis 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Free Pancake Breakfast, Sons of Light Ministry, Buffalo Chip 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Trinity United Methodist Church, Lead, $7 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Rochford Community Hall, $8 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Breakfast, United Methodist Church, Belle Fourche, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Rally Breakfast, Canyon Lake Senior Center, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, Rimrock Community Center, Rapid City, $9 10 a.m., Jacket Ride, Black Hills State University, Spearfish 6 p.m., Hell's Belles, Iron Horse Saloon 7 p.m., Pappy Hoel Memorial Outlaw PRO/AM Short Track, Jackpine Gypsies Clubgrounds 7 p.m., Ted Nugent, Full Throttle Saloon 8 p.m., Scott Stapp, Iron Horse Saloon 8:30 p.m., Texas Hippie Coalition, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 9 p.m., Garage Boys, Knuckle Saloon 10:30 p.m., Hairball, Iron Horse Saloon 10:30 p.m., Cheap Trick, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip. A classic blend of rock, pop and punk comes to Sturgis as Cheap Trick hits the stage. The band behind hits like "Surrender," "Dream Police" and "I Want You to Want Me" and more will play as lead guitarist Rick Nielsen brings his collection of unique and unusual guitars, including his five-neck Hamer with 36 strings. Tickets for the show are $50, with package rates available at rallytickets.com/sturgis. For more information, call 605-347-9000. Wednesday, Aug. 10 Hulett (Wyo.) Ham and Jam 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, First Presbyterian Church, Sturgis 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Free Pancake Breakfast, Sons of Light Ministry, Buffalo Chip 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Trinity United Methodist Church, Lead, $7 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Rochford Community Hall, $8 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Breakfast, United Methodist Church, Belle Fourche, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Rally Breakfast, Canyon Lake Senior Center, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, Rimrock Community Center, Rapid City, $9 8:30 a.m., Boz Bros Ride, Sturgis Dragway. AMA National Champions and former World Superbike competitors Ben and Eric Bostrom will host the 3rd Annual Boz Bros Ride, with proceeds from the 2016 ride to be donated to the Sturgis Parks and Recreation Trail System. Riders, including celebrity guests, will begin the VIP experience 8:30 a.m. at the famous Sturgis Dragway where each participant will have the opportunity to take a run down the dragstrip and light 'em up before heading off on a spirited, 50 mile ride through the Black Hills. The ride will finish with lunch in Sturgis and a group photo. Additionally, each participant will receive a Boz Bros swag bag filled with unique gifts. Cost is $150 per rider plus tax. Participants must be 21 years of age. Sign up at sturgissuperstore.com/sturgis-rally-bostrom-ride 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Burnout Wednesday, Sundance, Wyo. 3:30 p.m., Chris Hawkey, Iron Horse Saloon 7 p.m., Verta-X Hill Climb, Jackpine Gypsies Clubgrounds 8:30 p.m., Reverend Horton Heat, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 8:30 p.m., Loverboy, Iron Horse Saloon 9 p.m., Rude Band, Knuckle Saloon 10:30 p.m., Five Finger Death Punch, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 10:30 p.m., Hairball, Iron Horse Saloon Thursday, Aug. 11 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, First Presbyterian Church, Sturgis 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Free Pancake Breakfast, Sons of Light Ministry, Buffalo Chip 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Trinity United Methodist Church, Lead, $7 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Breakfast, United Methodist Church, Belle Fourche, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Rochford Community Hall, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Rally Breakfast, Canyon Lake Senior Center, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, Rimrock Community Center, Rapid City, $9 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Freedom Celebration Ride registration, B&B Lounge, Spearfish; 1:30 p.m. ride concluding at Buffalo Chip. Theres no better way to experience freedom than riding down the open road on a motorcycle. Join an amazing lineup of special guests during the Buffalo Chips third annual Freedom Celebration Ride to honor Americas veterans and raise funds for organizations benefitting wounded vets and their families. Reserve tickets at http://www.rallytickets.com/sturgis. 9 a.m., Serenity Ride registration, Trinity Episcopal Church; 10 a.m. ride concluding at Nemo Rock 10 a.m., JPG Tour, 7 p.m., Jackpine Gypsies Clubgrounds 11:30 a.m., Sgt. Rock Freedom Celebration Ride, Spearfish Noon, PRO Verta-X Hillclimb, Jackpine Gypsies Clubgrounds Noon to 5:30 p.m., Rat's Hole Custom Bike Show and Awards, Buffalo Chip 7 p.m., Baggers Race & Rodeo, Jackpine Gypsies Clubgrounds 8 p.m., Jasmine Cain, Knuckle Saloon 8 p.m., Chris Hawkey, Iron Horse Saloon 8:30 p.m., Ratt, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 10:30 p.m., Miranda Lambert, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 10:30 p.m., Sawyer Brown, Iron Horse Saloon 11 p.m., Shoot to Thrill (AC/DC tribute), Knuckle Saloon Friday, Aug. 12 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, First Presbyterian Church, Sturgis 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Free Pancake Breakfast, Sons of Light Ministry, Buffalo Chip 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Trinity United Methodist Church, Lead, $7 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Biker Breakfast, Rochford Community Hall, $8 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Breakfast, United Methodist Church, Belle Fourche, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Rally Breakfast, Canyon Lake Senior Center, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, Rimrock Community Center, Rapid City, $9 10 a.m., PRO Hillclimb, Jackpine Gypsies Clubgrounds 7 p.m., Shoot to Thrill (AC/DC tribute), Knuckle Saloon 8:30 p.m., Pop Evil, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip. Pop Evil has established themselves as a rock force to be reckoned with since they released their debut EP in 2007. In that time, the band has become a mainstay on rock radio and the main stages of some of the biggest rock festivals in the world, touring with hard rock titans such as Five Finger Death Punch, Three Doors Down and many more. The band is currently touring the U.S. and Canada in support of their fifth album, "UP." Tickets for the show are $50, with package rates available at rallytickets.com/sturgis. For more information, call 605-347-9000. 9 p.m., Jasmine Cain, Knuckle Saloon 9:30 p.m., Nonpoint, Iron Horse Saloon 10:30 p.m., Buckcherry, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip 10:30 p.m., In This Moment, Iron Horse Saloon Saturday, Aug. 13 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Free Pancake Breakfast, Sons of Light Ministry, Buffalo Chip 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Breakfast, United Methodist Church, Belle Fourche, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Rally Breakfast, Canyon Lake Senior Center, $8 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Breakfast, Rimrock Community Center, Rapid City, $9 Noon, Memorial Ride to Black Hills National Cemetery, American Legion, Piedmont; ride at 12:30 p.m. 8 p.m., The LACS, Iron Horse Saloon 9 p.m., Jasmine Cain, Knuckle Saloon 10 p.m., "Weird Al" Yankovic, Wolfman Jack Stage, Buffalo Chip. Things will take a turn for the weird as one of the best-selling comedy artists of all time closes out Sturgis. Yankovic has sold over 12 million albums throughout his career and accumulated hundreds of millions of views on YouTube in the last decade. Hes a four-time Grammy award winning recording artist who won most recently won Best Comedy Album in 2015 with his latest album Mandatory Fun. Tickets for the show are $50, with package rates available at rallytickets.com/sturgis. For more information, call 605-347-9000. 10:30 p.m., Yelawolf, Iron Horse Saloon The fire that crested C-Hill on the Chadron State College campus at about 8:15 p.m. on July 28, 2006, was burning so hot that many trees on the ridge, which forms a scenic background for the College and the Chadron community, burst instantly into flames. Though the fire itself was contained a short time later without damage to buildings on the campus or in the town, it wasnt long before people realized how much they valued the backdrop of the steep tree-studded hillside overlooking the picturesque CSC campus and its namesake town. Ten years later the community has largely adjusted to viewing a C-Hill nearly devoid of the Ponderosa pines which gave the regions Pine Ridge its name, even as a long-term effort to repopulate the slope with trees slowly begins to take hold. CSC had definitely capitalized on being the college among the pines for a long time, so (the fire) was a big blow to the college and greater community, said Justin Haag, who was communications coordinator at the college in 2006. The somber mood created by the fire-blackened hillside only began to lift when plentiful spring rains made that hill the greenest Ive ever seen it, said Haag. By then, planning for how best to help C-Hill recover from the devastating fire was already underway, according to Lucinda Mays, who in 2006 had just started working on the CSC grounds crew and is now campus horticulturalist. College officials met with state and federal forestry departments, firefighters, and anybody who might have something to contribute to recovery plans, said Mays. Safety was first because of the extensive recreational use on C-Hill, Mays said. We needed to drop the burned trees before they fell on anybody, she said. A contractor was engaged for that job and by late spring of 2007 had cut most of the fire-blackened pines had been cut and removed. In the earliest effort at revegetating the burned hillside that spring, Mays scattered flower seeds on the patches of bare ground. The first response of (planting) something on the hill was wild flower seeds, she said. The public planning meetings quickly revealed the fires psychological impact, according to Mays. There was also a rather emotional response from people because it seemed like such a loss not to have a treed landscape on the hill, she said. Those emotions created strong local support for replanting trees on the hill, an effort that started in 2007 with a group of four Girl Scouts who obtained 200 pine seedling from the Upper-Niobrara White Natural Resources District, worked with CSCs grounds crew to install irrigation lines, planted the trees by hand and created wire cages to protect them from foraging deer. That was the first of many replanting efforts by local volunteer groups. By 2009, more than 550 volunteers had planted more than 12,000 trees by hand, said Mays. Another 40,000 trees and native shrubs were machine-planted in the 30-acre site, thanks to an Arbor Day Foundation grant obtained through the Nebraska Forest Service. It was truly a remarkable effort on the part of the community, Mays said. Efforts to restore the hillsides forest werent favored by everyone, though. A hundred years of fire suppression policies have caused overstocking on many forested areas, such as C-Hill, and increased danger of catastrophic fires, said Dr. Chuck Butterfield, a CSC rangeland science faculty member from 1999 to 2013. C-Hill needed to be grazed or burned to get rid of fuel build up, said Butterfield. Rather than reseed the entire burn area, Butterfield suggested that a portion be left untouched as an educational tool. I wanted to leave some of it as a natural area and look at it ecologically; how does nature go about restarting the forest, he said. That idea was incorporated into the fire recovery plan, and the easternmost portion of the burned area became an active study area for several years. We had burned and unburned areas. Each year the classes would go out and monitor changes such as vegetation composition, re-accumulation of litter and runoff, Butterfield said. While most of the standing dead trees in the study area were cut down two years ago because of safety concerns, students are still visiting it to study the fires long term effect on plant communities, said CSC rangeland science faculty member Dr. Tony Perlinski. The studies have confirmed the trend that Butterfields students documented. What we see after the fire is we had a pretty sizeable cool season grass invasion, Perlinski said. Thats a big shift from a forest system to an annual cool season grass system. While overstocked forests pose increased risk of fire, grass stands like those now taking over C-Hill, which include several invasive, non-native species, can also be dangerous, said Perlinski, who has obtained a permit for a controlled burn on a portion of the ridge. In its current state, it gives us a really good reason to bring fire back on the land, he said. Part of the reason we get the conflagrations we get now is have taken fire out of the system. The possibility replanting trees might eventually have negative consequences was on Mays mind as planning progressed, and played a role in deciding how many and what kind of trees to plant on the hill. My feeling was we were bringing back the same species that was there in the same location, she said. The low survival rate of trees planted in the regions arid climate, estimated at 10 percent or less, was also taken into account, said Mays. I thought we should not end up with more than 500 trees. That was a fuel load we could handle, she said. As it turned out, a series of dry years after the fire killed most of the machine-planted trees and shrubs, Mays said. The irrigation lines feeding the Girl Scout-planted trees were shut down after three years, and many of them, like the other hand-planted trees, succumbed to drought and predation by deer and rabbits. Mays now estimates that one percent or less of the planted trees have survived. People are horrified by that, but to me its realistic, she said. Those are young trees competing with grasses. If they get rain, they do well. If they dont get rain, they dont do well. A careful look at the steep ravines on the hillside will also show regrowth of chokecherry bushes, and other shrubs and deciduous trees, according to Perlinski. Across the burn area you have slow increases in native woody species, he said. Meanwhile a Nebraska Forest Service project started this year aims to grow seed islands of trees on the ridge top, with the idea that they will eventually shed cones and repopulate the lower slopes. The landscape of C-Hill has changed in other ways since 2006. The new CSC Rangeland building now overlooks the town from a site east of the burned area and Mays has helped lay out a trail for CSCs cross country runners that traverses the lower slope of the hill. If Chadron sees another situation like the 2006 fire, the trail could prove useful as a fire line, said Perlinski. Mays said she has learned several things from the 2006 fire recovery efforts, including the immense power of fire to change the landscape, the emotional response fire generates in people, and the continuous effort needed to establish trees in the dry climate of the High Plains. But Mays has put aside any thoughts of quickly restoring C-Hill to what it looked like before 2006. I think C-Hill will look like it did 50 years from now instead of 125 years from now. Thats the difference we made with this, she said. UPDATE: Martin Fritzler was located in Chadron Tuesday afternoon, according to Chadron Police Chief Tim Lordino. He was transported to the Chadron Community Hospital for treatment of a possible overdose. ORIGINAL POST: The Chadron Police Department is seeking information on a missing person. Martin D. Fritzler was reported missing during the late night hours Monday, July 25, 2016. He was last seen around midnight that night. He is described as six feet tall, 200 pounds with short brown hair and green eyes. He may be driving his black, 1997 Chevy pickup with a Nebraska license plate 69-2652. The Chadron Police are asking for the publics assistance to ensure that Fritzler is safe. If you have information on his location or you see someone matching his description or his pickup, contact your local law enforcement agency or the Chadron PD at 308-432-0510 or by personal message at www.facebook.com/chadronpolice At the Nebraska American Legion Department Convention held in Kearney the Department awarded the Citizenship Award to Glen Kotschwar of Post 12 in Chadron. The award recognizes individuals that have distinguished themselves as active members of their Post and their community involvement. Glen has served on the Post 12 House Committee for the past eight years, is a member of the Veterans Honor Guard and also serves as the secretary. He has also been involved in the American Legions Thursday Night suppers, serving as a Dinner Team Leader. Retired from Hemingford Public Schools, Glen served many years as elementary principal and teacher. He is past member of the Hemingford Town Board as well as past board member for Camp Norwesca. In his spare time he mentors for his churches confirmation classes, is involved in many of the Chamber of Commerce projects, delivers Meals on Wheels for NW Community Action, rings the bell for the Salvation Army and assists with aging classes and Chadron State College. Agate Fossil Beds staff members are excited to participate in the Sioux County Fair activities. They will be setting up a booth in the Art Hall at the Sioux County Fairgrounds on Thursday, August 4th. The stand-alone booth will be available to the public any time the Art Hall is open during the fair. On August 6th, the staff will participate in the Sioux County parade. Their award-winning float is a special dedication to the National Park Services Centennial this year. See if you can spot your favorite park on the cake. Sunday, August 7th, at 2 p.m. in the Agate Fossil Beds theater, the Niobrara Meanderings talk series continues with Native American Fossil Legends presented by Kelsey Bean. Bean is a Park Ranger at the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, South Dakota where her new found love for fossils started. She has previously worked at the Medicine Wheel National Historic in Wyoming and has volunteered at the Plains Indian Museum within the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, WY. She is a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma with heritage in the Sac & Fox and Choctaw Nations of Oklahoma. Bean is currently working on her M.A. in Native American Studies from Montana State University. Before the scientific study of paleontology emerged in America, Native Americans had known of the unique fossils that can be found throughout the Great Plains. From the fossil remains of prehistoric creatures, legends and myths have been created and passed down through generations. Today these stories are rarely told. Join Park Ranger Kelsey Bean to learn more about these fossil legends and how Native Americans aided paleontologists in discovering the remains of prehistoric creatures. Coming off the second hottest year on record in the U.S., the Black Hills is sizzling under sunny skies and scorching temperatures this summer that make some jobs such as pouring asphalt downright miserable. In 2015, the contiguous U.S. had the second-warmest year since records began being kept in 1895, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. Locally, the Rapid City area has experienced 21 days that hit 90 degrees or above since May 1, as well as three days that surpassed 100 degrees, said Matt Bunkers, science and operations officer for the Rapid City office of the National Weather Service. Instruments at Rapid City Regional Airport marked record-breaking high temperatures June 9 when it hit 98, and on June 11 when the mercury soared to 103 degrees. Thats a decent amount, but it hasnt been that bad of a year really, Bunkers said Tuesday morning. Its been fairly typical. Typical is not how construction workers laying 280- to 300-degree asphalt in 100-degree heat on Deadwoods south side would describe their work on days when temperatures soar. Miserable is more like it. Hot is one thing. But, when its hot and humid, thats when people go down, said Pat Kelton, project superintendent for Oftedal Construction, which is in the closing stages of a two-year, $12 million reconstruction of U.S. Highway 85 at Deadwoods southern entrance. With as many as 60 employees and subcontractors on the job all summer, Kelton said managers are always concerned when temperatures spike and the sun hammers workers relentlessly. Obviously, we try to make sure our people dont have heat-related illnesses and that they stay hydrated, said Kelton, who has more than 40 years of experience in the trade. We watch them. If something isnt right, we get them in the shade, and we get em water. Weve had very few issues, largely because we warn everybody and we try to deal with it up front, he added. We take a preventive approach, instead of being reactionary. Meanwhile, the reaction of pavement when subjected to intense heat can be explosive. News accounts in eastern South Dakota have recounted at least five instances this summer in which concrete has literally risen with the thermometer. According to the state Department of Transportation, blow-ups, in which portions of the road buckle due to excessive heat, creating hazards for motorists, occurred in June on Interstate 90 near the state line with Minnesota, on Highway 115 two miles north of Sioux Falls, two on I-229 near the Louise exit, and another on the east side of the Tea interchange. While high temperatures can make the roads rise East River, DOT Regional Engineer Todd Seaman in Rapid City said West River roadways are not as prone to buckling or cracking due to heat. The eastern part of the state uses a different limestone aggregate than is used West River, Seaman explained. So we really havent had the issues theyve experienced this summer. I cant remember the last time that we had a concrete pavement buckle. When it comes to asphalt paving, Seaman said new techniques, advanced binders and changes in specifications have reduced many previous problems that were related to high heat. These new binders used in asphalt allow expansion and contraction; its high polymerization that can withstand large variations in temperatures, so we dont see the cracking that we did in the past, he explained. The science of asphalt binders has come a long, long way in the last 15 years. But Seaman noted that even advanced science cant eliminate all of the possible dangers associated with highway construction and maintenance. The biggest issue weve had has been mowing ditches, with tinder-dry conditions and the danger of fires, he said. Weve got to have mowers and water trucks and when youre working on a 100-degree day, it takes its toll on your crews. Three suspects in a polygamous sect's food-stamp fraud scheme, including its South Dakota head, have been re-arrested for violating terms of their supervised release by meeting with each other. Seth Jeffs, John Wayman and Preston Barlow denied federal authorities allegations during a court appearance Tuesday in St. George, Utah. The men, members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are being detained while awaiting further hearings on their release violations. Authorities found out about their prohibited meetings through GPS monitors the men were wearing, according to court documents. Seth Jeffs, brother of imprisoned FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, is the head of a group compound near Pringle in rural Custer County. He allegedly met at least three times in late July with Wayman, a confidante of Warren Jeffs who deals with the groups legal and tax issues. Preston is believed to have also been present in one of the meetings. The mens arrests come six weeks after another suspect in the scheme, sect leader Lyle Jeffs, escaped home confinement in Salt Lake City. Lyle Jeffs is still on the loose, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. A total of 11 people have been charged in the fraud case, accusing defendants of diverting at least $12 million from a federal food-stamp program to maintain FLDS hideouts. Despite prosecutors opposition, the sect leaders were granted pre-trial release. The suspects were arrested in February. Seth Jeffs was caught on a highway near Custer, part of a multi-state sting against FLDS leaders. Longtime Black Hills journalist Patrick Dobbs was found dead on Tuesday afternoon by Pennington County authorities. His daughter confirmed Tuesday night that his death was a suicide. Dobbs, 60, who at the time of his death was the managing editor of the Rapid City Journal, had a long and distinguished career as a journalist and public relations official at several Black Hills organizations. A graduate of Lead High School in 1974, Dobbs spent about 16 years in a variety of newsroom roles at the Journal from 1987 to the early 2000s. He also worked nearly a decade as the media relations coordinator for the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, and recently spent two years as an assignment editor at KOTA TV in Rapid City. Dobbs returned to the Journal in May as managing editor, the number two management position in the newsroom. Dobbs was a dedicated, caring journalist who was extremely well known throughout western South Dakota as someone who cared deeply about his community and its residents. Above all, he was known to his friends, colleagues and people he covered as a genuinely nice guy. Dobbs was last seen at the Journal offices on Sunday night, where he had gone in on his day off to cover the annual duck race in Rapid Creek, a community event that raises money for charity. After his colleagues and family reported him missing Tuesday afternoon, his car and body were soon found at the Falling Rock site west of Rapid City. "Myself and the Journal family are in deep mourning over news of Pat's death, and our hearts go out to his family in this difficult time," said Journal editor Bart Pfankuch. "He will be greatly missed by so many people in this community that he loved and supported through his work for years." STURGIS Enviro Shield Products, Inc., a manufacturer of spill containment products for the oil industry, is relocating from Williston, ND to the Sturgis Industrial Park. Shane Herman, CEO/President of Enviro Shield Products, has developed a new spill containment product that can be expanded into other markets, including the motorcycle industry. Herman plans to be fully operational in his 7,000-square-foot building in Sturgis in September. Two employees will relocate from Williston and another three will be hired locally. When at capacity, it is expected to have 12 full time employees. Herman says: Relocating to Sturgis with our new motorcycle product line is a natural move. Plus, our oil field containment contracts in the Bakken, Midcontinent and Rocky Mountains can be served more strategically from Sturgis. A business move like this is not something you do every day. The Sturgis Economic Development Corp and the State of South Dakota have been great resources in our relocation process. Pat Kurtenbach, President of the Sturgis Economic Development Corp, adds, In addition to the motorcycle network in Sturgis, Shane chose the Sturgis Industrial Park because there was an available building ready for him to occupy. This allows him to be manufacturing in Sturgis at least nine months faster than if he constructed a new building. Enviro Shields ability to expand their product line beyond its original oil field application is a testament to their innovative capacity. We welcome Enviro Shield Products to Sturgis. UniCreditBank sues Carlo Pazolini for $21 million MOSCOW, August 3 (RAPSI) UniCreditBank has filed a claim with the Moscow Commercial Court seeking collection of 1.4 billion rubles ($21 million) from Firma Anta company, the owner of Carlo Pazolini shoe retailers brands, according to court records. Date of pretrial hearing has not been scheduled yet. Earlier, another bank, Alfa-Bank, filed a lawsuit demanding to recover $11.01 million in debt from Carlo Pazolini Trade Limited, Carlo Pazolini Participations and Carlo Pazolini (Switzerland) SA under a loan agreement signed on December 10, 2012. Firma Anta is named as the third party in the case. The claim also includes demand to recover jointly from the companies EUR 8.4 million in debt. The court will consider the lawsuit on October 5. Moreover, Alfa Bank has lodged a bankruptcy claim against Firma Anta. Carlo Pazolini trademark was created in 1991. There are more than 180 company stores on Russia, Italy, China, Greece, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, according to the retailers website. Defense of high-ranking investigator appeals seizure of his documents MOSCOW, August 3 (RAPSI, Diana Gutsul) Defense of Alexander Lamonov, Deputy Head of the Investigative Committees Internal Security Directorate charged with taking a large-scale bribe, has appealed seizure of his documents, allegedly non-related to the case, RAPSI learned from the lawyer Olga Lukmanova. I have filed an appeal against actions of investigator during searches because of seizure of documents that are not related to the case. For some reason such documents as passbook of Lamonovs grandmother or contract of kitchen sale have been seized, Lukmanova said. The appeal was filed with the Lefortovsky District Court. Date of its review has not been set yet. On July 20, the head of the Investigative Committees Internal Security Directorate Mikhail Maksimenko along with several of his high-ranking colleagues, including the First Deputy Head of the Investigative Committees Moscow Directorate, Denis Nikandrov, and Maksimenkos deputy Alexander Lamonov, were detained for one month and 27 days, i.e. till September 15. Earlier, they have been arrested by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of receiving a large-scale bribe. According to the official website of the FSB, the agency, along with the Investigative Committee, is carrying out a probe into the criminal case against the suspects over alleged abuse of office and receiving bribes from some representatives of the criminal community. Last Tuesday, various media outlets reported that Maksimenko and his colleagues were arrested by the FSB as a part of the investigation into the criminal case over extortion of 8 million rubles ($127,000) that involved gang leader Zakhariy Kalashov also known in the criminal world as Shakro Molodoi. Russian firm ordered to pay Philip Morris $15,000 MOSCOW, August 3 (RAPSI) The Moscow Commercial Court has ordered Russian firm RostovGlavTabakProm to pay one million rubles ($15,000) in compensation to Philip Morris Brand Sarl (Switzerland) for illegal use of its trademark in the production and sale of cigarettes, according to court records. The court also ruled that RostovGlavTabakProm must stop production and sale of cigarettes named RT. The Swiss company in its lawsuit asked to collect 5 million rubles ($75,000) from the Russian firm. The court thus granted the claim in part. Philip Morris is one of the worlds largest cigarette and tobacco companies headquartered in Lausanne (Switzerland). Philip Morris is the owner of such cigarette brands as Marlboro, L&M, Chesterfield, Bond Street, Virginia Slims. Amount of xenophobia-related crimes in Russia drops report MOSCOW, August 3 (RAPSI) Amount of xenophobia-related incidents and crimes registered in the first half of 2016 is slightly lower than the statistics for the same period of 2015, RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday, citing a report of the Moscow Bureau of Human Rights. Human rights experts note that in the first six months of 2016 Russian authorities were taking consistent measures to combat extremism, including nationalism and xenophobia. According to the report, 105 sentences were issued in xenophobic propaganda cases in 2016, while in the same period of 2015 it reached only 85 cases. At the same time amount of criminal cases, involving violence on the basis of hatred, dropped. In the first six months of 2015, 11 sentences were issued in such cases with 24 people found guilty. In 2016, for the same period, 11 sentences were issued with 18 people found guilty. SEOUL, South Korea, Aug 3: A medium-range ballistic missile fired Wednesday by North Korea flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed near Japan's territorial waters, Seoul and Tokyo officials said, one of the longest flights by a North Korean missile. The U.S. Strategic Command said North Korea fired two presumed Rodong missiles simultaneously on Wednesday, not just one. The command's statement said initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. North Korea has recently claimed a series of technical breakthroughs over its goal of acquiring a long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental U.S. South Korean defense officials say North Korea doesn't yet have such a weapon, but some civilian experts believe the North has the technology to mount warheads on shorter-range Rodong and Scud missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. According to the South Korean and Japanese announcements, one suspected Rodong missile lifted off from the North's western Hwanghae province and flew across the country before falling in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it "strongly condemns" the missile launch because it explicitly shows the North's intentions of being able to launch missile attacks on South Korea and neighboring countries. Japan's Defense Ministry said the missile landed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone, the 200-nautical-mile offshore area where a nation has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources. Japanese media reported it was the first North Korean missile that has splashed down in Japan's EEZ. "It imposes a serious threat to Japan's security and it is unforgivable act of violence toward Japan's security," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. North Korea has previously fired Rodong and other missiles into the sea, but South Korean analysts say Wednesday's 1,000 kilometer flight was one of the longest for a North Korean test. Several other North Korean rockets have gone farther and even over Japan. But Pyongyang called them satellite launches while Washington, Seoul and Tokyo said they were disguised tests of missile technology. After several failures, the North put its first satellite into space aboard a long-range rocket in December 2012, and conducted another successful satellite launch in February. In June, North Korea, after a string of failures, sent another type of mid-range missile known as Musudan more than 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) high. Analysts said the high-altitude flight meant North Korea had made progress in its push to be able to strike U.S. forces throughout the region. North Korea routinely conducts weapons tests, but the latest launch came after North Korea warned of unspecified "physical counter-actions" against a U.S. plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, according to Seoul defense officials. The North's state media later confirmed that it fired ballistic rockets carrying trigger devices for nuclear warheads as part of simulated pre-emptive atomic attacks on South Korea. Analyst Kim Dong-yub at Seoul's Institute for Far East Studies said the latest Rodong launch appeared to be aimed at showing an ability to attack U.S. military bases in Japan, a major source of reinforcements for U.S. troops should a war break out on the Korean Peninsula. Hyon Kwang Il, director of the scientific research department at the North's National Aerospace Development Administration, told The Associated Press last week that Pyongyang's military had mastered "the main and core techniques in long-range ballistic missile technology, including the starter engine technology, how to separate the different stages, guidance control techniques and re-entry and it's all ready to be operational." North Korea is known to have an arsenal of estimated 300 Rodong missiles whose maximum range is 1,300 kilometers (800 miles). A Rodong fired in March flew about 800 kilometers (500 miles) while two other Rodongs launched in 2014 flew about 650 kilometers (400 miles). North Korea is expected to carry out more weapons launches in coming weeks to protest annual U.S.-South Korean military drills that begin later this month. North Korea describes the drills as an invasion rehearsal. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea and tens of thousands of more in Japan. Kathmandu, Nepal: The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of General Administration, the Embassy of Japan, and JICA in Nepal announce the opening call for applications for The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS) 2016 (AY2017-2018) on August 1. The JDS project aims to support human resource development in countries that are partners of Japan Grant Aid by providing an opportunity to young, highly capable government officials to obtain a masters degree. These fellows are expected to formulate and implement social and economic development plans and become leaders in their countries. As persons having well-rounded knowledge of Japan, JDS fellows shall contribute to progressive bilateral relations between the home country and Japan. The JDS project launched last year and the first batch of JDS fellows are to be posted to universities this August. This year, a maximum of 20 successful candidates will be chosen by early March and will depart for Japan in August 2017. After this year, the project aims to expand the target organizations to all governmental organizations to attract more JDS candidates. The Embassy of Japan and JICA in Nepal welcome applications from young, passionate Nepali gazetted officials, states the press release issued by the Japanese embassy in Kathmandu. The application deadline is set for August 23, 2016 and the applications should be submitted to the department in charge of the JDS project in each target organization. CPN Maoist Center chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prachanda Kathmandu, Nepal: CPN Maoist Center chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prachanda, who is the sole contender in the Prime Ministerial election, has on Wednesday vowed to move ahead with consensus with the political parties represent in the parliament. While presenting his candidacy in the parliament, Dahal also said that he would try to lead the nation toward economic development with the spirit of national consensus during his premiership. My candidacy was to strengthen the national consensus among parties to solve all the problems, Dahal said stating that his government would try to resolve the differences with the Madhesi parties. I am not very happy because of that national consensus government could not be formed though it was the need of the day; Dahal said adding that consensus could be maintained on national issues. I would put my best efforts for cooperation and collaboration after his election as the Prime Minister to resolve all the challenges, Dahal said. I have taken positively to the decision of the CPN-UML for not fielding candidacy to the post of Prime Minister, Dahal said. The new government would give continuity to development projects and agreements signed with neighboring nations as the Maoist party itself was also a significant part of the CPN UML chairman KP Sharma Oli led government, Dahal said hinting to the questions raised by Oli during his last speech in the parliament. I will continue the development projects as these were not actually initiated by Oli but by other previous governments, Dahal said. National delegation in Kuwait meets 18 ambassadors group KUWAIT, Aug. 02 (Saba) The national delegation to Kuwait consultations met on Tuesday with the ambassadors of the 18 countries supporting the political settlement in Yemen. During the meeting, the national delegation gave an extensive explanation about its visions presented through the consultations, which included various political, military, security, humanitarian and economic aspects, stressing its commitment to a comprehensive, complete and not-fragmented solution. The delegation emphasized that Yemen after a year and a half of the brutal aggression and unjust blockade does not assume fragmented solutions and needs a comprehensive solution to end the aggression and lift the siege and achieve the national partnership. It confirmed its keenness on achieving peace at a time the Riyadhs delegation worked to obstruct the consultations since the first day by suspending or withdrawal from the sessions and after all leaving Kuwait yesterday. In the meeting, the national delegation pointed out that the agreement that was signed in Sanaa on the formation of a political council was imposed by internal and external challenges, asserting that it does not affect its readiness to sign a full and lasting comprehensive agreement. The delegation renewed its call to the international community, led by the United Nations and the Security Council, for assuming their responsibility in ending the suffering of the Yemeni people. BA Saba Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Telegram Email Email Print Print [03/August/2016] The Telegraph, July 28 2016 Instead of further attempts to enter the NSG, India would do better to simply give this club a wide berth, write M.V. Ramana and Suvrat Raju Over the past decade, successive Indian governments have made engagement with the Nuclear Suppliers Group a central element of their foreign policy. In its recent ungainly attempt to enter the NSG, the Narendra Modi government was simply continuing the policy of the United Progressive Alliance government that first initiated trade in uranium and nuclear reactors with NSG members in 2008. But what costs has the country paid for this "seat at the nuclear high table"? As we describe below, both the NSG waiver of 2008 and membership of the group - if it materializes - are largely irrelevant to electricity generation in the country. And the price that the country has paid, in terms of diplomatic concessions and expensive reactors that it has agreed to purchase from the United States of America and international nuclear suppliers, far outweighs the stated benefits of this engagement. Instead of further attempts to enter this club, the country would do better to simply give the NSG a wide berth. The NSG is a cartel that controls trade in nuclear fuel and technology. Although its members are not ordinarily allowed to trade with countries that have not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, in 2008, the NSG waived this requirement for India, which agreed to place its civilian nuclear facilities under international safeguards. The Indian atomic energy establishment claims that the waiver has been beneficial because uranium imports have allowed India to raise the average load factor at its nuclear plants from 54 per cent in 2007-08 to 82 per cent in 2014-15. However, this figure is deceptive. Since nuclear energy contributes a very small fraction to Indias total electricity generation, this rise in the load-factor translated to a negligible increase of less than 1 per cent in the countrys total electricity production in 2014-15. The NSG waiver came with a tacit understanding that India would also purchase nuclear reactors from the US, France and Russia. These reactors are expensive and largely untested, and endanger the economic interests and the safety of Indian citizens. They constitute a cost, and not a benefit, of engaging with the NSG. For example, France would like India to buy several European Pressurised Reactors from its, essentially bankrupt, public sector company, Areva. But existing builds of the EPR at Flamanville (France) and Olkiluoto (Finland) have seen lengthy delays, large cost escalations, and safety problems, including a manufacturing defect in the pressure-vessel at Flamanville. Data from these sites suggest that each EPR, with a capacity of 1,650 megawatts, may cost as much as Rs 75,000 crore (10.5 billion euros). Then, even accounting for lower construction costs in India, the first-year tariffs from these reactors may be as high as Rs 19 per unit, as we showed in a detailed analysis for the Economic and Political Weekly in 2013. In parallel, the US wants India to buy six AP1000 reactors from the US-based Westinghouse Electric Company - each with a capacity of 1,000 MW. Cost estimates of these reactors from builds at Vogtle in the American state of Georgia suggest that they may be even more expensive than the EPRs in terms of capital cost per unit of capacity; six AP1000s could cost up to Rs 4 lakh crore with first-year tariffs possibly as high as Rs 25 per unit. Even if India were to gain membership of the NSG, this would do little to ameliorate this poor cost-benefit ratio. NSG membership may theoretically allow India to purchase uranium enrichment and reprocessing technologies, which are not covered under the 2008 waiver. But since the country does not need either of these technologies, this is pointless. The vast majority of nuclear reactors in India are pressurized heavy water reactors that do not rely on enriched uranium. The fuel for the reactors at Tarapur and Kudankulam, that do use enriched uranium, is already provided through foreign contracts. Any new reactors that India imports will, in all probability, also come with associated fuel contracts. So, India has no use for the enrichment technology that NSG members might offer. India can also do without reprocessing - the process of extracting and reusing plutonium from spent nuclear fuel. The idea of reprocessing arose early in the nuclear age, when many countries expected that nuclear power would grow dramatically and that the world would soon run out of uranium. However, global uranium production has comfortably kept pace with nuclear power. Reprocessing, on the other hand, has proven to be both expensive and hazardous. The 1957 explosion at the waste tanks at the Mayak reprocessing plant in the former Soviet Union remains the third most serious nuclear accident in history after Chernobyl and Fukushima. As a result, most countries have now abandoned reprocessing in favour of a cheaper and safer "once through" uranium cycle. In a tacit acknowledgment that NSG membership had little to do with atomic energy, the government did not even bring the matter before the atomic energy commission, as its former chief, M.R. Srinivasan, revealed recently. Therefore, the bid for NSG membership was primarily a foreign policy initiative. But, even from a diplomatic point of view, membership of the NSG is not something to aspire to. The NSG ostensibly works to ensure that "nuclear technology transferred for peaceful purposes" is not "misused". However, its leading members have themselves significantly contributed to weapon proliferation. For example, France, Norway and Britain helped Israel start its nuclear programme, and American support for Israel has allowed it to build up a sizeable nuclear arsenal with few international consequences. Documents discovered in 2010 show how Israel, in turn, offered nuclear weapons "in three sizes" to the notorious apartheid regime in South Africa. The five nuclear weapons states - all members of the NSG - have also seriously undermined the NPT by ignoring their commitments on disarmament in the treaty, which binds them to undertake "effective measures relating to the cessation of the nuclear arms race". The US has been one of the worst offenders. Despite the Obama administrations rhetoric on disarmament, the US cut its warheads at a rate of only about 1.5 per cent each year from 2009 to 2013. Entry into this questionable club would hardly enhance Indias standing in the world. In exchange for its support for Indias NSG membership, the US wants to recruit the Indian government as a tool in its attempts to contain China. The diplomatic fracas over the NSG advanced this geopolitical scheme as it aligned India squarely with the US against China. In a recent speech on the NSG issue, the US under secretary for political affairs, Thomas Shannon, suggested that India should "watch China, to ensure it behaves in a responsible fashion". The Indian bid was also viewed with suspicion in Pakistan, whose government felt that India might use NSG membership to further isolate Pakistan on the nuclear front. These competitive conflicts between the three nuclear-armed neighbours are dangerous and run contrary to the national interest in the long run. The government is likely to renew its attempt to join the NSG later this year. But does it make sense to spend large amounts of money, and raise tensions with neighbouring countries, simply to gain admission to an unprincipled cartel of nuclear suppliers that has little to offer India? The authors are physicists associated with the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace Literary Review / The Hindu - January 06, 2002 Looking back at anger The nation-wide railway strike of 1974 was repressed violently, foreshadowing things to come the following year. Yet, it did lead to long term gains, says RANA P. BEHAL. Armed guards ensuring that the trains run during the strike of 1974. WHILE reading this book, my mind was flooded with memories of an almost never-ending train journey from New Delhi to Guwahati in May 1974. Deserted railway stations with no porters or even hawkers in sight, manned by the men of Territorial Army, very long and unscheduled halts, overcrowded compartments with commuters sitting even on the rooftops of train compartments. Assam Mail, which normally completes this journey in 46 hours, took more than 75 hours to ferry its hungry and exhausted commuters to Guwahati. The reason: the all-India strike of the Railway workers, the subject of study in the book under review. The author, Stephen Sherlock, has presented a historical account of the all-India railways strike of May 1974 based on an impressive range of source materials: from trade union papers and publications of political parties to private papers of important trade union leaders like George Fernandes and interviews with union leaders, activists and political leaders a as well as an equally impressive range of secondary publications. While focusing on the central issue of capital-labour relationship, its conflicts and contradictions, the author has also dwelled upon the interconnections of its larger world of trade unions and labour leaders, political parties and political leaders, the railway bureaucracy and the State. He has analysed the growth of labour militancy during the 1960s and 1970s in the context of developments within the railway labour movement as well as the in the context of emerging social movements against injustice, deprivation and impoverishment across the country. During the 1960s, unrest grew amongst railway workers on the issue of low wages, harsh working conditions and long hours of work. The negative response from the management (various forms of repressive measures against labour militancy) and the inability of the two railway unions recognised by the Railway Board a All India Railwaymens Federation (AIRF) and National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) a to fight for their grievances and protect their interests generated a sense of frustration and alienation among workers. Recognised union leadership was increasingly perceived to be corrupt and prone to fall prey to material privileges due to their proximity with the railway management. There was a perception amongst the worker-activists that the Government, the railway management and the recognised unions were co-operating and working together to suppress and control the militant and independent activities of workers. Under these circumstances, a sense of collective and independent action to fight for their interests led to the formation of independent, category-based unions like the Loco Running Staff Association. The category unions led several industrial actions in 1960, 1967, 1968 and 1970 without the involvement of recognised unions. The author considers these developments a clear sign of the labour militancy and rudiments of class-consciousness among the railway workers leading towards the all-India railway strike in May 1974. The strike of May 1974 started with a major setback when all its main leaders like Fernandes, along with scores of active local level leaders were arrested on the night of May 2. However, there were several areas in the country where the strike was intense, with remarkable display of solidarity among workers, and other sections of society. The strike was led by the AIRF with Fernandes as its president. The Government and the railway management unleashed a reign of terror deploying security forces on the workers and their families. The author has argued that this was a dress rehearsal for Mrs. Gandhis authoritarian regime during the Emergency, which began a year later. He says there were already conflicting and contradictory views on the decision to strike both within the AIRF and between the AIRF and category-unions. As a result, there were instances of sabotage and cooperation with the management during the strike. The political leadership from among the non-Congress (I) parties like the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)) and the socialists, constrained by their internal political compulsions, were keen to have a quick negotiated settlement rather than a prolonged general strike. This created a sense of confusion and uncertainty among rank and file worker activists. By the end of May 1974, the strike had been suppressed without any immediate gains. However, the author does not go along with the view that the strike was a total failure. There were long-term gains. It re-established the railway labour force and its movement as a social force to be treated with a degree of respect. It showed that despite occupational and cultural divisions in an industry spread over the vastness of India, it could achieve a sense of solidarity. Many of the demands like bonus were granted later on in the form of productivity link bonus in 1977. Despite some overlapping and repetitions, this book is one of the best additions to the literature on labour history of post-Independent India. The Indian Railway Strike of 1974: A Study of Power and Organised Labour, Stephen Sherlock, Rupa & Co., New Delhi, 2001, paperback, p.513, Rs. 295. The writer teaches modern history at Deshbandhu College, New Delhi. The personal envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Sahara, Christopher Ross, is reportedly negotiating with the stakeholders, another trip to the Maghreb region to conduct a new mediation in the Western Sahara conflict, probably the last one before the end of Ban Ki-Moons term, in December 2016. By the way, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, in a gesture of appeasement with Morocco following his diplomatic blunders in Algeria last March, attended the function hosted in New York by Moroccos ambassador to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, on Throne Day, celebrated by the Kingdom on July 30. But many observers who closely follow the Sahara issue are convinced that the UN mediators attempt is doomed to failure. They argue that as long as Ross is not making a concrete and pragmatic proposal likely to convince the parties to the conflict, especially Algeria, to show seriousness and realism to reach a negotiated political settlement, his attempt will be vain. After the misunderstanding with Morocco has apparently been cleared up, the United Nations seemingly wants to regain control and restart the negotiations on the Sahara issue through a formal proposal drawn up after the last unsuccessful trips in the region by Ban Ki-moon and his personal envoy, Christopher Ross. According to the deputy spokesman for the UN, Farhan Haq, over the past weeks, the UN Envoy Christopher Ross has been in frequent contact with the interested parties, namely Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario, on the need to reinvigorate the Sahara negotiating process, as well as on the timing of his next visits to the North African region. Now that the Security Council has welcomed the results of the agreement on the MINURSO and reiterated its call for renewed negotiations, nothing stands in the way of Mr. Rosss return to the North African region to pursue his facilitation efforts, Farhan Haq said at a briefing Monday afternoon at UN headquarters in New York. If Dajuan Harris Jr. is underrated, its not by those at Kansas Seguin, TX (78155) Today Thunderstorms during the morning hours, then skies turning partly cloudy during the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 76F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Inmates who allege they were forced to fight each other for the amusement of San Francisco Sheriff's Deputies will be on the receiving end of a $90,000 settlement after the Board of Supervisors moves to approve the payout today. Bay City News reports that three inmates will split the money evenly, perhaps bringing some closure to the bizarre Fight Club-style battles that made national headlines. Civil rights attorney John Burris brought the case on behalf of inmates Stanley Harris, Ricardo Palikiko-Garcia, and Keith Dwayne Richardson. The men say deputies took away their food and made them gamble to get it back, in addition to forcing them to fight. CBS 5 reports that the San Francisco District Attorneys Office has charged the three deputies with a host of crimes, with perhaps the most severe reserved for now-former deputy Scott Neu, including "assault under the color of authority, issuing criminal threats, inflicting cruel and unusual punishment and inhumanity against inmates in his care." According to CBS 5, Eugene Jones was charged with "assault under the color of authority, inflicting cruel and unusual punishment and willfully failing to perform an official duty," and Clifford Chiba was charged with "inflicting cruel and unusual punishment and willfully failing to perform an official duty." It should be noted that this was not the first time a troubling accusation had been levied against Neu. In 2006 the city settled out of court after it was alleged he forced inmates to perform sexual acts on him. All three deputies pleaded "not guilty" to the charges back in March, and they are currently out on bail. Previously: Sheriff's Deputies Who Allegedly Forced Inmates To Fight Plead Not Guilty Having a blast learning all about Dede Wilsey. (Larry Sultan photo) pic.twitter.com/T7ebXUhmpz Britton (@br_tton) August 2, 2016 In the ongoing saga surrounding wealthy SF socialite Dede Wilsey and her embattled position ruling over the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco i.e. the deYoung and the Legion of Honor the New York Times now weighs in with a piece that's pointed in its criticism of Wilsey while also somehow sounding superior when it comes to the management of cultural institutions in other cities, like New York. They recount the drama of the last year, following the whistleblower case surrounding the $457,000 payment to a former employee that Wilsey has allegedly repaid to the museums out of pocket, and the revelation last week that Wilsey is being forced to step down as Board President and CEO, dual positions she has held since 2013 and she has served as Board President for a total of 20 years. And they quote some of Wilsey's enemies, like curator emeritus Robert Flynn Johnson, who last week called Wilsey's management style "dictatorial and arbitrary," saying the museums existed these past three years in "a state of Orwellian dysfunction." They also quote other museum world people like Hugh Davies, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, who puts it bluntly: "What I find particularly scandalous is that other trustees at the museum didnt recognize how highly unusual it is to have a board president without term limits... If they allow Dede Wilsey to play any leadership role within the museum, that would be beyond derelict. But I have to call bullshit on the Times' lede: "No other city in America mixes high society and cultural philanthropy quite like San Francisco..." Oh, please. High society rules over every museum in New York, give me a break. Wilsey gave the Times her own quote suggesting her battle isn't over. "I have not been asked to step down and am not planning to retire. I am greatly looking forward to working with our wonderful new director, Max Hollein, who has exciting new ideas for our Museums." She relayed this in an email, declining to give a full interview. According to the report last week by Matier & Ross at the Chron, Wilsey is expected to step down at the October meeting of the board, and to be replaced by two co-chairs, former Visa President and CEO Carl Pascarella and Jack Calhoun, a former president of Banana Republic. Until then, it's true, she has not been formally asked to step down, and she remains in her position(s). Meanwhile, Chronicle art critic Charles Desmarais did his (provincial) best to run to Wilsey's defense over the weekend, calling the minimal press about this insular affair a "pile-on" that is unfair to a woman who single-handedly revived and rebuilt the DeYoung a decade ago. "Having given so much time and treasure, having loved the institution so thoroughly, who can blame her for feeling proprietary?" he writes. Also: "If anyone is to be faulted for the recent errors of judgment at the museums, the trustees must bear a significant part of the responsibility." Yeah, but what about the $457,000 "error" that they apparently weren't even told about? Previously: Oh Dear, Dede: Wilsey Stepping Down As Board President Amid Museums Scandal PG&E still working to recover from an underground fire at Hyde & Geary in San Francisco. 1 bldg. still without power pic.twitter.com/L0AWWIetLK Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) August 2, 2016 Reports of smoke, steam, flames, and mysterious booms poured into the San Francisco Fire Department late Monday and early Tuesday, after a PG&E equipment failure caused a fire in a Tenderloin-area underground vault. "It was like midnight and I heard a loud boom," area resident Kelse Schapp told ABC 7. "I thought it was a gunshot. I looked outside and everybody was on their balconies looking over. We just saw steam, it looked like steam coming out of the holes... weird." Crews responded to the area of Hyde and Geary Streets, NBC Bay Area reports, after "witnesses saw fire and smoke shooting out of [a] manhole." According to PG&E spokesperson Abby Figueroa, by the time crews arrived, a small fire in one of PG&E's underground vaults had burned itself out, but left 351 customers without power until around 4:45 this morning. Figueroa says the cause of the explosion and subsequent blaze was an "equipment failure," but couldn't comment further, saying that PG&E was still investigating the incident. As of noon, Figueroa says, crews remained on the scene, repairing the "significant amount" of underground damage wrought by the fire. According to ABC 7, area "traffic lights are back on because of a temporary fix, but a worker at the scene says there's a chance they will get turned off again" as they continue to work. So, if you can, avoid driving in the area, just in case additional repair work sends the signals back into darkness. A new ranking by the site Niche of 100 Bay Area towns and cities nearly all of them that are not San Francisco, San Jose, or Oakland finds that traditionally tony suburbs like Hillsborough, Piedmont, Orinda, and Lafayette all rank very high on criteria important with families, like school quality, safety, and family amenities. And meanwhile, places like Colma, San Pablo, and San Leandro land at the bottom of the list though their overall "Niche grades" are B+, B, and A- respectively, suggesting they're really not all that bad either? Nearby places to the north and south like Vallejo, Campbell, Petaluma, American Canyon, and Vacaville don't even rank here, perhaps because they're too far or in the case of Vallejo, too weird and unsafe but this could serve as a helpful guide to young families who realize that they need larger living quarters than they can afford in the inner Bay Area. (San Pablo, by the way, comes in at 99, largely for a C+ school grade, and Colma is #100 but barely counts because it is mostly one big cemetery.) The full methodology can be found here, and it should be noted that the largest piece of the ranking is the quality of public schools, which makes up 20 percent of the grade. Crime and safety make up 10 percent, and so does real estate affordability and rates of homeownership, while diversity makes up just five percent of the grade. SFGate picked up the ranking today, noting that each place or town gets a "cost of living grade," and for all 100 it's between the D+ and D- minus range, because basically there is nowhere to live around here that isn't fairly pricy. "One might as well toss the cost-of-living findings," SFGate says, "since they are basically uniformly bad across the board." Also measured are the number of people with college degrees or better, and the number of people aged 35-44, i.e. prime parenting time. Niche is a new site that rates neighborhoods around the country, allows for residents to submit their own reviews, and offers up for-sale listings in each via Zillow. "We rigorously analyze dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews to produce comprehensive rankings, report cards, and profiles for thousands of K-12 schools, colleges, and places to live," the site says. In addition to the suburb rankings, the site ranks SF neighborhoods by similar criteria too. The Castro gets a B grade overall, while Nob Hill gets an A, the Inner Sunset gets an A, and the Mission gets a B+. Previously: New 'Judgmental' Map Of S.F. Neighborhoods Amuses, Confuses Crime-Addled Piedmont Will Photograph Every Last License Plate That Enters Town Stanislav Petrov, the man who allegedly led Alameda County sheriff's deputies on a high-speed, 30-mile chase last November from San Leandro to San Francisco's Mission District and was then seen on video being severely beaten by two of those deputies, has now filed a civil rights lawsuit against the county and eight deputies one of whom has already been fired by the sheriff's department. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco and as reported by ABC 7 and others, claims that Petrov suffered "very severe and permanent injuries" at the hands of two deputies, and that the six others failed to do anything to stop or report the beating. In the incident, caught on camera by a neighbor on November 12, two deputies since identified as Paul Wieber and Luis Santamaria can be seen delivering multiple punches and baton blows to a prone Petrov as he screams for help. Wieber and Santamaria have both been placed on administrative leave as they face criminal charges in San Francisco court. Both deputies pleaded not guilty in May to three felony counts of assault under color of authority, battery with serious bodily injury, and assault with a deadly weapon." A third deputy, Shawn Osborne who was seen in the video swinging a gold chain that belonged to Petrov and who was accused of using the chain to bribe a couple of witnesses, a homeless couple nearby, for their silence was fired last Friday by Alameda County for misconduct, per ABC 7. The case has drawn national attention as just one of many incidents in which law enforcement has been seen on video using excessive force to subdue an unarmed person. According to the Chronicle, attorneys for Osborne continue to insist he did nothing wrong. In the new complaint, a fourth deputy, Darrin Shelton, is accused of "needlessly plac[ing] his foot on Plaintiffs head and/or neck, cruelly pushing plaintiffs head into the pavement for minutes." Per the Chron, Shelton has said in an incident report that he was trying to prevent Petrov from spitting blood at the other officers. Sgt. Ray Kelly, spokesperson for the Alameda County Sheriffs Office, issued the following statement Monday: "The internal affairs and criminal investigations into the Petrov case remain open and active. We have not officially received the current civil complaint, but are aware that it is another part of the case that needs to be addressed. We will continue to do a thorough, fair and cooperative investigation with all involved parties." Petrov's attorney, Michael Haddad, said in a statement, "We intend to make sure that justice includes reforming the corrupt culture in the Sheriff's Office that allowed these crimes to happen in front of so many deputies." Attorney Michael Rains, who is representing Santamaria, issued a statement Monday via ABC 7 which reads, in part: "Had Petrov put his hands outside of his car when he crashed it in San Francisco, and not taken off running, he would have been handcuffed, and not been struck by batons. Had he followed repeated requests by the Deputies to 'show us your hands' and 'get on the ground' instead of trying to use his hands and feet to assault Deputies, he would not have been struck. And... at no time did Petrov raise his hands to surrender as he was being chased by Deputy Wieber, just before the Deputy tackled him. Even though Deputy SantaMaria, my client, did not know Petrov's criminal history when the incident occurred, he knew, as a veteran law enforcement officer working patrol in high crime areas, that the man who had assaulted other deputies in San Leandro while driving a stolen car was very likely armed, and would not think twice about assaulting and killing sSantaMaria or his partner if he had any opportunity at all." The case has an interesting sidebar, though one that is legally unrelated to Petrov's beating. Petrov remains in federal custody on weapons and drug charges stemming from an arrest on April 1 at a home in Visitacion Valley. The arrest occurred at a home Petrov was known to frequent with girlfriend Milagro Moraga outside of which a man was fatally shot less than twelve hours before, and it remains to be seen what connection either Petrov of Moraga may have had to the murder. Petrov's mother insists that Petrov's behavior this past winter and spring were a direct result of his beating and trauma, after which he became "uncontrollable." Per the Guardian, the beating left her son "destroyed" both physically and mentally. Petrov, meanwhile, has not been charged with any crime in connection with the alleged car theft in San Leandro and assault of officers there, which preceded the chase and beating. Reuters reports, via the complaint, that the car in question was an overdue rental. Previously: Video: Sheriff's Deputies Brutally Beat Suspect In Mission District Two Sheriff's Deputies Charged With Felonies Following Mission District Beating Stanislav Petrov, Victim In Videotaped Beating By Deputies, Arrested In Connection With Visitacion Valley Shooting One-time Republican candidate for the governorship of California and current CEO of Hewlett Packard Meg Whitman yesterday endorsed Hillary Clinton for the office of the presidency. The New York Times reports that in doing so she made sure to emphasize that it was mainly her dislike of Donald Trump that drove her to cross party lines. "Time and again history has shown that when demagogues have gotten power or come close to getting power, it usually does not end well," the paper quotes Whitman as observing. "I will vote for Hillary, I will talk to my Republican friends about helping her, and I will donate to her campaign and try to raise money for her." In a telephone interview with the Times, she drove the point home calling Trump "a dishonest demagogue." Whitman had telegraphed her disapproval of Trump previously going so far as to revoke her previous support of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie after he endorsed the Republican nominee in what she called an astonishing display of political opportunism. That Whitman has pledged to bring her considerable financial resources and fundraising connections to the race in favor of Clinton is of no small note as highlighted by KQED, she spent $144 million of her own money in her failed 2010 campaign against Jerry Brown for governor. In other words, she has demonstrated a history of putting her money where her mouth is. "As a proud Republican, casting my vote for President has usually been a simple matter," explained Whitman in a statement picked up by ABC 7. "This year is different. To vote Republican out of party loyalty alone would be to endorse a candidacy that I believe has exploited anger, grievance, xenophobia, and racial division." Whitman is the latest billionaire to get behind Clinton, following the endorsements of Michael Bloomberg and Warren Buffet, and is yet another sign that America's super rich are abandoning a party once viewed as favorable to them. Whether the support, and money, will ultimately make a difference in the campaign is anyone's guess. After all, we know how it turned out for Whitman back in 2010. Related: Everyone Is Awful: Chronicle Declines To Endorse Anyone In Presidential Primary Google parent company Alphabet is one step closer to realizing its promise of having drones deliver all the dumb stuff you order online right to your doorstep. CNet reports that the company was granted permission by the White House to begin testing unmanned aerial vehicle deliveries as part of a larger plan to stimulate drone development in the US. Alphabet's aerial drones, showcased delivering dog food and candy late last year to an Australian farmer, will first be deployed at six US test sites before hitting public skies. Project Wing, as the Alphabet program is called, will work closely with the government in the initial testing phase. "Data gathered will be shared with government partners to help regulators answer critical safety and human factors questions for UAV cargo delivery operations," reads the White House press release announcing the plans. "Project Wing is planning for the testing to include operations with external cargo loads and to build towards beyond line of sight (BLOS) capabilities." Alphabet, of course, is not the only major player in the drone game. Amazon has been testing delivery drones for years, and unveiled a functioning prototype last November. (There's also those guys promising to drone deliver you weed in Dolores Park, but we're not holding our breath on that one.) The government's partnership with Project Wing is just one part of a larger plan to spur a US drone industry an industry that officials expect to generate $82 billion over the next ten years for the economy. Other actions announced yesterday include $35 million in funding for the National Science Foundation "to accelerate the understanding of how to intelligently and effectively design, control, and apply [unmanned aircraft systems] to beneficial applications." This move comes less than two months after the White House announced new rules governing drones in US airspace, and is likely to be the first of many major private/public partnerships in the effort to deploy drone technology. So, when should we start to see Alphabet-branded drones flying over San Francisco? If the chief engineer for Project Wing is to be believed, sooner than you may think. "Our goal is to have commercial business up and running in 2017," Dave Vos told Reuters late last year. Until that time, however, you'll just have to have your drone deliveries take place the old fashioned, terrestrial way. Related: Chief Google Engineer Says Crazy Thing About 2017 Drone Deliveries A Mission District pedestrian was robbed Tuesday evening, when he paused in his travels to text. It was 10:45 p.m. when the 25-year-old victim was walking through the area of 21st and Shotwell Streets. According to the San Francisco Police Department, the man "was walking on sidewalk and then stopped to text a friend." That's the moment when two suspects, both believed to be around 30-years-old, rushed him from behind. One of the muggers showed the victim a "black handgun," police say, then punched the pedestrian in the head "several times." Together, the dreadful duo robbed the man of the cash he had in his pocket, and took the phone on which he'd so recently been texting, the SFPD reports. The victim was injured seriously enough in the attack that he had to be transported to San Francisco General Hospital, where police say he was in stable condition as of last night. The suspects fled on foot, police say, and remain at large as of Wednesday morning. This is a very easy endorsement to make: We strongly support Russ Feingold in his bid to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate. Feingold faces an independent Democrat in the Aug. 9 Democratic primary. The winner will challenge Republican Sen. Ron Johnson and Libertarian Phillip Anderson in the November general election. Feingold has a long career in elected office and public service. He distinguished himself in the state Legislature before his election to U.S. Senate in 1992. In office, Feingold had a knack for being able to work on issues just as they were becoming critical. He led the way on campaign finance reform, civil liberties and understanding the dangers of George W. Bushs Iraq war. Going forward, Feingold would like to focus on pocketbook issues such as growing jobs, addressing student debt, crafting effective trade agreements so that they dont reward companies that outsource jobs overseas, and building a 21st-century economy, but also being smart about defeating terrorists abroad and respecting civil liberties. Feingold isnt afraid to take a courageous position when its the right thing to do. For example, he famously was the lone vote against the Patriot Act, which had some serious flaws. Contrast Feingolds intelligence and independence to Ron Johnsons know-nothing, do-nothing, tea party-friendly tenure in office. The differences couldnt be more stark. Vote for Russ Feingold in the August Democratic primary and again in the November general election and send him back to the U.S. Senate. American politics has entered the Twilight Zone when the Republican Partys presidential nominee is allying himself with the totalitarian ruler of the government Ronald Reagan called an evil empire while delegates to the Democratic National Convention break out into patriotic chants usually heard from inebriated sports bozos: U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The Democratic convention was a welcome relief after a four-day Republican hate fest portrayed America as a smoldering ruins overrun by raping and pillaging bands of brown-skinned immigrants and blood-thirsty terrorists. That left it up to Democrats to celebrate all the good things about our country without trying to pretend America had magically achieved equality and justice for all. But Democrats provided a great visual every night of the nations rich diversity of races, religions and social classes compared to the blindingly white Republican convention, with only 18 African Americans sprinkled among its 2,472 delegates. Democrats had all the stars, too. Riveting, historic moments featured not only Hillary Clinton, the first woman nominated for president, but also among the best speeches of their lives from President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and the underrated working-class hero, Vice President Joe Biden. The radiantly successful First Lady Michelle Obama set the upbeat tone lighting up opening night. Michelle was totally transformed from the reluctant political partner who entered the White House only to be brutally assaulted by the right-wing Republican attack machine that has pilloried Hillary Clinton and every other progressive woman in politics. The racist bombardment was perfectly satirized on that famous New Yorker cover showing Michelle with an enormous afro, an assault rifle slung over her shoulder and a bandolier of ammo across her chest, fist bumping Barack as they burn an American flag in the Oval Office fireplace. Boy, has she overcome. Her speech expressed her appreciation and pride in the meaning for Americaand for families of all racesof her beautiful daughters growing up and playing on the lawn of a White House built by slaves. Dont let anyone ever tell you that this country isnt great, that somehow we need to make it great again, she said. Because this right now is the greatest country on earth! Friends of the Shepherd Help support Milwaukee's locally owned free weekly newspaper. LEARN MORE A Joe McCarthy Moment But among all the political heavy hitters, it was two everyday Americans few people in the room knew who stopped the convention cold with their personal story. Khizr Khan is a Harvard-educated lawyer and Muslim American immigrant from Pakistan, now living in Charlottesville, Va. With his hand over his heart and his grieving wife Ghazala in a hijab standing silently at his side, Khan said: We are honored to stand here as the parents of Captain Humayun Khan and as patriotic American Muslims with undivided loyalty to our country. In 2004, their 27-year-old son told his men in Iraq to take cover as he approached a suspicious vehicle that exploded, killing him instantly. Last December, Hillary Clinton paid tribute to Khan, calling him the best of America, one of 14 American Muslims killed serving in the military since 9/11. If it was up to Donald Trump, he [Humayun] never would have been in America, Khan said. Donald Trump consistently smears the character of Muslims He vows to build walls and ban us from this country. Khan asked Trump if hed even read the Constitution. I will gladly lend you my copy, he said, pulling out a well-worn pocket copy. Look for the words liberty and equal protection of law, Khan said. He told Trump to visit Arlington Cemetery. Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending the United States of America. You will see all faiths, genders and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing and no one. It was a powerful, unforgettable moment that was still reverberating across the country when, unbelievably, Republican presidential nominee Trump attacked those grieving parents. Trump wondered if the fathers deeply moving, personal statement was concocted by Hillarys scriptwriters. He thought the mother might have remained silent because Muslim women werent allowed to speak. Ghazala later said she was far too emotional to speak and broke down offstage. Trump then tastelessly compared sacrifices hes made as a businessman to increase the financial fortune his father left him to the Khans loss of their son. I think Ive made a lot of sacrifices, Trump said. I work very, very hard. To paraphrase a statement made famous by the original Joe McCarthy moment in American politics, when the party had to decide whether to repudiate another despicable Republican: At long last, sir, have you no decency? The Democratic convention just showed us the multiracial face of America as it exists today. The Republican nominee continues to show us the vile, twisted face of racism and bigotry in America. Trumps betting he can win by appealing to racial fears and hatred. The overwhelming majority of decent Americans will prove him wrong. The definition of rare: unusually excellent, admirable or, in the kitchen, cooking meat for only a short time. Either way, Rare Steakhouse fits the bill. It was immediately apparent that customer service is as important at Rare as the food in providing an uber-fine dining experience. From the valet to the table captain, the servers, manager and host, everyone at Rare bestows celebrity status on their guests. Its truly the mission at Rare to go above and beyond in a friendly, approachable manner. Rares atmosphere has an elegant and sophisticated look with chandeliers sparkling overhead, deep burgundy tufted booths and dark mahogany wood as a back drop to the white linen tables. The warm tones and wood carry through to the long bar in the piano lounge area and grand wine lockers that can be stocked personally for you with a private selection. They have both classic and craft cocktails, and Rare makes a martini that would make James Bond grin. The wine list and room are as impressive as the service. With so many choices it reads like a tome, but with the help of certified wine sommeliers wholl make you feel at ease. They not only will pair a perfect wine, but find one that suits your palate and personality. Worthy of mention are the popovers we swooned over at the start of the meal. They were so good we did a repeat on them to sop up the rest of the table-side banana foster for dessert (a little tip from one of the members of the team that stopped by our table). We continued with fresh deer creek oystersbriny little gems nestled in their juices with roasted onion mignonette, and the lobster bisque ($15) that was rich and had a luxurious mouth feel with a dollop of cool lobster salad atop crunchy toast. Another classic table-side experience was the Caesar salad served with a story about how it came to be, yet the salad itself fell a little short with too much acid and not enough anchovy. The menu at Rare is vast with selections in each category from starters to other meat and seafood options, but the stars at Rare are the steaks. Rare only uses USDA Prime, specific hand cuts and dry aged in their aging locker right on site. The table captain brings examples tableside on a silver platter to show off these impressive cuts, like the 24 oz. Tomahawk Chop, 12 oz. bone-in filet, 18 oz. Kansas City Strip and 22 oz. rib eye displayed like crowned jewels. We opted for the bone-in rib eye ($62) and added foie gras butter ($9) to put over the top. Other enhancements included sauteed mushrooms or onions, bacon, blue cheese or even a lobster tail. The enhancements, although delicious, are almost superfluous with the big, beefy steaks with their nutty, mouth-watering flavor. The steaks are seared in a 1,800-degree, infrared broiler to get a nice crust on the outside and served with au jus. We did have one hiccup in the cooking temperature not being a true medium rare, but the table captain immediately whisked it away with apologies and fired another that was served at the perfect temperature. Again, the customers experience was top priority! The sides ($8-$22) are plentiful for sharing and range from broccoli to lobster mac and cheese, duck fat frites with Parmesan and aioli that were crisp shoe strings that stood up to the aioli. The Brussels sprouts with Nueskis bacon and cipollini onions were both memorable. Rare Steakhouse 833 E Michigan St. 414-273-7273 $$$$ CC, FB, RS, GF milwaukee.raresteakandseafood.com Handicapped access: Yes Cafe Society, Woody Allens latest comedy, is a bi-coastal period piece. As the title suggests, its partly set amidst the lush life of 1930s Manhattan. But it also plays out in Hollywood during that same era. The protagonist, Bobby Dorfman (Jesse Eisenberg), speaks for the writer-director when he derides Hollywood as a boring, nasty, dog eat dog industry. And yet, like so many characters from Allens previous films, Bobby and girlfriend Vonnie (Kristen Stewart) gush over the sort of movies programmed nowadays by TCM. The confused romance between Bobby and Vonnie provides a spindly framework that barely holds together Cafe Societys sequence of incidents. As in real life, there are scenes that seem to lead nowhere. Bobby, the son of a poor Bronx jeweler, comes to Hollywood seeking the help of his uncle, high-powered agent Phil Stern (an amusingly glib, fast-talking turn by Steve Carell). Ensconced in a palatial Art Deco office, Phil gives the nephew he barely knows odd jobs and tasks his secretary, Vonnie, with showing him L.A. Bobby doesnt know, as he begins to fall for Vonnie, that her mysterious boyfriend is his uncle, who has committed himself to the affair despite an enduring admiration for his wife of 25 years. The human heart continually violates the laws of economics and reason, as conceded even by Bobbys brother-in-law, dedicated to the dialectical materialism of Marxism. Bobbys brother Ben (Corey Stoll), however, is a dedicated capitalist, a gangster who invested his ill-gotten proceeds in a grand Manhattan nightclub where women in gowns and men in black ties sip highballs and trade gossip. After Vonnie choses Phil, Bobby returns to New York to manage his brothers club. Baby-faced Eisenberg is fine as the innocent abroad, the Bronx kid still awkward in his own skin, but is unconvincing as the mobbed-up man of the world. Cafe Societys thin plot serves as a platform for Allens enduring preoccupations with Jews as the eternal Other in Western Civilization; the comical dynamics of the sort of New York Jewish family in which he was reared; and the problem of finding meaning in a universe he suspects is meaningless. The communist brother-in-law is depicted as living with his own set of illusions, but sums up Allens philosophy when he says: The unexamined life is not worth living but the examined one is no bargain. Although periodically directing masterpieces and occasionally producing flops, Allen usually helms movies such as Cafe Society, whose moments of mirth and reflection are unable to lift their stories above the level of competence. While his films are almost inevitably more enjoyable than the usual products of boring, nasty Hollywood, one wishes sometimes that Allen would take a year off and wait for inspiration. Cafe Society Jesse Eisenberg Kristen Stewart Directed by Woody Allen Rated PG-13 Expand Thinkstock You need to have a plan to vote, since the state requires you to do more than just show up at the polls on Election Day. The primary is on Tuesday, Aug. 9. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8.p.m. You need to show a photo ID to vote. For more information go to bringitwisconsin.com or call 1-866-VOTE-WIS (1-866-868-3947). You can find your polling place at myvote.wi.gov, along with a sample ballot and other information about voting in next weeks partisan primary. If you want to cast an in-person absentee ballot before the primary, you can do so this week. From now until Thursday, Aug. 4, ballots can be cast between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. On Friday, Aug. 5, you can vote between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you live in the City of Milwaukee, you can cast an in-person absentee ballot at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., Room 501. For more information about voting in the City of Milwaukee, go to city.milwaukee.gov or call 414-286-3491. If you live outside of the city, contact your local municipal clerk for your in-person absentee voting location. If you want to cast an absentee ballot by mail, go to myvote.wi.gov and click on deadlines. Same-day voter registration is still in effect but you can register to vote this week through Friday, Aug. 5, at your municipal clerks office. You need to register to vote if you have not cast a ballot at your current residence. You must provide proof of residency to register to vote. To learn more about registering to vote, go to myvote.wi.gov and click on deadlines. Remember: The Aug. 9 election is a partisan primary. You must choose whether you vote for only Democrats or only Republicans. You cannot choose to vote for a few Democrats and a few Republicans on the same ballot. If you have questions about the ballot, discuss them with the election officials at your polling place. Serving a couple of vegetables every night at dinner is a great strategy for families with picky-eaters. Offering young kids a choice ("Would you like green beans or parsnips or both tonight?") gives them a small but important sense of efficacy, while also helping to demystify ingredients that are served (non-threateningly) at the table. And for the rest of us, eating a couple of vegetables with each meal is a great opportunity to get in the variety of nutrients that keeps us healthy. But two vegetables a night adds up quickly, and we can find ourselves a little lost for creative preparations, especially when time is short. One of my favorite ways to cook veggies quickly (even thicker root veggies) is the pan-saute/steam method. It's quick and melds the best of sauteing (a little fat and flavor) and steaming (speedy cooking without bland boiling). Start by adding a little fat to a saute pan. I love coconut oil for the healthy benefits and slightly nutty and exotic notes it adds the veggies, but any neutral oil will do. Saute the veggies for a couple of minutes, adding in whatever spices or aromatics you have around the house that your family loves. You can go simple with shallots or garlic or more complex with curry paste or Chinese five-spice powder. Next, add liquid water, broth, citrus juice and cover to steam for a few minutes. Once the veggies are crisp-tender from the steam, uncover the pan and allow the liquid to evaporate, leaving the veggies in a tasty and simple glaze. Top with some kind of acid lime juice, or tangy plain yogurt both work well with a variety of flavors. And the final touch? Something crunchy (like pumpkin seeds or chopped nuts) and something fresh like chopped basil, cilantro or mint. The perfect veggie plan for weeknights. Food Network star Melissa d'Arabian is an expert on healthy eating on a budget. She is the author of the cookbook "Supermarket Healthy." SIOUX CITY | Woodbury County residents will soon have the option to view Board of Supervisors meetings in real time on YouTube, thanks to new live-streaming equipment approved for purchase by the county. The Board of Supervisors Tuesday voted unanimously to approve the purchase of live streaming equipment and installation services from Kingsbury Electronics in Sioux City for about $1,300. Recordings of Board of Supervisors meetings are currently posted on the county's YouTube channel the day after meetings occur. Chairman Jeremy Taylor said Tuesday that adding live coverage, which will also air on YouTube, is part of a long-term effort to improve public access to the board meetings. "I think anything we can do to make the meetings more accessible to the public is a good thing," he said. "In this day and age, the more that we can reach out to people, wherever they are, the better." John Malloy, the city and county's information technology director, said Tuesday that the county has investigated adding live-streaming of Board of Supervisors meetings in the past, but the costs had been prohibitive. "The question has been asked for a number of years, and until recently the price wasn't at a point that made it practical," Malloy said. "It's technology advancing. YouTube Live is a newer venue to produce live video events." The total cost for the live-streaming equipment includes a $1,000 streaming device, plus $316 in labor costs for installation. Funding for the live-streaming is built into the county's capital improvement program. Once the equipment is purchased, Malloy said he believed live-streaming would be up and running within two weeks. Supervisors Tuesday discussed the desire to continue posting videos the day after on YouTube so viewers would continue to have access to the meetings if they missed them live. This will be the second upgrade to video of the Board of Supervisors meetings made this year. In March, the county purchased sound equipment to improve audio quality of the meetings. MOVILLE, Iowa | Joci Ofert, 16, admits she enjoys getting flung around on a Tilt-A-Whirl carnival ride and being dizzied on the Octopus. "With the adrenaline, I get super excited," said Ofert, who will be a junior at Woodbury Central in Moville. The Woodbury County Fair begins a five-day run Wednesday and Ofert plans to do some of the thrill rides available from McDermott Family Shows. She has given some slight thought about security of the rides, and was surprised to learn that the state of Iowa gives a review of the equipment at least once per year. "Sometimes I wonder about the safety of the Octopus. It is a natural instinct ... I think it is safe," Ofert said. Jim Borwey, who heads carnival ride inspections in Iowa, says the McDermott rides have passed all tests this year. The amusement ride inspections are handled by the Division of Labor, which operates under the Iowa Workforce Development. Bowrey directs the work of 12 field inspectors, who he said are quite busy this time of year with many county fairs. "We have fairs going on all over the place ... Our function is to ensure public safety," Borwey said. The division workers conduct a safety inspection at least once a year of each amusement ride, concession booth and related electrical equipment. Borwey said in the roughly 10 years that the division has kept records, McDermott Family Shows has never been cited for an incident. Borwey said the McDermott rides were checked out earlier this year on May 27, before the annual Kids Day celebration in Anthon, Iowa. However, McDermott added a new Ferris wheel, which was reviewed by an inspector -- it checked out fine -- at the Plymouth County Fair in Le Mars on July 27. Borwey said a field inspector also will stop in Moville for a look at a time yet to be determined. "We will not do a full-blown inspection. We will do what we call a spot check," Borwey said. Among the things they look for is whether seat restraints are working properly. "We make sure that pins and fasteners are in place and are being used," Borwey said. The inspectors also take a broader look at the carnival setup in the fairgrounds. "Walking the midway, you want to see if it is clean and net and make sure there are no places for slips, trips or falls." Vicki (McDermott) Newlon is one of four McDermott siblings who serve as owners of McDermott Family Shows. She said when the rides are set up, about 40 workers will handle the assembly, which takes a combined eight hours. The longest is the Tilt-A-Whirl, which can take up to three or four hours. "We can do it faster, but there is no sense in rushing it," Newlon said. They are assembling rides that range from one-year-old (MindWinder) to three decades old (Super Slide). Newlon said repetition helps the assemblies go smoothly, and there are manuals to review. "Everything is pretty much numbered," she said. Newlon said she likes having the state inspectors come around for looks. There are additional oversights on electrical elements when the fair goes to Minnesota, she noted. "If I am doing something wrong, I want to know about it...If you can pass mechanical (checks) in Iowa and electrical in Minnesota, you are pretty good," Newlon said. Beyond the inspection the state does on the front end, Borwey said the key thing with rides is that the employees who operate them by strapping people in and running the machinery follow all safety steps time and again. "They are the last line of defense," Borwey said. VERMILLION, S.D. | South Dakota Democratic congressional candidate Paula Hawks will hold a town hall meeting Thursday in Vermillion. Hawks will speak at 6 p.m. at the Vermillion Public Library, 18 Church St. She plans to discuss agriculture and jobs, and answer questions from people at the event. A former teacher, Hawks is a state representative from Hartford, South Dakota. She is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem. Hawks will hold other town hall meetings during her tour through Aug. 11 in Mitchell, Brookings and Huron. SIOUX CITY | Isaiah Mothershed's lawyer said that, if necessary, he'd find someone to conduct ballistics tests on a police officer's gun in order to get testing done in time for next month's trial. Matthew Metzgar said his preference is to have the tests done by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation's crime lab, which conducted tests on the gun that authorities say Mothershed used to shoot Sioux City police Officer Ryan Moritz in the leg on Feb. 7. "If the state can't get it done on time, then I'll find an independent examiner who can," Metzgar said during a hearing Wednesday in Woodbury County District Court. Mothershed is scheduled to stand trial Sept. 13 for the shooting of Moritz. He is accused of pulling a concealed gun from a couch while handcuffed and shooting Moritz in the leg while waiting to be transported to jail after his arrest in connection with a string of armed robberies and break-ins. Metzgar has requested ballistics testing of Moritz's weapon because tests of the bullet that struck Moritz and another that struck Mothershed in the leg were inconclusive that they were fired by the Glock 23 that Mothershed is accused of using. District Judge Steven Andreasen said he was concerned that if he granted the testing, it would delay the trial. Mothershed has waived his right to a speedy trial only up to Sept. 29. "I don't know how quickly that testing and those results will be received," Andreasen said. Woodbury County Attorney Patrick Jennings told Andreasen he couldn't say how long it would take for the state crime lab to conduct the tests and report on its findings. "I'm certain it would not be by the end of September," said Jennings, who has resisted the request for testing because Moritz's primary and secondary weapons were examined after the incident, and it was determined neither had been fired and both were fully loaded. Jennings also argued that tests showed the bullets from the gun believed to have been used in the shooting both had the same rifling characteristics as the bullets test-fired from the weapon. Andreasen said he would file a ruling quickly, possibly on Thursday. Mothershed, 19, of Sioux City, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder and four counts of first-degree robbery. He is accused of not only shooting Moritz but also firing a shot at a homeowner who interrupted a break-in. Mothershed is accused of four separate robberies or break-ins that occurred from Jan. 29 to Feb. 6. Five co-defendants have pleaded guilty to their involvement in some or all of the robberies. A sixth was recently charged and has pleaded not guilty. SIOUX CITY | A 50-year-old Sioux City man was arrested Tuesday evening after police said he exposed himself to several women while riding an electric scooter around a Sioux City Wal-Mart. According to court documents, at 5:37 p.m. Tuesday, shoppers at the Wal-Mart at 3101 Floyd Blvd. notified loss prevention that Douglas Jones Coney, who was riding around the store on an electric scooter, was exposing himself as he passed females in the store. Documents say a loss prevention representative followed Coney around the store and saw Coney approach a female, reach into his pants and expose himself. Loss prevention witnessed this in five separate areas of the store, documents say. When officers arrived and asked Coney to lift his shirt, documents say they found his zipper was unzipped and he was not wearing underwear. Officers later found underwear in a tablet case he was carrying with him. Coney was charged with indecent exposure and is being held in the Woodbury County Jail on $2,000 bond. STORM LAKE, Iowa | A woman charged with stealing a vehicle in Storm Lake Monday was arrested in eastern Nebraska later that day after area law enforcement said she stole gasoline there. According to a news release from the Storm Lake Police Department, at approximately noon on Monday, police took a report that Brianna Holmberg, 31, of Storm Lake, had stolen a 2005 Toyota Camry from another resident. Following investigation, police issued a warrant charging Holmberg with operating a vehicle without owner's consent and put out a broadcast to area law enforcement to watch for Holmberg and the stolen Camry. Around 7:30 p.m., police were notified that Holmberg had been arrested in Cass County, Nebraska, following an alleged theft of gasoline in Cass County's jurisdiction. Holmberg was booked into jail in Cass County and charged for possession of stolen property and theft of gas, as well as the operating without owner's consent charge from Storm Lake. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy With Democrats howling that Vladimir Putin hacked into and leaked those 19,000 DNC emails to help Trump, the Donald had a brainstorm: Maybe the Russians can retrieve Hillary Clinton's lost emails. Not funny, and close to "treasonous," came the shocked cry. Trump then told The New York Times that a Russian incursion into Estonia need not trigger a U.S. military response. Even more shocking. By suggesting the U.S. might not honor its NATO commitment, under Article 5, to fight Russia for Estonia, our foreign policy elites declaimed, Trump has undermined the security architecture that has kept the peace for 65 years. More interesting, however, was the reaction of Middle America. Or, to be more exact, the nonreaction. Americans seem neither shocked nor horrified. What does this suggest? Behind the war guarantees America has issued to scores of nations in Europe, the Mideast and Asia since 1949, the bedrock of public support that existed during the Cold War has crumbled. We got a hint of this in 2013. Barack Obama, claiming his "red line" against any use of poison gas in Syria had been crossed, found he had no public backing for air and missile strikes on the Assad regime. The country rose up as one and told him to forget it. He did. We have been at war since 2001. And as one looks on the ruins of Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen, and adds up the thousands dead and wounded and trillions sunk and lost, can anyone say our War Party has served us well? On bringing Estonia into NATO, no Cold War president would have dreamed of issuing so insane a war guarantee. Eisenhower refused to intervene to save the Hungarian rebels. JFK refused to halt the building of the Berlin Wall. LBJ did nothing to impede the Warsaw Pact's crushing of the Prague Spring. Reagan never considered moving militarily to halt the smashing of Solidarity. Were all these presidents cringing isolationists? Rather, they were realists who recognized that, though we prayed the captive nations would one day be free, we were not going to risk a world war, or a nuclear war, to achieve it. Period. In 1991, President Bush told Ukrainians that any declaration of independence from Moscow would be an act of "suicidal nationalism." Today, Beltway hawks want to bring Ukraine into NATO. This would mean that America would go to war with Russia, if necessary, to preserve an independence Bush I regarded as "suicidal." Have we lost our minds? The first NATO supreme commander, General Eisenhower, said that if U.S. troops were still in Europe in 10 years, NATO would be a failure. In 1961, he urged JFK to start pulling U.S. troops out, lest Europeans become military dependencies of the United States. Was Ike not right? Even Barack Obama today riffs about the "free riders" on America's defense. Is it really so outrageous for Trump to ask how long the U.S. is to be responsible for defending rich Europeans who refuse to conscript the soldiers or pay the cost of their own defense, when Eisenhower was asking that same question 55 years ago? In 1997, geostrategist George Kennan warned that moving NATO into Eastern Europe "would be the most fateful error of American policy in the post-Cold War era." He predicted a fierce nationalistic Russian response. Was Kennan not right? NATO and Russia are today building up forces in the eastern Baltic where no vital U.S. interests exist, and where we have never fought before -- for that very reason. There is no evidence Russia intends to march into Estonia, and no reason for her to do so. But if she did, how would NATO expel Russian troops without air and missile strikes that would devastate that tiny country? And if we killed Russians inside Russia, are we confident Moscow would not resort to tactical atomic weapons to prevail? After all, Russia cannot back up any further. We are right in her face. On this issue Trump seems to be speaking for the silent majority and certainly raising issues that need to be debated. How long are we to be committed to go to war to defend the tiny Baltic republics against a Russia that could overrun them in 72 hours? When, if ever, does our obligation end? If it is eternal, is not a clash with a revanchist and anti-American Russia inevitable? Are U.S. war guarantees in the Baltic republics even credible? If the Cold War generations of Americans were unwilling to go to war with a nuclear-armed Soviet Union over Hungary and Czechoslovakia, are the millennials ready to fight a war with Russia over Estonia? Needed now is diplomacy. The trade-off: Russia ensures the independence of the Baltic republics that she let go. And NATO gets out of Russia's face. Should Russia dishonor its commitment, economic sanctions are the answer, not another European war. Thanks to Rev. Cary Gordon and Cornerstone World Outreach, the important local story of Rev. George Haddock will receive a high-profile boost, beginning today. In a ceremony near Third Street and Wesley Parkway, Gordon and his church will dedicate a statue of Haddock, a minister and crusading prohibitionist who was murdered nearby on Aug. 3, 1886. Haddock moved to Sioux City in 1885 to be pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at 19th and Nebraska streets. The city sold the 20-by-20-foot parcel of land to the church, which will pay all costs associated with creation of the Haddock memorial park. The story of Haddock, perhaps unknown to many local residents, was thrust into the spotlight in 2013 when a Haddock marker, immersed in concrete at the site of his murder at the corner of Fourth and Water streets since 1936, was moved to the Public Museum due to construction of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The marker remains at the museum today. We welcome this new statue of Haddock because it adds to already deep recognition within our community of significant figures and events in local history and because it provides additional exposure to the story of Haddock, whose death was national news. Perhaps Gordon put it best for a July 26 Journal story. DES MOINES | Presumptive Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein has accomplished something Hillary Clinton hasnt. Shes filed the paperwork to be on the general election ballot in Iowa. The Green Party has submitted paperwork for Stein to be on the Nov. 8 ballot, according to the Iowa Secretary of State Office. Before her name and the name of her running mate human rights activist Ajamu Baraka, go on the ballot, the 2,140 signatures submitted must be verified. SOS spokesman Kevin Hall said no irregularities have been found, but the verification wont be complete until after the filing period for federal candidates closes Aug. 19. Challenges may be filed until Aug. 26. Officially, Stein wont be the Green nominee until the roll call of delegates at the partys national convention in Houston later this week. So far, Republican nominee Donald Trump and Stein are the only presidential candidates who have submitted the necessary paperwork, Hall said. He expects Clintons to arrive before the end of the week. For Stein and other candidates nominated by non-political party organizations to get on the ballot, they must submit at least 1,500 signatures of voters in at least 10 counties. The GOP and Democratic parties have ballot status based on having won at least 2 percent of the vote in the most recent gubernatorial or presidential election. The Greens achieved ballot status in 2000 when their presidential candidate, consumer activist Ralph Nader, received 29,374 votes or 2.2 percent of the total votes cast for president that year. However, the Iowa Green Party lost ballot status after its candidate for governor did not receive 2 percent of the total votes cast in the 2002 election. Stein, whose policy proposals include single-payer health care, tuition-free public education and creating jobs in renewable energy, hopes to win the support of progressives, including supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and voters with unfavorable views of both major party candidates. We know how Bernie's campaign ended but I was one of his supporters that just cannot bring myself to support either Clinton or Trump, said former Sanders supporter Shawn Ketcham of Cedar Rapids. Linda Hagge of Ames said shes supporting Stein because the Green Party has become the sole voice of progressive politics in the United States. SIOUX CITY | Leah Nelson once let a friend take care of her dogs when she traveled to Michigan. During the trip, her schnauzer mix, Chewbacca, went missing. "I was scared," Nelson recalled. "I made my phone calls here and got him put on some websites." Twenty-four hours later, Nelson's friend found Chewbacca sitting on the deck waiting for him to return home from work. Nelson, who grew up with dogs, now runs her own professional pet sitting business, Imperial Petcare. She cares for a variety of pets, including dogs, cats, fish and lizards, in clients' homes. "I always tell everyone I'm living my dream, finally," Nelson said as she held her gray guinea pig, Lenny, in her right hand. Her left arm was around her mother's 9-month-old German shepherd, Tank, appropriately named for his hulking size. Her children Ayla, 11, and Ian, 9, who sometimes accompany her on the job, tended to Chewbacca and Yoda, another guinea pig, while Morgan, a Vizsla, paced across the living room floor. 1. How long have you been pet sitting? About 2 1/2 years. 2. Why did you get into pet sitting? I worked at numerous boarding kennels in town. I see that people love to come and get their dogs on a Sunday. This way when people come home, their pets are already there. They don't have to wait an extra day. 3. Do you go to the pets home or do they come to yours? I go to their home. 4. What does pet sitting consist of? Sometimes I take them for walks. We go out and play in the yard. Yesterday, I was taking care of two Weimaraners and they love kids, so my daughter came with me and she played fetch with them in the yard for 20 minutes. I do everything the owners do in a day. 5. How many clients can you have at one time? When it's just me, I can do four. 6. Why hire a pet sitter? We're more personable. We come into your house. It makes your animals feel at home. They're not going to a busy kennel where there's 30 other dogs barking. 7. What do you think a pet sitter can offer the animal that a kennel or a pet resort cant? I know all my clients on a first name basis. I take care of a lot of dogs with medication. It's very easy at bigger facilities to mess that up. We just take the time for each individual house. 8. Why do you think pet sitting is growing in popularity? People see what goes on behind the scenes. There's a lot of cameras in kennels now and they see what happens. They just feel safer with animals at home in their own environment. 9. What kinds of clients do you have? Mostly dogs. I do have some small animals. I take care of lizards, even fish. I have a house where I have to take care of their oscars. I have a house where it's just two Maine Coon cats. 10. What qualities make someone a good pet sitter? I was born and raised with dogs. I'm a third generation dog person. We show dogs. I just love dogs. You have to love what you do. 11. Do you have to receive any type of special training? I helped my sister who's a professional dog handler for the last 30 years. I'm also a dog trainer. I took dog training classes. 12. Sometimes animals run away and get lost when their humans are out of town. What advice would you give to family members who might be asked to pet sit? You have to be careful, especially if you take your animals to somebody else's house. They're not used to that; and they want to get home. 13. Is it easier to watch pets or children? Pets. I was a day care teacher for 10 years and a nanny. I will take pets any day over children. 14. What can a customer expect to pay a pet sitter? It depends on how many times a day I go there, if I do an overnight. I have some houses that I do two times a day or three times a day. This one I'm doing now is four times a day because they have a handicapped dog who's in a wheelchair. It just depends on the circumstances. 15. How many hours do you typically spend with a pet? It's about an hour and a half a day. A 20-minute visit three times a day is what most people pay for and I'm always there at least 30 minutes at a time. I have one house where I actually spend the night. I do exactly what (the owners) do. I sleep in their room so their dogs can sleep in their bed. I get up at the exact times they do and walk them. 16. How can the pets owner help the pet sitter? Detailed instructions. If (the pet) gets medication they need to be very specific in writing everything down. 17. What type of animals do you enjoy pet sitting the most? Probably the big luggy dogs. I'm a big dog person. I have a few Noah's Hope foster people that have six to 11 dogs. I do enjoy the little ankle-biter mill rescues that they have. I really do like the Maine Coon cats just because they're cool cats. 18. Do you introduce yourself to the animals before you take them on as a client? I do a free meet-and-greet with each new customer. I learn all about their medication, all about their food, how many times they go out, whether or not they can go for a walk. Not everybody gets along with every animal. I had a boxer one time -- she just didn't like me. Obviously I wasn't going to pet sit there. I recommended where to take her. 19. What kinds of instructions do you require that an owner provide you? All their (pet's) medications. Any daily routine that they have. Whether or not they're aggressive with their other, I call them, "siblings" with food. Medication is always the scariest one. I have a diabetic dog I take care of. Each and every time I have to give him insulin, I ask, "What's his insulin dose?," because it does change. 20. What kinds of behaviors have you encountered while pet sitting? My pugs that I have right now for 10 days, you could tell the older one was sad that Mom and Dad left, but after a couple days they get used to you. Sometimes they don't eat good at first. For more information, contact Nelson at (712) 281-0962 or visit Imperial Petcare's Facebook page. Social Movements August 3, 2016 Pierre Beaudet Thousands of people from over 95 countries are expected to gather in Montreal on August 9-14 for a social movement summit called the World Social Forum (WSF). Participants will spend a week attending a great variety of workshops, lectures and cultural events more than 1200 in total. Famed author Naomi Klein will be giving two talks that are sure to be among the highlights of this unique event, which is designed to allow social activists and scholars to grapple with a host of economic, social, environmental and cultural questions facing the contemporary world. And Klein is just one of a raft of influential speakers who will be engaging audiences at the WSF. The Forum will unfold throughout downtown Montreal at UQAM, Concordia and McGill as well as in many parks and other venues outside the universities. An annual event that usually takes place in the developing world, the WSF is being held in Montreal following a decision made at last years event in Tunis to bring the Forum north, to a city which has been the site of striking social and political creativity over the last decade, with such movements as Quebecs Maple Spring in 2012. [Ed.: see Bullet No. 680.] The WSF originated in 2001, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, as a response to policies designed to accelerate globalization, a process seen by corporate leaders and governments as well as powerful institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF as the recipe for prosperity. NGOs and social movements from Brazil and from abroad gathered to examine the impact of globalization on the lives of working people and the poor and discuss how to alter globalization to redress the fundamental problems of inequality, environmental degradation and lack of democracy. The WSF Matures After its initial success in Brazil, international, national and regional forums were organized in India, Kenya, Senegal, Pakistan, Mali, Venezuela, and some 50 other countries. The discussions revolved around how to design and implement alternatives to conventional political, economic and social policies. However, the Forum was not conceived as an executive committee for social movements worldwide. It is an open platform aimed at exploring ideas, sharing experiences and broadening perspectives on how to effect change. In 2008 with the eruption of the financial crisis, the idea that economic globalization is the wrong answer to many of the challenges that we face gained steam. Today in 2016, more than 70 per cent of the worlds population lives on less than $10 per day. In the rich countries of the North, austerity is the new watchword and public services are threatened. Moreover, the prevailing economic and political system is failing utterly to address the looming disaster of climate change. War and militarization have thrown whole regions of the world into chaos, which is the source of the escalation of desperate and violent acts in so many countries. Faced with this grave crisis, citizens and social movements are taking stock. What can we do? Is there another way, an alternative approach that can help us relieve these destructive pressures? In recent years, the WSF has been buoyed by the popular demands for social justice and democracy in Southern Europe (the Indignados), North Africa and the Middle East (the Arab Spring), and even the United States (Occupy Wall Street). There is a growing awareness of the need to consider alternatives to policies that primarily benefit elites, as was evident in the U.S. with the Bernie Sanders campaign. The WSF and Challenging the Hard Right Those gathering in Montreal for the WSF are also especially concerned with the growth of an authoritarian politics of hate and blame as embodied, for example, by Donald Trump in the U.S., Marine Le Pen in France and Geert Wilders in Holland. This dangerous current seeks to exacerbate the rising repression against refugees, migrants, Indigenous peoples and many disadvantaged communities. Changing the social and economic conditions that offer fertile ground for the resurgence of the extreme right is among the urgent tasks the groups and individuals meeting in Montreal will turn their minds to at the World Social Forum. As the WSF slogan puts it: Another world is needed. Together it is possible. NCS Peoples University programme: PDF. Selection of events sponsored by Centre for Social Justice, CIDSE, Comboni Network, MAM, MAB, Socialist Project Just Mobility and Environmental Justice Fri Aug 12th, 9:00 11:30: Building an International Free Public Transit Movement. This session brings together activists and movements to discuss strategies for building the international free transit movement. Public transit lies at the intersection of several critical social struggles today. Affordable (or free) public transit is an important mechanism for redistribution, and particularly targets low income women and people of colour. A central component of public policies to address climate change must be mass expenditures on public transit to reduce reliance on private cars and fossil fuels. Speakers: Stefan Kipfer, Free Transit Toronto, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University Muslum Ortulu, transit activist in Frankfurt/Hessen, Germany and Kurdistan Judith Dellheim, Just Mobility Project, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Berlin Jason Prince, transit activist, Montreal Tailings Dam Breaches in Canada and Brazil Accidents or Environmental Crimes Wed Aug 10th, 9:00 11:30: In August 2015, the tailings dam at Imperial Metals Mount Polley mine collapsed, resulting in a toxic spill of 24 million cubic meters of mine waste. In November 201 5, an even bigger toxic spill occurred in Mariana, Brazil at the Samarco mine, a 50-50 joint venture of Brazils Vale and BHP. The toxic tsumani travelled the 800 km of the Sweet River to the Atlantic. The tragedy took 19 lives, left 1 200 homeless and thousands more with loss of land and livelihoods. In a round-table discussion, people affected by these disasters from Mt. Polley and Marianal will compare the strikingly similar circumstances surrounding the two tragedies. Chair: Judith Marshall, CERLAC. Presenters: Ugo Lapoint, Mining Watch Canada Jacinda Mack, First Nations Women Advocating Responsible Mining, FNWARM, Canada Leticia Oliveira, MAB, Brasil Beatriz Cerqueira, CUT Brasil Mining Companies: Strategies for Control Over Territories, Workers and Governments Wed Aug 10th, 1:00 3:30: Aggressive extractivism the exploitation of natural resources by private mining companies accountable only to their own directors and shareholders has become a driving force in the neoliberal world order. The global operations of these mining companies place workers, communities and watersheds directly in harms way. Governments have ceased to play an effective regulatory role, nor do they defend their citizens, right or exercise sovereignty over their citizens resources. Government and mining companies jointly promote a discourse that claims interests of the mining or oil company as a reflection of the national interest. Chair: Rodrigo Peret, Churches and Mining, Brasil. Presenters: Pablo Solon, Fundacion Solon, Bolivia Karyn Keenan, Above Ground, Canada Shelley Condratto, Laurentian University; Derek Boivin, USW, Canada Dario Bossi, Justice on the Rails, Brasil Grassroots Perspectivas, Proposals and Challenges in the Face of Minings Violations Thu Aug 11th, 1:00 3:30: The grave impact of extractives industries on the environment and human rights is nothing new. However, the trend in most regions is to the inflation of licencing and expansion of mining activities rather than to a reduction. In addition, the brutality of the repression against social protest that local communities affected are facing is growing. What kind of strategies have we been using as civil society groups and what are the opportunities and challenges that we need to use and tackle in the next future? Chair: Moema Miranda, IBASE, Brasil. Presenters: Focus on the Global South, Filipinas Red Muqui, Peru Bench-Marks, South Africa Rodrigo Peret Judith Marshall, CERLAC, Canada Marcio Zonta, MAM, Brasil The Mariana Case and the Destruction of the Doce River Basin Friday Aug 12th, 13:00 15:30 La destruccion de la cuenca del rio Doce, que se conocio como el caso de Mariana, que ocurrio en noviembre del ano pasado con la rotura de la presa de la Samarco residuos mineros, una empresa BHP Billiton y Vale, que afecta a mas de 1 millon de afectados, la destruccion de toda la cuenca del Rio Doce. El caso se volvio paradigma de la impunidad empresarial y el problema de la mineria. La actividad tiene como objetivo discutir el caso en varias facetas como eje emblematico de conflictos ambientales derivados de la mineria. Chair: Tchenna Maso, MAB. Presenters: Leticia Oliveira, MAB, Brasil Beatriz Cerqueira, CUT-MG, Brasil Soniamara Maranho, MAB Short program with events sponsored by Centre for Social Justice, CIDSE, Comboni Network, MAM, MAB, Socialist Project: PDF. Kevin Burns fought for gay and lesbian right decades ago in the City of North Miami. Now Burns is fighting in a crowded field for an open seat in Floridas Senate. District 38, a Miami-Dade district, is up for grabs this year after the retirement of Gwen Margolis, Floridas longest serving legislator. Burns is one of six Democrats vying for the seat. In an interview with SFGN, Burns said he worked to ensure North Miami provided domestic partner benefits for employees. I have a track record of advocating and implementing protections for gay and lesbians in North Miami and in the State of Florida, said Burns, adding that he was also actively involved in removing barriers to adoptions for gay couples living in the Sunshine State. Burns, 57, has been with his partner Rob for 31 years. The couple are proud parents of a 14-year-old daughter, Autumn. Kevin Burns laid the groundwork for the GLBT community, said Scott Galvin, Vice President of Education at Junior Achievement of Miami. He was aware 10 years ago what it took and he got things done. Related: Lesbian Couple Denied Entry Into North Miami Beach Club Galvin and Burns served together on the North Miami City Council. Under Burns leadership, the city built four new schools. He knows the community, Galvin said. Hes hands on and not pretentious. Everybody likes him. Floridas Senate contains 40 elected members. It is the upper chamber in Tallahassee and Senators serve four years and a maximum of two terms. Were entering a new era of leadership, Galvin said. The primary winner, Galvin said, must know how the legislative process works. And Burns, Michael Albetta said, is that man. Albetta, past president of Floridas GLBT Caucus, worked with Burns on statewide issues. He has tenure under his belt, said Albetta. Kevin Burns will be a great voice in the chamber. He was fighting for our issues when it wasnt fashionable to be up front and out spoken. Albetta notes Burns ability to get elected twice in North Miami, a city with a large ethnic Haitian population, is evidence of his commitment to justice for all. Related: Gay Candidates Launch Florida Campaigns He represents all the people, Albetta said. Look where he came from. Its a mosaic of people. The primary field, in this newly redrawn district, currently stands at Burns, former Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora, whos also gay, former prosecutor Jason Pizzo, state representative Daphne Campbell, teacher Don Feste and businessman Anis Blemur. Galvin praised the work of Oscar Braynon, II, a State Senator who represents parts of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties and said the ground game on election day, early voting and collecting absentee ballots are campaign essentials. The turf is a diverse map of socioeconomics. You have the wealthiest street in the United States and some of the poorest streets in the country, Burns told the Miami Herald. Campbell is a social conservative known for her objections to abortion. Pizzo has questionable gaps in voting and residency records in the district, but is endorsed by SAVE, South Floridas foremost advocate for the local LGBTQ community. For Burns, experience counts. They trusted me twice, Burns said of his two terms as North Miami Mayor. Here's what you need to know this week for lesbian, transgender and asexual news! Lesbian Lesbian Pastors Widow Sues Church Over Refusal to Pay Pension The widow of a Presbyterian pastor is in the middle of a legal battle with the Church to pay her pension because she is a lesbian, according to Pink News. Letty M Russel was an author who trained at Harvard and was the pastor of Ascension, a Presbyterian Church in East Harlem, according to her widow Shannon Clarkson. She served at the church from 1959 to 1971. After her death in 2007, Clarkson was cut off from the monthly $600 pension, even though Russel named her as her beneficiary. The couple had been together 32 years. Russel died at the age of 77. Had Letty Russel been a man and had she not been a lesbian, Shannon Clarkson would have received pension benefits, said Clarkson in her lawsuit. The Church began to recognize same-sex unions back in 2013, but has continued to deny that the pension is rightfully Clarksons. Im not just doing it for me, Im doing it because I think its the wrong decision, Clarkson said in regards to the Churchs refusal to recognize her as Russels beneficiary. Related: Bill Would Prevent LGBT Discrimination at Religious Schools Transgender Trans Nurse Denied Shower After Being Pepper Sprayed (EDGE) A transgender nurse working at a prison hospital was denied the right to use the male bathroom after being doused in pepper spray. At the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women, Jesse Vroegh was completing a training exercise where staff members were covered in pepper spray. "All staff were allowed to shower immediately afterward to remove the chemical agent," Vroegh wrote in his complaint. "Because my employer has denied me access to the men's shower facilities made available to other male employees, I could not shower to remove the chemical agent until I got home." After, Vroegh faced painful ongoing headaches and had to seek medical treatment. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission because of this incident. Vroegh has been working at ICIW for seven years, and he announced his transition to his employer in March 2014. Despite attempts to encourage trans-friendly policies, nothing was done by his employer. Later, Vroegh approached Warden Patti Wachtendorf, Medical Director Dr. Harbans Deol and Union Representative Todd Givens, to request the use of single-sex spaces. Vroegh was denied. "Rather than setting a good example for other Iowa employers, the state has denied me the use of gendered spaces as well as the health insurance coverage I need, simply because I am transgender," Vroegh said in a statement. "I hope my fight for fairness in the workplace will make a difference for the many other transgender people who have faced similar discrimination at work." Related: Transgender DNC Delegates Hold First-Ever Caucus Meeting Asexual Bojack Horseman May Soon Feature Asexual Leading Character In season three of the animated comedy series Bojack Horseman, the character Todd Chavez (voiced by Aaron Paul) may be the closest television has come to a leading asexual character. According to Decider, when the character was asked by a female love-interest if he was gay, he responded with I dont know what I am. I think I might be nothing. The revelation of the statement I think I might be nothing, is being interpreted by many fans as being connotative of asexuality. In the upcoming season, many Bojack Horseman fans are hoping to see the Todd come to terms with his sexual identity. Other potentially asexual television characters include Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory, the Doctor from Doctor Who, and Sherlock Holmes from Steven Moffats Sherlock. However, these are based on speculation and have not been confirmed by the shows writers. According to Decider, in terms of Todd and Bojack Horseman, This time next year, we may have a leading character who identifies as asexual as well as a detailed narrative exploring the steps of this characters sexual revelation. We have the potential to see a deeply personal story that has never appeared on television before. Is there a Democratic Prince Charming? Lance Bass was looking for one last week in Philadelphia. Bass, the teen pop star turned television personality, attended the 2016 Democratic National Convention. He spoke with SFGN via telephone from the City of Brotherly Love on Thursday. Married life is bliss, Bass said. Bass, 37, married Michael Turchin of Miami Beach in 2014. A year later, the couple participated in a mass wedding celebration in Fort Lauderdale at the W Hotel. The celebration was organized by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Turchin is a model, actor and artist. Bass said his husband had created a new line of accessories around some of his artwork. Hes turned some of his pieces into pocket squares, Bass said. Meanwhile, Bass will introduce a new show to viewers of Logo, titled Finding Prince Charming. Related: Lance Bass to Host Logo's Gay 'Bachelor' Show, 'Finding Prince Charming' We wrapped up a week ago, Bass said. Im excited. We show what dating is like for gay guys. Its about time we had our own dating show for gay men. Bass said the show features a wide variety of characters right down to the trashy type. In Philadelphia, Bass served as a surrogate whip for the Hillary Clinton campaign. He called the experience both beautiful and crazy while complimenting the music making of Lenny Kravitz. He was amazing on the speed guitar, Bass said. Pope Francis doesnt want children learning gender is a choice. In a private meeting last week with bishops from Poland, Francis declared: We are living in a moment of annihilation of man as image of God, according to the transcript released yesterday from the Vatican. Specifically he referred to the education systems in place around the world teaching gender studies. Today, in schools they are teaching this to children to children! that everyone can choose their gender, he said. Related: Pope: Gays and Others Marginalized Deserve an Apology The Pope argued idealogical colonization was financed by very influential countries. One example of this colonization, according to Francis: Ill say it clearly with its first and last name is gender. During his discussion with the Polish Bishops, Francis discussed meeting with his predecessor, Pope Benedict. Benedict retired in 2013 and has since remained at the Vatican. Speaking with Pope Benedict, who is well, and has a clear mind, he was telling me: Holiness, this is the epoch of sin against God the Creator, Hes intelligent! God created man and woman, God created the world this way, this way, and we are doing the opposite. Francis encouraged the Polish Bishops to reflect on Benedicts words. Expedition 48 crew members Kate Rubins (left) and Jeff Williams (right) of NASA outfit spacesuits inside of the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station. Rubins and Williams will conduct a spacewalk in August 2016 to install the first International Docking Adapter, the new docking port that will enable the future arrival of U.S. commercial crew spacecraft. Credit: NASA. NASA The crew aboard the International Space Station continued exploring the numerous ways living in space affects the human body and other organisms. The station residents also participated in an emergency simulation exercise. Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka this week are exploring fluid shifts from an astronauts lower body to the upper body during long-term space missions. This phenomena that occurs in microgravity increases pressure on a crew members brain and eye structure potentially affecting vision. NASA astronaut Kate Rubins relocated an incubator that houses Heart Cells research samples from one science rack to another. Those samples will be analyzed on Earth when the SpaceX Dragon returns the research at the end of August. Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi continued the upkeep of an experiment that is researching genetic alteration in mice and their offspring due to the microgravity environment. All six Expedition 48 crew members joined each other in the afternoon to practice their response to an unlikely emergency situation. The astronauts and cosmonauts practiced communication and coordination in conjunction with Houston and Moscow control centers in response to emergency simulators. On-Orbit Status Report Fluid Shifts Imaging with Chibis in the Service Module (SM): With assistance from the ground team two crewmembers began the second week of the Fluid Shifts experiment run by configuring the Ultrasound 2 hardware prior to performing ultrasound scans on in the SM while using the Chibis. Poor video quality of the Ultrasound scan for the first crewmember only allowed 50% of the test points to be completed. Operations for the second crewmember were deferred to allow ground teams to troubleshoot. Two simultaneous issues were found: an encoder misconfiguration issue and a loose cable onboard. A reboot of the encoder by ground teams and adjustment of the cable by the crew resolved the problem. Fluid Shifts operations will resume tomorrow and todays activities will be rescheduled. The Fluids Shift investigation is divided into three segments: Dilution Measures, Baseline Imaging, and Baseline Imaging using the Russian Chibis Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) device. The experiment measures how much fluid shifts from the lower body to the upper body, in or out of cells and blood vessels, and determines the impact these shifts have on fluid pressure in the head, changes in vision and eye structures. Frozen in Time, Jeff Williams and MELFI: Ten years ago today, then Flight Engineer Jeff Williams placed the first science samples into the Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for the International Space Station (MELFI) Flight Unit 1 (FU1) in the U.S. Laboratory/Destiny during Expedition 13. MELFI is a cold storage unit that maintains experiment samples at temperatures ranging from just above freezing to ultra-cold. Expedition 13 was the beginning of many years of science collaboration between Williams and MELFI. Williams arrived at the ISS on April 1, 2006, and the MELFI FU1 arrived on July 6 of the same year. Jeff then activated MELFI for the first time on July 19. As Flight Engineer during Expedition 21, Williams performed maintenance on MELFI by replacing a failed Electronics Unit. Now, as commander of Expedition 48, he is using all three MELFI flight units onboard ISS to further the science goals of ISS. Over the last ten years, Williams and MELFI have provided a wide range of support to life science experiments and enhanced research capabilities on the ISS. To say the least, Jeff has had an interesting 10 year history with MELFI. Mouse Epigenetics Cage Unit Maintenance: The crew performed maintenance activities for the Mouse Epigenetics Habitat Cage Units by transferring the mice from one habitat cage unit to another and refilling the cage units with water. The Mouse Epigenetics investigation studies altered gene expression patterns in the organs of male mice that spend one month in space, and also examines changes in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of their offspring. Results from the investigation identify genetic alterations that happen after exposure to the microgravity environment of space. Fine Motor Skills: A series of interactive tasks on a touchscreen tablet were completed for the Fine Motor Skills investigation. This investigation is critical during long-duration space missions, particularly those skills needed to interact with technologies required in next-generation space vehicles, spacesuits, and habitats. The crewmembers fine motor skills are also necessary for performing tasks in transit or on a planetary surface, such as information access, just-in-time training, subsystem maintenance, and medical treatment. Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations: The crew recorded and submitted a walk-through video documenting observations of life onboard ISS, providing insight related to human factors and habitability. The Habitability investigation collects observations about the relationship between crew members and their environment on the ISS. Observations can help spacecraft designers understand how much habitable volume is required, and whether a missions duration impacts how much space crew members need. NanoRacks (NR) Plate Reader 2 Module-29 Test Plate Removal: Following last weeks analysis of the NanoRacks Module-29 (NanoRacks-Fluorescent Polarization in Microgravity) test plates, today the crew removed the fifth test plate from the sample tray and discarded all NR Module 29 hardware. The analysis was performed by sequentially inserting and removing five individual NR Module -29 test plates to and from the sample tray which allows scientists to study chemical reactions using fluorescence polarization which produces changes in light when molecules bind together. This technique enables researchers to measure the interactions of proteins with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), or antibodies, and many other biomedical functions. NanoRacks Module -29 validates a commercial Plate Reader instrument that detects changes in light for these types of reactions in a multiwell plate, a flat plate with 384 wells or tiny test tubes, to examine microgravitys effect on fluorescent polarization, which paves the way for advanced biology research and drug development in space. Microgravity Experiment Research Locker/INcubator-5 (MERLIN 5) Transfer to Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) Rack 5 (ER5): The MERLIN-5 was removed from ER7 and installed in ER5 to support samples for the Heart Cells investigation returning on SpX-9. ER7 has a failed power control module, which prevents the MERLIN from being powered on. Moving it to ER5 will allow MERLIN to be powered on in time to support the SpaceX-9 return. The MERLIN provides a single middeck locker EXPRESS Rack compatible freezer/refrigerator or incubator that can be used for a variety of experiments. Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparation: In preparation for US EVA #35 currently scheduled for August 19, the crew inspected Retractable Equipment Tethers (RETs) for damaged cords. Each RET cord must be inspected prio to EVA use, then stowed in a protective bag to prevent potential damage. On Board Training (OBT) ISS Emergency Simulation: Following yesterdays training review covering depress, ammonia, US fire and Russian Segment fire events, today all crew members, with support from ground teams, completed a training exercise with the following objectives: Practice ISS emergency response with crew and ground roles based on information provided by simulator displays. Physically translate through ISS to the appropriate response locations to visualize the use of Station equipment and interfaces. Practice procedure execution and associated decision making based on cues provided by simulator. Practice communication and coordination with Houston and Moscow Control Centers as required for a given emergency scenario. Upon completion of the training session, the crew and ground teams participated in a debrief to discuss results and address comments and questions. Deck Crew Quarters Fan Fault The Deck Crew Quarters (CQ) annunciated a single fan failure fault yesterday. The crew reported that they found no blockage at the inlets and were asked to take the fan from low to high, which cleared the caution. The fan was brought to medium overnight and will be taken to low on Wednesday morning to test it out. Each CQ rack is outfitted with two fans, although one fan operating in the lowest flow setting provides sufficient flow for smoke detection and CO2 removal. This type of caution has been seen in the past when debris has impeded the flow sensors. Cleaning is nominally performed every 6 months, and was last performed on May 13th. Teams will continue to monitor in order to determine whether or not additional actions are required. Todays Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. FLUID SHIFTS. Gathering and Connecting Equipment for TV coverage FLUID SHIFTS. Comm configuration for the experiment / r/g 9995 USOS Window Shutter Closure FLUID SHIFTS. Activation of ??? for Ultrasound Equipment / r/g 2965 FLUID SHIFTS. Ultrasound 2 Setup and Activation in SM Fine Motor Skills (FINEMOTR) Test CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor / r/g 2888 Fine Motor Skills (FINEMOTR) Photo Documentation Fine Motor Skills (FINEMOTR) Test MOUSE Gather Hardware for the Experiment RS Photo Cameras Sync Up to Station Time / r/g 1594 Acoustic Dosimeter Setup Day 1 FLUID SHIFTS. Chibis Setup / r/g 2970 FLUID SHIFTS. Operator Assistance with Chibis and Gamma-1 r/g 2970 HAM radio session from Columbus FLUID SHIFTS. Ultrasound Scanning in SM, Operator 1 FLUID SHIFTS. Ultrasound Ops in SM, Subject HABIT Questionnaire Laptop and ELC4 racks reconfiguration WRS Sample Collection XF305 Camcorder Settings Adjustment MOUSE Mouse Habitat Cage Unit Maintenance FLUID SHIFTS. Chibis Closeout Ops / r/g 2970 FLUID SHIFTS. Ultrasound 2 Setup and Activation in SM [Deferred] TOCA Potable Water Dispenser (PWD) Sample Analysis CALCIUM. Experiment Session 7 / r/g 2960 ??? Maintenance FLUID SHIFTS. Chibis Setup / r/g 2969 [Deferred] FLUID SHIFTS. Operator Assistance with Chibis and Gamma-1 r/g 2969 [Deferred] Life On The Station Photo and Video / r/g 2747 FLUID SHIFTS. Ultrasound Scan in SM [Deferred] FLUID SHIFTS. Ultrasound 2 Scan, Operator [Deferred] FLUID SHIFTS. Chibis Closeout Ops / r/g 2969 [Deferred] FLUID SHIFTS. Deactivation of ??? and USND / r/g 2967 [Deferred] Reader Plate 2 (PR2). Removal of Module-29 Test Plate from the Sample Tray MOTOCARD. Modification of Diasled Transformer Unit r/g 2971 TOCA Data Recording FLUID SHIFTS. Crew Onboard Support System TOCA Waste Water Bag (WWB) Changeout Water Processing using MCD IMS Delta File Prep ISS Emergency Response Training OBT ISS Emergency Drill Internal Review of Training for Emergency Response On-board ISS FLUID SHIFTS. Ultrasound 2 Stowage in SM AIRMON. Airlock Reconfig after the Experiment INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops / r/g 2963 FLUID SHIFTS. CCFP hardware, HRF Laptop in SM FLUID SHIFTS. Hardware Handover to USOS CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor / r/g 2888 Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification FLUID SHIFTS. Installation of cable assembly for voltage converter r/g 2966 Vacuum Pressure Gauge Accuracy Check / r/g 2968 FLUID SHIFTS. Connecting US-invertor to ???? r/g 2966 FLUID SHIFTS. Restore nominal comm config Stow Video Equipment to capture ?2 Exercise Emergency Response Training Conference Completed Task List Items None Ground Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. Fluid Shifts support [Partially completed] Nominal ground commanding. Three-Day Look Ahead: Wednesday, 08/03: Fluid Shifts, Heart Cells, OBT CheCS drill, EVA Airlock restow Thursday, 08/04: NREP hardware assembly/install to JEMAL, Fluid Shifts, EVA tool config Friday, 08/05: EVA prep, Vascular Echo resting ultrasound, SPHERES-Zero Robotics Dry Run, SkinB, Heart Cells media change, Mouse Transportation Cage Unit prep QUICK ISS Status Environmental Control Group: Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [???] 1 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1) On [???] 2 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2) Off Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab Standby Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab Idle Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Operate Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Process Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Standby Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Off Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Full Up NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 29 July 2016. NASA Today: Body Measures Operations: Two crewmembers, one as the subject and the other providing operator assistance, completed a Body Measures data collection session that began last week. They set up cameras and video, then collected the Neutral Body Posture video and stow the equipment. NASA is collecting in-flight anthropometric data (body measurements) to assess the impact of physical body shape and size changes on suit sizing. Still and video imagery is captured and segmental length, height, depth, and circumference data for all body segments (chest, waist, hip, arms, legs, etc.) from astronauts is taken before, during and after their flight missions. Heart Cells Media Change Operations: To provide nutrients to the Heart Cells and encourage continued cell health, the crew changed the media in the Multiwell BioCell for Heart Cells. The investigation studies the human heart, specifically how heart muscle tissue contracts, grows and changes (gene expression) in microgravity and how those changes vary among subjects. Understanding how heart muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, change in space improves efforts for studying disease, screening drugs and conducting cell replacement therapy for future space missions. Material Science Laboratory (MSL) Solidification and Quench Furnace (SQF) Sample Cartridge Exchange 2 #2: The crew removed the MSL SQF sample cartridge, installed the new sample cartridge, and prepared the facility for the next sample run. The MSL can accommodate one Furnace Insert (FI) at a time for experiment processing. Two ESA-developed FIs are presently available: the Low Gradient Furnace (LGF) and the Solidification and Quenching Furnace (SQF), Sample-Cartridge Assemblies (SCAs) for science programs. NanoRacks (NR) Plate Reader 2 Module-29 Test Plate Insertions: The crew performed an analysis of NanoRacks Module-29 (NanoRacks-Fluorescent Polarization in Microgravity) by sequentially inserting and removing five individual Module -29 test plates to and from the sample tray. Scientists study chemical reactions using fluorescence polarization which produces changes in light when molecules bind together. This technique enables researchers to measure the interactions of proteins with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or antibodies, and many other biomedical functions. NanoRacks Module -29 validates a commercial Plate Reader instrument that detects changes in light for these types of reactions in a multiwell plate, a flat plate with 384 wells or tiny test tubes, to examine microgravitys effect on fluorescent polarization which paves the way for advanced biology research and drug development in space. European Crew Personal Active Dosimeter (EuCPAD) Activation and Checkout: Following yesterdays EuCPAD installation, today the crew activated the Mobile Units using the ESA Active Dosimeter main unit. The EuCPAD is an active device worn by ISS crew members on orbit to measure radiation exposure. This device, coupled with other dosimeters in the European Space Agencys (ESA) Columbus Laboratory, provides radiation dosage information that can be used to support risk assessment and dose management. The goal is to enable the verification of radiation monitoring systems for future medical monitoring of crew members in space. Airway Monitoring Setup Operations: In preparation for the European Space Agency (ESA) Airway Monitoring experiment scheduled to begin next week, the crew continued hardware gather and setup activities in the US Airlock. This investigation studies the occurrence and indicators of airway inflammation in crewmembers, using ultra-sensitive gas analyzers to analyze exhaled air. This helps to highlight any health impacts and to maintain crewmember well-being on future human spaceflight missions, especially longer-duration missions to the Moon and Mars where crewmembers will have to be more self-sufficient in highlighting and avoiding such conditions. Mouse Epigenetics Cage Unit Maintenance: The crew completed standard maintenance activities for the Mouse Epigenetics experiment by refilling water in the Mouse Habitat Cage Unit which is located in the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF). The Mouse Epigenetics investigation studies altered gene expression patterns in the organs of male mice that spend one month in space, and also examines changes in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of their offspring. Results from the investigation identify genetic alterations that happen after exposure to the microgravity environment of space. Fluid Shifts Operations: The crew gathered hardware from the US Segment in preparation for next weeks Fluid Shifts setup and operation activities in the Russian Segment. The experiment measures how much fluid shifts from the lower body to the upper body, in or out of cells and blood vessels, and determines the impact these shifts have on fluid pressure in the head, changes in vision and eye structures. Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: The crew completed maintenance on the Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) and Test Module seals, measured the SAFER regulator pressure under flow and no-flow conditions, performed a leak check and measured the relief valve opening and reseated pressure of the SAFER. They also cleaned out the Airlock by relocating items that will return on SpX-9 as well as items needed to support the Airway Monitoring experiment. Todays Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. MOD29 Removal from MELFI ISS crew and ???? (RSA Flight Control Management Team) weekly conference r/g 2912 Desiccant pack swap MOUSE Gather Hardware for the Experiment EVA SAFER test Checkout of ??-2 Pilots Sight and Comm Interfaces CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor / r/g 2888 EUCPAD ESA Dosimeter Activation and Checkout Body Measures Experiment, Subject OTKLIK. Hardware Monitoring / r/g 1588 UDOD. Experiment Ops with DYKNANIYE-1 and SPRUT-2 Sets r/g 2935 ??? Maintenance Body Measures Experiment, Operator Checkout of the Wide Angle Vertical Sight (????) UDOD. Photography of the Experiment Ops / r/g 2936 PR2 Module Test Retrieval of Airway Monitoring Pressure Gauge [MB] Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification ARED Exercise XF305 Camcorder Settings Adjustment MOUSE Water Refill PUMA Health Check Start EMU Battery Charge EVA Equipment transfer from Airlock Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Medical Accessories Kit (IMAK) Unpack Download Pille Dosimeter Readings / r/g 2928 Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification Plate Reader 2 (PR2) Ops PR2 Ops Food Frequency Questionnaire Airways Monitoring Briefing Video Footage of Greetings / r/g 2939 MSL Replacement of consumables P/TV Video Documentation HRTCEL Equipment Gathering AIRMON Hardware Setup Food Frequency Questionnaire PR2 Ops ALGOMETRIA. Experiment Ops / r/g 2933 Life On The Station Photo and Video / r/g 2747 Urine Transfer from ???-? to Progress 433 (DC1) Rodnik H2O Tank 1 / r/g 2937 FLUID SHIFTS Hardware Gathering and Setup for transfer to RS PR2 Ops HRTCEL Ops ARED Exercise Video Stow IMS Conference IMS Delta File Prep Double Coldbag (DCB) Ice Brick Stow BIOPLENKA. Removal of Cryogem-03 after Completion of the Experiment / r/g 2934 CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor / r/g 2888 SODF Deploy AIRMON Hardware Deactivation Completed Task List Items Dragon transfer ops [Active] Ground Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. Payloads support Nominal ground commanding. Three-Day Look Ahead: Saturday, 07/30: Crew off duty, housekeeping Sunday, 07/31: Crew off duty Monday, 08/01: Airway Monitoring Airlock ops, SPHERES, Payload Card Multilab-1 install/checkout, Emergency OBT Emergency simulation review QUICK ISS Status Environmental Control Group: Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [???] 1 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1) Off [???] 2 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2) On Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab Standby Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab Idle Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Operate Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Process Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Standby Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Off Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Full Up Santa Ana is the second biggest city in Orange County, situated just an hour south of Los Angeles. Its home to only a handful of specialty coffee shops, none more special than Truman Seversons Hopper & Burr, a pop-up cafe that first popped in February 2015, and then decided to stick around. Severson is a longtime coffee vet, having started as a Starbucks barista in 2007 before moving into specialty coffee, from Caffe Luxxe to Intelligentsia Coffeewhere he worked with now-power players Charles Babinski, Chris Owens, and Nicely Alameda. His last stop was as an educator and multi-season barista competitor for Portola Coffee Lab, then manager of Portolas Theorem, their concept coffee bar. Casual coffee drinkers might know him from his co-starring role in Rock Baijnauths Barista documentary film. Equipped with all that experience, Severson had a clear idea of what he wanted to accomplish with Hopper & Burr. The cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Saturday, right in the hip Arts District section of downtown Santa Ana. Somehow seamlessly housed within a burger joint, Hopper & Burr nevertheless has plenty of seating and Wi-Fi. The fact that the cafe keeps strictly daytime hours, when the coffee vibe is stronger, makes it so you (almost) dont notice its setting. The corner space is well-equipped: brewing is done on a La Marzocco Linea Classic, grinding for espresso and filter is handled with a Mahlkonig K30 and an EK 43, respectively; and a FETCO Extractor-series brewer covers the filter coffee. Now happily building his own brand as Hopper & Burr, Severson remains a voice for quality and progressive practices in the SoCal coffee scene, and his CV alone makes him an absolutely fascinating interview subject. But the scene at H&B is far removed from the dry ice theatrics of Theoremhere the vibe is about simplicity and forthrightness, which in coffee might as well be code for professional maturity. I met with Severson in Santa Ana to learn more about the past, present, and future of Hopper & Burr. Why did you choose Santa Ana? Were there other ideas of where you could possibly open? In the early stages I toyed with other parts of Orange County, but in the end, Santa Ana is what made the most sense. Santa Ana is one of the few places in Orange County that is old enough to function like a real city. Lots of Orange County was developed in whole communities [at once], which means rather than downtowns or city centers, you just get strip malls. Santa Ana is different in that we have the physical function of a big downtown tucked into just a few blocks. I love it here. Was Hopper & Burr always intended to be a pop-up? How does it differ from having your own brick-and-mortar space? It was never intended to be a pop-up. We were looking for brick-and-mortar spaces right off the bat, but when nothing really presented itself, we reached out to some of the restaurants we knew and eventually came to a lovely agreement with the folks here at Little Sparrow [now Black Box]. As far as what differs, were looking forward to finding out! Were building out our own space currently, and expect to be opening [it] in the next couple months. Were looking forward to being able to expand our menu, our hours, and our overall control of the customers experience. While being a pop-up has plenty of perks, it can be difficult to communicate our brand, as well as cater to our customers to the degree we would like to [while were] in someone elses space. Hopper & Burr is a multi-roaster cafe. Tell us about some of the roasters you feature. Right now were serving Heart and Madcap, however we also buy from Parlor and have in the past served coffees from Phil & Sebastian, Saint Frank, and George Howell. We try to buy and serve coffee that people dont have access to around here. There are so many roasters these days that it can feel overwhelming, so we try to curate a menu that shows off the tastiest coffees we can get a hold of. Whats on the menu besides coffee? Right now we mostly just serve coffee drinks and toast, having very little room [to operate]. However, we will expand our menu at our new space to include teas, non-coffee drinks, and a full selection of baked goods. What makes Hopper & Burr different from nearby coffee shops? What I hope sets us apart is a focus on simplicity and forthrightness. The coffee industry on the whole does this thing where we say something like, We really want to show off the work being done by our farmers and producers, and then when we get back to our shops we use lots of showy brewers and gadgets, which more just shows off the work being done by the baristawhich is a good thing, but not the intended thing. Or we may say, We want to focus on customer serviceagain, a very good thing, but in our cafes we set up systems and menus and bars that look cool, but [they can] ultimately alienate or intimidate customers. My hope for Hopper & Burr is that we would minimize the focus on the barista, so that those who want to focus on the coffees may do so, and those who want to focus on their coffee-shop experience would also be able to do so. Is there a target date for the new space? Were hoping/planning to be open in the new cafe in August. Its about a block and a half from where we are now, under the historic clock tower in Santa Anas first skyscraperits only a four-story building, but it was built in 1913. Any other future plans? Who knows. Right now were just trying to get the brick-and-mortar up and running, and well go from there! Tatiana Ernst is a Sprudge staff writer based in Los Angeles. Read more Tatiana Ernst on Sprudge. . If you do not agree with the blocking, please use the Access to the chat has been blocked for violating the rules . You will be able to participate again through:. If you do not agree with the blocking, please use the feedback form The discussion is closed. You can participate in the discussion within 24 hours after the publication of the article. TOKYO (Sputnik) The decisions made at the meeting are not disclosed so far, Kyodo agency said. Earlier in the day, the South Korean military registered North Korea launching a ballistic missile presumed to be a Rodong with a range of 1000 kilometers (621 miles) from the province of Hwanghae-Namdo in the direction of the Sea of Japan. Despite renewed protests, the permit for the nuclear company to proceed with landfill work in the coastal town of Kaminoseki has now been renewed, the Kyodo news agency said. It will be valid until 2019. The firm is also required to draw a construction timeline. Japan suspended most of its nuclear reactors to conduct safety checks after a devastating earthquake and a tsunami hit the Fukushima nuclear power, triggering the leakage of radioactive materials. The accident is considered to be the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. The regiment will reportedly have 100 missiles with "trajectory maneuver and steep-dive capabilities" to conduct mountain warfare, according to the outlet. BrahMos is a short-range supersonic missile developed jointly by India and Russia. It has been in use by the Indian Navy since 2005. The missile has a range of 180 miles and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 660 pounds. In response, Pakistan gave their assurance that the Indian delegation would be given maximum security, a source in the Home Ministry told Sputnik. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will leave for Islamabad on Wednesday. India will raise the issue of cross border terrorism and the use of state machinery to foment unrest in India during the SAARC ministerial meeting. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, "As far as the number of affected workers are concerned 4,072 workers belonging to M/s Saudi Oger in Riyadh in ten camps nine in Riyadh and one in Damman, 1,457 workers belonging to M/s SAAD Group, Dammam in two camps in Dammam, 5 workers belonging to M/s Shifa Sanaya, Riyadh in one camp and 13 workers belonging to M/s Taiya Contracting, Riyadh in one camp." "In addition, there are 2,153 Indian workers belonging to M/s Saudi Oger in six camps in Jeddah all of them have been provided with food by the Indian consulate. There are total of 7,700 affected Indian workers in twenty camps, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson added. Indians working in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are facing a severe crisis due to the closing of several companies. They have not been paid their salaries by their companies. The Indian Embassy is running a community kitchen for starving Indian workers. Indian government is negotiating with the respective companies and the Saudi government to sort out the matter. However, the strategic affairs expert believes that India should take a tougher stance regarding these Gulf nations. "Sending food aid to the starving workers is not enough. India ought to consider cutting oil imports and other penal sanctions against Riyadh," International Affairs expert Brahma Chellaney told Sputnik. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, the South Korean military registered North Korea launching a ballistic missile presumed to be a Rodong with a range of 1000 kilometers (621 miles) from the province of Hwanghae-Namdo in the direction of the Sea of Japan. "I strongly condemn North Koreas ballistic missile test today, which caused one missile to land in Japans Exclusive Economic Zone," Stoltenberg said, as quoted in the press release. NATO also called on North Korea to swiftly cease all nuclear and ballistic activities violating UN Security Council resolutions and refrain from undermining global security by its provocative actions. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The members of the C5+1 group, comprising the United States, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are launching a dialogue aimed at fighting terrorism in Central Asia, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Wednesday. "One program that well do is initiate a dialogue within a global counter-terrorism forum to assist Central Asian states in combating radicalization, and reduce the threat that is posed by foreign terrorist fighters," Kerry said. Several vehicles including two buses have been swept away in the waters of Savitri River when a bridge on the river on the Mumbai-Goa highway collapsed due to torrential rains. The country's coast guard sent a Chetak helicopter to search for those swept away in the river. An Indian Air Force Mi 17 helicopter has also joined the search and rescue operation. "The Indian Navy Seaking 42C, an all-weather aircraft with a diving team has been launched by the Navy. The diving team has been positioned there and is awaiting information on the location of the vehicles. A Seaking 42B helicopter on another mission was diverted to the area. Two buses and some cars were swept into the river. The bridge is situated just 18 km from the Arabian Sea. No survivors of vehicles have been found," a statement from the Indian Navy said. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Kerry spoke at the meeting with the foreign ministers of the C5 group, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The second project is aimed at increasing trade in key sectors of our economies and making our economies more competitive, Kerry said, noting that the one first project is joint cooperation to combat terrorism. Wednesdays meeting in Washington, DC is the second meeting in this format, and follows November's ministerial meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan last fall. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Over 9,500 people have been killed and more than 22,000 injured during the ongoing armed conflict in Donbass since April 2014, the UN Human Rights Office said in a statement Wednesday. Eastern #Ukraine casualties are at an all-time high since Aug 2015. Dramatic rise in figures in past 2 months: https://t.co/yvwbifxde5 UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) 3 2016 . "In total, from mid-April 2014 to 31 July 2016, the UN Human Rights Office has documented 31,690 casualties, including 9,553 killed and 22,137 injured in the conflict area in eastern Ukraine. This includes Ukrainian armed forces, civilians and members of the armed groups," the statement said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) UK West Midlands police arrested on Wednesday two British citizens in the city of Coventry as a part of an operation to identify those involved in the terrorist activities, police press service said in a statement. "The men, aged 38 and 40, were detained under s.15 of the Terrorism Act 2000 on suspicion of financing terrorism," the statement said. It says the EU and its Member States failed to anticipate the scale of migrant flows, and did not have the structures and mechanisms in place to cope. As a result, the EU has been too slow to respond in a coordinated way. "The EU's March 2016 agreement with Turkey on return of migrants is arguably a first step towards a meaningful response but it has come far too late and is itself highly controversial for a number of reasons," the report says. As part of the deal, "irregular" migrants those refused asylum in Greece are relocated back to Turkey, in return on a one-for-one basis for Syrian refugees being relocated to EU member states. The deal includes the acceleration of Turkish accession into the EU and visa-free access for its citizens into the Schengen zone. More than 6500 #migrants rescued since thursday and over 1500 saved today. Italy's moral duty to #ProtectHumanity pic.twitter.com/AraxVQcqg5 Sebastiano Cardi (@sebastianocardi) 1 August 2016 There had already been concerns expressed by the UN refugee agency UNHCR and many NGOs over Turkey's human rights record, with many saying Turkey is not a "safe third country" under the terms of the Geneva Convention. Many believe the refugee camps in Turkey do not meet basic human rights standards. 'The Disapperared Ones' Keith Vaz MP, Chair of the Committee, said: "Europe's efforts to address this colossal refugee crisis has been lamentable." "The atrocious conditions in migrant camps within and on the borders of the richest countries on earth is a source of shame. It is horrifying that large numbers of the 85,000 unaccompanied children already in the EU have gone missing shortly after arrival, facing abuse and exploitation. They have become the EU's 'disappeared ones'." Over 90,000 #migrants & refugees were estimated to have come from Horn of Africa to Yemen in 2015 despite conflict pic.twitter.com/9ywFaTafSB IOM (@IOM_news) 3 August 2016 "Naval deployments in the Mediterranean have saved lives, but they have failed in their twin tasks of deterring migrant flows and disrupting and destroying criminal smuggling networks. The EU's response in combating people traffickers who are exploiting, exacerbating and profiting from this crisis has been poor. These criminal gangs are the only winners. Libya is the main point of departure in the Mediterranean, with a reported half a million people waiting to cross, and the EU should focus on this in the same way as it has done with Turkey," he said. While the UK's banking system was given a clean bill of health in 2015, Dowd has savaged the BoE's stress tests as inadequate, refuting claims "that major UK banks could withstand another big shock." "The purpose of the stress-testing program should be to highlight the vulnerability of our banking system and the need to rebuild it. Instead, it has achieved the exact opposite, portraying a weak banking system as strong. This is like having a ship radar system that cannot detect an iceberg in plain view." You think you're stressed out? Imagine how stressed out the Bank of England is with all the flaws in this programme! https://t.co/aS5uIoH2M0 Adam Smith Institute (@ASI) August 3, 2016 Amid concerns over the stability of the banking sector in Italy, Germany and other Eurozone countries, the report says current stress tests are not properly exposing the weaknesses of British banks, arguing that all British banks would fail tests used to analyze American financial institutions. "Current Bank of England stress tests are like a ridiculously easy exam with a ludicrously low pass standard. If you increase the pass standard to something reasonable, like that used by the Federal Reserve, then every single major bank in the UK would fail," the report said. "Once contagion spreads from Italy to Germany & then to the UK, we will have a new banking crisis but on a much grander scale than 2007-08 . (@Bhattousai) August 3, 2016 "As the EU banking system goes into a renewed crisis, the UK banking system is in no fit state to withstand the storm. Once contagion spreads from Italy to Germany and then to the UK, we will have a new banking crisis but on a much grander scale than '07-'08. "The Bank of England is asleep at the wheel again, and we will be back to beleaguered banksters begging for bailouts and the taxpayer will be ripped off yet again, but bigger this time." Concerns Over Stress Tests The major concerns have been based around the nature of UK banking stress tests, which are designed to determine the ability of a financial institution to deal with an economic crisis. The ASI report found the UK stress tests were too heavily reliant on judging a bank's resilience when facing singular adverse scenarios, arguing this is not adequate when testing the multiple possible challenges that could occur in the global economy. Another criticism was that the BoE's tests rely on what is known as analytical "risk weights" the bank assets, which have been criticized for understating the potential danger of assets like mortgages and sovereign debt. Statement on EBA stress test publication https://t.co/a2YOEzoS5V Bank of England (@bankofengland) July 29, 2016 Professor Dowd called for regulators to push banks to generate larger equity cushions than the 5 percent currently required, while there are also calls for stress testing to be scrapped and replaced with a system where decision-makers are made personally responsible for their risks. The Bank of England has been vocal in its support of the strength of British banks, however, welcoming the results of a European Banking Authority (EBA) stress test, which cleared four UK banks Barclays, HSBC Holdings, Lloyd's Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland Group in the subsequent resilience analysis. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Turkey needs to clean up its institutions in line with the rule of law following an "outrageous" coup attempt, Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland said in Ankara on Wednesday. I would like to say there has been too little understanding from Europe on what challenges this has caused to the democratic and state institutions of Turkey. We have been informed about it for a very long time, so therefore of course we see a need for cleaning up all this. But it is also very important that this is being done in conformity with the rule of law," Jagland said in an address televised by the TRT broadcaster. Due to the sanctions imposed by Russia, Turkish exports to the country during the same period were 44.2 percent down from the 2015 figure, compared with a 40.4 percent drop in Russian exports to Turkey. Despite such a serious drop Turkey still remains one of Russia's top ten trade partners after China, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and the US. Grain went to Egypt Russias grain exports to Turkey also nosedived, mainly due to the 2015 bumper crop in Turkey, which allowed Ankara to cut its imports of Russian grain by a hefty 44 percent. As a result, Egypt emerged as the number one buyer of Russian grain (more than 4.6 million tons worth over $862.4 million.) Experts are optimistic about the prospects of Russian grain exports to Turkey. According to June figures released by electronic exchange Agro2b, Turkey has virtually caught up with Egypt in the volume of grain imported from Russias southern seaports (103,100 and 113,700 tons correspondingly.) Fruit and vegetable lobby As for Turkish agricultural exports to Russia, here Ankara clearly found itself at the losing end with sanctioned produce accounting for $1 billion of the total of $1.3 billion. According to Russian statistics, Turkish vegetable exports to Russia were hit the hardest by sanctions with the January-May sale of tomatoes contracting by 32.1 percent, potatoes by 57.8 percent, onions by 49.5 percent and cucumbers by 31 percent. This is why Ankara has been trying hard to have the sanctions lifted ever since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apologized for the November 2015 downing of the Russian bomber in Syria. A final decision to this effect is expected during President Erdogans August 9 meeting with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. PARIS (Sputnik) Mariani, a member of the National Assemblys Foreign Affairs Committee from Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing The Republicans party, headed a delegation of French lawmakers that visited Crimea last week. He was labeled a "pro-Putin puppet" by leftist Alexis Bachelay on Twitter for the trip. "I contacted police before lodging a complaint," Mariani told Sputnik. "Twitters problem is that it has turned into a place of groundless accusations." LONDON (Sputnik) The entire UK coastline extends for about 7,700 miles. In May, the UK government announced it would strengthen the border fleet, with the first batch of vessels to be sent in the near future. "The number of Border Force vessels in operation appears to be worryingly low. Royal Navy vessels should be made available to Border Force to make up for shortfalls, where necessary," the statement reads. Amnesty International estimates that 131 media outlets and publishing houses have been shut down and at least 89 arrest warrants were issued for journalists. More than 40 have been detained. More than 15,000 people have been detained since the failed coup. More than 45,000 people have been suspended or removed from their jobs, including police, judges and prosecutors, and others. The Council of Europe has expressed deep concerns over the situation in Turkey which is negotiating a migrant deal with the EU, but which is stumbling over human rights and democracy issues. Erdogan has declared a state of emergency giving him extensive powers to deal with those he believes were behind the attempted coup. Foreign businessmen have bad feelings about the political instability of the new Polish government and its erratic economic policy. This situation brings a lot of uncertainty to the economy, which has an impact on private businesses and foreign direct investment into Poland, said Krzysztof Kalicki, chief executive of Deutsche Bank AGs Polish unit, told The Wall Street Journal. He added that even though projects already agreed upon for this year are continuing, new investments are in prolonged discussions. Meanwhile, people in the government are making light of the foreign investors jitters and insist that they should take their time getting used to the countrys new leadership. Some major companies keep investing into the Polish economy though. In May Daimler AG said it was going to invest 500 million into its first Mercedes engine factory in Poland. Others appear more cautious though with an annual survey of German investors released in June, highlighted investors disquiet. Their fears were additionally fueled by the tax on large retail chains that was recently passed by the Polish parliament. The government argues that this would give small stores a leg up against Metro, Aldi, Tesco and other giant foreign retailers. Investors, for their part, insist that the tax flies in the face of the EUs equal treatment rules and threaten to challenge it in court. Michael Kern, managing director of the German-Polish Chamber, said that companies across the economy were worried by the taxes on financial institutions and retail chains. Companies are waiting to see what will come next. We expect it will take some time before it becomes clearer, he said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) France has been rocked by recent lone-wolf attacks in Nice and near the northern city of Rouen, which were claimed by the Daesh jihadist group, banned in Russia and many other countries. "The level of threat is high, security services have significantly intensified their activities, allowing to detain and place individuals in custody," Cazeneuve told reporters after a cabinet meeting. The interior minister said 165 people had been detained since the start of this year and 63 had been incarcerated over security concerns. Five people have been held and four have been placed into custody over security concerns since July 31, 2016. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Switzerland has until February to implement a 2014 initiative, approved by a national referendum, to put some form of limits on immigration from EU states. This goes against the European Unions principle of free movement of people in the common market, to which Switzerland adheres. The countrys set of bilateral agreements with the bloc, including the access to EU-single market, might be jeopardized if the initiative is implemented. "We should implement our own rules in regards to immigration from the EU, if we cannot come to a common agreement with the EU," Alfred Heer said. He stressed that despite the decision to put a cap on EU migration, EU citizens are still welcome to the country, but they should not end up in the Swiss social system as over proportionally as the case is today. ROME (Sputnik) Rome is open to dialogue with both the Libyan side, and with its US partners, the minister added. "The government is ready to positively evaluate the issue of the use of Italian bases and airspace," Pinotti stated, speaking in the Chamber of Deputies, the Italian parliaments lower house. Such a decision could help the United States to complete the anti-Daesh military operation that has begun in Libya more quickly and efficiently, she explained. Other thematic questions were also discussed such as training of imams and funding of culture in France According to the results of this meeting, the Minister of the Interior and CFCM representatives established measures that will be presented later in Autumn this year. Also a conventional charter for French imams was discussed. The charter is only now being developed and we cannot give any previous criteria that will be established. But I believe that imams will be offered to take moral responsibilities, says Kbibech. Imams will not be required to sign up to the charter, but Anouar Kbibech must first reassure religion authorizes and the French government that the imams will commit to it anyways. It will be an additional plus on the imams resume, the fact that he received a recommendation from CFCM. Mosques, which will want to employ the imam, will check his profile. And the government as well since the imams actually receive permission from CFCM, Anouar Kbibech told Sputnik. On July 24, a 27-year-old Syrian man, who was denied asylum, blew himself up on June 24 outside a music festival in Ansbach Bavaria injuring 12 people. Also on July 24, a 21-year-old Syrian refugee was arrested after killing a pregnant woman and wounding two people with a machete in the southwestern city of Reutlingen, near Stuttgart. With Bavaria having borne the brunt of the migrant crisis being the main port of entry for migrants on the West Balkan route and being the target of recent terror attacks, there is growing anger at Merkel for her 'open doors' policy on migrants. The CSU party in Bavaria has been in alliance for Merkel's CDU party for decades, but now support for her is plummeting and she could face a challenge from within the CSU at next year's federal elections. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The borders controls were introduces due to the NATO summit that took place in Warsaw on July 8-9 and World Youth Day, an international Catholic event hosted by Poland in late July. "From July 4 to August 2, the Border Service inspected 484, 986 people and 54, 338 vehicles, detained 321 people and refused entry to 144 people," the Polish Border Guard said. Citizens of 43 countries are among the over 300 detainees, according to the statement. "The Polish army will be bigger; we envision a substantial increase in the size of the army, by at least 50%, in the coming years, including the creation of three brigades for the territorial defense of the country on the eastern flank," Macierewicz said at the time. The Nexter-KMW program would allow Warsaw to replace its aging T-72 and PT-91 tanks, particularly after plans to produce the 40-ton Anders prototype tank fell through. Poland also has an existing partnership with France and Germany. All three are part of the Weimar Triangle, a trilateral group to promote cooperation. France has also expressed an interest in selling arms to Poland, particularly in relation to submarines and attack helicopters. MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) Venezuela's opposition blames Maduro for the economic crisis, which led to shortage of food and essentials in the country. "We filed a formal request for collection of 20 percent of signatures to the National Electoral Council, the recall referendum is on its way, it is backed by the Venezuelan people," Florido said in his Twitter account. Ya entregada solicitud del 20% el CNE tiene la oportunidad de abrir las puertas de la paz en Vzla #ElRevocatorioVa pic.twitter.com/QhvoQoyLT2 Luis Florido (@LuisFlorido) August 2, 2016 On Monday, the National Electoral Council confirmed that Venezuelan opposition has collected the sufficient number of signatures amounting to over one percent of voters in each state to move to the second stage. On the second stage 20 percent of Venezuelan voters should sign the petition in a bid to hold referendum. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The president and the first lady arrived in Nicaraguas capital Managua, home to the Supreme Electoral Council, to register, television channel Televisa said. The 80-year-old president, a former guerrilla fighter, is seeking reelection for a third term. He is running against five other contenders. His wife will be vying for vice-presidency after having served as Ortegas spokeswoman. She is already believed to wield significant power in this Central American nation. Liz Martin from Brazil Police Watch started campaigning against police violence in her country after her nephew was gunned down by the military in 2009. In anticipation of the Olympics, Martin established the campaign group hoping it would stop police brutality. However, the statistics showing a young black person killed every three minutes in Brazil by the police, begs the question of what more could be done. Should Brazil start to organize and establish a similar group to the Black Lives Matter movement in the US? "BLM has done a great job at highlighting police brutality in the US; they have highlighted the impunity after the shootings which have been appropriate, brilliant and important. In Brazil they are trying to do the same thing but the government sanctions the levels of police violence. People that are victims of violence are living in communities that are being terrorized by police," Martin told Sputnik. Martin revisits a situation in Brazil where she and about 20 other associates had visited the favelas and been subject to police threats. She says speaking out against it is futile. "I was standing there, getting organized and a police car drove by and the cop was pointing a rifle at us from his car. So every time people in Brazil protest the risk that they take is profound and overwhelming." Rio police execute detained people with a bullet to the head. No accountability. https://t.co/zOaJGrAbz0 #Rio2016 @mlcanineu Wenzel Michalski (@WenzelMichalski) 3 August 2016 One would think that to highlight this issue would be the best way forward. However, according to Liz Martin that is not the case as the government passively or overtly sanction this issue. "The government of Brazil works very hard to blur the issue and identify police violence as killing criminals that is the narrative there. A ten year old child sitting on his porch or five boys sit in a car and the police shoot 111 bullets at this car. The powers can sanction this behavior as 'cleaning the streets'." Police officers in Brazil are rarely brought to justice over these killings, with impunity levels high the issue of killings in the wake of the Olympics and the lack of human rights leaves Brazil falling short of its target goal, Brazil's race for better rights for the ordinary people and ensuring public safety appears to be a losing one. Eighteen months ago, the World Health Organization classified glyphosate as a substance that "may cause cancer." "This is just further confirmation of the reason why cancer is so widespread in Monte Mais, with nearly three times more cases than among half of Argentina's population," the specialist added. Twenty two hangars with equipment for applying and storing pesticides are located within Monte Maiz. "This is the worst. Herbicide spray vehicles drive through the streets of cities and harm residents polluting air with this toxic element. The first step is to remove them from the cities. In addition, it is necessary to reconsider the toxicity of the substance and start to restrict its use," said Vicente. On June 30, the EU had to update the authorization of the use of glyphosate. However, this resulted in mass protests. "We collected more than 200 thousand signatures not to make it happen. Due to the fact that we could not reach an agreement, the EU decided to extend the use of glyphosate for the next 18 months. But at the same time it ordered to start a detailed study on the toxicity of this substance and its carcinogenicity. This is the only case when we manage to move forward on this topic," the activist concluded. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia has no intentions of launching an offensive on Syria's Aleppo and is carrying out a purely humanitarian operation, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Wednesday. "There are no plans of an offensive in Aleppo neither by Syrian forces, nor through airstrikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces," Ryabkov told reporters. "Absolutely false and harmful interpretations of our actions are voiced by certain circles in Washington." MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Israeli parliament passed in final readings a bill allowing the imprisonment of terrorists under the age of 14, according to a statement published Wednesday. "This law was born of necessity We've witnessed numerous cases where 11-year-old children were suicide bombers. Perhaps this law will also do something to protect these children from being used to slaughter people," Anat Berko, the author of the bill, said, as quoted in the statement. MOSCOW (Sputnik) A passenger jet of the Emirates airline crash-landed at Dubai Airport in the UAE on Wednesday, the government and airline said. The fire on board an Emirates airline passenger jet has been fully extinguished, the Dubai Media Office said Wednesday, adding that all operations have been suspended until further notice. Emergency response teams at Dubai Airport have fully extinguished the fire on the Emirates plane.All passengers & crew were safely evacuated Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) 3 2016 . Flight EK521 with 275 passengers and crew members on board was flying from south Indias Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai, according to the UAE government. It was due to land at 12.50 p.m. local time (8:50GMT). MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia, unlike the United States, abstains from accusing states of using chemical weapons in the Syrian city of Aleppo in the absence of facts, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Wednesday. "Unlike the US administration which received a primary signal from a perhaps non-neutral source that yet more barrel bombs with chemicals have been dropped and is already attempting to generalize and make far-reaching conclusions we refrain from this. We do not know what had happened there really," Ryabkov. A source in the local people's militia told RIA Novosti on Tuesday that terrorists shelled Aleppo's Old City district with munitions filled with poisonous gas, killing five civilians. The media outlet viewed the battle for the Bani Zeid neighborhood as the key in the offensive that was launched in June to prevent radical groups, including al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham, from smuggling fighters, weapons and supplies in and out of Aleppo, Syria's second largest city. "The victory in Beni Zeid gives a real chance to resolve the crisis through political means," As Safir quoted an unnamed high-ranking Syrian official as saying. The battle that took place on the 49th day of the Aleppo offensive lasted eight hours. The SAA is reported to have encountered almost no opposition from al-Nusra Front and other radical groups in the process. ANKARA (Sputnik) On July 15, the Turkish authorities said that an attempted coup was taking place in the country, which was suppressed the next day. Over 13,000 people have been detained in connection with the coup. Ankara said that US-based Turkish opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara believes is seeking to overthrow the current government, was linked to the coup attempt. Gulen is also said to be the main suspect in the December 17-21, 2013, mass wiretapping investigation that targeted over 7,000 people. "If it weren't for the measures that we took after December 17 [2013]the attempted military coup would have been more ambitious. It would have involved not only the terrorists who entered the army, but their supporters in the police, courts and officials. Despite this, I am still disappointed that the true traitors were not identified beforehand. We are responsible for this. May God and my people forgive us," Erdogan said at a meeting of the Religious Council in Ankara. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On July 15, Turkish authorities said that an attempted coup took place in the country. Over 13,000 people have been detained in connection with the coup. The General Staff headquarters was among the primary targets of the coup plotters. In the wake of the attempt, Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar was taken hostage by a group of soldiers and delivered to Akincilar Air Base, thought to have been the headquarters from where the coup was planned. According to the Daily Sabah newspaper, Erdogan was greeted by Akar, and the visit lasted for some 2.5 hours. Later in the day, Erdogan is also expected to visit former Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Galip Mendi, who remains hospitalized since the coup attempt. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The US forces have no partners on the ground in Syria's Saraqeb in idlib province, which has allegedly been attacked with toxic gas, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Army Col. Christopher Garver said in a briefing on Wednesday. "We certainly have seen a wide variety of weapons being used against those rebel forces in those areas," Garver stated. "We have not partnered with anyone in those areas." MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Thursday, EU foreign affairs representative Federica Mogherini and humanitarian aid commissioner Christos Stylianides supported the call for a humanitarian pause in the fighting for Aleppo, originally proposed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Minister Reynders agrees with High Representative Mogherini that a humanitarian pause of 48h[ours] in Aleppo, as proposed by the OCHA, can only be a first step and that a further continuing opening of humanitarian access to Syria remains absolutely essential, it was stated in the press release. Since July 17, Aleppo has been the scene of fierce fighting with Syrian government troops encircling rebel-held areas and insurgents hitting back. All this time the sole supply road into the area had been closed. HMEIMIM (Sputnik) Some 372 civilians have left combat zone while 94 militants have surrendered since the start of the humanitarian operation in Syria's Aleppo city, the commander of the Russian Center for Syrian reconciliation said Wednesday. "At this point, 372 civilians, including 76 children, have left areas in Aleppo controlled by illegal armed groups while 94 militants have surrendered," Lt. Gen. Sergei Chvarkov said. According to Chvarkov, "the terrorists are attempting to prevent local residents from leaving the eastern part of Aleppo, threatening people with public executions." MOSCOW (Sputnik) OPCW head Ahmet Uzumcu reiterated that States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention considered the use of chemical weapons wholly contrary to the international legal norms, as quoted in the statement. "These reports are of great concern. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) continues to examine any credible reports it receives including pertinent information that might be shared by States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention," the organization said in a press release. Media reports claimed late Monday that dozens in the city of Saraqib in Syria's Idlib province suffered from toxic gas allegedly dropped after a Russian helicopter was shot down. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports that chemical weapons were used in the area as an unfounded information attack. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Earlier on Wednesday, Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation commander Lt. Gen. Sergei Chvarkov stated that the opposition group Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki used poisonous gas in Aleppo city. "I havent seen those reports," Toner stated on Wednesday. "Obviouslywe condemn strongly the use of any chemical weapons, and any credible allegations of their use in Syria well investigate." Chvarkov added that the Russian side had informed US officials about the reports. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The order could be repeated on the same scale in fiscal years 2017 and 2018, the Defense Department added. "Raytheon Missile Systems Company [of] Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $523.9 million contract [to] test and deliver 47 SM-3 Block IB missiles for fiscal 2016," the release, issued on Tuesday, stated. The Department of Defense plans to arm its Aegis Ashore system to be deployed in Poland in 2018 with land-based SM-3s as part of the European missile shield. "The duration of this operation will be measured based upon the length of time it takes for them [the GNA] to do that objective," Davis said. US and Libyan officials have denied that there is any US troop presence near Sirte. The airstrikes are the third round carried out against the Daesh in Libya since November. The Daesh, which is outlawed in the United States, Russia and many other nations, gained a presence in Libya in the turmoil following the 2011 overthrow of leader Muammar Gaddafi. TOKYO (Sputnik) Earlier, South Korean media reported North Korea has test fired a ballistic missile from its west coast into the Sea of Japan. "North Korea launched today a presumably Rodong ballistic missile with a range of 1,000 kilometers," the source said, as quoted by Yonhap agency. "The launch of a ballistic missile in a bid to build up nuclear capacities is the next in line of will over 30 tests carried out after Kim Jong Un came to power," the JCS report said, as quoted by Yonhap agency. According to the JCS, missile tests aim to demonstrate Pyongyang's ability to nuke South Korea as well as the neighboring countries. TOKYO (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, the South Korean military said that Pyongyang launched a missile presumed to be a Rodong from the country's province of Hwanghae-Namdo. "The situation [ballistic test] proves the necessity to deploy THAAD," Yun said, as quoted by Yonhap agency. On July 8, Washington and Seoul announced that the two countries had reached an agreement to deploy the THAAD in South Korea. The THAAD system is designed to intercept short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles at the terminal incoming stage. The system's potential deployment on the Korean Peninsula has caused concern in North Korea, as well as China and Russia. "Boeing will respond [and] given Boeings proven capabilities in ICBM design, development, production, deployment, and sustainment, we are confident the US Air Force can rely on Boeing to develop a low-risk GBSD weapon system, Jones said on Tuesday. In 1958 Boeing developed and produced the Minuteman ICBM and it is still in operation in 2016. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are expected to submit proposals. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia believes that the "the possibilities of further reduction [of nuclear arsenals] bilaterally with the United States are almost exhausted," and that the "process should acquire the multilateral character, involving all the states which possess nuclear weapons," according to Vladimir Leontyev. The official noted that the factors which affect Russia's strategic stability are "[US] missile defense, global strike, the threat of the deployment of weapons in outer space, the imbalance in conventional weapons, and the situation with the treaty banning nuclear tests, which did not enter into force," and that only with "taking into account all of these factors, we [Russia] will be determined to take further steps [to reduce nuclear weapons arsenal]." MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Military Communication-2016 exhibition is scheduled for October 17-21 in Kubinka, a western suburb of Moscow. "The latest achievements of the defense industry in the field of communication and control systems will be presented at the exhibition Military Communication 2016. The event will be held from October 17-21 on the territory of the new congress and exhibition center of the Patriot park in Kubinka, with the support of the Russian Defense Ministry, state corporation Rostec and the United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation," the statement reads. The press service specified that the exhibition will have the open and closed areas, where the advanced communications for military and civic use will be presented to the administrative board of the Russian Defense Ministry and representatives of other relevant ministries and agencies. MOSCOW (Sputnik) North Korea fired a ballistic missile from its eastern shore early Wednesday. It traveled hundreds of miles before plunging into the Sea of Japan not far from the northern Japanese coast. "The firing of a missile in the direction of Japan and its landing 650 kilometers [155 miles] away from the northern Japanese shore is an obvious indication that Pyongyang is willing to endanger another countrys security," a spokesman for the German Foreign Office said in a statement. The ministerial official said this act added "another dimension to North Korean provocations" and vowed to use "available direct channels" with Pyongyang to get the message across that the Norths irresponsible actions would only increase international pressure on its government. The new upgrade will increase the PAK FA's target acquisition range by 50-100 percent under conditions of limited visibility, the publication added. The Okhotnik "provides digital image stabilization, auto detecting and auto tracking capabilities. The system includes TV and thermal image sensors, displays, remote controls and a laser ranging device," the newspaper detailed. KRET, a subsidiary of the state-owned Russian corporation Rostec, offers over a dozen different versions of the Okhotnik for Sukhoi fighter jets, attack helicopters, sea-based gun weapon systems, antitank weapons system and air defense units. "The rejection [of Washington to extradite Gulen] would make us upset, we are still NATO partners. Of course, our relations with the United States would not end, but would be compromised," Erdogan said in an interview with the Italian RaiNews24 broadcaster. According to the president, the Turkish authorities have collected the necessary materials for the extradition of Gulen before the coup, which increased after the July 15 developments. "Unless dramatic changes are made, the UK Government could widely miss its goal of resettling 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020 a goal which itself is too little in the context of the challenge Europe faces," Stuart McDonald, the Scottish National Partys (SNP) immigration spokesman and a Westminster member of parliament, said in a statement following the publication of the report. He urged the UK government and nations across the European Union to step up efforts in dealing with the refugee crisis. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Ukrainsky was detained in Thailand on July 21 at the request of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on suspicion of credit card fraud. Bangkok had not notified Moscow of the detention. "During talks between the prosecutors general of Russia and Thailand, the Russian side handed over a request on the extradition of Russian national Dmitry Ukrainsky. This document envisions both an extradition procedure and the possibility of deportation," spokesman for the Russian prosecutor's office Alexander Kurennoy said. TOKYO (Sputnik) Japan intends to advance formal peace treaty negotiations with Russia, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a press conference Wednesday. "We will strengthen relations with China and South Korea, as well as advance negotiations on the conclusion of a peace treaty with Russia," Abe said at a press conference following a cabinet reshuffle that saw Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida retain his post. The two countries have been de facto at war because Tokyo's claims to Russian Kuril Islands prevented them from signing a truce following the end of World War II. MOSCOW (Sputnik) A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Bavarian Minister-President Horst Seehofer is possible in prospect, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday. "So far, we have been talking about October, if I am not mistaken. We maintain pretty good, sufficiently constructive relations with the leadership of Bavaria, plan contacts in the long term," Peskov told reporters. On Tuesday, German media reported that Seehofer was planning to meet with the Russian leader on October 5 as well as with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. On Monday, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov confirmed that military experts from the North Atlantic Alliance were invited to Moscow to discuss the security and political situation in Europe. Russia is "ready for a constructive dialogue on all issues of mutual interest," he said. Military flights over the Baltic region will be one of the key issues on the agenda. Baranets warned that if NATO officials come it would not automatically mean that they have abandoned their anti-Russian stance, but it would most likely indicate that they are more inclined to discuss points of contention. "They will come with an old set of arguments, but we will listen to what they have to say anyway. In any case there will be a crack in their rigid opposition to Russia," he said. "It is better than sending armies towards each other." Austrian Freedom Party (FPO)'s candidate Norbert Hofer holds a 4-point lead over his rival and the former president-elect in the new race for presidency, a pre-election poll showed Friday. Thus, the far-right party will have another chance to put one of its members in the highest post in the country. Alexander Van der Bellen, a Green-backed independent, narrowly defeated Hofer in the presidential run-off in May after finishing second in the first round. But the result was voided in July over irregularities in counting postal votes. According to polls, FPO is far ahead of the main Austrian political parties in terms of popularity, but experts still believe it's too soon to tell: the fight for the presidency apparently is going to be very tough. 6. Referendum in Hungary, October 2. Prime Minister Viktor Orban gives Hungarians an opportunity to vote on the issue of whether the EU has the right to force Hungary to accept a quota on the number of migrants without the consent of the Hungarian Parliament. Orban himself opposes Brussels' plans to resettle refugees among European countries, including Hungary. The vast majority of Hungarians also oppose the idea of accepting migrants in the country. Nevertheless, the referendum may potentially pose a danger to Orban. If the turnout is lower than 50%, the results of the referendum will be announced as invalid and his position in the country will be weakened. 7. Regional elections in the Czech Republic, October. The elections will be a serious challenge for the Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and his Social Democratic Party. A defeat or unconvincing victory of the Social Democrats will lead to an aggravation of the internal struggle within the party aimed at offsetting Sobotka and replacing him with a Eurosceptic politician. 8. Parliamentary elections in Lithuania, October 9. According to various estimates, the populist party "Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union" might gain a lot of votes during the election. The polls show that social democrats are currently ahead of their rivals. However, the gap between them and the populists is small. Another serious competitor for the Social Democratic Party is likely to be the opposition alliance "Homeland Union Lithuanian Christian Democrats." 9. Parliamentary elections in Romania, November or early December. The media source, referring to reports of Turkish media, wrote that this structure has primarily been used by the British and Americans to influence political events in Turkey. The newspaper also noted that Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim cleric, who was accused by the Turkish government of plotting the coup, could also be a part of this structure. "If one wants to again create relationship of trust with the Western institutions, Gladio [clandestine NATO structure] in Turkey must be eliminated as it already was in several Western countries" Turkish journalist Ozcan Tikit wrote for newspaper Haberturk. MOSCOW (Sputnik) In June, the upper house of the Swiss parliament voted to invalidate the country's application to join the European Union. Following the vote, Switzerland issued a formal notice to the bloc to consider its application withdrawn. On Tuesday, a spokesperson of the Council of the European Union said the Council had received Swiss notification about the withdrawal of its application for EU membership. "This application was a mistake by a 4 to 3 majority of the government back in 1992," Alfred Heer said. Heer reminded that the Swiss Government sent an application for EU membership without the consent of neither the parliament nor the people. The question then arises whether Saudi Arabia will retaliate against Russia. Hardly, Ramani suggests. Arguing with US analysts Jonathan Schanzer and Boris Zilberman, Ramani assumes that Russo-Saudi relations would rather transition into a "cold peace," not hostility. At the same time, in light of Ankara's change of heart toward Moscow it is unlikely that Saudi Arabia would risk its relations with Turkey to strike back at Russia. Meanwhile, signs continue to emerge showing Riyadh's apparent intent to improve Saudi-Russian relations. On Sunday Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir stressed that "the differences of opinion with Russia regarding the Syrian crisis do not impact the level of cooperation." "Both sides are carrying on coordinating and consulting on the matter in order to converge approaches to the problem," al-Jubeir said, as quoted by the Al Riyadh newspaper. Citing al-Jubeir the monarchy's daily Saudi Gazette wrote Monday that the Gulf kingdom is interested in building "best relations" with Russia. "He [Adel al-Jubeir] said that a number of agreements have been signed between the two sides, including cooperation in the field of oil and energy and enhancement of joint investments in addition to constructive cooperation in the field of combating terrorism, noting the efforts being exerted to achieve the Kingdom's Vision 2030," the media outlet underscored. BEIJING (Sputnik) The summit is scheduled to take place in the Chinese eastern city of Hangzhou on September 4-5. "President Putin will be the chief guest in Hangzhou, which he will attend at the invitation of Xi Jinping. Aside from the summit, the leaders of the two countries will have a separate meeting on the sidelines of the G20. They will discuss the results of the June 24 Putins visit to China, as well as further promotion of Sino-Russian relations," Gui Congyou, the head of Department of European-Central Asian Affairs under the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters. NEW YORK (Sputnik) Tarasov added that Yaroshenko himself welcomed a potential prisoner swap with the United States that would result in his return to Russia. "Mr. Yaroshenko is also a good candidate for being considered for the prisoner transfer. He is the first Russian national to be arrested in a third country by the U.S. operatives and taken to stand trial in the United States. In addition, he has been subjected to acts of torture," Tarasov stated. "We welcome Russia's efforts to get Mr. Yaroshenko back to Russia," Tarasov said. "Hopefully, Mr. Yaroshenko will be transferred to Russia. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The Wall Street Journal reported earlier in the day that the Obama administration secretly organized an airlift of $400 million worth of cash to Iran that coincided with the January release of four US citizens detained in the country. "If true, this report confirms our longstanding suspicion that the administration paid a ransom in exchange for Americans unjustly detained in Iran," House Speaker Paul Ryan said in his statement. It would also mark another chapter in the ongoing saga of misleading the American people to sell this dangerous nuclear deal. Senator Ted Cruz rejected administration claims that the payment was not ransom for the prisoners, who included Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian. "The Vice President [Biden] conveyed continued US support for a unified, federal and democratic Iraq, and encouraged close cooperation between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government as they take steps to put ISIL [Daesh] on a path to lasting defeat," the release said. Last week, Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid Obeidi said that the government will not allow the Kurdish Peshmerga forces to participate in the Mosul operation. Purged voter rolls and tens of thousands of complaints indicate a massive effort to suppress the African-American community from participating in elections in the United States. Five years on from the NATO bombing campaign and overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi's government, the United States in once against launching airstrikes in Libya. Becker is joined by Zafar Bangash, director of the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought, to speak on how Daesh has been able to establish a foothold in Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, why western special forces operating in the country are not classified as "boots on the ground", and if the real objectives of the U.S. bombing campaign which may be also targeting the re-emergence of pro-Gaddafi political forces. The first meeting between a senior U.S. military leader and Turkish authorities has seen a softer tone from Ankara, but will relations return to normal or will they continue to deteriorate? The Turkish media is blaming the U.S. for the failed coup attemt of July 15. Joining Becker to discuss the complex relationship between the U.S. government and President Erdogan's is Turkish journalist Kemal Okuyan. The long-fought and long-sought wins in both federal and state courtrooms in North Carolina and Wisconsin (as Ernie Canning reported earlier today), as well as in Texas, Kansas, Michigan and North Dakota (as summarized by The Nation's Ari Berman) in the past two weeks, have severely undercut Republican voter suppression laws imposing Photo ID voting restrictions, cuts to early voting, restrictions on voter registration and much more. As Berman writes: "The Republican war on voting rights is backfiring." Ebenstein, who has helped lead the legal battle against these discriminatory laws for years, shares my delight over the recent rulings, but is surprised only that they have come so quickly in succession of late. "Given how extreme and egregious some of the laws are," she tells me, "I'm not surprised the courts have found they violate the Constitution. I think a lot of these laws really have gone very far to put barriers in the way of voters and, in many instances, particularly in the way of black voters." On the courts finally striking down or weakening GOP Photo ID voting restrictions in NC, TX, WI and ND under the Voting Rights Act and/or the Constitution, she explains: "There's a broader recognition that this is really disenfranchising people in a very practical, day-to-day sense. I think the other thing the laws have highlighted, is that they're just not justified. As the North Carolina [ruling] put it, the laws constitute a solution in search of a problem. There's no evidence of any sort of voter impersonation, which is what these laws purport to protect against. So you have laws that will disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of potential voters. It's just shocking when you look at the harm these laws cause and the lack of justification that they were passed [with] in the first place." Commenting on the US criticism of this humanitarian operation around Aleppo, Konovalov said that it reflected the peaceful intentions of Moscow and Damascus who want to give the militants holed up in the besieged city a chance to move out and end the war in which everyone wants to kill each other. "Killing everyone is exactly what al-Nusra, Daesh and their allied militant groups the Americans describe as moderate opposition really want, and the recent downing of the Russian helicopter proved what this so-called moderate opposition is all about, Ivan Konovalov told Sputnik. He said the US calls for Russia and Damascus to refrain from any further advances against the terrorist forces stemmed from Washingtons desire to prevent these forces from taking Aleppo, which would change the course of the war in Syria. If Aleppo falls, this would deal a serious blow to Turkey, which had supported these terrorists groups. This would also mean the complete failure of the Americans plans to influence the situation in Syria, Ivan Konovalov said in conclusion. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said last week that Moscow and Damascus had launched a large-scale humanitarian operation in Aleppo, opening three escape routes for civilians and one for militants wishing to lay down arms. At the present time the center of Aleppo is controlled by Syrian government forces, while some 250,000 civilians are feared to be trapped in the rebel-held eastern districts of the city. Meanwhile, fighting has intensified in the contested city in the past few days as jihadist militants mounted an offensive to break through government cordons. If you are in the middle of your trip to the Russian capital and end up in the subway, you might want to pull out your earphones. "Music in the Metro," a project that aims to provide Moscow metro passengers with quality live music was launched on May 25. Thirty bands received official permission to perform in the subway following a competitive selection process. The project aims to turn the subway into a kaleidoscope of different people, music genres and styles. And it accepts only live performances without backing tracks and phonograms! . # # # # #in_moscow2 (@zhuzha709) 8 2016 2:16 PDT Beginning August 3, you will even be able to check the daily timetable of all the concerts: the official website of the Moscow Metro now features the information on where and what time each band will perform. # ) #streetmusic # #_ Lu (@guitar_kitten) 1 2016 11:30 PDT Currently, there are three stages arranged for "underground shows:" lobbies of the Mayakovskaya, the Kurskaya and the Vystavochnaya stations. If the project is successful, more metro stations will get their own live soundtrack. # # (@damio_deathstroke) 22 2016 5:43 PDT As for passengers, "Music in the Metro" will help to expand their musical horizons and simply raise passengers' spirits. The musicians could also benefit from the project: it is a great opportunity for them to express themselves and gain popularity among different listeners. Just because theres no water on our moon doesnt mean that there couldnt be H2O on other moons in our solar system. Europa, Ganymede, and Enceladus are all promising prospects. Mars is also thought to contain subterranean water that may have once covered the surface. Last month, scientists used computer models to determine that life could, theoretically, exist on Saturns moon Titan, even without the presence of water. The study found that chemicals in the moons atmosphere could be the precursor to organic compounds. "We are not saying we created Titan life in a computer, or even structures that might be in life on Titan," Jonathan Lunine, a planetary scientist at Cornell University, told Space.com. "We are saying that the early steps toward structures, catalysis and absorption of energy might be possible on Titan with polymers like those we modeled. "We need to go back to Titan and analyze the surface composition and search for polymers." Sounds like a job for Change 3. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Nerekhta-2 will be equipped with a new type of ammunition and will be capable of tackling enemies larger and stronger than itself, according to Igor Denisov. "We have chosen the Nerekhta platform as the most suitable for making a number of changes, this is a 'lab' for testing the most promising solutions for ground robots supporting combat operations, including in the city. I think we will show the Nerekhta's new capabilities at a proving ground at the end of the year. It will have an air component, there will be additional automation elements," Denisov said. According to the deputy chief, the Nerekhta-2 combat robot will be part of Russia's future soldier equipment. The post reads like a cryptic rallying call, asking former colleagues of the NSA contractor to contact him, saying "Its time." Edward Snowden (@Snowden) August 3, 2016 The tweet also quotes journalist Barton Gellman, who is currently writing about Snowdens time working in the intelligence community in order to "tell it truthfully." "They loved it, they absolutely loved it! Yes London is quite different from the rest of Britain but we have had people travel from all over the world. They have enjoyed the restaurant, it's a niche I guess. But it's more of an educational restaurant for people who want to explore how it feels to be in a place where no one is judging you on how you look," Mr Lyall told Sputnik. "I guess Britain is becoming more open, there are shows on TV, like the naked dating show, they openly promote nakedness and it's not sexual." Lyall believes his restaurant not only helps to prevent people from judging one another, but also tackles tough social issues. "Do you remember last year in London there was this tube campaign that asked if you were beach body ready? That was a judgmental comment. Our restaurant tries to tackle these social issues, even if you don't say these things you and I know people are judging us with or without our clothes on," Mr Lyon told Sputnik. #TBT goes to Protein World and their 2015 'Are you beach body ready?' campaign. Controvers https://t.co/OVEG8FG6M6 pic.twitter.com/DMrYpf393J ModernCommunications (@ModernCommsUK) May 19, 2016 Sebastian believes that the restaurant, in order to be successful, needs to be run in a different way. He is hoping that it will work better if it were a place where people could come for a drink so less of a restaurant and more of a social members club where clothing is optional. I am always afraid. I am still afraid of the power of government. A government can arrest you. It can imprison you. It can put out information about you that wont get questioned by the public everyone will just assume that what they are saying is true, Manning stated. Sometimes, a government can even kill you with or without the benefit of a trial. Governments have so much power, and a single person often does not. It is very terrifying to face the government alone. Manning described being first detained by the military and imprisoned at a camp in Kuwait. She detailed living in a cage inside of a tent, and having every aspect of her life, including when she could use the restroom, controlled by those imprisoning her. I didnt have any access to the outside world. I couldnt make phone calls. I didnt get any mail. I had very limited access to my lawyers. There was no television or radio or newspapers, she said. I lost the sense of where in the world I was. The military had total control over every aspect of my life. They controlled what information I had access to. They controlled when I ate and slept. They even controlled when I went to the bathroom. The cover sheet of a fax sent to Baltimore Police by AT&T read: "Outgoing calls only are reliable for location status. Any incoming calls will NOT be considered reliable information for location." The first words on the page, "Outgoing calls only," are underlined on the sheet. Defense attorneys claimed that cell tower data was improperly used in the trial, making it appear that incoming calls to Syeds phone were made near the burial site of his former girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, who was found strangled in 1999. Syed has served 16 years in prison for her death, and was the focus of a weekly podcast called Serial that examined Lees death and Syeds trial. It garnered millions of listeners. These certified agents are able to provide IVs and other technical medical attention to not only fellow agents but also the people they encounter while working in the field. Along with the paramedic/EMTs, all Border Patrol agents are certified in providing first-aid, the release added. In order to decrease the number of deceased, the Border Patrol will continue educating the public in regards to the risks and dangers associated with illegal crossings. "As for the initiative to swap [Yaroshenko] for 13 US citizens, I am unaware of such proposal of the Russian authorities as his lawyer," Tarasov told RIA Novosti. According to Tarasov, Yaroshenko may appeal for return to Russia in accordance with the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The Wall Street Journal reported earlier in the day that the Obama administration secretly organized an airlift of $400 million worth of cash to Iran that coincided with the January release of four Americans detained in the country. "Our incompetent Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was the one who started talks to give 400 million dollars, in cash, to Iran. Scandal!," Trump stated in a Twitter message. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Young, a 13-year veteran of the Washington, DC Metro Transit police, was arrested for attempting to send mobile messaging cards overseas for use by Daesh fighters, the Washington Post reported. Daesh terrorist group, outlawed in the United States, Russia and numerous other countries throughout the world, has seized vast areas in Iraq and Syria, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. The radical Sunni group has become notorious for its human rights atrocities, such as public beheadings of foreign journalists. Daesh and its affiliates have claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks carried out in various parts of the world, including the July 14 Nice attack and the the March 22 Brussels attacks. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The US Department of State has designated Europe-based Daesh fighter Mohamed Abrini as a terrorist and imposed sanctions on him for his participation in the 2015 Paris and 2016 Brussels terror attacks, the State Department said in a press release on Wednesday. "Since his arrest on April 8, 2016 by Belgian authorities, Abrini has been identified as being "the man in white"- also known as "the man in the hat"- seen with two identified suicide bombers at Brussels Zaventem airport on March 22, just minutes before the attack that killed 16 people," the release explained. A total of 35 died in two bombings at the Brussels airport and at a metro station on March 22. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the CNN/ORC poll, 47 percent of respondents are "not worried at all" about themselves or someone in their family becoming a victim of the Zika virus, while 30 percent said they are "not too worried" about the virus. The poll was conducted by telephone, with 1,003 adult US citizens interviewed on Friday through Sunday. The same poll suggests that although 62 percent of those polled are very or somewhat confident that the US federal government can prevent a nationwide epidemic of the Zika virus, more than one fifth, or 22 percent, were not very confident about the matter and 15 percent were not confident at all. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Nicholas Young, a 13-year veteran of the US Metro Transit police, was arrested on Wednesday morning by FBI agents for attempting to provide material support to Daesh. "According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Young told FBI agents that he traveled to Libya twice in 2011 and he had been with rebels attempting to overthrow the Muammar Qaddafi regime," the release stated. Libya has been in a state of turmoil since the Arab Spring protests in early 2011 led to a civil war and the overthrow of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed earlier in the day that Moscow is ready to exchange Yarshenko for US prisoners. "We will decline to comment at this time," Carr stated when asked whether the United States has received and would consider such a request. Ryabkov explained that Russia has proposed American colleagues to use the 1983 Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons to serve their time in the country of their citizenship, "so that the US could get rid of the burden of incarcerating Konstantin Yaroshenko and Viktor Bout." "If a combatant commander comes to the US Air Forceand asks for a capability that the F-35 has, I would deploy it in support of operations," he said. "When the F-35 deploys to placesit will give our allies and partners confidence in the airframe." For the time being, the aircraft is only able to conduct basic combat operations, with more tests needed before it can incorporate its full range of capabilities. The US Marine Corps has also expressed confidence in its F-35B vertical takeoff and landing variant. "Weve got a jewel in our hands and weve just started to exploit that capability and were very excited about it," Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Aviation Lieutenant General Jon Davis said last month. "The bottom line is everybody who flies a pointy-nose airplane in the Marine Corps wants to fly this jet." WASHINGTON (Sputnik) In addition to the prison term, Stewart, 22, will spend three years on supervised release, according to the Justice Department. "Surveillance footage clearly captured Stewart starting the fires and then going out to the street to get paper and cardboard to feed the fires he had set," the release stated. Further, Greer explained to Sputnik that the prohibited item she is said to have had in her possession was not actually an illegal item for her to have prior to being used in the suicide attempt. It is unnecessarily cruel to threaten Chelsea with additional punishment while in this very vulnerable state. The government is trying to silence her important voicefor good. Chelsea has been systematically mistreated by the US government since she was first taken into custody in 2010, including long stretches of extreme solitary confinement even before she had ever been convicted, the petition states. Manning is a transgender woman in an all-male prison and has been denied medical treatment for her gender dysphoria which her supporters believe to be a factor in her depression and suicidal actions. Chelsea is a transgender woman being forced to serve out her sentence in an all-male prison, which is in itself dehumanizing and exhausting emotionally. She is currently being denied medical treatment for her gender dysphoria, which experts have stated is the only course of treatment through which she would no longer be suicidal, the petition continues. Last year, Manning was threatened with solitary confinement over having LGBTQ reading materials and an expired tube of toothpaste. A previous petition, and outcry, to keep her out of solitary was effective and gained over 100,000 signatures. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The councils ultimate goal is to create jobs in the United States and Africa, the order signed on Wednesday explained. Hours later, Obama elaborated during a town hall meeting in Washington, DC with about 1,000 participants in the Mandela Fellowship for Young African Leaders who are studying in the United States. "One of the things that leaders in Washington agree on Republicans and Democrats, is the importance of a strong American partnership with the nations and peoples of Africa," Obama told the students. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Australia detains refugees who come to the country to seek asylum on the islands of Manus in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, a practice which has been criticized by rights groups for leaving refugees living in inhumane conditions. Its been hard to imagine the scale of attacks on refugees. They do happen on a daily basis, Im not exaggerating. Especially on the weekend when people get drunk, Senior Director for Research at Amnesty International Anna Neistat, who spent 12 days in Nauru last month, told the Guardian newspaper in an interview. Austria, which is a major destination for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East, had received some 90,000 asylum claims last year alone. After first adopting a welcoming approach to refugees, the country has later changed its policy and said it would limit the number of asylum claims it would accept this year to 37,500. MOSCOW (Sputnik) US Congress people and European officials were cited by the Wall Street Journal as saying at a briefing that bundles of cash a mix of euro and other non-US currencies were airlifted by unmarked cargo plane. At the same time, the United States was negotiating a prisoner exchange with Iran, raising doubts among Republicans that money had changed hands to guarantee the release as a ransom payment. "This break with longstanding US policy put a price on the head of Americans, and has led Iran to continue its illegal seizures," Sen. Tom Cotton said, as quoted by the WSJ. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Mikhail Ulyanov underlined that while Russia will not be dragged into a new arms race amid such actions by the United States, it will "definitely" work to ensure its national security. "It is no coincidence that some American experts were quick to call the new warheads more 'ethical,' stating that their use would have less severe humanitarian consequences. But this is precisely why this is a bad thing. The characteristics of such weapons will objectively increase the temptation to use them. This will mean a substantial lowering of the threshold for using nuclear weapons," Ulyanov told RIA Novosti. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Monday, the US Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) authorized the bomb lifespan upgrade. The B61-12 is expected to be integrated with existing NATO forces and the F-35 aircraft in order to enhance NATO nuclear posture in Europe. According to Kimball, US President Barack Obama and his successor, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin, have a responsibility "to pull back from a nuclear action-reaction cycle," which, he said, put both countries at risk. "To start, the two presidents should issue a joint statement reaffirming their understanding that there can be no winners in a nuclear war and that as long as each side has nuclear weapons, strategic stability will remain central to their bilateral relations," Kimball said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The treaty with the formal name Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms was signed between Russia and the United States in April 2010 in Prague, and entered into force on February 5, 2011. The Treatys duration is ten years until 2021, unless superseded by a subsequent agreement. Under the Treaty, the United States and Russia must meet the Treatys central limits on strategic arms by February 5, 2018, that is seven years from the date the Treaty entered into force. The agreement "as a whole is implemented quite successfully" and Moscow "is confident that Russia and the United States will come to the levels which the agreement requests within the set period, that is, by February 2018," Leontyev said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Wall Street Jounral reported earlier in the day that wooden pallets stacked with euros, Swiss francs and other currencies were flown into Iran on an unmarked cargo plane, as the US law forbids transacting US dollars with Iran. At the same time, the United States was negotiating a prisoner exchange with Iran, raising doubts among Republicans that money had changed hands to guarantee the release as a ransom payment. "The funds that were transferred to Iran were related solely to the settlement of a long-standing claim at the U.S.-Iran Claims Tribunal at The Hague," Kirby said, as quoted by the Fox News. In January, the United States transferred the first installment in a $1.7 billion settlement the Obama administration reached with Iran to resolve a failed 1979 arms deal dating from before the Iranian Revolution, which was negotiated in the framework of the Iran-US Tribunal. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Obama administration actually secretly organized an airlift of $400 million worth of cash to Iran that coincided with the January release of four Americans detained in Tehran. Twenty-two freshman fillies trotted up a storm Tuesday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, as the Campbellville oval hosted a trio of OSS Gold Series divisions. On A Sunny Day captured her $70,000 assignment for driver Sylvain Filion, and in doing so the filly is now a perfect 3-for-3. The daughter of Muscle Mass-Dicent No sailed to the front from Post 5 and supplied the field with fractions of :28.1, :59 and 1:28.1. She scooted home in :27.3 to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Magic Presto. Round out the top three finishers was Sweet Of My Heart. Luc Blais bred and trains the filly for Determination of Montreal, QC. The $35,000 payday lifted her lifetime earnings to $105,000. Janderson posted a nice bounce back performance to win the second division in 1:57.3 for the tandem of driver Paul MacDonell and trainer Mike Keeling. The daughter of Muscle Mass-Gracious Marla, who won her OSS debut before miscuing and finishing up the track against Gold Series foes in her latest effort, got away fifth and held that position through first-half fractions of :28.3 and :59.3. Race favourite Winter Sweet Frost led the group through panels of :28.3 and :59.3 before coming under attack from Janderson on the way to the three-quarter pole in 1:29.1. Janderson used a :28.1 closing quarter en route to winning by 1-3/4 lengths over Winter Sweet Frost. Majestic Kat was third. Dr. Roly Armitage and James Armitage, who pledged 1% of the fillys earnings to The Stable That God Loves, share ownership on the two-time winner, who now boasts a bankroll of $70,000. She was purchased for $14,000 from last years Canadian Yearling Sale. Gravitator gave Filion, Blais and Determination a second trip to victory lane thanks to her maiden-breaking triumph in the final division. The Kadabra-Shesa Priority lass got away third before rushing the lead on the way to the half. She proceeded to lead the group to the three-quarter pole before using a :29.3 kicker to win by three lengths over Holiday Promise in 1:57.2. Anikadabra tagged along to finish third. Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, Gravitator improved her record to 1-1-1 from three trips postward. The $35,000 payday bumped her lifetime earnings to $60,900. She was purchase for $80,000 from last years Harrisburg Yearling Sale. Shes a full-sister another Determination-owned star, Prestidigitator (1:52.2 - $870,153). Officials from Mohawk Racetrack were forced to hustle along Tuesday's card due to a power issue that knocked out the track lighting system. Eight races were completed before visibility became an issue. As a result, the final two races on the card were cancelled. To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results Mohawk Racetrack. Post Time with Mike and Mike, presented by Bet America, has a fantastic program lined up for Thursday (Aug. 4) at 7 p.m. (EDT). Western New York driver Drew Monti will join to talk about his young career. Monti who graduated college recently has been very successful in his driving career and will talk about his accomplishments. Moira Fanning from the Hambletonian Society will join to talk about the upcoming Grand Circuit events this weekend at The Meadowlands Racetrack. Scott Zeron will come on the show to talk about his drive in The Hamletonian aboard Marion Marauder. Marion Marauder is 4 for 5 in 2016 and drew post 4 in his elimination. Our ongoing series with Running Aces Casino and Racetrack continues, as track announcer Darin Gagne sits down with veteran driver Luke Plano to talk about his career in harness racing. We will also find out what's coming up next week at the Minnesota oval. Post Time with Mike and Mike, presented by Bet America, can be heard each Thursday at 7 p.m. on their website at www.posttimewithmikeandmike.com, or on-demand at https://extra.betamerica.com/betamerica-radio-network/. Charles "Ronnie" R. Park, 81, of Chillicothe, Ohio, formerly of Xenia, died July 21, 2016, at Signature Health Care. He was born March 12, 1935, to the late Alvin T. and Lorraine F. (Holbrook) Park. Mr. Park was an honourably discharged veteran of the United States Army. He was a member of the Moose Lodge 1629 in Xenia for many years and eventually worked his way up to holding the Pilgrim Degree of Merit. He also owned and operated an antique furniture store for many years. Mr. Park enjoyed many hobbies and activities, but his true passion was being a Standardbred driver and owner. He is survived by his brothers, James A. (Beverly), Richard (Sue) and Kenneth; as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley L. Bolte. At his request, there will be no public calling hours or services. There will be a private graveside service held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions can be made to any Moose Lodge of the donor's choice. His online memorial guestbook is available at HallerFuneralHome.com. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Charles Park. (USTA) Scores of Cowlitz County voters waited until the last day to turn in primary election ballots, transforming what had appeared a low turnout into one that matched historical levels. The Cowlitz County Elections Office received another 7,740 votes 5,000 from ballot boxes on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing the voter turnout up to 32 percent, about average for a presidential year primary. It had been only 19 percent Tuesday morning. Ballots had to be turned in or postmarked by Tuesdays date to be valid. Some mailed ballots its not possible to know how many will continue to come in through the week. County elections officials were expecting to receive half the primary votes in the last three to four days which would have totaled a 28 percent turnout. Significantly more of the countys voters this year turned in their ballots even later. The Washington Secretary of State predicts a 41 percent voter turnout statewide higher than the average for primary elections. As of Tuesday night, however, the voter turnout was at 20 percent. Cowlitz County Elections Manager Carolyn Fundingsland said voters were confronted with a crowded ballot and there were several highly contested races, perhaps explaining why they delayed voting. We were in uncharted territory here, Fundingsland said. About 2,600 votes will be counted after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, but the majority of leftover votes at least 5,000 will be tabulated Thursday night. More ballot counts will be available on the Washington Secretary of State website after 5 p.m. Wednesday. Some races are awaiting results from more vote counts. State Rep. J.D. Rossetti is battling for second place in the top two against Democratic challenger Teresa Purcell, who was a mere 200 votes behind. Republican Jim Walsh of Aberdeen solidly held the lead with 30 percent of the votes districtwide. The PUD commissioner race was also too close to call Tuesday, and the Castle Rock Library levy also remained undecided. Cowlitz County commissioner incumbent Mike Karnofski will face Arne Mortensen for the District 1 seat, while incumbent Dennis Weber will face Shawn Nyman for District 2. Antarctics sea ice is found to contain bacteria that has the genetic ability to convert mercury, a heavy metal pollutant, into a more toxic form: methyl mercury. Methyl mercury is very harmful for animals of sea and if it reaches human body by biomagnification where larger fish eat smaller contaminated fish and continuously accumulate methylmercury at harmful levels for human consumption, then will cause developmental and physical problems in children, infants, and foetuses by becoming a neurotoxin that partitions into fatty acids and lipids. The study appeared in the Nature Microbiology. The research team working on the subject is from Australia from University of Melbourne, led by Caitlin Gionfriddo and John Moreau. Caitlin with her team went on a two month expedition to collect the samples of polluted ice, the ice from icebreaker aurora Austria was analysed for the sea microorganisms DNA and protein. The sample was also tested for mercury for better understanding of how this methylmercury entered marine environment. Gionfriddo, Moreaus PhD student, in an interview with Australian radio program PM, said We spent two months on the ship, went down to the sea ice zone just off of east Antarctica. I was collecting sea ice cores and sea water and measuring total mercury and methylmercury, which are two different forms of mercury, in the sea ice and sea water and collecting samples to look at the microbial communities that live in those environments. John Moreau, a geomicrobiologist at the University of Melbourne School Of Earth Sciences sated that the bacteria that is capable of producing methylmercury in Antarctic ice is Nitrospina. Nitrospina converts mercury, which is the result of man-made activity like burning fossil fuels and gold smelting or can also be formed by volcanic eruptions and bushfires and travels to the southern hemisphere to be deposited on Antarctica from northern hemisphere, into methylmercury. Mercury pollution must be ended from the environment or it will keep harming the aquatic life and from them it will harm us. hidden Officials from the Bangladesh central bank are visiting Manila this week to pressure the authorities in the Philippines to find ways to return the $63 million that is still missing out of the funds stolen from its account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York earlier this year, two people close to Bangladesh Bank said. Unknown cyber criminals tried to steal nearly $1 billion from the Bangladesh Bank account between Feb. 4 and Feb. 5, and succeeded in transferring $81 million to four accounts at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC) in Manila. Only about $18 million has been recovered. The Bangladeshi officials are alleging that the money was allowed to disappear into the casino industry in the Philippines, where investigators say it was laundered, because of systemic failures at RCBC, the two sources said. Bangladesh Bank is relying on internal RCBC documents to buttress its assertion that the Filipino banks Jupiter Street branch in Manila ignored suspicions raised by some RCBC officials when the money was first remitted to the accounts on Feb. 5, and then delayed acting on requests from RCBCs head office to freeze the funds on Feb. 9, said one of the sources in Dhaka. RCBC did not respond to requests for comment, but its then president Lorenzo Tan told a Senate hearing in March that the incident was "some judgment error from the people on the ground". "I think what happened here is we had the IT controls, the human controls. But unfortunately, it failed in the end, in the execution," said Tan, who subsequently resigned. "Yes, we are sorry this happened, but you know, it is human error, human judgment or intentional." The Bangladeshi delegation consists of Debaprosad Debnath and Abdul Rab from Bangladesh Bank's financial intelligence unit, Bangladesh Bank lawyer Ajmalul Hossain, and Bangladesh's ambassador to the Philippines, John Gomes. They plan to meet with officials from the anti-money-laundering council in Manila, the Philippines' department of justice, the central bank of the Philippines and from RCBC over the next four days, said the sources. Bangladesh Bank spokesman Subhankar Saha declined to say if the bank had plans to sue RCBC, but added it was trying to recover the money with the help of the Philippines' central bank. RCBC has previously blamed its own employees for the ease with which the money left the bank, including the manager of the branch in question. But the Dhaka source said the Bangladesh Bank believes the failures extend beyond individual officers and that RCBC allowed itself to be used as a conduit for the illegal transfer of stolen money. Bangladesh Bank claims the documents show that RCBC should be accountable for the losses. The documents, which have been reviewed by Reuters, include emails between RCBC managers at the time of the heist in February as well as memos and emails to various RCBC officials during a subsequent internal investigation. They show that RCBC had frozen the accounts concerned at its Jupiter Street branch in Manila for about an hour on Friday Feb. 5 because of questions from some bank officials about where the money had come from, where it was going, and whether the transfers were legitimate. At 6.27 pm on that day, a temporary hold was placed on the accounts at the branch, pending further investigation into the "validity of the remittances and nature of the funds", according to one memo that was sent on March 21 by the head of RCBCs human resources group, Rowena F. Subido, to Ismael S. Reyes, its national sales director for retail banking. Some officials at RCBC's headquarters, also in Manila, had questioned the transfers after about $22.7 million of the money was withdrawn from one of the accounts in cash at 3.16 pm that day only to be then deposited to another account that was opened at around 3 pm that day at the same branch, according to the notice sent to Reyes. However, the hold on the accounts was shortlived. By around 7.30 pm it was lifted after then Jupiter Branch Business Manager Maia Deguito's "representation to her superiors" that the transactions were legitimate, according to another memo sent to Reyes. Deguito was fired by the bank earlier this year and is under investigation by the Philippines' anti-money laundering council. Ferdinand Topacio, lawyer for Deguito, said that RCBC could not escape blame by singling out employees for mistakes. "If she had any fault, she was negligent and she was naive," Topacio said. He said RCBC did not act urgently on the stop payment requests from the Bangladesh central bank. The documents show that when the bank reopened on Tuesday, Feb. 9 after the Chinese New Year holiday, RCBC's settlements department received messages as early as 9.15 am from Bangladesh Bank, alerting it about the fraud. It sent four emails, between 10.59 am and 11.30 am, to its Jupiter Street branch, asking it to recall or freeze the remaining funds, the documents show. The reasons for the delay in sending those emails could not be ascertained. The branch processed withdrawals, totalling $58.15 million, between 10.24 am and 11.35 am, the documents show. According to former Senator Sergio Osmena, who led a Philippines' Senate probe into the events, only $15.2 million of this was withdrawn before 11.19 a.m. "RCBC did not perform its role properly," Bangladesh Banks Saha said. "RCBC is similarly liable as those parties who took money in their accounts." Reuters hidden The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) animal rights organisation has filed an appeal to the US Court of Appeals for justice to Naruto -- a now-famous monkey known for taking a "selfie" that prompted an unprecedented copyright lawsuit -- at claiming ownership over his image. The image was taken in 2011 by Naruto, then a six-year-old male free-living crested macaque in Indonesia. Photographer David J Slater had left his camera unattended in an Indonesian forest which allowed Naruto to take several photos of himself. Slater and his company, which both claim copyright ownership, published the photos that Naruto indisputably took. PETA sued, claiming that Naruto was the author of the photos and that Slater had infringed on Naruto's copyright. Disappointingly, in January, a federal judge dismissed the monkey selfie suit, finding that a non-human animal could not own a copyright. "In every practical (and definitional) sense, he [Naruto] is the Aauthor' of the works," argued PETA in the appeal brief filed on Tuesday. "Had the Monkey Selfies been made by a human using Slater's unattended camera, that human would undisputedly be declared the author and copyright owner of the photographs. Nothing in the Copyright Act limits its application to human authors. A [P]rotection under the Copyright Act does not depend on the humanity of the author, but on the originality of the work itself," the appeal read. According to PETA, if the lawsuit succeeds, it will be the first time that a nonhuman animal has been declared the owner of property rather than a piece of property himself or herself. It will also be the first time that a right has been extended to a nonhuman animal beyond just the basic necessities of food, shelter, water, and veterinary care. In our view, it is high time. "The fact that copyright ownership by an animal has not been previously asserted does not mean that such rights cannot be asserted," PETA wrote. PETA is seeking the court's permission to administer and protect Naruto's copyright in the "monkey selfies," without compensation, with all proceeds to be used for the benefit of Naruto and his community. Naruto is known to field researchers in Sulawesi who have observed and studied him for years as they work in the region. IANS FP Staff The Delhi gangrape case has seen a flurry of discussion on Facebook and Twitter with people lending support for the victim. But it seems, some have chosen this as an opportunity to circulate false pictures, claiming that they belong to the victim. According to television reports on CNN-IBN,one of the photos being circulated is that of a girl from Kerala and the father of the Kerala girl has filed a complaint against it with the Kerala cyber cell. The picture which is doing the rounds of the social networking website is that of a pretty, smiling girl in a kurta with another picture of a visibly ill woman being attended to by doctors in an inset. The photo comes with a caption that claims the girls in the two pictures to be the Delhi gangrape victims. This particular rape case has generated a volley of public interest both on the web and off it with people marching nearly everyday to protest against the attack. But the Facebook pictures reveal a voyeuristic side of this overwhelming interest in the Delhi gangrape case. The fact that people chose to share pictures of another girl with the wrong information highlights a sickening need to know everything about the victim, even when it goes against the law.The law is in fact clear on this; a rape victim's name and identity should not be revealed. It's almost as if, people have to put a face and name to the victim to realise the proportion of the tragedy in its entirety. As if the knowledge that she was brutally raped and left to die is not enough to draft a law, take decisive measures to book rapists and sexual offenders, to shake ourselves out of the self-imposed slumber that just lets bad things happen to us. Facebook and Twitter might be great platforms to mobilise public opinion and share concern and ideas about a cause, but very often people are quick to hit the share button without having any regard for moral and legal correctness of the content involved. tech2 News Staff Samsung just announced its Galaxy Note 7, the successor to its Note 5 series (yes, it skipped on 'Note 6' altogether). The smartphone adds to the long lineage of the Note series of smartphones (or phablets). The smartphone will go on pre-order today and sales in the US officially start from the 19 August. We have seen plenty of leaks and rumours in the past, but surprisingly, Samsung did manage to keep a few secrets. And this Note unlike many in the past, comes with one too many 'firsts' to battle whatever Apple will have to unveil in September with the iPhone 7 Pro (or Plus). There are some new innovations here while others may simply be new to Samsung's Note series. Gorilla Glass 5 Yes the just launched Samsung Galaxy Note 7 packs in plenty of new stuff but this one is first for all smartphones out there. In what appears to be a tie up, Samsung happens to be the first customer of Corning's recently announced Gorilla Glass 5 screens on both the back and front of the smartphone. According to Samsung, these two panels are symmetrically curved sheets of Gorilla Glass 5 which should make for a slippery, but great feel when held. HDR video support Yes we have seen QHD super AMOLED displays in the past, but Samsung's 5.7-inch new display panel is the first mobile display to feature HDR video support. HDR video support is a new feature that is showing up on 4K TVs these days that lets users see more colours and scenes with high contrast. S Pen The new S Pen may look like the old one, but it packs in an almost ball-point pen like experience. According to Samsung, it can detect 4000 levels of pressure and you can even write with it under water! IP68 rating Something that seems to be borrowed from the Samsung Galaxy S7 models, the Note 7 also becomes the first Note to be waterproofed. Not just that, the IP68 certification will even let you take this smartphone to depths beyond 1 meter. Iris scanner Samsung has also included an iris scanner in this year's Note. It will be used to secure Samsung Pay, Knox and some personal files as well. The fingerprint scanner is available as well, which makes us think about whether Samsung has trust issues with its fingerprint reader. Why would you need to biometric sensors on a consumer smartphone? Well, ask Samsung! USB Type C The Note 7 is the first Samsung smartphone to feature a USB Type C port. Yes! A year late, Samsung finally decided to switch to Type C reversible port and it comes with quick charging and wireless charging as well. Apart from this we have the usual flagship specifications like Snapdragon 820 or an Exynos 8890 chipset (market dependent), 4GB RAM and a standard 64GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot. You get Android 6.0 Marshmallow. You also get the same 12MP dual-pixel camera from the Galaxy S7 on the back and 5MP selfie-camera on the front. Powering it all is a 3500mAh battery. While there may be a few 'misses' like the much-expected Android 7.0 Nougat, you still get a revamped TouchWiz UI. For now, it seems like Samsung Galaxy Note 5 users have many reasons to upgrade. hidden Taiwan's Investment Commission said on Wednesday it is set to order Uber Technologies Inc to exit the domestic market, saying the global ride-hailing giant misrepresented its business as an internet-based information technology platform rather than a transportation service. Emile Chang, Executive Secretary at Taiwan's Investment Commission, said a final decision will be made by Aug. 11. The commission oversees Taiwan's inbound and outbound foreign investments. The move comes amid a major strategic shift at Uber that will see its operations in China taken over by a mainland firm. Earlier this week, Uber said it was selling its China business to rival Didi Chuxing after a bruising two-year price war in a challenging market. Taiwan's decision adds to a string of official complaints aimed at the fast-growing U.S. start-up. It has faced similar legal scrutiny in markets across Asia, including both in Hong Kong and China. "Taiwan's government has communicated many times with Uber...The worst scenario is to order (it) to leave the market," Chang said, adding Uber can appeal the decision to Taiwan's cabinet. Uber officials in Taiwan could not be immediately reached for comment. The company entered the Taiwan market in 2013, triggering anger from domestic taxi drivers, who staged a massive protest against Uber as recently as July. Reuters hidden Iranian hackers have compromised more than a dozen accounts on the Telegram instant messaging service and identified the phone numbers of 15 million Iranian users, the largest known breach of the encrypted communications system, cyber researchers told Reuters. The attacks, which took place this year and have not been previously reported, jeopardized the communications of activists, journalists and other people in sensitive positions in Iran, where Telegram is used by some 20 million people, said independent cyber researcher Collin Anderson and Amnesty International technologist Claudio Guarnieri, who have been studying Iranian hacking groups for three years. Telegram promotes itself as an ultra secure instant messaging system because all data is encrypted from start to finish, known in the industry as end-to-end encryption. A number of other messaging services, including Facebook Inc's WhatsApp, say they have similar capabilities. Headquartered in Berlin, Telegram says it has 100 million active subscribers and is widely used in the Middle East, including by the Islamic State militant group, as well as in Central and Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Telegram's vulnerability, according to Anderson and Guarnieri, lies in its use of SMS text messages to activate new devices. When users want to log on to Telegram from a new phone, the company sends them authorization codes via SMS, which can be intercepted by the phone company and shared with the hackers, the researchers said. Armed with the codes, the hackers can add new devices to a person's Telegram account, enabling them to read chat histories as well as new messages. "We have over a dozen cases in which Telegram accounts have been compromised, through ways that sound like basically coordination with the cellphone company," Anderson said in an interview. Telegram's reliance on SMS verification makes it vulnerable in any country where cellphone companies are owned or heavily influenced by the government, the researchers said. A spokesman for Telegram said customers can defend against such attacks by not just relying on SMS verification. Telegram allows - though it does not require - customers to create passwords, which can be reset with so-called "recovery" emails. "If you have a strong Telegram password and your recovery email is secure, there's nothing an attacker can do," said Markus Ra, the spokesman. Iranian officials were not available to comment. Iran has in the past denied government links to hacking. The Telegram hackers, the researchers said, belonged to a group known as Rocket Kitten, which used Persian-language references in their code and carried out "a common pattern of spearphishing campaigns reflecting the interests and activities of the Iranian security apparatus." Anderson and Guarnieri declined to comment on whether the hackers were employed by the Iranian government. Other cyber experts have said Rocket Kitten's attacks were similar to ones attributed to Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards. The researchers said the Telegram victims included political activists involved in reformist movements and opposition organizations. They declined to name the targets, citing concerns for their safety. "We see instances in which people ... are targeted prior to their arrest," Anderson said. "We see a continuous alignment across these actions." The researchers said they also found evidence that the hackers took advantage of a programming interface built into Telegram to identify at least 15 million Iranian phone numbers with Telegram accounts registered to them, as well as the associated user IDs. That information could provide a map of the Iranian user base that could be useful for future attacks and investigations, they said. "A systematic de-anonymization and classification of people who employ encryption tools (of some sort, at least) for an entire nation" has never been exposed before, Guarnieri said. Ra said Telegram has blocked similar "mapping" attempts in the past and was trying to improve its detection and blocking strategies. Cyber experts say Iranian hackers have become increasingly sophisticated, able to adapt to evolving social media habits. Rocket Kitten's targets included members of the Saudi royal family, Israeli nuclear scientists, NATO officials and Iranian dissidents, U.S.-Israeli security firm Check Point said last November. Telegram was founded in 2013 by Pavel Durov, known for starting VKontakte, Russia's version of Facebook, before fleeing the country under pressure from the government. While Facebook and Twitter are banned in Iran, Telegram is widely used by groups across the political spectrum. They shared content on Telegram "channels" and urged followers to vote ahead of Iran's parliamentary elections in February 2016. Last October, Durov wrote in a post on Twitter that Iranian authorities had demanded the company provide them with "spying and censorship tools." He said Telegram ignored the request and was blocked for two hours on Oct. 20, 2015. Ra said the company has not changed its stance on censorship and does not maintain any servers in Iran. After complaints from Iranian activists, Durov wrote on Twitter in April that people in "troubled countries" should set passwords for added security. Amir Rashidi, an internet security researcher at the New York-based International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, has worked with Iranian hacking victims. He said he knew of Telegram users who were spied on even after they had set passwords. Ra said that in those cases the recovery email had likely been hacked. Anderson and Guarnieri will present their findings at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas on Thursday. Their complete research is set to be published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank, later this year. Reuters SC asks Brac to pay Tk 404 cr in unpaid tax The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned of Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (Brac) to pay Tk 404 crore to the government as unpaid income tax. A five-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice SK Sinha, passed the order. Earlier, the High Court exempted Brac from giving taxes after announcing it a public welfare institution on December 14, 2014. Later, the Commissioner of Tax, Dhaka, filed 11 petitions against the HC order. Barrister Rokon Uddin Mahmud and Advocate Mohammad Asaduzzaman stood for Brac, while Deputy Attorney General Advocate Rashed Jahangir Shubhro represented the state. The Commissioner of Tax demanded Tk 404.20 crore tax from Brac for 11 fiscal years from 1993-2012. --Dhaka, Aug 3 (UNB) N Korea fires missile into Japan waters for first time North Korea has carried out repeated rocket launches in recent months . BBC Online : North Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile which landed in Japanese waters, South Korea and Japan say. The missile was launched off the North's east coast early on Wednesday and travelled about 1,000km (620 miles), one of the North's longest launches to date. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe said it was a "grave threat" to his country. The North is barred from developing nuclear and ballistic missile technology by UN resolution. But it had vowed a "physical response" after the US and South Korea agreed plans to deploy an advanced US missile defence system in South Korea. The North has carried out repeated missile tests in recent months. 'Ambition to attack' The US Strategic Command said two missiles had been fired simultaneously on Wednesday from Hwanghae province at about 07:50 Seoul time (22:50 GMT Tuesday), but one exploded immediately after launch. The Japanese defence ministry said the other missile landed inside its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) - the 200 nautical miles of ocean around a country over which it has jurisdiction. An official at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it appeared to have been a medium-range Rodong. The launch showed the North's "ambition to attack neighbouring countries", he said. There were no reports of any damage. Mr Abe said it posed a grave threat to Japan's security, calling it an "unforgiveable act of violence". He said Tokyo had protested strongly against it. The US similarly condemned the launch. "We remain prepared to work to respond to further DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] provocations, as well as to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation," said State Department spokeswoman Anna Richey-Allen. In June, after what appeared to be several failed launches, North Korea sent a mid-range missile more than 1,400km into the atmosphere, indicating it had made progress in its abilities to strike US targets in the region, according to analysts. In July, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, saying it was a simulated strike on the South. Local media reports say South Korean officials believe the North is preparing to conduct a fifth test of a nuclear weapon. But North Korea is not yet believed to have the ability to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile to make a deliverable weapon. The United States will begin large-scale annual drills with its ally South Korea later this month that it bills as defensive in nature and not provocative. North Korea typically protests against the drills, which it says are a rehearsal for invasion. "The North Koreans seem to have been timing their recent short-range and medium-range missile tests to the weeks ahead of US-South Korean joint exercises," said Joshua Pollack, editor of the US-based Nonproliferation Review. "If the allies can exercise their armed forces, so can the North," he said. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles that flew between 500 km and 600 km (300-360 miles) into the sea off its east coast. The North later said the launches were part of an exercise simulating preemptive strikes against South Korean ports and airfields used by the US military. Myanmar tourism boom set to bring 7.5m visitors a year AFP, Yangon : Myanmar is hoping to lure 7.5 million tourists a year by 2019, an official said Tuesday, as the impoverished former junta-ruled nation emerges as one of Southeast Asia's hot destinations. Travel to the once-cloistered country used to be reserved for the well-heeled and intrepid, prepared to endure the travails of a country under military rule with patchy electricity and limited communications. But foreign tourists have flocked in since the country began opening up in 2011, with a celebrities such as pop stars Beyonce and Jay Z helping to popularise the message that the country is open for visitors. This year Myanmar is on track to welcome 5.5 million tourists, nearly a million more than 2015, Tint Thwin, director-general of Ministry of Hotels and Tourism told AFP. "We hope the number will grow to 7.5 million tourists per year within three years," he said on the sidelines of a major tourism conference in Yangon. "We will try to find new destinations for tourists to visit and we will also support community-based tourism," he said in an effort to raise incomes in one of Asia's poorest countries. In comparison, neighbouring Thailand-a regional tourism behemoth-received 30 million visitors last year, offering a tantalising glimpse of the riches to be made. Curiosity in Myanmar's culture and natural beauty has surged in recent years in lockstep with the rollback of most international sanctions and the ascension of Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party to power. Panic syndrom.. Eviction idea comes as new threat PHOTO SHOWS ON WEDNESDAY: An empty restaurant (left) and a customer-less fashion house at Gulshan (right)aas people living in fear after July 1 terror attack. Sagar Biswas :Seven-year-old Trisha demanded a new dress from her parents to celebrate her birthday. She also had planned to have dinner at a restaurant with her family members including four-year-old younger brother Tanmoy. Wow, it will be a great birthday party.full of fun and joy! Trisha was very happy. But her father Maruf Hassan, a businessman in profession and also resident of Gulshan area, outright rejected the plan. Even, her mother Sanjida Hassan Mehenaj, an executive of an international organization, refused to go to shop to buy a dress for her daughter. Later, they decided to arrange the birthday party at their house in a simple way.It's not a lone incident. In fact, it's a story of all who reside in the city's diplomatic enclave Gulshan, Baridhara and Banani. After July 1 attack at Holey Artisan Bakery, the residents of entire neighborhood are still suffering from panic syndrome. Saltz, a seafood restaurant at Gulshan-mostly foreigners used to come here to taste its food. But at present, a large section of the restaurant remains empty, the tables are left unoccupied. A few customers are coming now with fear in their eyes. Particularly, the foreigners employed in different diplomatic missions and international organizations are showing less interest to go to public places. At the same time, the dwellers of other city areas are also avoiding the locality fearing possible violence.And ultimately, this trend has created a tremendous negative impact on trades and businesses, especially hotels, restaurants, fashion houses and shopping malls at Gulshan and its surrounding areas. The businessmen are counting huge loss daily. Strangely, the police department has not taken any initiatives to reduce general people's anxiety till the date. Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police [Gulshan Zone] Mostak Ahmed could not be reached over phone despite repeated attempts last night. Now, the RAJUK [Rajdhani Unnayan Katripakkha] have appeared as a new phobia before the businessmen and owners of commercial establishments at Gulshan, Baridhara and Banani."RAJUK or City Corporation had given approval of these commercial establishments. The businessmen have invested a lot of money there. So, it will be not wise to take quick decision. It needs timeBesides, government must arrange alternative arrangements for them," eminent urban expert Prof Nazrul Islam said last night. Uncertainty looms large when the authorities have started evicting commercial establishments; those are illegal in the eyes of law. There are several rest houses and hotels in the Gulshan-Banani area, where the businessmen have invested millions of taka. Besides, hundreds of people are now earning their bread from the businesses. But a majority of the hotels and rest houses are not getting boarders. In this situation, the hotel owners at a press conference on Monday urged the government to sit in a meeting to get a solution. Sources close to the RAJUK told The New Nation on Wednesday that it has served 'notice of eviction' to around 13,000 commercial establishments situated at Gulshan-Baridhara-Banani areas. Of them, the number of unapproved restaurants is 342. Besides, over 3,500 business establishments at city's Dhanmondi are now under threat as authorities concerned have started an eviction drive against unauthorized business establishments. On Monday, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court verdict that had ordered the removal of all illegal commercial structures from Dhanmondi residential area. So, RAJUK can continue their eviction drive at Dhanmondi, following the order from the apex court."In Dhanmondi, several commercial establishments have been set up for the sake of greater city, like hospitals and educational institutions. So, the government must rethink, in which area those will be re-established. Its solely government's duty," Prof Nazrul Islam said. UK fears fresh terror attack Asks its citizen to remain vigilant Staff Reporter :The United Kingdom fears further terror attacks in Bangladesh targeting foreigners, particular the westerners. "There's a heightened threat of further terrorist attacks and foreigners, in particular westerners, may be directly targeted," said Foreign and Commonwealth Office of UK in its updated travel advice on Wednesday.Following a terrorist attack in Dhaka on 1 July 2016 that resulted in the death of 20 hostages and 2 police officers, you should remain vigilant, monitor local and social media and follow any specific advice of the local security authorities to avoid certain areas, the FCO statement added. Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL) claimed responsibility for the 1 July attack and has also claimed responsibility for a number of other terrorist attacks since September 2015. Groups affiliated to Al Qaeda in the Indian Sub-continent (AQIS) are also active and have claimed responsibility for the murder of a number of people who they consider to have views and lifestyles contrary to Islam.Security forces in Bangladesh remain on high alert following previous attacks. There may be increases in security force presence and restrictions on movement may be put in place at short notice.There is a heightened threat of further terrorist attacks. Attacks could be indiscriminate although foreigners, in particular westerners, may be directly targeted. Crowded areas and places where westerners are known to gather may be at higher risk of attack. You should minimise your exposure to these areas, consider your movements carefully and take appropriate security precautions. "FCO advise against all but essential travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts. This does not include the city of Chittagong or other parts of Chittagong Division," said FCO statement yesterday. The UK Department for Transport (DfT) recently carried out assessments of security at Dhaka International Airport. Following this, the DfT has assessed that security at Dhaka airport does not meet some international security requirements. The UK government is working to support the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure that all international aviation security requirements are met. Read more about the DfT assessment.Tropical cyclones and flooding can affect parts of the country. You should monitor the progress of approaching weather systems on the website of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, and follow the advice of local authorities. Bangladesh lies in a zone of seismic activity. In the event of an earthquake you should remain vigilant, stay in a place of safety and follow any advice provided by the local authorities.The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel. Up to 75,000 British nationals visit Bangladesh every year. Most visits are trouble free. SC asks BRAC to pay Tk 404 cr unpaid tax Staff Reporter : The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday has ordered the BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee) to pay Tk 404.20 crore unpaid tax because it does not enjoy tax relief facility. A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order upon a petition filed by the government. Earlier on December 14, 2014 the HC exempted the BRAC from paying tax considering it as a charitable organization. The Commissioner of Taxes then filed appeal against the verdict. The HC delivered the verdict following separate income tax reference applications filed by the BRAC challenging the notices issued by the Tax Commissioner seeking Tk 404.20 crore as income tax between 1993-`94 and 2011-`12. BRAC was not paying the taxes saying that it was a charitable organization and thus it should not pay tax. But the Commissioner of Taxes argued that the organization was making profit from many projects of its own. Now the leading non-government organization would have to pay Tk 404,20,58,892 as income taxes for 11 tax-years. BRAC, an international development organization based in Bangladesh, is the largest non-governmental developmental organization in the world in terms of number of employees established by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. BRAC is present in all 64 districts of Bangladesh as well as other countries in Asia, Africa and the United States. The organization is 70 to 80 percent self-funded through a number of commercial enterprises that include a dairy and food project and a chain of retail handicraft stores branded as Aarong. Trail of damage to crops, houses The main thoroughfare and fresh areas of Faridpur Sadar upazila inundated due to onrush of flood water. This photo was taken on Wednesday. Staff Reporter :Floodwater started to recede in the country's north and northeast districts, leaving trails of devastation to crops, houses, roads and dykes. Normalcy also started returning to some flood-hit areas of Rangpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat while the situation improves very fast in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogra and Sirajganj, districts sources of Water Development Board (WDB) said. Many flood victims were, however, still living on embankments or government shelter centres. As of August 3, monsoon-induced floods that began around July 22 have affected some 3.2 million people across 16 districts of the country. Of the 16 districts in northern and central part of the country, including Bogra, Faridpur, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Kurigram, Kushtia, Lalmonirhat, Madaripur, Manikganj, Nilphamari, Rajbari, Rangpur, Shariatpur, Sirajganj, Sunamganj, and Tangail are currently affected by severe flooding. Waters are slowly retreating in the northern areas. According to the Department of Disaster Management, at least 6,34,409 families in the country's 16 districts, mostly in the north and northeast, have been hit by flooding since mid-July. Some 2,000 km of roads and 58.09 km of embankments in Jamalpur, seven km of roads in Nilphamari, 327 km of roads in Sirajganj and 300 meters of dykes in Gaibandha were damaged fully or partially. Around 42 deaths have been recorded and 38 officially confirmed, including many cases of drowning of minors, nearly 7,400 people have sought refuge in 69 flood shelters. Some 250,000 houses have been destroyed or damaged. The affected people are badly in need of food, water and emergency shelter. More than 300,000 people stranded in Shariatpur and Faridpur district alone. Meanwhile, water levels in the Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakhy around the capital are rising and the trend might continue for next 24 hours, according to Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC). "There is no possibility of flooding in northern and western areas of Dhaka. But the low-lying areas in the east might see flooding," said Ripon Karmakker, assistant engineer of FFWC. Balu River at Demra and Turag River at Mirpur are flowing 17 cm and 14 cm below their respective danger level. Lowlands adjacent to Demra of Balu River may experience water rise for next 24 hours. Water level on the Brahmaputra-the Jamuna and the Surma-the Kushiyara are in falling state. The Ganges-the Padma Rivers are in Steady state. TheBrahmaputra-the Jamuna and the Surma-the Kushiyara may continue to fall in next 72 hours. Flood situation likely to continue improving in lowlands adjacent to the Brahmaputra and the Jamuna Rivers at Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Sirajganj and Bogra in next 72 hours. Flood situation in lowlands adjacent to Rajbari, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Sariatpur district may likely to remain steady in next 48 hours. Obama will go down as worst president in US history: Trump PTI, Washinton :Donald Trump on Wednesday hit back at Barack Obama for terming him unfit for presidency, saying the "terrible president" was a "disaster" and probably the worst in American history, as the war of words between the two leaders escalated. "Well he's a terrible president. He'll probably go down as the worst president in the history of our country, he's been a total disaster," Trump told Sinclair Broadcast group in an interview yesterday."You look at what happens in the Middle East, in Syria and his line in the sand. I think it just means he's concerned I'm going to win," he claimed."Don't forget last time he said I would never get the nomination, now he is saying I wouldn't get the election now all of a sudden he said the other day maybe I can win the election, no I guess he probably has to say that kind of thing," Trump said when asked about Obama's statement yesterday.Obama had strongly denounced Trump, saying he is unfit to serve as the 45th president of the US. Foreigners think confidence to be built by government, not police Foreigners want their protection to live in safety. There is no doubt police are trying their best to create a protection shield around Dhaka's diplomatic zone, but foreign envoys and foreigners working here are not quite sure of their safety as they cannot have confidence in government's ability to make countrywide situation safe. They are failing to get back full confidence in police protection, because unless the government can prove competence in running the country peacefully; they fear police protection is no assurance of safety. In fact they want to see greater leadership of the government and its ability to handle the situation. In this case the government appears not active at all to deal with the reasons for the crisis. The diplomats cannot accept that killing by police is the answer to the home-grown terrorism. They find government reliance on police methods as a weakness for the political leadership. We don't know how the government is studying the impact of terrible police operations, but it is no doubt terrifying the nation and also the foreigners instead of adding to their confidence that the situation is under control. The apprehension the foreigners express is fear of more terrorist attacks on foreigners to come. In our view the foreigners are not seen as enemies, but attacking foreigners is taken seriously by the government for greater impact when killing of others taking place everyday is not a matter of concern to the government. Most foreign businessmen are afraid of taking business trip to Bangladesh. It also appears that aid workers and foreigners attached to big development projects remained concerned of their safety and stay at their work place outside the capital. Bullet-proof doors are used by foreigners in their offices and living apartments. Japan is reportedly providing bullet proof vest to its nationals in Dhaka. Foreigners feel insecure despite police presence in police check-posts. Media reports say two diplomats of the German Embassy, now on summer vacation in Germany have informed the German Foreign Ministry that they don't want to return in murky security environment. Not only German officials, officials in other embassies in Dhaka fear many may quit their assignments in Bangladesh. The situation will get clear once the summer vacation is over. They do not say that the government is not trying to give full protection to foreigners that include employing special forces to guard the diplomats and restricting access of common people to Dhaka's Gulshan and Baridhara diplomatic enclave. It has also increased the counter-insurgency capacity of the forces to deal with growing threat to state security. But they know safety has to be ensured by the government and not police. Indeed, nothing the government has done helping the foreigners to overcome the panic of Gulshan attack in which 18 foreigners were killed in the capital. They have been also terribly shaken by militants attack in Shalokia and the preemptive police assault in Kalyanpur that killed nine suspected militants. The incident proved militants' capacity to organize in the city to hit at new targets. So the safety issue continues to haunt foreigners like all others when people are looking for political leadership to stabilize the situation. Arbitrary arrest of hundreds of young ones and shooting them to kill increases fear in the minds of the foreigners. This is also not the way to discourage terrorism among our own young ones. There is no denying of the fact that police cannot fill up the vacuum of political leadership. We are helpless because of void in political leadership and foreigners cannot discuss the political issues of the crisis. What surprises us is also the bureaucratic hold on the government so strong that it cannot think of any political move for a political solution of terrorism crisis. The responsible ones in the government have to accept that for police operations no competent political government is necessary. Former LPSO director of corrections named executive director of nonprofit center that cares for people with mental illness and substance abuse problems. Rob Reardon Photo by Robin May The Baton Rouge Area Foundation announced Wednesday morning that it has recruited Rob Reardon, who most recently served as director of corrections for the Lafayette Parish Sheriffs Office and was highly regarded for his work, to establish a crisis intervention center in East Baton Rouge Parish. Reardon is the first executive director of The Bridge Center, a nonprofit created by BRAF to take better care of people with mental illness and substance abuse problems. He has nearly three decades of experience in this field, including the past 15 years under former Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mike Neustrom. Reardon and Neustrom worked to institute data-driven initiatives that helped rehabilitate offenders and reduce recidivism. We picked Rob because of his accomplishments in Lafayette, John M. Spain, the foundations executive vice president who oversees its civic projects, said in a press release. He created a system that saved money and treated people with mental illness in a humane way, while making the parish a safer place for all. As director of corrections in Lafayette, Reardon implemented mental health services, increased the number of prisoners incarcerated in their own homes instead of in parish prison, expanded re-entry services to reduce recidivism, and offered services to let kids in trouble become productive adults. I strongly believe that incarceration, although sometimes necessary, is usually not the best solution to those dealing with mental illness and substance abuse issues, Reardon said in the release. Reardon received a masters degree in management from Saint Marys University and graduated with a double major in criminal Justice and sociology from Moorhead State University. He chaired the Substance Abuse Re-Entry Committee for the Louisiana Department of Corrections and was chair of the Childrens Youth Planning Board. Hes an adjunct professor at UL Lafayette. Reardon will become part of an existing EBR community project. The foundation has collaborated with behavioral health experts and law enforcement officials for about two years to tackle the issue of how to handle the growing number of people with mental illness and substance abuse problems who break minor laws. According to the press release: Law enforcement officers now have only two choices. They take the mentally ill to emergency rooms or place them in jail. As a solution, the Foundations project is offering an effective alternative a crisis intervention center modeled after a successful San Antonio program. The EBR center would provide appropriate services, depending on the needs. Law enforcement officers could drop off mentally ill people and return much more quickly to protecting the communities. The center would include a sobering unit, a medical detox program, behavioral health respite beds, and a care management team to coordinate care after individuals leave the center. Project leaders have found an existing detoxification center with extra space on South Foster to locate the crisis intervention center. The Foundation has pledged to cover renovation costs, while Mayor Kip Holden has proposed a 1.5 mill property tax that would generate about $5.8 million annually to pay for operations. If the Metro Council approves the property tax proposal, it will be on the December ballot. Overall, the crisis center is expected to save EBR money because treatment costs less than incarceration. In a report by The Perryman Group, economists say a treatment center would save East Baton Rouge taxpayers $55 million in the first 10 years, an estimate computed on data from the successful San Antonio model that the Foundation project is attempting to replicate here. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation, among the largest community foundations in the country, works in two ways to improve the lives of people across South Louisiana. It serves philanthropists, helping them pursue the causes they care about, and it takes on projects for civic good. The foundation and its fund donors have granted more than $400 million to nonprofits over more than five decades. Its projects include rebuilding inner city neighborhoods, reviving downtown Baton Rouge, improving health care services, improving education and the quality of life. The foundation also supports local nonprofits with strategic consulting services. Photo Illustration The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal on Wednesday declined to rehear a case pitting two sides of the family behind the David Mortuary chain of funeral homes in Iberia, Lafayette and Vermilion parishes. The case revolved around an attempt by half of the members of the limited liability company that operates the funeral homes to expel the other half. The half that got expelled has won at both the district and appeals-court levels. An attorney for the losing side told ABiz a couple of weeks ago that if the 3rd Circuit declined to rehear the case, he would file a writ application with the Louisiana Supreme Court. From an earlier ABiz report on the case: Half of the David Funeral Home family Richard David, his son Lance David and Kelly David Perkins, Richards daughter awaits a rehearing request with the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal, which ruled recently in favor of Danny David Sr., who co-founded David Mortuary Inc. with his parents, Dennis and Cora Mae David, in 1969. At issue before the appeals court was the membership of the limited liability company that now operates seven funeral homes in New Iberia, Lafayette, Erath, Youngsville, Abbeville, Jeanerette and Loreauville. Danny David Sr. and Richard David are brothers. A third brother, Royal David, is on the Danny Sr. side of the litigation. At the heart of the case was a pair of clandestine meetings held last summer during which Richard, Lance and Kelly removed Danny Sr., Danny Jr. and Royal as officers of the limited liability company. Danny Sr. et al held a meeting of their own to amend the Richard-Lance-Kelly amendments. The former sued but a trial court ruled in favor of Danny Sr., Danny Jr. and Royal. Read the original story, Funereal family feud spills into court, by clicking here. http://theind.com/article-23635-Funereal-family-feud-spills-into-court.html 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. The dog days of summer are here, and yes, that means sweltering heat and heavy humidity, mosquito bites and not leaving house without sunscreen, but it also means Southern Illinois produce is at its peak. That's just in time for National Farmers Market Week, an annual Department of Agriculture-sponsored celebration of markets around the country. Southern Illinois offers no shortage of farmers' markets, chock full of red, yellow and orange tomatoes; fresh eggs that always sell out early; soft, juicy peaches; curly, dark green kale; crafts and jewelry; and even, in many cases, performances by local musicians. The Carbondale Farmers Market will celebrate National Farmers Market Week on Saturday, Aug. 13, with plenty of freshly picked produce, live local music and fine art made by local talent. And on Tuesday, Aug. 9, Carbondale Mayor Mike Henry will read a proclamation announcing the citys support of National Farmers week during the city council meeting, according to a news release from the Carbondale Farmers Market. The Carbondale Farmers Market is open 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday from April through November, rain or shine. It is located the Westowne Centre Mall just across from the Murdale Shopping Center. According to a news release from Carbondale Farmers Market, there are more than 347 farmers markets in Illinois alone. Here are some of the other area farmers' markets where you can show your support and celebrate National Farmers Market Week: Carbondale Community Farmers Market: 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays April 20-Oct. 26 in downtown Carbondale, at Washington and Jackson streets. Sunday Farmers Market at The Old Feed Store: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays inside The Old Feed Store, 111 N. Appleknocker, Cobden. Fresh produce, eggs, beef and pork, coffee, jewelry, soaps; local musicians; kitchen opens at 11 a.m. to serve lunch; free popcorn and lemonade. Johnston City farmers market: 3-6 p.m. Fridays until Oct. 28, in 100 block of East Broadway, downtown. Cannon Park Community Farmers Market: 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 28 at the Cannon Park Community Center on Greenbriar Road in Carterville. Murphysboro Farmers Market: 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 29 (closed during Apple Festival), at 1101 Walnut St. Herrin Farmers' Market: 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturdays through October, at 400 N. Park Ave. Golconda Farmers Market: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through September on the Golconda Courthouse lawn. CARBONDALE Torrence Powell developed a passion for art at an early age. However, despite his passion, the Carbondale native decided to pursue a career as a law enforcement officer. After graduating from Carbondale Community High School in 2001 and attending Blackburn College in Carlinville, Powell said he moved to the Chicagoland area to pursue a career as a correctional officer. "My father, who is still in Carbondale, he was a federal prison guard in Marion," he said. "So after I graduated I needed a job and so I just followed his footsteps." His job has inspired him to use his skills as an artist to portray issues between those in law enforcement and those within black communities specifically the youth. Powell says that as an African-American in law enforcement he sees both sides of the struggle. He hopes his art bridges the gap. "It goes past Southern Illinois," he said. "I think it's not just (Chicago) or Carbondale, or East St. Louis but any community with teenagers or families that are going through poverty, or a lack of education, or a lack of programs and I just want to help show that there are other people who do not have those resources who are frustrated and feel left out when it comes to being treated like theyre humans." His artwork includes images of youth with law enforcement officers in protests. "I feel as though, from what Ive seen, black communities feel like they are being mistreated, and being judged, or just like not a lot of good is coming. Through my work, I am expressing their frustrations and expressing their (purpose to) protest," he said. "It's not about the police brutality, it goes all the way back to (situations) like what happened to Emmett Till. It just goes back so far and it is all of that spilling out." Powell said he also creates images that depict aggression between both sides not only to express the frustrations of all, but to promote understanding. "If I was in that spot," he said, "I would be coming from a peaceful protest standpoint, and you know the only way you can get things across is if you come from some type of peace. "And I am showing the peaceful side and somewhat the aggression in things but I am also sharing the victim point of view." Among the many pieces Powell has created, he said he relates to "16 shots." The piece, Powell said, chronicles an altercation he had with a youth who made comments based on Powell's attire. Powell, who was in uniform at the time of the altercation, said as he was walking to his car, a young gentleman identified him as a law officer and began shouting obscenities toward him. By chronicling the incident in his piece, Powell said he was able to capture some of the miscommunication between law enforcement officers and individuals who live in areas with higher crime rates. "A lot of kids are not being taught the difference between the good and the bad and theyre not taught appropriate communication skills. Theyre not educated," he said. "So sometimes I see (them) putting themselves in situations with law enforcement. I am not saying they want to be shot, but sometimes they put themselves in these bad situations to have to come in contact with law enforcement and as you can see it does not always come out as good. Sometimes they come out hurt or even worse killed. "And I feel like a lot of these police officers who are not from these communities coming from these suburbs, such as Naperville, all theyre seeing are the bad and for some they do not know how to communicate neither and might be scared and fly off the handle from not knowing how to communicate so I see it as a big massive miscommunication." Powell will be promoting "16 shots," and other recent works Aug. 10 for Reveal, a RAW venture at the Metro Chicago Smart Bar that gives independent artists a platform to promote their creative works. A man sought for an armed robbery in Paducah, is the same man that state police and Massac County Sheriff's Department officials warned is "armed and dangerous." The law-enforcement officers issued the warning Wednesday morning for 26-year-old Benjamin Comer, saying he was armed with a double-barrel shotgun and considered "armed and dangerous." Comer was wanted in connection with stealing $1,200 worth of items from a store in the Paducah area and for fleeing into Illinois, where he apparently abandoned the vehicle he was driving. Law enforcement said Comer had threatened people, and they particularly asked those in the Brookport, Unionville, Mount Sterling and Hamletsburg areas to be on the lookout for him. Comer is described as being a white male, 5'11 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds, wearing grey "camo" and shorts and carrying the double-barrel shotgun. Anyone with information about Comer's whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately. People are asked to lock their doors and stay inside until he is taken into custody. The Southern CARBONDALE Randy Osborn, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale, said he was pleased to see that Gov. Bruce Rauner recently signed into law a measure that provides a specific line item in the state budget for an after-school program called Teen REACH. Rauner signed Senate Bill 2407 into law on Friday. The new law additionally codifies intended outcomes and measurements for the program administered by the Department of Human Services, such as in the categories of educational performance, life skills and development of positive adult mentors. I think organizationally its a message to kids that their community and their state cares about them and are willing to take action, to take positive action and to give them positive options and places to go and people who care, Osborn said. Theres a question we ask all the time: If kids couldnt come here, where would they go? The Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale serves about 1,100 youth, ages 6 to 18, Osborn said. The state Teen REACH grant is only a portion of the nonprofits financial and programmatic picture, but it was a blow to lose the funding, he said. Osborn said the organization was receiving about $30,000 annually to administer the program. Funds ran dry in July 2015, at the beginning of the states 2016 fiscal year as the budget impasse in Springfield stretched on. Osborn said the Boys & Girls Club was able to raise about $20,000 in private donations to make up for the shortfall. Programs that comfortably fit under the umbrella of the Boys and Girls Club and Teen REACH have continued, he said. Those programs have such titles as Passport to Manhood, Street Smarts, and Smart Girl and focus on topics vital to teen development: exploring career choices, relationship development, and skills for making positive life decisions and avoiding temptations such as drugs, gang involvement and violence. But the case-management portion of the program that provided more intensive supports for teens who needed them based on risk factors which could include falling behind academically or difficulties at home had to be scaled back when state funds ran dry, Osborn said. He said hes hopeful that some of that can be reintroduced with the passage of the stopgap budget measure on June 30. Fight Crime: Invest in Illinois Kids, an anti-crime membership organization of more than 300 police chiefs, sheriffs, states attorney and other law enforcement officials, praised Rauners singing of the bill in a press release this week. The Fight Crime release stated that the new law is a bipartisan effort that protects and provides clarity of intent and purpose for a program that is proven to boost graduation rates and significantly reduce crime." Nearly 120 law enforcement officials had signed a letter sent to Ruaner in support of the measure. Those locally signing the letter included Union County States Attorney Tyler Edmonds and Sheriff Scott Harvel; Franklin County States Attorney Evan Owens and Sheriff Don Jones; and Williamson County States Attorney Brandon Zanotti and Sheriff Bennie Vick; and Marion Police Chief Dawn Tondini. The release states that the stopgap budget measure allocated $13.1 million for Teen REACH. That is for the first six months of fiscal year 2017, according to the IDPH. Law enforcement officials, in the news release, urged consistent, full-year funding to repair the damage done by the states budget impasse. During the crisis, Teen REACH providers were forced to curtail their programming or close entirely. At least one of every eight youths recently helped by Teen REACH lost access to the program, it continued. Osborn said hes still trying to sort through what the stopgap funding measure will mean for his organization. But he sees this package of developments -- the budget and the new law codifying the Teen REACH program -- as offering a glimmer of hope. Its a sign that, hopefully, the budget impasse is starting to break up, and I think the politicians are realizing they just cant sit on their hands any longer, Osborn said. Theyve got to be proactive toward people who need the support and programming. Hopefully thats true throughout the human services and social services network. This editorial appeared in Monday's Washington Post: Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders electrified crowds with his promise of free state college and university tuition, its 10-year, $750 billion cost to be paid for in part by a federal tax on financial trading. So popular was the idea among primary voters that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, after first attacking the Sanders plan (correctly) as an unfocused subsidy that would benefit many well-to-do families, has had to incorporate Sandersian rhetoric into the party platform and offer a free-tuition plan of her own, albeit one limited to families making $125,000 per year or less - most of them living well above the poverty line. Hers would cost $350 billion over 10 years. Improving on the Sanders plan, Clinton also adds measures to keep college costs down and increase accountability for student outcomes. And on this issue, as on so many others, Republican nominee Donald Trump has offered nothing but vague assurances. But what if the Democratic nominee's plan overcommits scarce resources to a problem that, while real, is not as bad as she and Sanders say? Despite rhetoric about "crushing" student debt, 44 percent of students at two- and four-year institutions do not borrow at all, and of those who do, 59 percent borrow less than $20,000. The average undergraduate loan burden in 2015 was $17,900.(The average new car loan, according to Experian: $30,000.) The students whom Democratic plans would aid most - state-school undergrads - are generally among the least indebted already. Our source for this data is a comprehensive new report on student borrowing issued by President Barack Obama's economic advisers. It concludes that debt distress mainly afflicts certain categories of students (those in graduate school or for-profit undergraduate schools). Otherwise, the typical "amount of debt owed . . . remains modest," given the median $1 million lifetime income advantage that college grads can expect to realize. Society has a stake in a well-educated populace, so society should contribute to producing one, as it already does through direct grants, federal loans and in-state tuition subsidies. It is also true, as the large earnings premium suggests, that the benefits from such investment in human capital accrue to individuals who possess it. So it is not unreasonable to ask them to share the cost. What about Clinton's claim that higher student debt is "holding our economy back"? Well, the White House report says it "does not appear to have substantially altered" macroeconomic performance. Why not? Only about two percent of households in 2014 had student debt exceeding $50,000. And three-quarters of those incurred it pursuing law, medical and other advanced degrees that confer extra-high future earnings. The two Democratic candidates, the White House report and we agree that high student debt can have dramatic negative consequences in individual cases. Better policies can and should address those, with any necessary costs falling on taxpayers best able to shoulder the burden. Yet even assuming Congress will approve higher taxes on the rich, there will be many competing demands, national-debt reduction included, on the extra revenue. The Obama administration has already implemented several student debt reforms targeted at those most in need, and it has proposed others. Such focused fixes should be what policymakers turn to when, or if, politicking ends and governance resumes. Its not particularly noticeable in Carbondale. Maybe not even in Pinckneyville or Nashville. But, interstates 24, 57 and 64 carried an inordinate number of recreational vehicles toward Southern Illinois this weekend. The RVs were headed to Spartas World Shooting and Recreational Complex for the Amateur Trapshooting Associations Grand American, the largest trapshooting event in the world. The event officially begins today and will conclude Aug. 13. The Grand American wont have a noticeable effect on most of us. Well go about our daily business, unaware of the shooters, or the intense competition at Sparta. But, the entire region benefits. The Grand American brings somewhere between 5,000 to 7,000 people to Southern Illinois every year. The shooters stay here for 10 days or more. During that time, theyll drop a lot of money on gasoline, groceries, meals and miscellaneous supplies. Think about that for a second. Thats like adding another Murphysboro, Benton or Metropolis to the regions economy. The Grand American pumps about $12 million into the regions economy each summer. Yet, sadly the Grand American is an event that was nearly sabotaged by Illinois dysfunctional government. Shortly after last years Grand American concluded, Gov. Bruce Rauner ordered the World Shooting and Recreational Complex shuttered. It was an ill-advised strong-arm tactic designed to get the Democrat-controlled General Assembly to cry uncle in the still unresolved budget negotiations. While there is plenty of blame to go around in Illinois budget fiasco, this was a dangerous game of chicken instigated by the governor. Shutting the shooting complex accomplished nothing at least nothing on a positive note. The site remained fully staffed. The state continued to incur bills (largely unpaid bills, but that is another story), but refused to accept income that could have been generated by allowing the public to use the facility. Furthermore, the Democrats didnt flinch. When the budget stalemate dragged into November, the ATA got justifiably nervous. Running the Grand American is a serious logistical undertaking. The organization issued an ultimatum let us know by Dec. 15 if the WSRC is available, or were taking the Grand and the money it generates somewhere else. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed. The ATA and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reached an agreement that kept the Grand American at the WSRC, where it belongs. Normally, that would sound like a happy ending. And, it probably would be if this were anywhere but Illinois. But, serious issues remain. The state still doesnt have a budget. Illinois hasnt paid electric bills for the WSRC for months. It is a couple hundred thousand dollars in arrears at that site alone. Add in all the other state facilities where bills havent been paid and its staggering. In addition, the stalemate is responsible for the Scholastic Clay Target Programs college shoot picking up stakes and moving to Ohio. While not as big as the Grand, the SCTP is one of the largest events held at the WSRC each year. Shooters at the Grand American will break millions of targets in the next 10 days. Hopefully, it will be a reminder to Gov. Rauner and the General Assembly to take careful aim at the states budget. Heres some good news: they cant both win. On the night of Nov. 8, one of the two lying, greedy New Yorkers running for president will begin to recede from the national stage. The short-term goal of the millions of us is to find suitable diversions from a dark age as it descends on a baffled nation. I tried to do this the other night by seeing the new release Jason Bourne. You can usually count on Matt Damon to take one away from the cares of the day with a film featuring sleek production values. The Bourne series always includes some incredible car chases that allow you to forget your troubles while Damon battles his tormentors in American intelligence. Early in the film, however, CIA computers, which seem to have many safeguards, are hacked from Iceland. Watching the vivid computer graphics, I thought, Shouldnt the secretary of state have had at least that much security for her home brew operation? It is hard to escape this campaign even with escapist fare from talented Bourne franchise veterans. A fellow discontented friend whose job also requires her to pay attention to politics is going to immerse herself in Marcel Proust's seven-volume masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time. This unhappy campaign requires big diversions. People whove pondered escaping by diving into Proust's tales of life in France at the dawn of the 20th century may have found their spur to do it with the prospect of this grim contest. Im more of a War & Peace advocate. Stick with it through the first 100 pages and the rewards of Leo Tolstoys masterpiece will stay with you for the rest of your life. Plus, its nice to recall an age when the Russians left us alone and concentrated their cunning on trapping Napoleon by burning down Moscow. Oh, for a simpler age. Its getting hard to remember what life was like before YouTube, but the online video treasure trove can help with that. For a reminder of when dignity was a hallmark of national political life, join nearly a million others who have seen Eleanor Roosevelts 1953 appearance as the mystery guest on the popular game show Whats My Line. The human rights advocate and former first lady was promoting the approach of United Nations Day at a time when the U.N. was a repository for the worlds hopes for peace. That was long before it became a nest of anti-Semitic madness. Nostalgia, however, may not be enough to sustain the discontented for the next three months. Showtimes Ray Donovan series reminds of the glories of a Hollywood fixer. Bernie Sanders and all those hopeless Republicans should have hired Ray. Liev Schreibers Ray may not be able to solve his own niagara of troubles, but the guy can take care of others torments for a fee. His indispensable assistant Lena, played with elan by Katherine Moenig, is a testimony to American ingenuity in finding ways to dispose of messes and torment troublemakers. HBOs new Vice Principals tells the tale of diabolical connivers with laughs, something missing in this years long campaign. It reminds us that most strains of American life can be found in some form in a high school. Two thin-skinned disappointed vice principals connive to undermine the steely outsider who snagged the top job they wanted. Its zany antics married to raw, disappointed ambition. Maybe its not as divorced from this years politics as I thought. If you dont want to pay for your refuge, resort to that 21st century marvel, the podcast. Podcasts have revived the long-form interview. With a smartphone and a pair of earbuds, you can shut out the part of the world thats clamoring for votes and substitute laughter for despair. I prefer podcast pioneer Chris Hardwick. A standup with the business instincts of a tycoon, Hardwick knows how to do it. In the talk business, there are no bad guests, only bad hosts. Hardwick can make anyone interesting. The language can get blue, but this loyal listener can tell nothing of Hardwicks politics. You can thank me later for this one. There are 22 episodes of comedian Norm Macdonalds hilarious podcast. He is the master. This should get us through Nov. 8. After that, we may need stronger fare to blot out the ghastly noises our leaders make in our name. The best answer to most of the claims by climate activists and their political allies is simply: So what? Climate change is real, they say. So what? Gravity and sunrise are also real. That doesnt mean we cause them or we would be better off without them. Climate has been changing since the origin of the atmosphere billions of years ago. But, manmade climate change is a fact, they respond. So what? It is obviously warmer in urban areas than in the countryside because of manmade impacts. But the only place where carbon dioxide (CO2) increase causes a temperature increase is in computer models preprogrammed to show exactly that. All records show that temperature increase precedes CO2 increase. All that should matter to public officials is whether our CO2 emissions are in any way dangerous. Since they are almost certainly not, the $1 billion spent every day across the world on climate finance is mostly wasted. But, they tell us, 2014 was the hottest year on record, until 2015 surpassed even that. The last two decades include the 19 hottest years on record. So what? 2014 set the record by seven hundredths of a degree Fahrenheit; 2015 by 29 hundredths of a degree. These amounts are too small to even notice and one is even less than the governments uncertainty estimates of 14 hundredths of a degree. Regardless, one would naturally expect the warmest years to be at the top of a warming record. And thank goodness we have been in a gradual warming trend since the depths of the Little Ice Age in the late 1600s. But observations of extreme weather events are increasing. Insurance claims are skyrocketing, we are told. So what? As human habitation increases in areas that were previously sparsely populated, there will naturally be more reports of extreme weather and more related insurance claims. The database of the State Climate Extremes Committee (see http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/extremes/scec/records) clearly shows that the incidence of state-wide extreme weather records has been decreasing in recent years. The next alarmist claim? Sea levels rose 7 inches in the last century! So what? Sea level has been rising since the end of the last glacial period, 15,000 years ago. There has been no recent acceleration, and the current rate of rise is less than one tenth that of 8,000 years ago. As their climate change claims fail, activists change targets: The oceans are becoming more acidic and a catastrophe awaits if this continues! Overall, the oceans have never been acidic (i.e., a pH less than 7). Dr. Craig Idso, founder of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change explains, Forecasts of future pH come from unproven, theoretical postulations by models based on absorption of CO2 by the oceans. Regardless, there really is no such thing as a representative pH for the whole ocean. It varies vastly near the coast and in upwelling regions, much more than the projected increase in acidity. There are regions in the ocean where pH varies more in a day than the most extreme forecasts for the 21st century, yet ocean life adapts. So, once again, the best response to ocean acidification concerns is: so what? Climate campaigners are upset that fossil fuel companies support some of the groups who question political correctness on climate change. For example, Jeff Merkley (D-OR) complained to the Senate last week that skeptics received at least $332,000 from Peabody Energy between 2014 and 2015. So what? The May 27, 2016, creditor matrix associated with Peabodys bankruptcy filings also includes entries for Ducks Unlimited, the Center for Clean Air Policy, Democratic political party organizations, and the Sierra Club. Are donations only a problem when they support groups that disagree with the climate scare? Of particular concern to activists is funding from the Koch brothers, who, according to Merkley, gave $88 million since 1997 to groups that opposed climate alarmism. So what? The amounts being funneled to entities which support the climate scare is enormously greater. The latest Foundation Center report (2010) shows that the California-based William and Flora Hewlett Foundation alone donated over one half billion dollars to climate change programs in 2008, over one hundred times as much as Koshs average annual donation cited by Merkley. All this would be humorous if it did not have such serious ramifications. In the vain hope of stopping trivial changes in climate, activists and compliant politicians are working hard to force us to switch from coal and other fossil fuels, Americas least expensive and most abundant power sources, to unreliable and expensive alternatives such as wind and solar power. The public need to ask them, Why are you doing this? Who are you trying to please? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. /By Azernews/ By Amina Nazarli The strategic, friendly and partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are developing at a high level, and SOCAR [Azerbaijani state oil company] projects in Turkey give an important impetus to the development of economies of the two brotherly countries. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made this statement at the meeting with Rovnag Abdullayev, President of Azerbaijan's energy giant held following the session of the economic dialogue with the international high-level investors in Ankara, where SOCAR also participated. The Turkish president inquired about the progress in implementation of projects, expressed support for the activity of SOCAR, noted the importance of investment and expressed confidence in the development of the companys activity. Abdullayev assured the Turkish president that all the projects implemented by SOCAR in the country will be high-quality and completed in a timely manner. SOCAR president also thanked Erdogan for his support of the company, and said that work on all the projects is underway in accordance with the schedule. The company owns a controlling stake in the Petkim petrochemical holding in Turkey, which is a manufacturer of plastic packages, fabrics, detergents as well as implements construction projects of the Star refinery and TANAP pipeline. After privatization of Petkim Holding in 2008, the company has been operating under brand name of SOCAR Turkey, which holds 48.64 percent shares in Petkim. Recently, SOCAR Turkey Energy reported about 27 dismissed, after the operations against the movement of Fethullah Gulen underway in Turkeys Petkim. Vagif Aliyev, head of the board of directors of Petkim, expressed confidence that Turkey will come out of this situation stronger. "We are here with all the energy and want to announce the continuation of investment," he said. Some officials of SOCAR Turkey Energy also resigned. Among those resigned are Omer Adsiz, director of public relations department at SOCAR Turkey, Ilgar Mehmetoglu, director of the companys human resources department, Cetin Korkut, director of the companys IT department, as well as Fuat Ulagay, director of human resources department at Star refinery. Korkut and a group of employees of the company are accused of having links with the organization Hizmet headed by Fatullah Gulen, Anadolu agenbcy reported earlier. The premises of Petkim were raided and documents were confiscated. Two hundred employees of the local petrochemical and energy complex are also accused of having links with Hizmet and have been subjected to legal proceedings. In the recent message published at the website of the Petkim petrochemical complex, the chairman of the board noted that Petkim fully supports Turkish government, its economy and stability. The company will continue its activities for the benefit of Turkey and is ready to cooperate with the government, the message said. So far, SOCAR Turkey Enerji has invested $18 billion in Turkey and has opened more than 40,000 work places, becoming the largest foreign investor in the country. Speaking at the meeting with the SOCARs president, Turkeys Energy Minister Berat Albayrak noted that an inspection carried out by the Turkish government authorities in various companies, including the Petkim petrochemical complex, are not related to SOCARs activities in the country. After the events on July 15, Turkeys government authorities are conducting inspections in a number of companies operating in the country, including Petkim, explained Albayrak. However, they are in no way connected to SOCARs activity, and are being conducted as part of common inspection of the events. The Turkish minister inquired about the implementation of SOCARs projects in Turkey, as well as the work on the projects, in which Turkish companies are involved in Azerbaijan. He said that SOCARs investment projects are being implemented according to schedule, and the recent events in Turkeys social and political life have not affected the progress of operations. Albayrak added that all projects are being implemented in accordance with schedule. The minister also noted that Azerbaijans state oil company is one of the biggest investors in Turkey and the countrys government fully supports SOCARs activity. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today signed an order providing funding for the construction of Zig-Amirjan-Yeni Surakhani highway in Surakhani district. Under the order, AZN 3mln was allocated from 2016 State Budget for the construction of the highway, which links three residential areas with the total population of 62,000 people. /By Azertac/ Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has received a delegation headed by minister of communications and information technology of Iran, co-chairman of the State Commission for Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran in economic, commercial and humanitarian spheres Mahmoud Vaezi, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. The sides noted successful development of relations between Azerbaijan and Iran based on the principles of good-neighborliness and friendship, mutual respect, expressed satisfaction with the level of bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas, engineering, pharmaceutical, transport, energy, agriculture, tourism and other spheres. The parties stressed importance of trilateral meeting of presidents of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia to be held August 8 at the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Noting that the North-South transport corridor will be one of the main topics at the trilateral meeting of the presidents, the ministers expressed confidence that this project will make an important contribution to the development of interregional cooperation. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest at the meeting. /By Trend/ The statement of the Armenian leadership, which has lost its influence both inside the country and at the international level, is of regular nature and addressed to the domestic audience, Hikmat Hajiyev, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys spokesman, told Trend Aug. 2. Hajiyev was commenting on the statement made Aug. 1 by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan regarding Azerbaijans occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region. Sarsgyans speech once again shows that being prisoner of the last century, the political leadership of Armenia doesnt understand todays reality and has warlord mentality of late 80s, Hajiyev said. He added that he would like to remind the Armenian authorities, who falsify the history, of the Maragha-150 monument erected in Maragha village of Azerbaijans Aghdere district in 1978 on the occasion of the 150thanniversary of the resettlement of Armenians to the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Maragha-150 monument was deliberately destroyed by Armenians in 1988 when they started territorial claims against Azerbaijan, Hajiyev said. Thus, Armenians may put forward territorial claims against other countries as well, where they lived for several decades before the resettlement, having stated that it is their historical Armenian land. Nagorno-Karabakh, temporarily occupied by Armenian armed forces, is an inseparable historical and sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, he added. Sooner or later, Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh will be fully restored, Hajiyev said. No one should ever doubt it. /By Trend/ President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received the credentials of newly-appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Peoples Republic of China Wei Jinghua. The prospects for reviving the Turkish Stream pipeline project, which envisages Russian gas supplies to Turkey and further to Europe bypassing Ukraine, at least in a downscaled form, appear more promising given the recent dramatic improvement in Russian-Turkish relations, Gareth Winrow, independent analyst on Turkey, believes. It will not be surprising if Turkey and Russia return in practice to the situation as it was in the summer of 2015, when the prospects for building at least the first leg of Turkish Stream looked quite promising, thats if Moscow and Ankara could come to terms over gas pricing, Winrow told Trend by email on August 2. Initially, the Russian "Gazprom" planned to build 4 lines of the Turkish Stream with total capacity of 63 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The capacity of each line was expected to reach 15.75 billion cubic meters per year. Later, it was decided to build fewer lines. The Turkish Stream had to replace the South Stream project, which should pass in the Black Sea and through Bulgaria and deliver gas to the Balkan republics, as well as Hungary, Austria and Italy, but was abandoned in December 2014. Gazprom refused from the South Stream gas pipeline because the European Commission did not grant an exception from the rules of the Third Energy Package, which, in particular, says that one gas provider should use no more than 50 percent of the pipeline capacity, and the remaining capacity should be put up for auction. In late 2015 the Turkish Stream project was frozen due to sharp deterioration of relations between Moscow and Ankara when Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber with two pilots on board. On June 27, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter of condolences to Putin over the death of Russian Su-24 pilot and expressed regret over the incident. After that, the two countries relations began to improve. Last week Russia and Turkey announced the resumption of negotiations on the Turkish Stream this week and the intention to create a working group on this project. On August 9 Russian and Turkish Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold the first meeting after the incident with the aircraft in St. Petersburg. Erdogans meeting with Putin could lead to an announcement for re-launching plans to build a 15.75 bcm/y pipeline to connect Russia and Turkey via the Black Sea, Winrow said. He noted that the laying of the first line of the pipeline across the Black Sea would enable Russia to bypass troublesome Ukraine to deliver significant gas volumes to Turkey. Moreover, the expert noted that Russian officials appear hopeful of building a second pipeline of similar capacity to carry Russian gas to south-eastern Europe via Turkey. However, such a pipeline could encounter the same problems as the earlier proposed South Stream project, he said. Winrow noted that citing the provisions of the EUs Third Energy Package, Brussels has opposed Gazproms control over the proposed pipeline which would cross EU territory, either running through Greece or Bulgaria. He said that one possible way around this would be for a second string of Turkish Stream to connect with interconnector lines in south-eastern Europe where gas flows could then be reversed. This may be seen as not running counter to the provisions of the Third Energy Package, he said. In return, though, talks could also re-commence between Moscow and Ankara over reducing the price of gas for deliveries to the Turkish State Pipeline Corporation, BOTAS, according to the expert. Winrow noted that there has also been some speculation over possibly linking a deal on Turkish Stream with reviving plans for a Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline to carry Russian oil across Turkey bypassing the Bosphorus. But, it seems that Russia is also re-considering plans to resurrect the moribund Burgas-Alexandroupolis Bosphorus-bypass oil pipeline option which will not cross Turkeys territory, he said. /By Trend/ During the meeting of the presidents of Turkey and Russia, the two countries will reconsider their relations in the economic sphere, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a meeting with international investors in Ankara, TRT Haber TV channel reported Aug. 2. Erdogan said that Turkey has always been attentive to economic issues, even in times of crisis in relations with Russia. He went on to add that during his visit to Russia on August 9 as part of the representative delegation the sides will discuss the whole range of issues without any restrictions. Earlier, Turkish presidential administration told Trend that Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will discuss a number of important economic and political issues during the meeting in St. Petersburg Aug.9. Fighting the terrorist organizations in Syria is among the issues planned to be discussed during that meeting, said the presidential administration. Moreover, the presidents are expected to discuss the joint energy projects of Russia and Turkey, such as the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and the construction of Akkuyu nuclear power plant. The relations between Russia and Turkey deteriorated after the Su-24 bomber incident in 2015. On June 27, Erdogan sent a letter of condolences to Putin over the death of Russian Su-24 pilot and expressed regret over the incident. /By Trend/ A delegation led by Turkmen parliaments Chairman Akja Nurberdiyeva will visit Pakistans capital Islamabad on Aug. 3-4, the Turkmen government said in a message Aug. 3. The working visit is aimed at further development of the Turkmenistan-Pakistan interparliamentary relations. Both countries noted the presence of potential for cooperation in various spheres of the economy, including in the fuel and energy sector, transport and communications. Construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and the creation of international transportation and communication corridors, formation of a multi-modal transportation system were particularly highlighted. Construction of the TAPI pipelines Turkmen section began in December 2015. /By Trend/ More than 50,000 schools are expected to be set up in the Gulf region by 2020 to address the growing school population that is estimated to reach 15 million in four years, said organisers of an upcoming education forum in Dubai, UAE. Citing findings from the GCC Education Industry report published by Alpen Capital, organisers of the forthcoming International and Private Schools Education Forum (IPSEF) Middle East said 41,678 schools will have been established throughout the GCC in the public education sector by 2020; and 9,301 schools in the private education market. Experts estimate about 51,000 schools will be needed by 2020 to accommodate the growing demand for schools throughout the GCC, said Rhona Greenhill, co-founder IPSEF. This will be a significant addition of 7,000 more schools than the current number to address the burgeoning school student population across the region. Saudi Arabia leads with 44,441 schools expected to be set up, followed by 2,054 in Oman and 1,497 in Kuwait. Next comes the UAE with 1,406, followed by Qatar with 1,107 and Bahrain with 503. Last year alone, figures from the GCC Education Construction report identified more than 500 educational projects in various stages of development collectively worth more than $50 billion throughout the Gulf region. The projected capacity gap has prompted both public and private sector stakeholders, including international school operators to focus on the education market through increased government spending and long-term development strategies. For instance, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman have allocated more than 20 per cent of their total budget this year towards the education sector, a figure higher than in most developed countries such as the US, UK and Germany, indicating the seriousness of these Gulf states efforts to develop their education sector. The lead in time for the delivery of new schools is at least 24 months allowing for design and approvals in advance of a typical construction first phase of at least 14 months, said Mark Ryder, Education Consultant Daymer Group, one of the speakers featured at the event. This also assumes handover to the operator in the May preceding a September opening. With this in mind we have a good sense of the schools planning to open in September 2016 and 2017. The window for September 2018 schools will close in a few months. There are schools planned for Abu Dhabi and Sharjah but not in the same numbers as Dubai. I know that there is significant activity in the construction of new public schools in Saudi Arabia and that the Qatar market is also active. New schools in Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait are limited, he added. Experts say there is definitely a growing recognition amongst existing operators and schools that are considering entering the market that it is now very competitive and previous enrolment ramp up rates are unlikely to be achieved universally. In the British and American sectors some operators are even talking about over supply. However, there still appears to be a gap in the International Baccalaureate (IB) market and for quality affordable education. With the international and private school markets continuing to grow, and as competition increases, it is increasingly critical that schools and investors planning to open new operations in education develop strategies for success, Greenhill said. To assist that need IPSEF provides a unique reference point for all those involved in the financing, planning, design, delivery and management of a new school project. By bringing together the diverse community involved in a new operation, IPSEF aims to provide participants with not only valuable case studies of schools from across the MENA region but importantly a host of contacts that will enable them to plan their project with confidence, Greenhill ended. IPSEF will take place from September 27 to 29 at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel in Dubai, UAE. TradeArabia News Service The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) plans to build a new headquarters in Bausher, Muscat, a report said. The building will have five to six floors and house offices, conference halls and an underground parking, said the Muscat Daily report. Construction is expected to start in the beginning of 2017 and complete by the second half of 2018. The chamber closed the pre-qualification period for construction tenders on July 31 and expects to announce the construction contract by the end of the year. The report quoted an official as saying that the new building will meet the need for increased facilities and to better accommodate visiting trade delegations. The current OCCI building in the CBD area dates back to the 1970s. Leminar Air Conditioning Company, a leading heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) distribution company in the Middle East, opened its second showroom in Deira, Dubai, taking the total number of its showrooms in the UAE to seven. The strengthening of the companys retail profile is in line with its aggressive strategy for growth despite the regional slowdown. Earlier in the year, Leminar had also announced the inauguration of its first venue in Kuwait. Pramodh Idicheria, general manager, Leminar Air Conditioning Company, said: Our existing showroom in Deira showcases the entire product range of Leminar whereas the new one is exclusively dedicated to engineering products like air-conditioning units, ventilation fans, valves and pumps. Moreover, we have application engineers based in this showroom to provide technical advice and recommend reliable solutions to assure complete customer satisfaction. Navin Valrani, CEO of Leminar Air Conditioning Company, added: Even as other businesses are trimming down their workforce and adopting containment measures, Leminar has kept up the momentum. This is possible because of the sound fundamentals on which our company is built and the experience we have gained over the past 25 years of our operations. Leminars new showroom is located in close proximity to its existing shop in the Air Conditioning Market cluster of the Al Rigga area in Deira. It showcases premium products from international brands such as Rheem, Mueller, S&P and Hattersley. - TradeArabia News Service Russia-based oil and gas major Gazprom has put in a request for partnership in Iran's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production projects, said a report. Gazprom has called for taking part in Iranian LNG programmes as the countdown begins for inviting tenders for the construction and implementation of Iran LNG plant, added the Iran Daily News report, citing Mehr News Agency. The construction of the country's only LNG production plant has reached a hiatus although the project has shown a physical progress of more than 50 per cent, it said. National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) seeks to conduct technical and economic assessments to make an international tender to select a foreign investor to complete and operate the project. Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak recently revealed that Gazprom Company is willing to join Iran's gas projects. Managing director of National Iranian Gas Exports Company (NIGEC) Alireza Kameli, added that the natural gas liquefaction plant of Iran LNG will be funded by a foreign investor and will be completed by a contractor while a third company will be in charge of recovering LNG shipments. Noting that the technical assessments of Iran LNG will be over within three months, Kameli underlined that the company with the most suitable offer will then be appointed to undertake the project, added the report. China-based ET Solar has signed a cooperation contract to enter into a joint venture (JV) with Xi'an LONGi Silicon Materials Corp, a leading high-efficiency mono-crystalline products manufacturer. Under the JV, ET Solar and LONGi will complement and expand their respective expertise and advantages in technology, development, products, branding and sales channels. Together the companies will be dedicated to promoting high-efficiency mono-crystalline solar modules around the world, said a statement from ET Solar. The companies consider efficiency pivotal for future solar technology development and cost breakthroughs. Cost-effective mono-crystalline technologies will be the most important engine for increasing solar power efficiency. Both companies look forward to making ET Solar a world-leading, high-efficiency mono brand, and to reaching parity with high-efficiency PV products and significant cost reductions on downstream power generation, it said. Xinghua Wang, chairman of ET Solar, said: This strategic contract signifies an enhancement of mutual cooperation on technology, products and global marketing. Through this cooperation, our companies will complement each another, forming a compatible and efficient alliance that combines the upstream and downstream sectors of the solar industry, he added. Baoshen Zhong, chairman of LONGi, said: Our companies have their respective specialities in the PV industry. But we share similar views and ideas about how to develop a global market, contribute to the environment and establish a subsidy-free PV market with net metering. Our strategic cooperation will open new doors for both parties, he added. As an advanced solar module manufacturer, ET Solar has long been dedicated to providing cutting-edge PV products and services to satisfy customers' diversified demands for solar energy. It has provided a cumulative 5 GW of modules for customers around the globe, it said. As the world's largest mono-crystalline product manufacturer, LONGi has always focused on R&D for mono products, leading to continuously decreasing costs and increasing Chinese market share of mono modules -- from 20 per cent to 25 per cent, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton extended her lead over Republican rival Donald Trump to eight percentage points, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, from six points on Friday. The bump for Clinton followed the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week at which Clinton and her supporters painted an optimistic portrait of America, and came amid controversy over Trump's comments about the parents of a slain Muslim U.S. soldier. About 43 percent of likely voters favor Clinton, 35 percent favor Trump, and 9 percent picked "Other," according to the July 28-Aug. 1 online poll of 1,289 likely voters. The poll had a credibility interval of 3 percentage points. Trump has faced a barrage of criticism in recent days from political allies as well as opponents after he criticized the parents of U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq in 2004. The father, Khizr Khan, had harsh words for Trump at the Democratic convention where he spoke on Thursday night, saying the 70-year-old businessman and former reality TV star had "sacrificed nothing and no one" and railing against his calls to ban Muslim immigrants. Trump responded saying Khan "viciously attacked" him, and suggested the man was repeating lines fed to him by the Clinton campaign. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who dropped out of the Republican presidential primary race and endorsed Trump, said on Tuesday that Trump's criticisms of the Khans was "inappropriate." House Republican Richard Hanna of New York said it was "not enough to simply denounce his (Trump's) comments," and said he would support former Secretary of State Clinton instead. Trump had a short-lived bump in the polls after the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in late July, when Reuters polling showed him slightly ahead of Clinton for the first time since May. Reuters Nuzul Saudi Heritage Hospitality Company, an initiative led by the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTNH), has unveiled plans for a new five-star heritage hotel in the historical Samhan District of AdDiriyah, Riyadh. This project, which aims to bring together the historical look and feel of approximately 40 historic mud buildings in the Samhan District with a modern five-star hotel, is under the supervision of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, and is the first hospitality related renovation project in the country. The heritage hotel is being designed by DAppolonia, the independent engineering consulting company of Rina Group. The firm will provide engineering services up to detailed design development, and support Nuzul Hospitality with technical supervision and recommendations for construction according to the BREEAM International 2013 scheme and DAppolonias Quality Management System. The project area sits inside the Unesco buffer zone; so all techniques used to restore buildings also need to be compliant with Unesco protocols. Andrea Tomarchio, project manager, DAppolonia said: "We are pleased to be able to preserve the integrity and heritage of these historic buildings. Ensuring that the design is environmentally friendly and energy efficient has been a key consideration in making the site available for modern use in a sustainable way, that will mean it lasts for years to come. Alessandro Odasso, Infrastructure and Transport Business Development manager, DAppolonia noted: Our long-standing expertise in heritage requalification engineering lent itself perfectly to this project. We have carried out many similar design and supervision projects in historic sites of Italy and in the hospitality industry, providing us with extensive experience for this design project. The proposed hotel design includes a souk in which traditional goods will be marketed and a museum area where traditional construction systems will be displayed and workshops can be conducted to teach restoration techniques, including those used to restore the Samhan District. This unique experience will highlight the restoration of the heritage site and reflect the countrys traditions, origins and culture. These are key elements in passing technical knowledge and skills down to future generations, which, due to the sustainable design of the hotel, can be taught for many years to come. - TradeArabia News Service Dubai international airport will resume flights at 1830 local (1430 GMT), the government's media office said, after traffic was suspended for several hours following the emergency landing of an Emirates Airline plane that subsequently caught fire. Photographs and videos posted on social media showed the plane, which had flown in from India, lying crumpled on its belly on the tarmac with black smoke pouring from its upper section. A spokesperson for operator Dubai Airports said all 282 passengers and 18 crew aboard flight EK521 coming from Thiruvananthapuram had been evacuated and emergency services were managing the situation. Most of the passengers were Indians, followed by Britons and UAE citizens. Others on board came from the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Ireland, Australia, Malaysia and Thailand. Planemaker Boeing said in a statement it was monitoring the situation in Dubai and it would be working with Emirates to gather more information. - Reuters Rescuers responding to a distress signal from an emergency beacon on Tuesday located a Powell man who had been shot in the leg. Philip Herweyer, 33, and another person were on horseback scouting for elk along the Shoshone River ahead of the fall hunting season, according to a news release from the Park County Sheriff's Office. The lead rope from Herweyer's pack horse became wrapped around his .45-caliber pistol, causing the gun to discharge. The round struck Herweyer in the leg, entering the back of his right calf and exiting around the shin, the release said. Herweyer and his companion activated a GPS emergency beacon, and their location was relayed to the sheriff's dispatch center. Herweyer was located by a helicopter crew from Air Idaho Rescue and taken to a hospital. His condition was not known as of Wednesday afternoon. A Mills man could receive probation for punching his teenage daughter in the face earlier this year. Thomas Knapp pleaded guilty Wednesday in Natrona County District Court to one count of child abuse, a felony that carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. As part of a plea agreement with state prosecutors, Knapp is expected to receive a suspended prison term and three years of supervised probation. District Judge Daniel Forgey will sentence Knapp at a later date. Knapp is out of jail on bond pending that hearing. The victim, who was born in 2002, called her older sister March 3 and asked her to pick her up from her parents house in Mills, according to court documents. The older sister called police after she saw blood on the victims face. When interviewed by authorities, the victim said she had arrived home after school and her parents were drunk, the documents state. She said they started arguing and yelling at one another and she asked her father to stop yelling. She told police her father then walked toward her and struck her across the face. The victims face was swollen and she had dried blood on her nose and cheeks, according to the documents. Police called the Department of Family Services, and the girl was placed in protective custody. Tuesdays Republican undercard debate at Casper College featured an array of creative policy proposals and positions from the three U.S. House candidates polling at under 2 percent. Jason Senteney, a corrections officer, said the government could address illegal immigration by putting tens of thousands of unemployed veterans on the countrys southern border and attaching tracking devices to legal visitors. With 21st-century technology we can track them with GPS, Senteney said. But the allusion to our modern age meant something different to English professor Mike Konsmo, who said in an interview after the debate that he had no problem with transgender students using bathrooms that align with their gender. Its the 21st century, he said. The debate bounced around from conservative denunciations of abortion Withhold every bit of money to Planned Parenthood that this government gives it, said Paul Paad to an acceptance of government oversight on issues like public lands and mine reclamation. Paad said public lands in the state needed to remain in federal hands to prevent state legislators from selling the land to private developers. You know the intent is there, Paad, director of safety and personnel at a trucking company, said. Senteney was the lone supporter of returning the land to state control, but conditioned that on safeguards to prevent its sale. All three candidates also supported a federal law mandating that coal companies pay for mine reclamation, though they offered harsh words for regulations on the coal mining itself. We need to pull in our regulatory agencies to stop them from creating these unemployment issues, Paad said. On climate change, Senteney said he believed it existed as it had for millions of years. Paad said Wyomings clean coal could help them negotiate with climate change advocates on the West Coast who want to block coal exports. In an apparent non-sequitor, Konsmo said climate change was a reason to improve Wyomings water infrastructure. The candidates were less circumspect on other issues. On immigration, Senteney said undocumented immigrants should be barred from renting apartments and that e-verify needed to be extended to all businesses whether you have one employee or 1,000 employees. We cannot have a secure and stable economy without a secure and stable border, Paad said. We cannot continue to bring refugees and immigrants in here. Paad said he supported creating a safe haven for refugees in the Middle East. In an interview after the debate, Paad added that this solution would stop refugees from bringing their sharia culture to the United States. But there was remarkably little towing of the party line for three candidates vying to win over Republican primary voters. Paad noted that was not entirely an accident as career politicians had broken Washington. Id be willing to work across party lines, Paad said. Something thats happened over the last few decades is weve become so polarized weve stopped putting the country first, Senteney said. After the debate Senteney proposed a new Civilian Conservation Corps to put the unemployed to work, acknowledging that was an idea out of lockstep with the modern Republican party. Im an Eisenhower Republican, Senteney said. You can put that down. The Republican front-runners for Wyomings U.S. House seat used most of a Tuesday night debate to discuss conservative priorities and blame the Obama administration for hurting the states coal industry. It was only in the final minutes of the hourlong event at Casper College when three of the four GOP House candidates with the highest poll numbers turned on one another. With over 50 percent of Republican voters undecided, the stakes are high in the run up before the Aug. 16 primary. Wyoming Sen. Leland Christensen was the first to take a shot at opponent Liz Cheney, comparing her bid for the federal office to Hillary Clintons stint in the U.S. Senate, representing New York. When you look back, you see the Clinton playbook: Coming to the state on short notice, saying. Im not coming back to Wyoming to run for office and then turn around and run for office, Christensen said. Thats not the way we do things in Wyoming. Lets look at whos been here, whos served here and who has that track record for good performance, honor, integrity. Ive served as a soldier, Ive served as a law enforcement officer, and Ill serve you every day in our Capitol. But Liz Cheney, who bought a house in Teton County in 2012 and has faced accusations throughout the campaign that she isnt committed enough to Wyoming, swung back at Christensen. I agree with what Leland is saying: That we ought to look at records of people on stage, she said. Id say first of all people who have been in the state Legislature now for many years have got to explain to the people of Wyoming how is it were in a crisis moment. When it was Cheyenne attorney Darin Smiths turn for closing remarks, he alluded to Cheneys father, the former vice president, who held the seat during the 1980s. I am sick and tired of politics as usual, and Ill tell you this: Its insane to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results, he said. To send the same political legislature types or compromisers or even the same families or dynasties. Liz is right: She does know Washington, D.C., better than the rest of us, because shes spent most of the last 40 years in Washington, D.C. So lets do Wyoming a favor, lets do America a service, lets retire these three establishment politicians and lets vote Mr. Smith to Washington. Only state Rep. Tim Stubson perhaps in part because he was the first candidate to offer closing remarks stayed out of the fray. About 150 people attended the debate, sponsored by the college, Casper Star-Tribune and Wyoming PBS. The Star-Tribune and Wyoming PBS conducted a poll of registered Republican voters earlier this month. Cheney, at 20.7 percent, Stubson, at 8.7 percent, Christensen, at 4.1 percent, and Smith, at 2.5 percent, collected the most support, although 52.3 percent of the voters were undecided. Cheney who called Barack Obama the worst president in U.S. history and Smith who claimed Planned Parenthoods main activity is performing abortions positioned themselves furthest to the right Tuesday night. Christensen and Stubson tried to depict themselves as more moderate and practical. Stubson and Christensen indicated they were only open to the federal government transfer of public land to the state. Any discussion needs to start with maintaining our public access, said Stubson, the No. 3 ranking Republican in the Wyoming House. Christensen said he supported a bill that will study scenarios under which the state would manage federally owned land. Hes less enthusiastic about the state owning those lands, afraid land would not be available for public use. I think this is a place where we need to tread very carefully, he said. Members of the public submitted hundreds of questions for the candidates, who did not see them beforehand. To save the country money and reduce federal debt, Cheney said several agencies need to be cut: the departments of energy and education, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Bureau of Land Management. She would also like to repeal the Affordable Care Act. I think one of the main reasons Wyoming is facing the crisis were facing today is because of the overreach of the federal government, she said. Smith offered cost-savings ideas that would begin with himself. He would not take a pension offered to members of Congress. Additionally, he wants all federal employees to be at-will. Every year they dont balance the budget, we take 10 percent of their pay, he said of Congress. Wyoming PBS will re-broadcast the debate at 9 p.m. Aug. 12. CHEYENNE Budget cuts will mean less marketing and advertising to attract visitors to Wyoming. The Wyoming Office of Tourism cut about $2 million from its 2017-18 budget as a result of massive cuts across state agencies. The bulk of that money, almost $1.4 million, was designated for advertising. That cut will mean a smaller summer advertising campaign and a greatly reduced or eliminated winter advertising campaign. This is a big cut for us, said Wyoming Tourism Director Diane Shober. The most recent cuts are on top of others faced by state agencies over the last few years. They also come just after Wyoming had a record number of visitors 10.5 million in 2015. But with less money to spend on advertising, theres a possibility that fewer people will be inspired to visit Wyoming. Thats how we actually reach consumers and potential visitors, Shober said. Anytime you reduce that and reduce that footprint, youre diminishing the ability to reach potential visitors to come to Wyoming. According to data in the tourism offices 2015 annual report, for every $1 the tourism office spent in advertising that year, visitors spent $202. An estimated $47.7 million was generated in taxes attributed to the tourism offices advertising, for a return on investment there of $8.30 per dollar of advertising. In addition, the tourism office just launched its Thats WY media campaign earlier this year, but those budget cuts will reduce the full effect of the campaign. If cuts to advertising result in a decreased visitor count, it likely wont be felt for a couple years. Thats because tourism advertising can sometimes take a year or two to show results. For example, if a family encounters a Thats WY ad this year that inspires them to visit, they may not actually plan a trip until the next year, particularly if they already have a vacation planned for the current year. Advertising money isnt the only thing affected by the tourism cuts. Other programs include: A $380,000 cut over the states two-year budget cycle to the Team Wyoming professional cowboy marketing program. The program sponsors rodeo competitors and has been copied by other states. A $160,000 cut to the college cowboy marketing program. That program provides scholarship money to the seven community colleges (including Laramie County Community College) with rodeo programs and the University of Wyomings rodeo program. An $80,000 cut over the biennium to the public relations budget. That will result in the elimination of one media mission annually to a key market an event that allows representatives to meet with journalists and others to talk about Wyoming and tourism. ASPEN, Colo. Hillary Clinton is scheduled to attend a pricey fundraiser for her presidential campaign near Aspen Tuesday evening. Karim Souki, a principal in the real estate investment company Ajax Holdings, is hosting the outdoor dinner at his ranch in Woody Creek. Tickets cost between $10,000 to $50,000. Pitkin County Democratic Party chairman Howard Wallach says such high-priced events "are a necessary part of politics" following the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing virtually unlimited contributions by corporations and unions. Clinton isn't scheduled to make any public appearances. Meanwhile, "Hunger Games" actress Elizabeth Banks, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention, is set to attend a pep rally for Clinton volunteers and a voter registration drive in Aspen on Tuesday. BOISE, Idaho Idaho state health officials say an Idaho woman who recently traveled to Mexico has been infected with the Zika virus. The virus is carried by two types of mosquitoes which don't live in Idaho but are found in hotter climates. In a statement issued Wednesday, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials said there is no danger to the general public of developing Zika through casual contact. According to the press release the infected woman is from northern Idaho and over the age of 60. She had symptoms but did not require hospitalization. For most, Zika is such a mild disease that people often don't know if they've been infected, but it can lead to severe brain-related birth defects if women are infected during pregnancy. Only one in five people exposed to the virus develop any symptoms. Zika is most commonly spread through mosquito bites but can also be spread through sexual contact. Editor: Once again Chuck Gray has shown his true colors of being an uninformed candidate who does not know, nor share the values of Wyomingites. His hate and anger came out during the debate held July 26. He spent the majority of his time bashing and ridiculing his opponent. If Gray lived in Wyoming longer than four years, he would understand most people in the state do not tolerate hateful, angry behavior of degrading one's opponent. He avoided answering the questions so he could intentionally and maliciously, with premeditated intent, condemn his opponent. Since he spent most of his time bashing, he avoided answering the questions with intelligent candor. A tactic to let his constituents know he does not know the issues in the state and to side track the dialog away from his lack of knowledge. For example, he stated he would change how schools are funded by creating block grants. Block grants are already in existence and have been used for several years. If Gray would have spent some time researching the school funding model, rather than figuring out how he could worm his degrading rhetoric into the conversation, he might have been able to answer the questions intelligently. Furthermore, he mentioned he was a constitutional conservative at least 13 times during his time on stage. What is a constitutional conservative anyway? Aren't all conservatives believers in the document that we all live by? Not once did Gray say he was a Wyomingite. He can't speak to his accomplishments nor service to the people because he has none to speak of. Voters of HD 57 keep in mind Gray said and I quote from the CST, "Im going to work with constitutional conservatives." So if you are not a "constitutional conservative," will he be working for you in Cheyenne? Do not vote for the angry, intolerant, uninformed, entitled, inexperienced, non-Wyomingite, RINO Chuck Gray. Editor: I am a longtime friend of Tim Stubson, candidate for U.S. Congress. I feel strongly that we need to send an experienced legislator to Congress. The U.S. House is no place to send a novice. Tim was elected to the Wyoming Legislature in 2008. He has learned the legislative process, building coalitions to get legislation passed into law. He is a leader as the third-ranking Republican. For Wyoming, the entire congressional delegation were members of the Legislature before they went to Washington. We need to send Tim to Congress because he has the experience to be effective right from the start. Tim grew up in Wyoming and knows our issues. He will be a strong voice for Wyoming issues in the U.S. House. There is a lot of money coming into this race from out of state. I wonder why people in Chicago and Washington are so interested in our House race. Do they really care about our priorities in Wyoming? I hope you will join me in voting for Tim Stubson. PHOENIX A state utility regulator says the rate-setting process is subjected to improper influences, and hes hired an outside attorney, at public expense, to look into the issue. Corporation Commissioner Bob Burns said Tuesday that he wants to find out if the procedure for determining how much utilities can charge their customers is subject to undue influence that can leave ratepayers at a disadvantage. Among other questions, he is specifically asking the attorney to review whether money spent by utilities to elect members of the Arizona Corporation Commission affects the outcome of rate cases. The study, due in December, will be financed with commission funds. The attorney, Scott Hempling, will be allowed to charge $315 an hour with a cap of $95,000. Those dollars come from a regular assessment on all commission-regulated utilities. Burns said he is entitled as a commissioner to hire outside counsel without the consent of the other four regulators. He denied that the contract, announced less than a month before the Aug. 30 primary election in which he is fighting to retain his seat, is political. Burns pointed out that he has been pushing the issue of greater disclosure for months. The inquiry would not have been necessary, Burns said, had Arizona Public Service, the states largest electric utility, stayed out of the 2014 races. The company will neither confirm nor deny that it provided any of the more than $3 million spent that year by outside groups to help elect Republicans Tom Forese and Doug Little to the commission. But Little, who chairs the commission, said he finds the timing curious. Early ballots (for the primary) go out on Wednesday (Aug. 3), he said. If I were a candidate and didnt have a whole lot of money and I couldnt do a mailer, how else would I get attention? Burns contends that APS has effectively tried to pack the panel with commissioners who will view its rate hike requests favorably. Neither APS nor its parent company, Pinnacle West Capital Corp., can donate directly to candidates. They are free to give to independent expenditure committees, which can run their own campaigns promoting favored candidates and knocking foes. Two of those committees, Save Our Future Now and the Free Enterprise Club, spent more than $3 million on behalf of Forese and Little in 2014. Their organizers wont reveal the sources of their cash, saying they are legally exempt from disclosure. No one has suggested that Little or Forese were aware of any APS involvement in their elections. But Burns said that still leaves questions. Even a small tilting in favor of a utility can have a massive impact, he said. The commission gets to set the rates because utilities are a monopoly: Every customer within a service area has to buy electricity, gas, phone service, water or sewer service from the utility that has been granted permission to serve it. Commissioners look at a variety of factors in determining rates, including a fair rate of return. What is fair, however, is up to the regulators. Burns said that in the last rate case involving APS, just a 1 percent difference in that rate of return translates out to $60 million in revenues for the company and $60 million more collected from customers. Get a friendly commission, get a half a percent, thats $30 million, he said. It makes the $3.2 million (spent by outside groups that wont disclose their sources) worthwhile. Attorney General Mark Brnovich has said it would take a vote of the full commission to force Pinnacle West to open up its books. What Pinnacle West Capital does with its lawfully earned profits is its own business, Little said. Little said that in his 18 months on the commission he has made all decisions based solely on the record. There have only probably been a handful of major decisions involving APS since I took office, Little said. And in the vast majority of those major decisions, we didnt give them what they wanted. Tucson hosted the Republican nominee for vice president Tuesday in one of those rare moments a window of time when he didnt have to explain an outrageous comment made by his running mate, Donald Trump. The story of Army Capt. Humayun Khan the deceased soldier whose parents Trump couldnt resist criticizing after the father spoke at the Democratic convention had subsided enough for Mike Pence to ignore it. And news that Donald Trump declined Tuesday morning to endorse Sen. John McCain or House Speaker Paul Ryan was just starting to filter out when Pence took the stage at the Fox Theatre downtown. That allowed Pence, for a moment, to be what he was hired to be the yin to Trumps yang, the milk to Trumps coffee, the balance to Trumps imbalance. So, for those 50 minutes, Pence could make the case to a crowd of 900 or so ready to hear it, that Trump was the unadulterated right choice for president. Not someone to occasionally correct, as Pence has before. Someone youll be proud of. Donald Trump is the genuine article. Hes a doer, Pence said to applause. When Donald Trump does his talking, he doesnt tiptoe around the thousands of rules of political correctness. Hes his own man. The performance was relatively low-key you might almost call it low-energy, the phrase Trump used to mock Jeb Bush when he was a candidate. And its what Trump needs to protect himself from himself. I talked to a handful of Trump supporters after the event, and they noticed two key things. One was that Pence was wholehearted in his words of support for Trump. That alone is interesting when was the last time you could question whether a vice presidential candidate wanted his running mate to win? The other was the calm that Pence exudes. Stephanie Redman, 37, said of Pence I think he equalizes (Trump). Ones super-energetic, the others more level, she said. Super-energetic is an exceedingly nice way of putting it. Off the rails is a more accurate way to describe the Republican nominee. Narcissistic. Just plain scary in his overreaction to even minor disagreement. Its a reality that Republican leaders have been unable to grapple with. Their voters have chosen a presidential candidate who is beyond his depth in both knowledge of the world and in the demand for self-discipline required of a candidate and especially of a president. Lets not forget that while Trumps comments on the Khan family were rightfully dominating political news, Trump also said that women who suffer sexual harassment at work should find another job or line of work. And before that he said he had wanted to hit several of the speakers who criticized him at the Democratic convention. Then he went on Tuesday to indulge in the political pettiness hes become known for. He called out several Republicans who havent wholeheartedly endorsed him: Ryan, Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and, most important to us in Arizona, Sen. John McCain, whom he would not endorse for re-election. Theres a lot going on in the dynamic between those two men. It goes back before July last year, when Trump said McCain is not a war hero because he was captured. What a bigger man than Trump a Pence, for example would do is accept McCains tepid support. McCain has said hes supporting Trump, so he should let that be enough. For Trump though, its not. Now, McCain should follow his conscience and really lead, never mind the consequences to his political future in the primary race . He should say what we all know he thinks that Trump is not fit to be president. And he should say he will not support Trump. Hes not the only one. Sen. Jeff Flake and Rep. Martha McSally, both Republicans of sound mind, should do the same. Trump has provided all the justification they need, and history will judge them kindly for it. They dont have to support Hillary Clinton. They can simply say they wont support Trump. Its way too late, of course, for Pence. When Trump asked him to be his running mate, Pence recounted, I said yes in a heartbeat because you have nominated a man who never quits, who never backs down. Up until recently, it seems like he was doing it all on his own, but now we are united, Pence went on, referring to the long-sought unity of the Republican Party. Little did he know, his unhinged running mate was undoing those words even as he spoke. The window of calm had closed. Pence would have to deal with that at his next stop, in Phoenix, where he was to meet with McCain. Did you know? The Trump campaign still owes $81,837 to the city of the cost of providing over 100 officers to keep the peace when Trump spoke at the city-owned Tucson Convention Center in March. Democratic Bernie Sanders also owes the TCC $44,013 for police services for an event about the same time. City Spokeswoman Lane Mandle said since the event was held on private property, the city has no mechanism in place to ask the Trump campaign to reimburse the city for police-related expenses related to Tuesday's Pence event. More than 100 Tucson police officers were involved in providing security for Pence's visit, although the city of Tucson did not immediately have an estimate on how much was spent to staff the event. TPD officials said some officers were working in advance of his visit and treated Pence like a visiting dignitary. A Tucson police officer is suing the department for more than $10,000 worth of back pay he says is being withheld, documents show. In a lawsuit filed July 18 in Pima County Superior Court, Rico Martin Acevedo alleges the department and city violated Arizona law by denying him nearly four years worth of assignment pay while he worked on the departments SWAT team. Acevedo, a 15-year veteran of the department, is asking the court for $30,691 in damages, which is three times the amount of pay hes owed. Because the city acknowledged the error, its now liable for three times the amount of back pay, according to the Arizona wage laws. In 2004, Acevedo became a field training officer, which entitled him to a 5 percent increase in pay. Two years later, he joined SWAT, which also comes with a 5 percent pay raise. At the time, he wasnt eligible for the raise, since he was already receiving the increase as a field training officer, court documents show. In 2008, Acevedo stopped working as a field training officer but stayed on SWAT. The payroll department for some unknown reason and error removed the 5 percent assignment pay for his field training position, but failed to reapply the 5 percent SWAT pay, according to court documents. Acevedo worked on the SWAT team until July 2015, three years after becoming a counselor at the police training academy. Because of the reassignment to the academy, a 5 percent raise for that position was added. When he resigned from his assignment with SWAT, Acevedo contacted payroll to alert them to the departure and subsequent move to the academy. During a conversation with a payroll employee in August 2015, Acevedo was told he hadnt received his SWAT assignment pay from September 2008 through July 2012, according to court documents. Acevedo had assumed payroll was paying him correctly for his SWAT assignment, the documents said. The citys human resources department investigated the situation and confirmed that he wasnt paid the proper wages for 46 months, but it recommended compensating him only for 12 months, the documents said. The lawsuit claims that under Arizona law, Acevedo is entitled to recover all of the unpaid wages and the city had no proper, good-faith basis for not timely and fully paying (him) all the wages he earned. Acevedo offered to settle with the city for $30,691 triple the lost wages but neither TPD nor the city replied within the allotted 60 days, the documents said. Lisa Judge, an attorney for the Tucson Police Department, would not comment on the lawsuit, deferring to the City Attorneys Office. City Attorney Mike Rankin said he was unable to comment because the case is pending in court. Help India! By Ibrahim Yousuf for TwoCircles.net Living in a nation, yet not being called its citizen is a matter of shame. But we must not forget that this is our nation and we Muslims had decided to stay here and not to go to the other side. This nation belongs to us as much as it belongs to other Indians. They are nobody to suggest us to cross the border and we need not to prove our love and loyalty to the country. Religion doesnt decide which country you belong. Support TwoCircles It is important to point out that Kashmir is treated as a part of the country but its natives are not. This leads to such a catastrophe in that part of the nation. And if this continues, then at a certain point, the whole nation will become like Kashmir. The callous behavior to that part is responsible for such a situation. First, in every budget, Kashmir is promised a lot of assistance but it never reaches the state which leads to its backwardness. The second reason is that Kashmiri youth are not serious about their career; they just waste time in stone pelting and other notorious activities. They are all talented but they prefer to stay in the valley. I want to ask Kashmiri youth: apart from stone pelting what else are they doing? No one is trying to make oneself stronger for a good stand. The other question is that if they want Azadi then why do they come out with Pakistani flags? They have their own flag but I have never seen a Kashmiri carrying that flag. The presence of Army encourages the presence of militants. For you and me, they might be terrorists but for Kashmiris, they are freedom fighters protecting them from injustice. It just depend on which side are you standing. This unrest claimed more than 50 lives and more than 2,000 people got injured and so many lost their eyes. Ultimately its their loss with no final decisions. If they really want Azadi, then they will have to make themselves capable, which is not going to be easy. India was fully equipped with the natural and human resources so freedom for India was not a problem. But Kashmir doesnt have such resources. They are totally dependent on India. They dont have big industries and factories and no private sector. They are dependent for even a small packet of biscuit. So before talking about Azadi you all should talk about these things. Japan also lost everything, but they focused on making themselves stronger and now every country is dependent on Japan and they are independent too. The author is Research Scholar, Department of Geology, Centre of Advanced Studies, University of Delhi. Help India! By Manjula Pradeep for Twocircles.net After finishing my Masters in Social Work from M. S. University, Vadodara, I immediately joined Navsarjan Trust, which I am heading at present. Having come from the Dalit community, I never realised that Dalits in India are suffering from various forms of discrimination and if they try to fight against the same, they face violence and atrocities. While moving around in the rural areas of Gujarat and not very far from big cities, I could see the fear and understand the pain of my community of being treated untouchable in their daily lives. Support TwoCircles Their silence speaks about their sense of frustration and hopelessness with the system and society, who never accepts them as human beings. We have witnessed and handled several cases of violence against Dalits, when they try to enter village temples that are constructed from panchayat money. There are villages like Galsana, Vanthad, Transad in Ahmedabad district, Rampar in Surendranagar district, Bhetasi in Anand district, Jaspur in Vadodara district, Kherpur in Mehsana district, Radhvanaj in Kheda district, where Dalits have tried to enter village temple or questioned discrimination against them in village temple resulting in mass attacks, serious injuries and also murder. In 2010, we did a study titled Understanding Untouchability covering 1589 villages of Gujarat and one of the core areas within the 98 forms of untouchability against Dalits was discrimination against them at religious places, religious occasions/festivities, religious rituals, use of religious utensils, etc. The findings of this study pertaining to discrimination in this category are as below: 1. Non Dalits not entering religious places of Dalits 83.1 % villages 2. Dalits cannot participate in Navratri Dance festival organized by village panchayats 85.2% villages 3. Dalits cannot enter village temples- 90.8% villages 4. Dalits cannot participate in Satsang 91.1% villages 5. Dalits are discriminated in offering Prasad by the village priests 92.3% villages 6. Dalits are seated separately or not allowed to attend Katha/parayan organized by village temples 93.1% villages 7. Dalits are not invited in inauguration of a new temple 95.6% villages 8. Non Dalit priests refuse to offer services to Dalits 96.9% villages 9. Dalits are not allowed to enter the temples of Hindu goddesses in the village 97.2% villages 10. Services of Dalit women or men priests are refused by Non Dalits 97.2% villages 11. Dalits are not allowed to touch worship articles by Non Dalits 97.3% villages The present sad situation in the state of Gujarat is that the State government continues to deny the existence of untouchability in any form against Dalits and hence the Dalits continue to live in fear and hopelessness in so called developed and vibrant state of Gujarat. But they shall continue to strive for their rights, which are guaranteed in the Constitution of India. Jai Bhim. Manjula Pradeep is the Executive Director of Navsarjan, a grassroots Dalit organisation. The content was taken from her Facebook post. Help India! New Delhi : Congress President Sonia Gandhi was on Wednesday shifted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here and was likely to undergo further tests for the fever and high blood pressure that she was suffering from, doctors said. Soniaji was brought to our hospital around 1.30 p.m. Her condition is stable now. Senior doctors are attending on her, a senior doctor told IANS. Support TwoCircles Earlier, Gandhi, who took ill in Varanasi on Tuesday, was admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital. According to doctors, she suffered from dehydration, fever and high blood pressure. A Ganga Ram Hospital doctor, who did not wish to be named, told IANS that a medical board was being set up to study the Congress chiefs health. She has previously been treated for several health complications, including chest infection, at the Ganga Ram Hospital. A health bulletin issued by the Ganga Ram Hospital stated that Gandhis condition was stable. Sonia Gandhi is under medical care of a team headed by pulmonary medicine expert Arup Basu. She is dehydrated but is presently stable and her further investigations are being conducted. She is advised rest, said the bulletin. The NATO summit, held in Warsaw, Poland from the 8th to the 9th July, marked the beginning of greater cooperation with the EU. As the summit declared that there is an arc of insecurity and instability along NATOs periphery, it also included the first joint NATO-EU declaration. NATO leaders announced the placement of four battalions in Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as they decided to strengthen the alliances military presence in the East, which comes after Putins increasing demonstration of expansionist interests. President Obama himself announced the deployment of 1,000 more US troops to Poland, as he stated that the decisions made in Warsaw were the most significant reinforcement of collective defense any time since the Cold War. However one issue that garnered little attention at the summit was that of Brexit, and how this would surely affect the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. 'One of NATO's most capable members' President Obama has stated that he has no doubt that the UK wil remain one of NATOs most capable members, as the then-Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to send 500 British soldiers to Estonia. Indeed, Andrzej Duda, the Polish president, stated that the EU and NATO and quite separate organisations; although British involvement in the EU is likely to be severely diminished, this does not mean the same must happen to their involvement in NATO. This view was reinforced by NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, who said that Brexit will not affect the strength of the alliance. As the most pro-NATO EU member, Britain has traditionally been a bridge between the two organisations, as well as one of NATOs biggest financial contributors. However, Brexit has put this position in jeopardy; with severe negative economic consequences predicted for Britain leaving the EU, military spending would be a soft target for Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond if and when further budget cuts became necessary. Brexit therefore means that there may well be a need for European members of the organisation to make greater contributions, namely by putting more forces in the field. Trump's dangerous talk President of the European Council Donald Tusk has also said that the geo-political consequences of Brexit may be very serious, and Krzysztof Blusz, vice-president of WiseEuropa, a think-tank, predicts that Brexit will lead to NATO member states becoming more inward-looking, which can be taken advantage of by the Kremlin. The potential for a reduced British role in NATO would inevitably pressure the US to increase their own involvement. However, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump stated in a recent interview that he would not necessarily defend the USs NATO allies if they were attacked by a foreign power. He further stated that he would only defend those who he deemed to have contributed enough money to the alliance; this contradicts Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty which established NATO, and perhaps puts the USs role in NATO in the future into question as well. To the surprise of many, environmental groups aren't supporting the new carbon tax initiative that will be voted on by Washington state in November because its revenue neutral and wont expand the government. The new carbon tax, which would add 25 cents to every gallon of gasoline, increase airfare, and hike utilities, would also lower taxes in other areas to offset the higher prices. Their biggest problem is that the carbon tax doesnt make government bigger, create green jobs, or expand government services. Because the carbon tax would be revenue neutral, meaning there would be no extra money to add more government jobs and bureaucracy, green groups are adamantly opposed to the measure. Theyve joined forces with an unlikely partner, the Washington State Labor Council, which also opposes the tax. A proposed carbon tax in Washington state is dividing the region's environmental groups https://t.co/wXT8GP0FGe pic.twitter.com/d6vtGIFhwl Climate Central (@ClimateCentral) May 2, 2016 Success story in Canada The carbon tax, which is based on a similar one in British Columbia, Canada, would impose a $25 per metric ton of greenhouse gasses emitted from various fossil fuels until hitting a cap of $100 a ton. It would increase prices at the pump, airfares, utility bills, heating costs, and hurt lower- to middle-income families the most. Because lower-income families are less likely to own and drive a car, they would be unduly burdened with higher heating bills or anything that relies on fossil fuels. In British Columbia, they lowered carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions 16 percent and remained revenue neutral. To offset the higher energy costs, Washington states sales tax would drop by one percent, and it would eliminate nearly all taxes for manufacturing companies while giving rebates to lower-income families. Beleaguered author The author of ballot Initiative 732 (I-732), Yoram Bauman, doesnt understand why green groups are so united in their opposition to the carbon tax. The very same environmental groups, he says, have been clamoring for years that greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels are responsible for global warming, and hes shocked at the pushback hes getting. Me and @CarbonWA #Yeson732 on Fox News: Some enviros "fight proposed carbon tax because it doesn't grow gov't" https://t.co/lWEnvtN9O1 Yoram Bauman (@standupecon) August 2, 2016 All this has shown the ugly side of Big Greens true motivations: to expand government by picking and choosing clean energy jobs and programs to fight climate change. Instead of letting the marketplace determine which jobs are needed, the government would be in the drivers seat. Even the Sierra Club says on its website that I-732 would not be used to create more jobs in renewable fuels, infrastructure, or jobs, and should be voted down. Glimmer of hope Bauman is determined that I-732 not hike taxes, and said its goal was never about growing the size of government but rather reducing CO2 emissions. Rich Stolz of One America, a group that advocates for lower-income minorities, said he would support I-732 if it raised taxes to fund new government programs and imposed more regulations on polluters. The Audubon Society, however, supports the initiative. They echo Baumans comments and agree its about lowering CO2 emissions, not making government bigger. One critic of I-732, Todd Myers, told Fox News the dust-up exposes the true motive of many environmental groups: they're more afraid of tax cuts and smaller governments than actual efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If the initiative increased taxes, regulations, and the size of government, green groups would readily endorse it. Disneys latest cartoon series, Elena of Avalor, has come under fire for its depiction of Latino culture by various figures, in part due to the fact that it combines a variety of Latino cultures, and for downplaying the historical issue of colonialism. Where is Avalor? The series depicts Elena, the latest of Disneys long-line of animated heroines, rising to throne as crown-princess of her realm, the titular Avalor, after being sealed away in a painting for a few ageless years and defeating an evil sorceress.While set in the fictional kingdom of Avalor, the setting takes inspiration from various Latin American countries, such as Columbia and Chile, although the presence of a European-style royal family suggests Spanish influence. The Letter to The Guardian Writer Melissa Lozada-Oliva discussed the show in an op-ed with The Guardian, where she took issue with the fact that Elena comes from a fictionalized country that seems to represent various Latin-American cultures instead of just one, claiming that Elena serves as everybodys princess, a term that had been coined by the shows head writer, Sylvia Cardenas Olivas. While admitting that the idea behind alluding to more than culture probably was meant with good intentions, Lozada-Oliva felt that doing so also creates the risk of stripping a Latino identity really thin. Another case in point made by the writer is the fact that characters on the show occasionally use the Spanish language, suggesting Avalor does not exist as a pre-colonial area. According to Lozada-Oliva, it can be hard to separate the Latino identity and culture without discussing the concept of colonialism. This in turn has brought up criticism over the fact that the show seems to ignore the controversies that colonialism can be associated with. Ultimately, Lozada-Oliva wrote that even an attempt of a Latina heroine could be welcoming to Latino viewers, but felt that it should not come at the cost of a character that is a caricature and that people should look to themselves to develop identities and not fictional characters. Other voices about the show Rebecca C. Hains, the author of The Princess Problem: Guiding Our Girls Through the Princess-Obsessed Years, and an associate professor of advertising and media studies for Salem State University, previously made news when she had also found issue with the shows use of restricting Hispanic accents to the older characters, suggesting that the show would give off the implication that people had to become more Americanized to be seen as modern. Show creator Craig Gerber defended the decision behind the accents, claiming that it had been intended to showcase a generation gap that was present in the show and is a fixture in many Latino families. Chartering a course for homes owners Updated: 2016-07-29 12:24 (China Daily) Property guru Nicholas Brooke says HK's real estate is here to stay despite the ups and downs in the past few years. He tells Sophie He why he thinks so. Nicholas Brooke, it seems, is neither an optimist nor a pessimist when it comes to Hong Kong's swinging, sometimes unpredictable, property market. The sector's stuttered growth and recent price correction have not moved the head of Professional Property Services - one of Hong Kong's respected specialist real estate consultancies - an inch. He's adamant there won't be any dramatic tumble in homes prices, let alone a crash. The reason is simple - the huge demand is always there, pillared by limited, restricted supply. But, affordability is the real problem for those constantly battling to find a roof over their heads in this overcrowded city. As far as Brooke is concerned, he would like to see the market run its natural course, free from any form of intervention by the government. The British chartered surveyor set foot in Hong Kong 36 years ago. One of his initial stints was with Swire Properties - one of the city's oldest hongs - playing a role in helping the company develop Taikoo Shing and Pacific Place. Both projects have found their place among Hong Kong's iconic landmarks - the former as one of the city's most sought after, middle-class private residential complexes in the 1980s and 1990s, while the latter prides itself on being a swanky, premier lifestyle hub. Brooke started his own real estate practice and founded Professional Property Services in 1988, then known as Brooke International. "Very often, people who are not experienced in real estate don't necessarily understand how they can optimize the value of real estate, what is the highest and best use, how they can develop the property, what would be the best way to develop it, do they need to bring in a partner, how should they fund the development, or what sort of mix should they have in the property? A chartered surveyor can offer suggestions to clients in this area," Brooke tells China Daily. Currently, Professional Property Services advises families in Hong Kong and the region on their private portfolios. "We advise several major corporations, including MTR Corp and CLP. We advise some Chinese mainland companies too, like Fosun." Brooke says the major issues facing Hong Kong's residential market relate to affordability and supply. The government is struggling to accelerate housing supply but, at the moment, the problem is that the market doesn't believe the government can increase supply. Everybody wants to buy and people will not wait, so there's a lot of pressure on prices. And now, indeed, it's very difficult for the government to come up with more housing units, he says. Pressure will continue "It's not that we're short of land in Hong Kong - the problem is that the land is not ready for development. It needs infrastructure, it needs clearance, so the land may not be available for any development for at least five years. "So, I believe the pressure on homes prices will continue in the foreseeable future. The market may ease a little now, but I don't think there'll be any dramatic fall in prices because the demand is huge and people will not wait." Brooke stresses he's not a fan of intervention. The government should let the market find its own level. The Hong Kong government had intervened in the past by introducing a Special Stamp Duty and a Buyer's Stamp Duty as interim measures to cool the market. In his view, the government has to do something as no one believes it will actually increase land supply. But, for now, finding the right time to lift those curbs (like SSD and BSD) would be very difficult. "If it was up to me, I, probably, would have intervened the same way. But, I would have gradually removed those measures, bringing the 15-percent tax down to 12, then down to 10, which would have been my response to the market." Looking across the border, Brooke says he's nervous about soaring housing prices in first-tier cities like Shenzhen, where prices had rocketed close to 80 percent last year, and are still going up and out of control. Apartment prices in Shanghai were up 50 to 60 percent last year, he says, adding that the mainland authorities need to take more proactive steps to tame the market. "Although I don't favor intervention, property prices in those cities aren't in alignment with the real world, so they probably have to intervene there. In other cities, I think the government should encourage people to buy." Easing restrictions In top-tier mainland cities, the situation has to be brought under control and pressure be brought on developers to make them less aggressive in their sales policies and pricing. In other cities, the government needs to ease some restrictions and try to allow people to buy two or three homes as investment, so it's two regimes, Brooke explains. "The central government has to get tougher. At the moment, it's leaving the matter to local governments, but I think it probably needs some central intervention." Brooke admits that Brexit has had a major impact on market sentiment, and Europe and Britain have been severely affected. In the short to medium term, everyone will be very cautious. In terms of property investment, he tells his clients to focus on Asia. Brooke says there are different types of investors - some may want to invest in prime properties in secured markets like Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Others are more opportunistic, and may look to Indonesia or South Korea as they have a different attitude toward risks and are prepared to take greater risks for bigger rewards. "We also have investors who like to invest in what we call frontier markets, even less developed, like Myanmar and Mongolia, where people are willing to take high risks for high returns." Brooke is confident about the future of Hong Kong's property market, saying property is a long-term investment and that "you have to learn to ride the cycles". "Yes, at the moment, the retail market, as well as the hospitality side in Hong Kong, is soft. But, there are cycles, the market comes down and then goes up. Investment has a lot to do with timing - it's about when you enter or exit the market. Clearly, right now, it's not a good time to exit but it could be a very good time to enter the market." Contact the writer at sophiehe@chinadailyhk.com Driver in horrific bus crash was drunk, probe reveals Updated: 2016-07-30 06:33 (AFP-China Daily) Relatives of victims of the bus crash and fire in Taiwan mourn their loved ones at a funeral home in Dalian, Liaoning province, on Friday.[Wang Hua/China Daily] The driver of the tour bus in which 26 people died when it crashed into a barrier and caught on fire in Taiwan on July 19 was drunk when the accident occurred, investigators said on Friday. In the worst road accident ever to overcome Chinese mainland visitors to the island, the entire tour group of 23 tourists and a guide were killed as they headed for Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to return home. The driver and another tour guide from Taiwan also died in the crash. Investigators said tests done on the driver, identified only by his surname Su, revealed his blood-alcohol level was 215 mg per 100 ml, more than four times the legal limit. "He was drunken driving, a very severe case of drunken driving," said Wang Yi-wen, chief investigator and deputy chief prosecutor of the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office. Investigators are trying to determine what role the driver's intoxication may have played in the accident. An Fengshan, a spokesman with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement on Friday that the mainland has paid close attention to the investigation results disclosed by Taiwan authorities. "We have repeatedly asked the Taiwan authorities to investigate the cause of the accident, who was responsible, and to console the victims and their family members," he said. A memorial service was held on Friday morning in Dalian, Liaoning province, where most of the victims came from. Zhang Qing, 48, said her younger sister, Zhang Hong, died along with her husband, child and mother-in-law in the accident. Relatives of the tourists went with a work team in charge of the accident to Taiwan to identify the dead, and they returned home with their cremated remains on Tuesday. The team said that relatives of 23 victims have agreed to sign a compensation contract made by Taiwan, and the other decided to deal to seek legal recourse. Eight sentenced to up to 15 years for HK abduction Updated: 2016-07-30 07:42 By Agence France-Presse(China Daily) Eight men who kidnapped a Hong Kong fashion heiress and held her in a cave as they negotiated a multimillion dollar ransom were sentenced to up to 15 years in prison on Friday, a Chinese mainland court said. Queenie Rosita Law, granddaughter of the late textiles tycoon Law Tingpong, who founded the Bossini clothing chain, was abducted from her house in Hong Kong in April last year. The 29-year-old was held in a mountain cave for four days before family members paid a ransom of HK$28 million ($3.61 million) for her release. Most of the gang fled to the mainland afterward, where they were captured. Six of the defendants were found guilty of abduction and two others of disguising or concealing illegally obtained gains, a Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court spokesman said. The ringleader, You Dunkui, was sentenced to 15 years for kidnapping, with the others being given terms ranging from 13 years to just under two, he said. Another gang member, Zheng Xingwang, was sentenced to 12 years by a Hong Kong court last month after having confessed to a charge of forcibly taking or detaining a person for ransom. Law and her boyfriend were asleep at her house in the quiet coastal Clearwater Bay area when six mainland Chinese men raided the house, tied them up and taped over their mouths, according to testimony at Zheng's trial. They stole jewelry and cash worth about HK$3 million from two safes, after forcing Law to give them the combinations. Law was tied to one of the gang members, who carried her on foot to a hillside cave 90 minutes' walk away. Her boyfriend was told to notify her father of the ransom demand. Hong Kong police launched a massive search for the kidnappers, deploying hundreds of heavily armed officers, helicopters and marine vessels, and setting up roadblocks. Almost all of the money has been recovered, including some buried on hillsides near the cave. Although Hong Kong has low crime rates, it has seen some high-profile kidnappings, including the abduction in 1996 of one of city tycoon Li Ka-shing's sons, who was released after his father reportedly paid a HK$1 billion ransom. Illegal protest organizer convicted of subverting state power, given suspended sentence Updated: 2016-08-02 20:15 (Xinhua) TIANJIN -- Zhai Yanmin, an unemployed resident of Beijing, was sentenced to three years in prison with a four-year reprieve after being found guilty of subverting state power Tuesday. Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court ordered that Zhai, 55, will have to serve a minimum three-year term should he fall foul of the law within the four-year probation period. The court also deprived Zhai of his political rights for four years. He pled guilty and declined his right to appeal. Zhai was first exposed to concepts such as the "color revolutions" and "peaceful transition" online, the court said in a statement. He then joined an underground church led by Hu Shigen and gradually developed plans to overthrow the state socialist system. Since 2012, Zhai has attempted to incite people to subvert state power by use of the online resources, the court said in a statement. Zhai, together with underground church members and lawyers, engaged and managed illegal petitioners to organize public gatherings, hype up legal cases and incidents, attack the country's judicial system and carry out activities aimed at subverting the state power and socialist system, the statement said. These activities endangered the state and society, it added. "I accept all the charges," Zhai said in his final statement, "With the help and education of the government, I recognize the severity of my crimes. I plead guilty and express my sincere remorse. "I am sorry to the country and my family... If I could go back I would never have become a member of hostile forces or associated with those individuals driven by ulterior motives," he said. He added that he would like to be used as an example of the consequences of listening to and supporting hostile forces overseas and at home, and to inform the public of the dangers of the so-called "democracy," "human rights" and "public benefits" flaunted by them as a mask for criminal activities. The court handed down a light sentence because he confessed, testified against others and repented, according to court statement. Moreover, the court decided that Zhai posed no major threat to the community, it said. The second branch of the People's Procuratorate of Tianjin Municipality filed charges against Zhai with Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court on July 15. To safeguard the defendant's rights and interests and ensure a fair and efficient trial, a pretrial conference was held on July 22. It was attended by the prosecution team, defendant and defence counsel, presiding judge Cai Shuying said. During Tuesday's trial, Cai informed the defence team of Zhai's rights and obligations in litigation. The defence team had no objection with any of the evidence used in the trial. Altogether 48 people, including 20 journalists from home and overseas observed the trial. Prosecutors told the court that Zhai, together with three others -- Hu Shigen, Zhou Shifeng and Li Heping -- had conspired and plotted to subvert state power, and had "established a systematic ideology, method and steps to achieve it." The defendant was accused of organizing multiple mass protests to influence public opinion and court sentences. One such case was a fatal shooting incident at a railway station in Heilongjiang Province in May 2015. On May 2 of 2015, police officer Li Lebin shot dead Xu Chunhe at Qing'an County Railway Station. Xu had attacked Li and continued to assault the police officer despite multiple warnings. Follow-up investigations confirmed that Li had acted within the law. After the shooting, Zhai organized protests at the railway station and in front of the county government buildings in support of Xu. Zhai influenced online opinions and led public demonstrations that misrepresented the incident as police brutality. Moreover, lawyers were organized to turn up at protest locations so that the issue gained more traction, Zhai said in his testimony adding that, "they all followed a fixed process." Once an incident had become a "hot issue," lawyers, citizens and petitioners would fan the flames online and plan further protests with each individual assigned "work" for each activity, Zhai said. "I was the 'chief commander' on site. I attacked current laws and smeared the image of the police," he said. "We wanted every issue to gain as much exposure as possible, so we would send ordinary people out on the streets and initiate conflict between the people and officials. We wanted the international community to interfere, (with the aim of) overturning the CPC and launch our own 'color revolution,'" Zhai continued. When asked about the motivation behind his crimes, Zhai said he hated the government and the political system because of a failed business venture. In addition, he said he had been radicalized by people with ulterior motives. According to the evidence presented in court, Zhai met with 15 people, including Hu Shigen, Zhou Shifeng and Li Heping, in a Beijing restaurant on Feb. 1, 2015. The discussion covered how they could use the workers' rights movement and other sensitive incidents to promote their own agenda. "We had met at the restaurant to gather lawyers like Zhou and Li, 'citizen movement' leaders like Hu and 'doers' like me to discuss how to topple the current regime, we wanted to overthrow the CPC," Zhai confessed, adding that they reviewed the subversive activities of the previous year, and formulated plans for 2015. China voices opposition, dissatisfaction with Japan's defense white paper Updated: 2016-08-02 20:47 By AN BAIJIE and ZHANG YUNBI(chinadaily.com.cn) China is firmly opposed to and strongly dissatisfied with Japan's defense white paper which is full of lies, defense spokesman Wu Qian said on Tuesday. The white paper, approved by Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday, has played up the South China Sea and East China Sea issues in a groundless manner and tried to stir up trouble behind the scene, through which Japan wants to benefit, Wu said. The spokesman accused Japan of unilaterally changing the status quo by illegitimately "purchasing" China's Diaoyu Islands in 2012, enhancing military deployment in its southwest (China's) direction, and passing a new security bill to lift the constitutional constraints on collective self-defense. Japan's activities are aimed at making excuses for its adjustment of military and security policy, military expansion and even amendment of constitution, which should raise concern and caution by international community, he added. The 484-page white paper allocated several more pages to each country including China and Russia than the previous defense report. It is more than a tenth longer than last year's. It devotes more words to China than other regional powers such as Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It called China's reclamation moves in the South China Sea a "provocation". Beijing's activities in the South China Sea are making its territorial claims a fait accompli, it said. "China is currently carrying out reforms of the People's Liberation Army which some see as being the largest in the country's history," the report said. "Recently the reforms have taken place at a rapid pace." The Associated Press noticed that the defense report came as Shinzo Abe's government "pushes for Japan to take on greater military roles abroad". The report drew opposition from the Republic of Korea, which called Japanese embassy's defense official to protest. The ROK's defense ministry urged Japan to rectify its "improper territory claims" on disputed islands with ROK. The country's foreign ministry also asked Japan to "give up useless claims" and "face the truth of history". Nida's landfall brings travel to a standstill Updated: 2016-08-03 08:02 By ZHENG CAIXIONG in Guangzhou(China Daily) Pedestrians struggle against high winds near a subway station in Shenzhen as Typhoon Nida hits Guangdong province on Tuesday. JACKY ZHAO/CHINA DAILY Streets flooded, trees uprooted as storm hits Guangdong province; flights, trains canceled Typhoon Nida caused widespread damage to major cities in the Pearl River Delta of South China after making landfall on the Dapeng Peninsula in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, at about 3:30 am on Tuesday. In Guangzhou and Shenzhen, many streets were flooded, trees were uprooted and billboards were blown down when Nida struck. As the typhoon bore down on the region, construction sites in Guangzhou and Shenzhen were ordered to halt work on Tuesday and schools suspended classes to ensure the safety of workers and students. In Guangzhou, more than 30,000 residents of low-lying areas had to be evacuated, according to a statement from the city government on Tuesday. In Shenzhen, more than 16,000 families suffered from a power blackout after electrical facilities were damaged by the storm. "The storm and the gale were so strong that no one dared to go out for shopping on Tuesday morning," said Huang Hongyang, a resident of Guangzhou's Nansha district at the mouth of the Pearl River. Air, water and land traffic were brought to a standstill in the Pearl River Delta. At Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, at least 430 flightsmore than one-third of the scheduled flightswere canceled because of the storm. The airport, one of the major aviation hubs on the mainland, partly resumed operations after 4 pm on Tuesday. Most of the canceled flights had been scheduled to take off between 8 am and 2 pm, according to the airport authority. Additionally, airports in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Huizhou canceled many flights due to the storms on Tuesday. The Guangzhou Railway Group said it canceled 1,400 Guangdong train departures and arrivals and suspended Guangzhou-Kowloon train service on Tuesday. Ferry service between the major Pearl River Delta cities and the neighboring Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions were also canceled. Some highways in Guangdong were closed on Tuesday. The cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou were hit the hardest by Nida, the fourth typhoon to make landfall on the Chinese coast this year. Nida had weakened to a tropical storm and moved to the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region by Tuesday evening. Lu Shan, principal forecaster with the Guangdong Meteorological Department, said the Pearl River Delta region will continue to have heavy downpours on Wednesday. "Relevant departments should not relax their vigilance to prevent possible flooding and landslides caused by the downpours," he said. In Hong Kong, 12 people reportedly were injured during the typhoon on Tuesday. Two remained hospitalized, while the 10 others were released, authorities said. Despite fallen trees and debris on streets across the city, residents lined up to get on buses or subways as public transportation gradually resumed service. About 260 people sought assistance at the government's temporary shelters. Additionally, about 500 flights to and from Hong Kong were affected by the storm. Shadow Li in Hong Kong contributed to this story. SPP vows to crack down on official misconduct in food, drug safety Updated: 2016-08-03 13:24 (Xinhua) Print Mail Large Medium Small 0 BEIJING -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Wednesday pledged to tighten the crackdown on official misconduct in food and drug safety, taking down the "protective umbrella" shielding criminals. Procuratorates at all levels should target job-related crimes involving serious food and drug safety incidents, the SPP said in a statement. Officials who are found to have turned a blind eye to illegal activities in the food and drug industries; failed to transfer criminal cases to judicial organs; and those suspected of falsifying the results of food tests or animal and plant quarantine, will be harshly punished, it added. Procuratorates will also tighten inspection to address dereliction of duty or graft to dismantle the "protective umbrellas" that shield criminals. China's lunar rover Jade Rabbit retires Updated: 2016-08-03 16:15 (Xinhua) BEIJING -- China's lunar rover Jade Rabbit, launched as part of the Chang'e-3 lunar mission in 2013, has stopped operations, according to an official announcement. The State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) said on Wednesday that Chang'e-3, China's first lunar lander, has operated on the moon for 31 months, exceeding its design life by 19 months. Chang'e-3 entered its 33th lunar night on July 28. A lunar night lasts approximately 14 earth days. According to SASTIND, the Chang'e-3 has collected a large amount of scientific data, and the Jade Rabbit, far exceeding its design life of three months, completed many challenging missions for Chang'e-3, such as obtaining images of the moon's geological layers for the first time. Iraq war points to a not-so-bright future Updated: 2016-08-03 07:43 By Li Yang(China Daily USA) The British government recently published a 2.6-million-word investigation report on its military involvement in the Iraq war. Were it not for Brexit, the Nice attack, Turkey's coup and the South China Sea arbitration farce, the report would have made bigger headlines. The report, which took seven years and reportedly cost $10 million to prepare, concludes that former prime minister Tony Blair pushed the British military into Iraq without exhausting peaceful means or preparing for the aftermath of the war. More importantly, it says the Blair government's decision was based on false intelligence that overstated the threat posed by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's non-existent weapons of mass destruction. But it stops short of saying who manipulated the intelligence and why Britain's political establishment couldn't verify the information. And sadly, the report will not be able to prevent Britain from going into another Iraq-type war. Blair and then US president George W. Bush didn't care about the consequences of waging a war on Iraq or ending it; they were only interested in overthrowing Saddam because they disliked him. The anarchy that rules Somalia and large parts of Afghanistan and Yemen should give an idea about what Iraq could turn into. The chaos and mayhem that followed the "Arab Spring" in Libya, Egypt and Syria also show Western leaders don't care about the fate of the people in other countries. In response to the investigation report, Blair said he believed that Britain should have stood by the US, an important ally, when it needed it, and claimed the world is a better place without Saddam. Bush, too, has said, through his spokesperson, that Blair was a reliable ally and a world without Saddam is a better place, although he has not read the report. This shows the extent to which the Bush-Blair friendship, as opposed to prudent thinking of political organizations, was decisive in launching the Iraq war. On May 1, 2003, Bush announced "Mission Accomplished" on the Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier off the coast of California, saying the war has left an "independent" and "stable" Iraq. His mission obviously didn't include the Iraqi children deformed by US bombs, the more than half a million Iraqis killed, the looting and ransacking of Iraq's museums housing artifacts of one of the oldest civilizations, or the frequent bomb attacks and sectarian violence in Iraq. Is Iraq or the world a better place without Saddam? Neither Blair nor Bush can answer that. But the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi families affected by the war, the 179 British and about 5,000 US families who lost their loved ones in the military action in Iraq, and the residents in cities such as Paris, Nice, London, Madrid and Brussels might be able to answer that question. The invasion of the sovereign state of Iraq without the United Nations' authorization set a very bad example. The war has not fulfilled even a single purpose, let alone the goal of containing terrorism. Instead, it has made Iraq a fertile breeding ground for extreme terrorists. And the frontline of the US' "war on terror" has gradually retreated from the Middle East to Western Europe. Is this a better world? Al-Qaida and later Islamic State terrorist group exploited the power vacuum left by Saddam's death, which the US and its allies cannot manage. The Iraq war opened the Pandora's box of terrorism. And the British report's obvious restraint, Blair's adamant defense and US presidential nominees' mania to "make America great again" are enough reasons for the world to ask how many Pandora's boxes Western leaders will open elsewhere and claim "Mission Accomplished"? The author is a writer with China Daily. liyang@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily USA 08/03/2016 page12) Japan's defense paper full of hyperbole and lies Updated: 2016-08-03 07:13 (China Daily) In its 2016 defense white paper, Japan interferes in the South China Sea. [Photo by Cai Hong/chinadaily.com.cn] The defense white paper issued by Japan on Tuesday goes to great lengths to play up what it portrays as China's military threat to the region and tries to depict China as a violator of international laws. The politically motivated report is blatantly biased, full of hyperbole and lies, and serves to pave the way for Japan to jettison its pacifist Constitution that prevents its military from fighting abroad. It points accusing fingers at Beijing on issues ranging from the Diaoyu Islands to the South China Sea, calling the lawful activities of Chinese vessels in waters near China's Diaoyu Islands "incursions" into Japan's territory, and flights by Chinese aircraft around the islands "intrusions". The purpose is to deny China's undisputable sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. The paper turns a blind eye to China's call for peaceful settlement of the maritime disputes in the South China Sea through bilateral talks between the parties directly involved, and wantonly accuses the country of making coercive attempts to change the status quo. The fact is that China has exercised the utmost restraint even though most of its isles have been illegally seized and occupied by other nations, and it has been the last country to conduct any land reclamation work in the region. The report also fabricates "dangerous activities" by the Chinese military, for example, repeating the lie that a Chinese naval vessel targeted its fire control radar at a Japanese destroyer in 2013. China has long rejected the accusation as something "inconsistent with the facts". The paper also seeks to reinforce the false portrayal of China as a bully in the region, saying the country is ready to "realize its unilateral assertions without making any compromises". However, the fact is that China has settled its land border disputes with 12 of the 14 neighboring countries through negotiations, with lots of compromises made. The paper also questions China's military buildup, as well as its transparency on military and security matters. Actually China has published military white papers every two years since 1998, and its "active defense" strategy"we will not attack unless we are attacked"poses no threat to any peace-loving nations. It is Washington's rebalancing-to-Asia strategyin a bid to contain a rising Chinathat has sparked the tensions and instability in the region. Yet the Japanese paper heaps praise on the US for its "role in the peace and stability of the world". So much for its credibility. Madagascar's rich biodiversity and unique landscape, such as its clean water, lemurs, baobab trees and limestone formations with magnificent rocky spires, appeal to Chinese tourists.[Photo provided to China Daily] A growing number of Chinese tourists are enjoying a unique natural world far away from big-city life, Xu Lin reports. Several Chinese celebrities are moving quietly in the forest. They whistle, with peeled bananas in hand, until suddenly a cute lemur appears from a tree and grabs a banana for a bite. More lemurs approach, eager for their snacks. The scene is Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar. It's a part of the ongoing reality show Our Laws produced by Anhui Satellite TV, featuring the adventures of seven Chinese celebrities, including Nicholas Wu and Li Yapeng, in Madagascar and Ecuador. The recent episodes showcased Madagascar's rich biodiversity and unique landscape, which appeal to Chinese tourists. They can get a visa on arrival in the country. "Many tourists want to see Madagascar's flora and fauna, about 90 percent of which can't be found elsewhere in the world," says Lan Piaoxue, sales manager for China at the travel agency Madagascar Decouverte. About 10,000 Chinese visited the country last year, and more than 4,000 are travelers, according to Lan. She says the reality show vividly displays Madagascar's unique attractions. The agency offers the show's itineraries and some are suitable for parents traveling with children during the summer vocation. Local flora and fauna experts are on hand to share their insights, and visitors can also experience island life, such as watching whales. "When you set up your camp in the forest and watch the stars in the sky, you forget all your tiredness from hiking and immerse yourself into the precious scenery. It's a land of idyllic beauty: You live on the mountains and listen to the murmur of the running water and wind," says Liu Yun, 50, an office worker from Beijing. She and her friends hiked for three days in Andringitra National Park and finally reached the mountain peak. Last year, Liu traveled to the Madagascar for 14 days and visited five well-known national parks. Public transport is not so convenient, so she rented a car, hired a driver, and asked a local agency to design part of her itinerary. Shanghai firm eyes New York condos Updated: 2016-08-03 11:07 By Paul Welitzkin in New York(China Daily USA) The US unit of Shanghai Municipal Investment (SMI), the largest state-owned enterprise in Shanghai, is reportedly taking part in a billion-dollar condominium project in New York City. SMI USA is poised to become a partner with the Extell Development Company, in the development of the Central Park Tower at 217 West 57th Street, The Real Deal reported on Monday. The Real Deal said that new documents filed with the New York attorney general's office for the project list a new corporate entity, SMITELL LLC, which the publication said may be a combination of the two companies' names. In June, Extell also transferred title of the new condo to that new entity, the publication said. Neither SMI nor Extell would immediately confirm the partnership, The Real Deal said, and a spokesman for Extell told China Daily that the company had no comment on the report. The Central Park Tower that is under construction overlooks Central Park on one side and West 57th Street on its front side. Nancy Kong / For China Daily The Real Deal reported that Gary Barnett, who founded and heads Extell, has been seeking a capital partner for the tower, projected to rise 1,550 feet and cost about $2.98 billion. It reported in June that Barnett was looking to raise $190 million in EB-5 funding for the 182-unit development. The project originally was to have 182 units for a total sellout of $4.4 billion, which includes the sale of the commercial space at the base to retail giant Nordstrom. A new offering plan filed by the company calls for 179 units but does not specify prices, The Real Deal reported. Shanghai Municipal Investment, or SMI, was formerly known as Shanghai Chengtou. The Real Deal said that SMI has been an active player in the New York real estate market in recent months, partnering with another company for a $1 billion condo project in Midtown Manhattan at 520 Fifth Avenue. Barnett's company developed another building on West 57th Street, the 90-story skyscraper at 157 West 57th. Sales in that condo building have been making headlines since it opened. Many owners are wealthy foreigners, among them Guoqing Chen, a founder of Hainan Airlines, the largest independent air carrier in China and part of the HNA Group, according to The New York Times. He bought a floor-through unit on the 57th floor for nearly $47. 4 million, the newspaper reported in May 2015. Shanghai Municipal Investment, or SMI, was formerly known as Shanghai Chengtou. SMI USA is a full-service real estate development, investment and management firm based in New York. Since 2014, SMI USA has been actively involved in New York property deals. The company is also involved in the development of Shanghai Tower, a 2,073-foot-tall mixed-use building in the city. SMI has two publicly listed subsidiaries as well as 11 private affiliates and subsidiaries. With more than 20,000 workers, the company operates in tandem with Shanghai city's infrastructural planning, investments, construction and operational agendas. As of 2014 the company had net assets of about $67.2 billion. EB-5 is an alternative way for immigrant investors to obtain a US visa. It was created in 1990 to help stimulate the US economy through job creation and foreign investment. paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com Xu Bing's China bursts forth in artwork Updated: 2016-08-03 11:07 By Chen Weihua in Washington(China Daily USA) Creator of Phoenix art project: 'Cultural DNA elements ... are deeply embedded' The Falk Auditorium, the main conference room at the Brookings Institution, is a venue where contentious issues such as maritime disputes in the South China Sea, a coup attempt in Turkey and a recent talk on whether the US is losing China to Russia are aired. On Tuesday, the full house was intrigued by a panel on Chinese contemporary art. Xu Bing, well known for his Phoenix art project on display in New York City two years ago, recalled that when he first came to the United States in 1990, he kept his old art work in a suitcase and dared not show it to people. But soon he realized that those art works strongly reflect his unique cultural DNA, which blends influences from Chinese traditional culture, early socialist China, China's reform and opening up, and his contact with the rest of the world. "These cultural DNA elements, even if you try to hide them, are deeply embedded in yourself. When needed, they will re-emerge again and help your work," Xu said. Xu Bing, a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, discusses his artwork during a panel discussion at the Brookings Institution in Washington on Tuesday. In the background is a photo of his famed Phoenix. Chen Weihua / China Daily After spending 18 years in the US, Xu went back to China in 2008 to serve as vice-president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing, where he is now a professor. The big screen in the room showed his creation of square word calligraphy. Only careful observers will find that they were actually one-block words made of English letters bent to the shape of Chinese characters. Also included is a silk banner Xu created for the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The seemingly four Chinese characters actually are English words "Art for the People", a slogan by Chairman Mao Zedong. Xu admitted that the words have a deep impact on him, noting that a major problem of contemporary art is the gap between the art and ordinary people. "It has played a vital role in my work of global contemporary art," he said. His popular Phoenix project includes a pair of two phoenixes, 100 feet and 90 feet long. They were created largely out of construction debris and tools he salvaged from worksites in Beijing. The work took two years, compared with four months as previously planned. Xu felt proud that some people see his works as traditional while others believe they are contemporary. Fan Di'an, president of CAFA, described the development of Chinese contemporary art in past decades, evidenced by the mushrooming art museums. The transactions of Chinese contemporary art now account for 18.5 percent of the global total. He said that more Chinese contemporary art should be introduced to the world. "So there is still deficit of art exchange on the part of China," he said, citing the many exhibits of Western artists in China. Xu felt proud that some people see his works as traditional while others believe they are contemporary. Fan Di'an, president of CAFA, described the development of Chinese contemporary art in past decades, evidenced by the mushrooming art museums. The transactions of Chinese contemporary art now account for 18.5 percent of the global total. He said that more Chinese contemporary art should be introduced to the world. "So there is still deficit of art exchange on the part of China," he said, citing the many exhibits of Western artists in China. Jan Stuart, curator of Chinese art in the Freer and Sackler Gallieries in Washington, worked with both Xu and Fan in her previous capacity as Keeper of Asia in the British Museum in London. She praised both for their contributions to contemporary art. Stuart pointed out the Western-centric misconception that China is being forced to conform to Western traditions in the global art market. She said that if there was a Western-centric global art market in 1980, the beginning of the global art market was in China 10 centuries ago. "And the Chinese global art market started through ceramics was the greatest first global commodity, and it took painting and shape and glaze technology aesthetics all over the world," Stuart said. "So we have borrowed from China many times in our traditions." Stuart dismissed some Western critics for focusing only on a few Chinese artists, for what she called political reasons. She praised Xu for his work and Fan for bringing Chinese arts to the world. She called Xu the most dangerous artist "because he doesn't look at whether you are Chinese or American, or whatever you are, he questions your ability to interpret what you see". "He actually says, perhaps everything you see is an illusion, perhaps you haven't really thought to the bottom of it," Stuart said. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com Ukraine's Savchenko on hunger strike for release of war prisoners Updated: 2016-08-03 11:06 (Xinhua) Ukrainian pilot and MP Nadiya Savchenko attends a news conference in Kiev, Ukraine, August 2, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] KIEV - Nadiya Savchenko, who spent two years in a Russian prison, announced on Tuesday a new hunger strike to speed up the release of other Ukrainian prisoners of war. "I've attempted many methods of fighting for these guys as the world fought for me. Now I am fighting for them as I fought for myself," Savchenko told reporters in Kiev. "The hunger strike will continue until the positive result is achieved," Savchenko added. Savchenko has been campaigning for the release of two dozen Ukrainians still held in eastern Ukraine via prisoner swap. She called on relatives of those still in captivity to protest outside government and presidential buildings in Kiev on Monday. Savchenko also said she is ready to go to the conflict area in eastern Ukraine for negotiations with the leadership of independence-seeking insurgents over the prisoner release. The exchange of the detainees is a key part of the Minsk cease-fire agreement, designed to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed some 9,400 people since April 2014. Gemdale to lease SF space to Amazon's Twitch unit Updated: 2016-08-03 11:07 By Lia Zhu in San Francisco(China Daily USA) Chinese real estate developer Gemdale's first project in the US has won a contract from the video game streaming company Twitch to lease a new office tower in San Francisco's Financial District. Twitch, acquired by Amazon in 2014, signed the lease for 185,000 square feet at 350 Bush Street, which is San Francisco's third largest office lease year to date after Fitbit's 310,000-square-foot deal at 215 Fremont Street and Lyft's 206,000-square-foot sublease from Dropbox at 185 Berry Street, according to the San Francisco Business Times. The landlord and the tenant reportedly had been in talks since last year. Twitch will occupy almost half of the building - the second through ninth floors - in the 19-story building, which is expected to open next year. The current headquarters of Twitch is a few blocks from the new building. The Shanghai-listed Gemdale Corp and Dallas-based US developer Lincoln Property Co formed a joint venture in 2014 to develop 350 Bush Street, a 19-story, 372,000-square-foot Class A office tower, and 500 Pine Street, a five-story, 56,000-square-foot office/retail development in San Francisco. Both plots are located in the heart of the North Financial District. The 350 Bush Street building is designed to incorporate the historic terra cotta facade and columns of the iconic San Francisco Mining Exchange Building. A 19-story office tower is being built at 350 Bush Street in San Francisco. The project, which is slated to open next year, is backed by Chinese developer Gemdale Corp. Congjiang Wang / For China Daily Since 2013, Gemdale had been following the project before it "locked in prices in advance in the manner of off-market and finally acquired" the property in 2014, according to the company. The hot demand for office buildings and "continuous declination of vacancy rate" are the major reasons for the investment. Most office buildings under construction and scheduled for completion in the next four years in the city were leased in advance, Gemdale said. However, according to the San Francisco Business Times report, the projects are being built without tenants. In February, Gemdale and Lincoln Property partnered to acquire a property in north San Jose, the center of Silicon Valley, which is approved for four new office buildings with a total space of 415,000 square feet. The Pasadena, California-based Gemdale USA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The San Francisco projects mark Gemdale's first entry into the US, which is part of the company's internationalization strategy following its $350 million bond offering in July 2012, representing the first bond issuance in overseas markets by a domestically listed Chinese real estate company, the company said. In September 2015, Gemdale entered into a joint venture for a $125 million mixed-use project in Hollywood. The six-story residential, office and retail complex is located along Hollywood's Western Avenue, near Sunset Boulevard. liazhu@chinadailyusa.com Thank you to the Dallas Community Colleges for sponsoring this conversation. All thoughts & opinions are my own. Growing up on the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada, education was always a priority for me and my family. My Mother always told my sisters and I that, I may not be able to give you a lot of material things, but I can give an education and a chance to make a better life for yourself. My father also often reminded us that, people can take away a lot of things from you, but they cant take what you know. When I was a little girl, I cant honestly say that I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up nor did I dream about the University I would attend. All I knew was that I had to take my education seriously, but I had no idea where it would take me. Nineteen years ago this month, I graduated from Community College in Grenada. As you can probably tell from the huge grin on my face I was super excited. I was excited that I had completed college as we referred to it, and that I could finally get a job to help out my family, and of course, buy all the shoes I wanted. At the time, Community College was the highest tertiary level education available on the island. The truth is, it was only after I started working and I learned about affordable opportunities to study in the US, that I actively started planning and saving to attend University. Prior to that, I just knew it was expensive and I couldnt afford it at the time, so my focus was mainly on working and helping my family. My decision to attend Community College turned out to be one of the best decisions I had made. Not only was I able to get a job afterward and save some funds, I was also able to transfer more than half of my credits towards my University education in Texas. This was also very cost-effective because I earned my Bachelors Degree in just under 2 years. Just as I was finishing up my Undergraduate studies, the opportunity to study at the graduate level at the University of Wyoming was offered to me. It was a fairly new, intensive program that the University had launched one year prior. I received a full scholarship to earn an MSc in eBusiness. (The program has since been renamed). Everything that I learned played a part in laying the foundation for my entrepreneurial endeavors. Its amazing how things have literally come full circle. As a result of attending community college, not only was I was able to get a job and save a bit for college, but because I had completed my Undergraduate studies in a shorter time frame, and I was right on time to take advantage of the opportunity to basically study most of what I do today, eBusiness. Although I have a Masters degree, I have actually considered enrolling in some of the certificate courses offered at the Dallas County Community College District. I am of the firm belief that you should never stop learning, honing your craft or increasing your level of expertise. The bottom line is that I love to learn. I also love that the DCCD offers programs that are perfect for persons who might be currently in the workplace and are looking to grow their skills to get a promotion or a new job. There are over 15 program areas (with over 100 programs) to choose from including Project Management, Mobile App Development, and eCommerce. They also have an entire Small Business Academy for those interested in starting their own business. I know from experience that Community College can provide the knowledge, skills and higher education that actually gets you hired. When I have kids of my own, I wont hesitate to consider community college as a cost-effective option, if thats the path they decide to choose. To learn more about all the program offered at the Dallas Community Colleges, you can connect with them on Instagram| Twitter| Pinterest | YouTube. YOUR TURN: Has your education help to shape your current career path in any way? This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dallas County Community College District. The opinions and text are all mine. 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. Hanoi , August 2 (VNA) Nguyen Thi Le Nam Em will represent Vietnam at Miss Earth 2016 which will be held in the Philippines in October. Em is 1.73m tall and weighs 50kg. She was previously a Top 10 finalist at Miss Universe Vietnam 2015, and a beauty queen at a Mekong Delta region beauty pageant. We have considered many beauties, Em is the only candidate to represent Vietnam to attend the pageant, said Nguyen Chien Huu, from Helios Company which has the right to send candidates to the Miss Earth contest. The company will send a dossier to the Department of Performing Arts to ask for permission to send Nam to the contest. Em often takes part in fashion and music events. She also joins social works including visiting orphans and calling on people to protect the environment. Shes active in improving her image, joining soft skill training courses and learning English. Vietnam will return to the Miss Earth pageant after a three-year absence. The pageant is expected to be attended by representatives from 90 countries and territories. VNA/VNP The southern province of Binh Duong remains a popular destination with South Korean investors who are promising to invest more money in the near future. Photo thesaigontimes.vn BINH DUONG The southern province of Binh Duong remains a popular destination with South Korean investors who are promising to invest more money in the near future, its Department of Planning and Investment has said. Speaking at a meeting between the administration and companies late last week, Nguyen Thanh Truc, the departments director, said this year many Korean investors visited Binh Duong to explore opportunities. Also this year they had invested US$155 million in 27 new projects and 13 existing ones to become the second biggest foreign investor, he said. Most of their investment went into supporting industries, he said. The investments include $30 million in Lumens Vina, $14.1 million in Kolon, $12 million in SGX Company Ltd and $10 million in Sung Min Vina Company Ltd. The investment by many South Korean companies is a good sign for Binh Duong Province in attracting foreign direct investment. It proves the fact that Binh Duong has a dynamic investment environment and remains an ideal destination for foreign investors. The provinces leaders answered questions at the meeting and helped companies resolve difficulties related to labour, power supply, infrastructure, logistics and schools for foreign executives children. An official from Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Viet Nam said the south-eastern region including Binh Duong had grown strongly with clear and simple administrative procedures, while its improved infrastructure attracted many investors from South Korea. Many investors came to Viet Nam from South Korea and more would follow, he promised. An investment wave is expected from South Korea especially after a bilateral free trade agreement and Viet Nams accession to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. South Koreans are among the biggest foreign investors in Binh Duong, with major players like Kumho, Orien, Lotte, and Kolon having a presence. They have invested $2.25 billion in 569 projects. South Korean investment in the country is valued at $48.5 billion, the highest by any foreign country or territory. VNS PRAGUE Authorities from the northern province of Vinh Phuc have assured enterprises from the Czech Republic of favourable conditions for them when investing in their province. The province introduced a list of 42 projects that have been calling for investment in several sectors under the forms of official development assistance (ODA), foreign direct investment (FDI) or public private partnership (PPP). Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Van Tri spoke at a workshop on investment opportunities in the province held in Prague, the Czech Republic on Monday. He highlighted the local favourable business environment, saying that it offers comprehensive infrastructure, skilled worker training, simplified administrative procedures and low-cost land, rent-free to foreign investors. Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Kim Khai said the province ranked fourth in the provincial competitiveness index in Viet Nam. It has lured 221 foreign investors with a total capital investment of US$3.5 billion. However, there are no Czech businesses currently investing in the province. Khai expressed his hope that Czech firms would invest in mechanical manufacturing and supporting industries. Vinh Phuc Province has been one of the countrys centres for automobile and motorbike assembly. Support industries therefore play an important role. It is calling for investment from Czech investors in support industries for automobile and motorbike assembly. In addition, it also welcomes investment in hospitals to reduce pressure on hospitals in the capital Ha Noi. It is also looking for investment in a vocational training school for Vinh Phuc and neighbouring localities. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Truong Manh Son provided an update on the development of friendship and economic cooperation between the two nations, while underlining Viet Nams investment potential. Vice President of the Economic Chamber of the Czech Republic, Borivoj Minar, said a delegation of Czech firms planned to visit Vinh Phuc Province to expand co-operation. Last week, the provinces delegation, led by Tri, had a working meeting with representatives from the Embassy of Viet Nam, the Vietnamese People Association and the Viet Nam Business Association in the Czech Republic. The provincial leader called on Vietnamese expats to invest more in the locality. -- VNS Ha Noi enjoyed relatively high economic growth in the first half of the year with good performances in the service and industry-construction sectors, officials said at a municipal Peoples Council meeting on Monday. Photo chinhphu.vn HA NOI Ha Noi enjoyed relatively high economic growth in the first half of the year with good performances in the service and industry-construction sectors, officials said at a municipal Peoples Council meeting on Monday. Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Doan Toan reported to the meeting that gross regional domestic product (GRDP) increased by 7.3 per cent, in which the service and industry-construction sectors grew 7.5 per cent and 7.8 per cent, respectively, while the agricultural sector recorded a modest increase of 2.1 per cent. Toan said the GRDP growth rate was relatively high, even though it was lower than the targeted annual growth of 8.5-9 per cent. A report by the Economics-Budget Committee of the municipal Peoples Council said that in order to meet the annual target, the city would have to achieve a growth rate of 10-11 per cent in the remaining months of the year, which would be difficult. Budget collection in the first six months was about VN85.8 trillion (US$3.8 billion), a 16.3 per cent year-on-year increase. This period also saw significant improvements in attracting investment capital, with a more than fourfold year-on-year increase in investment capital in industrial zones, according to Toans report. The city authority approved most planning schemes at subdivision and district levels, which paved the way for appropriate investment to be carried out. The application of information technology in administrative reform was boosted, resulting in considerable changes to the procedures of business registration, tax filing and the issuance of land right certificates. In the first six months, 98 per cent of tax filing and 95 per cent of tax payments were done online, according to the report. However, the growth rate of export turnover was only 0.1 per cent, much lower than the expected range of 7-8 per cent. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 2.8 per cent year-on-year, which was higher than the average rate of the whole country. Members of the municipal Peoples Council also pointed out other areas that need improvement. Deputy Ho Van Nga from Quoc Oai District said the city risked falling short of its targets for enterprise equitisation and State capital withdrawal from enterprises. The city aims to equitise three enterprises and lessen State capital in 60 others in 2016. But up to now, none were equitised, and State capital was only lessened in seven enterprises, Nga said. Nga asked the city authority to clarify their solutions to the problem and answer whether the targets could be fulfilled or not. Toan acknowledged the slow speed, attributing it to the fact that the city had to deal with many equitisation plans for the 2016-20 period, in addition to plans for an earlier period. He said the Department of Finance, which was in charge of the issue, was accelerating the pace. Deputy Pham inh oan from Hoang Mai District raised the issue of local enterprises weakening competitive capacity amidst a rising number of foreign-invested companies as a result of various free trade agreements the country recently signed. oan suggested the city authority work with local professional associations to discuss measures to help local enterprises increase their competitiveness for better integration. He said the city should take the lead in promoting start-ups and providing favourable conditions for them to thrive. Deputy Pham Thanh Mai from ong Anh District urged the early completion of wastewater treatment facilities in industrial zones. Toan responded by saying that 14 wastewater treatment facilities would be completed and operating by the end of this year. The construction of other treatment facilities, which are slated for the 2017-2020 period, would also be accelerated, he said. VNS HCM CITY HCM City will undertake activities this year to boost manufacturing and supporting industries, according to the local Department of Industry and Trade. Speaking at a seminar in the city yesterday, Nguyen Phuong ong, the departments deputy director, said his agency would create a database of businesses in supporting industries and offer training programmes based on businesses needs. City authorities would periodically meet with business executives from these sectors to resolve the difficulties they face, he said. The city would continue to implement its investment stimulus programme that provides preferential loans to firms in key sectors, including manufacturing and supporting industry. The programme also sought to encourage domestic firms to invest in technology to improve their capacity and competitiveness, he said. Eligible firms would have 50-100 per cent of their loan interest subsidised for up to seven years, he said. Twenty six companies have applied for loans since the programme was launched last October, with three getting them. Typical products Pham Ngoc Anh, deputy director of the departments Centre for Supporting Industries Development, said the city has a programme to select typical manufacturing and supporting industry products to gradually create a list of such products. Organised every two years, it focuses on the mechanical engineering, rubber and plastic, food and foodstuff, electronic, garment and textile, and footwear sectors, he said. Businesses participating in the programme would enjoy benefits like being part of the citys trade promotion programmes both at home and abroad, he said. ong said the department would organise an international supporting industries exhibition in September to help businesses promote their products and production capacity and enable them to link up with local and foreign partners and enter the global supply chain. Hoang Tho Vuong, director of the Centre for Supporting Industries Development, said the third Viet Nam International Supporting Industries Exhibition would feature more than 10,000 products from 150 exhibitors. It would also include seminars and business-matching programmes to enable local business executives meet potential customers, he said. At the seminar yesterday, Jabil Viet Nam Co.,Ltd., a subsidiary of the US-based electronic product solutions company Jabil Circuit Inc., displayed products and items the company wants to source locally. Raymond Ngang, regional commodity manager at the company, said last year the company bought US$35 million worth of mechanical products (imports and local), including plastics, cables, keypads, metal, packaging materials, die cut materials, lens, printing materials and others. With the company expected to enjoy a 30 per cent growth rate this year the purchasing could reach $45 million, he said, adding that he encouraged local suppliers to make contact. VNS HCM CITY Despite challenges ahead, aquatic exports are expected to reach US$7.1 billion this year, a rise of 8 per cent over last year, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). Though exports have risen, aquatic exports may face several problems in the last half of the year, and exporters have been warned to meet strict standards on hygiene and other matters, including in key markets like the US, Japan and the EU. Ngo Van Ich, chairman of VASEP, attributed the problems to heavy reliance on imported materials from foreign markets as well as an imbalance between aquatic rearing and processing. Ich said a number of Vietnamese exporters, especially shrimp and catfish exporters, would continue to be hurt by anti-dumping tariffs imposed by the US and other import markets. The ongoing drought and saline intrusion are still affecting aquatic production. Tonnes of fish have died not only in the central region but also in the Mekong Delta, according to VASEP. In addition, the EU is expected to face more difficulties due to currency depreciation and negative information about the Eurozone, which will affect Vietnamese aquatic exports. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and VASEP told affected enterprises to prepare measures to access stricter import markets like the US, the EU and Japan. Of the total $7.1 billion expected in seafood exports this year, shrimp exports are expected to reach $3 billion, a rise of 10 per cent, and catfish, $1.6 billion, a drop of 4 per cent over last year. Total exports of tuna are also expected to increase, to $500 million, by year-end, up 10 per cent, and cuttlefish and octopus, up 5 per cent over last year. First six months Exports of aquatic products to China rose significantly in the first half of the year, reaching $384 million, a surge of nearly 43 per cent over the same period. In recent years, Vietnamese exporters have shifted from stricter markets to China, which accounts for 9 per cent of total aquatic exports. Major exports to China are tuna, catfish and shrimp. According to VASEP, aquatic exports reached US$3.15 billion in the first half of the year, a rise of 4 per cent over the same period last year. Of this figure, shrimp exports reached $1.35 billion, a rise of 4.8 per cent, and catfish, $790 million, an increase of 5.4 per cent over the same period. Meanwhile, exports of cuttlefish and octopus totalled $179 million in the first half of the year, a drop of nearly 10 per cent. Also, exports of tuna reached $225 million, equal to the corresponding period last year. Other aquatic exports reached more than $511 million, up 7.6 per cent. Viet Nam exports aquatic products to 144 countries and territories. The top five export markets are the US, the EU, Japan, China and South Korea, accounting for 70 per cent of the countrys total export value of aquatic products. The US tops the export market, which accounts for 21 per cent of total exports, with export value of $646 million in the first half, a rise of 10.7 per cent over the same period. VNS HA NOI Research recently conducted by Oxford Economics says that the mobile internet sector may contribute US$5.1 billion to Viet Nam from 2015 to 2020, it was revealed at a workshop yesterday. This amount was equivalent to 6.2 per cent of the countrys gross domestic products (GDP) growth forecast. According to the research, the sector is also expected to create roughly 145,600 new jobs for the country during the five-year period, or 3.2 per cent of the total employment growth estimate. The mobile penetration ratio in Viet Nam will almost double to nearly 80 per cent by 2020 from what it was at the end of 2015, which is expected to match the forecast subscription rate for the entire Southeast Asia (SEA) region. Those figures would be a great improvement for the sector in Viet Nam in comparison to 2010-2015. During this period, the sector created an output worth $3.7 billion for Viet Nams total income - equal to 6.4 per cent of the countrys total GDP in this period - and helped provide 137,000 new jobs for local people, the research said. Active mobile subscription rate per every 100 habitants in Viet Nam during the previous five years doubled to nearly 40 per cent at the end of last year from the number in 2013 after growing adequately between 2010 and 2013. There is a lot of room for development of the mobile internet business in Viet Nam as the country had not paid enough attention to improve the infrastructure and create good legal conditions for the businesses, Oliver Salmon, senior economist at Oxford Economics, a British economic advisory firm, said. Mobile internet applications have become a transformative force in the economy, which allow people and businesses access to a wide range of information and a customer base, according to Oliver. Mobile internet also helps people connect with each other and provides lifetime education for people via distant learning. Mobile internet helps improve the function of the labour market, assist people in disadvantaged areas to approach the labour market and enables employees to work long distance. Viet Nam has its own advantages that can create good conditions to develop the mobile internet business, according to the economist. For example, the country has a youthful population of over 90 million people and has remained above the average level among middle-income economies. The country is also able to maintain a good annual growth rate of 6.5 per cent since 2000, and has performed consistent economic restructuring to reduce its dependence on agriculture, which the research shows. Rapid growth of mobile internet industry will help add to the countrys income and help the government spend more on social investments, such as raising local peoples living conditions and improving public infrastructure. The research also found that Viet Nam represents a strong growth opportunity for mobile internet technology and "the growth of the industry in the country seems to match with the development of the sector among SEA countries". Rapid growth in subscription rate was found in the research, which illustrated that ASEANs active mobile accounts took off from nearly 20 per cent for every 100 inhabitants in 2012 to roughly 50 per cent at the end of 2015. The rate is expected to climb above 80 per cent by the end of 2020. Across ASEAN, mobile internet businesses are expected to generate $58 billion and one million new jobs for the regions GDP from 2015 to 2020 from $47.2 billion and 903,000 jobs during the previous five years. VNS HA NOI Non-performing loans (NPLs) as of the end of May accounted for 2.78 per cent of the entire banking systems total outstanding loans. This was still under the 3 per cent threshold targeted by the Government, deputy governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam Nguyen Thi Hong said during a government press conference yesterday. The move was made after concern was expressed about an upward trend in NPLs, as reported recently in H1 financial reports of several commercial banks. Hong said the central bank would still consider the handling of bad debts a top priority during the last few months of the year. She said the central bank had instructed commercial banks, whose NPLs were more than three per cent, to report measures to resolve the bad debts issue to the central bank. Besides a strict control on credit growth to ensure credit quality and to avoid raising new bad debts, the governor has also asked credit institutions to make provisions for their risky loans, Hong said. She said the governor had also asked the Viet Nam Asset Management Company (VAMC) to deal with bad debts in a move to control the total bad debts under three per cent. In July, financial statements released by some large commercial banks showed that bad debts increased in the first half of the year. Notably, bad debts skyrocketed at Eximbank, surging sharply from 1.86 per cent at the end of last year to 5.3 per cent by the end of June. Of Eximbanks total bad debts worth VN4.285 trillion (US$191.29 million), subprime debt surged 13 times to reach VN2.415 trillion, while the increasing rate of doubtful debt and potentially irrecoverable debt was 34.8 per cent each to touch VN797 billion and VN1.073 trillion, respectively. Due to the high NPL rate, Eximbank had to double its provisions to touch VN324 billion in H1, causing pre-tax profits to fall sharply to end at VN79 billion, down 88 per cent year-on-year. The Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV) -- the countrys largest commercial bank in terms of assets -- also reported that its bad debts increased from roughly 1.6 per cent at the end of last year to two per cent by the end of June. The increasing bad debts in H1 were worth more than VN3 trillion, bringing the banks total bad debts to reach VN13.183 trillion. Of these debts, potentially irrecoverable debts and doubtful debts rose from VN5.190 trillion and VN887.76 billion to touch VN6.343 trillion and VN2.326 trillion, respectively. Sacombanks bad debts, as of the end of June, also increased to 2.83 per cent from 1.85 per cent at the end of last year. Due to the large number of bad debts, Sacombanks provisions surged 86 per cent in H1, causing the banks pre-tax profit to drop 76 per cent year-on-year to touch VN363 billion. Experts attributed the increase in bad debts in banks in H1 to the fact that the VAMC bought only a small amount of bad debts in the first half of this year, after meeting the target for controlling bad debts of the entire banking system under three per cent at the end of September last year. According to a government report on the countrys socio-economic results in H1 2016, VAMC has so far bought VN241 trillion of bad debts. The number of bad debts was nearly the same as compared with those released late last year. It meant that the new bad debts that arose in commercial banks in H1 remained with the banks, instead of being transferred to the VAMC, as was done in previous years. The central bank reported in April that the bad debt ratio of the entire banking system as of the end of March was 2.62 per cent. - VNS Yesterdays message from the Ha Noi Citys Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention requested all authorities of districts and townships, and relevant departments to prepare for the arrival of Typhoon Nida, the second storm this year in Viet Nam. Photo vovgiaothong.vn HA NOI Yesterdays message from the Ha Noi Citys Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention requested all authorities of districts and townships, and relevant departments to prepare for the arrival of Typhoon Nida, the second storm this year in Viet Nam. According to the message, district-level peoples committees and Irrigation Company, Drainage Company, Electricity Company, and Park and Green Tree Company in the city were asked to take active measures to deal with the approaching storm: keep a close watch on the storms developments, prepare human forces and equipment, directing localities in a timely fashion to ensure the safety of human lives and assets and keep damages to a minimum. To actively cope and handle effectively any adverse developments of the storm, the citys Irrigation Company and Drainage Company were asked to continuously inspect all dykes and lakes, especially projects under construction, and be ready to help localities in urgent cases. The Park and Green Tree Company was asked to arrange timely resources to clear fallen trees, aiming at not affecting the citys traffic. Ha Noi Drainage Company has to be ready to implement drainage in urban areas, take measures to prepare essential equipment and drainage schemes for low-lying areas. The committee requested the citys police and transport department to ensure steady traffic flow, especially in inner and waterlogged areas. About 700 trees were reportedly uprooted or broken in Ha Noi during the previous storm, Mirinae. At an urgent meeting on Typhoon Nida in Ha Noi yesterday, chief of the National Committee on Search and Rescue, Van Phu Chinh, urged northern mountainous provinces to prepare for landslides and flash floods due to rains affected by Storm Nida. Rains could threaten reservoirs, tunnels, coalpits and high-risk landslide areas, he said, so authorities of localities had to be ready for measures to evacuate residents and ensure the safety of key constructions. He asked authorities of localities to increase the frequency of broadcasting information about forecasts, warnings and instructions. The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorology Forecasting yesterday afternoon reported rains would occur from midnight Tuesday to Thursday in the northern mountainous regions and midlands. Heavy rain (100-250mm) would occur in the northwest and calamity risk level was predicted at one or two. At 10am yesterday, the storm was moving towards south-east Chinas Guangdong Province with wind speeds of up to 60-90 km/per hour. The wind speed was predicted at about 50-60km/per hour at 10 pm yesterday, according to the Centre, calamity risk level was at about three. The Centre forecasts two to four storms to hit the East Sea during August, of that one or two storms could cause consequences to northern and north-central mainland.-- VNS A NANG Poor levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water was blamed as the main reason for the mass fish deaths at a Nangs 29-3 Lake one of the biggest lakes in the park of the same name. Director of the citys natural resources and environment department, Le Quang Nam, confirmed yesterday the oxygen deficiency in the water caused fish to die en masse over the past two days, Monday and Tuesday. Nam said measurements of DO in the lake water were 50 per cent lower than usual, and pollutants were released from the citys drainage system to the lake. Director of the citys drainage and waste water treatment company, Mai Ma, said it was the worst mass fish death that had occurred in the lake. Some fish were often found dead in the lake in hot summer weather, but its very serious this year. We suspect that pollution would be the main cause of the mass fish dead, Ma said. He said four tonnes of dead fish were collected in two days. Ma said the company had collected four samples of water at different positions in the lake for tests. Chairman of the citys Peoples Committee, Huynh uc Tho asked relevant agencies and departments to find out the reason of the fish deaths. In different researches and surveys in previous years, experts warned that almost all lakes in the city were contaminated with toxic metals and other dangerous substances in wastewater, while waste water has yet to receive treatment before being released into the environment. Deputy head of the environment faculty from a Nang Technology College, Tran Van Quang, said pollutants from industrial parks, untreated drainage and wastewater in the city and industrial centres polluted the water surface and water sources. He said hazardous heavy metals such as mercury, lead and copper were found in 10 major lakes in the city, and the worst polluted is the 29-3 Lake. He had found excessive heavy metals contained in lake sludge that would kill fish en masse. Wastewater from the citys drainage system carries contaminants to the 11ha lake, which accumulates in sludge to contaminate the lake for a long time. The city has invested VN15 billion (over US$700,000) in wastewater treatment, but thats still a modest amount. Meanwhile, household sewage, rubbish, dust and soil are still dumped into some lakes in the city. VNS HA NOI Animals Asia said it has successfully rescued a moon bear that had been kept in a cage for more than 10 years. The rescue was conducted in coordination with the Forest Management Department of the Central Highlands Province of Lam ong. The bear was voluntarily handed over to the organisation by am Bri Tourism Joint Stock Company, which once raised 20 bears and other wild animals at its ecological resort. The animals have died over the years. Earlier, the bear had been cared for, tagged with a microchip and registered at a household in HCM city in 2005. After its rescue, the bear was named Bao Lam, which means protecting the forest in Vietnamese. The name is derived from combining Bao Loc and Lam ong, the names of local areas. Bao Lam will be transported to the organisations Bear Rescue Centre in Vinh Phuc Provinces Tam ao National Park. There, he will be taken care of and rehabilitated before being shifted to an outdoor enclosure with other rescued bears. The bear was the 163rd to be rescued by the organisation in Viet Nam. Last year, Animals Asia rescued 41 bears, including 33 from the northern Quang Ninh Province. VNS HA NOI Journalist Ham Chau, who was famous for writing profiles of outstanding Vietnamese and foreign scientists, died of a stroke in Ha Noi on Monday. He was 83 years old. Born into an intellectual family in the central province of Nghe An, he graduated from National Economics University but chose to become a journalist. With a high command of three foreign languages including Chinese, Russia and English and a deep knowledge of science, he was equipped with the skills to connect with and share the stories of scientists in well-written articles. During his long career, he worked for several different publications. After working as a reporter at the Ha Noi Moi (New Ha Noi) newspaper, he was editor-in-chief of To Quoc (Motherland) magazine. He was also in charge of the Nhan Dan newspaper (weekend issue) and English-language magazine Vietnam Cultural Window. Even though he wrote about different topics, his most famous articles were about science and education. He wrote more than 2,500 articles, published 10 books under his name and co-published 23 books with other authors, including a 1,200-page book titled Tri Thuc Tinh Hoa Viet Nam uong ai (Viet Nams Contemporary Intellectuals). His latest book, which he recently finished, is titled Anh Sang Nhan Van Trong The Gioi Cac Nha Vat ly (Humane Light in the World of Physicists). This 830-page literary chronicle, rich with interesting observations and emotion, talks about the important international scientific meetings he joined in Viet Nam and different countries around the world, as well as the portraits of scientists who won Nobel prizes and world-renowned scientists of Vietnamese origin. Nguyen Tu Uyen, Ham Chaus son, said his father lived alone in Ha Noi in order to have ideal conditions for finishing his book. He had planned to move to HCM City to live with his son after publishing his book. Ham Chau was close to Professor Tran Thanh Van, founder of Meeting Viet Nam, which held meetings aimed at creating opportunities for Vietnamese scientists to access advanced science and network with famous scientists from around the world, as well as encourage young Vietnamese scholars scientific studies and inventions. Ham Chau also accompanied Prof Van to different regions of the country when Van offered Vallet scholarships to Vietnamese students, along with the support of Professor Odon Vallet of Frances Sorbonne University. Journalist Ham Chau became close to us in 1993 when he was reporting on the first Meeting Vietnam. I never met such a journalist who was so passionate about science, Van said. The country lost a devoted journalist who gave himself to the countrys science development. We will never have such a devoted journalist who has such profound knowledge of science like him. Van said that just a few days ago, he had discussed with Ham Chau a plan to offer scholarships to students. On Monday, when they sent him airplane tickets, they also received the news of his death. I do not know how much this news will sadden Prof Odon Vallet, because during each trip to offer scholarships to students, Chau used to sit close to Prof Vallet and tell him stories about the culture, history and people of different regions of Viet Nam where we passed through, he said. Vallet appreciated Chau a lot and was very interested in his stories. VNS HCM CITY The fifth annual Viet Nam Heritage Photo Awards is accepting submissions from amateur and professional photographers living in Viet Nam and abroad. The contest, themed Nhung Dong Song Viet Nam (Viet Nams Rivers), aims to highlight the beauty of rivers across Viet Nam, as well as the life of people living along rivers. Le Thanh Hai, editor-in-chief of Vietnam Heritage Magazine, which is organising the contest, said: The contest aims to find and preserve beautiful images of the country, as well as introduce them to the community, especially young Vietnamese and foreigners. Hai said she hoped the photos would raise peoples awareness about preserving Vietnamese cultural heritage. Participants can submit their works in two categories of single photo and photo essay to cuocthianhdisanvietnam@gmail.com by September 30. The contest entries will be judged by photographers Hoang Trung Thuy and oan Thi Tho, and director Nguyen Quoc Hung. The organisers will give 16 prizes worth VN200 million ($9,000). The winners will be be announced on November 23 in HCM City to celebrate Viet Nam Heritage Day. The top 100 photos in the competition will be displayed at tourism agencies, museums and universities in cities and provinces, including HCM City, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, a Nang, and Ha Noi, from October to February. All the photos will be given to Nha Chong Lu (Flood Resistance House), a programme that raises funds for people affected by floods and storms. Thanks to the programme, 274 houses have been built in the provinces of Quang Ninh, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Nam since 2013. Began in 2012, Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards has received more than 17,000 photos. The organiser has hosted 54 exhibitions in 17 cities and provinces across Viet Nam to showcase the photos. VNS Associate Professor Le Trinh, deputy head of the Viet Nam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment talked with Tin Tuc (News) newspaper about ways to improve the quality of its environmental assessment report. Local administrations and State managerial agencies are advised to consider the environmental assessment report a useful tool in managing environmental protection. They should evaluate an environmental assessment report based on sustainable development criteria; this means that developing economic growth must run parallel to protecting the environment. For major projects, the Government clearly outlines two steps that a project manager must take in implementing its environmental assessment report. The first step will be taken in the stage of setting up an investment project (or pre-feasibility study) following the Law on Environmental Protection 2015. In this step, the environmental assessment report of a project is required to demonstrate how the projects location fits into the surrounding ecology and community. It is also used to determine whether the projects technology is friendly to the environment and whether the projects construction and operation would cause serious environmental or social impacts. Based on this, State managerial agencies will consider accepting or rejecting the project. If they approve the environmental assessment report, in the second step, the project manager is ordered to propose a detailed environmental assessment report. The detailed report has to present forecasts and evaluations of the projects impact on the surrounding environment and society. They must also submit solutions to minimise any potential impacts. Moreover, to raise the quality of an environmental assessment report, the environmental-assessment-report verification committee should include experts from many fields with experience and comprehensive knowledge of environment assessment reports. Before giving the green light to a projects environmental assessment report, it is imperative to collect comments from both the local administration and residents where the project is proposed to be located. If State managerial agencies obey these above recommendations, the quality of environmental assessment reports will be remarkably improved. In addition, after getting approval from the verification committee, the project manager has to continue monitoring the projects impact on the environment during the life cycle of the project. Many countries and international organisations believe that it is one of the most important factors in managing the environment. Government decree 18/2015/N-CP and Circular 27/2015/TT-BTNMT issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also clearly state the responsibility of project owners after environmental assessment reports are adopted. For projects borrowing funds from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank or the Japan International Co-operation Agency, project managers are asked to use the issues and solutions mentioned in their environmental assessment reports to make a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) or School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP). These encompass detailed methods to control pollution, and to protect the environment and health. And the project managers must seriously obey them. Thus, the project managers will keep an eye on contractors, and State managerial agencies will track the project managers. State managerial agencies will hire an independent agency to monitor the activities of project managers, contractors and environmental consultant agencies. Finally, yet importantly, criteria to track the environment management of a project do not only measure and analyse the quality of the environment, but also evaluate the implementation of solutions to minimise negative impacts on the environment, as outlined in the environmental assessment report by the project manager. The results of the monitoring process should be published and should not be directed by any local authority, ministry or the project manager. VNS Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Bang, director general of the Department of Criminal Verdict Implementation and Legal Aid, spoke to the newspaper Tuoi tre (Youth) about a proposal to allow reformed prisoners to re-unite with their families while serving their sentence. Would you explain the Governments conditioned policy of releasing criminal prisoners to re-unite with their families before they end their jail term? The proposal to give conditional amnesty to criminal prison inmates who have reformed themselves while serving their sentences is new to Viet Nam, but not new in a few other countries. Some people might interpret this as a Government amnesty to these inmates. Thats a wrong interpretation. Under the new policy, those who are allowed to re-unite with their families under certain conditions will still be serving their prison terms in their residential community. After returning to their communities, these inmates will have to report to local authorities and are not allowed to leave their communities without permissions from local authorities. In addition, every three months they have to write their self criticism reports and submit them to authorities, who will then report to their superior authorities at the district level. How will the local authorities supervise the behavior of inmates when they serve their sentences in their residential community? I dont think there will be any problem. Under the proposal, more law enforcement officers will be sent to the districts, while at the communal level, local officials will be trained in the work of management and supervision. If prison inmates fail to perform well in their communities, they are likely to be sent back to prison to complete their term. The key idea of this proposal is to reduce prison staff. We project that some 20,000 prison inmates will have been conditionally released by 2018, saving the State budget nearly VN200 billion ($ 9 million) a year. What are the criteria for conditional release? First, this is their first sentence. Second, they must have served at least half their jail time. In addition to the two above mentioned conditions, another important factor well take into consideration carefully is whether the prisoners are likely to cause law and order problems in their communities after their release. Will prisoners serving life sentence be able to enjoy this leniency policy? Yes, they can. But only prisoners who have already served at least 15 years. A council will be set up in each prison to consider who should be on the short list, which will then be sent to the General Department of Criminal Verdict Implementation and Legal Aid for approval before being submited to the Supreme Peoples Procuracy of Viet Nam and the Court to make the final decision in each case. I am sure the process will be carried out with transparency and accountability. Will the delay in implementation of Penal Code 2015 affect implementation of the proposal? As we all know, the proposal is part of the Penal Code 2015. Since the National Assembly has already decided to delay its implementation, the proposal will be delayed to 2017. However, the annual amnesty before the Lunar New Year will be carried out as in previous years. Some people have expressed anxiety about the negative impacts of the proposal on the quality of law enforcement in Viet Nam. As I have mentioned, if any prison inmates on conditional release dont reform themselves well, they will then be sent back to prison. Our leniency policy is only reserved for those who reform themselves well. As I have also mentioned, the proposal is a manifestation of Viet Nams resolve to reform its judiciary sector and to create favorable conditions for prisoners to reintegrate into society._VNS THUA THIEN-HUE Police in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue have seized hundreds of maps that indicated the East Sea (South China Sea) was named the "China Sea". Local hotel Beach Bar Hue and Villa Louise, located near Thuan Hai Beach, had allegedly designed and printed the maps, which were distributed free of charge to the hotels guests, according to the police. The maps triggered a protest from local tour guides and Vietnamese tourists, who later filed a police complaint. A representative of the hotel told online Dan Viet newspaper that the hotel had managed to recover some 250 of the 500 maps and had handed them over to the police. The owner of the hotel is a French citizen. Last week, the neighbouring a Nang also seized dozens of posters that had illegally referenced the local beach as "China Beach". The posters were in the possession of a tour services company. VNS HCM CITY Advanced medical techniques in cardiovascular surgery and interventions have been successfully transferred to provincial hospitals, saving the lives of hundreds of patients every year, doctors have said. In 2014, doctors at Khanh Hoa Province General Hospital performed cardiovascular surgery on the first patient, with technical assistance from cardiovascular surgeons of Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City. The hospital performed similar operations on 60 patients, and nearly 100 cases of open-heart operations were carried out by the hospitals cardiovascular surgeons over the last year, said Nguyen Van Xang, director of the hospital. As part of the Ministry of Healths satellite hospital project, Thong Nhat General Hospital in ong Nai Province has received transfer of four technical packages in the field of cardiovascular interventions from Cho Ray Hospital since 2013. The packages include percutaneous coronary intervention, percutaneous mitral commissurotomy, structural heart disease interventions and peripheral vascular interventions. In January 2015, the hospital opened a heart centre for cardiac monitoring and procedures, with the first four cases of cardiovascular interventions successfully conducted the following month. A total of 281 patients underwent cardiac procedures at the centre in the first six months of this year, said Tran Thi Quynh Huong, deputy director of the hospital. Of that figure, cardiovascular surgeons at the centre performed more than 240 cases without technical assistance from Cho Ray Hospital, Huong said. The number of patients being transferred to higher-level hospitals for treatment decreased to 1.05 per cent from 47.4 per cent in 2013. Cardiovascular intervention is a complex specialty that requires huge investment in medical equipment and facilities as well as qualified physicians, according to Nguyen Thuong Nghia, deputy director of Cho Ray Hospitals Heart Centre. The high demand for cardiac monitoring and procedures among patients at provincial hospitals cannot be met by local hospitals. With transfer of medical techniques from cardiovascular surgeons at central hospitals, local patients with heart disease will receive benefits from examination and treatment at local hospitals, especially for emergency cases that require timely treatment. Luong Ngoc Khue, director of the Health Ministrys Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department, called for support from local authorities for investment in medical facilities and human resources at provincial hospitals. Having qualified medical professionals is a key factor for development of medical establishments, he said. Local authorities and leaders of provincial hospitals should develop preferential policies to attract and retain physicians who want to move to higher level hospitals. Under the first phase of satellite hospital project approved by the Ministry of Health in 2013, Cho Ray Hospital was chosen as a core hospital responsible for transferring advanced medical techniques to four hospitals: Tien Giang Province General Hospital, Khanh Hoa Province General Hospital, ong Nai Province General Hospital and Thong Nhat General Hospital in ong Nai Province. Technical transfer focuses on cardiology and trauma orthopedics. In the second phase, the hospital will expand the network of satellite hospitals to 19 hospitals by 2020. VNS HA NOI Ha Noi police yesterday announced that they had detained two men for investigation in a serious case involving the illegal trade of fake VAT bills and tax evasion. Tran Van Toan, 42, who lives in Ha Nois Tay Ho District, director of the Toan Hien Investment Trading Joint-stock Company, and his accomplice Pham Van Hung, the companys chief accountant, were taken into custody. The police are also looking for several other people in connection to the case. Police allege that in 2013 and 2014, Toan asked Hung to make a false declaration of payment of many workers salaries, evading taxes of nearly VN382 million (US$16,900). Toan and Hungs accomplice, Pham Hong Lam, director of the Son Lam Transport and Construction Joint-Stock Company allegedly helped them create illegal VAT bills to evade taxes. The Huy Hoang Company, managed by Lam, is accused of selling 22 VAT bills to the Toan Hien Company with the total VAT of more than VN1.5 billion ($66,600). To help Lam, Chu Van Dung, ang Van Quyen and o Van Tuyen are reported to have founded fake companies to provide these bills. Tuyen himself has established 14 so-caleed "gosh companies" for fake VAT bills since 2004. Police said that Pham Hong Lam and Nguyen Tuan Huy had fled. VNS SEOUL North Korea fired a ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time on Wednesday, drawing an outraged response from Tokyo and ramping up tensions with the United States and South Korea. The US military said the North had actually launched two Rodong intermediate-range missiles simultaneously, but one appeared to have exploded on take-off. Japan said the one missile had landed in the Sea of Japan, some 250km off its northern coast and within the countrys Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). "Its a serious threat against our countrys security," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters. "This is an outrageous act that cannot be tolerated." The United States condemned what it called a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Koreas use of ballistic missile technology. "This provocation only serves to increase the international communitys resolve to counter (North Koreas) prohibited activities," said Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross. Two missiles US Strategic Command said the two missiles were launched from a site in western North Korea at around 7:50am Seoul time (22:50 GMT Tuesday). "Initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan," it said in a statement. It was the first time a North Korean missile has been fired direct into Japanese waters. The second stage of a medium-range missile fired over Japan had splashed down inside the EEZ off Japans Pacific Ocean coast in 1998. Japans top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga slammed Pyongyang for providing no advance warning of Wednesdays test. "From the perspective of the safety of aircraft and ships, it is an extremely problematic, dangerous act," Suga said. The Rodong is a scaled-up Scud variant with a maximum range of around 1,300km. Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile tests this year in defiance of UN sanctions imposed after its fourth nuclear test in January. On July 19 it launched three ballistic missiles -- including one Rodong -- in an exercise that the North said simulated a nuclear strike on the South. That came just days after Washington and Seoul announced an agreement to deploy the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system in South Korea by the end of next year -- a move condemned by Pyongyang and also vehemently opposed by China and Russia. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se said Wednesdays missile test only served to "underline the need to deploy THAAD." Tensions on the divided Korean peninsula are also building up ahead of an annual South Korea-US military exercise later this month that involves tens of thousands of troops. North Korea says such drills are a provocative rehearsal for invasion, while Washington and Seoul insist they are purely defensive in nature. AFP There have been many name changes in Bengal; Park Street was renamed Mother Teresa Sarani; Mayfair Road became Bhagat Singh Sarani, and more recently Lee Road was renamed Satyajt Ray Dharani. Barack Obama reaffirmed his support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the controversial 12-nation trade deal, and said that he believes he has "the better argument" than the pact's foes, including Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. The agreement has become a flash point in the 2016 election, and Obama acknowledged that globalisation and technology have increased anxiety among some Americans. But the president said that abandoning trade deals is not the solution. "The answer cannot be to back away from trade and the global economy," he said at a ... Heartbreaking family update after mother-of-six was killed in horror crash Hannah Fraser's father and stepmother are trying to make it from the United Kingdom to Australia in time for their daughter's funeral. Firefighter unions latest message to Andrews Government More than a hundred fire trucks in Victoria will carry pointed messages about the Andrews Government as part of a union campaign in the lead up to next month's state election. Family of Aboriginal teen who died in apparent suicide after sexual abuse back calls for inquiry Police believe 15-year-old Layla Leering took her own life after being raped in the Northern Territory community of Bulla in 2015. Duttons declaration to voters amid Labors big mess The Opposition Leader said the Prime Minister "might write me off" but he believes Australians will vote the Coalition back into power in 2025 to clean up "the big mess" Labor will leave behind. ELDORA The Hardin County Sheriffs Office has a new K-9 officer. With donations from citizens, the county purchased Eva, a 14-month-old female German shepherd. She has a significant amount of training to complete yet, and Deputy Mitchell Kappel will begin training with her soon. Officials hope to have her on duty in October. Deputies said funds still are needed for equipment and ongoing K-9 maintenance, such as veterinary care and food cost. Those who want to contribute should send donations to the Hardin County Sheriffs Office, Attn: Hardin County K-9, 1116 14th Ave., Eldora, IA 50627. WATERLOO A Waterloo woman told the court how she watched Steve William Fordyce shoot her husband. I seen him do the first two shots, and my husband was still standing. Then I seen him do a third shot, and my husband fell. And thats when everything registered with me that he really shot my husband. Everything just started to feel unreal at that time, Samantha Rose Harrington said as Fordyces trial began Tuesday in Black Hawk County District Court. I was hoping it was a BB gun, she said. But as 43-year-old Donald Harrington collapsed to the ground, Samantha Harrington knew the gun was real. Fordyce, 38, of Denver, is charged with first-degree murder in Donald Harringtons Aug. 14, 2015, death. Fordyces attorneys said he shot to defend himself and his sister after Donald Harrington, who was visiting his wife at the sisters neighbors home, became aggressive after an argument over snack wrappers boiled over. This is a terrible tragedy that didnt have to occur. And it occurred over fruit snacks, said attorney Tiffany Kragnes, who is defending Fordyce with her husband, attorney Christopher Kragnes. Fordyce has waived his right to a jury trial, allowing Judge David Odekirk to consider the charges during a bench trial. Donald Harringtons brother, John Harrington, testified they had been to a restaurant with his brother earlier that day celebrating his sons 21st birthday. He said Donald Harrington had a beer or two but didnt like to drink because he was on parole. After the meal, they went to a friends house, which was across the street from 119 Locust St. where Samantha Harringtons parents lived. A short time later, Donald Harrington said he was going to visit his wife at the Locust Street address. Samantha Harrington said when her husband met her, he was beginning to get angry, claiming Fordyces young children had tossed fruit snacks over the privacy fence that separates her parents property from Fordyces sisters property. When Fordyce backed his red pickup out of the driveway and started down the road with his 6-year-old twins inside, Donald Harrington flipped him the middle finger, Samantha Harrington said. Fordyce slammed on his brakes and pointed a gun, she said, and Donald Harrington approached the truck and tried to open the passengers side door but found it locked. Fordyce exited the truck, causing Donald Harrington to go around to the drivers side, but before he got there, Fordyce returned to the drivers seat and drove off, Samantha Harrington said. He drove past again a few minutes later and then parked on his sisters lawn. Moments later, Fordyces sister and another woman came over and began yelling at the Harringtons on their porch, she said. Fordyce hung back, but Donald Harrington left the porch when he noticed Fordyce. Fordyces sister commented he had a gun, Donald Harrington asked if he planned to shoot him and put up his hands, and Fordyce fired, she said. Does Steve Fordyce ever say anything? Assistant County Attorney Brad Walz asked. Not one word. Not a single word. Through the whole thing, he didnt say one word, Samantha Harrington said. There was no anger to him. Trial is scheduled to continue today. DES MOINES State tax collections opened fiscal 2017 on a down note in July, but experts at the Legislative Services Agency arent worried. Last months 3.8 percent decline reflected the fact July ended on a weekend, so personal income tax receipts were up 6.3 percent but sales and use tax collections were off 7.7 percent due to the timing snafu. LSA senior tax analyst Jeff Robinson said state receipts stood at a positive 7.7 percent through Tuesday once the weekend sales figures were incorporated into the overall collections. State budget officials usually wait for the first quarterly report at the end of September when monthly fluctuations settle some and the state officially closes its books on the prior fiscal year and factor in new law changes to get a better feel for how tax receipts are faring in the new fiscal year. July is the worst month to try to draw conclusions from, Robinson noted in assessing the negative 3.8 percent monthly report versus the early August rebound. Were up a pretty good percentage in reality, he noted Tuesday. Economic indicators Four of Iowas eight key economic indicators saw positive changes in June although the overall index experienced a slight increase over May, according to the Iowa Department of Revenue. The four positive contributors to Iowas Leading Indicators Index for June were in the agricultural futures profits index, diesel fuel consumption, average weekly unemployment claims (inverted) and in residential building permits, according to the departments monthly report. The four negative index contributors in June were the national interest-rate yield spread, the new orders index, average manufacturing hours and the Iowa stock market index. Looking longer term, revenue agency officials said Iowas annualized six-month economic change improved from -0.9 percentage points in May to 0.0 percentage points in June. Likewise, the six-month diffusion index increased to 43.8 with three of the eight components experiencing an increase of greater than 0.05 percent over the last half a year residential building permits, diesel fuel consumption and the agricultural futures profits index. Also, Iowas nonfarm employment index continued in its fifth year of growth in June. With the six-month annualized change leveling out at 0.0 percent change in June after 18 consecutive months of negative change, department officials do not expect the current employment growth to change through the summer and into autumn. The report is available at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/15a44bc. WATERLOO A funding guarantee has cleared the way for a $3 million renovation of the Hartman Reserve Nature Centers interpretive center. Members of the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to guarantee a $762,000 project shortfall should ongoing fundraising efforts ultimately fall short. The county Conservation Board needed the commitment of taxpayer funds before it could vote Aug. 11 to accept a construction bid for the project. But the board and nonprofit Friends of Hartman Reserve vowed to continue seeking other funding sources to cover the gap. Conservation Executive Director Vern Fish said his board has already voted to apply for a Community Attraction and Tourism grant through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. We are pursuing additional private and public funding sources, Fish said. Bob Frederick is president of Friends of Hartman Reserve, which has already raised $2.3 million for the project, the largest donation being a $1.1 million grant from the Black Hawk County Gaming Association. I couldnt be happier with the vote you just took; thank you so very much, Frederick told the supervisors. Weve reached out to literally thousands of people in the Cedar Valley: friends, private donors, public donors, nonprofit donors. Supervisor Craig White voted against the request, saying hed like to see more of a commitment from the conservation people, rather than us just saying $762,000. Supervisors supporting the measure said they expect the private fundraising efforts to continue. Should the county ultimately have to cover part of the shortfall, the funding could come from general fund cash reserves or be part of the property tax asking in next years budget. Supervisor Tom Little said he was reluctant to tap reserves. We need to have a strong conversation with this board about our reserves, he said. I dont take them lightly. Theres a reason why we kept our reserves high, he added. Its to protect this county. Board chairwoman Linda Laylin agreed on the need for reserves but was open to using them if necessary. I think that is one of the options we look at and always consider so we dont tax the taxpayer every time we have a project, she said. The original interpretive center was built in 1941 and has deteriorated badly, creating a need for structural repairs. But bids to replace the center and expand space for programming and community events came in over budget. Larson Construction Co. of Independence is the apparent low bidder for the project, which pending contract approval is expect to be completed in October 2017. The Fayette County Sheriff's Office responded about 12:35 p.m. at 9692 Echo Valley Road for a vehicle in the ditch. Deputies said the 15-year-old male of West Union was driving east in a 2005 Honda Accord when he failed to negotiate a curve, lost control of the vehicle and entered the north ditch. He and the young passenger were transported to Palmer Hospital where they were treated for non-life threating injuries. Advertisement By The Associated Press Aug. 02, 2016 | FRANKFORT, KY By The Associated Press Aug. 02, 2016 | 05:49 PM | FRANKFORT, KY Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's proposed changes to the state's Medicaid program would end routine dental and vision coverage for able-bodied adults in a state where more than half of the population over 18 have had a tooth extracted because of decay or gum disease. Bevin administration officials say the changes will only apply to able-bodied adults. Dental and vision benefits for children, pregnant women, medically frail adults and adults who qualify for the traditional Medicaid program will not change. And they say able-bodied adults won't lose access to routine dental services because they can earn those benefits back by taking a health assessment, volunteering or getting a job. 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05 (4) Oct 29 (1) Oct 01 (1) Jul 29 (1) May 11 (1) Jul 11 (1) Aug 3, 2016 | By Alec The aerospace industry seems to be going through something of a renaissance, with more and more innovations appearing every week. But in contrast to the 1960s, NASA and the Soviets no longer have a monopoly on aerospace development. Indeed, most of the pioneering work seems to be done by various other companies and startups, such as Space X, Made In Space and Rocket Labs, who are cleverly harnessing 3D printing for various highly efficient solutions. The New Zealand-based Rocket Labs, for instance, is working on a rocket launch featuring a high efficient 3D printed engine. But while most of those aerospace 3D printing innovations involve 3D printed engine or satellite parts, one Singaporean/Australian company called Gilmour Space Technologies have gone in a completely different direction. Over the past few months, they have been experimenting with 3D printed fuel made from two different materials, and recently even launched a self-made rocket propelled by their custom concoction believed to be the first time a rocket was powered with 3D printed fuel. Could this be the future of efficient space exploration? Its a remarkable achievement by a remarkable and ambitious company. Gilmour Space Technologies is being run by seven researchers, engineers and ex-bankers based in the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). However, they are also running an office/space camp in the Australian town of Pimpama on the countrys east coast. The company itself was founded in 2012 by husband and wife couple Michelle and Adam Gilmour, who have lived in Singapore for the past twenty years. While Gilmour Space Technologies is focusing on a wide spectrum of aerospace development (including educating a new generation of engineers in their Space Academy), their particular specialty is rockets. Specifically, the startup is seeking to provide rocket launch services in the near future, for anything from supplies to research and communication satellites. And they see that demand is increasing. We think the space industry is going through a renaissance. There are more and more uses being developed for space satellites in areas such as earth observation, global communication systems and asteroid mining, said Mrs Gilmour. But that is a very expensive business, as each launch costs upwards of a million dollars, with large rockets for orbital satellites easily reaching the $15 million range. But with the help of 3D printing, the Gilmour team believes that they could greatly reduce the costs involved. Their secret? 3D printed proprietary rocket fuel. In contrast, NASA and the many private aerospace companies in the world use either liquid or solid fuels for launching payloads into space. Each has their benefits and drawbacks, ranging from storability to overall thrust and the complexity of the engine. While hybrid fuels combining the best of solid and liquid propellants are becoming more common, Gilmour instead turned to 3D printing. The prototype fuel 3D printer. In a nutshell, they have developed a custom 3D printing system that lets them 3D print a low cost, but highly efficient solid rocket fuel. Dual material 3D printers are in use today, but they are small with limited choices in terms of materials, said Mrs Gilmour. Our proprietary rocket fuel cannot be printed with existing 3D printers. Much of this has been made possible by the Singaporean National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster, who provided a six-figure R&D sum through the SUTD. Thanks to this 3D printing breakthrough, the Gilmour team believes that rocket launches can become significantly cheaper. Small launch rockets, suitable for satellites for sub-orbital experiments, could be launched for as little as $750,000 a quarter of a million cheaper than existing rockets. Larger rockets carrying orbital satellites, could be launched for as little as $5 million, as opposed to the $15 million it costs today. To realize these plans, the startup is currently working on a larger commercial version of their 3D printer to produce the fuel on a larger scale. The company is also currently seeking investments from venture-capital firms to fund development. If everything goes according to plan, the sub-orbital launches could take start within 18 months. In the meantime, the Gilmour team has already successfully tested several rockets at a launch site in Queensland, Australia. The 3.6m rocket fully made by their Australian subsidiary went up an estimated 5 km, demonstrating the potential of their 3D printed fuel system. Other launch sites are also being secured in the US, in collaboration with NASA and the Kennedy Space Center. But before these low-cost rocket launches can really kick off, a lot of work still needs to be done. The Gilmour team is therefore closely collaborating with numerous SUTD specialists. SUTD is key to this success. They are involved in many aspects of our business, Mrs. Gilmour explained, adding that the Singaporean government is also creating an excellent innovation environment. The government is recognizing space as a new and emerging business area, which is very encouraging. Other tests involving 3D printed fuel. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: John Blake at CNN: Bruce Lee, the martial arts icon, was being interviewed by a Hong Kong talk show host when the man asked Lee if he saw himself as Chinese or an American. Neither, Lee said. I think of myself as a human being. Forty-three years after his sudden death in July of 1973, more people are starting to think of Lee as something else: A profound thinker whose mind was as supple as his body. That may seem like an odd claim. Lee was a fighter, not a philosopher, according to popular perception. He left behind some of the most exhilarating fights scenes ever captured on film in movies such as Enter the Dragon and The Chinese Connection. But his legacy also includes a revolutionary book on the martial arts and Eastern philosophy, and seven volumes of writings on everything from Taoism, quantum physics, psychotherapy and the power of positive thinking. John Little, who examined Lee's papers after the actor's death, says he was stunned when he first entered Lee's library. He had at least 1,700 heavily annotated books. That's when he realized that Lee sharpened his mind as much as his body. Gavin Jacobson in New Statesman: In 1893 Elisabeth Forster-Nietzsche returned to her mothers adopted home town of Naumburg in Germany. She had been living in Paraguay with her husband, Bernhard Forster, a nationalist and anti-Semite who had founded an Aryan colony to begin the purification and rebirth of the human race. Elisabeths brother, Friedrich Nietzsche, had condemned her husbands anti-Semitism and her decision to join him in South America. The experiment failed in any case. Blighted by disease, poor harvests and intercommunal strife, the outpost collapsed in two years. Forster committed suicide in 1889. Around this time, Nietzsche began his final descent into madness and Elisabeth came back to take care of him and his legacy. Nietzsches first book, The Birth of Tragedy, published in 1872 while he was a professor at the University of Basel, received marginal attention. It wasnt until the 1890s that his writings gained a wide readership across Europe. Elisabeth soon took control of Nietzsches literary estate and, little by little, transformed him into an instrument of her fascist designs. She began to rework his notebooks and to clip, cross out and fabricate quotations, so that, in the public imagination, her brother went from an opponent of German nationalism to a lover of the fatherland, from the author of The Antichrist to a follower of the gospel, and from an anti-anti-Semite to a venomous Jew-hater. Before his death in 1900, Nietzsche had asked his sister to ensure that no priest or anyone else utters falsehoods at my graveside, when I can no longer defend myself. He could not have foreseen this betrayal by Elisabeth, as she cast him as the lodestar of National Socialism. More here. Hamna Zubair in Vogue: Pakistans Kim Kardashian Murdered by Brother, screamed headlines a few short hours after news broke that Pakistani social media sensation Qandeel Baloch had been killed on July 15 in her home by her brother, in what authorities have deemed a case of honor killing. In their scramble to locate Baloch in contemporary discourse on Internet celebrities and womens empowerment, newspapers in Pakistan and abroad latched onto the nearest comparison that came to mind: Kim Kardashian West. On the surface of it, the comparison seemed apt. Both Kardashian West and Baloch adopted highly sexualized personas on social media. Was it such a stretch to compare a West Coast fashionista who shot to stardom via a sex tape to a Pakistani woman who shook up society with daring selfies? To many, it was. She wasnt rich. She was a working-class woman. Lets not [compare] her to Kim Kardashian, said a Pakistani journalist of Baloch soon after these headlines appeared. And just like that, the floodgates opened for a larger debate about Baloch, one that called into question her feminist credentials. And though comparing Baloch to Kardashian West might in fact be unfair, the debate her persona stirred up is familiar, resembling heated discussions on Kardashian Wests nude selfieswhich have everyone from Emily Ratajkowski to Chloe Grace Moretz taking sidesand calling her female empowerment watered-down feminism. More here. [Thanks to Batool Raza.] Pankaj Mishra in The New Yorker: I love the poorly educated, Donald Trump said during a victory speech in February, and he has repeatedly taken aim at Americas elites and their false song of globalism. Voters in Britain, heeding Brexit campaigners calls to take back control of a country ostensibly threatened by uncontrolled immigration, unelected elites, and experts, have reversed fifty years of European integration. Other countries across Western Europe, as well as Israel, Russia, Poland, and Hungary, seethe with demagogic assertions of ethnic, religious, and national identity. In India, Hindu supremacists have adopted Rush Limbaughs favorite epithet libtard to channel righteous fury against liberal and secular elites. The great eighteenth-century venture of a universal civilization harmonized by rational self-interest, commerce, luxury, arts, and sciencethe Enlightenment forged by Voltaire, Montesquieu, Adam Smith, and othersseems to have reached a turbulent anticlimax in a worldwide revolt against cosmopolitan modernity. No Enlightenment thinker observing our current predicament from the afterlife would be able to say I told you so as confidently as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an awkward and prickly autodidact from Geneva, who was memorably described by Isaiah Berlin as the greatest militant lowbrow in history. In his major writings, beginning in the seventeen-fifties, Rousseau thrived on his loathing of metropolitan vanity, his distrust of technocrats and of international trade, and his advocacy of traditional mores. Voltaire, with whom Rousseau shared a long and violent animosity, caricatured him as a tramp who would like to see the rich robbed by the poor, the better to establish the fraternal unity of man. During the Cold War, critics such as Berlin and Jacob Talmon presented Rousseau as a prophet of totalitarianism. Now, as large middle classes in the West stagnate and billions elsewhere move out of poverty while harboring unrealizable dreams of prosperity, Rousseaus obsession with the psychic consequences of inequality seems even more prophetic and disturbing. Rousseau described the quintessential inner experience of modernity: being an outsider. When he arrived in Paris, in the seventeen-forties, at the age of thirty, he was a deracinated looker-on, struggling with complex feelings of envy, fascination, revulsion, and rejection provoked by a self-absorbed elite. Mocked by his peers in France, he found keen readers across Europe. Young German provincials such as the philosophers Johann Gottlieb Fichte and Johann Gottfried von Herderthe fathers, respectively, of economic and cultural nationalismsimmered with resentment toward cosmopolitan universalists. Many small-town revolutionaries, beginning with Robespierre, have been inspired by Rousseaus hopeoutlined in his book The Social Contract (1762)that a new political structure could cure the ills of an unequal and commercial society. In the past decade, a number of books have asserted Rousseaus centrality and uniqueness. Leo Damroschs biography, Restless Genius (2005), identified Rousseau as the most original genius of his ageso original that most people at the time could not begin to appreciate how powerful his thinking was. Last year, Istvan Hont, in Politics in Commercial Society, a comparative study of Rousseau and Adam Smith, argued that we have not moved much beyond Rousseaus fears and concerns: that a society built around self-interested individuals will necessarily lack a common morality. Heinrich Meier, in his new book, On the Happiness of the Philosophic Life (Chicago), offers an overview of Rousseaus thought through a reading of his last, unfinished book, Reveries of a Solitary Walker, which he began in 1776, two years before his death. In Reveries, Rousseau moved away from political prescriptions and cultivated his belief that liberty is not inherent in any form of government, it is in the heart of the free man. More here. Your guide to the tastiest foodie happenings going down this week. Bon appetit! Black Cat Opens in the Tenderloin Part bar, part restaurant, and part event space, Black Cat has opened its doors in the Tenderloin. Behind the food of this supper club is Ryan Cantwell (Chez Panisse, Zuni), who will be serving up dinner until 1am, and a bar menu until 1:30am. Small plates and interesting specials such as swordfish and octopus meatballs and oyster pot pies will help you soak up all that late night booze. // Open daily, 400 Eddy St. (Tenderloin), blackcatsf.com El Destilado Dinner at Calavera Calavera is hosting a six-course dinner with Julio Aguilera of El Destilado restaurant in Oaxaca. Before opening his restaurant in Mexico, Aguilera cooked at Leopold's, Saison, and La Urbana, so this dinner is a homecoming of sorts for the Mexican chef. In addition to a tasty menu of traditional Oaxacan fare, El Destilado co-creator Jason Cox will also on hand for a pre-dinner tasting of four rare mezcals ($20/person). The dinner is $55, with special cocktail pairings for an additional $20. There are only 35 settings available, so reserve today by calling the restaurant at 510-338-3273 . // $55, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 7pm, at 2337 Broadway (Oakland), calaveraoakland.com The Purgatorio from Pizzeria Delfina is topped with spicy tomato sauce, 2 farm eggs, and pecorino romano cheese. (Courtesy of Caviar) Caviar Delivers Secret Menu Items This month, Caviar has partnered with some of SF top restaurants to offer a few secret menu items that are available for delivery exclusively through Caviar. Delectable dining-in options include: The Brass Monkey from Little Star: this classic deep-dish pie comes with spinach, ricotta, mushrooms, onions, garlic and sausage this classic deep-dish pie comes with spinach, ricotta, mushrooms, onions, garlic and sausage The Purgatorio from Pizzeria Delfina: this Neapolitan-inspired pizza is topped with spicy tomato sauce, 2 farm eggs, and pecorino romano cheese (available for delivery from the pizzeria's Mission and Pac Heights locations). The Works from American Grilled Cheese Kitchen: AGCK's popular Mousetrap sandwich a cheesy extravaganza that comes with Tillamook cheddar, Monterey jack, and Havarti on sourdough gets an add-on of bacon, roasted tomatoes, and bread 'n' butter pickles in this special, known as The Works. AGCK's popular Mousetrap sandwich a cheesy extravaganza that comes with Tillamook cheddar, Monterey jack, and Havarti on sourdough gets an add-on of bacon, roasted tomatoes, and bread 'n' butter pickles in this special, known as The Works. Cherry Poppers from Merigan Sub Shop: these off-menu pickled cherry peppers are stuffed with mozzarella and salami, and can be ordered by the half-pint. these off-menu pickled cherry peppers are stuffed with mozzarella and salami, and can be ordered by the half-pint. Bacon Fries and The Burger "Like Eddy" from Bacon Bacon: you won't find these French fries on the menu - tossed in herbs, Parmesan, spicy olive oil, homemade bacon bits, and bacon jam served with a side of blue cheese vinaigrette. And if you order any sandwich or burger "like Eddy," our friends at Bacon Bacon will put fries right on or in the sandwich too. Bon Appetit Reveals 50 Best New Restaurants Bon Appetit magazine revealed their annual list of America's 50 best new restaurants this week, all of which are contenders for the Hot 10 (last year Al's Place topped the list at #1). This year, three San Francisco restaurants made the list: Lord Stanley, Cala/Tacos Cala, and The Perennial. BA will announce the Hot 10 August 16. You already know who we're rooting for. // bonappetit.com Know Thy Fisherman Dinner at The Progress Connect more closely to your local fishing community and join Chefs Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski at The Workshop, upstairs at The Progress, for a special Seafood Stories Dinner. Local fishermen will join the dinner table and share stories of their lives at sea and tell what a day in the life of a Bay Area fisherman is like. Stuart and Nicole will cook up a five-course menu with the bounty brought in by the fishermen, and proceeds from the dinner will benefit Fish Revolution, the non-profit that provides education on sustainable seafood. // $135, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 6pm and 8:30pm, at 1525 Fillmore St. (Fillmore), Get tickets here. Dear Ron, My father-in-law is 86 and in poor health. He owns a time-share he doesn't use, but it costs $800 a year in fees. That obligation will apparently pass on to his estate. There is no market for resale, and we even asked the owners association to take it back at no cost, but the association refused. Can you help us find a way out of paying forever on something we will never use? Debbie Kim, Overland Park, Kansas Here's my advice for anyone tempted to buy a time-share: Tread carefully. As Debbie has found, resale value is often nonexistent, with no good way to get out of paying hundreds or thousands of dollars a year in fees. Of course, there is no shortage of companies offering to help you unload your time-share propertyat a steep price. Many are scams. I reached out to Dan Reeves, the volunteer board president of the Vintage Landing Property Owners Association in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, where the Kim time-share is located. I pleaded the family's case, but no luck. "I'm in the same boat," Reeves said. "I signed the same contract as Mr. Kim did. We can only hope the economy picks up." 1. Full charge bookkeeper Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 73 percent (All part-time jobs: 19.1 percent) Median hourly pay: $20.56 (All part-time jobs: $14.68) Satisfaction rating: 77 percent (All part-time jobs: 63 percent) High-meaning rating: 51 percent (All part-time jobs: 57 percent) Portion of time spent standing/walking: 10 percent (All jobs: 70 percent) Have a knack for numbers? These workers have sole responsibility for a companys accounting matters, including creating and tracking invoices, paychecks and other financial records. They may also supervise lower-level bookkeepers and accounting clerks. Youre most likely to find this opportunity at a small firm with relatively simple finances. 2. Bookkeeper Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 47 percent Median hourly pay: $17.72 Satisfaction rating: 76 percent High-meaning rating: 45 percent Portion of time spent standing/walking: 10 percent Remove full charge from the job title, and free yourself from extra responsibility. Bookkeepers focus on creating and maintaining financial records, including issuing payments to suppliers and invoices to customers. They do not supervise others. Just note that with less responsibility comes less pay: Bookkeepers pull in a median hourly pay of $2.84 less than the full-charge cohort, but still $3.04 an hour more than the median for all part-time jobs. 3. Dental hygienist Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 17 percent Median hourly pay: $35.42 Satisfaction rating: 75 percent High-meaning rating: 76 percent Portion of time spent standing/walking: 25 percent To become a dental hygienist, you typically need an associate degree in this field, as well as a license to practice, for which you have to pass written and clinical exams. You also have to complete continuing education requirements and pay fees ranging from $37 (in Utah) to $325 (in New Mexico) to maintain your license. (Specific licensure requirements vary by state.) Be sure to factor in those demands when deciding whether working this jobpart time for extra years is worthwhile. Also note that this is the highest-paying job on this list. 4. School bus driver Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 73 percent Median hourly pay: $16.96 Satisfaction rating: 64 percent High-meaning rating: 71 percent Portion of time spent standing/walking: 14.3 percent Surrounding yourself with school-age children in your retirement can help you feel young again or age you exponentially, depending on your tolerance for extreme kid behavior. Be sure youre ready to not just chauffeur students to and from school safely, but also maintain order and enforce school rules on a bus packed with antsy adolescents. More straightforward job requirements: a commercial drivers license and a clean driving record and background check. 5. Office manager Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 30 percent Median hourly pay: $17.26 Satisfaction rating: 75 percent High-meaning rating: 67 percent Portion of time spent standing/walking: 25 percent Experienced workers should know well what it takes to make an office run. Specific duties can vary greatly from business to business, but in general, you can expect to plan, direct and coordinate all administrative services required for the organization to operate efficiently. You can find opportunities in this field across a wide range of industries, but youll likely also find stiff competition. If youve already been working in a similar position full time, your best bet may be to talk to your boss about cutting hours and going part time for a slow transition into retirement. 6. Registered nurse Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 24 percent Median hourly pay: $31.84 Satisfaction rating: 68 percent High-meaning rating: 76 percent Portion of time spent standing/walking: 75 percent Health care professionals in general are in high demand, and registered nurses are no exception. The number of positions for RNs in the U.S. is expected to grow 12 percent by 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, far faster than the projected job growth rate of 5 percent for all jobs. But while opportunities may abound, standards for filling them are high: On top of the rigorous education and training necessary to become an RN, you must also have and maintain a nursing license in the state where you plan to work. (Licensure requirements vary by state.) Still, both the high pay and high sense of meaning can make it all worthwhile. 7. Administrative assistant Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 22 percent Median hourly pay: $14.77 Satisfaction rating: 72 percent High-meaning rating: 59 percent Portion of time spent standing/walking: 12.5 percent These workers take care of all the nitty-gritty needed to make an office run efficiently. That may include providing administrative support to high-level executives. Unfortunately, demand for executive secretaries and administrative assistants is expected to fall 20 percent by 2028, according to the BLS. 8. Secretary Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 33 percent Median hourly pay: $12.94 Satisfaction rating: 71 percent High-meaning rating: 55 percent Portion of time spent standing/walking: 12.5 percent This broad category of workers (which excludes specialized secretarial positions such as legal, medical and executive secretaries) can be found across all sectors, including schools and government offices. They perform a variety of functions, including communicating with clients, vendors and the public, as well as managing office emails and schedules. Note, however, that the number of positions for secretaries is expected to decline 9 percent by 2028, according to the BLS. 9. Licensed practical nurse Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 27 percent Median hourly pay: $21.89 Satisfaction rating: 63 percent High-meaning rating: 71 percent Portion of time spent standing/walking: 75 percent To become a licensed practical nurse, you must successfully complete an approved educational program, which you can typically find in technical schools and community colleges (where older adults may be able to take tuition-free classes) and take about a year to complete. You must then pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing to get a license that youll need to maintain by completing continuing education requirements periodically (details vary by state). But the high sense of meaning, not to mention the high pay, may be worth the extra effort. 10. Paralegal Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 20 percent Median hourly pay: $17.48 Satisfaction rating: 73 percent High-meaning rating: 52 percent Portion of time spent standing/walking: 20 percent Along with legal assistants, these workers provide support to lawyers by performing myriad tasks, including conducting legal research, organizing and maintaining documents and files, and writing reports. And demand for their services is expected to rise much faster than most other jobs, with the number of positions for them projected to grow at a rate of 12 percent by 2028, according to the BLS, compared with just 5 percent for all jobs in the U.S. Back to the top South Brown, Marshall-Brown conservation districts seek merger The South Brown and Marshall-Brown conservation districts want to merge. Voters have the final say on Nov. 8. Bear Paw Pipeline Corporation Inc. (Bear Paw), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (LNGL) ( ASX:LNG ) ( OTCMKTS:LNGLY ), is pleased to announce that it received Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board approval to construct a 62.5 km natural gas pipeline from Goldboro to the proposed Bear Head LNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in Point Tupper, Richmond County, Nova Scotia."Bear Paw's pipeline is integral to the development of Bear Head LNG," said Greg Vesey, Managing Director and CEO of LNGL and President of Bear Paw. "The Permit to Construct is an important regulatory component. We are putting all the elements in place to develop a successful liquefied natural gas export facility on Cape Breton Island and the pipeline is a strategic and critical element."Bear Paw would interconnect the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline (M&NP) mainline, offshore gas, and other supplies near Goldboro Nova Scotia, to the Bear Head LNG export facility. The Goldboro to Point Tupper pipeline will connect Bear Head LNG to the North American natural gas pipeline network."Bear Paw and Bear Head LNG have worked and will continue to work with stakeholders and the Aboriginal community on the pipeline project and LNG facility," Vesey noted. "Our goal is to be the leader in helping Nova Scotia realize the LNG opportunity that will benefit the community, region, and province by creating new jobs and economic activity."Expenditures for construction of the pipeline shall commence only after financial close of the Bear Head LNG project.ABOUT BEAR PAW PIPELINE CORPORATION INC.Bear Paw Pipeline Corporation Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of LNGL, is proposing to construct and operate a 62.5 km (38.8 miles) natural gas pipeline to supply natural gas to the Bear Head LNG terminal in Nova Scotia, Canada. All required initial permits are now in place for Bear Head LNG to construct the liquefied natural gas export facility in Point Tupper on the Strait of Canso southeast of Port Hawkesbury. Canada's National Energy Board and the U.S. Department of Energy have granted export licenses for the facility. LNG produced at the facility will be transported by LNG vessels to overseas markets.About Liquefied Natural Gas LtdLiquefied Natural Gas Limited (ASX:LNG) (OTCMKTS:LNGLY) (LNGL) is an ASX listed company whose portfolio consists of 100% ownership of the following companies:- Magnolia LNG, LLC (Magnolia LNG), a US-based subsidiary, which is developing an eight mtpa or greater LNG export terminal, in the Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA;- Bear Head LNG Corporation Inc. (Bear Head LNG), a Canadian-based subsidiary, which is developing an 8 12 mtpa LNG export terminal in Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada with potential for further expansion;- Bear Paw Pipeline Corporation Inc. (Bear Paw), which is proposing to construct and operate a 62.5 km gas pipeline lateral to connect gas supply to Bear Head LNG; and- LNG Technology Pty Ltd, a subsidiary which owns and develops the Company's OSMR LNG liquefaction process, a midscale LNG business model that plans to deliver lower capital and operating costs, faster construction, and improved efficiency, relative to larger traditional LNG projects. Contact Mr. John Baguley Chief Technical Officer Phone: +1-902-403-7607 (N America) Phone: +011-902-403-7607 (Int'l) www.lnglimited.com.au www.bearpawpipeline.com Mr. Mike Mott Chief Financial Officer LNG Limited Phone: +1-713-815-6909 www.lnglimited.com.au Mr. John BaguleyChief Technical OfficerPhone: +1-902-403-7607 (N America)Phone: +011-902-403-7607 (Int'l)www.lnglimited.com.auwww.bearpawpipeline.comMr. Mike MottChief Financial OfficerLNG LimitedPhone: +1-713-815-6909www.lnglimited.com.au A man is in stable condition after being stabbed an unknown number of times near Coal and Interstate 25 Tuesday evening, according to a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department. Officer Mike Schroeder said the man was taken to the hospital, and police are investigating the scene on the 600 block of High SE. High St is currently shut down from Lead Ave SE to Hazeldine Ave SE. The investigation is in its beginning stages, so information is limited, he said. SANTA FE The League of Women Voters of New Mexico has canceled forums in three cities for the secretary of state candidates after Republican nominee Nora Espinoza did not respond to repeated invitations to participate. Espinoza said Tuesday that was because some of the organizations leaders and officers around the state are openly backing her Democratic opponent, Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver. She said in an emailed statement that 17 of them have contributed more than $8,000 to Toulouse Olivers campaign. If I appear in what is supposed to be a neutral forum, but unknown to voters its actually an overtly partisan setting, the crucial issues may well be ignored, the Roswell lawmaker said. She also took a swipe at the League in New Mexico, saying it may be a little out of sync with the national organization. League officials bristled at the suggestion that the organization is partisan, calling the claim offensive and a flimsy excuse for not participating. The League takes positions on certain issues but doesnt support or oppose candidates or parties although League members have the right to personal freedom of speech and the right to support candidates of their choice, state President Meredith Machen said. Machen said at least one League member has donated to Espinozas campaign, and there may be more. The League holds forums in which candidates make statements and answer written questions from the audience. Forums were planned for Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces in September. The organizations policy is not to hold forums if one of the nominees doesnt participate. Two years ago, Republican Secretary of State Dianna Duran and Toulouse Oliver, who was the Democratic nominee, took part in two such League forums. Theres an election again this year to fill out Durans term; she resigned last year and pleaded guilty to misusing campaign contributions to cover gambling expenses. Espinoza said the real issues of the campaign include the integrity of the election system, the security of voters personal identification, and voter ID as a means of ensuring New Mexicans do not have their votes stolen. She sponsored legislation this year requiring photo voter identification. The League opposes photo voter ID, saying it would discriminate against as much as 10 percent of New Mexicos population, including the elderly, the disabled and Native Americans. The national League of Women Voters successfully sued to overturn North Carolinas requirement for photo voter ID. A federal appeals court issued that ruling last week. Toulouse Oliver said in a statement it was disappointing that Rep. Espinoza is refusing to have an open and honest debate about the important issues of ethics, transparency and accountability in government, and called her refusal to participate in the forums a disservice to New Mexicans. Your employer cant make you be happy at work. Thats what the National Labor Relations Board ruled earlier this year in response to complaints by Albuquerque call center employees against T-Mobile. The board ordered the mobile communication company to delete portions of its employee handbook that prohibits employees from making disparaging remarks about the company and details how employees should maintain a positive work environment. The case was triggered by three formal complaints. Two complaints were filed by Albuquerque workers employed at the call center on Menaul; one was filed by South Carolina employees. The complaints were brought forward by the Communications Workers of America, which represents T-Mobile employees in several states and is attempting to unionize workers in Albuquerque. T-Mobile declined to comment. The complaints alleged that several passages in T-Mobiles employee handbook have a chilling effect on Section 7 rights, part of a federal law that safeguards workers ability to unionize or otherwise protect one another. The board took particular issue with a section of the handbook that broadly requires workers to maintain a positive work environment by communicating in a manner that is conducive to effective working relationships with internal and external customers, clients, co-workers, and management. The NLRB wrote in its decision, We find that employees would reasonably construe the rule to restrict potentially controversial or contentious communications and discussions, including those protected by Section 7. In its April 29 ruling, the board also demanded T-Mobile remove several other passages in its handbook, including ones that forbade employees from making disparaging comments about the company or its customers, a section that prohibited employees from making video or audio recordings in the workplace, and one that forbade employees from distributing the handbook to outside parties. T-Mobile argued in the case that reasonable employees would understand the provision as intended to promote a civil and decent workplace. T-Mobile has filed a notice of appeal with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Chris Holland, an attorney at Sutin, Thayer & Browne, which is not involved in the case, noted the ruling was in line with other rulings the NLRB has made in recent years. Theres been a lot of activity around Section 7, mostly involving employees saying disparaging things about their employers over social media, said Holland. For the most part, the board has been very pro-employee. Holland said he thought it was likely that a Section 7 case would make its way to the Supreme Court in the next few years. The boards ruling required T-Mobile to distribute updated handbook language within 14 days of the boards decision. The company was also required to inform employees that unlawful rules had been rescinded. But Kevin Elder, an employee at T-Mobiles Menaul call center, said employees were neither given updated policies nor informed of the ruling. Theres been no communication and nothing has changed, said Elder. Theres still the sense that you have to maintain that positive work environment if you want to move up. Hae-Lin Choi, the senior campaign coordinator for T-Mobile at CWA, said the case and its aftermath demonstrate that the company is ruling through a culture of fear. Your employer can make you do your work, but they cant force you to be happy while doing it, said Choi. Thats something a regime does. It would seem hard to grow up in the shadow of an older brother who was lauded since he was a child, a brother who even in death loomed large over his family and community as the inspiration for a charity that has done so much for so many. But thats not how David Vargas ever saw it. My brother was always supportive of me as I was of him, he said. I was never jealous, never felt ignored because of him. David was not yet born when Lawrence Charles Vargas was 4 and won a blue ribbon for his artwork at the New Mexico State Fair. Lawrence Charles was featured in national art magazines and in a Scholastic book on talented children before he was a teenager. Then, it seemed he was destined to follow in the footsteps of their father, Lawrence Vargas, a nationally known artist. But Lawrence Charles had other plans. He wanted to be a firefighter. He wanted to help others. He was 23 and preparing to apply to the fire academy when he was killed by a gunman in a Downtown parking garage in July 2008. In his honor, his grieving parents founded the Lawrence Charles Vargas Memorial Shoes for Kids and Acts of Compassion project, which has provided shoes to thousands of children in need. He never got to be a firefighter, but his legacy has surely been one of helping others. David was 16 when his brother died. He has also tried his hand at art like his father. But like his brother, he had other plans. He wanted to fulfill his brothers dream of becoming a firefighter. So he did, graduating at the top of his class at the Albuquerque Fire Academy in 2014 and finishing his training as a paramedic July 20. That, as it turns out, is a mighty fortuitous thing. And that is what brought me to visit with Lawrence and Terry Vargas again in their West Side home, a warm and spacious place filled with Southwestern art and happy photos of family, especially of sons Lawrence Charles and David. Lawrence Vargas, 61, is still weak from the medical ordeal he survived last month that began with shortness of breath, clamminess and pain both in his chest and a low spot on the side. An initial run to the emergency room had turned up nothing. We were in there for 12 hours, and the doctor just sent me home, said my heart was fine and I was in no danger, Lawrence said. So that was that. Lawrence, a stubborn but gracious man, just wanted to sleep it off. Days after the ER visit, he continued to feel weak and decided to go to bed early. Son David had come over for dinner that July 14 evening and checked in on his father. David knew immediately that his father was in trouble. I checked his pulse, checked the color of his hands, which were white as paper, he said. I took his socks off and saw that his feet were just as white and cold. And I said, Dad, youre not going to sleep this off. Youre going to the hospital.' Lawrence balked at the idea of going back to the hospital. Im a strong guy. I didnt think I needed to go back, he said. But what I didnt know was that my body was already shutting down. What finally convinced Lawrence, he said, was David. He was almost done with training as a paramedic, he said. I respected his advice. For six days, Lawrence remained in the intensive care unit of the hospital while physicians ran tests trying to figure out what was wrong. He was losing blood and losing bodily functions, but no one knew why. The 14 units of blood he was transfused with passed out of him like water through a sieve. We were so scared, Terry said. Thats when I called on my family and friends to start praying. She had already called upon her two angels one in heaven, one on earth. They were her sons, and both were already on the job. Together. Brother, I know youre watching us, David, 24, wrote in a personal Facebook message. Lay down that hand from heaven and give me and Ma and especially Dad extra strength to persevere through these times of trial. After four days of Lawrence hovering between life and death, the problem was traced to bleeding from diverticula, small pouches along the intestinal tract. The region was cauterized, and the bleeding stopped. Lawrence lived. He was released from the hospital July 24, four days after David graduated from paramedic training. Lawrence said he credits the peace that came over him as he prepared for the possibility of death to son Lawrence Charles, whom he said he saw in a dream, urging him to get better. But he credits son David for having the knowledge from his firefighter-paramedic training to urge him to get help. David knew what to do, he said. He saved my life, and I mean that. He wanted to follow the dream of his brother to be a firefighter, and thank God he did, because it saved me. About that dream. David said that although he initially chose firefighting to fulfill his brothers dream, along the way it became his own dream. It became his own way of helping others. I think hes off to a good start. UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal In the wake of the Dog Head Fire which destroyed 12 homes and cost at least $10.2 million to fight regional fire and emergency officials are seizing the moment to re-examine how prepared they are for a catastrophic fire in the East Mountains. While most agree the fire and outlying efforts to save homes and lives were handled well, an official with the state Forestry Division and the union leader for Bernalillo County firefighters say the Dog Head Fire revealed some concerns in the Bernalillo County Fire Departments preparedness. Enough so that the state and county are now holding meetings to target those concerns. It was a real eye opener to that East Mountain corridor. Were having an ongoing conversation with their readiness. Were just trying to get everybody to ramp up, said Robert Brown, fire management officer for the Bernalillo District of state Forestry Division, which serves Bernalillo, Cibola, Los Alamos, McKinley, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Torrance and Valencia counties. Bernalillo County Fire Chief Christopher Celaya, who has been with the department about a year, also called the Dog Head Fire eye opening. He said he is looking at the possibility of restructuring how his department approaches wildland firefighting and increasing training. But that takes additional money the county doesnt have. Brown said the county needs at least $1 million to start to acquire the machinery and tools it needs to be well prepared to fight a catastrophic fire in the East Mountains and that doesnt include a near desperate need for a new radio and communication systems. Gave us a scare The Dog Head Fire gave us a scare, said Robert Sanchez, vice president of IAFF Local 244, which includes the Albuquerque Fire Department and BCFD. And it prompted him and other firefighters to ask for help in addressing what they see as long-standing concerns in the Bernalillo County Fire Department. He met with Celaya recently to lay out some of those concerns: no clear plan or training of how to work with sheriffs deputies in the case of catastrophic fire evacuations in the East Mountains and no official wildland team with administrative support. We have an active shooter tactical operation plan. We practice active shooter quite a bit. We have steep and low angle rescue policy and procedures. We have (plans) for a collision, for hazmat, for structural. We have a plan for all these things except a tactical operation plan for a fire in the Sandia Mountains, Sanchez said. Celaya says his department does have training exercises every year (though the 2015 exercise was cancelled because of weather) and that he considers everyone on the department to be wildland firefighters. Sanchez, though, said most firefighters on the department havent participated in the training. Speaking for the firefighters in the field, we do not know of a plan, we have not been trained on a plan, Sanchez said. Other firefighters said that while departments in the region have official wildland fighting teams, the county does not, and has not had, an official team. Wildland Teams Official wildland fighting teams are made up of people with Red Card certification, which is a credential given to those who attend certain training and pass certain tests. There are several Red Card levels, and a firefighter can not be on a federal- or state-run fire fight without a basic Red Card certification. To receive additional wildland training and experience, a Red Card is crucial. While some in the firefighting world view Red Carded wildland resources as a sign of a professional department, others view the Red Cards as unnecessary. Sandoval County Fire Department has 18 people with Red Cards out of about 250 volunteers and some paid staff. Santa Fe County, which has 79 paid firefighters along with volunteers, has between 35 and 60 Red Card staff and has about 12 on a dedicated Black Canyon Wildland Hand Crew. Rio Rancho has 20 people and a formal Wildland Strike Team. Albuquerque Fire Department has about 700 firefighters with Red Cards, and 89 people in their Wildland Division have additional training. Bernalillo County which presides over the states most densely populated wildland area has 12 firefighters with Red Card certification, out of about 225 paid firefighters, and no official wildland name or protocol. Wildland resources with Red Cards, including firefighters and certified machines, tools and trucks, get dispatched to locations around the state and nation, and the state or federal government reimburses their agency per hour of human and apparatus used. That includes Bernalillos group. Three Bernalillo County firefighters just returned from a fire in Arizona. Benefits and costs For Chief Celaya, that fact proves the county has an official wildland team, which he prefers to call a deployment team. That little team that gets called out and gets deployed, its not an essential function to our response to wildland fires in our jurisdiction, Celaya said. Celaya emphasizes having staff with Red Cards is not necessary because all firefighters on his staff have basic wildland training so they can attack any wildland fire. And plenty of resources at neighboring departments, including state and federal agencies, are just a call away. We look at it and say we are going to commit this amount and then we work with our neighbors, Celaya said, referencing the agreements with other departments to send in backup staff and machinery. Still, Celaya said hes looking at ways to train more people in advanced wildland skills. And hes considering creating a position that would be a full-time wildland and training coordinator. But it comes down to resources, said County Commissioner Wayne Johnson. Albuquerque Fire Departments budget in 2015 was about $74 million; Bernalillo County Fire Departments was about $23 million. The reality is we have not had this big of a fire. This is the first time that Bernalillo County set up its Emergency Operation Center, and we have not historically had these big incidents, fire or otherwise, Johnson said. So how do you justify having an entire team ready to go when you dont have these types of incidents? Union VP Sanchez says that mentality is outrageous. Were the most populated county that has a giant mountain that is 200 years past a catastrophic fire and youre going to tell me you dont have money for training for firefighters who are protecting those citizens, Sanchez said. They have to find the money. Despite the concerns and budget crunch, the Forestry Divisions Brown said he isnt too worried because of the interagency cooperation. Even with those concerns, I was still pretty impressed with how the different local agencies came together and worked together and did whatever they needed to for the Dog Head Fire, he said. They (Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties) are starting to get going, I think. They are probably going in the right direction, but it probably depends on their leadership and money. Benefits of wildland fire teams For some local departments, having Red Card-certified resources, like firefighters or fire trucks, is a revenue source, said Paul Bearce, deputy chief of Rio Rancho Fire Department. In 2015: Rio Ranchos Wildland Strike Team brought in $240,624 Sandoval County, $75,000 Albuquerques department, $330,377 Santa Fe County Fire Department, $148,184. Bernalillo County, $117,725. Bearce said reimbursement payments for the Rio Ranchos wildland force helped pay for a new pump on a truck. In addition, having the specially trained teams helps our neighbors, and it gives the state a resource to pull together firefighting resources very, very quickly. LAS CRUCES A year after explosives detonated at two churches on a Sunday morning last summer, authorities still have not cracked the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation renewed its call this week for information about the Aug. 2, 2015, explosions at Calvary Baptist Church and Holy Cross Catholic Church in Las Cruces. The blasts injured no one, but authorities said at the time they believed the explosives which sent shrapnel flying and shattered one window were intended to cause harm. An explosive detonated in a mailbox at Calvary Baptist after 8 a.m. before the churchs first morning service was set to begin. Twenty minutes later across town, a device exploded in trash can outside the front entrance of Holy Cross during Mass. Nearly two weeks later on Aug. 14, authorities found an undetonated device near the entrance of First Presbyterian Church in Las Cruces. The FBI said it believes the device was placed within hours of the other two devices, either late on Aug. 1 or the early morning of Aug. 2. No piece of information is too small, said Terry Wade, special agent in charge of the FBI Albuquerque Division, in a statement. Hundreds of interviews have been conducted in the case, the FBI said. Authorities are still looking for a person of interest a man caught on videotape walking through the parking lot of Calvary Baptist around the time of the first explosion. Calvary Baptist Pastor Kevin Glenn said that his church community has practiced greater awareness since the incident. When a groundskeeper recently found a trash bag sitting by a door, he didnt pick it up and throw it away, he called the police, Glenn said. It turned out to be nothing. As far as the investigation, I just continue to encourage people, if they see something, say something, he said. It could be the most seemingly insignificant detail that can cause all the puzzle pieces to come together. The FBI is asking anyone with information to call 505-889-1300. Anonymous tips can be called in to Las Cruces Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the crimes. Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal Even at 19 inches, this years general-election ballot simply isnt long enough to accommodate publishing the entire sick-leave ordinance proposed in Albuquerque, according to the county clerks office. Thats a potential problem because the City Charter suggests the entire ordinance must go before voters, not just a summary or single-sentence question, city attorneys say. But the ballot could probably handle one or two shorter municipal questions, Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver said Tuesday, if city and county officials decide thats an option. The final decision, in any case, is up to the County Commission, and time is running out. The ballots must be printed in early September, so Toulouse Oliver is asking commissioners to decide at their Aug. 23 meeting. She is consulting with the city clerks office this week about the exact language of the questions that city officials want to have added to the ballot. The space crunch arises because city officials are asking the county to authorize at least two city questions for the general-election ballot, which is normally reserved for federal, state and county matters. The city has its own elections in odd-numbered years. A coalition calling itself Healthy Workforce ABQ is proposing an ordinance that would require employers to offer paid sick leave to their workers. They gathered enough signatures in favor of the proposal to trigger a provision in the City Charter that allows people to get legislation on the ballot directly, bypassing the City Council. But the next election is Nov. 8, and the ballot is controlled by the County Commission, not the city. Besides the sick-leave ordinance, city councilors have asked the county to consider adding one other question a proposal to increase the funding for mayoral candidates who opt into City Halls public financing system for campaigns. Neither question is short. The public-financing proposition is about 165 words, and the sick-leave ordinance is more than 2,000 words, or about seven pages. Both questions might fit on the ballot if shortening them is an option, Toulouse Oliver said. Theres disagreement over whether thats legal. City Councilor Don Harris this week broached the idea of placing just a summary of the sick-leave ordinance on the ballot and putting a copy of the entire propositions in each polling booth. But City Attorney Jessica Hernandez said the City Charter mentions placing the proposed measure on the ballot, not a summary. That suggests that the full text is required, she said, and the citys past practice has been to publish the full text. The city asked voters last year for explicit permission to publish summaries rather than the full text, but the proposal failed. County Commission Chairman Art De La Cruz, a Democrat, said the city needs to decide whether the full text or summary is needed. And councilors also need to say which question is a priority if only one of them can fit. Im not calling that shot, he said Tuesday in an interview. Commissioner Wayne Johnson, a Republican and vice chairman of the commission, said he doesnt see the sick-leave proposal having much chance to make the ballot. It wouldnt be a legal and binding question anyway because there is not space for it, he said. I just dont see it fitting in any way that would be legal under the City Charter. The ballot itself cannot be lengthened, Toulouse Oliver said. The printers used at polling places can only handle ballots up to 19 inches long, and the typeface is already down to an 8 point font. We literally cannot go up a ballot size, she told commissioners in a letter, and we would strongly discourage reducing the size of the font because it makes it very difficult to read. Supporters of the sick-leave campaign say their attorneys are reviewing the issue. SEOUL, South Korea A medium-range ballistic missile fired Wednesday by North Korea flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed near Japans territorial waters, Seoul and Tokyo officials said, one of the longest flights by a North Korean missile. The U.S. Strategic Command said North Korea fired two presumed Rodong missiles simultaneously, not just one. The command said initial indications were that one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. North Korea has recently claimed a series of technical breakthroughs in its goal of developing a long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental U.S. South Korean defense officials say North Korea doesnt yet have such a weapon, but some civilian experts believe the North has the technology to mount warheads on shorter-range Rodong and Scud missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. According to the South Korean and Japanese announcements, one suspected Rodong missile lifted off from the Norths western Hwanghae province and flew across the country before falling in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it strongly condemns the missile launch because it explicitly shows the Norths intentions of being able to launch missile attacks on South Korea and neighboring countries. Japans Defense Ministry said the missile landed inside Japans exclusive economic zone, the 200-nautical mile offshore area where a nation has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources. Japanese media reported it was the first North Korean missile that has splashed down in Japans EEZ. It imposes a serious threat to Japans security and it is an unforgivable act of violence toward Japans security, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. At the United Nations, the Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday afternoon in response to a request by the United States and Japan. The United States condemned the launches as violating U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban North Koreas use of ballistic missile technology. This provocation only serves to increase the international communitys resolve to counter (North Koreas) prohibited activities, including through implementing existing U.N. Security Council sanctions, said Navy Cmdr. Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the launches, saying North Korea should immediately cease and abandon all its existing nuclear and ballistic missile activities in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner and refrain from any further provocative actions. North Korea has previously fired Rodong and other missiles into the sea, but South Korean analysts say Wednesdays 1,000-kilometer flight was one of the longest for a North Korean test. Several other North Korean rockets have gone farther and even over Japan. But North Korea called them satellite launches while Washington, Seoul and Tokyo said they were disguised tests of missile technology. After several failures, the North put its first satellite into space aboard a long-range rocket in December 2012, and conducted another successful satellite launch in February. In June, North Korea, after a string of failures, sent another type of mid-range missile known as Musudan more than 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) high. Analysts said the high-altitude flight meant North Korea had made progress in its push to be able to strike U.S. forces throughout the region. North Korea routinely conducts weapons tests, but the latest launch came after North Korea warned of unspecified physical counter-actions against a U.S. plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, according to Seoul defense officials. The Norths state media later confirmed that it fired ballistic rockets carrying trigger devices for nuclear warheads as part of simulated pre-emptive atomic attacks on South Korea. Analyst Kim Dong-yub at Seouls Institute for Far East Studies said the latest Rodong launch appeared to be aimed at showing an ability to attack U.S. military bases in Japan, a major source of reinforcements for U.S. troops should a war break out on the Korean Peninsula. Hyon Kwang Il, director of the scientific research department at the Norths National Aerospace Development Administration, told The Associated Press last week that Pyongyangs military had mastered the main and core techniques in long-range ballistic missile technology, including the starter engine technology, how to separate the different stages, guidance control techniques and re-entry and its all ready to be operational. North Korea is known to have an arsenal of estimated 300 Rodong missiles whose maximum range is 1,300 kilometers (800 miles). A Rodong fired in March flew about 800 kilometers (500 miles) while two other Rodongs launched in 2014 flew about 650 kilometers (400 miles). North Korea is expected to carry out more weapons launches in coming weeks to protest annual U.S.-South Korean military drills that begin later this month. North Korea describes the drills as an invasion rehearsal. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea and tens of thousands of more in Japan. ___ Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, Eric Talmadge and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, John-Thor Dahlburg in Brussels, and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. SANTA FE A progressive nonprofit organization has filed a complaint against Republican state Rep. Paul Pacheco, alleging the two-term Albuquerque lawmaker failed to disclose his brothers connection to a Rio Rancho charter school that in recent years received thousands of dollars in state infrastructure funds. However, Pacheco insisted Tuesday that he did nothing wrong, saying his support for the ASK Academy was not driven by his brothers involvement as a contract architect in renovations and a new campus for the school. He also said the amount of capital outlay funding he ultimately earmarked for the school was $81,000 over a three-year period, not $1.2 million as alleged in the complaint by ProgressNow New Mexico. At no time did I give money to the ASK Academy because of my brother, Pacheco told the Journal . I did it because I am a big supporter of the school. ProgressNow New Mexico filed the complaint with Attorney General Hector Balderas office on Monday, roughly three months before the Nov. 8 general election. Pacheco is seeking re-election this year and is opposed by Democrat Daymon Ely. In the complaint, Pat Davis, the groups executive director, urged the AGs Office to investigate Pachecos actions and said the legislator may have violated the states Governmental Conduct Act, as well as various House rules. Despite a state law that appears to restrict state construction contracts when a legislators family is involved, We could not find a single instance where Paul Pacheco ever told the public that his brother and his familys firm would benefit from his discretionary act, said Davis, who is also an Albuquerque city councilor. In response, Pacheco said he did not know his brother, David Pacheco, had done work for ASK Academy until early 2014, when he was informed of the connection by a school administrator. He said he made no secret of his brothers involvement after that point and would have disclosed the information if such a form existed for state capital outlay, or public works projects. There is nothing nefarious to what Ive done, Pacheco said. New Mexicos capital outlay system has been criticized in recent years for being politically driven and inefficient. Lawmakers are typically allocated a certain amount of money to divvy up annually for projects, though their final earmarks do not have to be publicly disclosed. Connie Dove, ASK Academys director of advancement, said the school has received a total of $320,000 in capital outlay money over the past three years, with Pacheco among several legislators who have contributed funding. The academy, a charter school for middle and high school students that emphasizes a science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum, opened its new 38,950-square-foot campus in Rio Rancho in February. Meanwhile, James Hallinan, a spokesman for the AGs Office, confirmed Tuesday that the office had received the complaint regarding Pacheco. The matter is under review, Hallinan said. All complaints received by the Office of the Attorney General are fully reviewed, and appropriate action is taken. PHOENIX Lawyers representing state and national Democratic groups opposed to a new Arizona law outlawing collection of early ballots by get-out-the-vote groups urged a federal judge Wednesday to block it from going into effect. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas L. Rayes heard nearly two hours of arguments Wednesday for and against the Democrats request for an injunction blocking the law from taking effect. He said hell rule later on the request. The law makes it a felony to return someone elses ballot to election officials in most cases. Republicans pushed House Bill 2023 through the Legislature earlier this year, arguing that so-called ballot harvesting can lead to election fraud. Gov. Doug Ducey signed it into law in early March, saying it will ensure a chain of custody between the voter and the ballot box. We join 18 other states in this common sense approach to maintaining the integrity of our elections, Ducey said in a statement. Attorneys for the state argue the new law ensures the integrity of elections and calls it a reasonable step to prevent voting fraud. The state Republican Party has joined the defense. The lawsuit filed by the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, state Democratic Party and numerous voters alleges the law violates the Voting Rights Act. They say in their request to block the law that it severely burdens the rights to vote and to associate; burdens minority voters disproportionately for reasons linked to the ongoing effects of Arizonas lengthy history of discrimination; does not further any legitimate state interest; and was enacted for the purpose of suppressing turnout among Democratic voters. Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Secretary of State Michele Reagan say thats not the case. Plaintiffs have not shown the discriminatory impact or severe burden necessary to succeed on their claims, relying on speculation rather than demonstrable harm, they wrote in court filings. And plaintiffs ignore Arizonas compelling interest in ensuring the integrity of elections and refuse to acknowledge the reasonable steps taken in HB2023 to ensure the integrity of the early voting process_a process that has played an ever-increasing role in Arizonas elections. Both parties use ballot collection to boost turnout during elections by going door-to-door and asking voters if they have completed their mail-in ballot. If they have not, they urge them to do so and offer to return it to elections offices. Democrats have used the method aggressively in minority communities and argue their success prompted the new GOP-sponsored law. Regardless of the new law, the top election official in the states largest county said this week she has no plans to try to enforce the law. If somebody brings in ballots, theres box there for them to put the ballots in, Maricopa County recorder Helen Purcell said. Were going to process that ballot just like we process any ballot. We are not the police, she said. LAS CRUCES The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, on the campus of New Mexico State University, is the newest medical school in the United States and is welcoming its first class of 162 students at 10 a.m. Aug. 13 at the Las Cruces Convention Center. The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of initiation at most U.S. medical schools where students receive the sacred uniform of the physician and are welcomed into the world of medicine, according to a BCOM news release. BCOM opens this fall in an 80,000-square-foot facility at NMSU. When BCOMs inaugural class graduates in 2020, it will increase the number of new physicians graduating in New Mexico by more than 200 percent, the release stated. The keynote speaker at the White Coat Ceremony is Dr. Antonia Novello, 14th surgeon general of the United States and the first female and first Hispanic surgeon general. Other dignitaries making remarks include BCOM President John Hummer, BCOM founding dean and Chief Academic Officer Dr. George Mychaskiw, NMSU President Garrey Carruthers and New Mexico Secretary for Economic Development Jon Barela. At the ceremony, the Osteopathic Medical Oath, similar to the Hippocratic Oath, will be administered in English, Spanish and Navajo. More than 1,400 spectators have RSVPd to attend. It will also be webcast live, recorded and archived, the release stated. 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. _____ ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. New Mexico is getting $400,000 from the federal government to battle the Zika virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the money will be used to help detect and treat microcephaly, an often-fatal condition in infants linked to Zika. The money also will help ensure affected infants and their families are referred to appropriate health and social services and enable New Mexico to monitor over time the health and developmental outcomes of children affected. Zika virus spreads to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, but it can also be spread by infected men and women to their sex partners. Zika infections in pregnant women can cause severe brain-related birth defects. The New Mexico Department of Health says a species of mosquito that can transmit Zika virus was found in Roosevelt County. LOS ANGELES The brother of JonBenet Ramsey will publicly discuss his younger sisters death for the first time in an interview to be broadcast on Dr. Phil next month. Burke Ramsey was 9 years old when his 6-year-old sister was found dead in the basement of the familys Boulder, Colorado, home on Dec. 26, 1996. Public suspicion immediately focused on the girls parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and Burke. In 2008, the three were officially cleared by prosecutors who said that DNA found on the girls underwear didnt match anyone in the family. In announcing the appearance, the Dr. Phil show says the now 29-year-old Burke will reveal what he knows about JonBenets death. The interview is set to air over three programs beginning Sept. 12. ___ This story has been corrected to show the mothers name is Patsy, not Patty. SANTA FE The news that a privately run prison in northwestern New Mexico that employs about 300 staffers will close at the end of September was the latest body blow to a region still staggered by recent mine layoffs. The Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan, which houses about 1,200 minimum-security male inmates, received notification this week that its contract will not be renewed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Traci Quintana, a spokeswoman for the prison, said Wednesday that employees are being given the option of transferring to other prisons run by the Corrections Corporation of America, a private company. But Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, said many of the workers have families and other ties to the area and may not want to pack up and leave. He said news of the prisons closure largely came as a surprise. I dont think anyone knew anything until the employees found out Monday, Munoz said. Although the Cibola County Correctional Center is part of the federal prison system, a top-ranking official with the state Corrections Department said the agency is open to hiring at least some of the prisons employees and possibly using the facility to house state-level inmates. However, Alex Tomlin, a deputy secretary for the Corrections Department, said making that happen could be tricky given a state budget crunch thats already prompted spending cuts. We certainly need space, but we have to be responsible because were on the taxpayers dime, Tomlin said Wednesday. A recent report by the New Mexico Sentencing Commission projected the states inmate population will increase in coming years its expected to hit 7,561 in the current budget year and state-run prisons are already at 97 percent capacity, Tomlin said. In addition to the privately run prison in Milan, there are already two other nearby prisons the state-run Western New Mexico Correctional Facility and the privately run New Mexico Womens Correctional Facility, both in the Grants area. Meanwhile, Munoz and Sen. Clemente Sanchez, D-Grants, said Wednesday that they plan to host a town hall meeting in the next few weeks for families affected by the facilitys pending closure. Sen. Sanchez and I are exploring every option to help find employment for the 300 people who will be impacted by the sudden announcement that the Milan facility will be closed, Munoz said. Inmates at the Milan prison will be transferred to other prisons, a process that has already started, Quintana said. It was unclear Wednesday how many of the 1,200 inmates might be New Mexico residents. The Cibola County Correctional Center has been operated by the CCA since 1998. An Albuquerque man is among 214 people selected for prison sentence reductions by President Barack Obama. Jose Carlos Arras Jr. was sentenced in 2002 to more than 21 years in prison for importing and intending to sell more than 220 pounds of marijuana, according to a news release from the White House issued this morning. According to the release, most of the inmates sentences will conclude on December 1. The sweeping commutations target mostly drug offenders serving lengthy prison sentences. A commutation, which is a reduction or ending of a punishment, is different from a pardon, which also erases the conviction. Here is the complete list of prisoners receiving commutation: Timothy Adams Hartsville, SCOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine base (crack); Middle District of North Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 2, 1995) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Asher Adkins Columbia City, INOffense: Distribution of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting (two counts); distribution of methamphetamine (three counts); use or carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime (two counts); distribution of more than 100 grams of methamphetamine (two counts); Northern District of Indiana Sentence: 624 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (January 3, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jamonte L. Allison Carbondale, ILOffense: Conspiracy to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine; Southern District of Illinois Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $500 fine (September 6, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Joe Alvarado Ogden, UTOffense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (two counts); possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted a felon; District of Utah Sentence: Life imprisonment (October 13, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Tyrell L. Anthony Kershaw, SCOffense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack cocaine); willfully failing to appear; District of South Carolina Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 28, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Reinaldo A. Arocho Lake Station, INOffense: Drug conspiracy; maintaining a drug house; distribution of crack cocaine; carrying a firearm during drug trafficking; attempting to corruptly persuade a witness; Northern District of Indiana Sentence: 387 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 19, 2000); amended to 300 months imprisonment (January 18, 2011) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jose Carlos Arras, Jr. Albuquerque, NMOffense: 1. Conspiracy to import; conspiracy to wit: possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms and more of marijuana; District of New Mexico 2. Supervised release violation (Importation of a quantity of marijuana); Western District of Texas Sentence: 1. 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (November 4, 2002) 2. 10 months imprisonment (consecutive) (November 4, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Sidney J. Ball Lenox, GAOffense: Possession with intent to distribute 12.04 kilograms of cocaine; Southern District of Texas Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 30, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Lloyd Battles Columbia, SCOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; Southern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (December 6, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. David Bell Miami, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (three counts); Southern District of Florida Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (February 12, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Pauline K. Blake West Valley City, UTOffense: Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; conspiracy or attempt to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); establishment of a manufacture operation; possession of a listed chemical (two counts); District of Utah Sentence: 210 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $2,000 restitution (January 7, 2002); amended to 292 months imprisonment (January 27, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Deborah Lucille Blue Alcoa, TNOffense: 1. Distribution of cocaine base (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee 2. Supervised release violation (distribution of cocaine hydrochloride); Eastern District of Tennessee Sentence: 1. 292 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (February 23, 2007); amended to 234 months imprisonment (May 16, 2014) 2. 3 months imprisonment (consecutive) (February 23, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Marston Edward Blue District Heights, MDOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute heroin and cocaine; felon in possession of firearm; possess with intent to distribute heroin, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 25, 2002 (on remand)) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Lucius Boswell Madison, GAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); Middle District of Georgia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 5, 1997) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Joshua Boyer Tampa, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; possession of a firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 288 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (November 27, 2001) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Debra R. Brown Nashville, TNOffense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base to a person under 21; Middle District of Tennessee Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 18, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Eddie Lee Brown Brunswick, GAOffense: Distribution of cocaine hydrochloride (two counts); Southern District of Georgia Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; six years supervised release (June 12, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Patrick A. Brown Alexandria, VAOffense: Felon in possession of a firearm, aiding and abetting (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment; three years supervised release (August 8, 1997) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Timothy Aaron Brown Warren, OHOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Central District of Illinois Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 3, 2009) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jose Luis Buenrostro Stockton, CAOffense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; Eastern District of California Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 8, 1997) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Barry Charles Butler Shelby, NCOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (March 30, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months imprisonment. Charles Bynum Torrance, CAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; Northern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (May 27, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Annette Maria Canania DeSoto, MOOffense: Conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine; possession of pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (December 22, 2006); amended to 210 months imprisonment (April 27, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jose Manuel Candelario Miami, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute Schedule II (crack cocaine) controlled substance; possess with intent to distribute Schedule II (crack cocaine) controlled substance; Southern District of Alabama Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (April 21, 1994); amended to 360 months imprisonment (May 17, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Ralph Casas North Miami Beach, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 9,445 kilograms of cocaine; District of Puerto Rico Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (April 19, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 292 months imprisonment. Willie Chester Waco, TXOffense: Possession of a firearm by felon; false statement in acquisition of firearm; Western District of Texas Sentence: 264 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $3,000 fine (March 26, 1992) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Donyelle Childs Clearwater, FLOffense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (January 12, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment. Kenneth Choice Chicago, ILOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver narcotics; possession with intent to deliver narcotics; Northern District of Illinois Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (September 24, 1999); amended to life imprisonment; eight years supervised release (June 9, 2004); amended to 324 months imprisonment (February 1, 2016) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Osvaldo Cisneros-Gutierrez Earlimart, CAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of methamphetamine; Northern District of Texas Sentence: 292 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (October 13, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 228 months imprisonment. Mark Anthony Clark Rockford, ILOffense: Conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute amphetamine; possession of a firearm by a felon/fugitive from justice and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; six years supervised release (September 1, 1995) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Antonio Cobb Bloomington, ILOffense: Distribution of cocaine base; Central District of Illinois Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (February 28, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months imprisonment. Jimmie Clyde Collins Joshua, TXOffense: Conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute; possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting; using a drug involved premises and aiding and abetting; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Texas Sentence: 370 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (February 11, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Dewayne L. Comer Syracuse, NYOffense: Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise; conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base (two counts); possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of New York Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (December 8, 1997) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jason Andrew Comer Weyers Cave, VAOffense: Aid and abet in the possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (October 23, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Delaria Antwan Conway Laurens, SCOffense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine and a quantity of cocaine (two counts); District of South Carolina Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (December 17, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Eugene Ross Cousins Greenville, VAOffense: Distribution of methamphetamine (two counts); possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (two counts); drug user in possession of firearm (two counts); Western District of Virginia Sentence: 406 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (August 8, 2007); amended to 397 months imprisonment (April 4, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Lavon A. Crockett Kansas City, KSOffense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base (crack cocaine); District of Kansas Sentence: 188 months imprisonment; four years supervised release (December 6, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Darnell Crookshank West Covina, CAOffense: Conspiracy to manufacture phencyclidine; manufacture with intent to distribute phencyclidine, aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine; Central District of California Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Dawan Croskery Buffalo, NYOffense: Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise; money laundering; Western District of New York Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (December 16, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Andrew Crumbly Fort Myers, FLOffense: Possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of cocaine base, crack cocaine (three counts); Middle District of Florida Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; six years supervised release (February 14, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Morris Dabbs Trenton, NJOffense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (crack); Middle District of North Carolina Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (February 29, 2000); amended to 291 months imprisonment (August 2, 2011); amended to 240 months imprisonment (October 6, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Ricky Darden Kinston, NCOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 16, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Lenwood Davies Wabasso, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Florida Sentence: 180 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (November 15, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Richard Lawrence Davis St. Louis, MOOffense: 1. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri 2. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 1. 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 15, 2004) 2. 93 months imprisonment (concurrent) (March 4, 2005); amended to 75 months imprisonment (November 18, 2011) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Terry Davis Monroe, LAOffense: Distribution of cocaine base; Western District of Arkansas Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 8, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Christopher M. Dees Pensacola, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $1,000 fine (September 1, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jose Del Valle Philadelphia, PAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and aiding and abetting; Eastern District of Pennsylvania Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 7, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Maynard Dennis Liverpool, NYOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Northern District of New York Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (September 7, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Bobbie Jo Diers Romeoville, ILOffense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); Central District of Illinois Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 12, 2010) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. James J. Dino Upper Tumon, GUOffense: 1. Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; District of Guam 2. Supervised release violation (possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine); District of Guam Sentence: 1. 240 months imprisonment;10 years supervised release (October 19, 2006) 2. 60 months imprisonment (concurrent) (October 19, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 193 months imprisonment. Scottie Ladon Dixon Atmore, ALOffense: 1. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; 2. Violation of supervised release (conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine); 1. Southern District of Alabama; 2. Southern District of Alabama Sentence: 1. Life imprisonment; 2. 33 months imprisonment (concurent); 1. 10 years supervised release (1. & 2. May 18, 2010) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 221 months imprisonment. Thomas Duncan Columbia, TNOffense: Possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of five grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute; Eastern District of Tennessee Sentence: 352 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (September 23, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Vincent Duval Bradenton, FLOffense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (October 28, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. William Ennis El Paso, TXOffense: Conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, to wit: cocaine more than five kilograms; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, to wit: cocaine more than five kilograms; using a communication device to facilitate the commission of a felony; Western District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $5,000 fine (July 17, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Kenneth Evans Fort Worth, TXOffense: Conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base and aiding and abetting; use and carry firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment plus 60 months; five years supervised release (August 20, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Ronald Evans Norfolk, VAOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and a mixture containing cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute heroin (three counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing cocaine base (two counts); Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (July 30, 1993); amended to 360 months imprisonment (March 16, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Ronald Evans New York, NYOffense: 1. Possession with intent to distribute in excess of five grams of cocaine base; District of Maine 2. Supervised release violation (possession with intent to distribute cocaine base); District of Maine Sentence: 1. 270 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (August 13, 2003) 2. 12 months imprisonment (concurrent) (August 13, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. James Oliver Fambro Decatur, GAOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense; Northern District of Florida Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release, $500 fine (April 5, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. J. B. Farris, Jr. Atlanta, GAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Georgia Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 26, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Corey Ferguson Bowling Green, KYOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; distribution of cocaine, aiding and abetting; Western District of Kentucky Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (May 5, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 202 months imprisonment. Alejandro Flores Mission, TXOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; traveling in interstate commerce to facilitate a criminal activity; Northern District of Georgia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 10, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Raul Camargo Flores Lubbock, TXOffense: Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas Sentence: 292 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (February 7, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Felix Monroe Fort Birmingham, ALOffense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of Alabama Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; four years supervised release (November 18, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months imprisonment. Raymond Fox New York, NYOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Southern District of New York Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 2, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Charles Franklin St. Louis, MOOffense: Possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of cocaine base (crack); possession with the intent to distribute heroin; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 7, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Cleveland R. Franklin, Jr. Indianapolis, INOffense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing cocaine base; carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Southern District of Indiana Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $1,000 fine (November 17, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Michael L. Franklin Kansas City, MOOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Western District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 3, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Toddrick Onterio Franklin St. Petersburg, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm in and affecting interstate commerce; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 120 months supervised release (March 21, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. William Anthony Freeman Detroit, MIOffense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; Eastern District of Michigan Sentence: 480 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (December 14, 1990) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Thomas R. Fuller Kansas City, MOOffense: Conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; aiding and abetting to distribute crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; Western District of Missouri Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 7, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. John Nicholas Gargano Folcroft, PAOffense: 1. Conspiracy to distribute methylenedioxymethamphetamine and ketamine; distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distributing and possessing with intent to distribute ecstasy; Southern District of New York 2. Conspiracy to commit identification fraud and credit card fraud; unauthorized use of access devices; Southern District of New York 3. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine; District of New Jersey Sentence: 1. 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 30, 2004) 2. 10 years imprisonment (concurrent); three years supervised release; $212,379.38 restitution (November 30, 2004) 3. 100 months imprisonment (concurrent); five years supervised release (September 8, 2010) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Enrique Garza Zolfo Springs, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; attempt to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 480 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jesse James Gentry Grand Prairie, TXOffense: Possession of more than 50 grams of crack cocaine with intent to distribute; Northern District of Texas Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (February 3, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Bernard Gibson, Sr. Temple Hills, MDOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled drug substances: heroin and cocaine; District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 15, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Steve P. Gillespie Greeneville, TNOffense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (August 16, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Derrick Glass Youngstown, OHOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (March 14, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Fred M. Glover Washington, DCOffense: Unlawful distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base; unlawful distribution of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school (three counts); unlawful distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (two counts); District of Columbia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (October 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Will A. Goines, Jr. Chicago, ILOffense: Distribution of cocaine base (crack) (three counts); Central District of Illinois Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 14, 2010) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 120 months imprisonment. Michael Goldsby Cleveland, OHOffense: Possession with intent to distribute 5.88 grams of cocaine base; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: 383 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (November 19, 1997); amended to 360 months imprisonment (August 31, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Ramon Gonzalez San Juan, TXOffense: Conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute 4506.65, kilograms of marijuana; possession with intent to distribute 4506.65 kilograms of marijuana; Southern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; life term supervised release (January 20, 2009) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Edgar Gonzalez-Valentin Mayaguez, PROffense: Conspiracy to import cocaine, aiding and abetting; importation of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of firearm in relation to drug trafficking crime (two counts); District of Puerto Rico Sentence: 595 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (July 10, 1992); amended to 511 months imprisonment (August 19, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Christopher Green Waycross, GAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine hydrochloride and crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine (two counts); Southern District of Georgia Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 23, 1997) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Randy P. Green Sikeston, MOOffense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 7, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Samuel Grooms Clinton Township, MIOffense: Conspiracy with intent to distribute heroin; attempted possession with intent to distribute heroin; Eastern District of Michigan Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (May 23, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Steven C. Hall Gonzales, LAOffense: 1. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base; Middle District of Louisiana 2. Supervised release violation (conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base); Middle District of Louisiana Sentence: 1. 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 22, 2005) 2. 45 months imprisonment (consecutive) (February 16, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Stephen Ramont Hardridge Tulsa, OKOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine and 50 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; Northern District of Oklahoma Sentence: 292 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $10,000 fine (November 25, 2002 (on remand)); amended to 240 months imprisonment (June 10, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of the $10,000 fine remitted. Steven R. Hardy Tampa, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base; Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 14, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Donella Marie Harriel Stuart, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; District of South Carolina Sentence: 264 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (March 17, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment and 10-year term of supervised release commuted to a four-year term of supervised release. Benjamin Harris Dallas, TXOffense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute MDMA, cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Louisiana Sentence: 226 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (February 23, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months imprisonment. Christopher J. Heath Ridgway, ILOffense: Conspiracy to manufacture more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; Southern District of Illinois Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $500 fine (February 24, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Wilson Henderson Hollywood, FLOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (incorrectly listed on the judgment as cocaine); use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Southern District of Georgia Sentence: Life plus 60 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 20, 1992) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. John A. Hill Cleveland, OHOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: Life imprisonment (July 16, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Robert Hill Washington, DCOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (three counts); Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: 480 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 20, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Marcell Hogans St. Louis, MOOffense: Distribution of cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 168 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (August 21, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Kenneth Bronson Hughes Charlotte Court House, VAOffense: Conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base; possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 334 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (September 3, 2003); amended to 272 months imprisonment (September 2, 2008); amended to 218 months imprisonment (March 4, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Deangelo Hunt Richmond, VAOffense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: 180 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (February 1, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Courtney D. Hurt Tamms, ILOffense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; Southern District of Illinois Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release; $1,000 fine (July 25, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, and unpaid balance of $1,000 fine remitted, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Alfonzo Ingram Rowlett, TXOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of Illinois Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $1,000 fine (June 16, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment. Anthonial Irick Cameron, SCOffense: Possession with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Georgia Sentence: 180 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (May 18, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Albert Jackson Mount Vernon, ILOffense: 1. Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; distribution of cocaine; 2. Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine; Central District of Illinois Sentence: 1. 262 months imprisonment; 2. 480 months imprisonment (consecutive); 1. 10 years supervised release; 2. eight years supervised release (1. August 19, 1991; 2. November 7, 1994) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Dickey Joe Jackson Boyd, TXOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (two counts); felon in possession of a firearm; possession of an unregistered firearm (two counts); Northern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (May 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Elmer Jackson Bushnell, FLOffense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base (four counts); Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (December 19, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months imprisonment. Eugene Ernst Jackson Baltimore, MDOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics; distribution and possession with narcotics, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 19, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Tommy Merrel Jackson Boyd, TXOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Northern District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (May 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Tyrand James Youngstown, OHOffense: Distribution of cocaine (two counts); distribution of cocaine base; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (March 16, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Bernard Jennings Vero Beach, FLOffense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base (three counts); Southern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 12, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Douglas George Jensen Whitefish, MTOffense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; District of Montana Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (February 24, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Derrick Anthony Johnson Richmond, VAOffense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; as principle or aider and abettor, possessed with intent to distribute cocaine base; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 17, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Frederico Johnson Kansas City, MOOffense: Distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Missouri Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (July 23, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment. Matthew Troy Johnson Baltimore, MDOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (November 12, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Walter Lee Johnson Shreveport, LAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Louisiana Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 14, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Arnold Ray Jones Lubbock, TXOffense: Distribution of less than 50 grams of cocaine base and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; four years supervised release (November 22, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jeffrey Lynn Jones Eugene, OROffense: Manufacturing methamphetamine; conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; District of Oregon Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (November 3, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Vernon Jones Evansville, INOffense: Possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base (mixture); distribution of cocaine base (mixture) (two counts); Southern District of Indiana Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (June 9, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Albert J. Josey, Jr. Sayreville, NJOffense: Possession of 50 grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $1,000 fine (October 3, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of the $1,000 fine remitted. Keldren Joshua Los Angeles, CAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance; Central District of California Sentence: 188 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (August 21, 2006); amended to 168 months imprisonment (November 10, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Cory Baker Kamerud Aberdeen, SDOffense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Northern District of Iowa Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (May 7, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Charceil Kellam Berryville, VAOffense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base; distribute more than 5 grams of cocaine base; Western District of Virginia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 24, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 160 months imprisonment. Kenneth Lee Kelley Westville, OKOffense: Felon in possession of firearm after former conviction (two counts); possession of stolen firearm; attempt to manufacture methamphetamine (three counts); possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of methamphetamine; possesssion of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Oklahoma Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (April 27, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Milton Kemp Jewell, GAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute crack cocaine; distribution of crack cocaine; Southern District of Georgia Sentence: 280 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 19, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Joseph Willie Kennedy Randallstown, MDOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 14, 1992) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Delinege King Houston, TXOffense: Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base; Eastern District of Louisiana Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 27, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Vince Cordell King Detroit, MIOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); using or carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; Eastern District of Michigan Sentence: Life plus five years imprisonment; eight years supervised release (May 21, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Kent Edward Kiser Manassas, VAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: 270 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (March 10, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment. James LaRon Knight Jonesboro, GAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; Southern District of Alabama Sentence: 292 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (November 23, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Derrick Tyrone Lamb Fort Pierce, FLOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Southern District of Florida Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (March 3, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 151 months imprisonment. Charlie Lawuary Springfield, ILOffense: Possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute; Central District of Illinois Sentence: Life imprisonment; eight years supervised release (July 27, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Josephine Ledezma Rialto, CAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance (cocaine); being aided and abetted by others, did unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally possess and cause to be possessed, with intent to distribute, a Schedule II controlled substance (cocaine); Western District of Tennessee Sentence: Life imprisonment (October 30, 1992) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. James Allen Ledford Auburndale, FLOffense: Possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 16, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 235 months imprisonment. Eric L. Lemon St. Petersburg, FLOffense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 188 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 6, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Gregory Allen Liningham Los Angeles, CAOffense: Possession of more than 50 grams of crack cocaine with intent to distribute; Western District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $3,000 fine (December 1, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Antonio Lopez Grand Prairie, TXOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Eastern District of Texas Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (October 26, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jeffrey Lundin Livingston, TXOffense: Conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States; conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine while aboard a United States vessel; Southern District of Florida Sentence: 324 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (September 15, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Edwin M. Mack Fort Myers, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base, crack cocaine; distribution of a quantity of cocaine base, crack cocaine (two counts); possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, crack cocaine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of an unregistered firearm (incorrectly listed on the judgment as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon); Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 1, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Alonzo Mackins, Jr. Charlotte, NCOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine, cocaine base, heroin, and marijuana; conspiracy to commit money laundering; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (October 8, 1999); amended to 360 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (August 14, 2006); amended to life imprisonment (September 2, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Alberto Maisonet Philadelphia, PAOffense: Distribution of cocaine base (two counts); distribution of cocaine (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine; illegal use of a communication facility (four counts); Eastern District of Pennsylvania Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (February 23, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Sheldon Paul Mangiapane Hot Springs, AROffense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 13, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Tommy M. Martinez Sparta, ILOffense: Conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; distribution of crack cocaine; Southern District of Illinois Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release; $4,000 fine (April 7, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of the $4,000 fine remitted. Robert L. Matthews Memphis, TNOffense: 1. Distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Northern District of Mississippi 2. Supervised release violation (possession with intent to distribute cocaine base); Western District of Tennessee Sentence: 1. 280 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (June 13, 1997) 2. 15 months imprisonment (consecutive) (September 30, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. James A. McGee Chidester, AROffense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture methamphetamine (three counts); Southern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (April 4, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Artis Sangria McGraw Saluda, SCOffense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; use of fiream during and in relation to a crime of violence; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm with obliterated serial numbers; District of South Carolina Sentence: 270 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (September 30, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Reba L. McIntyre Hayti, MOOffense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (June 26, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Torey A. McKay Wesley Chapel, FLOffense: Possession with intent to distribute and distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (two counts); possession with intent to distribute and distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribute a quantity of cocaine; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (March 29, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Rudolph McKinnon, Jr. Fort Walton Beach, FLOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Florida Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $1,000 fine (October 26, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. John Anthony Mickens Louisa, VAOffense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 211 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (June 25, 2007); amended to 181 months imprisonment (October 21, 2008); amended to 180 months imprisonment (October 14, 2011) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. David Dean Millard Grimes, IAOffense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; use of communication facility to distribute methamphetamine (two counts); Southern District of Iowa Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (October 10, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Titus Jerrard Mobley Groveland, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; Middle District of Florida Sentence: 210 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (June 23, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Tyrone Montgomery Lexington, KYOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of Kentucky Sentence: 288 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 27, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 209 months imprisonment. Ronald Perry Moon Commerce, GAOffense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Northern District of Georgia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $2,000 fine (February 10, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of $2,000 fine remitted. Martin Brandon Moore Fort Lauderdale, FLOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base and more than 5 kilograms of a mixture and substance containing cocaine; principal to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and more than 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; Northern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (May 30, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months imprisonment. Michael L. Moore Mount Vernon, NYOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine; distribution of five kilograms or more of cocaine; Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (June 5, 1998); amended to 292 months imprisonment (October 27, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Amir Morgan Evansville, INOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine (mixture); Southern District of Indiana Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (December 19, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 1, 2017. Lucille Mae Morse Billings, MTOffense: Distribution/possession with intent to distribute heroin/methamphetamine (two counts); possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (six counts); District of Montana Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (November 29, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Luciano Murga Houston, TXOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana; Northern District of Florida Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $800 fine (January 25, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Robert Earl Nettles Fort Pierce, FLOffense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Florida Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (January 22, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Linton C. Nichols Cleveland, OHOffense: Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack); possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Nothern District of Ohio Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 15, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Robert Lee Nickles Mobile, ALOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; Southern District of Alabama Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 27, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Hilario Nieto, III San Antonio, TXOffense: 1. Possession with intent to distribute heroin; Western District of Texas 2. Distribution of a controlled substance, heroin; Western District of Texas Sentence: 1. 188 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (Feburary 5, 2004) 2. 188 months imprisonment (60 months consecutive to above offense, the remainder concurrent); three years supervised release (August 9, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Francisco Olivera Modesto, CAOffense: 1. Use of a communication facility in the commission of a drug offense; Eastern District of California 2. Conspiracy to manufacture and to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute; attempted manufacture of methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; possession of a listed chemical knowing that it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; Eastern District of California Sentence: 1. 48 months imprisonment; 12 months supervised release (March 16, 1998) 2. 324 months imprisonment (consecutive); 36 months supervised release (November 3, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 288 months imprisonment. Kenyatta ONeil San Antonio, TXOffense: Distribution of cocaine base (two counts); Western District of Texas Sentence: 188 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (March 30, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Candido Ortiz-Martinez Pagedale, MOOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime (two counts); distribution of cocaine; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 592 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (December 12, 1991); amended to 535 months imprisonment (March 30, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Lonnie Dwayne Payne St. Louis, MOOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; interstate transportation of a firearm by a felon; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 324 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 25, 2003); amended to 240 months imprisonment (April 21, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jeremy Payton Winnfield , LAOffense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Louisiana Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 8, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Erenio C. Perez Colorado Springs, COOffense: Conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting the manufacture in excess of one kilogram of methamphetamine; possession and aiding and abetting the possession of ephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); possession and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (two counts); District of Colorado Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 19, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Sharon Price Nacogdoches, TXOffense: Conspiracy to commit money laundering; Western District of Texas Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; three years supervised release; $20,000 fine (June 6, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of the $20,000 fine remitted. Thomas Jefferson Price, III Kernersville, NCOffense: Conspiracy: possess with intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine; possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine (three counts); Middle District of North Carolina Sentence: 330 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (May 24, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jack Dewhan Randolph Charlotte, NCOffense: Possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting the same (two counts); Western District of North Carolina Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; three years supervised release (November 29, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Evans Ray, Jr. Fort Washington, MDOffense: Distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine, aiding and abetting; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland Sentence: 324 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (May 7, 2007); amended to life imprisonment (May 15, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Keith Ray Minneapolis, MNOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; Northern District of Illinois Sentence: 263 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $2,500 fine (April 17, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Richard D. Reid Wilmington, DEOffense: Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (five counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a cocaine base (crack); possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession of crack cocaine; possession of marijuana; District of Delaware Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 4, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Ricardo Renteria Irving, TXOffense: 1. Conspiracy to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine; Western District of Texas 2. Conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine; Eastern District of Texas Sentence: 1. 235 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $1,000 fine (August 22, 2007); amended to 188 months imprisonment (August 24, 2015) 2. 135 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (October 8, 2008); amended to 108 months imprisonment (November 13, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months imprisonment. Richard L. Reser Sedgwick, KSOffense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of firearm while trafficking in drugs (two counts); possession of a firearm by a felon; distribution of methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; District of Kansas Sentence: 480 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (December 20, 1989) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Samuel Reyes Coral Springs, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute detectable amount of cocaine; Southern District of Florida Sentence: 210 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (November 24, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Broderick Richardson Louisville, KYOffense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Western District of Kentucky Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 27, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. William C. Robertson, Sr. New Orleans, LAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of Florida Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $1,000 fine (November 8, 2001) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Derwlyn Rosborough Lake View Terrace, CAOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; District of Wyoming Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; five years supervised release, $2,000 fine (December 5, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Thomas R. Ross Fairfield, CAOffense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute pseudoephedrine with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that it would be used to manufacture a controlled substance; distribution of pseudoephedrine with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe it would be used to manufacture a controlled substance and aiding and abetting; Eastern District of California Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (April 26, 2001) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on September 2, 2016. Jerome Rowser Birmingham, ALOffense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of firearms; Northern District of Alabama Sentence: Life plus 60 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 19, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Alphonso P. Rubalcava Rock Island, ILOffense: Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; Central District of Illinois Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 19, 2002); amended to 327 months imprisonment (June 22, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Breon Montez Sanders Wilmington, NCOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack) and five kilograms of cocaine; Eastern District of North Carolina Sentence: 295 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (August 17, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Michael Sandmeyer Rockford, IAOffense: Possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) after having previously been convicted of a felony drug offense; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Iowa Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 22, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Kelvin Jerome Shears, Jr. Rock Island, ILOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Southern District of Iowa Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (April 23, 2007) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Andrew Simmons, III Lake Charles, LAOffense: Possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Western District of Louisiana Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 14, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Martin Ruiz Singh Marshalltown, IAOffense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; distribution of methamphetamine (three counts); felon in possession of a firearm ; Southern District of Iowa Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 12, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Kenneth H. Smith Nashville, TNOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine); convicted felon in possession of firearms; false written statement to licensed firearm dealer; Middle District of Tennessee Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 29, 2001) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Kenneth Junior Smith Brooklyn, NYOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, aid and abet (three counts); felon in possession of a firearm; District of South Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 14, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Noriel K. Snider St. Louis, MOOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 196 months imprisonment; four years supervised release (June 8, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Martin Souza Chicago, ILOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 15, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Christopher Stanton Pensacola, FLOffense: Possession of firearm by a convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (July 25, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Sandy Steen, Jr. San Antonio, TXOffense: Possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base; Western District of Texas Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 3, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Cedric DeWayne Stephens Waco, TXOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana; conspiracy to commit money laundering; Western District of Texas Sentence: 120 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $2,000 fine; $2,000,000 forefeiture (July 15, 2011) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and obligation and payment of forfeiture remitted. Terry Storeby Waverly, FLOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (January 29, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 300 months imprisonment. Minnie Pearl Thomas Allentown, GAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; distribution of cocaine; Middle District of Georgia Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 20, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Vincent Thomas Gonzales, LAOffense: Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act (two counts); Eastern District of Louisiana Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (March 26, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Derrick Anthony Timmons Herndon, VAOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; Eastern District of Virginia Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (September 1, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. John L. Tolliver Holly, MIOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Southern District of Illinois Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $250 fine (June 23, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016, and 10-year term of supervised release commuted to five-year term of supervised release. Terrence Upshaw Yonkers, NYOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base; Northern District of New York Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 29, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Ronald Wade Daytona Beach, FLOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride; Middle District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release; $25,000 fine (April 5, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, and unpaid balance of the $25,000 fine remitted, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Jimmy L. Walden, Jr. Morristown, TNOffense: Possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana; Eastern District of Tennessee Sentence: Life imprisonment (May 19, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Rodney Edward Wall Rockingham, NCOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a protected area; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (July 7, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Clarence Ward Hollywood, FLOffense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (four counts); felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Florida Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (December 20, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months imprisonment. Richard Douglas Warrick Englewood, NJOffense: Drug conspiracy: controlled substance, sell, distribute or dispense mixture of cocaine base; controlled substance, sell, distribute or dispense mixture cocaine base (two counts); Northern District of Alabama Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $500 fine (January 10, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Jamel Washington Austin, TXOffense: Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute; felon in possession of a firearm; Western District of Texas Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (December 1, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Dennis Merrimon Waters Hendersonville, NCOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (October 1, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment. Dennis L. Webb Washington, DCOffense: Unlawful distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base (two counts); unlawful distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (incorrectly listed on the judgment as cocaine); unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; District of Columbia Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (August 13, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Billy Whitehead North Little Rock, AROffense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; aiding and abetting the distribution of less than five grams of cocaine base (two counts); distribution of more than five grams of cocaine base (two counts); aiding and abetting the distribution of more than five grams of cocaine base (two counts); Eastern District of Arkansas Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (April 21, 2000) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Patricia Widener Glade Spring, VAOffense: Conspiracy to manufacture 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; Western District of Virginia Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $10,950 restitution (November 13, 2006) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 151 months imprisonment, and unpaid balance of restitution obligation remitted. Ralph K. Williams Baltimore, MDOffense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; District of Maryland Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release; $6 million forfeiture (February 25, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months imprisonment and obligation and payment of forfeiture remitted. Byron Willis Knoxville, TNOffense: Distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride; Eastern District of Tennessee Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (March 7, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Damion M. Wilson Caruthersville, MOOffense: Distribution of five grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 188 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (March 19, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. David Dejuan Wise Montgomery, ALOffense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and aiding and abetting; possession of cocaine base; Middle District of Alabama Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; eight years supervised release (July 13, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016. Karen Denise Witherspoon Lenoir, NCOffense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina Sentence: 324 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (September 10, 2007); amended to 262 months imprisonment (November 19, 2015) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment. Ervin Darnell Worthy Akron, OHOffense: 1. Felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm with an altered serial number; Northern District of Ohio 2. Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of Ohio Sentence: 1. Life imprisonment (February 7, 1996) 2. Life imprisonment (February 7, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017. Six parties have filed motions to intervene in the case involving a proposed Facebook data center in Los Lunas, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission documents show. The parties that have filed motions to intervene are Western Resource Advocates, New Energy Economy, New Mexico Industrial Energy Consumers, the Renewable Energy Industries Association of New Mexico, the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy, and the city of Albuquerque. All appear to support PNMs proposal. If granted intervening party status by the PRC, the organizations will be allowed to make arguments in the case, among other things. The PRC is considering a proposal by the Public Service Company of New Mexico to provide a mechanism for providing renewable energy to the data center, which would include the construction of a solar facility. The proposal estimates the $250 million projects first phase could bring in up to 50 jobs at the data center, as well as 250 construction jobs. A PNM spokesman said the company had no comment on the motions. The PRC filings appear to show that the intervening parties generally support the proposal, although some requested clarification on certain issues. Steve Michel, attorney for Western Resource Advocates, said in an email that he may ask for more information on cost recovery and ratemaking but was in favor of the proposal overall. It reflects a trend that we are seeing throughout the West of large companies wanting to source their energy from clean resources, Michel said. Thats a great trend. Mariel Nanasi, executive director of New Energy Economy, said she supported the proposal but felt it left some unanswered questions. If the Facebook project can get so much clean energy, why cant the people of New Mexico? she said. Both Peter Gould, attorney for New Mexico Industrial Energy Consumers, and Jason Marks, attorney for the Renewable Energy Industries Association of New Mexico, said their organizations support the proposal. Chuck Noble, attorney for the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy, said in an email that his organization intervened to keep track of the filings in the case, but did not oppose the application. Jessica Hernandez, attorney for the city of Albuquerque, said the city fully supports the proposal and intervened in order to stay informed as to how to support the process of attracting this great company. New Mexico is in the running with Utah to be the site of the new data center. Utahs public service commission is expected to complete its review by Aug. 31. PNM had requested that the PRC consider waiving a public hearing in order to expedite the review process. The PRC refused and scheduled a hearing for Aug. 9. Also Wednesday, the PRC agreed to provide a live stream of the hearing, which will be accessible on the PRCs website. The Los Lunas Village Council has already approved a $30 billion industrial revenue bond measure for the project, which would allow the community to receive payments from Facebook in lieu of property taxes. The film industry in the state is coming off a record year. This is part of the reason Film Business Alliance of New Mexico has been created to spread awareness of the economic and cultural impacts the film industry has had in New Mexico. Film and television production and post-production have had a multi-billion dollar impact in the state, leading to creation of over 350 vendor and service businesses and more than 17,000 jobs for New Mexico residents. It has been my privilege to personally grow a business that has serviced this industry for over 12 years and see the impact firsthand, said Joyce Smith, the alliances executive director. Local businesses are an integral part of the infrastructure in New Mexico, along with resident crew and studio facilities that productions rely upon when choosing New Mexico. The alliance, which began in March, will host a kick-off event at 5:30 today at Albuquerque Studios. Matt Rauchberg, senior vice president for business development at Albuquerque Studios, said the organization has over 100 businesses signed up. We want people to know that the industry supports all types of businesses, he said. He said the alliance also aims to give voice to individuals within the film industry. It seems like the Legislature is aware of this shining spot of the New Mexico economy, he said. We just want to keep it in the forefront. Smith said the film industry is the best thing in the state for small businesses. She is the owner of Studio Concierge and Southwest Suites, which have ties to the industry. We need the Legislature to realize how many small businesses rely on this industry, she said. With two (of my) businesses, weve been able to create a business specific to the industry, all while growing my existing business. The states film incentive program offers a 25 percent tax incentive for qualifying expenditures, mainly New Mexico goods and services. It offers an extra 5 percent for TV series with an order of six episodes filmed in the state. The alliance will have events in Santa Fe and Las Cruces in the coming months in hopes of drawing interest statewide. Those who want to attend the event must register at www.fbanm.com. The Washington, D.C.-based Engage Cuba Coalition on Wednesday added New Mexico to its roster of states with a local council supporting an end to the 56-year-old trade embargo against Cuba. New Mexico is now the 13th state to form a local support council for the bipartisan Engage Cuba, which seeks to build support for lifting travel and trade restrictions while encouraging more interaction between the island nation and U.S. businesses and community leaders. The group held a forum in Santa Fe about export opportunities in Cuba for New Mexico farmers and businesses and the need to lift U.S. restrictions on those activities. The forum, organized with support from U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., attracted business and individuals from around the state. Engage Cuba is leading efforts to build connections and create a foundation for business and cultural exchanges that allow our states citizens to interact with Cubans, Udall told forum participants. Cubans are hungry for change, and Americans are eager to do business with them. We want to open the world up to a new generation of Cubans. Among the trade opportunities are commodities like beans, wheat, beef and pecans. Simon Brackley, president and CEO of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, said shared language and culture among Cuban and northern New Mexico communities could pave the way for robust interaction. Art, culture and history are economic engines in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico, Brackley said. I see a lot of opportunity to expand exchanges among artists and others. Those interactions will help grow business ties, Udall said. Perhaps it starts with cultural and educational exchange trips, but business leads and opportunities will grow out of that, he told the Journal. Udall is a strong advocate for changes in U.S. policy initiated under President Barack Obama. That includes the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba last year and the easing of travel restrictions to allow more Americans to visit. But the trade embargo remains in effect until Congress takes action. Udall and others are pushing to lift more restrictions in the embargo, such as completely ending the ban on travel to Cuba, allowing telecommunications companies to do business there and changing current law that since 2000 says U.S. producers can export agricultural goods only if Cuba pays for those products upfront in cash. Roselyn Yazzie, bean crop manager for the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry, said NAPI is particularly interested in selling beans and other commodities to Cuba. In fact, the Navajo Nation unsuccessfully tried to sign a deal in 2006 with Alimport, Cubas state food purchasing agency, to sell black beans to the island. But negotiations collapsed when Alimport management changed and the agency instead signed a contract with China. We were this close to a contract for them to purchase all of our beans, Yazzie said. But I still see a lot of opportunities there, and were still in contact with them. TOPEKA, Kan. Gov. Sam Brownback assured the public that the income tax cuts he championed would stimulate the Kansas economy, supply plenty of money for schools and give other states a pro-growth policy model to follow. But voters, including many Republicans, appear to have rejected that idea in the face of budget woes and court battles over education funding. On Tuesday, they ousted 11 of the conservative governors allies in favor of more centrist candidates. The GOP incumbents who lost in the primary included the Senates majority leader. Another three conservative House members were trailing Wednesday in still-undecided races. Its a mandate when you see the incumbents that supported the policies that have us in the position that were in today, said John Skubal, a city council member in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, who defeated a conservative state senator. The people are saying they dont work. Kansas has struggled to balance its budget since the GOP-dominated Legislature slashed personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownbacks urging. That created concerns among educators about future spending on schools, even as many Republicans regarded the $4 billion-plus a year the state now spends as generous. Mark Zrubek, a Republican store manager in Hutchinson, said he voted against Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce because he wanted a change. I dont like the way policies are going, Zrubek said after voting for the eventual winner, former Hutchinson Community College President Ed Berger. Some Republicans have admitted that Brownbacks tax cuts failed to bring as much growth as expected. The governor contends that regional and national economic trends such as slumps in agriculture and energy production are offsetting the benefits of the tax cuts. Meanwhile, the Kansas Supreme Court could rule by the end of the year in an education funding lawsuit. The issue before the justices is whether legislators must spend hundreds of millions of dollars more annually to fulfill their duty under the state constitution to provide a suitable education to every child. Brownbacks election as governor in 2010 pushed the states politics hard to the right, and his allies ousted many of the Legislatures moderates in 2012. The governor won re-election in 2014 in a tough race clouded by the states emerging post-tax-cut budget problems. Republicans have such large margins in both legislative chambers that they are likely to retain significant majorities after the November election. Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley said the governor looks forward to working with those majorities. As for the primary results, Hawley said in an emailed statement, Kansas is not immune from the widespread anti-incumbency sentiment we have seen across the nation this election season. Mike ONeal, president and CEO of the powerful Kansas Chamber of Commerce, said anti-incumbent feelings are trickling from the presidential race all the way down the ballot. Even GOP moderates, he said, regularly describe themselves as fiscal conservatives to appeal to unhappy voters. ONeal also considers the state budget dysfunctional as the chamber argues for spending cuts to keep it balanced. He said running against the states financial woes is low-hanging fruit for a challenger who doesnt have a voting record. Any candidate who didnt run on a platform of distancing themselves from an unpopular administration wasnt paying attention, he said. U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, a tea party favorite who lost his GOP primary race in the 1st Congressional District of western and central Kansas, acknowledged the wave against conservatives. You have the poor economy and the bad poll ratings of our current governor, Huelskamp said Wednesday. That would have dragged down anybody else who was a conservative. In neighboring Oklahoma, another state run by GOP conservatives, anger over a budget crisis and cuts to public schools prompted dozens of political newcomers to run for office this year. Two House Republicans lost their seats in the June 28 primary. Only three GOP lawmakers had been ousted in primaries in the previous 16 years. Victories by Kansas Democrats in November, coupled with the wins of the GOP moderates on Tuesday, could allow the two groups to form governing coalitions to bedevil Brownback during the term-limited governors final two years in office. Rita Fasnacht, a self-employed personal assistant in Hutchinson, voted for Berger in the local GOP primary because she saw him as an advocate for education. Sometimes new voices can bring another perspective, she said. ___ Associated Press writers Roxana Hegeman in Wichita, Kansas, and Tim Talley, in Oklahoma City, contributed to this report. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apjdhanna . ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that Mike ONeal considers the state budget dysfunctional as the Kansas Chamber of Commerce argues for spending cuts to keep it balanced, instead of as lawmakers argue for the cuts. The state auditor of Alabama, Jim Zeigler, has filed a lawsuit against the governors administration for breaking the states bid law with an accounting software contract. Alabama has been using the State of Alabama Accounting and Resource System, recently rebranded as STAARS, since last year. Zeigler claims that its installation was plagued by glitches and left the state with a backlog of unpaid bills at the end of 2015. Alabama finance director Bill Newton said that problems reported about the implementation of STAARS have been fixed and that the system is on schedule for full implementation, and that it will be a major upgrade to the states financial transaction systems. Zeiglers lawsuit claims that Alabama awarded the STAARS contract by amending a 1982 contract and not entertaining competitive bids. According to the suit, the 1982 contract ended in 1997. However, one of Zeiglers attorneys, Susan Copeland, noted that the STAARS system implemented last year was not simply an upgraded system, but a new system entirely. That allegation seems to be supported by the STAARS website, which claims that it is a new state-wide software platform. During a press conference, Zeigler said STAARS continues to have operational problems, saying it has reached a new level of dysfunction. He said that he has received hundreds of claims from vendors saying that they have not been paid by the state for outstanding invoices. If they do not get paid by the end of the year, Zeigler said, they will have to file with the Board of Adjustment. We will explore in this lawsuit how the defendants manipulated the contract to evade competitive bid requirements and the dozens of ways in which the STAARS software does not work, Zeigler stated. We will explore the probability that the state bought an off the shelf software program that was not appropriate and not fit for Alabamas accounting needs and the damage which this failed software has caused and continues to cause the state agencies and thus the taxpayers. The new contract for STAARS cost a reported $47 million. We ask for a return of money paid by the state of Alabama to the vendor of the STAARS contract, Zeigler added. A spokesperson for STAARS told Accounting Today that they could not comment. According to a recent poll from staffing firm Robert Half, more and more professionals are getting support from their employers to continue their education. A majority of polled CFOs (72 percent) said their companies cover some to all of the cost for their staff to obtain professional certifications. 76 percent also claimed their organization help in maintaining earned credentials. However, approximately one-third of respondents (29 percent) said their business offers no financial support for continuing education. "Keeping your skills up to date is vital to career advancement, and acquiring a general or industry-specific certification is one way to do so," said Paul McDonald, senior executive director at Robert Half, in a statement. "Employers often support ongoing development because they benefit from well-educated, highly skilled professionals who are current with trends and able to apply what they've learned to business needs." "If you are hesitant to ask your company to cover certification costs, do your research and outline the advantages of the training," he added, "Since you're not the only beneficiary, consider which one will give you and your company the best return on investment when deciding between a few certifications." [IMGCAP(1)] CFOs were asked, "How, if at all, does your company support its employees in their efforts to receive professional certifications?" Their responses were as follows: Full support the company pays all educational costs 33% Partial support the company pays some educational costs 39% No support at all 29% 101%* *Responses do not equal 100 percent due to rounding. CFOs were also asked, "How, if at all, does your company support its employees in their efforts to maintain professional certifications?" Their responses were: Full support the company pays all educational costs 38% Partial support the company pays some educational costs 38% No support at all 24% 100% The survey was conducted by an independent research firm, based on telephone interviews with more than 2,200 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies in more than 20 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas. Robert Half offers the following tips to garnering company support for professional certifications: Make a business case: Devise a plan before you approach your boss. Describe how the certification will allow you to make greater contributions to the company. Consider, too, that some professional certifications have a stronger return on investment than others. Devise a plan before you approach your boss. Describe how the certification will allow you to make greater contributions to the company. Consider, too, that some professional certifications have a stronger return on investment than others. Cite immediate benefits: Show examples of how the certification will help improve productivity, bring additional revenue or allow you to take on additional responsibilities. Show examples of how the certification will help improve productivity, bring additional revenue or allow you to take on additional responsibilities. Prepare for the future: Explain to your manager how your training will develop you for leadership positions. Most CFOs realize the importance of succession planning, and they're looking for rising stars who may be able to fill the pipeline. Explain to your manager how your training will develop you for leadership positions. Most CFOs realize the importance of succession planning, and they're looking for rising stars who may be able to fill the pipeline. Share the wealth: Let your boss know that an investment in your education can strengthen the entire organization. Offer to share the information learned or mentor colleagues to extend the value of your added expertise. Let your boss know that an investment in your education can strengthen the entire organization. Offer to share the information learned or mentor colleagues to extend the value of your added expertise. Divide the cost: If your manager denies your request, don't give up. Are you willing to cover part of the fees for your professional certification? If not, revisit the conversation in a few months if you sense your boss may be more open to it in the future. For more on Robert Half, head to their site here. Anne dreads waking up in the morning. Her son, Sam who has ADHD and an anger disorder is unpredictable. Sometimes he just goes along with the morning routine. Other times, hell lash out at the smallest thing a request to get dressed, an unplanned stop on the way to school, or a simple No to a request for pizza for dinner. On any given day, I never know what to expect from him, says Anne, a public relations manager for an independent high school in New England. Hell start yelling and kicking when anything doesnt go his way. Sam was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) at five, and while that explained some of his difficulties in school, it never explained his aggressive and defiant temperament. It wasnt until the beginning of this school year that Anne sought additional help for her sons behavior, which was becoming stressful to her family. The pediatrician determined that Sam was suffering from ADHD and ODD (oppositional defiant disorder). How Do You Recognize ODD in a Child with ADHD? Children with ODD have a pattern of angry, violent, and disruptive behaviors toward parents, caretakers, and other authority figures. Before puberty, ODD is more common in boys, but, after puberty, it is equally common in both genders. Sam is not alone in his dual diagnosis of ADHD and ODD; up to 40 percent of children with ADHD are estimated to have ODD. Every child will act out and test his boundaries from time to time, and ODD seems like typical adolescent behavior: arguing, anger, and aggression. The first step to fixing a childs problematic behavior is recognizing ODD. How do you know whether your child is just being a child or if he needs professional help? [Could Your Child Have Oppositional Defiant Disorder? Take This Symptoms Test] There is no clear line between normal defiance and ODD, says Ross Greene, Ph.D., associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School (#CommissionsEarned). The lack of clear criteria explains why professionals often disagree as to whether a child should be diagnosed with ODD. Greene emphasizes that it is up to parents to decide when to get help for a defiant child. If youre struggling with your childs behavior, and it is causing unpleasant interactions at home or at school, then youve easily met the criteria for having a problem, says Greene. And Id suggest you seek professional help. Anne had never heard of ODD when she called a cognitive behavioral therapist to discuss coping strategies for her sons erratic behavior. After spending some time in the familys home, observing Sam and his interactions with his mother, the therapist saw signs of ODD. I didnt know what she was talking about, says Anne. At Sams next doctors visit, Anne asked whether ODD could explain Sams behavior, and the physician said yes. When I thought about it, the diagnosis made sense, says Anne. Nothing I used with my older daughter like counting down to some set consequence before punishing her to control her behavior ever worked for Sam. [Get This Free Download: How to Treat ODD in Kids] Another mother, Jane Gazdag, an accountant from New York, began noticing troubling behavior in her son, Seamus Brady, now eight, when he was four. He would scream for two or three hours over the smallest thing, says Jane. He fought everything. When Jane realized that she had stopped trying to do fun things with her son, like spending the day in Manhattan, because they were too stressful for her, she suspected that he had ODD and spoke to her pediatrician about it. Seamus was diagnosed as having it. Signs of ODD can be seen in a childs behavior toward his primary caregiver. The defiant behavior may spread to a secondary caregiver and to teachers or other authority figures, but if it appears in a child with ADHD, ODD will appear within two years of an ADHD diagnosis. If a child does start to become defiant, there is an easy way to tell whether that behavior is a consequence of ADHD or is a sign of ODD. ADHD isnt a problem with starting a task, its a problem with finishing a task, says Russell Barkley, Ph.D., a clinical professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina. If a child cant start a task, thats ODD. The Impulsive/Defiant Link: How ADHD and Anger Disorders Overlap Understanding why ODD is found so frequently in children with ADHD is to understand the two dimensions of the disorder the emotional and social components, says Barkley. Frustration, impatience, and anger are part of the emotional component. Arguing and outright defiance are part of the social aspect. Most children with ADHD are impulsive, and this drives the emotional component of ODD. For people with ADHD, emotions are expressed quickly, whereas others are able to contain their feelings, says Barkley. This is why the small subset of children who have the inattentive type of ADHD is less likely to develop ODD. Children who have ADHD, along with intense impulsivity, are likely to be diagnosed with ODD. Anger and frustration are hard to manage in a child with ODD and ADHD, but it is defiance that exacerbates the family stress caused by ODD. The surprising thing is that parents fuel the defiance. If a parent is quick to give in when a child has a tantrum, the child learns that she can manipulate situations by getting angry and putting up a fight. This aspect of ODD is a learned behavior, but it can be unlearned through behavioral therapy. How Should Parents Treat ADHD and ODD? Before tackling a childs ODD, it is important that his ADHD be controlled. When we reduce a childs hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattention, perhaps through medication, we see simultaneous improvement in oppositional behavior, says Greene. The traditional stimulant medications are the initial drugs of choice because they have been shown to decrease the impairments of ADHD, as well as ODD, by up to 50 percent in more than 25 published studies, says William Dodson, M.D., who specializes in the treatment of ADHD, in Greenwood, Colorado. Non-stimulant medications may also help. In one study, researchers found that the drug atomoxetine, the generic form of the active ingredient found in Strattera, significantly reduces ODD and ADHD symptoms. The researchers note in the study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, in March 2005, that higher doses of the medication were needed to control symptoms in children who were diagnosed with both conditions. Strattera helped Seamus control his emotions, reducing the number and intensity of his tantrums. It made a big difference, says Jane. For some, medication is not enough, and after a childs ADHD symptoms are under control, its time to address ODD behaviors. Although there is little evidence to show that any treatment is effective in treating ODD, most professionals agree that behavioral therapy has the most potential to help. There are many forms of behavioral therapy, but the general approach is to reward good behavior and provide consistent consequences for inappropriate actions and behaviors. Behavioral therapy programs dont start with the child; they start with the adult. Because a child with ODD usually has a caretaker who gives in to tantrums and violent behavior, or offers inconsistent punishment for bad behavior, the child thinks that acting out will get him what he wants. Therefore, a childs primary caretaker has to be educated to effectively respond to a child with ODD. Another part of parental training is to consider whether ADHD has gone undiagnosed in the parent; adults with the condition are likely to be inconsistent in managing a childs behavior. Implementing consistent punishment is only one part of a behavioral therapy program; a parent must learn to use positive reinforcement when a child behaves himself. How Long Will It Take to Improve an Anger Disorder? A behavioral therapist works with parent and child together to reduce troubling behaviors. At the top of Annes list was her sons Shut up, which he shouted at anyone. Anne kept a tally sheet to list the number of times her son would shout it in a day. At the end of the day, Anne and her son looked at the total together. If the number was under the set goal for the day, she gave him a small reward, a toy or time spent playing video games. Day by day, Sam tried to reduce the number of times he said shut up, and Anne tried to be consistent in her punishments. All of a childs caregivers should participate in the program. Grandparents, teachers, nannies, and other adults who spend time alone with your child must understand that the need for consistency in behavioral therapy extends to them as well. ODD has a deleterious effect on relationships and communication between kids and adults, says Greene. You want to start improving things as soon as you can. Anne believes that her diligence will pay off. We hope that all the work weve done will one day click for Sam, she says. [Read This Next: The Facts About Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and ADHD] #CommissionsEarned As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication. SUPPORT ADDITUDE Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you. Ecom Express Private Limited, a leading logistics solutions provider for ecommerce industry, has appointed Sivram S.D. as Vice President for Corporate Strategy & Planning. In this new position, Sivram will work with the leadership team to define the companys future strategy including identifying new business avenues, leading acquisitions & synergies, launching new products, international & cross-border solutions. In addition, he would also focus on optimizing the companys operations, productivities, cost structures and further improve business and performance analytics. Sivram would be leading the companys action plan focusing on execution to transform the business into a high performance organization. T. A. Krishnan, Chief Executive Officer, Ecom Express Private Limited said, Ecom Express is rapidly growing in reach and in revenue generation and Sivram will be focused on developing strategies and new business initiatives to fuel the growth further. In the current market, focus on technology and analytics becomes extremely important to our business and our customers. Sivram brings to the table a great sense of knowledge and experience in the field and we are thrilled to have him as part of the team. In his previous role at Jabong.com, Sivram was heading Operations Analytics and Marketplace Pricing for the company. He was also leading key strategic initiatives for the company at various points in time. Prior to this, he worked as a Management Consultant at A.T. Kearney India. He has an MBA Degree from IIM Bangalore. Commenting on his appointment Sivram S.D. said, In the last one year, Ecom Express has witnessed a multi-fold growth in line with its dynamic business model focused on providing cutting-edge logistics solutions for the ecommerce industry. I look forward to working closely with the team to build new revenue streams, opportunities and accelerate the momentum of business growth even further. With this new appointment, the Company has further strengthened its senior leadership team which has seen expansion with the recent appointments of Ramesh Kharbanda as the Chief Operating Officer responsible for Countrywide Network, Rishi Sareen as Vice President - Information & Technology, Prominder Singh Bhatia as Vice President - Sales and Vivek Gupta as Chief Human Resources Officer. Rishi Sareen and Prominder Bhatia had made their movements from Blue Dart and FedEx respectively while Ramesh Kharbanda moved from International Tractors and Vivek Gupta from G4S India. Ecom Express had raised $133 million from Warburg Pincus in June 2015 which is the largest round of funding raised to date in the Indian logistics sector. My FM, the radio division of Dainik Bhaskar Group, launched two new radio stations in Haryana last month Hisar (July 29, 2016) and Karnal (July 30, 2016) under the Phase III licenses won by the company. My FM won a total of 13 new frequencies in the first phase of Phase III auctions, thus making it a seven state and 30 cities network. Speaking on the launch of the new stations, Harrish Bhatia, CEO, My FM, said, With the two new stations, we have become the largest radio station network in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana. Apart from this, we are already the largest network of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. We won frequencies in the markets that we were keen on and are excited and confident about entering these markets. He added, We are a strong customer-centric organisation and invest a lot in understanding the taste and needs of our customers; this approach has helped in building in a strong differentiated product and thus come up with the campaign, Aapki Marzi, that was initiated to understand listeners preferences in these markets and design highly specialised and focused content as per the choice of the listeners of the city. We aim to enjoy undisputed leadership across the new stations as we do across our all existing ones. My FM has designed a high decibel launch campaign to amplify the buzz created by the pre-launch campaign. The campaign thought Abhar Kaan Khush was rolled out on July 29 in Hisar and on July 30 in Karnal through print ads, outdoor, human banner. The My FM team decided to celebrate the launch with whos who of the city and clients, the evening witnessed performances by Ali Brothers and Fasal Band. Harry Potter fans in India, eagerly awaiting the release of the new book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, had their copies home delivered within two hours of the global launch by Snapdeal. The book was released at 11.30 am in India on July 31, 2016 (midnight in the US) and within two hours Snapdeal customers in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi and Gurgaon had received the first copies in their hands. Snapdeals super fast deliveries were in full flow on a rainy Sunday across India, as it pulled out all stops to ensure that Harry Potter fans received their copies as soon as the global launch happened. Customers took to social media to express their happiness on getting their copies within hours of launch. Vidhi from Mumbai tweeted, Super excited! #HarryPotterAndTheCursedChildThankyou@snapdeal@1kunalbahl@rohitkbansal ! #BackToSchool. Vandita Taneja, a customer from Delhi tweeted, @snapdeal can't thank u enough fr making my Sunday Just received my copy of #HarryPotterAndTheCursedChildWheeeeee. Manvi Bajpai, a customer from Gurgaon tweeted, After all these years? ALWAYS...a Potterhead!Thanx@snapdeal 4 making my Sunday magical @1kunalbahl@rohitkbansal Nivrita from Mumbai expressed her delight with her comment, Thanks for the prompt delivery in the rain. Jayant Sood, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Snapdeal, said, At Snapdeal, we take pride in creating special experiences for our customers. The release of a new Harry Potter book is a grand occasion for Harry Potter fans, with an unsaid race to get to the end of the book first. We wanted Snapdeal customers to be the ones who win this race, powered by our super-fast deliveries! The special Harry Potter deliveries were accompanied by acard, which said, Here is one of the first few copies of the much awaited book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. We thought, wed bring it across especially for you and add a little magic to your weekend. Star Movies Select HD is bringing in a slew of films that have been adapted from books under its Book Adaptation Festival. The channel has been showcasing movies that have been adapted from books every Sunday at 1pm and 3pm.Continuing its journey of showcasing famous adapted movies, its back with its latest edition, with the genius, with the Indo- French gourmet treat- The Hundred Foot Journey. The Hundred Foot Journey is based on Richard C. Morais bestselling novel of the same name that tells the story of a young Indian chef named Hassan Kadam on his quest to become the culinary equivalent of Mozart. The film is a feast for the eyes, showcasing the culture clash between a French restaurateur and the owners of a new Indian restaurant across the street from her. Between the intense professional fights amongst the restaurateurs, the audience gets to feast on the various gastronomical delights dished out by both the parties. With close-ups of beautifully plated boeuf bourguignon and freshly baked baguettes, the audience may find their palette being tickled during scenes of glistening grilled meat, simmering curries, snow-white bechamel sauce and wild mushrooms. Food can cross cultural barriers and bring people together, said Juliet Blake, one of the producers of the movie in an interview, I so believe that. The Hundred Foot is a movie that not only crosses and dissolves cultural barriers but also introduces its audience to a wide spectrum of culinary delights they were earlier not exposed to, making it a gastronomical hit amongst the audience. The film also features a Bollywood connect with Om Puri starring, Two time Oscar winner AR Rahman and also a guest appearance by Juhi Chawla. CATCH THE HUNDRED FOOT JOURNEY ON STAR MOVIES SELECT HD ON SUNDAY, 7TH AUGUST AT 3PM! Kolkata-based TE-A-ME Teas recently garnered a lot of attention for its unusual move of delivering four years supply of green tea to Donald Trump in a hilarious mission to purify him. The tea was delivered at the Trump Tower in New York with the message: Mr Trump, its never too late to cleanse yourself. Even as Trump inches closer to becoming the worlds most powerful man, his extreme views have elicited strong concerns around the world. In a modern take of the Gandhian principle of peaceful persuasion, TE-A-ME Teas took a good-humoured approach to changing Trump for the better. The company believes that sending TE-A-ME Purify Green Tea can help achieve that. Owned by Madhu Jayanti International, TE-A-ME Teas extensive range includes black teas, aromatic spiced teas, natural green teas, fruit and flower infusions, and more. Positioned as A Tea for Every Me, the brand aims to bring out the multi-faceted nature of tea in terms of functionalities and benefits. Madhu Jayanti International is touted as Indias largest tea bag manufacturing company, with a 70-year legacy of producing fine teas. The company sells over 15 million cups everyday, across 42 tea consuming countries, with a turnover of Rs 500 crore. In conversation with AdGully, Sumit Shah, Managing Director, TE-A-ME Teas, speaks at length about the Tea For Trump initiative, the tea industry in India, growth plans and more. Excerpts: What made you go for an initiative like the Tea For Trump campaign? The Tea For Trump campaign was crafted to create global awareness of the power and benefits of green tea and also to bring about brand recall for our brand, TE-A-ME. Where did this thought process come from? The thought process came about from wanting to do something different. While we could have gone through the standard route of advertising, which would entail us talking about the various kinds and benefits of tea (something that is overdone in our opinion), we decided to demonstrate the power of tea by placing it in the lives of eminent personalities. The TE-A-ME Intervention platform allows us to do just that. Tea For Trump campaign was the first intervention in the coming years we will use this platform to highlight many more benefits of teas. What made you select Donald Trump for this very initiative? In early 2016, we drew up a list of prospective candidates for our campaign, Donald Trump was under crossfire for some of his apparently extreme views. Given that green tea helps you regain a healthy balance the fit with Donald Trump was perfect. What all went behind the ideation? Given that we didnt want to make a political statement, we spent a lot of time carefully planning the script to ensure that we didnt drive the campaign down a path of political controversy. Further, the music and optics of the video were planned to instil a sense of humour and keep the campaign light hearted, without losing the power of the message that we were trying to convey. How did you go about executing the campaign? This was a multi-city, international effort to deliver the tea. Given Donald Trumps profile, security was intense. The most challenging part of the project was finding partners who were willing to execute this in the US. Given that Donald Trump was very close to becoming the Republican candidate, a number of execution agencies in the US refused to execute the campaign (even though they loved the idea behind it). In future also, are you planning to carry similar initiatives with other celebrities globally? The TE-A-ME Intervention platform now allows us to execute such campaigns. We intend to do this once a year in order to demonstrate the power of teas. Moving forward, we will also bring this platform into the lives of consumers in India. What kind of brand awareness did the campaign create for Te-A-Me? Weve hit 3.3+ million views, with mentions in over 800 publications across 60 countries. It is safe to say that a whole lot of people are more aware of TE-A-ME today, than a few weeks ago. You have not really been aggressive in your communication unlike your competitors like Lipton, Tata tea. Why have you stayed away from active advertising? We believe that the target group for TE-A-ME consumers more content digitally than on print or television. Given our limited budgets and execution capabilities, social media poses the best ROI for our investments. We will continue to actively invest in various social media platforms to build our brand. How have you been creating awareness for the brand? Given that tea is not new to India, switching consumers from one brand to another needs them to taste and like the product. Therefore, till now weve invested a lot of our efforts in BTL and sampling activation plans to build brand and taste awareness. Given the width of flavours in our portfolio, we feel that sampling is a easier mechanism to switch consumers than ATL. What kind of growth has TE-A-ME registered in India year-on-year? TE-A-ME has registered 70 per cent growth over the last two years. You have been catering to 42 countries. How do these exports contribute to your overall revenue? The export business adds up 65 per cent of our revenues (Rs 180 crore). Have you undertaken any campaigns previously to create brand salience? We have conducted ad campaigns to build our brands in Russia and West Africa. However, these have been very local in nature specific to those countries only. What are the trends that we are seeing in tea consumption in India? Slowly but surely, we are seeing tea become the beverage of choice amongst health conscious consumers. Consumers are demanding more flavours/ varieties and more importantly, a health angle to the beverage that they consumer. Tea is perfectly suited to deliver this. Tea being one of the major export items of India, what is the industry growth like? The tea industry has been growing very slowly over the past year (mere 3-5 per cent), however there is a massive internal switch happening within the industry. Green tea is growing by about 65-70 per cent YOY, while herbals and flavoured teas are growing at 35 per cent. This tells us that more and more people are switching from black / regular tea to green and/or value added teas. What kind of growth do you see for branded tea? Difficult for us to comment on the entire branded tea category, however the value added tea segment is growing at a staggering rate of 50-55 per cent. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James visited McConnell Air Force Base July 28-29 to spend time with Airmen and better understand the missions here. During her visit, James interacted with Airmen by holding a meet and greet with maintenance personnel, having lunch with Airmen, speaking at an all call and, for the first time, participating in a speed mentoring session organized by the Airmans Council. I thought (speed mentoring) was a great initiative, James said. Im a real believer in mentoring generally; I also mentor a variety of Airmen one-on-one through a program in our Air Force called MyVector. Any form of mentoring is valuable, and this was a particularly efficient way to hear a number of stories and have good two-way conversations. Airman 1st Class Tevin Manuel, a 22nd Communications Squadron cyber surety technician, attended the speed mentoring session. Having the opportunity to sit down with the secretary of the Air Force is a welcome experience that you dont get to have every day, Manuel said. I learned that leadership is not always a straight path. Ive known that for a while, but it hit me while sitting there and talking with her because we both actually had the same desires growing up and we both pivoted from that point, going toward different paths and ultimately ending up in a better place. In addition to the time she spent with McConnell AFBs Airmen, James took a tour to see the construction the base is undergoing in preparation for the arrival of the KC-46 Pegasus. I had the opportunity to tour around and see the various projects that are underway here at the base, James said. I think McConnell will be well ready to receive the KC-46 when it arrives. There (are) growth opportunities here, and I think theres a certain excitement associated with that. By witnessing firsthand the reality of what McConnell does on a day-to-day basis, James was able to step away with a deeper understanding of how the base contributes to the overall Air Force mission. McConnell helps us in two key ways in the United States Air Force, James said. First of all, its an important part of global reach; McConnell is the largest tanker base in the world. The second way it helps is because McConnell is important for global vigilance. Part of the team here is focused on cyber issues, as well as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and the analysis of the intelligence that comes from our systems. McConnell is hitting the ball out of the park over and over again. She also understands that without the Airmen, that mission would never be completed. I hope, first and foremost, Airmen know how much I appreciate them and the importance of what they are doing, James said. I tried to reinforce this in every interaction I had, and its not just me, its all of us who are working in Washington. We all have a very good appreciation of just how hard our Airmen are working and the types of sacrifices theyre making, particularly those who have frequent deployments and family separations. Theyre doing a fantastic job. AF duo key to Army medical aid in Honduras Medical readiness training exercises (MEDRETE), military partnership engagements and mobile surgical team (MST) deployments have been the backbone of Joint Task Force-Bravos humanitarian mission in Central America for the past 23 years and have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, built partner nation capacity and fostered goodwill toward the U.S. in the region. These missions are almost completely run and supported by the Army -- almost. Behind missions conducted by Army medical personnel using Army helicopters for transportation and security provided by Army military police, there are two Airmen who bring more than just the token joint forces label to these important operations. Air Force Capt. Amber El-Amin, a JTF-Bravo operations medical planner, and Senior Airman Synethia Robinson, the JTF-Bravo medical operations NCO in charge, play a vital role in the joint operations planning process. The process includes building concepts of operation; synchronizing and de-conflicting all logistics and support elements; scheduling and leading meetings and rehearsal of concept drills; ensuring all mission personnel, to include Honduran employees, possess all appropriate passport and country clearances; and that all personnel and equipment are manifested and ready for transport on the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment helicopters. This job is nothing like we do back home, said El-Amin, who is deployed here from the 60th Medical Support Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California. My specialty match is medical logistics, and I've spent majority of my time in that field. Here though, I'm really a project manager, and there are a lot of moving pieces and units to synchronize for a mission. That part of the puzzle is where Robinson, a health services management specialist deployed here from the 23rd MDSS at Moody AFB, Georgia, comes in. It's very easy to drop a ball; thus, Senior Airman Robinson and I have to make sure that we're always on top of it, El-Amin said. She's been doing a great job here, and I couldn't do any of this without her. Joint environments are by no means new or unique, but they can present distinct challenges to those experiencing them for the first time. I volunteered to come and be a part of the mission here at JTF-(Bravo), Robinson said. This is my first deployment, and so far I have been amazed at how much I have learned and adapted to working with our sister services. In addition to training exercises, El-Amin and Robinson also plan for JTF-Bravo involvement in Honduran-led military partnership engagements, which are very similar to the training exercises but are conducted by the host nation. We have to conduct a reconnaissance for each mission, which means were essentially planning two major events per mission, El-Amin said. So really, were planning six separate missions every month with their own transportation, manifests, security, funding and everything else that makes a mission successful. The duo spends approximately 180-200 hours over 12 weeks preparing for each training exercise, military partnership engagements and MST, and sometimes more if the mission is outside Honduras. While the majority of past missions have been in Honduras, JTF-Bravo is working with U.S. Embassy country teams and ministries of health in the other Central American nations to conduct exercises within their borders. El-Amin and Robinson were heavily involved in the planning and execution of recent MEDRETEs in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras; however, they rarely get to see firsthand the impact of what they do. Were behind the scenes and generally dont go on the missions, El-Amin said. I did get to go visit one MEDRETE when I first arrived. I could see the excitement of the people as the helicopters came in to land, and I got to walk through the entire process. It was really amazing to see what our team does. There have been more than 300 MEDRETEs conducted, and JTF-Bravo MEDEL personnel have treated more than 326,000 medical patients and 69,670 dental patients since October 1993. An average operation allows more than 1,000 people living in remote, austere environments to receive medical, dental and preventive medical care. It's been busy and we've had a steep learning curve, but it's rewarding, El-Amin said. Theres a lot that goes into these missions, but each month we provide humanitarian assistance to thousands of people. Its an honor to play such an important part in the JTF-Bravo mission. The Bombay High Court transferred to its Aurangabad bench a PIL challenging the recent appointment of a new managing committee by Maharashtra government to run the Shirdi Sai Baba Trust. A bench headed by Justice V M Kanade was of the view that the High Court bench at Aurangabad bench has the jurisdiction to hear the matter. Moreover, a similar matter is pending before the Aurangabad bench and hence the PIL was transferred from Mumbai bench to Aurangabad bench to club the two petitions together. The PIL, filed by Mumbai resident Surender Arora, alleged that persons with political affiliations and criminal antecedents were being appointed by the state government to run the trust, reflecting nepotism and favour to a certain section of people. It said that the government should appoint managing committee members independent of their political affiliations. The PIL said that the government had framed rules for constituting the management committee of the Shirdi Trust on January 24, 2013. However, these rules were conveniently kept vague by the government as they neither state the precise procedure of selection nor prescribe the selection criteria. The rules also do not contain any transparency provisions and checks on the unbridled exercise of power in making appointments. Thus, the rules are ultra-vires the Constitution in not limiting the arbitrary exercise of power by the government, the PIL contended. Moreover, before the rules came into force they were never placed before both Houses of the state legislature which is a mandatory procedure, the petition said. After the management committee was constituted on July 28, 2016, few members visited the temple and started giving directions to the employees on the strength of the impugned notification of their appointment. There was no formal taking of charge and also no statement was made before the Bombay High Court, which had constituted an ad-hoc body earlier for running the affairs of the trust, said the PIL. The newly constituted committee members have not yet met the Principal District Judge who was heading the ad-hoc committee. The committee has also not formally taken charge from him, the petition added. The Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government to file its affidavit in response to a PIL seeking disciplinary action against Navi Mumbai police officials for allegedly failing to take timely action due to which a teenage boy was murdered by his girlfriends family members. Activist Yashwant Shenoy in his public interest litigation claimed that if the police had taken action on the complaint filed by 15-year-old boy Swapnil Sonawanes family claiming that they had received threats from the accused, the murder could have been averted. On July 20, Swapnil was allegedly beaten to death by the family members of his girlfriend who were unhappy with the relation as they were from different castes. The Navi Mumbai police has so far arrested the girls parents, two brothers and two cousins along with other accomplices. Shenoy stated that Swapnils mother Gauri had gone to Nerul police station on July 18 and 19 along with her son, but officials there did not pay heed to their complaint. Shenoy sought direction to the Maharashtra Director General of Police to initiate disciplinary action against the errant officers who failed to take cognisance of the complaint lodged by Swapnils mother. A division bench of justices V M Kanade and M S Sonak directed public prosecutor Purnima Kantharia to file an affidavit in reply to the PIL and also state what action police has taken so far in the case. The affidavit will have to be filed in two weeks. North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Wednesday that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters for the first time, the latest in a series of launches by the isolated country in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The main body of the missile landed in Japans economic exclusion zone, a Japanese defence official said, escalating regional tensions that were already high after a series of missile launches this year and the decision by the United States to place a sophisticated anti-missile system in South Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the launch as a grave threat to Japan and said Tokyo strongly protested. Japan also said its self-defence force would remain on alert in case of further launches. A US State Department spokesman condemned the launch, and said it would only increase the international communitys resolve to counter North Koreas actions. The US Strategic Command said it had detected two missiles, one of which it said exploded immediately after launch. The missile that landed in the Sea of Japan was launched at about 7:50 am Seoul time (2250 GMT Tuesday) from a region in South Hwanghae province to the southwest of the capital, Pyongyang, South Koreas Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. The launch showed North Koreas ambition to directly and broadly attack neighbouring countries and target several places in the Republic of Korea such as ports and airfields, the statement said, referring to South Korea by its official title. The missile appeared to be a Rodong-type medium-range missile that flew about 1,000 km (620 miles), it said. Tensions High The United States will begin large-scale annual drills with its ally South Korea later this month that it bills as defensive in nature and not provocative. North Korea typically protests against the drills, which it says are a rehearsal for invasion. The North Koreans seem to have been timing their recent short-range and medium-range missile tests to the weeks ahead of US-South Korean joint exercises, said Joshua Pollack, editor of the US-based Nonproliferation Review. If the allies can exercise their armed forces, so can the North, he said. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles that flew between 500 km and 600 km (300-360 miles) into the sea off its east coast. The government has failed to take adequate steps for averting the bridge collapse mishap which claimed several lives. The bridge collapse incident occurred over Savitri river on the Mumbai-Goa Highway in Konkan region has raised questions over the manner in which the Public Works Department functions. Even though the government was aware about heavy rainfall occurring in Konkan region it failed to take steps for averting the mishap which claimed several lives. There were reports in media mentioning about the dilapidated condition of the bridge which links Mahad to Poladpur. Despite this the administration has failed to take any initiative to repair the bridge. The structure of the bridge had weakened due to the growth of vegetation. Since the roots of the plants had penetrated inside the stones of the bridge it was weakening day by day. Even though crash barriers have been installed in some areas of the bridge but it is not enough to withstand heavy rainfalls. Heavy vehicles used to ply on this bridge due to the presence of industries in Raigad and Ratnagiri districts. This is not the lone bridge whose structure has weakened but there are 36 other bridges on the Maharashtra-Goa highway which were constructed during the British reign and are in need of dire repairs. Is the government waiting for another accident to happen? Twenty-two people 18 passengers, two drivers and two conductors, are feared killed as the two State transport buses in which they were travelling were washed away. Goa PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar faulted government engineers for negligence which could have led to the collapse of the bridge. Dhavalikar said: Negligence cannot be of the Maharashtra government. It is a departments mistake, engineers mistake. Public Works Department (PWD) should be held responsible for the collapse of the heritage bridge. Incumbent PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil, former PWD ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Nitin Gadkari too are responsible for the mishap. Even though the government was aware about heavy rains being happening in Mahad but it has failed to alert the District Collector about imposing restriction of entry of vehicles in the area. The government is least bothered about the welfare of citizens. Right now it is important to hold a debate about the bridge collapse incident in the assembly. We are aware about the missing ST buses but what about private cars which have plied on this route, said former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The bridge was built during the British era. After discussion with the National Highways Authority, we have shifted traffic to the new parallel bridge nearby. We are trying to confirm reports of other missing vehicles, Raigad Collector Sheetal Ugale said. The rescuers have recovered two dead bodies from the overflowing Savitri river and a massive search is on for others who are missing, she added. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rushed to the spot to take stock of the relief and rehabilitation work. He said, The relief work is happening on a war footing basis and search operations are on to locate missing persons and vehicles. A probe is being ordered to ascertain the cause of the bridge collapse. The structural audit of other bridges will be completed within 15 days. Meanwhile, the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly sought a judicial probe into the Mahad bridge collapse tragedy. Raising the issue in the Assembly, former CM Prithviraj Chavan said, A judicial probe should be conducted and action must be taken against those guilty of allowing the old bridge to remain open for traffic. A case of IPC 302 should also be filed against PWD minister Chandrakant Patil. A Syrian rescue service operating in rebel-held territory said on Tuesday a helicopter dropped containers of toxicgas overnight on a town close to where a Russian military helicopter had been shot down hours earlier. The opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) accused President Bashar al-Assad of being behind the attack. Assad has denied previous accusations of using chemical weapons. A spokesman for the Syria Civil Defence said 33 people, mostly women and children, were affected by the gas, which they suspect was chlorine, in Saraqeb, in rebel-held Idlib province. The group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers, posted a video on YouTube apparently showing a number of men struggling to breathe and being given oxygen masks by people in civil defence uniforms. Medium-sized barrels fell containing toxic gases. The Syrian Civil Defence was not able to determine the type of the gas, said the spokesman. The Syrian government and its Russian allies were not immediately available for comment. Later, state news agency SANA said rebels had fired rockets armed with toxic gas on the government-held old quarter of Aleppo city, killing five people and causing eight breathing difficulties. It gave no further details. Rebels have denied previous accusations of using chemical weapons. Russia is denying claims from Syrian rebels and human rights groups that it was behind a reported chlorine gas attack Tuesday in the same area where a Russian helicopter was shot down a day before, according to a Russian state media report. I dont have information; we dont have information about how the operation is proceeding, Russias TASS news agency reports Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. It is very hard to react to such information releases: it is not always clear what they are based on, what their sources are and so on. Web Toolbar by Wibiya Canada is regarded as one of the most progressive nations in the world. In fact, Canadians are known to be helpful towards fellow human beings. They have even empowered their governments to protect civil liberties around the globe through enacting legislations and laws and helping to solve the global refugee crisis. Despite being socially progressive, Canadians are not always politically and socially active in standing with fellow Canadians whose civil liberties and rights have been violated. They do not seem to be as active as the citizens of other industrialized nations, when it comes to safeguarding the rights of their fellow citizens. Watch the video above and you will come to know of the plight of an elderly woman in Ottawa, Canada. For more than a year, her husband has blocked visitation access to her son. However, her plight was ignored by the people at large as no one came to her help. Even the so-called mainstream media failed to cover her story. This elderly woman wrote notes when she could write that she was being abused. One note reads - "Dad abuses me! Her cries and pleas to the Ottawa Police Services were simply ignored. Even her own friends and relatives did not come to help her although they were made aware of her plight. She essentially became a prisoner in her own home losing her ability to talk, walk and write at the hands of her abuser but no one came to her assistance except her son. Raymond, who is shown in the video, has not seen his Mom since 12 June 2015 -- more than a year ago! Her husband, Horace Carby-Samuels, had also blocked an Ottawa Hospital from providing her speech therapy support. As a result, Raymond's Mom lost the ability to speak. The verifiable evidence of Horace's abuse of rights and neglect is contained in litigation brought by Raymond against his Mom's husband pursuant to Court File - 15-66772. One has to wonder why the Ottawa Police failed to help this woman despite her repeated pleas for help. Horace Carby-Samuels has been accused of diabolically blocking her son from defending her rights by lying to police that her son suffered from "mental illness" that made him violent. It has been claimed that this lie was designed to ensure that the Ottawa Police Service would not listen to the son's representation concerning the abuse of his Mom that has now continued for more than a year. Send a message to email: agoracosmopolite@on.aibn.com if you would like to make a donation to our Legal Fund. August 3, 2016 President Hassan Rouhani marked the end of his third year in office with a special television interview Aug. 2. These interviews, aired on Iranian state television, resemble the US State of the Union addresses and are designed to inform the Iranian public of the administrations achievements and goals. While much of Rouhanis prepared remarks were repetitions of his previous optimistic outlook post-nuclear deal, one negative point the president made was his assessment of US-Iran relations. If the Americans had implemented [the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] accurately and with good intentions and prevented the obstruction and slowdowns that we are seeing today, we would have had confidence in them, Rouhani said. We would have been ready to negotiate with them on other issues that would have been in the interests of the region, America, us and others. The day before Rouhanis comments, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on the countrys foreign policy, made a similar statement indicating that the window of opportunity for further negotiations between the United States and Iran appears to be over. Khamenei said that Iran looked at the nuclear negotiations as an experience by which to gauge whether the United States keeps its promises. But he said the Americans continued their destructive policies and referred to negotiating with them as a lethal poison. In the past, Khamenei had left the door open for Iran-US discussion of regional issues. In April 2015, just months before the signing of the nuclear deal, Khamenei said that negotiations with the United States were limited to the nuclear issue and not related to regional or domestic issues. He added, however, If we see that the opposing side puts aside its typical ambiguities, this will be a [learning] experience for us. [If so,] we will be able to negotiate with them on other issues also. Rouhani came into office three years ago promising better relations with the world after eight years of combative posturing by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The nuclear deal has been a significant achievement, and American and Iranian officials negotiating publicly on the issue was unprecedented in the last 37 years. With five months left in President Barack Obamas presidency and misunderstandings lingering over the implementation of the nuclear deal, it seems unlikely that Iran and the United States will achieve another milestone and negotiate directly over regional issues such as Syria or Iraq. Many conservative analysts and pundits criticized the president after the interview, focusing the failings of the nuclear deal. Even a number of Reformist media outlets were not happy with the interview. An article in Arman Daily accused the president of saying nothing new in the long and highly publicized interview. An article in Etemaad criticized the president for the lack of transparency and details in the interview, reporting that while some problems are being addressed, Rouhani did not specify who or what is causing the problems. Conservative Kayhan, rather than covering the speech, taunted the president, saying that 1,100 days have passed and he now has 365 days left to fulfill 1,600 campaign promises. While Iran has been able to double its petroleum exports and receive delivery of the S-300 missile defense system as the result of the nuclear deal implemented in January, a common complaint among Iranians is that the nuclear deal has not improved their daily lives. This is a point that conservative media has been hammering and will likely continue to focus on until the presidential election in May 2017. August 3, 2016 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently accused the United States of obstructing and damaging Irans economic relations with other countries in spite of the nuclear deal. This was proof, he said, of Americas lack of commitment to its promises, making further talks on regional issues a deadly poison that Iran must avoid. Meanwhile, the Middle East is on the verge of a historically unprecedented collapse. The regional wellsprings of civilization the Iranian plateau, the Nile River Valley and Anatolia (corresponding with the modern states of Iran, Egypt and Turkey) are all under severe duress. Two of these three civilizational pillars are teeming with internal strife and discord. The continued stability of Iran is now all that stands between the region and all-consuming chaos. While regional stability should be a priority for the international community, the forces seeking to undermine the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) wish nothing more than to return Iran and the United States to the path of full-scale confrontation. While they have not yet been successful in their efforts to spur Washington into violating the letter of the nuclear deal, their actions have certainly violated its spirit. Under the JCPOA, Iran committed to verifiably limit the two theoretical pathways to a bomb: uranium enrichment and plutonium production. It also agreed to the highest international standards on nuclear inspections and transparency. Iran has fully abided by these obligations, as verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency. In return, Iran was due relief from all nuclear-related sanctions. This was enshrined not only in the JCPOA, but also in UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2231, which voided all previous nuclear-related Security Council resolutions against Iran. As such, limitations on Iranian trade, banking and financial transactions were formally lifted and the Iranian people were set to begin benefiting from increased foreign investment and business. But all has not gone well so far. In the six months since the implementation of the nuclear deal, Iran has accrued important benefits. These gains include the doubling of its petroleum exports, attraction of nearly $3.5 billion in foreign investment, access to as much as $30 billion of its frozen assets, reconnection to the SWIFT network and establishment of banking relations with more than 400 foreign banks. Nevertheless, Tehran has run into serious issues when it comes to getting major international banks to facilitate the numerous trade and investment agreements it has reached aimed at boosting its economic development. The problem has been twofold. First, a US ban on dollar clearing for Iran remains in effect, preventing foreign banks wishing to deal with Iran from conducting transactions in US dollars. This has impeded banks abilities to facilitate major trade deals and repatriate frozen Iranian assets. Second, international banks and investors remain hesitant to deal with Iran due to fears that they will run afoul of remaining US sanctions or that new sanctions will be imposed down the road that may nullify their investments. One senior Iranian official recently told me that the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which oversees the implementation of the sanctions regime, continues its business at times with even more zeal and sends unsolicited warnings to business partners. He cited an example of a recent request to a Latin American bank to transfer $25 million for Iran to buy soybeans. The bank responded, We must inform you that our bank does not enter into any deal involving Iran, since said country appears on OFAC lists. JCPOA opponents have been instrumental in fostering this atmosphere of fear, which is preventing Iran from receiving effective sanctions relief. Working in tandem with hawks in the US Congress, groups such as the neoconservative Foundation for Defense of Democracies have lobbied relentlessly for upwards of 30 bills that would impose additional US sanctions and prevent trade deals with Iran from materializing. These actions run counter to the nuclear deal, which requires the United States to sustain this JCPOA and to prevent interference with the realization of the full benefit by Iran of the sanctions lifting. The efforts of the lobby in Washington opposed to Iran-US engagement have spurred strong reactions in Tehran. Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani recently declared that the time has come for Iran to counteract the actions of Congress. In this vein, he called for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to make the preparations necessary to return the countrys nuclear capabilities back to their state prior to the nuclear deal. The reality is that the JCPOA was agreed to by six major powers and mandated by a UNSC resolution. If a bill imposing new sanctions on Iran was to be passed by Congress and approved by a future president, it would result in the United States violating the deal and thereby isolating itself. Not only would the JCPOA-mandated commission charged with overseeing disputes in the deals implementation blame the United States, but Iran would also have JCPOA-stipulated grounds to follow Larijanis suggestion and engage in nuclear snapback reconstituting its previous nuclear capabilities. Consequently, the tactic of die-hard opponents of US-Iran engagement to increase sanctions on Iran is a moot effort and in fact a bluff. Their real aim is not to directly sabotage the deal, but to create an atmosphere of uncertainty predicated on threatening new non-nuclear sanctions in order to scare away international banks and companies from doing business with Iran, thereby minimizing the incentives Iran has to comply with the deal. The solution is to not fall for this psychological ploy. International banks and companies should rest assured that nuclear-related sanctions on Iran are gone for good and that there is nothing the United States can do neither now nor in the future to reimpose them without destroying its credibility at the same time. Iranian officials, meanwhile, should be careful to not play into the hands of the deals American opponents and increase uncertainty about the future of the JCPOA. Deal opponents in Washington should similarly understand that efforts to undermine the JCPOA only serve to reinforce in the minds of Iranians the notion that the United States cannot be trusted or engaged with on regional or other issues. They should also be cognizant of the fact that Iran is the last pillar in the way of regional collapse an outcome that would have existential consequences not only for regional countries but also for the West. August 3, 2016 In a scene surprising to many, a smiling Nouri al-Maliki disembarked from an Iraqi airliner July 18 in the city of Sulaimaniyah and was received by senior officials from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the two major parties in Iraqi Kurdistan. Maliki said his visit was merely a normal meeting with PUK and Gorran (Movement of Change) leaders in the wake of the two parties' having formed an alliance earlier this year. Many also noted, however, that the trip was taking place amid unconfirmed reports of his hopes of taking back the premiership from Haider al-Abadi, a fellow Islamic Dawa member and that party's leader. General elections are due to be held in 2018. Once thought as poised to become Iraq's new strongman of sorts, Maliki had to vacate the office of prime minister in 2014, with many blaming him for the dramatic territorial sweep of the Islamic State (IS) through Iraq. Defying expectations that his reluctant relinquishing of the premiership would spell his end, Maliki has been working relentlessly behind the scenes for the past two years to retain the stature of a powerful politician and is now reported to be preparing for a comeback. Maliki's visit to the Kurdistan region came at a time of deep fissures among the major Kurdish factions and disagreement over how to deal with the government in Baghdad. The two dominant parties in Sulaimaniyah, the PUK and Gorran, formed an alliance in mid-May that has put them at odds with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). Led by Massoud Barzani, acting president of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the KDP is the dominant party in the Kurdish government and has adopted rhetoric highly critical of Maliki. Whereas the KDP publicly advocates secession from Iraq, or at least greater powers for the Kurdish region in the form of a confederal structure, the PUK and Gorran favor reconciliation with Baghdad and exhausting all available options before any decision to push for statehood. Against this backdrop, many have questioned Maliki's motive for visiting PUK-Gorran representatives and ignoring the KDP at a time of such acute political rivalry among Iraqi Kurds. Whether Malikis visit was as innocent as he said or not, suspicions about his real intentions can only deepen when it is rumored that Maliki is plotting to form a new alliance with the aim of returning to power as prime minister, said Kamran Karadaghi, a veteran Iraqi Kurdish journalist and former chief of staff to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, also the PUK's leader. During his two terms as Iraqs prime minister [2006-14], Maliki became a controversial and divisive figure, Karadaghi added. As such, his Sulaimaniyah visit has stirred problems in Kurdistan. I am afraid Malikis visit has had a negative impact on efforts to overcome differences between the Kurdish parties. Maliki's past relationship with the Kurds was a troubled one, reaching a tipping point when he withheld the Kurdistan region's share of the Iraqi budget in early 2014 after the KRG sold oil independently against Baghdad's wishes. In addition, Barzani had been a main figure in attempts to unseat Maliki in 2012 in a failed no-confidence motion in the parliament. The PUK's Talabani did not support the effort to remove Maliki from power. Thus, it is of no surprise that Maliki's visit stirred controversy among the Kurds. I believe that if Maliki had good intentions, he should have visited Erbil, too, KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani told reporters July 19, expressing his doubts about what Maliki seeks to achieve by his visit. Erbil is the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan and is dominated by the KDP. It remains to be seen, however, whether Maliki is actually seeking closer relations with the PUK-Gorran alliance to effectively weaken the KDP, as some suspect. Maliki also attempted to exude an air of optimism about settling the ever-deepening disputes between the KRG and Baghdad governments. There is a lot of hope for resolving the budget dispute between Baghdad and Erbil, Maliki said during a joint news conference with Mala Bakhtiyar, a senior PUK leader, on July 18. Since we have a constitution, that means we can resolve all the problems. The budget issue can be addressed on the basis of the constitution. According to Iraq's budget laws in the past years, the KRG is entitled to around 17% of the country's budget. While KDP officials and affiliated media took the lead in slamming Maliki's visit, PUK officials have been struggling to defend their largely warm reception of him while denying that the visit had anything to do with Maliki's alleged prime ministerial ambitions or trying to deepen Kurdish discord. Maliki wants to see KRG-Baghdad relations improved, Saadi Pira, a member of the PUK's political bureau, told Al-Monitor. He was not here to discuss his premiership and gather support for [obtaining] it. Pira also downplayed critical statements by the Kurdish prime minister, saying Nechirvan Barzani had met with Maliki during Barzani's last visit to the Iraqi capital. He added that Maliki as the head of the State of Law Coalition, the largest Shiite bloc in the Iraqi parliament has an opportunity to again become premier if the Shiite groups approve, so the Kurds should not destroy their ties with him. Maliki's and other peoples visits won't create divisions in Kurdistan, Pira said. He remarked that the discord among Kurdish parties was the result of internal Kurdish disputes over power-sharing, including the posts of KRG president and parliament speaker. Gorran has led efforts to reduce Massoud Barzani's powers or, alternatively, remove him from the presidency, which triggered the KDP illegally preventing Speaker Yousif Mohammed Sadiq, a Gorran member, from entering Erbil. Whether Maliki can regain the coveted office of prime minister is unclear at this point, as he not only has strained relations with large segments of Iraq's Kurdish and Sunni communities, but also seems to have a serious popularity deficit among Shiites as well. He has been a constant subject of popular anti-corruption protests, as his government was viewed as corrupt and incompetent by many Iraqis. It also remains to be seen whether the meetings between Maliki and PUK-Gorran leaders will lead to joint efforts in the Iraqi parliament in the coming months. The PUK's Pira said his party and Gorran are committed to preserving Kurdish unity in the face of challenges emanating from Baghdad. When Abadi tried to remove Kurdish ministers from the government in March, the Kurdish parties, despite their profound internal disputes, put up a unified act in opposing the move. August 2, 2016 BAGHDAD, Iraq The Iraqi government recently announced the launch of an effort to remove signs of militarization from the country's cities. The Interior Ministry issued a statement July 17 to that effect, based on directives from Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, that included such measures as reducing the number of checkpoints and relocating military bases and offices outside the cities. Arms have been in the streets and at checkpoints, and men in military uniforms have been deployed in the cities since the 1970s, said Walid Youssef Atto, a researcher on Iraqi history. The militarization intensified significantly with the recruitment of additional soldiers for the paramilitary People's Army after President Saddam Hussein launched the war against Iran in 1980. Following Husseins ouster and the 2003 US-led invasion, the militarization of civil life again increased, perhaps peaking when the Islamic State (IS) took control of Mosul in June 2014, and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's call for Iraqis to mobilize against the extremists led to the reconstitution of previously disbanded militias and the formation of new ones. Visible signs of militarization in the cities intensified by both parties, IS fighters and militias members fighting IS, Jassem al-Moussawi, a political analyst told Al-Monitor. The militarization has [also] increased due to the war on terrorism. On the other hand, the security forces are weak, but they are deployed in all parts of Baghdad, which promotes the presence of arms in the streets. Concerning the future of militarization, Moussawi said, It is linked to the countrys security situation, the end of the war on IS and on whether or not new conflicts emerge, leading to the formation of new armed factions whose activities and presence overshadow those of the civil state institutions. Shabib Midhati, an activist in Baghdad, commented, I am an eyewitness to the militarization and transformation of the community into a military barracks, the spread of weapons and military mobilization in the streets, schools, and social and religious activities, he told Al-Monitor. Visible signs of civil life, such as art galleries, music concerts and sporting events, are rare and receive little attention from either the state or public. Midhati added, In Babil, there are no cinemas, no theaters, no billboards or artistic signs symbolizing civil life. They were replaced with signs calling on the people to join the war against IS. The visible signs of militarization in the cities point to security vulnerabilities and problems, Youssef Kallabi, a commander of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), told Al-Monitor. The PMU are not responsible for these signs, as they are not present in the cities, but rather on the battlefields. If any of the fighters displayed any visible sign of militarization, it would be an individual behavior. Saad al-Matlabi, a member of the Baghdad City Council's Security Committee, dismissed Kallabi's assertion that PMU elements were not in the cities. Some parties took advantage of the threat posed by IS to preserve their presence in the cities, including Baghdad, Matlabi told Al-Monitor, without naming names but apparently referring to the PMU. Matlabi further asserted, Whoever wears the PMU uniform in Baghdad should be arrested under the law and referred to the judiciary to be held accountable. Matlabi wants all armed forces and factions to withdraw from residential areas. There is no need for them to be present in Baghdad, and their job is to be present on the battlefield or the Baghdad belt, he said. Their presence in the capital is a threat [to civil and civilian life]. He added, The Baghdad Operations Room conducted a study on reducing the number of permanent security checkpoints in Baghdad and replacing them with temporary ones as a step toward reducing signs of militarization in Baghdad. Matlabi did not indicate whether the study's recommendations will be or have been partially implemented. Ali Sultani, a PMU member, justified visible militarization in the cities, telling Al-Monitor, Military uniforms and the display of arms in the street help citizens feel safe, letting them know that there is an armed force protecting them. The militarization is an irregular situation generated by the efforts to mobilize the community to defeat IS. Iraqi army Col. Abu Ali Hamzaoui told Al-Monitor, The community is increasingly being militarized, due to the feeling that there is a need to take up arms given the existing insecurity. Since 2003, weapons have been accumulating in the cities and among tribes in the countryside, which can be seen in the heavy presence of arms in family conflicts and at events. Majid al-Gharrawi, a member of the parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, commented, It is hard to eliminate the visible signs of militarization in the cities due to the war against IS. He also remarked, There is a need to invest in the many military positions in Iraq, particularly abandoned posts, by turning them into parks and tourist facilities, banning the carrying of arms in the cities, except for the battlefields, and prohibiting military mobilization activities at schools. August 3, 2016 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad Malki gave a speech on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas at the 27th Arab League Summit July 25 in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott. In his speech, he said that the Palestinian Authority (PA) intends to file a lawsuit against Britain in international courts for issuing the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which was used as a basis for the creation of Israel on Palestinian territories in 1948. We ask the secretariat-general of the Arab League to help us bring a case against the British government for issuing the Balfour Declaration, which resulted in the Palestinian Nakba [in 1948], Malki said. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the Nakba occurred when the Israeli forces expelled over 800,000 Palestinians from their villages and towns, forcing them to move to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and neighboring Arab countries such as Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. Israeli forces took over 774 Palestinian villages and cities, 531 of which they destroyed, and committed over 70 massacres, resulting in the death of over 15,000 Palestinians during the Nakba, according to the same source. In a written press statement published July 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the PAs attempt to sue Britain and said that Israel will work to thwart the move. He further noted that such step indicates that the essence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in the Palestinian refusal to recognize the Jewish state, whatever its borders are. Although Hamas did not make an official statement in this regard, Al-Monitor contacted Hamas leader Yahya Moussa who stressed that his movement welcomes any Palestinian action to sue Britain for issuing the Balfour Declaration. But at the same time, he said that Hamas doubts the PAs seriousness in going through with its decision. We doubt the PAs intention to sue Britain as the PA is yet to succeed in obtaining any Palestinian right through international courts and forums. So we believe it is only seeking to revive the settlement [peace] process with Israel, Moussa said. However, Wassel Abu Youssef, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), noted that Abbas is dead serious in his efforts to sue Britain for issuing the Balfour Declaration and setting the conditions in Palestine to establish the State of Israel during the British Mandate over Palestine from 1923 to 1948. Abu Youssef told Al-Monitor, The PA is now considering the mechanisms of bringing a case against Britain to the International Criminal Court, to compel it to rectify this crime. He explained that the British government has to recognize the Palestinian state, pressure Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 and put an end to the repercussions of the Balfour Declaration. He said that in the context of these repercussions, Palestinian refugees who were expelled from their homes during the 1948 Nakba are still living in countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Sweden and others, adding, So we must ensure Palestinian rights, most notably the refugees right to return. We need to hold Israel accountable for the brutal massacres it committed, such as the massacre of Deir Yassin near Jerusalem that occurred on April 9, 1948, and killed more than 250 Palestinians, and the Kafr Kassem massacre that was committed on Oct. 29, 1956, killing about 50 unarmed Palestinians. We finally need to put an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands occupied in 1967. Expert in international law Hanna Issa told Al-Monitor, The British government is yet to offer an apology for the Balfour Declaration, which shows that it does not feel guilty about it. Not only that, Britain even contributed to helping Israeli leaders escape legal punishment for their crimes against the Palestinians. Following lawsuits by human rights organizations to the British courts over the past years, former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was subpoenaed by the British police June 30 during her visit to Britain, to investigate war crimes committed during the first Israeli war on Gaza (Operation Cast Lead) that lasted from Dec. 27, 2008, until Jan. 18, 2009. However, the British government intervened to protect Livni by granting her special immunity, as the government is allowed to grant immunity to whomever it chooses. Several human rights organizations have condemned the British government for granting special immunity to Livni. In a statement published on its website July 4, the Arab Organization for Human Rights in the UK considered this act as a legal cover to protect Israelis. Commenting on the PAs measures to sue Britain, Issa said, I expect the PA to follow these successive steps; it should first resort to the [UN] Security Council to adopt a resolution condemning the Balfour Declaration which will [most probably] be vetoed by Britain since it is a permanent member of the Security Council. [In this case], the PA should then address the UN General Assembly and demand it to consider the case in accordance with the Uniting for Peace resolution [No. 377] issued in 1950, which gives the UN [General Assembly] the right to intervene if the Security Council fails to exercise [its responsibility] should one member [Britain, in this case] use its veto. The resolution gives the UN the right to review the case and make recommendations to take collective measures aimed at maintaining peace and security, and these measures include the formation of a special court to look into the case. However, Walid al-Moudallal, a political science professor at the Islamic University of Gaza, questioned the seriousness of the PAs intention to file a lawsuit against Britain, telling Al-Monitor, It was no more than an attempt at political blackmail against Britain, and an attempt to divert attention from the PAs political failure and inability to end the Israeli occupation ever since the PA was founded in 1993. He said, Since 1948 and until this day, the PA never sought this, and that is why I believe it is an attempt to push Britain into taking political measures to pressure Israel to resume peace negotiations in order to put an end to settlements and withdraw from the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967. He added, It would be better for the PA to first end all political and economic agreements with Israel, such as the Oslo Accord of 1993 and the Paris Protocol of 1994, in addition to halting security coordination as these agreements are in favor of Israel. Speaking about the possibility of Britain apologizing to the Palestinian people for issuing the Balfour Declaration, Moudallal said, I do not think Britain will apologize, because that would imply that Britain will have to abide by a set of moral and financial responsibilities toward the Palestinian people, as happened with the 1952 Luxembourg Agreement when Germany had to pay reparations to the Jews because of the Holocaust. Political analyst Eyad Qara agreed with Moudallal and said that the PAs intention to sue Britain was not serious, adding that this approach does not hold any legal dimensions. Qara said in this regard, The PA made this announcement because it feels hopeless that the international community is not interacting with all attempts to revive the peace process with the Israeli occupation the last of which was the French Peace Initiative on May 19. This is because the international community is preoccupied with the conflict in Syria. Thus I believe the PA only aims to revive the settlement process [through this step]. He added, The PA is upset as the international resolutions that are in favor of the Palestinian cause are not being implemented, such as Resolution 194 issued by the UN in 1948, which acknowledged the Palestinian refugees right to return. The PA is seeking to push Britain into taking action to implement those resolutions. August 3, 2016 Hamas has called on Saudi Arabia to prevent the normalization of relations with Israel. The appeal, which went up on Hamas' website July 31, raised eyebrows among those who understand Hamas' complicated situation and the importance of tightening relations with Saudi Arabia. The leaders of the movement, who only a year ago thanked Allah for their honorable reception at the palace of the Saudi king, now dare to rebuke the king for his relations with Israel? Relations between Hamas and Saudi Arabia grew tighter in the past year following the nuclear agreement between six world powers and Tehran. Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, who succeeded his father, then decided on a surprising strategic move and invited the leaders of Hamas, who were then persona non grata in Riyadh, to a meeting at his palace. From the king's standpoint, tightened relations with Hamas after long years of hostility for its support by Tehran would enable the Saudis to get closer to the Sunni nations and allow it direct influence on the movement controlling Gaza. Saudi Arabia already has a close relationship with the Palestinian Authority, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas. "This is Saudi Arabia's diplomatic path: to bring close any faction, movement, organization or state in the Arab world to distance them as much as possible from Tehran," one of the leaders of the Fatah movement in the West Bank told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. According to him, the Saudi king has no interest in a foothold in the Palestinian territories, but through monetary aid amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars to Gaza and Ramallah, the Saudis hope to be able to serve as a fair and influential moderator in the Arab-Israeli conflict and that one day the two sides will be receptive to the 2002 Saudi initiative for resolving the conflict the Arab Peace Initiative, which is still on the table. In recent years, Hamas has lost most of the sponsors that have helped it function and hold on to its rule in the Gaza Strip by force. After the bitter disappointment in Qatar, which did not keep its extravagant promises to Hamas after the crisis with Iran, Hamas leaders discovered that even Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is unreliable. Turkeys reconciliation agreement in June with Israel did not bring about the lifting of the siege on Gaza, despite the promises made. For Hamas, it seems that after all these disappointments, it can count only on Saudi Arabia to deliver the promised aid on time, aid that the movement requires to maintain its hold on Gaza. Last year, a mission of Hamas leaders headed by Hamas' political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal arrived in Riyadh. The meeting took place at the king's palace in Riyadh, which gave Hamas leaders the sense that the Saudi king decided on the strategic move of tightening relations with them. He received the mission for talks and even promised its leaders comprehensive aid to rehabilitate the Gaza Strip as well as a steady flow of cash to ease the situation of Gaza residents. For Meshaal and the other Hamas leaders, who had also visited Tehran in the past, this was a surprising life preserver thrown to them that saved the movement from economic collapse and loss of control over Gaza in view of the massive pressure from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. After this long preamble, we ask what led the leaders of the movement to publicly call on Saudi Arabia to refrain from normalizing relations with Israel. Did the hand of the man who composed the "announcement of rebuke" shake as he wrote it? Did he carefully consider the ramifications of provoking the Saudi sponsor? Was he aware of the danger that the wrong phrasing could anger Salman? A Fatah source who spoke with Al-Monitor argued that the decision to "sting" Saudi Arabia following the visit of retired Saudi Gen. Anwar Eshki to Israel and his publicized meeting with the director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dore Gold, was not made carelessly. In his estimation, Hamas leaders carefully considered the significance of this move. Eshki's Israel visit was received in Gaza and Qatar (where Meshaal resides) with great concern. In Hamas' full message, the movement argued that Saudi Arabia is normalizing relations with Israel and in effect accepts the continuing siege on Gaza and forgives Israel for its aggressive actions, including entering sites holy to Islam (meaning Al-Aqsa Mosque). It seems that with this phrasing, Hamas leaders hoped not to break all relations with Saudi Arabia and to ensure that its support of the organization in Gaza won't diminish and its funding won't be cut off or be damaged. The decision to formulate a message that can only be seen as a light rebuke of the Saudi king was made out of grave concern that Saudi Arabia is growing closer to Israel and that it, too, may cut off the sole source of oxygen remaining for Hamas from the Arab world and anywhere else. The message to Saudi Arabia was meant to express to Salman Hamas' dissatisfaction over the kingdom is tightening its relations with Israel (and with Egypt) even though the siege on the Gaza Strip continues. Hamas wants to connect the tightening of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel and the lifting of the siege on Gaza, or at least to achieve some significant relief. Hamas leaders hope that the Saudis, the leaders of the Sunni world, will feel discomfort at the warming of relations with Israel while 1.8 million Palestinians who live in Gaza suffer from Israel's treatment. The message of rebuke in fact urges the Saudi king to show pan-Arab Sunni responsibility, to use the new ties with Israel and to work to remove the siege. Thus, Hamas took a calculated risk. "Anyone who has eyes and ears knows they have no choice," the Palestinian source told Al-Monitor. Hamas will see the results of this calculated risk next month when the time comes for Saudi Arabia's expected monthly transfer of funds to Gaza. August 3, 2016 Since the failed coup last month, drastic changes in Turkey have become mundane. But at least 4,000 students are expected to be affected by a July 31 emergency decree to close all military high schools and military academies. The four military high schools were highly competitive to enter and graduate from. Most of them were established during the Ottoman era, representing a 200-year-old legacy. The schools are being closed because the government believes that they have been infiltrated by the so-called Fethullah Gulen Terror Organization (FETO) and that about 95% of the student body identifies with FETO. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government is convinced these schools cannot be rehabilitated. Indeed, there has been news about stolen entry exam questions not only for military schools but also for several government institutions at a systemic level for a decade or so. More victims of FETO have been coming out every day in Turkey since the July 15 coup failed. One of the youngest group of victims are those who were coerced to leave military schools after suffering years of bullying and discrimination at the hands of FETO-member superiors. Since 2006, these students have organized themselves under the banner "Platform of Dismissed and Discharged Students from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK)." They have been struggling to raise awareness of mobbing, or bullying by crowds, and they demand that their reputations be restored. In addition, as they were discharged or dismissed from state-owned military schools, these students were required to pay heavy fines of 10,000 to 70,000 Turkish liras (roughly $3,000 to $23,000), depending on how many years of schooling they received. In a 2011 interview with the daily Radikal, platform member Tugrul Yildirim said, I entered military high school at the age of 14 with the desire to serve my country. Then I was dismissed arbitrarily. Now I see the person [who dismissed me] is in custody due to the Ergenekon case. Most victims at the time were not sure how this systematic discrimination was being organized, and most of these cadets and their families concluded the real goal was to eventually shut down the military high schools. In an odd way, it seems FETO accomplished at least one of its goals. Al-Monitor spoke with six of these former cadets and compiled their accounts from various news outlets. The main alleged reasons why the students were discharged after months of bullying are threefold: discipline problems, academic failure and health reasons. Batuhan Ayirtman, a 2009 graduate of military high school, was dismissed from the Air Force Academy in 2010. Ayirtman told Al-Monitor, It all started with emotional and physical hardships. You are doomed to lose, whatever you do. For example, although I would have a fine haircut, my superior would send me off to the barber claiming my hair was not up to code. I would receive a disciplinary penalty for this. Then when I ran off to the barber, the officer there would write me up for missing class, telling me I did not need a haircut. Ayirtman's story was similar to those of all the dismissed cadets Al-Monitor interviewed: A select group of cadets exclusively were subjected to hard punishment. He said, I suffered from several arbitrary requests from my superiors. Along with cruel physical demands, there were also repetitive verbal abuses. All of these acts of bullying were carried out so Ayirtman would quit on his own. Indeed, hundreds of cadets caved in and agreed to quit. When Ayirtman proved resilient, the military doctors declared him unfit to continue his education, he said. Onur Berber, a 2010 graduate of military high school, was dismissed from the Army Military Academy in 2012. Berber then finished college in two years and is now an engineer. He told Al-Monitor that during his time in the academy he had also been bullied and suffered cruel punishment for arbitrary disciplinary charges. He was finally told he could not finish his first year due to his academic standing. Several of the former cadets complained that cheating on exams was common and encouraged among students believed to be associated with FETO. Students who agreed to join FETO were given the questions and answers prior to exams. To top this off, bullied students multiple-choice exam results were altered, the cadets said. To prevent this, victims decided to use pens rather than pencils. But using pens disqualified them since it was against the school code, which meant not only failing the exams, but also receiving disciplinary punishment. These students also were commonly accused of smoking, drinking alcohol, being gay or having pornographic material at school, the former cadets told Al-Monitor. In April 2012, the Turkish parliament even agreed to investigate some students' allegations about unresolved cases of mysterious deaths. Several of the students Al-Monitor interviewed have managed to rebuild their lives and attend fine colleges, yet their sustained financial and emotional losses are still visible. Now with the failed coup, most of the former cadets seem confident their voices will be heard. Although most of them are now too old to go back to military school, younger ones still yearn for their right to return. They all demand a formal apology because they have suffered years of ridicule for being discharged from the armed forces. It is also crucial for them to have the financial obligations waived. Emotional and physical bullying was not confined to military students; it also affected young conscripts and even officers who failed to agree with FETO. A 29-year-old female air force officer, Nazligul Dastanoglu, committed suicide in 2012, a day after she was discharged for alleged promiscuous behavior despite a lack of evidence or due process. Her family tried to seek justice for the psychological torment she suffered, but had no success during the past four years. On July 28, her mother told the press that the men who unfairly discharged her daughter are among the coup plotters and are FETO members. Rumors that senior officers bullied young and uneducated conscripts are spreading in Ankara. One doctor who retired from the military in 2015 told Al-Monitor, I observed it several times, where conscripts were brought to us almost in a state of shock, unable to speak or move. Most of the time, this kind of shock can be seen in people who are not prepared for combat. But these conscripts had not been at the front. When we asked, we almost always heard they were scared during training. But this is beyond being scared; most of these conscripts had been literally tortured by their superiors who were there to train and guide them. There are allegations that FETO members worked in teams to intimidate the young conscripts into joining their ranks. A senior law enforcement officer told Al-Monitor, As more victims and their families speak out, we can find more members of FETO in the military and bring them to justice. The youngest victims of FETO are the ones discharged from what used to be respected institutions in Turkey. For a decade, these dismissed cadets and their families have suffered financially and emotionally. The failed coup could be a turning point for them to finally find justice and some sort of closure. August 3, 2016 DIYARBAKIR, Turkey Tens of thousands of people flocked to Station Square in Diyarbakir, Turkeys largest Kurdish-majority city, July 31 for the biggest gathering there since a twin bomb attack bloodied a pre-election rally of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) last year. For the first time since the deadly attack, the HDP held a rally at the venue to denounce the July 15 coup attempt, but to also warn Ankara against straying from the path of democracy. Months-long clashes between Kurdish militants and the security forces have left Diyarbakir a wounded city, with the HDP ostracized and snubbed by the government in Ankara. Still, rally-goers vocally condemned the coup bid against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), brandishing banners that urged both democratic resistance against the coup and radical democracy in its aftermath. With enthusiasm written all over his face, rally-goer Nevzat Ozgen told Al-Monitor, Lending a shoulder to the democracy camp and being part of it is a duty for anyone who calls himself a human. Im here to say no to coups and wars in our region. Im here in the name of democracy, freedoms, humanity and living [peacefully] side by side. The aftermath of the failed putsch has seen daily anti-coup rallies across Turkey, and the toxic climate between the AKP and the opposition has thawed to some extent amid universal condemnation of the coup. The HDP, however, has been excluded from a number of initiatives to forge national unity, including a meeting Erdogan convened with opposition leaders in his palace and a big rally scheduled for Aug. 7 in Istanbul. Similarly, Erdogan has withdrawn libel cases against people accused of insulting him, excluding HDP members. Nevertheless, the HDP and the Kurds have taken to the streets to denounce the coup attempt. The string of rallies began in Istanbul July 23 and continued in the Kurdish-majority southeast, with the largest one in Diyarbakir. HDP leaders attending the July 31 rally called for the revival of peace talks to resolve the Kurdish conflict and an end to a ban on visits to Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) who is serving a life sentence on the prison island of Imrali, not far from Istanbul. Imralis isolation should end and a true peace process should resume. Our calls regarding Ocalans isolation are not propaganda, but a call for a settlement, HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas said, as many in the crowd chanted slogans praising Ocalan, who was reportedly on the assassination list of the putschists. Demirtas stressed that standing up against the coup did not amount to supporting the AKP but support for the struggle for democracy and the peoples yearning for freedom. He warned Erdogan and the ruling party against using the putsch as a pretext to clamp down on opponents and build a one-man rule. One does not become a democrat by opposing coups only. One has to also advocate first-class democracy with no strings attached. We are against coups, but we are also against dictatorship and the governments repression, Demirtas said. Turkey, he stressed, is at a critical juncture with an historic opportunity for national reconciliation on one side and a minefield down the road of more conflict on the other. Turkeys people have united against the coup, which is great. But how are we going to build on this unity? Thats the critical point. A historic opportunity will be squandered if the AKP stoops to slyness and cheapness to [exploit this unity] to build its own one-man rule, Demirtas said. The second path is to put Turkey on the course of settlement, democracy and peace. The two paths are very much distinct, and which one is taken will become clear in the imminent hours and days, he said. We are against coups, but we are not as naive as to keep silent about the AKPs mistakes. Thats why weve taken to the squares. Demirtas lamented that the HDP rallies had been ignored in the media, saying, You speak of a democracy festival, but while you broadcast your own rallies live on dozens of channels, you dont even briefly mention the HDPs rallies in the evening news. The Diyarbakir rally was also largely ignored by the media, barring Kurdish outlets. At his next rally in Van the following day, Demirtas reiterated concerns over Ocalans well-being and pressed Ankara to allow visits. Addressing both the AKP and the two fellow opposition parties in parliament, Demirtas warned against a post-coup alliance to crush the HDP. Dont confuse us with the Gulen community and the crazed murderers [who attempted the coup], he said. Our cause is a legitimate one. We want our rights. Come to your senses and respond to our peace calls so we can take this state to safety together. August 3, 2016 Turkey has sent multiparty parliamentary delegations to half a dozen Western countries, including the United States, Canada and Britain, to explain the Erdogan governments massive crackdown following a failed July 15 coup and press the US government for extradition of opposition figure Fethullah Gulen. In Washington on Aug. 1, Taha Ozhan, a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and chairman of the parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee, told a small audience at The Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research, a think tank that is close to the Turkish government, that almost 99% of Turks think the coup was orchestrated by Gulen himself. Echoing the governments line since the coup attempt, Ozhan likened the Gulenists to the group that calls itself the Islamic State (IS) and said they are operating in more than 100 countries where the Gulen movement has set up schools. He also noted that Turkey and the United States have a treaty on extradition and asserted that under the treaty, Gulen, 75, who has lived in the rural Pennsylvania community of Saylorsburg since 1999, should be in custody while an extradition process unfolds. Mr. Gulen should be detained and not allowed to speak to the international media, Ozhan said. Gulen has repeatedly denied any involvement in the coup, in which nearly 300 people were killed. The Barack Obama administration has condemned the coup attempt but has not given an opinion on who was behind it. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Aug. 2 that the United States has received documents from the Turkish government in support of its request to extradite Gulen but US authorities are still analyzing those documents, and I dont believe that a judgment is made one way or the other yet in terms of whether its formal extradition. Gulen, a former Muslim imam and leader of a movement that stresses education and tolerance of other religions, was once an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and supported earlier purges of the military as the AKP consolidated power against Turkeys former secular elite. In late 2013, however, the two had a falling out after Gulen followers leaked tapes of Erdogan and his son discussing corruption cases and apparent money laundering. In the lead-up to the coup attempt, the Turkish government closed numerous Gulen-backed publications and arrested scores of journalists. Many Turks see Gulen followers as members of a cult and assert that they burrowed into Turkish institutions, including the military, judiciary and educational systems, benefiting from their earlier collaboration with the AKP. In the aftermath of the coup, the government has detained or fired more than 40,000 people. The Obama administration and other Western governments have expressed concern about the depth of the purges and the impact on Turkeys ability to assist the US-led coalition against IS. For a week, Turkish authorities cut off external electric power to an air base at Incirlik that the US Air Force has used to conduct raids on IS targets in Iraq and Syria for the past year. Turkish media has denounced the United States as responsible for the coup either directly or indirectly. The Obama administration has sought to defuse the crisis by sending Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to Ankara. Members of the parliamentary delegation to Washington, who included representatives of the center-left Republican People's Party (CHP) and nationalist-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) but not the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party did not accuse the United States of direct responsibility for the coup attempt but expressed concern about the trajectory of US-Turkey ties. Opposition party members said they would monitor the ruling partys actions to make sure that those dismissed from their jobs or arrested were actually adherents of the Gulen movement. We are going to monitor and be very careful about the law, Oguz Kaan Salici of the CHP told Al-Monitor. Everybody has a right to due process." Ozhan defended the large-scale crackdown on Turkish institutions, saying, It is not an easy and clear job to fight against them [because] a schoolteacher can be higher [in the organization] than a general. He also called Gulenists messianic terrorists. Those invited to the event were given copies of a booklet called FETOs Coup Attempt in Turkey that outlined events on the night of July 15 and early July 16. FETO refers to what the Turkish government calls the "Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization." According to the booklet, FETO claims to be a provider of education, and its members governed by a strong infrastructure promote themselves abroad as volunteers of education and peace. However, when we look at the organization, they conceal their real identities in Turkey and other relevant countries as they settle into critical state institutions. Aaron Stein, an expert on Turkey at the Atlantic Council, another Washington think tank the delegation visited, told Al-Monitor, FETO is a term that the Turkish government began to use about a year ago to describe the parallel state, or Gulen movement. The term coincided with the designation of Gulenists as a terror group and their addition to Turkey's Red Book, or national security document, which lists the threats to the Republic. FETO was included in 2015, alongside the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party] and ISIS [IS]. The US State Department does not include FETO on its list of terrorist organizations. Stein added, The problem is that the AKP and FETO used to be close allies, belying simplistic characterizations both in Turkey and in the West. An egg company with ties to Alabama will be under new ownership this fall. (File photo) Cal-Maine Foods will acquire Foodonics International, doing business as Dixie Egg Company, for an undisclosed price. The transaction should close in early October. Dixie Egg Company's assets include commercial egg production and processing facilities with the capacity of about 1.6 million laying hens and related feed production in Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Its sister plant, Dixie Egg Company of Alabama, operates in Dothan and distributes more than 15 million dozen eggs throughout the state, Florida Panhandle, Louisiana and Mississippi each year. The Jackson, Miss., firm will also buy the Egg-Land's Best franchise that serves markets in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, Bahamas and Cuba. Cal-Maine, the country's largest fresh egg producer and distributor, focuses on conventional, cage-free, organic and nutritionally-enhanced fresh shell eggs. Its primary markets include the Southwest, Southeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. The company's fiscal 2016 net sales were $1,908.7 million, up from $1,576.1 million a year earlier, while net income was $316.0 million compared to $161.3 million in 2015. Dolph Baker, chairman, president and CEO of Cal-Maine Foods, said the business is looking forward to new market opportunities. "We will also look for additional markets for specialty eggs and continue to enhance our product mix in line with customer demand," he said last month. "Importantly, our strong balance sheet provides us with the flexibility to pursue acquisitions and additional growth opportunities that add value to our operations." AX216_3395_9.JPG Good People Coffee Oatmeal Flavored Stout, Blue Pants English Style Barleywine, Salty Nut Hop Naughty India Pale Ale, Yellowhammer Lost Highway Black Lager, Straight to Ale Brother Joseph's Dubbel, Fairhope 51 Pale Ale and Back 40 Trade Day Cuban Coffee Stout. (Matt Wake/mwake@al.com) An Alabama grassroots organization is concerned a new proposal by the state Alcohol Beverage Control Board would infringe on consumer privacy if passed. Free the Hops issued a statement this week in response to a mandate that could potentially require in-state breweries and brewpubs that sell beer for off-premise consumption to record sensitive information, such as the purchaser's name, address, phone number and date of birth. The proposal is available for viewing now on the ABC Board website. Nick Hudson, president of Free the Hops, said the proposal should be "highly concerning, not only to craft beer consumers, but to all people throughout the state." "As nonsensical as it might seem, this rule would essentially empower the ABC Board to come to an individual's house to confirm his or her purchase of a six pack of beer," he said. "One can't help but ask, why? The members of Free the Hops fully oppose this proposed rule. It represents an unprecedented, unnecessary, and overreaching invasion of privacy. It is something that unfairly targets beer consumers, but also, frankly, has frightening implications for everyone." Free the Hops is asking its members and supporters to contact the ABC Board via snail mail or email by Sept. 7 to help stop the rule from going into effect. Dean Argo, government relations and communications manager for the ABC Board in Montgomery, said the board will consider all public input on the proposal at its next meeting, which is in late September. Argo would not comment publicly on why the record-keeping proposal is up for consideration. "(The board) will look at that proposal and then the board can either make changes to that proposal by removing certain portions or it could choose to delay vote or it could choose to scrap the entire proposal," he said. "If the board makes changes to it, then it would have to be readvertised and public input would have to be taken at that point." Free the Hops launched in 2004 and helped pass the Gourmet Beer Bill, which bumped the alcohol by volume in beer up from 6 to 13.9 percent in 2009. Two years later, the group celebrated the passage of the Brewery Modernization Act, which allowed breweries to sell beer on-premises like a brewpub. In May 2012, lawmakers approved the Gourmet Bottle Bill, permitting the sale of bottles up to 25.4 ounces. Home brewing became legal in May 2013, removing Alabama from the short list of states that outlawed the practice. Gov. Robert Bentley signed House Bill 176 in March to allow breweries that make less than 60,000 barrels per year to sell up to 288 ounces of its beer per customer per day for off-premise consumption. The law went into effect June 1. Argo said the ABC Board has already received a lot of feedback on the proposed rule Free the Hops is fighting. "All of that public input will be considered by the board before any action is taken," he said. "Free the Hops and these other groups that are soliciting opposition, they're merely going through that process of providing the board public input." Etowah County Coroner Michael Head is facing felony charges after a search warrant was executed on his Gadsden home by drug enforcement agents. Michael Head The Etowah County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a search on the residence on 305 Mistletoe Hollow Road Tuesday evening. Spokeswoman Natalie Barton said Head is being detained at the Etowah County Detention Center. She said tonight's search is part of an ongoing investigation. John Simon Head, 26, was arrested at the scene and is also facing felony charges, Barton said. Barton said more details will be released after official charges have been filed. A female received life-threatening injuries following a shooting in East Lake Tuesday night. Birmingham police said the female was sitting in a white vehicle on 79st Place South when she was shot around 8:45 p.m. She was transported to UAB Hospital. Police said a suspect has not been caught or identified. No one else was sitting in the car with the victim when the shooting occurred. Police officers don't know what caused the shooting. They are currently at the scene looking for evidence. The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles took about 80 seconds Wednesday to deliberate and deny parole for Thomas E. Blanton, the last surviving KKK member convicted in the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Baptist Church in Birmingham that killed four little girls. The two-member board heard from family of the four girls - Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Denise McNair - and prosecutors who opposed parole for the 78-year-old Blanton, who was convicted in 2001. No one showed up to support Blanton's parole request. Prisoners do not appear at the hearings. Blanton is serving his sentence at the St. Clair County Correctional Facility. Parole Board Chairman Cliff Walker said that the board has set off Blanton's next chance at parole for five years - until 2021. The board could have set it off for one year, but chose the maximum time (five years), he said. Dianne Robertson Braddock, sister of Carole Robertson, said after the hearing she plans to be at that next parole hearing. During the hearing Braddock told the board she was upset after receiving the letter from the parole board regarding Blanton's request for parole. She said that Blanton walked around 38 years before he was convicted and has only served 15 years of his four life sentences. "It is appalling. It is shocking. It is very sorrowful and it's very upsetting to not only me and my family, but this nation," Braddock said. Braddock understands Blanton is allowed a shot a parole under Alabama law, but told the board it would be a "travesty of justice" to release him from prison and basically "exonerate" him from completing his sentence. Carole Robertson was a 14-year-old student who had just started the ninth grade at Parker High School, Braddock said of her sister. She was a decorated Girl Scout, a teen leader in Jack and Jill of America, a member of the science club, sang in the choir at the church, and had been practicing her clarinet to play in the marching band, she said. Robertson was among a group of students summer before the bombing took her life to talk about diversity and how teenagers could work to bring about change, Braddock said. "My parents never recovered from the loss of their youngest child," Braddock said. Lisa McNair, younger sister of Denise McNair, choked back tears as she represented her parents Chris and Maxine McNair at the hearing. "This has been a legacy of pain in our family for our whole lives," she said. McNair said that while she was born after Denise was killed, she told the board "I have had to watch my parents and their grief my whole life." McNair said have no ill-will or malice toward Blanton but he needs to continue to serve his life sentence. "So there's a whole community, hundreds of people, who suffer from what this man did in anger and in hate. And that is not God's way. That is not the American Way and he deserves to stay in jail for what he did, not to mention the fact that he has expressed no guilt, no remorse and no sorrow for such a heinous crime." Sarah Collins Rudolph, who was 12 and years old and was blinded in one eye by the blast and her sister Addie Mae was killed, also told the parole board that Blanton needs to stay in prison. "God saw fit to spare my left eye," Rudolph said. The fact that 21 other people were injured never gets mentioned, Rudolph said. "I began to hate people because of what had happened that Sunday morning and that hate went inside of me for a long time," Rudolph said. That hate had lived inside her for years until God "pulled it" out of her, she said. Rudolph said after the hearing that Blanton had corresponded with her husband in two letters a few years ago. But her husband, George Rudolph, said Blanton denied any responsibility for the bombing in those letters. Prosecutors also told the board that a message needed to be sent with denial of Blanton's parole. "Whether it's racial issues, whether it's gender issues, whether it is terrorist activities similar to what Mr. Blanton perpetrated in 1963, the message is that we have to stop the hate and we will punish those who kill or maim in the name of hate," said Doug Jones the former U.S. Attorney designated to prosecute Blanton. "And the message I think that has to be sent is that the state of Alabama is not going to tolerate that hate of any kind, anymore. We are a better people and we will continue to be a better people." Jones also prosecuted Bobby Frank Cherry in 2002 for the bombing. Cherry and Robert "Dynamite Bob" Chambliss, who had been convicted for the bombing in 1977, both died in prison. Alabama Chief Deputy Attorney General Alice Martin also asked that the life sentences be enforced. "The cold blooded callousness of this hate crime has not diminished by the passage of time nor is any punishment sufficient to expunge the evil that was released," she said. Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon Falls said that Blanton has not served his debt to society. "This was a crime against four children. This was a crime against a church and its congregation. This was a crime against an entire race of people," he said. Many in the Birmingham community were not yet born when the bombing happened, Falls said. "But we all share one thing; we inherited this crime, this sin, this atrocity. It is something we are known for because we are part of the Birmingham community," he said. At the end of the comments, Walker said the board was going into executive session to consider Blanton's parole. Walker turned off the microphone, turned to board member Eddie Cook leaned in whispered for about 80 seconds. Walker then turned the microphone back on and announced the decision to applause from the audience. Arthur Price, the current pastor of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, said on Tuesday that while Blanton was entitled to a hearing "we feel the punishment should fit the crime." The church became a symbol and staging ground for the children's march in May of 1963 - a peaceful march by young people that ended when Birmingham's police commissioner Bull Connor ordered fire hoses and police dogs unleashed on the marchers - leaving the nation with unforgettable images. "We believe because of that the church became a symbol and a target," Price said. Then, 18 days after the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, at which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, the church was bombed. "All that did was to motivate the church and galvanize a movement for justice for all people," Price said. At Blanton's trial in 2001, the biggest piece of evidence against him were secretly recorded FBI tapes from the 1960s in which he told his then-wife that he had been at a meeting where "we planned the bomb." The parole board also had received letters from relatives of the little girls and others who opposed his release. Less than half of inmates seeking parole are granted it in any given year. According to its last annual report the board in fiscal year 2015 considered 5,958 paroles, of which 2,236 were granted. Once on parole and in the community the inmates fall under the supervision of the agency's probation and parole officers. Alabama Department of Corrections had 24,120 inmates in its facilities as of April. Suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore on Tuesday released the memos he sent to fellow justices last year urging them to act on a pending petition to bar state probate judges from issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Portions of the memos have been redacted, but in the portions that weren't, he quotes from Shakespeare, a Kentucky probate clerk Kim Davis, a U.S. Supreme Court justice and an anti-Nazi theologian. The memos were issued months after the U.S. Supreme Court had declared same-sex marriage legal nationwide in the case Obergefell v. Hodges. Moore was suspended May 6 after the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) filed judicial ethics charges against him for a Jan. 6 administrative order to probate judges. In that order he stated that a March 2015 Alabama Supreme Court order banning the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples was still in place. Moore said he wasn't defying the U.S. Supreme Court or federal courts with that order. And in a filing last week to the Alabama Court of the Judiciary, which will hear the ethics complaint against him, Moore explained what was happening in the months before he issued his January order and included excerpts from the memos he had sent to fellow justices last fall urging them to act - one way or another. On Monday, at the request of the JIC, the chief judge of the Alabama Court of the Judiciary (COJ), Michael Joiner, ordered Moore to submit to him by 5 p.m. Tuesday the full, un-redacted, copies of the memos he sent to his fellow justices on Sept. 2 and Oct. 7. Joiner said he would then decide what, if anything, should be left un-redacted. Moore's lawyers in Tuesday's response state that Moore is opposed to disclosing the full un-redacted memos and asks that the JIC's motion to disclose them be denied. The two memos submitted Tuesday still contained redacted portions - 88 words in one and 40 words in the other, according to Moore's filing. Moore's attorneys did provide un-redacted copies of the memos to Joiner for his review, along with the proposed redacted versions, according to an order Wednesday denying the JIC's request. The Alabama Supreme Court had issued an order in March 2015 - before the U.S. Supreme Court decision - telling probate judges not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The order was issued in response to a petition by the Alabama Policy Institute (API) and other groups opposed to gay marriage. On June 29, days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the Alabama Supreme Court asked for parties in the API case to file briefs on how the Obergefell decision affected its March 2015 order. Briefs were submitted, but after there was no action by the Alabama Supreme Court, Moore began urging his fellow justices to act, according to the memos. In his Sept. 2, 2015 memo Moore stated he has been "watching with great interest developments in Kentucky as County Clerk Kim Davis refuses to issue same-sex marriage licenses as a matter of religious conscience." Moore then noted an AL.com column by a spokesman for Equality Alabama that "clearly suggested that the same pressure placed on Kim Davis will soon be directed against Alabama probate judges ... who do not bow to Obergefell (U.S. Supreme Court same-sex marriage case)." "As I have said before, Obergefell is particularly egregious because it mandates submission in violation of religious conscience (ask Kim Davis)," Moore told the justice in that Sept. 2 memo. "Either go along or be disqualified from holding public office. In the near future Christians like Clerk Kim Davis will be driven out of public life, forced to forsake their faith or their livelihood." Moore also cited U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in his minority opinion that Obergefell "will be used to vilify Americans who are unwilling to assent to the new orthodoxy" and "to stamp out every vestige of dissent." "The suppression of all dissent is now underway," Moore stated. Moore also cited anti-Nazi theologian Martin Niemoller and Shakespeare's "Julius Ceasar" in urging his fellow justices to act on the API petition. Updated at 6:05 a.m. Aug. 4, 2016 to note Moore had filed un-redacted copies to Joiner for private review by the judge and that Joiner denied JIC's motion on Wednesday Babs Christy John Christy Babs and John Christy at the Mad Scientist Ball. (AL.com file photo) A professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville donated a $10,000 award he received to a charity organization help started by his late wife. John Christy, a distinguished professor of atmospheric science and director of the Earth System Science Center at UAH, made the donation to the Christian Women's Job Corps of Madison County, the school announced Tuesday. Christy's late wife, Babs, helped create the organization in 1998. She passed away in 2014. The CWJC helps women of all faiths develop skills to improve their lives and holds a special place in Christy's heart just as it did in his wife's. "The organization basically provides opportunities for unemployed and unskilled women to gain needed skills for the job market," Christy said in the announcement. "Babs served in many capacities -- from one-on-one mentoring to several board positions, including president. It was a real mission in her life." Christy recently received the Science & Environmental Policy Project's Frederick Seitz Memorial Award, which recognizes important contributions to the advancement of the understanding of earth's environment. Christy, a well-known atmospheric scientist who has become a controversial figure because of his stance opposing the belief of man-made climate change, helps produce monthly data that tracks global temperatures. "This recognizes a basic principle in science," he said. "In a sense, it's an award for someone who lets observations and data tell us about climate change, and making that known in many public venues." A Boaz man serving a life sentence for the 1996 murder of a Huntsville car dealer has a chance at freedom next month. A Sept. 20 parole hearing has been set for 40-year-old Burman Lee Akers Jr., who is serving a life sentence for felony murder. Akers, then 20, was on leave after finishing boot camp with the U.S. Air Force on Sept. 7, 1996, when he killed 49-year-old Robert Carl Hartman in his office at Hartman Motors. Akers killed Hartman, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, after a loan from a Texas bank did not come through for him to buy a Camaro he had spotted on Hartman's car lot, located in an annex of the LBJ Auto Parts building at 433 N. Memorial Parkway. After the murder, he tried to clean up the crime scene and hide Hartman's body before stealing the man's wallet, the Camaro and paperwork that he thought would show he had bought the car. The victim's son found his body when he failed to show up later that day for a relative's wedding. Hartman had been slashed nine times in the throat. Huntsville police investigators were able to trace the crime back to Akers through evidence at the scene, including the ribbon in a blood-smeared typewriter. When they went to Boaz, they found the missing Camaro parked in front of Akers' parents' house. There was blood on the clothes Akers had worn the day of the crime, as well as on the title paperwork for the car. Akers claimed at trial that he panicked when Hartman pulled a pistol on him after the loan officer from the Texas bank failed to call them back about the car's financing. He alleged that he stabbed Hartman during a struggle for the gun, which he hid in a briefcase in a wall cabinet as he cleaned up the crime scene. Investigators testified, however, that there was no blood on the holstered .38-caliber pistol they found in the briefcase. Prosecutors sought a capital murder conviction for Akers, which would have meant either the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. A felony murder conviction typically allows a defendant a chance at parole after 20 years in prison. Akers' case is not the only one from Huntsville going before the parole board on Sept. 20. The board will also hear the case of Jeffrey Franklin, who bludgeoned to death his parents and critically injured three of his siblings as a teenager in 1998. Moon Express.JPG The logo of Moon Express, the first private company to be licensed by the U.S. government to land a probe on the moon. (Moon Express) The U.S. government has licensed the private company Moon Express Inc. to send a robot to the moon in 2017. It's the first time a private business has been authorized to land on the lunar surface. Moon Express was founded in 2010 by Dr. Bob Richards, dot com entrepreneur Naveen Jain and technology developer Dr. Barney Pell. The company plans to mine moon rocks, metals and "precious resources" for return to Earth within 15 years, Jain said on the Moon Express website. It will launch three probes to the moon beginning in 2017, the company says, using a rocket developed by Rocket Lab USA. "The Moon Express 2017 mission approval is a landmark decision by the U.S. government and a pathfinder for private sector commercial missions beyond the Earth's orbit," Richards said today. "We are now free to set sail as explorers to Earth's eighth continent, the moon, seeking new knowledge and resources to expand Earth's economic sphere for the benefit of all humanity." The company signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force in 2016 for use of its Cape Canaveral launch complexes for its missions. The U.S. government paid $400 million to Iran in January just as four Americans detained in the country were released, according to reports. The Wall Street Journal reported the cash transfer was paid as part of a $1.7 billion settlement from the Obama administration related to a failed 1979 arms deal that took place just before revolutionaries overthrew the Shah. State Department spokesman John Kirby said the cash transfer had nothing to do with the release of the four Americans - Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian; Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine; Christian pastor Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari. "The funds that were transferred to Iran were related solely to the settlement of a long-standing claim," Kirby told the Wall Street Journal. U.S. officials acknowledged, however, that the Iranians negotiating the prisoner release wanted to payment to show they had gained something tangible. President Barack Obama did not disclose the $400 million payment when he announced on Jan. 17 that the arms deal matter was resolves. The payment was apparently made up of euros, Swiss francs and other currencies because U.S. law forbids transactions involving American dollars and Iran. Lawmakers - as well as GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump - have already jumped on the disclosure. Fleeing fighting and cut off from aid, Myanmars internally displaced seek protection from violence and exploitation. Bhamo, Kachin State, Myanmar Morning arrives slowly at Pan Kha Kho refugee camp. It takes a moment for the lemon sun to creep over the horizon, pausing before rising to reveal rows of corrugated-iron roofs lining the valley ahead. Pan Kha Kho is one of nearly 200 camps for internally displaced people in Myanmars northernmost Kachin State. These temporary shelters are now home to more than 100,000 people, forced to flee their villages owing to violent clashes between the Myanmar Armed Forces (or Tatmadaw) and a group of fighters known as the Kachin Independence Army(KIA). Following the collapse of a 17-year ceasefire, the two forces resumed fighting in 2011. In response, the Tatmadaw banned aid agencies from entering KIA territory, cutting off access to humanitarian support for the local population. We had no choice. The soldiers came and they took over my home, said Jing Qwan, 36, a midwife from Maumo township. I grabbed my daughter by the hand and we ran to find safety here at the camp. But thats when the trouble really began. Lawless territory As she sorted methodically through a pile of red chillies, Qwan, weeping, described how a group of soldiers entered the camp and raped her five-year-old daughter. I came home and I found her collapsed on the floor. She got sick several times. Then I noticed the cuts and bruises on her legs. She can remember every detail. She is terrified those men will come back, said Qwan. The judicial vacuum in this part of Myanmar means that there are no structures in place for women such as Qwan to report their case or hold perpetrators to account. David Mathieson, senior Myanmar researcher at Human Rights Watch, says that these allegations are consistent with cases they have documented. Human rights violations continue, with the Burmese military abusing civilians, including sexual violence and extrajudicial executions, he said, referring to the country by its former name. These abuses take place in an environment of military impunity, another factor that makes internally displaced people too fearful to return to their homes. Silence and exploitation For those who act as witnesses to cases such as these, the consequences can be severe. Mai Ja, 21, explained how she and her one-year-old daughter had received death threats from other members of the camp since she acted as a witness in a rape case involving a 73-year-old woman in her community. She said her husband, a drug and alcohol addict, beat her when he found out that she had provided a statement to the camp manager. Myanmar: Steps towards peace? I want to run away from this life, she said, her eyes fixed on the floor, but I have nowhere else to go. Amnesty Internationals Myanmar researcher Laura Haigh says the lack of a judicial structure in the camps discourages many from reporting cases. The culture of silence that surrounds sexual and gender-based violence means that many cases remain underreported and, when reported, perpetrators remain unpunished, said Haigh. This is because impunity for state officials is rooted in Myanmars legal framework and because victims and their families face threats and intimidation when they speak out, she added. This has to change. Uw Ha Tha, the security manager at the Mai Khang camp, 120km south of the border with China, recounts the rapid increase in prostitution networks in the past year. He has received reports of girls as young as 11 being lured into sex work, and said they earn five or six times the wage of a tea shop waitress around $15 per client. Every evening, I see cars drive around the perimeter of the camp. The girls huddle close to the gate and then the car door opens and they are driven away, he said, describing the recruitment methods used by the leaders of these networks. Many of the girls become addicted to drugs. Or they are drawn in by the flashy cars, dinners and clothes. Some simply want an occupation, said Tha, adding that his deepest fear is for the future of the young people living at the camp. These girls have no home, no education and no work. What else can they do? Forced labour, displacement Many women and girls in Kachin State are forced to find low-paid work to support their families, often in tea shops, on construction sites or as domestic workers for wealthy families elsewhere in the region. Following the murder of her parents, Jai Ka, 14, sought work as a live-in au pair for a Chinese family. There, she said, she was beaten for making minor errors and forced to work additional hours, unpaid. I earned $3 per day, working from 6am to 6pm. If I made even the smallest mistake, they would refuse to pay me for that day, she said. Now I work with my 10-year-old sister, carrying cement for construction workers near our camp. It is tough work, but we feel safer here, said Ka. Acts of violence are not only committed within the camps, but also as people are fleeing to find safety, and against those who are left behind. Kai Htan, 55, was forced to leave her disabled son in her home because she did not have the strength to carry him to the forest. She later heard that he had been tied against a tree and beaten. He died from the impact to his internal organs. Htan now dreams of returning to her village. I want to see the place where he died and to honour him, but I cant. For now, I live in the shadow of my son, she said. Protections for IDPs Holding perpetrators to account continues to be a problem, with both sides of the conflict accusing each other of impunity and neither side accepting responsibility for the protection of the internally displaced people in the villages and camps scattered around the state. A member of the Kachin Independence Organisation, the political and military coordinating body, who declined to be named, said: We call on the Burmese government to stop firing indiscriminately on refugee camps, to stop harassing and raping women and to respect international human rights laws. To achieve genuine and lasting justice and peace, precise policies and procedures must be set for political dialogues. The Myanmar government has repeatedly denied allegations of human rights abuses. In a public statement, it called on local and international actors not to implicate soldiers, stating that evidence must be sought before accusing the armed forces of these crimes. It added that the government is investigating allegations and would not tolerate abuses should soldiers be found to have committed acts of violence. Without the social and judicial structures in place to report these crimes, communities in some camps across Kachin State have started to self-organise into committees with support from local grassroots organisations, such as the Gender Development Initiative (GDI). Monitors for each camp have been trained by the GDI to report human rights abuses and women have formed groups to offer each other psychological support. In the past year, more than 100 monitors have participated in the week-long training course at the GDIs centre in Bhamo. It is important that we carry out this work so that people feel safe, said La Rai, a monitor on the programme. The majority of communities have been receptive to the role of the monitors, but some initial issues have arisen. Rai says several of his colleagues had been arbitrarily detained and tortured by the Myanmar military for seeking to protect members of their community. He is hopeful that these threats will decrease as more monitors are trained to identify and manage cases. We want to be able to go to the fields to harvest our paddies; to move freely without having to show our identity cards; to be able to return to our homes without fear, he said. But at the moment we have no freedom to do that. From the homeless to those participating in a SleepOut event, young South Africans share their views on their country. Johannesburg, South Africa In the early morning chill, 19-year-old Naledi made her way past the election posters plastered along the streets of downtown Johannesburg to the foot of the Nelson Mandela Bridge. The night before, a crowd of South Africas business elite had bedded down in sleeping bags and boxes, as soft jazz played from speakers and volunteers distributed hot towels outside portable toilets. It was a bid to show they cared about people like her. And now she was coming to collect what they had left behind. At the CEO SleepOut, a corporate charity event in Johannesburg held just days before South Africas municipal elections, government dignitaries and business leaders spoke about their concern for the less fortunate and shared their plan to push the country forward. On a stage set up among fake shacks serving soup, hot chocolate and branded fleece hats, Graeme Stephens, the CEO of Sun International, a luxury hotel and casino conglomerate, congratulated participants for braving the cold, hail and the EFF. Outside the metal turnstiles set up at either end of the bridge, where private security waited to accompany participants to their cars, the police had just dispersed a crowd of students with stun grenades and rubber bullets for trying to demonstrate against the event. Many of the young protesters sported the red berets of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), an opposition party which has tapped into the anger and frustration of black youth in the country. While the CEO SleepOut raised funds for selected foundations, the students saw the event as a mockery of young black students facing actual homelessness due to high university fees and accommodation costs. The born-free generation, brought up in a democratic, post-Apartheid South Africa, is growing increasingly disillusioned with the promise of a rainbow nation, with continuing inequality and a soaring unemployment rate hitting young people the hardest. Many voting for the first time in this election are supporting opposition parties that are challenging the African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power for more than two decades. These born-free voters, from young SleepOut participants to the homeless youth collecting donations, are setting the course for the future of South Africa while living vastly different realities. Koketso Poho, Thapelo Mawasha, Siphiwe Shange Theyre showcasing your poverty Theyre showcasing your poverty! shouts Koketso Poho, who was wearing the red beret of the EFF as he led students through the streets towards the Nelson Mandela Bridge. They want to sleep on the street when they have fancy houses. Accommodation is land! declared the protest signs, linking the high fees many say are keeping young black students from university with the dispossession of black people under Apartheid. In the run-up to the election, EFF leader Julius Malema asked citizens to stop voting for T-shirts and food parcels and promised to put land and resources back in the hands of black South Africans. READ MORE: South Africas local elections what you need to know As students squared up to the private security at the bridge, pushing railings aside with the hope of addressing the people at the event, the loud bang of a stun grenade and a plume of smoke split the crowd. Officers emerged from police vans, guns drawn, shooting at the backs of running students, while a few picked up rocks to retaliate. Face-to-face with a police officer in the aftermath, Thapelo Mawasha, a 19-year-old law student at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), confronted him about how he could shoot at young black students. You, as a black police officer, a black parent why arent you being empathic to our struggle? he asked, his question echoing the frustrations some young black South Africans say they feel with the old guard of the ANC party, which they believe has sold them out. Many of his fellow students at Wits are struggling to continue their degrees due to the high fees and costs of housing, he says. Some have been locked out of their rooms for not paying and are sleeping in 24-hour study rooms, showering in gyms and even ending up on the street. The sleep out, its a facade to make them seem like theyre humble, that they experience what we experience, says Mawasha. But theyre safe behind those fences the person who sleeps on the street every day doesnt have protection, doesnt have police closing the roads for them. This election will be Mawashas first time voting, and he is considering all the parties carefully, he says, although the EFF does impress him with their support for struggling students. A few days after the protest, sitting in the hall of a Wits campus residential building where she lives, 19-year-old Siphiwe Shange, a member of Wits EFF chapter, spoke about the pressures she faces as a young black student. Go to varsity, go get a job, go be that CEO of a company, she says is the message drilled into young black people. But the odds still feel stacked against them. Her course demands that she travel to practicals around the city, and she often has to pool money with other black students for a taxi or get there by public transport, while most of the white students drive. If black students struggle to finish work or if they turn up late, she says, theyre considered lazy. But she knows many of her friends are working jobs on the side in order to pay their fees. READ MORE: What now for South Africas #FeesMustFall movement? From a small town in KwaZulu-Natal, she counts herself lucky to have campus accommodation. But half her fees still have to be paid this year, and she doesnt know how she is going to find the money, having already asked for support from her sister and parents. She joined the protest against the CEO SleepOut because she believes it is emblematic of a broken system. Why couldnt they centre the struggle around the people affected? she asks. People need accommodation, security of life; they dont need a mockery of their situation. The students also marched in solidarity with underpaid workers and, she says, wanted to reach out and engage those who are homeless too. For her, the EFF is supporting the struggle of young black people against what she says is still a white capital monopoly in South Africa. It gives me hope to say we have a voice, she says of the party, and that more and more people are willing to listen. Bianca Barella I dont understand why they had to come out and protest At midnight on the bridge, Bianca Barella, a 19-year-old sponsored to attend the sleep out as an outstanding student by Eqstra Holdings, was busy assembling the DIY cardboard shelters provided for those attending. The cardboard was branded with the logos of Water Fall City, a private development project hyped as the new business hub of the Gauteng province. A jobless older woman, along with a handful of others, wearing signs advertising the motto: Developing cities, changing lives, said they had been paid 100 South African rands, less than $10, each to stand by the bridge for hours before the event as diverted traffic passed by. I thought it would be easier, Barella says of putting the box shelter together. It must be really hard, she says of living on the streets. Her friend sticks her head out of a pop-out window in the cardboard shelter. Its more fun than I expected, she says. It isnt that cold yet. Though she didnt see the protest, Barella had heard that the EFF was doing the same stuff they always do, and that the situation had become violent. This event isnt about race or anything, its just about helping people who cant help themselves, so I dont understand why they had to come and protest, she says. I think they were trying to get attention, but its just unnecessary. It should be her first time voting, but Barella has decided not to. She says politics isnt her thing. I think that the politics in South Africa are very bad, she says. I dont think our votes count for much because the same party wins every time. The one good party in her opinion is the Democratic Alliance, the opposition party already in power in Cape Town, a city where racial and economic inequality is stark. They really cleaned it up, she says. The biggest challenge right now for young people is trying to get a decent job, she says, because even with the best qualifications, work is scarce. She agrees with the protesters that university fees should not be raised, but thinks the way people have been demonstrating is not appropriate. On the 40-minute drive from her family home to the University of Pretoria, where she studies education, Barella says she passes at least 10 homeless people every day. You see a lot, she says. Asked what its like to be a young white South African, and what she feels about the racial and economic divides many speak of, she says she sees it and hears about it, but its not something that affects her. You dont really have to deal with it as such, because of the school you went to and the people you hang out with, she explains. Youre all level. At her university, there is a greater variety of people, she says, adding that you still find your own clique. At varsity, its quite nice because no one talks about that kind of thing well, not at the one I go to. With the youth, no ones going to judge you on your colour or how much money you have; its the person that you are. Naledi You never know life until it hits you On the night of the CEO SleepOut, 19-year-old Naledi, who was wearing a thin hoodie and grey sweat pants, had curled up on the usual patch of concrete a few blocks from the bridge. She hadnt known that a few streets away, wealthy people were sleeping in boxes in supposed solidarity with her plight, or that students had been protesting in the name of young people like her. In the morning, someone told her that donations were being given out at the bridge, so she came to collect what she could a few brown paper bags stuffed with a sleeping bag and some clothes. Last year, she had been accepted to study nursing at the University of Johannesburg, but after applying for government funding, wasnt granted the financial support she needed to attend. She asked for only her first name to be used, worried it might affect her applications. For two months she has slept rough on the streets of Johannesburg, after coming to the city of gold from her home in Eastern Cape. Thats camping, thats nothing, she says, watching workers clear away the rubbish from the event. They havent experienced it; they dont understand. You never know life until it hits you. This years election was meant to be her first chance to vote. When she came to the city, she found work with the Democratic Alliance, earning around $35 a week at their call centre, where, day in, day out, she would speak to voters about the partys promises. She was hoping to vote for them too. But when the work dried up, she could no longer afford to pay rent to the friend she was staying with. On one of the first nights that she was homeless, her bags were stolen, along with her phone and her identification documents. Without her ID, or the money to get a replacement, she has no way to vote. For now, she relies on local churches for food donations and uses public bathrooms in bus stations and downtown streets to wash in. This month, she should be reapplying for government funding to attend university, its a challenge without a phone or access to the internet. Its not easy to access free wi-fi and charging stations while homeless, which were provided for those sleeping out on the bridge. But she isnt going to give up. Hopefully, theyll take me this year, she says. I want to see myself succeed. Thats why Im going to university. WATCH: Are South Africas students the key to real change? Her brother is a 22-year-old business graduate but still hasnt been able to find work. When she does manage to make money, she always sends some of it home. Her mother wants her to be a nurse, but her dream job is to be a chef on a cruise ship. She was accepted into a private culinary school last year, but again, didnt have the money to attend. I believe a person has to change themselves, that its up to a person to wake up and make an effort to get stuff, not just wait for it to come to you, she says. A security guard on the bridge told her he might be able to help her get some work and gave her a number to call. Every day is a hustle to make some money, with the hope of being able to eventually continue her studies. I believe one day I will be OK, she says. I will. When it comes to the election, she believes the older generation, like her mother, will vote for the same parties they always have. But she trusts that young people are bringing change. Its only our generation, she says. We can choose what we want. The author reported from South Africa through a fellowship with the International Reporting Project. As long as governments act on behalf of Muslim citizens, they should be held responsible when their initiatives fail. Here we go again with the hype show of every known society trying to lecture Muslims on what they must do after the latest string of attacks in France. Shockingly enough or rather, as usual the ones coming forward with their two cents are completely disconnected with the realities of everyday Muslims. Some of these lecturers range from bourgeois intellectuals to self, state or media-appointed representatives of the Muslim community, and who all share the common trait of not having a clue about what the everyday French Muslim goes through. It is, of course, easy to lecture the voiceless when you are in a position of privilege, but that gives no one the right to speak on behalf of people one doesnt even live with. Sadly enough, though, some of the people lecturing the Muslim community today are the very same ones whove been sitting in positions of power for decades without having proven their added value either to the country or the community they pretend to represent. Blaming everything on Islam Those lectures continue, despite the absence of a link between Islam and terrorism, just as there is no link between Christianity and George W Bushs destruction of Iraq even though it was done in the name of Jesus or the Ku Klux Klan. Despite the fact that the criminals who killed more than 240 people within 18 months in France were completely ignorant about the teachings of Islam from the womaniser to the drug addict to the isolated psychopath. Despite the fact that those who are well versed in the teachings of Islam are highly unlikely to be tempted by the extreme ideologies of terrorist groups. And despite the fact that radicalisation takes place outside the mosques and outside communities but rather online, in jails or in clandestine assemblies, thus outside the communitys control. There are between six and 10 million Muslims in France and if their religion was inherently dangerous, France would be in trouble. by The lecturing continues even though French Prime Minister Manuel Valls umpteenth new idea on the reformation of Muslim institutions in France is just a smokescreen to avoid questions on the failure of the intelligence community and the justice system which are under his direct authority. Even though the 1905 law on laicite prohibits the French government from interfering in the internal affairs of religion, Islam and Muslims are again at the centre of the debate. So lets take all these moralisers at their word in these times of national mourning. What needs to be done? France is a staunch, secular country with strong institutions to keep it that way, so lets stop hindering the autonomy of the Muslim religion vis-a-vis the state. Lets stop manipulating secularism and let the principal become again a constitutional right for granting freedom of religion, equality among citizens and protection from government interference. Instead, today secularism is being used as a tool to exclude, dominate and discriminate against French Muslim citizens by denying them the right to practise their religion. Laws that specifically target Muslim women are just clear illustrations of twisting secularism. OPINION: Why satire is holy to the French? Lets stop questioning the national identity of Muslims to demonise them as eternal others inherently hostile aliens and impossible to integrate. Lets allow graduates of French Islamic institutions to take over the Islamic education. Only they can make it possible for Islam to be fully part of French society. Lets keep the state from interfering in the nomination of the representatives of French Muslims, and let Muslims decide on their own affairs. Lets keep the French government from signing agreements with foreign countries to bring foreign imams who may be very competent in their own countries, but are clueless about the realities of French society let alone capable of speaking French with French Muslims. Lets stop misinformed speakers from commenting on Islam and Muslims, and find a platform in the media. Having a Muslim name does not make them an expert on Islam nor Muslims, just as being named Francois does not make them experts on French law. Lets keep mayors from interfering in the affairs of their local mosques. This practice is widespread and many mayors are running their cities as if they are colonial settlements: double standards in terms of separation of politics and religion. Many mayors still have their say in who could or should be imam, a member of the mosque board and who can represent the community in official events or meetings. These practices send us back to colonisation, which is supposed to be long gone now. Lets allow Muslim citizens to choose their own representatives and speak on their behalf, and lets allow the chosen ones to answer to the community. Democracy is not a bad idea, even for Muslims. Lets allow the management of mosques to be overseen by those attending them, not the state, not the consulate, not the mayor. Lets apply the law and let Muslims build their own mosques when they decide to, instead of putting obstacles before it. If institutions emerge from the autonomous choices of Muslim citizens in this country, then their representatives will have the legitimacy to speak and act effectively. The state will hence have a reliable partner. Lets put an end to the systematic demonisation of Muslim religious representatives so we dont discredit their community and grassroots work and then find ourselves without competent people to do that crucial work. OPINION: Why is Tariq Ramadan demonised in France? Incidentally, lets stop holding Muslim citizens who dont have a say in the management of their own affairs responsible for our bombing campaigns and the mangling of innocent civilians abroad. It is our support for dictatorships and our responsibility in the misfortunes of other people who in turn and quite legitimately blame us for our deeds. One-way street As long as governments keep acting on behalf of their Muslim citizens, then governments should be held responsible when their initiatives fail. There are between six and 10 million Muslims in France and if their religion was inherently dangerous, France would be in trouble. According to the 2014 National Institute of Demographic studies report Trajectories and Origins, integration is a one-way street in France as minorities do all of the work without being able to reach the status of equal citizens. If Frances prime minister really wants to do something positive, he should reform the governments relationship with Muslims, not call for the reformation of Islam itself. Yasser Louati is a French human rights and civil liberties activist. His work focuses on Islamophobia, national security policies and social justice for minorities. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Never before in the history of conflicts we had so much information as to what is happening, yet know so little. James Denselow is a writer on Middle East politics and security issues and a research associate at the Foreign Policy Centre. After five years of brutal conflict in which half the population has been forced from their homes, there is still no end in sight to the war in Syria. One of the reasons behind this longevity is that Syria has become a post-factual conflict and it is that dynamic that fundamentally undermines any political solution. So what does it mean to be a post-factual conflict? The dead cat strategy Before he became Britains Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson once explained that if you are losing an argument with the facts against you, instead of maintaining focus on the reality your best bet is to throw a dead cat on the table explaining that everyone will shout Jeez, mate, theres a dead cat on the table!' Syrias President Bashar al-Assad must be aware of the facts of whats happening in Syria. Hundreds of thousands have died, life expectancy has been set back by two decades, 80 percent of the country lives in poverty and at least $200bn of damage has been done to the countrys infrastructure. He cannot rationally say that his presidency has overseen a positive influence on the countrys direction of travel. However, in a post-factual conflict ignorance and irrationality hold sway over facts and reason. Assad has harnessed the anger and fear over terrorism and sectarian civil war both inside the country and internationally, and channelled these emotions into his narrative of continuity and stability. by The rapid emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) has been the dead cat on the table of the Syrian conflict. It has focused wider global concern on transnational terrorism and placed the future of the Assad regime into the box labelled secondary priority. This is a victory of feelings, such as terrorism is terrifying over facts, such as who is responsible for most of the violence in Syria? Civilians are dying but nobody will take responsibility for killing them. The Russians claim that its fake information that theyve hurt anyone, while Assad told the BBC that we need to talk about facts theres [sic] no barrel bombs. We dont have barrels. Digital wildfires The World Economic Forum has warned of the dangers of massive digital misinformation. In Syrias post-factual conflict misinformation is rife, you can destroy hospitals without any censure, you can use chemical weapons while simultaneously stating you havent, and you can describe all of your enemies as foreigners, terrorists or the puppets of foreign governments. American politician Daniel Patrick Moynihan once famously said that you are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts. In a post-factual conflict there is a fatal blurring of lines between opinion and fact. This is partly due to the rise and rise of global communications and an abundance of news to pick and choose from. Author Rachel Cooper described it well when she wrote that we rush to back up our ideals and beliefs with similar information from similar sources. Professor of marketing Jonah Berger explained that stories feeding on awe, anger, or fear often enjoy more social transmission than stories with sad or depressing content. In a post-factual conflict all sides utilise media and social media to reinforce fearful conspiracy theories to render facts irrelevant. OPINION: Syrias deadly spillover Therefore, many who are anti-Assad will continue to believe he is a despotic tyrant, while those who are pro-Assad will continue to believe the opposition is made up of brutal extremists. The two groups will consume media that reinforces their point of view and share that with their like-minded social networks, thus the divisions solidify. Will the trust ever return? Assad has had the more consistent narrative against an array of diverse and fragmented opponents. In his semi-regular long interviews with the Western press over the past five years, he has painted the picture of himself as a reluctant wartime leader of a country besieged by the nefarious efforts of international terrorism and the agendas of regional enemy states. He has repeated ad nauseam the argument that he is part of the solution, not the part of the problem. He has harnessed the anger and fear over terrorism and sectarian civil war both inside the country and internationally, and channelled these emotions into his narrative of continuity and stability. So one of the most striking consequences of the conflict beyond the death and destruction is the complete breakdown of trust within Syrian society. So entrenched are the feelings of being pro or anti Assad that efforts at peace talks have been near-impossible to date with it being very hard even to get people into the same room. When or if peace does return to Syria, it is trust rather than the bricks and mortar of cities that may be the hardest thing to rebuild. James Denselow is a writer on Middle East politics and security issues and a research associate at the Foreign Policy Centre. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. The video Samer Jaber captured does not show Israeli soldiers standing by during the incident; military forces came later. Bethlehem, occupied West Bank On the evening of July 22, Palestinian youths from the Bethlehem-area village of Wadi Fukin ran to fields set ablaze by Israeli settlers. Village resident Qais Manasra told Al Jazeera that three dunams (0.7 acres) of wheat on his property were burned that night, adding to about 200 olive trees destroyed on the outskirts of the village during arson attacks carried out by settlers since June. The incident was one of many carried out late last month on Palestinians or their property in the occupied West Bank, in what the United Nations reported as the highest number of attacks by settlers in a week-long period since the start of the year. Samer Jaber, a resident of the Bethlehem-area town of al-Khadr, told Al Jazeera that he was recently on his land with a surveyor when an Israeli settler from the illegal Derech Havaot outpost hit him several times. Jaber then captured on video the settler shooting live fire at him and his relatives. OPINION: Israeli colonisation is at the root of the violence In other areas of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers physically assaulted Palestinians, uprooted local crops, stole sacks of wheat and grain, and damaged vehicles with stones, according to UN documentation. Jaber and Manasra both said the attacks were reported to Israeli police. Contacted by Al Jazeera, a police spokesperson did not have immediate information, but said the incidents would be investigated. The attacks came despite a vow by Israeli authorities to stop what Israeli security agency Shin Bet termed Jewish terror networks, after settlers carried out an arson attack on a Palestinian home in the village of Duma a year ago, killing all but one member of the Dawabsheh family. A wave of indictments against perpetrators of attacks on Palestinians and their property followed over the next year, and the weekly average of attacks carried out in 2016 so far stands at around 40 percent less in comparison with 2015, according to UN documentation. But Gilad Grossman, a spokesman for Israeli human rights group Yesh Din, told Al Jazeera that these recent fluctuations were not likely to be indicative of significant changes, owing to Israels systematic impunity for Israelis who carry out violence against Palestinians. Nobody [in the Israeli government] ever tried to improve the core problems, Grossman told Al Jazeera, noting that while the 2015 Duma attack appeared to be a wake-up call for Israel, just 1.9 percent of Palestinian complaints of settler violence to Israeli police have resulted in a conviction and yet another arson attack was reportedly carried out in the village late last month. There is still the lack of a proficient, professional [Israeli] police force in the West Bank that takes offences against the Palestinians seriously, takes indictments seriously, or hands out punishment that would deter future offenders, Grossman said, adding that the long-standing policy emboldens people who are interested in harming Palestinians. The Israeli human rights group Akevot has been among many to point out that in addition to physical harm to Palestinians and their property unpunished settler violence has been among several factors leading to illegal expropriation of Palestinian land. Settlers have long created new outposts using violence or threats against local Palestinians, with the outposts then protected by the military and retroactively legalised by the government. This trend has repeatedly taken place in Wadi Fukin, Manasra said. Violence by settlers has helped destroy land where these settlements grow, he said, motioning to the illegal settlement of Beitar Illit, built almost entirely on private Palestinian land. After last months Duma attack, the UNs special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, reiterated that Israel has directly violated international law by failing to provide protection to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Palestinian Authority has no legal jurisdiction over Israeli settlers living illegally in occupied territory, and as a result of the Oslo Accords, areas where Palestinian communities are frequently targeted by settler violence fall under Israeli military control. Decades of state-supported settlement expansion and settler violence has led the Palestinian leadership to repeatedly demand the UN provides international protection for Palestinians. Instead of sovereignty, we should first ask for protection. The PA cant do it, and Israel wont do it, said Jaber, who was part of a committee to push the Palestinian leadership to take such measures last year. More than a year ago, PA President Mahmoud Abbas sent a letter to the UN secretary-general on potential methods of international protection, prompting the UN Security Councils legal department to submit a study in October that included trends of settler violence. Riyad Mansour, the permanent representative of the State of Palestine to the UN, told Al Jazeera that discussions with the Security Council were ongoing. But Valentina Azarova, an adviser with Al-Shabaka, the Palestinian Policy Network, told Al Jazeera that passing a resolution to implement international protection would either require Israels consent, or military intervention justified on the basis of the unwillingness or inability of Israel to control the situation. For political and legal reasons, such a non-consensual intervention is inconceivable when it comes to Israel, Azarova said. Back in Wadi Fukin, Manasra said that as more time passes without any response to Israeli settler attacks and the settlement expansion that accompanies them, the more his village loses. As he spoke, Manasra stood on a ridge overlooking the village, which has lost most of its land to three illegal settlements still rapidly expanding on the hilltops surrounding the valley where residents live. Farmland has been slowly confiscated. Nothing is happening, he said, pointing to freshly cut land and the cranes working on it. They [the Palestinian leadership] have been talking for years in the UN, but this is all new. Theyre not doing anything. The absence of protection for Palestinians against settler violence has also become apparent through the formation of autonomous night guard systems throughout the occupied West Bank. Ghassan Daghlas, a PA official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, estimates that 87 Palestinian villages currently rely on their own residents to carry out volunteer night patrols to protect their communities from settler attacks. Daghlas told Al Jazeera that while communities continued night patrols to this day, the increasingly violent nature of attacks has been putting local guards on edge. They [guards] dont see much purpose to the patrols, because they dont have weapons and settlers are armed. If something happens, there is nothing they can do about it besides warning residents settlers are coming, Daghlas said. Before they [settlers] came just to draw hate graffiti on a wall, but now when they come, the purpose is to kill. Toronto, Canada Canada has announced the details of a long-awaited federal inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. Canadian Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett said a national, independent commission would begin working on what has been described as a national human rights crisis on September 1. Bennett said the commission would have the historic ability to gather information across Canada and she thanked the indigenous families that have already shared their experiences. Its because of these courageous women and families, who knew something was very wrong, that we are here today, Bennett said during a press conference at the Canadian Museum of History near Ottawa. They knew an inquiry was needed to achieve justice and healing and to put an end to this ongoing terrible tragedy. READ MORE: Canada and the Aboriginal mental health crisis For over a decade, indigenous community leaders and human rights advocates across Canada have urged Ottawa to formulate a national strategy to address high rates of violence against indigenous women and girls. In 2014, Canadas federal police force, the RCMP, reported that 1,017 Aboriginal women were murdered across the country between 1980 and 2012 and another 164 women were still missing. More cases have been reported since then. Marion Buller, the first female First Nations judge in British Columbia, will head up the five-person commission, which is tasked with examining the root causes of the violence, including racism, sexism and Canadian colonialism. The commissioners will have the power to compel individuals to give evidence, including police officers, and gather documents, Bennett said. The inquiry will be able to issue recommendations that are non-binding. Our goal is to make concrete recommendations that will ensure the safety of our women and our girls in our communities, said Buller, the chief commissioner. READ MORE: Canada indigenous community bemoans attempted suicides The first part of the inquiry will run from September 1 to December 31, 2018, at a cost of $53.8m (CAD). Another $16.17m will fund liaison units to help families get information on specific cases. We cannot move forward until we face and recognise and put a stop to this ongoing tragedy. Until that time, our entire country will live under its shadow, said Patricia Hajdu, Canadas minister of status of women. Aboriginal women over 15 are at least 3.5 times more likely to experience violence than non-Aboriginal women in Canada, and Aboriginal women are five times more likely to die violently than non-Aboriginal women, according to Statistics Canada. The inquiry was one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus election campaign promises. Concerns raised The Native Womens Association of Canada (NWAC) welcomed the leadership shown by the federal government in setting up the inquiry. After 11 years of NWAC listening to the families of the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada, we are pleased that we now have a government who is prepared to listen and act, said NWAC President Dawn Lavell-Harvard. But the group also raised some concerns with the commissions mandate. Families will not have the chance to pursue or reopen cases through the justice system, and they will only have access to culturally based trauma counselling during their appearance before the Commission, not before or after, NWAC said. READ MORE: Canadas Aboriginals go to Supreme Court The group also stressed that the Commission does not explicitly mention the role of provincial and territorial authorities in the process, or the need to work with justice partners to improve the system. Alex Neve, executive director of Amnesty International Canada, welcomed the inquiry but also said there are still doubts, uncertainty and concern as to how it will examine Canadas police and justice systems and include provincial and territorial governments. These issues are particularly preoccupying as they go to the very fundamentals of what this inquiry must address, he said. Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, an umbrella group representing indigenous peoples in Canada, said the inquiry sends a message to indigenous women and girls that their lives are important, their lives matter. Systems that are broken need to be fixed, Bellegarde said. Its not only good for Indigenous peoples; its good for Canada. Two leading rights groups accuse Australia of ignoring abuse to deter people from trying to travel to the country. The video embedded in this story states that Amnesty International and HRW were granted rare access to processing facilities in Nauru. In actual fact, while the groups were on the island, they were not granted access to processing facilities. Australia is deliberately ignoring the inhumane treatment of refugees held on the South Pacific island of Nauru as a means of deterring others from attempting the journey to Australia, two rights groups have said. Under Canberras immigration policy, people intercepted while trying to reach the country by boat are sent to a prison on Manus Island, in Papua New Guinea, or one in Nauru, both of which have been criticised for their harsh conditions and reports of abuse. An estimated 1,200 men, women and children who sought refuge in Australia were transferred instead to Nauru as part of an Australian government policy since 2012, Al Jazeeras Jonah Hull reported. The joint report compiled by researchers from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch who were granted rare access to Nauru in July is based on interviews with 84 refugees and asylum seekers from countries including Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, in addition to service providers at the Australian-funded facility. It alleges the Australian government could not be unaware of conditions at the centre. READ MORE: Australians rally against youth detention abuses Failure to address serious abuses appears to be a deliberate policy to deter further asylum seekers from arriving in the country by boat, said Hull. Successive Australian governments have supported the policy, which they say is needed to stop people drowning at sea during dangerous boat journeys, which usually begin in Indonesia. Cruel in the extreme [The refugees] describe prison-like living conditions in baking heat with many, the report says, developing mental health problems including severe anxiety, inability to sleep, mood swings, prolonged depression, and short-term memory loss, Amnesty researcher Anna Neistat told Al Jazeera. Adults and children spoke openly of having wanted to end their lives. Neistat, who conducted the investigation on the island, said Australias policy of exiling asylum seekers was cruel in the extreme. Few other countries go to such lengths to deliberately inflict suffering on people seeking safety and freedom, she said. A spokeswoman for Australias Department of Immigration and Border Protection said it had not been consulted by Amnesty regarding the report. She could not confirm if Human Rights Watch had attempted to contact the department. The department therefore has had no opportunity to inform itself of these claims and would strongly encourage Amnesty International to contact the department before airing allegations of this kind, she told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday. David Manne, of the Australia-based Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre, described the Australian governments reaction to the report as both extraordinary and disingenuous. It stands to reason that as part of the attempts to enforce secrecy on the details of the arrangements that there have been severe restrictions on the ability of journalists to get into Nauru to report on these matters. Nauru, which charges foreign journalists nearly $6,000 for a visa application and restricts access to social networking sites such as Facebook, this year experienced a series of suicides and incidents of detainees hurting themselves in protests over their treatment. Health workers who reveal information regarding abuse in islands camps face up to two years imprisonment, Manne told Al Jazeera. Broadspectrum, an Australian corporation that runs the facility, and International Health and Medical Services, the facilitys main medical service provider, rejected the allegations when asked for comment, the rights groups said. Posts with feelings of sadness more likely to spur people into action over Black Lives Matter, study says. Tweets related to the Black Lives Matter movement suggest that sadness, rather than anger, might be more effective in galvanising people into action, according to new research. Scientists analysed the emotions behind almost 29 million tweets about four events in 2014 and 2015 that led to Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in an attempt to identify patterns. Tweets with a higher level of negative effect and sadness, but lower on anger and anxiety were associated with larger rallies the following day, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) said. Over time, people changed their posting style, using fewer negative references such as death, instead opting for more social words such as we and us. Social upheavals fostered a sense of solidarity among those affected, said Georgia Techs Munmun De Choudhury, who specialises in social media and mental wellbeing. Our analysis of Twitter activity immediately preceding BLM protests shows evidence of the same phenomenon, De Choudhury said. READ MORE: Life after Michael Brown and Freddie Gray The posts analysed regarded the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014; the decision not to indict Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson over Browns death in November 2014; the shooting deaths of two New York City policemen in December 2014; and the death of Freddie Gray while in the custody of Baltimore police in April 2015. BLM policy agenda We did expect the tweet volume to be predictive of protest volume and it was interesting to see that collective emotions play an important role as well, said co-author Ingmar Weber, from QCRI, which is part of the Hamad bin Khalifa University. However, we cant say that emotions alone lead to bigger protests as there may be numerous other factors causing them. People from states with historically high rates of police violence against black Americans were more likely to use negative language, such as words relating to death, even if their state was not the scene of protests. The research comes as the Black Lives Matter movement gathers pace. A coalition of organisers released on Monday an official policy agenda, calling for an end to the war on black people, reparations, economic justice, community control, political power and investments in their safety. Social media has been critical in the knitting together of a national narrative of police violence and abuse, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, a professor in African American studies at Princeton University, told Al Jazeera. Before, these incidents were depicted as isolated and individual. Social media platforms have shown how they are part of a generalised and pervasive pattern of police abuse. READ MORE: Understanding racism in the US She added that social media platforms had helped organisers to overcome distance and geography by putting people in immediate touch with each other. As protests have gathered steam, though, some critics have called for Black Lives Matter to be designated a terror group. A petition created on July 6, signed by 144,000 people, said: It is time for the [Pentagon] to be consistent in its actions and just as they rightfully declared [the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ISIL, also known as ISIS] a terror group, they must declare Black Lives Matter a terror group. The White House later dismissed the petition. Rightfully angry There is a concerted effort by police unions and those who seek their approval to discredit a movement that has exposed police violence and abuse as deeply rooted in police culture, said Taylor. Their aim is to distract from their illegal and immoral behaviour. Those who support the movement are driven by both anger and sadness, she said. People are rightfully angry that paid public servants regularly disregard the rights of black people with impunity and often the blessing of elected officials. People are sad because innocent men, women and children are being killed unjustly. At least 633 people have been killed by police in the US so far this year, according to a tally being kept by the Guardian media organisation. Race will be a key talking point in the months ahead in the US, as campaigning for the November presidential election intensifies. At least 156 of the 633 killed were black, according to the Guardian figures. Follow Anealla Safdar on Twitter: @anealla Burundi insists its security forces are in control, while recent waves of violence leave more than 500 dead. Burundis government has rejected the proposed deployment of up to 228 United Nations police officers to monitor human rights abuses and try to calm more than a year of violence. Burundis government spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba made the announcement late on Tuesday, following a UN Security Council resolution authorising the deployment of the UN force amid reports of serious abuses, including against the opposition. Sending a foreign force without prior consultation with authorities would be a violation of the countrys sovereignty, Nzobonariba said in a statement. Burundis security forces are in control, he said. Vital Nshimirimana, a prominent Burundian rights activist, urged the UN to proceed quickly with the deployment to save lives. The UN must stop listening to President Nkurunzizas empty threats and come to Burundi to rescue the people of Burundi, Nshimirimana said. READ MORE: Saving Burundi refugees with a WWI German warship Burundi has been in turmoil since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced plans in April 2015 to run for a third term in office, sparking protests that were violently quelled by his security forces. Nkurunziza won re-election. More than 500 people have been killed in the ongoing violence and at least 270,000 people have fled the country, according to the UN. Burundis government has also rejected the proposed deployment of 5,000 African Union peacekeepers. It has said it would accept no more than 50 UN police officers. On Saturday, more than 1,000 people participated in a government-backed demonstration in the capital, Bujumbura, to protest the UN Security Councils planned deployment. Human Rights Watch has documented a pattern of killings and disappearances in Burundi that are often blamed on members of the intelligence services. Shigen is the second person sentenced in two days as part of an ongoing crackdown on legal activism. A court in China has sentenced an activist to seven and a half years in prison for subverting state power on Wednesday, in the second known trial following the arrests of hundreds of human rights lawyers and activists. State broadcaster CCTV said on Wednesday that Hu Shigen had pleaded guilty to subversion, damaging national security and harming social stability at the start of his hearing before the Tianjin No 2 Intermediate Peoples Court in the city of Tianjin. It said he had decided not to appeal against the sentence. He completed a 14-year jail sentence only six years ago for counter-revolutionary crimes. Now hes facing seven and a half years in jail, Al Jazeeras Adrian Brown, reporting from Tianjin, said. Shigen, 61, was accused of leading an underground organisation that masqueraded as a church and attempting to overthrow the government, Brown said. READ MORE: Where are Chinas human rights lawyers? He was part of a law firm that used to deal with pretty sensitive human rights cases, helping people who faced demolitions or land seizures, or even religious issues. Shigens brief trial came a day after the court handed a suspended three-year sentence to another activist, Zhai Yanmin. Both were arrested in July last year with two others as part of a nationwide crackdown on legal rights activists. About 300 lawyers and activists were initially questioned before most were released. Shigen, and two colleagues set to be tried in court later this week, were accused of organising activities that manipulated public opinion and disturbed public order, prosecutors were quoted as saying by state media. [Shigens] ideology and his behaviours have seriously harmed the country and social stability, prosecutors reportedly said. Dissent not tolerated Hu had been sentenced in 1994 to 20 years in prison on the now-abolished charge of counter-revolution in connection with his political activities, but was released in 2008 after his sentence was reduced. His previous prison term contributed to his harsh sentencing in the most recent case, prosecutors said. After completing his criminal punishment, Hu Shigen again committed crimes against national security and, as a recidivist, should be severely punished under the law, prosecutors said. A graduate of the prestigious Peking University, Hu was a professor in the capital when he became active with a would-be political opposition party following the armys violent crackdown on 1989 pro-democracy protests centred on Beijings Tiananmen Square. READ MORE: China lawyers sentence suspended in surprise verdict Two other cases are expected to be heard this week by the court in the northern Chinese city, including those of activist Gou Hongguo and lawyer Zhou Shifeng, head of the Fengrui law firm that frequently took on sensitive cases and represented numerous government critics. More than a dozen other lawyers and activists remain in detention, their legal status uncertain. This campaign [of arrests] began not long after President Jinping came to power. Hes made it quite clear that hes not going to tolerate dissent of any kind, said Al Jazeeras Brown. The northern neighbourhood has formed a key strategic pressure point for the various groups vying for control of Aleppo. Beirut Syrias largest city has been under siege since government forces shut down Castello Road a bombed-out gauntlet that for months served as the lifeline in and out of rebel-held eastern Aleppo. Last week, Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) fighters clashed with rebels near the road, contributing to a rebel retreat from the Bani Zaid district and further tightening the siege. Supporters of the YPG say they are protecting northern Aleppos Kurdish-majority neighbourhood of Sheikh Maqsoud, while critics accuse them of aiding the Syrian government in besieging a city that has become a symbol of Syrias uprising. For months, Sheikh Maqsoud has formed a key strategic pressure point for the various groups battling for the elusive upper hand in Aleppo Kurds, rebels and the government. INTERACTIVE: Why Aleppo Matters Abdulkafi al-Hamdu, an activist and English professor at the University of Aleppo, blamed both the government and the YPG for tightening the noose around rebel-held eastern Aleppo. We are completely surrounded. We can [only] find food and medicine at very high prices, and thats gotten [even] worse because Castello Road has been besieged by the Assad regime, Hamdu told Al Jazeera. Kurdish troops [also] took part in surrounding Aleppo by shooting people from Sheikh Maqsoud. We are facing a life which is closer to death. YPG spokesman Redur Xelil denied that Kurdish fighters have put pressure on the area around Castello Road, blaming the Free Syrian Army and Islamic brigades for reneging on temporary agreements and attacking civilians. As rebel-held Aleppo fights for survival, Sheikh Maqsoud has become an increasingly vital piece of land for Kurdish groups in the citys north. Once loosely considered part of Free Aleppo after the uprising against President Bashar al-Assads government, Sheikh Maqsoud was later gripped by protests and state crackdowns until the Syrian government effectively ceded control to the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), Syrias ideological affiliate of the Turkey-based Peoples Workers Party (PKK), by withdrawing from Kurdish areas in northern Syria in 2012. Since then, the neighbourhood has been under the control of Kurdish forces, particularly the YPG. Michael Stephens of the Royal United Services Institute think-tank in London, said that although Sheikh Maqsoud might appear anomalous or strategically isolated on a map, for the PYD it has become absolutely integral to everything theyre trying to do in Rojava, the Kurdish name for the self-declared autonomous region in northern Syria. Stephens said that Sheikh Maqsoud has been ideologically integrated into the Kurdish project in the north, often mentioned in the same breath as the already self-governing cantons in Afrin and Kobane. Clearly its not an essential frontline. But its not about that, Stephens said. Its a unifying front in which people from all across Kurdistan can say, Yes, this is a place where Kurds are suffering This is integral to our identity, national defence, our sense of nationhood. And you have a larger goal from the PYD: to build an autonomous state. READ MORE: Why Syrias Kurds want federalism, and who opposes it PYD leader Saleh Muslim has previously stated that the Kurdish project of self-rule in northern Syria could be launched in a very small town, a very small village, or in the biggest cities [The Kurds] could make this project for wherever they are. The Kurds in Damascus could do this for themselves in Damascus. They could be free in Damascus or even in Sheikh Maqsoud. Robert Lowe, deputy director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics, has researched Kurdish political movements for years and says it is credible that the PYD might try to incorporate Sheikh Maqsoud, even though there are huge issues to surmount if theyre to achieve it. Its credible that the PYD are looking or exploring how they might incorporate Sheikh Maqsoud into their experiment, for want of a better word, Lowe told Al Jazeera, noting that by deftly filling Syrias political vacuum after 2012, the PYD has already exceeded expectations about what it can achieve. Xelil refused to answer Al Jazeeras questions about the link between the YPGs control of Sheikh Maqsoud and alleged Kurdish state-building in Syria, but said: The YPG fighters [there] are Sheikh Maqsouds sons. They have a right to defend their area. Not everyone from Sheikh Maqsoud agrees. Marouf, an anti-government activist who moved to rebel-held Aleppo and spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of withholding his last name, said that the PYD and YPG repress Sheikh Maqsoud [through arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances] so that they are the dominant force there. While debate continues around the PYDs intentions in Sheikh Maqsoud, the YPGs actions in Aleppo have angered rebel groups who accuse the Kurds of using Syrias uprising and war for their own interests: the partition of Syria and the establishment of a Kurdish state in the north. They claim the YPG is willing to side with anyone Assad included in their pursuit of self-determination. We know theyre expanding the Kurdish project, and that must make others in the north who dont back it or who arent even Kurdish quite nervous, Lowe said. Ultimately, nobody there [in northern Syria] really likes the prospect of the Kurds having control, so theyre going to fight it. As a result, relations between rebel and Kurdish groups have soured to the extent that fighting in Sheikh Maqsoud continued despite Februarys tentative cessation of hostilities. Fatah Halab is the main rebel alliance fighting around Sheikh Maqsoud and northern Aleppo, comprising a range of nominally Free Syrian Army groups, as well as Islamist factions such as Jabhat al-Shamiya and the Noureddin al-Zinki Brigades some of whom have reportedly been on the receiving end of US training and weapons in the past. In May, Amnesty International stated that rebel fighters had repeatedly carried out indiscriminate attacks that struck civilian homes, streets, markets and mosques. The rights organisation also repeated earlier allegations that rebels may have used chlorine gas during an April 7 bombardment of Sheikh Maqsoud, although Jaysh al-Islam, the faction often blamed for the attack, has strenuously denied these claims. On the Kurdish side, the report also documented at least 23 civilians killed by YPG shelling and sniper attacks in opposition-held areas. Aleppo is a city divided, in tatters, constantly subject to change but Sheikh Maqsouds prime strategic location, and the complex dynamics running through it, suggest that the rebel-Kurd conflict-within-a-conflict will not end soon. Rebels lose two hilltops and two villages as government is accused of targeting six hospitals in and around Aleppo. Syrian government forces backed by Russian air strikes have recaptured hills and villages from rebel groups on the outskirts of south-western Aleppo, a monitoring group and state-run media have said. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said on Wednesday that the government had been launching a counterattack on areas captured by rebels in the past two days. Since the attack began and until Tuesday midnight, 40 civilians have been killed on both sides of Aleppo, among them 22 children, Abdel Rahman said. About 50 rebels and dozens of regime troops have been killed since the assault kicked off on Sunday, according to the Observatory. READ MORE: Syrian Civil War Map Syrian state-run radio confirmed that government troops had started a wide-scale counterattack against rebels in south-west Aleppo. There are tit-for-tat attacks in all areas across south-western Aleppo, amid dozens of Russian strikes on areas which were taken by the rebels, Kenan, an activist based in the rebel-held Salaheddine neighbourhood of Aleppo, told the Dpa news agency via Facebook. Government troops managed to seize two hilltops including Telat al-Mahroukat and the villages of Khweriz and al-Amriyeh, which the rebels took control of two days ago, the Observatory said. Hospitals attacked Meanwhile, the New York-based Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said on Wednesday that over the past week, Syrian government forces launched deadly air strikes against six hospitals in and around Aleppo. The group said in a statement that this was the worst week for attacks on medical facilities in the region since the Syrian conflict began in 2011. PHR said it had verified each attack. All six facilities hit between July 23 and July 31 were major hospitals in Aleppo governorate, including a referral hospital just outside opposition-held eastern Aleppo and a paediatric clinic inside the city where four infants died after their oxygen supply was cut, the group said. Since June, weve seen increasing reports of attacks on civilians in Aleppo and strikes on the regions remaining medical infrastructure. Each of these assaults constitutes a war crime, said Widney Brown, PHRs director of programmes. Destroying hospitals is tantamount to signing thousands of death warrants for people now stranded in eastern Aleppo. Israeli lawmakers approve jailing of Palestinian children as young as 12, if convicted of terrorist offences. Human rights groups have condemned Israels approval of a new law allowing the imprisonment of children as young as 12 for terrorist offences, and which is expected to apply mostly to Palestinian children in occupied East Jerusalem. The Youth Bill allows authorities to imprison minors convicted of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder or manslaughter, even if he or she is under the age of 14, the Israeli government said in a statement on Wednesday. Attacks in recent months demands a more aggressive approach, including toward minors, the government said in the statement. Israeli rights group BTselem criticised the law and Israels treatment of Palestinian youth in general. Rather than sending them to prison, Israel would be better off sending them to school where they could grow up in dignity and freedom, not under occupation, the group said in a statement. Imprisoning such young minors denies them the chance of a better future. Military law, which is currently applied to Palestinian residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, already allows imprisonment of 12-year-olds. Since October, Israeli forces or settlers have killed at least 219 Palestinians, including attackers, unarmed protesters, and bystanders. During the same period, Palestinian attackers have killed 34 Israelis in mostly stabbing or shooting incidents. READ MORE: Israeli courts convict hundreds of Palestinian children Israels Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, a member of the ultra-nationalist Jewish Home party, gave the Youth Bill her full backing when it came before a ministerial committee last year. While still a parliamentarian during the 51-day war on Gaza in 2014, Shaked drew criticism when she posted on Facebook the text of an unpublished article, by the late Israeli writer Uri Elitzur, that referred to Palestinian children as little snakes and promoted deadly violence against Palestinians. At least 414 Palestinian children were in Israeli jails as of July, according to the West Bank-based Addameer Prisoner Support Network. A 12-year-old Palestinian girl from the West Bank, convicted of attempted murder by a military court, was released in April as part of a plea bargain after serving four months in jail. Al Jazeera talks to father of slain soldier who gained international fame after his anti-Trump speech went viral. The father of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq, whose recent speech gained him international fame, has lashed out at the US Republican Party. In an interview with Al Jazeeras Mehdi Hasan, the host of UpFront, Khizr Khan condemned the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, and Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, for failing to withdraw their endorsement of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. They are being cowards in a moral sense, Khan said. Asked if top Republicans would eventually withdraw their endorsement for Trump, Khan answered: It is coming. I assure you The moral dilemma in his candidacy is coming full circle. Khan, whose son Humayun was killed in Iraq in 2004, spoke on the closing night of the Democratic National Convention. His remarks, especially those criticising Trump, went viral. Americans are not going to buy the snake oil he is selling, Khan told Al Jazeera. READ MORE: Trump and the Khans The billionaire and former reality television star who hopes to lead the US was incapable intellectually and mentally of understanding how he has helped boost recruitment for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group with his fear-mongering, Khan said. During the interview, Khan, who has roots in Pakistan, said that he had opposed the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. That was a mistake that has not served American interests well, he said. [Hillary Clinton] supported it, but it was the Republican partys starting and doing of the Iraq war, he added. If I criticise Hillary Clinton on her policies, it is received well. The person who criticises is not condemned. ISIL recently called Khans late son an apostate. That [ISIL] is a perverted version of Islam, Khan said. Islam has nothing to do with this kind of violence. Watch the full interview with Khizr Khan on Al Jazeera at 19:30GMT on Friday, or visit UpFront online A medium-range ballistic missile fired from North Korea has landed near Japanese territorial waters, according to South Korean and Japanese officials, the latest in a series of such launches. A suspected Rodong missile was fired on Wednesday from the Norths western Hwanghae province, the governments said. Japans defence ministry said the missile landed inside Japans exclusive economic zone, a 200-nautical-mile offshore area where Tokyo has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources. It imposes a serious threat to Japans security and is an unforgivable act of violence toward Japans security, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. The US Strategic Command said North Korea had fired two presumed Rodong missiles simultaneously. A statement said initial indications indicated one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while a second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. The launch came after North Korea threatened physical action in response to a planned deployment of a US anti-missile system in South Korea, and just weeks before the start of annual joint South Korea-US military exercises, which Pyongyang says are rehearsals for a possible invasion. Seoul and Washington have said the system, Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, is needed to better cope with what they call North Koreas increasing military threats. UN resolutions North Korea has called it a provocation that it says is only aimed at bolstering US military hegemony in the region. READ MORE: Opinion Now North Korea has nothing to lose The United States condemned what it called a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting North Koreas use of ballistic missile technology. This provocation only serves to increase the international communitys resolve to counter [North Koreas] prohibited activities, a Pentagon spokesman, Gary Ross, said. In June, North Korea, after a string of failures, sent a mid-range ballistic missile more than 1,400km (870 miles) high. In July, it fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, according to Seoul defence officials. The North later confirmed that it fired ballistic rockets carrying trigger devices for nuclear warheads as part of simulated pre-emptive atomic attacks on South Korea. North Korea is pushing to manufacture a warhead small enough to be placed on a long-range missile that can reach the continental US, but South Korean defence officials say the North doesnt yet have such a miniaturised warhead. Stuck for months waiting for refugee applications to be processed, some Syrians pay to be smuggled back to Turkey. A European Union (EU) deal with Turkey has helped stem the flow of asylum seekers making the narrow but precarious sea crossing from Turkish shores to outlying Greek islands but many are still getting across. More than 160,000 people have arrived in Greece by crossing the Mediterranean so far this year, almost half of them from Syria, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. But some of the Syrians who have applied for refugee status in the EU are regretting their decision to leave the wartorn country. Greek mayor opens resort for refugees Four months of living in a broken tent by Athens Pireaus harbour, waiting for his asylum claim to be processed, has caused Mustafa to bitterly regret his decision to leave Aleppo. Anywhere. Anything is better than this, he said, crying. Mustafa, 38, from Syria, and his wife, Nadia, 37, sit sweaty and squashed in their small tent in the stifling Greek summer heat. They said their asylum interview has been repeatedly delayed. The couple left most of their family behind in Syria, except for Mustafas parents who made it to a refugee camp in Turkey. At this rate well be here for years. Sometimes, I just want to take my wifes hand and jump into the sea. To receive asylum in Europe, arrivals in Greece must go through a rigorous process through EASO, the European Asylum Support Office. The time it takes for a relocation request to go through in Greece really depends on the member state in question. Some are relatively fast and some are not, Iota Peristeri, who works at the Greek asylum service, told the Reuters news agency. You could be lucky and youre only in Greece for three months or so, or it could take much longer. Back to Turkey or Syria For those who arrived after the EU-Turkey deal in March, the wait could be much longer as EU member states continue to fill up their asylum quotas and become increasingly cautious about who they grant asylum to. The relocation process is so slow. I think life would be easier back in Syria, said Maha, 38, who left Aleppo with her three children in February after her husband died of a stroke. Although she registered her and her family as refugees with EASO in March, they are yet to have their first interview. I just want them to hurry up or at the very least send us back to Syria a lot of people regret coming at all, and many are being smuggled back to Turkey, she said. While many asylum seekers like Maha are placed in official refugee camps, the majority are forced to sleep on the streets in Athens as they wait for their applications to be processed. People are so desperate here, theyll really do anything, said Safi, a former NATO employee and translator. Everyone is depressed here, myself included. Nobody ever feels good. I have friends who are saying theyll go back to join al-Qaeda or worse, because they feel like they have no other choice. And, you know what? I dont blame them. Youssef Chahed, the prime minister-designate, warns Tunisians to brace themselves for exceptional sacrifices. Tunisias President Beji Caid Essebsi has named Youssef Chahed as prime minister after parliament ousted Habib Essid in a vote of no-confidence because of his handling of economic reforms and security. Chahed, 41, a former minister for local affairs, announced the appointment himself on Wednesday, warning Tunisians to brace themselves for exceptional sacrifices. The president has put me in charge of the national unity government. This is a message of confidence for young people also, Chahed said. In this delicate time we need a lot of audacious decisions. Essebsi had been pushing for a new national unity government in an attempt to overcome political infighting in the ruling coalition and more efficiently tackle economic reforms and the security threat. READ MORE: Outcry as Tunisian president proposes relative for PM Chahed dismissed reports he had any family ties to Essebsi, responding to opposition charges that he was a distant relative of the president. The nomination was likely to be approved by a parliamentary vote, as required. The parliament has a month to do so, but the vote could come sooner. Chahed said he could start consultations to form a new government on Wednesday. He said the government would be a government of youths with more female ministers than the three in the outgoing cabinet and favouring no one party. Today, we enter into a new stage that demands efforts and exceptional sacrifices and boldness to find out-of-the-box solutions to the nations problems, Chahed said. We will speak frankly to the people about the reality of the countrys financial and economic situation. Chahed, setting out priorities, said the first is the war on terrorism. Hope in the future The North African nation wedged between Algeria and Libya suffered two major attacks last year at a beach resort and the well-known Bardo Museum that killed around 60 people, mainly tourists. He said fighting corruption should be another priority, along with increasing growth to create jobs. Growth is currently hovering at zero. He singled out the nations youths, saying they must not lose hope in the future. Since its 2011 revolution to oust Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has grown into a democracy praised as a model for the region. But security issues have tested the government and political infighting has slowed economic progress needed to ease social tensions especially among ranks of young employed. Turkey continues investigation into followers of US-based businessman accused of masterminding last months coup. Turkish police have raided the offices of the national science research council, private broadcaster NTV reported. Many people were detained in the raid on the offices of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Tubitak) in the northwestern province of Kocaeli on Wednesday, NTV said. Tubitak funds science research projects in universities and the private sector and employs more than 1,500 researchers, according to its website. More than 60,000 people in the military, judiciary, civil service and education have been detained, suspended or placed under investigation since the July 15 coup attempt. Turkeys government says the coup attempt was orchestrated by followers of Turkish businessman Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the US since 1999. Gulen denies the charge and has condemned the coup. Thousands of people in the judiciary, police forces and military have been sacked or detained. More than 230 people, not including the coup plotters, died and thousands were wounded as mutinous soldiers commandeered fighter jets, helicopters and tanks in the failed attempt to topple the government. Hong Kong grinds to a halt as the strongest typhoon since 1983 hits the region. Typhoon Nida made landfall near Hong Kong on Monday, bringing heavy rain and damaging winds across parts of southern China. The system weakened quickly and within seven hours of arriving, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a final warning as the winds eased down, although widespread flooding remains a threat. Typhoon Nida (which is locally known as Carina) made landfall near the Dapeng Peninsula in Guangdong province on the South China Sea at 0400 local time (2000 GMT Monday). It is Hong Kongs first major typhoon this year, and it hit with winds around 135km/h and gusts approaching 165km/h. Hong Kong Observatory issued an amber warning for the heavy rain accompanying the storm. Meanwhile, Guangzhou in Guangdong province issued its highest, red alert warnings as concerns over heavy flooding grew. Hong Kong International Airport recorded 124mm of rain on Monday. Nearby, Shangchuan Dao, located 154km to the southwest, received 282mm of rain in the 24 hours up to 0600GMT on Tuesday. The typhoon currently lies around 100km to the northwest of Hong Kong and those winds are already nearer 90km/h, with gusts up to 110km/h. Those winds will barely reach 35km/h by Tuesday evening. Much of Hong Kong escaped any significant damage, although fallen trees and lamp posts did block roads for a short time. The high winds and torrential rain forced schools, businesses, and transport services to shut. Around 325 flights were cancelled, leaving passengers briefly stranded at the airport. The remnants of Typhoon Nida are expected to spill across southwest China over the next few days, threatening widespread flooding. Local authorities have already evacuated tens of thousands of people from coastal areas. Seven industrial cities in the Guangdong Province are expecting to bear the brunt of Typhoon Nida. These cities include Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Guangzhou, Foshan and Shunde. An Argentinian woman goes in search of her Lebanese heritage and ends up uniting two families from two different worlds. Filmmaker: Hernan Belon Graciela is a 37-year-old Argentinian woman of Lebanese descent living in Buenos Aires. Before her great-aunt died, she told Graciela a family secret. Her father [Mohammed], Lebanese by birth, did not die in Argentina. He left his family and returned to Lebanon. Angry at his departure, his wife and children cut off communication with him, Graciela explains. Arabs are jealous; they love their land, their origins, they love their birthplace. They may go far away and pretend to forget, but they never forget. by Adnan, Arabic language translator in Argentina One of the last things they heard of Mohammed is that he married again and might have had more children in Lebanon. My great-aunt gave me a box with letters and photos that she had kept . Some had never been read. Somebody once said that a letter always arrives at its destination, Graciela says. When I saw the letters, I felt they had been left as a legacy. And I wanted to know more about my family history. Who was Mohammed? Why did he come to live in Argentina? Why did he return to Lebanon? Are there any relatives of mine on the other side of the world? Graciela decided to look further into Mohammeds life and started to retrace his story from his initial arrival in Buenos Aires and his life in Argentina as an immigrant, to his return to Lebanon. I discovered Arab immigrants to Argentina were not as welcome as Europeans. Arab immigration was large, but discreet, because it has always faced intolerance and discrimination, she says. In search of Mohammeds Lebanese family and in order to learn details of Mohammeds life and her own roots, she travels to Lebanon to trace the threads of a personal story that unfolds as she delves deeper into her familys past and a different culture. And finally, after 50 years of separation, she is the catalyst for two families from two different worlds to reunite. By Graciela Spinelli After the process of shooting Beirut Buenos Aires Beirut, I felt like there was a revolution inside me. I felt that something very important had taken place in my life, and this was directly related to my identity, my essence. The unique sensation of recognising myself in the eyes of others was like finding a treasure. The other, the cultural other, the distant other, the other family. All of that had become a part of me. After this experience, I had the same body but a bigger spirit and a wider soul. This tremendous force that I felt inside me after the film was as intense as the hapiness and emotion I saw in my grandamother Leonor when I was back in Buenos Aires. When I showed Leonor pictures of her father Mohammeds homeland, she cried and smiled at the same time, in a dual feeling of forgiveness and tenderness. I felt I was giving something back to her: the possibility of closing a cycle something that had remained opened since he left Argentina. Since I came back from Lebanon, Leonor prays every day to say Thanks be to God for having given me, her grandaughter, the opportunity to visit her fathers family and homeland. She prays using both the Quran and the Bible. For me, it was very important that the people in Kafr Kila, especially my family there, could see the film finished. This happened one year after we finished the film, when I was invited to participate at a film festival that took place in Beirut. The day of the screening in Kafr Kila, I felt that I had come full circle. It was very important to screen the film there, and although they dont have a cinema, they improvised to make the viewing possible. All the townspeople were invited to watch it. The evening was absolutely unforgettable. They could see their own faces on a big screen, telling this family story. We were also aware of the fact that, for the first time in many years, a video camera was there not to document the war but to help construct a familys story. We were shining a light on human values such as respecting our ancestors, important stories of migrants or refugees far from their homes and the final message: that we are all human beings and we all suffer or rejoice, independently of our origins. When we talk through our hearts, we all speak the same language. Since the film was screened, many people have told me that this is the story of their own families with their own secrets, regrets or hardships related to migration. I am also writing a fiction script that talks about immigration from the Arab world to Argentina. As for me, I have a bigger family now, and thanks to the internet, Whatsapp, Facebook and so on, we keep in touch and are always planning our next meeting. The next trip to Beirut, or in their case, the next trip to Buenos Aires. As a matter of fact, my new cousin Abu Ali Chit who I met in Kafr Kila has already visited us in Argentina. Abu Ali is Habibs son in the film, I have a letter written by Habibs mother which I presented him with. I am looking forward to going back to Lebanon as soon as I can. I miss them and I miss Lebanon. South Korea will become a puppet of US policy in Northeast Asia if it finally deploys the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system on its soil, the Peoples Daily warned in an editorial published on Monday, urging Seoul to think twice. Seoul will be a frontline of the US missile defense system after it takes over the hot potato, the article emphasized, comparing such acts as drawing fire against itself. The editorial, published under the pen name Zhong Sheng, comes as Seoul, despite rising dissenting voices from within and the international community, insists on the THAAD deployments necessity at its recent national security council meetings. The THAAD system will bring nothing to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but will only further escalate tensions by creating new conflicts, the article pointed out, adding that South Korea will also face risks in politics, economy, security, environment and society. The paper pointed out that once a conflict breaks out, South Korea would be the direct victim and will turn its destiny around, and its people will pay the highest price for a missile defense system that is ultimately useless in their defense. Urging South Korea to keep a clear mind on the reality and the broader world arena, the editorial reminded the country that hollow weapons like the THAAD system and the US are by no means reliable approaches to protect itself. It further noted that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula calls for a systematic endeavor, and the deployment of the THAAD system is indeed unwise and irresponsible. South Korea should think over the reason for China's efforts to resume the Six-Party Talks, the article said. The article hailed the rapid development of China-South Korea ties, but stressed at the same time that a development of bilateral ties needs more joint efforts. With frequent high-level exchanges and a deepened strategic cooperative partnership, China has become South Korea's largest trading partner, export market and source of imports. The free trade agreement signed by both sides is reaping huge returns, and bilateral personnel exchanges have exceeded 10 million, the paper illustrated. Warning South Korea not to repeat the fate of Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, the paper said that it is not the first time the US has employed a puppet strategy. In order to expand its hegemony, the superpower usually throws other countries or regions into disarray and then escapes unscathed, the editorial said of the hidden agenda. For the South Korean government, deploying the THAAD system is like setting wolf to keep sheep. Such a self-destructive move will result in irreversible consequences, the article warned. It is hoped that South Korea could put long-term and people's interests first and bear the reality in mind, the article said. Young Tanzanians are ambitious and positive about the Tanzanias future, they want to be in control of their destiny; to attain their dreams they urge the Government, stakeholders and community at large to aid their journey. Next Generation Youth Voices Tanzania is a research study carried out by the British Council funded by DFID to []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... AR's Editor Joe Shea Talks About Elections On Iranian TV Bear Stearns Saved By Fed As Lehman Bros. Falters; Major Bank Failure Looms Over Wall Street, Sends Markets Into 200-Pt. Dive Lie Upon Lie Five Years Into the Iraq War The Administration Still Churns Out Lies by Randolph Holhut A Small Tragedy Even at 90, As Friends Turn Cool She Knows the Show Must Go On by Joyce Marcel I'll Take Me Imagine John Wayne or Arnold In Heels, Silk and a Girdle by Elizabeth Andrews Sen. Nelson Calls For New Fla. Primary; Gov Crist Backs 'Do-Over' Who'll Win? Ask Spock Spock.com Engine Predicts Winners By Site Searches; It Can be Wrong by Jay Bhatti Chatting Up The Cat God Gave Me Dominion Over Him But I Think He's a Non-Believer by Constance Daley Death of a Thug The Life and Horrors of Suharto by Andreas Harsono ___________________________ This Just In Sierra Club: McCain Ducked All 15 Key Votes On Green Laws (AR) A Work By AR's T.S. Kerrigan Is Chosen As 'Best Poem' By Wordpress Site Murder At Mile 63 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] WASHINGTON While it's unclear who robbed the Hong Kong bitcoin exchange Bitfinex, stealing $72 million worth of the cryptocurrency, some have already decided U.S. regulators are at least partly to blame. Critics point to a Commodity Futures Trading Commission action against Bitfinex earlier this summer that they argue made the firm more vulnerable to the Tuesday night attack. "Bitfinex had settled with the CFTC just two months ago, which forced them to end their practice of stashing coins away securely offline," tweeted Leo Weese, a digital currency advocate in Hong Kong. "Instead, they had to 'deliver' coins daily between Bitcoin accounts assigned to each user. Tell me again how regulation 'protects' you." The situation is complex and turns on whether the CFTC inadvertently pushed Bitfinex to adopt a weaker security system than it had been using. If so, the story is a stark reminder of how legacy regulatory models are an awkward fit for emerging technologies. However, several security experts said the way the exchange chose to use the new system was significantly flawed. In any event, the debacle seems likely to draw more regulatory scrutiny to the nascent cryptocurrency industry. In June, the CFTC fined Bitfinex $75,000 for facilitating margin trading without being registered as a futures commission merchant. But the agency gave Bitfinex a way out, saying it had to register "unless the entity offering the transactions such as Bitfinex can establish that actual delivery of the bitcoins results within 28 days." Last year, Bitfinex, possibly aware of the CFTC's investigation, began changing how it handled bitcoin so that it could effectively exchange them, thus avoiding the need to register. Instead of keeping customers' funds in so-called cold storage, where the private keys are kept offline, it moved to multisignature bitcoin wallet provider BitGo. In a June 4, 2015, blog post, nearly a year before the fine, the company promised "complete segregation of all customer bitcoins" as a result of the technology. Critics argue Bitfinex opened itself up to attack when it switched over to BitGo. The CFTC declined to comment and BitGo could not be reached. Bitfinex denied the order contributed to the hack. "This is a security issue, not a regulatory one," Stuart Hoegner, the company's general counsel, said in a statement to American Banker. "The CFTC is not the proximate cause of the security vulnerability." Making the attack more ominous is the fact that multisignature is generally considered safe. Under that system, two or more private keys must sign a transaction in order to release funds from a bitcoin wallet. A wallet could be programmed to send money only if at least two of three keys signed off, for example, with one key controlled by the user, one by an exchange and one by a third party. Or a wallet could require three of five keys, with one stored on a phone, one printed out and locked in a safe, another stored on a thumb drive hidden in a sock drawer, and so on. The idea is that bad actors would have to breach multiple machines in different locations to transact on one user's behalf. "You know in the movies you see these nuclear weapon silos that require two keys and two independent people to turn the keys so you can launch the missile only when both people agree? Multisig is a similar situation," said Emin Gun Sirer, associate professor at Cornell University and co-director of the Initiative for Cryptocurrencies and Smart Contracts. It remains unclear how hackers compromised the system. "The question that we have to ask ourselves," said Jerry Brito, the executive director of Coin Center, a Washington think tank and advocacy group, "is what did the attacker do and who had the keys?" Possibly in response to the CFTC's investigation, Bitfinex switched to holding its funds in multisignature accounts for each of its registered users making the breach a question of protecting private keys, which are random-seeming strings of letters and numbers required for a user to access wallet funds. "Does that introduce a vulnerability?" Brito said. "Not necessarily. It changes the attack surface." Multisignature technology, he said, is only as strong as the way it is enforced. If Bitfinex, for instance, could access the keys held by BitGo too easily, this would create an opening for hackers. Multisig "can be as safe as cold storage," Brito said. But it is not "magic pixie dust." According to Sirer, multisig per se did not fail in this case; the exchange's specific implementation of it did. Bitfinex had set its controls to require two out of three parties to sign a transaction. However, Sirer explained, one entity had effective control, if not possession, of both keys since Bitfinex would sign a transaction and instruct BitGo to sign the same one. Indeed, Bitfinex's terms of service as of July 28 suggest BitGo played a passive role. "BitGo holds one private key for each Multi-Signature Wallet and uses those keys to sign transactions as directed by Bitfinex," according to the document, which is cached on Google. "Unless compelled by an arbitrator or otherwise required by applicable law, BitGo will only use a private key to sign a Multi-Signature Wallet transaction that is first signed by Bitfinex." (The document goes on to tell users they can instruct BitGo to stop signing transactions should they have a dispute with the exchange.) For some in the legal and regulatory community, this hack underscores the risks created by the vague regulatory landscape digital currency firms operate in. "There isn't a unified regulatory regime for virtual currency companies," said Lauren Giles, a partner at Alston & Bird who specializes in virtual currency. "That means there are regulatory holes there." Though Bitfinex has to comply with data security standards, it is not as closely watched as more regulated entities like banks or money transmitters, said Carol Van Cleef, a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. "Not being a licensed money transmitter [or a futures commission merchant under the CFTC] meant that they had nobody who was looking over and making sure that they had a good data security program in place," Van Cleef said. Instead, she said, in a regulatory no man's land, "we rely largely on a process of enforcement actions after the fact." Some maintain regulators are keeping an attentive eye on virtual currency. They "aren't looking the other way and not being thoughtful and focused on this already," said David Treat, the global managing director on blockchain for financial services at Accenture. Either way, significant hacks have the potential to bring more financial regulators to the table like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has so far only dipped its toes in these waters. "We've been waiting for a point of inflection here where the impact of an event is sufficient enough to the consumers that the CFPB decides to step in," said Van Cleef. WASHINGTON State bank associations threw their support behind a regulatory relief bill on Tuesday in hopes the legislation can gain traction in the Senate. The bill introduced in July by Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., would require federal financial regulators to consider a bank's business model when implementing new regulations and guidance. The Taking Account of Institutions with Low Operation Risk would also require regulators to do a look-back at Dodd-Frank Act regulations and determine if they are overly burdensome and harming financial institutions' ability to serve their customers. "Financial institutions, particularly community banks, have been besieged by an avalanche of regulations coming out of the financial crisis," said a letter from all 52 state bankers associations to Senate lawmakers. "While many of those new rules address legitimate concerns, they often are applied in indiscriminate fashion, imposing substantial burdens on institutions whose risk profiles and business models clearly do not warrant such application." If passed, the legislation would also require regulators to document how new rules take into account a bank's business model and the consumer impact of the regulation. A House version of the bill passed out of the Financial Services Committee in March, but Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Maxine Waters, the lead Democrat on the panel, expressed concern about the legislation. "The TAILOR Act, I believe, is a bold attack on the Dodd-Frank financial reform law," Waters said at the time. "This bill would allow every bank and financial institution overseen by agencies like the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to challenge rulemakings in court if they felt a regulation was not uniquely tailored to their business needs." But the bank associations said the legislation does more than just help institutions cope with new regulations and requirements. "In the end, the primary losers of this never-ending cycle are the people and communities served by our nation's banks, as these institutions are the life blood that drives economic growth, jobs and well-being in thousands of towns and cities across this country," the letter said. Politics is a visual experience. The images created during the late great American primary season are examples. First, we had the Trump clan, straight out of Lake Wobegon where all the men are strong, the women good looking, and the children well above average. Indeed, all the Trump kids are pink, fit, well groomed, educated, and successful. No drunks, no junkies, no chubby chasers, and no children in rehab. Not a deadbeat in the bunch. The Cleveland aura was captured in a Mike Pence aphorism; You cant fake good kids. It may have taken three marriages, but family Trump is now both a brand and a political phenomenon. His outsider mantra is a paean to Cobb salad, exercise, independence, probity, upward mobility, and entrepreneurship. When Trump doesnt have his foot in his mouth, his message is salutary. Success, sobriety, and size six mates are possible. You can be me, says he. Early sloganeering was illuminating. Hillary feminazis chanted, Im with her while Trump parried with Im with you. From the start, the Democrat quadrennial looked like a cross between a victims rodeo and a weight watchers jamboree. The festivities opened with a zaftig rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic with the refrain his truth goes marching on. You would think that truth would be the last subject to bring up at any Clinton rally. Compounding irony, media dolts failed to note that Dixie was the more appropriate Democrat theme song. The Battle Hymn is the anthem of Lincoln and Republicans, the folks who actually opposed slavery, then and now. Alas, cultural appropriations and Wikileaks are the weft and warp that bind Democrats in 2016. Early on, Julian Assange unhorsed Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DNC chair, with a purloined email broadside that confirmed what Sanders and Trump had been saying all along. When merit fails, the Clintons will cheat or steal. Between DNC bias and super delegates, a Hillary coronation was assured. Ironically, the DNC primary fixers validated Trumps crooked Hillary charge. The Democratic Party trusts voters and free elections in the same sense that the Mafia trusts snitches and competition. Other images from Philadelphia included persistent anti-war chants, Palestinian flag waving, Israeli flag burnings, and at least one instance of a moron setting himself on fire while trying to light an American flag. The boo birds were out in force too. Shills as diverse as Sarah Silverman and General John Allen were hooted off the DNC stage. Islamists and cop killers were not mentioned by the Democrats with one ugly exception. The DNC managed to find one pair of Muslim American gold star parents to trot out and exploit as if Hillary cared about war casualties at home or abroad. In four short days, team Obama went from the what difference, at this point, does it make? in Benghazi to we care in Philadelphia. They care if Dads name is Khizr Khan. Clintonistas care most when theres an election -- or the dog tag on the dead soldier reads Muslim. Speaking of headstone politics, how many Islamic crescents are featured at Arlington National Cemetery compared to crosses or Mogen Davids? And while were at it, shouldnt the DNC keep track of Christian and Jewish soldiers killed and injured by Muslim Americans in uniform? Major Nidal Hassan, US Army, alone has 43 American entries on his jihad scorecard. Largely mute about the local and global march of Islamism and terror, the DNC is not above exploiting a solitary body bag. Silence on the Left is the most hideous form of collaboration. Still, little of the operatic drama and pageantry that is a political convention means anything until the fat lady sings. Right on cue, Mrs. Clinton strode to center stage in the Philly finale wearing a white three piece pants suit. A study in ambiguity, it was hard to know whether the DNC was channeling a shmoo, a gay wedding, or a remake of One Flew Over the Cukoos Nest. Short of a nurses cap, Mrs. Clinton looked to be the specter of Nurse Ratched reborn. Imagery is often more than imagination. The branding in Philadelphia might be a kind of prophecy too. The perverse political nurse imagery was accompanied by an offstage citizen chorus chanting lock her up. Wikileaks, not the FBI, may now be the master of Hillarys political fate. All elections, withal, are largely about brand loyalty. Obama, Clinton, and Left loyalists capture just about all the victims and dependents; anyone who works for government, sells something to government, or relies on government for a paycheck or a handout. Unfortunately, the taker class is growing faster than the maker class. G. Murphy Donovan writes about the politics of national security. Donald Trump has taken a stand for "law and order." He may be the first Republican presidential nominee since Richard Nixon to dare pronounce those words, so thoroughly has the GOP internalized the Democrats' canard that "'Law and order' are code words for racism." In the opinion of one Nixon scholar, however, Trump doesnt measure up to the Old Mans standard. Rick Perlstein, author of a splendid series of works on Goldwater, Nixon, and Reagan, faults Trump's acceptance speech for failing to rise to the heights of the one Nixon gave in 1968. Perlstein calls that speech Nixon's "masterpiece: poetic, shot through with rhythm and imagery and propulsion, layered into a carefully constructed latticework," etc., etc. Not like Trumps speech at all. We all know that Trump is no Lincoln. Most of us understand he's no Reagan. Now we find he's not even Nixon, for crying out loud. Even so, in calling for law and order while the Democrats kiss up to its enemies, he's this year's indispensable man. For the sake of crime victims everywhere, Trump should be elected. But what, besides rhetoric, can he offer them? Here is where, in Perlstein's view, Trump falls most woefully short. "Nixon never said it would be easy," Perlstein writes. "Trump says nothing else. It was the theme of his convention. ... The spirit of magic pervaded everything: Trump, with his wand, making awesome things happen instantaneously." Leading Perlstein's list of particulars is this from Trump's speech: "I have a message for all of you: The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon -- and I mean very soon come to an end. Beginning on January 20th 2017, safety will be restored." How in the world can that happen? "Dont ask how," says Perlstein. "If you ask how a trick is done, then it loses its magic." The Donald does indeed make a fat target. One of Perlstein's points, however, is not so well considered. He writes that "in 1968, Nixon could reasonably speak of 'unprecedented lawlessness' and 'unprecedented racial violence' because these things were unprecedented. ... The number of violent crimes in the U.S. in 1960, according to the FBI, was 288,460. In 1968, it had exploded to more than twice that, 595,010. Now? The murder rate is down from eight homicides per 100,000 people in 1995, to under six in 2006, to four-and-a-half now." Two things are wrong with that. First, long-term murder comparisons should never be made without taking into account modern improvements in emergency trauma care. Between 1960 and 1991, the per-capita murder rate doubled, but the rate of aggravated assault quintupled. Why the difference? Because each victim saved in ER reduces a murder to an aggravated assault. In 2002, researchers at Harvard and UMass Amherst calculated that without medical advances, 45,000 to 70,000 homicides would have happened annually -- more than three times what we've suffered with those advances. Today, per-capita aggravated assault remains almost three times what it was in 1960. Americans continue to suffer murderous attacks far more frequently than we did two generations ago. The second wrong thing is this: How much more mayhem are we supposed to take? It's fine to downplay the great crime wave we've been suffering when it is slowly receding, but ever since the "Black Lives Matter" movement stymied proactive policing, violent crime is resurgent -- at a cost of hundreds, prospectively thousands, of innocent black lives. Trump notices this, decries it, and vows to stop it. Who can argue with that? The fact is that crime could have been crushed long ago. Public safety can be restored quickly -- not by magic, but by blood. American history proves it. My authority for saying so is Professor Richard Maxwell Brown, scholar of the American frontier. When crime first started getting out of hand in the 1960s, Dr. Brown contributed a report to the urgently assembled National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence. His report's title? "The American Vigilante Tradition." Before proceeding, let me make clear that neither Brown, nor I, nor Trump, is an advocate of lynch law. Swift and certain enforcement of the death penalty against murderers can indeed make criminals fear the law. The trick, pace Perlstein, is to achieve that goal without sacrificing due process. But for now, let's just see what can happen when outlaws are confronted with a credible threat of sudden death. Brown wrote that from 1767 until the closing of the frontier around 1900, "vigilante activity was an almost constant factor in American life." Brown counted 326 vigilante movements; among them they killed more than 700 known victims and frightened away countless others. In most cases, he wrote, the vigilantes immediate impact was "socially constructive." By brandishing the hangman's noose, they overthrew and scattered even powerful outlaw gangs, pacifying large areas with amazing speed. "Movements which lasted as long as a year were long lived," Brown wrote. "More commonly they finished their business in a period of months or weeks." Their effectiveness brought vigilante movements the approval, and in some cases the participation, of prominent Americans including Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Leland Stanford. Across the frontier, several governors, state legislators, and U.S. senators had vigilante backgrounds. (President Jackson recommended vigilante action to a group of citizens who had petitioned him in the White House regarding a local crime problem. Roosevelt as a young rancher in South Dakota applied to join the deadliest such movement on record, Granville Stuart's vigilantes of Montana; perhaps judging TR a tenderfoot, they turned him down. Stanford, founder of Stanford University, was a member of the largest movement, the San Francisco Vigilance Committee of 1856.) All this notwithstanding, Brown's overall assessment of vigilantism is negative, for two reasons. First, the vigilantes' violent methods often provoked equally violent countermovements, resulting in an anarchy that sometimes dwarfed the original disorders. Second, the vigilantes' example fostered a persistent disrespect for the law. Groups as varied as the KKK (which targeted minorities rather than outlaw gangs) and the black militants of the 1960s (who proclaimed that "violence is as American as cherry pie") have shown a taste for mob action that far outlived the chaotic conditions of the frontier. President Roosevelt, who had wanted to be a vigilante, came to understand this very well. In a 1903 letter commending the governor of Indiana for taking a stand against what Brown calls "neovigilantism," TR wrote: "All thoughtful men must feel the gravest alarm over the growth of lynching in this country, and especially over the peculiarly hideous forms so often taken by mob violence when colored men are the victims." He urged that Americans unite to denounce such lynchings and to support those engaged in putting them down. "As a people we claim the right to speak ... for fair treatment of all men without regard to differences of race, fortune, creed, or color," he wrote. In tolerating lynch law, "we forfeit the right so to speak." But Roosevelt coupled this with some words to which no Democrat today would assent: It certainly ought to be possible by the proper administration of the laws to secure swift vengeance upon the criminal; and the best and immediate efforts of all legislators, judges, and citizens should be addressed to securing such reforms in our legal procedure as to leave no vestige of excuse for those misguided men who undertake to reap vengeance through violent methods. Men who have been guilty of a crime like rape or murder should be visited with swift and certain punishment, and the just effort made by the courts to protect them in their rights should under no circumstances be perverted into permitting any mere technicality to avert or delay their punishment. There is a winning issue here for Trump, if he cares to take it up. Karl Spence is author of Yo! Liberals! You Call This Progress? His work has appeared in the Chattanooga Free Press, American Thinker and National Review. Are you baffled by the rise of Donald Trump? Astonished at the inanity and predictability of NPR? Appalled by the constant insistence on political correctness? These and other baleful developments are largely due to the suffocating domination of sanctimonious liberalism in dealing with public policy. Sanctimonious liberalism has three primary tenets: First, Society divides into the oppressor and the oppressed, such as white oppressors vs black oppressed and male oppressors vs female oppressed, along with the other officially recognized oppressed groups --gays, transsexuals, the gender fluid, the differently abled, fat people, Native Americans, immigrants, the poor, Hispanics, Palestinians, and Muslims. Pedophiles and the polyamorous also feel oppressed and are working to establish their own victim status. Second, victim status is important. Any differences in outcomes between oppressor vs oppressed groups (white vs black, male vs female, etc.) is ipso facto evidence of discrimination. Any social problem such as discrimination requires a political solution (the personal is political). Any discussion of any responsibilities of the oppressed group is unacceptable because that would be blaming the victim. And no member of an oppressed group can ever be an oppressor. Third, there are two sides to any issue, the good (left, blue) side and the bad (right, red) side. In all cases the good side is not only correct on the issues, but is also morally correct. The bad side is not only wrong on the issues, but holds these views for the wrong reasons, typically racism, sexism, fascism, xenophobia, homophobia, Islamophobia, ableism, sizeism, fear, or selfishness. The Vatican of sanctimonious liberalism is the New York Times, which sets the topics to be discussed, the acceptable reactions to those topics and the proper way to think about those topics. Together this forms The Narrative. Following the lead of the NYT, the narrative gets extended in some media (Atlantic, New Yorker, Vanity Fair), while being watered down and simplified as it cascades down through the national news shows (ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR) to social media (Facebook, Twitter, reddit) to local newspapers and news shows and finally to the outlets for the lowest information voters (Time, Cosmopolitan, Redbook). Unacceptable topics and views about topics are simply not reported. This suppressio veri (the concealment of truth) is easily accomplished by the traditional media by means of their choices of what to present. The newer social media use the input of their users and therefore Facebook has to curate trending topics, the evidently irony-challenged Twitter had to create the Twitter Trust & Safety Council and the Admins and Mods of reddit have to do their duty for the narrative. For example, every week there are articles in the NYT by women about the challenges, difficulties, and irritations of being a woman. Thats the way the narrative rolls, but the narrative misses a lot. About 80% of suicides are men. After the financial crisis men were disproportionally put out of work vis a vis women. Male-dominated jobs have a much higher death rate than female-dominated jobs. These are just a few examples of how any discussion of men (an oppressor group) doing less well than women (an oppressed group) does not fit the narrative and therefore is suppressed. The narrative is all about confirmation bias. The coverage of Donald Trumps campaign is illustrative of the narrative and how its good vs bad judgment works. Overwhelmingly positive Trump coverage was okay in the beginning of his campaign because coverage would get readership and clicks for the media, all with the overall pretense of fairness. Thus media disseminating the narrative could attract those intrigued by him as well as their traditional followers who were horrified by him. The positive news was not about his actual views on issues, but rather the size of his crowds, the attention he was getting, etc. As time moved on, the narrative shifted to an overwhelmingly critical tone which will reach a crescendo at the time of the election. This process plays out in every presidential race. As Glenn Reynolds observed, Mitt Romney was Hitler when a candidate, but four years later he sets the high standard of Republican candidates that the current candidate does not live up to. For those who would like to understand the world, consider going (a) above the narrative to the Times Literary Supplement; (b) to competing narratives, such as The Wall Street Journal, National Review, Mother Jones and Fox News and (c) below the narrative to the Drudge Report, the National Enquirer and Internet sources of the undernews. Equally important would be to adopt a more analytical approach rather than sanctimonious liberalism to policy and political matters, starting with the concept of dialectics. Simplified, the Hegelian dialectic posits that a Thesis is opposed by its Antithesis, out of which comes a Synthesis. This synthesis then becomes a thesis and the process continues. For example, if Sanctimonious Liberalism is the Thesis, then Trump is the Antithesis. Many people lost in the fog of sanctimonious liberalism were blindsided by the Brexit vote and the success of Trump. It is as if they believed that sanctimonious liberalism was already The Absolute Idea and is so perfect that it would never give rise to an antithesis. However, even this early in the process some have already attempted a Synthesis. Lawrence Summers, for example, called for responsible nationalism, not reflex globalism in a piece in the Financial Times. Just as the financial crisis had a long runup, the crisis of sanctimonious liberalism has also had a long runup. The holier-than-thou, though secular, moral contempt for those who disagree with the narrative has, not surprisingly, angered millions. In addition, free trade agreements, while a good thing overall for the country as a whole, have both winners and losers. But according to the narrative, if you object that you are a victim of a free trade agreement you are xenophobic and a bitter clinger. In the narrative, whites and males are the oppressors, so white males cannot be victims. However, here in pathetic flyover country, some white males are victims, in fact. The Wall Street Journal tells us in a news story, Across 25 of the worlds advanced economies, about two-thirds of the population -- more than half a billion people -- earn the same as or less than their peers did a decade ago. Thats a lot of bitter clingers. A new approach (synthesis, anyone?) might start with the concept that a government should focus on all of its own citizens rather than focus on identity groups based on victimhood. It might also focus on individuals rather than group averages and recognize there are losers in the so-called oppressor groups and winners in the so-called oppressed groups. It might also allow people to express anodyne opinions or even disagree with a member of an oppressed group without being charged with thought crimes such as racism and sexism. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon does not appear to understand human rights as they were formulated in Classical and Enlightenment philosophy, adhering instead to a political notion of human rights, one originating in Socialism and Progressivism. For Ban and the UN, human rights have been reduced to means to achieving broad, generally leftist, global governance goals. The ancient Stoic philosophers insisted that the laws of governments and legislatures must be constrained by principles consistent with the laws of nature. Eternal moral laws compelling states to respect human nature and freedom are different from laws promulgated to ensure justice, security, and the public welfare, that is, laws reflecting what societies believe is good. The philosophy of John Locke and Emmanuel Kant gave shape to the formation of constitutional and international human rights protections aimed at protecting individuals from tyrannical decrees and laws. Classical human rights, based on natural law, are politically neutral, meant to keep governments from infringing on the demands of our common human nature. In a 12 July speech before a High-Level Thematic Debate in the UN General Assembly, the Secretary General imparted a vision of human rights as inseparable from a political program of global regulation and wealth redistribution. Ban Ki-moon repeatedly confused human rights with positive legislation to achieve the political goals of societies and the international community, and he even spoke of human rights as subordinate to those goals, as means to other ends. According to an official UN report, Ban said that human rights must be a main tool for meeting development targets. He said, In our deeply connected world, all Member States have a shared best interest in promoting individual and collective human rights as a basis for global peace and prosperity. He made no distinction between human rights and positive law aimed at achieving social and political goals. To his credit, Ban referred to grave violations of fundamental rights by governments. Some governments, he mentioned, are sharply restricting peoples ability to exercise their rights, attacking fundamental freedoms and dismantling judicial institutions that limit executive power. Others are detaining and imprisoning human rights defenders and clamping down on civil society and non-governmental organizations, preventing them from performing their vital work. But his main theme was clearly not violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms by tyrannical states, but rather human rights as the most powerful driver of peace and development, essential to achieving the UNs 17 Sustainable Development Goals. No decent person would argue against the value of such objectives, so long as they were not pursued in ways that impinge on human rights and freedoms. But they are not the goals of human rights. Human rights are universal standards to protect individual freedom, without which human beings cannot exercise their reason, and their innate moral agency. They are not meant as utilitarian means to achieve particular political goals; they ensure that political processes do not violate basic rights and freedoms. Freedom is its own goal and reward. The current president of the UN General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft, worried that we must not allow the culture of human rights that has been created these past 70 years to unravel. Speaking as a human rights activist, that culture is in serious need of reform and renewal. The basis for the political exploitation of human rights lies at the very core of the international human rights system set up on 1948. At the behest of Progressive politicians and communist dictators, economic and social rights were embedded into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since then, human rights have become thoroughly conflated, in the public imagination, with welfare state politics; the very concept of human rights is dissolving into welfarist political rhetoric, sometimes veering toward a coercive utopianism. Top UN human rights officials like the former High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay have spoken about the challenge of protecting human rights as one of achieving substantive equality. The process of twisting the principle of human rights into a legal rationale for redistributionist politics has been joined by cadres of cynical legal-realism human rights lawyers and activist judges. Authoritarian states have learned to present their policies as those promoting human rights. They can do so because economic and social rights assign huge roles and responsibilities that only strong, intrusive states can fulfill, and because the international community has confused protecting individual freedom with providing government services. Indeed, that has been the true unraveling of human rights. We must put it back together again if we are serious about preserving liberty. Aaron Rhodes was Executive Director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights 1993-2007, and a founder of the Freedom Rights Project. He is President of the Forum for Religious Freedom-Europe. With less than a hundred days to go before a presidential election, the top management of one of the two major parties has been wiped out. But the media narrative remains (and always will remain until November 8) that the other party, the Republican Party, is falling apart over Donald Trump, of course. The Wikileaks DNC email hack is at the root of the departures, as all three senior officials were incriminated by emails they sent. David Sherfinski and Dave Boyer of the Washington Times report: [T]he Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday the departures of its chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and communications director, in the wake of an embarrassing email hack that already prompted the resignation of the DNC chair. Amy Dacey, the DNCs CEO, Brad Marshall, its CFO, and top spokesman Luis Miranda are all leaving the organization as the party looks forward to the general election contest between Hillary Clinton, its presidential nominee, and GOP nominee Donald Trump. Stepping in to sweep up the broken glass and start rebuilding is someone whos been with the party more than a month: Brandon Davis, who came aboard in June, will continue in his role as chief of staff and will oversee all aspects of the committees general election efforts, the party said. Ms. Brazile also announced that Democratic strategist Doug Thornell will serve as a senior adviser on a temporary basis. I bet there will be a lot of kibitzing for Davis, not least from Brazile. The DNC was not a major focus for Obama, which is why he left Debbie Wasserman Schultz in charge. He has always been about building his own database, his own organizational base, not the partys. Nevertheless, the DNC will undoubtedly face internal miscommunication, poor coordination, and simple bumbling as new people learn their jobs and get a lot of advice from people with their own conflicting motives. But the media will be sure to remind us that the important problems are all on the GOP side. Because Trump. Dont call it ransom! No, no, no! It was all just a coincidence that (via Jay Soloman and Carol E. Lee of the Wall Street Journal): The Obama administration secretly organized an airlift of $400 million worth of cash to Iran that coincided with the January release of four Americans detained in Tehran, according to U.S. and European officials and congressional staff briefed on the operation afterward. Wooden pallets stacked with euros, Swiss francs and other currencies were flown into Iran on an unmarked cargo plane, according to these officials. The U.S. procured the money from the central banks of the Netherlands and Switzerland, they said. The Iranians have no problem calling it ransom: U.S. officials also acknowledge that Iranian negotiators on the prisoner exchange said they wanted the cash to show they had gained something tangible. (snip) Iranian press reports have quoted senior Iranian defense officials describing the cash as a ransom payment. The Iranian foreign ministry didnt respond to a request for comment. Aetna, Inc., the third largest health insurer in America, will not expand its Obamacare coverage into New Jersey next year as originally planned and is reassessing its participation in the Obamacare program. AOL: In a conference call following the company's earnings announcement, CEO Mark Bertolini said that the firm has halted its plans to expand into two new states' exchanges in 2017 and is looking into the reasons for losses in the exchanges it is currently participating in. "In light of the disappointing year to date performance and updated 2016 projections for our individual on and off exchange products, combined with the significant structural challenges facing the public exchanges, we believe it is only prudent to reassess our level of participation on the public exchanges. Our initial action will be to withdraw our 2017 public exchange expansion plans.Additionally, given the deadline to attest to our final rate filings for 2017, we are also undertaking a complete evaluation of our current exchange footprint as the poor performance of these products warrants such an analysis." Originally Aetna was planning to expand to New Jersey and Indiana in 2017. It currently operates in 15 states across the US. The decision by Aetna comes less than 4 months after the nation's largest insurer, United Healthcare, decided to roll back almost all of its Obamacare offerings after sustaining losses and after the Department of Justice denied Aetna's proposed merger with fellow-insurer Humana. The move could also be worrying for consumers, since the number of insurers offering plans in a state is tightly correlated to the price of insurance. As far as rate increases in other states, Illinois is being hit particularly hard: Insurers in Illinois are set to increase premiums by as much as 45 percent for those buying coverage through the Obamacare marketplace, the Chicago Tribune reported. The most popular insurer in Illinois on the Affordable Care Act exchange, Blue Cross Blue Shield, has proposed increases from 23 to 43 percent for premiums for individual health-care plans saying the hike is due to changes in the cost of medical services. No final decisions have been made regarding our 2017 offerings, the insurer said. While some carriers have chosen to exit the market, we are working toward continuing to provide health insurance options for consumers in Illinois. However, that must be done in a sustainable way. Another insurer, Coventry Health Care of Illinois, has proposed a rate increase of 21 percent. The increases arent a surprise as many insurers have been losing money in the marketplace, according to Katherine Hempstead, a senior adviser at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Hempstead added, "You can't sustain a situation where most carriers lose money." In other words, Obamacare is unsustainable. Even the prospect of being forced to pay a fine for not having Obamacare-approved insurance has failed to force people on to the exchanges to buy a policy. The talking point of Obamacare advocates that so many more Americans are covered fails to take into account that while the expanded Medicaid rolls are growing, thus putting more pressure on a failing program, the number of Americans being insured by private carriers is falling. And the number of insurance companies willing to sell policies on the exchanges continues to shrink at an alarming rate. Is there any doubt anymore that a tipping point has been reached? Without massive intervention by the federal government, the entire Obamacare program will collapse, and millions of Americans carrying a private health insurance policy may find themselves hung out to dry. He was presented to the nation as a Constitution-loving (he carries a pocket copy, dontcha know!) immigrant who just happens to be from Pakistan, but it turns out that Khizr Khan is a recognized scholar on sharia law. And in his published writings, he seems to approve of subordinating the Constitution to Allahs own sharia. Paul Sperry reports at Breitbart: Khizr M. Khan has published papers supporting the supremacy of Islamic law over man-made Western law including the very Constitution he championed in his Democratic National Convention speech attacking GOP presidential nod Donald Trump. In 1983, for example, Khan wrote a glowing review of a book compiled from a seminar held in Kuwait called Human Rights In Islam in which he singles out for praise the keynote address of fellow Pakistani Allah K. Brohi, a pro-jihad Islamic jurist who was one of the closest advisers to late Pakistani dictator Gen. Zia ul-Haq, the father of the Taliban movement. Khan speaks admiringly of Brohis interpretation of human rights, even though it included the right to kill and mutilate those who violate Islamic laws and even the right of men to beat wives who act unseemly. Brohi has quite a few accomplishments for Khan to admire: [Brohi] restored Sharia punishments, such as amputations for theft and demands that rape victims produce four male witnesses or face adultery charges. He also made insulting the Muslim prophet Muhammad a crime punishable by death. To speed the Islamization of Pakistan, he and Zia issued a law that required judges to consult mullahs on every judicial decision for Sharia compliance. And as for Khans wife, the silent Gold Star Mother: Brohi goes on to argue that human rights bestowed by Islam include the right of men to beat their wives. The best statement of the human rights is also to be found in the address delivered by the prophet [Muhammad] so often described as his last address, Brohi said, quoting: You have rights over your wives and they have rights over you. You have the right that they should not defile your bed and that they should not behave with open unseemliness. If they do, God allows you to put them in separate rooms and to beat them but not with severity. Khan touted the supremacy of sharia: Khan provides his own advocacy for Sharia law in a separate academic paper titled Juristic Classification of Islamic Law, which he also wrote in 1983, while studying in Saudi Arabia. The invariable and basic rules of Islamic law are only those prescribed in the Shariah, Khan writes. All other juridical works must always be subordinated to the Shariah. He explains that Sharia is derived from the Quran and Sunnah, and that the Quran is the absolute authority from which springs the very conception of legality and every legal obligation. What if sharia happens to conflict with the U.S. Constitution? Id like to see if Khan has addressed that point in further detail. Hat tip: Lee Cary When Portland mayor Charlie Hales announced a pilot program in February that allowed homeless people to sleep on city sidewalks without fear of being hassled by police, property owners questioned his judgment. Yesterday, the mayor admitted thatt the program was a mistake and ended it. Washington Post: The so-called Safe Sleeping Guidelines policy will end immediately, but several other pilot programs that also were rolled out in February in the famously liberal City of Roses will continue or even expand, the mayor said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. The safe sleep policy was well intended, but it created a lot of confusion and maybe some accidental or deliberate misunderstandings, Hales said. It was never intended to legalize (street) camping. Hales has walked a fine line in trying to address a growing problem with homelessness in the Pacific Northwest city while appeasing homeowners and businesses. His struggles mirror those in other West Coast cities, such as Seattle and San Francisco, where politicians have grappled to address a tide of homelessness. Portlands safe sleeping policy allowed homeless people to unroll a sleeping bag or unfurl a tarp between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. on city sidewalks and allowed camping in some specific areas of the city -- but never in more than groups of six. When Hales announced it in February, it drew immediate criticism. Neighborhood and business groups, including the Portland Business Alliance, sued. The Willamette Week, the citys alternative weekly, sent a team of reporters to test the policy by pitching tents on the sidewalk in front of Hales home and the homes of other elected officials. The policy was supposed to be a temporary measure while the city worked to create more temporary housing and dovetailed with the citys declaration of a state of emergency for homelessness. Portland has about 1,800 homeless people and needs 1,000 shelter beds, Hales said. A coalition opposing the policy, Safe & Livable Portland, called the mayors move a step in the right direction and added they wouldnt seek further legal action against the city. This is a perfect example of how liberals believe that the world works compared to reality. The reason for the homeless crisis is that it is ruinously expensive to live in Portland. The good liberals in that city are incapable of connecting that fact to the fact that more and more people are unable to afford housing of any kind. Any ideas about increasing the mix of affordable and luxury housing never enters their heads because they deny the connection between supply and demand. So instead of going to the root of the problem and creating sensible policies that would increase the amount and affordability of housing, they paper over the problem by simply refusing to enforce statutes against vagrancy. It was never going to work, and finally admitting as much by pulling the program should be an embarrassment. Instead, the mayor is praised for his "compassion" toward the homeless while showing no compassion for property owners. Shape-shifting into something vaguely resembling an outsiders insurgency, the GOP Establishment knocked off a three-term Tea Party congressman in a primary race in Kansas yesterday. Sarah Westwood of The Examiner reports: Rep. Tim Huelskamp lost his congressional seat Tuesday in a brutal Republican primary battle that pitted unlikely foes against each other while attracting an unusually large amount of money for a rural Kansas district. Roger Marshall, a local obstetrician, bested the three-term congressman with the help of powerful groups both inside and outside the state, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Ending Spending political action committee. The Chamber of Commerce backing says it all, but for the icing on the cake: Ending Spending, founded by former TD Ameritrade CEO Joe Ricketts, is more frequently seen backing candidates linked to the GOP establishment. The PAC supported incumbent Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, for example, against a Tea Party primary challenge from another insurgent doctor, Milton Wolf, in 2014. In a form of jiujitsu, the Establishment forces played insurgents. In this primary, Tea Party groups and figures lined up behind an incumbent Republican while establishment-linked political organizations backed a candidate they had packaged as a conservative outsider. The race served as a test of whether establishment institutions could succeed against a staunch Tea Partier by using the same playbook that brought such candidates to Washington in the first place. The signpost of what lies ahead is visible. For the GOP Establishment, revenge is a dish best eaten cold. Update. Clarice Feldman supplies some perspective: Did he lose because the Farm Bureau and C of C supported his opponent, because he was a NeverTrumper, or because he pissed off Boehner and lost his seat on the Ag Committee? So many different analyses of this race. Update. More on the #NeverTrump accusation for Huelskamp by Jim Hoft of Gateway Pundit. The Trump campaign appears divided over the controversy surrounding the candidate's argument with Khizr Khan, the father of a decorated soldier killed in Iraq. As Republicans around the country including some of Mr. Trump's biggest supporters criticize the candidate for his harsh words against Khan, some campaign aides are urging Trump to move on from the controversy, while others are saying he has a "right to defend himself." New York Times: The Trump campaign has taken a few steps to recover its footing: Mr. Trump canceled a Thursday event in Plattsburgh, N.Y., a community with ties to the military in one of the countrys most heavily Democratic states. Trump strategists said the campaign would redouble its criticism of Mrs. Clintons support for military action in Iraq and Libya. Paul Manafort, Mr. Trumps top political adviser, accused Mrs. Clinton of seeking to avoid a discussion of her failed record at the State Department by pursuing Mr. Trump on other fronts. The Khan family has suffered an irreplaceable loss. For this loss, all Americans grieve, Mr. Manafort said in an email. The way to avoid these tragedies from continuing is to have leadership that will not make the mistakes of the Obama/Clinton administration. But already, Mr. Trumps stubbornness has carried a heavy price: Senior party leaders have scolded him, including Mr. McCain, who castigated Mr. Trump in a lengthy statement Monday. Even one of Mr. Trumps most steadfast allies, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, said Tuesday that it was inappropriate to attack the Khan family. Youre not going to find me being critical of Mr. and Mrs. Khan no matter what, Mr. Christie said. Its just inappropriate for us in this context to be criticizing them, and Im not going to participate in that. Mr. Trump at first appeared on Tuesday to restrain himself, up to a point. At a campaign stop in Northern Virginia, he avoided mentioning the Khans by name, but continued to grumble about his treatment by the news media. He lamented to supporters that reporters had overlooked the story of Patricia Smith, the mother of a serviceman killed in the attack in Benghazi, Libya, in order to highlight other people apparently a reference to the Khan family. They give her virtually no airtime, and they give other people unbelievable amounts of airtime, Mr. Trump said. Its just so unfair. Its so unfair. By the end of the day, Mr. Trump had turned that grievance into an explosive confrontation with the leaders of his own party. Some Trump supporters are pushing back by posting information regarding Mr. Khan's views of sharia law and Islam. Others are claiming the Clinton campaign paid him to speak at the convention. Even if true, as a matter of pragmatic politics, Trump's argument with a Gold Star mother and family may be the biggest mistake of any presidential campaign in the modern era. It isn't just the perception of Trump piling on a grieving family. The Republican Party is on the verge of repuditating its own candidate. Republicans now say Mr. Trumps obstinacy in addressing perhaps the gravest crisis of his campaign may trigger drastic defections within the party, and Republican lawmakers and strategists have begun to entertain abandoning him en masse. Mrs. Clinton, who explicitly courted Republicans at last weeks convention, has already picked up a few telling Republican endorsements: Meg Whitman, the Hewlett Packard Enterprise executive who ran for governor of California as a Republican, backed Mrs. Clinton on Tuesday, as did Representative Richard Hanna of New York, a moderate Republican. Both denounced Mr. Trumps treatment of the Khan family. GOP politicians even Trump supporters are weighing the damage to their own campaigns if they repuditate Trump. It may be getting to the point that opposing the candidate will actually become a political plus. Most of those politicians will be watching the August 9 primary in Wisconsin, where Trump has all but endorsed Paul Ryan's challenger, businessman Paul Nehlen. Nehlen has been hammering Ryan as a tool of the Washington establishment a "soulless" man. There hasn't been a poll since May when Ryan was leading Nehlen 80-7. What effect Trump's unfriendliness toward Ryan will have on the race will affect how other GOP politicians run their own campaigns. With more than three months to go before the voting starts, you have to wonder how much support within the Republican Party Trump will be able to muster if he continues to offend the sensibilities of most Americans. On July, 30, 2016 the VA Office of Inspector General announced, "Today is National Whistleblower Appreciation Day. We as a nation must recognize the important role whistleblowers play in exposing serious problems and deficiencies in government programs and operations." What does the VA mean by serious problems? Millions spent on "art" while our homeless veterans dine "chez garbage"? Are rampant corruption, lies, and despicable treatment of "VA VIP customers" serious and blatant enough? The wrongdoing is shamelessly self-explanatory, and so is Obamas endorsement of the VA secretarys pseudo-transformation of the decaying department. While performing at a Disabled Veterans Convention in Atlanta (August 1, 2016), Obama gushed: "Thank you, Bob, for the great work you are doing." As for VA secretary Robert McDonald, he seems perfectly content with the pat on the back and grandiose sound of his own voice: "Excellence is what were after. So the right dialogue is about forward-looking leadership and sustainable accountability." Hey, homeless "folks": if you are hungry, eat a project. "You should know there are more than 100 legislative proposals for veterans in the presidents 2017 budget." McDonald seems optimistically hopeful that after elections, he will receive more money to burn and no "sustainable accountability" for loss of human lives and potential. Obama said, "As commander-in-chief, I'm pretty tired of some folks trash-talking America's military and troops," but it was not about refusing to salute the American flag, sending our soldiers to Leavenworth, or inhuman treatment of homeless veterans just one more boring attack against Donald Trump. On the website of the U.S. Department of Defense figures: "Washington, July, 2014 Leaders at the Veterans Affairs Department are deeply concerned and distressed about allegations that whistleblowers are routinely retaliated against." In 2016, VA whistleblowers still claim retaliation for complaints against the "distraught" leaders, and Secretary McDonald still considers that "you cant fire your way to excellence." On their website, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs presents the goal of the "VA Honesty Project": "to highlight the Department of Veteran Affairs' lack of transparency with the press and the public about its operations and activities." What follows is an interminable list of "the VA didnt respond" and "the VA Office of Inspector General declined to comment or divulge documents" The VA has already been known for $10 million's worth of landscaping schemes and such essentialities as a "zigzag wall to block the sun," and it looks like both the artistic and artful appetites grow by what they feed on the taxpayers' money and a lack of accountability for neglecting the areas of the greatest concern. Just three days before the "National Whistleblower Appreciation Day," Senator Mark Kirk stated: "Spending money on decorative art while Veterans wait for care is unacceptable." As reported by The Daily Caller (July 27, 2016), it is estimated that the VA is not the only government department spending taxpayer money on luxury art, but "they appear to be the spending most." While the VA is blowing money for bells and whistles, their message is clear: enjoy your Whistleblower Day, but if you want changes, you can whistle for them. As a business, BlackBerry has seen a massive amount of change in the smartphone industry. The company has had to evolve and reinvent itself, having invested a significant sum into a new operating system platform for smartphones that has failed to attract much market share. The company has recently officially announced their second Android-powered model, the BlackBerry DTEK50. The company has considerable expertise in the mobile security arena but has significant technologies in other areas of communications. To this end, the company filed a lawsuit against technology company, Avaya, at the end of last week. The filing in the Northern District of Texas claims that Avaya infringed eight of BlackBerrys American parents associated with a number of different mobile communications technologies, originally filed between 1998 and 2011. The Canadian smartphone and software company states that Avaya infringes these patents by using, without authorization, the technology in unified communications products and software, networking products (such as switches and routers), communication servers and client software, telepresence systems, softphones and deskphones, and software for mobile device communications. In detail, these patents apply to video coding and decoding, phone tracking, voice encoding and the ability to connect multiple devices to the one number. BlackBerrys document lodged with the court weighs in at 115 pages long. In this, BlackBerry point out that they wrote to Avaya in December 2015 to highlight the infringements. We do not know is Avaya responded or if the two companies started licensing negotiations, which have now broken down. However, BlackBerrys Chief Executive Officer, John Chen, has repeatedly explained how BlackBerry have a substantial patent portfolio of around 44,000, which they consider to be one of the youngest in the business. BlackBerry consider their patent portfolio to be a means of generating income and earlier this year explained on a market earnings call that he is not interested in selling patents, but is interested in licensing them. This followed a sale of patents late 2015 to Centerbridge Partners for up to $50 million. BlackBerry have signed agreements with Cisco, Canon, International Game Technology and at least one other company. BlackBerry earns royalties from each of these deals. BlackBerrys information includes how Avaya use their office in northern Texas as a nationwide hub for manager services and as a data center. The document also highlights that Avaya provide the Texas Department of Information Resources, the Texas education industry and the University of Texas Health Services, with technology products. Given that the Canadian business has invested $5.5 billion into research in the last five years and it has formed agreements with other businesses, BlackBerry is keen to protect its patent technologies and of course, its considerable investment over the years. Xiaomi has taken the world by storm, since the company started back in 2010. Starting out making smartphones, Xiaomi made a name for themselves by creating cheap smartphones, with high-end specs. In recent years, the Chinese manufacturer has branched out into making all kinds of other tech products, including humidifiers, smart TVs and yes, even fitness trackers. The Mi Band 2 is Xiaomis third fitness band, after the original was announced in 2014. The Mi Band 2 is the first fitness tracker from Xiaomi with an OLED display, and is a big reason why the Mi Band 2 is a bit more expensive than the original Mi Band which the company sold for $13. With the Mi Band 2, Xiaomi continues to bring high-end specs, and a great looking fitness tracker to market for a pretty low price. The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is priced at $40, which makes it one of the cheapest fitness trackers on the market. But the big question is, is the Mi Band 2 worth its price? Design Advertisement The design of the Mi Band 2 probably wont win any awards. The word that always comes to mind, when thinking about the design of the Mi Band 2 is functional. It has a silicon strap, with the tracker that pops into place. A bit like the Fitbit Flex. Since the fitness tracker isnt embedded in the strap, you are able to swap out the band for something else, which Xiaomi does have a nice steel strap for the Mi Band 2 does look really nice. The actual tracker itself, is pretty plain looking as well. Theres a .42-inch OLED display here, which is UV coated and resistant against scratches. So you wont need to worry about hitting the Mi Band 2 up against things while youre wearing it, and damaging the screen. Just below the screen, theres a button. Its not quite a capacitive button, but just touching the button will allow you to navigate through the different information that can be found on the tracker. The information that the band will show includes the time, steps, distance, calories, heart rate and remaining battery. Basically all of the information you could ever want, in regards to tracking your daily activity. Advertisement Like most other fitness trackers available on the market, the Mi Band 2 is also water resistant, rated at IP67. This is enough to be able to wear the tracker while washing the dishes and such, but its not recommended to wear the Mi Band 2 in a pool or in the shower. While it should be fine, theres no need to take the risk. Features Advertisement When it comes to features, there are plenty of them here on the Mi Band 2, which may be a bit surprising given how cheap the Mi Band 2 really is. Of course, the Mi Band 2 tracks your steps, as well as the calories you burn while walking or running. Unfortunately, it does not track your workouts like many of Fitbits offerings do. It will track your steps taken while doing cardio (on the treadmill, elliptical, etc), but it wont track how long you were doing cardio or how intense it was being done. The Mi Band 2 does have a heart rate monitor. Although it doesnt track your heart rate constantly, this is likely why the battery in the Mi Band 2 lasts a whole lot longer than most other fitness trackers that have a heart rate monitor. The Mi Band 2s battery lasts around 20 days, on average. The heart rate sensor only tracks your heart rate when you have it check it manually, either through the app or on the actual tracker itself. While it is nice to have the heart rate sensor here, it would be better if it were tracking constantly. Additionally, its important for us to mention that the heart rate sensor is not as accurate as it should be. This isnt really Xiaomis fault. As most fitness trackers that track your heart rate on your wrist wont be accurate. It needs to be wrapped around your chest to get a more accurate heart rate. But it will give you an idea of where your heart rate is. One of the cool features that the Mi Band 2 has is, idle alerts. What this means is that, if you havent moved in an hour (unless of course you are asleep, which it will track that as well), it will vibrate on your wrist. Basically telling you to get up and move a bit. Now this may seem a bit annoying luckily you can choose to turn this on or off if you want but it will help you be more active, get more steps in and most importantly, be less sedentary. Which is important for those that have desk jobs and are sitting down all day. As that increases your risk for all kinds health issues. Advertisement Xiaomi allows you to sync your data from the Mi Band 2 with other services, like WeChat, Sina Weibo and Google Fit. The first two WeChat and Sina Weibo are very popular services in China. So it makes sense that they are available here, seeing as Xiaomis biggest market is China, not to mention their homeland. But it is also nice to see that Google Fit is also listed. We connected our Google account with the Mi Fit app to sync our data. It was very easy to do, and you dont even need to install the Google Fit app, which was a bit surprising, but offers a nice user experience. It will sync your steps and sleep to Google Fit. All of the other data it collects, will not be sent over to Google Fit however. For Weibo and WeChat, you do need to have the apps installed to sync your data over to those services. The Mi Band 2 does also track your sleep. Youll be able to see how long you slept for, the time you fell asleep, the time you woke up, how long you were in that deep sleep, how long you were sleeping lightly and how long you were awake for. So you can see if you are restless or not, and really see if you did get a good night of sleep or not. You can also check out your stats for the week or month and see what your averages were for each metric. Which can also be helpful, somewhat. Advertisement Software To use the Xiaomi Mi Band 2, you will need to download the Mi Fit app which is available in the Google Play Store. The app itself uses Xiaomis own design language, which if youve used any of Xiaomis recent smartphones, then youll know what I mean by that. Within the app, there are three tabs, which include Status, Play and Profile. Status basically shows you your stats for the day. So at the top, theres a big circle which displays your steps, and how close you are to reaching your goal. It also shows how far youve walked today, and how many calories youve actively burned (since you do burn calories when you are doing nothing). Below that youll see your sleep, weight, heart rate and streak. Its all pretty much self-explanatory really. You can tap on each one to see your stats. Advertisement Now the center tab may be a bit confusing, as it just says Play. This is where you can adjust things like the apps that work with Mi Fit, as well as using the Mi band 2 as a smart device to unlock your phone automatically, and much more. This is where you can set up access to Google Fit, WeChat, and Weibo for syncing your fitness data. Additionally, you can set up silent alarms. So instead of your phone yelling at you to get up, the Mi Band 2 will instead vibrate on your wrist to wake you up in the morning. Some people find that this wakes them up in a good mood. The Mi Band 2 can also send you alerts for incoming calls, and SMS. There is also a Do Not Disturb feature here, allowing you to keep the Mi Band 2 silent while its in this mode. Which can also be fairly helpful at night when youre trying to sleep. Finally, that last section of the app is your profile. Again, this is mostly self-explanatory, as it shows your profile along with your average steps, total miles and your streak of hitting your step goal. It also shows your devices, and allows you to connect others (like the Mi Scale). You can set your goals within the app, which include your step goal and weight goal. Which Xiaomi recommends a step goal of at least 10,000 steps per day (that may seem like a lot, but its actually really easy to reach). Adding friends on Mi Fit is a bit of a challenge, compared to Fitbit where you just add their email address or you can have the app use your contacts list. With Mi Fit, you need to add by their QR Code, and theres no other option to add friends, other than that way, right now. Hopefully thats something Xiaomi changes in the near future though. The Mi Fit app may not have the best design, but I have to say, it is very functional and user friendly. Its easy to find different settings that you may want to use, as well as checking on your stats for the day. I especially like the fact that it gives you an average number of steps per day, along with your total distance. Of course, it would look better in material design, but it does fit Xiaomis own design rather perfectly. Advertisement Battery Life Xiaomi says that the 70mAh battery that is inside the Mi Band 2 can last around 20 days. Now, we havent actually had the band for 20 days, so its tough to say whether that claim is true, but it does appear to last quite a while. Weve noticed it drop between 3-5% per day. Which would give us around 20 days of battery life out of the Mi Band 2. And thats really, really good for a fitness tracker. As I mentioned earlier in this review, a bit reason why it likely lasts so long is the fact that the heart rate sensor isnt constantly tracking your heart rate, like many other fitness bands do. On top of that it is lacking a few other features, which likely leads to even better battery life. Charging the Mi Band 2 is actually pretty easy. Just pop the tracker out of the band and plug it into the included charger, which can be charged from the USB port on your laptop. With it having such a small battery, it definitely wont take long to charge back up to 100%. Wrap Up Xiaomi has more than delivered on the Mi Band 2. While it may not be the best looking fitness tracker out there, it is one of the smallest, and thus its lightweight. Combine the functionality of the Mi band 2 with the battery life that it sports, and you have a true winner here from Xiaomi. Never mind the price tag that is attached to it. Its pretty incredible what this thing can do, and for just $40 (its real price is $25, but since its not available in the US, officially, itll cost you around $40 to pick it up). Should I Buy the Xiaomi Mi Band 2? If you dont want or need all of the fancy features that youll find from things like the Fitbit Alta or the Jawbone UP4 or even the Garmin vivosmart, then the Mi Band 2 is a perfect fitness tracker to pick up. My only real gripe about it, is the fact that you cant add friends easily (as competition helps me be more active), and there arent many people using Xiaomis Mi Bands just yet. That will likely change though, in the very near future, especially if they keep churning out great fitness trackers like the Mi Band 2. Buy The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 If you were anywhere near the internet today, you likely heard about the launch of Samsungs new phone, the Galaxy Note 7. Earlier this morning Samsung officially unveiled the Galaxy Note 7 at their Unpacked event in New York, alongside the unveiling of the brand new Gear VR headset that was designed to fit the Galaxy Note 7 as it comes with a USB Type-C port. Samsung didnt just announce these two new devices, though, as they also showcased a varied line of accessories for the new phone as well as announced the official pricing and availability of the Gear Icon X wireless activity tracking earbuds that were announced back in the beginning of June. If the Gear Icon X are more of what interest you, those will be hitting store shelves in the middle of this month, on August 15th just a few days before the Galaxy Note 7 officially goes on sale, and they will end up costing $199, available in Black, White, and Blue. While not all carriers or retailers have announced pricing for the Galaxy Note 7, the device will end up costing $849 in the U.S. at some locations although the pricing may be different at some carriers, while customers in Canada will pay either $1,049.99 or $549.99 depending on if they choose a two-year term or no term pricing. Bell subscribers in Canada will also get promotional freebies, as Galaxy Note 7 buyers can choose to take home a Gear Fit2 or a Samsung Level Box Pro wireless speaker at no charge, while also being able to buy the Gear VR at $49, and save $200 on the Galaxy Note 7 if they trade in an old device. Multiple Vulkan-ready games will be pre-loaded onto the Galaxy Note 7 for those who enjoy their mobile gaming, and the device comes with 15GB of Samsung Cloud storage for anyone who needs a little extra space for stuff that wont be stored on the device or expandable storage. Galaxy Note 7 buyers will be happy to know that the device and the S Pen are both IP68 rated, meaning that theyre water and dust resistant, and of course the talk of the town in regards to device features will be the all new iris scanner that was integrated with the phone. If you happened to miss any of the Galaxy Note 7 coverage from today, you can find everything down below. ZTE is one of the largest China-based smartphone manufacturers, and for those of you who did not know this, theyre also the fourth largest smartphone manufacturer in the US. ZTE has been focusing on the US market for quite some time now, and it seems like it was worth it in the end. Anyhow, this company had introduced the several devices this year, and now they have some new info to share with us, read on. The company has reached out to us to announce the launch of the so-called Project CSX, which is essentially a crowdsourced mobile device that ZTE plans to launch next year. The companys member-led forum called Z-Community will actually serve as a base for ideas and feedback during the development of this device. If youd like to join the Z-Community in order to help push this project forward, you can visit community.zteusa.com website. This is the first time a phone manufacturer is stepping out and crowdsourcing something entirely new, from start to finish. Its a bold approach for the industry that demonstrates how ZTE keeps consumers at the heart of everything we imagine, design and deliver. Project CSX is taking our core value to the next level, said Lixin Cheng, the chairman and CEO of ZTE USA. ZTE seems Project CSX as a new, and fresh way of developing new products, the company hopes they will be able to manufacture an even better product thanks to feedback from consumers during the development project. The submissions are held to three rules, says ZTE. This must be a mobile product, the technology for its development needs to be realistically possible by 2017, and the device has to be affordable enough. Now, to top all of this off, you should also know that ZTE will award best ideas for the development of this handset, best ideas will be awarded by small cash prizes, and youll even be able to win a trip to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next year. Advertisement Sometimes the best ideas come from people outside of a company who have a fresh take we wouldnt have thought of otherwise. ZTE is an end-to-end telecommunications company and has the resources to develop all types of devices, not just smartphones. Maybe there are other ways we could be connecting that we have never imagined. We are excited to find out, said Jeff Yee, vice president of Technology Planning and Partnerships at ZTE USA. That is more or less it, the Project CSX sure seems like an interesting approach to product development by ZTE, thats for sure, it will be interesting to see what comes out of all this. UKIP wants to ban Muslim schools: first they came for the kids and the parents What is the point of education? The Telegraph looks at Lisa Duffys views on the matter of who decides what children learn at school. Duffy is a councillor in Cambridgeshire. She wants to lead UKIP. She wants a say in what children can be taught at school. A total ban on Muslim state schools has been called for by Lisa Duffy, the Ukip leadership hopeful. Ms Duffy, who is expected to be announced as once of the candidates in the partys leadership race at noon today, has called for Islamic faith schools to be shut down in a bid to tackle radicalisation. Duffy knows best. She wants to ban traditions she considers to be the wrong ones. An attack on freedom of education can be readily linked to an attack on freedom of worship, something any liberal country should hold dear. Maybe Duffy doesnt like what she sees as intolerance preached as faith schools. Maybe this is why Duffy wants to ban them, censor views alternative to her own? Duffy is a bansturbator. She tells the Express: I will be calling for the Government to close British Islamic faith schools. That doesnt mean I am picking on British Islam Wrong. It does. but if you think about what our security services are looking at 2,000 individuals that have come from those faith schools. When does indoctrination start? Dunno, Lisa. Where did you learn your illiberal views? She adds: I am not far right, I am very much common sense and centre right. Lisa affects to know what the countrys values are and then undermines them. Freedom for all is great so long as it is freedom from things Duffy doesnt much like. Why should the State know better than parents? Why should education be so politicised? Why should education adhere to a homogenous norm proscribed by the elite? Parents must be free to chose the schools that reflect their own prejudices, views and wants. Why doesnt the State do something truly radical: ask teachers what they think and let them set the curriculum? (And interfering parents are every bit as dire as the State dictating what is right thinking.) And if not religious schools, then why non-faith State schools, places where moving targets, new techniques and measures of learning create a system lacking substance where children are schooled not educated. State schools are often out-performed by their religious-orientated rivals, where knowledge can be tested across ages and critical thinking is encouraged and engaged. Lisa Duffy should try it. Anorak Posted: 3rd, August 2016 | In: Broadsheets, Key Posts, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink (ANSA) - Rome, August 3 - We must not fall into the trap of a religious war fomented by fanatics, the head of the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI) said Wednesday. "Let us not fall into the trap...laid by fanatics with the intent to provoke and justify a clash of civilizations," said Monsignor Nunzio Galantino. "(Muslim communities) have clearly and unanimously raised their voices to condemns the violence that was perpetrated, declaring their solidarity with the victims and their loved ones, and their extraneousness to ways of thinking that are so contrary to their faith," he continued. "They did so through their gesture of participating in Sunday Mass alongside Catholics, which was so eloquent and admirable". Italy's Islamic Religious Community (COREIS) said last week it would send delegates to churches and parishes across Italy on Sunday, July 31, "to bear witness to spiritual brotherhood" after a July 26 attack in which two knife-wielding French nationals entered a church in the town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen during Mass, took 84-year-old Father Jacques Hamel hostage along with four other people, and slit the priest's throat before being killed by security forces. They did so in the name of Islam, and the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) extremist group has hailed the attack. Italy's Muslim community heeded the call of the French Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies (IHEI), which also sent delegates to French churches last Sunday. Serbia: EU to stop glorification of fascism in Croatia (ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, 3 AUGUST - Brussels needs to tell Zagreb to stop glorifying terrorists and neo-Nazi ideologies, Serbian Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic said on Wednesday. Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic sent a letter to EU leaders asking them to react to "anti-Serb policy" which in his opinion is conducted by the authorities in Zagreb. Serbia has sent several protest notes accusing Croatia of rehabilitating the Ustasha movement and glorifying convicted terrorists. Serbia's protest notes referred to the quashing of the guilty verdict against Branimir Glavas for war crimes against Serbs in 1991 and the annulment of the verdict against Zagreb Archbishop Alojzije Stepinac, who was sentenced in 1946 by the Communist regime to 16 years. The most recent protest note was sent against the unveiling of a monument to Miro Baresic, a Croatian emigrant convicted in the 1970s in Sweden for the murder of a Yugoslav ambassador. The Serbian Justice Minister said he did not believe "a number of Croatia's provocative moves would end. The more this madness repeats, the less we are able to control it. I'm afraid that this is getting out of control which is why a voice from Brussels needs to says: stop glorifying terrorists and neo-Nazi ideologies," Selakovic said. (ANSAmed). 17th European Day of Jewish Culture in September On Jewish languages and dialects, Milan leads (ANSAmed) - ROME, AUGUST 3 - The European Day of Jewish Culture is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 18 this year in 74 places across Italy. The event is aimed at discovering the history, sites and traditions of Jews through hundreds of events including guided tours of synagogues, museums and Jewish districts, performances, shows, concerts, Kasher tastings and other cultural appointments. The event, which has reached its 17th edition, is coordinated and promoted in our country by the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, part of an international network including this year 35 European countries. ''We are convinced that during an extremely difficult and complex historic phase like the one we are experiencing, it is important to continue to propose positive initiatives that stimulate the creation of connections and bridges within an inclusive society that cares for everybody's rights'', the president of the Italian union of Jewish communities, Noemi Di Segni, wrote in the presentation. A common theme, ''Jewish languages and dialogues'', will ideally unite all appointments. Along with Hebrew, the language of the Torah, the reference is for Yiddish of Eastern European Jews, to Judeo-Espanol, spoken by Jewish communities in the Mediterranean, as well as Italian dialects spoken, among others, in Rome, Leghorn, Venice and Turin. The theme will be examined differently, in theater performances, concerts, laboratories and conferences, with initiatives that are open and free for all citizens across 14 regions. In Milan, chosen to present the event in Italy, initiatives across the country will kick off in the year during which the local Jewish community is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The Jewish minority has been present in Italy for over 2,000 years across the country, making the Italian edition, with some 50,000 presences each year, one of the most followed with one-fourth of visitors registered across the continent. (ANSAmed) - CAIRO - A group linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) called Wilayat Sayna has released a video in which it vows to strike at Israel in the near future and to conquer Rome. ''This is only the beginning, and our meeting will be in Rome and Beit Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem),'' the narrator in the 35-minute video states. ''Oh Jews, wait for us. The punishment is severe and soon you will pay a high price.'' ''The attack on the Russian plane (in the Sinai) that we shot down and the attacks on the headquarters of the crusaders and the Jews that have been bombed are only the beginning. We will later meet in Rome and Jerusalem.'' The threats are accompanied by images of Piazza Navona in Rome and of East Jerusalem. The video, which was posted on social media, show images of attacks by ISIS jihadists against Egyptian security forces in the Sinai peninsula and ends with the narrator describing the killing of two Egyptian policemen. The Egyptian branch of ISIS is currently involved in an uprising in northern Sinai against the authorities in Cairo. The video has not yet been authenticated but its style and contents are similar to propaganda previously employed by ISIS. Security at Colosseum, churches boosted to stop terror Syrian recruited to join jihad arrested by Genoa cops (By Paul Virgo). (ANSAmed) - Rome, August 3 - Rome Police Chief Nicolo D'Angelo has ordered the creation of a maximum-security area around the Colosseum as part of new anti-terrorism measures, ANSA sources said on Wednesday. Police will be stationed at entry check points that the public will have to pass through to gain access to the area. The area of maximum security has also been extended around St Peter's according to new anti-terrorism measures for the summer period. Security around many churches and other places of worship, including in the outskirts of the capital, has been beefed up too. The authorities are also paying close attention to the rich programme of open-air shows and concerts that are part of Rome's annual summer programme. Shopping centres and ports, especially those where cruise tourists disembark for pay trips, are under close watch too. The programme also features a drive to clear illegal camps from the banks of the River Tiber and other areas. The Army said Wednesday that 7,000 soldiers were involved in the Safe Streets programme to help the police watch over sensitive sites. A 23-year-old Syrian, meanwhile, was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of criminal association for international terrorism, Genoa police said. Mahmoud Jrad, who lived in Varese, was about to return to Syria to join the Jabhat al-Nusra jihadist group, investigators believe. He had returned to Syria and been at a theatre of war in a year ago, sources said, having arrived in Italy in 2012. Six people are under investigation in relation to the probe that led to Jrad's arrest, including three Genoa-based imams - an Albanian and two Moroccans. The young man's brother and two other people who frequented mosques are the other people being probed. Prosecutors said there was no evidence to suggest Jrad intended to carry out attacks in Italy, but added that the arrest had prevented "criminal actions" and "possible tragic events" in other countgries. "Our work to prevent the terrorist threat is based in part on a mayor investigative effort and its precisely after a long, articulate investigation that today we have achieved another important result," Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said in reaction to the arrest. Senior Genoa imam Hussain Salah said he did not know who the imams under investigation were. "We condemn any act that leads to radicalization and hostile acts," Salah said. (ANSAmed). BERLIN - Greece is concerned by Turkey's threat not to implement the agreement with the EU on refugees. ''We are very worried and a Plan B is truly necessary'', Greek Immigration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas told Bild, calling on the EU to ''work on a project to be implemented in case Turkey lets refugees out of its borders''. Meanwhile, the Greek government member is asking member states to be more involved in welcoming refugees: ''They must be divided equally among countries''. ROME - Over 6,135 unaccompanied migrant children have been reported missing in Italy as of December 31 last year, Italian Justice Minister Andrea Orlando said Wednesday. One of the main issues to be tackled to protect underage migrants, Orlando told parliament's Schengen commission, concerns the assignment of a tutor, a procedure which is today too long and complicated. The justice minister called for the approval of a bill aimed at addressing the problem, currently in the Lower House. Orlando added an investigation is underway on the role played by ISIS in managing migrant flows towards Italy. ''According to the information available, there is an ongoing sweeping probe on the hypothesis that ISIS backers have crucial roles in controlling and managing migration flows towards Italy, also giving directives on the criteria of territorial distribution of migrants'', the minister told the Schengen commission. Information on the ongoing investigation is classified, preventing right now to provide further information, he added. TUNIS - Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi on Wednesday tasked Youssef Chahed, the current local and regional affairs minister, with forming a new national unity government. He will have one month to establish his ''team'' and present it in parliament for approval. The main parties had from the very beginning supported him for the position. Chahed will have to implement the guidelines contained in the Carthage Accord, a document in which the representatives from nine political parties, trade unions and entrepreneurs set the timeline for the creation of a new national unity governments and its priorities for intervention. The latter include a counterterrorism program, the speeding up of the economic growth process, anti-corruption measures and the implementation of a new social policy. Chahed, 41, secretary at the agriculture ministry in the first Essid government and later minister for local affairs, is a well-known university professor and international expert in agrarian sciences with a degree from the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon in France. He has worked as an expert in agricultural engineering for the European Union and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and has brought in numerous cooperation and food partnerships between Tunisia and Morocco and between Tunisia and the United States. He entered politics after ousted president Ben Ali fled the country in 2011 and was one of the founders of the Republican Party in 2012. The following year he joined Nidaa Tounes, the party that won the elections in late 2014. The new government will have to deal with several challenges including how to step up growth, find solutions to threats negatively affecting financial equilibriums, stimulate private investment, establish peace within society and resume previous levels of phosphates production. The future government will also have to learn from the failures of the previous ones and draw up its goals clearly, refraining from making promises that it will not be able to keep. TUNIS - The political Committee of Tunisia's top party, Nidaa Tounes, has announced it is supporting the appointment, which is likely to be made official Wednesday by the President, of Youssef Chahed, current minister of local affairs, as incoming premier, according to a statement. The statement said that Chahed is a ''competent personality able to implement the programs of the national unity government''. After the OK by Islamist party Ennhadha, Upl, Afek Tounes, and Al Moubadara that appear to back the option of Chahed as premier, only opposition parties reportedly oppose his appointment, while the official positions of union Ugtt, of Al Massar, Al Joumhouri and Echab are awaited. The movement 'Project Tunisia' of Mohsen Marzouk is quite skeptical. ANKARA - Turkish Premier Binali Yildirim has said he has withdrawn legal actions against some 1,500 people, including opposition politicians, journalists and writers, accused of insulting him and his office. In an interview tonight on CNN Turk, the premier said he withdrew all lawsuits yesterday as he is determined to work in closer contact with the oppositions. ''There were many problems that we can solve through dialogue - said Yildirim - This country belongs to all of us''. Clouds of smoke could be seen billowing from the plane on pictures posted on social media. The aircraft was returning from India. Emirates airline has confirmed that a plane carrying 275 passengers and crew has been "involved in an accident". It said the flight - a Boeing 777-300 registration A6-EMW - was EK251 coming from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. Eye witnesses say that the flight had appeared to make a normal approach but that landing gear collapsed. However shortly after the crash Dubai was forecasting severe wind sheer conditions at the airport. The plane is believed to have been evacuated and there are no reported casualties, the Dubai government media office said on Twitter. All departures from Dubai international airport have been delayed until further notice, the Dubai authorities said, adding that the emergency services were dealing with the situation. Scene at the airport seen on social media Picture: Twitter The flight to Conakry will be linked to Emirates four times weekly service between Dubai and Dakar. Emirates flight EK797 will depart Dubai every Tuesday, and EK795 will depart Dubai every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 07h25 and arrive in Conakry at 13h40. The flight will then depart Conakry at 15h10 and arrive in Dakar 16h35. The return flight will depart Dakar at 18h05 and arrive in Dubai at 07h35 the next morning. Emirates first launched its Dubai-Conakry-Dakar-Dubai route in October 2013. The airline made the decision to suspend services in August 2014 after a review of its operations. The partnership, which is the first of its kind in the UAE, forms an important part of EAMCs strategy to employ more Emirati female healthcare professionals, as the airline remains committed to realising the vital economic potential of women and their important role in driving the emirates transformation into a thriving knowledge based economy. The agreement also supports FCHSs vision to be a key provider of excellence in health sciences education in the United Arab Emirates. The EAMC sponsorship programme will provide up to three students a year with a unique opportunity to pursue a rewarding and challenging career in the nursing profession with Etihad Airways. EAMC will also give the selected students the opportunity to become pioneers in aviation and occupational nursing as a recognised training centre, following a recently signed agreement with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Students will be selected for sponsorship based on their robust academic performance to date. Successful students will receive a monthly stipend from the airline and will meet EAMC clinical staff members regularly to discuss their progress. After graduation, students will be offered full-time employment with the airline. Dr Nadia Bastaki, Etihad Airways vice president - Medical Services, said: We are honoured to announce our partnership with Fatima College of Health Sciences. This agreement provides a unique opportunity for EAMC to encourage female UAE nationals to pursue a career in nursing and explore the fields of aviation and occupational medicine, when they will have the opportunity to become a pioneer in this area of medicine. In March 2016, EAMC and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) announced a pioneering new partnership to provide the airline with educational, training, research and operational excellence opportunities in the field of Occupational Medicine. The collaboration, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East, enabled Etihad Airways to enhance the medical and broader wellbeing services it provides, whilst also marking a significant step in the airlines vision to be the global leader in Aviation Medicine. The EAMC serves the airlines 23,000 Abu Dhabi based employees, providing full laboratory services, physiotherapy, radiology, dental care, nutrition counselling, ear, nose and throat services, and primary care. Nurses from FCHS who successfully gain employment with Etihad Airways will have the option to work across a number of disciplines in addition to aviation health services. Picture from Twitter All 282 passengers and 12 crew escaped from the burning Flight EK521 that was returning to Dubai from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. Jasim Issa Mohammed Hassan, from Ras Al Khaimah died while putting out the flames after the jet crashed and burst into flames Saif Al Suwaidi, director of General Civil Aviation Authority said the firefighter lost his life while saving the lives of others. "I salute his ultimate sacrifice that kept many from harms way. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family," Al Suwaidi said. GCAA accident investigators have begun an inquiry into the incident that happened at 12:25 local time. 226 of the 294 people aboard were Indian, according to Emirates, along with 24 Britons, and 11 people from the UAE. Local sources suggest the pilots had instigated a go-around (aborted landing) but the aircraft touched down. There were unconfirmed eye witness reports that the landing gear collapsed or had not been lowered. Meteorological reports suggest there was a wind sheer warning for the airport. The aircraft burst into flames on impact and billowing black smoke could be seen for miles around. The Emirates cabin crew were praised for evacuating the aircraft so quickly which saved all 300 people onboard. The accident led to the cancellation of dozens of flights to and from the busiest international airport in the world but within six hours aircraft began taking off and landing in Dubai again. A large number of inbound flights were diverted to neighbouring Sharjah. Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of the Sharjah Airport Authority, said: A number of Emirates Airline flights were diverted to Sharjah International Airport and the airport is well prepared and equipped to handle extra arrivals to its daily quota. The airport is operating as normal, with all logistics in place and passengers being tended to and transported to Dubai by bus. Chief analyst Saj Ahmad from StrategicAero Research said: While it is still too early to determine the sequence and cause that led to the Emirates Boeing 777-300 crash landing at Dubai International, the airline and staff must be commended for the due process and speed with which they managed to vacate the airplane ensure all passengers disembarked given the real-time situation unfolding. Flight Safety Foundation president and CEO Jon Beatty said: "Today's accident involving Emirates Flight 521 underscores the importance of emergency preparedness in flight crew and passenger evacuation, and in aircraft rescue and fire fighting, "We commend Emirates and its crew for its timely and professional response, which likely saved lives and prevented many injuries." Emirates flights diverted to Sharjah Airport following the accident today. Technology giant Honeywell has brought its test aircraft to Dubai for a three-day stopover as part of the final testing of the new system. The Boeing 757 is currently taking part in a global test of Inmarsat's GX Aviation network and Honeywell's portfolio of JetWave satellite communications equipment, which together provide a high-speed, inflight wireless broadband service delivering "home equivalent" Wi-Fi in the air. "With more than 100 years' experience in aviation and airports, Honeywell is a trusted name in the industry, and the company 757 test aircraft's visit to Dubai this week reinforces our commitment to our customers and the regional aerospace industry," said Norm Gilsdorf, president of Honeywell's Middle East, Russia and Central Asia regions. "Since 2008, Honeywell's flying test aircraft has helped shape modern aviation through the most advanced and capable safety, efficiency and performance technologies. We are especially pleased therefore to bring the 757 to the UAE - a country that embraces innovation like no other in line with its national Vision 2021." The unique test capabilities of the Honeywell B757 include its industry-leading communications hardware; in addition to the company's most advanced avionics including the pioneering Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, which has reduced Controlled Flight into Terrain accidents from about one in every 3 million flights to less than one in every 20 million flights. Other demo features of the 757 test bed aircraft include Honeywell's Traffic Collision Avoidance System that gives pilots previously unavailable air traffic information to help manage airspace and air traffic, and SmartRunway / SmartLanding systems designed to assist pilots in reducing the likelihood of runway incidents. The aircraft also features a distinct third engine pylon, which can be used to test and help certify some of Honeywell's most notable engines, including the HTF7000 and TFE731 series. "Safety is a priority for Honeywell. It's the legacy of the company and the reason our team has come to the Middle East region," said Scott Nyberg, chief test pilot, Honeywell Aerospace "Honeywell's flight team puts every piece of technology through rigorous tests that reflect every possible real-world scenario that could happen, so that when a product does make it onto an airplane it's the safest and most efficient product on the market. At a time when innovation is at the forefront of the nation's mind, it is an honor to land the Honeywell 757 on Dubai's soil to showcase Honeywell's aviation technology vision for the flight of the future." The Airbus A330 landed at 06:55 and was greeted by a celebratory water canon salute as well as a welcome ceremony with flags and drums from people in traditional costumes. Pisa is the fourth city in Italy to be served by Qatar Airways, which has been flying to Milan since 2002, to Rome since 2003, and to Venice since 2011. The airline already offers five daily frequencies to Italy: two to Milan and Rome and one to Venice. The new daily flight to Pisa will increase the airlines weekly flights from Doha to Italy from 35 to 42. Qatar Airways Group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: Pisa is an important addition to our route map, strengthening our ties with the people of Italy by offering them another opportunity to connect with more than 150 business and leisure destinations. We are equally delighted to be giving our loyal passengers from around the globe the chance to visit the beautiful city of Pisa and the surrounding region of Tuscany. The partnership will see Emirates offer Travelport connected agencies in 180 countries - serving hundreds of millions of travelers around the world -continued access to all of Emirates fares and inventory through the Travel Commerce Platform. Furthermore, Travelport has signed an extension of its long-standing IT services agreement with Emirates. This agreement will see Travelport continue to provide Emirates with industry leading pricing, shopping and ticket rebooking technology, enabling Emirates to support advanced shopping and rebooking options within their internal sales channels including www.emirates.com. On the distribution side, the new deal means Emirates will commence the initial rollout of Travelports airline merchandising solutions giving them the capability to directly promote their fare brands, ancillaries and associated upsell options -for the first time- to the global travel agent community. Joining approximately 170 airlines now live with Travelports merchandising solution (Rich Content and Branding), Emirates will benefit from Travelports ability to provide detailed product descriptions, including images and related ancillary options to travel agencies. Derek Sharp, senior vice president and managing director, Air Commerce, Travelport, commented: We are delighted to build on our strong partnership with Emirates through this enhanced global full content agreement as well as the renewal of our long standing IT agreement. Emirates choice to offer agents their branded fares content with detailed descriptions and imagery will enable agents to more effectively upsell Emirates services providing an improved service to travellers and hopefully boosting Emirates growth across the globe. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. The purge related to the coup attempt has reached to ISMEK. As part of this step, Ari Hergel, who has been working as a guitar teacher is dismissed. Hergel stated that he is informed about this issue with a phone message that he received on July 22, reports Agos. Hergel said that he doesn't know why he was fired, but according to the message, it was assumed that he has some kind of a relation with Fethullah Gulen. Hergel talked about his situation: In the message they had sent me, it was written that I have some kind of a relation with Fethullah Gulen. However, I couldn't have found out what is the ground of this assumption; there is no information or document indicating such a relation. Guitar teacher Hergel said that many other people have been fired due to same reason: When I went to get the original copy of the notice, I came across many co-workers who have received the same notice. People were trying to explain themselves and writing petitions. Hergel stated that he will take legal action for stopping this unjust process: My situation is not that important given the overall injustice that people have been subjected to. I am able to afford my living in the absence of my income from ISMEK. However, there are senior educators, the ones whose only income was from ISMEK, the ones who have only months left for retirement; the situation is more crucial for them. For me, the important thing is to clear the aspersions that is casted upon us and to stop this unjust process if I can, he said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. Journalist Ercan Gun has been arrested over the murder of former editor-in-chief of Agos periodical Hrant Dink, reports Hurriyet. Earlier Gun has been arrested after the failed military coup attempt in Turkey in suspicion of having relations with the Gulenists. But later he was released in case of not leaving the country. The number of arrested people over Dinks murder has reached to 27. Dink, the editor-in-chief of the Armenian Agos periodical, was shot dead by a teenager on Jan. 19, 2007 outside his office in Istanbul. Dink`s assassination organizer Yasin Hayal was sentenced to life imprisonment and the perpetrator Ogyun Samast was sentenced to imprisonment for 22 years by the decision of the court on January 17. 2012. In October 2014 Istanbul's 5th High Criminal Court made a decision to start the trial into the murder of Hrant Dink from zero. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton extended her lead over Republican rival Donald Trump to eight percentage points, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on August 2, from six points on Friday. Reuters reports the bump for Clinton followed the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week at which Clinton and her supporters painted an optimistic portrait of America, and came amid controversy over Trump's comments about the parents of a slain Muslim U.S. soldier. About 43 percent of likely voters favor Clinton, 35 percent favor Trump, and 9 percent picked "Other," according to the July 28-Aug. 1 online poll of 1,289 likely voters. The poll had a credibility interval of 3 percentage points. Trump has faced a barrage of criticism in recent days from political allies as well as opponents after he criticized the parents of U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq in 2004. The father, Khizr Khan, had harsh words for Trump at the Democratic convention where he spoke on Thursday night, saying the 70-year-old businessman and former reality TV star had "sacrificed nothing and no one" and railing against his calls to ban Muslim immigrants. Trump responded saying Khan "viciously attacked" him, and suggested the man was repeating lines fed to him by the Clinton campaign. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who dropped out of the Republican presidential primary race and endorsed Trump, said on Tuesday that Trump's criticisms of the Khans was "inappropriate." House Republican Richard Hanna of New York said it was "not enough to simply denounce his (Trump's) comments," and said he would support former Secretary of State Clinton instead. Trump had a short-lived bump in the polls after the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in late July, when Reuters polling showed him slightly ahead of Clinton for the first time since May. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. Over 9,500 people have been killed and more than 22,000 injured during the ongoing armed conflict in Donbass since April 2014, the UN Human Rights Office said in a statement on August 3, reports Sputnik News. "In total, from mid-April 2014 to 31 July 2016, the UN Human Rights Office has documented 31,690 casualties, including 9,553 killed and 22,137 injured in the conflict area in eastern Ukraine. This includes Ukrainian armed forces, civilians and members of the armed groups," the statement said. The UN Human Rights Office added that it had documented reports of civilian homes being looted, as well as shelling of schools and hospitals by all parties to the conflict. Ukraine launched a military operation in the country's southeast in April 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the new coup-imposed government in Kiev. Despite the Minsk peace accords signed in February last year, the sides continue to blame each other for ceasefire violations. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. A woman working as a secretary at Turkish daily Evrensel was attacked by a group of people who accused her of wearing revealing clothes and supporting the July 15 failed coup attempt on Aug. 2 in Istanbul, reports Hurriyet. The attackers reportedly accused Hazal Olmez, who was six months pregnant, of supporting the Fethullah Gulen, who was blamed for initiating the coup. Why are you wearing revealing clothes? You are a coup supporter and a Gulenist, the group reportedly yelled at Olmez, as they also called for people nearby to join them in beating her. You wont get dressed this way anymore, you will get dressed the way we want you to and you will obey us, the group also said, according to the report. Speaking about the incident, Olmez said that she was walking to her home in Istanbuls Kocamustafapasa neighborhood when three people, two of whom were burqa-wearing women, started to attack her. I got out of work and I was going home on a road that I use every day. Someone suddenly pulled my hair from behind. When I turned around I saw a woman wearing a burqa and asked her the reason why she pulled my hair, but she started to attack me, Olmez told Evrensel, adding that she was called a traitor by the group. They called for others to attack me. They wanted to lynch me there, she also said. Saying that a man aged 26 or 27 showed up at the scene a couple of minutes later, Olmez added that he threatened to attack other people living in the neighborhood. A couple of minutes later a man with a long beard came over and shouted, There are four others in the neighborhood that we marked, their turn will come. Then he kicked my ankle, she said. The group continued to beat Olmez after she fell to the ground, as other people standing nearby watched the incident and did not offer any help, according to the report. Who knows what you did, so they are attacking you, the people nearby allegedly said when she asked for help. Olmez said that she was saved by a 60-year-old woman. Saying that she went to the doctor to get a report after the incident, Olmez added that the doctor told her there wasnt a reason to give her one. You can go to the police and file a complaint. We have nothing to do. Fortunately they didnt realize that you were pregnant, your baby couldve gotten hurt, the doctor reportedly told her. The doctor with those statements accepted that I was beaten, but didnt give me a report, she added. YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. Russian Presidents spokesman Dmitry Peskov has described media reports on the alleged imminent changes in the Russian government, up to the prime ministers resignation, as the usual "exercises of political scientists" and speculations that are unworthy of notice, reports TASS. "Exercises on the impending resignation of the Cabinet are not something new, both among Russian political scientists and abroad," he said. "We know that all of them display a remarkable persistence in guessing on a coffee thick, predicting the dismissal of individual Cabinet members or the entire government, the prime minister and so on with a greater of lesser degree of certainty." "These are never-ending speculations that are no longer perceived as worthwhile information," the Kremlin spokesman said. by Paolo Nicelli* Sharing and prayer between Christians and Muslims is the way to defeat the violence and nihilism of the fundamentalist fringe. Are the fundamentalists Muslims? Nothing they do is Islamic: to kill old people, children, destroy places of worship. Yet they cover themselves in phrases from the Koran and the aura of executioners, exploiting a literalist reading of the Koran. The time has come for Muslims to promote a theological interpretation of the holy book. By Paolo Nicelli, PIME missionary, professor and an expert on Islam.i Milan (AsiaNews) - The initiative launched by the French Bishops Conference and implemented by the Italian Bishops' Conference to invite representatives of Muslim communities to parishes for the celebration of Sunday Mass, has sparked conflicting opinions, positive and negative, on both sides. Negative criticism within the Catholic Church and awkward silences on the part of some Muslim communities that did not participate in the joint effort; as well as some positive statements from Catholic and Muslim authorities and faithful on the opportunity and the need to have shared moments of prayer, to ward off the fundamentalist and fanatic drift that has emerged with the attacks in Europe, the United States and some Asian countries, during this year, and especially during July. Most of these attacks, claimed by Da'ish or al-Qa'ida, have highlighted the fragility of the West not only to provide a homogeneous answer to the problem of international terrorism. However, they have also underscored the short-sightedness of the political institutions in not wanting to accept the fact that the Islamic terrorism can not be separated from the broader and more articulated problem of an uncontrolled immigration from northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Balkan countries and from Asian countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, notoriously famous for emigration to the West. These same political institutions are also incapable or perhaps, unwilling to admit the failure of their military strategy to contain the Taliban and Qa'idista gihadism, as in the case of Afghanistan. Instead in the case of Bangladesh, authorities struggle to accept that the failure of their permissive policy towards the construction of numerous Koranic schools from countries such as Saudi Arabia, led by imams trained in the school of Wahhabi fundamentalism and international Islamic gihadism. These different situations, with different problems, share a common gihadist purpose: the destabilization of weak Western, African and Asian democracies through violence and destruction. Added to this is the great embarrassment of the governments of those countries involved in the attacks, which willy-nilly have to and will have to deal with international terrorism, capable of stirring up hatred and resentment among the most marginalized young people in their populations. We have learned from the media and expert analysis: the matrix of gihadism is found in an ideological and violent reading of the Koran, the Islamic Tradition (Sunna), especially of the Prophet's sayings (ahadith), as well as the Islamic law itself (Shari'a). This reading praises the justice of God, the revenge that he rails against deniers of the true faith, and the idolaters, who must be killed in order to affirm the true faith of Islam. These are delusional speeches, and I would add uttered by people who are unbelievers, as well as being psychiatrically unstable . But they should not be underestimated, because they are capable of evil intelligence that wants to promote death and not life. In fact, they empty religion of its formal content: God's love for man and for all creation. They reduce God to a justification of their brutality and horror. Here is the nihilism of gihadism, which in the case of the self-styled Islamic State (Da'ish), which wants to erect a religious, political and military institution, in the form of a true totalitarian caliphate, able to manipulate the conscience and mind of the people, to the point of gaining consent and support. Now here is the uncomfortable question for all Muslims, as for all men and women of good will: can we consider gihadists believers of Islam? Are they representative of all those Muslims who in good faith, practice their religion, abhorring violence? Before we called them "unbelievers" because a believer can not reduce God to be the cause of his justice-violence, whether it be gratuitous or mass. But they have made a profession of Islamic faith, believe in the precepts of Islam and read the Koran and the Sunna every day. Therefore we must consider them Muslims. In their own way they are; they are like sinners. That is, they are against ethics and the Islamic religion, because they betray Islam. They say they are Muslims, but they go against the fundamentals of their religion. In fact, in the Islamic religion it is forbidden to kill, especially children, religious; as it is forbidden to destroy places of worship. Yet these "believers" do so systematically, planning to gain heaven through massacre and what they call "martyrdom. And yet, the questions we should be asking ourselves are others: what reading or interpretation of Islamic sources are they being fed? What is the violent matrix that gives rise to their ideology? It is the previously mentioned Wahhabism, in short, the puritanical and reformist current of Islam which for more than two centuries has become de rigeur in the gihadist universe and inspired, first pan-Islamic movements, then Arab nationalists with their dictators, then the gihadism of al-Qa'da and Da'ish, in their ideological and institutional distinctions. This ideology wants to drag Islam back centuries, to its beginnings, and wants to adopt the model of the purity of the pious ancestors founded on a puritanical and violent gihadist ideology. They have mythologized that historical period of the origins of Islam to the point of making a totally ahistorical abstract, colored by their delirious interpretation. This is where the gihadists pose themselves in direct opposition to Islamic ethics, accomplishing their religious and intellectual sin: they reinterpret Islam through their a-historical categories without a hermeneutic of sources and without applying a critical historical criterion to the Quranic text and Sunnah, to bring out the content of the Koranic precept, namely to promote the good and avoid evil. Gihadists read everything in literal terms, reduced to legal precepts, emptying it of its spiritual and analogical capacity, thus reducing the gihad (fight against sin and every structure of sin), to one form only, that of "holy war" that is, to "justice-violence against those who do not accept their version of Islam, accused of being the corrupters of religion. In fact, to say: "we are for death and not for life", is not Islamic! The murder of women, the old and the innocent and defenseless children, is not Islamic! The murder of priests, imams and destruction of churches and mosques, is not Islamic! All of this goes against the fundamental ethical precept of Islam, which, as mentioned above, asks the believer to promote good and avoid evil. And that's why it is important that Christians, Muslims and men and women of good will come together to pray, to discourage violence that is inherent in religions there where some of their believers use God and religion to perpetuate violence, death , nihilism. It is important to pray, so that it discourages the violence that is in us, so that our heart gives way to God's mercy, to his love for man. This is the task for all representatives of religions and especially Muslims today: read their own religious sources through a spiritual and not literal nor legalistic hermeneutic, rather a theological one. The Muslims in the West as in the East, must recover the spiritual and moral reading of the Koran and the Sunnah, so it may open them to considering the other not as a threat but as an opportunity for encounter and human and spiritual growth. * Doctor of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana; Director of African Studies Class; Professor of Dogmatic Theology, Missiology, Arab and Islamic Studies The collapse took place at around one o'clock in the morning, due to heavy rains that have eroded the colonial era bridge. The only certainty is the disappearance of two bus carrying 22 people. It is feared that many more vehicles may have been swallowed by the waters of the River Savitri. Mumbai (AsiaNews/Agency) - At least two buses and several other vehicles were swallowed by the waters of the Savitri river after a major bridge on Mumbai-Goa Highway collapsed in Maharasthra. The disaster happened at first light of today, due to torrential rains in the Konkan region. Initial reports speak of 22 people missing from onboard the two state transport buses which did not arrive at their destination. The National Disaster Response Force was deployed in site and around 80 rescuers including divers are in the area to try and find survivors. Preliminary reconstruction tells about the bridge crumbling around 1 am. It was built more than seven decades ago when teh are was still under British colonial rule. A new one was constructed parallel to the older in recent times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and assured all help in rescue and relief operations. At the moment the traffic has been diverted to the new parallel bridge. The rocket traveled 1,000 km before landing within 200 nautical miles off the Japanese coast. Tokyo condemns "unforgiveable act of violence". Concern also from South Korea and the United States. Pyongyang (AsiaNews/Agencies) North Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile which landed in Japanese waters, the South and Japan say. The missile was launched at about 7.50 am (local time) from a region in South Hwanghae province to the south-west of the capital Pyongyang and travelled 1,000km (620 miles). It is the first time that a north Korean missile test ends inside its Japan exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the 200-nautical mile of ocean around a country over which it has jurisdiction. The US Strategic Command said two missiles had been fired simultaneously on Wednesday and that one exploded immediately after launch. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said it posed a grave threat to Japan's security, calling it an "unforgiveable act of violence". The North is barred from developing nuclear and ballistic missile technology by UN resolution, but Kim Jong-un ordered several ballistic tests in the past weeks. On July 19, North Korea launched three ballistic missiles with a range of 500-600 km. This morning launch follows the economic and diplomatic sanctions US government has imposed against North Korea and the decision made by Washington and Seoul to build an advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti- missile system in the South. China and Russia are all against the decision. The country emerges as one of Southeast Asias most popular destinations. This year saw an increase of one million visits compared to 2015. The victory of Aung San Suu Kyi and the fall of international sanctions give new impetus to the sector. The goal is to reach 7.5 million tourists by 2019. Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) After the victory of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (Nld) at the last elections, Myanmar benefits from fall of international sanctions and reforms of the new government, giving new strength to his touristic sector. For years impoverished by the military junta, now the country emerges as one of Southeast Asias hot destinations. Travel to the once-cloistered country used to be reserved for the well-heeled and intrepid, prepared to endure the travails of a country under military rule with patchy electricity and limited communications. The number of tourists, which have started to increase since the 2011 democratic reforms, now is reaching new edges. This year Myanmar is on track to welcome 5.5 million tourists, nearly a million more than 2015. Tint Thwin, director-general of Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, stated: We hope the number will grow to 7.5 million tourists per year within three years. Speaking on the sidelines of a major tourism conference in Yangon, he added: We will try to find new destinations for tourists to visit and we will also support community-based tourism. Myanmar is one of the poorest country in southeast Asia. In comparison, neighbouring Thailand received 30 million visitors last year. Yangon tourist sector is slowed by the lack of adequate structures: hotels are expensive and often do not meet the international standards. About 700 workers clashed with plainclothes officers who blocked the streets of the city. New facility under construction for past two months and prevents fishing nearby. The government gives insufficient compensation to fishermen. Hanoi (AsiaNews / RFA) - The Vietnamese police forcibly broke up a demonstration by fishermen in the village of Nghi Thiet (Nghe An province) and beat some protesters. Several protesters were hospitalized and officers did not even spare the elderly. The protests, which began last July 30, are against the construction of a new port that would favor one of the largest cement companies in Vietnam. The fishermen - whose livelihood is made impossible by cargo ships - demand compensation which authorities do not want to concede. 100 plainclothes police officers blocked some streets of the city with fire trucks and ambulances. About 700 fishermen then braved the police who started beating the demonstrators. Nguyen Viet Nong, a 64 year old man, was a victim of the clashes. The elderly man had to go and buy medicines, but the road was blocked by police. After trying to pass, Nguyen was landed with a kick from an agent and said: "All the others began to trample me". According to local media, the construction of the port began May 19 last and was approved by the province in 2015. At full capacity the port will allow the transport of 4 million tons of cement per year. The port can accommodate vessels carrying up to 70 thousand tons. A fisherman said that the villagers were opposed to the project in November 2015, and had refused offers of economic compensation from authorities ranging from 120 to 1,900 dollars per vessel (depending on size). The workers, who are now unable to fish, consider that the figures are too low: "When the money they give us finishes what we will do? How can they help us find a new job? Where will we live?". by Nirmala Carvalho The supreme court ruled that the payment granted previously is inadequate. In 2011 the local government of Kandhamal has allocated 273 thousand euro for reconstruction. It is not yet established the extent of reparation. Catholic activist: "It is important that the judges are concerned." New Delhi (AsiaNews) - The Supreme Court of India has ordered the Orissa government to give higher compensation to the Christian victims of violence unleashed by Hindu radicals in 2008. The nation's highest judicial body directed by the President TS Thakur, in collaboration with the judge Uday Umesh Lalit, ruled that the compensation awarded to the victims in 2011 is inadequate and ordered the state authorities to pay an additional sum of money. Speaking to AsiaNews Fr. Ajay Kumar Singh, a prominent activist, says: "We do not know the amount of compensation but it is important that the Supreme Court has intervened on the issue. The judges issued the ruling yesterday, after considering a petition filed by Msgr. Raphael Cheenath, archbishop emeritus of the diocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. The prelate brought an action against the government decision of 2011, with which the government of Kandhamal district has allocated 273 thousand euro to rebuild the thousands of homes destroyed by Hindu extremists during the anti-Christian pogroms. On 23 August 2008, a Maoist group killed Hindu leader Saraswati Laxanananda in his ashram, in Kandhamal District, a fact the group readily admitted. However, the followers of the radical Hindu cleric blamed Christians, whom he had criticised for a long time because of their social involvement with tribals and Dalits (outcaste) and had accused - along with bishops, priests and nuns - of proselytising. In Kandhamal, Hindu extremists unleashed the most violent persecution against the Christian minority that India had ever seen. Overall, the pogrom forced 55,000 Christians to flee, with 5,600 houses and 415 villages raided and set on fire. According to government figures, 38 people were killed and two women raped. Scores of people were injured and permanently maimed. The Church and social activists reported instead the destruction of almost 300 churches, plus convents, schools, hostels and welfare facilities. At least 91 people died, 38 immediately, 41 from injuries sustained in the violence, and 12 in police action. Fr. Singh is overjoyed by the decision of the Supreme Court judges and declares: "It also highlights and recognizes that the previously determined compensation was unfair. Now we hope to be allocated some concrete form of reparation". by John Ai They are part of about 300 activists detained since July 2015. Hu Shigen, a leader of an underground Protestant church, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for subversion. Zhai Yanmin gets three years in prison. Wang Yu, who on August 1 "confessed" on TV, has been released on probation. Tianjin (AsiaNews) The trials of lawyers and activists arrested in July 2015 continues in Tianjin. Hu Shigen, was sentenced to 7.5 years in jail for subverting state power by Tianjin No.2 Intermediate Court today. Hu Shigen confessed his guilt and gave up his right to appeal in the court. According to official Xinhua News Agency, 48 people including five overseas journalists attended the court hearing. Family members of Hu Shigen were not present. Zhai Yanmin was sentenced to three years in jail with four-year probation for subversion yesterday. Hu was accused of spreading subversion among lawyers and petitioners. He also allegedly participated in a banquet at a restaurant with accused lawyers including Li Heping and Zhou Shifeng to discuss how the lawyers could intervene into labour movement and sensitive cases in February, 2015. Hu was also accused of appointing Gou Hongguo to go abroad to be trained regarding Xinjiang and Tibetan independence, contacting overseas human rights organisations, and hyping up sensitive cases to create protests against the authorities. Hu Shigen graduated from Peking University. He taught in Beijing Language and Culture University. In 1992, he was arrested for commemorating Tiananmen Massacre. He was sentenced to 20 years in jail. After being released in 2008, Hu later became a leader in a house church in Beijing. Hu was accused gathering petitioners and rights lawyers in his underground church. Earlier, the family members of activists and lawyers with foreign diplomats went to the court to ask the date of the court hearing. The family members was treated violently by police. It is reported that some of them are under house arrest. According to Xinhua, Zhai Yanmin said he forbid his family members from coming to court and explained that he was "afraid his family members could not accept the sentence". Rights lawyer Wang Yu was released on probation. Official media aired her TV confession on Monday. The court was cordoned off by police and security was reinforced. A separate media centre was set up for foreign journalists. By Catherine A. Sas, Q.C. Special to The Post Canada welcomes over 120,000n international students each year. Many students come to study English or French to improve their language skills. Some students come for the cultural experience of living and studying in a different country. Most students come with the goal of obtaining Canadian work experience and ultimately, permanent residence. Here are some tips for achieving that goal. Not all schools are equal! It is important to know whether your program of study at your school will entitle you to obtain a post graduate work permit after you complete your program. In order to qualify for a study permit, your school needs to be a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). However, in order to be eligible for the post graduate work permit, a school also has to be a diploma or degree granting institution. Most private language schools or colleges don't meet the provincial criteria for granting a degree, diploma or certificate and you will not be entitled to a post graduate work permit. Many of these private colleges have a work experience component - this is often referred to as a co-op program which combines both study and practical work experience. However, co-op work experience is not accepted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in support of an application for permanent residence. You must obtain a diploma or degree from an educational facility recognized by IRCC to be able to qualify for permanent residence in the future. Familiarize yourself with the post-graduate work permit process. Obtaining work experience after you graduate is essential to be eligible for permanent residence in Canada's Express Entry system. You can obtain a university bachelor's degree (3+ years), a college diploma (2 years) or a certificate program (8-10 months). With a bachelor's degree or a college diploma, you are eligible for a 3 year post graduate work permit. With a certificate program you can only obtain a 1 year post graduate work permit which will not likely allow you to qualify for permanent residence. You are only eligible for ONE post-graduate work permit so you want to ensure that you are taking a program of study that will entitle you to the three-year post-graduate work permit. Study English or French before you apply. Canadian colleges or universities have minimum proficiency standards for international students to obtain a letter of acceptance. The most common testing method relied on for English schools is the IELTS test. Each school has different standards but most of them require a combined IELTS score of 6.5 or higher. While it is possible to start your studies with a concentrated ESL component, it is recommended to have begun your language studies before you apply. Language is the most heavily weighted factor in the Express Entry system for permanent residence. The higher your language proficiency in either English or French, the better your changes of being offered an Invitation to Apply in the Express Entry system. Language proficiency will also enhance your chances of finding Canadian work experience which is also key to success in the Express Entry system. So start acquiring your language skills before you come to Canada. Take advantage of the opportunity to work while you are studying. International students no longer need work permits to be able to work in Canada. Your study permit entitles you to work up to 20 hours per week while you are attending school. But be sure to be in full time study at all times. If at any time you are not in full time attendance at school, you are not authorized to work and if you continue to work and come to the attention of IRCC you will be given an Exclusion Order and required to depart Canada without finishing your studies. Full time study is defined by the school that you are studying at. Be sure to know what constitutes full time study and never fall below that course load. You are only eligible for the post graduate work permit if you have been studying on a full time basis through out your studies in Canada. Studying in Canada is a good way to obtain your education while experiencing a new culture and environment. It also provides you with an opportunity to obtain Canadian work experience and possibly apply for permanent residence. Under the new Express Entry process, studying in Canada no longer provides for automatic eligibility to apply for permanent residence to Canada. Be sure to be familiar with all the aspects of both the study permit and permanent residence application process to maximize your opportunity to apply for Canadian permanent residence in the future. Catherine Sas, Q.C. has over 25 years of legal experience. She provides a full range of immigration services and is a leading immigration practitioner (Lexpert, Whos Who Legal, Best Lawyers in Canada). Go to www.canadian-visa-lawyer.com or email casas@shaw.ca. Recently released data from Stats Canada (January to May 2016) shows exports of farm-raised salmon to key Asian markets is on a record setting pace in 2016, with many markets already eclipsing previous annual volumes. Boosting B.C. exports to Asia is a point of pride for communities and First Nations that work in and support the salmon farm industry, said Jeremy Dunn, Executive Director, BC Salmon Farmers Association. We recently hosted 30 international buyers at the BC Seafood Festival in June, so its great to see our sustainable, healthy product on more plates in Asia. Rapidly growing markets for B.C. farm-raised salmon include Taiwan and South Korea. Overall our sales to Asia are doing very well, thanks in part to excellent quality and B.C.'s strategic location, which allows us to get fresh salmon to market in half the time than any other major salmon producing country, said Nick DiCarlo, Sales Manager for Cermaq Canada. There is a strong global demand for salmon and we can boost B.C.s exports further if provided the opportunity to carefully grow the industry. As a global producer we have the advantage of having our own sales team living in the region and this, along with excellent air logistics, has helped us to quickly reach the right customers, said Dave Mergle, Managing Director for Ocean Quality North America. Our customers really like farmed salmon from British Columbia and we see much future growth ahead. EXPORTS BY THE NUMBERS January to May 2016 export numbers of whole fresh farm-raised Atlantic salmon (Source: Statistics Canada CATSNET Analytics): Exports to Japan are on pace to double in 2016, with farmers already reaching 97% of the total export volume for 2015. Exports to Taiwan for 2016 have already exceeded the 2015 total. Exports to South Korea are up 10-fold over 2015 numbers, with over 29,000 kg exported so far this year. B.C. exported a record 54.4 million kilograms of farm-raised salmon to 11 countries in 2015. Key markets such as China and the United States are on-par or ahead of 2015 exports. China is now B.C.s second most important market, next to the United States; the U.S. has historically been the sectors primary export market and remains so. Salmon farming has a total economic impact of $1.1 billion in British Columbia and accounts for more than 5,000 total jobs. Salmon farmers are working closely with coastal First Nations and have 20 economic impact benefit agreements in place, accounting for 78% of all salmon raised in B.C. Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri has raised the temperature with her recent bikini pictures that she posted on her social media accounts. Fakhri shared her bold and sizzling hot bikini pictures from a fun vacation, wherein the "Houseful 3" actress can be seen sporting multiple coloured bikinis, chilling at a beach in Greece. Fakhri, who made her Bollywood debut in super hit "Rockstar" movie opposite Ranbir Kapoor, will be next seen in "Banjo" opposite Rietesh Deshmukh. She is likely to join Deshmukh for the "Banjo" promotions after the vacations, Indian Express reported. Meanwhile, the "Main Tera Hero" actress dismissed the rumors that she has decided to quit Bollywood and to settle in New York. The actress, in a twitter post, made it clear that she will return to India soon and start promoting "Banjo." Earlier this year, Nargis skipped the promotions of "Azhar" movie, fuelling speculations about her break up with producer Uday Chopra. Some media outlets then reported that Chopra had broken up with Fakhri and cancelled their wedding, causing Fakhri to flee to the United States. The 36-year-old actress was also seen in a steamy sexy bikini avatar in Varun Dhawan's "Dhishoom" movie. She also recreated "Oye Oye" magic in an item number in Emraan Hashmi's "Azhar" movie. Nargis also bagged an international project, title "5 Weddings." The Hollywood movie features Oscar nominee Candy Clark and Golden Globe nominee Bo Derek in lead roles, DNA India reported. Check out Nargis Fakhri's bold bikini pictures from her Greece holiday here. Lookin forward 2finishing my assignment in daUS &being back 2start promoting #Banjo in a few weeks!#noplanstoquit #allelsearebaselessrumours Nargis (@NargisFakhri) July 28, 2016 Copyright 2016 AsiaStarz.com. All Rights Reserved. Dutch Guy Waits 10 Days In Chinese Airport For Girl Who Doesn't Show Trending News: This Guy Flew To China To Meet A Girl He Met Online (And She Gave Him The Ghosting Of The Century) Why Is This Important? Because nobody deserves to be ghosted like this. Long Story Short A Dutch man flew to China's Hunan province to surprise a girl he met online, but when he arrived she didn't show for 10 whole days. He was eventually taken to hospital for exhaustion (and a broken heart). Long Story With online dating scams aplenty, guys in the West continue to login in search of love abroad with the gals tending to come from places like China, Thailand and Russia. And that's not to say love isn't possible when you meet a stranger online who you've never seen in person but let's just say you could be opening yourself up for disappointment. For instance, take this guy, whose shot at love crashed and burned for the whole world to see. Considering it's so humiliating, I feel straight up bad about naming the guy, so I'll just say he's a 41-year-old Dutch guy who met a 26-year-old Chinese woman online named Zhang, according to the story reported in BBC News. And contrary to what I thought after reading the headline, Zhang is apparently a real flesh and blood person (although perhaps more ghost than person, but more on that later). According to Zhang who spoke to Hunan TV, the story is that the Dutch guy sent her a pic of plane tickets to China and showed her a pic of them, but she "thought it was a joke." She added that the guy didn't respond thereafter, so she went off to get plastic surgery and shut off her phone. When the guy arrived at the airport from China's Hunan province, he was royally ghosted as the girl didn't show nor respond to his messages. The guy stayed put for 10 days until he was finally taken to hospital for "physical exhaustion." The story proceeded to go viral on Chinese social networks, where the man was called "stupid," and dissed for his looks. The kicker? Zhang told media that she was still interested in maintaining the relationship now that he's back in Holland. You really have to feel for this poor guy. Of course, he shouldn't have just bought a ticket to meet a girl he'd met online a lesson for any flight trigger happy romantics out there. But nobody deserves to be ghosted this hard (nobody should ever be ghosted at all if you ask me). And adding insult to injury, the guy's been publicly humiliated around the globe. Super unfair. We feel for you Dutch guy. Now keep your head up; you'll get 'em next time! Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Why is the woman's name protected (only one name is provided), while the guy is being shamed by the entire world? Disrupt Your Feed It's disgusting how this guy is being humiliated so hard. Drop This Fact It's estimated that half of dating have been ghosted at one time or another, according to a takedown of the infuriating common practice by Psychology Today. President Obama Commutes Sentences Of 214 Prisoners Trending News: Pres. Obama Just Commuted The Most Prison Sentences Since 1900 Why Is This Important? Because no one needs a life sentence for a nonviolent drug crime. Long Story Short President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 214 federal prisoners Wednesday, the most in one day by a president since 1900. Nearly all of those commuted were nonviolent drug offenders. Long Story President Barack Obama just made history in a way that's sure to ruffle some political feathers. On Wednesday, President Obama commuted the sentences of 214 federal convicts. Most, according to Buzzfeed news, were imposed on people convicted of nonviolent drug crimes. Under today's sentencing guidelines, it's unlikely that these people would have received such harsh sentences. This is a good day not just for the 214 individuals who are getting a hard-earned second chance, but for the people at the White House and the Department of Justice and at advocacy organizations across the country who work every day to remedy injustices in our sentencing laws, White House counsel Neil Eggleston told BuzzFeed News. Were going to keep our foot on the gas pedal when it comes to reviewing applications for clemency, but we are also going to need leaders in both parties in Congress to pass long overdue reforms to our criminal justice system to achieve lasting change on the scale that is needed. The commutations are in-line with President Obama's 2014 clemency review process, and to date he's commuted the sentences of 562 convicted prisoners, more than the previous nine presidents combined. The only arguably comparable act of clemency was President Ford's actions towards men charged with evading the Vietnam draft. 67 of the commutations are for people with life sentences, again with almost all held in prison for nonviolent drug crimes. Not all of the clemency calls for immediate release while some inmates will indeed have release dates towards the end of this year, others have later release dates, or merely reduced sentences. Some will be released with conditions, like parole or drug counseling. The individual nature of the clemency process underscores both its incredible power to change a persons life, but also its inherent shortcoming as a tool for broader sentencing reform, Eggleston wrote in a blog post obtained by Buzzfeed News. That is why action from Congress is so important. While we continue to work to act on as many clemency applications as possible, only legislation can bring about lasting change to the federal system. It is critical that both the House and the Senate continue to work on a bipartisan basis to get a criminal justice reform bill to the presidents desk. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Do we punish drug crimes too harshly? Disrupt Your Feed If you don't want to be in jail, don't commit crime in the first place. Drop This Fact The president with the fewest commutations is George H.W. Bush, with just 3. You are the owner of this article. Free newsletter Subscribe to our FREE newsletter service and well keep you up-to-date with the latest breaking news, cutting edge opinion, and expert analysis affecting both your business and the industry as whole. Please enter your email address below and click on Sign Up for daily newsletters from Australasian Lawyer. Two Hunt & Hunt lawyers will join the HWL Ebsworth Lawyers partnership with the launch of a new office in Tasmania.Lawyers Antony Logan and Sarah Sealy will make the shift to the firms new Hobart office along, with four Hunt & Hunt professional staff members and five support staff.The new office completes the firms national footprint, now with 10 offices across the country.Tasmania offers us significant opportunities within our existing national and international client base, as well as allowing us to gain greater access to local Tasmanian clients, HWL Ebsworth managing partner Juan Martinez told Australasian Lawyer.Many of our commercial, insurance and financial services clients already operate in Tasmania, and we have traditionally instructed local firms to assist our clients in this market.Martinez said the new office will mean that the firm can service clients anywhere in Australia, using local resources and subject matter with the added benefit of national back up.The office will offer a broad range of services, including Commercial and Corporate, Property, Workplace Relations & Safety, Banking & Finance, Construction, Dispute Resolution, Insurance and Restructuring and Insolvency & Debt Recovery.Not many national firms can afford to compete financially with the local Tasmanian firms in a sustainable way, but our unique business model allows us to compete with the quality local firms, Martinez said.Our unmatched ability to assist our clients with their legal needs in every Australian State and Territory enables our clients to achieve their objectives in this regard. We are looking forward to introducing our new Hobart team to our national and international clients.Though the new office completes the firms national presence, Martinez said the firm will continue to look for growth opportunities.We are constantly looking at opportunities to strengthen our offering in particular areas of law, and we are continuing to be approached by high calibre practitioners, he said.If we believe that our clients would benefit from us moving into new regions, we would consider any such opportunity as long as that didn't distract us from our core focus on our commercial and government clients. By Hannah Power, Lecturer in Coastal Science, University of Newcastle Australians are well versed in the homegrown natural hazards that we encounter every year, from bushfires in summer to storms in winter, cyclones up north and flooding along our rivers. But we dont often stop to consider the threat posed by tsunamis. Should we? Tsunamis are essentially a series of waves in the ocean. Where regular waves are caused by wind, tsunamis are caused by the large-scale vertical displacement of the water column. Events that can generate tsunamis include submarine landslides, submarine volcanoes, and asteroid impacts. But by far the biggest cause of tsunamis is submarine earthquakes. The vast majority of these occur at subduction zone tectonic plate boundaries, where two tectonic plates are colliding. Indonesia and Japan are both close to active subduction zones that cause tsunamis on a relatively regular basis. These tsunamis can be catastrophic in scale, as we saw with the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and the Japanese tsunami in 2011. Tsunamis in Australia Australia is relatively lucky when it comes to tsunamis. We sit in the middle of a tectonic plate, some distance from the nearest subduction zones. Tsunamis created by subduction zone earthquakes at these trenches have several hundred to several thousand kilometres of ocean to travel across before reaching our shores. For those of us on the east coast, the nearest subduction zone is the Puysegur Trench south of New Zealand, more than 1,000km away. Because tsunamis travel as fast as jet liners in the deep ocean, a tsunami from the Puysegur Trench could reach Sydney in about two hours. This might seem fast, but in countries such as Indonesia and Japan that lie close to subduction zones, a tsunami can arrive within about 15 minutes of an earthquake. Gringer/Wikimedia The last significant tsunami to reach Australia was the 2011 Tohoku tsunami that devastated Japan. Strong and unusual currents were observed in Sydney and Port Kembla harbours, and several swimmers were washed into the lagoon at Merimbula in southern New South Wales. The tsunami waves recorded in the tide gauge at Port Kembla were only 35cm high, but were still large enough to alter the currents and affect ship movements in the harbour. Although Australia did not experience the devastation that occurred in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and other Indian Ocean nations, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami still had an impact. Localised inundation was observed in towns in Western Australia and more than 30 swimmers had to be rescued. Boats were damaged in marinas from WA to as far away as Tasmania. Going back even further, the 1960 Chilean tsunami was a Pacific-wide event caused by a magnitude-9.5 earthquake. This was recorded at the Fort Denison tide gauge in Sydney Harbour with wave heights up to 84cm. Strong currents were recorded in several locations throughout Sydney Harbour and boats were pulled off their moorings in Middle Harbour (Sydney), Newcastle and Eden. Tsunami warnings and hazards The catastrophic impacts caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami prompted the Australian Government to set up a warning system. This system monitors earthquakes around the Indian and Pacific Oceans to identify those with the potential to cause a tsunami. It can then use satellites, deep ocean tsunami sensors, and tide gauges to observe any tsunamis that are generated. Using this information, the impact on the Australian coastline can be estimated, giving emergency managers time to warn communities. Bureau of Meteorology Geoscience Australia also modelled potential tsunamis from their source zones to just off the Australian coastline. This dataset gives us an idea of the relative threat for different parts of Australia. For most of New South Wales, a tsunami with a maximum offshore wave height of 40cm will occur, on average, once every 100 years. An Australian born in 2013 with an average life expectancy of just over 80 years has a 55% chance of experiencing an event of this scale. A tsunami of this size would be comparable to what Australia experienced during the 2011 Japanese Tohoku tsunami. In northwest Western Australia, the maximum wave height likely to occur once every 100 years increases to up to 1m. In contrast, in South Australia, the largest wave likely to be experienced at this time scale is 0.2m. Google modified by Geoscience Australia The main threat from an event this size is to ocean users including swimmers, boaters and ports, rather than the kind of destructive waves that come ashore as we see on the news. Its important to recognise that these measures of frequency are averages. Just because weve had the 2011 Tohoku tsunami doesnt mean well be waiting another 100 years for the next one; it could occur much sooner or, indeed, much later. Bureau of Meteorology However, there is always the potential for a much larger event, and organisations such as the NSW State Emergency Service are taking no chances and planning evacuation zones for major cities. Australia is a lucky country when it comes to tsunamis and were highly unlikely to see an event like what occurred in Japan in 2011 on our shores. But that doesnt mean that were immune to tsunamis and further research will provide the evidence we need to be prepared. Hannah Power receives funding from the NSW Government under the State Emergency Management Projects program. Olivia Wilson has been funded by the NSW government under the State Emergency Management Projects program. Originally published in The Conversation. Concerns have been raised about the cost of a partner visa in Australia, which at $6,865, is one of the highest in the world.Non-Australians who marry Australian citizens and wish to stay in the country can apply for a partner visa, but the cost can be too high for many couples.There is also a long waiting period for the visa. Some couples say it takes a full year after the application has been made to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) to finally receive it. In addition, couples must pay fees for medical certificates and police verification - none of which are refundable if the visa application is not successful.When compared to other countries, the UK charges less than half for an equivalent visa at $2,428 and the United States charges less than a third at $1,477.The price of the partner visa has risen considerably from $1,735 five years ago. According to migration agent Zeke Bentley from The Migration Place, the fees can be onerous.'It affects an Australian's right to be with their partner. They're taking advantage of people's relationships,' he said.The most up-to-date data shows the number of individuals applying for a partner visa are falling. In 2013/2014, some 60,008 applications for a partner visa were lodged but this fell to 56,943 in 2014/2015. There were 45,983 partner visas granted in 2013/2014 and 45,415 in 2014/2015 while 4,351 and 5,422 were rejected, respectively.A DIBP spokesman says it aims to finalise 75 per cent of visas within one year of application, but strong demand for partner visas means exceeds supply, which can lead to further delays.Regardless, he says that people who have applied for a partner visa can work and benefit from Australian healthcare while they are awaiting the result of their application, since the applicant needs to be in the country when applying for a partner visa.'The temporary Partner visa (subclass 820) is the first stage towards a permanent Partner visa (subclass 801). You must be in Australia when you apply and also when this visa is decided,' he explained.The temporary Partner visa lets the applicant stay, work, study and enroll in Medicare (to cover health-related expenses) in Australia until a decision is made about their permanent Partner visa. However, students do not have access to government funding during this waiting period. My mother in law will be visiting us for a few months and would like to travel around Oceania during that time.Is it possible for her to buy a ticket to Australia with a return date around 6 months after entry? (on an e-visa)From what I understand, the e-visa is valid for 12 months and 90 days at a time (each stay), and is reset every time the person leaves Australia. Is that correct?Could the immigration officer not let her in to Australia because of such a long time on the return ticket?Should she have all her other flights booked in advance to show upon arrival?Just asking, because the 6 month visa takes roughly 21 days to complete, and I'm not sure if she needs it, in this situation. She would have a few extra weeks in Australia if she didn't have to apply for this visa.Thanks for any help Special anti-terrorist armed police forces will be using gray BMW F800GS motorcycles in order to provide a quick response in case an attack happens in London.Bike operating skills wont be necessary, as the armed police will ride passenger, with one of their colleagues from the motorized division maneuvering the motorcycle."Traffic can be gridlocked at the best of times - certainly in the times of an attack, an officer told Sky News . If you look at Europe, at Paris and Belgium, traffic becomes a major impingement on a rapid response. We've looked at tactics and pillion riding with motorcycles gives us a very fast and effective response. The guys practice riding off road so they can bump up and down across pavements and make really good progress from A to B."With the terror threat level marked as severe in the UK, the police consider that a future attack is a matter of time. Six hundred extra specialist officers will be on the lookout with an extra 1,500 following to join in a couple of years after theyll be properly trained to deal with the worst situations.Seeing that many armed forces around the city might seem scary, but the troops have been instructed to be friendly, to approach the public and be approachable. So dont be shy asking them a question or having a little chit chat about their new bikes.Speaking of the bikes, the BMW F800GS s are powered by 798 cc 4-stroke inline-two cylinder engines developing 85 hp and 83 Nm of torque. Sprinting through traffic wont be a problem even with a fully armed officer riding pillion, while the high ground clearance and long suspension travel makes it good at mounting curbs or going off-road. The announcement of the approval from the Environmental Protection Agency marks a significant step for the confidence of authorities in diesel engines after the whole Dieselgate scandal.While BMW had nothing to do with Volkswagen s wrongdoing, the German companys diesel engines went through a thorough review from the EPAs engineers.In the words of Chris Grundler, head of the EPAs Office of Transportation and Air Quality, the vehicles were tested every which way from Sunday. The statement came after it was revealed that BMWs diesel engines for the 2017 model year were delayed, as they were going through a product certification procedure that has been extended by the EPA.Fortunately for BMW, the company had done nothing wrong with its diesel engines, and its employees had all the data and supplementary information requested by the Environmental Protection Agency.Meanwhile, BMWs main rivals at Mercedes-Benz have delayed the launch of the diesel version of the C-Class. We must note that diesel engines account for about four percent of total sales of BMW models in the USA, while the percentage is significantly lower for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.In the case of Mercedes-Benz diesel-engined vehicles, Mr. Grundler explained that discussions continue with the automaker. As Automotive News reports, the EPA representative declined to provide the reason why the certification process has been delayed.Most likely, the organization had to request further information from the Stuttgart automaker, or additional tests were required for the process.Volkswagen, the automaker that has caused the extremely attentive watch on diesel engines after it admitted to cheating for years in government tests, has not received the EPAs approval to sell diesel-engined vehicles in the United States of America.Furthermore, Volkswagen has not even gone through the steps required to schedule the certification process for 2017 model year diesel vehicles in the U.S. Mike Schram set off on his amazing adventure on a Yamaha XT660 , being 16 years old at the time. He rode 75,000 miles through 53 countries on a journey that took him three and a half years. This placed the young Australian in the records book for being the youngest person to circumnavigate the planet on a motorcycle."The most dangerous moments were when we almost had a head-on collision with a moose in Canada," said Mike in an interview with the UK's Mirror newspaper. "And when four trucks were [passing] each other on my side of the road in Honduras."The trip was scattered with obstacles and dangerous situations ranging from close-call accidents to food poisoning, but Mike said all the difference was made by people he met and helped him. Especially in poorer countries where people are friendlier and keen to share and aid travelers."There is a greater sense of community in the poorer countries," he said. "In Southeast Asia or Central America the locals are so welcoming. I never realized how important people are when you start traveling. Meeting people and speaking to them is such an important part of your journey. It gives you a new perspective."Another memorable experience, as he describes on a blog , was traveling through Uyghur providence in China. He says this part should always be done with a guide as the inhabitants have raised against the system and dont want to be a part of the country anymore. The paranoid grew so much that motorcyclists are now seen as terrorists and its quite hard to be serviced at a gas station.The trip around the world was revelatory for Mike and his father, Aad. The two have recently set up a bike shop in the Netherlands to sell special adventure bike parts as well as completely customized machines for interested customers. To the uninformed in the Western world, the Middle East seems to operate as one large, oil-producing state. In fact, it is a combination of markets with many regional differences. Nonetheless, those markets are all in a state of flux due primarily to the falling dominoes caused by the drop in oil prices. Since exiting the Recession, service industries in the region including car rental benefitted from an influx of workers to satisfy the building boom. The region also enjoyed strong vehicle residual values, as the Gulf nations of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Kuwait channeled used cars through a pipeline to West Africa, Iran, and Iraq. But the drop in oil prices has dried up building projects and slowed the flow of money, and used car depreciation rates have dropped to similar levels in the U.S. Since oil prices have dropped, that whole dynamic has changed, says Bob Farrow, a Middle East car rental consultant. For service industries, the situation is exacerbated in those Middle Eastern countries that rely heavily on an expat workforce. Except for Saudi Arabia, which has a younger domestic population and a growing middle class, other oil-producing nations are grossly imbalanced: in UAE, for instance, the total population of 9 million is made up of 2 million natives and 7 million foreign workers. As new development stalls, expats leave. Farrow says the Saudi government has put on hold close to 70% of new developments. While these projects are re-evaluated, Rental companies, the leasing side in particular, are getting massive numbers of cars returned, Farrow says. Farrow says Middle Eastern businesses are making decisions on the assumption that oil wont rise above $65 a barrel in the foreseeable future, five or six years. Its the norm we have to accept, he says. While the Middle East in general struggles with the new norm, there is one market that may be poised to take off. After Saudi Arabia, the second largest economy in the Middle East and North Africa is Iran, which also has the second largest population in the region about 80 million people. Iran has a strong tradition of higher education, with a history of engineering prowess and domestic industrial production. After the signing of the Iran nuclear deal earlier this year, the lifting of sanctions is beginning to generate foreign investment and unleashing pent-up demand. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, Iran is the biggest market to rejoin global trading. Auto manufacturing, in particular, is moving into Iran: PSA Peugeot Citroen has finalized a joint venture production deal; Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are said to be exploring partnerships. New investment calls for related services, including personal mobility for the domestic workforce and an influx of expat workers. Similar to other countries in the Middle East, car rental companies would move in to supply long-term rentals and leases. Iran has been the single biggest importer of up to three-year-old cars from the Middle East and has a tradition of car driving, unlike bicycle and scooter markets such as India. Similar to India, however, Farrow believes the rental and leasing market will initially develop as cars with drivers, as opposed to self-drive. Farrow and others note that foreign investors are taking a careful approach based on the tenuous political situation. The banking situation needs to sort itself out, Farrow says, as large foreign banks are still wary of the risks and thus are doing business through accounts in Dubai. Well continue to keep readers abreast of developments in Middle Eastern markets, including Iran, as well as markets worldwide as they pertain to transportation, mobility, and car rental. Look for the next edition of Auto Rental News International, covering Africa-Middle East, soon. The current edition, covering Asia-Pacific, is available here. Originally posted on Business Fleet SocialFlight.com features a big selection of flying competitions and fun aircraft to see this weekend.Spirit of Flight in Erie, Colorado, will host its Hot Rods and Wings event Saturday, inviting cars, motorcycles and aircraft to join the crowd and enter judging for best-in-show trophies. Visit the museum during the event and enjoy a pancake breakfast. Join the Montana Antique Aircraft Association Thursday through Saturday for its Three Forks Fly-In. Thursday morning will feature Young Eagles flights, followed by activities including flying contests, an interactive drone display and a unique flying 1928 Boeing-40. On Saturday, the Indy Air Race and 10th Annual Open House and Fly-In will take place at KTYQ Indy Executive Airport. The event also includes static displays, fly-bys, aircraft and helicopter rides, candy drop, parachute jump and food all day long. Proceeds benefit Down Syndrome Indiana. Also Saturday, the Wings of Dreams Aviation and Space Museum will host a benefit breakfast buffet in Starke, Florida. Breakfast is free for World War II and Korean War veterans. Join the tour of aviation and space artifacts afterwards. 3 August 2016 13:55 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov A significant part of the water we drink every day is extracted from rivers. However, the issue of its pureness is called into question. This is especially relevant for transboundary rivers which enter Azerbaijan from neighboring countries, namely Armenia and Georgia. The Kura river keeps being the main source of water for household and agriculture in Azerbaijan. However, recent tests of its water showed that the river is over-polluted. The main reason for this is dumping of untreated sewage of the industrial enterprises and household waste in the part of Kura which flows through the territory of Georgia. Although, the Georgian government applies penalties from $93 to $140 to those who pollute the water of the river. The problem of Araz river is even worse it enters Azerbaijan from Armenia, where the river is constantly being polluted through the nuclear waste of the outdated Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Ecologist Telman Zeynalov told Region TV that the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant should be closed as it is too terrible and risky project. Nobody can guarantee its safety. The Metsamor NPP, located in a high-seismic active zone, began to operate in 1976. The license for the exploitation of the station will expire on September 1, 2016. Nevertheless, the Armenian government has made the decision to prolong the date of exploitation of the plant for additional 10 years. A number of international experts repeatedly urged that due to its deplorable state, the Armenian Metsamor NPP could repeat the fate of Chernobyl NPP, threatening lives of Armenians and citizens of adjacent countries. The possible tragedy will also jeopardize the environmental state of the region. Moreover, its consequences will be felt in Europe and the Middle East. The European Union insists on closing the NPP offering 200 million Euro. Despite this, the NPP is still functioning as no alternative sources of energy exist in Armenia. In order to prevent possible escalation of the situation on the river, Armenia should be forced for taking appropriate actions. Therefore, all countries of the region have to take the problem on their account. Zeynalov mentioned that Iran should also be involved in the problem. The issue should be risen up primarily by Iran because the river flows to the country. Then, it comes to Azerbaijani territory. When they raise the question, we will join them. Azerbaijan in 2000 joined the Convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes. However, the neighboring countries still did not follow the example of Azerbaijan. This indicates that they try to evade from their responsibility on keeping the waters of the region pure, particularly Armenia with its exploitation of the Metsamor NPP. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 13:39 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenian police used excessive force against peaceful demonstrators on July 29, 2016 and attacked journalists enlightening demonstrations, Human Rights Watch said in its statement of August 1. During the clashes with Armenian demonstrators, the police used stun grenades, which wounded dozens of demonstrators and some journalists, some severely. The police also beat journalists and protesters and detained dozens of people. Armenias investigation of the police assaults on demonstrators on July 29 should be swift and thorough. While the police have an obligation to maintain public order, they do not have carte blanche to use violence against people gathered to peacefully express their views, Giorgi Gogia, South Caucasus director at Human Rights Watch claimed. The organizations representatives spoke with victims and witnesses of the violence. They also visited several of the wounded journalists and protesters in the hospital in Yerevan. One of them has cuts and burns of first- and second degree which cover both legs. Doctors removed five plastic fragments of stun grenades from his feet. Human Rights Watch stressed that he was not able to walk properly during the interview. Interviewees told Human Rights Watch that the crowd was not trying to cross the cordon when police started launching the stun grenades. Video tape of the events reviewed by Human Rights Watch supports the witnesses statements. The organization stressed that the Armenian police could lawfully attempt to prevent approach of the protesters to the occupied area, and they still were obliged to respect human rights and standards on the use of force. Armenian police did not have to shoot stun grenades directly into the people. Although the grenades are technically non-lethal, their fragmentation can foreseeably cause serious injuries, the statement says. Police should not interfere with the legitimate work of journalists, let alone attack and punish them for doing their jobs, Gogia comlained. On July 29, following a rally in Sari Tagh district of Yerevan, the police dispersed the protesters and detained 165 people. As a result of the clashes between the demonstrators and police, 73 citizens addressed medical institutions with injuries of various degrees of severity. Currently, 15 of them still stay in hospitals. Moreover, 13 journalists became injured due to the dreadful actions of Armenian police. Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Each year, the organization publishes more than 100 reports and briefings on human rights conditions in some 90 countries, generating extensive coverage in local and international media. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 12:48 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov In the last four months, or more precisely, from April 7 to August 2, Azerbaijans National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) discovered and defused 3,469 unexploded ordnance (UXO), the Agency states. During the four months, ANAMA inspected 642 houses and acreages in Zardab, Tartar, Agjabadi, Agdam, Barda, Fizuli, Goranboy, Tovuz, Gazakh, Agstafa, Samukh, Goygol, Shamkir, Jalilabad, Ujar, Astara regions, and in Mingachevir, Sumgayit, Ganja and Baku. Moreover, areas of two military units, five rural schools, two cemeteries, 30 farms, a medical center, warehouse of scrap metal, winery, and crushed-stone quarry were checked up by ANAMA crews. As a result, the Agency discovered and defused 3,469 UXO, 15 anti-personnel mines PMN, three anti-personnel mines POMZ-2, an anti-personnel mine OZM-72, and 24 anti-tank mines. Currently, special rapid response teams of ANAMA with minesweeper dogs continue their operations for detecting UXO in the border settlements. Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years. Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 13:27 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Another protest march in support of the armed group Sasna Tsrer was held on the Freedom square in Yerevan August 2. The protesters headed to the building of the National Security Service, but were stopped by police at the crossing of Sayat-Nova avenue and Nalbandyan street. Activists chanted demands on release of the detained member of the Founding Parliament initiative Alec Yenikomsian. Following that, demonstrators returned to the Freedom square. They expressed hope that members of Sasna Tsrer in the near future will be free and join the fight. The rally was spontaneous, and the microphone could be approached by anyone. In the meantime, the Armenian Court one by one arrests Sasna Tsrer member under articles of seizing buildings, hostage-taking and illegal possession of weapons. Following terrible clashes of July 29 between Armenian police and population, 19 people are still receiving treatment in the hospitals of Yerevan. Clashes between police and demonstrators in support of armed group Sasna Tsrer, who for two weeks seized building of a police station in Yerevan, occurred on Khorenatsi street and in the adjacent district of Sari-Tagh. The police used stun grenades and police batons against the demonstrators. Eyewitnesses claimed that the riots staged by provocateurs from the police dressed as civilians, who threw stones at people and beat them with metal batons. As a result of confrontation, 73 victims were hospitalized with various injuries. Moreover, journalists from different media outlets, who were covering the situation at the streets, were also among the victims of Armenian police. In its recent statement, the Armenian Council of America strongly condemned violent actions of Armenian police against peaceful population. We demand the Armenian police immediately cease all illegal activities against the citizens and urge the authorities to launch an investigation into the actions of those who gave the orders and executed the crackdown on the unarmed protesters, the statement reads. Meanwhile, ordinary Armenian population keeps criticizing the current government of the country. They see people gather on Freedom Square at nights, and they turn off lighting. The authorities have not learnt anything, everything is done by force, there is no change. The salvation is in the resignation of our government, an Armenian citizen complained. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 10:44 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Iran is Azerbaijans neighbor, and Baku has always tried to maintain friendly relations with this country not only in the economic but also political sphere. Even in the most difficult periods of Tehran's relations with the West, when sanctions were imposed against this country, and unprecedented pressure was exerted on its neighbors, Azerbaijan adhered to the policy of good neighborliness and recognized Iran's right to nuclear energy in peaceful purposes. In turn, Iran has always supported the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and in all forums continues to recognize the fact that Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan. At the same time, in spite of crimes committed by Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh, the countrys policy of ethnic cleansing, crimes against peaceful Azerbaijani and Muslim population, Iran has always tried to maintain relations with Armenia at a high level and often helped it to evade economic isolation. Recently, Iran has made another friendly gesture to Armenia, having signed an agreement on gas export to Georgia through the territory of this country. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh announced this, while commenting on the results of his meeting with Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia Levon Yolyan. Meanwhile, Armenia's reaction to Iran's actions was far from what the Islamic Republic seems to have expected. According to Armenian reports, the country has territorial claims to Iran. To be more specific, it has to do with Lake Urmia. Armenian media outlets widely commented on the photos of Iran's Lake Urmia made by NASA. On the photos, which were made in April 2016, the lake was green. However, the lake was already red a few months later on the new photos made by NASA. http://ru.1in.am/1160524.html. Following that, an article on Urmia turning "blood red" was published in Armenian media. The article stresses that Lake Urmia is the largest salt lake in the Middle East. It is situated on the Armenian Plateau in Iranian provinces that were part of the Kingdom of Greater Armenia at the time of Tigranes the Great. Thus, after making territorial claims to Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Armenia turned to Iran, with the same claims. And that's following the gas deal with Tehran... Elkhan Alasgarov, PhD, head of the Baku Network's expert council --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 13:00 (UTC+04:00) Austrian engineering company Porner and the Heydar Aliyev Refinery have signed an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management contract for a Biturox plant in Baku. The plant, for the production of quality bitumen, is part of a comprehensive modernization project and replaces the Biturox plant that Porner delivered to Azerneftyag in 1995, Azertac reported. The contract was signed by Porner Managing Director Andreas Porner and Heydar Aliyev Refinery director Elman Ismayilov. Speaking at the signing ceremony, SOCAR vice president Tofig Gahramanov said the project would contribute to improving the environment in Baku. Andreas Porner hailed his company's cooperation with SOCAR. For the Biturox plant, Porner provides the license, basic engineering, pilot tests carried out in the Porner research facility, key equipment and commissioning support. The previous Biturox plant produced bitumen successfully for 20 years. The establishment of a new plant in the Heydar Aliyev Refinery outside the urban area, was a result of the closing of the refinery site in the heart of Baku. Using the latest off-gas treatment system, and designed for an annual capacity of 400,000 tons, this plant will meet the high demand for quality bitumen for the further expansion of the road network of Azerbaijan. The Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery is located near the capital Baku and is currently undergoing extensive modernization. The annual processing capacity will increase from six million tons to seven and a half million tons. All grades of fuel produced, will comply with Euro 5 standards and are quality feed materials for the Azerkimya downstream plant, such as ethylene, propylene and butylene. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 13:12 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) is continuing to pay compensations to the depositors of the recently closed Dekabank, Kredobank, Zaminbank and Parabank. ADIF has so far paid compensations worth 4.96 billion manats ($3.12 billion) to depositors of the recently closed banks, the Fund reported on August, 3. The Fund launched payment of compensations to the depositors on August 1, 2016. The overall size of deposits liable for compensation in the banks is 110.71 million manats ($ 69.84 million). Payments are made in the branches of liquidated banks. Depositors of Parabank have so far received 2.27 million manats ($1.42 million), while the total volume of compensations to be paid to the depositors of the bank amounts to 43.79 million manats ($27.680 million). The number of insured depositors in the bank is 18,097. The volume of compensations paid to the customers of Zaminbank amounted to 1.85 million manats ($1.16 million), while the volume of compensable deposits in the bank amounts to 36.35 million manats ($22.97 million). The number of insured depositors amounts to 10,742. The volume of compensations paid to the depositors of Dekabank totaled 440,360 manats ($ 277,252). Deposits worth 2.807 million manats ($ 1.774 million) are compensable, while the number of insured depositors is 133. Depositors of Kredobank have already received compensations worth 397,930 manats ($250,538), from the total volume of compensable deposits amounting to 27.768 million manats ($17.553 million). As many as 4,542 depositors are insured. An insurance event happened in the banks following the decision of the Financial Market Supervisory Body (FMSB) to abolish their licenses, due to their failure to meet necessary requirements specified in the relevant legislation. The reason of a halt is the failure of banks to comply with statutory minimum capital requirements as well as manage their activities in a safe and prudent manner. ADIF has been appointed a liquidator of four banks on July 21. Temporary administrators were appointed to the banks on July 22. ADIF operates since August 13, 2007.Currently, 33 banks have licenses for implementing banking activities in Azerbaijan. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 16:35 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova The International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), Azerbaijan's largest lender by assets, will not be privatized this year. Preparations for the process of privatization have not yet been completed and the bank will not be privatized in 2016, Reuters quoted Rufat Aslanli, head of the countrys Financial Market Supervisory Body (FMSB). "The government has resolved the majority of IBA's problems, but the privatization process takes some time, and privatization this year is not realistic," he told the agency. The shortcomings in the management, investment and loan policy of the International Bank of Azerbaijan in recent years, as well as financing less efficient and risky investment projects deteriorated the financial state of the bank, caused increase in the share of distressed assets and reduced its liquidity. IBA's distressed assets had been removed from its balance sheet and transferred to the state-owned, non-banking credit organization Agrocredit to recover financial position of the bank. Bonds worth 3 billion manats ($1.8 billion) were issued under state guarantee to provide the bank with liquid funds. Aslanli also mentioned that banks of the country have already adapted to the external shocks, which led the central bank to float the manat currency and close weak lenders. "The adjustment of banks to new realities is now over, and we can talk about the beginning of improvements," he said. Previously, Finance Minister Samir Sharifov, talking to Voice of America said that the law enforcement agencies helped to return bad loans worth around 400 million manats ($268 million) to the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA). As for the IBA's privatization, the minister said the process will begin after the bank's recovery. "The bank's recovery will take some time. Financial advisers, most likely influential investment companies, will be involved immediately after this process. Thus, the bank will be prepared for privatization," the minister said. Currently, 33 banks have licenses for implementing banking activities in Azerbaijan. Licences of EuroBank and Azerbaijan Credit Bank were abolished in 2015. Since the beginning of 2016, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan has terminated the licenses of the Caucasus Development Bank, Atrabank, Ganja Bank, Bank of Azerbaijan, United Credit Bank and NBCBank, DekaBank, KredoBank, Parabank and Zaminbank. Later, the license of NBCBank was restored due to the bank's plans to merge. The Caucasus Development Bank and AtraBank also have such plans. Earlier Head of the FMSB Board of Directors Rufat Aslanli said that currently the country has no troubled banks except the International Bank of Azerbaijan and Bank Standard. Nevertheless, the closure of these banks is not currently on the agenda. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 17:32 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli The strategic, friendly and partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are developing at a high level, and SOCAR [Azerbaijani state oil company] projects in Turkey give an important impetus to the development of economies of the two brotherly countries. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made this statement at the meeting with Rovnag Abdullayev, President of Azerbaijan's energy giant held following the session of the economic dialogue with the international high-level investors in Ankara, where SOCAR also participated. The Turkish president inquired about the progress in implementation of projects, expressed support for the activity of SOCAR, noted the importance of investment and expressed confidence in the development of the companys activity. Abdullayev assured the Turkish president that all the projects implemented by SOCAR in the country will be high-quality and completed in a timely manner. SOCAR president also thanked Erdogan for his support of the company, and said that work on all the projects is underway in accordance with the schedule. The company owns a controlling stake in the Petkim petrochemical holding in Turkey, which is a manufacturer of plastic packages, fabrics, detergents as well as implements construction projects of the Star refinery and TANAP pipeline. After privatization of Petkim Holding in 2008, the company has been operating under brand name of SOCAR Turkey, which holds 48.64 percent shares in Petkim. Recently, SOCAR Turkey Energy reported about 27 dismissed, after the operations against the movement of Fethullah Gulen underway in Turkeys Petkim. Vagif Aliyev, head of the board of directors of Petkim, expressed confidence that Turkey will come out of this situation stronger. "We are here with all the energy and want to announce the continuation of investment," he said. Some officials of SOCAR Turkey Energy also resigned. Among those resigned are Omer Adsiz, director of public relations department at SOCAR Turkey, Ilgar Mehmetoglu, director of the companys human resources department, Cetin Korkut, director of the companys IT department, as well as Fuat Ulagay, director of human resources department at Star refinery. Korkut and a group of employees of the company are accused of having links with the organization Hizmet headed by Fatullah Gulen, Anadolu agenbcy reported earlier. The premises of Petkim were raided and documents were confiscated. Two hundred employees of the local petrochemical and energy complex are also accused of having links with Hizmet and have been subjected to legal proceedings. In the recent message published at the website of the Petkim petrochemical complex, the chairman of the board noted that Petkim fully supports Turkish government, its economy and stability. The company will continue its activities for the benefit of Turkey and is ready to cooperate with the government, the message said. So far, SOCAR Turkey Enerji has invested $18 billion in Turkey and has opened more than 40,000 work places, becoming the largest foreign investor in the country. Speaking at the meeting with the SOCARs president, Turkeys Energy Minister Berat Albayrak noted that an inspection carried out by the Turkish government authorities in various companies, including the Petkim petrochemical complex, are not related to SOCARs activities in the country. After the events on July 15, Turkeys government authorities are conducting inspections in a number of companies operating in the country, including Petkim, explained Albayrak. However, they are in no way connected to SOCARs activity, and are being conducted as part of common inspection of the events. The Turkish minister inquired about the implementation of SOCARs projects in Turkey, as well as the work on the projects, in which Turkish companies are involved in Azerbaijan. He said that SOCARs investment projects are being implemented according to schedule, and the recent events in Turkeys social and political life have not affected the progress of operations. Albayrak added that all projects are being implemented in accordance with schedule. The minister also noted that Azerbaijans state oil company is one of the biggest investors in Turkey and the countrys government fully supports SOCARs activity. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 19:18 (UTC+04:00) By Trend A new international terminal for the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway is under construction in the Turkish province of Kars, Gazetekars newspaper reported August 3. With this purpose, the old building of the railway station is being demolished in the province, according to the newspaper. In addition, construction of a logistics center in Kars continues. The BTK railway is being built on the basis of the Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement. Eighty seven percent of the BTK railway has been constructed in Turkey, Ahmet Arslan, Turkish minister of transport, shipping and communications, said earlier. Azerbaijan allocated a loan of $775 million for the construction of the railway's Georgian section. SOFAZ finances the project in accordance with the Azerbaijani president's decree 'On the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project activities', dated Feb. 21, 2007. The peak capacity of the railway will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. Once the BTK railway is commissioned, it will transport five million tons of cargo a year, but the figure can rise up to 17 million tons in the future, Javid Gurbanov, head of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, said earlier. He added that the Georgian section of the BTK railway will be constructed by late 2016. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 18:15 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova WOG Aero Jet company has made certain attempts to block the supply of fuel to Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) by the Trading House SOCAR Ukraine (Ukrainian subsidiary of the Azerbaijans SOCAR), Ukrainian Railways said in a message posted on its website. The message reads that such actions are considered to be a manifestation of unhealthy competitiveness. "Attempts of the WOG Aero Jet to challenge a contract on the delivery of diesel fuel for railway traffic signed between SOCAR Trading House and Ukrainian Railways is referred to as the manifestation of improper manipulations and unhealthy competitiveness," the Ukrainian Railways said. Ukrainian Railways have managed to get three contractors due to its transparent approach in the purchase of goods. The fact reduces the dependence of railways on suppliers and allows implementing operations in a stable mode. Nevertheless, one of the oil traders is taking bids to oust another competitor, the Ukrainian Railways emphasized in its statement. Ukrainian Railways and Trading House SOCAR Ukraine signed a contract for supplying diesel fuel on August 1, 2016. Following the signing, WOG appealed to Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine, which accepted the appeal for the consideration. The message said that the acceptance of an appeal is not in line with law. Ukrainian Railways believe that the contract on the supply of diesel fuel is based on legal ground as the authority has not taken any decision on the halt of the procedure of purchase since the closure of a deal, the statement reads. WOG also appealed to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, regardless the fact that the competitive bid of the company was higher than the bid of the winner of the tender Trading House SOCAR Ukraine). Ukrainian Railways also called upon the state authorities to treat appeals objectively and take into consideration the state policy on the transparent and effective use of financial means for the purchase of goods and services. Ukrainian Railways is interested in the preservation of fair competition in the process of purchase of diesel fuel and in the possibility of getting supplies from several partners. SOCAR is to deliver 14,087 tonnes of fuel under the contract. The first lot of the supply with the volume of 730 tons was shipped, following the conclusion of the contract. In Ukraine, SOCAR is represented by SOCAR Energy Ukraine, running a network of 58 refueling stations. The main activity of SOCAR Energy Ukraine is to improve the network of petrol filling stations and organize wholesale of petrol and oil products in the territory of Ukraine. SOCAR exported 389,220 tons of diesel fuel in the first half of 2016 as compared to the volume of 491,850 tons in the same period of 2015. The company has so far invested over $200 million in the development of business in Ukraine. SOCAR opened its representation in Ukraine in 2008. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 11:10 (UTC+04:00) Baku will host an international conference in October, marking the 90th anniversary of the First Turkology Congress, Azertac reported. Titled "Shared values and new challenges in cultural and scientific Turkology movement, the conference will be co-organized by Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Presidium, institutes of Linguistics, Literature and Oriental Studies, and the Ministry of Education. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 10:31 (UTC+04:00) The statement of the Armenian leadership, which has lost its influence both inside the country and at the international level, is of regular nature and addressed to the domestic audience, Hikmat Hajiyev, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys spokesman, told Trend on August 2. Hajiyev was commenting on the statement made on August 1 by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan regarding Azerbaijans occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region. Sarsgyans speech once again shows that being prisoner of the last century, the political leadership of Armenia doesnt understand todays reality and has warlord mentality of late 80s, Hajiyev said. He added that he would like to remind the Armenian authorities, who falsify the history, of the Maragha-150 monument erected in Maragha village of Azerbaijans Aghdere district in 1978 on the occasion of the 150thanniversary of the resettlement of Armenians to the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Maragha-150 monument was deliberately destroyed by Armenians in 1988 when they started territorial claims against Azerbaijan, Hajiyev said. Thus, Armenians may put forward territorial claims against other countries as well, where they lived for several decades before the resettlement, having stated that it is their historical Armenian land. Nagorno-Karabakh, temporarily occupied by Armenian armed forces, is an inseparable historical and sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, he added. Sooner or later, Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh will be fully restored, Hajiyev said. No one should ever doubt it. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 13:32 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov It is important to continue positive momentum in the peace process over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick told Trend on August 3. The diplomat stressed that the co-chair countries are committed to continuing dialogue between presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, adding that the co-chairmen explore the possibility of organizing the next meeting of the heads of two countries. Although we have no specific plans to travel to the region at this time, we are in regular contact with the sides to prepare for the next presidential meeting, said Warlick. U.S. co-chair claimed that the meetings in Vienna and St. Petersburg achieved certain results in reducing violence on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops: The negotiation process is restored and agreement to reduce the risks of violence was reached. Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years. Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 09:49 (UTC+04:00) President Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by Minister of Information and Communications Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran, co-chairman of Azerbaijan-Iran State Commission on Economic, Trade and Humanitarian Cooperation Mahmoud Vaezi. The head of state noted that the agenda of the bilateral relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran was very broad and covered almost all areas, adding that very good results were achieved. President Ilham Aliyev praised the activity of Mahmoud Vaezi and his role in expanding ties between the two countries. The head of state stressed the importance of the presidents` valuable recommendations in terms of strengthening relations between the two countries. President Ilham Aliyev noted with pleasure his recent official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani`s forthcoming official visit to Azerbaijan, and described this as a good sign of high-level and dynamic development of relations between the two countries. Mahmoud Vaezi extended sincere greetings of President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani to the head of state. The Iranian Minister hailed the role of President Ilham Aliyev in enhancing the bilateral relations and friendly ties between the two countries. At the meeting, the sides discussed political and economic ties between the two countries and cooperation in the Caspian Sea, as well as exchanged views over the prospects for relations in energy, oil-gas, transport, investment making, finance, banking, agricultural, tourism and healthcare fields. The head of state thanked for the greetings of President Hassan Rouhani, and asked the Minister to communicate his greetings to the Iranian President. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 14:10 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Azerbaijani and Georgian State Security Services have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Baku. The document was signed by chairman of Azerbaijan State Security Service Madat Guliyev and head of the Georgian State Security Service Vakhtang Gomelauri. Guliyev, addressing the signing ceremony, said friendly relations between the two countries expanded due to mutual efforts of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Georgia. The head of security service gave thorough information about reforms implemented in the country in the spheres of state building, socio-economic development, implementation of important international projects underlining that the reforms are aimed at strengthening stability and providing security in the country. Gomelauri, in turn, expressed his confidence that the visit would contribute to expanding partnership between security services of the two countries. He also mentioned that the expansion of bilateral cooperation between the relevant services of the two countries in the sphere security services will lead to the development of friendly and brotherhood relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia. The sides also discussed perspectives of the mutually beneficial cooperation in the sphere of security provision including exchange of experience and information. Georgia closely cooperates with Azerbaijan on political and security issues, strategic cooperation between the two countries is developing steadily. The countries also cooperate within the framework of the European Unions Eastern Partnership and NATOs Partnership for Peace program contributing to the harmonization of security interests and the development of common approaches of the two countries to various issues of strategic importance. The two countries, in partnership with other regional countries, also collaborated closely within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on issues that had importance for the independence and security of both countries Azerbaijan and Georgia established diplomatic relations in 1992, one year after gaining independence from the Soviet Union. In October 1997, Azerbaijan and Georgia became two of the four founding members of GUAM, an organization that also includes Ukraine and Moldova. The two neighboring countries enjoy not only good political relations, but also long-standing and successful cooperation in the sphere of energy, transport, and trade. The State Security Service was created in Azerbaijan on December 14, 2015. The decision was aimed to increase the efficiency of work of the security services and to improve the structure of public administration. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 15:00 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Baku and Tehran have explored ways of developing cooperation in the field of communications as the Iranian delegation led by Mahmoud Vaezi, Information and Communications Technology Minister of Iran, visited the country, as part of the preparations for the upcoming visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Azerbaijan on August 8. Iran and Azerbaijan enjoy successful cooperation almost in all spheres. The February visit of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev to Iran showed that the two countries, which play a stabilizing role in the region, seek to strengthen their bilateral ties, which have already been strong in light of historically close links. Within the framework of the official visit of President Aliyev to Tehran the two countries signed 11 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) covering various areas of cooperation including transportation, electricity swap, health and medical sciences, oil, gas, and petrochemicals, as well as customs, social and women affairs. The two strategic partners and two neighboring countries hold solid foundation for the ties and the peoples of Azerbaijan and Iran are bound by the history, culture, common past and religion. They have lived together throughout centuries. President Aliyev received the Iranian delegation on August 2, where the sides discussed political and economic ties and cooperation in the Caspian Sea as well as exchanged views over the prospects for relations in energy, oil and gas, transport, investment making, finance, banking, agricultural, tourism and healthcare fields. President Aliyev noted that the agenda of the bilateral relations between the two neighborhood states were very broad and covered almost all areas. He praised the activity of Mahmoud Vaezi and his role in expanding ties between the two countries. The head of state stressed the importance of the presidents` valuable recommendations in terms of strengthening relations between the two countries. President Aliyev mentioned with pleasure his recent official visit to Iran and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's forthcoming official visit to Azerbaijan, and described this as a good sign of high-level and dynamic development of relations between the two countries. Mahmoud Vaezi, in turn, hailed the role of President Ilham Aliyev in enhancing the bilateral relations and friendly ties between the two countries. During the visit the Iranian delegation was also received by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, where the sides noted successful development of relations between Azerbaijan and Iran based on the principles of good-neighborliness and friendship, mutual respect, expressed satisfaction with the level of bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas, engineering, pharmaceutical, transport, energy, agriculture, tourism and other spheres. Touching upon the North-South transport corridor, an important route designed to connect Northern Europe to South-East Asia, the sides emphasized that the corridor will be one of the main topics at the trilateral meeting of the presidents. This transport corridor is considered to be very important for Azerbaijan both in economic terms and in terms of security and tourism. The project is expected to bring huge economic benefits to the country and significantly increase the volume of cargoes, passing through the territory of Azerbaijan. The ministers expressed confidence that this project will make an important contribution to the development of interregional cooperation. Baku and Tehran have also considered joint projects on production of pharmaceutical products, as well as manufacturing of cars and auto spare parts, as part of the meeting between Azerbaijans Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Irans Communication and Information Technology Minister. The parties considered draft agreements on cooperation between the two countries, and other important projects being jointly implemented by Azerbaijan and Iran, including the North-South international transportation corridor. The trade turnover between the two states stood at 89.75 million manats ($56 million) as of the first half of 2016, or 65.7 percent more than in the same period in 2015, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee. Vaezi also held talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ramin Guluzade. The sides highlighted the need for expansion of mutual cooperation in the field of telecommunications and information technology. The Iranian side expressed readiness for close cooperation with Azerbaijan in the areas of space and satellite construction, noting that the two countries enjoy a huge potential for cooperation on manufacturing communications equipment and developing software. Currently, Azerbaijan and Iran are focused on expanding economic ties in various fields, including industry, agriculture, energy, alternative energy, and transportation. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 17:50 (UTC+04:00) By Trend A phone conversation between Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu took place Aug. 2, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan told Trend. During the phone conversation, the foreign ministers discussed bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as issues related to regional and international agendas. Elmar Mammadyarov reiterated the unacceptability of the treacherous coup attempt against the democratic will of the Turkish people and the constitutional foundations of the state. He said that Azerbaijan as a fraternal country is always close to Turkey. In turn, Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey appreciates the support and the steps taken by Azerbaijan. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 16:57 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Azerbaijan has made great strides in building e-government, said on August 2 Jamshid Nakhchivanski, the coordinator of Electronic Government info portal and computing center of the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies. This can be evidenced through the recent UN ranking E-Government Survey 2016. If we look at the ratings over the past two years published by the UN, we can see that Azerbaijan has moved up 12 points to occupy the 56th place by E-Government Development Index, Nakhchivanski said. At the same time Azerbaijan rose from the 7th to 4th place in the ranking among the CIS countries. In the past rating of 2014 Azerbaijan ranked 68. Rather significant jump is observed on the E-Participation Index the country has risen from 77th to 47th place by making a great leap of 30 positions. The coordinator of Azerbaijani E-Government stressed that the main criteria of the E-Government Development Index is preparation of electronic services and infrastructure for their delivery. Azerbaijan has made tremendous progress in these areas. For example, the E-Participation Index is measured by the extent of electronic services being in demand of population. For the first half of 2016, the number of appeals to electronic services available on the portal "Electronic government" of Azerbaijan has exceeded eight million, which equals to 30 percent of the total number of appeals since the launch of the portal. This is a clear indication that the portal is integrated by e-services that are in a great demand and fully satisfy the needs of citizens, Nakhchivanski said. In its turn, the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies closely works with state departments of the country and plays a key role in formation of electronic services for Azerbaijani population. Today, the greatest demand is observed for e-services of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population. Moreover, people often address to service of electronic declaration of the State Customs Committee. Statistics reveal that the number of appeals for these types of services over recent months almost reached one million. The E-Government portal, launched in 2012, brings together more than 80 state organizations. Currently, 41 institutions render citizens 423 e-services. Moreover, 35 non-state actors were also connected to this portal and use these services. Over the past two years, the number of users of the portal increased 10 times to 2.5 million people. Since last year, electronic certificates has been issued as well. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 18:00 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The Azerbaijani Ministry of Health has made a statement in connection with spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the country. As many as 4,955 HIV-infected people were put on official record to the Republican Center for Combating AIDS in Azerbaijan from 1987 to July 2016, the Ministry told Trend. Some 3,607 or 73.2 percent of them are men, while 1,348 (26.8 percent) are women. A total of 1,798 people already suffer from AIDS. HIV prevalence in the country differs from region to region and is notably higher in Shirvan, Hajigabul, Astara, Lankaran and Sumgayit. As to the causes of HIV in Azerbaijan, 47 percent of infected caught the illness due to the use of drugs, 42.1 percent through heterosexual and 1.8 percent from homosexual contacts, 1.8 percent are children infected by mothers, while one person got it through blood transfusion. The cause of infection was not defined for the rest 7.8 percent. Over the first six months of the current year, 69,796 people were examined for HIV, while 44 of them were declared infected. Some 283 cases of HIV infection were recorded for the given period, including 180 Azerbaijani men, 96 Azerbaijani women and seven foreigners. Use of drugs is stated the reason of 20.3 percent of HIV infection cases revealed in Azerbaijan during the first half of 2016. HIV is a virus which attacks the human immune system -- the body's defense against disease. A person with HIV may feel completely well and have no symptoms. In time, he or she may suffer from particular rare illnesses or cancers because their immune system has become weakened. When this happens, the person is said to have AIDS. Currently, Azerbaijani health expenditure accounts for approximately 5 percent of GDP. The government has made substantial progress in rationalizing public health facilities and health care staff, developing treatment protocols, training personnel, and introducing family doctors and a licensing system for health professionals. Improvements are also being made to health care facilities through the construction of new regional hospitals and upgrading rural health centres, with a focus on strengthening primary health care. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 12:19 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Investments of Azerbaijan's state energy giant SOCAR in the projects implemented in Turkey amount to $7.5 billion, Zaur Gahramanov, head of SOCAR Turkey Energy told Bloomberg. He said that SOCAR will continue to invest in projects realized in Turkey, regardless existing risks SOCAR has invested $7.5 billion in Turkey and we will continue investing. Petrochemical products, which have an advantage over natural gas, are in high demand in Turkey, he said. Earlier, SOCARs President Rovnag Abdullayev talking to Anadolu agency mentioned that the company has a full confidence in Turkey and will continue to implement projects and invest in the country. SOCAR holds control packet of shares in Petkim petrochemical complex and is also involved in the implementation of the project on the construction of the Star Oil Refinery located in Izmir. Star Oil Refinery, which will be the first oil refinery built by the private sector in Turkey, is expected to be completed in 2018. The total cost of the project is estimated at $5.7 billion. It is expected to contribute significantly to the region's and country's economy by creating job opportunities and increasing competitiveness. Once completed, the Star refinery will be the first refinery to start operations in Turkey since 1972. The refinery is expected to be capable of refining Azeri Light, Kirkuk, and Urals oil grades. SOCAR began its activity in Turkey after privatization of Petkim Holding in 2008 and has been operating under brand name of SOCAR Turkey. Petkim is a sole manufacturer of plastic packages, fabrics, detergents, and other petrochemical products in Turkey. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 17:26 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Market value of the Turkish Petkim petrochemical complex is currently estimated at $2.2 billion, Vagif Aliyev, head of the board of directors of Petkim said in a message, posted in the website of the company. Azerbaijan's state energy giant SOCAR holds control packet of shares in Petkim complex. Aliyev emphasized that Petkim became one of the first companies in Turkey that was listed at a stock exchange. Petkim produces approximately 60 various types of products and delivers its products to over 50 countries. Thereby, it is the biggest exporter in the Aegean region, he said. He pointed out that 150,000 people have been directly or indirectly involved in the work of Petkim which has been operating for already 50 years, adding that some 6,000 small and medium-sized enterprises use the products of the company in Turkey. Aliyev noted that Petkim fully supports the government, economy and stability in Turkey. The company will continue its operation for the benefit of Turkey and is ready to cooperate with the government, said the message. Meanwhile, Energy Minister of Turkey Berat Albayrak said that inspections currently carried out by the Turkish government authorities in various companies, including the Petkim petrochemical complex, in not related to the activities of SOCAR in the country Petkim is considered to be a sole manufacturer of plastic packages, fabrics, detergents, and other petrochemical products in Turkey. Approximately a quarter of its produce is being exported. The complex includes 14 plants which produce 20 various types of products. Production capacity of Petkim is 3.6 million tons per year. The company is engaged in the production of high quality petrochemical products in its integrated and high technology premises, which are compatible with international standards. SOCAR began its activity in Turkey after privatization of Petkim Holding in 2008 and has been operating under brand name of SOCAR Turkey. The company was acquired by SOCAR as a result of a tender of privatization. SOCAR is also involved in the realization of other important projects in Turkey including Star refinery and Petlim container port. Earlier, SOCARs President Rovnag Abdullayev talking to Anadolu agency mentioned that SOCAR has a full confidence in Turkey and will continue to implement projects and invest in the country. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 10:21 (UTC+04:00) Speaking to CNN Turk in a live televised interview Tuesday, Prime Minister Binali Yldrm said that as the government, they are determined to take a unified stance with the opposition, while expressing his faith in political dialogue to overcome any obstacles regarding the measures to be taken following the failed coup attempt. Answering questions on whether all four parties in the parliament could act together in a unified manner, Yldrm said that it was possible 'if the HDP made a decision regarding its relations with the PKK terrorist organization.' So far opposition parties the Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have openly expressed that they are on the side of the government in the post-coup process but the PKK-linked People's Democratic Party (HDP) has remained silent, Daily Sabah reported. Yldrm also commented on CHP leader Kemal Klcdaroglu's decision to not to join the "Democracy and Martyrs Rally" to be held in the Yenikap neighborhood of Istanbul on August 7. He said that if the party leaders themselves would have come to the rally in person, it would have created a stronger atmosphere of unity, but he said that he was glad that Klcdaroglu was sending a committee to represent the party and show his support. MHP leader Bahceli has yet to respond to the invitation. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had made the call on Aug. 1, asking CHP and MHP party leaders to attend the rally and asked them to deliver individual speeches. In the interview Yldrm also said that has withdrawn lawsuits against opposition politicians, journalists and writers, for insulting him or his office. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had also said that he will drop insult lawsuits against him, as a one-off gesture for unity in the wake of a failed July 15 coup. Yldrm also touched upon the upcoming Victory Day celebrations which possibly could be partly canceled due to the post-coup state of emergency. He said: "We can't disregard the Aug 30. Victory Day, there has not been any official decision saying that ceremonies will be canceled." On the subject of the ongoing investigations about the failed coup attempt, the PM stated that 58,611 people had been laid off while 3, 499 had been discharged from their posts for having alleged links to the Gulenist Terror Organization (FETO). As the government continues its crackdown on FETO and affiliated people in the judiciary, military, police, education and other institutions, more journalists are expected to be detained as part of the wide-raging anti-FETO investigation. Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly coup attempt, which killed at least 238 people and injured nearly 2,200 others, was organized by the followers of U.S.-based preacher, Fetullah Gulen. Gulen is also accused of implementing 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 14:07 (UTC+04:00) Turkey and the European Union have found themselves embroiled in a new row over the migrant and visa-free travel topics, Hurriyet Daily News reported. One day after Turkey summoned the German charge daffaires at Berlins Ankara embassy after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was banned from making a speech by video in Cologne, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier dismissed his Turkish counterparts remarks regarding the Turkey-EU migrant and visa liberalization deals. Asked if Turkey could blackmail the EU over the refugee pact, Steinmeier told the Rheinische Post newspaper: That is absurd. The fact is there are conditions for the visa-free policy and they are known to everyone, Steinmeier said Aug. 2. Turkey pledged to undertake the necessary steps to hold up its end of the agreement. That is not yet the case and Turkey still has work to do. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview with the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on July 31 that Ankara could withdraw from the accord as it would abandon a deal with the EU reached to stem the flow of migrants into the bloc if the EU did not grant visa-free travel to Turkish citizens by October. The row was initiated with a German courts ban on Erdogan from holding a live speech via videoconference during an anti-coup protest in Cologne on July 31. German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel hit back Aug. 1 during a campaign rally for a state election, saying Germany or Europe must in no way let themselves be blackmailed by Turkey over the migrants pact. Late on Aug. 1, Cavusoglu engaged in a Twitter spat with his Austrian counterpart, Sebastian Kurz, over the migrant deal. Writing over Cavusoglus remarks, the Austrian foreign minister tweeted, I do not accept Cavusoglus ultimatum and return it. The EU cannot proceed with dependencies and must protect its borders. Replying to Kurzs tweet, Cavusoglu later said, Das ist nicht [This is not] ultimatum Sebastian, it is my opinion. Freedom of expression my friend. The March 18 deal aims to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving the conditions of nearly 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. Meanwhile, the Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland was set to arrive in Turkey on Aug. 3 for meetings with officials and opposition leaders after Turkey suspended the European Convention on Human Rights, which is reinforced by the councils European Court of Human Rights, following the failed July 15 coup attempt. Jagland is due to meet Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yldrm, Cavusoglu and Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag as well as party leaders. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 10:55 (UTC+04:00) During the meeting of the presidents of Turkey and Russia, the two countries will reconsider their relations in the economic sphere, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a meeting with international investors in Ankara, TRT Haber TV channel reported Aug. 2. Erdogan said that Turkey has always been attentive to economic issues, even in times of crisis in relations with Russia. He went on to add that during his visit to Russia on August 9 as part of the representative delegation the sides will discuss the whole range of issues without any restrictions. Earlier, Turkish presidential administration told Trend that Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will discuss a number of important economic and political issues during the meeting in St. Petersburg Aug.9. Fighting the terrorist organizations in Syria is among the issues planned to be discussed during that meeting, said the presidential administration. Moreover, the presidents are expected to discuss the joint energy projects of Russia and Turkey, such as the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and the construction of Akkuyu nuclear power plant. The relations between Russia and Turkey deteriorated after the Su-24 bomber incident in 2015. On June 27, Erdogan sent a letter of condolences to Putin over the death of Russian Su-24 pilot and expressed regret over the incident. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 12:32 (UTC+04:00) Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim sent a bill on creating a sovereign wealth fund to parliament after his cabinets approval, according to a copy of the draft obtained by Bloomberg on Aug. 2. This was done to stabilize markets and fund infrastructure projects in the wake of a coup attempt. The proposal allows the government to establish a wealth management company called Turkiye Varlik Yonetimi AS with a capital injection of 50 million liras ($17 million), to be financed from the state Privatization Fund. That company would create another entity, Turkiye Varlik Fonu, or Turkey Wealth Fund TVF, and other funds as it sees necessary, according to the draft. The finances for the fund will be provided from the governments asset sales program, cash surpluses from the state Privatization Fund and other state institutions, the draft said. Income from national and international capital markets and money markets can also be used to finance the fund, it said. Some assets from the governments privatization program will be transferred to the funds portfolio, according to the draft. The plans come as Turkey has been trying to reassure investors and calm markets after a military coup attempt in mid-July. Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci said the economic damage from the attempt may be about 300 billion liras ($100 billion), according to Hurriyet newspaper. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3 August 2016 17:12 (UTC+04:00) Trend A delegation led by Turkmen parliaments Chairman Akja Nurberdiyeva will visit Pakistans capital Islamabad on August 3-4, the Turkmen government said in a message August 3. The working visit is aimed at further development of the Turkmenistan-Pakistan interparliamentary relations. Both countries noted the presence of potential for cooperation in various spheres of the economy, including in the fuel and energy sector, transport and communications. Construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and the creation of international transportation and communication corridors, formation of a multi-modal transportation system were particularly highlighted. Construction of the TAPI pipelines Turkmen section began in December 2015. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Kern County Animal Services also hired a new veterinarian, Rebecca Arnold, who started on Monday this week. We will visit with her after shes had a little time to get her feet wet and take a peek at the countys new surgery center as well. Stay tuned. Donald Trump railed against President Obama's policies and Hillary Clinton's promises before thousands in Daytona Beach Wednesday. Trump will speak at the Ocean Center Supporter says Trump should focus on the issues Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine was in Daytona Beach on Tuesday "Wow this is a lot of people here," the Republican presidential nominee said before some 10,000 people at the Ocean Center. The event at the Ocean Center was initially planned to be a small town-hall gathering but has turned into a rally, with hundreds lining up, some hours, before the 3 p.m. start time. Trump took the stage almost an hour late, but Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was there to warm up the crowd. She said if nothing else, voters need to choose Trump so he can pick the Supreme Court justices. "I'm sick and tired of suing the president of the United States," Bondi said, accusing President Obama of constant overreach. Trump then took the stage, immediately hitting the president and Clinton on foreign policy, particularly the Iran nuclear deal and the administration's handling of ISIS. He then turned to the economy and promised to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States. "A friend of mine builds massive plants, thats what he does he builds plants," Trump said. "Thats all he wants to do, he builds plants. And I see him recently and he said we are building the biggest plants the most impressive plants youve ever seen. I said, oh thats good news. He says, No,no. Theyre being built in Mexico. I said, What about this country, what about Daytona? Forget it. Everyone who came had great expectations for the Republican Nominee. "He's going to take back America he's going to take care of our veterans," said supporter Rich Smith. "He's like a giant lawyer for the American people, when it comes to business. He's going to turn around and say, 'You're ripping us off," said Ivan Holiday of Daytona Beach. Despite a heavy law-enforcement presence, with Secret Service, Daytona Beach Police and security officers out in full force, very few protesters showed up before noon. However, Protestors inside and outside the rally made their presence known. One protester even used a beach plane to say " Donald Trump is a big mouth baby bully boy." Volusia County is known as a swing county in a swing state. The Volusia County Department of Elections says there are more than 134,000 registered Democrats in the county and more than 129,000 registered Republicans. One of those registered Republicans, Brian Godfrey, was the first person sitting in line Wednesday morning to attend the rally. He shared how he thinks Trump can win Florida. "I think he will win it if he can focus on the issues only and ignore the ads that I see on TV. Hillary (Clinton) has some ads down here talking about Trump University and the failed Atlantic City thing and all. Just forget that stuff. You know he had a lot of negative ads when he went for the primary here, and he won," Godfrey said. Another supporter expressed how important this election is to him. "This is the most important election of a lifetime. This is going to define our country," Daytona Beach supporter Patrick Williamson said. Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front row taxi ridesymbolic of the shows content as a fun ride that takes audiences from point A to point B. Gabina VOAs main goal is Enlightening young people, introducing them to cutting-edge technological innovations, exposing them to new processes and ideas so they can be productive, informed and self-governing citizens. After three weeks of desert heat and simulated combat training at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, the U-2 Dragon Lady has returned to Beale Air Force Base, California. Approximately 68 members of Team Beale deployed to Red Flag to support the exercise. Personnel such as crew chiefs, avionic specialists, aircraft engineers, fabrication specialists, pilots, mission planners and life support technicians were on station to prepare and maintain the U-2s mission at Nellis. Red Flag was very similar to a real world deployment, said Master Sgt. Amanda Cox, 99th Aircraft Maintenance Unit section chief. Everyone came together to accomplish the mission, whether it was inside your realm or not you figured out a way to help each other. Cox added that the heat and desert conditions gave the team a similar environment and challenges, which they are exposed to in deployed location. Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies, is coordinated at Nellis and conducted on the vast bombing and gunnery ranges of the Nevada Test and Training Range. It is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis and executed through the 414th Combat Training Squadron. "Red Flag was a great opportunity for our Airmen," said Lt. Col. Michael Gilmore, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron commander. "Operating at Nellis AFB in Red Flag is yet another example of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing's all-in commitment to integrate with our Combat Air Force (CAF) partners and ultimately provide warfighters with the critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) to defeat the enemy. The training, knowledge and relationships gained from this exercise are extremely valuable." The U-2 supported the exercise by providing high-altitude, all-weather intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to directly support U.S. and allied forces. Beale Airmen delivered 12 sorties capturing ISR data for those who were flying air to air and air to ground missions. Physically being at Red Flag kept our team deeply involved in the exercise, as before we would send a U-2 out from Beale and not be as plugged into the exercise, said Maj. Travis Patterson, 9th RW Weapons and Tactics chief. We were emerged in the mission and we were able to see and receive validation of how the ISR data we provided contributed to operations. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The home at 5623 Willow Walk St. is still sitting on the market and still covered in feces and grime. That's even after listing agent Paul Gomberg, who's part of the "Rockstar Realty Group" at Keller Williams realty in Conroe, chose to embrace the home's disgraced state. He made a video playing up the house's neglect, showing room after room covered in pet waste, old food wrappers and mounds of trash. (Story continues below.) SEE ALSO: Texas-based organization builds unique homes out of trash "People ask to see it, and I tell agents, 'It's really yucky in there,'" Gomberg says. "I had one or two agents saying that their clients walked into the house and they vomited in the house at some point. That's how stinky the place is." The gimmick seemed to have worked at the time. "Originally I had it listed for $125,000 as a short sale, and we had a flood of offers and as high as $218,000," Gomberg says. After this year's recent flooding, the owners were able to get a two-month extension on their loan, but they've opted to abandon the property. Gomberg says that the lender, PennyMac Loan Services, hasn't received the last 23 payments owed on the property. PennyMac lenders told Gomberg not to accept any offer less than $280,000, which none of the bidders would pay. READ MORE: Shipping container housing complex to be developed in Houston's Fifth Ward He believes the bank may place the home under foreclosure by the first Tuesday of September. "They sent a guy out in early April," Gomberg says of PennyMac. "He said it was really bad. They started calling me back, asking when I'm going to clean it up. I told them, 'I'm the agent.'" A concerned neighbor took it upon herself to make a few improvements. "She thought about buying it for safety reasons," he says. "You could smell it from the street. She spent around $1,200 (to clean it up)." The swimming pool also had to be cleaned, after Harris County issued numerous safety violations. The carpet has been removed and Gomberg estimates that 80 percent of the trash has been cleaned out. The owners, Gomberg says, are living in another one of their homes. Gomberg had previously sold the couple a home in March 2015 before they offered him this listing, telling him it only "needed a little work." SEE ALSO: Suburban homebuilder develops Greater Heights neighborhood of luxury townhomes, cottages Sadly, Gomberg says that the family's potbelly pig, which might have been responsible for some of the mess, was eaten by the owner's dogs. "They went to Disneyland for 10 days and the pig was eaten by their dogs," Gomberg explains. "They didn't leave enough food for the dogs." The house they're living in now could be "Part 2" in the sorry saga. "I was there in April, and it was starting to smell pretty bad," he says. "But that's for another day, I don't have it listed." Note: This article has been updated. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GALVESTON James Larry Cosby shot his daughter in the head in the back of an SUV and clubbed to death her female lover before dumping their bodies near a dumpster behind a convenience store on the Bolivar Peninsula in 2014, a prosecutor told jurors on the first day of Cosby's capital murder trial. A bloody fingerprint found on a decorative shutter from Cosby's house discovered near the bodies of Brittney Cosby and Crystal Jackson, both 24, link Cosby to the crime, Assistant Galveston County District Attorney Paul Love told jurors. BACKGROUND: Car sought in deaths of lesbian couple found in storage lot Also, the prosecutor said, cell phone records show that Cosby's mobile phone traveled from Houston to Port Bolivar and back to Houston on the day of the slayings. "All the evidence leads back to one person, and that's Mr. Cosby," Love told the seven men and seven women who comprise the jury, including the two alternate jurors. READ MORE: Victim's father held in slayings of 2 Bolivar women In addition to the March 6, 2014, slayings, Cosby is charged with two counts of tampering with evidence related to a corpse, prosecutors said. Before attorneys made their statements, District Judge Patricia Grady asked Cosby how he pleaded to the charges. "Not guilty, your honor," Cosby, 48, replied forcefully as he stood next to his attorneys at the witness table in a dark suit. READ MORE: Family prays where bodies found on Bolivar "There is no direct evidence linking Mr. Cosby to the murder of Brittany and Crystal," defense attorney Greg Russell told jurors. Russell said that the only two witnesses who identified Cosby as being on the Galveston-Bolivar ferry on the day of the killings initially were uncertain in their identification. Before the trial, the defense unsuccessfully tried to convince the judge to disallow their testimony. READ MORE: Bodies of 2 women found behind Bolivar store In outlining the case against Cosby for the jury, Love said that prosecutors were unable to say why Cosby killed his daughter and her lover, but said, "What we will prove to you is that he did it." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Beaumont Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Beaumont Police Department Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Beaumont Police Department is asking for assistance in identifying a suspect who was involved in a aggravated robbery on Tuesday morning. According to officials, the suspect entered a 7-Eleven convenience store at 5590 Calder around 5:16 a.m. and asked to purchase cigarettes. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Texas Department Of Public Safety Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Texas Department of Public Safety Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Show More Show Less 5 of 5 The search for an 83-year-old Kountze man last seen Saturday has moved to Tyler County, where the man's truck and dog were found Tuesday night at a hunting club. William Harold Gant Sr., who is diagnosed with a cognitive impairment, was last seen in Tyler County when he stopped to talk with a friend, Hardin County Sheriff Ed Cain said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Beaumont lies within wildlands, full of trees, grassy prairie, wooded parks and open spaces where a dry spell can turn vegetation into tinder. In times like that, humidity is the friend that deserted you and the spark at the point of a lightning strike or the ember from a tossed cigarette can turn into a Bastrop-sized horror in the time it takes to dial 911. A 2014 gift from the Texas Forest Service to the city's fire department of a brush truck capable of wading its four-wheel drive into otherwise inaccessible areas helps to extend its firefighting reach. The city on Tuesday signed an agreement with the Texas Forest Service as part of its mutual aid protection program, which gave rise to the city's own Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Fire Chief Anne Huff and other department members presented the plan Tuesday to City Council, showing 16 planning areas within the city limits that outline the affected areas. Huff said at least 17,000 acres abut wildlands within the 16 separate areas ranging from industrial areas on the south to the Big Thicket on the north and wooded areas on the west. "We're taking a close look at what we have and where," she told council members. District Chief Ben House designed the 16 areas and made an inventory of what was contained in each. Huff said 24 firefighters are on the wildfire team. "It's a risk assessment for the city," which was assembled at no cost, Huff said. The entire 130-page assessment will be made available soon on the city's website, she said. Next up, Huff said she wants to assemble a hazardous materials risk assessment based on the wildfire protection model. DWallach@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/dwallach Authorities last month discovered a 50-year-old naked man at a historic home in a Texas coastal town drinking a pina colada he found in the refrigerator. The naked man, James Vanwright, was found inside the White Haven house a two-story home and official Texas Historical Marker built in 1915 in the 2400 block of Lakeshore Drive in Port Arthur on July 12 (a Tuesday) after an officer was dispatched to the house to investigate a residential alarm, police said. RELATED: Naked dancing woman on top of big rig ties up 290 traffic in Houston A security guard arrived at the New England-Colonial-style house, located in the city's historic district, before police and told dispatchers he could see a naked man in the house, an affidavit obtained by KFDM said. Police said Vanwright got into the home by breaking a window pane to the kitchen door and opening the door from the inside, an affidavit said. RELATED: Texas State student sits nearly nude outside library for art project on objectification of women Vanwright grabbed the pina colada mix from a refrigerator in the home after removing all of his clothes in a bedroom, the affidavit said. The White Haven house, open to the public by appointment for tours, is owned the Daughters of the American Revolution and maintained by Lamar State CollegePort Arthur, according to Rediscovering SE Texas. RELATED: Video: Police chase smiling naked man near downtown San Antonio Vanwright was found in the home around 11 p.m. It's unclear why he was naked, however, he is facing a burglary of a habitation charge, a second-degree felony. According to online records, Vanwright was also charged with indecent exposure in 2013. KFDM reported Vanwright was also previously charged with sexual assault of a child and attempted arson. More from about the home's background from the historical website: "(The home was) built in 1915 for Dr. H. D. Morris, an early physician and British Consul... Through the years, the house had changed owners only a few times. In 1919, the Morris family sold it to Clarence Booz and his kin, who lived there until 1942. The house was sold that same year to the last owners, Carl and Stella White. Stella White was a world traveler and an antique dealer. She acquired many antiques throughout her journeys. Many of the artifacts you see in the house were bought and donated by her. Some noteworthy pieces are a French-made screen previously owned by Empress Carlotta of Mexico (from the 1700s), a candelabra from the Shah of Persia, and all of the fine furniture comes from as far afield as England, China, and France.Stella lived in the house until her death in 1985, and left the home and all the furnishings to the DAR. Charter member, Ella Young Atwell, subsequently endowed the restoration of the home." MMedina@mySA.com Twitter: @Mariahmedinaaa St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, Wis., settled a lawsuit following the death of an endoscopy patient in 2013, according to a Wisconsin State Journal report. Here are six things to know: 1. The hospital settled for an undisclosed amount, but the total is anticipated to be around $3.75 million. 2. The patient was undergoing a routine endoscopy and was under conscious sedation. He suffered irreversible brain damage from a lack of oxygen after the endoscopy. 3. The lawsuit alleged the physician gave the patient more than double the amount of sedation drugs than was ordered. It also claimed the physician did not properly monitor the patient. 4. The autopsy noted brain damage as the cause of death. Additionally, altered heart cells suggest his death could have occurred due to an unexpected cardiac event. 5. A Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services investigation into Jason Gonzaga, MD, the gastroenterologist who performed the endoscopy, was closed "for insufficient evidence of any unprofessional conduct," according to the report. 6. However, state investigations into the professional conduct of two nurses named in the suit are pending. With clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction bearing equal weight in determining hospitals' prospective reimbursement, what happens to patients in the billing department or at the registration desk is just as important as what happens to them in the operating room. Karen Shaffer-Platt, corporate vice president of revenue cycle and patient concierge services at UPMC in Pittsburgh, and John Holyoak, director of product management for RelayHealth Financial, discussed revenue cycle strategies hospitals can deploy to improve patient experience during a panel on July 27 at the Becker's Hospital Review 2nd Annual CIO/HIT + Revenue Cycle Conference in Chicago. From patient portals to customer relationship management software, here are six strategies to drive patient satisfaction. 1. Complete registration prior to arrival. Both panelists said it's important for hospitals to complete the laundry list of pre-registration, registration, eligibility and verification services prior to the patient's arrival. "It's about moving the revenue cycle as far left as it can go," to prevent patients from feeling overwhelmed at the point-of-service, said Mr. Holyoak. Moreover, digital forms and pre-service phone calls can streamline, simplify and save time for registration staff while reducing hospitals' overhead costs. A proactive registration strategy can help patients feel more comfortable and prepared when they arrive for service. 2. Evaluate resource use. As demands and needs shift in the healthcare market, revenue cycle leaders should consider where and how they invest department resources. At UPMC, Ms. Shaffer-Platt found the point-of-arrival department absorbed more funds and employees than it needed to function effectively. By downsizing her point-of-arrival staff, she was able to reassign labor and capital to areas of the revenue cycle in need of attention, such as financial counseling, insurance counseling, emergency arrival or data analytics departments. 3. Don't collect at point-of-service; collect beforehand. "Today, healthcare costs the same amount as a mortgage or car payment," said Mr. Holyoak. Due to the serious financial investment medical services require, payment for elective services should be confirmed prior to the patient's scheduled appointment. On the day of service, patients' only concerns should be clinical in nature and focused on their recovery rather than their looming financial responsibility, said Mr. Holyoak. Hospitals can offer a number of financing options to patients who can't pay upfront, such as installment plans, loan programs, financial aid services and charity care funding. 4. Reform employee criteria and hiring practices for front-end staff. The role of point-of-service staff has changed significantly during the past decade. Modern technology has automated mundane, labor-intensive tasks traditionally assigned to registration staff. At the same time, health insurance markets created under the Affordable Care Act have granted millions of Americans access to healthcare coverage for the first time. To manage new expectations and demands, hospitals' point-of-service workforce requires a skill set and level of expertise hospitals cannot attract or sustain with hourly compensation and unorganized training, both panelists agreed. To provide exceptional customer service, hospitals must invest in attracting and training a workforce capable of educating consumers about complex healthcare topics with compassion and understanding. "The real challenge for revenue cycle leaders...is to remodel the system to look like financial counselors and not debt collectors," said Ms. Shaffer-Platt. 5. Implement and utilize powerful information database tools. Patients are often asked to provide the same medical information insurance member ID, Social Security number, driver's license at multiple points during a single episode of care. This wastes hospital resources and employee's time and can lower patient satisfaction by testing their patience. To improve efficiency, Ms. Shaffer-Platt recommends hospitals appropriate and leverage the same software other service industries use to deliver exceptional customer service.Particularly, she suggests implementing customer relationship management software. Deployed in a healthcare setting, this software enables staff to store and access patient information across the enterprise, track patient utilization and activity and can notify physicians if a patient checks in at a different health system. 6. Reconsider the patient portal. Patients who are relatively healthy will go long periods of time without returning to a healthcare facility. Ms. Shaffer-Platt and her revenue cycle team at UPMC redesigned their patient portal to better engage infrequent fliers in the financial and clinical aspects of care. "At UPMC, we appropriated a number of buzzwords from the banking industry and created a 'virtual wallet' for healthcare," said Ms. Shaffer-Platt. The application allows patients to store and log health information, pay medical bills and schedule appointments from their smart phone or computer. Clinical labs are performed throughout the care continuum and provide clinicians with critical information that affect a wide array of medical decisions. In fact, 75 percent of all healthcare interventions require lab tests to support diagnoses and treatment plans, and up to 80 percent of a hospital EMR is composed of lab data and related information, according to Chi Solutions, an Accumen company. With this in mind, more effective utilization of lab testing and reducing unnecessary tests will be a critical part of eliminating wasteful spending and improving value as the healthcare industry transitions from fee for service to value-based care delivery models. Jeff Myers, vice president of consulting at Chi Solutions, and Denise Irons, director of laboratory information systems at Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health, spoke at the Becker's Hospital Review 2nd Annual CIO/HIT + Revenue Cycle Conference in Chicago about how hospitals can use lab data to reach their cost reduction and revenue growth goals. Here are four key points from the speakers' presentation. 1. Mr. Myers encourages hospitals to track productivity and supply cost metrics at the organization and department level, utilizing laboratory information system test volume, payroll hours and expense information. These results should be reviewed on a consistent basis and benchmarked against similar entities and prior performance. The end goal in doing this is to help the organization identify where it can reduce costs. 2. Mr. Myers believes hospitals that have not yet done so should also implement a patient blood management program. Such programs can improve clinical outcomes by eliminating unnecessary transfusions and the health risks associated with them. 3. Additionally, Mr. Myers said hospitals should track the cost per lab test to support contract negotiation efforts. He encouraged hospitals to track lab tests with order, collect, in-lab and result timestamps to monitor all tests at the accession level. "Reducing the cost of necessary purchases like needles and tubes by renegotiating contracts and through better management of inventories, hospitals can save by up to 30 percent," Mr. Myers said. 4. Ms. Irons provided examples of laboratory revenue growth at Baystate Health, which is helping drive positive operating margin through its 41 lab collection sites. The growth in revenue was stimulated by providing convenient pathology test/management services to physicians, hospitals and other healthcare services throughout Massachusetts. "One key element of growing a successful laboratory outreach program is the ability to quickly and nimbly implement EMR interfaces that transmit accurate insurance and diagnosis code information with lab orders," Ms. Irons said. Overwhelmingly, large employers doubt hospital and health system consolidation will reduce medical costs or improve quality of care, reports Crain's Chicago Business. That finding comes from a recent survey by Midwest Business Group on Healthcare. The firm surveyed 85 large employers from across the nation about how they think health benefits will change in a rapidly evolving healthcare market. The study was conducted in June. Below are six survey findings. 1. Nationwide, only 14 percent of respondents said they believe hospital mergers will reduce the cost of healthcare. 2. About 39 percent of respondents predicted that hospital mergers will cause medical costs to rise. 3. About 61 percent of respondents said hospital consolidation is likely to improve the consistency of healthcare. 4. Sixty-four percent of respondents said hospital consolidation could lead to improved administrative efficiencies. 5. In terms of quality, about 41 percent of respondents said hospital mergers were likely to produce better clinical outcomes for patients. 6. The portion of large employers nationwide who are willing to make direct contracts with hospitals for one or all of their healthcare services is expected to jump from 5 percent to 24 percent in 2017. With risk-based models like bundled payments gaining speed, hospitals and health systems need to reexamine their cost cutting strategies and include physicians in cost containment conversations. "The business model of healthcare is changing," said Strata Decision Technology CEO Dan Michelson during a recent webinar hosted by Becker's Hospital Review. He illustrated the pace of change by zeroing in on the Medicare Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program and mandatory bundled payment programs to highlight how the healthcare landscape is shifting. The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program, established under the Affordable Care Act, is intended to encourage hospitals to provide high-quality care more efficiently by adjusting payments to hospitals based on the quality of care they provide. In fiscal year 2016, more than 1,800 hospitals will receive a positive payment adjustment under the program. CMS also implemented its first mandatory bundled payment initiative, the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model, in April. This is an attempt by CMS to reduce variation in costs for hip and knee replacements, since the average Medicare expenditure for surgery, hospitalization and recovery ranges from $16,500 to $33,000 across geographic areas. Under the payment model, acute care hospitals are held accountable for the quality of care they deliver to Medicare beneficiaries for hip and knee replacement from surgery through recovery. Depending on the hospital's quality and spending performance, the hospital may receive an additional payment from Medicare or be required to repay Medicare for a portion of the spending. In late July, CMS proposed a new mandatory bundled payment program for heart attacks and bypass surgeries that includes changes to the existing CJR model. Under these new payment models, reimbursement is linked to health outcomes, requiring hospitals and health systems to take a much closer look at quality and cost data to deliver more efficient care. Confusion around cost The conversation around cost is confusing, and it is hard to know what "value" actually means until that conversation is normalized, according to Mr. Michelson. The confusion around "cost" begins with its definition. When hospital leaders discuss costs, some refer to price, while others refer to charges or reimbursement. The first step to designing an effective cost containment strategy is arriving at a common definition of the term. Next, organizations need to ensure the cost information they're relying on is accurate. Mr. Michelson expanded on this point by sharing a cartoon of SpongeBob he saw on his daughter's Instagram account. SpongeBob and his friend Patrick, a starfish, stare at what appears to be thousands of mattresses. In the cartoon, SpongeBob says to Patrick, "Wow Patrick look at all of these mattresses! How many do you think there are?" Patrick replies, "Ten." SpongeBob responds, "Cool." The cartoon reminded Mr. Michelson of healthcare, because in the absence of accurate cost information, any number will do. However, without accurate information, systems will see their cost saving efforts fail. Including physicians in the cost conversation Although cost reduction has moved to the top of many organizations' priorities, a number of missteps can cause cost containment efforts to flounder. Advanced cost accounting software can help hospitals and health systems reach their cost reduction goals, but technology alone cannot render effective change without new ways of thinking. Hospital leaders who have been given the seemingly impossible task of improving quality with fewer resources must bring physicians into the loop, said Neel Shah, MD, an OB/GYN and founder and executive director of CostsOfCare.org, which curates and disseminates knowledge from patients and frontline clinicians to help health systems deliver better care at lower cost. "The way physicians are taught teaches us to be terrible stewards of resources," said Dr. Shah. However, he said people on the frontline, including physicians, have ideas for how to provide more affordable care. To highlight Dr. Shah's point, Mr. Michelson referenced a Health Affairs report, which revealed physicians control 80 percent of the spend in U.S. healthcare, but only one in five can correctly estimate the cost of common orthopedic devices. The study shows that systems can achieve savings when physicians are included in the cost conversation, as 80 percent of physicians said cost was a key criterion in the selection of a medical device. Yale-New Haven (Conn.) Health System, a long-time partner of Strata's, has seen its cost containment efforts succeed by including physicians in the conversation. "Our organization knew back in 2008 that we were going to have pressure on our revenue," said Stephen Allegretto, vice president of strategic analytics and financial planning at Yale-New Haven Health System. The system addressed the issue head on. After implementing an EMR and establishing a common definition of quality, Yale-New Haven implemented Strata's solution systemwide. The academic health system now uses quality value indicators (QVIs) to understand differences in cost based on negative quality outcomes. Through the use of QVIs and by including physicians in the cost conversation, Yale-New Haven has reduced spending by about $150 million, while improving the delivery of care its No. 1 priority. Learn more about advanced cost accounting and the new conversation on cost by clicking here. David S. Wagner has been appointed CEO of Pearland (Texas) Medical Center, effective Aug. 8. Here are five things to know about Mr. Wagner. 1. He has 29 years of hospital administration experience. 2. Most recently, Mr. Wagner served as the vice president of facilities management and support services at Tulsa, Okla.-based Saint Francis Health System since 2011. 3. His previous roles include vice president of Saint Francis Health System's home care and support services division, as well as administrator of CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital in Beeville, Texas. 4. He also served as the assistant executive director of General Health Services Corp. and administrator of patient care services at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas; and vice president of operations at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, Texas. 5. Mr. Wagner earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Texas A&M University in College Station and a master's degree in healthcare administration from Trinity University in San Antonio. More articles on executive moves: Cempra appoints new executive VP: 5 things to know Catholic Health Initiatives names new CMO: 4 things to know Northwestern Memorial HealthCare names new chief marketing executive Here are 30 hospitals that have received at least a $50,000 grant this yearmany have received millions. Contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com for additions, updates or questions about this list. Advocate Childrens Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill., received a $50,000 grant from Hyundai to help treat children diagnosed with cancer, according to a Chicago Tribune report. Several New York hospitals received grants from the Department of Health, including River Hospital, which received $2.7 million and Carthage Area Hospital which received $3 million. Lewis County General Hospital received $6.5 million for debt restructuring and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg received $14.3 million. Massena Memorial Hospital received $5.8 million to assist with a conversion from a municipally-owned hospital to a private, nonprofit facility, according to the Watertown Daily Times. Additional hospitals that received funding include: Moses Ludington Hospital in Ticonderoga: $9.1 million Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh: $5.5 million Hudson Headwaters Health Network in Queensbury: $2.9 million Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone: $450,000 Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake: $249,163 Citizen Advocates in Malone: $155,000 Union Hospital and University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health received a four-year $9.2 million grant from the Health Services Cost Review Commission to create four teams of caregivers to work with patients in their home and community. Napa Valley Hospital received a grant from The Doctors Company Foundation of $80,020 for a hands-on simulation education to increase neurological stroke assessment skills at Queens of the Valley Medical Center in Napa. St. Joseph Hospital in Polson received $99,023 to develop a Western Montana Rural Nursing Collaborative that will serve patients in rural areas. Acadia Hospital received $50,000 to expand access to suboxon in a pilot project that could be a model for other communities. Benson Hospital received $510,386 from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust for eCare for connecting rural patients to emergency and pharmacy services. Yale New Have (Conn.) Childrens Hospital received the $50,000 Impact Grant from Hyundai Impact Grant to help children with cancer. Valley Presbyterian Hospital received $250,000 from the Henry L. Guenther Foundation to fund an emergency department expansion. The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust in Winston-Salem granted Northern Hospital of Surry County $148,500 to fight diabetes with the expansion of the Diabetic Center of Excellence at Northern Family Medicine. Greenville, Ill.-based HSHS Holy Family Hospital received a $155,000 grant to provide upgraded telemedicine equipment. Miriam Hospital received a five-year federal grant for $743,869 to study media influence on risk behaviors for sexually active young adults and develop an online health media literacy intervention designed to reduce STDs and HIV. Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago received $75,000 from The Chicagoland Area Affiliate of Susan G. Komen to fund two breast cancer screening navigators. UniHealth Foundation granted Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital $795,000 to fund the hospitals Integrated Supportive Care, according to the LA Times. The grant will improve care chronically and seriously ill patient care. Nyack (N.Y.) Hospital received a $100,000 grant from the state to revamp the hospitals prenatal center. Golisano Childrens Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., received a $3.6 million grant to research pediatric asthma. The United States Department of Defense granted Rhode Island Hospital $2.2 million to research treatment that could prevent post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, Long Island, received a $23.7 million grant to fortify the facility against extreme weather. The grant was approved by FEMAs FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant. The Health Policy Commission awarded Signature Healthcare Brockton hospital a $3.5 million CHART Grant to implement new technology and improve patient services. Hacienda Childrens Hospital in Mesa, Ariz., received a $100,000 grant from the Board of Visitors. Drug companies Merck and Allergan have expressed interest in taking over biotechnology giant Biogen, The Wall Street Journal reports. People familiar with the matter told the publication that Merck and Allergan have each sounded out Biogen on a possible takeover. But they added that communications were informal and preliminary, and a deal may not come to fruition partly because Biogen may not be interested. Merck and Allergan may be looking at taking over Cambridge, Mass.-based Biogen for various reasons. For instance, The Wall Street Journal notes that Biogen shares have dropped from a high of nearly $500 they touched early in 2015, amid worries about its prospective growth. And the decline in Biogen stock may incentivize prospective suitors who also may see the company as vulnerable to a takeover because it is in flux, the report states. Biogen is searching for a new CEO and spinning off its hemophilia-drugs unit. According to The Wall Street Journal, Biogen's research in Alzheimer's disease and strength in multiple sclerosis would also make it attractive to Merck and Allergan. Biogen had a market value of $68 billion Tuesday afternoon. Boston-based Steward Health Care System has signed a contract with the union representing about 5,000 of its hospital workers, The Boston Globe reports. The contract, which runs from Nov. 1, 2016, to Oct. 31, 2019, maintains health benefits and offers non-clinical staff and hospital technicians a 5.5 percent raise over three years. This means workers at five Massachusetts-based Steward Hospitals Carney Hospital in Dorchester, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Norwood (Mass.) Hospital and Morton Hospital in Taunton will have a $15 per hour minimum wage by November 2018, according to the report. Steward workers are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. More articles on human capital and risk: Nathan Littauer Hospital to pay nurses back wages following January lockout Baptist Health South Florida offers buyouts to reduce workforce: 4 things to know Ocean Beach Hospital nurses to vote on tentative contract agreement Maryland's secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene went before a circuit court judge this week to defend his inaction in addressing the state's shortage of mental health beds, according to a report by The Baltimore Sun. Secretary Van Mitchell told Baltimore Circuit Judge Gale Rasin, "I just made a mistake. I didn't do it," according to the report. Mr. Mitchell said he should have pushed for additional state funds to help address the bed shortage, but due to a host of other issues, he simply did not have enough time to do it before the end of the General Assembly session in April, according to The Baltimore Sun. Mr. Mitchell and five other officials are being held in civil contempt as a result of their failure to carry out a court order to admit four criminal defendants to state mental health facilities within a reasonable timeline. The defendants are now in mental health facilities, but spent weeks in jail, according to the report. Mr. Mitchell also told the judge he created a working group to find solutions for the problem, according to the report. Read the full story here. More articles on population health: Population-based prevention credited for 15 year decline in heart attack rates for Kaiser members Trump suggests building wall along Mexican border to curb heroin addiction in US 'Smart thermometer' designed to help stop spread of disease at 2016 Olympics Robert Galler, DO, is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon who works for Maine Spine Surgery in the Mercy Hospital system in Portland, Maine. Dr. Galler has been an associate professor of neurosurgery and orthopedics at Stony Brook Medicine, in New York since 2013. His primary interest has been in neuro trauma, and his elective practice is in general neurosurgery with an emphasis on complex spine disorders. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. After Dr. Galler obtained his medical degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, he completed his residency at Northwell Health, formerly known as the North Shore-LIJ Health System, in New York. He had two fellowships in the field. One at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Dr. Galler was the director of the Spine Center at the Stony Brook Neurosciences Institute, where he oversaw research into spinal cord injury and biomechanics. He also has an interest in world health, and has traveled to Tanzania, Africa, on several locations to teach and participate in the development of neurosurgical practices. The China spinal fusion market is expected to register double digit growth over the next decade, according to Future Market Insights analysis. Here are five key trends: 1. Some major factors supporting the spinal fusion market growth in China are the increasing rate of aging population with spine-related diseases and injuries as well as Chinese residents' rising incomes. 2. The emergence of advanced technologies, such as minimal invasive surgery and enhanced implant materials, are allowing people of all age groups to receive fusion procedures, leading to further market growth. 3. Additionally, the price sensitive Chinese population is responsive to the treatment price that is anticipated to drop considerably due to the increasing market competition. 4. Factors restraining the China spinal fusion market include reimbursement cuts, heavy government regulations and surgical risk factors. 5. Some key players in the China spinal fusion market are Depuy Synthes, Zimmer Biomet, Medtronic, NuVasive, Stryker, Orthofix, B. Braun Aesculap, Trauson and Weigao Orthopaedic Device Company, which signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Amedica in April. To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below Trade and investment in agriculture have been identified as post-Brexit vote priorities for Northern Ireland farmers, it has been claimed. Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) president Barclay Bell said he was confident trade would continue with Europe, but added that the UFU would not wave a white flag in trade negotiations. Currently the UK is 60% self-sufficient in food, so 40% of our food has to be imported, he told the BBC. The Danes will want to continue to get their bacon on our supermarket shelves, Ireland will want to continue to get their beef and dairy products into our markets. When you look at the single market, the tariffs around it are actually pretty low, about 3% for manufactured goods, less than the exchange rate fluctuations that businesses are dealing with over the border. But food and farming are very, very different. The tariffs are set up around Europe deliberately to be protectionist, it is even worse for Ireland north and south because the tariffs are higher again in things we specialise in. The UFU didnt take an official stance on Brexit but Mr Bell previously told the Belfast Telegraph that Northern Ireland had too much to lose by voting to leave. First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness with Tullett Prebon group COO Luke Barnett at Invest NI headquarters in Belfast Belfast has overcome stiff competition from Singapore, Manila and Kuala Lumpur to land a major deal that will bring 300 well-paid jobs to the city. London financial services firm Tullett Prebon, which has 24 international bases, has already started recruiting, with all 300 posts for its new Belfast IT centre expected to be filled by 2018. It is believed the move will bring a 9.9m boost to the local economy, with staff earning an average salary of 33,000. Welcoming the news, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "Any day where you can announce 300 highly-paid jobs is a good one. But the future is obviously what I'm concerned about - that we can continue with that sort of success. "The big (thing) that overhangs everything that we do at the moment is the whole issue of uncertainty, particularly around the whole issue of Brexit. "We are dealing with a British Government that's trying to work out what its objective is going to be, and we are dealing with a European Union that is waiting to see what objectives the British Government is hoping to achieve, so that could last for several years. "As the word 'uncertainty' overhangs us, I'm concerned that it inhibits our ability to be full steam ahead in attracting foreign direct investors. Andrew Webb, from Webb Advisory, added that the Republic seemed to be gaining more from the uncertainty around Europe than Northern Ireland. "They have secured 115 projects and nearly 10,000 jobs since the start of the year, and seem on course to gain further from Brexit uncertainty," he explained. However, Luke Barnett, Tullett Prebon's chief operational officer, refused to be drawn on whether the EU referendum had cast any doubt upon the decision to set up a base here. He said the firm hoped to continue its growth in the next few years, and added that Northern Ireland's skillbase helped the region fend off competition from Singapore and Manila. The company has already begun the recruitment process for business analysts, software development engineers and project and quality assurance managers. First Minister Arlene Foster said: "We have a very strong reputation across the world now in the financial technology sector, with companies coming here to Northern Ireland for all of the right reasons." "I think it's the raw talent (which draws firms here). It's our young people, who are very talented, and the structures around that as well - the colleges, the universities and of course the Government departments all working in a flexible way so that when someone comes and says, 'I need so many IT professionals qualified in this sector', we can accommodate that. "There's been a lot of talk around the consequences of Brexit but, actually, the reality has been a little different. "There are challenges - and I'm not saying there aren't - but there are a lot of opportunities out there as well. "What we need to be doing is talking up Northern Ireland and how we can help it to grow in a higher market place. "We competed against places including Singapore, Manila and Kuala Lumpur to secure this investment. "I think this sends out a very strong message of confidence about what we can do here in Northern Ireland. People should not talk this region down, but instead should talk it up." Yesterday, Tullett Prebon said a fall in the value of sterling after Britain voted to leave the EU would have a positive impact on reported revenue. The company was offered more than 2m in support from Invest NI as part of the deal, which had been in the pipeline for around a year. The economic boost that the new jobs, for which the firm is already recruiting, are expected to generate for the Northern Ireland economy Lloyds Banking Group by far the worst affected by the PPI scandal said it was disappointed the deadline for PPI claims will not come into effect until June 2019 Banks are facing a further hefty hit from the payment protection insurance scandal after the City watchdog extended its proposed deadline for claims by more than a year. Consumers will have until June 2019 to claim compensation for mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) under plans outlined by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It had originally proposed a spring 2018 cut-off for claims. Shares in banking groups slumped into the red as the new deadline is set to escalate the total bill for the PPI scandal, which has already been the costliest yet for the financial services industry, at well over 30bn. One banking expert warned the extended deadline could see each bank have to set aside hundreds of millions of pounds more to cover claims. Lloyds Banking Group - by far the worst affected by the PPI scandal - said it was "disappointed" the deadline will not come into effect until June 2019. But it stressed its rate of complaints were falling rapidly and said it would not increase money set aside for PPI "at this stage", with 2bn of unused provisions. Shares in Ulster Bank owner, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Barclays dropped 3%, while Lloyds fell 2%. The FCA confirmed plans to launch a marketing campaign from next June, which will be funded by Britain's banks, to raise awareness of the 2019 deadline for claims to be submitted. It admitted the deadline is later than first expected and later than a number of banks wanted. But it said it gives time to prepare the marketing campaign and get plans in place for the deadline. FCA chief executive Andrew Bailey said that he hopes the cut-off will draw a line under the scandal. Discount supermarket giant Lidl has seen its sales her grow by 3.1% German supermarket giant Lidl is continuing to grab a bigger bite of the Northern Ireland market, with other smaller chains also increasing their portion. The discounter saw its sales increase by 3.1% in the 52 weeks to July 2016, according to the latest data from Kantar Worldpanel. Asda is also on the rise, with sales up 2.9%, according to the latest figures. But Lidl's increase in market share across Northern Ireland is beginning to slow. Despite the rise in sales, Lidl still only represents 5.1% of the total supermarket spend here. Tesco and Sainsbury's have continued to see small decreases in sales, however, both remain a large presence in the overall grocery market. Tesco has just over a third of the total spend in Northern Ireland, with Sainsbury's and Asda both on 17.6%. Speaking about Lidl, retail analyst Donald McFetridge said part of its hard sell is "continuing to offer quality products at affordable prices". "When Lidl set up retail operations and opened stores in Northern Ireland no-one had any idea of how rapid their growth would turn out to be," he said. It currently has 38 stores across Northern Ireland. "Lidl quietly opened stores in locations which were of little interest to the British multiples and, although their outlets are much smaller than those required by the major supermarket groups, they very quickly established a niche in the marketplace for consumers keen to shop at lower prices in 'no-frills' outlets," Mr McFetridge added. "Consumers these days have learned that they don't have to sacrifice quality when they go shopping at discount outlets. "There are clearly lessons here for the multiples who are still struggling to grow market share as they continue to try to outstrip each other by competing on price alone. Meanwhile, the cost of a basket of groceries across the UK increased by 1% in July, according to the mySupermarket website. Fears are growing the the construction sector will be hit by Brexit The construction sector here will face the impact of Brexit along with other issues which must be tackled "to ensure the viability of the industry". John Armstrong, managing director of the Construction Employers Federation (CEF), was speaking about the industry here as the latest UK-wide statistics saw the sector experience its fastest fall since June 2009 as it came under pressure from economic uncertainty sparked by Britain's vote to leave the EU. The Markit/CIPS construction purchasing managers' index (PMI) was 45.9 in July, down slightly from 46. A result of 50 indicates growth. The report said the drop was driven by the steepest fall in the commercial building sector for more than six years, while civil engineering activity tumbled for the first time in 2016. Mr Armstrong said: "The July PMI reaffirms the clear soundings we have been taking from the bulk of our membership in recent months. The run-up to the EU referendum, followed by its outcome, has led to a renewed and unwelcome period of uncertainty for the construction industry across the UK. "These figures come after the publication last week of the Q2 GDP data which showed a second successive quarter of decline, thus entering the industry into technical recession. "Even for the modest return to growth of the last three years, margins have remained incredibly tight and workloads comparably low. "Notwithstanding the impact of Brexit, there are significant sustainability issues at play within the local construction industry - issues which we must get to grips with to, frankly, ensure the viability of the industry in the near to medium term - from delivering the confidence critical infrastructure pipeline of the Northern Ireland Executive, to creating the conditions the industry needs to grow housebuilding to identified demand levels," he added. Dazzling designs: David Emanuel is bringing his expertise to television with Say Yes To The Dress It's been 35 years since the late Lady Diana Spencer wed Charles, the Prince of Wales, and few have fonder memories of the 1981 nuptials than the bride's acclaimed wedding dress designer, David Emanuel. "She was delinquent, delicious, wonderful, real and adorable," he gushes of the "people's princess", whose iconic ivory silk gown - complete with a 25ft train - was admired worldwide. "She was simply young and fresh, and I wanted the dress to reflect that, but at the same time, she was going in as Lady Diana Spencer and coming out as the Princess of Wales. "Every girl in the country had a vision of what a princess should look like, and of course the location - St Paul's Cathedral - was very grand," 63-year-old Emanuel continues, eyes lighting up, pushing back his trademark tangle of white hair as he speaks. "So if you did a subtle little number, it's not going to work to an audience of 700 billion people. "As long as she was happy, I was happy," he adds. "It was a pleasure to do." More than three decades on, he is clearly still proud of his role in Diana's historic big day, and has very fond memories - it's understandable he found news of her shock death, in 1997, difficult: "I was very upset, because she was so full of life and fun." In 2006, A Dress For Diana - the book he penned with his now ex-wife Elizabeth Emanuel, with whom he has two children and who co-designed Diana's dress - was published, revealing their own magical version of the story. "It was almost like a passport," he says, referring to the travel opportunities and famous women - Dame Shirley Bassey, Madonna and Dame Elizabeth Taylor - he's dressed as a result of his profile being boosted by the royal assignment. "And people have always said lovely things. It's gone down in history - the gown, Diana, everything." So what did he think about the 2011 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge? "I have to say, I thought Catherine looked lovely," he begins. "Talking about confidence, when she got out of that car, you knew she had confidence because she waited - did you notice that?" he continues enthusiastically. "She was waiting to go down, she waited until she was ready, and she took control." But he's hesitant to comment on the Duchess' sister's big day (Pippa Middleton recently announced her engagement to hedge-fund millionaire James Matthews), instructing that "you should never compare two brides, or two women. Ever". "She is very different (to Kate). I personally would put Pippa in something very soft, perhaps chiffon, with a train, because it's dramatic. Possibly a little lace bodice, soft and fluid; she's got a great shape. "As long as it's the complete opposite of the Duchess of Cambridge's dress, then she stands a chance," he adds. "She's not a royal; she's not going to be a royal, and that's all I'm saying." Unafraid to speak his mind and a master of his trade, it's little surprise Emanuel is set to shine as the leading man on TLC's upcoming British version of the popular US wedding series, Say Yes To The Dress. "I'd seen the show in the States and I thought, 'How is this going to work here in the UK?' And I have to say, its better as it's more real. It's not just about money; it's about people. The frocks are the frocks, but behind all the frocks there's a real story, and the story is the people and the journey." That said, a few things made him pause for thought, he admits. "One of the things that threw me completely, however, was the lack of confidence among the brides. I could never understand it; why you would need five or six people to buy a wedding dress? But I realised these girls lacked confidence and were asking the mothers and their aunties," he says. "Diana, she came in alone, and we talked through it and tried on some pieces before she very sweetly asked, 'Would you mind if I bring my mother in?'" he reveals. "And these girls are coming in with an entourage. It's just extraordinary to me." But despite plenty of on-screen drama, from squabbling parents to a secret tattoo reveal, there's only one person that really matters - and that's the blushing bride-to-be. "Whenever we film, I remind them, 'You're the star of the show, you come with me and I will help you look ravishing and beautiful, but don't be bullied'." And while Emanuel has "enough patience for the entire world", the flamboyant presenter draws the line at diva demands, teasing that "the celebrities I dress have to behave - there's no nonsense with me. They get lectured if not." As for bridezillas, he puts the term down to lack of confidence and insecurities: "I'm looking at a young woman, this is going to be the most important day of her life, hopefully, and all she wants is the support of her family and friends around her. So no, I don't deal with bridezillas." And neither should the Welsh-born designer, who battled an aggressive form of prostate cancer back in 2012, have to. "It's almost like I've been given a second chance," he confesses of his desire to live life to the full following his brush with the disease. "It sounds rather heavy that we take life for granted, but we do. "Cancer makes you think, 'Wake up, live'. So when the next challenge came along, which was going into the jungle (Emanuel was runner-up to Westlife's Kian Egan in the 2013 series of I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!), I thought, 'Wait, I am going to do this'. "My world stopped for a while, but it's good to have challenges and push yourself. And something remarkable happened in there: I learnt it's mind over matter." But don't expect to see the chirpy host on similar reality TV formats any time soon - although he confesses he quite fancies the idea of Strictly Come Dancing. "I'm certainly not going to be hopping from one reality show to the next," he finishes. "I achieved what I set out to do, I survived, and that's it." BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - AUGUST 1: A man draped in a rainbow flag watches as religious protestors demonstrate against homosexuality while thousands of participants and supporters take part in the 25th annual Belfast Pride parade on August 1, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Same-sex marriage whilst legal in the United Kingdom is still not recognised in Northern Ireland despite repeated votes on the issue. The governing Northern Ireland Executive has stated that it does not intend to introduce legislation allowing for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images When Jennifer Aniston recently shone the spotlight on the body-shaming female celebrities experience in an astute Huffington Post essay, the world responded with blog posts, TV discussions and a flurry of support from fellow actors. And among those in Jen's corner was Bryce Dallas Howard. Growing up in the business, with Happy Days star and Da Vinci Code, Rush and A Beautiful Mind director Ron Howard as a father, she believes the retort penned by Aniston, who has been dogged with pregnancy rumours and constant analysis of her body shape, was long overdue. "Jen approached that essay with such grace and wisdom and courage," says Howard, known for her performances in films like Jurassic World and The Help. "Often, people will say about celebrities, 'We don't want to hear it', but she had something to say that wasn't just about being someone who's in the public eye. "It was about women, but also just about humans in general and how we interact with one another, and the ways in which judgement can affect a person. I felt she really took a stand for people taking a responsibility for their own words and the things they put out there. What she did was really important." At just 35, Howard is already an old hand in the industry, fully versed in the changes going on behind and in front of the camera. Though, her parents (her mum is author Cheryl Howard), were initially reluctant for her and her three younger siblings to become actors, they eventually relented, allowing their eldest daughter to play a tiny un-credited role in her dad's 1989 comedy Parenthood. Howard visited her father's film sets during school holidays, and as soon as she was old enough, trained at NYU's Tisch School Of The Arts, where she met her future husband Seth Gabel, later to be recognised for his roles in The Da Vinci Code and US TV series Fringe. Being part of a famous family - her grandfather Rance Howard and late grandmother Jean Speegle Howard were both actors, while uncle Clint Howard starred in Apollo 13 and her younger sister Paige works as a TV actress - could be a hindrance, with accusations of nepotism never too far away, but she has a different view. "Honestly, I've pretty much only experienced really positive things," says the star, who shares her famous dad's trademark friendly grin and auburn hair. "Obviously, it's a great help when you ask your parents for advice about the work you're doing and they can give you a well-informed answer. "Also, my parents were very supportive of me," she adds. "They didn't say, 'Get a real job'. They did say, 'Listen, you're going to have to get real jobs to make a living but, of course, we're fully supportive of you doing this'. "Having parents like that makes all the difference." Now a mum herself, Howard is confident her next film, Pete's Dragon, will charm her nine-year-old son Theodore and four-year-old daughter Beatrice. A remake of the 1977 part-animated, part-live-action Disney film starring Mickey Rooney and Shelley Winters, Howard plays forest ranger Grace, the daughter of wood carver Mr Meacham (Robert Redford). Grace becomes acquainted with a mysterious 10-year-old called Pete (played by Oakes Fegley) who lives in the woods she works in and, in a striking resemblance to the stories her father used to tell, claims to live with a green dragon called Elliot. It's a story Howard grew up with. "Pete's Dragon was one of my favourite films as a child," recalls the actress, sporting a chic leopard print blouse and smart black trousers. "One of my earliest memories of watching a movie is watching Pete's Dragon. There's something singular about that film ... I don't know what it is, but it immediately touches the inner child in me." So did she have any reservations about signing up for a remake of such a well-loved story? "I was really curious," she states. "I wanted to read the script. I was like, 'What are they going to do?' and when I read it, I was so moved. "This story largely feels very original. It definitely has the same central characters as Pete and Elliot, and obviously it has the same title, and some of the themes, but other than that, it's a very original, magical story that I wasn't expecting." Former Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan denied bullying Gary Busey during his time on Celebrity Big Brother as he defended the current housemates over accusations of bullying. Jordan was told off by Big Brother for his treatment of actor Busey, 72, which included threatening to punch him after he said a gay slur, when they both appeared on the show in 2014. Speaking on ITV's This Morning, the 38-year-old acknowledged he had been a "controversial character" but said, "everything I did I can justify". He said: " I never bullied anyone...Gary was ostracised when he was in the house and I was probably the only person who made time for him. I even showered the guy. "He was scary. But if he did something that was wrong, like push women out the way, I would sit him down and tell him off, but because he was that much older, it comes across as maybe patronising to an older man, but I never bullied him." He joined former housemate Chloe Goodman and hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford to discuss this year's show, in which Geordie Shore star Marnie Simpson has been accused of bullying Loose Women panellist Saira Khan by exposing her breasts to her after a row. Jordan accused Khan of being "condescending" and said Simpson's actions could not be justified, but he disagreed they went as far as bullying. "She (Simpson) took it a step too far, it was totally unnecessary but can you call it bullying? No, it's not bullying. That word is flippantly thrown around. Bullying is a continuous, repeated taunt of someone." Discussing the situation in which DJ James Whale threw coffee over the head of Ex on the Beach star Stephen Bear, who then retaliated with sugar and milk, Jordan said that if either of them could be described as a bully so could Khan. He said: "I don't think throwing something over someone's head is being a bully, unless it's a repeated thing. "When Marnie went up to Saira and shook her boobs in her face, I think Saira dealt with it very well, she wasn't playing a victim. There has to be a victim and it has to be repeated." Langsford said she liked her Loose Women co-star Khan but could " understand how some people think the way she is could be irritating". She claimed that Simpson's flashing could actually have "helped" her because "immediately (there was) sympathy, and Saira was very dignified, she just looked away". Pure agony: Jasper Allen hit the headlines after he spent five days in hospital with chicken pox after being turned away by a GP Pure agony: Jasper Allen hit the headlines after he spent five days in hospital with chicken pox after being turned away by a GP Catching chickenpox was a rite of passage when I was a child, and if you've had them, you'll remember. If you're unfortunate, like my mother, you will have caught them twice. And, if you're incredibly unlucky, your child will break out 10 days before you are due to fly off on your holidays. Yes, my daughter has the pox, and it's been a hell of a week. The virus is unusual as a person starts to become contagious two days before the spots appear making it initially impossible to know if someone has it. I was aware of an outbreak among some friends she had been in contact with recently, who have since had the blisters, but, mindful of our holiday, I had everything crossed that we would dodge them. No such luck. The dreaded words "Mammy, I'm itchy" started on Tuesday evening as I was reading her bedtime story. I checked for any sign of spots, and was very relieved that she was clear. My heart sank on Wednesday morning, however, as my worst fears were confirmed. She had a few fluid filled blisters on her face and back, and I was not amused. My first port of call was my mother. My second was my laptop. Both confirmed my diagnosis. Browsing the internet is generally not advisable if you're ill, lest you convince yourself that a common cold is really pneumonia, but it is very useful if checking symptoms for your charge. The internet was full of pox pictures, and advice from other parents who had gone through the experience; and I discovered quickly that giving anti-inflammatory medication like Nurofen to someone with chickenpox can be harmful, which probably saved my daughter from becoming much worse. I packed myself off to the pharmacy, where I bought different types of cooling gels, and went through the trial and error process to see which was the most effective. By Wednesday afternoon, her three spots had turned to 10, and I thought: "Well if this is as bad as it gets, we'll be fine." I couldn't have been more wrong. As the virus progressed, and her spots came out by the hour, I was grateful to well-meaning friends for sharing their experiences with me, and picked up a few tips. Paracetamol, gel and oral antihistamine worked well in the first few days, dulling the itch, and has proven to be quite effective with friend's children. Though, like any illness, there is no 'one size fits all' approach. One person told me to use baking soda, finding it quite useful for drying spots, another told me under no circumstances to use it, as it had only made hers worse. A few swore by oatmeal baths, while some had a particular cream of choice. Chickenpox is a notifiable illness in Northern Ireland, meaning that if a GP is aware of a case, they must notify the local authority. Conscious that it's highly contagious, and can be dangerous for pregnant women, among others, I knew we'd be stuck in for a few days, but I had forgotten how hard it can be to keep a small child entertained constantly. While Saorlaith's viral fever continued, I caught cabin fever. I gave up on keeping the house tidy, as every puzzle and game was produced in an effort to distract from the itch. Roald Dahl's books were a godsend to read a few chapters aloud at night-time, and even nail varnish (a rare treat in our house) was wheeled out to keep her interested. I put socks on her hands to stop her nails infecting the blisters, and marvelled at the novel ways a child can find to scratch without breaking the "don't put your hands near your spots" instruction. She stood like Baloo the bear in The Jungle Book, rubbing her back up and down the wall before I realised what she was doing, came over for cuddles to rub her face on my shoulder, and even lifted my own hand at one point to rub on her belly to dull the itch. "Talk about thinking outside the pox," I thought to myself. A sick child I can deal with. Wall to wall cartoons not so much. We watched The Wizard of Oz and Frozen so many times I could recite them backwards. By Thursday, I had given up on trying to do anything else, and entered into the spirit of singing Let it Go with Itchy Mc Scratchy for the umpteenth time. By Thursday evening, though, not even Anna and Elsa could rouse interest, as the spots began to multiply. One friend had advised me that all of her child's pox appeared in the first 24 hours. Saorlaith's showed no signs of stopping. Friday morning was a disaster. My little spotty daughter caught sight of herself in the mirror and recoiled. Feeling awful, I tried everything to cheer her up. I let her dab cream on my face, so she wouldn't feel too bad about her own spots. We looked quite the picture, and it was good fun, until the postman arrived at the door. I did what any woman with pink cream all over their face would do, and hid in the kitchen. By the evening I was seeing red dots everywhere, and, as discomfort turned to pain and tears in the middle of the night, I began to worry that this was not a routine case of pox, but a pretty bad dose. I spent the night looking over her as she moaned in her sleep, and watched in horror as hundreds of spots turned into huge, angry blisters in front of my eyes. Literally everywhere, including the soles of her feet, was covered with a mass of angry red pustules, and she looked horrendous. On Saturday, when swallowing became painful and she could no longer cuddle, I called the out-of-hours doctor who agreed to see her straight away. The doctor confirmed it was severe, and prescribed strong anti-viral medication, normally only given to children with compromised immune systems. I have no doubt that had it been left any longer, she would be in hospital now, so I'm thankful to the GP for having the presence of mind to request to see her. Others have not been so lucky, according to reports this week of GP surgeries in England turning children away, who were later hospitalised. Most cases of chickenpox are mild, and children recover in time, but a few will require medical treatment. The NHS advises parents to call the doctor if the virus is not improving, the patient has a severe headache or constant vomiting, problems breathing, or red, warm or sore skin. Their site online has other good advice. My daughter is definitely turning a corner, and we may just have a chance of making our holiday if my GP is happy that she's fit to fly. If not, it will be disappointing but not the end of the world. She's been very unlucky with her reaction to the virus, but it could have been worse. So, for now, there is nothing else for it but to put our feet up and wait. Those cartoons won't watch themselves, you know. Belfast coroner's court heard Stephen McKnight suffered catastrophic injuries when his aircraft nose-dived from about 100ft at Newtownards Airport last April A former police officer killed when his light aircraft crashed in Northern Ireland last year was a good, safe and meticulous pilot, a coroner's court has been told. Stephen McKnight suffered catastrophic chest injuries when the two-seater microlight nose-dived from about 100ft at Newtownards Airport in Co Down last April. An inquest in Belfast heard how the 55-year-old father-of-two was probably incapacitated by an undetected heart problem which could have struck at any time. Coroner Joe McCrisken said: "I am satisfied to the required standards that Mr McKnight was unconscious when the plane made the move to the left due to his heart disease, and that the unconsciousness resulted in the crash and injuries which caused his death." He added: "In the words of the accident investigators, Mr McKnight was a good, safe and meticulous pilot who took flying seriously. I echo all those sentiments. "Stephen's undetected heart disease could not have been known to anyone." According to a post-mortem examination, Mr McKnight's aorta was torn in four places - a fatal injury resulting from the impact of the collision. He also sustained multiple fractures to his limbs and ribs. Dr James Lyness, deputy state pathologist for Northern Ireland, said the pilot had an unusually enlarged heart and degenerative narrowing of the arteries. Microscopic analysis found the early signs of a blood clot which could have caused debilitating angina-type symptoms mid-air, the court heard. Dr Lyness said: "Had this man been walking down the street and dropped dead there would have been no question, I would have been able to say that he died of a heart attack." Mr McKnight, from Hillsborough, Co Down, had been working as driving instructor at the time of his death. He held a full pilot's licence and had taken up the hobby after being given flying lessons as a retirement gift from his two sons Gavin, 30, and Michael, 32, five years earlier. On the morning of April 7, 2015, he had been building up flying hours, in line with the licence renewal conditions, and was practising circuits. Weather conditions were described as excellent, with little wind or cloud. In a report, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said Mr McKnight may have been incapacitated by a sudden medical event after a Royal Airforce pathologist tasked to review the case found he had considerable enlargement of the heart and moderate degenerative narrowing of the arteries which could have caused "distracting symptoms". Eyewitnesses also described how no attempts were made to recover the plane when it dropped. In a statement read to the court, Ulster Flying Club member James Dunlop recalled seeing the aircraft nose-dive at about 80mph or 90mph, hitting ground within 20 seconds. John Hughes, a trustee of the Newtownards Microlight Group, said the microlight was well maintained and had new propeller blades fitted just two weeks before the crash. The inquest heard that the day before his death, Mr McKnight had flown his wife Rosalind over the Ards Peninsula in the plane which he co-owned with a group of friends. Choking back tears, she recalled: "He was a very careful person. "I was up the day before with him and I enjoyed it. It was a really, really good day. "We were up for a couple of hours; flew over Portaferry and then along the coast, through the mountains, then back to the airfield." In his findings, the coroner concluded: " It is deeply tragic for the family that it happened while he was in a plane. But he was doing something that he loved when that happened. "I would like to express my condolences on the tragic death of a good man. "He was a good husband, a good father, a good pilot and a good police officer." Mr McCrisken also praised the actions of the airport staff and emergency services, whom he said were swiftly on the scene, as well as the efforts of medics at the Ulster Hospital. Afterwards, Mr McKnight's widow paid tribute to her husband of 32 years. She said: "He was kind, generous and thoughtful, meticulous and the love of my life. He was there for everybody. "I was so proud of him, he was amazing. He was a big presence and he will be greatly missed. "We take some comfort from the fact that when he died, he was doing something he loved, and that he was doing something for himself - because he was always doing things for other people. "We also take comfort from hearing that he did not suffer." Police officers on patrol in Belfast say the city centre begging problem is getting out of control, and handing over money is just fuelling the issue. File image Police officers in Belfast have urged the introduction of begging-free zones in the city centre. Shoppers and tourists are unwittingly funding serious alcohol and drug problems by handing over their spare change to beggars, they warned. In one case, it is understood that a repeat offender with an alcohol problem is making up to 170 a day 'busking'. A young woman is also said to be funding her 125-a-day heroin habit through begging. A number of officers said the problem was getting "out of control" and warned they did not have the resources to tackle it. "I would just advise people not to give beggars their spare change," one added. "This is making the problem worse. "I am aware of a young woman who spends 125 to 130 a day on heroin. Her drug habit is funded by shoppers who think they are helping her. "She smokes heroin at this stage, but it's only a matter of time before she's injecting. "I'm aware of a 'busker' who earns 170 a day in Belfast. He's got quite a record and that money goes towards alcohol." Another officer claimed that the situation was spiralling "out of control" with "a beggar at every cash point". "We do sometimes do clean-up operations, but the resources aren't there to deal with it every day," he explained. "Some can be quite aggressive in asking for money, so people feel frightened into giving. "To my knowledge, not one single person on the streets in Belfast does not have the option of a hostel or shelter, unless they've been excluded for reasons of violence. Another police officer added: "A banning order or exclusion zone would certainly clean up the city centre. "At the moment, our hands are tied as begging is a fairly minor offence, and it can take a crew a few hours to deal with an arrest when there are other more pressing matters to attend to." Exclusion or dispersal zones have at times been introduced in other cities across the UK. In London, the measure is brought in on a temporary basis to target begging, street gambling, rough sleeping and other forms of anti-social behaviour. Belfast councillor Jim Rodgers said he believed that a similar approach should be trialled in the city centre. He said: "Begging has become a really big problem in the city, so some sort of an exclusion zone is worth looking at, even on a trial basis, to see if it helps. "Street begging takes away from the look of the city. We have increasing tourism in Belfast - in fact, before the year is out, we will have had 80 cruise ship visits. "With so many beggars on the streets, it gives a very bad impression to tourists. Exclusion zones could be a good deterrent. I'm not saying it is the only answer to the problem, but it is worth examining." In April, a family visiting Belfast from England said their trip was ruined by aggressive beggars on the street. Steve Beattie, who is originally from east Belfast, made the Easter holiday trip from Newcastle-upon-Tyne with his two young sons. After his experience, he claimed he would think twice about coming back to his home city due to the "aggressive behaviour of foreign individuals begging on the streets". Mr Beattie also claimed other guests staying at his hotel had reported similar incidents. "I thought, 'This isn't the Belfast I remember'," he explained. "It certainly would put me off coming back to Belfast, especially with children." Last year, the number of beggars in the city centre increased in the run-up to Christmas, with an influx of foreign nationals arriving solely to beg, according to the PSNI. The Policing Board was told that during the holiday period, 126 foreign nationals came to the attention of police in Belfast city centre for begging. None of them were homeless. According to Chief Constable George Hamilton, they stayed in multiple occupancy housing before returning to their home country after the holidays. Police statistics showed that from October to December last year, 146 people were reported to police for begging in the city centre. Twenty were local people, four of whom were homeless. The remaining 126 were foreign nationals. The drugs, with an estimated street value of 5,000, are believed to have been sent from Canada, she added. Cannabis worth 5,000 was sent to Northern Ireland from Canada hidden inside a children's board game, the High Court heard. Prosecutors also claimed the drug seizure made at a courier service depot in Co Antrim last week may be linked to wider smuggling attempts. Details emerged as a man allegedly linked to the parcel mounted an application for bail on Wednesday. Graham Hayden, a 23-year-old said to be from the Tallaght area of Dublin, faces charges of importing cannabis and attempted possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply. Police seized a package from the UPS depot in Mallusk, just outside north Belfast, after being alerted on July 27. Kate McKay, prosecuting, revealed: "It contained a children's board game and concealed within it was 500g of suspected cannabis." The drugs, with an estimated street value of 5,000, are believed to have been sent from Canada, she added. Hayden and a female co-accused were arrested after officers were alerted to man and woman arriving at the UPS premises in a car. A torn delivery docket, 4,700 euros and two phones were recovered from the vehicle, the court heard. Mrs McKay claimed the evidence indicated an operation involving potentially other packages. Another parcel confiscated by the National Crime Agency in London is also allegedly linked, according to the prosecutor. Aaron Thompson, defending, said his client's parents had travelled from Kildare for the court hearing in a state of astonishment. "They have been very shocked with some of the points raised in relation to the investigation, they are astounded by that," he told the court. Mr Justice Colton suggested efforts should be made to locate a potential bail address for Hayden in Northern Ireland. Adjourning the application, the judge made clear he had reached no decision on whether the accused can be released from custody. Police have uncovered drugs in a Belfast city centre apartment. Officers uncovered cannabis plants with a street value of around 25,000 and a quantity of herbal cannabis at the Custom House Square address on Tuesday. A 32-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of a number of drugs related offences at a separate address in the north of the city. She was later released on police bail pending further enquiries. A police spokesman said: This search and arrest come as part of a follow up operation to the seizure of cannabis in Carrickfergus in December 2015. "Our enquiries are continuing and I would appeal to anyone with any information about the use or supply of illegal drugs to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. A transgender woman who was a male member of the Orange Order has told of her dream to rejoin the organisation in its female lodges. When she was a man, Adrianne protested against Belfast's annual Gay Pride parade in 2005. She was also a member of the Orange Order. But it was during that protest she made eye contact with a young gay man and in that moment decided to accept who she really was. And now, she has dreams of again wearing the sash, only for a women's lodge. Although she feels it may be too soon for the devout Christian organisation to accept a member from the LGBT community. Adrianne told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: "I just thought, 'what am I doing here? Why am I protesting against them? They're just human beings like me' "I knew at that moment that I had to start living as a woman." Adrianne first began to question her gender in primary school growing up in Liverpool. But she concealed how she was feeling and in a bid to hide them further, in her mid 30s she made her way to Northern Ireland. She found the Rev Ian Paisley's Free Presbyterian church where she hoped by filling her life with activities in the church, it would take her mind off her transgender feelings. "My theory was like the plant analogy. If you don't water it, it will die. So if you don't give the transgenderism a thought then you can't dwell on it and it'll go away." However, around four years ago she began the formal transition process "I felt like an actress playing a male part. Although I had come to like the person I was playing, it was still acting." Since her transition she has moved to a new church and resigned from the Orange Order. Adrianne has since married her partner, who is also transgender. She added: "I feel marginalised. I don't feel like I belong in the LGBT community, because of my history and my political beliefs. "Conversely, I no longer feel part of the evangelical, conservative, Protestant community. The nature of what I'm doing excludes me from that social sphere." She says that she would like to have been given the opportunity to rejoin the Orange Order in the women's lodges. "I don't know if it would ever really be possible [for a transgender woman to join]. "Maybe in future I think it would be possible, but maybe that's something for another generation. "It would be wonderful if they did. You have to challenge the status quo, preconceptions and prejudices to move on." Lord Lang said the immunities provided for the commission "have implications for the constitutional right of access to court" A parliamentary committee including the former senior judge in England and Wales has warned that giving a Northern Ireland paramilitary watchdog immunity from legal challenge encroaches on a fundamental right. The Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) is to be established by the British and Irish governments to report on continued republican and loyalist paramilitary activity. Earlier this year dissident republicans opposed to the peace process killed a prison officer in a bomb attack and police have said they are investigating if an explosive device found in Lisburn on Saturday had fallen from a vehicle. Immunity is intended to protect the IRC from legal challenge by those it reports on. Former Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales Lord Judge sits on an influential House of Lords Committee which raised concern, saying : "The right of access to court is a fundamental common law constitutional right. "The immunity from suit conferred on the commission by Clause 3 clearly represents a major inroad into that right." Proposals for the commission were part of last year's Fresh Start deal between the Democratic Unionists, Sinn Fein, and the British and Irish governments, which averted a return to direct rule of Northern Ireland from London amid a crisis over the IRA. Last year Northern Ireland's senior police officer George Hamilton said the Provisional IRA still existed after a murder was linked to its members. The new IRC will be charged with holding the UK Government, Northern Ireland Executive and Irish government to account. The Lords committee is chaired by former Conservative Scotland secretary Baron Ian Lang, and it examined the Northern Ireland (Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan) Bill, which became law in May. The legislation implements key Government commitments under the Fresh Start Agreement. Lord Lang wrote: "By extending a very wide immunity subject only to a purely discretionary waiver, the Bill therefore makes possible the exercise of the right of access to court in respect of the commission only in circumstances that the commission is prepared to accept. "The immunities provided for the commission have implications for the constitutional right of access to court." Lord Dunlop, spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) in the Upper Chamber, said the IRC was to report annually on progress towards ending paramilitary activity connected with Northern Ireland. "It is considered that the immunities and privileges are necessary to ensure that the IRC is able to fulfil its functions. "In particular, they are not only directed at the need to secure the independence of the IRC from the sponsoring governments but also to ensure that the body cannot be subject to legal challenge by those who may be the subject of its reports." The Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC), which considered the paramilitary ceasefires between 2004 and 2011, also enjoyed immunity from legal challenge. Police have appealed for information on the assault outside the Donegall Place fast food outlet A bomb which closed a busy shopping area in Northern Ireland was targeting a person, police said. Detectives are investigating if the device found in Lisburn on July 30 had fallen from a vehicle. Reports have suggested it may have been aimed at a member of the security forces. PSNI detective chief inspector Alison Rowland said: "Extensive enquiries are ongoing and as yet we have been unable to identify how this device was in Market Place but we believe the target was an individual rather than a location." A controlled explosion was carried out on the object and it was removed for examination during a security alert which lasted several hours and forced the evacuation of businesses. A vehicle was later seized in the Lagmore area of west Belfast. Police appealed for the drivers of four cars in the area, a grey BMW X3 or X5, b lue Ford Focus, g rey Vauxhall Astra or s ilver Suzuki jeep, to contact them. Expand Close Police and ATO carry out an operation in the Lagmore area of west Belfast after they tracked down a car in which they believe a viable device fell from in Lisburn City Centre earlier that day. ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police and ATO carry out an operation in the Lagmore area of west Belfast after they tracked down a car in which they believe a viable device fell from in Lisburn City Centre earlier that day. ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Up to 50 men took over a north Belfast housing estate in a sinister "UVF show of strength" as several police officers looked on, it has been claimed. Residents were left terrified when the loyalist mob, some wearing hoods and balaclavas, marched along the Shore Road and into the Shore Crescent estate at 9.30pm on Monday. They then stood in a square in the estate for some time in a bid to intimidate a number of local residents before pulling out. None of the mob are believed to have been armed. It is understood the so-called show of strength relates to a feud between the UVF in Mount Vernon and the UDA in Shore Crescent. A top UDA man in north Belfast is understood to have been beaten with iron bars by a UVF gang at the weekend. Residents in Shore Crescent have criticised police for not taking any action against the mob. "There were about four police Land Rovers that I could see and they watched the whole thing but didn't do anything about it. It was a joke," one resident said. "What's going to stop that lot coming back again to intimidate our area? Elderly people and kids live here, too. "They shouldn't have to put up with this sort of thing. None of us should. Yet the police just seemed not to be bothered," he added. The PSNI said they received reports of a large group gathering in the Shore Crescent area of north Belfast shortly after 9.30pm on Monday night. Inspector Kelly Moore said: "Police attended the area and maintained a presence until the crowd dispersed. There were no reports of any offences and no complaints were made to police." However, Raymond McCord, whose son was murdered by the UVF, hit out at police for not making arrests. "This mob put a whole estate in fear. Women were coming out panicking. They took over the Shore Road as they marched down there and back and yet not a thing was done about it. "And where are the politicians who claim to represent the unionist people? Why have none of them condemned this? The unionist community are fed up with this," he added. It is understood that UVF members from New Mossley and Rathcoole came to support the Mount Vernon UVF in the show of strength. They gathered at the Crusaders Club in north Belfast before marching along the Shore Road to Shore Crescent. "This is about the UVF wanting control of north Belfast. They are nothing but thugs. This show of strength was them telling the UDA and others that they control the area," a loyalist source said. Police have previously come under fire for failing to stop shows of strength by dissident republicans. Have you ever wished you could get a Starbucks coffee without the hassle of getting out of your car? Well soon you will be able to as Connswater has signed a deal with coffee house chain Starbucks that will see the company open its first ever drive-through store in Northern Ireland. The 3,300 sq. ft. store in the east Belfast retail park will open before the end of this year, with construction expected to begin in early October, subject to planning permission. The news comes as Connswater owner Killultagh Estates confirmed that it intends to invest 200,000 in a transformational landscaping project which will result in significant improvements being made to the connectivity from the Retail Park to the Shopping Centre in conjunction with the Belfast City Councils Greenway Project. The landscaping project, which is also subject to planning approval, is due to be completed by January 2017. Its completion will coincide with the opening of grocery retailer Lidls multi-million pound expansion at its store in Connswater, which is also scheduled to open in late January. Laura McCarthy, asset manager for Killultagh, said: The decision by Starbucks to choose Connswater as its first location in Northern Ireland for a drive-through store demonstrates the confidence that retailers have in the scheme and its strategic location in east Belfast. We are also looking forward to the opening of Lidls new 23,000 sq. ft. expanded store early in the New Year. With such positive activity taking place we believe that now is the right time to invest in the wider project and to connect our Centre to the work that Belfast City Council is doing as part of the Connswater Community Greenway, with a new urban walk way and pedestrian crossing. We are always striving to improve the shopping experience for our customers and this project will play an important role in that. One of the worlds leading air crash investigators has said he believes flight MH370 was deliberately crashed into the sea by a rogue pilot in a possible murder-suicide bid. Stock image of a similar craft One of the worlds leading air crash investigators has said he believes flight MH370 was deliberately crashed into the sea by a rogue pilot in a possible murder-suicide bid. Larry Vance claimed that erosion on the edges of recovered wing parts suggested the plane was lowered to its doom in a controlled fashion. The erosion was caused by a part of the planes wing called a flaperon being exposed to the elements when it was extended. The flaperon can only be extended by a pilot in full control of his plane, Mr Vance said. Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, with a total of 239 passengers and crew on board. The plane had been heading to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur when it vanished from radar screens. For the past two years, investigators have combed more than 120,000 square metres of seabed using underwater drones, but they have been unable to establish what causes the disaster. Mr Vance, who led the investigation into the downing of Swissair Flight 111 in 1998, told Channel Nines 60 Minutes in Australia: Somebody was flying the airplane at the end of its flight. There is no other theory that fits. Previous theories suggested the plane crashed after malfunctioning or was shot down, with Australian investigators working under the assumption that no one was in control of the Boeing 777 jet when it disappeared. But according to investigators, growing evidence points to a rogue pilot scenario in which Captain Zaharie Shah deliberately flew the plane off-radar before plunging into the ocean with more than 200 on board. This has been denied by Shahs sister, who said there was no evidence he was suicidal. Pilot suicides are extremely rare. The most recent case occurred in 2015, when the co-pilot of a Germanwings Airbus A320 crashed his plane into the French Alps en route to Dusseldorf, killing 130 people. Mr Vance added that the failure to find floating debris and lifejackets would fit the theory of a slow, controlled landing. Migrants on the roof of a lorry in Calais, France, last year A haulage company boss has called for greater protection for truckers as he warned of a "second summer of crisis" in Calais. Dan Cook, operations director of Dartford-based Europa Road, said his drivers had been the victims of four attacks in the past two weeks. He said one driver was attacked by three people with knives at an AS24 station in Calais, leaving him with a cut to his arm. The assailants ran off when another truck arrived, he said. On another three occasions, trucks had been stopped on main approach roads to the port by people throwing rocks and trees into the carriageway. He said: "Once the truck has been forced to stop, significant damage to the truck has taken place as migrants swarm all over the trailer, breaking in, damaging cargo, and secreting themselves on board, only to be later found in part at Calais and part on arrival to our terminal in Dartford (despite dogs on the trailer in both Calais and UK)." Mr Cook has written to the Road Haulage Association (RHA) calling for action to protect his workers. He said: "I want to highlight to the RHA the growing number of issues we are seeing in and around Calais, in order to put some further energy behind your petitions to governments. "Last summer's situation is well-discussed and documented and, after a quieter period, we as Europa, who make around 70 crossings on the Calais - Dover/Folkestone route per day, have seen a significant and dangerous spike in migrant activity. "In the last two weeks alone, we have had four incidents that personally I find gravely concerning. "Drivers face real danger and it is vital it is that we safeguard our drivers in what are frightening and intimidating situations. "As a result we have seen delays to transit, damage and write-off of clients' products and drivers refusing to make the journey via Calais. "More needs to be done by the combined cross-border authorities to better manage the situation, before more serious harm comes to individuals or drivers. "I urge the RHA to press hard to both the UK and French government to ensure a safer passage to trucks transiting between the Continent and UK." The leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson in front of a Belfast mural depicting a lesbian kiss in support of same-sex marriage Northern Ireland will endorse same-sex marriage in the near future as public support and a parliamentary majority overwhelms barriers to change, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives has predicted. Devoted Christian and unionist Ruth Davidson, who recently became engaged to her partner, Jen Wilson, also said she would love it if the Church of Scotland allowed her to get married in her own church. Northern Ireland is the only part of the British Isles where gay marriage remains outlawed, but Ms Davidson insisted that people living here should be afforded the same rights as everyone else in the UK. "I believe that time is coming, and soon," she said. "With public support and a parliamentary majority, the waters are building and the dam will burst. "I believe that a tidal wave is set to overflow, and that it will, in short order, change history." Efforts to lift the prohibition on same-sex marriage have been defeated five times in the Stormont Assembly. While a slim majority of MLAs voted in favour of lifting the ban when it was debated for the fifth time last November, the proposal fell when the DUP utilised the controversial petition of concern mechanism to veto it. The party has consistently argued that gay couples already have the ability to enter into civil partnerships and there is little appetite for further change. Some Christian opponents also claim that marriage, as defined in the Bible, is between a man and a woman only. Scottish Tory leader Ms Davidson, who is engaged to a Catholic woman from Ireland and who was involved in the successful campaign for equal marriage to be introduced in the Republic, gave a speech yesterday as part of Belfast Pride. She also visited a new mural in the city depicting a married lesbian couple, and met with LGBT activists. "I am a practising Christian and I care deeply about the role of the church in the public realm," she said. "I believe passionately it is a force for good. "I might not always agree with every intervention churches make in politics, but I defend their right to do so. "In Scotland, as in other countries, we made sure that as we passed equal marriage, we also protected the rights of religious groups." From left, French junior minister for local authorities Estelle Grelier, French president of the Constitutional Council Laurent Fabius and French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve stand during the funeral mass The elderly French priest murdered two weeks ago by extremists tried to push his attackers off with his feet, saying Go away, Satan, the Archbishop of Rouen told the victims funeral mass yesterday. Hundreds of people, including priests, bishops and members of the public, filled Rouen Cathedral to remember Father Jacques Hamel (85) , whose throat was slashed after he was interrupted saying mass in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. Evil is a mystery it reaches heights of horror that take us out of the human, Archbishop Dominique Lebrun said. After you were struck by the knife, you tried to push away your assailants with your feet and said, Go away, Satan. (With those words) you expressed your faith in the goodness of humans that the devil put his claws in. The archbishop also extended his thanks to believers of other religious faiths, in particular the Jewish community and the Muslim community for attending the service and for their support in the aftermath of the murder. On Sunday, dozens of Muslims in France and Italy attended Catholic Masses as a gesture of interfaith solidarity following the attack. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the incident, in which the priest, two nuns and an elderly couple were held hostage before the assailants slashed Fr Hamels throat and seriously wounded the other man. Another nun at the Mass slipped away and raised the alarm, and police shot dead both attackers as they left the church. Kevin Dowd, professor of finance and economics at Durham University, argues the Banks tests, which model various adverse economic scenarios, have a series of 'fatal flaws' The Bank of Englands annual stress tests of the UKs banks, designed to ensure Britains lenders will not be at the heart of another destructive financial crisis, have been branded worse than useless, by a new report. Kevin Dowd, professor of finance and economics at Durham University, argues in a paper published today by the Adam Smith Institute that the Banks tests, which model various adverse economic scenarios each year such as a major fall in UK house prices or a Chinese property crash, have a series of fatal flaws and that the central bank is asleep at the wheel. The purpose of the stress-testing programme should be to highlight the vulnerability of our banking system and the need to rebuild it. Instead, it has achieved the exact opposite, portraying a weak banking system as strong". Professor Dowd warns that the eurozone banking system is on the precipice of another crisis, which will also engulf the UKs major lenders. Once contagion spreads from Italy to Germany and then to the UK, we will have a new banking crisis but on a much grander scale than 2007-08 he said. The Bank of England is asleep at the wheel again, and we will be back to beleaguered banksters begging for bailouts and the taxpayer will be ripped off yet again, but bigger this time. Among the flaws in the Banks testing exercise identified by Professor Dowd are the fact that the stress tests rely on analytical risk weights for banks assets, which have been much criticised for potentially underplaying the true riskiness of various assets such as mortgages and sovereign debt. Professor Dowd also cites the use of questionable estimates of the scale of banks' true exposures and the fact that the Bank of England, unrealistically, only models a single stress scenario at a time. In addition, he says the Banks tests are less rigorous than those of the US central bank, and that if UK lenders were tested by the Federal Reserve all of them would fail. Other former regulators have raised questions about the Banks reliance on stress tests to gauge the resilience of UK banks. In a speech last year Robert Jenkins, a former member of the Banks Financial Policy Committee and now a senior fellow at Better Markets, said: For stress testing to be effective regulators must know which risks to stress and by what degree to do so. However hardworking and intelligent they may be they are also human. They, like the bankers they regulate will at some point get it wrong. Mr Jenkins, along with Professor Dowd, argues that regulators efforts should be focused on requiring banks to raise considerably larger equity cushions to protect them against future risks that are simply unforeseeable to regulators today. In relation to their total assets regulators such as the Bank of England are only requiring private banks to have equity cushions of up to 5 per cent. This would imply that if their assets fell by just 5 per cent they would be insolvent and, potentially, need a public bailout. The European Banking Authority a separate regulator published the results of its own latest stress test exercise for 51 or the continents largest banks last Friday, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds. This found that in an adverse scenario HSBCs capital cushion falls to 8.7 per cent, RBS to 8 per cent and Barclays to 7.3 per cent all well above the level at which they would have been pressured to raise more equity. Two previous EBA stress tests in 2011 and 2014 have been roundly criticised for giving a host of eurozone lenders, which subsequently needed to be rescued, a clean bill of health. European bank stocks have fallen sharply this week, suggesting that investors are unconvinced by the latest EBA results too. In its own latest stress test scenario for 2016 the Bank of England is modelling a fall in the price of oil to $20 a barrel, a 33 per cent slide in global property prices and a 4.3 per cent fall in UK GDP. The results are due to be published in the final quarter of this year. Independent Facebook received roughly 855 requests for emergency disclosures of information to government agencies due to the threat of harm or violence between July and December 2015 (AP) Facebook granted an emergency request from Maryland police to take offline social media accounts belonging to an armed woman during a five-hour stand-off that turned deadly. Baltimore County Police officers shot and killed Korryn Gaines, 23, after she barricaded herself inside her Randallstown flat with her five-year-old son and pointed a shotgun at officers attempting to serve an arrest warrant. Police Chief Jim Johnson said the department made the emergency request to have Gaines' social media accounts suspended after she posted videos online showing the stand-off. He said people who saw the postings responded by encouraging her to not to comply with police. Videos posted on Facebook and Instagram appeared to show Gaines, who was black, talking with police in the doorway of her flat and to her son during the stand-off. In one, she asks her son what the police are trying to do. "They trying to kill us," the boy says. "Do you want to go out there?" "No," he says. The stand-off on Monday began after three officers went to Gaines' home to serve arrest warrants on her and her boyfriend, Kareem Courtney, 39, according to police. He left the flat with a one-year-old boy before the stand-off and was arrested. Gaines' warrant stemmed from charges during a March 10 traffic stop, including disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Police said she was armed with a 12-gauge pistol grip shotgun that was legally purchased last year and towards the end of the negotiations pointed it directly at an officer and said: "If you don't leave, I'm going to kill you." An officer shot at her and Gaines fired two shots, but missed the officers, who returned fire and killed her, police said. Gaines also posted videos from the March traffic stop on her Instagram account. Police said she was pulled over because instead of a number plate, she had a cardboard tag that said: "Any government official who compromises this pursuit of happiness and right to travel will be held criminally responsible and fined, as this is a natural right and freedom." During the stop, she said officers were trying to "steal her car and they would have to "murder" her to get her out of the vehicle, according to court documents. Officers said she had to be pulled from the car and repeatedly yelled "record this" as a crowd of people gathered while police were arresting her. Facebook has restored Gaines' social media pages, but two videos that violated its standards have been blocked from public view. According to the tech company's policies, requests from law enforcement to suspend accounts may be granted in cases where there is a substantial risk of harm. The police chief said county police submitted a de-activation request because there was a barricade involving someone with a gun, and a child was present. Facebook received roughly 855 requests for emergency disclosures of information to government agencies due to the threat of harm or violence between July and December 2015. About 73% of those requests were granted. The boy was injured and is in good condition in hospital. Police are not sure whether he was hit by gunfire or shrapnel. Gaines' boyfriend is charged with second-degree assault, which stems from a fight with Gaines, police said. The department did not release the names or races of the officers involved, who were placed on administrative leave. The department is bringing body cameras online but none of the officers had one. Gaines' uncle Jerome Barnett told The Baltimore Sun that she "was feisty, but she was smart and she was respectful". AP The cases are being heard in Tianjin No 2 Intermediate People's Court (AP) A Chinese legal rights activist was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to subversion charges on Wednesday. It was the second in a series of cases underscoring the ruling Communist Party's determination to rein in government critics. State broadcaster CCTV said Hu Shigen had admitted "subversion, damaging national security and harming social stability" at the start of his hearing before the Tianjin No 2 Intermediate People's Court. His brief trial came a day after the court issued a suspended three-year sentence to activist Zhai Yanmin. Both were arrested in July last year with two others as part of a nationwide crackdown on legal rights activists. About 300 lawyers and activists were initially seized and questioned before most were released. Hu, 67, was accused of leading an "underground organisation" that masqueraded as a church but was dedicated to identifying and drawing attention to accusations of government abuses. He worked with others, some of whom are also facing trial this week, to "organise activities that manipulated public opinion and disturbed public order", prosecutors were quoted as saying by state media. "Hu's ideology and his behaviours have seriously harmed the country and social stability," prosecutors said. Hu was sentenced in 1994 to 20 years in prison on the now-abolished charge of counter-revolution in connection with his political activities, but was released in 2008 after his sentence was reduced. His previous prison term probably contributed to his harsh sentencing in the most recent case. A graduate of prestigious Peking University, Hu was a professor in the capital when he became active with a would-be political opposition party following the army's violent crackdown on 1989 pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Other cases are expected to be heard by the court in the northern Chinese city this week, including those of activist Gou Hongguo and lawyer Zhou Shifeng, head of the Fengrui Law Firm that frequently took on sensitive cases and represented numerous government critics. More than a dozen other lawyers and activists remain jailed, their legal status uncertain. The trials are part of a pattern established under the administration of President Xi Jinping to use more sophisticated legal means to attack perceived opponents as it maintains pressure on activists and non-governmental organisations. Several, including fellow Fengrui lawyer Wang Yu have made televised apologies for the crimes they are accused of and denouncing the legal activism as directed by unidentified "hostile foreign forces" to smear and attack the Chinese government. Activists such as Hu and Zhai worked alone or in affiliation with law firms to gather evidence of government abuses and lead clients and the disgruntled in street protests while spreading word online. Their actions were harshly denounced by the authorities as interference in the legal process. Many family members of those being held say they and their retained lawyers have been denied access to the detainees for more than a year, receiving only occasional updates by word of mouth. Some have been briefly detained themselves while seeking information. AP Barack Obama has declared that Donald Trump is unfit and woefully unprepared to serve in the White House. In a searing denouncement of the tycoon, the US president challenged top Republicans to drop their support for their partys nominee, declaring: There has to come a point at which you say enough. The outgoing leaders blistering critique of his potential successor followed Mr Trumps criticism of an American Muslim family whose son, a captain in the US Army, was killed in Iraq. A growing number of Republicans have disavowed Mr Trumps comments, but most of those who endorsed him are sticking by that stance. I was saddened but not surprised to read in the Belfast Telegraph (News, July 29) of the appointment of a Roman Catholic priest as a canon at St Anne's Church of Ireland Cathedral. The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster for years have been saying this would happen eventually and, now that it has, we have been proven right. I would like to ask those in the Church of Ireland, who profess to be of the reformed Protestant faith, what are they going to do now with the 39 Articles of Religion, which denounce the Roman Catholic Church as "blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits"? Next year is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, when men like Martin Luther left the Church of Rome because of the unscriptural doctrines of Catholicism. Could someone in the Anglican Communion please inform me what doctrines the Church of Rome has changed to reverse the decision now to appoint a Roman Catholic priest as a canon in a Protestant Church? I fear it is not Rome that is changing, but the Anglican Church. Today, I hear of all these great ministers in the Church of Ireland; men who, I am told, are born again and saved and believe in the Protestant faith, but they seem to have lost their protest, because you never hear a word of condemnation from them when it comes to their Church joining up with Rome. There seems to be no more bishops in the Anglican Church anymore, like Bishop JC Ryle of Liverpool, who continually stood against the false dogmas of Rome and said "there could be no peace with Rome until Rome made peace with God". Protestants within the Church of Ireland: waken up. For, if you don't, very soon you will be sitting in the confessional box, confessing your sins to the priests of Rome and partaking in the blasphemous Mass - the very things your 39 Articles condemn. REV JOHN GRAY Minister, Enniskillen Free Presbyterian Church, Co Fermanagh Residents of Olak-Olak Kubu village gathered at the offices of the West Kalimantan chapter of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in Pontianak, Aug. 1, 2016. A resident of Olak-Olak Kubu, a village in Indonesias West Kalimantan province, could not hold back tears while testifying this week about how police had surrounded her home. People said the police were looking for my husband. They besieged my house. I fled into the woods, Renawati, 32, said Monday as she testified before the provincial chapter of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). Renawati had traveled about 62 km (38 miles) to Pontianak, the capital of the province, to join about 300 fellow residents of Olak-Olak Kubu who had fled their homes after they said that police had arrested two locals and raided their homes. The residents of the village in Kubu Raya regency, who have been caught up in a land-rights dispute with a powerful palm oil company, went before the commission this week to complain about alleged collusion in their case between the firm and local authorities. Village leader Sunarno said tensions escalated on July 23 when about 400 villagers held a rally and occupied a concession area owned by P.T. Sintang Raya, one of regions largest palm oil businesses. The villagers wanted to set up camp and recite verses from the Quran, hoping that government officials would take notice and help them resolve their conflict with the company over property rights. As we were walking, scores of policemen blocked our way. They told us to dismiss ourselves, but we refused to do so and we ended up pushing and shoving with the police. A policeman fell to the ground and the police accused us of assaulting him, which we didnt do at all, Sunarno told BenarNews. During the rally officers arrested a villager and, two days later, police arrested another resident of Olak-Olak Kubu, 47-year-old Katin, at his house, locals said. The way they arrested Katin was unusual, it was like arresting a terrorist, Sunarno said. Katins wife, Purwaningsih, said he was accused of assaulting one of the companys employees during a rally in February. We begged for leniency on medical treatment grounds because he was sick, but they rejected us. My husband was arrested in front of our children, she said. Another village leader, Musri, said locals rallied six months ago to proclaim rights over land claimed by the company as well. The local government got involved in mediation, but it failed to produce any results. We demanded that police withdraw their colleagues that were prowling around our village because their presence was making us nervous. We also demanded a solution to our land conflict with the company, Musri said. Police deny allegations Suhadi S.W., a spokesman for West Kalimantan police, defended the department against the villagers allegations, saying that officers went to Olak-Olak Kubu to keep the peace. Why would police take someone hostage? Police are state law enforcers authorized to probe people, goods, correspondence as well as to arrest and detain someone suspected to have committed a crime, he told BenarNews. Harlen Sitorus, a lawyer representing P.T. Sintang Raya, said the villagers had filed a lawsuit to revoke the companys rights to 11,130 hectares (27,500 acres). A review by Indonesias Supreme Court had ordered the company to release 5 hectares (12.3 acres) for the villagers, he said. The land that we have to give up is only 5 hectares, not the entire property like the community perceived, Harlen told BenarNews. Meanwhile, after receiving the complaints from the villagers, Komnas HAM provincial chairman Kasful Anwar contacted police. He said police had guaranteed that the people of the village would be safe in their homes. I gave them my phone number in case they face intimidations, arrest or raids, Kasful told BenarNews. According to Anton P. Wijaya, who directs the local chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the conflict in Olak-Olak Kubu stems from the communitys farmlands being annexed by P.T. Sintang Raya without the company communicating with the villagers properly. Forest fires Along with squabbles over land rights, the region on Borneo island faces an onslaught of agricultural fires each year, including many that are set illegally to clear land for palm oil plantations. The recurring fires have been a source for a hazardous smog blanketing other parts of Indonesia and neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry reported that 12 provinces suffered from forest fires in 2015, with West Kalimantan being badly affected by them. Forest fires in the province burned at least 900.20 hectares (2,225 acres), according to the ministry. Suhadi, who serves as chairman of the West Kalimantan Forest Fire Countermeasures task force, stated that 35 cases of fires were investigated since last year. Four of the fires were allegedly started by corporations, and 31 by individuals. Charges against four suspects one corporation and three individuals were dropped over lack of evidence, Suhadi told BenarNews, without releasing details about those involved. Boonyod Suktinthai, an ex-MP with the Democrat Party, speaks during a debate on Thailands draft constitution at Bangkokthonburi University in Bangkok, Aug. 2, 2016. Updated at 3:24 a.m. ET on 2016-08-04 With a constitutional referendum in Thailand just days away, the atmosphere inside the conference room at Bangkokthonburi University was charged as a panel of three debated the draft charter. Some 300 people from all walks of life crowded into the room at the Bangkok campus to listen to a rare public discussion about an issue that could shape the future of their country, which is under military rule. A man in the audience at Tuesdays event, who identified himself as Uthai, complained about the lack of clarity in questions that would appear on Sundays ballot. He also bristled about how Thailands Election Commission had only published 1 million hard copies of the proposed constitution for an electorate of 50.6 million voters, although the EC had posted the document on its website months ago. We havent seen a single copy of the charter, Uthai told BenarNews, echoing a complaint voiced by other Thais in recent weeks. Tuesdays event was one of 68 debates about the referendum that were expected to unfold in 74 of Thailands 77 provinces between July 29 and Aug. 4. The Election Commission, the body that will oversee Sundays pivotal vote, had packed in all those debates within the space of a few days, after announcing last week that it was allocating time and money for limited public discussions on the issue. The move was remarkable because, up until July 29 and since the draft charter was unveiled in late March, Thailands military-controlled government had virtually banned public discussions or campaigning related to the Aug. 7 referendum. During the past four months, Thai authorities have detained or arrested scores of political activists who have spoken out against the proposed constitution. When people like Uthai will step into polling stations nationwide on Sunday, the ballot before them will ask voters to answer two questions: to vote yes or no for the proposed charter; and to indicate whether they agree to a clause in it that would allow a joint parliamentary assembly made up of 250 government-appointed senators and 500 elected MPs to pick a non-elected prime minister. Uthai said he was upset because of the vague wording on the ballot that, according to him, does not spell out the implications of the second question. And we only know today that the 250 senators will also be entitled to select a prime minister. Why does the question not state it more clearly? We want to know, he said. Undemocratic Under the normal format of Thailands parliamentary system, the political party that wins the most seats through popular elections will form a new government, single party or coalition, and then nominate a leader as prime minister. But the clause in the proposed charter is controversial because it would allow an outsider or non-elected parliamentarian to become prime minister, a stipulation that has riled its opponents. To allow senators to select a prime minister is undemocratic, Boonyod Suktinthai, a former MP for the opposition Democrat Party, and a panelist at the forum at Bangkokthonburi University, told the audience. Therefore, we need to consider the additional question with care. I dont accept the charter, said Boonyod, whose center-right party is Thailands oldest. Another panelist, Chavalit Wichayasut, a former parliamentarian from the opposition Pheu Thai party, agreed with Boonyod. Section 3 of the charter says the power belongs to the Thai citizens. But I am afraid that it is just big word only, when 250 senators can also select the premier, said Chavalit, whose party leader, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was toppled in a coup that brought the junta to power in May 2014. None of the three panelists represented the yes camp in the referendum campaign. But Yuthahporn Isarachai, a professor at Sukothai Thammathirat University in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi province, offered a more neutral perspective on the draft charter. If both questions pass, the elections will be held in October 2017. If the charter passes but the second question fails, the elections will be in July 2017, Yuthaporn told the forum. If a majority of voters rejected both questions on the ballot, then elections would take place in December 2017, he explained. Designed to ensure stability The junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC), which drew up the charter that will be voted on Sunday, has argued that it will help restore political stability in Thailand by preventing corruption and other abuses of power by politicians. Lt. Gen. Nanthadej Meksawat, an adviser to former Prime Minister Surayudh Chulanond, who came to power after the 2006 coup that toppled Yinglucks brother, Thaksin, expressed optimism that the coming referendum would succeed. There will be a bigger percentage of voters coming to vote than not. And it is likely that the majority of them will accept the charter, Nanthadej told BenarNews in a phone interview. An earlier version of this story incorrectly named Surayudh Chulanond as the leader of the 2006 coup. Women show their support for Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit at Siriraj Hospital, June 9, 2016. Thailands King Bhumibol Adulyadej is being treated for fever following a possible infection in his blood while Queen Sirikit has a lung infection, according to recent bulletins on the condition of the octogenarian royal couple who have been in ill health in recent years. Both of them are recovering in a hospital, separate statements by the palace said. A monthly update on the revered 88-year-old kings health by the palace on Monday said doctors continued to use antibiotics to treat the infection causing a low fever. In the month of July 2016 a low fever was present, said the palace statement, according to Reuters news agency. Blood tests showed a possible infection and physicians therefore had to administer antibiotics. After the treatment His Majestys condition showed some improvement. In a June statement, the palace said the monarch was treated for water on the brain, or hydrocephalus, a build-up of the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain. The medical team has continuously monitored the condition of the cerebrospinal fluid and found drainage of cerebrospinal fluid throughout the month of July to be satisfactory, Reuters quoted the latest statement as saying. Meanwhile, Sirikit, 83, suffered a lung infection, but her condition has improved, the Associated Press reported on Saturday. Sirikit was moved on July 24 from Bangkoks Siriraj Hospital, where Bhumibol has been living for most of the past few years, to Chulalongkorn Hospital for treatment of minor lung inflammation and blood infection, AP quoted a palace statement as saying. It said that after treatment, symptoms of fever and cough had subsided. The Siriraj Hospital has served as the de facto royal residence as Bhumibol and Sirikit have also suffered strokes, with the queens apparently being the more severe case, according to AP. Bhumibol, the worlds longest serving monarch, since 1946, was last seen in public on Jan. 11, when he spent several hours visiting his palace in the Thai capital. Tightly controlled Anxiety over the kings health and an eventual succession has formed the backdrop to more than a decade of bitter political divide in Thailand that has included military takeovers and sometimes violent street demonstrations, Reuters said. News about the royal family is tightly controlled in Thailand, where laws protecting the royals from insult make it a crime to defame, insult or threaten the king, queen, heir to the throne or regent. On Monday, the mother of a prominent student activist was indicted by a Thai military court on royal defamation charges over a one-word Facebook message. Patnaree Chankij, 40, was initially arrested in May by Thai police for violating Thailand's severe royal defamation law, which bans disparaging the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison on each count, the Agence France-Presse news agency reported. Her lawyers say the charge stems from writing ja the Thai equivalent of yeah in response to a private Facebook message from someone that allegedly insulted the royal family. The case has been seized upon by activists as a terrifying example of how the ruling military junta has broadened its interpretation of the crime to include even vague references to the monarchy, AFP said. Police eventually dropped the charges after an outcry, but they forwarded the case to prosecutors from the military who have pressed ahead. A military court today accepted the case filed by the military prosecutor, lawyer Anon Nampa, told AFP, adding his client was granted bail ahead of an upcoming plea hearing. Use of Thailands Lese-Majeste law and military courts has skyrocketed since former army chief turned Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha seized power in May 2014, sparking international condemnation, including from the United Nations. Record-breaking 25- and 30-year sentences have since been handed down for people over Facebook posts, while a man even found himself arrested for making sarcastic comments about the kings late dog. Many convictions occur behind closed doors while media must heavily self-censor when reporting cases to avoid falling foul of the law. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. Mit den gewonnenen Informationen mochten wir verstehen, wie unsere Dienste verwendet werden, und die Qualitat dieser Dienste verbessern. neue Dienste zu entwickeln und zu verbessern Werbung auszuliefern und ihre Wirkung zu messen personalisierte Inhalte anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen personalisierte Werbung anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen Wenn Sie Alle ablehnen auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies nicht fur diese zusatzlichen Zwecke. 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But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain. Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that. And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details. If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Media Advisory, August 3, 2016 Contact: Miyoko Sakashita, miyoko@biologicaldiversity.org, (510) 844-7108 9th Circuit to Hear Oil Industry Challenge to Bearded Seal Protections ANCHORAGE Judges from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments Aug. 4 in an oil industry lawsuit challenging the 2012 federal decision to give Endangered Species Act protections to bearded seals, a species threatened by climate change and the melting sea ice around Alaska. Attorneys representing the National Marine Fisheries Service will be joined by attorney Kristen Monsell from the Center for Biological Diversity, which originally petitioned for the listing and intervened in the case. Climate change is robbing bearded seals of the ice they need to survive. The powerful protections of the Endangered Species Act will give these seals a fighting chance while we work toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Monsell said. We cant let the oil industry undermine efforts to save bearded seals or address the global warming that the rampant burning of its product is causing. What: Oral arguments in Alaska Oil and Gas Association et al. vs. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, et al., and Center for Biological Diversity (Intervenor-Defendant). The case was appealed to the 9th Circuit after the district court stripped bearded seals of Endangered Species Act protections. Where: Courtroom 2, Anchorage District Courthouse Alaska, 222 W. 7th Avenue Who: Attorney Kristen Monsell defending the Fisheries Service decision to protect bearded seals in Alaska When: Thursday, August 4, 9 a.m. Alaska time. The hearing is open to the press and public. Why: Bearded seals, named for their distinctively thick whiskers, give birth and nurse their pups on pack ice over shallow waters where their bottom-dwelling food is abundant. The rapid loss of pack ice jeopardizes their ability to raise their young and find food. As of July 18, Arctic sea-ice coverage had dropped to about 3 million square miles, one of the lowest years on record and possibly on pace to break the record set in September 2012. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. For Immediate Release, August 3, 2016 Patrick Sullivan, (415) 517-9364, psullivan@biologicaldiversity.org Lawsuit Challenges Plan to Turn California Aquifer Into Dump for Oil Waste Suit Aims to Protect Underground Water in San Luis Obispo County, Dozens of Other California Aquifers SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. The Center for Biological Diversity today sued California regulators for supporting a so-called aquifer exemption plan to turn underground water in the Price Canyon area of San Luis Obispo County into a permanent disposal site for oil wastewater and other fluids. There are at least 100 water supply wells for drinking water and crop irrigation within a mile of this aquifer. Todays lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in San Luis Obispo, faults regulators for not analyzing the aquifer exemption plans risks as required by the California Environmental Quality Act. The suit asks the court to set aside the states approval of the aquifer exemption and halt oil company injection into this underground water until regulators have complied with CEQA. Oil regulators are disturbingly determined to turn this aquifer into an oil industry waste dump, but they cant just shrug off Californias environmental laws, said Maya Golden-Krasner, the Center attorney bringing the lawsuit. As California sweats out another year of drought, officials must analyze the risks of sacrificing underground water in San Luis Obispo County and across the state to oil companies. If we let oil companies pollute these aquifers, Californians will bitterly regret that decision in the dry decades to come. The states Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources submitted the aquifer exemption application in February to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. If the EPA approves the plan to exempt the aquifer from protection under the Safe Drinking Water Act, oil giant Freeport-McMoRan could move forward with plans to drill hundreds of new wells in the area. This is state officials first attempt to seek an aquifer exemption following revelations last year that oil companies have been allowed to dump toxic waste into scores of protected underground water supplies across California (interactive map), in violation of federal and state water-protection laws. A Center analysis has identified serious flaws in the aquifer exemption application for Arroyo Grande. The application, for example, fails to mention the companys plans to dramatically expand operations in the Arroyo Grande oil field. Freeport hopes to drill up to 350 new wells (including injection wells) to achieve up to a 10-fold increase in daily oil production. The application also does not include any analysis of what will happen to the aquifer if that expansion proceeds including possible changes in pressures underground and the potential for inducing fractures that could transport pollution to other water sources. Oil industry wastewater can contain high levels of benzene and other cancer-causing chemicals. State oil officials own study detected benzene levels in oil wastewater at thousands of times the federal limits for drinking water. Its shocking that Gov. Jerry Browns oil regulators are supporting the oil industrys efforts to get federal permission to dump waste into Californias protected aquifers, Golden-Krasner said. California officials must put our thirsty states water needs ahead of oil company profits. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. The growth of mobile phones and services across the African continent has instantly brought many Africans into the digital age and connected them to worldwide knowledge and services. Home to one of the world's fastest growing middle classes, Africa has seen multiple opportunities emerge for both local and global retailers from this digital growth. Hennie Heymans, CEO, DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa Currently, more than 60% of individuals in sub-Saharan Africa have access to a mobile phone. As the adoption of mobile technology and increasing internet penetration in these countries continue to grow, so does the opportunity for retailers to reach new customers in the region, says Hennie Heymans, CEO, DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa. The World Banks 2016 World Development Report, Digital Dividends, notes that the increased access to digital technologies brings more choice and greater convenience, and that through inclusion, efficiency and innovation, access to mobile provides opportunities that were previously out of reach. With an established network of over 5 500 retail outlets across SSA, DHL Express provides individuals and SMEs greater access to global opportunities. Heymans also adds that the market opportunities in Africa are ripe. With the rise of mobile commerce and increased competition, this drives the demand for advances in technology and logistics, to ensure real-time supply chain visibility and improved quality, speed and precision of delivery services within African markets. To meet this growing demand, we have introduced Motorola TC55 scanner units in 26 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, as part of our Global Courier Application deployment. These pocket sized Android-based scanners come equipped with touchscreens, built-in location services as well as GPS navigation capabilities, enabling customers to track parcels in real-time. With the new scanner units, customers are able to sign on the devices touchscreen and within 15 minutes, the electronic proof of delivery will be made available on the DHL.com website. As a network business, it is essential that our shipment data is captured accurately and in real-time. This data can also be used to measure customer satisfaction against company KPIs, as well as for process improvements or route adjustments to increase efficiency and improve customer service. With this new technology, local and global retailers can increase the speed at which shipments are processed and delivered to their clients, thus improving efficiency along the value chain. Heymans said DHL was seeking to leverage the huge potential in Africa, to ensure that citizens have access to the opportunities and services that mobile presents to the region. Zdenek Skromach, deputy head of the Czech Social Democratic Party, hits out at (non-existent) refugees 3. 8. 2016 cas cteni < 1 minuta Zdenek Skromach, deputy head of the Czech Social Democratic Party, has recorded a chauvinistic diatribe against non-existent foreigners and immigrants. He filmed himself in the light of a torch, sitting in a portable rubber paddling pool, extolling what he sees as "Czech national virtues": "Do you feel that the Czech national traditions are under threat? Light fires and show that we will not give up our traditions! We will not be changing in order to conform to the values of the immigrants. Those who are coming must accept our values. If they do not want to, they should look for some other countries! This is OUR home," he said and used dramatic music to underline his chauvinist rant. Source in Czech ZDE 0 How Alcohol Can Cause Certain Cancers Wellness oi-Staff Excessive alcohol intake is frequently linked to a host of health problems, both physical and mental. According to new recommendations on alcohol use, drinking any amount of alcohol is linked to distinct cancers. The more alcohol an individual drinks, the higher her or his risk of suffering from an alcohol linked cancer. The kind of alcohol one drinks, be it beer, wine or whiskey, does not appear to make any distinction as there is no safe limit for alcohol with regards to cancer. Even though not everybody who drinks alcohol may develop cancer, researchers believe regular alcohol intake to be accountable for deaths caused by some types of cancers. According to experts, specific cancers are more often found in individuals who drink than people who don't. When you consume alcohol, ethanol which is present in alcoholic beverages can become acetaldehyde, a carcinogen that may harm both DNA and proteins. It also impairs the body's capability to break down and absorb a wide range of nutrients that can be connected with cancer risk, including vitamins A, B complex, C, D , E and folic acid and carotenoids. Research has proved that drinking alcohol can increase the risk of seven types of cancers. They are oesophageal cancer (food pipe), laryngeal cancer (voice box), mouth cancer, pharyngeal cancer (upper throat), breast cancer, bowel cancer and liver cancer. Studies prove that oral cancer is six times far more typical in alcohol consumers than in non drinkers and that women who consume two to five alcoholic beverages each day are more inclined to develop breast cancer than women who take only one drink each day or none. Colorectal cancer has also been found to be linked to alcohol abuse. Consumption of too much of alcohol can lead to a liver disease called cirrhosis. This can sometimes lead to liver cancer. Taking into consideration the devastating after effects of alcohol addiction, the American Cancer Society recommends alcohol consumption to a maximum of two drinks each day for males and one drink each day for females. GET THE BEST BOLDSKY STORIES! Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 21:00 [IST] Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 03/08/2016 (2277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. For a teen from Virden whose dream would be to curate at a place like the Canadian War Museum, being named a Beaverbrook Vimy Prize recipient is all (she) can ask for. One of 16 recipients, Jane Harkness has been awarded a two-week study opportunity in Europe. The program, organized and funded through the Vimy Foundation and its partners, gives youth 14 to 17 years old an opportunity to pursue their interest in world war history on the very grounds it was made. As the organizations members like to say, its a chance to walk through the footsteps of history. Submitted Jane Harkness stands with a Second World War uniform display in the Virden Pioneer Home Museum, where she works summers. Harkness has been named a Beaverbrook Vimy Prize recipient of a two-week study opportunity in Europe. I think being immersed in history is the best way to learn about it, and so obviously going to Europe, going over the trenches and the tunnels and all these places where all these events took place, is the best way to learn because you can put yourself in their shoes, Harkness said. While Harkness has loved history since she was a little girl, she has developed a particular interest in the time of the world wars because of the social changes that followed. I think its how it transitions because before World War I, you get subtle hints that theres going to be a transition from an old world into a new, but World War I is really the force that brings it to that end, the Grade 12 student explained. Then you have World War II, and it just pushes it further Before that, very little changed throughout society and innovation. There had been some but not many changes, and just how that is a cascading point is so interesting. The foundation will send Harkness, 13 other Canadian students, as well as a student from England and France to participate in the Aug. 7 trip. As it is considered a scholarship opportunity, the students will participate in lectures at Oxford University, and tours at Juno Beach, Vimy and other historically significant sites. And because it is a scholarship opportunity, the winners have also been given homework. For one task, Harkness researched a local veteran who died while serving in Europe, Pte. Lorne Carscadden. Although its unknown where he was buried, Carscaddens name is engraved on the Vimy Memorial, and this is where Harkness will deliver a short presentation on her findings. She has prepared for the trip on her time off from the Virden Pioneer Home Museum and luckily finds the assignments interesting. She knew her hard work was expected by the foundation from their five-part application process. After submitting a short story, her resume, a letter of recommendation written by a teacher, and an essay explaining her candidacy, Harkness was finally called for an interview. We thought that with (her interest in) history, student achievement in school, but also outside of school with that extra experience, we thought that she would be a good candidate for a program like this, explained Jeremy Diamond, the Vimy Foundations executive director. Were always excited to see that there are 16-, 17-year-olds that care about Canadian history. When asked what part of the trip she was looking forward to most, the teen first said the lectures at Oxford but then also listed the Vimy trenches, national memorial, and the Imperial War Museum. On second thought, she said: Im literally excited for all of it. aantoneshyn@brandonsun.com Twitter: @AAntoneshyn Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/08/2016 (2278 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The fourth annual Unity Ride wrapped up on Saturday at the Waywayseecappo First Nation Powwow. The annual initiative sees riders journey 350 kilometres by horseback in four days, visiting Waywayseecappo, Birdtail Sioux First Nation, Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation and Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to warn about the dangers of prescription drug abuse by promoting more traditional ways of healing. The ride is organized by the Unity Riders, and this year featuring riders from as far away as Regina. Travis Mazawasicuna, an organizer and Unity Rider who works in addictions services at Sioux Valley Health Centre, said in the last five years, officials have noticed a lot more abuse of pills and prescription drugs on Westman reserves. Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Participants make their way along Highway 21 at Sioux Valley Dakota Nation during the Unity Ride on July 27. From 2007 to 2012 we could see the increase of people abusing prescription drugs, (people) of all ages. It was broken down in genders and age groups were in trouble, he said. Its a plague, not only our four communities but all First Nations across Canada. This years ride, about 30 horses strong at points, included a ceremony just south of the site of the Birtle residential school, to recognize the children that never came home and the survivors of the school, said Mazawasicuna. Mazawasicunas father and grandfather went to a residential school. He said riders felt different when they first rode past that residential school site. Even our good horses started bucking, and we knew that we had to do something so the second year we so stopped and we sent the spirits of our people that went to school there, he said. Theyve done ceremonies ever since. Mazawasicuna said during the daily ceremonies in the communities where they stopped, an eagle was seen circling overhead as well. That was incredibly meaningful for Mazawasicuna and the other riders. We cant explain it, its just a natural thing, a spiritual connection, he said. We believe these animals carry a message for our people and carry the feelings of our people we believe that they bring the connection. Mazawasicuna said there are several more rides scheduled for the Unity Riders this summer, including one in Saskatchewan, and from Virden to Canupawakpa and one in the fall from Elkhorn to Brandon. This is just the beginning for the people its just a small step for the whole nation, the healing of all nations and all ages, he said. tbateman@brandonsun.com Twitter: @tombatemann Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 03/08/2016 (2277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Brandon University Students Union is being sued by a group of BU students from the campus group Students For Life, the latest chapter in a long-standing struggle between the anti-abortion student group and students union. The lawsuit alleges that BUSU revoked the SFLs official student group status in November 2015 and didnt advise SFL until Jan. 22, when SFL was denied an application to set up an information table in the mingling space in the Knowles Douglas Student Union Centre on campus. On Tuesday, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms publicized a notice of application from three BU business administration students associated with SFL: Catherine Dubois, Kyle Coffey and Silas Lee, and an affidavit from Dubois, which were filed with the Court of Queens Bench in Brandon. Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun The campus of Brandon University. Its not the first time the JCCF been involved on campus BUSU originally denied a SFL official status in 2012. The student union banned the pro-life club in the 2012-13 school year, and then we sent them a warning letter and they reversed their decision, which was good, but now theyve done the exact same thing again, so this time were just suing them. Theyve been warned before not to do this, JCCF president John Carpay said. The SFL alleges that on Jan. 29, SFL president Catherine Dubois and communications director Andrew Madill met with BUSUs then interim-president Nick Brown and then vice-president Rhoni Mohanraj. Brown and Mohanraj told the SFL it had made students uncomfortable by hanging posters in April 2014 and a chalking event in October 2015 which didnt align with the Canadian Federation of Students pro-choice opinion. The posters, which stirred controversy when they were distributed on campus, compare a pro-choice statement from the Canadian Supreme Court in 1997 to historical statements not recognizing Jews, woman slaves and Indians as people. The chalking event, the lawsuit says, saw SFL members write statements related to the issues of abortion, euthanasia, the right to life, and the legal status of persons on public sidewalks owned by the City of Brandon and adjacent to the Brandon University campus. BUSUs reasons for revocation included SFLs alleged affiliation with a Canadian pro-life group and an American anti-gay group. When I asked for a specific names of the organizations BUSU believed us to be affiliated with, they could not remember them and so I do not know which organizations they were referring to, Dubois said in an email. The lawsuit alleges Brown told Dubois and Madill that the student group status may be granted if SFL changed (their) views. SFL appealed at a BUSU council meeting on Feb. 12, where the revocation was upheld. Supplied/JCCF One of the chalk statements written by Students For Life in October, 2015 which is included as an exhibit in JCCF's lawsuit. The group says now it cant book rooms from BUSU or Brandon University without paying booking fees, cant take part in two annual student club days and cant apply for club event reimbursement or receive free access to other BUSU services. The lawsuit includes applications for an order that BUSU reinstate SFLs student group recognition and a declaration that the revocation failed to respect BU students fundamental freedoms of expression and association, was made in bad faith, exceeded BUSUs jurisdiction, violated the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness and was tainted with bias. The outcome we want to see is for the student union to stop this censorship and this discrimination based on a persons opinion. Whether we get that through a court order or whether the student union is going to change its conduct without fighting this in court thats totally up to the student union to determine what its response will be, Carpay said. In her affidavit, Dubois said we feel marginalized, censored and discriminated against by BUSU simply because we want to host events, share our views and have discussions about life and death issues such as abortion and physician-assisted suicide. Brown, now the president of BUSU, said on Tuesday that the students union is aware of the situation and is taking the necessary steps to move forward. He declined to comment further, but said he wasnt aware that the JCCF would be publicizing the dispute and that BUSU has legal counsel. Mohanraj, who no longer attends BU, declined to comment when contacted by The Sun. The lawsuit is also seeking costs for the legal proceedings. The student unions legal bills will depend entirely on its own attitude towards respecting free speech. If they chose to settle this, its not going to cost them much money. If they decide to retain a lawyer and fight this and force us to have a full hearing, those bills are going to rake up, Carpay said. Supplied/JCCF The text on a poster distributed around Brandon University by Students For Life in April, 2014. Anastasia Pearse, executive director of National Campus Life Network, said there are 40 pro-life groups at Canadian universities and many others are facing free-speech problems. Anti-abortion groups that have lost club status at Ryerson University, the University of Toronto Mississauga and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology have also filed lawsuits in the past year against their students unions, she said Tuesday. We know that the pro-life position is one that can be uncomfortable to talk about, Pearse said. But it is such an important issue for us to talk about, as so many women on our campuses are affected by abortion. A hearing is scheduled in Brandon court on Aug. 15. tbateman@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press Twitter: @tombatemann Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 03/08/2016 (2277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. WINNIPEG Is it time for Canada to adopt a mandatory voting law? One part of the electoral reform agenda presented by the Liberal party in the 2015 election was to have a parliamentary committee study the possible adoption of compulsory voting. If this became law, the electorate would be legally required to vote, and a failure to do so without a valid excuse would result in a penalty, probably a modest fine. Voters could still cast empty or spoiled ballots if they wished to protest the mandatory legislation. Improving turnout is the principal reason advocates call for the adoption of mandatory voting. More than 20 countries have laws in place. Australia has a long history of compulsory voting (dating to 1924). It is generally viewed to have a sound democracy in which turnouts in national elections are routinely in the low 90 per cent range. In contrast, from 1970 onwards, turnouts in Canadian elections declined slowly, with occasional exceptions such as the 2015 election. In most elections during the past four decades, turnout was in the low 60 per cent range. When 40 per cent or more voters do not bother to vote, and the victory of the winning party is based on receiving 40 per cent or less of the votes cast, claims of legitimacy and a mandate by the governing party is seriously weakened. A related concern is young people, aboriginals, lower-educated and low-income citizens (these categories overlap) are less likely to vote and this may mean political parties and governments are less responsive to their concerns. According to its proponents, compulsory voting is a simple and inexpensive way to both increase turnout and to encourage parties to appeal to all segments of society. However, there are complicated philosophical, legal, political and administrative issues to consider. Section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees eligible citizens the right to vote and advocates of mandatory voting argue against the notion of an inverse right not to vote. Because there are a number of societal benefits arise from voting, such as ensuring more representative, responsive and legitimate governments, requiring people to vote is justified in the same way we insist people pay their taxes and serve on juries. Critics counter non-voting is a form of political speech that sends a message of dissatisfaction with the political system and/or the actors involved or simply reflects a rational calculation that one vote will make no difference. Another critical perspective is compulsory voting will bring politically ignorant voters to the polls in greater numbers. Poorly educated and inattentive voters, it is argued, are more susceptible to sensational advertising, including negative attack ads. Bringing apathetic and ill-informed voters to the polls may lead to random voting that counters the votes cast by conscientious voters who make the effort to inform themselves about the issues and party stances. Advocates for mandatory voting offer several counter arguments. First, voters may be ill-informed, but they are not dumb. Regardless of educational background and socio-economic status, all of us have trouble understanding the complexities of modern government. Second, many people claim to be disgusted by the negativity of modern campaigns and the requirement to appeal beyond their traditional base of supporters may cause parties to become less mindlessly adversarial in their appeals to voters. Third, with guaranteed higher turnouts, parties could spend less time and money on get-out-the-vote activities and more on policy development. There are also many practical legal and administrative questions related to the adoption of such a law. Would it require an amendment to the constitution or simply a change to the Canada Elections Act? What circumstances would qualify as a valid reason for non-voting? If fines were used as a sanction for non-voting, what would be the amount and which public body would collect them? There are many other such practical questions that need to be asked and answered. If a new, more complicated voting system was adopted simultaneously with mandatory voting, voter confusion would be high, leading to problems at the polls and more invalid votes cast. The debate over mandatory voting raises the question of how low turnout must be to justify compelling people to vote. In the 2015 Canadian election, turnout increased over the 2011 election by seven points to 68.3 per cent. Compare that to the United States, where the 38 per cent turnout in the 2014 mid-term elections for Congress prompted President Barack Obama to call for consideration of mandatory voting. The bottom line is low turnout is a symptom, not the real problem. Turnout is not the only measure of the health of a democracy. For some time, there has been growing disillusionment with the political process. Politicians and parties need to give citizens more reasons to have greater confidence and trust in the political process rather than adopt a compulsory mechanism to solve a perceived problem that may not be as persistent as the claims made by those who advocate for making voting mandatory. Paul G. Thomas is professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba. His column was also published by the Winnipeg Free Press. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 03/08/2016 (2277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Lets try to be a little more positive Who do they think they are? I have no idea. But I and other Canadians do know who we think they are. The prime minister is the leader of the party elected by Canadians to serve all of us. At the very least, the holder of this office may appear on every VIP list within this country and will appear frequently in person, print and video during their term. Almost weekly in the Brandon Sun, we are subjected to verbal graffiti in this column by a caller or writer whose vitriol spills onto the prime minister, over his wife and splashes onto his children ultimately seeping into our lives. A small bit of advice to these folks: please turn your energy away from the constant demeaning, bullying commentaries and instead follow the example of others get involved with the multitude of folk who become positive forces for projects and people within in our community and beyond. Demonstrate respect to persons and offices instead of just spoiling our community and our country. Spend time in a room to consider your comments and their negative effects on yourself and on others. In any case, when you find peace soon within and without whatever space you and your thoughts occupy, consider how you wish to be treated and offer others the same consideration. Cant fix stupid, but Id like to try We just watched in horror the video of the scumbag that threw the puppy up in the air and laughed and cussed as the poor animal hit the pavement and cried. What a piece of trash that so-called person is! The punishment we would like to see doled out to him is not mentionable in the newspaper, but it would have to do with his so-called manhood! What would Merv have to say? Our great late Conservative MP, the honourable Merv Tweed, CEO of OmniTrax, should come forward and explain why the port of Churchill is shutting down. Better to explain than to lay low. We havent forgot you, Merv. Thanks for keeping us out of the weeds Kudos to the parks board for cutting the weeds on the dike. For those of us who use it for exercise, walking pets or getting to the Eighth Street bridge over the river to the Discovery Centre, etc., it is a warm welcome rather than walking through weeds up to our hips. Keep up the good appreciated work. Cork-headquartered global business outsourcing firm Voxpro has continued its rapid global expansion with the announcement of 500 new jobs in the United States, writes Peter ODwyer, Irish Examiner Business Reporter. The company is to invest $4m (3.57m) in a new centre of excellence in Athens, Georgia which will employ 500 staff by 2020. The new centre of excellence comes hot on the heels of 450 additional roles at its Folsom base in California, which were announced in March. Voxpro chief executive and co-founder Dan Kiely lauded North America as an important aspect of its expansion plans. North America is a critical part of our global expansion and we are excited to be a leading Irish company bringing jobs to the US. Weve had a great welcome from the local community, and were delighted to be partnering with Governor Nathan Deal and the Georgia Department of Economic Development on our latest expansion as we continue to scale internationally. Voxpro partners with clients that are changing the world. Our success is built on delivering beautiful customer experience (BCX) and its our people and our culture that provide that point of difference, Mr Kiely said. Established20 years ago by co-founders, Dan and Linda Kiely, Voxpro operates successfully from three purpose built facilities in Cork, together with centres of excellence in Dublin and Folsom, California. The company employs more than 1,700 people worldwide and works with customers in over 32 countries internationally. Voxpros clients include some of the largest names in technology, including Google, Airbnb and Nest. The announcement was also welcomed by Georgia Governor who said the State offers a wealth of resources for an innovative company like Voxpro to grow its business. Georgias top-ranked business climate and highly skilled workforce is critical to attracting international business. We established a strong relationship with Voxpro leadership in Ireland and look forward to the companys continued investment in Georgia. A new vaccine aimed at preventing MRSA is among projects to be awarded new Government funding. Minister for Innovation Mary Mitchell O'Connor has announced 40m for 24 new scientific research projects. The funding will be distributed through Science Foundation Ireland and will support the work of 200 researchers and 39 companies. Minister Mitchell O'Connor said the funding was needed in order to further enhance Irelands reputation for excellence in all areas of research. This funding provides an important platform for researchers to advance their investigations and further enhance Irelands reputation for excellence in sectors such as health, agriculture, marine, energy and technology, said Mitchell O'Connor. Engaging with 39 companies, the programme offers researchers the opportunity to develop their careers, as well as providing industry collaborators with access to the wealth of outstanding expertise and infrastructure found throughout the island. The projects within this programme clearly demonstrate excellent and impactful research which is a key goal of the Governments science and innovation strategy Innovation 2020. The awards range in value from 500,000 to 2.7m over four to five year periods. Whitegate oil refinery has been sold to Canadian company Irving Oil, writes Peter ODwyer, Irish Examiner Business Reporter. The countrys sole refinery will remain operational and all staff will continue to be employed, according to its new owners. The sale of the refinery comes after a protracted sales process and the expiration of an obligation on the facilitys previous owner Phillips 66 to operate the refinery until the end of July 2016. We are pleased to have signed an agreement to purchase the Whitegate refinery, says Arthur Irving, Chairman of Irving Oil. Its a good day for our company and were looking forward to welcoming the Whitegate team to Irving Oil. Mr Irvings comments were echoed by company President, Ian Whitcomb who acknowledged Whitegates importance to Irelands fuel supply. We are delighted to be pursuing an acquisition that feels so natural for us, Mr Whitcomb said. The Whitegate refinery has a tremendous reputation as a vital and secure supplier to the Irish market, and we will uphold that commitment very proudly and very seriously. As operators of Canadas largest refinery, Irving Oil is a proud Atlantic Canadian company, family-owned and operated for close to a century, says Sarah Irving, Executive Vice President of Irving Oil. Our history and role in supplying Atlantic Canada and the US northeast ensures we bring exceptional experience and commitment to the people of Whitegate and to customers across Ireland. The Irish Examiner reported in May that Irving were the frontrunners in the race to acquire the refinery, while others such as Inver, PTFPlusOne and Valero are understood to have been interested in the facility. On all fronts, weve been impressed by the Whitegate refinery and its people, says Mark Sherman, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Irving Oil. The operational performance of Whitegate is strong, it has well established and diligent maintenance schedules and we are struck by the positive working environment seen amongst its people. In many respects, our refineries share common qualities and its one of the reasons we found this opportunity to be so compelling. The deal is expected to close by the end of Q3 2016. A spokesperson for Irving Oil said it will share more information on the deal once it is completed. Yesterday afternoon, motorists outside Killorglin in Kerry would have done a double take as a camel of all things was strolling down the road. Sue Carr managed to keep her wits about her long enough to grab these two photos of the animal which were shared on the Radio Kerry Facebook page. Puck Fair is next week and there's a circus already in town but this has Read More: Read More: Read More: And that's not even counting Read More: A firefighter was killed while responding to a plane crash-landing in Dubai, the chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline has said. Ten people were taken to hospital after the incident at Dubai International Airport, Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum told a news conference. The accident happened as Flight EK521, a Boeing 777, was arriving from the southern Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram. There were 300 people on board the aircraft at the time, including four from Ireland. The accident was the most serious ever for Emirates, which has grown at a breakneck pace over the last three decades and turned its home city of Dubai into a major long-haul international air hub. Amateur footage shows explosion and black smoke after Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai https://t.co/OwD6bXqeEo https://t.co/NanzHSbIST BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) August 3, 2016 It was the second major air disaster for a Dubai government-backed airline in less than five months. A FlyDubai 737-800 jetliner crashed in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, in March, killing all 62 on board. The two airlines operate independently of one another, though they share the same chairman and are both ultimately owned by the government of Dubai. Speaking to reporters in Dubai, Mr Al Maktoum stressed that all passengers were safely evacuated before the plane was engulfed in a fireball. He said one firefighter died trying to put out the blaze. Emirates said the accident happened at around 12.45pm local time as Flight EK521 was arriving from the southern Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram. It confirmed that "all passengers and crew are accounted for and safe", but gave no details of what went wrong. "We do not have ... all the information. Thankfully there (were) no fatalities among our passengers and crew," Mr Al Maktoum said in a video statement . "Our thoughts are with everyone involved." The Boeing 777-300 was carrying 282 passengers and 18 crew members from 20 different countries, according to the airline. Those onboard included 226 Indians, 24 Britons, 11 Emiratis, and six each from the United States and Saudi Arabia. Airline officials refused to answer questions from journalists, including what might have caused the accident. A problem with the plane's landing gear appeared to have at least been a contributing factor. Video shot by a passenger on another flight showed the plane tilted to its right side and lying on its belly as thick smoke poured out. The right wing appeared to have been torn off the fuselage during the crash. Emirates predicted there would be an eight-hour delay in operations across its network, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers during the busy summer holiday season. The Dubai Media Office said flights resumed at the airport a little before 7pm local time. "Our main priority at this time is the safety and wellbeing of all involved and full co-operation is being extended to the authorities and emergency services managing the situation," Emirates said. Passengers escaped the burning plane using inflatable slides. At one point after coming to a stop, part of the plane exploded into a bright orange fireball. By the time firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze, the roof of the plane had been consumed and scorched from the cockpit all the way to the tail. Director general of residency and foreigner affairs at Dubai airport, Mohammed al-Marri, said some of the passengers had their passports with them, but that others lost their passports during the quick exit from the aircraft. Based on the passenger manifest, Mr al-Marri said officials were able to facilitate the entry of the flight's passengers into the United Arab Emirates. In Dubai International Airport's gleaming Terminal 3, the home of Emirates, the typically bustling arrivals hall was hushed. Flat-screen televisions showed all incoming Emirates flights delayed or rescheduled. Dubai resident Girisankal Gangadhakan said his wife called him after the plane landed to tell him that she and their three children onboard had been involved in an accident but were safe. "I was shocked when I heard about that," he said. The Boeing 777 departed Thiruvananthapuram at 10.19am and was scheduled to land at 12.50pm local time, according to Emirates. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of the south-western Indian state of Kerala. Many migrant workers employed in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf nations come from Kerala, which is a popular beachside tourist destination. TP Seetharam, India's ambassador to the UAE, said Indian diplomats had been dispatched to the airport and had met directly with many passengers. "Many of them are in shock after such an event, and there may be minor bruises," he said. Dubai International is by far the Middle East's busiest airport and is the world's busiest air hub in terms of international passenger traffic. It handled some 78 million passengers last year. Fast-growing Emirates is the region's biggest carrier. The government-backed airline has a good safety record, with no other major accidents recorded since its founding in 1985. The 777 model is one of the workhorses of Emirates' fleet. It operates more than 120 of the twin-engine planes, more than any other airline. Four people are due to appear in court in Dublin this morning charged in connection with a post office robbery in Co Louth. Three men and a woman were arrested following a robbery in Clogherhead on May 3. Irish Water is denying media reports it is putting a roof on a Dublin reservoir amid fears of a terrorist attack. The utility has said the Stillorgan facility is only one of two reservoirs in Ireland that is not yet covered. A spokesperson for Irish Water has said as the facility serves 200,000 people it is working to bring it up to modern day standard practice. Head of Major Projects at Irish Water Geoff OSullivan said: Safeguarding the quality of drinking water is a top priority for Irish Water. We have committed to investing approximately 80m to ensure the upgrade to the reservoir provides the long term solution that is required to secure the water supply. This is part of a national investment plan which is being implemented on the basis of greatest need under our 25 year strategy, the Water Services Strategic Plan. A public consultation on the plans is opening today. An Irishman who has been locked up in Australia after his visa expired is to return home this week. 26-year-old Bernard Lee from Greystones in Wicklow was arrested by armed police last week after it was discovered that he was in the country illegally. He claims an admin error meant he didn't know his visa had expired. However, he has been permanently expelled from Australia as punishment. Lee will be escorted home by immigration officials on Friday. A Change.org petition says he has since lived and worked legally in Western Australia for the last seven years. The petition aimed at the Australian authorities had appealed for Bernard to be allowed to return home as he had planned this week, instead of keeping him in detention. Speaking to the The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk from his cell in the Yongah Hill Detention Centre in Northam 90km northeast of Perth today, he explained why he was denied citizenship. They refused the permanent visa on grounds of character - I have some drink driving charges and driving without a licence charges from over five years ago, said Lee. They refused by permanent application and when they did that they then cancelled by current visa, but they never notified me of the cancelation. A man and a woman have been arrested as part of the investigation into the murder of a taxi driver in Belfast. Michael McGibbon died after being shot in the legs a number of times in an alleyway on Butler Place on April 15. A 12-year-old boy charged with murder has been granted bail by a UK High Court judge. The youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was not at Manchester Crown Court for the short hearing. He has been bailed to an address in Accrington in Lancashire with a series of conditions attached. Bradley Moore, 43, was assaulted outside a McDonald's restaurant in Warrington Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday July 27. He was taken to hospital with numerous injuries but died the following day. Three women and one man sat in the public gallery for the bail application, which the Crown and defence had requested be heard in chambers. But following an application from the Press Association, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb allowed it to be heard in open court. The conditions of the boy's bail are that he does not enter the borough of Tameside and that he does not contact directly or indirectly any of his three co-defendants or anyone who may be a prosecution witness. He will also be subject to an electronically monitored curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am. The next hearing will be at the same court on August 15. Two 16-year-olds boys and a 17-year-old who cannot be named because of their ages are also charged with murder. The boys are due to stand trial on January 16 next year and will next appear in court on August 15 for a preliminary hearing. In a tribute, Mr Moore's family said they had "struggled to find the words to describe their great loss". Daughter Alex said: "My dad was a harmless man and was loved by all those who knew him. "I will make him proud and I know he will be watching over me, my brothers, Reece and Jack, and my little sister, Emma." Mr Moore's sister, Melanie, said: "Bradley was a tough character who led a difficult life at times. "For it to be cut short so tragically is truly heartbreaking. At least he can now rest at ease with our mother. May he rest in peace." French president Francois Hollande has strongly criticised US presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying some of the things the Republican nominee does make him sick. "Some excesses make your stomach turn, even in the United States, especially when - as did Donald Trump - he speaks ill of a soldier, of the memory of a soldier," Mr Hollande said, according to sources at a meeting with members of the French Presidential Press Association. Donald Trump has suggested that US presidential rival Hillary Clinton should be recognised as the founder of Islamic State. Mr Trump made the remarks in Florida on Wednesday as he denounced US foreign policy while Democrat Ms Clinton was secretary of state. THE HAGUE: Climate activists glued themselves to Johannes Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' at a Dutch museum on... SAN FRANCISCO: US tech titans looking to the future are seeing growth take a beating in the face of foreign... HAMBURG: The lowest price offered in the tender from Pakistan to purchase 500,000 tonnes of wheat which closed on... SINGAPORE: Chinas crude oil imports in September rose from the previous month but stayed 2% below their level a... ISLAMABAD: The number of cellular subscribers as well as teledensity declined for the second consecutive month in... Flamboyant billionaires Pankaj and Radhika Oswal used more than $35 million of Burrup Fertilisers' money to furnish their extravagant lifestyle including purchasing an Aston Martin, luxury boats, multi-million-dollar mansions, development plots and Mrs Oswal's vegan restaurant chain, a court has heard. The couple allegedly siphoned a further $54 million from Burrup Fertilisers into their family trust in the months ahead of receivers being called in on their majority stake in the company. Another $US30 million was transferred from Burrup Fertilisers to companies and projects associated with other parts of the Oswals' business empire, the court heard. The couple's largesse was revealed in the Supreme Court of Victoria's trial looking into the billionaires' financial affairs ahead of the collapse of their Burrup Fertilisers empire in December 2010. Millions of Australians can now cash out annual leave and take the money instead after new reforms came into force this week. The industrial umpire has inserted clauses into almost all of Australia's 122 workplace awards, which allow employees to strike agreements with their bosses to cash out portions of leave, as long as they still have at least four weeks remaining after doing so. The industrial umpire has inserted clauses into almost all of Australia's 122 workplace awards, which allow employees to strike agreements with their bosses to cash out portions of leave. Credit:Louie Douvis Under the changes, workers will only be able to cash out two weeks of annual leave every 12 months. Employers will also receive greater powers to force staff who have excessive leave balances to take paid leave. The new clauses affect nearly 2 million Australians covered by modern awards the basic pay and conditions safety nets for most occupations. The changes were introduced this week, and come after the Fair Work Commission last year delivered the findings of a sweeping inquiry into annual leave provisions. Who said royal commissions don't matter? For as long as Labor was holding out the prospect of one in the lead up to the election, the banks behaved themselves. On the first Tuesday in May, as Labor ramped up its rhetoric about a commission and the Prime Minister prepared to call the election, the big four banks passed on almost every cent of the Reserve Bank's 0.25 point rate cut. Westpac, the Commonwealth and the NAB passed on the entire 0.25 points, the ANZ passed on 0.19. But with the election out of the way and the Coalition returned (with financial support from the banks that will be revealed shortly) they are once again acting as they would have were their behaviour not about be dissected by a royal commission: they are hanging on to a good deal of the largess the Reserve Bank handed them on Tuesday and using it to shore up their profits instead of helping their customers. No other Australian businesses, with the possible exception of Telstra, act as if they have the right to maintain their profits no matter what. Most are busy cutting their margins to keep customers. Controversial broadcaster Derryn Hinch has officially won a seat in Parliament, while the Greens are set to retain the balance of power, after Senate results were announced in Victoria. It takes the total number of elected Senate crossbenchers to seven, with Pauline Hanson and others expected to join that list when results are declared in NSW and Queensland later this week. Also elected to represent Victoria were five Liberal/National senators, four Labor senators and two Greens: the party's leader Richard Di Natale and Senator Janet Rice. The left-wing party takes its total number of senators to seven, and should pick up at least one more in both Queensland and NSW, giving it a total of nine. Goldfinger, as the James Bond film's title song had it, was the man with the Midas touch. But one of Australia's spies from ASIO might be called Fatfinger, the man with the clumsy touch, after a series of wrong phones were bugged because incorrect numbers were entered. Margaret Stone, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, says spies are not perfect. The intelligence agency watchdog has revealed the mistakes as part of a vibrant defence of the nation's spies, who she says are human beings doing a difficult job, inevitably subject to the same flaws as the rest of us. Providing rare insight into the office that has unfettered access to all six of the nation's major intelligence agencies, including ASIO and ASIS, Margaret Stone, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, said Australians needed to understand that spies were not perfect. A Pakistani refugee has drowned at a waterfall on Manus Island. The ABC has reported that the man, Kamil Hussain, went missing at around 4pm near the town of Lorengau. He was found after a two hour search by police. The Manus Island detention centre. Credit:Andrew Meares Australia's Immigration Department says it is aware of the man's tragic drowning. "Australian government representatives remain in close contact with the Royal PNG Constabulary [police] which is managing the situation," a spokesman from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said. The CSIRO cuts came despite the agency's own projections last year showing Australia could be among the nations hardest hit by global warming at the end of this century. Justifying the decision in February in an email to staff, CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall said climate change has been established and the agency's focus should move to mitigation and adaptation. Mr Hunt, who assumed the Industry, Innovation and Science portfolio from Christopher Pyne, said the fresh display of support for climate science was "a shared view of the Prime Minister no question", and that the directive drew on Mr Hunt's previous environment role. The new CSIRO strategy will be developed in consultation with the scientific community and Chief Scientist Alan Finkel. When the CSIRO cuts were revealed, it was initially feared that the Oceans and Atmosphere division, which held the bulk of climate scientists, would lose most of its 140 staff. However, this figure was whittled down to about 35 climate-science jobs across two key research programs. It is understood some voluntary redundancies have already been accepted. The pared-back job losses came after sustained criticism, including from top NASA scientist Brent Holben, who said CSIRO risked undermining the world's ability to monitor and predict climate change. Mr Hunt has met Dr Finkel, Dr Marshall and CSIRO chairman David Thodey to discuss the new direction. "[Climate science] will be a priority and the senior executive and the board know this now, clearly," Mr Hunt said. A new Climate Science Centre in Hobart, announced by the CSIRO in April, will form part of the new strategy. Mr Hunt said he would not "outsource" the science role to his assistant minister Craig Laundy, and indicated he would soon release a significant science statement. "I will be the minister for science I want to be the chief science advocate in the government,' he said. Speaking on ABC radio on Thursday, Mr Hunt rejected suggestions that Dr Marshall's position was now untenable, saying CSIRO had "embraced and endorsed" the new direction and Dr Marshall was "one of the outstanding science leaders, not just in Australia but around the world". Asked if the directive indicated that the CSIRO was wrong to make cuts to climate science, Mr Hunt said the directive was "a decision that the Prime Minister and myself have taken. It's a new government and we're laying out a direction that climate science matters". Mr Hunt said the government was "starting from where we are" when asked if CSIRO would reinstate climate scientists who had or would soon be made redundant. He dismissed suggestions that CSIRO had suffered reputational damage. "We have a great reputation as a nation in terms of science and as a nation in terms of climate science," Mr Hunt said. He said the CSIRO's budget would increase by about $100 million over the next three years, and overall staffing levels will increase by more 200 "as opposed to where they were expected to be this year". Dr Finkel said in February he only learned of the cuts when they were made public, and told Senate estimates that "Australia needs a continuous and highly effective commitment to climate science, both to meet our national needs and to fulfil our international commitments". On Wednesday, he told Fairfax Media that "Australia needs a strong climate research capability". "I welcome the Minister's support to strengthen Australian climate science capacity so we can respond to national and global challenges and inform our mitigation options," he said. Greenpeace Australia Pacific senior climate and energy campaigner Nikola Casule said it was "preposterous" to axe climate science jobs at CSIRO and while the partial recovery of jobs was welcome, it did not go far enough. "We hope this is the start of more positive leadership from the Turnbull government on the critical threat of climate change," he said. "However, around 35 climate science jobs remain at risk, so restoring just 15 means the department is still under-resourced compared to earlier this year." Mr Casule said 2015 was the hottest year on record, the Great Barrier Reef was suffering record coral bleaching and it was "vital that we have a functional and funded climate science program to help prevent the worst of the damage from dangerous global warming". with Peter Hannam Evolutionary theory suggests ancient men attracted mates by besting rivals in displays of physical strength. Behavioral economists say some of this competitive compulsion lingers - but it comes now in the form of, say, flashing wealth (a Rolex on Tinder!) or embracing extremes, like: My way is the only way. Hristina Nikolova, a marketing professor at Boston College, wanted to understand if any old inclinations affect the way today's men behave in decidedly more civil settings. So, she recruited college students with course credit and asked them to pick a grill. Male decision-making pairs were much less likely to compromise. Credit:Stocksy The students' gender, she found, appeared to influence their willingness to compromise with each other on which grill to select. Nikolova and her co-author, the University of Pittsburgh's Cait Lamberton, split nearly 250 participants into five groups: male pairs, female pairs, mixed-gender pairs and lone men and women. They instructed the students to consider grills with different cooking areas and weight. Each participant ranked their preferences on a one-to-seven scale. The individual respondents didn't overwhelmingly favour one grill over another; Neither gender seemed to gravitate toward one appliance. A cancer patient caught up in the latest chemotherapy dosing scandal has called Health Minister Jillian Skinner's response "bullshit", saying she has been kept in the dark and told not to "run to the media". The patient, whose treatment by Dr Kiran Phadke is being looked in to, said she was only notified on Monday via a vague phone call, despite health authorities being alerted to the issue in April. The woman, who suffers from multiple myeloma, said a staff member from Sutherland and St George Hospital informed her that Ms Skinner would be making an announcement concerning an investigation into alleged treatment errors by the oncologist and haematologist. "[They told me] I was one of those patients," she told Ray Hadley on 2GB Radio on Wednesday. Dramatic footage has emerged of a terrifying armed hold-up in Sydney's inner west involving a luxury Audi that has been linked to a string of violent robberies across the city. Armaguard truck footage captured the moment the grey Audi RS6 - with gun-toting offenders inside - closes in on a cash-in-transit van on Bay Street in Glebe on March 4, 2013. Two of the balaclava-clad men carrying assault rifles can be seen threatening one of the van's security guards while witnesses to the broad-daylight robbery flee. One gunman grabs the guard's pistol and fires a shot into the air. Despite their violent efforts, the offenders can't get into the van. A 48-year-old accused rapist targeted two young, drunk men walking home late at night, offering them a lift before sexually assaulting them, according police. Detectives are also investigating whether the Moorooka man, due in court on Wednesday, could be linked to a string of other sexual assaults in Brisbane over the past 10 years, a police spokesman confirmed. Police allege a Moorooka man picked up another man walking home in Fortitude Valley. Credit:AFR Police alleged about 4am on July 2, the man approached a 22-year-old walking home drunk in Fortitude Valley and offered him a lift. The younger man got in the car and was allegedly driven to a street in Brisbane's north and sexually assaulted, before escaping and raising the alarm at a nearby service station. Passengers who travelled through Brisbane late last month have been urged to be checked for measles after a young New Zealander was diagnosed with the infectious disease. The man was on board the Virgin Australia flight VA46 from Denpasar, Indonesia, to Brisbane arriving on Sunday, July 24. A New Zealand man was infected with measles when he flew from Bali to Brisbane and on to Wellington. Credit:Glenn Hunt The man spent time in the Brisbane transit lounge before he boarded Virgin Australia flight VA104 to Wellington. Queensland Health communicable diseases acting executive director Heidi Carroll said anyone who may have been near the passenger needed to be alert to symptoms of measles. Farmers will march on State Parliament on Thursday for the first time ever to protest proposed changes to Queensland's tree clearing laws. Farmers argue the legislation as it stands is working and has let an additional 430,000 hectares of "woody growth" emerge between 2012 and 2014, according to the state government's own data. Farmer Tom Nicholas on his property Solferino near Clermont in Central Queensland. Credit:Angela Wylie The AgForce-organised rally, in Elizabeth Street's Queens Park and the march on Queensland's Parliament House is timed with the start of the Ekka, the week "the bush comes to the city". AgForce has since March 2016 argued the increase in "woody vegetation" has been captured by Landsat satellite imagery in the Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS). The father-of-one's body has never been found. Mr Dufty's hire car was found abandoned in an Ashmore seafood restaurant car park on July 6 last year. Police continue to search for the body of Greg Dufty. Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch and the Homicide Investigation Unit detectives arrested a 21-year-old man at a Nerang residence about 7.30am on Wednesday morning. A sixth person has been charged with the murder of Gold Coast man Greg Dufty. Police have alleged a group of men assaulted the missing man and allegedly burned his body over a number of days. The Nerang man charged on Wednesday joins five others - a 22-year-old man, 28-year-old Clinton Stockman, alleged drug trafficker Aaron Crawford, Liam Bliss and Lionel Patea, all being charged with Mr Dufty's murder. Former Bandidos member Lionel Patea has also been charged over the separate bashing murder of his partner Tara Brown four months after Mr Dufty disappeared. The Nerang man is expected to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court today. Investigations were continuing. A 37-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly firing the shot that triggered a major police operation north of Brisbane on Wednesday. Police alleged two friends argued at a property in Joyner, near Strathpine, before the 37-year-old Joyner man fired a gun at his friend, who fled. Police block off Samsonvale Road after reports of a gunshot. Credit:Robert Shakespeare The uninjured friend called police about 12.50pm, a police spokesman said, triggering what developed into a siege lasting two to three hours. Police quickly surrounded the Samsonvale Road home, declaring an emergency situation and calling in specialist police and the armoured BearCat vehicle but the man was no longer in the home. A competitor has died after he crashed into a tyre wall during a sprint at Queensland Raceway on Wednesday afternoon. A man, 68, was racing in a midweek sprint at the Willowbank motor racing circuit when he missed a turn on the track and crashed into a tyre wall at 2.30pm. Paramedics were treating up to 18 passengers after the collision. Paramedics performed CPR on the man however he died at the scene. Midweek sprints at the Raceway are designed for road registered, unregistered and race cars and are held over 12 rounds with results counting towards end-of-year trophies. Melbourne Express: Thursday, August 4, 2016 Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss "You don't put your hands on my flight attendant!" As far as epic one-liners on airplanes go, it's not quite Harrison Ford growling "Get off my plane!" before tossing his Russian nemesis off his jet in the 1997 political thriller Air Force One. "You don't put your hands on my flight attendant!" the pilot said before taking on the unruly passenger. Credit:YouTube But unlike in the aging action flick, this time the line was delivered in real life. The heroic moment occurred on July 21 aboard an American Airlines flight from Lexington, Kentucky, to Charlotte, North Carolina, according to the Charlotte Observer. Most of us have done some pretty daft and insane things in the name of love. But one lovestruck Dutchman's efforts to find his soul mate is going to take some beating. Alexander Pieter Cirk ended up in hospital after waiting 10 days at a Chinese airport for his "girlfriend" Credit:WEIBO According to BBC News, Alexander Pieter Cirk, 41, flew from his home in Holland to the Hunan province in China to meet a woman with the surname of Zhang, who he had met online. But Ms Zhang was a no show when Mr Cirk arrived at the Changsha Huanghua International Airport late last month. A resident collects an "I Voted" sticker after voting in San Francisco. Credit:Bloomberg When it comes to re-drawing electoral boundaries, Democrats in power at the state level can be as bad as Republicans. But North Carolina's Republicans set a dizzying new measure of self-serving success in 2012, when 51 per cent of votes were cast for Democrats, who won just four of 13 congressional seats in the state. North Carolina is Ground Zero in this new age battle against discrimination, but the battlefield sprawls through 17 states, including Ohio, Wisconsin, Kansas, Texas, Arizona and Georgia. Residents use an electronic voting machine at a polling location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US. Credit:Bloomberg In June, Federal District Court judge Algernon Marbley denounced a tightening of voting laws in Ohio as "a peripatetic solution in search of a problem" before saying what he really thought: "Intentional discrimination is afoot." He went on: "Moreover, the Republican-controlled General Assembly's frenetic pace of introducing such legislation reflects questionable motives, given the wealth of other problems facing the state which actually needed solutions." President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act in 1965. Credit:AP In ordering an easing of tight new voter ID requirements in Wisconsin, US District judge James Peterson ruled: "The Wisconsin experience demonstrates that a preoccupation with mostly phantom election fraud leads to real incidents of disenfranchisement, which undermine rather than enhance confidence in elections, particularly in minority communities. "To put it bluntly, Wisconsin's strict version of voter ID law is a cure worse than the disease." Just as the pro-life campaigners won support at state level for insisting on prohibitively costly, hospital-style facilities for abortion clinics, conservatives' insistence on strict voter ID regulations is argued as a defence against voter fraud which is virtually non-existent. So in North Carolina, you had the nonsense acceptance of a driver's licence as proof of ID, but not a government-issued public assistance card, which the poor and minorities are more likely to have than they are a driver's licence. The New York-based Brennan Centre for Justice argues that voter fraud is more rare than people being struck by lightning; and in studying 14 years of US elections in which more than 1 billion votes were cast, Loyola Law School professor Justin Levitt found just 31 cases of fraud. In an early hearing on the Wisconsin laws, district judge Lynn Adelman was withering: "The defendants could not point to a single instance of known voter impersonation occurring in Wisconsin at any time in the recent past." In other developed democracies, electoral reform ordinarily means getting more voters to the polls, but in the US it means suppression and obstruction of voting, usually by the poor and by African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans; and usually by Republican state governments seeking to thwart communities that traditionally vote for the Democratic Party. The tricks played vary from state to state deal minorities in and out of electoral districts to limit their representation; put fewer polling stations in their communities; get the cops to harass them about their voter registration; create trivial grounds for rejecting provisional votes; purge likely Democrat voters from the electoral rolls; insist on them producing the kind of photo ID they are least likely to have; set aside their votes if they can't prove US citizenship; restrict access to absentee and early voting; and launch criminal investigations into voter registration drives. But if you want to get really nasty, you go the Texas route and attempt to prove that "one person, one vote" doesn't mean what it says. In April, the Supreme Court unanimously smacked down a Texas argument that electoral districts should comprise "eligible voters", not people. The effect would have been to transfer power from cities that tend to vote Democratic, to rural areas that tend to vote Republican. It also would "disappear" from consideration in the electoral redistribution process the hundreds of thousands of Hispanic babies born each year, who are American citizens though their parents often are not; and who, on attaining age 18, would be eligible to vote. In a nice touch, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg reached back to the Founding Fathers, who conservatives are so wont to quote in defending their sense of America. Writing for the whole court, Justice Bader Ginsburg took these words from Alexander Hamilton: "There can be no truer principle than this - that every individual of the community at large has an equal right to the protection of government." It comes as no surprise then, that during the 2016 primaries, a phone hotline set up by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law took more than 22,000 queries and complaints 10 times as many as it did in the primaries before the 2012 presidential election. In recent centuries, the greatest crises in British history have been accompanied by deep divisions among our allies, and sometimes within our own country, in the face of the sudden emergence of new dangers. The French Revolution sparked intense debate within Britain, and required a quarter of a century of rallying reluctant allies before the final victory at Waterloo. The rise of the Nazis initially produced apathy and admiration as well as hostility, and only after two years of their violent conquests did the democratic world unite to defeat them. No fans of Western values: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Credit:Getty Images In our own lifetimes, by contrast, we have become used to the idea that our Western values are successful and that we are as one in making sure of that success. Since 1945, US presidents have never given up their global leadership, morally or militarily, even though they have varied in effectiveness. Nato triumphed in the Cold War and grew alongside the European Union. The West has retained the greatest centres of innovation, finance, education and culture. Our languages and computer codes have dominated the discourse of the world. Paris: An entire street, cellars of apartment blocks and underground car parks have been flooded with wine in a southern French town in an act of sabotage. "Wine terrorists" released tens of thousands of litres from giant vats belonging to a merchant in the Mediterranean port of Sete. The wine flooded the street in front of the dealer's premises and was several inches deep along a stretch of the road and the smell filled the entire district. It took firefighters half an hour to drain the liquid away. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Youve heard of poor doors now meet the poor doormen. Service workers in the below-market-rate housing high-rise at Downtowns new City Point megacomplex say theyre being paid less than their counterparts at its market-rate tower next door, and rallied outside the building on Tuesday to demand their employer give them the same wage for the same work. Its not fair to us, we should be getting paid the same, said Quetcy Ramirez, a full-time concierge at 7 Dekalb Ave. I just hope they give in so we can make a little more money and live better. The two towers are both part of the massive mall, office, and residential compound on city-owned land at Albee Square West and Fulton Mall, but different developers are responsible for each 7 Dekalb, which houses mostly so-called affordable units, is run by Acadia Realty Trust, while the entirely market-rate City Tower next door is run by the Brodsky Organization. City Tower workers make a minimum of $18 per hour. The contractor that provides 7 Dekalbs workers, Kent Services, initially paid Ramirez and the six or so other service staff at $12 per hour, though later gave some, including Ramirez, a $3 raise, she said. Still, she and her truck-driving husband had to move out of their East New York apartment and move in with family in Fort Greene because they could no longer afford their rent, she said. The workers say they quickly got wise to the disparity between the two buildings, and now theyre attempting to unionize with Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, whose members rallied with them on Tuesday. The employees delivered Kent Services a petition demanding a raise and permission to unionize free of retaliation last month, but have not heard back, according to union spokeswoman Rachel Cohen. Pay up: Union service workers and non-union workers rallied outside City Points 7 Dekalb building on Tuesday calling for higher wages. Photo by Stefano Giovannini The workers and union would be satisfied with one of three outcomes, Cohen said Acadia can hire the service workers directly at a minimum of $18 per hour, recruit another subcontractor to do the same thing, or demand Kent Services just pay the higher rates. The union would help negotiate the contract once the workers join, she said. Affordable housing isnt really living up to its name if the jobs it creates dont pay enough to live on, the union said in a release. We cant build our way out of the affordable housing crisis, it said. We need to make sure that people are earning enough to afford housing. Good jobs and affordable housing go hand-in-hand. It is not the first time Acadia has come under fire for its labor practices. Union construction workers rallied outside the tower in 2012, claiming the developer short-changed the non-union workers who built the 23-floor tower and arguing they should have been hired for the job in the first place. The City Point developers received a $20-million federal bailout in 2009 after construction stalled via tax-free bonds they have to pay back on the basis of the jobs and below-market housing the complex would create. A whopping 88,500 people applied for one of 7 Dekalbs 200 below-market-rate apartments, which are earmarked for households earning between $18,515 and $142,395, with rents ranging between $500 and $2,455 a month. Available units in one of City Towers 440 market-rate units start at around $2,650 for a studio and soar up to $6,198 a month for a two-bedroom on the 39th floor. Acadia did not return requests for comment. Paid less: Concierge Quetcy Ramirez makes $15 per hour at 7 Dekalb, or $3 less than her counterparts in the swankier City Tower building next door in the mixed City Point complex. Photo by Stefano Giovannini Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams 78th Precinct Park Slope Sound off Police slapped irons on a woman for allegedly attacking a 55-year-old lady as she listened to music at Grand Army Plaza on July 23. The victim told police she was kicking back and enjoying some tunes at the plaza near Flatbush Avenue at 11:50 pm when the 45-year-old suspect charged and whacked her with a stick. The victims alleged assailant struck her twice, once on the arm and again on her head, where she opened a nasty gash, cops said. Bike bandit A thief rode off with a mans bicycle after he parked it along Eighth Avenue on July 16. The victim left his bike between Third and Fourth streets at 6:15 am, and returned two days later to find some crook had nabbed it, cops said. Well-heeled crooks A shoplifter ripped off a Fifth Avenue shoe store on July 20. The bandit strolled into the business between 10th and 11th streets at 5:30 pm, took four pairs of sneakers, and skipped past the register on his way out, authorities said. Making her bed Police arrested a woman for stealing bed sheets and luggage from a Flatbush Avenue chain store on July 24. An employee told cops the suspect was spotted grabbing two sheets and a Swiss travel bag from the store between Atlantic Avenue and Hanson Place at 11:54 am, when she attempted to flee without shilling out $430 to pay for her ill-gotten goods. Smash cab Some jerk smashed up a mans taxi on Seventh Street on July 24. The cabbie told police he parked his ride near Fourth Avenue at 5:25 am, and returned 20 minutes later to find one of his windows shattered. Colin Mixson 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. What you need to know to sign up for NJ Obamacare this year Nikesh Arora's exit from SoftBank grabbed headlines globally. But, he's not alone. Private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) firms have seen a churn in the past few months while PE inflows shrank 48 per cent to $7.54 billion for the six months ended June 2016. These entries and exits were mostly at the mid-level. State-run has commissioned the second 500 Mw (megawatt) thermal unit at Marwa Thermal Power Station in Chhattisgarh. "Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has successfully commissioned the second 500 Mw thermal unit at Marwa Thermal Power Station in Chhattisgarh," the power equipment manufacturer said in a regulatory filing. Located in Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh, Marwa TPS has been set up by Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company (CSPGCL). The first unit of Marwa TPS was also commissioned earlier by BHEL, it said. has been associated with power projects of CSPGCL, (the erstwhile Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board), from the time when the 120 MW Korba TPS extention-1 was commissioned in March 1976. "Significantly, has a share of 94% in the installed capacity of CSPGCL and has so far commissioned 11 thermal sets and three hydro sets for the state utility. "In Chhattisgarh, BHEL has contributed a total of 12,500 MW to the state's installed power generation, including central and private sector utilities," it said. BHEL further said its scope of work in the contract envisaged design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of steam turbines, generators and boilers, along with associated auxiliaries and electricals, besides, state-of-the-art controls & instrumentation and electrostatic precipitators. Shares of the company were trading 2.41% down at Rs 135.40 apiece on BSE. has set itself a target of generating 75 per cent of its revenue in India from products based on ayurveda by 2020. The move follows the surging popularity of ayurveda and herbal products in the country and increasing competition from rival brands like Patanjali. Energy-efficient solutions company Danfoss India, which has made an investment of around $100 million to set up a new campus in Chennai recently, is expecting its manufacturing operations in India to grow in the next five years to meet around 40 per cent of its sales in the country. The Indian facility, which manufactures components for the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry, currently contributes to 10 per cent of its sales. "We have a well-laid plan for the next five years for expansion in India. Currently 10 per cent of our sales are met from manufacturing activity in India, while the rest comes in from Europe, US, China and Mexico. Our target is to have our Indian operations cater to 40 per cent of sales in next five years," said Ravichandran Purushothaman, President, . The company currently has around 900 employees and sales of $150 million. In another case of the governments right hand not knowing what its left hand is doing, seamen are being taxed retrospectively at a time when the shipping minister wants to increase contribution of water transportation in the country. 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. Hyderabad-based hardware start-up RDP Workstations Private Limited on Wednesday announced the availability of ultra slim laptop across India for a price of Rs 10,000. Developed in strategic association with ecosystem players Microsoft and Intel, the new device aims to address the needs of entry-level consumers looking for an affordable yet robust device, the company said. The 14.1 inch device comes packed with the Intel Atom x5-Z8300 Processor and runs on Windows 10 software, helping users be more productive with the intuitive operating system, according to the company. "India is at the cusp of a digital revolution and there is a huge demand for affordable yet trustworthy computing devices to fuel this revolution further. At RDP, we believe that a lower price point at the cost of performance will not be accepted by the end consumers. We are proud to make the ThinBook available to consumers across India and are confident that the consumers will appreciate the overall package that has been designed to deliver sturdy performance and good looks all under Rs 9,999," Vikram Redlapalli, founder and managing director of RDP Workstations Private Limited said. According to Microsoft India country general manager Priyadarshi Mohapatra, they have been making strategic investments towards expanding their OEM partner ecosystem to augment availability of affordable devices across price points and form factors and ThinBook was a part of this ongoing strategy. Anand Ramamoorthy, director, consumption sales, Intel South Asia, said: "Intel India has been committed to collaborating with local device manufacturers to deliver amazing personal computing experience in the country. This is a part of our ongoing effort to digitise India, one person at a time. The new RDP ThinBook, offered at an attractive price point and available nationwide, will contribute to this story of digitising the country." US-based diagnostic company Alere confirmed that the merger agreement it signed with earlier in the year is still on. ''It is on,'' said the company's President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Namal Nawana, who's in the country for launching a manufacturing facility in Manesar, on Wednesday, Dispelling apprehensions about the deal getting stuck. Alere, a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), signed an agreement with in February for merging the two . However, expressed reservations about Alere not disclosing its financials in a transparent manner as part of the merger agreement, thereby casting a doubt over the deal. Alere had said that revealing its financials to the US securities regulator will be delayed for 2015 . (NLC) is planning to acquire a 1200 MW Raghunathpur Thermal Power Project (RTPP) of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) through a joint venture company (JVC) proposed to be formed with DVC with an equity shareholding of 74:26 by NLC and DVC. While NLC's management was not available for comment, in an announcement to BSE, the company said as part of its corporate plan, NLC has initiated actions to acquire power assets and one of the proposals under consideration is the acquisition of 1200 MW Raghunathpur Thermal Power Project (RTPP) of Damaodar Valley Corporation (DVC) through a joint venture company (JVC) proposed to be formed with the DVC with an equity shareholding of 74:26 by NLC and DVC, said the company. RTPP consists of two units of 600 MW each and both the units have been commissioned during March 2016. As per the proposal, the project cost as determined by CERC/ APTEL for the purposes of arriving at the final tariff for power or such cost as mutually agreed between NLC and DVC would be the consideration value for the transfer of RTPS project assets to the JVC. The proposal for investment in the JVC is required to be sanctioned by the government of India, said NLC. The ministry of coal, the administrative ministry, in consultation with the other ministries, is in the process of submitting the proposal to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for sanction of investment decision. On obtaining sanction from the government of India, further course of actions with regard to entering into joint venture agreement and formation of JVC with the DVC will be undertaken, subject to obtaining necessary statutory and other administrative approvals, said NLC. With warning of a countrywide protest in Pakistan if Home Minister Rajnath Singh enters Islamabad to attend the SAARC ministerial conference, the Congress party on Monday asserted that the Jamaat-ud-Dawah(JuD) chief should not be taken seriously and should simply be ignore. "Why do we take these people seriously? knows nothing about anything. How is his view on multilateral meeting on the SAARC even relevant to the rest of us? My serious advice is, let the Indian media also learn to ignore this man," Congress leader Shashi Tharoor told ANI here. Asserting that attention should be paid to Saeed only when he causes trouble, he added that he should be avoided when he makes inflammatory statements. Earlier, Saeed has warning of massive protests if Rajnath entered Pakistan. "I want to ask the Pakistani government will it add insult to injury to the wounds of Kashmiris by welcoming Rajnath, who is responsible for the killings of innocent Kashmiris. It will be ironical as on the one hand the whole Pakistani nation is protesting+ against the Indian atrocities in Kashmir and on the other hand the Pakistani rulers will be garlanding Singh," said the statement issued on Monday," he said in a statement. He added that protest demonstrations will be held and rallies taken out in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad, Muzaffarabad and other cities of the country on August 3. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has ruled out any possibilities of bilateral talks with leaders of Pakistan, saying that the visit was strictly for the purpose of attending the SAARC ministerial conference. "The Home Minister is not travelling for a bilateral engagement with Pakistan, he is going for a SAARC related event. You know the importance that we attach to SAARC, to regional cooperation, to regional prosperity. So please take this in the right context. The Home Minister is visiting Pakistan for a SAARC related event as Home Ministers of India have been attending all previous Home Minister related events in the SAARC context," MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a press conference. When asked if the Home Minister could possibly hand over any information, any dossier or any follow-up bilaterally on India's terror concerns to his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, the MEA spokesperson stated that there is no such proposal and re-iterated that Rajnath is only going for a multi-lateral SAARC event. Rajnath will be accompanied by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and several other senior officers of the Home Ministry. The meeting in Pakistan is significant as Singh last week slammed the neighbour state for interfering in India's internal affairs - the current unrest in Kashmir. Blaming Pakistan directly for the tense situation in Kashmir, Rajnath had said that Islamabad must understand that instigating youth to pick up weapons is not correct. "I want to tell my neighbour that instigating our youth to pick up weapons is not correct. We don't need third party's involvement to address the situation that prevails in Jammu & Kashmir," he said, adding that Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism and it must not encourage violence in Kashmir. At the 13th SAARC Summit held in Dhaka in November 2005, the Heads of State decided that the SAARC Interior/Home Ministers would meet annually preceded by a meeting of the Interior/Home Secretaries to strengthen cooperation in the area of counterterrorism, which they agreed was a challenge to all states and a threat to humanity, and could not be justified on any grounds. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned nine brokers for questioning in connection with the National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) money-laundering case, said a senior ED official. Global communication satellite makers will be keenly looking at an Indian rocket launch later this month. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark II is expected make its first operational flight, taking a two tonne weather communication satellite into space on August 28. At least two buses and several other vehicles went missing near Mahad city after a bridge on the Savitri River collapsed early on Wednesday due to torrential rains in the Konkan region. Two bodies have been recovered, even as the search operations are underway, Raigad Collector Sheetal Ugale said, news agency ANI reported. The bridge, more than seven decades old and a critical link to the Mumbai-Goa highway, crashed around 1 a.m. due to the flood waters rushing into the river. Two state transport buses with 11 passengers each were missing and there was no contact with either their drivers or the passengers, Ugale added. Since the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses which started from Mumbai did not arrive at their scheduled Mahad depot, Ugale appealed people to get in touch with the concerned authorities about their missing relatives. The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 Locals said that around five to six private vehicles were also missing and they were feared to be washed away in the floods.A search operation has been initiated, Ugale said."The bridge was built during the British era. After discussion with the Highways Authority, we have shifted traffic to the new parallel bridge nearby. We are trying to confirm reports of other missing vehicles," Ugale said. Pictures from the spot of bridge collapse on in Raigad (Maharashtra) pic.twitter.com/wSM49SYkbn ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 Rehabilitation Minister Chandrakant Patil said helicopters would be deployed and the help of defence forces was taken to search the missing vehicles.Meanwhile, a 45-member Disaster Response Force team reached Raigad from Pune to assist in the rescue operations.Incessant rains continue to lash the coastal Konkan, northern and western Maharashtra since past five days. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused the Centre of being oblivious to the ongoing unrest in the Valley. "Two more protestors killed last night. The CM (Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti) still wants to behave as though it's business as usual but why is the centre oblivious?" the Conference leader wrote on Twitter. One person was killed and another critically injured when personal security guard of a government official opened fire on protesters who tried to set ablaze his official vehicle at Lethpora in Pulwama district on Tuesday night. The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended the parole for Sahara boss Subrata Roy for a second time, but imposed a strict condition that he has to deposit Rs 300 crore more by September 16 to stay out of jail. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday tabled the GST Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha, kicking off a scheduled five-hour debate on the landmark tax reform. Speaking on the GST Bill, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who first introduced the tax proposal in his Budget Speech in 2006, reaffirmed that the Congress party was "not opposed to the idea of GST", and called it one of the "most reformative tax measures". However, he pointed out that the current Amendment bill was clumsily drafted. Chidambaram also described GST as an inherently 'regressive' tax while calling for a low rate that is capped at 18% instead of 24%, as has been recommended by a government-appointed panel. "GST is an indirect tax and it is by definition a regressive tax. It falls equally on the rich and the poor," he said, adding that "As a matter of policy regressive, indirect taxes should be kept as low as possible." He also warned the government that the judiciary would strike down the GST Amendment Bill if it failed to mention a tax rate in the legislation. "The judiciary will reject it if the does not mention a tax rate. You will come back to the parliament again," he cautioned. The government on Tuesday circulated among Rajya Sabha members a list of nine amendments to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Constitution Amendment Bill, which includes yielding to the Congress demand of scrapping a contentious one per cent levy on inter-state supply of goods. The Bill will be taken up in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Other amendments relate to compensating states for revenue loss for up to five years and requiring the GST Council to establish a mechanism for adjudication of disputes between the Centre and states or among states. The 2014 bill, passed by the Lok Sabha, had authorised the GST Council to decide upon the modalities for resolution of disputes, but the Congress demanded the mechanism be spelt out. The government has, thus, accommodated two of the Congress three demands. The amendments clarified that the states share of the Integrated GST (iGST) would not form part of the Consolidated Fund of India, and the term iGST itself was being replaced by goods and services tax levied on supplies in the course of inter-state trade or commerce in clause 12 dealing with apportionment of the proceeds. It was also clarified that Central GST (CGST) and the Centre's share of iGST would be distributed between the Centre and the states. The GST will subsume central excise duty, service tax and state value-added tax or sales tax. Opposition parties, including the Left and regional parties, were undecided whether to push for any amendments of their own in the bill. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said all political parties had come together to pass the bill unanimously and now is not the time for hairsplitting. All parties have issued whips to their MPs to be present in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and also on Thursday when the Lok Sabha is likely to take up the Bill after the Upper House passes it. Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi consulted party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, P Chidambaram and Anand Sharma, among others, about Wednesdays strategy in Parliament. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley briefed Bharatiya Janata Party MPs on the Bill at a weekly parliamentary party meeting. Later in the day, Jaitley met officials of his ministry. GST: THE ROAD AHEAD Rajya Sabha will need to pass the Constitution amendment Bill by two-thirds majority It will then be sent for presidential reference Subsequent to that, the Bill will be transmitted to the Lok Sabha (possibly on Thursday), which also needs to approve the amendments by two-thirds majority The President will then refer it to the state assemblies At least half the state assemblies, that is 15, would need to ratify the Bill by two-thirds majority It will then go for presidential assent before being notified in the gazette After all these procedures, Parliament would take up the actual (possibly in the winter session) Assurances that Left and regional parties would seek from govt The actual should take care of concerns about state govts being allowed to raise revenue in emergency situations The subsequent GST Bill should not be categorised as Money Bill, bypassing Rajya Sabha Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said, What we are going to discuss on Wednesday is merely the constitutional amendment that envisages a uniform tax regime countrywide. The actual GST bill will be considered subsequently, once half the states ratify the constitutional amendment.Yechury said the Left and regional parties had concerns the passage of the GST Bill would take away their right to raise revenue. I met the finance minister to explain our concerns, which he agreed to address, Yechury said. He and others will demand an assurance during the discussion that these concerns will be addressed when the GST Bill is taken up. Jaitley at a meeting with his state finance ministers last week promised to keep the incidence of the tax low while safeguarding revenue of the states. Yechury added any attempt by the government to categorise the subsequent GST Bill as a Money Bill -- which is not voted upon in the Rajya Sabha where the government is in minority -- would be resisted by all Opposition parties. Yechury as well as the Trinamool Congress Derek OBrien pointed out some of the amendments in the bill were vaguely worded. During a discussion on a calling attention motion in the Rajya Sabha, O'Brien said the list of amendments did not contain amendments to Clause 19 that provided for compensation to states for revenue loss incurred in the first five years. "The amendment circulated by the finance minister does not contain that amendment. If it is an oversight, it needs to be corrected," O'Brien said. The chair asked O'Brien to raise the issue on Wednesday when the Bill would be taken up. Even as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha, Former Finance Minister welcomed the friendly and conciliatory tone of the incumbent Arun Jaitleys speech in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The latter had spoken in the Upper House, outlining the journey involving the legislation and how it will convert India into a uniform market. Read our full coverage on the GST Bill and its impact The information technology (IT) and information technology-enabled services (ITeS) industry body Nasscom on Wednesday said the proposed goods and services tax (GST) Bill was likely to increase the tax points for the industry. "IT services are intangible, R Chandrasekhar, president of Nasscom, said here on Wednesday. We have number of concerns which have been shared with the government. Today, we have a simple regime, one single point of taxation which is the central service tax, one single point of registration, one single invoice and one single place where you have to go for any refund. Now under GST regime, it could be as high as 111 points. Because you have CGST, IGST, SGST. We have 36 states and Union territories. All put together it becomes 111 different tax points." According to the Nasscom president, all the key service sectors would be impacted by the Constitution amendment Bill. Industry concerns have already been brought to the notice of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, he said. "The minister assured us that these issues will be looked into." Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft India, said: I am pleased that the goods and services tax (GST) Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha. It is a positive development and I hope the government will implement this long-pending reform by April 1, 2017. The governments idea of a single tax regime is crucial to improve ease of doing business in India and address the ambiguities of the current indirect tax landscape, proving beneficial for the economy, at large. has projected that tourism sector would contribute almost 20 per cent to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in the next five years. Pulse prices have been rising for many reasons but it seems states, too, are contributing to some part of it by not lifting the pulses allocated by the Centre to cool down prices. Underscoring the twin importance of maintaining credibility and attracting foreign capital, SBI Chairman on Wednesday said need to meet regulatory norms as India is a capital deficient country. " in the country are required to maintain things like liquidity coverage ratio (LCR), CRR and SLR and classification of loans also. As India is a capital deficient country there is need to meet these standards and maintain credibility and attract foreign capital," Bhattacharya said at the FICCI Banking Conclave here. These were the challenges that the Indian banking industry would face in the wake of globalisation which was not there at least ten years ago, she added. "Now, are required to maintain LCR over and above CRR and SLR. Liquidity risk is the biggest risk which the banking sector was facing today," she said adding that it was due to this that the Lehman Brothers of the US collapsed. Globally restructured assets were classified as stressed assets. "In India, restructured assets are classified as standard assets. These are challenges we are to live with and grow with," she said. The SBI chief also said technology was becoming a great enabler in reaching out to the people in the villages. On this, she said SBI was devising small investment products and flexible deposit schemes for those who were banking through the Business Correspondent (BC) model. The bank has identified seven lakh Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts for availing of overdraft from the bank. Cyber crime was another issue of concern among the bankers, Bhattacharya noted. Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the financial year 2016-17. The MoU was signed by Shri Rajive Kumar, Secretary, Shipping and Shri Rajesh Tripathi, Chairman & Managing Director, Dredging Corporation of India Ltd, in New Delhi. . . The MoU broadly consists of the performance evaluation parameters and targets for Dredging Corporation of India Ltd. for the ensuing year. The MoU will be reviewed by the Ministry on a regular basis and the performance of the PSU would be evaluated and ratings awarded at the end of the financial year. The targets agreed in the MoU are in line with the aggressive growth plans of DCI for making forays internationally in line with the Ministry of Shippings ambitious plans. . . DCI has posted Very Good" performance during the last financial year (2015-16) as against Good" for the year 2014-15, despite very difficult market conditions. In the year ended 31st March 2016, DCI posted a turnover of Rs.676 crores. The Profit Before Tax (PBT) and Profit After Tax (PAT) figures are Rs.83 crores. and Rs.80 crores respectively, representing an increase of 28% and 29 % respectively over the previous year. . . DCI MUTLICAT an ancillary vessel has been added to the fleet of DCI. DCI has further placed order for an inland cutter suction dredger which will join the fleet very shortly. This would facilitate the Company to take up inland dredging works once again after a long gap. In continuation of the steps taken for capacity augmentation of its core dredging activity, the detailed Project Report is being prepared for higher capacity trailing suction dredgers. . . During the year under review, maintenance dredging contracts were executed for Kolkata Port, Haldia, Kandla, Cochin Port Trust, Ernakulam, RGPPL-Dabhol and NST and its approaches of VPT. Capital Dredging Contracts were executed at Kandla Port, Kamarajar Port and Visakhapatnam Port. The works were executed either under the existing contracts or renewal of the contracts entered into with the Ports etc., during the previous years or new contracts entered into during the year. . . As per the targets set in the MoU for 2016-17 that was signed today, DCI is to achieve a turnover of Rs.770 crores. The target for operating profit is Rs.65 crores for 2016-17 as against the actual of Rs.45 crores for 2015-16. Further in the current year 2016-17, finalization of a contract is in the final stages for deployment of a dredger outside India and this will enable the company to earn income in foreign exchange for the first time in many years. . . . UM/AC At present India with twenty one (21) nuclear power reactors, stands seventh (7) among thirty one (31) countries with nuclear power in terms of number of reactors and thirteenth (13) in terms of electricity generation. . . The present nuclear power installed capacity of 5780 MW is expected to shortly increase to 6780 MW within this financial year with the start of commercial operation of Kudankulam Unit-2 (KKNPP-2) in accordance with stage-wise clearances of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). This unit has already attained first criticality (start of controlled self sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction for the first time) on July 10, 2016. The installed capacity is expected to increase to 10080 MW by the year 2019 on progressive completion of projects under construction. . . In addition, two more projects, KKNPP 3&4 (2X1000 MW) at Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu in foreign technical cooperation with the Russian Federation and GHAVP 1&2 (2X700 MW) at Gorakhpur, Haryana based on indigenous technology have been accorded sanction and work has commenced on these projects. On their progressive completion, the installed nuclear power capacity will reach 13480 MW by about 2023. . . India has signed nuclear agreements for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with Russia, United States of America (USA), France, Australia, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan, Argentina, Canada, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. India proposes to sign such an agreement with Japan in future. . . This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. . . The Minister of Food Processing Industries Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal met the Ambassdors/High Commissioners/representatives of the countries viz. UAE, Germany, France, Poland, Australia, Italy, Netherlands, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Canada, China, New Zealand, Brazil, USA, UK, Russia, Japan, Malaysia & Belgium today and explained to them the vast opportunities that have arisen in India for foreign food retailers and food manufacturers as a result of the recently announced 100% FDI in trading, including e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured and/or produced in India. . . She also explained the vast opportunities available in India in the food processing sector under the Make in India initiative launched by Honble Prime Minister and the spate of reforms being carried out in India leading to ease of doing business and India emerging as one of the most favourable investment destinations. . . Smt.Badal also shared that Ministry of Food Processing Industries would be providing hand-holding and facilitation for all foreign investors who would like to invest in the food processing sector in the country. The Ambassadors, High Commissioners and the representatives of the different countries actively participated in the discussions and while welcoming the policy initiative of the Govt. of India, they voiced certain concerns which were duly answered by Honble Minister, FPI, Secretary, FPI and Secretary, DIPP. . . The Minister also briefed them about the vast opportunities existing in the Mega Food Parks in India wherein the foreign investors could set up their units immediately and take advantage of the 100% FDI in trading of food products manufactured and produced in India. . . The Minister for Road Transport, Highways & Shipping, Shri Nitin Gadkari, today held a review meeting of the status of road projects in Punjab. The main focus of the meeting was to look into reasons for slow and delayed projects. All problematic issues related to Ludhiana Talwandi Package 2, Bidhipur Dhilwan, Amritsar Bypass and Ludhiana Talwandi Package 1 were closely looked at. In the case of the Ludhiana Talwandi Package 1 project, the Minister directed the concerned official to send a Notice to the concessionaire for the delay in the project. . . . UM/AC Some varieties of mangoes from northern India are already being exported to Australia. In order to boost export of other varieties, the matter was pursued with the concerned Australian authorities to consider different varieties and other mitigation measures of Hot Water Treatment and Irradiation. In this regard, a delegation visited India in the month of June, 2016 to verify and certify three irradiation facilities for export of irradiated mangoes from the western and southern parts of India. Approval for certification of these facilities is under process. . . In case of South Africa, the market access efforts are continuing. The National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has sent the required information to the South African Authorities and the response from them is awaited. The matter is being pursued through the Indian High Commission in South Africa to receive the final import requirement. . . In case of South Korea, market access has been gained on 7th June, 2016. South Korean Quarantine Inspector has arrived in India on 11th July, 2016 for on-site pre-clearance programme at VHT facility at Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, for export of mangoes to South Korea. . . For export of grapes, the finalization of import risk analysis is awaited from the USA. In case of Japan and Vietnam, the import risk analysis with post-harvest mitigation measures is yet to be finalized by them. The matter is being pursued through the Indian Embassies in the respective countries. . . As for China, India has already submitted priority list for market access of 5 fruits and vegetables to AQSIQ, China, as per their request for providing the priority list. Out of 5 products submitted in the priority list, the finalization of protocol for okra is in the final stage and is pending with AQSIQ, China. . . Indias export of Agricultural & Allied Products, during the period April 2015 February 2016, was Rs.1,43,802.55 crore as compared to Rs.1,68,918.94 crore over the same period in the previous financial year. . . The primary reasons for decline are: low commodity prices in the international market; shrinking of global demand; high domestic prices, as compared to the international prices, which has made our exports uncompetitive; unfavourable currency rate movements as compared to the competing countries etc. . . Encouraging exports of agricultural products is a continuous process. The Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), an autonomous organisation under the Department of Commerce, provides financial assistance to the exporters through various components of its Plan Scheme viz. Infrastructure Development, Market Promotion, Quality Development and Transport Assistance. Besides these measures, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has put in place various schemes namely Market Development Assistance (MDA), Market Assistance Initiative (MAI) and Merchandise Export Incentive Scheme (MEIS) etc. to provide assistance to encourage exports. . . This information was given by the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. . . Republican presidential candidate on Tuesday said he feared that the November elections could be "rigged", and referred to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as "the devil". "I'm afraid the election is going to be rigged, I have to be honest," EFE news quoted Trump as saying during a campaign rally in Columbus, Ohio. Later, the businessman-turned-politician reiterated his comments in an interview with Fox. Trump urged the public to "watch very closely" when the Nov 8 elections roll around and called on Republicans to be vigilant since he fears the transparency of the voting process could be threatened. At a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump called Clinton "the devil" and said Senator Bernie Sanders should have continued his campaign instead of supporting her for the Democratic nomination. The Republican candidate has been the target of criticism in recent days from GOP members and military families for his comments over remarks made by the father of an American Muslim soldier slain in Iraq. Khizr Khan, father of the fallen soldier, slammed Trump last week at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia for his proposal for temporarily banning Muslims from entering the United States to deal with the threat of jihadist terrorism. In the most recent poll released on Tuesday by NBC, Clinton leads Trump by eight points, 50% to 42%. The chief executive of the Democratic National Committee and two other top officials have resigned in the wake of an email hack that embarrassed the party on the eve of its presidential nominating convention. CEO Amy Dacey, chief finance officer Brad Marshall and communications director Luis Miranda left their jobs today, the party said in a statement. The resignations are the latest fallout from the hacked emails, which exposed an apparent lack of neutrality in the primary race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, with some party officials disparaging Sanders. Marshall wrote the most explosive email, questioning Sanders' Jewish faith and suggesting he could be portrayed as an atheist. He has apologized for the missive. Earlier, party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned her position and, after being booed at a pre-convention appearance last week in Philadelphia, chose not to speak from the convention stage. Longtime Democratic operative Donna Brazile is serving as the party's interim chair. Brazile said today that she has created a "transition team" to help prepare the party for its post-election mission. She said Tom McMahon, a former DNC executive director under then-Chair Howard Dean, will lead that group. Clinton operatives who moved over to party headquarters after she had effectively secured the nomination in June will continue in their roles; that group includes DNC chief of staff Brandon Davis. Additionally, veteran Democratic strategist Doug Thornell will serve as an interim senior adviser to the party. Dacey already has a new job. She has been hired by Squared Communications, a Democratic consulting firm based in Washington. "As one of the top campaign strategists in our party, and with our experiences together on presidential, Senate and congressional campaigns, Amy will help our firm's clients navigate this and future election cycles," Michael Meehan, founder and CEO Squared Communications, said in a statement. Before joining the DNC, Dacey was executive director of EMILY's List, which works to elect female Democrats. The cache of more than 19,000 messages was made public by the group WikiLeaks just before the convention. Democratic Party officials learned in late April that their systems had been attacked after they discovered malicious software on their computers. Foreign firms say they are struggling to gain access to China's vast railway market as the country, seeking to transform its domestic industry into an export powerhouse, tightens the bidding criteria on rail tenders. The complaints echo similar concerns raised in other industries including technology and renewable energy, and highlight what some foreign companies see as an uneven playing field when operating in China. Four rail suppliers with offshore funding said they were finding it harder to win contracts thanks to the proliferation of government-supported rivals, with at least one saying it was already experiencing discrimination. "In the last 1-2 years there have been tendencies to disregard foreign-invested companies as Chinese companies, and to prefer Chinese-invested companies versus foreign-invested companies," Ansgar Brockmeyer, board chairman of German brake maker Knorr-Bremse's Asia Pacific arm, told Reuters. Foreign participation in China's rail market has for the last decade been limited to minority stakes in joint ventures or as sub-suppliers of domestic players, often with the condition that they transfer technology to local partners. Many, like Germany's Siemens AG and Canada's Bombardier did and consequently helped build the world's biggest railway network by both length and revenue. Beijing now wants to help many of these local partners such as CRRC Corp become globally competitive behemoths, which will export home-grown technology. Its "Made in China 2025" plan released last year described railways as a priority sector. Some industry insiders say this is causing concern that wholly-local firms are being increasingly favoured at the expense of foreign invested companies. Knorr-Bremse, which has been supplying braking systems to metro operators for 25 years, said it had received tender documents from 11 Chinese cities in 2015 that stipulated new bidding rules, which scored down foreign-invested firms versus purely local names. It lost out on three as a result, it said. "We are concerned that ... this might become a trend but on the other hand we can't really imagine because this would clearly infringe any WTO agreement," Brockmeyer said. "We are in discussions with the local governments and the NDRC on this." The 11 Chinese cities including Kunming, Urumqi and Guangzhou have begun to score companies on whether they are foreign-invested or 100 per cent local firms. In the past firms simply had to prove that at least 70 per cent of their supply chain was in China. Metro operators award bidders on different categories such as price, which they later add up to determine a winner. The metro operators of Kunming, Urumqi and Guangzhou as well as the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. "Increasingly Hostile" Environment The European Chamber of Commerce in China has also raised concerns over tougher conditions for companies with foreign investment, saying recent statements from Beijing about opening the rail market up to private capital, "indicates that the government treats domestic capital preferentially." "For the market for urban rail, the regulatory system also restricts foreign companies from bidding directly for rolling stock and signalling business. In some instances it even prevents Sino-foreign JVs from obtaining a license or qualification to bid," the Chamber said. The Chamber in June warned of an "increasingly hostile" overall business environment that was tilted in favour of domestic firms. Such concerns have been particularly prevalent in the technology sector, which lobbied US President Barack Obama last year. In February last year, China dropped some of the world's leading technology brands from its approved state purchase lists, while approving thousands more locally made products. Other rail suppliers spoke of growing pressure coming from a proliferation of new local rivals, many of whom are government-supported. "The new competitors we're facing here in China are purely local companies," said Lv Yachen, who chairs a joint venture between French electronics firm Thales SA and state firm Shanghai Electric Group, which supplies signalling systems to Chinese subway project. "As the NDRC is attaching great importance to independent property rights, we used to have 4-5 signalling suppliers in the industry but now it has become nine and another three are to be approved very soon," he said. Two industry executives who declined to be named for fear that it would affect their business relationships said some firms were considering shifting their focus to other overseas markets, or choosing to downplay the foreign participation in their partnerships to cope with the "buy local" push. "Now it's all about buying from Chinese companies," said a source from a large European railway supplier. "It's harder to do business here." ($1 = 0.9017 euros) A suicide car bomb attack in the eastern city of Benghazi targeting Libyan troops killed 23 people and wounded dozens of today, a hospital official said. The official said the wounded were still arriving at the hospital in the aftermath of the bombing in the al-Qawarsha district on the outskirts of the city, Libya's second largest. For the past two years, fighting has been raging in Benghazi between forces under the command of Brig Gen Khalifa Hifter and Islamic militias. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press. A coalition of Islamist militias called the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, which includes the al-Qaida affiliate known as Ansar al-Shariah, claimed responsibility for the deadly attack in a statement posted on its Twitter account. The attack comes after the United States started an air campaign on Monday in the central city of Sirte, the last bastion of the Islamic State extremist group in . The strikes followed a request made by the internationally recognised government and presidency council in the capital, Tripoli. The two executive bodies were formed after the United Nations brokered a deal among Libya's rival factions. has descended into chaos following the 2011 ouster and the killing of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Since 2014, the country has been divided between two governments and parliaments, and a loose set of militias and tribes. The UN-brokered government led by Fayez Serraj aimed at healing the rift, but a crucial vote of confidence has yet to be obtained from the parliament. The parliament in eastern does not recognise the UN Government, and many in the east are angry that Serraj's administration invited foreign military intervention without the eastern parliament's consent. Pakistan has offered Turkey to take over a chain of schools allegedly run by Fethullah Gulen, a US based cleric accused of being behind the recent failed coup in a move aimed at allaying Ankara's concerns over the presence of institutions in the country. The gesture was offered during the talks between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at the Foreign Office on Tuesday. The Turkish foreign minister also called on Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain. This is Cavusoglu's first visit to any country following the July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey. Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed Gulen behind the coup attempt. The country has since been seeking action against Gulen-run schools and other institutions across the globe, including in Pakistan. Cavusoglu in a joint news conference with Aziz expressed his concerns over the presence of a Gulen network in Pakistan and other countries. "It is not a secret that this organisation has institutions or their presence in Pakistan and in many other countries.We have to be very careful with such organisations and their causing risk and threat for the security and stability of every country that they have presence in," the Express Tribune quoted him as saying. He added that his country was taking "all necessary legal measures against the coup plotters, namely the terrorist organisation Feto, headed by Gulen". Cavusoglu thanked the Pakistani Government, Parliament and people for expressing solidarity with Turkey in the wake of the failed coup plot. Aziz promised to address Turkish government's concerns. However, for Islamabad which has historically close ties with Turkey reportedly is under pressure to act against the Gulen-run network of schools in the country. On one hand it cannot turn down Turkey's demand while on the other hand it has to deal with public backlash, especially from the parents whose children are studying in such schools. The Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-MC), who are likely to win the prime ministerial poll with a heavy margin on Wednesday, have convinced the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) to support Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal and his proposed government. Following the agreement, the constituents of the UDMF would vote for Dahal in the prime ministerial election to be held on Wednesday, reports the Himalayan Times. The trio has agreed that the new government under Dahal would table a Constitution amendment proposal at the Parliament to address demands of the agitating parties. Similarly, an investigation commission would also be formed under a former judge to probe into incidents of violence occurred during the anti-Constitution protests led by the UDMF and the Federal Alliance. Turkish President accused the West on Tuesday of supporting terrorism and those who tried to carry out the coup d'etat in Turkey on July 15. During a speech delivered before several investors, Erdogan said, "Now I ask: Does the West give support to terror or not? Is the West on the side of democracy or on the side of coups and terror? Unfortunately, the West gives support to terror and stands on the side of coups." "We have not received the support we were expecting from our friends, neither during nor after the coup attempt," EFE news quoted the President as saying. Erdogan also regretted that no Western leader had come to Turkey to express condolences with the Turkish people and said, "It's sufficient to look at the statements issued during and after the coup to see this." Furthermore, he said all available evidence shows that the mastermind of the coup was Islamist preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is in exile in the United States, and who has dismissed any links between him and the failed military coup. Turkish President on Wednesday asked forgiveness over his past alliance with US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen whom Ankara blames for last month's attempted coup. In a rare show of public humility, Erdogan said he had failed to see the "true face" of Gulen, who cooperated closely with the Turkish strongman while he was mayor of Istanbul in the 1990s and after his Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2002. Gulen, who has lived in exile since 1999 after charges were laid against him by Turkey's then secular authorities, has vehemently denied from his Pennsylvania compound all accusations of involvement in the coup. "Despite everything, I feel sad that I failed to reveal the true face of this traitor organisation long before," Erdogan said in a televised speech, referring to Gulen's network which Turkey alleges is a terror group. "I know that we have to give account both to our God and to our people. Let my God and my people forgive us," he said. Gulen's influence in Turkey goes back to the premierships of Bulent Ecevit in the 1970s and he was a strong presence in Turkish before anyone had even heard of Erdogan. As a new and untested forces in politics, the AKP was happy to team up with Gulen, sharing a conviction that Islam should lie at the heart of . But friction came to the fore in 2013 when a vast corruption scandal struck at the heart of the government, as well as Erdogan and his inner circle, that the authorities blamed on Gulen. "I personally helped this structure despite differences of opinion on many issues due to a belief that we can agree at least on common denominators," Erdogan said. "We tolerated them because they said 'Allah'," he added. The Turkish strongman has accused Gulen of running "the biggest theft ring in history which hijacked the past and future of tens of thousands of people." With the government implementing a relentless crackdown in the wake of the coup, Erdogan vowed the harshest consequences for anyone who even supported Gulen. "From now on, anyone who lends an ear to the raving of that charlatan that terrorist chief in Pennsylvania has accepted what's coming to them." Tens of thousands of people have been suspended from their jobs and more than 18,000 detained. "From this moment, the era of suspicion is over and the era of fighting has started," he said. The US secretly organised an "airlift of $400 million" in hard cash to Iran that coincided with the release of four Americans detained in Tehran, according to a media report. The transfer was as part of the first instalment of a $1.7 billion settlement to resolve a decades-old dispute over a failed arms deal, 'The Wall Street Journal' reported. The State Department has strongly refuted any link between payment of the settlement amount and release of four American prisoners by Iran. "As we've made clear, the negotiations over the settlement of an outstanding claim were completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home," State Department spokesman John Kirby said. "Not only were the two negotiations separate, they were conducted by different teams on each side, including, in the case of The Hague claims, by technical experts involved in these negotiations for many years," Kirby said. The money was procured from the central banks of the Netherlands and Switzerland, the report said. "Wooden pallets stacked with euros, Swiss francs and other currencies were flown into Iran on an unmarked cargo plane," officials were quoted as saying. The amount was part of the first instalment of a $1.7 billion settlement that the Obama Administration reached with Iran to resolve the decades-old dispute over a failed arms deal, which was signed before the fall of Iran's last monarch Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1979, the report said. Senator Mark Kirk from Illinois alleged that the amount was ransom money. "We were right in January 2016 to describe the administration's $1.7 billion transfer to Iran as a ransom payment. Paying ransom to kidnappers put Americans even more at risk," Kirk said. "While Americans were relieved by Iran's overdue release of illegally imprisoned American hostages, the White House's policy of appeasement has led Iran to illegally seize more American hostages, including Siamak Namazi, his father Baquer Namazi, and Reza Shahini," Kirk said. In a tiny hamlet at the heart of the cotton belt in northern India, Ramandeep Mann planted Monsanto's genetically modified Bt cotton seed for over a decade, but that changed after a whitefly blight last year. Mann's 25-acre farm in Punjab's Bhatinda district now boasts "desi", or indigenous, cotton shrubs that promise good yields and pest resistance at a fraction of the cost. Mann is not alone. Thousands of cotton farmers across the north of India, the world's biggest producer and second largest exporter of the fibre, have switched to the new local variety, spelling trouble for seed giant in its most important cotton market outside the Americas. The Indian government is actively promoting the new homegrown seeds, having already capped prices and royalties that the world's largest seed company is able to charge. "Despite the whitefly attack, farmers in northern India are still interested in cotton, but they are moving to the desi (indigenous) variety," says Textile Commissioner Kavita Gupta. Official estimates peg the area planted with the new variety at 72,280 hectares in northern India, up from roughly 3,000 hectares last year. That is still a tiny percentage overall, and most farmers in the key producing states of Gujarat and Maharashtra are sticking to Monsanto's GM cotton, which has been instrumental in making India a cotton powerhouse. And the impact of whitefly, a pest that thrives in dry weather, may not be as big this year, as monsoon rains are likely to be plentiful. Experts said two straight droughts fanned last year's infestation. But the new seed is still a setback for Monsanto, which has also been hit by a roughly 10% decline in cotton acreage in India this year as farmers switch to crops like pulses and lentils in the aftermath of the whitefly blight. Seed Sales Slide Monsanto's Bt cotton sales in India have fallen 15% so far in 2016, said Kalyan Goswami, executive director of the National Seed Association of India. The firm, which last year sold some 41 million packets of Bt seeds in India, could stand to lose up to Rs 500 crore ($75 million) due to lower sales and the steep cut in royalties enforced by the government earlier in 2016, according to Reuters calculations. The company, which unsuccessfully challenged India's decision to slash royalties in the courts, declined to comment for this article. But in the wake of the whitefly infestation, Mahyco Biotech (India) Pvt Ltd (MMB), a joint venture with India's Mahyco, said last year that and its Indian licensees marketed their product as resistant to bollworms, not other pests. Some experts were optimistic the indigenous cotton seeds developed by the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), which comes under the farm ministry, would catch on over time. "Just wait for the crucial three to four years to see a complete, natural turnaround. By then most farmers will give up Bt cotton and go for the indigenous variety," said Keshav Raj Kranthi, head of CICR. Kranthi said planting a hectare with the Indian variety cost less than half the 80,000 rupees farmers paid to sow Bt cotton over the same area, and the crop yield was almost as high. Unlike GM seeds, farmers could also store and replant the local seeds the following year, he added. Some experts voiced caution over the new variety, however. "By all accounts, the indigenous cotton looks pretty promising, but it will be put to test this year," said Devinder Sharma, an independent food and trade policy analyst. "It's a potential game changer, but it has to succeed first." Bollworms Reappear Experts began raising doubts last year about the resilience of Monsanto's lab-altered Bt seeds, which still account for more than 90% of the cotton seeds sold in India. Monsanto's Bollgard II technology, introduced in 2006, was slowly becoming vulnerable to bollworms, they said, as any technology has a limited shelf life. Kranthi cited the increase in insecticide consumption as a sign of rising pink bollworm infestation. In 2015 cotton farmers used an average 1.20 kg of insecticides per hectare, up from 0.5 in 2006, when Bt cotton seeds were at the pinnacle of their productivity. Between 2006 and 2015, fertiliser consumption for the cotton crop doubled to 270 kg per hectare, said Kranthi, indicating rising costs of cultivation and stagnating yields of Bt cotton. But the more pressing concern for many has been whitefly, with farmers like Mann answering the call from India's farm ministry and state agriculture universities to switch to local seeds to fight it. "The only other option we had this year was to plant the Bt cotton again or leave the land fallow. Both were fraught with economic risk, and to obviate that risk we decided to plant the desi (indigenous) variety," he said. Imagine a sales head at a fund house knocking straight into a fund manager's room and literally forcing him to attend an impromptu conference call with a large distributor at a time when the was in the midst of analysing his schemes' portfolio on the 'Brexit' referendum day. Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel will meet Governor O.P. Kohli at 5 p.m. today to tender her resignation. Patel earlier on Monday announced her resignation to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) top brass asserting that the saffron party needs a fresh face in the state. In a Facebook post, she said that she would be stepping down as she was going to turn 75-year old later this year. Amid speculations that party chief Amit Shah may be asked to take over the reins in Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership today made it clear that a state MLA would be assigned job, adding two observers are being sent to the state to hold talks with the legislators. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu praised Anandiben Patel for her decision to step down as the Gujarat Chief Minister citing age. Stating this decision would send a good message to the party workers, Naidu also informed that Anandiben would today submit her resignation to the Governor. Patel, who took charge as Gujarat's first woman chief minister after Narendra Modi took charge as the Prime Minister, citing age issues had in her Facebook post earlier urged the BJP to relieve her from the coveted post. Patel said that she had two months earlier sought to resign from the party to give "enough time to the new incumbent to prepare for important events like the upcoming 'Vibrant Gujarat Summit'. With the Goods and Services Bill (GST) Bill likely to be approved by the Rajya Sabha today, the Trinamool Congress said that the credit for it must to go all those parties who have been relentlessly rooting for the bill and not just the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Taking a swipe at both the major parties, TMC leader Derek O'Brein told ANI that the "ping-pong" match between the Congress and BJP has delayed the Bill by over ten years. "We should debate it today and pass it. But, this ping-pong match between the Congress and the BJP has been going on 10 years. Now both want to take the credit. The credit must go, not only to Congress and BJP, but all those non-congress, non-BJP parties, who have been consistent on supporting the GST, like Trinamool Congress. We have pushed it very hard in the select committee. It is now time to roll out GST," he said. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will move four amendments to the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, meant for the rollout of the GST in the Rajya Sabha, when it is taken up for consideration and passage. Union Minister Ananth Kumar yesterday said the leaders of the various political parties have assured support to the government in the passage of the GST Bill. "The honourable Prime Minster had in the all-party meeting and the NDA meeting prior to the beginning of this session urged all that the GST is in favour of the country, a win-win situation for all and extremely necessary for India's economic development," Kumar told the media here. Kumar, who is the Ministers for Chemicals and Fertilizers, expressed optimism that the GST Bill, which would be passed by majority, will boost the nation's economy. The Congress yesterday assured full support with regard to the GST Bill passage in the Rajya Sabha and said if the Centre doesn't come up with something new then this tax reform might get its nod. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the grand old party does not have much to do with the GST Bill, adding it is for the Centre to work it out with the states and help the bill sail through in the Parliament. The Union Cabinet had cleared changes in the Bill earlier on Wednesday dropping one percent additional tax on inter-state sales and providing guarantee to compensate states for any revenue loss in the first five years of rollout. The government needs the support of two-third members of the Upper House to amend the Constitution to turn the GST into law. The GST Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in May last year but is stuck in the Rajya Sabha due to resistance from the opposition. Amid speculations that party chief Amit Shah may be asked to take over the reins in Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership today made it clear that a state MLA would be assigned job, adding two observers are being sent to the state to hold talks with the legislators. The BJP central leadership during a parliamentary party meeting here decided to send Nitin Gadkari and Saroj Pandey as observers to the state. Talking to the media after the parliamentary party meeting, Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said a meeting of the Gujarat legislators would be called in which a decision regarding the new Chief Minister would be taken. "Central leadership Nitin Gadkari and Saroj Pandey will attend the meeting. They will hold talks with the MLAs and others there and together they will decide the Chief Minister," he said. Naidu also made it clear that there was no question of appointing the BJP president as the Gujarat Chief Minister. "Amit Shah will be part of the meeting and will consult everyone about selecting the (next) leader. There is no question of Amit Shah, he is the president," he said. The Union Minister praised Anandiben Patel for her decision to step down as the Gujarat Chief Minister citing age. Stating this decision would send a good message to the party workers, Naidu also informed that Anandiben would today submit her resignation to the Governor. "The parliamentary board has accepted her wish after discussion. The parliamentary board has praised her for her leadership over all these years in different posts," he said. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave its approval for the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016. Every year five lakh road accidents are reported in the country in which 1.5 lakh people lose their lives. The government is committed to reduce the accidents and fatalities by 50 percent in five years. To address the issue of road safety, a draft Road Transport and Safety Bill was prepared soon after NDA Government came to power. However, most of the states have expressed reservations. To address the issue of road safety and to improve the facilitation of the citizens while dealing with transport departments, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways constituted a Group of Transport Ministers (GoM) of the states. The GoM headed by Yoonus Khan, Transport Minister of Rajasthan held three meetings. A total of 18 Transport Ministers from different political parties participated in these meetings and they have submitted three interim reports. The GoM recommended that to address the pressing issue of road safety and improving transport scenario, government should immediately bring amendments to the present Motor Vehicle Act. On the basis of recommendations of the GoM and other pressing requirements, MoRTH introduced the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 for consideration of the Cabinet. In the present Motor Vehicle Act, there are 223 Sections out of which the Bill aims to amend 68 sections whereas Chapters 10 has been deleted and a Chapter 11 is being replaced with new provisions to simplify third party insurance claims and settlement process. The important provisions include increase in compensation for Hit and Run cases from Rs. 25000 to Rs. two lakhs. It also has provision for payment of compensation up to Rs. 10 lakh in road accidents fatalities. The Bill also proposes insertion of 28 new sections. The amendments mainly focus on issues relating to improving road safety, citizens' facilitation while dealing with the Transport Department. Strengthening rural transport, last mile connectivity and public transport, automation and computerization and enabling online services. The Bill propose to improve the transport scenario in the country by permitting the states to grant exemptions in stage carriage and contract carriage permits for promoting rural transport, public transport, last mile connectivity and for passenger convenience and road safety. The Bill proposes that the state government can specify a multiplier, not less than one and not greater than ten, to be applied to each fine under this act and such modified fine. The bill proposes that the state government can regulate the activities in a public place of pedestrians and such means of transport. Improving delivery of services to the stakeholders using e-Governance is one of the major focuses of this Bill. This include enabling online learning licenses, increasing validity period for driving licenses, doing away with the requirements of educational qualifications for transport licenses are some of the features. The Bill proposes offences committed by Juveniles. The Guardian / owner shall be deemed to be guilty in cases of offences by the Juveniles and Juvenile to be tried under JJ Act. Registration of Motor Vehicle to be cancelled To improve the registration process for new vehicles, registration at the end of the dealer is being enabled and restrictions have been imposed on temporary registration. In the area of road safety, bill proposes to increase penalties to act as deterrent against traffic violations. Stricter provisions are being proposed in respect of offences like juvenile driving, drunken driving, driving without licence, dangerous driving, over-speeding, overloading etc. Stricter provisions for helmets have been introduced along with provisions for electronic detection of violations. To help the road accident victims, Good Samaritan guidelines have been incorporated in the Bill. The Bill also proposes to mandate the automated fitness testing for the transport vehicles with effect from 1st October 2018. This would reduce corruption in the Transport Department while improving the road worthiness of the vehicle. The penalties are also proposed for deliberate violation of safety/environmental regulations as well as body builders and spare part suppliers. To bring harmony of the registration and licensing process, it is proposed to create Register for Driving Licence and Register for Vehicle registration through "Vahan" and "Sarathi" platforms. This will facilitate uniformity of the process across the country. The process for testing and certification for automobiles is proposed to be regulated more effectively. The testing agencies issuing automobile approvals have been brought under the ambit of the act. The driving training process has been strengthened enabling faster issuance of transport licenses. This will help in reducing the shortage of commercial drivers in the country. To facilitate transport solutions for Divyang, the bottlenecks have been removed in respect of grant of driving licenses as well as alterations in the vehicles to make it fit for use of Divyang. Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has termed the Motor vehicle (Amendment) 2016 passed by cabinet as biggest reforms in the Road Safety & transport sector. He has expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for his guidance and support. He has also expressed his special appreciation for the efforts put in by group of state Transport Ministers to formulate these amendments. He has also expressed his confidence that parliament shall take up the amendments next week and has appealed to all parties to support the bill which a step in right direction to provide safe and public friendly transport eco system. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved signing of new Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The agreement is expected to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries bringing it in tune with the developments in the civil aviation sector. It will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security. Under the agreement, the designated airlines of the two countries shall have fair and equal opportunity to operate the agreed services on specified routes. The routes and frequencies shall be decided subsequently. ASA is the basic legal framework for any air operation between the two countries. The Chinese leadership has come in for harsh criticism from the Afghan government for having invited a Taliban delegation to meet with Chinese officials in Beijing last month. The team led by Abbas Stanakzai, who is head of Taliban's political office in Qatar, was reportedly on a five-day visit from July 18-22 to Beijing to meet with Chinese leadership. The Taliban delegation is said to have conveyed to the Chinese side about the "occupation of the invading forces and their atrocities on Afghan people". The Taliban official also stated that "we have good terms with different countries of the and China is one among them". Taliban sources told the press that it hopes the Chinese government could help bring global attention to the issue in Afghanistan and "help us get freedom from occupying forces." China has not officially commented on the talks but it is among the four countries - the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (comprising of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US) which is part of the Afghanistan peace process that involves bringing the Taliban on board all future solutions. China has held several meetings with the Taliban in the past decade because of concerns that Uighur militants had begun taking shelter in Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan. In December 2000, China sought assurance from Mullah Omar that the Taliban would not allow Uyghur militants to conduct operations against China. In return, China agreed to give political recognition to the Taliban government. Pakistan's powerful ISI and Army have often been the enthusiastic intermediaries in the relationship. China has maintained direct links with the Taliban leadership at various levels since 2001. Since 2012 however, the focus has broadened beyond the Uyghur issue. It now focusses around security of Chinese investments in Afghanistan and preventing the members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) to use Afghanistan as a launching pad for terrorist activities in China. Despite being in bed with the Taliban, China has inexplicably even enhanced its engagement with the present Afghan government especially in the area of security. In a span of less than two years, China has signed at least four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the areas of security, border protection and supply of security equipment. In February this year, a high-level visit by a Chinese military delegation headed by Gen. Fang Fenghui, chief of the Joint Staff Department of the People's Liberation Army, formalized millions of dollars worth of military hardware in aid to Afghanistan. These include machine guns, hand grenades, portable explosive detectors, frequency jamming devices and handheld metal detectors. The Chinese side would not confirm the grocery list that the Afghans gave but the official press release said "Both sides are willing to further deepen military exchanges in various fields and strengthen pragmatic cooperation in counterterrorism, training and training of personnel in order to contribute to safeguarding regional security." The first tranche arrived on a Russian carrier in July this year in Kabul. China now is major and reliable supplier of arms for the Afghan government even though Beijing continues its dalliance with the Taliban. But it has always been Chinese strategy, right from the days of the Mujahideen in the 1980s, to hunt with the hounds and run with the hare. China is building up its influence with the official Afghan government to keep its business interests safe and be a potent political force in the region. Simultaneously it has emerged as a security pole in South Asia with Pakistan providing major back up support. The Congress on Wednesday asked Pakistan to raise the issue of state sponsored terrorism during the seventh SAARC Home/Interior Ministers meeting in Islamabad. "Whether it is Udhampur, whether it is Gurdaspur, whether it is Pompore or whether it is other attack including Pathankot.all these issues need to be raised. State sponsored terrorism of Pakistan needs to be checked. Their Home Minister must raise these issues along with other SAARC nations," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told ANI. Surjewala said Pakistan is exporting terror into India every day, adding that Islamabad has the active abetment protection and active role played by various agencies like the ISI and Pakistan military. "Modi ji went especially to meet Nawaz Sharif and attended marriage celebrations. After that, we had Pathankot terror attack. We called a committee from Pakistan operatives of the dreaded ISI. But Pakistan never gave us access to interrogate terrorists, who were operating under active protection from Pakistani soil," he added. Meanwhile, Union Home minister Rajnath Singh today left for Pakistan to attend the seventh SAARC Home/Interior Ministers meeting in Islamabad. Singh, in his speech at the two-day meeting, is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan's support to terror groups operating in India and ask Islamabad to check Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other groups based in that country. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had already made it clear there would be no bilateral meeting between the Home Minister and the Pakistani leaders. The visit comes in the backdrop of growing strain in the bilateral relations after Pakistan and its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made provocative statements on the Kashmir situation in the wake of a militant's killing on July 8. At the 13th SAARC Summit held in Dhaka in November 2005, the Heads of State decided that the SAARC Interior/Home Ministers would meet annually preceded by a meeting of the Interior/Home Secretaries to strengthen cooperation in the area of counter-terrorism, which they agreed was a challenge to all states and a threat to humanity, and could not be justified on any grounds. The first meeting of SAARC Interior/Home Ministers was held in Dhaka on May 11, 2006, followed by a meeting in New Delhi in 2007. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday pinned hope on the BJP-led NDA Government to bring the much awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill into effect in the Winter Session of the Parliament. "Without the Constitution Amendment, the GST Bill cannot be brought. The Constitution doesn't give the right. The first step is to amend the Constitution. The President will notify it after the Parliament passes it. Then it will go to all the state assemblies. It should get consent in 50 percent of the states. After that it would be notified," CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury told ANI. He said it has been two years and the government has not been able to do an amendment of the Constitution. "The government produced amendment over that amendment. We will consider about that. It is our request to the government to bring the GST in the Winter Session. It should not delay much as it did for the last two years," he added. The much awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill is all set to be approved by the Rajya Sabha today. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will move four amendments to the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, meant for the rollout of the GST in the Rajya Sabha, when it is taken up for consideration and passage. Union Minister Ananth Kumar yesterday said the leaders of the various political parties have assured support to the government in the passage of the GST Bill. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued whip to all its members in the Rajya Sabha asking them to be present in the House for the next three days. The Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha has earmarked five hours discussion for the bill, which seeks to introduce a system for uniform taxation across the country. The Congress yesterday assured full support with regard to the GST Bill passage in the Rajya Sabha and said if the Centre doesn't come up with something new then this tax reform might get its nod. The Union Cabinet had cleared changes in the Bill earlier on Wednesday dropping one percent additional tax on inter-state sales and providing guarantee to compensate states for any revenue loss in the first five years of rollout. The government needs the support of two-third members of the Upper House to amend the Constitution to turn the GST into law. The GST Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in May last year but is stuck in the Rajya Sabha due to resistance from the opposition. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is presently being treated at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here, is dehydrated and has been advised rest. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital chairman Dr D.S. Rana said the Congress president was admitted at around 1: 30 p.m. under the care of Dr Arup Basu and his team from Department of Pulmonology. Giving details about her present health condition, Dr Rana said, "She is dehydrated, but is presently stable. Further investigation is being conducted and she has been advised rest." Gandhi, who unexpectedly took ill yesterday during her roadshow in Varanasi, was yesterday admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital after she developed high fever. The Congress Party earlier told ANI that Gandhi is recovering under medical supervision. "She has also thanked all fellow countrymen and crores of Congress men for their concerns and good wishes expressed over the last 24 hours," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met Gandhi at the hospital here. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier offered help to Gandhi, who had to cut short her Varanasi visit after falling ill, by sending a doctor for her health check-up and a plane for her transportation back to the capital. Sources told ANI that Prime Minister Modi also spoke to Congress' chief ministerial candidate for 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, Sheila Dikshit, and enquired about Gandhi's health. The Congress president, who had to leave the party's roadshow in Varanasi midway, said that she was sad to have cut short her visit to the temple town. "I am saddened that due to my ill health, I had to cut my visit to Varanasi short. I could not visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple either," Gandhi said in a statement. "I will come back very soon, and then visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple," she added. Pop star Britney Spears recently opened up about her bitter love experiences in the past and admitted that despite several failed relationships, she is still a "hopeless romantic". The 34-year-old, 'Toxic' hit maker talked about the reasons that led to the failure of relationships with men in her life and said it is kind of an inspiration for her new album, reports Mirror.co.uk. "Unfortunately I am a hopeless romantic person. I've been through horrible relationships, but unfortunately I still believe in love. I think you should protect your heart," she said in an interview with an Australian Radio Station. Talking about the album, she said, "There are a few things I touch upon, intimacy and love and being a hopeless romantic. Actually, the video I just shot is of me and all my girls making guys audition for us. The whole theme is basically us playing with them. It's really kind of fun." Britney also spoke about her upcoming ninth album and expressed her desire to make a record that revolves around female empowerment and sisterhood. "I love my father, but I was always a momma's girl growing up. There's always something with me when I'm with my girls or my mom - there's just a strong connection there," she said. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the nation to be vocal against culprits defaming Islam before the through killing innocent people. Hasina made the plea while inaugurating the hajj programme for 2016 at Hajji Camp. "Those undermining our holy religion getting derailed from the right path, I urge the whole nation to be vocal against them," the Daily Star quoted her as saying. Hasina requested the parents and teachers to remain alert so that no youth could be derailed. She said that Islam is the religion of peace, and there is no place for militancy and terrorism in it. "I feel pain and sorrow when I see some derailed people killing innocent people in cold blood... Are they doing anything good for Islam? Instead, they are undermining it before others," she added. She said that those culprits creating a phobia among people about Islam were defaming it. She reiterated her firm stance not to allow any sort of terrorism and militancy on the soil of this country. The Coast Guard and the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday kicked into action and deployed choppers for the search operation, following a British-era bridge on river Savitri collapsed about midnight last night in Mahad, Raigad district, in which 22 people are still missing. The Coast Guard launched a Chetak helicopter at about 8:15 am for carrying out search operations for people who were swept away from the bridge, the Navy PRO said in a statement. The IAF Mi 17 Helicopter also undertook a search op down the river. Indian Navy Seaking 42C, an all weather aircraft with diving team was launched by the Navy. The Diving team has been positioned there and awaiting inputs on location of the vehicles. A Seaking 42B helicopter on another mission was diverted to the area for search. No survivors nor vehicles have been traced till now as the search is in progress. Earlier, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserted that desperate attempts were being made to locate the two buses which went missing in the Savitri river. Speaking to ANI, Fadnavis said that there was heavy rains in the catchment areas of Mahabaleshwar, which led to high pressure flooding on the river Savitri and the bride which was made during the British era collapsed. "In a very unfortunate incident at Mahad in Raigadh district on the Mumbai-Goa Highway yesterday, a bridge was washed out. In fact, there were two parallel bridges - one new and one old. Single lane traffic was used on the old bridge, which was constructed in the British era, collapsed due to heavy water pressure," he said. Confirming that two state transport buses are missing, the Chief Minister said they were carrying 22 passengers in total, adding an assessment is being made on rest of the damages. "The NDRF teams have reached and they are trying their level best to ensure relief and rehabilitation and a massive search is underway. A desperate attempt has been made to locate the buses that have gone into the river," Fadnavis said. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Fadnavis and assured him full support and assistance from the Centre. "Hon PM @narendramodi spoke to Maharashtra CM @Dev_Fadnavis & took all details of the Mahad incident. PM @narendramodi offered all help in rescue and relief operations. NDRF teams are already activated," CMO Maharashtra said in a series of tweets. Meanwhile, the NDRF team from Pune is at the site of the tragedy along with the Coast Guard, rowing boats, inflatable rafts, choppers and all equipments. Heavy rains are causing a hurdle in the rescue operation. Two buses of state transport with 18 passengers, two drivers and two conductors are missing in the tragedy that struck on Tuesday night. The traffic on the Mumbai-Goa highway was stopped after the age-old bridge collapsed over Savitri River. Nearly a dozen vehicles, including two State Transport buses travelling over the bridge, are feared to have flown away with the water current. The buses include one travelling between Jaigad-Mumbai and another Rajapur-Borivali. District Collector Sheetal Ugale-Teli and Police Superintendent Suvez Haque are present at the venue. With NIA's most wanted terrorist Hizb-ul-Mujahideen head Syed Salahudeen taking to the streets in Islamabad protesting against Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to attend the seventh SAARC Home Ministers' conference, defence experts on Wednesday called on the Pakistan Government to ensure that the conference does not get affected by such protests. Brushing aside the seriousness of the protest, Raj Kadyan said it is a democratic right, however, he asked the Pakistan Government to make sure that the protest does not escalate and cause embarrassment to the dignitaries, especially to the Indian Home Minister. "Protest in a democracy is a normal right, even in our country they keep taking place, but anything beyond that needs to be careful. If, in case, our Home Minister is either, in anyway, inconvenienced or insulted, Pakistan would be held fully responsible," he told ANI. However, another defence expert, Rahul Jallai accused the Pakistan Government of being hand in gloves with the terrorists, while criticising the government for failing to contain the protest. "It was foregone conclusion that the protest will take place, but the responsibility of the Pakistani government was to see that these protests did not happen. The fact that they allowed, it just goes to show the manner in which, the government is hand in glove with these leaders of terrorism, who live and occupy Pakistani's public place and unfortunately dictating Pakistan's policy as far as fighting terrorism is concerned," he said. Earlier today, Salahudeen, who is one of the most wanted terrorists in the Investigation Agency's (NIA) list, held a massive rally in Islamabad to mark protest against Indian Home Minister's visit at the SAARC conference. He warned the Indian government that until the Kashmir Valley was free from the presence of Indian forces, jihad in Kashmir would continue. The Home Minister, in his speech at the two-day meeting, is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan's support to terror groups operating in India and ask Islamabad to check Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other groups based in that country. Singh is also likely to raise the issue of fake Indian currency notes being circulated at the behest of Pakistani agencies. The External Affairs Ministry has made it clear that there will be no bilateral meeting between the Home Minister and Pakistani leaders. The visit comes in the backdrop of growing strain in the Indo-Pak ties after Pakistan and its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made provocative statements on the Kashmir situation in the wake of a militant's killing on the 8th of last month. The Home Minister will return to New Delhi tomorrow after the meeting. The administration in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has told the federal government that Islamabad has been flouting all rules and procedures with respect to projects forming part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by waiving aside the condition of international competitive bidding for CPEC projects, thus ensuring that Chinese companies were able to clinch all the deals and ensure that not a single POK entity wins any business from this 43 billion dollar venture. In early 2016, the former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Chaudhry Abdul Majid, in whose province some of the projects are to be located, had objected to the free run allowed by the federal government to foreign and private companies in the province. He had complained then that these companies, without the permission of the AJK/POK administration, were openly intruding in the region and carrying out their activities. He had made specific reference to hydro electric projects being built by Chinese companies, where even relevant MoUs had not been signed. However in view of the inaction of the federal government, Chaudhry Majid recently issued an order disallowing any company engaged in hydro power projects from carrying out any construction activity in POK unless it had been provided a license by the provincial government. As a result, construction activity on Chinese-run projects in POK like the Kohala hydro power project, have stopped. However, the Pakistan government has been putting pressure on the current administration in POK to relax the regulations on Chinese companies. On July 28, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, while addressing a session of the Pakistan Senate, and said that the CPEC agreement with China was confidential and could not be made public. This runs counter to the international norm, as per which, commercial agreements made between two sovereign countries are invariably placed in the public domain, open to scrutiny by citizens of both countries. Such secrecy by the Government of Pakistan, as also the recent objections raised by the former POK prime minister, clearly show that the former has much to hide. Not only has the CPEC bartered away Pakistan's commercial interests to China, but also perhaps some of its independence, claims the POK administration. Indian travel industry is smiling all over again. Thanks to huge discount offered by prominent airlines, better economic conditions and long weekend, travel and hospitality sector is moving upwards. Apart from travel, leisure travel, adventure travel and others, religious travel is one of the sectors that is leaving its marks strongly. According to tourism sector data, in religious tourism sector has increased 25 to 30 percent during last two to three years. A country which has people of many faiths, religious travel has always been a big . Explaining the trend, CEO and Co-Founder ixigo, Aloke Bajpai said "Most individuals visiting religious destinations are typically influenced by spiritual inspirations. Although this might not be the case for all travellers as not many plan a religious tour for only pilgrimage, but also to explore and know more about the place." "In recent times, however, there has been an increase in the number of travellers opting for religious tourism. Most people mistake religious tourism for visitation to a specific religious place, but it may include travelling for friendship or a humanitarian cause as well," added Aloke Bajpai. Unlike earlier when people tended to consider pilgrimage only after retirement, these days young generation also looks forward to visit the places of spiritual and religious importance. With increasing facilities at pilgrimages and attractive tour packages, religious travel is attracting the people from all age group especially 18 to 30. "Religious tours attract a lot of attention from all age groups for diverse reasons. There are, of course, many individuals travelling solely for spiritual purposes, wishing primarily to worship their choice of deity in person. Most of our travelers are young adults above the age of twenty five. Youngsters today are intelligent and curious about the world," said Co-Founder and Director ReligiousTrip.com, Jatin Arora. "We hear of people losing faith in divinity and the youth today being a group without a god, but we find them very dynamic and spiritually aware. They have wisdom enough to ask questions about religion and belief. They love exploring new thoughts and ideas, and they are willing to travel to religious places to find out more about them. Religious tours have something to offer for everyone, whether they are devout followers of a certain religion or not," added Jatin Arora. Usually it depends on personal choice to visit a religious place but the trends shows that people are going to both non-traditional pilgrimage destinations and to the most famous ones. "Vaishnodevi, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Tirupati, Puri, Shirdi Haridwar, Rishikesh, Gangoti, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Ujjain, Rameshwarm Ajmer Sharief and Pushkar are preferred destinations along with many others," said AVP-Sales and Operations TravelTriangle.com, Rohit Garhwal. Asserting that dialogue with Pakistan was the key to maintaining peace in South Asia, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Wednesday welcomed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Islamabad to attend SAARC Home/Interior Ministers meeting. RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha said that the Home Minster should strongly put forth India's interests and state it clearly that brewing unrest in India is not acceptable. "We welcome it and maintain that in order to have a peaceful and prosperous South Asia, we need to have continuous dialogue with Pakistan. Pakistan was part of us. We have a common civilization heritage. Our only problem with Pakistan is on account of huge democratic deficient in Pakistan," Jha told ANI. Jha also said that there is always confusion as to whom to speak to in Pakistan, whether it is the elected government or the military establishment. "It is very important for our Home Minister Rajnath Singh to put across his views. We are open for dialogue, but not at the cost of Kashmir, not at the cost of while we raise a hand for the hand shake and you try to shake our entire nation. This is unacceptable," he added. Singh will today leave for Pakistan to attend the seventh SAARC Home/Interior Ministers meeting in Islamabad. Singh is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan's support to terror groups operating in India and ask Islamabad to check Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other groups based in that country. The Ministry of External Affairs had already made it clear there will be no bilateral meeting between the Home Minister and the Pakistani leaders. The visit comes in the backdrop of growing strain in the bilateral relations after Pakistan and its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made provocative statements on the Kashmir situation in the wake of a militant's killing on July 8. At the 13th SAARC Summit held in Dhaka in November 2005, the Heads of State decided that the SAARC Interior/Home Ministers would meet annually preceded by a meeting of the Interior/Home Secretaries to strengthen cooperation in the area of counter-terrorism, which they agreed was a challenge to all states and a threat to humanity, and could not be justified on any grounds. The first meeting of SAARC Interior/Home Ministers was held in Dhaka on May 11, 2006, followed by a meeting in New Delhi in 2007. The meeting of the Home Secretaries of the SAARC countries is currently underway at Islamabad during which a host of issues, including topics relating to terrorism, narcotics, smuggling and immigration issues are likely to be discussed. The meeting will formulate recommendations for the Interior Ministers of the Association which is scheduled to be held in Islamabad tomorrow. Pakistan's Interior Secretary Arif Ali Khan has been elected as Chairman of the meeting of SAARC Interior Secretaries, who is presiding over the meeting, reports Radio Pakistan. Meanwhile, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh will later today leave for Pakistan to attend the seventh SAARC Home/Interior Ministers meeting. Singh, in his speech at the two-day meeting, is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan's support to terror groups operating in India and ask Islamabad to check Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other groups based in that country. The ministry of External Affairs had already made it clear there would be no bilateral meeting between the Home Minister and the Pakistani leaders. The visit comes in the backdrop of growing strain in the bilateral relations after Pakistan and its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made provocative statements on the Kashmir situation in the wake of a militant's killing on July 8. The Government has launched 'Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA)' scheme to support for extension reforms in the State during 2005-06. Presently the Scheme is under implementation in 652 districts of 29 States and 3 UTs in the country. Under the scheme grants-in-aid is released to State Governments with an objective to support their efforts of revitalization of the extension system and making available the latest agricultural technologies in different thematic areas to increase agricultural production through extension activities viz. Farmers Training, Demonstration, Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and Setting up of Farm Schools. In order to percolate the benefits of ATMA Scheme down to the farmers for adoption of good agricultural practices, an innovative support is being provided under the Scheme w.e.f. 2010-11 through Farmer Friend (FF) at village level @ one FF per two villages. The FF is serving as a vital link between extension workers and farmers at village level. 1,06,618 and 1,12,487 Farmer's Friend (FF) identified under the scheme respective year 2014-15 and 2015-16 Under the Scheme, Grants-in-aid is released to State Governments through their respective State Treasuries based on their approved State Extension Work Plan (SEWP). No component-wise funds are released to the States by the Government of India. State Governments allocate funds (component/activity wise) based on their priority areas and approved Work Plans. State-wise details of funds allocated, released and utilized for implementation of ATMA Scheme during the said period including Uttar Pradesh is given in Annexure-II. Government of Uttar Pradesh has not yet identified FF under ATMA Scheme. ATMA Guidelines, 2014 provide for identifying one FF per two villages. Further, as per Guidelines, Farmer Friends are provided with special opportunity for up-gradation of their skills through Trainings, Study Tours and Visits to State Agricultural Universities/other institutes, by utilizing support available under ATMA. For assisting FF a provision of contingency amount of Rs.6000/- per annum has been made under the Scheme which is shared between the Centre and the State Government on 50:50 basis. Powered by Capital Market - Live News An in-principle decision has been given by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in respect of four closing companies, viz. HMT Chinar Watches, HMT Watches, HMT Bearings and Tungabhadra Steel Products (TSPL) that after their closure, their land would be transferred/sold to Central Government Ministries / Departments / CPSEs / Public Sector Banks/State Government Departments or their entities. The land will be sold/transferred by following the Expression of Interest (EOI) route. In case of land taken on lease from state governments, the same has been approved for being returned to them as per lease conditions. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Bharat Financial Inclusion fell 2.93% to Rs 798.15 at 15:01 IST on BSE, with the stock extending heavy losses registered during the previous trading session triggered by the arrest of the company's President S Dilli Raj by the Enforcement Directorate Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 168.80 points, or 0.60%, to 27,812.91. On BSE, so far 6.32 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average daily volume of 2.19 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 849.75 and a low of Rs 778.15 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 938.75 on 29 July 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 369.45 on 18 September 2015. The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 2 August 2016, rising 11.89% compared with 3.08% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 33.40% as against Sensex's 10% rise. The large-cap company has an equity capital of Rs 127.59 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. The Bharat Financial Inclusion stock slumped 9.73% to settle at Rs 822.20 yesterday, 2 August 2016, in reaction to the company's announcement that its President S Dilli Raj was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection to a complaint filed by IDBI Bank against First Leasing Company of India. The stock has fallen 12.37% in two sessions from its close of Rs 910.80 on 1 August 2016. Bharat Financial Inclusion has clarified that the investigation pertains to Dilli Raj's previous tenure with First Leasing Company of India as First Leasing's employee and that the investigation does not in any way relate to the company. Dilli Raj had earlier issued a personal statement on 19 October 2015 stating that all loans taken during his tenure in First Leasing were repaid by First Leasing and that the complaint filed by IDBI Bank relates to loans sanctioned after he ceased to be an employee of First Leasing. Dilli Raj also had clarified that his role was confined to treasury operations and he did not authenticate or sign any financial statements of First Leasing. Bharat Financial Inclusion's net profit surged 285.7% to Rs 235.91 crore on 46.5% increase in total income to Rs 414.12 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. Bharat Financial Inclusion formerly SKS Microfinance is among the largest microfinance companies in India. Powered by Capital Market - Live News At meeting held on 20 July 2016 Goenka Business & Finance announced that meeting of the Board of Directors held on 20 July 2016, at the meeting, board have decided to change (Shifting of Corporate Office) corporate office of the Company w.e.f. 01 August 02016. Old Office address: - UGF 13, Pramukhswami Arcade, Malaviya chowk, Gondal Road, Rajkot - 360001 New Office address : (w.e.f. August 01, 2016) - 302, Pick Point Complex, Opp. Vivekananda Statue, Dr. Yagnik Road, Rajkot - 360001 All correspondence relating to company will be done from new address with effect from 01 August 2016. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Global air freight demand rises at 14-months high pace of 4.3% in June 2016 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air freight demand in June 2016 showing a rise in freight tonne kilometers (FTK) of 4.3% year-on-year. This was the fastest pace of growth in 14 months. Freight capacity measured in available freight tonne kilometers (AFTKs) increased by 4.9% year-on-year, keeping yields under downward pressure. Freight demand increased year-on-year in June across all regions with the exception of Latin America which recorded a 9.8% decrease, compared to the same period last year. The Middle East and Europe posted the fastest demand growth in June with year-on-year increases of 8.0% and 5.1% respectively. "June saw an improvement in demand for air freight. That's good . However, we cannot read too much into one month's performance. Air cargo markets have been in the doldrums for several years during which there were several false starts on indications for improvement. We will continue watching developments closely, keeping in mind that the air freight business environment is fragile. Global economic growth remains sluggish, world trade volumes continue to trend downwards and the industry faces heightened uncertainty in the aftermath of the Brexit vote," said Tony Tyler, IATA's Director General and CEO. Regional Performance Asia-Pacific airlines reported a 3.5% increase in demand for air cargo in June compared to last year. Capacity expanded 3.6%. The Asia-Pacific air freight market has been improving in recent months, most notably the large 'within Asia' market. Nonetheless freight volumes from 'emerging Asia' continue to face headwinds from weak trade in the region and globally. North American carriers saw freight volumes expand 4.3% in June 2016 compared to the same period last year. Capacity increased 4.0%. International freight volumes continue to suffer from the strength of the US dollar which has kept the US export market under pressure. European airlines witnessed a 5.1% increase in freight volumes and a 4.9% increase in capacity in June 2016. The positive European performance corresponds with signs of an increase in export orders in Germany over the last few months. Seasonally adjusted freight results for Europe are now trending upwards. Middle Eastern carriers posted the largest increase in freight volumes of all regions for the 16th consecutive month in June - 8.0% year on year. Capacity increased by 8.7%. Although the leader in market growth, the Middle East's international freight growth rate (6.5%) for the first six months of 2016 is less than half the 14.3% average growth for the same period in 2015. Latin American airlines reported a decline in demand of 9.8% and a decrease in capacity of 2.6%. The region continues to be blighted by weak economic and political conditions, particularly in the region's largest economy, Brazil. African carriers recorded 0.4% freight growth in June 2016 compared to the same period last year. African airlines' capacity surged by 19.9% year-on-year on the back of long-haul expansion, continuing the trend seen since December 2015. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Receives bids for 44.37 crore shares Dilip Buildcon's (DBL) initial public offer (IPO) received bids for 44.37 crore shares compared to 2.13 crore shares on offer, as per the data on the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) website as at 17:00 IST. The IPO was subscribed 20.77 times on the final day of bidding today, 3 August 2016. The bidding for the IPO opened on 1 August 2016. DBL's IPO comprises of fresh offer of Rs 430 crore. In addition to this, there is an offer for sale (OFS) of 1.02 crore shares comprising of promoters and group of private investors. Ahead of the opening of IPO, DBL had raised Rs 196.19 crore from allotment of 89.58 lakh shares to a slew of anchor investors. Shares have been allotted to anchor investors at Rs 219 per share - the top end of the Rs 214-219 per share price band for the company's IPO. Among the anchor investors, Smallcap World Fund, Inc was allotted 20.33 lakh shares constituting 22.7% of the total allocation to anchor investors. Among other anchor investors, American Funds Insurance Series Global Small Capitalization Fund was allocated 7.06 lakh shares, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - Behave was allotted 11.87 lakh shares, PGGM World Equity II B.V. was allocated 5.93 lakh shares, HDFC Mutual Fund was allotted a total of 27.36 lakh shares under various schemes, Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund was allotted 4.56 lakh shares, East Bridge Capital Master Fund was allocated 3.15 lakh shares, Nomura Singapore was allotted 3.65 lakh shares, DB International (Asia) was allotted 3.15 lakh shares and IDFC Infrastructure Fund was allotted 2.46 lakh shares. DBL is one of the leading road-focused engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors in India with nearly 83% of total revenue of FY 2016 coming from execution of road focused EPC contracts in India. As of 31 March 2016, the company has an order book of Rs 10800 crore. The government contracts account for 76.27% of the total order book as on 31 March 2016. The businesses of the company are spread across 2 major segments viz. the construction segment and infrastructure development. The company intends to utilise the proceeds from the fresh offer of Rs 430 crore towards repayment of term loans of around Rs 203.60 crore, Rs 200 crore towards working capital and rest for general corporate purpose. DBL's consolidated net profit rose 124% to Rs 196.60 crore on 56% growth in net sales to Rs 4315.40 crore in the year ended 31 March 2016 (FY 2016) over the year ended 31 March 2015 (FY 2015). Powered by Capital Market - Live News Provides update on acquisition of 1200 MW Raghunathpur Thermal Power Project Neyveli Lignite Corporation announced that the Company had reported in the Annual Report of earlier year that as part of its Corporate Plan, NLC had initiated actions to acquire power assets and in this regard one of the proposals under consideration is the acquisition of 1200 MW Raghunathpur Thermal Power Project (RTPP) of Damaodar Valley Corporation (DVC) through a Joint Venture Company (JVC) proposed to be formed with the DVC with an equity shareholding of 74:26 by NLC and DVC. RTPP consists of two Units of 600 MW each and both the Units have been commissioned during March 2016. As per the proposal, the Project Cost as determined by CERC/APTEL for the purposes of arriving at the final tariff for power or such cost as mutually agreed between NLC and DVC would be the consideration value for the transfer of RTPS Project assets to the JVC. NLC being a Government Company, the proposal for investment in the JVC is required to be sanctioned by the Government of India. The Ministry of Coal, the Administrative Ministry, in consultation with the other Ministries, is in the process of submitting the proposal to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for sanction of investment decision. On obtaining the sanction from the Government of India, further course of actions with regard to entering into Joint Venture Agreement and formation of JVC with the DVC will be undertaken subject to obtaining necessary statutory and other administrative approvals. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Receives bids for 43.07 lakh shares S P Apparels' (SPAL) initial public offer (IPO) received bids for 43.07 lakh shares compared to 65.56 lakh shares on offer, as per the data on the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) website as at 17:00 IST. The IPO was subscribed 0.66 times on the second day of bidding today, 3 August 2016. The bidding for the IPO concludes tomorrow, 4 August 2016. SPAL's IPO comprises of fresh offer of Rs 215 crore. In addition to this, there is an offer for sale (OFS) of 9 lakh shares by selling shareholder NYLIM, India Fund. Ahead of the opening of IPO, SPAL had raised Rs 71.73 crore from allotment of 26.76 lakh shares to a slew of anchor investors. Shares have been allotted to anchor investors at Rs 268 per share - the top end of the Rs 258-268 per share price band for the company's IPO. Among the anchor investors, DSP Blackrock Micro Cap Fund was allotted 6.34 lakh shares constituting 23.7% of the total allocation to anchor investors. Among other anchor investors, Goldman Sachs India Fund was allocated 5.56 lakh shares, Birla Sun Life Insurance Company was allotted 5.56 lakh shares, Morgan Stanley Mauritius Company was allocated 3.69 lakh shares, UTI was allotted a total of 3.72 lakh shares under its two schemes, Principal Trustee Co. Pvt Ltd - Principal Mutual Fund - Principal Emerging Bluechip Fund was allotted 1.86 lakh shares. Promoted by P Sundarajan, SPAL is a leading manufacturer and exporter of knitted garments for infants and children in India. The company is the second largest exporter among manufacturers of knitted garments for infants and children in India in terms of revenues. The company sells the menswear products through a sales and distribution network that includes 40 exclusive brand outlets, of which 37 are company owned operated stores and three are franchise stores, and third-party e-commerce platforms. SPAL is also considering launching products in the women's essential wear category under the "Natalia? brand, which is owned by the company. The company intends to utilize about Rs 70 crore from the proceeds of fresh issue towards expansion and modernization of manufacturing facility at Tamil Nadu, Rs 63 crore towards repayment of debt, Rs 27.85 crore towards opening of new stores for sale of Crocodile brand, Rs 4.90 crore towards balancing machineries for existing dyeing unit in Perundurai and rest towards for general corporate purpose. SPAL's consolidated profit after tax (PAT) jumped 245% to Rs 34.71 crore on 13% growth in net sales to Rs 532.83 in the year ended 31 March 2016 (FY 2016) over the year ended 31 March 2015 (FY 2015). Powered by Capital Market - Live News Shipping Corporation of India has signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Shipping for the financial year 2016-17. The MoU was signed by Shri Rajive Kumar, IAS, Secretary (Shipping) and Capt. B. B. Sinha, Chairman and Managing Director, Shipping Corporation of India. The MOU is based on the MOU guidelines 2016-17 issued by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE). It consists of parameters drawn on the prescribed evaluation criteria and factors such as capacity and its expansion, business environment, projects under implementation have been considered. SCI has set ambitious, growth oriented and aspirational targets against these parameters keeping its growth plans and objectives in view. These are also in line with the vision of the Ministry of Shipping and the Government of India to escalate the growth for the Maritime sector in India. The MoU will be periodically reviewed by the Ministry and the performance of the PSU would be evaluated and ratings awarded at the end of the financial year. The shipping industry is cyclical and is presently experiencing a down turn. The freight rates have come under pressure due to overcapacity of ships and are subject to a lot of volatility. Despite unfavourable market conditions and down turn being faced by the shipping industry in general, the SCI has taken proactive measures for sustained growth in these challenging times including costs-saving and has reported a consolidated net profit of Rs.389.4 crores for the financial year 2015-16. SCI has ambitious CAPEX plans in 2016-17 to augment its tonnage through acquisition of second hand vessels. SCI has been entrusted with the management of ONGC's MODUs 'Sagar Vijay' and 'Sagar Bhushan' for a period of six years. It has also been entrusted with the technical management of A&N owned 17 Foreshore vessels. SCI is maintaining its focus on coastal trade mainly in coastal crude transportation and transportation of coal to meet increased demand of power generation. It is also concentrating on increasing its presence on coastal and near coastal trade and has restructured its SMILE service synergizing SCI's services with M/s. Shreyas' services to seamlessly link the East Coast and West Coast of India to Persian Gulf. It has also restarted India-Myanmar shipping service and talks are on for including South East Asian ports in the service. SCI is also participating in the movement of project cargo especially in the defense and power sector. To take advantage of the increasing opportunities in Inland Waterways, SCI has signed an MOU with Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) during the Maritime India Summit 2016 to undertake inland waterways transportation on National Waterways 1, 2 & 5. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Torrent Power fell 1.4% to Rs 169.05 at 10:03 IST on BSE after consolidated net profit declined 79.56% to Rs 45.62 crore on 13.28% decline in net sales to Rs 2534.10 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 2 August 2016. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 201.29 points, or 0.72%, to 27,780.42. On BSE, so far 3.12 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average daily volume of 1.53 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 171 and a low of Rs 159 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 252.50 on 11 March 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 139.65 on 25 August 2015. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 2 August 2016, falling 2.53% compared with 3.08% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, falling 26.59% as against the Sensex's 10% rise. The mid-cap company has an equity capital of Rs 480.62 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. The company's EBDIT (earnings before depreciation, interest and tax) including other income fell 33.45% to Rs 562.78 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. The company said that as per the consistent policy followed by the company, it accounts for the truing-up adjustment claims as and when billed to the consumers. Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) vide its Tariff Order dated 31 March 2016 has allowed recovery of Regulatory Charge of 45 paise per kilowatt hour (kWh) to address the gap of earlier years for the company's distribution license areas at Ahmedabad and Surat. Against the said GERC Tariff Order, review petitions were filed and GERC vide its order dated 22 April 2016, had restrained the company from recovering the Regulatory Charge of 45 paise/kWh. Subsequently, GERC has issued a common order dated 1 July 2016 revising the Regulatory Charge to 18 paise/kWh and 17 paise/kWh for Ahmedabad and Surat license areas, respectively, with effect from 1 July, 2016. The company has appealed before APTEL against the said GERC order for which hearings are scheduled. In this context, the company has not billed to the consumers and consequently not accounted any Regulatory Charge for the quarter ended on 30 June 2016. Torrent Power is a private sector player in Gujarat with an experience in generation, transmission and distribution of power, and a proven track record of implementing large power projects. Powered by Capital Market - Live News The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday took to the streets to protest against the gang rape here in Uttar Pradesh. AAP activists took out a procession and burnt the effigy of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate. Calling the rape of the woman and her daughter on the national highway a shame, the AAP said the state government had proved incompetent to protect women. It demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. The BJP took out a candle march to the Maliwara market and demanded a CBI investigation into the crime. The Gitanjali Welfare Educational Society and the women's wing of the Congress party also sought the resignation of Akhilesh Yadav. The woman and her daughter were going to attend an event in their village Shahjahanpur when they were robbed and raped here last week. Police have arrested three people but many here say these may not be the real criminals. The police claimed that seven criminals were involved in the robbery and gang rape. --IANS sps/mr Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday said he is not considering a third term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the end of his tenure in September 2018. "I'm not considering it at all," Xinhua news agency quoted Abe as saying at a press briefing following the announcement of his newly-rearranged cabinet and party executives. LDP Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai who took up the portfolio in the reshuffle had been pushing for the ruling party to amend its rules to allow for its presidents to serve a third term. However, the current LDP party rules limit its presidents to just two terms. Nikai had previously said if it served the party's and the leader's interests he would support an extension for a third term. Abe also said that his new cabinet will commit to the challenges that Japan is currently facing and that the economy would be the top priority as well as reforming working conditions here. --IANS sm/ahm/dg The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday cleared the air on party president being appointed as the next Chief Minister of Gujarat after Anandiben Patel offered to resign from the post on Monday. It was also announced that the next chief minister would be from the existing party MLAs in Gujarat. "There is no such consultation going on in the party. He (Amit Shah) is party's national president and under his leadership the party has reached great heights. The party needs his leadership. The CM will be from the existing legislators", said Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu after the BJP's parliamentary board meeting. He, however informed that Shah would be present in the meeting of legislature party to be held in Gujarat on Thursday to decide the next chief minister. "He will chair the meeting of state legislature party and hold consultation with the stakeholders to decide on the next chief minister of Gujarat," Naidu told reporters here. Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari and national general secretary Saroj Pandey would also be present in the meeting as central observers. Calling Anandiben Patel an "inspiration" for many across the country, Naidu said that she headed the government in "satisfactory" manner. Even as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been targeting the saffron brigade on a range of issues, BJP national President Amit Shah on Wednesday refrained from taking on the Trinamool supremo here. On his maiden visit to the city after the West Bengal assembly polls, Shah, in his nearly 40-minute address to party workers, spoke mostly about the development works initiated by the BJP governments at the Centre and in several states, and urged them to prepare for the 2018 rural polls in the state and the subsequent Lok Sabha polls. He also exhorted the people to elect the BJP to power in the state. While Shah is known for his sharp attacks on Mamata, and the party workers had hoped for some caustic barbs, on Wednesday the BJP chief harped mostly on development. "The biggest difference between a BJP government and that by the Congress, Communists or the Trinamool is that we work for the people, we bring development. That is why, in whichever state BJP has come to power, nobody has been able to uproot us," said Shah who went on to enumerate a host of schemes by the Narendra Modi government to buttress his claims. "There is no scope for the party workers to rest until BJP comes to power in Bengal. We have the maximum number of MPs, MLAs and chief ministers. We are the largest party in the country, but that is not complete until we come to power in Bengal and Kerala," Shah asserted. "Infiltration of Bangladeshis will stop only if BJP comes to power in Bengal," said Shah, who had earlier accused Mamata of compromising national security by allowing Bangladeshis to infiltrate in the state. He also said the GST Bill held significance for Bengal as it will initiate new economic reforms in the country. After coming to power in the state for the second consecutive term, the Trinamool chief had asserted that despite the party's "ideological differences" with the BJP, it will cooperate with the Modi government on the passage of the long-pending GST Bill. Shah also ridiculed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over his foreign visits. "People criticise Narendra Modi's foreign visits but it was Manmohan Singh who undertook more foreign visits. People think Modi had travelled more because no one noticed when Singh went for his visits. "Singh carried written speeches, read them and came back. Often those speeches would get interchanged and he would end up of reading speech meant for Indonesia in Malaysia and that of Malaysia in Indonesia," added Shah. --IANS and/ssp/bim/dg Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza on Wednesday said an audit of all old bridges and buildings in Goa was needed following the collapse of a British era bridge in Maharashtra. D'Souza told reporters: "Audit has to take place of all old bridges and old buildings? If there are weak bridges, they have to be stopped from carrying passenger traffic." At least two buses and several other vehicles went missing near Mahad city after a bridge on Savitri river collapsed on Wednesday due to torrential rains in the Konkan region. Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said the state Director General of Police had been directed to check if there are any Goans in the list of persons who have gone missing and feared drowned. The bridge is located on the NH-17 connecting Panvel, on the outskirts of Mumbai and Goa. --IANS maya/mr The Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill appeared to be headed for smooth passage in the Rajya Sabha as nearly all major parties, barring the AIADMK supported the bill during the debate. Most of the opposition parties also backed the Congress' demand for a cap on the maximum tax under the bill, and also urged the government not to bring the bills on Centre and State GST that will follow as money bills. On Wednesday, the Goods and Services Tax Bill, technically called the Constitutional (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill, 2014, was introduced for discussion in the Rajya Sabha. AIADMK member A. Navaneethakrishnan, participating in the debate in the upper house, called the bill "unconstitutional". "This bill is not constitutional because it violates state's fiscal autonomy, and also it will mean revenue loss to Tamil Nadu; so we oppose this bill," Navaneethakrishnan said. Most other parties however were in agreement on the idea of a pan-India Goods and Services Tax and said they supported the bill. Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the debate on a goods tax has taken place even in the constituent assembly. He asked the government to make provisions to ensure states are not reduced to begging, and said that the subsequent two bills on GST that the government will bring should not be money bills. "The goods tax is not a new concept, it has been going on since the constituent assembly debates," he said. Yechury also quoted B.R. Ambedkar from the debates in the constituent assembly and said he concluded that the right for levying goods taxes should be with the provinces so that they have a source of revenue. "What will be the legitimate rights of state? How do we protect that right?" Yechury said. Yechury sought assurance that the government will "ensure there is a flexibility" so that states do not end up coming with a begging bowl to the Centre. "This is a very serious piece of legislation; we are making a major departure... Don't bring it as money bill," he said. Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal said his party was not opposing the bill becuase they did not want to be seen as the one blocking development. "Even if we don't want, we are supporting this bill so that a message doesn't go that Samajwadi Party is becoming an obstacle towards economic progress of the country," Agrawal said. He backed the Congress' demand of putting a cap on the maximum tax. "Congress wanted an 18 per cent cap on GST. But, the government did not do it because their intention is to increase the tax. The government is saying that it might be required to increase the tax later, and a Constitutional amendment would be done again. Why don't you fix the maximum rate, and maintain a minimum rate; then there will be no requirement for Constitutional amendment," he said. Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav also extended support to the bill and said: "The GST has been hanging for the past 12 years. Today, I am standing in support of GST." "The only reason for corruption in indirect taxes in our country is because of the several layers of taxation in our country. Single taxation will solve this problem. Our party has been in support of the bill since the beginning. But, I have a request to the government not to bring it as a money bill. Let there be a consensus on this by discussion and debate," Yadav said. Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien also supported the bill and attacked both BJP and Congress saying they keep switching sides on supporting the bill. "We often get confused when they are supporting, when they are not supporting, because what their stand is depends on where they sit. My party is consistent on this - in 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2016 manifestos - we have promised GST. We promised it as an idea and as an implementation," the TMC leader said. Biju Janata Dal leader A.U. Singh Deo, extending support to the bill, said the provision for green tax should be given some time. "We support the bill but we have certain issue. There is a green tax which does not seem to find favour with lot of people. Odisha is a mineral rich state. There is environmental impact so the mineral rich states should be given time before putting the green tax," Deo said. Bahujan Samaj Party MP Satish Chandra Misra, while supporting the bill, said it should be ensured that the federal structure is not effected. --IANS ao/rn Hoping to penetrate the segment where it has a "negligible presence", city-based Berger Paints India Ltd. has transferred its paint division relating to passenger cars and three-wheelers to BNB Coatings India, company CEO Abhijit Roy said on Wednesday. "We have entered into a non-binding understanding for transfer of our paint division related to four-wheeler passenger cars and SUV, three wheelers and related ancillaries to BNB Coatings India," said Roy at the company's 92nd annual general meeting here. BNB is a joint venture where Japan's Nippon Paint Automotive Coatings holds 51 per cent while Berger has 49 per cent of the paid up capital. "In most of the categories, be it decorative or protective, we are either number one or two. But in automotive segment we have been an insignificant player, in the car segment we have a negligible presence. This has largely been because of technology and approval issues," "Indian automotive industry is dominated by Japanese companies. So we thought of tying up with a Japanese company who have the technology and it's easier to penetrate the car segment," he said informing about the reasons the transfer. He said the turnover of the transferred division was about Rs. 29 crore or 0.85 per cent of the company's total turnover. The transfer of the division was completed on June 30. Roy also said Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif will continue to be the company's brand ambassador. "We have extended our agreement with Katrina Kaif, she will continue to endorse our brand for another three years," added Roy. --IANS and/ssp/ahm/dg The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved upgradation of 13 existing government Medical Colleges or Institutes (GMCIs) across the country. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The medical colleges would be upgraded under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), according to an official statement. The government has approved the upgradation of 13 colleges in eight states, three in Bihar, two each in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. While one medical college of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan would also be upgraded, the release said. The government has set the time of 36 months for the upgradation of the medical colleges, it added. The central government would share 60 per cent of the total cost of upgradation, while the rest of the 40 per cent would be shared by the state government, it said. Under PMSSY, 58 government medical colleges have been approved for upgradation, of which, work in 16 colleges has been completed while in rest of the colleges the work is still in progress. --IANS aks/rn/dg The union cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal to transfer 12 acres of National Textile Corporation Ltd. (NTCL), Indu-6 Mill land to Maharashtra government for construction of a memorial of B.R. Ambedkar. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official release said. The Chaityabhoomi of Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is situated in the vicinity of the land of Indu-6 Mill of the NTCL in Mumbai. "The cabinet had already approved the transfer of 12 acres of Indu-6 Mill land, vested in NTCL to Maharashtra government for construction of a befitting Memorial for Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on payment of compensation as required," the release said. --IANS aks/rn Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told a conference of the country's envoys on Wednesday that the relationship with China has transformed into a multi-dimensional partnership, and it was a "time-tested" friend of Pakistan. "We are determined to take Sino-Pakistani relationship to new heights as China is a time-tested friend of Pakistan. Relations with China have strengthened with the passage of time," Xinhua news agency quoted Nawaz Sharif as saying. Pakistani envoys from important capitals of the world as well as multilateral organisations were invited to the conference, starting Aug 3, to brief the government about the developments in the countries of their work. The Prime Minister was the chief guest at the concluding session at the Foreign Ministry to listen to the suggestions by the envoys and to share his vision about the foreign policy. "We are thankful to the government and people of China on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor's project. It is not only an economic prosperity project but a game changer as with CPEC we are introducing a new vision of mutual relations in the region," he said. He described CPEC as the project of common economic interests and said there are also opportunities for Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. "We want to lay foundation of new relationship in region. The CPEC will guarantee regional peace and prosperity," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying. Talking about the country's foreign policy, the Prime Minister said Pakistan believes in the policy of non-interference and respect of sovereignty of other countries. On Afghanistan, he said the process initiated by the Quadrilateral Coordination Group of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US (QCG) should be taken forward. The QCG that was started in December in Islamabad has been trying to broker direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban. However, there has been no success so far and the QCG is struggling to encourage the political dialogue in Afghanistan. "Pakistan will always support efforts aimed at reviving peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan has a clear stance that it will not allow its territory to be used against any other country," he said. --IANS lok/ A fundraiser for US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign will be held at Black Hat, a major cyber security conference in Las Vegas. Jeff Moss, founder of the Black Hat and DefCon cyber security conferences will attend the fundraiser on Wednesday, Black Hat public relations manager Meredith Corley told Xinhua on Tuesday. However, the event is not organised by Black Hat USA 2016, which attracts prominent cyber security experts and hackers from around the world. "It's not a Black Hat show," Corley said. Cyber security issues have plagued Clinton's campaign for months, from her long-running email controversy to the recent hacks of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Clinton's own campaign network. The two hour-long fundraiser scheduled for the hackers community will be held just days after new reports surfaced that a number of emails of the DNC were published by hackers on the Wikileaks website. --IANS sm/ahm/vm Star West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has signed a new deal to play for Melbourne Renegades in Australia's Big Bash League (BBL) next season. Bravo will return on a one-year deal for his third consecutive season, Renegades franchise officials confirmed on Tuesday, reports CMC. Bravo's new deal with Renegades means one of the franchise's two international contracts has been taken. "Having Dwayne back is obviously fantastic," CEO Stuart Coventry said of Bravo, last year's Player of the Year. "He was a driving force for us last season and brings an enthusiasm and intensity about his play that is a really positive combination for the rest of the squad." Renegades, who are chasing their second final berth, have also signed a new deal with captain Aaron Finch. The club is also said to be looking for another overseas player to replace T20 super star Chris Gayle. --IANS sam/vm Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said the pan-India Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime was an example of federalism at its best, and will go a long way in boosting the revenues of both the Centre and the state governments. Initiating the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the GST Bill -- technically the Constitutional (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill, 2014 -- Jaitley said the efforts of all stakeholders led to a consensus and apprehensions of most states put to rest on the issue. "The dual dialogue of the empowered committee and political parties has resulted in a large consensus, which is absolutely necessary for a bill of this kind. We have systematically worked towards a larger political consensus," the minister said. "This is one of the most significant tax reforms in India's history. It was, therefore, important for building a political consensus to the extent possible," he said, adding that the main worry of the states was dilution of their exclusive right to impose tax on goods. "Some manufacturing states felt the consuming states will benefit more and wanted adequate compensation. Many states felt the petroleum products and alcohol must be kept out of the GST," he said, adding that a consensus was accordingly arrived at. While potable alcohol will be outside the GST purview, petroleum products will be zero-rated for the moment -- they will attract nil levy under this common tax. But the states can impose their own levies. Jaitley said this will be the position till a decision is reached on the issue. The minister also sought to allay another fear among the states -- that despite India's federal structure, the Centre would try to impose its authority, especially when it comes to disputes. "The Centre will have veto on the states; states will have veto on the Centre," said Jaitley. "We have all agreed that the disputes will be resolved by the council," he said, referring to the empowered committee of state finance ministers getting converted into a GST Council. Recounting the GST merits, he said the new regime will ensure a check on tax evasion and therefore boost revenues. "Many economists believe it could also give a boost to the country's growth rate," he said. "The enactment of the GST Bill will bring abut the best economic management of the country as it will empower the states and increase revenue of states and the central government. It will give a boost to the economy at this critical stage," he added. The GST Bill, termed as the most radical tax reform since Independence, seeks to subsume all central indirect taxes like excise duty, countervailing duty and service tax, as also state levies like Value Added Tax, entry tax and luxury tax, to create a single, pan-India market. --IANS mm-ap/tsb/dg A group of All Parties Hurriyat Conference workers on Wednesday held a protest in Rawalpindi against Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh's arrival in the country to attend a Saarc ministerial conference. The protesters shouted anti-India slogans in Faizabad area of Rawalpindi, around 20 km from Islamabad where the two-day Saarc conference is being held. The protests come in the backdrop of surge in violence in Jammu and which has has escalated tension between the two countries. More than 50 people have been killed and over 3,000 wounded in the current bout of violence in Jammu and following the killing of Burhan Wani, a commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He has been declared a "martyr" by Islamabad while India has branded him a "terrorist". United Jihad Council chief Sayeed Salahudin is also holding a protest sit-in in Islamabad against the Indian minister's arrival. --IANS ahm/rn The demise of the prominent Bengali writer and social activist Mahasweta Devi, who gave voice to the voiceless by chronicling injustices against them, had left a void that would be difficult to fill, speakers at a condolence meeting here said. "She was a writer not just writing but chronicling class exploitation and giving a voice to the voiceless, said eminent Malayalam writer P. Sachidanandan. Sahitya Akademi president Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari, vice president Chandrashekhara Kambara and eminent literary personalities like Balchandra Nemade, C. Radhakrishnan, Geeta Dharmarajan, N.K. Bhattacharjee, Padma Sachdev and Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay, among others, offered their condolences to the writer who passed away on July 28. Padma Sachdev spoke of the connection that the deprived sections shared with Mahasweta Devi by narrating an incident from 1979. "When she won the Sahitya Akademi award, adivasis celebrated it singing 'We won the Sahitya Akademi award'," she said. Describing Mahasweta Devi's contributions as an activist, writer Mridula Garg said, "literature is not important but social engagement and betterment are important. Her writings don't pertain to just one part but are relatable to people in every corner of the country." Chandrashekhara Kambara described Devi as one of the finest writers of modern India and a social activist whose heart always beat for the oppressed and downtrodden. "It's difficult to find another writer of her stature. Her heart always went out to the needy. She was a prolific writer, never a propagandist," he said. Marathi writer Bhalchandra Nemade said: "I am proud that I have been her contemporary" as she was somebody who "raised the conscience of the people". --IANS mg/vm Two aircraft miraculously escaped colliding with one another over Guwahati, leaving some passengers and crew members shaken and needing medical aid, officials said on Wednesday. At least four passengers and two cabin crew members were shaken by the near disaster, a spokesman for Airlines said. The passengers complained of giddiness while the cabin crew needed first aid. The incident took place on Tuesday evening when an flight from Mumbai to Guwahati was about to land at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. Just then, an Indigo flight bound for Chennai took off, crossing the flight path of the first aircraft. "The IndiGo flight en route to Guwahati experienced turbulence due to monsoon," said the Indigo spokesman, adding this caused it to climb down by 250-300 feet, just when the Chennai-bound aircraft was taking off. The spokesman said the flight finally made a normal landing. The four passengers and two cabin crew were given medical assistance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will connect with the common man through a town hall event on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of MyGov -- a citizen engagement platform for participative governance. Modi's town hall will be held on Saturday evening wherein he will have 'live talk' with selected citizens from various locations. It would be his first town hall address in the country. He had last year answered questions from the audience at a town hall event at the Facebook headquarters in the US. Officials said the day-long event will have panel discussions and see participation from union ministers and senior officials. MyGov was launched by Modi in July 2014 to provide opportunity to the people to participate in multiple theme-based discussions and share their thoughts. The platform has several groups like Clean Ganga, Girl Child Education, Digital India, Food Security and Healthy India. MyGov has 3.52 million registered members, 1,82,000 submissions in 491 tasks and 3.40 million comments in 590 discussion themes. --IANS mak/ps/tsb/dg The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Anandiben Patel as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and said the legislature party meeting will be held on Thursday to decide next chief minister of the state. The BJP also cleared the air on party president Amit Shah being appointed as the next Chief Minister of Gujarat. However, he will attend the meeting of the legislature party meeting. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and party General Secretary Saroj Pandey will also be present at the meeting as central observers. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said that Anandiben Patel would meet Gujarat Governor O.P. Kohli on Wednesday to submit her resignation. "The party has accepted her resignation. She offered to resign as she was nearing 75. She has set an example for lakhs of party workers and became an inspiration for many in the country by doing this," Naidu told reporters after the meeting of party's Parliamentary Board. The meeting, held at 7, Race Course, was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Clearing the air on Amit Shah, Naidu said that the next chief minister would be from the existing party MLAs in Gujarat. "There is no such consultation going on in the party. He (Amit Shah) is party's national president and under his leadership the party has reached great heights. The party needs his leadership. The chief minister will be from the existing legislators," said Naidu. He, however, said that Shah would be present in the meeting of legislature party to be held in Gujarat on Thursday to decide the next chief minister. "He will chair the meeting of state legislature party and hold consultation with the stakeholders to decide on the next chief minister of Gujarat," Naidu said. Naidu also said that the party appreciated the "satisfactory" work done by Anandiben Patel as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. "She has been a minister in Gujarat government for 18 years. She headed the government as chief minister in satisfactory manner. The party appreciates the good work done by her for the development of the state", he added. Patel, the first woman chief minister of Gujarat offered to quit keeping in mind the BJP's tradition of leaders vacating their post as they turn 75. --IANS bns/pgh/vm North Korea fired a ballistic missile into east waters from its west region, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Wednesday. The projectile was launched from South Hwanghae province around 7.50 a.m. (local time), Yonhap news agency quoted the JCS as saying. Further details are being analysed, the official said. The launch came after North Korea test-fired two medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles and one shorter-range Scud missile on July 19 in an apparent protest against the decision between Seoul and Washington to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defence on South Korean soil. Japan has also condemned and lodged an official protest with Pyongyang against the missile launch, saying the launch was in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said the missile landed within Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan. He said that his agency was currently "analysing the situation". On July 8, South Korea and the US abruptly announced an agreement to deploy one THAAD battery by the end of next year. One day after the announcement, Pyongyang test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off its east coast to demonstrate against the THAAD deployment decision. North Korean military has threatened to take "physical measures" against the THAAD deployment site. China and Russia have strongly opposed to THAAD deployment in South Korea as it raises tensions in Northeast Asia. --IANS py/ Pope Francis on Wednesday addressed the athletes who are set to take part in the 2016 Olympics in the Brazilian city of Rio, calling for them to exemplify the unity of the human race during the event. Speaking at the weekly general audience, Pope Francis urged Olympians not to consider winning medals as the ultimate prize, but instead to encapsulate a civilisation in which solidarity takes precedence, reports Efe. The Pope said it was possible to create a society "based on the acknowledgment that everyone is a member of the same human family, independent of culture, skin colour and religion". Francis also praised the Brazilian society for hosting the Olympics hoping that, by working together, it could overcome its difficulties and lead to a more just and safe country. It was the Pope's first general audience address since returning from Poland, where last week he celebrated World Youth Day and made a poignant visit to the Auschwitz Nazi concentration and extermination camp. Pope Francis said he could relate the cruelty of concentration camps to the modern world, lamenting a society which was "ill with cruelty, pain, war, hate and sadness". He added that in a "world of war", hope comes from the pursuit of fraternity, dialogue and unity. The Olympic Games are scheduled to run from August 5-21. --IANS sam/dg Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda was on Wednesday elected the 39th Prime Minister of Nepal, Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar said. Out of a total 573 votes cast in the 595-member house, Prachanda received 363 votes in favour with 210 voting against him, Gharti Magar announced in Parliament. Prachanda was backed by the largest party in the House -- Nepali Congress, constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front and the Federal Alliance and some other fringe parties, The Himalayan Times reported. A total 210 lawmakers including those of CPN-UML and Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal had cast votes against the Maoist leader. On August 2, Prachanda filed his candidacy for Prime Minister at the Parliamentary Secretariat backed by Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav, a prominent Madhesi leader. Though Dahal was the only contender for the post of the Prime Minister, he had to go through the voting process as the Constitution requires that the Prime Minister prove support of the majority lawmakers in the House. Prachanda bagged support from the Sanghiya Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) which has been agitating for the last one year against the country's new Constitution. Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party leader Sarbendra Nath Sukla and Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karna supported Prachanda's bid for the Prime Minister's post. In support of Prachanda's candidature, the SLMM on August 2 also signed a three-point agreement with the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) which together proposed to form a new government in Nepal. The alliance decided to support Dahal's candidacy after the three-point agreement but will not join the government. According to the agreement, the new government will implement the preconditions set by the Federal alliance, including declaring as martyrs all those killed during the Madhesi Morcha-sponsored agitation, providing relief to those affected and compensation to the injured. The second point of the agreement stipulates that the government seek political consensus based on the Madhesi Morcha's 11-point memorandum of demands and 26-point charter of demands of the Sanghiya Gathabandan (Federal alliance) and move a constitution amendment proposal in parliament. A total of 298 votes were needed for Dahal to be elected the Prime Minister from among the existing 595 members in the House, The Himalayan Times reported. It would be the second stint of the Maoist leader as the Prime Minister as he had led the government after the first Constituent Assembly elections, from August 18, 2008 to May 25, 2009. Prachanda's first tenure as Prime Minister lasted for 280 days. He had resigned on May 4, 2009 after the then President Ram Baran Yadav turned down a Cabinet decision to remove the then Nepal army Chief General Rookmangud Katawal and ordered Katawal to stay put in office. According to The Himalayan Times, Prachanda worked as a teacher before joining . He was elected central member of the CPN Masal in 1984 through the fifth General Convention of the party, politburo member in 1985, and General Secretary in 1989. Prachanda was elected General Secretary of the CPN United Centre, which later transformed into CPN Maoist, in 1991. --IANS ask/dg Indian equity markets on Wednesday succumbed to profit booking on uncertainities regarding the passage of the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Consequently, both the key indices provisionally closed the day's trade in the negative territory, as heavy selling pressure was witnessed in automobile, capital goods and consumer durables stocks. The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged down 83 points or 0.96 per cent to 8,539.90 points. The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 28,008.52 points, provisionally closed at 27,697.51 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 284.20 points or 1.02 per cent from the previous close at 27,981.71 points. The Sensex had touched a high of 28,015.43 points and a low of 27,690.06 points during the intra-day trade. The BSE market breadth was skewed in favour of the bears -- with 1,815 declines and 914 advances. Both the indices had ended marginally in the red during the previous trade session on Tuesday, prompted by negative global cues and profit booking. The barometer index fell by 21.41 points or 0.08 per cent to 27,981.71 points, while the NSE Nifty edged lower by 13.65 points or 0.16 per cent to 8,622.90 points. --IANS ppg/vm Nagaland MP Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday urged the government to expedite the ongoing Naga peace talks a year after the historic Naga Framework Agreement was signed. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Rio, who has thrice served as Nagaland chief minister, said that the issue should be settled fast. "It has been 19 years since the ceasefire agreement was signed and the formal talk at the highest level was initiated. Till date, more than hundred rounds of talks have been held but they are yet to reach a logical conclusion. How much longer must the talk continue before we reach the final settlement? "asked Rio. Stating that unless the issue was addressed with utmost seriousness and the Centre treated it as a national crisis, the situation could deteriorate and spin out of control again. "An early settlement that is honourable and acceptable to the people, democratic in nature and one that upholds truth and justice, so as to allow Nagas to live in permanent peace should be urgently reached,"said Rio. The Naga Peace Accord, also known as the Naga Framework Agreement was inked on Aug 3, 2015 between NSCN (IM) and the Indian Government, aiming to end the six decade long conflict in the state. --IANS rup/in/vm Home Ministers from seven Saarc countries, minus Bangladesh, are meeting here on Wednesday for a two-day conclave with regional affairs, terrorism, drugs and human trafficking on the agenda. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) interior ministers meet is being held at a local five-star hotel. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is to officially inaugurate the session. It is expected to be attended by interior ministers from all Saarc states except for Bangladesh, which is sending senior diplomats and officials for the meet. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh is also attending the conference. Singh is not to hold a one-on-one with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. The Saarc group includes Pakistan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The platform aims to boost ties and cooperation between member states. At least five militants were killed in a shootout with security forces in Pakistan's northwest on Wednesday, the media reported. The exchange of firing was triggered off when militants opened fire at security forces in Kalash area of Chitral district, a district located near Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The forces responded and killed five militants, while their accomplices fled the scene. The incident happened after Afghan Taliban launched two attacks in Chitral district, in the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and stole hundreds of cattle. In one of the attacks on Sunday, the Afghan Taliban killed two shepherds and took away their herd of over 400 cattle to Afghanistan with them. --IANS ahm/dg The Syrian army carried out offensive against a town held by the Islamic State (IS) group in Deir al-Zour on Tuesday, killing 60 of them, state news agency SANA reported. The military units attacked IS positions in the town of Jnaineh, two kilometers west of Deir al-Zour, Xinhua news agency quoted SANA as saying. It added that the military units also foiled an attack by the IS on government-controlled parts in that oil-rich province, killing dozens of them, including the commander who was leading the attack. The IS controls much of the countryside of Deir al-Zour province, except the city, which is still under the government control, but besieged by the IS. --IANS lok/ US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump accepted a Purple Heart from a military veteran during a rally on Tuesday, saying it was "much easier" to receive the medal as a gift than by serving in combat. Trump said Lt Col Louis Dorfman gave him his actual Purple Heart, but an NBC reporter was told the one given to the candidate was a replica, the Independent reported. The Republican candidate, who is locked in a bitter public dispute with the family of a Muslim soldier who was killed in Iraq, attracted fresh criticism for his off-hand response accepting an honour bestowed upon soldiers wounded in combat and joking about how easily he received his. "I fought in Iraq, was injured, and was awarded a Purple Heart," Sean Barney, a Delaware congressional candidate wounded in Iraq, tweeted. "No one should ever want a Purple Heart." The mother of US Army National Guard Sgt Patrick McCaffrey accused Trump of making light of the honour. "Well, people have the freedom of speech and the freedom of action, so whoever gave that Purple Heart to Mr Trump is, you know, it's his decision not mine," Nadia McCaffrey told CNN. "To me, a Purple Heart is sacred for what it represents and should not be given to anyone who didn't deserve one." His rival Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also mocked Trump on twitter. "This from a man who says he's 'sacrificed' for our country," she tweeted. Trump's acceptance of the veteran's Purple Heart comes amid his feud with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, Gold Star parents whose son Humayun Khan was killed in action in 2004 while serving in Iraq, the Independent reported. Khan rebuked the Republican nominee during a speech at the Democratic National Convention last Thursday. "You have sacrificed nothing and no one," he said, addressing Trump while holding pocket-sized version of the US Constitution. In response, Trump said he "made a lot of sacrifices", citing the numerous "great structures" he built. The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving with the US military. --IANS lok/ The US authorities have designated a Pakistan-based Islamist organisation, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, as a "global terrorist" organisation, the State Department announced on Wednesday. The organisation is a splinter group of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and is responsible for the Easter Sunday attack on a Lahore park targeting Christians in which 70 people were killed and for the killing of two US Consulate employees in Peshawar, the capital city of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, this year, the State Department said in a statement. "The group, founded by a former TTP leader in August 2014, has staged multiple attacks in the region targeting civilians, religious minorities, military personnel, and law enforcement," the announcement said. The designation as a "Specially Designated Global Terroristsa" means that JuA's property is frozen and people in the US are banned from having any dealings with it. The State Department also said that Mohamed Abrinia, a member of the Europe-based Islamic State cell now under arrest by Belgian autorities was also added to the roster of global terrorists. The statement said he was responsible for the November 2015 Paris attacks and March 2016 Brussels attacks. --IANS al/ahm/dg Snapchat and Kik, the messaging services, use bar codes that look like drunken checkerboards to connect people and share information with a snap of their smartphone cameras. Facebook is working on adding the ability to hail rides and make payments within its Messenger app. Facebook and Twitter have begun live-streaming video. Actor Rahul Bose had taken to Twitter a while back to vent his ire after a forgettable Air India flight from New York. More than a month later, the newly appointed Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha tweeted back asking Bose for his flight details and urged him to continue patronising the national carrier. Now, completing know-your-customer (KYC) requirement with one financial institution will be good enough for opening an account with any bank, mutual fund, insurance company, broker, or New Pension Scheme. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary board accepting her decision to quit on Wednesday in a morning meeting in Delhi, Gujarat Chief Minister gave her resignation to Gujarat governor O P Kohli in the evening. As many as 1196 complainants have been received against the Delhi Police officials regarding non-registration of the FIRs, in the past three and half years, Rajya Sabha was informed today. In response to a question, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said in his written reply that in the year 2013, total 449 complaints were received, out of which 42 were found genuine. Out of the total 363 complaints received in the year 2014, 50 were found genuine whereas the same for the year 2015 was 271 out of which 34 were genuine. Till end of June of the current year, a total of 113 complaints were received out of which 9 were found genuine, he said. Action has been taken against 181 police personnel in this regard, including warning, advisory memo, calling explaining, censure and departmental enquiry, he said. Two passenger buses and four other vehicles are feared to have been swept away following the collapse of a bridge over Savitri river in Maharashtra last night, with the Centre rushing four NDRF teams along with 12 boats and expert divers for rescue operations. Home Minister Rajnath Singh informed the Lok Sabha that two helicopters have also been deployed and the Centre was giving all possible help to the state administration in the rescue efforts. "What happened is very painful and unfortunate. It happened at around 11.30 PM. Two passenger buses and four other vehicles are feared to have been washed away in the river," he said. At least two persons drowned and 20 others are missing after a British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway near Mahad in Maharashtra's Raigad district. Singh made the statement after Vinayak Raut (Shiv Sena) raised the issue, saying the incident happened as the bridge remained operational even though it was considered unsafe and another bridge over the river was constructed by the state government. Raut asked the government to present a report about such bridges and ensure that such tragic incidents do not recur. Over 20 per cent of the low-cost units built under various urban housing schemes are lying vacant due to "reluctance" of slum dwellers or beneficiaries to shift there, the government told the Lok Sabha today. "As many as 2.13 lakh houses out of the 10.59 lakh houses constructed under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Rajiv Awas Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)- Housing for All, in the country are yet to be occupied by beneficiaries," MoS for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Rao Inderjit Singh said in a written reply to a question. The reasons, given by the states and the Union Territories, are mainly reluctance of slum dwellers or the beneficiaries to relocate, lack of or incomplete basic infrastructure and access to sources of livelihood, among others, he said. According to the data provided by the minister, the highest number of 40,948 houses are vacant in Maharashtra, followed by Delhi (26,199), Gujarat (23,197), Andhra Pradesh (19,652), Telangana (19,166) and Uttar Pradesh (15,980). To a question on the criteria for allocation of these houses to the beneficiaries, he said identification of beneficiaries under these schemes is the responsibility of the states and the UTs. Shortage of urban housing in the country was estimated at 18.78 million in 2012. Of these, 10.55 million were in economically weaker section category, 7.41 million in lower income groups category and the remaining 0.82 million in the middle and above category. Three persons were killed and as many injured seriously when two cars collided with each other on the national highway near Ambala Cantonment today, police said. The injured were rushed to PGIMER in Chandigarh after the mishap which occurred in the evening, they said. Police said one of the cars was coming from the direction of Delhi, while the other was on the way to Karnal, adding that while crossing the Indian Oil Corporation depot, one of the vehicles jumped on to the divider and collided with the other car on the adjoining lane. According to hospital sources, the three injured persons belong to Hapur. The deceased have not been identified so far, police said. Four persons were killed and one seriously injured when their car rammed into a pillar on Pune-Mumbai Expressway near Lonavala this morning, police said. The car rammed into the pillar of Devale overbridge at Malvali, about 15 kms from Lonavala, on the Expressway at around 10 AM, killing four of the five car occupants on the spot, they said. "It seems that the accident took place after the car driver lost control over the wheels and the vehicle rammed into a roadside pillar of an overbridge on the expressway," a Lonavala rural police officer said. "The impact of the crash was so much that the entire car got mangled, killing four persons on the spot," he said. The victims were heading towards Pune, however, police are ascertaining from where they were coming, he said adding that the exact reason of the accident is being investigated. The deceased have been identified as - Omkar Mancharkar, Rajvir Singh Thakur, Kunal Nigutkar and Ajinkya Karkhanis, all residents of Pune. The injured person, who is reported to be critical, has been rushed to a private hospital. On July 26, five youths were killed and one was grievously injured when their car overturned on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway under Kamshet police station limit. Government plans to set up 4 lakh aganwadi centres in the next 3-4 years as part of efforts to eliminate malnutrition and meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Lok Sabha was informed today. "Restructuring of ICDS is the key focus of this government ... With the restructured ICDS, we are trying to eliminate malnutrition. We are planning to construct 4 lakh aganwadi centres across the country over the next 3-4 years," Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said during her intervention in the debate on SDGs. Elimination of malnutrition is one of the 17 goals of SDGs and its 169 targets. The Minister acknowleged that there was an acute shortage of anganwadi buildings even outside high-burden districts. Therefore, there is a need to include other areas as well for construction of anganwadi buildings under the convergence of MGNREGA, she said. With regard to women's safety, Gandhi said, panic button would be mandated in mobile phones from next year and self- regulatory code for the matrimonial websites were also being developed. To sensitise about the women issue, she said, 33 per cent reservation in police force would go a long way in achieving this objective. The government has issued draft National Policy for Women and the final draft is expected to be released next month, which shifts focus from entitlement to rights. Besides, a legislation on trafficking of women and children should be ready by the end of next year, she said, adding that a large number of initiatives taken by Women and Child Development ministry will help in achieving the SDGs. There has been significant improvement in the sex ratio in the last one year due to efforts and initiatives of this government, Gandhi claimed. (Reopen PAR32) Participating in the debate on SDG, Veerappa Moily (Cong) said India has its own set of problems and there are increasing conflicts with regard to dalits, gender equality, minorities, women and North eastern regions. In the year 2000, 189 nations set eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were to be achieved by 2015. In September 2010, the UNGA adopted a new set of goals called Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to be achieved by 2030, which replaced the MDG, he noted. Kunwar Bhartendra Singh (BJP) said the SDG has 17 goals amd 169 targets and to achieve it by 2030, 17 ministries are cordinating among themselves. He said the government is pushing for upgradation of living condition so that every citizen gets access to clean drinking water, electricity, healthcare and basic education. In 1990, there were 10 mega cities with 10 million population, which increased to 28 mega cities with 453 million population, Singh said. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (TMC) said "to leave this world for our posterity, we have to protect this world...Budget allocation should be made towards meeting the 17 goals." Agriculture is very important part of SDGs and depletion of land should be taken care of by scientists, she said, adding, "we need to protect and preserve our one world." Tathagata Satpathy (BJD) disagreed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stand of 'less government and more governance' and said there is rather a need for more government and less governance. "We need more doctors, we need more teachers, we need more officials, more tehsildars, more BDOs to attend to the needs and capacity building," he said. He also said that there is need to include agriculture in the education system so that importance of food and production is known to one and all, he added. As many as 40 central public sector enterprises including MTNL, Shipping Corporation of India, NMDC and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers do not have a regular chief executive, Parliament was informed today. "There are 40 central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) which presently do not have a regular chief executive (Chairman/CMD/MD)," Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Babul Supriyo said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. The minister attributed the main reasons for vacant positions of chief executives in CPSEs to unforeseen vacancies due to resignation/ death/ vertical shift of incumbents, non-confirmation/ non extension of tenure of incumbents or scrapping of the recommended panel by the competent authority. Pending vigilance clearance or approval of the competent authority; court cases; creation of new posts and decision of the administrative Ministry to keep a particular post in abeyance, etc are some other causes for the posts lying vacant. Some of the other CPSEs without regular chief executives are Hindustan Cables, Bramhaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation, HMT, Eastern Coalfields, Scooters India, ITI, Andrew Yule & Company, among others. At least five Afghan terrorists were killed in a shootout by the security forces near Pak-Afghan border in this northwestern city of Pakistan today, official sources said. An exchange of firing took place between security personnel and Afghan terrorists as they entered the Pakistan territory through scenic Bambureet valley of Chitral district of Khyber Pakthunkhwa. Local residents said that the group of terrorists was active in the area for last few weeks as a couple of days ago these terrorists had killed two innocent Kalash shepherds and escaped from the scene with their cattle. A fast-track court today sentenced five members of a family, including two women, to life imprisonment here for burning alive a woman in a dowry case. Judge Rajiv Bhardwaj also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 each on Shive Kumar, the husband of the victim, Harbir (father-in-law), Harbiri (mother-in-law), Anju (sister-in-law) and Tinku (brother-in-law) after holding them guilty under section 304 of IPC. According to government pleader Inam Ilahi Tyagi, Pinki was burnt alive by her husband and other members of his family over dowry demands at Rasulpur village under Shapur police station in the district on August 13, 2014. The accused were later arrested by the police on the basis of a complaint from her family. A seven-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by her 45-year-old neighbour in Baljit Nagar area of central Delhi who has been arrested, police said today. The girl was admitted to Lady Hardinge hospital where she was undergoing treatment. The accused Ram Chander Mahto who was a neighbour of the victim has been arrested, said a senior police officer. The incident occurred around 7 pm last evening when the girl was playing outside her house at Baljit Nagar in Patel Nagar area and was picked up by the accused, he said. A case under relevant sections of IPC and POCSO Act has been registered in the matter at Patel Nagar police station. Police said that the accused was living alone in his house as his wife had gone to his native place. He lured the girl and brought her inside his room where he sexually assaulted her at which she cried and fainted. The locals alarmed by the cries of the girl reached the place of accused but he had managed to escape. Later, police was called who rushed the girl to hospital. The victim is a student of class II at a government school in the neighbourhood, police said. Flood situation in Assam marginally improved on Wednesday, although nearly eight lakh people are suffering across 14 districts in the state. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), more than 7.69 lakh people are still affected across 638 villages in 14 districts. Till Tuesday, nearly 10 lakh people were affected by the floods across 804 villages in 19 districts. The death toll in the current wave of floods stood at 34 across the state. As of now, the affected districts are Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Golaghat, Bongaigaon, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Morigaon, Kokrajhar, Dibrugarh, Biswanath, Nagaon, South Kamrup and Goalpara. Among them, Dhubri is the worst affected with nearly five lakh people still suffering, followed by Barpeta with almost one lakh and Goalpara with 86,000 people currently hit by the floods, the ASDMA said. Authorities are running 118 relief camps and distribution centres, where 23,405 people are taking shelter across 11 districts. Over 20,000 hectares of crop area are still under flood waters across the state, besides washing away number of roads, embankments, bridges and other infrastructure. Currently, Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at Nematighat in Jorhat and Dhubri town. Meanwhile, state industry minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said at a press conference that the government has Rs 654 crore under SDRF, out of which Rs 47.53 crore has been released to the districts for flood relief and rehabilitation measures this year. He said the government will soon start working on strengthening of the embankments. Brahmaputra, Barak and its tributaries have a total of 4,474 km embankments spread across the state, he said. Police in southern Nicaragua has said they have found the bodies of eight people believed to be migrants who drowned. National police yesterday said the bodies of seven men and a woman who appeared to be pregnant were found between Monday and Tuesday in Lake Nicaragua near the mouth of the Sapoa river, close to the border with Costa Rica. Authorities are working to identify the dead. Hundreds of migrants from Africa have been stuck in neighboring Costa Rica after Nicaragua closed its borders to people without the required travel documents in March. Migrants have increasingly been trying to traverse the Central American region to get to the United States. Nicaragua has deported dozens of Africans to Costa Rica, and Costa Rica has been accused by Panama of pushing 250 migrants from the Horn of Africa region across its border without any coordination. Every year umpteen number of Indians travel to Dubai and if they carry one thing more than anything it is their love for Bollywood! A Bollywood based park, part of an integrated 30.5 million square feet theme park set to open this October on Dubai-Abu Dhabi border aims to provide an authentic starry experience to its visitors. It is part of Dubai Parks and Resorts, which is poised to become the Middle East's largest integrated theme part resort. Spread across 1.7 million square feet, it is said to be the first of its kind and aims at providing an authentic Bollywood experience to visitors. The park, based on the sights and sounds of Bollywood, will feature cinematic rides along with themed attractions spread across five zones - Bollywood Boulevard, Mumbai Chowk, Rustic Ravine, Royal Plaza and Bollywood Film Studios featuring a Hall of Heroes. Films in focus range from 'Mughal-e- Azam', 'Sholay' to 'Lagaan' and 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.' The park also features an open-air venue 'Rangmanch', for village style song and dance performances. Other attractions include 'Rajmahal, a 850-seat cinema theater that will screen a two hour-long Broadway show and 'Mumbai Express', a show which celebrates the essence of Mumbai in films, be it the local train or the Tapori culture. The park is also set to offer 6 themed restaurants that capture India's mouth watering culinary offerings and eight retail outlets stocking quintessential filmy fare. "There is a zone under the Indian colonial theme where all the Indian themed restaurants are housed," Vinit Shah, Chief Destination Management Officer, Dubai Parks and Resorts, said during a presentation here today. A Hollywood-inspired theme park featuring rides and attractions based on beloved characters from 'Shrek', 'Smurfs', 'Hunger Games', 'Ghostbusters' from big-name studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Studios and Lionsgate will also open on the same day. Other theme parks include Legoland and the Legoland Water park, designed specifically for children between 2 years and 12 years. "Legoland will house 15,000 structure from all over the world like the Burj Khalifa and the Taj Mahal made of Lego bricks," Shah said. Taking inspiration from Orlando the makers aspire to be the best in the business. "Orlando was a swamp, now it houses four Disney parks, three Seaworld Parks, 2 Universal Studios and a Legoland. We want the same for Dubai," Shah said. Asim Ahmed Khan, who was sacked from Delhi Cabinet over graft allegations, today claimed that his family was being targeted by AAP, days after he alleged that he was receiving "death threats" from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and some of his partymen. The Aam Aadmi Party, however, rejected the allegations, saying Khan had teamed up with BJP to attack it. Khan claimed that on August 1, he had received a tip off from a "well-wisher from the AAP" that his father will be targeted by the party and a false complaint of molestation would be filed against him. The lawmaker claimed that AAP was unhappy as he was raising "uncomfortable issues" in the party. "On the same day, I brought this to the notice of the Jama Masjid Police Station. "Yesterday, three women entered our shop and started misbehaving with my father. They wanted to register a false case against my father, but we called the police following which they left," the Matia Mahal MLA claimed. He also demanded scanning of phone records of the three women, who he claimed had criminal record. The former Delhi Food and Civil Supplies and Environment Minister was sacked by Kejriwal last October for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs six lakh for allowing construction of a building in his constituency. Khan said he will soon "spill the beans" about AAP. He also claimed that two days back some miscreants tried to snatch his guard's gun outside his residence at 3.40 AM. "Two such incidents after I said there is a threat to my family's life say a lot," he added. Khan said he has been facing threats after he raised the issue of sacrilege of Koran in Malerkotla in Punjab. The Punjab Police had on July 24 arrested AAP's Mehrauli MLA Naresh Yadav in connection with this case. "This issue is very sensitive to us. We are demanding a probe into the matter by the party. What action is the party taking against its MLAs? At least probe the charges. Instead I and my family are facing threats," Khan said. "What I have been indicated is that the top AAP leadership, including Kejriwal ji, is behind the conspiracy to slap a false case against my father," he alleged, adding, "Target me. Why are you targeting my father? Your fight is with me." AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai said Khan is left with no other work but to attack the Aam Aadmi Party. "He was sacked by the Delhi government for corruption. The only job he has left is to team up with the corrupt BJP and attack the AAP," Bajpai said, rejecting the MLA's allegations. The Asian-American and Pacific Islander community which is supporting Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has strongly criticised Donald Trump for his remarks against the father of a slain Pakistani-origin American Muslim soldier. By criticising the Khan family, Trump was not just attacking Muslims, but disparaging all American soldiers and veterans and the entire community, the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Victory Fund said in a statement. The repeated pattern of attacks on this family from the Republican candidate is reprehensible, the Victory Fund, a super Political Action Committee (PAC) found early this year said. The Victory Fund is endorsing Clinton for the Presidential elections in November. "As a proud American who is Muslim, we cannot remain silent when the Republican presidential candidate's platform is based on hate and bigotry," Dilawar Syed, co-founder and vice-chairman of the Victory Fund said. "Mr Khan's call to action in speech last week at the DNC was to vote, underscoring that this election is the most important of our lifetime and we must turn out the vote in every community," Syed said. "When Donald Trump attacks the Khans, he attacks my community too," Tung Nguyen, co-founder of the Victory Fund said. "Trump's comments against refugees, new Americans and anyone who does not hold his rigid ideology, is attacking the essence of what America is," he said. The Pew Research Center estimates that 28 percent of 3.3 million Muslims living in the United States are of Asian descent. "The American Muslim community is diverse and by attacking them, Trump directly attacks Koreans, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos and all AAPIs," Shekar Narasimhan, chairman of the AAPI Victory Fund said. "Prominent Republicans have spoken out against Donald Trump's actions, and some have even left the Republican party," Varun Nikore, vice chairman for strategy & operations said. "Regardless of political party, there comes a time where decency and respect of those who served must prevail. We must all take action at the ballot box to send a strong message that the AAPI community will not tolerate this behavior from a presidential candidate," he said. An accused in the 2010 Kerala college professor hand-chopping case surrendered before a special NIA court here today. The court sent Sajil to judicial custody, NIA sources said, adding that they will seek his custody for interrogation. Sajil had been absconding since 2010 after the attack on Thodupuzha New Man College professor T J Joseph for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a question paper he had set. The NIA court had in May last year sentenced ten people belonging to Popular Front of India, to eight years rigorous imprisonment for chopping off the hand of the professor. NIA court judge P Sasidharan had also awarded two years rigorous imprisonment to three others in the sensational case and imposed a fine of Rs eight lakh on the 13 convicts. The right hand of Joseph was chopped off while he was returning home after attending Sunday mass at a church in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district on July 4, 2010. Human rights activist Avdhesh Kaushal today filed an affidavit in Uttarakhand High Court for early hearing and disposal of his petition seeking eviction of five former CMs of the state occupying government bungalows here. "I have filed an affidavit in the High Court through my counsel seeking early hearing and disposal of my petition seeking a direction from the court to five former CMs of Uttarakhand who occupy huge government bungalows in Dehradun despite owning houses of their own in the city and elsewhere including Lucknow and Delhi," Kaushal, who runs an NGO named Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), told PTI. "It is a drain on the state exchequer as former chief ministers have been occupying these accommodations free of cost for years despite demitting their offices besides enjoying other facilities," he said. The activist said it was hard to accept this at a time when important constitutional offices like the State Human Rights Commission office was housed in a rented accommodation in the city for which it has to pay a monthly rent of Rs 1.20 lakh. The Supreme Court had recently directed former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh to vacate government bungalows occupied by them for years in Lucknow despite demitting office. The apex court had ruled that former Chief Ministers are not entitled for government accommodation for lifetime. Former Uttarakhand CMs named in Kaushal's petition are Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Vijay Bahuguna. Citing the instances of N D Tiwari and Vijay Bahuguna, the activist said both of the leaders own big houses of their own in different cities. "While Tiwari owns a house each in Dehradun, Lucknow and Delhi, Bahuguna owns six flats in Delhi as per an affidavit filed before the returning officer for 2012 state assembly elections," he said. The RLEK chief said he was hopeful of the Uttarakhand High Court endorsing the apex court's judgment in this regard. The Uttar Pradesh ex-Chief Minister Residence Allocation Rules, 1997, by which successive governments in Uttarakhand have tried to justify allocation of government bungalows to former CMs, have no legislative sanction, Kaushal contended. "The Uttar Pradesh Ex-Chief Minister Residence Allocation Rules 1997 were never adopted and modified by the state of Uttarakhand and hence cannot be applicable in the state," he said. The rules say the residence can only be provided to persons who have been ex-Chief Ministers in the Government of Uttar Pradesh. They provide for an accommodation only in the city of Lucknow. The rules specifically provide that outside Lucknow, there cannot be any such allocation of residence, the activist said. Kaushal, in a counter affidavit filed in the High Court in April this year, says Nishank has a personal "palatial" house in Dehradun (i) 37/1, Vijay Colony, Rabindranath Tagore Marg. The residence provided to him as former CM is at (ii) R-4, Yamuna Colony, Dehradun and another official residence at (iii) Bungalow No 13, Teen Murti Lane, New Delhi. N D Tiwari has been allotted a house at (i) Anant Van, FRI campus, Lane No1, Vrichagar Road, Dehradun by the Uttarakhand government, the affidavit said. He is also occupying another government house at (ii) 1 Mall Avenue, Lucknow and (iii) Kothi No 9, C-1, Tilak Lane, New Delhi, he said in the affidavit. B C Kanduri has residences at--(i) A-1/A-2, Yamuna Colony, Dehradun, another at (ii) 7, K Kamraj Lane, New Delhi - 110 011 and (iii) Permanent residence at Jai Durga Niwas, 12, VikasMarg, Pauri Garhwal, it said. Koshyari has residences at (i) 17, New Cantt., Road, Dehradun; (ii) 11A, Ashoka Road, New Delhi and permanent residence at (iii) Hotel Uttranchal Deep, Naya Bazaar, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, the affidavit said. Kaushal alleged that Koshyari, a former Rajya Sabha MP, has also occupied a huge government accommodation at 12, Ashoka Road, New Delhi, besides "illegally" retaining a huge government bungalow provided by the state of Uttarakhand at Cantt Road, Dehradun. The AAP government has told the Delhi High Court that age limit for admission in government schools here was essential as an adult and adolescent in a same class could create "complex behavioural problems" which might lead to teenage pregnancy and substance abuse. The government, in its affidavit filed in the court, said if there is be no upper age limit, it may lead to a variety of "sexual and social problems". "If an adult is in the same class as an adolescent, it will create complex behavioural problems, which may lead to teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, aggressive bullying and violent outburst," the affidavit, filed by the Directorate of Education (DoE), said. The affidavit, which was filed before Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, countered a petition which has challenged an April 2014 circular issued by DoE prescribing appropriate student age for admission in the government schools. It said that age gap between the students might have an adverse effect on their studies and "common problems faced will be of bullying, inter-person relations, mental harassment of students and teachers, politics, safety and security, sexual abuse and legal issues in the schools". It said that in pursuance to the court's earlier direction, DoE had called a meeting of some Deputy Directors of Education and others to discuss the issue of fixing upper age limit for admission in various classes in Delhi. Giving details of the problems which might arise, DoE said that during the meeting, it was pointed out that all the students in a particular class should not have a wider age gap and they should be more or less of same age group so that their thinking, studies and involvement in class activities were appropriate for their age. "If there is no upper age limit, at some point a child and an adult will be in same class leading to a variety of sexual and social problems," it said, adding, "Over-age students also tend to face psychological problems with younger ones and hence, drop out from the regular school system. DoE also referred to guidelines of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education, 2009, and said there should not be a wide gap between the children of the same class and the prescribed guidelines advocate age appropriate class. "The past experiences have shown that if there is a significant age gap between students of same class, then the same will create hindrance in their studies owing to different levels of understanding... The same may also result in the elder one dominating/bullying the younger students of the same class," it said. The affidavit said that it was "not feasible" to have an adult studying with students who were younger to him. It said that the petition should be disposed of with heavy costs and the circular should not be changed or amended. Over a dozen flights to Dubai from India were cancelled today while many more diverted after an Emirates flight from Thiruvananthapuram crash-landed and exploded on the runway of the Dubai International Airport this afternoon, leading to the suspension of operations temporarily. There were 226 Indians aboard the Boeing 777-300, with most of them from Kerala. While Budget carrier IndiGo said it has cancelled 11 flights to Dubai from various doemstic destinations, full service carrier Jet Airways cancelled two flights, one each from Mumbai and Delhi. Meanwhile, Emirates, which had earlier announced setting up of a helpline for the US, UK and UAE, later operationalise one such helpline for India as well. "Have asked Emirates to set up helpline number in India. They have operationalised 09848018923 at Trivandrum," Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said in a tweet. State-run Air India diverted nine of its Dubai-bound flights from different Indian cities to nearby airports like Sharjah and Al Maktoum International Airport. "We have cancelled all our 11 flights to Dubai for today due to non-availability of the runway at the Dubai International Airport," an IndiGo spokesperson said. "Two of our flights have been affected owing to the runway closure at Dubai airport," Budget carrier SpiceJet said in a statement. Our second flight from Amritsar which was expected to arrive at Dubai airport at 1715 hours IST has been diverted to a nearby airport (DWC Al Maktoum International Airport) due to the runaway closure in accordance with the instructions by the Dubai Airport Authorities. SpiceJet's second flight from Amritsar which was expected to arrive at Dubai airport at 1715 hours Indian time has been diverted to a nearby airport DWC Al Maktoum International Airport; it said adding, "We have taken all requisite measures to ensure adequate refreshments for the stranded passengers." Emirates, also announced the cancellation of its flights to Mumbai and Kolkata from Dubai in the wake of the accident. "We are expecting an 8-hour network wide delay," Emirates said. Andhra Pradesh has topped the list of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in terms of providing works, Panchayat Raj Commissioner B Ramanjaneyulu said today. The State provided works to all beneficiaries and also adopted Information Technology (IT) to ensure transparency in terms of payment and efficient monitoring, he said. Talking to newspersons here, Ramanjaneyulu said AP has shown the way for efficient implementation of NREGS using technology. A three-day Inter-State Exchange Programme of the job scheme will begin here on August 4. About 38 representatives from 10 states will visit parts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts to study the best practices implemented in Andhra Pradesh on August 4, 5 and 6. Ramanjaneyulu said that NREGS is a wonderful initiative not only to ensure funnelling of resources for sustainable rural development but also to provide employment to rural masses. As part of the scheme, over 3,600km CC (cement concrete) roads were laid in Andhra Pradesh last year. Over 5,000km CC roads will be laid this year, he added. Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, has the potential to become a world-class city and will usher in a new era of real estate development within the AP Capital Region and in the State, a report of property consultant Knight Frank India said today. "The strategic location of Amaravati and proposed infrastructure developments will ensure Amaravati becomes a world-class city and influence zone," according to the report released by Knight Frank India on the state capital coming up in the Vijayawada-Guntur region. International consultants are involved in developing the capital city. Proximity to urban centres like Vijayawada and Guntur will ensure the broader capital will provide a large talent pool and with necessary infrastructure, it will be a good option for companies to move into Andhra Pradesh, which is largely rural in character, it said. Proposed physical infrastructure like metro rail and an international airport in Mangalagiri will boost the attractiveness of Amaravati in general and the broader capital region in particular, it said. The proposed high speed rail corridor with Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad will improve connectivity to Amaravati. Apart from road, rail network and BRTS a special 3km-long underwater tunnel in the river Krishna will connect the capital city to Vijayawada, the report said. "Vijayawada and Guntur will be the two major urban centres that will benefit the most from Amaravati coming up in a full-fledged manner as the new state capital. Vijayawada will be promoted as the commercial capital and Guntur will be promoted as the knowledge hub of the state." Apart from the real estate boom that is expected, there are huge investment commitments from domestic and international corporates across industries like retail, energy, education and hospital-cum-medical institutes that will have a positive impact on Amaravati's real estate in particular and of the capital region in general, it said. Commenting on the report, Samantak Das, Chief Economist and National Director-Research, Knight Frank India, said "The proposed greenfield capital city has already generated unprecedented interest in the surrounding areas and the two urban centres of Vijayawada and Guntur are the biggest gainers of this immense interest. Both these centres are expected to grow by leaps and bounds in the future. "There are ample examples of private companies having expressed interest in setting up facilities in and around Amaravati and we expect this momentum to build up further. "Star Trek" star Anton Yelchin's parents have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against bosses at Fiat-Chrysler. The 27-year-old actor was killed in a freak car accident in June, when he was pinned between a brick pillar and his vehicle after it rolled backwards down the steep driveway of his home in the San Fernando Valley, California. Victor and Irina Yelchin have sued executives at the car company, alleging the gear selector in the actor's Jeep Grand Cherokee was defective, reported Variety. "Anton Yelchin was crushed and lingered alive for some time, trapped and suffocating until his death," the lawsuit read. "Anton was our only son and was a remarkable human being. It is wrong, it is against nature when parents bury (their) own child," Victor said at a press conference. Following the accident, Fiat Chrysler chiefs launched an investigation into Anton's incident, while they were also hit with a class action lawsuit from fellow car owners days after the actor's accident. The Yelchins' attorney, Gary A Dordick, revealed a recall letter for the vehicle was sent to the actor a month before his death and a week after he was killed. "The safety recall was way too little and way too late. We hope this lawsuit will teach them a lesson," Dordick said. Victor and Irina are seeking unspecified damages. Bosses at the car company would not comment on the lawsuit because they had not yet been served. Apollo Munich Health Insurance today said it plans to infuse Rs 50 crore capital during the last quarter of the current fiscal to expand business. As of now it is adequately capitalised but the company will require an additional capital closer to the end of this fiscal of about Rs 50 crore, Apollo Munich Health Insurance CEO Antony Jacob told PTI. Currently, its paid-up capital stands at Rs 357 crore. Having witnessed a growth of 27 per cent last fiscal, Jacob said, the company is expecting increase in new business of 30 per cent in 2016-17. The company aims at the Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs 1,300 crore by the end of March 2017. Talking of paperless initiative of the company to underwrite policy, Jacob said: "Ampower app has enabled our sales force to issue a policy in 7 minutes from the traditional 14 days period." The new business growth expected via the new app, Ampower by the end of the current financial year is 65-75 per cent, he said. "We expect to have approximately 15,000 agents using the Ampower app by the end of current financial year. In terms of agent productivity figures, our focus this year has been year to drive adoption and usage," he said. Once this is achieved, the company will have a baseline in place to measure productivity. Recently, Apollo Hospitals Group announced selling 23.3 per cent shareholding in Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company to its German partner Munich Re for Rs 163.5 crore. A local court today sent an accused in connection with the murder of a prime witness in a rape case against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu to 14 days judicial custody. Chief JudicialMagistrate Garima Choudhary remanded Niraj Kumar in judicial custody till August 17. According to prosecutor D C Srivastava, Kumar was arrested by the Deoband police for his alleged role in a case of cow theft and cheating on July 19 in Saharanpur district. During interrogation, he said that he provided arms and other goods to shooter Kartik Haldar for killing Akhil Gupta, a prime witness in a rape case against Asaram, it was claimed. Gupta was shot dead on January 11, 2015. Haldar was arrested by the Gujarat STF in March. He is lodged in a jail in Ahmedabad. Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal, who was recently booked for allegedly revealing a rape victim's name, today wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Verma alleging attempts were being made by the police to intimidate DCW and the media. Rebutting charges that she had named the victim in a notice sent to police, she said the FIR against her was "baseless and completely untenable in law". Several journalists covering DCW had yesterday claimed that they were questioned by the Delhi Police in connection with the case against Maliwal of revealing identity of a 14-year-old Dalit girl, who died after being raped repeatedly. The girl, who was also allegedly forced to drink acid, died last week after battling for life for over a month. "A plain reading of the FIR shows that this FIR is baseless and completely untenable in law. Not only are the charges incorrect, it is also baseless for I never disclosed the minor's name. Moreover, all statutory requirements were observed by the commission and the undersigned while dealing with the matter," the letter said. "It is also shocking that not only DCW but even the media is being targeted in this case by the police. I have also been informed that journalists covering DCW are being repeatedly questioned and interrogated. "These methods of intimidation being adopted by the police clearly reek of their malicious attempt to intimidate the DCW and the media to subvert the real issues and transgress from the gruesome incident of minor's rape," it added. Last week, an FIR was registered against the DCW chief for allegedly revealing the victim's name in a notice to Burari SHO. Her name was also revealed in a press release issued to the journalists. However, minutes later an apology was sent for "mistakingly" revealing the name and urging journalists to not use it. While Maliwal had not commented on the press release, she had dismissed the charge, saying she had not released the victim's name in the notice and that she was not scared of the FIR. In a letter to the SHO, Maliwal demanded that the rape case be transferred to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising senior officers of proven competence and the parents of the victim be promptly provided effective security and protection. The Bombay High Court today transferred to its Aurangabad bench a PIL challenging the recent appointment of a new managing committee by Maharashtra government to run the Shirdi Sai Baba Trust. A bench headed by Justice V M Kanade was of the view that the High Court bench at Aurangabad bench has the jurisdiction to hear the matter. Moreover, a similar matter is pending before the Aurangabad bench and hence the PIL was transferred from Mumbai bench to Aurangabad bench to club the two petitions together. The PIL, filed by Mumbai resident Surender Arora, alleged that persons with political affiliations and criminal antecedents were being appointed by the state government to run the trust, reflecting nepotism and favour to a certain section of people. It said that the government should appoint managing committee members independent of their political affiliations. The PIL said that the government had framed rules for constituting the management committee of the Shirdi Trust on on January 24, 2013. However, these rules were conveniently kept vague by the government as they neither state the precise procedure of selection nor prescribe the selection criteria. The rules also do not contain any transparency provisions and checks on the unbridled exercise of power in making appointments. Thus, the rules are ultra-vires the Constitution in not limiting the arbitrary exercise of power by the government, the PIL contended. Moreover, before the rules came into force they were never placed before both Houses of the state legislature which is a mandatory procedure, the petition said. After the management committee was constituted on July 28, 2016, few members visited the temple and started giving directions to the employees on the strength of the impugned notification of their appointment. There was no formal taking of charge and also no statement was made before the Bombay High Court, which had constituted an ad-hoc body earlier for running the affairs of the trust, said the PIL. The newly constituted committee members have not yet met the Principal District Judge who was heading the ad-hoc committee. The committee has also not formally taken charge from him, the petition added. The Philippines told its fishermen today to steer clear of a fishing ground in the disputed South China Sea to avoid harassment from Chinese authorities. The warning came despite a recent ruling by a UN-backed tribunal in favour of the Philippines, as it dismissed China's territorial claims to large swathes of the waters. Beijing angrily rejected the court's judgement and on yesterday it announced penalties for "illegal" fishing in its waters including the disputed areas. "We are aware that China is occupying Scarborough Shoal, so let us wait for clarity on how our fishermen can return there without being subjected to harassment anymore," Manila's foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose told reporters. Jose said that while the tribunal ruling was clear, the "reality on the ground" was different. "The reality is that China is there so we must discuss this," he said. Asked if this meant Filipino fishermen should avoid the shoal for now, Jose said: "This is for the safety of everyone." Manila's position is likely to anger critics of President Rodrigo Duterte's new government, which has been accused of taking a soft line with Beijing. The question of who has the right to fish in the disputed South China Sea has been a major bone of contention between Beijing and Manila, which brought the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Manila lodged the case under its previous government in 2013, saying that after 17 years of negotiations with Beijing it had exhausted all political and diplomatic avenues to settle the dispute. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to the sea, through which over USD 5 trillion in annual trade passes. In 2012 China took control of the Scarborough Shoal, 230 kilometres from the main Philippine island of Luzon after a stand-off with the country's navy. It has since driven away Filipino fishermen attempting to fish in the area, sometimes using water cannons. Duterte has said he wants to repair relations with China that were battered during the term of his predecessor Benigno Aquino. Duterte, who assumed the presidency on June 30, said he would send former president Fidel Ramos to Beijing as an envoy to negotiate on the issue. "This is one of the priority issues that we must take up when we go into direct talks with China," Jose said today. Rapper Azealia Banks has quit social media because she doesn't want to be "monitored" and told how to behave. Banks, 24, took to Facebook to announce that she has decided to stop sharing her thoughts online because she doesn't want her "legacy to die on the internet", reported Femalefirst. The "212" hitmaker, who was banned from Twitter following a racist and homophobic rant directed at Zayn Malik earlier this year, wrote: "I'm seriously tired of peoples feelings. I'm tired of seeing their overly sensitive reactions and responses to everything. I'm tired of having everything I say or do be monitored and I'm tired of being told how I should be behaving. "I'm quitting Facebook, and any other form of social media that allows me to engage with people. My legacy can't live and die on the Internet. Goodbye. For good (sic)." The "Big Big Beat" star had her Twitter account suspended and was dropped from appearing at a London festival after she launched a vile racist and homophobic rant on Malik and felt she was being "shoved into a corner and punished" for her actions. Malik is not the only celebrity to be subjected to Banks' acid tongue. She previously launched a Twitter tirade on fellow rapper Iggy Azalea. Most recently Azealia accused Taylor Swift and Lady GaGa of stealing her ideas. Police today arrested three men who looted Rs four lakh in cash from employees of Sengaon branch of State Hank of Hyderabad in the district. District superintendent of police Ashok Morale said a gang of six dacoits had apparently got a tip that cash would be brought to the bank by a car this afternoon. As the car stopped in front of the bank, they surrounded it. Attacking the cashier Ashwini Jaibhai and peon Ganesh Chandel, they tried to snatch the bag containing the cash. As Chandel resisted, they stabbed him, and fled with the bag. Police received information that the van in which they had fled was seen at Risod bridge near Shegaon Khodke village. Police alerted the villagers who stopped the van. The dacoits then left the van and ran. They fired upon a police team which gave them chase. Police asked them to surrender, but they threw away the bag of cash and ran on. Police succeeded in nabbing three of them. The arrested dacoits were identified as Janardhan Ramrao Waghmare, Rajendra Singh Bawri and Badshan Singh Ajabsigh Tak. Three others managed to flee. Police also seized one country made revolver, four live cartridges and three choppers. The proposed auction of Kingfisher House, the erstwhile headquarters of Vijay Mallya-led group's long-grounded airline, may prove to be a damp squib yet again tomorrow as bidders have remained elusive even at a reduced reserve price of Rs 135 crore. This is the second attempt by the banks to recover part of their unpaid loans from Kingfisher Airlines through auction of this prime office property near domestic airport here, after not even a single bidder turned up at an earlier auction in March at a reserve price of Rs 150 crore. Sources said same fate awaits for the one-hour auction scheduled for tomorrow, as not even a single bidder deposited the earnest deposit money within the deadline of August 1. Besides, the still high reserve price, the numerous legal issues facing the group may also be keeping the bidders away. Kingfisher House is just one of the several properties, together worth over Rs 700 crore that lenders and the tax department will put under hammer this month to recover part of their outstanding dues totalling thousands of crores of rupees from the airline. The auction of Kingfisher House, which has a built-up area of over 17,000 sq ft and is located in the plush Vile Parle area, is scheduled to begin at 1100 hrs tomorrow. The 17-bank consortium, led by State Bank of India, revalued the property in May and reduced the reserve price by 10 per cent to Rs 135 crore, after they failed to attract a single bidder during the earlier auction in March. The airline, owned by beleaguered Vijay Mallya, who left the country on March 2, using his diplomatic passport, owes over Rs 9,000 crore including penal interest to banks. Mallya's luxurious personal jet along with everything inside that include cushy couches and even a bathrobe will be auctioned by the service tax department on August 18. Besides Kingfisher House, lenders have also separately put up for sale some of the movable secured assets worth Rs 13.70 lakh lying at this office property. The items on sale would include eight cars -- Toyota Innova, Honda City, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, among others. The reserve price of each car has been set differently in the range of Rs 90,000-2.50 lakh. These assets will be auctioned separately on August 25. On the same day, banks will also re-auction brands and trademarks of the airlines including the Kingfisher logo as also the once-famous tagline 'Fly the Good Times'. The other trademarks on sale included Flying Models, Funliner, Fly Kingfisher and Flying Bird Device. The reserve price for auction of brands and trademarks has also been reduced to Rs 330.03 crore from Rs 366.70 crore earlier. In the heydays of Mallya-led group, the Kingfisher brand itself was valued at over Rs 4,000 crore by Grant Thornton when the airline was at its peak. In its annual report for 2012-13, KFA said at its peak, it was the largest airline in the country with a five-star rating from Skytrax. The airline's brand had been registered separately from the Kingfisher beer trademarks. Banks will also soon auction Kingfisher Villa situated at Condolim, in north Goa, which they took possession from the group in May this year after a long legal battle. The date for the auction of Kingfisher Villa has not been announced so far, but it can also happen in August itself. According to sources, valuation process by the banks is underway for the Villa, which has come out to be around Rs 90 crore. Intensifying its stir against alleged unilateral construction of projects on Mahanadi river, the ruling BJD today halted a number of Chhattishgarh-bound goods trains besides launching a relay hunger strike before the Central Water Commission (CWC) branch office here. BJD MLAs along with party workers blocked the rail tracks and demonstrated in front of the trains in Balasore, Berhampur, Raja Athagarh, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Rourkela and Jharsuguda stations. The Chhattisgarh-bound goods trains were halted for about 30 minutes by BJD workers as a mark of protest against the state government's act of undertaking construction of barrages, dams and other other projects on upstream of Mahanadi river without consulting Odisha which is a co-basin state, BJD youth wing president and minister Sanjay Dasburma said. "We have been demanding stopping of work on all ongoing projects by Chhattisgarh government. The party has decided to continue their stir for 100 days if the neighbouring state does not stop anti-Odisha projects on the river," he said. Besides Dasburma, Industries minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Tourism minister Ashok Chandra Panda and other senior leaders of the ruling party also participated in an agitation before the CWC's Odisha branch office here. "Chhatisgarh prepared the master plan of the projects without consulting Odisha as a co-basin state. On the Kelo project, the CWC had not named Odisha in its 95th meeting while the Water Resources Departments of other states were informed," Mishra said, adding the neighbouring state only consulted Odisha on Arpa-Bhainshjar project recently. (Reopens CAL4) Though Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has been claiming that the state utilises only 25 per cent of water, but in reality they took about 37.5 per cent water, Mishra said, claiming that the neighbouring state has been planning to forcibly draw 88 per cent of Mahanadi water in the future. Meanwhile, opposition BJP in a separate press conference came down heavily on the BJD government and dubbed it as "liar" for allegedly giving "wrong facts" on the Mahanadi water dispute. BJP general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra said Chhattisgarh had communicated to Odisha about the construction of the project way back in 2006. "Three documents had been exchanged between the two states over the same project. The Odisha government says it had not received any letter. But there had been an internal communication among the state officials after receiving the letter from Chhattisgarh," Buxipatra said. BJD spokesperson P K Deb, however, rejected the BJP's allegation and said, "The state government stands by its earlier version. The Kelo project was cleared by the CWC by keeping Odisha in the dark. Opposition BJP-led NDA today strongly protested beating up of a journalist of a Hindi daily in Bihar Assembly and demanded security for mediapersons in the state. Navneet Kumar, the journalist of Hindi daily 'Hindustan', was yesterday beaten up in Vaishali district yesterday when his attackers were protesting an item written by him about beating up of a bus operator on Monday for hiking fare. Senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav raised the issue during the Zero Hour and attacked the state government for failing to provide security to members of the fourth estate. Soon Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar and other BJP and its allies LJP, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party members rose from their seats and raised slogans against the Grand Secular Alliance for attack on the scribe. However, Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of RJD President Lalu Prasad who represents Mahua seat, had left the Assembly some time before the strong BJP protest. Nand Kishore Yadav said after the killing of Hindi journalist Rajdeo Ranjan in Siwan, now another mediaperson has been beaten for publishing about thrashing of a bus operator. The senior BJP leader, who is former Leader of Opposition, expressed grave concern over the attack on journalists which he said reflected poor law and order condition in the state. BJP president Amit Shah today said the victory of three party candidates in the last Assembly poll in West Bengal went to prove that the party could no longer be ignored in the state. "Don't think that we have won just three seats and got 10 per cent votes in Bengal. In Haryana and Assam, we had only a handful of MLAs in the past, but in the last Assembly poll we were able to form the governments there. The statistics shows that BJP can no longer be ignored in the state," Shah said. Apart from state BJP president Dilip Ghosh, who won the Kharagpur Sadar seat by defeating veteran Congress leader and alliance candidate Gyan Singh Sohanpal, BJP won Malda's Baishnabnagar seat and Madarihat seat in north Bengal, both by defeating alliance candidates. This time, BJP has secured around 20,000 to 30,000 votes in 66 seats, 30,000 to 40,000 votes in 16 seats and around 40,000 to 50,000 votes in six seats. Shah said after the victory in Assam, BJP's main target would be to form the next government in Bengal. "After Assam, our main aim will be to form governments in states like Bengal. In whichever state the BJP has formed the government, be it Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh, it is still in power. Because people know that BJP means development, BJP means overall development of the poor and downtrodden," Shah said. He said that infiltration from Bangladesh into West Bengal would not stop unless a BJP government was installed in the state. Significantly, Shah remained silent on the chit fund scam in the state and refrained from attacking the TMC government. A one and half year old boy was crushed to death by a vehicle in a freak accident in Aman Vihar area of outer Delhi, police said today. A case has been registered in this connection and the accused car driver has been arrested, said DCP(outer) Vikramjeet Singh. Dipak was playing with other children at a banquet hall Abhinandan Vatika when he came under the wheels of an SUV driven allegedly by the accused Rijul Gupta. The accused was nephew of the owner of the banquet hall, police said. The accused fled from the scene after the incident. The locals held a protest demanding arrest of the accused who was later caught by police. The accident happened as the rear wheel of the SUV driven by the accused ran over the child who was playing with other children. Later, a police team reached there and sent the body of the child for post mortem examination and pacified the locals. Deceased lived with his family including his father Shiv Kumar and mother Munni Devi and a sibling, at Indira Enclave in Aman Vihar. Leading stock exchange BSE today signed an agreement with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur for collaboration in the areas including cyber security. The key highlights of the MoU include cooperation for cyber security research in financial markets, developing an environment to deal with cyber security challenges and tools to strengthen cyber security as also to advise BSE in its cyber related issues. "BSE today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the renowned Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur," the exchange said in a release. Among others, the institute will assist BSE in testing its vulnerabilities in IT system and network and help forming guidelines and auditing security operations. "BSE has an onus to create comprehensive robust and resilient cyber security framework. IIT Kanpur is India's leading academic institute in computer science. A research tie-up with them will enhance the academic-corporate collaboration," Ashish kumar Chauhan, MD and CEO of BSE said. "I hope this research tie-up will yield excellent results for Indian financial system in cyber security hence I invite other financial institutions to join this research initiative to make it more comprehensive and effective," he added. The Union Cabinet today approved signing of an Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), a move that will promote air connectivity, besides trade and investment, between the two countries. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a new Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), an official release said. Under the agreement, the designated airlines of the two countries would have fair and equal opportunity to operate the agreed services on specified routes, it said. The routes and frequencies would be decided subsequently, it added. The Agreement is expected to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries bringing it in tune with the developments in the civil aviation sector, the release said. It will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security, the release said. A Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) team today visited the Sunny Park residential complex where Abesh Dasgupta was fatally injured after being allegedly hit by an alcohol bottle. The CFSL team visited the residential complex this afternoon to collect evidences relating to the death of the 17-year-old, Kolkata Police Joint Commissioner (Crime) Visal Garg said adding it was called for an expert opinion in the case and to test the footages collected from the CCTV installed there. Meanwhile, Kolkata Police sleuths during the day called for questioning a driver of one of the residents of the upscale complex who was present there at the time of the incident, Garg said. Abesh's family members, including his uncle Suresh Thakkar today visited Kolkata Police headquarter at Lalbazar for an update on the progress of the investigation. Going by the footages captured by the CCTVs at the complex, circumstantial evidences and statements of several witnesses, including frinds of Abesh and security guards, Kolkata Police had said the boy died due to injuries he suffered after falling from a small wall in the lawn of the Sunny Park residential complex on July 23. The teenager's family members have, however, refused to accept the no conspiracy theory behind his death and have repeatedly claimed that it was a case of murder. Abesh's mother Rimjhim Dasgupta had met Mamata Banerjee seeking justice and said the Chief Minister had assured her help. An Oslo court today jailed two jihadists of Pakistani and Chechen origin for six and seven and a half years respectively for joining the so-called Islamic State (IS) group in Syria. Adam Idrisovich Magomadov, a 23-year-old Russian of Chechen origin, and Hasan Ahmed, a 46-year-old Norwegian of Pakistani origin, were convicted of belonging to IS and of "terror conspiracy." The two men, who had been living in southeastern Norway, travelled together to Syria in August 2014, a little more than a month after the IS declared a caliphate in an area straddling Iraq and Syria. While there, the two took part in IS training programmes, vowed allegiance to the group, and bore weapons in its name, the court found. Magomadov was handed a heavier sentence because he stayed in Syria longer. The court found it likely that he had taken part in combat, that he had maintained ties with IS after returning to Norway, and that he, like his co-accused, planned to return to Syria. Ahmed, whose son Ishaq was also sentenced to eight years in prison in Norway last year for joining IS, will appeal the conviction, while Magomadov had not yet decided, their lawyers told public broadcaster NRK. Their sentences were in line with those requested by the prosecution. China today launched a new website to defend its stance over the South China Sea after an international tribunal quashed its claims over the disputed area. The website on the South China Sea is complete with historical maps to assert China's claims. The July 12 verdict by the tribunal appointed by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration struck down China's nine dash line over the South China Sea (SCS) based on historical rights and upheld the claims of the Philippines in sections of the SCS. China claims all most all of the SCS. Besides the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the SCS. China which boycotted the tribunal and rejected its verdict, sayingit was constituted illegally. Run by China's National Marine Data & Information Service, the Chinese language website site has 10 sections that cover basic information, news, historical archives, development and management, expert opinion, law and regulations, a timeline of major events, pictures and videos and Q&A. "The South China Sea has drawn huge attention, but some information online is not accurate," said Zhang Haiwen of an official of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) which launched the website said. "We hope that this website will enable domestic and overseas people to better understand it and learn about the truth behind the 'dispute' over it." According to Zhang, the website contains not only maps and archives but also exclusive analysis and expository articles based on experts' research of thousands of maps, state-run Xinhua agency reported. Zhang cited that a map often used by Vietnam to prove that it owned the Xisha Islands was actually pieced together by two maps, which have already been obtained by experts and might be used to refute the country's claim. Zhang said new findings will be published on the website once verified. The SOA said information on the website must first be reviewed by an expert panel and be "comprehensive, authoritative, detailed and accurate". "The website is founded with the aim of positively publicising our policies, claims, historical proof, legal basis and international cooperation while serving as a reliable channel for domestic and overseas government departments, research groups and individuals to learn about the South China Sea," SOA spokesman Shi Qingfeng said. The website has now six domain names. China today lodged a diplomatic protest with Japan accusing it of "deceiving" international community and stiring up trouble with its neighbours, a day after a Japanese defence white paper attacked Beijing for muscle-flexing in the disputed East and South China seas. "China is strongly dissatisfied with Japan's 2016 defence white paper over its groundless accusations against China's defence development and military activities," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement. China made solemn representations (diplomatic protests) to Japan over the irresponsible white paper, she said. In its statement the Chinese Defence Ministry expressed strong opposition to the Japanese white paper calling the annual document hostile to the Chinese military and deceptive to the international community. "The white paper issued on August 2, full of hackneyed expressions, distorts China's justified and reasonable defence work, heightening issues in the South China Sea and the East China Sea," Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said in a statement. "Filled with hostility to the Chinese military, it stirs up trouble between China and its neighbours, and attempts to deceive the international community, " Wu said. The Defence paper released in Tokyo yesterday expressed Japan's heightened concern over China's muscle-flexing in the East and South China seas. This year's white paper adopted a more critical tone against Beijing's maritime activities and militarisation of the disputed waters compared with the previous report, Japanese agency, Kyodo reported. Japan has no right to make carping comments on China's legitimate activities near Diaoyu Islands, Hua said, stressing that China's determination to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests is "unshakable. She noted that China's navy and air force activities are in line with international law, domestic law as well as national defence needs. She said China will not accept the "award" of the South China Sea arbitration initiated unilaterally by the Philippines, adding that China will continue to work for the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiation between countries directly concerned on the basis of respect for historical facts. Hua blamed Japan for fabricating excuses for military expansion through stirring up enmity on regional security. She asked Japan to earnestly learn from history, stick to a peaceful development path, act prudently in the military field and gain trust from its neighbours instead of undermining regional stability. Wu said the Chinese military has lodged solemn representations with Japan over the white paper. In the 480-page document, some 30 pages are devoted to irresponsible remarks on China's national defence and China's normal and legal maritime activities in the East and South China Seas, he said. On the South China Sea issue, Wu said Japan was attempting to cause trouble for its own benefit. "What we want to remind Japan is that freedom of navigation has never been a problem in the South China Sea, while interference by Japan and other non-regional countries jeopardises peace and stability in the region," Wu said. On the East China Sea issue, Wu said the Diaoyu Islands are part of China. He said Japan has hyped up repeatedly the so-called "abnormally close encounter" of Chinese and Japanese military aircraft, but claimed that the video released by the Chinese Defence Ministry in June 2014 clearly showed who was at fault. As for the accusations in the white paper of increased Chinese military activity near the Diaoyu Islands, Wu said what the Chinese military did was entirely in line with the islands belonging to China. He said Japan's ultimate purpose was large-scale changes to its military policy, increased arms and a revision of its pacifist constitution. He asked Japan to create conditions for improved China-Japan ties through concrete action. Tensions between the two countries were on the rise in the last three years over the disputed island in the East China Sea. The uninhabited islands called Senkakus by Japan and Diaoyus by China believed to be rich with oil and mineral resources were under the administrative control of Tokyo. China has stepped up its claims by sending its coast guard ships and fighter aircraft on regular patrols often resulting in close encounters with the Japanese defence fleet and aircraft. China is also angry with Japan over Tokyo joining the US and Australia in calling for the implementation of the last month's international tribunal verdict on the disputed South China Sea quashing China's expansive claims over the area. China has rejected the award. Japan released its first white paper on defence in 1970 and has compiled a new version each year since 1976. China's lunar rover Jade Rabbit, launched as part of an unmanned lunar exploration mission in 2013, has stopped operations, according to an official announcement. The State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) said that Chang'e-3, China's first lunar lander, has operated on the moon for 31 months, exceeding its design life by 19 months. Chang'e-3 entered its 33th lunar night on July 28. A lunar night lasts approximately 14 earth days, state-run Xinhua agency reported. According to SASTIND, the Chang'e-3 has collected a large amount of scientific data, and the Jade Rabbit, far exceeding its design life of three months, completed many challenging missions for Chang'e-3, such as obtaining images of the moon's geological layers for the first time. China has tested its largest solid-fuelmotor that will be used in heavy space rockets for future deep space missions. Chinese engineers have completed the test ignition of its largest solid-fuel rocket motor in the northwest city of Xian yesterday, state-run China Radio International reported. With a diameter of three meters, the solid-fuel rocket motor ran for 100 seconds after ignition. The successfully tested technologies will be used in heavy-lift and large rockets for China's deep-space explorations and manned moon-landings. Solid-fuel rocket engines have a much larger capacity than liquid-fuelled iterations. The motor is test ahead of China's plans to launch its largest carrier rocket, the Long March-5, later this year. An eight year-old boy in China has sought compensation from Chinese health authorities, claiming that he was infected with AIDS during blood transfusion. Zhangjiajie health authority said, the boy was confirmed HIV positive in July 2015, after he received a blood transfusion in January, 2014 when he was seriously injured in a traffic accident. The authority said that although the boy had definitely been infected, it was difficult to determine the exact source and route of the infection. During a period of 18 months, he was hospitalised eight times in three different hospitals -- Zhangjiajie people's hospital, the provincial children's hospital in Changsha and a Shanghai hospital. He passed HIV screening tests before the hospital operations, state-run Xinhua agency reported. However, the boy also spent considerable time outside the hospitals, which makes ascertaining the precise source of the infection difficult. In addition to the three hospitals, the co-defendants also include the Zhangjiajie city blood station and a Chinese biological company that produced the human serum albumin, which the boy received in a transfusion during his first operation, the report said. A Chinese scientist who claimed to have invented a new gene-editing technology has come under fire from fellow scientists as he was unable to reproduce the results. Hebei University of Science and Technology in north China said its associate professor Han Chunyu, 42 will "publicly verify" his findings under the supervision of an "authoritative third party" in around a month. Han published a paper in the May edition of "Nature Biotechnology" describing new genome editing technology NgAgo that could be an alternative to the mainstream CRISPR/Cas9 technique. With China currently in desperate pursuit of heavyweight scientific achievements, Han became an overnight sensation. Beyond the "discovery" itself, he was widely praised for successfully pursuing such ground-breaking research at a university with very little standing in the field of genetic sciences, state run Xinhua agency reported. But doubts immediately emerged with other researchers declaring that the results cannot be replicated. Among them was Dr Gaetan Burgio of the Australian National University. On Friday, Burgio said in an online article that his laboratory had tried to establish Han's protocol over the last two months, but found "no evidence for genome editing with NgAgo after multiple attempts with various settings and three different genes." Burgio went on to call for researchers to be more open with their results, rather than to"chase high impact publication and be secretive." On Tuesday, "Nature Biotechnology" announced that several researchers had contacted the journal with similar doubts and the issue is now under investigation through a well-established procedure, the Xinhua report said. As a condition of publication in any Nature Research journal, authors are required to make all material, data, code and associated protocols promptly available to readers. Han, however, said scientific achievements should be subject to the tests of time and practice, adding that he is confident his results will be reproduced by other researchers. In earlier media interviews, he claimed the experiment had been repeated many times in his laboratory. Some Chinese biologists, who declined to be named, have come to Han's lukewarm defence, suggesting new techniques sometimes need modifications and is not unusual for doubts to be expressed. Han said the skeptics had gone to far. He has been bombarded every day by email and phone calls, some late at night, accusing him of faking his results. Amid efforts by Congress central leadership to resolve the crisis in UDF, Kerala Congress (M) today stepped up its attack against the party's state leaders, accusing them of plotting against its leader and former Finance Minister K M Mani in the bar bribery case. In its latest edition, party mouthpiece 'Prathichaya' alleged that Mani had to experience the same ordeal undergone by legendary Congress leader P T Chacko, who was forced to quit the post of key Home and Revenue portfolios in February 16, 1964 after being "trapped" by his fellow Congress leaders in a case related to a woman. Six months later the same year, Chacko died at the age of 49, pained by the false allegations levelled against him by his fellow Congress leaders, the article said. "History says then Chief Minister and senior Congress leader R Sankar was the main villain in the Chacko murder," the article said and alleged that successors of the same Congress leaders were behind the "conspiracy against K M Mani" in the bar bribery case. The article, titled 'P T Chacko Then, K M Mani Now', also alleged that Chacko was forced to resign as minister when his name was being suggested for Chief Minister post replacing Sankar. "Mani was also forced to quit as Minister the same way. While Chacko faced allegations pertaining to a woman's issue, Mani was trapped in the bar bribery allegations," it said. The article claimed allegations against Mani cropped up after the LDF leaders started praising Mani's ability as an administrator. The article comes ahead of the visit of Kerala Pradesh Congress President V M Sudheeran, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala to New Delhi after they were summoned by the party high command to resolve the crisis in Congress and UDF. The trip of the three leaders to Delhi assumes significance as it comes at a time when Kerala Congress (M) threatens to sever ties with Congress and sit as a separate block in the assembly following differences with that party. Mani was forced to resign as Finance Minister from the previous UDF government following an adverse remark made by the Kerala High Court in the bar bribery scam. KC(M) is the third largest partner in the Congress-led UDF Opposition. Heavy rains in China caused a dam to burst in Tibet, inundating three nearby villages. The dam in Lhaze County, Xigaze Prefecture, was breached yesterday as water in the Yarlung Tsangpo River rose. Water from the dam flooded three villages, with more than 100 hectares of crops and forest inundated, state-run Xinhua agency reported. Soldiers have been working overnight to repair the dam. No casualties have been reported, the report said. With maximum numbers of complaints being "unattended" by the Delhi Police, the AAP government will soon approach Police Commissioner Alok Verma asking him to ensure speedy redressal of such complaints forwarded by its grievance cell. Gopal Mohan, who is an advisor to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and also in-charge of Public Grievance Monitoring System (PGMS), said that since February 2014 when the AAP government was formed, PGMS has received about 17,000 complaints against Delhi Police, but it is "unfortunate" that 20 per cent of cases, which were forwarded to the force, went "unattended". He also said that 80 per cent of complainants were "unsatisfied" about the redressal of their complaints by the police. A government official said that after the Delhi Police, DJB is the second department against which maximum complaints were received. "We have sought an appointment with Delhi Police Commissioner and would urge him to ensure speedy redressal of complaints forwarded by the PGMC," Mohan said. The Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) offers huge opportunities to Japanese investors as the project is at an implementation stage, a top government official today said. Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Ramesh Abhishek also said FDI reforms are expected to result in dramatic improvements in ease of doing business over the next one year. Work has already started in areas, including Dholera, Aurangabad, Vikram-Udyogpuri and Greater Noida nodes, where land allotment is expected to begin in a couple of months, DMIC Development Corporation (DMICDC) said quoting the secretary. Abhishek was addressing a delegation of Japanese businessmen and representatives of government institutions at a special workshop organised by DMICDC here. Japan has been one of India's leading partners in infrastructure development, supporting projects such as the Delhi Metro, the Dedicated Freight Corridor which forms the backbone of DMIC, and the proposed Mumbai-Ahmedabad Hi-Speed Rail Link. Speaking at the event, Ambassador of Japan Kenji Hiramatsu hoped for time-bound implementation of the projects. He is optimistic that the Indian government will extend incentives to Japanese businesses relocating to the industrial zones. DMICDC CEO and MD Alkesh Sharma saw opportunities for Japanese companies in not just setting up industries, but consultancy and engineering procurement construction, among others. Besides the industrial cities along the corridor, the DMICDC is working on standalone projects such as green field airports in Dholera (Gujarat), the futuristic Global City in Gurgaon (Haryana), Logistics Hubs in Dadri (UP) and a state-of-the-art convention centre in Dwarka. Takema Sakamoto, the Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency's India Office, made a presentation on JICA's support for the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. The USD 90-billion DMIC project is aimed at creating mega industrial infrastructure, along the Delhi-Mumbai Rail Freight Corridor, which is under implementation. Japan is providing financial and technical aid for the project, which is developed on either side of a 1,483-km stretch running across seven states. In a unique initiative, Delhi Police have started weekly sessions for its personnel struggling with alcoholism, in which they learn to deal with the problem from those who have beaten the addiction and now working with 'Alcoholics Anonymous'. "The entire programme, comprising of three stages, was launched one-and-half months ago," said Suman Nalwa DCP and Principal of Police Training School, Dwarka. So far, six districts have been covered. Experts from 'Alcoholics Anonymous' share their own experience and ways that helped them get rid of the addiction, she said. In the coming weeks, such sessions will be held in all 11 police districts to cover over 76,000 personnel of the force. Delhi Police's largest wing, the Police Control Room (PCR), comprising nearly 10,000 personnel, is currently organising the sessions held on Saturdays. "People feel that alcohol is harming them, their family and social life but do not know how to give it up. Also, many don't know what alcoholism means," Nalwa said. "The initiative is aimed at helping those struggling with alcoholism and also create awareness among the police force so that they can tackle alcohol-related problems like street violence and domestic disputes in a more effective manner," she said. The DCP said the sessions held so far have registered good participation and police personnel come out with very revealing questions and information during the interactions. The whole programme of fighting alcoholism involves three steps. In the first step, the participants are made aware of alcoholism and what it means. In the second and third steps, they and the family members interact with the experts. Also, those struggling with alcoholism are educated about 12 facts related to alcoholism which help them in getting rid of the problem, Nalwa said. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is constructing 94 residential flats at an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore for economically weaker sections (EWS) in the national capital, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. " has informed that they are constructing 94 residential flats of EWS, 1 and 2 BHK categories at an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore excluding land cost at Okhla Phase-III," MoS for Urban Development Rao Inderjit Singh said in a written reply. The construction of these flats is proposed to be completed by September 2018, he said. The criteria for allotment of these units is yet to be finalised, Singh said, adding that the flats will be allotted based on applications received from the public. To another query, he said, state-run NBCC (India) Ltd is also constructing low-cost houses in various cities of India including Gurgaon (Haryana), Khekra (Uttar Pradesh) and Alwar (Rajasthan). He also said Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has issued 115 notices, including 83 in different sectors in Dwarka, for violations such as addition or alternation in DDA flats beyond the permissible limits. Replying to a query on corruption in DDA, he said as many as 18 officials have faced charges of corruption in the last three years and current year pertaining to bribery, forgery for providing office documents to private persons and misuse of official position. The cases against some of the officials are still under investigation/trial, he said, adding that in some cases, CBI has recommended Regular Departmental Action (RDA) and in one case an officer convicted by the court was dismissed from the service. He also said that these officials are not working in "sensitive" posts. A doctor and a mediator were arrested for allegedly performing sex determination test by a special squad formed under Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act in a decoy operation conducted outside the state, police said today. Snehlata, a doctor and Seema Chaudhary, a woman mediator, were held by the team in the decoy operation in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, Special secretary, medical and health department Naveen Jain said. Acting on a tip-off that the mediator based in Alwar, Rajasthan, facilitated sex determination and took pregnant women to Mathura for the test, a decoy operation led by Additional SP (PCPNDT Cell) Raghuveer Singh was planned and the accused were nabbed. An unregistered sonography machine and Rs 18,000 cash have also been seized from their possession. The help of a pregnant woman was taken for this purpose for which she will be rewarded. "The informer and the woman will be a given cash reward," Jain said. The (ED) has booked former Union Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela and some others on charges of alleged money laundering in connection with sale of a prime Textile Corporation (NTC) land in Mumbai which reportedly caused a loss of Rs 709 crore to the exchequer. The CBI had filed a criminal case of corruption last year taking cognizance of which the has now registered an offence under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Officials said the agency has worked on the case after gathering inputs from CBI and other agencies and also identified the "proceeds of crime" created by the accused. They said Vaghela, a former Gujarat chief minister, and others named in the FIR will soon be summoned for questioning. The case pertains to the sale of NTC land in upmarket Worli area of Mumbai to a private Kolkata-based firm for a meagre Rs 29.35 crore when Vaghela was Minister for Textiles. CBI had alleged that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy and transferred the land in a wrongful manner, for a total consideration of Rs 29.35 crore (approx), whereas its actual value was much higher, causing an alleged loss of Rs about 709.27 crore to the government exchequer. It was alleged that during the UPA rule, Vaghela, who moved from BJP to Congress, had overruled recommendations of officials of his ministry suggesting that NTC must make a detailed evaluation of the land before the nod for transferring it to the private company was given. CBI had registered its FIR under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and cheating and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act concerning criminal misconduct. Besides Vaghela, currently the Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, those named in the CBI FIR included the then Chairman-cum-Managing Director of NTC K Ramachandran Pillai, its then Director (Technical) R K Sharma, Senior Manager (Legal) M K Khare and a Kolkata-based private firm and its Director. The property in question is part of over 80,785 square metre land of "sick" Madhusudan Mills which was taken over by NTC under the Textile Undertakings (Taking Over of Management) Act, 1983 and the Textiles Undertakings (Nationalisation) Act, 1995. It was alleged that in the process of settling of issues regarding taking over of assets and liabilities of the said firm, Vaghela overruled the opinion of senior officers of the Textiles Ministry seeking a comprehensive proposal from NTC, including the actual valuation of the land for settlement of the issues, the CBI FIR alleged. Vaghela allegedly abused his official position to approve the sharing of the land in the ratio of 65:35 in favour of the Kolkata-based private company and its owner, it had claimed. Accordingly, 35% of the land was transferred to the Kolkata-based company against a consideration of Rs 29.35 crore, which was lower than the actual cost of the land, causing a loss of Rs 709.27 crore to the exchequer. Three hundred people, mostly Indians, had a narrow escape on Wednesdaywhen a packed Emirates flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai crash landed and caught fire here with authorities, saying that all on board were evacuated safely. Emirates confirmed flight EK521 with 282 passengers and 18 crew members on board was involved in an accident at Dubai international airport. The airlines said there were 226 Indians aboard the Boeing 777-300. We can confirm there are no fatalities among our passengers and crew. All passengers and crew are accounted for and safe, the airlines said. The flight EK521 departed at 10.19 am from Trivandrum International Airport and was scheduled to land at 12.50 pm at Dubai Airport. Among the 282 passengers, seven infants were also travelling, Thiruvananthapuram Airport director George Tharakkan told PTI. The flight had two Indian crew members on board, he said. There were a total of 74 foreigners on board the flight including 24 from the UK, 11 from the UAE and six each from the US and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Dubai airport authorities suspended all operations after the Emirates flight accident. "Emergency response teams at Dubai Airport have fully extinguished the fire on the Emirates plane. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated," the Dubai media office tweeted after the accident. Video footage showed smoke billowing out of the Boeing 777 after the accident. Sai Bhaskar, a passenger on the flight, said most of the those travelling in the plane were from Kerala. There was no problem during the flight, Bhaskar said. "There was no announcement about any technical snag. We felt as if the flight first landed, went up again and hit the ground. When smoke engulfed the flight, we realised there was something amiss and we felt there was some danger," he said. "It was difficult to open the emergency exit at first," Bhaskar said, adding that if they had been stranded inside the aircraft even for a minute more, there would have been a tragedy. Some of the passengers were injured while trying to jump from the emergency exit, he said. "People have inhaled smoke. Those who left the plane early might not have. But those who went out later have inhaled smoke," another passenger said. Emirates said that its main priority remains with those involved and offering support to concerned family and friends. Dedicated telephone lines had also been activated for family members -- UAE -- 8002111, UK -- 00442034508853 and the US -- 0018113502081. While the cause of the accident is not yet clear, pictures of the airliner indicated that the front landing gear collapsed and that the plane slid. That would possibly lead to a fire, he said. Emirates, which began operations in 1985, has never suffered a fatal accident. According to CNN, Dubai-based Emirates is the largest airline in the world by available seat kilometres, while Dubai is now the busiest international airport for international passengers. "I couldn't believe my eyes. I was absolutely horrified,", Sarah-Louise Sherwood, an eyewitness, told the BBC. "The slides came out but they were blowing all over the place. People managed to escape -- from what I saw -- before there was a big explosion, with flames everywhere. We had taxied and stopped right next to where it was happening and people in my plane were just saying 'oh my god' and 'get us off this plane'," she said. No cause has so far been established for the crash, but images shared on social media suggest a belly landing, which occurs when an aircraft lands without its landing gear fully extended, using its underside to come to a halt. India is actively engaged in the ongoing intergovernmental negotiations for reform of the UN Security Council and a number of countries have supported its bid to become permanent member of the top body. Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said India was working alongside various countries and blocs like G4 and L 69, a cross regional grouping of developing countries, in pushing for reform of the UNSC. The G-4 comprising India, Japan, Brazil and Germany, all aspirants of permanent membership of UNSC, have been pressing hard to expand the UN body. "A large number of countries have supported India's candidature for permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council. "India's performance as a non-permanent member of the Security Council during 2011-12 has also significantly strengthened India's claim to permanent membership," Singh said. He said a small minority of countries known as the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) which includes Pakistan, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Spain and Turkey, have opposing an expansion of permanent membership. These countries have been favoring expansion of the UNSC in only the non-permanent category. To a separate question, Singh said India engages constructively with Asia Pacific countries, including to promote and ensure our maritime security and its engagement does not include joint patrolling with foreign navies. "Our relationship with the US is not directed against or determined by any other country, nor is it at the expense of relationship with other countries," he said. Replying to a question on names of countries listed as unsafe to visit for tourism, Singh said a total of five advisories were issued cautioning people not to visit Yemen while 18 advisories were issued about Libya, three each for Iraq and Syria and one for South Sudan. To another query, the minister said 17 Indian nationals were awarded death penalty in Kuwait for "serious" crimes and 13 of them were convicted on charges of drug trafficking. He said the Indian mission has taken up the matter with the Kuwaiti government requesting them to show mercy and commute their sentences to life imprisonment. Former Director General of BSF D K Pathak was today appointed as the new chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CMG), created in 2001 to formalise a permanent peace accord with Naga rebels. Pathak, a 1979-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, retired as the Border Security Force Director General in February this year and will now operate from Nagaland's capital Kohima. An order issued by the Union Home Ministry said the appointment will be for a year, from the date Pathak takes charge, adding he will "monitor the implementation of the agreed ground rules during the operation of ceasefire with NSCN/IM (Issac-Muivah), NSCN/KN (Khole-Kitovi) and NSCN/R (Reformation) in Nagaland." The post was being held by Lt Gen (retd) N K Singh and his tenure came to an end on June 30. This is the first time a police officer has been appointed to the post as all past chairmen have been army officers. The main task of the CMG chairman is to help in creation of a conducive atmosphere by talking to the stakeholders on the ground that could pave way for a successful political negotiation and bring a final end to the decades-old insurgency problem in the northeastern border state. Sources said Pathak was chosen for the job given his experience of not only being the chief of the border guarding force which tackles insurgency of northeast groups as part of their mandate to guard the Indo-Bangla border but also owing to his knowledge of the northeast during his early service years as an IPS officer in his cadre Assam when insurgency were at their peak. Pathak will report to the Home Ministry and will coordinate with the army, paramilitary setup operating in Nagaland along with state government authorities including the police. In a similar development, the government today said in Parliament that Naga peace talks are "in progress". "Subsequent to the framework signed on August 3, 2015, details are being worked out. Consultations with all the stakeholders and the state governments involved will be held before reaching the final agreement," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. In a separate reply, the minister responded with a "yes" when asked whether National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) is "behested" by neighbouring countries. "There are inputs to suggest that NSCN-K has established camps across the border in a neighbouring country. The government has taken measures to eliminate security threats from insurgent groups having camps outside the country," he said. (REOPENS DEL-48) With an aim to end the violent insurgency in Nagaland, the government in August last year had signed an accord with NSCN-IM which Prime Minister Narendra Modi described as a "historic" step to usher in peace in the state. The agreement was signed in the presence of Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, government's interlocutor R N Ravi and the group's leader T Muivah at the PM's residence here. The signing of the pact cane after over 80 rounds of negotiations that spanned 16 years with first breakthrough in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed. While National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah) is the largest Naga rebel group which has been maintaining the ceasefire, another faction led by S S Khaplang continues to indulge in violence and was believed to be behind the deadly attack on army in Manipur in June 2015 that left 18 soldiers dead and 18 injured. The Delhi High Court today termed as "disgraceful" the existence of manual scavengers in the national capital despite a law prohibiting such a practice and said, "We are a country of poor people but not for poor people". "A statement was made by the authorities concerned that there were no manual scavengers in Delhi. But the report of Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) shows that there were 233 manual scavenger in the city," a bench of Justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar said. "This completely belies the statement made by the Delhi Jal Board, MCDs and other authorities concerned," it said, adding that "despite the rights that they (manual scavengers) have under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, their presence is indeed disgraceful for the city". The court's observation came during hearing of a PIL filed in 2007 for rehabilitation of manual scavengers. The bench also termed as "ridiculous and shocking", when it was informed by DSLSA's Member Secretary, Dharmesh Sharma, that one of the manual scavengers was a "graduate". DSLSA submitted its report on the court's direction issued to it to verify the veracity of the statements of all agencies that there are no manual scavengers in the city. The bench had given that direction so that legal assistance or aid can be given to persons, who may be identified as manual scavengers, to ensure their rights under the Act. Accordingly, DSLSA conducted series of surveys along with 10 law students to cover various aspects of the issue of manual scavengers. "Manual scavenging is just like a business in Delhi and daily wagers are hired from outside Delhi," DSLSA said in its report. After perusing the report, the court pulled up the civic bodies and the jal board, asking the two bodies to file status report with regard to existence on such employees in the city. It also said they be rehabilitated as per the law so that there are no manual scavengers and people live their life with dignity. (Reopens LGD12) The court was annoyed with the agencies on DSLSA's report, which stated that they have interacted with more than 1000-odd workers of which 233 were identified as manual scavengers. "Some of the workers who are engaged as manual scavengers are permanent employees of MCD/DJB while many other workers are outsourced with/through the private contractors. "Out of 233 identified manual scavengers, there are 104 government employees and 129 outsourced/provate contract workers. Among them, 11 of the workers belong to upper caste community," DSLSA said. It said that permanent employees of MCD/DJB do not enter into deep pits and they have outsourced their job to private workers. "MCD has not supplied any kind of equipment to its workers nor any kind of safety equipments are provided by the private contractors to those engaged on a daily basis. "DJB is providing gumboots, ropes, gloves, safety belts, helmets, besides first aid box. However, the workers stated that they are hardly using such equipments as they are quite heavy and they have no facility to carry them from one place to another," the court was told. The judge then asked the agencies why they have not given transportation facility. "There is no facility to carry. They (workers) are not donkeys, who will carry the equipments on their back," the court said, adding that "it is not happy with the attitude of the civic bodies". The bench was also told that workers lose their eyesight due to impact of the poisonous gases. "Use of alcohol and drugs are rampant among outsourced workers," DSLSA said, adding that "a status report shall be filed by August 10 along with an affidavit clearly indicating what steps have been taken to guarantee that no person is engaged in any such activity without proper protective gear or safety devices. This direction shall be strictly complied with". Chile's electoral authority inspired a rare display of unity across the political spectrum today by banning election campaigning on social media, drawing condemnation from both left and right. With politicians gearing up for local elections on October 23, the Chilean Electoral Service (Servel) issued a manual of guidelines on the country's new electoral law, including blanket bans on campaigning via Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or newspaper websites. Social networks have revolutionized election campaigning around the world by giving politicians direct, instantaneous and free access to the masses. But according to Servel's interpretation of a new electoral law passed last year -- which replaced ones dating back to the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1998) -- social media outlets are now off limits. Politicians of all stripes united in outcry. "Servel has overstepped its limits. Its interpretation of the law is absurd. It's a serious mistake. The legislation we approved did not in any way limit campaigning via the internet," said lawmaker Leonardo Soto of the ruling Socialist Party. "Social networks are a very efficient method. But inexplicably, there's been a misinterpretation" of the law, said Cristian Monckeberg, a lawmaker for right-wing party National Renewal. Several farmers unions today decided to launch indefinite protest against the SAD-BJP government in Punjab from September 5 in support of their demands including debt waiver and compensation to families of farmers who committed suicide. Kirti Kisan Union President Hardev Singh Sandhu said the indefinite protest will start from September 5 at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh to press the state government to accept their demands. Leaders of various farmer unions criticised the present government at the Centre for not addressing the long pending issues of farmers. They also lashed out at Parkash Singh Badal government in the state, alleging that number of farmers suicides have increased during SAD-BJP regime as the regime "failed" to address farmers' concerns. Sandhu said there should be a debt waiver for farmers and farm labour. Besides this, compensation of Rs 5 lakh be given and one government job to the families of farmers who ended their lives, release of pending tubewell connections, 24-hour supply to the farm sector, he said. The meeting was attended by Buta Singh Burjgill of BKU (Dakonda), Jhanda Singh Jethuke of BKU (Ugrahan), Chhinder Singh of BKU (Krantikari) and Jasvir Singh of Azad Kisan Sangharsh Committee. A festival showcasing the varied music and dances of North Eastern India will be organised here beginning tomorrow seeking to promote the rich folk culture of the region. Titled "Amazing North-East...Paradise Unexplored," the festival organised by city based NGO, Life of Vision Foundation, will see over 22 artistes from the region performing the local songs and dances of the seven sisters. "This is to give artistes from the region a platform to showcase their art and offer these dying art-forms more visibility. "We want to promote them because they come from families where their art is their only profession. So, if we do not support them, they will not be able to pass it on to the next generation," says Sumita Basu, founder of the NGO. The evening will begin with a musical performance by a choir from Manipur and Mizoran and will be taken forward by a group of Bihu dancers and drummers from Assam. Basu says that the performers will be dressed in their traditional wear, giving the audience a glimpse of the life that they lead in the North East. The show will also serve as a medium to draw the audience's attention to the hardships faced by the people living in the region and encourage more support from the citizens of the rest of the country. "This creative stage will also be used to draw attention to our current prevailing need in the North-East," says Basu. Eminent dancer Sonal Mansingh and academic scholar Sanjoy Hazarika will be a part of the talk show that will discuss the challenges that the region comes across, seeking to suggest solutions that may propagate its growth. "This event is an attempt to create platforms for North-East artistes through the medium of music, art and culture. The North Eastern culture draws its charm by virtue of the folk music that accompanies the native dances, hence the need of preservation, development and dissemination of cultural heritage of India," says Basu. Another festival, scheduled to be held in October will focus on the youth of the country and raise awareness about the discrimination faced by young people from North Eastern India living outside their homes. "The next festival scheduled for October is meant for the youth and students from across the country. But, the North East region will have maximum participation. We will be talking about the plight of students who stay away from their homes," says Basu. The state legislative Assembly today passed the first supplementary demand for grant of Rs 16,859.98 crore as well as the Bihar Appropriation (No.3) Bill. The Appropriation Bill authorises withdrawal of the supplementary demand from the treasury to meet various outstanding expenditure in addition to those sanctioned in the budget for 2016-17. The two financial bills were passed by voice vote amid a walkout by the Opposition at the fag end of the day's proceedings on the penultimate day of the five-day Monsoon Session of the state legislature. The opposition members walked out from the House during a reply by rural development minister Shrawan Kumar on a debate on his department's supplementary demand to the tune of Rs 3,657.52 crore. Protesting against police lathicharge on Dalit students demanding scholarship in the state capital, the BJP and other Opposition members trooped in the Well of the House and raised slogans against the state government for perpetrating atrocities against students of weaker sections before staging the walkout. Kumar, however, went ahead with his speech and slammed the Centre for putting more financial burden on the state government by reducing its sharing ratio in executive of social welfare schemes to the ratio of 60:40 against 75:25 earlier. He said undeterred by additional financial burden, the state government would execute Centrally-Sponsored Schemes (CSS) like Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Act, Indira Awas Yojana and toilet schemes for the weaker sections by pooling in additional resources to meet the fiscal deficit arising due of the reduction of its sharing ratio by the Centre. After conclusion of the rural development minister's speech, Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary put the supplementary demand to voting, which was passed by voice vote. Chaudhary later took the Bihar Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2016 for discussion and passage after finance minister Abdul Bari Siddique introduced the bill. Siddique, in a brief speech, assailed the Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar for disruption in the House during discussion of financial business and said the latter should have participated in the debate that involved public interests at large. Describing the Opposition's concern for the dalits as an eyewash, Siddique said for him, the attack on dalits in Gujarat was a matter of serious concern. He said the passage of the Bihar Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2016 was mandatory as it required authorisation of the House for withdrawal of the sanctioned fund from the treasury for utilisation by various departments. The House subsequently passed the Bill, again by voice vote with the Opposition benches remaining empty. At the day's business drew to a close, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made a brief statement thanking the members and the Chair for passage of 13 legislations in the short Monsoon Session. The Speaker also complimented the state government for bringing many legislations in the abridged session. Earlier, the House witnessed a spar between the Treasury and Opposition members over mention of Gujarat and atrocities of dalits there with the presiding officers having a hard time to get on with the proceedings. Three persons were today awarded life imprisonment in a 2008 gangrape case of a 16-year-old girl by a fast track court here while a woman accomplice who lured the victim was sentenced to 10 years. Fast track court judge Rajiv Bhardwaj also imposed a fine of Rs 9500 each on accused Inam, Naushad and Aan Mohammad after holding them guilty under sections 363, 366 and 376 of IPC. The court further ordered them to pay a compensation amount of Rs 25000 to the victim. Kavita, the fourth accused, was convicted for abducting the girl. According to government lawyer Inam Tyagi, the girl was abducted and gangraped at Bhari village in the district on January 3, 2008. Police had registered a case against the four accused under section 363, 366 and 376 of IPC in this connection. The girl was later rescued. The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) today issued a notice to the state government and the police for allegedly not providing food and other facilities to police personnel during the Legislative Assembly sessions. The notice was issued following a fresh complaint filed by social activist Aires Rodrigues before GHRC, in which he alleged that despite the state administration's assurance last year, the policemen are still being deprived of dinner and other facilities during the ongoing session of the Goa Assembly. The GHRC issued the notice to Chief Secretary R K Srivastava and Director General of Police Muktesh Chandra. "The police staff on duty at Goa Legislative Assembly were not provided with evening tea and dinner during the session, which goes on for the entire day," Rodrigues said in the complaint. The chief secretary and the director general of police have been directed to appear before the commission at 11 am tomorrow. Rodrigues pointed out that the policemen are still being neglected even as theChief Secretary R K Srivastava had on April 12 given a written undertaking to the GHRC assuring to provide food and other facilities to police when the House is in session. Rodrigues had filed a complaint in November last year on the same issue, following which the GHRC in its report on November 26 last year asked the Goa government to provide food and sanitation facilities to the police personnel posted on duty during the sessions of the Goa Legislative Assembly. The government today approved the amendments in the central list of other backward classes (OBCs) applicable to state of Andhra Pradesh and Telagana. The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has recommended 35 changes in respect of Andhra Pradesh and 86 new entries for Telangana. "Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for making suitable amendments in the central list of OBCs by way of inclusion/correction/deletion of castes/communities applicable to Andhra Pradesh and the newly formed state of Telangana as per the advice received from the NCBC," the statement said. The changes which were approved today will enable the persons belonging to these castes/communities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to avail the benefits of reservation in government services and posts as well as in central educational institutions, it added. "They will also become eligible for benefit under the various welfare schemes, scholarships etc, being administered by the Central Government, which are at present available to the persons belonging to the OBCs," it added. On the recommendation of the NCBC, the government had made the total 2401 entries for inclusion in the central list of OBCs which have been notified in 24 States and 6 Union Territories. The last such notification was issued on May 26. Since then, several more recommendations for inclusion of castes and corrections in the existing list of OBCs for the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were received from NCBC. JD(U) MP Ali Anwar today alleged that the Modi government has failed to respond to "slave-like conditions" of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, and instead been "soft-peddling" the issue in dealing with these oil-rich nations. He also accused the NDA government of "hushing up" the case of a Nepali woman's rape in Gurgaon, in which a Saudi diplomat is an accused and "letting him escape". Social activist Swami Agnivesh, who joined him at a press conference at the JD(U) headquarters here, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, "indulged in propaganda" by taking "selfie with Sheikh" and held a very brief meeting with Indian workers there which was a mere "photo opportunity". "The NDA government has failed to respond to the deplorable and slave-like conditions of labourers in the Gulf countries. Many of them have their passports seized and forced to live in inhuman conditions," Anwar alleged. "Why don't they summon the diplomats of these countries. Why this soft-peddling on the issue," the JD(U)'s Rajya Sabha MP asked. "We urge the Centre to constitute a high-level team comprising members from National Human Rights Commission, central trade unions, MPs and social activists to visit and investigate the condition of seven million Indian labourers in Saudi and other the Gulf countries, and submit a report to Parliament," Anwar said. The condition of these workers are "deplorable", he said, adding, not only the NDA government should ensure that these labourers are "rescued", it must make sure that they are duly compensated and action taken against those countries as per international law. Thousands of Indians in Saudi Arabia are facing severe food crisis due to financial hardships after they lost their jobs due to slowdown of the economy in the Gulf. The Indian Mission has provided food to the Indians who cannot buy food. MoS for External Affairs V K Singh left for Jeddah last night and MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said his on-the-ground assessment will determine future course of action. Reacting to this, Agnivesh said, "Indian government has asked its own Ambassador and Consul General in Jeddah to feed the starving labourers and has now sent V K Singh to oversee their rescue on its own resources. Why can't those nations extend support to our workers, who toil in foreign lands." On the Nepali woman's rape case, they said, the "fig leaf of Vienna Convention" was used to "let the Saudi diplomat escape" the country even after an FIR was lodged. "Is rape an act which should allow diplomatic immunity? Why did the government allow him to escape," Agnivesh asked and claimed, scores of women from India are taken to Saudi in the name of domestic help but are "sexually exploited" there. The government must respond to these situations, he said. Government's proposed anti-dumping duty will support profitability of large domestic steel producers, ratings agency S&P said today. "The duty will support the profitability of large domestic steel producers that have a greater proportion of hot-rolled flat steel products," it said in a note. JSW Steel and Tata Steel will benefit the most as they have high portion of hot-rolled flat steel in their product mix at up to 60 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively. "Combined with improving domestic demand, India's protection measures could support the average realisation and profitability of domestic steel producers," its credit analyst Vishal Kulkarni said. He, however, hinted that this will have a limited rating impact as most of the companies are highly leveraged. The note said the duty will most likely to replace the Minimum Import Price (MIP), which had been introduced in February this year and ends this month. Government is mulling to impose an anti-dumping duty on imports of hot-rolled flat products of alloy and non-alloy steel from six countries, including China, Japan, and Korea, it said, explaining that the duty will be the difference between the prices of imported products and the specified floor price of USD 474-557 per metric ton. "The anti-dumping duty will have a limited effect on domestic steel prices because local demand will have to improve for steelmakers to substantially benefit from it," its credit analyst Vishal Kulkarni said. The note said that the domestic steelmakers have benefited from the MIP through better profits. The agency expects global steel prices to remain volatile over next six to 12 months, and be heavily tied to China's economic outlook and added that prices had dropped 20 per cent after peaking in April, but recovered last month on demand in China. Greece's immigration minister called today on the European Union to draw up a back-up plan in case Turkey reneged on a controversial deal aimed at stemming the influx of migrants. "We are very worried. We need a Plan B in any case," Yannis Mouzalas told Germany's Bild daily. Due to its geographic proximity to Turkey, Greece has become a key gateway country for migrants seeking to reach Europe. At the height of Europe's migrant crisis last year, thousands of asylum seekers landed every day on Greek Aegean islands close to the coast of Turkey. Arrival numbers have since plunged following an EU-Turkey deal reached in March, in which Ankara agreed to take back Syrian migrants arriving in Greece in exchange for billions of euros in aid and visa-free European travel for Turkish citizens. But relations between Ankara and the West have deteriorated over criticism against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's massive crackdown following a failed coup. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview with the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Monday that Ankara could withdraw from the accord if Europe failed to allow visa-free travel for Turks by October. But his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier rejected any talk of "blackmail," telling Rheinische Post newspaper: "That is absurd." "The fact is there are conditions for the visa-free policy and they are known to everyone," he said. "Turkey pledged to undertake the necessary steps to hold up its end of the agreement. That is not yet the case and Turkey still has work to do," added the German foreign minister. Main opposition Congress and most other parties, except AIADMK, today expressed support, with certain conditions, to the introduction of GST in the country as the Rajya Sabha took up the much-delayed bill to amend the Constitution for allowing the measure. Moving the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014 amid thumping of desks by the entire House, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said it was one of the most significant tax reforms in India in recent history that has been brought after a "broad consensus" with various political parties. The bill was supported by Congress and most of the other parties like Samajwadi Party, JD(U) and Trinamool Congress. AIADMK, however, opposed the move. "I am sure the enactment of GST will bring about the best economic management in its federal form," Jaitley said while commending the bill for consideration. He said legislation was being enacted in the best possible way in the Indian federalism. He said there was a need for a political consensus as far as possible to bring this bill and a process of dialogue with all major political parties and states was undertaken and the "best possible output was incorporated in the bill". "A legislation of this kind cannot be made on the basis of a partisan approach. It impacts on the Centre and states and we have systematically worked towards a political consensus. There is as far a consensus as possible if not unanimity as far as language and contents of the bill are concerned," the Minister said. Jaitley said, "the merits of the system are that it will convert India into one economic market and will introduce a uniform tax across the country, check evasion of tax. This would also give a boost as far as growth rate is concerned." Speaking on behalf of Congress, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said his party supports "idea" of GST as well as the bill, which he noted had been improved after the government held talks with various parties, including his. "The Congress party was never against the idea of GST. The country is now ready to embrace the GST," he said, adding his party had opposed the 2014 bill but not the "idea". "We wanted it (bill) to be more perfect. But there can never be a perfect bill," he said. Spelling out the problems his party had with the bill, he said Congress wanted a cap of 18 per cent on the tax rate under GST, scrapping of 1 per cent retrogade tax besides setting up of disputes redressal mechanism for resolving issues arising out of tax disputes between states. "The government was (initially) rather stubborn...I, on behalf of my party, loudly and clearly wanted that the tax should be not more than 18 per cent...Taxation is the exclusive power of Parliament, we can give some leverage to the Executive, but it should remain the domain of Parliament. "I want an assurance from the Finance Minister that when the GST Bill is brought, it will brought as a financial bill and not as a money bill. This is far too transformational and important legislation that one House of Parliament should just speak on it and the other will vote. We want that both Houses should debate and vote on it," he said. Accusing the government of bringing GST to favour the corporates, Chidambaram said his party Congress had to speak for the common people, who were the "third factor" besides the Centre and states, that would be affected by taxes. Thus the rate of 18 pc tax was the most acceptable given the economic situation of the country, he said. "In the name of people, ... Standard rate should be capped at 18 per cent," the Congress leader said, adding he does not buy the argument that by keeping the rate at 18 per cent, the states will lose revenue. "Let me go on record that it is hugely inflationary and will lead to a backlash if you jack up the Service Tax rate from the current 14.5 per cent to around 23 or 24 per cent," he said. Chidambaram said indirect taxes, being regressive in nature, are kept at minimum the world over and it ranges from 14.1 per cent in emerging economies like India to a maximum of 16.8 per cent in developed countries. The former Finance Minister said the rate of tax must be changed by the approval of Parliament and not by the Executive. "When we say cap the taxe rate, we are saying that it cannot be changed by the whims of the Executive. A rate must only be changed by Parliament approval. It cannot and ought not be changed at the whims of the executive. People of India want lower tax rate," he said. Earlier Jaitley said the bill is guided by two main principles that rate of tax should gradually come down so that it is more citizen-friendly and also that tax should be adequate enough so as to generate enough revenue to states. Naresh Agrawal of Samajwadi Party said despite not wanting, his party is supporting the Bill because they do not want to be blamed for being an obstruction in the country's progress. Taking a dig at the NDA, he said it was their "smartness" that every time they bring out a Bill, the feeling given out was as if they are going to bring about a huge turnaround in the country. "But what happened to your old Bills. What about black money," Agrawal asked. Alleging that the government's intention is "bad" and to raise taxes, he said, "You are saying that we don't want inflation in the country. Then why not set a low rate such as 18 per cent now itself?". He also asked the government not to make the GST Bill a Money Bill. Agrawal also said while Centre has kept two-thirds vote of states in GST council, decision is by three-fourths. "So, the Centre's veto stays," he said. "When state GST law comes, if state imposes extra tax, say, on tobacco, will you be able to stop it? Small traders are opposing GST. We have demanded that traders with up to Rs 10 lakh turnover be excluded from GST," he said. He also wondered if GST of food products will also be there, which in turn will lead to price rise. Navaneetha Krishnan (AIADMK) opposed the Bill, saying "This constitutional amendment Bill is not valid. It violates the states' fiscal autonomy. It will give permanent revenue loss to Tamil Nadu. We oppose it." Noting that federalism is the basic feature of constitution, he said the Bill violates federalism. "It also violates Article 21 of the Constitution. This Parliament has no competence to bring this Bill violative of federalism," he said. Arguing that Tamil Nadu is a manufacturing state, he said the state will lose substantial revenue. "GST method of levying tax is destination-based, not origin-based. So we strongly oppose it. We will lose Rs 9,270 crore. This is not a small loss. Even after 5 years, centre should compensate states for any loss," he said. Jaitley also said that a uniform tax rate will bring about seamless transfer of goods and services across country and it will help enable check its evasion. The Finance Minister said GST Bill will empower the states and will increase revenue of states as well as the Centre. It will also help make some products cost less, he said. There will be three enabling laws to bring about the GST regime - two by the Parliament and one by the state legislatures, he said. He said as a part of consensus, states felt that consumable alcohol had to be kept out. The Finance Minister said the concept of GST Council is Indian federalism at play and two-thirds of voting power in the council belongs to the states. Jaitley said the Empowered Committee of State Finance Minister was consulted from time to time as one of the contentious issues was to bring on board states which had reservations. Chidambaram said, "This is far too important legislation which will impact the next 50-100 years." The former Finance Minister said if government is not putting the 18 per cent cap on tax rate in the Constitution bill, it must mention it when three months later it brings the GST bill here. "We will campaign that it should not exceed 18 per cent," he said. "The heart of this Bill is the rate of tax" and that should be kept low, he added. Stressing on the need for setting up a disputes redressal mechanism in the Council, he said, "You must oblige the GST Council to set up a dispute resolution authority, ex-ante. I am glad that some strengthening has been done to this provision. But there is still time to strengthen it. Finance Minister can do so by introducing an amendment during this debate." Chidambaram said the dispute resolution between the Centre and a state or between two states or between a group of states is not a matter on which the Constitution is silent. "Article 131 makes this very clear. Dispute resolution is judicial power. Time and again judges have said, if you encroach upon our judicial power we will strike it down. The draft circulated was abominally deficient," he said. He expressed satisfaction over government agreeing to scrap the provision of one per cent levy of additional tax by states. "How can you, in a destination-based tax, have a retrograde provision like some states being allowed to impose an additional one per cent tax? The Chief Economic Advisor pointed out that this was a retrograde provision and I am happy it was scrapped," Chidambaram added. He also pointed out to the "clumsy" drafting of the bill but said nothing much can be done at this late stage when it is being debated upon. He added that there is a provision on what will go or not go in the consolidated fund of India in the amendments. "This should have been thought of earlier. Revenue must go in consolidated fund. It can't go anywhere else. The draft Bill leaves it unanswered," he said. (Reopen PAR30) Recounting how the GST bill continued to be stuck due to opposition, Chidambaram, the former Finance Minister, said between 2011 and 2014 he had done was virtually a "char dham" (yatra). "We tried to pass the GST Bill with the support of the principal Opposition party and we failed. In the past two years, the (NDA) government also tried to pass the GST Bill without the support of the principal Opposition party and I am glad you also failed," he said. The Congress leader had words of praise for Jaitley, saying, "I welcome the friendly and conciliatory tone of the Finance Minister's speech." Derek O'Brien (Trinamool Congress), while supporting the Bill, took pot shots at both Congress and the BJP. "They (BJP and Congress) would have won the Olympic medal for ping pong with the way these two parties have played with the GST for the last 10 years," he said. "GST could also be interpreted as 'Girgit Samjhota Tax'," he said. Quoting various remarks by both parties, he said, "What they say depends on where they sit... In 2011, Gujarat Finance Minister opposed GST calling it retrograde. " Referring to Chidambaram, O'Brien said the policy of his Congress colleagues was "go slow tactics (GST)". He said it should be ensured that GST is implemented from April 1, 2017. "This ping-pong match cannot go on forever." Sharad Yadav of JD(U) supported the Bill and said he was also instrumental in getting a consensus. He said corruption increases with many tax laws and the GST will help reduce it. (Reopens PAR31) Expressing serious apprehensions that the GST regime will hit the country's federal structure, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) sought an assurance from the Finance Minister that "when the GST comes, ensure that there will be flexibility so states are not forced to come with begging bowls to ask for money." "Some flexibility should be given to the states. I demand an assurance on this issue," he said. Demanding protection of the rights of states, Yechury quoted the Constitution and said India or Bharat is a Union of States and the federal structure and rights of the states are fundamental to the Constitution. "Without the states, there is no India," he said. Quoting Bhimrao Ambedkar, he said "if we permit provinces to collect sales tax, a ceiling from the Centre will be a handicap." Terming GST as a regressive tax, he said GST should be kept low as it will burden the poor more as already 62 per cent comes from indirect taxes. He said indirect taxes were hiked by Rs 20,000 crore in the budget and remarked that the government was "enriching the rich" at the cost of the poor. "If you do not have a cap on GST, it will be increasingly regressive tax to burden the people...The supremacy of sovereignty in the Constitution is the people. The interests of the people are supreme. Are those interests going to improve or deteriorate," Yechury sought to know. He said "this is a very serious piece of legislation. We are making a radical departure in the way and objective of revenue collection." The senior CPI-M leader also demanded bringing back all the other Bills, like the IGST and CGST, and said these should not be brought as Money Bills. "This is my non-legal interpretation based on common sense," he said. Yechury said while the number of billionaires was increasing, the census figures showed that 90 per cent of Indian families earned less than Rs 10,000 a year and remarked: "you are widening the hiatus between two Indias." "Tax collected by the state for the state GST should go to the Consolidated Fund of the state. This presents a problem. Where does the revenue go? That is an important aspect which should be clarified," he said. "What is the mechanism and the timeframe within which the revenue will be shared with the states and Centre," Yechury sought to know. "How do we protect the rights of states? We are the council of states. I urge the Finance Minister to address this issue, and a provision be made when we discuss the GST bill," Yechury said. Asserting that a tax rate of 24 per cent will "cripple" most of the people in the country, the CPI(M) leader said greater thought must be given to dispute redressal and it must be spelt out more concretely when it comes for discussion. Observing that it is good that the country has got rid of the "colonial hangover", Yechury said "Westminster has three colours - green, red and royal blue. We eliminated royal blue, which is reserved for the Queen of England, by becoming a republic. We still have green and red colour code. Lok Sabha is green, Rajya Sabha is red. When something is of concern to our people, we will raise the red flag. The interest of the people are supreme." A U Singh Deo (BJD) said the bill seeks to boost the economy and sought weightage for the states. Satish Chandra Misra (BSP) said though his party welcomed GST, the federal structure has to be protected. Different states have different issues but GST Council has been given wide-ranging powers and the power of the state is taken away and given to the Council. He demanded that the Vice chairman of the GST Council should be inducted from a party which is not a part of the ruling party at the Centre. "My suggestion is that at least the vice chairman of the GST Council should belong to a party which is not in the Centre," he said. C M Ramesh (TDP) said GST will usher the country into growth era and said people around the globe were asking why it was taking so long to introduce the measure. Praful Patel (NCP) was of the view that "transition" towards GST model will be challenging both at the states and the central levels. "The principle of equity must be kept in mind while deciding on revenue neutral rate," he said while citing the example of the Bombay Municipal Corporation where octroi collection itself is more than the budget of several small states in the country. Patel urged the government to introduce the Bill as a Finance Bill and not a Money Bill saying it had ramifications beyond just amending the Constitution. (Reopens PAR34) Patel said though the GST bill appeared to be a "bilateral issue" between the BJP and the Congress, "we are happy it has reached this stage in Parliament and we support it." He said the states which are earning lesser revenues are going to be compensated and added that while Services will be impacted with GST, manufacturing will benefit. Narendra Jadhav (Nominated) termed GST as the "singularly most important economic reform since 1991" and said it would simplify the indirect taxes regime and eliminate geographical fragmentation creating one market. It will be transparent regime that will help avoid black money and boost GDP growth by 1.5 to 2 percentage points besides facilitating tax collection, he said, adding that it would be naive to believe that GST is a panacea to all the economic ills. Citing its probable drawbacks, he said prices of healthcare and clothing will go up at least in the short run but added that "nevertheless it's a giant leap". Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Ind) said GST will result in a common market resulting in more jobs and small businesses will find it easy to comply and increase ease of doing business. This will bring significant benefit to consumers, expand tax base and contribute to make a competitive economy, he said, adding GST would be a consumer and business-friendly tax regime. Vivek Tankha of the Congress said a body should be formed for dispute resolution to resolve issues like how the money collected will be distributed. "It would have been good if they (government) had made a provision for this in the Constitution," he said. Asking the government to specify the maximum tax level, he said, "18 should be maximum, it is a very big rate. In Singapore, the rate in 7 per cent, in Malaysia it is 6 per cent. India will have to rethink how to bring rates down... People want to know whether the rate will be 18 per cent, less or more than that." If the rate is high it will lead to higher inflation, he said. Tankha said the Bill should not be treated as a Money Bill but as a Finance Bill. He termed the prosecution provisions as draconian. Ajay Sancheti (BJP) termed it as a historic step which will lead to creation of a common market. He said a consensus on GST Bill has been evolved in the interest of development of the nation and it is a sign of a strong democracy. Highlighting the advantages of the proposed indirect tax reform, he said it will help attract higher FDI, lead to more transparency in tax system and improve the ease of doing business in the country. "The Centre and states stand to gain. Their revenue will increase," he said, while demanding a provision for compensating the loss suffered by local bodies. While supporting the Bill, Surendra Singh Nagar (SP) said some sectors will certainly benefit but raised concerns over price rise. "This Bill is related to the common man. Services will become costlier affecting common man," he said, adding that real estate prices will also increase if stamp duty and registration fee has to be paid above the GST. Nagar asked the Finance Minister to inform the House the time-frame for implementing of GST and the maximum rate to be levied. He also sought an assurance that the Bill will not be brought as a Money Bill. Dilip Tirkey (BJD) termed it as a welcome, progressive Bill which is going to benefit the manufacturers, retailers and consumers. However, he said, the losses incurred due to delay in roll out will be known only after implementation of GST. He said Odisha's demand for outstanding dues is not being met and urged Finance Minister to release funds worth Rs 2,669 crore. Garikapati Mohan Rao (TDP) said both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are in crisis and demanded a guarantee regarding the mode of payment to the states. He asked the government to clear pending dues related to VAT before the passage of this Bill. K Parasaran (Nominated) said the definition of services appeared to be "vague". He said the GST Council comprises of executives from Central and state Governments and therefore, their recommendations should be placed before both Houses of Parliament. Hishey Lachungpa (SDF) supported the Bill saying it will bring a "sea change" in indirect tax regime in the country. He said Sikkim will get less share because of 14th Finance Commission recommendation and also bear losses as the state will not be able to levy 1 per cent manufacturing tax. He demanded that the Finance Minister will address this issue. P Bhattacharya (Congress) sought an apology from the BJP for opposing the GST Bill when it was in Opposition that led to delay in rollout of the indirect tax reform. "Purpose of the Bill will be defeated if it leads to inflation," he said, adding that the GST rate should have been specified in the Constitution itself. Mahesh Poddar (BJP) said the Bill has come at the right time. He said it will create a common market and take the country forward. Listing out the advantages of GST, he said it will lead to increase in GDP growth by 0.9 to 1.7 per cent as well as increase in exports/imports. He said the inflation rate will increase initially but come down after some time. "GST will simplify and synchronise indirect tax. It will help in creating common market. It will reduce inter-state disputes," he said, adding that the roll out of GST will increase overall economic activity and broaden the tax base. (Reopen PAR38) Naresh Gujral, member of ruling NDA constituent SAD, praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for bringing the GST. He said the GST bill and the abolition of license quota raj in 1991, both were a brainchild of Manmohan Singh and "he deserves nation's applause and a debt of gratitude. "This bill will result in much greater compliance and to a large extent help in the elimination of the black money in this country," he added. V Vijay Sai Reddy (YSR Congress) said the GST council will make recommendations for special category states and asked for inclusion of Andhra Pradesh in the list. He added that the states should be compensated 100 per cent for the revenue loss in the first five years after the roll out of GST. TKS Elangovan (DMK) raised the issue of having a "fair and transparent mechanism" to provide compensation to the states for revenue loss. Narendra Budania (Congress) said the bill was originally brought by his party and was vehementally opposed by the BJP. "Then Gujarat Chief Minister and prsent Prime Minister Narendra Modi vehementaly opposed the bill. We want him to come to the Hosue and feel sorry. If he can't then we are also ok if the Finance Minister ask for forgiveness," he said. He also asked for a mechanism for compensating the local bodies. "What will happen to them (local bodies)? How will you divide the taxes? If the GST rate is above 18 per cent it will be an injustice to the country," Budania noted. Anil Desai (Shiv Sena) asked for a mechanism to compensate revenue loss to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, the country's richest local body. He asked for a mechanism where in the Corporation directly gets the funds from the centre. D Raja (CPI) said it is not yet clear as to what is in store. "We are going to enter an unchartered territory. We don't know what are going to be the consequences as we are going to create a common market," he said. BJP national president Amit Shah today said that the passage of the GST Bill, which was placed in the Rajya Sabha today, would usher in a new era of economic reforms and development in the country. "Today the GST Bill has been placed in Parliament. The Bill is very important for West Bengal. With its passage, a new era of economic reforms will be ushered in and it will contribute to the development of the country," Shah said while addressing a party programme here. The Congress and most other political parties, except AIADMK, today expressed support with certain conditions to the introduction of the GST in the country. The BJP president countered criticism by opposition parties over many foreign trips of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arguing that actually Modi had undertaken less foreign trips than his predecessor Manmohan Singh. "If you go through the statistics you will see that Modiji had undertaken less foreign trips than his predecessor Manmohan Singh. Manmohan Singhji also undertook several foreign trips, but the difference is that nobody was aware of such trips because he used to visit foreign countries silently and come back silently," Shah claimed. "He just used to visit a foreign country, read out the statement and come back. And at times he read out the printout meant for Indonesia in Malaysia and Malaysia in Indonesia. But whenever Modiji visits a foreign country thousands of people came out to greet him. This love and respect is not meant for Modiji but for the people of the country," Shah said. Shah said that the biggest achievement of the BJP government was to check corruption in the country and Modi ensured that poor people had bank accounts enabling them to receive benefits directly. "By the direct transfer of subsidies, corruption worth thousands of crores of rupees has been checked. India is witnessing a new era of hope under the BJP rule, which is in sharp contrast to the despair the country had witnessed during the Congress rule," he said. In order to curb illegal phone snooping, the government today announced in Rajya Sabha that guidelines have been revised with an aim of tightening the process of obtaining telephone call data records (CDRs) of MPs and other citizens. The guidelines have been tightened as the government has found some of the police officers misusing CDRs, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said during Question Hour. Privacy of any citizen and confidentiality of telephone numbers being used by any citizen of this country for communication must be protected. If anybody breaches that, the government has to take serious action, he said. "Recently, on 28th (July), few days back, we have revised the guidelines. ...The initial guidelines were far general," the minister added. As per the revised guidelines, head of the police organisation's permission is required for obtaining CDRs of Members of Parliament. In city, Police Commissioner must authorise, Rijiju said. Only authorised officers and nodal designated officers in the Centre and state have been authorised with clear stipulation to maintain particular email ID and password to be updated timely, more preferably monthly, he added. That apart, every additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) or Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of the district, the Crime Branch, Economic Wing, Special Cell, IG Airport ACP and Special Cell, Crime Branch have been authorised to obtain CDRs, he added. Asserting that the government is taking serious note of misuse of CDRs, Rijiju said, "We have also found that some of the police officers are also involved. That's why we have been very strict. Within the system, we must have very strong measures in place..." The Delhi Police has detected two cases of illegal use of CDRs and many arrests have been made. "We are very confident that it will help in further getting into the similar cases as well as stop such cases in future," the minister noted. To a query by Sharad Yadav (JD-U) on any action taken against one capitalist allegedly involved in phone tapping of some ministers and even National Security Advisor, Rijiju said, "The case of phone tapping and the question on CDRs are inter-related. It is a serious issue." He said, "The Home Ministry has handed over the case to Delhi Police for investigation. We have also given all details to the court on this issue. A special cell has been set up and that is probing. The moment we get updates, we will inform the House." The MoS for Home Affairs, while refusing to disclose the details of the probe, said, "If I stand here and take stand when the inquiry is on, it will be unfair." With regard to phone tapping, he said approval of Home Secretary at the Centre and state is required. "We have taken this issue very seriously and hence have issued the guidelines," he said. The government is also strengthening centralised monitoring system, Rijiju added. Responding to another query, the minister said no external agency have been found in cases of illegal obtaining of CDRs. The Directorate of Revenue and NATGRID are among thers who have been authorised to conduct investigation. He also said the government is regulating use of imported phone tapping devices. It has seized some devices used for illegal purpose. The wizarding saga of Harry Potter continues even 20 years since the release of the first book with the story continuing as a play, which premiered recently in London. Bound in a book form, the script 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' is all about 'saving the spare' alluding to the heartbreaking sacrifice of the life of 17 year-old Cedric Diggory, who was Harry's 'spare' in the fourth Potter book 'Goblet of Fire'. The Dark Lord Voldemort had then said, "Kill the spare." Now, author of the Potter series J K Rowling with the help of writer Jack Thorne and theatre director John Tiffany, takes a journey back in time to change the present and the future by altering the past. Only this time, the wheel of adventure is being steered not by the trio of Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley but an uncanny pair of Potter and Malfoy - Harry Potter's younger son Albus Severus Potter and Draco Malfoy's son Scorpius Malfoy. 'The Cursed Child' takes off from where the epilogue of the final of the series 'Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows' left off. Both boys, owing to their skewed relationships with their respective fathers, end up becoming the best of friends. Interestingly, Albus is his first year is sorted into House Slytherin instead of Gryffindor. Albus who constantly reels under the pressure of living up to the "brave" deeds of his father, takes upon himself with Scorpius tagging along to use the Ministry of Magic's time-turner and save Cedric from being killed in the Triwizard Tournament. He tells Amos, Cedric's father, "I know what it is to be the spare. Your son didn't deserve to be killed Mr Diggory. We can help you get him back." They change certain events that lead to Cedric's death, and thus follows one roller coaster ride, actually three, to alternate realities, where either Voldemort rules, or Harry Potter is dead and Ron and Hermoine never get married. The journeys into the past serve like a quick re-run of all the previous books with flashes interspersed from the past episodes. Seeing an alive Dumbledore, Cedric and Snape evokes a sense of nostalgia and empathy among readers with Scorpius who is tempted to not return to the present. With every trip that Albus and Scorpius took by turning time, Ludo Bagman's announcement of the Triwizard Tournament, "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, I give you - the greatest - the fabulous - the one - and the only Triwizard Tournament..." becomes more and more haunting. Meanwhile, both boys befriend Amos' nurse, Delphi who also happened to be Cedric's cousin. She is shown helping Albus and Scorpius steal the time-turner from the Ministry but when the two realise their mistake and decide to destroy the time turner, Delphi reveals herself as - to the boys' and readers' disbelief - Voldemort's daughter, who now lives to resurrect her father. The dark Lord is prophesied to come back, "When spares are spared, when time is turned, when unseen children murder their fathers: then will the Dark Lord return." It will not be too fantastical, on part of the readers, to expect that soon the letters of her name would rearrange like Tom Riddle's from "Chamber of Secrets" to indicate her association with Voldemort. They don't, however. Ans thus, the time turner rotates again back to the Triwizard tournament, with Bagman's voice haunting more than ever, as the witch dragged the disarmed, bound boys along the maze from the final task. The decisive battle at Godric's Hollow on the day when the James and Lily Potter were killed by Voldemort, is conspicuously fought between Delphi and Harry with Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Draco by hios side. They had eventually managed to travel back in time to save the two boys. "I've never fought alone you see. And I never will," Harry tells Delphi as all the previous battles are recreated. Delphi is captured and sent to Azkaban. Before the official release of the book that comes after nine years, since "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was published in 2007, many were sceptical about the play format of the book. The change of genre, in fact, has lent the narrative a pace that only increase as the plot becomes darker and more convoluted. The writing is crisp yet descriptive enough to conjure vivid imagery punctuated with an impeccably timed humour that serves as a comic relief. The fandom for the magical world that Rowling had drawn with the Harry's first flick of wand at Olivanders' in the Diagon Alley is still throbbing within Potterheads, perhaps never to die, but it is only sad to know that this was all that there was to the phenomenon called "Harry Potter. The Delhi High Court today asked the AAP government not to take any action in connection with its move to take over two branches of a city-based private unaided school. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva passed the order on the plea of Maxfort School challenging the Lieutenant Governor's approval given to the Delhi government's decision to take over the institute's two branches at Peetampura and Rohini. The court appointed a local commissioner to visit the school and to maintain records of the documents sought by the government regarding the institute's functioning. The order came after the government told the court that it has already sealed a few rooms of the school. The government had decided to take over two branches of the school on the basis of complaints that it was allegedly violating rules regarding admission of candidates from economically weaker sections (EWS). As per the government, the school was also facing complaints of maintaining false records and misappropriation of funds, among others. The school, which has four branches in Delhi, is at present being run by Chadha Educational Society and S Jagat Singh Chadha Charitable Trust. As per the Directorate of Education (DoE), it had issued show cause notices to the two branches of the school in April this year asking the authorities to respond. As per the government, the school is also facing complaints regarding violation of Delhi School Education (DSE) Act, 1973 and Right to Education Act (RTE), 2009. The Delhi High Court today asked the Centre to file its policy regarding grant of leave travel concession (LTC) to government servants while observing that there were "serious anomalies" in the scheme. "There are serious anomalies in it (LTC), not just with regard to airfare, but generally," a bench of Justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar said while hearing a PIL alleging misuse of the leave fare concession (LFC)/LTC scheme by employees of Syndicate Bank. The court asked the Centre to file its LTC policy along with an affidavit, which would also include the "air travel component" applicable all over the country, on the next date of hearing on September 19. The bench also suggested to the government to streamline the LTC policy to include air travel to foreign destinations, saying travelling to some overseas locations cost less than what it did to go to some places within the country. It noted that air travel to Thiruvananthapuram was costlier than taking a flight to Nepal. During the hearing, advocate Anuj Jain, appearing for the petitioner Yatendra Kumar Jain, contended that enquiry carried out into the alleged misuse of LTC scheme by bank employees was an "eyewash" as the travel agents who booked tickets were not traceable. He also alleged that CBI was being reluctant to probe the matter, after which the bench also sought response from the agency on the issue. The lawyer alleged that misuse of the scheme has caused a loss of Rs 450 crore to Syndicate Bank alone and the amount would be much more if all the 27 public sector banks in the country are taken into account. The bank, meanwhile, filed an affidavit stating that to curb the alleged practice of travel agents presenting bills which were higher than that of the actual fare, it has started asking for copy of the ticket and boarding pass. Jain has alleged that officials of the bank, even in higher scales of their rank, misused LFC by over-billing and excess-drawing hugely inflated fares, in league with private travel agents as well as the bank's sanctioning authorities. He has sought an investigation into the alleged misuse of LTC by the bank employees as well as disciplinary action or initiation of criminal proceedings against those held responsible. Asserting that it was state government's duty to maintain law and order and protect its citizens during hartals or bandhs, the Madras High Court has directed it to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation with interest to a bank employee, who lost an eye in a stone-pelting incident on the eve of a DMK bandh to protest party chief M Karunanidhi's arrest in 2001. Justice M Satyanarayanan passed the order yesterday while disposing of a petition by S Krishnaswamy, seeking a compensation of Rs 25 lakh from the state for the loss of vision and suffering caused to him by the injury inflicted on him on July 1, 2001. The judge said "The state government through an announcement had indicated that it had taken all necessary steps to maintain law and order problem and also ensured that public will not be put to any inconvenience on account of the bandh called for by DMK party following the arrest of DMK leader M Karunanidhi and also indicated that normal bus facilities would be in place." The government stand on the matter had not been disputed by the Secretary, Transport Department and Chairman and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, in their counter affidavit, the judge pointed out. The petitioner submitted that on July 1, 2001, when he was travelling by a government bus from Coimbatore to Madurai, a stone was hurled at the bus, which hit his left eye, resulting in loss of sight. He also stated that he underwent a surgerybut continued to suffer severe pain and could not continue his job as a computer operator. The judge said on account of stone throwing by two persons on the eve of bandh, he suffered grievous eye injuries leading to loss of vision in his left eye. The judge said prosecution launched against the two persons by the state has ended in acquittal and it did not evince any interest to challenge the trial court order and it has become final. The juge said the petitioner is entitled to a lumpsum compensation of Rs 10,00,000 with interest at 7.5 per cent per annum from the date of filing the writ plea, October 28, 2002, till the date of full and final settlement. "The order is also without prejudice to the rights of the petitioner to approach the civil forum for getting more compensation," the judge observed. The compensation amount determined by the court shall be payable by the State Home Department within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, the judge added. The Gujarat High Court today rejected a PIL filed by former top cop Julio Ribeiro challenging the appointment of P P Pandey, accused in Ishrat Jahan encounter case, as the state's in-charge DGP. "Dismissed," said a division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi, while pronouncing the order on the public interest litigation. Ribeiro had challenged Pandey's appointment as he is an accused in the alleged fake encounter case of Ishrat Jahan and three others, and is currently out on regular bail. In his PIL, Ribeiro said that Pandey could hamper the investigation and influence witnesses in the Ishrat case. Ribeiro served as the DGP of Gujarat and Punjab, the latter during the height of insurgency, and is known as super cop for his exemplary work during those periods. He further stated in the PIL that Pandey's authority and influence of his post will affect witnesses, many of whom are serving police officers under him. Appearing for the state government, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the PIL should not have been entertained here as it is a service matter. Mehta said that Pandey has only been given additional charge as he is the senior-most IPS officer and it is not a regular posting. The government had earlier stated in a written reply before the court that investigation in the Ishrat case was done by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and not state police, and such apprehension therefore bore no merit. The government had stated that Pandey was the most suitable IPS officer for the in-charge DGP's post because of his seniority. Replying to the main contention of PIL about possibility of Pandey hampering the investigation against him by influencing the witnesses, the government said no such thing has happened after he was made the in-charge DGP. The government further told the court that nowhere in his bail condition it was mentioned that he cannot be given promotions or cannot be made in-charge DGP. Pandey was jailed after the CBI, which is investigating the case, charge sheeted him along with other police officials. Pandey is out on bail in the fake encounter case of Ishrat Jahan and three others. He had spent around 18 months in jail in the case which is at present is pending before a local court in Ahmedabad. After being released on bail, he was taken back into service in February last year and was made the director of Anti-Corruption Bureau. On April 16 this year, he took over as in-charge DGP of Gujarat following unexpected transfer of incumbent P C Thakur to Delhi. Ishrat, a 19-year-old girl from Mumbai, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillay, Amjadali Akabarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed in an alleged fake encounter on Ahmedabad outskirts on June 15, 2004. The Gujarat Police had then claimed that the four, with links to Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba, had come to the city to kill the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Hindu tradition does not allow conversion by means that amount to aggression on an individual's human rights, RSS Chief has said, emphasising that Hinduism is not a religion but a tradition which believes in accepting and respecting all identities. "After contemplating any philosophy or any religion, if one of his own will and wish decides to convert to it...Our tradition says every individual can independently decide what his faith should be. But using other means and converting people by lure or some other means, that is aggression on individual rights and that should not be allowed," he said. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh "Sarsanghchalak" was addressing a seminar on 'Identity and Integration', organised to mark the 50th anniversary of UK-based charity Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), in London last evening. Bhagwat also said that "Hindu is a sanskriti and not a religion". "Hindu is a tradition" which believes in "accepting, respecting and celebrating" all other identities, he said. "We have no problem with identities; we can live as an integrated society, humanity and universe. It has been achieved and lived by common people and can be found anywhere Hindus live. Hindu identity says diversity is to be celebrated," he said. Bhagwat quoted verses from the Atharva Veda to prove that diversity existed even in ancient times and "unity in diversity" was the central mantra of Hinduism. "Despite our history, we don't treat anyone like a foreigner...Only politics sometimes disrupts all this. But these are ripples and then we revert to normalcy because it is in our blood," he said. "Ultimately we are all human beings, all 'atmans' (soul). We respect and accept everyone's identity but have an eye on the underlying unity. That example has been created by Hindu society anywhere in the world and can resolve all conflict," he added. The 65-year-old RSS leader, who was surrounded by heavy security presence at the Navnat Centre in south London, was in the UK as chief guest of HSS UK's Mahashibir 2016, which concluded over the weekend. Yesterday's seminar concluded his UK tour and included panelists like Dr Girdharilal Bhan, former president of VHP, Samani Pratibha Pragya, head nun of Jain Vishva Bharati London, and Gauri Das, managing director of Bhaktivedanta Manor ISKCON UK. In his message to the Hindu diaspora in the UK, Bhagwat said, "Hindus don't insist call yourself Hindu. But the values are all the same...We all believe in unity of existence and doing sewa (service) Don't fight among each other, stay united and work for the world's good. French President Francois Hollande has strongly criticized US presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying some of the things the Republican does make him sick. "Some excesses make your stomach turn, even in the United States, especially when as did Donald Trump he speaks ill of a soldier, of the memory of a soldier," Hollande said at a meeting yesterday with members of the French Presidential Press Association. Hollande was referring to Trump's recent comments about Capt Humayun Khan, a US Muslim soldier killed in Iraq in 2004. Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said Hollande's comments were a response to Trump's recent verbal attacks on France. "In this (US presidential) campaign, there are some extremely unusual types of comments," Le Foll told reporters following a Cabinet meeting today. Last month, Trump said France would be among countries he would subject to the "extreme vetting" he is proposing for those seeking to enter the United States, a move he says is necessary to deter attacks by people coming from countries "compromised by terrorism." France has been hit by a series of attacks carried out by Islamic extremists since 2015. Le Foll also said that President Barack Obama was "well qualified" to make comments describing Trump as "unfit" and "woefully unprepared" to serve in the White House. In June, the Hollande said he would consider Trump's election as dangerous and it would complicate relationships between Europe and the US, in an interview with Les Echos newspaper. The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government to expeditiously identify wetlands in Dwarka sub-city here after an environment activist sought the green panel's intervention in the matter. A bench headed by Justice U D Salvi ordered the Arvind Kejriwal government to complete the process of identification and classification of the wetlands within a week. "Counsel appearing for Government of NCT of Delhi submits that the decision in the matter is likely to be taken within two days and same will be placed before us for further consideration... "In view of the submissions made before us, we grant one week time to Government of NCT of Delhi to file its reply and place its decision in regard to the identification and classification of the Wetlands before us," the bench, also comprising Expert Member Ranjan Chatterjee, said. The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by one Diwan Singh who claimed that enormous amounts of rainwater goes waste due to the dilapidated condition of water bodies in Dwarka and urgent action was needed for effective utilisation of such water bodies to store the rainwater which this area received annually. During the hearing, the counsel appearing for Singh told the bench that, as per directions of the NGT, a representation for identification of wetlands in the area was made before the city government on June 3. But till date, no action has been taken in this regard, the counsel alleged. The matter is now listed for next hearing on August 22. Earlier, the tribunal had directed the city government to clean and restore all natural water bodies after a plea expressed concern over alarming depletion of the water table in the national capital. It had also directed the government and agencies concerned to ensure that these water bodies receive rainwater in good quantity before the onset of monsoon. After a run of 11 years, curtains came down on IIIT Amethi campus when its 148 students were shifted to the Allahabad campus yesterday. This is the third major project to be shut down since the Modi government came to power at the Centre after the proposed Mega Food Park and Hindustan Paper Mill met similar fate in the constituency of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi. Amethi is considered as bastion of Congress and has been represented by the Gandhi family. The students of Rajiv Gandhi IIIT have been shifted to the Allahabad campus and the Amethi campus will be transferred to the Ambedkar University, Lucknow, as per government decision, Director IIIT-Allahabad G C Nandi said today. A decision to this effect was taken in May when the then Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani had announced shutting down of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Amethi and opening of satellite institute of Babaseheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, on that campus. Though the students will be able to continue their studies in Allahabad, 75 employees of the IIIT are on warpath as they allege that no arrangement has been made for them. They have also threatened to launch an agitation from August 12 if no arrangement is made for their absorption. Rahul had raised the cancellation of Shaktiman Mega Food Park in Jagdishpur in Amethi in Lok Sabha and the party had said that scrapping the project was part of "political vendetta" by the Modi government. Jagdishpur Paper Mill Ltd (JPML) was to be set up in two phases in the constituency but last December the Centre decided to shift it to Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. In a first such action, Delhi government is set to take over two branches of a private unaided school, which faces complaints of violation of rules, following approval by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. The action has been initiated against the Rohini and the Peetampura branches of Maxfort School following several complaints against it including violation of rules in admission to candidates from economically weaker sections (EWS), false records and misappropriation of funds, among others. The school, which has four branches in Delhi, is currently being run by Chadha Educational Society and S Jagat Singh Chadha Charitable Trust. The Directorate of Education (DoE) had issued show cause notices to the two branches of the school in April this year asking the authorities to respond within days. According to sources, the government was not satisfied with the response and approach of the school authorities towards the issue. "The LG gave his nod last night to take over the school against which there were complaints of violation of the Delhi School Education (DSE) Act 1973 and Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009," a source said. School authorities were not available for their comment on the issue. Following complaints from the parents' association, DoE had written to the heads of the two schools in March, asking them to declare results of students whose parents were protesting against fee hike. Complaints of misappropriation funds were referred to the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police and the government had constituted two committees, one under the department of education and the other under the District Magistrate (DM) of north-west Delhi According to the report, the school had also failed to maintain the service records and personal files of teachers and did not furnish details relating to salary statements of the staff, attendance registers of the staff and other necessary documents. The school was also found to have collected capitation fees and the management of the schools had violated section 24 of DSE Act, 1973 according to which every recognised school is supposed be inspected at least once in each financial year which could not be done, due to lack of co-operation from the schools' committees. India has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mozambique to import 3,75,000 tonnes of during 2016-19, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. "The government has signed an MoU with the government of Mozambique, which fixes targets of minimum quantities of import of tur and other from Mozambique over three financial years," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. In 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19, the quantity signed is 1 lakh tonnes, 1,25,000 tonnes and 1,50,000 tonnes, respectively. India imported worth $3.90 billion in 2015-16 as against $2.78 billion in the previous financial year. In quantity terms, pulse imports in 2015-16 stood at 57.97 lakh tonnes as against 45.85 lakh tonnes in 2014-15. Similarly, the country imported edible oil worth $10.48 billion last financial year. In volume terms, it was 156.39 lakh tonnes. Last month, the Union Cabinet approved doubling of import of tur and other dals from Mozambique to 2 lakh tonnes per annum in the next five years. Pulse production fell to 17.06 million tonnes in the 2015-16 crop year (July-June), from 17.15 million tonnes in the previous year. In 2013-14, output was over 19 million tonnes. The minister said the government has taken several steps to ramp up production of pulses and oil seeds and reduce dependency on imports. (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.) India and Vietnam have discussed key issues including security cooperation during their 5th Strategic Dialogue held here in which the recent developments in the "maritime domain" and the need for peaceful resolution of all disputes were also taken up. Entire gamut of bilateral relations, including the forthcoming high level visits, cooperation in political and security related matters, trade and investment, MEA said here on Wednesday. Without naming the South China Sea, a ministry release said, "Both sides also discussed recent developments in the maritime domain and the need for peaceful resolution of all disputes in accordance with accepted principles of law as reflected notably in the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982." Vietnam is also a party to the dispute involving territorial claims by China in the region. Other countries include Brunei and Philippines. Recently, a UN tribunal dismissed China's claims saying there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources. India and Vietnam also exchanged views on issues of mutual concern at regional and multilateral level, including cooperation at UN and Organisations with Hanoi reaffirming its support for India's candidature for a Permanent seat in an expanded UNSC. The two sides also talked about cooperation in health, energy and agriculture sector, connectivity, lines of credit and other capacity building projects in Vietnam and increasing people-to-people ties, the ministry added. A 58-year old Indian man has been charged with sexually touching a woman sitting next to him on a flight from Los Angeles to New Jersey. Veerabhadrarao Kunam, a resident of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh is charged by the complaint with one count of abusive sexual contact. He appeared before US Magistrate Judge Joseph Dickson yesterday in Newark federal court and was released on a USD 50,000 secured bond. The charge carries a maximum potential penalty of two years in prison and a USD 250,000 fine. Kunam was arrested on July 30 when his flight arrived at Newark and was taken into federal custody by the FBI. According to the complaint, Kunam was seated next to a woman who occupied a middle seat on a flight from Los Angeles to Newark. While the plane was in the air, the woman fell asleep. She woke up to find Kunam sexually touching her. Upon noticing Kunam touching her, the victim alerted her male travel companion who traded seats with her and confronted Kunam. The accused allegedly told the victim's travel companion that he wanted everyone to forget about the incident and offered to buy the travel companion a drink for any trouble he may have caused. The travel companion declined Kunam's offer and alerted a flight crew member about the incident. A member of the flight crew then moved Kunam to another seat and instructed him not to return to his original seat. He allegedly told the flight crew member that he would not touch the victim again. The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over all sexual abuse cases that occur on aircraft in flight in the United States. A spokesperson of the airline said in a statement that the plane's crew was "alerted to reports of a disruptive individual who was accused of inappropriately touching a fellow passenger." "Our crew are trained for such situations, and they immediately moved the individual in question to another seat, monitored him to ensure he did not move from his seat, and alerted law enforcement, who were waiting for the aircraft when it arrived at the New Jersey airport," he said. Italy's defence minister Roberta Pinotti has said that Rome would positively consider a US request to use airbases and airspace for Libya strikes. "The government is ready to positively consider a request to use airbases and national airspace, and support the operation, if it is believed that it would lead to a more rapid and effective conclusion of the ongoing action," Pinotti said yesterday during parliamentary question time. US warplanes began carrying out air strikes on positions of the Islamic State jihadist group in its Libyan stronghold of Sirte on Monday in response to a request from Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA). "The government keeps and open, direct and constant line of dialogue with both our Libyan counterparts and our American allies to keep an eye on the operation's developments and the need for indirect support," Pinotti said. She added that Rome believes "success in the fight to eliminate IS's terrorist centres in Libya" was of "fundamental importance to the security, not only of that country, but of Europe and Italy." Pinotti said that the raids had not yet used Italian airbases or airspace. On Tuesday, Italy's foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni welcomed the air strikes said his government would evaluate any US request to use the Sicilian Sigonella military air base in the campaign. The Tripoli-based GNA launched an operation in May to retake the IS bastion of Sirte, the hometown of slain strongman Moamer Kadhafi which the jihadists have controlled since June 2015. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today picked a close confidante with staunchly nationalist views as the new defence minister, a move likely to raise concerns in China and South Korea. Lawyer-turned-politician Tomomi Inada, 57, becomes the second woman to oversee the defence ministry after Yuriko Koike, who served briefly in 2007. Koike was elected governor of Tokyo on Sunday. Inada, a four-term lawmaker, was formerly policy chief of Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and shares his hawkish views on Japan's 20th century history. Inada, who replaces Gen Nakatani, was named to the post as part of a partial revamp by Abe of his cabinet after the LDP's big win in upper house parliamentary elections last month. Her appointment came on the same day North Korea, a major security headache for Japan, fired a ballistic missile that landed just 250 kilometres off its coast -- hitting Japanese-controlled waters for the first time. Inada, a mother of two children, has a history of irritating Asian neighbours such as China and South Korea. She has been a regular visitor to Tokyo's contentious Yasukuni war shrine and has played a leading role in an LDP study group launched last year to review Japan's history, reportedly taking up contentious issues such as the Nanjing massacre and the Tokyo war crimes trials. In 2011 she and two other conservative Japanese politicians had planned to visit Ulleung island, the closest South Korean territory to the Seoul-controlled Dokdo islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), which are known in Japan as Takeshima. They flew to a Seoul airport to push Tokyo's claim to the disputed islands and refused to fly back home for hours after their entry to South Korea was denied. Japan is also embroiled in long-running territorial disputes with China and Russia. In the cabinet revamp announced by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, Abe left most key posts untouched, with Fumio Kishida, the foreign minister, and Taro Aso, finance minister and deputy prime minister, keeping their posts. Abe also tapped Suga, his right-hand man, to stay on. Besides Inada, other new picks include Hiroshige Seko for economy, trade and industry minister and previous environment minister Tamayo Marukawa as the minister in charge of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The opposition Congress today raised the issue of JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar being refused entry into the visitors' gallery of Maharashtra Assembly here, saying he was not a terrorist and in a democracy anyone can watch the House proceedings. Raising the issue through a point of information, Congress MLA Nadeen Khan said there was no obvious reason for not allowing Kumar, who had a valid pass, in the Assembly. "Is Kanhaiya Kumar a terrorist that he wasn't allowed," Khan, a former minister, said. Speaker Haribhau Bagade told Khan that he will seek details of yesterday's incident. Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan termed the incident as "shameful". "He is not a terrorist. In a democratic set-up, anyone can come and watch the proceedings of the law-making bodies. There must be a probe as to who ordered him to be stopped," Chavan said. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union leader was in the city yesterday to attend an anniversary function of Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) of India. "I wanted to watch the proceedings of the Vidhan Sabha here. I specially wanted to listen to the debate on the issue of Vidarbha. But I was not permitted inside," Kanhaiya Kumar had said yesterday. He said he possessed a valid visitor's gallery pass duly issued by the authorities, but the legislature security barred his entry, and he later left for Raigad district. "They said my entry is 'on hold'. When I asked them to clarify, they had no reply. I wanted to watch the democratic process and had all the necessary permissions and a pass, yet I was stopped," he had said. More than 2,000 activists of various religious and jihadi outfits in on Wednesday protested against the visit of Indian home minister Rajnath Singh, accusing him for the unrest in Kashmir. Activists of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Hizbul Mujahideen, United Jihad Council (UJC) and other such group protested to denounce Singh's trip to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial conference being hosted by . Syed Salahuddin, the leader of militant outfit Hizbul Mujahidden, who is also chief of UJC, and local leaders of other groups were seen during the protest. Another protest was organised by Mishal Malik, wife of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, in front of Press Club here. On Tuesday, a JuD caravan led by Talha Saeed, the son of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, had staged a sit-in at the Line of Control near Chakothi in occupied Kashmir (PoK), where they were stopped by Pakistani security forces. The protesters on Wednesday continued their sit-in, demanding that India receives relief materials brought by them for Kashmiris. A JuD statement said that it has no plans to leave the place unless India receives relief goods, dry food and medicines for the Kashmiris. Hafiz Abdur Rauf, chief of Falayh-i-Insaniat Foundation, a sister organisation of JuD, said many doctors and paramedical staff were also present in the sit-in. "These doctors and para-medical staff want to go Sri Nagar to treat our injured Kashmiri brethren," he said. Various religious and jihadi outfits in Pakistan are opposed to Singh's visit as they held him responsible for the unrest in Indian Kashmir. Forty-nine people have been killed in Kashmir in clashes since Indian security forces killed Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Earlier, Hafiz Saeed has warned the government that Singh's presence in Islamabad may create "unrest" among Kashmiris as well as Pakistanis in the face of scores of killings in Kashmir. Thousands of activists of various religious and jihadi outfits led by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed today protested across different Pakistani cities against the visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, accusing him for the unrest in Kashmir. Activists of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Hizbul Mujahideen, United Jihad Council (UJC) and other such group protested to denounce Singh's trip, who arrived here earlier today to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial conference being hosted by Pakistan. Saeed led the rally in Lahore's Mall Road and vent out his anger over the government's decision to 'welcome' Singh despite his alleged "role in the killings of innocent Kashmiris". Saeed said Pakistan government has added insult to the wounds of Kashmiris by welcoming Singh. "We were not expecting that the Pakistani rulers would welcomeSingh whois responsible for the killings of innocent Kashmiris," he said, addingthe rulersshould have refused to receivethe Indianhome minister to lodge its protest over Kashmir atrocities. Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) also held demonstrations in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, Faisalabad and Muzaffarabad. In Islamabad, the JuD held demonstrations at three points simultaneously, forcing the government to seal offthered- zone. Syed Salahuddin, the leader of militant outfit Hizbul Mujahidden, who is also chief of UJC, and local leaders of other groups were seen during the protest in the capital. Another protest was organised by Mishal Malik, wife of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, in front of National Press Club here. Yesterday, a JuD caravan led by Talha Saeed, the son of Saeed, had staged a sit-in at the Line of Control near Chakothi in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), where they were stopped by Pakistani security forces. The protesters today continued their sit-in, demanding that India receives relief materials brought by them for Kashmiris. A JuD statement said that it has no plans to leave the place unless India receives relief goods, dry food and medicines for the Kashmiris. Hafiz Abdur Rauf, chief of Falayh-i-Insaniat Foundation, a sister organisation of JuD, said many doctors and paramedical staff were also present in the sit-in. "These doctors and para-medical staff want to go Sri-Nagar to treat our injured Kashmiri brethren," he said. Various religious and jihadi outfits in Pakistan are opposed to Singh's visit as they held him responsible for the unrest in Kashmir. Forty-nine people have been killed in Kashmir in clashes since security forces killed Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Earlier, Saeed has warned the government that Singh's presence in Islamabad may create "unrest" among Kashmiris as well as Pakistanis in the face of scores of killings in Kashmir. Kerala government today said state minister for local self-government K T Jaleel will visit Saudi Arabia for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation of Keralites living in labour camps in that country after they lost their jobs. Considering the special circumstances in Saudi Arabia, state cabinet, which met here today, decided to send Jaleel and Department Special secretary V K Baby to that country, an official release said. They will leave for Saudi Arabia in two days time, it said. "Objective of the visit is to know the situation of Keralites living in labour camps," Jaleel told PTI. "According to an information, 200 Keralites are now in labour camps. The information is that they are not getting food. So the mission is to know their plight directly," he said. Over 10,000 Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia in the last few months due to the economic slowdown triggered by low oil prices. Scores of workers have not received wages for several months as their employers have shut down business. South Korea has overtaken China as the largest exporter of steel products to India in the first quarter of 2016-17 after trailing the latter for last two fiscals, Parliament was informed today. Korea exported 5.11 lakh tonnes of steel to India, which is marginally higher than that exported by China at 5.10 LT, during the April-June quarter in 2016-17, showed data presented by Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. China was followed by Japan at 3 LT and Russia at 1.70 LT, it added. As per the data presented in the Upper House, together the four countries accounted for more than three-fourths of the steel (14.18 LT) exported to India during the quarter under review. India imported a total of 18.32 LT of the metal in the first quarter this fiscal. In 2015-16, China exported 41.25 LT of steel followed by Korea (30.07 LT), Japan (21.60 LT) and Russia (3.64 LT). Similarly, China again was the top exporter in 2014-15 with an out-bound shipment of 36 LT, which was followed by Korea (18.75 LT), Japan (15.83 LT) and Russia (2.26 LT). Likewise, the People's Republic was the top exporter in 2012-14 fiscal at 10.88 LT followed by Japan at 13.56 LT, Korea (13.13 LT) and Russia (1.46 LT), the data showed. In a separate query on government's plans to set up steel plants, the Minister said government is not considering to set up steel plants. Steel being a deregulated sector, the role of government is limited to that of a facilitator only for growth of steel industry in the country, Sai added. "Decision relating to setting up of steel plants etc are, therefore, the sole decision of individual steel manufacturer based on various factors including commercial considerations and market dynamics," the Minister said. Dog lovers, take note! Your family favourite labrador is the breed of canines which is most likely to bite you, new UK research has found. Men are more likely to be bitten than women, and almost one third of incidents involve delivery workers and postal staff, the research by pet insurers Animal Friends in the UK found. "Dogs are really good at picking up on people and they remember everything, so the best advice is to make friends with them rather than enemies," said Roger Mugford, an animal psychologist. According to the research, labradors are responsible for the highest number of canine attack personal injury claims, 'the Independent' reported. The findings also showed that other breeds most frequently linked with attacks are German shepherds, Staffordshire bull terriers and border collies. Common injuries caused by canine attacks include finger amputations, scarring and nerve damage. A group of lawyers today allegedly clashed with police personnel, deployed at the Rohini district court complex in outer Delhi, after they refused entry to an advocate who claimed to have come to appear in a personal case, police said. According to police, lawyer Gaurav Suneja, who was in casuals, tried to enter the court premises through gate number five but was stopped for frisking by police personnel and denied entry after a blade was recovered from him. The lawyers, however, claimed that Gaurav was in casuals as he had to appear in a personal case in the court and said "no blade was recovered from him". After Suneja was stopped from entering the court, he allegedly called his colleagues. A large number of lawyers arrived there and a heated exchange of words which soon turned into a scuffle with police personnel, in which a few people from both sides sustained minor injuries. Later, senior police officials reached the spot and pacified both the parties. Meanwhile, Rohini Court Bar Association executive member Tarun Shokeen alleged a complaint was lodged at Prashant Vihar police station but no FIR was registered. In protest against police action a strike will be called tomorrow, he added. London's police force is putting more armed officers on the streets, a visible response to attacks by Islamic State-inspired groups in Europe. Metropolitan Police chief Bernard Hogan-Howe said today he's increasing the number and the visibility of the officers "to protect the public from all manner of threats." The training of the officers was announced earlier this year and their deployment came after Hogan-Howe warned recently an attack in Britain was a case of "when, not if." Londoners are proud that most police do not carry guns, and the fundamental principle remains unchanged. Even with the changes, most of London's 31,000 police officers will not be armed. But the recent attacks underscore the challenge police face in responding to a situation in which they are outgunned. Issues ranging from the collapse of a bridge in Maharashtra claiming several lives to the Indo-Bangla land boundary agreement and the peace deal with NSCN(I-M) were raised in the Lok Sabha today. Shiv Sena member Shrirang Barne raised the issue of the collapse of a British-era bridge over a swollen Savitri river on the Mumbai-Goa highway in Raigad district of Maharashtra, in which at least two persons drowned and 20 others were missing as two buses were swept away. He warned that another bridge in Chiplun may face a similar fate and said though the government had started work to widen the highway since 2011, the pace of work in his constituency, between Panvel to Indapur, was slow and no work has been done for the last three years. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress) said although a year has passed since the finalisation of India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement, the enclave dewellers, who chose to reside in India, were being denied basic amenities. Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland People's Front) said exactly a year has passed since the "historic peace deal" between the government and the NSCN(I-M) but there has been "no final settlement" as yet. The former Nagaland Chief Minister said in 1997, a ceasefire agreement was signed between India and NSCN(I-M) and over 100 rounds of talks were held between them. He demanded urgent steps for a speedy solution to the problem. Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader in Lok Sabha, said while government was celebrating 125th Anniversary of B R Amebdkar, copies of his literature was unavailable as the Maharashtra government has not given permission for reprint. Kharge said since July 2014, there has been shortage of the literature and asked the government to give "high priority" to the issue. At this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said he will inform the concerned minister on the matter. Satyapal Singh (BJP) demanded minimum wages for farmers, while his party MP Hukum Singh said over Rs 2,000 crore was yet to be paid to sugarcane farmers in several parts of western Uttar Pradesh. Another BJP MP Satish Kumar Gautam said the compensation given by the Centre after the recent hailstorm in which large quantity of standing crops were destroyed, was yet to be disbursed by the farmers. Maharashtra government plans to amend section 66 (f) of the Charitable Trust Act to increase the punishment for the trust-run hospitals which are found denying 20 per cent beds to poor patients. "The government will scrutinise the amendment and after the scrutiny shall seek nod of the state Cabinet. An amendment bill to this effect shall be brought before the legislature in next session," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said today in the state Legislative Council. He was replying to a debate on the calling attention notice moved by Sanjay Dutt and others. Fadnavis informed the House that the repeated surprise raids by the government on these hospitals has resulted in ensuring treatment worth Rs 203 crore to the poor patients. He admitted that the current provisions of serving three-month notice to such hospitals, Rs 20,000 fine or both is not enough. Hence, the government intends to increase the quantum of punishment, the CM said. He said the government has withdrawn facilities extended to 12 charitable trusts hospitals like Maalik Hospital, P D Hinduja Hospital, BSES hospital, St Elizabeth hospital, Lotus Eye Hospital and others. Similar action was taken against three hospitals in Pune and warning has been issued to 12 hospitals and show cause notices issued to six hospitals, he said. At the district level, criminal action has been taken against 11 such hospitals in Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Jalgaon, Solapur, Pune and other districts, he said. Replying to the debate further, he said the government has appointed 25 health workers to ensure that these hospitals provide 20 per cent of their total beds to poor patients. Fadnavis informed the House that the government shall install display boards on availability of the reserved beds. "At present status of these reserved beds in 25 such hospitals are now put on online. Now the government is able to monitor who is occupying these beds. The government intends to bring all the 58 charitable trust hospitals online," he said. The CM also said that the government intends to create a portal for the same linking to its 'Aapale Sarkar' portal. Taking part in the debate, Anil Parab (Shiv Sena) argued that there was a deep rooted racket in these hospitals where poor patients are denied the reserved beds which are later sold to outside people. Fadnavis said that these hospitals in lieu of the 20 per cent reserved beds for poor patients avail concessions and facilities in Floor Space Index, facilities in power and sections in the Income Tax. The government intends to lay down standard operating procedures for the same and congratulated the Joint Select Committee of the House and the Charity Commissioner for ensuring that these hospitals follow the government norms. In a bid to clamp down on illegal constructions, the state government is planning to amend the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act and will issue an ordinance soon, the Legislative Council was told today. "The amendment will seek to do away with prior approval of the municipal corporations before filing the First Information Report (FIR) against guilty civic officials (who approve illegal building plans)," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said. He was replying to a starred question raised by Leader of Opposition, Dhananjay Munde (NCP) during Question Hour. Munde sought to know if a developer of a building in Dongri area of Mumbai has illegally added seven floors to the structure when construction was allowed only up to four storeys. The NCP leader also wanted to know if government has taken any action against the builder concerned. Fadnavis said the amendment shall entail filing of charge sheet within three months of lodging FIR. He referred to a Bombay High Court ruling that no stay shall be granted on evacuation of occupants of such illegal constructions, so that these structures can be razed. "However, the builders move lower courts and obtain stay. All the municipal corporations have been asked to submit a list of all such stays granted by the lower courts," he said. Fadnavis said the government will argue before the High Court that orders of lower courts granting stay in such scenario are in violation of HC directives. The Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today sought a judicial probe into the Mahad tragedy, where at least 22 people in two buses were swept away after a British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. Raising the issue in the State Assembly, former CM Prithviraj Chavan said a judicial probe should be conducted and action taken against those guilty of allowing the old bridge to remain open for traffic. "The life of the bridge, built by the British, had ended after completion of 100 years. Despite this, an officer certified in May that the bridge was good for traffic. A case against 302 IPC should be filed against that officer," former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said. A case of IPC 302 should also be filed against PWD minister Chandrakant Patil, he said. "How could a wrong audit of the bridge be conducted," the NCP leader asked. "Why were warnings of the weather bureau ignored ? The state government is responsible for this tragedy," he said. Minister for Public Works Eknath Shinde told reporters that a structural audit of all bridges in Maharashtra been ordered after today's tragedy. Two state transport buses with 22 people have gone missing after the vehicles were swept away in the swollen Savitri river in Konkan region (Raigad) as an old bridge collapsed at Mahad late last night bringing traffic on the stretch to a halt. (REOPENS BOM6) Speaking on the Mahad tragedy in the Assembly, Leader of Opposition in the Lower House, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the PWD department should take necessary measures to avert such incidents. Speaker Haribhau Bagade directed PWD minister Chandrakant Patil to conduct an in-depth departmental inquiry. The minister informed the House that a survey of British era bridges in Maharashtra would be conducted with the help of IIT. Traffic on bridges deemed dangerous would be stopped, he said. CPI(M)-led LDF government that assumed office in May today effected a major reshuffle of senior IAS officers and district collectors in the state. S Venkateshpathi will be the new district collector of Thiruvananthapuram in place of Biju Prabakar, who has been appointed as Agriculture Department Director, an official release said after a cabinet meeting here. IAS officer K Mohammed Y Saffirulla has been made the new collector of Ernakulam and incumbent M G Rajamanikayam will be the new Managing Director of Kerala Financial Corporation. He will also hold the additional charge of Excise Additional Commissioner, it said. S Harikishore will be the new Director of 'Kudumbashree' the women self-help group formed under poverty alleviation schemes. V Ratheesan is the new Panchayat Director, while Kesavendra Kumar will be the Health Mission Director and also hold the additional charge of Food Safety Commissioner and Social Justice Director. P Balakrian is the new IT Mission Director, whereas E Devadasan, the Survey and Land Records Director. He will also hold the additional charge of Registration IG's post, the release added. Prosecutors have filed three charges of aggravated first-degree murder against a 19-year-old accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend and two young men to death at a party in suburban Seattle over the weekend. Allen C Ivanov also faces one charge of attempted murder, accusing him of shooting and seriously wounding an 18-year-old man, and one count of first-degree assault. Police say Ivanov admitted during interviews after his arrest that he committed the shootings at a home in Mukilteo early Saturday. They say he was upset that his ex-girlfriend, Anna Bui, appeared to be moving on with her life after their recent breakup. The charges were filed yesterday in Snohomish County District Court. Aggravated murder can bring the death penalty in Washington, but Governor Jay Inslee has declared a moratorium on capital punishment. Ivanov's lawyer did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Paul Kramer, the father of the surviving victim, Will Kramer, told a conference at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle that he feels fortunate his son is still alive, The Seattle Times reported. His son still has a tube in his chest to drain bleeding after being shot in the back. A bullet shattered his left shoulder blade. "Life is so precious," he said. "I pray that we collectively find ways to live in peace, in harmony and in love." Kramer said his son was sitting with three friends when the shooting broke out. Two are now dead. "He lost some dear friends, and that has scarred him," Paul Kramer said. After Will was wounded, he hid between a barbecue and a fireplace. He then ran out into the yard and hid in some bushes, his father said. Anna Bui, Jake Long and Jordan Ebner were killed. All were 19 and 2015 graduates of Kamiak High School, where Ivanov also attended. Ivanov and Bui were both students at the University of Washington's Bothell campus. A 46-year-old man was held for allegedly carrying a pistol and over half-a-dozen live bullets in Delhi Metro. The incident was reported from the Lajpat Nagar Metro station on August 1 when CISF personnel detected a .32 bore pistol, two magazines and seven live rounds in the baggage of Sunder Singh, a resident of Noida, officials said. He was handed over to Delhi Police as he could not furnish valid documents to support carrying the firearm and ammunition, they said. "Arms and ammunition are banned inside the mass rapid rail system," officials added. A Delhi court has directed a man to pay Rs 16,500 monthly as interim maintenance to his estranged wife while dismissing his appeal that the woman, being well qualified, was not entitled to it. The court passed the order while deciding the appeals filed by the estranged couple in which the husband had sought setting aside of the trial court order asking him to pay Rs 10,000 per month alimony whereas the wife sought enhancement of the amount. Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Bansal noted that the woman was unaware of interim maintenance of Rs 16,500 also awarded in her favour by another court under the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA). "If two forums have passed order of maintenance in favour of the wife, it is settled law that the higher amount will prevail and lesser amount will get adjusted," the judge said. The wife had filed a petition under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (PWDV) Act alleging that she was subjected to domestic violence and sought interim relief including maintenance for herself. The husband, a Noida resident, had denied the allegations regarding domestic violence and claimed that since his wife was well qualified and was earlier working, she was capable of maintaining herself and was not entitled for any maintenance. He pointed out that in divorce proceedings, an order was already passed in favour of the wife under HMA granting her Rs 16,500 per month as interim maintenance and in view of this, she was not entitled to any further maintenance. The court, however, said it was an admitted fact that HMA proceedings were lying adjourned sine die when the order was passed by the magistrate and therefore, it cannot be said that wife could not seek any maintenance under PWDV Act. "Since at that time husband was not paying any amount to wife, she could legally claim for the same under PWDV Act. "On the date of passing of impugned order, proceedings of HMA were adjourned sine die or at least wife was not aware of the revival of those proceedings. She is yet to be served with the notice of revival of those proceedings. Thus the wife could legally seek interim maintenance," the court said. "In my view even this relief cannot be granted to the husband. High Court of Delhi has already upheld right of wife to the tune of Rs 16,500 per month as interim maintenance. Therefore, this court cannot reduce the said amount," the judge said. The court dismissed the husband's appeal and allowed his wife's plea by increasing interim maintenance to Rs 16,500. It also made it clear that for further enhancement of amount of interim maintenance on ground of increase in salary of the husband, the wife has to approach the trial court. Two women today were arrested for their alleged involvement in beating two Muslim women at Mandsaur railway station on suspicion of carrying beef which later turned out to be calf meat, police said. "The two women, Rajni Tiwari alias Bitti and Manju Gurjar, were arrested from here after they were identified on the basis of video footage," Superintendent of Police, Railway, Mahesh Jain told reporters. They were arrested under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC, he said, adding they were not associated with any outfit. The incident of beating Muslim women--Salma and Shamim Bi- -on July 26 for allegedly carrying beef had drawn outrage. The opposition BSP and Congress had created uproar in Rajya Sabha over the incident. The accused women had been missing since the day of the incident. Police had printed pamphlets on the basis of video footage and distributed them in various towns and cities, the SP said. "Acting on a tip-off, we took into custody Rajni initially from Neemuch and after questioning she revealed that they were coming back from Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and boarded Ratlam-Agra Fort train for Neemuch," Jain said. They had boarded the train from Jaora and had a fight with the victims over a seat. When the train reached Mandsaur railway station and the victims were confronted by cow vigilantes, during which the two accused women also beat them, he said. The SP said that the two arrested women do not have any connection with any radical or other organisation. They were later released on furnishing a surety of Rs 5,000 each, Jain said. Two women, thrashed at Mandsaur railway station on the suspicion of carrying beef, had earlier alleged that they were beaten at the behest of Bajrang Dal workers. Subsequently, the GRP had arrested four persons in this connection. The case was initially registered by Mandsaur Police and later transferred to the Government Railway Police as the incident took place on the railway platform. The incident came close on the heels of the attack on Dalit youths in Gujarat for skinning a dead cow. "Suicide Squad" actress Margot Robbie says she has Prince Harry's phone number and they have become text buddies. During an interview at the "Suicide Squad" New York premiere, the 26-year-old actress revealed that she regularly exchanged text messages with the royal, reported Extra. "He's pretty quick on text actually. Unlike me-I write back four days later, weeks later sometimes," Robbie said. The actress first met Prince Harry at Suki Waterhouse's housewarming party in London back in December. "The Devil" wanted to change his face, but the suspected drug lord with the demonic nickname was arrested before his appointment with a plastic surgeon in Mexico City. David Garza Avila, also known as Elias Garza Garcia, was arrested on Monday in Naucalpan, a suburb of the capital, along with three other people after authorities caught wind of his doctor's appointment, according to the National Security Commission. "He had come to get face surgery to avoid being identified," an official at the commission told AFP on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly. The 28-year-old suspect, known in Spanish as "El Diablo," had traveled from the northeastern state of Tamaulipas for the operation, but police and troops arrested him, without firing a shot, on the eve of his appointment. A commission statement said the suspect was in charge of drug trafficking operations to the United States for the Gulf cartel. "Characterized by his high level of violence," the suspect was accused of ordering murders in three cities of Tamaulipas, which borders the United States, the statement said. He's not the first cartel honcho to seek a new face. In 1997, the powerful drug baron Amado Carrillo Fuentes, alias "The Lord of the Skies," died during plastic surgery in Mexico City. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has urged his top order "to go big" in the third Test against England at Edgbaston starting today. England levelled the four-match series at 1-1 with a crushing 330-run win in the second Test at Old Trafford -- a margin of victory that was testimony to the tourists' batting woes. It was all a far cry from Pakistan's 75-run win in the first Test at Lord's, which featured an inspiring century from Misbah. Poor starts have been a problem for Pakistan in this series. But Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood are not the first Pakistan opening pair to struggle in English conditions. Indeed you have to go back to 1996 for the last time a Pakistan first-wicket duo put on a 50 stand in a Test against England in England. Masood has become something of a 'bunny' for James Anderson, England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker. He has fallen six times for just 15 runs in 57 balls to Lancashire paceman Anderson dating back to last year in the UAE. Pakistan could promote number three Azhar Ali to open and bring Sami Aslam, yet to feature this series, into the side in place of Masood. "We need to really improve," said Misbah. "After getting starts -- 20s, 30s and 40s -- we really need to go big," the middle-order stalwart added. - 'Pillars' - ============= England, however, also look vulnerable at the top of the order if Pakistan can find a way past home captain Alastair Cook and Joe Root, who both made hundreds at Old Trafford. "If you really have to put pressure on the opposition, it's important to get their main players out because those are the two pillars of their batting," said Misbah. Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah took 10 wickets at Lord's but only managed one at Old Trafford. But while his place looks assured, Pakistan could bring in right-armer Sohail Khan for Wahab Riaz in a bid to add variety to what has been the tourists' all left-arm pace attack so far this series. England, ahead of what will be their 500th home Test, have made an enforced change. Fast bowler Steven Finn will replace Ben Stokes, after the all-rounder suffered a calf injury while bowling at Old Trafford. Finn's career has been a mixture of the unplayable, as when taking a Test-best six for 79 against Australia at Edgbaston last year, and the insipid. The Middlesex quick was dropped after going wicketless for the first time in a Test match during the series opener at Lord's, his home ground. Nevertheless, Cook said: "He's a huge talent. On his day, he bowls spells which are incredible to be standing at first slip for, as he did against Australia here (last year)." Finn edged out Jake Ball, who made his Test debut at Lord's, and Cook said: "We've gone for a guy with a proven Test record, who has a knack of picking up wickets." Chris Woakes's superb form has helped England cope with fellow pace-bowling all-rounder Stokes's repeated absences this season. Warwickshire favourite Woakes, now looking forward to a first Test appearance on his Edgbaston home ground, has been a revelation in England's four home Tests this term. He has taken 26 wickets and scored 221 runs in a series of fine all-round displays. It's all a far cry from the first six matches of his Test career, with Woakes managing just one wicket for 144 runs against South Africa at Centurion in January. "I'd played six Tests and taken eight or nine wickets -- which isn't a record you want to shout about," said the 27-year-old Woakes at an event staged by series sponsors Investec. "(I was thinking) 'I can do it at first-class level, why am I not showing it at the next level?' "You obviously have doubts about yourself...But it's amazing what six months can do for you. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the annual high-level UN General Assembly session here next month and the Indian delegation will be led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, according to the provisional agenda released by the UN here. Senior Indian diplomats also confirmed to PTI that Swaraj is "as of now" scheduled to head the Indian delegation for the General Debate of the 71st session of the General Assembly. The General Debate will open on September 20 and will run through September 26, when Swaraj will address the annual high-level debate. According to the first provisional list, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to attend the General Debate and address the global leaders on September 21. Sources however added that the programme for Sharif to attend the General Assembly session could change as they cited his health. Modi had given his maiden address to the UN General Assembly as Prime Minister in 2014, when addressing the world leaders in Hindi he had also made a clarion call to commemorate an annual International Yoga Day. Last year, he had attended the high-level UN Sustainable Development Summit ahead of the General Debate, when world leaders had adopted the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an intergovernmental set of aspiration Goals with 169 targets. He had also attended the UN Peacekeeping Summit hosted by President Barack Obama when he had announced that India will contribute an additional battalion of 850 troops for UN peacekeeping operation. The summitwas the only forum when Modi and Sharif had come face to face during their visit for the UN General Assembly. The two leaders had only waved at each other as they sat across from each other on a horse shoe-table for the peacekeeping summit. According to the provisional list, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Maithrapala Sirisena of Sri Lanka are also expected to address the world leaders. As per tradition, Brazil's president opens the General Debate every year and is followed by the US President. The 71st session of the General Assembly will open on September 13. TheGeneral Debate will open on the theme of 'The Sustainable Development Goals: a universal push to transform our world,' as announced by President-elect Peter Thomson last month. The UN General Assembly will also host a high-level summit on September 19 to address large movements of refugees and migrants, with the aim of bringing countries together behind a more humane and coordinated approach. The UN said this is the first time the General Assembly has called for a summit at the Heads of State and Government level onlarge movements of refugees and migrants and it is a historic opportunity to come up with a blueprint for a better international response. "Itis a watershed moment to strengthen governance of international migration and a unique opportunity for creating a more responsible, predictable system for responding to large movements of refugees and migrants," the world organisation said. Also on the margins of the General Assembly, on September 20, Obama will host the Leaders' Summit on Refugeeswhich will appeal to governments to pledge significant new commitments on refugees. While the Presidential Summit will focus on refugees, not migrants, the General Assembly eventwill address large movements of both. The two eventswillcomplement one another. The Kerala government today announced a three-month moratorium on loans availed by endosulphan victims of Kasaragod and farmers in Wayanad. A three-month moratorium has been announced for all the loans taken by the endosulfan victims. A decision in this regard was taken at today's cabinet meeting, a government press release said. The state government also announced the moratorium for the loans availed by Wayanad farmers. The cabinet has decided that all revenue recovery proceedings with respect to endosulfan victims and Wayanad farmers be stopped during the three-month period, the release added. Karnataka police have found similaritiesbetween the low intensity explosion that rocked a court premisein Mysuru recently and explosions that took place in Keralaand Andhra Pradesh earlier. Similarities have been found between the blasts that occurred in Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh in April, Kollam of Kerala in June and now in Mysuru, Director General of Police (Internal Security) Neelamani N Raju told a meeting chairedby Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here today. Briefing the Chief Minister, who returned towork after the death of his son last week, she saidin all the three incidents pressure cookers were used andthere was professionalism in the way the blasts had been carried out. Sharing the details of the meeting attendedby state Home Minister Parameshwara, Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav and other senior officials, an official release said no organisation had claimed responsibility for the Mysuru blast sofar. On August 1, the blast inside the toilet of the Mysuru court premises had caused panic among lawyers and litigants, and hadleft at least two persons injured. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also lookinginto the case. Officials suspect that the intention of the blast was to create an atmosphere of terror. They said as the security was tight in Bengaluru, a city like Mysuru was chosen for carrying outthe blast. Neelamani also informed the Chief Minister that investigatorswere looking into all angles and efforts were on to solve the case atthe earliest. The Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra government to file its affidavit in response to a PIL seeking disciplinary action against Navi Mumbai police officials for allegedly failing to take timely action due to which a teenage boy was murdered by his girlfriend's family members. Activist Yashwant Shenoy in his public interest litigation claimed that if the police had taken action on the complaint filed by 15-year-old boy Swapnil Sonawane's family claiming that they had received threats from the accused, the murder could have been averted. On July 20, Swapnil was allegedly beaten to death by the family members of his girlfriend who were unhappy with the relation as they were from different castes. The Navi Mumbai police has so far arrested the girl's parents, two brothers and two cousins along with other accomplices. Shenoy stated that Swapnil's mother Gauri had gone to Nerul police station on July 18 and 19 along with her son, but officials there did not pay heed to their complaint. Shenoy sought direction to the Maharashtra Director General of Police to initiate disciplinary action against the errant officers who failed to take cognisance of the complaint lodged by Swapnil's mother. A division bench of justices V M Kanade and M S Sonak today directed public prosecutor Purnima Kantharia to file an affidavit in reply to the PIL and also state what action police has taken so far in the case. The affidavit will have to be filed in two weeks. A self-styled 'platoon commander' of NDFB-Songbijit faction was arrested from Kanzikode in a joint operation by Assam and Kerala police, an official said here today. On the basis of specific intelligence inputs, Assam police and their Kerala counterpart conducted a joint operation and arrested the Myanmar-trained insurgent, Karmeswar Basumatary alias Korme, from Kanzikode in Pallakad district about two days ago, the spokesman said. Basumatary was yesterday brought to Assam and produced in a court of Udalguri district today, he said. The militant is the 34th batch Myanmar-trained cadre of the outfit and was 'platoon commander' for its 'Mazbat platoon'. Basumatary was arrested under sections of Explosive Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the police added. A 22-year-old Nepalese woman was allegedly gangraped by three persons on the pretext of landing her a lucrative job in Ashok Nagar area in east Delhi. One of the accused has been arrested, police said today. The victim, who lived the same area, had met one of the accused, identified as Yogesh, recently. Yogesh had promised to find her a job. She was called by Yogesh near a sweet shop in the area on Monday and taken to his flat, where his two friends - Amit and Sahil - were already present, police said. The three forced her to drink alcohol, claiming they were celebrating Amit's birthday. Thereafter, they raped her, said a senior police officer. She was also locked inside the bathroom in the flat, but somehow managed to escape from there. Following a complaint, the victim was sent for a medical examination and an FIR was registered, he said. Amit has been arrested while a search is on to arrest the other two accused, he added. Researchers have come up with a new method for creating everyday objects in a three dimensional (3D) shape - like a mask or a shoe - from sheets of inextensible material, which may be applied in many areas including microengineering, fashion and architecture. Researchers from Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, Carnegie Mellon University in the US and University of Hull in the UK developed an algorithm for creating complex objects by cutting holes in sheets of inextensible, but flexible materials such as metal, plastic and leather. The process consists of cutting regular holes into the material so that it can be stretched and create complex 3D shapes. It has potential applications in many areas, including microengineering, bioengineering, fashion and architecture, researchers said. The algorithm clears the way to creating much more complex shapes using materials that are flexible yet inextensible, such as plastic and metal, they said. Cutting regular geometric shapes into the material changes its properties and makes it auxetic - which means it can stretch in two dimensions at the same time. The method developed by researchers uses computer simulation to identify exactly where to make the cuts and how to shape the material to create the 3-D piece. Potential applications are far-ranging, researchers said. "We could, for example, scan someone and create a piece of clothing that fits perfectly from a single piece of leather," said Mark Pauly, who runs EPFL's Computer Graphics and Geometry Laboratory. Researchers tested their algorithm by making a high-heeled shoe, masks, a dress, and sculptures. Thanks to its simplicity of use, the process could be applied in a wide range of fields, from small structures (microelectronics) to large ones (like building facades), researchers said. An NGO working against tobacco consumption will write to actor John Abraham asking him to withdraw his poster for Bollywood movie "Dishoom" where he is seen smoking a cigarette. A senior office-bearer of National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) also said they will lodge a formal complaint with police against the actor, producer and director if the poster is not taken back. "We will be writing a letter to John Abraham along with the producer and the director of the movie asking them to withdraw the poster which violated the anti-tobacco law," NOTE general secretary Shekhar Salkar told PTI today. He said if the poster is not withdrawn after the letter, formal police complaint would be filed against the trio. "The movie poster showing Abraham smoking a cigarette promotes the use of tobacco. This is against the law. The poster should be immediately withdrawn," Salkar said. Directed by Rohit Dhawan, "Dishoom" starring Varun Dhawan, John Abraham and Jacqueline Fernandez released on July 29. State-run Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) is planning to acquire Damodar Valley Corporation's 1200 mw Raghunathpur Thermal Power Project (RTPP) through a joint venture company. "NLC has initiated actions to acquire power assets and in this regard one of the proposals under consideration is the acquisition of 1,200 mw Raghunathpur Thermal Power Project (RTPP) of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) through a joint venture company (JVC) proposed to be formed with the DVC with the equity shareholding of 74:26 by NLC and DVC," the company said in a BSE filing. RTPP consists of two units of 600 mw and both the units were commissioned in March this year. "As per the proposal, the project cost was determined by CERC/APTEL for the purposes of arriving at the final tariff for power or such cost as mutually agreed between NLC and DVC would be the consideration value for the transfer of...Project assets to the JVC," it said. NCL being a government company, the proposal for investment in the JVC is required to be sanctioned by the government. The Ministry of Coal, the administrative ministry, in consultation with other ministries is in process of submitting the proposal to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for sanction of investment decision. "On obtaining the sanction from the government... Further course of actions with regard to entering into joint venture agreement and formation of JVC with the DVC will be undertaken subject to obtaining necessary statutory and other administrative approvals," it said. Apple CEO Tim Cook during his visit met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and spoke of possibilities of manufacturing, but the company has not submitted any proposal with the IT Ministry to set up its plant in India, Parliament was informed today. Cook visited Hyderabad on May 20 to launch the technology centre relating to their maps division in presence of Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekar Rao, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology P P Chaudhary said in a reply to the Lok Sabha. "He also called on the Prime Minister on May 21, 2016. He shared Apple Inc's future plans for India and spoke of possibilities of manufacturing and retailing in India. There is no proposal with this ministry from Apple Inc to set up a manufacturing unit in the country," Chaudhary said. After meeting senior officials from manufacturing giant Foxconn, partner of Apple, the then telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in May had said the Cupertino-based technology major was coming to manufacture iPhones in India. Apple has been lobbying hard for exemption from the mandatory 30 per cent local sourcing on the ground that its products have such high-end technology that these cannot be sourced locally here. The government in June relaxed FDI norms by giving a three-year exemption from local sourcing to foreign players in single-brand retail and a further five-year relaxation for 'state-of-the-art' and 'cutting-edge' technology. The Health Ministry has asked all its programme heads to nominate a nodal officer who would be responsible to update the rules and content of various schemes on its website, a move aimed at keeping citizens up-to-date with various initiatives taken up by the Ministry. The Ministry has also invited suggestions from public and stakeholders for improvement of the website by August 5. "All programme heads are also requested to nominate a nodal officer who should made responsible to regularly update the contents pertaining to scheme and programme under their charge," a office memorandum issued on the Ministry's website said. Noting that it is continuously taking various initiatives for the benefits of people, the Ministry said that creating awareness is also necessary to reap the benefits of the efforts. It said that since the Ministry's website is a major source for the citizens for seeking any information or update about its initiatives or content, the website must be kept updated. "All programme heads are requested to kindly have a look at the contents pertaining to their domain to ensure that all up-to-date acts and rules, contents, contacts and others... "...Pertaining to various schemes and programmes under their charge are correctly reflected in the website and obsolete act, rules or content if any be deleted," it said. It added that correction, additions or deletions as identified and if required should be communicated. The Ministry puts out various content including acts, decisions of various committee meetings, amendments to rules, disease alerts amongst others on its website from time to time. North Korea today test-fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan, South Korea said, in an apparent show of force against the planned deployment of a US missile defence system. Washington quickly hit back, with the State Department saying it was aware of the reports and warning it was prepared to "defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation". The latest test also comes amid mounting tensions ahead of a planned US-South Korea joint military exercise later this month. Last year the drills involved 30,000 US soldiers and 50,000 South Korean troops. The missile was launched from near the western North Korea city of Unyul at around 07:50 am today, South Korea's defence ministry said. The projectile flew some 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) and was believed to be a Rodong mid-range missile, the defence ministry added. Japan's defence minister Gen Nakatani told reporters the missile was estimated to have fallen into Tokyo's exclusive economic zone 250 kilometres off its northern coast at 8:05 am today. The test follows the launch of three ballistic missiles on July 19 in what the North said were simulated nuclear strikes on the South. Pyongyang has carried out a series of missile tests this year in defiance of tough UN sanctions, and vowed to take "physical action" against the planned deployment of a US missile defence system in the South announced in July. Since leader Kim Jong-Un took over from his late father Kim Jong-Il, who died in 2011, North Korea is believed to have tested 16 Scud missiles with a range of between 300 km and 1,000 km, six Rodong missiles, six Musudan missiles with a range of up to 4,000 km and three submarine-launched missiles, according to the South's Yonhap agency. UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from developing ballistic missile technology. Pyongyang has repeatedly warned of pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets, although the main focus of its nuclear weapons programme is to develop a credible strike threat against the US mainland. A series of missile tests this year aimed at backing up that threat led to an agreement between Seoul and Washington to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system by the end of next year. North Korea-US tensions had already been stoked by Pyongyang's fury at Washington's decision to personally target Kim with sanctions related to human rights abuses. Together with the Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise, the Ulchi Freedom Guardian to be held this month is one of the two US-South Korea joint military exercises that are carried out every year on a massive scale. Donald Trump has hit back at Barack Obama for terming him unfit for presidency, saying the "terrible president" would go down as the worst in American history. "Well he's a terrible president. He'll probably go down as the worst president in the history of our country, he's been a total disaster," Trump told Sinclair Broadcast group in an interview yesterday. "You look at what happens in the Middle East, in Syria and his line in the sand. I think it just means he's concerned I'm going to win," he claimed. "Don't forget last time he said I would never get the nomination, now he is saying I wouldn't get the election now all of a sudden he said the other day maybe I can win the election, no I guess he probably has to say that kind of thing," Trump said when asked about Obama's statement yesterday. "I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president. I said so last week and he keeps on proving it," Obama told reporters at a joint conference with the Singapore Prime Minister yesterday. Trump reiterated his stand and said he does not regret having criticised the parents of a slain Pakistani-origin American Muslim soldier Humayun Khan who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004. "I don't regret anything. I said nice things about the son and I feel that very strongly but of course I was hit very hard from the stage and you know it's just one of those things but no I don't regret anything," he said. Trump's own party leaders have come out openly against the Republican presidential nominee for being critical of family members of the soldier. He also did not had regret calling his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as a devil. "No, I don't think so, I think it is what it is. She's a very deceitful person, she lies, she cheats, no I don't think that's too far at all," he said. He maintained his belief that the upcoming presidential election is rigged. "I'm talking about at the voter booth. I mean we've seen a lot of things over the years and now without the voter ID's and all the things going on and some bad court cases have come down," Trump said. "I just hear things and I just feel it and I felt it having to do with the primaries. I looked at Bernie sanders I said 'he isn't going to win." "I thought this whole thing was rigged and I think the general election is gonna be, we're gonna have a lot of problems we have to be very careful," Trump said. During the interview Trump refused to entertain the challenge posed to him by Warren Buffet on revealing his tax returns, saying he does not know Warren Buffet and has never met him. (Reopens FES 145) Trump also alleged hat the prestigious New York Times, a top global daily published from New York, will be out of business in three years. Trump's continued onslaught on the mainstream media comes a day after he described CNN as 'Clinton Network'. "The New York Times, which I call the failing New York Times because it's failing, it's losing a fortune. I think it's out of business in three years," Trump said at an election rally in Ashburn, Virginia, which is considered to be a crucial swing State for the November general elections. "Maybe somebody's going to buy it for a little while until they lose all that money, but they'll buy it for a little while and they'll keep it as - you know some rich guys going to buy it," he said. "The New York Times, which is - it could do worse, I mean frankly that wouldn't be bad if somebody bought it -- but the New York Times is failing badly. They write stories that are so bad about me, and you know all my life I've probably been on the cover of the Times a few times, right?" he said. Trump said he is on the front page of The New York Times daily. "If I have two stories or three stories a day on the cover - today I have two stories, both ridiculous stories. I mean I guess they use me to sell newspapers, but they are so dishonest. The reporting is so dishonest," he said. "I won't get into individual reporters names, because - I could tell you the good ones and the bad ones. They have a couple of good ones over there, but they are such a dishonest newspaper," he said claiming that the newspaper wants his Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton to win the November general elections. "They want Hillary Clinton to win so badly they cry, they beg, they beg. The editorials are unbelievable. I mean here's a woman who is a total thief, I mean she's a crook, she's a crook, and she lies more than any human being I've ever seen," he said. More than 500 kms of Metro rail is under construction across the country and new projects will depend on availability of funds as well as feasibility, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said today. He also told the Lok Sabha that government is not considering any change to the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) which provides a broad framework for development of urban transport. "About 316 kilometres of Metro rail is under operation and more than 500 kilometres is under construction. This includes metro/mono rail systems promoted by state governments and private bodies under their own arrangements," Naidu said. During the Question Hour, he said there is a demand for having metros in different cities and decisions would be taken after taking into consideration availability of funds as well as feasibility of projects. Since urban transport intertwined with urban development is a state subject, planning, execution and development of urban transport facilities are done by the states and union territories concerned, Naidu said. Meanwhile, the Urban Development Ministry has provided financial assistance to 11 cities for construction of 504 kilometres Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). According to the Minister, around 222 kilometres of BRTS is operational and the remaining 282 kilometres is under construction. "Funding under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) has been continued till March 31, 2017 for 7,059 busines and 25 ancillary infrastructure projects (sanctioned during the transition phase ie. 2012-13 and 2013-14). "Additional Central Assistance amounting to Rs 2,740 crore has been released. More than 18,000 buses have been procured so far," Naidu said. (Reopen PAR16) When Mohd Salim (CPI-M) asked about the progress of Kolkata East-West Metro project, TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay intervened to say that as local MP and due to the intervention of West Bengal Chief Minister, there was a meeting on the project recently. Officials from Railways and Urban Development Ministry, among others, came together and problems were sorted out at the meeting, Bandyopadhyay said, adding that he was giving the reply "on your (Minister) behalf with credit to Trinamool government under Mamata Banerjee". Prabhu then remarked that it is "a very unique way of one member's question being answered by another member even before the project is mentioned". Soon thereafter, Naidu, who had earlier requested Prabhu to answer Salim's query since the project was under the Railways, said he wanted to put the record straight. While thanking the chief minister for sorting out the issues, Naidu said Kolkata East-West Metro corridor is under the administrative control of the Railway Ministry. Noting that it is fully a central government project, Naidu said Railways Ministry's share is 74 per cent and 26 per cent is that of Urban Development Ministry. Pakistan's Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif today travelled to China's militancy hit Muslim-majority Xinjiang province in a rare visit and met his Chinese counterpart General Fang Fenghui, promising to crackdown on Uighur militants. The two Generals discussed military-to-military relations, bilateral security cooperation and all dimension of long term China-Pakistan Economic Corridor security, according to a press release issued by Inter Services Public Relations. Fang said China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners and mutual support between their armed forces is critical for safeguarding regional peace and stability. On his part, Gen Sharif pledged to firmly crack down on terrorist forces like the al-Qaeda linked 'East Turkestan Islamic Movement' and protect the security of the economic corridor. Gen Sharif, who arrived in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi on a day-long visit, also met with Communist Party Secretary of Xinjiang province Zhang Chun Xian. They discussed bilateral ties and regional security issue with particular reference to USD 46 billion CPEC's completion and its security. CPEC will link the Pakistani city of Gwadar to China's Xinjiang via a vast network of highways and railways, allowing China access to Arabian Sea. Xinjiang is hit by a separatist movement whose supporters claim that the region is not part of China and they oppose settlement of majority Han population in the province which could change the Uyghur character of the region. Nearly 100 Pakistanis today staged a protest against the visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh here to participate the SAARC Interior Ministers' Conference. Singh, who arrived here this evening, was flown to the Serena Hotel in a helicopter as a precautionary measure. The protesters, believed to be belonging to a few radical groups, staged the protest in front of the hotel, where Singh is staying. Security personnel were deployed in large numbers surrounding the hotel where the conference will also take place. Roads in front of the hotel are being barricaded and each visitor to the hotel is being thoroughly checked multiple times before being allowed entry. Singh is in Pakistan on a two-day visit to attend the conference. The government of Panama announced a bill that would take a range of steps against countries that put it on their blacklists of "tax havens" in the wake of the revelations. The legislation would impose tax, trade and migration measures on companies or individuals from those countries that "engage in practices that discriminate or imply damage to economic interests" of Panama, a statement said. The move could be directed at France, which put Panama back on its national blacklist of tax havens in April following the reports, which showed how some of the world's wealthy stashed assets in offshore firms created by the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. Colombia could also be targeted for keeping tariffs on Panama textile imports despite a World Trade Organization ruling calling for them to be scrapped. Panama has vowed to improve its fight against money laundering and tax evasion, but has fallen short of regulations the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development wants to see adopted internationally. The bill will be put to Panama's Congress for debate and a vote. Pension fund regulator PFRDA will launch two new schemes with aggressive and conservative options of investing up to 75 per cent of funds in equity by subscribers in a months' time. "We will launch two life coverage schemes with aggressive and conservation investment options in equity in a months time," Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Chairman Hemant Contractor said. Under aggressive investment options, the subscribers would be allowed to start with up to 75 per cent investments of their deposits into equity which will be reduced over a period of time as their age increases, he said. In the other option or scheme, the subscribers will start with investing 25 per cent of their deposits into equity which will too decrease subsequently over a period of time, he added. At present, subscribers are allowed to start with investing up to 50 per cent of their deposits in equity to our subscribers, Contractor said. The overall return on investment for PFRDA was 11.5 per cent. The rate of return for non-government subscribers is slightly higher at 13 per cent compared to 9.5 per cent of government employees subscribing to the scheme. Government employees have the option to investment up to 15 per cent of their deposits in equity market while non- government subscribers can invest up to 50 per cent in stocks. Contractor said: "The proposal to allow government employees to invest up to 50 per cent of their deposits in equity is with the government. They have not approved it so far." National Pension System (NPS) is administered and regulated by PFRDA. The scheme was initially for government employees and later offered to other subscribers as well. PFRDA manages 1.3 crore subscribers including 44 lakh government employees with a total corpus of Rs 14,000 crore. Japanese gymnastics star Kohei Uchimura was left counting the cost of his recent addiction to Pokemon Go at the Rio Olympics. The reigning Olympic and world all-around champion became hooked on the smartphone game after touching down in Brazil to prepare for the defence of his title. But to Uchimura's horror he was hit with a 500,000 yen ($5,000) bill after discovering that he did not have a flat rate for overseas data usage. "500,000 yen..." the defending six-time world champion was quoted by Kyodo agency as saying. Team-mate Kenzo Shirai confided that Uchimura was shellshocked by the charges. "He looked dead at the team meal that day," Shirai said. Uchimura, though, escaped the hefty bill after contacting his phone company to plead his case, eventually only having to pay 3,000 yen. "I really lucked out," Uchimura said. At least seven policemen and six students were injured here in brick-batting and police lathicharge on dalit students protesting against the lowering of scholarship amount for SC and ST students. The students resorted to violence near JP Roundabout by throwing bricks on policemen in which an inspector and six constables were injured, senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj said. He said six students had been admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) with minor injuries. The SC & ST students from across the state were taking out a march to the state legislative assembly to protest the lowering of scholarship amount for dalit students in Bihar. The incident echoed in the legislative assembly as well as in the legislative council with BJP-led NDA vociferously raising the issue to attack the Nitish Kumar government. In the assembly, leader of Opposition Prem Kumar, former Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party leader Lallan Paswan and others protested the police lathicharge on dalit students. BJP member Sanjay Mayukh raised the issue in the council. Later, prominent leaders including Sushil Kumar Modi, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Prem Kumar, Paswan, Arun Sinha visited PMCH to see the condition of the injured students. Paswan alleged that the police resorted to lathicharge on the students who were peacefully taking out the protest-march. Later, Modi attacked the grand secular alliance over the incident. In a press statement, he said the dalit students were protesting against Bihar government's lowering of post-matriculation scholarship from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 15,000 when the police baton-charged them. Modi said the NDA would strongly raise the issue in both Houses of the state legislature tomorrow and seek reply from the state government. He demanded that policemen raining lathis on agitating students be punished. "Due to lowering of post matriculation scholarship for SC & ST students from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 15,000 annually, many such students have to return home from professional institutions outside," Modi said. Police lathicharge on dalit students was also condemned by Congress leader Ashok Kumar. "It's an unfortunate incident. Police lathicharge on dalit students cannot be justified. A probe should be conducted and guilty policemen should be punished," the senior legislator of Congress, which is a partner in the grand secular alliance, told Maoist chief Prachanda was today elected by lawmakers as Nepal's Prime Minister for a second time with his elevation expected to bring much-needed political stability in the country bogged down by deep divisions over the new Constitution. Though Pushpa Kamal Dahal -- better known as Prachanda -- was the only contender for the top post, he had to go through the voting as the Constitution requires the Prime Minister to prove support of the majority lawmakers in the House. The 61-year-old CPN-Maoist Centre chief was elected Prime Minister with 363 votes in favour and 210 against him. Out of a total 595 members, 22 did not vote. Ahead of the election, Prachanda addressed the House and said that he would try to lead the nation toward economic development while moving ahead with the spirit of national consensus during his premiership. This is the second time Prachanda has become Prime Minister after his brief stint with premiership came to an end in 2009. He was prime minister from 2008 to 2009 before a disagreement with the military over his attempt to sack the army chief brought his period in office to an early end. Prachanda won today's vote after Nepali Congress and CPN Maoist Centre signed a three-point agreement withthe Madhesi Front to secure support from the Madhesi parties for their bid to form a new government led by him. The Prime Minister's post had been left vacant since last month after CPN-UML chairman K P Sharma Oli tendered his resignation following the Maoist's withdrawal of support to the coalition government. Maoist chief Prachanda was today elected by lawmakers as Nepal's Prime Minister for a second time, promising to lead the nation toward economic development while working as a bridge between communities following deadly protests over a divisive new Constitution. Though Pushpa Kamal Dahal - better known by his nom de guerre 'Prachanda' (the fierce one) - was the only contender for the top post, he had to go through the voting as the Constitution requires the Prime Minister to prove support of the majority lawmakers in the House. The 61-year-old CPN-Maoist Centre chief, known for his anti-India stance, was elected Prime Minister with 363 votes in favour and 210 against him. Out of a total 595 members, 22 did not vote. He was backed by the largest party in the House, Nepali Congress, constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front and the Federal Alliance and some other smaller parties. Speaker Onsari Gharti announced Prachanda's victory after the election. Ahead of the election, Prachanda pledged to lead the nation toward economic development while moving ahead with the spirit of national consensus during his premiership. "I pledge that I will unite everyone in the country...I have a responsibility to solve this problem. I feel that I have been put forward as a candidate to work as a bridge between (communities)," he told the House. Prachanda will take over as the 39th prime minister of Nepal. This is the second time Prachanda has become Prime Minister after his brief stint with premiership came to an end in 2009. He is also the only communist leader to become the Prime Minister of the country twice. He was prime minister from 2008 to 2009 before a disagreement with the military over his attempt to sack the army chief brought his period in office to an early end. The Prime Minister's post had been left vacant since last month after CPN-UML chairman K P Sharma Oli tendered his resignation. Prachanda won today's vote after Nepali Congress and CPN Maoist Centre signed a three-point agreement withthe Madhesi Front to secure support from the Madhesi parties for their bid to form a new government led by him. As per the agreement, the government-in-waiting would implement the Madhesi Front's demands that include acknowledging those killed during the Madhes agitation as martyrs and providing free treatment to the injured besides amending the Constitution to redraw provincial boundary, while the Madhesi parties would support the new government. More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters in recent months. Prachanda is likely to announce a small cabinet comprising members from Maoist party, Nepali Congress, CPN-United and Rastriya Prajatantra Party on Thursday after being declared as the Prime Minister. Oli resined after two key ruling alliance partners - Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic and Rastriya Prajatantra Party - decided to support the no-confidence motion tabled against him by the Nepali Congress following deadly protests over the new constitution. Prachanda had led the Maoist party during the decade-long armed struggle from 1996 to 2006 and is credited with transforming the rebel movement into a political party after a 2006 peace deal. Shiv Sena member Sanjay Raut today alleged in Rajya Sabha that controversial preacher Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation was playing an active role in encouraging "terror" in the country. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Raut said while the Home Ministry repeatedly said that ISIS had very limited influence in India, the "facts" coming to light suggest that poison was being spread among youth. He claimed that 21 youths, including five women and three children, who had disappeared from Kerala had gone to Afghanistan and joined ISIS. The cause of concern was that five among those who went to Afghanistan, had changed their religion. "After changing religion, they had straightaway joined ISIS and became terrorists. Who is doing this? ... Zakir Naik's name figured in Bangladesh terror attack. His organisation Islamic Research Foundation is playing an active role, a big game in encouraging terror in the country," the Shiv Sena member alleged. Early last month, Naik had reportedly denied his involvement in the Dhaka attacks and called the Islamic State "un-Islamic". Raut said the recent arrests from different parts of the country showed that ISIS has spread its network. He also alleged that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen had spread its network in parts of West Bengal and was targeting unemployed youths to join them. A 52-year-old private tutor and his brother were arrested for allegedly assaulting a man who had gone to his house to protest against the sexual harassment of his minor daughter at a village in Nadia district, police said. Amit Debnath, a private tutor and his brother were arrested yesterday for assaulting Sujit Adhikary of Majher Gram Tentulsari village after he protested the sexual harassment of his daughter, they said. Sujit, a local flower trader had gone to confront Debanth after his daughter, a student of class VIII, complained that she was being sexually harassed by her teacher for sometime now. Debnath and his brother rained blows on Sujit during the confrontation following which he filed a complaint and the brothers were arrested, police said. They were produced in a Krishnagar Special Court today and were charged under different provisions of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act. The duo have been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, a police source said. Puthiya Tamizhakam president K Krishnasamy today urged the Centre and Tamil Nadu government to intervene and find a solution to the agitation by lawyers over the amendment to Advocates Act. The agitation was intensified after Bar Council of India suspended 126 advocates without seeking any explanation, for participating in the strike, Krishnasamy told reporters here. Urging the Centre and State governments to immediately intervene and put an end to the agitation and also revoke the suspension, Krishnasamy said efforts should also be made to see that the amendments were withdrawn. Punj Lloyd Ltd today said that its arm Pt Engineering Limited has sold its entire stake in UK-based Simon Carves Engineering to Engineers and Constructors International Inc for USD 2 million. "Pt Engineering Limited, subsidiary of the Company has sold its entire shareholding in its wholly owned subsidiary registered in United Kingdom viz Simon Carves Engineering Limited to Engineers and Constructors International, Inc," Punj Lloyd said in filing to BSE. "The buyer is Engineers and Constructors International, Inc. A design and engineering company belonging to the Mitsui Group, it is based out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, US," the filing said. With incessant rains lashing the district for the fourth consecutive day today, river Godavari and other sub-rivers remained in spate while several prominent temples were submerged due to flood. Over 100 people were rescued by the disaster management personnel from two flooded villages, officials said. The flood situation in Godavari, which has crossed the danger mark, and rivers Darna, Kadva and other sub-rivers in Nashik district remained unchanged today. The irrigation department released thousands of cusecs of water from Gangapur dam in Godavari, and also from Darna, Palkhed, Kadva and Valdevi dams at 9 AM today. Around 23,507 cusecs water was flowing under Ahilyabai Holkar bridge in Godavari as of now, officials said. City police have closed Holkar bridge for vehicular traffic and urged people not to gather at the flooded sites. The district collector has declared a holiday for schools and colleges today as a precautionary measure. The Datta temple, Balaji temple, Maruti temple and Khanderay temple in the city were submerged as the rains continued to pound the city. The villages of Chandori and Saykheda in Niphad taluka of the district were flooded and nearly 103 people were rescued by disaster management personnel. The sub-rivers of Nasardi, Waghadi and Saraswati were also in spate due to heavy rains. District Collector Radhakrishanan and Commissioner of Police S Jagannathan were monitoring the situation. The disaster management centre in collector's office was kept open round-the-clock, while an NDRF team is likely to arrive in Nashik from Pune to assist local administration. Several prominent markets, residential areas and slums in the city were also waterlogged throwing normal life out of gear, the officials said, adding that a similar situation had occurred here in 2008. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday arrived in Islamabad to attend the SAARC Interior Ministers' conference tomorrow during which he is expected to raise the issue of most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and cross border terrorism. Accompanied by a delegation comprising officials from his ministry and external affairs, Singh, who is on his maiden visit to Pakistan, will be underlining meaningful cooperation among the South Asian countries. Before leaving for Islamabad to attend the day-long SAARC Home Ministers Conference, the Home Minister said he was "looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime." "This Conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security," said Singh, who is expected to tell Pakistan to stop sponsoring terror in India and rein in groups like Lashker-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Singh's visit comes notwithstanding threat by LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, who warned of a countrywide protest in Pakistan by his outfit if Singh arrives in Islamabad to attend the SAARC ministerial conference. Tomorrow's meeting is preceded by the 7th Meeting of the SAARC Interior/Home Secretaries which is being held today. The Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who is leading the Indian delegation, arrived here yesterday. There is little possibility of Singh having a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the wake of strain in Indo-Pak relations after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in Jammu and Kashmir on July 8. Not only did Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif praise Wani but he also remarked that "Kashmir will one day become Pakistan", a comment which evoked a sharp reaction from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who said his dream of the state becoming a part of his country "will not be realised even at the end of eternity". Apart from terrorism, other key issues to be discussed include liberalisation of visa, illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and small arms and how to make coordinated and concerted efforts to combat such menace. The three-tier meeting began at the joint secretary-level and then moved on to Secretary and Home Minister-level meetings. The focus of the meeting will also be on strengthening networking among police forces of SAARC member-countries and also enhance information-sharing among law enforcement agencies. Home Minister Rajnath Singh today arrived here to attend the SAARC Interior Ministers' conference being held tomorrow during which he is expected to raise the issue of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, designated as global terrorist, and cross border terrorism. Singh, who arrived here this evening on his maiden visit to Pakistan, has been accorded tight security amid threats from Lashker-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen terror groups against his visit. The Home Minister was flown in a helicopter to the Serena hotel located in posh Islamabad locality. It is also the venue of tomorrow's meeting where Singh will be underlining the need for meaningful cooperation among South Asian countries. Roads leading to the hotel have been heavily barricaded by the police and para-military forces to ward off any threat from terror groups. In the past, there have been instances when terrorists rammed explosive-laden trucks into the hotels. Despite tight security, around 100 people gathered outside the hotel shouting anti-India slogans and protested against Singh's visit. LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Syed Salahuddin had warned of a nationwide protest if Singh arrives in Islamabad to attend the SAARC ministerial conference which would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Before leaving for Islamabad to attend the day-long SAARC Home Ministers' Conference, Singh said he was "looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime." "This conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security," said Singh, who is expected to tell Pakistan to stop sponsoring terror in India and rein in groups like Lashker-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. India has been demanding handing over of Dawood, who has been designated as a global terrorist by the anti-terror body of the United Nations, for running an organised crime syndicate from Pakistan. Tomorrow's meeting is preceded by the 7th Meeting of the SAARC Interior/Home Secretaries which is being held today. The Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who is leading the Indian delegation, arrived here yesterday. There is little possibility of Singh having a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the wake of strain in Indo-Pak relations after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in Jammu and Kashmir on July 8. Not only did Prime Minister Sharif praise Wani but he also remarked that "Kashmir will one day become Pakistan", a comment which evoked a sharp reaction from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who said his dream of the state becoming a part of his country "will not be realised even at the end of eternity". Issues related to most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and cross-border terrorism are likely to be the focus of Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the SAARC Interior/Home Ministers' meet tomorrow during which he will underline meaningful cooperation among the South Asian countries. Before leaving for Islamabad to attend the SAARC Home Ministers' Conference, he tweeted that he was "looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime." "This Conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security," said Singh, who is expected to tell Pakistan to stop sponsoring terror in India and rein in groups like Lashker-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. It was not immediately clear whether Singh will meet his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan separately due to sudden strain in India-Pakistan relations after Islamabad glorified the death of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani. However, the Home Minister, in his speech at the SAARC meeting, is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan's support to Ibrahim and to terror groups operating in India and ask Islamabad to check Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and other groups based in that country. Singh is undertaking the visit notwithstanding threat by LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, who warned of a countrywide protest in Pakistan by his outfit if Singh arrives in Islamabad to attend the SAARC ministerial conference. Singh's visit comes in the backdrop of growing strain in Indo-Pak ties after Pakistan and its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made provocative statements on the Kashmir situation in the wake of Wani's killing on July 8. Wani was a wanted terrorist of banned Hizbul Mujahideen. Sharif not only praised Wani but he also remarked that "Kashmir will one day become Pakistan", a comment which evoked a sharp reaction from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who said his dream of the state becoming a part of his country "will not be realised even at the end of eternity". Singh is also likely to raise the issue of fake Indian currency notes being circulated at the behest of Pakistani agencies, sources said. Apart from terrorism, other key issues to be discussed include liberalisation of visa, illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and small arms and how to make coordinated and concerted efforts to combat such menace. The three-tier meeting began at the joint secretary-level and then moved on to Secretary and Home Minister-level meetings. The meeting will also focus on strengthening networking among police authorities of SAARC member-countries and also enhance information-sharing among law enforcement agencies. Union Minister Rajnath Singh today drew parallel between Mahatma Gandhi and ex-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying the latter is one such political personality in independent India who would be respected by public for many generations to come like the Father of the Nation. "The kind of respect Mahatma Gandhi received among people in India during pre and also post-independence era...If you look at politics of independent India, Vajpayee has the personality like Mahatma Gandhi, he will be respected for several forthcoming generations," the Union Home Minister said. Singh made the remark in a video message to event in which biography of the former Prime Minister 'Haar Nahi Manoonga - Ek Atal Jeevan Gatha' was released here. The event was attended by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, former Union Ministers Najma Heptulla and Jaya Jaitley, senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, besides author-scribe Vijay Trivedi. In his message sent before he left for Pakistan to attend SAARC Interior/Home Ministers' meet, Singh lauded Vajpayee for playing a crucial role in ensuring India was not affected due to economic crisis during his tenure as the Prime Minister and conducting nuclear test in Pokhran "that gave world a sense of India's growing strength". Gadkari showered praises on Vajpayee for leading simple life "sans ego" and sacrificing his life for building the BJP. During her address, Jaitley threw light over the rapport between Vajpayee and Defence Minister in his cabinet George Fernandes, who had to resign in connection with alleged bribery scandal, saying the duo were "saints and smart" politicians. "They share deep and cordial rapport," she said. Heptulla praised Vajpayee for his patience as a political leader, his oratory skill and for being a Prime Minister with whom it was "easy to share a joke". "I have seen many opposition leaders. But none was like him," she said. Reliance Jio Infocomm has received environment clearance for building the Indian part of Asia- Africa-Europe One (AAE-1) submarine cable system at Mumbai, entailing an investment of USD 6 million. AAE-1, the largest next generation subsea cable system spanning around 25,000 km and linking South Asia to Africa and Europe via the Middle East, is being constructed by a consortium of 17 global service providers. The Indian part of the project will be implemented by Reliance Jio. Last December, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Environment Ministry had vetted the proposal and recommended granting the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) nod. "As per the recommendations of the EAC, the Environment Ministry has given the CRZ Clearance to the project 'AAE-l Submarine Cable System' at Versova Beach, Mumbai by Reliance Jio Infocomm," a senior government official said. The CRZ clearance was given yesterday to the company subject to the compliance of the specific and general conditions, the official said. The cable will terminate in Mumbai at a Beach Man Hole (BMH) proposed to be located at a beach road connecting J P road to Versova Beach, in front of Harshvardhan Society. The expected cost of the project is USD 6 million. Among conditions specified, Reliance Jio has been asked to carry the activity only in the limited 4-6 hours low tide timings so that there is no water ingress in the excavated area. The excavated area should be covered after laying the cable and even the CRZ area should be cordoned off by floating buoys with warning flasher lights and sound alarm in case of any intrusion into the cordoned area. The company has been asked to set up labour camps, storage of material and machinery away from the CRZ area and has also been told not to disturb mangroves and marine life while laying of cable. It has been asked to take measures to prevent cable damage and not to dispose off solid waste and sewage in coastal area. The proposed AAE-1 cable system aims at enhancing telecom connectivity, providing additional capacity and speed for international traffic. The company has chosen Versova Beach as preferred route of cable laying of AAE-I because two other similar projects -- Europe India Gateway (EIG) Submarine Cable Landing by Bharti Airtel Limited and Gulf Bridge International Cable System (GBICS) Submarine Cable Landing by Sifi Technologies -- are already present there. Another similar project 'Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG) Submarine Cable System Landing' by Vodafone South was granted CRZ clearance by the Environment Ministry recently. Reliance Jio, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, holds spectrum in 1800 MHz (across 14 circles) and 2300 MHz (across 22 circles) capable of offering fourth generation (4G) wireless services. A prominent Republican activist and fundraiser says she will back Democrat Hillary Clinton for president and give money to her campaign to stop her party's nominee Donald Trump, repudiating him as a dangerous demagogue. "I will vote for Hillary, I will talk to my Republican friends about helping her, and I will donate to her campaign and try to raise money for her," Meg Whitman told The New York Times. The billionaire Whitman is CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and used to be chief executive of eBay. Whitman funded her own, ultimately failed campaign to be elected governor of California in 2010. Whitman told the Times that Trump is a "dishonest demagogue" and that electing him to the White House would lead the United States "on a very dangerous journey." Whitman said she stood by remarks earlier this year in which she compared Trump to Hitler and Mussolini, and said dictators often come to power by democratic means. "Time and again history has shown that when demagogues have gotten power or come close to getting power, it usually does not end well," Whitman said. She also disclosed that Clinton had reached out to her about a month ago in a telephone call. Whitman said she is even willing to campaign for the former secretary of state. Whitman will donate an amount in the "mid-six figures" to the Clinton campaign, the Times said, quoting an aide to her. Whitman was a top fundraiser for Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign and chaired New Jersey governor Chris Christie's finance team this year until he pulled out of the race. When Christie endorsed Trump, Whitman accused the governor of an "astonishing display of political opportunism, the Times said. A resolution to ban Hindi-dubbing of popular animated series Doreamon was submitted today in Pakistan's Punjab Assembly, saying it will have a "negative impact"on the "educational and physical well-being" of Pakistani children. The resolution was submitted by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf member Taimur Masood. It said all cable network in the country is running Doreamon cartoon round-the-clock and it is leaving a 'bad impact' on children. Doreamon is a popular animated Japanese series. The resolution asks Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ban cartoon channels in general, and Doraemon in particular. The resolution also suggests limiting the hours of cartoon channels. "The Hindi-dubbing of Doreamonis not only affecting the language of Pakistanichildren but as a whole leaving a bad impact on the society as well," it said. "Cartoon channels are having a negative impact on the educational and physical well-being of children," the resolution said, which is likely to be discussed in the next assembly session. The resolutionhasdemanded the House to take up the matter with Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and directs it to immediately ban the cartoon programme. Over 70 Hindu spiritual leaders, including Swami Parmatmanandji Maharaj, today condemned condemned the last month's flogging of Dalit youths in Una by a cow vigilante group, a state RSS functionary said. The leaders had gathered at Una in Gir Somnath district to attend a meet organised by Samajik Samrasta Manch, an RSS outfit. "Our aim was to spread the message of peace, harmony and unity. RSS strongly condemns the atrocities on Dalits and we want everyone to come forward to protest such heinous acts. Several local Dalit leaders were also present," State RSS spokesperson Vijay Thaker said. Four Dalit youths were flogged at Mota Samadhiyala village of Una tehsil last month for allegedly killing the cow which they were skinning. It led to state-wide protests and caused outrage across the country. "(RSS') Gujarat prant sanghchalak Mukesh Malkan and Swami Parmatmanandji went to the village and met the family before attending the Sammelan," said Thaker. The religious leaders passed a resolution at the gathering condemning the incident. "Religious leaders registered a strong protest against such hooliganism of Gau Rakshaks. They also asked government to take stringent steps against such elements who are tormenting innocent people in the name of protection of cow," said Thaker. The Russian defence ministry said that seven people died in an attack by Syrian rebels in the battleground city of Aleppo using weapons loaded with a "poisonous agent". Lieutenant-General Sergei Chvarkov was cited by Russia's TASS news agency as saying that the Nureddin al-Zenki rebel group yesterday launched weapons packed with an unnamed "poisonous agent" from an opposition-held neighbourhood to a government-controlled area of Aleppo. Chvarkov, the head of Russia's reconciliation centre in Syria, said that "as a result of this terrorist attack, seven people died and 23 were evacuated to hospitals in Aleppo with breathing problems and airway burns." He said the Russian authorities have informed the United States, which backs the rebels, of the attack. Syrian state media said that five people were killed and that eight suffered injuries induced by suffocation after rebels fired rockets containing poison gases. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the toll from the rocket attack at six dead, saying the casualties were in fact soldiers. Speaking to AFP, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman could not confirm that any kind of gas had in fact been used. The Russian claim came a day after the Observatory reported 24 people suffered breathing difficulties in rebel-held Saraqeb, a town 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Aleppo, after a barrel bomb attack. on Wednesday agreed to swiftly resolve plight of thousands of laid-off Indian workers including providing them free passage to return to India and clearing their unpaid dues after Union Minister V K Singh apprised the Saudi government about the humanitarian crisis. The Minister of State for External Affairs held extensive talks with Saudi Labour Minister Mufrej Al Haqbani who promised urgent action to resolve the difficulties being faced by around 7,000 Indians, most of whom are living in camps after losing their jobs due to economic slowdown in the oil-rich Gulf country. The Saudi government also agreed to allow transfer of Indian employees, who have lost their jobs, to any other company within . Singh arrived here today to assess the situation and finalise modalities to bring back the stranded Indian workers who even do not have money to buy food. As per reports, the Labour Minister issued orders to allow the Indian workers to immediately transfer their sponsorship (kafala) and renew their residencies. Under the kafala system, which is applicable to foreign workers, employees are not allowed to move to a new job without approval of their bosses. "We discussed all the issues related to Indian workers. It was brought out that the problem is because of one company which has not provided the humanitarian facilities as per the law of the land. "The government of Kingdom of has taken serious note of this lapse and have taken immediate action to ensure that all camps where Indian workers were staying are provided facilities like medical, food, hygiene and sanitation," Singh said, describing his meeting with Haqbani as "very good". Satisfied over Haqbani's response, Singh said he was thankful to the Saudi government for "very positive action and maganimous attitude". Singh said Saudi government is also providing free passage to all those who want to go back to India and that they will also honour the claims filed by workers against the companies which have defaulted their payments. "They have also agreed to allow transfer (of employees) to any other company within Saudi Arabia. Necessary action is in hand by the embassy of India to prepare suitable lists for filing claims as well as for people to go back. I am thankful to the Saudi government for very positive action and magnanimous attitude exhibited," Singh said. The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended the parole of Sahara chief till September 16 with a condition that he has to deposit to Rs 300 crore with Security and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). The direction for depositing the amount came after Roy complied with the order of July 11 by which he was asked to deposit the balance of Rs 300 crore, out of the Rs 500 crore promised by him when he was granted parole on humanitarian grounds following the death of his mother. The court also asked the 68-year-old Sahara chief that apart from the Rs 200 crore remaining amount, an additional Rs 100 crore should be deposited by him. Taking note that Roy has deposited Rs 300.68 crore, a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur extended his parole and gave him the opportunity to raise the remaining amount to secure bail in the case. The bench, also comprising Justices A R Dave and A K Sikri, has allowed the Sahara group to go ahead with sale and alienation of their properties to raise an amount of Rs 5,000 crore as a bank guarantee which they have to deposit in addition to Rs 5,000 crore to get bail for Roy. During the hearing, the bench made it clear that failure to deposit Rs 300 crore by the next date of hearing would lead to Roy going back to the jail. The hearing also saw Sebi telling the bench that till now Rs 195.07 crore has been generated by it by selling Sahara properties through e-auction. However, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Roy, complained that the properties sold through the platform of e-auction has fetched less money than desired and sought a direction to Sebi to take some of the properties out of e-auction. The bench accepted the request and said that Sahara would inform Sebi in advance before the second round of e-auction about the properties the group desires to take out of the platform for negotiating on its own with the prospective buyers. It said other properties would have to be sold through e-auction and prospective buyers have to participate in it. When it was repeatedly argued by Sibal the need for pulling out the properties from e-auction, the bench warned him, saying, "Don't play games here with us." "We are tired of all your games. Don't show all these difficulties," the bench observed. Sebi said it has already sold eight properties of Sahara for Rs 195.07 crore and gave the nod for selling the remaining 50 properties through e-auction. Extending downward trend for the fourth session, benchmark BSE Sensex plunges over 284 points to end at a three-week low of 27,697.51 and NSE Nifty cracked below the 8,600-mark on lacklustre global cues and a caution ahead of the decision on the landmark GST bill. Market sentiment was weighed down by weakness prevailing across global markets as Japan's economy-boosting stimulus package disappointed investors. Investors started cutting down their bets amid caution over passage of the long-pending GST bill in the Rajya Sabha, which has been moved for a consideration today. The BSE Sensex resumed higher, but profit booking later on dragged it down to the negative zone, which ended lower by 284.20 points, or 1.02 per cent, at 27,697.51, its lowest level since July 11. It had fallen by 604.651 points on June 24, 2016. The gauge had lost 226.89 points in the previous three sessions. The 50-share NSE Nifty shed 78.05 points, or 0.91 per cent, to end well below the 8,600-mark at 8,544.85, after moving between 8,635.45 and 8,529.60. As many as 25 Sensex stocks closed with losses, including Tata Motors, ITC Ltd, Maruti Suzuki, Power Grid, L&T, Reliance Industries, Hindustan Unilever, Lupin, Bajaj Auto, ICICI Bank, TCS, HDFC Ltd and Dr Reddy's. However, Cipla, Asian Paints, Sun Pharma and Coal India notched up gains, which capped the fall. Among sectoral indices, realty suffered the most by falling 2.15 per cent, followed by FMCG 2.04 per cent, capital goods 1.74 per cent, consumer durables 1.73 per cent, power 1.71 per cent and auto 1.70 per cent. The broader markets too remained under pressure, with the BSE mid-cap index declining 1.50 per cent and the small-cap index shedding 1.14 per cent. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 536.27 crore yesterday, provisional data showed. Globally, Asian bourses fell the most in five weeks as a disapointing Japanese stimulus package and oil below USD 40 a barrel renewed concern the global economic recovery is faltering. For the day, benchmark indices in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore ended lower by up to 1.88 per cent. European markets were showing a mixed trend in their early session with key indices in France's Paris CAC declining, while the UK's FTSE and Germany's rising 0.25 per cent. Shiv Sena today held protests against Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh for their remarks over Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani, who was gunned down by security forces recently. Led by state chief of Shiv Sena Dimpy Kohli, over 200 activists gathered in Rajbagh area of Kathua district and organised a protest demonstration against the chief minister and the deputy chief minister. They protested over Mehbooba's statement of "second chance to Burhan" and the terming of Burhan encounter as an "accident" by Singh. The protesters blocked the highway for over 2 hours. A pharmaceutical company has rushed a special drug that once saved the life of a girl who contracted a usually deadly brain-eating amoeba to a South Carolina hospital with its own patient fighting the disease. A courier drove the drug, called miltefosine, six hours from the company's Orlando, Florida, headquarters to Charleston as soon as the hospital called around 10 PM yesterday, Profounda CEO Todd MacLaughlan told The Associated Press. "Time is of the essence," MacLaughlan said. The patient in South Carolina was confirmed yesterday to have been exposed to Naegleria fowleri (nuh-GLEER'-ee-uh FOW'-lur-ee), a one-celled organism that can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Between 2006 and 2015 there have been 37 infections in the United States. Only three people have been recorded to have survived exposure. Miltefosine was used to treat one of the survivors a 12-year-old girl in Arkansas, the CDC said. Miltefosine was originally developed to fight cancer in the 1980s. It also helps fight leishmaniasis , a disease cause by a parasite transmitted through sand flea bites in tropical climates, MacLaughlan said. This is just the second time his company has sent the specialized drug that costs about $48,000 for a round of treatment to a hospital. It was delivered as capsules, MacLaughlan said. Officials aren't releasing the name, age, sex or condition of the patient, currently being treated at the Medical University of South Carolina hospital in Charleston. The patient appears to have been exposed to the amoeba while swimming July 24 near Martin's Landing on the Edisto River in Charleston County, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control epidemiologist Linda Bell said in a release. The amoeba lives in many lakes, rivers and streams in warm water locations. There has to be a lot of force to send the water and amoeba into the brain, either by jumping into the water, or in a recent fatal case where an 18-year-old Ohio woman fell out of her raft in the churning waters at the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Health officials recommend swimmers hold their noses or wear nose clips when jumping feet first into freshwater lakes and rivers, warning the lower the water level and the warmer the water, the greater the risk of contracting the amoeba. Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali today sought External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's intervention in the return of workers, from the state, stranded in Saudi Arabia after losing jobs. The employers have abandoned these poor labourers and they are living in camps without salaries for the last 7-8 months, Ali said in a letter to Swaraj. Of the total of 9,000 stranded Indian employees, 30 per cent are from rural Telangana and are poor, he said. Their relatives were pressing the Telangana government to facilitate their return to India, he said. "Therefore I request...Use all your good offices by conducting necessary deliberations with the authorities concerned in both the countries to resolve the issue at the earliest," Ali said. With thousands of Indians left in the lurch after losing jobs due to the financial crisis in the Gulf country, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh last night left for Saudi Arabia to work out modalities to bring back those who want to return to India. For US Republicans, the taboo of voting for Democrat Hillary Clinton in the presidential election has been lifted, as party dignitaries reject Donald Trump amid one of the deepest controversies of his troubled campaign. While the calls to dump Trump have continued since the 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney raised the alarm about the brash billionaire's candidacy early this year, it is unclear whether the trickle of defections to the Clinton camp will become a flood. But a nightmare 24-hour period for the embattled Republican nominee -- he refused to end his public feud with the parents of a fallen Muslim American soldier, declined to back House Speaker Paul Ryan's re-election bid and used crass language while accepting a supporter's Purple Heart as a gift -- has laid bare the concerns Republicans have with Trump. Prominent tech executive Meg Whitman became the latest high-profile conservative to throw her support behind Clinton, as she branded Trump a "dishonest demagogue" and told the New York Times yesterday that she would make a "substantial" contribution to Clinton's campaign. Whitman, herself a billionaire and leading Republican fundraiser, is chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and used to be CEO of eBay. She spent some USD 140 million of her own money in an unsuccessful run for California governor in 2010. Her defection comes amid deep concerns at the top of the Grand Old Party about Trump, after a seemingly never-ending stream of controversies that include the nominee urging Russia last week to meddle in the US election by hacking into Clinton's emails. Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus has endorsed Trump, but on today CNN reported Priebus was "incredibly upset" that the New York real estate mogul refused to endorse Ryan's congressional re-election campaign. Whitman joins other key Republicans who have announced their backing for Clinton, the former secretary of state. Richard Armitage, who served as deputy secretary of state for George W. Bush and deputy secretary of defense under Ronald Reagan, defected in June. Trump "doesn't appear to be a Republican, he doesn't appear to want to learn about issues," Armitage told Politico. "So, I'm going to vote for Mrs. Clinton." Brent Scowcroft, respected national security advisor to two Republican presidents, endorsed Clinton in June, as did former Republican senator Larry Pressler of South Dakota, who cited Clinton's support for stricter gun laws. The police today busted ten illegal minigun factories and seized a cache of arms from Barra Pahari area within the limits of Ramnagar police station in Bihar's Munger district, a police officer said. Acting on a tip off, a police team headed by DSP Krishna Murari Prasad raided various hideouts located in Barra Pahari, a hilly area, and unearthed ten illegal minigun factories, Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashish Bharti said. As many as 26 automatic pistols and ten extra magazines were seized from the spot, he said adding ten persons have been arrested on charge of possessing illegal weapons. The SP said a probe was on to find whether the arms manufacturers has had any links with the Maoists. Terrence Howard's former managers have filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the actor. Bosses at Authentic Talent and Literary Management filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging the 47-year-old "Empire" star, who hired the agency in 2013, has failed to pay thousands of dollars in commissions. Howard has since fired the firm, but according to Authentic bosses, he agreed to pay them post-termination commission fees in a 2014 email, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In the legal documents, Authentic most notably played a crucial role in helping the actor land his starring role in hit TV drama "Empire." He signed a seven-year contract for the show, and Authentic executives assert they are entitled to 10 per cent of his earnings for the duration of the contract, which will expire in 2020. The lawsuit stated: "Authentic Talent played a key role in the resurgence of Howard's career. "In addition to defending Howard and providing professional, personal, and other advice and career guidance to him, along with Howard's talent agents at the preeminent talent agency CAA, Plaintiff was an integral part of many discussions with Howard that led to his acceptance of the starring role of 'Lucious Lyon' on EMPIRE that had previously been procured for him by (talent agency) CAA." The specific amount executives are seeking is unclear. Howard's new legal trouble comes days after he dodged another court battle also related to "Empire." A former gangster-turned-author served Howard and show creator Lee Daniels with a USD 10 million lawsuit, claiming they stole the idea for "Empire" from his biography, "Bigger Than Big." Last week, a US District Court judge dismissed the suit, ruling there was no direct similarity between the plot of "Empire" and the author's life, and any elements of similarity were unprotectable under copyright law. The number of incidents related to terrorist violence has shown a 60 per cent increase in first seven months of 2016 as compared to last year, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. Replying to a question by newly-elected Samajwadi Party MP Amar Singh, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said the number of terrorist violence incident in the state up to July was 117 in 2014, 101 in 2015 and 163 this year. The minister said "cancellation of diplomatic initiative with militants by the central government" was not the reason for the rise in militancy. "Since a larger number of terrorist neutralisation has taken place, the terrorist organisations based in Pakistan are now increasing their efforts to promote radicalisation through vested interest groups and social media and increase the attacks on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir forcing them to retaliate and give it a shape of civil resistance," Ahir said in his reply. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi today named local affairs minister Youssef Chahed, 40, as prime minister-designate tasked with forming a unity cabinet to tackle major economic and security challenges. If he wins the backing of parliament, Chahed will be the North African country's youngest premier since it won independence from France in 1956. He takes office as Tunisia struggles with a stagnant economy and the threat posed by jihadist groups. His appointment comes days after lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence in outgoing premier Habib Essid. "Today we are entering a new stage that requires effort, sacrifice, audacity, courage, selflessness and unorthodox solutions," Chahed told reporters outside the presidential palace in Carthage. Chahed, who is said to be a distant relative of Essebsi's, now has 30 days to come up with a ministerial team. "I met today with the president... Who charged me with forming a national unity government," he said. He promised that women would be better represented in his cabinet than in previous governments and called for greater youth involvement. Chahed -- who studied agricultural engineering -- entered politics after the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. He joined Nidaa Tounes in 2013. Even before his nomination, Tunisians were enthusiastic about Chahed's young age -- especially compared to other leaders in the five and a half years since Tunisia's youth-led revolution. Essebsi is 89 years old, while Essid is 67. But others criticised the appointment of a member of an outgoing government they see as having failed to address the country's challenges. They also slammed his links with the president -- whose son's presence in Nidaa Tounes is already controversial. Discontent over nepotism under Ben Ali helped fuel the revolt that ousted him. Presidential adviser Saida Garrach however dismissed criticism of the premier-designate. "You can't punish someone or deprive them of whatever it is just because of... Who they are related to," she told radio station Shems FM. "Half the Tunisian population are related by marriage." A source close to the prime minister-designate, who asked to remain anonymous, said Chahed was "a man of integrity, who works hard, does not belong to lobbies... And knows Tunisia's real problems." Essid's government had faced growing criticism for failing to tackle repeated jihadist attacks and an economic crisis. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pressed the US in a television interview broadcast today to extradite preacher Fethullah Gulen, saying waiting to get the alleged coup plotter was "intolerable." Erdogan complained in the interview with Mexico's Televisa television that US authorities were asking for documents for the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Gulen, whom he accuses of being behind last month's failed military putsch. "You have to be blind and deaf not to understand that he is behind all of this," Erdogan said. "If we request the extradition of a terrorist then you should fulfill that," he said. "If you start asking for documents and what not, then it's a huge obstacle in our way of fighting terrorism." "But at the moment we are running into the difficulty of not being able to receive a terrorist that we are asking to be extradited," he said. Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999 and has denied any involvement in the July 15 putsch bid. Turkish authorities sent a new package of documents to the American authorities for Gulen's extradition, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said. "In terms of fighting against terrorism, we have no time to lose, six months or one year, that's simply intolerable," Erdogan said. US Secretary of State John Kerry said on July 18 that Turkey must present "genuine evidence" and "not allegations" against the Muslim cleric for his extradition. Already strained ties between NATO allies Turkey and the United States have been aggravated by the failed putsch, with some government ministers even alleging Washington could have had a hand in the plot, which US officials firmly reject. Turkish authorities have detained some 18,000 people in a post-coup crackdown. The Karnataka High Court today questioned the state government on "stifling" the startup business through regulatory norms that create an "unviable" environment while wanting to encourage startups. "On the one hand, you (government) want to encourage startups in the state and, on the other, you want to stifle its business by framing rules like the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Aggregators' Rules (OTTA)," Justice Raghavendra Chouhan said during the hearing of a petition by cab aggregator Uber. Justice Chouhan made the observations while questioning the submissions made by A S Ponnanna, Counsel for the state who defended OTTA rules. Uber had moved the court after the transport department impounded the vehicles for not securing licences under the new norms. It also suspended operations of taxis, which led to protests by drivers. Justice Chouhan said the rules would create an unviable environment for startups and would have repercussions for investments in the state. "If we have such regulatory rules, it will create an unviable environment for startup business in the state. Startup companies like Uber may pull out of business in the state, which will not be good. It will have a negative impact or repercussions on investments," he said. Earlier last month, Uber's Counsel Sajan Poovayya had submitted that since taxi-hailing app Uber is a technology platform that connects drivers with passengers, it cannot be regulated under India's Motor Vehicles Act, which governs taxis and aggregators in the country. The hearing in the matter will continue tomorrow. Drivers have also independently filed a petition in court. The transport department had in April increased the penalty for cab aggregators from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000, aleging they were operating without obtaining necessary licence despite its repeated warnings. Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Services has lauded the performance of the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services of Puducherry government in the last financial year 2015-2016. A release from the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services here today said the Secretary to the Union Ministry of health and Family Welfare, B P Sharma had written a letter to the Chief Secretary of Puducherry Manoj Parida appreciating the good performance of the Union Territory in timely utilisation of funds and in undertaking health sector reforms in previous financial year. The letter also said consequent to the good performance, the Union Territory had earned 'an incentive of 7 percent over and above the stipulated resource allocation.' The Ministry of Health had also expressed hope that the Puducherry would continue the good performance in the current fiscal (2016-2017). The US Air Force has declared the F-35 A Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jet as ready for combat, a major milestone for the futuristic aircraft dogged by delays and cost overruns. The US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter congratulated the air force on the announcement yesterday and said this is a significant milestone for an aircraft that will allow the US to maintain the advantage of air superiority for years to come. "I know that even after being declared combat ready, there is more work to do with this critical program, but the Air Force, Air Combat Command and the men and women of Hill Air Force Base should be proud of this major step forward for the F-35A," Carter said. The fighter jet is the latest addition to the US Air Force's fleet of deployable and fifth-generation aircraft. "The F-35A will be the most dominant aircraft in our inventory because it can go where our legacy aircraft cannot and provide the capabilities our commanders need on the modern battlefield," General Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command said. It provides air superiority, interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses and close air support as well as great command and control functions through fused sensors, and it will provide pilots with unprecedented situational awareness of the battlespace that will be more extensive than any single-seat platform in existence, the Pentagon said. Carlisle said the aircraft has met all key criteria for reaching initial operational capability -- Airmen trained, manned and equipped to conduct basic close air support, interdiction and limited suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses in a contested environment with an operational squadron of 12-24 aircraft. It also has the ability to deploy and conduct operational missions using program of record weapons and missions systems and having all necessary logistics and operational elements in place, he added. Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said the aircraft's achievement of initial operational capability is another important milestone in the Joint Strike Fighter program. "But for the most expensive weapons system in history, the road ahead remains long," he said. The Senate Armed Services Committee will continue to exercise rigorous oversight of the Joint Strike Fighter program's long-delayed system development and demonstration phase as well as the start of the operational test and evaluation phase. "These next steps are critical to verifying the F-35A's ability to successfully recapitalise our ageing and increasingly vulnerable fighter force structure," he said The 34th Fighter Squadron of the 388th Fighter Wing, based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, is the service's first operational F-35A squadron, having met all the established criteria for initial operational capability including a successful June deployment to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho and a series of eight-aircraft sorties held in mid-July. "Bringing the F-35A to initial combat readiness is a testament to our phenomenal Airmen and the outstanding support of the Joint Program Office and our enterprise partners," Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said. Chief of Staff of the Air Force General David L Goldfein, said that dynamic new capability will benefit the joint war fighter. "The F-35A brings an unprecedented combination of lethality, survivability, and adaptability to joint and combined operations, and is ready to deploy and strike well-defended targets anywhere on Earth," he said. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today to discuss Pyongyang's launch of a ballistic missile that for the first time landed in Japanese-controlled waters, diplomats said. The United States and Japan called for the urgent talks, which are expected to be held around 4 PM (2000 GMT). North Korea fired two intermediate-range missiles simultaneously, but one appeared to explode on take-off, according to the US military. The second missile landed in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), some 250 kilometers (155 miles) off Japan's north coast and within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). "We expect to be calling an emergency meeting of the Security Council for later this afternoon, with our Japanese colleagues," US Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters. Britain's Deputy Ambassador Peter Wilson said: "This is the first time that a DPRK missile has landed in the Japanese EEZ. I think this is something that the council should take extremely seriously." Wilson said the latest launch was "a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions" that prohibit North Korea from developing missile technology. US Strategic Command said the two missiles were launched from a site in western North Korea at around 7:50 am Seoul time (2250 GMT yesterday). The council has repeatedly condemned North Korea's missile launches, but a US-drafted statement circulated last month following an apparent submarine-launched missile test was bogged down in discussion with China. The council last adopted a statement condemning North Korea for two medium-range missile tests on June 23. North Korea has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since it first tested an atomic device in 2006. The council in March adopted its toughest sanctions resolution to date, banning exports of coal, iron and other minerals from North Korea and imposing other restrictions, in particular in the banking sector. A US police officer was arrested today on charges of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State, becoming the first law enforcement officer in the country accused of aiding the terrorist organisation. Nicholas Young, 36, facing a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, was employed as an officer as Metro Transit Police Department since 2003. Young was working with Metro Transit Police Department. This is for the first time that a law enforcement official has been arrested for helping ISIS. The Department of Justice said law enforcement first interviewed Young in September 2010 in connection with his acquaintance, Zachary Chesser, who had been arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Over the next several years, Young allegedly had numerous interactions with undercover law enforcement personnel and an FBI confidential human source (CHS) regarding his knowledge of and interest in terrorism-related activity. "Many of these interactions were recorded. Law enforcement also interviewed Young's family and co-workers," it said. In 2011, Young met with an undercover law enforcement officer, and several of these meetings included another of Young's acquaintances, Amine El Khalifi, who later pleaded guilty to charges relating to his plan to conduct a suicide bombing at the US Capitol Building in 2012, federal prosecutors charged. In 2011, Young traveled to Libya once and attempted to travel there a second time, federal prosecutors said. Young told FBI agents that he had been with rebels attempting to overthrow the Muammar Qaddafi regime. Baggage searches revealed that Young traveled with body armor, a kevlar helmet and several other military-style items, according to the allegations. As late as July 18, 2016, Young allegedly communicated with a person who he believed to be the CHS (confidential human resource) regarding purchasing gift cards for mobile-messaging accounts that ISIL purportedly uses in recruiting others to join the terrorist organization. According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on July 28, 2016, Young sent 22 gift card codes to the FBI undercover officer posing as the CHS with a message that stated: "Respond to verify receipt...May not answer depending on when as this device will be destroyed after all are sent to prevent the data being possibly seen on this end in the case of something unfortunate." The codes were ultimately redeemed by the FBI for USD 245, according to court documents. The US has returned eight antiquities to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Washington, government told Rajya Sabha today. The written reply came amid reports that the US had handed back over 200 cultural artifacts estimated at USD 100 million to India at a ceremony attended by the Prime Minister at Washington DC in June. "US authorities have returned only eight antiquities to the Prime Minister of India during his visit to the US," Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said in a written reply. On a query regarding the value of the returned antiquities in international market, he said, "It is not the mandate of Archaeological Survey of India to determine the market value of antiquities." He said these antiquities, including a bronze image of Ganesha, were returned voluntarily. The US today designated a splinter group of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and a suspect in the Brussels and Paris attacks known as "the man in the hat" as global terrorists, blocking any US assets they may have. As a result of these designations, all property subject to US jurisdiction in which Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Europe-based Mohamed Abrini have any interest is blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them, the State Department said. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is a splinter group of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan based in the Af-Pak border region. The group, founded by a former TTP leader in August 2014, has staged multiple attacks in the region targeting civilians, religious minorities, military personnel, and law enforcement, and was responsible for the killing of two Pakistani employees of the US Consulate in Peshawar in March 2016. In March 2016, JuA carried out the suicide assault at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal amusement park in Lahore, Pakistan that killed more than 70 people - nearly half of them women and children. The Easter Sunday attack was the deadliest terror attack in Pakistan since December 2014. Abrini is a member of the Europe-based Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) cell responsible for the November 2015 Paris attacks and March 2016 Brussels attacks. Since his arrest on April 8 by Belgian authorities, Abrini has been identified as being "the man in white" - also known as "the man in the hat" - seen with two identified suicide bombers at Brussel's Zaventem airport on March 22, just minutes before the attack that killed 16 people. Abrini is also believed to have taken part in the pre-attack surveillance for the November 2015 Paris attacks and to have assisted in planning attacks in the UK and Germany, the State Department said. The government has proposed to the crisis-ridden Venezuela that it can settle dues of pharma companies in India through oil that it exports here. "The government of India has put-forth an 'oil for export mechanism' between government of Venezuela and government of India to settle pending payments of pharma companies," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. She said the proposal seeks to work out a mechanism to offset payments which are to be made to oil companies of Venezuela against due payments of Indian entities. "There has been no response from Venezuelan side," she added. Indian pharmaceutical exporters are facing problems in getting payments from the crisis-hit Venezuela. The South American country is India's largest trading partner in that region particularly in oil sector. Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) has already raised concerns over the delay in payments and had sought government's intervention in that. Replying to a separate question, Sitharaman said 793 startups have applied for recognition so far under the 'Startup India' programme. "223 startups have been recognised by the government so far," she added. She also said that a 'fund of funds' (FFS) of Rs 10,000 crore for startups has been established which is being managed by SIDBI. The fund will invest in SEBI registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which in turn will invest in startups. "Till date, SIDBI has sanctioned an amount of Rs 168 crore towards the corpus of 6 AIFs under FFS," she said. These AIFs will invest in startups across sectors and states. The Board of Directors of the Rs 7,525-crore underconstruction Vizhinjam International deepwater multi-purpose seaport was reconstituted on Wednesday. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is now the Chairman of the port and Ports Minister Kadanapally Ramachandran is the Vice-Chairman. Chief Minister Vijayan had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi recently and informed him that the state government's plan to expedite construction activities of Vizhinjam port, being developed by Gujarat based Adani group. The Prime Minister had also expressed his commitment to make it a reality, an official release said. Dr Jaykumar has been appointed as Managing Director and CEO. The decisions in this regard was taken at a Kerala Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday. State Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac, Fisheries Minister, J Mercykutty Amma, Power Minister, Kadakanpally Surendran are directors in the board. Thiruvananthapuram MP, Shashi Tharoor, Chief Secretary, S M Vijayanand are among the members, it said. Meanwhile, Alexander Jacob, former DGP, has been appointed as the nodal officer of National University for Police Sciences and Security Studies, it added. Owing to heavy rains in the catchment areas, the Irrigation Department today released water from Khadakwasla dam near here into the Mutha river, that passes through the city, which affected the low-lying localities. Due to the discharge of water from the dam, Mutha river swelled for the first time this monsoon season, which led the low-lying Baba Bhide bridge in Deccan Gymkhana area to get submerged. Fire brigade officials had to evacuate as many as 130 residents living in low lying areas off Sinhagad Road after water entered their houses. "Water was released at the rate of 22,000 cusecs on Wednesday morning, which rose to 39,000 cusecs around 7 pm after the storage in the dam reached its maximum," Irrigation Department officials said. "After water was released into the Mutha river, the low lying Baba Bhinde bridge submerged in Deccan-Gymkhana area and as many as 15 vehicles, parked along the river side, too, got submerged in the water," they said. "The fire brigade officials rushed to the spot and took the vehicles out of the water," Prashant Ranpise, the chief fire officer of Pune Municipal Corporation said. According to him, the Anandnagar area off Sinhgad road was flooded with water and as many as 134 people were evacuated after water entered the houses. Meanwhile, the collective water storage in the four reservoirs of the dams around the city swelled to 22.28 TMC (76 per cent of total capacity) on Wednesday evening. This time last year, the water available in the four dams was 13.93 TMC, which was 47 per cent of the total capacity. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Pune, from morning till 8.30 pm today, total 32.9 MM rainfall was recorded. The IMD has predicted intermittent showers for the city in the next 24 hours. World Economic Forum (WEF), will host its annual India here on October 6-7 which would be attended by over 500 business and political leaders including top policymakers and CEOs. This year's meet will be convened under the theme, 'Fostering an Inclusive India through Digital Transformation'. "This year's summit comes at an important juncture as India is the fastest-growing G20 economy just as the world is entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution," said Viraj Mehta, Head of India and South Asia at the WEF. The co-chairs of this year's India are, Johan C Aurik, Global Managing Partner and Chairman of the Board, A T Kearney, USA; Gita Gopinath, Professor of Economics, Harvard University, USA; Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive Officer, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog; John Rice, Vice-Chairman, GE, USA; and Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, One97 Communications. Three main themes for this year's programme are: Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution; Driving Sustainable and Equitable Growth and improving the Ease of Doing Business. "India's economy is widely expected to grow at around 8 per cent in the medium term. Identifying the right policies so that we sustain this growth rate for a generation would be key to achieving the development expectations of our country," said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director-General of the CII, which is organising the meet in partnership with WEF. WEF is know for its annual five-day meet in Davos, Switzerland, attended by top leaders from business, politics, academia, civil society, international organizations, arts and culture and media. Politics over potholes in the city continued today with Delhi Congress claiming that it has received a "tremendous response" from people over the past two days on its social media protest campaign against PWD and MCD. "Workers of the party put fake crocodiles into potholes in Zakira Chowk, Najafgarh Road and Moti Nagar areas," DPCC chief Ajay Maken said. Senior Congress leader Chattar Singh claimed, "There has been a tremendous response to the #JaagoYaBhaago campaign on WhatsApp, as 1,000 photos and thousands of messages from all over Delhi on the pathetic condition of Delhi roads have already been received." Delhi Congress launched the campaign to highlight AAP government's "criminal negligence", which, it said, led to the formation of potholes in the city. It was launched yesterday on WhatsApp number 9891620771 "against the Delhi government and the BJP-ruled MCDs" and invites people to upload pictures of potholes along with details such as the name of the road, Assembly/ward and sender. Confusion prevailed in Lok Sabha today as the treasury benches were unclear about which Minister will reply to a debate on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as the Opposition sought to corner the government on the issue. K C Vengugopal (Cong) insisted that that the government should make it clear as to who will reply to the members' concerns on the SDGs, as Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai suggested that Minister for Planning Rao Inderjit Singh and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who were present in the House, could reply to the debate. Venogopal was joined by Veerappa Moily (also Cong) and Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) in cornering the government over "lack of seriousness" on an important issue like SDG. "Where is the concerned Minister?.. There is absolutely no seriousness in the government on the issue," Moily said as he suggested that the SDG discussion under Rule 193 should be postponed till the time when the Minister comes to the House. Thambidurai suggested that Prabhu, being a Cabinet Minister, was competent to reply. Prabhu intervened to say that the SDG was adopted globally by many countries and these goals have to become and are becoming part of national mainstream agenda. The benefits of this should also go down to the common man. "It is 'think globally and act locally'," he said, as he assured members of the House that the suggestions made by them would be taken seriously and incorporated in the government policies. As the confusion prevailed, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi stood up to say she would reply to the members' concerns relating to her ministry. Moily said that since SDGs involve 17 different ministries, the respective ministers should be present. To assuage the opposition, Thamburai said Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was also present in the House. Prabhu said "any member of Cabinet present here represents the Cabinet and you will get a holistic answer at the end of discussion". With this, the House resumed discussion on the SDG. Under terms of the deal, Vale, the world's biggest iron ore producer, would receive streaming financing from the companies, said the sources, who asked to remain unidentified because the discussions are still private. The idea is to sell part of the company's future output over a 30-year period, the sources said. The Rio de Janeiro-based company has not yet reached a decision to complete the iron ore streaming financing deal, the sources said. The deal, along with a series of planned asset sales, could help Chief Executive Officer Murilo Ferreira reach his goal of reducing Vale's $27.5 billion net debt by one-third over the next 18 months. Vale's preferred shares accelerated their rise after the report. In mid-afternoon trading in Sao Paulo, its shares were up 4.5 percent at 15.32 reais from 15.10 reais before the report was published. Streaming allows mining companies to raise cash during times of low prices, locking in sales contracts while keeping control of their mines. Several other leading miners, such as Glencore , Barrick Gold and Teck Resources , have also turned to such deals to raise cash as they grapple with a slowdown in China, the biggest metals consumer, and a subsequent decline in commodity prices. Vale itself on Tuesday tweaked an existing streaming agreement it had reached in 2013 to sell future gold output from its Salobo copper mine, boosting the portion sold to Canada's Silver Wheaton Corp to 75 percent from an initially agreed 50 percent. Vale will receive an upfront $800 million payment. Iron ore prices reached their lowest level in 10 years last December and are currently down more than 50 percent since the beginning of 2014. Vale expects to sell 340 million tonnes of iron ore this year, compared with 346 million tonnes last year. Annual sales of the commodity, the main ingredient for steel, reached $16.8 billion last year. The average price of iron ore in the second quarter this year was $48.30 a tonne. A spokeswoman for Vale declined to comment. Even if the iron ore streaming transaction reaches $10 billion, the sources said Vale would keep on with a slew of asset sales. They include a sale of Vale's fertilizers business, which is being negotiated with Mosaic Co , the world's top producer of concentrated phosphate. A transaction could be announced in the following months, the sources said. reported in June that both companies were negotiating a cash-and-stock deal that would turn Vale into Mosaic's biggest shareholder. On Tuesday, Mosaic Chief Executive Officer Joc O'Rourke said that diversified miners may be willing to sell fertilizers assets to pay down debt. "We think some of these opportunities might come to fruition, and if they do, they may add some long-term value to us," he said. Speculation that Vale might be considering selling some iron ore assets, which contribute 65 percent of annual revenue, had mounted in recent weeks. According to Rene Kleyweg, an analyst at Deutsche Bank Securities, "monetizing a small stake" in iron ore operations could help Vale raise between $7 billion and $10 billion. (Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer; Additional reporting by Nicole Mordant in Vancouver, Gustavo Bonato and Guillermo Parra-Bernal in Sao Paulo; Editing by Christian Plumb and Phil Berlowitz) NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Rajya Sabha passed a key constitutional enabling amendment on Wednesday, paving the way for a nationwide Goods and Services Tax (GST) that seeks to transform the country into a common market. The passage of the bill was held up for years by political infighting, and its advancement marks a victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he eyes an economic boost for Asia's third-largest economy. Investors have billed the GST as a "silver bullet" for India's economy that would supplant multiple federal and state levies - a chaotic structure that inflates costs for businesses. (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; Editing by Tommy Wilkes) By Sonali Paul and Barbara Lewis MELBOURNE/LONDON (Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto reported a 47 percent slump in first-half profit to its weakest in 12 years on Wednesday, still beating forecasts and a strong balance sheet allowed it to pay a higher dividend than expected. It said commodity markets remained a challenge, even as the mining sector stages a recovery from the hammering inflicted by a plunge in prices for raw materials caused by a drop in Chinese demand. The watchword is caution across the industry as markets are oversupplied and asset sales to reduce debt take longer than some investors would like. Rio's new Chief Executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques said he was focused on shoring up the company by cutting costs further and did not expect help from commodities markets that were given a provisional lift in the second quarter by easy credit in China. "So we are confident, but absolutely not complacent. Looking forward, we expect market conditions to remain challenging and volatile," Jacques told reporters. "We can't assume a quick recovery of China, that will not happen. The fact of the matter is that China is slowing down," he later said to analysts. The world's biggest commodity market, China, provides up to half of Rio's revenue, Jacques said, although the percentage varies from year to year. Underlying earnings for the six months to June fell to $1.56 billion from $2.92 billion a year earlier, beating analysts' forecasts around $1.46 billion, according to an externally compiled consensus. Gains in the aluminium business were better than expected, while iron ore and copper missed forecasts, analysts said. "It's a decent result in difficult times," said Paul Gait, an analyst at Bernstein in London. Rio's share price was down 0.8 percent by 1445 GMT, while the sector eased 0.3 percent. 'BUILD AND SMART BUY' Relative to the rest of the industry, the world's no.2 iron ore miner is strongly placed as it has cut debt faster than its peers, allowing it to dig new iron ore, copper and bauxite mines. Net debt decreased to $12.9 billion from $13.8 billion in December and Bernstein said the ratio of net debt to EBITDA, closely watched as an indicator of financial health, had fallen to 1.1. Rio Tinto's balance sheet enabled it to announce a half-year dividend of 45 cents a share, in contrast to rivals Anglo American and Brazil's Vale, which have suspended dividends. The payout beat analysts' forecast of 41 cents. Some analysts have said Rio Tinto should use its balance sheet to buy distressed assets rather than build new mines, but Jacques said the assets Rio Tinto wants are not for sale and prices others had paid for stakes in copper mines had been high. As one of the more bullish sectors, world copper supplies could begin to face a deficit in two to three years, and in 10 years' time there would definitely be a shortfall, Jacques said. "We've been very clear - it's about build and smart buy, and the word smart you can put in capital letters," he told reporters. Rio remains on track to cut costs by $2 billion over the two years to December 2017. Rio Tinto says it has learnt the lessons of the past when mining firms typically overspent during periods of high commodity prices, leading to overproduction and then a slump in markets. Jacques said capital expenditure would remain far lower than in the boom at less than $4 billion this year and $5 billion next year. "In this kind of cyclical and capital-intensive business, we must have a strong balance sheet," he said. (Additional reporting by James Regan in Sydney and Mamidipudi Soumithri in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard Pullin and Susan Thomas) Stellar Value Chain Solutions, a third-party logistics company, today said that an arm of Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm focused on growth investing, has agreed to invest up to $125 million in the company. Stellar Value Chain Solutions is founded and led by managing director and Chief Executive Officer Anshuman Singh, who previously set up and led Future Supply Chain Solutions for Future Group. Stellar is looking to serve a large and growing logistics market in India. The company intends to provide integrated logistics solutions that will include multi-user modern warehousing, primary and secondary distribution, e-fulfilment and cold storage. Stellar will enable value creation for its customers across the supply chain through a strong focus on technology and automation. Anshuman Singh, Founder and CEO, Stellar Value Chain Solutions commented, This is a very exciting stage for the $130 billion Indian logistics and warehousing industry, which is rapidly transforming and growing whilst also offering a number of consolidation opportunities. Over the next few years, we are looking to provide integrated logistics solutions which will include modern distribution centres and warehousing facilities at strategic locations across India. Our solutions will help customers realign their supply chain networks and unlock value, especially following the implementation of GST. We are excited to partner with given the firms global expertise in logistics, and experience in working with management teams in India to build durable businesses. Viraj Sawhney, Managing Director at said: We believe there is a shortage of high quality providers of outsourced logistics services such as warehouse management and distribution to a wide range of sectors in India. Anshuman brings deep domain expertise and a strong track-record of execution and value creation in this industry. We are excited to partner with Anshuman, and look forward to building Stellar Value Chain Solutions into a world class logistics company with a strong focus on technology and customer satisfaction. We will also seek to drive further consolidation of the third party logistics sector in India through this platform. Commercial Feature is a Business Standard Digital Marketing Initiative. The Editorial/Content team at Business Standard has not contributed to writing or editing these articles. For further information, please write to assist@bsmail.in The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has red-flagged an excess cost of Rs 9,585.92 crore recovered by Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in its operations in the eastern offshore KG-D6 gas block during 2012-14. A CAG report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday laments that many of the issues pointed out in previous audits (2006-12) of the production sharing contract (PSC) block persisted in 2012-14. The audit observed that RIL continued to claim excess cost recovery on identical issues during 2012-13 and 2013-14 despite the issues having been highlighted in previous audit reports. While the total financial impact of excess cost recovery during 2012-14 on account of the earlier identified audit findings was $1547.85 million (Rs 9307.22 crore), additional issues of excess cost recovery claimed by the RIL were noticed, financial effect of which was $46.35 million (Rs 278.70 crore), the report adds. With the new government coming into power, the petroleum ministry had intimated to the operator (July 2014) that the additional profit petroleum payable to the government by the contractor for period up to the financial year 2013-14 was $195.34 million (Rs 1,174.58 crore). The ministry had also directed RIL to remit the additional profit within 30 days from the date of receipt of the direction, which has not been complied with by the operator. The operator in a reply stated (August 2015) that the issue is under arbitration and therefore sub judice. The operator refrained from providing its comments on the subject to avoid any potential prejudice to either party to the arbitration, the report adds. Besides, the auditor has taken note of the issue of public sector oil giant ONGC's gas flowing into the eastern offshore fields of operated by RIL. CAG said that the November 2015 report of independent expert DeGolyer & acNaughton (D&M) submitted on reservoir continuity between KG-D6 and contiguous ONGC-operated blocks has pointed out that gas has migrated from the blocks owned by state-owned firm to the private company-operated fields. As on March 31, 2015, of the gas initially in place, 44.32 per cent in Godavari PML and 34.71 per cent in KG-DWN-98/2 (both of ONGC) had migrated to KG-D6. The report projected a higher proportion of gas migration and its production through RIL-operated KG-DWN- 98/3 (KG-D6) block by end of 2019. US-based portable molecular diagnostic products firm Alere Inc has set up its first integrated manufacturing facility in Manesar, near Delhi. The unit will produce over 150 million cartridges that can be used for rapid tests for infectious diseases including malaria, dengue and HIV. The Rs 150-crore facility, spread across 180,000 sq. ft, will generate 300 new jobs and is capable of doubling its capacity, the company informed. "Alere believes in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Make in India', and is committed to improving access to affordable rapid diagnostics in India and throughout the Asia-Pacific region through this new world-class manufacturing facility. The new factory will produce rapid tests for infectious diseases including Malaria, Dengue and HIV, and export them across Asia Pacific, a region heavily impacted by these diseases," Namal Nawana, CEO & President, Alere Inc., said. Alere employs 600 people in India and is the market leader in point-of-care diagnostic tests for dengue and malaria. The company is working closely with state governments and institutions like National Aids Control Organisation and Clinton Foundation. The company will continue to focus on cardio metabolic diseases, infectious diseases and toxicology (Drugs of Abuse) solutions in India by providing affordable, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, devices for disease control & management, stated a press release. The new facility is part of the company's Asia-Pacific expansion plan, as it wants the Indian facility to cater to the growing demand for rapid diagnostics in APAC Region. India has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mozambique to import 3,75,000 tonnes of pulses during 2016-19, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. "The government has signed an MoU with the government of Mozambique, which fixes targets of minimum quantities of import of tur and other pulses from Mozambique over three financial years," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. In 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19, the quantity signed is 1 lakh tonnes, 1,25,000 tonnes and 1,50,000 tonnes, respectively. India imported pulses worth USD 3.90 billion in 2015-16 as against USD 2.78 billion in the previous fiscal. In quantity terms, pulse imports in 2015-16 stood at 57.97 lakh tonnes as against 45.85 lakh tonnes in 2014-15. Similarly, the country imported edible oil worth USD 10.48 billion last financial year. In volume terms, it was 156.39 lakh tonnes. Last month, the Union Cabinet approved doubling of import of tur and other dals from Mozambique to 2 lakh tonnes per annum in the next five years. Pulse production fell to 17.06 million tonnes in the 2015-16 crop year (July-June), from 17.15 million tonnes in the previous year. In 2013-14, output was over 19 million tonnes. The minister said the government has taken several steps to ramp up production of pulses and oil seeds and reduce dependency on imports. As Rajya Sabha nods on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, the implementation of India's biggest tax reform since independence has just got a step closer. Infosys, country's second largest IT firm, has prepared a software to enable the traders, manufacturers and service providers to register with the government with a GST identity code. Infosys had bagged a Rs 1,320-crore contract to build GST Network (GSTN) system last year in September, beating four other IT companies - TCS, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and Microsoft. Below is all that you need to know about GSTN: 1) GSTN is a company formed to connect databases of states with the Centre and provide information technology (IT) infrastructure for seamless implementation of GST. 2) GSTN would help in PAN-based (Permanent Account Number-based) registration of traders, besides filing of tax returns and payment system. 3) Navin Kumar, Chairman of GST Network believes the system would be ready by February. "We would give Infosys the go-ahead for the procurement of hardware after Rajya Sabha clears the GST Bill. When that happens, installation and testing part would begin and by then parallely the software development would be completed," said Kumar. 4) The Centre and the states have agreed to equally share the costs incurred by GSTN. A sub-committee would decide on the sharing of the costs between the states. How will the GSTN work First of all, taxpayers will register themselves on the GST portal, then the information that they file will be sent to the tax authorities. As GST is a dual tax - the state GST and the Central GST - the application would be sent to both, the central government and the state government. After they approve the application, GST portal will generate their GSTIN (GST Identification Number) and thus they will become the registered taxpayers. With Rajya Sabha nodding on the Goods Services Tax (GST) Bill late on Wednesday, the journey on the long and bumpy road ahead has just started to craft a unified indirect tax structure in the country. Now the ball falls in state governments' court to pass further laws to determine the scope of GST in their respective states. GST Council First of all, a GST Council will be established, which will play a crucial role in ensuring uniformity of the GST across states. The Council will comprise of finance minister, revenue minister and minister in charge of finance/ taxation or any other nominated minister by each state government, which will have to give final shape to the contentious design issues that are yet to be worked out. ALSO READ: GST Bill: What could get cheaper and costlier The process can take until November which would mean that the legislation would not take place until the winter session of the Parliament. "While the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill is certainly an important step, the various aspects will also have to follow through before GST can be implemented. An April 2017 deadline would therefore be challenging - realistically, the date may be closer to July or October 2017," said Rohit Jain, Partner, Economic Laws Practice. Evolving the GST Network (GSTN) A huge IT system, called GSTN, needs to be set up, tax collectors trained and companies brought up to speed on a levy that experts say will force them to overhaul business processes from front to back. The process can take until November which would mean that the legislation would not take place until the winter session of the Parliament."While the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill is certainly an important step, the various aspects will also have to follow through before GST can be implemented. An April 2017 deadline would therefore be challenging - realistically, the date may be closer to July or October 2017," said Rohit Jain, Partner, Economic Laws Practice.A huge IT system, called GSTN, needs to be set up, tax collectors trained and companies brought up to speed on a levy that experts say will force them to overhaul business processes from front to back. ALSO READ: How Infosys will ensure smooth implementation of GST Bill Infosys, the country's second largest IT firm, has prepared a software to enable traders, manufacturers and service providers to register with the government with a GST identity code. Infosys had bagged a Rs 1,320-crore contract to build GST Network (GSTN) system last year in September, beating four other IT companies - TCS, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and Microsoft. Navin Kumar, Chairman of GST Network believes the system would be ready by February. Key points Countries that have introduced GST in the past have often faced a relative economic slowdown before the benefits of a unified tax regime feed through. India is already the world's fastest growing large economy, expanding by 7.9 per cent year-on-year in the March quarter. A Reuters report said economists at HSBC forecast a boost of 0.8 per centage points from the GST within three to five years. GST is likely to benefit sectors like FMCG, auto, cement, light electrical, multiplexes, retail and logistics. However, commercial vehicles, print media, cigarette and jewelry companies would be adversely impacted. "GST holds the potential to boost economic activity substantially, improve the government's revenue, and help achieve better transmission of prices. It would enable more seamless and efficient crediting of taxes paid on capital goods, which would then become 12-14 per cent cheaper, increasing demand for them, raising investment, and hence, economic growth," said Mr Motilal Oswal,CMD,Motilal Oswal Financial Services. The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Bill, after an over seven-hour long debate. The GST Bill, which has been in the making for over a decade, entails introduction of a single indirect tax regime across the country. According to top government sources, a fresh round of talks was held on Monday with Congress and other parties, including the Left and Samajwadi Party, for building a consensus on the key tax reform legislation . During the debate, finance minister Arun Jaitley said rates under GST must come down, and the government would strive for a reasonable rate. The Bill was passed with a majority of 203 votes. AIADMK members staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha, saying their concerns over GST were not addressed. Soon after the GST Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, PM Narendra Modi tweeted saying, "This reform will promote make in India, help exports thus boost employment while providing enhanced revenue." The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha on May 7, 2015 and since then saw intense negotiations between the government, opposition and the state governments to fix the tax rate and determining the compensation for the states for foregoing their revenue share and change in individual tax rates. The S&P BSE Sensex on Wednesday tanked 284 points to end below its crucial psychological level of 28,000, while the broader Nifty50 slipped below its key resistance of 8,550-mark. The headline indices edged lower as the market awaits a decision on the goods and services tax bill, with investors booking profits in recent outperformers such as Maruti Suzuki India. ALSO READ: GST: What could get cheaper and costlier The 30-share index ended the day at 27,697, down 284.20 points, while broad-based 50-share index quoted 8,544, down 78.05 points at close. A revamped goods and services tax is expected to be passed by the Rajya Sabha as early as Wednesday, with analysts saying the outcome was largely priced in. The country is headed for a potentially volatile month in August, with the government due to appoint a replacement for outgoing Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan. ALSO READ: Will Sensex, Nifty hit fresh lifetime highs post GST? Likely, say experts "There is high amount of profit-booking taking place in the market. As we expect GST to sail through, for now I don't think we will witness any substantial benefit from GST for at least one or two quarters," said Abhishek Jain, head of research, KR Choksey Securities. Automakers and logistics companies fell as investors remained wary ahead of the tax debate in parliament on hopes these sectors would benefit from a more unified tax system. Maruti Suzuki India fell as much as 2.2 per cent after rising to a record high on Tuesday on robust July sales. Tata Motors fell as much as 1.6 per cent, while Shipping Corp of India was down 1.7 per cent and Transport Corp of India fell 4.95 per cent. ALSO READ: GST or no GST, Sensex, Nifty look all set to correct in near-term Among other movers, Torrent Power fell as much as 7 per cent to a near 10-month low after posting a slide in June-quarter profit. HCL Technologies surged 8 per cent after the company reported a 6.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter ( QoQ ) rise in the net profit to Rs 2,047 crore in the June quarter. The scrip settled the day 3.16 per cent higher. International rating agency S&P Global Ratings on Tuesday said that Indian state-run banks will need Rs 2.5 lakh crore capital infusion over the next three years to meet Basel-III requirements. "The capital requirements will be sizeable... public sector banks need Rs 2.5 trillion to meet Basel-III requirements," agency's credit analyst Geeta Chugh told reporters over a conference call. She said the banks, which are mired in high levels of stressed assets, cannot raise the money from the markets and will have to depend on the government for the infusion. ALSO READ: Top 10 corporate groups owe Rs 5.73 lakh crore to lenders There are other avenues like issuing additional Tier-I bonds, which is yet to become popular, she added. However, if the banks fail to raise the required amount of capital, it may lead to them losing market share as they will be unable to fund the new credit demand. Difficulties surrounding capital infusions may also lead to consolidation, she said, elaborating that weaker and inefficient banks will be taken over by the stronger ones. Chugh said even though the banks will be reporting non- performing assets of around 8.5 per cent, the overall stress according to the agency stands at up to 13 per cent and the troubles surrounding NPAs will continue at least for a year. She said this will lead to the profitability of the banks being under pressure, which means the banks cannot generate internal accruals to be ploughed back to meet the higher capital requirements of the Basel-III framework. Reserve Bank has decided to gradually increase the capital buffers and adopt the Basel-III requirements in full by April 2019. Specifically, she said, iron and steel, infrastructure, construction and engineering sectors are the pain points for Indian banking system. The problem of NPAs is much smaller in China than India, where the credit costs have gone up beyond 2 percentage points, she added. Chugh said among the over two dozen state-run banks, only one - Union Bank of India - is having a negative outlook, which means there is a one in three chance of it getting downgraded. The government had last year announced it will infuse Rs 70,000 crore into the state run banks over four years while they will have to raise a further Rs 1.1 lakh crore from the markets to meet their capital requirements in line with global risk norms Basel-III. In line with the blueprint, PSU banks are to get Rs 25,000 crore each in 2015-16 and 2016-17 fiscals. Besides, Rs 10,000 crore each would be infused in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Assuming that the government will continue to support the banks, the agency has a 'stable' outlook on all other ratings, she said, adding that it had downgraded Indian Overseas Bank and Bank of India recently. When asked about the rating impact of SBI's consolidation efforts with the five associate banks, Chugh said it will not lead to any sizeable change. It's that time of the year again when all the flagship smartphones for the year will be unveiled. The show began with the Samsung Note 7 and was followed by the new Apple iPhones. Samsung, the Korean technology giant, has now unveiled its next flagship phablet - Galaxy Note 7. By skipping the Note 6, Samsung's Note 7 will complement the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge and will unify the product portfolio. Adorning a 5.7inch QHD AMOLED display, the Note 7 will be available in two variants - one powered by Snapdragon 820 and the other running on Exynos 8890 chipset - with 4GB of RAM. The device will have 64GB of internal storage with support for expandable memory of up to 256GB, which will be accessible through the hybrid SIM slot. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S7, even the Note 7 is water resistant. It has got a 12MP rear camera with OIS and LED flash and a 5 MP front facing camera. The Note 7 will have Android Marshmallow with TouchWiz UI onboard. Samsung has enhanced the security feature on the device by adding Iris scanner along with the fingerprint recognition. Samsung has added a Type C charging port and a 3500 mAh battery to the Note 7. It will be available in Blue Coral, Gold Platinum, Silver Titanium and Black Onyx. As the smartphone will go on sale on August 19, there are rumors that Samsung is planing to host a launch event in India on August 11. The French service sector picked up more strongly than initially thought at the start of the third quarter, offsetting ongoing manufacturing weakness, a survey showed on Wednesday. Data compiler Markit said its Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for services rose in July to 50.5 from 49.9 in June, better than a preliminary reading of 50.3. The index swung back above the 50-point threshold dividing an expansion in activity from a contraction. Markit's overall PMI index, which includes the services and manufacturing sectors, rose to 50.1 from 49.6 in June, slightly better than the 50.0 originally reported. That will alleviate fears that the sharp slowdown in French gross domestic product in the second quarter after a brisk start to the year could extend into the second half. But it did not materially change the picture of recent sluggish business growth, with the composite PMI index having oscillated around the 50-point mark since the start of 2016. "There were slight increases in new business and employment evident in the latest survey data, but overall little sign of any change to the subdued pattern seen throughout the year to date," Markit economist Jack Kennedy said. "Indeed companies' business expectations remain at a historically muted level." The hotels and restaurants sector, hit by a wave of bloody attacks claimed by Islamic State in French cities such as Paris and Nice, continued to register sharply falling activity, Markit said. In one positive sign for unpopular President Francois Hollande, companies added staff at the fastest pace in five months in July, after reducing headcounts for two straight months. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie The UK's vote to leave the EU may create further opportunities for Dublin as a leading international financial centre according to the largest professional services firm in Ireland, PwC. The recent PwC Global Economy Watch shows that Dublin currently ranks the second most attractive of the major European financial centres with London in the top spot. Luxembourg, Paris and Vienna rank third, fourth and fifth respectively. It should be noted that there are some items not picked up in the indicator, such as the appeal of different cities and regions as a place to live which also contribute to the attractiveness of a financial centre. The research shows that an important factor that contributes to Dublin's and London's current success as international financial centres is access to the Single Market via passporting arrangements giving financial institutions based in these locations unfettered access to the rest of the Single Market. PwC claim it appears that the only way for London to continue to benefit from passporting would be for the UK to join the European Economic Area (EEA) when it leaves the EU. But given that this scenario would probably mean free movement of labour continuing to apply, the UK making a contribution to the EU budget and EU-wide regulations still having to be applied in the UK, this could be a difficult outcome to achieve politically. Furthermore, it appears that the only way for London to continue to benefit from passporting would be for the UK to join the European Economic Area (EEA) when it leaves the EU. But given that this scenario would probably mean free movement of labour continuing to apply, the UK making a contribution to the EU budget and EU-wide regulations still having to be applied in the UK, this could be a difficult outcome to achieve politically. PwC's analysis further identifies the 10 EU countries that export the most to the UK, relative to the size of their economies and shows that Ireland is the most exposed EU country to Brexit from a trade perspective. Ireland (19.9%) and Cyprus (9.5%) sit at the top of the list. Of the larger European economies, Germany exports the most to the UK relative to the size of its economy (3.7%). France (2.5%) and Italy (1.7%) don't rank within the top 10. PwC Ireland head of Financial Services, Damian Neylin says, "The UK's potential loss of EU market access including passporting benefits poses great uncertainty in financial markets. While Ireland and Dublin offers certainty on access to the Single Market and EU passporting, other factors such as an english speaking, flexible and highly skilled workforce, a pro-business environment and a strong and stable legal system are also positives." He added, "Brexit is causing many uncertainties. We are already seeing some UK financial services organisations making enquiries on relocating to Ireland and only time will tell how this will develop." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) has today called for an increased focus on the reduction of business costs to allow SMEs the capacity to employ more. This comes after the latest figures from the CSO show that the standardised unemployment rate has remained at 7.8% for the third month, with 169,100 people still signing on the dole. Furthermore, youth unemployment is up for the second month and now stands at 16%. The Association called on Government to Stand firm on all public sector pay demands and any resultant industrial action, reduce government influenced business costs to below the EU average and target capital investment in job rich infrastructure. ISME CEO, Mark Fielding said, "Today's figures confirm that job creation has stalled due to business cost increases. The cornerstone of productivity and competitiveness is cost control and it is time that the Government became more involved in tackling cost-creep across the business sector". He added, "As an open economy we are dependent on exporting and therefore exposed to exchange rate fluctuations and the economic conditions of our trading partners. While we can do little to influence these, our competitiveness can be addressed by attention to input costs at home." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Two young Irish entrepreneur sisters, Malindi Demery (25) and Elena Demery (21), were celebrating this week after the exclusive distributors of the popular Freddy Jeans brand in Ireland, both claimed the Best Performance Internationally award, at the annual Freddy Clothing GTM event held in Lake Maggiore, Stresa, Italy. The award recognises the best growth rate among businesses across over 50 countries that now have Freddy Clothing Agents operating in. Freddy Clothing now has over 50 stockists across Ireland, including eight in Northern Ireland and over 15,000 people, typically in the 16-30 year age bracket wearing jeans. In addition, the company generates a substantial level of sales through its online ecommerce channel www.Freddy.ie. Having only established their business with the introduction of the Freddy Jeans brand into Ireland 18 months ago, the young entrepreneurs have now seen their clothing distribution business grow substantially, with turnover for this year exceeding the 1 million mark. On the back of this success, Malindi and Elena, trading as Freddy, have just renewed their distribution deal with Freddy Clothing, granting them exclusivity in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for another five years. In addition, the girls have been granted exclusivity for all wholesale sales in the UK market. The company also indicated that it will be looking to acquire new clothing brands, particularly to meet the demand for online shopping and is currently in the process of building a next generation website to be known as Freddy.style. Co-Founder of Freddy in Ireland, Malindi Demery said, "We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the interest and demand that we are experiencing for the Freddy Clothing range in Ireland. We are very excited about our future plans and what is possible over the next 12 months in terms of growing the business and building the Freddy Clothing brand." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us The Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny has been sold as a going concern to a consortium of successful Irish investors advised by OConnor Pyne & Co., a leading accountancy and advisory firm in Munster and specialists in the hospitality sector, having previously advised in hotel acquisitions throughout the country most notably the Fota Island Resort in Cork. The award winning Lyrath Estate Hotel & Spa comprises the original 17th century Lyrath House which has been carefully restored to its original grandeur and now sits with the more contemporary four storey purpose built hotel. The hotel was opened in 2006 and is located just 1.2 kms from the historic Kilkenny City. Director of CBRE Hotels, Dermot Curtin says, "The sale of the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Spa & Convention Centre delivers a very strong message to the market - to both hotel owners and investors - that there are willing purchasers out there with funding in place for quality Irish hotel properties, especially those Hotel & Resort properties that are well located, properly run and highly profitable, as the Lyrath property undoubtedly is." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us The two-day Utah State Chamber of Commerce Conference was held in Logan last week. Because Cache Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Sandy Emile is also president of the state organization, she was in charge of the event. Emile said it was a real honor to have chamber members from all over the state meet in Logan, something that hadnt happened for at least 17 years. She said there were some great break-out sessions. Our very own Cache Valley Media Group had Les Patterson present on the value of marketing and learning how to tell your story, both as a business leader and as a chamber of commerce, Emile explains. Understanding that each one of our chambers represents a very different region, while it is titled the same position your job is a little bit different depending on the area that you represent therefore the businesses that you represent. Emile said it is exciting to head the state chamber of commerce and she views it just as she views the local chapter. In her opinion, the role is bringing businesses together, to assist them in their successes whatever they deem those successes to be. LOGAN It is time once again for the annual Utah Ukulele Festival. The festival, which is in its fourth year, will be held Saturday, August 6th at Willow Park. The event will feature multi-Grammy Award winner Daniel Ho, a ukulele player who has produced 18 solo albums and has been featured in several movie soundtracks. Hes going to be doing a free concert, event founder Dave Manoa told Jason Williams on KVNUs For The People. Hell also be teaching an all-inclusive class for anybody who is interested. Manoa said the festival is unique in that it is a music festival where free lessons are taught. Our sponsors have donated ukuleles for anybody to come in to any of the lessons, he said. You dont have to have a ukulele. Manoa said the festival has grown each year, and expects even more this year. Were expecting people from all over the state, he said. Weve received emails from people who are coming from Idaho, up in the Boise area. There will be food vendors, concerts, an open mic competition and other attractions. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 450 W. 700 South in Logan. Logan City Police detective talking with an employee while investigating an auto burglary at Wilson Motor Company. LOGAN A 20-year-old Logan man, Derek P. Henderson, who is accused of breaking into a local car dealership and stealing a truck before fleeing to Idaho, was arraigned on theft and burglary charges. Henderson stood in 1st District Court Tuesday morning, next to his attorney, Wayne Caldwell. Judge Brian Cannell handed them information on the allegations that had been filed by prosecutors. The charges include two counts of theft and criminal mischief, both second-degree felonies, burglary and attempted theft, both third-degree felonies and one misdemeanor of causing an accident involving property damage. Detectives claim Henderson broke into Wilson Motor Company early on the morning of June 21. After entering the business, he stole a truck that was in the repair garage and drove it through a door on the east-side of the building. Officers contacted regional law enforcement agencies requesting them to be on the lookout for the truck. It was later found by police in the Idaho Falls area, who conducted a traffic stop, taking Henderson into custody for questioning. He was being held in Idaho on similar charges until the case was closed so he could be extradited to Logan. He is being held in the Cache County Jail on $26,000 bail. During Tuesdays court appearance, Caldwell said there are several issues involving restitution that they are working through with insurance companies. He asked that in the meantime, Henderson be considered for Drug Court, a court supervised treatment program for drug addicts. Judge Cannell said he would allow Henderson to try and enroll into Drug Court and ordered him to appear again September 13.

will@cvradio.com Col. James Bowie with 92 men camped near the old abandoned mission at Concepcion, two miles from San Antonio. Next morning, on Oct. 28, 1835, Bowie's detachment routed a 400-man Mexican assault force in the battle of Concepcion. Photo from the Library of Congress. After the clash at Gonzales, Gen. Martin Perfecto de Cos left Goliad and by forced march reached San Antonio de Bexar, 95 miles away, where he took command of the garrison from Col. Domingo Ugartechea. In what would prove to be a careless decision, Cos left behind a small skeleton force at Goliad. Capt. George Collinsworth, a planter at Matagorda, recognized the military importance of Goliad, which guarded the route inland, protected the road to San Antonio and linked San Antonio with the port of Copano. He organized a volunteer force to capture Goliad. He started with 52 men but others from Refugio, Victoria and surrounding country joined the expedition. Collinsworth's force reached the outskirts of Goliad after dark and scouts were sent to reconnoiter the town. Ben Milam, who had escaped from a prison in Mexico and was on his way home, was hiding in the brush when he heard English being spoken. Milam identified himself and joined the descent on Goliad. The Texans reached the fort about 11 p.m. on Oct. 9, 1835. La Bahia presidio was the strongest fortress in Texas, with reinforced walls up to six feet thick and defensive parapets. But Cos left only 24 men under the command of Lt. Col. Francisco Sandoval to hold the fort. Before midnight Collinsworth's men assaulted the presidio. They knocked down a heavy door leading to Sandoval's quarters and forced him to surrender. Some of Sandoval's men continued firing from their barracks. They were called on to surrender and an interpreter warned that if they did not give up immediately the colonists would kill every one of them. A trembling voice pleaded (in Spanish), "For God's sake keep them back. We will surrender." In the fight which lasted half an hour three Mexican soldiers were killed and one Texan was wounded. The Texan was Samuel McCulloch Jr., a free black, who was hit in the shoulder by a musket ball. The Texans found 300 muskets, several cannon, huge supplies of powder and lead, flour, sugar, coffee, whiskey, rum, and $10,000 in silver specie. With the capture of the Goliad fortress the Texans cut Cos's supply and communication line between Copano and Bexar and had him cornered in San Antonio. Collinsworth's report to the Council of War at Gonzales said, "I arrived here last night at 11 p.m. and marched into the fort by forcing the church doors and after a small fight they surrendered. (The Mexicans) have dispatched couriers for troops to several points and I expect I shall need your aid." On Oct. 28, more than 300 Texans marched out of Gonzales heading toward San Antonio. The Texan volunteer force, called the Army of the People, was under the command of Col. Stephen F. Austin, who was ill and reluctant to take command. On the march was the brass cannon and its flag with the provocative taunt "Come And Take It." Capt. Almeron Dickinson was in charge of the cannon. Halfway to San Antonio the cart broke down and the cannon was dumped into a creek. The Texans camped on Salado Creek south of San Antonio. Austin wanted to move close to where Cos had concentrated his forces to put the town under siege. Austin sent Col. James Bowie with 92 men to explore the old mission at Concepcion to see if it would serve as a base of operations. They rode through the trees along the San Antonio River to the old mission, two miles from town. They made camp in a wooded bend of the river, about 200 yards from the mission. During the night of Oct. 27 Gen. Cos dispatched an assault force of 400 dragoons and infantry to attack the Texans. Next morning a thick fog hung over the river bottoms. In the gray mist a Mexican soldier stumbled into a Texan sentry, Henry Karnes, whose warning shot alerted the Texans. Karnes yelled, "Boys, the scoundrels shot off my powder horn!" As daylight showed in the ghostly mist Bowie's men saw Mexican troops deploying to attack. The Texans took a defensive position behind a high bank in the horseshoe-shaped bend, with the river behind them and on their flanks and an open field of fire in front of them. Bowie's men were divided into two companies commanded by Capt. James Fannin and Capt. Robert Coleman. The Mexican assault forces were commanded by Col. Domingo Ugartechea. About 8 a.m. Ugartechea's soldiers advanced across an open prairie behind two cannon. The Texans took cover in a pecan grove in a bend of the river. Noah Smithwick, the blacksmith, said Mexican grapeshot crashed through the pecan trees overhead and pecans rained down on them. "I saw men picking them up and eating them with as little concern as if they were shaken down by a norther." As the sun burned off the fog the Mexican infantry made clear targets. The Mexican gunners at the cannons were all shot down. The Kentucky long rifles of the Texans were deadly at up to 300 yards while the British-made "Brown Bess" muskets carried by the Mexican soldiers were effective at only about 60 yards or less. The Mexican troops were decimated by the accurate fire of the Texans. They charged three times before retreat was sounded and they retired, leaving one of their two cannons behind. Ugartechea lost 76 killed or wounded while one of Bowie's men was killed. During the battle Smithwick saw Richard Andrews of Lavaca go down "lying as he had fallen, great drops of sweat gathering on his white, drawn face, and the lifeblood gushing from a hole in his left side. I attempted to raise him. 'Dick,' I cried, 'are you hurt?' 'Yes, Smith,' he replied, 'I'm killed; lay me down.' I laid him down and put something under his head." He was the first Texan killed in the Revolution. October was a momentous month for the Texans. It began with the clash at Gonzales on Oct. 2, the capture of Goliad on Oct. 10, and the battle of Concepcion on Oct. 28. Concepcion was the first real battle of the revolution, in which a large number of men were killed. There would be more and far deadlier battles to come. (This is the second of eight columns on the battles of the Texas Revolution.) The state firearms law that allows conceal carry on Texas college campuses went into effect Monday. Let's imagine what a freshman college student might write to her mother this fall. Hey Mom, too much to tell you about my first month on campus here at TAMUCC for a text. I kinda thought I might miss a lot of stuff. But here's news. There's some girls in the next apartment who are seniors and they all are packing! One of the girls even has a little cute holster for her Smith & Wesson. She can't wear her gun openly on campus rules, rules, rules but she can carry it anywhere else. Isn't Texas a great state? So it's just like home! You know how Daddy likes to go around with his AR-15 slung over shoulder all the time (just how he manages to steer that riding mower around and keep that fine weapon clear of grass is a trial, isn't it?). Well, he'd fit in fine with the crowd around the pool on Saturday night. Texas knew what it was doing when the Legislature passed the law that allows real Texans to take their guns to college. This 2016-2017 semester is the first for the law, but it's really caught on. Or least it has with the students I hang around with. I had a messy debate with another freshman about conceal carry on campus. This nerd thought that a college campus was no place for guns. Yada, yada, yada. LOL with that thought when you have that fender bender with another dude and he's packing and you're not. Of course, I could throw a hissy fit that I can't have my own little Glock deep in my purse. But you have to be 21 years old to have a conceal carry license. I betcha half of my freshman class would like to have their Colts at the ready in their jeans! So would all those sophomores and juniors. But the age thing means only seniors, like the girls across the way, are likely to have a gun handy. That means we can tell who is a senior and who is not. I am so glad you and Dad decided to put me up at this off-campus apartment instead of down the street at that Islander housing. I'm closer to the pizza place and this place is not hung up about guns like the housing on campus is. My girlfriend Missy who's going to TAMUK in Kingsville says students get to have their pistols and stuff at their dorms only seniors, of course but they get their own gun safes. Makes me wish I had become a Javelina instead! You were right about the different kinds of people you meet in college. I mean there are some real weirdos on campus. Like these screaming meemies who just shrieked when they saw a gun in a purse. You would have thought they had never been around a Beretta or a Ruger in their lives. Guess what? They hadn't. Wow, get a life! The classes have been great so far. But I do have a problem with one professor. He's already shown himself to be a left-winger. He spent the first class just talking about how crazy it was that students can carry firearms anywhere on campus. He says he has banned guns from his office and won't consult with any student he thinks is carrying a concealed weapon. (I think he never heard about our sacred Second Amendment.) Yes, he wears Birkenstocks (with socks!) and he drives a Volvo. It's an old Volvo but still a left winger car. It's just like Dad has warned me. Another college professor trying to indoctrinate me with left wing thoughts. But I got Rush Limbaugh streaming on my Apple to tell me the truth so I think I'll be OK. Just a couple of other things. Send more quarters. Those laundry machines eat up coins like a semi-automatic. Please Mom, don't call before 11 a.m. on weekends. You woke up the whole place the last time. Well, Mom, that's the way life is here at TAMUCC. Lock and load and go Islanders. Nick Jimenez has worked as a reporter, city editor and editorial page editor for more than 40 years in Corpus Christi. He is currently the editorial page editor emeritus for the Caller-Times. His commentary column appears on Wednesdays and Sundays. SHARE By Kirsten Crow of the Caller-Times An updated draft document intended to clarify the city's long-debated comprehensive plan is back. The latest draft of Plan CC, limited to general goals and strategies, returns for discussion in a special Planning Commission meeting Wednesday. The comprehensive plan which would include goals and strategies adopted by the city is intended to help the community navigate Corpus Christi's development, including its infrastructure, zoning, housing and transportation, among other facets that would frame future growth. Officials have said revisions in the draft crafted by a three-member Planning Commission subcommittee aim, in part, to clearly differentiate components of the plan and eliminate confusion about the line between its vision and its directives. The proposed Plan CC, for example, includes goals overarching community aspirations and strategies, which officials have said are broad approaches in pursuit of those goals. The new draft edits are intended to make clear the strategies included in Plan CC don't represent mandates and don't include action items, said Philip Ramirez, Planning Commission chairman. Any specific actions would be part of an implementation plan, which would be developed after the city finalizes and adopts its goals and strategies, according to city documents. The 61-page draft Plan CC shows council members' comments, previous revisions by the Planning Commission and new revisions by the subcommittee, including the reorganization, elimination and addition of some items. Officials have said controversy surrounding the proposed plan has been driven, in part, by ambiguity in the language of earlier drafts, leading to various interpretations of the document's meaning and purpose. Among those debates, there has been a long-standing argument on how the proposal could influence new development, and whether the proposal suggests stifling growth on the city's Southside or promotes urban sprawl. To revise the document, the subcommittee met about five times, reviewing the entirety of the previous draft, City Council members' suggestions and public input, said Annika Gunning Yankee, senior project manager. It's likely discussion on the proposed plan Wednesday will continue into the commission's regular Aug. 10 meeting, she said. Once the commission reaches an agreement on a draft, a recommendation would be made to the City Council. The council would then have the option of adopting the document, requesting amendments or returning it to the Planning Commission. Plan CC has been under construction since February 2014, when the city awarded a $1 million contract to Boston-based firm Goody Clancy to help create a comprehensive plan to replace its 1987 version. Twitter: @CallerCrow IF YOU GO What: Planning Commission special meeting When: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Where: Council chambers at City Hall, 1201 Leopard St. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi this school year will bus students from Alice and Robstown to St. John Paul II High School. Bishop Garriga Middle School students whose sibling attend the high school also will be allowed to ride the bus, which can hold up to 25 people. SHARE By Beatriz Alvarado of the Caller-Times The Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi this school year will bus students from Alice and Robstown to its only diocesan high school. The Rev. Peter Martinez, who is president of St. John Paul II High School and Bishop Garriga Middle School, said a new bus will begin transporting students Monday, the first day of school. Bishop Garriga students whose sibling attend the high school also will be allowed to ride the bus, which can hold up to 25 people. The Diocese invested in the bus to make Catholic education more accessible, Martinez said, adding some families enrolled the students after the bus was made available. "A Catholic education prepares students for this life and the next," he said. "We want to make that is as accessible to as many people as possible." The diocese oversees three types of schools diocesan schools, parish schools and private Catholic schools. John Paul and Bishop Garriga are diocesan schools with any operational shortfalls paid by the diocese. Incarnate Word Academy campuses elementary, middle and high school are private Catholic schools with independent funding sources. The daily rides will cost Alice parents $100 per month and Robstown parents $75. The schools are taking new students, Martinez said Tuesday. Anyone interested in a tour can call 361-855-5744. Twitter: @CallerBetty COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES A cat waits to be adopted at the Corpus Christi Animal Care Services, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2016. SHARE COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Animal Care Services Kennel Master Danni Alcantara discuses with the media the recent confusion about animal releases from the city animal care services Tuesday. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES A dog in a kennel waits to be adopted at the Corpus Christi Animal Care Services on Tuesday. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES A dog in a kennel waits to be adopted at the Corpus Christi Animal Care Services on Tuesday. By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times Being called a murderer hurts Danni Alcantara. She isn't. She's seen thousands of wagging tails come through Corpus Christi Animal Care Services and, like others on staff, thinks about the bouncy, furry wards long after they've left the facility. So when people post on social media calling the volunteers and staff at the center killers, it's not only painful to read, it also does more harm than good, staff said. "It gets you down ... it can get overwhelming for the staff," said Alcantara, a kennel master. Though well-intentioned, some residents post misleading information about the welfare of the shelter's animals, including when the animals will be euthanized. Alcantara and adoptionists JoAnn Martinez and Quinn Juarez say the posts and comments actually make it a worse situation for the animals. "Social media was a blessing at first because that's how we got the animals out there, and rescue groups all over would want our animals," Alcantara said. A social media post reading "Hurry and call they're killing him tomorrow," for example, leads to messages being exchanged between the poster, who is not affiliated with the facility, and potential adopter. There are 38 active volunteers in the program, but only Alcantara, Martinez and Juarez, are authorized to coordinate adoptions. The adopter thinks they're on track toward picking up a pet, but without animal care services' involvement, the adoption may not happen. In some cases, the pets are already adopted or returned to their owners. "They will use misinformation or scare tactics online, which prompts people to call the city manager and the mayor," Corpus Christi Police Capt. Chris White said. "In some cases, they will have GoFundMe accounts as a tactic to draw money." In other instances, a person wanting to save a dog or cat will "tag" it on the animal care services' website, meaning they intend to adopt. But then they never show up. While this gives the animal more time in the shelter, it prevents legitimate adopters from taking home that furry friend. "The animal will just sit in the kennel waiting to go to a home, and it's taken off the adoption list," Martinez said. After an animal is brought in to the shelter, several attempts are made to reconnect it with its owner. After about a week, the animal's case is reviewed and it may be put up for adoption depending on health and temperament. It's rare that any animal is euthanized and it usually happens when it is sick, old or there is no space, Alcantara said. "We wish people would work with us, not against," Martinez said. "They call us murderers like we're killing the animals. It's easy to attack us, but know that we're doing the best we can." There are 78 dog kennels in the shelter, which are filled as quickly as animals are adopted, Alcantara said. Looking to help? Foster an animal, said Senior Officer Kirk Stowers. Hosting an animal temporarily in the home will help its acclimation toward people and make it easier to be adopted, he said. Animal Care Services is at 2626 Holly Road and can be reached at 361-826-4606 or by email at CCACSrescues@cctexas.com. Find them on Facebook at Corpus Christi Animal Care Services. Twitter: @Caller_Jules SHARE By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times Since 1996, Buc Days has helped students attend college with a scholarship fund. In a news release Tuesday, the Buccaneer Commission announced it will be awarding 45 scholarships in 2017. The scholarships amount to $85,000 according to the release. Students are awarded the scholarships based on different criteria, which includes grade point average and financial need, according to the release. The Buccaneer Commission has awarded 268 scholarships since 1996, totaling $904,200. Buc Days Festival will be back from May 4-14 in 2017. Twitter: @Caller_Fares SHARE An issue that was debated in the last legislative session and which should be passed this legislative session is raising the age of offenders who are treated as adults in the Texas criminal justice system. After studying this issue for several years and speaking with criminal justice experts, I have concluded that this is an important issue which needs correcting in order to salvage young lives and increase the size of Texas' workforce. Texas is one of the few states that automatically places 17-year-olds into the adult criminal justice system. That means those offenders are housed with adult criminals when they are awaiting trial and sent to adult prisons if they are convicted. That is a system designed to punish and not designed to prepare young offenders for the rest of their life after prison. For some, it only prepares them for a future in and out of prison and relegates them to a life of never being able to provide for themselves and their families. Offenders under 17 enter the juvenile system, where they are housed with people closer to their own age until trial and, if convicted, enter a juvenile system that is geared toward rehabilitation. While we could always do more, the current juvenile system helps prepare young people for life outside of the system, so that they are productive members of society once they are released. The vast majority of states reserve the adult criminal justice system for legal adults over age 18 and it is time for Texas to join them. We have seen that one-size-fits-all justice policy doesn't work. Not all 17-year-olds should end up in the adult system; however, there are situations when some 17-year-olds should be handled in the adult system. Those cases include multiple repeat offenders and persons who commit violent crimes. In the event that the crime committed by a 17-year-old is worthy of being tried and punished as an adult, that could still happen. A judge would be able to certify that offender as an adult and move forward with legal proceedings. That way, we are looking at individual cases and not just putting all 17-year-olds in the adult system no matter the offense. There are many reasons this is the right thing to do. Young offenders who go through the juvenile justice system have the opportunity to get education and job training services while in the system and when they get out their records are sealed. That makes it easier for them to become productive and employed members of society, greatly reducing the chance that they will reoffend. Offenders who end up in the adult system have limited access to those services. When they get out, they are often worse off than when they went in. Their records make it much harder to find a job and housing. Without adequate education and job training and limited possibilities of finding a job or a place to live the chances that they stay out of trouble are not good. The recidivism rate is far higher for someone coming out of the adult system compared to the juvenile system, simply because of the way the systems are designed. Raising the age that a teenage offender enters the adult criminal justice system makes good sense for the future of our children and the fiscal future of Texas. It is something that should pass in 2017 to improve our criminal justice system. SHARE One year ago, for the first time in 27 years, I woke up unemployed. The previous day had started like most other days, but it ended with a 15-minute meeting that changed my life as I heard the words "reboot" and "at will." I visited with my wife and kids that morning after, and they wondered why I was not dressed for work. I had kept it from them for 24 hours, and it was the hardest day as a father because I now had to look my family in the eye and explain that I had lost my job. That morning, the room grew silent and we all cried together. The most painful moment was my young daughter, Cameron, looking at me with watery eyes and asking the simple question, "why?" . I didn't have an answer. You see, I had built a career from the ground up. Starting as an intern and working my way to Deputy Land Commissioner one of the highest positions at the Texas General Land Office. I knew I had done it the right way, working hard every day, never settling for average and always building the most amazing team I could ever hope for. My first opportunity was a temporary part-time summer job at $600/month. My dad, longtime state Sen. Carlos Truan, helped me get that job and during one of my first weeks, as he helped with my tie, I remember him saying "you are only being given an opportunity, it's up to you what YOU do with it nobody owes you anything and you are not entitled to anything . let your hard work speak for itself!" I have never forgotten that and, as I look back, it's why I am so proud of the career I built. My career was in an office headed by an elected official during the time Texas had transitioned to Republican. As Land Commissioners changed, my work was always evaluated as I interviewed (sometimes annually) to keep my job. January 2015 was no different as a new Land Commissioner was assuming office. Again, my experience and accomplishments were reviewed but I also had glowing recommendations from former Land Commissioners, especially the previous officeholder, for my leadership and innovation. As in previous agency changes, I was asked to remain and given even more responsibility leading the Permanent School Fund Income Division where in just a few months I successfully pushed forward an online lease bid process that has since earned more than $120 million to help support K-12 education. I celebrated 27 years of service only a few weeks before I found myself without a job and only a couple of years shy of retiring from the office I served faithfully for so many years. It was rare to serve under four Texas Land Commissioners even rarer to come from a Democratic family and be promoted to the highest positions of responsibility under three different Republican Commissioners. My dad's advice was golden nobody owed me anything, I wasn't entitled to anything, and I always let my work speak for itself. Starting over is NOT easy. It has been a tough year filled with adjustments and sacrifices that so many others are facing. I recently joined Health and Human Services Inspector General Stuart Bowen's office working for an amazing leader and organization that shares the values of professionalism, productivity and perseverance. I am rebuilding my career and using my experience to build leaders, to be innovative and to improve government service. So, as I sat down with Cameron last night, remembering a year ago when I looked into her little watery eyes as she asked me the most important question in the room that day, "Why?," I still cannot answer her. Last night she asked if I was OK and I reminded her of the one-year anniversary. I also reminded her that I had said everything was going to be OK, and I asked her if it is she, tearfully, looked me in the eyes and said "yes" and she hugged me tight. As I look back at that 15-minute meeting a year ago, I realize that sometimes the "why" really doesn't matter as much as we think it does. It's about HOW you respond being true to who you are, being true to others, finding happiness, and never giving up. Cheers! | BY Ricki Green | 20 years after its release, a remake of the Spice Girls Wannabe video, titled #WhatIReallyReallyWant, launched online on Tuesday 5th July to global acclaim with the ambition to tell world leaders what girls and women really, really want in 2016 to achieve the UNs Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Today, SAWA, the Global Cinema Advertising Association and its Cinema Advertising company members are launching #WhatIReallyReallyWant in cinemas internationally to capture the attention of huge global audiences. The members will begin screening the film from July and up until September 2016. The film will be distributed around the world through Unique Digital. Conceived by Project Everyone, in partnership with SAWA and Getty Images, #WhatIReallyReallyWant is directed by MJ Delaney of Moxie Pictures and features artists from all around the world including Gigi Lamayne and Moneoa from South Africa, Seyi Shay from Nigeria, Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez from Sri Lanka, M.O from the UK, Taylor Hatala from Canada and Larsen Thompson from the USA. The film calls on people to share #WhatIReallyReallyWant on social media, igniting a campaign to encourage mass public support for the rights of girls and women. The visual responses bearing the tag #WhatIReallyReallyWant will be presented to world leaders this coming September at the United Nations General Assembly, spurring on the global Girl Power movement and engendering new political commitments from world leaders and their governments. Rallying behind the hashtag #WhatIReallyReallyWant, the film has attracted more than 100 million views online since it launched, inspiring millions of people to share their hopes and aspirations for the future of female empowerment. The original Spice Girls Victoria Beckham, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton and other global celebrities and womens rights champions including Emma Watson, Paloma Faith, and Jamie Oliver are just a few of the personalities who flooded the web to share their incredible support for #WhatIReallyReallyWant. Says Cheryl Wannell, general manager of SAWA, based in Sydney: We are delighted to continue working with Project Everyone and to screen this amazing film in cinemas globally, thanks to the support of our Global Members. The power of Cinema has long been apparent, from the time of silent film right through to the implementation of 3D and all in between. Technology is one thing but Cinemas storytelling capability and power to drive change is when it is at its most powerful. Says Richard Curtis, writer, director, Comic Relief co-founder and SDG advocate: Last year the UN, Project Everyone and many partners launched a mass awareness-raising campaign reaching 3 billion people in just 7 days with news of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This year were keeping up the noise and going deeper - fighting for 15 decisive years - trying to show how the Goals contain the answers to the worlds problems, from the refugee crisis to disease, humanitarian disasters to terrorism and war. And especially focusing on the incredible importance of progress in the area of girls and women - Global Goals for Global Girls. The campaign follows the hugely successful We Have a Plan cinema movement that ran on screens with the launch of the UNs Global Goals on 25th September 2015. The UN and Project Everyone created a film to introduce the UNs Goals to the world. Thanks to SAWA and its members, the film was aired in cinemas around the world in 30 countries and achieved great success becoming the first ever cinema ad campaign. To demonstrate the impact of the cinema campaign, SAWA had commissioned Nielsen, the media measurement company, to measure the activity and reported on large-scale awareness and long-term recall being achieved. In U.S cinemas alone, We Have a Plan was seen over 52 million times. The film #WhatIReallyReallyWant is screened in SAWA global member cinemas internationally between July and September 2016, distributed through Unique Digital. Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at 3:50PM The world of virtual reality is about hit the back to school shopping crowd with an adventure experience at Toronto's Dixie Outlet Mall. From August 12 to September 4, visitors to the mall are invited to check out the new VR Experience Lounge as they take a break from their busy shopping time. A new theme will be offered at the lounge for a difference experience each week and will engage shoppers in the latest virtual reality technology using Samsung Gear VR. Explore oceans, safaris, other travel and more, while uncovering back-to-school offers. Complimentary wi-fi and snacks. Visitors to the lounge will also be entered for a chance to win a $500 back-to-school shopping spree. Needless to say, this is where we will find the patiently waiting parents. Dixie Outlet Mall is home to over 120 retailers and is one of Canada's largest enclosed outlet shopping centres. HARWICH The Cape Cod Commission subcommittee sitting on the development of regional impact application for the Harwich Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan unanimously voted on Thursday to recommend adoption of the plan to the full commission. The full commission is scheduled to act on the recommendation in a hearing on Aug.18 in Barnstable. Thursday's hearing was the second time in three months the subcommittee has examined the documents. The first came when conducting a Single Environmental Impact Report review in April as required under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, which led to the issuance of a certificate of approval from Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton in May. The town's consultant, David Young of CDM Smith, Inc., provided the subcommittee with an overview of the plan, which focuses on addressing high nitrogen and phosphorus levels which degrade marine waters and freshwater ponds. Young pointed out a 400 percent population increase between 1950 and 2000 is driving the degradation problems, and 85 percent is caused by wastewater. He cited the need to reduce nitrogen in the five watersheds in Harwich, ranging from 58 to 100 percent. Citing unhealthy conditions caused by excessive phosphorus in ponds, particularly Hinckley's and Seymour's ponds in Pleasant Lake, Young spoke to the need for alum treatment and sewering in and around some freshwater bodies. He cited the eight phases of a plan that could cost between $180 and $230 million to implement over a 40-year period. He cited early accomplishments, such as the Muddy Creek Bridge reconstruction, which has increased tidal flow as a means of reducing nitrogen build-up. He also cited negotiations between Harwich and Chatham officials relating to treatment of wastewater from East Harwich at the Chatham treatment plant. Young also spoke of community discussions about zoning changes in East Harwich, citing potential development reductions from original draft documents calling for 500,000 square feet of commercial space and 250 dwelling units 200 units and 250,000 square feet of commercial space. Young also cited the community partnership options under discussion with Dennis and Yarmouth, which would be 15 years out in the Harwich plan, that could result in one treatment plant for the three towns, located in Dennis, and recharge sites in each community. The CWMP proposes a treatment plant be developed at the former town landfill site off Queen Anne Road in phase four, but Young emphasized this is an adaptive plan and adjustments will be made along the way. Cape Cod Commission Chief Regulatory Officer Jonathan Idman said the staff has found that Harwich's plan meets the development of regional impact and 208 Plan Update overall goals. He cited the need for the commission to set conditions and provide review of the plan going forward, establishing benchmarks where reviews would be required. He said as the town comes forward with particular projects, the commission needs the ability to review and conduct impact analysis. But he said there is no reason to open a DRI hearing for each individual project. Idman said there would be a need for review as the town enters phase four when it would be proposing to build the treatment plant or utilize other adaptive management methods. That would be a good time to reassess 208 compliance, Idman said. A major modification can be accommodated through adaptive management, but some might require DRI adjustments, Idman said. Commission members had several questions about controlling growth and reducing build-out. There were also questions about the absence of a fertilizer control bylaw and the town's plan to educate residents to fertilizer use. Chatham commission member Michael Skelley said the bottom line is Harwich residents have to buy into the plan. If you don't do the political side of it they're dead, Skelley said. He said the commission does not get involved in that side and it is important to help the town get the money approved to go through the phases. We have to find a way to bring it down to a palatable situation for the town to vote on this, Skelley said. Orleans commission member Leonard Short said his town has been working at it for 20 years and he does not know if they will ever have a plant. He pointed out it came six votes short of a two-thirds majority vote for funding. He cited a split vote between a four member board of selectmen after the fifth member resigned. This is what you are heading into unless you educate the public, Short said. Harwich has provided funds for an outreach consultant to assist with educating residents. Short said Orleans has a consensus group and they have hired a consultant. We have the support of non-residents, Short said. It's the voters we don't have the support from. During the public comment period, Don Keeran, assistant director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, cited a USGS study examining sea level rise. The south side of Harwich along Nantucket Sound is likely to experience sea level rise, he said, urging the town to examine what impact that will have on septic systems. He also recommended a conservative approach in growth management. Commission subcommittee chairman Richard Roy said a lot of public outreach has been done with the plan. It's important to push these projects, particularly when you get a good plan like this, Roy said. He accepted a motion to approve the DRI subject to conditions and forward it to the full commission. It was voted unanimously. 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. Bank of Baroda (BOB) invites applications for the posts of probationary officer (PO) in junior management grade / scale-I. Interested candidates can read here the details on eligibility criteria, examination pattern, selection procedure, important dates and more. Name of Post: Probationary officer junior management grade / scale-I No. of posts available: 400 posts Who is eligible? Candidate should have a bachelors degree in any discipline from a recognised institute/university. Candidates should have secured minimum 60% marks in aggregate, 55% marks in case of SC/ST/PWD candidates. Candidate should not be between 20 years and 28 years of age. How to apply: Candidates have to apply online on the official website of Bank of Baroda. Application fee of Rs 600 must be paid, Rs 100 for SC/ST/PWD candidates. Examination Pattern: The examination will be online, computer-based mode. Questions will be both objective and descriptive. In the descriptive paper, writing skill in English will be tested. The descriptive paper of only such candidates will be assessed who secure a minimum qualifying mark in the objective test. For every wrong answers in objective test, negative marks (1/4th of marks assigned to that question) will be deducted. For PO exam syllabus, click here. Selection procedure: Candidates who qualify the preliminary examination will be have to attend psychometric assessment, group discussion and personal interview round. Manipal School of Banking Selection Exercise-2016-17 After passing all the exams, the candidate will join the bank. However, a three months Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in the form of on the job training will have to be carried out at a Bank of Baroda branch. Post completion, the candidate will receive a post graduate diploma in banking and finance by the Manipal University. The fees for this course will be Rs 3.45 lakh (all inclusive of boarding, Lodging and course fees, other fees, etc.) plus service taxes. The students can also avail education loan. Important dates: Answers Africa is one of a kind platform created for Africans both locally and in the diaspora and those seeking for more in-depth information about Africa. We have always focused on creating the highest quality informational contents right from the beginning. We share the most relevant information on the latest and trending news, events, people, and places in Africa. We produce contents across various categories including Politics, People, Love and Romance, Nature, Entertainment, Technology and pretty much everything else that Africans may find relevant. We aim to answer the most relevant questions about Africa in areas of entertainment, famous people, emerging technologies while we also engage with various distribution capabilities to connect with Africans in need of information who rely on our website to keep in touch with the world that is changing so fast. These are some of the articles you may be interested in reading: 10 Famous TV Personalities Born In Ethiopia Ethiopia is a country best known for its fast athletes like Dibaba and Bekele, breathtaking models like Liya Kebede and of course Haile Selassie but there are also famous TV personalities who are doing a great job in entertainment and pushing the country to civilization. The following is a list of ten most famous TV ... Top 10 African Authors of All Time The pace of present African literature is moving at a high-speed; more defiant in both style and tone than those of the great independence writers generation. Here, the subjects of taboo are widely explored. The emerging African authors of this generation are not afraid to go further afield for the literary fodder. Meanwhile, since the birth ... Maina Kageni Biography Daughter, Salary and Gay Rumors Maina Kageni is one of those Kenyans who has remained as interesting as ever in the eyes of the public. A strong Red devil fan and lover of football, the man is currently a Breakfast Show presenter with Mwalimu Kingangi on Nairobis Classic 105 Radio Station. Many questions have always emerged on the man in serious ... Kalekye Mumo Biography, Boyfriend and Salary Kalekye Mumo has been described as someone who is as vibrant as she is beautiful, a Kenyan radio queen, TV host and media personality, movie actress, Musician, businesswoman, and fashionista but what else is there to know about this Kenyan icon, Kalekye Mumo and her co-host Shaffie Weru have been among the most listened to radio presenters ... Julie Gichuru Bio Age, Husband & Children In Africa, women have a long history of bringing under control obstacles to keep their heads above the water. So, it comes as no surprise whenever African women are recognized and decorated across the continent and globe for performing brilliantly well in their various fields of endeavor. In Kenya for instance, a list of national ... Jeff Koinange Biography All About His Age, Wife Shaila Koinange & Family Jeff Koinange is a well-known Kenyan journalist. He currently hosts Jeff Koinange Live on KTN. Koinange has served as a journalist in the United States and has also worked for a few U.S. broadcasters. He was born in Kenya but attended college in the United States, which may explain his accent. There are several interesting ... Caroline Mutoko Biography Age, Daughter & House Caroline Mutoko is a Kenyan radio presenter, famously known for hosting a morning breakfast show on Kiss 100 FM. The station is based in Nairobi and ranks among the highly-rated radio stations in Kenya with online streaming services as well. Learn more about the Kenyan-born journalist. Caroline Mutokos Age and Bio Born on January 4, 1973, Caroline is ... The Most Stunning News Presenter In Kenya Discloses Her Real Age You Would Not Believe It In modern African societies, it is often regarded as impolite or outright lack of disrespect to ask a woman of her age. We also have seen celebrities lie about how old they are when asked their age. 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Tracing Isha Sesays Career Until CNN, Her Worth And Why She Divorce Her Husband As far as journalists of African origin go, Isha Sesay is one of the most famous on the continent and by extension, the world. The Sierra Leonean and British journalist has had a successful career since she joined the industry in 1998. In that time, she has worked for a host of major media ... Open Secrets of How Joanna Gaines Balances Her Career With Being a Wife and Mother Joanna Gaines is the co-founder of Magnolia Homes, a business she runs with one goal: converting houses to homes. She doubles as the lead designer of the company which she co-owns with her husband, Chip Gaines. Lady Gaines gained massive popularity when she became a co-star with her husband on the HGTVs show, Fixer Upper. ... Juicy Details of Ayesha Currys Love Story With Stephen, Her Family Members and Recent Pursuits When your husband is one of the greatest basketballers that the NBA has ever seen, then it bestows on you the status of a celebrity wife and may not even demand that you do anything extra to maintain that status. However, Ayesha Curry, the wife of multiple NBA champion, Steph Curry, is not one ... What Is Tarek el Moussas Ethnicity, Why Did He Divorce His Wife and Who Is He Dating? Tarek El Moussa has made himself one of the most recognizable men on reality television, especially to fans of HGTV. Thanks to his expertise in the world of real estate, Tarek has become a national star. But even to his hardcore followers, there are questions about Tarek El Moussa that remain unanswered, such as his ... Fun Facts About Natalie Beckers Lonely Childhood and Eventual Career Success Natalie Becker is an actress of South African descent who became famous for her appearance in films like The World Unseen and The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior. A multitalented individual, Natalie is also a television/radio presenter. She is also a co-founder of the Thought Leader Global Media which she runs together with ... Top 3 Female CNN News Anchors You Didnt Know Were Africans CNN is one of the leading news agencies in the world. The satellite and cable news network was founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and has been one of the best sources of news for a number of years. It also boasts of the best journalists and presenters all around in media broadcasting. The company is a ... Channels That Aided Katie Pavlichs Growth as a Journalist and All About Her Marriage To Friedson If you have ever come across any Fast and Furious featuring Barack Obama, it is the handiwork of Katie Pavlich. 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How Wendy Williams Went From Being a College DJ to Having Her Own Talk Show and More About Her Divorce Wendy Williams is a former radio personality, now talk show host, who is known for her outspokenness and brash no-nonsense attitude. She gained fame and notoriety for her on-air clashes with celebrities before moving on to host her own talk show. Since 2008, Williams has hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show, The Wendy Williams Show. ... Who is Sunny Hostin? Her Husband, Family & Net Worth Sunny Hostin is no ordinary Latina American lawyer but also a successful columnist, multi-platform journalist, and social commentator. A happily married woman and mother of two, Hostin is the Senior Legal Correspondent and Analyst for ABC News and co-host of ABCs popular morning talk show, The View. She is a legal expert popularly known as a former ... Who Is Robert Costa and Is He Married, Who Is His Wife? Robert Costa is a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC who is regarded as being part of Americas next generation of journalists. The University of Notre Dame graduate, who is of Italian/Portuguese descent, has been lauded for his fresh political perspectives in an industry full of old heads. In addition to his work listed above, Costa ... Team Valor Pokemon Go 7 Key Facts You Need To Know Team Valor Pokemon Go The craze of the new game Pokemon Go is one that took the gaming world by storm sending teenagers and adults alike into a frenzy and one of its teams Team Valor, has proven to be instrumental in making it so. Before the game was created, Pokemon was a cartoon ... Sheryl Underwood Husband, Family & Net Worth She is known for her trademark smile which can be described as the brightest and broadest smile ever seen on planet earth. She is none other than Sheryl Underwood the comedian, actress, and TV host whose funny wits has left America in great awe. 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Critical Facts About Lee Ann McAdoo The Infowars Anchor Lee Ann Mcadoo is a conservative journalist and television host whose interests in conspiracies and astrology has established her as a famous American reporter. Often referred to as Wonder Woman, McAdoo is a reporter who works for InfoWars.com, a controversial right-wing website run by radio show host, Alex Jones. Who Is Lee Ann McAdoo? Lee Ann McAdoo was born on 7 ... Millie Weaver Age, Husband & Infowars Career Millie Weaver is an American model, journalist, political activist, and social commentator. The young and beautiful journalist rose to fame working as a reporter for a controversial right-wing website InfoWars.com. Also known as Millennial Millie, Weaver is a social media influencer with over 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and over 35,000 followers on Twitter. Who Is Millie Weaver and What Is ... Is Jessica Tarlov Married? What Are Her Height & Weight? 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Is Cesar Millan Dead, Who Is The Wife & What Is His Net Worth? Cesar Millan is the famous dog whisperer who often stirs up mixed emotions. The Mexican-American is precisely speaking, a dog behaviorist; he has been in the game for over 25 years. His Emmy-nominated television series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan further pushed his method and tactics into the limelight. The series was produced from 2004 ... Is Thomas Sanders Gay and Does He Have A Boyfriend? By the time Vine was shut down in January 2017, Thomas Sanders was already popular within and beyond the internet community for his heavy involvements on the online video hosting platform. After the tragic shutdown of Vine impacted on the growing career of the multi-talented personality, he immediately switched over to YouTube where he continued to upload ... Is Shepard Smith Gay, Who Is The Boyfriend & What Is His Net Worth? There are only a few media personalities who are as bold and confident as Shepard Smith. 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Joel Osteen Divorce Rumors, Net Worth & Family Members Joel Osteen is an American Televangelist, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church based in Houston, Texas, a husband and a father of two. He is an author of many books, seven of which are New York Times Best Sellers and his televised sermons capture more than 7 million viewers per week and 20 million every month ... Who Is Todd Chrisley? What To Know About His Children, Gay Rumors & Net Worth Premiered on the USA network in 2014, Chrisley Knows Best is one of the most watched family reality TV shows in the U.S. The series which is currently in its sixth season is centered around U.S real estate mogul Todd Chrisley and his family. The show reveals Todd the patriarch of the Chrisley family as a strict dad who rules ... Who Is Shannon Bream Of Fox News? Her Husband, Children & Net Worth Shannon Bream who hosts the iconic primetime program started her journalism career in the late 1990s debuting as the evening and late-night news reporter for the CBS affiliate, WBTV. The beauty from America currently works for the Fox News Channel and she is best known for anchoring the primetime program. She also hosts Americas News ... Is Troye Sivan Gay, Who Is His Boyfriend and What Is His Net Worth? Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and songwriter best known for songs like Happy Little Pill, Youth, Heaven (with Betty Who) and The Boyfriend Tag (with Tyler Oakley) which have all garnered him different awards and ranked on the Billboard Charts. Sivan, who was born in South Africa but now resides in the United States, is ... Did iDubbbz Have Cancer, Is He Gay and Who Is His Girlfriend Now? iDubbbz is one YouTuber who has made a career out of courting controversy. 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Is Rachel Maddow Gay, Who is the Wife and How Much Does She Earn in Salary? Rachel Maddow is an award-winning American journalist, political commentator, and television news anchor. She is best known for hosting the popular nightly TV show The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Prior to this, she hosted a talk radio program on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. As of now, the TV sensation co-anchors MSNBCs ... Demystifying Pokimane Her Real Name, Ethnicity & Boyfriend Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Pokimane Thicc is one of those stars who took advantage of the internet to make a name for herself. Given the unlimited potentials which the social media space offers, many people have been instantly propelled to fame just by posting creative online contents. Not only has ... A Breakdown of Kris Jenners Net Worth, Sources Of Income and Relationships Over The Years Standing outside and looking in, Kris Jenner looks like the oil that greases the wheels of the entire Kardashian/Jenner machine. She has been dubbed a momager and rightfully so because she seems to have had a part to play in the trajectory of each and every one of her daughters individually and the Kardashian brand ... Pursuits That Brought Liza Koshys Fame To its Zenith and Her Love Life Since David Dobrik Liza Koshy is an American actress who has leveraged YouTube as a platform to promote her comedy while also serving as a television host on occasions. She is talented and funny and has gathered a lot of fans from around the world. Koshy started on Vine in high school and was able to get millions of ... Alex Aiono Biography Inside The Life Of The American Singer Not everyone who started from the streets has attained the heights where Alex Aiono is currently. 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Who is Papa Franku Also Known As Filthy Frank or Joji, Where is He Now? The social media as we all know today has given people the opportunity to be creative and innovative and at the same time, make something of themselves. YouTube is one of the known social platforms we have today that makes it possible for people to express their God-given talents and post videos they created to ... Who Is Molly Qerim, How Did She Become a Famous Sports Anchor and Who Is Her Husband? Molly Qerim is an American sports anchor popularly known for moderating First Take, a highly rated sports talk show, on ESPN. Prior to joining ESPN, Qerim hosted Fantasy Live and NFL AM on NFL Network. It is quite obvious that the widely acclaimed television personality is in a class of her own when it comes ... Safiya Nygaard Height, Parents & Net Worth Safiya Nygaard is an American YouTuber, writer, content producer, and director who is popular for posting makeup, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. 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Truth About Tony Romos Wife, Kids and Life Since His NFL Retirement Tony Romo grew from the field as a quarterback to the screens as an American Football Analyst. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the richest football league in the world (NFL) before retiring. As a junior, he was honored as an All-Ohio Conference Member, an Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and ... Who is Brittany Venti, The Controversial Game Streamer and YouTuber? In recent times, many people live stream themselves playing video games. This has become a popular pastime on the internet and many highly skilled gamers have become internet celebrities through this means. However, some of them rather than becoming renowned for their gaming skills and great commentary, have become controversial and infamous. A good example ... Rob Dyrdeks Family: His Kids And Relationship With Wife Bryiana Noelle Flores A multi-talented star and an elite pro skateboarder, Rob Dyrdeks success story began at a remarkably young age. Yet another proof that schooling doesnt always correlate with success, Rob has established himself not just as a phenomenal sportsman but also as a successful entrepreneur. Besides perfecting his skill as a natural talent on the board, ... xChocobars Biography and Everything You Should Know About Her Having distinguished herself and recorded massive successes in an industry notably dominated by men, it is very safe to say that Xchocobars deserves all the attention and cash she makes from her career. A household name on Twitch (a smart live streaming video platform), the online-gamer is popularly known for streaming classic games such as Stardew ... Everything To Know About Mary Padian, Her Boyfriend and Net Worth Mary Padian is a famous American television reality personality best known for her involvements on the Reality show Storage Wars. She also has her own shop called Mary finds where she displays her antique collections. Since her childhood, Padian has been a creative learner. At the time, she used to create new items out of reusable ones and ... Betsy Woodruffs Family Life: Is She Married or Related To Bob Woodruff? An old name in the world of journalism, Betsy Woodruff has warmed her way into the hearts of many with her impressive talents. Through hard work, Woodruff has carved a niche for herself in a very competitive field. Betsy has strong family and work values and is also an advocate for equal opportunities for everyone ... Matpat (Matthew Patrick) Wife, Height & Net Worth As far as internet business is concerned, Matpat remains one of the most dynamic and seasoned figures. 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Demystifying Sssniperwolfs Family Background And The Boyfriends Shes Had Since she launched her eponymously named channel in 2013, Sssniperwolf has been on the rise when it comes to video game influencers. She is one of the biggest names in the online gaming subgenre of YouTube videos. Real name Lia Shelesh, she started with Call of Duty: Black Ops II but has diversified with other ... Lester Holt Wife, Family & Net Worth Lester Holt is a multiple award-winning journalist, newscaster, reporter, and actor who has worked for notable media houses like WCBS TV, CBS, MSNBC and among others. His remarkable feat in journalism has endeared him to the hearts of many and earned him some awards and recognitions. Read on to get acquainted with his biography, ethnicity, ... What Is Louis C.K. Doing Now, Where Are His Family And How Much Is His Net Worth? It is not easy to make it in comedy. It takes more than a funny bone and the ability to elicit a few giggles from a listening audience. 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Her Husband and Family Facts There has been a gradual paradigm shift in the world of sports which has today produced the likes of Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and other female athletes that are pulling great feats in different sporting fields. Their achievements have also been followed by the emergence of female sports journalists such as Jillian Mele, Eboni Williams, ... Is Brittany Wagner Married, Who Is The Husband, How Old Is She? Brittany Wagner has been an inspiration to a lot of sports youngster. She has won the hearts of many athletic students with her role as a life coach and an academic counselor. She is well groomed in her career and has worked over a decade for The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and The National ... Tati Westbrook Bio Age, Husband & Net Worth With five videos dished out every week, alongside running her own brand, beauty guru, and YouTube superstar Tati Westbrook has proved to the world that theres utterly no impossibility or limit to whatever one is passionate about. Tati is best known for being the owner and manager of the worlds most-viewed beauty and lifestyle YouTube channel, ... Cathy Areus Long Road to Becoming a Freelance Journalist and What to Know About Her Kids An American freelance journalist, news analyst, and author, Cathy Areu has built a lasting reputation for herself on cable television. Popular for her skillful and sassy presentation of professional views on varying topics including cultural and feminist issues, Cathy is an inspiration to many women across the globe. In addition to being a journalist, she ... Tucker Carlsons Love Story With Wife Susan Andrews, their Children and Net Worth Today On the TV screens, Tucker Carlson is that fiery fellow who passionately dishes out his conservative and often controversial views on issues of national importance. Such brazenness has fetched him many enemies, especially on the left-wing, but it has also helped him cement a reputation as one of the foremost broadcast journalists in America. His ... Paige Wyatts Net Worth, Boyfriend and Where She Is Now Paige Wyatt became popular after the Wyatt family began running the reality television show, American Guns. The Wyatt family comprises Rich Wyatt (father), Renee Wyatt (mother), Paige and Kurt Wyatt (children). Rich Wyatt originally ran a gun shop, the Gunsmoke Guns in Wheat Ridge, Colorado which is outside of Denver. The business which he ran together ... The Progression of Howard Sterns Career As A Media Personality And Why He Divorced His First Wife Howard Stern is a legendary American radio host, who has also done some notable work as an actor, producer, author, as well as photographer. The radio personality achieved worldwide fame as a result of his self-titled radio program, The Howard Stern Show. As a professional radio personality, he has worked in different radio stations. Since 2006, ... Lisa Joyners Biography Ethnicity, Net Worth and Other Key Facts Lisa Joyner is an American Journalist, TV talk show host, and actress. Some of her well-known works are her correspondences for the Los Angeles based TV KCBS, inFANity show, Find My Family Show including her film and television appearances in Brimstone, American Sweetheart, The Bold and The Beautiful among others. Lisas passion for reconnecting people with their biological families ... Amanda Balionis Rise Through the Ranks of Sportscasting and the Identity of Her Boyfriend Amanda Balionis is an American sportscaster currently working as a golf broadcaster for CBS Sports. Among so many of her works in the field of sports reporting, Amandas PGA Tour coverage seems to be the most popular so far. She covered the Super Bowl working with CBS Sports social media team in Atlanta, where she ... Dissecting Charles Paynes Sexual Allegations, Its After Effects and More About His Wife Charles Payne had a respectable career as an analyst on Wall Street before he made the transition to television and became a contributor and later a host on Fox. In that time, his expertise has come under scrutiny, and he has been at the center of at least one major controversy. The major controversy in question ... Erik Asla And Tryra Banks Split: Everything You Need To Know Tyra Banks and Erik Asla have called it quits! 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The Ups and Downs of Erin Mcpikes Journalism Career and Other Facts About Her Personal Life Erin McPike is a journalist working for the Independent Journal Review (IJR) as a White House Correspondent but she gained widespread recognition for her coverage of general news. Whether its breaking news or some mainstream story, McPike has a reputation of baring the facts. As a journalist, her work as a White House Correspondent for Independent ... Bert Kreischer Is Married To LeeAnn Kreischer With 2 Kids Meet His Family Those familiar with Bert Kreischer mainly have the image of a large-bellied party man whose college life inspired the National Lampoon film, Van Wilder. It is an image that one would not naturally associate with a wholesome family. The standup comedian still maintains his wild party animal image on stage. But, back at home, he is ... 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This Is Everything You Should Know About Caroline Heldman, Her Career Portfolio and Other Facts Love it or hate it, there is no escaping the fact that feminism has come to stay in our world. The movement has continued to garner momentum over the years and this is due to the sustained push by several women, and even men, including the likes of Caroline Heldman. A Professor of Politics at ... Understanding The Enigma That Is Gavin McInnes, The Controversies He Has Stirred and All About His Wife Gavin McInnes is a polemical English-born writer and TV personality, who is best known for his racist and fascist ideologies, as well as his co-ownership of Vice Media and Vice Magazine. He is also an actor a This video footage shows a pickup truck driver charging into a large group of riders in Chicago in what seems like another road rage incident. Last Sunday, the Chicago United Riders motorcycle club gathered for a formation run towards Aurora, Chicago when Joe Hernadez, driver of a grey GMC Sierra pickup truck charged into the bike formation. We are not really sure what happened as the motorcycle club claims that instead of Hernadez getting out of the riders way, he was antagonizing them, putting at risk everyone at the road. Hernadez, on the other hand, says that he was the victim of the incident, after a biker kicked his truck and he tried to catch up with him. The 44-year old also said that he was trying to flee the scene out of fear of injury, and thats why he drove over a motorcycle, inches away from multiple riders that got off their bikes. Fortunately no one was injured during the incident and the Aurora police department made no arrests, nor issued any citations. VIDEO Toyota announced they will delay the launch of the new plug-in hybrid Prius Prime model in Japan to winter of this year instead of this fall. According to Reuters, the company declined to give a reason for the delay or be more specific on when the car will be launched. The Toyota Prius Prime makes use of a bigger, 8.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack that gives is a pure electric driving range of 22 miles. The company has also significantly updated the looks of it, in a bid to set the basic Prius from the Prime apart in the market. The company claims an estimated average fuel consumption figure of just 168 mpg (1.4 liters/100 km 120MPGe) and 32 g/km of CO2 emissions. The interior features a very Tesla-like 11.6-inch multimedia screen and a four-seat layout. A Toyota spokesman also said that they are going to reduce initial production of the model and increase the output later on, depending on demand. Sales of the regular Prius have been lower than expected in the United States since its debut in February, partly because of the low fuel prices that kept demand for SUVs and pickup trucks high. However the new Prius is the best-selling model in Japan since the start of the year. Toyotas original plan was to launch the plug-in Prime version of the Prius in Japan this autumn, followed by North America and Europe. PHOTO GALLERY Here is Luke Aikens, the first person to accomplish a planned jump and landing out of a plane without a parachute from an altitude of 25,000 feet. Photo: Contributed UPDATE: 10:30 a.m. It didn't take long for Castanet readers to identify the two boys in this picture. A few dozen people who recognize the boys emailed Castanet with their identity. They are longtime residents of Vernon. It wasn't long before their mother reached out. Castanet has put mom and the current holder of the picture together. The photograph, taken about 20-years ago, will be reunited with mom. ORIGINAL A Kelowna woman hopes to reunite a photo with its rightful owner. Gerry Demitor was at a garage sale a few weeks ago where she picked up several picture frames. The owner of the frames suggested she take them all. One of the frames contained a large portrait of two young boys. She believes it could be an heirloom, or at least important to the family of the young boys. Gerry is not sure how old the picture is, but hopes somebody knows the identity of the boys and can help locate them or their family. If you know who these boys are, email [email protected] and we will put you in touch with Gerry. Photo: Getty Images A few years ago there was a great deal of media frenzy surrounding a finding that antidepressant use in adolescents and young adults could cause an increase in suicidal thoughts. As a result, the FDA put black-box warnings on antidepressants and there was major media coverage of the whole thing. Now that a decade has passed, there has been time to monitor the consequences of this move. A large U.S. study examining claims data from healthcare claims of 11 major health plans between 2000 and 2010 has shown these black-box warnings may have backfired. Results showed antidepressant use among adolescents dropped by 31 per cent following the warnings. It dropped by 24 per cent among young adults and 14.5 per cent among adults during the same period. At the same time, there was also a significant increase in psychotropic drug poisonings in adolescents during that time a measure of suicide attempts. Completed suicides did not change in any age group at that time. Researchers believe it is possible the extensive media coverage and FDA warnings at the time led to unexpected and unintended results. People became fearful of receiving some of the most commonly used treatments and so opted for no treatment at all. Unfortunately, untreated depression may have led to an increase in suicide attempts. Of course, it is important to communicate about potential risks and adverse events associated with any medical treatment. We all need to be able to make informed decisions when it comes to our health. However, the authors of this study say that the FDA should be careful in its communication of information. Black-box warnings likely do not convey the level of complexity necessary for someone to gain an accurate picture of the risks and benefits of a treatment option. We do know there was a small increase in suicidal ideation linked to antidepressant use among adolescents and young adults. We also know that untreated depression is the leading cause of completed suicide. Before making a decision about what treatment to pursue when dealing with depression or any other mental health issue, it is important to get complete information from a qualified professional. Meet with your doctor and discuss your situation and all options at length. Get educated on the risks and benefits of treatments as well as the risk of doing nothing. There are effective treatment options for depression. These include both pharmaceutical and talk therapy methods. Speak with your doctor or a mental-health care professional to learn more. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Photo: Twitter - Al Arabiya UPDATE: 11:30 a.m. Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is mourning the firefighter who died responding to the crash-landing of an Emirates airliner. Sheikh Mohammed names the firefighter as Jassim Eissa al-Baloushi in a message posted to his official Twitter account on Wednesday night. He asks God to comfort the dead first responder's family. Sheikh Mohammed also writes that Emiratis should be proud of al-Baloushi's sacrifice while "performing his duty in protecting life and saving people." Sheikh Mohammed also serves as the prime minister and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates. The accident Wednesday happened as Flight EK521, a Boeing 777, was arriving from the southern Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram. There were 300 people on board the aircraft at the time, all of whom escaped the burning plane. ORIGINAL An Emirates flight from India with 300 people on board crash landed at Dubai's main airport Wednesday, sending black smoke billowing into the air and halting all flights at the Middle East's busiest airport. No one was killed, and all passengers were safely evacuated before the plane was engulfed in a fireball. The accident was the most serious ever for Emirates, which has grown at a breakneck pace over the last three decades and turned its hometown of Dubai into a major long-haul international air hub. It was the second major air disaster for a Dubai government-backed airline in less than five months. Emirates said the accident happened around 12:45 p.m. local time as Flight EK521 was arriving from the southern Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram. It confirmed that "all passengers and crew are accounted for and safe," but gave no details of what went wrong. "We do not have ... all the information. Thankfully there (were) no fatalities among our passengers and crew," Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, the airline's chairman and CEO, said in a video statement . "Our thoughts are with everyone involved." The Boeing 777-300 was carrying 282 passengers and 18 crew members from 20 different countries, according to the airline. Those onboard included 226 Indians, 24 Britons, 11 Emiratis, and six each from the United States and Saudi Arabia. Airline officials refused to answer questions from journalists, including what might have caused the accident. A problem with the plane's landing gear appeared to have at least been a contributing factor. Video shot by a passenger on another flight showed the plane tilted to its right side and careening on its belly as thick smoke poured out. The right wing appeared to have been torn off the fuselage during the crash. Emirates predicted there would be an eight-hour delay in operations across its network, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers during the busy summer vacation season. The Dubai Media Office said flights resumed at the airport a little before 7 p.m. "Our main priority at this time is the safety and wellbeing of all involved and full co-operation is being extended to the authorities and emergency services managing the situation," Emirates said. Passengers escaped the burning plane using inflatable slides. At one point after coming to a stop, part of the plane exploded into a bright orange fireball. By the time firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze, the roof of the plane had been consumed and scorched from the cockpit all the way to the tail. In Dubai International Airport's gleaming Terminal 3, the home of Emirates, the typically bustling arrivals hall was hushed. Flat-screen televisions showed all incoming Emirates flights delayed or rescheduled. Dubai resident Girisankal Gangadhakan said his wife called him after the plane landed to tell him that she and their three children onboard had been involved in an accident but were safe. "I was shocked when I heard about that," he said. The Boeing 777 departed Thiruvananthapuram at 10:19 a.m. and was scheduled to land at 12:50 p.m. local time, according to Emirates. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. Many blue-collar migrant workers employed in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf nations come from Kerala, which is a popular beachside tourist destination. T.P. Seetharam, India's ambassador to the UAE, said Indian diplomats had been dispatched to the airport and had met directly with many passengers. "Many of them are in shock after such an event, and there may be minor bruises," he said in a telephone interview from Abu Dhabi. He said that only one person - a crew member - had been taken to the hospital for treatment. Dubai International is by far the Mideast's busiest airport, and is the world's busiest air hub in terms of international passenger traffic. It handled some 78 million passengers last year. Fast-growing Emirates is the region's biggest carrier. The government-backed airline has a good safety record, with no other major accidents recorded since its founding in 1985. The 777 model is one of the workhorses of Emirates' fleet. It operates more than 120 of the twin-engine planes, more than any other airline. The Emirates accident follows the crash of a FlyDubai 737-800 jetliner in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, in March that killed all 62 onboard. The two airlines operate independently of one another, though they share the same chairman and are both ultimately owned by the government of Dubai. Photo: Darren Handschuh Vernon Fire Rescue officials and the RCMP are investigating a suspicious car fire that caused extensive damage to the interior of the vehicle, said deputy chief Jack Blair. Firefighters were called to the blaze on the 3800 block of 28A Street at 4:50 a.m Wednesday. "The fire appeared to have been mostly extinguished by the time (firefighters) arrived on scene," said Blair, adding that the owners had been fighting the fire. "There was extensive fire and smoke damage to the interior of the car." "When we arrived on scene the fire was considered suspicious. We were unsure of what caused it and that's why we called the RCMP." Photo: Darren Handschuh A pedestrian was taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital with undetermined injuries after being struck by a car Wednesday morning. The incident happened just before 10 a.m. a half-block north of 25th Avenue on 32nd Street. Police said an SUV was making a right-hand turn out of the Fruit Union Plaza when the driver struck a northbound red car, sending it careening onto the sidewalk and striking the female pedestrian. Darcy Huisken witnessed the pedestrian being hit. All I saw was the red car jumping up on the curb and her flying 15 feet through the air, said Huisken who was driving in front of the red car. The unidentified woman was able to walk to an ambulance with assistance from paramedics on the scene. The extent of her injuries is not known. Police said the driver of the SUV will be charged with fail to yield to right of way. Photo: The Canadian Press The brother of JonBenet Ramsey will publicly discuss his younger sister's death for the first time in an interview to be broadcast on Dr. Phil next month. Burke Ramsey was 9 years old when his 6-year-old sister was found dead in the basement of the family's Boulder, Colorado, home on Dec. 26, 1996. Public suspicion immediately focused on the girl's parents, John and Patty Ramsey, and Burke. In 2008, the three were officially cleared by prosecutors who said that DNA found on the girl's underwear didn't match anyone in the family. In announcing the appearance, the Dr. Phil show says the now 29-year-old Burke will reveal what he knows about JonBenet's death. The interview is set to air over three programs beginning Sept. 12. Photo: Paul Cowhig, Kelowna A Kelowna amateur photographer is battling against another photographer in Surrey for the title of B.C.'s favourite B.C. wildlife photo. The two photographers are currently in the lead for the Peoples Choice Award in this years BC SPCA Wildlife-In-Focus photography contest, and theres still plenty of time to either enter or cast your vote for your favourite. The BC SPCA says each year participating photographers 'go wild' to capture the best of British Columbias wildlife through the lens. So far, a Douglas squirrel from Surrey photographer Lori Clark and a pair of owls from Kelownas Paul Cowhig are fighting for the lead, but the places are changing every day. We are constantly amazed at the mind-blowing photos we receive it certainly makes it hard for the judges to choose the winning photos, says BC SPCA chief scientific officer Dr. Sara Dubois. We are very excited to announce that this year, theres a new category participating photographers can win, the Peoples Choice Award. Friends, family and members of the public can all support their favourite photos, all while helping wildlife. To vote for your favourite image and give that photographer a leg up, you can donate and cast your ballot online for the People' Choice Award. The contest supports the BC SPCAs Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) on Vancouver Island, where almost 3,000 orphaned and injured wild animals are cared for each year. Photos entered in previous contests have been featured in the BC SPCAs Animal Sense and Bark! Magazines, as well as in BC SPCA educational materials, local newspapers, websites and social media. Prizes are also awarded for the top three photos in each of two judged categories: Wild Settings and Backyard Habitats. All amateur photographers at least 14 years of age are invited to enter the competition, which runs from July 1 to Sept. 30, by submitting their most impressive digital images of B.C.s wildlife at rest, work and play. All photos of wildlife entered must be taken within B.C. and submitted digitally. Wildlife includes free-living birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish and insects, but not exotic, feral or domestic animals, or wildlife in zoos or rehabilitation facilities. The contest encourages participants to explore green spaces, roadsides, mountain passes, beach and backyards to find photos that really showcase the astonishing diversity of animals we have throughout B.C., and represent the resiliency of local wildlife living at the interface with humans, Dubois says. Learn more about this years contest and view past winners images at spca.bc.ca/wildlife-in-focus. Photo: The Canadian Press The Canadian Red Cross says $299 million has been raised to help with recovery from the Fort McMurray wildfire. It says Canadians have donated $165 million and the federal government is giving $104 million in matching funds. The provincial government says it is also matching $30 million in donations made by individual Albertans. "We have seen an unbelievable response from coast to coast," Red Cross CEO Conrad Sauve told reporters Wednesday in Fort McMurray. "Canadians were touched by seeing fellow Canadians being evacuated and the fire and responded tremendously. We have got donations from every part of the country." Sauve said that to date almost $200 million has been allocated for people of Fort McMurray, including direct cash payments of $84.4 million. There will be further help for residents who were uninsured or didn't have enough insurance to cover their losses. "The Red Cross we don't pass a judgment on why people need help," Sauve said. "We help those in need that is the humanitarian imperative of what we do." He says another $50 million will be given to local charities, such as food banks. About $30 million is being set aside to help the small businesses recover and $12 million will be spent on community resiliency and fire prevention. A massive fire forced the evacuation of close to 90,000 people from the Fort McMurray area in three months ago. The flames destroyed 2,400 homes and buildings, caused the shutdown of two key oilsands facilities and burned almost 5,900 square kilometres of timber. Since early June, residents have been returning to the community to assess the damage and rebuild. Photo: Twitter The Dubai Media Office says departure and arrival operations at Dubai International Airport have resumed after several hours of delays caused by the crash landing of an Emirates Airline flight. Passengers evacuated from an Emirates flight say that minutes before the flight crash-landed at Dubai airport, the pilot made an announcement that he needed to make an emergency landing. Iype Vallikadan, a reporter from Indian newspaper "Mathrubhumi News," says the passengers said the pilot spoke to them as the plane neared Dubai on Wednesday, saying there was a problem with the landing gear and that he would make an emergency landing. Passengers said the cabin crew opened all the emergency exits of the plane and that all 300 passengers and crew on board the aircraft were evacuated within minutes of the landing. The Boeing 777 involved in an accident on landing at Dubai's main airport had passengers and crew from 20 countries. The airline says the 300 people onboard included 226 from India, 24 Britons and 11 Emiratis. There were six people each from the United States and Saudi Arabia, five from Turkey and four from Ireland. Two people each came from Australia, Brazil, Germany, Malaysia and Thailand, and one each from Croatia, Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lebanon, Philippines, South Africa, Switzerland and Tunisia. The carrier says no fatalities were reported among the 300 people onboard the flight that was arriving from the southern Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram Wednesday afternoon. @BBCBreaking @BBC_HaveYourSay just witnessed a crash at Dubai airport.. I have more footage pic.twitter.com/WeOb4UOONS Edmund Basil (@EdmundBasil) August 3, 2016 Photo: CTV - File photo It's taken months of hard work, but an Iraqi refugee family will be arriving in the Okanagan next week. Ron Brinnen, with the Armstrong Spallumcheen Refugee Project, said the family of five will be landing at Kelowna International Airport Tuesday night. The man, wife and three children have been living in the United Arab Emirates since 2009 after Omar, the father, received numerous death threats in his home country. Omar has been working in the UAE for the past several years, but Brinnen said his work permit ran out and it was not going to be re-issued, meaning he would be sent back to Iraq. His life had been threatened, so there is no way he is going to be taking his family there, said Brinnen. The effort to bring a refugee family to Armstrong began in January. It hasn't really been that long, but it seems like it's taken years, said Brinnen. For many groups seeking to bring refugees to the region, housing was a major stumbling block, but Brinnen and members of the ASRP managed to secure a four-bedroom residence for the family. Donations from the community also furnished the home so it will be ready for the Iraqis to move into when they arrive. Once the family arrives, they will be given assistance getting their SIN and medical cards. Despite a few naysayers, Brinnen said the community has been supportive of the bringing the family to the farming community. A community gathering is planned for Aug 21 at Municipal Park from 4-6 p.m. to welcome the new family. Every time there is a hot air balloon crash (which does not happen often) the great debate over whether they should be allowed to fly over cities commences. Its ironic as this same weekend there was a bus crash in California that killed 5, yet nobody asks if we should ban buses. In 2014, in the US alone, there were approx. 32,000 people killed in motor vehicle accidents. Between 1999 and 2015 there have been 20,075 deaths worldwide in plane incidents. Since the beginning of hot air ballooning, there have been a total of 164 deaths worldwide and not one of these accidents caused environmental damage. While each accident is a tragedy, it is important to remember that hot air balloons are regulated by the same organizations that regulate planes. While no sport is without its risks, you are more likely to be killed by bees, coconuts, beds, raw meat or cows than a hot air balloon. Ann Boa Photo: Toronto Zoo A 44-year-old female gorilla from the Toronto Zoo is recovering after surgery to remove a mass from her leg. Medical staff from Toronto's Scarborough Hospital performed the surgery on Tuesday in the western lowland gorilla habitat at the zoo. The zoo said Wednesday in a release that a large mass in Josephine's left leg area was affecting her ability to walk so veterinarians approached the hospital's general surgery division to discuss options. The mass turned out to be a slow-growing, fatty lump underneath the skin and it was determined Josephine's ability to walk normally was also related to arthritis, which was investigated while she was under anesthetic. Dr. Saul Mandelbaum says the surgery went very well and Josephine is "recovering nicely." The zoo's wildlife health centre and wildlife care team are monitoring Josephine while she recovers. "We wanted the best care for Josephine, who is an older gorilla, which is why we approached Dr. Mandelbaum, who performs inguinal hernia surgeries on a regular basis, often in elderly patients," said Dr. Chris Dutton, head of veterinary services at the Toronto Zoo. Josephine arrived at the Toronto Zoo from Gabon, West Africa, on May 9, 1974, before the Zoo opened in August. She has given birth to five offspring while at the Toronto Zoo, four of which were sired by Charles, and is now grandmother to five gorillas at zoos throughout North America. The Toronto Zoo is a member of the North American Gorilla Species Survival Plan, which focuses on maintaining a genetically and demographically healthy zoo gorilla population and conservation efforts to protect them in the wild. Photo: The Canadian Press Their party in crisis, Republicans' frustration with Donald Trump reached new heights on Wednesday as GOP leaders scrambled to persuade the presidential nominee to abandon divisive tactics that have led to sinking poll numbers and low morale. Party chairman Reince Priebus appealed to the New York billionaire's adult children to help. Priebus joined a handful of high-profile Trump allies in considering whether to confront the candidate directly following a series of startling stances and statements with Election Day quickly approaching. Trump has exposed deepening party divisions by refusing to endorse GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan's re-election and continuing to criticize the family of a slain U.S. soldier. An official with direct knowledge of Priebus' thinking was granted anonymity to discuss internal strategy after one of the most tumultuous weeks of Trump's presidential campaign. Yet the most powerful Republicans in Washington and New York's Trump Tower concede things will not change unless Trump wants them to. "The candidate is in control of his campaign," campaign chairman Paul Manafort told the Fox News Network Wednesday afternoon. "And I'm in control of doing the things that he wants me to do in the campaign." Priebus, a close friend of Ryan, is deeply irritated by Trump's recent actions and his unwillingness to accept guidance from senior advisers. The party chairman and the Trump confidants, as well as numerous GOP lawmakers, have been particularly irked by the candidate's repeated criticism of an American Muslim family whose son, a U.S. Army captain, was killed in Iraq. "I would say in the last couple of weeks, he has been remarkably underperforming and we'll see whether or not he can take a deep breath and learn these lessons," said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Fox Business News. Gingrich may join Priebus and another Trump ally, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, in specifically urging Trump to adjust his approach, according to the Republican official. Trump on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that the GOP frustration was hurting his campaign. He wrote on Twitter: "There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before. I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support. Beat Crooked H!" a reference to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Yet Trump's vice-presidential nominee, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, appeared to break with him later in the day during a phone interview with Fox. Pence said he spoke with Trump Wednesday morning "about my support for Paul Ryan and our longtime friendship. He strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday's primary. And I'm pleased to do it." Trump stunned Republicans by telling The Washington Post in an interview Tuesday that he wasn't ready to endorse Ryan, who faces a primary contest in Wisconsin next week. Ryan has backed Trump despite deep differences on policy and temperament, and has encouraged other Republicans to unite behind the party's nominee. Trump's latest comments came on the heels of his criticism of Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004. Trump has said he himself was "viciously attacked" by the Khans, who appeared at last week's Democratic convention and challenged the Republican's fitness to be commander in chief. The turbulent week, backed by sinking poll numbers, has led to low morale within Trump's small campaign team. After months of Trump promising to adopt a more presidential tone, Republicans are beginning to lose hope of a pivot for the general election. "He's incapable of changing. He's irremediable," said Republican strategist Rick Tyler, who previously worked for Trump adversary Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Former Trump adviser Barry Bennett acknowledged signs of poor morale among the campaign staff he maintains contact with, but he also said it would be silly to dismiss Trump's chances three months before Election Day. "This would be the end of any other Republican candidate in the history of the country. And he's only 5 or 6 points behind," Bennett said. Indeed, Trump on Wednesday reported raising $80 million in July for his campaign and the Republican Party. The numbers mark a significant upswing since May, when he was badly outraised by Democratic rival Clinton. He began August with $37 million in his campaign account. Clinton raised $63 million in July for her campaign, as well as $26 million for the Democratic National Committee and state parties, bringing her total monthly fundraising to about $90 million. Trump's $80 million includes about $64 million raised through online and direct mail appeals, the campaign said, evidence that Trump is leaning on small donors to finance the bulk of his presidential run. He's also continuing to invest his own money, contributing $2 million last month. Manafort dismissed reports of a so-called intervention by Priebus, Gingrich and Giuliani. "The campaign's focused and the campaign is moving forward in a positive way," Manafort told Fox. "The only need we have for an intervention is maybe with some media types who keep saying things that aren't true." Photo: Darren Handschuh - File photo A Vernon woman spotted by RCMP officers while she was driving a stolen car last December, then causing a crash and fleeing on foot, has been given more jail time. Alyssa Courtney Brown, 25, pleaded guilty to several charges Wednesday in a Vernon courtroom, including; possession of stolen property (a stolen cell phone case), dangerous driving (fleeing police) and possession of a weapon (collapsable baton) contrary to her probation order. Judge R. D. Morgan sentenced Brown to eight months in jail. However Brown will spend only four months more behind bars after being given credit for time served. Defense and Crown counsel presented a joint submission on the time Brown should serve. Defense lawyer Claire Mastop said her client wants to turn her life around and told the court Brown was actively seeking a rehab program to help her deal with her substance issues. She began smoking crack at age 13 and has battled drug addiction ever since. Brown has also had numerous brushes with the law. Mastop also pointed out Brown turned herself in on March 17 because she was afraid she was going to break her parole. Mastop said during a stint in rehab, Brown saw the path she was on so she turned herself over to the court rather than risk breaking the law again. Along with four months in jail, Brown was given 12 months probation, prohibited from possessing weapons for three years, must abstain from drugs and alcohol, she can not go near the Vernon Walmart and can not be in a vehicle without the registered owner present. She will also have her driver's license suspended for 12 months. The charges of dangerous driving stem and theft from incidents in December, 2015. On Dec. 1 at approximately 3 p.m., officers patrolling the area of 32nd Avenue and 32nd Street observed a Nissan Juke that had been reported stolen from the Vernon area two days earlier. The vehicle fled the area, running a red light at 30th Avenue and 37th Street. It continued west on 30th Avenue and struck another vehicle, said Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy. The female driver then got out and attempted to flee on foot. She was arrested a short distance later. At no point did police pursue this vehicle, nor was police emergency equipment ever turned on. The 57-year-old male driver and 86-year-old male passenger of the vehicle which was struck sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene. On Dec. 22, a loss prevention officer with Walmart saw Brown steal a cellphone case worth less than $20. Due to abortion ban, 'Wisconsin can no longer train its own physicians' Wisconsin has three OB-GYN residency programs. Two are sending residents across the border for rotations in abortion care. The other is weighing its options. CDC adds Antigua and Barbuda and Turks and Caicos Islands (U.K.) to interim travel guidance related to Zika virus Media Statement For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 3, 2016 Contact: Media Relations, (404) 639-3286 CDC is working with other public health officials to monitor for ongoing Zika virus transmission. Today, CDC posted a Zika virus travel notice for Antigua and Barbuda as well as Turks and Caicos Islands (U.K.). CDC has issued travel notices (level 2, practice enhanced precautions) for people traveling to destinations with Zika. For a full list of affected countries/regions, visit http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-travel-information. As more information becomes available, CDCs travel notices will be updated. Travelers to areas with cases of Zika virus infection are at risk of being infected with the Zika virus. Mosquitoes that spread Zika are aggressive daytime biters. They also bite at night. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika virus. The best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites. Some travelers to areas with Zika will become infected while traveling but will not become sick until they return home and they might not have any symptoms. To help stop the spread of Zika, travelers should use insect repellent for three weeks after travel to prevent mosquito bites. Some people who are infected do not have any symptoms. People who do have symptoms have reported fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. The sickness is usually mild with symptoms that last from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon and the number of deaths is low. Travelers to areas with Zika should monitor for symptoms or sickness upon return. If they become sick, they should tell their healthcare professional when and where they have traveled. CDC has received reports of Zika virus being spread by sexual contact with sick returning travelers. Until more is known, CDC continues to recommend that pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant take the following precautions. Pregnant women Should not travel to any area with Zika. If you must travel to or live in one of these areas, talk to your healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites. If you or your partner live in or travel to an area with Zika, use condoms or other barriers*, the right way, every time you have sex or do not have sex throughout the pregnancy. Sex includes vaginal, anal, and oral sex. *Barriers that prevent passing Zika through sex include male and female condoms and dental dams. Dental dams are latex or polyurethane sheets used between the mouth and vagina or anus during oral sex. Women trying to get pregnant Before you or your partner travel, talk to your healthcare provider about your plans to become pregnant and the risk of Zika virus infection. You and your partner should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites. For additional information on preventing the sexual transmission of Zika, visit www.cdc.gov/zika/transmission/sexual-transmission.html. Current CDC research suggests that GBS is strongly associated with Zika; however, only a small proportion of people with recent Zika virus infection get GBS. CDC is continuing to investigate the link between GBS and Zika to learn more. For more information on Zika, visit www.cdc.gov/zika . ### U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESexternal icon Ecuador: a challenging recovery Published 03 August 2016 With severe earthquakes, massive debts and low crude oil prices, Ecuadors way ahead appears uncertain. The countrys future is dependent on the outcome of the 2017 elections and a recovery in oil prices to get the economy moving again in the right direction under positive leadership. By Rob Roy, ROI Consulting, USA. Ecuadorian cement consumption is expected to decline for the third-consecutive year in 2016 following a decade of mostly strong growth. This demand pattern closely tracks the up-and-down course of global crude oil prices as Ecuador, OPECs smallest member, has fallen on hard times, along with most major oil-producing countries. Government mismanagement, local corruption and natural disasters are also taking their toll on the South American country and its recovery is expected to be slow and challenging. To continue reading this story and get access to all News, Articles and Video sections of the CemNet.com website, please Register for a subscription to International Cement Review or Login Indonesia: President meets with Semen Indonesia protestors ICR Newsroom By 03 August 2016 Indonesian President Joko Widodo has met with community representatives who are resisting plans to build a cement factory and quarry at Mount Kendeng in Central Java, the Jakarta Post reports. According to the newspaper, the new PT Semen Indonesia plant is 95 per cent complete. Locals have raised objections on the grounds that the plant will disturb the community and that the mining operation will jeopardise access to groundwater supplies. Following the meeting, the presidents chief of staff said that the mine itself should be subject to a strategic environmental assessment and not come into operation while the assessment was underway. Published under Tajikistan: new plant due for commissioning ICR Newsroom By 03 August 2016 According to the Tajikistan Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, a new 1.2Mta cement plant will be brought into operation in the Yovon district, Khatlon province, this month. Jung-Tsai Mohir Cement Ltd and the government of Tajikistan signed an investment agreement for the construction of the plant, with works beginning two years ago. According to an official source, the total cost of the project is US$120m. Tajikistans production capacity now meets local demand and is even able to begin exporting cement to neighbouring countries. In the first half of 2016 Tajikistan exported 200,000t of cement to Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. Published under Ukrcement calls for European production standards ICR Newsroom By 03 August 2016 The introduction of European standards for cement production in Ukraine would help to restrict opportunities for producing and distributing counterfeit products in the market, according to Roman Skilsky, CEO of Ukrcement, the countrys cement association. "We declare that from 1 January 2017 we, as the sector, could switch to production and testing of cement under new standards. We believe that the new standards would help to cut off, or at least narrow the opportunities for companies producing counterfeit products," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. Skilsky said that large construction materials retail chains allow the sales of counterfeit cement in their stores. The most obvious sign of counterfeit products is wrong labelling of cement bags. "The wrong labelling is a first signal of counterfeit products in the package. First, buyers should be attentive when there is no information about the manufacturer on the package. There are such cases everywhere, even in large chains," he said. He said that after the recent monitoring of the packaged cement market finished late 2015, Epicenter and Nova Linia retail chains took measures to remove wrongly-labelled products from their stores. Published under Pakistan: Fecto Cement prosecuted over violating national park ICR Newsroom By 03 August 2016 Pakistans Capital Development Authority (CDA) has announced that it has stripped the Fecto Cement Company of its lease of plant and issued a fine of PKR420m (US$4m), the Express Tribune reports. The move comes after the company was accused of illegally dumping explosives in the Margalla Hills National Park, but also concerns a dispute within the state government itself. In June 2012, Fecto Cement had extended a just-expired limestone mining lease for 18 years. However, while this decision was approved by the director for industries and mineral development, it was opposed by his colleague responsible for forestry. Despite these objections, Fecto Cement continued its mining operations, leading to the CDAs action today. The authority also said it had removed five stone crushing units installed just outside the boundary of the national park. Published under The attorney for two Canandaigua Republicans is defending his clients' decision to file a lawsuit challenging the petitions submitted by Army veteran Joe Geiger in the 54th Senate District race. Paul DerOhannesian II, an Albany-based lawyer, issued a statement Tuesday on behalf of Adeline Rudolph and Gregory Westbrook. Rudolph and Westbrook filed a lawsuit in state Supreme Court to invalidate Geiger's petitions. The state Board of Elections determined Geiger, of Walworth in Wayne County, had 958 valid signatures 42 shy of the 1,000 required to appear on the Sept. 13 Republican primary ballot. Geiger could've presented his case in court and tried to keep his spot on the ballot, but he dropped out of the race Monday. He said it would've been too costly to mount a legal fight. "They were fishing," Geiger said in an interview Monday. "We made a few mistakes, but I had over 1,000 valid signatures. Just not over 1,000 that were completely perfect in every which way." DerOhannesian offered a different view of the proceedings. He said the state Board of Elections found Geiger "failed to meet the minimum requirements and rules applicable to all candidates and all parties." He added that Geiger was represented by a lawyer linked to the Senate Democrats. "Mr. Geiger's service to our country is greatly appreciated," DerOhannesian said. "However, as much as Mr. Geiger wants what happened to be about him and as badly as he wants to portray himself as a victim, this simply is not the case. It was Mr. Geiger who failed to submit enough valid signatures to secure a spot on the ballot. It was Mr. Geiger, and Mr. Geiger alone, who did not comply with the law. "The Board of Elections' decision preserves the integrity of the electoral process and upholds the rule of law." DerOhannesian is also representing Rudolph and Westbrook in a lawsuit against another GOP candidate, Cayuga County businessman Bobby Massarini. A hearing was held in Albany Monday and a decision is expected this week. For now, there will be six candidates on the Republican primary ballot. The list includes Canandaigua Supervisor Pam Helming, the party's endorsed candidate, and Canandaigua businessman Floyd Rayburn. Lyons Supervisor Brian Manktelow, former Assemblyman Sean Hanna and ex-Greece police officer Jon Ritter are also running. The winner of the GOP primary will face Democratic candidate Kenan Baldridge, the town supervisor in Rose. Baldridge was facing the possibility of a primary, but the state Board of Elections ruled Charlie Evangelista, a member of the Ontario County Board of Supervisors, didn't submit enough valid signatures to land a spot on the ballot. Evangelista announced Monday that he has ended his state Senate campaign. Before the Sept. 13 primary, Floyd Rayburn wants to debate his Republican foes in each of the 54th Senate District's six counties. Rayburn, a Canandaigua businessman, challenged his opponents to six debates Wednesday. He noted that there were forums held when a dozen or so candidates were in the race. "I think we can accommodate six," he said. Rayburn is urging local media outlets in the 54th District to host the debates. The district includes all of Seneca and Wayne counties and portions of Cayuga, Monroe, Ontario and Tompkins counties. Other than Rayburn, there are five Republicans vying for the party's nomination. The candidates include Canandaigua Supervisor Pam Helming, who received the party's designation in May, and Lyons Supervisor Brian Manktelow. Former Assemblyman Sean Hanna and ex-Greece police officer Jon Ritter are also in the running. Cayuga County businessman Bobby Massarini is currently fighting to remain on the GOP primary ballot. His petitions were challenged by two of Helming's supporters. If the challenge is successful, Massarini won't appear on the ballot. Rayburn said the debates would allow voters to learn more about the candidates and who will best represent them in the state Senate. "I'm confident I'll be able to show them that that's me," he said. The winner of the GOP primary will face Democratic candidate Kenan Baldridge in the general election. President Barack Obama has granted commutations to 214 federal inmates, including two central New Yorkers serving prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenses. Dewayne L. Comer of Syracuse and Maynard Dennis of Liverpool each had their sentences commuted by the president Wednesday. Comer, 46, was convicted of several charges, including engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and cocaine base and two counts of distribution of cocaine base. He was sentenced in December 1997 to life in prison. With Obama's commutation, Comer will be released from prison on Dec. 1. Dennis, 58, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced in September 2005 to 300 months in prison and eight years of supervised release. Dennis' sentence has been commuted to expire on Aug. 3, 2018. The commutation for Dennis comes with one condition: He must enroll in residential drug treatment. Wednesday's announcement is the most commutations issued in a single day since at least 1900, according to the White House. Obama has now commuted the sentences of 562 federal inmates more than the past nine presidents combined. Neil Eggleston, the White House counsel to the president, wrote on the White House's website that 67 of the 214 inmates receiving commutations are serving life sentences. "All of the individuals receiving commutation today, incarcerated under outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws, embody the president's belief that 'America is a nation of second chances,'" Eggleston wrote. U.S. Rep. John Katko is criticizing President Barack Obama's administration after a Wall Street Journal report revealed that a secret $400 million payment was made by the U.S. to Iran around the same time the Iranians released four American prisoners in January. According to the Wall Street Journal, the funds were delivered to Iran on an unmarked cargo plane. The money was in the form of several currencies, including euros and Swiss francs. The money was delivered to Iran soon after the release of the four prisoners, which has led critics to suggest that it was a ransom payment. Katko, R-Camillus, said Wednesday the reports of the transaction are "gravely concerning." "I am especially bothered by the efforts made to conceal this transaction including the delivery on wooden pallets by unmarked plane, and the deliberate change in currency to avoid sanctions," he said. At the daily press briefing, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest faced several questions about the payment to Iran, including whether it was ransom. Earnest denied it was a ransom payment and said the funds belonged to the Iranian government. In 1979, the then-shah of Iran sent money to the U.S. in exchange for military equipment. After the shah was overthrown that same year, the funds Iran sent to the U.S. were frozen. "We have not, we will not, pay ransom to secure the release of U.S. citizens," Earnest said. But Katko and others remain skeptical. Katko said the payment, along with the nuclear deal with Iran, "emboldens our enemies and degrades our ability to negotiate from a position of strength, while putting more Americans at risk of being captured." "I urge greater transparency from the administration, including a fully detailed response to Congress on this payment," he said. Catholic Family News A Monthly Journal Preserving our Catholic Faith and Heritage Home Latest Archives Subscribe CFN Media - videos Contact Us CFN Bookstore Oltyn Library Services 2017 CFN Daily Blog Originally started as a daily Blog update of news reports on the Papal Conclave and ongoing news on Pope Francis, it is now a general Blog updated daily on traditional Catholic topics Updated Regularly Book mark this page click here Luxury hotels in the historic center for a Catholic family. Only luxury hotels can provide a paradisiacal vacation for a big Catholic family. A high-level vacation for families, children and not only. The gorgeous views, divine service, and the best location are all luxury hotels. Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, and more. Everyone will find their place in this corner of paradise. Popular destinations Breckenridge, CO, United States In Breckenridge, Colorado, there are plenty of places to visit, whether you're a nature lover or thrill seeker. For nature lovers, the Blue River runs right through town and there are plenty of trails to explore. If you're looking for a thrill, Breckenridge is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the country. There's also plenty of shopping and dining options in town, so you'll never run out of things to do. Breckenridge Luxury Hotels Savannah, GA, United States Savannah, Georgia is a beautiful city with lots of places to visit, including Forsyth Park, River Street, and the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. Another place to visit is the Savannah History Museum, which is jam-packed with interesting exhibits on the history of the city. Savannah Luxury Hotels Naples, FL, United States Naples is known for its stunning white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Its also home to a wide variety of attractions, including world-class golf courses, vibrant nightlife, and interesting cultural experiences. Here are five places to visit in Naples, Florida: Naples Pier: Stroll along the pier and enjoy panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico. Fifth Avenue South: This popular shopping and dining district is home to eclectic boutiques, award-winning restaurants, and lively bars. The Ritz-Carlton, Naples: This luxurious resort is set on 26 acres of pristine waterfront property and offers superb amenities, including a world-class spa and championship golf course. The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens: This zoological park is home to more than 700 animals representing 150 species, including flamingos, lemurs, and tigers. Tin City: This eclectic shopping and dining district is housed in a series of restored waterfront warehouses and features eclectic shops, galleries, and award-winning restaurants. Naples Luxury Hotels Naples Luxury Resorts Louisville, KY, United States Louisville is in the heart of Kentucky and is known for being the home of the Kentucky Derby. There are a lot of great places to visit in Louisville, including the Louisville Zoo, the Muhammad Ali Center, and the Frazier History Museum. There are also a lot of great restaurants and bars in Louisville, and it's a great place to visit for a weekend getaway. Louisville Luxury Hotels Galveston, TX, United States Galveston is a Texas coastal town that is rich in history and offers visitors a variety of places to visit and things to do. Some of the most popular attractions include the Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and Historic Downtown. There are also a number of museums and other historical landmarks, as well as plenty of shopping and dining options. Galveston Luxury Hotels Galveston Luxury Resorts Omaha, NE, United States The birthplace of Warren Buffett, Omaha, Nebraska, is a great place to visit. There are plenty of things to see and do in Omaha, from touring the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium to visiting the Durham Western Heritage Museum. Other popular tourist destinations in Omaha include the Joslyn Art Museum, the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, and TD Ameritrade Park. Omaha Luxury Hotels Columbus, GA, United States Columbus is a charming small town in Georgia that is worth a visit. There are several places to visit in Columbus, including the Riverwalk, the Chattahoochee River, the National Infantry Museum, and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. The Riverwalk is a beautiful walkway along the Chattahoochee River that is perfect for a relaxing stroll or a bike ride. The Chattahoochee River is a great place to go fishing, swimming, or kayaking. The National Infantry Museum is a museum dedicated to the infantry of the United States Army. It is a must-see for history buffs. The Coca-Cola Space Science Center is a museum dedicated to space science. It is perfect for kids and adults alike. Columbus Luxury Hotels Anchorage, AK, United States Anchorage is a great place to visit if you're looking for an adrenaline rush. From skiing and snowboarding in the winter to rafting and fishing in the summer, Anchorage has something to offer everyone. In addition to its outdoor activities, Anchorage also has a variety of cultural and historical attractions, including the Anchorage Museum and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Anchorage Luxury Hotels Portland, OR, United States Portland is a city that is located in the US state of Oregon and it is known for its art scene, food, and coffee. There are a lot of interesting places to visit in Portland, such as the Portland Art Museum, where you can see a variety of art from all over the world. Another place to visit is the Powell's City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world. If you're looking for a place to eat, Portland has no shortage of amazing restaurants, such as Pok Pok, which serves Thai cuisine, and Le Pigeon, which serves French cuisine. And, of course, no trip to Portland would be complete without trying some of the city's famous coffee, such as Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Portland Luxury Hotels Florence, Italy No trip to Italy is complete without a visit to Florence. This historic city is home to some of the country's most famous attractions, including the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Michelangelo's David. There's also plenty to see and do outside of the city center, including the picturesque Tuscan countryside and the vibrant university town of Arezzo. Florence Luxury Hotels Florence Luxury Villas Asheville, NC, United States Asheville is a city in western North Carolina. It is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Buncombe County. Asheville is home to the Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in the United States. The city of Asheville proper had a population of 84,236 in 2010. The city is known for its art deco architecture, mountain scenery and outdoor activities, and as the birthplace of American novelist Thomas Wolfe. It is also home to the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, the second largest craft brewery in the United States. Asheville Luxury Hotels Asheville Luxury Cottages Long Beach, CA, United States There's plenty to do in Long Beach, California without ever having to leave the city limits. If you're looking for a little adventure, head to the Aquarium of the Pacific for a glimpse of the ocean's creatures or take a walk on the boardwalk at Rainbow Harbor. If you're more of a history buff, the Queen Mary is a must-see. This retired ocean liner is now a hotel and museum with plenty of stories to tell. And no trip to Long Beach is complete without a visit to the iconic Vincent Thomas Bridge. Long Beach Luxury Hotels Long Beach Luxury Villas Cincinnati, OH, United States Cincinnati is a city located on the Ohio River in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Ohio. The city was founded in 1788 and named after the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization of Revolutionary War officers. Cincinnati is a major U.S. city and the metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million people. The city is well-known for its German heritage, Oktoberfest celebration, and its variety of chili dishes. Cincinnati is home to three major sports teams: the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, MLB's Cincinnati Reds, and the NBA's Cincinnati Cavaliers. The city is also home to the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. The city's historic neighborhoods include Over-the-Rhine, Mount Auburn, and Hyde Park. Cincinnati is a popular tourist destination and offers a variety of attractions and places to visit, including the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, the Newport Aquarium, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Cincinnati Luxury Hotels Laughlin, NV, United States Laughlin, Nevada is a great place to visit if you're looking for a fun and affordable vacation. There are plenty of casinos and resorts to choose from, as well as plenty of outdoor activities and attractions. Be sure to check out the local nightlife, and don't forget to take a trip down the mighty Colorado River. Laughlin Luxury Hotels Laughlin Luxury Resorts Anaheim, CA, United States Anaheim, California is home to both Disneyland and California Adventure Park. The parks are just a short walk away from each other, and make for a great day of exploration. Anaheim is also home to the Anaheim Angels and the Anaheim Ducks, so there's always a game to catch. If you're looking for something a little more low-key, Anaheim has a great shopping district and a variety of restaurants to choose from. Anaheim Luxury Hotels Santa Cruz, CA, United States Santa Cruz is a great place to visit! There are so many places to see and things to do. Some of my favorite places to visit are the Boardwalk, the wharf, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Boardwalk is a great place to go for a walk, ride on the amusement park rides, and eat some of the delicious food. The wharf is a great place to go for a walk, eat some seafood, and listen to the street performers. The University of California, Santa Cruz is a great place to visit to learn about the history of the area and to see some of the beautiful architecture. I highly recommend visiting Santa Cruz if you are looking for a fun and interesting place to visit!. Santa Cruz Luxury Hotels Eugene, OR, United States Eugene, Oregon is a great city to visit with a lot of places to see and things to do. One of the most popular attractions is the University of Oregon campus, which is home to a number of museums and a large football stadium. The city also has a vibrant arts scene, with a number of theaters and art galleries. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the dozens of parks and hiking trails in the area, and there are also a number of wineries and breweries in the area. Eugene Luxury Hotels Branson, MO, United States There's plenty to see and do in Branson, Missouri, from state parks and amusement parks to theaters and shopping. Here are some of the most popular places to visit: Silver Dollar City is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." Table Rock State Park has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. The Titanic Museum features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. Branson Landing is a shopping and entertainment complex on the waterfront. There's something for everyone in Branson, Missouri come visit and see for yourself!. Branson Luxury Hotels Panama City Beach, FL, United States The white sand beaches and emerald waters of Panama City Beach, Florida, are a popular tourist destination. The city is home to numerous hotels, resorts, and restaurants, as well as amusement and water parks. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, kayaking, and surfing. Panama City Beach Luxury Hotels Panama City Beach Luxury Resorts Monterey, CA, United States Monterey is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, United States. It stands at the southern end of Monterey Bay, on the Pacific coast. The city is also the home of the Naval Postgraduate School. Monterey is the largest city in the Central Coast region of California. The main attractions in Monterey are the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, and the downtown area. Monterey Luxury Hotels Norfolk, VA, United States Norfolk, Virginia is a great place to visit for its historical places and military bases. Some places to visit in Norfolk are the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and the Norfolk Naval Station. Norfolk Luxury Hotels Palm Springs, CA, United States Palm Springs is a vibrant city located in the Coachella Valley and is known for its year-round sunshine, resort atmosphere and Mid-Century Modern architecture. Top places to visit include the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs Art Museum, Indian Canyons and Moorten Botanical Garden. For a truly unique experience, be sure to check out the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale the worlds largest vintage furniture and design event. Palm Springs Luxury Hotels Palm Springs Luxury Resorts Palm Springs Luxury Villas Rochester, NY, United States Rochester is a city in western New York State and is the county seat of Monroe County. Rochester is known for its annual festivals, including the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Rochester Fringe Festival, and the Holiday Folk Fair International. Places to visit in Rochester include the George Eastman Museum, the Strong National Museum of Play, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, and the Seneca Park Zoo. Rochester Luxury Hotels Pigeon Forge, TN, United States Visit the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge for a unique experience. This museum is dedicated to the Titanic, one of the most infamous ships in history. Tour the ship and learn about the passengers and crew who were on board. You can even see the actual artifacts recovered from the shipwreck. If you're looking for a little more excitement, head to Dollywood. This amusement park is home to roller coasters, a water park, and plenty of other rides and attractions. Plus, the park is themed around the life and music of Dolly Parton. No trip to Pigeon Forge is complete without a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. These mountains offer a variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. Plus, the natural beauty of the area is simply breathtaking. Pigeon Forge Luxury Hotels Jacksonville, FL, United States Jacksonville is less than an hour's drive from the beaches of Amelia Island and St. Augustine, and a little more than two hours from Orlando. The city has a lot to offer visitors, including a riverwalk, museums, and a vibrant arts scene. Jacksonville is also home to the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team. Jacksonville Luxury Hotels Minsk, Belarus Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is a city that has something for everyone. If you're looking for a little history, Minsk has plenty of it, with churches and monuments dating back to the 12th century. If you're looking for a lively nightlife, Minsk has that, too, with plenty of bars, clubs, and restaurants. And if you're looking for a little nature, Minsk has parks and gardens to enjoy. Here are just a few of the places you can visit in Minsk: The Holy Spirit Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Minsk, is a must-visit for history buffs. The National Library of Belarus is a huge library with more than 18 million items in its collection. The Opera and Ballet Theatre is a beautiful building that hosts performances of both opera and ballet. The Victory Park is a large park with a war memorial, a children's playground, and a lake. And for a little bit of nature in the heart of the city, the Botanical Garden is a great place to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of Minsk. Minsk Luxury Hotels Jaipur, India Jaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It is the capital of the state of Rajasthan and is known for its palaces, forts and temples. Some of the places to visit in Jaipur include the Amber Fort, the City Palace, the Jantar Mantar Observatory and the Hawa Mahal. Jaipur is also a great place to shop for traditional Indian handicrafts. Jaipur Luxury Hotels Chicago, IL, United States Chicago is a city full of culture and history. There are plenty of places to visit, such as the Willis Tower, Buckingham Fountain, and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Chicago is also home to many restaurants and bars, so there is something for everyone. Chicago Luxury Hotels Auckland, New Zealand Auckland is a beautiful city located on the north island of New Zealand. There are many places to visit in Auckland, including the Sky Tower, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and the Auckland Domain. The beaches in Auckland are also worth visiting, especially Karekare and Piha. Auckland is a great place to visit, and I highly recommend it!. Auckland Luxury Hotels Auckland Luxury Villas Amsterdam, Netherlands If you're looking for a city that's got it all, Amsterdam should be your go-to destination. From the city's lively and vibrant nightlife to its charming and quiet neighborhoods, Amsterdam has something for everyone. Be sure to check out the Anne Frank Huis, the Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museum, as these are some of the most popular attractions in the city. And if you're looking for a little bit of nature, be sure to take a walk or bike ride through Amsterdam's many parks. Amsterdam Luxury Hotels Berlin, Germany There are so many great places to visit in Berlin that it can be hard to know where to start. From the iconic Brandenburg Gate to the fascinating Reichstag Building, there's something for everyone in this vibrant city. If you're looking for a bit of history, make sure to check out the Berlin Wall Memorial or the DDR Museum. And for those looking for a bit more fun, there's always the Alexanderplatz Christmas Market or the Zoologischer Garten. No matter what your interests, Berlin is a city you won't want to miss. Berlin Luxury Hotels Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok is a city of contrasts with its gleaming temples and skyscrapers, chaotic markets and tranquil canals. While it's a popular tourist destination, Bangkok is a city that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. Some of the top places to visit in Bangkok include the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, the floating markets and the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Bangkok Luxury Hotels Bangkok Luxury Resorts Bangkok Luxury Villas Bruges, Belgium Bruges is a city in Belgium that is worth visiting. It is full of medieval charm and there are a lot of things to see and do. Some of the places to visit include the Markt, the Belfry, and the Begijnhof. Bruges Luxury Hotels Brussels, Belgium Brussels is a city in Belgium that is best known for its chocolate, waffles, and beer. But there is much more to see and do in Brussels than just indulge in the local cuisine. There are a number of interesting historical landmarks to visit, such as the Grand Place and the Atomium, as well as a variety of parks and gardens. And, of course, Brussels is also a great city to explore on foot. Brussels Luxury Hotels Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Hungary's capital, is a city of thermal baths and medival, baroque and art nouveau architecture. Crowded with tourists, the city is bisected by the Danube River into the hilly Buda and the more developed and flat Pest. Among the main places of interest are the neo-Gothic Parliament, the Chain Bridge linking Buda and Pest, the Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion on the Buda bank, and the State Opera House and Heroes' Square on the Pest side. Budapest Luxury Hotels Playa del Carmen, Mexico Home to some of the best beaches in Mexico, Playa del Carmen is a favorite tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. With its lively nightlife, gorgeous coastline and ample shopping opportunities, there's something for everyone in this tropical paradise. Don't miss the opportunity to visit some of the area's most popular attractions, such as the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba, or the eco-friendly Turtle Beach. With its friendly people, delicious food and stunning scenery, Playa del Carmen is a place you'll never want to leave. Playa del Carmen Luxury Hotels Playa del Carmen Luxury Resorts Playa del Carmen Luxury Villas Denver, CO, United States Denver is a great city for visitors. There are so many places to see and things to do. Some of the top places to visit include the 16th Street Mall, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, and the Colorado State Capitol. There are also plenty of great restaurants and shops to explore. Denver is definitely a city worth visiting!. Denver Luxury Hotels Dublin, Ireland Dublin is a city located in Ireland. It's a city full of culture, with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist spots are the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, and the Dublin Castle. There are also plenty of pubs and restaurants to discover. Dublin Luxury Hotels Dusseldorf, Germany Dusseldorf, Germany is a city with many different places to visit. The city has a mix of old and new buildings, and a variety of activities to do. The best places to visit in Dusseldorf are the Konigsallee, the Rhine Tower, and the Oktoberfest. The Konigsallee is an open-air shopping mall that has many high-end stores. The Rhine Tower is the tallest building in the city and offers great views of Dusseldorf. The Oktoberfest is a week-long festival that celebrates German culture and food. Dusseldorf Luxury Hotels Edinburgh, United Kingdom Edinburgh, Scotland is a beautiful city to visit. The architecture is very old and unique, and there are plenty of historical places to visit, like Edinburgh Castle. There are also plenty of parks and gardens, and lots of shops and restaurants. Edinburgh Luxury Hotels Rome, Italy Rome is a city rich in history and filled with beautiful places to visit. Make sure to stop by the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon. Also be sure to visit St. Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel while in Rome. If youre looking for a little more nature in your trip, head to the Villa Borghese gardens or the Janiculum Hill for some wonderful views of the city. And of course, no trip to Rome is complete without a gelato!. Rome Luxury Hotels Rome Luxury Villas New York, NY, United States There are many amazing places to visit in New York State. Some of my favorites are the Niagara Falls, the Adirondack Mountains, and the Finger Lakes. If you're looking for a city break, New York City is definitely worth a visit. There's endless things to see and do, from touring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to visiting world-famous museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. No matter what your interests are, you'll be able to find something to enjoy in New York State. New York Luxury Hotels New York Luxury Villas London, United Kingdom London is a city rich in history and full of amazing places to visit. Some of my favorite places are Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London. There is so much to see and do in London, you could spend weeks here and never run out of things to do. If you're looking for a city full of culture and history, London is the place for you. London Luxury Hotels London Luxury Cottages Madrid, Spain Madrid is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich cities in the world. From the Royal Palace to the Prado Museum, theres plenty to see and do in Madrid. If youre looking for a little bit of nature, Madrid has plenty of parks, like the Buen Retiro Park, to relax in. And dont forget to try some of the delicious tapas and wine while youre in town. Madrid Luxury Hotels Memphis, TN, United States The birthplace of rock 'n' roll, Memphis is a city rich in history and culture. From Graceland to Beale Street, there are plenty of places to visit in Memphis. Be sure to check out Sun Studio, where rock 'n' roll was born, and the National Civil Rights Museum, which tells the story of the African-American civil rights movement. Memphis is also home to some amazing food, so be sure to try some of the city's famous barbecue and soul food. Memphis Luxury Hotels Miami Beach, FL, United States There is much to explore in Miami Beach, from the famous Art Deco district to the vast beaches and crystal-clear waters. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, while history buffs can explore the ancient burial mounds at Miami Beach. Shoppers and foodies will find plenty to keep them busy, with vibrant neighborhoods like Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive offering unique boutiques and award-winning restaurants. And of course, no trip to Miami Beach is complete without a visit to world-famous South Beach. Miami Beach Luxury Hotels Miami Beach Luxury Resorts New Orleans, LA, United States You can't visit New Orleans without trying some of the local food. Beignets, Po' Boys, and gumbo are just a few of the must-try dishes. While you're in town, be sure to check out the French Quarter, Jackson Square, and St. Louis Cathedral. If you're looking for some nightlife, Bourbon Street is the place to be. And, of course, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to Mardi Gras!. New Orleans Luxury Hotels Milan, Italy Milan is a city located in the Lombardy region of Italy. It is a popular tourist destination because of its historical and artistic heritage. Some of the places you should visit while in Milan are the Duomo, La Scala, and Castello Sforzesco. Milan Luxury Hotels Naples, Italy Naples is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in Italy. There are countless places to visit, such as the Royal Palace, the Museum of San Martino, and the Church of Gesu Nuovo. Naples is also home to excellent shopping and dining options. Be sure to enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the city's many cafes and take a stroll through the picturesque streets. Naples Luxury Hotels Paris, France Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It's home to iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, as well as a thriving nightlife and restaurant scene. If you're looking to explore all that Paris has to offer, here are some of the top places to visit: The Eiffel Tower: This iconic landmark is a must-see in Paris. Climb to the top for stunning views of the city, or take a ride on the elevator to the bottom for a closer look at the structure. The Louvre Museum: This world-famous museum is home to some of the most famous works of art in the world, including the Mona Lisa. The Notre Dame Cathedral: This beautiful cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Paris. Make sure to climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. The Champs-Elysees: This famous avenue is a popular destination for shopping and dining. Be sure to wander down the street and take in all the sights and sounds. The Arc de Triomphe: This towering arch is another iconic landmark in Paris. Climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. Paris Luxury Hotels Paris Luxury Villas Prague, Czech Republic Prague is a city rich in history and culture. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy, and the nightlife is vibrant. Prague is a truly unique city and a must-visit for anyone traveling to the Czech Republic. Prague Luxury Hotels Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is known for its beautiful beaches and turquoise waters. This paradise is a favorite destination for travelers looking for a Caribbean getaway. Punta Cana is home to a wide variety of resorts and activities, from enjoying the sand and surf to golfing, spas, and shopping. Nature lovers can also explore the areas jungles, caves, and waterfalls. Punta Cana Luxury Hotels Punta Cana Luxury Resorts Punta Cana Luxury Villas Marbella, Spain If you're looking for an idyllic and luxurious Spanish escape, look no further than Marbella. Located on the country's Costa del Sol, Marbella is home to stunning beaches, top-notch resorts, world-class golfing, and much more. A visit to Marbella is the perfect way to experience all that Spain has to offer. Marbella Luxury Hotels Marbella Luxury Villas Marrakesh, Morocco Marrakesh is a city in Morocco that is full of culture and history. There are several places to visit in Marrakesh, including the Palace of the Bahia, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, and the Saadian Tombs. The souks (markets) are also a must-see, where you can find everything from souvenirs to spices to traditional clothing. Be sure to enjoy a meal in one of the many restaurants or cafes in Marrakesh; the food is delicious and the atmosphere is always lively. Marrakesh is a wonderful city to explore and definitely worth a visit!. Marrakesh Luxury Hotels San Francisco, CA, United States San Francisco is a popular tourist destination, and for good reason. There are plenty of things to see and do in this vibrant city. Here are some of the top places to visit: 1. Fisherman's Wharf: This neighborhood is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as a popular pier where you can enjoy views of the bay. 2. The Golden Gate Bridge: This iconic bridge is a must-see for any visitor to San Francisco. 3. Alcatraz Island: This former federal prison is now a popular tourist attraction. It's a must-see for fans of history and crime dramas. 4. Chinatown: This colorful neighborhood is home to some of the best food in San Francisco. Be sure to check out the Dragon Gate entrance. 5. The Mission District: This trendy neighborhood is home to hip restaurants, bars, and art galleries. San Francisco Luxury Hotels Moscow, Russia Moscow, Russia is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some of the most popular tourist attractions are the Kremlin, Red Square, and Saint Basil's Cathedral. Other great places to see include the Bolshoi Theatre, Gorky Park, and the Tretyakov Gallery. There are also many churches and other historical buildings to explore. Moscow is a lively city with a lot of culture and nightlife. There is something for everyone to enjoy in Moscow. Moscow Luxury Hotels Venice, Italy Venice is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The city is built on a lagoon in northeast Italy and is known for its canals and gondolas. There are many places to visit in Venice, including the Grand Canal, St. Marks Square, and the Rialto Bridge. Venice is also home to many museums, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Venice Luxury Hotels Vienna, Austria Vienna, Austria is a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Vienna, including the Hofburg Palace, the Ringstrasse, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Vienna is also home to some of the world's best shopping, including the Karntner Strasse and the Graben. Finally, no visit to Vienna is complete without experiencing the city's world-famous nightlife. Vienna Luxury Hotels Zurich, Switzerland Zurich is a marvelous city located in the heart of Switzerland. It is a city that has something to offer for everyone. From amazing restaurants and beautiful architecture to exciting nightlife and gorgeous parks, Zurich has something for everyone. Some of the most popular places to visit in Zurich include the Bahnhofstrasse, which is the city's most famous shopping street, the Lindenhof, which is a beautiful park with amazing views of the city, and Grossmunster, which is a stunning Romanesque church. Zurich is also home to some of the best museums in the world, including the famed Museum of Art and the Swiss National Museum. With its mix of old-world charm and modern amenities, Zurich is a city that is definitely worth exploring. Zurich Luxury Hotels Acapulco, Mexico If you're looking for a Mexican vacation spot with plenty of history and culture to explore, Acapulco is a great option. From the archeological wonders of the ancient city to the stunning coastal views, there's something for everyone in Acapulco. Plus, with its temperate climate, it's a great escape from colder winter weather. Acapulco Luxury Hotels Acapulco Luxury Resorts Acapulco Luxury Villas Nashville, TN, United States One of the United States' most interesting places to visit is Nashville, Tennessee. There's plenty to see and do there, from the Grand Ole Opry to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Music is a big part of the city's history and culture, so be sure to catch a show while you're in town. Other popular attractions include the Ryman Auditorium, the Parthenon, and the Jack Daniel's Distillery. Nashville is also a great place to eat, with a wide variety of restaurants serving up everything from barbecue to Mexican food. So if you're looking for an exciting and diverse city to visit, be sure to add Nashville to your list. Nashville Luxury Hotels Nashville Luxury Villas Atlanta, GA, United States What's not to love about Atlanta? From the iconic Georgia Aquarium to the World of Coke, from the Fox Theatre to Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta offers a wealth of destinations for tourists. Sports fans will want to check out the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and history buffs will enjoy the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Braves fans can take a tour of SunTrust Park, and shoppers will enjoy the many boutiques and malls in the city. There's also a great restaurant scene in Atlanta, and music lovers will want to check out the many venues offering live music. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation spot or a place to explore on your own, Atlanta is a great choice!. Atlanta Luxury Hotels Miami, FL, United States The Magic City is a top tourist destination for a reasonthere are endless things to do in Miami! From exploring the trendy neighborhoods and dazzling beaches to soaking up the Latin culture and nightlife, Miami is jam-packed with amazing places to visit. Here are a few of our favorites: 1. Wynwood Walls: This outdoor art exhibit is a must-see for any art lover. The colorful murals are awe-inspiring and definitely Instagram-worthy. 2. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: This estate is dripping with luxury and opulence, from the grandiose architecture to the expansive gardens. It's the perfect place for a day of relaxation. 3. South Beach: This world-famous beach is a must-visit for any sun-seeker. The crystal-clear water and soft sand make for the perfect day-long beach getaway. 4. Little Havana: Experience Cuban culture at its best in Little Havana. From delicious food to lively music and dance, there's something for everyone in this vibrant district. 5. Art Deco District: This district is home to Miami's most iconic architecture. Take a stroll down the charming streets and admire the colorful buildings that make Miami so unique. Miami Luxury Hotels Miami Luxury Villas Tokyo, Japan Tokyo is a must-see destination in Japan. There are endless places to explore in this city - temples, shrines, gardens, and more. The Shinjuku district is a great place to start, with its neon-lit streets and myriad shops and restaurants. For a taste of traditional Japan, visit the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa or the Imperial Palace. Nature lovers will enjoy the Hamarikyu Gardens or the Hama-rikyu Teien Garden. And for a unique experience, take a trip to Mount Fuji. Tokyo Luxury Hotels Tokyo Luxury Villas Buenos Aires, Argentina There are plenty of places to visit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some popular tourist destinations include the obelisk, the Casa Rosada, and the Puerto Madero district. Every barrio (neighborhood) has its own unique culture and flavor. San Telmo, La Boca, and Palermo are some of the most popular barrios. There are also many parks and plazas, such as Plaza de Mayo and Plaza de la Republica, that are worth checking out. Buenos Aires Luxury Hotels Hamburg, Germany One of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany is Hamburg. From the lively and colorful harbor district to the grandiose City Hall, there is plenty to see and do in Hamburg. Some of the other popular places to visit include the Reeperbahn district with its pubs and nightlife, the Planten un Blomen botanical gardens, and the architecturally stunning Rathausmarkt square. Hamburg Luxury Hotels Lisbon, Portugal The capital of Portugal, Lisbon is a city of fascinating contrasts. From its coastal location, visitors can enjoy stunning ocean views, while its hilly, narrow streets are home to a maze of charming traditional homes and lively nightlife. A city of 7 hills, Lisbon is a bustling metropolis with something for everyone. Here are some of the top places to visit: The Belem Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Lisbons most iconic landmarks. This 16th-century fortress and lighthouse is a must-see for visitors. The Alfama district, with its winding streets and tile-roofed homes, is the oldest district in Lisbon. This is the perfect place to get lost and explore the citys history. The Lisbon Zoo is a great place to enjoy a day out with the family, with over 2,000 animals from around the world. The Christ the King statue, located atop a hill in the suburb of Almada, offers impressive views of Lisbon and the river Tagus. The Lisbon Oceanarium, located in the Parque das Nacoes district, is home to more than 12,000 marine creatures and is one of the largest aquariums in Europe. Lisbon Luxury Hotels Lisbon Luxury Villas Malaga, Spain Malaga is an attractive seaside city in southern Spain with a long history. There are many places to visit in Malaga, including the Gibralfaro Castle, the Alcazaba fortress, and the Malaga Cathedral. Malaga is also home to a variety of museums, including the Picasso Museum. The city is well known for its beaches, and there are many delightful places to relax and enjoy the sun and the sea. Malaga Luxury Hotels Malaga Luxury Villas Munich, Germany When planning a vacation to Munich, Germany, be sure to include these top places to visit: The Marienplatz is a must-see square in the city center, featuring a beautiful Glockenspiel show and the Old and New Town Halls. The Englisher Garten, Europes largest city park, is a great place for a relaxing stroll or a picnic. OlympiaPark is home to the famous 1972 Olympic Stadium as well as a huge amusement park. The Frauenkirche is a stunning church in the old town with a Glockenspiel of its own. Beer lovers will want to visit the Hofbrauhaus, the worlds most famous beer hall. For a bit of history and culture, check out the LudwigMaximilians-University and the Deutsches Museum. There is so much to see and do in Munich these are just a few highlights!. Munich Luxury Hotels Granada, Spain Granada is a city in southern Spain that is known for its Moorish architecture and history. The city is home to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress that was constructed in the late 1300s. Visitors can also enjoy the citys many churches, including the Cathedral of Granada. Granada is also a convenient base for exploring the other cities and towns in Andalusia. Granada Luxury Hotels Bucharest, Romania Bucharest is a city full of history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Palace of Parliament, which is the world's largest civilian building. Other places to visit include the old city center, which is full of charming streets and buildings, and the Botanical Garden, which is the largest botanical garden in Romania. Bucharest Luxury Hotels Bologna, Italy Bologna, Italy is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist destinations include the Piazza Maggiore, the Tower of Asinelli, and the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. There are also plenty of museums and churches to explore, and the city is full of charming restaurants and cafes. Bologna is an excellent destination for a vacation, and there is something for everyone to enjoy in this amazing city. Bologna Luxury Hotels Porto, Portugal Porto is a port city in Portugal that is well known for its wine. It's also a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Porto, including the old city center, the Dom Luis I Bridge, and the Clerigos Tower. Porto is also home to the famous Port wine caves, which are a must-visit for wine lovers. Porto Luxury Hotels Cologne, Germany Cologne, located on the Rhine River in western Germany, is a city well worth visiting. The city has a long and rich history, dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Some of the city's most popular tourist attractions include the Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, and the RheinEnergieStadion. Additionally, Cologne is home to a wide variety of museums, shops, and restaurants. In fact, the city has been ranked as one of the best places to live in Germany. So, if you're looking for a great European city to visit, be sure to add Cologne to your list. Cologne Luxury Hotels Istanbul, Turkey If you're looking for an exotic and affordable vacation destination, look no further than Istanbul, Turkey. Filled with historical places to visit and bargains to be found, Istanbul offers something for everyone. Be sure to visit the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque while you're there. Don't forget to bargain for the best prices when shopping in the bazaars, and enjoy some delicious Turkish cuisine while you're at it. Istanbul is sure to leave you with a lasting impression. Istanbul Luxury Hotels Istanbul Luxury Villas Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai is a fascinating and exotic city that offers visitors a mix of traditional Middle Eastern culture and modern, cosmopolitan life. There are plenty of places to visit in Dubai, from the towering skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai to the luxury shopping malls and luxurious hotels of the Palm Jumeirah. Don't miss a chance to experience an Arabian night out on an epic dhow cruise, or take a trip out into the Arabian Desert to see the stunning sand dunes. Dubai Luxury Hotels Dubai Luxury Resorts Dubai Luxury Villas Antwerp, Belgium Antwerp is a city located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital of the province of Antwerp and has a population of over half a million people. Antwerp is a popular tourist destination due to its many historical buildings, museums, and art galleries. Some of the most popular places to visit in Antwerp are the Cathedral of Our Lady, the City Hall, the Rubenshuis, and the Antwerp Zoo. Antwerp Luxury Hotels Lyon, France Lyon is a beautiful city in the south of France that is full of culture and places to visit. Some of the most popular places to visit in Lyon are the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere, the Place Bellecour, and the Vieux Lyon. The Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere is a beautiful cathedral that is a must-see when visiting Lyon. The Place Bellecour is a large square in the heart of Lyon that is full of restaurants and cafes. The Vieux Lyon is a district in Lyon that is full of old buildings and is a great place to wander around and take in the sights. Lyon Luxury Hotels Athens, Greece If you find yourself in Athens, there are definitely some spots you won't want to miss. The Acropolis, Parthenon, and Olympic Stadium are all essential stops, but there are plenty of others, too. If you're looking for a bit of history, the National Archaeological Museum is a must-see, while nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the botanical gardens. If you're looking to relax, take a walk along the beach in Glyfada or head to the Plaka district for a charming and picturesque setting. No matter what you're interested in, Athens has something for you. Athens Luxury Hotels Athens Luxury Villas Helsinki, Finland While in Helsinki, make sure to visit these popular tourist destinations: The Senate Square and Lutheran Cathedral The Sibelius Monument Ateneum Art Museum Market Square Helsinki Zoo. Helsinki Luxury Hotels Vilnius, Lithuania The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, is a picturesque city with a rich history. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of charming churches, narrow streets, and pretty squares. There are also lots of museums and other places of interest to visit, including the Hill of Crosses, Gediminas Tower, and the Presidential Palace. Vilnius is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars to enjoy in the evening. Vilnius Luxury Hotels Reykjavik, Iceland A city of remote beauty, Reykjavik is teeming with interesting places to visit. One of the worlds most northern capitals, Reykjavik offers stunning landscapes and a wealth of cultural experiences. From the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church to the popular Golden Circle tour, theres plenty to see and do in Reykjavik. Be sure to check out the citys lively nightlife scene, too you wont be disappointed!. Reykjavik Luxury Hotels Glasgow, United Kingdom Some of the most popular places to visit in Glasgow include the Gallery of Modern Art, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Riverside Museum, and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. There are also many wonderful parks and gardens to explore, including the Botanic Gardens and Glasgow Green. For those interested in history and architecture, there are many fascinating old buildings to see, such as the Glasgow Cathedral and the University of Glasgow. And for those looking for a lively nightlife, Glasgow has no shortage of pubs, clubs, and restaurants. Glasgow Luxury Hotels Los Angeles, CA, United States As the birthplace of Hollywood and home to some of the world's most recognisable landmarks, there's no shortage of places to visit in Los Angeles. Start by exploring the city's iconic neighbourhoods like Beverly Hills and Hollywood, then venture out to attractions like the Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach and Disneyland. And don't forget to savour the city's world-famous cultural scene, with its abundance of museums, theatres and restaurants. Los Angeles Luxury Hotels Los Angeles Luxury Villas San Diego, CA, United States San Diego is a city located in California and is a major tourist destination. One of the main reasons people visit the city is for its many beaches. Coronado Beach, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach are some of the most popular and are all within close proximity to the city center. Other attractions in San Diego include the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, and the USS Midway Museum. Restaurants, bars, and shopping can be found throughout the city, and world-renowned museums, like the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, are also located in San Diego. San Diego Luxury Hotels San Diego Luxury Resorts San Diego Luxury Villas Washington, DC, United States Washington, D.C. is a city full of history and places to visit. Some popular places to visit are the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the Smithsonian. D.C. is also home to a number of monuments and memorials, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. There are also a number of museums in D.C., like the American History Museum and the National Air and Space Museum. Washington Luxury Hotels Cancun, Mexico Cancun is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. Aside from its beautiful beaches, there are plenty of places to visit and things to do in Cancun. Some of the most popular attractions include the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza, the eco-park Xcaret, and the nightclubs and bars in the resort district. Cancun Luxury Hotels Cancun Luxury Resorts Cancun Luxury Villas Virginia Beach, VA, United States Virginia Beach is one of the top tourist destinations on the East Coast. From the Virginia Beach Boardwalk to the miles of sandy beaches, there's something for everyone to enjoy. There are also plenty of restaurants, shops, and other attractions to keep visitors busy. Some of the most popular places to visit in Virginia Beach include: The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk: This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. First Landing State Park: This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. Cape Henry Lighthouse: This lighthouse is one of the oldest in the country and offers stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay. There are plenty of other things to do in Virginia Beach, including dolphin and whale watching tours, kayaking, and golfing. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation or a romantic getaway, Virginia Beach is sure to please. Virginia Beach Luxury Hotels Virginia Beach Luxury Resorts Beijing, China If you're looking for an amazing cultural experience, be sure to add Beijing, China to your travel bucket list! With beautiful temples, charming hutongs (traditional alleyways), and a lively food scene, there's something for everyone in this bustling city. Plus, Beijing is home to some of the most iconic attractions in China, like the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. So if you're looking for an unforgettable East Asian adventure, be sure to add Beijing to your list!. Beijing Luxury Hotels Seoul, South Korea Seoul is a metropolitan city that is home to over 10 million people. It is a city full of culture, history, and a vibrant nightlife. There are plenty of places to visit in Seoul, including the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and N Seoul Tower. The Jeongdongne district is a must-see for anyone interested in art and culture, and the Itaewon district is a great place to go for a night on the town. Seoul Luxury Hotels South Lake Tahoe, CA, United States Known for its dramatic lake and mountain scenery, South Lake Tahoe offers visitors plenty of places to visit and things to do. Some of the most popular attractions include floating down the river on a tube, hiking the trails in the summer and skiing or snowboarding the slopes in the winter. The city also has a variety of restaurants and nightlife options, as well as casinos for those looking to try their luck. South Lake Tahoe Luxury Hotels South Lake Tahoe Luxury Resorts Daytona Beach, FL, United States Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. It is approximately 40 miles northeast of Orlando, and 85 miles southeast of Jacksonville. The city is known as "The World's Most Famous Beach." Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Fun Coast region of Florida. The Daytona Beach area is a popular tourist destination. It is well known for its beaches, sports events, and motorsports. Daytona Beach was the birthplace of NASCAR and home to its first track, Daytona International Speedway. Dayton Beach also features a large number of tourist-oriented businesses, such as motels, restaurants, and bars. Daytona Beach Luxury Hotels Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The coastline of Rio de Janeiro is breathtaking, and the views from Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain are unforgettable. Rio's world-famous beaches are the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun and the surf. The city's rich culture and history can be experienced in its many museums and in the lively nightlife. Rio is also a great place to shop for souvenirs. Rio de Janeiro Luxury Hotels Rio de Janeiro Luxury Villas Jaco, Costa Rica Jaco is a town on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It's about an hour drive from San Jose and is a popular spot for surfers, sunbathers, and tourists. There are a number of beaches in the area, as well as restaurants, bars, and hotels. If you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy the Costa Rican sun and beaches, Jaco is a great option. Jaco Luxury Hotels Oslo, Norway Oslo, Norway is a city with plenty of places to visit. You can find the peace and tranquility of nature parks and green spaces, experience the city's vibrant nightlife, or take in the historical and cultural sights. Here are a few of the top places to visit in Oslo: The Royal Palace: Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Vigeland Park: Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. The Maritime Museum: This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. The National Gallery: The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. Aker Brygge: Aker Brygge is a popular waterfront district in Oslo, home to a variety of bars, restaurants, and shops. The area is a great place to people watch and enjoy the view of the Oslo Fjord. Oslo Luxury Hotels Lima, Peru If you're looking for a city that's bursting with culture and flavor, Lima, Peru is the place for you! This vibrant destination is home to some of the most amazing places to visit in all of South America. From ancient ruins to lush rainforests, there's something for everyone in Lima. Here are just a few of the must-see attractions in this amazing city: The Larco Museum is one of Lima's top tourist destinations. This incredible museum is home to one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian art in the world. The Historic Center of Lima is a must-see for any history lover. This vibrant area is home to some of the oldest architecture in Lima, including the iconic San Francisco Monastery. If you're looking for a little bit of jungle in the city, head to the Parque de la Reserva. This lush park is home to beautiful gardens, a zoo, and even a butterfly farm! No trip to Lima would be complete without a visit to Machu Picchu. This ancient Inca citadel is one of the most iconic sites in all of South America. Lima Luxury Hotels Ankara, Turkey Ankara is the cultural and political center of Turkey. The city is home to many museums, including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and is a popular destination for tourists. The Citadel, the Ataturk Mausoleum, and the War of Independence Museum are all popular tourist destinations in Ankara. The city is also home to a vibrant nightlife and is a popular destination for students. Ankara Luxury Hotels Birmingham, United Kingdom There are plenty of great places to visit in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Some of the most popular places to go include the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and the Black Country Living Museum. These places are all great for tourists, as they offer a variety of attractions, including beautiful gardens, interesting art, and a recreation of an old-fashioned town. Additionally, there are plenty of other great places to visit in Birmingham, such as the Jewellery Quarter and the German Christmas Market. Birmingham Luxury Hotels York, United Kingdom With a rich history that spans back over 1,000 years, York is a must-visit destination in the United Kingdom. Explore the city's medieval architecture and narrow cobblestone streets, or enjoy a leisurely walk along the River Ouse. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of cultural experiences, such as the York Minster cathedral, the Jorvik Viking Centre, and the National Railway Museum. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy in York. York Luxury Hotels Inverness, United Kingdom Inverness, Scotland is a must-see destination on any traveler's list. Filled with rolling green hills, historical sites, and plenty of outdoor activities, there's something for everyone in this charming town. Start by exploring the city center, which is home to a variety of shops and restaurants. Make sure to check out the Inverness Castle, which offers commanding views of the area, and the Inverness Cathedral, a beautiful example of medieval architecture. Outside of the city center, there are plenty of other attractions to explore. The Loch Ness Monster is said to make its home in the loch here, and visitors can take boat tours to hunt for the mythical creature. If you're looking for a more active adventure, take a hike in the hills or go fishing on the loch. No matter what you choose to do, Inverness is a beautiful and welcoming town that is sure to charm you. Inverness Luxury Hotels Marseille, France The Vieux Port (Old Harbor) is the oldest port in France. It is a beautiful place to visit with its sailboats, restaurants, and cafes. The Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica is also worth a visit. It offers stunning views of the city. If you're looking for a more lively atmosphere, head to the La Canebiere. It's a wide avenue with plenty of shops and restaurants. Marseille Luxury Hotels Marseille Luxury Villas Honolulu, HI, United States Honolulu is a city located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, United States. It is the most populous city in the state of Hawaii and the county seat of the City and County of Honolulu. Honolulu is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world and is located in Honolulu. Other places to visit in Honolulu include Diamond Head, the USS Arizona Memorial, and Hanauma Bay. Honolulu Luxury Hotels Honolulu Luxury Resorts Honolulu Luxury Villas Bar Harbor, ME, United States Famous for lobster and stunning ocean views, Bar Harbor is a popular destination in Maine. There are plenty of things to do in the town and its surroundings, including hiking, biking, whale watching, and exploring Acadia National Park. Bar Harbor Luxury Hotels Colorado Springs, CO, United States There are many places to visit in Colorado Springs. Garden of the Gods is a popular park with beautiful rock formations. Pike's Peak is a 14,115 foot mountain that offers great views and outdoor activities. The Broadmoor is a world-renowned resort with lovely gardens and a championship golf course. Royal Gorge Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge and a popular tourist spot. Colorado Springs Luxury Hotels Fort Myers Beach, FL, United States Just an hours drive from the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach is a popular tourist spot, especially in the winter when the snowbirds migrate down. The seven-mile-long beach is known for its white sand and clear water and is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and kayaking. There are also a number of restaurants and bars in the area, as well as a few stores. Fort Myers Beach Luxury Hotels Biloxi, MS, United States There are plenty of places to explore in Biloxi, Mississippi from the citys iconic Beaches to the picturesque Bay Saint Louis. Venture into the citys downtown area to check out the many shops and restaurants, or take a walk along the shoreline. No matter what you choose to do, youre sure to have a great time in Biloxi. Biloxi Luxury Hotels Palermo, Italy If you're looking for a city with a rich and diverse history, Palermo is the place for you. This coastal city in Italy is teeming with medieval architecture, churches, and cathedrals. Be sure to check out the Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Europe, and the Palazzo dei Normanni, the seat of the Sicilian government. Don't miss out on the city's vibrant nightlife and vast array of restaurants that serve up some of the best food in the country. Palermo Luxury Hotels Palermo Luxury Villas Manila, Philippines The capital of the Philippines, Manila is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant culture. There are plenty of places to visit in Manila, including the walled city of Intramuros, the Rizal Park, and the Manila Bay. The city is also home to a large number of churches, including the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church. Manila is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of restaurants and shops to enjoy. Manila Luxury Hotels Zermatt, Switzerland Zermatt is an alpine village in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is famous for its ski resort, mountaineering and hiking trails. The views of the Matterhorn from Zermatt are iconic. The village is car-free, making it a cyclists' and pedestrians' paradise. There are many places to visit in Zermatt, including the village's beautiful churches, impressive museums, and great restaurants. Zermatt Luxury Hotels Basel, Switzerland Basel is a city located in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine. Basel has a population of about 176,000 and is the third most populous city in Switzerland. Basel has many interesting places to visit, including the Basel Munster, the Basel Rathaus (town hall), the Basel Zoo, and the Munsterhof, the old town square. Basel also has a number of art museums, including the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Fondation Beyeler, and the Schaulager. Basel is a great city to visit, and I highly recommend it!. Basel Luxury Hotels Copenhagen, Denmark There are a number of places to visit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn, and the Rosenborg Castle Gardens. Tivoli Gardens is a beautiful amusement park that has something for everyone. It is perfect for a day of fun with family or friends. Nyhavn is a charming canal district that is popular for its brightly colored houses and lively atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing cruise down the canal or take a seat in one of the many cafes and restaurants. The Rosenborg Castle Gardens are home to a majestic castle as well as beautifully landscaped gardens. There is plenty to see and do in Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen Luxury Hotels Steamboat Springs, CO, United States Steamboat Springs is located in northwestern Colorado. The town is named for the steamboats that traveled up the Yampa River in the 1800s. Today, the town is a popular tourist destination, known for its skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and rafting. Steamboat Springs Luxury Hotels Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is home to many tourist attractions. Some popular places to visit in Abu Dhabi include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Ferrari World Theme Park, and the Yas Island Waterpark. There are also a number of museums and shopping malls in Abu Dhabi, making it a great destination for those looking for a mix of culture and leisure. Abu Dhabi Luxury Hotels Abu Dhabi Luxury Resorts Abu Dhabi Luxury Villas Bogota, Colombia There's a lot to see and do in Bogota. Some of the top places to visit include the historical La Candelaria district, the cobblestone streets of Plaza de Bolivar, the Monserrate mountain, the Bogota Botanical Garden, and the Gold Museum. La Candelaria is home to many brightly-colored colonial buildings, churches, and plazas. Plaza de Bolivar is the center of Bogota and is surrounded by important landmarks like the Presidential Palace and the National Capitol. The Monserrate mountain is a popular tourist destination due to its stunning views of Bogota. The Bogota Botanical Garden is the largest in Colombia and features a wide variety of plants and trees. The Gold Museum is home to the largest collection of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts in the world. Bogota Luxury Hotels Cebu, Philippines Due to its location and its rich history, there are plenty of places to visit in Cebu. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include the Cebu Taoist Temple, the Fort San Pedro, the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, and the Magellan's Cross. Cebu Luxury Hotels Cebu Luxury Resorts Lagos, Portugal Lagos is a small town in Portugal with a population of around 22,000. It's located in the Algarve region and is a popular tourist destination. Some of the places to visit in Lagos are the beaches, the old town, and the Marina. The beaches are beautiful and there are a lot of them to choose from. The old town is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways with lots of shops and restaurants. The Marina is a great place to walk around and watch the boats. Lagos Luxury Hotels Medellin, Colombia Some places to visit in Medellin, Colombia are: the Botanical Garden, the Ethnographic Museum, the Jardin Botanico, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Park of Lights, and the San Pedro Claver Church. Medellin Luxury Hotels Genoa, Italy While there are many places to visit in Genoa, one of the must-sees is the city's cathedral. Dedicated to San Lorenzo, the church features an intricate Gothic facade and a Renaissance interior. If you're looking for a place to take in some stunning views, head to the Genoa Aquarium, which is located on the promenade stretching along the city's harbor. Genoa Luxury Hotels Hoi An, Vietnam Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam. Its a bridge town thats best explored on foot. The narrow streets are a mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architecture. There are tailors, artisans, and lantern shops galore. The food is also some of the best in Vietnam. Be sure to try the local specialties, like Cao Lau and White Rose dumplings. Hoi An Luxury Hotels Hoi An Luxury Resorts Baku, Azerbaijan Baku, Azerbaijan is a city with a lot of culture and history. There are a lot of places to visit, like the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower. There are also a lot of great restaurants, like the Flame Club, which has a great atmosphere and delicious food. Baku Luxury Hotels San Luis Obispo, CA, United States San Luis Obispo is a city located in the central coast of California. It's known for its natural beauty, relaxed vibe, and abundance of things to do. Some of the top places to visit in San Luis Obispo include the Madonna Inn, Hearst Castle, and the Paso Robles wine country. The city is also home to a variety of beaches, parks, and other attractions. In addition, San Luis Obispo is a great place to live, with plenty of restaurants, shops, and other amenities. San Luis Obispo Luxury Hotels Colombo, Sri Lanka Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The city is located on the west coast of the island and is the administrative, commercial, and industrial center of Sri Lanka. Colombo is also the center of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, with numerous Buddhist temples. There are a number of places to visit in Colombo, including the Galle Face Green, the Dutch fort, the Pettah Bazaar, and the Sri Lankan National Museum. Colombo Luxury Hotels Yogyakarta, Indonesia The city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia is home to some of the most stunning temples and historical landmarks in the country. The city is also a great place to enjoy traditional Javanese culture and cuisine. Some of the must-see places in Yogyakarta include the Borobudur Temple, the Prambanan Temple, and the Sultan's Palace. Yogyakarta Luxury Hotels Cefalu, Italy Looking for a beautiful and historic place to visit in Italy? Look no further than Cefalu. This town is teeming with history and stunning architecture, and its location on the coast makes it the perfect place to relax and take in the stunning scenery. Don't miss the Duomo di Cefalu, a 12th century Norman church that is definitely worth a visit, or the Palazzo dei Normanni, a former royal palace. Cefalu Luxury Hotels San Jose, CA, United States San Jose, California, is home to a variety of tourist destinations. Some popular places to visit include the Winchester Mystery House, the Tech Museum of Innovation, and the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. There are also a number of lovely parks, such as Kelley Park and Plaza de Cesar Chavez, that are well worth a visit. San Jose is also home to a number of great restaurants, so be sure to check out the local cuisine. Whatever your interests, San Jose has something to offer visitors. San Jose Luxury Hotels Hong Kong, China Hong Kong is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in China. There are many places to visit in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Victoria Peak, and the Temple Street Night Market. Hong Kong is also a great place to shop, with many high-end malls and markets. Hong Kong Luxury Hotels Hong Kong Luxury Resorts Orlando, FL, United States Orlando is a city in the central region of Florida, in the United States. The city is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the metropolitan area also known as Greater Orlando. Orlando is well known for its theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. Other tourist destinations in Orlando include the Holy Land Experience, the Orlando Science Center, and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Orlando is also home to the University of Central Florida, one of the largest universities in the United States. Orlando Luxury Hotels Orlando Luxury Resorts Orlando Luxury Villas Philadelphia, PA, United States If youre looking for a place thats rich in history and culture, Philadelphia is the place for you. The city is home to numerous iconic landmarks, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Theres also a great variety of museums and other attractions to explore, such as the Philadelphia Zoo and the Please Touch Museum. And, of course, Philly is the birthplace of Americas favorite sandwich, the cheesesteak. So why not visit Americas most historic city and see for yourself what all the fuss is about?. Philadelphia Luxury Hotels Nice, France France is known for its many beautiful places to visit, and Nice is no exception. With its stunning coastline and mild climate, Nice is a popular tourist destination. Some of the most popular places to visit in Nice include the Promenade des Anglais, the Castle Hill, and the Old Town. There is also a wide variety of shops and restaurants to enjoy in Nice. If you're looking for a beautiful and relaxing place to visit in France, Nice is definitely worth considering. Nice Luxury Hotels Nice Luxury Villas Singapore, Singapore Singapore is a popular tourist destination, brimming with cultural and natural attractions. From award-winning restaurants to serene gardens and pristine beaches, there is much to explore in this diverse city-state. Here are some of the top places to visit in Singapore: 1. Marina Bay: This iconic waterfront district is home to stunning architecture, world-class landmarks, and a vibrant nightlife. 2. Gardens by the Bay: These stunning gardens feature a mix of plants from around the world, as well as towering sculptures and a biodome. 3. Chinatown: This lively district is home to traditional Chinese shops and restaurants, as well as vibrant street markets. 4. Little India: This neighborhood is known for its vibrant culture and colorful temples. 5. Sentosa Island: This resort island is home to sandy beaches, lush rainforests, and a variety of entertainment options. Singapore Luxury Hotels Singapore Luxury Resorts Nottingham, United Kingdom Nottingham is a city in the East Midlands of England. It is one of the United Kingdom's major cities, with a population of over 321,000. The city is home to two universities, Queen's Medical Centre, and seven football grounds. Nottingham is known for its lace-making and bicycle manufacturing. The city has a rich history, dating back to the Bronze Age. There are plenty of places to visit in Nottingham, including the Nottingham Castle, the Sherwood Forest, and the National Ice Centre. The city also has a lively nightlife, with a variety of pubs and bars. Nottingham Luxury Hotels Cannes, France Cannes is a city located in the south of France. Some of the places to visit in Cannes are the Palais des Festivals et des Congres, the Boulevard de la Croisette, and Le Suquet. Cannes Luxury Hotels Cannes Luxury Villas Park City, UT, United States Park City, Utah, offers visitors a wealth of places to visit and things to do. Main Street, with its charming shops and restaurants, is a must-see. The Park City Museum tells the town's fascinating history, and the Park City Utah Temple is a beautiful sight. For outdoor enthusiasts, there's plenty of skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. And don't forget to visit the Olympic Park, where the 2002 Winter Olympics were held. Park City Luxury Hotels Park City Luxury Resorts Port Angeles, WA, United States If you're looking for a quaint, small town to visit in the US, Port Angeles is worth a stop. Located in the state of Washington, it's right on the Pacific coast with stunning views of the Olympic Mountains. There's plenty of things to do in the area, from hiking and fishing to whale watching and enjoying the local restaurants and breweries. Port Angeles Luxury Hotels Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States If you're looking for a fun-filled Florida getaway, look no further than Fort Lauderdale! With its miles of pristine beaches, world-famous shopping and vibrant nightlife, there's something for everyone in this seaside city. Here are some of the top places to visit in Fort Lauderdale: Las Olas Boulevard: This popular shopping and dining district is home to some of Fort Lauderdale's most upscale boutiques and restaurants. The Beach: With its wide, sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, Fort Lauderdale's beach is a major draw for visitors. The Everglades: Just a short drive from Fort Lauderdale, the Everglades are home to an abundance of wildlife, including alligators, bald eagles and manatees. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts: This world-class performing arts center is home to a variety of theater, dance and music performances. So what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Fort Lauderdale today!. Fort Lauderdale Luxury Hotels Fort Lauderdale Luxury Resorts Myrtle Beach, SC, United States Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to visit in the area, including amusement parks, beaches, and golf courses. Myrtle Beach also has a lively nightlife, with plenty of bars and restaurants. Myrtle Beach Luxury Hotels Myrtle Beach Luxury Resorts Salzburg, Austria Salzburg is one of the most visited places in Austria. It is a city rich in history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Mirabell Palace, and the Salzburg Cathedral. There are also many hiking trails and parks to enjoy. Salzburg Luxury Hotels Pattaya, Thailand Pattaya is an amazing city with plenty of places to visit and things to do. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, Pattaya offers something for everyone. There are lovely beaches, interesting temples, great shopping, and exciting nightlife. With its moderate climate and affordable prices, it's no wonder Pattaya is a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. Pattaya Luxury Hotels Pattaya Luxury Resorts Pattaya Luxury Villas Dallas, TX, United States Dallas is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the ninth most populous city in the United States and the third most populous city in the state of Texas. Dallas is also the main city of the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the United States. The city's prominence arose from its historical importance as a center for the oil and cotton industries, and its position as a major transportation hub for the South. Dallas is home to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. The city's economy is primarily based on banking, commerce, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare and medical research, and transportation. The city is home to the world's largest airline hub and the third largest cargo airport in the United States. Dallas Luxury Hotels Kolkata, India Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. The city is located on the east bank of the Hooghly River. It is the second most populous city in India, after Mumbai, and the third most populous metropolitan area in India, after Mumbai and Delhi. The city is notable for its colonial architecture, art and culture, and for its overwhelming poverty. Kolkata is home to the Indian Museum, the Calcutta Stock Exchange, the National Library of India, and the Indian Statistical Institute. Kolkata Luxury Hotels San Antonio, TX, United States San Antonio is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Texas. There are plenty of places to visit in this city, from the well-known River Walk to the exquisite Spanish missions. If you're looking for a fun place to spend the day, you can't go wrong with San Antonio. San Antonio Luxury Hotels Seattle, WA, United States There are many wonderful places to visit in Seattle, Washington. Some of the most popular attractions include Pike Place Market, the Seattle Space Needle, and the Museum of Pop Culture. There are also many parks and gardens, such as Volunteer Park and Seattle Chinese Garden, as well as plenty of restaurants and shops. Located on the other side of the world, Western Australia is a great place to visit for those looking for something different. Some of the most popular attractions include Rottnest Island, the Margaret River region, and Monkey Mia. There are also plenty of beautiful parks and gardens, such as Kings Park and Botanic Garden, as well as restaurants and shops. Seattle Luxury Hotels Liverpool, United Kingdom Liverpool is a city located in North West England and is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom. The city is known for its football teams Liverpool and Everton, The Beatles, and its maritime history. Liverpool is a popular tourist destination and is home to various tourist attractions including Mersey Ferry, Liverpool Cathedral, and Albert Dock. Liverpool Luxury Hotels Malmo, Sweden Malmo is Sweden's third largest city with a population of over 310,000. It is located in the province of Scania on the country's southern tip. Malmo is a vibrant city with a strong arts and cultural scene. There are plenty of places to visit in Malmo, including the Malmo Castle, the Botanical Gardens, and the Turning Torso skyscraper. Malmo is also home to a large shopping district and a lively nightlife. Malmo Luxury Hotels Gothenburg, Sweden Goteborg, Sweden's second largest city, is a major port on the country's west coast. It's a popular tourist destination, known for its lively nightlife, beautiful architecture and delicious seafood. Some of the city's highlights include the Liseberg amusement park, the Botanical Garden, and the charming old town district. Goteborg is also home to a large number of museums, including the Volvo Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Universeum science center. Gothenburg Luxury Hotels Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia and is a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Ljubljana, such as the castle, the old town, and the cathedral. The city is also home to many museums, art galleries, and parks. Ljubljana is a great city to explore on foot, and there are many restaurants and cafes to enjoy. Ljubljana Luxury Hotels Sydney, NSW, Australia Australia is a vast country with plenty of stunning places to visit, but Sydney is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations on the continent. From the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge to the beautiful beaches and lush national parks, there's something for everyone in this lively city. There's also a thriving food and nightlife scene, so you'll never run out of things to do in Sydney. Sydney Luxury Hotels Sydney Luxury Villas Melbourne, VIC, Australia There's a lot to love about Melbourne its lively arts and culture scene, its parks and gardens, its diverse range of restaurants and cafes, and its stunning architecture. Here are some of the best places to visit in Melbourne: - Federation Square: This iconic square is a great place to people-watch and take in the city's impressive architecture. It's also home to a number of museums and galleries, including the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the National Gallery of Victoria. - Queen Victoria Market: This vibrant market is a must-visit for foodies and shoppers alike. It's the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, and offers a vast array of fresh produce, meat, seafood, and souvenirs. - Melbourne Cricket Ground: If you're a sports fan, be sure to check out the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is the largest cricket stadium in the world. It's also home to the Australian Football League, and has hosted a number of major sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby Union World Cup. - Royal Botanic Gardens: These beautiful gardens are a great place to relax and take in some of Melbourne's natural beauty. They're home to a number of different gardens, including the Australian Garden, the Sculpture Garden, and the Japanese Garden. Melbourne Luxury Hotels Melbourne Luxury Villas Vancouver, BC, Canada The top places to visit in Vancouver are Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown, and Chinatown. These are all must-see attractions that offer an array of activities, scenery, and history. Stanley Park is a world-famous urban park that features greenery, beaches, gardens, and a stunning view of the North Shore Mountains. Granville Island is a vibrant neighbourhood with unique shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Gastown is the city's oldest neighbourhood and is home to charming cobblestone streets and funky boutiques. Chinatown is one of the largest and most vibrant Chinatowns in North America and offers delicious food, interesting history, and vibrant culture. Vancouver Luxury Hotels Toronto, ON, Canada From the CN Tower and Hockey Hall of Fame to the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Distillery District, there are plenty of amazing places to visit in Toronto, Canada. With something for everyone, Toronto is a great city to explore. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today!. Toronto Luxury Hotels Montreal, QC, Canada Montreal is a vibrant city with something for everyone. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Notre Dame Basilica, the Olympic Stadium, and Mount Royal. The city is also home to a lively arts and culture scene, with theatres, art galleries, and music venues. Montreal is a great place to visit year-round, with festivals and events happening throughout the year. Montreal Luxury Hotels Seville, Spain Seville is one of the most visited places in Spain for a plethora of reasons: its stunning architecture, tapas bars, flamenco and great weather. The Giralda Tower is a must-see when in Seville as is the Plaza de Espana. Andalusian culture is heavily present in the city and is best experienced by wandering the narrow streets and alleyways, popping into a lively tapas bar for a drink and some snacks or enjoying a flamenco show. Seville Luxury Hotels Seville Luxury Villas Ocean City, MD, United States Ocean City is a seaside resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, on the Atlantic coast. It is well known for its long promenade, its fishing, and its crab cuisine. There are plenty of places to visit in Ocean City, including the boardwalk, amusement rides, shopping, and restaurants. You can also visit the Assateague Island National Seashore, which is home to wild horses, or head to the nearby town of Berlin for more shopping and dining options. Ocean City Luxury Hotels Cambridge, MA, United States If you're looking for a quintessential New England town to visit, Cambridge, Massachusetts is the place for you. With its elaborate architecture and Colonial history, Cambridge is a lively town with plenty of things to see and do - perfect for a weekend getaway. Some of the places you won't want to miss include the Harvard University campus, the charming and lively shops and restaurants in Harvard Square, and the leafy paths of the Cambridge Common. Cambridge Luxury Hotels Laguna Beach, CA, United States Laguna Beach, California is a place known for its stunningly beautiful coastline, excellent restaurants, and art galleries. But there's more to Laguna Beach than meets the eye. Here are some of the best places to visit in Laguna Beach: Crystal Cove State Park: This state park is known for its coves, tidepools, and bluffs. It's a great place to go hiking, swimming, and snorkeling. Heisler Park: This park is a great place for a walk or a picnic. It's also home to some of the best views of the Pacific Coast. Downtown Laguna Beach: This charming downtown area is home to art galleries, boutique shops, and excellent restaurants. Aliso Beach: This beach is known for its excellent surfing and swimming conditions. It's also a great place to take a walk or enjoy a picnic. Laguna Beach Luxury Hotels Hot Springs, AR, United States In downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas, you'll find historic buildings, antique shops, and art galleries. For nature lovers, there are also plenty of places to visit, including the Garland County Arboretum, Ouachita National Forest, and Hot Springs National Park. Spa enthusiasts can enjoy a relaxing day in one of the area's hot springs. And no trip to Hot Springs is complete without a visit to the world-famous Bathhouse Row. Hot Springs Luxury Hotels Sedona, AZ, United States There are many places to visit in Sedona, Arizona. Among the most popular are the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon. The town's unique red-rock formations and ancient ruins offer plenty of photo opportunities. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Sedona is a great place to relax and take in the natural beauty of the Southwest. Sedona Luxury Hotels Sedona Luxury Resorts Boulder, CO, United States Boulder, Colorado is a breathtaking city nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The city is home to stunning views, ample outdoor recreation, and a lively arts scene. Outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring the city's many trails, parks, and open spaces. History buffs will enjoy checking out the city's museums and historic sites. Culture seekers will appreciate the city's many theaters, art galleries, and restaurants. No matter what your interests, you'll find something to love in Boulder. Boulder Luxury Hotels Key West, FL, United States Key West is a small island off the coast of Florida that is filled with history, charm, and fun places to visit. Its lush tropical setting and the laid-back vibe of the island make it a popular destination for those looking for a relaxing getaway. There are plenty of places to explore in Key West, from the charming historic district to the crystal-clear waters of the Florida Keys. Here are some of the top places to visit in Key West: -The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum: This iconic museum is dedicated to the life and work of Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, who lived in Key West for over 20 years. -Duval Street: This lively street is the heart of Key West's nightlife and is home to many bars and restaurants. -The Southernmost Point: This landmark is located at the end of Duval Street and is the southernmost point in the continental United States. -The Key West Lighthouse: This picturesque lighthouse is a popular spot for tourists and offers stunning views of the island. -The African American Heritage House: This museum is dedicated to the history and culture of African Americans in Key West. -The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory: This attraction is home to over 2,000 butterflies and a variety of other tropical plants and animals. Key West Luxury Hotels Key West Luxury Resorts Key West Luxury Cottages Key West Luxury Villas Stockholm, Sweden Stockholm, Sweden is a city with many places to visit. One place is the Vasa Museum, which is home to a ship that sunk in 1628 and was raised from the ocean floor 333 years later. The ship is preserved and on display in the museum. Another place to visit is the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish monarch. The palace is open for tours, and visitors can see the royal apartments, the throne room, and the Hall of State. Stockholm Luxury Hotels Destin, FL, United States Looking for a place to visit in Florida? Look no further than Destin! This city is home to beautiful beaches, wonderful restaurants, and plenty of places to shop. No matter what you're looking for, you can find it in Destin. Be sure to check out the Destin Harbor and the fishing pier for amazing views and plenty of things to do. If you're looking for a place to relax, head to the beach and enjoy the sun and sand. There's something for everyone in Destin, so be sure to visit this amazing city!. Destin Luxury Hotels Destin Luxury Resorts Ashland, OR, United States There are many places to visit in Ashland, Oregon. Some of the most popular places are the Shakespeare Festival, Lithia Park, and Mt. Ashland. The Shakespeare Festival is a great place to see some of the best plays in the world. Lithia Park is a beautiful park with a river running through it. Mt. Ashland is a great place to go skiing in the winter. Ashland Luxury Hotels Seaside, OR, United States One of the most beautiful places on the Oregon Coast is Seaside. With its wide, sandy beach and majestic promenade, Seaside is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to eat and shop, and the Seaside Aquarium is a must-see. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, whale watching, or just taking a leisurely stroll along the beach. Seaside Luxury Hotels Newport, RI, United States Newport is a picturesque town located in southern Rhode Island that is home to some of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States. The city is known for its miles of beaches and historic mansions that line the coast. Some popular places to visit in Newport include the Cliff Walk, the Breakers Mansion, the Museum of Yachting, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Newport Luxury Hotels Siena, Italy Siena, Italy is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its well-preserved medieval city center. The city is famous for its art, food, and wine. Siena is located in the heart of Tuscany, making it the perfect base for exploring this beautiful region of Italy. Don't miss the Duomo (cathedral), the Piazza del Campo, and the Torre del Mangia. Siena Luxury Hotels Reno, NV, United States Home to the University of Nevada, Reno and a wide variety of cultural and natural attractions, Reno is a great place to visit. Some of the top places to see in Reno include the Nevada Museum of Art, the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center, and the Reno Events Center. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking and skiing at Lake Tahoe and biking and kayaking on the Truckee River. In addition, Reno is home to a diverse array of restaurants and nightlife venues. Reno Luxury Hotels Atlantic City, NJ, United States Atlantic City is a popular East Coast tourist destination, known for its boardwalks, beaches and casinos. There are plenty of places to visit in Atlantic City, from the Boardwalk Hall and the Absecon Lighthouse to the Atlantic City Aquarium and Lucy the Elephant. For a more thrilling experience, head to one of the city's casinos, where you can try your hand at blackjack, slots, roulette and more. Atlantic City also offers a wide variety of restaurants, from seafood spots to pizza places, so you're sure to find something to your taste. And if you're looking for some nightlife action, the city has you covered there too. Atlantic City is definitely a place worth visiting!. Atlantic City Luxury Hotels Atlantic City Luxury Resorts Lake George, NY, United States Looking for a place to visit in upstate New York? Look no further than the stunning Lake George. This picturesque locale is located in the heart of the Adirondacks and is known for its pristine beauty and terrific recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and skiing, among other activities. Don't miss the chance to take in the spectacular views from the summit of Prospect Mountain or from the water's edge. Lake George Luxury Hotels Buffalo, NY, United States If you're looking for a city that has it all, Buffalo is the place to be. From its vibrant downtown district to its abundance of parks and nature preserves, there's something for everyone in Buffalo. Here are some of the top places to visit in Buffalo: 1. The Buffalo Zoo - One of the top zoos in the country, the Buffalo Zoo is a must-visit for animal lovers of all ages. 2. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery - Buffalo's answer to the Louvre, the Albright-Knox is home to some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. 3. The Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village - This living history museum offers a glimpse into what life was like in Buffalo in the 1800s. 4. The Buffalo River - Take a walk or bike ride along the Buffalo River, one of the city's most picturesque areas. 5. Delaware Park - This large park is home to a variety of attractions, including a zoo, a golf course, and a nature preserve. Buffalo Luxury Hotels Rochester, MN, United States Rochester, Minnesota is a city with plenty of places to visit. There's the Mayo Clinic, the Apache Mall, and several other shopping areas, as well as a variety of restaurants. There are also a few parks and golf courses. For those who love the outdoors, Rochester is also close to several state parks and the Mississippi River. Rochester Luxury Hotels Duluth, MN, United States If you're looking for an amazing place to visit, Duluth, Minnesota should definitely be at the top of your list. This city is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States, and there are plenty of things to do here that will keep you entertained for days on end. Some of the most popular places to visit in Duluth include the Aerial Lift Bridge, the Glensheen Mansion, and Chester Creek Park. Additionally, there are a number of excellent restaurants and shopping areas in the city, so be sure to explore everything that Duluth has to offer. Duluth Luxury Hotels Maputo, Mozambique Maputo is the capital of Mozambique and a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Maputo, such as the Jose Eduardo dos Santos Museum, the Maputo Cathedral, and the Rua da Independencia. Maputo is also home to the Maputo Bay, which offers beautiful beaches and great seafood. Maputo Luxury Hotels Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, located on the northeast coast of Spain, is a renowned tourist destination and one of the most popular cities in the world. There are plenty of places to visit in Barcelona, such as the Gothic Quarter, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Parc Guell, La Sagrada Familia, and more. The city is also home to a lively nightlife and some of the best restaurants in the country. Barcelona Luxury Hotels Barcelona Luxury Villas Split, Croatia Split is a city on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. It is the second-largest city in Croatia and the largest city in Dalmatia. It has a population of over 200,000 inhabitants. The metropolitan area, which includes the City of Split and the surrounding towns, has a population of over 330,000. Split is a popular tourist destination and is the home of the Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other popular tourist destinations include the Riva, the Peristyle, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and Sustipan. Split Luxury Hotels Split Luxury Villas Dubrovnik, Croatia Dubrovnik is a city on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the administrative center of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Dubrovnik is nicknamed "The Pearl of the Adriatic". Dubrovnik Luxury Hotels Dubrovnik Luxury Villas Byron Bay, NSW, Australia Byron Bay is a magical place. It's no wonder that it's one of the most popular destinations in Australia. The town is set in a beautiful location, surrounded by rolling green hills and the bright blue ocean. There's plenty to do in Byron Bay, whether you're looking for a relaxing beach holiday or an adventure-filled trip. Some of the top places to visit in Byron Bay include the iconic lighthouse, the stunning beaches, and the lush rainforest. There's also a great nightlife and plenty of restaurants and cafes to enjoy. If you're looking for an amazing Australian getaway, be sure to add Byron Bay to your list!. Byron Bay Luxury Hotels Wellington, New Zealand If you're looking for a little slice of heaven on earth, look no further than Wellington, New Zealand. With its gorgeous landscape and plethora of activities, there's something for everyone here. Whether you're a nature lover or a city slicker, Wellington has something special to offer. Top Wellington attractions include the Zealandia eco-sanctuary, the cable car up to the Botanic Gardens, and the sprawling Te Papa museum. For those who love getting out into the great outdoors, there are plenty of hiking and biking trails, as well as lovely seaside towns and villages to explore. And of course, no trip to Wellington would be complete without trying some of the delicious local cuisine be sure to sample a traditional Maori hangi feast! So what are you waiting for? Book your flight to Wellington today and start planning your perfect holiday!. Wellington Luxury Hotels Saint Louis, MO, United States If you're looking for a fun place to visit with a rich history and plenty of things to see and do, look no further than Saint Louis, Missouri. This vibrant city is home to a variety of interesting attractions, including the Gateway Arch, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. There's also no shortage of restaurants and shopping options in Saint Louis. So, whether you're looking for a place to explore new cultures and cuisines or you're just looking for a place to have some fun, Saint Louis is a great option. Saint Louis Luxury Hotels Bloomington, IN, United States The city of Bloomington, Indiana is home to a variety of attractions and places to visit. The Indiana University campus is a popular destination, as is the city's historic downtown district. Monroe County Courthouse Two weeks ago, I made the case for why U.S. Rep. John Katko probably likely? won't endorse Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. But there's more to the argument than just how Katko, R-Camillus, feels about his party's presidential candidate. There are numbers to back up Katko if his concern is that he would upset some members of the GOP. Trump, a Manhattan real estate developer, won his home state's GOP primary in April. He received 89 of 95 delegates by sweeping most congressional districts in New York. (There were three delegates up for grabs in each congressional district.) In upstate New York, there were only two congressional districts where Trump didn't sweep the delegates. One was the 20th District, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat. The other? The 24th Congressional District. Katko's district. Trump received a plurality of the vote in the 24th 48.3 percent to win two of the three delegates. Ohio Gov. John Kasich received 33.3 percent of the vote in the district to earn one delegate. Kasich had a good base of support in central New York. It was one of the few places in New York he visited more than once. More than a week before the April 19 primary, he held a town hall meeting at Le Moyne College. Nearly 1,000 people attended the event. Former U.S. Rep. Jim Walsh introduced Kasich at the town hall meeting. Why is that significant? Walsh is one of Katko's predecessors. (Walsh endorsed Katko in the days leading up to the 2014 election.) That gives you an idea of which wing of the Republican Party Katko is from. But back to the state's presidential primary. When Trump didn't hit the 50 percent mark in the 24th District, it was because of his performance in two counties: Cayuga and Onondaga. In Onondaga County, the district's largest county, Trump received 45.5 percent of the vote. Kasich received 36.2 percent. Based on percentages, that was Kasich's best performance in an upstate county. Trump came close to reaching 50 percent in Cayuga County he received 49.6 percent of the vote here but Kasich's 31.8 percent helped prevent him from collecting a majority of the vote in the county. For Katko, Cayuga and Onondaga counties will be two key battlegrounds in his race against Democratic challenger Colleen Deacon. Now, this isn't to say some of Kasich's supporters aren't supporting Trump now. It's likely that a good chunk of them are. But as we've seen in the past several days, many moderate Republicans have concerns about Trump. On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, a moderate Republican from an upstate district that neighbors Katko's, announced he's supporting Hillary Clinton for president. Hanna is the first GOP member of Congress to endorse Clinton over Trump. Katko has already ruled out supporting Clinton. But that doesn't mean he's any closer to endorsing or voting for Trump. He has real concerns about Trump's positions and rhetoric, which is why his position likely won't change between now and Election Day. AUBURN Armed with bright blue buckets and green fabric bags, a small group of college students, firefighters and health officials meets in the streets of Auburn each week with one question on their minds: How safe is your home? The group of around 10 people has spent its summer hanging signs and knocking on doors with the goal of creating safer, healthier homes in Cayuga County through the Healthy Neighborhoods Program. The program started three years ago, when the Cayuga County Health Department was awarded a five-year grant from the state Department of Health.The grant facilitated by the Cayuga Community Health Network pays $155,000 a year to cover salaries, travel and supplies for three census tracts of Auburn, all of Locke and all of Moravia. "Our program is not income-based at all," Program Coordinator Anne O'Connor said. "The only reason we go to the three census tracts that we do is because of the age of the homes." When the program began, O'Connor often canvassed neighborhoods herself, lugging those buckets of supplies door to door. Then the Auburn Fire Department spared three or four firefighters to accompany her with gas and carbon monoxide meters. And now, this summer, the program has hired five local college students to help assess more homes. They start by placing door hangers the week prior to notify residents when they're coming to canvas their neighborhood. "We don't want people to think that we're selling something or that we're going to come back and bug them later, because that's just not our intention," O'Connor said. "We just want to make sure everybody is safe in their home." Still, that doesn't mean the homeowner will let them in. According to O'Connor, the program has canvassed 843 houses since May; only around 200 of those homes were actually assessed. "We've gone to some homes where people say, 'Nope, I've got everything,' and they close the door," she said. "The thing is they think that they have everything, but they probably (don't). Nine times out of 10 we walk in the homes and they either don't have enough smoke detectors or they don't have them in the right places." Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are one of the first things firefighters check during an assessment. If any detectors are not functioning properly, or if there aren't enough, the program will add or replace them at no cost to the resident. According to the Auburn Fire Department, there should be a smoke detector in every sleeping space, hallways outside sleeping areas and the basement; detectors should not be placed in the kitchen or laundry room, or on any external walls with windows. "You want to have any smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors on the ceiling or within the first 5 inches of the crease where the ceiling meets the wall," O'Connor added. "Nothing at the baseboard, because what happens is the smoke comes up and it curls and it hits that crease. So by the time it hits at the baseboard, it's too late." Next, firefighters and students check the homes for gas leaks, lead, fire and injury hazards and indoor air quality, looking for things like mold, mildew and chipped paint anything that might affect a person's health, Cayuga County Health Department Senior Public Health Educator Kimberly Abate said. "People often don't know what to look for and aren't aware of some dangers in their home," she said. "And we talk to them about how to remedy any problems we may find." Since May, firefighters discovered 12 gas leaks while canvassing homes in Cayuga County. In each case, NYSEG was immediately called and the gas issue was rectified, Abate said. After home checkups, which typically take 15 to 30 minutes, residents are given a blue bucket filled with basic cleaning supplies. In addition, families may get a green fabric bag of free items based on their needs, including nightlights, child safety locks and first aid kits. This summer, the program will continue canvassing neighborhoods through mid-August. However, residents in the covered areas can schedule appointments for home visits year-round. "We want to get inside and see what's going on," O'Connor said. "See if there's anything that we can do. And if we can't do it, try to figure out a way that we can help." AUBURN The Cayuga County Board of Health will not appoint a receiver in its attempt to shut down a mobile home park in Locke. Records show that Walnut Grove Mobile Home Park has been cited for public health violations for years, and specifically has not had a working sanitation system for its water supply and not had water quality testing completed since at least 2013. The county decided to hire an outside law firm to execute a judgement on the owners of the park, Thelma Slater-Chapman and her husband, Andy Chapman. County Attorney Fred Westphal told legislators at Tuesday night's Government Operations Committee meeting that judgement to collect the lien of approximately $32,000 was filed. The county sheriff's office will then notify the Chapmans, who will have 120 days notice to respond. Legislators questioned the decision not to appoint a receiver. Westphal explained that like a property manager, a receiver would bring the property into compliance with the board of health's rules and regulations, collect rent from the tenants, and use some of those monies to offset the costs. Once the property is back up to code, the receiver would look for a buyer for the property. "The county would have to pay for the receiver, and also probably invest some money to bring the facility up to operation,"Westphal said. "Several thousands of dollars would have to be spent in getting that up to compliance with the health department. Part of that may be a resource management issue." Instead, the board of health is working with the county sheriff's office to execute the judgement and eventually sell the property on the steps of the county courthouse at auction. The new owner could either evict the Walnut Grove tenants and use the property for something different, or continue operating the mobile home park provided it gets brought up to code and an operating permit. In the meantime, the park is continuing to operate as is, Westphal told legislators. "Hopefully something different happens, and I don't know how to define different," he said. In an interview with Slater-Chapman in May, she said there were about eight tenants. The county's social services department has set up a phone line for Walnut Grove residents who may need assistance with relocating. That number is (315) 253-1201. In other news: Legislators discussed ways to update the process for public hearings on proposed local laws after some residents during the July 26 public hearing on the proposed vehicle tax were angry that a vote would occur directly after the hearing. While legislators ultimately postponed the vote, confusion came about during last month's committee meetings for passing the resolution through. Westphal explained that in order to hold a public hearing in the first place, at least one committee must pass the local law through to the full Legislature meeting. Ryan Foley, chairman of the committee, said he was concerned because legislators may not agree with the local law, but may still want to hold a public hearing. Voting the resolution through, he said, may appear that they are in support of the law. "I think that's where the rub has been," Foley said. Westphal said he will be researching other ways to execute the public hearing and local law process. OWASCO An Owasco man could face several more charges for his involvement in a crash that killed an Auburn teen. According to Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann, 33-year-old Dain Schneider, of 6977 Owasco Road, has been charged with felony driving while intoxicated, first-degree unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle without an ignition interlock device. Judge Thomas Leone arraigned Schneider on those charges Friday at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse where he was being treated for injuries he sustained in the crash. After his release from the hospital, Schneider was then remanded to Cayuga County Jail with bail set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond. Leone revoked Schneider's bail Monday afternoon pending further charges from the county, Budelmann said, as the district attorney's office awaits the results of blood tests and accident reconstruction. The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office said Schneider was driving on East Lake Road last Wednesday night when he struck another vehicle from behind. The driver of that vehicle, 18-year-old Chloe Calhoun, died as a result of her injuries. Schneider has two previous DWI convictions, Budelmann said one from 2011 in the town of Marcellus, the other from 2007 in the town of Delhi. The defendant was also arrested for DWI in Skaneateles in 2000, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving. In addition, Schneider is facing multiple charges from separate cases, including second-degree burglary, first- and second-degree criminal contempt, criminal trespassing and endangering the welfare of a child. According to the district attorney, the county is currently working on the status of those cases. Schneider was originally scheduled to appear in Owasco Town Court Wednesday night. However, the case has since been transferred to Cayuga County. Ben Vitale, Cayuga County legislator and chairman of the Public Works Committee, remembers when the Cayuga County Office Building was built. "I was just a kid when they built that, and it was so energy efficient, they left the lights on all night long," he said. "That was part of the heating system." Vitale laughed. It was especially funny to him as a child because his father was always telling him to turn off the lights. But the downtown Auburn six-story building that was once revolutionary in the 1960s is now behind the times with drafty windows, inefficient lighting and asbestos, which makes even small improvements a costly challenge. "I'm hoping in the next three or four months, we'll be focused on what we're going to do with the county office building, because I think that's our No. 1 concern," Vitale said. "It's tired. It's full of asbestos." During the June full Legislature meeting, Vitale had told legislators that because of the cost of asbestos testing and abatement, renovating the building would cost nearly as much as building a new one. County Administrator Suzanne Sinclair said the other potential should a new building be built, would be to consolidate departments so the county does not have to manage so many facilities. "If we can consolidate them and make them more efficient, that would definitely save us money," Sinclair said. Legislator Timothy Lattimore, who covers District 13 where the county office building sits, said if the building were to be torn down, he'd want to know where the agencies that work inside would go. He said he would be concerned about the new location, especially for residents who use Social Services. Some discussions in past years have floated the idea of a county office campus on County House Road in Sennett. "I think it would be an inconvenience to move it to the other campus (on County House Road)," Lattimore said. While the county office building has been the main capital asset in flux, two committees were organized by the Legislature one to look into an energy audit of all the county's buildings, and one to consider capital planning and improvements. Besides the County Office Building, those buildings include the jail, the Historic Post Office, the Hardenburg building, the county courthouse, the former county nursing home, the public safety building, the highway garage and the mental health office. "There's a ton of capital assets in the county," Vitale said. "We're just trying to deal with the ones that are hitting us in the face the hardest right now." Currently the county has hired an energy audit firm to see if there are any improvements that can easily be made, and what may need some more planning. "That'll definitely get us a picture of the low hanging fruit," Vitale said. How to pay for these updates or new buildings is yet to be determined, although Lattimore said he thinks state funds may soon be available to the county. He felt especially confident that the county could apply for grants to fund energy updates to both the downtown Auburn facilities and those on County House Road after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his clean energy standard Monday, mandating that half of the state's power come from renewable energy sources. "I'm hoping that we'll study exactly what we can and cannot do with this new New York standards law that just passed Aug. 1," Lattimore said. "I think it will give us access to a pool of money that we might be able to utilize in our buildings, instead of going into our own budget." Vitale said he's also had talks with city of Auburn to potentially consolidate services, though nothing has been set. For now, the committees are scoping out what needs to be done and what it's going to cost. "We're moving forward, a little slower than what we hoped to be," he said. "It's not easy changing direction with government." This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions There has been widespread news coverage regarding the Zika virus but there is a lot the medical community is still learning as the virus is being studied. What we do know is that it poses serious risks for pregnant women including miscarriage. We know that when a fetus is exposed to the virus, Zika can cause severe brain problems as well as impaired growth and hearing loss. Zika has been rapidly spreading in different countries. In the U.S., over 1,000 travel-related and sexually transmitted cases have been confirmed, including 436 in New York state. There is no treatment or vaccine for the Zika virus at this time, so prevention is the best defense. Since the Zika virus can be transmitted sexually, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends practicing safer sex to reduce the risk of transmission and potential pregnancy complications related to the infection. If youve traveled to an area with active transmission of Zika, or had unprotected sex with someone who traveled to or lived in an area with active Zika, you should ask a doctor or nurse about getting tested. Planned Parenthood providers are available to help you decide if you should be tested, to provide education about safer sex habits and contraception, and can work with the local health department to determine the best next steps. The two closest Planned Parenthood centers to Auburn are located in Syracuse and in Canandaigua. You can visit www.ppcwny.org to find the closest health center to you. We commend U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, who have been champions for women and families, for fighting to make family planning part of the U.S. response to Zika. We are proud to have them fighting to make sure that women, men and young people have access to the information, health care and support necessary to make informed decisions. Dr. Rachael Phelps Syracuse Phelps is medical director of Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York American government introduces mandatory GMO food labelling in the US President Barack Obama has signed the GMO bill Food and beverage producers will soon be required under a new American federal law to declare if any genetically modified (GMO) ingredients have been used in a product. The new legislation, which was an bipartisan agreement, will mandate that companies make the declaration on the packaging either through text, a label or an electronic code which can be read by smart phones. The US Agriculture Department has been given two years to formalise implementation. This leaves open a possibility that something might change in the interim. The Federal decision to introduce the law comes after US state, Vermont, started to enforce a GMO labelling law in July 2016. The law was first passed in 2014 and will be void with the new federal law coming into effect. Advocates for the Vermont law have campaigned against the new federal law, saying it was not as stringent as the new Vermont state law. Whilst the federal law gives food and beverage producers three options for declaring GMO ingredients, Vermonts laws required producers use the term produced with genetic engineering. Companies will also be able to opt out of clear accessible on-package labelling by using digital QR codes that will become unreadable by approximately half of rural and low income Americans without access to smartphones or cell service, a group of GMO activists claimed. Eceptions Some parties against the law in its current form say companies will avoid labelling their products as GMO if they contain oils and sweeteners made from GMO ingredients as it removes any proof of GMO for refined oils and sugars. How GMO food is regulated in Australia GM food in Australia is regulated through Standard 1.5.2 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. GM foods, ingredients, additives, or processing aids that contain novel DNA or protein must be labelled with the words genetically modified within Australia. However, there are a number of carve-out exceptions spelt out in Standard 1.5.2 such as for refined products. R. Bruce Shack, MD, has been named dean of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Medicine in Chattanooga and Senior Vice President of the Erlanger Health System. Dr. Shack comes to UTHSC after serving almost 20 years as chair and a professor of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville. In making the appointment, David Stern, MD, Robert Kaplan Executive Dean of the College of Medicine, said UTHSC is delighted and honored that Dr. Shack will lead the colleges Chattanooga campus. He brings an exceptionally strong set of leadership skills from his years as chair of Plastic Surgery at Vanderbilt, Dr. Stern said. Our Chattanooga campus and its partner hospital system, Erlanger Health System, have improved dramatically over the last year, and the addition of Dr. Shack will accelerate and help guide new and exceptional health services for the region. Dr. Stern thanked Robert C. Fore, EdD, FACEHP, CHCP, for his exceptional service as interim dean for Academic Affairs in Chattanooga. Dr. Fores extensive experience in graduate and continuing medical education has been a major asset to our College of Medicine in Chattanooga, as we continue to train the physicians of the future. Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, president and CEO of Erlanger Health System, said, Dr. Shacks executive leadership skills over the past 20 years as chair of Plastic Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center will significantly benefit the undergraduate and graduate medical education enterprise. He also noted, We are most grateful to the search committee for all their hard work. As chief academic and administrative officer for the Chattanooga campus, Dr. Shack will be responsible for leading the colleges missions of excellence in education, patient care and research. As senior vice president in the Erlanger Health System, he will represent faculty physicians, oversee clinical care and develop collaboration among university faculty and community physicians in the Erlanger system. This is an opportunity I couldnt refuse, said Dr. Shack, who will begin his work in Chattanooga on November 15. Chattanooga is a beautiful city, and there are a lot of opportunities and challenges there that I am looking forward to. Dr. Shack graduated from Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texas, and received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He did an internship in surgery and his residency in plastic surgery at Vanderbilt. He served as an assistant professor of plastic surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital and at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, both in Baltimore, before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 1982. He was named chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Vanderbilt in 1997. Dr. Shack also maintains teaching duties at VUMC. He is responsible for the lecture series for third-year medical students, has been involved in resident training in the operating room and ward, and has served as a faculty adviser for third- and fourth-year medical students. Dr. Shack is a member of many professional associations, including the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons as a Fellow, the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the Association of Academic Chairman of Plastic Surgery. His numerous leadership roles include serving on the VUMC Medical Board of Directors and the Vanderbilt Burn Center Advisory Committee. Dr. Shack has also served as president of the Nashville Surgical Society, president and on the board of directors of the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, vice president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, president of the Southern Medical Association and chairman of the city-wide Journal Club of Tennessee Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Shack has been a guest lecturer on multiple occasions, was voted among the Best Doctors in America seven times, and has authored or contributed to more than 75 articles, books and chapters related to plastic surgery. Established in 1973 as a branch campus of the UTHSC College of Medicine in Memphis, the Chattanooga campus provides training for junior and senior medical students, as well as residency and fellowship programs. The college also has campuses in Nashville and Knoxville. Doritos Burn corn chips returns to supermarkets Doritos Burn corn chips are returning to Australian supermarkets. The spicy chili flavoured chips were first launched in Australia in 2011 but were later discontinued. Owner of the Doritos brand, Pepsi Co Australia and New Zealand, has however now decided to bring the chips back in 150g serving sizes. Senior Marketing Manager for Doritos, Sheri Juchau, said Pepsi Co was glad to announce the return of a highly requested Doritos variety. Its our most requested flavour on social media and is sure to ignite consumer excitement and category growth again this year, she said. The re-launch of Dorito Burn will be supported with a digital and social media marketing campaign along with in-store and catalogue promotions. Doritos Burn are available now from Coles supermarkets. The Tennessee Department of Education announced on Wednesday the launch of the statewide ACT Senior Retake Opportunity that provides every eligible high school senior, meaning any public school student who took the ACT as a junior, the ability to retake the ACT free of charge on Saturday, Oct. 22, regardless of socioeconomic status. Tennessees historical ACT data indicate that students who retake the ACT typically increase their composite score by one to three points. This increase in ACT scores could translate into thousands more students meeting the composite score requirement of a 21 for the HOPE scholarship and avoiding remediation courses once they enter a postsecondary institution. Increasing the percentage of students who graduate high school with improved ACT composite and benchmark scores will allow for more students to start their next phase in life on the pathways necessary for success. "Allowing students an additional opportunity to show what they know by retaking the ACT can expand the possibilities for our students futures, Education Commissioner Candice McQueen said. Our strategic plan, Tennessee Succeeds, lays out a firm goalthat the average ACT score in Tennessee will be a 21 by 2020, indicating that our students are graduating high school ready for college and career. All eligible students will have the option of retaking the ACT on the national test date of Saturday, Oct. 22. The registration deadline for this national test date is Friday, Sept. 16. If a student registers afterSept. 16, the student will be responsible for paying any late registration fees. The retake voucher, given to students at their high school, will expire on Sept. 30, which is the late registration deadline for the test, and cannot be used for any other national test date. The recommendation to allow for a retake of the ACT or SAT for all students came as a result of the first convening of the Assessment Task Force in 2015. The task force developed a set of principles and recommendations, housed in a task force report, to guide the work of the state, districts, and schools. This then led to the Tennessee Student Assessment Transparency Act of 2016, sponsored by Senator Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, and Representative Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, in which the General Assembly approved for each student who took a postsecondary readiness assessmentlike the ACTas a high school junior the opportunity to retake it as a senior free of cost. To get more information about the ACT Senior Retake Opportunity, including a school implementation guide and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the ACT/SAT testing page on the department of educations website. For more information, contact Sara Gast at 615 532-6260 or Sara.Gast@tn.gov. Celebrating jailhouse recovery Audio Article Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears paid a visit to the Chesterfield County Jail last week, meeting with over 50 of the men and women participating in the HARP (Helping Addicts... An icons legacy memorialized Audio Article Enon Library was dedicated in memory of the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker on Friday, Oct. 21. Board of Supervisors Chair Chris Winslow, right, was joined by Walkers daughter, Patrice Walker... SABMiller's board unanimously recommends AB InBev's new $104 billion acquisition offer, making it the largest merger in the history of the beer industry. (tronc video - Chicago Tribune) The imminent merger of the world's two largest beer companies is expected to close Oct. 10, AB InBev said in documents posted to its website Monday. The $104 billion deal will create the world's largest beer company, putting major beer brands like Budweiser, Stella Artois, Beck's, Peroni and Grolsch under one flag. As part of the deal, InBev divested its shares of Snow, China's most popular beer. InBev will sell SABMiller's ownership of Chicago-based MillerCoors to Molson Coors, based in Denver. Advertisement The newly merged company, cheekily called "megabrew," would control nearly one-third of the world's beer market. Heineken and Molson Coors Brewing would become the Nos. 2 and 3 brewers. Having overcome regulatory hurdles in the U.S., EU and China, London-based SABMiller's board unanimously recommended its shareholders accept a revised bid last week after Brussels-based InBev boosted its offer. InBev raised the bid to $104 billion after the value of the pound dropped following British voters' decision to leave the EU. Advertisement The boards of the two companies next meet Sept. 28. The newly formed company, which has yet to be named, will begin trading on stock markets Oct. 11. Now, with InBev laying out a timetable for the merger, Miller and Bud are closer than ever to becoming one. College students are taking on debt blindly and find out when its too late what theyve done and the pressure it imposes on their lives, a report finds. (Jupiterimages, Getty Images) Young and middle-aged people in Illinois hold more student loan debt than their peers in most other states, according to new WalletHub research released Wednesday. An Illinois resident age 25 to 44 had about $28,984 in loans at the end of 2014, WalletHub said. That places Illinois 34th among the states. Advertisement While nearly $29,000 might sound terrifying on its face, the debt is not as burdensome as it appears. When WalletHub compared it to the income people earn and the cost of living in Illinois, the state ranked 18th or among the states where student debt could be handled fairly comfortably. On average, the student debt in Illinois equals 40.7 percent of the income a person earns after adjusting for the cost of living. That puts people in Illinois in a much more comfortable position than people in New York and California, where student loans consume about 53 percent of income, or Washington, D.C., where the debt left over from college takes 67 percent of income, said Jill Gonzalez, a WalletHub analyst. Advertisement Illinois has a far lower cost of living than states such as California, New York or Oregon. Overall, when debt and opportunity are considered, Illinois ranks 24th, near the middle of the states. By accumulating more debt in college, young adults in Illinois "give up financial peace of mind right after college for more opportunity," Gonzalez said. The analysis did not deal with where people first incurred their student debt, so it does not necessarily indicate that students attending college in Illinois run up more debt than students elsewhere. It merely shows how much student debt is hanging over people who are living in Illinois ages 25 to 44. However, Gonzalez said, it does show that people with student loans seem to find more income-earning opportunity in Illinois than many other areas. And while in college, Illinois students are positioned well for jobs and internships. According to the research, Illinois ranks 10th for student jobs and ninth for paid internships among people ages 16 to 24. When selecting colleges, students face trade-offs between opportunity and student debt, Gonzalez noted. Utah, for example, ranked the best on average student debt, with people ages 25 to 44 owing just $18,921. They also ranked second best when their debt was compared to their income after accounting for cost of living, WalletHub said. On the other hand, while in college the students in Utah don't have nearly the access to student jobs and paid internships that are available in Illinois. Despite opportunity in Illinois, however, people are carrying student loan debt later into life than in many states. Illinois ranks among the worst, with a ranking of 33rd for people age 50 and older who still have college loans to pay off. About 7.3 percent of people over 50 are still dealing with student debt. In Utah, it's 4.6 percent. gmarksjarvis@chicagotribune.com Twitter @gailmarksjarvis Freedom Foods wins Woolworths UHT milk supply contract Freedom Foods has won a contract to supply ultra-heat treated milk (UHT milk) for Woolworths private label products. Freedom Foods already supplies Woolworths non-dairy UHT products for its private label ranges. The new agreement will see Freedom Foods supply a large portion of Woolworths own label UHT dairy milk range from later in 2016. Supply will be provided through the Freedom Foods Pactum Dairy Group UHT operation in Shepparton in regional Victoria. Freedom Food supplies its non-dairy UHT milk to Woolworths from its Sydney based UHT operation. The company said it was excited to reach the new agreement with Woolworths. The supply agreement builds on additional sales and volumes secured with customers in both Australia and key export markets in China and South East Asia for supply into 2017, Freedom Foods said. SEIU Local 73 members picked outside Oak Park's village hall in 2012. The local's top leaders were removed by the Service Employees International Union due to infighting. (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune) The Service Employees International Union announced Wednesday that it had removed the top leaders of a large Chicago local and imposed an emergency trusteeship because of a "crisis of governance and collapse of leadership" that put members' interests at risk. The action was taken at Local 73, which represents about 28,000 workers in Illinois and Northwest Indiana, including crossing guards, school cafeteria workers and others primarily in public service and publicly funded positions in school districts, municipalities and social service agencies. Recently Local 73 has added nontenured faculty at the University of Chicago and Loyola University to its rolls, and it is in the midst of union drives at other private Chicago universities. Advertisement The SEIU, which nationally has about 2 million members, said in a news release that "incessant infighting" between top elected officers at Local 73 had seriously disrupted operations and functioning at the union. The local was unable to conduct a July 15 executive board meeting or hold a membership meeting scheduled for the next day. Local 73 President Christine Boardman and Secretary-Treasurer Matthew Brandon, plus four other officers, were removed from office. Boardman and Brandon "each challenge the basic legitimacy of the other's authority to hold office or lead the Local, resulting in a debilitating dysfunction of the Local's governance process as well as causing instability and confusion within the Local and its membership," the SEIU said in the release. Among the subjects of the fighting was the "contested suspension of its secretary-treasurer and allegations that the local president can no longer serve due to a previous announcement of retirement." Advertisement Operation of Local 73 is now temporarily in the hands of Eliseo Medina, a former SEIU secretary-treasurer, who was appointed trustee. Dian Palmer, president of SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, and Lenore Friedlaender, an officer from SEIU Local32BJ, which operates primarily in the Northeast, were appointed deputy trustees. The union will be returned to local governance as soon as is reasonable, a spokesman said, but there is no timetable. aelejalderuiz@chicagotribune.com Twitter @alexiaer Bucktown and Wicker Park are two of Chicagos trendiest neighborhoods, filled with people flocking to independent boutiques, national retail chains and vibrant dining and nightlife options. But their popularity also has led to an uptick in crime, an alderman says. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) The business district in Wicker Park and Bucktown will spend $50,000 on initiatives that could include private security patrols, security cameras and partnerships with local businesses to boost the area's safety. The sum is more than the $20,000 budgeted in July but less than the $100,000 Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd, and Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno, 1st, wanted set aside from a special tax fund. They sought to hire firms, staffed mostly by off-duty and retired police officers who have arrest powers and sometimes carry guns, using $100,000 from a $1.2 million budget that comes from property taxes and is managed by businesspeople in the neighborhoods. Hopkins cited an increase in crime as the reason for the outlay. Advertisement On July 20, the Bucktown and Wicker Park "special service area," which like others is run by volunteer commissioners appointed by the mayor and approved by the aldermen, revised its proposed 2017 budget to include $20,000 for safety initiatives. But Hopkins said last week that $20,000 wouldn't cut it for business districts the size of Wicker Park and Bucktown. Advertisement The special service area must get the support of the aldermen whose wards include part of Wicker Park and Bucktown for its proposed budget to be approved by City Council. In a news release Wednesday, the special service area said it has approved $50,000 in its 2017 budget to be spent on safety programs. It will work out details with the neighborhood and with the three aldermen Hopkins, Moreno and Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd whose wards contain the area. Security guard James Jurewicz, center, patrols North Broadway in the Lakeview East neighborhood July 28, 2016. Jurewicz was joined by another security guard who did not want his name used. The patrols are financed by the Lakeview East special service area, which is funded by a local property tax levy. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) "Security camera rebates, a community ambassador program, partnerships with area nightlife establishments, and private security patrols are among the ideas being considered," the service area said in the news release. The vote to increase the spending from $20,000 to $50,000 occurred Tuesday and was unanimous, spokeswoman Elizabeth Neukirch said. Brent Norsman, an architect who is chairman of the special service area, said that "after further discussion, we determined that to implement one or more meaningful safety initiatives in 2017, additional funds would be needed." On Wednesday, Hopkins said $50,000 is enough to hire a security firm for several months to evaluate whether supplementing the Chicago police works. "It's a reasonable compromise," Hopkins said. Here's what got trimmed from the service-area budget to allocate $50,000 for safety measures: $20,000 from public art, including outdoor murals, sculptures and grants for local artists; $10,000 from landscaping and tree planting; $5,000 from community grants; $5,000 from street spending, including benches, garbage cans and fence maintenance; $5,000 from the facade enhancement rebate program for area businesses; and $5,000 from bicycle and transit improvements. Chicago has 53 business districts that are designated as special service areas, where a tax levy on commercial and residential property helps pay for items above and beyond what the city provides. Wicker Park-Bucktown's special service area has been tapped to hire artists to paint colorful wall murals, get rid of graffiti, help business owners redo their facades and install bike racks. Advertisement However, some businesses contributing to and controlling the district's purse strings have balked at Hopkins' proposal. They reason that hiring private security would lessen the incentive for the city to put its own police there. They also argue that the money is meant for enhanced not essential services, like arts events and landscaping. Some also say crime can be curbed by better urban planning, not just policing, because well-managed public spaces can be safer. Liability is also a concern, as well as the question of the fairness of many neighborhood businesses paying for problems caused by a relative few. byerak@chicagotribune.com Twitter @beckyyerak Don Bacigalupi was under contract to buy the east Lincoln Park mansion when Lucus Museum officials announced they were abandoning plans to build in Chicago. (Provided) Don Bacigalupi, the founding president of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, paid $2.725 million on June 30 to buy a four-level, 7,600-square-foot brick mansion in east Lincoln Park. Bacigalupi's purchase closed six days after it was announced that the museum would no longer consider Chicago a potential site. His purchase is reflective solely of poor timing, said Katherine Malkin of Baird & Warner, the real estate agent who represented him. Advertisement "He put it under contract a long time ago, and there was a closing date. He could have chosen to walk away, but he did the honorable thing in going ahead and closing on it," Malkin told Elite Street. Months ago, Bacigalupi was drawn to the mansion, which he bought from longtime owner Irving Stenn. Built in 1880, the mansion had been run-down when Stenn, a lawyer and philanthropist, purchased it in the 1960s. He embarked on a full-fledged renovation, designed by noted architect Harry Weese. Advertisement Today the mansion has original stained-glass windows, pocket doors and fireplaces all of which have been restored as well as white gallery-style walls, custom recessed channel track art lighting, oak floors and oversized windows. The mansion also has two decks, a passenger elevator and an attached two-car garage, all on a 50-by-130-foot lot, very large for Lincoln Park. "(Don) loved the location, he loved the volume and the space for artwork," Malkin said. "And he loved the fact that it was a Harry Weese (redesign). He looked for a long time for this house." Malkin said Bacigalupi shortly will place the mansion back on the market. Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 16 (VHT Studios) Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 5 Billionaire Ken Griffin, Illinois richest man, paid $58.75 million in November for the top four floors in the Near North condominium building at 9 W. Walton St., known as No. 9 Walton. This photo shows a rendering of the lobby. (JDL Development / E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune (inset)) Fresh tomatoes get a boost from a generous pour of red wine, plus a handful of fresh arugula and herbs in this peak-of-summer-harvest pasta dish. (Chicago Tribune) This pasta sauce is dubbed fruit of the vine because it incorporates a generous pour of wine, yes, but also because it pulls flavor from the bounty of farmers market produce in peak season now: tomatoes, bell pepper, arugula and a bundle of herbs: basil, oregano and thyme. Of course, you're going to want some fruit of the vine in your glass too. Here are three options. MAKE THIS Advertisement Fruit-of-the-vine pasta Cook 1 pound spaghetti in plenty of salted boiling water until al dente; drain. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 onion, diced, and 1 red bell pepper, diced; cook until softened, 3 minutes. Add 3 cloves garlic, minced; 3/4 cup fruity red wine; 1 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne; cook, 1 minute. Stir in 4 large tomatoes chopped and 3 tablespoons tomato paste. Simmer until thickened, 10 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons minced arugula, 2 tablespoons minced basil, and 1 tablespoon each minced oregano and thyme; cook 2 minutes. Serve over pasta with Parmesan. Makes: 6 servings Advertisement Recipe by Renee Enna Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > DRINK THIS Pairings by sommelier Liz Martinez of The Purple Pig, as told to Michael Austin: 2014 Tasca d'Almerita Leone, Sicily, Italy: A lively Sicilian white blend, this wine offers preserved lemon with white peaches. Its aromatics of white orchids will lift the bright flavors in the dish while also bringing out the exotic flavors of the wine. Caraway and fenugreek notes, with just a touch of white peppercorn, will combine with the fresh tomato and herbs in the sauce to make for an exciting combination. 2015 Ameztoi Rubentis Getariako Txakolina, Spain: This spritzy txakolina rose from the Basque Country in northern Spain is low in alcohol, with a good amount of unripe strawberry and white cherry combined with a cornucopia of kumquat, lemon and apricot. These will all move well with the bright flavors in the dish. Also, the acidity in the wine will zip through the sauce, bringing out the fresh herbs and roasted red peppers. Cantina Mesa Primo Rosso, Sardinia, Italy: Perfect for pairing with a sweet, rich tomato sauce, this wine from the Carignano del Sulcis wine region on the island of Sardinia always delivers. The carignan and syrah provide a rich texture balanced by beautiful acidity. Eucalyptus, blackberry marmalade and super plush black cherries will marry well with the sweetness of the tomato, and the perfect structure of the wine will allow the fresh herbs to shine. food@chicagotribune.com Twitter @pour_man Have you heard? We only have three seasons now: fall, winter and rose. At least that's what one would think after scrolling Facebook or Instagram, where the #roseallday hashtag is pretty much the only thing you see between April and September. But while the world is all #yeswayrose, the city's sommeliers, beverage directors and restaurateurs are, frankly, a little tired of it. They've been drinking the stuff since at least January, when they were building their spring and summer wine lists. For some of them, the rose rut is real. Advertisement "They're great, but you can get a little bored with them," says Michael Nahabedian, co-owner and head of front of house operations of Naha and Brindille in River North. "There are times that I just want something else." Hear hear. Escape your own rose rut with help from these Chicago pros, who recommend four other styles to fill your glass. Advertisement Island whites More than one somm I spoke with sang the praises of "island wines," those bottles coming from vineyards scattered throughout the Mediterranean. "Naha is Mediterranean," Nahabedian says, "so I do a lot of Greek wine, like moschofilero and assyrtiko." Native to Greece, both grapes are known for their light, thirst-quenching acidity and aromatic profiles. Since they're low in alcohol, they pair well with food, and both especially the assyrtiko have a nice saltiness, he says. At Ema, switch up your drink with island white wines like Bodega Tajinaste from the Canary Islands and Terrazze dell Etna's Ciuri from Sicily. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) These Greek grapes are simple and made for sharing around the table, he adds, but don't confuse that for lack of flavor: "These are very versatile wines and have interesting textures and flavor profiles." His pick? Domaine Sigalas' Santorini assyrtiko, with tastes of lemon peel, grapefruit, sea salt and white peaches. "It's all about tasting the sea." Ryan Arnold, divisional wine director for Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, had island wines specifically in mind when he created the wine list for the group's newest concept, Ema, also in River North. The bottles featured under the "Islands" section of the list hail from places like the Canary Islands, Sardinia and Santorini, among others. Light and fresh, these wines have increasingly become available in the U.S. and pair perfectly with chef C.J. Jacobson's California take on Mediterranean fare. "Check out Bodega Tajinaste from the Canary Islands, which focuses on the varietal listan blanco," says Arnold. Made from native grapes, the wine is nutty and dry, with a squeeze of lemon zest and a dry finish. Arnold also recommends Terrazze dell Etna's Ciuri, a white wine from Sicily made from the red grape nerello mascalese. (Grape juice, whether extracted from red or white grapes, is clear; red wines get their hue from contact with the grape's skins. Avoid that skin contact, and you can make a white wine from red grapes.) "It is one of my favorite whites by the glass," says Arnold, noting the wine's minerality and freshness. "It just might be the closest thing to Chablis you'll find in southern Italy." Orange wines Advertisement For Charles Clark, head bartender of Mott Street in Wicker Park, the rose rut "definitely hits close to home." Rather than simply switch up roses for white wine, he is more interested in exploring production methods and interesting winemaking. "It's not wildly original, but orange wine really excites me," he says. "It's white wine that's treated like red, with skin contact." This time, it's skin from white grapes that stains the wine, turning it an orange-ish hue. Charles Clark, head bartender at Mott St., pours orange wine as an alternative to rose. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) "I've been really featuring the Pullus 2015 pinot grigio from Slovenia," says Clark. "It has a salmon-colored hue from 72 hours of skin contact. The skins impart bitterness and tannin, but since it's still pinot grigio, it is still lighter-bodied with savory strawberry notes. It's great with our kimchee dishes, like the stuffed cabbage, and it represents the restaurant's philosophy. Classic but experimental and playful." Lula Cafe's former beverage director, Diana Hawkins, also reaches for orange wine in lieu of rose. "It's hard to imagine getting totally sick of rose, but people are also looking for refreshing whites," she says. "It's going to sound nerdy, but I like introducing them to something new, like orange wines." Specifically, she does not seek out orange wines that have been amphora-aged, an ancient method that can impart funky, very savory flavors. Like Clark, she reaches for an orange pinot gris, but one created by New Zealand's Supernatural Wine Co. "Aged for a few weeks on its skins, this wine is not your mom's pinot gris," she says. "It's something else entirely, fuller bodied and more complex." Bubbles When not sipping orange wine, Hawkins indulges in another wine-geek pour du jour. "I'm a sucker for pet nat," she says. Short for "petulant natural," pet nat is a cousin to modern Champagne. Fermented once in bottle (as opposed to twice) with naturally occurring yeast and little to no aging, it's a rustic bubbly wine full of friendly, fruity flavors. It's low-alcohol, and meant to be drunk young. Hawkins recommends Belle Casale Cofundo's prosecco, which is unfined and unfiltered that is, the winery does not clarify the wine, yielding a pleasant cloudiness in the glass. "It has this super sour apple note. It tastes like a very tart apple pie, even pie crust. It's fun." Advertisement "I'm more of a red wine girl," says Kim Hrejsa, beverage director of Old Town's The Vig. "I love Lambrusco, because it's unexpected. Is it red, is it a bubbly? It has a softer bubble than other sparkling wines, but you get more complex layers of flavors, darker flavors like red berries and dark cherries." She recommends Fiorini's 2015 Becco Rosso lambrusco grasparossa di Castelvetro. "Red drinkers can bond with their bubbly- and white wine-drinking friends but still enjoy a dry, tannic wine with hints of rich, dark fruit." Classic whites "I think, at its lowest, rose is just a tutti-frutti thing," says Belinda Chang, director of wine and service at fun-loving Gold Coast steakhouse Maple & Ash. "But Americans get it now, and they're asking for dryer wines." For Chang, roses are great for lighter foods, but considering Maple & Ash's beef-focused menu, they don't hold up. "We know that people love rose, and it's refreshing. And what looks prettier in a sweating wine glass than something bright and pink?" she says. "But we have a menu of richer stuff, and you need something to stand out, to go with the steak or the seafood. Rose can feel wimpy." She recommends a white burgundy: Domaine Matrot's 2013 "Les Chevalieres" from Meursault. "It's my happy place. Besides, I try not to eat heavy during warm weather. White Burgundy has weight to it, and with cheese or crudites, it's basically a meal in a glass." Lisa Fosler Kelly, co-owner and wine director of Bread & Wine in Irving Park, is in the same camp. "When I begin to yawn in the face of my glass of rose midsummer, I opt for really cold white varietals that have notes of summer fruit, nice minerality and balanced acidity," she says. "My favorites are chenin blanc, a nice Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc without the heavy green-grass notes), pinot blanc and gruner veltliner." Advertisement In particular, she recommends Domaine des Baumard's 2012 chenin blanc from Savennieres, a storied region in France's Loire Valley, for its "notes of quince, fresh citrus and pear. (It has a) pure, mineral-framed finish and nice acidity and length." Also seek out Patient Cottat's 2014 old vine Sancerre, which is "complex and intense, with modest acidity and notes of red currant and citrus." The rose trend isn't going anywhere any time soon, and that's not a bad thing. It's just nice to shake up your palate once in a while. "Summer is a great time to venture out of your comfort zone," urges Hrejsa. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Ema, 74 W. Illinois St., 312-527-5586, www.emachicago.com Lula's Cafe, 2537 N. Kedzie Ave., 773-489-9554, www.lulacafe.com Maple & Ash, 8 W. Maple St, 312-944-8888, www.mapleandash.com Mott Street, 1401 N. Ashland Ave., 773-687-9977, www.mottstreetchicago.com Advertisement Naha, 500 N. Clark St., 312-321-6242, www.naha-chicago.com The Vig, 1527 N Wells St., 312-982-2186, www.thevigchicago.com jbhernandez@chicagotribune.com Twitter @joeybear85 Co-owner Enzo Pagni prepares flaming cherries jubilee at Sabatino's restaurant in this photo from February 2014. The restaurant recently discontinued lunch but has no plans to close, despite rumors. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) EDITOR'S NOTE (Aug. 24, 2018): The owner of Sabatino's has announced the restaurant will be closing this winter after 49 years. Read more here. There's a rumor going around that Sabatino's (4441 W. Irving Park Road, 773-283-8331) is about to close. Advertisement No way, says Angelo Pagni, who owns the restaurant with his brother, Enzo. "We closed for lunch, and that started the rumors," Pagni said. "We're not planning to go anywhere. We're open at 4 p.m. every day, seven days a week." Advertisement The news, or lack thereof, will be of considerable relief to fans of the restaurant. Sabatino's is perhaps the definitive old-school, fine-dining Italian restaurant, where formally dressed waiters deliver massive portions of food and where Continental dishes such as flaming steak Diane are prepared tableside with a solemnity befitting a religious rite. Exhale. Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic. Converts are, in general, an enthusiastic bunch. Christians are exhorted to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, and their moment of arrival in their faith, assuming there is a precise moment, traditionally is accompanied by a whole lot of hootin' and hollerin'. Except for Clive Staples Lewis, who decided God was God while riding on a motorcycle with his brother. Advertisement On the way to the zoo. The Oxford don and world-famous chronicler of Narnia famously described himself as "the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England." And it's that reluctance, along with the astonishing lucidity of his prose, the open-hearted spirit of his storytelling and the exquisite rigor behind his intellect, that have combined to make C.S. Lewis pretty much every atheist's favorite Christian thinker. Advertisement And, truth be told, the favorite Christian thinker of many Christians. Very many of those folks were at the packed Mercury Theatre this past weekend, highly engaged by the East Coast actor Max McLean, whose Fellowship for the Performing Arts has made something of a cottage industry out of Lewis. McLean's increasingly formidable brand and I suspect his mailing list was made in Chicago by his performance of "The Screwtape Letters," an excellent show devised from one of Lewis' own works. That show played for many months at the Mercury, but McLean's latest self-adapted endeavor, "C.S. Lewis On Stage: The Reluctant Convert," is here for only a couple weeks, a part of a national tour. MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR It's only about 75 minutes, but that's about the right length for what is part biographical sketch, part monologue, delivered by McLean, as Lewis. If you are familiar with the work of Lewis (I'm a pretty much lifelong fan, in full disclosure), know that this piece, seemingly drawn at least partly from Lewis' "Surprised by Joy," is pitched early in the great writer's life. That would be before "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," and while he was hanging out regularly with his fellow youthful academic, J.R.R. Tolkien. As fans of the allegorical opus known as "The Lord of the Rings" well know, Tolkien was a man of faith long before Lewis. So what changed the mind of Lewis? As McLean (a very fine actor) sells it, it has much to do with Lewis' growing unease with the notion that consciousness was merely an evolutionary imperative, a collision of atoms intended to promote a reproductional advantage. Unable to suffer the idea that our most profound thoughts are, for the most part, some combination of heredity imperative and the laws of physics, Lewis rebelled. And turned to God. An atheist might well see that as confirmation of precisely what Lewis was rebelling against, but, hey, we all make our own choices. For Lewis, becoming a Christian wasn't about the afterlife, he frequently wrote. In one of the more amusing moments of an involving few minutes in the theater, McLean, who really does look and sound a lot like his man, spits out what Lewis thought about that: "a bribe." Speak for yourself, Clive, but you have a solid professional speaking for you now at the Mercury, reminding us that your ideas abide. Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. Advertisement cjones5@chicagotribune.com Twitter @ChrisJonesTrib "C.S. Lewis On Stage" - 3 stars When: Through Aug. 14 Where: Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave. Running time: 1 hour, 15 mins. Advertisement Tickets: $55-59 at 773-325-1700 or mercurytheaterchicago.com RELATED STORIES: Disney's 'Newsies' still delivers a good time Why 'Harry Potter' and 'Hamilton' spoke more truth this week than Trump or Clinton Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) Rise the Dark by Michael Koryta, When the Music's Over by Peter Robinson and Fall From Grace by Tim Weaver are reviewed in this week's crime fiction roundup. (Chicago Tribune ) Rise the Dark by Michael Koryta, Little, Brown, 400 pages, $26 Among his many gifts, Michael Koryta is a virtuoso in his use of outdoor settings. Ranging from the eerily charged Florida swamps in "The Cypress House" to the isolated Montana mountain retreat in "Those Who Wish Me Dead" to the underground Indiana caves in "Last Words," his thrillers present the great outdoors in their most frightening aspects. Advertisement In "Rise the Dark," his second effort featuring private investigator Markus Novak, Koryta is back in Montana, where mad visionary Eli Pate is intent on short circuiting the electric grid in twisted service of Mother Earth. After abducting the wife of a lineman who was traumatized by the accidental electrocution of his brother, Pate threatens to kill her unless her husband risks his own life vandalizing high-voltage wires. Still reeling over the unsolved murder of his own wife in a spooky Florida town in "Last Words," Novak tracks her killer, sexual predator Garland Webb, to the High Country. The PI, who grew up in Montana, is reunited with members of his disreputable family: his eccentric mother Violet, a psychic reader who has taken up with Pate, and his uncle Larry, who with his shotgunning skills proves to be of great use. Advertisement Though Novak is not the most charismatic hero, the book's atmospheric power and strong cast of supporting characters make "Rise the Dark" compelling from the get go. As usual in a Koryta novel, there is a supernatural aspect to the story, one that is subtly applied here but promises to play a sizable role in Novak's future adventures. When the Music's Over by Peter Robinson, William Morrow, 421 pages, $25.99 Dual narratives have become so common in crime fiction, you sometimes get the feeling that the people writing them, aware of today's shortened attention spans, are wary of offering a single, well-crafted plotline. In his 23rd Inspector Banks novel, the superb Peter Robinson again justifies multiple-story approach with stories that cohere and overlap to powerful effect. In one of the stories, the exceptionally companionable, music-loving Alan Banks, newly promoted to detective superintendent, reopens a cold case involving the rape of 14-year-old Linda Palmer in 1967 by pop star and TV host Danny Caxton. At the same time, his longtime partner and sometime fling, Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot, investigates the gruesome murder of Mimsy Moffat, a teenager who was tossed into a ditch from a moving van, naked and drugged, and subsequently kicked to death. Palmer, now a name poet, is motivated to press charges all these years later by the (real-life) prosecution of British celebrities, including Jimmy Savile, the knighted radio and TV star who was posthumously charged with serial sexual abuse. Mimsy had fallen in with Pakistani men who groomed her and other underage girls to sleep with their "friends." Annie, who was raped herself, pursues the case with a special intensity in the face of the Pakistanis' claims of ethnic discrimination. For all the '60s flashbacks in "When the Music's Over," there's nothing nostalgic about the novel and its treatment of the plight women still face in supposedly more enlightened times. Fall From Grace by Tim Weaver, Viking, 413 pages, $26 Tim Weaver is in no rush to cut to the chase in "Fall From Grace," the rising British writer's fourth novel featuring missing persons specialist David Raker and one of the first to be published on this side of the Atlantic. But with his assured voice and strong sense of place, Weaver rewards our patience. Advertisement A former journalist, Raker is hired to find a distinguished retired cop, Leonard Franks, who eight months ago went out to the shed behind his Devon farmhouse for some firewood and never returned. Franks' daughter, Melanie Craw, a Metropolitan Police detective with whom Raker has butted heads, is of limited help: She can't be seen aiding an independent investigation outside the Met. Piecing together scraps of information including an odd little stick drawing, a seemingly altered photograph and records reflecting Franks' unusual interest in security camera footage of a girl's murder in 1996, Raker is drawn into a secretive world. He finds himself on the trail of a bent cop who was friends with Franks. In scenes reminsicent of Dennis Lehane's "Shutter Island," he also is drawn to a shuttered mental institution on a small island where a young woman no, make that two young women were mistreated. Having been attacked and stabbed in a previous novel, Raker doesn't respond well to having his life threatened again. Is there anyone he can trust? When the skies grow this dark and the shadows this deep, is there ever? Lloyd Sachs is a regular contributor to Printer's Row Journal. Latest recalls and safety warnings: (1) Ikea chocolate (2) Health Lab protein balls (3) Rockmelons Ikea and Health Lab have issued recalls due to undeclared nuts whilst Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is investigating an increase in food poisoning cases possibly due to rockmelon consumption. 1.Ikea chocolate recall Ikea Australia has issued a recall for a number of its chocolate products due to undeclared presences of nuts and milk. Ikea has recalled its Choklad and Godis products due to the presence of undeclared milk, hazelnuts and almonds. The chocolates are sold at Ikea stores in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is warning consumers who are allergic to milk, hazelnuts or almonds not to consume the chocolate. The chocolate can be returned to Ikea for a full refund. Ikea said it wants customers who have brought the chocolate to know the products are not suitable for those allergic or sensitive to the ingredients. Concerned customers are welcome to return affected products at the nearest Ikea store for a full refund. Proof of purchase is not required, Ikea said. The full list of recalled Ikea chocolates The entire list of recalled Ikea chocolates is as follows: CHOKLAD MORK 60% dark chocolate 100g CHOKLAD MORK 70% dark chocolate 100g CHOKLAD LINGON & BLABAR 180 g CHOKLAD LJUS 100g CHOKLAD NOT 100g GODIS CHOKLADKROKANT 450g GODIS CHOKLADRAN 168g CHOKLADKROKANT BREDBAR, 400g 2.Health Lab protein ball recall A recall has been issued for Health Lab Energise Choc Protein Balls and Refresh Choc Mint Protein Balls. The protein balls are sold at Caltex petrol stations in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria. The product is also available at On the Run convenience and petrol stations in South Australia. The recall has been issued due to an undeclared presence of cashew nuts. Consumers who have a cashew nut allergy are been warned by FSANZ to not consume the protein balls. The product can be returned to the point of purchase for a full refund. 3.FSANZ to investigate link between rockmelon and Salmonella FSANZ is investigating a possible increase in Salmonella poisoning from eating rockmelons. The decision to investigate follows an increase in reported Salmonella poisoning cases across Australia possibly due to eating rockmelon. Rockmelon has often been connected to Salmonella poisoning incidents with notable cases occurring in the US in the 1950s, 1960s and 2002. FSANZ said whilst it waits for further information the best advice is consumers, especially says infants, the elderly, pregnant women and those with comprised immune systems, should not eat rockmelon. FSANZ will continue to work with the state and territory enforcement agencies and the Federal Department of Health and update its advice to consumers, FSANZ said. What causes salmonella in rockmelon? The New South Wales Food Authority website says previous overseas research into rockmelon and salmonella has suggested contaminated water, fertiliser, contact with animals and insufficient cleaning could all be contributing factors. Prior NSW study has found that both whole and sliced rockmelons could include salmonella. Dave Eggers' new novel, Heroes of the Frontier, follows the thoughts of a 40-year-old mother and her two kids as they trek into the Alaskan wilderness. (Lisa Wiseman photo) For many Americans, traveling this country's scenic highways and byways is the perfect getaway. For 40-year-old Josie, the bewildered, unanchored heroine at the center of Dave Eggers' engaging new novel, "Heroes of the Frontier," hitting the road is, literally, a great escape. Josie and her kids, Paul, 8, and Ana, 5, fly from their home in Ohio to Alaska to avoid what Josie sees as the hypocrisy of Carl, her children's father. Josie and Carl never married he never believed in the institution but now he's left Josie to marry someone else. To impress his fiancee's family, he wants to borrow the kids and use them as props to impress his future in-laws with how great of a dad he is, never mind that he's only seen them a couple of times in the last 18 months and doesn't pay child support. Advertisement "Heroes of the Frontier" is as much a journey into Josie's existential predicament surrounding what she considers her failed life as it is a road trip to the 49th state. It's not just Carl, whom Josie calls "an invertebrate, a loose-bowelled man," who's making Josie's life miserable. She's haunted by the death of a young Marine in Afghanistan. She encouraged the big-hearted teen to enlist. Now she blames herself for his death. Josie also has lost her dental practice to a patient who sued her for malpractice. And long before that, the teenaged Josie legally emancipated herself from her parents. For Josie, disappointment lies in all directions. In the opening chapter she asks, "(W)here are all the heroes? All she knew where she had come from were cowards." Advertisement Even before she rents an aging RV the manufacturer's "Chateau" model and begins her trip along the winding roads from Anchorage to Seward and to smaller Alaskan towns, she wondered if she was "living her best life." It's the novel's central theme, and Eggers buoys it with dry humor, hijinks and the family's bizarre adventures. At first Josie can't seem to find the "magic and clarity" of Alaska. To Josie, "It looked like a cold Kentucky but its prices were Tokyo, 1988." It feels more like a state of dystopia than a wild and wonderful frontier. She doesn't see the bigger-than-life people she longs to meet. Tourist traps, obnoxious locals and equally obnoxious tourists are everywhere. And at every bend in the road is another wildfire. She takes the kids to a sorry excuse for an animal park and it reminds her of "the Iraqi zoo after the coalition bombings, the lions and cheetahs roaming free but starving, looking for cats and dogs to eat, and finding neither." The RV trip, at times, feels endless and readers may begin to squirm and wonder when we'll get to where Eggers is taking us. It's one long, dark trip as well through the endless highways of Josie's bad thoughts and memories. Aimless wanderings through the backroads of Alaska, accompanied by the humorless and depressed Josie, make the miles, at times, drag by. There are also scenes that drive us to the limit of our ability to suspend belief even as we remind ourselves this is fiction. In one scene, Paul and Ana are left in the care of a man Josie barely knows, but she really seems like too good of a mother to do this. Running through a field as lightning explodes around them pulled me out of the story as I marveled at a mother's foolishness. A colorfully written scene in which a group of musicians help Josie compose songs trapped in her head feels more fantasy than realistically possible, but when antler-wearing Ana prances into their midst inspiring everyone in the room to dance and kick their legs high, the novel becomes a thing of beauty. Just as beautiful is gentle Paul's devotion to his wild-child sister, Ana. He takes seriously his important role as the "caretaker of the world's most delicate orchid." When Eggers unleashes his talent for capturing the innocence and purity of happy children, the story is in overdrive. Through these warm and wonderfully imagined children Josie learns to celebrate all of life's moments. How many of us, like Ana, could pick up an otter head still covered with bits of fur and cartilage and marvel at its simply being what it is or once was: "One of dem otters"? Eggers' "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius," a memoir about becoming his 8-year-old brother's guardian, proved he could write with passion and clarity about a real boy. Paul and Ana, this novel's heroes, feel just as real. Their story, if we allow Eggers a bounty of artistic license, is just as ingeniously told. Carol Memmott also reviews books for the Washington Post. Advertisement "Heroes of the Frontier" By Dave Eggers, Knopf, 391 pages, $28.95 Cleanliness may be next to godliness, or so the old rhyme scolded us, but is it healthiest particularly for babies and children? It's a question that came to mind when my daughter brought my months-old grandson by the Chicago Tribune for a short bit of baby-sitting. Advertisement "Dad, this is a bottle of Purell," Caroline said, holding the bottle up so I could see it. No one, my daughter declared, was to touch, pick up or otherwise handle little Bryson, who was sleeping quite peacefully in his car seat, without a pop of hand sanitizer. I stared for a moment. The father in me wanted to argue, to tell her that Purell was unnecessary and rather insulting my colleagues are CLEAN! But the newly coined grandfather in me told me to say nothing and wait wait until she drove away, so I could drop the bottle in the diaper bag and forget about it. Advertisement Bryson's visit to the newsroom was uneventful. Still, that moment standing at the Tribune's loading dock surrounded by decades' worth of Big City grime, germs and assorted yuck (why wasn't Caroline spritzing Purell on that?) stayed with me. Just how "clean" does a baby need to be? Maybe not as much as we might believe, according to a new book titled "Let Them Eat Dirt" by B. Brett Finlay and Marie-Claire Arrieta, two Canadian scientists and parents themselves. The subtitle of the book, slated for publication in September (Algonquin, $26.95), says it all: "Saving Your Child From an Oversanitized World." (Algonquin / Handout) "Babies and children are prevented from following their innate nature to get dirty," Finlay and Arrieta write of a "squeaky-clean is considered good parenting" culture. "And in doing so they're being shielded from the microbial exposure that's essential to their development." Finlay is a professor of microbiology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and, according to his Algonquin web biography, "a world leader in how bacterial infections work." Arrieta is a postdoctoral fellow at the university. Her bio notes that her "recent study connecting asthma in very young babies to missing key intestinal bacterial species was deemed a breakthrough in the field and was reported by dozens of news outlets around the world in 2015." They write that bacteria and other microbes, usually only thought of in the context of infectious diseases, can also be crucial to our health. The beneficial microbiota helps build immunity in babies and children and has a role in preventing allergies, asthma, obesity and other noninfectious conditions. That these beneficial microbes colonize our bodies, notably the digestive system, is a natural process, they stress, that begins with a baby's passage through the mother's birth canal and goes on through life. The first three to five years of life especially the first 100 days are crucial to getting a healthy microbiota established. But exposure to those microbes has to be there. "People are very concerned, almost preoccupied, with their child touching a surface that is not clean," said Dr. Angela C. Mattke, a pediatrician at the Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester, Minn. "Early exposure to their environment full of germs, bacteria and viruses is not a bad thing." Advertisement "Not everything a child touches should be sterilized," she added. "You don't have to wash their hands every time." Advances in medicine over the last century and what Finlay and Arrieta see as hygienic standards taken to an extreme in the Western world from the overuse of antibiotics to too-frequent hand-washing have whacked microbes bad and good alike. Infectious diseases are down, especially in the developed world, they note, but noninfectious diseases and disorders like those mentioned above are up. While they look for links in the book, the scientists caution that microbes shouldn't be considered a cure-all. "They can have effects," Finlay and Arrieta write, "but these are part of complex interactions between complex populations of microbes with the environment and our genes. This is a complex science, with many factors involved. Because of the complexity of the microbiota, and its overlapping functions, it's going to take a lot of science to figure out exactly how things work. However, there are more than enough examples to indicate that the microbiota plays a major role in both our health and disease." Science, they write, will sort out what works from what doesn't as it "plods" along. OK. But what can parents (and grandparents) do now, even if they aren't in a stare-down on a loading dock? "Let kids be kids," urged Finlay, who likened them, in a telephone interview, to vacuum cleaners sucking up microbes "left, right, center." Yet, there are challenges parents face when deciding how much dirty is just right. (Remember, Pig-Pen was a character in a comic strip.) In deciding just how "dirty" your baby or child should be, consider these tips from Arrieta, Finlay and Mattke: Advertisement Use common sense. Your child is touching dirt or grass? Probably no need for hand-washing, Mattke said. Touching a person with a runny nose or fever? Yes, wash those hands, she said. Finlay and Arrieta write that if something "smells bad, looks slimy or looks inflamed," there are probably lots of "nasty" microbes; steer the kids clear. Don't feel forced to give a daily bath. Wash your baby when he or she is dirty, Mattke says. Dogs. They are "truly a microbe's best friend," write Finlay and Arrieta. Let the dog snuggle and lick the baby, they urge. Hand sanitizers. Be judicious with them, Mattke said. Dropped items. Should you follow the so-called five-second rule on whether or not to sterilize dropped items? Depends on the setting, replied Mattke. She likely won't sterilize a pacifier dropped in the house but isn't going to let a child eat any food that might drop in a public space. Finlay and Arrieta suggest you clean a dropped pacifier by popping it in your mouth. Let people hold or touch the baby? Here we go back to Caroline and Bryson. Advertisement Finlay and Arrieta write that you should avoid having the baby around people with infections. It's OK, also, to ask people to wash their hands beforehand. "Since letting a baby be touched is one of the ways he gets exposed to microbes, it makes sense to want to avoid the chance of infections, but physical contact with healthy people is not going to be dangerous for the child, and may even be beneficial," they write. wdaley@chicagotribune.com Twitter @billdaley RELATED STORIES: Bacteria are crawling all over things you don't even think about Advertisement Germs are waiting for you on your travels Helmet or no? Navigating the flat-head epidemic with our baby People listen to speakers at a vigil to remember Paul O'Neal, 18, at the 7400 block of South Merrill Avenue on July 29, 2016, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) In Chicago, another young man has died at the hands of police. This time, the officers were protecting a stolen Jaguar. We cannot begin to make sense of the shooting that occurred last week. Eighteen-year-old Paul O'Neal was shot in the back while running away. And he was not armed. Advertisement It would be tough to argue in this case that the lives of these police officers were being threatened. But here's an idea that isn't so far-fetched: In this incident, an automobile was deemed more important than the life of a young black man. O'Neal was not perfect. He was, in fact, a car thief, police say. And if he had lived, he likely would have spent some time behind bars. Advertisement Police say O'Neal was part of an unsophisticated ring of thieves who had stolen four older model cars in suburban Bolingbrook that week. He was driving the 2002 Jaguar XKR convertible when police attempted to pull him over on Chicago's South Side. Attorney Michael Oppenheimer talks to media in aftermath of the fatal police-involved shooting of Paul O'Neal. Aug. 1, 2016. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune) O'Neal sideswiped one police vehicle and struck a parked car with the Jaguar. Two officers opened fire on him while he was still in the car. And when he got out and fled on foot, a third officer took chase and shot him in the back. The shooting happened as the U.S. Justice Department is conducting a civil rights investigation of the Chicago Police Department. The probe was launched in the aftermath of the shooting of Laquan McDonald, who was shot 16 times while fleeing police. O'Neal's shooting clearly shows that we have a long way to go in bridging the gap between police officers and minority communities. But this time, at least, there is a ray of hope. The community didn't have to demand that the city's top brass take action. Not only did the officers get desk duty under a new Police Department policy, Johnson went a step further and yanked their guns and badges stripping them of their police powers. A candlelight vigil was held on the South Side, but protesters didn't take to the streets, blocking traffic and shutting down businesses. This time, there was no need for that. Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson did what he was supposed to do. He moved quickly to get the three officers off the street and put them behind a desk until the incident is sorted out. Of course, we would all like the police shootings to stop. But when they do occur, African-Americans want to feel like someone's taking notes. They want to know that no one will just assume that the shooting was justified, and if there was any wrongdoing, someone is going to get to the bottom of it. Advertisement Like other citizens, they want to know that the Police Department has their back. That isn't a lot to ask. Whether intended or not, Johnson sent a message to the African-American community and Chicago as a whole that black lives do, indeed, matter. His actions were much stronger than any words we have heard thus far. He showed Chicagoans that the days of cover-ups and codes of silence are over at least under his watch. It's a good start toward rebuilding trust between the police and the communities they serve. But there is still a lot of work to be done. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 5 Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson speaks with officers after a news conference at a vacant lot at 4439 W. Adams Street in Chicago. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) Though the Police Department has made strides in becoming more transparent, requiring officers to use dashboard and body cameras, there is still a huge trust issue. The fact that the body camera for some reason didn't work in O'Neal's shooting raised suspicion. But another recent police reform gave Johnson cause for stripping the officers of their duties for violating policy. It was for good reason last year that the Police Department rewrote its policy on using force. Under the new rules, police are prohibited from firing on a moving vehicle if it is the only threat against the police officers. The argument that O'Neal was using the car as a weapon is unjustified. Advertisement This time the officers can't return to regular duty unless they are cleared by the Independent Police Review Authority and an internal investigation. That's more than what we're used to seeing. Police officers are supposed to be held accountable when a questionable shooting occurs. But in Chicago, this kind of reasonable response is unfamiliar to us. In Chicago's Police Department, some officers still are too quick to shoot. That's a problem that won't be solved until someone figures out why they do it. It is ridiculous to assume that every cop who shoots a black man is racist. But the ease with which some shootings occur shows that there is certainly a level of disregard for some lives. And the fact that the overwhelming majority of these lives are black is disturbing. Nobody wants to diminish the danger that law enforcement officers face every time they go out on a call. It's only human that police officers would have some level of fear and nervousness. But that should never be an excuse for pulling the trigger. It will be awhile before we hear why the police officers decided to fire at O'Neal that evening. But regardless of what they say, there is no denying these facts: No one should have to die for stealing a car. And no one deserves to be shot in the back. Advertisement dglanton@chicagotribune.com Twitter @dahleeng Tourists take photos on the Ledge at Willis Tower on Feb. 4, 2015. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Once upon a time, before phones were portable and smart, way back when Chicago's tourists could still be spied on a sidewalk puzzling over that old-fashioned paper thingy called a map, the citizens of our friendly city were often called upon to carry out a vital duty. We gave directions. Advertisement "Where's the Sears Tower?" some bald guy in baggy shorts and a Cleveland Browns T-shirt would ask. "Lake? Which way is?" we might be asked by a tall woman with an accent of unfathomable origin. Advertisement The Art Institute? Marshall Field's? The nearest Starbucks or bathroom? For every query, we had a reply at the ready, not always reliable but delivered with civic pride. To especially befuddled tourists, we might say, "Follow me," and play escort while grilling the visitor: Where are you from? What brings you to Chicago? No, no, don't call it "Chi-town." Giving directions made us feel good about ourselves and our place. But these days, a time when Siri and Google Maps travel in our pockets, the need to give directions is fading into the black hole of history along with paper maps. "I used to enjoy sensing when someone on Michigan Avenue looked confused about where they were, and I would offer to point the way," a man I know recently lamented, which prompts my lament today. "I felt that I was giving them the idea that Chicagoans were friendly and helpful. Now when I see confused tourists talking about directions, they're looking at their smartphones. They don't need me anymore." Sounds like the hook for a Chicago blues song: Oh, mama, the tourists don't need me anymore. Advertisement Giving and asking for directions has been an essential form of human interchange since humans first ventured beyond their villages, which is not to say that human directions can always be trusted. How many times have you asked someone, "Do you know where ?" only to have that person hedge and mumble to hide the fact that she doesn't have a clue. I learned long ago that if a person said, "Hmm, let me think, well, maybe," it would save us both time if I said "Don't worry about it" and moved on. But even if Siri is more efficient than the average Chicagoan, she is far less personable. She won't make you feel welcome to Chi-town or warn you that the natives don't say "Chi-town," except ironically. (By the way, if you say "Chi-town" to Siri, she'll direct you to Chai Town Nutrition on South Archer Avenue.) The pleasure of giving directions isn't the only type of civic function and engagement that smartphones have stolen. Advertisement For years, when I would see people photographing each other downtown a couple, a family, a group of friends I'd stop and say, "Would you like me to take a photo with all of you in it?" The trusting stranger would gratefully hand over the camera and dart into the photo and we would all leave feeling a little warmer and fuzzier about our species. Then lightweight smartphones with their built-in cameras invaded our lives. The selfie became not only possible but preferable. A few days ago, as I watched a big family try to squeeze into a selfie, I was tempted to offer to take the photo for them. But as they laughed and wriggled, I sensed that the selfie was a big piece of their fun. They were in their private world, that kind of invisible bubble that encloses people when they're selfie-shooting. I felt pretty sure they didn't want their selfie bubble popped by a busybody. And they might have thought I was a phone thief. But even in a selfie-and-Siri age, there remains a place for the Chicago citizen who gives directions, as I discovered one day last week while walking past the Wrigley Building downtown. Advertisement As I passed two guys 20ish, looking down at their phones I glimpsed one look up with a furrowed brow and say to the air, "Rush and Illinois?" I walked on. Then it hit me. I could help. I turned around. "Are you lost?" I said. "Follow me." I walked them to a staircase at the far end of a plaza, imperceptible on their map and barely visible from Michigan Avenue. "You need to go down those stairs," I said. They looked relieved. I felt a jolt of Chicago pride. Advertisement Oh, mama, sometimes they still need us. mschmich@chicagotribune.com Twitter @MarySchmich Sally Kohn and Ben Shapiro seen at Politicon 2016 at The Pasadena Convention Center on Sunday, June 26, 2016, in Pasadena, Calif. Shapiro was blocked from speaking at DePaul University. (Colin Young-Wolff / AP) DePaul University has denied a request to have conservative commentator Ben Shapiro give a speech at the university, citing security concerns. "DePaul University's Office of Public Safety determined, after observing events which took place when Mr. Shapiro spoke elsewhere, that it was not in a position to provide the type of security that would be required to properly host this event at this time," DePaul spokeswoman Carol Hughes said in an email. Advertisement Shapiro is a columnist and radio commentator whose books include "Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth." Videos on social media show Shapiro discrediting the Black Lives Matter movement. His talks have sparked protests on college campuses. The Young America's Foundation, a conservative youth organization, said in a statement on its website that members have worked with Shapiro for the past six months on tours of college campuses. Advertisement In a statement, the organization condemned DePaul's decision. "If DePaul does not reverse its decision to ban Ben, it must immediately remove any claim to support free speech and expression from its website and marketing materials or become a fraudulent laughingstock," the statement said. meltagouri@chicagotribune.com Twitter @marwaeltagouri A city camera at the corner where a 6-year-old girl was shot last month wasn't recording at the time, according to authorities. "The camera was working for live viewing but not recording," said Melissa Stratton, a spokesman for the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. "The camera was brought into the shop, and it was determined that the encoder failed." Tacarra Morgan was shot about 1 p.m. July 19 just south of 60th Street on Paulina Avenue in the West Englewood neighborhood. Police said three cars heading south as a convoy on Paulina from 59th stopped twice -- once just a few feet north of 60th Street -- and someone stepped out to fire shots. Police asked for the video the next day, and OEMC realized the camera was not working. The camera was brought into the shop July 20 and "diagnosed with an encoder issue," Stratton said. "The encoder was ordered and received on (July 29). It was installed into the camera and tested well," she said. The camera was scheduled to be replaced Wednesday. Tacarra was shot just north of the intersection as she scrambled up porch stairs and tried to get inside her grandfather's house. The vehicles would have had to pass the camera while fleeing if they continued south, turned east or turned west from the intersection. Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department, said no other useful footage was obtained. Police reported no one in custody. NEW YORKSay It With A Condom is ready for back-to-school season with a new collection of consent-themed condoms. We created these condoms to bring awareness to the epidemic of sexual assault on our nations campuses, company reps said. 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For more information, visit SayItWithACondom.com. Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Topspin A panel of lawmakers and policy advisers appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner to pave a path forward on how to overhaul the state's school funding formula is scheduled to meet for the first time in Chicago on Wednesday afternoon. Advertisement The 25 member commission was formed after Democrats spent much of the spring legislative session pushing changes, which Rauner had initially resisted, saying the issue was a red herring meant to get in the way of a larger budget deal. But panels and commissions are commonplace in Illinois, and only time will tell if real changes will come from the group's work, given the politically fraught nature of changing how tax dollars are doled out to school districts. Advertisement Critics contend the formula shortchanges districts that serve poor children and doesn't do enough to compensate districts that can't rely on high real estate values to cover their spending needs with property taxes. But ideas to fix the problem usually hinge on raising taxes or cutting funding for wealthier districts in order to boost spending on poorer ones, both of which are difficult to sell politically. (Monique Garcia) What's on tap *Mayor Rahm Emanuel will take part in an event to officially name Jackson Park as site of the Barack Obama presidential library. Later, he will speak at the Chicago Investors Conference. *Gov. Bruce Rauner has no public schedule. What we're writing *Emanuel's latest pension fix to bring taxpayers more pain. *Tribune watchdog: Cheap pork comes at high cost in Illinois. *Mass layoffs at Chicago State come with millions in extra costs. What we're reading *Sesame St. clarifies status of actors playing Gordon, other longtime characters after uproar. *Chicago German steakhouse, Indian-British street food bar among best new U.S. restaurants in Bon Appetit magazine. Advertisement *The Javy-O-Meter? From the notebook *Duckworth tongue-lashes Trump over 'easier' Purple Heart: A bona fide recipient of a Purple Heart, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Duckworth wasted no time Tuesday asking her loyalists to join her in calling for an apology from Donald Trump after he accepted the medal from a supporter. Duckworth sent out a blast email after the GOP nominee for the White House accepted a Purple Heart from a military veteran and later told a crowd in Ashburn, Va.: "I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier. But I tell you, it was such an honor." Trump didn't serve in the military, and received multiple deferments during the Vietnam War. The medal is given to troops wounded or killed by the enemy. Duckworth, a U.S. House member from Hoffman Estates, was awarded the medal after the helicopter she was piloting was hit by an RPG in Iraq in 2004. She lost her legs and badly injured an arm in the attack. Duckworth in the email never mentions her opponent, incumbent Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., a retired Navy Reserve officer. Advertisement Instead she takes Trump to task by saying, "I earned a Purple Heart in combat and I know many others who have as well. It's not something anyone 'wanted to get.' We earned them because our country asked us to." "It's no surprise Donald Trump accepted a Purple Heart the 'easier' way today because that's the story of his life," Duckworth adds. "He never sacrifices. He always has things handed to him." (Katherine Skiba) Preckwinkle, Sanguinetti make leadership program: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti are among the 25 women who have been named to Governing Institute's Women in Government Leadership Program. Preckwinkle, Sanguinetti and the other 23 women will be profiled in the February 2017 issue of Governing magazine and participate in events throughout the year, including their first leadership conference scheduled in mid-November in Arizona. The program is aimed at bringing together elected women leaders from across the nation to "acknowledge their contributions, provide leadership development and to mentor the next generation of women leaders to run for office," Governing Institute said in a news release. "The first two classes completed their yearlong curriculums in 2015 and 2016 and the 50 alumnae of the program are now 'paying it forward' by recruiting women candidates around the U.S.," the institute said. (Rick Pearson) Advertisement *More early candidate ads on cable: A new report shows Senate Democrats pumping another $71,000 on cable TV ad buys for two suburban lawmakers being targeted by Republicans in the fall. A total of $44,165 is being spent on behalf of Democratic Sen. Melinda Bush of Grayslake, enough to run 2,160 ads. Bush is being challenged by Republican Michael Amrozowicz of Gurnee. Another $27,300 is being spent to support Democratic Sen. Tom Cullerton of Villa Park, paying for 1,950 ads. Cullerton is facing Republican Seth Lewis of Bartlett. The report also shows that in the race for U.S. Senate, Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth, a two-term congresswoman from Hoffman Estates, is spending $36,222 for 576 ads running in Rockford, Peoria and Springfield. That's the same Downstate markets where a super political action committee backing Republican Sen. Mark Kirk's re-election Independent Voice for Illinois has bought TV time on ads criticizing the Democrat. (Rick Pearson) Follow the money *Track campaign contribution reports in real time with this Tribune Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ILCampaignCash Advertisement Beyond Chicago *Presidential race, Republican side: Trump accepts Purple Heart as gift from vet at rally. *Presidential race, Democratic side: Kaine talks Zika, immigration, Trump in Florida. Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday called for a new tax on city water and sewer bills to stabilize the city's largest pension fund, a move he portrayed as his latest tough decision to secure Chicago's financial future. Emanuel's plan, which would increase the average water and sewer bill by 30 percent over the next four years, was quickly met with resistance from some aldermen who argued the city would be better off adding business taxes or even raising property taxes again to come up with the hundreds of millions of dollars a year needed to keep the city's municipal workers' pension fund from going bust. Advertisement Still, Emanuel projected confidence his plan ultimately would win approval in the City Council, which rarely rebuffs the mayor's proposals and has yet to independently provide its own solution to solidify any of the city's four major pension systems that have been woefully underfunded for more than a decade. In a speech to about 200 financial investors Wednesday, Emanuel unveiled his water and sewer tax plan while making the case to Wall Street that his administration has done the hard work to brighten Chicago's dark financial picture. Advertisement For the first time since he took office in 2011, Emanuel said, there are concrete plans to properly fund the retirements of the city's police officers, firefighters, laborers and municipal workers. He told the Chicago Investors Conference that the city's budget deficit is at a 10-year low. And he sought to make the case it all had been done without disturbing a business climate that has appealed to major corporations and startups. "The city of Chicago met our challenges head on, dealt with them systematically, did it in a way that's complementary to our overall economic strategy to contribute to the well-being and the overall growth strategy that is laid out for the city of Chicago," Emanuel said from the Symphony Center's ornate stage. "We addressed the past, but did it in a way that did not shortchange the future of the city of Chicago." But even as the mayor seemingly claimed victory on fixing Chicago's financial woes, challenges remain. Debt rating agencies have repeatedly lowered the city's credit rating in recent years, with one placing it at junk status. The picture at Chicago Public Schools is even worse, with all three major rating agencies terming the district's bonds junk while the Emanuel-appointed Board of Education plans to raise property taxes by $250 million next year to help pay for teacher pensions. And several aldermen expressed opposition to Emanuel's new utility tax, including Ald. Roderick Sawyer, chairman of the City Council's Black Caucus. Sawyer, 6th, predicted Emanuel would have a hard time building enough council support for the water and sewer tax after asking aldermen to pass a record property tax increase to fund police and fire pensions last year. "We understand that the can had been kicked down for many, many years, and now it's incumbent upon us to find solutions," Sawyer said. "This is a tough one, though. This is an additional tax that ramps up to many, many dollars a month." 'Pitchforks and torches' Under Emanuel's proposal, the new utility tax would be phased in over the next four years, with the average homeowner's water and sewer bills increasing by $53 next year, or $8.86 on the bills sent out every two months. By the end of the four-year phase-in, that same homeowner would pay an additional $226 per year in water and sewer taxes, or $37.65 on each bill. Advertisement After four years, the proposal would amount to a 30 percent tax on water and sewer bills, or $2.51 for every 1,000 gallons of water used, the Emanuel administration said. The average annual water and sewer bill, based on 90,000 gallons of water, currently is about $684. The bills also would rise each year at the rate of inflation. Once fully phased in, the new tax would produce an estimated $239 million a year to help reduce the $18.6 billion the city owes the municipal workers' fund, which represents nearly all city workers except police officers, firefighters or employees who do manual labor. Emanuel's goal is to restore the municipal workers' account to 90 percent funding over the next 40 years. The mayor and aldermen already have raised taxes to do the same for the city's three other major pension funds for police, firefighters and laborers. Emanuel said he will seek a City Council vote on the water and sewer tax in September. "I don't take this lightly, but we are fixing the problem that has penalized the city's potential to grow economically, and there's a finality to it," Emanuel said in an interview late Wednesday. "All four pensions have a revenue source." The taxes will be tacked on to bills that went up when, shortly after taking office in 2011, Emanuel set in motion a series of water and sewer fee increases that more than doubled those bills to upgrade water and sewer systems. Ald. Ameya Pawar, 47th, called the new tax "the right thing to do," noting that the alternative of not properly funding the pensions would be "catastrophic." Advertisement But with homeowners already starting to feel the hit from last year's property tax increase combined with a new round of assessments, Pawar acknowledged aldermen can expect complaints from constituents. "People will be upset," said Pawar, an Emanuel ally. "They've seen their water rates go up." Far Northwest Side Ald. Anthony Napolitano, 41st, said it's going to be difficult for him to face constituents reeling from the huge property tax increases in bills they just received and tell them to brace themselves for another hit. "Pitchforks and torches, probably," he said when asked how residents would react. "It's not going to be good. Because my reaction now, in my neighborhood, after these (property) tax bills came out is, 'We're leaving. We're out.' "I get that we're in some tough times. And people get that we have to make some concessions, that we're going to pay more in tax dollars. People get that," Napolitano said. "But when it happens year after year after year, people are saying 'Why am I staying here?'" Northwest Side Ald. Milagros "Milly" Santiago, 31st, said the mayor should consider other revenue ideas brought forward in the past year by the council's Progressive Caucus. Those have included a tax on financial transactions, a commuter tax, a graduated income tax, a "stormwater stress" tax on businesses with large parking lots and a move to return more money to the general fund from special taxing districts throughout the city. Advertisement "We're here evaluating the whole thing and seeing if it's legitimate for us to vote next month on this idea," Santiago said as she left a briefing on the mayor's plan at City Hall. "I don't think it's a good idea. We're going to have to have a closer look at it and see if there's other ways to do it. But it's just not good news." Sawyer also advocated for Emanuel to consider some of the Progressive Caucus' tax ideas, but many are long shots or would take time and approval elsewhere. A financial transaction tax would require state and federal approval. A graduated income tax would require approval from a gridlocked Springfield. A commuter tax, which amounts to an income tax on suburban residents working in the city, would require state approval while critics argue it could cause a flight of businesses from the city or prevent new ones from moving in. Only the stormwater tax on businesses and shifting more money from special taxing districts are within the City Council's power alone. "We did get a commitment that they're going to look at all options this year. We're going to hold them to that," Sawyer said. Aldermen did come up with additional ideas. Napolitano suggested allowing video gaming, which long has been banned in the city. Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, called for charging tolls on expressways at the Chicago border. Advertisement Ald. Howard Brookins, 21st, urged a more traditional solution: another property tax increase. Brookins argued raising property taxes is more fair to lower-income residents and can be written off on federal tax returns. But he acknowledged another increase might not have enough support. "This (the water and sewer tax), everyone is going to pay it equally; whether you live in a million-dollar home or a $50,000 home, we all have to use water, and it disproportionately affects the people of my community," Brookins said. "We have to think long term and get away from the stereotypes about property taxes and start explaining to people why a property tax is fairer than the other taxes and fees that they are going to ultimately end up paying." Ald. Joe Moore, an Emanuel ally, said he'd be willing to entertain Brookins' push for another property tax increase, but said "it's kind of difficult to go to that well again" so soon. The water and sewer tax, he said, "might be the best of a bad set of options. ... We have to do something." 'Once and for all' While Emanuel's utility tax would not require approval from state lawmakers, proposed changes he laid out Wednesday in how municipal workers contribute to their retirements would. The mayor plans to ask the General Assembly and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to sign off on altering the municipal fund pension system to save about $2 billion over the next 40 years. The legislative changes to the pension fund would require newly hired employees, starting next year, to increase their retirement account contributions to 11.5 percent of their salary from 8.5 percent. Advertisement Employees who were hired from 2011 to 2016 and already receive lower retirement benefits would have the option of increasing their contributions to 11.5 percent. In exchange, they would be eligible to retire at age 65 instead of 67. But employees hired before 2011 would see no changes, after the Illinois Supreme Court struck down Emanuel's earlier attempt to reduce their benefits, citing a constitutional clause that states their benefits shall not be diminished or impaired. "You can't touch existing employees, that's walled off," Emanuel told investors. Emanuel and affected unions have an "agreement in principle" on identical changes to the much smaller city laborers fund, with additional city contributions coming from a $1.90-per-month-increase on landline and cellphones billed to city addresses that was approved by the City Council two years ago. Last year, the mayor pushed through a $543 million property tax increase, phased in over four years, to come up with enough funding for police and fire pensions. No changes were made to the retirement age or contribution amounts for those two unions. Emanuel stressed in his speech to investors that Chicago's overall fiscal health is on the rebound. "Chicago was in a pension penalty box. It had not addressed its problems," Emanuel said. "Denial is not a long-term strategy, and for too long Chicago was operating where denial was the long-term strategy." Advertisement Richard Ciccarone, president and CEO of the municipal bond analysis firm Merritt Research Services, attended the conference and said he thought the crowd was generally impressed with the mayor's argument. "He reinforced his strategy, which he said has been his since Day One, and that is that you can't solve the fiscal problems without having economic growth. I think he made his case," Ciccarone said. "I got the impression that they made headway with a lot of people here." In a question-and-answer session with the investors after Emanuel's speech, the mayor was asked if he had enough votes from aldermen to pass the plan. "Yes," Emanuel replied without hesitation. The mayor continued to project that certainty in his interview with the Tribune, while also lavishing praise on the aldermen he must win over. "The lion's share of the aldermen did not create the problem, but the lion's share of the aldermen in there have been part of the solution. I am confident they will take the necessary steps," Emanuel said. "They have never wavered, their knees have never buckled and they will answer the call of history to solve the problem once and for all." Advertisement hdardick@chicagotribune.com bruthhart@chicagotribune.com jebyrne@chicagotribune.com Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday is expected to explain his plan for shoring up the largest of the city's ailing pension funds, a move that promises additional pain for taxpayers who were just hit with the first in a series of property tax increases. The mayor has ruled out another property tax increase to prevent the city's municipal workers' pension fund from going bust within the next decade, sources said. But another option is in play that would affect residential and business property owners: a new tax on water and sewer bills. Advertisement Emanuel is expected to lay out his plan Wednesday afternoon during a speech at the Chicago Investors Conference. His aides are scheduled to brief aldermen on his proposed solution earlier in the day. The mayor needs hundreds of millions of dollars a year in new revenue to reduce the $18.6 billion the city owes the fund. Emanuel's goal is to restore the retirement account to 90 percent funding over the next 40 years. Advertisement Emanuel's speech will cap a weeklong effort by the mayor to portray himself as a politician willing to make the difficult decisions needed to fix the city's precarious financial condition. In recent days, talk at City Hall about ways to address the municipal pension fund issues has increasingly turned to a new tax on water and sewer bills, sources said. Such a utility tax wouldn't need approval from state government. Emanuel, the sources said, has been unwilling to go the property tax route again because property owners already face an $838 million increase over the next four years. Most of that money is going toward increases in city and Chicago Public Schools contributions to pension funds for police officers, firefighters and teachers. Although a property tax is a steadier, more reliable source of city revenue that homeowners with mortgages typically can write off on federal tax returns, it's considered to be riskier politically. A water and sewer tax would be spread out in smaller chunks that are less likely to irritate voters. Shortly after taking office in 2011, Emanuel set in motion a series of water and sewer fee increases that more than doubled those bills to upgrade the city's water and sewer systems. There has been little political fallout from that move for the mayor and aldermen. But that doesn't mean there won't be pushback from some aldermen, who must approve any new tax. In many communities on the South and West sides, aldermen prefer property taxes because residents who own lower-value homes pick up a smaller portion of that tab. With water bills, rich and poor homeowners could end up paying the same amount. Last year, when the city increased property taxes and initiated a new fee on water bills for garbage pickup, many South and West side aldermen said they would have preferred to put the entire tab on the property tax. hdardick@chicagotribune.com Advertisement bruthhart@chicagotribune.com Twitter @ReporterHal Twitter @BillRuthhart IRVING, Texas The news crew is here, but the famous boy is still asleep. He had just flown 22 hours, back to this squat stone house where he used to live when he was just a regular 14-year-old. His bright green go-kart is still out back. A year ago, he could have woken up and spent hours tinkering with its engine. He could have spent the day on his trampoline, or just watching funny YouTube videos on his phone. Instead, he's waking up to the sound of more reporters in the living room. Because he's not Ahmed Mohamed, a regular 14-year-old. He's Clock Boy, a viral sensation, the accidental embodiment of a national debate about Muslims being dangerous - or not. A black youth mistreated by overzealous cops - or an example of vigilance against potential terrorism. So Ahmed gets out of bed, opens the bedroom door and steps into the hall. He lifts his arm in a half wave. "There he is!" The cameraman shouts, like he's seeing an old friend. Ahmed got taller, they all point out. New glasses and a growth spurt have subtly transformed him from boyish to teenage. "He is still sleepy," his father, Mohamed Elhassan Mohamed, apologizes. The reporters are from Fox 4, a local TV channel. Mohamed invited them here, on Ahmed's first day back in Texas after nine months in Qatar. They moved a month after Ahmed was arrested for possessing a homemade clock that his school deemed suspicious-looking.The move, it seemed, was an attempt to escape the spotlight, or at least the hate mail and death threats that came with it. And yet, Ahmed's summer homecoming was heralded to reporters with a news release sent out by the family and its supporters: Clock Boy is back, and ready to be interviewed. "You just wake up?" Ahmed's uncle, Aldean, says. "Go prepare yourself." Ahmed changes into a T-shirt with the number 23 - for LeBron James - across the chest. They hand him a microphone. He doesn't need to be told how to put it on. They seat him on a velvet-tufted chair. "All right, Ahmed, it's just you and me talking, the rest of the world listening," the reporter says. "So don't be nervous." His father interrupts. "Do you want to talk to me? Or just him?" "Oh. Yeah, we'll talk to Dad, too. We'll just do it separate." 'Why would people protest me?' The living room is packed: cousins, aunts, grandmother. Ahmed's Uncle Aldean, who in the early 1980s was the first Mohamed to move from Sudan - where their family owned a successful cotton farm and attended prestigious schools - to New York, where he sold balloons and hot dogs in front of Rockefeller Center. Ahmed's father, an imam, who followed his brother to America and ever since has been explaining to anyone who will listen that real Muslims are peaceful. Their family friend Anthony Bond, the founder of the Irving NAACP, who has been calling the Mohameds in Qatar to tell them how, since they left, things are getting worse. Clashes between black communities and the police are in the news every day. Donald Trump, the man who wants to ban Muslim immigrants like the Mohameds from the United States, may become president. Everyone's eyes are on Ahmed. The reporter leans forward. "How empowered do you feel to help make a difference in the world today, given what you've been through?" he asks. "Wait," Ahmed says. "Did the interview start?" Yes. The reporter moves on to another question. Bond gives Ahmed a reassuring smile. He was the first person the family called when they brought Ahmed home from the police station. They wondered: Would this have happened if his name wasn't Ahmed Mohamed? Bond said: Let's call the media. He said: This city has transformed from whitewashed to incredibly diverse, and we're still being mistreated. He said: With all the discrimination going on in the world, this little boy can make a positive difference. "Upon coming back, what went through your mind?" the reporter is asking. "Did you have thoughts in your head like, 'Oh, God, there may be protesters?' " "Why would people protest me?" Ahmed says. "Well, I'm just asking. So you came in and you're like, 'I'm a rock star!' " "I came in - I was just - heading home, because I was tired." Ahmed Mohamed and his father sit for the first of three interviews they scheduled with reporters on their first day home in Irving. (Jessica Contrera / The Washington Post) Seizing the platform Ahmed walks in the house later that evening to find his uncle, dad and Bond in front of the TV, searching for his name again. "We want to watch you on the Dallas Morning News," his dad says. Ahmed had a "Facebook Live" interview with the newspaper after talking to Fox 4, and they're trying to find it on YouTube. "It's on Facebook," Ahmed says, raising his voice over the clang of dishes being washed by his aunts in the kitchen. His mom and four of his siblings haven't yet come from Qatar, so Ahmed, his brother and his father are staying with the cousins who now live in their old house. They push the remote into Ahmed's hand. Searching for his name is a daily ritual. The family is its own public relations firm, founded Sept. 14, 2015, as they brought Ahmed home from the police station. Mohamed was ranting about how only God will judge his son. Ahmed was still hearing the "Ooooooh" sound the other students made as he was led out of class. The police were going to charge him with possession of a hoax bomb. His parents had a choice: deal with this quietly, or tell someone. Their son had been placed in handcuffs and interrogated, in a town known for its resentment of Muslims. So they called the media, and soon Ahmed was trending on Twitter, and everyone from Mark Zuckerberg to President Barack Obama was sharing messages of support. Two days after he was arrested, the charges were dropped. "This is what happens when we (IPD) screw something up," one Irving Police Department detective wrote in an email later uncovered as part of a public records request from Vice. "That thing didn't even look like a bomb." And so came the next choice: Let this all die down, or seize the platform they'd been given and use it. So they put Ahmed on "Good Morning America," MSNBC and "The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore." He told reporters how kids in school called him ISIS Boy. Sympathetic crowdfunders raised $18,000 for his education. He visited the White House, the Google Science Fair and the president of his home country of Sudan (a wanted war criminal, but Mohamed said it would be rude not to accept the invitation). God is opening doors "It's not on here," Ahmed is saying, trying to find the video for his dad. "It's on Facebook. It's not on YouTube." His 8-year-old cousin Dooly is hanging on his legs. "Ahmed, hold me!" Dooly whines. "Ahmed, go to the Dallas Morning News," Bond says. Soon an argument has broken out: They've learned that Fox 4, the channel that interviewed Ahmed that morning, had conservative commentator Ben Ferguson on the 10 p.m. news to say that the Mohameds plotted Ahmed's arrest and is obsessed with being famous. "They've never been fair about Ahmed," Bond growls at Mohamed. "If I had known you were going to invite them, I would have told you! I would have told you to work with Channel 8!" "They're going to talk no matter what we do!" Mohamed snaps back. In his eyes, the more Ahmed is seen, the better. It's good for the family, he says. Twice in his life he has run for president of Sudan. He plans to run again in 2020. The more people who know him, the better his chances. Ahmed slinks away to the corner of the room and gets on his phone. Does he want to do all these interviews? "For the most part, yes, and sometimes no. If I wouldn't get tired, I would do more interviews so I would have more influence." His dad tells him that this is God opening doors for him. Something bad happened, but God turned it to make it good. God chose him for this, so he can make the world a better place. Advertisement Everyone gets 15 minutes of fame who gets covered. But it's always your choice to extend it. Ahmed Mohamed Only now, he feels safer on the other side of the world. As trolls tried to pick apart his story, someone posted the Mohameds' home address on Twitter. Many American schools contacted them, but Mohamed says they would only take Ahmed and not his siblings. Qatar Foundation, the government-sponsored school in what is known as the country's elite "Education City," offered to take them all and pay for his older sisters' college. In Qatar, his parents don't work. Ahmed goes to school at 7 a.m., comes home to the four-bedroom townhouse where their family of eight lives, and gets on his laptop. "Not many kids play outside. I never really do anything," he says. "I just watch stuff online and I get bored. Sometimes I just go outside and stare at the sun, and then go back inside." The Internet is his refuge - and his attacker. He reads every story and long, rambling conspiracy theory about him. Countless blogs and videos have been dedicated to proving Ahmed's clock was just a Radio Shack clock he put in a new box. (It was partially made of Radio Shack parts, but the design was all his own, he says.) Others insist that this was all a stunt masterminded by Mohamed to get attention. ("He can't plan the reaction. And why would he want me to get arrested?" Ahmed says.) Still more have proclaimed that the Mohameds are terrorist sympathizers because they once owned a company called Twin Towers Transportation. (They did own a company by that name, because their offices were housed in a Dallas office building called the Twin Towers.) Ahmed would like to respond, but he never does because then he will have allowed himself to be angry. In Islam, Ahmed says, you are most vulnerable to the devil when you are angry. Instead he tweets only positive messages to his 97,000 followers. Like when he announced "Just Arrived in Dallas!" with a heart emoji and "It feels good to be back!" "plz go back to Qatar. You're not welcome here." "Go back with your terrorist dad" "They think that all Muslims are terrorist people who kill for their religion," Ahmed says. A mosquito lands on the floor in front of him and he sets down his phone. "I can catch a mosquito," he tells his cousin Dooly. He lunges. It flies away. He sits back down, waiting until it zooms around again. "#BinLaden Reincarnated ANYONE?" The mosquito lands, and he nabs it. Instead of killing it, he picks off its wings. "Ohhhhh," his cousin says in awe. "Mosquitoes are bad. They kill a lot of people." Ahmed pauses, smirking. "That's wrong. I shouldn't generalize mosquitoes." Some days, Ahmed lets himself imagine what life would be like if none of this had happened. Amy Schumer wouldn't follow him on Twitter. He wouldn't know what it feels like to shake Obama's hand. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology wouldn't have accepted him to college. But he wouldn't be scared when he sees police cars. Maybe he would have made new friends in high school. By now he could have invented something new - not just a clock that only took him a few minutes to put together from parts in his family's garage, which was full of '90s-era electronics from when his uncle ran a chain called Beeper Warehouse. His middle school tutors say shy Ahmed would always perk up when talking about his latest creation: a DVD player, a remote, things that lit and beeped and buzzed. Ahmed would charge his older sisters' friends $10 to fix their cracked phone screens, then use the money to buy the parts he was missing for his next gadget. The family moved back and forth between Texas and Sudan, where Ahmed was born. In Irving, Mohamed owned a taxi company and served as religious leader for a small group of Sufi Muslims. Sufism is a mystical interpretation of Islam centered in rituals such as the prayer chants Mohamed writes himself. Whenever there's a reporter around, he insists on explaining passages of the Koran: "When you kill one person, it is as if you are killing all mankind." When Ahmed was 9, Mohamed decided to run for president of Sudan. The current president, Omar al-Bashir - whom they would later visit after Ahmed became famous - had just been indicted by the International Criminal Court for directing genocide in Darfur. Without him in power, Mohamed argued, the United States might lift its sanctions on Sudan, and the country could prosper. He never made the ballot. But the next year, in 2011, he made international headlines. Florida pastor Terry Jones held a "trial of the Koran." Mohamed, who saw the trial as a chance to spread his message - and take his kids to Disney World - showed up to defend the Koran. International outrage over the event, which ended in the burning of the holy book, led to rioting in Afghanistan. At least 20 people were reportedly killed, including seven U.N. employees. "I did what I think is right," Mohamed says. While he was trying to make a name for himself, his American home town was rapidly changing. Irving was once a white-flight suburb best known for housing the Dallas Cowboys' Texas Stadium. By the time Ahmed entered middle school, the Cowboys had moved to Arlington and the Mohameds' Zip code was deemed the most diverse area in the country. Only 9 percent of the students in Ahmed's school district are white. (There remains only one nonwhite person on the Irving City Council.) 'That looks like a bomb' The neighborhood surrounding the Islamic Center of Irving, which serves around 10,000 area Muslims, began to flourish with condos and mansions built by those who wanted to live close to the mosque. Rumors spread that the neighborhood was a "no-go zone," an area only Muslims could enter, and that the mosque was imposing sharia law in the city. The rumors were false. Meanwhile, Ahmed was preparing to start high school. He kept the same Adidas backpack he'd had since 6th grade. He planned out his outfits, one for each day of the week. He would wear his NASA T-shirt every Monday. On Friday of his third week of school, the architecture teacher was about to throw away some dead batteries. Ahmed, always the hoarder of scrap materials, asked whether he could have them. Later in his English class, he taped the batteries together to make a sword. He slid the creation up his long-sleeved shirt, walked up to his teacher's desk and slid the sword out of his arm, "like Iron Man," he says. She laughed. "That's not the only thing I can make," he told her. He promised to bring her something else on Monday. Sunday night, he made his clock. It had a motherboard, an LCD screen, a 9-volt battery, an alarm. All the pieces fit into a pencil case from Target adorned with a tiger hologram. In English class, he plugged it in to show a girl in the corner of the classroom. When the alarm on it vibrated loudly, he stuffed it back in his backpack. He always thinks: What if he had just left it in the bag? And left class without showing the teacher anything? But he took it up to her desk, eager to show his creation as he had promised. "That looks like a bomb," she said. 'We support the teacher' Here is what Ahmed's school now has to say about what happened: "At no point did we think it was actually an explosive device. It looked suspicious and was presented in a way that the teacher took the appropriate actions, and we support the teacher." Although the Irving police dropped the charges against Ahmed, stating that "the student apparently did not intend to cause alarm bringing the device to school," Ahmed was suspended for three days. The Justice Department is now investigating the incident. Rather than release the letter of inquiry from the agency, which states the reason for the investigation to the public, the district is suing the Texas attorney general's office. "Irving ISD has argued that the information is confidential because it reasonably anticipates litigation regarding this matter," the district's spokeswoman said. Ahmed's father is expected to file suit against the school district this week. In November, the family asked for formal apologies - from the district, the police chief and the mayor - and $15 million in damages for alleged violations of federal and state law, arguing that the teenager's arrest violated his civil rights. Citing a potential lawsuit, city officials declined to comment on Ahmed's arrest. Ahmed's family is adamant that their children have been discriminated against even before Ahmed was arrested. When their daughter Eyman was in eighth grade, another student reported that Eyman said she wanted to blow up the school. Eyman says she never said anything like that, but she was suspended for three days anyway. In middle school, Ahmed was suspended multiple times for getting in fights. His tutors remember the conflicts stemming from Ahmed's small size; Ahmed and his family claim he was only defending himself against students who picked on him because of his religion and race. "Our employees work with students from different cultural backgrounds," the district said in response to these claims. "Our policies and training stress making sure that all students enrolled at Irving ISD feel respected and safe." 15 million minutes of fame Ahmed's face is expressionless as he stares at his father's phone. Mohamed is showing him another news video he found online. They're at a gas station on their way home from Dallas, where they spent the afternoon of Ahmed's second day home in the office of their lawyer. "Since he was arrested, he has been in high demand and he's got some events with tech companies lined up," the news announcer says. "Sounds like life isn't so bad for Ahmed." Later, they'll stop at a sculpture of galloping horses where Ahmed used to play as a child. Tourists will recognize him from a distance, yelling "Clockmed! Clockmed!" "Next year," the video says, "he'll be 15, and planning to sue the Irving school district and the city, all over a clock that gave him 15 minutes of fame." The screen goes black. "Fifteen minutes of fame?" Mohamed repeats. "That's all you heard?" Ahmed retorts. "Maybe 15 million, that's what I'm looking for." Ahmed looks at his father. "I'm just joking with you," Mohamed says. "Everyone gets 15 minutes of fame who gets covered," Ahmed says. "But it's always your choice to extend it." "You know, I am a Sufi. I don't worry about the money," Mohamed replies. "I'm not worried about the money," Ahmed says. "But it will help, yeah?" "Yeah," Ahmed says, "Money will help you, temporarily." His dad's phone rings, and Ahmed gets back on Twitter, thumbing through the messages in his notifications: "should have never let those terrorists back in the US". "That Little Bastard Needs to Leave American Soil." "Go back!" There's one with a picture of a plastic bag. "since you left there's a new invention for breathing under water put this on your head & jump in" Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore came to the White House and spoke with President Barack Obama about the Trans-Pacific Partnership on Aug. 2, 2016. (Pete Marovich / EPA) President Barack Obama reaffirmed his support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the controversial 12-nation trade deal, and said that he believes he has "the better argument" than the pact's foes, including Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. The agreement has become a flash point in the 2016 election, and Obama acknowledged that globalization and technology have increased anxiety among some Americans. But Obama said that abandoning trade deals is not the solution. Advertisement "The answer cannot be to back away from trade and the global economy," he said at a news conference at the White House following a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. "It is here to stay. It is not possible to cut ourselves off. To try to pull up the drawbridge on trade would only hurt ourselves and our workers." Both Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton have said they would not support the agreement, which has drawn the furor of blue-collar workers and activists in both parties. Advertisement "Right now I'm president, and I'm for it," Obama said. "I think I've got the better argument." The World Bank says the deal, which would be the biggest U.S. trade agreement since the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, could raise gross domestic product by an average 1.1 percent in member countries by 2030. The pact goes beyond typical trade agreements that focus mostly on reducing tariffs by highlighting stricter safeguards for patents and leveling the playing field for companies that compete with government-backed businesses. Obama said the deal would also create enforceable labor and environmental rules, enabling countries party to the agreement to better police undesirable activities such as human trafficking, wildlife poaching, illegal fishing, child labor and deforestation. "It gives us leverage to promote things that progressives and people here in this country, including labor unions, say they care about," Obama said. "I have not yet heard anybody make an argument that the existing trading rules are better for issues like labor rights and environmental rights than they would be if we got TPP passed." Clinton helped negotiate the deal as Obama's secretary of state but was forced to disavow the completed agreement under pressure from her primary opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an opponent of the pact. Sanders earned broad applause during his Democratic convention speech last week when he said Democrats should seek to block any effort to bring up the deal during Congress's so-called lame duck session after the election. "I've got some very close friends, people I admire a lot, but I just disagree with them," Obama said. "That's OK. I respect the arguments they're making. They come from a sincere concern about the position of workers and wages in this country." Republican lawmakers have shown little appetite for holding a vote on the deal, which Trump routinely belittles on the campaign trail as bad for American workers. Last month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appraised the odds for the deal this year as "pretty slim." In an interview published Monday by the Straits Times of Singapore, Obama said he knew the politics of trade "can be very difficult, especially in an election year." Advertisement Lee warned in a speech in Washington on Tuesday that America's credibility on the international stage would be tested by the fate of the agreement. "For America's friends and partners, ratifying the TPP is a litmus test of your credibility and seriousness of purpose," Lee said. "Every one of the TPP signatories has had to make sacrifices in order to accept the TPP agreement, and jointly bring about this win-win outcome." U.S. failure to pass the agreement would damage relations with Asian countries, Lee emphasized at the news conference, likening it to a bride being abandoned at her wedding. SAN DIEGO A San Diego man was charged Tuesday with murder and attempted murder in the shootings of two San Diego police officers, and prosecutors revealed he opened fire immediately after being asked if he lived in the area where he was walking. Jesse Gomez pleaded not guilty in an arraignment held at the hospital as he recovered from wounds sustained in the gunbattle with police. About 11 p.m. Thursday, Gomez and another man had been walking and split up when they saw the officers, Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon said at a news conference. The two officers pulled up to Gomez, and Officer Wade Irwin got out and asked if he lived in the area. Gomez "answered with gunfire," Runyon said. He shot Irwin, who survived, then fired in the car where Officer Jonathan DeGuzman sat with his seatbelt still on, Runyon said. DeGuzman was hit four times and killed. Gomez is eligible for the death penalty, but prosecutors have not decided whether to seek it. Neither police nor prosecutors would say anything about a motive for the shooting. Gomez was found in a ravine shortly after the shootings when officers followed a trail of blood, authorities said. DeGuzman, 43, died after being rushed to a hospital. Irwin, 32, is recovering from his wounds at a hospital. A second man was arrested Friday on an unrelated search warrant, but he has been released, authorities said. Investigators have reviewed body camera footage, though they said at Tuesday's news conference that Irwin's camera was not turned on until after he was shot. Officials have released little information about Gomez. The construction worker has a criminal record stretching back to 1983, including a conviction for auto theft and drunken driving. Prosecutors said he used a cane to seize a car from another driver in 1983. He was convicted of firearm charges in 1992, and again in 2002, for carrying firearms while under the influence of methamphetamine. Gomez grew up in a modest house in southeastern San Diego, about a half-mile from where the shooting occurred. Real estate broker Leonard A. Marquez wrote in a 2002 letter to a judge that Gomez had worked for him for eight years. Marquez described him as "a multi-talented worker who is considered to be a great asset to all construction projects." Gomez's son, Daniel Gomez, told The San Diego Union-Tribune that he believes his father is innocent. He said he is a good father to his three sons and dedicated grandfather to his 9-year-old granddaughter. "I know he's been in trouble, like when I was a baby, but after that nothing," Daniel Gomez told the newspaper. "It's like he realized he had his kids in his life and he had to take care of them, so that's what he did. He stayed out of trouble and was about his family." A memorial service will be held Thursday and a public funeral Mass on Friday for DeGuzman. Associated Press In this Aug. 25, 2015 file photo, Gavin Grimm poses on his front porch during an interview at his home in Gloucester, Va. (Steve Helber / AP) RICHMOND, Va. A Virginia school board can block a transgender male from using the boys restroom when school starts next month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. In a 5-3 decision, the high court put on hold a lower court ruling that ordered the Gloucester County School Board to let Gavin Grimm use the bathroom that matches his gender identity. The school board is expected to ask the justices to further intervene in the case later this month. Advertisement The decision means Grimm will be barred from using the boys bathroom for at least the first half of his senior year, said Josh Block, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who's representing Grimm. The school board says it plans to formally ask the Supreme Court to review 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Grimm's case by the end of August and then it will be months before the justices decide whether to do so. Advertisement Block said he's disappointed the teen will have to begin another school year being "stigmatized and isolated from the rest of his peers just because he is transgender." But he said he remains hopeful that Grimm will ultimately prevail in the case. Grimm, who was born female but identifies as male, was allowed to use the boys restroom at his high school for several weeks in 2014. But after some parents complained, the school board adopted a policy requiring students to use either the restroom that corresponds with their biological gender or a private, single-stall restroom. Grimm argues the policy violates Title IX, a federal law that bars sex discrimination in schools. The school board counters that allowing Grimm use the boys restroom raises privacy concerns and may cause some parents to pull their children out of school. An attorney for the board didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. If the justices agree to hear Grimm's case, the order will remain on hold until the court makes a final ruling, the court's ruling said. If they deny the school board's petition for review, the order requiring the board to let Grimm use the boys bathroom will be reinstated. The appeals court sided with Grimm in April, saying the federal judge who previously dismissed Grimm's Title IX discrimination claim ignored a U.S. Department of Education rule that transgender students in public schools must be allowed to use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity. The appeals court reinstated Grimm's Title IX claim and sent it back to the district court for further consideration. But the high court's decision Wednesday puts Grimm's case on hold until the justices decide whether to intervene. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented. Justice Stephen Breyer said he agreed to put the case on hold to "preserve the status quo" until the court decides whether to weigh in. Associated Press An ochlerotatus japonicus is seen through a microscope at the Chicago Department of Public Health on June 28, 2016, where scientists catch and study mosquitoes to determine if the insects carry diseases. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) WASHINGTON The Obama administration is warning that money to fight the Zika virus is on the verge of running out amid political stalemate on Capitol Hill. The secretary of Health and Human Services says the National Institutes of Health will exhaust its resources for vaccine development by month's end. Advertisement The letter from HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell says that without additional money the second phase of clinical trials will be delayed, and Americans will have to wait longer for a vaccine. The news comes as the first local transmissions of the virus have been found in Miami and authorities are warning pregnant women to stay away from the area. The virus can cause severe birth defects. Advertisement Congress never acted on President Barack Obama's emergency spending request. Associated Press New Jersey Governor Chris Christie addresses the audience on the second day of the Republican National Convention on July 19, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images) Gov. Chris Christie called Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's criticism of the parents of an American soldier killed in Iraq "inappropriate." Trump has been engaged in an emotionally charged feud with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son, Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed by a suicide bomber in 2004. Christie, Trump's White House transition chairman, called the pain of losing a child unfathomable and said that whether the Khans are right or wrong, he would avoid criticizing them. "The Khans have a right to say whatever it is they want regarding the loss of their son and for all the Gold Star families out there they have put forward a sacrifice that I cannot fathom as a parent," Christie said. "It's just inappropriate for us in this context to be criticizing them, and I'm not going to participate." Khizr Khan gave an emotional tribute to his son last week at the Democratic National Convention that was also heavily critical of Trump. Trump responded saying Khan did not have a right to question whether he had read the Constitution. Christie's comments, which came during a statehouse news conference, were his first publicly on the issue, which has dominated headlines recently. Christie also responded to comments by President Barack Obama earlier Tuesday that Trump isn't qualified to be president. The governor said that it's the president who has disqualified himself from giving comments like that because he said last week that Hillary Clinton is the most qualified person in American history to be president. He also disagreed with Trump on whether Clinton is the devil, a remark the candidate made Monday. "No," Christie said. "But she's unqualified to be president of the United States." Associated Press NEW YORK A spokeswoman for Donald Trump placed blame on Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for the June 2004 killing of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan in Iraq even though the death occurred more than four years before Obama became president and before he joined the federal government. In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer Tuesday evening, Katrina Pierson said, "It was under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that changed the rules of engagements that probably cost [Khan] his life." Illinois state Sen. Barack Obama, then also a candidate for U.S. Senate, meets the press at the state Capitol in Springfield in May 2004. (Charles Osgood / Chicago Tribune) Obama was a state senator in Illinois in 2004. Clinton was a junior senator representing New York. She voted in favor of the Iraq War in 2002. Trump has been in a public fight with Khan's parents after Khan's father criticized the Republican nominee at last week's Democratic convention, brandishing a Constitution and decrying him as someone who has sacrificed "nothing and no one." Trump has been widely criticized, including by many Republicans, for denouncing the Khans, a Muslim-American immigrant family originally from Pakistan. Advertisement The tombstone of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun S. M. Khan in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug. 1, 2016. (Carolyn Kaster / AP) Pierson's comments have become a trending topic under #KatrinaPiersonHistory. She touched on the controversy herself on Twitter by writing that she'll make history by getting Trump elected president. Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said Wednesday that Trump should apologize for disparaging the bereaved parents in an interview with WTMJ Radio, but Johnson refused to withdraw his support of the New York businessman. Asked what it would take for him to no longer back Trump, Johnson said the election is a binary choice and Trump is preferable to Clinton. Advertisement In an interview with a Virginia TV station Tuesday, Trump said he had no regrets about how the back and forth with the Khans played out. The New York Times reported that a memo circulated among campaign surrogates advised them to praise the Khan family's sacrifice, but that Trump "had a right to defend himself" in the dust-up. Trump has also hammered the media for not broadcasting live the Republican National Convention speech of Patricia Smith, the mother of Sean Smith, an American Foreign Service employee killed in the 2012 attack on the U.S consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Smith spoke forcefully, blaming Clinton, who was secretary of state at the time, directly for the death of her son. However, both CNN and MSNBC did air the speech live. Fox News did not, opting instead to go with a live on-air interview with none other than Donald Trump. ABC, CBS and NBC had not yet begun their convention coverage when Smith spoke. The craziest split screen I've ever seen. Trump stomps on emotional mother blaming Clinton for her son's death pic.twitter.com/T7F46JS8lj Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) July 19, 2016 Trump said Wednesday there is "great unity" in his campaign, despite party dissent deepened by the ongoing Khan incident. He tweeted that the campaign unity is "perhaps greater than ever before." In an interview with the Washington Post first published Tuesday, Trump declined to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan and Arizona Sen. John McCain's reelection bids. Both face primary competitors in elections to be held this month. On Tuesday, Meg Whitman, a prominent Republican fundraiser and former Hewlett-Packard executive said she would back Clinton. Rep. Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican member of Congress to say he will vote for the former first lady and secretary of state. Associated Press and Chicago Tribune staff An earlier version of this story referred to Patricia Smith as Pat Smith. That is her commonly used nickname. A Mesa pilot died in a plane crash south of Forest Highlands Tuesday night while transporting blood donated at Flagstaff's National Night Out event. Sue Thew, a spokesperson for United Blood Services Arizona, confirmed Homer Mac McClure, 76, was on a mission to pick up blood from the National Night Out blood drive so it could be processed at a United Blood Services facility in the Phoenix area when his plane went down at about 9:30 p.m. roughly 3 miles southwest of the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport in the forest near State Route 89A. Thew said everyone at United Blood Services Arizona is in shock and deeply saddened. "It is a great loss to the community blood program, but it's an even greater loss to the people whose lives he touched," Thew said. "There wasn't a kinder, more generous man than Mac McClure." According to officials with the Federal Aviation Administration, the twin-engine Piper PA-34 Seneca was en route to Falcon Field Airport in Mesa. McClure was president of Flights for Life, a nonprofit organization that enlists 140 volunteer pilots to transport blood donations all over Arizona to United Blood Services for processing and distribution. Flights for Life pilots also make daily trips to Flagstaff and Yuma to ensure the hospitals in both cities have enough blood for their patients. According to the Coconino County Sheriffs Office, McClure picked up donated blood from United Blood Services in Flagstaff at approximately 9 p.m. Tuesday. He took off from the airport at 9:14 p.m. Shortly thereafter, residents in Kachina Village and Forest Highlands reported hearing erratic airplane engine sounds followed by a large crash, said Sheriffs Office spokesperson Erika Wiltenmuth. Residents as far away as Kachina Village and Forest Highlands heard a crack, followed by a boom that sounded like a sudden clap of thunder in the stillness after Tuesdays monsoon rains. CRASH AVOIDED HOMES Martha Stoneberger and her husband live right on the edge of the Coconino National Forest in Forest Highlands. They believe McClure intentionally avoided crashing into the nearby homes as he attempted to return to the airport just minutes after taking off. Stoneberger said his plane ended up going down approximately 600 yards from the closest home at 9:22 p.m. "We heard what sounded like a plane banking or something," Stoneberger said. "It didn't go over our house (but) it was coming toward the house, it sounded like. And then there was this crash like a thunder clap but it was obviously not thunder." The Sheriff's Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Flagstaff Police Department, Highlands Fire Department and Arizona Department of Public Transportation all responded to the crash site. The Stonebergers hiked into the forest from their backyard and headed north about a third of a mile, following the smell of airplane fuel to the crash site as the emergency crews arrived. "The first things we saw were the United Blood Services boxes and blood scattered everywhere," Stoneberger said. "I instantly knew that they were transporting blood." The debris field of the crash was more than 200 yards long. The plane had sheared off the tops of several trees as it fell. "There was no sound, there were no flames, there were no sparks," Stoneberger said. "There was nothing out there. It was dead silent." Wiltenmuth said there were no reports or indications of a fire. Allen Kenitzer with the FAA said the aircraft was almost completely destroyed. McClure was dead at the scene. 'I'M SAVING LIVES' For 10 years, McClure had led the Flights for Life program, winning multiple awards for his efforts. Last year alone, Flights for Life pilots flew 2,262 hours on hundreds of missions for United Blood Services. Ive done every type of volunteer work you can name, McClure told reporter Heather Baldwin Jones for the October 2014 issue of Flight Training magazine, and nothing is as fulfilling as this work because I know Im saving lives. This past April, McClure sent Baldwin Jones an email informing her that he had received requests to expand Flights for Life into all 50 states thanks to the article. Flights for Life was already in the process of expanding into New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and West Texas. He talked excitedly about the upcoming recruitment meetings. One of Mac's visions was a future in which every state would have a network of volunteer pilots flying blood around the state and saving lives, Baldwin Jones said, adding, Mac was the driving force behind that life-saving expansion. I'm so sad we have lost this amazing man. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office, Coconino County Medical Examiners Office, FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. The cause is still unknown. Mayor Rahm Emanuel praised the Friends of the Parks' decision not to file a lawsuit over the site of the Obama library in Jackson Park. Aug. 3, 2016. (WGN-TV / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune) Friends of the Parks said Wednesday it will not file a lawsuit to stop the Obama presidential library in Jackson Park. The parks preservation group said it remains opposed to using parkland for the project but will not put up a legal roadblock. Friends of the Parks' lawsuit opposing the proposed Lucas Museum along the city's lakefront led "Star Wars" creator George Lucas to abandon plans for his project in Chicago. Advertisement "The organization will not sue as it is our understanding that the site that was chosen apparently is not public trust land unlike the proposed sites for the Lucas Museum," Executive Director Juanita Irizarry said in a statement. "Friends of the Parks' analysis suggests that there is no realistic legal remedy at this time to protect this public open space from this development." Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 30 Supporters gather as a construction crew breaks ground on the Obama Presidential Center site at Jackson Park on Aug. 16, 2021. (Vashon Jordan Jr. / Chicago Tribune) On Friday, the foundation charged with developing the Obama Presidential Center made official the choice of Jackson Park for the library, museum and foundation headquarters. President Barack Obama and the first lady said in a statement they are "thrilled" that his presidential library will go up in Jackson Park, "in the heart of Chicago's South Side, a community we call home and that means the world to us." Advertisement Friends of the Parks said it was disappointed the Obama library would be built in Jackson Park, "rather than abundant vacant land nearby." Washington Park also had been considered for the center. At a news conference to unveil plans to build the Obama library in Jackson Park, Mayor Rahm Emanuel expressed relief at Friends' stance on the library. "Thank God. I'm glad they are not going to sue because this is an opportunity that you don't want to be tangled up in the courts," Emanuel said. The center will host the 44th president's library, archives and foundation headquarters. It is expected to cost at least $500 million and open in 2021. Jackson Park, on Chicago's lakefront, already is home to the Museum of Science and Industry. The park was designed by noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. It was the setting for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, timed to the 400th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the New World in 1492. Friends of the Parks reiterated concerns about development in parks and shrinking open space in the city but acknowledged that the Obama library is a "once in a lifetime opportunity." Woodlawn residents talk about the Obama presidential library coming to Jackson Park. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune) (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) "We admire President Obama's record as a champion of the environment. Friends of the Parks similarly has a deep commitment to the protection and preservation of the public's use of and access to open space," Friends board Chairwoman Lauren Moltz said. "We would like to ensure that any impact on historic Jackson Park will be minimal and preserve the integrity of Frederick Law Olmsted's design." For open-space advocates, the selection of Jackson Park was a disappointment because the park offers less flexibility than Washington Park would have offered. Advertisement Adjacent plots of land outside Washington Park, totaling 11 acres, were available for the presidential center and could have housed a parking deck, offices, perhaps even the library itself. That would have meant less of an impact on the historic park landscape, said Gerald Adelmann, president of Chicago-based Openlands. He expressed hope that work on the presidential center would lead to an increase in the amount of green space in Jackson Park by removing roads or existing buildings. Friends said it hopes to work with the Obama Foundation, city and university leaders and the Chicago Park District to upgrade the park's facilities and preserve the historic nature of Jackson Park. "The design of the Obama library should maximize the use of available vacant land and underground space, and be truly 'park positive' by adding parkland to the surrounding community," Irizarry said. But Martin Nesbitt, chairman of the Obama Foundation, which will develop the presidential library, seemed to interpret the decision not to file suit as a green light. "We've chosen the site that we thought worked best for the entire South Side community," Nesbitt said. "We're happy with it. It sounds like they are satisfied with it. I don't know that there's much more to discuss." Advertisement poconnell@chicagotribune.com kbergen@chicagotribune.com Obama Foundation Chair Marty Nesbitt officially announces the Jackson Park location of the Obama Presidential Center during a press conference outside the Museum of Science and Industry Wednesday, August 3, 2016. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune) (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) With the sun glimmering off the Jackson Park lagoon, planners of an Obama presidential library in that historic park sought to reassure residents living near Washington Park, the runner-up site, that they, too, would benefit from the high-profile project. "Although we've chosen Jackson Park, our support for the efforts in both neighborhoods for growth and engagement ... will be focused on Washington Park just as much as we are on Jackson Park and (the neighboring) Woodlawn area," Martin Nesbitt, chairman of the Obama Foundation, said at a news conference Wednesday morning on the southern patio of the Museum of Science and Industry, located just blocks from the site. Advertisement The formal unveiling of plans to build in Jackson Park came on the same morning that Friends of the Parks declared it will not file a lawsuit to stop the Obama presidential library there. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Obama Foundation Chair Marty Nesbitt walk to the podium to officially announce the Jackson Park location of the Obama Presidential Center during a press conference outside the Museum of Science and Industry Aug. 3, 2016. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune) The parks preservation group said while it opposes using parkland for the project, it will not put up a legal roadblock. A Friends of the Parks lawsuit aiming to block the proposed Lucas Museum along the city's lakefront led "Star Wars" creator George Lucas to abandon plans for his project in Chicago. Advertisement The presidential center will host the 44th president's archival library, a museum and headquarters for the foundation, which is developing the complex. It is expected to cost at least $500 million and to open in 2021. Jackson Park, on Chicago's lakefront and near the University of Chicago, was designed by noted landscape designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. It was the setting for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, timed to the 400th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the New World in 1492. Obama Foundation chairman Martin Nesbitt talks outside the Museum of Science and Industry about President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama choosing Jackson Park over Washington Lark for their presidential library. August 3, 2016. (John Byrne / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune) "Jackson Park, with its aesthetics, its iconic location and historical relevance of the World's Fair, we just think it will attract visitors from a national level, a local level and bring significant benefits to both communities," Nesbitt said. Its selection by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, first reported by the Tribune last week, landed with a thud in the neighborhood that abuts Washington Park. This is a second heartbreak for the Washington Park neighborhood, which was envisioned as the centerpiece for the city's failed bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. "I had to spend some time this past Sunday ministering to people's disappointments and hurt, in the midst of being excited," said the Rev. Richard Tolliver, rector of St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in the Washington Park neighborhood. "What they wanted to hear was some word of reassurance that all of their efforts in becoming very vocally visible as an advocate for this effort will not be ignored." Mayor Rahm Emanuel sought to ease concerns, citing infrastructure projects already in the works in the Washington Park area, including plans to upgrade the CTA Green Line station at Garfield Boulevard and the University of Chicago's development of an "Arts Block," or a cluster of cultural enterprises, across from the CTA stop. The presidential center "is a unique opportunity historically and I want to make sure the entire city of Chicago and specifically the South Side benefits from this once-in-a-lifetime cultural and educational investment," he said at the news conference. Emanuel and several aldermen plan to convene a group of community representatives to research ways to extend economic benefits throughout the South Side. Advertisement Tolliver said he was optimistic that Washington Park would see benefits, as long as there are deliberate planning and public dollars involved. "It won't happen by osmosis," he said. The Friends of the Parks decision, meanwhile, was made public just ahead of the Obama library news conference. "The organization will not sue as it is our understanding that the site that was chosen apparently is not public trust land unlike the proposed sites for the Lucas Museum," executive director Juanita Irizarry said in a statement. "Friends of the Parks' analysis suggests that there is no realistic legal remedy at this time to protect this public open space from this development." Emanuel expressed relief when asked about the Friends' stance: "Thank God. I'm glad they are not going to sue because this is an opportunity that you don't want to be tangled up in the courts." Friends of the Parks reiterated concerns about development in parks and shrinking open space in the city but acknowledged that the Obama library is a "once in a lifetime opportunity." "We admire President Obama's record as a champion of the environment," board Chairwoman Lauren Moltz said in a statement. "Friends of the Parks similarly has a deep commitment to the protection and preservation of the public's use of and access to open space. We would like to ensure that any impact on historic Jackson Park will be minimal and preserve the integrity of Frederick Law Olmsted's design." Advertisement (Chicago Tribune) Adjacent plots of land outside Washington Park, totaling 11 acres, were available for the presidential center and could have housed a parking deck, offices, perhaps even the library itself. That would have meant less of an impact on the historic park landscape, said Gerald Adelmann, president of Chicago-based Openlands. He expressed hope that work on the presidential center would lead to an increase in the amount of green space in Jackson Park by removing roads or existing buildings. A spokeswoman for the mayor's office said Emanuel "committed more than a year ago to replace any parkland occupied by the Obama Presidential Center and, as you would expect, we are going to meet that commitment." Friends said it hopes to work with the Obama Foundation, the city, University of Chicago leaders and the Chicago Park District to upgrade the park's facilities and preserve the historic nature of Jackson Park. "The design of the Obama library should maximize the use of available vacant land and underground space, and be truly 'park positive' by adding parkland to the surrounding community," Irizarry said. But Nesbitt seemed to interpret the decision not to file suit as a green light. Advertisement "We've chosen the site that we thought worked best for the entire South Side community," he said. "We're happy with it. It sounds like they are satisfied with it. I don't know that there's much more to discuss." kbergen@chicagotribune.com poconnell@chicagotribune.com A person walks along Stony Island Avenue at 60th Street, across from the future site for the Barack Obama Presidential Center. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) kskiba@chicagotribune.com Leone Schmidt helped found the Warrenville Historical Society and the Warrenville Historical Museum, and wrote six books on aspects of the city's history. Carolyn Wondrow, a friend, former president of the Warrenville Historical Society and former curator of the museum, said in a eulogy she wrote that Schmidt was always intrigued by the town's history. Advertisement "She hit a gold mine when she got in touch with Heloise Phifer, a direct descendant of the town's founder, Julius Warren," Wondrow said. The connection led to the first of Schmidt's six books. Schmidt, 97, died of heart disease July 8 in the Tabor Hills Community assisted living facility in Naperville, according to a friend, Diane Lord. Schmidt, who was close with Lord's parents and served as a surrogate aunt for Lord and her siblings, had lived in Warrenville since 1953. Advertisement She was born Leone Levendis on the South Side of Chicago. After graduating from high school, she attended the defunct Gregg College in Chicago, where she learned Gregg shorthand, a tool that served her well in her later note-taking for her books. Lord said Schmidt worked in Chicago for a time as an editor for a college fraternity publication. In 1953, she and her parents moved to Warrenville. Her parents were encouraged in the move by Lord's parents, Mildred and Edwin Douglas, and were seeking what Wondrow called "a quiet country life" but with easy access to Chicago via train. A couple of years later she met Albert Schmidt. The two were married for 43 years before his death in 2000. Her husband was in the gas station business, and in 1960 he opened his own shop, The Car Clinic, on Batavia Road. It was a family business; Schmidt helped her husband as receptionist, order writer, cashier, bookkeeper, advertising manager, parts runner and occasional chauffeur for the shop's customers. In the late 1960s, she started writing about Warrenville's history. Her first book, "Come Fly to the Prairie," was published in 1968 and reprinted in 2006. Her last book, "Warrenville Comes of Age An Historian's Memoir," was published in 2008. She also wrote several pamphlets on her work, the city and some of its citizens. Schmidt collected a number of honors for her work. According to the Warrenville website, she was named city historian in 1977 and was honored by the Illinois State Historical Society in 1991 as a "Friend of History." She also was the recipient of the first Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award, presented by the Illinois Humanities Council. In 2001, the City Council honored her by naming Warrenville's Hall of History, in City Hall, after her. Leone Schmidt Heritage Park, a city park, was named in her honor in 2006. Wondrow recalled persuading Schmidt, then in her 80s, to give up her electric typewriter for a computer to complete a book she was writing in 2004. "She never ceased to amaze me," Wondrow said in her remarks. Advertisement Schmidt leaves no immediate survivors. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Aug. 13 in St. Irene Church, 28W441 Warrenville Road, Warrenville. Mass will follow in the church at noon. Megan is a freelance reporter. Silence is not enough. Republicans who refused to attend the convention last month got a lot of praise for not falling in line behind a dangerous demagogue. But after Donald Trump's attacks on the Muslim-American parents of a fallen soldier, merely passing on attending this coronation is insufficient. As are the statements criticizing the nominee flowing out of Washington. How can you condemn Trump for his inhuman reaction to the parents of an American hero but still endorse him to be president? Advertisement There have been many example of Trump's unfitness for office, but his attacks on the parents of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2004, are a bridge beyond any other. He damned the soldier's father for speaking out at the Democratic National Convention and his bereaved mother for not speaking. Trump, who can't remember how he escaped the Vietnam draft, kept up the drumbeat through the weekend, and went so far as to say that being a real estate developer required sacrifices comparable to those made by Capt. Khan. On Monday morning, even though he'd had time to sleep on it, Trump tweeted, "Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same Nice!" This wasn't much different from his knee-jerk response earlier: "I was viciously attacked by Mr. Khan at the Democratic Convention. Am I not allowed to respond? Hillary voted for the Iraq war, not me!" Advertisement In a word, no, you are not allowed to respond, not if you are a sentient human being. Trump doesn't know the difference between going after the grieving parents of a war hero and mocking "Lyin' Ted Cruz." It was Trump's calls for Muslims to be banned from entering the U.S. that drove the Khans to the podium at the Democratic convention. Far from being unworthy to be here, they love their adopted country so much they gave their middle son, who, as his father Khizr Khan said, "never would have been in America" if Trump had his way. Khizr Khan, the father of a soldier killed in Iraq, speaks at the Democratic National Convention. The attacks and excuses continued throughout the day. The Trump campaign's national co-chairman Sam Clovis appeared on television to defend the candidate for "fighting back, this is normal. A lot of this is a dustup we see inside the Beltway and New York media circles." The "dustup" now involves two dozen Gold Star families. The continuing support for Trump from congressional leaders is mystifying in light of their objections to him. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wasn't expansive, but he did reject Trump's words, though he is still too timid to do so by name. "I agree with the Khans and families across the country that a travel ban on all members of a religion is simply contrary to American values." Speaker Paul Ryan was slightly more forceful: "Many Muslim Americans have served valiantly in our military, and made the ultimate sacrifice. Captain Khan was one such brave example. His sacrifice and that of Khizr and Ghazala Khan should always be honored. Period." We now know that there is no amount of defamation of other Americans that will move Republican leaders to call out Trump. Word has gone out that the standard-bearer should be criticized only when absolutely necessary to sleep at night, but by no means should the almost universal endorsement by the party's leaders be withdrawn. What happened with the Khans makes you wonder: What would Trump have to do to lose it? Maybe bragging about how well he knew and admired Vladimir Putin would do it, though he said Sunday that he didn't know him at all. Or that he claimed to know nothing about his campaign's efforts to change the party's platform on Ukraine to benefit Putin, his former good friend. Ryan conceded that Trump's comments were racist when the candidate suggested that federal judge Gonzalo Curiel's Mexican heritage made him too biased to fairly adjudicate the class action case against Trump University. Ryan then reiterated his support for a racist. You look for the spine in the party and see it in Sens. Lindsey Graham, Jeff Flake and Ben Sasse, as well as Gov. John Kasich but not in others. Not even in Sen. John McCain, in a difficult re-election race in Arizona. It's one thing to let pass Trump's defamation of him for having the bad luck to be held in confinement and tortured for five years, but what about the other prisoners of war who don't have a platform? On Monday, McCain issued a strong statement condemning Trump and advising him that the party's nomination is "not a license to defame the best among us." But he still didn't withdraw his support of the man he condemns. How can that be? Advertisement Trump has revealed a hollow soul many times, and this is just one more excruciating example. When Muslim-American parents rose to defend their son, he took it as an attack on him. Trump is the Republican leader who should have been silent. But he won't retreat in shame, even when he's stepped outside the bounds of decency. He can't stop himself, nor can his running mate Mike Pence, who tried to silence him Sunday night. "Donald Trump and I believe that Captain Humayun Khan is an American hero and his family, like all Gold Star families, should be cherished by every American." Pence must have misspoke. He's arm candy, not someone who can influence or improve Trump. The Khan attack is the latest proof that the excuse for supporting Trump that he will change and surround himself with stable, experienced people who will curb his instability isn't valid. It is never going to happen. Silence in the face of Trump's indecent behavior is itself indecent. Someday we will look back and ask how Trump got this far. Someday is now. Bloomberg View Margaret Carlson is a Bloomberg View columnist. Sen. Ted Cruz delivers a speech on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016, at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. (Alex Wong, Getty Images) Here we are again. After the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, decided that a speech given by the father of fallen soldier Capt. Humayun Khan amounted to a "vicious" attack, and after Trump described the delivery of this speech as possible evidence of the oppression of Muslim women; after a surrogate claimed that Khan's father is an agent of the Muslim Brotherhood (an Islamist political and social movement); and after Trump claimed that the dispute was not about the Khans but "radical Islam," Trump got the equivalent of a tsk-tsk from many a Republican official. Advertisement That's an unseemly attack on a Gold Star family, more than a few said. But my support for the Republican nominee well, that's unwavering, they seemed to also say. This is a cycle, by now familiar. Very few Republicans stand to emerge entirely unscathed. But it's starting to look like at least one 2020 contender may emerge ahead: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Advertisement Here's how the Trump controversy cycle plays out. First, Trump says something sometimes by his own initiative, sometimes in what he considers necessary pushback that heretofore has been considered out of bounds, an endorsement of some form of bigotry or an idea that is anti-democratic. Then, after a great and collective clutching of pearls, Trump and his surrogates defend those comments, sometimes expand on them. Finally, Republican party officials and elected office-holders indicate that while the comments were out of bounds and not representative of the party, they will, however, support Trump, the party's presidential nominee. It happened after Trump's announcement speech declaring undocumented Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals who are part of a larger Mexican government conspiracy to rid that country of its dregs. It happened after Trump declared Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., damaged and less than heroic goods because he spent time as a prisoner of war. It happened when Trump implied that a reporter questioned him pointedly during a debate due to hormonal and demeanor fluctuations caused by that reporter's menstrual cycle. It happened when Trump called for a temporary ban on all Muslim immigration (the impetus for Khan's speech) and when Trump dragged his feet in disavowing the support of one of the Ku Klux Klan's most well-known members, now a Senate candidate who has said he plans to ride Trump's political wave. It happened when Trump said a federal judge of Mexican American origin could not do his job due to his heritage. After each of those incidents, prominent Republicans stepped forward to express their disappointment but continued support. Sometimes that support was directed at a Republican nominee they did not mention by name but whom they committed to nonetheless. Some declined to show up to the party's convention but have made no public comments about their voting plans. One tried to split the difference and "attended" the convention via videotaped address. Many, many Republicans have condemned Trump's many comments but also remained steadfast in their presidential endorsement, including McCain. McCain's decision is noteworthy because he is a former POW and the father of young men who have served in this country's wars. He issued a statement with a searing rebuke of Trump's attack on Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the grieving parents of Capt. Khan. And he is a Republican in the middle of a heck of a re-election fight. Is that why his Trump presidential endorsement still stands? If so, McCain is not alone. Few prominent Republicans have gone as far as Cruz, who showed up at the GOP convention and said afterward in a televised speech that he could not support Trump's presidential bid. Cruz pretty much stands alone as a Republican who came to Cleveland, and within the same week said that the nominee's regular turn to personal and group aspersions, references to conspiracy theories and actual untrue non-facts make Trump a man whom he cannot and will not endorse or defend. Advertisement Ted Cruz was booed off stage during the Republican National Convention's third night on July 20 2016. (Los Angeles Times) Republican party operatives and officials live in a no-doubt difficult moment. With each passing day of the still-young general election season, they face moments in which they must choose between party and principles. Some may be genuinely troubled but have kept silent out of the hope and belief that a President Trump would nominate conservative Supreme Court justices who will shape the country for the next 30 or more years. Some have said little or tried to condemn the comments without condemning Trump's candidacy in hopes that Republicans and swing voters will still show up and vote for or against Trump, but certainly for all the Republicans further down the ballot. Some might be genuinely appalled by the Democratic candidate. Still, a look just at the ranks of Trump's one-time competition in the 2016 Republican primary race reveals this: Cruz stands almost alone as a once and future presidential hopeful in his clear rejection of Trump. And it's a rejection that came just before Trump laid into Khizr and Ghazala Khan, for behavior beyond the pale of acceptable politics. Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich declined to attend the party's July convention, even though the event was held in his state. He has said he is unlikely to vote for Trump. Former Republican Florida Gov. Jeb Bush also did not attend said convention and has said that he will not vote for Trump, and issued a tweet describing Trump's statements about the Khans as "incredibly disrespectful." Neither of them ventured onto the convention floor. Meanwhile, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has described Trump as a candidate he supports but who needs to work on his outreach to minority voters. Carson went to the convention and joined New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in delivering a speech condemning Trump's rival, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, in terms the two men seemed to hope would remain with voters longer than anything Trump has said. According to Carson, Clinton may have a close personal relationship with Lucifer. And according to Christie, she is guilty of many crimes and near-crimes. Sen. Lindsey Graham also stayed away from the convention and has said he won't vote for Trump or Clinton but seems unlikely to mount a repeat presidential bid. Former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee have said they will back Trump, and have been critical of Republicans who won't. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry is in this camp, too, despite having been one of the first 2016 candidates to describe Trump and his commentary as not befitting a president. Advertisement That's not exactly a collective profile in 2016 candidate courage. Beyond those who ran for president this year, there are possible 2020 contenders, such as House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has often led the "Trump does not speak for our party" clean-up crew. He has condemned Trump's comments on several occasions, then followed with general expressions of support for the Republican nominee. A number of current and former members of Congress, party operatives and advisers have done basically the same. TheAtlantic.com made a list. But the long lens of history delivers pictures far different from those visible in this moment. In them, party concerns and long-term career goals rarely generate the kind of flattering portraits that conflicts shaped by principle tend to do. Translation: When books about the 2016 race are written, Cruz not Ryan or Sen. Marco Rubio is shaping up as the one most likely to emerge looking like something of the hero. The man many a GOP critic described as a self-serving malcontent in July may be just that. But with time and space, Cruz won't just be a man who delivered a speech that put him in the camp of those who would not back Trump. He will be the man who showed up in Cleveland and stood his ground in front of Trump himself. There may be a few fellow Republicans wishing they'd done the same. Washington Post Janell Ross writes about social and political issues. "I'm just not ready to do that at this point," House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said May 5 about Donald Trump. Four weeks later, he was "ready," publicly backing his party's nominee on June 2 and speaking for him at the Republican convention late last month. But as Trump's controversies piled up, many of them his racist attack on the judge in a lawsuit over Trump University, his sparing with the parents of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq, etc. led to Ryan criticizing the man he'd endorsed. Apparently it's been too many criticisms, by Trump's count: On Tuesday, asked if he endorsed Ryan in his primary race, Trump threw Ryan's initial hesitation back in his face, saying, "I'm just not quite there yet." Trump also refused to endorse Sen. John McCain in his primary the same John McCain whose Vietnam heroism Trump had derided leading many to wonder whether Ryan and McCain would take back their endorsements. As of Tuesday night, Ryan and McCain aren't the only ones who bear watching. The New York Times reports, "Republicans now say Mr. Trump's obstinacy in addressing perhaps the gravest crisis of his campaign may trigger drastic defections within the party, and Republican lawmakers and strategists have begun to entertain abandoning him en masse." Ryan, McCain and others can try to save face by retracting their backing. But in a few hours on Tuesday, what thin cover Republicans had for backtracking on Trump endorsements was stripped away. First, in a news conference, President Barack Obama explicitly urged Republican leaders to reconsider their support for Trump: "And the question I think that [GOP leaders] have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him? What does this say about your party that this is your standard-bearer? This isn't a situation where you have an episodic gaffe. This is daily, and weekly, where they are distancing themselves from statements he's making. There has to be a point in which you say, this is not somebody I can support for President of the United States." Obama's attack was right on the merits, but it also changed the political calculus for Republicans considering backing away from Trump. Changing the issue from "supporting Trump" to "agreeing with Obama" turns what might have been relatively harmless with GOP voters who backed Cruz or other Trump rivals into a real risk. Obama probably knew that his call to desert Trump would make it harder for GOP leaders to do that; he understands better than anyone just how knee-jerk GOP opposition has been. No doubt he is enjoying using it against them. More important, though, the question for all the Republicans who withdraw their support now is: Party disloyalty is what changed your mind? Not smearing the parents of a soldier who gave his life for his country? Not asking Russia to interfere in a U.S. election? Not hesitating to disavow the Ku Klux Klan? Refusing to back a congressional candidate was a more heinous offense to your conscience than all these outrages and many more? There will be some who will wait for the next outrageous statement and use that as an excuse, but the questions still remain: Why did you not quit before? Why did you endorse him in the first place? The fact is that anyone with a modicum of sense knew long ago that Donald Trump was a walking outrage. There was never any doubt that he would continue to offend millions of Americans, to display breathtaking ignorance of the Constitution and to appeal time and again to the basest instincts of Americans. Republican leaders cannot claim ignorance of his true nature. No doubt in the coming weeks and months there will be Republicans who had previously endorsed Trump who will scramble to back away from him. (This is to say nothing of the even larger number of GOPers who will claim after Trump loses in November that they never supported him.) But they already took the risk that a policy ignoramus fond of authoritarian and racist dogwhistles would somehow magically reform. Now they have to face the consequences. Workers unload signature petitions out of a truck at the Illinois State Board of Election office in Springfield, Ill., on May 6, 2016. (Seth Perlman / AP) Polls show that many Americans are dissatisfied with their choices for president this November. But at least they have a choice. Not so for many in Illinois who will be voting for their state representative or senator. Only 63 of those 158 races have more than one candidate on the ballot. That means 60 percent of our state's legislative races offer voters no choice at all. Advertisement This is more reminiscent of elections in the Soviet Union than in the world's oldest democracy. How did this happen? It's the predictable result of a system in which politicians pick their voters rather than the voters picking their politicians. Advertisement Illinois legislators draw their own district lines every 10 years after each federal census. As a result, many districts are strongly Republican or Democratic, leading to fewer contested races. And because the maps protect deeply entrenched incumbents, the number of contested primary races is even worse. As legislators, we believe that competition is good for democracy. Voters deserve to hear different ideas for addressing our state's greatest challenges. And legislators benefit when they have to regularly present their plans and defend their records. It's what democracy is all about. We know competition is good for consumers in other aspects of American life. It has brought us progress in fields from communications to cars to computers. So why should our elections be exempt? The answer to this dilemma is clear: take control of the legislative map-making process out of the hands of self-interested politicians and give it to an independent commission consisting of a diverse group of citizens from throughout the state. Unsurprisingly, efforts to pass such an amendment have been blocked in Springfield. But there's another way: putting an amendment on the ballot through a citizens' petition. And, in fact, hundreds of thousands of Illinois voters signed petitions this year to do that very thing. You may have heard about this Independent Map Amendment. Perhaps you saw volunteers collecting petition signatures to put it on the ballot or you've seen TV commercials. Or perhaps you read about a lawsuit that is attempting to keep the amendment off the November ballot a lawsuit filed by forces that want to deny a vote and protect the status quo. That lawsuit is now before the Illinois Supreme Court. We believe the court should give voters a chance to decide. Through opinion polls and petition drives, the people of Illinois have supported this amendment in overwhelming numbers. The court should uphold the democratic rights of Illinoisans and allow a vote this November on whether a new redistricting system should become part of our state Constitution. Democracy demands that voters be given a choice in their representation. Our redistricting system in Illinois denies millions of voters that basic right. Advertisement Illinois Sens. Pam Althoff, of McHenry, and Karen McConnaughay, of St. Charles, are Republicans; Sens. Heather Steans, of Chicago, and Laura Murphy, of Des Plaines, are Democrats. In early July 1865, the military prison outside Washington, D.C., was on edge. The sound of gallows being built echoed throughout the walled courtyard, and inmates listened as saws cut through wooden planks and hammers pounded nails into place. Wood panels repeatedly swung open and closed as prison officials tested the trapdoors. Within a few hours, four prisoners would emerge from their darkened cells and climb the stairs to the platform. Each was sentenced to death, convicted of being an accomplice in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Advertisement Among them was Mary Surratt, the only woman convicted in the case and the first woman to be executed by the United States. Surratt was a widow in her early 40s who owned the Washington boardinghouse where Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, was a frequent guest. The other accomplices were either tenants or occasional visitors to Surratt's home. Advertisement On July 8, 1865, the front page of the Tribune carried news of the executions in its "News By Telegraph" column: "The assassination tragedy has at length come to a close. The curtain has fallen upon the lifeless forms of four of its actors." The historic military tribunal had been covered relentlessly by the Tribune, along with other major newspapers and wire services even though reporter access to the courtroom was restricted and unpredictable. A Tribune reporter with one of the few courtroom passes at the start of the tribunal in May 1865 described Surratt, who sat on a "prisoner's platform": "This miserable creature is looking stronger and apparently more reconciled." In the same dispatch, the reporter described a judge-ordered trip to the Ford Theater, where Lincoln had been shot. "Everything remained undisturbed inside the building, just as it was at the time of the assassination, except the chair in which Mr. Lincoln sat when he was shot has been taken away." Tribunal testimony eventually confirmed that Surratt was a willing accomplice. The Tribune reported how Surratt arranged for guns and ammunition to be hidden in a tavern she owned in Maryland. After Lincoln was shot, Booth and an accomplice rode to the tavern to collect the "shooting irons." Surratt, who kept her face covered for most of the tribunal with a black veil, was a national curiosity. She was a staunch Confederate and held close ties with the men accused of plotting to kill Lincoln and Secretary of State William H. Seward, who survived an attempt on his life. For almost a month, the Tribune editors brought coverage of the tribunal and its many witnesses. Louis Weichmann, a tenant of her D.C. boardinghouse, provided details of the comings and goings of the men accused of conspiracy, including Samuel Arnold, George Atzerodt, David Herold, Samuel Mudd, Michael O'Laughlen and Ed Spangler. Surratt's son, John, also was accused but had escaped into Canada. Another conspirator, Lewis Paine, was charged with the attack on Seward. (Paine later revealed his name was actually Powell). Through wire dispatches and Tribune reporters at the tribunal, readers learned how Surratt supplied the "shooting irons," a letter and a package for Booth as well as a safe house in which to plot the assassination. Advertisement An Army major, the Tribune reported, testified about Surratt's arrest: "Mrs. Surratt did not even ask for what she was arrested. She expressed no surprise or feeling at all." At the end of the tribunal, four of the alleged accomplices were convicted and sentenced to hang Atzerodt, Herold, Paine and Surratt. Only one week separated the sentencing and the execution. On the morning of the execution, select reporters entered the military prison and watched as officials completed the gallows construction and tested the four trapdoors. Inside, reporters noted how each condemned inmate slept and whether breakfast was rejected. Surratt was said to have slept fitfully and refused her breakfast. Her daughter visited early in the morning, and the Tribune relayed the dramatic moment: "The meeting of the criminal mother and sorrow-stricken daughter was most heart-rending." Few details were spared. Readers received a play-by-play account of how the four accomplices were walked up the gallows, as well as the prayers and statements made before the trapdoors swung open. After the execution, public outcry claimed Surratt was an innocent victim. Tribune editors disagreed and ran an editorial admonishing critics for trying to make her a martyr. It pointed to the compelling evidence against Surratt and lamented that her son, the other part of what it dubbed an "ill-omened pair," was still missing. Her son, Tribune editors hoped, would soon be captured and tried: "One of them has been hanged, and the other will be hanged when he gets his desserts." Advertisement In the following decades, emotions surrounding Lincoln's assassination cooled, and historians have reconsidered Surratt's guilt. For a time, it was accepted that Surratt was a tragic victim who happened to own the boardinghouse where the accomplices convened. The case influenced the justice system. Capital punishment against women plummeted in the decades following Surratt's execution. Historians continue to argue Surratt's involvement, and some now go even further by suggesting that Surratt wasn't just an accomplice, but that she was the mastermind. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi is the author of the forthcoming book "Ugly Prey: An Innocent Woman and the Death Sentence that Scandalized Jazz Age Chicago" (Chicago Review Press, 2017). Sally Kohn and Ben Shapiro seen at Politicon 2016 at The Pasadena Convention Center on Sunday, June 26, 2016, in Pasadena, Calif. Shapiro was blocked from speaking at DePaul University. (Colin Young-Wolff / AP) DePaul University is struggling to process the idea that a college campus is a place to explore ideas, including controversial or disagreeable ones. The school has to figure out quickly whether to embrace the words of its president, the Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, who staked out a pro-free speech position in May. He described the gold standard for dealing with expression on campus: "Universities welcome speakers, give their ideas a respectful hearing, and then respond with additional speech countering the ideas." Advertisement Simple, right? At the time, Holtschneider said he was ashamed for DePaul at the chaotic scene that erupted when a conservative student group, College Republicans, brought a lightning-rod speaker to the Chicago campus. The guest, trash-talking British journalist Milo Yiannopoulos, was shouted down by some audience members, one of whom stormed the stage and grabbed the microphone from the moderator. The incident compelled Holtschneider, who steps down in 2017, to write a campuswide email in which he apologized to College Republicans for having the group's speaker interrupted. Administrators and students, he said, "have some reflecting" to do about how to deal with appearances by divisive figures. Every action has a reaction, though, so a few days later Holtschneider apologized, again this time to aggrieved students for "the harm that was unleashed by a speaker whose intent was to ignite racial tensions and demean those most marginalized, both in our society and at DePaul." Advertisement This free-speech stuff, it's tricky. It's August now and the new school year soon will start. It's also a very noisy election year. Not surprisingly, politically active kids on campus want to stay engaged, and some may wish to test the school's resolve. So DePaul College Republicans and a second conservative group, DePaul Young Americans for Freedom, made requests: to bring back Yiannopoulos and to invite another contentious guest to campus, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro. The university rejected both requests, citing security issues. Granted, Yiannopoulos, tech editor at Breitbart.com, is many people's idea of a mean clown. He was banned by Twitter in July for abusing others and says things such as "feminism is cancer." Shapiro, editor of the Daily Wire, required a police escort at California State University at Los Angeles to give a presentation called "When Diversity Becomes a Problem." Furious students tried to block his appearance. Someone pulled a fire alarm, according to the student newspaper. It sounds like a messy scene. As the alarm blared, Shapiro lit into his audience: "In America in 2016, you have to use the back door if you want to participate in free speech; you get to block the front door if you're a member of the left." With conservatives and liberals at odds throughout the country, race issues flaring and Trump battling Clinton, you can glean why DePaul wants to call a timeout on bringing professional provocateurs to campus. The school is studying the question of how to balance the need to protect free expression against its obligation to keep order, but seems inclined to chew over the question. And chew over it some more, running out the clock on the 2016 election. "As the nation is struggling with how to have a civil discourse, so are universities, so is DePaul," the university told us in a statement. Our problem with DePaul moving slowly and cautiously a predilection in academia is that a basic component of free expression is the timing: Shutting someone up for a day or a month or a year until everyone's ducks are in a row is a form of censorship. It tampers with the ability of a speaker to be relevant. Political campaigns, social movements, the news flow and the commentators who riff on it they all operate on a clock that won't stop while DePaul convenes meetings and studies initiatives and ponders what to do. DePaul, as a private Catholic university, can set its own rules on speaker invitations. But if it takes its role seriously as a place of learning and discourse, it should commit to respecting free expression not with lip service, but with courage that becomes routine. That means making plans to bring Yiannopoulos and Shapiro to campus this fall. There are ways to manage appearances by flamethrowers, starting with controlling who attends. Most of those at the Yiannopoulos event were not DePaul students. A DePaul-community-only audience would be easier to manage. Advertisement Events such as these will be hard for some students to stomach because the goal of a provocative speaker is to goad. That's OK. Let the kids in the audience feel some discomfort. Let them retort too. And let them learn an important lesson about democracy: All speech deserves protection, even or rather, especially the stuff they find repugnant. Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook. Confining breeding sows in tight crates is among the long-standing farm practices that are exempted from animal cruelty laws in Illinois. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Weeks after taking a job as a breeding technician at Eagle Point Farms, an anguished Sharee Santorineos sat down and wrote a three-page whistleblower complaint. "I seen pigs that are pregnant beat with steel bars," said her letter to the Illinois Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare. "I seen them kicked all over their body." Advertisement Santorineos knows about raising animals. At a friend's rural Illinois farmhouse, she grows pigs and poultry that they eventually will have slaughtered. Still, what she saw at the western Illinois confinement appalled her, and she hoped her December 2015 letter would prompt a thorough state investigation. Advertisement Instead, like other worker allegations about animal abuse in Illinois' 900-plus hog confinement facilities, Santorineos' account went nowhere. After Eagle Point executives gave a state bureau inspector a guided tour of the 6,000-pig operation, he wrote a single-page report. "I did not observe anyone mistreating the animals," it said. "No violations found. Docket is closed." The state has regularly discounted or dismissed such worker complaints, a Tribune investigation has found. In the Illinois hog confinements that send 12 million pigs to market annually, the bureau did not find a single animal welfare infraction or violation during the past five years, the Tribune found in reviewing thousands of pages of bureau records. A lack of inspectors the bureau has just six contributes to the scant enforcement, while weak Illinois and federal livestock protection laws do little to safeguard animals. Sharee Santorineos discusses her experience working at Eagle Point Farms and the allegations of abuse that she filed. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) Questions about how the pigs, cows and poultry we eat are treated what the animals are fed, how they are medicated and how they live and die are putting new pressures on a U.S. livestock industry that until recently has focused almost exclusively on productivity and profit. Animal rights activists have lifted the welfare of livestock into the public consciousness by taking jobs in hog confinements and secretly recording pigs being pummeled, dragged with hooks and pinned for life in crates. But Illinois law makes it a potential felony to record a conversation without the consent of all parties, and no undercover stings have emerged from the state. Using worker compensation claims, court records and animal abuse reports filed with the state Agriculture Department, Tribune reporters for the first time pieced together a disturbing portrait of abusive treatment in pig confinements here amid lax scrutiny from the state. Advertisement In on-the-record interviews, Santorineos and more than a dozen other Illinois swine-confinement workers told the Tribune they witnessed fellow employees whip pigs with metal rods and gouge them with pliers and ballpoint pens to hurry the animals from one stall to the next or onto the trucks that took them to slaughter. They described employees abusing pigs for amusement and encouraging colleagues to take out their frustrations on the animals. Worker accounts of cruelty and torture arose in hog confinements across the state run by market-leading firms. Some workers said their supervisors meted out punishment to speed up lame or unwilling pigs. "He'd kick them," said Kelley Shannon, a former employee of a Professional Swine Management confinement in western Illinois. "I'm talking, full-bore kick. Bloody its nose and punch a pig so hard it damn near popped its eye out." Piglets fill a truck as they're shipped from a large breeding facility to an Illinois hog confinement operation to be grown for market. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Pork industry representatives and Professional Swine executives told the Tribune they do not tolerate mistreatment and increasingly are taking proactive steps, including internal hotlines for workers to report problems. Facility operators also cautioned that former workers can be biased. They are likely to embellish, industry representatives said, because they are angry at their bosses, upset about their experiences or simply trying to impress journalists. Advertisement When the state receives an allegation of abuse, it is the job of an obscure and understaffed bureau in the Illinois Department of Agriculture to investigate. The six inspectors in the Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare, down from 12 in 2005, must handle complaints about not just the mistreatment of livestock but also dead goldfish in dirty pet store tanks, dogs in kennel cages and filth in petting zoos. The number of animal welfare violations the bureau issued across all of these settings fell from 200 in 2005 to 29 last year, while referrals for prosecution dropped during that period from 22 per year to just one, state records show. When the bureau fielded a 2013 whistleblower allegation that employees were hitting pigs with metal bars at the Win Production LLC hog confinement in Scott County, a state inspector's investigation consisted largely of a few phone calls. In his report, he wrote that he spoke with a facility manager whose name was listed only as "Betty" and an owner "whose name eludes me at this time." In that phone call, facility executives denied the allegation. The veterinarian at the facility, Alan Wildt, sent the inspector a short email stating he had visited the farm monthly for years and had "never witnessed any production practices that could be considered abusive." On the basis of that email and the phone calls, the inspector reported: "There is no proof the (abuse) claim can be verified so the docket is closed." Advertisement Illinois state veterinarian Mark Ernst, who oversees the animal welfare bureau, said his inspectors do not have police powers and typically do not question fellow workers who might corroborate a whistleblower's account. "Our investigations are handled a little differently than what you would think of as a criminal investigation," Ernst said. "The primary goal is to try and get compliance and to educate those people so they don't make the same mistake." A lot of pressure Smart, strong-willed and muscular, pigs can be frustrating to handle even when raised on pastures or small family farms. Still, Illinois' massive, modern-day confinements create new pressures that contribute to animal abuse. Pig handlers deal with hundreds or thousands of animals at a time. Animals bred for their lean meat can be aggressive and resistant to handling, and some facilities use feed additives that promote hog growth but also can stimulate hyperactivity and belligerent behavior. For immigrant workers, a language barrier can impede communication about acceptable handling practices. "A lot of things have come together that put workers and animals under a lot of pressure," said Emily Patterson-Kane, a top animal welfare scientist with the American Veterinary Medical Association and a former "pigger" in Scotland. Advertisement Some workers told the Tribune their colleagues often abused pigs when hustling the animals from pen to pen or onto slaughter trucks. Hog confinement workers are trained to walk behind groups of animals, usually shaking "rattle paddles" to make a sharp noise that repels pigs. But the leader can't be guided that way if workers are trying to move more than a handful of pigs, meat industry consultant Temple Grandin told the Tribune. "The No. 1 mistake that people make is trying to move too many market pigs at a time," said Grandin, a professor at Colorado State University. In those situations, workers said, it becomes tempting to abuse the pigs to make them move. Terry Clement, a former employee at a downstate Christensen Farms facility, said young female pigs, called gilts, would often freeze as they were moved into the area where they were to be isolated in metal cages known as gestation crates. "I've seen a lot of guys beat on the gilts," Clement said. "I've seen their backs. Big long scratches that bleed." He added: "I seen pregnant sows being beat on with the rattle paddles. I've seen them scratched on the back with pens. We had fiberglass sort boards you'd catch them hitting the hogs with those." Advertisement When a supervisor walked the floor, "you had to go by the book," Clement said. "But when he wasn't there, everybody just wanted to hurry up and go home." Christensen Farms CEO Glenn Stolt did not challenge the Tribune accounts of abuse from Clement or other former company workers, calling them "troubling," but said his firm has significantly strengthened its protections for the animals by bolstering training, implementing an anonymous employee hotline and conducting unannounced audits. In a costly pilot program, the company in May installed video monitors inside one facility. With 113 workers in its Illinois hog confinements, Christensen Farms last year had nine internal reports of animal abuse across the state, company officials said. The company deemed two instances to be "willful" and terminated both employees. One admitted kicking a sow, and the other let baby piglets go hungry rather than train a new employee how to feed them. "My expectation is that it's zero, and that's the expectation we communicate all the time," Stolt said. "There is no place for any animal abuse." Ernst, the state veterinarian, said he couldn't estimate how often pigs are abused in Illinois confinements. "You've got to keep in mind, any good producer, this is their livelihood. It's how they feed their families and put their kids through school. And obviously if they don't have healthy and happy animals, it's going to be very difficult for them to make a living. The very good ones, I think they're right on top of it, and like anything else, you also have the other end of the spectrum." Advertisement Still, some executives told the Tribune they rarely enter their facilities, leaving to line workers the difficult job of handling the pigs day to day. Facilities often pay little more than minimum wage and use the agricultural exemption from overtime laws. Confinement workers described bruising attacks from frantic pigs, as well as headaches and persistent respiratory ailments caused by animal dander and gases from the waste storage pits below. "I wouldn't recommend anyone to do that job," said Jacob Allen, whose eight-month term at a southern Illinois facility run by The Maschhoffs LLC ended when a charging 250-pound pig shoved him into a gate, according to Allen's claim with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission and a Tribune interview. But in his economically challenged part of the state, Allen said, "there's not much else, so you take what you can get." The pigs got beat up so bad they don't move. Former pig farm worker Raymond Hamilton Grandin, who has worked in the field for decades, recalled how commonplace abuse was in "the bad old days of the '80s and early '90s." Back then, Grandin estimated, "20 percent of the people did a good job of handling pigs." Advertisement Today that percentage is much higher, she said. But when facilities are understaffed or employees have to perform repetitive tasks for hours such as vaccinating, impregnating, castrating or moving hundreds of pigs "workers get tired, they get frustrated and impatient. It's very difficult to care," she said. "I've been around for a long time and there's some people that they enjoy hurting animals and they should not be there." 'We hit 'em hard' Even at facilities run by a company that champions animal welfare, the Tribune found allegations of mistreatment. The Maschhoffs, the nation's third-largest pork producer, was one of the first large companies to create a top-level animal welfare division eight years ago, and workers said their barn bosses did not tolerate mistreatment. "Maschhoffs wouldn't even let you use a clothespin (to prod a pig). They'd fire you on the spot," said Randall Hall, who worked until 2012 at one company complex. Advertisement But when supervisors weren't around, "workers beat the pigs with paddles, with hoses, boards and metal rods," said Raymond Hamilton, who worked until last year at a facility in downstate Carlyle. "The pigs got beat up so bad they don't move," Hamilton said. When a pig buckled under that kind of abuse, employees euthanized the animal with a shot between the eyes from a livestock bolt gun, workers said. "I've seen one guy actually shoot one because he done stressed it out too bad. He's like, 'Oh we got to kill this,'" said former Maschhoffs worker Joshua Owens. "Some of the employees, it was fun to them to be mean to an animal," Owens said. "When the bigwigs came, they straightened up." Maschhoffs President Bradley Wolter said he was outraged to hear allegations of abuse from a Tribune reporter. Advertisement "I am just appalled by it. It goes against everything I believe in and we believe in as a company," Wolter said. "We're in the practice of pig production and there is a nobility to it. These animals trust us to take care of them. We don't think there is anybody else on the planet that cares more about these animals than we do." Wolter said employees make about 70 to 100 calls per year to the company's internal animal abuse hotline, and since 2015 Maschhoffs has terminated seven of its 1,300 workers nationwide after finding evidence of abuse, neglect or mistreatment of a pig. The firm recently alerted government authorities to an abuse allegation at one facility that is not in Illinois, Wolter said, although he provided no further details. "Do I believe we have individuals that lose their temper and harm an animal? The data says it happens. We've terminated those people. It disgusts me," Wolter said. Michael Cavins, shown at his home in Clinton County, Ill., said that when he worked for pork producer The Maschhoffs, he witnessed co-workers abuse pigs to get them to move and he soon took part in the violence. He acknowledged being fired after the company found evidence of abuse, neglect or mistreatment of a pig. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) One Illinois worker discharged by Maschhoffs, Michael Cavins, told the Tribune he frequently witnessed co-workers abuse pigs to get them to move and soon took part in the violence. "Yes, that happened. We hit 'em hard with the paddles to get 'em to move," Cavins said. "That was one of the reasons I was discharged." Cavins told the Tribune he had worked with pigs for more than a decade and Maschhoffs had retrained him on how to move animals without harming them. Yet he joined other workers who aggressively moved the sows, until a supervisor spotted him. Advertisement "I wish I'd went by the book and not even done it," Cavins said. "I just hit 'em too hard. It's going on all the time; they're constantly being hit when the supervisors aren't around." 'It doesn't look pretty' Deliberate torture of farm animals can be a crime in Illinois, but only veterinarians are mandated to report it not facility workers, supervisors or operators. Many Illinois confinement veterinarians visit the facilities only once or twice a month, and none has reported abuse in the facilities since 2011, the Tribune found. No companies have reported incidents to the state bureau during that time. Illinois also is among the 38 states where long-standing farm practices are exempted from animal cruelty laws. These include castrating piglets and clipping their tails, teeth and ears without pain relief, as well as confining breeding sows in tight gestation and farrowing crates. "Normal husbandry practices means anything farmers have done in the past, even if they are extremely cruel," said Joan Schaffner, a George Washington University Law School associate professor. "If you were to do the same thing to your dog or cat, it would clearly be criminal." Another example of practices that livestock handlers accept but consumers find deeply disturbing is the way piglets are euthanized. Advertisement A young pig in a hog confinement operation walks across a slotted floor. The movement of pigs across their pen pushes their waste through the slots into a storage pit below. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Breeding facilities like Eagle Point cull deformed and underweight piglets because high-speed slaughterhouses require uniformity in animal weight and size, so that their processing machines and line workers can quickly make repetitive motions that pull the carcasses apart. Illinois confinement workers often are trained to euthanize the runts and sick animals by grabbing their back legs and smashing the animals' heads into the concrete floor or metal crates. If done correctly, veterinary experts say, this head blow destroys a piglet's brain and causes no pain. State veterinarian Ernst said of the practice: "It doesn't look pretty, but it is instantaneous and humane." Ernst added that the head smashing can be emotionally difficult for workers who took jobs in livestock confinements because they wanted to care for animals. "That is a challenge, getting people trained up to do these duties." It was certainly a problem for Santorineos, who refused to kill pigs and recoiled at the actions of her co-workers. Some workers who failed at killing a piglet on the first try would frequently toss it aside and leave it to die, she and other Illinois confinement employees told the Tribune. The workers also described stressed colleagues whipping piglets against the floor out of anger and frustration. Advertisement Santorineos told the Tribune that the youngest Eagle Point workers would bet on how many hits it would take to put out a piglet. Sharee Santorineos visits one of her pigs at a friends farm in Fulton County, Ill., where she is raising livestock for slaughter. Santorineos, who worked for a hog confinement operation, said she informed her workplace of abuse of pigs and then sent a whistleblower letter to the state after she was fired for wearing street clothes in a restricted area. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) The American Veterinary Medical Association says "blunt force trauma" can be a merciful way to kill piglets less than 3 weeks old. But the association's most recent guidelines recommend that producers consider alternatives ranging from a bolt gun to small carbon dioxide chambers, electrocution and barbiturate overdose supervised by a veterinarian. Some companies are already making changes. Starting in September, Maschhoffs will exclusively use carbon dioxide chambers to euthanize piglets, company officials said. And U.S. pork retailer Tyson now discourages the head-smashing technique. The company in 2014 issued a letter telling pig suppliers the practice "had been historically acceptable" but did not meet the expectations of consumers. Bill Hollis, a partner with Professional Swine Management, the Carthage, Ill.-based company that manages Eagle Point and 26 other confinements in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, said he was unaware of the Tyson advisory. Santorineos said she was threatened with termination for refusing to euthanize piglets at Eagle Point and then fired for wearing street clothes in a restricted area. Days later, she filed her abuse allegations with the state. Advertisement While she was employed she sent notes to her confinement supervisor detailing injuries to pigs, but nothing came of it, she said. "The farm boss ... told me not to worry about it," Santorineos wrote in her complaint to the state. "The sows get beat when they are trying to move them from the big barn to the farrowing room," she told the Tribune. "Their legs give out. They walk real slow. (Workers) take the rods that hold the cages closed and beat 'em and kick 'em." Regarding Santorineos' allegations, Hollis said he concluded that "there was no animal abuse or mistreatment." Still, the firm held a retraining session for Eagle Point employees. Professional Swine is managed by veterinarians but does not contact the state bureau when abuse allegations surface, company officials said. Instead it conducts internal investigations. The firm says it has dismissed four employees so far this year for mistreatment and animal welfare infractions at its facilities. At Tyson's behest, Eagle Point went through a scheduled, four-hour-long animal welfare audit in July 2015. The third-party inspection reported "no willful acts of abuse observed" on that morning. A former co-worker of Santorineos', Beverly Hopping, told the Tribune that she also complained fruitlessly to her supervisor about animal abuse. "They did nothing about it. I went to them many times," Hopping said. Advertisement "There was a guy who was really mean to the hogs," she said. "He would leave deep scrapes on them. Some of them would be bleeding." When piglets had a rupture following a botched castration, "they just take them by the back legs and smash them on the ground," Hopping said. "Sometimes they wouldn't die immediately. They kept kicking and twitching. They told us that is part of our jobs. Some people there would do it just for spite." Eagle Point fired Hopping in January. Santorineos said some workers also tormented the animals by sticking vaccination needles in an eye or into their spines, making them shudder convulsively. "They would laugh about how long they would shake." Patterson-Kane said she believes few confinement workers take pleasure in inflicting pain. "A really tiny proportion might be sadists, but workers don't get up in the morning and say, 'I'd like to beat me some pigs,'" Patterson-Kane said. "Somehow they've gotten frustrated. They are trying to meet a performance standard and get something done, and they don't see another way to do it. That's a failure of the system." Advertisement dyjackson@chicagotribune.com Twitter @Poolcar4 gmarx@chicagotribune.com Twitter @garyjmarx For years, pork producers have been opening immense hog confinements in Illinois despite the objections of local residents and public officials concerned the operations would destroy their way of life. Then, in McDonough County, one official found a new way to fight a powerful company that wanted to build an 18,000-hog breeding facility. Advertisement His tactic worked for a short while at least. "It was brutal," said Bill Callahan, roads commissioner for Blandinsville Township. "They are playing hardball." Advertisement A retired hog and crop farmer, Callahan, 76, was facing off against Professional Swine Management, a Carthage, Ill.-based breeding firm that manages 27 hog operations with more than 120,000 sows in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. State officials have accused Professional Swine of environmental violations at 10 of the hog confinements it manages in southwestern Illinois, and it has been sued by the state attorney general and neighboring farm families over sickening air emissions. But the company has denied those allegations and repeatedly succeeded in siting new facilities. In May 2012, the state Department of Agriculture approved a Professional Swine hog-breeding facility called South Morgan Acres near Blandinsville in western Illinois. Among other concerns, neighbors worried that the company's trucks would tear up local roads as they moved feed and hogs. Callahan estimated it would cost $48,000 to $60,000 to rebuild a key stretch of nearby road. Ten days after the state approved the building permit, Blandinsville Township imposed a 20-ton weight limit on 3 miles of nearby road, blocking the large trucks needed for construction and to operate the facility. South Morgan Acres sued Callahan and the township, claiming it lost estimated profits of $10,000 for each day pigs were not on the premises suggesting the facility might generate profits of $3.65 million per year. But months later, the facility let its lawsuit against Callahan fall dormant and moved about 8 miles west to a small village in neighboring Hancock County, building its operation there, records show. Then last year, state Sen. John Sullivan who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee sponsored a bill that restricts the ability of local road commissioners to reduce weight limits and close roads. The bill became law in January. Advertisement Sullivan told the Tribune that the Illinois Farm Bureau asked him to sponsor the bill and that there was at least one other instance when a road commissioner imposed a weight limit to thwart a livestock facility. Sullivan said the new law prevents those officials from acting unilaterally. After the South Morgan Acres facility was built, Callahan said, he bumped into a local hog producer. "He told me, 'You won the battle, but you are not going to win the war.'" dyjackson@chicagotribune.com gmarx@chicagotribune.com Twitter @poolcar4 Twitter @garyjmarx Hopkins Ridge Farms is a hog confinement operation in Iroquois County where more than 8,000 pigs are raised to market weight. A July 2012 pig waste spill tied to Hopkins Ridge polluted more than 20 miles of Beaver Creek, state officials allege. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) Walking the Iroquois County streams his family had fished for decades, Leland Ponton was nearly brought to his knees by the stench of Beaver Creek. "It looked like ink, the water. It had fish all over the place, dead. It wasn't fit for nothing. Not even a wild animal could drink out of it," said the 75-year-old retired farmer. Advertisement Government officials quickly assigned culpability for the deadly discharge: a waste spill from Hopkins Ridge Farms, a hog confinement operation where more than 8,000 pigs are raised to market weight before being trucked to slaughter. The July 2012 spill polluted more than 20 miles of Beaver Creek, wiping out 148,283 fish and 17,563 freshwater mussels, according to reports from state biologists. Four years later, the creek's aquatic life has only begun to recover. Advertisement Authorities also have yet to collect penalties and cleanup costs from the confinement's influential owners agribusiness executives who operate facilities in Illinois and Indiana that house tens of thousands of pigs. They deny responsibility. As hog confinements like Hopkins Ridge spring up across Illinois, producing massive amounts of manure, a new pollution threat has emerged: spills that blacken creeks and destroy fish, damaging the quality of life in rural communities. The lagoons that hold pig manure until farms can use it as fertilizer sometimes crumble or overflow. Leaks gush from the hoses and pipes that carry waste to the fields. And in some instances, state investigators found polluting was simply "willful" as confinement operators dumped thousands of gallons of manure they couldn't use or sell as fertilizer. Analyzing thousands of pages from state agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources and the attorney general's office, the Tribune found that pollution incidents from hog confinements killed at least 492,000 fish from 2005 through 2014 nearly half of the 1 million fish killed in water pollution incidents statewide during that period. Pig waste impaired 67 miles of the state's rivers, creeks and waterways over that time. An animated tour of a hog confinement. (Jemal R. Brinson / Chicago Tribune) (Jemal R. Brinson/Chicago Tribune) Using either measure, no other industry came close to causing the same amount of damage. Fish kills are an imperfect measure of the damage caused by businesses, as some Illinois waterways already are so contaminated that little if any aquatic life remains, and some pollution sources degrade rivers without sending multiple fish to their deaths on a single day. Still, the fish kills do provide a gauge of the environmental impact of the modern pig-raising facilities that helped make Illinois the fourth-largest pork producer in the U.S. They also show how little state authorities can do to protect Illinois waterways from this poisonous surge. Confinements with multimillion-dollar annual revenues often paid just a few thousand dollars in fines after causing massive fish kills. Many went to court to challenge authorities; since 2005, the state attorney general has filed or resolved at least 26 pollution lawsuits against swine confinements. Some operators polluted repeatedly. And the multistate pork producers who supply the pigs and profit from the confinements were rarely held accountable, the Tribune found. Advertisement The state agencies responsible for protecting waterways and aquatic life the EPA and DNR play limited roles in determining where new confinements can be located or assessing their potential pollution risks. Instead, Illinois livestock confinements are granted permits solely by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, whose mission is to promote livestock agriculture as well as regulate it. Under state law, the department cannot consider a confinement owner's environmental record when reviewing an application to build a new site, and officials have issued numerous new permits to operators with multiple infractions. Illinois has only recently required hog confinements to register with the state EPA, and that agency knows where only a fraction of them actually are located, records and interviews show. In most other top pork-producing states, environmental regulators maintain detailed inventories. With swine confinements growing in number and size across the state, the count of facilities inspected by the state EPA dropped from an annual average of 115 per year from 1999 to 2004 to 71 during the next six years, the most recent period for which the agency could provide data. Still, state EPA officials argue the situation in Illinois is improving through a combination of government and industry changes. Advertisement "The hog facilities are run and designed much, much better than 10 years ago, and education is the way to ensure rules are fully followed," said Sanjay Sofat, who oversees confinement regulation as manager of the state EPA's Division of Water Pollution Control. In 2010, Illinois' failure to monitor or regulate livestock confinements prompted the U.S. EPA to threaten funding cuts and decertification of the state EPA. Since then, Illinois has bolstered its inspections staff as well as documented and visited 236 of the largest swine facilities. That is fewer than half of the estimated 527 in the state and includes none of the additional 427 hog confinements with up to 2,500 animals. Top producers accused State officials initially withheld records that would name the companies responsible for polluting Illinois waterways, citing privacy concerns. But the Tribune identified them by reviewing state investigative files, as well as copies of the checks that companies submitted to reimburse the state for restocking fish. Those files revealed that influential producers like Hopkins Ridge Farms are among Illinois' alleged polluters. Near the Indiana border in downstate Illinois, the Hopkins Ridge hog sheds are tucked between expansive corn and bean fields and a preserve of woods and marshlands called the Iroquois County State Wildlife Area. Advertisement Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 The pig waste lagoon at Hopkins Ridge Farms in Iroquois County, a hog confinement operation where 8,000 pigs are raised for market each year. A July 2012 spill there polluted more than 20 miles of Beaver Creek, wiping out 148,283 fish and 17,563 freshwater mussels, according to reports from state biologists. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) For nearly three days in July 2012, facility operators used an irrigation pivot to spray 300 gallons of wastewater per minute onto a field, according to state government reports. The fluid coursed off the soaked earth into ditches and then into Beaver Creek until carp, pike, bass and catfish began floating belly up, state officials allege. Responding to neighbors' calls about the spill, retired wildlife area superintendent Frank Snow quickly checked the creek for several miles. It was "completely black" and "fish were both dead and dying," Snow reported in a call to the Illinois Conservation Police, a division of the Department of Natural Resources. Farmer Donald Savoie, 81, was tending to his yard when a neighbor alerted him that sludge and dead fish were floating down a nearby stretch of the creek. "I walked over there and he was right. There was carp, there was bass, there was bullheads, there was catfish it was amazing how many and the creek was black," Savoie told the Tribune. "You could smell it. It was rank." The spill had a lasting impact. In October 2014, state biologists compared four surveys of the creek before the spill to three post-discharge surveys and found that nine fish species had not been detected since the fish kill and 18 others had not returned to previous levels, according to a pending lawsuit by the state attorney general. Advertisement Two of 18 species of mussels wiped out by the discharge were on the state's threatened list, the lawsuit said. Ponton, the retired farmer, told the Tribune he only recently has noted improvement in the water. "We are just now seeing fish move around a little bit," he said. "I believe in things that's right, and that was wrong. I'm upset because we take and we take and we take from nature, and we never bother to put back." In December, the state attorney general filed a civil lawsuit to collect penalties in the incident. The amount is unstated, but state officials say the value of the lost fish and mussels is estimated at well over $250,000. One part-owner of the Hopkins Ridge facility, Iroquois County farmer and businessman Lebert Mercier, died in 2014, about two years after the spill. The attorney general is fighting to reopen his multimillion-dollar estate, alleging that it was closed one day after a Mercier family lawyer learned of the impending lawsuit. Family attorneys are fighting back, saying they never received written notice of the attorney general's claim. Another part-owner is Malcolm DeKryger, who has served on the board of the Indiana Pork Producers Association and been president of that state's Pork Advocacy Coalition, an industry leadership group. Advertisement He also runs a company that owns and manages the Pig Adventure at Fair Oaks Farms, a northwest Indiana visitor center that promotes confinement facilities as safe for the environment and nurturing for pigs. It is billed as the nation's premier agritourism destination. DeKryger told the Tribune in a letter that he did not believe the facility was responsible for any pollution and would respond to the attorney general in court, presenting "appropriate facts and expert testimony in front of a jury of our peers." He criticized the attorney general for taking three years before filing a court claim, saying that has hampered his ability to address the allegations. "I certainly want to operate (our facilities) in an environmentally responsible manner," DeKryger wrote. "Be assured that I wish to be a responsible pork producer and am committed to that mission." Hopkins Ridge is only one of the alleged polluters to be run by top industry executives. When a 4,500-pig operation in Iroquois County called R3E LLC pumped manure onto fields using leaky pipes in 2003, the resulting spill destroyed all aquatic life in a 1-mile stretch of Spring Creek some 40 miles northeast of Champaign. It killed 2,911 fish, state reports said. Then in 2009, some 200,000 gallons of swine waste drained from a breach below the surface of one of the facility's massive earthen holding ponds. State biologists counted 110,436 dead fish along 19 miles of Spring Creek. Advertisement "Live bullheads were observed gasping at the surface," said a report from the Department of Natural Resources. "The slug of manure was still moving downstream." For the 2003 spill, a facility partner paid the state $649 to cover fish restocking costs. In 2014, five years after the bigger spill, R3E agreed to pay restocking and investigative costs of $71,757 without admitting wrongdoing. One of R3E's four partners, Robert Frase, is president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association. He called both incidents unforeseeable accidents but told the Tribune: "We accept responsibility because it is our business to know what is going on down there. We weren't negligent in our operation and didn't deliberately dump." Frase added: "I hope you find the sincerity most of us have for the work we do every day and our ability to raise a wholesome product." The pigs came from Lehmann Bros Farm LLC, whose co-owner Art Lehmann is a former president of the state pork association. Lehmann said he had nothing to do with the spills but praised Frase and R3E for working quickly to correct problems. "It's not a willful situation," Lehmann said. "The industry has worked quite hard to have a good environmental track record. We live out here in the country too. We drink the water, and our families do." Advertisement 'Willful' dumping When Donald Irlam's central Illinois pig barns were overflowing with manure in the rainy summer of 2009, he made what he would later call "a bad decision," government records show. Irlam pumped 3,100 gallons from the facility's underground waste-storage pits into a rusted metal irrigation tank, hitched that tank to a tractor and wheeled it to the top of a nearby slope. Then he loosened a valve and let the slime gush down a ravine, into his neighbor's cattle-watering pond and Henry Creek. Irlam unloaded the tank at least nine more times over the following weeks, releasing more than 27,000 gallons of pig manure and killing an estimated 1,650 pounds of fish mostly largemouth bass and bluegill according to government reports and Irlam's admissions in Morgan County court. Still, like many other hog producers who fouled Illinois rivers and streams, Irlam faced only mild government sanctions. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal waste disposal and paid a fine of $500, even though the cleanup cost tens of thousands. He has since closed the pig facility. Irlam, 64, declined to comment. "I'm not going to talk to any reporter," he said before quickly shutting the front door of his Springfield home. Advertisement A "contract grower," Irlam was paid to raise pigs for a larger operator. Such companies own the animals, supply their feed and medicine, and typically dictate production practices, but the local confinement operators like Irlam are the ones usually held liable for poisonous spills. The water was black and (reeked) of manure and dead fish. Dan Stephenson, Illinois assistant fisheries director In the quiet farming town of Murrayville about 40 miles west of the state capital, Irlam worked in his four long hog sheds for about a half-hour in the mornings before heading to his second job as a tax collector for the state Department of Revenue. But by July 2009, Irlam's operation was in trouble, according to hundreds of pages of court and government records examined by the Tribune. With his 600 hogs producing an estimated 262,800 gallons of manure a year, he had failed to arrange with neighboring farmers to spread the waste on their fields as fertilizer or pay for disposal firms or fellow confinement operators to take it. Instead, Irlam let hog muck fill the 8-foot-deep pits beneath his slotted concrete floors until it rose up and soaked the pigs' hoofs and bellies. Then he loaded the portable manure tank farmers often call a "honey wagon" and began dumping waste downhill. Alerted by Irlam's neighbor, farmer Steve Suttles, government officials hustled to the scene and found that a trail of manure had burned a path 25 yards wide and 85 yards long down the grassy ravine. Henry Creek "was full and was running black, frothy waste," Morgan County sheriff's Deputy Tom Keegan wrote in his report. "You could see how the wagon was backed up and dumped so that the waste would run down the hill." Advertisement Dan Stephenson, assistant fisheries director for the state DNR, reported "hundreds, possibly thousands of dead, decaying fish" in Suttles' cattle-watering pond. "The water was black and (reeked) of manure and dead fish," he wrote. The Illinois attorney general filed a civil lawsuit to collect penalties and cleanup costs from Irlam but abandoned the case in 2012 after Irlam filed for bankruptcy, saying he was unable to pay numerous mortgage and credit card debts. That decision surprised bankruptcy experts, who said the state could easily have pursued Irlam's $64,000 state salary. "I don't know why the state wouldn't have gone forward with that. It does make one scratch their head and wonder, doesn't it?" said James Inghram, the court-appointed trustee in Irlam's bankruptcy case. The attorney general's office told the Tribune in a written statement that Irlam's Revenue Department job did not earn him special treatment. "Our primary focus was stopping the pollution, getting the land cleaned up and ensuring this couldn't happen again. His employment had no bearing on that outcome," the statement said. In a court deposition for his ongoing civil lawsuit, Suttles said two dozen of his cows aborted their calves after drinking from the poisoned pond. The Tribune separately obtained a state health department analysis of Suttles' well water showing it was undrinkable because of fecal matter and other pathogens. "My whole place is contaminated," Suttles' deposition said. Advertisement Suttles' suit also alleges that Iowa hog supplier Robin Hewer had control over Irlam's operation because he determined the selection and number of pigs in the facility, owned the animals and also dealt with a feed company to control their husbandry. Hewer sought to be dismissed from the case, but Morgan County Circuit Judge Christopher Reif refused to allow it, saying in an order: "He wants to profit without risk of liability. Send more hogs to a facility (than) it could possibly handle, collect your payments, and pass on liability to the property owner." No state government authority has publicly attempted to hold Hewer accountable. He did not respond to requests for comment. 'We are trying' Pork industry leaders say pollution events are relatively rare. Housing pigs in confinements, they add, protects waterways more effectively than the old-fashioned method of raising livestock on pastures and letting the manure wash off into ditches and creeks during rainstorms. Modern facilities store the muck in underground cesspits before pumping it into outdoor holding tanks or earthen lagoons and then spreading it as fertilizer once or twice a year on nearby crop fields. Ideally, this system creates a "virtuous cycle" of untreated waste that never touches a river or stream. Advertisement But when a facility produces hundreds of thousands of gallons of waste each year, the cycle can easily break down. One place where the system has repeatedly failed is in Woodford County in central Illinois, where Illinois pork producer Kenneth Fehr and his sons manage a cluster of hog facilities close to a slow-moving waterway called Panther Creek. In 2005 and 2006, state EPA officials cited Fehr and his sons in separate incidents for overapplying swine manure on cropland and for creating a water pollution hazard. Five years later, in February 2011, the state EPA reported that tributaries of Panther Creek were coated in foam and darkened by swine waste. The agency alleged that Fehr Brothers had stockpiled at least 65 semitrailer loads of manure an estimated 400,000 gallons and then applied it on a frozen, 92-acre field. When the field thawed, swine waste poured into a tributary of the creek, according to state EPA reports. "When asked why they hauled the manure (one of Fehr's sons) stated that they had no choice because the manure pits were full and about to run over," a state EPA report said. Also in 2011, the state attorney general alleged that waste was overflowing from a second Fehr hog operation because an underground plumbing system was plugged and "has historically proven unreliable." A state inspector observed a foamy discharge smelling of swine waste in a tributary of Panther Creek about a quarter-mile away. The inspector also noted numerous dead hogs disintegrating in a field, some of them partially eaten by scavengers. "It was obvious ... that the animals had been dead for weeks," the state attorney general alleged. Advertisement And in a third incident that year, a kink caused a hose fitting to rupture and release 6,000 gallons of Fehr Brothers pig manure onto a field, where some of it drained into a tributary of Panther Creek's west branch, according to the state. The state attorney general's 2011 civil lawsuit asks that Fehr Brothers obtain a discharge permit that would require it to undergo additional inspections and provide the state EPA with an enforceable waste-handling plan. Five years later, that case remains unresolved. In a Tribune interview, Fehr denied that his facilities ever polluted any local creeks. He and his family made mistakes in years past, he said, but have invested in safe and up-to-date manure-handling equipment and practices. "We have become better farmers because we are trying harder than most," Fehr said. By contrast, some of his neighbors still apply their hog manure to frozen fields, Fehr said, or simply spray the effluent rather than knifing it into the earth to reduce odors and the chance of runoff. "We look at manure as a nutrient that's got a value. We do not want to waste it," he said. Shaded by clumps of trees as it threads through corn and grain fields, Panther Creek is special to environmentalists who petitioned state officials years ago to protect it as a key tributary of the Mackinaw River and the Mississippi River Basin. Advertisement Following two serious discharges from swine confinements that killed fish, a local Sierra Club group in 2003 organized volunteers to collect water samples from streams and drainage ditches near the facilities and the crop fields where swine manure was applied as fertilizer. The Sierra Club sent the state EPA lab results prepared by a commercial testing firm in Peoria that indicated high levels of contamination from fecal coliform bacteria near the Fehr facilities. But there was no official response to the club's expensive yearlong effort, and the team disbanded. "The volunteers got so discouraged," said Joyce Blumenshine, a longtime leader with the Sierra Club's Heart of Illinois Group. "We still have concerns about Panther Creek. It is a huge problem. The public is handicapped and can't do anything." Fehr said he was aware of the Sierra Club's sampling but believes those streams could have been damaged by cattle operations, commercial fertilizer and aging farmhouse septic systems. He said he felt unfairly targeted by the club's unproven allegations and the state attorney general's unresolved lawsuit. "Hog farmers, we are given a bad name when we're not the source of the pollution," he said. Advertisement In 2013, another nearby hog confinement had a massive manure spill that contaminated more than 4 miles of Panther Creek's west branch. Records show family members at the 7,200-hog Meadow Lane Farms had unknowingly sprayed about 84,000 gallons of waste onto a cornfield from one fixed position for about four hours. The facility operators discovered the accident that day but did not report the discharge as required or take immediate steps to remediate it, according to state officials. The repeated abuse of Panther Creek has dismayed local residents, who looked at the string of discharges as "an environmental catastrophe," said area fisherman Ed Mayhall Jr. Fehr was once in a livestock trucking business with the owner of Meadow Lane, but they parted ways a couple of years before the spill. Meadow Lane paid state penalties and fees of about $25,000 and built a new $160,000 concrete waste storage tank. "We felt very bad for this whole situation," Meadow Lane owner Mark Schmidgall told the Tribune. For six days following the spill, his family, friends and neighbors worked almost nonstop to clean up the mess, and his facility subsequently overhauled its waste management practices. "We took 100 percent of the blame," he said. State biologists found that discharge killed 29,528 fish, including smallmouth bass, bluegill, golden redhorse and slenderhead darter. Advertisement Twenty students from Northwestern University's Medill journalism school assisted Tribune reporter David Jackson with this project as part of an investigative reporting class. dyjackson@chicagotribune.com Twitter @Poolcar4 gmarx@chicagotribune.com Twitter @garyjmarx Matt Heissinger, shown at his family's farm in Sangamon County, Ill., said his family's quality of life has been ruined and the farm's property value has been cut in half because of a neighbor's 3,600-hog confinement facility. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Illinois must do more to protect livestock animals from abuse and mistreatment inside the large confinement facilities where they are raised for slaughter, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin told the Tribune on Wednesday. The Democrat from Illinois, reacting to an ongoing Tribune investigation that found Illinois officials do little to investigate worker allegations of animal cruelty inside Illinois' 900-plus hog facilities, urged more vigorous oversight by state officials and the industry. Advertisement "The mistreatment of these animals by the operators identified in the Tribune series hurts smaller farms, their employees, and the surrounding communities," Durbin said. "There's no excuse for the cruelty being reported by the Tribune. Any reports of animal cruelty should be thoroughly investigated and those operators held accountable." The Tribune used workers' compensation claims, court records and state animal abuse reports as well as more than a dozen on-the-record worker interviews to document reports of abusive treatment in some leading Illinois pig confinements. Advertisement The workers told the Tribune they witnessed fellow employees whip pigs with metal rods and gouge them with pliers and ballpoint pens to hurry the animals from one stall to the next or onto the trucks that took them to slaughter. But in the Illinois hog confinements that send 12 million pigs to market annually, the understaffed state Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare did not find a single animal welfare infraction or violation during the past five years, the Tribune found. Inspectors dismissed one complaint, state files show, after simply telephoning executives to ask if it was true that their workers were beating pigs with metal bars. Durbin also reacted forcibly to Tribune reports that documented repeated spills of pig waste from the swine confinement facilities. Polluting rural waterways, the leaks destroyed more than 490,000 fish in 67 miles of rivers over a 10-year span. No other industry came close to causing that amount of damage, the Tribune found. Durbin said "the reckless polluting" needs to end. Commenting on the newspaper series, he said: "I hope it will lead to swift reforms to protect animals in confinement facilities and the rivers, lakes, and streams Illinoisans depend on for recreation and drinking water. Any reports of animal cruelty and environmental negligence should be thoroughly investigated and those operators held accountable." Across Illinois, the nation's fourth-largest seller of pigs, large hog confinements have exploded in number and size. Raising pigs for slaughter in an efficient, factorylike setting, the operations help hold down the price of the most widely consumed meat in the world. An animated tour of a hog confinement. (Jemal R. Brinson / Chicago Tribune) (Jemal R. Brinson/Chicago Tribune) Jennifer Tirey, executive director of the Illinois Pork Producers Association, took issue with the Tribune investigation. "The Tribune story does not paint an accurate picture of how the vast majority of Illinois and U.S. pig farmers currently operate with regard to how they raise and care for their animals or how they protect the environment and produce safe, wholesome food," Tirey said. "Pig farmers in Illinois and around the country abhor and will not tolerate animal abuse or the degradation of their environment," she said. "If there are instances of animal abuse or violations of the myriad of state and federal environmental laws, they should be taken seriously and fully investigated, with corrective action taken if necessary." Advertisement In a post on the association's website, association President Bob Frase said pork producers had spent hours providing information to Tribune reporters but "we are disappointed that our voice was not heard and that the promised balance was not conveyed to their readers." Frase added: "Pig farmers are constantly looking for ways to improve the way we raise our pigs and finding better ways to safeguard the environment for our families, neighbors and future generations. This is our top priority." dyjackson@chicagotribune.com gmarx@chicagotribune.com Twitter @poolcar4 Twitter @garyjmarx The Arlington Heights Police Department showcased its canine unit, featuring police dogs Yara and Max, at the village's 11th Annual National Night Out. August 3, 2016. (Karen Cullotta / Pioneer Press) (Chicago Tribune) Munching on popcorn and eager to explore this month's National Night Out in Arlington Heights, nine-year-old Cullen Watanuki explained why attending the annual summer event has become a favorite family tradition. "The police did a good job in our neighborhood a couple of weeks ago," said Cullen, referring to the quick capture of an escaped inmate from the nearby Cook County Circuit Court in Rolling Meadows last month. Advertisement "I like the Army exhibit, because I think it's cool how they protect the country," added Cullen's younger brother, Evan, 7. The Watanuki brothers were among the roughly 5,000 Arlington Heights residents a record crowd for the event who gathered at North School Park Tuesday to show their appreciation for local law enforcement officers at the village's 11th annual National Night Out. Advertisement While the free family-friendly event featured interactive exhibits sponsored by the village's park district, police, fire and public works departments and other nonprofit agencies, the traditional festival fare was tempered by a recognition that this year, saying "thanks" to local law enforcement was especially important. Indeed, since the recent attacks on police in Dallas and Baton Rouge, La., officials said an influx of cards and food items have been arriving at the police station from residents, expressing their appreciation for local police officers. "This event is something I like every year, because it gives me a chance to interact with the community," Arlington Heights Police Sgt. Joe Pinnello said. "But since the recent events affecting law enforcement, people seem more willing to show their appreciation and gratitude for what we do." Presiding over a water rescue demonstration staged in an above-ground metal tank, the Arlington Heights Fire Department's division chief and dive team leader, Dwayne Wood, said the exhibit appeared to be a big hit with a pack of youngsters huddled around the display's bright yellow RDC, short for rapid deployable craft. "It's designed for swift water and ice rescues," said Wood, adding: "There's always a lot of interest in the community for this type of system, where you can actually talk to the divers while they're underwater." The National Night Out program takes place annually across the U.S. on the first Tuesday of August, with the exception of a few states, including, Texas, that celebrate the event in early October to avoid the hot summer weather. The nonprofit, community-building event attracts participants from thousands of communities in all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide. kcullotta@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter @kcullotta Videos show a confrontation between a pickup truck driver and motorcyclists in Aurora on July 31, 2016, that ended with the truck driving through a group of motorcyclists. (Videos courtesy of Chicago United Riders) (Chicago Tribune) Motorcyclists involved in an altercation with pickup truck driver during a stunt ride in Aurora continued to defend themselves Tuesday, but some in the community are shaking their heads. The president of an Aurora advocacy nonprofit for Mexican-Americans blasted motorcyclists who participated in a weekend stunt ride through Aurora that was captured on video in which a pickup truck driver drove into a bike after a number of riders surrounded the vehicle. Advertisement Val Ojeda, president of Aurora's Foundation for the Advancement of Mexican Americans and a self-proclaimed community leader, said the incident which involved thrown punches and yelled insults before the video-recorded showdown in the middle of a city intersection angered him greatly. "They're acting like a gang of thugs," Ojeda said. "It was very, very embarrassing." Advertisement He called out the participants in a Facebook post, stating they should be ashamed of themselves. In an interview with the Beacon-News, he publicly apologized for the behavior of any Hispanics involved in the stunt ride. Video footage of the incident, which happened during the ninth annual La Carne Azada ride, has been shared thousands of times on social media. About 350 motorcyclists met up Sunday morning to start the ride, which ended with tacos at an Aurora restaurant, as organizers say is tradition. A little before 1 p.m., a police officer put on his lights and siren and tried to get the group to slow down in the downtown intersection of West New York Street and River Street. One motorcyclist used his bike to block the squad car and waved the remaining riders through the intersection, according to a statement from Aurora Police Department spokesman Dan Ferrelli. Minutes later near the intersection of North Edgelawn Drive and West Galena Boulevard on the city's West Side, the motorcycle group encountered a 44-year-old Yorkville man driving a gray 2005 GMC Sierra pickup truck, according to police. The man told police he had been driving westbound on Galena just east of Edgelawn when he became surrounded by motorcycle riders. The truck driver changed lanes in what police say was an attempt to move away from the group. When he stopped, several of the motorcycle riders appeared upset with him, possibly for changing lanes, according to police. One man got off his motorcycle punched the truck driver through the open window, according to police. The driver hit back, and several motorcyclists began to attack him, police said. The man then drove off the road through some grass and a parking lot at the northwest corner of Galena and Edgelawn, striking one of the motorcyclists. He circled back east when police arrived at the scene. The motorcycle driver, a 28-year-old Melrose Park man, declined medical treatment, according to police. Advertisement No one has been arrested or cited in connection to the incident. Two men who said they participated in the ride with Chicago United Riders and Street Revolution declined to go on the record using their names, citing fear of retribution from the driver and a rival motorcycle group. Interviewed separately over the phone Tuesday, each called the truck driver the aggressor. They said the truck driver had a clear path away from the bikers and could have taken it, but instead antagonized the riders. The driver of the truck could not be reached for comment. Both motorcyclists also said they know stunt rides violate laws because they involve professional riders performing maneuvers that are illegal on public roads, including wheelies and running red lights. They do the ride once a year, and it draws hundreds of people from all around the Midwest, both said. The person who identified himself as a Chicago United official said, for rides such as Carne Azada, the groups deal with intersections like a funeral procession. If the first motorcycle enters an intersection while the light is green, the whole group follows through even if the light changes color, he said. Advertisement Ojeda said he had a motorcycle "back in the day," but said he doesn't ride any more. He said he didn't think any of the riders Sunday were going to apologize for what they did, so he felt that he should. "If we took responsibility for our actions, Aurora would be a much better place," Ojeda said. Ojeda said he plans to reach out to Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman, along with city and county officials and motorcycle group leaders, to arrange a forum to make sure motorcyclists are following the rules of the road. "Deep down everyone is convinced they did nothing wrong," Ojeda said. Tuesday afternoon, Ziman and Deputy Chief Keefe Jackson both said they didn't see a need for that type of meeting. "I'm not even sure if it's an Aurora problem," Jackson said. "I doubt a forum will occur. I really don't see the need for it. I don't think it's going to be a problem going forward." Advertisement Linda Pasetti-Olson, a motorcycle rider who lives in Montgomery, said the problem needs to be taken seriously. Pasetti-Olson was raised in Aurora and is a Republican candidate for Kane County Board on November's ballot. She said she has been involved in Motor Maids, various hog chapters and other motorcycle groups throughout the years, but does not speak for any of them. Pasetti-Olson said she understands police at the scene were trying to break up a mob, but she thinks they should confront the club and let them know the city won't stand for the kinds of actions displayed Sunday, she said. Aurora police, however, say incidents like Sunday's are problematic because a few officers were facing a few hundred motorcyclists. Police have to weigh concern for their own safety and that of residents along with the risk of chasing a motorcycle with a squad car if the biker doesn't cooperate, Jackson said. "From the mindset of a police officer on the street, dealing with a mob of bikes coming through, you have the potential to be surrounded by a group of bikers, you don't know what their behavior could be," Jackson said. It's also common for motorcyclists pulling stunts to ride without license plates for police to run, as officers found in Aurora Sunday, Jackson said. Advertisement For his part, Ojeda said he thinks the police are doing a "terrific job" handling the situation. As a rider herself, Pasetti-Olson said she prioritizes safety, and has no sympathy for motorcyclists who flaunt the law by doing illegal tricks on public roads. "I see where the pickup driver made some mistakes," Pasetti-Olson said. "However, I would have been terrified myself. At the very least I think this club needs to be put on notice. We have a lot of respectable motorcycle riders around here and people are afraid." hleone@tribpub.com Twitter @hannahmleone Local police officers kept the hot dogs coming despite some rain Tuesday evening at Flagstaffs 33rd annual National Night Out. Hundreds of people dodged puddles in the Flagstaff City Hall parking lot to share a meal, do a little mingling, and find out more about the citys network of first responders while the Flagstaff Community Band played out everything from the national anthem to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the background. Hosted by Flagstaff Police Department in partnership with the National Association of Town Watch campaign, National Night Out is a nationwide effort to prevent crime by building partnerships between law enforcement officers and the community members they serve. It is important to take a day and recognize how important law enforcement is to our community and show our officers how much we appreciate them, said Flagstaff Mayor Jerry Nabours. I know the law officers feel the same way about showing the citizens how much they appreciate them, as well. National Night Outs goals include heightening crime prevention awareness, generating support for local anticrime programs, and strengthening neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. But perhaps the biggest goal is the message that crime is not welcome in Flagstaff. Police Chief Kevin Treadway said National Night Out is an event he looks forward to every year. Its really about people coming out and getting to know their police officers and other first responders, Treadway said. And it certainly is a chance for use to talk to our citizens. Plus, it gives us an opportunity to serve dinner. We really enjoy this event. Northern Arizona University Police Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Coconino County Sheriffs Office were all represented, along with other local first responders and service agencies. Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll said the event helps raise awareness about volunteer programs like his agencys Search and Rescue Unit and Community Emergency Response Teams. Were always seeking new members for both, Driscoll said. Were also able to showcase the services that we provide. Theyre both volunteer services that assist our department and the community. I think thats why they fit so well into National Night Out, that ability to be engaged with what goes on in your community." BIG HITS Red, yellow and blue Flagstaff Police Department balloons bounced in the air as kids went from booth to booth getting people to sign their National Night Out passports. Afterward, FPD held a drawing to give free backpacks to a couple of the children who got all the signatures. The biggest hits of the night were Agent MacGyver -- one of the Coconino County Sheriffs Office Search and Rescue Units kid-friendly search dogs -- and FPDs bomb dismantling robot and traffic patrol motorcycle. Jessica Grays 6-year-old daughters face lit up as she got to turn on the motorcycles lights and siren. Afterward, she jumped into the air to give Sgt. Jeff James, FPDs Traffic Unit supervisor, a high-five. I come out here every year to support law enforcement because my brother is law enforcement and my dad was law enforcement, Gray said. (My daughter) enjoys it. I feel its something the kids can see that shows them cops arent bad people. Tyler Gonzalez brought her children for a similar reason. She said she used to oppose National Night Out because she had a criminal history, but she had a change of heart. I figured Id turn my life around and take my kids out so theyre not scared of the law, Gonzalez said. Thats one thing that I was always teaching them, that (cops) are bad people. Its a life-changing experience. Its fun and its a safe environment. ADDED INFORMATION There was an educational component, with presentations on hands-only CPR, identity theft and fraud prevention, as well as updates on local crime prevention efforts. There was also a blood drive, the public librarys bookmobile, and information about vaccinations and early childhood development. The education component worked both ways. Not only were civilians able to find out what is being done to curb crime near their homes, but they were also able to make suggestions to the officers who police their neighborhoods. At a time when tensions between law enforcement and civilians seem to be running high nationwide, Treadway said it has probably never been more important to invest in events that build trust between the police and the public. I think that the path forward is making sure that we have open lines of communication, Treadway said. I concentrate on what we have control over, which is that the police department can always invest in outreach, transparency and engaging with our community like we are here this evening. A 48-year-old Aurora man has been charged with murder in connection to the shooting death of a 31-year-old man from North Aurora this week at a social club on Aurora's East Side. Alfredo Soto, of the 700 block of Iowa Avenue, is now charged with first-degree murder after Martiniano Alvarez, of the 100 block of Laurel Drive in North Aurora, died from injuries sustained during the shooting Monday at Aurora's Latin American Club. Advertisement Bail for Soto was set Wednesday at $5 million. At about 6:40 p.m. Monday, Aurora police responded to the club in the 1300 block of Dearborn Avenue and found Alvarez just inside one of the entrances with multiple gunshot wounds, according to a news release. Advertisement Soto and two of his friends got to the bar before Alvarez, according to the police department's preliminary investigation. The three men were apparently drinking at the bar, having what appeared to be a normal conversation with Alvarez, when Soto was seen getting up from the bar and walking toward the front door, according to police. He told Alvarez to come with him, then as Alvarez walked toward the door, Soto allegedly took out a handgun and shot the man several times, police said. Soto then left the bar, got into a white pickup truck and drove westbound from the scene, according to police. Soto was later taken into custody without incident at his home. The Latin American Club in Aurora. (Steve Lord / The Beacon-News) Police say they have not yet established a definite motive in the shooting. Police spoke with subjects remaining in the bar about the incident, said police Lt. Jeff Wiencek. Aurora Fire Department paramedics transported Alvarez to an Aurora hospital after the shooting, where he later died despite medical efforts, according to police. Alvarez was pronounced dead at 11:32 p.m. Monday, Wiencek said in an email. Kane County Coroner Rob Russell did not respond to phone and email messages sent Wednesday. The death occurred in Kane County, and the county State's Attorney's Office is helping police with the investigation. Advertisement Police do not believe the shooting is related to a December robbery at the same East Side social club, said spokesman Dan Ferrelli. In that attack, assailants beat two men in the club, and one, a 79-year-old man, died from complications tied to the injuries. The private club has a doorbell visitors must ring to gain entry. A black pickup truck and two cars were parked outside the club Wednesday afternoon. A bartender said he was not there for the shooting Monday, he said. Neither were the two men sitting at the bar at the time. Club officials could not otherwise be reached for comment. The Aurora Latin-American Club Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, according to GuideStar records. The alleged shooter has a history of prior offenses in the area, including a host of traffic-related citations. In 2015, Soto was found guilty in Kendall County of reckless discharge of a firearm and criminal damage to property worth between $300 and $10,000, records show. Soto plead guilty in December 2013 in Kane County to battery making physical contact and was sentenced to supervision, records show. He was also found guilty of drunken driving in 2004 and violating a restraining order in 2014. Advertisement hleone@tribpub.com Twitter @hannahmleone James Holderman, who has done more than 700 hours of research on health concerns regarding radio frequency radiation, talks to Darien City Council members about health risks with smart meters. (Kevin Beese / Pioneer Press) Area homeowners not keen on having a Commonwealth Edison smart meter in their home due to health concerns or any other issue may get longer to keep the power company at bay. As it is written, Illinois law requires that all homeowners in the ComEd coverage area must have a smart meter one year after the completion of the smart meter installation program, right now slated for December 2018. Advertisement A representative of ComEd says that deadline may now be extended. Speaking at the Darien City Council meeting Monday Michael McMahan, ComEd's vice president of automatic meter infrastructure implementation, said the company will be filing a petition later this month with the Illinois Commerce Commission, seeking to push back that deadline. Advertisement McMahan said smart meters were mandated by the state legislature because they make providing electric service more efficient by eliminating the need for meter readers and giving homeowners the opportunity to monitor their power use. "This was a state initiative approved by a super majority," McMahan said. He noted that only 0.1 percent of the 2.4 million ComEd customers in areas where smart meters have already been installed have opted to delay the installation. Burr Ridge resident James Holderman has spent 700 hours studying the radio frequency radiation emitted from smart meters. His research and concerns led the Burr Ridge Village Board in June to pass a resolution encouraging ComEd to provide a permanent opt-out option from the smart meter program. Holderman has argued that since the smart meter legislation was passed in 2011, significant studies, analysis, papers, letters and articles have been published that support the evidence of the health risks posed by exposure to radio frequency radiation. "Further, it is now clearer than ever that these risks extend well beyond cancer," Holderman said. "The most troubling aspect of the risk profile coming into scientific focus is the significantly greater risk to the unborn, babies, and children from exposure to radio frequency radiation." McMahan countered that the power company's smart meters are well below Federal Communications Commission guidelines for radio frequency. He said at most a smart meter is sending out five minutes of radio transmissions over an entire day. "That is significantly less than other devices people use every day, such as cellphones, microwaves and WiFi," McMahan said. Advertisement McMahan did not give any indication what kind of smart meter deadline extension ComEd will be proposing to the Illinois Commerce Commission. He said a lot can change in the 3 years between now and December 2019. Homeowners who opt to delay the smart meter installation when the meters are installed in their neighborhood must pay a monthly charge of $21.53. That is to recoup some of the $2 billion in savings that ComEd would not receive and additional charges, such as having a person read that meter manually, according to the company representative. McMahan said that 60 million smart meters have been installed across the country. He said he has heard the health concerns from people and noted that those concerns are the number 1 reason people delay the installation. He said he has reviewed the studies, but sees nothing in any study showing the small amount of radio frequency transmitted by smart meters being a health hazard. McMahan offered for the company to take radio frequency readings at any smart meter in Darien to show the low levels of radio frequency waves being transmitted, Third Ward Ald. Joseph Kenny said he would welcome readings being done at his residence. Holderman feels too much scientific data about radio frequency waves is out there to force ComEd customers to install the smart meter in their homes. "The possibility of cancer, tumors, lower birth weights in offspring and autism or ADHD in children from the radio frequency radiation emitted from smart meters should never be forced upon people by a monopoly or a state, and all the more, when 'monitor' and 'control' are stated goals," he said. "The very reasonable request of a permanent 'opt out' from smart meters is, in my mind, a litmus test for government-supported corporate tyranny." Advertisement Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. Melissa Hansen gets her camera ready to take photos. (Chuck Fieldman / Pioneer Press) It would be pretty difficult to top the endorsement Amelia Morrone has for Melissa Leigh Hansen Photography. The La Grange Park woman used the one-person photography business of Clarendon Hills resident Melissa Hansen for engagement photos a year ago, but went with a different photographer for her wedding in May. Advertisement Now, wanting to have professional family photos taken at her mother's birthday party, Morrone once again is back in business with Hansen, despite being offered free party photos by her wedding photographer. "I really loved Melissa's engagement photos; they were beautiful," Morrone said. "She captured the moment very well, and I definitely regret that she didn't shoot our wedding, too." Advertisement Morrone's unhappiness with her wedding photos prompted the offer of free photos for her mom's birthday party, which Morrone politely declined. "They wanted to try to make up for me being unhappy with the wedding pictures, but I would rather pay and have Melissa take those pictures because she does such a great job." Hansen's photography business has bloomed the past few years after she decided to turn a hobby into a profession. "I always took photos for personal purposes, scrapbooking, blogging," she said. "A friend asked me to take some photos of her children and then more and more people started asking me to take photographs for them." Still, it was a big step for a woman with a law degree and a job as director of admissions at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago to create her own photography business. "I never questioned it or second-guessed myself, and it was one of the few times in my life that was the case," Hansen said. "I'm usually indecisive, but not this time. I upgraded my camera and took some photography classes." Hansen has maintained her job at The John Marshall Law School, while continuing to grow her photography business. "For the most part, I only photograph people," she said. "I love their expressions and those special moments. And I love working with people and love capturing what's real. Advertisement Hansen said she doesn't like to follow a formula for taking photographs. "I like to really capture the moment and the emotion, and I like my photos to reflect someone's personality," she said. Kathrine Eldridge of Westmont, another loyal client, said Hansen does a great job at capturing a moment. Eldridge, a wardrobe stylist and fashion blogger, meets almost every week with Hansen for new photos. "I've been working with her for two years, and she's wonderful at working with you on things you want to focus on," Eldridge said. "I've enjoyed our working relationship. We anticipate each other, and we've also become good friends." As much as she enjoys her photography work, Hansen said she also has enjoyed the personal relationships that have resulted from some of her work. "Doing this has introduced me to a lot of new friends, both in photography and just people in and around Clarendon Hills," Hansen said. "Most of my clients have come from referrals." Advertisement Hansen has a photo studio in Lombard, but prefers to shoot on location. "It's much more natural," she said. "That makes it better to get genuine photos." A photography student only a few years ago, Hansen began teaching photography classes earlier this year for the Clarendon Hills Park District. "She hasn't been doing it very long, but we've had some very positive feedback about her from people taking the classes," said Emily Golembiewski, a recreation supervisor for the park district. cfieldman@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @chuckwriting Advertisement Say cheese! Phone: 773-218-4983 Starting prices: Individual portraits and head shots, $150; family portraits, $200; newborns, $300; weddings, $1,200 Website: www.mlhansenphotography.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/MelissaLeighPhotography Instagram: www.instagram.com/mlhansenphotos/ Fat Rosie's Taco & Tequila Bar features five tacos including the colifor frita, a vegetarian taco with grilled cauliflower, grilled shrimp or grilled steak served with rice and beans. Wednesday, July 27th, 2016, in Frankfort. | Gary Middendorf-Chicago Tribune Media Group (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown) Fun is the focus at Fat Rosie's Taco & Tequila Bar where a live donkey sometimes welcomes diners out front and a mechanical donkey ride is out back. Proprietor Scott Harris, a former Mokena resident who lives in Chicago and San Diego, opened Fat Rosie's in October at the encouragement of developer Richard Wright. Fernando Balanzar, of Frankfort, and Cisco Cortez manage the Frankfort establishment. Advertisement "From the time you come in, the music's up a little bit. I like to keep that fun, lively Mexican atmosphere," said Harris, who attended Joliet Junior College's culinary program. "I really push people to be happy. It's fun to be here. You feel the energy. That's what I try to create." Advertisement Starting prices include $4 for tacos, $6 for appetizers, $8 for Sunday brunch items and $12 for entrees on the menu by chefs Raul Arreola, of Frankfort, and Americo Zelaya, of Orland Park. "They both have different talents but put their talents together and they're spectacular," Harris said. "Shrimp tacos are my personal favorite. We do a shrimp cocktail Mexican style. It's really popular,," he said. The concoction comes in a big glass with shrimp, tomatoes, cucumbers and spices. The Bloody Maria bar at Sunday brunch features 30 condiments to dress one's drink. A Bloody Maria is made with tequila instead of vodka, which is featured in a traditional Bloody Mary. Other popular menu items include fajitas plates, enchiladas en mole, camarones al mojo, Mexican doughnuts and the grilled pineapple margarita. The cochinita pibil is roasted pork shoulder with habanero salsa. "It's just the best thing you'll ever put in your mouth," Harris said. "People are liking the tacos al pastor, which is a pork taco that we put on a spit. We put a pineapple on top. The pineapple starts melting. All the pineapple juice comes down into the pork." Advertisement In 1992, Harris founded the Francesca's Restaurant Group, which includes Francesca's at the Promenade in Bolingbrook, Francesca's Fortunato in Frankfort, Francesca's on 95th in Oak Lawn and Francesca's Vicinato in Palos Park. The group also operates Davanti Enoteca in Illinois and California; Disotto in Highwood, Illinois; and Glazed and Infused in Chicago. "It's really a great restaurant town. Frankfort's really kept it unique," said Harris, an alumni of St. Mary Catholic School in Mokena and Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox. "They do a lot of family stuff, a lot of festivals. It's a great town to be raised in." Future plans for Fat Rosie's, which can seat 140 diners inside and out and books mariachi performers regularly, include Saturday brunch beginning in September and expanding the selection or approximately 35 tequilas. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > "We want to have the best tequila bar in the area," Harris said. Advertisement Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. Fat Rosie's Taco & Tequila Bar Location: 28 Kansas St., Frankfort Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays (10 a.m.-2 p.m. brunch); 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays Menu: Mexican fare Contact: 815-534-1640 or www.fatrosies.com Seven people were taken to the hospital and several residences were left uninhabitable after a fire broke out late Tuesday in a condominium building in Dolton, the village's mayor said. Mayor Riley Rogers said the fire, which began about 10:10 p.m., was confined to a second-floor condominium in the building in the 14600 block of Greenwood Road. The cause is under investigation, he said. Advertisement Rogers said paramedics transported seven people to the hospital, including a woman who jumped from the second floor of the four-story building, which is home to about 200 people. "As far as I know, all were released," Rogers said. "Fortunately, there was no loss of life and no major injuries." Advertisement Prior to first responders' arrival, residents braved the thick smoke to go door-to-door to help their neighbors, Rogers said. According to Rogers, residents said the building alarm wasn't loud enough and that fire department representatives are meeting with building management to ensure the alarm systems are functioning properly. The building was constructed in the mid 1970s. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > A first-responder team subsequently conducted "a condominium by condominium search to make sure everybody was out of the building." Rogers acknowledged that search upset some residents, who found their doors had been forced open. Defending the tactic, Rogers said, "There was a 14-year-old kid in the building asleep. It was good business to get that team in. There was still a significant amount of smoke in the building." The American Red Cross assisted "six or seven families" whose condominiums were uninhabitable due to water and smoke damage, he said. Other residents were able to return to their residences early Wednesday. Rogers said he arrived at the scene and saw "so much smoke billowing out of the building." Mutual aid calls were made to surrounding fire departments, he said. "I was glad they showed up," he said. Check back later for more information. Advertisement Dennis Sullivan is a freelance reporter. Joseph V. Manfred, 35, being held in Indiana, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Janice Kuc, 55. (Lansing police photo) Lansing police on Wednesday were seeking to extradite a Valparaiso, Ind. man charged in a warrant with murdering a woman at her home in south suburban Lansing, authorities said. Joseph V. Manfred, 35, currently being held in Indiana, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Janice Kuc, 55. Advertisement Lansing police discovered Kuc's body Sunday in her apartment in the 18000 block of Wentworth Avenue while conducting a wellness check at the request of Lake County, Ind. sheriff's police, who had received information suggesting she had been murdered. Kuc's body had "obvious signs of trauma," according to a Lansing police news release, which said the Cook County medical examiner's officer attributed her death to multiple blunt-force trauma related to being beaten, following an autopsy Tuesday. Advertisement Lake County sheriff's spokesman Mark Back confirmed the department is holding Manfred for Lansing police. Back said sheriff's police took Manfred into custody late Monday night, in Shelby, Ind., about 35 miles from Lansing. He was sitting in a vehicle owned by Kuc in the parking lot of a bar in Shelby, Lansing police said He was booked into the Lake County Jail on a charge of making a threat to commit a forcible felony, according to court records. An extraditable arrest warrant for murder has been issued, police said. Manfred is being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in Lake County court on the felony charge Sept. 28. Dennis Sullivan is a freelance reporter. Battle lines have been drawn Unfortunately the efforts of Illinois residents to choose our representatives to state government, instead of them choosing us, have again been found unconstitutional by a judge. Every 10 years, the sitting officeholders in Illinois draw new boundaries for the legislative districts. Although the court confirmed Independent Maps' position that redistricting in general is structural and procedural and therefore "fair game" for a citizen initiative, the judge rejected the specific language in the amendment. Advertisement If you live in a legislative district which makes sense one including entire neighborhoods and respectful of county and community boundaries you may wonder what all the fuss is about. To understand the issue, think about Representative District 34. It is over 50 miles from the northern point (at 75th Street in Chicago) to the southern point; over 20 miles wide at its widest; less than two miles wide at some points. Does this make sense? More than 563,000 Illinois voters signed a petition to allow the public to vote on whether to change to a more impartial way of drawing legislative maps. It will now be up to the Illinois Supreme Court to enforce the Constitution and let voters decide the first time in 22 years that they have ruled on a citizen initiative. It's time for them to step up and allow voters to take back power from Springfield politicians. Advertisement Barbara Sturges, Park Forest Thanks for trucks and trains Special thanks to the Worth Park District for working so hard to provide an exciting night of trucks and trains on July 27. As "foreigners" (Evergreen Park and Chicago), it was fun riding the train with rock and roll background music, blowing the horn on the Mack truck and climbing on all of the vehicles pressing the siren buttons. Thanks for the pencils, paper mazes, ring pops and bundt cake samples, too. You're the best. Tom, Diane, Lucy, Ryan and Dominic Panush What's on your mind? The Daily Southtown welcomes letters to the editor. Email them to letters@southtownstar.com and include your name, address and phone number. Only your name and the town you reside in will appear with the letter. Please keep a letter to no more than about 200 words. The Southtown is not responsible for the accuracy of the opinions expressed in letters to the editor. The search for a missing Ash Fork woman with Alzheimer's disease came to a tragic end over the weekend. Searchers with Yavapai County Sheriff's Search and Rescue were conducting a follow-up search for Linda Schleizer, 70, when they found her body in the Juniperwood Ranch area west of Ash Fork at about 9 a.m. Saturday. Her remains were located approximately 0.75 miles east of the residence under a juniper tree in a shallow wash area. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office notified the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, which responded along with personnel with the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office. Schleizer's husband reported her missing after she walked away from her home in the 5000 block of Mathis Road, about 8.4 miles northwest of Ash Fork, on July 16. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office activated a Silver Alert. More than 150 Coconino County and Yavapai County Sheriff's personnel, including mounted units, search dogs, ATVs, jeeps and helicopters, spent several days and nights searching for her with no luck. Other agencies that assisted included Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue, Navajo County Sheriffs Office, Mohave County Sheriffs Office, Arizona Wing Civil Air Patrol, Kaibab Estates West Fire Department and Ash Fork Fire Department. The active search was suspended July 20 but follow-up searches occurred July 23 and 30. The cause of death is still under investigation. Ed Adomaitis Jr., an owner of Homestead Barr, recently died. But his family said they will continue operating the business, which marked its 65th anniversary in March. (Cheryl Petzel) Greetings fellow Oak Lawnians! The Homestead Barr, on the corner of Central Avenue and Southwest Highway, is a well-known gathering spot for many Oak Lawn residents and families. Advertisement But visitors will miss a friendly operator of the bar, Ed Adomaitis Jr., who died last month. "My brother was very loving and a kind man," recalled Adomaitis' sister, Dottie Arnold. Advertisement Even though Adomaitis will be missed, the family is stepping up to continue the business. The "Homestead" has been long owned and run by the Adomaitis family. The business marked it's 65th anniversary in March. The Homestead business started when Ed Adomaitis Sr. and his wife, Dorothy ("Dot"), purchased a big white farmhouse in 1951 from John Simpson. At the time, Ed Adomaitis Sr. was working at the Ford plant by Ford City and the couple had been married for nine years. They had two young children, their 6 year old daughter, now Sharon Skora, and 4 year old son, Ed Jr. and the family lived in the apartment above the bar. The couple went on to have two more daughters, Debbie Butler, and their youngest, Dottie Arnold, named after her mother. Even though she wasn't born yet, Arnold knows of those early years when her parents and older siblings first moved to Oak Lawn and opened the Homestead. Arnold said "they struggled for the first five years, because it was so remote here and it was a growing community. My dad took a gamble. You might say his vision was to make it work." There was a lot of work to do to keep the bar running so Ed, Jr. and Skora pitched in to help their parents. Back then, the bar was open 23 hours a day, closing for only an hour to clean. Arnold said, "when they first moved to Oak Lawn, my sister hated it because there was nothing out here." It also was difficult for her brother until, she said, "he befriended two boys whose parents were building a house out here. The family would come out every weekend and, then Ed finally had someone to play with and run around with." As time went on, the community began to grow, and the bar enjoyed a steady group of "regulars" who stopped by after work and on weekends. Eventually, those relationships evolved into life-long friendships, still true today 65 years later. Skora, the oldest of the Adomaitis children, said when people are in the Homestead, "it's just the camaraderie and closeness you feel being around people and observing them." Advertisement Ed Adomaitis Sr. and his wife lost their daughter, Butler, to cancer in 1980 and when Adomaitis' wife passed away, he continued to run the bar with help from his children, particularly his, son, Ed Adomaitis Jr. Ed Adomaitis Sr. was close to all his children, but he was especially close to his son. A proud moment for the Adomaitis family was in 1998, when the Preservation Commission of Oak Lawn recognized the Homestead as a historic landmark. When the time came for Ed Adomaitis Sr. to step down, he asked his son to take over the business. Ed Adomaitis Jr. was happy to do it. "Ed knew he did right by his parents, but he did it out of respect and love. He was proud of what our parents had done," Arnold said. Ed Adomaitis Sr. remained active in running the bar with his son until he passed away in 2007. Advertisement Being a family-run business, the Homestead has always been family-oriented and even dog-friendly. It's not unusual for one of their regulars to stop in with their wife, children or dog. Over the years, the bar has always had a dog "greeter." Arnold said, "there's been Zazz, JB, Dude, Roxy and Raven." Ed Adomaitis Jr.'s nick-name was "dog whisperer" because he had a special bond with dogs. Life changed for the family five years ago when Ed Adomaitis Jr. was diagnosed with cancer. During those years, he never played the role of the victim or acted sad. Instead, he chose to embrace his faith, enjoy his life, cherished his family, friends, his beloved dogs and carried on with running the Homestead. In early July, Ed Adomaitis Jr. was not doing well and spent several days in the hospital. Skora said, "he said he wanted to go home to my dog." He did return home to his beloved Raven and, less then a day later, he passed away on July 6 at age 69. Advertisement Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > "He died the way he lived his life, fully active, fun loving," Skora said. "He was a friend to everybody. He was my friend like he was to everyone. If you were having a bad day, you could talk to Eddie and you felt better. You felt energized afterwards." Arnold said, quoting Tim Pender, who was a good friend of Ed Adomaitis Jr., "He was a friend to many and a stranger to none." Ed will be missed by many. The world and the community was a better place with Ed in it. Here's this week's celebrity announcements: Happy third birthday to Lola Gornik, with love, from her parents, Amanda and Chris, and their family. Happy birthday to Jack LeCompte, who's turning 5, from grandma and grandpa LeCompte, grandma Laverne, his parents, Joseph and Joanne, and Julia. Birthday wishes also go out to Joanne LeCompte. Becky and Jim Wills wish their son, Jasper, a happy ninth birthday. Birthday wishes go out to Cayden Cadwell, who's turning 13. Happy 14th birthday to Sarah Truesdale, and to her sister, Kimberly, who's celebrating her 21st birthday. Birthday wishes go out to Cole Candos, who's turning 16, from his parents, Carrie and Don, and grandparents, Jean and Don. Mary and Ryan Thompson wish their daughter, Roxanne, a happy birthday. Dave and Sandy Wills send birthday wishes to their granddaughter, Michelle Wills, who's turning 21. Happy birthday to Jessie Sharon, who's turning 21, from her parents and family. Birthday wishes go out to Rachel Pender, who's turning 23, from her parents, Tina and Tim, and Christina. Happy 24th birthday to Danny McInerney, from his mom, Mary Sue, family and Liz Beth. Birthday wishes go out to Michael Petzel, who's turning 24, and to his brother, Drew, who's turning 28, from their dad, Fran and family. Happy 44th birthday to Danielle Cohen from her children and family. Birthday wishes go out to Joan Cozza, from her daughters, Michelle and Cathy. Happy birthday to Anne Casey, from her husband, John, and their family. Alida Carpenter, Cindy Ziebart and Marge Joy are celebrating their birthdays. Happy birthday to Chris Mathews, from his wife, Shannon, son, Cayden and family. Birthday greetings go out to Leo Gutchewesky, Bob Kuenster and Chuck Groebe. Wedding anniversary wishes go out to Will and Erica Petzel on their third anniversary and to Chris and Shannon Mathews on their fourth anniversary. Keep your fellow Oak Lawnians informed about birthdays, special events or special "stuff" going on with your family or within the community. Call me at (708) 899-9544 or e-mail me at the address above. Advertisement Until next time... There's little sympathy among lawmakers and union members for Jeri Shanahan, 74, of Orland Park. For about a decade she's waged a one-woman crusade over what she sees as an injustice that has cost her $82,000 since 2004. That's when she retired from teaching children in Community Consolidated School District 146, which serves Tinley Park, Oak Forest and Orland Park. Advertisement Shanahan seems to be the only person bothered by the fact that Medicare ineligible retired educators who live in Illinois pay twice as much for health insurance than their counterparts who live out of state. "I should have been a snowbird," she told me. "I should have moved out of state." Advertisement Shanahan recently was notified her monthly premiums for single coverage will increase to $833.43. If she lived in Indiana, Arizona, Florida, or anywhere else she'd only pay $416.72 per month. She's been harping on this discrepancy since she first discovered it 10 years ago. My predecessor, columnist Phil Kadner, wrote two stories about Shanahan, in 2009 and 2012. "The 67-year-old Orland Park resident is sort of a hero in my book, because she's taken on the government in a one-woman crusade that is simply remarkable," he wrote in 2009. He explained how the discrepancy in costs relates to the difference between a health maintenance organization (HMO) and a preferred provider organization (PPO). HMOs are generally more affordable but more restrictive than PPOs, in terms of access to specialists and out-of-network providers. You see, the out-of-state retirees don't have an option to choose an HMO they have to take the PPO. So the legislature thought it would be fair for state taxpayers to pick up more of the tab for their monthly premiums, since they didn't have the lower-cost choice. It's also important to note there's only a small pool of retired educators who are Medicare ineligible. The Illinois Teachers Retirement System has about 160,000 active members. But there were only a few hundred teachers who had given notice of their intent to retire in 2003 but who were ineligible to buy into Medicare when it began in 2004. There were 589 retired educators paying higher premiums like Shanahan last year, she testified at a hearing of the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. Shanahan has appealed her cause to the Better Government Association and others. In addition to Kadner's stories in the Daily Southtown, retired educator bloggers Glen Brown and Fred Klonsky have written about her. Advertisement She came close to achieving legislative relief a few years ago. She convinced former state Rep. Kevin McCarthy to sponsor a bill that would gradually close the gap in monthly premium costs between Medicare ineligible retirees living in Illinois and those living out of state. The bill sailed through the House with unanimous support and passed the Senate with only one "no" vote. It landed on the desk of then-Gov. Patrick Quinn, who vetoed it. "The Illinois Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union, had waged a lobbying campaign against it," Kadner wrote. "Union officials told me they had overlooked the bill in the spring because they were focused on other issues." Shanahan keeps pushing to correct what she's knows is an unfair discrepancy in the system. She's driven by the knowledge that every month, she's paying twice as much for health insurance than she would if she lived just 20 miles to the east, to Indiana. She met for hours with state Rep. Margot McDermed, R-Frankfort, who this year sponsored legislation similar to the McCarthy bill that fellow legislators overwhelmingly supported before they learned of the union's opposition. "It was voted down in the pension committee," McDermed told me. "The committee wasn't really feeling the love. I didn't get a single vote." Advertisement The measure would cost taxpayers an additional $500,000 to $700,000 a year, by some estimates. That would cover additional costs paid by those 592 or so retired teachers who pay twice as much for health insurance because they choose to continue living in Illinois. That amount would decrease each year as the number of affected participants dwindles. "This group is small and it's getting smaller," McDermed pointed out. Klonsky made the same observation when he wrote about Shanahan's situation in April. "Now the number is 500. It is not 100 less because the problem is being solved, if you get my drift. The state is just waiting them out," he wrote. Shanahan herself was even more blunt. Advertisement "They're just waiting for us to kick the bucket the 500 of us," she told me. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > A union representative told Klonsky the union was more concerned about Gov. Bruce Rauner proposing to cut as much as $100 million in state funding for the Teachers Retirement Insurance Program. The union, it seems, has to pick its battles and it's more concerned about the possibility of increased costs to tens of thousands of participants than addressing a discrepancy affecting some 500 retirees. I think Shanahan and others in her situation have paid enough $82,000 in the past 12 years and deserve a break. They shouldn't be penalized any longer for choosing to live in Illinois. I think it's a shame a union that represents educators lobbied to block legislation that would have provided relief to a few hundred little old ladies. It's too bad the bureaucracy that it is Illinois government lets stand a flawed policy that gives a group of residents however small additional motivation to leave the state. Advertisement tslowik@tribpub.com Twitter @tedslowik After a bleak few years, Sleepy Hollow could finally be turning the corner financially. Recently, village officials learned the Bridgeview-based Midway Autohaus would like to open a used car dealership at 1001 W. Main St., which formerly housed the Sears HomeLife furniture store. Advertisement And at Monday's board meeting, Village President Stephan Pickett said representatives from a video gaming cafe have applied for a permit to open in one of the vacant storefronts in the Springhill Meadows strip mall. The complex, across from Spring Hill Mall, is also home to Salsa Street Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, Rosati's, and the newly opened Dunkin' Donuts. Pickett said Midway Autohaus hopes to sell about 1,000 cars a year at an average price of $15,000, of which the village would collect an annual sales tax percentage. If the cafe comes to fruition, Sleepy Hollow would also receive a percentage of video gaming revenues. Advertisement Board members seemed happy about the news Monday. "We're finally going to maybe catch a break on these things," Trustee Jeff Seiler said. In November of 2014, village officials asked residents via a referendum for a property tax increase in order to stave off a looming budget deficit. The request was voted down then and again in April of 2015. Village officials then dropped the asking amount to improve the chances of the referendum passing. On the March 2016 ballot, voters approved a property tax increase totaling $180,000 to meet the village's operating needs. Village officials said another tax increase could be needed in the future. But Pickett said if the new developments pan out, "we won't have to go out for another referendum for a while." "Every nickel and dime helps," he said. Because a used car dealership is not a permitted use in the village, Midway Autohaus representatives have applied for a special use permit. A public hearing on the request will be held at a future Zoning Board meeting, village officials said. Erin Sauder is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. South Elgin Chief of Police Chris Merritt takes part in the National Night Out activities in South Elgin on Tuesday. Merritt announced that he plans to retire from the department in September. (Janelle Walker / The Courier-News) South Elgin Chief of Police Chris Merritt announced this week that he plans to retire on Sept. 9 nearly 26 years to the day since he came on the department. Merritt, 50, has been chief of police in the 32-officer department for nearly half of his career there. He was named chief on Sept. 22, 2003, replacing Jim Spivey. Advertisement He decided to put in the paperwork for his retirement after talking to one of the officers who started the same day he did but who retired three years ago, Merritt said. When Deputy Chief A.J. Moore retired, he and his family moved to the East Coast. Advertisement "We are best of friends and I got to experience his retirement with him," Merritt said. Because Moore moved away after his retirement "he had to learn a new area, too. I learned from him that it is a lot to handle when quitting your career and adjusting to everything new," Merritt said. Part of that lesson is deciding not to make any changes right away, Merritt said. He has no new job waiting for him. "For the first couple months or the first year, I am not going to change much other than job status," Merritt said. He and Moore started working in the department on Sept. 7, 1990. "We started at a time when South Elgin was just experiencing its growth spurt with housing," Merritt said. When they came on the department, there were 10 or 12 officers and 7,000 residents in the village. Now, South Elgin's population sits at 22,201, according to the most recent census data. While there are more residents, more officers, and more calls for service, the village has always been in a "bubble" with fewer serious crimes than many of its neighbors, Merritt said. That will likely change as more residents means more calls for service, he said. Advertisement But as a bedroom community where "the sidewalks roll up at 9 or 9:30 (p.m.) we will probably always have a 'bubble,'" Merritt said. "But the bubble might get smaller. I think that we are going to see ourselves get busier and busier as time goes by." Merritt has helped steer the village and the department through past crisis, said Village Manager Steve Super. "He has shown us really good judgment in times when we faced crisis over the last couple of years, which I really appreciate," Super said. "Personally I am going to miss him. He has been a good chief and a good leader in the village for a long time but I understand him wanting to move on to the next chapter of his life," Super said. Some of the more recent challenges include Merritt overseeing the shutdown of South Elgin's emergency communications center and moving dispatch to Kane County's KaneCom center. Next year, dispatch will move again to St. Charles-based TriComm. As chief, he also worked to standardize the department and ensure that officers are equipped with the training and tools needed to do the job, Merritt said. Advertisement "One of the things I wanted to do is setting up systems in the village and the police department, doing the same things over and over so they learn the system and know what to do in a situation," Merritt said. "We did a lot of work on standard operating procedures for the guys. That makes it more efficient for them to do their job." The department has tripled in size, echoing the village's growth. With that, South Elgin has also seen more drug cases, had a recent home invasion, and is still investigating the May 6 disappearance of Kianna Galvin, 18. The girl was last heard from when she told a family member she was walking to Hansen Park. "We are still continuing to follow leads. Our hearts go out to the family, but we continue to work on it," as new leads are developed, Merritt said. "We still are following leads if they come in, but we are still waiting for something to break in the case. We have exhausted everything that has come in so far," Merritt said. When asked what memorable events he will take with him from his time here, Merritt said it wasn't a particular crime, but the people and the memories. Merritt met his wife on the job, and now has a daughter and grandchildren from his time at the department. "The best thing that ever happened is just getting this job. It has given everything I have in my life," Merritt said. Advertisement An Ohio native, Merritt moved to the area after an older brother living in St. Charles suggested he look for work in the Fox Valley. Merritt graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminology from the Ohio State University and worked as a community service officer in Naperville for just a month before being hired in South Elgin. Now is the time to retire, in part, because there are others in the department who should get a shot at being the chief of police, Merritt said, and because he's been in the position for 13 years himself. "I want a different challenge now in my life and you kind of know when it is time to go. For this department and the people that I love, I want this job to go to someone who wants to be here and wants to work hard. "It has never been about the money," as a police officer, Merritt added. "It has been about the job." Janelle Walker is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. Kudos to Elgin Police and Fire Departments: I'm an Elgin citizen who has lived here since 1964. I have gotten to know some of the retired police officers in Elgin. I also know Cherie Aschenbrenner who works to protect the older people in Elgin. I have to say that Elgin should be very proud of their Police Department. After what's happened in the country, people should thank God we have police. I just want to say how much I appreciate not only the Police Department but also the Fire Department. We need them to keep this country safe. I don't think they get enough credit, plus they have been getting picked on way too much. There are bad apples everywhere, but when it comes to the police, there are more good apples than bad apples. Protest against gangbangers: This is in regards to "Black Lives Matter." I would like to know why they don't march where the gangbangers are. They are marching on the police but not on themselves. Blacks are killing themselves on the South Side. "Black Lives Matter" should be there. Advertisement Pondering about police: This is about the shooting in Minnesota. I first want to commend the young lady for staying calm and not getting herself killed in that car. I also want to say I am so sorry about the policemen who were killed in Dallas. Getting back to Minnesota, from what I gather, they were pulled over for a broken tail light that was not broken. As a black man, that has happened to me. I was pulled over for a broken tail light that was not broken. I was just guilty of driving while black. This has to stop. It's wrong and leads to needless confrontations. We just have to remain calm, let justice be served, and let the truth come out. There are an alarming number of black men being killed, but I love the police. I don't know what I would do without them to protect me. Hats off to the Irish: Cruel treatment was a fact of life in this nation's early history. The Irish who survived horrible famine to come here were not accepted. Neither was their religion. They took the worst jobs. They dug the Erie Canal by hand. Laid railroad tracks going west. Carried bricks on their shoulders for tall buildings. That's past. Today, they are the proud Irish of America. Advertisement Leery of marijuana law: I have a real problem with this new marijuana law. You are allowed to have 10 grams. That's quite a bit. Kids don't understand that if they get pulled over, they will get a ticket for driving under the influence of drugs. If you have a crash, your car insurance won't pay. What is the deal? I understand the jails are overcrowded. Who is running our government? Is it Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck? They don't know what they're doing. It's all about money, isn't it, Illinois? It's just unreal. How soon we forget: To the caller who wants us to remember 9/11, we have forgotten about it. When 9/11 happened, it pulled all Americans together. That lasted two to three months, and then it was back to hating. Yes, we did forget what 9/11 was all about. Memories of the past: That was a good call about the soap box derby in Phillips Park back in the 1950s. However, the master of ceremonies was Bob Atcher, famed cowboy from WLS Barn Dance. He became Schaumburg's first village president. Other fond memories for me from the park are the horseshoe pits, the croquet courts, pony rides, and the annual carnival. Blame businesses: Donald Trump better shut up the rhetoric about the wall. At this moment, Hispanics don't hate white Americans. They actually like us. So-called illegal immigration was brought on by this country after factory workers returned to the South. I can name for you the cheapskate businesses that led the way in Aurora 50 years back. Put the blame where it belongs. Water woes: I totally agree with the Speak Out on the fishy water. My dog won't drink it. She's not well. I have to go out and buy bottled water. I'm a senior citizen. It's costing too much to buy bottled water. What can we do to get a credit on our water bill from the city? Also, what has happened to our Sunday paper? Sometimes we get the Wal-Mart insert, and sometimes we don't. Overthrowing governments: I want to comment on the person who is into Donald Trump. It's OK if you want to support Trump. That's one of the rights you have in the United States. But to insinuate that ISIS was caused by President Barack Obama, you need to get your facts straight. If we had left Saddam Hussein in place instead of coming up with stuff on him so we could go over there and kill him, the Middle East would still be stabilized. We have to think about what happens when we overthrow governments. Hussein kept that region in check. We put Hussein in check. Go back and look when that region became unstable. Obama was not in the White House at that time. Scamming for free food: I am so sick and tired of going to food pantries and watching all these people. Some of them live on my street. You should see the food they get. Two carts of food, yet they have smartphones and new cars. By the time I got there, all the food was gone. They need to check on these people. Why doesn't public aid check? This is why our country is going to pot. I am so sick of the scamming. Need for a change: It's always challenging for every generation in life. In yesteryear, you were a good, reliable citizen if you didn't swear, drink, smoke, do drugs or own a gun. People were respectful to one another, and life was peaceful. Today, the only so-called evil is smoking. Alcoholic beverages are included at all social events. Drugs, especially marijuana, are accepted. Guns are legal. Look at where we are in life. High crime. We still do have some wonderful youth who will be our leaders in the future, but our schools are suffering. Things need to turn around. Life cannot continue as it is now. Advertisement Musing about used car lot: Hey Sleepy Hollow, you really are a piece of work. I read the article about how you are hoping to get a used car lot on that prime corner at Illinois 72 and Locust Street. I can't imagine a worse use for that place, but I admit it has been empty for a long time. For such a pinkies-out community that you think you are, I like the part where you say it's on the far fringe of the town so it won't matter. There's thinking for you. Editor's note Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you see something you disagree with or think is incorrect, please tell us. Call us at 312-222-2460 or email couriernews@tribpub.com. Please include "speak out" in the subject line. Julie Campbell, a member of the Reconfiguration 2.0 steering committee, addresses the school board with Raphael Labrador, center, and Art Kessler. (District 112) Stung by accusations leveled during the March referendum campaign, members of the North Shore District 112 school board want the new Reconfiguration 2.0 panel and its smaller subgroups to record all of their meetings. The 31-member citizens' group working on school reorganization options is not legally obliged to comply with the Open Meetings Act. Advertisement "If we fail to be completely transparent through every part of this, we will be right back where we started," said Yumi Ross, a District 112 board member who served on an Architects Advisory Board that was criticized by referendum opponents. Ross said that if meetings aren't recorded, the board leaves itself vulnerable to accusations of interfering in the committee's work. Advertisement Previously, board members decided that meetings of the Reconfiguration 2.0 panel should be videotaped with the exception of a two-day, 24-hour retreat held in late June. However, the large group has since split up into four subcommittees focusing on communications, education, facilities and finance. The Reconfiguration 2.0 panel is led by a five-member steering committee that holds its own weekly meetings in addition to sitting in on subcommittee sessions. Questions arose July 19 about the practicality of videotaping numerous small meetings. "You're saying that if something comes up, and they decide to meet at Starbucks in sweatpants with no makeup, that they should somehow arrange to have that videotaped?," asked board member Samantha Stolberg. President Michael Cohn said audio recordings might provide a sufficient backup for subcommittee meetings should questions come up about what led to a recommendation. Board members asked the subcommittees to immediately begin keeping audiotape recordings of their meetings. They expressed a preference for videotaping meetings of the full group. "We joined with the clear understanding this is a public process," Raphael Labrador, a member of the steering committee, told the school board. He thought it most important to record the group's full meetings, because that's where trade offs will be debated and decisions made. Updating the school board about the process, Labrador said the group has decided to start with a baseline, low-cost model with minimal improvements and build up from there. Board members urged the group to visit all 12 district schools to gain a better understanding of the facilities than can be shown on paper. Advertisement Raphael Labrador, a member of the Reconfiguration 2.0 steering committee, updates the school board July 19. (School District 112) "I don't think it is possible to fully understand the extent of the problem if you have not seen the facilities," said board member Karla Livney, who suggested the visits take place on a 95-degree day. Superintendent Michael Bregy said the district is working to schedule those visits. Responding to a question, Labrador acknowledged the committee has fielded questions about the school board's plan to close four schools prior to the 2017-18 school year. The plan to close Ravinia, Lincoln, Elm Place and the Green Bay Early Childhood Center is known as BDR3 for the third round of budget deficit reductions. "Our position is that if we spent time talking about BDR3 and whether BDR3 should happen that would be a full-time job," Labrador said. "We understand our agreement very clearly, which is to create a set of viable options for the board to consider. That's it." kberkowitz@pioneerlocal.com Plea deal negotiations are being explored for a man charged with murder after the January 2015 slaying of a woman in a Waukegan bar, authorities said. Elpidia Munoz-Garcia, 33, was shot in the face just after 1 a.m. Jan. 2, 2015, inside the Buenos Bar in Waukegan, prosecutors said. Advertisement Roberto Romero, then 23, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, according to authorities, who said the shooting was captured on the bar's surveillance camera and witnessed by Munoz-Garcia's 9-year-old daughter. On Tuesday, Assistant State's Attorney Jason Grindel and defense attorney LaTonya Burton told Judge Daniel Shanes that a plea is being explored. Advertisement Romero's trial is scheduled to start Sept. 26, and Shanes indicated he expected movement on a potential resolution if the trial is to be averted, noting a year and a half has passed with no plea deal offer being made. The original lead prosecutor in the case left the state's attorney's office for private practice last year. "We're working behind the scenes," Grindel said. He added that the state's attorney's office needed to speak again with Munoz-Garcia's relatives about any possible plea deal, but said he believes there is a likelihood a trail won't be needed. Burton added: "I think it will be resolved." The charges against Romero include a firearm enhancement, under which he would face a minimum of 45 years in prison and a maximum of natural life upon conviction if the case goes to trial. Munoz-Garcia, who police and prosecutors described as Romero's girlfriend, was the first Lake County homicide of 2015. Prosecutors said Munoz-Garcia had texted Romero's parents and told them Romero had taken their gun. When the parents arrived at the bar to take the weapon, Romero "took the gun and discharged it two to three times directly in the face of the victim," Assistant State's Attorney Carolina DeLeon-Bond said during a hearing following his arrest. Romero allegedly told Waukegan police he had taken the gun from his parents' house, and after he and Munoz-Garcia got into an argument, he pulled out the gun and shot her, according to prosecutors. Advertisement Romero has been held in Lake County Jail since his arrest with bail set at $3 million. Shanes set a next court date of Aug. 16. jrnewton@tronc.com Twitter @jimnewton5 Now that an acclaimed sculptor has been selected to create a 12-foot statue of author Ray Bradbury, Waukegan officials are seeking $125,000 to pay for what they say will become one of the city's most important landmarks. And one of the first people officials reached out to was director Steven Spielberg, who once called Bradbury his "muse." Advertisement "We're writing a donor request letter to Spielberg," said Richard Lee, executive director of the Waukegan Public Library and chairman of the Ray Bradbury Statue Committee. "Steven Spielberg is a great Bradbury fan." Bradbury, who wrote classics such as "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and "Dandelion Wine," grew up in Waukegan and died in 2012 in Los Angeles. Advertisement The Ray Bradbury Statue Committee selected Maryland-based Zachary Oxman, who has done work for President Obama and other presidents, to create the statue. The members pared down about 40 applicants to three, and then met individually with each candidate before selecting Oxman. It was a unanimous decision, Lee said. The stainless steel statue of Bradbury riding a rocket while waving a book in the air will be installed on Clayton and County streets in front of the library. Oxman has called it "Ray Bradbury: Fantastical Traveler." "I'm thinking the installation will be completed in 2017," Lee said. The committee has already received a $10,000 pledge from Washington, D.C., attorney and author representative Robert Barnett, who grew up in Waukegan, Lee said. Bradbury left his book collection to the Waukegan library. "Bradbury has lots of fans around the globe," according to Lee, who expects the money to easily be raised. Potential donors will be impressed with the sculptor when they learn more about him, said Lori Nerheim, who serves on the sculpture committee and as executive director of the Waukegan Arts Council. Among Oxman's most recent commissioned works is a stainless steel sculpture of a dove that President Obama gave to Pope Francis when he visited the United States in 2015, she said. Advertisement Oxman has a degree in fine arts from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, has collections of his works at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and has had exhibits in the White House and other locations both in the U.S. and around the world. "Zachary really impressed all of us," Nerheim said. "He knows about Bradbury and he reread many of his books and watched some of his old films (before presenting his idea)," she said. "We wanted someone to combine the man people knew as an adult and how he was a little boy growing up in Waukegan." Oxman's statue will feature a grown Bradbury riding the rocket ship. "He's reaching out to the world, yet you can see the little boy inside him," Nerheim said. "His hand is outstretched. It will be spectacular on the site. Instead of the traditional bronze, he'll use stainless steel so it has a more modern feel. Now that people can envision it, we can go out for the money." The library has set up a crowd funding website through Generosity to raise money. Oxman told the committee he initially responded because he sees himself as sculptural storyteller. Advertisement "Ray Bradbury challenged genres and wasn't afraid to approach tough subjects," Oxman said. Bradbury, recipient of the 2000 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the 2004 National Medal of Arts and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, died at the age of 91. Lee said the idea for the Bradbury statue came a few years ago from a community member who has since died, and also supported getting the bronze Jack Benny statue erected in front of the Benny Plaza on Genesee Street in 2002. He thought Waukegan needed a Bradbury statue as well, Lee said. "I totally agreed," Lee said. "I came here to work at the library in 2003 and was so excited to have that link with Ray Bradbury." Over the years, Lee said he's talked with Bradbury who wanted to help with a fundraiser for the library, but became too ill to travel. "Ray Bradbury always had been such a supporter of the public library," Lee said. "I always felt we need to honor him." Advertisement The private book collection Bradbury bequeathed to the library contains 330 cartons of books and has been appraised at $500,000, Lee said. A library volunteer is indexing and evaluating the condition of each, he said. One of the books is a first edition of "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck, worth nearly $9,000, he said. Nerheim said the regional and national arts community helped them follow the right process in choosing the statue's creator. They received applications from nearly 43 sculptors, including from Australia, Mexico City and the United Kingdom. Nerheim said she is excited to have someone of Oxman's stature creating the homage to Bradbury. "We have an internationally acclaimed artist creating a sculpture for one of the most extraordinary literary figures of all time," she said."I think this will be so fantastic for our city." Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun. Aggravated robbery Flagstaff police investigated a suspected robbery at Bushmaster Park this past week. According to the police report, the victim was drinking in the park with three other men the night of July 27. At one point, he said, the other men started assaulting him. The victim said the other men kicked him in the back and stole his wallet. He then ran to the nearby bowling alley. Medics responded to transport the victim to Flagstaff Medical Center to be treated for a large contusion on his back. Officers later recovered the victim's wallet. He was unable to identify his assailants. The case has been forwarded to detectives for review. Charged with DUI Kendal M. Jensen, 27, of Winslow was arrested by Flagstaff Police Department on a DUI charge at 12:04 a.m. Sunday. Roy Jesus Valencia, 36, of Tempe was arrested by Flagstaff Police Department on charges of extreme DUI and aggravated DUI with a suspended license at 4:03 a.m. Saturday. Travis Anderson Cookston, 29, of North Second Street was arrested by Flagstaff Police Department on an extreme DUI charge at 2:01 a.m. Friday. City and county residents who want to report a crime but wish to remain anonymous may call Silent Witness at 774-6111 or (877) 29-CRIME, submit a tip online at www.coconinosilentwitness.org, or text the word Flagtip along with your information to 274637 (CRIMES). Rewards of up to $2,000 are given for information that leads to an arrest. The deadlines to file appeals on property tax assessments in the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff area are drawing near. Property owners in Shields Township, which covers all of Lake Bluff and north of Route 60 in Lake Forest, have until Aug. 15 to appeal. The deadline for Libertyville Township is Aug. 29. It's slightly later in Moraine Township which has a Sept. 6 date and West Deerfield Township on Sept. 19. The final date for Vernon Township has not yet been determined, according to officials. Advertisement As of July 27, only 99 appeals, out of more than 10,000 properties, have been filed in Shields Township said Kathleen Blahunka, township assessor. "That's not a lot," Blahunka said. Advertisement For those considering an appeal, Blahunka suggests going to the Lake County Assessor's website to see how your property compares to similar homes in the area. "As local assessor, it's our job to know the local property," Blahunka said. "Is it a wood or brick exterior? Is it a one or two story house? Does it have a garage? How big? How many plumbing fixtures are in there? How large is the above-ground living area? Do you have finished basements or not?" If there is a change in your property that lowers its value, Blahunka advises contacting your township assessor. "You wouldn't have to appeal if you thought your property was in poor condition or you had a fireplace removed or a bathroom," Blahunka said. "Anything like that, we can correct (assessed value) if we have evidence. Or if you think the property is obsolete or having problems, we can look at it and lower the condition." Before filing an appeal, it might be worth having the property appraised. "In Lake Forest, you have a lot of unique homes," Blahunka said. "Some of the larger homes, it's better to get it appraised before you appeal. We like to have certified appraisers who are not related to banks because they tend to go lower because they don't want to loan you as much money." About a third of residents appealing this year hired attorneys. "Good property tax attorneys will look at it before they file and let you know if they have a good chance of winning," Blahunka said. Advertisement Ron Kingsley, owner of Lake County Appeal based in Lake Forest, agrees. "The most common is if the assessed value of their property is more than the sale price of three comparable properties that sold after 2014," Kingsley said. "The second most common is if the property is taxed more than three identical properties in the neighborhood." Last year, about 10 percent of the appeals filed in Shields Township were successful, Blahunka said. Those who get a thumbs down from the township assessor can bring their appeal to the Lake County Board of Review around October or November. The Board of Review usually issues its decision by February, Blahunka said. If the Board of Review turns down the appeal, property owners can take their case to the state of Illinois although Blahunka said the state can take two to three years to schedule a hearing. Advertisement Fifteen county tax assessment "Help Centers" will be held through Sept. 21. Help Centers will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 10 at University Center of Lake County, 1200 University Center Drive, Grayslake and from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 11 at the Lake County Permit Facility, 500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville. The Lake County Assessor's website has more information at lakecountyil.gov. mlawton@pioneerlocal.com Twitter: @reporterdude A DuPage County judge Wednesday limited how much of the internet search history could be introduced at the trial of a man accused of murdering his new roommate, ruling that searches for "Jason Bourne" were relevant, but pornographic inquiries were not. The ruling by Judge Brian Telander will restrict prosecutors, who argued that Grant Muren's search history would help belie his assertion that he killed a Naperville man in self-defense. Advertisement Muren is scheduled to stand trial beginning Aug. 23 in the January 2014 killing of Charles Clark, 55, in Clark's townhouse on Vail Court in Naperville. Authorities say Muren responded to a Craigslist ad placed by Clark seeking a roommate, and that Muren killed Clark after the two men became sexually intimate. Muren's attorneys say Muren killed Clark in self-defense after Clark sexually assaulted him. Advertisement Prosecutors had filed a motion seeking to introduce what they said were relevant internet searches that Muren had made on his computers before the killing. Among them were a number of searches for pornographic websites, including some homosexual sites involving inter-racial sex. The prosecutors argued that the searches would show that Muren, 24, was interested in sex with African-American men Clark was black and would cast doubt on Muren's assertion that he had been sexually assaulted. But Telander said that was too far of a leap and would prove more prejudicial than probative. However, the judge said that prosecutors could admit searches related to a "Jason Bourne" action movie. After the killing, prosecutors say, Muren tried to flood Clark's apartment with natural gas from a stove and tried to ignite it by placing paper into a toaster. The actions mimicked a scene from one of the Bourne films in which star Matt Damon's character set off an explosion. Muren's actions also showed consciousness of guilt, prosecutors argued. The judge ruled that the search would be relevant to a secondary charge of concealment of a homicide. Clark's apartment, though, did not explode. His girlfriend discovered his body after she came to his residence when she was unable to contact him. The judge also said prosecutors could introduce some searches related to the word "Hannibal," which was found in the search history of the victim's computer and had been used as password by Muren. The evidence could help place Muren at the crime scene, the judge said. Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter. Naperville police are investigating after the tent encampment used by homeless man Scott Huber was destroyed by fire Monday. (Naperville police) A Naperville man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to an arson charge and a new felony count in a fire that destroyed a homeless man's tents and belongings. James Povolo, 71, was arraigned Tuesday in DuPage County court, according to prosecutors, who have lodged an additional felony count for criminal damage to property. Authorities say that Povolo started the fire earlier last month that destroyed the two-tent campsite of Scott Huber, who has been living on Naperville's streets almost two decades in what he calls a protest against the city. Advertisement Povolo, who is free on bond, is due back in court on Oct. 5, before Judge Liam Brennan. Povolo, who lives in the 1300 block of Dartford Court, was taken into custody July 26, eight days after the fire destroyed most of Huber's belongings and two tents in which he lived. Authorities allege Povolo approached the tents, which were pitched behind a gas station at the Ogden Avenue and Naper Boulevard intersection, about 2 p.m. on July 18. At the time, Huber was away from his dwelling, police said. Advertisement Huber said the blaze destroyed records of his almost two-decade battle with city officials. Huber, 65, lost his home and electronics business in the 1990s and blamed the city. Since then, he has lived in a tent on city streets in what he says is a protest. In an interview last week, Huber said people had stepped forward with donations, including tents, to help him in the aftermath. Authorities have not commented on a possible motive in the fire. Huber said last week that he does not know Povolo. Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter. Bill Bird of the Naperville Sun contributed. Madeleine Langley (from left), 8, and her sibling Sophie Langley, 5, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Chelsea Meiner, 5, of Park Ridge, dance on stage to the music of The Lisa Rene Band Friday, July 29, 2016, in Niles at Oak Park located at Ottawa and Main streets. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press) Bad weather cancelled the Friday overnight family camping event in Niles at Oak Park located at Ottawa and Main streets. But music continued on the park's stage with The Lisa Rene Band. Body art painting and a balloon artist helped to round out the Niles Park District and village of Niles event. Advertisement "It's a good time for families," said Robin Brey, recreation program supervisor for the Niles Park District. The overnight camping opportunity won't be rescheduled this year, Brey said. Advertisement "There's always next year," Brey said. Though camping would not be a part of the evening's festivities, people brought folding chairs and kids danced near the stage for the outdoor concert. "We're here every week," said Pat Bartz, a 25-year Niles resident who likes attending the Friday concert series. Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer. Nurse honored by website Megan Walker, a Registered Nurse in the Post-Partum Unit at Methodist Hospital's Northlake Campus in Gary Indiana, is the only nurse among NWI hospitals to be named a finalist in the 2016 Nurse.com GEM Awards Midwest states. According to the hospital, on her 20-bed postpartum unit, Walker provides comprehensive maternal-child care to mothers, babies and their families. She also volunteers for community projects that serve underprivileged parents. Advertisement United Way Day of Caring is Aug. 12 United Way Regional Volunteer Center is inviting the public to join the United Way Day of Caring on Aug. 12. As one of the largest single-day volunteer events in Northwest Indiana, Day of Caring brings together nonprofits, local businesses, municipalities, churches, civic groups and individuals to make a significant impact in their community. The event is perfect for teams and individuals looking for an easy way to give back. The event kicks off with a free breakfast at 8 a.m. in Valparaiso and Merrillville. Volunteers also receive a free t-shirt. Corporations, teams and individuals looking for more information or interested in participating should register at NWIvolunteer.org. Advertisement Pink at Portage event planned Porter Health Care System presents "Pink at Portage," a special monthly event for women needing their annual mammogram, from 7 a.m. to Noon, Saturday, August 13 in the Women's Center at Portage Hospital, 3630 Willowcreek Road, Portage. In addition to getting their annual screening, those in attendance will receive a complimentary brunch. To participate in Pink at Portage, a woman must be age 40 or older and know the date of her last mammogram. Insurance will be charged and only covers one mammogram annually. For more information or to register, call 219-983-8399. Autism advocate to be honored The Dunes Learning Center Green Apple Award will be presented to Clark Middle School structured learning teacher and autism advocate Tracy Chandler at a gala event at 6 p.m. Sept. 16 at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton. The event includes cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, live music by The Corey Dennison Blues Band and a silent auction. Event proceeds support Dunes Learning Center programs. Tickets are $100 and advance purchase is required. More information is at duneslearningcenter.org/events. Diabetes classes offered in Crown Point Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point will offer a series of diabetes classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in September, October, and November. Classes will help provide participants with individual meal plans designed to meet specific needs, along with information in accordance with the American Diabetes Association Standards. Sessions will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Typically there are four sessions for each class. Registration and a physician referral are required prior to class. Fees are covered by most insurance companies. More information, including fees and registration, is at (219) 757-6268. CEO to speak at morning business hour Scott Albanese, owner and CEO of Albanese Nuts and Candies, will be the guest speaker at First Financial Banks Morning Business Hour from 8 to 9 a.m. Sept. 14 at the bank, 11890 Broadway, Crown Point. The event is free. RSVP to Judith Mariola at judith.mariola@bankatfirst.com. Advertisement Staff report A Lake Station man serving a prison sentence for dealing narcotics was among 214 individuals to receive sentence commutations Wednesday from President Barack Obama. White House officials said it was the largest batch of commutations on a single day in more than a century, including 67 life sentences. The releases reflecting Obama's push to lessen the burden on nonviolent drug offenders will occur over the next two years, including that of Reinaldo Arocho, 50, of Lake Station. Advertisement Arocho was sentenced in January 2000 to 32 years and 3 months in prison on charges of drug conspiracy, maintaining a drug house, distribution of crack cocaine, carrying a firearm during drug trafficking, and attempting to corruptly persuade a witness, according to a White House press release. A year later, Arocho's sentence was reduced to 300 months, and now he'll be released on Dec. 1, about halfway into his original sentence, according to the release. Arocho was also fined $5,000 and sentenced to 10 years supervised release. Advertisement Arocho, reputed in the late 1990s as a "crack" house operator in the 1100 Block of Clay Street in Gary, was convicted in U.S. District Court in Hammond along with Marc Flores, then 24, of Gary. Flores received 27 years in prison on charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, maintaining a place for that purpose and carrying a firearm during trafficking, court records stated. A check of the federal prison inmate locater shows that Flores was released in 2012. Jesse Colon, of Gary a third suspect named in the eight-count federal indictment at the time was sentenced to life in prison plus 25 years. A jury found him responsible for more than 1.5 kilograms of crack cocaine and 44.7 grams of heroin, reports stated. The inmate locater found a man by that name in a medium-security facility in Victorville, Calif., with a 2037 release date. In subsequent appeals of their sentences, Arocho, Flores and Colon argued the court improperly calculated the amount of narcotics involved as determined by the judge in their trials rather than the jury. An appeals court ruled that the error in not sending the quantity of the drugs to the jury did not seriously affect the fairness, integrity or public reputation of the judicial proceeding. Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. The Associated Press contributed. With the scope and penalties of Chinas social credit system being further clarified in 2021, legal and regulatory compliance has become more important than... Image taken on Oct. 28, 2015 shows people walking by the stand of the Chinese company Huawei during the "Futurecom 2015", in Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Photo/Xinhua] The stagnant personal computer (PC) market has not discouraged Huawei and Xiaomi, two major IT firms in China, from attempting to give a boost to the industry. At the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain, in February, Huawei rolled out its newest PC series named Matebook, which will be priced between 4,988 (US$752) and 9,688 yuan, while last week, Xiaomi unveiled its first two laptops in the Air Series, to be sold for 3,499 and 4,999 yuan. Lei Jun, the founder of Xiaomi, admitted at the launching ceremony that the PC market represents one of the most competitive and mature industries. But the reason for Xiaomi's foray into the PC market is a desire to meet unsatisfied demands and improve technologies. The company focuses on developing thin and light high-performance laptops. Will Xiaomi and Huawei be able to reshape the PC industry as much as they changed the smart phone market? According to Gartner, a world renowned technology firm, shipments of PCs in the second quarter this year were down by 5.2 percent year on year, registering a decline for the seventh season in a row. Bai Fan, general manager of the ITO business division of GFK, a multinational market consulting company, said that the PC market in China is even worse than in the rest of the world. "The major PC suppliers in China have suffered a decline, a domestic situation different from those of the overseas markets," said Bai. Around 2010, China launched a subsidy programs to boost the sales of electronic home appliances in the countryside. But the program overdrew the sales of the electronic devices in the following years. "It is usually believed that a PC can be used for four to five years. However, the reality is that it may work even longer," Bai said. The analyst added that even if Huawei and Xiaomi make achievements in the PC industry, the landscape of the sector has little room for change, indicating that the two domestic tech firms cannot constitute a major force in the PC market in the short term. But the PC can be marketed for more specific demands in the market by installing apps for online education or by providing high-performance computers designated for online video games, Bai said. China's top coal-producing province is preparing to launch credit default swaps (CDS), according to Shanxi provincial office on financial work. A CDS, popular in developed economies, is an agreement that the seller of the CDS will compensate the buyer, usually the creditor of a bond, in the event of a default by the debtor. Shanxi is the first provinces to try CDS, the office said. The CDS will increase the credit options of coal producers, and is in response to a changing financial landscape in the province. Companies have been turning to bond issues rather than bank loans for financing, said the office. Shanxi companies have 341 billion yuan (50 billion U.S. dollars) of outstanding bonds in China's interbank debt market. However, coal prices have dived and producers have recorded significant losses and increasing defaults. Many potential investors have begun to question the creditworthiness of coal producers. Park rangers discovered the body of a woman below Pima Point at the Grand Canyon this past Saturday. According to officials with the National Park Service, evidence found at the scene indicates the remains probably belong to Diana Zacarias, 22, of Natchitoches, La. Zacarias has been missing for approximately four months. The remains have been sent to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office for positive identification. Zacarias was last seen at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. According to the National Park Service, the Arizona Shuttle dropped her off at the Maswick Lodge on April 2. She is believed to have visited Yaki Point and Lookout Studio. Patricia Miller, a spokesperson for the family, said Zacarias mother texted her to remind her about her flight back home. She received an unusual text message back saying Zacarias was not going. Zacarias family reported her missing the next day. The National Park Service conducted air and ground search operations for several days but were unable to locate her. There has been no activity on her cellphone, credit card or debit card since she went missing. After Zacarias disappeared, her father came to Arizona, where he has been passing out flyers and conducting his own search. The National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner are still investigating the discovery of the remains. They have not released a suspected cause of death or said whether foul play is suspected. Anyone who may have information regarding Zacarias disappearance can contact Grand Canyon Silent Witness at (928) 638-7840, the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch at 1-888-653-0009, Coconino County Silent Witness at (928) 774-6111 or (877) 29-CRIME, or the Zacarias family at (318) 471-1128. You are here: Home Taiwan's former leader Ma Ying-jeou made his first appearance in court yesterday in a long-running libel case against a commentator who claimed he had taken illicit political donations. It comes as Ma himself faces a series of cases brought by political rivals now that his leadership immunity has ended. Those cases make a range of allegations, including accusing Ma of leaking political secrets, failing to declare assets and benefiting a company in a controversial stadium construction project. Ma served as the island's leader for two terms, from 2008 to May this year when he handed the reins to his rival Tsai Ing-wen. He made no statements during yesterday's hearing at the High Court, which has been reviewing his appeal after a district court cleared commentator and radio show host Clara Chou. Outside court he denied that he had accepted NT$200 million (US$6.25 million) in political donations from a company seeking favors. Ma filed defamation lawsuits in 2014 against Chou for alleging that he accepted illicit political donations from food giant Ting Hsin International Group, which has been hit by a string of safety scandals. "I did not accept NT$200 million in political donations from Ting Hsin or benefit [the company]. This is very clear," Ma told reporters. Chou accused him of accepting under-the-table funds to act as the firm's "guardian," an allegation that sparked public anger following the scandals. Ma firmly rejected the allegation, saying his government fully investigated the company's alleged involvement and indicted dozens of people. Chou was cleared by Taipei district court last December on the ground of freedom of expression. Ma won the leadership in 2008 with the biggest landslide in Taiwan's history, favored by a public fed up with the scandals of his predecessor Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party, who was jailed for corruption. Hordes of angry passengers stranded after Typhoon Nida pummelled Hong Kong crowded the airport yesterday, desperately seeking flights as the city emerges from lockdown while the storm swept across southern China. Hundreds of flights were cancelled, schools and shops shut and the stock market closed for the day as the storm brought violent winds and torrential showers. Gusts of 151 kilometers per hour whipped the city and rain lashed down during the night, leaving three people injured and a trail of fallen trees and torn-down scaffolding. The storm triggered a Typhoon 8 signal the third-strongest category which was downgraded yesterday as winds eased and the typhoon passed onto China's mainland. But when the city's deserted streets began to come to life as buses and train services resumed, Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok airport was inundated with stranded passengers. An airport authority spokesman said only 500 flights would run between 6am and midnight local time yesterday. On a normal day, the airport would handle 1,100 flights. More than 150 flights were cancelled on Monday as Nida approached, leaving stranded passengers to sleep on the floor in the departure hall. Hong Kong's flagship carrier Cathay Pacific and its subsidiary Dragonair cancelled all of their flights in and out of Hong Kong for 16 hours, from 10pm on Monday until 2pm yesterday. But the backlog due to the peak summer period is such that Cathay has urged passengers booked on flights between last night and today to postpone or cancel "non-essential travel." "Services remain strained ... it has been a significant challenge as many flights are already operating at capacity," the airline said in a statement, apologizing to its customers. Security guards prevented passengers without flights from reaching check-in desks yesterday, redirecting them to another part of the airport to seek help from staff. Some complained that airline staff had not given them food vouchers or emergency accommodation despite lengthy waits. "The airline was giving inconsistent information. There was no announcement whatsoever about accommodation, food or the weather situation. It's chaotic," one passenger told local channel TVB. Another passenger from the Philippines said he had not been provided with food or accommodation, despite being at the airport since 7pm on Monday. His flight has been rescheduled for 10pm yesterday. After sweeping past Hong Kong, Nida made landfall early yesterday in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, with winds still blowing at up to 151km per hour. It was the strongest typhoon to hit the Pearl River delta in 30 years, the China News Service cited experts as saying. Shenzhen issued a red alert over rain the highest in a four-tiered warning system after the downpours totalled more than 80 millimeters, China's meteorological bureau said. The city's port and the Shenzhen Bay Bridge connecting the mainland to Hong Kong were temporarily closed, CCTV said, with around 140 flights cancelled at its airport. In neighboring Zhuhai, rainstorm warnings were upgraded to orange, the second-highest alert level, yesterday. Work was cancelled, scenic spots closed and city bus services stopped, the Guangzhou Daily said. A few people were still taking selfies on the oceanside boardwalk, prompting the provincial meteorological bureau to post on social media: "Warning once again that the wind is strong and the waves high by the seaside don't go out to the beach to play!" Nida hit south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the afternoon yesterday. Nida entered Guangxi via the city of Wuzhou around 5pm and was moving northwest at 20km per hour. It is expected to sweep across the counties of Cangwu, Zhaoping, and Mengshan and the cities of Liuzhou and Hechi in the next following 24 hours, according to the regional meteorological station of Guangxi. As Nida brought gales and heavy rain to the region, Guangxi closed most tourist attractions, including those on Weizhou Island, a large volcanic island which draws tens of thousands of tourists in holidays. Passenger ships along the coastal areas of the region were also suspended yesterday and Nanning Railway Bureau canceled 194 trains. The local water resources bureau warned that most rivers will be swollen and some small or medium rivers are liable to flood. Nida is expected to hit southwest China's Yunnan Province today. Heavy rain is forecast for Yunnan, which has raised fears of floods and landslides, the provincial meteorological bureau said, warning residents in mountainous areas to take precautions. Nida brought strong winds and torrential rains to the northern Philippines over the weekend. Cloud Tibet, the world's first search engine dedicated specially to Tibetan-speaking people, has been launched for trial operation, the China News Service reported on Tuesday. Developed by a Tibetan language research center in Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, Cloud Tibet will help Tibetan-speaking people access a variety of information in text, graphic and video formats, said Tselo, head of the development team. Also, the search engine will provide users with encyclopedia information, archive data and a Q&A service in Tibetan, Tselo said. Search capabilities in Tibetan are not available on China's largest search engines, such as Baidu and Sogou, while foreign search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing only offer simple search results. "The databases of Google, Yahoo and other foreign search engines are based overseas, so their search results are limited both in terms of quantity and quality," Tselo said. "They fail to provide users with effective, up-to-date news on Tibet, and their search results relating to Tibetan culture are not precise and extensive." During the trial operation, Cloud Tibet will further improve its search and matching function and expand its database, Tselo said. It is estimated that Cloud Tibet will attract some 2 million users in Qinghai, Tibet, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces, which are home to the largest number of Tibetan-speaking people. The project was launched in April 2013. Of the 150-plus developers, 87 percent are ethnic Tibetans. A Chinese gene scientist has found himself embroiled in controversy recently, after a sudden rise to fame just two months ago. Han Chunyu, an associate professor at Hebei University of Science and Technology, became prominent in May for the publication of a reportedly cutting-edge gene editing technique known as NgAgo. The new technology was reported as outperforming the current mainstream gene-editing technique called CRISPR-Cas9. Some called his findings worthy of a Nobel Prize. But peer scientists have recently cast doubts about the viability of the research, saying Han's results cannot be replicated. Gaetan Burgio, the head of the transgenesis lab at Australian National University, said his lab cannot reproduce Han's results and asked for disclosure of more details and data regarding the research. The request has been echoed by some other international and Chinese researchers. Nature Biotechnology, which published Han's paper in May, said on Wednesday that it would investigate the findings, as it had been contacted by several researchers who said they had not been able to reproduce Han's results. Discussions about Han's research and the myth around it are still brewing in the Chinese scientific community. But the limelight is not only about science. Since Han rose to fame in May, mainstream Chinese media have poured laudations on the research, saying that it would "break the monopoly of foreign genome editing techniques." Science and technology have not been a traditional strong suit in China, and the country is eager to compete with other countries in the field. The scientist himself has also been at the center of laudations. He has been described as an other-worldly person who made the achievement while working in modest labs. Some called him "a scholar with three have-nots," namely, one who is not a graduate from a prestigious university, has no fame and holds no senior position -- a stark contrast with most famous scientists in China, who often attend top global universities and have plenty of grant money to spend on research. Han said his research findings are tenable and "have been reproduced in his lab a dozen times," according to a latest report by Xinhua. Demonstrators protest before the release of the John Chilcot report into the Iraq war, at the Queen Elizabeth II centre in London, Britain July 6, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] The British government recently published a 2.6-million-word investigation report on its military involvement in the Iraq war. Were it not for Brexit, the Nice attack, Turkey's coup and the South China Sea arbitration farce, the report would have made bigger headlines. The report, which took seven years and reportedly cost 10 million to prepare, concludes that former prime minister Tony Blair pushed the British military into Iraq without exhausting peaceful means or preparing for the aftermath of the war. More importantly, it says the Blair government's decision was based on false intelligence that overstated the threat posed by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's non-existent weapons of mass destruction. But it stops short of saying who manipulated the intelligence and why Britain's political establishment couldn't verify the information. And sadly, the report will not be able to prevent Britain from going into another Iraq-type war. Blair and then US president George W. Bush didn't care about the consequences of waging a war on Iraq or ending it; they were only interested in overthrowing Saddam because they disliked him. The anarchy that rules Somalia and large parts of Afghanistan and Yemen should give an idea about what Iraq could turn into. The chaos and mayhem that followed the "Arab Spring" in Libya, Egypt and Syria also show Western leaders don't care about the fate of the people in other countries. In response to the investigation report, Blair said he believed that Britain should have stood by the US, an important ally, when it needed it, and claimed the world is a better place without Saddam. Bush, too, has said, through his spokesperson, that Blair was a reliable ally and a world without Saddam is a better place, although he has not read the report. This shows the extent to which the Bush-Blair friendship, as opposed to prudent thinking of political organizations, was decisive in launching the Iraq war. On May 1, 2003, Bush announced "Mission Accomplished" on the Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier off the coast of California, saying the war has left an "independent" and "stable" Iraq. His mission obviously didn't include the Iraqi children deformed by US bombs, the more than half a million Iraqis killed, the looting and ransacking of Iraq's museums housing artifacts of one of the oldest civilizations, or the frequent bomb attacks and sectarian violence in Iraq. Is Iraq or the world a better place without Saddam? Neither Blair nor Bush can answer that. But the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi families affected by the war, the 179 British and about 5,000 US families who lost their loved ones in the military action in Iraq, and the residents in cities such as Paris, Nice, London, Madrid and Brussels might be able to answer that question. The invasion of the sovereign state of Iraq without the United Nations' authorization set a very bad example. The war has not fulfilled even a single purpose, let alone the goal of containing terrorism. Instead, it has made Iraq a fertile breeding ground for extreme terrorists. And the frontline of the US' "war on terror" has gradually retreated from the Middle East to Western Europe. Is this a better world? Al-Qaida and later Islamic State terrorist group exploited the power vacuum left by Saddam's death, which the US and its allies cannot manage. The Iraq war opened the Pandora's box of terrorism. And the British report's obvious restraint, Blair's adamant defense and US presidential nominees' mania to "make America great again" are enough reasons for the world to ask how many Pandora's boxes Western leaders will open elsewhere and claim "Mission Accomplished"? The author is a writer with China Daily. Distraction policy [By Jiao Haiyang / China.org.cn] Japan's government approved a defense white paper on Tuesday, with a large portion of the document focusing on China's normal and legal maritime activities in the East and South China Seas. The 480-page white paper devoted 30 pages to China, preaching the so-called "China military threat," especially China's "military threat on the sea." Meanwhile, it endorsed the U.S. "Asia-Pacific Rebalance" strategy and Japan's newly-passed security bill, which allows Japan's Self Defense Forces to fight abroad even if Japan itself is not under attack. This is nothing new for the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that has time and again tried to trick the Japanese public into following its rightist agenda. The white paper, on the one hand, aims to rebuild Japan, which brutalized its Asian neighbors during World War II, as a military power under the pretext of "China threat." For a country which is reluctant to face up to its ignominious wartime history squarely, its attempts to beef up military power will pose a serious threat to world peace. The Abe administration is good at meddling in the South China Sea issue under the guise of "positive pacifism," which actually calls for "military contributions" to deliver world peace and security. The real purpose of the document is to tarnish China's image, contain China's peaceful rise, and offset its growing international influence, particularly its clout in the Asia Pacific. In fact, hyping up the South China Sea issue has an axe to grind. The Abe administration is attempting to enhance its impact on politics and security affairs in the region, with the support of the United States by collaborating with the U.S. "Pivot to Asia." Taking the South China Sea issue as as excuse, the Abe administration also called on other claimant countries to join hands against China. This, at the same time, is also used for relieving strategic pressure from a territorial dispute with China over the Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea. Japan has an ulterior motive of seeking excuses for interference in the South China Seas issue and military expansion by deliberately adding Japanese people's sense of crisis. On the other hand, the white paper plays up "China threat" and stirs up tensions in the region with a view to justifying Japan's new security bills and finally moving closer to Abe administration's long-held goal of revising the country's pacifist constitution. By stoking tensions, the white paper intents to push for approval by a nationwide referendum for constitutional amendments, including scrapping of the war-renouncing Article 9, that will turn Japan's self-defense forces into a conventional army. The possible constitutional amendments have sounded alarm for many Japanese who have valued their country's postwar pacifism. Furthermore, the white paper ignores historical facts, and makes irresponsible remarks on China's normal military growth and maritime activities. In order to play up the "China threat," the Abe administration often makes a fuss over China's normal training flights over the high seas. On the contrary, Japan has also been urged to be more transparent about its military budget as it has been increasing its defense spending for years, sparking concerns among its neighbors and the international community. Japan has approved a record 5.05-trillion-yen (41.90-billion-U.S. dollar) military budget for the 2016 fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2017, a 1.5-percent increase from fiscal 2015. This is the fourth consecutive year that Japan has augmented its defense budget. The Japanese government hopes the "China threat" rhetoric can help shake off its overwhelming pressure both at home and abroad, which is not a new trick. Tokyo hypes up the so-called "China threat" and "China collapse" alternately. It highlights "China collapse" when it needs to satisfy its sense of superiority, while emphasizing "China threat" when it seeks an excuse for military expansion. In fact, the two theories are apparently contradictory as "collapse" could not pose a "threat," and vice versa. Abe again begins to play up "China threat" in order to press for revising of the country's pacifist constitution, while ignoring the fact that China's economic development benefits Japan, Asia and the whole world. What the Japanese government has done is detrimental to regional peace and safety as well as the still vulnerable relations between China and Japan. Only through unity and cooperation can the international society deal with global challenges and improve people's livelihood. Abe's beggar-thy-neighbor policy and his trouble-making behavior are already exposed the world. Flash Iran may launch an advanced uranium enrichment program in case the United States fails to fulfill its commitments under a nuclear deal reached last year between Iran and the world powers, Press TV reported on Tuesday. The United States reneging on its promises under the nuclear agreement runs counter to the nuclear deal, the spokesman for the Iranian Parliament's presiding board Behrouz Nemati told Iranian state TV. "The deal is a comprehensive collection and if the United States does not fully implement it, we will respond," he said without detailing the U.S. "failures" to meet its obligations. Nearly six months after the implementation of the nuclear deal, big banks refrain from implementing the agreement and only small ones are conducting limited transactions with Iran, he added. The lawmaker's words echoed Monday's remarks of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who said that the experience of Iranians about the failure of the United States in fulfilling its obligations pertaining to a nuclear deal showed that it can never be trusted. "The United States has violated its obligations over the nuclear deal and is busy destroying Iran's economic ties with other countries," Khamenei said. "The oppressive sanctions were supposed to be lifted quickly so that it could positively impact people's lives," he said. "However, after six months, no tangible changes have occurred." The nuclear deal, reached between Iran and world powers in July last year, was implemented in January. The deal saw Iran scrapping major part of its nuclear program in return for the removal of Western and international sanctions. The United Sates still maintains sanctions on Iran over alleged violations of human rights and support of terrorism, which Iran denies. Also, Washington has recently blacklisted some Iranian and foreign entities for alleged involvement in Iran's missile program. The restrictions bar U.S. companies as well as international companies from undertaking business transactions with Iran's government. Flash Some 60,000 people have fled South Sudan's recent violence in the capital city of Juba, bringing the overall number of South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries since December 2013 to nearly 900,000, the United Nations refugee agency said today. Refugee flows from South Sudan into Uganda have doubled in the past ten days, bringing the total to more than 52,000 since violence escalated three weeks ago. Kenya has reported the arrival of 1,000 refugees in the same period, while 7,000 have fled to Sudan, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "The refugees bring disturbing reports that armed groups operating on roads to Uganda are preventing people from fleeing South Sudan," Melissa Fleming, UNHCR chief spokesperson, told reporters in Geneva. The recent fighting between rival forces the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) loyal to President Salva Kiir and the SPLA in Opposition backing First Vice-President Riek Machar erupted in and around Juba, on 7 July. New arrivals from Yei say they received letters warning them to evacuate the town in anticipation of conflict between rebel and government forces, the spokesperson said. Refugees have also reported that armed groups operating across different parts of South Sudan are looting villages, murdering civilians and forcibly recruiting young men and boys in to their ranks. More than 85 per cent of the refugees arriving in Uganda are women and children under the age of 18, she added. Many children have lost one, or both of their parents. Most are from Eastern Equatoria, with smaller numbers from Juba and Upper Nile state. Many took advantage of the opportunity to flee alongside Ugandan military convoys evacuating Ugandan nationals. "Improving conditions and capacities at existing reception facilities in Uganda is a key priority," Ms. Fleming said. Collection points in border areas have now been significantly decongested, although transit centres and reception centres remain severely stretched. Efforts are underway to rapidly open a new 100,000 capacity refugee settlement area in Yumbe district. Both Kenya and Uganda are reporting rising cases of severe malnutrition, particularly among very young children, she said. Those found to be suffering are being placed on food nourishment programmes to bring them back to health. The spokesperson said that UNHCR is reminding all parties to the conflict in South Sudan of a fundamental human right to seek asylum and urging them to ensure that civilians are provided with unhindered access to safety as the number of refugees crosses a worrying milestone. With over 2.6 million of its citizens forcibly displaced, the world's youngest nation currently ranks among the countries with the highest levels of conflict-induced population displacement globally, she said, warning that half the population relies on humanitarian aid. South Sudan was founded in July 2011, after it gained independence from Sudan. The country descended into conflict in December 2013 due to internal struggles between rival factions. Flash The Chinese military expressed strong dissatisfaction with Japan's newly published defense white paper on Tuesday, saying the China-related portion of the document was "full of lousy cliches," and it made irresponsible remarks regarding China's normal and legal national defense and military development, as well as hyped up the East and South China Sea issues. The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MOD), Colonel Wu Qian, said in a statement that Japan's defense white paper was "full of malice toward the Chinese military and deception of the international community, as well as intention to sow discord among China and its neighboring countries." Colonel Wu assured that the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is never a problem; however, it is a problem for countries outside the region, such as Japan, to meddle in the South China Sea issue, because those actions would undermine regional peace and stability. On Japan's allegation that China was changing the status quo in the South China Sea by relying on its strength, Wu called such claims "groundless" and said that Japan was actually the country that kept changing the status quo. For example, the Japanese government purchased the Diaoyu Islands, the Japanese Self Defense Force (SDF) strengthened deployment in the southwestern direction, and Japan passed the new security bill to lift the ban on its collective self-defense. Colonel Wu stressed that the Diaoyu Islands are China's inherent territory and China has ample historical and jurisprudential evidence surrounding this claim. He added that the recent "unusual close encounter" between the Chinese and Japanese military aircraft above the East China Sea was a result of Japan's provocation verifiable by video footage already released by China's Defense Ministry. Judging from Japan's recent acts, the MOD spokesperson cautioned the international community to pay great attention to Japan's intentions to change its pacifist constitution, military and security policies, along with its accelerated arms expansion. The Chinese military urges Japan to have a reflection on history, respect the facts, and stop making groundless accusations against China as well as stop cheating the international community. Colonel Wu said that Japan should make practical actions to create conditions for improving and developing China-Japan relations. Flash The Chinese-British relations are "at an important historical juncture" and the two nations should value the current "hard-won momentum" of bilateral ties, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming has said. Speaking at a reception on Monday to mark the 89th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Liu said the two nations' shared commitments "have served as the cornerstone of China-UK bilateral relations." Next year will mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial diplomatic relations between the two countries. "The journey over the past four decades and more highlights the importance of shared commitments to mutual respect, equality and taking into account each other's core interests and major concerns," the diplomat said. These commitments "are the basis for sustained growth and improvement of our relationship," he added. "What China and the UK have achieved in recent years is proof enough that these commitments are crucial as we carry on to further advance our relations," he told the audience. Liu said the two countries should value the current hard-won momentum of the Chinese-British relations. "We should bear in mind our responsibilities and the fundamental interests of our two peoples; we should work together to achieve win-win results not only for China and Britain but countries and regions beyond," he suggested. The ambassador continued that this is the way to "ensure that the growth of our relations will always benefit our two peoples." On military-to-military ties, Liu said they are an important part of the Chinese-British bilateral relations. "We are pleased that recent years have witnessed stronger cooperation and deeper mutual trust between our militaries," he said. Since early this year, there have been frequent reciprocal visits by high-ranking military officers, and a number of exchanges have been carried out across services at various levels and in multiple fields, according to the ambassador. Flash The African Union (AU) on Tuesday announced the resumption of peace talks between Sudan government, the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector, the Darfur armed movements and opposition alliance in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Aug. 8. "The Ethiopian capital will witness next week meetings of the AU mediation with the the opposition Sudan Call (an alliance bringing together Sudanese armed groups and opposition parties) to be followed by resumption of negotiations between the government and the armed movements on Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions," Mahmoud Kan, chairman of the AU liaison office in Khartoum, told reporters. "Head of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki has extended the invitation to the concerned parties for meetings in Addis Ababa, to begin as of Aug. 8 and last until Aug. 11," he added. He said the first meeting would be held on Aug. 8 with the opposition to sign the road-map agreement, to be followed by the resumption of the talks on cessation of hostilities and delivery of the humanitarian assistance directly after the signing of the road-map as of Aug. 9 until Aug. 11. Last March, the AUHIP proposed a road-map agreement for the Sudanese rivals, stipulating arrangements related to cease-fire at South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur regions, entering a peace process and involving the armed movements in the national dialogue currently convened in Khartoum. The Sudanese government unilaterally signed the road-map agreement, while the SPLM/northern sector, the Darfur rebel movements and the opposition alliance refused to sign the deal. The AU has been patronizing the negotiations between the Sudanese government and the SPLM/northern sector to reach a settlement for the conflict in those two areas, but the two sides failed to achieve any progress in the last rounds of talks. South Kordofan State includes most of the Sudanese oil reserve, while the Blue Nile state enjoys a strategic geographical location and is rich of natural resources. It is also home to Al-Rusaires, the biggest electricity dam in Sudan. Flash Syrian opposition activists and state-run media have traded accusations on Tuesday about possible, recent chemical attacks in northern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a shelling by barrel bombs filled with chlorine gas hit the town of Saraqeb in the northwestern province of Idlib on Monday evening, causing suffocation and breathing difficulties to 20 people. The UK-based watchdog group said the type of gas was difficult to be identified, saying it has based its report on local testimonies. The Syrian National Coalition opposition group cited activists as saying that it was the government forces who bombed the town of Saraqeb with chlorine-filled barrel bombs, placing the number of those affected at 30. It urged the UN to take action, and said the alleged chemical attack took place in an area close to where a Russian helicopter was downed a day earlier. On Monday, the rebels in Idlib countryside downed a Russian helicopter, with reports saying that all five crew members were killed. Meanwhile, state-run SANA news agency blamed the rebels for firing a rocket containing poisonous gas on the government-controlled part of the northern city of Aleppo over the past 24 hours, killing five people, and eight others suffered suffocation. SANA spelled no further details, but pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said that Moscow will investigate the terrorists' use of chemical weapons in Aleppo, and will also urge Washington to cooperate. Chemical weapons are believed to have taken place in several areas in Syria in the past years, with the government and the rebels trading accusations. As many as 1,400 people were killed when several opposition-controlled areas in the suburbs around Damascus were struck by rockets containing the chemical agent sarin on Aug. 21, 2013. Both the opposition and the government traded accusations. In the same year, a chemical attack hit the then government-controlled town of Khan al-Asal in the countryside of Aleppo, in which several Syrian soldiers and civilians were either killed or suffered from suffocation. The government accused the rebels, who, in turn, denied the accusation. In October 2013, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) officials arrived in Syria to monitor the dismantlement of the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal, after Damascus officially joined the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Convention. The OPCW later said that the government has made its chemical weapon production facilities inoperable. The dismantlement of the Syrian chemical weapons was due to a U.S.-Russian understanding, the first sign of a consensus between both powers on the Syrian conflict. Since then, reports of poisonous gas attacks kept emerging once in a while. Flash At least two civilians were killed in two different incidents in Indian-controlled Kashmir, reigniting the anger and ongoing uncertainty in the restive region, officials said Wednesday. A civilian was killed and two others wounded, one of them critically, after a policeman posted as a security guard with a civilian official fired on protesters in Lethpora village of Pulwama district, about 23 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. Following the killing, the angry protesters set ablaze the official vehicle. "Last evening some protesters had blocked highway at Lethpora and tried to stop an official vehicle. However, a policeman inside the vehicle fired upon them, killing one and wounding two others," an eyewitness said. Police officials said the policeman feared for his life and fired to scare away the protesters. "After the incident, the official, policeman and driver abandoned the vehicle and fled from the spot to take refuge at a nearby paramilitary camp," a police official posted in Awantipora town said. "The three men have been detained and will be questioned." The fresh killing triggered overnight protests in the area. In another incident, a guard posted at a bank automated teller machine (ATM) was found dead. Police officials described his death "mysterious". Local media quoting autopsy reports Wednesday said the guard was hit by barrage of pellets. His killing triggered massive protests in the area. Locals defied curfew restrictions and carried his body to 'martyrs' graveyard situated at Eid Gah locality in Srinagar. Muslim majority areas of Indian-controlled Kashmir have been experiencing a curfew and protest shutdown for the past since 26 days. Shops, businesses, educational institutions and offices remained closed in the region in the wake of shutdown and restrictions. Traffic has also remained off the roads. The locals are complaining about dearth of eatables and essentials in most of the towns including Srinagar city. Health officials said they were also experiencing shortage of medicines. Protests in the region broke out following the killing of a top militant commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) Burhan Muzaffar Wani, along with his two associates, on July 8. The 22-year-old Wani was poster boy of HM, region's indigenous militant outfit. Wani's killing triggered violent protests and clashes after which authorities imposed curfew. Police firing on civilian protesters defying restrictions has so far resulted in killing of more than 50 people, mostly teenagers and young, besides injuring over 2,200. The cellphone and internet services continue to remain suspended in the region since July 8 in a bid to prevent people from mobilizing. The local government has placed key separatist leaders under house arrest fearing their participation in demonstrations would intensify anti-India protests and mobilize people in large numbers. The protests have been going on unabated ever since the protests broke out and mosques dotting the localities often blare with songs praising militants and advocating Kashmir's secession from India. Prior to this, in 2010, a similar wave of violence hit the region and claimed over 100 lives during clashes that continued for months together. A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. You are here: Home Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday held talks with his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith, vowing to further advance bilateral ties. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) holds talks with his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Calling Laos "a close neighbor" of China, Wang said the two countries have always supported each other and enjoyed solid foundation of cooperation and broad prospect of development. China will firmly follow a friendly policy towards Laos and have full confidence in the future of bilateral ties, he said. He said China is willing to work with Laos to prepare for the attendance of Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit at the G20 Hangzhou Summit in September and better synergize the strategies of the two countries. Wang called for the early start of the construction of a railway between China and Laos and enhanced cooperation in areas including industrial parks, border trade, energy, infrastructure construction, law enforcement and people-to-people exchanges. Saleumxay said this year is of great importance in the history of bilateral relations as it marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Laos and China. He appreciated China's long-term assistance to Laos, saying his country is willing to work with China to implement consensus reached by the two presidents. Laos is the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year. Both Wang and Saleumxay agreed that the two countries need to hold a successful commemorative meeting marking the 25th anniversary of dialogue relationship between China and ASEAN this year. Wang said China has always taken the ASEAN as the priority of China's diplomacy with neighboring countries, adding that China supports ASEAN in playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs. WASHINGTON How could the next three months in this seemingly endless campaign for the presidency be any more jarring than the last 12? Well, as the dust settles over the political theater that grips the faithful of both major parties in their quadrennial pep rallies, were about to find out. If the attacks and counterattacks we already have suffered through Republicans demanding the Democratic nominee be at least locked up if not worse, and Democrats arguing the GOPs candidate is unfit, unqualified, dangerous and just plain without any socially redeeming value are any indication, the rush to the finish in November is likely to leave the national electorate prostrate from abused sensibilities. Having covered 32 national political conventions from 1960 to 2004 in-person and all those since by television, I have seen these uniquely American spectacles devolve into events less and less focused on the selection of party torch-bearers. This years two conventions produced more of the same with the exception that they established polar opposite views about where this nation is and where it is headed. The Republicans were utterly negative, the Democrats utterly positive, reflecting the philosophic natures of their nominees: one dark, one light. Now the real head-knocking begins, with the current champion in such dubious behavior and unfettered trash talk, the Republican nominee Donald Trump, not waiting until Hillary Clintons party finished anointing her before siccing the Russians on her in one of the most disturbingly bizarre incidents in a campaign full of them. Go after her personal emails some 30,000 are missing from the home server she ran as state secretary he urged Russian hackers, and let us know about them. Just being sarcastic, he said, later in an ineffective effort to cool down the criticism. In days gone by this alone would accomplish what all Trumps earlier outrageousness couldnt, putting an end to his political future. Tack that on to the fact he seemed to be encouraging Vladimir Putins government to influence the American election, it will be a miracle in modern politics if this storm passes. It is believed the Russians already are responsible for the hacking of the Democratic National Committee emails that cost the DNC chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz her job and produced a minor uproar and divisiveness as the partys convention began. Is Trump nuts? That and more, charged former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was brought in as an independent to lambaste his fellow New Yorker and billionaire as completely undesirable and a person of poor character who raises the possibility of ending us all if elected. That theme emerged over and over again during the last two days of the Democratic convention, serving notice that the next 90 days or so before November are going to be about Trumps obvious lack of presidential qualities, including temperament needed to run the country. The Trump forces already had made it clear they were heading in the same direction and the polls show that the race, despite Trumps eschewing of any political decency and historic lack of mouth control, is a dead heat. Even his openness to legitimate charges of racism havent cost him in the polls. Why? Probably because Clinton herself has a near-record negativity rating. For whatever reason, and there are many, she is not well-liked even by some who say they will support her. Substitute a more conventional nominee than Trump and she most likely would be trailing and in major trouble. Is this fair? Not really, but years of political exposure and difficult jobs, while making her among the most qualified in modern times to seek the presidency, has left her vulnerable to the criticisms of public office. Thats not to mention that familiarity often breeds contempt that translates ultimately into blame for incidents gone wrong, deserved or not, which is how the Republicans have effectively centered their personal attacks Benghazi, her emails, a lack of trust, et cetera. So will the next three months be as difficult as the negative run-up to the nominations? Probably. If Clinton is to overcome her own lack of popularity, she must convince Americans that the act of electing Trump would be one of self-destruction. Given the overwhelming evidence that should lead any responsible voter to support that conclusion, the jury shouldnt even be out on this matter. But who knows in this fight cage. China is willing to take an open attitude to work with the British government to conduct a feasibility study for a China-United Kingdom free trade agreement to deepen bilateral business ties, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday. Shen Danyang, the ministry's spokesman, said that as the UK is a major global economy, China will respect its wishes if it wants to launch FTA talks. The UK is a favorite European investment destination for Chinese companies and has strong business ties with China. The post-Brexit period has also attracted an increasing number of Chinese tourists to visit the UK due to the lower sterling exchange rate. "Therefore, it shouldn't take long to complete China-UK FTA talks if both sides want it to be done within a short period, as new British Prime Minister Theresa May emphasized the UK government must seize the global opportunities offered by leaving the European Union and ensure Britain remains open for business," said Li Guanghui, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing. When Britain does leave the EU after final talks with the European Commission, the UK government will be able to make free trade agreements with other economies, even if it will no longer benefit from the EU's free trade pacts with 53 countries and regions, Li said. The UK is not alone. China has already signed free trade agreement with non-EU members - Iceland and Switzerland. China and Norway is now in talks to reach a free trade deal. British Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond said the country has already started preparing for the launch of FTA talks with China. Because China has not signed a single deal with an EU member, the British government is currently studying the details of the China-New Zealand FTA, as well as considering which Chinese products would have a huge impact on the UK's national security, according to information posted on the China FTA network, a government website. Trade in goods between China and the EU amounted to $564.85 billion in 2015, while trade between China and the UK reached $78.54 billion, data from the General Administration of Customs showed. The EU and China have already started negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty, which is expected to give easier market access for EU companies into the China market. Both sides wish to conclude talks by the end of this year. Today is Tuesday, Aug. 2, the 215th day of 2016. There are 151 days left in the year. Today's highlight: On Aug. 2, 1776, members of the Continental Congress began attaching their signatures to the Declaration of Independence. On this date: In 216 B.C., during the Second Punic War, Carthaginian forces led by Hannibal defeated the Roman army in the Battle of Cannae. In 1873, inventor Andrew S. Hallidie successfully tested a cable car he had designed for the city of San Francisco. In 1876, frontiersman "Wild Bill" Hickok was shot and killed while playing poker at a saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, by Jack McCall, who was later hanged. In 1909, the original Lincoln "wheat" penny first went into circulation, replacing the "Indian Head" cent. In 1923, the 29th president of the United States, Warren G. Harding, died in San Francisco; Vice President Calvin Coolidge became president. In 1934, German President Paul von Hindenburg died, paving the way for Adolf Hitler's complete takeover. In 1939, Albert Einstein signed a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt urging creation of an atomic weapons research program. President Roosevelt signed the Hatch Act, which prohibited civil service employees from taking an active part in political campaigns. In 1943, during World War II, U.S. Navy boat PT-109, commanded by Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy, sank after being rammed in the middle of the night by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri off the Solomon Islands. Two crew members were killed. In 1964, the destroyer USS Maddox suffered light damage during a skirmish with North Vietnamese patrol torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. (This and an alleged second incident two days later led to congressional approval of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that propelled America deep into war.) In 1974, former White House counsel John W. Dean III was sentenced to one to four years in prison for obstruction of justice in the Watergate coverup. (Dean ended up serving four months.) In 1985, 137 people were killed when Delta Air Lines Flight 191, a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, crashed while attempting to land at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, seizing control of the oil-rich emirate. (The Iraqis were later driven out in Operation Desert Storm.) Chinese tourists at seaside in Maldives in this file photo on Jan 22, 2012. [Photo/IC] Chen Nan, a 36-year-old in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, shortlisted as many as five destinations, including Hawaii and Phuket, for a family summer vacation. Eventually, she settled for the Sonevafushi island of Maldives and flew her three-year-old son and parents there for an eight-day, seven-night holiday. Full of nature's bounty, the island, and its hotels, proved to be a totally new world for the Chinese urban dwellers. "I chose this island because it has the largest kids club in the Maldives," she said. "My son had so much fun and gained much knowledge of the marine life. Movies and television would never be able to offer such a real-life experience." According to the 2016 Chinese Residents Summer Vacation Report released by LY.com on June 30, nearly 60 percent of those surveyed said they will go on trips this summer. Female guards patrol along West Lake in Hangzhou city, the capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 26, 2016. The city has boosted security ahead of the G20 Summit meeting in September. The well-armed guards, all new graduates this year, walk 15 kilometers a day along the lake, a famous tourist attraction in China, despite temperatures that can rise to 40 degrees centigrade. [Photo/zjol.com.cn] LANZHOU - The Dunghuang caves, which contain some of China's finest ancient Buddhist art, sold out yet again on Tuesday with 6,000 daily tickets and a further 12,000 emergency tickets by 10 am as the heritage site tackles its busiest time of the year. It was the second time in a week for the site, also known as the Mogao Caves, situated in Northwest China's Gansu province, to sell out. Last Wednesday, the caves received 19,301 visitors, a record for a single day this year. There has also been a rise in foreign tourists at the caves, with the site receiving 55 foreign visitors on Sunday, compared with 27 on the same day last year. Stanislav Mukhin, a Russian tourist, said he was very impressed by the cave frescoes. "The tourism service is very good," he said. "We bought emergency tickets. We are very lucky to be able to enter the caves," said Jiang Yifei, from southwest China's Sichuan Province. The 1,600-year-old Mogao Caves are home to more than 2,000 colored sculptures and 45,000 square meters of frescoes -- all found in a series of 735 caves carved along a cliff by ancient worshippers. In 1987 it became China's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. In recent years, numbers of tourists have soared in the caves, situated along the ancient Silk Road route, thanks to their growing fame both at home and abroad. In the first seven months of the year, 598,000 tourists visited the caves, up 31 percent year on year, according to statistics from Dunhuang Academy, the authority in charge of the research, protection and management of the site. The tourist boom has also increased due to the launch of easier transport links to Duanhuang this year, including new trains from Beijing, and Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, as well as flights from Guangzhou. The Belt and Road Initiative and replica exhibitions of the caves both in China and abroad have also helped cement their reputation as an outstanding tourist site. Since 2014, the Mogao Caves have set a daily limit of 6,000 reserved tickets plus an extra 12,000 emergency tickets to cater to the growing number of tourists during the peak travel season. Tourists holding different tickets visit different caves in order to reduce human impact on the site. Years of research by Dunhuang Academy shows the density of carbon dioxide in a cave can rise by five times if 40 visitors stay in it for half an hour. A sustained high level of carbon dioxide in the caves poses a threat to the sculptures and frescoes, as well as harming the health of tourists, said Li Ping, deputy head of the administration committee of the Mogao Caves. "We hope tourists avoid the peak season if they can, for heritage protection and the comfort of tours," she said. For preservation purposes, the caves have more than 60 technical staff dedicated to restoration of the frescoes, Li said. In May this year, the caves began to provide a digital experience for tourists, featuring video clips, archive materials, and a 360 degree view of the caves that can be found on e-dunhuang.com. DALIAN - A deal to export 15 locomotives made by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) to New Zealand was signed on Tuesday in China's northeastern city of Dalian, the company said. It was the fourth group of locomotives that CRRC has exported to the country, raising the total number it has exported to New Zealand to 63. The 15 high-end locomotives will have upgraded brake systems and improved energy conservation, according to CRRC Dalian Co Ltd A joint venture with investment by CRRC Dalian and a New Zealand company was set up on Tuesday to provide technical consultancy and maintenance service for locomotives in New Zealand. CRRC, formed from the merger of former rivals CNR Corporation and China CSR, has been actively bidding for contracts in overseas markets in recent years and has sold equipment to more than 100 countries and regions. LIANG LUWEN/ for CHINA DAILY Health experts are calling for sex education to be included in China's school curriculum, saying the lack of formal tuition, allied with misunderstandings and outdated ideas, is putting young people at risk of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. The topic has recently been at the center of a heated debate on Sina WeiboChina's version of Twitterafter campaigners condemned a sex education textbook that claimed premarital sex has a "tremendously negative psychological and physical impact on girls". "Girls do not earn more love from boys by sacrificing their bodies, but rather are seen as 'degraded' by their 'conquerors'. As a result, premarital sex can cause women to lose love," according to the book, published by the 21st Century Group. Since 2004, about 2,000 copies have been issued to school libraries in Jiangxi province in Southeast China. For thousands of years, sex could not be discussed openly in China. Even today, it is taboo in most of the schools. There is no sex education in schools, only lectures on psychological health that contain little practical knowledge. Parents also avoid discussing the issue with their children. Fully developed concept Sex education is a comprehensive definitionit's not simply about sexual practices but is a fully developed concept related to many other issues, according to Gou Ping, a professor of psychology at Chengdu University, the only college in the country that offers sex education as a minor course. Gou said comprehensive sex education includes age-appropriate, medically accurate information about a broad range of topics related to sexuality, including human development, relationships, decision-making, abstinence, contraception and prevention of disease. "It's really needed, especially to combat child sex abuse, rising rates of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies," she said. The number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases registered at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention soared to 750,000 in 2003 from 5,800 in 1985. Taking HIV/AIDS as an example, China now has 575,000 carriers (people who are HIV positive, but have not developed full-blown AIDS), and patients (those with the fully developed disease), more than 90 percent of whom were infected via sexual contact. Unwanted pregnancies and abortions are also threatening the younger generation. In 2014, the Sichuan Sex Education Society launched a six-province survey of more than 5,000 students ages 12 to 24. It showed that 24 percent of respondents had engaged in premarital sex, and 20 percent had abortions. While the government is still trying to formulate a nationally recognized sex education curriculum, some nonprofit organizations have taken the initiative and launched pilot projects. The Youth Love Station, supported by the AIDS Prevention Education Project for Chinese Youth, is one of them. By providing comprehensive sex education, the project not only teaches students about gender differences and safe sex, it also aims to convey the basic values of "love with respect" to young people. Draft regulation allows sharing of blacklisted names with industry, govt agencies and public Chinese tourists on the country's blacklist because of uncivilized behavior will face restrictions when taking flights, joining travel groups or even taking overseas trips, under a revised draft of travel regulations released on Monday. Provincial and national tourism authorities can maintain records and share them with the public, travel agencies and industry organizations. Records can also be shared with government agencies responsible for public security, customs, inspection and quarantine, border protection, transportation and finance. "Punishments can be imposed by travel agencies or other related agencies or organizations based on the record," according to the revised draft, which is in its public comment phase. A few ugly incidents involving Chinese tourists have triggered negative reactions. The China National Tourism Administration introduced a measure in April 2015 to regulate tourist behavior by keeping records of bad behavior. So far, 19 people have been named. According to the administration, examples of bad behavior include violating order on public transportationincluding flightsdamaging public facilities or historical relics, ignoring social customs at tourism destinations and becoming involved with gambling or prostitution. Chinese tourists have long been asked to dress modestly in public, to avoid coughing in other people's faces and avoid pressuring foreigners to stand for photos with them. Liu Simin, vice-president of the tourism branch of the China Society for Futures Studies, said the blacklist may not work as effectively in practice as it was envisioned to do. "It is not that difficult to introduce restrictive measures on flights," Liu said. "However, if tourism authorities want to restrict blacklisted tourists from traveling overseas, they can only do this through travel agencies. If travelers plan their own trips and skip the agencies, they're out of reach." Besides uncivilized behaviors, the proposed regulation addresses some of the public's major concerns in recent years, including tourism security, hidden traps set up by travel agencies and false information presented on travel websites. For outbound travel groups, the revised draft requires people to carry an information card filled out with personal information, disease history and emergency contacts. Zhang Hui, who works at an advertising agency in Shanghai, said to fully protect tourists' safety and rights, the government should do more after revising the regulation. "I am very pleased to see the new draft support us in getting a refund if we are forced to purchase goods during a trip," she said. "However, it may be very difficult for tourists to prove that the tour guide pressured us to buy. We can't always take videos or make recordings." Pedestrians struggle against high winds near a subway station in Shenzhen as Typhoon Nida hits Guangdong province on Tuesday. JACKY ZHAO/CHINA DAILY Streets flooded, trees uprooted as storm hits Guangdong province; flights, trains canceled Typhoon Nida caused widespread damage to major cities in the Pearl River Delta of South China after making landfall on the Dapeng Peninsula in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, at about 3:30 am on Tuesday. In Guangzhou and Shenzhen, many streets were flooded, trees were uprooted and billboards were blown down when Nida struck. As the typhoon bore down on the region, construction sites in Guangzhou and Shenzhen were ordered to halt work on Tuesday and schools suspended classes to ensure the safety of workers and students. In Guangzhou, more than 30,000 residents of low-lying areas had to be evacuated, according to a statement from the city government on Tuesday. In Shenzhen, more than 16,000 families suffered from a power blackout after electrical facilities were damaged by the storm. "The storm and the gale were so strong that no one dared to go out for shopping on Tuesday morning," said Huang Hongyang, a resident of Guangzhou's Nansha district at the mouth of the Pearl River. Air, water and land traffic were brought to a standstill in the Pearl River Delta. At Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, at least 430 flightsmore than one-third of the scheduled flightswere canceled because of the storm. The airport, one of the major aviation hubs on the mainland, partly resumed operations after 4 pm on Tuesday. Most of the canceled flights had been scheduled to take off between 8 am and 2 pm, according to the airport authority. Additionally, airports in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Huizhou canceled many flights due to the storms on Tuesday. The Guangzhou Railway Group said it canceled 1,400 Guangdong train departures and arrivals and suspended Guangzhou-Kowloon train service on Tuesday. Ferry service between the major Pearl River Delta cities and the neighboring Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions were also canceled. Some highways in Guangdong were closed on Tuesday. The cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou were hit the hardest by Nida, the fourth typhoon to make landfall on the Chinese coast this year. Nida had weakened to a tropical storm and moved to the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region by Tuesday evening. Lu Shan, principal forecaster with the Guangdong Meteorological Department, said the Pearl River Delta region will continue to have heavy downpours on Wednesday. "Relevant departments should not relax their vigilance to prevent possible flooding and landslides caused by the downpours," he said. In Hong Kong, 12 people reportedly were injured during the typhoon on Tuesday. Two remained hospitalized, while the 10 others were released, authorities said. Despite fallen trees and debris on streets across the city, residents lined up to get on buses or subways as public transportation gradually resumed service. About 260 people sought assistance at the government's temporary shelters. Additionally, about 500 flights to and from Hong Kong were affected by the storm. Shadow Li in Hong Kong contributed to this story. Remarried couples in Guangdong province who are pregnant with their second child will not be forced to have an abortion, even though they have not yet been granted permission for a second child. The provincial population and family planning commission will also not suggest that employers dismiss or punish those who are pregnant with a second child without permission, the commission said on Tuesday. The commission said it is studying and drafting regulations for remarried couples. "But when the detailed regulations will be available is still unknown," the commission said. Twenty-eight provinces, regions and municipalities in the mainland have introduced regulations for remarried couples to have a second child. Zhai Zhenwu, a demographer at Beijing-based Renmin University of China, said that the provincial commission did not violate any regulations when they did not force couples to have abortions. "The couples who are pregnant with their second child also did not break any laws and family planning policies, as Guangdong has yet to pass regulations for remarried couples," the professor of sociology and population policies told China Daily on Tuesday. He urged the local population and family-planning commission to introduce such policies and regulations soon. Yu Jiexiao, who is remarried, suggested employers not fire women who are pregnant with their second child. "That would help reduce the number of induced abortions for local women in Guangdong," Yu told China Daily on Tuesday. "Some wives who have been pregnant with their second child have an abortion because they fear being dismissed by their employers," she added. With a population of about 110 million, Guangdong is China's most populous province. The capital, Guangzhou, has a population of more than 16 million. But the birthrate in the province - which lacks a sufficient workforce and relies on people migrating from other provinces - has remained low for decades, insiders said. Xie Xintian contributed to this story. zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn The journal Nature Biotechnology said on Tuesday that it would investigate criticisms of what was thought to be a breakthrough gene-editing technique developed by Chinese scientist Han Chunyu. The journal published Han's research findings online on May 2. But last week, the head of the transgenesis lab at Australian National University said the lab had been unable to replicate Han's results. Han, 42, a geneticist at Hebei University of Science and Technology, rose to prominence with the publication of his cutting-edge gene editing technique - known as NgAgo - and he was perceived as a contender for a Nobel Prize. The journal said it had been contacted by several researchers who said they had not been able to reproduce Han's published results. The journal said it takes any concerns raised about any paper seriously and considers them carefully, and it is now following an established process to investigate the issues. Han could not be contacted for a response. He was quoted on Sunday in Beijing-based Science and Technology Daily as saying he would repeat the experiment and share his original data if the journal requested it. According to Nature policy, authors are required to make materials, data, code and associated protocols promptly available to readers without undue qualifications as a condition of publication in one of its journals. Before NgAgo, effort and investment were directed heavily toward the widely recognized genome-editing technique known as CRSPR, which allows researchers to clip a specific DNA sequence and replace it with a new one, offering the potential to cure diseases caused by faulty genes. CRSPR has been tried in animal studies and some human embryos. The NgAgo technique for editing DNA was initially believed to surpass CRISPR in precision and efficiency, experts said. shanjuan@chinadaily.com.cn Students discuss a team project at Duke Kunshan University, in Kunshan, Jiangsu province. Provided To China Daily Editor's Note: China Daily is publishing a series of reports on universities jointly established by education institutions from China and overseas. As the colleges get busy with recruitment, our reporters visited them to talk with senior leaders, teachers and students. When China opened its arms to international universities, Denis Simon, executive vice-chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, saw the jointly founded institution as transforming Chinese higher education. "The idea of actually allowing seven, and soon to be nine, foreign universities that have campuses in China is something in the '80s and '90s you wouldn't have thought would happen. ... It's an exciting opportunity, and I see it as a watershed moment in Chinese higher education," Simon said during an interview with China Daily. Located in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, Duke Kunshan University was jointly founded in 2013 by two prestigious universities - Duke University in the United States and China's Wuhan University - as a new model to advance China's higher education system. "Duke came specifically to deliver a liberal arts education to China, and to provide an innovative education platform. At Duke Kunshan, not only can we educate young people in China but we also serve as a kind of test base to see what features across the liberal arts experience can be adapted or even translated to something that can be used and applied in a Chinese university context," Simon said. Since 2004, the Chinese government has approved the establishment of independent Sino-foreign universities across the country in the hope that these joint-ventures will help facilitate the transfer of international education experiences and import advanced management, teaching methods as well as curriculum systems. Duke Kunshan received its first class in 2014 and currently offers four master's programs: global health, environmental policy, medical physics and management studies. In addition, there's a nondegree undergraduate program called the Global Learning Semester. The first global health and medical physics class just graduated in June. The management program has already graduated two classes. Simon took great pride in these graduates, 90 percent of whom got a job within six months. The undergraduate program delivers satisfying outcomes, too. Eighty percent of the students in the Global Learning Semester are Chinese from more than 20 elite universities domestically. A big move for the joint venture coming. It hopes to launch its initial undergraduate degree programs starting in 2018. According to Simon, the university eventually hopes to recruit as many as 500 students a year, which means the number of undergraduates will reach 2,000 within four or five years. Simon is also confident that there will be 200 faculty members, some of whom will come from Duke in the US, with 60 percent will be hired directly by Duke Kunshan. That will provide a student-faculty ratio of 10 to 1. In this way, Simon believes, students will get what they call a "high-touch experience", which means small classes, closer interaction and quality education to help nurture critical thinking among students. "It's a really positive message that the students can get engaged with their professors on a regular basis," he said. Simon also noted that the university will invite many corporate, government and NGO leaders to serve as career mentors for each student at Duke Kunshan. Hu Anqi contributed to this story. Contact the writers at zhaoxinying@chinadaily.com.cn File photo of Rudolf Bosshardt. [Photo from web] It's hard to imagine a foreign-language map becoming valuable for army when it's in a language nobody knows and at a time when the area is more or less closed off to outsiders. It was early October 1934, and the Red Army just started the Long March when it accidently came across Rudolf Bosshardt, a Swiss British missionary working in China, in Guizhou province. General Xiao Ke of the Sixth Corps decided to keep Bosshardt with the unit as he did not want to risk their secret military maneuver becoming public by allowing the missionary to go. This decision had a far-reaching consequence that even General Xiao had not anticipated. At that time, the army was relying on nothing but a small map torn from middle school geography textbook. So a detailed map measuring one square meter was undoubtedly very valuable for the troops, but there was a small hitch: It was in French, a language none of the soldiers knew. This is where Bosshardt's help proved to be invaluable as he knew French well and also bit of Chinese. Bosshardt, who was 37 and then stayed with the Red Army for more than 500 days, translated the whole map. "It was an unforgettable military help for me...this missionary translated the places on the map into Chinese for me. He also provided other information during the interpretation, based on which I was able to draw a clear plan about which direction the army should take," recalled Xiao in 1984. With the help of the map and Bosshardt's information, leaders of the Six Corps decided to head towards the western part of Central China's Hubei province through the eastern part of Guizhou province to join forces with the Third Corps. Bosshardt was a unique participant during the Long March. Although the Red Army did not have enough supplies, they tried their best to meet his needs, which moved him a lot. And he was also impressed by the strict discipline and spirit of the Red Army, according to Fang Wei, an editor based with Military Museum of China. Bosshardt later recounted his experience in his book The Restraining Hand: Captivity for Christ in China, which was published in 1936, whose name was changed into The Guiding Hand when reprinted in 1978. Bosshardt's legendary story will now grace the big screen in October in a joint production between Hunan's Xiaoxiang Film Group and local government of Huangping county in Guizhou province, according to an earlier report in Hunan Daily. Activist Hu Shigen is sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for subverting state power at Tianjin No 2 Intermediate People's Court, Aug 3, 2016. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn] Tianjin No 2 Intermediate People's Court sentenced activist Hu Shigen to seven years and six months in prison for subverting state power on Wednesday, following a three-hour hearing. Hu, 61, who used to be a teacher at a Beijing university, said after the announcement: "It is a fair judgment and I accept it. I will not appeal to a higher court." The verdict said that Hu had asked another man named Gou Hongguo to attend anti-China forums overseas. He also worked with lawyer Zhou Shifeng and activists Zhai Yanmin and Li Heping to protest the government by making use of hot topics to manipulate public opinion and petitions, according to the verdict. All these activities were illegal and were carried out under an unregistered organization, which claimed to be a religious body led by Hu, the verdict said. Hu confirmed that he broadcast subversive ideas to other members of the organization, saying that he aimed to overthrow the government, the court said. He was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for counter-revolution in 1994, but was released in 2008 following a sentence reduction. Zhai was sentenced to three years in prison with a four-year reprieve for subversion on Tuesday. Zhou, Li and Gou are being prosecuted in separate cases. A couple at their seventies take a whole-body selfie in a photo studio recently built by Joy City Shopping Mall in Beijing. Drawing with a special pen in a dark room, people can take pictures with fluorescent effects, June 20, 2016. [Photo by Yan Dongjie/chinadaily.com.cn] Does it sound good if you could contribute to charity while having fun taking photos? Joy City, a chain of shopping malls in China, is calling for people to donate money for children with eye disorders through its WeChat platform. All the money raised via the campaign will be donated to Orbis, an international nonprofit organization that works to prevent, as well as treat, blindness, according to Joy City Mall. Those who donate online can have the chance go to "Magic Lighting Box" at Joy City Mall where, assisted by professional photographers, they can "paint" with light and have their art eventually stitched into time-lapse photos In an attempt to garner more attention and support, the event organizer has invited actresses and musicians such as Yuan Shanshan, Wan Qian and Dong Dongdong to be its ambassadors. A woman known as "Super Eater Mizijun" on Weibo, China's answer to Twitter, participates in a competitive eating contest in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, Aug 2, 2016. She impressed other participants by finishing 4 kg rice easily. [Photo/VCG] A court in Tianjin sentenced activist Zhai Yanmin to three years in prison with a four-year reprieve on Tuesday for subverting state power. Zhai, an unemployed resident of Beijing, used the internet to post statements and comments that harmed national security and social stability, according to the verdict handed down by Tianjin No 2 Intermediate People's Court. Zhai, 55, pleaded guilty during the open trial. "I accept the verdict and will not appeal," he said. The verdict stated that Zhai began using online posts in 2012, manipulated public opinion and organized protests after he joined an unregistered "underground organization" led by another man, Hu Shigen. Zhai also colluded with lawyers, including Zhou Shifeng, and hired people to play up hot online issues or cases to disturb public order by shouting slogans and displaying signs, the verdict stated. For example, a man was shot dead after attacking a police officer at a railway station in Qing'an county, Heilongjiang province, on May 2 last year, triggering public attention. Zhai, incited by Hu, published online statements to confuse the issue. He also arranged for several people to go to the railway station to display banners with anti-government slogans and to distribute leaflets outside the county government headquarters, the verdict said. Prosecutors said that Zhai, together with Hu, Zhou and Li Heping, conspired and plotted to subvert state power, and had "established a systematic ideology, method and steps to achieve it". Hu, Zhou and Li are being prosecuted in separate cases. "All Zhai's behavior constituted the crime of subversion," Cai Shuying, the trial judge, said. But the court had given Zhai a lenient punishment as he had pleaded guilty and had cooperated after his arrest, the judge said. caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn Shanghai police investigating a tax evasion case involving more than $212 million have arrested a suspect, Xinmin.cn reported. Police say that between 2012 and 2013, the suspect, surnamed Chen, registered two metal materials trading companies in Shanghai and two off-shore enterprises in Hong Kong and Seychelles, all of which are shell companies. In August 2015, Chen used the four companies to make up trading agreements and receipts and purchased fake shipping documents, which were applied to obtain foreign currency from a bank to pay for his so-called payments for trading goods, police said. US dollars transferred to his off-shore enterprise bank account were directly exchanged to yuan, and then went through cross-border settlements, flowing back to his domestic company account, authorities said. Chen was arrested and accused of making more than 100 million yuan in profit from the exchange rate difference of domestic and foreign countries through seven fabricated orders on purchase and payment in foreign currency. China Sustainable Seafood Week will begin Saturday, the Marine Stewardship Council China program and 78 stores from eight major retailers in China announced. This will be the third program initiated by the MSC China program, under the NationWide Sustainable Consumption program organized by the China Retailer and Chain Store Association (CCFA), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and UNEP China program. Since 2012, the International Olympic Committee has made purchasing responsibly farmed and sustainable wild-caught seafood as an important topic of the Olympic Games. The Rio 2016 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games announced a comprehensive agreement to promote Marine Stewardship Council and Aquaculture Stewardship Council certified seafood at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Patrick Caleo, MSC Asia Pacific director, said all of the seafood served to the athletes, officials, press and at the onsite restaurants will be certified as sustainably wild-caught and responsibly farmed. Caleo said the Rio Olympic Games would supply the largest amount of sustainable seafood in history. An Yan, MSC China Program director, said that compared with the previous program, 2016 Sustainable Seafood Week received more support from China retail partners. "Those retailers include Aeon, Metro, Ole'(food hall) under China Resources Vanguard, Concord Investment China Ltd.(RT-mart), RAINBOW, City Shop and Sam's Club, as well as IKEA China, which either has started the journey of sustainable procurement with support MSC China, or discussed how to develop a goal to serve more sustainable and traceable seafood to Chinese consumers," An said. The one-week program will include traditional seafood tasting demonstrations. MSC will also organize several in-store programs, including small booklets given away at point of sales, to journalist/ VIP members of retailers' cooking classes on sustainable cod and education for retailer's kids' clubs. All activities are aimed to increase Chinese consumers' awareness of sustainable fisheries and products with the MSC blue eco-label. "Choosing products with the blue MSC eco-label gives Chinese consumers confidence in knowing that the product origin can be fully traced through the MSC Chain of Custody system, especially when products are traced back to certified sustainable fisheries," Caleo said. "The China Sustainable Seafood Week is part of the Asia Pacific Awareness Building program. Similar to Japan and Australia, the program encourages people to choose labeled products so as to conserve the marine ecosystem." Guo Geping, president of CCFA, said,"CCFA has a long-term goal to build up market links with credible certified products to China, through close partnership with standard organizations. MSC certified seafood will be the encouraged procurement policy of China retailers. Through implementation of sustainable procurement policy, retailers will provide substantial healthy and environment-friendly seafood to Chinese consumers in a great number of product varieties." "So far, there are more than 40 MSC labeled products available to Chinese consumers, although it will be niche, as this is the beginning of the sustainable seafood market development. With the growth of Chinese retailers on the journey of sustainable procurement, Chinese consumers will have more opportunities to find seafood with the blue tick," An said. Additional retailers, the online platform JD.com, and international hotel chains, such as Shangri La, participated in the 2016 SSW seafood promotion. This will give Chinese consumers more opportunities to experience sustainable seafood. As a high-profile case involving a group of activists accused of subverting State power was heard in Tianjin, an official of the municipal detention house said that all defendants have been given legal protection in line with laws. Huang Bin, director of the city's No 1 Detention House, highlighted the importance of protecting defendants' rights and made the comments when he responded to a social media account under Tianjin Daily on Wednesday. Since Tuesday, the group of activists, including Hu Shigen and Zhai Yanmin, have stood trial at Tianjin No 2 Intermediate People's Court. Before the trials, they were detained in the detention house. So far, Hu, 61, leader of an illegal organization, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for subversion after he broadcast subversive thoughts to others by making use of the organization to conduct activities, the court said. Hu also had been sentenced to 20 years for leading "counter-revolutionary" activities in 1994 and was released in 2008 for a sentence reduction, according to the court. Zhai, 55, was sentenced to three years in jail with a four-year reprieve for the same charge after he was led by Hu to organize petitioners to protest the government several times and harm the nation's security, the court said. Both said that they accepted the verdicts and will not appeal to a higher court. As their case hearings were broadcast via television, which aimed to ensure transparent judicial proceedings, many netizens found that they were in good condition and looked good, according to Huang. Their condition was attributed to better legal protection as they were in the detention house, Huang explained. "We first made a completed health check before the involved activists were brought to the detention house, and established a health file for everyone," he said. "We provided them with a health review at the beginning and later did a similar physical check every six months," he added. Take Hu, for example. "He has some heart diseases and was having difficulty in breathing. Doctors checked him twice a day and made sure he could take medicines on time. As he felt bad, we also sent him to a public security hospital and looked after him," the director said. Hu confirmed that in his final statement during the trial today. Huang said that all defendants should be given protection in accordance with laws, although they were accused or committed crimes. "Seeing a doctor and receiving health checks are their right," he said. In addition, every defendant can be allowed to buy life necessities, such as food, clothes and shoes, through the detention house. "We have also installed air conditioners for suspects and those who will be freed or stand trial in rooms and helped them celebrate their birthdays, if necessary," he added. Image of lunar rover Yutu taken by Chang'e-3, China's first lunar lander, in December 2013. WANG JIANMIN/XINHUA BEIJING -- "Hi! This could be the last greetings from me!" The Sina Weibo farewell message posted four days ago by user "Jade Rabbit Lunar Rover," which posts first-person accounts of Yutu, China's lunar rover, caused a stir on China's social media. Yutu and his antics have continued to proved hugely popular across China. "The moon says it has prepared a long, long dream for me, and I'm wondering what the dream would be like-- would I be a mars explorer, or be sent back to earth?" the lunar rover continued. The post received nearly 100,000 shares, likes and comments. "Good night bunny, Chinese astronauts will bring you home and you will never be alone," said netizen "running snail." "Have a sweet dream! You will get countless carrot pies in your dream," said another netizen. It's not the first time that the rover has sent a farewell message, but this time the message appears to really be the last. Yutu has ceased operation after 972 days of service on the moon, according to a source from the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, cited in the People's Daily on Tuesday. But many netizens were not willing to believe that Yutu is really gone. "Please, never say farewell, just say 'see you later.'" said netizen "Luojiahuanghou." Named after the pet rabbit of the moon goddess Chang'e, the health status of the lunar rover has rarely left the public imagination. The greeting, "Hi, anybody there?" posted on February 13, 2014, just two hours after the rover "woke" again and narrowly survived after having experienced mechanical difficulties, prompted over 60,000 reposts and 40,000 comments. Designed to survive just three months, Yutu has been operating on the moon for over two years, lasting longer than the Soviet Union's 1970 moon rover Lunokhod 1, which spent 11 months on the moon. Reflecting on his own life, the lunar adventurer seemed satisfied. "I'm a rabbit that has seen the most stars!" It also said there were many questions left unanswered and was looking forward to future exploration. "If you are going to explore the deep universe, remember to take pictures and share with me," it said. Many Chinese netizens were deeply upset after reading Yutu's last post. "I don't know why I am so heartbroken. It's just a machine after all," said netizen "bazinga bagz." Alongside sending their best wishes to the lunar probe, wistful netizens created an imaginative ending for Yutu's life. "Years later, an astronaut, one of the many young fans of Yutu as child, finds a chip among a pile of metal objects (on the Moon). Seconds after he inserts the chip in his computer, to his great surprise, a message pops up: 'Hi, my dear, I've been waiting for you. From Yutu.'" wrote netizen "Sunxiaoshe NZ Lengbaike." A Tianjin court took various measures since Tuesday to ensure transparency while hearing a high-profile case involving a group of activists accused of subverting State power. Tianjin No 2 Intermediate People's Court posted a forecast of the series of trials on its official micro-blogging account and published statements, videos and pictures on how the case hearings were developed for the public via its Twitter-like platform. It was aimed at helping people understand the judicial process and receive public supervision, the court said. On Tuesday, it publicly sentenced Zhai Yanmin, 55, who posted online comments against the government and organized petitioners to disturb public order, to three years in prison with a four-year reprieve for subverting State power. On Wednesday, it also sentenced Hu Shigen, who asked Zhai to organize and broadcasted his subversive thoughts via his illegal organization, to seven years and six months in prison for the same charge. Almost 50 people, including the media, law professors and attorneys, sat in the court's public gallery and heard the trials. Of the media, five were from overseas organizations. They registered at the court after seeing the online forecast and got the chance to hear the case. Although the courtroom has limited seats, overseas journalists who missed the registration could go to a media center in a hotel near the court, where information on the trial was provided in a timely manner via a big screen, along with some snacks, the court added. The G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, next month is attracting more students to learn English, according to a volunteer teacher in the city. Timothy Clancy, an Australian student at Zhejiang University, teaches children English as he works as a volunteer for the upcoming G20 Summit in Hangzhou. Security rehearsals for the summit have been carried out between 11pm and 4am. ZHU XINGXIN / CHINA DAILY Timothy Clancy, 31, an Australian who has lived in Hangzhou since 2011 with his wife, who is from Zhejiang, said, Australia has hosted such a summit before, but I never imagined that people in the host city could be so hospitable. I want to be part of this great event through the English classes and express my own welcome. Zhao Jihong, 67, one of the senior students in Clancys class, said, I am learning English here just in case I come across foreigners so that I can at least say hi to welcome them to Hangzhou. Zhao Yide, the Hangzhou Party chief, said, Thanks to the consistent efforts made by the people of Hangzhou, preparatory work for the G20 Summit has been a success. All services, including dining, transportation and security are in place. Hangzhou is now ready to host the two-day summit and welcome its distinguished guests. The summit will be held on Sept 4 and 5. Non-G20 member countries such as Laos, Chad, Kazakhstan, Senegal and Egypt have confirmed that they will take part in the summit, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Zhao said the participants will have the chance to taste Hangzhou cuisine. A 7,450-square-meter warehouse is being used to store up to 900 tons of food, and all the food and ingredients will be bought, examined, monitored, maintained and delivered through this huge building. Up to 900 vehicles are ready to transport the G20 leaders and their delegations. In addition, more than 2,000 drivers will be on duty to meet the needs of summit participants. Attention will focus on all the hotels accommodating G20 leaders, guests and the media, with security the top concern in the summit preparations. Zhao said, All the security rehearsals have been carried out between 11 pm and 4 am with advance notice, as we have tried our best not to disturb peoples daily lives. Hangzhou Mayor Zhang Hongming said: All previous hosts of G20 summits paid a lot of attention to security, with troops and police fully prepared to guarantee this. Hangzhou is very confident of making the summit a safe event, and people are volunteering to be security guards. A 760,000-member patrol group has been made up from local volunteers, according to Xinhua News Agency. wang_ying@chinadaily.com.cn Central inspectors take unprecedented tough action in the national fight against pollution Up to 700 officials in eight provinces and autonomous regions have been punished by central government inspectors in an unprecedentedly tough move to strengthen the nation's environmental supervision. In what People's Daily described as an "accountability storm" for environmental laws and rules, the inspectors have exposed about 4,000 offenses including cases of dereliction of duty since they were commissioned in mid-July. The first areas covered by the inspections are Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Henan and Yunnan provinces, and the Inner Mongolia, Guangxi Zhuang and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions. The inspections still have two weeks to run. Environmental experts have been quick to praise the central government's swift and tough action in dealing with local officials responsible for illegal pollution discharges. One of the eight provincial regions where tough punishment was handed out was Guangxi, which punished 112 officials. Among them, 37 at city and county level were found to have been responsible for pollution caused by illegal quarrying at a nationally known scenic area on the Lijiang River in Guilin. Zhang Benxing, a 73-year-old resident of Xiangshan district in Guilin, said, "The quarry near my village has been worked for more than 20 years, generating heavy dust all the time, and I think it caused my respiratory disease." He added that many houses near the quarry have cracks due to continuous blasting at the quarry. The Henan provincial government said in a statement, "The cases transferred by the central-level inspectors will go immediately to the governments involved. ... They will be required to investigate them straightaway." Henan, which completed the investigation of 310 cases in two weeks, had punished 216 government officials by Saturday last week based on Party rules and administrative regulations. Ma Yong, an environmental researcher at a Supreme People's Court law center, praised the large number of cases exposed and the tougher punishment for officials. "It shows the central government has been striving to reduce pollution and has seen some success." China has introduced laws and regulations stipulating that key leaders should play the major role in environmental protection, but the implementation of these has not been so good, Ma said. Chang Jiwen, deputy director of the Institute for Resources and Environment Policies at the State Council Development Research Center, agreed that progress has been made with the number of cases exposed. But he suggested that the central inspection teams should focus more on provincial and city-level governments and start investigating them. This year, central inspectors plan to investigate 14 provincial regions, according to the National Environmental Protection Inspection Office. Similar to the inspections ordered by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection to check for cases of official corruption, the central government has started to send the high-level inspection teams to look for environmental offenses. Cracking down Results to date of the monthlong inspection of eight provinces and autonomous regions: NingxiaHui autonomous region By July 31, 224 cases reported, 53 officials summoned, another 29 held accountable, two detained. Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region By Aug 1, 879 cases reported, 112 officials held accountable InnerMongolia autonomous region By July 30, 773 cases reported, 81 officials summoned, another 104 held accountable, 40 detained. Jiangxi province By July 28, 333 cases reported, at least eight officials summoned,more than 21 held accountable. Jiangsu province By July 24, 522 cases reported, eight officials summoned, another 13 held accountable, 14 etained. Yunnan province By July 30, 432 cases reported, 35 officials held accountable. Henan province By July 30, at least 310 cases reported, 216 officials punished. Heilongjiang province By July 30, 464 cases reported, 32 officials held accountable. Zhang Li contributed to this story. Govts & policies Aid to development projects in Niger China has given Niger 300 million yuan ($45 million) in aid to fund several development projects, an official source said on Monday in Niamey. The source said the economic and technical cooperation agreement was signed on July 29 in Beijing by Niger's Deputy Foreign Minister El Back Zeinabou Tari Bako. Cooperation between China and Niger is long-standing and China has invested considerable resources to support Niger's development projects in different socio-economic sectors. Dozens of spectators gawk from an observation deck as a bulk freighter carrying a variety of grains from the United States to China inches its way closer. Forty-ton locomotives known as mules latch onto the massive vessel with cables and guide it inside the Miraflores locks, employing a mechanical precision that keeps it from banging into the concrete walls despite the tight fit. The ship's crossing through the Panama Canal is nearly complete as the 700-ton steel doors swing shut. While most of their bulk is hidden underneath the water, they're as tall as an eight-story building and the same ones that have been doing the job for over a century. As a major Latin American hub of finance, commerce and transportation, the Panamanian capital is a growing destination for business travelers. For anyone looking to duck out of a convention center for a few hours, fill a gap between meetings or even if you've just got a long layover at the airport, a visit to Panama City's No 1 attraction and its newly expanded locks makes for the perfect side excursion. Fiji has never won Olympic gold, but that could change in Rio with a rugby sevens team that trains on sand dunes and in coral lagoons. Fiji's old-school training also includes breathalyzers and bans on mobile phones, while its players will spend as little time as possible at Rio's distraction-laden athletes village. The ragtag squad includes prison wardens, police officers, members of the military and some unemployed who live in Fiji's traditional villages. Ta-Nehisi Coates' new book is an important read not just for black people, but for all races.[Photo provided to China Daily] Published in 2015 to both critical and commercial acclaim, Between the World and Me takes the form of a letter from a father to his teenage son, detailing the experience of author Ta-Nehisi Coates, who lived as a black man in the United States. Coates has listed James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time, written in 1963 on the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation as an inspiration for his book. The similarities between the two go beyond their letter-writing narrative formats. The comparison also serves as a reminder that though things have improved markedly since the days of slavery and segregation, many issues still plague African-Americans. The book was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer for nonfiction, having earlier won a national award, and amid worsening race relations in the US. Between the World and Me was published in the context of increased racial tensions, not long after the two weeks of protests in Coates' native city of Baltimore that followed the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray in police custody, and just a day after the death of Sandra Bland in prison, which would spark more protests across the country. The announcement that the police officer involved in the shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black man who was 18 years old at the time of his death in Missouri in 2014, wouldn't face chargesand the reaction it prompted from Coates' son, were things that led him to write this letter. Police brutality is only one of the subjects the book touches on, and it does so in an intensely personal way. Coates is more concerned about detailing the personal impact of systemic racism rather than its societal effects, and mainly does so by taking examples from his own life, most notably with the case of Prince Jones, a fellow Howard University student who was killed by police outside his fiancee's home in 2000. The increased risk of violence faced by black peopleonly 13 percent of the total US population but more than 43 percent of its murder victimsdoes more than instill a sense of fear. It has a profound impact on behavior, too. Black parents learn to have a "talk" with their children, warning them of the possible dangers of police encounters. Coates describes the impact that has had on his own family: "My father was so very afraid. I felt it in the sting of his black leather belt, which he applied with more anxiety than anger, my father who beat me as if someone might steal me away, because that is actually what was happening around us." The author also had to ensure his own safety in the streets by adapting his behavior to suit the expectations of others, regardless of his own inclinations. Between the World and Me is critical of the modern concept of race and the notion of the "American dream", among other topics. Mable Jones, Prince's mother, may be an example of that dream's realizationshe worked her way out of poverty to give her children a life that included ski trips and visits to Europeand yet her son died at the hands of law enforcement. The book is meant as a personal guide more than a blueprint of solutions. As Coates says: "My work is to give you what I know of my own particular path while allowing you to walk your own." The insider perspective the book brings out makes it an important read, not just for black people, but for all races. Taiwan-based playwright Stan Lai's Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land is staged in Huichang county, Jiangxi province.[Photo provided to China Daily] Nestled between the busy and narrow streets of downtown Huichang, the county's sole theater is an unassuming venue. Its modest doors struggle to stand out in the concrete jungle, offering little clue as to the quality hidden inside. The audience quickly fills the three-story 1,000-seat Theater of Huichang County, in East China's Jiangxi province. They don't know what to expectfew have seen anything similar to the unfolding play. "I am especially pleased that I came to my hometown to perform my play," legendary playwright Stan Lai told the crowd on Friday night, after his opening show for the Huichang tourism and culture festival. His play, Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, has been received with critical acclaim for three decades, and was scheduled to be staged in the county for three consecutive days. It's hardly a fitting scene for a production from one of Asia's greatest playwrights. But Lai, also a world-renowned director, wouldn't be anywhere else. "It's absolutely amazing to perform here," he tells China Daily. "It's a place that would never see theater like this... never see the same level of theater you can see in Beijing or Shanghai. "And touring groups like ours would never come here. Not a possibility ever. "Except for us," he adds. The reason is simple. Lai's father was a Huichang native before leaving the county in 1947 to work as a diplomat in the United States. Lai was born in Washington, and his father never returned to his hometown. He's still amazed his father managed to learn perfect English and become a scholar, emerging from the confines of a county in which a lot of people are still poor. "I always wanted to do something for my father's hometown and so tome this is sort of like a social experiment," says Lai. The representatives of 2016 Silk Road International League of Theaters were awarded certificates at the signing ceremony held in Haicang District of Xiamen on Aug 1, 2016. [Photo/Chinaculture.org] The signing ceremony for the 2016 Silk Road International League of Theaters was held in Haicang District of Xiamen on Monday afternoon, August 1. The representatives of the British Culture Exchange Association in China and theater authorities from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania and Mongolia attended the ceremony, signed the league contract and were awarded certificates. Meanwhile, the Xiamen Cangjiang Theater also celebrated its opening, becoming the league members first opened theater. Before the signing ceremony, representatives and local officials participated in a dialogue centered on the Silk Road. Among them were Cao Fang, deputy director of the management committee of the Haicang District's Taiwan investment zone; Wang Long, deputy manager of the China Performing Arts Agency (CPAA) and senior administrators of the St. Petersburg State Capella Concert Hall, Belarus Janka Kupaa Theater, Ukraine Odessa Opera and Dance Drama Theater, Mongolia National Opera and Dance Drama Theater, Romania Vasile Alecs and National Theater, and the Ukraine Kiev Arts Center. Guests from home and abroad discussed how Silk Road culture has impacted economic development, and specifically, how Haicang and other harbor cities along the Maritime Silk Road should utilize that impact to seek economic promotion and international cultural communication. As the starting port of the Maritime Silk Road, they agreed that Haicang is not only geographically advantaged but also economically privileged as "the specific economic zone", "Taiwan investment zone", "export processing zone", "bonded port" and "free trade experimental area". The guests put high expectations on the Silk Road countries' arts communication featuring theater performances, as well as their harbor cities' economic and cultural interaction based on port trade. They also expressed passionate concern about future collaboration with the Xiamen Cang Jiang Theater. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. License for publishing multimedia online 0108263 10120170006 Registration Number: 130349 11010502032503 [2011]0283-097 ICP13028878-6 In its 2016 defense white paper, Japan interferes in the South China Sea. [Photo by Cai Hong/chinadaily.com.cn] The defense white paper issued by Japan on Tuesday goes to great lengths to play up what it portrays as China's military threat to the region and tries to depict China as a violator of international laws. The politically motivated report is blatantly biased, full of hyperbole and lies, and serves to pave the way for Japan to jettison its pacifist Constitution that prevents its military from fighting abroad. It points accusing fingers at Beijing on issues ranging from the Diaoyu Islands to the South China Sea, calling the lawful activities of Chinese vessels in waters near China's Diaoyu Islands "incursions" into Japan's territory, and flights by Chinese aircraft around the islands "intrusions". The purpose is to deny China's undisputable sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. The paper turns a blind eye to China's call for peaceful settlement of the maritime disputes in the South China Sea through bilateral talks between the parties directly involved, and wantonly accuses the country of making coercive attempts to change the status quo. The fact is that China has exercised the utmost restraint even though most of its isles have been illegally seized and occupied by other nations, and it has been the last country to conduct any land reclamation work in the region. The report also fabricates "dangerous activities" by the Chinese military, for example, repeating the lie that a Chinese naval vessel targeted its fire control radar at a Japanese destroyer in 2013. China has long rejected the accusation as something "inconsistent with the facts". The paper also seeks to reinforce the false portrayal of China as a bully in the region, saying the country is ready to "realize its unilateral assertions without making any compromises". However, the fact is that China has settled its land border disputes with 12 of the 14 neighboring countries through negotiations, with lots of compromises made. The paper also questions China's military buildup, as well as its transparency on military and security matters. Actually China has published military white papers every two years since 1998, and its "active defense" strategy"we will not attack unless we are attacked"poses no threat to any peace-loving nations. It is Washington's rebalancing-to-Asia strategyin a bid to contain a rising Chinathat has sparked the tensions and instability in the region. Yet the Japanese paper heaps praise on the US for its "role in the peace and stability of the world". So much for its credibility. Hinkley Point A and B nuclear power stations are seen behind the site where Hinkley Point C nuclear power station will be constructed in Bridgwater in south west Britain, in this file photograph dated October 24, 2013.[Photo/Agencies] China and the United Kingdom were due to sign contracts on Friday for their cooperation on the construction of the UK's planned new nuclear power plant, but the UK government suddenly announced it would make a decision in the autumn on whether the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant would go ahead. As this came soon after Teresa May became the new UK prime minister, it has been suggested that she could be reconsidering the UK's cooperation with China, and the "golden era" for China-UK relations might already be coming to an end. But there is no reason for May to curb her country's relations with China. The two countries have ideological differences, but that has nothing to do with their friendly relations and there is no pressure on May to make more of the ideological differences. On the contrary, the UK is rather isolated in the wake of its decision to leave the European Union, so it may want to strengthen its economic ties with China. As the UK's prime minister, May must serve the country's interests whatever she might think herself, and there is no reason for her to cool her country's warm relations with China. The reason for the new UK government suspending signing the program could be that the new government is just taking time to carefully consider the project. This is a big infrastructure decision and it is appropriate that the new government takes the time to make sure they are fully informed. Now it is the beginning of August, months before autumn arrives. We hope May and her government will be efficient enough to get to grips with all aspects of the project and realize that it is sound and in the best interests of the UK. For that reason, we also expect the new UK government to be a strong propeller of cooperation with China.--Global Times Chinese Edition Beijing-based Didi, the dominant ride-hailing service provider in China, said in a statement on Monday that it will buy Uber's China operation. [Photo/IC] Didi Chuxing has agreed to acquire the Chinese operations of its rival Uber China, putting an end to the costly battle in the Chinese ride-hailing market. Beijing News commented on Tuesday: Normally, the merger of the two leading providers of a service would create a monopoly. The one between Ganji.com and 58.com, two major Chinese classifieds websites, last year, has been met with complaints about their more expensive yet poorer services. It is thus only natural for customers to question whether a notable fare hike and inferior services will result from the merger of Didi and Uber China. Such concerns are not unfounded. In all likelihood, the new monopoly will marginalize the role of customers as the traditional taxi monopoly used to do. China now faces a daunting task of regulating the domestic ride-hailing industry it just legalized, especially at a time when a monopoly is about to take shape after the buying of Uber China by Didi Chuxing. The relevant authorities should not only launch an anti-monopoly investigation into the merger of the two ride-hailing juggernauts, but also keep a close eye on whether they abuse their dominant role in the market at the cost of customers' interests. A boy with his younger brother. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, the three major metropolises of China, have published their population data for the first half of the year. The number of residents in central Beijing decreased, while the growth rate in Guangzhou slowed. It is mainly poorer residents that are moving out of the metropolises. Beijing Youth Daily comments: Some media outlets have used headlines such as "low-end population being moved out" in their reports. The phrase "low-end population" sounds discriminatory, but the fact is those moving out of the metropolises are mainly those living at the lower levels of society. Some might argue that it is natural for the living costs in metropolises to be high and for poorer residents to move out when they can no longer afford them. But the so-called low-end population is also needed by society. They include street cleaners, restaurant staff, as well as physical laborers. Different groups all have their different roles to play in society, and when policies result in poorer residents leaving the big cities because they can no longer afford to live in them, that's a serious problem that should arouse public concern. Besides, the phenomenon also sends an alert that our social welfare system is still inadequate. It is necessary to improve our social security net so that the poor could live with equal dignity as the rich in the same metropolis. Demonstrators protest before the release of the John Chilcot report into the Iraq war, at the Queen Elizabeth II centre in London, Britain July 6, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] The British government recently published a 2.6-million-word investigation report on its military involvement in the Iraq war. Were it not for Brexit, the Nice attack, Turkey's coup and the South China Sea arbitration farce, the report would have made bigger headlines. The report, which took seven years and reportedly cost 10 million to prepare, concludes that former prime minister Tony Blair pushed the British military into Iraq without exhausting peaceful means or preparing for the aftermath of the war. More importantly, it says the Blair government's decision was based on false intelligence that overstated the threat posed by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's non-existent weapons of mass destruction. But it stops short of saying who manipulated the intelligence and why Britain's political establishment couldn't verify the information. And sadly, the report will not be able to prevent Britain from going into another Iraq-type war. Blair and then US president George W. Bush didn't care about the consequences of waging a war on Iraq or ending it; they were only interested in overthrowing Saddam because they disliked him. The anarchy that rules Somalia and large parts of Afghanistan and Yemen should give an idea about what Iraq could turn into. The chaos and mayhem that followed the "Arab Spring" in Libya, Egypt and Syria also show Western leaders don't care about the fate of the people in other countries. Tourists at the Agua Clara locks of the newly expanded Panama Canal.[Photo/ Agencies] Dozens of spectators gawk from an observation deck as a bulk freighter carrying a variety of grains from the United States to China inches its way closer. Forty-ton locomotives known as mules latch onto the massive vessel with cables and guide it inside the Miraflores locks, employing a mechanical precision that keeps it from banging into the concrete walls despite the tight fit. The ship's crossing through the Panama Canal is nearly complete as the 700-ton steel doors swing shut. While most of their bulk is hidden underneath the water, they're as tall as an eight-story building and the same ones that have been doing the job for over a century. As a major Latin American hub of finance, commerce and transportation, the Panamanian capital is a growing destination for business travelers. For anyone looking to duck out of a convention center for a few hours, fill a gap between meetings or even if you've just got a long layover at the airport, a visit to Panama City's No 1 attraction and its newly expanded locks makes for the perfect side excursion. Shipping geeks in particular will delight at this engineering marvel that revolutionized global maritime trade when it opened for business on Aug 15, 1914, but it also appeals to a broader audience. Nearly 3,000 people visit each day during the January-April high season. The Miraflores Visitor Center offers several stories of space with an up-close view of the machinations of the canal, where ships pass through about 35 to 40 times a day. With each crossing, an enthusiastic guide informs visitors on a recent sticky, tropical morning, that the locks fill with about 26 million gallons (100 million liters) of fresh water that then spill into the Pacific Ocean. "I'm impressed by the magnitude of this operation," says Vicky Londono, a Colombian traveler who flew into the airport that day with her husband and hopped in a cab to see the canal before continuing to their final destination, Madrid. The Canal Authority threw a big bash in late June to formally inaugurate its new Cocoli locks, which doubled the waterway's capacity and can accommodate huge New Panamax-class vessels that carry up to three times as much cargo as those previously able to fit. There will be no separate viewing platform at Cocoli for at least two years, but for now you can see some of the action at a distance from Miraflores. Tip: Bring binoculars. "This is spectacular," says Tom Matz, a retired lawyer from New York, as a sky-blue liquid petroleum gas ship emerged from Cocoli bound for the Atlantic. "The past, present and future of the canal, all right here." Getting to the canal is a snap, with a host of travel agencies and hotel tours competing for your business. For $30 or so, depending on your willingness to haggle, taxi drivers will take you from the city center and pick you up a couple of hours later. Plan on $60 or more if you're starting from the airport, as well as a 30-to 45-minute cab ride there-possibly longer due to Panama City's chronic traffic congestion. If no ship is passing through right when you arrive, while away the time in the facility's theater and museum for comprehensive exhibits on the canal and its constructionwhich claimed the lives of more than 25,000 workers. Most of those who died were from Caribbean islands, most of them victims of tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. A simulator lets you play captain and virtually maneuver a ship through the locks. There's also a snack bar, and a pricier restaurant upstairs that stays open into the evening. SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired one ballistic missile into east waters from its west region, the Republic of Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Wednesday. The projectile was launched eastward from South Hwanghae province at about 7:50 am local time, a JCS official said on the phone. Further details are being analyzed, the official added. The launch came after the DPRK test-fired two medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles and one shorter-range Scud missile on July 19 in an apparent protest against the decision between Seoul and Washington to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense on the ROK's soil. On July 8, the ROK and the US abruptly announced an agreement to deploy one THAAD battery by the end of next year. Five days later, the deployment site was designated at Seongju county, some 250 km southeast of Seoul. One day after the announcement, Pyongyang test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off its east coast to demonstrate against the THAAD deployment decision. In times of military conflict, it is hard to detect and track SLBM with THAAD's X-band radar. THAAD is incapable of intercepting Rodong and Scud missiles targeting the ROK as the DPRK missiles travel at an altitude of 20-30 km. The US anti-missile system is designed to shoot down missiles at a much higher altitude of 40-150 km. The DPRK military has threatened to take "physical measures" against the THAAD deployment site. On July 19, Seoul's unification ministry said Pyongyang appeared to have been in a state of conducting another nuclear test at any time given increased activity in its main Punggye-ri nuclear test site. All of the four DPRK underground nuclear tests had been carried out in Punggye-ri since 2006. The latest took place in January this year. China and Russia have strongly opposed to THAAD in the ROK as it raises tensions in Northeast Asia. The US missile defense system also breaks strategic balance in the region and severely damages security interests of China and Russia as the X-band radar can peer into Chinese and Russian territories. Seoul claims that it will adopt the terminal mode radar with a detectable range of 600-800km, but it can be converted at any time into a forward-based mode capable of detecting at least 2,000 km. The modified version allegedly needs no conversion, spotting as far as 3,000-4,000 km. South Korea's capital city and its adjacent metropolitan area cannot be protected by the THAAD battery as its interceptors have a maximum range of 200 km. Seongju is about 250 km away from the capital. It's a clear evidence to support a claim that THAAD in the ROK is not aimed at intercepting DPRK missiles, but supervising and pressuring China and Russia as part of US efforts at its Pivot-to-Asia strategy. TOKYO -- Japan on Wednesday condemned a missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and lodged an official protest with Pyongyang saying the launch was in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told a press briefing that what was believed to be a Nodong medium-range class ballistic missile flew for around 1,000 kilometers and landed in seas off Oga Peninsula, to the west of Akita Prefecture, in Northern Honshu. Nakatani said that the missile landed within what Japan describes as its exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan and said his agency is currently "analyzing the situation." The defense minister also said that his agency and the coast guard were currently determining whether any damage had been caused to aircraft vessels in the vicinity. "The launch is in defiance of clear UN Security Council resolutions and is an extremely problematic act from the standpoint of securing the safety of aircraft and vessels at sea,"the Japanese government was quoted as saying in a statement. Nakatani ordered the nation's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to be on high alert following the launch, which is believed to have taken place from an area in the South Hwanghae province which lies to the southwest of the DPRK capital Pyongyang and is the first such kind to have landed in what Japan believes to be its territorial waters. The spate of recent launches, government officials here have said, have been a show of defiance against UN Security Council resolutions slapped on the DPRK for its ongoing nuclear and ballistic missile technology programs which are banned under the council's resolutions. The DPRK in addition to a number of missile launches and attempts has also conducted four nuclear test which have also been resolutely condemned by Japan and the UN Security Council. A still image taken on August 2, 2016 from a video said to be taken on August 1, 2016 posted on social media shows two men standing over a man on a bed, making him sit up as he breathes through a mask in what is said to be in Saraqeb, Idlib province, Syria. [Photo/Agencies] DAMASCUS -- Syrian opposition activists and state-run media have traded accusations on Tuesday about possible, recent chemical attacks in northern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a shelling by barrel bombs filled with chlorine gas hit the town of Saraqeb in the northwestern province of Idlib on Monday evening, causing suffocation and breathing difficulties to 20 people. The UK-based watchdog group said the type of gas was difficult to be identified, saying it has based its report on local testimonies. The Syrian National Coalition opposition group cited activists as saying that it was the government forces who bombed the town of Saraqeb with chlorine-filled barrel bombs, placing the number of those affected at 30. It urged the UN to take action, and said the alleged chemical attack took place in an area close to where a Russian helicopter was downed a day earlier. On Monday, the rebels in Idlib countryside downed a Russian helicopter, with reports saying that all five crew members were killed. Meanwhile, state-run SANA news agency blamed the rebels for firing a rocket containing poisonous gas on the government-controlled part of the northern city of Aleppo over the past 24 hours, killing five people, and eight others suffered suffocation. SANA spelled no further details, but pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said that Moscow will investigate the terrorists' use of chemical weapons in Aleppo, and will also urge Washington to cooperate. Chemical weapons are believed to have taken place in several areas in Syria in the past years, with the government and the rebels trading accusations. DPRK fires 2 ballistic missiles to protest THAAD deployment Xinhua | Updated: 2016-08-03 14:05 SEOUL -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday fired two ballistic missiles into east waters in an apparent protest against the deployment in the Republic of Korea (ROK) of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). Two DPRK ballistic missiles, estimated to be Rodong, were fired eastward from South Hwanghae province at about 7:50 a.m. local time, but one exploded with an unsuccessful launch, the ROK's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The other flew around 1,000 km. The DPRK missile reportedly landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), marking the first time that a DPRK missile fell on Japanese waters. Citing the ROK military authorities, Yonhap news agency reported that the landing in Japanese waters was aimed at displaying its missile capability of reaching US troops in Japan as well as in the ROK. The test-firing came after the DPRK test-fired two medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles and one shorter-range Scud missile on July 19 to protest against the decision between Seoul and Washington to deploy THAAD in the ROK's soil. On July 8, the ROK and the US abruptly announced an agreement to deploy one THAAD battery by the end of next year. Five days later, the deployment site was designated at Seongju county, some 250 km southeast of Seoul. One day after the announcement, Pyongyang test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off its east coast to demonstrate against the THAAD deployment decision. In times of military conflict, it is hard to detect and track SLBM with THAAD's X-band radar. THAAD is incapable of intercepting Rodong and Scud missiles targeting the ROK as the DPRK missiles travel at an altitude of 20-30 km. The US anti-missile system is designed to shoot down missiles at a much higher altitude of 40-150 km. The DPRK military has threatened to take"physical measures"against the THAAD deployment site. On July 19, Seoul's unification ministry said Pyongyang appeared to have been in a state of conducting another nuclear test at any time given increased activity in its main Punggye-ri nuclear test site. All of the four DPRK underground nuclear tests had been carried out in Punggye-ri since 2006. The latest took place in January this year. China and Russia have strongly opposed to THAAD in the ROK as it raises tensions in Northeast Asia. The US missile defense system also breaks strategic balance in the region and severely damages security interests of China and Russia as the X-band radar can peer into Chinese and Russian territories. Seoul claims that it will adopt the terminal mode radar with a detectable range of 600-800km, but it can be converted at any time into a forward-based mode capable of detecting at least 2,000 km. The modified version allegedly needs no conversion, spotting as far as 3,000-4,000 km. The ROK's capital city and its adjacent metropolitan area cannot be protected by the THAAD battery as its interceptors have a maximum range of 200 km Seongju is about 250 km away from the capital. It's a clear evidence to support a claim that THAAD in the ROK is not aimed at intercepting DPRK missiles, but supervising and pressuring China and Russia as part of US efforts at its Pivot-to-Asia strategy. Beijing is strongly dissatisfied with Tokyo's defense white paper that is "full of groundless accusations" about China's normal military activities, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Wednesday. The white paper, ratified by the Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday, took more words on China than Japan's other neighboring countries, such as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Russia. It said that China's military acts could cause "unintended consequences" in the region. Hua condemned these accusations as irresponsible and groundless. "Based on International Law and national defense needs, China has full rights to conduct various activities on its own territory, including waters and airspace," Hua said. The spokeswoman pointed out that through "mixing black with white" on regional security issues, Japan wanted to exaggerate security threats to make excuses for its own military expansion. "We urge that Japan should learn from the lesson of history, stick to the path of peaceful development, be cautious in military security areas, and do more to boost mutual trust with neighboring countries and maintain regional peace and stability," she said. Zhang Yaozhong contributed to this story. anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn The U.S. Government has been cracking the whip on products transshipped from China. Chinese companies and U.S. importers of their products often tell me they are not concerned about U.S. Antidumping (AD) and Countervailing Duty (CVD) orders because they can just get around those orders by transshipping our products to Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, [or some other country] before sending them on to the United States. Their plan is to relabel the products with a new country of origin and then export the products to the US free of AD and CVD duties, without US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ever being the wiser. Wrong. Not only has CBP become expert at discovering such evasions, but the penalties both civil and criminal when caught have become very harsh. Importers that knowingly falsely label the country of origin on their imports are subject to significant fines and penalties under 19 USC 1592 and to criminal prosecution under 18 USC 542 (import by using false statement) and 18 USC 545 (smuggling). Lying about a products country of origin can subject you to 20 years in Federal prison. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted criminal investigations against a number of products under AD and CVD orders, including honey, saccharin, citric acid, lined paper products, pasta, polyethylene bags, shrimp, catfish, crayfish, garlic, steel, magnesium, pencils, wooden bedroom furniture, wire clothing hangers, ball bearings and nails. Many of these investigations have led to criminal convictions and large fines and penalties. U.S. importers have also been prosecuted and sentenced to prison for bringing in Chinese products, such as honey, garlic, wooden bedroom furniture and wire clothing hangers, by means of false Country of Origin statements so as to evade US AD and CVD orders. Many Chinese companies do not realize that U.S. Customs laws can be used to go after not only US importers that have filed the false documents at Customs, but also after Chinese companies and anyone from those companies involved in setting up the transshipment. In one case, a Chinese seafood executive was arrested at a seafood show in Belgium based on a US extradition warrant for evasion of a US AD order He ended up spending six months in a Belgian prison. United States CBP, ICE and the Justice Department can be very tough investigators and prosecutors. The real hammer against evasion of US AD and CVD orders, however, is the False Claims Act (FCA). The FCA ( 31 U.S.C. 3729) allows people or companies, designated a Relator, to file what are termed qui tam lawsuits against individuals or companies that directly or indirectly defrauded the Federal government. Through qui tam lawsuits, the informants or whistleblowers may recover triple damages on the governments behalf. Anyone who knows of the fraud, including a competitor company may file a qui tam lawsuit. And they do. Relators file these qui tam actions to attack competitors and to get 15 to 30 percent of the triple damages the U.S. Government can recover from the lawsuit. Your competitors and your importers and your own employees are the most likely to initiate a qui tam lawsuit against you, but sometimes it is just someone who learned of what you are doing. Because the person or company that brings such an action can be awarded millions and even tens of millions of dollars, the incentive to file is huge. If you want to get a better idea of just how lucrative these lawsuits can be, do a Google search for lawyers looking to take on qui tam lawsuits. The qui tam relators lawsuit is filed confidentially and is not served on the defendants, but on the US Government. The US Government then determines whether to intervene and pursue the action or settle the matter with the defendant. If the U.S. Government intervenes, it takes on primary responsibility for the case. If the U.S. Government decides not to intervene, the relator may dismiss the lawsuit or pursue the lawsuit on its own. Under the False Claims Act, relators and the government can look backward as much as ten years after the date on which the violation was committed. When looking at imports over 10 years subject to antidumping orders with potential rates of over 300%, the amounts being evaded are usually enormous. In one False Claims Act we handled, the antidumping duties evaded were over $80 million. When those duties were tripled, and additional penalty sums were added for false statements and attorneys fees, the complaint against numerous importers exceeded $300 million. Our original complaint has resulted in an ongoing penalty action for $80 million against one U.S. importer, with the relator entitled potentially to $12 to $24 million of this sum. With increasing opportunities to collect such massive sums, both the U.S. Government and private companies and individuals have huge incentives to bring more False Claims Act cases against those who transship and seek to evade U.S. antidumping and countervailing duties. If you are exporting to the United States or importing into the United States, you need to be wary of the hammer against transshipmentthe False Claims Act. Update: The international trade lawyers at my law firm represented a number of private party plaintiffs involved with this lawsuit where Univar transshipped saccharin manufactured in China . . . through Taiwan to evade a 329 percent antidumping duty that applied to saccharin from China. Representatives from ExxonMobil presented Lee College with a donation check. From left are Debi Jordan, executive director of the center for workforce and community development at Lee College; Brian Nagle of ExxonMobil; Woody Paul, manager of the ExxonMobil Baytown Olefins Plant; Wayne Gray, Lee College Board of Regents; Ronn Haddox, Chairman of the Lee College Board of Regents; Pete Alfaro, Lee College Board of Regents; Michael Fleming, executive director of institutional planning, effectiveness and research at Lee College; Marisela Morales, Lee College student; Mark Himsel, Lee College Board of Regents; Ellis Dorrance, Lee College student; Kelly Dando, ExxonMobil grant project coordinator at Lee College; and Dennis Brown, Lee College president. (Photo : Yang Daifu/VCG via Getty Images) Students do yoga during the extracurricular time at No.2 Middle School of Liping County on June 21, 2016 in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province of China. More than 100 students attended yoga exercise at extracurricular time in No.2 Middle School of Liping County in Guizhou. Advertisement Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is on a roll, as it has produced an impressive number of students who have qualified to enter the best graduate schools in the world. One such student is Sun Yuting who is excited to start working on her postgraduate course at Harvard University in the United States after spending four fruitful years at the Chinese university, reported the China Daily. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "We don't have too much pressure, compared with students at most universities on the Chinese mainland," Sun shared. "For example, we don't need to pass the English tests that trouble many Chinese students," she continued. "We can indulge in the fields we're really interested in." "With the inspiring teachers and advanced equipment, you can make great progress if you make an effort at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool," she added. According to Sun, her experience at the Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University has taught her adapt to a foreign environment, while enjoying a fun-filled school life. "We experienced the cultures and environments of both Chinese and foreign universities," she recalled. "It helps me to think and become what I want to be." It came as a shock to Sun when she learned that three of her schoolmates, who lived at the same dormitory, were admitted to Cambridge University the same year. "I didn't get very high scores on the Chinese college entrance exam," she related. "One of my high school and college schoolmates, Zhang Xiaoyu, was admitted by Cambridge University and Columbia University to pursue his studies." "He was excited to know that one of the top students of our high school at Tsinghua University will join him at Columbia this year," she said. "Many of our students can go beyond themselves after four years at the university," pointed Xi Youmin, executive president of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. Information from the Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University show that 80 percent of its bachelor's degree holders pursue studies at foreign universities every year, with many of them taken in by the world's top universities, including Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge. In 2015, 71.3 percent of the university's students were accepted by the world's top 100 universities, while 21.5 percent of them qualified for the world's top 10. The Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University celebrated its 10-year anniversary last July 26. Advertisement Tagschina, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (Photo : VCG/VCG via Getty Images) A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe takes off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Dec. 2, 2013 in Xichang, China. China successfully sent the Chang'e-3 lunar probe with its first moon rover aboard into orbit on Monday morning. Advertisement China is moving closer to its goal of becoming a "space superpower," as it the Chinese government expands the nation's international exchange space program for its astronauts. This was revealed by Li Xinke of the Astronaut Center of China while providing a briefing to an international training mission for astronauts, according to China Daily. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Also part of the mission is Ye Guangfu, the first Chinese astronaut to receive CAVES (Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behavior and performance Skills) training, an advanced training course for astronauts, organized by the European Space Agency (ESA). The training was conducted at the Sa Grutta underground caves in Sardinia, Italy, and was participated in by prospective astronauts from Japan, Russia, Spain and the United States. "In the future, China will strengthen international communication in astronaut training while also relying on our own efforts," Li said, adding that it is unclear whether more Chinese astronauts will be included in the CAVES training. However, China is determined to move its space program forward and at a faster pace. According to Huang Weifen, deputy chief designer of the center, the Chinese government is studying the possibility of developing its own CAVES program, as it has already examined several potential sites in the mainland. During the CAVES training, Ye and five other training participants spent several days underground, as part of a simulated mission to explore another planet. Among the main objectives of CAVES is to put trainees in environments that simulate spaceflight, and consequently, improve their leadership, teamwork, decision-making and problem-solving skills. "It's dark, cold and damp, with the humidity reaching 99 percent," Ye shared. But aside from the physical demands of the training, the biggest challenge his group faced was the cultural and linguistic differences among its members, which the team was eventually able to overcome. But with astronauts like Ye, China's space program is expected to reach newer heights. Advertisement Tagschina, China space program (Photo : VCG/VCG via Getty Images) Aircraft are seen at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Nov. 23, 2015 in Beijing, China. Workers cleared the snow at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Monday after flights were cancelled due to heavy snowfall. Advertisement The new Beijing International Airport will be the new home of two of China's major airlines - China Eastern and China Southern - as well as a number of SkyTeam Alliance members. The move is part of the Chinese government's efforts to reduce airfares for international passengers, as it improves services for national carrier Air China Airlines, which will continue operating at the Beijing Capital Airport, according to China Daily. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement According to a statement from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, other carriers to be relocated to the new airport include Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air. The aviation body explained that slot shortages at the Beijing Capital International Airport has become a major problem for most airlines, as they have found it difficult to launch lights and add new routes. Aside from Air China and other Star Alliance partners, including United Airlines, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines and Japanese airline ANA will remain at the old airport. The modern Beijing International Airport, which will be located at the Daxing district in Beijing's southeastern suburbs, will primarily cater to passengers who travel to and from Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province. "Beijing Capital International Airport is overly saturated. The relocation of China Eastern and China Southern Airlines to the new airport will provide them with significant growth potential," noted Li Xiaojin, a professor at the Civil Aviation University of China in Tianjin. Li pointed out that since the new Beijing International Airport will be situated 50 kilometers from the downtown area, he expects airline companies based there to offer cheaper ticket prices as a marketing strategy to attract passengers and tour groups. Under the relocation plan, China Eastern and China Southern will be allowed to build their own infrastructure facilities at the new airport, making them the airport's main carriers. The two airlines account for 40 percent of annual passenger volume. Once realized, this plan would create a ripple ieffect, as more businesses and government agencies move there, and passengers start to enjoy the convenience of using the new Beijing International Airport. Advertisement Tagschina, Beijing International Airport (Photo : Twitter/XiaomiIndia) The sale of Xiaomi smartphones has been banned in Pakistan. Advertisement Pakistan has issued a ban on the sale of Xiaomi smartphones in the country. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has asked XiaomiPK.com, an unofficial Xiaomi website, to immediately stop selling Xiaomi products in Pakistan. The website posted a message confirming that the sales of Mi mobile devices in the country is being halted until the matter is settled. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "Unfortunately, we are halting sales of Mi smartphones until this get settled in the mean time we will try our best to get smart phones in your hands as soon as possible, We will continue to provide you Mi accessories with best rates and services," XiaomiPK wrote. The Pakistani e-commerce platform also accused its competitors of attempting to grab the market through 'influence' instead of competing with quality and service. "If they (PTA) have any legitimate concern we are ready to address it but so far we haven't got any rational reason," XiaomiPK stated. PTA recently refused to offer a 'No Objection Certificate' to XiaomiPK on the ground that it is not a registered office in Pakistan. Media reports also confirmed that XiaomiPK is not an official e-commerce platform of Chinese smartphone maker. Xiaomi and Chinese e-commerce platform CheezMall recently signed a deal to sell Mi products in Pakistan. CheezMall, which entered Pakistan last year, has grabbed a significant portion of the online retail market in the country. Advertisement TagsXiaomi, XiaomiPK, Pakistan, PTA, xiaomi mi (Photo : Getty Images) China slammed Japan after Tokyo released a white paper accusing Beijing of stirring up trouble in the South China Sea. Advertisement China has angrily responded to allegations from Japan that Beijing continues to act in an assertive manner in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Japan, in its annual defense white paper, expressed 'concern' over increased Chinese activities in the East China Sea region. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement China's Defense Ministry on Tuesday slammed the Japanese white paper, saying it is "full of lies." "The white paper issued on August 2, full of hackneyed expressions, distorts China's justified and reasonable defense work, heightening issues in the South China Sea and the East China Sea," China's defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. "Filled with hostility to the Chinese military, it stirs up trouble between China and its neighbors, and attempts to deceive the international community." China also rejected allegations that Beijing was changing the status quo in the disputed South China Sea using its military power. It instead accused Japan of causing trouble in the region for its benefit. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying expressed "strong" dissatisfaction about Japan's annual defense white paper over its "groundless" accusations against China. She described it as an "irresponsible" document. Japan's 2016 defense document, released on Tuesday, blasted China over its assertive behavior in the region saying Beijing is poised to fulfill its unilateral demands without compromise. "Recently, China has been intensifying activities near the Senkaku Islands, such as its military aircraft flying southward closer to the islands," the document said. The paper also noted that Beijing's land reclamation work in the contested South China Sea water is provocative. Advertisement TagsJapan, china, South China Sea, East China Sea, Japan Defense White Paper (Photo : Getty Images) Beijing's top court has issued a "jurisdictional interpretation" banning foreign vessels from fishing in China's waters. Advertisement Following the recent ruling of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) denying China's claims to disputed territories in the South China Sea, a top Beijing court announced on Tuesday that foreign fishermen could face up to one year in jail if they are caught illegally fishing in China's waters. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement China's Supreme People's Court handed down the "new jurisdictional interpretation," which took effect on Tuesday, to uphold Beijing's sovereignty claims. According to the new "jurisdictional interpretation," international vessels and their crews could face trial and be sentenced to one year in jail sentence if they are caught illegally entering and fishing in Chinese waters. Exclusive economic zone The court said that Chinese waters include its contiguous and exclusive economic zones as well as its continental shelves. Analysts have said that the new law is a show of force by Beijing that it would not kowtow to the ruling of the international arbitration court and pressure to abide by the verdict. Wang Hanling, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Science, said anyone who violates Beijing's maritime laws run the risk of being imprisoned aside from the confiscation of their vessels and fishing materials. Illegal fishing Although the Beijing court did not mention the South China Sea dispute and the recent arbitration court ruling in its statement, Wang said it was about time that the court handed down such a law to protect China's interests in their waters. "When it came to illegal fishing by foreign fishermen before, we usually just drove them out, or, in some serious cases, confiscated the goods or fishing tools but finally would let them go rather than taking them to court," Wang said. Wang said with the new law, Chinese authorities now have guidelines to follow when handling illegal fishermen who veer into the country's waters. International pressures Wang said Beijing has been facing tremendous pressure from its neighbors and the international community and is defending its sovereignty in the South and East China Seas. The state-run news agency Xinhua said that with the new ruling, China's bureaucracy would be tasked with handling maritime-related situations and protecting Beijing's interests in its waters. The new jurisdictional interpretation comes on the heels of the recent international tribunal ruling that denied China's claims to the South China Sea under its nine-dash line. Mischief Reef The ruling found Beijing to have violated the Philippines' rights to its exclusive economic zone by constructing facilities on Mischief Reef. Beijing, which said that it does not recognize the court's jurisdiction, boycotted the entire proceedings. China also refused to accept the court's ruling, dismissing it as "null and void" and a "piece of waste paper." Advertisement Tagsjurisdictional interpretation, Chinese waters, South China Sea, East China Sea, tribunal ruling, china (Photo : Getty Images) A project launched by the Chinese government in a small island of the outskirts of Guangzhou to eradicate mosquitoes is said to have been successful. Advertisement In 2012, China opened a unique mosquito factory consisting of a small island on the outskirts of Guangzhou, South China Morning Post reported. The goal of the project is to wipe out mosquito-transmitted diseases such as the Zika virus, Dengue fever, and malaria. Local scientists injected mosquito eggs with the Wolbachia bacteria in a laboratory and then released these injected male mosquitoes in the unique island. These injected male mosquitoes sterilize their female counterparts while mating with them, which in-turn helps in controlling the population of mosquitoes. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "The aim is trying to suppress the mosquito density below the threshold which can cause disease transmission," said Zhiyong Xi, director of the Sun Yat-sen University Centre of Vector Control for Tropical Diseases. "It will dramatically reduce disease transmission." Xi added that many prominent countries have expressed interest in this experiment, especially Brazil and Mexico. Zhiyong Xi is widely considered the pioneer of this idea. One villager, who has been living on the island for nearly six decades, claims that the experiment has been so successful that he no longer needs a mosquito net to enjoy a peaceful sleep. "We used to have a lot of mosquitoes in the past. Back then, some people were worried that if mosquitoes were released here, we would get even more mosquitoes," he said. Mosquito-transmitted diseases are held responsible for more than a million deaths globally every year. The Zika virus, which came into prominence only a few years back, has become a major concern for athletes competing in this year's Rio Olympics. Last year, Brazil was plagued with the outbreak of the Zika virus that has since spilled over to other countries. China reported its first case of the Zika virus in February. Advertisement TagsZika virus, Zika virus in China, Mosquito Factory in China, china (Photo : Morgridge Institute for Research) Seeing around corners technology could help emergency personnel identify people in danger during fires or natural disasters Advertisement The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is fast tracking a novel technology to develop a special "camera" that can see around corners and behind walls. The technology, however, can't be used for ordinary cameras such as those on mobile phones. DARPA is providing the $4.4 million grant to the Morgridge Institute for Research, a private, nonprofit biomedical research institute in Madison, Wisconsin affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The DARPA grant will allow the Morgridge research team to explore the limitations of the technology and develop fully-functional hardware that can be used by U.S. soldiers, civilians, firemen and policemen. It will fund four years of research. The first two years will be dedicated to investigating the full potential of the technology. The second two years will be spent developing the hardware, making it viable for production and implementation. UW-Madison is one of eight universities to receive DAPRA grants this year to investigate different forms and applications of non-line-of-sight imaging. The see around the corner technology was first developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientist Andreas Velten and demonstrated for the first time in 2012. Velten's technology relies on the camera firing a rapid pulse of laser light into a room. The laser light scatters when it hits a wall, ceiling, a person and other objects in a room. Many photons are eventually reflected back to an extremely sensitive sensor in camera. The sensor uses that information to digitally reconstruct an image of the room, including any people inside of it. Recording the photons that reflected back to the camera requires highly specialized equipment. The very sensitive sensor is also able to see around multiple walls, a goal the team is currently working toward. "The more times you can bounce this light within a scene, the more possible data you can collect," said Velten. "Since the first light is the strongest, and each proceeding bounce gets weaker and weaker, the sensor has to be sensitive enough to capture even a few photons of light." Velten is collaborating with Mohit Gupta, assistant professor of computer sciences at UW-Madison, to develop the technology further. They are creating new versions of the camera where laser light bounces six or more times to uncover objects or persons outside the field of view, an advantage especially useful for soldiers. Advertisement TagsDefense Advanced Research Projects Agenc, DARPA, Morgridge Institute for Research, Andreas Velten, Mohit Gupta (Photo : Getty Images) Tomomi Inada is Japan's second female defense minister. Advertisement Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has appointed Tomomi Inada as the country's new defense minister as part of a limited Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Known for her hawkish views on foreign policies and national security, Inada's appointment is likely to raise eyebrows in China and South Korea. Local media reports suggest that she shares Abe's goal of revising Japan's post-war pacifist constitution, considered by many conservative politicians as a symbol of the country's humiliating defeat in World War 2. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Inada is reported to be among the regular visitors to the historical Yasukuni Shrine, where millions of dead soldiers and convicted war criminals are buried. China and South Korea consider Yasukuni Shrine as a symbol of Japan's past wartime aggression against both countries. "Ms. Inada is an ultra-conservative politician, and this will be taken as preparation for achieving constitutional revision and adopting a stern stance toward China," said Takashi Kawakami, a security expert at Takushoku University. Inada is the second woman, after Yuriko Koike, to be appointed as Japan's defense minister. She previously held the post of policy chief for her party, the Liberal Democratic Party. Japan's Alleged Wartime Aggression Japan's past wartime aggression has always cast a shadow on its relationship with China and South Korea. China has been especially forthcoming in seeking an apology from Japan for its alleged war crimes during the Second World War. Memories of Nanjing Massacre are especially still fresh among Chinese people. The massacre committed during the second Sino-Japan war left millions of Chinese citizens dead in Nanjing city. Advertisement TagsShinzo Abe, Japan and China, Tomomi Inada, china, Nanjing Massacre (Photo : US Navy) Virginia Payload Module concept Advertisement The U.S. Navy is transforming its Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines (SSNs) into very heavily armed underwater "battleships" with more than enough missile tube firepower to invalidate China's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy in the Asia. Called "Virginia Payload Modules," (VPMs) the new missile tubes will increase each Virginia's load of UGM-109 Tomahawk sub-sonic cruise missiles to 40 from 12 by adding 28 more missile tubes. The VPMs will more than triple the offensive strike capability of the Virginia-class SSNs. Each module consists of four 87-inch vertical payload tubes. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The new missile tubes now being built and assembled will equip the 10 Block V subs, the next generation to the Block IV now in service. The U.S. Navy has 12 active Virginia boats out of 48 planned to be built until 2043. Five boats are building. Increasing its undersea strike capability is vital to the Navy's plans to degrade China's A2/AD strategy aimed at keeping U.S. surface warships as far away from the Chinese mainland as possible using anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) such as the DF-21D. China's A2/AD strategy, however, is ineffective against submerged submarines launching cruise missiles. The relative immunity of U.S. Navy SSNs from Chinese ASBM attacks makes it an ideal platform for launching attacks on warships of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Increasing the offensive payload of the Virginia boats with VPMs is a key step in this direction. Construction of the first VPM boat is set for 2019 with completion expected by 2025. The first VPM tube fabrication begins in April 2017. The second sub of the planned Block V, identified as SSN 803, will be engineered with an integrated VPM. The last 20 ships of the class in Blocks V, VI and VII will have integrated VPMs. The Virginia class, also known as the SSN-774 class, are fast attack submarines designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral (shallow coastal water) missions. Advertisement TagsVirginia-class nuclear attack submarines, Virginia Payload Modules, A2/AD, china People struggle to control their umbrellas in high winds on August 2, 2016 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Typhoon Nida hit Hong Kong on Tuesday where more then 150 flights were disrupted while the morning trading session at the Hong Kong stock exchange was suspended and schools were closed. (Photo by Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images) Advertisement Nearly 500,000 people were forced to evacuate as Typhoon Nida batters South China early Tuesday morning, the country's Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) said Wednesday. Typhoon Nida, which made landfall in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, Tuesday morning, unleashed its fury in five provinces - Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan and Yunnan - forcing the evacuation of 495,000 people, the MCA said. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Initial data from the MCA showed that Typhoon Nida has already destroyed over 300 homes and partially damaged 2,400 others. The typhoon also destroyed 19,600 hectares of crops, including 2,700 hectares that were totally destroyed. Economic loss was initially pegged at Rmb510 million (USD76.9 million). Casualties, however, were minimized because of the early emergency measures put in place by the Chinese government even before the arrival of Typhoon Nida. As early as Monday, the China National Commission for Disaster Reducation has already asked people in the areas forecast to be affected to be cautious and stock up on three days of essentials. The MCA also revealed that authorities in the five provinces mentioned have been told to monitor the typhoon as it was approaching and the release early-warning information. As precautionary measures, all work, production, and classes were suspended and people have been advised to stay indoors. "All passenger ships, tourist boats, and ferries at Guangzhou have been suspended. Most flights to and from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport were also canceled on Tuesday morning and gradually resumed after 4 p.m.," the MCA said on its website. As of Wednesday afternoon, typhoon Nida was already classified as a weakening cyclone, although it left a path of misery in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which was hit by an earthquake last Sunday. A 5.4-magnitude earthquake damaged houses in Cangwu County Sunday afternoon, triggering the relocation of more than 3,000 villagers even before Nida made landfall in China. While typhoon Nida is no longer expected to cause damage, Cangwu County remained on high alert because last Sunday's earthquake caused cracks in buildings and damaged roads. Advertisement TagsTyphoon Nida, China Typhoon, Typhoon Nida China Allegations of 'gay subculture' rock Catholic seminary 03 August, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , | DUBLIN (Christian Examiner) One of Ireland's oldest Catholic seminaries is being rocked by controversy after several newspapers claimed a "subculture of gay sex and the use of the gay dating app Grindr" was tearing apart the spiritual fabric of the campus. The school, St. Patrick's Pontifical College and Seminary in Maynooth, founded in 1795, has issued a statement dismissing the claims. According to multiple news sources, including Irish Central and the Irish Independent, the archbishop of Dublin claimed he would no longer send students to St. Patrick's after allegations surfaced of sexual harassment and improper sexual conduct at the school. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, in whose diocese the seminary sits, told the sources "there is a homosexual, a gay, culture and that students have been using an app called Grindr which is a gay dating app which would be inappropriate for seminarians not just because they're training to be celibate priests, but (because) an app like that would be something that would be fostering promiscuous sexuality, which is certainly not in any way the mature vision of sexuality one would expect a priest to understand." Martin reportedly ordered the immediate transfer of three of the seminary's students to the Irish Seminary in Rome. He told Irish Central he had his "own reasons for doing this." He also attributed the transfers and a prohibition on other students enrolling there to a quarrelsome atmosphere "with anonymous letters being sent around." "I don't think it this is a good place for students," Martin said, adding that some whistleblowers, trying to expose the controversy, were dismissed from the seminary. Just what was in the anonymous letters sent to Catholic leaders is unknown, but the school's response provides some detail. In the seminary's statement denying the allegations of sexual misconduct, it claimed there is "no concrete or credible evidence of the existence of any alleged 'active gay subculture'" at the school. "As outlined clearly in the Seminary Rule, any student involved or promoting such behavior would be asked to leave the seminary formation program," the statement said. It also said the anonymous letters sent to the school did not allege the sexual misbehavior of the staff of the school. They did, however, apparently claim that seminarians reporting abuse were dealt with harshly. The seminary said it is "not true that seminarians are prohibited from reporting misbehavior or concerns." The letters may have originated from six Catholic seminarians asked to take time off last year because they were becoming "too theologically rigid," The Irish Times reported. SBC president Gaines picks & grins with country music artist Ricky Skaggs Editorial Staff | 03 August, 2016 by Joni B. Hannigan MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Christian Examiner) Grinning, as much as he was "picking" with country music great Ricky Skaggs, Steve Gaines, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, showcased his talent on the guitar in a YouTube video he tweeted out Monday night. "Enjoyed picking & grinning tonight with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder & @bellevuememphis staff," said the newly elected president from his @bellevuepastor twitter account. In other tweets, Gaines referenced a staff retreat at Bellevue Baptist Church where he serves as senior pastor, as the location of the musical fun. Gaines, 59, was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention June 15 at the annual meeting in St. Louis. This isn't the first time Skaggs has appeared with an SBC president. In 2005 he was invited by SBC president Bobby Welch to blow a shofar, or ram's horn, at the SBC annual meeting in Nashville to usher in a one-year emphasis on evangelism. At the end of Crossover that year Skaggs and his band also performed in concert. Texas pastor Bart Barber @bartbarber, commenting on Twitter, told Gaines today his "morning has been ruined by jealously." Gaines, not missing a beat, replied: "We had a great time, Bart. Didn't know you were a bluegrass man." Barber quipped: "I own a mandolin, a guitar, and a banjo. I will not commit publicly to what I can or cannot do with them." Some others expressed their appreciation via social media. Author Eric Geiger @EricGeiger told Gaines: "[W]ow you're the man!" Robby Gallaty @Rgallaty, a senior pastor, commented: "Awesome. You're ready for the tour!" Barry McCarty, a professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, told Christian Examiner he is not surprised by Gaines' talent, nor the response he has received thus far. "Well, he is after all, president of the "Southern" Baptist Convention," McCarty said. "I think it has made folks from all over the country smile." Schoolgirl rescued from Boko Haram still held by the Nigerian government, mom says, pressured by an Islamic teacher 02 August, 2016 by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani/Reuters , | ABUJA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Held for months by the Nigerian government and confined to a house in the capital for the foreseeable future, Amina Ali, a schoolgirl who was rescued after two years in Boko Haram captivity, may never be the girl she once was, her mother fears. Amina, one of more than 200 girls abducted from a school in Chibok in April 2014, and her four-month-old baby were rescued in May near Damboa in the remote northeast, by soldiers working together with a civilian vigilante group. After a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, in the hope she would shed light on the fate of the other kidnapped girls, Amina has since been held in a house in the capital Abuja for what the Nigerian government has called a "restoration process". But her mother, Binta Ali, who has spent the last two months in the house, is concerned about Amina's welfare and future. "Before she was kidnapped, she wanted to further her education," Binta told the Thomson Reuters Foundation from Chibok, having briefly returned there to seek medical treatment. "But now she is afraid of schooling, and she wants to be close to me at home," said Binta, adding that Amina wants a sewing machine so that she can start a business making clothes. Binta said she was also worried that her daughter was being pressured into following Islam, having been forced to convert from Christianity to Islam by Boko Haram militants during her captivity. "Amina herself does not want to remain a Muslim," Binta said, explaining how an Islamic teacher had visited the house several times and told her daughter to maintain her new faith. "She did not want to see him," Binta said, adding that the teacher had stopped visiting after she complained about him. Garba Shehu, Buhari's spokesman, said that Amina's confinement in the house had nothing to do with religion. "NO LONGER AFRAID" Boko Haram kidnapped 219 girls from their school in Chibok, northeast Nigeria, in April 2014, as part of their seven-year-old insurgency to set up an Islamic state in the north that has killed some 15,000 people and displaced more than 2 million. Some girls escaped in the melee but parents of those still missing accused former President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria's then leader, of not doing enough to find their daughters, whose disappearance sparked a global campaign #bringbackourgirls. Binta said she was shocked to hear about the hardships faced by her daughter as a captive of the Islamist group. Amina and the other girls, starving and with nothing to cook with, resorted to eating an entire bag of beans and maize raw. "I cannot imagine how a human being can eat raw maize and beans like a goat," Binta said. Amina also told her mother how some of the kidnapped girls had died in captivity, while others suffered broken legs or went deaf after being too close to explosions. But she pleaded with her mother not to break the news to the families in Chibok. "Other parents have been coming to visit me since I returned," Binta said. "But I have not told them anything, even though I know some of those whose daughters have died." Despite her fears over Amina's religion and education, and uncertainty over when she will be allowed to return home, Binta said she still had reason to be positive about her daughter. "She used to be very afraid," Binta said, explaining how Amina would talk to herself during the night prior to her kidnap. "But now she sleeps soundly. She is no longer afraid." (Reporting by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Writing by Kieran Guilbert, 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 news.trust.org) Theologian Wayne Grudem sparks pushback after making moral case for Trump Guest Reviewer | 03 August, 2016 by Michael Foust PHOENIX (Christian Examiner) Wayne Grudem is one of the most respected evangelical theologians in the U.S., and so when he penned a column arguing that voting for Donald Trump is a "morally good choice," it was bound to go viral. It did -- but it also has received plenty of pushback. Grudem's 5,300-word case for Trump at Townhall.com remains the No. 1 trending story on that website, despite the fact it was posted nearly a week ago, and it has been shared 100,000 times on Facebook. His books, led by his Systematic Theology, are used as textbooks in seminaries and Christian colleges across the nation. "I did not support Trump in the primary season. I even spoke against him at a pastors' conference in February," Grudem, who teaches at Phoenix Seminary, wrote. "But now I plan to vote for him. I do not think it is right to call him an 'evil candidate.' I think rather he is a good candidate with flaws." Grudem acknowledged Trump's ego and his tendency to insult people but asserted they are not "disqualifying flaws." Too much is at stake in the election for Christians to vote for a third party candidate or write in someone on the ballot, Grudem argued. Grudem based much of his argument on the balance of the Supreme Court and its influence on American life particularly on social issues such as abortion and religious freedom. "Hillary Clinton would quickly replace [deceased conservative Antonin] Justice Scalia with another liberal like Breyer, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan," Grudem wrote. "This would give liberals a 5-4 majority on the Supreme Court even without Justice Kennedy, and 6-3 when he votes with them. "But that is not all. Justice Ginsburg is 83, and she has had colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and has a heart stent. Justice Kennedy is 80. Justice Breyer is 78. A President Clinton could possibly nominate three or four justices to the Supreme Court, locking in a far-left activist judiciary for perhaps 30 or more years." A Supreme Court under a President Hillary Clinton could "sweep away with one decision most or all of the restrictions on abortion that pro-life advocates worked for tirelessly over the last 43 years, including ultrasound requirements, waiting periods, parental consent requirements, and prohibitions on non-doctors performing abortions," Grudem wrote. Further, Grudem argued, a court under Clinton would "increasingly nullify rights of conscience with respect to forced participation in same-sex marriage ceremonies or expressing moral objections to homosexual conduct." Christians, he said, should ask: "Which vote is most likely to bring the best results for the nation?" "If this election is close (which seems likely), then if someone votes for a write-in candidate instead of voting for Trump, this action will directly help Hillary Clinton, because she will need one less vote to win," he wrote. "Therefore the question that Christians should ask is this: Can I in good conscience act in a way that helps a liberal like Hillary Clinton win the presidency?" A court with Trump appointees, Grudem asserted, "likely would overturn Roe vs. Wade." In very direct language, Grudem added that the "most likely result of not voting for Trump is that you will be abandoning thousands of unborn babies who will be put to death under Hillary Clinton's Supreme Court" and "thousands of Christians who will be excluded from their lifelong occupations." Still, Grudem said, Christians must "respect each other" during the process and "calmly and patiently dialog" about their differences. Grudem's column has sparked several counter-columns, including one by David French of National Review. French formerly served as an attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom and the American Center for Law and Justice, two Christian legal groups. "The Trump that Grudem describes is a Trump that I could support," French wrote. "He'll succeed where every single Republican president has failed and appoint the judges who will overturn Roe. He'll cut taxes, ease racial tensions, rebuild the military, secure our borders, stand up to Russia, and repeal ObamaCare all while replacing it with a superior free-market alternative. Grudem's Trump makes Ronald Reagan look like a loser. French added that Trump, in fact, would "appoint pro-abortion judges," "fund Planned Parenthood" and "support gender-neutral bathrooms," among other things. "Rather than truly grapple with Trump's wild, leftist, and inconsistent policy statements, Grudem simply pretends most of them don't exist," French wrote. "But the problem with Trump isn't just that he lies habitually (though that is a big problem), it's also that he's been all over the place on policy. In other words, he's not just a known liar who sometimes tells me what I want to hear, he's a known liar who also tells me reprehensible things. Who can know where he really stands?" Thomas S. Kidd, professor of history at Baylor University, also disagreed with Grudem, writing in a column at The Gospel Coalition's website that the election "represents a hinge moment for evangelicals in America." "Will we show that we are willing to break with the GOP over matters of conscience, or that we are just errand boys for the Republican Party?" Kidd asked. "...Evangelical friends, Donald Trump is not a 'flawed but tolerable' option. As a presidential candidate, he falls well below an acceptable moral and prudential threshold." Philip Swicegood, writing at TheResurgent.com and reacting to Grudem, argued that Trump is a "pathological liar" and cannot be trusted on the Supreme Court. "The problem with trusting Trump, is everything he says has, at best, has an expiration date," Swicegood wrote. "...While I defer to Dr. Grudem on almost every biblical matter, I am forced to take exception with this." A prominent Chinese church leader has been arrested for the second time and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. ChristianToday.com reports that Hu Shigen, a leader of a large underground church in China, was previously arrested and imprisoned for 16 years after being accused of sharing information about the crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Although Hu was released in 2008, he is again being accused by the Chinese government, this time for damaging national security and harming social stability. The Chinese government continues to increase its crackdown on Christianity. Government authorities have demolished hundreds of churches and taken down their crosses. In addition, nearly 300 human rights lawyers and other critics of the Communist regime have been arrested. Hu pleaded guilty to the charges levelled against him, but human rights advocates say that such confessions are usually coerced. In speaking of human rights lawyer Wang Yus confession, Jerome Cohen, an expert on Chinese law at New York University, wrote, "To say that her statement was 'probably' the product of coercion is silly since she has been held in an immensely coercive environment for over a year. Hus case is similar. "These 'confessions' are reminiscent of the 'brainwashing' era of the 1950s for which the new China became infamous, Cohen continued. Publication date: August 3, 2016 The stance toward drinking alcohol within Christianity varies widely. Some believe that Christians freedom in Christ allows for moderate, social drinking, while others believe the best approach is total abstinence. Recently, the controversy of alcohol in the church was brought to the forefront when megachurch pastor Perry Noble was fired from his position at NewSpring Church for alcohol abuse. Rev. Mark H. Creech, a columnist for The Christian Post, reports that Noble was confronted by church leaders concerning his addiction, but he refused to take the necessary steps to overcome it. Noble was consequently fired from his position of leadership within NewSpring. After being fired, Noble issued a statement admitting to his addiction, and has since checked into a rehab facility. While Noble will likely be more cautious with alcohol in the future, other megachurch leaders maintain that it is alright for Christians to consume alcohol in moderation. Mark Driscoll, who, like Noble, was forced to step down from his position as senior pastor of a megachurch (but for different reasons than alcohol abuse), and has since become pastor of Trinity Church in Phoenix, Arizona, does not believes that the abstinence position regarding alcohol is a good one. Driscoll recently posted a video in which he argues that Jesus himself made and drank wine. Driscoll also notes that the Bible contains examples of Gods people drinking alcohol in worship to God. Another voice in the discussion is that of Jamie Morgan, a pastor who was a former alcoholic. Morgan is strictly against drinking alcohol and recently posted 50 Reasons Why I Dont Drink, which garnered both positive and negative reactions. Different pastors have different opinions on the subject, but no one pastors opinion is likely to put to rest this ongoing debate. Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com Publication date: August 3, 2016 40-something Agnes, from Benue state in Nigerias Middle Belt region, was married to university lecturer John while still young; the couple had nine children. One morning in 2008 Agnes rose to hear Allah u Akbar! Allah u Akbar! When you hear that, you know something [terrible] is going to happen, Agnes told WWM. Extremist Muslims surrounded her neighborhood. The couple joined others as they tried to flee, but they suddenly found themselves deep in the heart of a Muslim-dominated area. A man forced Agnes and the younger children into a building; John and their two eldest sons remained outside. Before entering, Agnes saw John and one son being stabbed to death. They hit my husband on the head and stabbed him in the side. I witnessed it. As soon as they stabbed them, I closed my eyes and called on Jesus. I couldnt help myself. Agnes story is a familiar one to Rebecca Dali, wife of the President of the Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN), to which most of the kidnapped Chibok girls belonged. She runs the Centre for Caring, Empowerment and Peace Initiatives, CCEPI, which serves mainly widows and orphans. She told World Watch Monitor Widows are particularly vulnerable in NE Nigeria, the area most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. For many, the loss of their husband is the beginning of hardship for them and their children, who may not then be able to get an education. Its a big loss, because in most cases, the late husbands relatives will pack everything up of his to take it away - leaving her alone with her children. If militants have not burned down everything, some families will quickly move her out of the family compound, so she may lose her home as well as her husband. The late husbands relatives will also take the farm land, a crucial element of survival in NE Nigeria, a semi-arid region where living conditions are very hard. Food production is dependent on the rainy season which lasts 4-5 months per year. During our relief distribution, weve found some dead mens relatives collected relief materials on behalf of a widow, but later discovered they never reached her. Added to all this, its difficult for a widow to re-marry; even if they are very young, no-one will want to marry them. So they remain alone with their children; some have to send them to beg in the streets to get food. Its a really terrible situation. We have recorded cases of some widows dying with hyper-tension and other related diseases. We recently found four cases of women showing severe signs of trauma. One of them became dumb and blind. The other three went completely mad, and their children - who try to look after them - even have to resort to chaining them up. There are real abuses against women, particularly in the NE where the literacy rate is very low. Even in the Church, widows suffer lots of segregations. Its a combination of cultural and religious beliefs reinforced by widespread poverty. Mass wedding Its against this backdrop that Christian widows feel even more unfairly treated when they see a state-sponsored mass-wedding programme for Muslim women at government expense. In July, in the northern state of Kano, which has the highest divorce rate in Nigeria, more than 10,000 women registered to be provided with a husband. This match-making programme began in 2012; Kano state said that it spent an average of about 250,000 Naira (about 600) per couple - to buy furniture, textiles, food and other essential items, as well as to provide grants for the brides. This scheme, says Rebecca Dali, is a reminder of the persistent discrimination faced by Christians in Northern Nigeria. I am originally from Borno State. Even when I was young, if you graduated with Muslim classmates, they would easily get hired - while Christian graduates would end up unemployed. So theres nothing new. I really feel bad because they are using public funds to promote their own religion. Here in CCEPI we used to write letters to denounce such discrimination. But our plight is not going away, and some people even threaten to kill us if we do not keep quiet. Agnes was eventually able to attend a workshop on healing from trauma, organized by Open Doors International, a charity which supports Christians under pressure for their faith. This paved the way for her healing process.she also received vocational training, and a microloan. Open Doors is also funding the school fees for her youngest child. However, a few years after her husbands death, another extremist attack hit her town. This time everything she had in her small store was destroyed. Why would they do such a thing to you? people asked her. She was able to respond I thank God that I have something that people can steal. I am grateful to Him, that He will not leave me. Photo courtesy: World Watch Monitor Publication date: August 3, 2016 Americans are more comfortable talking about politics than about God, according to the findings of a new survey by LifeWay Research. Over 1,000 Americans were interviewed about their spiritual life and perspective on politics by LifeWay. The survey focused on the preference Americans place on talking about spirituality as opposed to politics. About 60 percent of Americans are more comfortable with talking about politics than God, the study found. Evangelicals are more likely to be comfortable with discussing their spiritual beliefs (63 percent). However, evangelicals also said they think they have more to share than to find out in a spiritual dialogue (32 percent vs. 17 percent). As many as 64 percent of Americans discussed politics at least three times over the last month, but only 44 percent had given the same impetus to spirituality. 65 percent of Americans not having evangelical beliefs said they talk more about politics. Along gender lines, more women (51 percent) said they would be comfortable with talking about their faith than those who said they are not (31 percent). Men were more likely to speak about politics than religion, as some 69 percent of said they prefer to talk about politics. The study also found that levels of preference for the context in which spiritual discussions take place also differed. About 38 percent of Americans like to share their faith or are very comfortable with expressing spiritual thoughts on social media, but 36 percent are not. And some 33 percent prefer sharing faith in a small group, and 40 percent on a one-to-one basis. Only 17 percent of Americans were most comfortable with sharing their faith on social media. People tend to discuss the things that matter most to them, he said. For evangelicals, that is their faith, said Scott McConnell, Executive director of LifeWay Research. Since Americans in general were open to spiritual views of their friends, McConnell encouraged Christians to talk more about faith on social media. If your friends are tired of arguing about politics on Facebook, trying asking them about God, he said. home Faith Billy Graham answers: 'Where does God comes from?' Preacher Billy Graham talked about the mind-boggling idea that God has no beginning and no end and that He doesn't ever change. The world-renowned preacher and founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association discussed one of the most confounding theories of Christianity as an answer to the question of God's existence. Yet, the question comes from a young kid whose mother directed to the 97-year-old Evangelical leader. "God had no beginning (just as He will have no end)," wrote Graham and added, "He has always existed, and He always will. (That's why He had no father or mother.)." He also said, "I know that's hard for us to understand, because everything we see around us had a beginning." He cited samples in the universe, such as stars, galaxies, and atoms as all having a point of origin. Yet Graham maintained that God does not have one. He quoted Isaiah 40:28 as saying, "The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth." Unlike everything else, God doesn't change nor grows old, said the preacher. "I the Lord do not change," Graham quoted Malachi 3:6 as saying. For this reason, Graham said that people can always hope to trust in God because He remains constant in His words and promises. Yet the most important thing to know about God points back to His great love. "He loves you, and He wants you to know Him and be His friend," said Graham. He added that Jesus Christ remains to be the great proof of God's love for His people. The evangelical leader also wrote from way back that he knew of many leading scientists and intellectuals who have come to believe in God's existence. Graham said these people discovered God because they kept an "open mind" and that "they examined the life and teachings of Jesus Christ." home World Gun battle brings South Sudan youth festival to a halt, hundreds of young Christians forced to flee Hundreds of young Christians scampered away for safety after a gun battle puts an abrupt end to a three-day Christian youth festival in South Sudan. According to the Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS), nearly 1,000 Christians from age 18 to 28 attended the open-air Christian outreach in the Anglican Diocese of Juba at the Munuki suburbs. The All Saints Anglican Cathedral, as well as other Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, became the refuge for the young people as the gun battle lasted through the night. The violence happened on July 8 when soldiers and rebel forces began exchanging gunfire as Revd. Jackson Aripa made his closing remarks. David Luate, a youth coordinator for the Diocese, reportedly rallied the young Christians to uphold their faith and to pray for their country, also the world's youngest nation, which spurred into violence as the forces of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Vice President Riek Machar renewed their infighting in early July. The two leaders declared a ceasefire on July 13. Revd. Rachel Carnegie of Anglican Alliance said that most of the international agencies returned to their home countries as the violence heightened. He emphasized that the local churches remained to protect the "most vulnerable." "It is inspirational to witness the courage and commitment of the bishops and provincial team responding so quickly and effectively to the crisis when many of them have themselves been driven from their homes by the violence," said Revd. Carnegie and added, "We urge prayer for peace and for protection of the Church and communities. The Anglican Alliance also commends support to the Church's humanitarian response." Nagulan Nesiah, the senior program officer for disaster response and risk reduction of Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD), noted that "the Cathedral itself is able to provide some security to about 1,000 people." The Anglican Churches provided shelter and food assistance to thousands affected by the civil war. "We are keeping the Church and Sudra in our thoughts and stand ready to offer additional assistance as needed," said Nesiah, as reported by ACNS. home World 'It's not right and not true to identify Islam with violence,' Pope Francis insists Pope Francis warned against condemning the Islamic faith as violent because even the Catholic religion has its share of violence. "I do not think it is right to identify Islam with violence. This is not right and it is not true," the 79-year-old Argentine pope told journalists, according to Catholic News Service. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church spoke with reporters on the papal plane on his way back to the Vatican on Sunday after his visit to KrakAw, Poland where he attended the five-day celebration of World Youth Day. Pope Francis previously declared the world at war as he made his way to Poland following the news of the terrorist attack on a Catholic church in Normandy and the brutal murder of an 85-year-old French Catholic priest. However, he clarified that the war he referred to did not mean a religious war but a war of interests since he believed that religions don't engage in wars. Although the two young men who attacked the Catholic Church praised Allah after committing their crime, the pope veered away from confining extremism to Islam. "One thing is true," he said, adding, "I believe that in almost all religions, there is always a small fundamentalist group. We have them, too." He reminded them that fundamentalism and killing do not confine itself to murder by knives but that one can also kill with words as St. James warned. The pope also shifted attention to the crimes committed even by Catholics. "I do not like to speak of Islamic violence because everyday when I look through the papers, I see violence here in Italy," he said. "And they are baptised Catholics. There are violent Catholics. If I speak of Islamic violence, I also have to speak of Catholic violence," the pope continued. The pope made an unscheduled stop at the church of St. Francis of Assisi before he left Poland on Sunday. He prayed for peace and for God to touch the hearts of terrorists. He also led the hundreds of thousands of Catholic youths to pray for the victims of war and urged them not be indifferent to the plight of the less fortunate during the World Youth Day celebration. home World Leading Muslims condemn ISIS after France church attack Leading figures of the Islamic faith condemned the acts of the Islamic State terrorist group after attacking a Catholic church in Normandy, France and killing an 85-year-old priest. Shawki Allam, the grand mufti of Egypt, Dr. Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, the grand mufti of Australia, and Dalil Boubakeur, a mufti and rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, all released individual statements to express their sympathies to the families of the victims and the French people. They also condemned the terrorist act on July 26 when two young men interrupted the morning mass celebrated by Fr. Jacques Hamel at the church in Saint-Atienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen, Normandy. The two extremists reportedly filmed themselves as they delivered a sermon in Arabic around the altar and then slit the throat of Fr. Hamel. They also shouted "Allahu Akbar" or "God is great" as they rushed out of the church before the police gunned them down. The Egyptian mufti condemned the attackers as "extremists" and what they did as a "criminal act that dissents from what God has commanded in all religions." The Australian mufti condemned the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) militant group, who claimed responsibility for the attack and hailed the two attackers as their soldiers. "Isis is an evil organisation that has hijacked the religion of Islam for its own brutal and nihilistic goals. The betrayal of the Islamic faith and violation of its core principles are enough to refute Isis's false and absurd claims," said Dr. Mohamed in a statement. He also added that religious people of all faiths and their places of worship "are of paramount importance in Islam" that maintains "the sanctity of all human life." The French mufti considered the attack a "blasphemous sacrilege which goes against all the teachings of our religion." Muslims across France showed solidarity with Christians as they united in prayer at a mosque in Normandy on Friday. A French imam, Abdelatif Hmitounot, addressed the extremists and renounced them as "not a part of civilization" and "not a part of humanity" while Fr. Pierre Belhache, in-charge of the relations with Muslim community, asserted the unity between Christians and Muslims. home Faith Muslim leaders refuse to bury ISIS killer of French priest, says he is 'not part of their community' Muslim leaders in Normandy refused to bury one of the church attackers who killed a priest as they renounced him as a part of the Islamic community. The Islamic tradition for burial rites dictates that the dead must be buried immediately and his burial arranged by the local Muslims. However, 19-year-old Adel Kermiche, who grew up in the town where he and his friend attacked a Catholic church and killed an 85-year-old French priest, would not be getting the traditional rites given to Muslims. "We won't participate in preparing the body or the burial," Mohammed Karabila, an imam, told La Parisien, as reported by ITV News. The president of the local Muslim cultural association added that they would still refuse to do so even if the young extremist's family makes their request. "What this young man did was sinful; he is no longer part of the community," added Khalid El Amrani, a 25-year-old Muslim. Kermiche and Abdelmalik Petitjean interrupted a morning mass celebrated by Fr. Jacques Hamel at a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray on July 26. They filmed themselves as they gave a sermon in Arabic around the altar and then slit the throat of Fr. Hamel. Police shot them dead as they made their way out of the church, shouting "Allahu Akbar" or "God is great." The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the church attack and hailed the attackers as their soldiers. The Muslim and Catholic community in France responded by showing their solidarity as the Muslims attended the Sunday mass in Rouen. "We are all Catholics of France," said Anouar Kbibech, head of the French Muslim Council (CFCM), according to BBC. Mohammed Karabila, president of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray Mosque, said he considered it "very important" to be in Rouen. "It should be shown physically, because until now the Muslim community did a lot of things that were not seen," said Karabila. "Today we wanted to show physically, by kissing the family of Jacques Hamel, by kissing His Grace Lebrun in front of everybody, so they know that the two communities are united." Dominique Lebrun, the archbishop of Rouen, expressed his appreciation for the Muslim's gesture of fraternity and thought them sincere. "That it's not Islam which killed Jacques Hamel," he told BFMTV. home US Republican unity in disarray as Donald Trump declines to endorse Paul Ryan, John McCain U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions in his party on Tuesday by denying two leading figures, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain, support in their re-election bids. Trump told The Washington Post in an interview that he could endorse neither Ryan, the top U.S. elected Republican, nor McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona and a former Republican presidential nominee, as they face challenges in their states' primary contests ahead of the Nov. 8 general election. Both Ryan and McCain had criticized Trump's feud with the family of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who died in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for bravery after his death. The discord comes just two weeks after the Republican National Convention in Cleveland that formally nominated Trump for president. It is the latest rift in a party already frayed by internal dissent over its standard bearer, seen in stark relief at the convention where McCain was among high-level party members who essentially snubbed Trump by choosing not to attend. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, and former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush also did not attend the convention. Trump has had a running dispute with Khizr and Ghazala Khan since they took the stage at last week's Democratic convention to cite their son's sacrifice and criticize Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. The uproar has led many Republicans to distance themselves from Trump and voice support for the Khan family. Trump, mirroring the language Ryan used about supporting the nominee before his eventual endorsement, told the newspaper he was "not quite there yet" on endorsing Ryan in next Tuesday's Wisconsin primary, and that he had "never been there" with McCain, who will be on the ballot in primary elections in Arizona later this month. McCain had a "very friendly" meeting with Trump's vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, on Tuesday in Arizona, where Pence was visiting, a McCain spokeswoman said. Trump said Ryan had sought his endorsement, but that as of now he is only "giving it very serious consideration." Ryan's campaign office quickly responded that "neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement." "And we are confident in a victory next week regardless," campaign spokesman Zack Roday said in a statement. Ryan is favored to win against primary challenger Paul Nehlen, who Trump praised as running "a very good campaign." In a mid-July survey by Harper Polling, Ryan was ahead of Nehlen by nearly 50 points. Trump, a former reality TV star, has troubled many in the Republican establishment with his off-the-cuff, often insulting style, and controversial policies, including the proposed ban on Muslims and his plan to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. President Barack Obama on Tuesday blasted Trump as unfit to be president and questioned why any Republican would support the New York businessman, who is seeking his first public office. "The question I think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable: Why are you still endorsing him?" Obama, a Democrat, said at a White House news conference with Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong. CONGRESSMAN ABANDONS TRUMP The chorus of complaints against Trump grew on Tuesday. Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican in Congress to endorse Democratic nominee Hillary, although several other Republicans in Congress have said they will not support Trump. Hanna, who is retiring from the House of Representatives rather than seek re-election, said his decision was prompted by Trump's attacks on the Khan family. He called Trump "deeply flawed in endless ways," "unrepentant" and "self-involved." New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Trump ally once viewed by Trump as a potential running mate, called criticisms of the Khan family "inappropriate." Trump's son Eric told CBS News on Tuesday that his father's comments about the Khans have been "blown hugely out of proportion." Trump has fallen behind Clinton in opinion polls made public since the parties held their nominating conventions last month. Clinton extended her lead over Trump to 8 percentage points, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, from 6 points on Friday. About 43 percent of likely voters favor Clinton, 35 percent favor Trump, and 9 percent picked "other." Trump also has trailed Clinton in fundraising. Clinton reported raising nearly $90 million in July for her campaign and the Democratic Party, with more than half the donations coming from new donors. Interviewed on the Fox Business television network, Trump brushed off billionaire investor Warren Buffett's blistering critique of his business acumen. Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, scorned Trump's 1995 move to list Trump hotels and casino resorts on the New York Stock Exchange, saying the business lost money for the next decade and that a monkey would have outperformed Trump's company. Trump, who has said his business success qualifies him to lead the country, defended his record running his hotel and casino business in Atlantic City, New Jersey. "I had great timing. I got out," after seven years, he told the network on Tuesday. "I took a lot of money out of Atlantic City, which is what I'm supposed to do. I'm a businessperson." About 1,000 volunteers are busy in Wilber preparing for their estimated 50,000 guests this weekend. Czech Days starts Friday and ends Sunday in Wilber, the official Czech Capital of the United States. The annual festival includes a slew of events, attractions and food in celebration of Czech culture and heritage. Company is coming to town and we want to make them feel welcome, said Sheryl Kastanek, secretary of Nebraska Czechs of Wilber, which hosts the event. Kastanek said groups came together this week at churches to prepare traditional Czech food to be sold at the festival, such as dumplings, sauerkraut, strudel and thousands of kolache (pastries). You get to work with people that maybe you dont sit with at church. Its a building block for our town, Kastanek said. Wilber is a town of about 1,800. It takes 50 committees to put this on and about 1,000 volunteers. No one gets a paycheck. Its all volunteers. A group at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church will bake thousands of kolache on Thursday. Competitors in the kolach eating contest during the festival will be given one of the pastries and tasked with whistling when they finish it. In addition to preparing gallons and trays of food and stocking coolers with beer, the city of Wilber is getting ready in other ways, such as setting out trash cans and barricades, Kastanek said. Pre-festival activities kick off Thursday night with bingo at 6:30, and a free dance at 7:30. A full schedule for Czech Days, along with a downloadable version, is available online at NebraskaCzechsOfWilber.com. The schedule is dense. It includes parades, performances by several bands and dancers, a 2-mile walk and run, an exhibit of traditional Czech costumes, an art show, a tractor pull, bingo, a sand volleyball tournament, a car show, a quilt show and the Miss Czech-Slovak U.S. Pageant. Its just an immersion into the Czech culture and heritage and spirit in two and a half short days, Kastanek said. Theres food, dancing, music, artwork. You can chat with a Czech and learn some Czech. Kastanek named other attractions that fill the busy weekend, including the Tales of the Czechs, which is a historical play of the culture, featuring still-life actors and narrators from the Wilber area. You can dance your heart out at the Hotel Wilber, she continued. I think we have 40 bands through the weekend. Its music galore. We feel pretty fortunate. She said her favorite part is watching young dancers, ages 4 to 10, perform in traditional attire. They want to please and they want to do the best job they can, she said. And theyre so cute in those Czech outfits. The Wilber-Clatonia High School current band and alumni band are rehearsing this week, as are numerous bands and dancers. We think its the largest alumni band in the nation with 200 members, Kastanek said. Theyre ordinary people from here who enjoy our town and enjoy celebrating the Czech heritage and culture. There is no admission charge for the festival itself. You dont need a dime except for your food and drink, Kastanek said. There is a registration fee for the Duck and Dumpling Run and Walk. Kastanek said the festival is a major source of pride and strength for the community of Wilber. Its a homecoming, she said. Its comradery of people working together for the benefit of having a healthy community. It promotes celebrating Czech heritage, but it also keeps our town strong. ... Its just an unreal celebration of a little town working together to stay strong. The theme of the festival this year is Czechs Past, Present and Future. A history of the festival, town and Nebraska Czechs of Wilber can be found on the organization's website. The group formed and launched its first festival in 1962. The city was declared the official Czech Capital of the United States in 1987, in a decree signed by President Ronald Reagan. Aleppo siege: Rebels launch offensive as aid agencies blast 'deeply flawed' humanitarian corridor Plans to establish a "humanitarian corridor" for Christians and other civilians out of the besieged Syrian town of Aleppo have been slammed by a host of aid agencies. More than 35 charities and international development organisations shave released a joint statement saying they are "extremely alarmed" at the "deeply flawed" plans. "A true humanitarian operation would not force the people of Aleppo to choose between fleeing into the arms of their attackers or remaining in a besieged area under continued bombardment," the statement read. "No one should be forced to flee or remain, and measures must be put in place for the UN to ensure and monitor the safety and protection of anyone voluntarily evacuating." The charities include a number of Christian organisation such as Christian Aid, Tearfund and World Vision. They echoed concerns of other activists and said the corridor is a likely precursor for more intensive attacks by government forces, putting those who cannot escape in even greater risk. The corridor was proposed jointly by the Syrian and Russian governments, who are waging a brutal siege of the city which has been held by rebel forces. With the help of Russian air strikes, Syrian President Assad's forces have trapped around a quarter of a million civilians in the city since last month. Fighting has intensified in the last few days as the rebels have launched counter offensives to try and break the siege. It has been reported that chlorine gas was dropped on the town of Saraqeb near Aleppo. It was not clear who was responsible but around 30 people were affected. The attack took place near where a Russian military helicopter was shot down by rebels hours earlier, killing all five on board. One Aleppo resident told the BBC: "Basic food has completely disappeared. For families who have children, there is no milk in the markets. "Every day we have at least 20 to 30 attacks by Russian aircraft or by the helicopters. "There are no cars going around. Public transport has completely stopped because of the lack of fuel. People are staying inside their houses to avoid shelling." The charities' statement read: "If Russia is serious about averting a humanitarian disaster in Aleppo it should strongly support the UN's call for an immediate weekly 48-hour humanitarian pause to ensure safe, unimpeded and immediate humanitarian access both for aid to get into Aleppo and for civilians to leave voluntarily. "As long as the bombing, shelling and fighting continues, and in the absence of any genuine confidence-building measures, civilians cannot be expected to trust in the safety of walking through these proposed corridors." British man hailed as 'martyr' after being killed by ISIS A British man killed by ISIS has been hailed as a martyr after he fought alongside Kurdish forces in Syria. Dean Carl Evans, 22, volunteered to fight with the YPG group against the militants. He was killed on July 21 as part of an offensive by US-backed forces to retake the city of Manbij. His father John Evans confirmed his son's death with a Facebook post on July 23. He wrote: "He was loved and will be missed by all his family and friends. RIP son. "I would like to say a massive big thank you to all my friends and family who sent their condolence for the loss of my son. He would have been very proud and would have regarded you all as his brothers and sisters." The YPG said Evans was a "martyr" with a "revolutionary and combative spirit on the front lines and always fought without hesitation to protect the people of this region". Mark Campbell, a Kurdish activist with close links to the YPG, said: "As I understand it Dean was behind a wall when he was hit by an Isis bullet. A female YPG fighter came over to help him. As she was tending to his wound, an RPG rocket hit the wall and killed them both." It is believed Evans had fought in Syria since April. Little else is known about Brit from Reading or his motivations for joining. According to Campbell: "Dean had always wanted to join the British Army but was refused because he had asthma. He followed the rise of Isis and had very strong feelings about their barbarity. "He wanted to stop them. So when he saw an opportunity to join an army fighting Isis, he joined the YPG," he told the Guardian. A Foreign Office spokesman was unable to confirm his death but advised against any travel to Syria. Deaf Christian escapes captor who forced her to convert to Islam A severely disabled Pakistani Christian girl faces death threats if she does not return to her Muslim abductor who forcibly converted her to Islam. Asma, the girl's Christian name which became Aysha under her Muslim captors, has been told by Islamic clerics that she cannot live with her Christian parents because she has converted to Islam and married a Muslim, according to CLAAS-UK, a legal persecution charity. But the girl's lawyer said she was kidnapped by a powerful neighbour several months ago and forced into a marriage. Despite the protestations of her father, Gulzah Masih, he felt unable to retrieve his daughter, who is both deaf and dumb, because of the influence of the captor, Ghulam Hussain. Hussain's documents of marriage and alleged conversion are "clearly forged", according to the charity. But police have sided with Hussain and ordered Masih to return his daughter after she escaped and re-joined her parents. The Christian persecution charity said this was because of "pressure from Muslim clerks". In a statement on Wednesday they said "the situation has become very dangerous" after Asma and her family faced death threats from Muslims clerics. The religious leaders believe Asma converted to Islam and then re-converted back to Christianity, making her an apostate and liable to be killed. Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS-UK, said the increase of forced conversion and kidnapping of Christian and other minorities' girls is down to the government's failure. "Since the government has failed to investigate Muslim clerks who are suspected of being involved in forced conversion and the issuing false certificates of conversion and marriages, such crimes will continue happening and I see no end to innocent Christian and other minorities girls' misery. Instead I am scared that it will worsen. "Shamefully the police, who are supposed to follow the law, side with the kidnappers and also come under pressure of the local Muslim clerks instead of registering cases against them and the perpetrators. This attitude and government's insensitivities have emboldened the criminals and they commit such crimes without any fear." Exclusive: Robert Harris on respecting faith and accessing Vatican for new book Conclave The internationally best-selling author Robert Harris has written a new book set inside the Vatican during the election of a Pope after being granted access to key locations by the Catholic Church. Speaking exclusively to Christian Today ahead of the publication of is forthcoming novel, Conclave, Harris revealed that he had been shown around "all the locations that I wanted to see" after writing to the Vatican. Harris, whose books to date include Fatherland, Enigma, Archangel, Pompeii, Imperium, The Ghost, Lustrum, The Fear Index, An Officer and a Spy and Dictator, said: "I have a lifelong interest in elections and it struck me some time ago that almost the oldest and most important in the world is the election of a Pope." He added: "I felt impelled by curiosity to investigate it. But obviously unlike any other election this is an attempt to find a candidate that God would want and it is that combination of the divine and the secular which is so fascinating. There are so many powerful issues within the Catholic Church and the process of election is a good opportunity to examine them. You have the traditionalists and the progressives." Little is known so-far about the exact nature of the plot but the publishers, Random House, have released a tantalising blurb which reads: "The Pope is dead. Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, one hundred and twenty Cardinals from all over the globe will cast their votes in the world's most secretive election. They are holy men. But they have ambition. And they have rivals. Over the next seventy-two hours one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on earth." Harris said: "It has been an interesting and enlightening book to work on". Asked about his own relationship with faith, the renowned author said: "I'm not religious, not a Catholic. I have respect towards faith and with an active imagination have had to get inside the heads of men with faith. I hope I've reflected that adequately." He added: "I was given some help by the Catholic Church. I was shown all the locations that I wanted to see." The exclusive corners of the Vatican around which Harris was shown included the Casa Santa Marta, the private residence of Pope Francis and where the Cardinals stay during Conclave; the Pauline chapel, private chapel to the Pope; and the Sacristy of the Sistine Chapel and the 'room of tears' where the new Pope is robed and prays for the first time upon election. Further, Harris stood at the window where a new Pope addresses the faithful in St Peter's Square. He also spoke to a Cardinal who has been involved in the Conclave. Conclave is published on 22 September simultaneously in the UK, US, Italy, Germany and Holland. Gender-neutral Sweden departs from 'he' and 'she' Sweden, which in 2010 was recognised by the World Economic Forum as the most gender-equal country in the world, has stepped up its gender neutrality initiative by introducing a new word that refers to both boys and girls with the pronoun "hen". A report on Slate.com states: "What many gender-neutral activists are after is a society that entirely erases traditional gender roles and stereotypes at even the most mundane levels." Earlier this month, the gender-neutral pronoun "hen" was proposed by lobbyists to be used in public schools instead of "he" (han in Swedish) and "she" (hon). The decision came shortly after the publication of Sweden's first ever gender-neutral children's book, Kivi och Monsterhund (Kivi and Monsterdog). It tells the story of Kivi, a child who wants a dog for "hen's" birthday. Jesper Lundqvist, the author, also introduces several gender-neutral words in the book. The Swedish Bowling Association is already planning to merge male and female bowling tournaments so that competitions are more gender-neutral. Other recent examples of Swedish businesses pushing this idea of genderless children include a clothing company that removed the "boys" and "girls" sections from its store. Toy catalogue Leklust published an ad in which a boy in a Spiderman costume pushes a pink pram, while a girl in jeans rides a yellow tractor. "Gender roles are an outdated thing," said Kaj Wiberg, CEO of Leklust, in an interview with Swedish newspaper Metro. "I'm 71 years old, and those of us who have worked in this industry for a while know that boys play with doll houses. We know that boys can play with Barbie dolls." Not everyone in Sweden approves of the new gender neutrality standard, however. Jan Guillou, a popular Swedish author, said that the introduction of the pronoun "hen" was "silly because it doesn't change anything". "And I don't think that my gender has anything to do with my equality because that is a political matter," she said in an interview, and referred to gender-neutral lobbyists as "feminist activists who want to destroy our language". Others have suggested this new initiative could be both psychologically and socially damaging for Sweden's children. Elise Claeson, a columnist and a former equality expert at the Swedish Confederation of Professions, said that school-aged children can become confused by talks of a third gender, the one referred to as "hen", at a time when they are developing both physically and mentally. "Adults should not interrupt children's discovery of their gender and sexuality," Claeson insists. Islamic State attacks Pope, says its war against Christians is most definitely a 'religious' war Islamic State has denounced Pope Francis for stating that the war being waged on the West by Islamic State terrorists is not a "religious war". The terror group, also known as Daesh, says the acts of terrorism it carries out are most certainly religiously motivated and even bear the blessing of Allah as testified in the Koran. It says Pope Francis and others who argue that Islam is a peaceful religion are delivering a "false narrative". The chilling religious propaganda behind IS is spelled out in the latest issue of Dabiq, reproduced in a "safe" format by the Clarion counter-extremism project, IS warns there will be no let up in the terror. It condemns Christianity as a "religion of polytheism". The magazine is titled: "Break the Cross." It contains a feature of the same name, and another headlined: "Why we hate you and why we fight you." It says the recent Orlando shooting was "most definitely" an act of terror: "Muslims have been commanded to terrorise the disbelieving enemies of Allah." The magazine says there are "exceptions among the disbelievers" who argue that jihad and "everything else deemed taboo by the Islam-is-a-peaceful-religion crowd" are in fact completely Islamic. It continues: "They tend to be people with far less credibility who are painted as a social fringe, so their voices are dismissed and a large segment of the ignorant masses continues believing the false narrative." The magazine comes just days after Pope Francis insisted the war on terror being waged across the world is not a religious war. Speaking to journalists on the plane to Poland for World Youth Day, after a Catholic priest in France had his throat slit by two IS followers, he said the world is at war but it is not a religious war. "It's war, we don't have to be afraid to say this," he said. But it was a war of interests, for money, resources. "I am not speaking of a war of religions. Religions don't want war. The others want war." IS says in its magazine that it is in fact a war of religion. "This is a divinely-warranted war between the Muslim nation and the nations of disbelief," the magazine states. "Indeed, waging jihad spreading the rule of Allah by the sword is an obligation found in the Koran, the word of our Lord, just as it was an obligation sent in the Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospel." The magazine adds: "The fact is, even if you were to stop bombing us, imprisoning us, torturing us, vilifying us, and usurping our lands, we would continue to hate you because our primary reason for hating you will not cease to exist until you embrace Islam." It contains a feature on Pope Francis headlined: "In the Words of the Enemy". IS condemns the Papacy as "pagan" and refers to the last Pope as "Benedict the Disbeliever". It warns: "The religion of Islam will continue to be spread by the sword, even if Benedict despises such." IS continues: "While Benedict and many before him emphasised the enmity between the pagan Christians and monotheistic Muslims, Francis' work is notably more subtle, steering clear of confrontational words that would offend those who falsely claim Islam." The group accuses Pope Francis of hiding behind "a deceptive veil of good will" in order to subdue Muslims through appeasement. "While previous popes spoke against Islam due to the actual reality they faced, based on mutual enmity between the pagan Christians and monotheistic Muslims, recent popes and especially Pope Francis have attempted to paint a picture of heartwarming friend- ship, seeking to steer Muslim masses away from the obligation of waging jihad against disbelief," IS continues, going on to attack him further for conciliatory statements about homosexuality. "Completely disregarding his own Church's doctrine of judging homosexuals as immoral for engaging in the perverted act of sodomy, Francis has again sidestepped religion for the sake of public opinion," the magazine states, accusing him of following "some devilish interfaith fantasy, far removed from the truth." IS claims the Pope's conciliatory statements are part of a plan "to demilitarise Islam" and remove the Koranic duty to wage jihad against pagans. Among those who have also reported on the IS magazine is Breitbart, which reports other disturbing statements, such as: "The blood of the disbelievers is obligatory to spill by default. The command is clear. Kill the disbelievers, as Allah said, 'Then kill the polytheists wherever you find them.'" Mexican Archbishop accused of inciting violence against gay men The Catholic Archbishop of Mexico has been accused of inciting violence after strongly attacking homosexual sexual activity in response to a plan by President Enrique Pena Nieto to introduce same-sex marriage nationally. Cardinal Norberto Rivera has reportedly been using the Catholic weekly Desde la Fe, which he manages editorially, to issue unusually crude statements about how men's bodies are not designed for sex with one another. The newspaper has described the same-sex marriage bill as "a terrible stab in the back" and Cardinal Rivera has repeatedly urged homosexuals to "abstain from having sex" and "stay in chastity". In an interview with teleSUR, Temistocles Villanueva, the national secretary for Sexual Diversity of the leftist MORENA party, accused Cardinal Rivera of threatening Mexico's LGBT community. "The cardinal violates the secular state because he's messing into legal issues," Villanueva said. "He promotes discrimination and violence and gives an idea that homosexuals are living in sin... And he bases this campaign in archaic arguments that do not take into account science or human rights." The newspaper's latest editorial says the Apostle Paul viewed homosexual practices as being "against nature". Villanueva said that the Cardinal refrains from giving interviews, preferring instead to air his opinions in the paper, but that he repeats some of his stronger views in sermons at Mexico City Cathedral. Several LGBT groups have reportedly filed church complaints against Cardinal River for promoting homophobia. Same sex marriage is legal in some states including Mexico City. Last June, the Supreme Court ruled that every civil state authority should "recognise marriage as a human right and that people can enter into marriage without any kind of discrimination". However, the ruling was not legally binding for all states. Villanueva said that latest polls have shown that more than 60 per cent of Mexicans support same-sex marriage, but, he added: "it is not about just being able to marry. It is about equality." The city of Beatrice is taking the first step in planning a local wind power generation facility. The City Council approved an application at its Monday meeting for Nebraska Public Power District to do a review of electrical capacity and transmission, in order to assess the feasibility of a wind generation facility. The application was originally recommended by the Board of Public Works at a prior meeting and is the first step in what will be an ongoing process. This is the first step in the process of approving a new generation facility, a local generation facility, specifically in our case a wind generation facility, City Attorney Gregory Butcher explained. Butcher said the city is contracted with Bluestem Energy to look at alternatives to create renewable energy under the current NPPD contract. City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer indicated at the BPW meeting that the application does not require much commitment from the city. This is just an application, Tempelmeyer said. It doesnt bind us to put up a wind turbine. It doesnt bind us to putting it up at this exact location. This gets the ball rolling with NPPD so they start their studies so they know that they are not going to have any issues. Though Tempelmeyer was not at Mondays City Council meeting, Butcher added more details about what the next steps will be following the vote. Bluestem has put together what they believe to be a single-turbine project that they will locate within Gage County, outside of the city, obviously, Butcher said. The first step we have to undertake is a study by NPPD to view the capacity requirements to make sure everything in the transmission process works correctly. NPPD will go ahead and make recommendations and take it to the Power Review Board for approval of the wind generation facility. The City Council voted 8-0 to approve the application seeking an NPPD review. Butcher did not have a timeline as to how long it will take NPPD to assess the proposal or how long it will need to be reviewed by the Power Review Board before it receives final approval. Number of Christians in Myanmar growing in spite of threats from nationalist Buddhists The Christian population of the Buddhist country Myanmar has increased by nearly one third in three decades, new figures reveal. There are now more than three million Christians in Myanmar, making up 6.2 per cent of the population, compared to just 4.9 per cent in 1983, World Watch Monitor reports. There has been speculation that the release of the figures, in a supplement to the 2014 population and housing census by the UN Population Fund, was delayed to avoid backlash from Buddhist nationalists. According to the fund, however, the delay was because more time was needed "for analysis and consultation". Christianity is the second largest religion in Myanmar. Nearly nine in ten people are Buddhist. There was also a small increase in the numbers of Hindus and a fall in atheists and Muslims although Rohingya Muslims were not included as these Muslims do not have citizen status. If they did, Myanmar would have twice as many Muslims as it admits to, amounting to four per cent of the population. Just one state has a Christian majority, Chin. There are also many Christians in Shan and Kachin. In Karen, Christians are under threat from Buddhist nationalists who building illegal pagodas on church grounds, WWM reports. Thomas Muller, of Open Doors International, which supports Christian minorities globally, told WWM: "As the Buddhist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha keeps warning against an influx of Muslims threatening Buddhist-majority Myanmar, there were fears that, if the census showed a growth in percentage of the Muslim population, it could fuel the tensions Ma Ba Tha is stoking. But Muslims only experienced a slow growth, even including the self-identified Rohingya, who were not counted in the census. "But it may turn out as short-sighted to ignore such fears now. Ma Ba Tha is not just anti-Muslim, it is Buddhist nationalist, so Christians could come increasingly into its focus. Especially when, as the Myanmar Times report says, the number of Christians in contested Kachin State are heavily under-reported. In any case, the numbers show how religiously diverse Myanmar is and that the government faces challenges with that." Party rift widens as Trump declines to endorse top Republicans US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions in his party on Tuesday by denying two leading figures, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain, support in their re-election bids. Trump told The Washington Post in an interview that he could endorse neither Ryan, the top elected Republican, nor McCain, a senator from Arizona and a former Republican presidential nominee, as they face challenges in their states' primary contests ahead of the November 8 general election. Both Ryan and McCain had criticised Trump's feud with the family of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who died in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for bravery after his death. The discord comes just two weeks after the Republican National Convention in Cleveland that formally nominated Trump for president. It is the latest rift in a party already frayed by internal dissent over its standard bearer, seen in stark relief at the convention where McCain was among high-level party members who essentially snubbed Trump by choosing not to attend. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, and former presidents George HW Bush and George W Bush also did not attend the convention. Trump has had a running dispute with Khizr and Ghazala Khan since they took the stage at last week's Democratic convention to cite their son's sacrifice and criticise Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. The uproar has led many Republicans to distance themselves from Trump and voice support for the Khan family. Trump, mirroring the language Ryan used about supporting the nominee before his eventual endorsement, told the newspaper he was "not quite there yet" on endorsing Ryan in next Tuesday's Wisconsin primary, and that he had "never been there" with McCain, who will be on the ballot in primary elections in Arizona later this month. McCain had a "very friendly" meeting with Trump's vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, on Tuesday in Arizona, where Pence was visiting, a McCain spokeswoman said. Trump said Ryan had sought his endorsement, but that as of now he is only "giving it very serious consideration". Ryan's campaign office quickly responded that "neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement". "And we are confident in a victory next week regardless," campaign spokesman Zack Roday said in a statement. Ryan is favoured to win against primary challenger Paul Nehlen, who Trump praised as running "a very good campaign". In a mid-July survey by Harper Polling, Ryan was ahead of Nehlen by nearly 50 points. Trump, a former reality TV star, has troubled many in the Republican establishment with his off-the-cuff, often insulting style, and controversial policies, including the proposed ban on Muslims and his plan to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. President Barack Obama on Tuesday blasted Trump as unfit to be president and questioned why any Republican would support the New York businessman, who is seeking his first public office. "The question I think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable: Why are you still endorsing him?" Obama, a Democrat, said at a White House news conference with Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong. Congressman abandons Trump The chorus of complaints against Trump grew on Tuesday. Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican in Congress to endorse Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, although several other Republicans in Congress have said they will not support Trump. Hanna, who is retiring from the House of Representatives rather than seek re-election, said his decision was prompted by Trump's attacks on the Khan family. He called Trump "deeply flawed in endless way,s" "unrepentant" and "self-involved". New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Trump ally once viewed by Trump as a potential running mate, called criticisms of the Khan family "inappropriate". Trump's son Eric told CBS News on Tuesday that his father's comments about the Khans have been "blown hugely out of proportion." Trump has fallen behind Clinton in opinion polls made public since the parties held their nominating conventions last month. Clinton extended her lead over Trump to eight percentage points, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, from six points on Friday. About 43 per cent of likely voters favour Clinton, 35 per cent favour Trump and nine per cent picked "other". Trump also has trailed Clinton in fundraising. Clinton reported raising nearly $90 million in July for her campaign and the Democratic Party, with more than half the donations coming from new donors. Interviewed on the Fox Business television network, Trump brushed off billionaire investor Warren Buffett's blistering critique of his business acumen. Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, scorned Trump's 1995 move to list Trump hotels and casino resorts on the New York Stock Exchange, saying the business lost money for the next decade and that a monkey would have outperformed Trump's company. Trump, who has said his business success qualifies him to lead the country, defended his record running his hotel and casino business in Atlantic City, New Jersey. "I had great timing. I got out," after seven years, he told the network on Tuesday. "I took a lot of money out of Atlantic City, which is what I'm supposed to do. I'm a businessperson." Pope Francis says allowing children to choose their sex is against God's will The Pope has condemned countries that allow children to choose their own gender, describing it as "ideological colonisation". He said it was going against the will of God who had created "man and woman". In a meeting with Polish bishops during World Youth Day celebrations last week in St Stanislaus and St Wenceslaus cathedral in Krakow, Pope Francis laid into "gender" politics. "In Europe, in America, in Latin America, in Africa, in some Asian countries, there is ideological colonisation," the Pope said. He was particularly concerned about children. "At school you are taught this: that each one can choose their sex." He said money given by "institutions" was at the root of it. "It is ideological colonisation, also supported by influential countries. And this is terrible." He had discussed the issue with his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI, who he said was well and thinking clearly, who told him: "Your Holiness, this is the age of sin against God the Creator." Pope Francis said: "God created man and woman; God created the world so, so, so ... and we are doing the opposite." He was responding to a question on refugees from Auxiliary Bishop of Koszalin-Kolobrzeg Christopher Zadarko, who asked: "How can we help them, because they are so numerous? And what can we do to overcome the fear of their invasion or assault, which paralyses the entire society?" Addrdessing the question of what gender politics had to do with refugees, Pope Francis said: "It is context." He added: "The problem is the world. The exploitation of creation, and the exploitation of persons. We are living a moment of annihilation of man as God's image." His solution was prayer. "We can have an open heart and consider the introduction of an hour of prayer in parishes, one hour per week, adoration and prayer for immigrants. Prayer moves mountains." Archbishop of odz Marek Jedraszewski also asked him about how bishops should respond to Christians becoming increasingly a minority within a "liberal-atheist contemporary culture". The Archbishop said Poland was an example of "a huge fight between faith in God on the one hand, and on the other a thought and ways of life as if God did not exist." Pope Francis said: "It's true, the de-Christianisation, secularization of the modern world is strong. It's very strong." Some "manifestations of religiosity" could also be a hazard, he said. "I think that we, in this secularised world, we also have the other danger, the gnostic spiritualisation: This secularisation gives us the opportunity to grow a somewhat gnostic spiritual life." Pope Francis recalled that gnosticism was the first heresy of the Church, battled by the Apostle John. Responding to another question from Archbishop of Gdansk Slawoj Leszek Glodz, Pope Francis also warned against religious illiteracy and shrines that capitalise on people who seek "salvation in superstition". To another questioner he extolled the virtues of the parish. "The parish is still valid! The parish must remain: is a facility that we must not throw out the window. The parish is the very house of God's people, one in which he lives. "The problem is how to impose the parish! There are parishes with parish secretaries who seem 'disciples of Satan', which scare people! Parishes with the doors closed. But there are parishes with the doors open, parishes where, when someone comes to ask, you say: "Yes, yes ... Come in. What's the problem?...". And you listen patiently ... because taking care of God's people is tiring, it's tiring!" Prisoner in Chile receives letter from Pope imploring her to hold out hope A female prisoner in Chile was surprised by receiving a personal letter last week from Pope Francis imploring her to retain "the strength that comes from hope," a year after she wrote to him asking for his prayers. The Catholic News Agency reported that on 27 July, the local bishop Luis Infanti visited the prison in Coyhaique, in the Aysen Region in southern Chile and gave the reply to the prisoner, called Nicol. The Pope had reportedly immediately replied to the young woman's letter, which she was advised to write a year ago by the Apostolic Nuncio, Ivo Scapolo, when he was visiting the prison. The Nuncio promised to deliver the letter to the Pope personally. A reply came to the Nunciature but due to what the Diocese described as unavoidable circumstances its delivery to the prison was delayed by a year. Nicol described the prison's conditions and her sentence and asked "that you pray a lot for me and for the people living here with me," she told the Diocese of Aysen's communications office. In his reply, the Pope expressed thanked Nicol for "the trust you have shown me as well as for the prayers you are lifting up for me from your solitude, and that I need so much." Pope Francis added: "For my part, I assure you that I am keeping you in my prayers, as well as your son Fernando, and I ask God to grant you the light of faith and the strength that comes from hope, and that you can experience the consolation of our merciful God in the closeness of the people you love." The Pope requested that the woman continued to pray for him. "Once again, I thank you for your letter. And, please, I ask you to keep praying for me," he wrote. "May Jesus bless you and the Holy Virgin care for you." The letter is signed "Affectionately, Francisco." "I didn't think he was going to reply," Nicol said. Rachel Held Evans says pro-life Christians should back Clinton An influential Christian writer has urged pro-life Christians to vote for Hillary Clinton, backing the Democrat party line that her policies on poverty, healthcare and childcare will help reduce abortion rates more than pro-life legislators. Rachel Held Evans posted a blog backing Clinton on Tuesday. She wrote: "While I've written in the past about feeling caught between the pro-life and pro-choice camps, I've never used my platform to endorse a presidential candidate. But as so many others have said, this year is different. Knowing many of my pro-life friends feel torn between voting for an unpopular but highly qualified pro-choice candidate in Hillary Clinton and an incompetent narcissist who poses a unique threat to our American democracy in Donald Trump, I'd like to make a proposal: You should vote for Hillary Clinton." The writer went on to urge evangelicals - who according to a recent Pew survey favour Donald Trump - not to vote for the "racist demagogue". She wrote: "Evangelicals, I implore you: Don't support Donald Trump. Don't support a racist demagogue who can't even quote a single Bible verse properly and who takes to Twitter to viciously insult everyone he disagrees with. He's playing you." Evans said: "I speak as someone who has struggled with, and in some cases regretted, her decisions at the ballot box, and who recognizes no single political party boasts a consistent pro-life ethic, just as no single political party embodies the teachings of Jesus or the values of his Kingdom." But she went on: "In the eight years since we've had a pro-choice president, the abortion rate in the US has dropped to its lowest since 1973. I believe the best way to keep this trend going is not to simply make it harder for women to terminate unwanted pregnancies but to create a culture with fewer unwanted pregnancies to begin with... So even though I think abortion is morally wrong in most cases, and support more legal restrictions around it, I often vote for pro-choice candidates when I think their policies will do the most to address the health and economic concerns that drive women to get abortions in the first place." Pro-life critics have pointed out that Clinton has liberalised the Democratic platform on the issue of abortion. When Hillary's husband Bill Clinton ran for president in 1996, abortion was mentioned once in the Democratic platform. Now it is mentioned 19 times and the traditional use of the word "rare" in relation to abortion has been dropped. Crucially, the platform calls for a wide expansion of abortion access, including the overturning of two key amendments in US law: the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal money from directly funding abortions, and the Helms Amendment, which bans federal dollars from funding abortions abroad. However, the Hillary Clinton campaign argues, as Evans did, that its wider social platform will improve life-chances and lower poverty and therefore reduce abortion levels. Rape, murder, assault. What Christians in India face on an almost daily basis Anti-Christian violence in India has surged to an "alarming level" according to the latest report from World Watch Monitor, with more than 30 attacks a month. The problem is particularly bad in states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, which has a reputation for pursuing a nationalist Hindu agenda. Tomson Thomas, coordinator for the advocacy group Persecution Relief, based in the east of the country, told WWM: "There is an agenda and strategy behind it. There is an increasing sense of audacity among Hindu nationalist groups blatantly carrying out attacks on Christians." Persecution Relief recorded three significant attacks on Christians in just five days towards the end of July. In one of the attacks, three Christians had to be hospitalised. Umesh Patel, a student, his father, Sudhama and their friend Kiran Vishwakarma were assaulted and the Patel's house ransacked simply for being Christian. Six months previously, Umesh had already spent time in jail for distributing Bibles. The second attack was on a Christian girl, Sangeeta Siri, aged just 14, who was raped and murdered. Both these two attacks were in Chhattisgarh state. The girl's family converted to Christianity 18 years ago and her family believes it was a revenge attack on them for resisting pressure to return to Hinduism. The third attack, in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh involved a Pentecostal pastor and one of his flock being abducted and tortured. When police arrived, it was the Christians who were arrested, charged with with hurting Hindu religious sentiments and held in custody. Thomas told WWM: "The state machinery is being abused to persecute the Christians. The fundamentalists beat up Christians and then use the police to torment them further. It is becoming a daily occurrence." There must be justice for Yazidis in face of 'ongoing' Islamic State abuses, says commission United Nations human rights lobbyists have today renewed their calls for justice for the Yazidi people, two years after Islamic State launched their brutal campaign against the Yazidis of Sinjar in Iraq. The Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic said crimes against the Yazidis are "ongoing" and called for the UN Security Council to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court. "Two years ago today, in the early hours of 3 August 2014, ISIS fighters left their bases and brutally attacked the Yazidis of Sinjar, a distinct religious group whose beliefs and practice span thousands of years," the commission said today. In its report, They Came to Destroy: ISIS Crimes Against the Yazidis, published last month, the commission concluded that IS had committed the crime of genocide a well as other war crimes against the Yazidis. The commission, set up in 2011 by the Human Rights Council to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights in Syria, said that two years on, more than 3,200 women and children are still held by IS and subjected to "almost-unimaginable violence". Most are in Syria where Yazidi women and girls continue to be sexually enslaved and Yazidi boys are indoctrinated, trained and used in hostilities, the commission said. Thousands of Yazidi men and boys remain missing. Nadia Murad, a survivor of the violece, said last month: "We don't need more speeches, we need justice." The commission said: "She could not be more right. It is the responsibility of the United Nations, and the international community to take action to stop the on-going genocide, to care for its victims, and to bring those responsible to justice." U.S. couple preparing for missionary work in Japan killed in car crash, together with their 3 young children Minneapolis couple Jamison and Kathryne Pals were planning to move their family of five to Nagoya, Japan in the hopes of becoming missionaries, but their dream to spread God's Word never materialised after they were tragically killed in a car crash just before noon on Sunday. Jamison and Kathryne, together with their three childrenEzra, 3, Violet, 1, and 2-month-old Calvindied on Interstate 80 in western Nebraska, according to The Daily Mail. They were travelling from their home in Saint Paul going to Palmer Lake, Colorado for a five-week session on language learning that would prepare them for their ministry at the Christ Bible Institute in Nagoya, Japan. But four miles from Brule, they were hit by a semi-trailer and their vehicle was forced along the path of three passing vehicles. The driver who crashed into them, Tony A. Weekly from Florida, was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide. He was reportedly "inattentive and distracted by outside influences" when he rammed into the Pals' minivan "at a high rate of speed," a Nebraska State Patrol said, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Dennis Vogan, vice president of personnel development of the ministry organisation WorldVenture, was devastated by the Pals family's deaths. "The Palses fit perfectly within our organisation," Vogan said. The missionaries in Japan "were thrilled and looking so forward to their coming," he said. Andy Carr, vice president for the Christian non-profit organisation Feed My Starving Children based in Eagan, Minnesota, called the couple "amazing people" and good friends. "They were the most humble and selfless people that you could ever meet," he said. "In today's world where it's so much about me, me, me, it was never about them. It was always about others." Jamison's father Rick Pals hopes his son's legacy will continue to live on as he planned on building a foundation that will continue the missionary work the Pals' envisioned for themselves. A GoFundMe website was createdwww.gofundme.com/joyofjapanto serve that purpose. So far, $17,000 has been raised out of a $20,000 goal. "The generosity has been wonderful," Rick Pals said. "Those donations and prayer are really what people can do to help us right now." UK 'unlikely' to meet target of resettling 20,000 refugees by 2020, MPs say The UK is "unlikely" to resettle 20,000 refugees by 2020 a report MPs claimed on Wednesday as it targeted ministers for refusing to accept refugees in their own constituencies. The Home Affairs Committee said there was "scant evidence" the government is track to meet its commitment as it revealed for the first time the number of Syrian refugees resettled in each local authority area. The committee of MPs criticised government ministers and said they should "show leadership" by taking encouraging their own local authorities to take more refugees. The statistics show that most refugees are resettled in constituencies in Scotland and the north east of England, not areas traditionally held by Conservative MPs. The chair of the committee Keith Vaz said the "abolition of the role of Minister for Syrian refugees is disappointing". He added: "Focus on this issue is vital if the target of 20,000 is ever to be met, which the current figures show to be unlikely. "Cabinet Ministers should show leadership in encouraging their own local authorities to take their fair share of Syrian refugees. We need to avoid silently encouraging a two-tier system." The Archbishop of Canterbury described the migration crisis as "colossal" and told the committee: "This is one of the greatest movements of people in human history. Just enormous." But despite the "unprecedented" scale of the crisis, Welby said the UK was not "full" and said "we can take more people in" to meet the 20,000 commitment. But he added safe and legal mechanisms for resettlement were needed "to avoid pulling those who would not otherwise come but may feel this is the only resort". He said it was important to offer assistance in the region which migrants were fleeing because "you want to offer people the hope" of being able to remain in their own area. The MPs also said the European Union states should have foreseen the crises and their response has been "too little, too late". The report said there 1,255,640 first-time applications for asylum in EU member states in 2015, double the 562,680 in 2014, with over half of these from ongoing war-torn countries Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. But despite the "staggering" numbers, the UK had only resettled 3.1 per cent of those who had arrived in Europe, the MPs said. Europe's response to the crisis was "lamentable", said Vaz. "The atrocious conditions in migrant camps within and on the borders of the richest countries on earth is a source of shame. It is horrifying that large numbers of the 85,000 unaccompanied children already in the EU have gone missing shortly after arrival, facing abuse and exploitation. "They have become the EUs 'disappeared ones'. It is unacceptable that the 157 unaccompanied children in Calais with family in the UK have still not arrived here." A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Our priority is to offer humanitarian support to those most in need while maintaining the security of our borders." She said more than 1,800 Syrians had been resettled under the government's scheme, and insisted it was "on track" to deliver on its pledge to resettle 20,000 by the end of the Parliament. Underground church leader jailed for 'subversion' in mass crackdown on China's critics A high-profile Chinese church leader has been jailed in a week of public confessions and trials of activists deemed opponents of the Chinese state. Hu Shigen, a leader of a large underground church movement, was previously in prison for 16 years for the charge of counter-revolution after he shared information about the crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989. That charge has since been abolished and he was released in 2008. But on Tuesday he was sentenced to another seven and a half years for subversion. He pleaded guilty to "damaging national security and harming social stability" according to state media. It is part of a wider crackdown with several activists sentenced this week. Seen as an attempt to silence opponents, the trials have zero credibility according to human rights activists. About 300 lawyers and other critics have been arrested since last year in a wholesale round-up. The families of those arrested say they have had no access to their relatives and the Washington-based China Human Rights Defenders say the trials prove China has no commitment to the rule of law. A number of those arrested, including Hu, have released public confessions which one expert said were the result of brainwashing. "To say that her statement was 'probably' the product of coercion is silly since she has been held in an immensely coercive environment for over a year,"Jerome Cohen, an expert on Chinese law at New York University, wrote in a blog post on Wednesday. "These 'confessions' are reminiscent of the 'brainwashing' era of the 1950s for which the new China became infamous." Nebraska's growing immigrant population plays a vital role in the state's economy, a new study documented Wednesday as business, civic and cultural leaders launched a new campaign for federal immigration reform. "We need Congress to update our antiquated immigration laws in order to grow Nebraska's economy, drive innovation and keep our communities strong," said Jim Partington, executive director of the Nebraska Restaurant Association. The study was released as immigration reform emerges as a major issue in this year's presidential campaign. Republican nominee Donald Trump has made a crackdown on illegal immigration a centerpiece of his campaign. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has proposed comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship. A 40-page study of immigrants in Nebraska revealed the growing impact of immigration here. * In 1990, immigrants made up 1.8 percent of the state's population; by 2010, it was 6 percent; between 2010 and 2014, the immigrant population grew at a 10 percent rate, far greater than the 2.3 percent native-born growth rate. * Undocumented immigrant workers "contribute to a range of industries that could not thrive without a pool of workers willing to take on highly labor-intensive roles," and that includes meatpacking plants and service industries. * Nebraska is now home to more than 120,000 foreign-born residents, 73 percent of whom are in their prime working years. Less than 50 percent of the native population is in their prime working years. * Immigrant Nebraskans contributed $616 million in taxes in 2014. "Immigrants have played a large role helping Nebraska avoid the type of population decline that has hurt many other states in recent years, depriving businesses of customers and cities of the taxpayers they need," the report stated. An estimated 41,484 undocumented immigrants now live in Nebraska, the vast majority of whom came here for work opportunities, according to the study. In most cases, they are "taking jobs few Americans are interested in pursuing," like meat processing. "In Nebraska, there is evidence that undocumented immigrants are playing an important role in the workforce," the report stated. The report estimated that 84.5 percent of the state's undocumented population has been in the United States for five or more years and that more than 40.4 percent "speak English well, very well or fluently." Release of the report marked the launch of an immigration reform campaign called Reason for Reform in all 50 states. It's an effort sponsored by the Partnership for a New American Economy that has enlisted business, civic and cultural leaders. "We know that updating our immigration laws is the right thing to do to preserve the unity of families who make up the cornerstone of strong communities," said John Griffith, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha. "This report confirms that new immigration laws are also wise economic policy," he said. "We must act now to stop the unnecessary and devastating impact of family separation caused by our current outdated system." Why the Russian Orthodox Church has turned on Ukraine's Catholics Tensions between Churches in Ukraine have risen sharply in recent years because of Russia's annexation of Crimea and its incursion into the east of the country. Different Churches are loyal to Moscow and Kiev, and the country's bitter divisions are fought out among them as well as in the political arena. Now the country's tortuous ecclesiastical politics have taken another twist with an extraordinary denunciation by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) of Ukraine's Greek Catholic Church. The ROC has condemned the Greek Catholics for comments made by their leader Patriarch Shevchuk regarding the recent procession organised by Ukrainian Orthodox believers loyal to Moscow. Ostensibly designed to celebrate the anniversary of conversion of Ukraine and Russia to Christianity, the march terminating in Kiev was seen by many observers as a Moscow-inspired provocation designed to assert Russian power over Ukraine and its Churches. Shevchuk said that while he had no problem with a purely religious procession, the "secular aspect" of the march raised concerns. He suggested participants were being "used as a tool" in a way that recalled tactics used at the beginning of Ukraine's civil war: "They used old men, women and even children as a shield for armed criminals... many also fear that those participants are used as a tool for some undeclared goal as it was the case in Donbas in the recent past." Shevchuk said the Moscow Patriarchate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was "often used as a tool in the hands of the aggressor" understood as Russia, though Shevchuk refrained from saying so directly. The ROC has let loose a furious broadside against Shevchuk and his Church. It said that "even this good endeavor called to overcome divisions in the Ukrainian society met with cynical attacks and unfair accusations on the part of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which used this event to launch new vicious accusations against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church". It continued: "These statements by the head of the UGCC, unbecoming not only to an archbishop but also to a Christian in general and aimed to enkindle inter-confessional strife and made in the genre of political denunciation cannot but provoke resentment and disgust in the hearts of the Orthodox faithful." As so often in the Orthodox world, behind this frenzied assault lies centuries of disharmony. Greek Catholic liturgy and Church organisation is Orthodox in form, but the Church was formed when some Orthodox bishops reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church in 1595. It is regarded as apostate by other Orthodox Churches. The ROC statement broadened into an attack on this "uniatism", saying: "Again and again, contrary to the agreements achieved through great efforts on the high level between the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches, unia reminds of itself as a force sowing enmity and hatred by systematically and consistently impeding a reconciliation between East and West." In its statement, the ROC sought to bring pressure to bear on the Greek Catholics through referring to the joint declaration by Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis at their historic meeting in Havana in February. A clause in the declaration regarded as a political victory for Patriarch Kirill and strongly objected to by Shevchuk said: "It is today clear that the past method of 'uniatism', understood as the union of one community to the other, separating it from its Church, is not the way to re-establish unity." The ROC said Greek Catholics had "failed to listen to this call" and were continuing to "deepen the confrontation in Ukrainian society". It called for the issue to be an "emergency task" for the forthcoming Orthodox Catholic dialogues planned for September in Italy. Complicating all this is the continuing rivalry between the ROC and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. He is based in Istanbul, which as Constantinople and Byzantium was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, and his ancient office carries enormous prestige though his Church is tiny. The ROC has been highly critical of moves towards the Greek Catholics by Bartholomew, who in the Orthodox tradition is held to be first among equals, and sees him as attempting to encroach on its own territory. Bartholomew wrote to Shevchuk thanking him for his support of the Pan Orthodox Council in Crete last month. Shevchuk had written: "Many of the hierarchs who gathered to reflect on the problems facing the Orthodox Church may be surprised to learn that the Head of the Church, which is often referred to as the greatest obstacle to ecumenical dialogue, will support your sincere prayer that God's presence really felt in all your discussions..." He also suggested joint projects for the "purification of memory" and healing the wounds of the past code for repairing deeply dysfunctional relationships. In a careful reply, Bartholomew assured Shevchuk of his prayer "for peace and stability in Ukraine". "May Almighty God protect and keep your blessed country," he said. But Bartholomew's letter will also be seen in Moscow as a provocation. Tensions between the ROC and Istanbul remain high after Moscow struck a damaging blow at Bartholomew by refusing to attend the Pan Orthodox Council at the last minute, throwing the enterprise into disarray and compromising its authority. The ROC is also deeply resentful of an appeal to Bartholomew by Ukraine's Parliament, which called on him to reconcile Ukraine's warring Orthodox Churches and grant them "autocephalous" or self-governing status. It regards Ukraine as its own canonical territory and believes all three competing Ukrainian Orthodox Churches should submit to its rule. Russian Orthodox bloggers have been vocal in calling for Bartholomew, whose Church in Turkey numbers only around 3,000 members, to lose his status as first among equals in favour of the giant ROC, by far the largest and wealthiest of the Orthodox Churches. The squabble between the ROC and the Greek Catholics is part of a wider power play, in which the ROC is seeking to assert its ecclesiastical authority over the entire country in defiance of the fervent nationalism stirred up by Russia's behaviour towards it. Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods According to Eric Trump, women who are "strong" and "powerful" don't find themselves on the receiving end of sexual harassment. Roger Ailes, the founder and former CEO of Fox News, has recently been accused of sexually harassing many of his female employees. When discussing the subject with CBS's Charlie Rose, Eric Trump said that his sister Ivanka would never find herself sexually harassed. "Ivanka is a strong, powerful woman, she wouldn't allow herself to be [subjected] to it, and by the way, you should take it up with Human Resources, and I think she would as a strong person, at the same time, I don't think she would allow herself to be subjected to that," Trump told Rose. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission offers a definition of sexual harassment on their website. Mysteriously absent is any reference to how one might "allow" sexual harassment, regardless of strength or power. Not only are the Trumps apparently too "strong" and "powerful" to be victims of crime, but they don't allow sexual harassment in any of their businesses. "We all run a company, my father runs a company, we take this - that is an absolute no-go anywhere, and that's very much the case," Trump told Rose. The Trump Family owns several businesses, including casinos, a line of shoes, and mail-order steaks. USA Today asked the father of Eric and Ivanka (among others) what he thought should happen if his daughter was sexually harassed. "I would like to think she would find another career or find another company if that was the case," said Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump. Sexual harassment in the workplace is illegal in part so that victims don't have to find other work or another career, much in the same way that victims of burglary shouldn't have to move. When it comes to discussing women, the candidate has always been characteristically direct. Trump has stated that were Ivanka not his daughter, he might be date her due to her impressive looks. Trump has also made passing reference to a journalist's menstrual cycle during a nationally televised debate to be President of the United States of America, and numerically rates supermodel Heidi Klum as "no longer a 10." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It seems Miranda Lambert can't say I'm "Over You" to ex-husband Blake Shelton. On Friday, Lambert got teary-eyed while singing the song "Over You," a duet she co-wrote with Shelton. READ MORE: Debra Messing, Blake Shelton spar over presidential campaign During a video of the performance posted on Youtube, Lambert wiped tears away while the crowd sang the anthem. The song was written for Shelton's older brother, who died in a car crash. According to The Chicago Tribune, Lambert told the audience she was hormonal and dealing with cramps. She also cried during her performance of "The House That Built Me," the newspaper reports. Miranda's crying performance comes right after Shelton spoke to Billboard about the divorce and what it's like to date Gwen Stefani, a co-host on "The Voice." READ MORE: Miranda Lambert due in San Antonio on Sept. 17 "Gwen saved my life," Shelton told Billboard. "Who else on earth could understand going through a high-profile divorce from another musician? You can't even imagine the similarities in our divorces." Lambert's new song "Vice" is about what it was like for her to go through the divorce. She told The Tennessean that she wrote the song at "the exact time of the sh*** hitting the fan." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate River Oaks Theatre 2009 W. Gray; landmarktheatres.com KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE: From the legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki comes the beloved story of a resourceful young witch who uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to lose her gift of flight in a moment of self-doubt. Midnight Friday and Saturday Houston Museum of Natural Science 5555 Hermann Park Drive; hmns.org WILD AFRICA 3-D: From the highest snow-covered mountains in Kenya, along great rivers, into steamy rainforests and wide-open savannahs, "Wild Africa 3-D" reveals the striking contrast of stunning deserts beside wild oceans and the sunlit abundance of the coral reefs. Multiple screenings daily DINOSAURS ALIVE: 3-D adventure follows paleontologists around the world as they uncover evidence that the descendants of dinosaurs still walk or fly among us. Multiple screenings daily NATIONAL PARKS ADVENTURE: Join world-class mountaineer Conrad Anker, adventure photographer Max Lowe and artist Rachel Pohl as they bike, hike and climb their way across America. Multiple screenings daily Asia Society 1370 Southmore; asiasociety.org/texas KARATE KID : Daniel moves to California and finds himself the target of bullies. Mr. Miyagi takes him under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate and how to defend himself. 8 p.m. Saturday 14 Pews 800 Aurora; 14pews.org LIFE, ANIMATED: A coming-of-age story about a boy and his family who overcame great challenges by turning Disney animated movies into a language to express love, loss, kinship and brotherhood. 7 p.m. Saturday MUSIC OF STRANGERS: Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and other international artists of The Silk Road Project discuss their philosophies on music and culture. 7 p.m. Sunday Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 1001 Bissonnet; mfah.org A CLOCKWORK ORANGE: In future Britain, charismatic delinquent Alex DeLarge is jailed and volunteers for an experimental aversion therapy developed to solve society's crime problem, but not all goes according to plan. 7 p.m. Friday THE HEIRESS: Based on Henry James' novel "Washington Square," this film follows Olivia de Havilland as Catherine, the plain, reclusive daughter of the wealthy and tyrannical Dr. Sloper. 7 p.m. Saturday THE SNAKE PIT: A detailed chronicle of a woman during her stay in a mental institution. 5 p.m. Sunday Market Square 301 Milam; marketsquarepark.com E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL: A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape Earth and return to his home. 8 p.m. Wednesday Lack of hot water is landing some Houston restaurants in, well, hot water. Health inspectors with the City of Houston were out last week, checking up on local restaurants around the area. And what they found might have you thinking twice before you go out to eat. Hot water might not sound like a big deal to some people, but H2O being at the proper temperature is imperative to making sure dishes, utensils and more stay sanitary. It's so important that restaurants will even get shut down temporarily until the water is up to snuff, as was the case at Subway #7191 (2009 Yale St.) in this week's report. We wish the lack of the hot water was the only thing we had to report. But alas, several restaurants in Houston were cited for roaches, both dead and alive. Inspectors found a roach infestation in several parts of the kitchen and food prep area at Church's Chicken #3952 (9404 North Fwy.) And that's not all. Click on the slideshow above to see some of the notable inspections from July 25-31, 2016. Everyone in Houston has their favorite place for a perfect margarita. But Food & Wine magazine has its own preferences and one of them can be found right here in Houston. Hugo's restaurant, 1600 Westheimer, has been named one of America's Best Margarita Bars by the magazine. The one other Texas outpost is Tim Love's Lonesome Dove in Fort Worth. It can happen to the best of us. We see a news story, video, or picture on social media and we immediately want to share it with the rest of our friends. It can be something heartwarming, maddening or life-affirming. Maybe it falls in line with our political identity and we just have to pass it on to our friends and loved ones. But sadly, a great deal of what you see being shared by your friends and family isnt true at all. The internet has a funny way of letting the fantastical get passed off as truth. Were all busy and that share button is awfully easy to push. It's a sort of shorthand when tapping out a paragraph is just too hard. RELATED: The biggest viral hoaxes of 2015 Dont worry, this author has been fooled too but I really thought that goat was speaking English. Working at a news outlet, we spend a great deal of time each day sifting through stories from around the globe, sorting fiction from fact. Sometimes we wish the fictional things were real because sometimes reality is disappointing, like a Beetlejuice sequel not happening after all. Whats the best way to sort out fantasy from reality on social media? All it takes is a little searching on your own end and some discernment to find the truth on most things. Google can be your best friend when it comes to debunking your friends. Or Bing or Yahoo, whatever your bag might be. RELATED: Actor, musician Jack Black victim of death hoax Were in an election year with two extremely polarizing candidates trying to win the vote, so your Facebook feed is likely a battlefield of ideas and glorified rumor. Right about now, people on Facebook are at war with each other posting stories relating to the coming presidential election, with each side (there are now four or five by our count) vying for votes and posting anything negative they can about the other side. Lets just say now that no one has ever had their entire political view swayed by a Facebook post. You are preaching and posting to the choir, or likely alienating that guy you sat next to in eighth grade algebra. On the topic of Facebook, you can sleep soundly knowing that the site is not switching to being a paid subscription service and founder Mark Zuckerberg is not going to give you any money whatsoever. So please stop copying and pasting that paragraph full of phony legalese about not ceding your content to Satan himself. Having trouble with email chains that purport to state facts that "the media won't talk about?" Hoax Busters has a helpful set of tips for the next time you get an email about ISIS getting its own MTV reality show. You'd be surprised what rational people on both sides of the aisle will share to rank strangers. Snopes.com, the leading hoax debunking site, has a long list of stories that its setting the record straight on. They've been at it for 21 years, in fact. The website was co-founded by David Mikkelson, who recently spoke with The Guardian about his site's popularity during an election season. RELATED: Snopes deflates (or verifies) 15 Texas urban legends As it turns out, Donald Trump never told People magazine back in 1998 that he would run as a Republican because that party's voters are the "dumbest group of voters." Other great sites to run those spurious stories by include FactCheck, Truth or Fiction, Hoax Busters, Hoax-Slayer, Politifact, and Fake News Watch, which has a somewhat up-to-date listing of hoax news, clickbait (ahem), and satire news site URLs. You might find yourself routinely depressed by visiting Politifact. A lot of politicians lie so much that their pants (or pantsuits) must be flame-retardant. So remember, the British government has not imposed an emergency ban on emojis, China hasnt put RFID chips in Happy Meal toys, and there has not been a successful head transplant in South Africa. That would be pretty awesome but not as awesome as the time Whataburger was selling burgers for just a buck. Oh, right. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate If you're driving in Houston, you'll pass squat buildings emblazoned with names like Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo, each connecting to sprawling networks that reach from city's neighborhoods to sleek downtown skyscrapers. Houston is their territory. It wasn't always theirs, though. Thirty years ago, the Texas banking industry was fiercely independent, made up of nearly 2,000 lenders competing for the region's booming business. By law, out-of-state banks weren't even allowed into the market. But everything changed in the late 1980s, when an epic oil bust undermined the local economy and the independent banks collapsed. Ben Love, who kept meticulous financial records in a blue book never far from his side, saw it coming. The chief executive of Houston's Texas Commerce Bank rallied his fellow bankers and lobbied successfully to allow for interstate banking, arguing that new entrants with hefty checkbooks would strengthen the state's depleted financial industry. More Information Timeline 1943-1945: Ben Love, born in 1924, flies 25 missions as a B-17 Bomber pilot over Germany, receiving 11 combat decorations. 1948: Love starts a paper manufacturing company, which he later sold. 1967-1969: Love joins Texas National Bank of Commerce as a senior vice president in Houston and soon becomes chief executive. 1969-1970: Love begins work with Houston Grand Opera Association and serves as chairman of cultural affairs committee of the Houston Chamber of Commerce. 1977: Love is named cultural leader of the year by Youth Symphony as "one who has given unstintingly for the cultural enrichment of our community." Lady Bird Johnson is named to the board of Texas Commerce Bank. 1984: Texas Commerce Bank surpasses First City National Bank of Houston as the largest bank in Harris County. Summer 1986: After lobbying by Love and other bankers, lawmakers pass a new law allowing interstate banking in Texas. December 1986: Texas Commerce Bank agrees to sell itself to Chemical Bank for $1.19 billion, the largest bank deal in U.S. history at the time. January 1987: Texas interstate banking law goes into effect. A few months later, Houston's Allied Bancshares sells itself to Los Angeles-based First Interstate Bancorp. 1986-1989: The number of banks in Texas shrinks from 1,900 to 1,400, when more than 130 banks failed across the state and others were snapped up by newcomers. 1995: Chase Manhattan Bank merges with Chemical Bank. Five years later, J.P. Morgan & Co. merges with Chase Manhattan. 2015: JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America hold more than 60 percent of bank deposits in the Houston area. The JP Morgan Chase Building at 712 Main Street. See More Collapse Then he did something no other Texas banker had done before. In December 1986, he agreed to sell Texas Commerce Bank, one of Houston's largest institutions, to New York's Chemical Bank (eventually subsumed into JPMorgan Chase) for $1.19 billion, at the time the largest sum paid for a bank in U.S. history. It was the first interstate banking deal in Texas, but it didn't happen easily for Love, who agonized over a decision he knew would draw fierce criticism. Some people even questioned his "credentials as a Texan," Love, who was born in Vernon, recalled in 1989 interview. "He didn't think of himself as a hero," said Love's son, Jeff, chairman of the Houston office at the law firm Locke Lord."He had to take that fire for about a year." But opinions changed after hundreds of banks failed across the state and thousands lost jobs, the result of collapsing energy and real estate markets and the savings and loans crisis. The toll included major Texas banks such as First RepublicBank Corp. in Dallas and First City Bancorporation of Texas in Houston. "As a Houstonian, it was a sad day on a lot of fronts when First City went away," said Preston Moore III, the Houston regional president of Origin Bank, who worked for Texas Commerce in the 1980s. "Those were very challenging times for Houston." Love's shareholders, meanwhile, had collected a $36-per-share profit from the sale while the bank's workforce grew under Chemical. Local bankers say Love didn't want to sell Texas Commerce. Until 1985, profits had climbed for at least 16 years straight. The bank held a large portion of the state's deposits. It was one of only two financial institutions in the mid-1980s to have a triple-A credit rating. Bankers attribute Texas Commerce's good health to Love's meticulous attention to detail. According to one story, Love interrupted an executive during a presentation to point out he had forgotten to wear the bank's Texas-flag lapel pin. "I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman," the banker replied. "I must have left it on my pajamas this morning." "He instilled a certain discipline in the bank," said Lidya Osadchey, one of Love's biographers. "He got the bankers out of their offices. They knocked on doors. They were supposed to go where the people were. He was ahead of his time." Ultimately, Love became convinced that selling the bank would be best for the financial institution, its shareholders and customers, and the community. The first interstate banking deal pushed Houston's financial industry into the modern era, bringing in new investors who recapitalized troubled banks. Love had long believed merging banks to create larger institutions was needed to support the state's large and growing economy. JPMorgan Chase - which bought Chemical Bank a decade after the Texas Commerce deal - and other major banks from Wall Street and elsewhere now dominate the Houston market, holding more than 60 percent of local deposits while helping to provide Houston companies, big and small, greater access to capital markets. The new market, dominated by big banks, also has proved much sturdier than the old one. The recent downturn in oil prices hasn't weighed as heavily on the real estate market as it did in the 1980s, and lenders have held up. "Small local banks fought hard to protect their position and stunted the growth of banking in Texas," said James D'Agostino, chairman of Houston Trust Company and former chief executive of Houston's Encore Bancshares. "Now, it's a whole different world." Love's legacy in Houston encompassed more than banking, though. Love, who flew 25 missions over Germany as a lead navigator and B-17 bomber pilot during World War II, was part of a generation of local business leaders who became deeply involved in the civic life of Houston. He believed a city's fortunes rested not only on corporate expansions but on cultural development. He spent years overseeing efforts to bolster the arts in Houston, serving as chairman of the Houston Grand Opera and a trustee of the Houston Ballet Foundation. He ran a large capital campaign for University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and served as its chairman, believing that world-class medical care would draw Fortune 500 companies to Houston. He also cofounded and served as chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership, an economic development group. "Industries locate their people in a city because it has a soul," said Love, who played a key role in bringing the U.S. headquarters of Royal Dutch Shell to the city in the 1960s. Houston is now home to the second-largest number of Fortune 500 companies in the nation behind New York. "The promotion of Houston was a monomaniac passion for my father," Jeff Love said. A few hours before he died in 2006, at age 81, Ben Love asked his son to read him the remarks of the chair and chair-elect of the Greater Houston Partnership from a recent annual meeting. "That," said Jeff Love, "was the last reading he wanted." Houston Fertility Institute is among the busiest egg-freezers in the nation, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data mined by Forbes magazine. Egg freezing allows women to defer plans to start a family. The Houston practice, which operates a dozen locations, including in the Texas Medical Center, was included in an April 15 Forbes article listing the top 50 busiest practices in the nation. Houston Fertility Institute also is the busiest clinic offering egg-freezing services in the state. Only three in vitro fertility clinics in Texas made Forbes' list, which ranked clinics based on a total number of cycles reported. Houston Fertility Institute reported 2,721 cycles initiated in 2014. The number is 1,200 more than the next highest ranking in vitro fertility clinic in the state. Houston Fertility Institute works in association with Vivere Piney Point Fertility Laboratory and uses a procedure called vitrification. The process flash freezes eggs so they can be stored indefinitely. According to a Houston Fertility Institute news release, once a patient is ready to pursue pregnancy, the eggs can be thawed and fertilized by in vitro fertilization, and the embryos can be transferred into the patient's uterus. "Our practice experience has given numerous patients the opportunity to return to us to have their frozen eggs thawed and fertilized," said Dr. S. Kemi Nurudeen, Houston Fertility Institute's director of fertility preservation, in a news release. "These women have gone on to experience successful pregnancies with healthy babies, which of course is the ultimate goal." The data Forbes magazine used was part of the CDC's recently released Assisted Reproductive Technology Success Rates Report. The CDC data are based on numbers reported by clinics in 2014, the most recent numbers available. To learn more about Houston Fertility Institute, visit www.hfi-ivf.com. To find out more about the CDC's report, visit www.cdc.gov/ART/index.html. briar forest Senior living community gets new chaplain Parkway Place, a senior living community in Houston's Briar Forest area, has a new chaplain. As the retirement community's full-time chaplain, John Bender has spent the last few months visiting residents. He schedules various types of religious activities for residents and coordinates with churches in the area who send ministers, priests and pastors to host religious services. Parkway Place is a faith-based retirement community run by Buckner Retirement Services, a nonprofit senior living organization. Many of Parkway Place's residents worked as ministers, missionaries or in other denominational positions. Bender said the residents may not realize it, but they have a lot to offer. "Their life experience is so valuable - these people have raised children, sometimes grandchildren, and they are wise, compassionate and truly love life," he said in a news release. "They are so fun to talk to and learn from, and I'm here at Parkway Place to go through life alongside them as a friend." The goal, Bender said, is to help and serve the retirement community's residents. He wants them to feel valuable and to know they have a purpose. This is the first time he has held a chaplain position. Before taking the chaplaincy at Parkway Place, Bender served seniors while working as an education minister and administrator for a church in Center, Texas. Parkway Place includes 159 independent apartments, 58 assisted living apartments, 24 memory care support residences and skilled nursing for 60 residents. A new wellness center has recently been added to the community. Residents have also created their own prayer and Bible study groups, where they also share their lives, learn, teach and pray with one another. Although Parkway place's weekly services are not open to the public, those interested in visiting may contact Bender at 281-677-5917. To learn more about Parkway Place, visit www.bucknerparkwayplace.org. independence heights Summer camp targets pupils' reading skills Children attended a free summer camp at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston's Independence Heights community last month. Instead of camp volunteers teaching archery and knot tying, however, these students tackled a more significant skill - reading. The Houston Area Urban League and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation jointly hosted the Second Annual Summer Reading Camps program in July. The camps were held at four Houston Independent School District campuses, including Washington High School. Nearly 250 volunteers helped the more than 400 children who attended the camps retain literacy skills gained during the prior school year. Most of the campers were from low-income households. The summer break is considered one of the most significant causes of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth and one of the leading contributors to the high school dropout rate, according to education experts. During the Summer Reading Camps, children took part in guided book discussions and were provided books to take home. Each camp also featured a family literacy night, which provided overviews of the camps and resources to help parents and guardians promote literacy at home. The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation focuses on improving the literacy skills of Houston residents. According to the nonprofit organization, dedicating time to summer reading is integral in predicting student success in the upcoming school year. The Houston Symphony Orchestra and the nonprofit My Brother's Keeper helped the Urban League and literacy foundation host the summer camps. Houston-based corporations Phillips 66, Target, Haliburton, NRG, Schlumberger, PricewaterhouseCoopers, J.P. Morgan Chase and area organization Jack and Jill enlisted their staffs to volunteer at the camps. To learn more about the work of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, visit www.bushhoustonliteracy.org. montrose Center seeks volunteers for LGBT community The Montrose Center is looking for volunteers to lend their time and talents to Houston's LGBT community. The center, a nonprofit organization located at 401 Branard St., offers resources, counseling, youth and senior programs, addiction treatment, HIV and AIDS care, anti-violence services, education and meeting space. Each year, more than 350 people volunteer at the center, according to an email distributed by the center, but more are needed. According to the organization's email, many volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups are available to help the community the center serves. A Volunteer Town Hall is being hosted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 6 for anyone interested in learning more about the various volunteer opportunities at the Montrose Center. During the program, center staff will share some of Houston's LGBT history. Guests also will learn how the community center, its youth and senior programs bring people together as well as how people can support fundraising initiatives and advocate for the LGBT community. Breakfast will be served, and there is no cost to attend the event. To learn how to reserve a spot for the Montrose Center Volunteer Town Hall, visit www.montrosecenter.org or call 713-529-0037. southwest Young leaders collect books for Houston hospital The Houston branch of the Alliance of Youth Leaders in the United States helped collect children's books for Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital. The Houston chapter worked with youth from alliance branches in Pearland and Sugar Land to collect over 800 books. A portion of the books has already been given to the hospital. The books will be used by children visiting the hospital. Emily Wang, a member of the Sugar Land alliance who helped collect books, is a summer volunteer at Memorial Hermann Southwest. "This is a wonderful donation we will certainly put to good use," said Beth Burris Bell, child life specialist at Memorial Hermann Southwest, in a news release. "Books provide an opportunity for parents to bond with their children and can offer a brief escape for our smallest patients during what can often be a stressful time." Memorial Hermann Southwest has a level III neonatal intensive care unit. All care is directed by a neonatologist in-house 24/7, according to the hospital. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Eighteen Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District students have been recognized by the Duke University Talent Identification Program for meeting grand level qualifying score criteria. Seventh-Grade Talent Search honorees include: Alaine Sanqui, Anthony Middle School; Gabriel Bolanos, Aragon Middle School; Ty Richardson and An Duong, Goodson Middle School; Samhitha Bandi, Kathryn Lightfoot and Elena Parker, Hamilton Middle School; Hayden Faulk and Andrew Nichols, Salyards Middle School; Kevin Barron, Smith Bhagavatula, Rohit Jha, Ananya Kaalva and Sandy Nguyen, Smith Middle School; and Aarthi Annamalai, Jolie Hammerstein, Alexander Huang and Ashay Swadi, Spillane Middle School. Visit www.tip.duke.edu for information. LSC joins student success initiative Lone Star College has been selected to take part in the Texas Pathways Project, a program that examines the way students transition from public education to community colleges and four-year universities. "Lone Star College is one of a dozen of the most advanced community colleges across the state selected through a competitive process by the Texas Success Center," said Cynthia Ferrell, director of the Texas Success Center. "We are excited to launch this major state initiative designed to create pathways that will improve student success and to benefit not only Lone Star College, but colleges statewide." The participating colleges will take part in biannual institutes to help participants implement structured student pathways. The first institute will be Nov. 2-4 in Bastrop. Visit www.LoneStar.edu to learn more. Credit union awards $8,000 to 7 students Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union recently honored the 2016 winners of its scholarship program at a breakfast reception. Anthony Boutros of Langham Creek High School earned the Pattie R. Miller namesake scholarship, receiving $2,000 to help pay for college. Six additional students received $1,000 scholarships: Pooja Agrawal, Cy-Ridge High School; Heeba Ahmed, Rushendar Birudala, Mathew Walther and David Zhou, Cy-Ranch High School; and Alex Ramponi, Jersey Village High School. Visit www.cyfairfcu.org for information. Sophomore earns ballet scholarship Cypress Woods High School sophomore Finn Adams has won a full scholarship and a two-year contract to train and perform with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. The CPYB men's program is designed to launch dancers into the world of professional ballet through a curriculum that combines training with performance experience. "I am honored and appreciative of this scholarship, and want to thank the teachers and administrators at Cy Woods and Spillane (Middle School), who have always been so supportive of my love of dance," Adams said. Adams is a company member of Houston Repertoire Ballet. Visit www.cpyb.org or www.hrbdance.org for information. LSC-North Harris building center Lone Star College-North Harris recently broke ground on its 55,000-square-foot Construction and Skilled Trades Technology Center. The center will feature six classrooms and training labs for electrical technology, field service technology, pipefitting and HVAC-R programs. The center also will house a conference center and office space. Visit LoneStar.edu/CorporateCollege to learn more. Group ranks CFISD No. 2 for best practices The Education Resource Group has for the fourth consecutive year rated Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in the top two among Texas' largest districts for academic and financial performance in its 2015 Best Practice Awards. The rating follows two No. 1 productivity rankings in the 2012 and 2013 Best Practice Awards and a No. 2 ranking in 2014. The productivity rating measures academic achievement, performances and operating efficiency based on expenditures for instruction, leadership, student support services and nonstudent support services. Visit www.educationresourcegroup.com for details. Students win at business conference Two Cy-Fair High School students won a first-place trophy at the Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference recently in Atlanta. Koustubh Nyshadham and Michael Peroutek took top honors in the web design competition after creating a website from scratch and presenting it to a panel of judges. LSC-CyFair teaching degree adds classes Lone Star College-CyFair's associate degree in teaching now includes early childhood education courses. The courses help those interested in Texas Classroom Teacher Certification as well as those who want to gain continuing education hours for Child Development Associate licenses and childcare center professional development. Visit www.LoneStar.edu/cyfair-aat, email Fay.D.Lee@LoneStar.edu, or call 281-290-3406. Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District is in search of a few more heroes to make sure all students are served a square meal for lunch. The district was inspired by Kenny Thompson, known as "the Lunch Angel," who started the nonprofit Feed the Future Forward to ensure students who could not pay received school lunches. The district's food service director, Darin Crawford, said that donations to Cy-Fair's Lunch Super Hero account have continued to roll in during the second year of the district's program. Thompson recently delivered a $2,000 check to Cy-Hope, the nonprofit that administers the account. He had donated $2,000 earlier in the year. More Information Want to help? Visit the the Cy-Hope website at tinyurl.com/lunchsuperhero to donate to the Lunch Super Hero account. Visit www.feedthefutureforward.com to learn more about Feed the Future Forward See More Collapse District employees also give to the cause, which has provided about 20,000 meals so far. "This does good - and it's good that you can see," Thompson said. "That's what I love about this program. You see the results every day." Crawford said the district met with Thompson a couple of years ago after Thompson started the foundation. "What he was doing is such a great thing," Crawford said. "We wanted to see how we could refine it and reach the most kids. He's our inspiration, there's no doubt about it." About two years ago, Thompson learned that one of the several students he mentors was served a cold cheese sandwich at an elementary school in Spring Branch ISD. The student's parents had not paid their bill, and the child was served a subpar lunch as a result. Around the same time, Thompson heard the story on national news about students in Utah who had their lunches yanked away because they had delinquent accounts. "It broke my heart," Thompson said. He went to the Spring Branch campus and paid the bill. He started paying off negative account balances at other schools, then spread his support to multiple school districts. Thompson approached Cy-Fair ISD and started brainstorming with Crawford about how the district could be involved. Instead of reaching out to individual schools, Crawford wanted to create a program to help throughout the district. Cy-Fair launched the Lunch Super Hero account two years ago and that effort has continued to expand. "Our goal is to never deny a kid lunch," Crawford said. "It's definitely something we want to continue to do, because it has far-reaching benefits. It really affects every campus in our district." He said that cost is high for delinquent lunches. This year, the district had to raise about $30,000 to cover the lunches. "This is a big deal," Crawford said. "We can't use federal money to pay for the meals, if the student isn't on a free lunch program. All debts have to be covered by the school district." He said school districts have been placed in a difficult position since most already have tight budgets and are not able to cover the expenses of lunches. "Staff members had to take meals away from children," Crawford said. "Trust me, no one wants to do that." Crawford believes having a good lunch is an essential part of the school day. "There's a huge body of research, and such a consensus, that if children are hungry, they learn less," he said. "A child who has a meal is able to learn." Thompson added: "It's a real disservice to have kids in the school and not be able to feed them. Teachers and administrators all hate alternative lunches. They all want to find better ways to serve the students. These kids need to be fed." Thompson said he looks forward to making a greater impact for the fund in 2016-17. "I plan on making larger donations next year," he said. His foundation is continuing to grow, and more corporations are getting involved in the effort. "We're taking it to another level," he said. "It's doing very well. Corporations are knocking on my door, asking how they can get involved. It's overwhelming." He said that the nonprofit's bank account is steadily growing. "I was hoping to not be a flash in the pan with this," he said. "It hasn't slowed down at all. When it comes to feeding kids, it's a no-brainer, and we can all make a difference." Thompson said that he has no plans to stop his efforts. "This has turned my life upside down,' he said. "But I'm glad to be where I am today. If people want to support the kids, I'll be the boots on the ground. We have to find a way to feed the kids. If they show up to the school, then we need to take care of them." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Seven Lakes High School ninth-grader Ruofan Zhang won the Best in Show Award - and $600 - for artwork at the Dr. Mari Jon Filla Student Art Exhibit and Contest. Zhang also won best a best in grade award of $100. Zhang's art teacher is Madelene Buzan. Zhang is one of seven Katy Independent School District students whose artwork recently won top awards in the annual exhibit and contest, which featured 882 art entries, as part of the Houston World Series of Dog Shows. Best in grade 6 award winner is Grace Zhang of Beckendorff Junior High with art teacher Lisa Hiscocks. Other winning young artists are Committee Choice Awards of $50. Thirty-five awards were given based on the Jurors' Top Choices. Grade 6: Juliana Lightsey, West Memorial Junior High (art teacher Darleen Deupree) Grade 9: Kelsey McGinn, Seven Lakes High School (art teacher Lisa Matschek) Grade 9: Jenna Seo, Taylor High School (art teacher Nancy Viola) Grade 10: Kiley Torres, Seven Lakes High School (art teacher Lisa Matschek) Grade 11: Iris Lee, Taylor High School (art teacher Nancy Viola) Case for Kids joins national community The New York City-based coalition Every Hour Counts has selected the Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enriched Learning for Kids, or Case for Kids, as one of 13 organizations nationwide that will launch a national learning community. The initiative promotes access to quality learning opportunities, particularly for underserved students. Case for Kids, a division of Harris County Department of Education, provides resources for students in after-school programs throughout the county. Visit www.afterschoolzone.org or www.hcde-texas.org for information. LSC joins student success initiative Lone Star College has been selected to take part in the Texas Pathways Project, a program that examines the way students transition from public education to community colleges and four-year universities. "Lone Star College is one of a dozen of the most advanced community colleges across the state selected through a competitive process by the Texas Success Center," said Cynthia Ferrell, director of the Texas Success Center. "We are excited to launch this major state initiative designed to create pathways that will improve student success and to benefit not only Lone Star College, but colleges statewide." The participating colleges will take part in biannual institutes to help participants implement structured student pathways. The first institute will take place Nov. 2-4 in Bastrop. LSC Foundation installs board members James Burgess Harrison III, Sallie Rainer and Debra F. Sukin have been appointed to the Lone Star College Foundation board of directors. "We are delighted to have these community-minded leaders help Lone Star College students succeed," Vice Chancellor Amos McDonald said. "They are joining our great board and will help to enrich the LSC Foundation efforts to increase student scholarships, program support and faculty development for the college." Visit www.LoneStar.edu/Foundation to learn more. LSC-CyFair teaching degree adds classes Lone Star College-CyFair's associate degree in teaching now includes early childhood education courses. The new courses help those interested in Texas Classroom Teacher Certification as well as those who want to gain continuing education hours for Child Development Associate licenses and childcare center professional development. Course titles are Child and Adolescent Development (TECA 1354), Families, School and Community (TECA 1303) and Educating the Young Child (TECA 1311). For information, visit www.LoneStar.edu/cyfair-aat, email Fay.D.Lee@LoneStar.edu, or call 281-290-3406. Plans are moving forward to widen segments of Northpark Drive from 4-6 lanes. "The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority is in the pre-design phase and seeking funding for the expansion of Northpark Drive in Kingwood," said Stan Sarman, chairman, Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority. "The plan is to make Northpark Drive safer for emergency services and pedestrian crossings and to accommodate future traffic needs." The project, once it is finally approved, will add a lane on each side of Northpark Drive on the segment between Loop 494 and Woodland Hills, and will add an overpass at the railroad tracks. It is estimated at $55 million. Northpark Drive was one of a number of roadways studied as part of the Kingwood Mobility Plan that was launched in February 2014, and concluded a year later. The plan examined Northpark and Kingwood drives, Hamblen Road, West Lake Houston Parkway and Mills Branch and Woodland Hills drives, and measured the amount of traffic, as well as the condition of those roads. "We have a massive infrastructure, we have a massive city and that problem is compounded with 30 years of under investment in our streets and drainage," said Rob Lazaro, legal executive for the Houston Public Works Department and ReBuild Houston, the city's initiative to improve the quality of life and mobility by rebuilding drainage and street infrastructure. Kingwood Drive, which was rated as among the worst roads in Houston, is on the city's Comprehensive Improvement Plan, and construction is to begin by 2018. As a result, the redevelopment authority is focused on improving Northpark Drive. The redevelopment authority is working with a number of entities to develop the project concept, including City of Houston District E Council Member Dave Martin, who represents Kingwood; Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Clark; Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle; City of Houston Department of Public Works and Engineering; Houston-Galveston Area Council; the Texas Department of Transportation and Union Pacific Rail Road. Sarman said the talks have gone well with many of the entities, and that all of the parties are trying to determine the best course of action to obtain funding to begin the Northpark Drive project. Martin said the goal is to get other entities on board with the mobility plan to obtain more funding, which Martin said will keep the tax portion lower, and get Northpark Drive completed first. "We are going to do this the right way," Martin said. "Once funding is secured, design and preliminary engineering will be needed before we can provide a construction time line," Sarman said. 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." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The former middle school teacher accused of having a long-term sexual relationship with a 13-year-old boy was chastised in court Wednesday but will not go to jail for violating her curfew last month. Alexandria Vera, 24, a former Aldine ISD teacher, is accused of returning home about 45 minutes after her 8 p.m. curfew on July 26, according to court records. Vera is free on a $100,000 bail but has to wear a GPS ankle monitor, stay away from schools and have no contact with the teen who allegedly impregnated her. State District Judge Michael McSpadden on Wednesday, however, rejected a request from prosecutors that Vera's bail be revoked for the curfew violation. BACKGROUND: Teacher accused of sex with teen student turns herself in McSpadden set the conditions of Vera's bond, including an 8 p.m. curfew and limited Internet use, after she was arraigned in June. Vera faces a punishment range of 25 years in prison to life if convicted of continuous sexual assault of a child, a felony with a heightened punishment, even for first offenders. Prosecutors have said officials with Child Protective Services were notified about a possible sexual relationship and found out during their investigation that Vera had an abortion after being impregnated by the teen. Read Vera's full bond conditions in the document above. Vera and the underage student apparently met when he was a student of hers in summer school last year at Stovall Middle School, according to court records. CONTROVERSY: Aldine teacher looked different in earlier court appearance The pair's relationship apparently had the blessing of the boy's family, the documents show. Vera had been wanted by officials since May 27 on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child. In early June, she turned herself in at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in Conroe and posted bail. Because the alleged crime happened in Harris County, she had to be arraigned at the criminal courthouse in downtown Houston. Read the court documents leading to her arrest above. Community leaders on Wednesday gathered to announce Houston's initiative to become an official "Welcoming City" for immigrants. Community leaders from different sectors will develop a plan in the coming months to improve the lives of immigrants moving to Houston. Several cities across the country are dubbed welcoming cities, but Houston is the second city in Texas to take on such a role. SAN ANTONIONative American ceramics from the mission era, square nails, a bone button and other historical remnants are among the more than 300 artifacts discovered after two weeks of digging in Alamo Plaza. Nesta Anderson, lead investigator in an archaeological project in the city plaza, said her teams have found a variety of items reflective of the site's multi-layered past but that they did not yield an extraordinary centerpiece. "This is daily life at its best. We're getting what you would probably find in many households" of the 18th and 19th centuries, Anderson said during a briefing Monday, as dozens of artifacts were shown to the media and visitors for the first time. "We've got a few sherds of Goliad ware, which was native-made, but was made both before Europeans got here and through that period of contact," she said. "We're all 'oohing and aahing' every time we get anything out. That 'wow piece' may be coming up. We just never know." So far, unearthed items include a piece of glass stamped "San Antonio Apothecary" from the 19th century, bits of ceramics found in Europe and Mexico, part of a toothbrush, antique bottle glass, a corroded utility knife or scissors blade, and square nails from the 1800s. A week earlier, the archaeological team comprising experts from engineering contractors and the University of Texas at San Antonio's Center for Archaeological Research reported finding mission-era adobe bricks near the plaza's southwest corner. After consulting with Jake Ivey, an archaeologist who worked on a nearby excavation in 1979, the group believes that the formation may have been a pier for an arcade with open archways that formed the inner side of the compound's west wall. More research is needed, Anderson said. "Remember, the (west) wall's not just one singular wall. We've got a complex going on," she said. "We've got the boundary, we've got the rooms where people are living and we have the arcade. All of those are features of that wall." The teams are nearly finished with the west wall excavation, and have three 1-by-1-meter or 1-by-2-meter units open at the likely site of the Alamo's south wall, closer to the center of the plaza. Artifacts are being cleaned and documented by the archaeological research center, which will hold them in trust. "They are state-owned artifacts, so they belong to the people" under state law, Anderson said. "As of yet, we're not finding a lot of battle-related things." In a statement, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush said the artifacts will "help us envision a better future for the Alamo with exciting educational exhibits and innovative ways of telling the Alamo's complete story. "I encourage everyone to join us in this exploration of the Alamo and be a part of Texas history." The archaeological project, set to continue for at least two more weeks, with public updates in the plaza at 10:30 a.m. on weekdays, will support a long-range master plan for the Alamo area, long associated with the famous 1836 siege and battle for Texas independence. An Austin man is wanted for allegedly killing a 3-month-old puppy by feeding it rubbing alcohol while he was high. The Austin American-Statesman is reporting that Joshua Paul Fortier, 23, is charged with animal cruelty for the death of Kano, a Blue Heeler mix. READ MORE: Authorities investigating 2 men after hamster set ablaze The American-Statesman reports Fortier was standing outside crying when his girlfriend came home on May 5. According to the newspaper, the woman found the puppy floating in the bathtub and an empty bottle of rubbing alcohol near the dog's water bowl. Fortier left before his girlfriend could confront him, according to the American-Statesman. KEYE news station in Austin reports Fortier was high on drugs and thought the dog was a demon. According to KEYE, a neighbor who heard Kano whimpering and crying in the apartment said that Fortier unexpectedly walked into his apartment while naked. The neighbor told police he gave Fortier clothes and asked him to leave. Hours after fleeing from his girlfriend, Fortier flagged down a police officer, KEYE reports. Fortier admitted to the officer he fed the puppy rubbing alcohol. Investigators took Fortier to a hospital because he was suspected of being high on drugs. According to the news station, investigators discovered Fortier consumed LSD, ecstasy and the synthetic marijuana, K2. READ MORE: Authorities investigate woodchuck killing by golf cart Kano was adopted by Fortier and his girlfriend in November from Austin Pets Alive, an animal rescue shelter. The organization condemned Fortier for killing Kano. "We are heartsick that this has happened to one of our graduates," Austin Pets Alive said in a statement on its website. "Thankfully the court system is pursuing justice for Kano and we hope it will exhaust every option to hold this person accountable for a horrific crime." After promising "daily cleaning" of rival cartels via social media, factions of Los Zetas cartel clashed with each other and Mexican military forces, leading to four gunmen and one soldier dead. Six soldiers have also been injured. READ MORE: Trial of Los Zetas cartel leader reveals brutal details of 2011 massacre in Mexican border town The violence on Tuesday came the day after the Carteles Unidos (United Cartels) issued a curfew through social media where it warned residents that they would be carrying out attacks on its rival cartel, Cartel Del Noreste (Northeast Cartel). The translated message is as followed: "To all the citizens of of Nuevo Laredo, we would like to inform you that starting today a curfew is in effect in this city, with the purpose of avoiding the death of innocent persons in the attacks we will be carrying out against members of CDN. Avoid bars, cantinas , nightclubs or parties organized by them. Avoid problems or loses from collateral damage since we will be cleaning Nuevo Laredo daily of all Trevino's bastards (leader of los zetas) and the corrupt authorities that support him. We do not mess with innocent people and we have demonstrated that in our streets we are a new generation of united cartels against all the extortionists and killers of children and women. We only seek peace for this country, the peace that this government has not been able to give us for 8 years of war." ABOVE: A gallery of the cartels currently active in Mexico School may be out for summer, but education is still a hot topic of conversation across the Lone Star State. The Texas Legislature has decided to make it easier to rate and compare entire school districts and individual school campuses. We welcome this upcoming change. Starting in school year 2017-18, Texas schools will receive an A-F letter grade on their performance. That's right, a grade just like you once earned. These grades are meant to provide a transparent, easily accessible way for parents and community members to get a meaningful, "big picture" sense of how their campus or district is doing. Critics charge that the new system - which has already been rolled out in more than a dozen other states - will make it too easy to "label" schools and the children who attend them. We believe the new rankings will shine a spotlight on schools that need intervention, which is the first step to making smart resource decisions to better support teachers and improve student outcomes. In states where an A-F rating is in place, we see campus level improvements. In Florida, for example, the number of schools graded "A" or "B" has jumped nearly 30 percent since the A-F system was introduced in 1999 - even during a time when the standards for receiving a high rating increased. The fact is that Texas already labels schools. It just doesn't do so in a way that is meaningful or useful. Texas public schools today fall into one of two categories - "met standard" or "improvement required." It sounds impressive to hear that 91 percent of our schools "met standard," until you find out that fewer than half of Texas students who took the National Assessment of Educational Progress exam - commonly considered "the nation's report card" - demonstrated proficiency in English or math. Pretending there isn't a problem will not make things better for our children. We have also heard that the A-F system does not reflect a school's effectiveness, but rather its demographics. We don't deny that better-performing schools are often located in wealthier districts, but we absolutely reject the suggestion that less-affluent districts cannot produce high-quality schools. Consider recent numbers from Florida, where 61 percent of the schools ranked "A" or "B" had a student population that was mostly low-income, and 49 percent of the "A/B" schools were more than half minority. We do not need to look to Florida for proof that you do not need to be rich to live in a high-performing school district. Recently, more than 400 Texas schools with low-income populations of 40 percent or greater were recognized as a high-performing or high-progress "reward school." If we are able to make this kind of progress with so many of our lower-income schools, why can't we identify and improve other public schools? The success of this system will rest on the level of clarity involved - for the families who seek an apples-to-apples comparison of their public school choices and for the schools that rightfully want to know how they will be measured. If this evaluation process remains transparent and inclusive of school feedback, it will be a useful tool for all stakeholders. However, if it is based solely on the snap judgment of standardized testing scores, the resulting metric won't accurately inform parents and decision-makers. Factor in the ways schools are succeeding with children outside of the Scantron - start with rewarding student growth, school attendance, lowering drop-out rates and boosting college and career readiness - and you have a better picture of how campuses are preparing their students to succeed academically and beyond. The new law also allows local communities to create a self-reflecting metric based on campus programming, student successes, or community engagement. This addition - a worthwhile and valuable aspect of school effectiveness - represents an inclusive way to define "success," and recognizes the unique challenges every campus faces while rewarding educators' student and community engagement efforts. Texas families, teachers and taxpayers deserve to know how well schools are performing, and it is our duty to ensure we are efficiently directing resources to improve student outcomes across the board. A-F school ratings move us closer to that goal. Boswell, a former public school math teacher, is executive director of the Texas Institute for Education Reform, an Austin-based nonprofit organization. Dippel is founder and executive director of Families Empowered, a nonprofit that empowers families to engage in a marketplace of schools. Former Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy has closed his Billings West End restaurant to focus on his new role as head of the Montana State University Billings Foundation. Kennedys Restaurant and Kennedys Wine Market and Deli at 1520 24th St. W. closed last week, and the owner said he and his wife, Mary Kennedy, are looking to sell the business. It is a great location, and we enjoyed it very much, and we loved our customers, said Bill Kennedy, who started his job this week leading the universitys fundraising arm. The Kennedys initially closed July 25 for painting and maintenance but decided after a week not to reopen. The couple launched their wine shop and deli in 2012 in a tiny space at 1942 Grand Ave. They moved to their new spot next to Sanctuary Spa in May 2015 and expanded, adding the restaurant for lunch and dinner. They invested about $100,000 in the expansion, with financing from First Interstate Bank. Kennedy added that he plans to continue the catering portion of the business. In May, Kennedy announced he was leaving the county commission after 24 years representing the third district. A former teacher, Kennedy started Monday as president of the MSUB Foundation. With changes and the new job and all of that, its a good time to put it up for sale, he said. Kennedy said he is listing the business through Billings broker Charlie Hamwey. The restaurant had four full-time employees, who are now looking for other jobs. Other part-time employees were working at Kennedys as a second job, Kennedy said. The restaurant also had a beer-and-wine license and served soup, salad, sandwiches and burgers. Before Kennedys, the location was home to Six Degrees Gourmet. The theft of emails from the Democratic National Committee is not an anomaly. At least since the 2008 presidential elections, there has been strong evidence of data breaches and compromised systems of both major parties' candidates for the nation's highest office. There is now substantial evidence the latest attack was carried out by computer hackers reporting to the leadership of a foreign power, probably Russia. Wanting to get inside the political organizations that are vying for the presidency makes sense. One can see the issues important to the candidates, the construction of policy planks, and even strategy documents and the activities of campaign advisers and staffers who may well be on their way to important appointments at the White House and across the federal bureaucracy. But for the foreign actors lurking on the Obama, McCain and Romney campaign systems since 2008, the lure was in seeing how those organizations would govern had they won. Stealing campaign or committee email is simple theft, or, for foreign governments, an intelligence-collection operation. The latest hack against the DNC goes beyond mere theft and gets into forms of covert action undertaken by the Soviet Union and, yes, the United States during the Cold War. In the name of radical transparency and fair play, DNC emails were uploaded to the servers of WikiLeaks, the same organization that provided access to diplomatic cables, some of them highly classified, given to it by Army intelligence specialist Chelsea Manning in 2010. While the DNC emails will probably not have the same sort of geopolitical ramifications as the State Department cable breach, it is serious. The fact is, if true, a foreign power broke into the computer systems of a U.S. political organization to wage a delegitimizing information campaign against it, its leadership and its candidates. This is the sort of influence operation covert operatives engaged in to sway the outcomes of elections during the 1950s, when the United States had no interest in communist parties assuming positions of political leadership in the governments of its NATO allies. The techniques are very different, however. What's new is the cyber dimension. It renders the technology that makes organizations highly productive and effective an Achilles' heel. That Putin's Russia could activate its cyber forces to shape the outcome of a U.S. presidential election is a serious attack on democracy. All but a dictator at this point, Putin doesn't fear the same of us. Indeed, Russia wages increasingly sophisticated information campaigns in its interest that discredit dissent, debase opposition and reshape the information space to rewrite recent history and influence perception of significant events. U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., who co-chaired a 2008 cybersecurity commission with Texas' Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican representing parts of the Houston area, opined, "'it is disconcerting that two independent operations were able to penetrate the DNC, one of which was able to stay embedded for nearly a year.'" This is true. What is more disconcerting is the set of options that the U.S. can employ to curtail such behavior by Moscow. Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proudly "reset" the relationship between our countries in March 2009, but relations have again deteriorated. What the next administration will have to consider is how it wishes to use cyber capabilities against Russia and its leadership. The U.S. can doubtlessly hit Russia's oligarchs through "transparency" breaches, attacks on financial targets and provision of anti-surveillance technology to opponents of the regime. While the Soviet Union was a first-tier military power with a third-rate economy, today's Russia is militarily weaker and even more threadbare economically. What the U.S. needs is strategic planning for the long-term that will better protect key targets from Russian cyber campaigns while at the same time producing cybertargeting of Russia that can make it equally or more uncomfortable as relations change. The United States can do this, it just requires leadership - in the White House, at the Pentagon, the State Department and in the intelligence community - to bring the technical capabilities to bear in a way that meets and eventually surpasses the cleverness Russia illustrates. Bronk is associate director of the Center for Information Security Research and Education at the University of Houston. Criminal Inadmissibility to Canada: Summer Vacation Season Brings Fresh Concerns CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Every summer season, hordes of foreign nationals flock to Canada for vacation, eager to take advantage of the natural beauty, bustling cities, vibrant culture, and near perfect summer weather. Despite their enthusiasm, however, each year a good number of these would-be visitors are denied entry into Canada for reasons of criminal inadmissibility. In order to properly explain criminal inadmissibility to Canada, it is first necessary to provide a brief overview of how criminal offences are classified in Canada. Generally speaking, in Canada, there are three categories under which a criminal offence may fall. Indictable Offences Indictable offences roughly correspond to felonies in the United States. Like felonies, indictable offences are the more serious offences in the criminal code and therefore carry the possibility of a heavy punishment. Summary Offences Second, there are summary offences, which can generally be equated to misdemeanors in the US. Summary offences are usually the more minor offences and, as a result, the harsh punishments associated with indictable offences are generally not available for these less serious offences. Hybrid Offences There are also certain offences that can fall into either of the aforementioned categories. These are known as hybrid offences. The choice of this classification (either as indictable or summary) belongs to the prosecution, who may decide how it wants to proceed based on the gravity of the infraction, as well as other mitigating or aggravating factors. With regard to entering Canada, while a conviction for a single summary offence does not render an individual inadmissible, a single indictable offence does have this effect. More than one summary conviction carries this effect as well. As it concerns hybrid offences, for the purposes of Canadian inadmissibility, these are treated as indictable offences. Therefore any one of the following scenarios, or combination thereof, can render an individual inadmissible to Canada; A criminal record with one indictable offence, a criminal record with one hybrid offence, or a criminal record with more than one summary conviction offence. In terms of inadmissibility, the most commonly encountered hybrid offences are those pertaining to driving while intoxicated. Such offences have different designations depending on the circumstances of the infraction and where the offence was committed; DUI (driving under the influence), DWI (driving while impaired/intoxicated), DWAI (driving while ability impaired), DWUI (driving while under the influence), OWI (operating while intoxicated), OUI (operating under the influence), OMVI (operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated) or drunken driving, are all examples of such offences. Despite their different titles, all of these offences usually lead to a finding of inadmissibility to Canada. While many foreign nationals may be unaware of this fact, here are some other offences that produce the same result: 1) Reckless Driving When a criminal charge is pled down from a DUI to reckless driving, the individual concerned usually considers this an unqualified victory and rejoices. Despite his or her elation, if this individual were planning a trip to Canada in the near future, this jubilation would be quite short lived. This is because, in terms of the ability to legally enter Canada, a DUI charge and a reckless driving charge carry the same effect; they can both render someone inadmissible to Canada. 2) Using a credit card knowing it has been revoked or cancelled Anybody who thinks that bad credit is punishment in and of itself would be mistaken if they have knowingly used a cancelled credit card and had the need to enter Canada legally. The prohibition against doing this is qualified as a hybrid offence. As such, it is one that can render someone inadmissible to Canada. 3) Driving while disqualified A quick joyride while not having a valid license could be a thrilling and adrenaline pumping experience. What is less of a thrill is when such individuals discover that this driving adventure has the potential to hinder their ability to enter Canada legally. There are two possible methods of prosecution available for this offence, making it a hybrid offence. Consequently, it can result in a finding of inadmissibility to Canada. 4) Simple Assault While a rowdy bar fight might be a commonplace occurrence during a night out, what is often less expected are the effects such a skirmish can carry with regard to the participants ability to enter Canada legally. Regardless of who is left standing when the fight concludes, if one of the participants has a need to travel to Canada in the near future, he or she will invariably be the loser. This is because the assault charge that may result from a fight is one that can render an individual inadmissible to Canada. Contrary to what many may believe, this is the case even if no injuries take place and no weapon is involved. 5) Petty theft When it comes to theft, one might think that stealing items of little value would lead to proportionally sized consequences. This is not the case, however, if the perpetrator wishes to be legally admitted to Canada thereafter. Theft, no matter what the value, is an offence for which one may be found inadmissible to Canada; theft under CAD $5,000 is a hybrid offence and theft over CAD $5,000 is an indictable offence. Regardless of this qualification, the act of theft has the potential of robbing the perpetrating would-be visitor of their Canadian vacation. It is not only career criminals who are being denied entry into Canada. Although the passage of time may resolve the issue, even a seemingly minor offence from a long time ago has the potential of hindering an individuals ability to enter Canada legally. For would be vacationers, this can be a shocking and distressing discovery to make when at the Canadian border trying to enter. However, with a little foresight, advanced preparation, and the proper legal guidance, this shock and subsequent denial of entry may be avoided. For this reason, if an individual has any blemish whatsoever on his or her criminal record, it is prudent advice to check with a qualified Canadian immigration attorney before attempting to enter Canada. To find out whether you are inadmissible to Canada, please contact crim@canadavisa.com. Include information relating to your particular situation. To learn more about criminal inadmissibility to Canada, please click here. 2016 CICNews All Rights Reserved Provincial Premiers want more French Speakers to Immigrate to Canada CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Pour la version francaise, cliquez ici. Provincial and territorial Premiers also call for more powers over selection of newcomers The leaders of Canadas provinces and territories have agreed to reach a target of 5% francophone (i.e. French-speaking) immigration outside the province of Quebec. This target follows the objective of the federal government that, by 2018, francophone newcomers will represent at least 4% of all economic immigrants who settle outside Quebec. The provincial and territorial Premiers issued a joint statement on the matter at a Council of the Federation held in Whitehorse, Yukon in late July. This marks the first time that the 13 Premiers have together endorsed an immigration target for francophones looking to settle in Canada. Settlement outside Quebec With its rich culture and pride in its linguistic heritage, Quebec is often the first place francophones look to when starting out on their Canadian immigration objectives. The rest of Canada, however, also has a sizeable francophone population of over one million individuals, representing around 4% of the total population outside Quebec. The government of Canada, as well as the Premiers, want to maintain and build on these vibrant communities. In its year-end Express Entry report, the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly CIC) noted that, in 2015, 2% of candidates issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence under the Express Entry immigration selection system were French speaking, though they only represented 1% of candidates in the Express Entry pool. IRCC stated that it is currently exploring ways to increase the amount of French-speaking candidates interested in applying to come to Canada through Express Entry. Mobilite Francophone Recent developments since that report was published reflect a commitment from the federal immigration authorities to stimulating francophone immigration outside Quebec. One of these initiatives is the Mobilite Francophone stream of the International Mobility Program, which launched on June 1 Through Mobilite Francophone, Canadian employers outside Quebec may now recruit French-speaking and bilingual foreign skilled workers without needing to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to prove that no Canadian citizens or permanent residents could fill the position. The federal government has since coordinated recruitment events in countries with French-speaking populations, so that employers may have access to talented individuals who wish to come to Canada and work. While Mobilite Francophone is not itself an immigration program, it may provide the key opportunity a French-speaking person needs to gain work experience in Canada and apply for Canadian permanent residence. Indeed, federal Immigration Minister John McCallum has explicitly stated that Mobilite Francophone is designed for this purpose. Were going to encourage skilled francophone workers to come to Canada and settle in communities outside Quebec, and were going to encourage them to apply for permanent residence, said Minister McCallum. The goals of Mobilite Francophone show a commitment to the development of minority communities and the fostering of cultural diversity. Internal policy instructions from IRCC state that work that promotes the use of French outside Quebec strengthens and supports the social and cultural fabric of Canadian society while respecting the federal, bilingual and multicultural character of Canada. Career fairs in France have proved popular with individuals wishing to find temporary employment in Canada. At these fairs, industry professionals from provinces such as Ontario and New Brunswick recruit in such diverse areas as software engineering, the restaurant industry, childcare, and fashion, among other industries. Provinces are already attracting French speakers While the statement issued at the Council is aspirational, there are already in existence a range of Canadian immigration options that may be particularly attractive to individuals with French proficiency. For example, the French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) allows Express Entry candidates with advanced-intermediate French ability (Canadian Language Benchmark 7) to obtain an enhanced OINP provincial nomination certificate. With this, the candidate may receive 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and an ITA at a subsequent draw from the pool. Candidates who have previously been exposed to French may, with a bit of additional effort and revision, reach adequate-intermediate proficiency and potentially benefit from this Canadian immigration option. All Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow candidates and applicants to submit test results confirming French ability for PNP streams in which language ability is a factor. Essentially, French ability is deemed to be no less valuable than English ability under many PNP streams. Provinces want more say In addition to petitioning the federal government for an increase in cap limits for provincial and territorial nominee programs, Premiers called for an equivalent agreement to the Canada-Quebec Accord to be established for all provinces and territories. The Canada-Quebec Accord, ratified in 1991, gives Quebec jurisdiction over the selection of its immigrants. Similar agreements between the federal government and the individual provinces would give the provinces greater power to select immigrants to respond to the unique needs of the province. The next steps While the federal objective for francophone immigration is 4% of economic immigrants settling outside Quebec by 2018, Premiers have unanimously called for a goal of 5%. Provincial and territorial representatives are expected to meet with federal authorities in the spring of 2017 to discuss an action plan for increasing the numbers of French speakers settling outside Quebec. A preliminary meeting is expected for October. Francophone and bilingual individuals looking to make Canada their home may be encouraged by recent commitments from the federal immigration authorities to developing and strengthening francophone minority communities, says Attorney David Cohen. With this new focus on growth and strengthening of minority francophone communities outside Quebec, potential applicants may find even more opportunities to settle and integrate throughout Canada. To learn more about your Canadian immigration options through any of over 60 Canadian immigration programs, please fill out a free online assessment today. 2016 CICnews All Rights Reserved A Yellowstone County man in his 50s has been infected with the Zika virus, which is the first known local case, according to RiverStone Health and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The infection is related to the man's travels, according to Yellowstone County Health Officer John Felton. He declined to provide details about the man, including where the man had been. "All we can say is that it was a Zika-infested area," said Felton, who is also CEO of Riverstone Health. This is the fourth reported case in Montana. In February, Missoula County reported the first Zika case in Montana, which was also related to travel. As of July 27, there have been 1,658 confirmed cases of Zika in the United States. Nearly all cases were travel-related. Diagnosis of Zika is based on a persons recent travel history, symptoms and results from a blood or urine test. The first case of domestically transmitted Zika virus was identified in Florida earlier this week. The virus is spread primarily through the mosquito bites of two specific species that aren't found in Montana and isn't known to spread to other mosquito species. It can also be spread through sexual intercourse. In pregnant women, Zika virus has been linked to serious birth defects, including microcephaly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that pregnant women not travel to any area affected by Zika. Felton said that 80 percent of people infected with Zika exhibit no symptoms, which makes preventative measures important. The CDC stresses the use of insect repellent and protective clothing. Women who need to travel to infected areas should talk to their health care provider and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites. Pregnant women are not advised to travel to those areas, Felton said. What we know about Zika virus and its transmission is evolving. This case reminds us that anyone traveling to a Zika-affected area should be aware of the risks, Felton said. According to the CDC, the most common symptoms of Zika infection are fever, rash, joint pain and red, itchy eyes. Many people who become infected never have symptoms. For people who get sick, the illness is usually mild. Zika has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder that can cause muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Most people fully recover from GBS. There is no vaccine to prevent Zika virus disease and no specific medical treatment for people who are infected. For more information about the Zika virus, go to http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html. New Yorkers can count themselves lucky that one of the few pieces of advice Mayor Bill de Blasio didnt take from his closest advisoras he calls his wife, Chirlane McCray, whom he met as a fellow staffer in the failed administration of Mayor David Dinkinswas her insistence that he not appoint William J. Bratton police commissioner. She evidently guessed that the consummately skillful Bratton would find a way to fulfill the mayors chief campaign promiseto cut radically the number of police stop-and-frisks of those who look like they might have evil-doing in mindwhile nevertheless keeping enough pressure on likely malefactors to keep pushing down the citys violent crime rate. Feeling that she didnt belong as the only black girl in a New England high school and later at Wellesley, McCray exudes racial grievance. She evidently believes, like Michelle Obama, that despite over a half-centurys dramatic effort to stigmatize and eradicate racism, America is still reflexively racist at heart. What else, in her view, can explain the disproportionate numbers of black Americans in prison or stopped and questioned by cops? And the six-foot-five white mayor clearly shares her grievance, telling the press how he has cautioned his mixed-race children about interacting with policemenwith the clear implication that cops are racists looking for any possible excuse to harass black people. Left out of this worldview is the fact that blacks commit crimes disproportionately: nationally, blacksonly 12 percent of the populationcommit murder at eight times the rate of whites and Hispanics combined. In New York, African-Americans, 23 percent of the population, commit 75 percent of the citys shootings, 70 percent of its robberies, and two thirds of all its violent crimes put together. But the rate at which black New Yorkers got stopped and frisked in the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, de Blasios predecessor, was lower than the rate at which victims and witnesses identified perpetrators as black. The disproportion in stops, in other words, runs in favor of blacks, not against them. Also left out of de Blasio-style racial grievance is that the overwhelming majority of victims of these crimes are black. And here is a debt that black New Yorkers especially owe to Bratton. During his first tour of duty as NYPD commissioner, he instituted a computerized crime-mapping system, in order to put cops where crime tended to happen, at the times it occurred. Brattons computer was color-blind: a crime was a crime, regardless of the race of the victim or perpetrator. So, by contrast with the old, lackadaisical, truly racist ethic of policingnamely, as long as crime stays in the ghetto, ignore itBrattons policing revolution treated blacks as full citizens, deserving of the fundamental protection that is societys first duty. That revolution not only saved thousands and thousands of black lives, which now really did matter to the NYPD, but it also allowed civil society to come back to life in the inner city. Kids could play in the street, neighbors could socialize on the sidewalk, and people didnt have to put their kids to bed in the bathtub to shield them from the danger of stray bullets. Under Mayor Bloomberg, police commissioner Raymond Kelly kept the public-safety revolution going, until felonies had dropped 80 percent from their pre-Bratton high. When Bratton returned to the departments helm under de Blasio, he had honed even more finely his superb political and public relations skills as chief of police for seven years in highly racialized Los Angeles, where he cut crime by 54 percent and left with the approval of four out of five black and Latino Angelinos. So not only did he know how to police effectively, but he knew how to do it without ruffling feathers. De Blasio wanted fewer stop and frisks? Fine. Bratton would use the quality-of-life enforcement he had first developed as head of the New York Transit Police in the early 1990s and refined as Mayor Rudolph Giulianis police commissioner later that decade. He learned that if cops stop and question people committing such minor, supposedly victimless offenses as fare beating, public urination or drunkenness, graffiti vandalism, small-scale marijuana dealing, or aggressive panhandling, theyd find that these petty criminals were often wanted for major crimes. Whats more, theyd provide useful intelligence about other criminal activity. Most important, the visible, active presence of police on the job made clear that the forces of order were in charge, dissuading the ill-intentioned from thinking they could get away with . . . well, murder. During Brattons first stint as NYPD commissioner, major crime in Gotham dropped by two-thirds. But a quarter century has passed since New York had one murder every four hours. Few New Yorkers are old enoughor, since this is a city of newcomers, have been here long enoughto remember the Gotham dystopia of Taxi Driver or Mr. Sammlers Planet in the pre-Giuliani/Bratton years, with its potholed streets, armies of bums, ever-present fear, and graffiti-covered subways, mailboxes, and buildings. They take safety for granted. They dont understand that New York was once a decaying city, from which 1 million people fled in the 1970s and eighties. They cant believe that human effort and intelligent social policy turned it back into the glittering world-metropolis they see now, where townhouses costing $65,000 25 years ago sell for $6.5 million today, and glittering skyscrapers have shot up just because it is safe to walk the streets, go to the theater or to a fancy restaurant, and shop until you dropfrom fatigue, not bullets. And they cant imagine that race relations were once as poisonous here as they now are in Chicago. How could there be racial amity when justified suspicion and justified fear filled so many hearts? Even Jesse Jackson once confessed to relief at discovering that footsteps behind him on a dark street belonged to a white rather than a black youth. Consequently, young and recently arrived New Yorkers fell for the racially charged, anti-police rhetoric of de Blasio and a resurrected Al Sharpton, or the race obsessed Barack Obama and his attorneys general Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch. They fell for the George Soros-funded Black Lives Matter movement, as if the NYPD didnt know that glaringly obvious truth better than they. The New York City Council, as clueless about urban realities as de Blasio, jumped on the anti-cop bandwagon and began threatening to take away the NYPDs authority to intervene in quality-of-life crimes, though Bratton managed to keep their damaging meddling to a minimum. Imagine the emotional cost of trying to keep your boss, the mayor, happy by carrying out his benighted pledge to cut stop and frisks drastically, while having to figure out work-arounds to do the job of keeping New Yorkers safe, as Bratton was so determined to do. Imagine how disheartening to have the mayor publicly demean your officers and give in to the federal governments slanderous but ultimately successful effort to tar the whole NYPD as racist, while having to buck up police morale without seeming insubordinate to the mayor. Imagine watching as the left-wing political establishment gave so much credibility to the Black Lives Matter demonstrators as to give the psychopaths who abound in any society a focus, almost a justification, for their uncontainable rage, so that they began assassinating your blue-uniformed troops. Imagine the heart-sinking feeling at finding police corruption that, while far from as horrible as past scandals, had the unusual distinction of tarring some of Brattons top deputies and splattering even the scandal-plagued mayor himself. Even for the uniquely talented Bratton, that was a knife-edge balancing act, and you could see the strain of it on his face ever more plainly after he started working for de Blasio a little more than two-and-a-half years ago. He had said he wouldnt serve a second term under de Blasio, and its no surprise that he announced this week that he will quit his post for a high-paying private-sector job. All New Yorkers, whether they know it or not, owe him an incalculable debt of gratitude for saving the city under Giuliani and for keeping de Blasio from ruining it grievously with his racialist, anti-cop worldview. Bratton is proof positive that the world is not governed by blind forces, but that one determined man can change it magically. How I wish that a man of his strength of character, courage, realism, and skill would run for mayor next time around! Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images If youve ever watched the movie Madagascar then you know that the character Mort is a ridiculously cute, large-eyed, little creature. Mort was modeled after a real life animal on the island thats called a mouse lemur. The mouse lemur has such large eyes because it hunts at night. Those big eyes let in more light when its dark out. Scientists have discovered that the mouse lemurs are a good source of history about the forests on the island thats located off the southeast coast of Africa. Madagascar has a lush rainforest in the east and in the west there is a dry deciduous forest meaning the leaves fall off the trees. Although the two forests are now separate and distinct, scientists were able to look at mouse lemurs from the two different areas to figure out that the forests were once joined by other patches of forest. To figure that out they looked at the mouse lemurs DNA. DNA is present in nearly all living things. It carries information that gives each of us, and all other things, their unique characteristics like your hair and eye color. Since mouse lemurs live in the forest, changes in the trees are reflected in their DNA. So if a forest disappeared and isolated one group of mouse lemurs, scientists could see that. They can also tell that all of the islands mouse lemurs were related to each other a long time ago about 50,000 years before they were split up by the changes in the forest. Scientists used to think the arrival of humans on the island was the cause of the forests change, but by looking at DNA in mouse lemurs they now know thats not true. Brett French, Gazette Outdoor editor Achizitie de Servicii Tehnice de creare a plantatiilor forestiere de protectie din cadrul primariei Andrusul de Jos si a primariei Vadul lui Isac, r. Cahul In a rosy profile published Tuesday by Variety, How Jeff Zucker Made CNN Great Again, the network chief leveled a Trump-worthy cheap shot on two digital upstarts making waves in new media. I dont think Vice and BuzzFeed are legitimate news organizations, Zucker tells Variety. They are native advertising shops. We crush both of them. They are not even in our same class. CNN has indeed enjoyed a reinvigorated election season thanks to a beefed-up politics team that frequently drives discussion online. Incessant coverage of the campaigncountdown clocks and BREAKING NEWS chyrons galorehas also led to a ratings bump, particularly with 25-54 age demo that cable advertisers crave. Still, Zuckers hit on his networks digital competitors raised plenty of eyebrows given his simultaneous praise for Corey Lewandowski, Trumps former campaign manager, who CNN hired as an analyst this summer in a move that drew widespread criticism. Lewandowski led a campaign whose central themes included a blatant disregard for the truth and an open disrespect for a free press. He has a non-disparagement agreement that forbids him from speaking negatively about Trumpif he wanted to, that isand is still receiving severance payments from the campaign. The reason we hired [Lewandowski] is that now that we are in the general election, I think its really important to have voices on CNN who are supportive of the Republican nominee, Zucker tells Variety. Its hard to find a lot of those. [Emphasis ours.] This would seem to be the textbook definition of false balance: Very few political experts speak favorably of Trump, and yet CNN is stacking the deck to give viewers a veneer of objectivity. To criticisms that Lewandowski is using the cable channel to parrot Trump talking points to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, Zucker replied: I actually think hes done a really nice job. Hes come under a much greater spotlight because of who he is, and the relationship hes had with the media. As a result, people are going to be more critical. And rightfully so. Lewandowski has provided the sort of predictable analysis youd expect from a recently departed Trumpinista. But this week hes gone a few steps further, just as his former boss has seemed to wilt in the face of prolonged media pressure. Sign up for CJR 's daily email On Monday, Lewandowski told former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn You gotta relax a little bit during an argument over Trumps remarks on a deceased Army veterans parents. After Quinn brushed Lewandowskis hand mid-crosstalk, the former campaign manager snapped, Dont touch me. The irony oozed from Lewandowskis lips: In March, he was arrested for battery after grabbing a female reporteran incident he lied aboutthough a prosecutor opted against filing charges. Lewandowski returned to action on Tuesday night by resurrecting birtherism, a conspiracy theory, popularized by Trump, that President Barack Obama is not an American citizen. His dalliance with this widely discredited attack line came during a segment on Obamas recent criticism of the GOP nominee. Heres a partial transcript of Lewandowskis exchange with host Don Lemon and commentator Angela Rye, courtesy the liberal watchdog group Media Matters For America: RYE: Donald Trump has been attacking the president long before he began campaigning for this important office. He is the one who was the spokesperson for the birther movement, and was calling for transcripts for and saying the president was an affirmative action admittee of Harvard. So lets LEWANDOWSKI: Did he ever release his transcripts from Harvard? RYE: By the way, tell me about those tax returns, while youre at it. LEWANDOWSKI: Well you raised the issue, Im just asking. You raised the issue, did he ever release his transcripts or his admission to Harvard University? You raised the issue, so just yes, or no. After a few more seconds of this back-and-forth, Lemon rightfully interrupts to pose a crucial question for which Lewandowski has no good answer: LEMON: OK, let me ask you something. Let me ask you something What is the importance of Barack Obamas Harvard transcript? LEWANDOWSKI: Its not, she brought the issue up. LEMON: Im asking you, how is hold on. How is it germane to the election, and the American people? LEWANDOWSKI: Look, the only reason its germane is because she brought the issue up, and said Donald Trump raised the issue of his Harvard transcripts. And I just simply said have those transcripts ever been released? And the question was did he get in as a U.S. citizen, or was he brought into Harvard University as a citizen who wasnt from this country? Lemon and his other guests rightly teamed up for a smackdown of Lewandowskis comments. But reasonable people shouldnt have been put in the position of responding to birtherism in the first placeespecially at a legitimate news organization. As for Zuckers ding on BuzzFeed, Editor in Chief Ben Smith replied in a statement to Politico yesterday: The most important test of any news organization this year is its coverage of the 2016 presidential campaign. Im happy to put our tough, fair coverage up against CNNs decision to turn its platform over to [Zuckers] friend Donald Trump. Smiths criticism cuts deep for a network that has been lambasted for giving Trump abundant airtime over the past year. And with Lewandowski spewing birtherism on air, its certainly harder to argue against the criticism. Zucker may be right when he describes the difficulty of finding television-ready political analysts who favor Trump. Perhaps he should consider why that scarcity exists in the first place. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today David Uberti is a writer in New York. He was previously a media reporter for Gizmodo Media Group and a staff writer for CJR. Follow him on Twitter @DavidUberti. Speaking on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Chuck Todd that when it comes to protecting the identity of sources, he makes no distinction between whistleblowers seeking to expose government abuse and government spy agencies seeking, for example, to manipulate elections. With new reports each day that Russian hackers may have penetrated the US government and Democratic Party, more damaging leaks are entirely possible in the weeks and months ahead. The question is how should journalists cover them without allowing themselves to be manipulated? The starting point is a recognition that Russia is engaged in a systematic campaign of information warfare. As in all forms of conflict, Russia has offensive and defensive capabilities. Vladimir Putin believes that Western governments have used information operations to topple regimes around the worldfrom Georgia, to Ukraine, to Egyptand that they are targeting his government, encouraging civic unrest via social media and hyping scandals in the international press, like doping by Russian Olympic athletes and high-level corruption at the Kremlin. Russia must protect itself by censoring the domestic media and asserting increasing control over online speech. Russia also is responding to this perceived threat by enhancing its offensive capabilities under what is known as the Gerasimov Doctrine, which posits that deception and disinformation, not tanks and planes, [are] the new tools of power, according to Max Fishers Interpreter column in The New York Times. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Russia has used false news to stir up unrest in the Balkans, and more recently in Ukraine, where it planted stories of attacks on ethnic Russians that paved the way for the annexation of Crimea in March 2014. Now there is evidencecompelling evidencethat Russia has brought information warfare to the US by hacking and then releasing the internal emails of the Democratic National Committee, or DNC. Much is unknownincluding Russias precise motivation and whether it both hacked and leaked the emailsbut US intelligence and other informed sources are increasingly suggesting Russian involvement. Russia officially denies it. The most difficult challenge in such operations is not necessarily collecting the information; Russias spycraft and hacking capabilities are uncontested. Rather, its disseminating the information to the public in a credible manner. In the last few years, Russia has invested heavily in developing a global media network. RTpreviously Russia Todayoperates a flagship English language news station that broadcasts a mix of serious coverage and propaganda intended to advance Russias foreign policy agenda. However, RT has serious limitations. RT says it reaches hundreds of millions of people in over 100 countries, notes Columbia Journalism School professor Ann Cooper, who has studied RT along with her students. Okay, its widely available, but how many are actually watching it? Audience statistics are scarce, to put it mildly. A Daily Beast article suggests its in the tens of thousandsbut it mainly just underscores how little we know about RT audience or influence. One thing is certain: Because RT is widely perceived as an instrument of the Kremlin, it has a major credibility problem. Its reports are almost never picked up by the mainstream media. In the case of the DNC leaks, its possible, according to media reports, that Russian intelligence successfully planted the story with a number of political Web sites, including The Hill, Gawker, and The Smoking Gun. But the story did not really gain traction until the emails were released by WikiLeaks. This makes sense. WikiLeaks is the ideal vehicle through which an intelligence service might launder information. WikiLeaks style is to publish leaked material uncritically, in large data dumps, devoid of context, and without reference to the motivations of the leaker. WikiLeaks has global visibility, a track record, and enough partnerships with leading media outlets that major leaks are likely to generate global coverage across media platforms. In the case of the DNC emails, it is impossible know whether the timing of the release responded to the needs of Russian intelligence or merely represented a convergence of interests. Assange has acknowledged in an interview that he intended to damage Clinton politically by releasing the email on the eve of the convention. He justified his actions by noting that while Donald Trump is merely unpredictable, a Clinton presidency would pose a direct threat to freedom of the press (my own purely unscientific analysis suggests Trump would be worse). The initial coverage of the DNC leak in the mainstream media focused on what the emails revealed, notably that DNC leadership maneuvered to give Clinton an advantage in her primary battle with Bernie Sanders. Sanders supporters were justifiably outraged, and their outcry was strong enough to force the resignation of DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. This was all undoubtedly newsworthy, but by failing to focus on the context of the leaks, there is a good chance that US media unwittingly served to advance the interests of Russian intelligence. Now that the alarm has been sounded, this should not happen again. How can it be avoided? Journalists should hold back on reporting on any leaks that have the whiff of a government information operation without carrying out systematic reporting on the source of the leak itself. In todays wired world, taking time to provide context is a huge challenge, but this is the only way to ensure that journalists do not become tools of spy operations. This is even more important because Russia is hardly the only country to use information and misinformation to manipulate elections and wreak revenge. Such efforts have been part of US covert operations from the 1954 US-orchestrated coup in Guatemala to the 2003 Iraq invasion (think weapons of mass destruction). North Koreas Sony hack was payback for that companys release of the movie that mocked President Kim Jong-un. As for WikiLeaks, by publishing a data dump without verifying the source or providing its readers with the context to make informed decisions about the motivations of the leakers, it is allowing itself to be a vehicle for governments like Russia that are weaponizing information and using it to achieve policy objectives. Ethical and committed journalists should do all within their power to ensure they are never put in such a position. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Joel Simon is a fellow at Tow Center for Digital Journalism. His next book is The Infodemic: How Censorship Made the World Sicker and Less Free co-authored with Robert Mahoney. An update on the New World mine restoration project will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the Super 8 hotel conference room in Cooke City. The two hour meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Specialists will provide a review of New World repository sump drainage design, an update on pre-mining water quality, and an update on Montana Department of Environmental QualityBoard of Environmental Review temporary water quality standards. The New World Mining District Response and Restoration project, which includes national forest lands near Cooke City, is a historic metals mining district centered northeast of Yellowstone National Park. Since the official implementation plan in January 1999, the Forest Service has engaged in a number of activities including collecting environmental and engineering data along with designing and constructing clean-up actions for the numerous sites in the District. For additional information or a full agenda call Mary Beth Marks at 406-587-6709. For years, South Florida reporters have wondered what Delrish Moss would do when he retired from the Miami Police Department. Moss served as a patrol officer and spent several years as a homicide investigator, but he put in the most time as the public information officer and he was the face and voice of the often-troubled department. He was also a native-born son with deep ties to the community. He grew up in the 70s and 80s, during the race riots and Cocaine Cowboy crime wave in Miami, and was racially profiled as a young black man. Telegenic and well-known, would Moss go into politics? Take a job with a local television station? Instead, after 32 years in Miami, he answered the call to become chief of the Ferguson, MO police department, transitioning in May from policing a big city with big city problems to running a department with 44 employees and nationally-known problems. I recently talked to Moss, now a few months on the job in Ferguson, about what he has learned so far, what he has brought with him from Miami, and what he makes of Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter and the media coverage of both. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. So how are you liking Ferguson? So far, its challenging. I like the fact that a lot of people here are committed to a lot of the stuff that we want to do with regard to change. The biggest issue is the fact that a lot of officers are leaving the department much more quickly than normal. That has to do with a lot of things a couple of years of being down in the dumps, having protests and being told that they are bad cops. Thats caused a lot of people to leave, but that also gives us room to recruit new ones. Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project Is it hard to recruit to the Ferguson department, after all thats happened? Its not so hard to recruit because its Ferguson. Missouri is a tough recruiting area. There are things that are unique to this region. One, in an area thats smaller than Miami-Dade County, you have 92 municipalities and 60 of those municipalities have police departments. The competition is very stiff there. Not to mention the fact that people arent flocking to this job the way they used to. You watched what happened in Dallas. The police chief got a good response by asking people to apply. Im glad he said that and Im glad they got a lot of applications. We have sort of said the same thing. We posted positions. There are a number of issues here. Even in a city the size of Ferguson, even with applicants I have, I only have a budget for 44 positions. I think it takes more than that. There were 54 [at the departments height.] Part of it is the fact that the city is in dire straits economically. There was a $2.9 million deficit [this year]. One of the things that came up was that the city was supplementing its budget with court fees. Really it looked like they were going out and arresting people in order to make money. Has that stopped? It was stopped. And thats probably one of the underlying reasons that there are some budget issues. But its a lot more complicated than it seems. [Over the last two decades,] Ferguson went from being 90 percent white to 67 percent African American. The police department didnt change rapidly and neither did city government. A lot of that has changed. The city government is now 50 percent African American. City department heads are now 50 percent African American. The city manager is African American. The police chief is African American. There have been a lot of changes very, very quickly. You grew up in Miami. You saw the riots. It seems like the riots in Ferguson moved the needle. I think the riots in Ferguson woke up a large part of the city that really was not involved in the process. Its difficult to have 67 percent African Americans and no African American on the city council without the African American community having some responsibility for that. What I mean is there were people who were not participating in the process. I think the riots actually woke that up. It also exposed a very obvious divide along racial lines and economic lines in the city. Those are things now that, because of the riots, people are working very hard to change. What was it like living in Miami, in Overtown, during the riots in the 80s? You know, its difficult for me to see these as bad times. I had the experience of getting up one morning trying to go to school but I couldnt get the screen door open because there was a dead body on the porch. I witnessed murders. I also witnessed bad conduct by police. I grew up in the late 70s and 80s, with the crack epidemic, the Mariel Boatlift, the McDuffie riots. It was much more chaotic then than it is now. You were in a community that was in transition, and a pretty chaotic transition. Does Ferguson feel like its having a similar moment? Ferguson is having a similar moment. Ferguson is a little different than Overtown. Ferguson actually is a very quiet town. It shuts down at night. One of the bigger issues here is speeding. You have some burglaries to tool sheds and things of that nature. But you dont have some of the major crime problems that I saw in Miami. That was one of the reasons those of us who know you were kind of surprised you went to Ferguson. Youre a big city cop. What made you go? A lot of it had to do with news images and how I remember feeling when I lived in Miami and I saw some of the same news images. I knew that there was a story, a bigger story of people. The riots told the story of buildings burning and cars burning. I felt that, having lived on both sides of the battle lines, as a kid and then as a young adult, both living where the riots took place and being a police officer, I thought maybe that this was a community that could use help from someone who had a unique perspective. Lets talk about that. You were, as a kid and probably as a young adult even, racially profiled, werent you? Oh yeah, definitely. As a matter of fact, a lot of that was my motivation for becoming a police officer. I wanted to be a musician. I wanted to be a trumpet player and everybody who knew me knew that. But after a couple bad encounters with law enforcement and some of the things that I witnessed, I decided that I had to become a law enforcement officer because the only way to change something is to become a part of it. You talk about the Dallas police chief saying, Dont just protest. Apply. I heard that call long before he said it. When you see the media coverage of Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter, how do you view both of those? I think a lot of the media coverage of Black Lives Matter is sort of surface coverage. There would never have been a need to say Black Lives Matter if people didnt feel that black lives didnt matter prior to that. I perfectly understand that sense. Thats the dilemma that you face being both black and blue. Theres kind of a feeling that you dont belong in either community, but you belong to both communities. I perfectly understand the need for Black Lives Matter. But there has to be a much more comprehensive way to look at this as well. We have to look at how we respond to law enforcement and how we respond to authority. And Black Lives Matter also has to look at minority unemployment. It has to look at educational disparities and all these other things. Police officers have to also get a thicker skin. We have to admit that there are some things that we can do better. If its nothing more than just the way we communicate with people. We have to stop taking people who challenge the way we do our job as people who are absolutely opposed to us. People want police. They want police services. They just want to be treated fairly. I think both sides have very valid concerns. The problem now with media coverage and just the way we consume our news is we go to our own corner and we listen to people who sound like us and look like us and we refuse to hear the voices of the other side. One of things that has struck me about all of this are the citizen journalists and all the videos, because Ive covered a lot of police shootings, going back to the early 1990s, and I didnt have any outside sources of information that were reliable beyond what the police said. There is a phenomenon, and even in the police community we talk about it, its called lawful but awful. There are shootings that are absolutely lawful in how they occur, but did they have to happen? With citizen journalists, with people with video cameras all over, we are going to have to look at the way we do things a lot more from a law enforcement perspective. Because if we lose our legitimacy, we lose our moral authority to do the job. Citizen journalists are good in that they are forcing us to rethink some of our policies and some of our practices. Theres a downside to that. I had a cousin call me the other day and she was up in arms about a video she saw and she said, This stuff just keeps happening. I said, look at the posted date. That was 2014. That whole situation has gone through the courts and been dealt with. Now with the 24-hour news cycle and social media, there are so many ways these things are getting out and repeated and repeated. Thats causing us to feel that things are a lot worse. Its making smaller problems seem much larger than they are, so the rush to remedy them happens. A lot of times emotions can kind of cloud the actual facts. Yes, but then there are cases like the Charles Kinsey case down here a black man lying on his back with his hands in the air, and I dont know about you, but I start to think, yes, black men should be terrified of police. There are still a lot of things about that video that puzzle me. Just from what Ive seen, and I dont know all the facts behind it, I dont see a reason to shoot. I suspect it was probably an accidental discharge. Im waiting to see how that unfolds. I want to know more about that. It certainly did not help the argument for police with regard to were not just out shooting people. That added fuel to a blazing fire. Do you think there are some police officers, in the wake of Dallas and Baton Rouge, who are so nervous they have become dangerous? I think police officers are afraid. I think people are afraid. Theres a fog of fear that exists, where bad things can happen. If the world could step back and take a deep breath and look at these things a little more deliberatively, I think we can come up with much better solutions. What would you tell journalists today? We depend on you. Journalists are covered in the Constitution long before the police are ever brought up. Its much, much more important to the shaping of a democracy. And to whom much is given, much is required. I think if journalists can taper back the rush to be first and get more back to being accurate and putting things in perspective, I think that would help. And its not just their fault. Theyre competing with social media. Journalists are fighting for their legitimacy with all of these other mediums for getting information. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Susannah Nesmith is CJRs correspondent for Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. She is a freelance writer based in Miami with more than 25 years working for regional and national outlets. Follow her on Twitter @susannahnesmith. New York authorities charged a Long Island engineering firm and one of its former executives with forging damage reports for homes swamped by Hurricane Sandy, altering the documents in such a way that owners flood insurance claims were eventually denied. Matthew Pappalardo and his former employer GEB HiRise Engineering PC were named in a 50-count indictment accusing Pappalardo of directing his staff to remove descriptions of flood damage from least 25 reports that had been prepared by subcontractors who visited the properties. Its the first indictment over what some lawyers say was a widespread practice intended to benefit the Federal Emergency Management Agencys flood insurance program and the private insurers that administered its policies following a storm that caused more than $75 billion in damage. Todays charges reveal a flagrant disregard for the well-being and safety of New Yorkers and my office will not tolerate it, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Monday in a statement. Pappalardo, 38, and Uniondale, New York-based HiRise were arraigned on Monday in state court in Nassau County, according to the statement. Pappalardos lawyer, Avraham Moskowitz, said his client pleaded not guilty to the charges. Pappalardo adamantly denies all of the charges against him, Moskowitz said in an e-mail. He has done nothing wrong and looks forward to being vindicated at trial. Widespread Litigation Disputes over insurance claims stemming from the 2012 hurricane spawned widespread litigation. Insurers who were sued in a related case paid millions of dollars to homeowners in settlements over allegedly manipulated reports, with some companies accused of conspiring with engineers and lawyers to deny claims. Lawmakers including U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez and Cory Booker of New Jersey pushed FEMA to address potential manipulation in the handling of flood-insurance claims. As we have from the beginning, we steadfastly maintain that there was never any intent by HiRise or its principals to defraud any homeowner with respect to the preparation of these reports, the company said in an e-mail. Moskowitz said Pappalardos departure from HiRise was amicable and declined to give any more details. The attorney said Schneidermans failure to give any possible motivation for the former executive to alter the reports was one of the many weaknesses in the case. FEMA Pressure But Steve Mostyn, a Houston-based plaintiffs lawyer who represents several storm victims, has said engineering firms hired by insurers altered damage reports to them. And insurers want payouts to be lower because FEMA, $24 billion in debt after 2005s Hurricane Katrina and other storms, pressured them to hold the line on Sandy payments, he said. A message left with FEMAs press office on Monday seeking comment on Mostyns allegations wasnt immediately returned. Schneiderman also released a report identifying what his office called fundamental flaws in the National Flood Insurance Program, created by Congress in the 1960s to drive down the financial impact of disasters. The report recommends an increase in transparency and accountability for the program, including improving communication with buyers about what is and isnt covered by the insurance and providing homeowners with all documents related to the claims process. When the next major storm hits, its crucial that families know exactly what kind of damage is covered by insurance, and that their claims are being handled professionally and reliably, Schneiderman said. The case is The People of the State of New York v. Pappalardo, 1171N-16, New York Supreme Court, Nassau County (Mineola). Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. The Hartfords Acquisition of Maxum Complete The Hartford has completed its acquisition of Maxum Specialty Insurance Group for $168 million in cash. The transaction closed on July 29, 2016. Maxum will maintain its brand and limited wholesale distribution model and will be managed as a separate unit within The Hartfords Small Commercial business. Maxum wrote only $157 million in premium last year and Hartfords small commercial unit writes about $3 billion on an annual basis, however Hartfords distribution network of 10,000 agencies gives it an opportunity to grow this business line beyond the $157 million in premium, the Aite Group analyst said. Maxum Specialty Insurance Group, founded in 2003, is comprised of Maxum Indemnity Co. and Maxum Casualty Insurance Co. Maxum Indemnity is an authorized non-admitted excess and surplus lines insurer in 49 states; the District of Columbia; and the territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Maxum Casualty is an approved admitted carrier in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Both companies are domiciled in Delaware. Maxum writes business through a select group of primarily independent wholesale brokers and general agents. Maxum is rated A-VIII from A.M. Best and its statutory surplus has grown to more than $114.6 million. Care Bridge International Announces Analytic-Powered Medicare Set Aside (MSA) and Traditional MSA Services Care Bridge International announced the launch of its technology based Medicare Set Aside (MSA) services through MSP Compliance Bridge, a wholly owned subsidiary of Care Bridge International. The company was formed in August 2015 by former claim, clinical and data analytic experts, and has a data warehouse in excess of 150 million medical claim transactions and over 2500 Medicare Set Asides previously submitted and approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). By applying data science, the company has developed the Analytic-Powered MSA consistent with CMS requirements for Medicare Set Asides. Using simple drop down selections, it delivers a Medicare Set Aside report, instantly. The Analytic-Powered MSA was developed for: Clients desiring the option not to submit an MSA to CMS for review and approval, while ensuring that all the requirements of CMS are fully met for protecting Medicares future medical recovery rights. For MSAs which do not meet the CMS work load threshold for review including Medicare beneficiaries with a total settlement less than $25K or a claim with a reasonable expectation of Medicare eligibility within 30 months with a total settlement value of less than $250K. For Workers Compensation or Liability (general, auto-no fault, third party) claims in which limited or no medical information exists to extract a thorough medical history. Parties at the settlement table who realize that a MSA has not been produced to protect Medicare, a MSA report can be generated instantly to bring the claim to closure The companys Traditional MSA incorporates the subjective CMS review practices known to experienced planners. MSP Compliance Bridges CMS acceptance of MSAs submitted and reviewed by CMS is 96 percent. The company also offers the full scope of non-group health Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services including Conditional Payment resolutions, CMS Submissions, post settlement MSA account administration support, MMSEA Section 111 reporting, Compliance consultations, education/ training and prescription drug reviews. MSP Compliance Bridge is a wholly owned subsidiary of Care Bridge International, offering data intelligence for Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance. For more information contact Jessica Klement at 888-434-9326 Ext. 103 or Email. A 10-day trial is available at: https://carebridgeinc.com/Demo In summer, collector cars dot the roadways. Owners proudly display them during recreational drives and organized shows. And while they may be grouped together as collector or classic cars, there are several types. Esurance, an Allstate company, explains the differences in collector car types on its website. According to the insurer, brass-era cars were manufactured prior to 1915 and had steam or electric engines. 1908-1915 Ford Model T Roadster, 1911-1914 Mercer Raceabout, 1903-1905 Cadillac Model A. Erie explains that because these types of cars dont handle as well, driving one is a challenge. Antique vehicles were built prior to 1918. Esurance notes that antique vehicles were usually mass-produced and had gasoline-powered engines. Vintage cars span the time after WWI, from 1919 to1925. According to the insurer, street paving increased during the vintage era, so its cars were better designed for the open road than earlier classic car types. Classic or collector cars were typically built between 1925 and 1948. The insurer also distinguishes between modified, racing, muscle, utility and modern classics (from 1990-present). Modern classics have risen to the top of most wanted classic vehicles, according to Mich.-based insurer Hagerty, which released its list of the 10 hottest cars for the summer. 1. 19861989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL 2. 19731986 Jeep CJ-7 3. 19731987 Chevrolet C/K Series Pickup. 4. 19861992 BMW M3 5. 19821991 Porsche 944 6. 19972002 Plymouth/Chrysler Prowler 7. 19661977 Ford Bronco 8. 19941999 Ferrari F355 9. 19701974 Dodge Challenger 10. 19681976 BMW 2002 The major trend continues to be the clear emergence of Modern Classics from the 1980s and newer with new interest from younger buyers, said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. Farmers Group Inc. offers a chart on its website to help distinguish the differences between a standard auto policy and a collectible auto policy. Key differences according to the insurer include: A typical auto policy may not cover a collector car left unattended at a show, while a collector car policy will. Exact parts matches may not be covered under a standard auto policy, while typical antique car policies will cover original replacement parts. Agreed value may be the most important aspect of a policy covering a collector car. Standard auto policies dont always cover an agreed value, while a collector car policy will. According to Farmers Group Inc., the agreed value should match the vehicles current market value. The Insurance Information Institute recommends specialized coverage in the form of an antique car insurance policy, which will pay for costs associated with towing and replacing vintage car parts. Also, a policy that covers the higher cost of taking a vehicle to a specialty repair shop. Because collector cars typically appreciate over time, policy limits should be reviewed annually. According to I.I.I., specialized policies offer tiered mileage plans, coverage while stored as well as while driving recreationally and to and from car shows. The Institute notes that certain types of classic cars may be excluded. In addition, the I.I.I. recommends classic car owners review the following when purchasing insurance for their classic cars: Vehicle usage mileage is limited and typically ranges from 1000 to 5000 miles. Vehicle storage location and stored in locked, full enclosed facility. Vehicle valuation Agreed-value policies are preferable to stated value policies. Agreed value policies guarantee that, in the event of a total loss, the insurer will pay the owner of the car the full amount listed on the policy, minus any deductible. Stated value policies, while rarely sold, are often open to interpretation about the value of the vehicle in the event of a claim. Vehicle condition Insurers look for cars in good condition and may not insurer cars that have sustained prior damage or appear weathered. However, if a vehicle is undergoing restoration coverage may be available. A former Sunshine Daycare worker pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexually abusing five different children in his care. Jared Addison Terhune, 40, was charged in February with five counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual intercourse without consent and four counts of sexual abuse of children. On Tuesday, he appeared before Yellowstone County District Court Judge Michael Moses and pleaded guilty to all the charges. He is being held at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility in lieu of a $250,000 bond. Five children between ages 2 to 13 have reported being abused by Terhune while at Sunshine Daycare or after meeting him there. Sunshine Daycare at 432 Declaration Ave., was licensed as a family child care center since 2010 with an enrollment of six children. It closed in August 2014, a month after the first report of abuse was made to police. Terhune's mother, Sunshine West, is the listed care provider for the center, according to the State of Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. According to court documents, Terhune was in charge of the children when West was not present. West operated a day care from 1998-2007, closed for three years, and then reopened in 2010. Prior to 2010, West was licensed for group home child care as well as family care. In a group home, West looked after up to 12 children at a time and would have needed a second adult to look after the children. A second staff member's name is not listed. An 8-year-old alleged Terhune had abused her since she was five or six years old, according to court documents. Terhune abused her a few months before he was arrested. West told the 8 year-old victim's mother that police had arrested Terhune for molesting children.The mother asked her 8-year-old later if Terhune had ever touched her, and the girl began to cry. The girl reported Terhune had told her it was "a secret between them." West denied Terhune's actions to the parent of one of the victims, and said another mother's daughter had "tried that sh--, saying Jared touched her, but they were just playing and wrestling," according to an application for a search warrant filed in the case. According to court documents, a child, who was 7, reported the abuse to officers in July 2014. The girl formerly lived in an apartment in the basement of the day care. The child said Terhune touched her vagina while he was wrestling with her. He also touched her during a camping trip with the day care, court documents state. A 2-year-old reported Terhune had used his finger to hurt her "pee pee and her butt." Another 7-year-old reported Terhune had assaulted her while she was asleep and tried to bribe her with pie to show him her underwear. She said she refused, but that later while she was sleeping Terhune took photos of her underwear, which she later saw on his camera. She said the abuse escalated to him allegedly touching her under her underwear and rubbing her, saying he was checking her for ticks. A 13-year-old came forward in May and reported Terhune touched her in July 2013, when she awoke during a backyard camping trip to find her pants undone. She went inside the home day care and went to sleep in the basement. She said she woke up again and allegedly found Terhune with his hand down her pants. A search of Terhunes electronic devices revealed an extensive collection of child pornography. There was also a printed image of child pornography found in Terhune's possession. Since 1998, 40 children have been enrolled in some type of day care through West, according to DPHHS records. Terhune will be sentenced in October, though a final date was not set in court. BROOK PARK, Ohio -- Brook Park City Council has tabled until its Sept. 6 meeting a resolution of support for the legalization of medical marijuana in Ohio. Also during the Tuesday night meeting, council members passed a resolution encouraging Brook Park residents to create monarch butterfly waystations on their properties. Brook Park Councilwoman Julie McCormick first introduced the medical marijuana resolution months ago in support of Ohio House Bill 523. Gov. John Kasich, however, has since signed the state bill into law, with an effective date of Sept. 6. Mayor Tom Coyne had voiced opposition to the resolution, particularly because of how quickly the bill moved through the Ohio legislature. Residents have spoken publicly, both for and against the city's proposed resolution of support. McCormick said Tuesday evening "some of the wording (in the legislation) now doesn't make sense," so she asked that the resolution be tabled so amendments can be included before council votes. Council then tabled it until September. Ward 3 Councilwoman Jan Powers introduced a measure in May to encourage the installation of monarch butterfly waystations throughout the city. The monarch butterfly is known for its annual Mexico-to-Canada migration. Planting milkweed could help to sustain the dwindling monarch butterfly population, Powers said. "Monarchs don't survive without it," she said in June. "They could be extinct in the next few years." She said Tuesday before council's vote that "you cannot save one species without saving another." "The monarch butterfly is one of the most beautiful things in nature," Powers said. "I would like to see everyone get behind this." She said she spoke to the principal at Ford Intermediate School, and students will be participating in the monarch butterfly program. They will prepare the courtyard soil in the fall and nurture cocoons in anticipation of next spring's planting season. Council passed the resolution by a 4-3 vote. Robert Hicks Robert Hicks, 22, was sentenced to prison for a fatal shooting on Cleveland's near West Side. (John Harper, cleveland.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A man involved in a shooting that killed a man outside a bar on Cleveland's near West Side last year was sentenced Wednesday to 17 years in prison. Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge Peter J. Corrigan sentenced 22-year-old Robert Hicks to one year short of the maximum allowed under a plea agreement. Hicks was accused of shooting and killing 47-year-old Charles Knipp during a botched robbery attempt outside Frenchie's Escape, a bar on Denison Avenue near West 39th Street. Police later discovered the involvement of Anthony Grant, a second defendant who is scheduled to be sentenced. Hicks originally faced an aggravated murder charged, but pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and attempted aggravated robbery. Defense Attorney David Grant told the judge that Hicks suffered from childhood abuse and never knew his biological father, while also raising doubt about evidence that Hicks was the shooter in the death. "I believe he was not the actual shooter in the case," Grant said. "The co-defendant Anthony Grant pled in another murder, he was arrested with a weapon of the same caliber as the weapon used in this case." Prosecutors said that Grant and Hicks were cohorts in a plot to rob the bar itself and they cased the bar while it was open that night. Knipps had been drinking at the bar and was living in his car in a vacant lot across the street from Frenchie's, where he was shot. Knipps' family pleaded the judge to give Hicks a maximum sentence, tearfully asking "please don't keep these guys out on the streets." Hicks was in the third month of a two year probation sentence from a prior armed robbery when he was arrested in the shooting, as well as probation from two prior cases. This article has been updated to say that Judge Peter J. Corrigan sentenced Hicks to one year short of the maximum agreed to in the plea, not the maximum. cleveland police tape 2 The Cleveland City Council is expected to vote next week to put a ballot measure in front of residents to transform the Civilian Police Review Board. (File photo) Matt Zone CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland City Council will decide next week whether to place a measure on the November ballot that could change the makeup of a civilian board that is supposed to review use-of-force allegations made against police officers. While the measure would change the makeup of the Civilian Police Review Board, it would do little to alter how the board operates or establish new guidelines aimed at fixing the problems found in a U.S. Justice Department investigation. Such changes could come later, said Councilman Matt Zone, who heads the council's Safety Committee. The proposed ballot measure, which would go before voters Nov. 8, seeks to change the city's charter to increase the number of police review board members from seven to nine. One representative of each of the city's five police districts would be appointed, and one of the members would have to be between 18 and 30 years old. Five members would be appointed by the mayor, while four would be put on the board by the City Council. The proposed ballot measure is one of many changes mandated in a settlement the city reached with the Justice Department over police use of force. The proposal was put forth as an "emergency ordinance" by Zone and Mayor Frank Jackson last month. A public hearing on the proposed ballot measure is scheduled for Aug. 9 during a Safety Committee meeting. The full council is expected to vote the following day. (To read the proposal, click here or scroll to the bottom of this story.) The civilian board is tasked with reviewing internal investigations done by the police-staffed Office of Professional Standards. However, the Justice Department said in a December 2014 report that the board did not invite OPS investigators to its meetings to review cases. The report also said the final rulings from the civilian board were often not included in the complaint case files. The problems with investigating Cleveland officers go deeper than the civilian board. The team monitoring the city's progress under the settlement, known as a consent decree, wrote in a June report that OPS has a large backload of cases it has not yet completed. Changing the charter will not fix those problems, though it is designed to help fix what the Justice Department says is a broken process that fails to hold officers accountable for wrongdoing. Zone said the proposal was approved by the Justice Department and the team monitoring the city's progress under the consent decree. He said there were numerous discussions he sat in on with all players, including the consent decree-mandated Community Police Commission, a group that makes policy recommendations on the city's police department. "We feel comfortable what we're putting forth is representative of that," Zone said. Community Police Commission co-chairs Rhonda Williams and Mario Clopton issued a news release Tuesday announcing the proposal. The news release says the commission recommended numerous changes to the section of the city charter pertaining to the police department, and that the city and council "have decided not to follow the CPC's recommendation for comprehensive revision." Zone said he is aware of the commission's concerns but that it is "overstretching what their authority is." He said the consent decree only mandates changing the section of the charter that pertains to the police review board. "Many of suggestions are very good, and over time we will incorporate many of their suggestions through legislation and policy," Zone said. "We're not going to embed everything we want in our city constitution." Clopton, in an email Tuesday night, said the consent decree requires the commission to review the police department's mechanisms to oversee officers, to see if it needs to recommend changes. Aside from that, making recommendations for the police department is a process that requires "all hands on deck," Clopton wrote. "And thank goodness this time around in Cleveland, community members are at the table and hard at work." The proposal says that those currently on the board would serve until their terms of completed. AKRON, Ohio -- A Summit County councilwoman arrested in December on corruption charges said in a court filing Tuesday that a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision makes it clear that the majority of acts for which she is charged are not criminal. In a motion asking a federal judge to dismiss bribery and conspiracy charges against her, Councilwoman Tamela Lee argues that none of what she is charged with constitutes an "official act" under the law, as she was not in a position to take the actions that those she is accused of accepting bribes from desired. In making the argument, Lee relies on McDonnell v. U.S., a Supreme Court decision from June that overturned a corruption conviction against former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. The court ruled that an officeholder's "official acts" such as setting up meetings for constituents, talking to another official about a friend or making a speech, usually are not criminal, even in the case of an official accepting gifts or money from the person seeking the favors. The FBI arrested Lee and three others were arrested following a grand jury indictment. Federal prosecutors say she accepted cash, loans, campaign contributions, home improvements, cigarettes and other gifts from co-defendant Omar Abdelqader, who is affiliated with the several area convenience stores, including some Bi-Rites. Lee, 57, is accused of promising to get favorable treatment in court and official proceedings, including obtaining a liquor permit for one of the stores. She gave Abdelqader and others specialized treatment and helped those who bribed her get streamlined access through bureaucratic procedures, prosecutors say. Her trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 29 in front of U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko in Cleveland. She, Omar Abdelqader and his brother, Abdelrahman Abdelqader, have pleaded not guilty. The motion says that the acts for which she is charged -- contacting the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, reaching out to a judge and county prosecutor to request leniency for a man in an assault case and writing a letter to the Internal Revenue Service for somebody -- are not criminal. This is because Lee could not make official decisions for the predicaments that each person was in with each agency or official, the motion reads. She also was not in a position to exert pressure on those officials and agencies, according to the motion. U.S. Attorney Carole Rendon said in an emailed statement Tuesday that "we have reviewed Ms. Lee's motion and will respond appropriately. We are confident that the McDonnell decision will not undermine the prosecution of this case." The motion does not address charges she faces for obstruction of justice and false statements to law enforcement. Samir Abdelqader, Omar Abdelqader's nephew, pleaded guilty and was placed on probation for his role in the case. Lee, once a Summit County Democratic Party leader, was appointed to the council in 2011 and elected in 2012. She lost a March primary election to David Hamilton. If you want to comment on this story, please visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section. WHEN: Today, Tuesday, August 2nd WHERE: CNBC's "Closing Bell" Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC EXCLUSIVE interview with New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and David Faber on CNBC's "Closing Bell" (M-F, 3PM-5PM ET) today, Tuesday, August 2nd. Following is a link to the video on CNBC.com: http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000539887. BILL GRIFFETH: IT WAS JUST A FEW HOURS AGO THAT NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER BILL BRATTON ANNOUNCED HE WOULD STEP DOWN NEXT MONTH. HE IS HERE AT THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE NOW JOINING DAVID FABER IN THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW. DAVID? DAVID FABER: THANK YOU, BILL. THAT'S RIGHT. VERY NICE TO HAVE YOU, OF COURSE. BILL BRATTON: GOOD TO BE HERE. FABER: ON A NEWSWORTHY DAY FOR YOU AND YOUR CAREER. WHY ARE YOU STEPPING DOWN AS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NYPD? BRATTON: WELL, THERE'S NEVER A GOOD TIME, BUT THE RIGHT TIME. FOR ME PROFESSIONALLY, THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME. GOT AN EXTRAORDINARY OFFER FROM TENEO TO COME JOIN THEM. THINGS ARE GOING VERY WELL IN THE CITY AT THIS JUNCTURE. CRIME DOWN. TERRORISM ISSUES BEING DEALT WITH EFFECTIVELY. SO IT'S THE RIGHT TIME AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THE OFFER THAT TENEO MADE. FABER: YEAH, WELL, GIVE ME SOME SENSE THERE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WERE PROTESTS YESTERDAY AT CITY HALL, NOT FAR FROM HERE. AND THEY ARE GOING TO SAY OH LOOK, BRATTON RESIGNED ONE DAY AFTER, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A BIG PROTEST THERE. OBVIOUSLY, THESE THINGS ARE IN THE WORKS FOR A WHILE, BUT GIVE ME SOME SENSE AS TO HOW YOU CAME ABOUT WANTING TO GO TO TENEO AND WHY THAT IS THE RIGHT MOVE FOR YOU. BRATTON: FIRST OFF, THE PROTESTS, THEY ARE ABOUT 200 PEOPLE IN A CITY OF 8.5 MILLION PEOPLE SO THAT PROTEST WAS NOT PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT. BUT TENEO, IT'S EXCITING FOR ME. ONE, THE WORLD THEY FOCUS ON, BASICALLY ADVISING CEOs OF THE FORTUNE 100, FORTUNE 500 IN THE WIDE RANGE OF RISK ISSUES THAT THE CEOs FACE TODAY. I'M BEING ASKED TO CREATE A NEW DIVISION TO JOIN THE 12 OTHER DIVISIONS THEY ALREADY HAVE AND THAT IS TENEO RISK WILL BE THE NAME OF IT AND TO BUILD THAT COMPANY OUT. SO THEY ARE IN A POSITION RELATIVE TO THEIR CURRENT THREATS THAT BUSINESSES FACE AROUND THE WORLD, HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM, HOW TO PREVENT THEM, AND IF NECESSARY, HOW TO RESPOND TO THEM. RISK MITIGATION. FABER: RIGHT. NOW, OF COURSE, CYBER IS AN AREA THAT, WELL, 20 YEARS AGO WE RARELY IF EVER TALKED ABOUT. NOW IT IS A HUGE ISSUE AT THE CEO AND THE BOARD LEVEL. I MEAN, HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR WORK AT TENEO EVOLVING? WHAT IS IT GOING TO INVOLVE IN TERMS OF HOW YOU GO ABOUT HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THESE CEOs ABOUT WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES SHOULD BE? BRATTON: WELL, IT'S EXACTLY THAT ISSUE. 20 YEARS AGO I CREATED THE FIRST COMPUTER CRIMES UNIT IN THE NYPD. TEN DETECTIVES. A YEAR AGO, I AHD TO CREATE ONE, 250 DETECTIVES TO DEAL WITH THE EXPLOSION OF CYBER CRIME. THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS EXPERIENCING THAT ISSUE. BIG COMPANIES, SMALL COMPANIES. IT IS ALSO COUPLED WITH THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM. TERRORISM, CYBER CRIME, REALLY 20 YEARS AGO POLICING DIDN'T SPEND MUCH TIME ON IT AND THE CORPORATE WORLD DIDN'T SPEND MUCH TIME ON IT. BUT TO SURVIVE IN TODAY'S WORLD YOU REALLY HAVE TO HAVE ADVICE, SKILLS, HOW TO IDENTIFY THAT YOU'RE HAVING AN ISSUE, HOW TO RESPOND IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, AND SECONDLY, HOW TO PREVENT FROM HAVING AN ISSUE. FABER: RIGHT. BUT IF I'M A CEO OF A COMPANY, WHY AM I PARTICULARLY MORE CONCERNED WITH TERRORISM THAN ANY OTHER CITIZEN MIGHT BE? BRATTON: WELL IN TERMS OF THE ISSUE OF WORKPLACE, KEEPING YOUR EMPLOYEES SAFE AS THEY TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD, KEEPING THEM SAFE FROM TERRORISM, KEEPING THEM SAFE FROM KIDNAPPING, WORKPLACE VIOLENCE, THE ACTIVE SHOOTERS. SO TERRORISM MANIFESTS ITSELF IN MANY FORMS. WE TEND TO THINK OF IT AS ISIS, AL-QAEDA. BUT YOU HAVE THE URBAN TERRORISTS AND YOU ALSO, AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY RECENTLY, THE MASS SHOOTINGS. SO HOW DOES A COMPANY PROTECT ITSELF, ITS EMPLOYEES FROM THOSE TYPES OF THREATS? THE THREATS, IF YOU WILL, ARE ALMOST UNLIMITED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF THEM THAT ARE OUT THERE. FABER: YEAH, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OF THEM. SPEAKING OF THREATS, I MEAN, IS NEW YORK CITY GOING TO BE A LESS SAFE PLACE BECAUSE YOU'RE NO LONGER THE POLICE COMMISSIONER? BRATTON: NOT AT ALL. I HOPE IT'S A MUCH SAFER PLACE BECAUSE OF THE THREE YEARS I HAVE SPENT THERE. WE HAVE EXPANDED DRAMATICALLY THE COUNTER TERRORISM CAPABILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT. BUILDING ON THE PLATFORM THAT MY PREDECESSOR RAY KELLY BUILT, BUT WE'VE NOW ADDED WHOLE NEW LAYERS TO DEAL WITH THE CONSTANTLY MORPHING TERRORIST THREAT. ISIS TWO YEARS AGO DIDN'T EXIST, EFFECTIVELY. IN ITS MASTERY OF SOCIAL MEDIA, THE ABILITY TO SPREAD THREATS WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO EFFECTIVELY TRAIN ANYBODY, TO ENABLE, TO INSPIRE, TO DIRECT, IT'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD. AND IN THE NYPD, WE HAVE KEPT AHEAD OF THE CURVE RATHER THAN JUST RESPONDING TO IT. FABER: HOW HAVE YOU KEPT AHEAD OF THE CURVE? BRATTON: FOR EXAMPLE, A YEAR AGO WE CREATED A NEW 550-PERSON CRITICAL INCIDENT COMMAND. THOSE ARE OFFICERS HIGHLY TRAINED, EQUIPPED TO RESPOND ANYWHERE IN THE CITY WITHIN FIVE TO SEVEN MINUTES TO DEAL WITH AN ACTIVE SHOOTER OR TERRORIST INCIDENT. ALL THE STUDIES THAT WE HAVE DONE INDICATE THAT MOST CASUALTIES OCCUR IN THAT FIRST FIVE TO SEVEN MINUTES. SO THAT'S ONE LAYER THAT WE HAVE BUILT ON TOP OF OUR ALREADY VERY HIGHLY SKILLED EMERGENCY SERVICE UNIT. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE ANOTHER 800 OFFICERS, SOON TO BE 800 OFFICERS, SIMILARLY EQUIPPED AND TRAINED, THEY CAN DEAL WITH CROWD MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS BACKING OUR OFFICERS UP IF WE'RE TO HAVE AN ACTIVE SHOOTER OR TERRORIST INCIDENT. SO JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD TO CHANGE FROM JUST DEALING WITH TRADITIONAL CRIME TO DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM. AND SIMILARLY, I NOW HAVE, AT THE FBI, WE HAVE A CYBER CRIME UNIT AT THE FBI. WE HAVE A CYBER CRIME UNIT WITH CY VANCE WHO IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR MANHATTAN. FABER: YEP. BRATTON: I HAVE A 250-PERSON GRAND LARCENY UNIT THAT'S VERY EXPERT IN DEALING WITH CYBER TECHNOLOGY RELATED ISSUES. SO THE EXPERTISE THAT WE'VE HAD TO BUILD IN POLICING IS EXPERTISE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR REALLY DESPERATELY NEEDS. FABER: YOU SERVED 27 MONTHS UNDER MAYOR GIULIANI. QUITE SOMETIME BACK AT THIS POINT. THIS TIME A BIT LONGER UNDER MAYOR deBLASIO. BRATTON: 31 MONTHS. FABER: 31 MONTHS. WHICH WAS A HARDER TENURE FOR YOU? BRATTON: THE ISSUE BACK IN '94 WAS CRIME. CRIME AND DISORDER. ISSUE TODAY IS STILL CRIME, ALTHOUGH IT'S DOWN 80%. DISORDER WHICH IS STILL DOWN DRAMATICALLY, BUT THE POPULATION OF NEW YORK TODAY IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER HOW BAD IT WAS IN THE '80s AND EARLY '90s. SO THEY ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ISSUES OF STREET PEOPLE, HOMELESS CONDITIONS. BUT THE NEW ELEMENT IS THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM AND CYBER. DIDN'T EXIST BACK IN '94. SO FOR ME, THE EXCITEMENT OF COMING BACK INTO THE NYPD WAS TO WORK ON THOSE AREAS. AND THE EXCITEMENT OF GOING TO WORK FOR TENEO IS TENEO IS SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDING ITS MUSCLE, IF YOU WILL, TO ADVISE THE CEO POPULATION. THEY ADVISE MOST OF THE FORTUNE 100 AND A LARGE PART OF THE FORTUNE 500 CEOs AND A WHOLE MYRIAD OF ISSUES ACROSS THERE 15, EXCUSE ME PARTIALLY AT 12 AND SOON TO BE 13 DIVISIONS. FABER: RIGHT. AND NOW I WOULD ASSUME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD YOUR CHOICE, I MEAN, ONCE YOU DECIDED YOU NO LONGER WANTED TO BE IN THIS JOB OF OTHER POTENTIAL JOBS. SO WHY WOULD YOU GO TO TENEO AS OPPOSED TO PERHAPS TO A LARGE BANK? I MEAN, I CAN REMEMBER RAY KELLY, OF COURSE, MADE SOME CHOICES AFTER HE STEPPED DOWN. THE FIRST TIME AROUND AS WELL. WHY THEM? BRATTON: HAVING DONE THIS TWICE BEFORE IN '96 AND THEN 2009 WHEN I LEFT THE LAPD, PRETTY EXPERIENCED AT TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT'S OUT THERE. SO WHEN THE DISCUSSIONS BEGAN WITH TENEO, I LOOK AT THE LEADERSHIP, THE THREE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF IT, EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUALS. LOOK HOW IT'S GROWN IN FIVE YEARS. IMAGINE ADVISING THE MAJORITY OF FORTUNE 50 AND A LARGE NUMBER OF FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES. THE EXPERTISE THAT THOSE CEOs SAW IN TENEO, TENEO WITH ITS 12 DIVISIONS, ALSO WITH THE CEO ADVISERS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SENIOR ADVISERS, HEADED UP BY SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL, EXTRAORDINARY ARRAY OF EXPERTISE. THAT'S A TEAM I WANT TO BE ON. FABER: I WOULD ASSUME IT ALSO, THOUGH, HAS TO DO WITH ECONOMICS. I DON'T WANT TO BE PRESUMPTUOUS, BUT YOU'VE SPENT 45 YEARS MORE OR LESS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. BRATTON: THAT'S CORRECT. FABER: IS IT TIME TO MAKE SOME MONEY? BRATTON: IT'S TIME TO MAKE SOME MONEY AGAIN. I HAD A TASTE OF IT IN 2009, 2014. MY WIFE WILL TELL YOU WE GAVE UP QUITE A LOT TO GO BACK INTO THE PUBLIC SECTOR. TIME TO GET BACK OUT. SO CERTAINLY, THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE IS THERE, BUT IT IS MORE FOR ME THE EXCITEMENT OF NEW CHALLENGES, EXCITEMENT OF BUILDING SOMETHING, THE EXCITEMENT OF MANAGING SOMETHING. I'M A MANAGER. I'M A LEADER. I'M A CREATOR. I'M A COLLABORATOR. WROTE THE BOOK "COLLABORATE OR PERISH." SO TENEO IS OFFERING ALL OF THIS, THE EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP, THE EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COMPANY. YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE WORLD THEY INTERACT WITH. THIS WORLD. YOU KNOW, EVERY ONE OF THE COMPANIES THEY INTERACT WITH IS ON THESE BOARDS AROUND THIS ROOM. FABER: RIGHT. AND FINALLY, ANY THOUGHTS OF GETTING BACK INTO POLITICS AT SOME POINT? OR INTO POLITICS AT SOME POINT? BRATTON: NOT AT ALL. 45 YEARS OF SHOWING HOW SMART I AM BY NEVER BASICALLY SHOWING HOW CRAZY I AM TO GO INTO POLITICS. I AVOIDED EVERY WORKING IN WASHINGTON FOR 45 YEARS WHERE NOTHING GETS DONE. AND I AVOIDED GOING INTO POLITICS WHERE IT MIGHT BE ARGUED ALMOST NOTHING EVER GETS DONE. NO, I LIKE THE POLICING BECAUSE I COULD GET THINGS DONE. AND GOING WITH TENEO THAT'S A COMPANY THAT CLEARLY WITH A FIVE-YEAR TRACK RECORD GETS THINGS DONE. FABER: COMMISSIONER, APPRECIATE YOU STOPPING BY. THANK YOU. BRATTON: THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. FABER: WILLIAM BRATTON. BILL? About CNBC: With CNBC in the U.S., CNBC in Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, CNBC World and CNBC HD, CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business information to approximately 386 million homes worldwide, including more than 100 million households in the United States and Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries. 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Sooner or later, though, we will settle into a fact-based situation where we can try to make money off of what is actually happening, not the bogus nightmare scenarios that are so easily traced out," the "Mad Money" host said. Crude has now declined more than 20 percent from its recent highs. Cramer found it remarkable how much investors didn't care when oil plunged to $40 a barrel from $50. The entire market still moved higher as it happened. However, when oil dipped below $40 a barrel last Friday, black gold once again coupled with the averages and took stocks down. This is because of a growing belief that auto companies, which reported weak sales on Tuesday, are signaling a slowdown and the weak oil market signals the same thing, Cramer said. Where does that leave stocks? If the market is once again tied to the price of oil, Cramer expects the banks to fall next if oil continues to plummet. While he doesn't think this is a real concern, he still wants investors to be prepared if it happens. Education Images | UIG | Getty Images Cramer spoke with Carley Garner, a technician and commodities expert who is the co-founder of DeCarley Trading, author of "Higher Probability Commodity Trading" and Cramer's colleague at RealMoney.com. Garner found that the sell-off in oil has occurred in an orderly fashion so far, which is why the stock market ignored it and didn't fall along with it at first. However, as crude heads lower, she expects the weak-handed bulls to get washed out, crush oil and send the stock market even lower. "Once the smart money gets wiped out ... Garner thinks oil can start rallying again, which would be a welcome sign for this market," Cramer said. First, Garner said investors should brace themselves for more damage. In her experience, bottoms in oil tend to be very dramatic and painful as weak-handed bulls are flushed out. Unfortunately, she said the market hasn't seen a real washout yet. She expects oil to fall to $38.50 or even $32.50 a barrel if things get worse. She thinks it is more likely that oil will push its floor of support at $34.50 a barrel, and if it holds, then crude will rebound. Cramer also had a memo for investors. When CEOs of major companies says the environment has become tougher, they really mean it. No, it is not just small-talk. Last week Ford Motor CEO Mark Fields acknowledged the auto industry faced a difficult environment. Ford's monthly sales numbers were released on Tuesday and indicated a 3 percent drop, even though the consensus expected only a 0.5 percent decline. As a result, Ford's stock plunged more than 4 percent. "This, to me, is where I find the obvious nature of investing so unnerving," he said. watch now watch now watch now watch now Japan's government spending plan has been panned as just not big enough, but it may have already had one big effect: Pushing deeply negative bond yields toward the zero line. Jim Awad, managing director at wealth advisory firm Plimsoll Mark Capital, said that Japan's move to fiscal spending instead of further action from the central bank may have spurred the view that monetary policy had reached the limits of its effectiveness. "It is the aggressive monetary policy worldwide which has sent stock prices up and bond yields down. So the fact that they switched from more aggressive monetary policy to fiscal, I think, sort of spooked markets worldwide," he told CNBC's "The Rundown." "I think the markets felt that if they were going to go the fiscal route as opposed to the monetary route, they didn't do enough and therefore it's likely to fail," he added. Japan government bond (JGB) yields have climbed, with the benchmark 10-year yield rising from as low as negative 0.273 percent shortly before the Bank of Japan (BOJ) announcement, to within a smidgen of the zero line, touching negative 0.009 percent on Tuesday. Bond prices move inversely to yields. That spurred rises in other government bond yields, analysts said. On Tuesday, was yielding negative 0.033 percent, up from negative 0.124 percent Friday. "Elevated JGB volatility historically is contagious and this time is no different," said Tim Condon, head of research for Asia at ING Financial Markets, in a note Wednesday. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet approved a $274 billion stimulus package, which included cash payments to those with lower income, adding more workers to pension programs, college scholarships and fresh infrastructure projects. watch now Analysts said the package simply wasn't large enough to spur a surge in economic growth, offering markets a second disappointment after additional easing from the BOJ last week fell short of expectations. The BOJ did not increase purchases of government bonds as had been widely expected, likely disappointing those market players who had hoped to sell more bonds to the central bank for a profit. Even the Abe government wasn't expecting too much bang for the yen, projecting the package would add only around 1.3 percentage points to gross domestic product (GDP) growth near-term. The details of the package increased expectations that the BOJ's quantitative easing program, through which the central bank purchases assets including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and JGBs, "had run its course and stimulus now would be exclusively in the form of bridges to nowhere," ING's Condon said. Another factor was set to push up bond yields, at least in Japan: Supply appeared likely to surge. Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing sources, that the government would be issuing several hundred billion yen worth of 40-year bonds as soon as September. But Awad said he expected the rise in yields wouldn't last long. "I think that investors will conclude that what the Japanese are doing fiscally won't work. It hasn't worked in the past and it's not enough to work now," he said, adding that growth would remain slow. "I'm not afraid of the yields. I think the yields will go back down worldwide." Daniele Martire | EyeEm | Getty Images South Korea's military says North Korea has fired a ballistic missile into the sea. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile was launched toward the waters off the North's east coast. North Korea routinely conducts missile and other weapons tests, but Wednesday's launch came after North Korea made angry threats against a U.S. plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year. Earlier this month, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea. A staff removes the Iranian flag from the stage after a group picture with foreign ministers and representatives of Unites States, Iran, China, Russia, Britain, Germany, France and the European Union during the Iran nuclear talks at Austria International Centre in The U.S. airlifted $400 million of cash to Iran, with the payment coinciding with the January release of four Americans held in Tehran, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing officials briefed on the covert operation. Euros, Swiss francs and other currencies were packed into wooden pallets and flown to Iran on an unmarked cargo plane, the paper added. The money was procured from the Dutch and Swiss central banks. The payment was made in foreign currency as it is illegal under U.S. laws to deal with Iran in dollars. Iran also still faces sanctions limiting its access to global markets. The money was the first installment of a $1.7 billion settlement the Obama administration reached with Iran earlier to resolve a dispute about the non-delivery of U.S. arms purchased by Iran's last monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The goods were never delivered as the Iranian Revolution broke out soon after in 1979. The cash has been portrayed as ransom payment by the Iranian press, although the country's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment, the WSJ added. Senior U.S. officials cited by the WSJ noted the payment and the prisoner exchange were coincidental and did not represent any quid pro quo. To read the full WSJ article, click here. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. Shares of American International Group jumped 7 percent Wednesday after the insurer beat Wall Street estimates for quarterly profit and added $3 billion to its stock buyback program. AIG was the biggest gainer on the S&P in afternoon trading. The stock closed at $58.10 on Wednesday. The insurance giant reported adjusted second-quarter profit of 98 cents per share, 5 cents above estimates, helped by lower expenses and strong underwriting results. Total operating revenues were $695 million, down from $1.17 billion in the year-earlier period. The company announced a $3 billion increase in its stock buyback program. AIG bought back an additional $698 million of AIG Common Stock, bringing the year-to-date capital return to $7.9 billion. The source of AIG's earnings is shifting, president and CEO Peter Hancock told CNBC on Wednesday. "We're getting our earnings from serving our clients in our core business of insurance, which has a much more repeatable element for higher quality earnings," Hancock told "Squawk on the Street." In previous years, earnings have been driven by investment income, above-normal hedge-fund returns and market gains on noncore holdings, he said. AIG has since divested in noncore holdings and reduced its allocations to hedge funds. Market sensitive assets are down to about 7.5 percent from 11.5 percent in recent years, Hancock said. Activist investor John Paulson and Samuel Merksamer, a managing director at Icahn Capital, joined the company's board last year after Carl Icahn campaigned to have the company split into three parts. AIG rejected the proposal, and presented its own strategy in January that included buybacks. The company announced a spinoff of the mortgage insurance business and agreed to sell its broker-dealer network. AIG also said it would cut $1.6 billion of costs, and return at least $25 billion to shareholders over the next two years. "We've found a lot of common ground, and I think that we continue to have an excellent relationship and discussion of the trade-offs of pace and focus," Hancock said. "We're delivering on the promises we made to all of our shareholders and recognizing that we serve them all." AIG's $182 billion bailout from the U.S. government in 2008 after its near-collapse eventually led to its listing as a SIFI, or "systemically important financial institution." Icahn argued splitting up AIG could help rid the company of burdens that come with SIFI status, like higher capital requirements, according to Reuters. But unlike Metlife and GE , AIG has not moved to shed its "too big to fail" status. "Our customers rely on our industry to be heavily regulated," Hancock told CNBC, adding that the Fed is one of almost 200 regulators that the company is subject to across different jurisdictions. "For us to be overly focused on one regulator is a distraction from the core mission, which is to deliver value to our shareholders and to clients." A man admitted on Tuesday to punching and dragging a Montana Highway Patrol officer with his car before crashing. Abraham Spotted Elk Jr., 62, pleaded no contest to felony assault on a peace officer and guilty to two counts of felony criminal endangerment. He appeared Tuesday in Yellowstone County District Court to enter the pleas before Judge Rod Souza. Spotted Elk signed a plea deal that morning that dropped a felony count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. A highway patrol officer pulled Spotted Elk over on Dec. 31, 2015, in Billings. According to court documents, Spotted Elk smelled of alcohol and was slurring his speach. The trooper noticed a "small, plastic baggie" in Spotted Elk's vest pocket that appeared to contain methamphetamine, charges state. When the trooper asked to see the baggie, Spotted Elk took it out and said, "This meth?" As Spotted Elk put his car into gear and started to drive away, the trooper tried to grab the wheel to control the vehicle. Spotted Elk punched the trooper as he held on for about 40 yards before letting go. Later, another trooper saw Spotted Elk driving on Minnesota Avenue. The trooper moved behind and turned on his lights, and Spotted Elk tried to flee down South 27th Street. He drove onto a snowbank and sidewalk to pass traffic. Spotted Elk ran a red light and moved toward the interstate on-ramp. In the icy conditions, he lost control and smashed through a concrete barrier. The vehicle slid down the embankment and stopped, and the troopers moved in on foot. A Billings police officer field tested some residue found on the top of Spotted Elk's cracked car window. It tested positive for methamphetamine, according to court documents. Officers later found $900 in cash, a loaded assault-style rifle and 100 rounds of ammunition in his car. After the crash, Spotted Elk was taken to a hospital. Jail records show that he's been in the Yellowstone County Detention Facility since Jan. 4. Spotted Elk will be labeled a persistent felony offender, which carries a minimum five-year sentence for each count. Defense and prosecuting attorneys will present sentence recommendations at a hearing set for Oct. 12. The $75 billion Biogen may be vulnerable to a takeover. But the biotech giant makes a risky target at a likely value approaching $90 billion. Closing the gap between the Alzheimer's drug optimism built into Biogen's valuation and an acceptable price for a buyer may prove a challenge too far. George Scangos, the company's chief executive, is to step down, which leaves it at a turning point. And potential acquirers Allergan and Merck have sniffed around, according to the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. Biogen's treatments for multiple sclerosis are a cash cow, providing most of the $11.5 billion in total revenue expected this year. Big pharmaceutical firms are always on the prowl for approved drugs, and it's rare to find such a concentrated collection. More from Breakingviews : Standard Chartered thrives on low expectations The problem is price. The average premium in biotechnology mergers is 50 percent, according to Jefferies. Add that to Biogen's valuation prior to the news about Scangos' departure late last month, and the company would be worth $86 billion. It has less than $3 billion of net debt. The typical large, profitable biotech enterprise is valued at about five times revenue. At close to $90 billion, a buyer would be shelling out nearly eight times sales for Biogen. Moreover, questions hang over some of Biogen's drugs and its pipeline. Its biggest MS drug faces patent challenges, and sales are slowing quickly. New treatments from the likes of Roche threaten to erode them further. As for the pipeline, the great hope is a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Any drug that succeeds for this condition is likely to be a blockbuster, and a positive early-stage trial last year tacked about $10 billion onto Biogen's market capitalization. Yet several compounds with a similar mechanism have failed in bigger trials, and Biogen's treatment appears to cause brain swelling in high doses. Perhaps contingent value rights, with payouts based on approval and sales of the new drug, could help a skeptical buyer and over-optimistic selling shareholders meet on price. But such structures are notoriously hard to negotiate and enforce. Any CEO who buys Biogen, even at a high price, would look like a hero should the Alzheimer's treatment work. The fear of looking like a goat should it fail, however, may be a powerful deterrent. For more independent commentary and analysis from Reuters Breakingviews, visit breakingviews.com A Biogen Idec lab technician Suzanne Kreiter | The Boston Globe | Getty Images Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell: Time Warner Time Warner earned an adjusted $1.29 per share, 13 cents a share above estimates. Revenue was slightly below forecasts, but Time Warner also raised its full-year outlook and announced it had taken a 10 percent stake in video streaming service Hulu. Clorox The household products maker earned $1.26 per share for its latest quarter, two cents a share below estimates, but its revenue was above analyst forecasts. Clorox is giving a somewhat upbeat outlook for fiscal 2017, saying its sees an up to 50 basis point expansion in profit margins and sales growth of up to four percent. Fiat Chrysler The automaker declined comment on reports that Samsung is in talks to buy the company's auto parts unit. Office Depot The office supplies retailer missed estimates by three cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of three cents per share. Revenue, however, was very slightly above forecasts, and Office Depot also said it was considering strategic alternatives for its European operations. Allergan The drugmaker sold its Anda distribution business to Teva Pharmaceutical for $500 million. Occidental Petroleum Occidental matched estimates with a quarterly loss of 18 cents per share, while revenue for the energy giant came in below estimates. It also said it saw full-year production at the high end of its previous projected growth range of four to six percent. Electronic Arts Electronic Arts reported an adjusted quarterly profit of seven cents per share compared to Street forecasts of a two cents per share loss. The video game maker's revenue also beat estimates, driven by strong growth in EA's digital business. The company did lower full-year earnings guidance for 2017, however. Fitbit Fitbit beat estimates by one cent a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of 12 cents per share. The wearable fitness device maker's revenue was above forecasts, as well. The company also gave upbeat guidance as consumers show enthusiasm for FItbit's expanding line of colorful wristbands for its devices. Etsy Etsy lost six cents per share for the second quarter, wider than the one cent per share loss expected by analysts. The online crafts seller did see revenue beat estimates and it also increased its earnings guidance for the full year as both revenue and users grow. AIG AIG reported adjusted quarterly profit of 98 cents per share, five cents a share above estimates. The insurer also announced a $3 billion increase in its stock buyback program. AIG's results were helped by lower expenses and strong underwriting results. Tableau Software Tableau reported a breakeven quarter on an adjusted basis, five cents a share below estimates. Revenue was above Street forecasts. The maker of data analytics software did say it added more new customers than in any prior quarter in its history. HanesBrands HanesBrands missed estimates by a penny a share, with quarterly profit of 51 cents per share. The apparel maker also saw revenue fall short and lowered its earnings guidance for the full year. The guidance shift comes in part because of recent acquisitions. Rio Tinto Rio reported a 47 percent drop in earnings for the first half of the year to a 12-year low, but the mining company did post profit that exceeded analysts' forecasts. It also announced a dividend of 45 cents per share, slightly larger than analysts had been anticipating. Toyota Motor Toyota is delaying the Japan launch of its plug-in Prius model by about three months, although the automaker did not give a reason for the delay. It now expects to launch the new model this winter. HSBC HSBC said its profit during the first half of this year fell by 29 percent from a year earlier, putting its earnings just short of analysts' estimates. The bank also announced share buybacks for the second half of the year of up to $2.5 billion. Anthem Anthem is asking a judge for a separate trial involving its planned takeover of rival insurer Cigna . The government has sued to block both Anthem's purchase of Cigna and Aetna's planned buy of Humana , but Anthem maintains the two deals focus on different markets. Sinclair Broadcasting The TV station owner is interested in buying the Weather Channel's TV operations, according to The Wall Street Journal. The TV channel is currently owned by private-equity firms Bain Capital and Blackstone , as well as NBCUniversal and CNBC parent Comcast . Avis Budget The car rental company reported adjusted earnings of 63 cents per share, six cents a share below estimates. Revenue was essentially in line with forecasts. Bottom line results were impacted by an increase in expenses, but Avis Budget did raise the lower end of its full-year earnings forecast. A record 1.3 million migrants applied for asylum in the Europe in 2015 nearly twice as many as the previous high point in 1992, around the collapse of the Soviet Union, according to new research by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center. Since 1985, Europe has received about 11.6 million asylum applications, with last year's 1.3 million amounting to about one-tenth of all applications received during the past 30 years by the 28 members of the EU, Norway and Switzerland, Pew noted. It used data collected by Eurostat, the EU's statistical agency, to inform its research. Europe has become a safe haven for thousands of people fleeing conflict, poverty and persecution in parts of Africa and the Middle East. While Pew noted that eastern European countries such as Kosovo and Albania still contribute to the flow of asylum seekers, about half of refugees in 2015 trace their origins to just three countries: Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. The diaspora and displacement of peoples seemed to peak in 2015 with Europe left largely unprepared and divided on how to deal with the influx of people. On the gainers list, the German DAX closed roughly 0.2 percent higher and the FTSE MIB was up around 0.3 percent. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 and Spanish IBEX ended down around 0.1 percent. The French CAC 40 closed unofficially 0.3 percent lower. European stocks closed mixed on Wednesday after a slew of earnings, with banking stocks rallying. Bank stocks were in focus on Wednesday after getting hammered on Tuesday. HSBC , one of Britain's largest lenders, reported a year-on-year drop of almost 29 percent in first-half profit before tax. However, it also announced a $2.5 billion share buyback plan, which saw the stock close 4.5 percent higher. Societe Generale beat expectations for the second quarter, helping shares close 3.2 percent higher. Chief Executive Frederic Oudea told CNBC he was comfortable with current capital levels, despite the French bank's somewhat weak performance in recent stress tests. Meanwhile, Credit Agricole said its second-quarter net income was up nearly 26 percent, adding that it had completed an overhaul of the group's structure. The announcement was cheered by investors, but the stock later pared gains. Shares of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS) rallied after Il Sole 24 Ore reported that six more banks were set to join the consortium underwriting a 5 billion euro ($5.6 billion)-cash call by the troubled Italian lender. Its shares closed around 1.8 percent higher. Unicredit, which was one of the worst performers in the stress tests, plunged after posting earnings on Wednesday. Its shares were suspended for part of trade and eventually closed down on the day by around 2.3 percent. A nurse practitioner holds a box of insect repellent and information on mosquito protection that she gives her pregnant patients at the Borinquen Medical Center, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 in Miami. Lynne Sladky | AP Just a relative handful of people have gotten screened for the Zika virus, so far, in the United States, according to data from a leading electronic health records company. Athenahealth said Wednesday that a search of its database of 81 million or so patient health records shows that just 1,435 tests for Zika have been performed nationally. The total number of tests of all patients which would also include patients outside of Athenahealth's cloud network isn't known. But the size of Athenahealth's database, which includes more than 80,000 health providers, suggests that the total number of Zika tests administered across the nation isn't large relative to either the number of people known to have contracted the virus, or to the number of people particularly at risk from it. There have been more than 1,650 cases of Zika in the United States, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika, which is spread via mosquito bites, from pregnant women to their babies, and from sex, can lead to serious birth defects, including abnormally small heads in babies. Shares of Fitbit rose more than 13 percent Wednesday after the company posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings and revenue and reaffirmed guidance citing strength in new products. The wearable device-maker reported earnings of 12 cents per share, versus analysts' expectations of 11 cents, according to Thomson Reuters consensus. Revenues came in at $586.53 million versus the estimated $577.75 million. The company sold 5.7 million devices in the quarter, with a 46 percent revenue increase year over year. The U.S. brought in the bulk of revenue at 76 percent for the quarter, Fitbit said. Fitbit cited strong consumer response to new wearable products "Blaze" and "Alta", which launched in the first quarter. The two models made up 54 percent of second quarter revenue and added $3 to average revenue per device, the company said. The company maintained its full year revenue guidance of $2.5 billion to $2.6 billion, and diluted earnings per share guidance range of $1.12 to $1.24. James Park, Fitbit co-founder and CEO highlighted a positive response from retailers that have seen new products under a nondisclosure agreement in recent weeks. The feedback "strengthened confidence in our guidance for the year", Park said. "We continue to lead the wearables category we helped to create and see substantial runway ahead," Park said on the earnings call. "I'm so confident that I will not sell any stock till the end of the year. Joining me in that commitment are co-founder and CTO Eric Friedman and CFO Bill Zerella." The company also saw growth in the EMEA region, where the number of devices sold were up 100 percent year over year. Investments in local PR and marketing drove growth for the first half of the year, Park said. "The first half European story has been about continuing to refine expanded visibility and resonance with the Fitbit brand in the region," Park said. In May, the company launched a partnership with Alibaba , offering products on the Chinese site Tmall.com. It also launched the Chinese, Korean and Japanese versions of Blaze and Alta in their respective markets. "Localization is an important step in our development of international markets and we believe these new localizations will help accelerate both distribution partnerships and sales in those three markets," Park said on the call. The impact of currency was "nominal" for the quarter, and the company said it does not expect an impact from Brexit on the third quarter's results. The company also pointed to partnerships in the clinical research community. Fitbit and its partner Fitabase are working in more than 200 studies at universities including Johns Hopkins , Northwestern and University of Texas. "The hard truth is that, for Republicans who want to win the White House and for all the voters who say they really want change in Washington at all costs, Trump is still their best chance." The reasons have everything to do with how much the public has changed over the past decade or so and how much most of the news media has remained the same. With the economic collapse and the perception of a failed war in Iraq, what the GOP doesn't seem to get is that even eight years later, its national viability is weaker than it's ever been since the Republicans shouldered the blame for the Great Depression. And Congressional Republican leaders, election pundits, and regular Republican voters, who still think they would be polling and faring better with any one of the other GOP candidates from the primaries or even one who sat the primaries out, are not only ignoring the overwhelming results from the primaries, but they're ignoring the realities of every election since 1992. Yes, the Republicans have won two presidential elections since then. But those wins were in spite of their less persuasive national message, not because of them. George W. Bush won in 2000, even while losing the popular vote, mostly because opponent Al Gore didn't connect personally with voters. He won again in 2004 mostly on the back of the incumbency advantage at the height of the war on terror. Trump knows, and has known all along, that no Republican can win unless he or she sweeps away the carcass of the national Republican Party first. No one can deny he's doing that, he's just doing it in a more clumsy and damaging way than necessary. No Republican, be it a man, woman, white, black, Latino or Asian, can successfully base their campaign on the enduring GOP pillars of tax cuts, strong defense, and protecting personal liberty anymore. As much as conservatives like me hold fast to these ideals, and as much as they are effective messages in congressional and statewide elections, the national electorate is less and less interested. The socialist ideological takeover of the Democratic Party and the surprising success of the Bernie Sanders campaign should have made that abundantly clear by now. Yes, the voters want change. But changing back to the party and the policies that held power just eight years ago is not enough change for them. So, an outsider to shake up the Republican brand was needed, and Trump was the only one willing to get into the fray. Trump seized on this right away by giving up on the lost cause of winning over the news media. He focused on a new set of issues, beginning with illegal immigration, an issue the GOP leadership had basically abandoned and passed on to right wing talk radio. He then pivoted to trade deals and outsourcing, an issue both parties had abandoned in favor of big corporate donors. And finally he took up the mantle of quasi-nativist nationalism, an issue all the demographic experts warned the Republicans had to ditch at all costs. Controversies aside, these positions helped Trump successfully brand himself as something other than the kind of Republican who had been running and losing national elections for years. The anti-Republican news media didn't go for it but so many primary voters did that the GOP presidential nomination contest was over early. But don't think for a minute that anyone, even an extremely popular and "acceptable" candidate, would be able to get this done neatly and quietly. We know this from history. That blame for the Depression cost the GOP five crushing presidential election defeats in a row from 1932 to 1948. By 1952, the need for a non-Republican outsider to change that was clear and the GOP got that in the unimpeachable General Dwight Eisenhower. That's well documented in history. But what isn't as well remembered is that there was still significant resistance to Ike from the loser GOP establishment, led by Senator Robert Taft, who bristled at the outsider takeover and also resented being passed over for the presidential nomination himself. Of course, Taft and his cronies were delusional if they thought they could have won the '52 election without Ike. It got ugly in the backrooms of the Senate until Taft finally gave up when Eisenhower made it clear he'd be fine running as a Democrat if need be. The GOP establishment almost went down the same foolish road a generation later when it tried to dump perceived outsider Ronald Reagan in March of 1980 by sending out feelers to former President Gerald Ford, of all people! Donald Trump is a far, far cry from a pristine outsider like Dwight Eisenhower or the dignified Ronald Reagan. Trump's character and record were much more suspect even before he got into politics. But nobody can deny Trump is not from that loser Republican brand. What people are having a tough time realizing is that, as bad as Trump is faring right now, he's still better than any of the other GOP options. Ignoring this is delusional behavior for all of the Republicans abandoning Trump right now and it's intellectually dishonest behavior from the supposedly objective experts in the media who were never going to support anyone but Clinton in the general election anyway. The hard truth is that, for Republicans who want to win the White House and for all the voters who say they really want change in Washington at all costs, Trump is still their best chance. Commentary by Jake Novak, supervising producer of "Power Lunch." Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. watch now watch now watch now HSBC , one of Britain's largest lenders, reported a year-on-year drop of almost 29 percent in first-half pre-tax profit, missing analysts' expectations. For the first six months of the year, HSBC logged a pre-tax profit of $9.71 billion, down 28.7 percent from $13.62 billion in the same period a year earlier and the $10 billion figure estimated by analysts in a Reuters poll. Revenue in the first half was down 4 percent at $27.86 billion. The bank reported $3.61 million in pre-tax profit for the second quarter, a sharp decline from the previous quarter's $6.11 billion figure. However, the bank also announced it would be conducting a share buy-back of up to $2.5 billion in the second half of 2016, adding that it would sustain its annual dividend at the current level for "the foreseeable future." Alice Tidey | CNBC Panama Papers In its interim report, HSBC said it had received requests from "various regulatory and law enforcement authorities around the world" for information on Mossack Fonseca & Co, the Panama law firm whose data was leaked earlier this year. HSBC was a major client of Mossack Fonseca, according to media reports, and has denied wrongdoing. It is alleged that banks and other entities used the law firm to help clients evade taxes. The investigation into Mossack Fonseca was one of multiple legal proceedings the bank detailed in its results. Others included litigation relating to the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, an investigation into loans sold by the bank to purchase mortgage securitizations before the global financial crisis and investigations into the alleged manipulation of Libor (London Interbank Offered Rate) and alleged non-compliance with anti-money laundering laws. "Litigation remains a key risk for the banking sector, and HSBC's report on the legal proceedings facing the bank reads like a barely trimmed-down version of 'War and Peace.' This includes a section on the Panama Papers, which states HSBC does not know at present what, if anything, the impact on the bank will be, but warns it could be significant," Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at FTSE 100-listed financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said in a note on Wednesday. After the results were out, Hong Kong-listed shares of HSBC were down 1.7 percent, unchanged from levels before the release, but HSBC's London-listed shares were up nearly 4 percent in early Wednesday trading on news of the buyback. Chief executive Stuart Gulliver wrote in a statement that the bank had performed "reasonably well in the first half in the face of considerable uncertainty," and that the reduction in profit reflected what had been a strong first half in 2015. Investors will closely analyze the bank's outlook following the historic Brexit vote in June, which saw the U.K. vote to exit the European Union (EU). Brexit Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker hands a pen to State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg after he signed a bill into law at the Statehouse, Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, in Boston. In a groundbreaking effort to close the wage gap between men and women, Massachusetts has become the first state to bar employers from asking about applicants' salaries before offering them a job. The new law will require hiring managers to state a compensation figure upfront based on what an applicant's worth is to the company, rather than on what he or she made in a previous position. The bipartisan legislation, signed into law on Monday by Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, is being pushed as a model for other states, as the issue of men historically outearning women who do the same job has leapt onto the national political scene. More from The New York Times: Sony is allowed to close deal with Michael Jackson's estate Has Wall Street been tamed? Morning agenda: Herbalife vs. activist: just maybe he's right Nationally, there have been repeated efforts to strengthen equal pay laws which are already on the books but tend to lack teeth but none have succeeded so far. Hillary Clinton has tried to make equal pay a signature issue of her campaign, while Donald J. Trump's daughter Ivanka praised her father for his actions on this issue when she spoke at the Republican National Convention. By barring companies from asking prospective employees how much they earned at their last jobs, Massachusetts will ensure that the historically lower wages and salaries assigned to women and minorities do not follow them for their entire careers. Companies tend to set salaries for new hires using their previous pay as a base line. "I think very few businesses consciously discriminate, but they need to become aware of it," said State Senator Pat Jehlen, a Democrat and one of the bill's co-sponsors. "These are things that don't just affect one job; it keeps women's wages down over their entire lifetime." Federal law already prohibits gender-based pay discrimination, but violations are hard to prove and wage gaps persist in nearly every industry. Nationally, women are paid 79 cents for every dollar that men earn, according to the United States Census Bureau. A number of factors affect that statistic, including the career fields women choose, but economists consistently find evidence of pay disparities not offset by other variables. The Massachusetts law, which will go into effect in July 2018, takes other steps as well to combat pay discrimination. Companies will not be allowed to prohibit workers from telling others how much they are paid, a move that proponents say can increase salary transparency and help employees discover disparities. And the law will require equal pay not just for workers whose jobs are alike, but also for those whose work is of "comparable character" or who work in "comparable operations." Workers with more seniority will still be permitted to earn higher pay, but the law effectively broadens the definition of what is equal work. Other states have also been stepping up their protections. In May, Maryland passed a law that requires equal pay for "comparable" work, and California last year enacted a law that is one of the nation's strictest, requiring employers to be able to prove that they pay workers of both genders equally for "substantially similar" jobs. It, too, had the backing of important local trade groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce. And Massachusetts joins at least 12 other states that already require companies to let employees compare notes about how much they are paid. The distinguishing feature in the Massachusetts law is that job seekers will no longer be compelled to disclose their salary or wages at their current or previous jobs which often leaves applicants with the nagging suspicion that they might have been offered more money if the earlier figure had been higher. People will still be allowed to volunteer their salary information. "This is a sea change, and we hope it will be used as a model in other states," said Victoria A. Budson, executive director of the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and chairwoman of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. The law in her state, she said, "will help every single individual who applies for a job, not just women." Efforts to pass a national anti-secrecy law, the Paycheck Fairness Act, have been repeatedly blocked by congressional Republicans. Opponents, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a powerful business lobbying group, say that such laws would increase litigation and unfairly restrict employers' compensation decisions. But proponents of equal pay laws say that attitudes are shifting among businesses. In Massachusetts, for instance, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce was an early and enthusiastic backer. "That really set the tone," said State Representative Ellen Story, a Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill. "Now it wasn't just members of the women's caucus, it was business leaders, too, asking for this." The Massachusetts attorney general will be in charge of enforcing the law, which also gives workers the right to sue companies directly for violations. In June, 28 businesses nationwide, including large employers like Gap, Pepsi and American Airlines, signed an Equal Pay Pledge promoted by the White House in which they committed to conducting annual audits of their pay by gender across all job categories. "Companies that want to do the right thing are seeing that these new laws really pose no threat," said Vicki Shabo, vice president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, which tracks the fair pay bills introduced in state legislatures. "It's absolutely started to pick up. These laws are not just passing in completely blue places," she added," they're passing with bipartisan votes." Businesses are also beginning to talk more openly about the often uncomfortable things those audits find. PricewaterhouseCoopers published the results of a pay analysis it did of its British staff. It found a 15.1 percent pay disparity between men and women, and changed its promotion practices to bring more women into senior leadership roles. Salesforce, a cloud software company, says it spent $3 million last year to raise the salaries of female employees to match their male counterparts. Academic research has illustrated the negative effect pay disparity has not just on individuals, but also on the broader economy. Closing the gender wage gap would lower the poverty rates in every state, according to an analysis by the Institute for Women's Policy Research. Just as important, according to advocates of equal pay, are the changing demographics in boardrooms and statehouses. Priceline.com app on a mobile device. Getty Images After the closing bell on Wednesday, TripAdvisor takes the stage with the hope that it won't follow in Expedia's footsteps. Analysts are looking for earnings per share of 42 cents on $408.04 million in revenue. Earnings per share estimates have been cut considerably since TripAdvisor's last report and now reflect a 23-percent decline from a year earlier. Revenue on a year-over-year basis is anticipated to jump 1 percent, a notable increase from the 3-percent decline last quarter. TripAdvisor has had a number of factors work in its favor this quarter. Initiatives like Instant Bookings have started to gain traction in both domestic and international markets. Customers around the world can now seamlessly book hotels through TripAdvisor, adding a potentially new layer of revenue moving forward. The company has also built up its mobile products, expanded into restaurant reservations and worked on effectively engaging and growing its user base. The biggest downside continues to be the increasingly stiff competition. TripAdvisor doesn't appear to be closing the gap on Expedia and Priceline any time soon. If anything, the two companies are widening their reach and consolidating the industry through frequent acquisitions. Priceline caps off the week with results this Thursday. The company is coming off a better-than-expected first quarter, during which results topped expectations on both the top and bottom line. Investors shouldn't assume a repeat performance though. Both revenue and EPS targets have been lowered considerably in the aftermath of the Brexit vote. Analysts are now calling for earnings per share of $12.79, up 4 percent from the same period last year, according to crowdsourced data. That estimate has dropped 17 percent since Priceline's last report in May. Revenue is anticipated to jump 14 percent to $2.6 billion, marking a second consecutive quarter of double-digit gains. In recent months, Priceline has been in the hot seat. The initial sign of trouble came during the company's first-quarter earnings call when management issued weak guidance, cautioning investors of difficulties ahead. However, the bigger concern came in late June when the UK voted to leave the European Union, which sent major currencies plunging. Priceline currently generates more than two-thirds of its revenue from Europe, so this could be a major blow for earnings in the near future. Long term, Priceline still has considerable upside. The company's investment in Chinese travel company Ctrip and the handful of acquisitions made in recent years will be important sources of revenue moving forward. Investors will likely need to withstand a few down quarters before reaching potentially better results in the future. Retired University of Montana Professor Harry Fritz and I recently returned after delivering a series of lectures on the U.S. political system at Nankai University in Tianjin, a city of 12 million people near the Chinese capitol of Beijing. This was my fourth trip to China. Americans who have been there know that Chinese cities are forests of building cranes on the tops of countless high-rise buildings. While one would think the construction boom that is powering Chinas domestic economy will reach a saturation point, the Chinese expect their population will support it. Projections show Chinas population of 1.4 billion falling to 1.125 billion over the next 50 years. That is why the government, has modified its one-child mandate, and now allows two children per family. According to the Chinese model, population sustains growth. Labor-intensive projects provide millions of jobs. Vast amounts of electrical power must be generated to keep Chinas manufacturing and employment colossus surging forward. China is a nation of builders, both for its domestic use, and for products exported abroad. The rapid rise of China has been likened to a rhino climbing into the canoe of world nations. It is greatly destabilizing. While Chinas economy will likely overtake ours, the huge population required to sustain it, also has to be sustained. Per capita income in China is improving, but it is only about $14,100 compared to more than $55,800 in the United States. Chinas push for productivity is primary. Environmental fallout from total economic emphasis is shocking. Montanans would say you could cut the air there with a knife While working at the University of Montana in 2006, I spent several weeks at Nankai University. On this recent visit, Fritz and I lectured to the senior-level international relations class of Professor Han Zhaoying. I had explained American politics and culture to that same class when I was there 10 years ago. All have had a minimum of 12 years of English. While few American college kids have any knowledge of Mandarin, no interpreter is necessary in communicating with many upper division college students in China. Though bright and motivated as ever, these students were also noticeably more reticent to express themselves than those I encountered a decade ago. The reason is probably because the new regime of Xi Jianping is returning to a tougher and more authoritarian form of Maoism. Xis fire wall of blocking information into China from the outside world has been surprisingly effective. The Communist Party has a greater hands-on presence in Chinese society now than when I was there previously. Students seemed clearly more uncomfortable about sharing their thoughts in class discussions. They were very aware of Chinese military expansion into the South China Sea. They accepted Xis construct that since China was once the worlds greatest civilization, and because of its new rise to economic greatness, China should expand its sphere of military influence to match the glory of its past. Essentially, Xi is sounding a theme that we have heard in our country. Hes going to make China great again. A highlight of our trip was attending the annual July 4 celebration sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. It was festive and patriotic. Montanas former senator, Max Baucus, now U.S. ambassador, spoke well and effectively as our countrys representative in China. Fritz and I felt deeply grateful for our freedoms symbolized there in China by American Independence Day. Baucus made us proud to be Americans and Montanans in this challenging time in world history. Bob Brown, of Whitefish, is a former Montana secretary of state and state Senate president. The report anticipates that iPhone sales in 2017 will be 222 million, up from its earlier forecast of 207 million. Additionally, its 2018 sales prediction has ballooned to 264 million from a previous 240 million, equaling an 18 percent rise. The figures acknowledge iPhone upgrade growth offsetting a fall in new users. Apple is on course to enjoy a 5 percent bump in its iPhone sales for 2017, followed by a strong gain of close to 20 percent in 2018, according to a UBS report released Wednesday. UBS reasons that a large existing consumer base and high retention rates mean inevitable growth for Apple. "The question of iPhone growth is a matter of when, not if," UBS asserts in its report. But Apple has a number of rivals aiming to take a slice of its business. Samsung Wednesday launched the Note 7, a premium smartphone released just ahead of Apple's iPhone 7 expected launch next month. Daniel Gleeson, senior analyst in consumer technology at Ovum, told CNBC via email: "There are signs that some of Apple's fans may be starting to tire of the brand," citing a drop in iPhone and iPad shipments, as well as the less successful Apple Watch. "If the new iPhone fails to excite consumers, the door opens for Samsung's very unique devices to steal significant market share from Apple." But, Apple continues to report momentum in poaching Android users, signifying the strength of its brand. Over 200 million iPhone users are yet to upgrade to a handset with a larger screen, say UBS, indicating that this could be a key consumer base for growth. However, Gleeson said that this group is "not a viable target for conversion," as "large screen smartphones are prevalent enough now for this group to have easily obtained one, so it's likely the smaller form factor is a key feature for this group." The company also saw a 14 percent increase month over month in trips that were not subsidized or otherwise paid for using coupons or credits. In July, 11.4 million of the 14 million rides the company performed in total were not subsidized, or 81 percent. The company also hit more than $2 billion in what it calls net ride value for the first time in its history, on a run-rate basis. Net ride value not to be confused with Lyft's revenue is the amount passengers pay without accounting for tips and tolls. Lyft takes anywhere from 20 to 25 percent of the fare, which means the company's run-rate revenue for the year is between $400 million and $500 million. That's 1.5 million more rides, or 12 percent more, than the company performed in June 2016 and amounts to 167 million rides on an annual run-rate basis, according to the document. July was a record month for Lyft , which performed 13.9 million rides, according to a letter the company sends its investors on a monthly basis that Recode obtained. Lyft also hit another milestone: It saw more than three million monthly active passengers, up from two million in February 2016. In that same month, the company added 825,000 new passengers and 50,000 new drivers to the platform. More from Recode: Didi's acquisition of Uber China throws the global anti-Uber alliance in doubt Tesla's 'master plan' for a network of self-driving cars may not work without a partner like Uber or Lyft Education startup Udacity will teach you how to build a self-driving car "Lyft attracted the largest number of new passengers and drivers in a single month, as well as the highest number of active passengers and drivers since inception," the document reads. The leaked document comes at a time when the company is under pressure to sell right after Uber sold its China operations to homegrown competitor Didi. The two companies have essentially agreed to operate a monopoly in China after years of battling for customers and riders through price enticements that made it hard to turn profit. Market dominance is more important than ever as ride-hailing startups look to turn a profit. Uber is likely to seek an IPO next year, and Lyft will have to find a buyer to help it better compete. As for its financials, while the letter did not go into specific figures, Lyft executives wrote that the company's 2015 GAAP revenue increased 6.3x year over year. Previously leaked investor presentations reported by Bloomberg show that the company expected to report $796 million in revenue in 2015 for a 512 percent increase, which matches up with the latest document. (The company defines GAAP revenue to include money that will be paid out to drivers, according to the Bloomberg report.) "During the first six months of 2016, Lyft exceeded the Company's full year 2015 operating results for ride volume, Net Ride Value and GAAP revenue," the document reads. "The Company remained under the Board approved budget during the first six months of 2016." While the company saw significant growth a month-to-month increase of 1.5 million rides is nothing to sneeze at the figures still position Lyft far behind its competitor, Uber. Lyft now performs at least 250,000 rides per month in 17 markets. That was only the case in three markets the year prior. Uber, on the other hand, hit its 100 millionth ride just in New York City on Monday evening. Now that the company has unloaded its China business, Uber is freed up to refocus on some of its other priorities: India, its self-driving efforts, UberPool and the U.S. The company has hired Qatalyst Partners to explore potential acquisition offers, and it is under added pressure to show that its growth rate justifies its spending. But one source told The Wall Street Journal that the company is burning $50 million a month and another said that the company posted an operating loss of $360 million in 2015. Though a chart included in the document indicates there was a dropoff in the number of rides performed between April and July, last month's growth bodes well for the company. Now it's up to Lyft to, at the very least, maintain that growth in rides while continuing to increase the number of unsubsidized rides the company performs. A Lyft spokesperson said they were not providing comment at this time. By Johana Bhuiyan, Re/code.net. CNBC's parent NBCUniversal is an investor in Recode's parent Vox, and the companies have a content-sharing arrangement. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence endorsed House Speaker Paul Ryan's re-election bid Wednesday, a day after running mate Donald Trump declined to do so. In a phone interview with Fox News, Pence backed the Wisconsin congressman in his bid against a primary challenger. The Indiana governor said Trump and Ryan would "do great things" if elected. "I spoke to Donald Trump this morning about my support for Paul Ryan, our longtime friendship. He strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday's primary. I'm pleased to do it," Pence told Fox. Trump told The Washington Post on Tuesday that he was not ready to endorse Ryan or Sen. John McCain of Arizona in their primary bids. Ryan endorsed Trump months ago, but the billionaire developer said he was "not quite there yet" on endorsing the Wisconsin Republican. Trump's comments to the newspaper marked just one strange turn in a bizarre few days for his presidential campaign. He said Ryan asked for his endorsement, a statement Ryan's office later denied. Trump previously praised Ryan's opponent Paul Nehlen, who came to Trump's defense in a public spat with the parents of a Muslim-American soldier killed in combat. The Khan family criticized Trump at the Democratic National Convention and in media appearances following the event. watch now watch now watch now In a race against global superpowers, Moon Express a private venture founded by billionaire entrepreneur Naveen Jain, space technology guru Dr. Barney Pell and space futurist Dr. Bob Richards has cleared a path for private U.S . companies looking to explore and commercialize space. Today the company is the first private enterprise in history to receive U.S. government approval to travel beyond Earth's orbit and undertake a deep space mission. The goal: to land a robotic spacecraft on the moon's surface in 2017 and analyze and explore its valuable resources that can be used on Earth. The moon is a treasure chest that has vast amounts of iron ore, water, rare Earth minerals and precious metals, as well as carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and helium-3, a gas that can be used in future fusion reactors to provide nuclear power without radioactive waste. Experts concur that the value of these resources are in the trillions of dollars. The moon can also serve as a fuel depot station for interplanetary space exploration. It has massive amounts of ice (H 2 O) trapped on the lunar poles that can be used for rocket fuel. "Getting this approval shows what a few entrepreneurs are capable of," said Chairman Naveen Jain. "It's a good first step for commercial space pioneers." The landmark ruling issued by the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation provides for interagency approval of the Moon Express 2017 lunar mission under the authority of the Secretary of Transportation, NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies to review and license commercial payloads missions in outer space. It adds a series of voluntary disclosures to help the federal government fulfill its supervisory obligations under the Outer Space Treaty and ensure U.S. national security. Moon Express required this special ruling because the U.S. government has no standard method in place that would authorize and license private commercial mission operations to outer space, including the moon. "This is as much a giant leap for government as it is for private enterprise," said Charles Chafer, CEO of Space Services Holdings and co-founder of Celestis, a space burial service. Millions are at stake for Moon Express. As part of Google's Lunar XPRIZE competition, the company stands to be awarded $20 million if it successfully lands a commercial spacecraft on the moon, travels 500 meters across its surface and sends high-definition images and video back to Earth. Rendering of "Moon Express" Source: Moon Express Already, Moon Express has six payloads on its manifest for its first mission, planned for the second half of next year. According to Moon Express CEO Richards, customers include Google Lunar X Prize; the International Lunar Observatory; Celestis; and a partnership between the University of Maryland and the National Laboratories of Frascati, Italy. The mission will be a baseline where a camera will be set up to take photos and video. According to Richards, the International Lunar Observatory plans to put a "mooncam" (a small astronomical observatory) accessible on the internet on the moon's surface. Google plans to provide access to these images through YouTube democratizing information about this important celestial body. The company also expects NASA will send one or two payloads on the first Moon Express mission, Richards said. Dr. Christopher McKay, an astrobiologist at NASA Ames Research Center who is involved in planning for future Mars missions, has expressed interest in sending an incubated mustard seed plant to the moon to see how plants can be gestated in lunar gravity and radiation. This should have a positive impact on the world and offers new paths for the future of humanity. Dr. Barney Pell co-founder and vice chairman, Moon Express The Montana Department of Justice has posted an AMBER alert for a teenager who was last seen in Sheridan, Mont., and possibly headed for Billings. The girl, Sandy Moore, 16, was last seen on Wednesday morning wearing a white shirt with black short sleeves and jeans. She wears glasses. Moore may be traveling in a black 1987 Ford pickup with a Montana license plate bearing a "3" county identification number. The pickup has a white toolbox, a green bicycle in the back and is pulling a tan and white fifth-wheel trailer with a red generator and blue cover. The suspected driver is 60-year-old Rodney Lee Zahn, a registered violent offender. Zahn is white, 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 135 pounds. He has brown eyes, gray and brown short hair, a Tazmanian Devil arm tattoo and a cross tattoo on his left hand. Authorities believe Moore was taken from her home during the night. They may be headed for Billings or Boise. Moore is 5 feet, 7 inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Madison County Sheriff's Office at 406-843-5301 or local law enforcement. Square shares gained as much as 17 percent on Thursday, building on an after-hours boost from its Wednesday earnings report. Square reported a narrower-than-expected loss on Wednesday as it got more new sellers, and large sellers processed more payments. "People want to believe in [co-founder and CEO] Jack Dorsey people want to believe in Square," Eric Jackson, managing director of SpringOwl Asset Management, told CNBC's "Squawk Alley" on Thursday. "There's no question this was a great quarter, great results. If he can keep doing more of these, more of these on the scoreboard, what's not to like?" watch now The payment technology company posted a loss of 8 cents per share on revenue of $439 million in the second fiscal quarter. Analysts expected Square to report a shortfall of 11 cents per share on sales of $406 million, according to a Thomson Reuters consensus estimate. That's compared to a loss of 20 cents per share on total net revenue of $310 million in the year-earlier period. Shares were up nearly 14 percent in extended trading after the report. Shares of the payment technology company have fallen more than 10 percent this year after it posted a wider-than-expected loss in the first quarter. Following Square's public debut in November, the company has been in the spotlight as co-founder Dorsey juggles duties with his other venture, Twitter. Jack Dorsey, co-founder and CEO of Square and Twitter. Louis Ascui | Fairfax | Getty Images Payment volume, a key metric for Wall Street, increased 42 percent year-over-year to $12.5 billion, driven by new-seller growth, the company said. Larger sellers, that generate more than $125,000 in annualized payment volume, saw payment volume grow 61 percent year-on-year in the quarter, Square said in a shareholder letter. Stifel analyst Scott Devitt wrote Thursday that investors should be encouraged with the growth in Square's ancillary business, which is "key to long term profitability." Move toward large sellers Square credited its intuitive design, cohesiveness with other services, and fast access to capital for the boost from large sellers. CEO Jack Dorsey said now that the company is at a point where it can scale to large sellers, its looking toward more horizontal services like employee management. "There's more questions as you get larger, so we've been applying a lot of machine learning and data science," Dorsey said of Square's onboarding services on a conference call with analysts. "We're finding that larger sellers come to us because of our brand. They see us around their neighborhood." Plus, sellers from early cohorts have now grown to the size where they may need more services, chief financial officer Sarah Friar told investors in the conference call. "Now that the product has become much more sophisticated, they are able to use it for their entire business," Friar said. Card readers Square, which focuses on mobile payment options for small businesses, has been working on faster deposit times and expanding the forms of payment that can be accepted with contactless and chip readers. It's also said to be eyeing a foray into Europe. The company said ongoing sales of the new contactless and chip readers remains strong, with hardware revenue rising 209 percent year-over-year. Dorsey noted that though Square has one of the fastest EMV chip readers in the business, as customers get frustrated with slower transaction time, Square has been pushing contactless payments like Apple Pay at events like music festival Coachella. On top of that, it works over Bluetooth, which could help sellers stay ahead of rumors that Apple may eliminate headphone jacks. "We've been really pleased with the momentum of the contactless and chip reader," Dorsey said. "One thing we've been really impressed with is the scale in the terms of large sellers and small sellers." Sales from coffee behemoth Starbucks brought $33 million into the company, but that's expected to decline as Starbucks transitions to a new payments processor. Still, the company raised its full-year guidance for adjusted revenue and adjusted earnings before taxes. Short term it's a great victory, long-term it's a problem. Square faces massive competition from everywhere. Vivek Wadhwa Distinguished professor of engineering at Carnegie Mellon University Pundits were quick to point out the benefits Sen. Tim Kaine may bring Hillary Clinton as her running mate in helping win his home-and-battleground state of Virginia. But what flew under the radar was that Kaine may play a key role in helping Clinton raise money, especially when it comes to Wall Street. Clinton has proven herself a capable fundraiser, announcing nearly $90 million in contributions for the past month. The former secretary of state is a known quantity with Wall Street as well, having delivered speeches to banks and representing the heart of the financial services industry as a senator from New York. In the lead-up to Clinton's pick of a running mate, the potential that she might choose Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren who has made cracking down on banks a centerpiece of her agenda had Wall Street ready to tighten its pockets for donations. But with Kaine, Clinton gets a running mate who is not anathema to Wall Street, rather one with a proven history of fundraising from the financial services industry. Across the board, Kaine has relationships with a variety of industries and is a proven fundraiser. He was inaugurated as Virginia's governor in 2006, and according to the Virginia Public Access Project, he raised more than $15 million over the course of that campaign. Starting in 2009, he served two years as the chair of the Democratic National Committee, where he oversaw national party fundraising. When he ran for a Senate seat in the 2012 election cycle, he raised more than $17 million, according to federal filings. "You don't win those races without raising money," said former Virginia Democratic Party Chairman C. Richard "Dickie" Cranwell. "There's no question that Tim will bring some fundraising capability to the campaign." Over the course of Kaine's time in Virginia state-level politics, including his term as lieutenant governor from 2002 to 2006, the financial services industry contributed more than $4 million to Kaine, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Some of Kaine's top donors to his statewide races included billionaire investor George Soros, former Goldman Sachs vice president Michael Bills and Berkshire Hathaway portfolio manager Ted Weschler. As governor, Kaine brings a solid economic record despite taking office just before the Great Recession hit. While in the governor's mansion, Kaine voiced support for a number of pro-business positions including Virginia's "right-to-work" law and eliminating the state's estate tax. During his Senate campaign in the 2012 cycle, Kaine continued to rake in cash from the financial services industry. He received donations from numerous bankers and financial leaders like then-JPMorgan investment banking chief James E. "Jes" Staley, Highbridge Capital Management co-founder Glenn Dubin, former World Bank and Capital One CFO Gary Perlin and Chairman of Apollo Investment John Hannan, according to federal filings. In the Senate, Kaine has taken a number of pro-business positions as well, supporting looser regulation for regional banks and voting for fast-track trade authority though he has since opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. That is not to say Kaine does not align with the rest of his party on several key issues as a legislator, and he has a 96 percent lifetime rating from labor federation AFL-CIO and a 91 percent lifetime rating from the environmental group League of Conservation Voters. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce gives Kaine a cumulative 52 percent rating. And as a potential vice president, Kaine backs Clinton's plan for Wall Street, which would impose certain fees and taxes and expand regulators' authority. In an email, Kaine spokesperson Amy Dudley wrote that "Sen. Kaine strongly supports Hillary Clinton's tough Wall Street reform plan the strongest of any candidate because he believes that Wall Street can never be allowed to wreck Main Street again, and that the measure of our success must be defined by how much incomes rise for hard-working families, not just CEOs and money managers." Kaine's fundraising prowess with the financial sector has led to some criticism and could provide fodder for more down the road. Republican nominee Donald Trump has tweeted that "Tim Kaine is, and always has been, owned by the banks." Tweet 1 Of course, fundraising is an important part of a political campaign, but it is not a decisive characteristic in picking a vice presidential nominee. In 1904, the Democrats nominated railroad tycoon and former West Virginia Sen. Henry Davis as the party's vice presidential candidate, attracted by deep pockets the party hoped could help fund the presidential campaign. Since then, vice presidential nominees have become more about the political gain they offer the top of the ticket during a campaign, and their ability to govern if elected. But one of the leading vice presidential scholars, St. Louis University professor Joel Goldstein, said that fundraising assistance does come along with the nomination. "Part of the campaign activity is to participate in fundraising," Goldstein said. "Once you are picked, it's an expectation that if you have access, that you'll use it, and of course you have an incentive to use it." Donald Trump has succeeded in dominating the national conversation over the past several months. And corporate conference calls are not immune from talk of the Republican presidential candidate. Over the past month, Trump has been mentioned by name on five companies' earnings calls, in contexts that range from the opportunistic, to the blase, to the comical. On real estate firm Boston Properties ' call, the company's executive vice president for the San Francisco region, Robert Pester, talked up a new building by saying, to chuckles, "I think Donald Trump would refer to the building as something really, really special." A more serious take on the election came from David Lougee, president of the media arm of Tegna , formerly known as Gannett. Tegna runs a large local TV station business, which is a classic beneficiary of a close (or more specifically, well-funded) presidential election, due to ad purchases by campaigns and interested groups. In a late July earnings call, Lougee began by saying the company is "positioned very, very well for that main event. We're in states that matter most, including Ohio, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado and Michigan." "I also want to address the so-called Trump factor," the executive continued, in what appears a reference to the unusual and controversial nature of the candidate. "We have contested Senate races in Ohio, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina and Arizona, and the Trump factor may widen the playing field further and open up other races. For instance, he and Hillary Clinton are now polling neck and neck in one poll in Georgia." For Thomas Fanning, CEO of Southern Co , the outcome of the "main event" may not matter too much. On the utility company's earnings call, Fanning said: "We can get caught up in the politics of what each party's planks are and everything else, but I'll say this. I'm reasonably confident that either administration, whether it's Clinton or Trump, will be good for our industry." Meanwhile, Nicholas Akins, CEO of utility company American Electric Power , took a different tone. Observing that "coal country" has been "a hugely depressed area," Akins turned a gimlet eye toward both candidate's proposed plans. "Hillary Clinton wants to just, I guess, do several billion focused on rehabilitating from a jobs perspective and that kind of thing. That seems like a longer-term issue," he said. "And of course, Donald Trump is on the other side, saying he's putting the miners back to work. And I don't know exactly how that works," Akins said. "But either way, I think both of them, they really ought to be focused on reinvigorating that part of the country." The boldest comments came from Steve Wynn, CEO of Wynn Resorts . In the midst of a politically charged soliloquy on the company's late July conference call, Wynn said: "The issue about what's going to happen with the election isn't so much an issue of Trump versus Clinton at the moment. It's a question of whether the House and the Senate and the executive branch can get together and make Americans feel safer and have a fiscal and monetary policy that isn't self-destructive, which currently it is." He went on to discuss everything from student loans, to the current level of the euro, to allegations of currency manipulation, to the money-filled wheelbarrows of Germany's Weimar Republic. "So count me as one of those old white guys that's frustrated," the casino magnate concluded. Supporters of republican presidential candidate Donald Trump take photos with phones at a rally at the Connecticut Convention Center on April 15, 2016 in Hartford, Connecticut. Getty Images Donald Trump is a social media phenom with 10.6 million Twitter followers and 10.1 million fans on Facebook. But the love for the Republican presidential nominee ends there, at least at those companies. Inside the walls of the internet companies, a total of three employees two from Facebook and one from Twitter contributed a combined $3,400 to Trump's campaign for president, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. His Democratic competitor Hillary Clinton, by contrast, has 349 financial supporters from the two companies with donations totaling $187,100. The maximum amount an individual can give to a campaign is $2,700. (The data cover the period from April 2015 through June 2016. Some donors no longer work at the companies.) Trump's obsession with self-publishing on the websites is no secret. It's how he promotes his rallies, defends himself when attacked, ridicules the media and goes after his rival, most notably with the Twitter hashtag #CrookedHillary. But he's notoriously unpopular in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the technology industry has soundly criticized Trump's proposals to restrict immigration and trade and his perceived denigration of women and minorities. Ahead of the Republican National Convention last month, more than 140 tech leaders, including executives from Twitter and Facebook, wrote an open letter opposing Trump's "divisive" candidacy and its threat to American business and innovation. Campaign contributions Donors Facebook employees Twitter employees Total Trump 2 1 3 $ $700 $2,700 $3,400 Clinton 269 80 349 $ $154,650 $32,450 $187,100 Source: Source: Center for Responsive Politics "You have this guy who's an incredibly aggressive social media user but doesn't have any other points of resonance or commonality with the people who are creating the technology," said Paul Holland, a general partner at Silicon Valley venture firm Foundation Capital and a supporter of Clinton in this election. "His demeanor and behavior are way more aligned with a sophomore in high school than a 70-year-old businessman with immense things at stake." On Tuesday, Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman became the latest high-profile Republican to turn on Trump, calling him a "demagogue" and pledging her support for Clinton. Hope Hicks, Trump's spokeswoman, declined to comment, as did a spokesman for Menlo Park, California-based Facebook . A Twitter representative didn't respond to a request for comment. There are certain days when Trump seemingly lives on social media. On Tuesday, he posted more than 10 messages on each site on topics including trade deals, a rally in Virginia and a New York Post story about Clinton's supposed ties to Russia. He also sent a tweet calling Barack Obama "perhaps the worst president in the history of the United States!" tweet The bombastic spontaneity has gotten him in some trouble. At last week's Democratic National Convention, the Muslim parents of a U.S. Army captain killed in the Iraq War criticized Trump for his proposed Muslim ban and for having never sacrificed anything. Trump fought back against the father, Khizr Khan, on TV and on Twitter, saying he'd been "viciously attacked." Members of his own party sided with Khan. His Twitter addiction was highlighted in Clinton's convention speech as a warning to the American people. "A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons," Clinton said on Thursday night in Philadelphia. Trump's support nationwide has plunged since the end of the DNC. FiveThirtyEight.com now gives Clinton a 68 percent chance of winning, according to the site's polls-only forecast. Clinton is no stranger to social media. She has 8.1 million Twitter followers, 5.3 million Facebook fans and an established technology operation, led by an ex-Google executive. In July 2014, the former first lady and secretary of state visited Twitter in San Francisco and Facebook in Silicon Valley, conducting question-and-answer sessions at both campuses. Clinton's fundraising advantage at the social media companies is mirrored across the industry. Internet businesses have donated $1.5 million to her campaign and related outside groups, over 100 times more than the $13,308 they've contributed to Trump, according to the CRP. Seven Republicans, all who were beaten by Trump in the primary, raised more from the tech sector than the nominee. watch now One notable outlier though he hasn't donated to the Trump campaign is Facebook director Peter Thiel. The billionaire venture capitalist is a Trump supporter and was given a prime-time speaking slot at the convention. Clinton's donors from Facebook include Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer; Mike Schroepfer, chief technology officer; and David Marcus, head of messaging products. While company employees are free to support who they'd like, the platforms are under intense pressure to remain agnostic. Twitter's trending topics feature is controlled by an algorithm and caters to individual users based on their location and who they follow. Increasingly, Twitter is proactively suspending accounts from members deemed violent and abusive, a step that some critics claim restricts free speech. The company recently banned Trump supporter and Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos for directing abusive language at numerous users, including comedian Leslie Jones. In May, Facebook faced allegations from conservatives of political bias in its trending topics section, leading to a public outcry and an internal investigation. Colin Stretch, Facebook's general counsel, wrote in a statement on May 23 that while the probe found no evidence of "systemic bias" in how stories were presented, the company "could not fully exclude the possibility of isolated improper actions or unintentional bias in the implementation of our guidelines or policies." The social network said it was implementing several changes such as additional training for reviewers and greater oversight of the team. Twitter and Facebook both have political action committees, which contribute to candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives. When compared to their employees, the companies have been much more balanced in party distribution. Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, delivers a speech during the evening session on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention on July 21, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images "I dont like her. But shes a known quantity and being a New York senator, shes industry friendly. And thats why Ive changed my mind on voting for Trump." It's widely known that Clinton has taken a ton of money from the Street but she has recently joined Donald Trump in talking tough against the industry. She is making income inequality and financial regulation part of her campaign narrative. She has vowed to re-regulate the financial industry and go after the trillion-dollar derivatives industry to protect taxpayers. But most Wall Streeters see that as an effort to placate the Democratic base and reel in Bernie Sanders votes. "They both have to talk against the industry," said Bill, a hedge-fund portfolio manager. "Otherwise, they'll lose votes." For sure, Wall Streeters think both Trump and Clinton are dishonest in some ways. But it's not about honesty for them. It's about the risk factor. And Trump is a gigantic risk. "I don't like her," Michael, a hedge-fund trader said. "But she's a known quantity and being a New York senator, she's industry friendly. And that's why I've changed my mind on voting for Trump." "I was going to vote for Trump, but she's the safe pick." said John, a program trader. "With Trump, there's too much uncertainty. It's not good for the markets." On Wall Street, there's something known as "headline risk." It's basically the possibility that a news story will unfavorably affect a stock's price or the entire market in general. And most of the people I spoke with who are still considering a Trump vote voiced this as their biggest concern. "Trump is a loose cannon," said Nancy, a sell-side trader. "He's not particularly talented or smart. And he's full of sh--. I think his policies are anti-growth and if he wins there's a much higher chance of black swan events." (Those are events that occur beyond normal expectations a phrase popularized by risk expert Nassim Taleb in his book, "The Black Swan.") But there are still some on the Street who plan on voting for Donald Trump. One of the more influential industry professionals beating the Trump drum is Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge Capital. He believes Trump will be good for the economy because he'll cut back on business-limiting regulations and bring in tax reform. Trump also has the backing of hedge-fund titan John Paulson and billionaire investor Carl Icahn. Despite their best efforts, the possibility of a Trump win isn't priced into the market. "Donald Trump can't move the markets," Bill said. "He can say anything and the market doesn't believe him. But Clinton needs to be much more careful with her words. She can move markets." If investors believed that Trump was going to be victorious, then you'd see an asset allocation out of U.S. businesses that produce their goods overseas and into the companies that deal solely with domestic customers and suppliers. You would also expect a sharp selloff of the Mexican stock market. And as of yet, nobody is placing their Trump casino chips down on the election roulette table. The consensus? Stocks don't lie politicians do. Commentary by Turney Duff, a former trader at the hedge fund Galleon Group. Duff chronicled the spectacular rise and fall of his career on Wall Street in the book, "The Buy Side." He is a commentator on CNBC's "Filthy Rich Guide" and a consultant on the Showtime show, "Billions," starring Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti. Follow him on Twitter @turneyduff. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCOpinion on Twitter. MISSOULA The telephone in Home Depot sounded at 5:15 a.m. Tuesday and kept right on ringing all day long, said manager Tanya Kuhl. Customers, she said of the callers, the media. Anyone and everyone who reads Facebook. The previous afternoon, Jennifer Nunnally told the world in other words, Facebook that she needed to vent. Her husband, Corey, who worked at the Missoula Home Depot, was deployed to the Roaring Lion fire in Hamilton this week, after fighting fire in Billings the previous week. But after he went to Billings, she wrote, home depot FIRED him. Shame on you Home Depot, I will gladly take my business to Lowes and other local business, where they support their military, first responders and fire fighters and give them a secure job to come home to after saving lives, homes and animals while risking their own life. Others quickly joined Nunnally in piling on. Make this crap go viral! Shame on Home Depot, posted Jovan Uribe. Go viral it did. By 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jennifer Nunnally's post had been shared nearly 11,000 times, with comments a-plenty that echoed Uribes sentiment. Nunnally did not respond to messages left seeking comment. But Kuhl confirmed that Corey Nunnally had worked at Home Depot as a seasonal employee. Nunnally was among several seasonal employees recently let go as scheduled, she said, adding, for no other reason. He remains hireable. As a small, open economy with strong ties to the U.S., Ireland stands to lose if Trump lives up to his rhetoric and sets up barriers to trade such as import levies. Exports account for around 10 percent of Ireland's economy, making it the most exposed country of any in the 19-country euro zone, according to Nomura economists. Donald Trump's bold statements against free trade have startled Europe, but Ireland may have more to fear than the rest of the euro zone if the Republican candidate makes it to the White House. Charles St-Arnaud and Anna Titareva at the bank calculate Irish gross domestic product (GDP) will fall by around 2.4 percentage points if exports to the U.S. decline by one-fifth under Trump's proposed trade controls. That compares to an average knock to euro zone GDP of only 0.5 percentage points. The economists reckoned euro zone exports to the U.S. would fall because of Trump's proposed 20 percent import tax. Plus, foreign direct investment (FDI) would likely be hit by his proposed one-off 10 percent tax on U.S. companies' repatriated earnings. Other proposed measures to keep U.S. businesses at home are a 15 percent flat corporation tax, compared with the current 35 percent and a 15 percent tax for outsourcing jobs. "Within the euro zone, Ireland is particularly exposed to trade and FDI shocks that could stem from Mr Trump's policy proposals The weaker growth resulting from a potential decline in imports and US investment could mean weaker government revenue, leading to higher fiscal risks and yields in some countries such as Ireland," St-Arnaud and Titareva said in a report on Tuesday. The U.S. is Ireland's main destination for exports, with 24 percent of its goods for export heading there in 2015, according to official data from the European Union. The James A. FitzPatrick nuclear-power plant in Scriba. Photo credit: Entergy website. ALBANY, N.Y. The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) approved New Yorks clean-energy standard, a decision that the IBEW union contends will keep the James A. FitzPatrick nuclear-power plant in Scriba operating well into the future. IBEW is short for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents workers at the FitzPatrick plant and others in upstate New York. In a news release about the PSC approval, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo describes the clean-energy standard as the most comprehensive and ambitious clean-energy mandate in the states history, to fight climate change, reduce harmful air pollution, and ensure a diverse and reliable energy supply. Under the standard, utility customers in the state will pay almost $500 million a year in subsidies aimed at keeping some upstate nuclear power plants operating, according to a Monday New York Times article. Cuomos office said that will cost less than $2 a month to the average residential customers bill. The clean-energy standard (CES) will require 50 percent of New Yorks electricity to come from renewable-energy sources like wind and solar by 2030, with an aggressive, phase-in schedule over the next several years, it added. In its initial phase, utilities and other energy suppliers will be required to procure and phase in new renewable-power resources starting with 26.31 percent of the states total electricity load in 2017 and grow to 30.54 percent of the statewide total in 2021. Plant sale discussions New Orleans, Louisianabased Entergy Corp. (NYSE: ETR), which owns the FitzPatrick nuclear-power plant, on July 13 announced that it is in discussions with Exelon Corp. (NYSE: EXC) for the potential sale of the FitzPatrick nuclear-power plant. Entergy on Nov. 2, 2015 announced plans to close and decommission the plant. The FitzPatrick facility employs more than 600 workers, who would lose their jobs with its closure. Chicago, Illinoisbased Exelon operates the Nine Mile Point nuclear-power station, which is also located in Scriba. Bill Mohl, president of Entergy wholesale commodities, indicated in a news release that the company is working with Exelon to come to commercial terms on a sale transaction that depends largely on the final terms and timeliness of the New York State Clean Energy Standard. The effort, according to Mohl, is part of Entergys corporate strategy to move away from merchant power markets and toward a company operating exclusively as a utility in regulated markets. In addition to the clean-energy standard, any transaction between Entergy and Exelon would be subject to completion of definitive commercial agreements, as well as regulatory approvals, Entergy said. IBEW reaction The CES includes a nuclear provision that will value Upstate nuclear plants for the carbon-free energy that they produce, the IBEW said in a statement released Monday afternoon. Ted Skerpon, chairman of the IBEW Utility Labor Council of New York, issued the following statement in reaction to the PSC decision. Thanks to Gov. Cuomo and the [PSC], our Upstate nuclear plants, Ginna, Nine Mile Point and FitzPatrick, will continue to operate well into the future, providing clean energy today to help us meet our clean energy goals of tomorrow, said Skerpon. Additional reaction The implementation of the CES makes this a momentous day for the state of New York and the Upstate communities that have waited anxiously for months for this moment, L. Michael Treadwell, CEO of the County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency and member of the Upstate Energy Jobs Coalition, said in a statement released Monday afternoon. However, not everyone is happy with the PSCs decision. The Business Council of New York State, Inc., a business-advocacy organization, also released a statement on the decision. With todays action, it is clear the Public Service Commission has failed to properly evaluate the significant costs associated with the Clean Energy Standard. This failure will cost New York State businesses billions of dollars and put current and future New York manufacturing jobs, and jobs in other energy-intensive sectors, in mortal danger. Had the PSC properly understood the cost of this policy, the Commission could have modified the Clean Energy Standard to ensure that electric power was provided at just and reasonable rates for all customers, Darren Suarez, director of government affairs for the Business Council, said. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com A drone that officials made available for viewing at Syracuse Universitys Manley Field House when the NUAIR Alliance on Jan. 3, 2014 announced New York Citybased Flyterra as the first client to begin unmanned-aircraft testing (UAS) at Hancock Air Field as part of the NUAIR test site of drones. New York has announced plans to invest $5 million to support and grow the emerging unmanned-aerial systems (UAS) industry in New York. (Eric Reinhardt / BJNN file photo) New York State plans to invest $5 million to support and grow the emerging unmanned-aerial systems (UAS) industry in Upstate. Unmanned-aerial systems are also referred to as drones. With this initial funding, the state will bolster the ongoing efforts to create a hub for UAS innovation and manufacturing in upstate New York, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release issued Tuesday. The hub will be specifically supporting concepts originated by NASA, Cuomos office said. The concepts will include the planning and design of next-generation, unmanned-aerial, traffic-management infrastructure; national UAS standardized testing and rating facilities; and an innovation district dedicated to unmanned systems in a corridor between the cities of Syracuse and Rome. With the announcement of this significant investment, New York State is furthering its commitment to the efforts of focusing on this emerging field. We are determined to ensure that our state is well-positioned when it comes to the burgeoning unmanned-aircraft system industry, Howard Zemsky, president, CEO, & commissioner of Empire State Development, said in Cuomos release. The announcement follows Zemskys participation in a policy workshop on drones and the future of aviation that the White House Office of Science and Technology hosted Tuesday. The $5 million in funding launches New Yorks commitment to growing the drone industry through the strategies outlined in the Central NY Rising plan. Aerospace firms, such as the DeWitt plant of Saab; the Salina location of Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT); and the Cicerobased SRC Inc, and regional organizations, such as the NUAIR Alliance, are supporting the effort, Cuomos office said. The nonprofit NUAIR Alliance is short for Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance. NUAIR operates a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-designated drone test site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome. The future of UAS traffic-management standards, innovation, and technology is poised to take root in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said in Cuomos release. This investment is among the first in the New York States multimillion dollar commitment through the CNY Rising plan to further develop this sector here. Its validation that, with private-sector expertise, broad industry partnerships, and an FAA-designated test site, we have a leading role to play in the global development of the UAS industry, said Simpson. Simpson is also co-chair of the Central New York regional economic-development council. The announcement also complements Central NY Rising, the regions winning plan in Cuomos 2015 Upstate economic-development contest that some media outlets dubbed, Upstate Hunger Games. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com (Eric Reinhardt / BJNN File Photo) SYRACUSE, N.Y. St. Josephs Hospital Health Center has been ordered to pay $3.2 million for seeking Medicaid payments for mental-health services rendered by unqualified staff in its comprehensive psychiatric emergency program (CPEP). The Syracuse hospital violated the federal and New York False Claims Act in making the false claims for payment to New Yorks Medicaid program, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a news release issued Monday. He made the announcement with U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian. Medicaid is a jointly funded federal-state program that provides health care to needy individuals. The $3.2 million payment settles a whistleblower lawsuit, according to a news release from the Rochester law firm of Thomas & Solomon LLP. Attorneys Nelson Thomas, Michael Lingle, and Jonathan Ferris represented the whistleblower in the case, the firm said. The release didnt name the individual described as the whistleblower. That person will receive $560,000 of the settlement proceeds after St. Josephs makes full payment, Schneidermans office said. The lawsuit, which was originally filed under seal in July 2014, led to the investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York and the New York State Attorney Generals Office. Mental-health staffing requirements are intended to protect the public and avoid the waste of public funds by ensuring that services are delivered by qualified personnel in a meaningful way, Schneiderman said in his release. St. Josephs is pleased to bring the matter to a resolution, Kathryn Ruscitto, president and CEO of St. Josephs Health, said in a statement the organization released Monday afternoon. We fully cooperated with the U.S. Attorneys Office / Northern New York District and the New York Attorney Generals Office throughout the course of their inquiries. We remain confident that St. Josephs personnel, working in our state-certified mobile crisis outreach program, acted appropriately and in the best interests of our patients. We settled this matter to avoid the delay, uncertainty and the high expense of bringing this case to trial as well as the potential disruption to our mission of caring for our patients and communities, said Ruscitto. Case background St. Josephs CPEP provides evaluation and treatment for individuals suffering from an acute mental-health crisis. The CPEPs mobile crisis-outreach unit provides initial evaluation and assessment and crisis-intervention services to individuals in Onondaga and Madison counties who are unable or unwilling to use hospital-based crisis-intervention services in the emergency room. The mobile-crisis unit also provides interim crisis services for patients discharged from the emergency room who require follow up care from a mental-health professional. New York has issued regulations governing the staffing of CPEPs, Schneidermans office said. The regulations say that at least two CPEP staff members shall be present whenever crisis-intervention services are rendered outside of an emergency room. One of the CPEP staff members must be a member of the professional staff, according to Schneidermans office. Professional staff includes credentialed alcohol counselors, physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, registered professional nurses, rehabilitation counselors, and social workers. The regulations stipulate compliance with these staffing requirements as a condition for payment of claims for CPEP services, making clear that use of qualified staff is a prerequisite for government payment of Medicaid claims for these services. The settlements resolve allegations that St. Josephs knowingly presented false claims for payment to Medicaid for mobile-crisis outreach services rendered from Jan. 1, 2007 through Feb. 29, 2016 by personnel who failed to satisfy the basic CPEP staffing requirements. By submitting claims for payment to Medicaid without disclosing that its CPEP staff failed to meet the regulatory staffing requirements, and by accepting payment for these claims, the governments allege that St. Josephs misrepresented its compliance with mental health staffing requirements that are central to the provision of counseling services and, by doing so, violated the False Claims Act, Schneidermans office said. As part of the settlements, St. Josephs admits that it was improper to have conducted mobile crisis-outreach visits without a member of its CPEP professional staff present and then bill Medicaid for such services. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com August 3, 2016 A space shuttle cockpit that was used to train all of the crews that launched on board the winged orbiters has landed in Oklahoma, where it will be displayed at a museum named for a veteran NASA astronaut. The Stafford Air & Space Museum, located in Weatherford, Oklahoma, announced Wednesday (Aug. 3) its acquisition of the fixed-based simulator (FBS), a high-fidelity replica of the shuttle's flight deck and partial middeck, which was in use for three decades at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "Each of the 135 astronaut crews to fly the space shuttle conducted a significant part of their primary training in the FBS," museum officials said in a release. "By acquiring an artifact of this significance, the Stafford Museum has taken a giant step towards its goal of becoming an institution of national importance." In active use for training from before the first space shuttle launched in April 1981 through the end of the program in July 2011, the FBS was originally awarded by NASA to the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, where it was sent four years ago. STS-135 commander Chris Ferguson trains to fly on the last space shuttle mission inside the fixed base simulator. (NASA) Although the Adler initially had plans to display the FBS, it remained crated in storage. Ultimately, the Adler found that its long-term plans did not include space for exhibiting the large simulator, with the exception of its food preparation galley and waste containment system, otherwise known as the shuttle's toilet, which remain at the Illinois planetarium. The Stafford Air & Space Museum, named for Gemini and Apollo astronaut Thomas Stafford, received the FBS from the Adler, including its exact representation of the shuttle's flight deck equipped with more than 2,200 switches, circuit breakers, gauges, displays and dials. The museum intends to display the fixed base simulator partially powered, such that its backlit control panels and screens appear as they did when the FBS was last in use by the final space shuttle crew. Perhaps as soon as the start of the new year, visitors to the Stafford Museum will be able to walk between the flight deck's forward and aft sections, providing a rare up-close look at a fully-authentic shuttle cockpit. The FBS will become a major feature of the Stafford's new space shuttle gallery under development at the museum. The expanded exhibition hall will include hundreds of other artifacts from the 30-year program, including a flown space shuttle main engine nozzle, a flown segment from a solid rocket booster, an orbiter's partial tail assembly, fuel cells, spacesuits, a cargo bay pallet, experiment packages and hardware from the Hubble Space Telescope. Fisheye view of the fully-powered forward flight deck in the shuttle fixed-base simulator when it was in use at NASA. (NASA) BUTTE Reacting to a quick and alarming rise in temperature and drop in flows, the Jefferson River Watershed Council will meet Wednesday morning "to see if there's a way to keep the river from drying up," said Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Ron Spoon. Spoon said that as of Tuesday afternoon, the Jefferson's flow at Waterloo Bridge was 19 cubic feet per second considerably below the 50 cfs considered a healthy minimum. Upstream at Twin Bridges, flow dipped to 275 cfs just below the 280-cfs trigger point for action by the watershed group, which immediately scheduled Tuesday's meeting. Spoon said that the landowners who control four major irrigation diversions between Waterloo and Twin Bridges will participate. "Generally a Trout Unlimited member attends too," he said. "If we have too large a group you don't tend to get into good problem-solving mode." "This came on with a fury," said Ted Dodge, watershed coordinator. "In a typical year we'd have known this was coming a little sooner, and we could have geared up sooner. But this happened very quickly." "Ninety-degree weather with a little bit of a breeze it's like a blowtorch," said John Kountz, chairman of the watershed council. "You need to be out in it to understand it." Kountz, one of the four principal irrigators, said he spent Tuesday "up in the hills," checking on springs and other water sources for his livestock. "In our meeting tomorrow we'll try to discuss with some of the other ditch companies what we can do," Kountz said. "We'll figure out how to put some (water) back in, if we can." Spoon said the next six or seven weeks will be the toughest to manage. "We always pull out of it by the 20th of September or so," he said. "Depending on when they are haying, sometimes they (irrigators) can stagger what they take a little bit to help us get through." Spoon said the rising water temperatures are a real concern for the Jefferson's fish population. "Down canyon at Sappington Bridge, near Lewis and Clark Caverns, we predictably see dead fish when things get real stressful," he said. "The water temperature was 82 there the other night when I checked it. Usually anything above 80 and we start seeing dead fish." The first species to show stress, he said, is the mountain whitefish, a native species that is a little more sensitive to water temperature than trout. "Sometimes we've seen hundreds of dead fish there," he said, but added that so far this year he's seen only two. "The mortality that we don't see" occurs in juvenile fish, Spoon says. "The adult fish generally do OK if they pool up" in deep water, he said, "but the juvenile fish in the shoreline habitat are vulnerable to predators." He said we "always have weak year classes" after such conditions. The water in the Jefferson is "over-allocated," Spoon said. The landowners "have the water rights, definitely, and whatever they do is voluntary." He said that "in that stretch between Twin Bridges and Waterloo, there are 800 cfs of water rights, with 275 available right now." Kountz said his company, the Parrot Ditch Company, is a shareholder in the Ruby River Reservoir, and "we own a little water in the reservoir. We've only got so many days of flow, so we have to figure out when to let it out to help the river," he said. "Do you do it now or do you wait? Those are the sorts of things we'll be talking about." Kountz said whatever water that's released from the reservoir "has to make it a long way" before it reaches the lower Jefferson. "It's more to help the river than help us," he said. Kountz said he's been "talking to the membership" of the upstream Ruby, Beaverhead and Big Hole watershed associations. "Those guys are all facing the same thing," he said. "I know they're trying. That's all we can do." Dodge, the watershed coordinator, said, "The Jeff gets what's left. We're at the bottom end of things." He said that all four watershed councils the Jefferson, Ruby, Beaverhead and Big Hole will do their best to coordinate their efforts. "These are major economic issues for landowners, for guides, for everyone," he said. "We have a great relationship" with the landowners and irrigators, who have "been very supportive" over the years. "We've dodged a bullet many times" because of their efforts, he said. "Back in 2013 we were down to 199 cfs at Twin Bridges," and the four councils held a joint meeting, Spoon said. "It wouldn't surprise me if in two or three weeks that happened again. But the key thing is we're all talking." Jodi Kountz, who has worked as a drought management coordinator for the watershed council, said, "These irrigators contribute significantly. If everybody knew or cared, they would see how much they have given up" in the past. "We're going to have to do something in the good years to help reduce the pressure in the bad years," Dodge said. "But that is going to have to work economically for the landowners." The crisis is not likely to go away any time soon, he said, given climate change trends. "If you work in this field you read the data and the literature," Dodge said. "This is what we're going to be dealing with from here on out." MISSOULA A Missoula man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to stealing a $7,000 violin from a Missoula Symphony Orchestra musician. Michael Allen Shawn West, who faces a felony theft count, entered the plea before Missoula County District Court Judge Robert Dusty Deschamps. In May, violinist Sarah Harmsworth reported that her handmade violin, as well as two bows, were stolen from her car, which had been parked in the University District. On May 23, the property was recovered from Cash 1 Pawn in Missoula. The stores records showed West had pawned the items, prosecutors said. After the instrument and bows were recovered, a manager at the pawn shop said one of his employees had recognized them from a Facebook post, bought the stolen property and alerted law enforcement. Harmsworth, a University of Montana student who is also principal second violinist for the Missoula Symphony, said everything that had been in her stolen violin case was recovered except for her sheet music. A hearing on the case has been set for Aug. 30. MU swine center to double its space for modified pigs An $8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will allow the swine center to double its space for animals. Tasha Adams: I still sometimes feel like I released him out into the world. I think of him like a grenade where I was always putting the pin back in." HAMILTON Nearly 250 more homeowners were told Tuesday that they needed to evacuate due to a potential wind event on the Roaring Lion fire that could create extreme behavior. We wanted to give people a lot more notice than they had Sunday night, said Ravalli County Undersheriff Steve Holton. The new area under the Stage 2 mandatory evacuation notice includes Wyant Lane south to Camas Creek. The total number of homes under orders to evacuate is 741. People living in the area north of Wyant Lane to Blodgett Camp Road, including North Canyon Drive and Canyon Creek Road, were placed under a Stage 1 evacuation alert, which asks homeowners to prepare to evacuate with short notice. By late afternoon, winds at the ridge tops were blowing at a steady 30 to 40 mph, said Forest Officer Fire Information Officer Penny Bertram. So far, the fire is doing everything that the fire behaviorists said it would and the weather is doing everything they said it would, Bertram said. Thats not good. Bertram is a member of the Type 1 team that took over management of the 4,392-acre fire Monday night. Its been pretty amazing to see what they have been able to accomplish in a short period of time, Bertram said. They have some really good alternative plans in case things go belly up. They know where they can punch in some lines quickly if they need to. They are planning for the worst and hoping for the best, she said. On Tuesday, a number of new engine crews arrived to supplement the firefighters already on the front line. There are 90 Hotshot firefighter and 60 Type 2 ground crews working on the fire. As of Tuesday morning, there were seven engines, three water tenders, nine helicopters and two dozers assigned to the fire. The focus Tuesday was to reinforce dozer and hand lines on the north, east and south sides of the fire, while extinguishing hot spots near buildings and providing structure protection for the predicted red flag event. Firefighters also focused on battling a large spot fire along Ward Creek on Tuesday afternoon. The spot fire burned about two miles south of Roaring Lion Road and about three miles up the creek from U.S. Highway 93. The crews had managed to extinguish all the spot fires from yesterday (Monday) by about noon, Bertram said. That was amazing considering the narrow window of flying that was available to them. Bertram said they have been fielding a lot of good questions from locals about the fire. I cant express enough that if youre in that area, its time to be very vigilant and pay attention, she said. You need to be aware and stay aware. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks closed a portion of the Bitterroot River on Tuesday morning between Wally Crawford Fishing Access Site and Anglers Roost until further notice. The closure to the 10-mile stretch of river was necessary due to the close proximity of the fire and unpredictable wind conditions over the next few days. Helicopters may also use this stretch of the river to dip water for firefighting efforts. Tuesday evening, the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office announced that a detour for passenger vehicles around the Highway 93 road closure from Skalkaho Highway to Old Darby Road is available for passenger vehicles. However, the detour is off-limits to semi-truck and trailer combinations. The Ravalli County Ministerial Association will host a short community prayer service open to everyone on Friday, Aug. 5, at St. Francis of Assisi Church at noon. The prayer service will be to support everyone impacted by the Roaring Lion Fire, including residents, family, neighbors, emergency responders and support crews. For more information, call 406-363-1385. First Tennessee Bank, based in Downtown Memphis, employs about 4,200 workers. (Photo by Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal). SHARE By Ted Evanoff of The Commercial Appeal First Tennessee Bank said it has enhanced it parental leave policy, allowing full pay for eight weeks for new mothers. The Memphis-based bank, which employs about 4,200 workers, released a statement this morning announcing the new policy. It begins this week for full- and part-time workers employed at least six months. The policy includes full pay for four weeks for "biological fathers, adoptive/foster/surrogate parents, and domestic partners or spouses of birth mothers," the statement says. We believe that offering expanded leave for our employees as they focus on their families will build stronger relationships within our company and ultimately create stronger communities for everyone, said Bryan Jordan, chairman of First Horizon National Corp., the bank's Memphis owner. November 2, 2015 Former President Jimmy Carter (right) works with a team of volunteers at a build site in the Uptown neighborhood Monday morning. Carter and Habitat for Humanity announced that Memphis will be the site of a Carter Work Project next summer, an intensive weeklong annual event that draws thousands of volunteers to build and repair homes for the poor. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal) He has negotiated international peace treaties and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He has helped to build thousands of homes for the poor and to save thousands of lives from poverty, conflict and disease. He has written nearly two dozen best-selling books and raised millions for charity with his speaking, writing, painting and volunteer efforts. Oh, and he once was the President of the United States of America and the Leader of the Free World. But ask 91-year-old Jimmy Carter to name the best thing he's ever done during his long and admirable life, and the answer is none of the above. "I married the right woman," Carter said about his wife, workmate, and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. He spoke Wednesday in a phone interview from their home in Plains, Georgia. "That's true. I haven't changed my mind about that. As a matter of fact, all of those things that we've done that you mentioned were made possible because we formed a very strong and viable and active and loving partnership." Talk, Memphis talks to President Jimmy Carter Listen as former President Jimmy Carter discusses his Habitat for Humanity projects and more in a discussion with David Waters. We is the most commonly used pronoun in Carter's extensive vocabulary. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, who are coming to Memphis later this month to help other volunteers build Habitat for Humanity homes, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last month. They have been married longer than any presidential couple in the nation's history except for George and Barbara Bush, who were married 18 months before the Carters. There are two presidential tickets worth celebrating, especially in the most tumultuous election season in memory. Carter, elected president 40 years ago, said he didn't want to talk politics during out 15-minute Talk, Memphis podcast. Instead, we talked about hopeful and inspiring things his health, his faith and his marriage. A year ago this month, Carter announced he had been diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma. It's now in remission. "I got treatments for eight months," he said Wednesday. "I had part of my liver removed. They found four places in my brain that were malignant. We treated that with radiation and later with medication. "Lately, in all of the MRIs and other scans, they have not found any cancer remaining. I still get radiation scans every three months. We're not taking anything for granted, but we're thankful so far with the results. I feel very good." Good enough to spend a week in the sweltering summer heat of Memphis later this month. The 2016 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project will be here Aug. 21-26. Volunteer and prospective homeowners will build 19 new Habitat for Humanity homes in the Uptown area. The Carters came to Memphis last November to announce the work project. While they were here, they helped build a house, of course. They have helped to build nearly 4,000 Habitat homes around the world since the early 1980s, including construction sites in Texas, Florida and Vietnam that topped 100 degrees. "We've been in some hot places before," said Habitat's Volunteer-in-Chief. "And we live in South Georgia and it gets at least as hot here as it will be in Memphis." We again. Whether he's talking about his work, his marriage or his life, Carter is always talking about we. "We never forget that Jesus Christ was a carpenter himself," Carter said, explaining the spiritual motivation and inspiration behind Habitat. Habitat was founded as a Christian ministry in 1976, the same year Carter was elected president. Its founder, Millard Fuller, was a fellow Georgian and friend of Carter's. "Habitat has a biblical or Christian basis, but we don't distinguish between homeowners who have different religions," Carter said. "We welcome volunteers no matter what their faith is." Or age. Jimmy Carter will be 92 in October. Rosalynn Carter will turn 90 the week before they come to Memphis. Not only have they been married for 70 years; they have known each other all of their lives. Carter's mother, Lillian, was a nurse in Plains, Ga. She helped deliver Rosalynn. That's when she and nearly three-year-old Jimmy first met. The rest is living American history. "We're still getting along well and we're looking forward to an active life, as long as we're physically able," Carter said. "We've been very fortunate so far." As have we, sir. By Yolanda Jones of The Commercial Appeal An alleged Vice Lords gang member has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a man reportedly in a rival gang, according to an arrest affidavit. Markease Alexander, 23, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Marvelous Johnson. Alexander was also charged with aggravated assault for wounding two other men in the June 17 incident. Police responded to a shooting in the 500 block of Boston Street near the Mid-South Fairgrounds where they found a man with a gunshot wound. This man was non-critical condition. Officers were then told that there was another shooting victim around the corner in the 500 block of Buntyn Street. Marvelous Johnson, 26, was found with a gunshot wound to the head. He died on the way to the hospital. A witness told police Vice Lords were standing outside of the home on Boston when they saw Gangster Disciples drive by. Johnson was a passenger in the car. The Vice Lords recognized the Gangster Disciples from a previous incident, according to an affidavit. When the car passed by the street again, the Vice Lords allegedly opened fire, according to an arrest affidavit. Another witness told homicide detectives that he saw one of his associates in the Vice Lords, Lil Citi, fire shots at the car. Through the gang unit, investigators identified Lil Citi as Alexander. Alexander was arrested Monday. He gave police a written statement about his involvement in the homicide. He remains in jail on a $50,000 bond and is due in court Aug. 9. August 2, 2016- Savannah Long, of the Just Around the River Band, performs during a National Night Out Event held at the Central Station pavilion in the South Main arts district in downtown Memphis. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE August 2, 2016- MPD officers Gerald Tuznik and Shemeka Love share a laugh with Denise Brittenum, right, during a National Night Out Event held at the Central Station pavilion in the South Main arts district in downtown Memphis. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal) August 2, 2016- Colonel Gloria Bullock and Major Doreen Shelton meet a corgi named "Rada Shimmy" and her owner Aksana Vasilyeva during a National Night Out Event held at the Central Station pavilion in the South Main arts district in downtown Memphis. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal) August 2, 2016- Lola, a Basset Hound and Rottweiler mix, watches the party during a National Night Out Event held at the Central Station pavilion in the South Main arts district in downtown Memphis. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal) By Jody Callahan of The Commercial Appeal Traditionally, the purpose of National Night Out is to strengthen community bonds in an effort to combat crime. Downtown's event, held in conjunction with several others across Memphis Tuesday night, had a secondary purpose: to thank area police officers for their service. So, organizers arranged a feast for law enforcement that included food donated from numerous places Pirtle's, the Arcade and Rizzo's, among others as well as drinks and ice cream. Live music filled the covered area that normally hosts the Memphis Farmer's Market, just behind Central Station on Main. "We want to take this night to thank our police," said one of the organizers, Marcy Siebert. Siebert noted that this has been a particularly difficult year for police nationwide, but also for those who patrol Downtown. On June 4, a gunman shot two people at Westy's in the Pinch District, then led police on a chase that ended at Beale Street, where the suspect struck and killed officer Verdell Smith with a stolen car. Justine Welch, 21, has been charged in that rampage. "This year in particular, we are taking this (night) as a way to ... thank our officers," Siebert said, also noting the department's recent two weeks of heightened alert status that canceled all days off for officers. "The Level 3, they didn't get a day off. So we just wanted to say thanks." The organizers of the event, sponsored by the South Main Association and the Downtown Neighborhood Association, also planned to donate any proceeds from the sale of beer and wine to fund a new ice machine for the use of the officers in the Downtown precinct. "It makes you feel appreciated a lot," Memphis Police Department Sgt. Robert Herring said. "A lot of things are going on in the world. It makes you feel appreciated." Meanwhile, around the city, several other groups held a more traditional National Night Out, with neighbors coming together to meet each other. The point of these events is to introduce neighbors to each other, to their police officers and to generally encourage folks to look out for each other. MPD Interim Director Michael Rallings planned to visit at least seven such events Tuesday, including stops in North Memphis, Orange Mound and East Memphis. "We try to reach out to the community, and if the community is reaching out to us, that's great," Rallings said. "Neighbors need to look out and get to know each other. ... (And) if you see something suspicious, you'll know who to call." By Yolanda Jones of The Commercial Appeal Memphis police have identified a 26-year-old man shot and killed as he tried to retrieve his stolen car. Terralonce Stanford died on the scene outside an apartment in the 3400 block of Graceland in Whitehaven Saturday night. Police said the preliminary investigation revealed that Stanford went to the apartment complex to try to get back his 1997 Infiniti, which had been previously stolen. Two suspects confronted him, and Stanford was shot and killed. The suspects then fled in Stanford's car. No arrests have been made yet as police continue the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-2274. SHARE Barack Obama By Michael Collins of The Commercial Appeal WASHINGTON Eight Tennesseans, including one man from Memphis, are among 214 drug offenders whose prison sentences were shortened Wednesday by President Barack Obama in the largest single-day grant of commutations in the nation's history. Deborah Lucille Blue of Alcoa, Debra Brown of Nashville, Thomas Duncan of Columbia, Steve Gillespie of Greeneville, Robert L. Matthews of Memphis, Kenneth Smith of Nashville, Jimmy Walden Jr. of Morristown and Byron Willis of Knoxville will see their sentences shortened as a result of Obama's actions. "This is a country that believes in second chances," Obama wrote of the commutations in a Facebook post. But acts of clemency alone won't fix the criminal justice sentence, he said. He called on Congress to pass "meaningful" federal sentencing reform. "The more we understand the human stories behind this problem, the sooner we can start making real changes that keep our streets safe, break the cycle of incarceration in this country, and save taxpayers like you money," Obama said. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Memphis Democrat who has also called for sentencing reform, applauded Obama's actions and urged the president to continue issuing commutations during the rest of his time in office. "These commutations, many of which were for those serving unjustly long sentences for non-violent drug convictions, are an encouraging development and a significant step by the president toward a more rational and fair justice systemsomething I have long encouraged," Cohen said. Matthews was serving two sentences a 23-year sentence handed down in 1997 for distribution of cocaine base and possession with intent to distribute cocaine in Northern Mississippi; and a 15-month sentence from 1998 for a supervised release violation in Western Tennessee. Under Obama's commutation orders, Blue, Brown, Duncan, Matthews, Smith and Willis will see their sentences expire on Dec. 1. Gillespie's and Walden's sentences will expire Aug. 3, 2018, if they enroll in a residential drug treatment program. Matthew Shelton enters Mount Zion Baptist Church on South Parkway. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE By Clay Bailey of The Commercial Appeal Voters across Shelby County head to the polls Thursday to choose candidates for an array of offices at the federal, state and, in some cases, local level. Some of the races are simply preliminary elimination bouts in party primaries, with the main event slated for November's general election. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Almost 43,000 people in Shelby County participated in early voting that ended Saturday. SHELBY COUNTY'S SAMPLE BALLOT Two key races are rooted in Republican-rich east Shelby County. Longtime state Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville, faces his toughest campaign in recent memory as a trio of challengers Diane George, Mark Lovell and Dana Matheny try to unseat him from the District 95 office. The already-contentious race took a weird turn Tuesday when Todd was arrested on accusations (including photographic evidence and an acknowledgment by Todd) that he took some of Lovell's campaign signs. As Todd was sitting in custody, Lovell posted his $100 bond. But the most important race the Republican primary for the District 8 U.S. Congressional seat actually stretches outside Shelby covering a substantial swath of West Tennessee. Thirteen hopefuls are seeking the GOP nod for the district office that incumbent Stephen Fincher, R-Frog Jump, is vacating. The ballot reflects the rural-suburban mix of the district with a slate of heavy hitters from Shelby County and other challengers from Jackson, Union City and other towns. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, has a trio of challengers Larry Crim, Justin Ford and M. LaTroy Williams facing the uphill battle to unseat the veteran congressman from his District 9 office. Both the congressional races are primaries, although Thursday's winners are expected to carry the day in November based on the party demographics of the two districts. At the state level, other races have not drawn the attention of Todd's re-election effort. Several incumbents, such as Democrat representatives Joe Towns Jr. (District 84), Karen Camper (District 87) and G.A. Hardaway (District 93), along with Republicans Jim Coley (District 97)and Ron Lollar (District 99)along with Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (District 32), have no opposition in the primary or general elections, assuring their return to Nashville. In contested races for Nashville seats, incumbent state Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis, is well-funded in her race for election to the District 30 against former state senator Beverly Marrero, while Rep. John DeBerry faces the challenge of Tami Sawyer for the Democratic nod in District 90's House race. Of the five Shelby County School Board offices on the ballot, only one incumbent Stephanie Love faces opposition as Sharon Fields tries to unseat Love. Teresa Jones, Kevin Woods, Scott McCormick and Miska Clay Bibbs all are unopposed. General Session Court Clerk Ed Stanton Jr., the Democratic nominee, faces Republican Richard Morton and independent William Chism for that office. Only two suburban races are on Thursday's ballot, both Bartlett judicial posts. In Division 1, Tim Francavilla, appointed to the bench earlier this year replacing the late Freeman Marr, faces Henry Miller for the final two years of Marr's term. Meanwhile, Division 2 Judge Dan Brown is unopposed. The Commercial Appeal files August 4, 1952 Memphis business, professional and political leaders saw on August 4, 1952, how United States Engineers tame the Mississippi. Underwater concrete mattresses, hinged together on steel cables, are laid from bank to the deepest part of the river channel as the barge moves from shore. The demonstration was staged at Enslee Bottoms, on the east bank of the river about 10 miles below Memphis. SHARE Aug. 3 25 years ago: 1991 President Bush Friday nominated Memphis attorney Jon P. McCalla to be the new federal judge for the Western District of Tennessee. Should he be approved by the Senate, McCalla, 44, will become the district's fifth federal judge. Congress voted last year to create the additional judgeship in the district, as well as new federal judgeships in East and Middle Tennessee, as part of an anti-crime bill to cut down on the backlogs in federal court. 50 years ago: 1966 A contract for construction of a $4,266,000 mental retardation center in the Memphis Medical Center may be let early next year, according to architect Roy P. Harrover. He estimates late 1968 or early 1969 as a completion date. A scale model of the new center has been presented with final plans to the University of Tennessee Medical Units. 75 years ago: 1941 Fifty men's teams are set for the event that puts a smashing climax to every Memphis softball season. The ninth annual district playoff sponsored by The Commercial Appeal and Memphis Park Commission begins tomorrow night on six city park diamonds. 100 years ago: 1916 Washington President Wilson has not changed his position that the woman suffrage question should be dealt with by the states. Charles E. Hughes, the Republican nominee, announced yesterday that he favored an amendment to the Constitution giving the vote to women. 125 years ago: 1891 Whisky, beer and wine were to be had for the asking in Memphis Sunday morning despite President Clapp and his policies. The order requiring the saloons to close at 12 o'clock sharp was supposed to go into effect Saturday night, but it didn't by a long shot. A frame grab from a video shows State Rep. Curry Todd removing competitor Mark Lovell's campaign signs from the side of the road. Todd has acknowledged that he removed the signs and said he had the right to do so. (Courtesy Mark Lovell Campaign) By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal State Rep. Curry Todd pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning in Shelby County General Sessions Court to a misdemeanor charge of stealing an opponent's campaign signs. His next court date is Aug. 22. Todd referred questions to his attorney, Ted Hansom, who said the handling of Todd's arrest this week appeared to be a calculated stunt to embarrass him on the eve of an election. "Let's just say I'm very disappointed in certain aspects of the system," Hansom said. "I'd prefer we'd keep the law the law and politics, politics." A Sheriff's spokesman said Tuesday Todd was given several chances to talk to investigators about the sign theft. When he didn't, it led to Todd's arrest at his home. Hansom disputed that account. "I don't know who they told," he said. "They didn't tell Curry Todd, and they didn't tell me." He said that after news reports of the sign theft broke last month, he reached out to investigators but they didn't respond. He questioned why Todd was given a $100 bond, rather than being released without bond. The opponent who filed the complaint, Mark Lovell, stepped forward and paid the bond. Hansom said that's one of a series of events so improbable that they couldn't be a coincidence. A person working with Lovell's campaign videotaped Todd last month taking some of Lovell's signs from along a busy street. Todd said he made arrangements with landowners to take other candidates' signs from the property. SHARE By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal Companies trying to win tax breaks for creating jobs in Collierville will now face stricter standards on wages. Collierville is increasing its wage standard for the jobs it's attempting to recruit to town from $35,000 to $45,000, economic development director John Duncan told members of the town's Industrial Development Board Wednesday. Duncan said he made the change after talking with members of the Industrial Development Board as well as the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. He said the wage standard hadn't changed for years. "It was time for an update," he said. The policy change could influence how the town evaluates applications for tax breaks. Wages are one of three factors that the town considers when evaluating an industrial development project, along with the number of jobs created and capital investment in things like buildings and equipment. The relevant figures are plugged into a formula called a matrix, and the resulting points determine how many years the tax breaks will last. However, the matrix system is not binding town officials can set aside the recommendations if they want. The change in wage standards likely won't end the debate over the quality of jobs. During a March discussion on tax breaks for CCL Label, Alderman Billy Patton raised concerns about the $48,000 expected median wage for the proposed new jobs. That figure was above the $46,000 median household income in Shelby County but below the median household income of $107,000 in Collierville, according to Census estimates. "I don't believe that these jobs can support a family as a primary source of income," Patton said at the time. Duncan said the town is working to recruit corporate office jobs that would pay salaries higher than $45,000. "But it's also important to have an industrial base in our community," he said. The $45,000 standard is a good fit for light manufacturing types of opportunities, he said. Officials stopped applying for emergency rental assistance funds Millions of dollars were available to protect Shelby County residents from eviction, but a city agency decided not to apply for the additional funds. SHARE Dropping airfares in Memphis has been both a silver lining for travelers, and a bit of an inconvenience. When Memphis International Airport served as a Delta Air Lines hub, Memphis was blessed with scores of nonstop flight options. During the hub's heyday 16 years ago under Northwest Airlines, the airport saw some 300 flights a day. That convenience, however, came with high airfares, which had business and leisure travelers complaining. Fares are lower, but nonstop destination options are fewer and that has people complaining because it not only means decreased options, but also more travel time resulting from having to catch connecting flights in out-of-way airports. Memphis airfares continue to drop, according to the most recent government report. That continues a 3-year trend. Average domestic roundtrips at the airport cost $398.98 in the January-March quarter, down $44.06 from a year earlier. Airport officials said Memphis fares ranked 32nd highest among the nation's 100 busiest airports after declining for the 14th consecutive quarter. Fares are down more than $140 from a 2012 peak, before Delta Air Lines scrapped its hub. Delta, before completing the airport's decommission as a hub in 2013, had a hammerlock on flights. That discouraged possible airline competitors, with competitive fares, from setting up shop here. Delta executives justified the higher ticket prices, in part, by pointing out the high price of fuel and that not enough Greater Memphians originated their travel here. The loss of the hub sent the airport's new leadership team on a quest to attract low-cost carriers. They have been successful on that front, for the most part, but the limited nonstop destinations are an issue. And that is a bit of a letdown for leisure and business travelers who have more money to spend as the effects of the Great Recession continue to abate. For airport officials, while the continuing decrease in fares in positive news, the glass still is half empty. We do not make that statement as a negative, but as an acknowledgment that there still is much work to do in getting more airlines and nonstop flights here, while keeping fares as low as possible. The good thing is that the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board of commissioners and airport President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Brockman realize that and have taken steps to recruit more airlines and to make major renovations to adjust to the airport's new reality. It is not an easy job. Airlines, after all, are in business to make a profit. Decisions to expand or contract in this case, flights depends on whether they think people will buy enough tickets to justify adding a flight or ending one. We agree with Brockman, though, that the outlook for Memphis International Airport is good. He told Wayne Risher, The Commercial Appeal's transportation writer, that "with lower airfares more people can afford to fly, and that's reflected in our increased passenger numbers." He expects the trend to continue. It will be a great benefit for Memphis if he's right. SHARE By Paul Blowers It was a liturgy he had performed hundreds of times over the course of his priesthood. Father Jacques Hamel, a beloved 86-year-old priest from a parish church in St.-Etienne-du-Rouvray, was administering morning Mass at the time he was slain by an Islamic State Islamic militant. His last priestly act was not to genuflect before the Holy Eucharist, honoring the slain Lamb of God, but to bow on his knees to have his throat slit, bleeding to death on the sanctuary floor. The story is ominously reminiscent of the murder of another priest, Oscar Romero, shot dead by a political assassin in 1980 while celebrating Mass in El Salvador, his spilled blood soaking the small, scattered pieces of Eucharistic bread. Romero was recently beatified by the Roman Catholic Church. This act, like so many others committed by terrorists, has been described as a "tragedy," a word the Vatican's bulletin also used about the slaughter of 19 disabled people in a Japanese care facility. "Tragedy" has long been our go-to word for horrors that leave us speechless, at a total loss to explain the randomness and gratuity of evil in the world. From the perspective of the Christian faith, however, Hamel's death is really not a tragedy at all. Aristotle, Greek tragedy's classical theorist, indicated centuries ago that effective tragedy has less to do with explaining reality than mimicking it. It's an art form that moves audiences and grants them a psychological cleansing, especially of fear and pity. Watching tragedy, Aristotle thought, could give spectators practice in exercising pity toward others who suffer in actual life. And it could train us to suppress fear when disaster strikes too close. But one of the ancient pioneers of Christian thought, Augustine of Hippo, made a different argument. In his famous Confessions, he wrote about going to the theater as an adolescent and weeping over theatrical tragedies. As an adult, he came to regret this waste of emotional energy on a purely staged "reality." He scorned himself for succumbing to emotional voyeurism, enjoying his feeling of pity for the characters experiencing misfortune as well as the satisfaction that it was not happening to him. I similarly questioned myself in 2008 at the Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem, when I admitted that I was taking strange "pleasure" in viewing sketches and paintings produced by individuals living through the Holocaust. Augustine advised Christians to expend their emotional energy rather more wisely (and benevolently) on those suffering in real life, cultivating authentic forms of Christian mercy that left artificial pity in the dust. For Christians, then, "tragedy" cannot truly capture the meaning of the mutilation of Father Jacques Hamel or millions of other international victims of terror. Tragedy, at least in the classical sense, constrains us to an art form that moves us emotionally, even intellectually, but not necessarily practically and transformatively. It hardly delivers any final reason moral atrocities and horrific suffering infect our existence. Instead, Augustine and numerous other Christian thinkers would call on us to consider the revelation of God across the Bible's narratives. For serious Christians, the Bible has no simple platitude, no standardized "answer" to be downloaded and quoted every time a priest is murdered or a Syrian child is buried under rubble. Hans Urs von Balthasar, one of the most prolific Catholic thinkers of the 20th century and a modern counterpart of Augustine, suggested that the Christian gospel's answer to the tragic dimension of human existence can only be grasped by contemplating God's own "abandonment" of his Son to that tragic reality, with the crucifixion as the ultimate epitome of God's solidarity with suffering humanity. In the shadow of the cross, the death of Fr. Jacques Hamel, for Christians, is not tragedy, but it is indeed tragic. Our Christian faith calls us to practice something deeper than sympathy or pity. We need to bring a sense of authentic mercy and reach out to the victims of tragic suffering, keeping alive the memory of those whose tragic deaths appear utterly senseless. But Christians are also called to exercise that faith which is aligned with resolute hope and unrelenting love, enacting an alternative vision of the reconciliation of all humanity to the God who gave up his own Son as a "soft target." Paul Blowers is the Dean E. Walker Professor of Church History at Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan College in Elizabethton, Tennessee. He wrote this for the Washington Post. November 2, 2015 Former President Jimmy Carter smiles as he answers questions with his wife, Rosalynn, during a press conference at a Habitat for Humanity build site in the Uptown neighborhood. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal) By David Waters of The Commercial Appeal Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter are coming to Memphis later this month to do a little house work in the summer heat. Well, actually a lot of house work. "We've been in some hot places before," Carter said in a phone interview for this week's Talk, Memphis podcast. "Built Habitat homes in 100 degrees in Texas and some hot times in Miami and overseas in Vietnam. "It's not something that's new to us. We live in South Georgia where it's at least as hot as Memphis this time of year." The former President 91, and First Lady, 88, will spend the better part of a week building new Habitat for Humanity homes with hundreds of other volunteers. The 2016 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project will take place Aug. 21-26 in the Bearwater Park area just north of Uptown. The Carters and their fellow volunteers with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis plan to build 19 new homes on lots donated by Hope Presbyterian Church. They also plan to complete 10 neighborhood beautification projects, and six "Aging in Place" repair projects in other parts of the county. In the podcast, Carter talks about his health, about celebrating his 70th wedding anniversary last month, and about why he has been building Habitat homes since 1984. Feel free to talk back in the comment section. Each of the nation's largest wireless carriers brag about having a great network, but comprehensive testing shows that network performance varies significantly from city to city. RootMetrics recently posted its latest rankings for the top 125 U.S. metro areas, which show that the two biggest U.S. cities rank pretty low. New York came in at 59th, while Los Angeles came it at 99th. The nation's third-largest city, Chicago, did well for a big city and was ranked fifth. Atlanta, the ninth-largest city, ranked third. No other top-10 city finished in the top 10 rankings. For its latest report, RootMetrics performed tens of thousands of tests in the first half of 2016 using popular Android phones in all 125 cities to judge several factors: network reliability for calls, data and texting; network reliability and speed for data and texting; reliability for placing and maintaining calls. "Highly populated areas don't necessarily equate to strong overall network performance," said Annette Hamilton, a director at RootMetrics. Various factors come into play in large cities, including geography, age of infrastructure and population density. "We've noticed that speed is becoming an obstacle for mobile subscribers in some of these big cities," Hamilton said. "A large amount of people on a single network can stress the system, sometimes resulting in slower speeds. As more and more people use their mobile devices to stream content and upload large files, sometimes the networks can struggle to keep up." The RootMetrics website provides interactive tools to examine the performance of AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint in each of the metro areas across all the testing areas. For example, Verizon and T-Mobile were judged the best for overall performance in the District of Columbia area for the first half of 2016. The tools can access reports back to 2011. The other six U.S. cities in the top 10 largest cities finished as follows in overall performance: Miami, 84th; Philadelphia, 40th; Dallas, 18th; Houston, 51st; Washington, 66th. The top five U.S. cities in network performance in order starting at the top were: Lansing, Mich.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Atlanta, Ga.; Milwaukee, Wisc.; and Chicago. The bottom five were: Lancaster, Pa., (121st); Santa Rosa, Calif. (122nd); Scranton, Pa., (123rd); Omaha, Neb. (124th); and Hudson Valley, NY (125th). In 2011, Hewlett-Packard ranked seventh in federal contracting. Barack Obama, a Democrat, was president. In 2012, HP CEO Meg Whitman publicly backed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney for president, and even served as a California "statewide honorary chairman" for him. Did Whitman's backing of Romney help or hurt HP? Will her particularly brutal condemnation Tuesday of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump hurt the firm, should he win the election? If Whitman's support for Romney caused any corporate damage it is not apparent in its federal contracting. In 2011, HP's total federal contracting was pegged at $3.83 billion by Washington Technology in its annual ranking of federal contractors, putting it in seventh place. In 2015, HP was sixth among all federal contractors, with $3.86 billion in contracts, a slight uptick from 2011, according to the publication's latest list. (Hewlett-Packard late last year since split into companies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), which Whitman runs, and HP Inc.) On Tuesday, Whitman published a Facebook post announcing her support of Hillary Clinton, the Democrat's presidential candidate. "To vote Republican out of party loyalty alone would be to endorse a candidacy that I believe has exploited anger, grievance, xenophobia and racial division. Donald Trump's demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character," wrote Whitman on Facebook. "Trump's reckless and uninformed positions on critical issues - from immigration to our economy to foreign policy - have made it abundantly clear that he lacks both the policy depth and sound judgment required as President." Corporate leaders are often engaged in politics, usually through campaign donations and on specific issues affecting their companies. But Whitman is a little different from most CEOs. She was hired as HP's CEO in 2011 after her unsuccessful run in 2009 as the Republican nominee for governor of California. HP was hiring someone with political ambitions. Simon Business School Professor David Primo said CEOs do have to consider the potential effects of their political involvement. But, "in Whitman's case, I'd argue that this is largely a non-issue, since she is a previous candidate for public office whose political views are well-known," he said. "While I don't think Whitman's endorsement will affect HP one way or the other, it is a major coup for Clinton to get this endorsement," said Primo. The Simon School of Business is based at the University of Rochester. Does Whitman's endorsement matter? Any evidence showing it is consequential is "more muted -- just as labor endorsements by union leaders do not always translate into support for the position taken or the candidate endorsed," said David Caputo, a professor of Political Science at Pace University and president emeritus. The Clinton campaign is attempting to attract Republican and independent voters to its candidate and the endorsement of Clinton by business leaders "known to be strongly affiliated with the Republican Party should be seen as part of their strategy to win Republican and Independent support," said Caputo. "One endorsement will not make a significant difference, but a large number might reinforce the Clinton campaign's assertion that Donald Trump is not qualified to serve as president," said Caputo. While it's not clear what Whitman's endorsement of Clinton might cost the firm if Trump wins the election in November, one thing is clear: Trump has proven time and again in this race that he doesn't take criticism lightly. Davidson takes gay marriage case to Ulster The Scottish Conservative leader delivered a positive message about gay marriage last night when she delivered the annual Amnesty Pride lecture, STV reports. Ruth Davidson recently got engaged to her partner Jen, and is quoted as saying that As a practising Christian, a protestant and a unionist who is engaged to a Catholic Irishwoman, for me, equal marriage isnt about one religion, country or community. Northern Ireland is last part of the UK where social conservatism commands real political power the Democratic Unionist Party, the largest in the Assembly, is resolutely opposed to gay marriage. In a less welcome bit of cultural crossover, the Herald tells us that Glasgow City Council have blocked a march through the city by Irish Republicans because of the clear potential for serious disorder and violence. Davies jumps to Johnsons defence The Welsh Conservative leader, has defended the Foreign Secretary after Welsh nationalists criticised his appointment. Andrew RT Davies, who publicly campaigned for Brexit and helped to deliver Wales majority vote for Leave, described Boris Johnson as a great friend to Wales, according to Wales Online. Plaid Cymru are calling for Wales to grossly exceed the reasonable limits of devolution by having its own foreign policy a luxury not even afforded to such well-established, actually federal entities like Bavaria and Texas. Brexit: No rise in support for Scottish independence The Daily Telegraph relates that, despite the seemingly cast-iron certainties of Europhile unionists, our vote to leave the European Union has not boosted support for a breakaway north of the border. Indeed, drilling down into the polls finds that emphasising the EU angle actually costs the Nationalists more support from working-class Eurosceptics than they pick up from disaffected middle-class unionists. Pollsters also found that 32 per cent of Scots want to wait until Britains final EU deal is known before having another referendum a point by which it will be far too late to avoid leaving with Britain regardless of the outcome and 25 per cent dont want another vote before 2030. As I argued before the vote, it was difficult to see where the fatal surge of Europhile outrage was supposed to come from. As a result Nicola Sturgeon has whipped up her core support without winning over the swing voters needed for a winning margin which could cause her administration trouble down the line. as Foxs position on EU customs union raises border fears Concerns about the UKs border with the Republic of Ireland have been heightened by reports that the International Trade Secretary is pushing for Theresa May to withdraw the UK from the European customs union. The Belfast Telegraph reports that Liam Fox believes the EU customs arrangement stifles international trade and that remaining a member will greatly reduce Britains freedom to strike new deals elsewhere. Yet the Treasury warns that departing would break the UKs common customs relationship with Ireland, necessitating new customs checks on the border with Northern Ireland. On a more positive note, shoppers from the Republic have been surging across the border to take advantage of the weakened pound, according to the Daily Express, providing a welcome boost for Northern Irish retailers. Despite concerns about the effect of Brexit on the UK-Irish border, Sinn Fein have so far had less luck even than the SNP in whipping up any separatist momentum out of the result. The paper also suggests that Ireland may make moves to join the Commonwealth in order to reassure unionists about Irelands ongoing relationship with Britain. UKIPs Gill under pressure over dual roles A senior member of UKIPs Welsh team is under attack for holding dual roles as a member of both the European Parliament and the Welsh Assembly and risks getting kicked out of the party. Wales Online reports that Gill, an ally of Nigel Farage who lost out to Neil Hamilton for the leadership of UKIPs seven-strong Assembly group, has been asked to resign his Assembly seat by no fewer than five of them if he doesnt step back from Brussels. The sudden eruption of the row Gill has, after all, been in post since May seems likely to be part of the broader power struggle (which has also snared the leadership bid of Stephen Woolfe, another Faragiste) that has broken out in the upper ranks of the Peoples Army as it tries to choose Farages successor. SUBSCRIBE Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates straight in your inbox. A Bismarck Republican plans to introduce an amendment in the House Appropriations Committee today that would provide deeper budget cuts in a bill meant to address a projected shortfall. Rep. Mark Dosch, R-Bismarck, said during a joint meeting of both chambers appropriations committees Tuesday he believes the 2.5 percent budget cut to general-fund agencies should be increased to 5.95 percent. He said this would be in addition to the 4.05 percent cuts ordered by Gov. Jack Dalrymple in February during the first round of budget cuts to address a shortfall. This makes sense because the governor is calling for a 90 percent budget, Dosch said, referring to Dalrymple's order for state agencies to submit 2017-19 budget proposals at 90 percent of ongoing spending levels for the current biennium. Dosch said deeper cuts now would ease lawmakers burden for the next session. I see nothing in our current economy that would indicate to me this slide is over, he said. It hasnt stopped raining yet in North Dakota. Dosch said the additional cuts beyond 2.5 percent would affect all agencies, including human services and corrections. A shooting occurred Monday night, August 1, near the intersection of Cherry Street and South Bedford Avenue. Police previously said that a dispute between two groups led to the gunfire. Three of the four people struck by gunfire were juveniles, police have said. SHARE Jarnell Carter Jarnell L. Carter By Richard Gootee of the Courier and Press After the arrest of a 16-year-old boy in connection with a shooting earlier this week, police said they believe the incident was the latest in an ongoing dispute between two rival gangs. Investigators also said it was "amazing" that only four people were struck by gunfire, given that anywhere between 10 and 20 shots rang out Monday night. None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. The boy arrested in the case, Jarnell L. Carter, was booked into the Vanderburgh County jail late Tuesday. He faces four preliminary counts of attempted murder and will be tried as an adult, according to Evansville Police Department Sgt. Jason Cullum. On Wednesday, Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge Robert Pigman set Carter's bond at $1 million cash. Carter is due in court again on Monday. The shooting happened near the intersection of Cherry Street and South Bedford Avenue about 10:30 p.m. Police previously said that a dispute between two groups led to the gunfire, but had not said if it was believed to be gang-related. Three of the four people struck by gunfire were juveniles, police have said. According to the probable cause affidavit, witnesses said they heard anywhere from 10 to 20 shots fired "Due to the large number of shots fired and the amount of people in the group, it was amazing that only four people were shot and the wounds were minor," investigators wrote in the document The victims were identified as two male juveniles, one female juvenile and 30-year-old Brandon Berry. According to the affidavit, Berry suffered gunshot wounds to the back of both legs; the female victim was struck in the finger; one male juvenile was shot in the lower back; and the other was shot in the left calf and shoulder blade. He was also grazed by another bullet, police said. Detectives also wrote that members of the two groups involved had been threatening to shoot up each other's houses on social media before Monday's incident. According to the affidavit, several witnesses questioned by police at the scene identified Carter as the alleged gunman. At least one witness reportedly told investigators that she believed she heard a second weapon being fired, but could not identify an additional possible shooter. No other arrests have been made. During a reported Tuesday interview with police with his mother present Carter denied being in the area when the shots rang out and told investigators he did not shoot anyone. He declined to answer further questions, according to the affidavit. ALEX SLITZ / COURIER & PRESS Hubert McAlpine, 12, of Evansville, participates in a firefighter challenge with help from Evansville Fire Capt. Michael Whitledge, of Evansville, during National Night Out 2016 at Wesselmen Park in Evansville, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. SHARE ALEX SLITZ / COURIER & PRESS Evansville Fire Capt. Mike Ewald, of Newburgh, (left), guides Ezrah Staffelbach, 4, of Evansville, around a fire boat during National Night Out 2016 at Wesselmen Park in Evansville, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. ALEX SLITZ / COURIER & PRESS Evansville Fire Capt. Ed Parker, of Evansville, demonstrates a rope rescue during National Night Out 2016 at Wesselmen Park in Evansville, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. ALEX SLITZ / COURIER & PRESS Evansville Fire Inspectors, Mike Doran, (left) and Bill Jackson, (right), help Treshawn Zean, 4, of Evansville, extinguish a fire during National Night Out 2016 at Wesselmen Park in Evansville, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. By Tori Fater, tori.fater@courierpress.com A little rain couldn't stop Evansville's big Night Out. Evansville law enforcement, firefighters and other agencies came out to Wesselman Park on Tuesday for the annual National Night Out celebration, billed as a public meet-and-greet where residents can mingle with local police. "It's an opportunity for us to have an interaction with the public that doesn't have to do with enforcement," Evansville Crime Prevention Officer Kevin Corbin said. "They can hopefully see us as a friend they can turn to and trust." Last year's event was canceled due to bad weather, but dark clouds that threatened a thunderstorm Tuesday night only sprinkled on this year's gathering for a few minutes. The Evansville Police Department set up booths so visitors could meet bomb squad and SWAT team officers, several K-9 units and narcotics investigators as well as patrol officers. "It's good for them to see where their money is going and how it benefits them," Corbin said. The Evansville Fire Department also brought out its big equipment, including a fire truck worth $1 million. But the big draw for families was a kid-friendly version of the combat challenge firefighters run scaled down so a 3-year-old could try. For Evansville Fire District Chief Ken Zuber, the best part of the night was getting to meet Evansville residents when they were having a good time. "We get to see people smile," he said. "A lot of times when we see people, it's their worst day." Corbin called the night a success an hour in, pointing to booths of other agencies like the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office, neighborhood associations and local businesses as proof that Night Out brought people together. Amber Coomes came to Night Out for the first time this year at the suggestion of her friend Tiffany Newcomb, who has been attending it for the last three years. "It's something to do that's productive and sets a good example" for kids, Newcomb said. Coomes said she appreciated the kid-friendly atmosphere too. Her 7- and 4-year-old sons loved the goodies like balloons and sticker "badges" police and fire departments were passing out. Officers with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office handed out stickers marked "junior deputy" and yellow balloons, which disappeared into the crowd as fast as officers could blow them up. Dep. Mark Gilles, a school resource officer with Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp., said he hoped people left the event feeling more comfortable about talking to police. "A lot of it is interacting with the community," he said. "We're just like any other citizen, even though we have a job we have to do." SHARE By Tony Cook And Chelsea Schneider, USA TODAY NETWORK Indianapolis Star Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence said today he is endorsing House Speaker Paul Ryan's re-election bid, even though presidential candidate Donald Trump refused to do so yesterday. "I talked to Donald Trump this morning about my support for Paul Ryan and our long-time friendship," Pence said Wednesday on Fox News, "and he strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday's primary, and I'm pleased to do it." Pence's support puts him at odds with Trump, whose resistance further exposed the divide between establishment Republicans and the party's wild-card presidential nominee. Despite the rift, Pence told Fox News the Trump campaign is "totally focused on strengthening America at home and abroad." "Donald Trump has a vision. He has the candor. He has the personal courage to be able to drive this nation forward, and we also have to do our part to make sure the American people understand the disastrous record of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama," Pence said. Pence's endorsement will likely help the Indiana governor preserve his strong ties with Ryan and other congressional GOP leaders, despite their friction with the man at the top of the ticket. Maintaining those relationships could be important for Pence if Trump wins in November, because the billionaire businessman has suggested he'll depend on his vice president to help him navigate Capitol Hill. And even if Trump loses, a strong relationship with Ryan and other GOP leaders would likely be important to Pence, who has considered a presidential run of his own and has his own political future to think about. Trump declined on Tuesday to endorse Ryan or Sen. John McCain in their respective primaries. "I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country," Trump said in an interview with The Washington Post. "We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet. I'm not quite there yet." Ryan initially refused to endorse Trump, but later did. The pair have had a rocky relationship since then. But Ryan cheered Trump's decision to tap Pence as his running mate last month, a selection widely seen as an olive branch to conservatives. "Our VP nominee Mike Pence is a man of faith, a man of conviction and a man you can trust," Ryan said on Twitter. "Gov. Pence and I have been friends for many years. He'll bring real conservative change to Washington." In addition to endorsing Ryan, Pence met with McCain for about 25 minutes on Tuesday during a campaign stop in Arizona. "The Governor and Senator have enjoyed a long and productive relationship from their overlapping tenures in the United States Congress," Marc Lotter, a Pence campaign spokesman, said in a statement. "The two leaders discussed many issues facing the United States and the need for strong American leadership to defeat radical Islamic terrorism and ISIS." SHARE In was in late June when Rep. David Valadao of California did something that so many other Republicans have refused to do. He withdrew his initial support of then-presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump. "I've just been sitting back and watching," the congressman said at a banquet. "I think it's just been the campaign in general." He just couldn't endorse a candidate who "denigrates people based on their ethnicity, religion or disabilities." To this day, Valadao is one of the few Republicans who has walked back his endorsement of Trump, even though the reasons to do so are multiplying by the day, if not hourly. Others such as House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Reps. Jeff Denham, Doug LaMalfa and congressional candidate Scott Jones have dodged questions or just weaseled, issuing statements that condemn Trump's words but uphold their support. What will it take for rank-and-file Republicans to back away? When will enough be enough? We're waiting. Because for the past two weeks, the real estate magnate has been on a particularly despicable tear, saying and doing things once unthinkable for a presidential candidate. There's the Gold Star family he has attacked, cruelly belittling the Muslim parents of an American soldier, Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed while protecting his soldiers in Iraq. There's Russia, an adversary that has garnered not only Trump's praise, but his ignorance. His responses to questions about Russia's presence in Ukraine and the threat to neighboring Crimea were at best muddled, at worst dangerous. And on Tuesday, Trump childishly retaliated against the scorn he's received for those actions. He singled out House Speaker Paul Ryan and Sen. John McCain, both of whom have issued stinging rebukes, saying he won't support them in their upcoming primary elections. This from the man who wants to be the commander in chief of the U.S. military and leader of the free world. He wants to be the face of the United States and, on Tuesday, he derisively kicked a mother and her baby out of one of his rallies. "I think she really believed me that I love having a baby crying while I'm speaking," he told the crowd. These aren't minor gaffes. They're character-defining moments that offer a glimpse of a man with poor judgment, questionable moral fiber and zero control of his mouth. Even Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, has had a tough time defending him. Pence's son is a Marine. President Barack Obama was right to call out the Republican Party's hypocrisy on Tuesday. Echoing comments from outgoing Rep. Richard Hanna, a Republican from New York, he declared Trump "unfit" and "woefully unprepared to be president." "There has to be a point at which you say, this is not somebody I can support for president of the United States, even if he purports to be a member of my party," Obama said. "The fact that that has not yet happened makes some of these denunciations ring hollow." In a response reminiscent of "I'm rubber, you're glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you," Trump declared Obama "is the one who is unfit to be president." Republicans can't un-nominate Trump, but faced with these cruel antics, they can certainly do more than straddle a fence. This guy's a bully, and being afraid to stand up to him is no badge of honor. Enough is enough. This editorial first appeared in The Sacramento Bee. The Republican majoritys plan to eliminate a projected budget shortfall emerged through Senate Appropriations intact Tuesday just hours after being introduced during a special legislative session. Senate Appropriations Committee members gave Senate Bill 2379 a Do Pass recommendation on a 9-4 vote Tuesday afternoon along party lines. A Democratic-NPL amendment was shot down, also along party lines. It was aimed at restoring funding for human services programs that party members say are important for the most vulnerable in the state, and to maintain millions in federal funds. SB2379 is meant to close a $310 million projected budget gap. The full Senate was scheduled to take up the bill at 9 a.m. today and pass it on to the House. We have to sustain this thing, Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, told members of both chambers appropriations committees in a joint meeting prior to the Senate meeting. Wardner called the plan a bridge to the 2017 session. It leaves policy decisions on some cuts, particularly to human services programs, on the table for next year. House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, agreed. This bill did not just magically appear, he said. This bill reflects our ability to make that ($310 million) number zero. The bill calls for a 2.5 percent budget cut to general-fund agencies, draining the remaining $75 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund and authorizing a contingency transfer of up to $100 million in Bank of North Dakota profits. K-12 education would be held harmless in the proposed plan through Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund dollars, while human services would be held harmless through general fund dollars. Corrections budget cuts would be kept at 1 percent. Wardner said the estimated ending fund balance is about $28,000. Wardner said it was a struggle to hold human services harmless as well as to not restore cuts from a round of budget cuts earlier this year. He said the Department of Human Services cuts of $53.9 million in February resulted in about $61 million in lost federal funds. A section outlining legislative intent in the bill says if additional dollars become available prior to meeting in 2017, then early in the session theyd consider restoring funds cut from behavioral health, autism and long-term care services. I think everyone here is committed to taking a look at that, Wardner said. An alternative plan by Democrats introduced by Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, called for transfers to the state general fund of about $249 million from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund, $25 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund and $25 million from Bank of North Dakota profits. Mathern said the Democrats plan would leave a $50 million fund balance. He said the fund transfers would protect from further cuts to human services and corrections. In addition, it would preserve a 12 percent state-paid property tax credit to residents, preserve federal Medicaid matching dollars, and help fund mental health and addiction treatment services. We need to be more strategic about that, Mathern said of the cuts. Cutting funding for mental health programs, addiction treatment and nursing homes and losing federal dollars isnt the way to balance the budget, he said. The cuts we are making here are to the institutions in our hometowns, Mathern said. We need to help them to get ready for this future. Wardner said next session was taken into consideration regarding human services programs: To try to maintain funding now could result in even deeper cuts in 2017 if the money isnt there. Sen. Terry Wanzek, R-Jamestown, agreed. He said its difficult to hold off on restoring human services funding at this time. Everythings going to have to sacrifice a little bit to get this back in balance, Wanzek said. We will have another opportunity. On Sunday, reporter Lauren Donovan looked at the history of the Stanton Station. It was a story of dedicated workers who helped start and improve the plant over 50 years. Many of the workers devoted the prime years of their lives to the plant and Great River Energy. In nine months the plant will close and after that it will be demolished. There will be a strange blank space along Highway 200. There are a number of downsides to the plant closing. There will be 65 workers losing their jobs, the town of Stanton will lose some business and maybe some residents, and Mercer County will see its tax revenue drop over the next five years. Great River Energy promises to do everything it can to help the workers find new jobs. The company will continue to pay taxes in an amount declining by 20 percent each year over the next five years until it's gone. So, hopefully, life without Stanton Station wont be abrupt. Donovans story showed the importance of a strong workforce. The plant was one of the first to operate on lignite coal and there were issues. There were problems with ash slagging, turbine issues and design faults that had to be fixed and modified. "We never could maintain a full load though we tried desperately. It was extremely complicated to begin with and that made it extremely tough to operate. We knew we could make it work, we just had to prove that we could," Marvin Leer, of Stanton, who worked at the plant for 29 years, told Donovan. Almost 20 years after it opened, then-owner United Power Association added a second boiler that helped provide sufficient steam to spin the turbine at full efficiency. Through its years of operations the workers nursed the plant and kept it productive. But time caught up with the plant, just as it did with the first workers who have retired. The plant has been on standby status for the past several months and the company decided it didnt make economic sense to keep it operating. The cost of continuing improvements didnt match its production. Some will want to blame the Obama administrations effort to move away from coal power for the plants closing. But age seems to be the determining factor. On the environmental front the plants closing wont make much difference. The closing wont reduce the overall amount of carbon dioxide emitted from the states coal plants by much as the plant accounts for about 4 percent of the total carbon dioxide plant emissions from the eight plants in the state. This isnt the end of coal plants in North Dakota, but it closes a chapter on the industry. The workers who helped start and operated the plant over the years deserve our thanks. The future of the coal industry likely will be decided in Washington, the courts and how the industry can continue to improve. We should always remember that Stanton Station served us well. Sussex News Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Networking News BCM One To Acquire CloudStrategies, Strengthening Its Microsoft Cloud Expertise Gina Narcisi Share this BCM One Wednesday said it has agreed to acquire Microsoft Gold partner CloudStrategies Group to bolster its Microsoft cloud expertise. New York-based BCM One has been partnering with Cedar Knolls, N.J.-based CloudStrategies, one of the first Microsoft cloud resellers and a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider, for about two years. BCM One has been a Microsoft Silver partner for more than a year and became a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider just two weeks ago, but it doesn't have the expertise nor the certifications CloudStrategies does, Frank Ahearn, founder and co-CEO of BCM One, told CRN in an interview. The two companies did not disclose the terms of the deal. [Related: 2016 Solution Provider 500: 47 Newcomers] The acquisition will give BCM One access to CloudStrategies' team of Microsoft support personnel who are well versed in deploying and managing Microsoft's suite of cloud services, including Office 365, Skype for Business and Azure, Ahearn said. What really enticed us about CloudStrategies was the number of Microsoft certifications they had," he said. [The partnership] opens up our full suite of products to their existing clients, and our clients can now have their Microsoft cloud expertise. Today, CloudStrategies has Microsofts coveted Gold partner status in cloud productivity, as well as Silver status in its messaging, midmarket solution provider and small and midmarket cloud solutions categories. BCM One wants to go for the Gold in every category that Microsoft will allow, Ahearn said. Under the agreement, the CloudStrategies team will become BCM One employees. Existing CloudStrategies clients will have access to the same team and the same level of technical depth, but will now be surrounded with additional resources, including a fully-staffed, 24/7 network operations center and support desk, said Pete Zarras, president and CEO of CloudStrategies, who will now be heading up BCM One's Microsoft practice. While CloudStrategies was one of the first Microsoft cloud partners, the company has been operating on a "boutique" scale. "The opportunity to fold our organization into BCM One gives us the size and scale we lacked on our own, a much larger client base, and even a nationwide channel to sell and deliver Microsoft cloud services with," Zarras said. "We can help accelerate BCM One's journey into the Microsoft space," he added. CloudStrategies' clients will also have access to BCM One's legacy telecom and networking services, an area that CloudStrategies was lacking prior to the acquisition, Zarras said. "We'll be able to walk in with a much broader set of services that clients have a genuine need for,' he said. Fellow solution providers and end customers have looked at BCM One as a competitive local exchange carrier, but the acquisition will change the industrys perception, BCM Ones Ahearn said. It took us a while to have the channel look at us as a true managed services provider, but now the channel is taking warmly to us being a Microsoft [Cloud Solution Provider] and having that expertise, he said. We are really investing in Microsofts cloud solutions. BCM One plans to grow its team geographically, as well as its client base. The provider also plans on doubling down on Skype voice services and prioritizing Azure services, Zarras said. Down the road, Zarras sees opportunities for growth leveraging Microsofts Dynamic CRM solution and Microsoft's enterprise mobility platform. At the same time, BCM One is still hot on the acquisition trail, Ahearn said. We are looking for any [provider] that can bring something different to our team that we dont have expertise in, he said. Storage News Datto CEO: How Hurricane Sandy And Acquisition Offers Tested Our Mettle Michael Novinson Share this Datto today is a 700-person business continuity behemoth worth $1 billion, but the young firm faced its first big test in October 2012 when the winds of Hurricane Sandy came howling. As wind speeds climbed to 80 miles per hour at Datto's Norwalk, Conn., headquarters, the vendor received calls from more than 500 customers reporting disasters such as power outages and saying they needed to move their operations into the cloud, according to Austin McChord, Datto's founder and CEO. "People had had disasters here and there, but rarely had it ever been tested at a large scale," McChord said during a keynote address Wednesday at CompTIA ChannelCon 2016 in Hollywood, Fla. "Everybody came into the office in a hurricane to be there for our customers and make sure we were able to spin up all of those machines." [RELATED: Channel Chiefs: New Business Models Forcing Legacy IT Firms to Master Cloud, Recurring Revenue] Things got so frenzied that Datto actually ran out of public IP (internet protocol) addresses for its data center, McChord said. But Datto's 80 employees effective lived in the office for the week after the hurricane, McChord said, to ensure that all of the disaster recovery protocol actually worked and that customers were successfully transitioned out of the cloud back to their primary mode of operation. "Starting the business, I really had no idea the promise that I was signing up," McChord said. "To actually see that tested and bringing those people back from a disaster was more rewarding that almost anything else I had ever done in my life." McChord said Datto was "incredibly successful" at keeping businesses large and small in verticals ranging from high-frequency trading to oil delivery up and running during the worst of the storm. All of Datto's success attracted attention, and McChord soon after received a call from a major security vendor offering to buy Datto for more than $100 million. McChord was taken back by the proposal, and reached out to his lawyer his advice. "Why are you even thinking about this?" McChord said his lawyer told him. "You could regret this decision for the rest of your life from the beach of your own private island." But his lawyer's words failed to assuage McChord's doubts, especially since Datto's potential acquirer didn't appear to understand the company's culture and identity, such as why Datto was based in Connecticut. "They loved our technology, but they couldn't understand our team," McChord said. "I really loved what I was doing, and I couldn't possibly see myself end up with all of this success and my team end up losing their jobs." So McChord rebuffed the offer, which caused the acquirer to come back with a higher price. But McChord held firm, and Datto remained an independent company. "Lots of people tell themselves they love what they do at work every day, but rarely is it tested to that extent," McChord said. Realizing how much Datto was worth, though, prompted McChord to put the internal protocols in place to protect everything the vendor had done and accelerate the company's growth. McChord gave every Datto employee stock options, and expanded the company's board of directors beyond himself to include industry leaders such as the chief technology officer of VMware. McChord also sold a small slice of Datto to Boston-based venture capital firm General Catalyst in exchange for representation on Datto's board of directors. And to thank workers for their hard work and dedicated, McChord arranged for each employee to receive a $1,000 cash bonus paid out in stacks of $20 bills. He had trouble getting his bank to agree to give him $250,000 of cash in $20 bills, but once he threatened to move his money to another bank, they agreed. "They just handed over a duffel bag with that money," McChord said. The North Dakota Legislature has been called into special session for the purpose of rebalancing the budget. For the most part reductions in oil and gas drilling, completions, and production have reduced anticipated tax revenues. The Legislature will be looking for ways to reduce spending, increase revenues or shift monies into the general fund. In 1995, the Legislature approved submitting to the voters a constitutional amendment sponsored by Reps. Tollefson, Kaldor and Soukup along with Sens. Redlin, Freborg and myself. The amendment was voted on by the voters and passed. The amendment placed 20 percent of the oil and gas extraction tax into two trust funds. Half went to the Common Schools Trust Fund for the benefit of all schools in the state. Half went to a foundation aid stabilization fund to protect foundation aid payments to schools during times when the governor orders across the board cuts in an allotment process. This trust fund is an important trust proposed by forward thinking state leaders and passed by the voters of this state. It made a statement about using our one-time harvest of state oil and gas resources for the benefit of all present and future North Dakotans. It was designed to provide stability to education funding when the Legislature doesnt act in times of economic downturns. It was not designed to bail out a current generation that chooses to steal from the future prosperity of a state in order to avoid making the hard decisions they are elected to do. Frankly any proposals to alter the trust fund are a selfish avoidance of fiscal responsibility and a slap in the face of the voters of North Dakota. Please encourage your legislators to continue the heritage of the trust fund and keep faith with our children and the educators who serve them. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. HM Revenue and Customs has signed a deal that will see the tax authority set up a new regional centre in Croydon, with around 2,500 civil servants based in the new Ruskin Square development next to East Croydon station. It is the first deal to be signed at Ruskin Square, which will feature up to two million square feet of new shops, offices and homes, as well as Boxpark. The 25-year agreement means HMRC will take up all 184,000 square feet of the office space in the nine-storey Building 1, which is next to platform 1 at East Croydon station. Around 2,500 staff will be based at the new office space, making up one of what HMRC has described as a network of 13 "state-of-the-art" centre, as part of a cost-saving plan to shut 170 offices around the country. A spokesman for Stanhope said HMRC had chosen Ruskin Square said: "The development has been chosen for its easy-to-reach location, with excellent transport links and quick access to Central London and a design which will provide HMRC with the digital infrastructure required by a modern tax authority." Nearly 600 HMRC employees already based at Southern House in Croydon town centre will move to the new building, from next summer, while staff from other tax offices will also be rehoused in the new development. Specialist teams to work on debt management, fraud and criminal investigations and tax compliance, will be based at Ruskin Square. David Camp, chief executive of Stanhope, one of the developers behind the Ruskin Square development, said HMRC's decision is a "further vote of confidence in the regeneration and revival of Croydon". "The first office block is already underway, the first phase of housing is nearing completion and, with the opening of Boxpark and detailed planning permission for a second office block, Ruskin Square will deliver the sort of commercial, housing and leisure development that Croydon really needs," he added. When HMRC announced it would be opening a new hub in Croydon last November, a HMRC spokesman said the new plans would not mean 2,500 new jobs for Croydon, but staff would instead move from existing offices elsewhere. Jon Thompson, HMRC Chief Executive, said the new centre will help make HMRC a "digitally-advanced tax authority". "By bringing various teams across HMRC together and investing in skills, career development, sophisticated IT and data analytics, we will increase our effectiveness in providing modern customer services and cracking down on tax cheats," he said. "We are delighted to have agreed terms for the Ruskin Square building; this is the beginning of a process that will make HMRC an important contributor to the economy and to communities in and around Croydon." Work to fit out the offices is expected to get underway in November. You only have to look at recent headlines to confirm that cybersecurity is a critical concern that touches every industry and every individual, and threats are only continuing to increase. Yet in a recent study conducted by ISACA and RSA, 52 percent of global cybersecurity and IT managers and practitioners said that less than a quarter of applicants for cybersecurity positions have the necessary skills for the open position. As a result, 53 percent said it can take three to six months just to find a qualified candidate. Then it takes another three to get them on board. This is a pressing issue within this field of work that needs to be addressed. So how did this shortage or talent gap happen in the first place? When the information security industry first began to be a focus area, three decades ago (when I entered the IT/Security world!), enterprises did not anticipate the incredible advancements in technology, the rapid increase in advanced cyber attacks and the constant need to protect sensitive data. The major advancements of technology alone from mobile applications to cloud to the internet of things has shined a spotlight on both the security vulnerabilities these technologies present, and the lack of cybersecurity professionals who know how to fix them. [ ALSO ON CSO: CSO burnout biggest factor in infosec talent shortage ] But instead of making a concerted effort to attract and retain cyber talent, many organizations took an alternative route of outsourcing their security teams. As breaches continue to increase in both frequency and sophistication, enterprises have had to make a switch to hiring an internal team of dedicated info security professionals, which are tough to find and hard to keep. This shift in approach towards internal enterprise security created an immediate need to seek out and train qualified security professionals. Over the years, this need for qualified and skilled security professionals has grown faster than the workforce available to fill the jobs, leading to this major gap. Despite the growing breadth/depth of security threats in the everyday organization, it is typical to find an unstructured security team that is not providing professional growth or continued education opportunities. Furthermore, the few professionals who are qualified are spread too thin and tend to burn out quickly. This has also had a profound impact on the security industry, which is now seeing 1 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs in 2016 alone, and that number is expected to increase to 6 million global job openings by 2019. While the task of closing this gap seems daunting, it is important for enterprises to shift their focus to their internal teams to cultivate the talent that already exists within their organizations, even if its minimal to start. They need to provide an environment that encourages career growth and constant training to ensure security professionals are armed with the knowledge and skills to defend their organizations. If this becomes the practiced behavior, it is my belief that the skills gap will start to close. To do this you must understand what skills you already have and then determine what you need within your security team when hiring. There is a range of talent that is required to keep an enterprise secure so you must know your must haves when doing so. In addition, its important to understand the soft-skills needed which include creative problem-solving, the ability to foster collaboration and a drive to challenge conventional thinking to stay ahead of hackers. It is no longer easy to find that 100-percent candidate or even the 80/20 rule doesnt work any more! You have to accept, at times, you may have to hire the must have(s) and train the rest maybe a 50/50 rule? Only once you get a good understanding of what you need, you need to make sure you are finding the right people and making a concerted effort to retain the talent within your organization. Though this is a long-term process, which requires continued effort, below are some quick tips to point you in the right direction: 1. Working with elementary/high school/colleges/universities Cultivating talent early on is the most effective strategy to address the growing talent shortage. Work with schools/students to provide insight into the cybersecurity industry by supporting training and education initiatives that will arm young professionals with the skillsets necessary for success. This includes adding internships to your hiring practices! 2. Fostering an environment of continuous cyber education Since threats are constantly evolving and technology is advancing more rapidly than ever, continued education is necessary to keep skills sharp. Its essential that organizations provide in-house and ongoing security trainings and certification courses that will give security professionals a leg up on hackers for everyone enterprise wide. 3. Offering security teams meaningful employment Retain the talent within your organization by ensuring that employees feel their employment is meaningful. By offering opportunities for professional guidance and mentorship, youll create a supportive environment, leading to higher employee satisfaction and reduced turnover rates. Give them the opportunity to learn and empower them to be the best that they can be. If we want to address the cyber talent shortage, we need to tackle the issue head on. By making a concerted effort to cultivate talent, encourage continued education and create a supportive workplace environment, we can strengthen the security industry and help build the workforce to thwart cyber attackers. I love what I do, do you? This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It's part of a dream many have as a child: You get your first car, clean it until it shines, then outfit it with a vanity plate to make it all yours. Well, sometimes that doesn't exactly work out as intended. The employees at Connecticut's Department of Motor Vehicles are no fools when it comes to vanity license plates. You can try to sneak a cleverly crafted plate past them, but chances are you won't succeed. Check out some of the banned, rejected and approved license plates from Connecticut's DMV in the slideshow above. So how do drivers go about requesting a vanity plate? It's quite simple. Just send in a request online and submit the required M-22 form with your desired license plate characters and plate design. Then the waiting game begins. Requested plates are scanned by the DMV's Vanity Plate Unit for offensiveness, availability, or any public safety issues that could be understood by a "reasonable person." If found to be offensive or otherwise rejected, the plate is sent back to the requestor. Bill Seymour, Chief of Staff at the Connecticut DMV, said the unit has had to adapt to constantly changing vernaculars and slang thanks to the internet. "DMV adds to its list by checking dubious combinations with online sources, such as the Urban Dictionary of streetwise lingo, Google for simply the repetitiveness of the use," Seymour said. "The internet and viral distribution has created a lightning-speed change in the adoption of certain combination of letters into vernacular, common meaning." Abbreviated speech has also added an extra level of scrutiny. "The introduction of instant messaging with one or two characters taking on meanings of complete words has created a never-ending and always incomplete list of what could be offensive," Seymour said. But what if a plate is banned after the fact? Do drivers loose their beloved plates? Claw-backs, as they're called, are a rare situation but not unheard of. And yes, you can lose your plate. "Claw-backs may have happened a few times over the last 15 years, but a rare occurrence. As a matter of customer service, we don't want to remove a plate from a customer unless there is a good reason for doing it," Seymour said. "This depends on both the timing of the request and when a certain combination moved to the banned list." To keep track of what may be considered offensive in our constantly evolving language, the vanity plate unit keeps a weekly list to stay on top of trending words and meanings so they aren't caught of guard. The unit may consult with staff throughout the DMV, but it's ultimately up to the commissioner whether a plate is approved or not in significant cases. "In the old days you waited for the jury putting together the Oxford English Dictionary or Webster's to make decisions that often took years," Seymour recalled. "Today it is how often do you see it used online in communications of all kinds." Seymour said when push comes to shove, he relies on a 2001 court ruling in favor of the Vermont DMV over first amendment rights and vanity plates. The case specifically noted, "vanity license plates were not public forum." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HAMDEN Craft microbrewers and local pubs have a lot to be hoppy about with increased cultivation of the hop plant. A staple ingredient in beer, the crop is making a comeback in Connecticut following its disappearance during the Prohibition era, when there was no market for hops. Dr. Katja Maurer, an agricultural postdoctoral research scientist at the Valley Laboratory of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, is investigating the possibilities for growing hops in the state. Connecticut has really good water thats the reason why there are so many brewers right now and a lot of microbrewers, Maurer said. The demand for local products is pretty high now, and people also like to have local hops. She was a keynote speaker at the CAES 106th annual Plant Science Day at Lockwood Farm in Hamden on Wednesday. The event, showcasing the research efforts of leading environmentalists, entomologists, horticulturists and other leading experts, brought in crowds of more than 1,100 visitors. Maurer and her colleagues are also looking into the the plants susceptibility to diseases and pests. The public was able to walk through rows of perennial hop species. Related: Is craft beer on its way out? Weaving vertically upward on 10 and 18 foot trellises, the crops at Lockwood Farm and a similar plant field in Windsor mimic the growth patterns of their wild counterparts, said Dr. James LaMondia, chief scientist and plant pathologist at the Valley Laboratory. We actually train hops to string and they climb right up, said LaMondia, who is also leading the study. Harvest season for the hops is fast approaching, and the team is preparing to hand-pick the cones of the female varieties. Parts of the plant, called lupulin glands, are packed with different acids that give beer its signature flavor and bitterness, LaMondia said. Beer enthusiasts are able to experiment with the exact hoppy taste and aroma, LaMondia said, by adjusting the quantity of hops and the timeline for adding them to the brewing process. Its kind of popular right now, Maurer said. Theyre called brew farms you have your own farms and then you brew your beer. She said its best to avoid male hop plants because once the cones become fertilized, the flavor of the beer is altered. Black Hog Brewing Co. in Oxford has joined the trend of serving craft beer made from local crops. Taste room manager Marissa Leone said the brewery is in the process of canning a brew called Connecticut Love Bomb, which exclusively uses hops from Lockwood Farm. Two Roads Brewing Company, based in Stratford, has also dabbled into growing hops, which can be seen on the property by motorists passing by on Stratford Avenue. Maurer said that Germany remains the largest producer of hops, but Connecticuts temperate climate zone is still perfect for high-quality yields. Some trends are here to stay, while others - like bell bottom jeans and shell suites -- are destined to die out. Fashion isnt the only industry that works this way. The customer service industry has seen just as many fads come and go. Remember when companies thought it was a good idea to inundate customers with lengthy surveys? That said, there are some recent trends in customer service that are here to stay because theyre delighting customers while simultaneously generating revenue. There are also some recent trends that need to die out as soon as possible and other trends that could doom companies if they arent shaken quickly. Heres a look at the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to customer service. Related: Customer Service Lessons Learned on the Road Here's the good trends. Customer experience is a high priority. Customer experience has become a strategic priority for companies. And its not just the customer service team thats hard at work. Now, customer experience is a priority for the CMO, the COO and the CEO. Some companies have even added a new position - Chief Customer Officer -- to the c-suite to ensure customers' needs are well-represented in all areas of business. Thats because the cat is out of the bag. Customer experience initiatives dramatically impact revenue. According to a recent Forrester study, customer experience leaders outperformed the portfolios of customer experience laggards by 80 percent. And, according to the London School of Economics, a seven-point increase in net promoter scores (NPS) can have a one percent impact on revenue. Reducing detractors by just two percent can unlock an additional one percent of growth. For companies with $1 billion in yearly revenue, thats an additional $10 million in revenue for every seven-point increase and $20 million if you can convert two percent of your detractors to be neutral or promoters. Companies that prioritize customer experience, identify and fix problems faster and are able to tailor products and services to meet expectations. The end result is a reduction in haters and an ever growing pool of promoters. Customer experience is a company-wide initiative. As c-suites around the world start to embrace customer experience as a strategic priority, customer experience becomes a company-wide initiative. More and more, were seeing organizations make it easier and more efficient for internal stakeholders and employees to access customer insights. Now, every department has a hand in shaping the customer experience and driving change. Take United Airlines, for example. The companys new CEO, Oscar Munoz, holds every employee accountable for doing better when it comes to customer service. He empowers employees to meet customer expectations. And its paying off. Fortune magazine recently recognized United Airlines as the fourth most respected airline in its 2016 Worlds Most Admired Companies list. When a company takes on a top-down approach to customer experience, empowering the entire organization to serve customers better, the results speak for itself. Customer experience is customer driven. Companies are starting to put customers in the drivers seat when it comes to customer experience. Thats because customers want to choose how they interact with businesses. And when customers are able to drive their own experiences, they feel empowered and have higher overall satisfaction and brand affinity. Empowering customers to drive their own experiences is more important than ever before given the growing generational divide in preferences. According to a 2015 study by the Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA), millennials prefer to interact with brands via social channels while generation X looks to brands or the community for support. Meanwhile, baby boomers still cling to direct human interaction. As each generation comes with its own set of needs, companies must be flexible when it comes to customer experience. Related: What Buffer Can Teach Us About Customer Service Here's the bad trends. Social service is lacking. Although many companies are prioritizing customer experience, just as many continue to fall flat on social customer service. For the first time ever, millennials are the largest segment of the population in the U.S. This group prefers to communicate with brands via social media. However, according to research by Satmetrix, 55 percent of customer requests for service on social media are not acknowledged. When brands ignore social customer service requests, they miss the opportunity to create a positive experience, and they lose out on valuable, candid customer insights. Customer journey maps are falling short. Customer journey maps - diagrams that illustrate the steps customers go through when engaging with a company -- are hugely important to providing a quality customer experience. In fact, they are the foundation on which customer experience strategies should be built. Unfortunately, the majority of companies are incorrectly mapping the customer journey. According to Esteban Kolsky, a well-recognized expert in journey mapping, 34 percent of companies have undertaken customer journey mapping, but only two percent of those companies reported success with the process. Whats more, when customers are shown a customer journey map, 72 percent say it doesnt describe their needs or their relationship with the brand. So where are companies going wrong? Often its a misunderstanding of the methodology. Journey mapping must be data driven. Brands must capture customer feedback and data as consumers are on their journey. The full journey is only captured when a company can weave interactions together into a complete experience. Related: This Surprising Customer Service Exchange Has Gone Viral And here's the ugly trends. Some companies continue to take an inside-out approach. As customer experience becomes central to business success, companies must embrace an outside-in mentality. The term - coined by Forrester analysts, Harley Manning and Kerry Bodine -- is a reminder that companies must think about customers first and their business second. While many companies have started to think this way, there are just as many that have not. Brands are falling into the social care chasm. Most brands are still falling into the social customer care chasm, with only 33 percent of social media users saying the service they received does not meet their expectations. Social use is climbing, and customers are clued into social as a channel for resolving issues, but brands still arent meeting the customers where they are. The ugly truth is that customer experience is still a new concept for some companies. For others, customer experience is just a minor blip on their radar. Weve come a long way, as companies like Amazon, Apple and Kroger lead the charge. But theres still work to be done. Customer expectations are changing, and businesses must evolve, or theyll be left behind. Related: How To Make Your Startup Video Go Viral Leverage the Undeniable Power of Video Marketing on All Platforms Video Marketing: How to Stretch Your Dollars Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Two attempts to delay construction of a new $5 million North Dakota governors residence fell short during the Legislatures special session Tuesday. The House Delayed Bills Committee voted 4-1 to reject a bill proposed by Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, that would have stripped the authority and $4 million appropriation provided by lawmakers in 2015 to build the residence. It also would have allowed the nonprofit raising $1 million in private donations for the project to refund any of the more than $500,000 in donations collected so far if requested by the donor. Kasper, who sponsored the original bill in 2015 for the new residence, said that with the states current budget situation and state agencies being asked to tighten their belts, I just dont think its the right message to send at this point in time to the people of North Dakota. He also raised concerns that proposals from contractors came in more than $800,000 over the $5 million budget. Facility Management Director John Boyle said that figure is down to about $600,000 now as construction manager-at-risk JE Dunn Construction Co. negotiates to bring proposals in line with the project estimate. Until it gets down to $5 million, there is no project, Boyle said. A second bill, submitted by Rep. Jerry Kelsh, D-Fullerton, would have postponed construction of the residence until May 2017 and used about $2 million in Capitol Building Trust Fund money set aside for other projects on the Capitol grounds to free up general fund dollars to balance the budget. Under state law, the trust fund money can be used only for projects on the Capitol grounds. Kelsh suggested the $2 million go to the North Dakota Veterans Home in Lisbon, which is in a real bind from the 4.05 percent budget cuts to state agencies in February. He said the current 56-year-old governor's residence is still practical, and he doesnt believe reports of mold in the basement, calling it phantom mold. I think theres a lot of good years in that (residence), he said. House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, said he wants to keep the special session focused on fixing the $309.5 million budget shortfall projected by the end of the biennium on June 30, 2017. If we open the door, I think theres all kinds of ideas that would come forward, he said. Rep. Corey Mock, D-Grand Forks, supported Kelshs bill, saying it was tied to the budget. Supporters of building a new residence have said the current 10,000-square-foot, ranch-style home has problems ranging from security and mold to a lack of handicapped accessibility, and would cost up to $3 million to repair and upgrade. Carlson, a contractor, said he believes its worthy of the wrecking ball, adding: I wouldnt live in that. Its time for a new house thats actually representative of what we have for the state, he said. Kelshs bill was rejected 3-2 along party lines, with Carlson, Rep. Don Vigesaa, R-Cooperstown, and Rep. Wes Belter, R-Fargo, voting not to advance it. Boyle said construction on the new 13,766-square-foot residence has been delayed about a month and will likely begin in September. Cuban dissident continues on hunger strike after being hospitalized Submitted by: Juana Society Villaclara Politics and Government 08 / 02 / 2016 Cuban dissident Guillermo Farinas, leader of the Antitotalitario Front (Fantu), was taken Thursday to Arnaldo Milian Castro Hospital in the city of Santa Clara after growing extremely weak from a hunger strike that has stretched for eight days. Cuban activist Jorge Luis Artiles said that shortly after noon, Farinas lost consciousness and went into a state of shock, fainting and not responding. Farinas was treated in an observation room at the hospital, where he got an electrocardiogram and had his vital signs checked. Farinas has already accumulated 11 days on hunger strike and thirst after calling for voluntary discharge from the hospital. The main request of Farinas to stop the hunger strike and thirst is that the Cuban government publicly commit to stop "torturing, beating, threatening to kill or confiscate property of the political opposition". source: www.cibercuba.com Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article92404202.html#storylink=cpy14ymedio Section of GAP closed during bridge work "The last time the bridges were re-decked was in 1995. They have become almost unsafe to be used," said Lindsay Baer. Boo! What are the scariest spots in Lake County? The old courthouse. A tea room in Mount Dora. Lake County has several places that are thought to be haunted. E-Zine In this weeks Computer Weekly, planning datacentre capacity is a growing challenge we ask the experts for the latest best practice. Victims of the Post Office IT scandal explain why they think they were targeted for speaking out. And we look at the digital skills gap in retail and find out how employers can source talent. Read the issue now. Continue Reading 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. When Theresa May stood outside No 10 Downing Street as our new Prime Minister on July 13, she referred to the injustice that if youre young youll find it harder than ever to own your own home. One can hardly imagine David Cameron or George Osborne or indeed Jeremy Corbyn emphasising in such an important speech the virtual impossibility of home-ownership experienced by many young people. For millions of them there is no prospect other than paying rent to a private landlord or housing association for as far ahead as the eye can see. Expectations taken for granted by their parents and grandparents have been shattered. According to a report by the Resolution Foundation which really only tells us what we already knew the proportion of home-owners compared with those who rent has been plummeting, notably in big cities such as London. Even in Manchester, not normally regarded as a property hot-spot, it fell from 72 per cent in 2003 to 58 per cent this year. When Theresa May stood outside No 10 as our new Prime Minister, she referred to the injustice that if youre young youll find it harder than ever to own your own home' The reasons for the current state of affairs are complex. They include near-stagnant wages in recent years, more onerous mortgage requirements and, above all, a shortage of adequate new housing, which is attributable to a wide range of factors, not least uncontrolled immigration. Id say that this crisis of declining home-ownership is one of the most serious issues Mrs May faces more serious than Trident renewal or whether or not we should build new nuclear power stations with French and Chinese money and know-how. For the issue of home-ownership is fundamental to Tory philosophy. In the Twenties, a now mostly forgotten Conservative politician called Noel Skelton coined the phrase property-owning democracy. He meant that people need to have a stake in modern society if they are not to feel alienated or left behind. It was an idea taken up with enthusiasm by the Tory-dominated National Government of the Thirties. It encouraged the private sector to build hundreds of thousands of new houses 280,000 of them in 1935-36 alone. The countless rows of neo-Tudor villas on the outskirts of most of our large towns are the happy harvest of those years. After the war, first Labour and then Tory governments boosted house-building to even greater heights, though the majority of these new homes were council houses. More than 300,000 houses a year were put up in the early Fifties when Harold Macmillan was housing minister. Compare all this with what has happened in recent times under Labour, the Coalition and now the Tories. The number of new houses has crept up from just above 137,000 in 2010 to not much above 150,000 last year. Given that most experts reckon we should be building between 200,000 and 250,000 new houses a year, this was a disappointing, even pitiful, performance. Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne seemed to have grasped the magnitude of the problem, and came up with schemes for first-time buyers such as Help to Buy (which allowed some young people to purchase a home with just a 5 per cent deposit). David Cameron and George Osborne seemed to have grasped the magnitude of the housing problem, and came up with schemes for first-time buyers such as Help to Buy But although these policies may have made a difference at the margins, they did little to address the central difficulty, which is that, despite a modest relaxation of planning regulations and a more buoyant economy, far too few houses are being built. What must Mrs May do if she is to avoid repeating the mistakes of her predecessors, and dashing the hopes of young people which she will have raised in her speech outside No 10? The first measure is obviously to bring immigration under control, which is now doable as a result of the referendum. Last year, net immigration was 330,000, which equates to a city the size of Nottingham, plus some. Thats an awful lot of new homes. For more than a decade, politicians have either deliberately encouraged mass immigration (Labour) or failed to stem it (the Coalition and the Tories). It beggars belief that this should have gone on while there was no commensurate attempt to enlarge the housing stock, or construct enough new schools and hospitals. One recent official projection suggested that 210,000 new households will be required every year until 2039. That assumes that net immigration will be running at 170,000 a year (about half of the current total), in which case it would account for 37 per cent of new housing demand. However, the admirable Lord Green of the invariably reliable MigrationWatch UK has postulated an annual net migration figure of 233,000 during this period on the basis of what has happened over the past ten years. In that case, immigration would account for 45 per cent of new homes over the coming years. It follows that unless we succeed in getting down net migration to the tens of thousands (a pledge Mrs May has reiterated since becoming Prime Minister), immigration will necessitate millions of new homes over the next few decades. Let us imagine quite a stretch, I agree that as a result of leaving the EU we do, in fact, manage to reduce migration figures significantly. In that case, a good deal of the pressure for new housing would disappear. May must bring immigration under control, which is now doable as a result of the referendum (pictured, migrants at the Calais Jungle camp But, of course, there would still be other impediments. Obtaining planning permission is still a fraught and often lengthy process. Like so many others who love the British countryside, I am loath to suggest that planning regulations should be relaxed, but it cant be denied that something must be done. A partial solution would be to force public and other bodies such as Network Rail to free up more brownfield sites for building. According to one estimate, such sites could accommodate a million new homes. The best way to make owners release this land would be to impose a tax on dormant brownfield sites capable of being developed. There is, in fact, plenty of evidence that house-builders and developers are sitting on land which has already been given the go-ahead for building. Earlier this year, the Local Government Association claimed that 475,000 homes in England have been given planning permission but have not yet been built. Some major house-builders are undoubtedly either over-cautious or greedy, and need an encouraging kick up the backside from the Government. They are often much keener to build swanky new flats in London for rich foreigners, which command hefty margins, than more modest dwellings for ordinary Britons. The Government will have to bang some heads together, and become more proactive in the process the more so if the economy falters for a while post-Brexit. Why not intervene, if the market is failing to produce the number of new homes we need? Few of us have ever heard of Gavin Barwell, the new housing minister. If one of the biggest challenges of the age is to be met, housing should comprise a separate department with a big-hitter in charge of it Here it must be said that the housing minister should be a major figure with a Cabinet post (as used to be the case) rather than an obscure minister of state in the Department for Communities and Local Government. Few of us have ever heard of Gavin Barwell, the new housing minister. If one of the biggest challenges of the age is to be met, housing should comprise a separate department with a big-hitter in charge of it. Mrs May was right to identify home-ownership as a distant dream for many young people. But unless she shakes things up and that must include bringing down levels of immigration theres no reason to expect that things will get any better. Britain is falling fast in the international table of home-ownership below Spain, Italy, France and the United States and is not far above even Germany, which traditionally has had a very large rental sector. Who can doubt that there is widespread disenchantment among many young people who can see only long years of renting ahead of them? Such alienation can provide fertile ground for the far-Left. At a time when vulnerable elderly patients are denied routine but life-changing cataract operations, yesterdays High Court ruling that the NHS should fund an expensive new treatment which reduces the chances of a healthy person contracting HIV from unprotected sex, is deeply disturbing. If you are elderly, the costs involved are, to put it mildly, interesting. For the annual bill for providing a drug called PrEP to one person potentially 5,000 six people suffering from the debilitating loss of sight caused by cataracts could have the 800 surgery which, as the Mail revealed last week, is often being rationed. This is a conceptual view of HIV within the bloodstream. The NHS has been told to prescribe a drug to prevent HIV At this point, several things need to be stressed. Everybody is entitled to a sex life and HIV sufferers deserve huge sympathy. And yes, treating HIV is expensive and PrEPs advocates argue that by issuing it free of charge the NHS would save money. But is it unfashionably moralistic to ask whether this is not just a lifestyle drug for gay men not willing to take the reasonable precaution of using condoms, which are available for just a few pounds and a more effective barrier against a raft of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV? And given the health risks to which they are exposing themselves, should not anyone gay or straight choosing such a lifestyle not have to stump up to buy their drugs privately? Significantly, in America, PrEP has to be paid for through private medical schemes. Campaigners for PrEP should also consider carefully the list issued by NHS England last night of 13 other treatments including for cystic fibrosis, stem cell therapy for lymphoma, prosthetic limbs and implants for deafness which will be delayed and could have to be scrapped if PrEP is approved. On Sunday we learned the NHS is freezing the eggs of female transgender patients before they go through a sex change, so they can later choose to become mothers. With all this, is it too much to ask for some common sense decisions in how public money is spent on the nations healthcare? Victory for justice Phil Shiner has made a lucrative career hounding British soldiers who fought in Iraq with claims about their involvement in torture and murder With the Human Rights Act in one hand and a legal aid blank cheque in the other, glorified ambulance chaser Phil Shiner has made a lucrative career hounding British soldiers who fought in Iraq with endless and often spurious claims about their involvement in torture and murder. It is therefore with great pleasure that we can report today his publicly-funded witch-hunting days are over, after the Government stripped his notorious Public Interest Lawyers firm of all future legal aid work. It follows a review of the firms shameful role in the 31million, five-year Al-Sweady war crimes inquiry into allegations that Britons mistreated Iraqis in May 2004. The former High Court judge in charge eventually branded the claims made by Mr Shiners clients deliberate and calculated lies and comprehensively cleared the soldiers involved. The decision is a victory for a Mail campaign which has exposed the firm for using banned methods such as employing touts to drum up business. But most importantly, it will mean no more honest servicemen and women will have to fear the knock at the door or a legal letter. If counting is not your thing, you may want to look away right now. For this puzzle, created by a Playbuzz user, requires you to be good with numbers - and have a great deal of patience. Participants are required to count the number of squares in a picture, which sounds simple enough. Scroll down for the reveal! This puzzle, created by a Playbuzz user, requires you to be good with numbers - and have a great deal of patience The diagram seems to show a grid made of a series of squares with two other smaller squares placed in a line in the centre. So how hard can it be to count the correct number of shapes? Well, for starters there are far more squares than there immediately seem to be. If you manage to correctly find them all, the answer to the question is 40. This is made up of eight tiny squares, 18 single squares, nine 2 x 2 squares, four 3 x 3 squares and one 4 x 4 square. If you manage to correctly find them all, the answer to the question is 40. This is made up of eight tiny squares, 18 single squares, nine 2 x 2 squares, four 3 x 3 squares and one 4 x 4 square It's the latest teaser to test both powers of observation and knowledge. Do you know your USA from your Canada, Latvia from Lithuania and where Cambodia is in relation to Vietnam? If the answer to that is a resounding yes, then check out this quiz from Playbuzz. Six countries have switched places in this map of the world - but can you spot them all? Do you know your USA from your Canada, your Latvia from your Lithuania and your Cambodia from your Vietnam? In this reordered map, countries that you're used to seeing in their set places on the world map appear to have shifted. The giant land mass stretching from Europe to Asia is now labelled Canada, while the large island continent in the southern hemisphere is called Brazil. So how quickly did you spot the remarkable changes across the globe? How quickly were you able to spot that Canada became Greenland, Russia became Canada and Greenland became Russia? The map test comes from the same site that recently challenged the web to spot Disney princesses in a huge crowd scene. Among the faces, including the Seven Dwarfs, the Genie, Winnie the Pooh and the Cheshire cat, are the iconic cartoon heroines. But how quickly can you spot Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, and Ariel? In this crowded scene, princesses Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas,and Ariel are all hidden. But how quickly can you spot them? Although some princesses - including Belle and Pocahontas are fairly easy to spot, Snow White, Ariel, Jasmine and Cinderella are a little bit trickier. Some Playbuzz users have even noticed that there are more princesses than the six you have been challenged to find - Auroa from Sleeping Beauty can be spotted in the top and centre, as well as Kida from Atlantis and Mulan. How many did you spot? Some Playbuzz users have even noticed that there are more princesses than the six you have been challenged to find - Auroa from Sleeping Beauty can be spotted in the top and centre, as well as Kida from Atlantis and Mulan Another puzzle recently put film buffs to the ultimate test with a dense crowd scene in which every image references a movie. The challenge is whether you can identify the clues and name the cinematic work that inspired it. Take the test to see how many you get right... The crowded scene created by Playbuzz is set on a tarmac foreground with buildings to the left and right and a backdrop of the Hollywood sign, over which birds wheel through the sky and starships appear to be fighting each other. This crowd scene is filled with clues but can you identify them and name all 50 films it references? A lone turret is up in flames, while a chasm appears to be opening up in the hillside while the rest of the image appears to depict chaos. Some clues are more literal than others, for instance a man playing a violin atop a building brings to mind the famous musical starring Topol. Fingers tightly closed around some US currency, also accurately depicts a classic US film. In fact, the test will appeal to those with a wealth of knowledge about Hitchcock films (five clues) and famous directors Martin Scorese hits (three films) and George Lucas (two). Three cartoons pop up, along with two classic Second World War flicks, musicals also have a place, while a Audrey Hepburn film is included along with one of Patrick Swayze's most loved works. Ridley Scott films are also featured, with one of them providing one of the easiest visual aids. This ultimate film test is just the latest in a slew of optical illusions that are driving the internet wild. Another brain teaser revealed how even photographs are not always what they seem. A picture appears to show a beautiful scene of a lake, with mountains in the distance. But can you spot what is really going on? The image appears to show a beautiful scene of a lake, with mountains in the distance. But can you spot what is really going on? If you look extremely closely you'll see that the landscape doesn't include any water at all. What appears to be a the lake is in fact a concrete wall obscuring part of the scenery, with the shrub growing on the other side. It is one of the trickiest optical illusions on the web, that baffled many who simply couldn't spot what was really being pictured in the image. If you look extremely closely you'll see that the scene is not, in fact, of a lake. Instead, the photograph is showing a concrete wall Back in 2015, the infamous 'dress' divided internet users, who simply could not agree over whether it was black and blue or gold and white - with even Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift joining in on the debate. One year later, the Adidas jacket did the same, with people saying that they saw numerous colour combinations, including blue and white, green and gold, black and brown, and green and brown. And this week a new colour spectrum illusion emerged to frustrate the nation, proving once again that our perceptions of colour can be very different from each other. Is this colour blue or green? When asked to name the colour above, 64 per of respondents said that it was green, with 32 per cent believing it to be blue Optical Express surveyed the UK public with the seemingly simple task of identifying shades of blue and green, as part of a study into our perception of colour. When asked to name the colour, 64 per of respondents said that it was green, with 32 per cent believing it to be blue. However, when asked to name the same colour adjacent to two distinctly blue images, many changed their minds - with 90 per cent then stating that it was green. The shade is indeed more green than blue. According to the RGB colour spectrum, the values of the colour are 0, 122 and 116. However, when asked to name the same colour adjacent to two distinctly blue images, many changed their minds - with 90 per cent then stating that it was green Back in 2015, the infamous 'dress' divided internet users, who simply could not agree over whether it was black and blue or gold and white - with even Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift joining in on the debate. One year later, the Adidas jacket (right) did the same WHY DO WE SEE COLOURS DIFFERENTLY? Every single person is unique and as a result, our brains process information differently. Depending on how you interpret colours, one person might see it one way, while the very next person who looks at it might see it differently. Light enters the eye and hits the retina, which is the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The light is converted to an electrical signal which travels along the Optic Nerve to the Visual Cortex in the brain. The brain makes its own unique interpretation of this electrical signal. It is not surprising that many respondents changed their mind when seeing the colour in contrast to the two blue shades, as we perceive an objects colour based on a comparison to its surrounding shades, not on the actual colour itself. Assessing colour vision is just one of the myriad of examinations that can be undertaken during a routine sight test. Its possible for colour blindness to go undetected depending on severity - as its impossible to see the world through another persons eyes. Conditions such as protanomaly, deuteranomaly and tritanomaly can range from inconvenient to quite dangerous - often preventing those inflicted from pursuing certain careers. If you have any concerns about your colour perception, you should seek an appointment with a registered optometrist. Stephen Hannan, Clinical Services Director at Optical Express Advertisement People also had their brain tested by the 'perception test', that challenged quizzers to answer a series of quickfire questions. The test began by setting out the rules: 'Answer the following questions loudly and as quickly as possible. Don't think too much and don't cheat!' The challenge, tjhat was also created by Playbuzz, went through a series of animal pictures, asking you to name what each one is. Internet users are being challenged to test their brain power in a new quiz - which the majority of people will fail The quiz goes through a series of animal pictures, asking you to name what each one is Quiz takers are required to answer the following questions loudly and as quickly as possible The rules stated at the beginning of the quiz add: 'Don't think too much and don't cheat!' The test surprises the quiz taker by throwing out a completely different question: 'Name one city in the USA' The photographs feature a cute-looking cat, a guinea pic and a cow. The test then surprises the quiz taker by throwing out a completely different question: 'Name one city in the USA.' So what did you say? According to the creators of the quiz, 92 per cent of people answer New York under pressure. But if you're one of the few people that named a different city, it shows you've got a creative and innovative mind. Sometimes the easiest-sounding brain teasers are the most difficult ones. And one of the latest puzzle to sweep the web certainly plays by those rules. Created by a PlayBuzz user, this colour photo depicts a grey car seat with a mysterious object hidden on it that it's up to you to find At first, the secret object is impossible to find. However, after a more detailed search you can spot a grey iPad lying flat on the back on the seat Created by a PlayBuzz user, this colour photo depicts a grey car seat with a mysterious object hidden on it that it's up to you to find. At first, the secret object is impossible to find. However, after a more detailed search you can spot a grey iPad lying flat on the back on the seat. The iPad is well-camouflaged because it's the same colour as the seat, with similar markings. Another brainteaser to have swept the web depicts a happy-looking holiday scene. The latest brainteaser to have swept the web depicts a happy-looking holiday scene A dad can be seen peacefully reading a newspaper while his two children fish beside him - one successfully managing to reel in a big one. But within the scene, six holiday-themed words have been hidden, and the challenge is to spot them all. Four of the six words, including 'tree' and 'boy' are relatively easy to spot. However, the other two are slightly more difficult. The version of the picture with rings around the words shows how many you got right - or simply failed to spot. Within the scene, six holiday-themed words have been hidden, and the challenge is to spot them all Year five pupils at a primary school in Glossop, Derbyshire, were left as stumped as their parents by a question which asked them to 'calculate the perimeter of these composite rectilinear shapes'. One dad, 43, was so baffled that he turned to social media, appealing for help in solving the question. As the Manchester Evening News reported, he wrote on Facebook: 'My sons grandma had spent a while helping him with his homework and most of it was straightforward but this one question left her stumped. The maths puzzle was given to year five pupils at a school in Glossop, Derbyshire 'I then spent an hour or so trying to work it out but found it impossible. 'I really do think it is impossible and it is certainly not something a ten-year-old can answer.' On social media, many have claimed that the answer is 44cm for both - but not everyone is in agreement. Another puzzle recently swept the internet, with many trying to solve it using advanced mathematics then kicking themselves when they realised the real solution. Antley Lamont Staten posted this brainteaser on Facebook, which has been shared more than 370,000 times. The puzzle shows a grid of nine numbers and a sign next to it asking people to share the image when they find the error. Yet another puzzle is sweeping the internet, this time boggling the minds of everybody with its deceptively simple answer, above Lots of people have been trying but failing to solve what they think is a mathematical equation on the right side. One wrote: 'It' s 4 and 5. 3 + 6=9 2+5=7 not 8 and 1+4=5 not 7. That's how I looked at it.' However, the answer is that 'mitsake' is spelled wrong. Theodore O'Connell II wrote: 'This is funny. Most people will pay more attention to the numbers and not the spelling of the sign.' Pat Ireland said: 'Just shows that it's true - most of us only see the first and last letter of a word.' Many have been trying to solve the riddle with advanced mathematics, but were probably left kicking themselves when they realised the real solution. The answer is that 'mitsake' is spelled wrong It came after another very tricky puzzle challenged the internet to find a gherkin hidden among a whole host of burger ingredients. The brainteaser features a solitary gherkin mixed in with beef burgers, fries and other tasty-looking garnishes. The challenge is made even more difficult because of all the other green items featured, including salad leaves, cucumber and avocado slices. The brainteaser features a solitary gherkin mixed in with beef burgers, fries and other tasty-looking garnishes The visual puzzle was created by illustrator Sally-Ann Heron for food delivery service Deliveroo. The 25-year-old said: 'I kept forgetting where it was myself, while I was drawing it. I was really hungry by the time I'd finished it.' The gherkin is actually hidden towards the bottom left of the image, behind an onion ring and a beef burger. It's not the only food-themed puzzle to have internet users scratching their heads in recent weeks. The gherkin is actually hidden towards the bottom left of the image, behind an onion ring and a beef burger In April, popular high street bakers Greggs posted a pasty puzzle that showed a lone cheese and onion bake in a pile of steak slices. The brainteaser was inspired by the Where's Wally-style puzzles challenging people to spot animals amongst throngs of creatures that have been sweeping the net in recent months. For those not familiar with the baker's offerings, picking out the pasty proved difficult. This optical illusion has had pasty lovers scratching their heads - and rubbing their stomachs The eagle-eyed spotted that the difference lies in the patterns of the pasties. While the steak bakes feature diagonal lines, the cheese and onion bake is scored with a V-shaped design. The lone cheese and onion bake is hidden at the bottom right corner of the puzzle. The cheese and onion bake is tucked away in the bottom right hand corner (circled in red) This is the latest brain-teaser taking the internet by storm, inviting people to take on the challenge in fewer than five seconds Internet users were also challenged to see if they could spot what was wrong in this sentence, above, that listed a colourful series of numbers above - in fewer than five seconds. Reading both text and numbers at a quick pace can result in skipping bits out - which many people who failed to spot the mistake have fallen foul of here. The numbers, which are in colour, attract the eye and the reader may automatically find themselves checking those for a mistake. In fact, the error is hidden in the text informing you that there is a mistake to spot. The results, circled in red, show that the mistake is the fact that the word 'the' has been written twice Those with a keen eye for detail, and practised in the art of speed-reading, will have noticed that the word 'the' is written twice. The puzzle is a slight detour from the current trend of Where's Wally-style quizzes. After a spate of illustrations in which a panda was hidden amongst snowmen, Star Wars figures, elephants. The craze was sparked by Hungarian illustrator Dudas in December 2015 with he drew a group of snowmen and sneaked in a lone panda amongst them. Seven months later the craze for puzzles shows no sign of abating, Dudas, or Dudolf as he is known when drawing, spawned the Where's waldo-style internet puzzle craze back in December last year when he asked fans to find the panda hidden in these snowmen The image of the panda was shared hundreds of thousands of times as it captivated internet users who eventually found him here Dudolf followed up with a series of wide-eyed owls and challenged viewers to spot the cat hidden amongst them. Reddit user Oneste stuck with the panda theme, but this time drew the fuzzy creature hiding among a group of Stormtroopers to mark the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. There amongst Imperial troops including Stormtroopers, Speeder Biker riders and Snowtroopers, is a single panda with the same black and white colouring as the other figures. Brooke Saward has tasted wasabi ice cream in Japan, enjoyed the pastries of Paris and sampled gelato in Italy. So it's little wonder that when the sweet-tooth travel blogger decided to lay down some business roots in her hometown of Launceston, Tasmania, it would be in the form of a dessert bar. The well-travelled 24-year-old, who pens the popular blog World of Wanderlust, will open Charlie's Dessert House on September 17, and told Daily Mail Australia the menu is designed to take you around the world. Scroll down for video Sweet tooth: World of Wanderlust blogger Brooke Saward plans to open a dessert bar in her hometown of Launceston, Tasmania Worldly menu: The menu will be inspired by the four years she was spent travelling the globe Decadent: Chocolate fondue with marshmallows, strawberries, banana and pretzels is one of the decadent dishes on the menu 'The menu is influenced by all of my favourite dishes I have found on dessert menus around the world - Banoffee Pie from the UK, Acai bowls from Brazil and Hummingbird Cake from Jamaica,' she said. Having been a vegetarian for 10 years, Ms Saward said sweets were one food she was free to indulge in, and picking a favourite can be hard. 'I'm a sucker for anything caramel - alfajores, salted caramel macarons and banoffee pie,' she said. 'My favourite sweet snack is hands down Portuguese Tarts from Pastel de Belem (just outside of Lisbon), and the one dessert I would take a long-haul plane ride for is gelato. You can't beat Italian gelato in the motherland itself.' Delicious: The dessert bar will be called Charlie's Dessert House, and Miss Saward said it is 'influenced by all of my favourite dishes I have found on dessert menus around the world' A Facebook page for the dessert bar has already attracted 3,460 likes ahead of opening, and Miss Saward said she would split her time between the cafe and travels abroad. 'As much as I love travelling, I'm starting to reach the point where I want to balance travel part time with a country lifestyle at home,' she said. 'Simply put, I want the best of both worlds. 'Travelling so much has really given me a much stronger appreciation for my home, Tasmania, and I know it is where I want to put roots down eventually. 'While I'm not ready to give up travelling just yet, this is my way to do both.' Delectable: On the menu is 'sticky date pudding drowning in butterscotch sauce, gold sprinkles and French vanilla ice cream' Yum: Also being served will be Spanish lattes, a Tiramisu Mousse Pot, Knickerbocker Glories and Belgian Waffles. While at home, Miss Saward will work with her team of staff to run Charlie's Dessert House. 'I'm currently midway through building a team of talented individuals who will work in the kitchen and front of house,' she said. 'I myself will be doing both - some days in the kitchen, some days out the front. 'I have always been really passionate about bringing beautiful dessert creations to the plate, but I'm just as passionate about great service - so I'd like to play a role in both.' True to herself: Despite travelling abroad for four years, Miss Saward said she wants to find a balance between country life and her travels Not done yet: 'While I'm not ready to give up travelling just yet, this is my way to do both,' she said Miss Saward has lived and breathed travelling for the past four years, and in the first year alone visited six continents and nearly 50 countries - almost completely by herself. In a previous interview with Daily Mail Australia, Miss Saward said while she initially planned her travels ahead of time, she found it liberating to travel without plans. 'It's really exciting to not know what youre doing next week. A few nights ago, I went to bed not knowing where I was going the next day,' she said. Globe-trotting: In a single year of travelling the adventurous blogger visited six continents and nearly 50 countries Wanderlust: She chose to leave many of her adventures unplanned Global audience: Her Instagram has a staggering 489,000 followers, and in April last year, her blog would get 950,000 page views per month Brooke previously estimated that 50 per cent of her travels were self-funded, with the other half sponsored by tourist boards, hotels, and tour companies who invite her to a destination to cover it on her blog and social media channels. Her Instagram has a staggering 489,000 followers, and in April last year, her blog would get 950,000 page views per month. She also penned a series of e-books titled A year To Myself, How To Create A Blog and the Solo Travel Guide Book to fund her lifestyle. A new book published by Penguin Random House, World of Wanderlust: How to Live an Adventurous Life, will be released later in the year. Finding her niche: Her dessert bar will be the perfect venue for a date night Well travelled: Miss Saward has also written a series of e-books - A year To Myself, How To Create A Blog and the Solo Travel Guide Book Miss Saward said Charlie's Dessert House would be a special spot for a date night. And while her dessert dreams are coming to fruition, she is also dreaming of her next getaway. When she spoke to Daily Mail Australia, the jetsetter was sitting in Doha airport en route to Tuscany. On their wedding day, couples share gushing vows made up of countless love declarations and heartwarming promises. But as the marriage gets underway and couples learn more about each other, many realise there are far more practical vows to be made. Bella Ellwood-Clayton, a sex and relationships writer from Melbourne, recently penned a post for Daily Life to share how she would change her marriage vows after 10 years of marriage. Early days: On their wedding day, couples share gushing vows made up of countless love declarations and heartwarming promises... but these change as they settle in to marriage life New vows: Bella Ellwood-Clayton, a sex and relationships writer from Melbourne, recently penned a post to share how she would change her marriage vows after 10 years of marriage Mrs Ellwood-Clayton, a mother-of-two, will celebrate her 10 year wedding anniversary with her husband in December. She was inspired to re-write her vows after statistics showed marriages in Australia last for an average of just 12 years. 'We have kinda grown up. Built careers, and little people, and a strong family, of which, I, as a child, never knew myself. And in the process we, legit, changed each other. For better and for worse,' she wrote. Hopeful: She was inspired to re-write her vows after statistics showed marriages in Australia last for an average of just 12 years 'But, basically, most people's wedding vows have the same gist, right? "I'll love you forever". I wonder, knowing what we do now, 10 years later, what new set of vows would we make?' Mrs Ellwood-Clayton went on to list 17 new honest vows, including promising to forgive her husband 'endlessly' and to never write about him. 'I will bite my lip before chastising. During blue moons,' she continued, adding that she would stop comparing her relationship to 'manufactured Hollywood film ideals.' Mrs Ellwood-Clayton also promised to 'start afresh' after disagreements, not to 'change' him and to 'not nag.' True vows: Mrs Ellwood-Clayton went on to list 17 new honest vows, including promising to forgive her husband 'endlessly' and to never write about him The honest mother said she would 'stay committed,' 'not compete about who "works harder"' and to 'say sorry a lot.' Other vows included being kind, not starting conversations with 'always' and 'never' and promising to always make her beau feel 'attractive and desirable.' A woman claiming to be 45 years old has left the internet stunned with her incredibly youthful selfies. Japanese model Risa Hirako has become something of a social media sensation thanks to her modelling snaps, honed body and flawless skin. According to her website and Wikipedia page, the Tokyo-based model is 45 years old but her fans are convinced she's half that age. Japanese model Risa Hirako, who claims to be 45 years old, has become something of a social media sensation thanks to her flawless selfies One user wrote on Twitter: 'Risa Hirako is 45 years old. Let that blow your mind this morning'. Risa, who has accumulated over 94,000 followers on Instagram, keeps her fans entertained with saucy selfies and lingerie shoots. The model, who was apparently born on February 14, 1971, in Tokyo, Japan, is described on her Wikipedia page as a fashion model who has produced fashion brands and appeared in music videos. According to her website and Wikipedia page, the Tokyo-based model is 45 years old but her fans are convinced she's half that age The Japanese model has become something of a social media sensation thanks to her modelling snaps, honed body and flawless skin The model and socialite proves she's barely aged a day as she attends plenty of glitzy events in Tokyo, including the Genie Bra launch in 2015, left, and Ermanno Scervino show in 2007, right Risa, whose ex-husband is actor Eisaku Yoshida, keeps her fans updated with her projects on her blog, LineBlog. Here, she posts her latest photoshoots, including lingerie shoots, magazine editorials and snaps posing with her pet dog. The model clearly follows a healthy lifestyle, sharing snaps of her healthy meals, organic make-up regime and fresh homemade juices and teas. On social media she posts her latest photoshoots, including lingerie shoots, magazine editorials and snaps posing with her pet dog Risa, whose ex-husband is actor Eisaku Yoshida, also has her own blog, LineBlog Despite her trim figure, which she shows off on social media, she allows herself the occasional treat, sharing snaps of her 'perfect meal' - a hot chocolate pudding with ice cream One of her favourites is an almond milk, almond butter, honey and banana smoothie. Instead, Derek kissed her shoulders while she cringed A Married at First Sight star who surprised herself by kissing the groom she met at the altar quickly became overwhelmed by her affectionate new husband as he intimately brushed his lips against her shoulder . On Tuesday night's episode of the FYI reality series, Heather Seidel, 32, and her groom Derek Schwartz, 35, shared a sweet kiss at the altar. However, she soon found herself being overwhelmed by how many times they had to pucker up during their wedding photos. 'Theres like so much kissing going on. Sorry, no offense. Im not trying to be rude,' she said. Scroll down for video Pulling away: Heather Seidel, 32, and her groom Derek Schwartz, 35, had an awkward moment while taking wedding photos on Tuesday night's episode of Married at First Sight Awkward: After Heather asked the photographer to cool it with the kissing photos, Derek brushed his lips against her shoulder But Derek didn't really get the hint, and when his new wife asked the photographer to cool it, he started kissing her shoulder instead. Heather reacted by uncomfortably rolling her eyes, and Derek wondered whether or not she was actually attracted to him. The flight attendant admitted before her wedding that she was 'very nervous' but ultimately 'tired of being single' 'I'm here today, really, to find a life partner,' she told the cameras. 'I feel like I'm really willing to get married at first sight, especially considering all my past relationships have failed. I love my job, I like my lifestyle, but I'm kind of missing that component of love from a man, a spouse. ' Cold feet: Both Heather and Derek were nervous before their nuptials Look of love: Derek said the first thing he noticed about his bride was her beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes When she walked down the aisle, Derek was immediately struck by her blonde hair and blue eyes, and Heather noted that her groom has a 'nice face'. After saying their vows, they share a tender kiss, but Heather admitted to the cameras that she 'wasn't planning on that'. But despite their great first impressions, things to a turn for the worse during their wedding photos. 'You probably couldn't get me to stop kissing him if this was somebody I have known for a long time and have that relationship built,' Heather explained of her reaction. 'But we don't; we are still strangers.' Pucker up: Heather surprised herself by kissing Derek after they exchanged their vows Eek: However, she quickly became uncomfortable with how much kissing they were doing while posing for their wedding photos During their reception, Heather told Derek that her reaction had nothing to do with him, she just felt 'forced' and that annoyed her. Derek, who was thrilled to be kissing his 'beautiful bride' at the time, seemed relieved that his new wife's reaction had nothing to do with her attraction him. Meanwhile, Nick Pendergrast, 32, was worried that his bride-to-be Sonia Granados, 33, wouldn't like what she saw when she walked down the aisle. 'My biggest fear honestly is my wife seeing me on the altar and walking in the other direction,' he explained. Feeling uncomfortable: 'Theres like so much kissing going on. Sorry, no offense. Im not trying to be rude,' she told the photographer Making up: At their reception, Heather explained to Derek that her reaction had nothing to do with him, she just didn't like being forced to kiss Nick feverishly rubbed his hands against each other as he stands at the altar in front of Sonia's family and friends. 'I am about to marry a stranger, and this is probably the most important day in my life. I'm nervous. I'm scared,' he told the camera. 'My heart's beating. If I was wearing my Apple watch, I would be able to tell you my beats per minute and it would probably be higher than its ever been,' he added. And while Nick was sweating it out at the altar, Sonia was freaking out as she prepared for her walk down the aisle. Going for it: Nick Pendergrast, 32, and Sonia Granados, 33, also said 'I do' as strangers Nerves: Nick nervously rubbed his hands together as he waits to meet Sonia for the first time The social worker explained to the camera that she thinks she is 'ready for marriage' because everything else in her life and fallen in line. 'I have my career down pat. I am in a great place personally, emotionally, and I just feel now is the time to find the person that I am supposed to and meant to be with,' she said. 'But to be honest, I am nervous to meet my husband.' 'If I am not attracted to him at all, I hope he has a really frickin' good personality,' she added. However, Sonia was pleasantly surprised by her grooms good looks, but she still had trouble saying 'I do' once it dawned on her that she was marrying a stranger. Being honest: 'If I am not attracted to him at all, I hope he has a really frickin' good personality,' she said before she met her groom Nothing but class: After they completed their vows, Nick leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, which she appreciated Getting to know each other: At first, the two struggled to fill the silences in their conversation When the officiant prompted her again, she was able to get the words out, and after they completed their vows, he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. 'He kissed me on my cheek, which I thought was really sweet and appropriate,' she told the cameras. After the ceremony, the two struggled to fill the silences in their conversation, and things got a little awkward when Nick learned that Sonia is slightly afraid of dogs after he mentioned his two pups at home. Meanwhile, Sonia admitted to the cameras that she wasn't sure he found her attractive. At their reception, she confessed to her mother that she a little upset that Nick hadn't said anything about her appearance. Mixed signals: Sonia was worried that Nick didn't find her attractive because he never commented on her bridal look Cringeworthy: Sonia looked uncomfortable when her mother asked Nick if she thought his new bride was pretty When Sonia's mother asked him his thoughts, he said his bride was 'pretty' and claimed that he had already told her that. However, Sonia's mom called him out on his lie and advised him to compliment his new wife more. Despite all the awkwardness, Nick and Sonia eventually started to warm up to each other, and at the end of the night, Nick proclaimed that he 'might have found love at first sight'. Lillian Vilchez, 24, and Tom Wilson, 28, battled a few 'bad omens' before they said 'I do'. Honest mistake: Lillian Vilchez's groom Tom Wilson gifted her a pearl necklace before their wedding, but she couldn't wear it because they are bad luck in Nicaraguan culture Downpour: The 24-year-old worried about all the 'bad omens' before their wedding, including the rain Before the ceremony, he sweetly gifted his bride a pearl necklace. However, wearing pearls on your wedding day is a bad luck in Nicaraguan culture, and Lillian wasn't sure what to do. 'It's going to hurt his feelings so much if I don't wear it,' she explained. But in the end, she decided not to risk it. When it was time for her to walk down the aisle, it started to pour, leaving Lillian to get drenched despite her umbrella. 'There are too many bad omens surrounding this wedding. It's too much,' she said. 'I never pictured getting married in the rain especially to a stranger.' Look of love: The two were immediately smitten with each other despite the rain Good luck: As soon as they said their vows, the sun came out and shine down on them However, when she walked down the aisle, Tom was immediately struck by how 'gorgeous' she was, and she was also pleased with her groom's appearance. 'He's smiling and I am smiling too because he is so handsome. I feel like I am a very lucky girl,' she said. Just as they finished saying their vows, the rain cleared and they shared a kiss in the Miami sunshine. After the ceremony, Tom asked about the necklace, and she explained her reasoning for not wearing it, while assuring him that she loved it. Quick bond: The couple shared a sweet kiss at the end of their wedding ceremony Perfect match? Lillian and Tom looked head over heels in love while posing for their wedding photos He happily accepted her explanation, and it was clear that the two were immediately comfortable with each other. At their wedding reception, they both opened up about being disconnected from their fathers, striking a close bond from the get-go. However, there was a bit of drama when Lillian's sister confronted her because she was not asked to be a bridesmaid. Family friend Lisa is there as well, as is her svelte 15-year-old daughter Amelia, a longtime friend of Kaia's, and her 18-year-old daughter Delilah They're currently vacationing there with Kaia, 14, and their son Presley, 17 Cindy and her husband Rande Gerber own a sprawling lake house that sits on a seven-acre property in Ontario Cindy Crawford and her family have been vacationing at their Canadian lake house for nearly a month and this week, they were finally joined by some of their famous friends to really rub in that Hollywood Instagram envy. While Cindy, husband Rande Gerber, and kids Kaia and Presley have been having plenty of fun in the sun at their luxe summer home on Muskoka, Ontario's Lake Joseph since early July, neighbors Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin, and their kids have just come up to the scenic spot, where they have a vacation house of their own on a nearby shore. And it's not just the moms and dads who are go way back, here: According to Lisa, who is known for appearing on daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives, the couples' daughters have been friends since they were babies. Scroll down for video Vacay: Cindy Crawford and Lisa Rinna's families are on holiday in Canada, where Lisa's kids Amelia (left) and Delilah (second from left) are hanging out with Cindy's daughter Kaia Proud mom: Lisa, who has a house near to Cindy and her husband Rande Gerber's in Muskoka, Canada, uploaded this photo of her daughter 15-year-old Amelia, which was shot by Kaia Jealous? Her daughter Delilah has also been sharing snaps with her best friend Ella Showing off: The 18-year-old even offered up a close-up backside shot to her followers The lake life: Cindy, Rande , Kaia, and son Presley have also appeared in numerous social media snaps posted on Instagram during their vacation The Crawford-Gerber clan first flew up to the lake after Independence Day, when they started sharing relaxed-looking snaps on Instagram. Kaia, 14, has posted a few bikini shots, as well as a photo of herself lounging in a hammock on her parents' seven-acre property. Cindy, meanwhile, has been celebrating 'family time', uploading pictures of the whole gang on the family boat as well a sign in their log cabin homethat reads 'Gerber Point Lodge'. She and Kaia also got up to a bit of Scrabble, though Kaia seemed to believe her mom was cheating by using a dictionary. Enjoying the heat: Kaia (and her brother) have both been spending a lot of time in the water and hanging out in swimsuits Mom-and-me modeling: Cindy and Kaia shared a clip of themselves on a canoe with Vogue this week, which the magazine posted on Instagram Dressed down: Kaia was seen in a bikini, while her mom wore a button-down and shorts Canoe time: They spend a lot of time on the lake, playing water sports and cliff diving Fun in the sun: It's a chance to unplug for the famous family and spend time together and with their famous neighbors Tradition: The family visits the log cabin, which sits on seven acres, every summer Left alone: The supermodel has offered peeks at the secluded spot on Instagram They've gone cliff diving and canoeing, too the latter of which was caught by cameras for Vogue's supermodel Snapchat story, which the magazine posted on Tuesday. The clip saw the mother-daughter duo rowing themselves across the lake. But it seems like the party got started this week when Lisa, Harry, and their two daughters 15-year-old Amelia Gray and 18-year-old Delilah Belle came to down. The family is staying at their own house on Lake Joseph, where the daughters have been allowed to invite some friends. Delilah a slim, leggy model-type has posted a few shots of her own, lounging in a hot tub and flaunting her bikini-clad backside on the dock. Lookalike: Delilah seems to be a graduate of the Kendall and Kylie school of social media Go way back: Lisa posted this picture, taken by friend and photographer Heidi Bassett Blair, saying that her daughters and Cindy's daughter have been friends for years Flashback: In fact, they were seen hanging out on the lake last year (pictured) too Summer besties: Kaia (left) and Amelia (right) seem to get along well Relaxing: Cindy has also shared some enviable shots off her home and yard Amelia doesn't seem shy about flaunting her figure, either and her proud mom Lisa shared one shot of the teenager in a two-piece in front of still blue waters. 'To be 15 and on the lake for the summer!' she wrote, seemingly with some envy. The picture, though, was taken by none other than Kaia , who also posed for snaps with the Hamlin girls. 'This should be a magazine cover shot,' Lisa wrote of a black-and-white snap of Delilah, Amelia, Kaia, and two friends. She added the descriptive hashtag #friendssincetheywerebabies. Shots! Yesterday, she and Rande went out on the boat with hats promoting his tequila brand Hunky: She also showed off a picture of her hubby doing a construction project on the property Not bothered: Cindy has said that she likes how secluded and private the place is Just her own pics, thanks: She doesn't have to worry about being chased by paparazzi Favorite spot: Even the teenagers seem happy to get away for a while Long trip: They have been in Canada since early July, though the Hamlins came up this week Speaking to Vogue magazine last year, Cindy mentioned that she liked going up to her family's lake house because no one bothered her there. 'That anonymity is certainly nice, though these days Im the perfect amount of famous: enough to get a dinner reservation but not enough to get hassled,' she said. If you've ever been left disappointed by the contents of your lunch box, spare a thought for these people whose meal choices have been ripped to shreds. People have been sharing and rating each other's lunches on a Facebook group called Meal Deal Talk, which has amassed more than 70,000 followers. Members simply submit a photo of what they're having for lunch that day and wait for the comments to roll in - often with scathing results. Scroll down for video One member, preparing for a long car journey, opted for a sausage, bacon and egg sandwich from Tesco with Copella apple juice and Thai sweet chilli crisps - and was given an 8/10 Gary Nuke-Hassle Marshall commented: 'Sandwich is on point - only slight reduction is the fact i don't think the copella has enough of it to handle the trip nor the quantity of sandwich' One recent submission showed a rather sorry-looking banana, paired with a green apple and a bottle of water - with the photographer explaining that he was gluten intolerant - and the comments poured in thick and fast. Dennis Lamb blasted: 'Then buy a gluten free sandwich you absolute mug. 0/10.' Jamie Brundle added: 'Would rather spend an eveningwith Fred and Rose West than eat this absolute mess.' Ronnie McLachlan branded him an 'oxygen thief,' whilea another user told him: 'Go somewhere with better fruit, there are more brown marks here than in a midwifery ward.' Another man was blasted for his choices of Fridge Raiders meat snacks, with one person commenting: 'Is this a six-year-old's lunch box?' One recent submission saw a choose eat a rather sorry-looking banana, paired with a green apple and a bottle of water - and the comments poured in thick and fast Ronnie McLachlan branded the original poster an 'oxygen thief,' whilea another user told him: 'Go somewhere with better fruit, there are more brown marks here than in a midwifery ward' Another member, preparing for a long car journey ahead, opted for a sausage, bacon and egg sandwich from Tesco with Copella apple juice and Thai sweet chilli crisps. The offering earned him a 'solid 8/10' from Gary Nuke-Hassle Marshall, who wrote: 'Sandwich is on point - only slight reduction is the fact i don't think the copella has enough of it to handle the trip nor the quantity of sandwich. 'Combined with hot crisps it might lead to a second drink stop. Otherwise top effort!' Lindsey Burnett Casey agreed, adding: 'I share the drink concers. Also worried the apple juice might make you need a poo, hope you've allowed time to drop the kids off at the pool.' Adele Parry asked for feedback on her chicken wrap, Monster Munch and Fanta Fruit Twise combo - with scores ranging from an impressive 8/10 to 10/10 - but it wasn't all positive Callum Russsell blasted Adele's 'poor choices' and told her to 'go home and put your head in the oven'. However others gave her high scores, with Matt Caddick writing: 'Not a bad effort!' The original posted assured them that he planned to stop halfway along his journey at a services station in Birmingham. Adele Parry asked for feedback on her chicken wrap, Monster Munch and Fanta Fruit Twise combo - with scores ranging from an impressive 8/10 to 10/10. However, it wasn't all positive, with Callum Russsell blasting her 'poor choices' and telling her to 'go home and put your head in the oven'. Harry Tyerman wanted people's thoughts on his Sainsbury's meal deal of a Pepsi Max, New Yorker sandwich and a slice of cake. Harry Tyerman wanted people's thoughts on his Sainsbury's meal deal of a Pepsi Max, New Yorker sandwich and a slice of cake - but was blasted instead for his 'ripped jeans' One purist suggested that as Harry had made a saving of 1.95 it wasn't technically a meal deal but a 'collection of purchases'. Jade Carvalho added that she thought his snack looked 'sad' But members were more interested in his 'ripped jeans' and accused him of posing in his dad's car. One purist suggested that as Harry had made a saving of 1.95 it wasn't technically a meal deal but a 'collection of purchases'. Jade Carvalho added: 'Your snack looks sad but thumbs up for other options.' But Harry wasn't the only one who came under fire, with one person's Tesco meal deal - along with his home furnishings - being ripped to shreds. One man's Tesco meal deal - along with his home furnishings - was ripped to shreds. 'The only thing worse than this meal deal is your 1960s furniture,' wrote Facebooker Ben Lake Commenting on the Tesco meal deal, Brandon Elliott simply wrote, 'F*** off that's a disgrace,' while Tom Logan asked: 'Why is the background a scene from the Great Depression' 'The only thing worse than this meal deal is your 1960s furniture,' wrote Ben Lake, who gave it a pitiful 1/10. Jeremiah Scully added: 'The drink choice is god awful, and who has twix's nowadays (sic.).' Brandon Elliott simply wrote, 'F*** off that's a disgrace,' while Tom Logan asked: 'Why is the background a scene from the Great Depression.' Commenting on the combination of prawn mayonnaise and flame grilled steak favour crisps, Ryan Fyvie gushed: 'The opposing flavours will definitely create some sensual tastes' Ross Cook commented: 'That Fanta looks like p*** in a bottle and I couldn't think of anything worse than prawn mayonnaise. But can't fault the crisps' and gave him a solid 9/10 One poor soul attracted criticism for his prawn sandwich, being branded a 'posh c***' with one person asking him: 'Was that paid for using your trust fund? Tory c***.' Ross Cook added: 'That Fanta looks like p*** in a bottle and I couldn't think of anything worse than prawn mayonnaise. But can't fault the crisps.' Clumps of hair would fall out while she was shampooing in the shower A student lost all of her hair within just two months as a result of stress from her upcoming university exams. Katie-Anna Moore, 20, previously had a thick head of mousy blonde hair, which she called her 'pride and joy'. But in the run-up to her summer sittings at Bournemouth University, she began to go bald. In March this year, while in the shower, she was putting shampoo on her hair before a whole handful came out. Scroll down for video Katie-Anna Moore, 20, who is a student at Bournemouth University, previously had a thick head of mousy blonde hair, which she called her 'pride and joy'. But she lost 70 per cent of her hair within just eight weeks in the run-up to her exams Small clumps would then come out each time she washed her hair and within just eight weeks, 70 per cent of her locks had gone. Assuming it was just a natural loss from overusing her straighteners, she did not mention it to anyone - but the shedding continued. Within two weeks, other people began noticing, and she would find her clothes covered in stray hairs. After visiting her GP following the end of her exams, Miss Moore was diagnosed with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease where bald patches appear on the body or scalp. Her doctor told her the condition was most likely stress-induced and warned it was likely she would lose the remainder of her hair. The archaeological, anthropological and forensic sciences student said: 'I looked like an old man with a comb-over at 20 years old. It was heart breaking and destroyed me. 'I was crying all the time and didn't want to talk to my friends or tell the university what was going on. 'I got more and more self conscious about it until I stopped going to classes completely and wouldn't socialise with friends for a month. 'The fact it happened so fast meant I didn't have enough time to process each stage. 'When I walked, my ponytail would swish from side to side. I used to always get complimented for it.' In March this year, while she was in the shower, she was putting shampoo on her hair before a whole handful came out She assumed it was just a natural loss from overusing straighteners and did not mention it to anyone - but the shedding continued At the end of April, Miss Moore escaped to her fathers house in Salisbury, Wiltshire, telling him she needed space to study. A couple of days into her stay, Danny, 45, noticed her hair falling out. She said: 'I had my hair in a ponytail and my dad walked behind me and said "Katie, you have a bald patch". 'That was it. I burst out crying. It's a cycle because once you start stressing out, more hair falls out - which then causes more stress.' In mid-May Katie-Anna went to see her GP, who did numerous blood tests but could not find anything medically wrong with her apart from low iron levels, which she had always had. Desperate to disguise her bald patches which by now had even sprung up on her hairline - she went to her hairdresser who gave her a short cut. And with her new haircut, she felt ready to return to university. Doctors diagnosed her with alopecia areata after her exams. At this point, most of her hair had gone and they warned she was likely to lose the rest. She decided to seize back control and take a pair of clippers to shave the rest of it off Miss Moore visited her hairdresser in a desperate attempt to disguise her bald patches. She had a shortcut and felt ready to return to university But even with her exams out the way, she was still experiencing constant hair loss, prompting her to escape back to her father's house. She said: 'I was ringing my mother every day for advice as she is my best friend. WHAT IS ALOPECIA? Alopecia is a hair-loss disease that affects, men, women and children. The onset is often sudden, random and frequently recurrent. Although the disease does not damage a person's physical health, it can have severe effects on quality of life and emotional health through its impact on confidence and self-esteem. Alopecia affects around 1.7 per cent of the population, with men and women equally affected. About 25 per cent of people affected have a family history of the condition. The exact cause of alopecia is not known, although experts generally agree it is a disease of the immune system. There is believed to be a genetic component and in some cases it is linked to stress. In alopecia, the immune system attacks the affected hair follicles by mistake. That halts hair growth and causes hairs to abruptly shed. To find out more about the condition visit Alopecia UK here. Advertisement 'Then I went back to my GP surgery and as soon as I took my hat off, the doctor's face said it all. When the doctor revealed she had alopecia areata Miss Moore burst into tears. She couldn't believe she was losing her hair at what was supposed to be the prime time of her life. At this point, most of her hair had gone and doctor's warned she was likely to lose the rest. So, she decided to seize back control and take a pair of clippers to the remainder of it. At first, her father was hesitant to help her shave the rest of her hair off, but he understood it was what she needed to do. She was shocked when she first saw herself completely bald, but said she was relieved she didn't have an alien-shaped head. Miss Moore revealed she cried on the train back to university, terrified about unveiling her drastic new look. Walking through campus, she said she could feel people staring. But the support of a friend who promised to shout or jump around to distract attention from her helped. She added: 'Now my confidence comes and goes. 'If I'm surrounded by friends, they reassure me I'm beautiful, but it's when I'm alone that I feel shy.' Katie-Anne is fundraising for a wig to help her feel more comfortable. To donate visit: https://www.gofundme.com/katieswig The Tinder generation has earned the reputation of being carefree when it comes to sexual exploits. Yet at least one in 10 young people have suffered a distressing sexual problem recently, according to new research. Problems climaxing, erectile dysfunction and lack of interest in sex were the main issues, researchers found. And yet very few young people experiencing difficulties had sought professional help, the study showed. The researchers said sexual problems should be discussed with young people, as these issues could stop people enjoying healthy relationships as they grow up. Scroll down for video At least one in 10 young people have suffered a distressing sexual problem recently, according to new research (file photo) The findings come from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles - the largest scientific study of sexual health lifestyles in Britain. 'Sexual function' is defined as the extent to which a person is able to participate in and enjoy a sexual relationship. Problems with sexual function are often assumed to be more relevant for older people, researchers said. They believe this is the first study to focus on sexual function in early adulthood. The British team analysed survey figures from 1,875 sexually active and 517 sexually inactive people aged 16 to 21. More than a third of sexually active young men and just under half of women had experienced one or more problem lasting at least three months in the past year, they found. The figures were not much lower than for the wider 16-74 age group, which the team had investigated previously. Among young women, the most common distressing problems reported were difficulty reaching a climax (six per cent) and lacking interest in sex (five per cent). WOMEN WHO DOUCHE HAVE 'DOUBLE THE RISK OF OVARIAN CANCER' Women who reported douching almost doubled their risk of developing ovarian cancer, research shows. Prior studies have linked douching, or vaginal washing with a device, to yeast infections, pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancies. Researchers have also found associations between douching and cervical cancer, reduced fertility, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. But the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences study is the first to tie cancer of the ovaries to the procedure routinely practiced by millions of American women. Advertisement Among young men the most common were reaching a climax too quickly (five per cent) and difficulty getting and keeping an erection (three per cent). Study lead author Dr Kirstin Mitchell, of the University of Glasgow, said: 'When it comes to young people's sexuality, professional concern is usually focused on preventing sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy. 'However, we should be considering sexual health much more broadly, as sexual difficulties can impact on young people's sexual well-being in the longer term. She added: 'Our findings show that distressing sexual problems are not only experienced by older people in Britain - they are in fact relatively common in early adulthood as well. 'Sex education and sexual health service professionals need to provide reassurance and opportunities for young people to discuss and address these problems early on. 'If we want to improve sexual well-being in the UK population, we need to reach people as they start their sex lives, otherwise a lack of knowledge, anxiety or shame might progress into lifelong sexual difficulties that can be damaging to sexual enjoyment and relationships.' More than a third of young people - 36 per cent of men and 42 per cent of women - who reported one or more sexual problems had sought help about their sex life, but this was rarely from a professional source. They most commonly reported seeking help from family and friends, or the media and self-help sources including the internet. Sexual problems should be discussed with young people, as these issues could stop people enjoying healthy relationships as they grow up, researchers said (file photo) Only four per cent of young men and eight per cent of young women who reported a sexual problem had consulted a professional such as a GP, sexual health professional or psychiatrist about their sex life in the past year. Among those young people in the survey who had not had sex in the past year, 10 per cent said they had avoided doing so because of sexual difficulties that either they or their partner had experienced. Study co-author Professor Kaye Wellings of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: 'UK sex education is often silent on issues of sexual satisfaction, but these are clearly important to young people and should be addressed. 'Sex education could do much more to debunk myths about sex, discuss pleasure and promote gender equality in relationships. 'Teaching young people the importance of communication and respect within relationships is also key to helping them understand and address problems that may occur in their sex lives.' Almost all head lice are now immune to the most popular treatments. Mutations are turning the pests into 'super lice', which cannot be killed by pyrethrins and permethrins, the active ingredients in many over-the-counter remedies. Now an alarming new study reveals 98 per cent of lice in at least 42 states have developed a resistance. The report's authors at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital, Indianapolis, are now imploring parents to ask their doctor for other treatments to tackle nits. Mutations are turning nits into 'super lice', which can't be killed by over-the-counter remedies WHAT ARE HEAD LICE AND HOW DO YOU SPOT THEM? Head lice are tiny, wingless parasitic insects that live on human heads, drawing blood from the scalp and clinging to strands of hair. They can crawl from one head to another. Though they do not spread infections, they are incredibly difficult to get rid of and procreate at a rapid rate. Lice lay eggs on their home scalp, which hatch within about a week. Once hatched, they can often be hard to spot as they are yellow or brown - the color of many hair types. The most clear indication of a child having lice is that they scratch their head. HOW TO CHECK FOR LICE: Wet the child's hair, place a towel over their shoulders Lather plenty of hair conditioner onto their wet hair Using a fine-toothed comb, go through every section of their hair and scalp - checking behind the ears, in the nape of the neck The conditioner will make them come out easily and make them easier to spot Brush the comb onto toilet roll which you then throw away or flush down the toilet Advertisement 'This newly published data supports what we've been seeing in our offices and clinics: an increase in treatment-resistant super lice,' the study's lead author Dr Chris Belcher said. 'It's important that parents contact a clinician if they suspect their child has head lice. 'There are effective, non-pyrethrin, non-pyrethroid-based prescription agents that can be used if treatment with over-the-counter products such as Nix has been unsuccessful.' To demonstrate the resistance of the 'super lice', ParaPro has released two videos showing how pyrethrins now invigorate lice, rather than kill them. In one video, an untreated louse appears slow, dying naturally. In the second video, lice treated with over-the-counter products scramble around at high speed. To measure the scale of gene mutation in lice, researchers collected pests between July 2013 and May 2015 from 138 collection sites in 48 states. The problem has been fueled by the fact that 69 per cent of people overuse products to combat head lice. While most treatments should only be used twice, the majority of people surveyed for the report admitted to using products at least five times before seeking medical assistance. Dr Belcher also said some parents have been mistakenly using the products on children who have dandruff or glitter in their hair, not head lice. It means the product is more widespread and becomes a common feature of children's heads, which lice become used to and build a resistance to. Only 10 per cent of people surveyed for the report said they read the label's description of side effects and usage warnings. And 33 per cent of people said they would never consider another option - such as seeing a doctor - because of the cost involved in the US. According to ParaPro, a start-up life-sciences company that co-authored the report, 'super lice' have been decades in the making. Natural pyrethins were first used to treat lice in 1945. By the 1980s, Nix - an over-the-counter permethrin - had become the standard practice for treating lice, and it was almost 100 per cent effective. But within just two decades, lice began to show resistance. The first cases of mutant lice were detected in Florida and Massachusetts in 2000. In 2001, 37 per cent of lice in the United States had developed gene mutations that protected them against pyrethrins and pyrethroids. By 2009, just 25 per cent of people said Nix had been effective. The most clear indication of a child having lice is that they scratch their head Head lice are tiny, wingless parasitic insects that live on human heads, drawing blood from the scalp and clinging to strands of hair. They can crawl from one head to another. Though they do not spread infections, they are incredibly difficult to get rid of and procreate at a rapid rate. Lice lay eggs on their home scalp, which hatch within about a week. Once hatched, they can often be hard to spot as they are yellow or brown - the color of many hair types. An emphasis on the need for practical use is beneficial when applied to goods in the market, so as to meet the ever changing demands of the consumer, says Caroline Roberts in this weeks Acton Commentary. But the value of some goods cannot be reduced to a selling price. One such good is beauty. Although the market has a role to play in the creation of beautiful things, this essential good can only be fully realized through the work of talented people devoted to the vocation of art. Flannery OConnor, American southern fiction author and essayist, boldly insisted that her worldview as a Christian did not narrow her field of vision as a writer and participator in the arts, but rather widened it. In an essay in Mystery and Manners, OConnor emphatically states that [w]hen people have told me that because I am a Catholic, I cannot be an artist, I have had to reply, ruefully, that because I am a Catholic, I cannot afford to be less than an artist. The full text of the essay can be found here. Subscribe to the free, weekly Acton News & Commentary and other publications here. A rising tide lifts all boats, it is said. But as Indias capitalist democracy matures, a quantum leap is needed to deliver equal prosperity to all at the bottom of the pyramid. More so as Prime Minister Narendra Modi strives to play catch-up midway through his term, targeting eight per cent growth this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose government recently launched the NaMo app, is best placed to take India into the future As famous Roman philosopher Marcus Cicero said: 'A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious.' But let us not allow self-appointed vigilantes or the rabid motormouths to succeed in subverting the larger agenda, a work-in-progress, for the good of all. We need to transcend the credos of the last century of caste, creed or the divisiveness of religion by going beyond stereotyping governments as anti-poor or pro-rich, and forcing rulers to regress to povertarianism politics just to correct their image perceptions. It may feel unfair to have a world with such trillionaires, but to drive society forward, weve got to let it happen. Inequality analyst Bob Lord India, projected as the most populous country by 2025, is ill-equipped to leapfrog into the future without a futurist PM who works at digitising his cabinet with a NaMo app, a team of futurist entrepreneurs, or enabling Skype consultations with the best expertise across the globe A villager equally needs those breakthroughs in creative disruption to talk to the best practitioner in the nearest metro, as much as an affluent patient needs to connect to the best medical practitioner he can afford across the globe. This is entrepreneurial capitalism - by far the most progressive system of economic gains for the benefit of all sections of society, compared to state capitalism, oligarchic or crony capitalism. Because breakthroughs in technology and innovation give us a better world, and the founders the profits they deserve. Would we then resent that innovator-entrepreneur his runaway profits, and his oligopolic sway on his patents? Entrepreneurial capitalism is the way forward to benefit all members of society, says Bindu Dalmia As the internet of things (IOT) gains momentum, we can do things we never could 15 years ago. These same companies will go through a predictable economic cycle of form, fatten and then fail eventually, so they deserve the windfall gains at their peak. If Zuckerberg wants to rule virtual reality; Apple the smartphone market; or Google as the king of search, is it unfair capitalism? If we want drones to be used one day as mobile hospitals, or get virtual teachers to educate remote areas, we have to pay the price for ingenuity and inventions. As inequality analyst Bob Lord says: 'It may feel unfair to have a world with such trillionaires, but to drive society forward, weve got to let it happen.' It has to, if we want driverless vehicles and a PC in our hands with more computing power than a mainframe of the 1970s ever had. Nascent democracies inevitably pass through the route of bandit, or turbo'- capitalism before they grow into responsible capitalism. India has walked that path too. Modis no-favourites policy effectively halted the cronyism module of capitalism of the UPA. We voted Modi in with a majority to decimate the power of the privileged to the nation born, so lets get futuristic in every way and allow change to happen. We chose a PM, knowing well his ideological parent was the RSS, a fraternity of economic nationalists denouncing the materialism of the post-industrial era. The rancorous Modi of pre-election times has grown into a matured statesman who has gone past the parochial limitations of the Nagpur secretariat. What leaders say and do pre and post-electioneering is at variance, as much as Donald Trump would be compelled in practicality, should he accede to power in November, to relinquish his stupidity in propagating a world with borders. If Modi can shed his past and think futurist, we need the patience to await the rabbit he intended to pull out of his hat for achhe din to come. Because if he fails, theres no one else who can deliver for now. Lets hang in there till then. Bollywood stars Katrina Kaif and Sidharth Malhotra had already set social media and TV screens ablaze with the sexy Kaala Chashma jig from their upcoming film Baar Baar Dekho. So when the movies trailer was launched at a suburban theatre in Mumbai on Tuesday evening, the buzz around them was palpable. If trailers are meant to show you the best bits of a film, debutant director Nitya Mehra has surely done a superb job with the sneak peek of her movie. The trailer for upcoming film Baar Baar Dekho, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Katrina Kaif, was launched in Mumbai to a packed audience Actress Katrina Kaif, who plays the part of Diya in the film pegged for release in September, dazzled in a red off-shoulder dress at the event As a packed audience watched, the trailer appeared to promise that Baar Baar Dekho is a high concept romantic drama, rather than regular Bollywood mush. The trailer indicated that Sidharths protagonist Jai wakes up some time in the future and needs to return to the present to fix things that have gone wrong, especially those relating to his romance with Diya, played by Katrina. Although the trailer gives the impression the film has a time travel theme, along the lines of Hollywood hits such as 13 Going On 30 and Groundhog Day, the cast and crew insisted that this was not the case. Nitya Mehra has made her directing debut with the film Baar Baar Dekho, which looks set to be a high-concept romance The trailer also promised some high-flying chemistry between Katrina and Sidharth, as well as some good music. Katrina, who turned up in a sizzling red off-shoulder short number at the bash, was clearly the star of the evening. She struck poses with co-star Sidharth, who looked dapper as ever in smart-casual chic. While the Baadshah-composed Kaala Chashma is already all the rage, new-age musicians such as Amaal Mallik, Arko, Bilal Saeed and Jasleen Royal have composed other numbers for the film, which will be gradually released over the next few weeks. Composer Amaal Mallik (left) is among the musicians who have penned songs for the film, and the film's co-producer Ritesh Sidhwani (right), also attended the glittering bash At the do, Amaal naturally seemed excited, as did first-time director Nitya Mehra and Ritesh Sidhwani, whose co-producers Karan Johar and Farhan Akhtar could not make the event owing to prior commitments. Baar Baar Dekho is scheduled to be released on September 9. Producers Johar, Akhtar and Sidhwani are planning a few unusual promotional gigs for the film - given its unconventional theme - beyond the regular press meets and reality TV rounds. Sahara Group chairman Subrata Roy has received relief from the Supreme Court (SC) after it extended his parole on humanitarian grounds, following the death of his mother. The extension came on the condition that he deposits Rs 300 crore with the Security and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). The direction for depositing the amount came after Roy complied with the order of July 11, which asked him to deposit the balance of Rs 300 crore from the Rs 500 crore he promised when first granted parole. Sahara Group chairman Subrata Roy received relief from the Supreme Court after it extended his parole on humanitarian grounds following the death of his mother On July 11, while extending his parole, a special Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) T.S. Thakur told Roys lawyer Kapil Sibal: "You remember you have to deposit a balance Rs 300 crore. Either you pay, or go back to jail." The Bench had rejected Sibals plea that his client should get until the end of the year to deposit the Rs 300 crore, telling him, "We have already given you a long rope." Noting that 68-year-old Roy deposited Rs 300.68 crore on Wednesday, the CJI extended his parole and gave him opportunity to raise the remaining amount to secure bail. The Bench also allowed the Sahara Group to go ahead with the sale of its properties to raise Rs 5,000 crore as a bank guarantee. It is obliged to deposit this sum in addition to the Rs 5,000 crore needed for Roy's bail. A special Bench headed by Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur (pictured) told Roys senior lawyer Kapil Sibal: Either you pay, or go back to jail. The proposed sale of three of Sahara's overseas hotels - Grosvenor House Hotel in London, and New York Plaza, and Dream New York hotels - also arose during the hearing. While Knight Frank India Private Limited said that negotiations are underway for the purchase of the hotels at $1.3 billion, Sibal said that they are offering the amount for all three hotels, but there are parties who are ready to pay the same for each of them. Subrata Roy is chairman of the Sahara Group, an Indian conglomerate with diversified businesses that include London's Grosvenor House, New York's Plaza Hotel, Aamby Valley City and the Force India F1 team Sebis counsel and senior advocate Arvind Dattar said that Sahara has got prime properties like Aamby Valley which could be utilised to help raise the amount. To this, Sibal said: Why do you worry about my golden hen that hatches golden eggs?" The Bench shot back, saying: You, at least, deposit the golden egg with Sebi. The proposed sale of three of Sahara's overseas hotels - Grosvenor House Hotel in London, and New York Plaza and Dream New York hotels - also arose during the hearing During the hearing, the Bench made it clear that failure to deposit Rs 300 crore by the next hearing would lead to Roy going back to the jail. Sebi also told the Bench that up to this point, it has made Rs 195.07 crore by selling Sahara properties through e-auction. However, Sibal complained that the properties sold through e-auctions have fetched less money than desired, and sought a direction for Sebi to take some of the properties out of e-auction. The Bench accepted the request. Muslim community group the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), will be holding an international Rakshabandhan Festival on August 17. The festival is inspired by the legendary poet Rabindranath Tagore, who invoked the festival of Raksha Bandhan to inspire love and brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims after the Partition of Bengal in 1905. Thousands of Muslim women will be tying the thread of protection to Hindu men, and Hindu women will do the same to their Muslim brethren from across the country. At the MRM event, Muslim women will tie the thread of protection to Hindu men, and Hindu women will do the same to their Muslim brothers MRM, supported by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and guided by its pracharak Indresh Kumar, will organise the event at the Talkatora stadium. Ambassadors from across 35 countries, including western and Muslim middle-eastern nations, have been invited to attend the festival. While the global intentions of the organisers are clear from the repertoire of dignitaries who are expected to attend the event, the organisers want to use the occasion to soothe the wounded sentiments of the Kashmir Valley after the recent wave of brick-batting in the wake of the Burhan Wani killing. Bond Hundreds of Muslim women and men from Jammu and the Valley are expected to attend the festival and mark the bond of brotherhood and sisterhood - symbolically a social pact between the Valley and the rest of India. The organisers feel the gesture would go a long way in establishing trust with the people of the Valley. We want to show the people of Kashmir that there is a wealth of difference between Pakistan and India. There is a country that is torn by strife and terrorism, and here we have India, a country of peace and love, Afzal added. The festival will showcase the ecumenical culture of India to the rest of the world. It will tell the global comity of nations that we are a peace-loving people who believe in co-existence of various religions and races. Rakshabandhan is not just a festival of Hindus - rather it is our civilisational festival that underlines the bonds of trust that we believe in establishing, said Mohammand Afzal, national convener of the Manch. The Hindu festival of rakhi, as it is called in short, has been at the centre of many a folklore in Indian history to symbolise the composite culture of the nation in terms of religious harmony. The story, though contested, is the account in which Rani Karnavati, the widowed Queen of the King of Chittor, sent a Rakhi to Mughal Emperor Humayun when she realised that she could not defend against the invasion by the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah. Touched, the emperor immediately set off with his troops to defend Chittor. These incidents show that rakhi symbolises a relationship of trust and has been celebrated not just by Hindus, but by Muslims too. According to another legend, when Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BCE, his wife Roxana or Roshanak, sent a sacred thread to Porus, asking him not to harm her husband in battle. The buzz that Amit Shah might return to Gujarat to head the state came to an end on Wednesday. The BJP parliamentary board decided that there is no question of the BJP chief going back to Gujarat - and he will, in fact, pick the next chief minister. Senior leader Venkaiah Naidu dismissed rumours that Shah himself was in line for the top job in his home state. The BJP's parliamentary board decided that the party president will not be going back to his home state, Gujarat Amit Shah will remain BJP president and will decide on the new CM. The party wants him to lead us in national politics, Naidu said after the board meeting, which was held on Wednesday morning at the Prime Ministers residence. Among the frontrunners for the post is Gujarat BJP Chief Vijay Rupani, a Jain leader known to be close to both PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Rupani is reputed to have a firm grip over the administrative mechanism of the state government. There is also Gujarats most senior minister Nitin Patel, who holds several key portfolios in the Gujarat government and is, like Anandiben Patel, an influential leader from north Gujarat. Patel headed the committee that held negotiations with leaders of the Patel or Patidaar agitation demanding reservation in government jobs and colleges. Others in the race are union minister Purshottam Rupala and Gujarat assembly speaker Ganpat Vasava. The meeting of the Parliamentary Board, which was chaired by Shah and attended by PM Narendra Modi, appointed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP general secretary Saroj Pandey as the partys central observers. They will hold consultations with the MLAs to elect the new leader. Shah will be travelling to Gujarat on Thursday, where he will hold talks with party leaders and attend the Legislature Party meeting, likely to be held on Friday to elect the new leader. Though her departure was anticipated, the first woman chief minister of Gujarat had offered to step down on Monday, ostensibly due to her age, as she is turning 75 soon. According to senior party leaders, Anandiben Patel is accused of mismanaging both the Patel agitation for reservation and the recent Dalit protests over the brutal beating of four young men by cow vigilantes. Shares down: French insurance giant AXA's underlying earnings were flat at 2.6bn AXA FAILURE French insurance giant AXA has disappointed investors by missing a key target. The companys underlying earnings were flat at 2.6billion in the first half of the year despite a promise six weeks ago that it was aiming for annual growth of 3 per cent to 7 per cent. Shares in the Paris-listed firm fell by 2 per cent. UNICREDIT BOOST Troubled Italian bank UniCredit has unveiled a rise in profits for the second quarter of 2016. The lender had a tough start to the week as investors fled Italys financial sector over fears it was heading for a crisis. But it yesterday announced a 76.2 per cent profit rise to 767.3million. That still wasnt enough to calm nerves and shares fell 2.3 per cent. DUNNE DEAL The boss of O2 who resigned last week following a failed takeover by Three owner Hutchison is to join the American mobile giant Verizon. Ronan Dunne, who is leaving O2 after nine years, will become one of the most senior executives at Verizon. He will be in charge of all its wireless operations, which means the marketing of mobile phones, the networks that make them work, and customer care. He will join at a crucial time for the firm, which bought Yahoo for 3.6billion last month and plans to merge it with AOL to rival Google. RYANAIR JOY Budget airline Ryanair claimed a record number of passengers flew on its planes in July. The number of travellers grew by 12 per cent to 11.3m and its jets were flying at 96 per cent capacity. Rival Wizz Air, the low-cost airline focused on central and eastern Europe, said passengers number rose 16.2 per cent over July 2015 to 2.5million. RIO ROCKED The commodity price rout continued to hit mining giant Rio Tinto as first-half profits fell 47 per cent to 1.17billion its lowest in 12 years. It has been selling assets and cutting jobs and costs to reduce debts, which fell to 9.7billion from 10.3billion. The worlds biggest commodity market, China, provides up to half of Rios revenue and has been slowing due to economic concerns. New chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques said: We cant assume a quick recovery of China, that will not happen. Shares fell by 0.8 per cent, or 18.5p, to 2423p. SPADE WARNING US designer brand Kate Spade warned a slowdown of tourists visiting the US due to the strong dollar had led to a fall in sales. The brand, which sells brightly coloured handbags, accessories and clothing, warned full-year sales would be below expectations. Copycat websites that rip off drivers who renew their licences are appearing at the top of online search engines. When Money Mail typed 'driving licence renewal' into Google, the first three results that popped up were copycat sites. These companies often look similar to official websites, but charge an inflated price for renewing or replacing your driving licence. Scam sites: Copycat websites that rip off drivers who renew their licences are appearing at the top of online search engines The first website, get-driving-licence.com, charges 90p to renew your licence, but then signs you up to a pricey 49 annual subscription. Another, ukdrivingsupport.co.uk, calls itself an 'application service' and charges 59.99 to renew your driving licence. Applying through these sites does get you a legal driving licence, but it's significantly more expensive than the official route. A renewal processed through the official DVLA site costs 14 if you're under 70 and is free if you are older. In 2014, officials vowed to crack down on copycat sites that saw innocent customers duped out of hundreds of pounds. Money Mail alerted the DVLA and Google immediately after discovering the sites. If you need to renew your driving licence, then you should visit gov.uk/renew- driving-licence. You can also apply at your local Post Office, which charges a 4.50 fee to process the application. Are you covered? Direct Line boss Paul Geddes Direct Line's 4.8million-a-year boss Paul Geddes was satisfied with the insurance firm's better-than-expected results yesterday, which prompted a jump in the share price of nearly 13 per cent. Violin-playing Geddes, 46, a former executive at Royal Bank of Scotland, became less chirpy when he revealed he was having to submit an insurance claim of his own following a recent flood at his London home. Unfortunate, but at least he's insured. Direct Line's current ads feature grizzled Hollywood star Harvey Keitel goading customers for not having sufficient cover. Institute of Directors chairman Lady (Barbara) Judge lambasts Sir Philip Green's behaviour over the BHS pension saga. 'He should be writing a cheque and saying 'I'm sorry'.' Hear, hear. New York-born Babs, 69, is one of the more intriguing characters in British business. A delicate, soigne figure, whose platinum blonde bun and frisky pie crust collars lend her the lofty air of a French courtier, she's also an expert on nuclear matters. Private Eye calls her the Atomic Kitten. Re Institute of Directors, invitations arrived yesterday to its annual convention at the Albert Hall next month. Among the business luminaries speaking at the event will be Saatchi & Saatchi's chairman Kevin Roberts, who was placed on a leave of absence this week after suggesting women lacked ambition. Bald-as-a-coot Roberts, 66, should use the platform to berate his employers for their ludicrously over-the-top reaction to his comments. But I expect he'll more likely cancel. With all the fuss over ICAP founder and wealthy Conservative donor Michael Spencer having his peerage blocked, why no 'big P' for placid hedge fund billionaire Sir Michael Hintze, 63, who gave David Cameron's Tories 4m? Surely not because he supported Brexit Following my suggestion yesterday that Prudential's chief executive Mike Wells should partake in its annual charity biking event Ride London next year, his office informs me he was among the riders last weekend. Out of pocket: UBS rogue trader Kweku Adoboli is fighting extradition Ghanaian rogue trader Kweku Adoboli, 36, who lost UBS 1.3bn in unauthorised trades, has raised 15,000 through internet crowdsourcing to fund his battle against extradition. Online crowdsourcing is all the rage with financiers. Jailed Citigroup trader Tom Hayes has received 30,000 in donations to pay for an appeal against his imprisonment for Libor rigging. Perhaps Sir Philip Green should set up a donations page to 'sort' the 571m BHS pension deficit. His loyal coterie of celebrity friends could stump up the cash in no time. Financial Conduct Authority boss Andrew Bailey was known while deputy governor of the Bank of England as 'sexy turtle'. Apparently, it's a convoluted reference to 460,000 a-year Bailey's speed at completing a task, which was sometimes comparable to the time turtles take to finish copulating. Nothing to do with him being Threadneedle Street's resident stud muffin. Sadly, Andrew, 57, is no George Clooney. UK Energy, shop steward for money-grabbing energy firms, sent its spokeswoman, Scots-born Audrey Gallacher, onto Radio 4 yesterday to respond to Ofgem's plans to introduce price caps. Nervy and hesitant, she incredulously claimed the cheapest energy price 'wasn't always what people wanted'. Broadcaster Mishal Husain, 43, cast off her usual demure guise and devoured the poor woman like a starved hyena. Asked about the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency, Barclays' hulking, 8.2m-a-year all-American boss Jes Staley, 59, replies sardonically: 'My wife and I live in London.' Barclays are among the banks who've given Hillary Clinton's foundation seven-figure donations. Pundits reckon voters may hold that against her in November. Amstrad founder Lord Sugar enjoys the usual billionaire trappings. Private jet, yacht, homes in Spain, Florida and Essex. But the former market trader remains frugal in the wardrobe department. He's devoted to Charles Tyrwhitt, the cut-price haberdasher where four shirts cost just 100. British banks are not being tested properly by the Bank of England and would fail the 'more rigorous' tests set by the United States' Federal Reserve, a damning report has suggested. The Adam Smith Institute claimed that the Bank of Englands stress tests are worse than useless and that the UK is sailing blindly into a second global financial crisis. The economic policy think-tank analysed the stress tests carried out by the Bank of England to assess how well UK banks would be able to weather economic storms. Problems: The report decried the Bank of England's stress tests for being 'worse than useless' Last month the Bank claimed that all our major banks and building societies passed last years stress test which included losses twice those incurred during the global financial crisis. But the ASI refutes this claim. The report identified 13 fatal flaws in the stress tests conducted by the Bank of England, including compromised stress methodology and an inability to identify vulnerabilities and fix them. Author Kevin Dowd, professor of finance and economics at Durham University, blasted the Bank of England for being asleep at the wheel again. He said: The purpose of the stress-testing programme should be to highlight the vulnerability of our banking system and the need to rebuild it. Instead, it has achieved the exact opposite, portraying a weak banking system as strong. This is like having a ship radar system that cannot detect an iceberg in plain view. Mr Dowd warned that the UK is in no fit state to withstand another EU banking crisis. Last weekend the European Banking Authority warned that stress tests suggested that a number of Europes biggest lenders could be in trouble in the face of a large economic shock. Stark warning: The IMF warned that Deutsche Bank's failure could bring the global system crashing down Italys Monte dei Paschi came out as the worst performer, followed by the UKs Royal Bank of Scotland and Irelands Allied Irish Banks. There were warnings about the state of the European banking system last week after Deutsche Banks profits plunged 67 per cent to 342.5million in the second quarter of 2016. The International Monetary Fund claimed that the banks failure could bring the global system crashing down because it is so closely entwined with other big banks. Yesterday it was also revealed that Credit Suisse Group AG and Deutsche Bank AG will be dropped from the Stoxx 50 index after big share price slumps in yet another blow to European banks. Mr Dowd claimed that a new banking crisis would be on a much grander scale than 07-08. He added: We will be back to beleaguered banksters begging for bailouts and the taxpayer will be ripped off yet again. [W]hen the center of the global economy is the god of money, Pope Francis stated recently in an interview, [t]errorism grows. Curious about the Popes somewhat economistic explanation for Islamist terrorism, Samuel Gregg asks, do factors such as economic poverty and greed really function as major causes of Islamist terrorism? He recently wrote an article for the Stream examining this. The available research on this question, Gregg points out, suggests not. As he summarizes: In short, terrorists generally arent economically poor or from impoverished backgrounds. Moreover, if poverty or absence of economic opportunity drove people to immolate themselves and innocent bystanders, drive trucks into large crowds, slit priests throats, execute nuns or axe Jews to death, youd expect similar events to occur regularly in places such as Chinas rural impoverished Eastern regions, large swathes of India or downtown Detroit for several decades. But they arent. If its not poverty, then what drives young men (and some women) to commit these atrocious acts? Gregg stresses that the overwhelming majority of Muslims are not violent, let alone terrorists. But there is still a disturbing similarity among todays terrorists: [M]ost terrorists today are Muslims whose religious convictions are a major reason why they plunder, torture and murder others including other Muslims. Imagining that reducing economic inequality in Islamic nations, or that increasing welfare-payments to poor Muslims in Western Europe will somehow diminish terrorism not only doesnt fit the evidence. It fails to take Islam seriously as a religion. And thats of no service to anyone especially Muslims. See Greggs full analysis in No, Pope Francis, the economy doesnt cause terrorism. The founder and chairman of housebuilder Berkeley Group earned a whopping 21.5million last year although this represented a pay cut of nearly 2million. Tony Pidgley, a former Barnardos boy who spent his early years living in a disused railway carriage and set up Berkeley in 1976, earned a basic salary of 850,000 and a bonus of nearly 1.3million last year as well as 49,000 of benefits. The bulk of his pay came from share options. But his total earnings were down from 23.3million the previous year. Tony Pidgley, a former Barnardo's boy who spent his early years living in a disused railway carriage, and set up Berkeley in 1976 Pidgley, 69, owns nearly 6.5million shares in Berkeley, or 4.73 per cent of the company. His stake was worth around 165million at last nights closing price of 2538p (down 2.4 per cent or 61p). Twice-married Pidgley, who has two children from each wife, left home and school at the age of 15 barely able to read and write, and set up a haulage business that he sold at the age of 20. Pidgley is now worth 270million, according to the Sunday Times Rich List, and lives on a 100-acre estate in Windsor. Berkeley is one of Britains most successful housebuilders although revenues fell 3.4 per cent to 2billion last year and profits dipped 1.6 per cent to 530.9million. Advertisement A Syrian town was attacked by a helicopter dropping toxic gas just hours after a Russian chopper was shot down nearby killing all five on board, local rescuers have claimed. Graphic pictures yesterday showed the burning remains of a Russian helicopter which crashed down in Idlib province before a crew member's body was dragged through the dirt. The Kremlin claimed the aircraft had been returning from war-torn Aleppo after delivering humanitarian aid. Hours later another chopper was seen dropping containers of toxic gas on the nearby town of Saraqeb affecting 33 people - mostly women and children. Syria Civil Defence workers, who went to the scene of the attack, said they suspected it was chlorine but could not verify that. A man receives treatment at the Sahra hospital after suspected chlorine gas was dropped on the town of Saraqeb A helicopter was seen dropping containers of toxic gas on the town of Saraqeb affecting 33 people - mostly women and children. A baby is treated Rescue workers giving treatment to a baby who was allegedly affected by a chlorine gas canister attack dropped by an unidentified military helicopter in Saraqeb An object claimed to be a chlorine gas canister dropped by an unidentified military helicopter Crash site: The aircraft, carrying three crew and two officers, was shot down down in the Idlib province in north western Syria today Gruesome pictures show what is believed to be the body of a Russian pilot being dragged through the dirt after the aircraft was gunned down A spokesman for the group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers, posted a video on YouTube purportedly showing a number of men struggling to breathe and being given oxygen masks by people in civil defence uniforms. 'Medium-sized barrels fell containing toxic gasses. The Syrian Civil Defence was not able to determine the type of the gas,' said the spokesman. The Syrian government and its Russian allies were not immediately available for comment. Both government and opposition forces have denied using chemical weapons during the five-year-old civil war. Syria Civil Defence workers, who went to the scene of the attack, said they suspected it was chlorine but could not verify that Videos have been posted online purportedly showing a number of men struggling to breathe and being given oxygen masks by people in civil defence uniforms Both government and opposition forces have denied using chemical weapons during the five-year-old civil war A rescue worker giving treatment to a baby who was allegedly affected by the chlorine gas canister attack Western powers say the government has been responsible for chlorine and other chemical attacks. The Syrian government and Russia have accused rebel forces of using poison gas. Monitors at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said barrel bombs fell on Saraqeb late on Monday, injuring a large number of citizens. Yesterday, Russia's defence ministry said a Russian helicopter was shot down near Saraqeb on Monday, killing all five people on board, in the biggest officially acknowledged loss of life for Russian forces since they started operations in Syria. The helicopter came down in Idlib province, roughly mid-way between Aleppo and the Russian air force base at Khmeimim, near the Mediterranean coast. Mystery surrounded the discovery in the wreckage of an ID card showing a picture of a blonde woman Russia's Ministry of Defence said the helicopter was returning to the its main air base in the western province of Latakia following a delivery of humanitarian aid in war-torn Aleppo The Russian defence ministry said the Mi-8 military transport helicopter had been shot down after delivering humanitarian aid to the city of Aleppo as it made its way back to Russia's main air base in the western province of Latakia. Gruesome pictures emerged showing what was believed to be the body of a Russian pilot being dragged through the dirt and loaded on to a truck. It came as mystery surrounded the discovery in the wreckage of an identification card showing a picture of a blonde woman. The image was found along with a haul of personal belongings of those inside, including Russian drivers' licences, passports and insurance cards, as well as Orthodox Christian icons. Two activist groups - the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Observatory and the Local Coordination Committees - say rebels shot down the Mi-8. 'A Russian Mi-8 military transport helicopter was shot down from the ground after delivering humanitarian aid to Aleppo,' the defence ministry said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies. 'Three crew members and two officers... were on board.' In a later statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added: 'As far as we know from the information we've had from the defence ministry, those in the helicopter died, they died heroically, because they were trying to move the aircraft away to minimise victims on the ground.' Videos uploaded online by Syrian opposition activists show the burning wreckage the helicopter seemingly taken in the first few moments after it crashed. In one film, a rocket pod can be seen next to the wreckage. People standing nearby are seen taking cellphone photos and shouting 'Allahu Akbar,' or God is great in Arabic. A Russian helicopter has been shot down by rebels in Syria, it has been revealed. Pictures show what is believed to be the wreckage The body was piled on to the back of a truck after being dragged through the dirt in Syria Two activist groups - the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Observatory and the Local Coordination Committees - say rebels shot down the Mi-8 The helicopter appears to have broken up as it crashed. In another video, its tail can be seen lying separately from the aircraft's body in flames The helicopter that crashed near Aleppo was a Russian Mi-8 (file picture) which had reportedly been on an aid mission to the city The helicopter appears to have broken up as it crashed. In another video, its tail can be seen lying separately from the aircraft's body in flames. Russian air forces are supporting President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's five-year-old civil war. Around 25 miles north-east of the crash site, rebel groups are staging an offensive to break a government siege on rebel-held parts of eastern Aleppo city. Pro-government forces on the ground are being supported by heavy air strikes in the area. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the helicopter incident. Idlib province has a strong presence of both fighters for the al-Qaeda branch in Syria known as the Nusra Front and rebels. Around 25 miles north-east of the crash site, rebel groups are staging an offensive to break a government siege on rebel-held parts of eastern Aleppo city There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the helicopter incident. Idlib province has a strong presence of both fighters for the al-Qaeda branch in Syria known as the Nusra Front and rebels Syrians gather around the burning wreckage of a helicopter, belonging to Russian military, after it was shot down by anti-regimist opposition forces in Tell Sultan town In one film, a rocket pod can be seen next to the wreckage. People standing nearby are seen taking cellphone photos and shouting 'Allahu Akbar,' or God is great in Arabic Pictures taken in the aftermath of the crash show how the helicopter burst into flames in the crash The group announced last week that it was changing its name and relinquishing ties with al-Qaeda in an attempt to undermine a potential US and Russian air campaign against its fighters. The group is part of a coalition of insurgent groups called Jaish al-Fateh, or Army of Conquest, which has captured most of Idlib. In July, two Russian airmen were killed in the central Homs province when their Mi-25 helicopter was shot down by what the Defense Ministry said were ISIS fighters. An Mi-28N helicopter gunship crashed near Homs in April, killing both crew members, but the Russian military said there was no evidence it came under fire. Syrians living nearby flocked to the scene of the crash with pictures showing the burning wreckage of the helicopter Inspection: A group of men examine part of the Russian helicopter while one man takes pictures on his mobile telephone Rebels posted pictures online showing documents and identification photos found in the wreckage Russian air forces are supporting President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's five-year-old civil war and have been providing aerial support Images shared on social media purportedly showed a dead body stripped of his clothes and Russian identity documents taken from the crashed helicopter. Grim pictures have emerged online showing men trampling on dead crew members near the crash site A Russian warplane was shot down by a Turkey along the Syrian border in November, and one of the two pilots was shot and killed from the ground after ejecting. Earlier on Monday, a Syrian military official said that government forces repelled an attack by insurgents that was an attempt to break the siege imposed on rebel-held parts of the northern city of Aleppo. The development came a day after Syrian rebels launched the offensive to break up the government's siege of eastern, rebel-held part of the city. The U.N. estimates some 300,000 people are still trapped in the rebel section of Aleppo, with dwindling food and medical supplies. The U.N.'s special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura warned on Friday that basic supplies in eastern Aleppo could run out in three weeks. Opposition activists said intense fighting was still ongoing in Aleppo on Monday. The Syrian military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, did not elaborate. The U.N. estimates some 300,000 people are still trapped in the rebel section of Aleppo, with dwindling food and medical supplies. Pictures show a building hit by Assad's regime in Aleppo on Sunday Silly: The mother of the British Asian stars of Gogglebox has spoken for the first time to say they are 'naughty' The mother of three Gogglebox stars who joked about going to an ISIS training camp has spoken out in their defence, saying: 'They are very silly boys! It was only meant as a bit of fun but it's backfired.' Nasreen Siddiqui, who never appears on the Channel 4 show because she is 'too shy', blamed the prank on middle son Raza. She said: 'Most of the time he is a very good boy but sometimes he's a little naughty. He's always saying funny things but doesn't want to offend anyone.' Mum-of-five Nasreen spoke out after her red-faced sons - Raza Siddique, 37, and brothers Umar, 38, and Baasit, 33, apologised for the light hearted joke and were quizzed by police. The trio from Derby donned camouflaged clothing for a paintballing trip and posted a photo on Facebook with the caption: 'ISIS training day, look how happy we look!' Their mum, 61, viewing the snap on Mail Online, remarked: 'I can see why the words caused a problem. They weren't thinking. It was meant to be fun but it was foolish. They've said sorry. I don't know about the police investigation but I think it's all over.' Nasreen also has two daughters Saadhia, 32, and Ashee, 30, who both work, one in a hospital, and live nearby. Whist Sid, her Pakistani born husband of 37 years, enjoys the Gogglebox limelight with his sons, the female family members prefer to stay off camera. Nasreen, who has one grandchild, said: 'Oh no it's not something for me. I don't speak very good English and I'm very shy. It's best left to the boys.' Raza Siddique, 37, and brothers Umar, 38, and Baasit, 33, back row, apologised for the light hearted joke and were quizzed by police. They are pictured here with sisters Ashee, 30, on the left, and Saadhia, 32, on the right Bad taste: The three brothers, Raza, Baasit and Umar, pictured above in camoflage gear, joked that they were on an 'Isis training day' while they were paintballing Apology: The brothers later apologised for the misjudged joke Nasreen, speaking from her neatly kept cosy home on the outskirts of Derby city - where the Googlebox sofa chat is filmed - was happy to be photographed for Mail Online. But she quipped: 'You won't get me on the TV!' Baasit added: 'We never meant to offend anyone and we are so apologetic if anyone was offended. 'We took the post down straight away.' Asked which Facebook friend had reported them to Derbyshire Police, who launched a brief investigation before dropping the matter, he replied: 'I have no idea.' The boys' father, former engineer Sid, was born in Pakistan but moved to the UK when he was 16. He appears on the show with his sons Baasit and Umar, a hospital microbiologist. Baasit, a teacher, is well known for his dry sense of humour but says his wife tells him off if she thinks Ive been a prat on the show, and his mother-in-law scolded him for not shaving before filming. Comments: The Siddiqui family are among the biggest stars of the show with their pithy comments Sid's 'other' son, Raza, an estate agent, also occasionally appears on the show but his work schedule means that he can't always make it to the family home in Derby in time for filming. Baasit has previously said Raza 'wishes he could do more' but is happy to be part of the show when he can, adding: 'He is like the fifth Beatle'. The Siddiqui men get a lot of female attention and Umar, who is single, revealed in an interview with Heat: Theres a lot of female attention women love Dad. Sid added: We are all looking for a suitor for Umar. Not that were going to force him into it, but we do want him to find someone. I got a funny tweet recently saying, I would love to marry someone like Sid. And I tweeted back and said, Well, there is someone who is very much like me but much younger and handsomer. A Phoenix woman has been arrested for her daughter's death after giving the toddler methamphetamine in an effort to counteract the methadone she had consumed from an open container, police said. Natalie Russell, 30, was arrested last Tuesday after police said she 'recklessly left a 120mg bottle of liquid methadone in reach of her children,' KTVK/KPHO reported. Her 22-month-old daughter Adalynn Russell was found unresponsive and autopsy results showed the child had toxic levels of methadone and methamphetamines in her system at the time of her death. Methadone is a drug used to prevent withdrawal symptoms in those addicted to opiates. Scroll down for video Natalie Russell, 30, (left) faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse in the April death of her 22-month-old daughter Adalynn Russell (right) The April death was ruled a homicide and Russell now faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse. A police report indicates Russell is allegedly 'an addict' who was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident. On April 14, officers were called to the home where Adalynn lived with her mother and two brothers in response to a child not breathing, according to the report. Paramedics worked to revive the girl, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The mother claimed a container of methadone had spilled and she thought her five-year-old son or Adalynn could have consumed some of the medication before she could clean it up, the report states. Authorities said she then changed her story to state that around 10pm the night before, her daughter may have consumed the prescription drug from an open container, according to a police report. On April 14, officers were called to the apartment (pictured) where Adalynn lived with her mother and two brothers in response to a child not breathing, police said. Paramedics worked to revive the girl, but she was pronounced dead at the scene Police said instead of seeking medical attention for her daughter, she lied down with the girl around 1am and fell asleep. Around 6.45 the next morning, another woman in the home discovered the child not breathing and emergency services were called, police said. Later in the investigation, authorities learned Russell had researched methadone overdose information online, and she allegedly gave the girl meth 'in an effort to counteract the ingestion of the methadone,' police said. A witness told officers Russell told her she was going to get meth to counter the effects of the methadone, and then said she witnessed the mother 'administer the methamphetamines into the child's rectum,' according to the police report. According to the report, Russell is allegedly an addict who was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident. The Arizona Department of Child Safety, which had the other two children placed in their care, released a statement saying prior to Adalynn's birth, there were two reports of neglect against Russell involving her children, ABC15 reported. Autopsy results showed Adalynn had toxic levels of methadone and methamphetamines in her system. Methadone is a drug used to prevent withdrawal symptoms in those addicted to opiates The department said the two reports from January 2015 and February this year were unsubstantiated and that services were offered. In an incident in December 2014, the department said it received a report alleging neglect to Adalynn and one of her older siblings by their mother and each of their fathers. The allegations were substantiated, the children were removed from the home and the department filed a dependency petition with the juvenile court. The department said in the statement the staff of DCS 'grieve over the tragic loss of this child and offer our thoughts and prayers for her family.' 'We take our responsibility protecting children very seriously, but we cannot predict the future,' the statement said. 'It is a heartbreaking reality that people are capable of doing great harm to children. DCS is committed to ensuring justice for this victim and will assist law enforcement in every way possible.' A former Amish couple from Pennsylvania were ordered on Tuesday to stand trial on charges they gave away their 14-year-old daughter to a man after he helped them out financially. Daniel and Savilla Stoltzfus, of Lancaster County, were charged with child endangerment after police found a dozen girls living with Lee Kaplan, 51, of Feasterville, in June. Police said Daniel Stoltzfus, 43, told them he and his 42-year-old wife 'gave' their 14-year-old daughter to Kaplan after he financially helped them. Parents: Daniel (left), 43, and Savilla Stoltzfus (right), 42, were ordered to stand trial on charges they gave away their 14-year-old daughter to Lee Kaplan In court: Daniel Stoltzfus, left in yellow, and Lee Kaplan, right in yellow, are led to a preliminary hearing Tuesday outside court in Feasterville, Pennsylvania Savilla Stoltzfus, in red, is led to a preliminary hearing outside Bucks County Magisterial District Judge John I. Waltman's courtroom Kaplan also was ordered to trial on sexual assault charges. Authorities allege that Kaplan fathered two children with the couple's daughter, now aged 3 and 6. Police determined the other nine girls in Kaplan's home were the Stoltzfus' children, ranging in age from 3 to 17. All three defendants remain in the Bucks County jail unable to post bail. They are due back in court for arraignment on September 2. Defense attorneys argued there was no legal documentation to prove a marriage had not occurred or the official age of the girl. Lee Kaplan, 51, fathered two children with Stoltzfus' daughter when she was 15 and 17, and was living with a dozen girls in his house The now 18-year-old identified her parents and Kaplan in the courtroom Tuesday, answering questions with simple 'yes' and 'no' responses. Defense attorneys at times had difficulty hearing the soft-spoken teen. She testified that she had lived with Kaplan for years and had shared his bed since she moved to his home at 14. She told the court Tuesday that she still cares for and trusts Kaplan. Daniel Stoltzfus faces an additional charge of conspiracy in his daughter's alleged sexual assault after prosecutors contended he made the agreement to 'gift' his daughter to his business partner to avoid financial ruin. Defense attorneys for the trio disputed the meaning of 'gave' in the case. Each questioned what investigators had been told. Detectives said Kaplan had lied several times and knew the girl's age. The couple, they said, lied about how many children had been in Kaplan's home after learning of the sexual contact. The teen testified during Tuesday's hearing, which was attended by a large number of Amish men, that her parents had not known she was pregnant until her mother assisted in the birth of the then-15-year-old's first child. The 18-year-old said she gave birth to both her children 'in the bedroom' she shared with Kaplan. Their second child was born when the girl turned 17. She said her parents then split residences, with Savilla Stoltzfus and some of Savilla's children moving to also live with Kaplan. Authorities say that when they arrived at Kaplan's home (pictured) to rescue the girls in June, who all wearing traditional Amish dress, the youngsters scattered Police acting on a tip raided Kaplan's home in the 400 block of Old Street Road in Feasterville on June 16 and rescued the 12 girls living with him. Some of the children, all dressed in traditonal Amish garb, were found hiding in the chicken coop and the basement. Officers described them as well-behaved but scared. Investigators later uncovered evidence the girls has been living in the basement where they found air mattresses, a model train setup and a tank of catfish. Books and musical instruments in the basement lead detectives to believe the girls were being homeschooled. Daniel Stoltzfus' attorney said prosecutors had made a leap in suggesting the girl's father agreed to let his business partner have sexual intercourse with his daughter. But, Bucks County Assistant District Attorney Mary Kate Kohler maintained that a father does not give a child to another man especially one who is not a relative without an understanding that sexual contact could occur. Daniel Stoltzfus, right, faces a charge of conspiracy in his daughter's alleged sexual assault after prosecutors contended he 'gifted' the teen to Kaplan to avoid financial ruin Lee Kaplan, front in yellow, was ordered to stand trial on sexual assault charges Video courtesy of FOX 43 Kohler argued the girl's father didn't intervene after learning his daughter was pregnant because 'that's what he expected.' 'He did nothing,' Kohler said. Free Syrian Army are trying to regain control of government held territory It comes as rebel fighters launch major assault on Assad-held parts of city Video shows blast rip through building, sending a cloud of smoke into air Dramatic footage has emerged of a huge explosion in the Syrian city of Aleppo sparked by a tunnel bomb planted by rebel fighters. The video, released by the Free Syrian Army, shows the blast tearing through a building, sending a massive cloud of smoke and debris into the air. It comes as rebel fighters launch a major assault on government-held southwestern parts of Aleppo to try to reopen supply lines into opposition-held areas of the city. The footage shows a huge explosion tearing through a building in the Syrian city of Aleppo The tunnel bomb planted by rebels sends a massive cloud of smoke and debris into the air The footage claims to show members of the rebel group planting explosives in a tunnel in the Ramouseh district of Aleppo. The video posted online then proceeds to show the blast from two angles, and the large plume of smoke shrouding the area. It is not yet clear whether there were any casualties from the attack. The rebels are trying to break through a strip of government-controlled territory in the hope of reconnecting their area of control in the west of Syria with the encircled sector of eastern Aleppo. The video claims to show rebel fighters planting explosives in a tunnel in the Ramouseh district of Aleppo It comes as rebels launch a major assault on government-held southwestern parts of Aleppo to try to reopen supply lines into opposition-held areas of the city The video, posted online by the Free Syrian Army, shows explosives in a tunnel A rebel military command centre said they had seized army positions and some residential compounds in the first few hours of the assault, which began on Sunday night. Later, rebels said they had captured the strategic al-Mishrefah area, south of the Ramousah air force artillery base, which has been used to pound rebel-held areas from its fortified hilltop position. Abdul Salam Abdul Razak, military spokesman of the Free Syrian Army's Nour al Din al-Zinki group, said: 'There is fast and quick progress.' The army earlier confirmed on state media that rebels had begun an offensive but said they had been pushed back from the base. The blast is filmed from two angles, showing the large plume of smoke shrouding the area It is not yet clear whether there were any casualties from the attack A quarter of a million civilians still live in Aleppo's opposition-controlled eastern neighbourhoods, effectively under siege since the army, aided by Iranian-backed militias, cut off the last road into rebel districts in early July. The army last week took significant ground on the northern edge of the city, around the Castello road, which leads north towards Turkey. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebel assault was their biggest for several months. The monitoring group, which tracks violence across Syria, said pro-government jets had bombed rebel-held Khan Touman in the southern countryside of Aleppo, and rebels had shelled government-held parts of central Aleppo overnight. Aleppo, Syria's biggest city before the outbreak of the conflict five years ago, has been divided between government forces and rebels since the summer of 2012. The rebels are trying to break through a strip of government-controlled territory Aysha Mehajer has made a triumphant return to social media, by deleting all photos of her husband Salim and fuelling rumors she's now going by her maiden name. The 30-year-old beautician reactivated her private Instagram account this week and had removed all images of the controversial deputy mayor. Despite their split and an AVO being taken out in Aysha's name by police last month, Salim has continued to post images of his wife calling her his 'princess' and 'the reason for my smile'. Scroll down for video Aysha Mehajer has returned to social media, posting this photo to Instagram with the caption: 'Live it, love it, learn it' 'My love - forever': Last week Salim posted this image of he and Aysha in happier times On Tuesday Aysha posted a selfie, her first upload in months, with the cryptic caption 'Live it, love it, learn it'. Her new handle - @aysha_lea - further fuels speculation that the beautician is again using her maiden name, Learmonth. Her account is private and requires permission to follow. Aysha is also said to be living back in her hometown of Wollongong south of Sydney, moving there after she and Salim split. The couple had previously shared an Instagram account, but the page was removed in recent months. Salim uploaded this image of the pair in Dubai after Alysha posted her selfie Then on Wednesday he posted another image of the couple stepping off a jet, with the caption 'find a reason to smile' Since Alysha uploaded her selfie Salim has shared two more photos of the couple. The first appears to have been taken in the desert in Dubai, with the pair wearing wraps around their heads. The second image shows the glam couple stepping off a jet with the caption, 'find a reason to smile'. The glamourous beautician has deleted all photos of her husband from social media In July an AVO was taken out against Salim on behalf of Aysha, banning him from speaking to or approaching her. He is also prevented from going within 50 metres of her work or home. The pair were married less than a year ago when their self-proclaimed 'wedding of the century' shut down a Lidcombe street in western Sydney. Canada's biggest polygamist, who has 27 wives and 145 children, has said that he does not agree with legalizing polygamy because it could lead to the exploitation of women. Winston Blackmore, the leader of a polygamous Mormon fundamentalist group in Canada, is being prosecuted by the Canadian government for polygamy, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune. The 59-year-old who, was a bishop for the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, told an audience in Salt Lake City on Friday that he doesn't favor the legalization of polygamy. Canada's biggest polygamist, Winston Blackmore (pictured), 59, who has 27 wives and 145 children, has said he does not want polygamy legalized over fears that it could lead to the exploitation of women Blackmore (right) was arrested for polygamy in 2007 but those charges were dismissed over concerns how the special prosecutor was selected He said instead he fears that legalizing it would lead to the exploitation of women. Blackmore, who has married 27 women and has 145 children, was arrested for polygamy in 2007. But those charges were later dropped over concerns of how the special prosecutor was selected, the Tribune reported. 'And those suckers are after me day and night,' Blackmore told the audience, according to the Tribune. 'I'm going to have to go another round with them.' But Blackmore's views aren't completely unheard of as polygamists in Utah have tried to push for the state to change it's bigamy statute so that there wouldn't be criminal charges for polygamy, the Tribune reported. Blackmore (center) said that he and his wives are officially 'friends', adding that despite them being friends, 'they still charge us with polygamy'. He told the audience that he never courted any of his wives and instead some of them approached him about becoming his wife Blackmore, who was a bishop for the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was charged for polygamy again in 2014. A trial date hasn't been set yet 'I beat 'em the first round for prosecutor shopping,' Blackmore said. Black more was charged for polygamy again in 2014, but a trial date hasn't been set yet. He said that Canada has changed the definition of common-law marriages in order to prosecute him, according to the Tribune. Blackmore said that he and his wives are officially 'friends', adding that despite them being friends, 'they still charge us with polygamy'. The prison where bushranger Ned Kelly was held before being executed and where Hoddle Street murderer Julian Knight was locked up is to be turned into a luxury 120-room hotel. The multi-million dollar Adina apartments development will be primarily undertaken within the walls of B division at the former Pentridge Prison in Coburg. The complex, which will open in four years, will include a restaurant, day spa, indoor swimming pool and gym and allow visitors to stay inside cells once inhabited by Australia's most infamous gangsters and killers. Scroll down for video An artist's impression of how Australias historic Pentridge Prison site will be transformed into 120 luxury apartments by 2020 As Pentridge looks now ahead of its redevelopment with Anthony Goh (left) of Shayher Group pictured with Rachel Argaman, TFE Hotels CEO (right) New look: The 120 Adina apartments on the site of the old Pentridge Prison are scheduled to open in 2020. The jail was officially closed in 1997 Changing face: The 120-apartment hotel, just eight kilometres from the Melbourne city centre aims to blend contemporary architectural design with the propertys remarkable heritage Pentridge opened in 1851 and closed forever in 1997. The developers say that the prisons former chapel will remain intact and be used for functions. 'We have challenged Cox Architects to deliver a design that sets a benchmark in sensitive and adaptive reuse and breathes new life into this historic asset, returning it to the public,' said Anthony Goh, of the developers Shayher Group. 'In developing these plans, we have taken inspiration from similar projects in the United States and United Kingdom that have readapted jails into beautiful accommodation, paying tribute to the past by repositioning them for the future.' Dark and eerie: It's even been claimed the ghost of Mark 'Chopper' Read haunts the old prison Historic images of the old laundry room (left) and a prisoner's small cell featuring only a bed, sink and toilet Pentridge Prison is where, in the late 1970s, career criminal 'Chopper Read' had another prisoner cut his ears off in an attempt to be removed from the high security H division The scene outside Pentridge Prison in Coburg on 31 January, 1967 on the eve of Ronald Ryan's execution - the last prison hanging in Australia's history Ronald Ryan, Pentridge Prison escapee and the last person to be hanged in Australia TFE Hotels will operate the self-serviced apartment hotel. A new 16-level building will also be built adjacent to B cell block. Some cells will be converted into serviced apartments, a number of others are expected to remain in their original condition, according to Urban Melbourne's report. Convicted Hoddle Street murderer Julian Knight (pictured in 1997) was an inmate of Pentridge Prison before it closed Images of bushranger Ned Kelly who was jailed at Pentridge after the Kelly Gang was captured at Glenrowan in 1880 and whose remains were buried on site after his hanging The hotel built inside the old Pentridge Prison is expected to open in 2020, pending planning and heritage permits and construction approvals Ned Kelly spent most of his incarceration in C division - while he was hanged in Melbourne Jail in 1880, his remains and grave site were kept inside Pentridge for decades. 'This site speaks to a rich history and we believe locals and visitors from overseas will be intrigued to learn about Australias penal past,' said Rachel Argaman, TFE Hotels CEO. 'Hotels provide a great way to preserve the history of heritage-listed buildings, allowing unique and memorable experiences for guests who learn and experience aspects of that rich past.' The controversial maximum security Jika Jika section was opened in 1980, touted as a jail within a jail, but was closed forever seven years later after five inmates were killed in a fire. Pentridge Prison is where career criminal 'Chopper Read' cut his ears off in an attempt to be removed from H (Hell) block and bloody prison wars between inmates, keft uninterrupted by police officers, were a regular occurrence. Ronald Ryan escaped from Pentridge in 1965 and was the last person to be hanged in Australia after being found guilty of killing a prison guard. Shayher will invest more than $1 million in restoration works this year alone. The notorious Pentridge Prison that housed criminals including Ned Kelly and Chopper Read is to be converted into a five-star hotel One in four Labour supporters who signed up to vote in the partys leadership contest could be barred from taking part. Some 183,000 signed up as registered supporters for 25 to vote in the election. Of these, 40,000 have been excluded for breaching the rules such as not being on the electoral register, for bouncing a payment or for supporting a rival party. An oversights panel from the partys National Executive Committee will investigate a further 10,000 suspicious cases, some of whom are not believed to comply with the aims and values of the Labour party. One in four Labour supporters who signed up to vote in the partys leadership contest could be barred from taking part Allies of Jeremy Corbyn fear that blocking large numbers of registered supporters from voting could hand the election to his rival, Owen Smith (right) Any individuals will also be banned if their names appear on a list of people who have made racist, sexist or anti-Semitic remarks. The leadership contest is believed to have brought 4.4 million in extra revenue to Labour. Those disqualified from voting do not get a refund. Allies of Jeremy Corbyn fear that blocking large numbers of registered supporters from voting could hand the election to his rival, Owen Smith. Among the roughly 140,000 who are still allowed to take part, Huffington Post said 90,000 were supporters of Mr Corbyn and 50,000 were not. This could narrow the gap between frontrunner Mr Corbyn and Mr Smith. A further 388,000 full party members who joined before January 2016 will also be allowed to vote in the leadership election. Another 70,000 or so trade union affiliates are expected to take part. The Mail understands that in London, where half of all Labour members are based, around half are supporting Mr Smith. He yesterday launched a manifesto for fairness at work which he promised would make Britain the envy of the world for employment rights. The former shadow cabinet member has called for wage councils to set pay in hospitality, retail and social care sectors. Mr Smith also wants to strengthen collective bargaining, end pay freezes in the public sector, boost the powers of unions and repeal legislation which made it more difficult for unions to call strikes. He would also require companies to publish race equality plans and scrap fees for accessing employment tribunals. Workers would be given full employment rights from the day they take up a job. Angela Eagle has condemned Jeremy Corbyn for staying silent while abuse was hurled at her by his supporters Mr Smith would also outlaw zero-hours contracts. The leadership contender said: At the core of my radical vision for Labours future is a commitment to making tackling inequality the focus of everything our party does. He added: This simply cant be achieved without fairness in the workplace and to make this a reality we need nothing short of a revolution in workers rights. Delivering that requires more than just rhetoric, it needs a credible plan. A high court case will be heard tomorrow where the party is being sued by a group of full members excluded from taking part in the leadership contest as they had not signed up before 12 January. Retrospective rules introduced by the partys ruling NEC body decreed that full members cannot vote in the contest unless they joined in January or before. Meanwhile his former leadership rival Angela Eagle has condemned Jeremy Corbyn for staying silent while abuse was hurled at her by his supporters. Labour has received an official complaint that members of her Wallasey constituency party had called Miss Eagle Angie the Dyke and had intimidated supporters who attended a local meeting. Her local party has even been banned from meeting over safety fears. A breakaway group which is disputing the complaint was instead due to meet last night. Miss Eagle said: For weeks now, Jeremy has sat back silently as this has gone on. This is precisely the kind of behaviour that has led to the Labour Party finding itself in crisis. It has tarnished both the partys reputation but most of all his own. Its time for him to now to rein in those that have gone too far and for him to try to become part of the solution to our problems, not a cause. Mr Corbyn received the backing of the CWU union on Monday and drew a crowd of thousands in Liverpool, despite the rain. Palestinian News Agency Attacked | Main | Hurricane Katrina Compares to Holocaust: Baltimore Sun September 20, 2006 Don't Bank on Hamad's Word Hamas Spokesman Ghazi Hamad: Just because he says so doesn't make it so Taking Palestinian spokesman Ghazi Hamad on his word is not a wise move. The New York Times learned this lesson the hard way. On Sept. 12, the paper reported: But Mr. Hamad points out that the charter of Israel's conservative Likud Party calls for an Israel on both banks of the Jordan River, even as Likud governments have recognized the Oslo peace agreements of more than a decade. The version the same day in the International Herald Tribune was: But Hamad pointed out that the charter of Israel's Likud party calls for an Israel on both banks of the Jordan River, even as Likud governments have recognized the Oslo agreements and a two-state solution. The NYT and IHT ran corrections yesterday and today, respectively. The IHT correction reads: A front-page article Sept. 12 about an announcement by the Palestinian president of an agreement to form a unity government misstated a provision of the charter of the Likud party in Israel regarding Israel's borders. The charter defines the Jordan River as the eastern border of Israel and does not call for an Israel on both banks of the Jordan, though some early participants and leaders in the party took that position. It wouldn't be the first time Palestinian spokespeople provided misinformation. (See also here, here, and here.) Posted by TS at September 20, 2006 06:57 AM Guidelines for posting This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material. Post a comment Donald Trump said Tuesday that he has no second thoughts about the way he pushed back against attacks from the parents of a slain Muslim soldier during the past five days. 'I don't regret anything,' he told WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C. 'I said nice things about the son, and I feel that very strongly,' he said, referring to a statement he issued calling the late U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan a 'hero.' 'But of course I was hit very hard from the stage, and you know, its just one of those things. But, no, I dont regret anything.' Scroll down for videos Donald Trump said Tuesday that he has no regrets about the way he punched back after the Muslim parents of a soldier killed in action clobbered him during the Democratic convention Trump has felt widespread condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans who say he should have been more sensitive to the Khans' plight Khizr Khan, whose son U.S. Capt. Humayun Khan died in Iraq in 2004, did a weekend media tour castigating Trump, who said he was entitled to respond Khizr Khan, Capt. Kahn's father, clobbered Trump from the stage of last week's Democratic National Convention, and the did a media tour condemning him for his policy proposals touching on Muslims. The Khans emigrated to America from Pakistan. Capt. Khan was killed in action in 2004. In an interview on the Fox News Channel's 'O'Reilly Factor,' Trump laid it on even thicker. 'I was viciously attacked on the stage of the DNC by Mr. Kahn and I responded to that vicious attack,' Trump said in an interview that aired Tuesday night. 'Am I supposed to not have the right to at least say something back? And I did.' Trump used similar words over the weekend on Twitter. Trump has said for days that he was 'viciously attacked' and had a right to counterpunch U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan died in Iraq in 2004 while serving the United States TV networks and newspapers, he said Sunday, 'just kept it going and it never stopped and honestly its too bad. ... All I did was respond to it and it ends up being a four-day story.' Mr. Khan said in a series of Sunday morning shows two days ago that the billionaire Republican was unfit for office because he lacks empathy for the families of fallen heroes. And he repeatedly framed his disdain for Trump in terms of the Constitution of his adopted country. 'His policies, his practices do not reflect that he has any understanding of the basic fundamental constitutional principles of this country, what makes this country exceptional, what makes this country exceptional in the history of the mankind,' he said on CNN's 'State of the Union' program. 'There are principles of equal dignity, principle of liberty. He talks about excluding people, disrespecting judges, the entire judicial system, immigrants, Muslim immigrants. These are divisive rhetoric that is totally against the basic constitutional principle.' Mr. Khan got a standing ovation at the Democratic National Convention after he took out a copy of the U.S. Constitution and questioned whether Trump had ever read it 'This person is total incapable of empathy,' Khan added. 'I want his family to counsel him, teach him some empathy.' 'He will be a better person if he could become but he is a black soul. And this is totally unfit for the leadership of this beautiful country. The love and affection that we have received affirms that our beliefs, our experience in this country had been correct and positive.' Trump fired back on ABC's 'This Week,' criticizing Ghazala Khan Khizr's wife for standing mute onthe stage in Philadelphia while her husband did all the talking: 'If you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say. You tell me. Mrs. Khan later said she didn't speak because she was still overwhelmed by the grief of losing her son in battle 12 years ago. Trump also disputed Mr. Khan's criticism that the billionaire businessman has 'sacrificed nothing and no one' for his country. 'I've made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard. I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures,' he said. Trump's comments sparked immediate outrage on social media, including from Republican strategists, who criticized Trump both for attacking a mourning mother and because many considered them racist and anti-Muslim. Senior Republican leaders remained silent until late Sunday, as did vice presidential nominee Mike Pence. House Speaker Paul Ryan condemned him. 'America's greatness is built on the principles of liberty and preserved by the men and women who wear the uniform to defend it,' Ryan began. 'As I have said on numerous occasions, a religious test for entering our country is not reflective of these fundamental values. I reject it.' 'Many Muslim Americans have served valiantly in our military, and made the ultimate sacrifice. Captain Khan was one such brave example,' he added. 'His sacrifice and that of Khizr and Ghazala Khan should always be honored. Period.' Trump said Tuesday that he wasn't yet ready to endorse Ryan in his contentious primary election with an upstart Wisconsin businessman. Late Saturday night Trump released his statement calling Humayun Khan 'a hero,' but still pushed back against his father's insults. Death sentence: Ernest Lee Johnson, 55, was supposed to be executed last November for the 1994 murder of three shop workers in Columbia, South Carolina A Missouri death row inmate whose lethal injection was put on hold because he has a hole in his brain is arguing that the state could end his life by using nitrogen gas. Lawyers for Ernest Lee Johnson, 56, were able to halt his scheduled execution last November by claiming that the drugs used to carry out the execution could trigger uncontrollable, painful seizures that would be in direct violation of the constitutional protection against 'cruel and unusual punishment.' He claimed the execution drug could trigger severe pain and convulsions due to the remnants of a brain tumor and the damage caused by surgery to remove it. New papers filed this week show that having objected to one method of execution, Johnson's lawyers are required to suggest an alternate, to which they have suggested nitrogen gas hypoxia, which starves the brain of oxygen. It would be the first time Nitrogen gas has been used as part of an execution and any move to use the untested gas would likely delay Johnson's execution further. 'The available literature regarding the nitrogen gas method of execution strongly suggests that the subject will have no allergic reaction to the gas, will experience a loss of consciousness, and will suffer no pain,' the attorneys wrote. Prosecutors from the Supreme Court are expected to file their response. Victims: Casey's General Store workers Mary Bratcher (right, with her son), Mable Scruggs and Fred Jones (left) were closing up on February 12, 1994 when Johnson came in and beat them to death with a claw hammer A portion of the benign tumor was removed in 2008, but some of it remains. The operation also required removal of about 20 percent of Johnson's brain tissue. Missouri's execution drug is a form of pentobarbital believed to be manufactured by a compounding pharmacy - the state won't say where it gets it. Weis said the drug 'is likely to cause seizures' for Johnson 'given his history and the brain tumor.' Weis cites a medical review by Dr. Joel Zivot, who examined MRI images of Johnson's brain and found 'significant brain damage and defects that resulted from the tumor and the surgical procedure,' according to court filings. 'Mr. Johnson faces a significant medical risk for a serious seizure as the direct result of the combination of the Missouri lethal injection protocol and Mr. Johnson's permanent and disabling neurologic disease,' Zivot wrote. The Missouri attorney general's office declined comment. But in court filings, the state dismissed questions about the danger posed by the execution drug, noting that Missouri has carried out 'rapid and painless' executions since it went to the one-drug method in November 2013. A scan of Ernest Johns brain showing a hole in his skull and brain missing, from an affidavit of Dr. Joel Zivot Johnson was a frequent customer at a Casey's General Store in Columbia. On February 12, 1994, store workers Mary Bratcher, 46, Mable Scruggs, 57, and Fred Jones, 58, were closing for the night when Johnson arrived. He robbed the store seeking money to buy drugs, beat all three workers to death with a claw hammer and hid their bodies in a cooler. Police arrested Johnson after finding a bank bag, stolen money and store receipts at his home. Other death row inmates have filed similar arguments claiming medical conditions should preclude them from execution, with mixed success. Yellow tape: Johnson reportedly killed the workers in order to steal money to buy drugs. Above police tape covers an area where the incident happened in 1994 In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in hours before Russell Bucklew was scheduled to die in Missouri for a 1996 killing, after Bucklew argued that pain and suffering were possible due to a rare congenital condition that causes weakened and malformed blood vessels as well as tumors in his nose and throat. The case was sent back, and is still pending in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Missouri executed 74-year-old Cecil Clayton in March after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected claims that Clayton had diminished mental capacity due to a 1970s sawmill accident that cost him part of his brain's frontal lobe. In 2007, Oklahoma executed two-time killer Jimmy Dale Bland, even though doctors had said he would likely die of cancer within six months anyway. Death penalty opponents called the execution pointless, but prosecutors said Bland's health was no reason for mercy. Johnson's death sentence for the Missouri convenience store killings has been overturned twice over his mental competency. It was first set aside in 2001 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that executing the mentally impaired was unconstitutionally cruel, and again in 2003 when the Missouri Supreme Court cited evidence that Johnson was mentally disabled. In both cases, the death penalty was restored. Two kangaroos have obediently listened to their carer, immediately going to sleep after being asked to jump into their pouches. Sebastian and Madeleine, both six-months-old, reside at The Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Footage shows the joeys each jumping into their own pouch before being placed together in a basket. Sebastian and Madeleine obediently listened to their carer once they were told it was bed time After just a few seconds their eyes begin to slowly shut. Chris Barns, also known as Brolga or Kangaroo Dundee, rescued Sebastian and Madeline after they became orphaned. Mr Bairns said it's never hard to get the joeys to go to sleep because they will jump into any pouch. 'They are still babies so sleep most of the day and night. They are out the the pouch during the day and night a few times to hop around,' said Mr Barns. One at a time they went to bed once their carer placed their pouch in front of them Users on social media were left amazed at how quickly the kangaroos went to sleep while hearts 'melted' after watching the footage. 'My poor heart can't take this; it's so cute! I love how Madeleine waited her turn,' Tyler said. 'I agree with everyone, they are absolutely gorgeous, too cute, I wish human babies were that easy to settle,' Janice said. Chris Barns placed the two joeys next to each other in a basket before their eyes started to shut Britain's biggest banks could be lumbered with another huge compensation bill for the PPI mis-selling scandal following a ruling by the City watchdog. The Financial Conduct Authority said it plans to impose a cut off point for mis-selling claims in June 2019 a year later than originally planned. Banks will be forced to hand back hefty hidden commission payments they received from customers who took out these policies, which is expected to lead to bigger pay-outs. Yesterday the FCA revealed firms could also be ordered to include extra profits they made when they sold payment protection insurance when compensating customers. Banks which sold PPI received generous rebates from insurance companies when a claim was not made on a policy. These were known as profit sharing arrangements. Analysts said Lloyds could face more than a billion pounds in extra costs, with other High Street lenders also having to pay out hundreds of millions of pounds extra each. The Financial Conduct Authority said it plans to impose a cut off point for mis-selling claims in June 2019 a year later than originally planned. Analysts said Lloyds could face more than a billion pounds in extra costs PPI is already the most expensive mis-selling scandal in the UK, with more than 24billion of compensation paid out so far and more than 30billion set aside in total. By far the biggest culprit has been state-backed giant Lloyds, which set aside 16billion for customers to date. Consumer campaigners last night expressed dismay at the FCAs decision to go ahead with the time bar for complaints, but said it should act as clarion call for victims of mis-selling who have not come forward yet. Lloyds said it was disappointed at the decision to extend the deadline by a year, although welcomed the clarity provided by the deadline. Originally the FCA had planned to impose the deadline in the summer of 2018, but has pushed the cut off point back after months of wrangling with banks and consumer campaigners. It has ordered banks to fund a 42million pound advertising campaign to raise awareness. The scandal has been splashed over the TV and newspapers for years. Claims management firms have bombarded customers with nuisance calls and text messages encouraging them to seek compensation for a PPI policy, while spending millions on TV advertising campaigns. But Andrew Bailey, the boss of the FCA, said its own studies suggest up to a quarter of people still do not know whether they have a PPI policy. He said: Putting a deadline on PPI complaints will bring the issue to an orderly conclusion in a way that protects both consumers and market integrity. He added: People are a bit jaded by the constant barrage of advertising so we decided it was necessary to launch an old fashioned public information campaign. Andrew Bailey, the boss of the FCA, (pictured) said its own studies suggest up to a quarter of people still do not know whether they have a PPI policy Consumer campaigners criticised the deadline and pointed out that banks are still routinely rejecting PPI complaints which are then overturned by the independent Financial Ombudsman. Guy Anker, managing editor at MoneySavingExpert.com, says: We are very disappointed the FCA has chosen to all but certainly put a time-bar on PPI reclaiming even after many warnings of the danger. 'How can it argue this is being done to protect consumers when the uphold rate at the Financial Ombudsman is still about 70 per cent? A 15-year-old girl was dragged into a car by two men before one of them indecently assaulted her moments after she got off her school bus. The teenage girl was on her way home from school when she was approached by two men in Lake Macquarie in the Hunter region of NSW about 4.45pm on Tuesday. Police were told the teen was grabbed by one man after getting off at a bus stop on Blackwood Crescent in Cameron Park before a second man pulled up nearby in a small black four-door sedan. NSW Police have launched an appeal after a teenage girl was indecently assaulted by a man She was approached after getting off her school bus on Blackwood Crescent in Cameron Park The first man forced the teen into the back seat of the car where he indecently assaulted her. Fortunately, the girl fought back, punching the man several times before fleeing to safety after she managed to break free from his grasp. She was not injured during the terrifying ordeal. Investigators have launched an appeal in a bid to track down the suspects. They are hoping to speak with two men who might be able to assist with inquiries. Investigators have launched an appeal in a bid to track down the two men in Lake Macquarie One of the men has been described as having a tanned complexion and a solid build. He was wearing a black hooded jumper, faded black baggy jeans and black sneakers. The second mas has not been further described. Plans to wipe millions of public records out of existence have angered campaigners. Companies House maintains a register of British businesses which is relied on by researchers, criminal investigators and journalists as well as suppliers and customers. But it is coming under heavy pressure from the owners of failed firms who want past records to disappear. And proposals are now being discussed to eradicate the details of dissolved companies just six years after they go bust. Deleted:Plans to wipe millions of public records out of existence have angered campaigners (file picture) Critics have warned it would make corporate life more secretive and put unnecessary barriers in the way of those who seek to expose wrongdoing and carry out simple check-ups on organisations they do business with. They cautioned it would undo hard work to open the system up. This has included the authorities removing fees for accessing Companies House data and launching a register of people who can influence or control companies. Rachel Davies of Transparency International UK said: Transparency over company ownership is vital it enables law enforcement to investigate crime, and business to conduct checks on clients. In June, the Government led the way on company transparency by launching a public register of company ownership. Any changes made to the system must be in the right direction, and we would caution against rowing back on the good progress made. Industry experts said the removal of failed businesses would be an attack on democracy and prevent unscrupulous owners from being held accountable when things went wrong. Justin Fitzpatrick, chief operating officer at business intelligence firm DueDil, said: This is an importance source of information to investigate wrongdoing. Moves to hide information would undermine new Prime Minister Theresa Mays promise to make corporations act in the public interest Erasing this data on companies after only six years not only takes away a valuable resource for investigating potential crimes but runs counter to creating a more transparent and accountable society. At present, details of dissolved companies are held for 20 years. The register is a vital source for investigative journalists, and has been used to shed light on a host of scandals including revealing the past of thrice-bankrupt Dominic Chappell, who bought department store BHS in 2015 and oversaw its collapse this year. It also played a role in exposing the problems which led to the failure of MG Rover, Britains last domestically-owned car manufacturer, and the 1995 fall of Barings Bank after unauthorised fraudulent trading by an employee. Even more importantly, the service is essential for law enforcers such as the Serious Fraud Office and the National Crime Agency both of which are understood to have serious concerns. Many fraudsters repeatedly open and close businesses as they commit their crimes, and records of this activity could be lost if the proposals go ahead. Britain has taken a lead on the international fight against corruption but there are fears this could be undermined by any changes. And moves to hide information would also undermine new Prime Minister Theresa Mays promise to make corporations act in the public interest. The proposals come after a barrage of complaints by businesspeople who claim they have a right to have their past forgotten. They also argue Companies House is breaching data protection laws, although it has not yet consulted the Information Commissioners Office to discuss this. Companies House could not be reached for comment last night. But a spokesman told The Times: We are currently considering the correct period for which records of dissolved companies should be kept on the register. A U.S. judge who once came under assault from Donald Trump over his Mexican heritage on Tuesday rejected the Republican presidential candidate's bid to throw out a lawsuit related to the now-defunct Trump University. Judge Gonzalo Curiel said in a written ruling that there was a 'genuine issue of material fact' as to whether Trump knowingly participated in a scheme to cheat the students, who paid up to $35,000 to learn Trump's real estate investing 'secrets' from his 'hand-picked' instructors. Separately, Curiel rejected an effort to make public video of Trump testifying under oath, which will protect the the White House candidate from having it included in attack ads. Judge Gonzalo Curiel said there was a 'genuine issue of material fact' as to whether Trump knowingly participated in a scheme to cheat the students and let the case go forward Trump set off an uproar in May when he accused Curiel of being biased against him because the judge is of Mexican descent. The candidate said his pledge to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico could poison the federal judge, who was appointed to his current position by President Barack Obama, against him. Although Curiel has Mexican heritage, he was born in Indiana. In a July 22 hearing, Curiel tentatively denied the bid by Trump to dismiss the lawsuit in California, one of three over the Trump University venture that students suing him Trump's lawyers had argued that the lawsuit, filed in 2013 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, should be dismissed because the New York real estate mogul, though personally involved in developing the concept and curriculum, relied on others to manage Trump University by the time the plaintiffs purchased seminars. Curiel rejected an effort to make public video of Trump testifying under oath, which will protect the the White House candidate from having snippets of his testimony included in attack ads - a win for his campaign Trump's lawyers claimed that references in marketing materials to 'secrets,' 'hand-picked' instructors or 'university' were sales 'puffery' and there was no evidence Trump intended to defraud students. Curiel said Tuesday there was extensive evidence Trump had not personally met, interviewed or selected Trump University instructors and allowed the case to go on. A refugee on Nauru has been pictured clutching her bloody head after two local men attacked her with a metal pole outside her house. Marjan, a woman from Iran, was left with eight stitches after the brutal assault, which is one a number of violent incidents recorded by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch in a report into living conditions on the island. Refugees and asylum seekers say they are being attacked, intimidated and harassed on a regular basis on the tiny Pacific island. Marjan, a refugee from Iran, after she was reportedly attacked in front of her house by two local men last year An asylum seeker shows an injury which Amnesty International says was sustained in an attack by a Nauruan local About 1200 men, woman and children asylum seekers are detained on Nauru as part of Australia's offshore detention program. The human rights groups secretly visited the island for 12 days last month, interviewing a total of 84 asylum seekers, all of whom reported violence and intimidation directed at them or family members by Nauruans. More than 20 of those interviewed said they had been attacked by locals, some at knifepoint, and six woman described sexual assault or harassment, including attempted rape. One woman quit her job after other employees kept touching her and the threat of violence forced one young woman to marry for protection. 'After I left the camp, I felt very unsafe, I could not go out. I decided to marry a man who is 15 years older, just to have protection,' she said. 'If you are alone, everything is a struggle. At least he could go shopping or accompany me. Now he is in the hospital and I have to rely on my case manager if I need to go out of the house.' A report from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch has found asylum seekers kept on Nauru are regularly assaulted and intimidated by locals Asylum seekers said their complaints to police were ignored. Refugees transferred to the Australian-funded detention centre are initially housed in cramped vinyl tents where temperatures can soar to 50 degrees Celsius, according to the report. Since October 2015, however, Nauru has allowed greater freedom of movement around the island. But many asylum seekers are afraid to leave their accommodation, particularly at night. Refugees are housed in cramped vinyl tents where temperatures can soar to 50 degrees Celsius Dr. Anna Neistat, senior director for research at Amnesty International, who investigated conditions on the island with Michael Bochenek, from Human Rights Watch, said rarely had she seen refugees kept in such conditions. 'It is essentially like an open-air prison for these refugees and people seeking asylum,' she said. 'I've conducted over 60 investigations into human rights abuses in countries like Afghanistan, Syria, Zimbabwe, China but few other countries go to such lengths to deliberately inflict suffering on people searching for safety and freedom.' She accused the Australian Government of designing 'a system of deliberate abuse' in Nauru to deter asylum seekers trying to reach Australia by boat. A spokesperson from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said the government 'strongly refutes many of the allegations in the report.' 'We would strongly encourage Amnesty International to contact the Department before airing allegations of this kind,' the spokesperson said. Asylum seekers transferred to the island are kept in tents before they can be resettled in the community The report also raised concerns about the quality of medical treatment and access to mental health support for refugees held at the detention facility. Basic medical supplies were missing from the island's hospital and specialized care was absent, researchers found. 'Interviewees described long delays while suffering with serious conditions, without any information, before eventually being transferred to hospitals in Papua New Guinea or Australia for tests or surgery,' the report said. A woman in serious pain because she underwent genital mutilation in her home country reportedly did not receive medical attention for five months. Nauru's hospital emergency department. Asylum seekers have reported that basic medical supplies are missing from the hospital International Health and Medical Services (IHMS), a company hired by the Australian government, is the main health service provider on the island. It has 'strongly refuted' the allegations. The human rights groups have called on the Australian government to immediately resettle the refugees in Australia and close the Nauru offshore processing centre. Australia's offshore detention program on Nauru and Manus Island cost taxpayers $1.1 billion in the 2014-14 financial year. There are about 1200 men, woman and children asylum seekers detained on Nauru An Alabama woman was sentenced to 125 Montgomery woman was sentenced to 125 days in jail for causing the death of her three-month-old pit bull puppy in June. Jessica Pruette, who worked as a veterinary technician for a short time at a local veterinary office, was found guilty of cruelty to animals during a bench trial last week, according to AL.com. Robert Bryant, a Montgomery Humane Society Officer, said he responded to the 23-year-old's residence on June 1. Alabama woman Jessica Pruette, 23, was found guilty of cruelty to animals and sentenced to 125 days in jail for 125 days in jail for causing the death of her pit bull puppy GRAPHIC IMAGE: The puppy (pictured) was discovered in Pruette's yard after police received an anonymous tip about a dead puppy in a backyard. The puppy's tether was found wrapped around a stick and it appeared that the dog had strangled to death officials said Police received an anonymous tip about a dead puppy in a backyard. Bryant said the puppy had been left unattended on a slip lead that would get tighter around the puppy's neck as he tried to get free, AL.com reported. The puppy's tether was found wrapped around a stick and Bryant said it appeared that the dog had strangled to death. Human Society investigator, Denton Hawk, told AL.com that if someone does tether their dogs in Montgomery inhumanely they 'could wind up in jail'. Bryant said Pruette told investigators the puppy was only left unattended for about an hour, but he believes it could have been longer, according to AL.com. He said that the dog probably died about three hours before police responded to the home. Pruette, who worked as a veterinary technician for a short time at a local veterinary office, was found guilty of cruelty to animals during a bench trial last week She gave up another dog to the Humane Society in December 2015. She told the shelter that she did not have enough time for it On the 94-degree day the puppy was 'illegally tethered', and had no access to water or shelter and it's pan was overturned, according to WSFA 12. Pruette gave up another dog to the Humane Society in December 2015. She told the shelter that she did not have enough time for it, according to News Channel 10. Pruette was charged under Alabama's law, Cruelty to a Dog or Cat Second Degree, which is a Class A misdemeanor and a person found guilty can be sentenced to fines or imprisonment. The puppy's body was taken to Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine for a necropsy, but the results have not come back yet, Hawk told AL.com. Pruette is currently appealing her case. Human Society investigator, Denton Hawk (pictured), said the puppy's body was been taken to Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine for a necropsy, but the results have not come back yet Anti-Israel Human Rights Watch Accidentally Admits: Israel Does Not Occupy Gaza | Main | Fatah Claims Murders as Accomplishments August 03, 2016 Moderate Hamas Media Favorite Calls for Small Stabs to All Parts of Israel A top operative of Hamas and news media favorite named Ghazi Hamad has recommended small stabs to all parts of Israel? as a strategy against the Jewish state. Hamad is currently the deputy foreign minister of Hamas, the U.S.-designated terrorist group that rules the Gaza Strip. According to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a non-profit organization that translates Arab and Persian media, Hamad suggested a war of attrition against Israel in an Op-Ed he wrote for the Alwatanvoice.com, an online Palestinian news outlet based in the Gaza Strip. Hamada former spokesperson for Hamashas frequently been treated as a credible source by many media outlets. A Lexis-Nexis search showed that The New York Times alone quoted Hamadoften uncriticallyno less than 18 times between 2006 and 2016. Despite, or perhaps because of the frequency with which he has been quoted, some U.S. news outlets seemingly have been taken in by the Hamas operative. In a Sept. 12, 2006 story, The New York Times uncritically quoted Hamads false claim that the charter of Israels conservative Likud Party calls for an Israel on both banks of the Jordan River.? The Times offered a correction eight days later (Dont Bank on Hamads Word,? CAMERA, Sept. 20, 2006). In yet another example of the media giving Hamad undue credibility, Edmund Sanders, The Los Angeles Times Jerusalem bureau chief, wrote that Hamad was considered a leading moderate voice in Hamas? in a June 8, 2012 interview (LA Times Soft-Pedals Hamas Terrorist Agenda,? CAMERA, June 20, 2012). But it seems that Sanders may have been confusing moderation with pragmatism; as MEMRI reported, Hamads ultimate objective is precisely what Hamas spells out in its charterthe destruction of the Jewish state and the genocide of its citizens. In his Altwatanvoice Op-Ed, Hamad criticized Hamas boasting? about future large-scale wars against the Jewish state. MEMRI noted that Hamad said, Wars do not require words, speeches, or predictionsrather they require observation, understanding, and judgement.? In place of fiery rhetoric, the Hamas operative advocated smaller, more strategic attacks against Israelis. Hamad exhorted: Throughout history, and according to experience, rules and principles dictate how the resistance movement operates, and it does so based on sporadic attacks and retreat, striking at the underbelly, and avoiding direct conflict as much as possiblemeaning that we must conduct 'guerrilla warfare.'? Hamad clarified that although he believed in avoiding an open war with Israel, he did not [want] to avoid conflict, but rather to achieve better results in fighting the enemy.? Perhaps anticipating criticism for his stance from possible Hamas rivals, Hamad wrote, Before anyone [hastens] to formulate exaggerated slogans about me, let me reiterate that resistance is a legitimate and undisputed right.? As CAMERA has noted (see, for example New York Times Magazine Cheerleads for Terror,? March 20, 2013), resistance? is a term frequently used by Palestinian Arabs to describeand justifyanti-Jewish violence, virtually always criminal under international law. In his commentary, Hamad pointed out one way to stab? Israel: exhaust it and place it under intense public pressure, while the price that the Palestinian side must pay [for guerilla warfare] is less harmful and painful.? That intense public pressure? against Israel is aided by news media too willing to see a man advocating strategic terrorist attacks as opposed to immediate full-scale warfare as a moderate.? Posted by SD at August 3, 2016 12:49 PM Guidelines for posting This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material. Post a comment Penthouse magazine has featured Utah's governor on its latest cover - in an unusual way. An irreverent headline, which reads: 'Utah's governor wants to handle your penis', is a hit directed at Gary Herbert. The Republican governor declared pornography a public health crisis in a resolution in April. Penthouse has published a story criticizing the text, which outlines the fight against the 'pornography epidemic' - and made sure to mention Herbert's name in a prime spot. Scroll down for video An irreverent headline on Penthouse's latest cover (pictured), which reads: 'Utah's governor wants to handle your penis', is a hit directed at Republican Gary Herbert The cover, which advertises Penthouse's 'shameless issue', features model Noelle Monique with the Stars And Stripes in the background. Utah's resolution, signed by Herbert and sponsored by Senator Todd Weiler and Representative Curtis Oda, claims that pornography is 'linked to lessening desire in young men to marry'. It also accuses pornography of causing 'dissatisfaction in marriage and infidelity', and to have 'a detrimental effect on the family unit'. The text proclaims the need for 'education, prevention, research, and policy change; to address the 'pornography epidemic' in Utah and in the United States. Herbert (pictured) signed a resolution in April, which proclaimed pornography a 'public health crisis' and vowed to combat the 'pornography epidemic' Larry Flynt, the founder and publisher of adult magazine Hustler, sent free copies to members of Utah's State Legislature in June to protest against the resolution. Penthouse followed suit by sending Herbert's office a copy of its latest issue, Fox 13 reported. Being called out by Penthouse amounts to being 'on the right side of history', a spokesman for Herbert told the station. 'The fact that the industry feels so threatened by a non-binding resolution meant to raise awareness of this problem shows you just how desperate they can be,' he added. British fighter jets have destroyed one of Saddam Husseins former palaces in Iraq that was being used as an Islamic State headquarters. The RAF used the largest bomb in its arsenal to target the site in the northern city of Mosul where foreign terrorist recruits were being trained. A pair of Tornadoes dropped the 2,000lb Enhanced Paveway III bombs that are dubbed the bunker buster because of their strength. Scroll down for video British fighter jets have destroyed one of Saddam Husseins former palaces in Iraq that was being used as an Islamic State headquarters The 14ft-long bombs have warheads four times larger than the Paveway IV laser guided bombs usually carried by RAF jets in the fight against Islamic State. They are designed to penetrate heavily protected bunkers and positions and explode inside. Crews can guide the huge bombs, which entered service in 2002, to targets via lasers or GPS. The Ministry of Defence said extensive surveillance had established that Islamic State were using the palace built by the former dictator as a major headquarters and training centre for foreign terrorist recruits. The complex, sat in a large secure compound next to the Tigris, included not just the main palace building, used as an accommodation and meeting venue by the terrorists, but also a number of more discreet outbuildings used for command and control, training, internal security and repression, a spokesman said. The RAF used the largest bomb in its arsenal to target the site in the northern city of Mosul A pair of Tornadoes dropped the 2,000lb Enhanced Paveway III bombs that are dubbed the bunker buster because of their strength A large coalition air package drawn from several nations conducted a carefully coordinated attack on the complex on the afternoon of Monday 1 August. The British contribution was a pair of Tornados, armed with the largest guided bombs in the RAFs inventory, the 2000lb Enhanced Paveway III, which were used to target first the headquarters buildings, then a security centre. Initial analysis indicates that the coalition mission was successful. The MoD did not estimate the number of casualties. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: Daesh has been losing followers and territory for months, and emphatic strikes like this show that we and the coalition will not waver. The Ministry of Defence said extensive surveillance had established that Islamic State were using the palace built by the former dictator Daesh fighters, both foreign and home grown, can see that they are targets inside this cult. Saddam Hussein built the palace in 1994 on the site with three lakes and man-made waterfalls. It included hardened underground bunkers and warehouses. A 1999 US State Department study estimated the dictator had spent at least $2 billion building nearly 50 palaces since the 1991 Gulf War. He went on the building spree after getting agreements from UN weapons inspectors to restrict visits to his personal residences. North Korea has fired a ballistic missile into the sea just 155 miles off northern Japan after threatening 'physical action' over a US anti-missile deal with Seoul. Pyongyang launched two Rodong intermediate-range rockets at the same time, but one exploded on take-off, US military experts say. The move sparked outrage in Tokyo and ramped up already heightened tensions with the United States and South Korea. The launches came after North Korea threatened 'physical action' in response to the planned deployment of a sophisticated US anti-missile system in South Korea, and just weeks before the start of annual joint South Korea-US military exercises. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspects a drill for a ballistic missile launch by the Hwasong artillery units of the Korean People's Army in undated photo released in July Japan said the one missile had landed 155 miles off its northern coast and within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 'It's a serious threat against our country's security,' Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters. 'This is an outrageous act that cannot be tolerated.' The United States condemned what it called a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology. 'This provocation only serves to increase the international community's resolve to counter (North Korea's) prohibited activities,' said Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross. US Strategic Command said the two missiles were launched from a site in western North Korea at around 10.50pm GMT last night. 'Initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan.' Japan said the one missile had landed 155 miles off its northern coast and within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone It was the first time since 1998 that a North Korean missile had landed inside Japan's EEZ and top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said there had been no advance warning. 'From the perspective of the safety of aircraft and ships, it is an extremely problematic, dangerous act,' Suga said. The Rodong is a scaled-up Scud variant with a maximum range of around 800 miles. Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile tests this year in defiance of UN sanctions imposed after its fourth nuclear test in January. On July 19 it launched three ballistic missiles - including one Rodong - in an exercise that the North said simulated a nuclear strike on the South. That came just days after Washington and Seoul announced an agreement to deploy the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system in South Korea by the end of next year -- a move condemned by Pyongyang and also vehemently opposed by China and Russia. And tensions on the divided Korean peninsula are also building up ahead of a large-scale South Korea-US military exercise that begins on August 22 and involves tens of thousands of troops. Despite the threat from North Korea, many people from the South oppose moves to deploy a US missile defence system Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to reporters at his official residence in Tokyo following a ballistic missile launch by North Korea North Korea says the annual drills are a provocative rehearsal for invasion, while Washington and Seoul insist they are purely defensive in nature. 'Our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad,' Ross said Wednesday. 'We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation,' he added. There are nearly 30,00 US troops permanently stationed in South Korea. North Korea-US tensions had already been stoked by Pyongyang's fury at Washington's recent decision to personally target leader Kim with sanctions related to human rights abuses. Pyongyang has repeatedly warned of pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets there and elsewhere, although the main focus of its nuclear weapons programme is to develop a credible strike threat against the US mainland. Since its fourth nuclear test, North Korea has claimed a series of technical breakthroughs for its weapons programme. It said it had miniaturised a nuclear warhead and successfully tested an engine designed for an inter-continental ballistic missile that could reach the US mainland. He was sentenced to five years behind bars and is eligible for parole The 53-year-old was also found with 774 pornographic photos He sexually abused two boys ages six and nine between 1972 and 1995 A man who was caught with 774 pornographic photos of young boys while facing child sexual abuse charges has been sentenced to five years jail. The 53-year-old man was found guilty of seven offences throughout the north-west of Western Australia, which included the city of Geraldton and an Indigenous community. The man was on bail facing charges over the indecent abuse of two young boys between 1972 and 1995 when police were tipped-off about the explicit photos in March, reported the ABC. The West Australian man was facing charges for sexually abusing two young children when he was caught with 774 pornographic photos (stock photo) One victim, a six-years-old boy was assaulted until the age of 16 and the second male victim, began to be abused at the age of nine. Despite pleading guilty to possessing the pornographic photos, Judge Ronald Edward Birmingham found the man to have no remorse. 'The conduct was particularly degrading to young children and impacted greatly on their lives, they were vulnerable young boys,' Judge Birmingham said. The perpetrator was 14 when he first abused a boy, the court heard, and his excuse after being caught with the explicit photos in March was 'rubbished' by the judge. '[I was] thinking of going into a nudist colony and wanted to see what it would be like,' the perpetrator explained after being caught. The newly elected Queensland Police Union general secretary has warned of serious injuries 'or worse' if officers are threatened with disciplinary action should they draw their weapons. Mick Barnes fears for the safety of police because of the growing trend of action against them, particularly when they are faced with ice-fuelled volatile situations. It comes after a magistrate refused on Tuesday to drop serious charges against Senior Constable Stephen Patrick Flanagan after he allegedly aimed a gun at a speeding motorist last year at Longreach. Writing in the Queensland Police Union journal Mr Barnes said two recent incidents where officers faced sanctions for pulling out their weapons means others could now hesitate when in dangerous positions. Scroll down for video In one high-profile case dating back to May last year, Senior Constable Stephen Patrick Flanagan was charged after allegedly drawing his gun on a speeding motorist at Longreach Newly elected Queensland Police Union general secretary Mick Barnes fears for the safety of police because of the growing trend of action against them after they pull out their guns He claimed that second-guessing could have serious consequences for police and members of the public. 'The result of these presentations has seen many officers questioning what has happened in the aftermath of officers purely following their training,' he wrote. 'This questioning may cause hesitation, which in turn will quite likely cause someone, an officer or a member of the public, to be injured or worse. 'I urge members to act according to the circumstances at the time.' In one high-profile case dating back to May last year, Senior Constable Flanagan was charged after allegedly drawing his gun on a speeding motorist. The footage, shown on the ABC, led to the 45-year-old officer's suspension from the force. He was charged with one count each of common assault and deprivation of liberty after the incident near Longreach in the Queensland outback in May 2015. The suspended officer lost a legal bid to stop charges against him going ahead. Mr Barnes referred to an alert issued two years by the Police Commissioner in which officers were urged to be 'hyper vigilant in the course of their duties', over the threat of terror attacks. According to the new police union boss in Queensland officers may now hesitate to draw their weapons 'which in turn will quite likely cause someone, an officer or a member of the public, to be injured or worse' Mr Barnes said officers had been directed to wear their firearms after a heightened terror alert following shootings in New South Wales and Victorian police establishments 'Officers were directed to wear their firearms and even the Commissioner started wearing his,' he added. 'These calls for a heightened alert may have originally been based on a threat of terrorism, however policing establishments in New South Wales and Victoria have also been targeted with gunfire. Dylan Voller could still be strapped in a restraint chair with a spit hood covering his face because he is now 18 and serving out a sentence in an adult prison. Voller shot into the spotlight last Monday when he was shown in CCTV footage on ABC's Four Corners program being assaulted by guards, forcibly stripped naked, and tear-gassed while incarcerated at Darwin's Don Dale juvenile detention centre. The shocking investigation prompted the establishment of a royal commission, along with the immediate ban of spit hoods and restraint chairs for juveniles until the seven-month inquiry is completed. But Voller, who is serving time in the Darwin Correctional Facility for car theft and assault, will not benefit from the temporary suspensions and could still be locked up in the restraint chair, according to chief minister Adam Giles. Scroll down for video Dylan Voller could still be strapped in a restraint chair with a spit hood (pictured) because he is now 18 Voller was at the centre of a shocking Four Corners investigation into abuse at Darwin's Don Dale juvenile detention centre. The program prompted the temporary ban of the restraint chair and spit hood for juveniles, but that will not apply for Voller who is now an adult in prison Mr Giles told The Guardian that whether or not Voller could be subjected to the same treatment seen on the Four Corners expose was an 'operational matter.' 'How old is Dylan now?' Giles told the publication. 'Well he's an adult and he's in an adult centre. Adult policies.' Voller's lawyers are hoping to bring forward his parole hearing date, set down for August, to as early as this week. 'The grounds we're bringing this application on is that Dylan fears for his safety in that correctional centre,' said Alex Tighe, a member of Voller's legal team. Yesterday he reported to his lawyers that a guard told him 'You deserved everything you got in those videos'. Three of the guards in the adult prison now were officers at Don Dale. 'He's an adult and he's in an adult centre': NT chief minister Adam Giles said Voller would be at the mercy of Darwin Correctional Facility, where the use of restraint chairs and spit hoods remains an 'operational matter' Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Adam Giles said Voller would be dealt with under adult policies Voller's lawyers are hoping to bring forward his parole hearing date amidst fears for his safety Last Tuesday, Voller's sister Kira wept as she told ABC local radio her brother had lost hope. 'The last time I went to visit him there was no smile, there was no emotion, there was nothing, I couldn't give him anything to be positive about and that really broke me,' she said. 'I want him to know he's still a person and people still love him and he still has hope for a life.' On Monday it was announced that the Royal Commission will be conducted by two commissioners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda and retired Supreme Court judge Margaret White. Former Northern Territory chief justice Brian Ross Martin had originally taken on the role, but he resigned following accusations of a conflict of interest over his daughter's employment as an adviser to the former NT attorney-general. The inquiry is set to begin by September, and the co-commissioners will be expected to report back to government by March 31, 2017. Voller was shown in CCTV footage on ABC's Four Corners program allegedly being assaulted by guards Advertisement A sinkhole has grown 11 metres in diameter in 24 hours after it opened up in an elderly couple's backyard in Queensland. Lynn and Ray McKay were forced to spend a night in a hotel on Tuesday after their backyard at their Ipswich home, west of Brisbane, started to disappear down a century-old mine shaft. Initially the sinkhole was only a metre in diameter but it had grown to 12 metres by Wednesday morning, The Queensland Times reported. Scroll down for video A sinkhole has grown 11 metres in diameter in 24 hours after it opened up in an elderly couple's backyard in Queensland Lynn and Ray McKay were forced to spend a night in a hotel on Tuesday night after their backyard at their Ipswich home, west of Brisbane, started to disappear down a century-old mine shaft Overnight engineers watched over the shrinking backyard in Coal Street in Basin Pocket, a suburb of Ipswich, and they have started drawing water from the 100-metre shaft. No houses are under threat but the McKays could lose their clothesline, 9News reported. Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said the backyard was sitting over a disused mine shaft and he was confident the problem could be solved. 'It's an exploratory shaft that goes down about 100 metres and there's no need to panic about a neighbourhood falling in, and we will take all the steps to get Lynn and Ray back in their house,' Mr Pisasale told AAP. Initially the sinkhole was only a metre in diameter but it had grown to 12 metres by Wednesday morning. Pictured are the McKays Overnight engineers watched over the shrinking backyard in Coal Street in Basin Pocket, a suburb of Ipswich, and they have started drawing water from the 100-metre shaft Mr Pisasale said the size of the sinkhole was always going to get worse before it settled but the McKays and their neighbours need not panic. 'It was put in anywhere between 1903 and 1920. You can see this shaft was filled up with rubbish and bottles and whoever did it [fill it], didn't follow very good practices,' Mr Pisasale said. 'It's the mines department's responsibility.' Mr Pisasale said it was an old part of Ipswich and the mine was about 40 metres from where it had been originally marked on the council's town planning maps. Footage has captured the moment chunks of the ground have broken off and fallen into the swirling waters in the sinkhole. Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said the backyard was sitting over a disused mine shaft and he was confident the problem could be solved paid $400m to Iran as part of a failed arms deal as they also lifted n The US secretly flew $400 million stashed inside wooden pallets out to Iran as four Americans were released from Tehran - but the Obama administration insists it was not a ransom payment. The pallets, which were stuffed with euros, Swiss francs and other foreign currencies, arrived in Tehran on January 17. That same day, four US citizens were released in exchange for seven Iranians held in the United States. Officials denied any link between the payment and the prisoner exchange, saying the deal was part of a $1.7 billion settlement to resolve a failed 1979 arms deal, the Wall Street Journal reports. Bur critics claim that the clandestine multi-million dollar payment was part of the hostage negotiations. They also point to the fact that President Barack Obama failed to make any mention of the $400 million when he announced the prisoner exchange. Scroll down for video Critics have accused the Obama administration of paying a $1.7 billion 'ransom' for the hostages (President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden speaking last year about the Iran nuclear deal) 'With the nuclear deal done, prisoners released, the time was right to resolve this dispute as well,' President Barack Obama said on January 17. Iranians had demanded the return of the $400 million which was paid to the Pentagon by Iran, shortly before the fall of Iran's last monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to purchase US fighter jets. Officials admit that Iranian negotiators had demanded cash over the exchange to show they had won something from the US in negotiations. But they insist that negotiations on the prisoner exchange, and the failed arms deal settlement were completely separate. 'As we've made clear, the negotiations over the settlement of an outstanding claimwere completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home,' State Department spokesman John Kirby said. US officials admit they realized the United States was going to lose its case over the arms deal in The Hague, where Iran was seeking more than $10 billion compensation. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, Arkansas, accused the Obama administration of paying a $1.7 billion 'ransom' for the hostages. Trump responded to the report on Wednesday, blaming his rival Hillary Clinton - claiming she started the talks when she was secretary of state between 2009 and 2013 President Obama sent $400 million to Iran last January as four American prisoners were released from Tehran, US officials have revealed (Pictured is Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian who had been held by Iran since July 2014) Former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati (left) and pastor Saeed Abedini (right) were among the four men released in Janaury They have also expressed concerns the money could be used to fund terrorist groups such as Lebanese militia Hezbollah or it could be funding Assad's regime in Syria. Local press reports also quoted Iranian defense officials describing the money as a ransom payment. The Obama administration has refused to say how the $1.7 billion was paid. But officials say the $400 million was paid in foreign currency, because transactions with Iran in US dollars is illegal in the United States. It was such a large amount of cash that the US was forced to transfer the money into the central banks of the Switzerland and the Netherlands. Once the dollars were converted to foreign currency, it was stacked in the wooden pallets and sent off to Iran. The cargo plane carrying the money arrived in Tehrans Mehrabad airport on January 17 - the same day the American detainees were released. Negotiations for their release began back in 2014 with Switzerlands foreign minister hosting the discussions at the InterContinental Hotel, Geneva, on behalf of the US which has not had diplomatic interests in Iran since closing its Tehran embassy following the 1979 hostage crisis. Sanctions against Iran were lifted in January in a deal credited for bringing about the prisoner exchange (Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in January) US Secretary of State John Kerry, hailed the new deal with Iran which successfully resolved a decades-old failed arms deal, is pictured talking with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Talks began picking up pace in July 2015 when Iran agreed to restrain its nuclear program in exchange for the international sanctions against it being lifted. US and European officials told the Wall Street Journal the negotiations began by focusing on a straight forward prisoner swap but grew to envelop compensation for the failed arms deal. Eventually, Obama agreed to pay the $400 million and the four Americans were released from a Tehran prison last January. Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter, had been held by Iran since July 2014, when he was arrested and convicted of supposed espionage offences. U.S. officials confirmed that 39-year-old Rezaian, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, pastor Saeed Abedini and a fourth man, all of whom have U.S.-Iranian dual nationality, had been freed. Pastor Saeed Abedni, was jailed for three years on charges of undermining national security, and former US Marine Amir Hekmati, who is serving 10 years for supposedly cooperating with hostile governments, were also released. A fourth man, Nosratollah Khosavi-Roodsari, was released but chose to stay in Iran. Little is known about his background or his arrest. The three Americans returning home flew via Switzerland before being taken to a base in Germany for medical treatment. Meanwhile a fifth American - student Matthew Trevithick - was also freed, but this was unrelated to the prisoner swap, which saw seven Iranian prisoners released or pardoned by the United States. A fifth American, student Matthew Trevithick (right), was also freed in January but this was unrelated to the prisoner swap A US official told the Washington Post at the time that 'Iranians wanted a goodwill gesture' in return, leading to the release of seven Iranian prisoners. Iranian state media named the men as Nader Modanlo, Bahram Mechanic, Khosrow Afghahi, Arash Ghahraman, Tooraj Faridi, Nima Golestaneh and Ali Saboonchi. All of the men were joint U.S.-Iranian citizens with the exception of Golestaneh who studied in Vermont but never gained citizenship. Golestaneh was serving a jail sentence after admitting trying to steal millions of dollars of U.S. company software for the Iranian government. Modanlo, Ghahreman and Saboonchi were all serving sentences for illegally supplying Iran with technology in violation of the U.S. trade bans. Mechanic, Faridi and Afghahi, all of whom were arrested as part of the same alleged conspiracy, were also accused of violating the trade bans but were awaiting trial before being released. Rezaian, who was born in California, was convicted in closed proceedings last year after being charged with espionage. The Post and the U.S. government denied the accusations, as did Rezaian. He was sentenced to an undisclosed amount of time in jail. The reporter, who was the Post's Tehran correspondent was originally detained with his wife in July 2014, but she was released on bail in October that year. Former Marine Amir Hekmati, originally from Flint, Michigan, was arrested in Iran on espionage charges in 2011. In January, US officials announced they were lifting 30 years of sanctions against Iran His family said he has lost significant weight in jail and has trouble breathing, raising fears he could have contracted tuberculosis. Mr Hekmati went to Iran to visit family and spend time with his ailing grandmother. After his arrest, his family says they were told to keep the matter quiet. He was sentenced to death in 2012. After a higher court ordered a retrial, he was sentenced in 2014 to 10 years in prison. Pastor Saeed Abedini, from Boise, Idaho, was detained in 2012 for compromising national security after he was found to be preaching Christianity. He was sentenced in 2013 to eight years in prison. President Barack Obama met his wife and children in 2015. There are claims he was beaten in Iranian prison. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump criticized the deal at the time as not being fair to America. According to The Guardian , Trump told a rally in New Hampshire: 'They're getting seven people, so essentially they get $150 billion plus seven, and we get four.' The announcement of the prisoners' release came - and was likely directly linked to - the imminent lifting of sanctions imposed on the Islamic republic. 'Implementation day' of the nuclear deal agreed last year marks the biggest re-entry of a former pariah state onto the global economic stage since the end of the Cold War. It also marks a turning point in the hostility between Iran and the United States that has shaped the Middle East since 1979. Under the deal, Iran has agreed to stop enriching uranium, which world powers feared could be used to make a nuclear weapon. Once sanctions are lifted, Iran plans to swiftly ramp up its exports of oil. Global companies that have been barred from doing business there are likely to set up shop almost immediately. John Kerry hailed the lifting of sanctions following a nuclear deal, saying: 'The entire world is safer because the threat of the nuclear weapon has been reduced' Iran's transport minister said the country had already agreed a deal with Airbus to buy 114 planes after the sanctions are removed. Secretary of State John Kerry had praised the prisoner release as an improvement in relations between the two countries. Kerry said Iran had met its obligations to the U.N. atomic watchdog and that the sanctions have now been lifted as per promises made in the landmark nuclear agreement. In a statement, Kerry said: 'Iran has undertaken significant steps that many, and I do mean many, people doubted would ever come to pass. 'And that should be recognized, even though the full measure of this achievement can only be realized by assuring continued full compliance in the coming years. 'Today marks the moment that the Iran nuclear agreement transitions from an ambitious set of promises on paper to measurable action in progress. 'Today, as a result of the actions taken since last July, the United States, our friends and allies in the Middle East, and the entire world are safer because the threat of the nuclear weapon has been reduced.' Since the prisoner exchange, Iran's Revolutionary Guard has arrested three more Iranian-Americans. 'Madness': Dr Michael Gannon was scathing about a 62-year-old woman gave birth to a child A top doctor has blasted a 62-year-old Australian woman's decision to give birth to a child as 'madness... selfish and wrong'. Dr Michael Gannon, the president of the Australian Medical Association, made the scathing remarks as other experts said 'no IVF clinic (in the country) would do this'. The Tasmanian mother gave birth by C-section at 34 weeks at Frances Perry House private hospital in Melbourne on Monday. She remains in hospital recovering and was supported by her 78-year-old husband throughout the procedure. In a series of scathing tweets on Wednesday morning, Dr Gannon - an obstetrician and gynaecologist - said bodies were 'not designed to have kids in 60s'. 'Anyone thought ahead to its teens? Selfish, wrong.' Scroll down for video A 63-year-old woman (pictured with her 78-year-old husband) has become Australia's oldest new mother after giving birth to a healthy baby girl in Melbourne on Monday Experts said the woman likely had an embryo put in overseas, rather than in Australia. 'No IVF clinic in Australia would do this,' Professor Michael Chapman from the Fertility Society told Radio 6PR. Monash Health clinical director Dr Lyn Burmeister said Australian clinics generally have age restrictions. Hers treats patients up to 53-years-old. It is very rare for clinics to be approached by women in their 60s, with Dr Burmeister saying she believed some aged up to 55 may have been treated in Australia. 'We can't stop patients going overseas... We can't stop a woman getting on a plane and putting an embryo in, in Poland or India,' she said. City Fertility CEO Adnan Catakovic could only remember one approach recently from a woman in her 60s who wanted to be a surrogate. 'The medical risks of a 60-year-old delivering a baby to term is huge,' he said. The Tasmanian mother had undergone many failed IVF procedures over 'several years' according to Seven News. The woman had undergone many failed IVF procedures over 'several years', but was only successful with the help of a donor embryo which was donated overseas The woman gave birth by c-section at 34-weeks in Frances Perry House private hospital in Melbourne on Monday AUSTRALIAN MOTHERS FROM 2003-2013 By Australian Associated Press The average age of women who gave birth rose from 29.5 years to 30.1 years The average age of first-time mothers rose from 27.6 years to 28.6 years The oldest mother to give birth rose from 53 years to 56 years. However, a 60-year-old woman had a baby in 2010 and a 62-year-old broke the Australian record in 2016. The number of women aged 40 and over who gave birth rose from 8000 (3.2 per cent) to 13,389 (4.4 per cent) The number of women aged under 20 who gave birth fell from 11,617 (4.6 per cent) to 10,186 (3.3 per cent) The number of mothers aged 40 and over has exceeded the number of teenage mothers since 2010 and continues to rise. Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Advertisement She was only successful with the help of a donor embryo which was donated overseas. It is the couple's first child, the Seven Network reported. The broadcaster said the child was born premature. The mother will remain in hospital until they are well enough to return to Tasmania. Hospital CEO Michael Rozek said: 'We understand the huge interest in this story but the family has advised that they are not seeking any publicity now, or in the future. 'The hospital will respect the familys wishes and uphold their right to privacy.' Her age was originally reported as 63, but the hospital released a statement confirming she is 62. The Australian record for the oldest mother was held by a woman who gave birth to her first child at 60 in 2010. Gold Coast woman Anthea Nicholas is believed to be the oldest Australian woman to naturally conceive after she gave birth at 50 in 2011. The current world record is held by Romanian woman Adriana Iliescu. The frail pensioner shocked the world when she announced the birth of her IVF baby on January 16, 2005, when she was 66 years and 230 days old. The current world record is held by Romanian woman Adriana Iliescu. She was 66 when she gave birth to her daughter in 2005 The frail pensioner shocked the world when she announced the birth of her IVF baby on January 16, 2005, when she was 66 years and 230 days old In TV show House of Cards Frank Underwood chose his wife as VP The leftist politician chose his wife as a symbol of equality Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega picked his wife on Tuesday to run as his vice presidential candidate ahead of November elections, in a vote in which the leftist politician and his party are heavily favored to win a third consecutive term. Ortega, a 70-year-old former guerrilla leader, made the announcement as he registered his own candidacy for re-election. He has previously described the 'joint government' with Rosario Murillo as a symbol of equality between the sexes. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega (L) has picked his wife, First Lady Rosario Murillo, to be his running mate The leftist politician is seeking reelection in November's elections and described the 'joint government' with Rosario Murillo as a symbol of equality between the sexes 'We don't doubt that (the vice presidential candidate) had to be a woman, and who better than the partner who has already been tested with work and proved to be very efficient and disciplined?' said Ortega, cheered by dozens of supporters. Murillo previously served as the government's chief spokeswoman. The Nov. 6 vote will also elect Nicaragua's 90-member national assembly. In the hit TV show House of Cards, Frank Underwood chose his wife Carrie as his running mate In House of Cards the Underwoods are driven all the way to the top by power The opposition Independent Liberal Party and Constitutionalist Liberal Party are also running, although a poll published last week put Ortega's support at 65 percent and his opponents trailing far behind. Ortega first ruled the Central American country in the 1980s and returned to power as head of the leftist Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) party in 2007. Murillo has been affiliated with the FSLN since the 1970s. The couple were married in 2005. Donald Trump said he hopes Ivanka would quit if someone harassed her And son Eric tried to limit damage too - but was slammed for his comment Ivana Trump, 67, walked her tiny dog around Saint Tropez on Tuesday Ivana Trump was spotted walking her tiny dog in Saint Tropez while two of her children tried to rescue their father's campaign an ocean away. She wore what has become her staple outfit since her vacation on the French Riviera began last month: a short dress with a floral pattern, black pumps and dangling earrings. Her blonde hair was pulled back in her trademark up-do and she carried the same $3,450 Dior purse that has graced her summer outfits. Meanwhile, her daughter Ivanka and her son Eric attempted to clarify their father's stance on sexual harassment. Ivana Trump was spotted walking her tiny dog in Saint Tropez on Tuesday (pictured) with a female friend while two of her children tried to rescue their father's campaign an ocean away The former Mrs Trump wore what has become her staple outfit since her vacation began last month: a dress with a floral pattern, black pumps and dangling earrings Ivana's blonde hair was pulled back in her trademark up-do and she carried the same $3,450 Dior purse that has graced her summer outfits in the French Riviera Ivana, who walked with a female friend as she took her tiny pooch for a stroll, has said she supports her ex-husband but hasn't campaigned by his side. She looked serene as she enjoyed a relaxing outing in the charming streets of Saint Tropez - her colorful outfit an ode to the glamorous southern French coast. Ivana told the New York Post in April that she advises her ex-husband on how to act on the campaign trail. But she seemed oblivious to the latest developments of his presidential bid during Tuesday's outing. Ivana, who walked with an unidentified female friend as she took her tiny pooch for a stroll, has said she supports her ex-husband but hasn't campaigned by his side She looked serene and seemed to enjoy a relaxing outing in the charming streets of Saint Tropez - her colorful outfit an ode to the glamorous southern French coast Ivana seemed oblivious to the latest developments of her ex-husband's presidential bid during Tuesday's outing, and smiled as her friend clutched her arm Donald Trump said in an interview USA Today, published on Monday, that it was 'very sad' to hear Fox News employees 'complaining' about former Fox CEO Roger Ailes. Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes in July. Several women made similar accusations afterwards and Ailes resigned later that month. Trump told USA Today he hoped his daughter Ivanka would 'find another career or find another company' if she ever faced sexual harassment. Ivanka set the record straight in a Fox News interview on Tuesday. 'I think sexual harassment is inexcusable in any setting,' she said. I think harassment in general, sexual or otherwise is totally inexcusable and if it transpires, it needs to be reported and it needs to be dealt with on a company level.' Her brother Eric attempted to clarify his father's stance on Tuesday as well, but his comments backfired. 'I think what he's saying is, Ivanka is a strong, powerful woman, she wouldn't allow herself to be objected to it,' Eric said on CBS. Carlson responded on Twitter, writing: 'Sad in 2016 we're still victim blaming women. Trust me I'm strong.' And Fox News host Megyn Kelly replied to Eric's statement with a single word: 'Sigh.' Ivanka, Ivana's daughter with Trump, and her brother Eric, tried to clarify their father's stance on sexual harassment Tuesday while their mother vacationed in Saint Tropez (pictured) Ivana (pictured in Saint Tropez Tuesday) has said she advises her ex-husband on his campaign appearances, but hasn't appeared by his side Calling Donald Trump an 'authoritarian character' and a threat to democracy, Meg Whitman, a prominent Republican fundraiser and chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton's White House bid late Tuesday. 'To vote Republican out of party loyalty alone would be to endorse a candidacy that I believe has exploited anger, grievance, xenophobia and racial division. Donald Trump's demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character,' Whitman posted on Facebook about the Republican nominee. In an interview with the New York Times, which first reported the endorsement, Whitman said it was time 'to put country first before party' and that she would give a 'substantial' contribution to Clinton's campaign. Meg Whitman, a Hewlett Packard executive and Republican fund-raiser, has said she would support Hillary Clinton for president and give a 'substantial' contribution to her campaign Whitman told the Times that Trump is a 'dishonest demagogue' and said that those who look at other failed democracies and believe 'it can't happen here' are mistaken. 'Trump's unsteady hand would endanger our prosperity and national security. His authoritarian character could threaten much more,' Whitman wrote on Facebook. Whitman's endorsement is the latest from a string of business leaders who have moved to back Clinton in recent days, including other high-profile Republicans. Clinton reached out to Whitman personally about a month ago, according to the Times report. Her campaign also courted former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who delivered an endorsement speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week. Many leading Republican donors have made clear that they will not donate to Mr. Trump, but few have taken the next step of throwing their support behind Mrs Clinton Clinton's campaign viewed Bloomberg, a billionaire Republican and household name, as being able to go toe-to-toe with Trump's claims he is best suited to run the country given his own business credentials, according to those familiar with the discussions. Dallas Mavericks owner and television personality Mark Cuban also backed Clinton last week, calling her campaign chairman John Podesta on the night she accepted her nomination to say he was ready to support the former secretary of state. Cuban on Saturday made a surprise appearance at a Clinton rally in Columbus, Ohio, reversing course from earlier statements that he would likely vote for Trump. 'Leadership is creating consensus in our amazing country and letting everybody know that American exceptionalism and the American dream are alive and well, that's what leadership is, that's what Hillary Clinton is,' said Cuban. Clinton's campaign released a list in June with business leaders from whom they had secured support. Among them were several high-profile Republicans, including Dan Akerson, a former chairman and chief executive at General Motors. In February, Whitman accompanied New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (right) for a week when Christie was campaigning in New Hampshire prior to the state's presidential primary. She also supported Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election A man from New Zealand, 22, has pleaded guilty to killing a Brisbane teen and promising athlete in a random one-punch attack. Armstrong Renata has admitted to fatally punching 18-year-old Cole Miller in the early hours of January 3 this year at Brisbane's nightclub precinct at Fortitude Valley. A second man accused, Daniel Maxwell, had asked Renata 'do you want to see something funny' before he randomly challenged Mr Miller and his friend to a fight. The court heard the innocent strangers had tried to back away, before Renata punched the 18-year-old in the head from behind, causing massive brain trauma. Mr Miller died in hospital the next day when his family turned off his life support when they were told his injuries were not survivable. Scroll down for video Armstrong Renata (left) has admitted to killing Cole Miller (right), 18, with a single punch Mr Miller, 18, was a promising young water polo player (pictured) and hoped to follow his elder brother's footsteps to compete at the Olympics Renata, a New Zealand national, on Wednesday pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to unlawful striking causing death. He will be sentenced in the Supreme Court later this year. Mr Maxwellis still facing charges over the death and is scheduled to reappear on August 15. It's believed he will contest the charge of unlawful striking causing death, arguing the fatal punch was delivered by Renata, News.com.au reported. Renata, 22, a New Zealand national, on Wednesday pleaded guilty at Brisbane Magistrates Court to unlawful striking causing death The court heard Mr Miller and his friend had tried to back away from the fight, before Renata punched the 18-year-old in the head from behind, causing massive brain trauma Mr Miller was an elite water polo player and had been on track to follow in the footsteps of his brother Billy, who was part of the Australian men's team at the London 2012 Olympics. 'It was about to be Cole's time to shine,' Billy Miller told a 2000-strong memorial rally in Brisbane a week after the teen's death. 'Cole was about to live out his dreams.' Renata was charged under tough new laws introduced in Queensland in 2014 designed to combat alcohol-fuelled violence. He faces a maximum penalty of life behind bars and will have to serve 80 per cent or 15 years of any jail sentence handed to him. Cole Miller, 18, (pictured) was killed in a random attack at Brisbane's nightclub district Fortitude Valley in the early hours of the morning on January 3 Mr Miller's parents Steven and Mary-Leigh (pictured together) sprinkle holy water on the coffin of their son on January 13 Paramedics treat Mr Miller at Fortitude Valley in Brisbane and take him to hospital, where he died the next day A Melbourne woman charged with the murder of her baby daughter in April has had her first appearance in court via video link. Sofina Nikat, 22, was charged with murdering 15-month-old Sanaya Sahib after initially telling police that a barefoot man of African appearance and smelling of alcohol had pushed her to the ground and snatched the toddler. Sanaya's body was found in the Darebin Creek on Sunday, 10 April, less than 24 hours after Nikat said her daughter had been taken from her pram in a Heidelberg West park. The case has been adjourned for two weeks to allow evidence to be reviewed, according to a report on news.com.au. Scroll down for videos Sofina Nikat, 22, faced a court in Melbourne on Wednesday charged with murdering 15-month-old Sanaya Sahib via video link. The case is due to return in a fortnight while she is set to reappear on 31 August She had previously been excused from appearing in court due to her mental state. A Melbourne court had been told in April that health professionals had assessed Nikat in custody and were worried about her appearing. Lawyer Michael McNamara said Nikat herself had asked not to appear in the court. The risk of her self-harming was a 'live issue' and it was believed she was already in protected custody, he said. Nikat was charged with murdering her daughter after she made a 'full confession' to police at an out-of-sessions court hearing following her arrest. The toddler's disappearance sparked a large search that included mounted police, the police air wing, SES volunteers and members of the public. Lawyer Michael McNamara said Nikat herself had asked not to appear in the court in April. Health professionals had assessed Nikat in custody and were worried about her appearing Nikat was charged with murdering her daughter in April this year. CCTV footage allegedly captured her pushing a child in a pram Sofina Nikat was pictured covering her face with a copy of the Quran after her arrest Nikat and her daughter had been staying with relatives in Heidelberg West after a separation between Nikat and Sanaya's father. CCTV footage related to the alleged crime will be formatted during the case and telephone intercepts will be transcribed. The body of Sofina Nikat's 15-month-old daughter was found in a creek on Sunday, 10 April 15-month-old Sanaya Sahib pictured with her mother Sofina Nikat who faces murder charges Police released chilling CCTV footage of a woman pushing a child in a pram toward Darebin Creek in Heidelberg West The family home where Sofina Nikat was staying with her daughter, Sanaya, near the park where her body was found After Nikat was charged police released chilling CCTV footage of a woman pushing a baby in a pram toward Darebin Creek. In the footage the woman returns with an empty pram. An autopsy reportedly revealed Sanaya died due to smothering. Police and rescue workers at the site where the body of Sanaya was found in Darebin creek, Heidelberg West, in Melbourne in April A father was moved to tears when he first heard that the owners of a local cafe wanted to hire his autistic son to work for them on the weekends. In fact, David Edwards was so surprised when his softly-spoken son Sam broke the news to him, that he called up the Gold Coast cafe to check he had heard right. Trevor Peacock, owner of Urban Village Cafe, picked up the phone and assured him he simply wanted to hire the 'nice, polite young man' who always stayed for a chat after buying a milkshake and sandwich. Sam Edwards, 22, has autism and severe anxiety but was asked by Gold Coast cafe owner Trevor Peacock to work for him on the weekends (pictured together) Sam (pictured with cafe owner Danielle Peacock) works on Saturday mornings washing the dishes. Since starting work his confidence has skyrocketed 'I was so blown away by what they did ... I didn't even know he was stopping to talk to anyone when he went to the shops,' Mr Edwards told Daily Mail Australia. 'He's a very special, well-mannered and courteous kid. I was so proud of him.' 'I was actually in tears on the phone.' Sam, 22, was bullied in high-school and still suffers from severe anxiety. Mr Edwards said a month ago Sam would refuse to catch public transport and was undergoing 'travel training' to help him hop in a car without becoming anxious. But since starting work at the cafe, his confidence has skyrocketed and now he catches buses on his own. 'One great act of kindness seems to have led to a whole bunch of things, he travels everywhere by himself, he's more social,' said Mr Edwards. 'The way he speaks and holds himself now is quite astounding.' Sam's father David (pictured together) said he was moved to tears when he called the cafe and heard they wanted to employ his son Mr Peacock, who owns the cafe with his wife Danielle, shrugs off any praise and says he had no idea Sam had any disabilities when he offered him the job. 'He was just a nice, polite, young man that was exactly the sort of person we'd like working for us,' Mr Peacock told Daily Mail Australia. Sam comes in for a few hours every Saturday morning to help with washing dishes. He's had his share of bullying because he's a little different, but if you do get to know him you see this beautiful side 'He started just with loading the dishwasher. Now his confidence is building up, he's walking around the cafe looking for dirty dishes, bringing the clean ones back and stacking them,' said Mr Peacock. Mr Edwards says he is grateful for the Peacock's for taking the time to getting to know his 'impeccably truthful' son. 'He's had his share of bullying because he's a little bit different and people don't get the time to know him, but if you do (get to know him) you see this beautiful side.' 'Trevor and Danielle saw the good qualities in Sam and were willing to give him a chance. These people are very rare. They're a special breed.' A teenager who pleaded guilty to planning a foiled Anzac Day terror plot that allegedly involved strapping a bomb to a kangaroo has drawn an Islamic State flag in his prison cell. Sevdet Besim, 19, also wrote a quote on his cell wall that the true believers are 'either in the ground, on the battlefield and in prison', the Herald Sun reports. He has pleaded guilty to doing an act in preparation or planning for a terrorist attack. Prosecutor Jeremy Rapke QC told a pre-sentencing hearing at the Victorian Supreme Court in Melbourne that jail authorities also found newspaper clippings on Australian jihadists killed while fighting overseas in Besim's cell. Sevdet Besim, 19, who 'plotted to strap a bomb to a kangaroo' in Anzac Day attack has an drawn Islamic State flag on the wall of his jail cell Because of his cell-wall writing and drawings prosecutor Mr Rapke said it would be an 'exceedingly brave judge' who could conclude that Besim had turned his back on his extremist ways. Besim admitted to plotting to run over and behead a police officer in a terror attack on Anzac Day last year, and vowed to 'establish his jihad in Australia' in a 'martyrdom note'. He and a 'person overseas' also allegedly discussed packing a kangaroo with explosives, painting it with an Islamic State symbol and setting it loose on police officers. Besim wrote the martyr note in his Samsung phone a week before the planned terror attack on Anzac Day in April, 2015. The note revealed Besim was motivated by the death of Numan Haider, who was shot dead when he slashed two counter-terrorism officers in Melbourne in 2014 He also wrote on his cell wall that the true believers are 'either in the ground, on the battlefield and in prison' Besim was arrested in counter-terrorism raids in April last year (pictured) The note also showed he believed there was a war between Islam and the West. 'A while ago world leaders declared war on Islam and Muslims, invading our lands, dividing us into separate nations, installing puppets, killing and torturing Muslims,' Besim wrote. 'This war had always had a impact on me, however recently my brother Numan (May Allah accept him) carried out his attack, this opened my eyes up to the reality of who the enemy is. 'Since then a growing feeling within me has led me to decide to carry out my own [attack]. To establish my jihad in Australia ... and put fear into those who are enemies to Allah and his religion,' the note said. The Hallam, south-east Melbourne, teen pleaded guilty to one count of doing an act in preparation or planning for a terrorist act an offence that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The plea hearing before the Supreme Court continues. McMahon said he would have drowned if not for Uemoto's support and 21 hours at sea before they were rescued Two Hawaian pilots crashed miles offshore leaving them stranded in shark-infested waters for 21 hours. David McMahon, 26, and Sydnie Uemoto, 23, survived the after their two-engine plane landed in the ocean between the Hawaiian islands. Injured, and miles away from the nearest land, the pair swam through the night, past sharks, jellyfish and towering waves before they were finally picked up by rescue crews. Scroll down for video David McMahon, 26, and Sydnie Uemoto, 23, (pictured with the US Coastguard) survived the after their two-engine plane landed in the ocean between the Hawaiian islands The Mokulele Airlines pilots has been en route from Oahu to the Big Island on Thursday afternoon, July 15 The Mokulele Airlines pilots has been en route from Oahu to the Big Island on Thursday afternoon, July 15. Both experienced fliers, neither had panicked when one of the plane's engines packed up mid-flight. But when the second failed, they were sent crashing into the ocean. The quick-thinking pilots just had time to send out a distress signal at 3.15pm before they hit the water and disappeared of the Coast Guard's radar. 'Everything was like slow motion, but fast at the same time,' McMahon told Hawaii News Now. Both experienced fliers, neither had panicked when one of the plane's engines packed up mid-flight (pictured is Uemoto) But when the second failed, they were sent crashing into the ocean. The quick-thinking pilots just had time to send out a distress signal at 3.15pm before they hit the water and disappeared of the Coast Guard's radar (pictured is McMahon) 'Everything was quiet and it was almost like a shade of white and immediately after hitting - we both went forward. I think I remember Sydnie hitting the dash and then water was just rushing in .' Uemoto, who sustained a head injury in the crash said she was dazed but terrified to leave the rapidly sinking plane. 'I realized I was bleeding and I told (McMahon) , "I can't go in the water". And he said, "Why?" And I was like, "I'm bleeding and there's sharks". And he said, "You can't think about that right now",' said Uemoto. Within a couple minutes the plane was under the water. The pilots said that despite their ordeal, they were initially confident that they would be rescued soon. But when aircraft after aircraft passed them by, they realized that the high waves and glaring sun were hiding them from rescue team. 'It's definitely a little heartbreaking,' Uemoto said. 'I would see David trying so hard to get their attention and I would just wave my hands and you would see them fly right over you. 'And to just do it over and over. You see it coming, you get excited, you get hopeful and then you see them go and you see them not turn around...' Even worse, McMahon's life jacket had ripped and was deflating meaning he had to constantly tread water. Uemoto, who sustained a head injury in the crash said she was dazed but terrified to leave the rapidly sinking plane The mother of Uemoto hugs McMahon after the rescue following 21 hours at sea The pair, who had never met before the flight, had crashed around 27 miles from shore. All they could see in the distance was the faint outline of the Hawaii mountains so they began desperately swimming in their direction. McMahon and Uemoto swam through the night, each pushing the other to keep going. But after eight hours of constant swimming with a faulty life vest, McMahon said he was close to drowning when his copilot stepped up. As a team, they began swimming together; McMahon kicking and resting his neck on Uemoto's ankles while she used her arms to carry on swimming. But as the night continued and the Pacific got colder, the 26-year-old said he was on the edge of giving up. 'I remember just asking Sydnie, "Sydnie, I need to stop. I'm freezing. I'm exhausted. I can't kick anymore." And so she would stop every once in a while, just shortly but she was like, "We can't stop. We got to keep going". At 11.35am - 21 hours after the crash and just a mile and a half from the shore, McMahon and Uemoto were rescued 'I may have been the one strong in the beginning, but overnight I wouldn't have made it without her.' Sadly the ordeal was not over. Through the night, the pair swam through swarms of jellyfish which stung them, leaving scars down Uemoto's arms. But it was when they spotted a shark circling beneath that the pilots once again feared for their lives. McMahon noticed it first, a black shadow around six or seven feet long swimming below them. While he didn't want to alarm Uemoto, he said she immediately noticed the fear in his eyes. 'My heart starting beating again and I was freaking out. I was like, "Should I swim faster? What should we do? And we're so far from land,"' said Uemoto. The shark circled for a tense 15 minutes as the pilots plotted their next move. The pair never met each other before the flight but were a constant source of inspiration for each other Uemoto asked McMahon what he would do if the shark attacked 'Hes like, "Im going to look it in the eye, she said, adding that at the time she thought: OK, David, you look him in the eye. Im going to keep swimming. Thankfully, the shark left them alone and by the next morning they were still on track for their plans to reach shore by noon. As the pair swam for 20 miles, rescue teams were out again searching for the missing pilots. On Friday morning, a visiting New Zealand air force P3 plane spotted debris about 50 miles northwest of Kona. A tour helicopter then spotted further wreckage about 9 miles north of Kona airport and reported it to the Coast Guard who sent out a helicopter and spotted two people in the water wearing life jackets. At 11.35am - 21 hours after the crash and just a mile and a half from the shore, McMahon and Uemoto were rescued. 'I definitely feel that we're extremely blessed to go through that - and it is if you look back on it, it's like a miracle - and it's due to everybody giving their prayers and thanks. 'We're just extremely blessed to be here today,' said McMahon. His father, Richard McMahon, added he was 'big-time relieved' to have his son back safe and sound. Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle said: 'A lot of times these cases don't really end well,' Molle said. 'When we have a happy ending, what more could you ask for?' One million migrants may be living in Britain illegally and there is little chance of deporting them, according to a former head of the UK Border Agency Rob Whiteman, pictured One million migrants may be living in Britain illegally and there is little chance of deporting them, according to a former head of the UK Border Agency. The figure is more than a third higher than some previous estimates and it will lead to questions over Theresa Mays immigration policy while she was home secretary. While the EU debate focused on controlling numbers of legal migrants from the continent, Rob Whiteman, former chief executive of the UK Border Agency, has said more attention needs to be paid to the large number of illegal workers. The scale of illegal migration and illegal working is not nearly discussed as much as other issues around immigration, he told The Times. The government does not have the resources or political levers to deport hundreds of thousands of people. His comments suggest that the problem is now too big to tackle, the newspaper reported. Mr Whiteman, who ran the agency from 2011 to 2013, added that on top of non-EU citizens entering illegally, migrants who overstay legitimate visas and find work are also to blame. The Home Office does not know how many migrants are working illegally in the UK, and figures vary. Problems: At least one in five of all illegal migrants entered the country illegally, sometimes in lorries, others slip under the radar by staying when their visas expire It came as MPs claimed last night that Britain's border security is clearly under-resourced and warships should be drafted in to guard small harbours against people-smugglers. A worryingly low total of just three Border Force patrol boats are available to protect more than 7,000 miles of UK coastline, they warned. Their report called for Royal Navy ships to help Border Force protect our lightly-guarded small ports and beaches, which are increasingly seen as soft targets by smugglers and migrants travelling in small boats who try to avoid heavy security at ferry ports and Eurotunnel trains. Incidents so far this summer include 18 Albanian migrants who had to be rescued from a sinking dinghy off the coast of Dymchurch in Kent, 17 Albanians found on a catamaran in Chichester harbour, West Sussex, and the discovery of three Iranians drifting in an inflatable boat off Dover. MPs on the Commons Home Affairs Committee said Border Force was clearly under-resourced. The report adds to growing pressure for naval assistance to be given to Border Force, which has just four patrol boats, one of which is currently in the Mediterranean. Britain's border security is clearly under-resourced and warships should be drafted in to guard small harbours against people-smugglers, MPs said Tuesday Four more that are promised will be unavailable for at least another year. In comparison, Italy has 600 vessels to guard a coastline that is 3,000 miles shorter, the report said. DAMNING VERDICTS ON UK'S BORDER PROTECTION Accused former foreign secretary, now Chancellor, Philip Hammond of complacency over reports that half a million people have gathered in Libya hoping to cross the Mediterranean to Europe Blamed the EU for failing to foresee or prepare for a colossal migrant crisis and doing too little too late to deal with it Criticised the EUs Schengen open borders system for allowing terrorists who slip in free passage across the continent Called for 157 unaccompanied children living in camps in Calais who have family in Britain to be allowed to cross the Channel Advertisement Committee chairman Keith Vaz said: Criminal gangs continue to exploit weaknesses in security at small ports in Britain to illegally transport migrants from the continent. 'Despite maritime security being critical to an island nation, Border Force is operating worryingly low numbers of vessels to protect our borders. Royal Navy chiefs are understood to be prepared to devote one or more River-class patrol boats to assist Border Force if Home Secretary Amber Rudd requests them. Two of the 260ft vessels, which have a crew of 45, are working on fishery protection but could be released if Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom gives permission. The MPs report, Migration Crisis, said: Border Force needs to be given all the necessary equipment, including vessels, to enable it to carry out its responsibilities effectively. 'The number of Border Force vessels in operation appears to be worryingly low. 'Royal Navy vessels should be made available to Border Force to make up for shortfalls, where necessary. The report called for Royal Navy ships to help Border Force protect our lightly-guarded small ports and beaches, which are increasingly seen as soft targets by smugglers and migrants travelling in small boats who try to avoid heavy security at ferry ports and Eurotunnel trains It added that tightened security at major ports and airports had led to a displacement of illegal migration, with small ports now targeted, and said security must be strengthened at these points too as a matter of urgency. The Home Office said there were additional military and law enforcement vessels available, but the Ministry of Defence said Border Force has not yet requested naval assistance. The Home Office added: We continue to work tirelessly to maintain the security of our border. 'We will respond to the committees recommendations in due course. Alp Mehmet, of the Migration Watch UK think tank, said: Clearly the challenges facing the UK Border Force remain significant and are growing. 'It is imperative that more money is devoted to address the issue of illegal immigration. More than 150 children living without parents in migrant camps in Calais should be brought to Britain, the MPs report said The recommendation came three months after former prime minister David Cameron responded to the Daily Mails call for compassion by inviting 3,000 children stuck in squalid refugee camps in France, Germany and Italy to come to this country More than 150 children living without parents in migrant camps in Calais should be brought to Britain, the MPs report said. The 157 children who are known to be unaccompanied should already have arrived here, it added. The recommendation came three months after former prime minister David Cameron responded to the Daily Mails call for compassion by inviting 3,000 children stuck in squalid refugee camps in France, Germany and Italy to come to this country. But there were concerns that doing so might encourage more migrants to attempt risky journeys to reach Britain. The Home Affairs Committee report said: We accept the Governments concern that allowing unaccompanied children to join family members already in the UK might create a pull factor, resulting in more vulnerable young people making dangerous journeys to try to reach the UK. We appreciate that these are sensitive and complex matters and that proper account needs to be taken of the legal and safeguarding requirements in the countries where unaccompanied children are currently located. But the MPs said that ministers should as a one-off action accept all of these children into the UK now. The report added that some refugees in camps in Calais had family members in Britain and should be entitled to enter the country. The MPs also said: We are yet to see any evidence of a strategy designed to deliver a long-term solution to the presence of these camps. In March the Mail reported on hundreds of lost boys who were living in squalid conditions in Calais. The European Union was criticised by MPs for not foreseeing the scale of the migrant flow and then failing to handle the crisis. Some 4,027 migrants have died so far this year, a 26 per cent increase from the same period in 2015, according to the International Organization for Migration The European Union was criticised by MPs for not foreseeing the scale of the migrant flow and then failing to handle the crisis. The report also said the EUs efforts to stop people-smugglers have been poor. Some 1.25million asylum-seekers came to Europe last year and more than a quarter of a million migrants arrived in the first six months of this year. The report from the Commons Home Affairs Committee said the union was too slow to respond, adding: The EU failed to anticipate the scale of migrant flows, and did not have the structures in place to cope. The MPs said the EUs 5billion deal with Turkey in March, under which new arrivals can be sent back to Turkey, came far too late. They added that further action is urgently required to ensure vulnerable people do not suffer further exploitation by criminals and face the current high risk of death. FEARS OVER PORT SECURITY RAISED AGAIN A WEEK AFTER TWO COURT CASES ON MIGRANT SMUGGLING ENDED Stephen Jackson was jailed last week for smuggling a separate group of migrants in Chichester marina Today's report comes less than a week after two separate court cases on smuggling migrants into Britain came to a conclusion with sentencing. Last Friday Robert Stilwell and Mark Stribling pleaded guilty to conspiring to assist unlawful immigration following their bungled smuggling operation in which they had to be rescued by lifeboat crews. The pair were arrested after they were caught attempting to smuggle 18 Albanians - including one woman and two children - into the country near the small Kent town of Dymchurch in May. The bid ended in a dramatic rescue operation when their rigid inflatable boat started taking on water in the early hours of the morning in the English Channel - forcing the migrants to make panicked phone calls to families in Calais. Stribling, 35, was jailed for four years, eight months and former judo champion Stilwell, 33, for four years, four months. The sentencing came on the same day that a British sailor was jailed for four years and nine months for smuggling 17 immigrants into a south coast marina. Stephen Jackson, 51, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to assisting unlawful immigration by sailing a boat-load of Albanian men aged 20 to 44 into Chichester Marina in West Sussex on May 23. At Lewes Crown Court, it was revealed that a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Jackson for allegedly perverting the course of justice in connection with a murder in Spain. Advertisement Some 4,027 migrants have died so far this year, a 26 per cent increase from the same period in 2015, according to the International Organization for Migration. The committees report also accused former foreign secretary Philip Hammond of being complacent in respect of Libya, where a reported 500,000 people are waiting to cross the Mediterranean illegally. The report said a promised Royal Navy ship has not been sent to the North African country. It also said that the EU should offer Libya a deal like Turkey. Committee chairman Keith Vaz said ships in the Mediterranean saved lives but failed to deter migrants or stop criminal smuggling networks, adding: The EUs response in combating people traffickers who are exploiting, exacerbating and profiting from this crisis has been poor. Terrorists have taken advantage of the EUs Shengen free-movement system, leading to a raised security threat, the MPs also warned. Dakota Meyer, the son-in-law of Sarah Palin and a Medal of Honor recipient, has called on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to apologize to the family of slain US Army Capt. Humayun Khan. Meyer, a Marine Corps veteran and the second youngest living person to receive the military's highest honor, joined the backlash and blasted Trump for criticizing Khan's father and mother after they appeared at the Democratic National Convention in support of Hillary Clinton last week. 'If @realDonaldTrump wants to be the Commander in Chief, he needs to act like one,' Meyer wrote in a tweet to his 73,000 followers. 'And that cant start until he apologizes to the Khans.' Dakota Meyer is married to Bristol Palin (left), daughter of Republican Sarah Palin (right) President Barack Obama awarded Meyer the Medal of Honor at the White House in 2011 Meyer's criticism of Donald Trump was retweeted by Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton Clinton retweeted Meyer's tweet for her eight million followers. Her campaign has seized on the controversy, and members of Trump's own party have turned against him or distanced themselves from him. Meyer, 28, who is married to Bristol Palin, the daughter of 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, has been involved in Republican politics and backed Senator Ted Cruz for the nomination. President Barack Obama awarded Meyer, a former Marine Corps corporal from Columbia, Kentucky, the Medal of Honor in 2011 for his heroic actions during a six-hour battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2009. Trump has angered politicians on both sides of the political spectrum after he made critical remarks against Khan's father, Khizr, who spoke at the DNC, and mother, Ghazala, who appeared on stage with him. Meyer was awarded the military's highest honor for his heroic actions in Afghanistan in 2009 Trump holds a Purple Heart, given to him by veteran Louis Dorfman, during a campaign event Khizr Khan, accompanied by his wife, Ghazan, holds up a copy of the Constitution US Army Capt. Humayun Khan was killed by a suicide bomber while serving in Iraq in 2004 Their 27-year-old son was killed in a suicide attack while serving in Iraq in 2004. The Muslim soldier was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. At the DNC, Khizr Khan denounced Trump over his proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the US, saying it would be unconstitutional. He pulled out a copy of the Constitution and asked Trump if he has ever read it, offering to lend him his copy. 'You have sacrificed nothing and no one,' Khizr Khan said during his speech in Philadelphia. President Barack Obama said Trump is 'unfit' to be president and 'woefully unprepared' Republican Sen. John McCain, who was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, blasted Trump In his war of words with the Khans, Trump claimed he was 'viciously attacked' by the couple and even suggested that Ghazala Khan wasn't allowed to speak at the convention due to her faith. Ghazala Khan said she was too emotional to speak about her son in front of the audience, which included millions watching at home on TV. In an ensuing controversy which has lasted days, several Republicans have condemned the business mogul, and some have even revealed they will not support him in November's presidential election. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan both distanced themselves from Trump's comments, while ally Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey who launched a failed bid for the party's nomination, said it was 'inappropriate' for Trump to criticize the Khans. Republican Senator John McCain blasted Trump for his comments and Gold Star Families have demanded an apology. Advertisement Thousands of commuters across Britain faced travel chaos yesterday after a bridge collapsed onto a railway line. Services between London and the East Midlands were severely disrupted after tonnes of rubble fell on the tracks. The collapse in the early hours in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, left National Rail bosses facing questions. Nobody was hurt but commuters were forced to take bus replacement services or travel miles to another station. And some passengers complained of taking more than two hours to make their usual 20 minute journey to work. Dramatic: The sudden collapse of a bridge has caused major disruption to trains between the East Midlands and London Inspections: Network Rail said teams had been working through the night to remove the debris from the railway Probe: Staff at Network Rail were investigating dips on the bridges road surface at the time, and had closed it to traffic All direct trains between London St Pancras and stations north of Leicester including Derby, Nottingham, Loughborough and Sheffield - were cancelled. There was also a reduced service between Leicester and London. But two of the four lines were reopened at 5am today for trains travelling from London St Pancras and cities north of Leicester - but disruption remains with trains unable to call at Loughborough and replacement buses laid on. Local residents described hearing a loud bang like a bomb going off just before midnight on Monday as a large section of the parapet wall of Grove Lane Bridge tumbled on to the tracks below. Staff at Network Rail were investigating dips on the bridges road surface at the time, and had closed it to traffic. But locals said the collapse of the bridge came as little surprise as one side of it had been sinking for several years. One resident, Cheryl Billson, said: There was very obviously need for work to repair the bridge for years and local people have been reporting it. I rode over it yesterday on my horse and now look at it. Another said: The path on the left hand side has decided to sink gradually over time. They scheduled for the road to be closed for the next three nights and now this. Last night one MP said Network Rail - the government-backed body responsible for maintaining most of the UKs rail infrastructure has some serious explaining to do. Surveying the scene: The collapse, at Barrow upon Soar, near Loughborough, happened in the early hours of the morning Trains between London and Nottingham, Derby and Leicester were disrupted yesterday and replacement buses put in place Network Rail, which is run by an 800,000-a-year boss, said it regularly inspects its structures, including the bridge Robert Flello, a Labour member of the commons Transport Committee said: It is very fortunate no-one was injured. Network Rail has some serious explaining to do as to why the publics safety concerns have been ignored. The new secretary of state for transport, Chris Grayling, must get a grip and reassure the public that all our bridges- many of which were built in the Victorian era are secure. The line remained closed as Network Rail staff worked through the day to clear the rubble. Local MP Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary, said she had been in contact with executives at the organisaiton. She said: It is still too early to know what the cause of the collapse is but they have assured me that they are currently investigating and will release more details when they become available. Clearly this is a major inconvenience to both my constituents and those using the train line and I shall be pushing for repair & restoration of the bridge to take place as quickly as possible. Many people were late for work due to the disruption while others had their holidays delayed after the collapse. Pat Macreadie, of Great Oakley, Northamptonshire, who was trying to get to Thirsk in North Yorkshire, said: "We're having to change trains quite a lot anyway to get to Thirsk. Residents said one side of the bridge had been sinking for several years and was due to close this week for repairs Leicestershire Fire Service said a crew from Loughborough and a technical rescue unit attended the scene in the early hours 'It's not the best start to a three-day break but I suppose it can't be helped. I'm just glad nobody was hurt in the accident.' Commuter Melissa Parkes, 27, who was trying to get from Birmingham to Loughborough, said: I usually get a train from Leicester to Loughborough but now I'm having to stand in the rain waiting for a bus instead. This has delayed me and it's not ideal. Another commuter, who travels regularly from Leicester to Nottingham, said: Normally, it takes me about 25 minutes to get to work and it has taken me two hours so far, it is a tad frustrating. Furious commuters also vented their frustration on Twitter. One wrote: I have meeting all day from 11.30. East Midlands Trains basically told me I will be going on a bear hunt to get to my destination Another passenger who travels regularly from Leicester to Nottingham said: Normally it takes me about 20 minutes to get (to work) and it has taken me two hours so farit is tad frustrating. Network Rail, which is run by 800,000-a-year chief executive Mark Carne, said it regularly inspects its structures, including the bridge. It said it has previously carried out repairs on the bridge as the area is known for subsidence. Residents described hearing a loud bang like a bomb going off as the bridge tumbled 12ft (3.6m) to the tracks below Shocking photographs show the huge pile of debris, which collapsed onto the railway tracks blocking off the route through It has now apologised for the disruption and insisted it is investigating caused the bridge to collapse. STRIKE FEARS NEXT WEEK The disruption comes as commuters across the South East are braced for further chaos next week as unions stage a five day strike from Monday. Govia Thameslink Railway, which runs Southern, yesterday said 40 per cent of its services will be cancelled if the strikes go ahead. Bosses at Southern rail are locked in a bitter dispute with the RMT union over changes to the role of onboard conductors. Govia will meet with RMT for last ditch talks today. Advertisement NR investment director Paul McKeown said: Our engineers have worked around the clock to make the area safe, remove debris and repair the tracks below. We're working with East Midlands Trains to ensure a near-normal service to London can operate, with two of the four tracks through the area open today. We're sorry for any continuing disruption caused to passengers, who are advised to check service details before they travel. A full investigation is under way into the cause of the collapse. We are working on plans to repair the bridge and will provide an update to the local community once we have a robust timeline for this work. East Midlands Trains managing director Jake Kelly said: The work carried out by Network Rail yesterday and overnight means that we are able to run a near-normal service again today. Leicestershire Fire Service said a crew from Loughborough and a technical rescue unit from Southern station attended the scene at around 12.20am yesterday. A Sydney mother and celebrity make-up artist was arrested on one of Sydney's most exclusive streets after allegedly crashing her luxury car with two kids on board and blowing almost four times over the legal limit. Kerry Billett, 37, allegedly crashed her Audi A5 into an oncoming Toyota Yaris at the intersection of Jersey Road and Ocean Street in Woollahra, an eastern suburb of Sydney on Tuesday at 7pm. The mother-of-two failed to indicate a left hand turn before crossing to the wrong side of the road causing the accident, police say. Kerry Billett (pictured with Mel Gibson) allegedly recorded a blood alcohol level almost four times over the legal limit after crashing her vehicle with two children inside The mother from Edgecliff, in Sydney's east, told The Daily Telegraph it was a frightening accident. 'It was an accident, it's just been scary,' she said. The two children, aged four and six, as well as the two drivers were lucky to escape without injury. After being subjected to a roadside breath test the mother returned a positive result. She was placed under arrest and taken to Waverley Police Station where she allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.182. The 37-year-old is the owner of Face by KB and is known to share images with stars including Miguel Maestre a renowned chef (left) and Bondi Vet, Dr Chris Brown (right) The mother's licence was suspended and she was charged with high range drink driving Ms Billet, the owner of Face by KB, has been involved in the film industry for seven years and prides herself with having worked with stars including Mel Gibson, Bondi Vet Chris Brown and renowned chef Miguel Maestre. 'Caught up with this talented man last night. Look forward to seeing my work on his film,' she said on her Facebook account after spending time with Mel Gibson. 'I'm proud to announce that I will be working on the WW11 hacksaw ridge film starring Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn. I love Vince!' she said in September. The mother's licence was suspended and she was charged with high range drink driving. She will appear at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday September 20. The mother allegedly crashed the vehicle after failing to indicate before turning left at an intersection in Woollahra (pictured), an eastern suburb of Sydney on Tuesday night A brutal punch-up between asylum seekers has been captured on video at a registration centre in Germany. Chairs were smashed over heads, punches were thrown and people kicked as the room was wrecked while police rush to the scene in the city of Dortmund in the west of the country, to try to regain order. One man in a blue shirt can be seen attacking a defenceless victim who was seriously hurt and is currently in hospital. A brutal punch-up between asylum seekers has been captured on video at a registration centre in Germany Chairs were smashed over heads, punches thrown and people kicked as the room was wrecked while police rush to the scene in the city of Dortmund in the west of the country, to try to regain order The brawl broke out in the registration centre on Huckarder Strasse on Tuesday and was posted shortly afterwards on to the Facebook social media site The brawl broke out in the registration centre on Huckarder Strasse on Tuesday and video was posted online shortly afterwards on Facebook. Police are so far at a loss to explain the eruption of violence which comes at a tense time in Germany. The government of Chancellor Angela Merkel is under increasing pressure to both reduce refugee numbers and vet the bona fides of those already in the country following a week of violence that saw a migrant attack people on a train and another blow himself up in the town of Ansbach. Police are so far at a loss to explain the eruption of violence which comes at a tense time in Germany Three youths aged 14, 15 and 20 were arrested and taken in for questioning but later released Police say a criminal probe is underway which will likely lead to charges of grievous bodily harm against some of the participants Police said the fight involved men and women aged between 14 to 37. A spokesman said: 'The fight broke out in the waiting room at the facility. It began as a verbal affair but escalated quickly into violence. Chairs were the main weapon used.' A total of five people needed medical treatment. The police spokesman added: 'The injured were a 33-year-old woman, and men aged 19, 21, 26 and 37. They were treated at local hospitals.' Three youths aged 14, 15 and 20 were arrested and taken in for questioning but later released. A Syrian woman who was lured to Lebanon with the promise of work has told how she was forced into becoming a sex slave where she was beaten and raped up to 10 times a day. Rama, 24, fled war-torn Syria after falling for the scam, where she was told she could earn up to 700 working as a waitress by moving to the neighbouring country. However, when she arrived she was forced to become a sex slave and put in a brothel with other women, and paid to have sex with strangers. Rama, 24, who fled war-torn Syria after falling for a scam, where she was told she could earn up to 700 working as a waitress by moving to the neighbouring country Rama now in her safehouse in Lebanon. When she reached the country, she was forced to live in a brothel and become a sex slave There she was beaten, was kept from going outside and even saw women being forced to undergo abortions after having unprotected sex. The women in the brothels were also forced to have sex with up to 10 customers a day, with the number rising to double that on a weekend. However, after nine months, Rama eventually broke free from her captors when she and five others wrestled a female security guard and ran out of the building's back door. Later the sex slavery ring was smashed according to Human Rights watch, and up to 75 Syrian women were freed in what transpired to be Lebanon's biggest ever sex trafficking operation. Now Rama, not her real name, has been speaking out about her experiences at the Chez Maurice brothel in Lebanon's red light district, which was run by Imad al-Rihawi, a former interrogator in Syrias air force intelligence service. A whip on the table in a guard's room at the three-story brothel in Lebanon, which was used by the sex traffickers She told the Guardian: 'Its not that he made us feel like slaves we were actual slaves. 'Because when we were beaten, I would say, God, please save us. And [my torturer] would say, You whore, you think God will save you? 'And he would beat me more. We couldnt say the word Allah, not even within our hearts.' Now, even though Rama's ordeal is over, she does not plan on sharing her experience with her brother or sister. Her story comes after a recent study revealed that child slavery, prostitution and 'survival sex' is raging among Syrian refugees in Lebanon. One of the rooms the trafficked women were forced to sleep in while under the control of their captors Dr Katharine Jones of Coventry University reports that Lebanon has 'the worst forms of child labour' with forced child marriages on the increase. She also claims that many of the girls who leave the sweat shops and farmlands end up working as child prostitutes - in some cases providing sexual services to accompany their mothers' 'survival sex' with Lebanese employers. Consequently young women who leave the child labour 'jobs' have to become sex workers to pay for rented accommodation. 'Syrian refugee women are coerced into providing sexual favours in return for rent, food or employment' the study claims. Advertisement One of the world's top climbers has been slammed after posing for a photo while swinging from Norway's famous Trolltunga rock promontory. Champion Norwegian climber Magnus Midtbo, 27, posted the image on social media after a climbing trip to the popular tourist attraction. 'Treating my legs with a much needed break after a long hike,' he commented on the dangerous stunt. Trolltunga or 'troll's tongue' is a rock formation that juts out about 700m above Lake Ringedalsvatnet. Hanging on: Norwegian rock climber Magnus Midtbo shared this photo of himself hanging of the Trolltunga rock promontory in Norway 'Glad we decided to make a stop on the way south. Definitely worth the six hour hike! The question remains; can it be climbed?,' he said Adding: 'I'm wearing a harness and a rope. Please never try this yourself.' But local police officers were still concerned that the stunt might encourage others without Midtbo's skills to risk their lives. Strength: The champion climber hiked for six hours to reach the Trolltunga rock before posing for the dangerous photo Dizzying heights: The 27-year-old reassured his fans he was 'wearing a harness and a rope' and urged them to 'please never try this yourself' Incredible views: In this photo Midtbo traverses a rock face above a turquoise blue river snaking its way through the land Don't look down: Midtbo is pictured on the edge of a cliff face while in Stavanger. 'I set out to try a huge route above the fjord that a friend of mine bolted,' he said Police spokeswoman Kjersti Eidsnes said: 'My first thought is that when these kinds of images spread, some people will get the ideas of trying to outdo each other with similar energetic stunts.' Midtbo's fans on social media praised the stunt saying he 'nailed it' and it's the 'best pic of Trolltunga ever'. One person said 'this is insane' and another called it 'amazing'. Norwegian local rescue services are often called out to Trolltunga as tourists clamber to take pictures without preparing properly for the long climb. Last September, Australian student Kristi Kafcaloudis, 24, slipped and fell to her death while having her photo taken at Trolltunga. Clinging on: Local police officers were concerned that Midtbo's stunt might encourage others to risk their lives On top of the world: Midtbo has successfully completed several of the world's most challenging ascents Skilled: While the stunt may have been dangerous for rock climbing novices, Midstbo has proven himself to be a champion climber The spectacular rock formation, which juts out 700 metres (2,296 feet) above Ringedalsvatnet, a lake three hours west of Bergen, is one of Norway's most popular attractions. Midtbo has been the Nordic Champion climbing seven times, and is a former junior world champion in sport climbing. David Cameron, pictured as he quit Downing Street, came under renewed fire from senior Tories over his resignation honours list today David Cameron came under renewed heavy fire from senior Conservatives today for his resignation honours list of gongs for his friends and allies. Iain Duncan Smith branded 'peculiar' the apparent attempt to hand an honour to Will Straw, the leader of the defeated Remain campaign and a former Labour candidate. Norman Tebbit, a party grandee who served Margaret Thatcher, slammed Mr Cameron's list as 'disproportionate' and urged the former Tory leader to think again. As the row grows, party donors Ian Taylor and Michael Spencer, who Mr Cameron wanted to honour, were already to be out of the running despite the decision by Theresa May not to intervene. Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson stepped up the pressure by demanding reforms from Mrs May and urging his own party to boycott the current system. The comments from senior Tories signal the growing anger at Mr Cameron's parting gifts four days after his draft resignation honours list leaked. The list also included a gong for Isabel Spearman, a personal aide to Samantha Cameron, among a group of 48 recommendations. Mr Taylor, who gave 300,000 to the Remain campaign, last night issued a statement announcing he did not want to be put forward for a knighthood. And it was reported today Mr Cameron had given up his fight to make Mr Spencer a peer - an appointment apparently blocked because of Mr Spencer's firm being involved in the Libor rate fixing scandal. Mr Duncan Smith today told The Times there had been 'one or two surprises' on Mr Cameron's resignation honours list, adding: 'Certainly Will Straw is one of them. He's opposed Conservatives up and down the country. 'He hasn't really done anything. He lost parliamentary elections and went on to lose the Remain campaign.' Iain Duncan Smith (left) said the inclusion of Will Straw, the defeated Remain campaign leader, was 'peculiar' while Norman Tebbit (right) urged Mr Cameron to 'think again' about his list Lord Tebbit told the paper: 'But one shouldn't overdo it. I think he should think again about it. 'It is absurd that the prime minister's wife's stylist should receive one. 'What about the prime minister's tailor? It should be for something that is beyond your duties.' Mr Cameron, who is currently on holiday with his family, has so far made no comment on the row. Tom Watson said the Opposition should not legitimise the honours process and called on other parties to follow suit until Theresa May agrees to act. Mr Watson said: 'This issue will not go away for Theresa May because a single Tory donor has withdrawn from David Cameron's cronies list. 'It has been reported that David Cameron proposes to hand out peerages to a large number of his friends, a move which would undermine the honours and appointments system and damage the reputation of our second chamber. 'The current suggested list of appointments is now utterly discredited and Labour should now end co-operation with the Government on these matters. 'Until the Prime Minister can assure us that Cameron's proposed list of crony lawmakers is dropped, Labour cannot legitimise this process by co-operating. 'I hope the other opposition parties will also consider boycotting the honours and appointments process until Theresa May agrees to act.' The inclusion of Isabel Spearman, right alongside Samantha Cameron to whom she was a personal aide, has drawn particular criticism since the leak of Mr Cameron's plans Nominations for honours are reviewed by honours committees, which include senior civil servants and people judged to be independent of the Government. Each committee has a majority of independent members, with one of them chairing discussions, and reviews nominations for specific activities such as sport or arts and media, according to the Government. A No 10 representative is invited to attend all meetings. The individual committees feed into the main honours committee, which then produces a list and its decisions go to the Prime Minister and then the Queen - who bestows the honour. Calling Isabel a stylist is sexist, says No 10 aide: Former colleague launches astonishing defence of the OBE being given to SamCam's 'special advisor' Isabel Spearman, who used to work for Sam Cameron in Number 10, was on the former Prime Minister's resignation honours list A former aide of David Cameron has launched an astonishing defence of the OBE granted to the ex-PM's wife's 'special advisor', saying she is no mere stylist. Isabel Spearman, who used to work for Samantha Cameron in Number 10, was on the former Prime Minister's resignation honours list leaked on Sunday. Her name drew particular criticism on the list of 48 because she was described as a 'stylist'. One of Mrs Spearman's former colleagues in Downing Street, who asked not to be named, said it was 'just not true' to give her such a title and claimed the way she had been singled out for criticism was 'sexist'. The former aide insisted there was 'nothing improper' about Mr Cameron's honours list. 'There is no one on the list who should not be on the list,' the aide said. 'There is nothing improper that has gone on. 'Everyone on the list has worked very hard in the service of their country. All this has gone through the proper process. It is no different to other resignation lists.' The aide said that Mrs Spearman was a hard-working and popular member of Mr Cameron's staff. 'Isabel worked incredibly hard and the idea that she was not popular is just untrue, she was a fantastic team player. The way she has been singled out in this way is sexist. 'She was nothing to do with Samantha Cameron's hair, she did a lot of work behind the scenes, and she is a true professional who had a heavy workload.' Conservative Party donor REFUSES knighthood after being 'nominated by David Cameron for bankrolling the Remain campaign' A Conservative Party donor who was reportedly recommended for a knighthood in David Cameron's resignation honours list has said he will refuse it. Ian Taylor, who gave an estimated 300,000 to the Remain campaign in the lead up to the EU referendum, said he would write to Cameron and Theresa May requesting that his name is not put forward. Mr Taylot also have 500,000 to the successful Better Together campaign which won the Scottish independence referendum. The proposed knighthood for Taylor - who is one of the most powerful figures in the oil industry - had infuriated Eurosceptic MPs. Scroll down for video Gong gone: Ian Taylor (left), who was reportedly recommended for a knighthood in David Cameron's (right), resignation honours list, has said he will refuse the honour. 'In recent days, speculation in the media has suggested that I may be recognised in the forthcoming resignation honours list,' Taylor said in a statement tonight. 'This has been accompanied by seriously inaccurate comments about the company I lead. vagrants, could be seen coming and going from the home at all hours The lifeless bodies of three people, believed to be victims of foul play, have been discovered inside a home in Riverside County, California. Sheriff's deputies responded to a residence in the 31000 block of Wisconsin Street in Lake Elsinore at around 10.30am Tuesday after receiving a call about suspicious circumstances there. The deputies found the bodies and called homicide investigators. Authorities have not released any details about the victims except to say that they were shot to death in a 'violent crime.' Scroll down for video Crime scene: The lifeless bodies of three people, believed to be victims of foul play, have been discovered inside this home in Lake Elsinore, California, Tuesday Violent deaths: Officials say the victims, all three of them adults, were shot to death House of ill-repute: Neighbors say people could be seen coming to and going from the home at all hours Rigoberto Garcia, who lives behind the house on Wisconsin Street, tells CBS Los Angeles that he was awakened at 5am by the sound of gunshots. 'I hear three shots and one lady saying, "aye aye aye,"' he said. As of Wednesday morning, the victims' names and ages have not been made public, but the sheriff's office says all three were adults. A neighbor, Ana Angeles, tells the Press-Enterprise that people could be seen coming to and going from the home at all hours. 'There were a lot of homeless there,' she told the paper. 'There were always people coming in and out of that house.' Shelter: The owner of the house had been known to welcome homeless people into his residence to take a shower and enjoy a meal David Love, a friend of one of the victims, confirmed to the local CBS station that the owner of the house sheltered vagrants, including himself 'He always opened his door. If they needed showers, he let them shower. If theyre hungry, he fed them,' Love said. Other neighbors said the residence where the shootings took place on Tuesday has long been known in the area as a house of ill-repute. A South Carolina resident has contracted a rare, potentially deadly brain-eating amoeba that is naturally present in warm fresh water, according to health officials. State Department of Health and Environmental Control epidemiologist Linda Bell said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on Tuesday the patient was exposed to Naegleria fowleri, a one-celled organism that can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The organism does not cause illness if swallowed, but can be deadly if forced up the nose. A South Carolina resident contracted Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba, while swimming near Martin's Landing on the Edisto River (pictured) on July 24, health officials said Bell said the individual is believed to have been exposed to the amoeba while swimming on July 24 near Martin's Landing on the Edisto River in Charleston County. The name, age, sex or condition of the South Carolina patient has not been released. Profounda CEO Todd MacLaughlan told The Associated Press he sent a courier on the six-hour drive to Charleston with the drug on Tuesday night. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the drug, called miltefosine, was critical in the recovery of one of only two people in the United States known to survive the amoeba. MacLaughlan said this is just the second time his company has sent the specialized drug that costs about $48,000 for a round of treatment to a hospital. It was delivered as capsules. Bell said infection from the amoeba is difficult to contract and requires specific circumstances including jumping into amoeba-containing water feet first, WCSC reported. 'First, you must be swimming in water in which the amoeba is present,' she said in a statement. 'Second, you must jump into the amoeba-containing water feet-first, allowing the water to go up your nose with enough force that the amoeba can make its way to the brain. OFFICIAL: BEST WAY TO AVOID NAEGLERIA FOWLERI IS THROUGH PREVENTION Avoid water-related activities in warm, untreated, or poorly treated water Hold your nose shut or use nose clips when taking part in water-related activities Avoid digging in or stirring up sediment surrounding warm, fresh water Advertisement 'Most commonly, exposure results in the amoeba dying before causing infection.' Bell also noted that people should avoid swimming or jumping into bodies of fresh water when water is warm and the water levels are low, adding to hold your nose or use a nose plug. The CDC said only 10 cases or so are reported each year, nearly all of them fatal. In the 10 years from 2006 to 2015, 37 infections were reported in the U.S, according to the CDC. Of those cases, 33 people were infected by contaminated recreational water, three people were infected after performing nasal irrigation using contaminated tap water, and one person was infected by contaminated tap water used on a backyard slip-n-slide. In June, 18-year-old Lauren Seitz died a week after visiting the US National Whitewater Center in North Carolina where the water was detected to have the presence of the Naegleria fowleri amoeba. Seitz from of Westerville, Ohio, died of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) on June 19, only a few weeks after her high school graduation. She was traveling with her church group at the time and is believed to have been exposed to the amoeba when her raft overturned during a trip to the center on June 8. Advertisement Heavily armed new police patrols have been deployed on the streets of London today after a wave of terror attacks in Europe. Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe unveiled the plan to put more highly visible patrols, armed to the teeth with pistols and semi-automatic SIG Carbine rifles, at major landmarks as a deterrent to potential attackers. As well as guns, the new generation of armed officers also have BMW F800GS motorbikes to allow them to scramble to an incident anywhere in the capital and speed boats so they can deploy from the Thames. The new officers are masked in order to protect their identity from attackers, which can help in a variety of different circumstances - from hostage situations, targeted attacks to kidnap attempts. The masks provide an extra layer of safety for counter-terrorism officers as they carry out their various specialist tasks. But today's announcement - dubbed Operation Hercules by the Met - came against a backdrop of warnings from the Police Federation that it will take two years to deliver a promised increase of 1,500 in the trained-strength of armed officers across the country. Of the new officers, 600 will be based in London and today's announcement revealed the first cohort to be trained. More British police officers are carrying guns after a spate of attacks on the continent, including the Bastille Day massacre in Nice and the murder of a priest in a Normandy Church last week. The expanded firearms units were promised after the Paris attacks last November. Scroll down for video The heavily armed officers carry semi-automatic SIG Carbine rifles, sniper rifles, shot guns, hand guns and tasers as well as extensive body armour - plus other tools including disc cutters, crow bars and hydraulic rams As well as guns, the new generation of armed officers also have BMW F800GS motorbikes to allow them to scramble to an incident anywhere in the capital and speed boats so they can deploy from the Thames. Sir Bernard said the additional armed officers were the first cohort from a planned group of 600 due to be trained to carry firearms - with 1,500 due to be trained across the country. Speaking in Hyde Park, Sir Bernard said: 'People aren't fools - they know that in the event that there is a firearms attack, we are going to have to respond with firearms. 'They pass through airports where we have armed officers, they pass through railway stations where they see firearms. 'In some of our big iconic locations, we've already got armed patrols - if you look at Parliament, Downing Street - so it's not entirely new. 'I think people understand that where you are going to have people as enemies who've got guns, we've got to have guns. 'It's unusual, but it's an entirely rational and reasonable response to make sure that people are aware that we've got the guns, and if we have to use them we've got people well-equipped to do that.' The Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers - dubbed C-men - can deploy by road, river or air in the event of an emergency. Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the deployment of additional patrols was a direct response to the wave of terror attacks in Europe Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, pictured unveiling his new squads in Hyde Park today, said the public were not 'fools' and understood the need for armed officers Sir Bernard today said when Britain has 'people as enemies who've got guns, we've got to have guns' and warned potential terrorists his officers were well trained in how to use their weapons The powerfully armed police officers showed off their skills on river today as the new patrols got underway in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Europe The new police patrols have specialist speed boats so they can deploy from the River Thames in an emergency But Police Federation chairman Steve White warned that it could take at least two years to get the additional 1,500 firearms officers planned nationally in place. Some forces are also struggling to get the right quality of volunteers to go through the rigorous selection and training process. Mr White said: 'Some forces are getting volunteers coming forward, but they are not always being selected because they don't meet the criteria. 'It is vitally important that standards are maintained. The best-case scenario is two years in terms of recruiting an extra 1,500 officers. 'If there is an attack it is unlikely to be an isolated incident. We've got to have the resources around the country because it might happen in multiple places at the same time.' NEW POLICE TERROR OFFICERS GIVEN ADVENTURE BMW BIKES FOR MOUNTING CURBS AND DRIVING OFF-ROAD TO BEAT LONDON'S GRIDLOCKS F800GS bikes (pictured next to the new generation of armed police officers today) are powered by 798cc 4-stroke twin cylinder engines that develop 85 horse power and a top speed of 140mph The new generation of armed officers in London have been given top of the range adventure motorbikes to allow them to scramble to an incident anywhere in the capital. The new generation officers won't need training for the grey BMW F800GS motorbikes as they will ride passenger, with colleagues from the British Transport Police driving the vehicle. The motorbikes boast long suspensions and high ground clearance to make it easier to mount curbs and drive off-road. F800GS bikes are powered by 798cc 4-stroke twin cylinder engines that develop 85 horse power and a top speed of 140mph. One officer said the new bikes would allow terror police to ride off road to get around congestion on London's roads. 'Traffic can be gridlocked at the best of times - certainly in the times of an attack,' the officer told Sky News. 'If you look at Europe, at Paris and Belgium, traffic becomes a major impingement on a rapid response. 'We've looked at tactics and pillion riding with motorcycles gives us a very fast and effective response. 'The guys practice riding off road so they can bump up and down across pavements and make really good progress from A to B.' Advertisement Home Office figures for the year to March 2016 showed that the number of armed officers in England and Wales dropped by eight, but police chiefs have insisted that forces are on track to get the extra marksmen in place over the next 18 months. Plans to boost the number of armed police were put in place in the wake of the terrorist attack on Paris at the end of last year, when 130 people were killed. Police forces across the country are working to recruit and train an additional 1,500 armed officers in response to the growing terror threat, with 600 of them due to be based in London As well as patrols in the capital, the Operation Hercules officers are also set up to respond rapidly to attacks. They have BMW motorbikes to allow them to cut through traffic in an emergency The new Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers will work hand in glove with regular Metropolitan Police units as they work to protect London from the terror threat Ahead of today's announcement, Sir Bernard said: 'The reality of having to deal with armed and deadly attackers is that you need firearms officers who will use force to stop those attackers in their aim. 'Our firearms officers are the ones who will run towards the danger. They are our heroes. 'Despite the fact they are carrying guns, they are still police officers, and I want the public to approach and talk to them - they are out on our streets to reassure and help the public. 'Equally important in how we protect our capital is the relationship that our mainly unarmed officers have built with communities over many years. 'Our communities are a vital source of information and if you have fears or concerns then we want to know.' Armed Metropolitan Police counter terrorism officers take part in an exercise on the River Thames in London today, as Scotland Yard announced that the first of 600 additional armed officers were trained and operationally ready, and unveiled plans to put more marksmen on public patrol Additional armed police patrols have taken to the streets of London today in response to the spate of terror attacks in Europe despite their being no specific intelligence of an imminent threat in the UK Sir Bernard said the use of armed patrols at landmarks and tourist hotspots was intended as a deterrent amid fears hard to detect 'lone wolf' attacks could happen at any time NINE WEEKS OF TRAINING TO CARRY A GUN Firearms officers in the Metropolitan Police go through a rigorous selection and training process before they are allowed on to the streets with a gun. They have to pass a selection process in their local area, then one in the force's firearms department, before being put through an initial assessment. A nine-week training course follows, and upon successful completion the officer will be ready to carry a handgun, larger semi-automatic weapon and Taser. Firearms officers are deployed in teams of three in armed response vehicles, which also carry less lethal weapons such as shotguns that can be used, for example, for dangerous animals. Marksmen who want to specialise in counter-terrorism will spend a significant period of time as part of a routine firearms team, before additional training of at least three months. The elite squads, which now cover the capital 24 hours a day, are trained to operate in a range of environments including on water, abseiling and on motorbikes. In the event of terrorist gunmen staging a mass shooting, the officers are trained to go forward to confront the attackers and stop them. This may mean having to leave casualties behind, potentially including their colleagues. Advertisement But Mr White expressed concern over cuts to neighbourhood police teams. He said: 'Chief constables are having to make very difficult decisions in terms of managing their budgets and managing the competing priorities that they have. 'With counter-terrorism there is the top-sliced money and the extra money for firearms officers, but that is once we're having an attack. 'Of course we need them, but we must make sure that we have the relationships built up between local communities and the police service, so that people can ring the police or speak to their bobby on the street and have the confidence to raise things with them. 'If you don't have police officers having that daily contact in these communities you're never going to build these relationships. 'Over the last few years in some force areas they have had to take resources out of neighbourhood policing just to keep the wheels on in terms of reacting to incidents. 'You can't fix this overnight. The resources that have been taken out over the last couple of years is stark.' Experts have said that police in France, which has been hit by a spate of terrorist atrocities, have struggled to contain the threat, partly because of their lack of community relationships. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he will boost the number of constables dedicated to each ward in the capital. He said: 'We are returning to real neighbourhood policing with a second dedicated Pc in every London ward by the end of next year, to be the eyes and ears of our security services and build trust in our communities.' National lead for firearms Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman said in July that the majority of new marksmen will be in place by April 2017. In London, Scotland Yard's existing 2,200 marksmen are being boosted by 600, and the force intends to have 'a significant uplift' in place by the end of the year. Plans to increase the number of armed police were put in place in the wake of attacks including the atrocity in Paris at the end of last year, when 130 people were killed. Sir Bernard said: 'We need good relationships with the public, we need them to tell us when they're worried about individuals. 'One of the ways we get that information is you know your local neighbourhood officer. 'We've all faced budgetary cuts and we've all faced some hard decisions. Every force has to make its own decisions, but we've made ours clear.' Armed Police have already been deployed at major public events this summer, including the races at Royal Ascot and Wimbledon The BMW F800GS motorbikes purchased for the units are intended for use if the officers need to rapidly deploy through traffic in London Armed Metropolitan Police counter terrorism officers take part in an exercise on the River Thames in London, as Scotland Yard announced that the first of 600 additional armed officers were trained and operationally ready, and unveiled plans to put more marksmen on public patrol As well as the armed response teams on public patrol, Scotland Yard has specialist counter-terrorism firearms squads who are on call 24 hours a day. They are trained to operate on water and to abseil, and some teams operate on motorbikes. Speaking in Hyde Park on Wednesday, Chief Superintendent Martin Hendy said that by the end of the year there will have been 'a significant uplift' in the number of trained marksmen. He said Scotland Yard is getting the right quality of volunteers for the job. 'I'm confident we're getting the right people and they're coming in with their eyes wide open.' Scotland Yard stepped up its number of armed police officers on the streets of London and across the capital's parks. Above, two officers patrol near the junction of Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner in central London today Security operations were taking place across the capital today as Scotland Yard stepped up its security following the wave of terror attacks around Europe Police are renewing their appeal to track driver and woman down Police investigating an incident where an Asian driver hurled racist abuse at a white woman for crossing in front of his car too slowly have renewed their appeal to find him. The chaos unfolded at Arena Shopping Park in Rowley's Green, Coventry, in May and a video of the incident showed two people shouting at one another as horrified passers-by attempted to intervene. The Mercedes driver can be seen wildly gesturing as his passenger and members of the public try to usher him back to his car, which was outside a branch of Tesco. The driver can be seen gesturing wildly (pictured on the left) and shouting at Arena Shopping Park in Rowley's Green, Coventry, before a member of the public ushers him into his car (right) At one point the man appears to shout, 'You white motherf*****!' It is believed he started bombarding the older woman with abuse because she had crossed the road in front of the his car 'too slowly'. He is eventually guided back to his car where he then lifted his arms threateningly and shouted: 'What you going to do?' After some more shouting, the woman responds with: 'Go and crash your car.' Brian Kavanagh filmed the mayhem when he was shopping with his 14-year-old son on Sunday May 22. He told the Coventry Telegraph that his son asked him why the man was 'threatening to kill an old lady'. A witness told the Coventry Telegraph that his son asked him why the man was 'threatening to kill an old lady' However the driver cannot be heard saying this in the film. He added that it was unexpected - particularly as Coventry is 'such a multicultural city'. West Midlands Police have confirmed the incident is being treated as a racially aggravated public order offence. Lizzy Groombridge Byrne, 22, has claimed a Tesco worker swore at her son Rhuben (left) for picking up more than one piece of fruit from the firm's Free Fruit For Kids table at her local store A furious mother has slammed Tesco after she claimed one of their staff told her four-year-old son not to 'take the f****** p***'. Lizzy Groombridge Byrne, 22, was shopping her local store in Camborne, Cornwall, on Monday afternoon when her son Rhuben picked up a free banana from the firm's Free Fruit For Kids table. As she turned her back, Rhuben - known as 'Roo' - then reached out to the pieces of apple, oranges and pineapple laid out on the display. The supermarket has rolled out the scheme at stores across the country to encourage children to enjoy a healthy snack - but it is supposed to be one piece of fruit per child. The mother-of-two, who has a one-year-old son called Logan, said: 'I turned round to look at the sandwiches and heard a senior male member of staff say to my son "Uh hum, don't take the f*****g p***, it's one'. 'He swore at my son because he'd picked up an extra piece of fruit, but he's only a small child, for goodness sake, and it was hardly the crime of the century. 'I was disgusted at him using language like that to my son. 'I was left feeling embarrassed in front of everyone, and my son was upset at being told off by someone who had no right to do so. 'To swear was just one step further. 'There would have been better ways to have addressed the situation and as a manager I'd assume he knows policies when dealing with customers. The mother-of-two, who described her eldest son as 'kind natured and clever', said Rhuben would usually pick up fruit for his one-year-old brother Logan (right) 'My child had taken another piece of fruit and yes, I agree it should be one per child, but there are better ways to speak to people, especially children. 'It's a little stall with a free fruit sign and he recognised it from other stores. 'He usually gets two pieces of fruit, one for him and one for his brother and they share. 'I wouldn't mind if [the Tesco employee] said "it's only per child to save some for the other hungry children". 'I said to him "how dare you speak to him like that". He just walked off. Some of the other customers agreed that what he'd said wasn't on. 'I just want an apology.' Miss Groombridge Byrne has lodged a formal complaint and vowed not to shop at Tesco again. Miss Byrne was shopping at this Tesco store in Camborne when the alleged incident happened Responding to the allegations, Tesco said their employee had acted professionally, following an investigation. A spokesperson from Tesco said: 'We have investigated our customer's complaint and found that our colleague was helpful and courteous, so it is disappointing to hear the exchange described in this way. A devastated father found his daughter murdered less than a mile away from her New York City home, just hours after she had left for a jog on her own. Karina Vetrano was sexually assaulted and strangled to death in Howard Beach in Queens late on Tuesday night, police said. The 30-year-old avid runner had been strangled and her pants had been pulled down, the NYPD has revealed. The caterer was a speech therapist and aspiring writer who shared images on her Instagram of lavish trips around the world. Two weeks ago she was walking around Nice, France, just hours before the terrorist attack that left 85 people dead. Her father Phil, a retired FDNY firefighter who was working during 9/11, was with police when he made the horrifying discovery. Scroll down for video Karina Vetrano was murdered near her home in Howard Beach, Queens, after she went out for a run on her own. Police say she was strangled and sexually assaulted Vetrano, pictured, was an avid runner and kept in shape by jogging every day. She was also an aspiring writer NYPD patrol cars are seen surrounding the marsh where the 30-year-old's body was found on Tuesday night. Her father reported her missing after she didn't return home This map shows her body was found only a mile away from her home Her father Phil, a retired FDNY firefighter who was working during 9/11, was with police when he made the devastating discovery Mr Vetrano returned to the scene on Wednesday morning to speak to detectives just hours after he found his daughter dead He reported her missing at 5pm after she failed to return from her afternoon workout at Spring Creek Park, near the Belt Parkway. The pair would have been running together, but a back injury meant Mr Vetrano had to stay at home. He was worried when she didn't return, so called a police chief who lives nearby before phoning 911. Mr Vetrano was later seen walking alongside a NYPD bloodhound smoking a cigar as they scoured the area for his daughter. Police officers found her cellphone near a bicycle path and then found her body closer to the shoreline. Those living nearby told reporters that 'hobos and bums' often congregate in the bushes just off the bike path. One said there are 'shanty houses' nearby. NYPD's Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said on Wednesday that Vetrano's father told her not to run down the path. He then described the heartbreaking events that led to her body being discovered. Karina Vetrano, pictured, shared photographs of herself of vacation After Mr Vetrano called the police, Boyce said, he led officers down the track where she could have been heading towards the beach. He then spotted her phone and started running. Moments later he found her lifeless remains face down in the tall grass. Boyce added in his media briefing that she was texting a friend when she was attacked. There is also evidence she was sexually assaulted, but Boyce would not elaborate on the details of the sickening crime. Cops are believed to have questioned two homeless people who live in the area but are yet to make any arrests. They are also looking at surveillance video from nearby homes in a bid to catch the killer. 'Right now we're investigating anybody who uses this park,' Boyce said on Wednesday morning. The NYPD's chief spokesman, Stephen Davis, said it appeared Vetrano had been sexually assaulted. He said: 'The [medical examiner] needs to confirm that, but there were marks on the body that were consistent with sexual assault'. The medical examiner has not given an official cause of death, but police sources have said her body had asphyxiation marks. A neighbor, who only described himself as John to the New York Daily News, said her father had warned of the dangers of running near the weeds. Speaking to the paper, he added that the pair would work out frequently. He said: 'She used to go jogging with her father. If the weeds were not that tall, we would have seen the girl jogging on the path... You can grab that girl, and we wouldn't know it.' Vetrano described herself as a 'thrill seeker' and a 'day dreamer' on her Instagram page. She went to the Catholic Archbishop Molloy High School. On Wednesday, school staff wrote on their Facebook page: 'We ask our Stanner family to pray for Karina Vetrano, Class of 2004, of Howard Beach, who suddenly and tragically passed away last night. 'She is the daughter of retired firefighter Phil Vetrano, Class of 1974. Please keep Karina and her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers at this very difficult moment.' A metal gate covers the entrance to the path where Vetrano's body was found NYPD detectives have said Vetrano was texting a friend when she was attacked Two weeks ago she was walking around Nice just hours before the deadly terrorist attacks Miss Vetrano and her father Phil were close. Last year they took part in the Tunnel To Towers run in New York together (left) Vetrano (left) is seen celebrating the masters degree she earned from St. John's University in 2015 outside her father's home. A picture from her father's Facebook shows him at Ground Zero showing the clean-up operation after 9/11 They have shared a close bond since her childhood, and refers to her father as her best friend She earned a master's degree from St. John's University in 2015, and worked as a caterer at the Vetro Lounge in Howard Beach, her neighbors told the Daily News. Away from her work, she had a passion for writing. One of her pieces, The Paradox, was made into a short film in 2013. She had a blog made up of pieces of her work,Karina Vee. In one post, she wrote: 'I think the most painful truth of existence is that nothing lasts forever.' She also wrote: The majority of my life is on paper. I write to savor the moments that Im terrified will get lost and forgotten in time if I dont document them.' She hadn't uploaded any new stories or posts since 2014. A huge number of pictures on social media showed her partying with friends or in workout gear. A police helicopter circles above the scene where Karina Vetrano's body was found Pictured is the home in Queens, New York, where Karina Vetrano lived. Police were outside the home throughout the night after her body was found Her father's home, where she was seen stretching in social media pictures, is nearby A man was seen entering her father's home with his shoulder around a woman as police continued to investigate the scene There was a heavy police presence around the marshes as the NYPD began their hunt for the murder suspect Detectives have said they are speaking to anyone who may have been in the area at the time They include snaps of her enjoying lavish events in St Tropez and New York. A picture on her father's Facebook page shows him in FDNY uniform, standing in at Ground Zero during the clean-up operation. However she had recently been very close to another huge tragedy. She shared a snap of her sitting next to a fountain in Nice on July 13 - a day before a truck ran down almost 400 people - killing 85. Alongside the image, she wrote: 'I'm at a loss for words... This picture was taken less than 24 hours ago in Nice. 'We walked around the city for hours admiring how beautiful it was, & only a few hours ago I was still there. 'I can't believe this world, but I'm so grateful to be home. Thank you to everyone who has messaged to check in on me .' After news of her death surfaced, tributes poured in for the fitness fanatic. Nightclub promoter Jewels Ferrante tweeted: 'RIP KARINA. I am heart broken, mortified. You were amazing and full of life.' In a recent photo, taken on her father's 60th birthday, Miss Vetrano called him her 'hero' and wrote: 'I'm so blessed to have a father I can call my best friend.' Vetrano described herself as a 'thrill seeker' and a 'day dreamer' on her Instagram page She also uploaded a picture of her posing with Donnie Wahlberg after she bumped into him on the set of Blue Bloods The stunning jogger used to go jogging on a daily basis with her father, but a back injury meant he had to stay home on the night she was killed She is seen lounging at the Nikki Beach nightclub in Monte Carlo, France, during a party She worked part time as a waitress, but spent her time away from work writing and running Away from her work, she had a passion for writing. One of her pieces, The Paradox, was made into a short film in 2013 that she also starred in Mike Paladino wrote: 'I can't believe this.. I am sick to my stomach. My friend after 20 years! Karina i will miss u sooo much. My heart is broken.. My deepest condolences to the Vetrano family, what a shame to happen to such great people.' Marc Gagliano added: 'I don't know you that well... it's killing me that some psycho did this to you. Makes zero sense how someone could do this to such a beautiful person. My heart bleeds for you. Sending my prayers to you and your family. Disgusted beyond belief.' Singer and former American Idol contestant Pia Toscano , who lives in Howard Beach, wrote on Instagram: 'Rest Peacefully Karina. My thoughts & Prayers are with the Vetrano family during this difficult time.' New York State Senator Joe Addabbo wrote on Facebook: 'My prayers are with the Vetrano family today, upon learning of the tragic news of Karina Vetrano in Howard Beach.' Another person on Twitter wrote: 'RIP Karina Vetrano, I can't fathom that the people who hurt you exist in this world. This is why I walk my girl everywhere. I'm sorry.' Vetrano's family have not commented on her horrifying death. But friends have told reporters it has 'destroyed' them. Howard Beach, a predominantly Italian-American neighborhood, made headlines 30 years ago when a group of white teenagers hurled racial epithets and attacked three black men whose car broke down as they drove from Brooklyn to Queens. One of them, Michael Griffith, 23, was chased onto the Belt Parkway where he was hit and killed by a car. Three of the men were jailed in 1987 after a high-profile trial. Miss Vetrano's Instagram account (right) has been inundated with messages from friends and acquaintances devastated by her death Vetrano competed in the Spartan Race recently at the home of the New York Mets, Citifield Caesar, a pit bull mix, could be euthanized after allegedly killing two dogs and a cat A Staten Island couple has launched a legal challenge to save their pet pit bull from being euthanized for allegedly killing two dogs and a cat. Kristina and Douglas Panattieri argue their dog, Caesar, is entitled to 'due process' and cannot be put down without a fair hearing. Seven-year-old Caesar is on doggie death row in New York for allegedly killing a Chihuahua, a Maltese and a cat in three separate attacks since 2010. The Panattieris are taking the city to court after the latest incident, in which the 70lb pit bull fatally mauled Eugene Charles' beloved pet Chihuahua, Charlie, according to city records. After escaping a back yard Caesar ripped apart the Chihuahua and left Mr Charles, 77, with 18 puncture wounds when he tried to stop the attack. Police seized Caesar from his owners and the dog remains locked up in a pound while the city petitions to have him euthanized. Richard Bruce Rosenthal, a lawyer hired by the Panattieris, said the couple refuses to go along with the administrative procedure, claiming it is 'a major constitutional issue' because it does not provide due process. 'New York state law requires certain minimal due-process rights that the city simply ignores,' Rosenthal told the New York Post. 'The state requires that the city prove their case by clear and convincing evidence. Caesar's owners, Kristina and Douglas Panattieri, are taking the city to court to save the dog Caesar has been locked up at a pound since Charlie (pictured), a tiny Chihuahua, was killed 'The bottom line is they want to kill him without a fair hearing.' A spokeswoman for New York's Law Department defended its procedures and said they provide due process. According to city records, Caesar entered a yard and killed a Maltese in 2015 and in 2010 killed a cat and injured its owner. The Panattieris blamed the Chihuahua and cat for their own deaths and claimed Charles was injured by his own dog. Charlie's owner, Eugene Charles, suffered a hand injury when he tried to stop the attack After the attack, Charles said he got the Chihuahua for his wife after their son died during heart surgery five years ago. 'The pit bull was thrashing Charlie back and forth like he was a rag doll. He just ripped Charlie apart,' he told the Staten Island Advance as he recounted the incident. A plane was forced to make a diversion after a man allegedly claimed to have a gun on board a holiday flight. Passengers were left terrified when crew members rushed through the plane as it suddenly began its descent and touched down more than 600 miles away from its destination. The man, who was sitting near the back of the EasyJet flight, was arrested by Portuguese police when the Edinburgh to Madeira service arrived in Lisbon. Video footage from the flight, which emerged today, shows the aftermath of the incident, where the man is confronted by the pilot before being removed by police A row is believed to have broken out when the man behaved 'disruptively' towards other travellers - leaving families panic-stricken Video footage of the incident, which appeared on The Daily Record, emerged online today and captures the aftermath. A row is believed to have broken out when the man behaved 'disruptively' towards other travellers - leaving families panic-stricken. It was only after touching down that the pilot explained that he had been left with no choice but to make a diversion. A spokesman for the Portuguese police force today confirmed that a 50-year-old Scottish man had been arrested for disrupting the flight. He added: 'The citizen appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. No gun was found. No passengers or crew members were injured.' A woman on board the flight said hand luggage stored in overhead compartments was searched by the cabin crew during the diversion. She said: 'We weren't aware of trouble until we were told to fasten our seat belts as we were going to experience light turbulence. 'We were at the front of the plane and the disturbance was at the back. The man, who was sitting near the back of the EasyJet flight, was arrested by Portuguese police when the plane arrived in Lisbon (file photo) 'After about ten minutes, it became obvious we were descending and the captain said we were landing in Lisbon for a passenger to get off. 'At first we thought someone was ill but they hadn't asked if anyone medically qualified was on board.' After the plane landed in Lisbon, the captain told passengers that police would be boarding the jet. The woman said: 'The police entered the rear of the plane and took the passenger off before coming back on and taking statements from the pilot and crew.' She added: 'Full credit to the captain and crew for their handling of the situation. The majority of passengers were not aware of trouble until we were in Lisbon.' The Edinburgh to Madeira service made a diversion at Lisbon airport, following the disruption on board the EasyJet flight Another person on the flight also claimed the man had said he had a weapon. 'Once we landed in Lisbon we were advised to stay in our seats as the police would be boarding to remove the passenger who had been abusive to those around him and said he had a gun,' said the passenger. The plane finally arrived at Madeira's Funchal airport two hours later than originally scheduled. Passengers waiting there to return to Edinburgh from their holidays on the same plane were also delayed. One passenger, who was on board the diverted flight, took to Twitter to reveal the 'disruptive passenger' was in the hands of the police in Portugal Video footage has since emerged from the flight showing the aftermath of the incident, where the man is confronted by the pilot before being removed by police. In the clip, the man is asked if he has a bag, to which he replies several times, 'I've got a bag'. He is then told to take his bag with him and says 'your bus, your bag'. The man, who is wearing headphones around his neck, puts up very little resistance as he is told to leave the plane. Today, EasyJet apologised to passengers, but said the airline had no other choice but to land in Lisbon. The pilot explained that he was left with no choice but to act and make a diversion (file photo) A spokesman said: 'EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY6957 from Edinburgh to Funchal on August 1 diverted to Lisbon and was met by police due to a passenger behaving disruptively.' 'EasyJet's cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time. Philippine police commandos have killed six bodyguards who worked for a town mayor who turned himself in over links to the illegal drug trade, as President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug war shifted from street peddlers to officials. National police spokesman Dionardo Carlos told reporters there had been a gunbattle on Wednesday between the police and bodyguards working for mayor Rolando Espinosa after police went to search Espinosa's home on Leyte island in the central Philippines. Espinosa, mayor of Albuera town, turned himself in to the national police chief on Tuesday after Duterte asked him and his son, Kerwin, to surrender within 24 hours over their involvement in the drug trade, warning they would be killed if they resisted arrest. An armed and bloodied Filipino lies at the gate of Mayor Rolando Espinosa's house in the town of Albuera, Leyte island, Philippines Kerwin Espinosa is reportedly 'the number one drug lord' in the region and is 'armed and dangerous' while on the run Espinosa has publicly denied any part in the drug trade but said his son was peddling 'shabu' (methamphetamine), which he gets from a jailed Chinese drug trader. His son Kerwin is reportedly 'the number one drug lord' in the region and is 'armed and dangerous' while on the run. Espinosa admitted that his son has had plastic surgery, like him. At least six alleged supporters of Mayor Rolando Espinosa were killed during a raid conducted by police at his family compound in Albuera town in the early morning hours Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was subject to a 'shoot on sight' order if resisting arrest that was issued by President Rodrigo Duterte, surrendered ahead of a 24 hour deadline on 02 August Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa said: 'Your father already surrendered so you should follow your father... Your life is really in danger.' 'The incident this morning was related to the investigation on alleged drug trade by the mayor and his son,' Carlos said. He said six men were killed and six others escaped. 'We have recovered 13 high-powered firearms and five pistols from the scene,' he said. Charges would be laid against the mayor for keeping unlicensed guns, Carlos said. The exterior of Mayor Rolando Espinosa's expensive house in the town of Albuera. The Mayor is suspected of drug trafficking and the coddling of drug lords The raid signalled a shift in Duterte's drug war from running after street-level peddlers and users to powerful regional politicians and foreign drug traffickers. Duterte has promised to name dozens of governors, mayors and other politicians he says are involved in the drug trade after identifying three police generals and two former police generals who were protecting drug traffickers. Police said charges had been filed against another mayor from the southern island of Mindanao after he escaped from a police raid last week, when 16 people were arrested 1 million pesos ($21,263) worth of drugs were seized. An alleged drug dealer and victim of a summary execution with his head wrapped in tape is examined by police on July 8, in Manila Filipino police crime investigators gather evidence next to victims killed by unidentified gunmen in Manila, Philippines, during Duterte's war on illegal drugs Close to 400 people have been killed in police operations against illegal drugs since Duterte was sworn in as president on June 30. Media and rights groups have put the figure almost twice as high at 770, including more than 200 killed by vigilante groups. A Melbourne man who shot and killed his friend as they posed for a selfie with a sawn-off shotgun in a hotel room has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Albert Rapovski, 20, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Wednesday after he killed his best mate, 22-year-old Mahamd Hassan, when he shot him in the face on March 5. Hassan had told Rapovski to unload his 12-gauge shotgun in case he accidentally shot someone just two hours before he was killed, according to court documents. Mahamd Hassan, pictured, was killed by his friend after posing for a selfie with a sawn-off shotgun held to his head The trainee roof plumber had gone with some friends to meet Rapovski at the Park Inn Motel in Melbourne's north. Rapovski, who was engaged to be married the following month, had invited a group of friends to the Kingsbury motel after spending the afternoon in a room with a girl who was not his fiance, a police summary tendered in court shows. When his friends knocked on the door, Rapovski answered with 'his shotty' in his hand. His friends were upset by the sight of it, police say. They'd realised Rapovski didn't have a good understanding of how to operate the firearm - which he wasn't licensed to carry - when they took it out to a rural property a few weeks prior. On the day he died, Hassan said Rapovski should unload the gun, so the 20-year-old opened it and allowed another friend to remove two cartridges. Hassan, 22, pictured left, had asked his friend to remove the bullets from the gun two hours before he was shot Hassan and a friend then started to play with the gun, taking photos of themselves on their mobile phones. Rapovski, from Lalor, was pacing back and forth, shaking, clenching his fists and tensing his arms. He said he felt like he was going to 'blow up' - or overdose on GHB - after taking that drug and also ice, according to court documents. Hassan told Rapovski to drink some water but he refused and joined his friends posing with the gun. After the selfie turned fatal Hassan, pictured, was left alone in a hotel room while his friend ran away - attempting to get out of the country As Rapovski aimed the gun at Hassan's head, Hassan held up his phone camera to capture the moment. He was killed when Rapovski then fired the gun into his face. Rapovski cried 'I shot Mo, I shot Mo,' before fleeing, court documents state. The motel owner discovered Hassan's body alone in the room at 10.50pm. Hassan, pictured, was found dead by hotel staff - he was alone in the room when they found him at 10.50pm The next day Rapovski attempted to fly to Macedonia, telling a friend who was a travel agent he needed to urgently visit his sick grandmother. He was intercepted by customs officers at Melbourne airport on March 6 and later charged with murder. Rapovski on Wednesday pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter in the Melbourne Magistrates Court. He was remanded in custody to appear for a plea hearing at a later date. The men were inside a room at the Parkside Inn when the young man was killed The European Union's director general for trade has reportedly warned the bloc's trade policy is 'close to death' if its deal with Canada falls through. The EU-Canada trade deal, which has taken seven years to negotiate, is one of the most comprehensive ever struck. Jean-Luc Demarty said Brussels would have a 'big credibility problem' if the agreement collapsed. The EU commission's director general for trade Jean-Luc Demarty (left) said the EU-Canada deal falls through EU policy would be 'close to death. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) previously said the country will remain 'strong partners' of the EU and Britain Demarty spoke at the bloc's trade policy committee after France and Germany insisted that a trade deal with Canada - the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) - will have to be agreed on by all 38 national and regional parliaments before it can be signed off by Canada. Notes from the meeting, leaked to Politico, say Demarty 'emphasised the outstanding importance of CETA' . He spoke about how important it was to complete a very good deal and also how CETA is a test for the EU's trade policy. Demarty spoke at the bloc's trade policy committee after France and Germany insisted that a trade deal with Canada will have to be ratified by all 38 national and regional parliaments 'Canada is a third country which stands very close to the EU. If the EU is not able to ratify this agreement, the EU trade policy would have a big credibility problem; it would be 'close to death',' the leaked notes say. An EU-Canada summit will take place on October 27 but the deal may still not have been ratified by then. In July, Canada's trade minister said large parts of a free trade deal between Canada and the European Union should come into force next year, even though the EU's executive commission opted against fast-track approval. Free trade is becoming a harder sell for governments amid a shift towards protectionism 'This is a really important and great next step,' Chrystia Freeland said in a interview. WHAT IS THE EU-CANADA TRADE DEAL (CETA)? The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a freshly negotiated EU-Canada treaty. The EU Commission says it will remove customs duties, end restrictions on access to public contracts, open-up the services market, offer predictable conditions for investors and help prevent illegal copying of EU innovations and traditional products. Because CETA will eliminate all duties on industrial goods, European exporters are expected to save almost 600 million a year. The agreement has also promised to fully uphold Europe's standards in areas such as food safety and worker's rights. Negotiators finished the negotiations on (CETA) in August 2014 but it has not yet been ratified. The deal is facing opposition from campaign groups and trade unions, who say CETA is as dangerous as their bete noire - a planned EU-U.S. trade deal called the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). They say the deals hand power to multinationals and are a threat to democracy. Advertisement The commission, facing increased popular suspicion about big trade deals, said it would give member states' national parliaments the right to approve or reject the free trade agreement. But Freeland said she expected the European Parliament - a separate body which groups legislators from all 28 EU nations - to ratify the deal early next year. Under EU rules this means that around 90 percent of the agreement, which she described as a 'push back against angry populism', would come into force provisionally. But free trade is becoming a harder sell for governments amid a shift towards protectionism, which helped fuel Britain's vote last month to leave the EU as well as the rise of U.S. Republican presidential contender Donald Trump. 'It's important for Europe and for the world that we show it's possible to do great, progressive trade agreements,' said Freeland, citing worker and environmental protections in CETA, or the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. 'This is Canada and Europe's push back against the angry populism we're seeing in so many parts of the world.' Freeland also said Montreal was keen for the UK to piggyback on its comprehensive free trade deal. A teenager has spoken out about her horrific eight-year rape ordeal and revealed that her abuser even made her get a tattoo of his name. The girl, who is now 17 and cannot be identified for legal reasons, said Stephen Reeson, 52, began his string of attacks on her when she was just eight years old. Describing Reeson as 'the paedophile who stole my childhood and ruined my family,' she explained how her abuser even convinced her that they were in a loving relationship. Stephen Reeson admitted a single charge of repeatedly having sex with the teenager over a nine month period at the High Court in Edinburgh (pictured) And then six years after Reeson had become acquainted with the girl's family, he made her tattoo his name on her hip, reported Jennifer Hyland of the The Daily Record. Speaking to the paper she explained that he told her to get the tattoo in Chinese so that other people would be unable to read what it said. The girl, who was just 14 at the time, now plans to get the ink covered up after she revealed that it is a constant reminder of something she would 'rather forget'. Over the course of the eight-year ordeal, Reeson even impregnated the teenager and damaged her relationship with her mother, who she said failed to believe her when she eventually spoke out about what had been happening. At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Armstrong described Reeson's crimes as 'grave' before sentencing him to four years in prison Reeson, from Plymouth, first met the girl and her family in 2006 in Uddingston, Lanarkshire. Reeson's crimes were described as 'a grave crime against which young women must be protected', by Lord Armstrong The victim described him as appearing to be both 'caring' and 'doting' prior to the first attack. From there the assaults became more frequent. The girl said that at one point 'he was having sex with me every single day'. When the victim was 13 she attempted to put an end to the abuse and told a teacher that she had been raped by Reeson. She said that no one believed her, prompting her to almost accept what was happening to the point where the abuse 'became routine'. The victim also revealed that she started to believe what her abuser was telling her and became convinced that he loved her. Reeson had told her that when she turned 16 they would run away to the Seychelles together and get married. At the age of 14 the victim even suffered a miscarriage. She recalled not knowing that she had been pregnant and the 'excruciating pain' she was in as she called Reeson for help. Lord Armstrong said the 'Court will not flinch from making it plain that such crimes will attract a significant prison sentence' Reeson was arrested in January 2015 after the police received a tip-off, reported the paper. The victim explained that at first she was reluctant to co-operate with the police in a bid to protect her abuser before it dawned on her what he had done. Reeson admitted a single charge of repeatedly having sex with the teenager over a nine month period when she was aged between 14 and 15. His crimes were described as 'a grave crime against which young women must be protected', by Lord Armstrong. He added that the 'Court will not flinch from making it plain that such crimes will attract a significant prison sentence.' Advertisement Families on summer holidays in Britain faced more bad news today as 40mph gusts and 1.5 inches of rain arrived. The washout August continued after the UK had freezing temperatures with -0.8C in the Highlands yesterday. There is also a flood alert in Somerset - and it all comes just a fortnight after Oxfordshire hit 33.5C on July 19. Meanwhile up to 0.8in of rain in an hour and 1.6in in three hours could fall in northern Scotland this afternoon. But things should improve by the weekend with forecasters expecting temperatures of up to 28C in the South. Going for a splash: Surfers and body boarders on Polzeath beach in Cornwall make the most of the summer today Taking to the water: Tourists enjoy the weather at Polzeath beach 17 miles north east of Newquay in Cornwall today Riding the waves: Bradley Morgan and Gilbert Webster enjoy bodyboarding on Polzeath beach in Cornwall today Time for a 99? Adults and children queue up for a treat at an ice cream van on Polzeath beach in Cornwall today Taking time out: A man snoozes on a deckchair in St James's Park in London today as Britain hopes for a warm weekend Heading outside: A group of boys play with a ball in the sunshine on the grass of Green Park in London today Relaxing: A man and woman take off their shoes as they make the most of the weather at Green Park in London Sat back: A woman sits on a deckchair in Green Park today as forecasters said temperatures could reach 28C by the weekend An area of low pressure pushing in from the Atlantic will bring heavy and frequent showers in the North West, and it will also be unseasonably windy today with gusts of up to 40mph expected across western exposures. However things are looking better towards the weekend. Met Office forecaster Emma Sharples told MailOnline this afternoon: After having a bit of a cooler spell the next couple of days we get tropical air spreading in.' She added: 'It looks as though over the course of the weekend it could be mid to high 20s. We'll be looking at temperatures probably up to 26, 27... 28C not out of the question. 'On Saturday we get an area of low pressure which is approaching from the Atlantic which will spread some rain into the North West of the UK - [but] northern England southwards should have a fairly fine and bright sunny day. Forecasters expect today to be wet and unsettled in Scotland and Northern Ireland with thundery rain outbreaks, but for most other areas there will sunny spells and showers once rain clears the far South East of the country. Tonight will see showers ease across Scotland, but some patchy rain is likely to persist through the night. There will be clear spells and scattered showers elsewhere, with the rain most frequent in the North and West. Varying picture: This afternoon's forecast was for wind and rain in the North, but it was expected to be drier in the South Pressure map: An occluded front (in pink), formed when the cold front of a depression catches up with the warm front, is over Britain today, bringing cloud and precipitation - in the form of more than 1.5 inches of rain in just three hours Swirling: This wind map shows how it will also be unseasonably breezy today with gusts of up to 40mph expected in the West Chilly: Next week could also be unseasonably cold with forecasters expecting temperatures 7C below average for August Wider view: A map for next Friday shows how the cold temperatures in Britain will compare to warmer parts of the Continent Being watched: The Environment Agency has a flood alert for the Upper River Tamar in Somerset, where river levels are high A fortnight ago: On July 19 temperatures hit 33.5C on Britain's hottest day of the year so far. London's Green Park is pictured Tomorrow will be brighter and less windy, with sunny spells, variable amounts of cloud and scattered showers. Pouring: 1.6in of rain could hit Scotland in three hours today But some showers could be heavy with the chance of hail and thunder, particularly in the afternoon. Friday will be generally dry and fine with sunny spells, although the odd light shower cannot be ruled out. And on Saturday, Scotland will become wet and windy, but it will be drier elsewhere with some warm sunshine. However next week could also be unseasonably cold with temperatures 7C below average for August. MetDesk forecaster Brendan Jones told MailOnline today: The reason for the potential unseasonably cool weather is that low pressure may well track to the north and east of the UK, bringing behind it a flow of northerly winds from the Arctic. These winds are certainly not as cold as wed see in winter but air temperatures are still likely to be several degrees below normal for mid-August. The Environment Agency has a flood alert for the Upper River Tamar in Somerset, where river levels are high. Half a month's worth of rain fell in parts of the UK on Monday night as the dry spell came to an abrupt end. Due to warm, moist air being brought from the Atlantic, West Glamorgan in Wales saw 1.5in of rain in 12 hours. A defiant Australian family fighting to remain in Scotland say their battle is not yet lost despite being urged to leave the UK voluntarily by the Home Office. Gregg Brain said he and his wife Kathryn are continuing their 'desperate' search for a job that meets visa requirements after it was confirmed their leave to remain would not be extended further. The family, who moved from Australia to Dingwall in the Scottish Highlands with their son Lachlan, who is now seven, in 2011, had been given until midnight Monday to secure employment that would meet the specifications for a UK tier two visa. Kathryn and Gregg Brain, and their son Lachlan, have been told they must leave the UK after failing to meet the Government's criteria on immigration, according to their MP They initially moved to the UK on Mrs Brain's student visa but a two-year post-study visa scheme then on offer was later withdrawn by the Government. The couple had been hopeful of an 11th hour reprieve, or a further extension, but letter from UK Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said there are 'no exceptional considerations' that would justify granting the family leave to remain outside the immigration rules. They will now be expected to leave the UK voluntarily, and the Home Office has not commented on what will happen if they do not. Immigration staff will be meeting with the family later this week to discuss their departure. Mr Brain told BBC News: 'We've been told we have to go, however I certainly would not nearly characterise this as being a lost battle or over. 'We're still talking to our lawyer about options going forward. In fact I understand that we may still be able to make a complying application if an employer comes forward. The family, who moved from Australia to Dingwall in the Scottish Highlands in 2011, had until the end of Monday to secure a job for Mrs Brain that meets Home Office visa requirements 'So certainly we'll be talking to the Home Office about what arrangements need to be made going forward. We're certainly a long way from giving up yet. 'We're still desperately searching from an employer and I hope that one will come forward and we'll be able to make an application to allow us to stay.' The letter from Mr Goodwill was sent to SNP MP Ian Blackford and copied to the family and Scottish External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop. In it, he said: 'As we have both agreed, either Kathryn or Gregg Brain needed to secure a job offer which qualifies under tier two, the skilled work route. The Brain family sold their home in Australia and moved across the word after being enticed by a 40 million 'homecoming' PR campaign by the Scottish government, as well as the promise of a post-study work visa. Their son Lachlan is now taught in Gaelic and they say his education will suffer if they are forced to move 'I regret that that has not yet happened, despite having had since 2012, nearly a year having passed since Kathryn finished her studies and the three extensions that have been granted to the family on an exceptional basis. 'We need to treat the Brain family fairly, but also everyone else in a similar position. 'There is no fundamental difference between their circumstances and that of any other individuals who came to the UK on a temporary study visa and there are no exceptional considerations which would justify granting them leave outside the immigration rules.' Kathryn and Gregg Brain, pictured with their son Lachlan, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and MSP Kate Forbes, who have backed their fight to stay in the UK Mr Goodwill said the case will now be handled by the family returns unit of immigration enforcement, and Scotland-based family engagement staff will contact the Brains later this week 'to begin discussions with them regarding a voluntary departure to Australia'. In response, Mr Blackford, the Brains' MP, accused the Home Office of having 'callous disregard' for the family. He said: 'The Home Office claims the family arrived after the post-study work visa had been removed, however when the family received their visa, the post-study work visa was in place and it was the receipt of their visa that triggered their decision to leave Australia. 'The Brain family have only ever asked for the post-study work visa to be honoured but the UK Government has doggedly opposed this - and yet they have just announced a new pilot visa scheme for international students at a handful of universities in the south of England. 'I will continue to work over the coming days with the family - the challenge we all face is to unearth an opportunity that will allow the family to stay.' The Brain family sold their home in Australia and moved across the word after being enticed by a 40 million 'homecoming' PR campaign by the Scottish government, as well as the promise of a post-study work visa. The couple, pictured giving evidence to members of the Home Affairs Select Committee, were hopeful prior to Monday night's deadline that they would be able to stay in Scotland WHY ARE THE BRAINS FACING DEPORTATION? Gregg and Kathryn Brain moved to the UK legally in 2011, under a Government scheme designed to encourage people to move to the Scottish Highlands and settle in rural areas. Mr Brain and his son came to Scotland as dependants of Mrs Brain, who was on a student visa at a time when a two-year post-study visa was in existence, while she took a university course in Scottish history. Mr Brain found full-time work in a legal office and his wife had a job at an estate agency. However, in March 2011, just three months before the Brain family arrived in Scotland, this scheme was abolished. According to Mr Brain, the family had applied and been accepted for the scheme in 2010, and did not become aware of the changes to the rules until 2012. The couple were then told they were no longer allowed to work. The Home Office also seized their passports and warned their bank accounts could be frozen. Mr Brain says their lack of funds meant they would automatically fail a visa requirement for families to show 945 in 'maintenance funds' for each family member. In order to stay, Mrs Brain has to find a job which meets tougher Tier Two visa requirements, with a minimum salary threshold of 20,800. Advertisement The government announced the discontinuation of the visa scheme in March 2011, three months before the Brain family arrived in Scotland. Mr Brain said they applied and been accepted for the scheme in 2010, and did not become aware of the changes to the rules until two years later, shortly before they came into effect. The family have said they have racked up a five-figure debt in their fight with the Home Office, and argued that if they were not allowed to remain, they would be left 'homeless, jobless and significantly in debt'. Mr Brain said the family have received around a dozen job offers but none that meet the specifications for a UK tier two visa. A Home Office spokesman said: 'We have not received any fresh application from or on behalf of the Brain family which would allow them to stay in the UK. The family had moved to Dingwall in the Scottish Highlands on Mrs Brains student visa but the terms of their stay were later changed by the Government. They say they will be left homeless, jobless and significantly in debt if forced to leave the country by the Home Office 'We have given the family three extensions on an exceptional basis over a number of months to allow them to try to secure a job that would allow them to meet the immigration rules, but this cannot be open-ended. 'In line with established policy designed to apply evenly and fairly to everyone, anyone who is unable to regularise their stay is expected to leave the UK voluntarily.' Mr Brain told the Press and Journal that was 'disappointed, but not enormously surprised'. He added: 'Its obviously something that we will be talking to our lawyer about. 'We may still be able to make an application even at this point we are disappointed but we are not giving up.' A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'The First Minister made a further appeal to the Home Secretary earlier this week and the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs spoke to the Immigration Minister yesterday to urge the UK Government to show some discretion to the Brain family and extend their stay under tier two of the UK points-based system in order for them to seek suitable employment. 'We are deeply disappointed that the UK Government does not recognise the family's contribution to the community and is unwilling to consider extending their stay. 'The Brains are one of many cases where people who can make a valuable contribution to Scotland's economy and society are let down by the ever tightening UK immigration rules, further demonstrating that this is a system which is not fit for Scotland's needs.' Actor Tom Conti said on Monday that he would provide money to the Brain family to ensure they maintain a minimum balance in their bank account in order to meet visa requirements, as he compared the Home Office's actions to the Soviet Union. He told BBC Radio 4's World At One programme: 'If you're not allowed to work, how do you maintain a minimum balance? If that would help - I remember the figure 3,000 was mentioned, they have to have that - I would happily give them that if it would help. 'But the Home Office has to really behave properly and not do things that we'd expect of the Soviet Union or Iran and move the goalposts when people have moved their families in good faith.' THE BRAINS' SCOTTISH HOME... The family settled in Dingwall, near Inverness in Ross-shire after moving from Australia. Population: 5,491 Education: The Brains' seven-year-old son, Lachlan, is schooled entirely in Gaelic. Foundations: In 2013, archaeologists revealed that Dingwall was likely to have been the location of a medieval Norse parliament. Experts believe Thorfinn the Mighty, a powerful Viking earl who died in 1065, laid the foundations of what would later become the royal burgh of Dingwall. Natural beauty: The Scottish Highlands boast stunning lochs and mountain ranges. Britain's highest peak, Ben Nevis, is just a two-hour drive from Dingwall. Advertisement Woolworths has been slammed over 'tricking' consumers into thinking they are supporting dairy farmers while the supermarket pockets their money. The product, Farmers' Own Milk, lists in the fine print of the carton it is 'packed for Woolworths', despite packaging suggesting it is an independent brand. A dairy industry insider has slammed the supermarket for deceiving ill-informed customers hoping to support the dairy industry, reports New Daily. Scroll down for video The Farmers' Own Milk product only lists in the fine print of the carton it is 'packed for Woolworths' A dairy industry insider has slammed the supermarket and for deceiving ill-informed customers hoping to support the dairy industry 'It is very sneaky. The ill-informed customer thinks they're helping the farmer and they are to a certain pointBut the supermarket gets a lot more,' the unnamed insider said. A Woolworths spokesperson defended the product and said they have no control over 'farmgate prices,' reports News.com. 'We purchase Select milk from processors, not direct from farmers, and so have no control over farmgate prices,' Woolworths came under fire in May for slashing the price of milk to just 50 cents for their home brand product in a Brisbane store. It comes amid a push for customers to buy independent-owned milk as farmers in the dairy industry falls on hard times. Dairy farmers were left hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt after Australia's biggest dairy processor Murray Goulburn dropped prices considerably in April. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Woolworths for comment. Dairy farmers rally outside Parliament House to garner support for independent-owned milk GULFPORT, Miss. - Singing River Health System and Memorial Hospital have filed a second suit against the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) citing their health systems were shorted millions of dollars in the 2014 fiscal year. Days after the suit was filed against the DOM, the state notified both health systems of their request to pursue litigation was denied. Both health systems assert the payment formula used to reimburse community hospitals for care provided to the uninsured and Medicaid beneficiaries has a payment methodology contrary to state law and are seeking the recovery of the underpayments and legal fees. SRHS reports total underpayments of $21 million since the Division began underpaying for services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries and the uninsured. Memorial reported that underpayments have totaled $25 million. "With recent actions taken by the Division of Medicaid to deny payments, coupled with a recently announced plan to phase in any further payment adjustments over a 10-year period, important services are now at risk," according to Gary G. Marchand, President and Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Hospital. "For Memorial, the key services are mental health and access to primary care for the uninsured." According to a prior release from Memorial, an appeal for underpayments from the 2015 fiscal year has yet to receive a response. Hospital officials stated the reaction to this lawsuit can clear up underpayments for assistance provided to Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured patients from fiscal years 2014 and 2015. "It is critical that hospitals such as Singing River and Memorial are appropriately funded for the level of uninsured and underinsured services that we provide to our communities," according to Kevin Holland, Chief Executive Officer for SRHS. "We are optimistic that our challenges to the current funding methodology will help redistribute these statewide funds to the places that are delivering the highest levels of uninsured and underinsured care in our state." People were also interested in how much land costs in Antarctica The most searched for cost related to Iran was 'kidney' The data is sorted by country and has produced some strange results Maps of the world colour coded by Google autocomplete searches show some of the strange, hilarious, and sad cost priorities for residents and visitors. From how much it costs to dock a yacht in Monaco to how much a kidney would cost in Iran, the map shows the first autocomplete answer to the question 'how a much would XXXX cost in (country)'. In Antarctica, people were very curious as to how much a block of land would set them back, according to the information compiled by Fixr. The maps are divided by continent, showing Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America. A map shows the first Google autocomplete answer to the question 'how much would XXXX cost in (country)' Africa In Africa, searches varied from the cost of cows to how much one would have to shell out for a laptop. In Morocco and Tunisia, the biggest priority was how much it would cost to ride a camel. The priorities were slightly different in Mauritania, where people were interested in how much a slave would cost. Slavery was only declared illegal in the African country in mid 2015 . The Democratic Republic of Congo seems more intent on infrastructure, with the most popular cost search being for building a house. In Africa, the cost of cows and food were popular items to search for, as were laptops and slaves Asia Asia was also a continent of diverse interests. When it came to Japan, people were most interested in the cost of a watermelon, while the most searched cost was for rhinoplasty. Things got a little grim in Iran however, where the most searched for cost was that of a kidney. Other popular searches included carpets, camels and honeymoons. In Asia, interests varied widely from electronics to watermelons to kidneys Australia/ Oceania Further south, reproduction was a popular topic. Australians were primarily interested in the cost of IVF treatments, whereas over the fence, New Zealanders were concerned with vasectomies. When it came to Indonesia, people were just looking for a place to live. 'House' was the most used cost-related search item. Oceania was less exciting, with the cost of IVF treatments and vasectomies being popular searches Europe Europe was another continent with vastly different priorities in each country. In Macedonia, people were mostly interested in the cost of bread, whereas aspirations in Russia ran a little higher. The cost of flying in a Russian fighter jet appeared to interest the most people. For the record, the cheapest MiG experience will set you back 11,500 for just 25 minutes in the plane. England's priorities were a little more realistic. People were most interested in how much it would cost to live there. The most popular cost-related search term in Russia was flying a MiG - a Russian fighter jet North America People were most interested in the cost of a patent in the USA, and the cost of a passport in Canada. Moving further down the continent, it appears people were very curious about the cost of a tummy tuck in Mexico, and of parasailing in Panama. When it came to Haiti however, the most popular cost-related search term was 'funeral'. When it came to the USA, the cost of a patent was a popular search, as was 'tummy tuck' for Mexico South America While searches in parts of South America were fairly standard with people looking into the cost of petrol and living, other parts were a little more left field. People were very interested in the cost of a traditional Panama hat in Ecuador, and the cost of a funeral in Guyana. When it came to Brazil and Argentina, people most searched for the cost of a prostitute and beer respectively. A pregnant commuter has revealed her devastation after she was given a fine in a station car park because her ticket had faded in the sun. Louisa Partheniou, of Haywards Heath, West Sussex, was stunned when she returned to her Nissan Qashqai at Burgess Hill station to discover the parking fine. Mrs Partheniou had paid 61 for a monthly parking ticket from Southern Rail, but found that the ink had evaporated just two weeks later - half way through the month it was valid for. Louisa Partheniou was stunned when she returned to her car and discovered the parking fine Adding insult to injury, the 33-year-old, who is five months pregnant, was then later told that it was her fault for not parking her car in the shade. Mrs Partheniou said: 'I have bought a parking ticket every month for six years and parked my car at the station almost every day. 'I was devastated when I got back to my car to find a ticket on my window. I had already had a delayed journey and I just wanted to get to my son's nursery to pick him up. 'It really bugged me to get a 60 fine when I am really careful about making sure my ticket is on display. I double check it every time.' Mrs Partheniou called a customer helpline run by Indigo, the contractor responsible for the car park, and was told she was to blame for parking in the sun and not making her ticket clear. Mrs Partheniou had paid 61 for a monthly parking ticket from Southern Rail, but found that the ink had evaporated just two weeks later She said: 'There is just one area in the shade at Burgess Hill. In addition, cars that park there get covered in mess from birds in the tree above. Nobody wants to have to pay to get their car washed every week. 'Also, being five months pregnant, I also just want to park closer to the station so I don't have far to walk.' Shocked at the suggestion it was her responsibility to avoid the sun, Mrs Partheniou was informed by the customer service representative at Indigo that they were aware of the fading tickets. She said: 'They then told me they know there is a problem with the tickets. They know they fade. The 33-year-old, who is five months pregnant, was told that it was her fault for not parking her car in the shade 'If you know there is a problem with the ink you should not be printing the tickets. You should find another way to sort it. 'I checked in the car park at the station and there were quite a few faded tickets on other people's cars as well. 'They have a database that shows I have paid every month for six years. If you can see that I have paid, you should show a bit of common sense.' Mrs Partheniou discussed the fine with Southern Rail Access Construction Manager Tom Causbrook at a 'Meet the Managers' session at London Victoria station. He advised her to appeal and said the fine would be overturned as they would have proof of her 61 monthly parking ticket payment. Mrs Partheniou said the fine frustrated her because she is 'really careful about making sure her ticket is on display' However, when she did so she was told by contractors Indigo it could not be overturned due to instructions from the train operating company, which has the final say. Mrs Partheniou, who is Major Projects Manager at Mace in London, said: 'Why tell me to appeal it if their instructions are not to overturn parking fines. It just does not make sense. 'I have not paid the fine - I am thinking about taking it all the way to court.' This is not the first time Mrs Partheniou has had issues with the sun fading her parking ticket. She said the ink on the previous month's had also evaporated. Southern Rail said it was unaware of tickets fading in such a short period of time, but said they would look into the matter. Mrs Partheniou was later informed by the customer service representative at Indigo, the contractor responsible for the car park, that they were aware of the fading tickets A spokesman said: 'While it is correct that it is the responsibility of the ticket holder to display a legible ticket, we understand that from time to time, the printing on tickets bought from the ticket office can fade over a period of months. 'We've not heard of a ticket fading over a few days though, so that's a new phenomenon which we will need to look into. Customers can also buy their car park ticket from ticket machines which use thermal technology. 'This means there is no ink used in the printing process, and so the tickets can't fade.' Contractors Indigo said they were investigating the matter, but were unable to comment further. The 33-year-old appealed the fine but was told by Indigo it could not be overturned due to instructions from the train operating company, which has the final say Southern Rail passengers have faced long-term disruption to services caused by an upgrade at London Bridge station, staff shortages and increased staff sickness levels. The train operator has also cancelled a large number of services due to on-going industrial action over the removal of conductors from trains. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out from August 8, causing fresh travel misery for passengers on Southern, and other franchises run by its parent company. Advertisement A photographer has stepped inside a 'time capsule' guest house to take these chilling images 30 years after the owner just 'got up and left'. The eerie house, in Mississippi, is falling apart but inside dolls, flowers, beds and even divorce papers go untouched. Nicknamed 'Hoarder House' by locals, it has been abandoned for nearly 30 years and is a popular haunt for explorers. The house in Mississippi sits forlornly, almost as if the owner had just popped out to the store In a bedroom are these creepy dolls, one of which stares into space It is unclear how the house got into this state, but it is believed to have been owned by the same family since the 1940s. Florida photographer Bullet, 28, traveled for 13 hours to capture these spooky pictures. He said: 'It's a pretty much a time capsule, having been owned by a woman who rented out the rooms for $300 a month. The property apparently was bought by a family in the 1940s but was abandoned by them in the late 1980s On a dresser sits an old iron, a tray and most intriguing of all, photographs of children who presumably lived there many years ago 'It's hard to tell what happened, but you can piece together a story by the various documents throughout the home. 'There are letters dealing with divorce, her marriage, letters to famous actors asking them to come live with her. 'It looks like the owner just got up and left.' The living room is an explosion of art deco, from the tired 1950s golden curtains to the three lamps surrounding the couch. Soft toys are scattered around but there is no sign of the children who once owned them Upstairs the paint has flaked off the wall in this bedroom and part of the ceiling has collapsed. But the bedding remains in place He said: 'It's odd because you're in what was someone's home. You're seeing what was their personal life and you're left to wonder what happened to have caused this.' Bullet specializes in taking pictures of abandoned houses but this one was a bit too creepy even for him. 'I was scared at one point because the ceiling above us shifted around and I thought it was going to collapse on us,' he said. A picture of Jesus hangs on a wall, surrounded by flaking green paint (left), suggesting the owner was a religious person. The ceiling has partially collapsed onto the furniture in this room (right) The photographer, Bullet, specializes in taking pictures of abandoned buildings but even he admitted this house creeped him out. He said the floor creaked upstairs as he walked about downstairs Sweden says it will not deport failed asylum-seekers from Turkey who have 'reliable connections' to an attempted coup that brought turmoil to the country. Sweden's migration agency, Migrationsverket, said these asylum-seekers fall into a 'risk group' as they 'are supporters of opposition leader Fethullah Gulen'. Gulen is the US-based Muslim cleric that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed for the July 15 coup attempt. Turkey's president has blamed US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for the attempted coup The decision was revealed by Sweden on the same day a top European human rights watchdog met with Turkish officials amid concerns over the scope of the crackdown against those accused of supporting the attempted coup. Thorbjorn Jagland, head of the Council of Europe, urged Turkey to respect the rule of law. He said: I recognise that of course that there is a need for taking on those who are behind this coup and also on this secret network which had been in the state institutions, in the army and also in the judiciary. I would like to say that there had been too little understanding in Europe on what challenges this has caused to the democratic institutions and the state institutions of Turkey. But it is also very important that this is being done in conformity with [European] law, and standards of the European Convention of Human Rights and the case law of the court of Human Rights which is a very good guidance. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) shakes hands with the Turkey's Chief of Staff General Hulusi Akar at military headquarters in Ankara Migrationsverket said asylum-seekers with 'credible political opposition activities' are included in 'the risk groups'. It didn't put any figures on how many people who may fall into those categories. Sweden doesn't rank countries as safe or unsafe when it comes to repatriating asylum-seekers, but instead decides cases on an individual basis, said Migrationsverket spokeswoman Guna Graufelds. The Scandinavian country has received 172 asylum-seekers from Turkey this year. Last year, the figure was 253. Graufelds said the agency couldn't provide a breakdown on asylum-seekers' political affiliations. The agency says it needs 'further information on the current situation' in Turkey. The decision was made three days after the coup attempt and made public Wednesday. Since the failed coup, the Turkish government has launched a sweeping crackdown on Gulen's movement, which it characterises as a terrorist organization. There was no immediate Turkish reaction to the decision by the Swedish migration agency. In a sweeping crackdown, tens of thousands of people in Turkey have been dismissed or suspended from their jobs in sectors such as the civil service, military, health care, judiciary and media. Advertisement Before this supercharged storm soared over an idyllic world heritage site, it had produced over 100,000 lightning strikes over Northern France and the English Channel. Storm fanatic German student Jonas Piontek spent a sleepless night with his friends, hunting for a view of the storm as stunning as this over windmills in Kinderdijk, Netherlands. Capturing such a dangerous and imposing shelf cloud above the beautiful windmills was no easy task for Jonas, 21, who described the experience as unforgettable. Jonas said: 'We decided to stay awake and wait for the arrival of the storm. 'We found the windmills of Kinderdijk, a United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage site, where we could get in position just in time. 'The incredible scene was overwhelming for all of us and everyone was completely freaking out about the scene we were just witnessing. This spot along with the arriving storm completely blew my mind.' Jonas said: 'At first we stood there, completely emotionless, because nobody believed what was heading towards us. At the next moment we must have woken up the whole city with our cries of cheer.' 'The first light of the sunrise started to paint the shelf cloud in a nice mix of orange and purple, ever intensifying the feeling. 'We really thought about sleeping an hour before and everyone was overwhelmed by the luck we had with the decision to stay up and wait for the storm.' 'It was like we were standing in between two different worlds, having the warm sun behind us while witnessing a severe looking storm moving straight towards us.' According to Jonas, shelf clouds are not that rare in themselves but it takes a lot of work and luck to take a photo which does justice to their magnitude. Jonas said: 'It was very unique, usually strong storms occur around afternoon or late evening but this one arrived with perfect timing at sunrise. 'We knew that the storm was a cycling super-cell and they usually can become really severe, but we realised quite soon that the blue-shimmering core would miss us by just a few kilometres to our north.' 'The strong winds that can occur beneath such a big shelf cloud hit us at one point and almost knocked my camera over, but fortunately this was all we had to go through.' Jeremy Corbyn today demanded the Government renationalise the Southern Rail franchise to ease the suffering of thousands of commuters. The Labour leader said the cancellation of hundreds of scheduled services in an effort to ease the daily chaos should have triggered the end of Southern's tenure. Speaking at a leadership campaign rally in Brighton, Mr Corbyn condemned the private firm's continued profits at a time it faces a battle with staff and unions. Jeremy Corbyn, pictured rallying supporters in Brighton last night, told activists in the sea side city he wanted ministers to renationalise Southern Rail Mr Corbyn's intervention came as ACAS talks were due to begin in a last-ditch effort to avoid a five day strike by Southern staff set to bring new misery for commuters next week. The Labour leader, who is being challenged by Labour MP Owen Smith for his job, has vowed to re-nationalise all railways if he becomes Prime Minister. Mr Corbyn said: 'I want to see Southern back in public ownership. I don't believe it's fulfilling its obligations under the franchise it was given. 'Despite the constant failures of the GTR franchise which includes Southern and Thameslink they continue to make huge profits while cutting staff, cutting services and raising your ticket prices. 'Labour will put an end to rip-off Britain. We will bring the railways back into public ownership, run for people not profit. 'Southern has cut 341 services and the government agreed to it. They should have said, ''if you cut the services, we'll cut you out''. But that would take a government that stood up for people. 'What is the point of a franchise agreement if a company can walk away from their commitments at no cost?' Southern Rail has been blighted by delays caused by a variety of issues including industrial action, engineering work and staff shortages Southern and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have been locked in a long-running dispute over the role of conductors. The RMT is planning five days of strikes from Monday if the deadlocked row is not resolved. Southern said a 'strike timetable' will be put in place if the action is not called off by Thursday afternoon. Two days of talks are planned at the conciliation service Acas. A Southern spokesman said: 'There will be a restricted service, with many routes having fewer trains, and, unfortunately, on some routes there will be no service at all. Trains on many routes will start late and finish early.' Mr Corbyn is battling Owen Smith to keep hold of his job as Labour leader. At a rally in Brighton last night, Mr Corbyn spoke to an overflow of supporters outside (pictured) after his main event was oversubscribed GTR passenger service director Angie Doll said: 'We are sorry that our passengers once again look set to suffer further disruption because of the RMT. The union must call this action off by Thursday afternoon if we are to avoid having to put in Monday's strike timetable. 'This action is not necessary. Our new on-board supervisors will no longer close the doors, a task that passes to the driver with the aid of CCTV. This will cost no-one their jobs, and frees up staff on board trains to better serve passengers. RMT leader Mick Cash said he entered talks in 'good faith' ahead of planned strike action by his union next week 'As many services will have staff on board as they do today and our on-board staff will have an improved role which better meets the needs of passengers, securing their valued position on the railway for the long-term. 'And there will be fewer train cancellations in future. Currently, conductors are tied to specific routes and services, but the new on-board supervisor will be able to go anywhere on our network, significantly reducing the perennial problem of train cancellations due to conductors not being available when they're delayed by disruption, for example.' Southern said the revised timetable, which has 341 fewer trains, will resume after the strike ends, for a minimum three weeks. Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said: 'RMT enters these talks in good faith. It must be the priority of everyone on our railways to protect and enhance the safety of the travelling public at this time of extraordinary pressure on our services. That is the fundamental issue at the heart of this dispute. Transgender entertainer Chelsea Attonley has died after celebrating her birthday in Derby last Thursday A transgender entertainer who changed her sex three times has been found dead in a park - just hours after celebrating her birthday. Chelsea Attonley, 33, from Derby, had spent her entire life trying to decide if she was a woman trapped in a man's body or a man trapped in a woman's body. Gender dysphoria, a recognised medical condition, is when a person experiences discomfort or distress because there is a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity. As a result of this, Miss Attonley - who was born a boy and named Matthew - changed sex three times, first becoming a woman aged 18 when she paid 5,000 for 38FF breasts. Miss Attonley died after enjoying a night out with friends at the Crown Inn in Derby last Thursday night. Police were called to Bass's Recreation Park on Friday and she was pronounced dead at the scene. A spokesman for Derbyshire Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances. A statement on her Facebook page read: 'This is devastating for all of us and myself and her closest friends are trying to deal with it all. 'Funeral arrangements and further details about her death are all being discussed with the police and her family. She loved you all'. Friends and family are arranging a remembrance event in Soho tomorrow evening to celebrate her life. Miss Attonley, 33, from Derby, had spent her entire life trying to decide if she was a woman trapped in a man's body or a man trapped in a woman's body Miss Attonley attracted national media attention last year after she revealed she was considering switching back to her original male identity of Matthew. She was famous in the transgender community and hosted the main stage at leading transgender festival Sparkle in Manchester for several years. She had a reputation for spreading a positive message about being transgender and wanted to follow in the footsteps of her idol Katie Price and host her own talk show. Sparkle organizers said today: 'Chelsea was a bubbly, larger-than-life character who was key to the success of Sparkle in the Park. 'Chelsea was a huge friend to Sparkle, and taught many of the team how to party. Her bubbly personality and presence will be missed by many all over the country, and by her Sparkle family. Our thoughts go to her family and friends at this time.' Derbyshire LGBT chairman Andy Brown, who attended her birthday drinks, said: 'She was larger than life, really friendly and you were always guaranteed a good night if you could spent it with her. It was always a happy time, over-the-top time. 'I am completely and utterly shocked when I left her she seemed good.' As a result of her gender dysphoria Miss Attonley - who was born a boy and named Matthew - changed sex three times, first becoming a woman at 18 when she paid 5k for 38FF breasts Her friend Charlotte Fletcher said: 'I'm really saddened by Chelsea's passing. I've known her through her journey over the years. There was always a grand entrance and I hope she does the same through those golden gates. I only wish she was here to read all the love being shared. 'I have known of her when she was in her pre-Chelsea stages as far back as the late 90s and she always a pleasure to be around. Gone far too soon. I'm so shocked.' Another, Aisling Brooks, wrote on Facebook: 'Chelsea you were such a special person and an inspiration to many. You were a role model and a friend. I can't believe you're gone. Sleep well princess.' The 33-year-old was born Matthew but from age of three liked dressing in women's clothing Miss Attonley said she first began wearing female clothing when she was just three years old, and when she grew older she formed a friendship with a group of girls at school who helped her get through the teasing she encountered. Despite always being attracted to men she said sex was 'robotic' and passionless until she turned 18 and stumbled across a magazine article about women who had been born into male bodies. She immediately identified with the women she read about and booked an appointment with her local GP, where she broke down as she said she believed she was a woman. After being referred for psychiatric tests she was prescribed female hormones and she broke the news to her mother Sandra, a dinner lady, who was understanding. Her mother even donated 2,000 towards the breast implants which she had done in Thailand and which she modelled on glamour model Katie Price. She said when she first saw them she burst into tears of happiness because for the first time she felt truly feminine. In a newspaper interview from October last year she said: 'It's taken a while but I finally realise I could never be anyone but Chelsea' But following the death of her beloved mother in 2013 Ms Attonley found herself alone and grieving and decided her chances of finding love were being impaired by being a woman. So she decided to go back to living as a man and asked the NHS again to fund 100-a-time hormone injections to reboot male testosterone production. She shaved her head, cut up her long blonde hair extensions and bit off her nails, while her penis and testicles, which had been shrunk by an implant, began to grow back as did her facial hair. She then applied to have her breast implants removed on the NHS but as she found herself on an increasingly downward spiral of depression in January last year, she tied to kill herself because she felt she did not know who she was any more and hated the changes to her body. As her appointment to remove her breasts approached she realised she had serious doubts - and soon decided to keep the breasts and return to being Chelsea again. In a newspaper interview from October last year she said: 'It's taken a while but I finally realise I could never be anyone but Chelsea.' A spokesman for Derbyshire Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances. He said: 'The ambulance service called us at 12.40pm on Friday, July 29, to report that they were attending calls that a woman had been found ill at Bass' Recreation Ground in Derby. 'The 33-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. 'There are no suspicious circumstances and we are preparing a file for the coroner.' A spokesman for Derby and Derbyshire Coroner's office confirmed a post-mortem examination was due to be carried out. He said: 'Enquiries are ongoing about the cause of Chelsea's death and a post-mortem examination is due to take place at the Royal Derby Hospital. A 21-year-old Briton who says her controlling father imprisoned her in Saudi Arabia for un-Islamic behaviour must be rescued, a High Court judge ruled today. Amina Al-Jeffery - who grew up in Swansea - says her father, academic Mohammed Al-Jeffery, locks her up because she 'kissed a guy'. Mr Justice Holman, sitting in the Family Division of the High Court in London, has ruled she should be released and returned to the UK by September 11. He said: 'She is currently in peril from which she requires to be rescued', adding she had been 'deprived of her liberty'. Justice Holman also ordered her father to return her British and Saudi passports and pay her air fare home. 'Prisoner': UK citizen Amina Al-Jeffery in her father's house in Saudi Arabia, in a photo she sent to a friend - a judge has ruled she is in 'peril' and should be allowed to leave the country But he admitted there is a risk the authorities in Saudi Arabia could ignore the ruling because they do not recognise she has dual British and Saudi nationality. He said Amina 'does require protection and she is currently in a peril from which she requires rescue', adding she is 'disabled from functioning as an independent adult'. 'To do nothing at all would, in my view, be dereliction towards Amina', he said. Amina claims she was tortured, starved, kept in solitary confinement and prevented from going to the bathroom by her father, who was also accused of strangling her and smacking her head against a wall. Mr Al-Jeffery, who denies the cruelty allegations, has claimed his daughter should not be allowed back to the UK, accusing her of taking drugs, cavorting with older men and also stealing from mother. He said he was caring for her to 'save her life'. Plea: Friends said they have been trying to get human rights authorities to investigate Miss Al-Jeffery's (pictured) case for 'four or five years' Making the ruling today the judge rejected her application for a forced marriage protection order saying there was no evidence of any plan by Mr Al-Jeffery to force his daughter into a marriage against her will. It came days after Miss Al-Jeffery, 21, was photographed next to a 'cage' that she is allegedly locked up in at her father's home in Saudi Arabia. Mr Justice Holman said he had concluded that Miss Al-Jeffery's freedom of movement had been severely constrained although not literally 'in a cage'. Miss Al-Jeffery was born and raised in Swansea, Wales, before her father took her to the Middle East aged 16 because he disapproved of her 'relationships and conduct'. Her lawyer Henry Setright QC, told the High Court last week that her father believed she was 'someone he has a duty to control, including her freedom of movement'. The court heard the 21-year-old was arrested outside a Saudi university for kissing and hugging an American student who was later forced to leave the country. She has since complained of being beaten, starved and locked in her father's flat in the city of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast, close to Mecca. Miss Al-Jeffery, pictured in a school photo, was born and raised in Swansea until her father took her to the Middle East when she was 16. She must now return by September 11 The court was told a 'barrier or partition' had been put up at the property, which Miss Al- Jeffery had likened to a 'cage'. Marcus Scott-Manderson QC, representing father-of-nine Mr Al-Jeffery, said the academic 'could not bring himself' to obey the court's order to attend the consulate. Ruling: Mr Justice Holman, pictured, said he had concluded that Miss Al-Jeffery's freedom of movement had been severely constrained The lawyer also said that Mr Al-Jeffery disputed claims made against him. In a letter written earlier this year, the father had said: 'Regarding returning Amina back to the UK, I am unwilling to do this as I fear she will go back to her old destructive lifestyle. 'As her father, I fear for her health and safety and only want what is best for Amina, so she may focus on her education.' But school friend Robyn Lewis to whom Miss Al-Jeffery sent the image of herself in front of locked steel mesh doors said she could, and should, have been protected and that her pleas for help were ignored. Writing on Facebook, the estate agent from South Wales said: 'For years I have been in and out of contact with Amina whilst she has been in Saudi, fully knowing what had been going on. 'Every time I have spoken to her she had been begging for help. 'Over the last 4/5 years I can't stress enough how many times I have emailed/phoned local MPs, human rights charities and the British embassy in Saudi with no answers and nobody willing to help.' Miss Lewis said South Wales Police was told her friend had been 'taken against her will'. She added that Miss Al-Jeffery had discussed her fears with school staff. She wrote: 'Why wasn't anything done sooner to protect her? I think people are way too scared to get involved with cases like this involving Muslim families in case of being branded racist. A schoolboy has been left scarred for life after he was attacked by a dog while he was play fighting with another child at a friend's house. Kyle Willets, 12, from Blackburn, Lancashire, had to undergo reconstructive surgery after the Japanese Akita bit his face, ripping the skin from the bottom of his nose, splitting his lip and leaving bite marks on his chin. The schoolboy was forced to have 80 stitches after the attack and has been left drinking through a straw. Kyle Willets, 12, (pictured) from Blackburn, Lancashire, had to undergo reconstructive surgery after the Japanese Akita bit the lower half of his face. He needed 80 stitches following incident Kyle and his friends had been play fighting and wrestling when one threw him onto the sofa. The dog then jumped up and bit the schoolboy on the face - sinking a tooth below his chin and chomping at his lip in a scissor-like clamp. Kyle's friend came to his aid and pulled the dog away before it could do more damage. Kyle then fled the house and ran the five minute journey home with no shoes on. The dog's owner was so horrified by the attack it was put down within hours of the incident. Kyle's mother Natalie Horner, 32, said the first she knew of the incident is when her son ran into the house barefoot. She said: 'Kyle was covered in blood - it was all down his clothes. 'I was so worried about what was going to happen - I was just thinking 'is he going to lose his face?' 'After all it is your looks you have for the rest of your life and he's still only young.' Kyle and his friends had been play fighting and wrestling when one threw him onto the sofa - the dog then jumped up and bit the schoolboy on the face Describing the incident, Ms Horner said: 'The dog just latched onto his cheek and went for his nose. 'All of his upper lip, under his nose and his chin were slashed. The tooth mark goes down underneath his chin. 'He was in a lot of pain and I thought he was going to pass out because of all the blood.' Mother-of-four Ms Horner said she was in shock at the sight of her son as he arrived home and immediately phoned for an ambulance. Mother-of-four Ms Horner said she was in shock at the sight of her son as he arrived home and immediately phoned for an ambulance. The NHS technician said: 'I hope I never see anything like that again - it really scared me. 'When he ran out of the house all the kids on the estate were screaming because they saw him with blood dripping down his face.' Kyle was rushed to Royal Blackburn Hospital but was transferred to Manchester Children's Hospital where he was taken to theatre the same night. Kyle was rushed to Royal Blackburn Hospital but was transferred to Manchester Children's Hospital where he was taken to theatre Surgeons worked on the youngster's wound during a delicate three-hour operation to sew the skin below his nose back together. Speaking about her son's recovery, Ms Horner said: 'When the stitches come out he will be left permanently scarred and he will have another operation this week for his top lip. 'The look on his face when he first saw himself after the operation was heart-breaking. 'We gave him five minutes and he said 'It is bad, isn't it. Will it always stay like this?' 'He is having to drink through a straw and eat weetabix and mashed potato, but he is a trouper.' Ms Horner, who has two dogs herself, said the owner took the dog to be destroyed straight after it had bitten Kyle last Monday at around 1.30pm. Kyle had slept over at his friend's house where the incident happened the night before and said that he knew the dog very well. Speaking about the owner's decision to destroy the dog, Ms Horner said: 'Kyle was quite worried about what his friends would think because the dog was destroyed. 'But when a dog has bitten once - that is it. I would have done the same thing.' She added: 'I just want to make people are aware no dog is to be trusted - I would not wish what happened to Kyle to on anyone.' The emails released as a result of the hack prompted the The FBI did not tell the Democratic National Committee it was the suspected target of a Russian cyber attack for months, it has been claimed. The Bureau has also been accused of not warning party's network security the hack was being investigated as espionage by the Kremlin in a number of follow-up conversations. The lack of full disclosure by the FBI prevented DNC staffers from taking steps that could have reduced the number of confidential emails and documents stolen, one source told Reuters. The FBI did not tell the Democratic National Committee it was the suspected target of a Russian cyber attack for months, it has been claimed. The emails and documents that were taken in the hack led to the resignation of DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz last week Instead, Russian hackers whom security experts believe are affiliated with the Russian government continued to have access to Democratic Party computers for months during a crucial phase in the U.S. presidential campaign, the source said. As late as June, hackers had access to DNC systems and the network used by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, people with knowledge of the cases have said. A spokeswoman for the FBI said she could not comment on a current investigation. The DNC did not respond to requests for comment. In its initial contact with the DNC last fall, the FBI instructed DNC personnel to look for signs of unusual activity on the group's computer network, one person familiar with the matter said. DNC staff examined their logs and files without finding anything suspicious, that person said. When DNC staffers requested further information from the FBI to help them track the incursion, they said the agency declined to provide it. In the months that followed, FBI officials spoke with DNC staffers on several other occasions but did not mention the suspicion of Russian involvement in an attack, sources said. The DNC's information technology team did not realize the seriousness of the incursion until late March, the sources said. It was unclear what prompted the IT team's realization. Emails captured in the DNC hack were leaked on the eve of the July 25-28 Democratic Party convention to name Hillary Clinton as the party's presidential candidate in the Nov. 8 election against Republican Party nominee Donald Trump. Those emails exposed bias in favor of Clinton on the part of DNC officials at a time when she was engaged in a close campaign against U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders for the party's nomination. The DNC said on Tuesday that three senior officials had resigned after the email embarrassment. Last week, Debbie Wasserman Schultz stepped down as DNC chairwoman as criticism mounted of her management of the party committee, which is supposed to be neutral. The hacked DNC emails exposed bias in favor of Hillary Clinton (pictured last week) on the part of party officials at a time when she was engaged in a close campaign against U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders for the party's nomination U.S. officials and private cyber security experts said last week they believed Russian hackers were behind the cyber attack on the DNC. The Obama administration has not yet publicly declared who it believes is responsible. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said last week the U.S. intelligence community was not ready to 'make the call on attribution.' It was not immediately clear how the FBI had learned of the hack against the DNC. One U.S. official with knowledge of the investigation said the agency had withheld information about details of the hacking to protect classified intelligence operations. 'There is a fine line between warning people or companies or even other government agencies that they're being hacked - especially if the intrusions are ongoing - and protecting intelligence operations that concern national security,' said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Obama (pictured on Tuesday) and his administration have not publicly announced who was behind the attack The first internal DNC emails alerting party officials to the seriousness of the suspected hacking were sent in late March, one person said. In May, the DNC contacted California-based cyber security firm CrowdStrike to analyze unusual activity on the group's network. The Brooklyn-based Clinton campaign operation was also the target of hacking, people with knowledge of the situation have said. The Clinton campaign has confirmed that a DNC-linked system the campaign used to analyze voter data was compromised. Yahoo News reported last week that the FBI had warned the Clinton campaign that it was the target of a hack in March, just before the DNC discovered it had been hacked. Glen Caplin, a Clinton campaign spokesman, said it had taken steps to safeguard its internal information systems. OS bank robbery (2).jpg This photo, taken from surveillance video, shows the suspect who robbed a Hancock Bank in Ocean Springs Wednesday afternoon. (OSPD photo) OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- A woman brandishing what were described as two butcher knives robbed a Hancock Bank in Ocean Springs Wednesday. According to Ocean Springs Capt. Chuck Jackson, police received an alarm call about 1:50 p.m. Wednesday from the Hancock Bank on U.S. 90 adjacent to the Big Lots shopping center. The suspect had left the scene when officers arrived, but according to bank personnel and witnesses, the black female entered the building wearing a dark hoodie shirt/sweatshirt, sunglasses and gloves and carrying two butcher knives. The suspect approached a teller window where a female customer was conducting business, knocked the customer out of the way and took the customer's deposit before demanding money from the teller. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect fled through the east exit of the bank, ran across the parking lot and fell in a drainage ditch, with the impact causing the dye pack inside the money bag to explode. \ The woman got up out of the ditch and jumped into what Jackson said was a grey or silver Cadillac CTS, model year unknown. Jackson said investigators have obtained the bank's surveillance footage and released a photo of the suspect taken from that video. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to contact the Ocean Springs Police Department at 228-875-2211. The report, authored by Baroness Royall (pictured), found some incidents of anti-Semitism were not deliberate and it was 'unclear' how much of the abuse was 'intentional' Labour was plunged into yet another anti-Semitism crisis today after the full extent of abuse from its members at Oxford University were revealed in a leaked report. It found members of the Oxford University Labour Club (OULC) did engage in anti-Semitic behaviour and it was so bad that some Jewish members felt intimidated and 'insecure,' while others 'do not feel comfortable attending the meetings'. And in a damning verdict on the deep problems in the Labour party as a whole, the report found 'clear incidents of anti-Semitism'. It is the first time the full report has been made available to the public after the Labour party's ruling National Executive Committee suppressed its findings with a summarised version that published just 11 recommendations in May. The report, authored by Baroness Royall, found some incidents of anti-Semitism were not deliberate and it was 'unclear' how much of the abuse was 'intentional'. Remarkably, she said ambiguity over whether acts of anti-Semitism were deliberate or not led her to the conclusion that there is 'no value in pursuing disciplinary cases against students'. Instead, they should be given advise and training on anti-Semitism, Baroness Royall wrote in the report, which was made public after the full document was leaked to the Jewish Chronicle. Baroness Royall recognised attempts by Jeremy Corbyn (pictured last night in Brighton) to crack down on abuse in the party but delivering a scathing assessment of Anti-Semitism in the party she added: 'Sadly however, there is now a feeling amongst part of the Jewish community that they do not feel welcome in our Party' Allegations of anti-Semitism were raised by Alex Chalmers, a student at Oriel College (pictured) and a chair of the Oxford University Labour Club until he quit earlier this year after complaining about the abuse Allegations of anti-Semitism at the OULC surfaced earlier this year when its co-chairman Alex Chalmers quit after complaining that many of its members 'have some kind of problem with Jews'. Some of the anti-Semitism abuse at OULC was so bad that Jewish members felt intimidated and insecure, she wrote. Some Jewish members do not feel comfortable attending the meetings, let alone participating. Allegations of anti-Semitism at the Oxford University Labour Club surfaced earlier this year when its co-chairman Alex Chalmers (pictured) quit after complaining that many of its members 'have some kind of problem with Jews' It wasnt just members of the Jewish community who stayed away due to the anti-Semitism. Baroness Royall noted that one of the problems was caused by allowing anyone to join OULC meetings. A cultural change towards Israel and Jewish people was needed in the party to prevent the current intimidation in the party that was making members feel insecure, Baroness Royall wrote. But despite her findings, Baroness Royall said she did not believe there is institutional anti-Semitism within OULC. Difficulties however, face OULC which must be addressed to ensure a safe space for all Labour students to debate and campaign around the great ideas of our movement, she added. Baroness Royall recognised Jeremy Corbyn's attempts to crack down on abuse in the party but delivering a scathing assessment of Anti-Semitism in the party she added: 'Sadly however, there is now a feeling amongst part of the Jewish community that they do not feel welcome in our Party. 'There is too often a real, sometimes perceived, culture of intolerance where Jews are concerned and there are clear incidents of antisemitism.' Today's revelations will deepen fear among moderate Labour MPs that anti-Semitism and misogyny has flourished while Mr Corbyn has been at the top of the party. Owen Smith (pictured campaigning last week), who is challenging Mr Corbyn for the leadership, today warned that the party is heading for an historic split if the veteran left winger remains in charge They are furious he has not spoken out enough to stamp out bullying against those who do not agree with his leadership. Owen Smith, who is challenging Mr Corbyn for the leadership, today warned that the party is heading for an historic split if the veteran left winger remains in charge. He told the Huffington Post: I think there is every likelihood that the party will split if Jeremy wins this election. I dont think its a risk, I think its a likelihood. There are some on the hard left of the party like McDonnell, and some on the Right of the party, who have become fatalistic about that. And that has to be stopped. That is why I think people need to vote for me because Im going to make it my mission to stop that happening. But a new electoral study published by YouGov today found that a Labour split would end in disaster as the breakaway group would attract around 13 per cent support in the country and leave Mr Corbyn's remaining Labour party with just 21 per cent. Mr Smith also accused John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor of lying about his own stance on a split. Today's revelations will deepen fear among moderate Labour MPs that anti-Semitism and misogyny has flourished while Jeremy Corbyn (pictured campaigning in Brighton last night) has been at the top of the party Jeremy Corbyn (pictured campaigning in Brighton last night) is widely expected to be re-elected leader when the result of the election is declared on September 24 When I put it to Jeremy three times that I was worried that the party was going to split if he carried on and I put it to John explicitly that I thought he was content with the party splitting, he literally shrugged his shoulders and said if thats what it takes. My interpretation of that is that John meant if thats what it takes to maintain his grip on power and his version of the Labour Party, his project, if you like. Mr Smith, a former shadow cabinet member, also likened Mr Corbyn to mining union boss Arthur Scargill. He said Scargill was gung-ho, and frankly egotistical, vain. And I fear there are parallels with how we are presently proceeding. Disunited parties cannot win. Despite fury at his leadership from his own MPs, Mr Corbyn was mobbed by hundreds of supporters at a rally in Brighton last night. Scores people, many wearing Jeremy for Labour or I love Jeremy t-shirts, queued for hours to get a seat at the sell-out event. Police are hunting for a Moroccan man who attacked a Catholic priest at a cafe in Spain after warning him 'You should be afraid of me, I'm an Arab.' The aggressor, thought be aged around 35, tried to grab his victim's crucifix around his neck before threatening to kill him after insulting him. The scare happened as the Franciscan missionary was visiting relatives in his native city of Cartagena in south east Spain. The scare happened as the Franciscan missionary was visiting relatives in his native city of Cartagena in south east Spain, pictured A waiter rushed to his aid at the unnamed cafe but was hit over the head with a bottle. The Moroccan fled after being stopped by two compatriots when he broke the bottle and went to attack the priest with a shard of broken glass. Police were called but failed to find him during a search of the area. They are said to be looking for a man, a witness named as Mohamed, who has worked in several restaurants in Cartagena. He was reportedly drunk when the incident happened, around 7pm on Monday, less than a week after two ISIS killers cut the throat of Father Jacques Hamel at a church in Normandy. The priest, known only by his religious name of Fray Job de Jesus, told a local paper he believed the attack had been 'ideologically-motivated' and was a clear case of Christianophobia. Police are hunting for a Moroccan man who attacked a Catholic priest at a cafe in Spain, just a week after the murder of French priest Father Jacques Hamel by ISIS jihadis Witnesses told investigators the assailant warned his victim: 'You're Spanish, you're from here, so if you are you should be afraid of me, I'm an Arab' before adding: 'B*****d, son of a b***h, I'm going to kill you.' Police have not made any official comment. The waiter hit over the head with a bottle has decided not to press charges. It comes after thousands attended the funeral of Father Hamel yesterday in Rouen cathedral. His sister Roselyne told the congregation the 85-year-old had been a man of 'mercy and love'. Attackers Abdel Malik Petitjean and Adel Kermiche, both 19, who had both pledged allegiance to Islamic State, were shot dead by police after taking hostages. Another military base was on high alert today after two men were seen acting suspiciously, just weeks after an abduction attempt at RAF Marham. Unconfirmed reports suggested that two men had tried to kidnap a serviceman, close to the garrison in Aldershot, Hampshire at around 8.15am, and soldiers were said to have been warned not to wear their uniforms to work or in the town. However, police later confirmed that no soldier had been involved in the incident, which had been reported by a member of civilian staff working at the barracks. They said there is no evidence to suggest a crime had taken place, but are investigating reports of two men acting suspiciously in a blue Renault Clio, close to the garrison in Aldershot, Hampshire at around 8.15am. A soldier was today at the centre of a fresh kidnap scare after men were seen acting suspiciously outside his base, just two weeks after an abduction attempt at RAF Marham Soldiers were reportedly warned not to wear their uniforms to work or in the town (file photo) A spokesman for Hampshire Police said: 'We were called to a suspicious incident at 8.42am today at the junction between Queens Avenue and Hospital Hill, Aldershot. 'Two men were seen acting suspiciously in a blue Renault Clio. 'At this stage there is nothing to suggest that a crime has been committed but we are looking into why the two men had stopped the car on this stretch of road. 'No contact was made between the two men and the person reporting the incident who is a civilian member of staff who works within the military complex at Aldershot.' The incident is said to have happened close to a church near to Aldershot Garrison (pictured) Security was said to have been stepped up at the garrison, and the number of guards by the gates increased A post on the military-themed Fill Your Boots Facebook page said: 'ALERT ALERT ALERT. Please pass round. 'Unsure whether it's the same blokes from Marham but there was an attempted abduction of a bloke in Aldershot by two blokes in a blue Renault Clio.' On that occasion, the RAF victim was able to headbutt one of the attackers before fleeing, despite a knife being brandished during the struggle. A later post said: 'ALERT CONFIRMED. Just been briefed by our colonel and told no uniforms to be worn to work and out in town. A post on the military-themed Fill Your Boots Facebook page said this morning that there had been an attempted abduction A later post said: 'ALERT CONFIRMED. Just been briefed by our colonel and told no uniforms to be worn to work and out in town' 'The incident happened at 8.15am this morning by the church near Aldershot Garrison. 'They do not believe the potential kidnappers were able to get hold of the man. 'It was one male squaddie outside the garrison. 'Two reports say he was jogging, one says he was on his way into work in kit. The gate guards have been increased.' Servicemen have been on high alert following an attempted abduction of a servicemen at RAF Marham, Norfolk, on July 20. Police are continuing to hunt for two attackers who tried to drag their victim into a car. Servicemen have been on high alert following an attempted abduction of a servicemen at RAF Marham, Norfolk, on July 20 Police are investigating reports of two men acting suspiciously in a blue Renault Clio, close to the garrison in Aldershot, Hampshire at around 8.15am A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: 'The police are investigating at the moment. They will rule if it was an incident or not.' Aldershot Garrison, also known as Aldershot Military Town, has long been seen as the home of the British Army ever since it was established in 1854. It covers approximately 500 acres, and has a population of around 10,500 people. In 1972, the garrison was the site of one of the worst UK mainland IRA attacks when a car bomb was detonated outside the headquarters mess of the 16 Parachute Brigade. The Official IRA claimed responsibility for the attack which claimed six lives, including five women and an army priest. The IRA said the attack was revenge for the events in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on January 30 1972 when 13 civilians were shot dead by the Parachute Regiment. At the time of the attack, Aldershot garrison was an entirely open garrison, but steps were taken to step up security afterwards with armed security patrols and fences. The site is now home to the headquarters of the Army's Support Command, and it is also the administrative base for the 101st Logistic Brigade. In total, it hosts around 70 military units and organisations. He is 31. He has a well-paid job. And he is a fairly handsome guy. So why is Sebastian Stadil still single? Stadil, from San Francisco, joined Tinder and swiped right on 203,000 women, using a specially made bot. In a four-month period he went on 150 dates but is still to meet The One. Considering there are 3.4 million women in the San Francisco Bay area, Stadil has checked out roughly six per cent of the female population. You can't hurry love: Sebastian Stadil (pictured) tried to engineer a relationship by inventing an automated process of filtering Tinder profiles. But after 150 dates he is still single But he is still single. The story began last year when the software engineer decided to build a special gizmo which would automate the drudge of the Tinder process. He explained on Medium why he decided to fast-track the process: 'Im bad at small talk, and I jump too fast to intellectual conversations, making it awkward. 'Last year, my girlfriend and I broke up. The love wasn't there anymore. Since Im 31, and eventually want a family, I figured I'd better not procrastinate. I needed to be serious about dating.' The Tinder app was launched in 2012 and by 2014 it was recording a billion swipes a day (file photo) His automated bot swiped right on prospective matches, scheduled coffee dates with those who replied and compiled the womens answers, complete with photos, phone numbers and profile information into a daily email newsletter to himself. By the end of the summer he had been on 150 dates and spent roughly $6,000. But still no sign of the big romance. The Washington Post said Stadil does not consider his experiment a total failure. He points out that of the 150 first dates, he went on second dates with 52 women and third dates with 17. Stadil admits he fell hard for a software engineer who worked at Google but he remains single. He is no longer on Tinder but he can be found on Twitter and Facebook. were not hit or injured by any of the bullets The parents of two boys who are behind bars after they opened fire on a group of police officers have blamed blaming Black Lives Matter for the teenagers' actions. Marquell Rentas, 17, and and his cousin Trenton Nace, 18, were arrested on Friday after officers in the borough of Columbia, Pennsylvania came under fire for 45 minutes when they responded to an emergency call from someone who said that had heard gunshots. No officers were shot or injured in the attack. Police were able to eventually gain access to the house and arrest the teenagers, with court papers claiming that Marquell told the men: 'I'm the one who did it, I'm the one who shot. My cousin didn't do it.' He later said while being loaded into a police cruiser: 'I ain't no p***y, I was shooting at you. F*** you, police.' Now, Marquell's mother and Trenton's father are both saying in separate interviews that this is the fault of a movement that they claim wants people to hurt law enforcement officials. Scroll down for video Behind bars: Marquell Rentas (left) and and his cousin Trenton Nace (right) were arrested Friday for opening fire in police in Columbia, Pennsylvania 'They are in jail for doing what Black Lives Matter wanted them to do: shoot at cops,' said Marquell's mother Luz Rentas and Trenton's father Roberto Rentas in a joint statement. 'The truth is that these are two punk kids following the orders of an irresponsible organization and now they're gonna pay for it.' Kevin Ressler, a pastor and co-organizer of the Black Lives Matter chapter in Lancaster, responded to this by making it clear that the movement does not promote violence in any way, especially on police. 'It's very important that people understand Black Lives Matter groups across the country, and particularly here locally, have been very vocal about it, do not support violence,' said Ressler. 'No Black Lives Matter organization, or group across the entire country, has supported violence as a means to an end, or shooting, or attacking, or targeting police officers at all.' The police report claims that officers were dispatched to the area at around 3:25am on Friday in response to a 'shots fired' incident. The first two officers on the scene soon realized that shots were being fired at their patrol cars, at which point a perimeter was set up and more members of law enforcement were sent to the location. Marquell was identified as a 'potential suspect' by police resources, who discovered he was staying at the home from which the shots appeared to be coming after speaking with his mother Luz. The owner of that home, Marquell's relative Joshalyn Rentas, then gave police permission to enter the home. Marquell was found on the second floor near a 'caliber scoped rifle' and 'multiple spent shell casings.' Trenton was found in another bedroom with no weapon, but 'live rounds and empty shell casings were found in his front right pocket' according to the police report. Location: The officers, who arrived on the scene after responding to a report of 'shots fired,' were not hit or injured by any of the bullets (the home from which the boys fired at police) The boys were questioned later that day at which point Trenton said that Marquell had been firing the rounds at police while he handed him casings, saying that when officers arrived on the scene Marquell said 'f*** them' and expressed his desire to open fire on the men. The two are now both being charged with multiple counts of attempted homicide of law enforcement officers, aggravated assault, assault of law enforcement officers, and counts of conspiracy to commit each of these crime. Marquell is also being charged with possession of a firearm by a minor, even though he will be tried as an adult. Most people have a love hate relationship with Justin Biebers music and a school has profited off this by using it as a unique form of punishment. The Secret Harbour Primary School in Western Australia played Justin Biebers 2010 smash-hit Baby on an unending loop on the schools Psystem A between classes and during lunchtime. The move was actually a charity drive to raise money upgrades to the schools grounds and a successful one at that, because they hit the target of $1000. Scroll down for video A school who used Justin Bieber's 2010 smash-hit Baby as a unique form of punishment says their students have a 'love hate relationship' with the song Secret Harbour dance group president Emma Pearman said the students have a love hate relationship with the song , reports Mandurah Mail. Based on that, we decided Baby, Baby was the way to go. Because we could be sure it would at least get everyone talking. The school started the Baby blast on Monday and pledged it would carry on until it has raised $1000 for good or ill. And they took to social media on Wednesday to declare they hit the target - with an extra $200 in change. We did it........ we stopped the Biebs. Well done Secret Harbour Primary School, at lunch time today we hit $1,286.00 and as promised we shut the music off. Take note teachers: playing Justin Biebers hits on repeat is a fool proof form of punishment. The Secret Harbour Primary School (pictured) played Justin Biebers 2010 smash-hit Baby on an unending loop on the schools PA system Donald's Trump's spokeswoman has claimed Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were to blame for the 2004 death of Muslim soldier Humayun Khan - despite it occurring before they came to power in 2009. Katrina Pierson made the comments as Mr Trump's row with the parents of the slain US soldier, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention, continued to escalate. In an interview with CNN, Ms Pierson said: 'Donald Trump never voted for the Iraq War. Hillary Clinton did and then she didn't support the troops to have what they need. Scroll down for video Trump campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson during the interview on CNN 'It was under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that changed the rules of engagement that probably cost his life. 'So I don't understand why it is so hard to understand why Donald Trump was confused about why he was being held responsible for something he had nothing to do with while Hillary Clinton had everything to do with while Hillary Clinton had everything to do with.' In 2004, Mrs Clinton was US Senator for New York, becoming Secretary of State in 2009, while Mr Obama was then a state senator in Illinois. CNN host Wolf Blitzer later issued a statement after the interview, telling viewers the death occurred under George W. Bush's presidency. 'I just want to fact check that, he said. Ms Pierson is a spokesperson for Donald Trump's campaign The exchange came as Ms Pierson questioned why Mr Trump was expected to apologize to the Kahn family. President Obama yesterday challenged Republican leaders to withdraw their support for their candidate over his attacks on the Khan family. The Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president and he keeps on proving it, he said. 'The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that made extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesn't appear to have basic knowledge around critical issues in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia means that he's woefully unprepared to do this job.' Mr Pierson said of whether Mr Trump had apologised: 'I think he has apologized by honoring the soldier New Jersey Governor Chris Christie distanced himself from the remarks by his ally Mr Trump, saying the death gave the couple the right to say whatever they want. The candidates son, Eric Trump, defended his father and claimed that he had already apologized to the Khans. Appearing on CBS, Eric Trump said: He has (apologized) by calling them a hero, Eric Trump said. A woman secondary school teacher has been jailed for eight months for sexual activity with a pupil. Kerry Lawson was charged with the offence against a student while teaching at Wolgarston High School in Penkridge, Staffordshire. The 34-year-old teacher from Stafford was dismissed by the school in May after the allegations came to light and was hauled before magistrates on June 22. Dismissed by the school: Kerry Lawson was charged with the offence against a student while teaching at Wolgarston High School (pictured) in Penkridge, Staffordshire On Wednesday of last week she pleaded guilty to one count of adult abuse of a position of trust causing or inciting sexual activity at Stafford Crown Court. Lawson was jailed and also told to pay a 100 victim surcharge, made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for ten years. After the case, headteacher Philip Tapp said: Its completely unacceptable for a teacher to behave in this way and we are deeply disappointed that one of our staff should betray the trust placed in our profession. Our school, which received an outstanding rating for child safety in 2014, has very clear processes in place to safeguard children. As soon as we became aware of this situation we took swift action in conjunction with other agencies including the local authority and the police. The teacher concerned was summarily dismissed in May. Hearing: Lawson pleaded guilty at Stafford Crown Court (pictured) to one count of adult abuse of a position of trust causing or inciting sexual activity Conservative councillor Isobel Ford, who represents the schools ward, added: I am really quite shocked it is not something I would expect at Wolgarston. I am very surprised to hear this. Generally I am very proud of the school they have done a lot for the community so I am sorry this besmudges it. On the back of the case, a spokesman for childrens charity the NSPCC issued an appeal for people to be vigilant and report any concerns about youngsters welfare. He said: Teachers have a responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their pupils, and young people should be able to enjoy school without the fear of abuse. Donald Trump and members of his campaign are refuting a flurry of media reports suggesting that his campaign chairman is 'mailing it in' and staffers are feeling 'suicidal.' 'There is great unit in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before,' Trump tweeted in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 'I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support.' 'Beat Crooked H!' he added. A number of leaks coming out of the struggling campaign, however, would suggest that those surrounding the GOP nominee had had it. Scroll down for video Leaks coming out of the Trump campaign suggest that campaign chairman Paul Manafort (left) is 'mailing it in' because he cannot control GOP nominee Donald Trump (right) NOTHING TO SEE HERE: Donald Trump tweeted this morning that everything was hunky dory in his campaign despite media reports that say otherwise CNBC's John Harwood quoted a buddy of Trump's campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who took over the reins of the billionaire's campaign after his original campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was dismissed in late June. 'Manafort not challenging [Trump] anymore,' the 'ally' told Harwood. 'Mailing it in. Staff suicidal.' Harwood's report was greeted by tweets from Trump's senior communications adviser Jason Miller who called the broadcaster 'unabashedly liberal and very biased against conservatives.' Miller think linked to a listicle on TheFederalist.com that named '7 of John Harwood's Worst Debate Questions,' from the universally-panned CNBC debate in October. Miller also reached out to the CNBC journalist personally, saying what he had reported was inaccurate. NBC News' Ali Vitali also heard about discord among the Trump ranks with sources leaking to her that Harwood's report was 'all true' Donald Trump's senior communications adviser Jason Miller has forcefully pushed back on any stories about the campaign being in disarray and staffers miserable Jason Miller tweeted a response at CNBC's John Harwood suggesting the journalist was simply biased trying to discredit Harwood's report 'The idea that Paul Manafort's mailing it in is completely erroneous,' Miller wrote. 'Our campaign just finished up our strongest month of fundraising to date, we're adding talented and experienced staffers on a daily basis, and Mr. Trump's turning out bigger, more enthusiastic crowds than Hillary Clinton.' Roger Stone, a longtime Trump backer who doesn't hold an official position with the campaign, also forcefully pushed back on any claims that Manafort was ready to throw in the towel. 'The idea that Paul Manafort is not doing everything humanly possible to help real Donald Trump win is patently false,' Stone tweeted. But those assertions didn't put the genie back in the bottle with NBC's Ari Vitali hearing from her sources that 'it's all true' and 'way worse than people realize.' CNN reported that some of Trump's campaign staff, including Manafort, 'feel like they are wasting their time.' Donald Trump ally Roger Stone also pushed back on reports that Paul Manafort was frustrated and phoning it in The Huffington Post pointed out that while Manafort has managed dictators as clients in the past Imelda Marcos in the Philippines, Jonas Savimbi in Angola and Victory Yanukovych in Ukraine Trump is something different. Manafort, the publication reports, is 'frustrated' beyond measure with his inability to control Donald Trump. Trump has made a series of missteps since the conclusion of his rival's convention last week in Philadelphia. While Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was the main draw, a speech given by Muslim-American Gold Star father Khizr Khan electrified the South Philly stadium and reverberated throughout the country. Khan, whose son died in Iraq in 2004, told Trump, 'You have sacrificed nothing and no one.' And was deeply critical of Trump's plan to ban non-American Muslims from the United States, a policy that potentially would have kept the Khan family out. Trump responded a number of ways, including voicing suspicions as to why Khan's wife Ghazala stood silent next to her husband, suggesting that it had something to do with her Muslim faith. She later said she feared breaking down onstage at the sight of her late son's picture. Trump also contended that he was 'viciously attacked' by the couple, among other things. He also didn't do himself any favors with voters who cast a ballot with the military in mind when, yesterday, he marveled at a veteran giving him a Purple Heart. 'I always wanted to get the purple heart. This was much easier,' Trump quipped. At the same rally, he remarked when a baby was crying, 'Don't worry about that baby. I love babies,' the candidate said. He then tossed the baby and its mother out. 'Actually I was only kidding, you can get the baby out of here,' he said. Video shows teen defying shouts from officers to show hands or be shot Noble's parents filed claim seeking payment from the city for his death Dylan Noble, who is white, was shot by officers in Fresno on June 25 An autopsy of an unarmed teenager shot and killed by police in California found traces of cocaine and an alcohol level well above the legal limit, authorities say. Dylan Noble's toxicology results show a blood alcohol content of 0.12, above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, and traces of Benzoylecgonine, the main ingredient in cocaine, the Fresno County's Sheriff's Office said Tuesday. The office says it has no other details on the autopsy. Officers shot 19-year-old Noble, who is white, during a traffic stop on June 25. Police Chief Jerry Dyer says it turned out Noble was unarmed and had only a small, empty plastic container with an unknown purpose in his hand. But the chief says officers had no way of knowing since he refused to cooperate. Scroll down for video An autopsy of Dylan Noble (above), who was shot and killed by police in California, found traces of cocaine and an alcohol level well above the legal limit, authorities say Officers' body-camera video shows Noble defying repeated shouts from officers to show his hands - or be shot. In the dramatic and graphic video, officers then shot him four times. Each of Noble's parents has filed a claim seeking payment from the city for their son's death. Darren Noble filed a claim saying a culture of lax discipline in the Fresno police department led officers to needlessly kill his son. The father's attorney, Warren Paboojian, says police should have used a stun gun or canine, rather than deadly force. Noble's mother has filed a similar a claim. Last month, Stuart R. Chandler, an attorney representing Noble's family, said the footage makes him 'more certain than ever' that the teenager's death was the result of 'an inexcusable use of excessive force.' But Chief Dyer hit back, saying what the clip actually shows is Noble ignoring at least 30 instructions to show his hands and not to walk forward before the officers opened fire. Police released bodycam footage which shows the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Dylan Noble at a gas station in June Lawyers for the family say the footage proves Noble was killed with 'an inexcusable use of excessive force,' but police say it shows he ignored repeated orders to show his hands The family of Dylan Noble (pictured) are now suing the city of Fresno for damages over the death of the 19-year-old at a Chevron garage In the footage, police can be seen pulling Noble over while he rides in his truck after responding to reports that he had a rifle, already aiming their handguns at him as he pulls into a gas station. After he pulls in, the cops can be heard ordering him to put both hands out of the window. The video shows at least one of Noble's hands emerging from the side of the vehicle, though it is unclear if he fully complies with the order since the camera is pointed away for a large part of the exchange. As police move toward the vehicle, Noble goes to climb out but is warned by officers: 'No I didn't tell you to get out.' The exchange continues as more officers pull up, this time wielding shotguns, and join the standoff with Noble. Noble eventually gets out of the car, without being ordered to, and begins to pace about on the garage forecourt despite being told: 'Lay your f***ing a** down.' He walks around with his left hand raised in the air and though his right hand remains down by his side, it appears to be empty in the footage. Officers repeatedly tell Noble to lay on the ground, and at one point an officer mentions that he has something in his hand, though there is no evidence of this in the footage. The footage shows police fired two rounds at Noble, at least one of which struck him in the stomach, and then shot him twice more as he laid on the ground wounded Cellphone footage of the shooting had emerged previously that showed the moment officers fired at Noble while he was on the floor, but did not capture any of the buildup Officers said that Noble made a statement about 'hating my life' before he reached for his waistband, causing them to open fire, though the new footage does not clearly show this Nobel then begins walking toward police, who explicitly warn him: 'If you walk forward you're going to get shot, man.' After taking several steps back Noble again advances on cops, who claim he yelled that he hates his life before they opened fire with two rounds, at least one of which appears to hit him in the stomach. He falls immediately to the floor, where both of his hands are clearly empty, and begins rolling around, seemingly dazed from the impact. He was still moving his arms, and officers were still shouting for him to stop, as he lay on the ground. Another shot from the same officer and a fourth from a second officer finally made him stop. Police say he was reaching for his waistband and just before the footage ends officers can be heard telling Noble: 'Don't reach or you're going to get shot again, please.' The 19-year-old was eventually taken to hospital where he was treated for four bullet wounds, but later died in surgery, prompting protests from Confederates who waved 'White Lives Matter' banners. Following Noble's death protesters gathered on the scene chanting 'white lives matter' and waving Confederate flags before holding a vigil Attorney Chandler said: 'After viewing the police bodycam videos last Friday, and conferring with experts, I am more certain than ever that the shooting death of Dylan Noble was the result of an inexcusable use of excessive force. 'The City of Fresno must be held full accountable to his family - and for that matter to the community - for this tragic loss of life.' The Fresno police chief, however, insists he was reaching for something in his glove box, not following orders, and concealing his hand behind his waistband. Noble's family are suing the city of Fresno for damages over the teen's death on June 25. Last week they gave a press conference in which they said their son was a happy young man with a job and everything to live for. Darren Noble, Dylan's father said: 'Dylan was a fun loving kid. He loved life. Everybody around him loved him. For anybody saying differently-- they didn't know him'. said Darren Noble, Dylan's father. 'I am outraged that police would shoot my son and say it was his fault and that he was suicidal. To say he was unhappy', said Dylan's mother Veronica Nelson. The deadly shooting is now under investigation by the FBI, the Fresno County District Attorney's Office and his the Fresno Police Department's Internal Affairs division. Larry Carlbon, of Allamuchy Township, a longtime member of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, helped the organization celebrate its 50th anniversary during its annual meeting at a special reception at the New Jersey Statehouse July 26. Larry Carlbon special reception at the New Jersey Statehouse July 26. (Courtesy photo) The meeting was held in the Assembly chamber and included a welcoming from New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagano and words from Jane Chu, Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. Among the highlights of the meeting is the announcement of grants to arts organizations throughout the state. Locally, the Centenary Performing Arts Guild and the Warren County Cultural & Heritage Commission were grant recipients. A British beauty therapist allegedly murdered in an 'honour killing' in Pakistan was definitely strangled, police have confirmed. Samia Shahid, 28, suffered a 7.5ins gash to her neck in her ancestral Punjab village, which experts believe could have been inflicted by a rope. She died suddenly when she went to see her sick father a fortnight ago. Her family said she died of a heart attack or a severe asthma attack and had her buried. But her husband Syed Mukhtar Kazam insists she was murdered by her family because they disapproved of their marriage. Shocking: Samia Shahid's dead body (left) shows a 7.5 inch red mark on her neck, and police say she was murdered while visiting her family in Pakistan Tragedy: Her body was found in the family home in Pandori, a village in northern Punjab (pictured) He released a shocking picture showing a 7.5 inch red mark around Samia's neck, which her husband said proves she was strangled. The beautician, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, also has saliva and blood oozing from her mouth and nostrils. Mr Kazam, 30, told MailOnline: 'I am releasing this picture of my wife's dead body because I want the world to know that she didn't die of natural causes. She was murdered. 'The police told the media and everybody here that the body did not have any visible marks on it. 'Well, this proves that it did. What sort of heart attack leaves a bruise like that? It is obviously murder. Her family killed her because they weren't happy that she had married me.' Police said the latest forensic report had confirmed Shahid did not die of natural causes. Abubakar Khuda Bakhsh, the chief investigator, said today: 'The forensic report has been received by a three-member special investigation committee set up by chief minister Punjab and according to it Samia Shahid's death occurred due to asphyxia'. Bradford West Labour MP Naz Shah, who has campaigned for the case to be thoroughly investigated in Pakistan, told BBC Look North: 'We're actually very pleasantly surprised at the way the Pakistan authorities have responded to this and the urgency that they've placed on this investigation, which is quite impressive. 'The communication, to say we're so far apart, has been pretty good.' The News newspaper, in Pakistan, said today a forensic report has confirmed that she was murdered. It said the report 'stated clearly that her death had been caused due to suffocation, as she was stopped from breathing'. Arrested: Ms Shaid's father Mohammed, whom Samia had been visiting in Pakistan, has been arrested by detectives investigating the 23-year-old beauty therapist's death. He has been released on bail Grief: Syed Mukhtar Kazam, pictured today, said he wanted to release the shocking photograph to prove that she had been strangled and was the victim of an honour killing. He married Samia in Leeds in 2014 Marriage: Samia's second husband Syed Mukhtar Kazam claims she was killed by her family because they refused to accept their marriage. He said he was made to feel like an outsider Her father Mohammed Shahid and her first husband Mohammed Shakeel have both been arrested on suspicion of murder. A cousin Mobeen Mohammed has also been arrested in Pakistan. All three have been bailed. Bradford West MP Naz Shah, who has called for Samia's body to be exhumed, said: 'I have seen some pictures which are quite graphic in detail - that does really really raise some serious concerns. We need to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible'. The post mortem report said Ms Shahid suffered 'marks of violence' in the form of a 'reddish brown bruise' around her throat and was found dead with 'froth coming from her mouth'. 'The body of the deceased was found at midday in her home and froth was coming from mouth and nose. There is horrible mark on the right side of the neck of reddish discoloration,' it said. The author added that her mouth and face may have been 'congested' - a technical term for being smothered. An external examination of the body revealed she had signs of asphyxia. Samples from her major organs and toxicology tests were taken, and results will take several more days to come back. Marks: A post mortem found a 7.5 inch wound on Samia's neck. Police in Pakistan initially claimed she had suffered no injuries and allowed the family to bury her. But detectives have now launched a murder probe First marriage: Samia is pictured at her first wedding to cousin Mohammed Shakeel, whom she left after a year of marriage. Shakeel has been arrested on suspicion of her murder and released on bail A senior doctor at the Jhelum hospital where her body was inspected, who asked not to be named, said her neck injury was consistent with a murder. He said: 'Cause of death looks like strangulation of the neck with a narrow rope-like object'. Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said the report confirms claims she died of natural causes are 'wrong'. He said: 'The family's claims that she died of natural causes are apparently wrong and we have ordered a reinvestigation. Grave: Samia's relatives reportedly said she died from a heart or asthma attack and buried her in the village (pictured). But her local MP wants her body exhumed 'The reinvestigation is aimed at a murder case rather than a natural death case. The new investigators are sure the family's claims about natural death are not true. 'I have been told to apply for permission to exhume her body. I will do that if necessary.' Mr Kazam claims she was killed for marrying him against her parents' wishes after leaving her first husband from an arranged marriage. Her family have claimed the large bruise was 'probably from a hair clip' and strongly deny the claims of an honour killing. Police officer Aqeel Abbas said bruising found on Ms Shahid's neck could have occurred while her body was being moved or buried. David Blaine could now probably blame bad performances on having a frog in his throat if he needed to. The magician reportedly entertained elite executives and celebrities at Googles The Camp by walking on stage with a live frog in his stomach, regurgitating the animal and then swallowing it again. The third annual retreat for the company, hosted by founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, is being held in the Sicilian fishing town of Sciacca, Italy. Illusionist David Blaine entertained at the elite Google retreat in Sicily, Italy The New York Post reports the 100-strong guest list included Karlie Kloss, Pharrell Williams, Charlize Theron, Bill Gates, Gloria Steinem, Alicia Keys - who also performed for the guests - Snapchats Evan Spiegel and fiancee Miranda Kerr, George Lucas and Queen Rania of Jordan. But it was Blaines effort during a performance that had VIP guests talking. David Blaine came to stage with a live frog in his stomach, and he regurgitated it on demand, a witness told the Post. Then, he swallowed it back. He says hes training himself to create an aquarium in his stomach.' Alicia Keys was another performer at the Google retreat in southern Italy The source then reportedly added: Last act before lunch, urggh. When asked about his new stunt, Blaines spokesman could only say, Thats all probably true. Hes pretty amazing.' The Post said CBS chief Les Moonves, Vices Shane Smith and IACs Barry Diller with Diane von Furstenberg were also in attendance alongside Jeffrey Katzenberg, CAA chief Bryan Lourd and Brian Grazer. Advertisement Work to restore a stunning hall dubbed 'Britain's Sistine Chapel' will begin next month. The Painted Hall at London's Old Royal Navy College, decorated by James Thornhill, has been described as the 'finest dining hall in Europe'. Now, the stunning hall, adorned with beautiful baroque paintings is set to shine again as the beautifully-decorated area will have its first major restoration in over half a century. The painting pays tribute to King William III and Queen Mary II, seated in glory in the middle of the central oval, and the importance of naval power to the fortunes of the nation Work is due to begin to give the highly-decorated ceiling its first major restoration in over half a century The hall was decorated by Sir James Thornhill be-tween 1708 and 1727 and has been described as 'Britain's Sistine Chapel' Earlier this year, the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the College a 3.1 million grant towards its 8 million conservation project. Considered the greatest achievement of English Baroque art, the 300-year-old masterpieces will be cleaned of layers of dirt to bring the dining hall back to its 17th century glory. During the three year project, the College's vaulted King William Undercroft, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor (and built between 1696 and 1712) will also be brought back to its original form. Sir Christopher commissioned artist James Thornhill - who also produced the paintings on the inside of the dome of St Paul's cathedral - to decorate the dining hall with a brief to show off Britain's superiority. He spent the next 19 years painstakingly painting the hall and was instructed to include as many references as possible to the importance of Britain's Navy. The Painted Hall was originally used by Navy veterans but, once completed, it was deemed too grand to act as a dining hall and instead well-to-do visitors were allowed in to look around with the pensioners acting as tour guides. It was deemed special enough for Admiral Nelson's body to lay in state their in 1806 and a plaque still marks the spot where his coffin lay. Thornhill was instructed to include as many references as possible to the importance of the navy in Britain's fortunes Conservation director William Palin said the hall is one of 'Britain's greatest architectural and artistic treasures' From 1824 until 1936, the Painted Hall housed the National Gallery of Naval Art with more than 300 works. From 1939, the room's function finally met its original purpose and it acted as a dining room for the Old Royal Naval College and a venue for important dinners, including the 1946 celebration dinner marking the formation of the United Nations. The last restoration work was carried out in the 1950s when 15 layers of varnish had to be meticulously removed. Most recently it has been used as a location for films such as the Pirates of the Caribbean and The Iron Lady. The most recent renovation will see a team of conservators work on 3,400sq metres of painted surface, bringing new life to the paintings obscured by decades of deterioration. William Palin, Conservation Director for the Old Royal Naval College, said: 'The Painted Hall is one of Britain's greatest architectural and artistic treasures but it is too little known. 'Central to this project is cutting-edge conservation and the highest curatorial standards. These will give the Painted Hall the national and international prominence it deserves.' The last major restoration work was in the 1950s, when 15 coats of varnish were carefully removed A radical Islamist who posed for photographs with MP George Galloway has been jailed for 12 years after he sexually abused two young girls. Businessman Al Said Qasim Hashem, 59, from Stanmore, Middlesex, molested the girls over the course of 13 years, and one of them was just five when the abuse started. He was jailed at Harrow Crown Court last week after being convicted of four counts of indecent assault, four counts of assaulting a child under 13, three sexual assaults and one count of assault by beating. Radical Islamist Al Said Qasim Hashem, 59, (right) who posed for photographs with MP George Galloway (left) has been jailed for 12 years after he sexually abused two young girls Hashem had been linked to the '14 Feb Coalition', a dissident network which originated in his Bahraini homeland after 'human rights activists' protested against the country's government in 2011. It is the second time in just seven months that a prominent member of the group has been handed a lengthy jail term. Hashem's compatriot Abdul Raoof Al Shayeb, 51, was locked up for five years last December for possessing information likely to be useful to terrorists. Hashem's compatriot Abdul Raoof Al Shayeb, 51, (pictured left, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn) was locked up for five years last December for possessing information likely to be useful to terrorists Al Shayeb, who met Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn a number of times and attended human rights conferences at the UN and Houses of Parliament, was found with sniper rifle and rocket launcher manuals. Backed by former opposition MP Jawad Fairooz, he claimed he was also a leading activist and was in possession of the material in order to understand how to protect fellow protesters who were targeted by them. Both Al Shayeb (pictured) and Hashem were granted asylum in the UK However, a jury saw through the sham and the judge sentencing him highlighted the 'death and destruction' which could have been caused had the information fallen into the wrong hands. Both Al Shayeb and Hashem were granted asylum in the UK and questions will be asked of the Home Office as to why the pair were able to commit such serious offences while posing as human rights activists. Bob Stewart, Conservative MP for Beckenham and member of the Defence Select Committee, pledged to raise the issue with Home Office and Foreign Office ministers as the UK Four-star general says he can't support Trump because he's ' Donald Trump could put the world on the pathway to nuclear annihilation if he becomes president, MSNBC host Joe Scarborough warned this morning. 'Several months ago, a foreign policy expert on an international level, went to advise Donald Trump and three times he asked about the use of nuclear weapons. Three times he asked,' Scarborough said Wednesday on Morning Joe. Treading carefully, Scarborough says the adviser told him that Trump at one point asked, 'If we have them, why can't we use them?' Donald Trump could put the world on the pathway to nuclear annihilation if he becomes president, MSNBC host Joe Scarborough warned this morning 'Several months ago, a foreign policy expert on an international level, went to advise Donald Trump and three times he asked about the use of nuclear weapons. Three times he asked,' Scarborough said Wednesday on Morning Joe 'That's one of the reasons why he just doesn't have foreign policy experts around him,' Scarborough said, responding to retired four-star General Michael Hayden's statement moments before that 'no one' he knows is advising the Republican White House candidate. The Morning Joe roundtable reveled at Scarborough's assertion. Co-host Mika Brzezinski added, 'Be careful America, and be careful Republican leaders, your party is blowing up.' The revelation came amid a discussion with Hayden, a former director of both the CIA and the NSA, about checks on the president's power to launch a nuclear strike. Scarborough asked Hayden, who confirmed during the program that he's not voting for Trump, what safeguards there are to stop 'any president who may not be stable' from launching a nuclear act.' Hayden explained that the Constitution puts 'great power' in the hands of the president and commander-in-chief. The armed forces 'give a great deal of deference, just culturally, to their civilian leader,' he stated. Scarborough pressed him to say where or not there is, however, anyone or anything standing in between 'a president who is unfit to be commander in chief and the final person that presses the code and launches the nuclear weapons against a country that has angered the commander in chief.' 'Joe, that chain of command was built for speed and decisiveness,' Hayden told him. That's why retired four-star Gen. John Allen, who endorsed Hillary Clinton and spoke out against Trump at the Democratic National Convention, said there could be a 'crisis in civil-military relationships' if Trump is elected, Hayden told him. 'Not nuclear annihilation,' Hayden said, indicating that military officials could, however, revolt in such a scenario. The revelation came amid a discussion with Gen. Michael Hayden, a former director of both the CIA and the NSA, about checks on the president's power to launch a nuclear strike But what happens in Armed Forces 'when you have, we fear, perhaps these kinds of decisions for a military that does defer to civilian leadership....it may actually strain and test the fabric of our civilian military control,' Hayden said. Later in the discussion, Scarborough asked Hayden what the time frame is between the decision to send nuclear weapons and when they are launched. Hayden told him, 'It's scenario dependent. But the system is designed for speed and decisiveness.. it's not designed to debate the decision.' The retired four-star general said today that he can't get behind Trump or Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and may not vote at all. Hayden said he's concerned with 'how erratic' Trump is -'he's inconsistent, and when you're the head of a global super power, inconsistency, unpredictability, those are dangerous things.' A man who hired a woman as his caregiver on Craigslist is now missing, according to authorities in Tennessee. Ellis Vogt, 59, was reported missing from his Williston home by family members on Saturday night, Fayette County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Ricky Wilson told media. Wilson says Vogt's family told officers that they hadn't had any contact with Vogt since Friday night. They say Vogt suffered a stroke and is dependent on medications. Scroll down for video Ellis Vogt (left) hired a woman as his caregiver on Craigslist and is now missing. Authorities have also released a photo of a woman, who is reportedly known as 'Janie' Vogt was reported missing from his Williston home by family members on Saturday night, Fayette County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Ricky Wilson says. His house is seen in this grab taken from WMC Action News video Investigators say Vogt advertised for a caregiver on Craigslist and an unidentified woman answered the ad. She is known as 'Janie', LocalMemphis.com reported. Authorities say Vogt is believed to have hired the woman two weeks ago and that she is believed to be with him. Vogt's vehicle, a dark green van, is also missing. Deputies say the disappearances are suspicious. Authorities say Vogt is believed to have hired the woman two weeks ago and that she is believed to be with him. Vogt's vehicle, a dark green van, is also missing The sheriff's office says it is a '1999 Green Plymouth Voyager mini van bearing TN Tag 100DD31' The Fayette County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook Wednesday: 'Ellis is 6'2 and weighs 195lbs and was last wearing a Gray T-shirt, black shorts, brown house shoes, and a Doo Rag. 'Also missing was Mr. Vogt's 1999 Green Plymouth Voyager mini van bearing TN Tag 100DD31.' According to authorities, 'Ellis has had a previous stroke, is partially disabled, and on daily medications, which were also missing.' Police said it remains unknown why Martines fed her child the salt Doctors said the girl was suffering from an acute case of salt poisoning Kimberly Martines, 23, was charged with felony child abuse after she fed her 17-month-old daughter a teaspoon of salt A baby girl is on life support after she was fed a teaspoon of salt by her mother, who is now behind bars. Kimberly Martines, 23, was charged with felony child abuse after her daughter was hospitalized with an acute case of salt poisoning on Sunday morning. The toddler was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at Spartanburg Medical Center in South Carolina with seizures and a high fever. She remains unresponsive. Medical staff at the hospital notified the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office and Martines was taken into custody. Hypernatremia, or salt poisoning, occurs when too much salt is present in the bloodstream, causing cells to shrink as water rushes out of them. This can lead to torn blood vessels as the cells are forced out of their normal location, according to WYFF 4. The imbalance of electrolytes can also cause fluid buildup in the lungs, as well as seizures and kidney damage. The baby girl is now on life support and unresponsive. Martines was arrested (pictured) after her daughter was admitted to a hospital with seizures and a high fever Hypernatremia most often occurs when people don't drink enough water. Infants are especially susceptible because their kidneys are too immature to process any added salt in their foods, according to the World Action on Salt and Health. Multiple parenting sites also advise that salt never be added to any food cooked for babies and toddlers. Authorities said it remains unknown why Martines, who confessed on Monday, fed her daughter the salt. Martines faces up to 20 years in prison if she is convicted. Investigators discovered that the toddler was referred to a specialist in November 2015, according to the arrest warrant. The child's pediatrician was concerned about the girl's lack of weight gain and developmental delay. But Martines canceled the appointment. Islamist group Boko Haram has mysteriously replaced its notorious leader with its former spokesman who promises not to attack mosques or markets used by Muslims, the Islamic State group's newspaper has announced. The Arabic-language newspaper al-Nabaa on Wednesday identified Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the new 'Wali,' a title previously used to describe long-time leader Abubakar Shekau. The report does not say what Shekau's current status is. He was in charge since 2009. Abu Musab al-Barnawi, seen here in a video from 2015, was is now Boko Haram's leader, according to ISIS Analyst Jacob Zenn says the announcement indicates a coup by Boko Haram breakaway group Ansaru and follows a trend of extremist Islamic groups moving away from al-Qaida to the Islamic State. Ansaru is known for kidnapping foreigners. It had broken away from Boko Haram because it disagrees with the indiscriminate killing of civilians, especially Muslims. In March, shadowy leader Abubakar Shekau appeared in a rare message looking dejected and frail. Shekau, unseen on camera for more than a year, released an unverified video saying his time in charge of the Nigerian jihadist group may be coming to an end. A video released by the Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram showed the leader Abubakar Shekau (pictured) on January 5, 2015 If the video did indeed depict Shekau, he appeared thin and listless, delivering his message without his trademark fiery rhetoric. It prompted speculation from the army that the Islamist group was on the verge of collapse in the face of a sustained military counter-insurgency. However, in another message, Boko Haram maintained it was a potent fighting force, with men holding AK-47s posing in front of Toyota Hilux pick-up trucks and a lorry mounted with a military cannon. 'You should know that there is no truce, there is no negotiations, there is no surrender,' an unidentified masked man in camouflage said in a prepared script in Hausa, the dominant language in the north, in the video posted on YouTube. 'This war between us will not stop.' In this photo from May 12, 2014, former leader Abubakar Shekau showed off dozens of abducted schoolgirls, covered in jihab and praying in Arabic The video, of markedly better quality than Shekau's and including Arabic subtitles, featured nine masked Boko Haram fighters standing on sandy ground in an undisclosed desert location. Shekau was still the head of the 'West African wing', said the masked speaker, likening Boko Haram to the Islamist insurgencies in Iraq, Libya and Syria. In March 2015, Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, another deadly terror organisation. But there were few signs that Boko Haram -- now styled as Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) -- has drawn benefits from the partnership. The leader of Boko Haram offered to release more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by his fighters in exchange for prisoners in a video that could not be authenticated in 2014 Since then Nigeria's army has won back swathes of territory from the militants, liberating thousands of people who had been living under Boko Haram control. On Monday, five Islamists were killed as Nigerian troops thwarted a Boko Haram attack near the northeastern city of Maiduguri, the epicentre of the seven-year insurgency, the army said. 'Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE accompanied by Civilian JTF successfully thwarted an attempt by Boko Haram terrorists on Yauri community at the outskirts of Maiduguri city, Borno State,' said a statement by army spokesman Sani Usman. During the incident five Islamists were killed and a cache of arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 rifles and a machine gun, were recovered, he said. With the help of regional forces, Nigerian troops have recaptured a range of territories and driven the insurgents into remote areas in the Lake Chad region. A former ISIS jihadi has revealed that the terror group sent him away from Syria and back home to Germany telling him they wanted him to be part of a wave of attacks across Europe. German-born Harry Sarfo, who grew up in the UK, spent four days straight driving to Syria to join the extremists before spending three months with them in their Raqqa stronghold. However, he was arrested when he left the caliphate and tried to return to Europe. Scroll down for video Former jihadi Harry Sarfo, pictured in an ISIS propaganda video, said bombing campaigns in Syria will only cause more people to join the terror group Now in an interview with the New York Times from his prison cell, where is being held before standing trial over terror charges, Sarfo has revealed how ISIS do not want Europeans to travel to Syria anymore. He told the newspaper that a commander within the terror group told him what they really wanted them to do was return to Europe to unleash a fresh wave of attacks. Sarfo explained: 'He was speaking openly about the situation, saying that they have loads of people living in European countries and waiting for commands to attack the European people. 'And that was before the Brussels attacks, before the Paris attacks. 'They said, "Would you mind to go back to Germany, because thats what we need at the moment."' And they always said they wanted to have something that is occurring in the same time: They want to have loads of attacks at the same time in England and Germany and France.' Sarfo, pictured, is awaiting trial in Germany for terror offences. He said he left ISIS last summer because of its 'extreme interpretation' of Sharia law Sarfo, who is in a high security jail in Bremen, also warned how many ISIS extremists, originally from Europe, have now left Syria and gone back home. Previously the 27-year-old spoke about how he witnessed children taking part in executions and carrying suicide bombs and brutal stonings and beheadings during his time in Syria. He also said the coalition bombing raids would only radicalise more people should they lose family members in the air strikes. A former Royal Mail worker, Sarfo, who moved to London as a teenager, said he trained with ISIS in Syria and experienced bombings 'nearly every day', while he also heard jihadis talking about plans to attack the UK and Europe. Sarfo said he was attracted to the group because of its ideology of uniting people under one flag, and that he told its leaders he would not be prepared to take part in terror attacks. ISIS has previously cited bombings as part of the reasons for its attacks in Paris and Belgium He became radicalised after being forced to leave the UK in 2010 when he was jailed for a robbery in Germany. While in prison he spent time with an Al Qaeda-linked recruiter and then joined a radical mosque in Bremen after his release. Sarfo was then blocked from travelling to Syria on a 'charity mission' and said subsequent police treatment led to him joining ISIS after strict security measures 'destroyed his life' and 'made him the man they wanted'. ISIS has previously cited bombings as part of the reasons for its attacks in Paris and Belgium. The Pentagon has recently estimated air strikes in Iraq and Syria between September 2015 and February 2016 have killed 20 civilians, bringing the 'official' total to 41 since the campaign against ISIS began. Advertisement An incredibly rare Mercedes that was taken by Allied troops from a German industrialist while he was imprisoned is now set to sell for 6m after a court ruling returned it to the family of its original owner. The 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster was found by Allied troops on the estate of factory owner Hans Prym, while they were lodged there, after he was imprisoned in 1945. Mr Prym, who was known locally as the 'Zipper King', was the owner of a manufacturer of buttons, zips and other clothing fasteners. During World War II, his company produced turbine blades and war-related materials. He was never a member of the Nazi party but was locked up by Allied troops. The car, one of the best Mercedes ever made, was transported to America where it spent the next 66 years before it was sold in 2011 for 2.9m to a Dutch car enthusiast. This magnificent Mercedes-Benz Special Roadster was taken as the spoils of war by an Allied soldier in Germany in 1945 The incredibly rare car is set to be sold for an estimated 6m after a court ruling returned it to the grandchildren of its original owner The 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster spent 70 years in the US before it was bought by a Dutch car enthusiast who took it to Germany After taking delivery if the classic motor, Frans van Haren took it to a car show in Essen, Germany, at which point it was seized by local authorities. It turned out that the grandchildren of Mr Prym alleged the car was stolen from their grandfather and the family were still the rightful owners. The disputed claim of ownership meant the car became subject to the 30 year statute of limitation rule - the time limit within which someone must make a claim of ownership of an object before they are barred from doing so. Officials in Germany decided that because the Mercedes spent its post-war years overseas the 30 year period restarted when it touched German soil, and could therefore be impounded. The car was seized on behalf of the original owner German industrialist Hans Prym's family and a court later ruled they were the rightful owners Mr Prym's family are now selling the car with auctioneers Bonhams. The vehicle represents the pinnacle of 1930s automotive technology and is one of only 29 of its type produced This sparked a legal case between Mr van Haren and the Prym family which went in favour of the descendants of the original owner. Now the family has put the car up for auction at Bonhams who have valued it at 5.95m. German industrialist Hans Prym bought the car in 1936 and hid it from the Nazis on his estate during the war years It is not known if Mr van Haren has ended up out of pocket as a consequence of the case. Philip Kantor, Bonhams European head of motoring, said: 'This incredible motor car is finally back in the hands of its rightful owners. 'It's no surprise that the 500K appealed to Hans Prym, who was a highly successful industrialist. 'It represents the pinnacle of 1930s automotive technology and is one of only 29 of its type produced. 'The vehicle is vast, stately, and incredibly powerful, it was only possessed by the elite. 'It's in magnificent condition and we certainly expect strong bidding.' Hans Prym came from the Prym industrial dynasty, the oldest family-run business in Germany, who for 12 generations produced haberdashery, copper, and brass products. The Mercedes 500K Special Roadster is considered to be one of the greatest performance cars of the 1930s. Between 1934 and 1936 342 500K's were manufactured, of which only 29 were Special Roadsters. The two door convertible has a five litre engine and can reach speeds of up to 100mph. It was bought by Mr Prym in 1936 and during the war years he hid it from the Nazis on his estate on Stolberg, near Cologne. He got his caretaker, Franz Wagemann, to guard it while he was in prison. Hans Prym was a highly successful industrialist and came from the Prym industrial dynasty, the oldest family-run business in Germany The Prym family, who for 12 generations have produced haberdashery, copper, and brass products, fought to have the car returned to them The grandchildren of Mr Prym alleged the car was stolen from their grandfather and the family were still the rightful owners The car appears to be in perfect condition and has been valued by auction house Bonhams at 5.95m The two door convertible 500K has a five litre engine and can reach speeds of up to 100mph Mr Prym brought the car in 1936 and during the war years he hid it from the Nazis on his estate on Stolberg, near Cologne Mr Prym got his caretaker to guard the Special Roadster while he was in prison in 1945 His estate was used as a base for U.S. troops at the beginning of the march into Germany and Mr Wagemann was away for a few days when the car was taken. Mr Prym's daughter, 84, said her father was 'furious' and 'very dismayed' when he found out the car had been stolen. After it was stolen and shipped to the States it was not seen until 1970, when it then changed hands several times. It was restored by Richie Clyne, former CEO of the Imperial Palace hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Mr Prym died in 1965 aged 90. The vintage motor will be sold by Bonhams in Chantilly, France, on September 3. A Staten Island man wanted for allegedly committing a bank robbery in late July while wearing a dress has come forward, it's been revealed. The suspect, 24-year-old Jordan Wise, turned himself in on Sunday, according to the New York Post. The robbery took place at a Santander Bank in Staten Island on July 25, according to the FBI-NYPD Violent Crimes Task Force. Scroll down for video A Staten Island man wanted for allegedly committing a bank robbery in late July while wearing a dress has come forward. Suspect Jordan Wise, 24, turned himself in on Sunday Authorities had said in a news release: 'The suspect; a male black dressed as a female; did display a silver handgun [and] was last seen walking along Water Street in denim shorts, blue and white Nike Jordan sneakers, and no shirt.' A complaint says Wise wore a bra, dress, hat, heels, and sunglasses during the crime. He fled with $780 and allegedly changed into blue and white Nike Jordans and plaid shorts at a bodega The complaint reportedly says Wise claims at the time of the robbery he held a 'water gun'. He fled with $780, allegedly changed into Nike Jordan sneakers and plaid shorts at a bodega in the area, and got rid of the disguise, the Post reported. Two former Yugoslav spy chiefs have been sentenced to life in prison for murder - 33 years after the assassination of a dissident in what then was West Germany. Zdravko Mustac, 74, and Josip Perkovic, 71, were high-ranking officials in communist intelligence agencies. They were found guilty in a Munich courtroom on Wednesday of complicity in the murder of Croatian businessman Stjepan Djurekovic. Zdravko Mustac, former member of the Yugoslav secret service, attends a hearing Businessman Stjepan Djurekovic was killed in 1983 after he defected to West Germany Djurekovic, 57, had fled to West Germany to escape communist Yugoslavia, which he criticised both at home and abroad. He was killed in a garage used as a print office in Wolfratshausen, Bavaria, south-west of Munich, in 1983. Djurekovic - who had served as CEO of the state-owned INA petrol company - was shot several times and bludgeoned with a meat cleaver by three people who have never been caught. Prosecutors said Djurekovic was silenced because he had information about illegal business dealings by the son of a Yugoslav politician. Josip Perkovic (right) and Zdravko Mustac (left) were members of the Yugoslav secret service Mustac and Perkovic were extradited from Croatia in 2014. The court found that Mustac had asked Perkovic to plan and prepare for Djurekovic's murder. Danielle Ames, 41, said she 'idolised' her father, businessman Michael Leslie Ames, that he was her 'best friend' and that he 'doted' on her as his only child A daughter who was left nothing in her late father's 1million will is battling her stepmother over the fortune. Danielle Ames, 41, told Central London County Court she 'idolised' her father, businessman Michael Leslie Ames, that he was her 'best friend' and that he 'doted' on her as his only child. But she was shocked when Mr Ames, who ran a highly successful London glazing business, died in 2013 and left his entire fortune to Danielle's step-mother, Elaine Ames, 63. Ms Ames is now trying to convince a judge that she is due 300,000 as 'reasonable provision' from her father's estate. But her stepmother is insisting that her late husband deliberately cut his daughter out, as he had a strong work ethic and believed grown-up children should 'look after themselves.' Judge David Halpern QC heard that Mr Ames married Elaine, his second wife, in 2001, after divorcing Ms Ames' mother Carleen in the 1980s. Oliver Wooding, for Ms Ames, an unemployed mother-of-two, told the judge that, when he died in June 2013, his estate was valued at 1.09m for probate. However, there is a continuing dispute between Ms Ames and Mrs Ames about the current value of his fortune. Mr Ames, who ran a highly successful London glazing business, died in 2013, and left his entire fortune to Danielle's step-mother, Elaine Ames, 63, (pictured right) Ms Ames claims she was 'dependent' on her father and his death has left her not only bereaved but in financially dire straits. She lives in a three-bedroom rented house in Enfield with partner, Lornis Branch, and their two children, surviving on his 800 monthly wage, plus benefits. Ms Ames wants a payout of about 300,000 to allow her and her family to buy a 600,000 home in their local area. Elaine Ames lives in this 650,000 house in Hoddesdon. She says she would be forced to sell the home she has lived in for 13 years if ordered to satisfy her stepdaughter's claim Her family currently has a monthly deficit of over 2,000 and she is struggling to make ends meet. She also has debts of 10,000, Mr Wooding added. Describing her claim as reasonable, he said: 'The types of costs set out by Danielle are not extraordinary or unusual in any way for a family-of-four living in outer London.' But Mrs Ames' barrister Faith Julian said that Ms Ames is a grown up, 'fit and able to work' and ought to stand on her own two feet. Mrs Ames told the judge that her late husband had promised her that his money would be used to look after her in her old age, and that he intentionally left his daughter out of his will Mrs Ames told the court that her late husband believed people should work for their money and had such a strong work ethic he even made his grandchildren work for their pocket money. Mrs Ames told the judge that her late husband had promised her that his money would be used to look after her in her old age. She detailed a 'list of ailments' she is afflicted by, including vertigo, anaemia and Crohn's disease, adding, in her witness statement: 'I cannot work, walk or drive.' And she told the judge: 'My husband would never have told Daniella 'all this will be yours.' 'He always said he knew that he and I were both ill. He always knew we would need to be looked after, coming to the end of our lives. 'He would have loved to have left money to the grandchildren, so they could say, 'my grandad left me this', but it couldn't be.' Miss Julian told the judge that Mr Ames wanted his daughter to make her own way in the world and had given her financial support to set up her own picture framing business. 'It is Elaine's case that she and Michael preferred to set up their children in a business or trade, and how they developed thereafter was up to them,' she said. 'Michael and Elaine built their life together, and gave their children the tools to do the same. In that context the will makes reasonable financial provision for all parties. 'Danielle is an able picture framer, has experience working in a business and is fit and able to work. 'She is an adult child capable of working,' she added. Denying that Mr Ames felt any financial obligations towards his adult daughter, or wider family, Mrs Ames told the court: 'He always said about the children, 'if you give them a good education and the tools to look after themselves, then they'll be ok.'' 'If my husband knew what was going on here he would be incandescent with rage.' Miss Julian also told the judge that the bulk of Mr Ames' fortune is tied up in the four-bedroom 650,000 family home in Woollens Brook, Hoddesdon, where Mrs Ames still lives. She says she would be forced to sell the home she has lived in for 13 years and up sticks, if ordered to satisfy Ms Ames' claim. 'Ms Ames is 41 and in robust good health. Elaine is 63 and in very poor health,' the barrister told the judge. 'Danielle is an adult child capable of working. Her case is misguided. 'The terms of the will ought not to be ignored,' she concluded. Mrs Ames also claims Mr Ames and his daughter were not as close as Ms Ames claims. Mr Wooding told the judge: 'It is plain that Danielle and Elaine have very different recollections of their respective relationships with the deceased and with each other. 'From Danielle's perspective her relationship with her father was a positive and supportive one overall, with the usual agreements and disagreements one might expect in a family over time. 'He was a regular presence in her life right up until his unexpected death,' he said. Urging both women to put their animosity aside, Judge Halpern told them their personal feelings about each other were of little relevance to the case. Katie Clack, 23, a nursery assistant, threw herself off a shopping centre car park in Peterborough in September 2014 A depressed schizophrenic who developed narcolepsy after being given the swine flu vaccine jumped off a multi-storey car park a day after seeing a psychologist, a coroner heard. Katie Clack, 23, a nursery assistant, threw herself off a shopping centre car park in Peterborough in September 2014. In the preceding 18 months she had suffered from psychosis and clinical depression which was brought after she was diagnosed with narcolepsy, a rare disorder that affects the brain's ability to regulate the normal sleep-wake cycle. She contracted the condition after she received the Pandemrix vaccine in 2009 to inoculate against swine flu. A few weeks after receiving the vaccine, Clack began feeling overwhelming sleepy, a defining symptom of narcolepsy, and was sleeping 18 or 19 hours each day by the time she was diagnosed a year later. She left her family a note on the day she died urging them to pursue her legal case against GlaxoSmithKline, the firm who manufactured the drug and said she had been left with 'no quality of life'. She told them: It's very important to me that you pursue this.' The day before her death she had seen clincial psychologist Dr Gemma Hendry. She said: 'There was no suspicions raised with me. She had plans for later in that week. At no point did she express suicidal intentions or did she become stressed in the last session. 'When she was signing out at reception she waved to me.' But in a previous session, on August 22, Miss Clack admitted having suicidal thoughts. Dr Hendry said: 'She told me she was having thoughts to kill herself and heard voices telling her to kill herself. 'She said she hated her job and did not get on with her colleagues. She admitted having the thoughts but said she did not have a concrete plan on carrying it out. 'She said her family and nieces are one of the factors why she hadn't taken action on it.' Miss Clack had visited the car park on two previous occasions but was persuaded from not jumping after texting her sister, Emma Sutton, the court heard. She also took an overdose at her flat on July 8, 2014. While the swine flu outbreak never reached the proportions that were initially feared, scientists believe the vaccine, which was given to about 6m people in Britain, caused narcolepsy Sarah Clarke, a community psychiatric nurse, supported Miss Clack from May 2013 until her death. She said: 'Katie called on July 8 [2014] to tell me she had taken an overdose. She was assessed by the crisis team. They felt that following the assessment Katie did not warrant an admission to hospital or that she needed extra support. 'So they transferred her back (to the community team.)' She added: 'The next day I went to see her. She said that she felt really silly about taking the overdose and she gave me some medication she had that she didn't want in the house.' The court heard how Miss Clack had been sectioned in April 2013 after developing paranoid psychotic episodes and said she was hearing voices. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia during her four week admission at the hospital. Her condition improved and she was released and allowed to return to her parents' house. Within days she deteriorated and voluntarily returned to the hospital for treatment. She was discharged on June 3 and then supported by Ms Clarke from the Community Crisis Team. She later returned to work at a nursery where she often had disagreements with staff causing her mood to fluctuate significantly. Her depression led her to gain around eight stone in weight and she also suffered night terrors. On the day she died, witness Gemma Wilson was standing outside the Peterborough city centre shopping centre. In a statement read out to the court she said: 'All of a sudden there was a moving figure out of the corner of my eye. 'A second later there was a terrible noise like a loud bang and a person lying in the road. 'I realised then a person had fallen from the car park.' Paramedics Craig Gardner and Patricia Edgely were called to the scene at 1.44pm. The pair started CPR but stopped at 2.04pm when it was clear she was dead. An autopsy was carried out on her body at Peterborough City Hospital in October 2014. It concluded she had died from head injuries. The hearing in Lincolnshire continues. Italy is investigating whether ISIS could be organising the passage of tens of thousands of migrants across the Mediterranean to smuggle jihadis into Europe. The country's justice minister announced the probe as hundreds of people are still arriving in Italy every day, mostly from Libya. Criminal gangs have taken advantage of chaos in Libya to charge mainly sub-Saharan Africans hundreds of dollars to make the voyage. But there is concern ISIS could also be taking advantage of the migration crisis to infiltrate Europe. Probe: Italy's Justice Minister has announced an investigation into whether ISIS are co-ordinating the flow of migrants and refugees into Europe. Pictured, Italy's navy rescue a boat of stranded migrants and refugees on August 2 Crisis: Criminal gangs have taken advantage of chaos in Libya to charge mainly sub-Saharan Africans hundreds of dollars to make the voyage. Pictured, more than 800 refugees of sub-Saharan origin arrived in Salerno from the Channel of Sicily on August 2 'From the information available, there is an investigation underway focused on whether representatives of ISIS have crucial roles in controlling and managing migrant flows to Italy,' Justice Minister Andrea Orlando told a parliamentary committee. Details of the investigation are secret, he told the hearing on immigration, Europe's border-free Schengen accord and the activity of European police agency Europol. 'The risks we have to take on are high,' he said, adding there was also suspicion the militants were trying to influence where in Italy migrants and refugees were eventually placed. German Chancellor Angela Merkel previously said militant groups have smuggled members into Europe among migrants and refugees. The Turkey to Greece migration route has been largely shut down since a repatriation deal was struck between the EU and Ankara in March, but hundreds of people still arrive in Italy every day. Worry: German Chancellor Angela Merkel previously said militant groups have smuggled members into Europe among migrants and refugees. Pictured, the port of Salerno on August 2 Risk: Around 3,000 people have died in the Mediterranean this year, as many migrants and refugees are forced into unseaworthy boats from Libya to Italy Many have to take unseaworthy boats from Libya to Italy - more than 4,000 people have died worldwide so far this year with three-quarters of them in the Mediterranean, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Tueday. That figure represents a 35 per cent increase on the global toll during the first seven months of 2015. Federal agents have arrested an illegal immigrant with a long criminal history and at least four DWI convictions for re-entering the country. Jesus Artemio De Alba Medrano, 44, of Alamo, was taken into custody on Wednesday by agents with the Harlingen Fugitive Operations Unit, which is a part of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. De Alba Medrano, a native of Mexico, lived in the City of Alamo with his wife, according to court records. Illegal: Jesus Artemio De Alba Medrano, 44, was arrested in an ICE raid last Wednesday and charged with illegal re-entry The 44-year-old illegal immigrant has a lengthy criminal record dating back to at least 1995. Hidalgo County jail records indicate that De Alba Medrano has been arrested no fewer than 10 times between 1995-2007. Some of the previous charges the suspect had faced included multiple counts of driving while intoxicated, public intoxication, injury to a child, evading arrest, and several probation violations. History of offenses: De Alba Medrano's criminal history includes a slew of arrests related to driving while intoxicated, including in 1999 (pictured left) and 2000 (right) The illegal immigrant, who is married, has been arrested at least 10 times. He was caught driving drunk in 2003 (left) and was arrested in 2007 on a probation violation County court records reveal that De Alba Medrano was convicted of DWI charges in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2007, ValleyCentral.com first reported. Daily Mail reached out to ICE for comment about De Alba Medrano's history of arrests and his immigration status on Wednesday and was awaiting a response. Cameron Douglas was spotted walking around lower Manhattan on Monday, joined by his new Brazilian yoga instructor girlfriend. Michael Douglas' oldest son and Viviane Thibes held hands as they explored the city, five weeks after Cameron was released from prison following seven years behind bars. He is now living at a halfway house in the Bronx and has even started his own Instagram account, with one shirtless photo of the 37-year-old revealing that he has both his father Michael and grandfather Kirk's faces tattooed on his stomach. The tattoo of his father is from when he played Gordon Gecko in the film Wall Street, for which he won an Oscar, while the Kirk tattoo looks like it could be from his Oscar-nominated role in the Vincente Minnelli film The Bad and the Beautiful. 'TIMELESS,' is written across Cameron's stomach underneath the two tattoos. Cameron also has 'Take The Long Way Home' written across his chest and 'TICK' and 'TOCK' on his left and right arms. Scroll down for video Sunny stroll: Cameron Douglas, 37, was seen walking around lower Manhattan with his girlfriend Viviane Thibes on Monday (above) Starting fresh: The oldest son of Michael Douglas has been posting photos on Instagram in the five week since he was released from prison Family ink: One shirtless photo of Cameron revealed he had tattoos of his father and grandfather Kirk on his stomach Roles: The tattoo ff Michael is from when he played Gordon Gecko in the film Wall Street (left) while the Kirk tattoo looks like it could be from his role in The Bad and the Beautiful (right) Writer: Cameron is staying in a halfway house in the Bronx and said he is going to begin sharing his poetry (above with prison photo of himself and Thibes) in the coming weeks Cameron has been busy since his release from prison five weeks ago and is already getting back to work, doing some modelling for the clothing company Voyeur just days after walking free. He also appears to have taken a trip to Los Angeles, having posted a photo of his mother Diandra a few weeks back. Cameron also revealed on Tuesday that he would be sharing some of his writing soon. 'Hi guys, I am going to be sharing poems I wrote, These are a small part of a much larger perspective.... "The Jewel of My Life, Timeless Beauty and Ethereal Light,"' wrote Cameron on Instagram, including a photo of himself and Thibes that was taken in prison. Cameron was arrested in 2009 after police found him with almost a pound of methamphetamine in a New York City hotel, enough to charge him with intent to distribute. A judge sentenced him to five years behinds bars in April of the following year, but his prison time was extended by four-and-a-half years in 2011 when he pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into jail. Cameron's drug use began early in his life, and was detailed in a 2012 Brief of Amici filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit after his conviction for unlawfully possessing the painkiller Suboxone and heroin while behind bars. Dan Abrahamson, the director of legal affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, wrote that Cameron 'has misused drugs since at least age 13, began using heroin at age 20 and who by age 25 was opioid- dependent.' He went on to write that Cameron 'ingested heroin five to six times a day in the five years prior to his arrest and was under the influence of heroin at the time of his arrest.' Reunion: It also appears that he was allowed to leave New York at some point to visit his mother Diandra (center) in Los Angeles Enjoying a treat: Cameron and a young friend enjoying some ice cream in a photo from his Instagram Buds: 'Getting recharged with some food, sushi is always a good idea,' wrote Cameron on this photo Free at last: Cameron is still allowed to explore the city (above) but must be back to his halfway house at night Pose: Cameron has also been doing some modelling (above) since he was released from prison Four weeks he posted, 'Dreaming big today & So grateful for it' with this muscle bound snap Cameron's addiction became a problem following his arrest due to the fact that he was not placed in a drug rehabilitation or treatment program. He was initially placed under house arrest while awaiting trial in 2009 following his methamphetamine arrest at the Hotel Gansevoort. That privilege was revoked however when a month into his home confinement his girlfriend, Kelly Scott, was caught by a court-appointed security guard keeping watch over Cameron of trying to smuggle him heroin in a tooth brush. Cameron above in a 2007 mugshot Soon after, Jennifer Ridha, who was Cameron's lawyer at the time, began to smuggle the anti-anxiety medication Xanax into prison for the struggling drug addict. She said in an interview with the New York Post last year that it was after she saw him drenched in sweat and covered in hives that she first brought him pills, claiming she smuggled two into the Manhattan Correctional Center in her back pocket at their next meeting. The next time, she placed 30 of the pills, which she also had a prescription for, in a party balloon, which Cameron stored behind bars by hiding it in his rectum. It was also around this time that their relationship became physical, with the two both telling one another they were in love. Ridha was eventually busted by federal agents for supplying her client with drugs, and while she did not have to serve any time she did lose her job. Family: Cameron is the son of Michael and grandson of Hollywood icon Kirk Douglas (three men above in 1991) Battle: Cameron began using heroin at the age of 20 and was opioid-dependent by 25 (above with his grandparents Kirk and Diana and father Michael in 2003) Looking out: Cameron is seen above near his NYC apartment just one month before his 2009 arrest Cameron however had his sentence extended and was put in solitary confinement for close to two years at the Cumberland Federal Corrections Institute in Maryland. His punishment was far more harsh that the two additional years federal prosecutors had been seeking, with Federal District Court Judge Richard Berman lashing out at Cameron in court. Judge Berman said that Cameron had been 'continuously reckless, disruptive, and non-compliant' while handing down his sentence, which was reported to be one of the longest ever given to an incarcerated prisoner for simple drug possession. Cameron's famous father spoke about the need for prison reform in the wake of his son's second conviction, saying at the 2013 Emmy Awards while accepting his Best Actor trophy for his performance in the Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra: 'Im questioning the system. At first I was certainly disappointed with my son, but Ive reached a point now where Im disappointed with the system.' Cameron was originally not set to be eligible for parole until 2018, but that was moved up to 2017 around the same time he was transferred from his medium-security Maryland prison to the low-security Danbury Correctional Facility in Connecticut last December. A Washington, D.C.-area transit police officer has been charged in an FBI sting with attempting to support the Islamic State group, authorities said. Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, Virginia, was arrested at the Metropolitan Police Headquarters on Wednesday morning, court documents say. Young, a 12-year veteran of the transit police force, was charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The FBI says he is the first law enforcement officer in the United States to be charged with a terror-related crime. According to an affidavit, Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards he intended for the Islamic State's fighters to use to purchase mobile apps that would facilitate communication. Young believed the informant he was messaging was an acquaintance who was working with the militant group, but he actually gave the gift cards to an undercover FBI source. Scroll down for video Nicholas Young, a Washington, D.C.-area transit police officer, has been charged in an FBI sting with attempting to support the Islamic State, authorities said. above, officers outside Young's home in Fairfax, Virginia Documents show Young has been under surveillance since 2010, and that he traveled to Libya twice in 2011, where he said he joined rebel forces seeking to oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Baggage searches revealed that Young traveled with body armor, a kevlar helmet, and several other military-style items. But officials say Young did not pose any threat to the Metro system in the US capital. He has been with the Metro Transit Police Department since 2003, the affidavit says. The document suggests that Young had converted to Islam. In a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, police first interviewed in connection with his acquaintance, Zachary Chesser in 2010. A month later, Chesser pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists. Over the next several years, Young had a number of interactions with undercover officers and a co-operating witness regarding his knowledge or interest of terrorist-related activity, the statement said. Many of those conversations were recorded. Young was arrested at Metro's headquarters in Washington and charged with a single count of attempting to provided material support to a terrorist group. Above, an officer at his house A law enforcement officer walks on the street outside the home of Nicholas Young Law enforcement also interviewed Young's family and co-workers. In one conversation with an undercover officer in March 2011, Young said that he hated the FBI and was skilled enough to attack the agency. According to the affidavit, he said that although firearms are not permitted in Alexandria's federal courthouse - but described a way to bring multiple guns inside undetected in order to distribute to others. The US Attorney's Office says that Young met an FBI source on 20 separate occasions in 2014. The source posed as a U.S. military reservist of Middle Eastern descent who was becoming more religious and eager to leave the U.S. military as a result of having had to fight against Muslims during his deployment to Iraq, according to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint. Young has been under surveillance since 2010 after the transit police sparked a probe into him During these conversations, Young advised the source on how to evade detection by law enforcement by using specific travel methods and advised the man to watch out for informants and not discuss his plans with others. In the fall of 2014, the source led Young to believe that he had successfully left the United States and had joined ISIS - but in reality, he had no further contact with the source. All further communications between Young and the source's email account were actually between Young and FBI undercover personnel posing as him. In January last year, Young 'proudly' referenced the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks in an email, the affidavit says. 'Not sure if you got the news there yet,' he said in a message days after the massacre in Paris. 'A couple brothers... were named in an assault on a french newspaper... Hopefully now people understand there are some lines you don't cross.' Officials said Young, a 12-year veteran of the transit police force, did not pose any threat to the Metro system (above, file photo) In June last year, Young emailed him asking for advice from ISIS commanders on how to send his money overseas. '[U]nfortunately I have enough flags on my name that I can't even buy a plane ticket without little alerts ending up in someone's hands, so I imagine banking transactions are automatically monitored and will flag depending on what is going on,' Young wrote. In an interview with the police who responded to a report of domestic violence on June 1, Young revealed he had dressed up as 'Jihadi John' - the ISIS fighter who beheaded numerous people in propaganda videos - for Halloween in 2014. As part of his costume, Young said that he had stuffed an orange jumpsuit with paper to portray a headless hostage, which he carried with him throughout the party. In an interview with the police, Young revealed he had dressed up as the ISIS fighter known as 'Jihadi John' (pictured) for Halloween in 2014 In that interview, Young also revealed that he had dressed up as a Nazi before and collects Nazi memorabilia. He also showed officers a tattoo of a German eagle on his neck. In December last year, the FBI interviewed Young, ostensibly in connection to an investigation into the whereabouts of the source. Young told agents that he had left the United States to go on a vacation tour in Turkey around one year ago, but said that he knew of no one who helped the man cross the Turkish border into Syria. On July 18, Young sent a message intended for the source regarding purchasing of gift cards for mobile messaging accounts which the terror group uses for recruitment purposes. On July 28, Young sent 22 16-digit gift card codes to the undercover FBI agents with a message that said: 'Respond to verify receipt... may not answer depending on when as this device will be destroyed after all are sent to prevent the data being possibly seen on this end in the case of something unfortunate.' Young sent the gift card codes after the informant told him that the group needed help setting up mobile messaging accounts, according to the affidavit, and then promised to cover his tracks: 'Gonna eat the SIM card. Have a good day.' The codes were ultimately redeemed by the FBI for $245. Several meetings Young had with an undercover officer in 2011 included another of Young's acquaintances, Amine El Khalifi, who later pleaded guilty to charges relating to attempting a suicide bombing at the U.S. Capitol Building in 2012. The investigation into Young was initiated by the transit police, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority CEO Paul Wiedefeld said. He sent a note to colleagues to notify them about the case on Wednesday, telling them that Young has been fired, effective immediately. In a statement, Wiedefield said: 'Since I received my first briefing on this matter, Chief Pavlik and I have worked hand-in-glove with the FBI in the interest of public safety and to ensure that this individual would be brought to justice. Young was charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, ISIS (file photo) 'Metro Transit police alerted the FBI about this individual, and then worked with our federal partners throughout the investigation up to and including today's arrest.' He added: 'Obviously, the allegations in this case are profoundly disturbing. They're disturbing to me and they're disturbing to everyone who wears this uniform.' Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik added: 'On behalf of the Metro Transit Police Department, I want to thank the FBI and the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for their investigative work leading to today's indictment. 'This investigation began with concerns that were reported by the Metro Transit Police Department and it reinforces that, as citizens, we all have a duty to report suspicious activity whenever and wherever it occurs.' Young is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, at 2pm on Wednesday. An alleged drink driver who smashed into a pregnant woman on a pedestrian crossing has reportedly not been charged by the police. News reports from the city of Syktyvkar in Russia state the 28-year-old woman was rushed to hospital four months pregnant with serious head injuries. Doctors saved her child but it is too early to tell whether the baby will suffer any lasting damage after birth. A pregnant woman runs across a pedestrian crossing in the Russian city of Syktyvkar Appalling footage from a car dashcam has captured the brutal crash and gone viral on social media. It shows the young woman walking on a pedestrian crossing in the countrys north-western Komi Republic. A Hyundai Solaris does not appear to be braking to stop and let her cross, so she decides to run over the road to avoid a crash. But unfortunately she fails to make it over in time and is hit by the vehicle travelling at a high-speed, and sent somersaulting head over heels in a horrific collision. Other cars pull up to the side of the road and call the emergency services before the footage cuts out. Appalling dashcam footage shows the 28-year-old being hit by a Hyundai Solaris The woman lies on the road with severe head injuries. Fortunately she survived with her baby According to news site ProGorod11, medics have claimed they have so far been able to prevent the woman from losing her baby. Viewers under their YouTube video have reacted in fury, many writing the man deserves a lengthy sentence. But the news site states an informant has claimed the driver of the car was held for 24 hours but then released by the police. A informant has suggested, according to Russian news sites, that the driver was 'drunk', but police released him after 24 hours The informant also alleges the man was drunk and that no criminal proceedings have been initiated against him. MailOnline has been unable to confirm such reports. This extraordinary X-ray showed the extreme lengths a gangster was prepared to take to smuggle a mobile phone into prison. Stephen Cavanagh, 32, is currently serving a 27-month jail term after he was involved in a street shoot-out last July following a dispute with another man, Remi Merriman. He inserted the phone up his backside in an astonishing attempt to avoid detection. But his trick was laid bare when he began complaining of abdominal pains at HMP Manchester. The X-ray revealed Cavanagh had inserted the mobile phone (circled in red) up his backside He had an X-ray taken by medics which produced a clear picture of a mobile phone in his backside with the keypad, screen and speaker all clearly visible. The phone was finally removed after he was escorted to the prison's segregation unit where he pulled out the phone and flushed it down the toilet. He has now had his jail-time extended by six months as a result of the botched smuggling plan. Stephen Cavanagh, 32, is currently serving a 27-month jail term after he was involved in a street shoot-out last July following a dispute with another man Mobile phones are banned in prison and staff at HMP Manchester have been liaising with Greater Manchester Police to root out contraband and prosecute rule-breakers. The crackdown has led to the the detection of 80 offences involving weapons and phones, with inmates punished through the courts. HMP Manchester's governor, Terri Williams, said: 'This case highlights the extreme measures that individuals will go to bring illicit items into HMP Manchester. 'We remain fully committed to our continued work with Greater Manchester Police in the prosecution and conviction of offenders such as Stephen Cavanagh. 'It is now clear that prisoners are likely to be given additional time in custody following successful prosecutions.' Detective Inspector Chris Flint added: 'This case demonstrates the close working relationship GMP have with our colleagues in the Prison Service. People smuggler Franca Asemota, 38, forced dozens of teenage orphans into prostitution and slavery using the threat of witchcraft A female people smuggler who forced dozens of teenage orphans into prostitution and slavery using the threat of witchcraft is facing jail. Franca Asemota, known to her victims as 'Auntie Franca', used Heathrow as a hub to traffic at least 40 girls and young women into Europe from remote Nigerian villages. The 38-year-old promised them jobs, education and a better life, then used 'witchcraft', threats and violence to force them in to the European sex trade. Her gang even managed to snatch back two girls who had been rescued and put in in foster care in Worthing, West Sussex. Today, Asemota, originally from Benin City, Nigeria, was found guilty of eight counts of conspiracy to traffic people into sexual exploitation by a jury at Isleworth Crown Court. The trafficking first came to light when Border Agency officials stopped two groups, in September and November 2011, travelling on false passports. Although she was not arrested at the time, Asemota's ticket had been booked at the same time, at the same travel agent in Lagos, and she was sat next to the group on the plane. Investigators then linked Asemota to at least six other 'successful trafficking trips' and the kidnapping of two girls who had been placed in foster care on the south coast. Video footage shows Asemota chuckling in custody in Nigeria, and smirking as she was brought back to the UK to stand trial Asemota, known to her victims as 'Auntie Franca', used Heathrow as a hub to traffic at least 40 girls and young women into Europe from remote Nigerian villages Paul Cabin, prosecuting, previously told the court how three victims were first stopped at Heathrow in September, 2011, and a further two were also to give detailed accounts of the smuggling. They all traveled on fake passports that claimed they were over the age of 18. Mr Cabin said: 'They all came from remote Nigerian villages and had all been told that they were going to be educated, trained and employed in France. 'They all had difficult histories - for example, some were orphans. One was a runaway from an attempted forced marriage. Asemota arrives back in the UK after her extradition from Nigeria where she had fled, believing British justice would not catch up with her The 38-year-old, pictured as she is escorted through the airport, promised the girls jobs, education and a better life, then used 'witchcraft', threats and violence to force them in to the European sex trade 'They and their families and guardians are told that educational and work opportunities exist in Europe for them. 'Initially, therefore, the girls go with the gang voluntarily. 'Their compliance from that point on is secured by a mixture of threats, to themselves and their families back in their villages, the use of 'Ju-Ju' rituals and sexual violence, including in one case rape.' He added: 'All but one reported at the time that they had been trafficked by a female who accompanied them on the aircraft from Lagos, known variously as Auntie Franca or Violet.' The trafficking came to light when Border Agency officials stopped two groups, in September and November 2011, travelling on false passports. Asemota (pictured being escorted into the UK) was not arrested at the time but she was sat next to the group on the plane Investigators then linked Asemota to at least six other 'successful trafficking trips' and the kidnapping of two girls who had been placed in foster care on the south coast It was only when they had traveled 'a long way from their villages were they told they were really destined for a life of prostitution,' he said. The 'successful' trips all took place within a few months of each other at the end of 2011, and involved 40 victims. Asemota was identified as a main suspect in 2012 but fled back to her home nation when some of her co-conspirators were arrested, believing British justice would not catch up with her. Investigators spent around three years trying to locate Asemota until the National Crime Agency successfully tracked her down to Nigeria on March 25, 2015. She was arrested by the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission in Benin City in March 2015 and extradited to Britain. A video shows her chuckling in custody and smirking as she is led into a van destined to bring her back to the UK to stand trial. Asemota was identified as a main suspect in 2012 but fled back to her home nation when some of her co-conspirators were arrested Asemota was located after two girls, who had been placed with foster parents in 2012 in Worthing by the immigration authorities, were kidnapped. Mr Cabin said: 'They settled in well and both went to a nearby secondary school. 'They had both been detained at HMP Bronzefield after their arrests and may have met each other there, but obviously from this point on they were in close contact and became friends. 'On April 6, 2012, both girls were reported missing by their foster carers..' Both panned to go shopping but switched off their phones and failed to return home. Five days later one was returned to the UK from Spain after travelling on a fake passport and taken into care. In interview the girl explained that on the day of their disappearance her friend had been taking a lot of phone calls before they were picked up by two men in a car. One of these men was Odosa Usiobaifo, who is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence after being jailed in 2013. Asemota (pictured in a police van) was located after two girls, who had been placed with foster parents in 2012 in Worthing by the immigration authorities, were kidnapped They were ordered to memorise their new names and birthdays, and told: 'Your new life is at stake if you don't get it right.' The other girl who was taken to Spain feared she would never escape until she contacted, Amicale du Nid, a French charity working with prostitutes, in July 2014. Jose Olivares-Chandler, defending, denied Asemota knew of any wrongdoing and said she acted as a 'mere chaperone' on the flights. But it took less than 12 hours of deliberation for the jury to find her guilty of the eight conspiracy counts. They also found her guilty of two counts of trafficking a person out of the UK for sexual exploitation and two counts of assisting unlawful immigration to an EU member state. Asemota, of no fixed abode, will be sentenced later this month. One count of conspiring to trafficking and one of conspiracy to assist unlawful trafficking were dropped during the trial. Asemota in a police van. She is due to be sentenced later this month David Fairclough, of the Immigration Enforcement crime team, said: 'Asemota was the lynch-pin of a trafficking ring which targeted vulnerable young women in Nigeria, promising them a brighter future working in Europe. 'But it soon became clear that this was far from the truth. The victims, some as young as 13, were told they would be sold into prostitution. 'Asemota traveled with the girls in order to threaten them and keep them in line.' Five of her victim's bravely gave evidence during her trial, including one who was rescued from prostitution in Montpelier, France. Martin French, head of the NCA's UK Human Trafficking Centre, said: 'Franca Asemota and her criminal network took advantage of these vulnerable young women in some of the worst ways possible. 'They promised them a better life, but in reality treated them as nothing more than a commodity to be sold into slavery. 'Asemota thought she could evade arrest by fleeing Europe and hiding in Nigeria. But the NCA's partnerships give us global reach and mean international borders are no barrier to justice.' Asemota flew with the girls on frights from Lagos, Nigeria, to Heathrow between August 2011 and May 2012 with the intention of reaching France. The Home Office said the girls were not detected in the UK airport because they remained air-side during transit. Spike in executed terror plots and fatalities from An alarming security report has found Australia is ranked equal third on the Islamic State's hit list of nations most likely to suffer terror attacks. The number of identified terrorist plots in Australia is higher than every other Western nation after the US and France, according to the US Homeland Security's July report. The report declared the Islamic State was 'crowdsourcing' terrorism online, giving rise to an 'unprecedented wave' of attacks such as the 2014 Sydney Siege. A report has found the Western world is in the grips of an 'unprecedented wave' of attacks such as the 2014 Sydney Siege The report recognised more than 100 ISIS-orchestrated attacks or plots against Western nations since 2014. 'ISIS has now been linked to 100-plus attack plots against Western countries, an unprecedented wave of terror,' the report said. The report found there were 875 killed in Western attacks in 2016, considerably more than the 750 recorded throughout 2014 and 2015. The total number of casualties from the group's anti-Western attacks more than doubled in just the first half of this year.' 'Although law enforcement agencies have thwarted more plots overall than have been executed, this year has seen ISIS's highest success rate to date.' The report found ISIS executed 44 per cent of their attempted plots in 2016, compared to 31 per cent in 2015. It comes as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and former US defence secretary and CIA director Leon Panetta held a meeting in Canberra on Wednesday to discuss global security, reports Daily Telegraph. There have been more than 100 ISIS-orchestrated attacks or plots against Western nations since 2014 and a large spike in fatalities Taxi driver Michael McGibbon (pictured with his wife, Joanne) died after he was shot three times in the legs in north Belfast in April A man and a woman have been arrested over the murder of a taxi driver who was killed after allegedly making 'an unfavourable comment' to a dissident's daughter. Father-of-four Michael McGibbon, 33, died after he was shot three times in the legs in north Belfast in April. The two suspects, both aged 35, were arrested in the city this morning and are being questioned over the alleged 'shooting by appointment'. Dissident republicans have been blamed for the murder, which came 24 hours after two men went to Mr McGibbon's house to threaten him. Mr McGibbon may have been targeted because dissidents claimed he 'made an unfavourable comment' to one of their daughters, the Belfast Telegraph reported shortly after the killing. Police were said to be investigating claims the taxi driver made the remarks to the girl when she was in her car. 'Apparently Mr McGibbon was accused by some in the community of making unfavourable comments to the wrong young girl. So they decided to shoot him,' a police source told the newspaper in April. Mr McGibbon died in his wife Joanne's arms on April 15 after he was shot three times in the legs in an alleyway in north Belfast. Mr McGibbon died in his wife arms on April 15 after he was shot three times in the legs in an alleyway in north Belfast. Pictured, forensics officers at the scene Mr McGibbon's wife is now left to raise their three children, Corey-Leigh, Michaela and Shea, on her own One of the bullets punctured an artery in his thigh, causing him to bleed to death. Mr McGibbon, who had no criminal record, had reportedly called police the day before his death saying he two masked men were outside of his house. He feared for his live and refused to come outside, but they are said to have told him they would come back. A letter by Admiral Lord Nelson highlighting his hopeless situation after he let the French fleet out of his sight in the build up to Trafalgar has emerged for the first time. Britain's greatest sailor sent the note from his flagship HMS Victory to one of his captains as he searched in the wrong part of the Mediterranean for the enemy. At the time he was said to have been miserable at having failed in his duty to prevent the French ships breaking out of the port of Toulon after the British spent two years blockading it. A letter by Admiral Lord Nelson (pictured) highlighting his hopeless situation after he let the French fleet out of his sight in the build up to Trafalgar has emerged for the first time The letter, dated April 9, 1805, records Nelson's desperate position while his ships sailed east towards Egypt rather than west to the Caribbean which is where the enemy was actually headed. The search set in motion the chain of events that culminated in the Battle of Trafalgar six months later after Nelson found the combined French and Spanish fleet and cornered it at Cadiz. When the enemy attempted to make another breakout, Nelson's navy struck and defeated Napoleon's navy. Although victorious, Nelson was killed in the battle after being shot by a French musketeer. The rare and important letter has now surfaced for the first time in 211 years after being unearthed among a pile of papers by a British woman who inherited the archive from a relative. It is thought the letter had been in the family's possession for decades, although it is not known how they came by it in the first place. The letter, dated April 9, 1805, records Nelson's desperate position while his ships sailed east towards Egypt rather than west to the Caribbean which is where the enemy was actually headed The note is now to be sold at auction for an estimated 4,000. The letter was dictated by Nelson because he had lost his right arm at this stage and the recipient could not waste time in trying to read his master's poor handwriting with his left hand. Nelson did sign the letter which was addressed to Captain Richard Thomas, the commander of the bomber vessel HMS Aetna. Experts say the rendezvous points mentioned were a secret code used by Nelson and his commanders for geographical locations in the Mediterranean. LORD NELSON'S LETTER 'I am proceeding to the Northward in order to try and get information of the Enemy's Fleet. 'I may probably pass through Rendezvous No.60 should the wind come to the Eastward or I may pass around Rendezvous Number 70 and stand towards Rendezvous Number 84, but in either case a letter will be left at Rendezvous Number 60 but as my movements must depend upon information an account of them will be sent to Rendezvous Number 60, and if possible to Cagliari and Rendezvous No 92 therefore any of those places which a ship may be near, it will be proper to inquire for a letter.' Advertisement As it mentions Cagliari, Sardinia, the British fleet were looking in the eastern Mediterranean at the time. It was another month before Nelson learned the French had actually sailed west across the Atlantic to regroup in the West Indies. Valentina Borghi, of London-based Dreweatts and Bloomsbury Auctions, said: 'The letter is written by someone else on Nelson's instructions. 'Because of its military connotations it was critical that it was read very quickly by the recipient which he would not have been able to do had Nelson written it himself. 'It is very important because it was written while he was searching for the French fleet and it is one of those letters that belongs to the moment before Trafalgar. 'It is quite rare to see a letter by Nelson on HMS Victory mentioning the French so close to Trafalgar and it is one of the finest examples to come up for sale in a decade. 'It will be sought-after by collectors and dealers.' Andrew Baines, head of historic ships at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, which is home to HMS Victory, said the letter gives the reader an impression of Nelson's desperate state. Andrew Baines, head of historic ships at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, which is home to HMS Victory (pictured), said the letter gives the reader an impression of Nelson's desperate state He said: 'He was very miserable at this point because he had failed and had lost the French fleet. This letter lets you know Nelson's mind at the time and what is his task. 'He has lost the French and is not quite sure where they are going or what they are intending to do. 'He has got the whole of the Mediterranean to find them using a fleet that can't travel more than 4mph. For every day you go the wrong way it takes two days to get back to the start point. 'Calling it wrong is really quite a costly mistake but people accept that Nelson looked at the evidence available to him and concluded they were going east. 'He acted in good faith and with very little intelligence. He was wrong.' The letter is being sold on August 11. Australia's oldest first-time mum has been slammed by medical professionals who say the 62-year-old's use of IVF went against what the treatment was meant for. IVF Professor and pioneer Gab Kovacs labelled the pregnancy as 'social IVF, not medical IVF' and was concerned people would 'think it's okay to get pregnant at 63, The Australian reports. The woman gave birth to a healthy baby girl by c-section at 34-weeks in Frances Perry House private hospital in Melbourne on Monday. Scroll down for video A 63-year-old woman (pictured with her 78-year-old husband) has become Australia's oldest new mother after giving birth to a healthy baby girl in Melbourne on Monday She remains in hospital recovering and was supported by her 78-year-old husband throughout the procedure. Prof Kovacs claims IVF treatment of women older than 53 was 'irresponsible' and people would quickly forget a donor embryo was used to help the woman fall pregnant. 'It gives them misinformation,' he said. Hannah Dahlen, a professor of midwifery at the University of Western Sydney questioned the child's rights in the matter but noted society's definition of older mothers is ever-changing. 'Sometimes technology takes us into areas where we haven't well thought out the ramifications for,' she said. Professor Kovacs also said the end of natural pregnancy for a woman is 53 - and to help anyone older than that have a baby naturally was 'irresponsible', The Daily Telegraph reported. Monash University professor Gab Kovacs said the end of natural pregnancy for a woman is 53 - and to help anyone older than that have a baby naturally was 'irresponsible' 'Our bodies weren't designed to have children in our 60s. I don't think any responsible IVF unit in Australia would treat someone of that age, and it's not a standard of medicine I would condone,' he said. Professor Kovacs was worried the couple will not be able to 'look after' the child for the next 20 years. Dr Michael Gannon, an obstetrician and president of the Australian Medical Association, tweeted that it was 'madness... selfish, wrong'. The woman had undergone many failed IVF procedures over 'several years', but was only successful with the help of a donor embryo which was donated overseas The woman had undergone many failed IVF procedures over 'several years' according to Seven News, but was only successful with the help of a donor embryo which was donated overseas. It is the couple's first child. The mother will remain in hospital until they are well enough to return to Tasmania. Her age was originally reported as 63, but the hospital released a statement confirming she is 62. The woman gave birth by c-section at 34-weeks in Frances Perry House private hospital in Melbourne on Monday The Australian record for the oldest mother was held by a woman who gave birth to her first child at 60 in 2010. Gold Coast woman Anthea Nicholas is believed to be the oldest Australian woman to naturally conceive after she gave birth at 50 in 2011. The current world record is held by Romanian woman Adriana Iliescu. The frail pensioner shocked the world when she announced the birth of her IVF baby on January 16, 2005, when she was 66 years and 230 days old. Ms Iliescu used a sperm donor and lives with her daughter Eliza, who would now be aged 11, in Bucharest, Romania. 'I don't smoke and I don't drink. If I live as long as my parents did, Eliza will be 20 by the time I pass away,' Ms Iliescu said back in 2008. 'I think I still have a lot to give her.' The current world record is held by Romanian woman Adriana Iliescu. She was 66 when she gave birth to her daughter in 2005 The frail pensioner shocked the world when she announced the birth of her IVF baby on January 16, 2005, when she was 66 years and 230 days old French riot police were seen brutally dragging a priest in ceremonial dress out a of a Parisian church by one arm in images that have infuriated Catholics in France. Jean-Francois Billot was among twenty people protesting over the demolition of the 100-year-old St Rita, but police arrived with batons and helmets to forcibly remove the congregation yesterday. It happened just hours apart from the funeral of Father Jacques Hamel, who was knifed to death by ISIS-inspired attacker in his church in Normandy as he celebrated Mass last week. Scroll down for video Around 30 protesters were forcibly removed from the crumbling St Rita church in Paris, among them a priest, who was seen being held down by riot police Pictures emerged of the priest being dragged across the floor by riot police just hours after the funeral of Jacques Hamel, who was brutally knifed to death by ISIS-inspired attackers The church (pictured), in Paris, was marked for demolition months ago but some of its flock staged a sit-in in a bid to save it from the wrecking ball yesterday As France mourned for the death of the beloved priest, hundreds of people reacted with fury to the images, which many viewed as a symbol of French culture under the rule of a left-wing government. Grobabal wrote: 'Hollande has completed its work of destruction of the national cohesion! The puffy Bravo! #HollandeDemission.' Breton de souche wrote: 'Imagine the riots, looting and whining of Muslims if they evacuated mosque.' Christian Coulon said: 'The image of the priest being manhandled has toured the international media. Think the Pope would find this excessive.' Protesters were dragged from the church just hours after the funeral of Father Jacques Hamel, who was murdered by ISIS The group had barricaded themselves inside Saint Rita's church in a last-ditch effort to ward off the wrecking ball after a marathon tug-of-war with the owners. Police said the evacuation was completed without incident, but politicians of the Republicans political party said they had witnessed rough treatment of the group. 'Several were even dragged along the ground,' they said in a statement. Republican deputy secretary general Eric Ciotti accused France's Socialist government of being 'without a soul and without bearings' for allowing the eviction to go ahead. Saint Rita, built in 1900, had been the sanctuary of Gallicans, traditionalist Catholics who profess to practice the faith as it existed in medieval times, celebrating mass in Latin, but they are not recognised by the Vatican. The church's owner, the Association of Catholic and Apostolic Chapels, had decided to replace the structure with a housing development, and it was shut in April 2015. But Abbot Guillaume de Tanouarn, who used to bless cats, dogs, birds and even camels on the first Sunday in November according to the Gallican rite, led resistance to the demolition. Saint Rita, built in 1900, had been the sanctuary of Gallicans, traditionalist Catholics who profess to practice the faith as it existed in medieval times, celebrating mass in Latin The church's owner, the Association of Catholic and Apostolic Chapels, had decided to replace the structure with a housing development, and it was shut in April 2015 But Abbot Guillaume de Tanouarn led resistance to the demolition and they gathered outside to protest (pictured) Jean-Francois Billot, abbot of the Institute of the Good Shepherd, is believed to be the man who was dragged out by riot police yesterday PRIEST ATTACK IN SPAIN Police are hunting a Moroccan man who attacked a Catholic priest at a cafe in Spain after warning him: You should be afraid of me, Im an Arab. The aggressor, thought be aged around 35, tried to grab his victims crucifix around his neck before threatening to kill him after insulting him. The scare happened as the Franciscan missionary was visiting relatives in his native city of Cartagena in south east Spain. A waiter rushed to his aid at the unnamed cafe but was hit over the head with a bottle. The Moroccan fled after being stopped by two compatriots when he broke the bottle and went to attack the priest with a shard of broken glass. Police were called but failed to find him during a search of the area. They are said to be looking for a man a witness named as Mohamed who has worked in several restaurants in Cartagena. He was reportedly drunk when the incident happened, around 7pm on Monday, less than a week after two ISIS killers cut the throat of Father Jacques Hamel at a church in Normandy. The priest, known only by his religious name of Fray Job de Jesus, told a local paper he believed the attack had been ideologically-motivated and was a clear case of Christianophobia. Advertisement After the evacuation, around 20 activists remained outside the church, while the entrance was patrolled by private security guards and workmen were boarding up the windows. The association obtained a building permit in March 2012, and the demolition was to have begun in October 2015, but the bulldozers were called off because a group of squatters had occupied the church. The congregation of Saint Rita - the patron saint of lost causes - failed to raise the three million euros ($3.3 million) it would have needed to buy the church back. A court finally ruled on January 6 that the association could expel the occupants. Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said Wednesday that the church was not part of France's historical heritage and stressed that the association had taken the decision to destroy it. Rules and laws apply 'to everyone in the same way,' he said. But the pictures of police dragging the priest out of the church were symbolic to many people, and lead to fresh pressure of Francoise Hollande to crack down on ISIS amid the increasing threat to the public. The French premier declared war on Islamic State today as he faced accusations that he cannot keep France safe and his rival for the presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy, called to detain all terror suspects. After the evacuation, around 20 activists remained outside the church, while the entrance was patrolled by private security guards and workmen were boarding up the windows People could be seen frantically piling the furniture from inside the church into vans and cars in a desperate attempt to save them as its destruction looked inevitable Mr Hollande is expected to lose the presidency in elections next May as his government struggles to handle the terror threat. He said France should 'use all its means' within the law to fight Islamic State as he visited the site of the latest attack in Normandy yesterday afternoon. The pictures led to fresh pressure of Francoise Hollande to crack down on ISIS amid the increasing threat to the public But his rivals immediately jumped on the latest killing to accuse him of being soft on terrorism. His predecessor Mr Sarkozy, who is hoping for a return to the Elysee, demanded a 'merciless' response with all Islamist suspects locked up to avert potential attacks. 'We must be merciless. The legal quibbling, precautions and pretexts for insufficient action are not acceptable,' he said. 'I demand that the government implement without delay the proposals we presented months ago. There is no more time to be wasted.' As well as calling for an increased use of detention, Mr Sarkozy's conservative opposition party the Republicans have proposed expelling any foreigner found to have had 'direct or indirect' connections with a terrorist group under emergency procedures. Far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, also expected to run for the presidency, said both major parties had failed on security: 'All those who have governed us for 30 years bear an immense responsibility.' Sex attacker Cristian-Adrian Lascu, 43, was allowed into Britain after his release from prison in Romania A Romanian serial criminal who served 20 years behind bars in his own country before being allowed into the UK has been jailed for 13 years for rape. Sex attacker Cristian-Adrian Lascu, 43, was allowed into Britain after his release from prison in Romania after serving 12 years for robbery, among a series of other convictions. But he targeted a woman in an alleyway in Cleethorpes, Lincs, and left her 'badly affected' by the attack. The woman suffered 'severe psychological harm' and now panics when men walk up behind her, a court heard. Lascu, of Grimsby, denied raping the woman on February 9 last year, but was convicted by a jury after a trial. Prosecutor Richard Woolfall told Hull Crown Court how Lascu and another man followed the 42-year-old victim as she made her way home from a night out. As she walked down an alleyway in Cleethorpes, she was grabbed and the accomplice 'pinned' her down. The prosecutor added that Lascu raped her and left 'because he had got what he wanted'. 'She has suffered from post traumatic stress disorder,' he said. 'She is no longer able to go out after dark unless she is in the company of somebody she trusts. 'She is wary of men when out and panics if someone walks up behind her. She is no longer able to go out after dark unless she is in the company of somebody she trusts. Prosecutor Richard Woolfall 'She had been shy but very independent but subsequently she has become withdrawn and anxious.' Lascu had been assessed as being 'a high risk of sexual reoffending and clearly presents a serious risk of causing serious sexual harm'. Judge Simon Jack said it was a 'very serious offence'. 'You selected a victim who was particularly vulnerable because of the amount she had had to drink,' he said. Lascu used 'words of contempt' about the woman when interviewed by police, suggesting that she could have expected little else in her condition. Prosecutor Richard Woolfall told Hull Crown Court (pictured) how Lascu and another man followed the 42-year-old victim as she made her way home from a night out He had a series of convictions in Romania, including a prison sentence of 12 years in 2005 for robbery. The crime involved breaking into a family home and assaulting a 15-year-old girl, causing wounds that needed nine days' medical care. He entered the house armed with pepper spray and stole jewellery, rings and a watch valued at 975, and later sold two of the rings. He had spent 20 years serving custodial sentences. Defence, Craig Lowe, said unpleasant bruising injuries were caused to the woman he attacked but there was 'no severe physical harm' and it was not a 'prolonged or sustained' incident because it was over in 'a matter of minutes'. Lascu had no previous convictions of a sexual nature. He came to this country to work and was able to find work in a restaurant. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and will be on extended licence of five years after he release but may be liable for deportation. He is suspected of a series of sexual offences against other women, with a male accomplice. The information was given to the court by the prosecution before the jury was sworn in but it did not form part of the trial. A BBC researcher felt the full force of the patriotic Welsh public after she tweeted about the death of the Celtic language. Sam Proffitt asked: 'BBC Radio 5 live are looking for someone to talk about why the Welsh language should die - could you do this?', which sent supporters of the language into a frenzy. Meri Huws, the 90,000-a-year Welsh Language Commissioner, who is a former chairman of the Welsh Language Society was reported by BBC Wales yesterday to have described the comment as 'dreadful, stupid and verging on racism.' Scroll down for video Sam Proffitt asked: 'BBC Radio 5 live are looking for someone to talk about why the Welsh language should die - could you do this?', which sent supporters of the language into a frenzy. The BBC was heavily criticised online with Bill Cruiskshank labelling it a 'deliberate attempt to destroy the Welsh language' and Karen Griffiths calling it 'the last acceptable racism in the UK'. Another user took inspiration from a well-known Welsh insult, saying the BBC was as useless as a sheep's fart. Former BBC political reporter Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for Anglesey tweeted : 'I pay a licence fee, BBC5live please explain. 'My language isn't a hobby or an option. It's my soul. The air that I breathe. To discuss 'wanting' my language to die' Can't put it in words.' Plaid leader Leanne Wood tweeted : 'On what planet is this ok? Will you take steps to stop this nonsense?' Chris Coleman's Wales team sported Welsh-language t-shirts in the Euros emblazoned with the word 'diolch', meaning 'thank you' throughout their campaign as a show of appreciation to the fans. Many Welsh internationals, including Aaron Ramsey and rugby star Jamie Roberts, are fluent in the language. Following their defeat the team saluted their loyal supporters and thanked host nation France with the words 'Diolch, merci' printed on their red t-shirts - which is Welsh and French for 'thanks' A Wales fan holds up her scarf during the Euro 2016 Semi Final match between Portugal and Wales played at the Stade de Lyon My language isn't a hobby, or an option. It's my soul. The air that I breathe. To discuss 'wanting' my language to die? Can't put in words. Rhun ap Iorwerth (@RhunapIorwerth) August 2, 2016 Dear @BBC, @SamSamProffitt, @Radio5live - On what planet is this ok? Will you take steps to stop this nonsense? pic.twitter.com/WKrflnWIGI LeanneWood (@LeanneWood) August 3, 2016 @billykayscot For me it is a deliberate attempt to destroy the Welsh language. Just another chipping away at Celtic culture. Bill Cruickshank (@BjCruickshank) August 3, 2016 This is extremely serious the @BBC gave been caught actively working against the Welsh language: Sickening! pic.twitter.com/GfmPse2xeb Bill Cruickshank (@BjCruickshank) August 3, 2016 @bbc5live was your researcher looking for people who think French, German, Irish, Hindu, Arabic and all other languages should die too? Emma's Vintage (@EmmaVintages) August 3, 2016 @bbc5live no just Welsh then, this shouldn't of been in debate, I hear welsh everyday by all ages, BBC ti'n ddim yn werth rhech ddafad 2/2 Emma's Vintage (@EmmaVintages) August 3, 2016 @SamSamProffitt where have your anti Welsh tweets gone? My children are 1st language Welsh. How dare you advocate the death of our language karen griffiths (@KEG1878) August 3, 2016 The BBC apologised for the tweet from a personal account, which was removed, describing it as 'inappropriate' and saying sorry for any offence. A spokesperson for BBC Radio 5 live said: 'We aired a broad discussion about non-English languages. 'We obviously wanted to reflect a full range of views. In seeking to do this, an inappropriate tweet was sent from a personal account. 'We're sorry for any offence caused.' Some on twitter backed the BBC, saying all sides were needed if an issue was debated. Critics were accused of being humourless and over-reacting. It was maintained the language had existed for centuries and wouldn't be harmed by a radio discussion. One tweet declared : 'You have a for and against and a reasoned discussion about it. 'Of course it shouldn't die, in my opinion what I'd gladly like to see the end to is this culture of taking offence at everything.' Can't believe the BBC were going to a radio interview into why the Welsh language needs to die. Pathetic. Druenus! Michael Jones (@MichaelWJones_) August 3, 2016 You'd *never* ask if any other language should "just die". You just wouldn't! Why is it OK to ask that of the Welsh language? Bubblegum Beethoven (@Forte_Fortuna) August 3, 2016 Listening to non-Welsh language speakers/non Welsh people criticise the language makes my blood boil. https://t.co/TYTfWh1t4a Lisa Gwawr Thomas (@lisagwawr) August 3, 2016 Being a Welsh learner it's really depressing reading all these negative comments on social media about the Welsh language. #dysgucymraeg Gareth Williams (@gareth1864) August 3, 2016 @Radio5live A response to your disgusting attempt to debate the death of the Welsh language please. What gives you the right? #ymaohyd karen griffiths (@KEG1878) August 3, 2016 Why is attacking Welsh language and culture the last acceptable racism in the UK? https://t.co/SD2nSDQ7t1 Timbo (@glanymor) August 3, 2016 Some hapless BBC researcher learning that because Welsh speakers pay a licence fee, criticism of Welsh language funding is NOT PERMISSIBLE. William Ham Bevan (@HamBevan) August 3, 2016 In Wales 19 per cent of the population - some 581,970 - speak the language, but the Welsh government is anxious to increase the figure to one million by 2050. In Anglesey councillors plan to give 'welcome packs' to new residents, in part encouraging them to learn Welsh. A Japanese farmer has been arrested for allegedly stealing 150 items of women's underwear - and he was wearing a bra when police swooped on his home. Fumio Takahashi, 63, was arrested at his home in Motosu, in Japan's Gifu prefecture, where his huge haul of knickers and bras were found. The total of about 150 undergarments did not include the bra he was wearing when he was detained. Japanese farmer Fumio Takahashi has been arrested for allegedly stealing 150 items of women's underwear (pictured) Takahashi, 63, was arrested at his home in Motosu, in Japan's Gifu prefecture, where his huge haul of knickers and bras (pictured) were found The total of about 150 undergarments (pictured) did not include the bra he was wearing when he was detained Takahashi, who was suspected in a series of thefts of women's underwear, is accused of breaking into the garage of an 84-year-old man and attempting to steal underwear that had been left out to dry. Gifu Prefectural Police, who charged the farmer with trespassing and attempted theft, say that he freely admitted the allegations. 'I've done this several times,' Takahashi reportedly told police. Officers raided his home after members of the victim's family reported their suspicions to police about the underwear thefts. Motosu is best known as the home of the giant Malera Gifu shopping mall, one of the biggest in the country. It was also the epicentre of the 1891 Mino-Owari earthquake, which is one of the largest earthquakes to ever hit Japan. Takahashi is accused of breaking into the garage of an 84-year-old man and attempting to steal underwear that had been left out to dry. Pictured, some of the bras he allegedly stole Wanted: Johnnie Reed, 70, allegedly fled Missouri and was hiding out in Oklahoma Police in Oklahoma have released body camera footage showing the moment an officer enters the trailer of a wanted sex offender and is threatened with a gun. Police went to the home in Spiro in Leflore County amid reports the man was living there, Johnnie Thomas Reed, 70, was wanted in connection with a case of child sexual abuse in Missouri. 'We were told that he may possibly be trying to flee the area is the reason why there was urgency to get out there and speak with him,' Spiro police chief Michael Draper told KFSM. However, as seen in the footage, the officer follows Reed into the travel trailer and is immediately confronted with a gun. Scary moment: The shaky body camera footage shows a bearded Reed inside the trailer turning around, apparently pulling a gun on the officer 'Mr. Reed don't do it. Let me have the fire arm okay?' the officer is heard saying while they wrestle over the gun The body camera equipment recorded the conversation between the two, KFSM reported. 'Mr. Reed, I need to talk to you for a second,' the officer said. 'Alright. Talk away,' Reed told the officer. 'My understanding is you have some warrants out of Missouri,' the officer continued. 'You need to step on outside for me, ok?' 'Let me get my suspenders on,' Reed replied. The officer tells Reed that he shouldn't, but Reed retreats anyway. The officer follows, and Reed then turns and pulls a gun. Police say that Reed could have been living in this trailer in Spiro, Oklahoma, for six months 'I'm 100 percent behind him': The officer in the shooting has the support of his chief, Michael Draper (pictured) The two struggled for several minutes as the officer pleaded with Reed to drop the weapon. 'Mr. Reed don't do it,' the officer said. 'Let me have the fire arm okay?' The officer continued: 'Mr. Reed please let go of the gun. I don't want to die. I've got kids.' The officer - who is not being identified - then fires his weapon, hitting Reed in the hip. Reed was subdued and taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries. He will require surgery to remove the bullet. The officer has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of an investigation. However Chief Draper said he stands by the officer's actions '100 percent'. 'I believe he had every intention of shooting the officer. I'm 100 percent behind him. He did everything he had to do,' Draper said. Reed will be held on charges of child molestation, aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, failure to register as a sex offender, and possession of a firearm after felony convictions, police said. He had an outstanding warrant out of Missouri for child molestation. Reed was also charged with lewd/lascivious acts with a child in 1995 in Kern County, California. Labour will split in two if Jeremy Corbyn remains in charge of the party, his leadership challenger Owen Smith warned today. He said the possibility of moderate MPs forming a historic breakaway party is a 'likelihood' that 'has to be stopped' because it would spell electoral disaster for the Labour movement. And research published today suggested his prediction is right. A YouGov poll that asked 5,000 voters how they would vote if Labour split if Mr Corbyn remains leader found that just 13 per cent would vote for the new breakaway party of moderates, with support for the remaining Labour party under Mr Corbyn receiving just 21 per cent of votes. Labour will split in two if Jeremy Corbyn (pictured campaigning in Brighton last night) remains in charge of the party, his leadership challenger Owen Smith warned today Owen Smith (pictured campaigning in Liverpool on Saturday) warned that a historic split is a 'likelihood' if Jeremy Corbyn wins the leadership election again If Mr Corbyn and his left-wing allies split from the Labour party to form his own group, he would attract around 14 per cent of the vote, leaving just 19 per cent of support for the remaining factions of the party, according to the major study. The survey suggests a general election win for either group would be impossible. Labour will announce the winner of its leadership election on September 24 - on the eve of its annual conference in Liverpool. As he drummed up support for his leadership campaign today, Mr Smith warned voters of the consequences of backing Mr Corbyn in the contest. I think there is every likelihood that the party will split if Jeremy wins this election. I dont think its a risk, I think its a likelihood,' he told the Huffington Post. There are some on the hard left of the party like McDonnell, and some on the Right of the party, who have become fatalistic about that. And that has to be stopped. 'That is why I think people need to vote for me because Im going to make it my mission to stop that happening. But a new electoral study published today found that a Labour split would end in disaster as the breakaway group would attract around 13 per cent support in the country and leave Mr Corbyn's remaining Labour party with just 21 per cent. Mr Smith also accused John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor of lying about his own stance on a split. If Jeremy Corbyn (pictured campaigning in Brighton last night) and his left-wing allies split from the Labour party to form his own group, he would attract around 14 per cent of the vote, leaving just 19 per cent of support for the remaining factions of the party, according to the major study by YouGov When I put it to Jeremy three times that I was worried that the party was going to split if he carried on and I put it to John explicitly that I thought he was content with the party splitting, he literally shrugged his shoulders and said if thats what it takes. My interpretation of that is that John meant if thats what it takes to maintain his grip on power and his version of the Labour Party, his project, if you like. Mr Smith, a former shadow cabinet member, also likened Mr Corbyn to mining union boss Arthur Scargill. He said Scargill was gung-ho, and frankly egotistical, vain. And I fear there are parallels with how we are presently proceeding. Disunited parties cannot win. Despite fury at his leadership from his own MPs, Mr Corbyn was mobbed by hundreds of supporters at a rally in Brighton on Tuesday evening. Scores people, many wearing Jeremy for Labour or I love Jeremy t-shirts, queued for hours to get a seat at the sell-out event. Mr Corbyn addressed a crowd of about 500 outside the venue before speaking to 1,000 inside the event. Leaked report reveals MORE anti-Semitism in Labour as probe finds abuse was so bad at Oxford University that Jewish members felt 'intimidated' The report, authored by Baroness Royall (pictured), found some incidents of anti-Semitism were not deliberate and it was 'unclear' how much of the abuse was 'intentional' Labour was plunged into yet another anti-Semitism crisis today after the full extent of abuse from its members at Oxford University were revealed in a leaked report. It found members of the Oxford University Labour Club (OULC) did engage in anti-Semitic behaviour and it was so bad that some Jewish members felt intimidated and 'insecure,' while others 'do not feel comfortable attending the meetings'. And in a damning verdict on the deep problems in the Labour party as a whole, the report found 'clear incidents of anti-Semitism'. It is the first time the full report has been made available to the public after the Labour party's ruling National Executive Committee suppressed its findings with a summarised version that published just 11 recommendations in May. The report, authored by Baroness Royall, found some incidents of anti-Semitism were not deliberate and it was 'unclear' how much of the abuse was 'intentional'. Remarkably, she said ambiguity over whether acts of anti-Semitism were deliberate or not led her to the conclusion that there is 'no value in pursuing disciplinary cases against students'. Instead, they should be given advise and training on anti-Semitism, Baroness Royall wrote in the report, which was made public after the full document was leaked to the Jewish Chronicle. Baroness Royall recognised attempts by Jeremy Corbyn (pictured last night in Brighton) to crack down on abuse in the party but delivering a scathing assessment of Anti-Semitism in the party she added: 'Sadly however, there is now a feeling amongst part of the Jewish community that they do not feel welcome in our Party' Allegations of anti-Semitism at the OULC surfaced earlier this year when its co-chairman Alex Chalmers quit after complaining that many of its members 'have some kind of problem with Jews'. Some of the anti-Semitism abuse at OULC was so bad that Jewish members felt intimidated and insecure, she wrote. Some Jewish members do not feel comfortable attending the meetings, let alone participating. It wasnt just members of the Jewish community who stayed away due to the anti-Semitism. Baroness Royall noted that one of the problems was caused by allowing anyone to join OULC meetings. A cultural change towards Israel and Jewish people was needed in the party to prevent the current intimidation in the party that was making members feel insecure, Baroness Royall wrote. Allegations of anti-Semitism were raised by Alex Chalmers, a student at Oriel College (pictured) and a chair of the Oxford University Labour Club until he quit earlier this year after complaining about the abuse But despite her findings, Baroness Royall said she did not believe there is institutional anti-Semitism within OULC. Difficulties however, face OULC which must be addressed to ensure a safe space for all Labour students to debate and campaign around the great ideas of our movement, she added. Baroness Royall recognised Jeremy Corbyn's attempts to crack down on abuse in the party but delivering a scathing assessment of Anti-Semitism in the party she added: 'Sadly however, there is now a feeling amongst part of the Jewish community that they do not feel welcome in our Party. Allegations of anti-Semitism at the Oxford University Labour Club surfaced earlier this year when its co-chairman Alex Chalmers (pictured) quit after complaining that many of its members 'have some kind of problem with Jews' 'There is too often a real, sometimes perceived, culture of intolerance where Jews are concerned and there are clear incidents of antisemitism.' Today's revelations will deepen fear among moderate Labour MPs that anti-Semitism and misogyny has flourished while Mr Corbyn has been at the top of the party. They are furious he has not spoken out enough to stamp out bullying against those who do not agree with his leadership. Owen Smith, who is challenging Mr Corbyn for the leadership, today warned that the party is heading for an historic split if the veteran left winger remains in charge. He told the Huffington Post: I think there is every likelihood that the party will split if Jeremy wins this election. I dont think its a risk, I think its a likelihood. There are some on the hard left of the party like McDonnell, and some on the Right of the party, who have become fatalistic about that. And that has to be stopped. That is why I think people need to vote for me because Im going to make it my mission to stop that happening. But a new electoral study published by YouGov today found that a Labour split would end in disaster as the breakaway group would attract around 13 per cent support in the country and leave Mr Corbyn's remaining Labour party with just 21 per cent. Mr Smith also accused John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor of lying about his own stance on a split. Jeremy Corbyn (pictured campaigning in Brighton last night) is widely expected to be re-elected leader when the result of the election is declared on September 24 When I put it to Jeremy three times that I was worried that the party was going to split if he carried on and I put it to John explicitly that I thought he was content with the party splitting, he literally shrugged his shoulders and said if thats what it takes. My interpretation of that is that John meant if thats what it takes to maintain his grip on power and his version of the Labour Party, his project, if you like. Mr Smith, a former shadow cabinet member, also likened Mr Corbyn to mining union boss Arthur Scargill. He said Scargill was gung-ho, and frankly egotistical, vain. And I fear there are parallels with how we are presently proceeding. Disunited parties cannot win. Despite fury at his leadership from his own MPs, Mr Corbyn was mobbed by hundreds of supporters at a rally in Brighton last night. Scores people, many wearing Jeremy for Labour or I love Jeremy t-shirts, queued for hours to get a seat at the sell-out event. a psychiatric evaluation to see if he is mentally competent to stand trial Guerrero has been ordered to A San Diego man who allegedly killed three homeless men and injured two others used a railroad spike and hammer in all five of his attacks, prosecutors revealed. Jon Guerrero, 39, was arrested in July after police officers heard his fifth victim screaming for help. He has been charged with murder, attempted murder and arson. Guerrero, who is from the city's affluent Coronado district, allegedly began his spree on July 3, when he drove a railroad spike into a homeless man's head and chest. Jon David Guerrero, 39, allegedly killed three homeless men and injured two others in San Diego. Prosecutors said he used railroad spikes and a hammer in all five of his attacks Guerrero was arrested on July 15 less than two hours after he allegedly attacked his fifth and final victim, whose screams attacted police officers Angelo DeNardo, 53, was killed as he slept under a freeway bridge. He was lit on fire after being brutally murdered, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Guerrero allegedly attacked Manuel Nunez Mason, 61, the next day. Mason survived but was rendered blind after a railroad spike was driven into his sinus cavity. Railroad spikes were found near 41-year-old Shawn Longley, also killed on Independence Day, and 23-year-old Derek Vahidy, who died from injuries on July 6. Vahidy died four days after he was attacked. A witness pulled away a burning cloth his attack placed on his body, setting him on fire, before fleeing the scene. One witness told the Daily Beast Longley's eyes and face had been spiked with a sharp object and his skull crushed by a heavy rock. Guerrero allegedly attacked his fifth and final victim, 55-year-old Michael Papadelis, on July 15. Authorities discovered Papdelis with 'significant trauma' to his upper body and a railroad spike lying next to him as he called for help. Police found Guerrero riding his bike less than two hours. Three railroad spikes, a mallet and two of the victims' identification were inside his backpack. Guerrero has been charged with three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of arson Guerrero (whose identity was ordered to be muzzed in court by the judge) will have to undergo a psychiatric examine to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial Authorities said surveillance footage captured Guerrero purchasing a gas can, a gallon of gasoline, and a Bic lighter less than an hour before the first attack occurred More railroad spikes and ties, as well as a bucket that contained rocks, were later found in his apartment at a 'supportive housing' project for the formerly homeless and individuals with special needs. Police found railroad spikes (pictured in file photo) in Guerrero's backpack and apartment on the day of his arrest Guerrero's case was put on hold Tuesday after a judge ordered him to undergo a psychiatric examine to determine if he was competent to stand trial. Dan Tandon, Guerrero's attorney, argued that his client was 'severely mentally ill'. Guerrero was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 22 and at one point received monthly injections of an anti-psychotic drug. He has an extensive history of criminal cases in the city that date 10 years, from 1999 to 2009, as well as mental health cases filed in 2008, 2009 and 2011. But Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey said the fact that Guerrero attacked the same kind of victims with the same weapon proved he knew what he was doing. 'During this series of crimes, the defendant demonstrated extreme planning and sophistication,' Harvey said. Police inspect the scene where Guerrero's alleged fifth victim was attacked on July 15 'He selected homeless victims, and, in each of the cases, the victims were sleeping.' Harvey also argued that Guerrero's interaction with police officials after his arrest proved he would be able to understand court proceedings. Police released this sketch of the suspect before Guerrero was arrested Guerrero's mother illuminated his mental health issues after he pleaded guilty in 2004 to burglary, grand theft auto and marijuana possession. In letters to the court, Katherine Guerrero revealed her son didn't do well on probation because he lacked 'hearing and speaking ability'. She also said one of his symptoms in the past had been to 'insert foreign objects into his body orifices', according to the Los Angeles Times. Guerrero was ruled not mentally competent after he was arrested in 2009 and pleaded guilty to stealing a homeless woman's bike after repeatedly knocking her down. He was admitted to Patton State Hospital after violating his probation. Guerrero's attorney then argued for a lesser sentence, writing that his client heard voices when his medication wears off but that he could 'lead a normal, productive and crime-free life' with the right drugs. Guerrero, who is from the city's affluent Coronado district, is now being held without bond. His arrest was a massive relief for the city's homeless community, who had taken to arming themselves in their sleep during the killing spree. Guerrero faces a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole if convicted and may be eligible for the death penalty. A British man has been found dead near to salt marshes in the Costa Blanca resort of Torrevieja. Spanish police confirmed today they had launched an investigation after a family stumbled across his body while out for a walk. The unnamed 72-year-old's remains were found at around 8.30pm on Tuesday by marshes on the southern edge of Torrevieja's salt lake. Officers said they had discovered no obvious signs of violence on his body but were waiting on the results of a post mortem due to take place before deciding their next move. A British man has been found dead near to salt marshes in the Costa Blanca resort of Torrevieja (File photo) It is not known if the dead man lived in the area or was a holidaymaker. Local reports said he had been found semi-naked in a wooded area described as being 'difficult to access'. A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Alicante, which is leading the probe, said: 'I can confirm the body of a 72-year-old British man was discovered on Tuesday evening around 8.25pm near to marshes by Torrevieja salt lake. 'There were no signs of violence on the body but we have opened an investigation to try to discover what happened and a post-mortem is taking place this morning. 'There have been no reports of any disappearances in the area.' A source close to the case added: 'At the moment the police believe he may have died from natural causes or through an accident but are waiting to see what the autopsy says in case it throws up any surprises. The unnamed 72-year-old's remains were found around 8.30pm on Tuesday by marshes on the southern edge of Torrevieja's (pictured) salt lake 'It may well be that further tests are required before they can reach a definitive conclusion once the initial post-mortem has been conducted.' Visitors driving into Torrevieja from Alicante airport pass by two salt lakes - one a bluey green colour and the other an impressive pink. The Torrevieja lagoon is pink and is where the salt is extracted while the other, called La Mata lagoon is green. The area is a natural park and includes salt marshes, reeds, shrubs and evergreens. who plans to vote for Hillary Clinton Mr Littman is a registered Republican and Trump supporter, while his wife of 20 years in a Republican jailed: Lawrence Littman, 78, a Republican, is accused of battering his Democrat wife during a dispute over politics An elderly Florida couple came to blows while having a heated argument over the presidential race, in which the husband supports Donald Trump and the wife is a Hillary Clinton supporter. Lawrence Littman, 78, was arrested last Wednesday night at his Bradenton home for allegedly hurling his wife, 73-year-old Elvia Littman, to the floor. According to a criminal complaint, the brawl was sparked by a disagreement over the Littmans' divergent political views, as the wife is a registered Democrat and her husband of 20 years is a registered Republican. Elvia Littman later revealed to The Smoking Gun that her husband plans to vote for Trump in November, whereas she backs Clinton. The septuagenarians' political rift came to a head at around 10pm on July 27 when the Littmans launched into a discussion of the contentious presidential campaign. Scroll down for video Political rift: Lawrence and Elvia Littman, who live in this home in Bradenton, Florida, came to blows during an argument about the presidential race According to the 73-year-old Mrs Littman, her husband 'called her many derogatory names then grabbed her wrist and threw her on a chair in the bedroom.' When the woman tried to get away from Littman by going to a bedroom on the other side of their house in the 7100 block of Grand Estuary Trail, the man allegedly followed her, grabbed her by the arm and flung her to the floor. The complaint states that Eliva told police that she hurt her backside when she fell. 'Diametrically opposed foes': The Littmans have found themselves divided, with the husband emerging as a Donald Trump supporter and the wife choosing to back Hillary Clinton When questioned by police, Lawrence Littman claimed that his better half tried to slap him in the face and she slipped and fell. The elderly Trump supporter was arrested for battery of a person over 65. He was freed on $500 bond after pleading not guilty to the felony count. A man who died after falling from a motorway bridge is suspected of murdering his girlfriend and then reporting her missing weeks before his own death, police have said. Gina Lander, 46, vanished from the home in Walsall that she shared with her boyfriend David Stokes on March 15. A coroner ruled today that Ms Lander was unlawfully killed and West Midlands Police are now treating her disappearance as murder. Gina Lander, 46, vanished from the home in Walsall that she shared with her boyfriend David Stokes, 39, on March 15. Five weeks later, Stoke fell to his death from an motorway bridge Stokes, 39, reported New Zealander Ms Lander missing a day after she was last seen. Five weeks later, on April 21, he fell to his death from a bridge over the M6 motorway. Coroner Zafar Siddique today recorded Stokes' death as suicide and said Ms Lander was unlawfully killed. Police believe Stokes murdered Ms Lander and then disposed of her body before reporting her missing. Police believe Ms Lander was killed by her boyfriend before disposing of her body and reporting her missing Despite a number of national police and social media appeals, Ms Lander has never been traced. A police spokesman said: 'On April 21 this year, police were called to reports of a man falling from a bridge over the M6 motorway. 'The man, identified as David Stokes, died following the fall. 'The 39-year-old was Gina's partner at the time she was reported missing. 'One line of inquiry to date has been that David Stokes may have killed Gina and disposed of her remains shortly before she was reported missing. 'At an inquest today it was ruled that Gina's death was an unlawful killing and that David Stokes committed suicide.' Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with Ms Lander's death. The ex-wife of a slain Florida State University law professor on Wednesday denied having any involvement in an alleged murder-for-hire plot to kill him. Attorneys for Wendi Adelson and several family members said in the statement that speculation they had a role in Dan Markel's killing is 'categorically false.' Authorities have previously said there may be a link between Markel's July 2014 slaying and the couple's contentious divorce. Scroll down for video Daniel Markel, 41, (left) was found shot dead in his driveway two years ago in what police believe was a murder-for-hire plot. Ex-wife Wendi Adelson (right) has denied involvement Authorities have previously said there may be a link between Markel's July 2014 slaying and the couple's contentious divorce. Courtest WCTV 'To be clear, none of the Adelsons Wendi, her brother Charlie, or their parents Donna and Harvey had anything to do with Dan's murder,' said David O. Markus, the attorney who represents Charlie Adelson, in a statement. Police say Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera traveled from South Florida to Tallahassee to kill Markel, who was shot in the head in broad daylight in his garage. Both men are awaiting a November trial on murder charges and prosecutors say they are seeking the death penalty. Garcia has pleaded not guilty while Rivera has yet to enter a plea. Since the killing, Rivera was convicted of unrelated federal racketeering charges stemming from his leadership role in the Latin Kings street gang and was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. A Tallahassee Police Department affidavit said Markel's death was the result of the 2013 contentious divorce from Wendi Adelson, a lawyer who now lives in Miami Beach and works for a federal judge. Harvey and Charlie Adelson run a well-established dental practice in South Florida. After Wendi Adelson divorced Markel, she left for south Florida with their children but was forced to return after a court ruling, which prosecutors say may have motivated the murder Markel, a world-renowned legal professor, was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the head behind the wheel of his car in July 2014. Pictured is the house he shared with Adelson There was a battle between the two over Wendi Adelson's wish to move to South Florida with the couple's two small children so they could be closer to her family, according to court records. There were also disagreements over money Markel was supposed to pay his ex-wife and whether his mother-in-law could have unsupervised visits with the children. The Adelson statement, however, indicates the family fully intended Markel to remain a presence in the children's lives and that there was no ill will toward him. 'Dan's death was a tragedy, and the loss is profound,' the statement said. Prosecutors say Sigfredo Garcia (left) killed Markel on request from his wife's family after the couple divorced. Charles Adelson (right), the wife's brother, knew Garcia and was dating the mother of his children In this affidavit, police named two suspects: Luis Rivera, a Miami-based alleged Latin Kings gang leader and Sigfredo Garcia, whose rap sheet includes 22 arrests since 1997 on charges ranging from burglary, car theft and cocaine possession Shocking details in the court files spell out ties between one of the two men who allegedly drove a Prius six-and-a-half hours to north Florida for the killing, Garcia, to the close-knit family of Markel's ex-wife The family has been subjected to an intense investigation over the past two years including FBI involvement that went over phone and computer records, emails, financial documents and text messages, the Adelson statement said. 'There is a reason that the police have not arrested any of the Adelsons they weren't involved in Dan's death,' the statement said. A Tallahassee police spokesman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. According to court documents, investigators say that Garcia and Rivera were hired by someone to kill Markel. They say evidence indicates they followed Markel from a nearby gym before he was shot. Cellphone information showed the two men were in the Tallahassee area shortly before Markel's death and records link the two men to a Prius that a neighbor of Markel reported seeing pull out of the driveway right after hearing a gunshot, police say. A former Texas middle school teacher accused of having an affair with a 13-year-old student and becoming pregnant by him was back in court today for breaking her curfew, but a judge decided not to revoke her bond. Alexandria Vera, 24, of Houston, has been out on $100,000 bail since her arraignment in early June, at which time she was ordered to wear a GPS monitor, stay away from minors and prohibited from going online at home. The former eighth-grade English teacher at Stovall Middle School was also put on a court-mandated curfew between 8pm and 7am each day. Scroll down for video Bad teacher: Former Texas middle school teacher Alexandria Vera, 24, appeared in court Wednesday to explain why she broke her court-mandated curfew in July Defendant wore white: Dressed in a white button-down and black slacks, Vera claimed she was late to return home on July 26 because she got stuck in traffic Vera, pictured left in her mugshot, turned herself in to police in June and was charged with having a continuous sexual relationship with a 13-year-old student Dressed in a plain white button-down shirt and black slacks, Vera appeared before State District Judge Michael McSpadden Wednesday morning to explain why she violated her curfew on July 26, reported the station Click2Houston. The former teacher was supposed to be home by 8pm but arrived 46 minutes late. Prosecutors told the court that her ankle monitoring device tracked her to a shopping center, according to KHOU11. Vera claimed that she was late that evening because she got stuck in traffic for 45 minutes. It also emerged during the hearing that the 24-year-old was caught exercising at the middle school's track in June, even though she had been ordered to stay away from any schools as a condition of her release. Prosecutors asked Judge McSpadden to revoke Vera's bond, but he ruled that she remain free. Vera, pictured here in court in June, became pregnant with her teenage lover's child but ended up having an abortion Free: Vera has been out on $100,000 bond since her arraignment. A judge ordered her to observe a 8pm-7am curfew, stay away from minors and schools, and avoid going online Last chance: On Wednesday, prosecutors asked the judge to revoke Vera's bond over the curfew violations, but he decided to keep her out of jail The judge chided Vera for violating the conditions of her release and issued a stern warning that the next infraction would be her last. Alexandria Vera turned herself in to police on June 1 after a warrant was issued for her arrest on charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child. She was released hours later after posting $100,000 bond. Vera faces 25 years to life in prison with no possibility of parole if convicted A probable cause document outlining the case against her stated how Stovall Principal Elsa Wright got a tip that Vera was having an inappropriate relationship with a student. She then questioned the 24-year-old teacher who 'admitted to having a sexual relationship since September 2015 with a known student', according to the document. The student was in her eighth grade English class and was 13 years old. A police officer met with Vera to discuss the case and she told them she became pregnant with the teens child in January after they had continuous sex. Vera was then said to have told the investigator the boy would sleep with her at her house and she'd drive him back home in the morning so he could catch the bus to school. The probable cause affidavit read: 'She stated that she and the complainant had sex on almost a daily basis at her home and that they love each other'. Vera was an eighth grade English teacher at Stovall Middle School in Houston, Texas (pictured), when the alleged sex was ongoing The court document also stated that Vera claimed the boy's family were 'supportive and excited' when they were told she was pregnant, but the teacher ended up having an abortion after she got nervous when the CPS showed up at school to question her about the relationship in February this year. A Danish Muslim group has offered to bury one of the jihadists who murdered a French priest, after Muslim leaders in France refused to give the terrorists funerals. Adel Kermiche, 19, was shot dead by French police on July 26 after he and Abdel Malik Petitjean, 19, attacked a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvroy in northern France, murdering priest Jacques Hamel and seriously injuring another hostage. After standing in solidarity with Christians mourning the victims of the attack, Muslim leaders in France have refused to grant them an Islamic burial. However, Kasem Said Ahmad, who heads the Danish Islamic Burial Fund, said they would carry out Kermiche's funeral, but did not comment on Petitjean. Scroll down for video Adel Kermiche, 19, was shot dead by French police on July 26 after he and an accomplice murdered priest Jacques Hamel and seriously injured another hostage. Abdel Malik Petitjean, 19, attacked a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvroy in northern France 'It is a human right to be buried, no matter what you have done,' Kasem Said Ahmad said in an interview with Danish paper Jyllands-Posten. The church attack, which shocked France just days after the July 14 attack in Nice that left 84 people dead, 'is an un-Islamic action that we naturally distance ourselves from,' Ahmad said. However, 'if we get a request from the family to bury him, then we will do it... If they want to move his body here, he can be buried in Denmark in the Muslim cemetery,' he said. When contacted, the organisation declined to comment, and the group have not said whether or not it would carry out the same service for Petitjean. Muslim leaders in northern France are refusing to bury the body of Kermiche, saying they 'did not want to taint Islam'. The elderly French priest murdered by two ISIS fanatics during morning mass tried to fight back against his killers while screaming 'Go away, Satan', it emerged at his funeral yesterday. The elderly French priest murdered by two ISIS fanatics during morning mass tried to fight back against his killers while screaming 'Go away, Satan', it emerged at his funeral yesterday Leading a moving service to 85-year-old Father Jacques Hamel, the archbishop of Rouen revealed that the parish priest used his feet to kick out at the extremists during the attack at a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. Hundreds of priests and bishops filled Rouen cathedral this afternoon, along with hundreds more mourners, to pay tribute to the priest who was slaughtered by two jihadis who stormed the quiet mass ceremony a week ago. Addressing the solemn mourners during the two-hour Mass ceremony today, Archbishop Dominique Lebrun said: 'Evil is a mystery. It reaches heights of horror that take us out of the human. 'Isn't that what you wanted to say, Jacques, with your last words, when you fell to the ground? After you were struck by the knife, you tried to push away your assailants with your feet and said, 'Go away, Satan.' You repeated it, 'Go away, Satan.'' With those words, Archbishop Lebrun said, 'You expressed ... your faith in the goodness of humans and that the devil put his claws in.' Hundreds of priests and bishops filled Rouen cathedral this afternoon, along with hundreds more mourners, to pay tribute to the priest who was slaughtered by two jihadis who stormed the quiet mass ceremony a week ago The group last year organised the burial of Danish-Palestinian jihadist gunman Omar El-Hussein, who killed a filmmaker outside a Copenhagen free speech event and a Jewish security guard outside a synagogue. 'It is a support for the family, not for him,' Ahmad said at the time. Some 500 people attended Hussein's funeral. Kermiche and Abdel Malik Petitjean pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group before they attacked the Normandy church during morning mass on July 26. Mohammed Karabila, who leads a French Muslim group, said his community would not give Kermiche a Muslim burial. Nicholas M Fuhst, 18, of Michigan faces prison time for impersonating an officer in an attempt to become Facebook friends with Hooters waitresses An 18-year-old Michigan teen faces jail time for pretending to be an undercover officer in an attempt to become Facebook friends with Hooters waitresses. Nicholas M Fuhst pleaded no contest on Thursday to a felony charge of impersonating a peace officer to commit a crime, Mlive reported. His plea agreement calls for the judge to impose the maximum penalty which is four years. It will be doubled, according to state guidelines, because Fuhst is a third-time habitual offender. Prosecutors said on May 12, Fuhst went into the Hooters in Kochville Township and sat down at the bar where he represented himself as an undercover cop and asked to see a list of all the employees who worked there, according to Fox News. He reportedly said he searching for suspects in a crime he was investigating and needed names of employees at the restaurant. The teen was apparently convincing because an employee gave him a list and wrote down several names. Prosecutors said on May 12, Fuhst went into the Hooters in Kochville Township (pictured) and sat down at the bar where he represented himself as an undercover cop and asked to see a list of all the employees Fuhst then left the restaurant on a skateboard before returning a short time later, authorities said. When he returned, he asked for more detailed information about some of the workers, according to prosecutors. 'He indicated that he went to Hooters because he wanted to talk to the girls to see if they would be friends on Facebook,' Chief Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Boyd said. At that point, employees grew suspicious and called police, according to prosecutors. When police arrived to arrest the teen, they found three knives, zip ties and lighter fluid in his backpack, along with two names circled on the employee list, authorities said. 'I think there were some dark thoughts going through his mind,' Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Albosta said. Fuhst, pictured in court in May, pleaded no contest last week to a felony charge of impersonating a peace officer to commit a crime In addition to the impersonation charge, Fuhst pleaded to a misdemeanor count of disturbing workers on Thursday, which carries a 90-day maximum penalty. He also pleaded no contest to violating his probation by absconding and by committing the crimes at Hooters, Mlive reported. At the time of the incident, Fuhst was serving two years of probation for unrelated crimes, including arson of personal property and malicious destruction of personal property, according to Michigan Department of Corrections records. Police in Texas have prompted outrage after a deputy was caught on video drunk, shirtless and crying after shooting at a church door, but wasn't charged. William Cox from Ovilla was arrested after he went on a drinking session because he was upset at the slaying of five officers in the Dallas ambush on July 7. The 27-year-old then opened fire at the Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church on July 13. Former police officer William Cox is seen shirtless and drunk in the back of a patrol car after opening fire at a church in Ovilla, Texas He then put in the back of a patrol car in handcuffs, but he was not indicted. Cox was fired from his job with the Somervell County Sheriff's Department after word of the incident spread. On dashcam footage published by FOX 4, he can be heard telling police he was upset because 'my boys are getting killed in Dallas'. In the clip, he admits to have 'shot (his) weapon irresponsibly.' In bodycam footage he is seen lying on the floor, crying as police arrest him. He later admitted to firing his weapon irresponsibly He carried on weeping as his colleagues put him in handcuffs as he lay on the ground A pastor for the church where Cox fired his weapon decided not to file charges He FOX 4 his decision was 'all about forgiveness.' But Ellis County District Attorney, Patrick Wilson, had a different view. He said: 'The criticism that's being lobbed against law enforcement and the criminal justice system in general in our community and our society today the foundation of that criticism is what's illustrated in this case and that is favoritism. Screen Shot 2016-08-03 at 6.40.17 AM.png Good Wednesday Morning, Fellow Seekers. Most of Pennsylvania's Republican Congressional delegation are backing GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. But don't count U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent. R-15th District, among them, In an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday, Dent, whose district includes part of the midstate, ran down his reasons to host Steve Kornacki. The Lehigh Valley Republican has long been on the fence about Trump. This is about as explicit as he's gotten so far. "I have no plans of making an endorsement or voting for the nominee," Dent said, "mainly because of all the incendiary comments and I could go and list them all from John McCain and the POWs to the Muslims and the Hispanics ... to women, David Duke and now the Khan family situation." But it's not just that: "Also because of the numerous policy statements where the policies have been not specific enough, the policies that we have heard have often been conflicting or contradictory." Those include Trump's recent statements about Russia's intervention in Ukraine "which has also caused some angst," Dent told Kornacki. Local U.S. Reps. Scott Perry, R-4th District; Lou Barletta, R-11th District and Tom Marino, R-10th District, are backing Trump. Others include U.S. Reps. Keith Rothfus, Glenn "G.T." Thompson and Mike Kelly, all of whom were explicit in their support for Trump during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland two weeks ago. U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., has also been publicly ambivalent about Trump and has tried to distance himself from the GOP nominee. Toomey and U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6th District, both took a pass on the RNC, deciding they had work to do back home. Here's the clip: The rest of the day's news starts now. The Dems and Republicans aren't the only presidential acts in town. Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Gary Johnson have filed for the Pa. ballot, ABC-27 reports. The Wolf administration's delayed decisions on state grant money have left many projects in limbo, The Tribune-Review reports. Pennsylvania lawmakers heard from the families of opioid abuse in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, The Post-Gazette reports. PhillyMag sat down to chat with long-serving WIP host Angelo Cataldi, who may retire next year. As ever, BillyPenn gets your day started with a lovely photo from the Instagrams. This one's a corker. WITF-FM has a new interactive map showing where Pa. prison inmates committed their crimes. Neighbors in South Philly are pushing to end a tradition of people parking their cars in the street medians, NewsWorks/WHYY-FM reports. A city pool in Allentown will stay closed for the rest of the summer, The Morning Call reports. It's Halvorson/Shuster III in Pa's 9th Congressional District this fall, PoliticsPA reports. Donald Trump changed his views on the Ukraine crisis after hiring Paul Manafort to run his campaign, Politico reports. Donald Trump is 'woefully unprepared' to be president, President Barack Obama said Tuesday. Roll Call has the details. WolfWatch. Gov. Tom Wolf heads to Lancaster this Tuesday for a 2 p.m. appearance at BrandYourself.com, where he'll talk about his jobs program. Heavy Rotation. Here's a bit of upbeat pop to get your Tuesday morning going. Wednesday's Gratuitous Baseball Link. Baltimore beat Texas 5-1 to win at home at Camden Yards. Rookie pitcher Dylan Bundy held Texas scoreless for 5 2/3 innings to notch the win. Adam Jones and Matt Wieters homered for the Os. And now you're up to date. See you all back here in a bit. A man has been arrested after a bomb scare in Adelaide where he drove a car into the front doors of a police station. The 38-year-old man drove a Honda sedan into Adelaide Police Station on Wakefield Street just before 1.30am on Thursday. He then tried to flee the scene but a passing unmarked patrol car quickly blocked his exit. Scroll down for video A man has been arrested after a bomb scare in Adelaide where he drove a car (pictured) into the front doors of a police station The man hit the police car before getting out and threatening officers with a knife. Police had to use capsicum spray before they could arrest him and said he was 'incoherent' at the time. He was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital to be treated with a pre-existing condition. A bomb squad robot was deployed to examine the car for explosives but none were found. The man is expected to to be charged later on Thursday for property damage and threatening police officers at a bedside court hearing. Police inside at the time were not injured. The 38-year-old man drove a Honda sedan into Adelaide Police Station (above is the scene) on Wakefield Street just before 1.30am on Thursday It is believed the incident was terrorism-related and investigations were continuing. Despite damage to the front doors, there was no further structural damage. Superintendent John DeCandia said the man was known to police. 'That will form part of the investigation to try to identify a motive as to the reasons as to why he's targeted the Adelaide Police Station for the criminal damage he's done this morning,' he said. Supt De Candia said investigators were also searching the home where the man lived. Adelaide Police Station remains closed and the public go to other police stations for non-urgent business or call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444. Wakefield Street was closed for a period of time but was reopened. Three girls and a have-a-go hero had to be airlifted from a middle of a river when getting stranded on a rock after going paddling. Four girls from Glasgow were walking along a popular beauty spot pathway in Falls of Falloch in Stirlingshire and decided to create their own route through the river before getting stuck. They were spotted by hikers Paul Kybird, 27, and Andrew Downey, 37, who managed to pull one girl to safety using their dog lead as a safety line. Mr Downey was forced to jump in and save the second girl they tried to rescue and having returned to the rock the four waited for the professionals. Dozens of firefighters, paramedics, police officers and rescue workers were called to Falls of Falloch in Stirlingshire where the group were flown to safety Four girls had to be airlifted from a middle of a river after getting stranded on some rocks after going paddling A Police Scotland spokesman told MailOnline the reason the girls had become stranded was 'misadventure' Passer-by Paul Kybird from Norfolk and his friend came across the girls and tried to rescue them with a dog lead, but when they failed, they dialled 999. The girls had paddled across the river in an attempt to get to a rope swing on the other side. He said: 'I went with my friend to see the waterfall and that's when we saw the girls. 'They'd crossed in water six inches deep a little bit further up and then by the time the water had risen it was at least two foot deep. 'But the speed and the force of the current was the main issue. 'There was a rope swing on the other side that one of them knew about, but they'd got stranded. 'My friend thought we could try and help them get over so we made our own safety line using our dog lead.' The girls were walking along a popular beauty spot pathway and decided to create their own route through the river before getting stuck The pair, who were on a hiking holiday in Scotland, managed to get one girl across the river to safety but struggled with a second who was not as confident a swimmer. When it became obvious she would not be able to swim to shore, Mr Kybird's friend Andrew Downey, 37, jumped in to save her. After being dragged downstream, he managed to get the second girl back onto the rock with her friends before Mr Kybird dialled 999. Mr Downey, also from Norfolk, said: 'I had a little clamber down because I didn't know what she was saying - it turns out they said they were stuck. 'They showed me where they got across, but then the water levels had risen quickly. 'We got the first girl to safety. She was a good swimmer and she was across like a flash. 'The second one was very apprehensive so I quickly jumped in. She was struggling, so I got her onto the rock after being swept down the river. 'I managed to get a foothold in the riverbed and hoisted her up before climbing on myself.' It had been raining in the area causing the river to rise, which the girls had misjudged Unsurprisingly, the conversation was pretty stagnant as the four waited to be rescued. When asked what they were talking about, Mr Downey said: 'Not a lot really. 'It was basically the embarrassment of it all and they were trying to work out what to tell the parents - it was light-hearted and they were a bit upset at times. 'The paramedic guys kept us laughing and they gave us a lot of confidence. 'It was an awkward descent for the helicopter and this heroic dude came down and saved the day. 'That looked a bit hairy for him because it was really raining and windy. 'They plonked us over the other side and got us back to the ambulance and I think the girls all went to the hospital. 'They'd lost their shoes along the way - they lost a shoe each trying to cross the river - so we were all barefoot by that time. After his first rescue operation, Mr Downey played down a future in the emergency services. 'I've got to say the ride was enjoyable, but it's not something I'd want to do again,' he said. 'I was genuinely excited at the thought of a helicopter ride, but that's enough for me.' On the other side of the river is farm land and a local beauty spot, according to the spokesman Passer-by Paul Kybird from Norfolk and his friend came across the girls and tried to rescue them with a dogs lead, but when they failed, they dialled 999 A Police Scotland spokesman told MailOnline the reason the girls had become stranded was 'misadventure'. He said: 'It's a local walk and they've wandered off the beaten track and then they've gone and done what they've done. 'It was misadventure, shall we say.' On the other side of the river is farm land and a local beauty spot, according to the spokesman. He added that it had been raining in the area causing the river to rise, which the girls had misjudged. In an official statement, the Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Police in Forth Valley were called to the Falls of Falloch by Loch Lomond at 13.15pm on Wednesday to assist in the rescue of four females from the middle of the Falls. It was moment that had been in the making for 10 long years. And for one Massachusetts man, it was too much to emotionally handle. The man, Jeffrey, had not seen his mother, Madeline, for a whole decade, because she lives in Gabon and had not been able to get to the US to see her family because of visa and financial reasons. However when Jeffrey's brother arranged for their mom to come visit, it became a moment none of them will forget. Breaking down: The man, known only as Jeffrey, falls into a heap of tears at the sight of his mother, who he hasn't seen in 10 long years 'My mom!' Through the emotions Jeffrey speaks out and is consoled by his mother Jeffrey and his partner, Shannon Slattery, welcomed a son earlier this year, so the trip was built around Madeline being able to meet her grandson. Video of the special moment shows the moment Jeffrey arrives and is overwhelmed to see his brother, who he hadn't seen in about four years. However he then completely breaks down when his mother appears from where she has been hiding from around the corner. The two then share a long embrace. Video of the special moment has now gone viral Jeffrey runs to the corner and falls into a heap crying. He is then consoled by his mom and the two share a loving embrace. 'I love my man and his huge heart,' Slattery posted on Facebook. Captain Humayun Khan has been described as an 'amazing leader ' and a 'friend' by a fellow troop was stationed in Iraq when he was killed by a suicide bomber. Sgt. Lacy Walker said the Muslim-American soldier, whose parents are in the middle of a feud with Donald Trump, was 'always there' for everybody. She added that when Capt. Khan was around, everybody knew they would be taken care of and safe. Capt. Khan died after a suicide bomber stormed into his base in 2008. But his story has risen to prominence again after his parents spoke at the Democratic National Convention. Scroll down for video Sgt. Lacy Walker (left) described Captain Humayun Khan (right) as an 'amazing leader ' and a 'friend'. She served with him while he was in Iraq Family, friends, supporters and fellow soldiers have come forward to praise the fallen hero - or condemn Trump for his comments. In an interview with CNN's New Day on Wednesday morning, Walker said: 'It was impossible not to be close to captain Khan. He was always there for everyone. 'If you knew him you were friends. 'He was an amazing leader, he was an amazing man, he was always there for everyone. 'If you worked for Captain Khan you knew you were going to be taken care of you. She also revealed that she had got a tattoo saying 'unforgotten' across her right arm in Capt. Khan's memory 'You knew everything was going to be okay and you knew you would be safe.' She also revealed that she had got a tattoo saying 'unforgotten' across her arm in Capt. Khan's memory. 'After he passed away, I had a dream that he came to me. 'And I said to him: "Sir, you said you wouldn't leave me, You said I wouldn't have to do Iraq without you. 'He said: "I'm not. I'm not gone. Just don't forget me. I will always be there with you guys.' Walker is just one of the people who have praised the actions of Capt. Khan. His commander Dana J.H. Pittard wrote in the Washington Post: 'Humayun was a wonderful person, liked and respected by all who knew him. His commander also praised him as a wonderful soldier and said his platoon was one of the most motivated 'I used to joke with him about the tank platoon he once led, which I had led 20 years earlier. I often told him that we were kindred spirits. I remember clearly the day he died. 'Humayun was a great officer. The 201st Forward Support Battalion, Humayuns unit, was the most motivated and combat-oriented logistics unit I had ever seen.' He added: 'We live in a dangerous and complex world. We need leaders who are steady, patient and empathetic, especially at the national level, during this troubled time. We need somebody who has respect for our Gold Star families.' But, above all, our country needs more men and women like Humayun Khan and the countless others who willingly and humbly served this great nation of ours without reservation or recognition. His story and the circumstances surrounding his childhood and military career have been thrust into the spotlight since his parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan appeared at the DNC. When he was just two-years-old, Humayun Khan came to the United States with his Muslim parents. As a child growing up in Silver Springs, Maryland, he read extensively about Thomas Jefferson and planned to be a lawyer, like his father, after graduating from the University of Virginia. He joined the Army to pay his way through law school and joined up just after 9/11. While serving his country in Iraq in 2004, at the age of 27, he was killed as he ran towards a suicide bomber who had burst into his base in a taxi - and probably saved the lives of hundreds of soldiers. Capt. Khan's story, and his legacy, hit the headlines again last week when his parents Pakistani-American parents, Khizr and Ghazala Khan, gave a powerful speech to the Democratic convention Khan was just three months into his first tour of duty as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has posthumously been awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. But his story, and his legacy, hit the headlines again last week when his parents Pakistani-American parents, Khizr and Ghazala Khan, gave a powerful speech to the Democratic convention - that was then slammed by Donald Trump. They slammed the Republican presidential nominee for not having the empathy to run the country, and said he he had never made any sacrifices. Khizr Khan told the crowd of delegates: 'Like many immigrants, we came to this country empty-handed. 'We believed in American democracy; that with hard work and goodness of this country, we could share in and contribute to its blessings'. Later on Mr Khan pulled a copy of the Constitution out of his suit pocket and offered to lend it to Donald Trump. He said: 'Look for the words "liberty" and "equal protection of law". Have you ever been to Arlington cemetery? Khan was just three months into his first tour of duty. He has posthumously been awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Hear. His gravestone can be seen at Arlington National Cemetery 'Go look at the graves of brave Americans who died defending United States of America. You will see all faiths, genders and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing.' Since then the billionaire businessman has been criticized for saying the grieving parents 'viciously attacked' him. Gold Star families have demanded he apologize, but Trump has stood firm in his position. Khan was born in the United Arab Emirates on September 9, 1976. He was the middle of three brothers. His mother revealed in an op-ed for the Washington Post that he helped disabled children learn to swim while he was at high school. He would say: 'I love when they have a little bit of progress and their faces, they light up. At least they are that much happy.' After graduating from John F. Kennedy High School, he went to UVA. He even quoted Jefferson in his acceptance essay. A growing collection of flower tributes has been laid at his gravestone since his story resurfaced, increasing the number of people who have supported him During his studies he signed up for the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). In 2004, he was sent overseas for the first time to join the invasion that led to the toppling of Sadam Hussein's regime. He was an ordnance officer with the 201st Forward Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. His unit made sure the camp was safe and day-to-day business ran smoothly. While serving, he also participated in a U.S. Army program that helped Iraqi citizens earn money to support themselves. On June 8, 2004, near Baqubah, Khan was inspecting a guard post when a spotted a cab coming towards the gates. It was coming at them very quickly, so he ordered his subordinates to stay back. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has been criticized for saying the grieving parents 'viciously attacked' him during their DNC speech As his comrades retreated, Khan ran towards the vehicle. The car exploded, killing Khan and two people inside. It detonated before reaching a mess hall were hundreds of soldiers were eating breakfast. Khan's actions probably saved their lives. Home is where the heart is, and for Linda Thompson, that place is prison. The 59-year-old transgender woman on Wednesday pleaded guilty to a robbery charge after police say she pulled off a bank heist in Wyoming just so she could return to prison. Thompson told a district court judge in Cheyenne that going back behind bars would be like going home. Sentencing for the woman was set for October 12. Homecoming: Linda Thompson, 59 (left and right), told a Wyoming judge she wanted to go back to prison, which is home to her, after robbing a Cheyenne bank last month The 59-year-old was arrested July 27 after a US Bank branch in Cheyenne was robbed by a woman who tossed the money into the air outside and offered some to passers-by. Thompson then sat down and waited for police to arrive and arrest her. She was released in June from prison in Oregon, where she had served time on a robbery conviction. Thompson said she unsuccessfully protested her release in Oregon. Thompson previously said she had suffered facial fractures after strangers beat her at a Cheyenne park last month. Thompson told a judge Wednesday she wanted to be sentenced to as much time as possible She said she couldn't get a room at a homeless shelter and decided to rob the bank last Wednesday because she could no longer stay on the streets, court records say. FBI Special Agent Tory Smith said in court documents that Thompson entered a US Bank branch in Cheyenne and handed a teller a cardboard note that said, 'I have a gun. Give me all your money.' The teller turned over $16,300 before calling police. Outside, Thompson threw the banknotes into the air and even offered some to people passing by, Smith stated. He added that Cheyenne police Lt. Nathan Busek said he found Thompson with a large sum of money when he arrived at the bank. 'Lt. Busek asked Thompson what was going on, and Thompson replied, "I just robbed the bank, I want to go back to prison,'' Smith wrote. Thompson entered a US Bank branch in Cheyenne and handed a teller a cardboard note that said, 'I have a gun. Give me all your money.' She then waited for police to arrive and arrest her The 59-year-old, who had spent a total of 18 years behind bars on seven different convictions, expressed her desire to resume her incarceration during Wednesday's hearing, telling Judge Nancy Freudenthal: 'Prison is home to me. Im just going back home,' according to KGAB. Freudenthal said Thompson could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. When asked if she had anything to say in court, Thompson said of her impending sentencing: 'I'd like as much time as possible.' Thompson had been serving time at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon, for a second-degree robbery conviction in Union County until her release in June, said Betty Bernt, communications manager with the Oregon Department of Corrections. She had recently been released from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon, but said she was having a rough time living outside of the prison Thompson told investigators then that she didn't want to be released and advised the Oregon state parole office that she would not do well on parole. Prior to being incarcerated, Thompson had been living for many years as a female, according to Arizona Prison Watch. The Oregonian reported Monday that Thompson was featured in a 2011 film called Cruel and Unusual that documents the lives of transgender inmates. Donald Trump's spokeswoman Katrina Pierson backtracked today after blaming President Obama for the death of Captain Humayun Khan. Pierson had previously told Wolf Blitzer 'it was under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that changed the rules of engagement that probably cost his life,' talking about the soldier son of Khizr and Ghazala Khan, who have spoken out against her boss in recent days. However, the blame Pierson assigned was impossibly placed, as Captain Khan died in 2004, four years before Obama was elected to office. This morning on CNN's 'New Day,' Pierson revised her remarks. Scroll down for video Donald Trump's spokesperson Katrina Pierson backtracked after making comments blaming Captain Khan's 2004 death on Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton CNN hosts Alisyn Camerota and John Berman (center) asked Katrina Pierson (right) if she wished to apologize to Khizr Khan after he asked Trump's surrogates to 'show some decency' CNN's Alisyn Camerota asked Pierson if she wished to clarify her previous comments. 'You seemed to be blaming President Obama and secretary of state then Hillary Clinton for Captain Humayun Khan's death ... and of course he was killed in 2004, that was when President George W. Bush was president,' the journalist noted. Last night Captain Khan's father Khizr Khan criticized Pierson asking Trump's surrogates to 'show some decency' and 'refrain from what you attempted out of anger and out of this ugly partisan-ness.' Camerota asked the Trump surrogate if she wished to apologize to Khizr Khan. 'Apologize for the timeline,' she replied. 'What I was talking about is the fact that Donald Trump has no connection to anything having to do with Captain Khan, who was a brave war her,' she continued. 'The timeline is very simple and true, Alisyn,' Pierson added. 'Hillary Clinton voted for the war in Iraq. She did not support the surge. Barack Obama made things worse by invading more countries than President Bush did. The newscaster again pointed out that Captain Khan was killed by a bomb-filled taxi in Iraq in 2004. 'But Donald Trump wasn't there,' the spokeswoman said. 'That is the only point. That's the only point. Donald Trump is being blamed for something he had nothing to do with, and he did not attack this family.' Camerota again interjected, pointing out that it was Pierson who had assigned blame to President Obama, who had not been elected president yet. 'New Day' co-host John Berman stepped in and read Pierson's original quote. 'Katrina, the words you used, "probably cost his life." President Obama and Hillary Clinton changed the rules of engagement that probably cost his life,' Berman said, asking her if she now acknowledged that she was wrong. 'Well, absolutely,' Pierson replied. 'That's why I used "probably," because I was just going through the timeline, because since then we have had tens of thousands of soldiers that have been list, 1 million wounded, $6 trillion later,' she continued. This is the horrifying moment a man went on a racist rant at Target and repeatedly called the store's manager a 'f*****g n****r'. Witnesses said the packed Dallas store went quiet after the unidentified man first uttered the racial slut as he argued with employees in customer service. Ill beat your f*****g a** n****r, he can be heard screaming in the video. Motherf****r he continues. What did I do wrong? What did I do wrong? DiEma Hicks and Christin Smith were at the self-checkout lane when they first heard the man say the N-word to a group of girls after telling them 'give me my stuff'. This is the horrifying moment a man went on a racist rant at a Dallas Target and repeatedly called the store's manager a 'f*****g n****r' after an argument in customer service Hicks said the man then turned his rage to the manager of the store when she tried to deescalate the situation. The manager can be seen in the video trying to calmly talk to the man as he repeatedly calls her the racial slur. He then tells another man who tries to step in to 'f**k off' and continues to scream at the woman, 'Did I do something wrong n****r, did I?' 'Sir, I need you to leave my building,' she can be heard telling him in the clip, which has been viewed more than 130,000 times. The man then accuses the manager of being a racist as he repeatedly says 'f*****g n****r'. As two other men try to step in and get him to leave he calls them n****r lovers As she continues to try and clamly talk to him. He then tells another man who tried to step in to f**k off, and continues to scream Did I do something wrong n****r, Did I. Sir I need you to leave my building, she says 'You can call me whatever you like, but you just need to leave my store.' He accuses her of being a racist and he continues to call her a 'f*****g n****r.' As two other men try to step in and get him to leave, the man calls them 'n****r lovers'. Hicks said she immediately began recording the man the second she heard him use the N-word. The man repeatedly calls the woman a 'f*****g n****r' and then, as two men try and get him out of the store, calls them 'n****r lovers' 'I felt like this was something that people needed to see,' she told CW 39. 'Its something you hear about but that was my first time witnessing it firsthand.' Hicks said everyone else at the store was recording too in a store that was packed with back-to-school shoppers. 'Everyone was just wondering, "Where's security?'" she said. Hicks commended the manger and her employees for maintaining their professionalism and keeping their composure through the ordeal. 'That had to be tough,' she said. 'I can't imagine being at work and someone disrespecting me like that.' Hicks said she saw four or five police officers outside the door as she was leaving the store and said the man had to be dragged out. The Dallas Police Department confirmed to Daily Mail Online that officers arrived at the Target but could not confirm whether the man had been taken into custody. Jason Christian Vukovich, 41, is accused of breaking into the homes of three convicted child sex offenders and beating them An Alaskan 'avenging angel' is accused of breaking into the homes of convicted sex offenders and attacking them in retribution for their crimes. Jason Christian Vukovich, 41, used the state's sex offender registry to find the addresses of three convicted sex offenders before brutalizing them, police say. In one case the victim, 67-year-old Wesley Hayes Demarest, was beaten so badly with a hammer that his skull fractured. Vukovich is accused of attacking Demarest along with two other men between June 25 and June 29. The other two victims were named by KTVA as Charles Leamon Albee, 68, and 25-year-old Andres E Barbosa. Cops say that over the course of five days Vukovich broke into the victims' homes, beat them with his fists or a hammer, and then stole possessions before fleeing. He was arrested on June 29 shortly after Demarest was attacked, and officers say he had a notebook in his possession with more names inside. In total Vukovich faces 18 charges including assault, robbery, burglary and theft, and pleaded not guilty during a court appearance last week. Wesley Hayes Demarest, 67, was knocked unconscious with a hammer during an attack on June 29 before his laptop and other items were stolen Demarest, who was jailed for attempted child sex abuse, said Vukovich called himself an 'avenging angel' before hitting him over the head with a hammer Vukovich has previously been convicted of fraud, theft, possession of a controlled substance and assault, and was most recently released from jail on June 24 last year, the same day he attacked Albee. At 9.30am Vukovich knocked on Albee's door before pushing him inside his home and ordering him to sit on the bed, according to a bail memorandum seen by the Alaska Dispatch News. Vukovich then slapped Albee repeatedly in the face, the memorandum says, before saying he had found Albee's name on the sex offender register. Demarest recalled that Vukovich was carrying a notebook with the names of other sex attackers inside After taking several items from inside the property, Vukovich left, it is alleged. Albee said Vukovich was carrying a notepad with other names in it. Two days later Vukovich arrived at the home of Barbosa at around 4am alongside two women, again knocking at the door, court papers say. After confirming that the man's name was Barbosa, Vukovich allegedly threatened him with a hammer before forcing his way inside the house. Vukovich allegedly sat Barbosa down in a chair, 'punched him in the face' several times, threatened to 'bash his dome in' with a hammer, and said he was there to 'collect what Barbosa owed'. While one woman filmed the attack on her cellphone, Vukovich and the other woman are accused of stealing several items from Barbosa's apartment including his truck, and then leaving. During the final attack, on June 29, Demarest said he heard someone break into the home he shares with another man at around 1am. Vukovich is accused of making his way inside the property and ordering Demarest to get down on his knees or lie down on his bed. When Demarest refused, Vukovich allegedly hit him over the head with a hammer, knocking him unconscious and fracturing his skull. Vukovich is also accused of attacking Andres E Barbosa, 25 (left), and Charles Leamon Albee, 68 (right), before stealing items from their homes and fleeing In a letter from jail Vukovich, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, claimed to have been sexually and physically abused by his own adoptive father Demarest said: 'He told me to lay down on my bed and I said "no." He said "get on your knees," and I said "no". 'He said "Im an avenging angel, Im going to met out justice for the people you hurt."' Vukovich is then accused of stealing several items, including a laptop, and fleeing. When he regained consciousness, Demarest called police who found Vukovich sitting in a Honda Civic nearby along with a hammer, stolen possessions, and a notebook with the names of Demarest, Barbosa, and Albee inside. In a note from prison, seen by the Alaska Post Dispatch, Vukovich claimed to have been physically and sexually abused by his adoptive father, including being beaten with pieces of wood and whipped with a belt. He wrote: 'After being physically and mentally abused by a predator, my life was forever changed. 'I literally gave my own existence no value or concern. I became a thief and a liar and went on to make many poor choices throughout my life.' Vukovich also wrote that children 'should be able to play in the streets and parks and go to church without the threat of pedophiles lingering around them.' The new law, which was signed on Monday, is the first of its kind in the U.S. Job seekers no longer have to tell potential employers their salary in Massachusetts as part of a new bill designed to close the gender wage gap. Republican Governor Charlie Baker signed Bill S.2119 into law on Monday, which includes the first provision of its kind in the U.S. barring employers from asking people how much they are paid. Instead, employers will now have to provide a figure up-front that fits with how valuable the position is - rather than offering something based on an employee's previous wage. Republican Governor Charlie Baker (middle) signed a bill on Monday that means job seekers no longer have to tell potential employers their salary in Massachusetts The bill was signed during a ceremony at the Statehouse on Monday, and it also includes language designed to make sure men and women doing 'comparable work' are paid the same. 'No employer shall discriminate in any way on the basis of gender in the payment of wages, including benefits or other compensation, or pay any person a salary or wage rate less than the rates paid to employees of a different gender for comparable work,' a passage of the new law reads. The bill attempts to determine what 'comparable work' officially is, and reads: '"Comparable work", shall solely mean work that is substantially similar in that it requires substantially similar skill, effort and responsibility and is performed under similar working conditions'. Women are currently paid on average about 18 per cent less than their male colleagues make for comparable work in Massachusetts. The pay gap is even wider for black and Hispanic women. Former State Representative Alice Wolf (right) places her hand to her eyes as Dorothy Simonelli, a lunch lady who fought for equal pay decades ago, after the bill was signed Dorothy Simonelli holds a speech she read to Senator Pat Jehlen, who sponsored the bill. 'This is for... all future women in the workplace... thank you' Governor Baker heralded the new legislation just moments before he signed it into law, saying it will help ensure: 'people are paid what they are worth based only on what they are worth and not on something else.' Supporters of the bill say that since women have historical been underpaid compared to men, the new law will go along way towards breaking the cycle of lower salaries for female employees. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton voiced her support for the law, tweeting: 'An important step forward on pay equity in Massachusetts. Women deserve equal pay across our nation.' Democratic Senator Karen Spilka said by approving the new law, Massachusetts proved it has come a long way since it became the first state to approve a pay equity bill in 1945. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton voiced her support for the law that was signed on Monday Spilka said the new law makes it clear women working to support their families deserve fair pay and nothing less. Democratic Senator Pat Jehlen, who sponsored the bill, said the new law shows that, 'equal work for equal pay is not just a slogan'. The Massachusetts House and Senate voted unanimously to approve the legislation last month. Employees will still be able to chose to disclose salary information in interviews, and speak to colleagues about how much thy get paid. Barbara Rice, Dorothy Simonelli, Senator Pat Jehlen and former State Representative Alice Wolf (left-to-right) meet inside Jehlen's office prior moments before the bill was signed A three-year defense from liability has also been created to encourage employers to take steps to remove the wage gap in-house, rather than be taken to court. Employers must complete a self-evaluation during that three-year period to get a better understanding of their pay practices and show progress in getting rid of pay disparities. A road-running emu travelling at nearly 30mph through the Suffolk countryside was snared yesterday after staging a dramatic bid for freedom. The giant bird - which is can serious injuries with its talons and is inferior in size only to the ostrich - had been spotted sprinting along a road by a police officer in Whepstead at around 7.15am. Police subsequently received a flurry of calls from members of the public describing the omnivorous creature variously as an ostrich, a rhea and an emu. Road-runner: An emu was spotted running around Suffolk roads after making a dramatic bid for freedom on Wednesday The giant bird had been spotted sprinting along a road by a police officer in Whepstead at around 7.15am. Pictured, the emu after it was caught in a yard in Glemsfrod, Suffolk The flightless bird, which is around 5ft 11ins tall, went on the run after apparently being spooked by a fox and jumping over its 4ft high paddock fence. But the 15-month-old male bird startled numerous motorists as it ran for about 20 miles around country lanes and fields before being finally captured. The emu, which is one of six owned by retired farmer Bernard King, disappeared on Tuesday night from his land near Bury St Edmunds. Suffolk Police warned drivers to beware of the feathered menace, amid fears that it might cause an accident. Motorist Susan Clark of Sudbury, Suffolk spotted the emu as she was driving her Renault Scenic to the home of friends Julia and Dave Monk on the outskirts of Glemsford. As we came round the corner, this emu was right in front of us. It stopped and looked at us before turning round and carrying on down the road. Susan Clark of Sudbury, Suffolk She staged a painstaking rescue, finally shepherding the bird into a stable with the help of her friends. Mrs Clark said: 'I was going down the lane where Julia lives when I came across a jogger who signalled with his hand that I should slow down. 'Then as we came round the corner, this emu was right in front of us. It stopped and looked at us before turning round and carrying on down the road. 'I called Julia to tell her that there was a big bird coming down her road and her and her husband went outside to intercept it. 'I just followed on slightly behind it to try and coax it along. It was just strolling along poking its head up to look over the high banks into the fields, every now and then breaking into a little trot. 'At one point, there was a field entrance so I just drove up the side to stop it going in there.' The flightless bird, which is around 5ft 11ins tall, went on the run after apparently being spooked by a fox and jumping over its 4ft high paddock fence The 15-month-old male bird startled numerous motorists as it ran for about 20 miles around country lanes and fields before being finally captured Her granddaughter Isabella Marshall, 11, then managed to photograph the native Australian bird from her passenger seat. The car followed the emu for 150 yards to the home of Mr and Mrs Monk who were waiting outside with 6ft lengths of metal fencing to try and trap it. 'At one point I got my arm around its neck, but then I let it go because I saw its big claws and I was worried it might attack me with them Mrs Monk, 64 The couple used the fencing to coax the emu into the yard beside their bungalow and then spent half an hour herding it into their stable which was empty as their horse was in its field. After slamming the stable door shut to trap the emu, they called police and were put in touch with Mr King who then went to pick up his stray pet with his trailer. Mrs Monk, 64, who works for a veterinary surgeon said: 'It was quite a job to get into the stable. It was jiggling around a lot and kept trying to run away but we had the sheep hurdles to stop it. 'At one point I got my arm around its neck, but then I let it go because I saw its big claws and I was worried it might attack me with them.' But Mr Monk, 66, who is a retired policeman, said: 'It was surprisingly well behaved. I am just pleased that it came to no harm.' The pet ended its dramatic day lying down in its paddock with five other emus after being exhausted by its escape bid Mr King said his pet had ended up ten miles from its home, but he believed it had run for around 20 miles as it went around various villages before landing up in Glemsford. His pet was last night lying down in its paddock with his five other emus after being exhausted by its escape bid. Mr King, who also has two rheas and a dozen guinea fowl, said: 'It must have been a fox that spooked him. 'I don't know exactly how long he was free but I was worried that he might have been gone for weeks. 'He would have been quite happy eating grass in the wild. I hand reared him from when he was an egg so he is perfectly tame and he would never have harmed anyone. Millions of mutant mosquitoes are poised to be released in Florida in the fight against the Zika virus. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which spreads the disease, has been genetically modified by a British biotech company to pass on a killer gene. This shortens the life of their young, which should make the population crash and halt the spread of Zika. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which spreads the disease, has been genetically modified by a British biotech company to pass on a killer gene. Pictured, a pest control officer sprays pesticide in the Miami neighbourhood of Wynwood Pest control officers were yesterday out spraying infested areas of Miami - where 14 cases of Zika are suspected to have been spread by US-based mosquitos. The virus, which is rife in Brazil and other parts of South and Central America, blamed for thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped and damaged brains. With Zika starting to gain a foothold in Florida and fears for the health of unborn babies as well as the future of the states 50 billion tourist industry, officials want to release the GM mosquitoes to try to control the diseases spread. Trials in Brazil, the Cayman Islands and other countries have shown numbers of disease-carrying mosquitoes to fall by more than 90 per cent when the mutant mosquitoes are deployed. This compares with the 30 per cent reduction from insecticides and other conventional measures. The World Health Organisation has endorsed the use of GM mosquitoes, which are the brainchild of Oxford University spinout firm Oxitec in the fight against Zika. And US regulators have provisionally approved their release. With Zika starting to gain a foothold in Florida, officials want to release the GM mosquitoes to try to control the diseases spread The GM mosquitoes, which are male, should then breed with wild females creating offspring that are programmed to die young Yesterday, Oxitec said it was ready to release millions of the insects in the Florida Keys as soon it gets the green light. The mosquitoes will be bred in a purpose-built facility in the US before being released in Zika hotspots. The GM mosquitoes, which are male, should then breed with wild females creating offspring that are programmed to die young. Theyve been struggling to control this species for some time and realise that their current tools, insecticides for example, are increasingly ineffective. Dr Andrew McKemey, Oxitecs head of field operations The males dont bite and so the designer bugs wont inadvertently spread the disease. Dr Andrew McKemey, Oxitecs head of field operations, said: We were invited by the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District. Theyve been struggling to control this species for some time and realise that their current tools, insecticides for example, are increasingly ineffective. And theres not been much on the horizon, despite being one of the most well-resourced mosquito control authorities in the world. We are expecting the final decision any minute now. We could start immediately in the Florida Keys. Weve already built a laboratory there with a mass production unit. The plans have come up against opposition, with some Key West residents saying the mutant bugs carry unknown risks to the environment and to humans and their release could deter tourists. A newlywed man drowned in a vat of molasses at his workplace just a week before the birth of his first child. Robert Herweyer died after climbing into the tank of molasses at Agri-Science Technology Company, along Blue Star Highway in Laketown Township, Michigan, according to Michigan Live. The 23-year-old, who married his wife Joy last November, was taken to Holland Community Hospital after he was 'overcome by fumes' and drowned during his shift. He was pronounced dead last that day on July 26. Scroll down for video The 23-year-old, who married his wife Joy last November, (pictured) was expecting his first child next week His father said Robert Herweyer (pictured) was one of six children and loved 'the outdoors, hunting, fishing and driving all-terrain vehicles' and was an athlete who played for Caledonia High School. His tragic death is now being investigated by Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which could take several weeks according to a spokesperson. A co-worker told the Allegan County Sheriff's Office that Herweyer had got into the 12ft tank after the liquid level fell to about two feet to lower a valve and continue the pumping process. Herweyer donned a pair of waders and a safety mask which was 'nice and tight' before he used straps attached to a forklift to be lowered down into the tub. Co-worker and friend Kevin Deherrera told police that Herweyer adjusted the valve and began to climb out of the tank when he suddenly stopped moving. 'He said Robert was just there, standing by the tank wall, and when he was yelling at him, asking him what was wrong and if he was okay or not, Robert never responded back or moved his head in a yes or no motion,' Deherrera told police. The co-worker attempted to lift Herweyer out the tank himself before running to get help. Robert Herweyer died after climbing into the tank of molasses at Agri-Science Technology Company (pictured) along Blue Star Highway in Laketown Township, Michigan Robert Herweyer, 23, of Michigan (pictured with wife Joy) died last month after he was 'overcome by fumes' and drowned in molasses during a shift at Agri-Science Technology Co. in Saugatuck Agri-Technology owner David Alexander came out with an electric saw and cut a hole in the side of the tank to pull Herweyer to safety. Someone called 911 while another employee began performing CPR on the unconscious 23-year-old. Herweyer was under the molasses for up to five minutes before his coworkers could start CPR, they told police. Doctors found syrup in the workers' lungs after they pronounced him dead. Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is conducting an investigation into the death. Grieving father Brian Herweyer told the site: 'He had so much to live for, especially his child.' He says his daughter-in-law, Joy, who had just moved into a new home with his son just three weeks ago, is 'sad and hurting'. The couple wed in November and were happily married, he said. Doctors found syrup in the workers' lungs after they pronounced him dead Herweyer said his son Robert was one of six children and loved 'the outdoors, hunting, fishing and driving all-terrain vehicles' and was an athlete who played for Caledonia High School. He said that his son 'laughed a lot' and had many close friends. A GoFundMe page has since been set up by his sister-in-law, Jennifer Herweyer. According to the page, the funds will be directly given to his widow to be used for any current or future expenses. She writes: 'Thank you so much for the thoughts and prayers. On behalf of both families, thank you. Our hearts are broken, but we hold onto comfort knowing Robert was a believer and follower of Jesus Christ.' So far just over half of the $50,000 goal has been raised. By GEOFF EARLE, DEPUTY U.S. POLITICAL EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM U.S. security officials are increasingly concerned about the threat online hackers may pose to the patchwork U.S. electoral system. 'We are actively thinking about election cyber security right now,' Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson told reporters at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast Wednesday. Complicating the task are the 9,000 different electoral jurisdictions in the U.S. Some states allow people to vote by mail, others have widespread use of electronic voting machines, and many jurisdictions are hybrids. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Wednesday that America 'should carefully consider whether our election system ... is critical infrastructure, like the financial sector, like the power grid' U.S. security officials are increasingly concerned that cyber hackers might attempt to interfere with U.S. elections, after hacks of the Democratic National Committee and other institutions 'There are various different points in the process we have to be concerned about,' Johnson warned. 'We should carefully consider whether our election system, our election process is critical infrastructure, like the financial sector, like the power grid,' Johnson argued, warning that, 'There's a vital national interest in our electoral process,' the New York Times reported. Hackers already penetrated the Democratic National Committee. Internal DNC emails released by the Wikileaks site proved too much for DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to bear. She quit her post on the eve of the Democratic convention and senior staff lost their jobs this week. The administration has also described efforts to hack major U.S. institutions including the White House and the Pentagon. Experts have often pointed the figure at foreign rivals, including China, and in the case of the DNC hack, Russia. 'There are various different points in the process that we have to be concerned about, so this is something that we are very focused on right at the moment,' Johnson said. Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson said the agency is 'actively thinking' about the threat of cyber hacks on elections The risk is magnified by the 9,000 different electoral jurisdictions in the U.S. Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson (right, alongside New York Police Commissioner William Bratton), warned of the electoral risks at a reporters' breakfast Wednesday 'The nature of cyberthreats has evolved' since Congress created a panel to investigate the U.S. voting system following the vote-counting fiasco in Florida in 2000. Congress has provided more than $3 billion for upgrades since then, according to the LA Times. White House press secretary Josh Earnest acknowledged the risks, but said: 'I think the American people can have quite a bit of confidence in our ability to mitigate those risks.' Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told Ohio voters at a rally Monday, 'I'm afraid the election's going to be rigged. I have to be honest.' The Clinton campaign has charged Russian interference in the DNC hack, and pointed to Trump's sometimes approving statements of Russian President Vladimir Putin. THERESA AND PHILIP MAY Sitting next to each other at a debating society meeting in 1978, Oxford students Theresa Brasier and Philip May were already university sweethearts. They had been introduced at a Conservative Association disco by Benazir Bhutto, the future Prime Minister of Pakistan. Dressed in a gauzy red gown that she has matched carefully to her lipstick and earrings, the 21-year-old Theresas love of fashion is already in evidence though today our new Prime Minister would surely shun the dated blue eyeshadow. The couple married two years after this photo was taken, with the student newspaper Cherwell suggesting mischievously that Mr May, a year younger than his wife, had been issued with an ultimatum by his girlfriend. I gather the same fate [of being rejected] awaits Philip if he hesitates any longer in announcing his intention to make an honest woman of the vicars daughter, it had claimed. Decades and multiple Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet jobs for 59-year-old Theresa later, they are both noticeably more lined being the longest-serving Home Secretary is not without its cares, after all. Their salt and pepper hair is similar, though Philip, after his 40-year career in finance has distinctly less of his. Scroll down for video Sitting next to each other at a debating society meeting in 1978, Oxford students Theresa Brasier and Philip May were already university sweethearts Decades and multiple Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet jobs later, Theresa now 59, and Philip are noticeably more lined being the longest-serving Home Secretary is not without its cares DAVID AND SAMANTHA CAMERON This photo of David and Samantha Cameron, taken in 1995, shows them as a well-heeled young couple with predictably conservative tastes. A fresh-faced David, then a 29-year-old public relations executive for TV company Carlton, is trim in a dark suit and navy shirt even then he preferred not to wear a tie while his suspiciously blonde fiancee Samantha Sheffield, 24, a recent graduate, is in a slip dress and subtle gold jewellery. The pictures were taken at the four-bedroom house the couple, who met through friends on holiday in Italy, had just bought in Notting Hill in West London. They would marry the following year, before David became an MP in 2001. Today, though both are far more buffed by consultants, one and a half terms at No 10, years of Coalition in-fighting and the abject failure to win the argument on Europe during the referendum campaign have taken their strain. Samantha, 45, has wisely ditched the highlights for a more natural, flattering hair colour, but her 49-year-old husband cant disguise that receding hairline or the extra weight on his face. This photo of David and Samantha Cameron, taken in 1995, shows them as a well-heeled young couple with predictably conservative tastes Samantha, 45, has wisely ditched the highlights for a more natural, flattering hair colour, but her 49-year-old husband cant disguise that receding hairline or the extra weight on his face TONY BLAIR AND CHERIE BOOTH Pictured in chambers in 1983, the rising young legal stars have the world at their feet. At 30, Tony Blairs exuberant grin displays all the enthusiasm of youth, while a round-faced Cherie, 28 hair distinctly unstyled has yet to pick up her later expensive polish. The couple, by then married three years, had met as pupils trainee barristers in the same London legal chambers. I found her immensely physically attractive and I wanted her as a friend as well, Blair said later. When this photo was taken, they were already on the march to power. That year, 1983, Tony became Labour MP for Sedgefield, while Cherie, after losing the no-hope seat of Thanet in Kent, threw herself into the legal career that would see her become a QC. Today, the former PM, now 63, is greyer and his famous grin rather more frozen a haunted man, torn apart by the Chilcot Inquiry over the invasion of Iraq, and despised by many in his own party. While Cherie defender of despots through her work at her legal practice is likewise weathered, not to mention thicker of waist. Pictured in chambers in 1983, at 30, Tony Blairs exuberant grin displays all the enthusiasm of youth, while a round-faced Cherie, 28 has yet to pick up her later expensive polish Today, the former PM, now 63, is greyer and his famous grin rather more frozen while Cherie defender of despots through her legal work is likewise weathered and thicker of waist HILLARY AND BILL CLINTON Both shaggy-haired, its a rather hippy Hill and Bill pictured at Yale Law School, where they met in 1970 in their early 20s. Back then, Hillary wrote in her autobiography, Bill looked more like a Viking than a Rhodes Scholar . . . He was tall and handsome somewhere beneath that reddish-brown beard and curly mane of hair. They first met in the library. After exchanging lingering looks, forthright Hillary walked over and said: If youre going to keep looking at me, and Im going to keep looking back, we might as well be introduced. Im Hillary Rodham. The couple married in 1975. The following year Bill was elected attorney general of Arkansas, and in 1978 he won the state governorship. But the pressures of power battles with Congress, strife within his own party, sexual harrassment lawsuits and being impeached after lying about sexual relations with that woman (Monica Lewinsky) have taken their toll. Today, white-haired Bill, 69, cuts a much frailer figure, his forehead etched with deep lines, while Hillary if not as haggard as her husband cannot disguise her weariness as she campaigns to be president at 68. Both shaggy-haired, its a rather hippy Hill and Bill pictured at Yale Law School, where they met in 1970 in their early 20s Today, white-haired Bill, 69, cuts a much frailer figure, his forehead etched with deep lines, while Hillary if not as haggard as her husband cannot disguise her weariness at 68 BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA In this Christmas photo taken after their marriage in 1992, but before the arrival of their eldest daughter Malia six years later, Baracks wedding ring is clearly visible, though Michelles is nowhere to be seen. Hes typically relaxed in a pullover and short-sleeved shirt, while she is the spit of her teenage daughters now. Today, the First Lady can still show off those famously toned upper arms. But the President, in particular, is much more grizzled compared to his arrival in the White House eight years ago. Battle-scarred from fighting for healthcare reform so-called Obamacare and failure to exorcise Americas race demons, its easy to see why he attributes it to the pressures of the job. When I came into office, I had no grey hair and now I have a lot, hes said. I dont dye my hair and a lot of my fellow leaders do. I wont say who. But their barbers know. In this Christmas photo taken after their marriage in 1992, Barack is typically relaxed in a pullover and short-sleeved shirt, while Michelle is the spit of her teenage daughters now Today, the First Lady can still show off those famously toned upper arms. But the President, in particular, is much more grizzled compared to his arrival in the White House eight years ago ANGELA MERKEL AND JOACHIM SAUER In 1989, the year the Berlin Wall fell, a slim, shy-smiling Angela Merkel and her future husband Joachim Sauer were chemistry research scientists, pictured at a Polish summer school. They certainly dress to type in asexual, interchangeable jumpers and trousers but the 35-year-old Angelas bashful grin belies her steely ambition. That same year, she entered politics, serving as a spokeswoman for the first democratically elected East German government. It is a different story today. Chancellor Merkel, 62, has ditched the cable knits, while her husband now 67 and a chemistry professor is immaculate in a suit. Struggling to keep hold of the reins in a post-Brexit Europe, not to mention a migrant crisis at home, she has grown rather stouter. He is silver-haired but what truly underscores the passage of time is their guarded looks, trained by years of public scrutiny. In 1989, the year the Berlin Wall fell, a slim, shy-smiling Angela Merkel and her future husband Joachim Sauer were chemistry research scientists, pictured at a Polish summer school This is the emotional moment a woman who was kidnapped and sold by human traffickers when she was four years old is reunited with her brother 34 years later. Yin Xiaohui was taken just before her fifth birthday outside of her home in Tongchuan township, China's Sichuan province. The pair's mother went missing some 30 years ago after vowing to search for her daughter, reports Huanqiu, an affiliation with the People's Daily Online. Together again: Yin Xiaohui was reunited with her brother this week after 34 years apart The pair (middle and right) hold hands following their reunion after Xiaohui was kidnapped and sold 34 years ago Yin was kidnapped and sold when she was just four years old. She was sold to a couple in Nanyang, central China's Henan province where she lived a happy life with her foster parents. After reading numerous stories of people finding their long lost parents, she decided to try and search for her biological family. Meanwhile her disappearance left her biological parents distraught. Her mother vowed to find her daughter, searching throughout the province but disappeared some four years later. Living another life: Xiaohui was sold to a family and says she had a good life with them The pair were reunited by Baobei Huijia (Baby come home) which helps reunite families The girl's biological brother Yin Bo who had to bury their father some years later says even after 30 years he believes his mother may still be alive. The brother and sister have now vowed to try and find her. The reunion wouldn't have been possible without volunteers from Baobei Huijia (Baby Come Home), a non-governmental organisation responsible for helping to reunite thousands of families. She got in contact with them and they managed to put her in contact with her brother. This week Xiaohui was reunited with her brother for a tearful reunion in her hometown where her brother still lives. The pair are now determined to find their mother. With her elegant posture, gentle smile and flawless skin, Zhong Xingyue has the looks of a rising young actress. However, the 23-year-old may surprise you with her occupation. Hailing from the city of Tianjin, China, she is one of the few female members of the local SWAT team protecting residents from violent crimes. The policewoman has stunned millions of Chinese online users with her super-toned body after being crowned 'Miss Perfect Abs' in a recent competition. Meet China's 'Miss Perfect Abs': Zhong Xingyue has won the 'six-pack competition' in China Tough woman: The 23-year-old is a member of the SWAT team in Tianjin city, eastern China On July 15, Zhong was announced as the winner of the so-called 'six-pack showing off competition', a social media-based contest aiming to find the most physically attractive police officers in Tianjin. The event was held by the Youth Committee of Tianjin Public Security Bureau between July 10 and 14 through its account on WeChat, a Chinese social media platform, reported Huanqiu.com, an affiliation to People's Daily Online. A total 31 young officers from different branches of the bureau were chosen to competed in the contest. Pictures of their fit torsos and firm abs were uploaded by the organiser for social media users to vote for. Apparently, the winner must have a 'perfect, muscular midriff', according to the organiser's post. He or she must also be 'tall, good-looking and positive'. As the only female candidate in the contest, Zhong snapped the title with 8,798 votes. Dancing dream: Zhong owes her elegance to years of dance training before she turned 17 Super toned: She was a trained ballerina at Anhui Arts School before joining the police force Zhong owes her elegant physique and graceful temperament to years of dance training. Born in 1993, she was a trained ballerina at Anhui Arts School in eastern China before joining the police force, according to a report on gmw.cn. She was recruited into the Beijing Special Armed Force College at the age of 17 to be trained as a member of the SWAT team called Falcon, which is China's special unit of female officers. Four years later, she was assigned to the Tianjin Public Bureau to be a member of the Gold Eagle SWAT team. Contestants and the winner: Zhong poses with four candidates who attended the 'six-pack showing off competition' Perfect body: The contest aimed to find the most physically attractive police officers in Tianjin After winning the competition, Zhong's pictures have sparked discussion on Chinese internet. Some praised the beauty of the policewoman, such as one user of 163.com, who wrote: 'A hero has turned into an idol. This is true positive energy.' Some people, however, questioned the necessity of holding such competition among police force. One user wrote onSina: 'Their priority is to protect people.' China established its first female SWAT team in 1985 in Sichuan Province. Today the country's main SWAT team Falcon is based in Beijing. A baby in China narrowly avoided death after his brother fed him a padlock. The 60-day-old baby from Longyan, south-west China's Fujian province, was given the padlock by his two-year-old brother on July 25, reports the People's Daily Online. It was only when another sibling of the two asked to see the padlock that the true whereabouts of the abject was revealed. Not nice! Doctors examined the child and discovered the lock was inside the baby's body Upon hearing that her baby has swallowed a padlock, the mother quickly checked the baby's mouth and could not see the safety lock. Although the child did not show any symptoms, the mother took the baby to hospital for examination. Doctors examined the child and discovered the lock was inside the baby's body. The child was kept at the local hospital for three days however the stubborn lock stayed inside the baby's abdomen. Desperate for the worrying ordeal to end, the parents took the child to Fuzhou Children's Hospital for treatment. A long time to wait: On July 30, five days later, the baby finally passed the lock Doctor Chen Huiping treated the child: 'X-rays showed that the lock measured 1.5cm by 0.9cm with a lock the size of a fingernail.' When Doctor Chen Huiping saw the baby, she was taken aback at the fact that he was so young. After a series of checks the doctor decided to discharge the baby and allow nature take its course. The baby was given rice cereal and peanut oil to help the digestive process take its place and also lubricate the intestines. On July 30, five days later, the baby finally passed the lock. But she told the police that she had not hit the victim on purpose Driver, Sun Juan, admitted to having an affair with Huo's husband fell into a coma afterwards and had to have her uterus removed An expectant mother from China has lost her unborn twins after she was hit by a car driven by her husband's mistress. The victim was knocked down by the mistress as she was trying to fetch her handbag through the window of her Porsche on July 18, reported People's Daily Online. The mistress who has been arrested by the police insisted she had not hit the victim on purpose. Shocking: A woman had lost her unborn twins after her husband's mistress hit her with a car The victim, named as Huo Jun, bumped into Sun Juan outside a hotel in Linyi, China's Shandong Province. According to the report, the security guard of the hotel heard a loud bang coming from the car park at around 8:40pm. The security guard, surnamed Zhao, ran towards the car park and saw Huo lying next to her car in agony. He said he saw another woman coming out of her KIA and suspected she was the one who had hit the victim. Hotel staff immediately called the ambulance. Paramedics arrived 10 minutes later and were not able to save the babies. The Chinese media have not revealed how pregnant the victim was. Police said the victim fell into a coma after being hit. She had sustained other serious injuries, including bone fractures on the pelvis and left legs and bruised livers. Huo's uterus had to be removed as a result of the incident. The horrific incident took place on July 18 in the car park of a hotel in Linyi, eastern China Traffic police arrived at the scene at around 9pm and detained Sun Juan. During police investigation, Sun confessed that she was having an affair with Huo's husband, named Xu Ya. Sun told the police that she had been messaging Xu Ya on the day of the incident to arrange a dinner date. She said she drove past the hotel and saw the white Porsche. Recognising the car belonged to Xu, Sun followed the vehicle to the hotel. However, Sun was surprised to find that it wasn't Xu but his wife who was using the car. Sun insisted to the police that she had not hit Huo deliberately. She added that she and Xu were 'devoted to each other' and 'could not live without each other'. Xu Ya, the husband, told local media that he and Sun had become lovers last October after getting to know each other through social media. Xu said he did not have feelings for Sun any more and had wanted to terminate the relationship for a while. He also said the two women knew what each other looked like because they had seen each other's pictures on his mobile phone. Huo has woken up from the coma. Sun was arrested by the police on August 2 on suspicion of intentional injury. Beyond the safety of Earth, robots are paving the way for human exploration of the solar system, reaching out to sniff atmospheres and taste alien soils. For many of these, the target in their sights is Mars, leading the way for a manned mission to the planet. Now planetary scientists are looking to one of these robotic explorers to help them unlock the secrets hidden in Mars' rocky interior - by listening to how it 'rings' when it is hit by meteorites or its interior rumbles. They hope the research could reveal more about how the rocky planets in our solar system formed, and reveal whether life is hiding beneath the surface. Scroll down for video Scientist believe that gaining new insight into the processes which led Mars to where it is today will help us to better understand the earliest beginnings of the solar system and how the rocky planets, including our own, formed INSIGHT MISSION Nasa's InSight mission was due to launch earlier this year but was delayed after a leak was detected. Once launched in 2018, it will join a fleet of robotic explorers combing the Martian surface and atmosphere. It will deliver two critical instruments to Mars: The Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) will drill into the rock and measure seismic resonance. The Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) will make precise measurements of the planet's rotation and heat loss. The purpose of Insight is to listen for tremors on Mars. If tremors are recorded, that would offer more insight into the inner structure. Scientists hope it will reveal how the planets in the solar system form, and whether alien life exists beneath Mars' surface. Advertisement Each time an asteroid or meteor smashes into the surface of the red planet, it sends vibrations echoing through it like a huge celestial bell in the solar system. Any residual tectonic activity under the surface has the same seismic effects - called Marsquakes. Scientists hope that my listening out for these signals they will be able to unpick the structures and rocks that formed billions of years ago and now lie hidden beneath the surface. Shedding light on the processes which caused Mars to evolve into its current state will give new clues about the earliest beginnings of the solar system and how the rocky planets, including our own, formed. At the heart of this interplanetary investigation lies a trick used by oil and gas prospectors here on Earth to search for black gold locked up in the crust. By detonating charges at depth, they can measure how seismic waves from the explosion interact with the surrounding rock, mapping the subterranean structure to reveal where pockets of fossil fuel may be hiding. Experts believe this same principle can be applied on Mars. 'In this case, we'll be using Marsquakes, or meteorite impacts, and those ring Mars like a bell,' explained Jim Crocker, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Space Systems, and one of those hoping to find out how Mars has become the planet it is today. Built by Lockheed Martin for Nasa, the InSight mission forms part of efforts to glean data about the planet's rich geological past by drilling into the rocks below . Studying the rocks and rate of heat loss on Mars will provide a more accurate date on when this occurred The robots tend to go and map the way, and find the interesting places for humans to go Jim Crocker, Lockheed Martin Space Systems In 2018, a robotic probe built by Lockheed Martin for Nasa, the Mars InSight mission, will set off for red planet. It forms part of wider efforts to glean information about the planet's rich geological past. The stationary lander had been planned to launch in March, but was delayed after a leak was detected. Once launched, it will join the growing number of rovers scurrying about on the rust-red soil, as well as satellites soaring thousands of miles above. Lockheed Martin has been involved in exploratory missions to all of the planets in the solar system building launch vehicles, satellites, landers and orbiters which have been flung out into space including the Juno orbiter which reached Jupiter earlier this month. The InSight lander (pictured) was planned for launch in March this year but was delayed after a leak was detected. Once launched in 2018, it will join a fleet of robotic explorers combing the Martian surface and atmosphere The 2018 mission will see it deliver two key instruments aboard InSight built by European space agencies. The first will measure how heat is lost from the planet while the second will trace how seismic waves spread through its rocky interior. 'Using these instruments, we'll be able to get an idea of what the interior of Mars looks like,' Mr Crocker told MailOnline. Evidence suggests the cold desert planet was once much more welcoming, with large bodies of liquid water and an atmosphere of its own. Similar to Earth, scientists believe it had a churning core of molten iron, which would have generated a protective magnetic field. Under the surface, this churning threw up volcanoes, including the gargantuan Olympus Mons. But at some point in the planet's past the core cooled and solidified, weakening the protective field and leading to the planet's atmosphere being stripped away by solar winds. Evidence suggests the red planet was once much more active. Remnants of this activity are visible today in the planet's dormant volcanoes, including the gargantuan Olympus Mons (pictured) Studying the rocks and rate of heat loss on Mars today will provide a more accurate date on when this occurred, while other tools will be looking at the rate at which the atmosphere has been escaping. 'We have another spacecraft around Mars now called Maven,' added Mr Crocker. 'That's dipping in and out of the atmosphere of Mars and sampling the upper atmosphere.' 'With InSight looking at heat escape from the interior, and Maven working with the upper atmosphere, scientists are going to have a really good model and understanding of what Mars may have looked like in the past.' Satellite and rover data from the initial waves of robotic scouts have thrown up some interesting findings, hinting at a once dense atmosphere with oceans of water. Mr Croker said: 'Any place on Earth we find liquid water we find life, so it's very exciting to understand the possibility that life could possibly have started on Mars before it lost its atmosphere, and perhaps even in the deeper surfaces, where water is still liquid because of the heat of the planet, perhaps there's bacterial life.' While InSight looks at heat escape and maps the rocky interior, the Maven orbiter (pictured) is busy above Mars, dipping in and out of the atmosphere. In combination, all of this technology will mean scientists have a better model for understanding what Mars looked like in the past A number of other intrepid robotic explorers are set to crash the party on Mars. Earlier this year European Space Agency launched its Trace Gas Orbiter mission, which will taste the Martian atmosphere for traces of methane. I think we're seeing the stars align for a human journey to Mars and certainly in the next couple of decades This organic molecule would be the chemical 'smoking gun' for activity on Mars, of geological origin, or for the more optimistic, microbial life. Nasa will send yet another Lockheed probe in the form of its Mars 2020 rover, which will join its robotic predecessors combing the surface of the red planet. 'There's a lot of companies in the market space it seems like everybody's building a rocket and going somewhere,' Mr Crocker told MailOnline. As the technology improves, he believes future exploratory missions will likely see many more robo-explorers cast out into the solar system and beyond. Nasa will send yet another Lockheed probe in the form if its Mars 2020 rover (illustrated), which will join its robotic predecessors combing the surface of the red planet 'The robots tend to go and map the way, and find the interesting places for humans to go,' explained Mr Crocker. 'But I also think we'll see a closer integration of humans and robotics as we move forward.' 'I think a lot of initial exploration, particularly in the outer planets because of the distances involved, will be done by robots. But I think Mars is the obvious next destination for humans. 'The political will of the world to go to Mars is starting to line up, and I'm very excited about that. Scientists in China are set to launch the worlds first quantum satellite, which could one day make for an ultra-secure global communications network. The 1,300 pound craft contains a crystal that produces pairs of entangled photons, which will be fired to ground stations in China and Austria to form a secret key. Entangled photons theoretically maintain their link across any distance, and according to the scientists, any attempts to breach this type of communication would be easily detectable. Scroll down for video Scientists in China are set to launch the worlds first quantum satellite.' The 1,300 pound craft contains a crystal that produces pairs of entangled photons, which will be fired to ground stations in China and Austria to form a secret key QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT In quantum physics, entangled particles remain connected so that actions performed by one affects the behaviour of the other, even if they are separated by huge distances. This means if you measure, 'up' for the spin of one photon from an entangled pair, the spin of the other, measured an instant later, will be 'down' - even if the two are on opposite sides of the world. Entanglement takes place when a part of particles interact physically. For instance, a laser beam fired through a certain type of crystal can cause individual light particles to be split into pairs of entangled photons. The theory that so riled Einstein is also referred to as 'spooky action at a distance'. Einstein wasn't happy with theory, because it suggested that information could travel faster than light. Advertisement The satellite is set to launch from Jiuquan Satellite launch Center later this month, and if initial experiments in this two-year mission prove successful, it could soon be followed by a fleet of others, according to Nature. The researchers are working to prove that particles can remain entangled across great distances in this case, nearly 750 miles. Earlier efforts to demonstrate quantum communication have shown this can be up to just over 180 miles, and scientists now hoping that transmitting the photons through space will push this even farther. When travelling through air and optical fibres, protons get scattered or absorbed, Nature explains, posing challenges to the preservation of the fragile quantum state. But, photons can travel more smoothly through space. Achieving quantum communication at such distances would enable the creation of secure worldwide communications networks, allowing two parties to communicate using a shared encryption key. In quantum physics, entangled particles remain connected so that actions performed by one affects the behaviour of the other, even if they are separated by huge distances. So, if someone were to attempt to listen in on one end, the disruption would be detectable on the other. Over the course of the two-year mission, the researchers in China will conduct a Bell test to prove the existence of entanglement at such a great distance. And, they will attempt to teleport quantum states, according to Nature, meaning the quantum state of the photo will be rebuilt in a new location. Researchers from Canada, Japan, Italy, and Singapore have also revealed plans to conduct quantum experiments in space, including one proposed aboard the International Space Station. In quantum physics, entangled particles remain connected so that actions performed by one affects the behaviour of the other, even if they are separated by huge distances. This is illustrated in the artist's impression above This experiment would attempt to create a reliable and efficient means for teleportation. By achieving quantum teleportation, the researchers say they could create a telescope with an enormous resolution. You could not just see planets, Paul Kwiat, a physicist at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign involved with the Nasa project, but in principle read licence plates on Jupiters moons. In its first task, the Chinese craft will fire the photon pairs to stations in Beijing and Vienna, to generate the encryption key. But as the work continues, it may soon be joined by others. If the first satellite goes well, China will definitely launch more, Chaoyang Lu, a physicist at the -University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, told Nature. Full-time virtual charter school students in Ohio perform worse academically than their peers enrolled in traditional district schools, according to a study released Tuesday . Furthermore, virtual charter schools are dragging down the overall performance of Ohios charter sector, the study saysbrick-and-mortar charter school students perform slightly better or slightly worse than their district school peers, depending on the subject. Those are among several findings in a wide-ranging study that analyzed enrollment trends, demographics and academic achievement in Ohios virtual charter schools. It was conducted by June Ahn, an associate professor at New York Universitys Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, and commissioned by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a think tank that supports school choice. The study relies on data from the Ohio Department of Education and controls for demographics and prior student achievement. This is the most recent in a string of studies and reports that have targeted virtual charter schools and produced less-than-flattering findings. Arguably the most major among them was a national report released in October from Stanford Universitys Center for Research on Education Outcomes, or CREDO, that found that full-time, online-only charter schools have an overwhelmingly negative impact on student academic achievement . With over 35,000 students, Ohio has one of the largest populations of full-time virtual charter school students in the country. Although that enrollment only accounts for about 2 percent of all public school students in Ohio, they are the fastest growing group, increasing by 60 percent over the last four years. Brick-and-mortar charter schools, by comparison, have only grown by 7 percent in that same period and district schools have shrunk by 5 percent. What Kind of Students Enroll in Online Charter Schools? Thats one of the primary questions the study sought to answerat least for Ohio. It found that students in virtual charter schools, also called e-schools in Ohio, are more low-achieving academically than their peers in district schools. They are also more likely to participate in the federal free- and reduced-price lunch program (a common, albeit imperfect, measure of poverty), more likely to have repeated a grade, and less likely to participate in gifted education. Finally, e-schools also have a higher percentage of students in special education17 percent compared to 13 percent in district schools. These differences are not particularly surprising if we consider that students who choose fully online schools may already be failing out of the brick-and-mortar system, or (especially in the case of special education students) students for whom a traditional classroom and school just isnt a good fit, writes Ahn, the studys author. But a completely online schoolwhich requires a lot of student motivation and parental supportmay not be a suitable learning environment for some of these students, the study says. The report floats the idea of changing state law to allow full-time virtual charter schools to use selective admission policies in order to ensure that students admitted into e-schools are capable of succeeding in those settings. In terms of racial and ethnic makeup, virtual charters were fairly similar to district schools, but enrolled smaller percentages of racial minority students compared to brick-and-mortar charters. (Eighty percent of e-school students are white compared to 76 percent in district schools and 24 percent in brick-and-mortar charters.) Traditional charters also enroll more low-performing students, students in poverty, and students who are learning English. Although online charter schools are sometimes touted as a way for studentsespecially those in rural areasto take courses they may not otherwise have access to, the study found most of virtual charter school students live in Ohios urban areas, where they also have ample access to brick-and-mortar charters. Hardly any students take Advanced Placement courses online, and students in online math classes are more likely to take remedial math compared to students who take classes with a teacher face-to-face. The Walton Family Foundation, one of the leading philanthropic backers of the charter sector nationally, helped fund the research. (The Walton Family Foundation provides grant support for Education Weeks coverage of school choice and parent-empowerment issues.) Related stories: Releasing more energy in one second than the sun will in its entire ten-billion-year-lifetime, gamma ray bursts are some of the universes most powerful phenomena. The energy is released in a focused jet of electromagnetic waves, meaning they can travel billions of light years and still look bright to us on Earth. While all the bursts we see come from distant galaxies, there is a slight chance the same thing could happen much closer to home and if it does, life on Earth will be wiped out without warning. Scroll down for video A gamma ray burst is the equivalent of taking all the stars within a hundred million light years and focusing it into one kind of energetic 'laser beam' GAMMA RAY BURSTS Gamma ray bursts (GRBs), energetic jets of gamma rays that come from black holes, can be created in two different ways resulting in long or short GRBs. They are created from some of the most violent deaths in the universe. Long GRBs last about a minute, and scientist think they are produced by supernova: when the core of a massive star collapses to become a black hole. Short GRBs last a second and are produced when two neutron stars merge. Advertisement Our planets magnetic field and ozone protect us from most of the dangerous space radiation, but if we were zapped with anything much more energetic, or from something closer, we would not be likely to survive. The latest episode of YouTube channel Kurzgesagt - German for ' in a nutshell' - explains what would happen if a gamma ray burst occurred in our galaxy, and what the chances of this happening actually are. Gamma ray bursts (GRBs), energetic jets of gamma rays that come from black holes, can be created in two different ways resulting in long or short GRBs. They are created from some of the most violent deaths in the universe. Long GRBs last about a minute, and scientist think they are produced by supernova: when the core of a massive star collapses to become a black hole, the video says. Short GRBs last a second, and are produced when two neutron stars in a binary merge. Over millions of years, their orbits decay by emmiting gravitational waves. Once they are close enough to touch, they crash and splash into each other, forming a black hole. HOW GAMMA RAYS COULD KILL US On Earth we are shielded from most gamma rays in space by our ozone. But gamma-ray bursts, on the other hand, are much more powerful. A gamma ray burst is the equivalent of taking all the stars within a hundred million light years and focussing it into one kind of energetic 'laser beam'. But even a more distant GRB could still end life on Earth and it wouldn't need to score a head-shot to kill us. If originating from a few thousand light years away, it would be a hundred light years wide by the time it reaches us, washing over the solar system like a tidal wave. Our ozone would not be strong enough to protect us in this case. Because gamma rays travel at the speed of light, we would have no warning of the attack until it hit us. By that point it would be too late, and most complex life on Earth would be dead. Advertisement Gamma rays are a much more energetic form of light than the light we can see. A single gamma ray photon is more energetic than 1 million visible light photons combined, and is capable of disrupting our DNA. On Earth we are shielded from most gamma rays in space by our ozone. But gamma-ray bursts, on the other hand, are much more powerful. A gamma ray burst is the equivalent of taking all the stars within a hundred million light years and focussing it into one kind of energetic 'laser beam'. But even a more distant GRB could still end life on Earth and it wouldn't need to score a head-shot to kill us the video says. Ozone is a gas composed of three oxygen molecules which can be hazardous to our health on the ground, but in the upper atmosphere it protects us by soaking up ultraviolet radiation from the sun If originating from a few thousand light years away, it would be a hundred light years wide by the time it reaches us, washing over the solar system like a tidal wave. Our ozone would not be strong enough to protect us in this case. Again, the ozone layer protects us, but it's better equipped to handle the trickle of ultraviolet from the sun. A gamma ray burst would overwhelm it, leaving us exposed to deadly solar radiation, the video says. Ozone takes years to replenish itself by natural processes, which is more than enough time for the sun to burn the Earth sterile. Because gamma rays travel at the speed of light, we would have no warning of the attack until it hit us. By that point it would be too late, and most complex life on Earth would be dead. A GRB has been suggested as one possible cause of the Ordovician extinction 450 million years ago that eradicated almost 85 per cent of all marine species, the video says. Although it's pretty much impossible to prove. But the chances of this happening are tiny. In a galaxy like ours, a gamma ray burst will happen once every million years, and it would need to be pointing in the right general direction to hit us. 'So, are they going to kill us?' the video says. 'Probably not.' FIVE GREAT EXTINCTION EVENTS A GRB has been suggested as one possible cause of the Ordovician extinction 450 million years ago that eradicated almost 85 per cent of all marine species,. Five times, a vast majority of the world's life has been snuffed out in what have been called mass extinctions, often associated with giant meteor strikes. End-Ordovician mass extinction The first of the traditional big five extinction events, around 440 million years ago, was probably the second most severe. Virtually all life was in the sea at the time and around 85% of these species vanished. Late Devonian mass extinction About 375-359 million years ago, major environmental changes caused a drawn-out extinction event that wiped out major fish groups and stopped new coral reefs forming for 100 million years. End-Permian mass extinction (the Great Dying) The largest extinction event and the one that affected the Earth's ecology most profoundly took place 252 million years ago. As much as 97% of species that leave a fossil record disappeared forever. End-Triassic mass extinction Dinosaurs first appeared in the Early Triassic, but large amphibians and mammal-like reptiles were the dominant land animals. The rapid mass extinction that occurred 201 million years ago changed that. End-Cretaceous mass extinction An asteroid slammed down on Earth 65 million years ago, and is often blamed for ending the reign of the dinosaurs. Advertisement China's troubled but beloved Jade Rabbit lunar rover has bid humanity goodbye. The device, designed for a lifespan of a mere three months, surveyed the moon's surface for 31 months, the official Xinhua new service said, overcoming numerous technical problems and design flaws to become a national icon. But the machine has now stopped operations, Xinhua cited the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense said today. China's Jade Rabbit lunar rover has spent 31 months surveying the moon's surface. The device, designed for a lifespan of a mere three months, surveyed the moon's surface for 31 months, overcoming numerous technical problems and design flaws to become a national icon GOODBYE FROM JADE RABBIT An official media account carried a post written as a first-person message from the plucky rover to its fans on Sunday saying: 'This time it really is goodnight. 'There are still many questions I would like answers too, but I'm the rabbit that has seen the most stars!' it added. 'The moon says it has prepared a long, long dream for me.' The post also contained a link to 'Universal Traveler', a song by French electronica band Air. It has received nearly 100,000 shares, likes and comments, with one poster promising it 'countless carrot pies' according to Xinhua. Advertisement The rover was part of the Chang'e-3 lunar mission. The Chang'e-3 rocket carrying the Jade Rabbit rover blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province on December 2, 2013. Millions of internet users took part in an online contest to select its name, which comes from the pet of a moon goddess in Chinese mythology. The rover first gained fame when it stopped sending signals just months after landing on the moon, only to recover after two weeks. An official media account carried a post written as a first-person message from the plucky rover to its fans on Sunday saying: 'This time it really is goodnight. 'There are still many questions I would like answers too, but I'm the rabbit that has seen the most stars!' it added. 'The moon says it has prepared a long, long dream for me.' In an apparent move towards increased data sharing, a full set of images from Chinese lunar lander and rover Chang'e 3 and Yutu or 'Jade Rabbit' (pictured) were made publicly available this year, providing some of the most detailed images of the lunar surface The Chang'e-3 rocket carrying the Jade Rabbit rover blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province on December 2, 2013 LUNAR RABBIT'S BRUSH WITH DEATH Its mission began its adventure on December 2013, sending back photographs of the lunar surface and gaining huge popularity with Internet users along the way. Not long after landing its legend grew after a 'mechanical control abnormality' forced it offline, prompting anxiety from its many supporters. The rover later turned dormant and stopped sending signals during the lunar night, which lasts for two weeks and sees temperatures plummet. But it made a dramatic recovery, to the delight of its admirers. Advertisement The post also contained a link to 'Universal Traveler', a song by French electronica band Air. It has received nearly 100,000 shares, likes and comments, with one poster promising it 'countless carrot pies' according to Xinhua. Another said: 'I don't know why I am so heartbroken. It's just a machine after all.' Its mission began its adventure on December 2013, sending back photographs of the lunar surface and gaining huge popularity with Internet users along the way. Not long after landing its legend grew after a 'mechanical control abnormality' forced it offline, prompting anxiety from its many supporters. The rover later turned dormant and stopped sending signals during the lunar night, which lasts for two weeks and sees temperatures plummet. By 2018 the country aims to land its Chang'e-4 probe - named for the moon goddess in Chinese mythology - on the dark side of the moon But it made a dramatic recovery, to the delight of its admirers. The Chang'e-3 probe's landing was the third such soft-landing in history, and the first of its kind since a Soviet mission nearly four decades ago. It has been a source of national pride. China sees the space programme as a symbol of its rising global stature and technological advancement, as well as of the Communist Party's success in reversing the fortunes of the once-impoverished nation. By 2018 the country aims to land its Chang'e-4 probe - named for the moon goddess in Chinese mythology - on the dark side of the moon. China will also attempt to land an unmanned spaceship on the moon next year that would return to Earth with samples. Only the US and Russia have previously carried out such a maneuver successfully. Quinoa, dubbed the 'food of hipsters', may have been key to one of the most important steps in human history. Researchers believe that a close relative of the nutty cereal-like plant helped us to make the switch from foraging to growing crops. A study of sites in the US dating back 5,000 years ago revealed the plant, called pitseed goosefoot, was one of the first crops to have been cultivated in the region. Researchers believe that a close relative of the nutty cereal-like plant quinoa (pictured) may have helped populations in North America make the switch from foraging to growing crops The switch from hunting and gathering to agriculture is seen as one of the most important steps in human history, but what caused the switch has been unclear. But a new study suggests that as human populations grew, the wild crops they foraged were unable to sustain them. Using radiocarbon dating at sites in Illinois, researchers at the University of Utah found evidence that the population grew rapidly between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago, before a widespread domestication event. Prior to this, populations are believed to have foraged fruit, seeds and grains from wild plants around them. But an increase in population likely placed more pressure on these food resources, with more people foraging for the same food. A study found evidence of an increase in population sizes before a domestication event 5,000 years ago. The researchers believe this placed more pressure on wild food resources Prior to this, populations are believed to have foraged fruit, seeds and grains from wild plants around them (illustrated are prehistoric hunter gatherers in North America). But an increase in population likely placed more pressure on these food resources, with more people foraging for the same food QUINOA AND THE ROAD TO FARMING Researchers at the University of Utah say their findings support the idea that the switch from forager to farmer was driven by an imbalance between growing population size and the wild plant resources available to them. In the Eastern US, populations are believed to have foraged fruit, seeds and grains from wild plants around them up to around 5,000 years ago, when a domestication event occurred. In the run up to this, an increase in population likely placed more pressure on these food resources, with more people foraging for the same food. With dwindling natural resources, these early populations had all the motivation needed to closely guard and tend to the plants which would have been the start of cultivation in the region. Analysis at sites in the Eastern US showed that squash, sunflowers, marshelder and pitseed goosefoot a relative of quinoa were among the first crops to be cultivated in the region. Advertisement With dwindling natural resources, these early populations had all the motivation needed to closely guard and tend to the plants which would have been the start of cultivation in the region. Writing in Royal Society Open Science, researchers from the University of Utah explain: 'It is possible that wild foods were not able to sustain high human populations in the Middle and Late Holocene, making domestication an optimal response to low foraging profitability.' Analysis at sites in the Eastern US showed that squash, sunflowers, marshelder and pitseed goosefoot were among the first crops to be cultivated in the region. The roots of farming extend far further back in time than 5,000 years ago. There is evidence to suggest populations in central and South America were growing potatoes, beans and coca as far back as 8,000 BC. While some of the earliest evidence of farming is believed to have been found almost 12,000 years ago, in the Fertile Crescent region in the Middle East. According to the researchers, their latest findings support the idea that the switch from forager to farmer was driven by an imbalance between the growing size of population and the wild plant resources available to them. Analysis of sites in the Eastern US dating back 5,000 years ago revealed the plant, called pitseed goosefoot (pictured), was one of the first crops to have been cultivated, along with squash, sunflowers and marshelder Explaining the significance of the step, anthropologist and lead author of the study, Elic Weitzel, told The Independent: 'The transition to domesticating food allowed human populations to increase drastically around the world and made our modern way of life possible. 'People start living near the fields. Whenever you've got sedentary communities, they start to expand. Villages expand into cities. Advertisement Archaeologists believe they may have discovered the birthplace of the legendary King Arthur at a Cornish palace. The palace in Tintagel is believed to have been built in the sixth century - around the time that the king may have lived. Researchers have uncovered 3ft (1 metre) thick palace walls and more than 150 fragments of ancient pottery and glass which had been imported from around the world. Scroll down for video Archaeologists believe they have discovered the birthplace of King Arthur at a Cornish palace. The palace in Tintagel is believed to have been built in the sixth century - around the time that the king may have lived THE ARTOGNOU STONE Tintangel Castle is popularly thought to be the legendary birthplace of King Arthur based on the discovery of a slate engraved with 'Artognou' which was found at the site in 1998. The Artognou stone, as it has come to be known was connected to the Arthurian legends, with the name Artognou proposed as a variant of Arthur. The stone's dating fits the general timeframe usually given for an 'historical Arthur' but the idea has been disputed by historians. Advertisement Excavations have been taking place at the 13th century Tintagel Castle in Cornwall for five years in a project run by English Heritage. The castle is popularly thought to be the legendary birthplace of King Arthur, in part because of the discovery of a slate engraved with 'Artognou' which was found at the site in 1998. Geoffrey of Monmouth, a medieval historian, also claimed Tintagel was the birthplace of King Arthur in his book 'Historia Regum Britannae' a history of British monarchs that some have called unreliable. This book was almost certainly completed by 1138 at a time when the Tintagel promontory, where the new palace has been discovered, was not inhabited. The medieval castle, that still stands today, was built almost 100 years later. The book suggests King Arthur was conceived after an affair between a king and the wife of a local ruler. Monmouths assertion would likely have had to come from now long-lost earlier legends. But it appears whoever lived at the site enjoyed a life of wealth and finery. More than 150 fragments of pottery and glass that had been imported to the site from exotic locations across the globe showed wealthy people lived there. Geophysical surveys carried out earlier this year found the walls and layers of buried buildings built between the 5th and 7th centuries. New excavations led by Cornwall Archaeological Unit (CAU) are shedding light on how and when the buildings were constructed Researchers believe the 3 feet (one-metre) thick walls being unearthed are from a palace belonging to the rulers of the ancient south-west British kingdom of Dumnonia These include Late-Roman amphorae, fragments of fine glass, and a rim of Phocaean red-slip ware - the first shard of fine tableware ever discovered on the south side of the island. Archaeologists found evidence showing they drank wine from Turkey and olive oil from the Greek Aegean, using cups from France and plates made in North Africa. Geophysical surveys carried out earlier this year found the walls and layers of buildings had been built between the 5th and 7th centuries. The latest excavations led by Cornwall Archaeological Unit (CAU) are shedding light on how and when the buildings were constructed and how they were used. Researchers believe the 3ft (one-metre) thick walls being unearthed are from a palace belonging to the rulers of the ancient south-west British kingdom of Dumnonia. The kingdom was centred in the area we now know as Devon, but included parts of modern Cornwall and Somerset, with its eastern boundary changing over time as the gradual westward expansion of the neighbouring Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex encroached on its territory. More than 150 fragments of pottery and glass which had been imported to the site from exotic locations across the globe showed wealthy people lived there. These include Late-Roman amphorae, fragments of fine glass (left) and a rim of Phocaean red-slip ware (right) Tintagel Castle is a medieval fortification located on the peninsula of Tintagel Island, next to the village of Tintagel in Cornwall 'The discovery of high-status buildings potentially a royal palace complex at Tintagel is transforming our understanding of the site,' said Win Scutt, an English Heritage properties curator covering the West of England. 'It is helping to reveal an intriguing picture of what life was like in a place of such importance in the historically little-known centuries following the collapse of Roman administration in Britain.' This is the first time substantial buildings from the heart of the Dark Ages have been found in Britain. The Dark Ages is an imprecise period of time which describes the centuries following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. This means what the archaeologists have found is of major historical significance irrespective of the potential connection to King Arthur. The facts around the real King Arthur are mired in myth and folklore, but historians believe he ruled Britain from the late 5th and early 6th centuries. WHO WAS KING ARTHUR? An illustration of King Arthur is pictured above The facts around the real King Arthur are mired in myth and folklore, but historians believe he ruled Britain from the late 5th and early 6th centuries. What is known is that during his reign as king he had to defend the land against Saxon invaders. He first appears in historical documents from the early 9th century, but much of what we know of the legendary king comes from the writings of Geoffrey Monmouth, who penned his history of Arthur in the 1100s. Links with the Holy Grail first appear in French accounts of the king, written circa 1180. Many historians agree that while the king was a genuine historical figure in early Britain, he could in fact be a composite of multiple people from an age of poor record keeping. Source: History.co.uk Advertisement 'This is the most significant archaeological project at Tintagel since the 1990s' said English Heritage's Properties Curator for the West, Win Scutt. 'The three week dig this summer is the first step in a five year research programme to answer some key questions about Tintagel' Ryan Smith pictured digging the Post Roman Wall. The royals who lived in the newly-discovered castle enjoyed a life of wealth and finery 'This is the most significant archaeological project at Tintagel since the 1990s' said English Heritage's Properties Curator for the West, Win Scutt. 'The three week dig this summer is the first step in a five year research programme to answer some key questions about Tintagel and Cornwall's past. 'We'll be testing the dig sites to plan more advanced excavations next year, getting a much clearer picture of the footprint of early medieval buildings on the island, and gathering samples for analysis. 'It's when these samples are studied in the laboratory that the fun really starts, and we'll begin to unearth Tintagel's secrets.' TINTAGEL CASTLE: STEEPED IN LEGENDS OF MYTH AND MAGIC Tintagel Castle is a medieval fortification located on the peninsula of Tintagel Island, close to the village of Tintagel in Cornwall, England. The castle has a long association with the Arthurian legends, going back to the 12th century. In the Historia Regum Britanniae, a fictional account of British history written by Geoffrey of Monmouth, Tintagel is described as the place where Arthur was conceived. According to the tale, Arthur's father, King Uther Pendragon, was disguised by Merlin's sorcery to look like Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall and the husband of Ygerna, Arthur's mother. The book was extremely popular and other Arthurian tales were produced in the late medieval period which claimed the king was actually born at Tintagel. Merlin the magician was also said to live below the castle in a cave. In his Idylls of the King, Lord Alfred Tennyson also refers to the links between Tintagel and Arthur. Tintagel castle in Cornwall has a long association with the Arthurian legends, going back to the 12th century. Despite these literary connections, no archaeologist has been able to find proof at the site that King Arthur existed or that the castle was linked to the legendary king Despite these literary connections, no archaeologist has been able to find proof at the site that King Arthur existed or that the castle was linked to the legendary king. The archaeologist C A Ralegh Radford declared in 1935 that: 'No evidence whatsoever has been found to support the legendary connection of the Castle with King Arthur'. Many historians believe King Arthur was a completely mythical character, but others disagree, saying he may be based upon a British leader in the fifth century. In the 13th century, during the later medieval period, a castle was built on the site by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, which later fell into disrepair and ruin. Archaeologists in the 19th Century took interest in the site as it became a tourist attraction, with visitors coming to see the ruins of Richard's castle. Excavations in 1998 unearthed pottery from the 5th and 6th centuries at Tintagel Castle. Today Tintagel Castle is a popular tourist destination managed by English Heritage. Advertisement DID THE LEGENDARY KING ARTHUR REALLY EXIST? Clive Owen portrayed the legendary leader in the 2004 film, King Arthur, but whether he really existed is still a matter of debate among historians Both the Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons) and Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals), state that Arthur was a genuine historical figure, a Romano-British leader who fought against the invading Anglo-Saxons in the late 5th to early 6th century. The 9th Century Historia Brittonum lists 12 battles that King Arthur fought, including the Battle of Mons Badonicus, where he is said to have killed 960 men - but some scholars have dismissed the reliability of this text. Tintangel Castle is popularly thought to be the legendary birthplace of King Arthur based on the discovery of a slate engraved with 'Artognou' which was found at the site in 1998. Silchester was the site of King Arthur's coronation and was able to continuously defend itself against the Saxons. The Roman name for Silchester was Calleba similar to the name given to Arthur's sword, Excalibur. One of Arthur's celebrated battles against the Saxons was fought at Chester or the City of the Legion, as it was known in the Dark Ages. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of battle at nearby Heronbridge, and recent excavations show the amphitheatre was fortified during this period, with a shrine to a Christian martyr at its centre. This fits a description of Arthur's Round Table, which was said to be a very large structure, seating 1,600 of his warriors. During the 1960s, excavations by Philip Rahtz showed someone had inhabited the top of Glastonbury Tor during the so-called Arthurian period. Tim Curry (right) pictured as King Arthur in a scene from the stage musical based on Monty Python and The Holy Grail. According to the legends, this could have been King Meluas, who abducted Queen Guinevere to his castle at Glastonbury, or Arthur's warrior Gwynn ap Nudd, who was banished from his Palace on the Tor. In 1191, monks at Glastonbury Abbey found the body of a gigantic man, wounded several times in the head. The bones of his wife and a tress of her golden hair were also in the oak coffin. Found with the burial was an ancient lead cross, inscribed with 'Here lies buried the famous king Arthur with Guinevere his second wife, in the Isle of Avalon'. In 1962, archaeological evidence was found supporting the story that a tomb within the ancient church had been disturbed centuries previously. The whereabouts of the cross and bones are no longer known. However, Arthur is not mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle or any documents written between 400 and 820 - including Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Advertisement A 'Gallos' sculpture can be found at Tintagel Castle. The 8ft bronze sculpture was inspired by the legend of King Arthur and the castle's royal history Lewis Hamilton may be on track to bring Britain glory in Formula One if he remains in poll position in the driver standings this coming autumn. But engineers are launching a bid to put Britain on the winning podium of an epic 1,800-mile (2,897km) car race powered by the sun. The team has launched a 500,000 ($666,752) sponsorship drive to build a car to take part in next years World Solar Challenge, a race which sees solar-powered vehicles drive from Darwin, northern Australia, to Adelaide on the south coast. Engineers are launching a bid to put Britain on the winning podium of an epic 1,800-mile (2,897km) car race powered by the sun. Their car is top secret, but could like similar to this one - a previous winner of the 'Cruiser Class' from Eindhoven University of Technology CRUISER CLASS RULES The design of the UK's entry to the Cruiser Class of next year's World Solar Challenge may be a secret but it will need to meet some rules. The car must have four wheels. It must be able to hold a driver and a passenger. And its solar array must measure 54 square feet (five square metres) It will loosely resemble a family car. The cruiser race will stretch over six days and focuses on efficiency. Advertisement The Solar Team Great Britain squad, founded by engineer and renewable energy expert Steven Heape, hopes to harness expertise from across the UK to help Britain win the race, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2017. While the speed challenger class features futuristic solar-panelled vehicles that are more like catamarans than cars, the team is entering the more recently introduced cruiser class, with vehicles that more closely resemble a family car. The cruiser race focuses on efficiency, completing the course over six days using the least amount of energy that does not come from the fitted solar panels, with vehicles including room for at least one passenger. It will not be the first time a British car has entered the challenge, but Mr Heape hopes his team, with members from organisations including the University of Bristol, the University of Bath, Airbus, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and QinetiQ, can find a winning formula. The team (pictured, with Steven Heape third left) has launched a 500,000 ($666,752) sponsorship drive to build a car to take part in next years World Solar Challenge Mr Heape, who went as an observer to the biennial event in 2015, also wants to raise awareness of more sustainable transport and the possibilities of careers in engineering. It could make more conventional electric vehicles seem more mainstream to cautious consumers - while the solar technology could become part of a commercially available cars design in the future, he suggested. The World Solar Challenge sees solar-powered vehicles drive from Darwin, northern Australia, to Adelaide on the south coast. Electric cars are still a little bit out of peoples comfort zone, Mr Heape said. Theres still a lot of resistance. Its about stretching perceptions. If you can see a solar car, then maybe electric cars may seem a more safe ground, he said, adding: The concept of a solar car isnt that crazy an idea. Many family cars are used to drive the children to school and then drive to work - a distance of probably less than 10 miles (16km) - before sitting outside in the sunshine or rain, in which the solar panels can still work, before driving home. Solar panels are becoming a more common sight on houses (stock image). Mr Heape predicts cars that are partially solar-powered may become a reality in little over a decade The cruiser class aims to take the idea of a solar vehicle further down the road towards commercialisation. These cars are still very new, still in their infancy, they are effectively very expensive one-offs, he said. A lot of work needs to be done on the technology and costs need to fall, but if that happens it would be more feasible for it to be integrated into commercial cars. Mr Heape said: Theres a lot of refinement to be done, but over a 10-year horizon I dont think its unrealistic. As for the car being designed for the 2017 race, he is tight-lipped about the details, but said the focus would be on areas such as aerodynamics and the quality of the car battery. He has been met with plenty of support, sayaing: Ive not met a person yet whos said, Why are you doing it?, everybody loves the idea of it . Transforming pictures into holograms usually requires a plethora of different materials, lenses and lots of time. But now, a startup run by MIT researchers has made the process much easier with a new kind of 3D hologram that is printed by an inkjet printer. Using an image-processing algorithm, Lumii's technology prints a scanned image into layers on transparent sheets, which are then stacked to create a 3D effect. Scroll down for videos MIT researchers have developed a new kind of 3D hologram that is printed with an inkjet printer. Using an image-processing algorithm, Lummi's technology prints a scanned image into layers on transparent sheets that are then stacked to create a 3D effect HOW DOES IT WORK? The Lumii team is a group of MIT researchers who developed an image processing algorithm, while attending the university. First, an image is scanned using the software, which is then converted into special patterns and broken down into layers. An inkjet printer will then print these two images onto transparent paper that are separated and layered on top of each other in a way that the hologram appears. Advertisement 'The Lumii Light Field Engine accepts 3D models and computes a set of unique patterns,' shares Lumii on the firm's website. 'By printing these patterns and stacking them in front of a backlight, they emit a multi-view light field.' Lumii's process uses a custom made image-processing algorithm that the team developed while still attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, reports Gizmodo. The software is designed to break down a 3D model into multiple layers that can be individually printed - using a standard inkjet printer. The first step of printing a hologram at home is to scan an image into a computer, which is then edited to make one smooth and complete image. This image is transformed into a 3D model, converted into special patterns and finally broken down into two layers that are printed on transparent paper. And once the images are separated, simply stacked them on top of each other, with a clear separated between them, to create a single 3D effect. However, a backlight is needed to see the full effect of these DIY holograms which is why Lumii believes advertisers will be interested in using their technology, as many businesses, airports and subways already display lightbox advertisements. The team also has plans to sell the algorithm to consumer electronic manufactures, which can be integrated into the layers of LCD panels to create the same 3D effect seen in the printed holograms. It is designed to break down a 3D model into multiple layers that can be individually printed - using a standard inkjet printer. The first step of printing a hologram at home is to scan an image into a computer Once the image is scanned into the computer, researcher edit the image using the aglorithm to make it a complete picture 'It provides a new way of engaging customers in a retail situation,' Lumii co-founder Tom Baran told Boston Magazine last year. 'When you take a look at all the flat displays in the world, there's a lot of opportunity to replace them with the technology we have.' Although using an inkjet printer to create holograms is quick and easy, one YouTuber has developed a homemade device that turns a smartphone into a hologram. Using an old CD case and a few pieces of sticky tape, 'MrWhoseTheBoss demonstrating the hack reveals fluorescent jellyfish seemingly hovering in mid-air and a butterfly flapping its wings. First, you need a sheet of graph paper, a pen and a ruler to draw a basic trapezium that will form the blueprints for the device. This image is then transformed into a 3D model, converted into special patterns and finally broken down into two layers that can be printed on transparent paper. Using an inkjet printer, which is probably on your desk right now, print the two layers developed by the software onto the paper However, a backlight is needed to see the full effect of these DIY holograms which is why Lumii believes advertisers will be interested in using their technology, as many businesses, airports and subways already display lightbox advertisements In the video, the dimensions used are 1 cm by 3.5 cm by 6 cm (0.4 by 1.4 by 2.4 inches), but these can be doubled or tripled for a better effect. Next, you will need to find an old plastic CD case and a sharp knife or glass cutter to build the sides of your holographic projector. Using the trapezium drawn on the graph paper as a template, cut the shape out of the plastic. Once you have cut out the first one, you can use it as a guide for the others - until you have four plastic shards of the same shape. And once the images are separated, simply stacked them on top of each other, with a clear separated between them, to create a single 3D effect The team also has plans to sell the algorithm to consumer electronic manufactures, which can be integrated into the layers of LCD panels to create the same 3D effect seen in the printed holograms These shards should fit together to form an upside-down pyramid shape, and you can use glue or tape to keep them in place. To make the device come to life, all you need to do is place it on top of your smartphone while it plays a Youtube video designed specifically for this purpose. When up and running, you should have 360 degree viewing angles of the holographic video, placing a glowing jellyfish or fireworks display on your living room table. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been hailed as the 'most expensive weapon in history.' But despite a price tag of $400 billion for 2,457 planes, the fifth-generation fighter has been plagued with issues. Now, the U.S. Air Force has declared an initial squadron of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35A fighter jets ready for combat, marking a major milestone for a program that has faced cost overruns and delays. Scroll down for video The U.S. Air Force has declared an initial squadron of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35A fighter jets ready for combat, a move experts slammed as a publicity stunt. BATTLE READY? The software on the F-35 is being constantly upgraded. In 2017, its 3F software will be rolled out, which will give the the aircraft its full war-fighting capability, including the ability to launch certain types of weapons such as the Small Diameter Bomb. Other 3F changes, like improved pilot interfaces and displays, will make the plane easier to operate. Advertisement The action is another achievement for the $379 billion program, the Pentagon's largest weapons project. The Air Force's decision follows one by the U.S. Marine Corps in July 2015 declaring a first squadron of F-35s ready for combat. 'The U.S. Air Force decision to make the 15 F-35As ... combat ready sends a simple and powerful message to America's friends and foes alike - the F-35 can do its mission,' the program's chief, Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, said in a statement. Dan Grazier, a fellow of the Project On Government Oversight, said, however, 'This is nothing but a public relations stunt.' He added that it would not be possible to know if the F-35 jets were ready for combat until after initial operational testing. 'The program is not doing everything they wanted it to do ... But they're at a point now where it is stabilizing and so it is progress,' said Todd Harrison, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Officials say the F-35 will give the U.S. military the ability to detect enemy aircraft and other threats far beyond current ranges, allowing the jets to strike targets and disappear long before they are detected. The U.S. Air Force plans to buy a total of 1,763 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing jets in coming years and will operate the largest F-35 fleet in the world. Air Force General Herbert Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said work to upgrade the jet would continue in areas such as software, making the displays more intuitive and boosting the ability to share information between aircraft. The aircraft could provide basic air support at this point but did not have everything the final version would, such as an infrared pointer, Carlisle said, adding that he would try to get the jets deployed to Europe and the Pacific within 18 months. Lockheed is building three models of the F-35 Lightning II for the U.S. military and 10 countries that have already ordered the jets: Britain, Australia, Norway, Italy, Turkey, Denmark, the Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and Japan. The Pentagon's F-35 program office said it remained in negotiations with Lockheed over long-delayed contracts for the next two batches of F-35 jets, deals worth about $15 billion. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been hailed as the 'most expensive weapon in history.' But despite a price tag of $400 billion for 2,457 planes, the fifth-generation fighter has been plagued with issues. Pictured is a F-35B aircraft prepares for a landing at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. Now, a new report says the craft could finally be battle ready later this year. 'We're seeking a fair deal for the F-35 enterprise and industry,' said F-35 program spokesman Joe DellaVedova. The program, launched in 2001, has made strides in recent years after huge cost overruns and technical problems that sent the project's cost up nearly 70 percent. Problems with the fighter jet included issues with the radar software and increased risk of neck injury to lower-weight pilots when they ejected from the aircraft. Last year researchers revealed the hugely delayed and over budget project has finally fired its first shots in the air. The F-35A Lightning II completed the first three airborne gunfire bursts from its internal Gun Airborne Unit (GAU)-22/A 25mm Gatling gun system during a California test flight on October 30th Industry and U.S. defense officials say they are working hard to continue driving down the cost of the new warplanes to $85 million per plane by 2019, as well as the cost of operating them. Senator John McCain, the Republican chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he welcomed the announcement but made clear he intended to keep a close eye on the hugely expensive program. With a price tag of $400 billion for 2,457 planes, the fifth-generation fighter could finally be battle ready later this year, a new report claims. 'The Senate Armed Services Committee will continue to exercise rigorous oversight of the Joint Strike Fighter program's long-delayed System Development and Demonstration phase as well as the start of the operational test and evaluation phase,' McCain said in a statement. To become battle ready, at least a dozen individual F-35 must demonstrate their ability to drop bombs and shoot down other planes. Each jet must be upgraded to a specific software package, and plugged into the complex logistics cloud that manages maintenance. Workers can be seen on the moving line and forward fuselage assembly areas for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Lockheed Martin Corp's factory located in Fort Worth, Texas ALIS: THE 'BRAINS' OF THE F35 The problem is with what the Department of Defense officials call the 'brains' of plane, also known as the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS). It is designed to support operations, mission planning and to spot any maintenance issues with the vehicle. It also allows pilots to plan missions and look back at their their performance. ALIS receives Health Reporting Codes via a radio frequency downlink while the F-35 is still in flight; this enables the pre-positioning of parts and qualified maintainers so that when the aircraft lands, downtime is minimised. Advertisement The F-35 project office had previously set an Aug. 1 target date. The project has been plagued with delays. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's record on cost, schedule and performance has been a scandal and a tragedy, Senator John McCain told senior Pentagon officials earlier this year. McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the aircraft's development schedule has stretched to 15 years, deliveries of the F-35 have been delayed, and costs have skyrocketed. 'It's been a scandal and the cost overruns have been disgraceful,' McCain said. Most recently, problems with its logistics software system grounded the entire fleet. The issue is with what the Department of Defense officials call the 'brains' of plane, also known as the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS). A Government Accountability Office report says a failure 'could take the entire fleet offline' because there is no backup system. The report also says a lack of testing done of the software will mean it's not ready for its deployment by the Air Force in August and the Navy in 2018. The 'brains' of the F35 are one of three major components, with the other two being the engine and airframe. CNN points out that the software runs on ground computers rather than operating on the plane itself. It is designed to support operations, mission planning and to spot any maintenance issues with the vehicle. 'Program officials said that if ALIS is not fully functional, the F-35 could not be operated as frequently as intended,' the report said. 'But a DoD commissioned plan found that schedule slippage and functionality problems with ALIS could lead to $20-100 billion in additional costs.' So far, the software has been so flawed that maintenance crews have had to resort labour-intensive alternatives. According to National Interest, in one instance maintainers had to manually burn data onto CDs and to send the massive files across a civilian WiFi network. One major problem, the report said, is that the F-35 data produced goes through a single main operating unit which has no back up. 'The F-35 is still in development, and this is the time when technical challenges are expected,' Lt. Genernal Chris Bogdon told CNN. 'However, we believe the combined government and industry team will resolve current issues and future discoveries,' he said. Lead defense contractor for the plane, Lockheed Martin, insists development of the logistics software is on schedule. a new report says problems with its logistics software system could ground the entire fleet. The problem is with what the Department of Defense officials call the 'brains' of plane, also known as the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) 'As ALIS development continues, our focus is on the warfighter and delivering the most effective, efficient fleet management system to sustain the F-35 over the next five decades of operations,' said Sharon Parsley, a spokeswoman for Lockheed Martin. 'The recommendations by the GAO are in line with the actions already underway in preparation for full-rate production and worldwide sustainment.' As well as this month's report, a recent Pentagon report has revealed a massive list of potentially lethal bugs still facing the jet. Pictured is the F-35A, which recently completed its first aerial gun test HOW DOES IT COMPARE WITH ITS 1970S PREDECESSOR, THE F-16 JET? F-35 Role: Stealth multirole fighter First flight: December 15, 2006 Unit cost (not including engine): F-35A - $98million F-35B - $104million F-35C - $116million Number built: 115 (as of November 2014) Length: 15.67m Wingspan: 10.7m Height: 4.33m Max speed (F-35A): 1,930kph Armament: One of the most highly-anticipated features of the F-35 armament is the Small Diameter Bomb II (SBD II).The bomb is able to guide towards its target using laser, imaging infrared or radar homing. It can hit moving or stationary targets in any weather, or at night, with unprecedented reliability and accuracy. The 'super weapon' is predicted to be the most versatile air-to-ground munition in the Pentagon's air combat inventory. The cost per SDB II is said to be around $250,000 and the US military plans on buying as many as 17,000 of them. F-16 Role: Multirole fighter First flight: January 20, 1974 Unit cost: F-16A/B - $14.6million F-16C/D - $18.8million Number built: 4,540+ Length: 15.06m Wingspan: 9.96m Height: 4.88m Max speed (F-16C): 2,120kph Combat history: The F-16 has served in the Air Forces of 26 nations, including the U.S., Israel, Egypt, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. During Operation Desert Storm, the 1991 assault on Iraq, F-16s flew over 13,000 operations, more than any other Coalition aircraft. The U.S. has employed the F-16 in operations over the Balkans, Afghanistan and Libya. At its production peak in 1987, the F-16 team in Fort Worth was also making history, by producing 30 F-16s in just 30 days. Thanks to frequent upgrades improving and incorporating new technologies into the cockpit, avionics, sensors and weapons, the aircraft has become more reliable over its 40 years. Advertisement This isn't the only problem to plague the program. Last month, it has emerged the jets complex radar system has a problem - it keeps crashing. The software glitch that interferes with the ability of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter's AN/APG-81 AESA radar working in flight. This poses the greatest threat to delaying US Air Force (USAF) plans to declare its jets operationally deployable, a top service official told Janes. Major General Jeffrey Harrigian, director of the air force's F-35 integration office at the Pentagon, described the problem as 'radar stability - the radar's ability to stay up and running'. 'What would happen is they'd get a signal that says either a radar degrade or a radar fail -something that would force us to restart the radar,' Maj Gen Harrigian said Another Pentagon report revealed a massive list of potentially lethal bugs still facing the jet. It also found problems with the computer software, including 'in fusion, electronic warfare, and weapons employment result[ing] in ambiguous threat displays, limited ability to respond to threats, and a requirement for off-board sources to provide accurate coordinates for precision attack.' Last year researchers revealed the hugely delayed and over budget project has finally fired its first shots in the air. The F-35A Lightning II completed the first three airborne gunfire bursts from its internal Gun Airborne Unit (GAU)-22/A 25mm Gatling gun system during a California test flight on October 30th. The F-35 also has a smart parts system to ensure everything is working within its limits, and can warn when parts need to be replaced. However, the computerized maintenance management System, or CMMS, 'incorrectly authorizes older/inappropriate replacement parts.' the report said. THE EJECTOR SEAT THAT COULD KILL Pilots under 136 pounds aren't allowed to fly any F-35 variant. Pilots under 165 pounds have a 1-in-4 chance of death and 100 percent chance of serious neck injury upon ejecting, according to the testing office. 'The testing showed that the ejection seat rotates backwards after ejection. This results in the pilot's neck becoming extended, as the head moves behind the shoulders in a 'chin up' position. When the parachute inflates and begins to extract the pilot from the seat (with great force), a 'whiplash' action occurs. The rotation of the seat and resulting extension of the neck are greater for lighter weight pilots,' the report states. Sophisticated: Footage from ground testing of the F-35A stealth jet at Edwards Air Force Base in California, shows the awesome firepower of the four-barrel Gatling gun embedded in the left wing Advertisement It also fails to detect if it's been flying too fast and 'randomly prevented user logins' into its computerised control system. In the first live firing test, three bursts of one 30 rounds and two 60 rounds each were fired from the aircraft's four-barrel, 25-millimeter Gatling gun. In integrating the weapon into the stealthy F 35A airframe, the gun must be kept hidden behind closed doors to reduce its radar cross section until the trigger is pulled. 'The successful aerial gun test sortie was a culmination of several years' planning, which intensified in the first half of 2015 at the Edwards F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) Flight Test Squadron with a team of Air Force, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman personnel,' said Mike Glass, Edwards ITF flight test director. 'The results of this testing will be used in future blocks of testing, where the accuracy and mission effectiveness capabilities will be evaluated.' The 25mm gun is embedded in the F-35A's left wing and is designed to be integrated in a way to maintain the F-35's very low observable criteria. It will provide pilots with the ability to engage air-to-ground and air-to-air targets. 'At the end of the program's system development and demonstration phase in 2017, the F-35 will have an operational gun. I, Rebecca Seales, recently slept on top of Zayn Malik, ex-One Direction member adored by millions, and his supermodel girlfriend, Gigi Hadid. Before the gossip magazines, my mother, and Mr Malik's lawyers start a race to the phones, I should probably add that there were five floors of a New York five-star between myself, the doe-eyed former boy-bander, and Ms Hadid, a Victoria's Secret Angel who on an ugly day - looks like she was carved out of the sun. And the venue for this unlikely encounter? The Bowery Hotel, New York. Long-term fans: Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid pictured leaving the Bowery, where the former One Direction singer stayed while recording his solo album, Mind of Mine Don't be fooled: While you might not look twice at the building's factory-like exterior, the hotel within is an opulent work of art Cosy: The Lobby Bar has the wood-panelled charm of an English country manor, with plump velvet furnishings just waiting to be curled up in I didn't know Zayn had taken up residence when I agreed to review the Bowery, but I suspect he gets less bother there. Why? Because the list of past guests reads like an Oscars Party invite list. Jennifer Lopez, Liv Tyler, Kate Hudson, Sting, Rolling Stone Keith Richards, Bruce Willis, Keifer Sutherland, Blake Lively, Jude Law, Robert Pattinson, Jonah Hill, Chris Hemsworth and David Beckham have all walked the halls, while repeat visitor Kristen Stewart confessed she 'feels at home there'. Sometimes, celebrities flock to a restaurant, dress designer, or hotel purely because the gossip columns tell them to, like nervy schoolgirls trooping to the loo in packs. That's not the case here. They come to the Bowery because it's a fantastic hotel. Celeb haunt: The Bowery is a popular venue for fashion events and film premiere after-parties, with Blake Lively (left) and Rihanna among those who've partied there Famous friends: Kick-Ass star Chloe Moretz looked a vision of gothic chic as she left the hotel in May 2016 Second home: Kristen Stewart, pictured in July, is a repeat visitor and says she 'feels at home' at the Bowery Star sightings: Dakota Johnson of 50 Shades fame and Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard (right) have been spotted in the much-photographed doorway Dapper chaps: British icons David Beckham and Sam Smith both chose the Bowery while staying in New York Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy Shevell threw a second wedding reception at the Bowery, to celebrate their nuptials with their US-based friends Named after the street it stands on, you'll find this sanctuary at 335 Bowery, where the trendy East Village borders NoHo. From the outside, it's a lego-stack cluster of red-brick towers, studded with glowing, factory-style windows. Unless you're a 1960s architecture buff, it's unlikely to spark a love affair. Step inside, though, and it's home to 17 storeys of loft-style loveliness, with 135 exquisite guest rooms and suites. The first thing you'll see is the Lobby Bar scene of many a New York Fashion Week party which has the well-aged, elegant opulence of an English country house. It's warm and atmospheric, lavishly draped in tapestries and buttressed by dark wood panelling. Tiles and tapestries: The lavish bar area extends into a leafy conservatory-cum-terrace Rosy glow: The space is almost rose-tinted at certain times of day thanks to warm lighting and red drapes More the merrier: An adjoining room leading off the main Lobby Bar keeps up the feel of a lavish hunting lodge Handsome palm trees stand either side of a carved fireplace, an exotic flash of green against the plush velvet armchairs and Persian rugs. My room itself, a Bowery Queen on the twelfth floor, is filled with light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. And the vistas here deserve them. North-facing rooms will get you a view of the Empire State Building, but with an elevated vantage and a prime East Village location, there are really no bad options at the Bowery. The old ways are the best: Faced with this or a swipe card - Rebecca said she'd choose the tassel every time Grown-up simplicity: The Bowery's rooms are light and elegant, with plenty of personality - the opposite of a bland corporate hotel experience New York chic: My room was a Bowery Queen, the smallest kind available, but was large and luxe enough to make a comfortable base Loft style: The focal points of my room were the huge windows, which offer spectacular views day and night Adorably, my bed is already occupied by a well-dressed bear. Every room here comes with a resident teddy, and the bear named 'Bo' by the hotel's proprietor Sean MacPherson has graced many an It Girl's Instagram feed. The room is comfortably-sized by New York standards, with a hardwood floor, artfully-faded Oushak rug, and green velvet chair. Heavy curtains and brass fittings add some weight and romance against the airy white walls. The welcome party: Every room comes with a dapper teddy named Bo, impeccably dressed in the same red and black uniform as the hotel's bellmen British model Poppy Delevingne is among the glamorous guests to have posted a tell-tale 'Bo snap' on Instagram, showing her love with the caption 'Home from home'. The bathroom is the crowning glory. It might sound strange to call it enchanting (you're enchanted by what - towels? Taps?) but seeing the Manhattan skyline from the window is breath-taking for a starry-eyed tourist. The marble tub is a brass-tapped wonder-pool, sinfully deep. 'New York is a dirty city,' I note virtuously on my third day of wallowing, wine in hand and bubbles to the brink like Julia Roberts in 'Pretty Woman'. Baths don't come as standard in all rooms, so if you want one be careful to mention it when you book and the hotel will do their best to arrange it. A view to cherish: I freely admit to spending an offensive amount of time in this tub Bath icon: For best effect, load up a glass of wine and pretend you're Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman Polished: The marble bathroom follows the hotel's simple-but-sensual aesthetic Details: The brass taps and giant fluffy robes are fun touches, while the toiletries are pleasingly pricey Enjoy: C.O. Bigelow is America's oldest surviving apothecary, and specialises in glorious, knock-your-socks-off herbal aromas After a good scrub, food is my next concern. The Bowery has its own restaurant, Gemma, right next door. It's just as celeb-y as the hotel, with Justin Bieber and Emma Stone among the clientele. I venture down for dinner. Gemma styles itself as a rustic Italian brasserie, with bottles dangling from the ceiling, distressed wood, and brown banquettes. Service is attentive, and the pasta with squash, brown butter and sage wins my praises, along with a delicious fried seafood starter. Loved by the stars: Italian eatery Gemma is a hit with the likes of Justin Bieber and Emma Stone Rustic: The decor takes its inspiration from rural Italian eateries, with copper pans and logs on display, and lighting care of dangling chandeliers Colourful: A sample of the kitchen's tempting fare. Enjoy it from the restaurants's pavement terrace in fine weather for top people-watching opportunities Breakfast of champions: Gemma also provides room service for guests at the Bowery, so you can start the day right from the cosiness of your bed Back at the hotel, the Lobby Bar is in its evening pomp. The louche, low lighting and roaring fire make it an intimate venue for after-dark assignations and the sofas are packed with martini-toting night owls from the earth's four corners. With jetlag tugging at my heels, I'm ready to hit the hay. Superior bedding comes as standard in a hotel of this calibre. The Bowery's sheets are 400 thread-count Egyptian cotton, and turn me from an insomniac, stressed-out hack into a calm, cossetted, smiley person. New York nights: The view from Rebecca's room, number 1209, including the famous One World Trade Center tower All rooms at the Bowery come with flat-screen TVs, an iPod powered stereo, free Wi-Fi, and access to a DVD library. If lazing is your preference, just cuddle up in the gigantic fluffy hug of a bathrobe, order the 24-hour room service from Gemma's a la carte menu, and enjoy the upscale toiletries from America's oldest apothecary, C.O. Bigelow. If you can leave the triple threat of bed, bath, and mini-bar, you'll be walking distance from poetry cafes, bars, the New Museum of Contemporary Art, and numerous Scandinavian-inspired clothes boutiques that specialise in making customers look effortlessly expensive. Rooftop haven: A breath of fresh air might be just the ticket during your East Village stay Glamour personified: Bowery Hotel owner Sean MacPherson and his wife, media entrepreneur Rachelle Hruska MacPherson The Bowery the street, not the hotel named after it has come a long way fast. Ten years ago this area was a byword for Skid Row slums. One thing it always did well, though, was music. CBGBs, the much-missed punk rock venue which gave Patti Smith, Blondie, and the Ramones a launchpad, remains a pilgrimage site at 315 Bowery. For those in search of live bands, the spirit of rambunctious fun plays on at The Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street. Punk rock royalty: A mural by artists Solus and John (Crash) Matos just off the Bowery pays tribute to CBGBs, and the late musician Joey Ramone If your night turns riotous and you wake up feeling rough, it's time to throw yourself at the mercy of the hotel's friendly bellmen. Too weak to carry your suitcase? They'll stash it for you. Need some fresh air? They'll direct you to the nearest park and loan you a bike for free. I have to mention their uniforms, which are fabulously dapper. The red waistcoat and black bowler combo is inspired by the infamous Bowery Boys gang, a motley crew of nineteenth century scrappers who dressed in stovepipe hats, dark trousers and red shirts. Bonus: Guests who want a more energetic way to see the city can borrow a complimentary bike. You might need to bring your own dog, though I've never said this before, either in life or a review but I can't get this hotel out of my head. I'd move in there tomorrow. It's beautiful but unfussy, exclusive but not snobby. Frankly, it's sexy as hell. If you're coupled up, take your beloved and have a glorious time. If you're not, take yourself and do likewise. After all, there's every chance you'll bump into Jake Gyllenhaal or Eva Mendes in the Art Deco lift and if you somehow miss each other, a cuddle with Bo the Bear is always guaranteed. Advertisement Famed for the gold rush, gunslingers and its spectacular mountains, the American frontier fascinates millions of visitors every year but they probably havent seen it like this before. These high contrast black-and-white images show stunning scenes in places such as Arizonas Grand Canyon, Californias Yosemite National Park and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. They were captured by French photographer Laurent Baheux, who visited the greatest landscapes in Americas Wild West to retrace the steps of Ansel Adams. Adams was famous for his black-and-white photos of western landscapes, including Yosemite, and has inspired generations of photographers. More than 30 of Baheuxs photos appear in a new book, America, which celebrates the countrys seemingly endless horizons and landscapes. The 46-year-old said on his website: This territory is amazing, huge and ever changing. There are mountains, plains, deserts with panoramas that take your breath away. French photographer Laurent Baheux's travels took him to the Grand Canyon, one of the natural wonders of the world The breathtaking Upper Falls at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming are a 109ft cascade of surging water Around 1,000 bison reside in Grand Teton National Park (pictured) in Wyoming, said the National Parks Service Baheux retraced the steps of famed photographer Ansel Adams (pictured: Half Dome at Yosemite National Park) Zabriskie Point, in California's Death Valley National Park, is a popular spot where tourists watch the sun rise or set Crater Lake, located in Oregon's Crater Lake National Park, is the deepest lake in the US, with a depth of 1,943ft Snake River (pictured in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming) empties into the Pacific and is more than 1,000 miles long Photos of Antelope Canyon in Arizona (left) and Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic Spring (right) are featured in a new book Sun cream, bikinis Marmite? Over a third of British holidaymakers admit to packing a supply of home comforts such as ketchup and vinegar when they go abroad, according to a new study. Plagued by a 'fear of food overseas' (FOFO), two thirds of the nation also seek out a taste of home on holiday, with Spain considered the number one destination to find British cuisine. Over a third of British holidaymakers admit to packing a supply of home comforts such as Marmite when they go abroad, according to a new study Almost a quarter of a million holidaymakers voted on the nation's ultimate shopping list, with fish and chips, Sunday roast, and tea considered essentials at home. However, almost three quarters dont rate the way they are served up abroad and as such, squeeze food items into their suitcase. The top ten condiments to pack include ketchup, chocolate spread, Marmite and gravy granules, the Barclaycard's Great British Shopping Showdown report reveals. BRITS' MOST POPULAR FOOD/DRINK TO PACK THIS SUMMER 1. Tomato ketchup 2. Vinegar 3. Marmite 4. Jam 5. Chocolate spread 6. Long life milk 7. Butter 8. Seasoning mix 9. Chocolate flake 10. Gravy granules Advertisement Once UK travellers have arrived in foreign climes, over a quarter (28 per cent) admit to looking for fish and chips and (20 per cent) are keen to sample a traditional roast or fry-up. In their efforts to enjoy the familiar flavours of home, UK tourists reported that they spend an average of 26.92 on eating British food whilst abroad during a week's holiday. Spain was praised for perfecting some of the nation's top dishes but France was voted the worst place to get a 'chip butty'. Instead the culinary country excelled, in holidaymakers' eyes, at serving sweet treats and was commended by Brits for its scones and Victoria sponges. However, tourists claim you have to go all the way to the United States to find a good crumpet, outside of Britain. Diners blame a fear of not liking the local cuisine for their unadventurous menu choices. For more than one in ten (11 per cent) this fear is greater than falling out with a loved one or swimming in the sea on holiday. Spain was praised for perfecting some of the nation's top dishes but France was voted the worst place to get a 'chip butty' For British male travellers, this anxiety overrides that of flying or not having access to the internet. The study also revealed that tourists aged 16-24 years old are the fussiest eaters with almost a fifth (18 per cent) worried about not liking the local cuisine abroad. Seren Evans-Charrington, food historian, said: 'Tucking into local dishes should be part of the holiday experience, but for many Brits sticking to what they know is the preferred option because it gives them a sense of comfort: making them feel "at home" whilst abroad. 'Although British travellers might want to sample British fare in far-flung lands, they also come back inspired by foreign cuisine and the increase in 'exotic' ingredients lining supermarket shelves is testimony to this. Twenty percent of California charter schools use illegal admissions practices, according to a report released Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. The group analyzed admission policies on websites, in handbooks and other public materials for around 1,200 charter schools, categorizing at least 250 as having exclusionary admissions standards. Some of the admissions policies flagged in the report: Requiring certain grades or test scores to get into a school; Admitting students based on their proficiency in English; Selecting students based on essays or interviews by the students or their parents; Asking for proof of students citizenship; Requiring parents to volunteer at the school or donate money. Some iterations of those policies may not be strictly illegal, the report says, such as asking for a students social security number or requiring a student to write an essay so long as the students admission to the school does not hinge on fulfilling those requests. However, the report argues that those policies may have a chilling effect on families and ultimately function as selective admissions policies. Regardless of whether this failure is caused by a lack of resources, a misunderstanding of the law, or inadequate procedures for reviewing charter policies, it is troubling that so many authorizing entities have missed these clear violations of the law, all of which are publicly posted on the schools websites, the report says. Authorizers are the groups that decide which charter schools are approved to open. They also have the power to shut down poorly performing schools. School districts authorize charter schools in California, although a denied charter application can be appealed up to the state board of education. The report calls on the California Department of Education to clarify that such admissions requirements for charter schools are breaking the law and to order schools with those policies to change them immediately, among other recommendations. In its response to the report, the California Charter Schools Association issued a statement saying that it agreed with the overarching principle of the report, but took issue with some of the details. Specifically, the CCSA believes that not all admissions policies highlighted in the report are equally egregious. We are encouraged that the report identified a small number of charter schools which have the most clearly exclusionary practices based on academic performance, Jed Wallace, the president and CEO of CCSA said in the statement. We believe there is an urgency to work with these schools to make changes immediately to these policies to ensure that students are not unlawfully excluded from applying or being admitted to the charter school program. Related stories: Essex is about to experience its own Spice Girls-style split this week as the fallout from Megan McKenna's feud with Chloe Meadows rocks TOWIE. In Wednesday night's episode of the ITVBe reality show, Courtney Green is expected to declare that 'girl band' have broken up. The trio of best friends have been rocked by the betrayal of Courtney and Chloe, who seemingly sided with Megan's enemies this week. Scroll down for video Splitting up: Courtney Green (centre) declares that 'girl band' have split up on Wednesday night after Megan McKenna's (right) feud with Chloe Meadows (left) in TOWIE After confronting Chloe about loyalty this week, Megan decalred that their friendship was officially over on Monday night's episode. The brunette accused the blonde of being disloyal because she spent time with Lydia Bright and Chloe Lewis behind Megan's back. On Wednesday, Megan complains to Danni about Chloe M's attitude during a day at the beach while Chloe M avoids a trip to the park with the other girls for fear of experiencing the wrath of Megan once again. Sticking together: Courtney stands by Chloe, as they take sides against Megan Girls' night out: The rest of the Essex girls are divided on the situation Putting it out there: But Chloe Simms is expected to make her feelings on the matter very clear Chloe shuns a girls' night out and opts for a takeaway instead, but in Essex she's never far away from an awkward encounter, as she quickly learns. Chloe awkwardly runs into Megan's loyal boyfriend Pete Wicks, who defends Megan's reminds Chloe of her own struggles with the girls of Essex several months back. Naturally, the rest of the stars are divided on who to stand by but Chloe S takes a firm stance and steps in to pledge her loyalties to Team Megan. Staying away: Initially, on Wednesday night's episode, Chloe decides to stay away from any group gatherings Oops: Chloe has an awkward run-in with Pete in the takeaway as he defends her honour Amber, Kate, Chloe L and Georgia however spend an evening out with a despondent Courtney, who is overjoyed when Chloe M makes an appearance. Elsewhere, Arg and Dan E settle into their new flat but when Amber informs Kate of a rumour she has heard that Dan E has slept with another girl, Kate is less than impressed. And, as Bobby continues to recover from the loss of Beau, Jess Wright and her dog Bella arrive to cheer him up. The drama continues in The Only Way Is Essex on Wednesday 3rd August at 10pm on ITVBe. Stand by your woman: Peter is officially Team Megan when it comes to the feud Coping: Elsewhere, Bobby is still mourning the loss of his beloved pooch He made a big splash playing bullied child Thurman Merman in 2003's Bad Santa. And former child star Brett Kelly had to put on a mammoth 40 pounds to reprise his role in the forthcoming sequel. The 22-year-old Canadian had thinned out after stepping away from the world of showbusiness to attend university. Scroll down for video Piling on the pounds: Brett Kelly had to put on a mammoth 40 pounds to reprise his role as bullied child Thurman Merman in Bad Santa 2 The film's director Mark Waters told USA Today: 'We said: 'By the way, were doing Bad Santa 2. So get in shape, or the opposite of shape. 'Brett looks like the spitting image of the kid Thurman, but older. When he walked on set, it was even more jaw-dropping in some ways than seeing (Thornton).' Brett will once again appear opposite the original film's star Billy Bob Thornton when the comedy appears in cinemas on November 23. It will be his first silver screen appearance since 2010's High School, where he featured alongside Adrien Brody and Colin Hanks Reunited: He is once again teaming up with the original film's star Billy Bob Thornton Little dumpling: He shot to fame after portraying the bullied overweight child in the 2003 film Brett, who graduated from the University of British Columbia, said: ' I've been living an extremely normal and boring life. I went to a regular high school, graduated from university, and basically that brings us up to this point. 'I got the call about Bad Santa 2 literally two days after I finished my last exam. The timing could not have been any better.' And he was lucky enough to be able to experience a normal childhood while dabbling in the world of showbusiness. He said: 'I've always led a fairly normal life. It wasn't like I was in Bad Santa and I came back and everything had changed. It was more like I got to drop in and see like, oh, that's what making movies is like.' Blowing his cover: Billy's conman department store Santa befriended the little boy Father figure: And he ended up helping the youngster beat the bullies A change of hairstyles was enough to stop people recognising him, though he got more attention when he was younger. He said: 'I went on a trip to Vegas with my family when I was about 12 and was getting recognized every five minutes. Everyone being completely bombed that walked up to me made for some funny moments.' In the original film Billy played a conman safe-cracker, who every year disguises himself as a department store Santa so he can land a big score. His world is transformed when he befriends Thurman, and he ends up turning over a new leaf. The sequel will see his character once again team up with the sidekick who tried to kill him in the first film so they can rob a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve. She has shown she's a doting mother since welcoming her son Axel in December. And Michelle Bridges appeared in her element as she took the seven-month-old out for a walk in Sydney on Tuesday. Braving the city's cold temperatures, the 45-year-old appeared in high spirits as she pushed her son along in his stroller. Scroll down for video Morning stroll: Michelle Bridges was spotted pushing her son Axel's pram as she went for a walk in Sydney on Tuesday The fitness trainer was rugged up in a pair of grey track pants and a fur-trimmed puffer jacket. Appearing makeup-free, Michelle slicked her hair back in a ponytail and donned black sunglasses to shield her eyes from the morning glare. The Biggest Loser Trainer was multi-tasking as she pushed her pram while clutching on to a coffee. Fresh-faced: The 45-year-old appeared to be makeup-free and rugged up in warm weather gear as she enjoyed the stroll The busy mother recently declared that she had not slept properly since the birth of the son she shares with her partner Steve 'Commando' Willis. 'I have not slept a full night in seven months,' Michelle said during a 16-minute video post. The television personality said that although her son is well behaved during the day, at nighttime 'he just wants to party.' Motherhood: The fitness trainer has proven to be a doting mother since welcoming her son in December 'That could be my 20-year-old self coming out in him but I don't know, he's not sleeping that well.' She continued: 'So hand over heart, I have to say it's been seven months and I have not slept a full night.' But despite the brunette's lack of sleep, she still maintains her gruelling workout schedule and dedication to staying active. The businesswoman shared a handy piece of advice for women during a recent appearance on The Morning Show. Sleepless nights: Michelle has gushed about her baby boy, despite admitting she has suffered from lack of sleep since giving birth Inspiring: The Biggest Loser star is often applauded by followers for the creative ways in which she manages to incorporate Axel in her workouts Insisting that work-life balance is 'a myth,' Michelle said 'you can't have it all' and it's okay. She told hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies: 'You can't have it all, and that's OK. Have what's really important to you.' 'So this year I have tried to subtract some things from my life to give my life more. 'By taking out a lot of things that I just can't keep up with... before you know it you're so stretched and you're doing nothing well. So by subtracting from your life you're actually adding to it.' They say good help is hard to come by. And appears to be the case for Shane Warne, who took to Twitter to advertise the fact that he is once again on the hunt for a personal assistant this week. 'Looking for a new EA / PA ! Not easy to find a good one....' lamented the 46-year-old on Wednesday, making sure to add a series of angry and sad emoji faces. Scroll down for video Apply with-inning! Shane Warne is once again on the hunt for a personal assistant 'Not easy to find a good one': Shane Warne took to Twitter to advertise the position while complaining about how difficult it is to find good help Shane's most recent personal assistant, Melbourne-based Elise Biesbroek, has worked for him since late 2014, according to her social media accounts. The news comes amid recent scandal concerning Shane and his former personal assistant Helen Nolan, who also worked as the general manager of Shane's now-defunct children's charity, the Shane Warne Foundation. In 2015, Helen was announced as the winner of a brand new Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 in a raffle organised by the Foundation. Splitsville? Shane's most recent personal assistant, Melbourne-based Elise Biesbroek (left) has worked for Shane (right) since late 2014 according to her social media accounts Cha-ching! In 2015, Helen was announced as the winner of a brand new Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 in a raffle organised by the Foundation Helen is believed to have sold the vehicle, which was worth almost $60,000, back to the car company after the win. The prize draw raised eyebrows, with many social media users questioning whether the raffle was rigged. However, a spokesperson for Shane Warne Foundation told the Daily Mail Australia that the raffle was conducted according to the necessary permits. Trading in: Helen is believed to have sold the vehicle, which was worth almost $60,000, back to the car company after the win The spokesperson added that Helen's role with TSWF and professional relationship with Shane was disclosed publicly at the time of the draw. In 2014, Helen called it quits after more then five years of working for Shane, citing exhaustion as being a key factor behind her decision. 'I've been that emotional this week since telling Shane, because I am just so exhausted. I just can't do it any more', she told the Daily Telegraph at the time. She has kept mum about her relationship with actor Michael Fassbender. But Alicia Vikander recently revealed that living in isolation for their latest movie role helped them build a relationship. The 27-year-old actress discussed the conditions on set of their flick The Light Between Two Oceans which lead to them falling in love in a recent interview for her Vanity Fair cover. Scroll down for video Cute couple: Alicia Vikander opened up about how living in isolation for The Light Between Two Oceans helped start her relationship with Michael Fassbender For the role she, the 39-year-old actor and some of the crewmembers actually lived at the lighthouse where they filmed the movie which was a total surprise. Fassbender, who is usually reluctant to talk about his personal life, seemingly gave a hint to how their relationship grew in real life through their fictional romance. He explained: 'These things of course sort of spill through to what youre doing.' Gorgeous: The 27-year-old actress is featured on the latest cover of Vanity Fair No doubt the two certainly played off one another as Vikander gushed about how veteran actor Fassbender even asked her for guidance with his character. She told the monthly: 'He was very sweet at letting me in... He was like, "Can you please give me a note? What do you think I should do?" 'It was such a sweet thing to kind of let me in.' Dynamic duo: Vikander and 39-year-old Fassbender pictured in Monaco back in May Director of the flick Derek Cianfrance did not play as coy when it came to Vikander and Fassbbender's relationship as he said: 'It wasnt hard for me to see that the chemistry could be there, just knowing them as individuals. 'What I saw was two great people who were so supportive of each other, who were really picking each other up, and pushing each other... They were an undeniably good match and they pushed each other. 'Michael and Alicia, they were like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. They were going to make one another better. And they were better together.' Life imitating art: Fassbender talked about how their relationship grew from the fictional romance as he said: 'These things of course sort of spill through to what youre doing' Despite taking home the Oscar earlier this year, Vikander still seems in disbelief of her success as she talked about how far she's come: 'Hollywood was like a rumor. 'I and my mum, wed set the alarm to two A.M. to watch the Oscars, and it was like a window onto another universe. 'And then to have her there next to me [at the Oscars] this year. We were just cursing in Swedish... Its been pretty f***ing... Wow!' The Light Between The Oceans is set for release on September 2 in the US followed by a UK release on 4 November. They're joining Ryan Seacrest as co-hosts of NBC's late-night Olympics coverage. And Brazilian beauties Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima took the American Idol alum on a tour of some of their favorite foodie spots as they filmed a segment for their new show in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the Olympic Games, which kick off on Friday. Alessandra, 35, wore a white crop top and long red skirt as she and Adriana introduced Ryan to some of the locals' favorite delicacies on Tuesday. Scroll down for video Brazilian beauty: Alessandra Ambrosio joined Ryan Seacrest and model Adriana Lima to film some foodie segments on Tuesday for their upcoming NBC Olympics late night coverage Lucky guy: Ryan shared a selfie with the supermodels as they stopped for lunch at a steakhouse The trio joked around as they filmed a segment for the show, sharing video on Snapchat and posting a few selfies to Instagram. Their foodie tour began with lunch at hotspot F ogo de Chao steakhouse before heading to bakery Confeitaria Colombo for some pastries and then on to Belmond Copacabana Palace for some refreshing drinks by the pool. The Victoria's Secret models, who both hail from Brazil, showed off their summer style as the filmed the segment. Adriana, 35, wore a navy and white striped top with side-cut outs and a long navy skirt as she arrived at the shoot. Stylish: Brazilian model Adriana Lima wore a navy and white bodysuit with side cut-outs Host with the most: Ryan Seacrest looked relaxed as he tried some local lunch favorites after arriving in Rio for the Olympics Co-hosts: Adriana shared a selfie with Ryan and Alessandra as they filmed a Rio food segment for their upcoming Olympics late-night show on Tuesday Lunch time! Alessandra shared some Snapchat video of their steak lunch as she modelled a cowgirl outfit Ryan, 41, who shared video of their lunch with fans on Snapchat, wore a dark purple shirt and appeared to be in high spirits as he greeted waitstaff. 'Alessandra and Adriana are trying to put me into a food coma,' Ryan told fans in one of his Snap videos, while Alessandra said she was 'addicted' to the fries and tried to coax Ryan into trying one. Alessandra also shared some Snapchat clips as the trio hit the town. Summery: The 35-year-old wore a white cropped top that gave a hint of her flat stomach Gorgeous: The Brazilian beauty stood out in a pretty, floor-length red skirt with white and gold waist tie 'Lunch time in Rio!' she captioned a photo of their steak lunch and tried on a Gaucha cowgirl look. Alessandra looked stylish for the shoot in a pretty red maxi skirt with a white pattern and white-and-gold belt sash tied to the side. The mother-of-two, who is engaged to businessman Jamie Mazur, left her dark hair down and added large silver hoop earrings and a silver starburst necklace. Back home: The Victoria's Secret model added a black handbag and towering sandals No seconds? 'Alessandra and adriana are trying to put me into a food coma,' Ryan told fans as he shared video from their lunch on Snapchat Carb fan: Alessandra said she was 'addicted' to the fries and she urged Ryan to try one High beige sandals and a black handbag completed her summery look. Model Adriana also flashed some skin in her bodysuit with sexy side cut-outs, which she paired with a long navy skirt with thigh-high slit. She added chunky brown heels and a slim leather belt with long straps. Best foot forward: Adriana showed off her long legs in a navy skirt with thigh-high slit, which she paired with sky-high heels All smiles: The Brazilian native looked thrilled to be back home again The supermodel wore her long dark hair down and braided on one side. The Brazilian models introduced Ryan to some Brazilian lunch favorites, followed by some pastries and then some cocktails. 'My lunch partners today,' the former American Idol host captioned a selfie he shared on Instagram. Sugar rush: Adriana sampled a traditional brigadeiro as the trio sampled some desserts Caipirinhas for three? They ended their foodie tour with some cocktails by the pool at the Copacabana Palace Cheers! Alessandra shared some Snapchat stories as they grabbed drinks at the bar of the Copacabana Palace Adriana also showed off her sweet tooth as she shared a photo of the trio on Instagram Monday. 'Don't touch my brigadeiro! At confeitaria Colombo,' the 35-year-old wrote. And Alessandra wrapped things up as she shared a photo of the TV hosts sipping some drinks by the pool. 'Cheers to a fun day with @ryanseacrest and @adrianalima!!!' she wrote. Sweet treat: After lunch, the trio headed to bakery Confeitaria Colombo to sample some pastries Being dropped off by a parent at school is always an emotional moment for any youngster. But Kourtney Kardashian made sure her boy Mason knew just how important he is by giving him a meaty hug before taking him into art class on Tuesday. The proud parent seemed to be relishing every moment of their touching embrace before she hauled the six-year-old into his lesson. Scroll down for video Tender: Kourtney Kardashian hugged son Mason as she dropped him off at art class in Los Angeles on Tuesday Yummy mummy Kourtney, 37, will have certainly steamed up the teacher's glasses after turning up in a open-necked white blouse and skimpy hot pants. She completed her look with a pair of silver shoes and a ridiculous pair of reflective lensed sunglasses. Master Mason meanwhile looked like quite the little rascal in a Star Wars T-shirts, shorts and a pair of casual shoes. One person conspicuous by his absense was Kourtney's estranged lover Scott Disick, the father of her three children. Shady lady: Kourtney pushed the fashion envelope by wearing ridiculous sunglasses Class act: The youngster made sure he shut the car door before heading to his lesson That did him the world of good: Mason was grinning like a Cheshire cat after his hug You've been framed: She took a moment to adjust her oversized sunglasses Kourtney split from the self-proclaimed Lord last summer after photos emerged of him canoodling with stylist Chloe Bartoli in Monaco And the 33-year-old was spotted moseying around in a pullover and hideous shorts as he headed out to lunch in a posh Calabasas eatery on Tuesday. Meanwhile Scott has revealed he is now father-to-be Rob Kardashian's parenting guru, saying: 'I just told him not to get ahead of himself. 'Take every day like it's a new day, start fresh, be present, be happy, and you know, have a positive energy and a positive vibe so your child comes into the world with a positive energy.' Turning to the dark side: Master Mason nailed his colours to the mast by wearing a Darth Vader T-shirt Rearly impressive: The teacher's glasses surely steamed up when Kourtney walked in in her skimpy hotpants Meanwhile: Her estranged lover Scott Disick was aimlessly wandering around Calabasas Alessandra Ambrosio showed off her amazing figure while spending time at the beach on Tuesday. The model, who is back in her native Brazil to appear on NBC's late-night Olympics coverage with Ryan Seacrest and her fellow Brazilian model Adriana Lima, looked right at home as she soaked up the sun at the famous Ipanema Beach on Tuesday. The 35-year-old showed off her sensational looks in a tiny purple and white bikini while enjoying some R&R in Rio de Janeiro. Scroll down for video Beach babe: Model Alessandra Ambrosio showed off her stunning figure in a bikini in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Tuesday Bikini body: The Victoria's Secret model showed off her toned tummy in a purple and white bikini as she went for a swim and then posed for photos with friends Supermodel: The 35-year-old looked relaxed as she took a dip while back home in her native Brazil The Victoria's Secret model looked relaxed as she laughed and frolicked in the waves with friends. Her skimpy bikini featured a string top and bottoms with small ruffles. The stylish star added mirrored sunglasses as she strolled along the sand. The yoga enthusiast later posed for photos for a pal as she showed off her moves, then sipped on some fresh coconut water as she relaxed on the beach. Alessandra added tiny black and white shorts, which she stripped off before heading into the waves. Strike a pose: Alessandra worked the camera as the posed for a photo for a friend Cheeky: The Victoria's Secret Angel showed off her toned derriere in a skimpy bikini All smiles: The supermodel is back in Brazil to co-host NBC's late night Olympics coverage with Ryan Seacrest and her fellow Brazilian model Adriana Lima Taking a dip: Alessandra flashed a smile as she ran through the waves on Tuesday Brazilian beauty: The mother-of-two donned a skimpy bikini as she soaked up the sun Perfect pose: The model showed off her yoga moves in tiny black and white shorts Flexible: Alessandra struck a pose as her friend snapped away on his phone Her best angle: The model worked it for the camera like a pro Silly mood: Alessandra appeared to be in high spirits as she goofed around for the camera Beachy style: The brunette beauty added black frilly shorts, white flip flops and a Squad trucker cap The model, who shares seven-year-old daughter Anja and three-year-old son Noah with businessman fiance Jamie Mazur, was all smiles as she chatted with friends on the beach. Alessandra donned tiny black shorts with white ruffles and white flip flops before heading into the water. She added a black 'Squad' trucker cap and silver bracelets. Refreshments: The model grabbed a coconut drink and a towel as she looked for the perfect beach spot Great mood: Alessandra appeared to be in high spirits as she hung out with friends in her home country of Brazil Thumbs up: The 35-year-old laughed as she greeted by fans on the beach Chilling: The 35-year-old and soaked up the sun before heading off to film a segment with Ryan and Adriana Summertime: The model kept her smartphone handy and posted a selfie of her Rio morning to Instagram Loving it: The model shared a snap of her coconut 'beach breakfast' with fans on Tuesday And the model was in fine work as she worked it with a series of tough yoga poses while her male pal snapped away on his smartphone. The model and her friends also cooled down with some fresh green coconuts as she shared a selfie on Instagram. 'Beach breakfast,' she captioned the snap. Not shy: The model stripped off her shorts before heading into the water Quick change: Alessandra ditched her black short shorts before heading out for a swim Fit figure: The 35-year-old flashed her long legs in a bikini top and the tiny shorts Off it goes! Alessandra climbed out of her shorts to reveal matching bikini bottoms Inking: The 35-year-old flashed a small tattoo on her lower back as she headed into the water Revealing: The Brazilian beauty made a quick adjustment to her bikini top as she emerged from the waves Soaking up the sun: Alessandra put her toned legs and flat stomach on display in the string bikini Coastline: The model is back home ahead of the Rio Olympics, which kick off with the Opening Ceremony on Friday Helping hand: A pal handed the beauty a fresh towel after she emerged from the water Tough life: The model also shared a bikini photo from Rio on Monday as she relaxed in a rooftop pool Also on Tuesday, Alessandra and Adriana took American Idol alum Ryan on a tour of some of their favorite foodie spots as they filmed a segment for their new show ahead of the Olympic Games, which kick off on Friday. Alessandra wore a white crop top and long red skirt as she and Adriana introduced Ryan to some of the locals' favorite delicacies on Tuesday. The trio joked around as they filmed a segment for the show on Tuesday, with Ryan sharing video on Snapchat while the models posted selfies to Instagram. Cooling off: Alessandra was enjoying some R&R with pals before covering the Olympic Games Confident: The model put her trim figure on show in a string bikini top with matching bottoms in a purple and white pattern Time with friends: The mother-of-two looked every inch the supermodel as she relaxed at Rio's famous Ipanema beach Slim figure: The yoga fan looked healthy and happy as she enjoyed some beach time on Tuesday Model looks: The 35-year-old looked sensational in the tiny purple bikini Making a splash: Alessandra added mirrored sunglasses for her morning in the sun Their foodie tour began with lunch at hotspot F ogo de Chao steakhouse before heading to bakery Confeitaria Colombo for some pastries and then on to Belmond Copacabana Palace for some refreshing drinks by the pool. The Victoria's Secret models, who both hail from Brazil, showed off their summer style as the filmed the segment. Adriana, also 35, wore a navy and white striped top with side-cut outs and a long navy skirt as she arrived at the shoot. Brazilian beauty: Alessandra Ambrosio joined Ryan Seacrest and model Adriana Lima to film some foodie segments on Tuesday for their upcoming NBC Olympics late night coverage Lucky guy: Ryan shared a selfie with the supermodels as they stopped for lunch at a steakhouse Stylish: Brazilian model Adriana Lima wore a navy and white bodysuit with side cut-outs Host with the most: Ryan Seacrest looked relaxed as he tried some local lunch favorites after arriving in Rio for the Olympics Co-hosts: Adriana shared a selfie with Ryan and Alessandra as they filmed a Rio food segment for their upcoming Olympics late-night show on Tuesday Lunch time! Alessandra shared some Snapchat video of their steak lunch as she modelled a cowgirl outfit Ryan, 41, who shared video of their lunch with fans on Snapchat, wore a dark purple shirt and appeared to be in high spirits as he greeted waitstaff. 'Alessandra and Adriana are trying to put me into a food coma,' Ryan told fans in one of his Snap videos, while Alessandra said she was 'addicted' to the fries and tried to coax Ryan into trying one. Alessandra also shared some Snapchat clips as the trio hit the town. Summery: The 35-year-old wore a white cropped top that gave a hint of her flat stomach Gorgeous: The Brazilian beauty stood out in a pretty, floor-length red skirt with white and gold waist tie 'Lunch time in Rio!' she captioned a photo of their steak lunch and then tried on a Gaucha cowgirl look with a bright red kerchief. Alessandra looked stylish for the shoot in a pretty red maxi skirt with a white pattern and white-and-gold belt sash tied to the side. The mother-of-two left her dark hair down and added large silver hoop earrings and a silver starburst necklace. Back home: The Victoria's Secret model added a black handbag and towering sandals No seconds? 'Alessandra and adriana are trying to put me into a food coma,' Ryan told fans as he shared video from their lunch on Snapchat Carb fan: Alessandra said she was 'addicted' to the fries and she urged Ryan to try one High beige sandals and a black handbag completed her summery look. Model Adriana also flashed some skin in her bodysuit with sexy side cut-outs, which she paired with a long navy skirt with thigh-high slit. She added chunky brown heels and a slim leather belt with long straps. Best foot forward: Adriana showed off her long legs in a navy skirt with thigh-high slit, which she paired with sky-high heels All smiles: The Brazilian native looked thrilled to be back home again The supermodel wore her long dark hair down and braided on one side. The Brazilian models introduced Ryan to some Brazilian lunch favorites, followed by some pastries and then some cocktails. 'My lunch partners today,' the former American Idol host captioned a selfie he shared on Instagram. Sugar rush: Adriana sampled a traditional brigadeiro as the trio sampled some desserts Caipirinhas for three? They ended their foodie tour with some cocktails by the pool at the Copacabana Palace Cheers! Alessandra shared some Snapchat stories as they grabbed drinks at the bar of the Copacabana Palace Adriana also showed off her sweet tooth as she shared a photo of the trio on Instagram Monday. 'Don't touch my brigadeiro! At confeitaria Colombo,' the 35-year-old wrote. And Alessandra wrapped things up as she shared a photo of the TV hosts sipping some drinks by the pool. 'Cheers to a fun day with @ryanseacrest and @adrianalima!!!' she wrote. Sweet treat: After lunch, the trio headed to bakery Confeitaria Colombo to sample some pastries They are in the final moments of preparing for the 2016 David Jones Spring-Summer Fashion Show in Sydney. And on Wednesday, Jesinta Campbell and Jason Dundas looked to be engaged in a very animated conversation as they wrapped up rehearsals. The 25-year-old bikini model was seen making wild hand gestures as the ambassadors shared a lively discussion on the runway. Scroll down for video Lively discussion: David Jones ambassadors Jesinta Campbell and Jason Dundas engaged in an animated conversation during rehearsals for the Spring-Summer fashion show Wednesday Jesinta looked rather expressive while putting her point across, and Jason held up his right hand. Afterwards, the fiance of AFL player Lance 'Buddy' Franklin resumed her duties ahead of the David Jones launch. She appeared to have a rather thoughtful look on her face, possibly experiencing a bout of pre-show nerves. Getting ready: Jesinta looked rather expressive while putting her point across, and Jason held up his right hand Feeling giddy? Afterwards, Jesinta appeared to have a rather thoughtful look on her face, possibly experiencing a bout of pre-show nerves Runway model: Jason was later seen backstage with a look of concentration on his face Jason was later seen backstage with a look of concentration on his face. Meanwhile, Jesinta stood alongside him while displaying a broad smile. Earlier that day, Jesinta and Jason were seen smiling happily for the cameras as they posed for press photos. They were joined by fellow David Jones model Jessica Gomes, who also debuted her new blonde look. The Hills was a key show that helped spark the current trend in reality TV. Now a TV special marking the shows 10th anniversary shows that it also almost made a star of a then-unknown beauty - Kim Kardashian. Kim was shown on The Hills: That Was Then, This Is Now as a then-unknown 25-year-old as she mingled with the girls featured on the show at a party at Heidi Montags house. Scroll down for video Look who it is: The Hills was a key show that helped spark the current trend in reality TV; Now a TV special marking the shows 10th anniversary shows that it also almost made a star of a then-unknown beauty - Kim Kardashian Her scenes never made the cut - and despite hanging out in the same circles she was never picked up on to be a target for the show, despite later becoming the biggest reality TV star of all time. Her scenes were shot 10-years-ago - just a year before the 2007 release of her sex tape with Ray J shot her into the spotlight and made her an international superstar. Kim was seen in a white blouse as Heidi gave her a tour of her home, with Kim clearly knowing friends in the room, saying: Hi Frankie, hi Olivia. How are you? What is this? Kim asked as she stood in front of an aquarium, with Heidi telling her proudly: These are our jellyfish. We're the only people in America to have jellyfish. Whose that girl: A famous, if slightly different looking, face loitered in the background Keeping up with the Kardashian: But the tables were turned as Kim was a mere part player This is really cool. No way, Kim replied. She was then shown chatting with stepbrother Brody Jenner, talking about Memorial Day plans with Kim saying she was going to Vegas. Asked if she was going to the VMA awards, Kim smiled: Yeah I am. I leave for Vegas in the morning. Mingling: The then-25-year-old waves at party guess as Heidi takes her on a tour Check out the jellyfish: Kim is intrigued by Heidi's unusual pets Today is a different story: Kim is now the star of the biggest reality TV show of all time Keeping Up With The Kardashians The TV special followed the shows main star, Lauren Conrad, as she relived her history on the show and how it affected her life. And despite the fame it brought her, Lauren, now 30, insisted: I never loved being on camera. The show isn't something I like to relive. I don't go back and watch the show. For me, it doesn't always bring back the best of memories. Big fake: Lauren is seen looking awkward as she and Brody Jenner attempt to film a romantic scene 'We had zero chemistry': Brody and Lauren film a kissing scene Fake it to make it: Lauren looked giggly and uncomfortable in outtakes from the series Perhaps even more amazingly, she insisted that her husband William Tell - who she met on a blind date four years ago - has never seen a single episode of her show. 'We were at a hotel once and he was flipping channels and he was like, "Oh, it's you!"' she recalled. Of all scenes for him to pick, it was like, us in a club, and I flip around, and I'm like, "Im at the Roosevelt pool every Saturday!" Reality television royalty: But their position of prestige and privilege was a mere illusion 'And William was like, "Nope!" and changed the channel. "Don't wanna know that you!"' she recalled with a smile. William spent a small amount of time in front of the camera for the special - including them getting ready for a black tie event in their New York hotel - but asked how he felt about recording the scenes admitted: 'I hated it!' 'I think our timing was good,' he said of meeting when she was no longer a TV fixture. He did it first: Kim Kardashian's step-brother led the way in the thrilling reality TV field Thanks for the memories: At least she admitted that she had a crush on him at one point Part of the show featured unaired scenes from boxes of tape that was never used, as Lauren put it. 'I have no idea whats on them its a little terrifying,' she said, seeming shocked they were opening them for the special, including her naive appearance in her audition tape. Her dad, Jim Conrad, laughed about how his daughter was 'so naive' she was genuinely so nervous about whether she would get the job as an intern on Teen Vogue despite it clearly being prearranged for the show. True love: But that was not enough to stop Lauren dumping Jason Wahler over his drink problem Farewell: After breaking up she kicked him out and changed all the locks on her house 'Maybe thats why it all came off as real - because it kind of was, Lauren recalled of her innocence. 'I think the reason it worked is I had no idea what I was doing. Because of that we were completely unfiltered and ourselves.' Extended clips were shown of the pivotal moment in the show when Lauren dropped off then boyfriend Jason Wahler's stuff as she dumped him. The many faces of Lauren Conrad: She was very expressive during the show Relieved: Lauren's husband William Tell admits he is glad he met Lauren after the show ended Finally a happy ending: Lauren and William married in 2014 after two years of dating I said, You have three days to get your stuff out, Im having the locks changed on Monday, - and thats how we broke up, she admitted with a chuckle. It was really hard. What made it harder is I could see he wasnt sober. And I think that just really broke me. I felt a responsibility to take care of him, and I felt like when we broke up, I was abandoning him because there were a lot of nights where I was getting 2 a.m. calls and I had to go pick him up passed out in the back of a club. So I was like, Who's doing that now? I know he doesnt have friends who are doing it. Parental advisory: She said her parents always knew what was coming up on the show Friends turned foes: Lauren clashing with Heidi Montag in an episode of The Hills That was what was really hard. I was like, Oh God, nobody's taking care of him. But her family now admit they were so happy at the end of the relationship, her dad adding: That was a disaster. Jasons story has a happy ending - hes sober now and married and very happy, Lauren said. And I think I took a little break from dating. But other scenes later in the series were clearly set-up, with Lauren shown kissing Brody - and then cutting and saying: Can we please be done?! This is the most awkward thing ever! Please let me be done as Brody teased her. We knew the cameras were making it look more than it was. There was so much pressure at that point for me to get a boyfriend that I sort of just let them do what they wanted, she admitted. Forging her own path: Since leaving the show she has become a fashion designer The good old days: Fans still miss seeing the show's stars lazing around in bikinis As for Brody, she insisted: I definitely had a crush on Brody. But the funny thing was we had zero chemistry. He was my friend, I enjoyed spending time with him, but it just felt forced. She added: Im pretty sure you guys were picking guys out and sending them over because they would come over and I knew they had already signed a release because they were micd! Another scene showed her getting a bike ride from a French hunk while in Paris - and then desperately avoiding the kiss she knew the crew had told the guy to go for. So I ran! she said of the scene, with the Frenchman also telling the crew: She ran like a thief! Work of art: She has launched the fashion lines LC Lauren Conrad and Paper Crown She said it took her a really long time" to decide to leave the show, insisting: It was hard on my relationships, it was hard on me, so that was when I knew it was time to go, when my heart wasn't in it and I wasn't living the kind of life that made me happy. However, she insisted: Knowing what I know now, looking back, I would absolutely do it again. It brought so much good to my life. While it was hard at times, it brought me to a place where Im really happy and I get to do what I love and I feel really lucky. So going back, I would do it again. Getting low-income students into and through college isnt enough to position them well for success in the workplace. They need programs that give them strong mentors and real-world work experience, and help them build their science, math, and technology skills, according to a new report. Released this week by the GE Foundation, New Dimensions of College and Career Readiness argues that five strategies are particularly important in making sure that low-income students are ready to thrive in the workplace: Fostering mentorship programs; Offering internships, apprenticeships and jobs; Turning up the focus on technical science skills; Building their skills in science, technology, engineering and math; and Developing essential skills such as higher aspirations, teamwork, grit, perseverance, and adaptability. The white paper arose from a summit in May that the GE Foundation sponsored with College For Every Student and Trinity College Dublin. Education and philanthropy leaders gathered in Essex, N.Y., to talk about strategies for increasing the success of low-income students. The report outlines the discussions there. One of the key ideas to emerge from the meeting was the importance of ensuring that students have not only access to postsecondary education, but multiple points of entry into the workforce, through training programs, internships, jobs, and other such options. Creating systems that do a better job at offering real-world work experience and emphasizing nuts-and-bolts science skills doesnt mean downplaying the kinds of learning that have been a mainstay in higher education for generations, however, some summit participants argued. Dean Garfield, the president and CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council, a trade group, told the participants that its not the time for colleges and universities to ease up on the traditional material theyve always taught. The foundational skills that have made Middlebury great or Princeton great or Harvard great or any institution great&mash;the analytical skills that are a core part of the curriculum at those institutions are as critical now as theyve ever been, Garfield said, according to the white paper. The key is for them to be supplemented by the additional competencies that are necessary to compete in todays and tomorrows world. At the same time, the postsecondary education system has to be able to provide training for young people who will fill a key niche in the marketplace: the middle-skill jobs that dont require bachelors degrees. That case was argued by Robert Schwartz, a senior research fellow at Harvard, and co-author of the 2011 report that sparked controversy by arguing that perhaps not all students should aim for four-year colleges . So its not an either/or; Its a both/and scenario. Helping students aim high and secure some kind of postsecondary education or training, but also making sure that they have the nitty-gritty work experience, and specific skill sets, to thrive once theyre working. For more stories about the skills students need for success in college and the workplace, see: Margot Robbie has dismissed claims that she has secretly tied the knot with boyfriend Tom Ackerley by insisting she is too busy to get married. Although the Suicide Squad actress is madly in love with the assistant director, she insists her busy schedule has left her with no time to even think about getting engaged and settling down. When asked by Extra if an engagement could be on the horizon, she said: I can't even get a day off at the moment so that's stuff's gonna have to wait. Scroll down for video Not just yet: Margot Robbie has dismissed claims that she has secretly tied the knot with boyfriend Tom Ackerley by insisting she is too busy to get married But that didn't stop her gushing about Tom, as she said: I may be biased but I think he's the most handsome guy in the world. The couple sparked rumours of a secret marriage after they were seen wearing matching gold bands while Margot filmed Suicide Squad in Toronto last June. However the actress's family silenced all talk of a wedding, with her mother Sarie Kessler, 60, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'Margot would have said something if she had.' Speaking from her home near Dalby, in Queensland, the physiotherapist added: 'She loves Tom, he's the one, he's the man in her life, he's a gorgeous and delightful person. In demand: Margot insists her busy schedule has left her with no time to even think about getting engaged and settling down 'They were friends and met while she was living in London, five friends together rented a house in Clapham, they loved it,' she said. Margot, 26, met the assistant director on the set of the World War II drama Suite Francaise in 2013, and she admits he changed her mind about relationships. She previously told Vogue: (Before we met) I was the ultimate single gal. The idea of relationships made me want to vomit. And then this crept up on me. Smitten: Margot, 26, met the assistant director on the set of the World War II drama Suite Francaise in 2013 We were friends for so long. I was always in love with him, but I thought, Oh, he would never love me back. Don't make it weird, Margot. Don't be stupid and tell him that you like him. And then it happened, and I was like, Of course we're together. This makes so much sense, the way nothing has ever made sense before."' Although she now splits her time between Los Angeles and London, Margot recently insisted she would love to move back to her Gold Coast hometown in Queensland if she was to have a family. Speaking on Australian chat show The Project, she said: "Yes, the kids will be in Australia." And she admitted Tom would be happy to relocate if necessary in the future, adding: He loves Australia. He's like, I don't know why anyone leaves Australia!'" She is yet to turn the big 40 in four weeks time. And Samantha Armytage has celebrated the occasion early this year as she appears on the latest cover of Australian Women's Weekly. The 39-year-old Sunrise co-host glowed in the frame as she dressed in a yellow trench coat which featured a belt around her waistline. Scroll down for video Early celebrations: Samantha Armytage glows on the Australian Women's Weekly cover as she dresses in a yellow trench coat ahead of her 40th birthday In the image, she angled her body to the side and tilted her head over her left shoulder as she displayed a big toothy smile. Samantha's blonde locks fell freely down her back as she wore them out and styled with a natural wave. She also showcased her blemish-free complexion as she kept her makeup natural with a nude lipstick and a brush of black mascara and eyeliner. Honest: The cover suggested the she will be opening up about life at 40: 'Fabulous at 40. Samantha Armytage on quitting TV, dating disasters and moving to the country' The cover suggested the television personality would be opening up about life as a 40-year-old with the title reading: 'Fabulous at 40. 'Samantha Armytage on quitting TV, dating disasters and moving to the country'. The interview comes three months after the presenter decided to stay skip covering the Rio Olympics after the threat of Zika Virus took over the location. Stepping aside: The interview comes three months after the presenter decided to stay skip covering the Rio Olympics after the threat of Zika Virus took over the location Speaking to Woman's Day at the time, she explained: 'I would like to think that in the next couple of years I could be [expecting her first child. 'It would be really lovely to meet someone and to think that might happen,' she added. Samantha's edition of Australian Women's Weekly will hit the shelves on Thursday, August 4. He's been nominated for an Olivier Award and scooped a BAFTA and OBE in his long and varied career. But James Corden has revealed he finds it easier to work in America, as he claims they are less obsessed with class than Britain. Speaking to GQ magazine, the 37-year-old London born actor explained acting was becoming an 'elitist sport', as he claimed he had to work harder to overcome negative stereotypes that are not afforded to the upper classes. Scroll down for video Outspoken: He's scooped a BAFTA and OBE in his long and varied career. But James Corden has claimed it's easier to work in America, as they are less obsessed with class than Britain 'I fear acting is becoming an elitist sport and I worry about where that lands us culturally. I really do,' he explained. 'Ive come to the conclusion that it is about class. Look at my career... I mean, thats quite a lot of good stuff! 'Douglas Booth has got a great career, hes a brilliant actor, but hes never going to encounter the sort of shit like Ive had,' he surmised, adding: 'Nor will Tom Hiddleston. Nor Eddie Redmayne. Nor Benedict Cumberbatch.' Competition: James said acting was becoming an 'elitist sport', as he claimed he had to work harder than the likes of posh stars Eddie Redmayne (L) and Benedict Cumberbatch Missing out: The 37-year-old London born actor claims his achievements have been better recognised in the States. He currently hosts The Late Late Show on CBS James was raised in Buckinghamshire by his musician father and social worker mother, and attended state school with his elder and younger sister. He starred in several theatre productions, including the 2004 production of The History Boys, but reached dizzying new heights of fame with his starring turn in Gavin & Stacey. Last year, James shocked fans when it was announced he would be moving to America to host The Late Late Show on CBS. Humble roots: James was raised in Buckinghamshire and starred in several theatre productions, including the 2004 production of The History Boys before finding fame With the A-List: James is the first Briton to host The Late Late Show and has featured several big names, including Cara Delevingne and Dave Franco on the show Ahead of his US debut, the star revealed he was shocked to have been approached The Late Late Show and didn't expect his presenting turn to be successful. 'What are the chances of a chubby boy, and Im being generous, going to America to do a top job like this every night and being anything other than a complete disaster?; He told The Sun. 'Im scared Ill be the boy from High Wycombe who just couldnt hack it and had to go back home with his tail between his legs.' The American Dream: James has hit the big time in the US and is now a household name Whilst James has lamented the 'elitist' system in Britain for holding him back, Benedict Cumberbatch's former drama teacher previously claimed that being from a public school background has actually worked against him. Martin Tyrell told Radio Times: 'I feel that they are being limited [from playing certain parts] by critics and audiences as a result of what their parents did for them at the age of 13. And that seems to me very unfair. 'I dont think anyone ever bought an education at Harrow in order for their son to become an actor.' She received backlash for her comments on banning Muslim immigration in Australia and calling scholarships for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender as 'reverse discrimination. And Today Extra host Sonia Kruger is once again on the receiving end of harsh comments after she was nominated by Cosmopolitan magazine to be a part of their Fun Fearless Female Awards, Pedestrian TV reported. Fans of the womans magazine took to their social media to voice their displeasure for the breakfast TV presenter being nominated for one of the coveted awards. Scroll down for video Slammed: Sonia Kruger is once again on the receiving end of harsh comments after she was nominated by Cosmopolitan magazine to be a part of their Fun Fearless Female Awards One Twitter user wrote: Congrats @Cosmoaustralia for giving Sonia Kruger's "sensible opinion" presenter of the year accolades. Another added: @Cosmoaustralia is team "islamophobe who thinks funding 4 marginalised ppl is reverse discrimination". cool stance While another questioned the magazine for even including the 50-year-old in their star-studded line-up. Questions: The 50-year-old has been nominated for 'TV Presenter Of The Year' at the awards 'Reverse discrimination': One Twitter user wrote @Cosmoaustralia is team "islamophobe who thinks funding 4 marginalised ppl is reverse discrimination". cool stance Really Cosmo, really? the social media user wrote. Last month, Sonia set off a social media firestorm when she argued there is a correlation between the number of Muslims in a country and the number of terrorist attacks. The Voice Australia host said she had 'a lot of very good friends' who were Muslims and peace-loving, beautiful people. 'But there are fanatics,' she added. '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'. 'Really': Another questioned the popular woman's magazine for even nominating the TV presenter in the awards When Today show host Lisa Wilkinson asked her directly whether she wanted the borders totally closed to Muslim migrants, Sonia replied: 'Yes, yes I would'. Weeks later, Sonia was once again feeling the heat after she referred to a scholarship for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender children as 'reverse discrimination'. The Australian Business and Community Network Scholarship Foundation (ABCN) has begun targeting high school students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or intersex (LGBTI) for financial and mentoring scholarships. Last month: Sonia set off a social media firestorm when she argued there is a correlation between the number of Muslims in a country and the number of terrorist attacks The television host said she found it 'odd' to ask Year 10 students about their sexual preferences. All Year 10 students who are Australian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to win the scholarship, which offers students $7,000 to cover their time in Year 11, 12 and their first year of university. Sonia said she didn't understand how the scholarship related to a person's sexuality. 'I don't think it should have anything to do with the awarding of a scholarship. I thinks scholarships should be given on merit.' She's been plagued with pregnancy rumours after her father Michael claimed the starlet was expecting. But Lindsay Lohan's mother Dina has now come out to confirm that her daughter is not pregnant, but merely claimed to be in order to make her ex-fiance Egor Tarabasov jealous. Speaking to TMZ, the reality star, 53, insisted her 30-year-old daughter was not expecing her first child and 'overreacted' after splitting from her Russian fiance. Scroll down for video Not true: Lindsay Lohan has been plagued with pregnancy rumours after her father Michael claimed the starlet was expecting, but now Lindsay's mother has insisted it's not true Dina added that Lindsay had been an 'emotional wreck' since the split and hinting she was pregnant. But further concerns were sparked when she was pictured smoking and drinking after leading many fans to believe she was expecting. MailOnline have contacted a representative for Lindsay for comment. Unhealthy: Further concerns for Lindsay's welfare were sparked when she was pictured smoking and drinking after leading many fans to believe she was expecting Master plan: Lindsay Lohan's mother Dina has now come out to confirm that her daughter is not pregnant, but merely claimed to be in order to make her ex-fiance Egor Tarabasov jealous Lindsay recently sparked speculation she is expecting a baby after tweeting a photo of herself with a fake baby bump from her 2009 film Labour Pains, writing: 'I am pregnant.' The tweet came after a furious bust-up with her fiance that saw the starlet leave her London apartment and head on holiday with her best friend Hofit Golan in Sardinia. Lindsay accused Egor of cheating on her with their pal Dasha Pashevkina and police were called after a furious row between the pair in London. Despite their blazing row, Dina claims Lindsay is still engaged to Egor, but is taking some time apart from him before she heads home to work on their relationship. Getting away: Dina added that Lindsay had been an 'emotional wreck' since the split and hinting she was pregnant, and was taking some time apart from her fiance Cryptic: Lindsay recently sparked speculation she is expecting a baby after tweeting a photo of herself with a fake baby bump from her 2009 film Labour Pains Meanwhile, Lindsay's dad, Michael Lohan, revealed that his daughter was in the family way earlier this week, claiming that she sent him the news in a text: 'Daddy, I'm pregnant.' He told MailOnline about the text, adding: 'It's troubling. It's troubling that she is pregnant.' Michael also had some stern words for her ex-fiance Egor, saying : 'He needs to get his act together. She is going through this hard time in the relationship. That's kind of hard. 'Good and well': Lindsay reassured her fans that she is 'good and well' following her bizarre online rant over the weekend regarding her romance with her fiance Egor Lindsay's best friend Hofit Golan went on record last week to insist the former child star is not pregnant. 'Its unfortunate that other people in her life, Im not going to name names, are confirming shes pregnant, which shes not.' Golan told Us Weekly. The girls are enjoying a sea-faring adventure aboard a yacht off Sardinia in the wake of Lindsay's dramatic Instagram outburst against fiance Egor Tarabasov, 23. Speaking out: Lindsay's best friend Hofit Golan went on record last week to insist the former child star is not pregnant Believer: Michael Lohan (pictured 2013) repeated the pregnancy claim on Friday, telling People, 'The last communication that I had was she told me she was pregnant... I don't think she'd lie to me...' As for Egor, Golan says that 30-year-old Lindsay 'is taking a pause in her relationship' with the Russian heir to enjoy the company of her friends. 'This vacation is amazing, its not a single girls' getaway or a post-breakup vacation. Lindsay is taking a pause in her relationship and joined my friends and I on holiday,' Golan told the magazine. Golan described a holistic kind of retreat involving 'acupuncture' and 'lots of green juice.' 'Weve been doing acupuncture, massage, stretching, drinking lots of green juice, exploring caves, fishing, swimming, just doing normal things,' Lindsay's friend told Us Weekly. Belated birthday celebration: Lindsay shared a butterfly-laden Snapchat on Friday They've dated on and off for years. But Chloe Grace Moretz, 19, appears to be in it for the long haul with beau Brooklyn Beckham, 17, as she gushed over the star in an interview with Glamour magazine. Explaining that she could always rely on the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham to support her, the Neighbors 2 star revealed that he also understood her desire to educate people about gender equality. Scroll down for video Loved-up: They've dated on and off for years. But Chloe Grace Moretz, 19, appears to be in it for the long haul with beau Brooklyn Beckham, 17, as she gushed over the star in an interview Asked about feminism, she revealed: 'My brothers and my boyfriend are amazing, and feminism for me has always been about equality: me being worth exactly the same as my male counterparts, but not more than them - unless what I do is of a higher quality. Chloe - who has spoken out about her strong views on feminism in the past, added: 'I think a lot of women now use the word in the wrong ways.' The star continued with her praise of her boyfriend as she revealed they'd learned to joke about rumours spread about their relationship. Two of a kind: As the magazine got ready to hit the stands, Chloe was off enjoying a date night with her beau as they grabbed a bite to eat at Madeo restaurant in Hollywood on Tuesday 'We both get what it means to have our lives twisted and torn apart and faked. Sometimes, well just look at each other and laugh. Like the other day, when I said: "Apparently, were engaged", and he took a picture of the ring and sent it to his mum saying, "The rumours are true!" Whilst she was happy to support her boyfriend and laugh off any false stories, the MTV Movie Award winner explained that it still frustrates her when people put his celebrity status above her own, Out soon: See the full interview in the September issue of GLAMOUR from Monday 8th August 'But seriously,' she continued, 'You dont know how often Im described as "his girlfriend" and you think: "well, Ive also been acting for 13 years, but dont worry.'" As someone who's been in the industry for so long, however, she revealed that she hasn't succumbed to any of the standards some women feel pressured to live up to. 'I'm never going to be Keira [Knightley],' she reasoned. 'I just dont have her body type, but I can be the best my body can be through training and eating cleanly, sure you can go on a juice cleanse if you want, but be under no illusions: you are starving yourself.' As the magazine got ready to hit the stands, Chloe was off enjoying a date night with her beau - who shes forced to spend long periods of time apart from as he lives 5,000 miles away in London. Supportive: Chloe explained that she could always rely on the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham to support her, and that he understood her desire to speak about gender equality Striding forward together, the young pair made for a handsome couple on Tuesday as they headed out to eat at Madeo restaurant in Hollywood. Looking effortlessly elegant for the outing, Chloe donned a pair of black skinny jeans that clung to her shapely pins, whilst she added some height in heeled ankle boots. Keeping her enviable frame under wraps, she also donned a black shirt with a red plaid across the chest and wrists. Uneven: Chloe explained she was happy to laugh off any rumours spread about their relationship but didn't want to be known as just 'his girlfriend' Wearing her golden locks loose and tousled, she opted for a neutral make-up palette that allowed her natural beauty to shine through. Meanwhile, Brooklyn looked effortlessly stylish as he teamed a white T-shirt with black skinny jeans. Keeping his accessories simple he also donned an Adidas cap. Making an entrance: Brooklyn - who divides his time between London and Los Angeles - arrived at his date with Chloe in style, taking his new Jeep for a spin Brooklyn - who divides his time between London and Los Angeles - arrived at the date in style, taking his new Jeep for a spin. The aspiring photographer is no stranger to a smooth ride, having learnt to drive in his new car, a 37,000 Mercedes C-class. But the Jeep proved to be roomy enough for his friends to enjoy a ride also, as he posted a black and white snap pf a pal resting on the roof whilst he sat behind the drivers seat. Messing around: The Jeep proved to be roomy enough for his friends to enjoy a ride also, as he posted a black and white snap pf a pal resting on the roof whilst he sat behind the drivers seat The star picked a good time to visit his girlfriend, as he was able to accompany her to the Teen Choice Awards on Monday. Chloe scooped Choice Comedy Movie Actress for her role in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and joked she was the first actress to win an award for 'throwing a dirty tampon out a window'. She was also nominated for Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy for her role in The 5th Wave, but lost out to Jennifer Lawrence for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2. They're two of the funniest people in showbusiness. So it's no wonder U2 frontman Bono invited Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen to join him on his yacht in the South of France on Tuesday, where they were also joined by the couple's three children Olive, eight, and Elula, five, and 16-month-old son, Montgomery. The 40-year-old actress looked lovely in a bright red jumpsuit with a plunging neckline and cropped trousers as she boarded the boat. Scroll down for video Red hot: Isla Fisher and her husband Sacha Baron Cohen joined Bono on board his yacht in the South of France on Tuesday The Confessions Of A Shopaholic star set off her chic look with a pair of black and white stripy sliders and tinted shades. Her gorgeous red tresses hung loose down her back and her fresh-faced complexion ensured she looked younger than her years. Sacha was sporting a colourful, summery ensemble for the family boat trip on Bono's boat, Kingdom Come. Family outing: Borat funnyman Sacha, pictured with daughter Olive, eight, was in great spirits as he enjoyed some quality time with his loved ones Funky footwear: The Confessions Of A Shopaholic star set off her chic look with a pair of black and white stripy sliders and tinted shades VIP invite: U2 frontman Bono invited the family to spend time on his yacht, Kingdom Come, and they were seen heading out to sea on a speedboat Youthful as ever: Her gorgeous red tresses hung loose down her back and her fresh-faced complexion ensured she looked younger than her years Casual vibes: Sacha was sporting a colourful, summery ensemble for the family boat trip Long term-loves: The couple tied the knot in 2010 following a six-year engagement The Borat funnyman paired a casual short-sleeved shirt with teal shorts and a funky fedora. The pair were enjoying some quality time with their children following Isla's recent promotional tour for her new children's book, Marge In Charge. Isla previously told The Bookseller: 'Now that I have children of my own I see the joy and magic in their everyday lives and books are a crucial part of this. Cute as can be: Isla was balancing the couple's youngest child 16-month-old Montogomery on one hip Summer style: Isla was hard to miss in her vibrant red jumpsuit, featuring cropped trousers and a low neckline Jetting off: The pair were enjoying some quality time with their children following Isla's recent promotional tour for her new children's book, Marge In Charge Kingdom Come: The With Or Without You singer's prized possession is an impressive 198ft vessel, built in 1979 'I hope together we can introduce Marge to as many family bedtimes as possible. Isla first met English funnyman Sacha in 2002 at a party in Sydney and got engaged two years later, before marrying in 2010 in Paris. The even pair appeared on-screen together for the first time in Sacha's latest comedy, Grimsby. Speaking on chat show Lorraine, who asked if the actor comes home clad in his costumes, she said: 'Of course he does, it's hard to drop the accent if you're doing it all day on set. 'Obviously the kids get very confused. When they were tiny and The Dictator would be holding Elula, it was very strange!' Hollywood favourites: The couple even pair appeared on-screen together for the first time in Sacha's latest comedy, Grimsby All aboard! The duo and their children looked completely at ease on board the boat New job: Isla previously said of her new role as a children's author, 'Now that I have children of my own I see the joy and magic in their everyday lives and books are a crucial part' She's escaped to Greece for her first proper romantic holiday with new boyfriend Hugo Taylor. But Millie Mackintosh couldn't resist giving her male fans a treat with a cheeky bikini photo on Instagram on Wednesday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 27, went topless with nothing but a pair of string bikini bottoms on as she enjoyed a cruise off the Halkidiki peninsula. Scroll down for video Cheeky! Former Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh goes topless as she poses in a pair of red bikini bottoms in Greece The fitness fanatic had her back to the camera, with her head looking over her shoulder peering at her behind. She captioned the image: 'Does my boat look big in this?' Millie and Hugo, who started dating in March, are currently holidaying at the lavish Ekies All Senses Resort in Sithonia on the Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece. Loved up: Millie and her boyfriend Hugo Taylor have been dating since March, but only went public in May following her divorce from husband Professor Green Cheers! Millie enjoying an Aperol Spritz while paddling in the Aegean Sea It's their first holiday with just the two of them, having previously vacation with their former Made In Chelsea co-star Spencer Matthews in Monaco back in May. Over the past few days, the loved-up pair have been sharing candid Instagrams of their romantic break. Predictably, Millie has been showing off her fabulous figure in an array of colourful B London Boutique bikinis. Chillaxed: Millie posed for a smouldering selfie after enjoying a tasting menu dinner Refreshing: Millie complained her mosquito bites were driving her mad In a series of images taken on a boat, Millie can be seen reading while perched on a large cushion, flaunting her flat stomach in an emerald green two-piece. 'If you need me you'll have to wait until I've finished reading the new #jillycooper', she captioned the shot. Another snap sees the fitness rocking a red halterneck bikini from B London Boutique while sipping on a drink. Living it up: Another snap sees the Quality Street heiress rocking a red halterneck bikini and a cute pom pom bag from B London Boutique Sunning herself: Millie showed off her bronzed figure in a green two-piece 'Aperol spritz o'clock', she posted alongside the snap. Millie also captured Hugo taking a nap on board the yacht, posting, 'Boat trip with this pirate @hugotaylorlondon'. Millie and Hugo have been spending an increasing amount of time together since she was granted a 'quickie divorce' from Professor Green in May with the reality star citing 'unreasonable behaviour' as the reason for their split. Ahoy there! Millie also captured Hugo taking a nap on board the yacht, posting, 'Boat trip with this pirate' It was only in May, that Millie and Hugo could go public with their reconciled romance. The inseparable couple first dated for six months in 2011 when they appeared on the Made in Chelsea series together. However, their romance came to an end in 2013 when it emerged Hugo had slept with her best friend Rosie Fortescue. 'Catch of the day': The brunette beauty - who previously dated Hugo in 2011 - is relishing being reunited with her former flame Loved-up: Millie and Hugo have been spending an increasing amount of time together since she was granted a 'quickie divorce' from Professor Green in May She's got a charmed life by anyone's standards. But model of the moment turned actress Cara Delevingne, has revealed she cries 'pretty much every day'. Opening up as she covers the September edition of U.S. Elle magazine, the star explained that after being encouraged to hide her emotions during childhood, she now does the exact opposite. 'Emotions should be put first!' Cara Delevingne reveals she cries 'every day' to keep herself balanced in her interview with the September edition of U.S. Elle It is during her daily yoga sessions, Cara explained, that she balances her state of mind. 'For me, yogas the only way I can really feel things and check how I am,' she said. 'Because there is always pain somewhere, even if its completely irrational pain, and its always good to find it and get it out. 'If I dont cry pretty much every day I will hold it in, and it will manifest in me in things that are destructive, like my skin.' Mental health: Cara has learnt it is not good for her to try and hide her emotions Cara has been open about her battle with depression as a teen. At 23, she now feels a responsibility to help those younger than herself, by inspiring them to look forward to the future. 'I couldnt just sit there and listen to these girls, and boys, too, but usually girls, say this stuff, about bullying, about their sexuality, depression, and guilt and suicidal thoughts and just all of it, without being like, "I have been through that, and its going to be okay." ' If I can help a teenager go through a better time than they should be, then I am going to fucking do that. I mean, f***ing being a teenager suuuccccks. And I somehow came through the other end.' Strike a pose: It is during her daily yoga sessions, Cara explained, that she balances her state of mind Now she is an adult, Cara prioritises her mental health, and has learnt it is not good for her to try and hide her emotions. 'I dont think I have ever, ever cried in front of more than one person ever, ever,' she said. 'Because I grew up in this very "Emotion is weak, head up, move on, onward and upward" kind of way. Which is not healthy.' Privately educated Cara, who comes from a long line of British aristocrats, stars in this summer's much anticipated blockbuster Suicide Squad. Cover girl: Cara stars in this summer's much anticipated blockbuster Suicide Squad She confided to Elle that her co-star Will Smith had proved an inspiration. 'Will Smith was telling me he brought up his kids to put their emotions first, and when I heard that, I was just like, "Oh my God, that sounds like a fairy tale,"' she recalled. Jaden Smith drew attention for his androgynous Louis Vuitton shoot in January. Yet Will Smith's son caught the eye on Wednesday for rather a different fashion statement. The 18-year-old entered Times Square to film Good Morning America wearing a thick set of metal dental grills, though he extracted them before the cameras started rolling. Smile! Jaden Smith wore grills as he entered Times Square to tape an appearance on Good Morning America on Wednesday Camera-ready: The 18-year-old had taken out the crowns by the time his interview began His dresses left in the wardrobe, the After Earth actor wore a distressed denim jacket over a salmon shirt and white pants with strips of netting. Jada Pinkett-Smith's son gathered his studiously maintained braids into a tumbling updo for his interview with Robin Roberts. The star of The Karate Kid's remake was promoting his forthcoming Netflix series, The Get Down. A supporting player, he sat for the interview alongside the show's leads, Shameik Moore and Justice Smith. The hour-long show, directed and co-created by Baz Luhrmann, will follow the burgeoning hip hop scene in the South Bronx during the 1970s. The publicity grind: The Razzie-winner was appearing on GMA to promote his upcoming Netflix series, The Get Down His teeth were crownless when the Razzie-winner discussed the show's historical context: 'You know, the death of disco, you know, hip hop rising, the landlords, buildings burning down. 'So I feel like it's really interesting for us to look back into history and see, you know, what the state of the world was in that time,' he said, 'or the Bronx, which is the world to our characters.' The actors revealed that Luhrmann had arranged a 'boot camp' for them with musical artists Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash and Guy Todd 'Rahiem' Williams, as well as 'first lady of graffiti' Lady Pink. On Monday night, the face of Louis Vuitton posed for photos with his father and frequent co-star at the Manhattan premiere of Suicide Squad. Smith the Elder features in the movie as the hitman Deadshot. Trio in Times Square: Will Smith's son promoted the show with its leads, Shameik Moore (center) and Justice Smith (right) His son was nothing if not effusive about the film on Good Morning America, telling Roberts, 'It's amazing. I love that movie so much. Like, seeing him up there, like, playing that character is just, like, very, very next level.' According to TMZ, Willow Smith's brother enjoyed the premiere in more than one sense. He and his girlfriend, Sarah Snyder, were photographed kissing throughout the evening. When Roberts broached the subject of the Louis Vuitton shoot, the The Pursuit of Happyness actor expressed a desire to give children of a more open set of clothing options. 'I want kids to be able to do whatever they want,' he explained, 'without getting bullied. You know what I'm saying? Like, bully me if you have to. Take the attention off of the kids that are, like, young, that are just, you know, trying to figure out, like, what their fashion sense is going to be.' The Get Down's first six episodes will arrive on Netflix August 12th. This week, I wrote an article about a special education advocate in Michigan who has been diligently filing complaints with the U.S. Department of Education against school districts that have websites which are inaccessible to people with disabilities. If your district hasnt already been subject to such a complaint, you may be nextheres what you need to know to proactively address such issues. What is website accessibility? Simply put, website accessibility means that people with disabilities can access the web. That definition comes from the Web Accessibility Initiative , a project of the international standards group called the World Wide Web Consortium. But, just as accessibility features in the real world have broad use among people without disabilitiesthink curb cuts, wheelchair ramps and closed captioningweb accessibility features have potential utility for people without disabilities as well. For example, websites that offer text alternatives to images are great for people who have low-speed internet connections. Perkins Solutions, a division of the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Mass., provides accessibility consulting services to private and public agencies. This short videonote its accessibility features, such as descriptions of images and use of captioninggives an example of how an inaccessible website is experienced by a blind user. Inaccessible websites also present barriers to users who do not use pointing devices like a mouse, or who cannot hear embedded videos. Why does website accessibility matter? Weve never heard any complaints, and we comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Public entities cannot discriminate against people with disabilities in their programs or activities. That has been interpreted to include websites, in the same way that public facilities must be accessible to wheelchairseven if a school district does not enroll any students who use wheelchairs. And accessibility means more than just the parts of a district website that are public-facing or accessible by students or families. Districts have seen accessibility concerns raised about internal web interfaces as well. These might include internal systems that teachers use to submit grades, or that are accessed by potential job applicants. The issue has particular relevance right now, as the Education Department just closed its public comment period for proposed regulations for the Every Student Succeeds Act . Those proposed regulations, which will guide how the successor to the No Child Left Behind Act is implemented, currently say that school districts and state boards of education can use their websites to provide public notice for different important things, such as school report cards or proposed changes to policy. If those notices cant be read by a portion of the relevant audience, thats a problem. Advocates would like to see specific accessibility language in those regulations. What are the legal requirements for accessibility? The U.S. Department of Educations office for civil rights has been monitoring website accessibility through its power to enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Both of those acts together prohibit discrimination by public entities and entities that receive federal funding. Back in 2010, the office for civil rights sent a letter Dear Colleague letter to colleges and universities, letting them know what their accessibility obligations were to college students. About a year later, in May 2011, OCR followed up with a similar document that essentially said that it meant elementary and secondary institutions, toonot just colleges and universities. Here are links to the letter on electronic book readers and other emerging technologies and an accompanying Frequently Asked Questions document. What has the office for civil rights been doing to enforce website accessibility? As of July 2016, OCR has 227 investigations open involving the issue of accessibility of online courses, distance learning, websites and remote applications. The result of many of those investigations are consent agreements with schools, districts, and states to fix their websites. Those agreements have pointed toward two international standards as a framework to follow. One is called the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines , and the second is a set of tools designed to make todays more complex web interfaces usable for all. (Those tools are known by the tongue-twisting name of Web Accessibility Initiative Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite , or WAI-ARIA.) International standards? Dont we have any U.S. standards or guidelines on website accessibility? Theyre coming, but they are taking a very long time. For example, in 2010, the Department of Justice said that it was interested in putting out rules on website accessibility. It solicited comments from the field about what those rules should say. Years passed. In April, instead of releasing those proposed rules, the Justice Department withdrew them and said it is seeking more detailed public comment on website and technology accessibility , in light of technological advances over the past six years. On another front, the U.S. Access Board is in the process of revising Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which deals with information and communications technology in federal procurement. Public comments on those proposed accessibility rules were due at the end of May 2015, but the so-called ICT Refresh has not yet arrived. How have districts responded to OCRs enforcement actions? That is different from district to district. A blind parent in Seattle, in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind, sued the district over its inaccessible website , and the district estimated that it would cost between $665,400 and $815,400 to fix the problems, train staff, pay the lawyers and pay $5,000 in damages to the parent. I spoke to administrators in the Juneau, Alaska, and Santa Fe, N.M., districts, two of several entities that entered into settlement agreements in June with the Education Department over website accessibility . Both of those districts said that they were already in the process of getting new web vendors, so they didnt anticipate substantial additional costs. We kind of welcomed it because we are in the process of completely moving our website platform. It actually comes at a really good time for us at a district, said Ami S. Jaeger, Santa Fes general counsel. It has helped us make our transition to the new site even better. How do I know if I have an accessible website? The non-profit organization WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind), based at Utah State University in Logan, has tools and checklists that web developers can use to check websites for accessibility. One of them is WAVE , a web accessibility evaluation tool that allows users to put in their websites address and get an immediate sense of accessibility issues. This accompanying website, Identifying Web Accessibility Issues , explains how WAVE works. Non-technical people can use WAVE as well, but the tool doesnt replace an evaluation by an accessibility expert, said Cyndi Rowland, WebAIMs executive director. The National Center on Disability and Access to Education has also created some nifty cheat sheets for how to ensure accessibility for commonly used programs such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Theyre intended for people who have already been through training on the topic, but theyre still useful for novices. Whose responsibility is it to maintain accessibility? Ultimately, it is a school districts responsibility to maintain a site, Rowland said. But individual people share in that responsibility as well. Is a school secretary uploading a scanned version of a school lunch menu that cant be read by a screen reader? Is a history teacher posting inaccessible PowerPoint presentations as study guides for her students? These people may not think of themselves as web content creators, but they are. All those are issues that districts have to consider, Rowland said. How do I get ahead of the curve on website accessibility? Start off by talking to the public about accessibility issues, said Brian Landrigan, director of sales and marketing for the Paciello Group, a website accessibility consulting firm. Do outreach to people. Ask them, How is our website, can you use it, do you have problems with it? Its common practice for corporations to do usability testing. Why wouldnt a school website do the same thing? he said. That will help identify problems with accessibility, but will also identify other problems that might not be on a districts radar screen, such as if a person is struggling to load a site on a tablet, or if the site is too bandwidth-heavy for a user who does not have access to high-speed internet. Rowland said that districts should also explicitly require that accessibility be a requirement when theyre seeking website vendors, for example. A lot of time what we hear from vendors is that they have limited development dollars. They put those dollars where their clients are screaming the most, she said. And to this point, districts have generally not been screaming about accessibility. What shouldnt I do first? Interestingly, Landriganwho works for an accessibility consulting firmsaid that districts should not rush to throw money at consultants, expect them to fix everything, and think that the problem is solved. My personal opinion is that sets the school district up for a huge bill in consulting services for not a lot of return, he said. Instead of looking at this district by district, Landrigan believes states should take the lead in helping their school districts revamp sites to comply with accessibility guidelines. Rowland offered similar advice. Accessibility is an ongoing process that needs to considered every time something new is added to a website. But it is never too late to get started, she said. Small steps are still steps. If districts start paying attention to these things, maybe they can get ahead of the curve. She sends her 2.8 million Instagram followers into meltdown every time she uploads a snap of herself in a barely-there bikini. But on Wednesday Tyga's ex-flame Demi Rose proved that she doesn't need to slip into swimwear to turn heads as she arrived for dinner at Novikov restaurant in London. Turning the pavement into a runway all her own, the raven-haired stunner worked a black catsuit that clung to each of her impeccable contours. Pounding the pavement: On Wednesday Tyga's ex-flame Demi Rose arrived for dinner at Novikov restaurant in London wearing a hip-hugging, black catsuit The hip-hugging garment tied behind her neck and featured a deeply plunging neckline with cross-strap detailing across her chest. Demi, who hails from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, extended her perfect pins in a pair of sky-high stilettos that laced up to her ankles. Understandably confident in her figure, she seemed serene and self-assured as she glided into the restaurant. Busty display: The skin-tight garment tied behind her neck and featured a deeply plunging neckline with cross-strap detailing across her breasts Baby got back: The outfit showcased Demi's pert posterior, which has been a driving force behind her astronomical rise on social media When she turned to enter the exclusive Mayfair restaurant, Demi showed off her peachy posterior, which is also a fixture of her increasingly popular Instagram account. The social media favourite became the talk of the globe this summer after being pictured with Tyga on several occasions, including during a trip to the Cannes Film Festival. Despite seeming inseparable from Demi, Tyga took to Twitter at the time to insist he wasn't dating anyone new, telling his followers: 'Single. Focused. Blessed. Living Life (sic).' Together: In May Demi shared a pic of her and Tyga getting close at the Cannes Film Festival Social media star: Uploaded on Tuesday, this Instagram snap attracted more than 56,000 likes within 24 hours - a testament to Demi's star quality But things have been moving at a whirlwind pace since the Ayo hitmaker got back together with his ex Kylie Jenner, with the pair even sparking engagement rumours after she showcased a giant diamond on her ring finger on social media. However, in July E! reported that the couple were not engaged. 'Kylie has brought up marriage with Tyga to her friends lately, both jokingly and seriously,' a source told the website. The insider added that the couple have also spoken of the subject. 'It wouldn't happen now but she's been thinking about it more and wants a future with him,' said the insider. Her older sisters are two of the biggest names on the Brit modelling scene. And Maddi Waterhouse is following in the family footsteps with her blossoming career. In between magazine shoots though, the 16-year-old has been sharing some more candid shots of her summer holiday in Mykonos. Summer fun: Maddi Waterhouse, 16, has taken a break from her blossoming modelling career, to enjoy a sun-soaked holiday to Mykonos Maddi has been keeping her 51,000 Instagram fans updated with her summer break, sharing some fun photos this week. The teenager uploaded one snap on Wednesday, as she posed in front of the blue waters and cloudless sky in a blue bikini. Cheekily sticking her tongue out for the camera, Maddi captioned her fun photo: 'sea hair'. Ready for the sun! Maddi has been keeping her 51,000 Instagram fans updated with her summer break, sharing some fun photos this week Another shot sees the teen model with her arms outstretched as she soaks in the view in another pretty bikini, alongside the caption: '#MadInMykonos'. Maddi is the younger sister of models Suki, 24, and Immy, 21, and also has a twin brother Charles. The daughter of Harley Street plastic surgeon Norman Waterhouse and his wife Elizabeth, a former nurse, has been busy carving out a career for herself in modelling just like her sisters. The blonde landed her first cover for the teen edition of Tatler magazine last year. This is the life: In between magazine shoots, the budding model has been sharing some more candid shots of her summer break She's also concentrating on her studies though, and is a student at the 17,601-a-year Harrodian School and is said to be keen to go to university. When shes not striking a pose, Maddi runs with a glossy West London crowd that includes David and Victoria Beckhams son Brooklyn. The Waterhouse sisters boast a combined following of almost 1.5 million on Instagram, with Maddi already notching up an impressive 51,000 followers. He's spent months staying in character and donning The Joker's iconic green hair whilst filming new movie Suicide Squad. And now it seems the colour is something Jared Leto holds close to his heart as he flaunted his quirky style once again on arrival at the film's London premiere in an eye-catching green coat. Never one to shy away from pushing the envelope with his questionable fashion, the 44-year-old Oscar-winner continued his wacky ensemble with a pair of ankle bashing pink trousers. Scroll down for video Green with envy: Jared Leto, 44, displayed his quirky style at the London premiere of Suicide Squad in a vibrant green coat Resembling a look from Will Ferrell's Elf - sans shearling collar and sleeves - Jared opted to close his eccentric green knee-length coat displaying it's intricate pearl buttons for fans to see. Exhibiting his slender ankles in his vibrant baby pink pants, the acclaimed actor flashed a pair of thick wool socks - more attuned to winter than summer - as he donned his favourite Gucci loafers. Keeping to a sleek look, Jared gelled his mid-length tresses back as he sported a scruffy beard while giving fans a thumbs up. Groomed: The Academy Award winner sported a scruffy beard as he posed for pics on the event's pink carpet Pink to make the women wink! Jared flashed his slender frame in a pair of baby pink ankle-length trousers Eccentric! Jared chose to wear clashing bold colours on the colourful carpet Starring as the Joker in the highly-anticipated flick, Jared had recently opened up the possibility of reprising his role. He told Good Morning America: 'I feel like this film is an introduction to the Joker, and I'm hopeful that we will see more to come. 'I think you don't really say goodbye. I think the Joker's in there somewhere.' Suicide Squad is centered around a gang of DC Comics characters and also stars Margot Robbie, Cara Delevigne, Will Smith, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis, Scott Eastwood and Joel Kinnaman. What a joker! The 30 Seconds to Mars singer opted for the green coat that he closed to the top - displaying it's delicate pearl buttons The Dallas Buyers Club star, who is renowned for his method acting, told GQ he did have to stop himself from researching too much violence for the part as it started to 'impact' him. He said: 'There was a point where I was researching violence and was watching a lot of things thatthings that its arguable if anybody should even see.' 'And I noticed that started to have an impact on me that I didnt like, so I stopped. 'It starts to just get inside of you, violence and some of those things. But you know, Ive made some pretty dark films.' Lunging forward! Jared flashed his favourite Gucci loafers Not the only dapper man on the pink carpet, Jared was joined by Batman star Ben Affleck, 44, who also makes an appearance in the flick. Looking suave in a grey double button blazer and matching suit trousers, the Oscar winning actor donned a white shirt and grey polka dot tie, putting his style stamp at the premiere. Also gelling his hair back, Ben completed his handsome look with a touch of stubble and black leather dress shoes. Suave: Ben Affleck, 43, looked dapper in a two piece grey suit at the Suicide Squad premiere While fellow DC comic star Henry Cavill looked handsome in a doubled breasted navy check suit. The 33-year-old Superman actor oozed style as he accessorised his look with a bronze geometic print tie and pocket square. Starring in the upcoming Justice League movie with Ben, Henry was jokingly grabbed by co-star Jason Momoa as he tried to pose for photos. Dapper! Henry Cavill, 33, looked dapper in a double breasted navy suit at the movie event as his Justice League co-star Jason Momoa attempted to scare him What a pro! The Superman actor didn't flinch as his co-star Jason Momoa wrapped his arms around him Meanwhile, Funny Girl star Darius Campbell looked effortlessly dishy in an all-black ensemble. The raven-haired actor kept to a single colour scheme as letting his dark features shine on the pink carpet. Suicide Squad is set for limited release in the US this Thursday with the UK release following on Friday. There may be over five-and-a-half decades of age between them. But legendary actor Clint Eastwood has certainly bridged the gap between he and his son. The 86-year-old actor and his son Scott, 30, are featured together on the cover of the September issue of Esquire magazine. Fooling around: Scott Eastwood grabbed a hold of his legendary father Clint's neck as he pretended to strangle him from behind in a shoot for Esquire In the pages of the publication the Suicide Squad actor gushed about his famous father and even gave insight on what he learned from his dad. Scott said: ' My fathers definitely old-school. And he raised me with integrityto be places on time, show up and work hard.' As Clint has had a successful transition from actor to director, Scott has expressed interest in doing the same thing as he said: ' Like he says, its feast or famine for an actor. 'If youre not creating your own material, then youre just fighting for whatevers out there. I definitely have the desire to go to the other side.' Family bonding: The 86-year-old actor was all smiles while featured on the front of the publication with his 30-year-old son Clint posed with his handsome son in a pictorial shot by Terry Richardson for the monthly. In one of the cute snapshots Scott even grabs a hold of the Gran Torino star's neck as he pretends to choke him from behind. Not only did they discuss their father-son bond, but Clint touched on several topics including political correctness, who he is picking for the US presidency and even talked about his bizarre chair bit. Shooting from the hip: Clint was not afraid to let his opinions be heard in the accompanying article The longtime actor pulled absolutely no punches as said: 'Were really in a p**** generation. Everybodys walking on eggshells. 'We see people accusing people of being racist and all kinds of stuff. When I grew up, those things werent called racist.' Clint was definitely candid in the interview as he even talked about his bizarre speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention where he pretended a chair was President Barack Obama. Dapper: Scott showed off his style in a denim jacket and navy blue shirt He explained: 'It was silly at the time, but I was standing backstage and Im hearing everybody say the same thing: "Oh, this guys a great guy." Great, hes a great guy. Ive got to say something more. ' He goes on to elaborate that he was listening to a Neil Diamond song called I Am... I Said with the lyrics 'And no one heard at all/not even with the chair' and couldn't help but draw comparisons to President Obama. Clint said: 'He doesnt go to work. He doesnt go down to Congress and make a deal. What the hells he doing sitting in the White House? If I were in that job, Id get down there and make a deal.' He goes on to assert that Congress may be lazy but the head honcho should take responsibility for everyone else. Bizarre: Clint was candid in the interview as he talked about his speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention where he pretended a chair was President Barack Obama Though the veteran actor is outspoken when it comes to politics, he insists he hasn't made up his mind on this election. He said: 'I havent endorsed anybody. I havent talked to Trump. I havent talked to anybody. You know, hes a racist now because hes talked about this judge.' Clint is referencing when Donald Trump landed in some hot water for commenting on the Mexican heritage of the judge overseeing the lawsuit against his Trump University. The actor said that he understands that the presidential candidate has sad 'a lot of dumb things' but so has everyone. Clint elaborates: 'But everybodythe press and everybodys going, "Oh, well, thats racist," and theyre making a big hoodoo out of it. Just f***ing get over it. Its a sad time in history.' Hunky: Scott headed to an appearance on Good Morning America in New York City on Thursday Happy to see you: The hunky actor gave a friendly wave to his adoring fans Looking good: He sported a chambray button-down top tucked into grey skinny jeans Ozzy Osbourne's mistress Michelle Pugh is suing his daughter Kelly, according to TMZ on Wednesday. The hair-stylist - who admits a long-term affair with the 67-year-old Black Sabbath frontman - has reportedly filed a lawsuit after Kelly slated her in a series of tweets. Pugh - who described the musician as the 'greatest love of my life' to People magazine on Wednesday - says she was 'slut-shamed, bullied and harassed' by the television host. Scroll down for video Lawsuit: Ozzy Osbourne's mistress Michelle Pugh is suing his daughter Kelly, according to TMZ on Wednesday Pugh denies abusing Ozzy, after Kelly tweeted back in May: 'My father is almost 70 ever heard of elder abuse?', which Pugh also says is defamatory. The hair-colourist was also on the receiving end of a savage social media post by Kelly which read: 'Anyone looking for cheap chunky LOW-lights a blow out and a b***job call [phone number].' In her lawsuit, filed at Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pugh - who told People 'he made me feel like the most beautiful and worshipped woman in the world' - claims the relationship was serious and not a fling. No worries! Kelly was spotted out and about in NYC on Monday, looking relaxed and happy with a male pal Eyes on him: Sporting lavender locks and an all-black ensemble, the star appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the company of her companion The blonde hairstylist says in her suit that she's been emotionally damaged and lost business as a celebrity stylist. She also claims Ozzy and Sharon did not break up due to his infidelity, but that they argued over financial issues and control. She also denies that Ozzy financially supported her. Slut-shamed: The blonde hairstylist says in her suit that she's been emotionally damaged and lost business as a celebrity stylist - pictured in June Sharon - who initially moved out but has since reconciled with her husband of 33 years - looked teary on Wednesday's The Talk as she praised Ozzy for addressing his sex addiction. 'He's [been] going to outpatient for sex addiction for the last 3 months and after the Black Sabbath tour, he goes into inpatient for 3 months. He's working at it,' she said on the show. Kelly - who has since deleted the tweets - was spotted out and about in NYC on Monday, looking relaxed and happy with a male pal. Fighting on: Sharon looked teary on Wednesday's The Talk as she praised Ozzy for addressing his sex addiction Sporting lavender locks and an all-black ensemble, the star appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the company of her companion. Pugh also revealed to People that she finds it difficult no longer being in touch with Ozzy, who says she connected with about their shared interests like history and painting, and is finding the loss of their friendship hard. The heartbroken blonde - who first met Ozzy when she styled his hair - claims the star was 'unhappy' in his marriage and 'consistently and willingly and generously' gave her his love. In hot water? Kelly pictured alongside her rock royalty parents, Ozzy and Sharon, in November 2014 The star's spokesperson has apologised for Michelle taking their 'sexual relationship out of context', insisting there was no emotional connection. A statement from his spokesperson reads: 'He is sorry if Ms. Pugh took their sexual relationship out of context'. 'He would like to apologize to the other women he has been having sexual relationships with. 'Since his relationship with Ms. Pugh was exposed, Ozzy has gone into intense therapy.' Sharon - who has children Kelly, 31, Aimee, 32 and Jack, 30, with Ozzy - was left heartbroken when she reportedly searched through her husband's emails and discovered his secret. An insider said at the time: 'Sharon found out about the affair by searching through Ozzy's emails. She was upset that he was supporting this woman!' Sharon confirmed she'd split from Ozzy, who she married in 1982, on her chat show The Talk on May 10 when she thanked her fans for their support. She gracefully strutted down the David Jones runway in Sydney on Wednesday, in what would be her final show as an ambassador the retail giant. And Montana Cox, 22, said she is 'excited' about what the future holds as she gears up to revamp her international modelling career. 'I'm really excited. it's been great working with David Jones but I'm ready for new challenges,' she told The Daily Telegraph. Scroll down for video Graceful exit: Montana Cox, 22, gracefully strutted down the David Jones runway in Sydney on Wednesday, in what would be her final show as an ambassador the retail giant 'I haven't done it (the international modelling circuit) for a couple of seasons because it has been hard to fit in, but I'll be able to give it my all now.' The Australia's Next Top model winner is now a free agent as she plans to return home to New York. Last month it was revealed that Montana's contract would not be renewed after three years as an official ambassador as part of a company shakeup. Bright future: The Australia's Next Top Model cycle 7 winner said she is 'excited' about what the future holds, as she gears up to revamp her international modelling career David Jones' marketing general manager, Michiel Tops insisted that there is no bad blood as the Melbourne native will remain a part of the David Jones 'family.' While Jesinta Campbell joined the ambassador ranks for the brand in 2015, there are no obvious front-runners to take Montana's place in the official line up, which currently includes Jessica Gomes and Jason Dundas. Earlier this year, Montana fronted the department store's 'In My Jeans' campaign, sizzling in the campaign shots. No bad blood: David Jones' marketing general manager, Michiel Tops insisted that there is no bad blood as the Melbourne native will remain a part of the David Jones 'family' Long history: The model was an ambassador for David Jones for three years The news for the leggy stunner comes just months after her colleague Jessica Gomes reportedly inked a one-year deal to stay on with the brand, despite her burgeoning Hollywood career. In May, PS Sydney reported the 30-year-old will stay on with the department store for another 12 months, for a rumoured $350,000. The Perth-born beauty has been an ambassador for the department store for three years and regularly appears on the runway during Fashion Week and at new season collection launches. Sizzling: Earlier this year, Montana fronted the department store's 'In My Jeans' campaign, sizzling in the campaign shots United front: While Jesinta Campbell joined the ambassador ranks for the brand in 2015, there are no obvious front-runners to take Montana's place in the official line up, which currently includes Jessica Gomes and Jason Dundas Jessica's renewed commitment to the store, means Jesinta Campbell will continue to be number two to the LA-based model. At a recent casting call, the exotic model revealed to the Daily Telegraph: 'We're looking for spunk, personality and an X Factor.' As Jessica swapped the runway for the casting chair she added that she was looking for both men and women who are confident in their own skin. 'I think it's all about no labelling and just embracing everyone's individuality,' she also revealed to the paper. She's not afraid to express her strong opinions in The Bachelor Australia mansion. But contestant Keira Maguire admits her heated exchange with Alex Nation over the white rose last week may have come down to how much alcohol she drank during the cocktail party. 'I probably had a few too many champagnes and got carried away,' the 29-year-old account manager admitted to Who magazine. Scroll down for video Too many champagnes? The Bachelor contestant Keira Maguire admits her heated exchange with Alex Nation over the white rose last week may have come down to how much alcohol she drank during the cocktail party 'I shouldn't have drunk so much, but I can't sit here and have regrets,' she added. Keira's comments come after last year's Bachelorette star Sam Frost revealed the alcohol consumption in the mansion is monitored by crew and producers on set. 'They actually have a very strict alcohol serving policy so if ever they feel like someone's had too much, they'll just cut them off and serve them water,' the 27-year-old, who also starred on The Bachelor in 2014, said on her 2Day FM breakfast radio show last week. Outspoken: Last week tempers began to flare as a confrontation unfolded between blonde beauties Alex Nation and Keira Maguire (pictured) after Alex used the white rose for the first time Split: Alex's decision to use her rose on the second night of the series brought about mixed emotions from the other women, with some understanding her choice, and others condemning it Meanwhile an insider revealed exclusively to Daily Mail Australia last year that alcohol is so readily available for contestants that some would need to be 'cut off' when they become too drunk and disorderly. 'They cut off the drinks when we would get too rowdy,' they explained. Producers would also get involved with the drinks situation if contestants went 'off-top too much'. Thirsty: 'I probably had a few too many champagnes and got carried away,' the 29-year-old account manager admitted to Who magazine Strict regulation: Keira's comments come after last year's Bachelorette star Sam Frost revealed the alcohol consumption in the mansion is monitored by crew and producers on set 'But overall they definitely supply lots of alcohol to encourage bigger reactions,' they added to Daily Mail Australia. Girls are rarely seen without a drink in hand, but soirees are not the only time for alcohol, dates with the main squeeze are also a perfect time to have a beverage or two. 'There is no shortage of alcohol at the cocktail parties and on the one on one dates,' they added. Cheers: Meanwhile an insider revealed exclusively to Daily Mail Australia last year that alcohol is so readily available for contestants that some would need to be 'cut off' when they become too drunk and disorderly Meanwhile during the Channel Ten reality show's second episode last Thursday, tempers began to flare as a confrontation unfolded between Keira and single mother Alex. Alex, who was given the coveted white rose by Bachelor Richie Strahan during the premiere episode, decided to use the second cocktail party of the series as the first chance to use her secret weapon. The 24-year-old whipped out the rose and approached Richie, before whisking him away to a private location within the mansion, giving herself a decent amount of alone time with the hunky Ropes Technician. Keeping hydrated: Girls are rarely seen without a drink in hand at the cocktail parties Alex's decision to use her rose on the second night of the series brought on mixed emotions from the other women, with some understanding her choice, and others condemning it. Leading the negative reaction back in the living room was outspoken Keira, who decided to confront Alex as soon as she returned to the group of girls following her alone time with Richie. 'I'm a little bit surprised that you did that tonight,' she said blatantly, to which Alex replied: 'Why?' Out in the open: Keira was clearly unimpressed at the appearance of the rose, telling Alex: 'I'm a little bit surprised that you did that tonight' Standing her ground: The mother-of-one insisted that they are 'all here for time' and she had every right to use her advantage 'Babe, come on, seriously,' Keira began. 'You know that time is of essence tonight. You disappointed me,' she said. Adding: 'Personally, I didn't think that you were going to do that.' Pleased: Richie appeared to be happy to see Alex with the white rose, and whisked her away for some one-on-one time Alex proved she wasn't going to be spoken down to, replying: 'But tonight's the cocktail night and people are going home.' Keira attempted to justify that Alex had already had time with the handsome 31-year-old, whereas others hadn't had the luxury. But the mother-of-one insisted that they are 'all here for time' and she had every right to use her advantage. The awkward confrontation finished with Keira attempting to having last word. 'I've said it behind your back and I'm telling you to your face. That's all I'm saying,' she hissed. Alex maintained her composure, firing back: 'Well, I appreciate that. But I'm not all too worried about that because I go with what I feel.' Disappointed: The awkward confrontation finished with Keira wanting the last word and Alex walking out Meanwhile, Megan Marx was supportive of Alex's decision to pull out the rose, saying: 'She was always going to use it.' 'That's her right because she has the white rose. There's nothing wrong with that,' the 27-year-old said. 'You'd be silly not to. It's almost like a slap in the face if you don't because he's given you the privilege of using it.' She added that she was 'terrified' at the situation, and 'shuffled away' because she didn't want to be involved. Beach babe: Contestant Keira is not afraid to show off her bikini figure on social media She shot to fame for her brief but drama-filled stint on Love Island earlier this year. But this week Zara Holland is soaking up the sunshine on a different isle- hitting the celeb-favourite destination of Barbados for a summer break. The former Miss Great Britain looked sensational in a teeny yellow bikini as she enjoyed some beach time and hit the water on Wednesday. Summer fun: Love Island star Zara Holland looked gorgeous in a skimpy yellow bikini as she hit the beach in Barbados on Wednesday Zara, 21, wowed in a bright choice of two-piece which flaunted her holiday tan perfectly. The blonde's colourful bikini featured rainbow stripe trim and a skimpy cut to make the most of her ample assets. Zara accessorised with a pretty silver pendant and mirrored shades, while leaving her locks loose and swept back from her face after a swim. Tanned and toned: The former Miss Great Britain looked sensational in a teeny yellow bikini as she enjoyed some beach time and hit the water Work it: Zara, 21, wowed in a bright choice of two-piece which flaunted her holiday tan perfectly As well as topping up her tan, the model was seen relaxing on a lilo out in the ocean. The star is holidaying with her mother, fellow former beauty queen Cheryl Hakeney, 51. Fans will know Zara from her brief stint on ITV2 dating show Love Island this summer. Itsy bitsy: The blonde's colourful bikini featured rainbow stripe trim and a skimpy cut to make the most of her ample assets Cheeky! Zara's pert posterior was on show as she paddled in the ocean And relax: The blonde looked relaxed as she floated away on her lido Check out the tan: Zara looked full of body confidence during her fun beach day Sadly, Zara was stripped of her Miss GB title when she was filmed having sex on TV with Alex Bowen. A testament to her close bond with her mother though, Zara was more concerned that she had disappointed Cheryl after the unfortunate turn of events. On her return from the villa, Zara told OK! magazine: 'Before I even went into the villa, my mum said, "Don't sleep with anybody." So I let my mum down, and that really still upsets me. Whip my hair: The Love Island star swept back her hair after her ocean dip Shady: Zara accessorised with a pair of chic mirrored shades Curve appeal: The beauty queen flaunted her stunning figure in her colourful two piece Kicking back: Zara enjoyed a peaceful period to herself out at sea Life's just peachy: Zara's curves were on show as she settled down for a float around Looking fab: The model is enjoying some time out after a busy start to her summer 'I haven't committed a crime, I haven't done anything to hurt anyone, but yes, I made this mistake. I've accepted that and we have to move forward now.' Zara ultimately left the show after her mother fell ill. Like Zara, Cheryl won the Miss Hull crown, with her daughter going on to bring the regional title glory back to the family 30 years later. Girl time: The star is holidaying with her mother, fellow former beauty queen Cheryl Hakeney, 51 Summer antics: Fans will know Zara from her brief stint on ITV2 dating show Love Island this summer Hitting the headlines: Sadly, Zara was stripped of her Miss GB title when she was filmed having sex on TV with Alex Bowen Family ties: A testament to her close bond with her mother though, Zara was more concerned that she had disappointed Cheryl after the unfortunate turn of events Quick adjustment: The beauty queen made sure her assets were covered She is one of the most famous Victoria's Secret Angels. So it's no wonder Adriana Lima stood out from the crowd when she took to the streets of the ritzy Ipanema neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro for a photo shoot. The 35-year-old supermodel slipped into a plunging red mini dress which flashed a hint of sideboob. Scroll down for video Showstopper! Adriana Lima stood out from the crowd when she took to the streets of the ritzy Ipanema neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro for a photo shoot The Brazilian beauty went braless in the revealing number which showcased her long bronzed stems. Her sun-kissed skin only added to the statuesque stunner's radiant look in the spaghetti strap frock. She stepped out in nude coloured lace-up sandals and added a few dainty gold necklaces for some extra sparkle. Revealing: The Victoria's Secret Angel slipped into a plunging red mini dress which flashed a hint of sideboob Bra-vo! The Brazilian beauty went braless in the revealing number which showcased her long bronzed stems The brunette stunner swept her chestnut tresses up into a high ponytail with not a single fly-away in sight. Adriana kept her makeup to a minimum with a touch of nude glossy lip as to not take attention away from the main attraction. She was along with a camera crew who followed the beauty around her native country, as she prepares to act as special correspondent for Friday's opening ceremony at the Olympics. Rolling! Adriana was followed by a camera crew, as she prepares to act as special correspondent for Friday's opening ceremony at the Olympics Adriana and fellow VS Brazilian babe Alessandra Ambrosio, 35, will make special appearances. They will join host Ryan Seacrest, 41, and the trio toured Rio's culinary hot spots for a segment, with stops including the steakhouse Fogo de Chao and a famous cafe called the Confeitaria Colombo. That day, 'Ale' posted an Instagram photo of the tour's culmination: a poolside cocktail hour at the luxurious Belmond Copacabana Palace. Megan McKenna's friendship group may be crumbling around her - but at least her relationship is going strong. Proving that he is the most loyal person in her life, boyfriend Pete Wicks defended his girlfriend's honour on Wednesday night's TOWIE when he experienced an awkward run-in with 'frenemy' Chloe Meadows. Pete declared that Chloe had indeed been a 'sh*t friend' to Megan, after an argument erupted this week over whether she should have spent time with Megan's enemies. Scroll down for video Oops: Megan McKenna's boyfriend Pete Wicks (right) tells Chloe Meadow (left) that she has been a 'sh*t friend' during an awkward run-in on TOWIE on Wednesday night After confronting Chloe about loyalty earlier this week, Megan declared that their friendship was officially over on Monday night's episode. The brunette accused the blonde of being disloyal because she spent time with Lydia Bright and Chloe Lewis behind Megan's back. On Wednesday, ITVBe hunk Pete reminds Chloe of her own struggles with the girls of Essex, several months ago, and how supportive Megan had been. Staying away: Initially, on Wednesday night's episode, Chloe decides to stay away from any group gatherings but she's never far away from drama Defending her honour: Pete wades in, reminding Chloe that she's had her own problems with the groups of girls in Essex Nothing in common: Despite his strong bond withe Megan, he admits that he has nothing in common with Chloe and their third best friend Courtney Green Chloe and her friend Courtney Green - who along with Megan make a three-way friendship group called 'girl band' - at first struggled to fit in with the TOWIE crowd. Back then, Megan stuck faithfully by their sides, but now they seem to be spending more and more time with the group. In her defense, Chloe accuses Pete of being 'muggy' by previously saying that Megan's best friends Chloe and Courtney were not his 'cup of tea.' Splitting up: Courtney (centre) later declares that friendship group 'girl band' - featuring Megan (right) and Chloe (left) have split up To her face, he confirmed that he believes he has nothing in common with Chloe and Courtney, despite his strong relationship with Megan. Naturally, the rest of the stars are divided on who to stand by but Chloe Sims takes a firm stance and steps in to pledge her loyalties to Team Megan. Amber, Kate, Chloe L and Georgia however spend an evening out with a despondent Courtney, who is overjoyed when Chloe M makes an appearance. Things seemed to go from bad to worse in the episode when Courtney declares that 'girl band' have split up. Sticking together: Courtney stands by Chloe, as they take sides against Megan Girls' night out: The rest of the Essex girls are divided on the situation Putting it out there: But Chloe Simms is expected to make her feelings on the matter very clear On Wednesday's episode, Megan complains to Danni about Chloe M's attitude during a day at the beach while Chloe M avoids a trip to the park with the other girls for fear of experiencing the wrath of Megan once again. Elsewhere, Arg and Dan E settle into their new flat but when Amber informs Kate of a rumour she has heard that Dan E has slept with another girl, Kate is less than impressed. And, as Bobby continues to recover from the loss of Beau, Jess Wright and her dog Bella arrive to cheer him up. The drama continues in The Only Way Is Essex on Wednesday 3rd August at 10pm on ITVBe. Stand by your woman: Peter is officially Team Megan when it comes to the feud Coping: Elsewhere, Bobby is still mourning the loss of his beloved pooch New York Commissioner of Education MaryEllen Elia wrote a critical letter to the U.S. Department of Education this week saying that punishing schools for having a high opt-out rate on the states federally required standardized tests would defeat the purpose of states accountability systems. The Education Departments proposed regulations, under the Every Student Succeeds Act require states to label schools subpar if fewer than 95 percent of a schools eligible students took the state test. New Yorks education department said last week that more than 21 percent of its students opted out of its exams last year, raising questions of legitimacy and whether the exams results should be used for things such teacher evaluations and to rank schools to decide which ones need intervention. In a letter sent to the department as part of its feedback regarding its proposed regulations, Elia said that states should be able to come up with their own methods of punishing schools with high opt-out rates. Just as [New York] law requires that no school district shall make any student or promotion or placement decision based solely or primarily on student performance on the Grades 3-8 E/LA and math examinations, there should be no consequences for any individual student based upon whether that student participates or does not participate in state assessments, Elia wrote in the letter, dated Aug. 1. For example, no student should be denied promotion to the next grade based on failure to participate in a state assessment ... although we recognize that the statute contains the 95 percent denominator provision, we are disappointed that USDE has not been creative in providing states with flexibility to address the potential unintended consequences of this provision of the law. Elia asks the federal department to allow states more flexibility in deciding how to increase testing participation rates. Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics. She may be vying for Richie Strahan's attention on The Bachelor. But former men's magazine model Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris, 28, may also have eyes for another hunky celebrity- Twilight actor Kellan Lutz. Speaking to OK magazine, the Playboy model admitted that she had caught up with the buff actor while he was filming The Osiris Child in Australia recently. Scroll down for video Watch out Richie! The Bachelor's Kirralee 'Kiki' Moris, 28, may have eyes for another hunky celebrity- Twilight actor Kellan Lutz 'I actually took him down to F45 and introduced him to a few guys around the gym', Kiki told the publication. Kiki, who remains as a hot contender to win Richie's heart on The Bachelor, also admitted that she wasn't sure as to whether sparks flew between the duo at the time. 'I just don't have light and shade between my personalities, so I'll talk to you the same way I would to another guy, and that's really hard because guys won't know if I'm flirting with them or not,' she explained. 'I actually took him down to F45 and introduced him to a few guys around the gym': Speaking to OK magazine, the Playboy model admitted that she had caught up with the buff actor while he was filming The Osiris Child in Australia recently. 'And I don't really make the first move, so a lot of time things go unsaid.' It comes after a report was published in New Idea magazine claiming that Kiki once enjoyed a romance with bikie associate Mark Judge. Mark famously made headlines when he was embroiled in a bizarre drug scandal with actress Jodi Anasta. 'I just don't have light and shade between my personalities': Kiki, who remains as a hot contender to win Richie's heart on The Bachelor, also admitted that she wasn't sure as to whether sparks flew between the duo at the time Previous love: It comes after a report was published in New Idea magazine claiming that Kiki once enjoyed a romance with bikie associate Mark Judge Former flame: Mark famously made headlines when he was embroiled in a bizarre drug scandal with actress Jodi Anasta According to the Zoo model's Bachelor profile, work is to blame for the reason she is still single. A lot of people have stopped putting their relationships ahead of their careers and I am probably one of those people,' she said. The personal assistant has previously admitted to New Idea that she's been on more than 100 dates, and was once engaged. Test for ANC as S.Africa votes in local elections South Africans voted Wednesday in a closely contested municipal elections that could deal a heavy blow to the African National Congress (ANC), which has ruled since leading the struggle to end apartheid. Polling stations closed at 1700 GMT, where voters chose mayors and other local representatives responsible for hot-button issues including water, sanitation and power supplies. The election is seen by some as a referendum on President Jacob Zuma, who has been weakened by corruption scandals, court cases and dire economic data, including an unemployment rate of 27 percent and zero percent GDP growth. South African voters have their ID checked while queueing at a polling station in Durban on August 3, 2016 Marco Longari (AFP) "Voting proceeded smoothly at voting stations throughout the country," chief electoral officer Mosotho Moepya said. "No significant incidents of unrest or deliberate disruption to voting were reported." Counting begins immediately. Nelson Mandela's former party risks losing control of key cities including the capital Pretoria, the economic hub Johannesburg and coastal Port Elizabeth, according to some polls. Development in South Africa has been patchy since Mandela won the first multi-racial elections in 1994, with many black communities still enduring poor housing, inadequate education and a lack of opportunities. With the economy stalling and unemployment hitting record levels, the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) and the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) both hope to secure major gains. In Johannesburg's Soweto township, residents queued to vote at a school near the former homes of Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "We are tired of this self-serving leadership. People are tired, even grannies are sick and tired of this government," Nathi Mulaudzi, a 40-year-old unemployed truck driver, told AFP. But Zuma retains widespread support, especially in rural areas, and the ANC's patronage network and deep coffers could help it maintain a hold in the majority of the 278 municipalities. "There are so many negative things that are said about ANC but I'm thinking about what (Mandela) went through under apartheid so I'm just doing it for him," said Lebogang Maponyane, a 43-year-old unemployed woman from Soweto, after voting for the ANC. The DA, which controls in Cape Town, is looking to take new cities and build momentum ahead on the 2019 general election. "It is a historic day today, we have got to do everything in our power to vote for change. This is our moment," said Mmusi Maimane, the party's first black leader, as he cast his ballot in Johannesburg. - Fight for the cities - The final polls by Ipsos showed the DA ahead in Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth) and in a close fight in Tshwane (Pretoria) and Johannesburg. The results, most of which are expected on Thursday, may pile pressure on Zuma, 74, to step down before his second term ends in 2019. He exuded confidence as he voted in his rural village Nkandla, where publicly-funded upgrades to his sprawling homestead have been one of the biggest controversies of his administration. Adding to the vote uncertainty is the revolutionary socialist EFF party, which has not stood in municipal elections before, but has drawn large crowds to its rallies. "EFF will perform very well," party leader Julius Malema said after he voted in the northern province of Limpopo. "Young people will come out -- they are not apathetic and politically active and the EFF will mobilise them." The party, which won six percent of the vote in the 2014 general election, advocates land redistribution without compensation and the nationalisation of mines. "If ANC lose some big metros, it will be a dire situation for President Zuma," Judith February, a researcher with the Institute of Security Studies, told AFP. "It would be hugely symbolic to lose Nelson Mandela Bay or Johannesburg -- cities of black workers. But we should never underestimate the ANC." A record 26.3 million people registered to vote, but low turnout may be a factor more than two decades after the euphoric 1994 elections that brought Mandela to power. A woman casts her ballot paper in municipal elections at a polling station in Soweto's Freedom Park on August 3, 2016 John Wessels (AFP) The municipal polls are seen by some as a referendum on Zuma, who has been weakened by corruption scandals, court cases and dire economic data Gianluigi Guercia (AFP/File) A South African woman casts her ballot during municipal elections in Johannesburg's Alexandra township on August 3, 2016 Gianluigi Guercia (AFP) US capital city struggles with limping metro service Letitia stands on a metro station platform in downtown Washington, waiting for a train that she now realizes is not going to come. "I will be walking home tonight and all the nights to come," said the 28-year-old woman, who works as a cashier at a 24-hour supermarket. In the US capital city, an urgently needed upgrade of the metro system means service on Friday and Saturday nights now stops at midnight instead of 3 am, to allow for repair work overnight. Much of the transportation infrastructure in the United States is decades old and in such poor condition that it has become an issue in the presidential election Nicholas Kamm (AFP) But it also means people like Letitia, who would not give her last name, are losing a crucial mode of transportation. "I have 30 minutes walking at 1 am in a neighborhood where you do not want to do that," she told AFP. "They don't give us other options." Much of the transportation infrastructure in the United States is decades old and in such poor condition that it has become an issue in the presidential election. "Our infrastructure is that of a third-world country," Republican candidate Donald Trump has said repeatedly. - Metro problems - The Washington metropolitan area, with a population of more than six million, is no exception. Its Metrorail system was a source of pride when it opened 40 years ago, but today it's better known for shoddy carriages, delays and fires. Problems in recent weeks included a derailment and a near-collision. Complaining about Metro is a favorite pastime of DC residents and there's even a popular Twitter account, Unsuck DC Metro (@unsuckdcmetro), that features criticism in real time. The most serious incident recently was in January 2015, when an electrical problem caused a tunnel to fill with smoke, choking passengers in a disabled train. One person died. "The metro has to be safe," said Paul Wiedefeld, general manager and chief executive of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which also provides bus services. Wiedefeld is presiding over a yearlong program called SafeTrack that started in June to repair and upgrade the subway system, causing major service interruptions. Wiedefeld said the accelerated, intensive work was necessary because trying to fix problems with "small bandages" was no longer adequate. The system is the second-busiest subway system in the United States, with 750,000 riders on an average weekday. "The DC Metro historically has been a great strength of this region, but over time we under-invested in maintenance and repair," Wiedefeld said. Last week, he proposed making the midnight weekend Metro closure permanent, and rolling back Sunday night service from midnight to 10 pm. "SafeTrack is the right approach but we are going to need more time to continue the job," he said. - Businesses hit - But businesses like restaurants, bars and clubs say a change like that would be a huge blow. "We have heard from member restaurants that sales are down as much as 20 percent due to early Metro closures and the current SafeTrack schedule," warned the head of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, Kathy Hollinger. "The impact of the Metrorail's schedule on restaurants and small businesses cannot be ignored." Near the U Street Metro station, in an area packed with nightlife, the manager of Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant, Mahaylu Daasyn, said he was having to let employees leave earlier. "We don't really feel an impact on clients. The problem is the employees. At this rhythm, we won't have anyone in the kitchen anymore, then we'll have no choice but to close earlier," Daasyn said. People who can afford to are turning to ride-sharing services. "At the end of the day, Uber is the big winner in this," said one driver, who identified herself only as Claudette. "The number of bookings have skyrocketed with SafeTrack." Washington, DC's Metrorail system was a source of pride when it opened 40 years ago, but today it's better known for shoddy carriages, delays and fires Nicholas Kamm (AFP/File) Convicts in the dark for hours about Indonesia execution reprieve Ten drug convicts whose executions were delayed during a chaotic process in Indonesia were only officially informed of the temporary reprieve hours after they had expected to face the firing squad, a lawyer said Wednesday. Despite international protests, one Indonesian and three Nigerian convicts were put to death shortly after midnight last Friday on a prison island -- Jakarta's first round of executions for over a year. But another 10 death row prisoners -- Indonesians as well as nationals from Pakistan, India, Zimbabwe and Nigeria -- were not executed, although authorities have suggested they will face the firing squad later. Relatives of Pakistani national Zulfiqar Ali, who was sentenced to death in 2005 for heroin possession, celebrate in Lahore after the Indonesian government halted his execution Arif Ali (AFP/File) It is still not clear why the group was spared at the 11th hour and the process has attracted strong condemnation, with one lawyer calling it a "complete mess". Authorities have not given a clear explanation. Theories have ranged from concerns over legal problems with several cases to a major storm that hit Nusakambangan prison island as officials were about to carry out the sentences. Adding to the sense of chaos, a lawyer for one of the 10 said they were not officially informed their executions were being halted until around 6:00 am on Friday (2300 GMT Thursday) -- about five hours after the four others were shot and four hours after authorities had announced the initial executions to the media. Lawyer Arinta Singgih -- who represented one of the group, Indonesian woman Merri Utami -- said that as the hours passed, the group suspected they had been spared but this did not become clear for some time. "At six o'clock, the doors of the isolation cells were opened," Singgih told AFP, referring to the cells where death row convicts wait before being executed. "Guessing that they would not be executed, they walked out of the doors and hugged each other in joy." They were then informed by officials that they would not be executed but were not given an explanation, she said. - 'Ready to die' - Only hours earlier a prison warden had told Utami, whom activists have claimed is innocent and was tricked into becoming a drug mule, to get ready to leave her cell. However moments later the warden told her to stay put -- leading her to suspect the execution might not go ahead. "She had put make-up on and was ready to die," Singgih said, adding Utami had spent the previous day reading a prayer book. "She said that she had never felt that calm before in her life." Lawyer Ricky Gunawan -- whose Nigerian client Humphrey Jefferson Ejike Eleweke was among those tied to a post and shot in a jungle clearing last week -- slammed the "cruel and inhumane treatment" of those left waiting for hours to learn they would be spared. "Imagine the psychological suffering," he told AFP. Last week's executions were the third under President Joko Widodo since he took office in 2014. The last round was in April 2015 when authorities put to death eight drug convicts, including two Australians, sparking international outrage. Widodo has defended dramatically ramping up the use of capital punishment, saying Indonesia is fighting a war on drugs and traffickers must be heavily punished. Family members mourn at the grave of an Indonesian man after his execution on a prison island Juni Kriswanto (AFP) Philippine police kill backers of 'drug-protector' mayor Police Wednesday shot dead six supporters of a Philippine mayor days after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to have him "shot on sight" for protecting his allegedly drug-dealing son. Hundreds of people have died since Duterte won a landslide election on a pledge to wipe out lawlessness by killing tens of thousands of criminals. A gunfight broke out between law enforcers and supporters of mayor Rolando Espinosa at dawn on Wednesday outside his property in the central town of Albuera on Leyte island, police said. Philippines police claim to have killed more than 400 suspected drug dealers since President Rodrigo Duterte was elected, but rights groups fear the total could be far higher as vigilantes have joined the spree Noel Celis (AFP/File) "The incident this morning is connected to the current investigation pertaining to the involvement of the mayor and his son in the illegal drugs trade," national police spokesman Dionaldo Carlos told reporters. He said six gunmen were killed while police recovered 17 guns and several grenades. On Monday Duterte gave Espinosa and his son 24 hours to surrender after police arrested five of the mayor's bodyguards and employees in a drug sting operation. "Otherwise, an order of 'shoot on sight' will be given if they resist and endanger the lives of arresting police officers," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said on television. The mayor surrendered to police on Tuesday. The son is at large. The mayor "surrendered to me... (following) orders of the president for him to be shot on sight if he resists," said national police chief Ronald de la Rosa. Police claim to have killed more than 400 suspected drug dealers in the month since Duterte took office, but rights groups fear the total could be far higher as vigilantes have joined the spree. Photos of one vigilante's victims being cradled by his weeping girlfriend at a busy Manila intersection last week have gone viral, helping raise awareness of the rising body count that has shocked the world. The victim, pedicab driver Michael Siaron, was laid to rest at a public cemetery in Manila on Wednesday in a low-key funeral attended by his sobbing girlfriend and several dozen relatives. Hundreds of anti-narcotics and human rights groups from around the world called Tuesday for the United Nations to condemn Duterte's policy. Police chief de la Rosa said Mayor Espinosa had been listed in police records as a "drug protector" whose son controlled the narcotics trade in the Albuera region. "If you're listening now Kerwin, your father has already surrendered so you should follow your father," de la Rosa said in a bizarre live news conference with Espinosa. "If you don't surrender you will die, so better surrender because your life is really in danger." The mayor was the second high-profile drug suspect to turn himself in after being accused by Duterte of drugs-related crimes. Last month, also on national television, Duterte told a businessman at a meeting he would "finish you off" unless he stopped dealing in drugs. The businessman denied the allegations. Police said more than 100,000 other people have also surrendered to the local authorities and pledged to stop using illegal drugs. Advertisement At least 22 people are feared dead after two buses plunged into a flooded river when an old bridge collapsed in monsoon rain in western India. Rescuers raced to the crumbled bridge south of the financial capital of Mumbai to search for the passengers swept away following the accident yesterday. Television footage showed large chunks of the British-colonial era had fallen into the swollen Savitri River. Rescuers pull two bodies from the swollen river after a bridge collapsed during monsoon rain in India People rushed to the edge of the water and watched as rescuers tried to search for any survivors A helicopter hovers overhead as the disaster response team look out over he river after the bridge collapse near Mumbai Rescue workers arrive for a search operation in the flooded River Savitri carrying their equipment At least two dead bodies have been recovered by search teams working on the river. Sanjay Patil, police superintendent of Raigad district where the accident took place, said: 'Twenty two people from two buses are missing after the 50-feet long bridge collapsed.; The bridge straddling the river lies along a major highway connecting Mumbai to the tourism state of Goa. Emergency workers armed with diving and other specialist equipment were scouring the river for the missing. National Disaster Response Force chief O.P Singh said: 'As per initial information, some vehicles and people have been swept away. Our team has rushed to the spot. The bridge straddling the river lies along a major highway connecting Mumbai to the tourism state of Goa Rescue workers went out on to the raging river in rubber boats to try and rescue any survivors who were on the buses that collapsed into the water Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the bridge appeared to have collapsed after being pounded by the flooded river The incident is the latest in a string of deadly accidents in India where enforcement of safety rules is weak and substandard materials are often used 'Our team is equipped with deep divers and life-saving equipment.' Television footage showed a helicopter flying over the river searching for survivors. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the bridge appeared to have collapsed after being pounded by the flooded river. 'The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar,' he said on Twitter. Rescuers have raced to the crumbled bridge south of the financial capital of Mumbai to search for the missing passengers Mumbai has seen heavy flooding in recent days due to monsoon rains which has caused the bridge to collapse The incident is the latest in a string of deadly accidents in India where enforcement of safety rules is weak and substandard materials are often used. In April, an under-construction flyover collapsed in the eastern city of Kolkata, killing 26 people. Avoid China-claimed shoal, Philippines tells fishermen The Philippines told its fishermen Wednesday to steer clear of a fishing ground in the disputed South China Sea to avoid harassment from Chinese authorities. The warning came despite a recent ruling by a UN-backed tribunal in favour of the Philippines, as it dismissed China's territorial claims to large swathes of the waters. Beijing angrily rejected the court's judgement and on Tuesday it announced penalties for "illegal" fishing in its waters including the disputed areas. Manila's foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose said fisherman should avoid Scarborough Shoal in the contested South China Sea so as not to be harassed by Chinese authorities Ted Aljibe (AFP/File) "We are aware that China is occupying Scarborough Shoal, so let us wait for clarity on how our fishermen can return there without being subjected to harassment anymore," Manila's foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose told reporters. Jose said that while the tribunal ruling was clear, the "reality on the ground" was different. "The reality is that China is there so we must discuss this," he said. Asked if this meant Filipino fishermen should avoid the shoal for now, Jose said: "This is for the safety of everyone." Manila's position is likely to anger critics of President Rodrigo Duterte's new government, which has been accused of taking a soft line with Beijing. The question of who has the right to fish in the disputed South China Sea has been a major bone of contention between Beijing and Manila, which brought the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Manila lodged the case under its previous government in 2013, saying that after 17 years of negotiations with Beijing it had exhausted all political and diplomatic avenues to settle the dispute. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to the sea, through which over $5 trillion in annual trade passes. In 2012 China took control of the Scarborough Shoal, 230 kilometres (143 miles) from the main Philippine island of Luzon after a stand-off with the country's navy. It has since driven away Filipino fishermen attempting to fish in the area, sometimes using water cannons. Duterte has said he wants to repair relations with China that were battered during the term of his predecessor Benigno Aquino. Duterte, who assumed the presidency on June 30, said he would send former president Fidel Ramos to Beijing as an envoy to negotiate on the issue. "This is one of the priority issues that we must take up when we go into direct talks with China," Jose said Wednesday. Burundi rejects deployment of 228 UN police Burundi's government has rejected the deployment of 228 UN police to the troubled African nation, saying a French-led UN resolution authorising the force was made without its consent. The UN Security Council on Friday agreed to deploy the force in its strongest move to date to try to end more than a year of violence. "The government of Burundi rejects every aspect of this resolution linked to the deployment of any force on its territory," said spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba in the first official reaction to the move. Around 1,000 people march in Bujumbura on July 30, 2016, in protest against a UN Security Council decision to send a police contingent to the violence-wracked country The UN resolution was "in violation of the fundamental principles required of the UN family and above all violating its sovereignty," he added in a statement released late on Tuesday. The council adopted the resolution on dispatching the police to the capital Bujumbura, and throughout Burundi, for an initial period of a year. Nzobonariba said any UN resolution must be approved by the country it affected, which was "unfortunately not the case". The planned police deployment has sparked fury from the authorities, who after initially saying they would accept up to 50 unarmed officers rejected even this small number in the statement. Burundi's own security forces were "in perfect control of the situation in the country's interior and throughout the territory," the spokesman said. He added that 200 African Union observers and military experts due to be deployed remained welcome, although just under a quarter of that number have so far taken up their posts. The rebuttal had been expected after thousands of people marched through the streets of Bujumbura on Saturday to protest against the measure in a rally organised by the authorities. - 'Better across the border' - Burundi also lashed out at neighbouring Rwanda in the statement, whom it accuses of training armed rebels that mount frequent attacks on government troops. Nzobonariba suggested the police force would better serve its purpose across the border, "to keep an eye on the recruitment sites and training facilities for these terrorist forces that disturb the security of Burundi." Burundi has been in turmoil since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced plans in April last year to run for a third term, which he went on to win. More than 500 people have since died, many of them in extrajudicial killings blamed on Burundian police, security forces and militias linked to the ruling party, according to the United Nations. At least 270,000 people have fled the country. Australia rejects uranium mine project over wildlife concerns Australian environmental authorities Wednesday rejected a Canadian bid to build a mine at a major uranium deposit due to fears the project could threaten tiny underground wildlife. Cameco, one of the world's biggest publicly listed uranium producers, wants to develop the Yeelirrie deposit in Western Australia after buying it from BHP Billiton four years ago. But the state's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) said Wednesday the project could threaten the viability of some species of tiny subterranean fauna. Australia is the world's third-ranking uranium producer behind Kazakhstan and Canada "The stygofauna habitat at Yeelirrie is particularly rich, with 73 species recorded," said its chairman Tom Hatton. He said despite Cameco's "well-considered management strategies" the EPA concluded that "there was too great a chance of a loss of species that are restricted to the impact area". Stygofauna, named after the Styx river in Greek mythology, are blind and colourless. Most live exclusively in groundwater, according to the Australian government. They are made up mostly of crustaceans but include some invertebrates, and in Australia, two blind fish species. Cameco said it respected the decision and would work with the government on how to manage the viability of such fauna at the proposed mine, which was to extract 7,500 tonnes of uranium oxide concentrate each year and include two open pits, processing facilities, roads and housing. "We believe that with further sampling and research, subterranean fauna can be appropriately managed" at Yeelirrie, said managing director Brian Reilly. Yeelirrie, 650 kilometres (400 miles) northeast of Perth, is one of Australia's largest undeveloped uranium deposits. Cameco estimates that the site holds about 127.3 million pounds (57.7 million kilograms) of uranium. Australia does not use nuclear power but is the world's third-ranking uranium producer behind Kazakhstan and Canada. In 2013-14 it exported 6,701 tonnes of oxide concentrate worth Aus$622 million (US$472 million). A bunch of teacher voice groups are, well, sending a loud, clear message to the U.S. Department of Education: Give the states more guidance about how to use the Every Student Succeeds Act to improve teacher training. The letter was written by the National Network of State Teachers of the Year, Educators 4 Excellence, and America Achieves, among others. It represents their formal comments on the Education Departments proposed rules for state plans and accountability under ESSA. Many of the groups have been working to increase teachers voices in education policy via advocacy and training, although not without controversy. The proposed regulations spell out all the things each state will need to describe in its consolidated plan to receive federal education funding, including under Title I of the law (which supports programs for disadvantaged students) and Title II (which supports teacher quality). Disagreements over the rules proposals for school ratings have been dominating the news, but as it turns out, the regulations also spell out in exhaustivesome would say excruciatingdetail what states have to do to meet the laws teacher quality requirements. For example, the law requires states to establish plans to ensure that low-income and minority students in Title I schools arent taught at disproportionate rates by ineffective, out-of-field, or inexperienced teachers, compared to students enrolled in schools not receiving those funds. So the regulations would require states to establish definitions for all of those terms, and to report annually on the rates, and to highlight major disparities between the groups. Thats much more detailed than anything the agency asked for under previous versions of the law. For professional development, states have to describe how theyll implement a system of growth and improvement for teachers, principals, and other school leaders that addresses induction, development, compensation, and advancement. PD Provisions Falling Short? But the groups think this requirement falls a bit short. They argue that it should be expanded to specify that professional development must be tailored to each teacher, principal, and leaderfocusing on the areas critical to their individual growth and success. We are also concerned that these efforts might be greatly diminished if professional development is not implemented in a manner that teachers find meaningful, they write. How might the Education Department do this? For starters, states should be provided with a description of what sustained PD looks like, such as: a progression of learning sessions coupled with the implementation of strategies in the classroom and subsequent feedback based on classroom observation, the groups recommend. And states should be encouraged through regulation to connect their teacher-evaluation systems, if they have them in place, to professional development. (ESSA itself doesnt require states to set up these systems.) To improve, teachers must clearly understand how their performance and growth is measured against high teaching standards. Teacher effectiveness systems offer an excellent opportunity to gather data about teachers strengths and weaknesses, and schools and districts should use this data to determine and develop professional development opportunities for teachers, they write. Read the full text of the letter here. And then weigh in in our comment section what you think might improve the teacher sections of the regulation. Photo: Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. listens during a White House ceremony in May honoring the 2016 National Teacher of the Year. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP-File More on teacher quality in ESSA: China sinkhole swallows passers-by A huge sinkhole opened up in China, swallowing a section of road and passers-by and leaving at least one person missing, state media reported Wednesday. At least three people fell into the 30 metre (99 feet) long, 20 metre wide and nine metre deep sinkhole, which appeared during heavy rain in downtown Zhengzhou, in the central province of Henan, the Beijing Youth Daily said, citing witnesses. An initial investigation showed the collapse might have been caused by water pipes buried under the road breaking up due to the rain, provincial firefighters said in a social media posting. Rescuers search for missing people after a giant sinkhole opened up on a road in Zhengzhou, in central China's Henan province on August 2, 2016 A man and a woman were brought out by rescuers after the sinkhole opened up but another woman, who was riding an electric bicycle with the man, was swept away by a raging torrent, the Beijing Youth Daily said. Zhengzhou's city government said it was unclear how many people fell into the hole, the paper added. Rescuers searching for the missing found three electric bicycles, bags, slippers and some clothes in the cavity on Tuesday. Sinkholes are not unknown in China, where they are often blamed on construction works and the country's rapid pace of development. In 2013, five people died when a 10 metre wide sinkhole opened up at the gates of an industrial estate in Shenzhen, which neighbours Hong Kong. Iraq prosecutor files complaint against graft accused Iraq's chief prosecutor has filed a complaint against officials including the parliament speaker who were accused of corruption by the defence minister, a judicial spokesman said on Wednesday. Defence Minister Khalid al-Obeidi accused speaker Salim al-Juburi and several lawmakers of corruption while he was himself being questioned in parliament on Monday over graft allegations. The head of Iraq's public prosecution filed a complaint against "all those whose names were mentioned" by Obeidi during the questioning, spokesman Abdelsattar Bayraqdar said in a statement. Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi has accused MPs of seeking to blackmail him in order to pass corrupt contracts Khalil Mazraawi (AFP/File) Juburi has meanwhile filed a suit against Obeidi for making "false accusations and misleading public opinion and slander and defamation and insulting sovereign state institutions," his office said in a statement, adding that a "team of lawyers" is following the case. The members of parliament accused by Obeidi included Alia Nasayif -- who had brought the corruption allegations against the minister -- as well as Hanan al-Fatlawi and Mohammed al-Karbouli. Obeidi said he was being questioned in retribution for his rejection of graft, and accused Juburi and the MPs of seeking to blackmail him in order to pass corrupt contracts. Juburi later held a news conference rejecting the allegations against him and the lawmakers. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi directed Iraq's anti-corruption body to investigate the matter, and also ordered a temporary travel ban for all those whose names were mentioned during Obeidi's questioning. But Juburi rejected the bans, saying it was the exclusive prerogative of the judiciary to issue them. Nepal lawmakers elect Maoist chief as prime minister Nepal's new Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal pledged Wednesday to unite a country hit by deadly protests over constitutional changes after lawmakers elected the Maoist leader and former guerrilla to head a new government. Dahal, better known by his nom de guerre Prachanda or "the fierce one", led a decade-long Maoist insurgency before transforming the rebel movement into a political party after a 2006 peace deal. He is now tasked with rebuilding the country after a devastating earthquake and resolving simmering unrest over the new national charter adopted last September. Nepal's newly-elected Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as Prachanda, (C), greets supporters as he leaves the parliament building in Kathmandu on August 3, 2016 Prakash Mathema (AFP) "I pledge that I will unite everyone in the country," he said in an address to parliament before the vote. "I have a responsibility to solve this problem. I feel that I have been put forward as a candidate to work as a bridge between (communities)," he said. Dahal will also have to mend relations with powerful neighbour India, which made no secret of its disapproval of the constitution. Indians living near the Nepali border have close links with Nepal's Madhesi ethnic minority, which complains that the new charter leaves them marginalised. Kathmandu in turn accused New Delhi of supporting a months-long border blockade by Madhesi protesters that cut off vital supplies from India and prompted fuel-starved Nepal to turn to China for help. Following Wednesday's election, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that New Delhi would offer Dahal "our full support" and invited him to visit the country -- a traditional first stop for Nepali prime ministers heading overseas. Commentators cautioned that the brash leader, who has vowed to honour the previous government's economic agreements with China, will need to tread carefully to win New Delhi's confidence without losing Beijing's support. "He should balance relations with both neighbours," said Guna Raj Luitel, editor of Nepali daily Nagarik. "They are both economic powers and he should try to win benefits for Nepal from both," Luitel told AFP. Dahal, head of the Maoist party, ran unopposed and secured 363 out of 573 votes to become the Himalayan nation's premier for a second time. He has served as prime minister once before, after the Maoists won elections in 2008, but only lasted nine months in office before resigning. Dahal, whose Maoists are the third-largest force in parliament, pulled out of a coalition led by Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli -- the former prime minister -- three weeks ago and secured the support of the biggest party, the Nepali Congress. He also won the backing of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) -- an alliance of protesting parties - paving the way for warmer ties between the new government and Madhesi demonstrators. - 'Power games' - Oli, who heads the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), faced fierce criticism over his handling of the protests. More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters demanding revisions to federal state borders set out in the new charter. Dahal is expected to be more sympathetic to protesters' concerns following the Madhesi parties' decision to back his candidacy. But any changes to the constitution must be passed in parliament by a two-thirds majority, meaning he will likely need to reach out to Oli's UML, which holds 182 out of 595 seats, for support. The new charter, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to bolster Nepal's transformation from a Hindu monarchy to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. But continuing discussions between the government and protesters have failed to break the deadlock. Meanwhile, some four million Nepalis are still living in tents or huts after an earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people in 2015. Nepalis frustrated by the slow pace of reconstruction said they had few hopes for the new government. "So many who lost their homes in the earthquake are still in shelters. But (politicians) are always busy playing power games," said Nabin Shrestha, who drives a three-wheeler for a living. Prachanda will be the eighth prime minister to lead Nepal since 2008, when he became premier for the first time and overthrew a 240-year-old feudal monarchy. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ran unopposed and secured 363 out of 573 votes to become the Nepal's prime minister for a second time Prakash Mathema (AFP/File) Four more Japanese caught over ATM heist Japanese police arrested four people Wednesday in connection with a multi-million dollar bank heist, including a member of a group affiliated with the country's biggest organised crime syndicate. The 1.8 billion yen ($17.8 million) haul reportedly involved more than 100 people making a series of cash withdrawals from some 1,700 ATMs across Japan using fake credit card data from a South African bank. Investigators had already made at least two arrests after launching a nationwide manhunt in May but are yet to unveil exactly how the crime was organised and carried out. The 1.8 billion yen ($17.8 million) heist reportedly involved more than 100 people making a series of cash withdrawals from some 1,700 ATMs across Japan Toshifumi Kitamura (AFP/File) The latest four are accused of having coordinated to steal a total of 3.8 million yen from ATM machines located at five convenience stores in Ichihara city, east of Tokyo, according to an investigator with Chiba prefectural Police. The group included Takanari Fukuda, 49, a member of an underworld, or "yakuza", group affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest organised crime syndicate, the investigator told AFP. The four men carried out the withdrawals from 6:45 am through 7:54 am on May 15, he said. "This is part of the some 1.8 billion yen" that was stolen, said the investigator, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity. But the four are mere rank-and-file members of the coordinated crime, and have not been able to provide significant clues to advance the investigation, he added. The organised heist was allegedly carried out by thieves armed with fake credit card details from South Africa's Standard Bank. Standard Bank acknowledged it was a victim of the crime and put its losses at around $19 million. Libyan forces push Sirte advance backed by US strikes Libyan pro-government forces, backed by US air strikes, fought to advance on Islamic State jihadists in Sirte on Wednesday despite mines and snipers, a spokesman said. "Our forces... are trying to strengthen their advance with the support of ongoing American air strikes that have given momentum to the military operation," said Reda Issa, a spokesman for forces loyal to Libya's unity government. The IS bastion, located just across the Mediterranean from Europe, has been shaken by weeks of fierce clashes between jihadists and fighters allied to Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). The IS bastion of Sirte has been shaken by weeks of fierce clashes between jihadists and fighters allied to Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) Mahmud Turkia (AFP/File) American war planes carried out seven strikes against IS positions in Sirte on Monday and Tuesday at the GNA's request. Issa did not say whether further strikes took place on Wednesday. GNA forces have been battling to oust jihadists from the town since May 12. They entered the city on June 9 and have pushed the jihadists out of the city's port, international airport, an air base and a hospital. But their advance slowed as IS hit back with sniper fire, car bombs and suicide attacks. "There are targets that are hard to hit because they are among the houses," said Issa. "American air strikes, which are very accurate, will help to destroy those targets." "Every day the battle's outcome is not settled, the city becomes more full of booby traps," said Issa. "But there is no doubt that the presence of effective and accurate weapons will accelerate the end of the battle." US President Barack Obama defended the air campaign on Tuesday, saying defeating the jihadists there was in America's national interest. Search for 20 feared dead after India bridge collapse Rescuers were searching Wednesday for 20 people missing and feared dead after two buses plunged into a fast-flowing river in western India when a bridge collapsed in torrential monsoon rain, officials said. Emergency workers pulled two bodies from the rain-swollen river but were still searching for the others feared swept downstream following the accident south of Mumbai overnight on Tuesday. Television footage showed large chunks of the British-colonial era bridge had fallen into the Savitri river, but there was no sign of the vehicles in the water. Rescuers raced to the crumbled bridge south of the financial capital of Mumbai to search for the passengers on August 3, 2016 The bridge is about 170 kilometres (105 miles) from Mumbai along a major highway connecting India's financial capital with the tourism state of Goa. "Two bodies have been recovered by rescue agencies. We are trying to ascertain their identities and the (rescue) operations are on," Sanjay Patil, police superintendent of Raigad district where the accident occurred, told AFP. More than 100 rescuers armed with diving and other specialist equipment were scouring the river, but their efforts were hampered by the fast current and incessant rain. "The flow of currents is very strong, making it difficult to launch a full-scale search operation. We are looking for vehicles and bodies over a stretch of eight kilometres," disaster management chief O.P Singh told AFP. "Our team is equipped with deep divers and life-saving equipment," he said. The air force, navy and coastguard have deployed helicopters to survey the river, while television footage showed rescuers in inflatable dinghies trying to manoeuvre on the fast-flowing water. Home Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament that 112 rescuers in total along with divers and 12 boats have been deployed to the site. "The central government is with the state government in this hour of crisis," Singh said. Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra state of which Mumbai is the capital, said the bridge appeared to have collapsed after being pounded for days by the flooded river. "The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of River Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar," he said on Twitter. The incident is the latest in a string of deadly accidents in India, where enforcement of safety rules is weak and substandard materials are often used. In April an under-construction flyover collapsed in the eastern city of Kolkata, killing 26 people. Scores of people die every year from flooding and landslides during the annual monsoon rains in India and neighbouring Nepal and Bangladesh. Tunisia names Youssef Chahed, 40, as PM-designate Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi on Wednesday named local affairs minister Youssef Chahed, 40, as prime minister-designate tasked with forming a unity cabinet to tackle major economic and security challenges. If he wins the backing of parliament, Chahed will be the North African country's youngest premier since it won independence from France in 1956. He would also be Tunisia's seventh prime minister in less than six years since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia's newly appointed prime minister-delegate Youssef Chahed takes office as Tunisia struggles with a stagnant economy and the threat posed by jihadist groups Fethi Belaid (AFP) His appointment comes as the country struggles with a stagnant economy and the threat posed by jihadists -- and days after lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence in outgoing premier Habib Essid. "Today we are entering a new stage that requires effort, sacrifice, audacity, courage, selflessness and unorthodox solutions," Chahed told reporters outside the presidential palace in Carthage. Chahed, who is said to be a distant relative of Essebsi's, now has 30 days to come up with a ministerial team. "I met today with the president... who charged me with forming a national unity government," he said. He promised that women would be better represented in his cabinet than in previous governments and called for greater youth involvement. - Young age - Chahed -- who studied agricultural engineering -- entered politics after the 2011 revolution that inspired similar uprisings across the Arab world. He joined Nidaa Tounes in 2013. Even before his nomination, Tunisians were enthusiastic about Chahed's young age -- especially compared with other leaders since Tunisia's youth-led revolution. Essebsi is 89 years old, while Essid is 67. But others criticised the appointment of a member of an outgoing government they see as having failed to address the country's challenges. They also slammed his links with the president -- whose son's presence in Nidaa Tounes is already controversial. Discontent over nepotism under Ben Ali helped fuel the revolt that ousted him. Presidential adviser Saida Garrach however dismissed criticism of the premier-designate. "You can't punish someone or deprive them of whatever it is just because of... who they are related to," she told radio station Shems FM. "Half the Tunisian population are related by marriage." A source close to the prime minister-designate, who asked to remain anonymous, said Chahed was "a man of integrity, who works hard, does not belong to lobbies... and knows Tunisia's real problems." Essid's government had faced growing criticism for failing to tackle repeated jihadist attacks and an economic crisis. - 'Presidentialisation' - Two attacks claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group last year killed 59 holidaymakers at a museum in the capital and at a beach resort near Sousse, dealing a heavy blow to the vital tourism sector. Tunisia has been in a state of emergency since November, when a suicide bombing -- also claimed by IS -- killed 12 presidential guards in central Tunis. Economic growth slowed to 0.8 percent last year from 2.3 percent in 2014, and unemployment nationwide stood at 15 percent at the end of last year. Nidaa Tounes praised Chahed's nomination, saying it sent out "a strong message at home and abroad that Tunisia's future lies in its youth". Ennahda said the Islamist party had "no particular reservations" about the appointment but was "remaining cautious". "We're waiting to see how he'll compose this government," spokeswoman Sayida Ounissi said, adding the question of whether or not Ennahda would join it remained open. Political analyst Hamza Meddeb said Chahed's nomination would "allow Nidaa Tounes to take up the reins of power". Meddeb said Tunisia was today witnessing "the presidentialisation of the political regime", even after the 2014 constitution that followed Ben Ali's ouster limited the powers of the head of state. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi (R) appoints local affairs minister Youssef Chahed (L) as the country's new prime minister-designate, on August 3, 2016 Fethi Belaid (AFP) Coalition planes pound IS-held Saddam palace Coalition warplanes bombed one of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's palaces which was being used as a training base by the Islamic State jihadist group, Britain's Ministry of Defence said Wednesday. The palace in the IS stronghold of Mosul in northern Iraq was attacked in a joint operation by the US-led coalition on Monday, with British Tornado jets targeting the headquarters buildings and a security centre. Extensive surveillance established that the IS group, also known as Daesh, was using the palace and its sprawling grounds as a headquarters and training centre for foreign recruits, the ministry said. The palace built by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in Mosul, northern Iraq, was bombed by coalition forces on August 3, 2016 MOD (MOD/AFP) Within the secure compound on the banks of the River Tigris, the main palace building was being used as accommodation and a meeting venue. The site also contained "a number of more discreet outbuildings used for command and control, training, internal security and repression", it said. "A large coalition air package drawn from several nations conducted a carefully coordinated attack on the complex," the ministry said in a statement. "The British contribution was a pair of Tornados, armed with the largest guided bombs in the RAF's (Royal Air Force's) inventory, the 2,000-pound (910-kilogramme) Enhanced Paveway III, which were used to target first the headquarters buildings, then a security centre. "Initial analysis indicates that the coalition mission was successful." Mosul, Iraq's second city, has been held by the IS group since June 2014. Iraqi forces are conducting operations to set the stage for an assault but the final push to retake it is likely still months away. As part of the international coalition, RAF Tornado and Typhoon jets are flying daily missions against IS in Iraq as well as in Syria from the British sovereign bases on Cyprus. "Daesh has been losing followers and territory for months, and emphatic strikes like this show that we and the coalition will not waver," Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said after the Mosul bombing. "Daesh fighters, both foreign and home-grown, can see that they are targets inside this cult." UN council to meet after N. Korea missile lands near Japan The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss Pyongyang's launch of a ballistic missile that for the first time landed in Japanese-controlled waters. The United States and Japan called for the urgent talks, which are to begin at 4 pm (2000 GMT). North Korea fired two intermediate-range missiles simultaneously, but one appeared to explode on takeoff, according to the US military. North Korea's recent ballistic missile tests are in violation of several resolutions by the UN Security Council The second missile landed in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), some 250 kilometers (155 miles) off Japan's northern coast and within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is "deeply troubled" by the latest test launch, his spokesman said, adding that "such actions seriously undermine regional peace and stability." "We reiterate the call on the DPRK to heed the united call of the international community to reverse its course and return to the process of sincere dialogue," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, using the initials for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name. Britain's Deputy Ambassador Peter Wilson said: "This is the first time that a DPRK missile has landed in the Japanese EEZ. I think this is something that the council should take extremely seriously." Wilson said the latest launch was "a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions" that prohibit North Korea from developing missile technology. The US Strategic Command said the two missiles were launched from a site in western North Korea around 7:50 am Seoul time (2250 GMT Tuesday). The council has repeatedly condemned North Korea's missile launches, but a US-drafted statement circulated last month following an apparent submarine-launched missile test has bogged down in discussion with China, the North's closest ally. On June 23, the council adopted a statement condemning North Korea for two medium-range missile tests. North Korea has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since it first tested an atomic device in 2006. The council in March adopted its toughest sanctions resolution to date, banning exports of coal, iron and other minerals from North Korea and imposing other restrictions, in particular in the banking sector. North Korea missile test Laurence Chu (AFP) Global solidarity month after deadly Baghdad bombing Messages of solidarity from Nice and other cities hit by attacks were delivered to Baghdad residents Wednesday, a month after the deadliest single bombing ever to strike the Iraqi capital. At a small event held on Baghdad's central Tahrir Square and organised by the Avaaz global campaigning group, activists put up posters and handed out postcards carrying the messages. "My heart and thoughts are with all the victims, we will never forget you," read one message signed by Manon, from the French Riviera city of Nice, where a truck ploughed through a crowd on July 14, killing 84 people. An Iraqi man gives a rose to a member of the security forces on August 3, 2016 in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, a month after the deadliest single bombing ever to strike the capital Sabah Arar (AFP) That attack was claimed by the Islamic State group, although the attacker's links to the group remain unclear. The jihadist organisation, which has its roots in Iraq, also claimed responsibility for a July 3 suicide truck bomb attack in Baghdad's busy Karrada neighbourhood which the government said killed at least 323 people. Dozens of suicide attacks have hit Baghdad this year alone, and organiser Ahmed Twaij said those killed in the Iraqi capital often attract little solicitude from the West. "It's just a statistic," the activist said. "One hundred people dead, 200 people dead... they're not seen as someone's brother who just passed away, or someone's sister, someone's mother. "Iraqi lives are just as important as lives in the West," said Twaij. "So these are letters from around the world in a sign of solidarity towards the people of Iraq to show that... they are not alone." Many of the messages were from Nice and Paris but others originated from a number of other countries, including the United States. "People from every corner of the world have been hit by brutal terror attacks in recent weeks, but from Paris to Baghdad, Mogadishu to Kabul we stand united against these attempts to divide us," Luis Morago, Avaaz campaign director, said in a statement. "Iraqis know all too well what can happen when we split apart and turn on each other," he said. According to the Iraqi health ministry, 208 of the people killed in Karrada a month ago required DNA testing to determine their identities. How to Start an Employee-Owned Small Business Starting a small business can take many forms: consulting out of your living room, building in your garage, or cutting the ribbon on a storefront. And your small business can exist in many corporate structures: a sole proprietorship, partnership, or LLC. In almost all of these iterations, however, there is normally just one owner or a small group of investor-shareholders. But what if you want to do something different? They say that giving your employees stock options can incentivize them to work harder and smarter for the company, so what happens if you make all of your employees owners? Here's what you need to know about employee-owned businesses: Getting There Equally dividing ownership among all of your employees from day one can prove difficult. After all, if you're an optimist (and almost every entrepreneur necessarily is), you're guessing that your small business will only grow to employ more and more people in the future. And if you've already divvied up employee and founder ownership at the start, it's hard to get shareholders to reduce their stake for newcomers. This is why most companies either become employee-owned over time or slowly vest their employees with more stake in the company. New Belgium Brewing Company -- makers and purveyors of the ubiquitous Fat Tire Amber Ale -- began life as a founder-owned company. But over time their employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) grew, a founder left, and the whole company was turned over to the employees in 2013. "We have great retention," former founder and CEO Kim Jordan told Entrepreneur. "Our turnover is under 5 percent." Similarly, employee-owned Publix gives workers a piece of the company after they put in 1,000 hours, or about a year, based on a standard 40-hour work week. Employee-owners get 8.5 percent of their annual take-home pay in stock options, and over a third are on track to become owners. Getting the Benefits Both New Belgium and Publix report that employee happiness, productivity, and engagement increase as ownership does. But those benefits don't come without a cost. Making your employees owners means opening up your books and sharing a lot more information (almost all of it) with employees than you would have previously. Also, it means you're no longer hiring employees -- you're hiring business partners. So you better bring some good people on board. And those employee-owners will now have an owner's voice. Democratizing ownership of your small business also means democratizing decision making. If you have more questions about employee ownership or would like legal advice in creating or moving to an employee-owned small business, you can contact an experienced commercial attorney near you. Related Resources: Republican fund-raiser defects to Clinton camp A prominent Republican activist and fundraiser says she will back Democrat Hillary Clinton for president and give money to her campaign to stop her party's nominee Donald Trump, repudiating him as a dangerous demagogue. "I will vote for Hillary, I will talk to my Republican friends about helping her, and I will donate to her campaign and try to raise money for her," Meg Whitman told The New York Times Tuesday. The billionaire Whitman is CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and used to be chief executive of eBay. Whitman funded her own, ultimately failed campaign to be elected governor of California in 2010. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a campaign rally in Ashburn, Virginia, on August 2, 2016 Molly Riley (AFP) Whitman told the Times that Trump is a "dishonest demagogue" and that electing him to the White House would lead the United States "on a very dangerous journey." Whitman said she stood by remarks earlier this year in which she compared Trump to Hitler and Mussolini, and said dictators often come to power by democratic means. "Time and again history has shown that when demagogues have gotten power or come close to getting power, it usually does not end well," Whitman said. She also disclosed that Clinton had reached out to her about a month ago in a telephone call. Whitman said she is even willing to campaign for the former secretary of state. Whitman will donate an amount in the "mid-six figures" to the Clinton campaign, the Times said, quoting an aide to her. Whitman was a top fundraiser for Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign and chaired New Jersey governor Chris Christie's finance team this year until he pulled out of the race. When Christie endorsed Trump, Whitman accused the governor of an "astonishing display of political opportunism, the Times said. Israel approves jailing 'terrorists' from age 12 Israeli lawmakers approved jailing children as young as 12 convicted of "terrorist offences" in the wake of repeated attacks by young Palestinians, parliament said on Wednesday. "The 'Youth Bill,' which will allow the authorities to imprison a minor convicted of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder or manslaughter even if he or she is under the age of 14, passed its second and third readings... Tuesday night," an English-language statement said. It added that the seriousness of attacks in recent months "demands a more aggressive approach, including toward minors." Israel convicted Palestinian 14-year-old teenager Ahmed Manasra (front) in May 2016, for the attempted murder of two Israelis in October 2015 Ahmad Gharabli (AFP/File) The statement quoted Anat Berko, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and the bill's sponsor, as saying "to those who are murdered with a knife in the heart it does not matter if the child is 12 or 15." Violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel since October has killed at least 218 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Many of the assailants were young people, including teenagers. Other youths have been shot dead during protests and clashes with security forces. Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked gave the bill full backing when it came before a ministerial committee last year. "Youths, such as Ahmed Manasra, who engage in terror and seek the death of Jewish civilians will not be shown mercy by the law," media quoted her as saying. Manasra, a 14-year-old Palestinian, was convicted in May of the attempted murder of two Israelis in a knife attack last October. He was 13 when he carried out the attack and is yet to be sentenced. Along with a 15-year-old cousin he stabbed and seriously wounded a 20-year-old and a 12-year-old boy in the Jewish settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev in annexed east Jerusalem. The cousin was shot dead by security forces, while Manasra was hit by a car as they fled. Manasra, an east Jerusalem resident, was the youngest Palestinian to be convicted by an Israeli civilian court in the current round of violence. Israeli rights group B'Tselem criticised the bill and Israel's treatment of Palestinian youths. "Rather than sending them to prison, Israel would be better off sending them to school where they could grow up in dignity and freedom not under occupation," it said in a statement Wednesday. "Imprisoning such young minors denies them the chance of a better future." Military law, applied to Palestinian residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, already allows imprisonment of 12-year-olds. Mourners, police clash over Indian Kashmir latest deaths Fresh clashes erupted between security forces and mourners on Wednesday in Indian-administered Kashmir after two more civilians were killed in the restive region, a police officer and an AFP photographer said. Paramilitary forces fired tear gas and pellet guns at angry mourners gathered near Pampore town for the funeral of a resident shot dead the day before, the unnamed officer said. "Thousands of people gathered in the area and many from other areas crossed the river avoiding restrictions. Now we have clashes after the young man was buried," the local officer, who is not authorised to speak to media, told AFP. Kashmiri muslims clash with Indian security forces after the funeral of 20 year-old Kashmiri Riyaz Ahmed Shah in downtown Srinagar on August 3, 2016 Tauseef Mustafa (AFP/File) The resident was killed on Tuesday night when the bodyguard of a top district administrator fired his service weapon at protesters who had stopped the pair's car, witnesses said. The demonstrators had blocked the main highway, angry over alleged police raids on mosques in the area, the witnesses said. "One protester died in the shooting and another was critically wounded," deputy inspector general of police for the area, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, told AFP. With the latest shooting the death toll reached 52 in ongoing anti-India protests in the disputed territory and clashes with government forces that have also left nearly 4,000 injured. In a separate incident, a security guard of a bank ATM also died on Tuesday night when he was driving his scooter to work in Srinagar. Doctors at the main hospital in Srinagar, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he had been shot with a pellet gun from close range. Mourners for the ATM guard shouted anti-India slogans and clashed in Srinagar with security forces, an AFP photographer on the scene said. "We are receiving a number of people injured with pellets," the same doctor at the SMHS hospital said of those clashes. The killing of a young and popular rebel leader, Burhan Wani, on July 8 in a firefight with government forces sent the region spiraling into daily protests against Indian rule and clashes with government forces. The region has remained locked down since, as separatists opposed to Indian rule called for strikes and protests and authorities responded by suspending most mobile networks and internet and clamped rolling curfews in large parts of the territory including Srinagar. Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan since the two gained independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in its entirety. Several rebel groups, including Wani's Hizbul Mujahideen have fought for decades hundreds of thousands of Indian forces deployed in the territory, demanding independence for the Himalayan region or its merger with Pakistan. Rights groups say 70,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting since 1989 when the armed rebellion against Indian rule began. Kashmiri muslims shout pro-freedom and anti-India slogans as they carry Riyaz Ahmed Shah's body during his funeral in downtown Srinagar on August 3, 2016 Tauseef Mustafa (AFP) Israel silent on Gaza underground wall tender claims Israeli officials declined to comment Wednesday on reports that the government issued a tender for the construction of an underground wall around Gaza to block attack tunnels from the Palestinian territory. The Ynet news website reported Wednesday that the Defence Ministry had issued tenders for the building of an underground structure to prevent tunnels being dug into Israel. The report said the barrier would have sensors to detect digging and would eventually run the length of the 60-kilometre Gaza border. Israel accuses Hamas militants of using tunnels to launch deadly attacks from the Gaza Strip Mahmud Hams (AFP/File) It did not say how deep the wall would be, but said the tender had been submitted to 20 Israeli companies for bids. "The Ministry of Defence is not commenting on the report," a spokeswoman told AFP. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also declined to comment. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, used underground tunnels crossing the border to carry out surprise attacks in the last war between the two sides in 2014. Israel has described the tunnels as a strategic threat and Hamas has repeatedly said it is building new ones. Twice this year Israel has announced the discovery of tunnels reaching across the border, with the second occasion in May leading to the worst flare-up on the border since the 2014 war. Saudi moves to help stranded Indian workers Saudi Arabia took steps on Wednesday to help around 2,500 Indian workers stranded without money in the kingdom after a plunge in oil prices sparked construction layoffs. India's minister of state for external affairs, V.K. Singh, said he had a "very good meeting" with Saudi Labour Minister Mufarrej al-Haqbani during which they discussed the plight of the workers. Singh arrived in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Wednesday to negotiate the repatriation of the migrant workers who lost their jobs and were left without enough money to return home. A plunge in oil prices has led to thousands of people being laid off in Saudi Arabia's construction industry Fayez Nureldine (AFP/File) He said on Twitter that the Saudi government had taken "immediate action to ensure that all camps where Indian workers were staying are provided facilities like medical, food, hygiene and sanitation". The government was also "providing free passage to all those who want to go back to India," he added. Speaking to reporters in Jeddah, Singh added: "All the people who want to go back can go back at the expense of the government of Saudi Arabia." Riyadh would also honour workers' claims against companies that had defaulted on payments and had agreed to allow workers to transfer to other companies in the kingdom, he said. Under the kafala system, applied on foreign workers in Gulf countries, most employees are restricted from moving to a new job without their boss's consent before their contracts end, leaving many trapped. It has been criticised by rights groups as a form of bonded labour or even slavery. Asian activists and officials have said that thousands of jobless Indians, Filipinos, and Pakistanis are stranded and destitute in Saudi Arabia following the layoffs. Some of them have been forced to beg or sift through garbage to survive after going unpaid for months, according to officials. The Okaz daily on Wednesday quoted labour ministry official Abdullah al-Alyan as saying that the kingdom had promised "urgent" action to help around 2,500 Indian workers. - 'Urgent' action - But Alyan did not mention thousands of Saudi-based Filipino and Pakistani workers and dismissed as "rumours" that about 10,000 Indian workers had been left to starve. Alyan said the "immediate and urgent action" was to resolve the issues of "2,500 Indian workers from Saudi Oger who have faced difficulties due the delays in their salaries" and cut-offs in electricity and food supplies from their camps. Singh told reporters that "things are not as bad as they have been shown" and insisted that only one company was involved. Sources in March told AFP that delayed receipts from the government, whose oil revenues have dropped significantly in the past two years, left construction workers struggling while they wait for salaries. Haqbani said that Saudi Oger's actions were "not accepted." Saudi Oger, the once-mighty construction giant led by Lebanon's billionaire former prime minister Saad Hariri, is among the affected companies. It employs about 50,000 people of various nationalities. "We will protect the rights of the workers, not from India alone, but from all countries (whose citizens are working) in this company," Haqbani said without giving details. Saudi Oger has built some of the most grandiose complexes in Riyadh, including the palatial Ritz-Carlton hotel. In May, Saudi Binladin Group -- one of the world's largest construction companies -- began paying delayed wages to its remaining staff. The company had also laid off tens of thousands of employees because of financial difficulties. US terror sanctions on suspect in Brussels, Paris attacks The United States on Wednesday designated a suspect in the Brussels and Paris attacks known as "the man in the hat" as a global terrorist, blocking any US assets he may have. The sanctions targeted Mohammed Abrini, a Belgian of Moroccan descent who was caught on surveillance video with two suicide bombers minutes before the March 22 attacks at the Brussels airport. Abrini, 31, who was arrested April 8, has confessed to being "the man in white" or the "man in the hat" seen on the video. A Belgian soldier stands guard near Brussels airport in March 2016 John Thys (AFP) In all, 32 people were killed at the airport and a Brussels metro station. The State Department said he was a member of the Islamic State group cell that carried out the attacks in Brussels and in Paris on November 13, 2015 that killed 130 people. He is suspected of taking part in surveillance ahead of the Paris attack and of helping to plan attacks in Britain and Germany, according to the State Department. The United States reserves the "global terrorist" designation for foreign individuals or groups who have committed or are deemed to pose a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism that threaten US national security. The action freezes any assets Abrini may have in US jurisdictions, and prohibits Americans from engaging in any transactions with him. Iraq blast survivors live with fear and nightmares Sheets of flame and smoke engulfed the street and buildings around Sami Aziz's Baghdad shop, burning people alive in scenes he likened to "the day of judgement". Aziz and others are now repairing their stores at the site of a suicide bombing that sparked raging fires and killed 323 people on July 3, while also contending with the trauma of what they saw. What was once a crowded shopping area has become a monument to the dead, where mourners light candles and dozens of banners bearing the names of victims hang from the charred hulks of buildings that held upmarket stores. An Iraqi woman cries on July 7, 2016 in front of a memorial for the victims of a bombing which claimed the lives of over 200 people in Baghdad's Karrada neighbourhood Sabah Arar (AFP/File) The blast took a devastating toll on survivors and the friends and relatives of the dead. "Many wounded entered here... the shop was full of blood, but we cleaned it," said Aziz, 40, in his clothes shop near the scene of the blast. "The impact of families burning before my eyes is something that can't be erased." One of his children was with him in the shop when the bomb exploded outside, and was deeply affected, Aziz said. "Honestly, we are having nightmares now," he said, adding that he now fears to leave his house. "My future is unknown because I don't have any protection... I am afraid that if I go out, I won't return," he said. - 'More than terrifying' - The suicide bombing, claimed by the Islamic State group, hit the Karrada Dakhil street a little before 1:00 am on July 3. The area was teeming with shoppers ahead of the holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Life was "very happy" before the bombing, said Aziz, who filmed its aftermath from the entrance of his shop. Flames streamed from a nearby building, rubble covered the sidewalk, and when he looked to the right of his shop, the street was blocked by a wall of flame and smoke. "The situation wasn't terrifying -- it was more than terrifying," said Aziz, describing it as being like "the day of judgement". "The psychological impact will remain, because I saw with my eyes the people burning here." The bombing destroyed millions of dollars' worth of property and wrecked the livelihoods of shop owners, workers and their families, leaving people financially destitute as well as in mourning. "A woman came to me yesterday. Her husband died, his store was burned, his money was gone, only she and her child remained," said Aziz. "She said, 'I don't have money for milk.'" Aziz is repairing his shop, which he said suffered an estimated $50-60,000 in damage plus some $100,000 in destroyed merchandise. He said he was paying for repairs himself. - Narrow escape - Ali Mohammed, 28, was in his clothing store when the suicide bomber struck, but was able to escape out the back before the building went up in flames. "As soon as I reached the street, the whole building was burned. I got out with only my clothes," said Mohammed, who was wounded by shards of glass. "We've seen explosions before, but they didn't reach the level of fire so that in five seconds, it burns a whole place," he said. Mohammed said he lost around 150 of his friends in the explosion and subsequent inferno. "My friends are dear to me, because I see them more than my family," he said. Mohammed said his family owns multiple stores on the street and suffered half a million dollars or more in losses. For now, they are only repairing one shop. Volunteers helped clear out the rubble and make repairs to the shop, but there has been no assistance from the government, he said. The store was all but empty except for construction implements and a safe that survived the blaze. The walls had been painted over, but the charring from the fire showed through. "It is hard, very hard, but we must return to life; we can't leave the country, and we can't stop working," Mohammed said. What was once a crowded shopping area has become a monument to the dead, where mourners light candles and dozens of banners bearing the names of victims hang from the charred hulks of buildings that held upmarket stores Sabah Arar (AFP) Libya's Sirte, from Kadhafi to IS Sirte, where Libyan pro-government forces are battling Islamic State group militants with American air support, has been in the hands of the jihadists since June 2015. Here is some background on the fight for the city. - Strategic importance - Smoke billows from buildings after the air force from the pro-government forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Unity (GNA) fired rockets targeting Islamic State (IS) group positions in Sirte on July 18, 2016 Mahmud Turkia (AFP/File) Sirte is on the Mediterranean coast roughly half way between Tripoli in the west and Benghazi in the east. A major port city, it lies just 350 kilometres (220 miles) from the Italian coast. It is also a mere 150 kilometres west of Libya's main oil-producing area and export terminals. Oil is a vital source of income for Libya, and several groups have fought to control its wells and pipelines since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The presence of the Islamic State group in Sirte had raised fears it would attempt to seize the fields to fund its North Africa operations. US President Barack Obama has defended the air campaign, saying defeating IS there was in America's national interest. - IS headquarters - Forces allied with Libya's Government of National Unity (GNA) entered the city on June 9, four weeks after launching an offensive to oust IS from the city. The jihadists are now holed up in an area around the Ouagadougou conference centre. Kadhafi erected the centre to host international and African summits and serve his pan-African policy. It was the birthplace of the African Union with the signing of the Sirte Declaration in 1999. IS now uses the location as its command centre, but has become surrounded there as GNA forces have taken other parts of the town. GNA forces also seized the port of Sirte, its international airport, an important air base and a hospital in June. - Kadhafi's birthplace - Kadhafi, who was born in Sirte in 1942, made great efforts to turn his birthplace into the capital of his "Jamahiriya" -- a "state of the masses" run by local committees. He created a new province around the town in addition to the three existing regions of Cyrenaica in the east, Fezzan in the southwest and Tripolitania in the north. In the 1990s, he ordered ministries to be created in Sirte, and even set up a parliament there, but eventually gave up on his plans. Kadhafi was captured and killed in the city on October 20, 2011. - Black flags - After Kadhafi's ouster, Sirte was largely left to its own devices until it fell into the hands of IS jihadists in June 2015. Since then, the black flag of IS has flown over public buildings and jihadists have roamed the streets in pickup trucks to check that people are praying at the correct times and women are not venturing out of the home without a male minder. - Population - Sirte used to have about 120,000 residents, most of them in the city centre or spread along the coast. All but around 30,000 have fled since IS took over, a spokesman for pro-government forces, Reda Issa, told AFP. Most people in Sirte belong to three major tribes including the Kadhadfa tribe of Kadhafi. Forces allied with Libya's Government of National Unity (GNA) entered the city on June 9, four weeks after launching an offensive to oust IS from the city Mahmud Turkia (AFP/File) US capital transit policeman arrested on terror charge A police officer for the US capital city's metro system was arrested Wednesday on charges that he tried to provide material support to the Islamic State jihadist group, prosecutors said. Nicholas Young, 36, had worked for Washington's Metro Transit Police Department since 2003, the Department of Justice said in a statement. He communicated for years with undercover agents and an FBI informant, discussing his knowledge and interest in terror activities, prosecutors said. A police officer for Washington DC's metro system has been arrested on charges that he tried to provide material support to the Islamic State jihadist group, prosecutors said Paul J. Richards (AFP/File) "Metro Transit Police alerted the FBI about this individual and then worked with our federal partners throughout the investigation up to and including today's arrest," Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority General Manager and CEO Paul Wiedefeld said. "Obviously, the allegations in this case are profoundly disturbing. They're disturbing to me, and they're disturbing to everyone who wears the uniform," he said in a statement. Young met about 20 times in 2014 with the FBI informant who was posing as a US military reservist of Middle Eastern descent who wanted to join the Islamic State group, the Justice Department said. Young allegedly gave the man advice on travel to avoid detection by law enforcement, and also told him to watch out for informants. In June 2015, Young emailed undercover FBI agents asking for advice on how to send money to the IS group, prosecutors said. Last month, he sent an undercover agent $245 in gift cards to charge mobile messaging accounts that the Islamic State group uses in its recruiting efforts. Metro officials did not say what tipped them off to Young. He was fired from his job immediately upon his arrest, the agency said. - 'Crowd-sourced terror' - Young had been on law enforcement's radar since 2010, when an acquaintance was arrested on charges of trying to provide material support to a terror group. The acquaintance ultimately pleaded guilty to the charge. According to the Justice Department, Young traveled to Libya in 2011 and tried to go a second time. Baggage searches at the time found that Young was traveling with military equipment such as body armor. He told authorities he had been with rebels attempting to overthrow dictator Moamer Kadhafi. That same year, Young met several times with an undercover agent while accompanied by Amine El Khalifi, an acquaintance. El Khalifi later pleaded guilty to charges related to his plan to carry out a suicide bomb attack on the US Capitol Building. If convicted, Young faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The White House is "mindful of the risk that is posed by homegrown extremists," spokesman Josh Earnest said. Senator Ben Sasse, a Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, hailed the work of the FBI in apprehending Young. "This is a sobering reminder of the vigilance required to combat crowd-sourced terror. Our enemies' old, top-down strategy no longer defines our threats," he said. "The intelligence community does not exclusively hunt card-carrying members of ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Our challenge is greater and today the FBI has met it forcefully." Watchdog concerned at reported Syria chlorine attack The world's chemical weapons watchdog Wednesday voiced concern over reports of a chlorine gas attack near the battleground Syrian city of Aleppo. Some 24 people reportedly suffered breathing difficulties in Saraqeb, a town 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Aleppo, after a barrel bomb attack on Tuesday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Residents said chlorine gas had been used in the attack, but the Britain-based Observatory could not confirm this. Residents of Saraqeb said chlorine gas had been used in the attack, but the Britain-based Observatory could not confirm this Philippe Desmazes (AFP/File) "These reports are of great concern," Ahmet Uzumcu, the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said in a statement. The UN-backed group based in The Hague "continues to examine any credible reports" of chemical weapons use, he added. The incident took place close to where Russia said on Monday one of its military helicopters was shot down, killing the five people on board. Uzumcu added that under international conventions the use of chemical weapons "by anyone under any circumstances" is seen "as reprehensible and wholly contrary to the legal norms established by the international community". Syria's conflict has killed more than 280,000 people and drawn in world powers since it erupted in March 2011, as protests calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad's regime escalated into all-out civil war. In January, the OPCW announced all Syria's declared chemical arms stockpile had been completely destroyed. But concerns remain that undeclared amounts of sarin gas and other chemical weapons have still been used in the conflict. Chemo Drug Lawsuits: Taxotere Causes Permanent Hair Loss for Women One of the sad side effects of chemotherapy to treat cancer is hair loss. And it's become so ubiquitous that there are now charities where you can donate hair for wigs for cancer patients. For the most part, though, patients know that if they survive the chemotherapy and the cancer, their hair will someday grow back. But what if that doesn't happen? Dozens of new lawsuits are claiming that the chemotherapy drug Taxotere is causing permanent hair loss in female patients, especially those being treated for breast cancer. Here's what you need to know: Bald-Faced Lies? Taxotere is the name brand of drug Docetaxel, which is used to battle breast cancer, gastric cancer, and some types of prostate and lung cancer. The drug works by interfering with cell division, but that includes healthy as well as cancerous cells. While all chemotherapy drugs come with the risk of side effects, the new lawsuits claim that Sanofi-Aventis, the makers of Taxotere, knew that permanent baldness was one of those risks and failed to warn women and doctors. One of those lawsuits alleges that Sanofi-Aventis knew about Taxotere's increased risk of permanent baldness as early as 2005, based on its own research. The same suits claims the Federal Drug Administration issued a warning letter to the drug's manufacturer in 2009 citing "false or misleading statements concerning unsubstantiated claims of Taxotere's superior efficacy." And yet there was no change to the drug's label until January of this year. Legal Liability Drug manufacturers have a duty to warn consumers about known side effects, and consumers can sue pharmaceutical companies if they are injured by those side effects. A company could be held liable for providing inadequate warnings, inaccurate warnings, or no warnings at all. These are the most common cause of pharmaceutical company lawsuits, are there are at least 33 lawsuits pending against Sanofi-Aventis based on their failure to warn female patients about the risk of permanent baldness. If you've suffered permanent baldness, or any other serious injury as the result of taking Taxotere, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney to review your case. Most are happy to review your case for free. Related Resources: Oscars head re-elected after negotiating race row Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, who is African American, has been re-elected for a fourth term as the organization pushes for more diversity. The vote late Tuesday follows a tumultuous several months for the body that bestows the Oscars, with the all-white slate of acting nominees at the 2016 ceremony sparking outrage. Since February's awards, Boone Isaacs has led the move for a more inclusive Academy. Almost half the 683 people invited to join this year have been women and nearly as many have been people of color. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs has been re-elected for a fourth term Robyn Beck (AFP/File) Among the record number of invitees are rising young stars John Boyega of "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter" actress Emma Watson, Swedish Oscar winner Alicia Vikander and musician Mary J. Blige. Of the class of 2016 -- which also includes Indian-Canadian director Deepa Mehta, Belgian-Kurdish filmmaker Sahim Omar Kalifa and French director Catherine Breillat -- 283 are identified as international members representing 59 countries. The announcement of new members followed excoriating criticism about a lack of diversity in the Academy's ranks and among Oscar winners. All 20 nominees in the main acting categories at this year's Oscars were white for the second year running, prompting calls to boycott the glitzy event and an angry social media backlash under the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. "This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective of those working in film today," Boone Isaacs said in a statement in June announcing the new members. "We encourage the larger creative community to open its doors wider, and create opportunities for anyone interested in working in this incredible and storied industry." Boone Isaacs, the first African American president of the Academy, heads management consultancy CBI Enterprises, where she advises on film marketing. She has consulted on such films as "The Artist," "The King's Speech" and "Spider-Man 2." 'Suicide Squad' fans demand closure of Rotten Tomatoes film site Thousands of angry DC Comics fans are backing a petition calling for the closure of reviews aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, after a lukewarm response to supervillain blockbuster "Suicide Squad." A poster calling himself Abdullah Coldwater of Alexandria, Egypt, started the campaign accusing the site of giving "unjust bad reviews... and that affects people's opinion even if it's a really great (movie)." The petition at change.org had received almost 15,000 signatures by midday on Wednesday. Margot Robbie (L) and Will Smith attend the European premiere of the film "Suicide Squad" in central London on August 3, 2016 Justin Tallis (AFP) Rotten Tomatoes works out the percentage of reviews that can be deemed positive. It does not offer its own critical assessment of movies. Based on 88 reviews, it currently shows a 32 percent rating for the hotly anticipated "Suicide Squad," which hits cinemas on Friday. Starring Will Smith, Jared Leto and Margot Robbie as a band of deadly criminals recruited to execute dangerous black-ops missions, the film has an average critical score of 4.9 out of 10. "If you know someone you really can't stand -- not someone you dislike, not someone who rubs you the wrong way, but someone you really loathe and detest -- send that person a ticket for 'Suicide Squad,'" wrote Mick LaSalle of the San Fransisco Chronicle. Warner Bros. executives were hoping it would get right what March's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" -- its heavily criticized predecessor in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) -- got wrong, promising a lighter, more fun film. "'Suicide Squad' boasts a talented cast and a little more humor than previous DCEU efforts," the Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus reads. "But they aren't enough to save the disappointing end result from a muddled plot, thinly written characters and choppy directing." The tepid response to David Ayer's film has piled further pressure on Warner to finally produce a film to match the critical success of rival studio Marvel's superhero universe. April's "Captain America: Civil War" made more than $1.1 billion worldwide and has a 90 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 320 reviews. Ayer defended the movie, quoting Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata's famous line translated as "I'd rather die standing than live on my knees." The phrase gained currency last year with the Islamist murder of 12 staff members of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, whose slain editor Stephane Charbonnier had used it in an interview wih Le Monde. "Zapata quote is my way of saying I love the movie and believe in it. Made it for the fans. Best experience of my life," Ayer tweeted. What the critics think of "Suicide Squad" may not matter, however, if it manages to emulate the financial performance of its predecessors. Russia says 7 killed in Syria rebel attack using 'poison' rockets The Russian defence ministry on Wednesday said that seven people died in an attack by Syrian rebels in the battleground city of Aleppo using weapons loaded with a "poisonous agent". Lieutenant-General Sergei Chvarkov was cited by Russia's TASS news agency as saying that the Nureddin al-Zenki rebel group on Tuesday launched weapons packed with an unnamed "poisonous agent" from an opposition-held neighbourhood to a government-controlled area of Aleppo. Chvarkov, the head of Russia's reconciliation centre in Syria, said that "as a result of this terrorist attack, seven people died and 23 were evacuated to hospitals in Aleppo with breathing problems and airway burns." The UN says 300,000 civilians still live in rebel-held parts of Aleppo city, despite four years of fighting and near-daily bombing George Ourfalian (AFP/File) He said the Russian authorities have informed the United States, which backs the rebels, of the attack. Syrian state media said on Tuesday that five people were killed and that eight others suffered injuries induced by suffocation after rebels fired rockets containing poison gases. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the toll from the rocket attack at six dead, saying the casualties were in fact soldiers. Speaking to AFP, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman could not confirm that any kind of gas had in fact been used. The Russian claim came a day after the Observatory reported 24 people suffered breathing difficulties in rebel-held Saraqeb, a town 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Aleppo, after a barrel bomb attack. Residents said chlorine gas had been used in the attack, but the monitor could not confirm this. The world's chemical watchdog on Wednesday voiced concerns over reports of the use of chlorine gas in Saraqeb. The incident in Saraqeb took place close to where Russia said on Monday one of its military helicopters was shot down, killing the five people on board. Chvarkov said meanwhile that 372 Syrian civilians have used the "humanitarian corridors" set up by Russia to flee rebel-held areas of Aleppo to government-controlled turf. He also accused rebels of trying to prevent people from leaving the areas of the city under their control. In a statement on Tuesday, 35 NGOs called the humanitarian corridors initiative "deeply flawed". Ivory Coast seeks protected status for staple cassava dish France has done it with Champagne, Italy with Parma ham and Japan with Kobe beef; now Ivory Coast wants to protect the status of one of its most popular foods. Attieke -- pronounced atchekay -- is a side dish made from fermented ground cassava. It looks a bit like couscous, takes a couple of days to make from scratch and is popular all over country. Government spokesman Bruno Kone said the ministry of industry had been instructed to "take the necessary measures to ensure legal international protection of the appellation 'attieke' as well as the production method of this foodstuff." Making attieke involves peeling and then grating cassava, mixing the resulting paste with a small portion of already-fermented paste, and letting the lot sit for a day or two to ferment, allowing the tuber's natural acidity to dissipate Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File) The aim is to establish an "international products and services marque" he added. "Because of its renown, this food is increasingly being produced outside the country and marketed using the same name by countries which only partly follow the (correct) production process," said Kone. Making attieke involves peeling and then grating cassava, mixing the resulting paste with a small portion of already-fermented paste, and letting the lot sit for a day or two to ferment, allowing the tuber's natural acidity to dissipate. The paste is then dried in the sun and then simply steamed for a few minutes before being served. Attieke is also popular in neighbouring countries, with several tonnes being exported every month to Burkina Faso, Mali, France and the United States. This year, five attieke factories sprang up around the capital. Second Zika vaccine trial gets under way in US US health authorities Wednesday launched the second human trial of a vaccine against the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which can cause birth defects and is now spreading in the US and Latin America. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Zika virus investigational DNA vaccine will be given to 80 healthy volunteers aged 18-35 at three study sites in the United States, said the federal agency. The first dose was delivered Tuesday, the NIAID said in a statement. The mosquito-borne Zika virus can cause birth defects and is now spreading in the US and Latin America Marvin Recinos (AFP/File) "A safe and effective vaccine to prevent Zika virus infection and the devastating birth defects it causes is a public health imperative," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci. "Results in animal testing have been very encouraging. We are pleased that we are now able to proceed with this initial study in people." Fauci, who has previously warned that any vaccine against Zika would take years to develop, described the trial's launch as "an important step forward." The drug is a DNA vaccine that is similar to another experimental vaccine developed by NIAID against West Nile virus. It cannot infect people with Zika, but is designed to make the body mount an immune response to Zika. DNA vaccines "have been shown to be safe in previous clinical trials for other diseases," the NIAID statement said. The first Zika vaccine trial got under way last month. Led by Pennsylvania-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals, the phase 1 trial using a Zika DNA vaccine called GLS-5700 is being conducted in Quebec City, Canada, as well as Miami and Philadelphia. - Active transmission - The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say more than 50 countries and territories, mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean, currently have active transmission of Zika virus. The United States last month announced its first locally transmitted cases of Zika in Miami, with more than a dozen infections among non-travelers. The CDC has issued a travel warning for a square-mile area where the Zika-infected mosquitoes are believed to be lurking. There is no cure for Zika. In four out of five cases, it causes no symptoms. People who do feel sick from it may experience a rash, joint pain or eye infection. However, in pregnant women Zika can cause permanent damage to the developing fetus, including microcephaly, a condition in which the infant's skull and brain are unusually small. Women who are pregnant or want to become pregnant are urged to avoid areas where Zika is circulating, and take steps to prevent mosquito bites. Barrier methods of contraception are also recommended, since the virus can be spread by sexual contact. Initial results from the NIAID vaccine trial are expected in January 2017. If it appears safe, a phase 2 trial in Zika-endemic countries could begin soon after. A study out last month in the journal Science projected that the Zika pandemic would fizzle out in the next two to three years. Zika cannot infect the same person twice, so once a large number of people build up immunity to it, the surge in cases will subside, argued lead author Neil Ferguson, a professor at Imperial College London's School of Public Health. "This means by the time we have vaccines ready to be tested, there may not be enough cases of Zika in the community to test if the vaccine works," he said. Factfile on how the Aedes aegypti mosquito spreads the Zika virus Adrian LEUNG, John SAEKI (AFP) Babies born with microcephaly in the Intensive Care Unit at the South Hospital in Choluteca, Honduras on July 28, 2016 Orlando Sierra (AFP/File) US, allies push UN to condemn North Korea missile test The United States and its allies pressed the UN Security Council to condemn North Korea after it test-fired a missile into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time, but they encountered resistance from China. The 15-member council met behind closed doors on Wednesday for emergency talks called by the United States, Japan and South Korea over the ballistic missile launch, the latest provocation from Pyongyang. US Ambassador Samantha Power called for a "strong, swift response from the Security Council" after the meeting, describing the missile test as "another grave threat to international peace and security." A missile is being fired during a drill in North Korea, on July 21, 2016 "This missile landed incredibly close to Japan," she told reporters. The United States was expected to circulate a draft council statement condemning North Korea, but China's ambassador Liu Jieyi urged caution. "Nothing should be done to exacerbate tension on the Korean Peninsula," Liu said. "There is a real risk. I think we need to work responsibly." The council met in emergency session after North Korea fired two intermediate-range missiles simultaneously, however one appeared to explode on takeoff. The second missile landed in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), some 155 miles (250 kilometers) off Japan's northern coast and within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The launches followed a North Korean threat of "physical action" over the planned deployment of a sophisticated US anti-missile system in South Korea, and came just weeks before the start of large-scale joint South Korea-US military exercises. Power stressed that the US agreement with South Korea to deploy the THAAD missile defense system was "purely defensive" and in response to North Korea's drive to refine its capabilities. South Korean Ambassador Oh Joon said North Korea has conducted 13 rounds of missile launches this year, test-firing 29 missiles of a variety of ranges. Although the council has repeatedly condemned North Korea's missile launches, a US-drafted statement circulated last month hit a wall during negotiations with China, Pyongyang's closest ally. - Clear violation - Britain's Deputy Ambassador Peter Wilson said the latest launch was "a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions" that prohibit North Korea from developing missile technology. The United States, Japan and 10 other countries have meantime asked the UN sanctions committee to investigate the July 18 launch of three Scud ballistic missiles and a No Dong intermediate-range missile, according to a letter obtained by AFP. The 10 Security Council members, along with Australia and South Korea, asked the committee to review details of the launch and "take appropriate action," according to the letter sent last week. The investigation could identify individuals and companies involved in North Korea's missile program who could face targeted sanctions including a global visa ban and assets freeze. China and Russia did not back the request. Any new sanctions against North Korean individuals or companies would require the approval of all 15 council members. North Korea has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since it first tested a nuclear device in 2006. The Security Council in March adopted its toughest sanctions resolution to date, banning exports of coal, iron and other minerals from North Korea and imposing other restrictions, especially in the banking sector. Map for the latest North Korean missile launch Laurence Chu (AFP) Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani arrives at the prime minister's official residence to attend a national security meeting, in Tokyo, on August 3, 2016 Kazuhiro Nogi (AFP) America in one word? 'Free,' 'great,' or 'divided,' 'broken' NEW YORK (AP) Free and great, or divided and confused. Diverse and powerful, or troubled and broken. In search of a single word encapsulating their country at this moment, Americans offered pollsters a lexicon reflecting both hope and dissonance. The most-uttered word from about 1,000 responses to the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey was "freedom," with "free" not far behind at No. 4. "Great" took second place and "good," ''powerful," ''wonderful" and "awesome" also occupied the top tier. But crowding the list were entries mirroring national angst. "Divided" ranked third, and "confused" and "troubled" tied for fifth, amassed alongside other words of distress: "broken," ''lost," and more bluntly, "screwed." Pollsters say grouping people's answers together with synonyms and related words is a better reflection of public sentiment. Viewed that way, "struggling," ''declining" and their synonyms accounted for the biggest chunk of words, from about one-fifth of answers. Some 18 percent of respondents offered words related to American greatness, prosperity and power, which collectively ranked second, followed by those linked to freedom (15 percent), and "confused," ''lost" and similar choices (10 percent). Positive and negative words were almost evenly split. "When you see words like 'freedom' and 'divided' together, you get a good little portrait of what people are thinking," said Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large at Merriam-Webster, the dictionary publisher. "You can't get more balanced than that." Republicans used "struggling," ''declining" and similar terms more than Democrats (27 percent versus 15 percent). Those without college degrees were also likelier to do so. Bobby Underwood, a 67-year-old retired carpet mill worker in Dalton, Georgia, chose "troubled" when challenged to describe his country. With killings of police officers, Islamic State group attacks, a divisive election and concerns about the economy and illegal immigration, Underwood said he was left with an unhappy word in his mind. "Troubled," he said. "That pretty much sums it up for me." More than 350 individual words flowed into the poll released this week from "bossy," ''boring," ''bountiful" and "bigoted" to "eclectic," ''enthusiastic" and "equal." Also: "paradise," ''perplexing," and a few cases of profanity. They pointed to high ideals "democracy," ''opportunity," ''liberty" and dire assessments "greedy," ''racist," and "doomed." Some screamed in all capital letters: "UNITED" and "TERRIFIED." Others used punctuation for added effect "disaster!!" and "great!" Jack Blanton of Lexington, Kentucky, thought of his 81 years in weighing his answer. He grew up in a rural town in the Appalachian foothills, working on his grandparents' tobacco farm and later in a steel mill. He moved around the country and saw the world, earned a Ph.D., and rose to become a university vice president. He wondered what other country could give a farm boy such a life, and concluded America's best days are ahead. He decided on "great." "Who wouldn't be optimistic?" he asked. "My whole life has been blessed." ___ Sedensky can be reached at msedensky@ap.org or https://twitter.com/sedensky . AP Polling Editor Emily Swanson in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Online: Parents sue over crash that killed 'Star Trek' actor Yelchin LOS ANGELES (AP) The parents of "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin filed a wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday against the makers of Jeep Grand Cherokees, claiming the company manufactured unsafe gear selectors that led to their 27-year-old son being crushed in his own driveway. The actor's 2015 Cherokee rolled backward down a driveway of his home on June 19, pinning him between a mailbox and a security fence. The suit contends the defective gear selector was poorly designed and manufactured. Irina Yelchin, mother of the late actor Anton Yelchin, talks to the media as attorney Gary Dordick, left, and Victor Yelchin, Anton's father, look on after filing a wrongful-death and product-liability lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, Aug, 2, 2016. Anton Yelchin was crushed by his Jeep when it rolled backward down the driveway of his Los Angeles home on June 19. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) "Anton Yelchin was crushed and lingered alive for some time, trapped and suffocating until his death," the lawsuit states. Victor and Irina Yelchin filed the wrongful death and product liability lawsuit in Los Angeles. Fiat Chrysler extended its sympathies to Yelchin's parents but said it could not comment on the lawsuit because it had not yet been served with the legal action. The Cherokee model was among 1.1 million vehicles recalled in April after regulators said its gear shifters have confused drivers, causing the SUVs to roll away unexpectedly and leading to dozens of injuries. A government investigation into the gear shifters found 266 crashes that had injured 68 people as of late June. Fiat Chrysler has said it is speeding its recall of the vehicle. Both the company and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have urged drivers of vehicles subject to the recall to set their parking brakes before getting out of their SUV. The suit does not say how much Yelchin's parents are seeking in damages, but their attorney Gary A. Dordick said they want the company to be punished and hope the lawsuit changes its business practices. Irina Yelchin cried as Dordick said at a news conference that the automaker put profits before safety. "In spite of our unbelievable grief, we decided to come here to prevent other families from the same tragedy," Victor Yelchin said. Anton Yelchin was sent an initial safety recall notice in May, and another notice was sent to the actor seven days after he died, notifying him that the company had a fix for the gear shifter, Dordick said. "The safety recall was way too little and way too late," the attorney said. The lawsuit says Yelchin's SUV did not engage or maintain its "park" setting, and that led to the vehicle moving and crushing the actor. Yelchin is perhaps best known for his role as Pavel Chekov in the rebooted "Star Trek" franchise. The third film in the series, "Star Trek Beyond," opened two weeks ago. His parents attended a tribute to their son at last month's Comic-Con convention in San Diego and said they have been moved by the outpouring of support and grief from his friends and fans. "He never cared (about) being a star," Irina Yelchin said. "He loved life very, very much." He was the only child of the Yelchins, and they have filed to oversee his estate, valued at nearly $1.4 million. The actor left behind several unreleased projects, including the Netflix animated series "Trollhunters" and four films. ___ Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP. FILE - In this April 18, 2015 file photo, actor Anton Yelchin attends the Tribeca Film Festival world premiere of "The Driftless Area" in New York. Court records filed Friday, July 29, 2016, in Los Angeles show the 27-year-old actor died without a will and left behind a nearly $1.4 million estate that his parents are seeking to administer. The actor died June 19, 2016, when he was pinned by his vehicle. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) Attorney, Gary Dordick, from left, representing Victor and Irina Yelchin, parents of the late actor Anton Yelchin, talks to the media after filing a wrongful-death and product-liability lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, Aug, 2, 2016. Anton Yelchin was crushed by his Jeep when it rolled backward down the driveway of his Los Angeles home June 19. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Attorney, Gary Dordick, left, representing Victor and Irina Yelchin, parents of the late actor Anton Yelchin, talks to the media after filing a wrongful-death and product-liability lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, Aug, 2, 2016. Anton Yelchin was crushed by his Jeep when it rolled backward down the driveway of his Los Angeles home June 19. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Attorney, Gary Dordick, left, representing Victor and Irina Yelchin, parents of the late actor Anton Yelchin, talks to the media after filing a wrongful-death and product-liability lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, Aug, 2, 2016. Anton Yelchin was crushed by his Jeep when it rolled backward down the driveway of his Los Angeles home June 19. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Attorney, Gary Dordick, left, representing Victor and Irina Yelchin, parents of the late actor Anton Yelchin, talks to the media after filing a wrongful-death and product-liability lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, Aug, 2, 2016. Anton Yelchin was crushed by his Jeep when it rolled backward down the driveway of his Los Angeles home June 19. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Bergdahl lawyers: McCain comments violate due process rights RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The Army sought to have U.S. Sen. John McCain back away from statements about punishment for Bowe Bergdahl because of concerns about hurting the soldier's right to a fair trial, according to newly released emails. The emails were revealed in a motion filed Monday seeking the dismissal of charges against Bergdahl, who walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and wound up in enemy captivity for five years. The exchange illustrates for the first time how concerned top Army officials were that McCain's statements could interfere with the case. Defense lawyers argue Bergdahl's due process rights were violated by McCain, who leads a Senate committee that can approve or scuttle assignments for military commanders. McCain said last October that the Senate Armed Services Committee would investigate if Bergdahl weren't punished. FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2016, file photo, Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl arrives for a pretrial hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C. The Army sought to have U.S. Sen. John McCain back away from statements about punishment for Bowe Bergdahl because of concerns about hurting the soldier's right to a fair trial, according to newly released emails. The emails were revealed in a motion filed Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, seeking the dismissal of charges against Bergdahl, who walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and wound up in enemy captivity for five years. (AP Photo/Ted Richardson, File) Two days later, a colonel in the Army Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison emailed a lawyer for the Senate committee asking for McCain to back off his comments. The email cited "serious concerns across the Army" that McCain's statement could help Bergdahl show unlawful command influence. "Obviously, the Chairman's statement is out there. But if it is at all possible to have him issue a curative statement ... that could be tremendously helpful," said the colonel, whose name was redacted, suggesting McCain could say he had faith in the military's handling of the case. McCain never released such a statement, according to the defense motion. Bergdahl, who is from Idaho, is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, and his trial is scheduled for 2017 at Fort Bragg. The latter charge carries a sentence of up to life in prison. Rachel VanLandingham, a legal scholar and former Air Force lawyer, said she believes McCain's comments have tainted the case, but also said it will be hard to convince the judge to throw out the charges. Still, she said the new emails give the defense strong evidence. "If even the Army thinks there's an appearance of unfairness, how could there not be a due process violation here?" said VanLandingham, who teaches law at Southwestern Law School in California. A spokesman for McCain at the Senate committee didn't return a message seeking comment. Army spokesman Paul Boyce said in an email that the branch maintains "careful respect for the military-judicial process." A May 5, 2015, email from a lawyer for the Senate committee said McCain was interested in holding a hearing on the Bergdahl case and asked for the Army's opinion. At that time, Bergdahl was back in the U.S. awaiting a military hearing similar to a civilian grand jury. Two days later, an official in the Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison wrote back that the Army strongly opposed a congressional hearing because it could give "the appearance of denial of the fair administration of justice for SGT Bergdahl." The official, whose name is redacted, writes "statements by elected officials with oversight responsibilities at a hearing will have an impact and may give the appearance of pressuring court members/finders of fact ... this would equate to a denial of due process and the right to a fair trial." Four months later, in September, Bergdahl faced the preliminary Article 32 hearing in Texas. Afterward, the hearing officer recommended sending the case to a misdemeanor-level tribunal and that imprisonment wasn't warranted. But in October 2015, McCain told a reporter: "If it comes out that (Bergdahl) has no punishment, we're going to have to have a hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee." Then in December, Army Gen. Robert Abrams sent Bergdahl's case to a general court martial, rejecting the hearing officer's recommendation. The defense argues the chain of events shows "impermissible meddling" by McCain and says the judge should either throw out the charges, or order that Bergdahl face no punishment if convicted. Eric Carpenter, a former Army lawyer who teaches at Florida International University, said McCain's statements were understood by senior Army officers as a tacit threat. Top-selling edition of Constitution by conservative press NEW YORK (AP) Since Khizr Khan held up a copy of the U.S. Constitution last week at the Democratic National Convention and offered to lend it to Republican nominee Donald Trump, sales for the government's founding document have soared, with two editions in the top 10 on Amazon.com. But the most popular text comes from a publisher as far from the Democratic Party as can be imagined. "The Constitution of the United States," trailing only the new Harry Potter book on Amazon as of Tuesday evening, was first released a decade ago by the right-wing National Center for Constitutional Studies. Founded as The Freeman Institute in 1971, the NCCS was originally led by W. Cleon Skousen, a best-selling historian endorsed by Glenn Beck and others of the right and widely discredited in the scholarly community. Skousen, who died in 2006, was an extreme anti-Communist who had close ties with the far-right John Birch Society. FILE - In this July 28, 2016 file photo, Khizr Khan, father of fallen US Army Capt. Humayun S. M. Khan holds up a copy of the Constitution of the United States as his wife listens during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Since Khan held up a copy of the U.S. Constitution at the convention, sales for the governments founding document have soared. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) The NCCS web site includes blog posts with such conservative themes as limited government and the importance of religion. The NCCS also has released several controversial books, including "The Making of America," a history book published in the 1980s that featured an essay on slavery widely condemned as racist and inaccurate. Beck's support helped revive interest in Skousen's "The 5,000 Year Leap." The center's current best-seller, which includes the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, has a list price of $1.00 and includes no additional political commentary. According to NCCS spokesman Dan Sheridan, 45,000 copies sold between Saturday and Monday. "I watched the Democratic and Republican conventions, and when (Kahn) pulled out the Constitution I didn't care which party it came from," Sheridan said. "What matters is that it promotes the idea of going back to our founding documents and finding out what they're all about." The Constitution is in the public domain and can be published by anyone. Amazon's No. 5 seller as of late Tuesday was an edition released through CreateSpace, the online retailer's self-publishing platform. The American Civil Liberties Union has been offering free copies. Xarelto Litigation: 6,000 Lawsuits Consolidated The blood thinner Xarelto, most popular among adults undergoing hip and knee replacement surgeries, can treat patients suffering from an irregular heart rhythm, hypertension, or other valvular heart conditions. And while Xarelto can prevent potentially deadly blood clots, it can also have some potentially dangerous side effects. And now thousands of lawsuits based on those side effects are being consolidated into one case for pretrial motions. Here's what you need to know about the latest Xarelto lawsuits. The Loss As with all blood thinners, or anticoagulants, Xarelto can increase the risk of internal bleeding and has also been associated with hemorrhaging in the eye. Patients taking Xarelto are more than twice as likely to experience stomach bleeding than those taking another anticoagulant, and at least one patient has died from a blood transfusion to treat Xarelto-related gastrointestinal bleeding. That patient's husband sued the makers of Xarelto, claiming they failed to certify Xarelto was safe and failed to warn patients about the known risks of taking Xarelto. The Liability In certain circumstances, drug companies can be held liable for side effects. Pharmaceutical companies are required to test their products and get FDA approval before releasing them to the public. Once the drug is approved, manufacturers are then required to warn consumers of all known risks and side effects of the drug. Failure to properly design a pharmaceutical drug or warn patients about its side effects can open up a drug company for legal liability. The Litigation A report released by the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation shows 6,457 pending lawsuits regarding Xarelto, most of them filed against its manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Forty of these separate lawsuits have now been consolidated into one case in federal court in Louisiana, and will be tried as "bellwether" cases. Scheduled to begin in early 2017, these cases could set the tone for future Xarelto lawsuits. Pharmaceutical lawsuits can be complicated, so if you've been injured by a drug or suffered serious side effects, talk to an experienced personal injury attorney about your case today -- most are happy to provide a free consultation. Related Resources: N. Korea fires mid-range missile toward waters near Japan SEOUL, South Korea (AP) A medium-range ballistic missile fired Wednesday by North Korea flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed near Japan's territorial waters, Seoul and Tokyo officials said, the longest launch by one of the North's weapons. The U.S. Strategic Command, meanwhile, said North Korea fired two presumed Rodong missiles simultaneously on Wednesday, not the one. The command's statement said initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. According to the South Korean and Japanese announcements, one suspected Rodong missile lifted off from the North's western Hwanghae province and flew across the country before falling in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. FILE - In this May 10, 2016 file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves at parade participants at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea. South Korea's military says North Korea has fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016 into the sea. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File) Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it "strongly condemns" the missile launch because it explicitly shows the North's intentions of being able to launch missile attacks on South Korea and neighboring countries. Japan's Defense Ministry said the missile landed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone, the 200-nautical-mile offshore area where a nation has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources. "It imposes a serious threat to Japan's security and it is unforgivable act of violence toward Japan's security," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. North Korea previously fired Rodong and other missiles into the sea but South Korean analysts say Wednesday's 1,000 kilometer flight was one of the longest for a North Korean test. In June, North Korea, after a string of failures, sent a mid-range ballistic missile more than 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) high. Analysts say the high-altitude flight meant North Korea had made progress in its push to be able to strike U.S. forces throughout the region. North Korea routinely conducts missile and other weapons tests, but the latest launch came after North Korea warned of unspecified "physical counter-actions" against a U.S. plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year. Seoul and Washington officials said they need the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system to better cope with what they call North Korea's increasing military threats. North Korea called the system a provocation that it says is only aimed at bolstering U.S. military hegemony in the region. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, according to Seoul defense officials. The North's state media later confirmed that it fired ballistic rockets carrying trigger devices for nuclear warheads as part of simulated pre-emptive atomic attacks on South Korea. North Korea is expected to carry out more weapons launches in coming weeks to protest annual U.S.-South Korean military drills that begin later this month. North Korea describes the drills as an invasion rehearsal. North Korea is pushing to manufacture a warhead small enough to be placed on a long-range missile that can reach the continental U.S., but South Korean defense officials say the North doesn't yet have such a miniaturized warhead. Some civilian experts, however, believe the North has the technology to put warheads on shorter-range missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. __ Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. South Koreans watch a TV news program airing file footage of a North Korean rocket launch at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, the fourth reported weapons launch the North has carried out in about two weeks. The characters read "Against a deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) The Latest: Judge cuts potential fine after pipeline blast SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The Latest on federal prosecutors' request to cut nearly all of a potential $562 million fine against Pacific Gas & Electric Co. after a pipeline blast (all times local): 5:30 p.m. A federal judge has cut nearly all of a potential $562 million fine against Pacific Gas & Electric Co. in a criminal case alleging pipeline safety violations before a deadly explosion in the San Francisco Bay Area. U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson issued the order late Tuesday, hours after the U.S. Attorney's Office requested it in a court filing. The judge did not explain his reasoning. PG&E now faces a maximum fine of $6 million if convicted of 11 pipeline safety violations and obstructing investigators in the wake of the 2010 blast in the city of San Bruno. The government did not provide an explanation in the filing its request to lower the potential penalty. The move came after more than a month of testimony and four days into jury deliberations over whether PG&E is guilty of the charges filed after the blast that killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes. ___ 2:15 p.m. Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to cut nearly all of a potential $562 million fine against Pacific Gas & Electric Co. in a criminal case alleging pipeline safety violations before a deadly explosion in the San Francisco Bay Area. The U.S. Attorney's Office made the request Tuesday in a court filing. Under the proposal, PG&E would face a maximum fine of $6 million if convicted of obstructing investigators in the wake of the 2010 blast in the city of San Bruno and 11 pipeline safety violations. The government did not provide an explanation in the filing for its request to lower the penalty. The Latest: Request denied to dismiss Trump University suit SAN DIEGO (AP) The Latest on a judge's rulings in a lawsuit against Trump University (all times local): 6:30 p.m. A federal judge in San Diego had rejected a request to dismiss a lawsuit against Donald Trump that accuses the Republican presidential nominee of defrauding customers at the now-defunct Trump University. U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel ruled on Tuesday, saying the 2011 case can go forward. Curiel had already indicated at a hearing last month that he was inclined to dismiss the request. Trump's attorneys called the lawsuit a "gross overreach" of federal civil racketeering statutes, and minimized Trump's role in orchestrating allegedly misleading marketing claims. The ruling came the same day that Curiel blocked the release of videos of Trump testifying in the lawsuit. Trump has accused Curiel of being biased against him saying the Indiana-born judge's Mexican heritage posed a conflict with Trump's positions on illegal immigration and promise to build a wall on the Mexican border. ___ 5 p.m. A judge in San Diego who has been a target of Donald Trump's repeated criticism has blocked the release of videos of the Republican presidential nominee testifying in a lawsuit about the now-defunct Trump University. U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel in a ruling Tuesday denied the request from news organizations that wanted full transcripts and video of Trump's recent depositions. Curiel says that while there was legitimate public interest in viewing Trump's demeanor in the footage, there was greater potential for harm because of the media scrutiny it was expected to generate. Trump's attorneys said the video would be used to tarnish the campaign. Physician Marshall ousts US Rep. Huelskamp in Kansas primary HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) A doctor backed by agriculture and business groups ousted U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp Tuesday in a Kansas Republican primary race that focused on the tea party-backed incumbent's battles with GOP leaders and criticism that he was too cantankerous to be effective. Great Bend obstetrician Roger Marshall won the tough contest against Huelskamp in the 1st District, which spans western and much of central Kansas. Huelskamp is one of only a handful of House members to be ousted in this year's primary season. Dr. Roger Marshall hugs a supporter during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Great Bend, Kan. Marshall is running for U.S. House of Representatives against incumbent Tim Huelskamp in the First Congressional District. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) Rep. Renee Ellmers fell to fellow North Carolina GOP Rep. George Holding, and Virginia Republican Rep. Randy Forbes also lost, victims of court-ordered, redrawn district lines. Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., was defeated in April after indictment on federal corruption charges. He was later convicted and quit Congress. Marshall's supporters argued Huelskamp's combativeness harmed the district. Huelskamp lost his seat on the House Agriculture Committee in 2012; farm groups turned against him, and many Republican voters saw it as a crucial issue in a farm state. Marshall credited his win as "all about agriculture" in the state. He said he is a Kansas conservative who works across the aisle, adding he is not sure the Freedom Caucus would have him. Huelskamp blamed his loss on $3 million of super PAC money coming to support his opponent. "Half-truths and smears were spread by billionaires that bought a seat in Kansas," he said. "Getting kicked off the Agriculture Committee is a crime that can't be forgiven," Brian Scheideman, a 52-year-old driver's education instructor, said after voting in his hometown of Wamego for Marshall. "I don't mind the independent voice, but you've got to figure out how to work with people." Marshall, from the central Kansas community of Great Bend, received endorsements from the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Huelskamp is a tea party favorite with a national profile from clashing with GOP leaders over farm and budget legislation. He was a vocal critic of former House Speaker John Boehner, and Huelskamp's supporters argued that he gave his conservative, safely GOP district an independent voice. "I think he has a better record than what he is given credit for," said Doris O'Neal, a 76-year-old Hutchinson homemaker who voted for Huelskamp. "If you listen for reasons he voted as he has, I think you will find he is doing the best he can for Kansas." There is no Democratic candidate for the seat, though Clifton farmer and educator Alan LaPolice is poised to run as an independent. LaPolice ran for the GOP nomination in 2014, losing a closer-than-expected race against Huelskamp as an unknown. Huelskamp has rankled less conservative Republicans throughout a 20-year political career that includes a stint in the Kansas Senate before his election to Congress in 2010. But this year, major agriculture groups and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed Marshall. Both candidates raised more than $700,000 for their campaigns a healthy sum for Kansas but Marshall loaned his campaign more than $280,000. Interest groups also spent more than $2.7 million on the race, with Marshall benefiting significantly more. In other races, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder in the 3rd District in the Kansas City area cruised to easy GOP primary victories over lesser known opponents. U.S. Reps. Lynn Jenkins in the 2nd District of eastern Kansas and Mike Pompeo in the 4th District of south-central Kansas had no opponents in their Republican primaries. ___ John Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apjdhanna . Dr. Roger Marshall, left, talks with supporters during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 in Great Bend, Kan. Marshall is running for U.S. House of Representatives against incumbent Tim Huelskamp, a tea party favorite. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) A voter enters city hall in Lecompton, Kan., to vote in the state's primary election Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) NYC's next top cop touts strategy to repair rift with public NEW YORK (AP) The career cop picked to lead America's largest police department is embracing a throwback strategy to repair the deep rift that has opened between officers and the public. He wants patrol officers to get to know people on their beat on a first-name basis. James "Jimmy" O'Neill was introduced Tuesday at City Hall as the next commissioner of the New York Police Department. When he takes over next month, O'Neill will inherit challenges that vexed his well-known predecessor, William Bratton, who announced that he is quitting to take a job with a corporate consulting firm. New York City Police Department Chief of Department James O'Neill speaks during a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in New York's City Hall. New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton is leaving the nation's largest police force, after a tenure in which he received credit for keeping crime down and navigated tension between police and minority communities. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that Bratton will retire next month to enter the private sector, although he and Bratton wouldn't disclose details. O'Neill, the department's top chief, will become commissioner. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Crime statistics in the city have never been better, but officer morale is an issue as is the level of distrust between officers and minorities, especially black New Yorkers. In announcing O'Neill's selection, Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would be tasked with expanding a "neighborhood policing plan" the department first unveiled last year amid tensions stirred by the police chokehold death of Eric Garner and the subsequent ambush slaying of two NYPD officers by a suicidal gunman out for revenge. O'Neill, who has been with the NYPD for his entire career, said the program draws on some of the same lessons he learned in 1983 when he was a rookie transit officer patrolling a subway system ravaged by crime. Good cops, he said, learn "how to talk to every type of person imaginable." It calls for officers to spend more time out of their patrol cars introducing themselves to shop owners and community members so they can collaborate on making the city safer. As part of the outreach, specialized "neighborhood coordinating officers" even pass out their cellphone numbers. "Knowing who your police officers are, especially what their names are," he said, "is one way to strengthen the bonds that exist in many places and bridge the divide where it doesn't." New York has tried various iterations of that idea over the decades. Under former Democratic Mayor David Dinkins, the department put more cops on foot patrols, asked beat officers to focus on long-term solutions rather than quick-fix arrests and recruited tenants as informants against drug dealers in their buildings in the early 1990s. While the program earned praise in then-President Bill Clinton's 1994 State of the Union address, internal police memos emerged portraying it as lax and ineffective. Bratton, in his first tour as police commissioner under Republican Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, shifted the department's focus toward cracking down on "quality-of-life" crime as part of a theory that aggressively going after urban annoyances like vandalism and subway fare evasion would reverse a societal decline. De Blasio, who worked in Dinkins' administration, said Tuesday the new "neighborhood policing" will be more full-fledged and deliver on "a strategy we have never fully achieved." Some civil liberties activists and others cautioned on Tuesday that the new emphasis on neighborhood policing is little more than repackaging a limited concept. "Having more officers in the neighborhood and having people know each others' names has nothing to do with whether people are going to be held accountable for brutality," said Joo-Hyun Kang, the director of Communities United for Police Reform, a group that advocates for changing police practices. And in a tough world, friendliness only goes so far. Officers can be trained to bring "softer skills" to resolving problems, but "they're not social workers, they're not camp counselors they're law enforcement," Eugene O'Donnell, a professor of police studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said Tuesday. "You can be nice to people, but you can't be nice to everybody," he said. In Harlem on Tuesday, black residents said they liked the idea, but expressed skepticism. "I don't think he's gonna do any better," said Wayne Newton, a 51-year-old barber from the Bronx. He recounted how his 18-year-old son was recently stopped and questioned by police for playing "Pokemon Go" in a Bronx park. Neter Rhoden, 14, said he would appreciate a friendly "hello," from a police officer now and again, but he's still upset about a time an officer held his arm behind his back while questioning him in the street. "They could be nicer," he said. By all accounts, O'Neill is diving in headfirst, giving out his personal cellphone number to advocates who work with at-risk New Yorkers in rough city neighborhoods. Bratton, 68, will be winding down a law enforcement career that had stops as chief in Boston and Los Angeles, as well as two stints as commissioner in New York. He brought a prominence and political savvy to the nation's largest police department that equipped him to deal with outsized expectations. His brash style which doomed his first stint as commissioner under then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani went unabated under de Blasio, as evidenced Tuesday in his description of de Blasio's reaction when he invited the mayor into his office and broke the news that he was leaving the NYPD. "After I picked him up off the floor and got him on my couch," he quipped, "we had a two-hour conversation about where I was going and why." By comparison, O'Neill is admired within the department, but unknown on the national stage. ___ Associated Press writers Jake Pearson and Ezra Kaplan contributed to this report. New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton speaks during a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in New York's City Hall. Bratton is leaving the nation's largest police force, after a tenure in which he received credit for keeping crime down and navigated tension between police and minority communities. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that Bratton will retire next month to enter the private sector, although he and Bratton wouldn't disclose details. James O'Neill, the department's top chief, will become commissioner. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in New York's City Hall. New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton is leaving the nation's largest police force, after a tenure in which he received credit for keeping crime down and navigated tension between police and minority communities. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that Bratton will retire next month to enter the private sector, although he and Bratton wouldn't disclose details. James O'Neill, the department's top chief, will become commissioner. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, center, is joined by Police Commissioner William Bratton, left, and Chief of Department James O'Neill during a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in New York's City Hall. Bratton is leaving the nation's largest police force, after a tenure in which he received credit for keeping crime down and navigated tension between police and minority communities. Mayor de Blasio announced Tuesday that Bratton will retire next month to enter the private sector, although he and Bratton wouldn't disclose details. O'Neill, the department's top chief, will become commissioner. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton is joined by Mayor Bill de Blasio during a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in New York's City Hall. Bratton is leaving the nation's largest police force, after a tenure in which he received credit for keeping crime down and navigated tension between police and minority communities. Mayor de Blasio announced Tuesday that Bratton will retire next month to enter the private sector, although he and Bratton wouldn't disclose details. James O'Neill, the department's top chief, will become commissioner. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton and his wife Rikki Klieman leave New York's City Hall after a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. Bratton is leaving the nation's largest police force, after a tenure in which he received credit for keeping crime down and navigated tension between police and minority communities. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that Bratton will retire next month to enter the private sector, although he and Bratton wouldn't disclose details. James O'Neill, the department's top chief, will become commissioner. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) New York City Police Department Chief of Department James O'Neill, right, is joined by Commissioner William Bratton during a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in New York's City Hall. Bratton is leaving the nation's largest police force, after a tenure in which he received credit for keeping crime down and navigated tension between police and minority communities. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that Bratton will retire next month to enter the private sector, although he and Bratton wouldn't disclose details. O'Neill, the department's top chief, will become commissioner. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) New York City Police Department Chief of Department James O'Neill, right, is joined by Commissioner William Bratton during a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in New York's City Hall. Bratton is leaving the nation's largest police force, after a tenure in which he received credit for keeping crime down and navigated tension between police and minority communities. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that Bratton will retire next month to enter the private sector, although he and Bratton wouldn't disclose details. O'Neill, the department's top chief, will become commissioner. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Demonstrators with the Black Lives Matter movement cheer as New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton leaves New York's City Hall after a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. Bratton is leaving the nation's largest police force, after a tenure in which he received credit for keeping crime down and navigated tension between police and minority communities. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that Bratton will retire next month to enter the private sector, although he and Bratton wouldn't disclose details. James O'Neill, the department's top chief, will become commissioner. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) GOP candidate goes macho to win Missouri governor primary JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) In the final days before Missouri's Republican gubernatorial primary, candidate Eric Greitens responded to a Democratic attack ad by firing more than 100 rounds from a machine gun as an announcer declared in a rebuttal ad that he would bring out "the big guns" to "fight Obama's Democrat machine." Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, prevailed in a hard-fought, four-way primary Tuesday, earning the right to face Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster in a Nov. 8 gubernatorial election. The race features many of the same undercurrents as the presidential campaign between Republican businessman Donald Trump and Democratic former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Like Trump, Greitens portrays himself as a macho outsider ready to blow up politics as usual. And the early attack ad hinted that the brash Greitens is perhaps the one Republican that Koster, who carries decades of political experience, least wanted to face. Missouri Republican gubernatorial candidate Eric Greitens speaks to a crowd of supporters at the DoubleTree Hotel Chesterfield on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Chesterfield, Mo. Greitens won the Republican primary for Missouri governor Tuesday after a hard-fought race in which he cast himself as a conservative outsider willing to use his military bravado to blow up perceived corruption in government. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas) Greitens' message amounts to nothing more than 'let's fire machine guns and do sit-ups into the camera,'" Koster said while launching his general election campaign Wednesday. "I don't get what this has to do with running the government," said Koster, a former Republican state senator and prosecuting attorney. Yet Greitens noted that attack ads were not launched by Democratic-leaning groups against any of the other Republican primary candidates businessman John Brunner, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder or former Missouri House Speaker and U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway. "Chris Koster was so afraid of our campaign that he felt that the only way that he could win is by trying to rig the election by choosing the opponent that he was going to run against," Greitens said late Tuesday night, using similar rhetoric about a rigged political system as Trump and Democratic presidential runner-up Bernie Sanders. Greitens, 42, of St. Louis, has a remarkable resume. He's been a Rhodes scholar, White House fellow, boxer, martial arts expert and best-selling author. He has traveled the world as a photographer on humanitarian missions documenting the conditions of war refugees and homeless children. He joined the Navy in 2001, just months before the Sept. 11 attacks, and later was chlorine-gassed in a suicide bomb attack in Iraq. After his military career, he founded The Mission Continues, a nonprofit that connects veterans with volunteer work to ease their transition back home. Greitens developed a nationwide network of donors for the organization, some of whom have helped finance his gubernatorial campaign. Missouri has no limits on how much candidates can receive from donors. Greitens got $1 million from California venture capitalist Michael Goguen, who has been sued by a woman alleging he sexually abused her for years. Goguen has denied the abuse allegations, which were cited in the attack ad. Greitens has declined calls by political rivals to return the money, saying he won't rush to judgment while the case is pending. Greitens won the split Republican primary with less than 35 percent of the vote. Many voters interviewed by The Associated Press said they were drawn to Greitens by his outsider's call to shake up the political establishment. "I think if we were able to measure it, we'd find that a lot of the Trump voters in the spring were Greitens voters in the August primary," said Dave Robertson, a political science professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Greitens and the other GOP candidates sought to tap into anger among some conservatives about the handling of several racial incidents in the state. The candidates sharply criticized the way Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon responded to riots following the 2014 fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson and to protests over racial concerns last fall at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Greitens was particularly dismissive of the student protesters, comparing them with the young military members he served with in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I find it a little hard to hear when I hear students complaining that life on campus is just too tough," Greitens said during debates. Greitens set up a committee for a potential gubernatorial run just days before the Feb. 26, 2015, suicide of Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich, another gubernatorial candidate. Though Greitens had no role, Schweich had believed that other Republicans were turning against him with negative attacks and rumors. His death led to at least temporary calls to tone down negative campaigning. ___ Associated Press writers Margaret Stafford in Harrisonville and Summer Ballentine in Chesterfield contributed to this report. ___ Follow David A. Lieb at: http://twitter.com/DavidALieb FILE - This Aug. 17, 2014 file photo, Missouri Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Koster speaks in Ferguson, Mo. Koster won the Democratic primary Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, earning the right to face Republican Eric Greitens in a Nov. 8, gubernatorial election. (Christian Gooden/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP File) Missouri Republican gubernatorial candidate Eric Greitens speaks to a crowd of supporters at the DoubleTree Hotel Chesterfield, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Chesterfield, Mo. Former Navy SEAL officer Greitens won the Republican primary for Missouri governor Tuesday after a hard-fought race in which he cast himself as a conservative outsider willing to use his military bravado to blow up perceived corruption in government. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas) Missouri Republican gubernatorial candidate Eric Greitens speaks to a crowd of supporters at the DoubleTree Hotel Chesterfield on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Chesterfield, Mo. Greitens won the Republican primary for Missouri governor Tuesday after a hard-fought race in which he cast himself as a conservative outsider willing to use his military bravado to blow up perceived corruption in government. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas) Missouri Republican gubernatorial candidate Eric Greitens speaks to a crowd of supporters at the DoubleTree Hotel Chesterfield, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Chesterfield, Mo. Former Navy SEAL officer Greitens won the Republican primary for Missouri governor Tuesday after a hard-fought race in which he cast himself as a conservative outsider willing to use his military bravado to blow up perceived corruption in government. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas) Despite pledges, 1 million Syrian refugees are out of school BEIRUT (AP) Schools in the Middle East are facing major budget shortfalls ahead of the new academic year, leaving some 1 million Syrian refugee children out of school, according to a report published late Tuesday by Theirworld, an international children's charity. The five-year-long Syrian war has placed huge strain on the region's school systems, forcing neighboring countries to depend on multi-billion dollar grants from donor nations to meet education needs. There are 2.5 million Syrian children registered as refugees with the United Nations, the world body says. Most live in neighboring Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan as they wait for an opportunity to return home. FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016 file photo, Syrian refugee children sit on the ground as they listen to their teacher inside a tent, home for a refugee family that has been turned into a makeshift school, in a Syrian refugee camp in the eastern town of Kab Elias, Lebanon. School budgets in the Middle East are facing major shortfalls in the run up to the new academic year, leaving some one million Syrian refugee children out of schools, according to a new report by the international children's charity Their World. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein, File) In February, the international community pledged $1.4 billion in school funding for host nations at a London donor conference but less than $400 million of that has been fulfilled, Theirworld estimates. That leaves a funding gap of $1 billion. Kevin Watkins, the author of the report and the executive director of the Britain-based Overseas Development Institute, said donors had "broken their promises." In Lebanon, more than half of the nearly 500,000 school-age Syrian refugee children receive no formal education, according to Human Rights Watch, despite reforms allowing overburdened public schools to run two shifts a day. Many Syrian refugee families have no choice but to put their children to work to help meet basic expenses in a country with few social protections and tight movement restrictions. Children who do go to school face difficulties with new curriculums, and many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or other psychosocial problems. "The schools accept Syrian refugees, but the children don't adapt. They register but then they drop out," said Najah Kherallah Jomaa, a refugee from Syria's Aleppo living in a settlement in the Lebanese town of Bar Elias. The report by Theirworld warns of a "lost generation" of Syrians if determined steps are not taken to ensure school access for all. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the name of the charity is Theirworld, not Their World. China lawyer in court in 3rd of series of subversion trials BEIJING (AP) A Chinese lawyer was in court Thursday in the third of a series of subversion trials demonstrating the ruling Communist Party's determination to shut down independent human rights activists and government critics. Zhou Shifeng faces a possible heavy sentence for actions related to his role as director of Beijing's Fengrui Law Firm that took on sensitive cases and represented people who dared challenge the party. His trial in the northern city of Tianjin follows those of two legal activists earlier this week, one of whom was sentenced to 7 years and the other given a suspended sentence, both on charges of subversion. In this image from video released on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016 by China's CCTV and made available via AP Video, Chinese legal rights activist Hu Shigen stands for his trial at the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court in northern China's Tianjin Municipality. Hu was sentenced to 7 years in prison on subversion charges Wednesday, in the second in a series of cases underscoring the ruling Communist Party's determination to rein in government critics. (CCTV via AP Video) As with the others, Zhou was detained in July of last year amid a sweeping roundup of activists and lawyers. About 300 lawyers and activists were initially seized and questioned before most were released. Zhou established Fengrui in 2007 and the next year took on one of the country's biggest dairies in a massive tainted infant formula scandal that the government had tried to squelch. The firm has also represented clients targeted by the government, including members of the banned Falun Gong meditation sect and activist artist Ai Weiwei. This week's trials are part of a pattern established under the administration of President Xi Jinping to use more sophisticated legal means to attack perceived opponents as it maintains pressure on activists and non-governmental organizations. Several of those detained, including Zhou and fellow Fengrui lawyer Wang Yu, have made televised apologies for the crimes they are accused of, saying their legal activism was directed by unidentified "hostile foreign forces" to smear and attack the Chinese government. Fengrui often worked with activists to gather evidence of government abuses and lead clients and the disgruntled in street protests while spreading word online. Their actions were harshly denounced by the authorities as thuggery and interference in the legal process. Many family members of those being held say they and their retained lawyers have been denied access to the detainees for more than a year, receiving only occasional updates by word of mouth. Some have been briefly detained themselves while seeking information. Zhou and others were assigned government-appointed lawyers who work closely with the court. In this image from video released on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 by China's CCTV and made available via AP Video, Zhai Yanmin speaks during his trial at the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court in northern China's Tianjin Municipality. A Chinese court issued a suspended three-year prison sentence Zhai, a human rights activist charged with subversion of state power after a brief trial Tuesday, the first publicly acknowledged hearing in a secrecy-shrouded yearlong case involving hundreds of rights activists. (CCTV via AP Video) A police car passes by the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court in northern China's Tianjin Municipality on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. The court in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin has begun to try the first of four human rights advocates charged with subversion of state power, marking the first publicly acknowledged hearing in a yearlong case shrouded in secrecy and involving hundreds of Chinese human rights activists.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Rights groups: Australia ignoring abuse at refugee camps SYDNEY (AP) Human rights groups accused Australia on Wednesday of deliberately ignoring the alleged abuse of asylum seekers being held at a remote Pacific island detention facility in a bid to deter future refugees from trying to reach the country by boat. A scathing joint report by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said detainees on the Pacific island nation of Nauru, where Australia sends asylum seekers, are routinely denied critical medical care, frequently attempt suicide and endure physical assaults by locals on the island. "Australia's policy of exiling asylum seekers who arrive by boat is cruel in the extreme," Anna Neistat, senior director for research at Amnesty International, said in a statement. "Few other countries go to such lengths to deliberately inflict suffering on people seeking safety and freedom." FILE - In this Sept. 19, 2001, file photo, refugees, right, gather on one side of a fence to talk with international journalists about their journey that brought them to the Island of Nauru. Human rights groups accused Australia on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, of deliberately ignoring the abuse of asylum seekers being held at the remote Pacific island detention camp in a bid to deter future refugees from trying to reach the country by boat. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File) Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection criticized the rights groups for not consulting with the government while preparing the report. "We would strongly encourage Amnesty International to contact the department before airing allegations of this kind," the department said in a statement. "The department strongly refutes many of the allegations in the report." The department did not respond to a request seeking details on what parts of the report it was refuting. Australia refuses to accept any asylum seekers who attempt to reach its shores by boat. Instead, it pays Nauru and the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea to hold them often for years. Reports of abuse, miserably hot and crowded living conditions, and frequent suicide attempts at the detention camps have plagued Australia for years; in April, an Iranian refugee on Nauru died after setting himself on fire. Human rights groups have long called on Australia to abandon its offshore detention policy, calling the practice a violation of the country's international human rights obligations. Australia argues that the policy has saved lives by removing the incentive for migrants to attempt the dangerous and often deadly ocean crossing from Indonesia to Australia in rickety boats. Critics say the country has simply traded one evil for another. Journalists have been almost entirely banned from Nauru in recent years. But researchers from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said they were able to enter the country last month, spending 12 days interviewing 84 refugees and asylum seekers. Those interviewed said they were suffering from severe anxiety, depression and short-term memory loss. Both adults and children told interviewers they wanted to kill themselves. Since last year, asylum seekers held in the detention center have been allowed to leave the camp and move about the island during the day but many say they are too afraid to do so. Every refugee and asylum seeker interviewed by the researchers said that they or their family members had been intimidated, harassed or physically assaulted by locals, including being pelted with bottles and stones and robbed at knifepoint. Several women reported being sexually assaulted. Paul Ryan, Wasserman Schultz to test anti-establishment mood WASHINGTON (AP) House Speaker Paul Ryan and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz are about to test voters' anti-establishment mood, first hand. In an election year in which supporters of both parties are seething against Washington, 15 states from Florida to Arizona have yet to vote in House primaries. They include challenges against Ryan, R-Wis., and Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who abruptly resigned last week as chair of the Democratic National Committee. Both seem likely to prevail, but surprises can happen in low-turnout summer primaries. FILE - In this July 18, 2016, file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., speaks during a breakfast with Pennsylvania delegates during the Republican National Convention in Westlake, Ohio. Ryan and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz are about to test voters anti-establishment mood, first hand. Fifteen states from Florida to Arizona still have House primaries in an election year thats seen both parties supporters seethe against Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) Here's a look at noteworthy contests, a prelude to a November election in which Democrats will make a long-shot bid to capture House control: ___ THE BACK STORY Before this week, 31 states had held House primaries this year. Three incumbents lost, but none of their races supported the argument that voters want to throw the incumbents out of the House, anyway. Rep. Renee Ellmers fell to fellow North Carolina GOP Rep. George Holding, and Virginia Republican Rep. Randy Forbes also lost, both victims of court-ordered, redrawn district lines. Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., was defeated in April after indictment on federal corruption charges. He was later convicted and quit Congress. ___ THIS WEEK Four states held House primaries Tuesday. In the most striking election, Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., a tea party lawmaker and persistent annoyance to GOP leaders, lost his bid for a fourth term. Huelskamp's contest against Roger Marshall, an obstetrician, was unusual because GOP primary challengers usually accuse incumbents of being insufficiently conservative. Marshall argued that Huelskamp's rebelliousness got him kicked off the House Agriculture Committee, which is vital for western Kansas. Their contest became a proxy battle between GOP conservatives and pragmatists. The anti-tax Club for Growth spent $400,000 to help Huelskamp, and members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus campaigned for him. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Ending Spending Action Fund, which wants to curb federal expenditures, spent big dollars against him. That prompted an angry response from Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairman of the Freedom Caucus, who on Wednesday called it an "an ugly and dishonest campaign" in which "Tim's record was attacked and misrepresented by big money special interest groups who wanted to exact their revenge." ___ RYAN'S RACE Political novice Paul Nehlen wants to end Ryan's House career after nine terms, and he's getting help from Donald Trump. An unlikely defeat in the Aug. 9 primary would probably spell political doom for the GOP's 2012 vice presidential candidate and potential future presidential contender. A tattooed, motorcycle-riding businessman, Nehlen labeled the speaker "Lyin' Ryan" on Twitter. He's attacked Ryan for favoring a Pacific trade deal and accuses him of being lax on immigration and beholden to the establishment. Nehlen got a boost from Trump when the GOP presidential candidate said in a Tuesday interview with The Washington Post that he is "not quite there yet" in endorsing Ryan. That could be payback for Ryan saying in May that he was "just not ready" to back Trump. Ryan subsequently endorsed Trump but has criticized him frequently, and their relationship is cool. Trump praised Nehlen this week for defending his criticism of the Muslim parents of an American soldier slain in Iraq. Ryan campaign spokesman Zack Roday expressed confidence in a primary victory and said, "Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement." Ryan has raised 12 times the $489,000 Nehlen has reported collecting. Not taking chances, Ryan is airing his third TV ad, with people waving flags and praying as Ryan tells the camera, "I am committed to securing our borders." ___ WASSERMAN SCHULTZ'S TRAVAILS Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders complained that Wasserman Schultz's DNC, which historically has remained neutral in presidential primary season, backed his victorious Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton. Wasserman Schultz abandoned her party post as last week's Democratic convention began after leaked emails revealed party staffers had done just what Sanders had suspected. That has turned Wasserman Schultz's focus to her Aug. 30 primary, where she's opposed by upstart law professor Tim Canova. He's backed by Sanders and has mimicked Sanders' populist style by raising huge sums from small individual contributions. That has let Canova stay surprisingly competitive financially, raising $2.3 million compared to Wasserman Schultz's $3.1 million. Yet the Miami-area district favored Clinton over Sanders by 2-1 in March's presidential primary. And Wasserman Schultz, seeking a seventh House term, gets high marks for paying attention back home. ___ ALSO IN FLORIDA About half of Florida's 27 districts feature competitive primaries, including seven in which incumbents are stepping down or running for the Senate: Republican Rep. Jeff Miller is leaving a Panhandle seat so conservative that one leading competitor, State Sen. Greg Evers, raffled off an AR-15 rifle among people who "liked" his Facebook page. Another, State Rep. Matt Gaetz, backed a local sheriff who called the Black Lives Matter group "a terrorist organization." Democratic Rep. Corrine Brown, indicted on federal fraud charges, faces strong competition in north Florida. GOP Rep. Dan Webster, who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. John Boehner for the House speakership in 2015, is seeking a different open seat after his district became more Democratic. ___ OTHER NOTABLE PRIMARIES Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, is a favorite GOP contender for Wyoming's open, lone House seat Aug. 16. An Aug. 30 fight among Republicans for the northern Arizona seat of Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, who's challenging GOP Sen. John McCain. FILE - In this March 21, 2016 file photo, then-Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., is interviewed in New York. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Wasserman Schultz are about to test voters anti-establishment mood, first hand. Fifteen states from Florida to Arizona still have House primaries in an election year thats seen both parties supporters seethe against Washington. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) How to Terminate Timeshare Obligations It sounded like such a good idea at the time, right? The thought of owning your own little piece of paradise seemed so reasonable. But now you're realizing that owning a timeshare is less of a dream and more of a nightmare, and you're wondering if there's any way out. A timeshare contract can seem iron-clad at first glance, but there may be legal ways to terminate your timeshare obligations. Give It Back Timeshare sales pitches can come with some slick marketing and some subtle sleight-of-hand when it comes to how much you're paying and what you actually get. And the propensity for buyer's remorse among timeshare purchasers tends to be higher than most other markets. In response, some states have strict timeshare regulations that allow consumers to cancel the contract within a certain period of time after the sale. For example, timeshare buyers in Nevada and Texas have five days to rescind the purchase and those in Hawaii and New Mexico have a week to change their minds. And if the timeshare seller made any misrepresentations, most states also have consumer protection laws that may allow you to void a timeshare contract. Give It Away Your other options are selling your timeshare or transferring it to someone else who is willing to take over the maintenance payments and other fees. There are companies that specialize in buying and re-selling timeshares, and you could always sell the timeshare interest yourself if your timeshare is located in a particularly attractive spot. And if you're feeling charitable, there are organizations that accept timeshare donations. The charity will sell your timeshare for your and pass on the proceeds to a good cause. Giving your timeshare to charity may not clear the debt from your books, but it might help clear your conscience. Real estate contracts aren't the easiest to read and escaping from a timeshare may require the help of an experienced real estate attorney. If you're trying to end your timeshare obligations, contact one in your area today. Related Resources: Trump taunts GOP, refusing to back Ryan, McCain WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump is openly taunting the leaders of his own party by refusing to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Sen. John McCain of Arizona in their GOP primaries. Yet thus far, McCain, Ryan and other Republicans who've reluctantly declared that they plan to back Trump for president appear to be sticking with him. Trump's stunning slap at two of the nation's most prominent Republicans dramatically escalated GOP turmoil barely a week after a convention intended to promote party unity. With the general election campaign now squarely underway, Republicans found themselves once again forced to answer questions about the latest boundary-defying pronouncement from Trump at a moment when most would rather be talking about Hillary Clinton's record. Trump made his declarations in an interview with The Washington Post in which he also lit into New Hampshire GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte. All three lawmakers are facing primary challenges from the right in coming weeks, though all are expected to prevail, and each had criticized Trump's attacks on the Muslim American parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq. In this May 30, 2016, photo, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, speaks during a Phoenix Memorial Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix. Donald Trump's refusal to back McCain and others in the party for re-election is a remarkable break in political decorum, but one that matches in some way their own hesitance to fully back their own party's nominee for president. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Trump's rebuke to Ryan carried particular derision. "I'm just not there yet," Trump said, closely echoing Ryan's own demurral before eventually endorsing Trump, when he told CNN on May 6, "I'm not there right now." "I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country. We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet," Trump told the Post, offering praise for Ryan's longshot opponent, Paul Nehlen, for running "a very good campaign." Trump also claimed Ryan had asked for his support, something Ryan's aides denied. "Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement," said Zack Roday, Ryan's campaign spokesman. "And we are confident in a victory next week, regardless." Of McCain, whom he'd previously criticized for being taken captive in Vietnam, Trump said: "I've never been there with John McCain because I've always felt that he should have done a much better job for the vets." And bringing up Ayotte: "I don't know Kelly Ayotte. I know she's given me no support zero support and yet I'm leading her in the polls. I'm doing very well in New Hampshire. We need loyal people in this country. We need fighters in this country. We don't need weak people." Trump's comments appeared to represent the most dramatic break yet with a Republican establishment whose support for their presidential nominee has been reluctant at best. It came on the same day that President Barack Obama declared Trump unfit to serve as president and questioned why McCain, Ryan and other GOP leaders continued to support him, especially in light of Trump's attacks on a pair of bereaved Army parents who took the stage at the Democratic National Convention to oppose him. McCain had been particularly incensed over Trump's insults against the parents of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, chiding Trump's decision to "defame those who are the best among us." Yet it was not clear that, even as Trump found another line to cross and another political norm to defy, any Republicans would rescind their support. None did so publicly and aides to both Ryan and Ayotte made clear their plans hadn't changed. McCain met privately Tuesday night with Trump's vice presidential running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. For his part, Trump sent a Twitter post from @realDonaldTrump early Wednesday proclaiming, "There is greater unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before." For Republicans, renouncing Trump might not yield much benefit beyond ensuring more headlines connecting them to Trump, something most want to avoid. Instead, vulnerable Senate Republicans like Ayotte and McCain are trying to focus on running their own races and hoping voters will make a distinction between them and Trump, something some polls suggest may be happening. "I call it like I see it, and I'm always going to stand up for our military families and what's best for the people of New Hampshire," was all Ayotte would say. ___ What political news is the world searching for on Google and talking about on Twitter? Find out via AP's Election Buzz interactive. http://elections.ap.org/buzz ___ Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire contributed from Daytona Beach, Florida. Man killed after firing at Virginia deputies identified FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) Authorities in Virginia have identified the 65-year-old man who died from return fire after shooting at deputies. Stafford County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman M.C. Morris Moncure tells local news outlets the man killed early Monday has been identified as Kenneth Eugene Bonanno. The Sheriff's Office said in a release that deputies were responding to a report of a crash in the Fredericksburg area around 2 a.m. Monday. The caller said a vehicle traveling at high speed had jumped the median, crossed the road and stopped. When deputies arrived, the sheriff's office says no one was with the vehicle, but they saw a man later identified as Bonnano nearby. Officials say Bonnano had a handgun and fired at the deputies as they approached. Officials say deputies returned fire, striking Bonnano, who died at a hospital. Killing of 2 civilians triggers protests in Indian SRINAGAR, India (AP) Tens of thousands of people rallied in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday to protest the overnight killings of two civilians by government forces amid a nearly month-long security lockdown. Police and witnesses said the protesters defied the security restrictions to demand an end to Indian rule in the disputed region. More than 100 civilians were injured, several of them by shotgun pellets, as clashes broke out in several places, including neighborhoods in the main city of Srinagar, between rock-throwing protesters and government forces, who fired tear gas and shotguns. An unidentified relative of Riyaz Ahmad Shah, one among two civilians killed by government forces wails as an ambulance carrying his body arrives at his home in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Fresh protests flared in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday following the overnight killings of two civilians by government forces amid a nearly monthlong security lockdown and protest strikes. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) Residents said government forces fired tear gas in the town of Pampore after thousands of people offered funeral prayers for a young man, one of the two civilians killed overnight. He was killed when a police guard escorting a government administrator fired at anti-India protesters who stopped their official car late Tuesday. Another young protester was critically wounded and hospitalized in Srinagar, a police officer said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters. The protesters burned the car and the administrator and police guard took refuge in a nearby paramilitary camp, the officer said. The other person killed overnight was a private guard at a bank in Srinagar. His family blamed paramilitary soldiers for his death. An initial investigation showed he had at least 360 shotgun pellets in his body. Anti-India protests erupted shortly after the young man's body was brought to his home in Srinagar. Defying a curfew, thousands of people carried his body to "martyrs' graveyard," where hundreds of Kashmiri militants and civilians killed during the last 26 years of fighting have been buried. Police said after the guard's burial, hundreds of young men hurled rocks at police, who retaliated by firing tear gas and shotguns. The Indian-held portion of Kashmir has witnessed its largest protests against Indian rule in recent years after Indian troops killed a rebel commander on July 8. At least 50 civilians and a policeman have been killed and thousands injured in protest-related violence. Meanwhile, shops, businesses and schools remained closed for the 26th straight day Wednesday because of the curfew and a strike called by separatists demanding an end to Indian rule. Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim region, is divided between India and Pakistan, but both countries claim it in its entirety. Most people in the Indian-held part resent the presence of hundreds of thousands of Indian troops. More than 68,000 people have been killed in an armed uprising against Indian rule and a subsequent Indian military crackdown. Kashmiri Muslims shout slogans against India as they carry body of Riyaz Ahmad Shah, one among two civilians killed by government forces during his funeral procession in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Fresh protests flared in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday following the overnight killings of two civilians by government forces amid a nearly monthlong security lockdown and protest strikes. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) Kashmiri Muslims carry body of Riyaz Ahmad Shah, one among two civilians by government forces during his funeral procession in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Fresh protests flared in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday following the overnight killings of two civilians by government forces amid a nearly monthlong security lockdown and protest strikes. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) Kashmiri Muslims shout pro freedom and pro Pakistani near martyrs graveyard during funeral procession of Riyaz Ahmad Shah, a civilian who was killed by government forces in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Fresh protests flared in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday following the overnight killings of two civilians by government forces amid a nearly monthlong security lockdown and protest strikes. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) Kashmiri Muslims shout pro freedom and pro Pakistani slogans as they carry the body of Riyaz Ahmad Shah, a civilian who was killed by government forces towards martyrs graveyard during his funeral procession in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Fresh protests flared in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday following the overnight killings of two civilians by government forces amid a nearly monthlong security lockdown and protest strikes. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) Kashmiri Muslim women wail as they watch the funeral procession of Riyaz Ahmad Shah, one among two civilians by government forces in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Fresh protests flared in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday following the overnight killings of two civilians by government forces amid a nearly monthlong security lockdown and protest strikes. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) Kashmiri Muslims women wail as they watch funeral procession of Riyaz Ahmad Shah, one among two civilians killed by government forces in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Fresh protests flared in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday following the overnight killings of two civilians by government forces amid a nearly monthlong security lockdown and protest strikes. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) An unidentified woman comforts a wailing relative of Riyaz Ahmad Shah, one among two civilians killed by government forces in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Fresh protests flared in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday following the overnight killings of two civilians by government forces amid a nearly monthlong security lockdown and protest strikes. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) Mayor in Russia sent to prison for corruption MOSCOW (AP) The mayor of the Russian city of Yaroslavl on Wednesday was found guilty of soliciting bribes and sentenced to 12 years in a high-security prison an unusually harsh verdict. When he was arrested in 2013, Yevgeny Urlashov was the only opposition mayor of a major Russian city. He was elected a year earlier on a wave of opposition protests. The Yaroslavl Regional Court on Wednesday found Urlashov guilty of soliciting 17 million rubles ($255,000) from a local businessman. Two of Urlashov's aides also stood trial: one was convicted of helping to arrange the bribe and sentenced to seven years in prison, and the other was acquitted. FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2012 file photo Yevgeny Urlashov stands in front of his mayoral campaign poster in downtown Yaroslavl, city of about 590,000 some 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Moscow, Russia. The mayor of the Russian city of Yaroslavl has been found guilty of soliciting bribes and sentenced to 12 and a half years in a high-security prison, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, an unusually harsh verdict. (AP Photo/ Sergei L. Loiko, File) Urlashov pleaded not guilty to the charges and claimed that he had been framed by his political rivals. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny spoke in Urlashov's support on Wednesday, pointing out that he was arrested three days after he staged an opposition rally in Yaroslavl and announced his plans to run for governor. Evidence against the former mayor was based on testimony of two people who got short prison sentences in an expedited trial. Leaders of South Korea, Russia to discuss North Korean nukes SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea's president will visit Russia next month to attend an economic forum and discuss North Korea's nuclear program with President Vladimir Putin, her office said Wednesday. President Park Geun-hye will visit Vladivostok in Russia's far east to attend the forum in early September and also use the visit to meet with Putin to discuss North Korea's nuclear development and other issues, the presidential Blue House said. Russia and South Korea are both members of long-stalled six-nation talks on ending the North's nuclear program. North Korea in 2009 walked away from the negotiations, which also involved the United States, Japan and China. South Korea and the U.S. have recently announced plans to deploy a high-tech U.S. missile defense system in the South to counter North Korean nuclear and missile threats. But Russia and China oppose the system, saying it could help the U.S. monitor their own missiles. Rights groups criticize detention of journalist in Oman DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Rights groups are criticizing the detention of an Omani journalist who is apparently held over an article he wrote regarding improper interference in a court case. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement early on Wednesday calling for the release of Ibrahim al-Maamari, editor-in-chief of the daily Arabic newspaper Azamn. The advocacy group says al-Maamari is being investigated on allegations of publishing "false news." The newspaper published a blank space on its front page this week to protest al-Maamari's detention. The Gulf Center for Human Rights says al-Maamari previously was sentenced to five months in prison in September 2011 over another article that saw the newspaper shuttered for a month. It also called for his release. A look at North Korean missile, artillery launches in 2016 North Korea has fired a slew of ballistic missiles and artillery rockets in defiance of heavy international sanctions imposed over its fourth nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch earlier this year. Outsiders believe North Korea intends the launches and tests to display its arsenal and its ability to attack rival South Korea and U.S. military bases in Asia in reaction to a U.S. plan to deploy an advanced military defense system in the South by the end of 2017. Some of North Korea's notable weapons tests since its long-range rocket launch in February: March 3: Six artillery shells fly about 150 kilometers (90 miles) before landing in the North's eastern coastal waters. North Korea later says it has developed a new large-caliber artillery rocket system that boosts its ability to attack the South. A man passes by a TV news program with file footage of a North Korean rocket launch at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea on Wednesday South Korea's military said, the fourth reported weapons launch the North has carried out in about two weeks. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) March 10: Two short-range ballistic missiles land in the sea, hours before North Korea declares it will "liquidate" all South Korean assets at former cooperative projects in the North. March 18: North Korea for the first time since 2014 fires a medium-range Rodong missile, which flies about 800 kilometers (500 miles) before crashing in the eastern sea. South Korea says another missile appeared to explode shortly after launch. April 15: South Korea and the U.S. detect a failed launch by the North. South Korean media speculate the failure involved a new intermediate-range missile, nicknamed by foreign analysts as "Musudan," which could one day be capable of reaching far-off U.S. military bases in Asia. April 23: North Korea fires a ballistic missile from a submarine. South Korean defense officials say it traveled about 30 kilometers (19 miles), shorter than the typical distance of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, which can fly at least 300 kilometers (186 miles). April 28: South Korea says the North tried unsuccessfully to launch two ballistic missiles, presumed to be Musudans. May 31: South Korea identifies another launch attempt that likely failed, speculated to be a Musudan missile. June 22: The U.S. and South Korea say North Korea fires two suspected Musudan missiles. North Korea later claims a successful test of a powerful new midrange missile, which it says reached a maximum height of 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) before landing 400 kilometers away in targeted waters. July 19: Three ballistic missiles are fired, with two of them flying between 500 to 600 kilometers (310 to 375 miles). North Korea says the test-firings are part of a simulated pre-emptive attack on ports and airfields in South Korea. Crowds rally in Pakistan against visit of Indian minister ISLAMABAD (AP) Hundreds of Pakistanis have rallied in the capital, Islamabad, against the imminent visit of India's interior minister, Rajnath Singh. Some 2,000 chanted slogans against India, claiming the predominantly Muslim region of Kashmir, now divided between the two countries, belongs to Pakistan. Singh is due in Islamabad later on Wednesday to attend a meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. An activist of Hindu Sena or Hindu Army burns photographs of Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during a protest against Singh's upcoming visit to Pakistan, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. The protesters, who propagate an extremely ultra Hindu nationalist view, demand that India cut off all ties with Pakistan. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) The rally was organized by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, which consists of social, religious and political groups. Syed Salahuddin, the leader of Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest militant group fighting Indian rule in the disputed region, was also seen at the rally. On Tuesday, a similar rally against Singh's visit to Islamabad was held in New Delhi, with Hindu ultra-nationalists demanding that India cut off all ties with Pakistan. Pence brushes off question about GOP candidate endorsements PHOENIX (AP) Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence isn't addressing GOP tensions after running mate Donald Trump refused to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan or Arizona Sen. John McCain. Pence spoke at a town hall event Tuesday night in Phoenix and then took some questions from the few hundred people there but didn't mention the endorsement snub. An Associated Press reporter later asked Pence if he would endorse McCain or Ryan while the candidate was signing autographs and posing for selfies with supporters. Pence appeared to ignore the question and kept moving down the line. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence signs an autograph after speaking at a campaign rally Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Pence and McCain met for 25 minutes Tuesday evening, Pence's press secretary, Marc Lotter, said in a statement. The statement did not address the endorsement issue. It noted the long relationship between the veteran politicians and said they "discussed many issues facing the United States and the need for strong American leadership to defeat radical Islamic terrorism and ISIS." Trump told The Washington Post that he's "just not quite there yet" when asked about an endorsement of Ryan, who faces a primary election next week. In that interview, Trump also declined to support McCain's re-election. More than 2 dozen large wildfires burn in Western states Federal officials say 27 large wildfires are burning in the West. Hot, dry temperatures often combined with winds have made firefighting conditions difficult, destroying homes and forcing evacuations. Here's a look at some of the fires burning Wednesday: CALIFORNIA Authorities are considering potential penalties for whoever set an illegal campfire that ballooned into a massive wildfire near scenic Big Sur in California. In this Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 photo, as campers bed down for the night along Putah Creek, the Cold fire burns slowly downhill on the Solano and Napa County line near Lake Berryessa, Calif. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP) Officials want the public's help in finding whoever started the fire that has charred almost 73 square miles and destroyed 57 homes. A bulldozer operator was killed on the fire lines during a rollover accident. To the north, a grass fire in a popular recreational area north of San Francisco has more than doubled in size in less than a day. The blaze has charred more than 7 square miles in Napa, Yolo and Solano counties since igniting Tuesday. It prompted the evacuation of an RV and tent campground off Highway 128 near Lake Berryessa. No vineyards are threatened. ___ IDAHO Firefighters are setting up sprinkler systems to protect buildings in the central Idaho town of Lowman as a wildfire expanded to 75 square miles. Nearly 1,500 firefighters are battling the blaze burning timber in rugged terrain. Officials say slightly cooler weather and winds from the northwest should help firefighters trying to prevent flames from reaching the small town. Fire spokeswoman Jennifer Myslivy says no evacuations have been ordered. ___ MONTANA A western Montana wildfire has grown to 11 square miles in the Bitterroot National Forest. The fire started on Sunday about 5 miles southwest of Hamilton and destroyed 14 homes along with dozens of outbuildings and some vehicles. About 630 homes remain evacuated. ___ NEVADA Officials are reporting progress containing two large wildfires pushed by dry winds through remote rangeland and rugged canyons in northwestern Nevada. A fire that has charred more than 93 square miles in the Virginia Mountains near Pyramid Lake was about 68 percent contained. Another, farther north near Poodle Mountain, was 80 percent contained but has burned about 10 square miles in a wilderness study area. ___ OREGON A wildfire burning southwest of Crater Lake spread to nearly 800 acres, prompting an evacuation warning for some parts of Crater Lake National Park. Fire spokeswoman Lucinda Nolan said crews are trying to keep the fire east of Pacific Crest Trail and west of Crater Lake Rim Drive. The park remained open. ___ UTAH People in Utah were allowed back into their homes after a small wildfire forced evacuations early Wednesday at a neighborhood tucked against a mountainside south of Salt Lake City. Officials said the blaze spread quickly through tinder-dry dry grass and brush. Some fences were damaged, but no homes were lost and people were allowed back into the 39 evacuated homes midday. ___ WASHINGTON Residents have been allowed to return to their homes after a 5-square-mile wildfire prompted the evacuation of about two dozen homes in central Washington. A fire spokesman, Trooper Jeff Sevigney, says the blaze about 7 miles north of Moses Lake burned less land than initially thought but destroyed two homes and six outbuildings. Officials say a large wildfire in south-central Washington has scorched about 275 square miles of brush and grassland and was expected to be contained on Thursday. ___ WYOMING Progress has been made on fighting wildfires in western Wyoming, and most evacuation orders were lifted. The only area still evacuated was Granite Creek in Teton County, where a wildfire was burning in Bridger-Teton National Forest. The fire has burned 46 square miles and is 84 percent contained. In this Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 photo, campers watch as the Cold fire slopes down a ridge on Putah Creek in Lake Berryessa, Calif. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP) This photo, provided by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conversation, shows a plane dropping fire retardant on a fire line at the North Tullock wildfire near Hardin, Mont., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. (Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conversation via AP) In this Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 photo, the Cold fire burns at night by the Solano and Napa County line near Lake Berryessa, Calif. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP) A CalFire helicopter is silhouetted against the smoke and early evening light as it prepares to make a water drop on growing Cold Fire above Winters, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, as crews from across northern California continue to battle the 4,000 acre fire. (Joel Rosenbaum/The Reporter via AP) Members have big plans to use the new alliance to solve issues in ethnic areas with a combined force Khaing Lamin saidincluding assisting with the countrys reform and peace process. Saw Jasper, a Karen youth that joined the alliance, said: I want all ethnic youths to take part [in this alliance]. I hope that we, the youth, will be able to do our best [to help] the government and [participate in] nation-building. Seven committees have been established to cover issues ranging from national equality; constitutional amendment; peace and reconciliation; rule of law; human rights; anti-narcotic efforts; resettlement of internally displaced persons; education; health; literature; culture; environment preservation and investment policies with natural resources. The alliance was formed at the end of a National Ethnic Youth Conference that took place last week in the historic town Panglongthe site of where the Panglong Agreement was signed following Burmas independence from Britain. Hundreds of youth from across the country gathered to attend the conference in southern Shan State despite that Dr. Aung Than Maung, Shan State minister of ethnic affairs, suspended it in the final hour even though it already been already granted approval. Its not clear why the minister, who is Bamar, cancelled the conference. There were rumours that some members of the government were concerned that it might conflict with the upcoming Union Peace Conference (also 21st Century Panglong Conference) planned for the end of the month. Regardless, the conference happened despite the ban without any punitive actions from local authorities. Reporting by Sa Isue for KIC News Translated by Thida Linn Hollande says Trump comments sometimes make his stomach turn PARIS (AP) French President Francois Hollande has strongly criticized U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying some of the things the Republican does make him sick. "Some excesses make your stomach turn, even in the United States, especially when as did Donald Trump he speaks ill of a soldier, of the memory of a soldier," Hollande said at a meeting Tuesday with members of the French Presidential Press Association. Hollande was referring to Trump's recent comments about Capt. Humayun Khan, a U.S. Muslim soldier killed in Iraq in 2004. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Briar Woods High School, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said Hollande's comments were a response to Trump's recent verbal attacks on France. "In this (U.S. presidential) campaign, there are some extremely unusual types of comments," Le Foll told reporters following a Cabinet meeting Wednesday. Last month, Trump said France would be among countries he would subject to the "extreme vetting" he is proposing for those seeking to enter the United States, a move he says is necessary to deter attacks by people coming from countries "compromised by terrorism." France has been hit by a series of attacks carried out by Islamic extremists since 2015. Le Foll also said that President Barack Obama was "well qualified" to make comments describing Trump as "unfit" and "woefully unprepared" to serve in the White House. Federal charge for man accused of taking gun into theater PITTSBURGH (AP) A Georgia man accused of carrying a stolen gun and ammunition into a Pennsylvania movie theater is now facing a federal charge. A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted William Dakotah Gossett, of Covington, Georgia, on a count of violating federal firearms laws by having a gun despite his conviction on identity theft fraud in Georgia last year. The crime carries up to 10 years in prison. Federal authorities "continue to investigate Gossett's intentions for entering the Cinemark Theater on July 23 carrying a gun and ammunition," U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton said Tuesday in a statement announcing the charges. Gossett was arrested by Center Township police on a charge of receiving stolen property a .25-caliber Phoenix Arms pistol that had been reported stolen in Ohio and carrying it without a license. Gossett, who remained jailed Wednesday, was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on those state charges on Thursday. State and federal authorities have stopped short of accusing him of having plans to attack the theater, but Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier said that's being investigated. The suspect's father, Kyle Gossett, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that such concerns are overblown. "I think they're carrying this way too far," Gossett said by phone from his home in Covington. "I just think this has gotten blown way out of proportion from what it wasn't." Gossett's parents have told the AP and other media outlets that they were concerned about their son's violent tendencies. Kyle Gossett has said they pleaded with a judge in Georgia to give his son more than probation when he got in trouble as a juvenile. He also said they got a judge to order a mental evaluation, but that turned up nothing and his son was released. Lisa Fox, the boy's mother and Kyle Gossett's ex-wife, has told reporters that she got a restraining order against her son because of his violence. But Kyle Gossett said that doesn't mean he thinks his son planned to commit violence at the movie theater. Gossett said the family hasn't been able to afford to hire a defense attorney and that he hasn't yet spoken with his son, who goes by his middle name, Dakotah. "But I know my son, and I know that was not the intentions he had," Gossett said. Asked to describe the violence that the couple mentioned to reporters last week, Gossett called them "simple things" such as fighting in school and "arguing with us." Gossett said his ex-wife got the restraining order after their son chased his sister with a pair of scissors. "We look at that on a whole different level down here than they're making it up there," Gossett said. "Yes, he's had problems and all, but not problem enough to go off and kill someone." The FBI was continuing to trace Dakotah Gossett's travels through Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and into Pennsylvania. His parents have said they don't know how he got to Pennsylvania, that he hadn't contacted them and that he unfriended them on Facebook before he left Georgia. Gossett was arrested after police saw him walking around in long-sleeved military fatigues and carrying a large bag into the theater on a 90-degree day. UN panel says Yazidi genocide 'ongoing,' appeals for help IRBIL, Iraq (AP) The Islamic State group is still committing genocide and other crimes against the Yazidi minority in Iraq, a United Nations commission investigating human rights abuses in Syria said on Wednesday. The commission's statement released on the second anniversary of the initial IS attack on the Sinjar area in Iraq urged action to prevent further death and suffering. About 5,000 Yazidi men were killed by IS when the Sunni militant group took control of Iraq's northwest two years ago. Thousands more, mostly women and children, were taken into captivity, according to the U.N. Yazidi refugees from Iraq wear headbands written with 'Shingal' (the Kurdish name for the northern Iraqi city of Sinjar) at a march commemorating the attack on religious and ethnic minorities by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq in 2014, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Berlin Germany. (Wolfram Kastl/dpa via AP) The commission of inquiry said IS crimes "against the Yazidis, including the crime of genocide, are ongoing." It called for a refocus on the "rescue, protection of, and care for the Yazidi community." Iraq's Yazidi community - a small and isolated religious minority that combines elements of Islam, Zoroastrianism and Christianity - has been repeatedly persecuted by successive governments and invading armies. "Our community is still suffering after more than two years," said Mirza Danai, founder of the German-Iraqi aid organization Luftbrucke Irak. "We have been neglected and ignored by all the powers in the region." In Germany, believed to be home to around 100,000 Yazidis, one of the group's largest diaspora communities, hundreds marched in cities around the country to mark the anniversary. In the capital, several hundred marched carrying signs with slogans like "Stop The Yazidi Genocide." Seventeen-year-old Amira Elias said her mother had been taken by IS two years ago, and nobody knows what happened to her or others captured by the group. "We want to help them, and I hope with the help of Germany we can bring them back," she said. The IS attack on Sinjar in August of 2014 in part prompted the U.S.-led coalition to begin launching airstrikes against IS in Iraq and initiate a broader fight against the militant group in Iraq and Syria. IS has since lost a third of the territory the group once held in Iraq and Syria, according to the coalition. In November 2015, Kurdish militias with close support of U.S.-led coalition aircraft, pushed IS out of Sinjar. But more than six months later it still lies in ruins, largely empty of its Yazidi and Muslim inhabitants. "There are no services for us to come back to," said Jalal Qassim, a shopkeeper from Sinjar who is living on the mountain above the town with thousands of other displaced residents. "As you can see it's a destroyed area," he continued, "where can I come back to? If I come back, they (IS) are still in all these villages around here." In March, the Obama administration formally concluded IS group is committing genocide against Yazidis as well as other minority groups, including Christians and Shiite Muslims. The U.N. panel's statement on Wednesday said that more than 3,200 women and children from the minority continue to be held by IS, and are "subjected to almost-unimaginable violence," including the sexual enslavement of girls while young Yazidi boys are forced to fight for IS. ___ Associated Press Writer Rashid Dosky in Sinjar, Iraq and David Rising in Berlin contributed to this report. Council of Europe head says Turkey needs understanding ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkey deserves better understanding from European partners about the "outrageous" failed coup, the head of Europe's top human rights organization said Wednesday, amid complaints from Turkish leaders that Western allies have not shown solidarity with the government. Thorbjorn Jagland, the head of the Council of Europe, also expressed concerns, however, over Turkey's large-scale crackdown on people suspected of links to a U.S.-based Muslim cleric accused by Turkey of masterminding the coup and by allegations of mistreatment of suspects in custody. "We, as many others, have concerns and will be watching this very carefully," Jagland told The Associated Press in an interview following talks with Turkish leaders. Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, right, meets with the EU Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Jagland said earlier there had been "too little understanding" from Europe about the challenges facing Turkey in the aftermath of a failed July 15 coup. (Hakan Goktepe/Pool Photo via AP) Jagland was the first high-ranking European official to visit Turkey since the July 15 failed coup, when renegade sections of the military used tanks, jets and helicopters in an attempt to overthrow the government during a night of violence that left more than 270 people dead. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blasted Western allies for what he says is a lack of clear support for the government in the wake of the failed putsch. On Wednesday, he accused the West of siding with terrorism and complained that no European leaders had visited Turkey to express solidarity after the coup. While governments have denounced the coup attempt, they have also expressed concerns about the scope of the ensuing crackdown. The government says the coup was instigated by Fethullah Gulen, a former Erdogan ally who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, and is seeking his extradition. The cleric has denied any involvement. The coup "was outrageous. F-16 aircrafts bombed Parliament," Jagland said. "This should be clearly recognized." Jagland said he understands Turkey's need for "taking on" those behind the coup, as well as members of the "secret network" which had infiltrated the army, the judiciary and other institutions. The government has conducted a sweeping crackdown on those suspected of supporting Gulen's movement, which runs schools, charities and businesses across the world, vowing to root out the movement's followers. Tens of thousands of people in Turkey have been dismissed or suspended from their jobs in the civil service, education, health care, judiciary, the military and media sectors, while about 18,000 have been detained or arrested, mostly in the military. But Jagland said Turkey had to establish "clear procedures ... evidences and clear judicial safeguards," as it presses ahead with the purges. "Many of them may have been dragged into something which they did not know about," Jagland said. "It doesn't mean that these people knew what this network was doing ... Nobody had any imagination that they could start a military coup, killing people and shelling parliament." Jagland said he was disturbed by photographs that have emerged of some of the detained suspected coup-plotters appearing bruised, as well as by allegations of torture or mistreatment. He said he had received assurances from Turkey's interior minister that the country has "zero tolerance for torture and mistreatment" and that all incidents would be investigated. "It's important that allegations of torture are investigated seriously," Jagland said. The Turkish government, and Erdogan in particular, have been angered by what they say is a delay in the extradition of Gulen from the U.S., and the issue has strained relations between the two NATO allies. Washington has asked for evidence of Gulen's involvement in the coup attempt and says the extradition process must be allowed to take its course. The issue has soured the two countries' relations. "From now on, everyone who continues to pay attention to the delusions of the charlatan, the chief terrorist, in Pennsylvania, has accepted in advance what will become of them," Erdogan said during a speech at a religious council meeting in Ankara earlier Wednesday. ___ Elena Becatoros contributed to this report from Istanbul. Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, right, shakes hands with EU Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Jagland said earlier there had been "too little understanding" from Europe about the challenges facing Turkey in the aftermath of a failed July 15 coup. (Hakan Goktepe/Pool Photo via AP) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, meets with the EU Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland at the Presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. The head of the Council of Europe, the continent's top human rights organization, said there had been "too little understanding" from Europe about the challenges facing Turkey in the aftermath of a failed July 15 coup. (Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Press Service, Pool Photo via AP) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with the EU Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland at the Presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. The head of the Council of Europe, the continent's top human rights organization, said there had been "too little understanding" from Europe about the challenges facing Turkey in the aftermath of a failed July 15 coup. (Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Press Service, Pool Photo via AP) Former Nepal communist rebel leader elected prime minister KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) Nepal's parliament on Wednesday elected a former communist rebel leader to lead a coalition government as the country's new prime minister, a move that will likely mean the continuation of political instability in the Himalayan nation. Parliamentary speaker Onsari Gharti Magar announced that Maoist party leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal received 363 votes from lawmakers, with 210 voting against him. Dahal has the support of Nepali Congress, the largest party, and several smaller parties. It is Dahal's second stint as prime minister. His first tenure ended in 2009, when he resigned over differences with the president on the dismissal of an army chief. Nepal's newly-appointed prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, center, waves to the media in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug.3, 2016. Nepal's parliament elected the former communist rebel leader as the country's new prime minister Wednesday who would now lead a coalition government and likely give continuation to political instability in the Himalayan nation.(AP Photo/Bikram Rai) Dahal led a communist insurgency against the government for a decade until 2006, when the rebels signed a U.N.-monitored peace agreement. More than 17,000 people were killed during the insurgency. He spent many years underground, and in 1996 announced an armed revolt against the government, demanding that Nepal, a constitutional monarchy, be turned into a republic. In the years that followed, the Maoist revolt spread to many parts of the country, and thousands of Dahal's supporters fought government troops. The Maoists joined mainstream political parties in 2006 to force then-King Gyanendra to give up his authoritarian rule. The centuries-old monarchy was abolished in 2008. Dahal's party then became the country's largest, and he became the prime minister. He resigned in May 2009 because the army chief he had fired was reinstated by the president. The new government is not expected to improve Nepal's political fortunes, with the two main parties in the new government having little in common. Those parties were archrivals when the Maoists were fighting against the government. The leader of Nepali Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was prime minister at the time, had announced a $50,000 reward for the body of Dahal and other Maoist leaders. Nepal's newly-appointed prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, waves to the media in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug.3, 2016. Nepal's parliament elected the former communist rebel leader as the country's new prime minister Wednesday who would now lead a coalition government and likely give continuation to political instability in the Himalayan nation.(AP Photo/Bikram Rai) Pope: at Auschwitz I prayed for all war and violence victims VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis says while visiting the former Auschwitz and Birkenau Nazi death camps in Poland he reflected on today's cruelties in "this world sick with cruelty, violence and suffering." In recounting his visit to Poland last week, he told pilgrims at the Vatican Wednesday that while seeing the camps, he thought that even though today's cruelties aren't as concentrated as those practiced at the Nazi facilities, they're similar in sense of suffering. He recounted how in "in that great silence I prayed for all the victims of violence and war." Singapore leader's day at White House _ as Instagram shooter SINGAPORE (AP) Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong posting Instagram photos? Interesting, but not unusual. He does it all the time. But Singapore's leader posting them from inside the White House, on the official presidential residence account? Now that's a different story. Lee, who is on a state visit to the United States, posted a photo of himself lounging on a floral sofa at the president's guesthouse on Tuesday, with the caption: "Stay tuned today as the White House and I do a mutual takeover of our Instagram accounts!" Essentially, it meant Lee took over the White House account and had the freedom to post any picture he wanted. Ditto, the White House with his account. Local media reported that the swap was to last a day. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong raises a toast to President Barack Obama during a state dinner, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Many followers of the official White House handle exceeding 2.5 million greeted Lee with words of welcome. "Welcome Prime Minister Loong! I hope that you enjoy our country as much as I enjoyed being in yours. I hope to go back one of these days," Samantha Kelly posted. Some who posted questioned Singapore's bans on chewing gum and graffiti, often cited as examples of the city state's notoriously tough laws that include sentences such as caning for vandalism and the death penalty for drug smuggling. Singaporeans understandably chipped in to express their pride. Perhaps they felt that Lee, an avid photographer, would be delighted to showcase his snapshots on a larger stage. Back home in the wealthy island nation of 5.5 million people, Lee has a much smaller audience 239,000 followers on Instagram, with whom he often shares scenes from diplomatic meetings, community events and leisurely treks. These generally garner positive responses from even the country's circle of critical shutterbugs. He also has 354,000 followers on Twitter and nearly 1.1 million on Facebook. After his first picture on the sofa, Lee shared four more, one of which was captured at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. "It's a big honor for us to celebrate how far our peoples have come together," Lee wrote on another snapshot, which captured delighted onlookers at an arrival ceremony. "In the U.S., I have encountered our citizens all over the country," he said. "It's a good reminder that our ties are not just about government or company business, but thrive in the hearts and souls of our people." On Lee's Instagram account, White House administrators documented preparations for the state dinner hosted by President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, which the Singaporean leader attended with his wife, Ho Ching, and other officials. One photo was of the two leaders and their wives. Despite Singapore's small size it's about half the area of Los Angeles the nation has a disproportionately important relationship with the United States. The two are key trading and security partners. The city state hosts more than 3,500 U.S. companies, and its armed forces often conduct joint exercises with the U.S. military. The two nations are also part of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. "For the U.S., it is a creative outreach effort to assert its soft power through social media," Eugene Tan, an associate law professor at Singapore Management University, said in an interview. "Indirectly, it's a powerful statement that the U.S. is a friend that can be trusted," he said. "This against the backdrop of the unsettling U.S. presidential election and the U.S.-China rivalry, most significantly in East and Southeast Asia." Lee got some good press on Facebook, too. One Singaporean, Francis Chew, commented on Lee's Facebook page: "Good to see sustaining friendship with the U.S. and for the better. God bless you and have a fruitful trip!" Citizens had good reason to celebrate Lee's U.S. trip, given that the last visit by a Singaporean prime minister to the White House was in 1985 by Lee's father, the late Lee Kuan Yew. That was during Ronald Reagan's presidency, when the internet as we know it today didn't exist, let alone Instagram. President Barack Obama, left, and Ho Ching, the wife of Singapore's Prime Minister, laugh at a joke told by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's toast of the president during a state dinner, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) President Barack Obama, right, and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, talk after toasting each other during a state dinner, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, at the White House in Washington. At left is first lady Michelle Obama. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) The Latest: Mike Pence says Trump is unstoppable WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on the U.S. presidential race (all times EDT): 9 p.m. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence says running mate Donald Trump is unstoppable. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives for a campaign town hall at Ocean Center, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Pence told a rally in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Wednesday that despite the best efforts of the Democratic Party and the news media, "The next morning they turn on the television and there is Donald Trump, standing taller than before and fighting to make America great again." The most recent Trump controversies include his feud with the parents of a Muslim soldier killed in combat and his refusals to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan and Arizona Sen. John McCain in their respective re-election bids. __ 8:20 p.m. Arizona Sen. John McCain says he's not going back on his pledge to support Donald Trump as the Republican Party's presidential nominee despite a series of Trump comments that have brought rebukes from McCain and other top Republicans. McCain said Wednesday that he intends to support the nominee of the party, period. The 2008 GOP presidential nominee is declining to expand on the lengthy statement he issued in response to Trump's criticism of the parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq in 2004. McCain says he "has talked about it as much as I am going to." McCain is also declining to address Trump's comments that he would not support McCain's re-election because he hasn't done enough to help veterans. __ 7:50 p.m. Donald Trump is saluting some Gold Star military families attending a Florida rally days after he fought with the family of a slain U.S. soldier. Trump, speaking Wednesday in Jacksonville, said he met with some Gold Star families those who have lost relatives in combat before a rally in Jacksonville. He then led the crowd in cheering for them. The Republican presidential nominee says one of the families presented him with a campaign donation and told him it "was more than they could afford." The families were not identified. Trump also showed off the Purple Heart he was given by a veteran in Virginia the day before. The nods to the veterans community comes after Trump's feud with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004. The flap has earned Trump denouncements from Republicans and Democrats alike. __ 5:59 p.m. Hillary Clinton has launched a new website to hit Donald Trump for making products outside the country. During an event in Commerce City, Colorado Wednesday, Clinton said the site provides information on places in the United States that are making ties, suits, furniture and barware. Clinton and her supporters have been attacking Trump for producing such items in other countries. Clinton showed off a scarf she bought from a Denver company that was made in Colorado, saying "I hope more people will start making things in America again." ___ 5:52 p.m. Mike Pence is urging supporters in battleground Colorado to convince their neighbors to vote for Donald Trump. But the Indiana governor and Trump's running mate declined to echo Trump's claim that the election could be "rigged." A man in the audience at a rally in Denver on Wednesday said Hillary Clinton had stolen delegates from Bernie Sanders and asked Pence what the campaign was going to do to prevent her from stealing the election. Pence didn't comment on the claim and said the campaign was working closely with state elections officials across the country to "ensure ballot integrity." He urged Trump supporters to volunteer to help at the polls to make sure the election is conducted fairly. ___ 4:40 p.m. When Donald Trump cried foul over what he describes as a "rigged" electoral system, his loosely defined claims challenged the essence of America's democratic process and more than 200 years of peaceful transfers of power from one president to the next. He also added a new element of uncertainty in an extremely heated race: How would Trump and his supporters react to a victory by Democrat Hillary Clinton, whom they view as crooked? Trump raised concerns Monday after courts rejected tough voter ID rules put in place for the first time in a presidential election in states including North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. The rulings cited a risk of disenfranchising the poor, minorities or young people who were less likely to have acceptable IDs and who are more likely to vote Democratic. ___ 4:35 p.m. Donald Trump is declaring his support for Marco Rubio's Florida senate run. Trump declared his support for Rubio at a rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, Wednesday. "I endorsed Marco Rubio. He endorsed me. He's doing well," said Trump. Trump and Rubio traded several bitter verbal barbs during the Republican primary. But Rubio eventually backed Trump and appeared at last month's Republican National Convention via video. But Trump this week has refused to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan or Sen. John McCain, both of whom are locked in fierce primary battles. ___ 4:25 p.m. Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine says North Carolina offers even more attractive voting opportunities after the lower courts threw out a restrictive voter ID law. Lower courts found that the law was designed to suppress participation from poor, minority and young voters many of whom tend to vote Democratic. Kaine said Wednesday in Greensboro, North Carolina, the court ruling last week means that an additional 100,000 voters could cast ballots this fall. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the wide ranging law was in violation of the Constitution and U.S. Voting Rights Act. ___ 4:20 p.m. Donald Trump is reassuring his supporters that, despite a tumultuous week, his campaign "has never been more united." At a rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, Trump said "the campaign is doing really well." "I would say right now it's the best we've been in terms of being united," he said. Trump has rattled many Republicans with his moves in recent days. He has escalated his feud with the family of a Muslim-American soldier killed in Iraq. He refused to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan and Sen. John McCain. And he suggested that the general election could be "rigged." ___ 4:15 p.m. Donald Trump is denouncing U.S. foreign policy while Hillary Clinton was secretary of state and suggested that that she should be recognized "as the founder of ISIS." Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, said Wednesday that he believed President Barack Obama regretted picking Clinton for his Cabinet. He blamed her Middle East policies for causing the creation of the Islamic State group. "It was Hillary Clinton," Trump said in Daytona Beach, Florida. "She should get an award from ISIS as the founder of ISIS." ___ 3:55 p.m. Clinton is using ties to slam Trump. Literally. Hillary Clinton was at a Denver tie company Wednesday where she was attacking her Republican rival. Clinton visited Knotty Ties in Denver on Wednesday. A staff of largely refugee workers makes ties there. Clinton contrasted that with Trump, whose name brand ties are made in China. "I wish Donald Trump could meet with all of you and see what you are making here," Clinton told the workers. "I really would like him to explain why he paid Chinese workers to make Trump ties... instead of deciding to make those ties right here in Colorado." ___ 3:40 p.m. The White House says President Barack Obama's national security team is considering designating the nation's elections systems as critical infrastructure. The designation would trigger additional protections and make available federal dollars to help protect elections systems that are run by local governments in each part of the country. The Homeland Security Department has been examining the issue. White House spokesman Josh Earnest says there are cybersecurity risks to elections systems but that the public should be confident the government can address those threats. The discussions come amid heightened concern about the fidelity of voting in the U.S. Officials say hackers breached Democratic National Committee computers. Republican nominee Donald Trump has suggested without proof that the election may be rigged against him. ___ 2:25 p.m. Hillary Clinton is officially planning for her White House. In paperwork filed Wednesday, the campaign formed a new non-profit, called the Clinton-Kaine Transition Fund, taking one of the first formal steps to plan for the possibility of becoming president. The filing comes after weeks of meetings between the White House and representatives of Donald Trump and Clinton's campaigns. Campaign chairman John Podesta and long-time aide Minyon Moore have been tapped to prepare Clinton's transition-planning effort. On Friday, White House chief of staff Denis McDonough informed the campaigns that that Trump and Clinton are now eligible to receive intelligence briefings and a government-provided workspace for transition planning. Traditionally, the outgoing administration helps potential successors with their planning to ensure a smooth transition. ___ 2:20 p.m. Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine says there's a stark difference between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump when it comes to dealing with small businesses. He said Trump has hurt suppliers to his casino companies by declaring bankruptcy. Meanwhile, he said, he and Clinton are familiar with the operating pressures on small businesses because his father owned a welding and iron-working company. Clinton's father ran a drapery business. Kaine spoke Wednesday while visiting Amerifab International, a High Point, North Carolina, company that cuts and sews customized window treatments for motel chains. Kaine demonstrated his fluency in Spanish, engaging with a sewing-machine operator who was unable to respond in English when he asked how long she had worked at the company. __ 1:55 p.m. Donald Trump's running mate Mike Pence is breaking with the Republican nominee by endorsing House Speaker Paul Ryan in his primary fight. Pence said in a phone interview with Fox News Channel that he's pleased to endorse Ryan. The move comes a day after Trump said in an interview that he's "just not quite there yet" when it comes to backing Ryan, who has at times been critical of Trump's most controversial comments. Pence says that he spoke with Trump Wednesday morning about his "support for Paul Ryan and our longtime friendship." He says Trump, "strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday's primary. And I'm pleased to do it." ___ 1:40 p.m. Scott Walker's campaign says the Republican governor won't join Donald Trump at a Green Bay campaign stop on Friday. Walker says he'll be visiting northern Wisconsin then, meeting with residents and local officials recovering from flash flooding last month. The campaign says Walker will join Trump at future events if they don't interfere with his work in Wisconsin. Walker is a close friend of House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. Trump has declined to endorse Ryan in his primary race. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, also says he won't attend the Trump event, citing a scheduling conflict. Johnson, who is running for re-election, has criticized Trump's actions in a dispute with the family of slain Army captain, but continues to support him for president. ___ 1:25 p.m. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus is among a handful of high-profile Republicans considering whether to confront Donald Trump about his approach to his presidential campaign. That's according to a Republican official with direct knowledge of Priebus' plans, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal party strategy. Republicans inside and outside of Trump's campaign are brainstorming how to influence the brash billionaire after a series of startling statements, including his Tuesday refusal to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan's re-election. Priebus and Ryan are both from Wisconsin and close friends. The official says Priebus may join a small group of well-respected Republicans to confront Trump in the coming days. The plan is not final, but the official says the group may include former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Both are Trump allies. Priebus has already been speaking with campaign chairman Paul Manafort and the billionaire's children, who are said to agree that Trump needs to stop picking fights within his own party and back off his criticism of the family of a slain soldier. By Steve Peoples ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that Clinton's father ran a drapery business. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign town hall at Ocean Center, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holds up an American made Knotty Tie as she speaks after taking a tour of Knotty Tie Company in Denver, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. The Knotty Tie Company makes and manufactures ties and scarves by hand in Denver. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Effort underway to allow Uganda president to rule for life KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) Officials with Uganda's ruling party want to remove the age limit on the presidency so long-time President Yoweri Museveni can run again, a spokesman said Wednesday. Museveni, who took power by force in this East African country in 1986, was re-elected in a disputed election in February. His current term expires in 2021. Museveni, who turns 72 later this year, is constitutionally barred from running again but can seek re-election if lawmakers throw out the age clause to effectively hand him the presidency for life. FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 file photo, Uganda President Yoweri Museveni campaigns in Uganda's capital Kampala. Officials with Uganda's ruling party want to remove the age limit on the presidency so long-time President Yoweri Museveni can run again, a spokesman said Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Museveni, who took power by force in this East African country in 1986, was re-elected in a disputed election in February. His current term expires in 2021. (AP Photo/File) A group of party officials recently presented a petition to Museveni calling for the age limit's removal, presidential spokesman Don Wanyama said Wednesday. Because the ruling party has an overwhelming majority in parliament, any political decision seen as favoring Museveni is not likely to face opposition. In 2005, lawmakers voted to remove term limits on the presidency, saying Museveni remained popular across the country and should be allowed to run again. He has since won re-election three times in polls marred by allegations of vote-rigging and intimidation of opposition supporters. Museveni's supporters are "second-guessing him" in the belief that a presidency-for-life is what he really wants, said Nicholas Sengoba, an independent political analyst in Uganda. "It is very rare that Museveni turns down such proposals that work in his favor," he said. After taking power following a guerrilla war, Museveni said he despised African leaders who overstayed in power. He now he faces growing accusations of authoritarianism from critics at home. Museveni is a U.S. ally on regional security, especially in fighting Islamic extremists in Somalia. Last year in the Republic of Congo, voters approved revisions to the constitution's term and age limits that would have barred another long-time leader, President Denis Sassou N'Guesso, from running again. The Myanmar Police Force will seek a budget allocation from the Union Government and at the same time it will expand organisational set up and amend the laws related to narcotic drugs, Maj-Gen Aung Soe, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, was quoted as saying. Dr Myat Nyana Soe, Secretary of the Amyotha Hluttaw Bill Committee, stressed the need to take serious action against drug traffickers as drug trafficking is leading to trafficking in persons, arm smuggling and money laundering. Ruling party faces toughest challenge in South Africa vote JOHANNESBURG (AP) South Africans voted Wednesday in municipal elections described as the most closely contested for the African National Congress since it took power in the first all-race elections in 1994. About 26 million people had registered to vote at more than 22,000 polling stations as the ANC sought to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. President Jacob Zuma voted near his private home in the rural area of Nkandla, which has been the focus of a scandal over millions of dollars in state upgrades to the president's compound. Voting in Cape Town, retired archbishop and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu said it remained an "honor for a black person to vote in this country" following the end of white minority rule. A disabled woman casts her vote at a polling station in Soweto, South Africa Wednesday Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Shiraaz Mohamed) The streets were calm as police patrolled. The government, which had declared Wednesday a national holiday, said turnout was good. With polls closed, final election results were expected in the coming week. Opposition parties hoped to make big gains against the ruling party in Johannesburg; Tshwane, the greater metropolitan area of the capital, Pretoria; and Nelson Mandela Bay, a municipality on the east coast. The opposition Democratic Alliance already runs the city of Cape Town. The election is "about whether the ANC is going to remain a party that is strong in both the cities and the countryside, or whether it is going to be a party that's mainly based in the country areas and might have to concede the cities to the opposition parties," said Steven Friedman, a political analyst. The African National Congress, formerly the main anti-apartheid movement, has dominated politics in democratic South Africa. However, it has seen some erosion of support from South Africans who say their hopes for jobs and other opportunities have not been fulfilled since the end of white minority rule. The South African economy has stagnated since the global financial crisis in 2008. "What I'd like from our government is for them to build schools for us here, and give us permanent housing here, because we are struggling," said Johana Makga, a voter in the Pretoria area. A more radical opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, advocates the nationalization of industry and other measures that it says would help the poor. It was contesting the local elections for the first time. Lawmakers of the Economic Freedom Fighters have disrupted parliamentary sessions several times to protest the scandal over Zuma's private home, which has hurt the ruling party's popularity. The case went to the Constitutional Court, which said Zuma had violated the constitution and instructed the president to reimburse the state for $507,000, an amount that was determined by the national treasury. Many South Africans are also concerned over allegations that Zuma is heavily influenced by the Guptas, a wealthy business family of immigrants from India. The president has denied any wrongdoing. More than a dozen political candidates and party activists were killed in the run-up to the election, mostly in KwaZulu-Natal province, a stronghold of the ruling party. The killings could be linked to a struggle for the resources and patronage that come with top municipal jobs, according to election experts. Campaigning elsewhere was mostly peaceful. Lihle Spani, a voter in Johannesburg, recalled that black South Africans were unable to vote during apartheid and that voting was a kind of tribute to those who had lacked basic rights. "It is showing gratitude for people who didn't have that before me," Spani said. ___ Associated Press videographers Nqobile Ntshangase and Renee Graham contributed. ___ Follow Christopher Torchia on Twitter at www.twitter.com/torchiachris South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, center, waves after voting during municipal elections in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, center, smiles after voting during the municipal elections in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) Voters queue to cast their votes at a polling station in Soweto, South Africa Wednesday Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans voted in municipal elections Wednesday in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Shiraaz Mohamed) Voters queue to cast their votes at a polling station in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo) A woman casts her vote at a polling station illuminated by floodlight in Soweto, South Africa, Wednesday Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Shiraaz Mohamed) Street lamps light a shantytown area close to an election polling station during the municipal elections in Khayelitsha township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, second right, leaves a polling station after voting his ballot in municipal elections in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Soweto, South Africa, Wednesday Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans voted in municipal elections Wednesday in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Shiraaz Mohamed) South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, center, walks after he voted his ballot during municipal elections in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, left, prepares to vote his ballot during municipal elections in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, right, prepares to cast his ballot during municipal elections in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu walks to cast his vote at a polling station during municipal elections in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, right, walks to cast his ballot during municipal elections in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) People stand outside a polling station during before the poling station opens during municipal elections in Khayelitsha township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) A woman prepare's to vote during the municipal elections in the Khayelitsha township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) Supporters of the DA, Democratic Alliance, stand outside a polling station during municipal elections in Khayelitsha township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) Voters queue outside a polling station during municipal elections in Khayelitsha township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans are voting in municipal elections in which the ruling African National Congress seeks to retain control of key metropolitan areas despite a vigorous challenge from opposition parties. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) Election officials start the ballot counting process at a polling station during municipal elections in Manenberg on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans voted Wednesday in municipal elections described as the most closely contested for the African National Congress since it took power in the first all-race elections in 1994. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) Election officials start the ballot counting process at a polling station during municipal elections in Manenberg on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. South Africans voted Wednesday in municipal elections described as the most closely contested for the African National Congress since it took power in the first all-race elections in 1994. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) Iraq's key corruption case is taken up by prosecutor general BAGHDAD (AP) A major corruption case shaking Iraq has been taken up by the country's prosecutor general. Iraq's Higher Judicial Council says Judge Mohammed al-Janabi, the chief prosecutor, filed a complaint against some lawmakers and politicians accused of corruption on Wednesday. During a questioning in parliament earlier this week, Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi accused parliament speaker, four sitting lawmakers, one former lawmaker and two parliamentary officials of trying to persuade him to secure specific contracts and to reinstate employees fired due to corruption. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi imposed a travel ban on those accused. Kansas tea party congressman loses Republican primary battle HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Rep. Tim Huelskamp has been a thorn in the side of the Republican establishment since his election to Congress amid the tea party wave of 2010, and his clashes with former House Speaker John Boehner and other GOP leaders helped get him booted from the House Agriculture Committee. That proved costly for the third-term congressman on Tuesday, as he lost the GOP nomination to continue representing Kansas' largely rural 1st District to Roger Marshall, a political newcomer who had the backing of powerful farming and business groups. The contest was unusual because GOP primary challengers usually accuse incumbents of being insufficiently conservative. Marshall, an obstetrician from Great Bend, cast himself as a conservative willing to reach across the aisle, saying after his win that he wasn't sure the House Freedom Caucus would even have him. He will be the heavy favorite in November, when he'll square off against only an independent challenger the Democrats aren't fielding a candidate. U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp answers questions from the media following his primary election watch party held at the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center on Tuesday evening, Aug. 2, 2016, in Hutchinson, Kan. Media was not allowed into the closed door gathering, with Huelskamp addressing the media following the event. Pictured with Huelskamp is his son Athan. Great Bend obstetrician Roger Marshall won the tough contest against Huelskamp in Tuesday's primary, making him the strong favorite to take the seat in November. (Lindsey Bauman/The Hutchinson News via AP) The primary contest, which Marshall won with 56.5 percent of the vote, became a proxy battle between GOP conservatives and pragmatists. The anti-tax Club for Growth spent $400,000 to help Huelskamp and members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus campaigned for him. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Ending Spending Action Fund, which wants to curb federal expenditures, spent big dollars against him. Marshall cast Huelskamp as too unyielding and combative, saying his clashes with Boehner and others had hurt the district. After Huelskamp lost his seat on the Agriculture Committee in 2012, farm groups turned against him, and many voters saw it as a crucial issue in their farming state. "Getting kicked off the Agriculture Committee is a crime that can't be forgiven," Brian Scheideman, a 52-year-old driver's education instructor, said after voting in his hometown of Wamego for Marshall. "I don't mind the independent voice, but you've got to figure out how to work with people." Marshall credited his win as "all about agriculture," and he won the endorsements of the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, among other groups. Huelskamp, who received 43.5 percent of the vote, blamed his loss on $3 million of super PAC money that went to support his opponent. "Half-truths and smears were spread by billionaires that bought a seat in Kansas," said Huelskamp, who is from the small southwestern Kansas community of Fowler. Huelskamp built a reputation by clashing with GOP leaders over farm and budget legislation. He was a vocal critic of Boehner and his supporters argued that he gave his conservative, safely GOP district an independent voice. "I think he has a better record than what he is given credit for," said Doris O'Neal, a 76-year-old Hutchinson homemaker who voted for Huelskamp. "If you listen for reasons he voted as he has, I think you will find he is doing the best he can for Kansas." Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Freedom Caucus, issued a statement Wednesday decrying the result, saying Huelskamp has stood up for the values of those he represents and has consistently said "no to 'business as usual' in Washington." "In an ugly and dishonest campaign, Tim's record was attacked and misrepresented by big money special interest groups who wanted to exact their revenge," Jordan said. Both candidates raised more than $730,000 for their campaigns a healthy sum for Kansas but Marshall loaned his campaign more than $360,000, including $80,000 just four days ahead of the election. Interest groups also spent more than $2.8 million on the race, with Marshall benefiting significantly more. With no Democrat running, Marshall will run in November against independent Alan LaPolice, a farmer and educator from Clifton who ran for the GOP nomination in 2014 and lost a closer-than-expected race against Huelskamp. Huelskamp is one of only a few House members to be ousted during this year's primary season. Rep. Renee Ellmers fell to fellow North Carolina GOP Rep. George Holding, and Virginia Republican Rep. Randy Forbes also lost, victims of court-ordered, redrawn district lines. Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., was defeated in April after his indictment on federal corruption charges. He was later convicted and quit Congress. In other Kansas races, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder in the 3rd District in the Kansas City area cruised to easy GOP primary victories over lesser known opponents. U.S. Reps. Lynn Jenkins in the 2nd District of eastern Kansas and Mike Pompeo in the 4th District of south-central Kansas had no opponents in their Republican primaries. ___ John Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apjdhanna Dr. Roger Marshall gets a hug from his wife Laina after finding out he won McPherson County during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Great Bend, Kan. The doctor backed by agriculture and business groups has defeated U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary to represent a district spanning much of central and western Kansas. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp answers questions from the media following his primary election watch party held at the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center on Tuesday evening, Aug. 2, 2016, in Hutchinson, Kan. Media was not allowed into the closed door gathering, with Huelskamp addressing the media following the event. Pictured with Huelskamp are his sons Alex and Athan, right. Great Bend obstetrician Roger Marshall won the tough contest against Huelskamp in Tuesday's primary, making him the strong favorite to take the seat in November. (Lindsey Bauman/The Hutchinson News via AP) Dr. Roger Marshall and his wife Laina answers question in a television interview during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Great Bend, Kan. The doctor backed by agriculture and business groups has defeated U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary to represent a district spanning much of central and western Kansas. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) Dr. Roger Marshall hugs a supporter during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Great Bend, Kan. Marshall is running for U.S. House of Representatives against incumbent Tim Huelskamp in the First Congressional District. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) Dr. Roger Marshall, left, talks with supporters during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 in Great Bend, Kan. Marshall is running for U.S. House of Representatives against incumbent Tim Huelskamp, a tea party favorite. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) Dr. Roger Marshall kisses his wife Laina after finding out he won McPherson County during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Great Bend, Kan. The doctor backed by agriculture and business groups has defeated U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary to represent a district spanning much of central and western Kansas. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) A voter enters city hall in Lecompton, Kan., to vote in the state's primary election Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) Dr. Roger Marshall's campaign team including Bill Wozniak, right, erupt in celebration as they find out he won McPherson County during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Great Bend, Kan. The doctor backed by agriculture and business groups has defeated U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary to represent a district spanning much of central and western Kansas. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) Dr. Roger Marshal, second left, and his campaign staff celebrate as they find out that he won McPherson County during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Great Bend, Kan. Marshall is running for U.S. House of Representatives against incumbent Tim Huelskamp. The doctor backed by agriculture and business groups has defeated Huelskamp in the Republican primary to represent a district spanning much of central and western Kansas. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) US businesses add solid 179,000 jobs in July, survey finds WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. companies added 179,000 jobs in July, according to a private survey, a steady gain suggesting that hiring remains healthy after a sharp fall-off in the spring. Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that last month's job growth was driven by services companies ranging from retailers to shipping firms which added 185,000 positions. Construction companies, by contrast, cut jobs. And manufacturers added a meager 4,000 positions. The report showed that many businesses are still hiring even as economic growth has remained sluggish. The additional jobs could help keep Americans spending and support an acceleration of the economy in the second half of the year. In this Tuesday, July 19, 2016, photo, Ronnie Teheran, with Service Corporation International, right, talks with a job applicant at a job fair in Miami Lakes, Fla. Payroll processor ADP reports employment figures for July on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Solid gains occurred in both higher-paying and lower-paying industries, extending a trend of greater hiring at the upper and lower levels of the pay scale, with fewer gains in middle-income jobs. Financial services firms added 11,000 jobs, and professional and business services, a category which includes upper-income positions such as engineers and architects, as well as low-paying temp jobs, added 59,000. Still, the ADP figures cover only private businesses, and they often diverge from the government's official jobs reports for the same month. Economists have forecast that the government's employment report for July, to be released Friday, will show a gain of 175,000 jobs and that the unemployment rate will dip to 4.8 percent from 4.9 percent. That would be below June's sizzling gain of 287,000 jobs. But it would underscore the notion that hiring has recovered after plunging to just 11,000 added positions in May and a modest 144,000 in April. Even so, this year's sluggish economic expansion has raised concerns about the health of the broader economy. Growth slowed to an annual pace of just 1 percent in the first six months of the year, half the already-tepid 2 percent pace of the seven-year old recovery. And despite decent job gains in some months, companies have pulled back on hiring this year: Job growth averaged 172,000 a month, according to the government's figures, in the first half of this year down from 237,000 a month in the final six months of last year. That downshift likely reflects that the unemployment rate is nearly back to what economists call "full employment," and there are fewer unemployed job applicants to fill positions. That trend can weaken hiring, particularly when economic growth is sluggish. American and German researchers to share $500K medical prize ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Three researchers whose work with cell proteins has implications for Alzheimer's disease, cancer and other degenerative illnesses will share one of the largest awards in medicine and science in the U.S., officials at a New York hospital said Wednesday. The $500,000 Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research will be shared by F. Ulrich Hartl of the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany; Arthur Horwich of the Yale School of Medicine; and Susan Lee Lindquist of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The researchers were chosen for their fundamental and complementary discoveries related to the mechanisms of "protein folding," the last step in transferring genetic information from amino acids to cell proteins, said Dr. Vincent Verdile, dean of Albany Medical College and chairman of the prize committee. This 2008 photo provided by the Albany Medical Center shows Arthur Horwich of the Yale School of Medicine, one of three researchers who will share the $500,000 Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research, in New Haven, Conn. The three researchers work with cell proteins has implications for Alzheimer's disease, cancer and other degenerative illnesses. (Terry Dagradi/Yale University/Albany Medical Center via AP) "Though this may not be a term familiar to the general public, protein folding is a concept considered revolutionary in modern biology, with important implications for the treatment or delay of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, as well as cancer and drug resistance," Verdile said. It had been universally believed that protein folding, which shapes chains of amino acids into specific cell structures, was a spontaneous process. But the researchers, in separate studies, discovered a complex system of specialized "chaperone" proteins that guide the process. Their studies have raised hopes that manipulating the chaperone process with drugs or other treatments could prevent protein "misfolding" that drives degenerative conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Lou Gehrig's disease. The award has been given annually since 2001 to those who have altered the course of medical research. It was established by the late Morris "Marty" Silverman, a New York City businessman. It will be formally presented on Sept. 28 in Albany. This undated photo provided by the Albany Medical Center shows Susan Lee Lindquist of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who is one of three researchers who will share the $500,000 Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research. Their work with cell proteins has implications for Alzheimer's disease, cancer and other degenerative illnesses. (Ceal Capistrano/Whitehead Institute/Albany Medical Center via AP) Syrian, said to have extremist aims, detained in Genoa ROME (AP) Italy's interior minister says a Syrian man has been detained in Genoa on suspicion he intended to join an extremist group in his homeland for the "purpose of international terrorism." Minister Angelino Alfano said in a statement Wednesday the suspect was detained under recent legislation that forbids joining a terrorist group. Alfano says the suspect had "manifested the intention to go to Syria to join the Jabat al Nusra Islamist group." Egyptian chemist Zewail, Nobel prize-winner, dies at 70 PASADENA, Calif. (AP) Ahmed Zewail, a science adviser to President Obama who won the 1999 Nobel Prize for his work on the study of chemical reactions over immensely short time scales, died on Tuesday. He was 70. Zewail's death was announced by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., where he was Linus Pauling professor of chemistry and director of the Physical Biology Center for Ultrafast Science and Technology. Zewail was born in Egypt and lived in San Marino, a wealthy suburb of Los Angeles. Caltech had no information on cause of death or where he died. Egyptian media reported that it was in the United States. FILE -- In this Feb. 4, 2002 file photo, Egyptian-American Nobel chemistry laureate Ahmed Zewail gestures to reporters in Cairo. Zewail, a science adviser to President Obama who won the 1999 Nobel Prize for his work on the study of chemical reactions over immensely short time scales, died Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. He was 70. Zewail's death was announced by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., where he was Linus Pauling professor of chemistry and director of the Physical Biology Center for Ultrafast Science and Technology. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Nour Eddin, File) Over nearly 40 years at Caltech, Zewail and his students pioneered the field of femtochemistry, the use of lasers to monitor chemical reactions at a scale of a femtosecond, or a millionth of a billionth of a second. Using Zewail's techniques, scientists can observe the bonding and busting of molecules in real time. The research could lead to new ways of manipulating chemical or biological reactions as well as faster electronics and ultra-precise machinery. "If you can understand the landscape of a chemical change or a biological change, you might be able to alter the landscape," Zewail said after winning the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Zewail helped develop four-dimensional electron microscopy, which can capture a real-time series of images of such fleeting processes that can be assembled into a sort of digital movie. Zewail was born in Damanhur, Egypt. He joined Caltech in 1976. "I never ever believed that one day I would get a call from Sweden as a boy," he said after receiving the Nobel. "I had passion about science. My mother said I was going to burn the house (with chemistry experiments)." Zewail authored some 600 scientific articles and 16 books and was showered with honors from around the world, including France's highest honor, the Legion d'Honneur, and Egypt's Order of the Grand Collar of the Nile. In 2009, the president named Zewail, a naturalized citizen, to the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and later that year made him the first U.S. science envoy to the Middle East. He joined the United Nations Scientific Advisory Board in 2013. In 2014, Zewail wrote an opinion piece for the Los Angeles Times that urged the U.S. to avoid cutting aid to Egypt after a military coup that ousted the elected president and replaced him. Zewail argued that constructive engagement and use of U.S. "soft power" such as trade agreements were important in keeping Egypt as a partner in the war on terrorism and other U.S. interests. In a statement, the CEO of the American Chemical Society, Thomas Connelly Jr., described Zuweil as "an exemplar scholar and statesman who will be greatly missed." Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi expressed his condolences over the death, saying the country had lost a son and role model. Egyptian media reported that Zewail's body would be flown to that country for burial. Zewail is survived by his wife, Dema Faham, and four children. France secures land, sea and summer fun against attacks PARIS (AP) France is bolstering its security on land and at sea in the face of attack threats, and has started airdropping armed military officers from a helicopter onto ferries crossing the English Channel. Other sea routes, including across the Mediterranean, are also being secured, Lieut. Pierre Joachim Antona, spokesman for the local maritime authority in Cherbourg said Wednesday. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve reiterated the need for increased security on land, especially in the summer season which is at its height in August when numerous festivals are held. Some have been canceled, including major events in Marseille and Nice. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, , left, bits farewell to French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, right, after the last cabinet meeting before official vacations at the Elysee Palace, Wednesday, Aug 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) "Our objective is to ensure and guarantee a high-level presence and a high level of security during the summer period," Cazeneuve said after a Defense Council meeting, a regular event since the July 14 truck attack in Nice that killed 84 people who were celebrating France's national day. Less than two weeks later, two extremists murdered a priest in his Normandy church during Mass. The minister said that 12,500 reservists have joined police forces to support extra security measures. The 10,000-strong Sentinel Operation of soldiers will continue to patrol French streets and sensitive sites like airports and train stations. On Monday afternoon, hundreds of passengers aboard the Mont-Saint-Michel ferry between Britain and France may have been stunned to see a French military helicopter airdrop a group of armed and fully-uniformed maritime gendarmes onto their vessel for the first such "securing and protecting mission" in the English Channel. Antona, of the Maritime Prefecture in Cherbourg, France, said the airdrop took place when the ferry entered French waters from the southern English port of Portsmouth on its way to the Normandy port of Caen. The missions only involve French ferries sailing in French waters until an agreement under discussion with British authorities is signed, "possibly within weeks," Antona said. Such an agreement would allow French military officers to board ferries directly from English ports, the military spokesman said. Missions are expected to be carried out "randomly and regularly" on passenger ferries between France and Britain "to deter, observe, give intelligence and possibly intervene if needed," Antona said. Orders to secure such vessels, which are seen as possible targets for terrorists, went out to all maritime prefectures in France on Aug. 1, officials have said. The Maritime Prefecture in Toulon in southern France said securing operations there began even earlier, but spokeswoman Sarah Cottin refused to provide routes, destinations or operational techniques, citing security. Ferries travel from French continental ports to the Mediterranean island of Corsica and to North African countries like Algeria and Tunisia. Meanwhile, Cazeneuve, the interior minister, promised to maintain as many summer events as possible. "When the conditions are not met to ensure maximum security, of course local governments can make a decision to cancel some events," Cazeneuve told reporters. Several cities and towns have downsized or canceled some summer festivities following the attacks, including fireworks displays in Marseille, Avignon or La Baule on the Atlantic coast. Marseille's authorities also called off a major air show which was expected to draw 100,000 spectators next week. In Paris, a car-free day on the city's famed Champs-Elysees Avenue scheduled on Aug. 7 and a street basketball tournament which was to feature NBA star Kobe Bryant have been called off. Free film showings that usually take place outdoors all summer have been authorized only if they are moved indoors. The popular Paris Plages, a month-long beach event along the Seine River, has been maintained with concrete barriers added around the area to guard against a repeat of the attack in Nice. In that mourning city on the French Riviera, the "Prom' Party" that usually turns Nice's seafront into a dance floor in the second half of August has been canceled. ___ Elaine Ganley in Paris contributed to this report. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, , left, and French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, right, speak to reporters after the last cabinet meeting before official vacations at the Elysee Palace, Wednesday, Aug 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Imprisoned Russian draws life behind bars for messaging app MOSCOW (AP) The imprisoned brother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has drawn a set of stickers depicting life in prison for a popular messaging app. Oleg Navalny was sentenced to 3 years in jail in December 2014 for defrauding a cosmetics company in a verdict which was largely seen as retribution for the political ambitions of his brother, who got a suspended sentence in the same trial. Moscow-based urban planner Pavel Akimov says he approached Navalny with the idea of using his drawings on Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, after seeing one of his images in the media. Drawings by Oleg Navalny are seen on a mobile phone messaging app Telegram in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. The imprisoned brother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has drawn a set of stickers depicting life in prison for Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app. Oleg Navalny was sentenced to 3 years in jail in December for defrauding a cosmetics company in a verdict which was largely described as retribution for the political ambitions of his brother who got a suspended sentence in the same trial. (AP Photo) "It's an interesting kind of portrait of Russian prison culture made by a person that doesn't belong to that culture," Akimov said. "This is, at the same time, part of a portrait of Russian society." Some of the emoji-like pictures, drawn in pencil, are bleak, illustrating guard brutality and suicide; others are ironic and black-humored. Telegram accepts user-generated content and the stickers are available online. Russian prison culture dates back to the purges under Josef Stalin in the 1930s when millions of Soviet citizens were thrown into prison and labor camps under trumped-up charges. Some of Russia's most prominent luminaries and scientists served time in labor camps under Stalin, from author Alexander Solzhenitsyn to the father of the Soviet space program, Sergei Korolyov, leaving behind bodies of work describing their lives in prison. In a way, Navalny's Telegram stickers fall into this tradition of prison art. "Behind this joyful hipster format art there's a tragic story of a person that was imprisoned for no reason and will remain in jail for another several years," Akimov says. "So it's a joyful but relevant way to remind the world about that as well as the situation with political prisoners in Russia: they do exist, they are increasing in number and this is our reality." FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 file photo, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, left, and his brother Oleg Navalny stand at a court in Moscow, Russia. The imprisoned brother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has drawn a set of stickers depicting life in prison for Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app. Oleg Navalny was sentenced to 3 years in jail in December for defrauding a cosmetics company in a verdict which was largely described as retribution for the political ambitions of his brother who got a suspended sentence in the same trial. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File) In this Tuesday, July 26, 2016 Pavel Akimov holds a drawing by Oleg Navalny in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday. Akimov has reached out to Oleg Navalny, imprisoned brother of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, suggesting that he turn his drawings of prison life into stickers for the Telegram messaging app. (AP Photo/Francesca Ebel) In this Tuesday, July 26, 2016 photo shows a drawing by Oleg Navalny in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday. Oleg Navalny, the imprisoned brother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has made drawings depicting the absurdity and horrors of life in Russian prison which were turned into stickers for messaging app Telegram. (AP Photo) In this Tuesday, July 26, 2016 photo shows a drawing by Oleg Navalny in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday. Oleg Navalny, the imprisoned brother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has made drawings depicting the absurdity and horrors of life in Russian prison which were turned into stickers for messaging app Telegram. (AP Photo) In this Tuesday, July 26, 2016 photo shows drawings by Oleg Navalny in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday. Oleg Navalny, the imprisoned brother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has made drawings depicting the absurdity and horrors of life in Russian prison which were turned into stickers for messaging app Telegram. (AP Photo) Key Senate race in Ohio showing increasing promise for GOP COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Republican Sen. Rob Portman won the support of another Ohio labor union Wednesday, fueling GOP optimism about hanging onto the swing-state seat and Senate control in November. The union endorsement also added to Democrats' concerns about their candidate, former Gov. Ted Strickland. The endorsement from Local 18 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, which backed Strickland for governor in 2006, comes after Portman also announced support from branches of the Teamsters and the Mine Workers, which also switched their allegiance from Strickland. Portman also is overwhelming Strickland in fundraising, reporting $13.2 million cash on-hand compared to just $3.8 million for Strickland. Now some Democrats are voicing concerns about the campaign being run by the former governor, who turns 75 on Thursday and whose public campaign appearances have been minimal. Strickland is getting hit with predictable attacks over his record as governor, which saw Ohio bleeding jobs amid a national recession, and Democrats grouse he hasn't done enough to criticize Portman over the Republican's support for Donald Trump. FILE - In this July 19, 2016, file photo, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, right, arrives with his wife arrive at the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, during the second day of the Republican convention. Portman rolls out a labor endorsement from a union that had backed his Democratic rival Ted Strickland amid growing concerns among Democrats that Strickland is running a lackluster campaign and their chances of flipping the Ohio seat could be slipped away. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) "They haven't made Portman and Trump the same person, which is certainly something I would do," said Democratic strategist Gerald Austin of Cleveland, who backed Strickland's opponent in the March Democratic primary. "He was governor for four years, he got beat, they're going to run the governor's campaign against him like it was still 2010. And that's what they're doing," Austin added. Austin's comments echo concerns being voiced privately by Democrats on Capitol Hill, who've been watching Strickland's campaign with concern for months, and working with the former governor's team to try to improve matters. Nevertheless, Democrats remain optimistic about their chances in Ohio, which has voted Democratic in the past two presidential elections, though Ohio voters have also backed winning Republicans in the past. Some Democrats concede that the 60-year-old Portman is running a very strong campaign, but argue that nothing he does can save him if Democrat Hillary Clinton soundly beats Republican Trump in Ohio. Strickland is also better known than Portman and will benefit from coordination with Clinton's field operation. "I'm pretty sure Ted Strickland has been hit with more special interest attack ads than anyone in the country and he's still very much in the race and that's a testament to his strength and popularity in Ohio," said Justin Barasky, spokesman at pro-Clinton super PAC Priorities USA and a former Democratic operative in Ohio. Ohio is among a handful of top-tier Senate races, along with Pennsylvania, Florida and New Hampshire, where Republican incumbents are facing aggressive Democratic challenges. Democrats need to pick up five seats to take back control of the Senate, or four if they also keep control of the White House since the vice president casts tie-breaking votes in the Senate. Senate races have become a major focus this election season with the presidential race in turmoil and Republicans unlikely to lose control of the House. The Koch brothers, major GOP donors, have disengaged from the presidential race and instead are focused on Senate races, and Ohio is at the top of the list. Strickland's spokesman, David Bergstein, disputed the significance of the development with the Operating Engineers union, pointing out that the local in question has a history of backing Republicans, despite having supported Strickland for governor in 2006. He also noted that Strickland has the bulk of labor union endorsements and has been backed by two other branches of the operating engineers union. "Ted has earned the endorsement of the overwhelming majority of labor unions like the United Auto Workers, the AFL-CIO, SEIU, the Steelworkers and AFSCME because of his proven commitment to fighting for working families," Bergstein said. "The contrast in this election couldn't be more clear: Ted is on the side of Ohioans who actually work for a living, while Senator Portman is pushing the agenda of his rich and powerful friends." Nonetheless it's unusual for a Republican candidate to snatch labor union endorsements from a Democrat the way Portman has done, and reinforces the view among Republicans that Portman is well-positioned to hang on in this atypical election year. Republicans increasingly are hopeful that voters will be able to separate GOP Senate candidates from the top of the ticket and that some of their vulnerable incumbents will be able to retain their seats even if Trump goes down. "Rob Portman is the hardest working man on the campaign trail. The campaign is smart, nimble and shattering the traditional coalition models; he fits the state like a glove," said Rob Engstrom, national political director for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Recent polling in Ohio has shown a tied race or Portman slightly ahead. ___ Werner reported from Washington, D.C. It was 10 AM when the statue was removed by crane and taken away. The statue will now be stored in the same place the old Bop Htaw statue was kept, said Nai Aung Chan, a resident of Mon States capital city of Mawlamyine, formerly known as Moulmein. The figure of the Bop Htaw, a golden bird and national symbol for millions of ethnic Mon people, was erected in the roundabout in 2005, in coincide with the opening of the Thanlwin Bridge, connecting the citys main entry way to Mottama, also known as Martaban. The statue was then removed without public knowledge under orders from Snr. Gen. Than Shwe of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), disappearing at midnight during the rainy season in 2007 and replaced with the alms bowl. Now, nine years later, members of the newly appointed government administration visited the storage facility at the Township Municipal Department on June 18 to check on the neglected Bop Htaw statue. A public meeting to discuss replacing the alms bowl followed on June 24, leading to the formation of a 9-member restoration committee that met with state government officials on July 1, securing approval to put a new golden bird on the old perch. The committee estimated that commissioning a new Bop Htaw statue and its installation in the roundabout would run about 4000,000 kyats, a cost that the state government declined to cover. Instead, committee members collected donations and workers commenced with fashioning the sculpture on July 7. According to Nai Min Min Nwe, a member of the restoration committee, the new effigy will be erected at the end of August or early September. The Bop Htaw is finished. We will soon put it up. The Mon language term Bop Htaw translates to golden Brahminy Duck or Sheldrake in English, and is called hinthar in Burmese. The bird is a symbol for ethnic Mon people and its likeness is frequently seen in Mon communities, particularly at village entrances and temples. The new statue, unlike its winged predecessor, stands on one leg to correspond with the birds depiction on the Mon national flag. Venezuela promotes general indicted in US on drug charges CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) A day after Venezuela's former drug czar was indicted in the United States on narcotics trafficking charges, President Nicolas Maduro defiantly named him interior minister. Maduro said Tuesday that he was promoting Nestor Reverol to the position that oversees law enforcement as a gesture of support for a man who had done good work cracking down on the drug trade in Venezuela and is being tarnished by the "U.S. empire." U.S. prosecutors on Monday announced the indictment of Reverol, who previously led Venezuela's National Guard, where senior officers are alleged to have been involved in cocaine smuggling. FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2015 file photo, Venezuela's National Guard Commander Gen. Nestor Reverol attends a ceremony in Caracas, Venezuela. On Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, Maduro announced that he was promoting Reverol to interior minister to show support for the general amid an attack from the U.S. "empire." U.S. prosecutors on Monday announced the indictment of Reverol, who once led Venezuela's anti-drug agency and National Guard. Reverol has denied using his positions to facilitate the trafficking of cocaine. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File) "He is a brave man who is not afraid of anything or anyone," Maduro said. "As interior minister he broke the record for arrests of drug kingpins. The DEA and all the United States drug-trafficking mafias want to make him pay, because the drug-trafficking mafia runs the Untied States." Also on Tuesday, Maduro removed economic czar Miguel Perez, appointed six months ago, who had been seen as a potential moderate reformer in the socialist president's Cabinet. Together, the moves seemed to signal that Maduro is doubling down on his existing strategy of antagonizing the U.S. and refusing to make significant economic reforms. The Reverol indictment unsealed in federal court accuses the general of taking bribes in exchange for helping cocaine traffickers by tipping them off about raids. It also alleges that from January 2008 to December 2010, he deliberately allowed cocaine shipments to leave Venezuela and returned seized drug money to traffickers. Reverol, 51, has denied using his positions to facilitate the trafficking of cocaine. The U.S. has indicted and sanctioned several other Venezuelan officials, including a former defense minister and head of military intelligence. Two nephews of Venezuela's first lady are currently jailed in New York as they await trial for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. Venezuelan officials have regularly accused the U.S. of using drug cases to destabilize the government, and Maduro has a history of reacting to U.S. sanctions against officials by handing out promotions. The opposition said the Cabinet reshuffle was further proof that Maduro was committed to radicalizing the country and breaking off relations with neighbors. "Maduro is determined to shut himself off from the world," opposition congressman Luis Florido said. ___ Associated Press writer Fabiola Sanchez contributed to this report. ___ Greece: EU-Turkey deal still holding after coup attempt ATHENS, Greece (AP) A Greek government official said Wednesday that there was no sign yet that a deal between the European Union and Turkey to stop migrants coming to Europe has faltered since the attempted military coup in the country. Daily arrivals by migrants and refugees at Greek islands near the Turkish coast have remained low since the July 15 coup attempt, government crisis committee spokesman Giorgos Kyritsis told The Associated Press. But he said the Greek government had renewed requests to the EU to end delays in emergency funding and the implementation of a relocation program for migrants stranded in Greece. FILE - In this photo taken on Saturday, June 25, 2016 a child stands behind a fence during a protest against the living conditions at the Oreokastro camp, near the northern town of Thessaloniki, Greece. A government official in Athens on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2106 said to the Associated Press that there is no sign yet that a deal between the European Union and Turkey to stop migrants coming to Europe has faltered since the attempted military coup in the country. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos, File) Tension has risen between Turkey and the EU over alleged large-scale human rights abuses following the coup attempt and prompted concern that the migrant deal could collapse. Austria's foreign minister, long skeptical about the Turkey deal, told German weekly Der Spiegel that "we cannot sit back and hope that the deal with Turkey holds." "I already warned in May that we should not become dependent on Turkey and the agreement with Ankara can only be Plan B," Sebastian Kurz was quoted as saying. "In view of the threats from Turkey, it is becoming even clearer now that we need this Plan A," he said. The ongoing war in Syria helped trigger a dramatic rise in refugee crossings from Turkey last year, with more than 2,000 people arriving each day on Greek islands last year. About a million people transited Greece on their way to Europe's prosperous heartland from the beginning of 2015 to late March, when the EU-Turkey deal took effect following border closures in Austria and the Balkans. After that, the numbers dropped sharply. "So far, Turkey has not shown that it is not honoring the agreement. On some days we have 100 arrivals. On others, we have none at all. So no pattern has emerged." Kyritsis said in Athens. "We continue to request that relocations are speeded up. The second issue is funding: Money promised is being paid out in small amounts and not regularly." In Berlin, German government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said Wednesday the EU and the German government stand by the agreements with Turkey. "The German government continues to assume that Turkey will continue to fulfill the agreements concluded with the EU," she said. About 57,000 migrants and refugees remain stranded in Greece, most in army-built camps on the mainland. Police on Wednesday said 400 migrants from Iraq's small Yazidi religious minority had left a 4,000-bed camp in northern Greece and were asking to be transferred to another site, telling authorities that they were being mistreated by other camp dwellers. It was unclear whether they would be moved from the camp, located near the northern town of Polykastro. ___ Costas Kantouris reported from Thessaloniki. Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report. ___ Follow Derek Gatopoulos at http://www.twitter.com/dgatopoulos and Costas Kantouris at http://www.twitter.com/CostasKantouris FILE - In this file photo taken on Monday, June 13, 2016, migrants who live in the Hellenikon refugee and migrant camp in Athens wait to register for asylum. A government official in Athens on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2106 said to the Associated Press that there is no sign yet that a deal between the European Union and Turkey to stop migrants coming to Europe has faltered since the attempted military coup in the country. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File) FBI: Transit officer 1st lawman charged under US terror law ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) Prosecutors brought the first-ever federal terrorism charges against a law enforcement officer in the U.S., alleging Wednesday that a patrol officer with the D.C. region's transit police bought about $250 worth of gift cards for someone he thought was working with the Islamic State group. Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, was arrested Wednesday at Metro Transit Police headquarters in Washington and charged with a single count of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist group. According to an FBI affidavit , Young bought the gift cards last month that he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile messaging apps. Young actually gave the codes for the gift cards to an undercover FBI officer, the affidavit said. He made a brief court appearance Wednesday afternoon, wearing a T-shirt and what appeared to be his uniform slacks. Law enforcement officers are seen outside the home of Nicholas Young, a Washington Metro Transit Officer, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Fairfax, Va., Young was arrested at Metro's headquarters in Washington and charged with a single count of attempting to provided material support to a terrorist group. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) David Smith, who was appointed to represent Young after the hearing, said he could not comment because he had not yet been able to research the details of the case. If convicted, Young could face up to 20 years in prison. Young had been under surveillance since 2010, and he traveled to Libya at least once in 2011, where he said he joined rebel forces seeking to oust dictator Moammar Gadhafi, the affidavit said. He traveled with body armor, a Kevlar helmet and other military-style items. Young was deeply paranoid about law enforcement spying on him, often taking out the battery of his cellphone when he wanted to go somewhere and talk, the document said. Young frequently told one undercover source to be wary of potential informants, according to the affidavit. On Jan. 24, 2011, an undercover officer said Young told the officer he once aimed an AK-47-style rifle out of a window at his residence, scanning for law enforcement he believed was watching him. On another occasion, he grew angry that the FBI talked to his family and co-workers and said he wanted to find the FBI agent and kidnap and torture her. The undercover officer said he "doubted that Young seriously intended to act upon those words," according to the affidavit. As police searched Young's townhome in Fairfax, neighbor Dina Ahmad described him as standoffish and said he had occasional run-ins with the homeowners' association over his cluttered front lawn. He often worked on his car at late hours, and the car was adorned with anti-Israel bumper stickers, she said. "We knew something was weird about him," Ahmad said. "You just kind of got that creepy vibe off of him." Joshua Stueve, spokesman for the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said Young posed no threat to the Metro system, and nowhere in the affidavit does it mention the subway and bus system for the nation's capital. Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said Young, who had been employed since 2003, was fired. "Obviously, the allegations in this case are profoundly disturbing. They're disturbing to me, and they're disturbing to everyone who wears the uniform," Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said in a statement. FBI spokesman Andrew Ames confirmed that Young is the first law enforcement officer to be charged under the federal government's terrorism law. Young was an associate of two other people charged with terror-related crimes. In 2010, law enforcement interviewed Young because of his links to Zachary Chesser, who eventually pleaded guilty to trying to join the militant group al-Shabab and to issuing threats to the makers of the "South Park" cartoon series after they penned an episode he found insulting to Islam. Young also met regularly with Amine El Khalifi, who pleaded guilty in a sting operation in which he planned to attempt a suicide bombing at the U.S. Capitol in 2012. Authorities said that in their years of monitoring Young, his purchase of the gift cards was the first action that crossed the line to where he could be charged with a crime, and they moved to arrest him as soon as it occurred. As he was under surveillance, though, Young frequently made alarming comments, according to the affidavit. During one conversation with an undercover officer, Young said if he was ever betrayed by someone, "that person's head would be in a cinder block at the bottom of" a lake. In March 2015, he raised suspicion when he brought a large amount of ammunition, AK-47s and a pistol to an off-duty weapons training event provided by another Metro officer. Young said he owned even more weapons, according to the affidavit. He praised the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks at the Bataclan music hall and elsewhere, as well as the earlier Charlie Hebdo attacks, the document said. According to George Washington University's Program on Extremism, Young is the 100th person since March 2014 to be charged with an offense related to support for the Islamic State. Seamus Hughes, the program's deputy director, said Young's case is an outlier not just because it involves a police officer. Hughes said Young is significantly older than the average age of 26 associated with these charges. In addition, he said, court documents show that Young embraced radical ideology for six years or more; the typical radicalization occurs more quickly. "The radicalization here did not occur overnight," Hughes said. A law enforcement officer is seen using a cell phone at the home of Nicholas Young, a Washington, Metro Transit Officer, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Fairfax, Va., Young was arrested at Metro's headquarters in Washington and charged with a single count of attempting to provided material support to a terrorist group. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Law enforcement officers work outside the home of Nicholas Young, a Washington Metro Transit Officer, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Fairfax, Va., Young was arrested at Metro's headquarters in Washington, and charged with a single count of attempting to provided material support to a terrorist group. According to an FBI affidavit, Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards last month that he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile apps that would facilitate communications. But Young actually gave the cards to an undercover FBI source. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) US Attorney General starts forums to address tragedies DETROIT (AP) Recent tragedies involving police and blacks have "awakened a pain" in people that crosses all boundaries, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Wednesday at the first of what she says will be a series of forums to improve communication between police and the community. "We're here to work," she said at a gathering of residents and law enforcement at Wayne State University in Detroit. "We have asked people to come, to focus on the issues and to come with solutions that we can lift up, that we can implement, that we can carry to other jurisdictions so that we can actually begin to make a difference." The event comes weeks after deadly attacks on police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which followed fatal shootings of black men by officers in Baton Rouge and Minnesota that sparked protests. Attorney General Loretta Lynch holds Madison Wilson, 3, of Detroit, as she speaks with residents, Tuesday Aug. 2, 2016, during a National Night Out event at Fitzpatrick Play Field in Detroit. (Steve Perez/Detroit News via AP) Lynch on Tuesday participated in a National Night Out event with Detroit police. Detroit police Chief James Craig was among those who applauded Lynch's effort to bring all sides together. He lamented the number of officers killed in the line of duty. "We have got to talk to each other," Craig said. "We've got to work with each other." The Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit NAACP, called for police to be held accountable as well. "One of the things that folks need to see is police being arrested and going to jail and doing time," he said. "That's basic. Police officers who do wrong things need to go to jail and need to do time. That's accountability." Lynch acknowledged in prepared remarks that the task won't be easy and that setbacks will happen. "Even so, I am here in Detroit because I know that progress is possible and because I firmly believe that in the face of recent tragedies, we must not give in to cynicism or despair. Rather, we must redouble our efforts build on the progress we've made." The Latest: 2 wildfires in Northern California expand SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The Latest on wildfires in the U.S. West (all times local): 8:30 p.m. Two wildfires burning in Northern California have expanded a bit but fire crews have made some gains and increased containment. In this Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 photo, the Cold fire burns at night by the Solano and Napa County line near Lake Berryessa, Calif. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP) The blaze burning near the scenic Big Sur region of California has charred almost 73 square miles by Wednesday evening. It is 25 percent contained. Officials are asking for the public's help to find whoever started the campfire that sparked the wildfire, which destroyed 57 homes. A bulldozer operator also was killed on the fire lines during a rollover accident. A grass fire in a popular recreational area in Northern California has charred more than 7 square miles since igniting Tuesday afternoon. It spread quickly and prompted the evacuation of an RV and tent campground off Highway 128 near Lake Berryessa and the Napa Valley. No vineyards in wine country are threatened. The fire is about 10 percent contained. ___ 2:20 p.m. Utah firefighters say evacuations have been lifted as they get the upper hand on a small wildfire burning near homes south of Salt Lake City. Dave Ulibarri with Salt Lake County's Unified Fire Authority said Wednesday people from 39 homes have been allowed back home and the fire is now about 50 percent contained. It started overnight on a mountainside above the city of Draper and spread quickly through dry grass and brush. Fed by high winds in the steep area, the blaze came within 60 feet to 80 feet of houses in a well-to-do neighborhood overnight. Damage was reported to U.S. Forest Service and residential fencing, but no homes were lost. Investigators are probing what caused the fire and say they didn't have any reports of lightning overnight. _____ 11:40 a.m. Officials are reporting progress containing two large wildfires pushed by dry winds through remote rangeland and rugged mountain canyons in northwestern Nevada. One fire that has charred more than 84 square miles in the Virginia Mountains near Pyramid Lake was about 41 percent contained on Wednesday. Another, farther north near Poodle Mountain, is 80 percent contained. It's now mapped at 10.25 square miles in a wilderness study area about 20 miles northwest of Gerlach. No new injuries were reported among the more than 1,100 firefighters working to contain the two fires, and neither fire is threatening structures. Both were started by lightning. Pyramid Lake is about 40 miles north of Reno. It remains closed so aircraft can use it to scoop water to fight the fires. ____ 11 a.m. Authorities are considering what potential penalties face those who set an illegal campfire that ballooned into a massive wildfire near the scenic Big Sur region of California. Officials want the public's help to find whoever started the flames that blew up to more than 71 square miles and destroyed 57 homes. A bulldozer operator also was killed on the fire lines during a rollover accident. Monterey County sheriff's Cmdr. John Thornburg says those responsible could face civil penalties for the cost to fight the fire. Prosecutors also could file charges in the death of 35-year-old Robert Reagan. Investigators determined that an unattended campfire started the blaze on July 22 in a day-use area of Garapata Park. The area is clearly marked with signs saying campfires are prohibited. ___ 10:15 a.m. A grass fire in a popular recreational area in Northern California has more than doubled in size in less than a day. The blaze has charred more than 6 square miles since igniting Tuesday afternoon. It spread quickly and prompted the evacuation of an RV and tent campground off Highway 128 near Lake Berryessa and the Napa Valley. No vineyards in wine country are threatened. No one has been injured, but at least three dozen homes and RVs have been evacuated. More than 700 firefighters were working the blaze Wednesday. The fire is about 5 percent contained. ___ 9:35 a.m. Firefighters are setting up sprinkler systems to protect buildings in a central Idaho town after a wildfire expanded to 75 square miles. Officials say slightly cooler weather and winds Wednesday should help firefighters trying to prevent flames from reaching the small town of Lowman. Fire spokeswoman Jennifer Myslivy says no evacuations are in place. Nearly 1,500 firefighters are battling the blaze burning timber in rugged terrain. By Wednesday, it had grown by more than 9 square miles. Fire crews have repeatedly had to abandon fire lines as the flames moved north. Myslivy says crews are trying to build another line using a prescribed burn near Lowman. State Highway 21 is closed from 6 miles north of Idaho City to south of Lowman. ___ 9:15 a.m. Firefighters say about 30 homes in Utah have been evacuated after a small wildfire ignited near a neighborhood backing up to a mountainside. Dave Ulibarri with Salt Lake County's Unified Fire Authority said the blaze started early Wednesday on a mountainside above the city of Draper and spread quickly through dry grass and brush. Fed by high winds in the steep area, the fire came within 60 to 80 feet of houses overnight. Authorities say some fences were damaged, but no homes have been lost. Evacuation orders remain in place as crews fight the blaze in temperatures that could reach the low 90s. The fire is about 5 percent contained. ___ 8:45 a.m. A wildfire in a popular recreational area in Northern California grew overnight to more than 3 square miles. The grass fire ignited Tuesday afternoon and quickly spread, prompting the evacuation of an RV and tent campground off Highway 128 near Lake Berryessa and the Napa Valley. No vineyards in wine country are threatened. By Wednesday morning, authorities say crews had gained some containment of the fire. The danger is concentrated around high-voltage Pacific Gas & Electric poles along the highway. No one has been injured. This Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 photo provided by Inciweb.gov shows the Bybee Creek wildfire burning near Crater Lake, Ore. The wildfire burning southwest of Crater Lake has spread to more than 700 acres, prompting an evacuation warning for some parts of Crater Lake National Park. (Inciweb.gov via AP) UK judge says Saudi man must let daughter return to Britain LONDON (AP) A British-Saudi woman who accuses her father of locking her up in Saudi Arabia is "in peril" and must be allowed to return to the U.K., a British High Court judge ruled Wednesday. Judge James Holman ordered Mohammed Al-Jeffery to let his 21-year-old daughter Amina come back to Britain, where she was born and raised, and where her mother and siblings live. Amina, who moved to Saudi Arabia with her father in 2012, appealed to British lawyers for help, saying that her father had locked her up because she "kissed a guy." Her father denies imprisoning her, and says he moved her from Britain because she was skipping school and taking drugs. Holman ruled Wednesday that Amina Al-Jeffery is "in peril from which she requires to be rescued." He said her freedom of movement had been constrained and she could be described as "caged," although not literally "in a cage." Gulen extradition bid looms over US-Turkey ties In a dispute between NATO allies, Turkey demands that the United States extradite Fethullah Gulen, a Pennsylvania-based Turkish cleric, to face charges of engineering a coup attempt. But despite increasing indications that his followers were behind the failed military uprising, analysts say concerns about whether Gulen could get a fair trial complicate Turkey's bid. Those concerns were amplified by a broad purge of state institutions and some private ones after the July 15 uprising, in which at least 270 people died. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the crackdown as necessary to oust Gulen sympathizers who he said had infiltrated the government. Human rights groups and some Western nations urged restraint, fearing the purge was sweeping up anyone critical of the government. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally turned fierce critic, has denied any involvement in the coup plot but acknowledged in a CNN interview that people "sympathetic" to his movement may have been among the coup plotters. FILE - In this Sunday, July 17, 2016 file photo, Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen speaks to members of the media at his compound, in Saylorsburg, Pa. In a dispute between NATO allies, Turkey demands that the United States extradite Fethullah Gulen, a Pennsylvania-based Turkish cleric, to face charges of engineering a coup attempt. But despite indications that his followers were behind the failed military uprising, analysts say concerns about whether Gulen could get a fair trial complicate Turkeys bid. (AP Photo/Chris Post, File) "I would consider them to be betraying the nation. I would consider them to be disrespectful of my longtime ideas," Gulen said in the interview, which was broadcast Sunday. Evidence against Gulen includes testimony from military chief Gen. Hulusi Akar, who was said a coup leader holding him captive described Gulen as the renegade group's "opinion leader" and offered to put Akar on the phone with the cleric. Several other military officers admitted loyalties to Gulen, according to testimony published in Turkish news media. And Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said Wednesday that there are documents linking Gulen's movement to the attempted coup and that, as a panel of 70 Turkish judges assembles evidence, "a clearer picture will emerge and we will share it with the public." Images of detained soldiers with facial bruises after the coup attempt, as well as an Amnesty International report alleging abuse of suspected coup plotters, raised questions about evidence-gathering ahead of mass trials. While Erdogan rejected the Amnesty report and said soldiers may have been beaten during scuffles with pro-government forces, unfolding events in Turkey form a troubling backdrop to the Gulen extradition bid. "In addition to needing substantial evidence, I think the U.S. will require some firm diplomatic assurances regarding Turkey's willingness to respect due process and basic principles of human rights during any prosecution. Given the recent reports in the last two weeks, that's got to be a real concern in this case," said Jens David Ohlin, an international law expert at Cornell Law School in Ithaca, New York. "In general, the U.S. is in a very tight spot here. Turkey is a key military ally," Ohlin added. "I think the U.S. will try to stand up to Turkey in the Gulen affair, but it will do so gently and quietly." Turkey has sent documents to the United States and is preparing a formal extradition request. It insists it shouldn't have to, arguing that it has summarily extradited alleged terrorists at requests from the West. Turkey has also demanded that Gulen be arrested in case he tries to flee or tamper with evidence. Instead, U.S. officials have urged Turkey to lay out its extradition case, reinforcing suspicions in Turkey that it is somehow complicit in the coup. U.S. President Barack Obama said on July 22 that a decision on whether to extradite Gulen would be the result of a long-standing, legal process. "I told President Erdogan that they should present us with evidence that they think indicates the involvement of Mr. Gulen or anybody else who is here in the United States, and it would be processed the way that it is always processed and that we would certainly take any allegations like this seriously," Obama said. Fadi Hakura at the Chatham House research center in London said the United States' "legalistic" response to the extradition request could indicate "a concern on the rule of law and due process in Turkey." "I think we can see skepticism on the part of the United States on the prospects of direct evidence or clear evidence or irrefutable evidence linking Fethullah Gulen to the failed coup plot," he said. Similarly, Sweden said Wednesday it won't send back failed asylum-seekers from Turkey who are Gulen supporters and who have "reliable connections" to the attempted coup. Under Turkey's three-month state of emergency, imposed after the July 15 coup attempt, suspects can be held by police for five days without access to a lawyer and for a total of 30 days without being charged. Turkey implemented judicial reforms as part of its now-defunct bid to join the European Union, but international legal experts have warned of increasing political interference in the courts. Under the U.S.-Turkish extradition treaty, a country can bar extradition if it "concludes that the request for extradition has, in fact, been made to prosecute or punish the person sought for an offense of a political character or on account of his political opinions." That could mean that even if Turkey can prove Gulen's involvement in the coup attempt, it could struggle to make the case that Gulen did not commit a "political" offense, said Mark Ellis, executive director of the London-based International Bar Association. Additionally, while U.S. courts won't assess concerns about the fair treatment of suspects in a country requesting extradition, the issue could still arise because extradition is "ultimately a political decision" by the United States, he said. The legal wrangling over Gulen, Ellis said, "could be very drawn out." ___ Christopher Torchia was The Associated Press' bureau chief in Turkey from 2007-13, and covered the aftermath of the attempted coup last month. Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Christopher Torchia on Twitter at www.twitter.com/torchiachris Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Turkey's Chief of Staff Geneneral Hulusi Akar, review a military honor guard at the military headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. The head of the Council of Europe, the continent's top human rights organization, is visiting Turkey for talks with the country's leadership and opposition officials - the first high-ranking European official to do so after the attempted July 15 coup. (Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Press Service, Pool Photo via AP) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with the Turkey's Chief of Staff Geneneral Hulusi Akar at military headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. The head of the Council of Europe, the continent's top human rights organization, is visiting Turkey for talks with the country's leadership and opposition officials - the first high-ranking European official to do so after the attempted July 15 coup. (Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Press Service, Pool Photo via AP) Widower of Puerto Rico prosecutor disputes carjacking theory SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) The widower of a slain Puerto Rico prosecutor is disputing investigators' findings that she was killed in a carjacking. Fermin Luis Arraiza told El Nuevo Dia in a story published Wednesday that he believes a hit man targeted Francelis Ortiz because of her job. "From the first day I had serious doubts and was even convinced it was an execution," he was quoted as saying. Arraiza said there were two bullet holes at the height of someone's head in the car and that no one trying to commit a carjacking would damage the vehicle. He also noted that the suspects did not steal the car, which had been parked outside her house. Arraiza, who is also an attorney, spoke Tuesday during a break in a hearing for the three suspects charged in Ortiz's killing. He said he launched his own investigation after he accused prosecutors of being reluctant to explore other motives for the killing. He said he discovered that one of the suspects and two women had allegedly visited his neighborhood several days before the killing. An FBI spokesman said the agency offered to help with the investigation but that Puerto Rico police maintained jurisdiction over the case. Officials with Puerto Rico's Justice Department did not return messages for comment. Ortiz, 42, was killed around midnight in January as she arrived at her house in the northern coastal town of Rio Grande. Police allege that gunmen followed her home from where she works at the main court in San Juan. UK desperately short of trade experts to lead Brexit talks LONDON (AP) Britain is woefully short of one thing it desperately needs in its high-stakes divorce from the European Union: experienced trade negotiators. Ever since Britain joined the bloc in 1973, the EU has handled its trade talks, so expertise in this area has migrated to Brussels. That means the government has only a few dozen skilled negotiators against the 1,200 it will need, by one estimate as it embarks on the complex talks that will determine the U.K.'s relationship with its most important trading partners. Add to this the fact that Britain has no clear plan yet for what it wants to achieve and that EU rules give it only a fraction of the time normally required to complete a major trade deal, and chances are the U.K. will gain less and pay more for leaving the bloc than campaigners promised, according to experts on negotiations and trade. FILE - This is a Tuesday, July 19, 2016 file photo of Britain's David Davies, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, as he arrives to attend a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London. Britain is woefully short of one thing it desperately needs in the countrys high-stakes divorce from the European Union: experienced trade negotiators. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File) Nick Butler, a visiting professor of public policy at King's College London, underscores the challenges by stressing that in reality Britain must work out deals with other 27 member states, each with its own goals, not just the EU as a single entity. "It is multi-dimensional chess," says Butler, an adviser to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. "This will take longer, it will be less simple, and the outcome will be more clouded and politically less satisfying" than those who voted to leave the EU expected. That's a very different picture from the one painted by new Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and other leaders of the "leave" campaign, who told voters Britain could ditch the EU and negotiate their way into a new, better relationship. For example, one of the "leave" campaign's most potent arguments was that exiting the EU would allow Britain to regain control of its borders and stem the flow of European migrants. But EU officials haven't budged from their position that the free movement of people is a precondition for access to the single market. The most immediate problem is finding the people to get the job done. Jim Rollo, deputy director for the U.K. Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex, estimates that Britain has 30 to 50 civil servants with some expertise in trade negotiations. By the end of the process, as many as 1,200 will be needed over the next decade, he said. The country has only just set up a government agency devoted to the British exit nicknamed Department X to lead the way on so-called Brexit talks. David Davis, who is in charge of the talks, recently said they have 10 applicants for every job, though it remains unclear what level of expertise they represent. Though some have speculated that Britain could bring in negotiators from friendly countries like New Zealand, department officials say it is too early to speculate on who might be hired. Tapping the private sector is problematic. Because there was no need for trade experts, few British-headquartered law firms have any because there had been no need to invest in the expertise. Those that exist are highly prized, with many commanding six figure salaries. But many corporate firms are going to be reluctant to part with that expertise, because their clients will now need advice on how to deal with the evolving situation. Experts also worry that what legal experts are brought in won't be able to grasp the complicated politics and horse-trading that will be necessary. These challenges are one reason Britain has been slow to invoke Article 50 of the EU treaty, which will give it two years to negotiate a new relationship and leave the bloc. The deadline can be extended only with the agreement of both parties. "I think for Europe, Brexit is a challenge. For the U.K. it is a crisis," former U.S. trade representative Charlene Barshefsky said. "That also leads to an uneven playing field for the two." She said Britain first needs an honest appraisal of its goals, and must make fundamental decisions about what its priorities will be. It is, she said, like needing a bed and a car. You can try for the mansion and the Ferrari, but you have to decide that you'd settle for a three-bedroom condo and a sedan. "Every negotiation is the difference between what you need and what you want," said Barshefsky, senior international partner at U.S. law firm WilmerHale. "Britain needs to do a little bit of soul searching." And it won't be quick either. Given the nature of modern trade deals, the negotiations could last years, some experts say. Despite that, some like Rollo see opportunity for Britain. It would be able to shape its own trade policy for the first time in decades and designing it especially for the British economy, not the EU as a whole. As the negotiations are eventually undertaken, the interdependence of the economies of Britain and the rest of the EU will be a key issue. There is no doubt the U.K. is a big part of the EU. Losing Britain would shrink the EU's economy by 17.6 percent and its population by 12.8 percent, according to the most recent figures from statistics agency Eurostat. And London is by far the continent's pre-eminent financial center. On the other hand, the EU accounts for 47 percent of U.K. exports and facilitates another 13 percent through agreements with non-EU countries. The EU would have an incentive to make it difficult for Britain to avoid giving other EU states the impression that breaking away is economically easy and attractive. Pascal Lamy, former director-general of the World Trade Organization, says the talks will be tough, though ultimately about business interest. "International trade is not about love or hate or feelings. It is about hard numbers, necessities and realities; more business than politics," Lamy said in an email to The Associated Press. "But based on my experience, it will be long, hugely complex, and bumpy at times." While Britain would need only eight bilateral agreements to cover 80 percent of its exports, it would need 132 more to cover all of its existing trade, according to research by Martin Reeves and Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak of Boston Consulting Group. The complexity, scale and quick timeframe of the talks means that whatever negotiators Britain does recruit will likely have to compromise on some of the political promises made by the "leave" campaign, such as a quick end to free immigration from EU states. "They didn't expect to win so no one has any idea what to do now," said Pankaj Ghemawat, a professor at IESE Business School in Spain and NYU, of the campaign to leave the EU. "The analogy that comes to mind is the dog chasing the car. Sometimes the dog catches the car, and then doesn't know what to do with it." US predicts UN will swiftly condemn North Korea launches UNITED NATIONS (AP) U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power predicted that the Security Council will swiftly condemn North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches following an emergency meeting Wednesday of the U.N.'s most powerful body. Power told reporters after the closed meeting there were "strong condemnations across the board" from all 15 council members, which she found encouraging. Her assessment was echoed by Japan's ambassador, Koro Bessho, who said he was heartened by the "many messages of solidarity" after his appeal to the council to be united and send a strong message to the world and especially to North Korea that its actions are "totally unacceptable." But Ambassador Liu Jieyi of China, an ally of North Korea, stressed that the council must not do anything to escalate tensions. No date was announced for a follow-up meeting of council members or experts, but Bessho said he hopes for council action as soon as possible. South Korean and Japanese officials said a medium-range ballistic missile fired Wednesday flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed near Japan's territorial waters, one of the longest flights by a North Korean missile. It was the first time a missile landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from shore. The U.S. Strategic Command said initial indications were that a second missile exploded immediately after launch. South Korea's U.N. Ambassador Oh Joon said so far this year North Korea has conducted 13 rounds of missile tests including the firing of 29 missiles of different varieties, ranges and trajectories using mobile launchers and submarines. "They are doing all of this with a systematic, comprehensive purpose of upgrading and refining their missile technologies, which is not only a grave challenge to the global nonproliferation system but also poses a clear and present danger to the security of all countries in the region," he said. "It is definitely in the interest of all countries to stop this dangerous series of provocations immediately," Oh stressed. The ballistic missile launches on Wednesday were the third since the United States and South Korea announced plans on July 8 to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year a move Pyongyang has denounced. The council has condemned six other launches in April, May and June. The Security Council has not responded to a July 9 failed attempt by a North Korean submarine to launch a ballistic missile and the July 19 launch of two short-range Scud missiles and a Rodong intermediate-range missile. U.N. diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private, said attempts to condemn the launches have been held up by China. Liu told reporters that "the situation is tense and we need to do everything to de-escalate the situation." Asked whether China would support a council condemnation of the latest launches, he said "there's a real risk" and the council needs to do things that promote denuclearization and peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, as well as a negotiated solution to North Korea's nuclear program. When asked what should be done to de-escalate the situation, Liu said that "if you look at the factors contributing to the tension in the Korean peninsula, I think the answer is self-evident." Japan's Bessho responded that his country had not done anything to invite Wednesday's missile launch and said there was no justification for it which is why "we are strongly condemning the launch." Power denied that the South Korea missile defense system, which China opposes, was a factor, saying it is "purely defensive" and aimed solely at protecting the South Korean people and U.S. and other forces stationed there from North Korean ballistic missiles. "Any justification, any notion that there's some predicate by anybody other than Kim Jong Un and the DPRK regime is not grounded in reality and it's not grounded in history," she said, using the initials for the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In March, the council adopted its fifth and most severe sanctions resolution against North Korea in response to a Jan. 6 nuclear test and a Feb. 7 satellite launch. Power stressed that the U.S. will be pushing for implementation and enforcement of the sanctions and is looking at adding individuals and organizations to the sanctions blacklist, which requires approval by all 15 council members. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the United States continues to be concerned about North Korea's behavior and considers it critical to work with the international community, including China and Russia, to urge the North Korean government to stop the launches. Chinese state corruption is so weird and manifest that it has its own literary movement, and the use of the internet to uncover corruption has become a political football that has spilled over into the Chinese press, and into street-brawls. But the anti-corruption faction in the Chinese government itself has enormous power and drive, and it has issued a decree informing the public and police that it's always legal to record the police when they're doing their jobs ("as long as it does not stop them from doing their job") this in the wake of the police murder and coverup of Lei Yang, an environmental scientist. Of course, in general it's legal for Americans to video-record police, but the police are unhappy about it, despite evidence that it works, and legislators are sympathetic to their pleas, and US cops routinely sabotage their own cameras and seize or smash witness cameras when things go wrong, all with near-total impunity. As in America, many of the activities that are nominally legal in China are routinely suppressed, so it remains to be seen whether this edict is a PR exercise or a course-change. Although this move might be seen as the Chinese authorities giving new powers to the people against the police, it's probably better thought of as using the people to root out the bad apples of the kind mentioned in the SCMP piece. As such it's of a piece with President Xi Jinping's crackdown on corrupt officials who abuse their power, seen most recently in the sentence of the top Chinese general Guo Boxiong, who was jailed for life for taking bribes. In other words, while citizens use this new permission to aid Xi in his purge of unwanted elements in the system, they will be welcome to record the police as much as they like. However, if they start making life awkward for the authorities by passing around the "wrong" kind of recordings, we can probably expect this newfound power to be rescinded quite quickly. Yes, You Read That Correctly: China Says It's OK For Members Of The Public To Record The Police [Glyn Moody/Techdirt] Chinese free to film police as long as they don't get in the way [South China Morning Post] (Image: Chinese soldier on Tienanmen Square, Luo Shaoyang, CC-BY) US enhances counterterrorism cooperation with Central Asia WASHINGTON (AP) The United States is enhancing counterterrorism cooperation with Central Asia's five "Stans" countries. They include some of the world's most repressive governments. The State Department says the U.S. and the countries Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will create a regional counterterrorism dialogue to "counter the challenges of foreign terrorist fighters and radicalization to violence in Central Asia." Secretary of State John Kerry hosted the nations' foreign ministers in Washington on Wednesday. Other issues discussed included business competitiveness, transportation, electricity and climate change. The department criticizes all five for rights abuses. It says Uzbekistan tortures and Tajikistan even cracks down on long beards. Administration warns Congress: Zika money running out WASHINGTON (AP) The Obama administration warned Congress Wednesday that money to fight the Zika virus is on the verge of running out amid political stalemate on Capitol Hill. In a letter to key lawmakers, the secretary of Health and Human Services said the National Institutes of Health would exhaust its resources for vaccine development by month's end. The letter from HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell said that without additional money the second phase of clinical trials would be delayed, and Americans would have to wait longer for a vaccine. The news comes as the first local transmissions of the virus have been found in Miami and authorities are warning pregnant women to stay away from the area. The virus can cause severe birth defects. FILE - In this July 15, 2016 file photo, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell speak in Des Moines, Iowa. The Obama administration warned Congress Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, that money to fight the Zika virus is on the verge of running out amid political stalemate on Capitol Hill. In a letter to key lawmakers, Burwell said the National Institutes of Health would exhaust its resources for vaccine development by month's end. The letter from HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell said that without additional money the second phase of clinical trials would be delayed, and Americans would have to wait longer for a vaccine. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) Congress gridlocked over President Barack Obama's $1.9 billion emergency spending request after House Republicans added language on Planned Parenthood and other issues that was unacceptable to Democrats. Then lawmakers left town for a seven-week summer recess and they won't be back until September. Republicans have been downplaying the urgency of the issue, questioning why the administration has not spent more than $350 million already on hand, including money redirected from the Ebola fight. Burwell's letter gives a detailed accounting. The Centers for Disease Control has $222 million available for domestic response including front-line assistance to states and localities. Of that, nearly $100 million will have been provided by week's end, and resources will be virtually exhausted by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, the letter says. The NIH started Phase I clinical trials Wednesday of a DNA-based vaccine, but without more funding, the second phase on that vaccine and others will be delayed. Additional research and development also may be constrained as NIH's $47 million in repurposed funding runs out by the end of this month. "A delay in this stage of development will delay when a safe and effective Zika vaccine is available to the American public," Burwell wrote. "These examples demonstrate the urgent need for the administration's request for $1.9 billion in emergency supplemental funding." Democrats blamed Republicans, and Republicans blamed Democrats and the administration. Although Congress typically finds a way to get beyond its partisanship and act when circumstances absolutely require, it's not clear what will happen in this case at the height of a frenzied election season, and with the virus still not widespread in this country. Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said: "The urgency of enacting emergency Zika funding is growing by the day." She called on Speaker Paul Ryan to reconvene the House to act on a bipartisan Zika bill that had passed the Senate. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump declined to call for congressional action Wednesday, telling West Palm Beach's WPEC-TV it was up to Florida Gov. Rick Scott to ask for help. Trump said Scott is "gonna have it under control. He probably already does." This week, authorities have been spraying insecticides in Miami's Wynwood arts district, where more than a dozen people have become infected with the first mosquito-transmitted cases in the mainland U.S. The country has been girding for months against the epidemic coursing through Latin America and the Caribbean. On Monday, the CDC instructed pregnant women to avoid the neighborhood, marking what is believed to be the first time in the agency's 70-year history that it warned people not to travel somewhere in the U.S. The Zika virus can cause severe brain-related defects, including disastrously small heads. Campaigning for re-election Wednesday in Doral, Florida, GOP Sen. Marco Rubio called for action and called it "inexcusable" that the administration is sitting on unspent funds. "Now, I don't like to ascribe motives, but in this case, I have to start wondering whether they are holding back on spending that federal money because they like making this a political issue that they can attack Republicans on," Rubio said. Health officials warn the mosquitoes are proving harder to eradicate than expected. Cuba sees tourism rise, French will renovate Havana airport HAVANA (AP) More than 2 million tourists have visited Cuba this year, state media said Wednesday, putting the country on track for a record number of visitors bringing badly needed cash to an economy facing a sharp reduction in subsidized oil from its chief ally, Venezuela. Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero said visitor numbers were running 12 percent ahead of those last year, which already saw a record number of tourists. The surge is credited to a wave of international interest in Cuba prompted by the announcement of U.S.-Cuba detente in Dec. 2014. Visitor numbers are expected to get a major boost after commercial flights from the United States begin this month. The rise in tourism has strained Cuba's infrastructure, filling hotels to capacity and creating long waits at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport. The government announced Wednesday that Aeroports de Paris, the French government-controlled firm that runs Charles de Gaulle, Orly and other Paris airports, would receive a concession to operate Jose Marti, which would be renovated by the French firm Bouygues. FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2014 file photo, people put their luggage in a private taxi as they arrive from the U.S. to the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba. The rise in Cuba's tourism has strained the country's infrastructure, filling hotels to capacity and creating long waits at airport. The government announced Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, that Aeroports de Paris, the French government-controlled firm that runs Charles de Gaulle, Orly and other Paris airports, would receive a concession to operate Jose Marti, which would be renovated by the French firm Bouygues. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File) The announcement contained no details but updating the airport to receive hundreds of thousands more tourists a year will almost certainly become of the most important infrastructure projects in Cuba, and the largest French-Cuban deal since President Francois Hollande visited the island in May 2015. A spokesman for Aeroports de Paris declined immediate comment. Marrero said Cuba expects to receive 3.8 million tourists this year. Josefina Vidal, Cuba's head of U.S. relations, said on Twitter Wednesday that 138,000 Americans visited in the first half of 2016, an 80 percent increase that made the U.S. the second-largest source of visitors after Canada. Cuba has become increasingly dependent on tourism as Venezuela has cut back on the supply of cheap oil sent in exchange for Cuban doctors to staff neighborhood medical clinics. President Raul Castro warned last month that the country faced sharply slower growth this year, and the economy expanded by a mere 1 percent in the first half of 2016. Cuba has begun cutting back on energy use, primarily in government offices, where workers are being told to leave early and cut back on air conditioning. ___ Andrea Rodriguez on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ARrodriguezAP Battle for Aleppo a pivotal moment for besieged residents BEIRUT (AP) The 28-year-old Syrian attorney turned down a scholarship to study economics in Germany in order to remain in his native Aleppo after rebels took it over in 2012, promising a new administration and life free of the rule of President Bashar Assad. Four years later, besieged in the ruins of Syria's largest city and once its commercial heart, Mohammed Khandakani's dream is in serious jeopardy after Syrian troops, aided by Russian air power, closed the lifeline of the rebel-held area after weeks of fighting. The siege and inaction by world and regional powers that claim to support the rebels collided to deprive him of "brief feelings of independence and freedom," Khandakani said in a telephone interview from inside Aleppo, which has been largely cut off from the international media. A resident of the Maadi neighborhood, close to the city's old quarter, he now fears for his two children, wife, mother and other relatives. FILE - In this file photo taken on June 8, 2016 provided by the Syrian Civil Defense Directorate in Liberated Province of Aleppo, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrian civil defense workers, right, helps an injured woman after warplanes attacked a street, in Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Civil Defense Directorate in Liberated Province of Aleppo via AP, File) Khandakani, who volunteers with the city's medical council and documents casualties of war, is among tens of thousands of Syrians trapped in the rebel-controlled part of Aleppo, struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once-thriving city. Bread and medicine are being rationed, and as fuel runs out, many are relying on bicycles to run errands past skeletons of buildings and rubble that litter the city's narrow alleys and streets. For those who remain amid the government siege that began July 17, the battle for Aleppo is a pivotal point in the Syrian civil war. "I have seen death in all its forms. I have seen people suffocate. People burn or people under the rubble for 12 hours," Khandakani told The Associated Press. "I would die but not live in exile or live under the regime's hands again." With thousands of years of written history, Aleppo has always held symbolic and political significance in the nation's civil war. The city emerged as a key battleground after rebels opposed to Assad seized parts of it in the summer of 2012. Since then, relentless fighting has laid waste to entire neighborhoods, carving the city into rebel- and regime-held zones, killing tens of thousands of people and forcing tens of thousands more to flee. Six years into the nation's civil war, government forces aided by massive Russian air power are on the ascendancy again and have completely encircled the rebel fighters in Aleppo. Holed up in the city's eastern neighborhoods, where they had hoped to set up an alternative opposition capital, the militants are making their last stand. One rebel fighter described a recent visit to the city. "It was like walking into Hiroshima. It is beyond destruction and far worse than what you see on TV," said Cpt. Abdul-Salam Abdul-Razzek, a spokesman for Nour el-Din Zinki, a relatively moderate rebel group fighting both the Syrian government and the Islamic State group. Deserted and bullet-riddled buildings and sand mounds serve as dividers between the city's government-held sectors in the west and south, and rebel-held eastern and northern neighborhoods. Aleppo's ancient quarter, a world heritage site as one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, is divided between rebel and government control in a complicated labyrinth of alleys and streets. In the eastern part of town, the only remaining female gynecologist is running out of asthma medication for her aging mother and can barely keep up with the skyrocketing food prices since government forces encircled the sector where she lives. Fuel is running out and may force the doctor, who gave only her first name, Farida, to protect family members who live under government control, to shutter her medical practice. Yet she has no plans to leave. "If you empty the city, consider the revolution over," the 37-year-old said. Farida has been separated from her parents, who live in the government-held zone, for most of the past four years, even though they live just a few streets a part easy walking-distance before the war. Now they manage to see each other only occasionally, after taking a long and dangerous route cutting through rebel-held territory. Her mother, who came to visit a month ago, has been unable to return home since the 2 1/2-week-old siege began but considers the government offer to open humanitarian corridors to be more threatening than reassuring. "I would say a quarter of the people I know want to leave, but many won't be able to because they are either related to rebels or are disabled," Farida said. In the lower-income eastern part of Aleppo where she lives, there were limited protests against Assad in 2011. When rebels from the northern rural areas pushed their way into her neighborhood in 2012, Farida chose to stay with her then newborn daughter and her husband, one of the area's few remaining eye doctors. A new rhythm was established after the initial celebrations: Roads allowed in goods and fuel and access was possible to other rebel-held territory, neighboring Turkey and even government-controlled areas by using back roads and long detours. Aleppo became the most cherished prize of the rebels and their supporters, who set out to administer their new area. But airstrikes and unguided barrel bombs lobbed from government helicopters soon made death and destruction a new reality. Farida lives near one of the front lines, where approaching can be at a lethal price because of sniper fire. With the sector besieged by government forces, bread is being rationed; there is no stored wheat because of fear of bombardment. Vegetables from nearby farms are scarce. No eggs are available, and people have been largely surviving on rice and cracked wheat. The family has not been able to find chicken, and prices for what is available have skyrocketed: A kilo (2.2 pounds) of red meat now costs about 5,000 liras ($10), up from 3,000 liras ($6) before the siege already a crippling price for families whose monthly earnings can be as low as 10,000 liras ($20). A new generation is growing up with malnutrition and vitamin deficiency, Farida said, adding that it's the food shortage, not the warplanes that are most scary. "No one runs from strikes or the sounds of aircraft anymore," she said. Wissam Zarqa, a 34-year old English teacher, returned to Aleppo last year from Saudi Arabia where he went after the 2011 outbreak of protests to evade mandatory military service. He now teaches English as part of a condensed curriculum to help students catch up after schools closed. His wife, an engineer, also stayed to help rebuild Aleppo. "Those who stayed behind in Aleppo are many. Those who stay willingly act differently and are ready to defend their existence to the last breath," Zarqa said. On Sunday, when a rebel counteroffensive began, residents burned tires, hoping the smoke would obscure the government forces' view and prevent deadly airstrikes. Khandakani marched with the protesters urging them on. Anything, he said, "is easier than surrendering, even if we are besieged for two years." Although supplies of medication are dwindling only 600 ampules of a drug used to stop post-natal hemorrhages remain Farida's biggest fear is losing her four midwives. "If they leave we will really have a problem. I find myself praying they don't," she said. Still, she is determined to maintain her spirit. "The siege is just starting. If we all pass on negative energy to one another, we will not be able to survive," she said. ___ Follow Sarah El Deeb on Twitter @seldeeb In this Friday, July. 29, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows a Syrian boy passes by by a market where gasoline stored in barrels is sold, in Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) In this Friday, July. 29, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows a Syrian man rides a motorcycle passes by a damaged building that was destroyed by airstrikes in Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) This Sunday, July. 31, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows a Syrian young man burns tyres in an attempt to prevent airstrikes above Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) FILE - In this Saturday, July 30, 2016 file still image from Syrian state TV video, shows young men with their faces covered surrendering to government forces, in Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Syrian State TV, via AP, File) FILE - In this Saturday, July 30, 2016 file still image from Syrian state TV video, shows women and children arriving in a street lined with heavily damaged buildings in the government-held part of the Salaheddine neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Syrian State TV, via AP, File) In this Tuesday, July. 26, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrian citizens inspect damaged buildings after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) In this Friday, July. 29, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrian citizens inspect damaged buildings after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) In this Sunday, July. 31, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrians help an injured man, center, after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) In this Wednesday, July. 27, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrian citizens inspect damaged buildings after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) This Tuesday, July. 26, 2016 photo, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrian stand as they watch a bulldozer removes rubble from damaged buildings after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria. Residents trapped in rebel-controlled Aleppo are struggling to survive the crippling encirclement of their once thriving city. Bread, medication and fuel are running short. For the tens of thousands who chose to remain, the battle for Aleppo is a pivot point in the Syrian war. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) This photo provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrian citizens inspecting damaged shops after airstrikes hit a market in Atareb, west of the divided city of Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Aug 2, 2016. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory said at least 11 people, including five children were killed when bombs were dropped in a market in Atareb. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) Jury awards $2.2M to family of man killed by LAPD officer LOS ANGELES (AP) A jury has awarded $2.2 million to the family of a man who was shot and killed by a Los Angeles police officer a shooting the police chief deemed justified and the district attorney declined to prosecute. Christian Eaddy's cousin called police in 2013 to say the 26-year-old had stabbed himself and was wielding two knives. Police say Eaddy was shot once when he advanced toward them with the blades. The Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/2axsopY ) says the family lawsuit claimed Eaddy was shot after he had turned away from officers. City News Service says a jury awarded the family $2.2 million on Tuesday but found the city liable for only $1.4 million. The panel concluded Eaddy was partly responsible for the incident. ___ The Latest: Officer goes before judge on terrorism charge ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) The Latest on a police officer who the FBI says was caught in a sting with attempting to support the Islamic State group (all times local): 2:15 p.m. A Washington, D.C.-area transit police officer charged with attempting to support the Islamic State group has made his initial appearance in court. In this photo taken Nov. 16, 2015, passengers ride a Washington Metro subway train at the Chinatown Metro Station in Washington. Authorities say a Washington, D.C.-area transit police officer has been charged in an FBI sting with attempting to support the Islamic State group. Court documents say 36-year-old Nicholas Young of Fairfax was arrested Wednesday morning. According to an affidavit, Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile apps that would facilitate communication. But Young actually gave the gift cards to an undercover FBI source. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Thirty-six-year-old Nicholas Young of Fairfax appeared Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. A magistrate appointed a public defender to represent Young after he requested a court-appointed attorney. The FBI says Young is the first law enforcement officer in the U.S. to be charged under the federal government's terrorism law. Young was wearing a T-shirt and what appeared to be his uniform slacks. Authorities say he was arrested earlier in the day at the Metro Transit Police headquarters in Washington. He said little else during the court hearing, which lasted less than 5 minutes. Prosecutor John Gibbs said Young could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the terrorism charge. Court documents say Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile messaging apps. ___ 10:40 a.m. Authorities say a Washington, D.C.-area transit police officer has been charged in an FBI sting with attempting to support the Islamic State group. The FBI says he is the first law enforcement officer in the U.S. to be charged with a terror-related crime. Court documents say 36-year-old Nicholas Young of Fairfax was arrested Wednesday morning. According to an affidavit, Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile apps that would facilitate communication. But Young actually gave the gift cards to an undercover FBI source. Documents show Young has been under surveillance since 2010, and that he traveled to Libya twice in 2011, where he said he joined rebel forces seeking to oust dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Officials say Young did not pose any threat to the Metro system. Law enforcement officers are seen outside the home of Nicholas Young, a Washington Metro Transit Officer, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Fairfax, Va., Young was arrested at Metro's headquarters in Washington and charged with a single count of attempting to provided material support to a terrorist group. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) A law enforcement officer is seen using a cell phone at the home of Nicholas Young, a Washington, Metro Transit Officer, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Fairfax, Va., Young was arrested at Metro's headquarters in Washington and charged with a single count of attempting to provided material support to a terrorist group. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Law enforcement officers work outside the home of Nicholas Young, a Washington Metro Transit Officer, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Fairfax, Va., Young was arrested at Metro's headquarters in Washington, and charged with a single count of attempting to provided material support to a terrorist group. According to an FBI affidavit, Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards last month that he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile apps that would facilitate communications. But Young actually gave the cards to an undercover FBI source. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Fly me to the moon: Feds OK private firm's lunar flight plan WASHINGTON (AP) The federal government for the first time has given permission to a private Florida company to fly a spaceship beyond Earth's orbit and land on the moon. The Federal Aviation Administration gave clearance Wednesday to Moon Express to land a washing machine-sized vehicle on the moon that would take hops across the lunar surface using engine firings instead of roving on wheels. "Why crawl when you can fly," said Moon Express CEO Bob Richards. He called the company's planned lunar ship a "single-stage hot rod of space." This image provided by Moon Express on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2015 shows an illustration of the company's landing vehicle on the surface of Earth's moon. On Wednesday, the U.S. government gave permission to the private Florida company to fly a spaceship beyond Earth's orbit and land on the moon. The washing machine-sized vehicle would take hops across the lunar surface. (Moon Express via AP) The Cape Canaveral-based Moon Express plans to launch late next year, probably out of New Zealand, on a rocket that has yet to fly, Richards said. The $10 million flight is the first of many planned missions where they hope to make money extracting lunar resources, like platinum, and selling moon dust and rock collectibles, he said. Getting the OK not technically a license but a determination that it would do no harm and the company can go ahead "is a milestone and it is not implausible that they will succeed," said retired space policy expert John Logsdon of George Washington University. The company, is also competing with several other groups for the Google Lunar X Prize . The $20 million prize will go to the first private firm to get a lander to the moon that can then move a bit. But Richards said that's not the main way the firm hopes to make money. Richards said the first flight has five customers, including a company that is selling the opportunity to take people's ashes to the moon. His parents' ashes will be on the flight. He said they used to sing the song "Fly Me To The Moon" to him "and I'm going to." The company uses a Diana Krall recording of the song for its telephone hold music. However, Richards said his firm hasn't finished building the lander and hopes to unveil a new design in September, which he said is "about the size of R2-D2" from Star Wars and will be propelled by environmentally friendly hydrogen peroxide. The plan is to fly on a rocket built by Rocket Lab , which has yet to launch a ship. If that doesn't work the FAA approval is done in a way that they could just hire another firm, like SpaceX, Richards said. The governments of U.S., China and the former Soviet Union have landed rovers on Mars, with the Chinese Jade Rabbit rover just retiring. No human has stepped on the moon since 1972. ___ Online: Moon Express: http://www.moonexpress.com/ ___ Screams, smoke and a rush to safety in Dubai crash-landing DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) All seemed normal to the 300 people aboard the Emirates airliner as it flew past the world's tallest building in hazy skies and made a slow left turn over the waters of the Persian Gulf. But as soon as the plane touched down at Dubai International Airport, everyone knew something had gone wrong. "It was a big noise," said Shadi Kochuktty, a passenger from India. "We hadn't heard any announcement but it was a big noise." From that terrifying moment on, all those on board the Boeing 777 faced the nightmare all white-knuckle fliers fear: Smoke filling the cabin. People screaming. And the rush to escape. A family that were passengers onboard an Emirates jetliner that crash landed are helped to a taxi in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. n Emirates flight from India with 300 people on board crash landed at Dubai's main airport Wednesday, sending black smoke billowing into the air and halting all traffic at the Middle East's busiest airport. There were no fatalities and all the passengers were safely evacuated before the plane was engulfed in a fireball.(AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) The three-and-a-half-hour, nearly 3,000-kilometer (1,860-mile) flight itself began normally. It left from the Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala state, where many of the United Arab Emirates' construction workers, taxi drivers and laborers come from in search of a better life. Flight EK521 took off at 10:19 a.m. and was scheduled to land at 12:50 p.m. local time, according to Emirates. The aircraft flew over the Arabian Sea and later Oman on a northwesterly course heading toward Dubai. By the time it reached the skies over its destination, the scorching mid-day sun had raised temperatures to a humid 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). That's about average for this time of year. Winds of 39 kilometers an hour (24 mph) blew toward the northwest at the airfield, according to the UAE's National Center for Meteorology and Seismology. As the aircraft made its descent, there were reports of wind shear at the airport, though it was unclear if it had any effect on what happened, Emirates CEO and chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said. Wind shear is a sudden downdraft encountered by aircraft that can be dangerous, especially for planes near the ground. The control tower at the airport remained in contact with the flight as it slowed and descended toward Runway One-Two-Right, according to air traffic recordings made by aviation website LiveATC.net. The scratchy recording includes someone calling out the flight's number and saying "returning to 4,000," suggesting the pilot attempted to abort the landing and regain altitude. But at that point, passengers inside the flight had no idea something was about to go wrong until the loud noise rang through the cabin as the plane hit the ground. The plane skidded across the airport runway, turning slightly as part of the wing tore away. Smoke started coming through the cabin. "All the people were shouting, all the children, all the women," said Arun Krishna, a passenger from India. Flight attendants jumped out of their seats as the plane screeched to a stop, opening emergency doors on the craft and inflating the emergency slides. Asked what the flight attendants said then, Kochuktty offered one word: "Escape!" As horrified passengers on other planes watched, people slid down the slide and began walking to safety. Some clutched bags and suitcases, though many left behind passports and money. Some passengers, barefoot, burned their soles on the hot runway. In the control tower, a female controller ordered firefighters to respond immediately: "Do not wait to proceed! ... All fire vehicles, all fire vehicles proceed to the aircraft." Trucks quickly surrounded the burning aircraft, spraying foam on it to try to contain the flames. An explosion struck one side and in the chaos, one firefighter was killed, Sheikh Ahmed, the Emirates CEO, said. The fire burned away the top of the airplane's fuselage, singeing the Emirates name in gold. The tower controller asked: "Do we want to shut down?" Minutes later, the crash-landing had closed the world's third-busiest airport, diverting flights for long-haul carrier Emirates and others across the UAE and into other countries. Passengers and crew from EK521 made it inside a nearby terminal, with at least 10 requiring hospital care. By 4 p.m., some passengers onboard the flight began leaving, vouchers in their hands for hotels as they entered waiting taxis. Several said they needed assistance from the Indian Consulate as they had lost all their travel documents, but they remained grateful to be alive. "See, our belongings are gone that's no problem. Our family is safe," Kochuktty said. "We have saved our life. Lord had mercy on us." ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/jon-gambrell. Woman pleads guilty to robbery, says prison is like home CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) A longtime inmate who was recently released from prison pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to robbing a bank in Wyoming and asked a judge to impose the maximum sentence, saying going back to prison would be like going home. Just a week after the robbery, Linda P. Thompson, 59, waived her right to a grand jury proceeding and entered the plea to a bank robbery charge. Thompson said she had already spent about 18 years in prison for various crimes. This undated booking photo provided by the Cheyenne Police Department shows Linda Thompson. Thompson has pleaded guilty in federal court after authorities said she robbed a bank in Wyoming so she could return to prison. Thompson entered the plea to a bank robbery charge Wednesday, Aug. 3, in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne. (Cheyenne Police Department via AP) "Prison is home to me so I'm just going back home," she said. She added later, "I'd like as much time as possible." Thompson pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain that did not contain a recommended sentence. A bank robbery conviction generally carries a maximum 20 years in prison, though the term can be lengthened when previous convictions are considered. Thompson's attorney, David Weiss, said outside court that it's unusual to represent a defendant who wants to go back to prison and "exceptional" to have one who wants so much prison time. He described Thompson as competent and intelligent and an advocate for transgender prison inmates. She was featured a decade ago in a documentary film titled "Cruel and Unusual" that examined the lives of transgender prisoners. Thompson was arrested July 27 after a US Bank branch in Cheyenne was robbed by a woman who tossed the money into the air outside and offered some to passers-by. She then sat down and waited for police to arrive. Thompson told U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal that she was released June 21 from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon, where she said she had served six years after a robbery conviction. Thompson said she protested her release from the prison but her request to stay was denied. She said she "hopped" a freight train headed for Wyoming, where her plan to stay ended when she was assaulted in a park on July 24 and decided she was better off in prison. "The easiest way to get there is rob a bank," Thompson said. Thompson was polite while speaking to the judge, and joked with her attorney. She interrupted the hearing once to ask permission to sit down because of back pain. Freudenthal set sentencing for Oct. 12 after a pre-sentence investigation is completed. Foundation: Obama's library sites reflect 'one community' CHICAGO (AP) The two parks Barack Obama considered for his presidential library are only a mile apart in Chicago. But the decision to build the museum in a lakeside park rather than in a nearby impoverished neighborhood has left some residents worried that the choice was a missed opportunity in the city's South Side. The Obama Foundation held a ceremony Wednesday to unveil details of the president's choice of Jackson Park instead of Washington Park. Foundation chairman Marty Nesbitt downplayed selection of one park over the other, saying the two parks are "one community." FILE - This May 12, 2015 file photo shows Jackson Park in Chicago. The decision to build Barack Obama's presidential library at the lakefront park rather than a nearby impoverished neighborhood has left some residents worried the museum will deliver less of a boost to the South Side. Some say Washington Park, a mile to the west, has greater needs because of poverty and population decline, and the location decision is a missed opportunity to spur development there. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File) But for the city's residents, there are key differences between the two historic parks, which are both near the University of Chicago. Here is a look at each site, and the pros and cons involved in the decision: ___ PARK WITH A VIEW Jackson Park is along Chicago's picturesque Lake Michigan shoreline and is rich in history. It was home to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and the tranquil lagoons and other features designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted for the event remain. The park also is home to the fair's former Palace of Fine Arts Building, which now houses the Museum of Science and Industry. The Obama Foundation seemed to conclude that more visitors would be drawn to Jackson Park. The organization said building the library there would have "the greatest long-term impact on the combined communities." "With its aesthetics, iconic location, historical relevance from the World's Fair, we believe Jackson Park will attract visitors on a national and global level that will bring significant long-term benefits to the South Side," Nesbitt said in announcing the choice Friday. The park abuts the Woodlawn neighborhood, an area of need but one where decades of revitalization efforts have already left a mark. ___ NO OLYMPICS, NO LIBRARY A mile to the west is Washington Park, also designed by Olmsted, who originally conceived of the two expanses as one park. They are connected by a strip of green known as the Midway Plaisance. Washington Park would have been at the center of the world this week if Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics had succeeded. The loss of the presidential center and library is another blow to the neighborhood's quest for a revival. Now, the only major development prospects seem to come from the nearby University of Chicago, where Obama once taught constitutional law. The university has bought up land and opened an arts incubator, restaurant and bookstore with artist Theaster Gates. But a lot of ground remains vacant and there are few jobs, grocery stores, shops and quality housing. The surrounding neighborhood is associated with poverty, population decline and empty lots. It's also closer to the belt of neighborhoods that are home to most of Chicago's gang violence. But Washington Park, too, is steeped in historical significance. It hosts the DuSable Museum of African American History. The surrounding community became home to many blacks who moved to Chicago during the Great Migration, when waves of black Southerners moved north in the early and mid-20th century to escape from segregation and racism. ___ ROOM TO GROW Obama, who started out as a community organizer on Chicago's far South Side, said in a written statement Friday that the library will spur development. Obama said he and first lady Michelle Obama "can't wait to forge new ways to give back to the people of Chicago who have given us so much." But some urban policy planners feel those ambitions would have had more room to grow in Washington Park, where the prevalence of vacant lots offer ready-made space for spinoff development ranging from souvenir stands to restaurants to hotels. "I'm just so unhappy," said Jacky Grimshaw, vice president for policy at the Center for Neighborhood Technology, an urban development and economic advocacy organization. Grimshaw, a longtime resident of the area who grew up playing in Washington Park, said building the library there could have reversed population decline and created more economic opportunity. "Here is a grand opportunity that is being missed," she said. ___ THE GENTRIFICATION EFFECT Some Washington Park community leaders are quietly pleased the library will be close but not too close. The area was once home to one of the highest concentrations of public housing in the country before those high-rise projects were torn down about a decade ago. Their residents were able to remain in the neighborhood thanks to federal housing benefits for low-income people. Activists were concerned the library might have driven a rapid gentrification that would have raised housing costs and forced longtime residents out. FILE - This Sept. 20, 2006 file aerial photo shows Chicago's Washington Park. The decision to build Barack Obama's presidential library in Chicago's lakefront Jackson Park rather than a nearby impoverished neighborhood has left some residents worried the museum will deliver less of a boost to the South Side. Some say Washington Park, a mile to the west, has greater needs because of poverty and population decline, and the location decision is a missed opportunity to spur development there. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune via AP) Mayor Rahm Emanuel, left, is accompanied by Robert J. Zimmer, president of University of Chicago at a news conference Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Chicago. The Obama Foundation officially announced Jackson Park on the city's South Side as the site of the Obama Presidential Center. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim) Marty Nesbitt, right, chair of the Obama Foundation talks during a news conference Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Chicago. The Obama Foundation officially announced Jackson Park on the city's South Side as the site of the Obama Presidential Center. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim) Mayor Rahm Emanuel, left, and Marty Nesbitt, chair of the Obama Foundation talk before a news conference Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Chicago. The Obama Foundation officially announced Jackson Park on the city's South Side as the site of the Obama Presidential Center. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim) NPR's On the Media have released a new installment in their indispensable Breaking News Consumer's Handbook (previously), this one about migration legal and illegal and it's a doozy. This multipart audio (MP3) has lots going for it, but I was struck by their interview with Princeton sociology professor Doug Massey, whose eye-opening facts included: * "Illegal migration ended eight years ago and has been zero or negative since 2008, because migration is a young person's game. If you don't migrate between the ages of 15 and 30, you don't migrate at all, and the average age in Mexico is now 28 years old." * "Immigrants, in general, and immigrant neighborhoods, in particular, have very low rates of crime, much lower than native-born people. The US counties along the Mexico-US border are among the safest and most crime-free counties in the United States." * "There is no evidence that there's ever been a terrorist cell or any terrorist that's ever tried to cross into the United States from Mexico." * "Immigrants, in general, are very uninvolved in the welfare system. In fact, legal immigrants are banned for five years from receiving these federally-subsidized services. Undocumented migrants are banned from Obamacare, of course, the Affordable Care Act." * "The immigration detention system is now the fastest-growing portion of the American criminal justice complex." * "What we did, starting in the mid-1980s was to ramp up border enforcement and really militarize the border between Mexico and the United States. And this drove up the costs and the risks of border crossing to a point where people decided they weren't going to cross the border anymore, and they did this by staying put in the United States, once they'd made it in, rather than circulating back and forth as they had been." * "In the 1990s, we were spending 3 to 4 billion dollars a year and we doubled the net rate of undocumented population growth." BROOKE GLADSTONE: Let me ask you about the coverage of immigration issues. If you were advising news consumers on red flags in coverage that people should be very wary of? PROF. DOUG MASSEY: The first thing to look for is somebody trying to scare you. The second is who are they citing, where are they getting their information, if at all? Media coverage tends to present this side and that side, and they present them as equivalent. Look at the organizations that are producing the information. Organizations that have a self-interested stake in portraying immigration as bad, I don't think can be trusted. The Center for Immigration Studies, Numbers America (NumbersUSA), they're validly anti-immigrant. They take census data but then they twist it in ways that are really misleading. BROOKE GLADSTONE: Mm-hmm. And what's an organization that does good work? PROF. DOUG MASSEY: The Pew Research Center in Washington, DC. Pew Research Center is nonpartisan. It employs highly-qualified demographers and social scientists to analyze the data, to provide a factual basis for understanding important public policy issues. And another obvious source is the US National Academy of Sciences. Breaking News Consumer's Handbook: Migration Edition (At Home) [On The Media] Pence breaks position with Trump to endorse Paul Ryan WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump's running mate Mike Pence endorsed House Speaker Paul Ryan in his primary fight Wednesday, in Pence's latest break in position from the billionaire businessman. Pence said in a phone interview with Fox News Channel that Trump supported his decision to back Ryan as they work to unite the Republican Party. Trump, Pence said, "strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday's primary and I'm pleased to do it." Republican vice presidential candidate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks at a campaign rally, in Denver, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Trump openly taunted the leaders of his own party Tuesday by refusing to endorse Ryan and former Republican presidential nominee John McCain of Arizona in their GOP primaries. Trump said he's "just not quite there yet" when it comes to backing Ryan, who has at times been critical of Trump's most controversial comments. Ryan's underdog primary challenger Paul Nehlen said Tuesday that Ryan has betrayed Trump in "an act of sabotage against our party." So far, McCain, Ryan and other Republicans who've reluctantly declared that they plan to back Trump for president appear to be sticking with him. McCain told reporters in Arizona on Wednesday: "I have said that I will support the nominee of the party ... . If I change my view or my position then you will be among the first to know, OK." Trump's slap at two of the nation's most prominent Republicans escalated GOP turmoil barely a week after a convention intended to promote party unity. This is not the first time Pence has broken protocol and expressed an opinion different from that of his running mate. Last week, he issued a statement condemning Russia for any alleged tampering in the U.S. presidential race, after Trump said in a press conference that Russia should locate Democrat Hillary Clinton's missing emails a comment Trump later said was meant to be sarcastic. Forget Trump: In Ryan's district, voters give him thumbs up JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) Donald Trump may be unwilling to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan, but voters in his southeast Wisconsin district are eager to embrace their congressman. "I like everything about him," Marilyn Barlass, a 73-year-old Ryan supporter from his hometown of Janesville, said Wednesday. "I think he's very sensible, very down to earth, and tells it like it is. He's an all-around nice guy." Joan Haney and her husband, Jim, said they also plan to vote for Ryan in Tuesday's Republican primary. "It would be hard to think that he wouldn't win," said Joan Haney, 73. "I can't imagine." FILE - In this July 18, 2016, file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., speaks during a breakfast with Pennsylvania delegates during the Republican National Convention in Westlake, Ohio. Ryan and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz are about to test voters anti-establishment mood, first hand. Fifteen states from Florida to Arizona still have House primaries in an election year thats seen both parties supporters seethe against Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) Ryan's once sleepy race against little-known and underfunded challenger Paul Nehlen, an executive at a water filtration company, got a jolt when Trump refused to back Ryan. "I'm just not there yet," Trump said in an interview with The Washington Post on Tuesday. The remark echoed Ryan's own demurral regarding Trump, when the congressman told CNN on May 6, "I'm not there right now." He eventually offered a tepid endorsement and urged the GOP to unite behind the nominee. Trump's smackdown came just days after Ryan defended the Muslim American parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq, pushing back on the presidential candidate's attacks on the couple. Trump's rebuke of Ryan put him at odds with vice presidential candidate Mike Pence, who told the Fox News Channel on Wednesday that he had a long friendship with Ryan and was pleased to endorse him. More important for Ryan is his standing in his district, where he was first elected in 1998 and remains popular. Ryan has won the backing of every local Republican lawmaker, four GOP sheriffs, Wisconsin Right to Life and the National Rifle Association. Ryan enjoys approval ratings among Republicans in the mid-80s, numbers that Trump has never been close to in Wisconsin. Trump lost Ryan's congressional district in Wisconsin's April primary, on his way to a 13-percentage point defeat statewide. Ryan, who sleeps in his office when in Washington, has made a point of returning to Janesville as often as possible to be with his wife and three children. His initial reluctance to accept the speakership last October was based on his concern that fundraising and other responsibilities would keep him away from Wisconsin. "He's the hometown boy," said Linda Grotzke, 68, a Ryan supporter from Janesville. "I like everything he's done. He's very family oriented." Grotzke said she had no opinion of Nehlen, but felt like "everything he says is negative." Ryan has been trying to campaign without engaging with Nehlen. He is hoping to avoid a surprise defeat like the one House Majority Leader Eric Cantor suffered in 2014, when the Virginia Republican lost a primary to little-known tea party challenger Dave Brat. Cantor was widely criticized for ignoring his district. That's not the case with Ryan. "I'm really not that concerned about this simply from the fact I think the people here in the 1st District know who I am, what I do, and how and why I fight for them," Ryan said in a June interview. "I don't really stress this stuff too much. I've had primary opponents before." Ryan has outraised Nehlen 17-to-1 and has been tapping that nearly $15 million to blanket the airwaves with campaign ads that focus on national security and don't even mention his opponent. Tuesday's primary is open, which means Democrats can cross over to vote in the race. But if they do that, they could not vote in any other Democratic primary. Still, Mike Mayfield, 56, of Beloit said he was thinking about doing that in hopes of defeating Ryan. "I just don't think he's got the country's best interests at heart," Mayfield said. "He's got his own interests at heart." Nehlen, an Ohio native who moved to Wisconsin eight years ago, said Wednesday he welcomed the support of Democrats and anyone else. "Speaker Ryan's repeated betrayal of Donald Trump is an act of sabotage against our party and an act of sabotage against our Republican electorate who selected Mr. Trump as our nominee," Nehlen said at a hastily called news conference just down the hill from where Ryan lives. "Speaker Ryan's actions once again indicate that has never cared about his constituents that he's been elected to represent." Nehlen has the support of Sarah Palin, the 2008 vice presidential candidate, and former Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo. He first made a splash with a web video of him riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, showing his tattooed arms. He challenged Ryan to an arm-wrestling match if he wouldn't debate him. No debates, or arm-wrestling matches, have been scheduled before the primary. ___ Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sbauerAP and find more of his work at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/scott-bauer Mexican national pleads guilty to importing drugs to the US NEW YORK (AP) A Mexican man has pleaded guilty in New York City for his role in an international drug smuggling operation. Salvador Jimenez Uribe entered his plea Wednesday in a federal courthouse in Brooklyn. Prosecutors say that the 50-year-old Uribe imported and sold hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and thousands of kilograms of marijuana from Mexico to the U.S. They say the Guadalajara, Mexico, resident also laundered millions of dollars from the sales. Defense attorney Samuel Gregory called Uribe polite and respectful. He says his client accepted the charges against him and decided to plead guilty rather than face a jury. Arson report: Man told woman to leave, 'dog was there first' FERNWOOD, Miss. (AP) An argument about a dog apparently prompted a Mississippi woman to set fire to her boyfriend's clothes, starting a blaze that destroyed his house, authorities said. Lawanzie Devall, 47, of Columbia remained in jail Wednesday, with bond set at $5,000 on an arson charge, Pike County Sheriff's Department Chief Investigator Greg Martin said. Homeowner Robert Johns told investigators Devall woke him Monday "cursing him out about his dog," Martin said in a news release. "Johns said he told her that his dog was there first and she could leave," Martin continued. He wrote that Johns told investigators Devall started packing her clothes, telling him, as she left, that she would "take care of" him. "Johns said the next thing he noticed was the house was on fire," Martin wrote. Johns escaped without injury, The Enterprise Journal (http://bit.ly/2agaQzR) reported. The fire was reported at 2:15 p.m. Monday in the community of Fernwood. Pike County Civil Defense Director Richard Coghlan said he responded to the call with the Fernwood Volunteer Fire Department. "It was fully engulfed. It was a total loss," he said. "They went around 3:30 and were there until 7." Security Council fails to agree on support for Yemen envoy UNITED NATIONS (AP) The Security Council failed to agree Wednesday on a statement supporting the U.N. special envoy to Yemen who is trying to get Shiite rebels to back a peace deal and end the 17-month civil war in the Arab world's poorest country. Yemen's internationally recognized government has approved the U.N.-proposed deal but Houthi rebels have so far rejected it. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters "the council was almost ready to make a joint pronouncement in support of the political process" when a delegation made an unacceptable demand. Diplomats said Britain and other council members wanted a statement to criticize the Houthis for announcing a formal alliance with the country's ousted president and his former ruling party by setting up a new political council to rule the country, a step U.N. envoy Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed described as jeopardizing peace efforts. Britain's deputy ambassador Peter Wilson, clearly referring to Russia, said one country wasn't supporting its own national position. Diplomats pointed to a statement issued by ambassadors in Yemen, including the Russian envoy, which noted "with concern" the July 28 announcement by the Houthis on the political council. The diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because the council meeting was closed, said Cheikh Ahmed wanted the council to express concern about the Houthis' action, urge all parties to abide by a cessation of hostilities that has been repeatedly broken, and call for flexibility in the peace talks but Russia wouldn't accept any criticism of the Houthis. U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said the need for a peace agreement "is acute" and warned that if the U.N.-sponsored talks in Kuwait fail "the risks would be grave." The Houthis and forces allied to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh seized the capital Sanaa in September 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee the country. A Saudi-led coalition has conducted an extensive air campaign against the Houthis since March 2015, pushing them out of southern Yemen, but failing so far to dislodge them from the capital Sanaa and the rest of the north. Meanwhile, extremist groups including the Islamic State and Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula have exploited the turmoil and expanded in the south. Power said the crisis has resulted in thousands of casualties and more than 21 million Yemenis need humanitarian assistance. Russia's Churkin described Yemen as "a forgotten war," overshadowed by other conflicts in the region but causing comparable suffering and enormous humanitarian costs. Churkin said Russia and others were under a misunderstanding that the proposed deal only dealt with military issues, and a political agreement was missing. The deal being negotiated would force the Houthis to hand over their weapons and withdraw from the cities within 45 days of signing the agreement. But Churkin said Cheikh Ahmed reassured the council in Wednesday's closed briefing "that his idea is to work towards a comprehensive settlement, and that so far he has not made the political part of the package public." "So now I come away a little bit reassured that we continue to be on track towards a political settlement," Churkin said. U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Cheikh Ahmed plans to hold intensive talks in the coming days to try to get the Houthis to support the peace deal. Penthouse targets Utah for declaring porn a health crisis SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah's declaration of pornography as a public health crisis has created a backlash from sexually explicit publications, earning Republican Gov. Gary Herbert a mention on the latest cover of Penthouse magazine, which also sent copies of the issue to him and leaders in the Utah-based Mormon church. The cover of the magazine's issue for July and August features an image of a model against an American flag along with a sardonic headline teasing the cover story about Utah's pornography resolution, passed earlier this year. The magazine's editor, Raphie Aronowitz, admits the move was aimed to agitate. FILE--In this April 19, 2016, file photo, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and supporters applaud during a ceremonial signing of a state resolution declaring pornography a public health crisis in Salt Lake City, Utah. Utah's declaration of pornography as a public health crisis has created a backlash from sexually explicit publications, earning Herbert a mention on the latest cover of Penthouse magazine, which also sent copies of the issue to him and leaders in the Utah-based Mormon church. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, file) "We wanted to show these guys that them imposing their views on us and bringing their values to our doorstep is just as irritating as us doing the same do them," Aronowitz said. Jon Cox, a spokesman for Herbert, said the fact that the industry feels threatened by a resolution "meant to raise awareness of this problem shows you just how desperate they must be." "If a magazine like Penthouse is taking you to task, that's always a good sign that you're on the right side of history," Cox said in a statement. The governor's office said the copy was thrown away and Herbert did not read the article. Utah's symbolic resolution passed earlier this year doesn't ban or regulate anything, but it's stirred some national discussion about pornography. Utah's stance was even incorporated into the official platform of the Republican Party during the national GOP convention in Cleveland last month. Defenders of pornography contend that critics are pushing hyperbole and that sexually-explicit materials can be a safe outlet for some. Aronowitz and Kelly Holland, CEO of Penthouse Global Media Inc., said they disagree with the notion that pornography is a public health problem and felt that Utah's government is enshrining values from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of several religious groups that's highlighted what they consider harms of pornography. "This idea that you could cast masturbation as abhorrent behavior, which is really a lot of what we're talking about in terms of the Mormon church and the LDS, is so unhealthy," Holland said. The LDS Church, a faith to which a majority of Utah residents and lawmakers belong, launched a website in 2013 devoted to helping its members overcome pornography addiction. Last year, the religion made a video to give children tips to avoid pornography. A message left with the public affairs office of the LDS Church was not returned. Utah Republican Sen. Todd Weiler, a Mormon who sponsored Utah's resolution, said he did not consult with or coordinate with the church on the resolution, but he did work with the Washington-based National Center on Sexual Exploitation and members of other faith groups. "It's obviously not just Mormons that find pornography to be a negative influence in our society," he said. Weiler thinks it's offensive and crosses a line to send the magazine to the faith and said the sexually-explicit magazines appear to feel threatened by his resolution. The move follows a similar one by Larry Flynt, who sent copies of his Hustler magazine to all members of Utah's Legislature in June. "If you don't want to pursue pornography, you shouldn't have to," Flynt said. "But you shouldn't be able to dictate adult reading habits are for other people." Flynt said he felt the statement made in Utah's resolution was so far-fetched that he wanted to respond by "enlightening" legislators in Utah. "They're so sexually repressed out there," Flynt said. "They need to get a life." FILE - In this April 19, 2016, file photo, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert looks up during a ceremonial signing of a state resolution declaring pornography a public health crisis in Salt Lake City, Utah. Utah's declaration of pornography as a public health crisis has created a backlash from sexually explicit publications, earning Herbert a mention on the latest cover of Penthouse magazine, which also sent copies of the issue to him and leaders in the Utah-based Mormon church. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, file) GOP governor's allies suffer in backlash in Kansas primary TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback assured the public that the income tax cuts he championed would stimulate the Kansas economy, supply plenty of money for schools and give other states a "pro-growth" policy model to follow. But voters, including many Republicans, appear to have rejected that idea in the face of budget woes and court battles over education funding. On Tuesday, they ousted 11 of the conservative governor's allies in favor of more centrist candidates. The GOP incumbents who lost in the primary included the Senate's majority leader. Another three conservative House members were trailing Wednesday in still-undecided races. Dr. Roger Marshall's campaign team including Bill Wozniak, right, erupt in celebration as they find out he won McPherson County during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Great Bend, Kan. The doctor backed by agriculture and business groups has defeated U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary to represent a district spanning much of central and western Kansas. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) "It's a mandate when you see the incumbents that supported the policies that have us in the position that we're in today," said John Skubal, a city council member in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, who defeated a conservative state senator. "The people are saying they don't work." Kansas has struggled to balance its budget since the GOP-dominated Legislature slashed personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback's urging. That created concerns among educators about future spending on schools, even as many Republicans regarded the $4 billion-plus a year the state now spends as generous. Mark Zrubek, a Republican store manager in Hutchinson, said he voted against Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce because he wanted a change. "I don't like the way policies are going," Zrubek said after voting for the eventual winner, former Hutchinson Community College President Ed Berger. Some Republicans have admitted that Brownback's tax cuts failed to bring as much growth as expected. The governor contends that regional and national economic trends such as slumps in agriculture and energy production are offsetting the benefits of the tax cuts. Meanwhile, the Kansas Supreme Court could rule by the end of the year in an education funding lawsuit. The issue before the justices is whether legislators must spend hundreds of millions of dollars more annually to fulfill their duty under the state constitution to provide a suitable education to every child. Brownback's election as governor in 2010 pushed the state's politics hard to the right, and his allies ousted many of the Legislature's moderates in 2012. The governor won re-election in 2014 in a tough race clouded by the state's emerging post-tax-cut budget problems. Republicans have such large margins in both legislative chambers that they are likely to retain significant majorities after the November election. Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley said the governor looks forward to working with those majorities. As for the primary results, Hawley said in an emailed statement, "Kansas is not immune from the widespread anti-incumbency sentiment we have seen across the nation this election season." Mike O'Neal, president and CEO of the powerful Kansas Chamber of Commerce, said anti-incumbent feelings are trickling from the presidential race all the way down the ballot. Even GOP moderates, he said, regularly describe themselves as fiscal conservatives to appeal to unhappy voters. O'Neal also considers the state budget "dysfunctional" as the chamber argues for spending cuts to keep it balanced. He said running against the state's financial woes is "low-hanging fruit for a challenger who doesn't have a voting record." Any candidate who "didn't run on a platform of distancing themselves from an unpopular administration wasn't paying attention," he said. U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, a tea party favorite who lost his GOP primary race in the 1st Congressional District of western and central Kansas, acknowledged the "wave against conservatives." "You have the poor economy and the bad poll ratings of our current governor," Huelskamp said Wednesday. That would have dragged down "anybody else who was a conservative." In neighboring Oklahoma, another state run by GOP conservatives, anger over a budget crisis and cuts to public schools prompted dozens of political newcomers to run for office this year. Two House Republicans lost their seats in the June 28 primary. Only three GOP lawmakers had been ousted in primaries in the previous 16 years. Victories by Kansas Democrats in November, coupled with the wins of the GOP moderates on Tuesday, could allow the two groups to form governing coalitions to bedevil Brownback during the term-limited governor's final two years in office. Rita Fasnacht, a self-employed personal assistant in Hutchinson, voted for Berger in the local GOP primary because she saw him as an advocate for education. "Sometimes new voices can bring another perspective," she said. ___ Associated Press writers Roxana Hegeman in Wichita, Kansas, and Tim Talley, in Oklahoma City, contributed to this report. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apjdhanna . ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that Mike O'Neal considers the state budget "dysfunctional" as the Kansas Chamber of Commerce argues for spending cuts to keep it balanced, instead of as lawmakers argue for the cuts. Dr. Roger Marshall and his wife Laina answers question in a television interview during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Great Bend, Kan. The doctor backed by agriculture and business groups has defeated U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary to represent a district spanning much of central and western Kansas. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) Dr. Roger Marshall gets a hug from his wife Laina after finding out he won McPherson County during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, in Great Bend, Kan. The doctor backed by agriculture and business groups has defeated U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary to represent a district spanning much of central and western Kansas. (Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News via AP) U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp answers questions from the media following his primary election watch party held at the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center on Tuesday evening, Aug. 2, 2016, in Hutchinson, Kan. Media was not allowed into the closed door gathering, with Huelskamp addressing the media following the event. Pictured with Huelskamp are his sons Alex and Athan, right. Great Bend obstetrician Roger Marshall won the tough contest against Huelskamp in Tuesday's primary, making him the strong favorite to take the seat in November. (Lindsey Bauman/The Hutchinson News via AP) Olympic sailors may see dolphins in Rio's Guanabara Bay RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Olympic sailors competing in the Rio de Janeiro may navigate through fetid waters and possibly bump into floating trash. But if they are lucky enough, they might also sail past a few dozen dolphins that live in Guanabara Bay. Despite the untreated sewage and toxic industrial pollution that flows into bay waters, 34 Guiana dolphins live, breed and feed in the bay. Still, the dolphin population here is in rapid decline, down from 400 in the 1980s, according to marine biologists who track them. In this July 15, 2016 photo, a group of Guiana dolphins swim near fish farm pens in Guanabara Bay near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Olympic sailors competing in the Rio de Janeiro may navigate through fetid waters and possibly bump into floating trash. But if they are lucky enough, they might also sail past a few dozen dolphins that live in Guanabara Bay. Despite the untreated sewage and toxic industrial pollution that flows into bay waters, 34 Guiana dolphins live, breed and feed in the bay. (AP Photo/Renata Brito) Scientists warn that the grey mammals with bottle-neck shaped noses that adorn Rio de Janeiro's city logo could disappear from Guanabara Bay in a matter of years. "This is our backyard," said Rafael Ramos, a researcher with the Maqua institute at Rio de Janeiro state university that has monitored the dolphin population in Guanabara Bay since 1992. "It must be treated as a gem." While the rivers that flow into the bay are dark and thick with raw sewage and toxic chemicals, at the bottom end of the bay, the Guapimirim conservation area serves as a refuge for these dolphins. Yet researchers say the mammals transit in other parts of the bay as well, swimming around countless cargo ships, oil tankers, fishing boats and cruise liners. Unlike other species, the Guiana dolphins do not migrate or flee their habitat to look for a new home when threatened by human growth and development. Consequently ,many dolphins die early and frequently. Every year, several are found floating lifelessly in the bay and their corpses are taken in by Maqua researchers for study. While causes of death can vary, they all originate in the degradation and human exploration of the bay says Haydee Cunha, a biology professor at Rio's state university who studies the genetics of the Guiana dolphins at the Maqua Institute. "Unfortunately, if we don't do anything to change this scenario, in a few years, perhaps in a decade, the Guiana dolphins will disappear from Guanabara Bay," said Cunha. Armed officers to patrol streets of London as more police trained to use guns Britain's biggest police force is to put more armed officers on public patrol as part of anti-terrorism plans. Metropolitan Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the first of the force's additional 600 marksmen, put in place following terror attacks in mainland Europe, are trained and operationally ready. Officers armed with handguns and semi-automatic weapons, as well as Tasers, will go on routine patrol in the capital. The Metropolitan Police force is to put more armed officers on public patrol as part of anti-terrorism plans. Speaking in Hyde Park, Sir Bernard said: "People aren't fools - they know that in the event that there is a firearms attack, we are going to have to respond with firearms. "They pass through airports where we have armed officers, they pass through railway stations where they see firearms. "In some of our big iconic locations, we've already got armed patrols - if you look at Parliament, Downing Street - so it's not entirely new. "I think people understand that where you are going to have people as enemies who've got guns, we've got to have guns. "It's unusual, but it's an entirely rational and reasonable response to make sure that people are aware that we've got the guns, and if we have to use them we've got people well-equipped to do that." The plans were unveiled on Wednesday as Police Federation chairman Steve White warned that it could take at least two years to get the additional 1,500 firearms officers planned nationally in place. Some forces are also struggling to get the right quality of volunteers to go through the rigorous selection and training process. Mr White said: "Some forces are getting volunteers coming forward, but they are not always being selected because they don't meet the criteria. It is vitally important that standards are maintained. The best-case scenario is two years in terms of recruiting an extra 1,500 officers. "If there is an attack it is unlikely to be an isolated incident. We've got to have the resources around the country because it might happen in multiple places at the same time." The latest Home Office figures show there were 5,639 authorised firearms officers in forces across England and Wales as of March 31 2016 - down by eight compared with the previous year, when there were 5,647. It means the number has dwindled by more than 1,000 in the past five years. National lead for firearms Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman said in July that the majority of new marksmen will be in place by April 2017. In London, Scotland Yard's existing 2,200 marksmen are being boosted by 600, and the force intends to have "a significant uplift" in place by the end of the year. Plans to increase the number of armed police were put in place in the wake of attacks including the atrocity in Paris at the end of last year, when 130 people were killed. Sir Bernard said: "The reality of having to deal with armed and deadly attackers is that you need firearms officers who will use force to stop those attackers in their aim. Our firearms officers are the ones who will run towards the danger. They are our heroes. "Despite the fact they are carrying guns, they are still police officers, and I want the public to approach and talk to them - they are out on our streets to reassure and help the public. "Equally important in how we protect our capital is the relationship that our mainly unarmed officers have built with communities over many years. Our communities are a vital source of information and if you have fears or concerns then we want to know." The Scotland Yard boss wrote a newspaper article on Sunday in which he hailed neighbourhood policing as "our major weapon" in the fight against terrorism. But Mr White expressed concern over cuts to neighbourhood police teams. He said: "Chief constables are having to make very difficult decisions in terms of managing their budgets and managing the competing priorities that they have. "With counter-terrorism there is the top-sliced money and the extra money for firearms officers, but that is once we're having an attack. "Of course we need them, but we must make sure that we have the relationships built up between local communities and the police service, so that people can ring the police or speak to their bobby on the street and have the confidence to raise things with them. "If you don't have police officers having that daily contact in these communities you're never going to build these relationships. "Over the last few years in some force areas they have had to take resources out of neighbourhood policing just to keep the wheels on in terms of reacting to incidents. "You can't fix this overnight. The resources that have been taken out over the last couple of years is stark." Experts have said that police in France, which has been hit by a spate of terrorist atrocities, have struggled to contain the threat, partly because of their lack of community relationships. In London, neighbourhood coverage has been boosted, and on Wednesday mayor Sadiq Khan said each ward will get an additional dedicated constable. Sir Bernard said: "We need good relationships with the public, we need them to tell us when they're worried about individuals. One of the ways we get that information is you know your local neighbourhood officer. "We've all faced budgetary cuts and we've all faced some hard decisions. Every force has to make its own decisions, but we've made ours clear." As well as the armed response teams on public patrol, Scotland Yard has specialist counter-terrorism firearms squads who are on call 24 hours a day. They are trained to operate on water and to abseil, and some teams operate on motorbikes. Metropolitan Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the first of the force's additional 600 marksmen are trained and operationally ready Officers armed with handguns and semi-automatic weapons, as well as Tasers, will go on routine patrol in the capital. The plans were unveiled as Police Federation chairman Steve White warned that it could take at least two years to get the additional 1,500 firearms officers planned nationally in place. The latest Home Office figures show there were 5,639 authorised firearms officers in forces across England and Wales as of March 31 2016 - down by eight compared with the previous year, when there were 5,647. Armed police prepare to deploy from Hyde Park, central London, as Scotland Yard announced that the first of 600 additional armed officers were trained and operationally ready, and unveiled plans to put more marksmen on public patrol. In London, Scotland Yard's existing 2,200 marksmen are being boosted by 600, and the force intends to have "a significant uplift" in place by the end of the year. Father of 'caged' UK woman in Saudi Arabia must help her return, judge rules A Saudi academic must facilitate the return of his 21-year-old daughter to the UK, a British High Court judge has ruled. Amina Al-Jeffery - who grew up in Swansea and has dual British and Saudi Arabian nationality - says her father, Saudi Arabian academic Mohammed Al-Jeffery, locks her up because she ''kissed a guy''. Lawyers representing Miss Al-Jeffery have taken legal action and asked Mr Justice Holman to look at ways of helping her. Amina Al-Jeffery says she is being held against her will in Saudi Arabia The judge, who analysed the arguments at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London in July, has begun to deliver a ruling. Mr Justice Holman was told that Miss Al-Jeffery left Swansea and moved to Saudi Arabia with her family four years ago. Mr Justice Holman said he had concluded that Miss Al-Jeffery's freedom of movement had been severely constrained. He said she could be described as "caged" - although not literally "in a cage". The judge said Mr Al-Jeffery should give his daughter her Saudi and British passports and pay her fare. He added: "Current circumstances are such that this British citizen does require protection. She is currently in peril from which she requires to be rescued." The judge said he had decided that he should take steps to protect Miss Al-Jeffery from London. North Korea simultaneously launched two medium-range ballistic missiles this morning, and one landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone, in the Sea of Japan. This is an area that is protected by special rights given to Japan by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The other missile exploded right after launch. Although North Korea has launched more than 30 missile tests since 2011, when Kim Jong Un came into power, today's launch was one of the farthest ranging and has drawn strong condemnation from international leaders. "It imposes a serious threat to Japan's security and it is an unforgivable act of violence toward Japan's security," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told AP. The United States condemned the launches as violating U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology. "This provocation only serves to increase the international community's resolve to counter (North Korea's) prohibited activities, including through implementing existing U.N. Security Council sanctions," said Navy Cmdr. Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the launches, saying North Korea should "immediately cease and abandon all its existing nuclear and ballistic missile activities in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner" and "refrain from any further provocative actions." The Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting set for this afternoon at the United Nations. Read the full story at AP and CNN. Andy Burnham warns scrapping the Northern Powerhouse would be a betrayal Andy Burnham has urged Theresa May to guarantee that plans for the Northern Powerhouse remain alive after her committee on the economy and industrial strategy met for the first time. The shadow home secretary raised concerns that focus could be shifting away from reviving the fortunes of the northern cities to a broader redistribution of the economy away from London and the South East. Mr Burnham warned scrapping the Northern Powerhouse scheme, a brainchild of former chancellor George Osborne, would be "the biggest betrayal of people in the North of England since Margaret Thatcher tore the heart out of many of its industrial communities in the 1980s". Andy Burnham said scrapping the Northern Powerhouse would be the biggest betrayal of people in the North of England since the 1980s After entering No 10 Mrs May appointed Andrew Percy, the MP for Brigg and Goole, as Northern Powerhouse minister and the plans were described as a "key government priority" by the Government. At the inaugural meeting of the new Cabinet committee on Tuesday, Mrs May stressed the Government should focus on delivering "an economy that works for all". However Mr Burnham, MP for Leigh in Greater Manchester, suggested the PM appeared to have "changed her tune" from earlier pledges to close the so-called North-South divide. He said: "The new Prime Minister and her entire Cabinet were elected just over 12 months ago on a manifesto promise to build a Northern Powerhouse. "If Theresa May is now ripping that up, it will be the biggest betrayal of people in the North of England since Margaret Thatcher tore the heart out of many of its industrial communities in the 1980s. "As the recent EU Referendum result showed, those communities feel abandoned by Westminster. The right response, surely, is to improve the promises that have been made to them, not abandon them." Mr Burnham said such a change in policy would increase a "crisis of confidence in our democracy" as the Northern Powerhouse would end up as "nothing more than meaningless spin". Pre-payment meters price cap to go ahead to help 'vulnerable' energy customers Ofgem is to press ahead with proposals to introduce a price cap on pre-payment meters to protect four million "vulnerable" customers, the energy industry regulator has announced. The watchdog's response follows a report published by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in June setting out ways in which the market could be improved for customers. Ofgem said it will work closely with suppliers to help "disengaged customers" who remain on expensive tariffs to shop around for better deals. Ofgem said it will work closely with suppliers to help 'disengaged customers' who remain on expensive energy tariffs Chief executive Dermot Nolan said: "The CMA's final report is a watershed moment for industry and consumers and points the way to a fairer and more competitive future. I call on energy companies and consumer groups to seize this opportunity." Ofgem said the meter cap will help the "most vulnerable and least likely to switch" and will save them around 75 a year from next April. The cap is expected to remain in place until 2020 when the introduction of smart meters, which will allow customers to access better deals, will be completed. Next year the energy regulator said it will also pilot a database service - allowing rival suppliers to offer better value deals to those who are on standard variable rates for three years or more. Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Nolan insisted the regulator has already made it easier for customers to switch tariffs and will continue to speed up the process. He defended the decision not to cap all variable tariffs, saying it is not in customers' best interests, and denied people remain confused by the range of options on offer by providers. "The regulator has made a very clear promise today that it will ensure that customers get clarity, that no supplier will consciously be allowed to confuse customers," he said. "We have been given a clear steer by the authority, which we will deliver very seriously, to ensure that energy suppliers that we think are consciously trying to confuse people will be enforced against." The Big Six energy companies currently supply fuel to just under 90% of the domestic customers in the UK and generate about 70% of total electricity output in Great Britain. Following a two-year investigation, the CMA warned that 70% of people were on the more expensive "default" standard variable tariff, costing consumers 1.4 billion more than a competitive market. In an open letter sent on Wednesday, Ofgem said: "We expect suppliers to compete for all consumers by offering good value and innovative deals and providing good customer service. "Ultimately, it is in suppliers' interests to make sure the CMA's reforms lead to lasting benefits for consumers." The regulator added: "We will closely monitor how the energy market develops as these reforms are implemented, and will do so with a particular focus on consumer outcomes." And it said it would "not hesitate to take action" if it feels outcomes are "not as good as they could be". Alex Neill, director of policy and campaigns at consumer group Which?, said: "It is good to see Ofgem swiftly taking forward the CMA's recommendations to increase competition." He added: "The regulator faces a huge challenge in implementing all of these recommendations in a way that stimulates competition to deliver better outcomes for many more consumers. "For this to happen the industry will need to commit to working with the regulator to ensure people get a fairer deal on their energy." EDf Energy said it agrees "with the conclusion that some customers do not benefit enough from competition between suppliers, because they are not making an active choice of tariff or supplier". "We are committed to engage more of these customers and put them in control, through purposeful competition that builds trust," a spokesman said. "We want to see a strong, independent, respected regulator trusted by customers and companies alike. We therefore strongly support the improvements to the regulatory framework that the CMA has outlined." An E.ON spokesman said: "As with the publication of the CMA report, we will now review Ofgem's proposals in detail to fully understand the implications for our customers." First Utility, the UK's largest independent energy provider, said it was dissatisfied with the proposals and questioned the effectiveness of them. Ed Kamm, UK managing director First Utility, said: "The CMA's report rightly identified the problem: too many people - some 70% of UK households -are overpaying for their energy. "But the proposals put too much onus on the customer, don't go far enough and the timing of their implementation is baffling. Ofgem itself admits that consumers who are already engaged in the market will see the first benefits. "We are in real danger of continuing to fuel a 'tale of two markets' - helping those who already shop around and doing little to properly help those who are continuing to pay much more than they need to or should." Independent supplier Good Energy also welcomed Ofgem's move, saying that for "far too long the Big Six have taken loyal customers for granted". Chief executive Juliet Davenport said: "Consumers deserve a fair and transparent market so they can have confidence in their energy supplier. And energy companies deserve a level playing field which supports and encourages competition." Audrey Gallacher, a director at Energy UK, the trade association for the energy industry, defended energy providers for not automatically signing up their customers to the cheapest tariff. She insisted the energy industry is "competitive for anyone who wants to go out and engage in the market". She told the Today programme: "That's what the focus is on now - to ensure that people have enough information available to them and enough reassurance to go out and do it. "You don't even have to switch supplier. I want to encourage people to call their company and make sure they're on the best possible deal." Justin Bowden, national officer of the GMB union, said: "Here we go again with more Ofgem tinkering over the pretence that a free market is possible in this sector. "Ofgem should be abolished and the Government itself should take over responsibility for regulating the industry so both are accountable to Parliament. "Government cannot duck taking the decisions needed to keep the lights on and ensure the decarbonisation of the sector. Government should also have powers to cap prices and limit profit levels and, where necessary, to finance and run power stations." Labour MP Caroline Flint criticised the watchdog, saying this was "Ofgem's big opportunity to stand up for the common good and they have failed again". "Instead of reforms to help the many, they have tweaked to help just a few," she said. "The protection for pre-payment meter customers is welcome but they are just one in seven consumers. "For the vast majority, the 70% who have been paying over the odds on standard variable tariffs, this announcement promises only more calls and emails from other energy companies. "The energy market needed a jolt, not a nudge. A protected tariff, even for a limited time, aimed at the majority of consumers, would have addressed the shortcomings of a failing market. RAF bombs IS training base in Saddam Hussein's former palace One of Saddam Hussein's former palaces used by the Islamic State as a major training base for foreign fighters has been bombed by the RAF, the Ministry of Defence said. The Mosul palace built by the former Iraqi dictator was attacked in a joint coalition operation on Monday. The attack followed extensive surveillance which established that the terrorist group, also known as Daesh, were using the sprawling grounds as a headquarters and training centre for foreign terrorist recruits. The RAF said two Tornados were used in the operation The complex, sat in a large secure compound next to the River Tigris, included the main palace building, used as an accommodation and meeting venue by the terrorists, as well as a number of more discreet outbuildings used for command and control, training, internal security and repression. The Ministry of Defence said: "The British contribution was a pair of Tornados, armed with the largest guided bombs in the RAF's inventory, the 2000lb Enhanced Paveway III, which were used to target first the headquarters buildings, then a security centre. "Initial analysis indicates that the coalition mission was successful." Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "Daesh has been losing followers and territory for months, and emphatic strikes like this show that we and the coalition will not waver. "Daesh fighters, both foreign and home-grown, can see that they are targets inside this cult." Mr Fallon announced that additional UK troops will be deployed to Iraq to support the military effort against Daesh later this month. The trainers will be based at the Al Asad airbase, where they will provide counter improvised explosive device (c-IED), first aid and infantry skills training. During a visit on Tuesday to RAF Akrotiri, from where Tornado and Typhoon aircraft are flying daily missions against Daesh in Syria and Iraq, Mr Fallon insisted the UK is not holding back from its international commitments following the EU referendum vote. He said: "These troops will bolster a campaign that has Daesh on the back foot. "The uplift underlines that Britain is stepping up, not stepping back from our international commitments, following the EU referendum." UK troops have helped to train more than 21,000 Iraqi forces and carried out over 900 strikes, alongside the coalition. Law firm that brought abuse claims against British troops banned from legal aid A law firm behind discredited claims accusing British troops of carrying out atrocities in Iraq has been stripped of legal aid funding. Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) will no longer receive public money after being considered by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) to have breached contractual requirements. It took the decision after reviewing information submitted by the firm, following a Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) investigation. Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) will no longer receive public money after being considered by the Legal Aid Agency to have breached contractual requirements. In a statement the LAA said: "The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has no role in judging the issues of professional conduct involved in the allegations. "However, we are clear that contractual breaches with LAA's contract are proven and warrant investigation by the relevant authorities. "LAA will carefully consider any application to transfer representation to a new firm in accordance with the relevant criteria." In 2014 the 31 million Al-Sweady inquiry concluded in its final report that allegations of war crimes following the Battle of Danny Boy on May 14 2004 in southern Iraq were based on "deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility". PIL had submitted hundreds of allegations of misconduct and unlawful killing by British troops. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "We've seen our legal system abused to falsely impugn our Armed Forces. Now we are seeing justice done. "Every day, our servicemen and women show bravery and dedication in difficult circumstances. They shouldn't be subject to unfounded legal claims. "We are working on a package of measures that, alongside this ruling, will ensure they aren't." Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss said the purpose of legal aid was to support some of the most vulnerable members of society "not to pursue spurious cases against our brave Armed Forces as they serve this country overseas". She added: "The investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has unearthed some very serious allegations and it will now be for the relevant authorities to decide whether further investigations are required. Edinburgh Tattoo performers rehearse together for first time Hundreds of performers from the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo have taken part in a rehearsal of the world-famous spectacle. The military and civilian performers practised together for the first time at the Redford Cavalry Barracks in Edinburgh. The 67th military spectacle held at Edinburgh Castle from August 5-27 will celebrate Tunes of Glory and mark the Queen's 90th birthday. The drill team from the Jordan Armed Forces take part in a rehearsal for this year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo This year's line-up includes massed pipes and drums from across the Commonwealth and military musicians from the Brit Award-winning Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, The Royal Regiment of Scotland and The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines. Among other acts performing are The Imps Motorcycle Display Team, His Majesty The King's Guard of Norway, and army bands from the United States, New Zealand, Jordan and Nepal. David Allfrey, chief executive and producer of the event, said he is "proud" that the Tattoo is a reason for so many people to visit Scotland every year. He said: "The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo sells tickets in almost 90 countries and we're really very proud of that. "220,000 people are in our live audience every year and hundreds of millions we're told on the television. "We know that a huge amount of people come from abroad to watch this show so it's right that we reach out to international acts." The Tattoo will host more than 220,000 spectators, 1,200 performers, 250 pipers and drummers, five British military bands and a 250,000 projection and light show from the team behind Danny Boyle's 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony. The Imps Motorcycle Display Team, a not-for-profit organisation that educates young people from under-privileged backgrounds, will be involved in a stunt as part of the finale of the show. Robert Barber, 16, who will be taking part in the stunt, said the team are looking forward to the performance as it is their "favourite thing to do". He added: "It's completely different to anything else we do. Normally we're dealing with crowds of under 100, maybe a couple of 100, but here it's 8,000 at least a night and millions on TV. It's just completely different." Speaking at the rehearsal, Thomas Larsson, drill guard with the King's Guard of Norway said he was "surprised" at how big the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is. He added: "I'm looking forward to it. It's my first time here - the place is really beautiful." The Imps Motorcycle Display Team jump over members of the Drill team from His Majesty The Kings Guard of Norway Members of the Drill team from His Majesty The Kings Guard of Norway A member of the Tattoo Highland Dancers A Member of the United States Army Europe Band and Chorus The Band of her Majesty's Royal Marines Scotland A member of the Jordan Armed Forces during a rehearsal for this year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Sunderland boss David Moyes hands trials to Steven Pienaar and Charles N'Zogbia Former Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar is training with Sunderland in the hope of securing a contract under newly-appointed boss David Moyes. Press Association Sport understands that the 34-year-old, who was released by the Toffees this summer, is keen to prove his fitness and a permanent deal could see him reunite with his former manager at Goodison Park. Moyes signed Pienaar from Borussia Dortmund in 2008 and the South African would go on to score 25 goals in 230 appearances during two spells on Merseyside. Steven Pienaar could reunite with former Everton boss David Moyes However, injuries severely disrupted the final 18 months of his time at Everton and the South African is now looking to rebuild his career. World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to face anti-doping tribunal World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has been charged over the alleged presence of a banned substance and will face an anti-doping tribunal. UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) said on Wednesday that a suspension imposed on June 24 had been lifted, pending "full determination" of the case. The independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) will handle the hearing, with a date not yet announced. Tyson Fury was suspended in June, it has emerged UKAD also said it suspended Hughie Fury, Tyson Fury's cousin, on the same grounds and that he too, having had the suspension provisionally lifted, would have his case heard by the NADP. In a statement released on Tuesday, prior to their suspensions being revealed, the lawyer who represents both men said they "strenuously" denied committing doping offences, as it was announced they intended to sue UKAD. UKAD said on Wednesday : "In response to public comments made by Tyson and Hughie Fury's representatives, UK Anti-Doping can confirm that both boxers were charged on 24 June 2016 with presence of a prohibited substance. Mandatory provisional suspensions were imposed pursuant to article 7.9.1 of the UK Anti-Doping rules. "The UK Anti-Doping Rules allow athletes to challenge the imposition of a provisional suspension and the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) today lifted the athletes' suspensions, pending full determination of the charges. These charges will be heard at a hearing before the NADP in due course. "UK Anti-Doping will not comment further on the case until due legal process has been completed." Peter Fury, the father of Hughie Fury and uncle of Tyson Fury, is also the trainer of both fighters and welcomed the news they are now free to fight. Peter Fury wrote on Twitter: " To all our fans. Ukad suspension Lifted & @Tyson_Fury @hughiefury can & will be fighting with full go ahead from tribunal. Truth!! Amen." Promoter Frank Warren added: "Congratulations to @Tyson_Fury & @hughiefury , they will now have their day in court after the ridiculous situation UKAD put them in!" On the day both fighters were charged by UKAD, Tyson Fury postponed his world title re-match against Wladimir Klitschko because of an ankle injury. The fight had been scheduled for July 9 in Manchester. Tyson Fury said in early July that the fight would instead go ahead on October 29. Fury caused a major upset when he beat veteran Ukrainian Klitschko last November in Dusseldorf. It was reported by the Sunday Mirror on June 26 that traces of banned substance nandrolone were found in a urine sample provided by Tyson Fury that dated back to February 2015. The report also said that Hughie Fury had tested positive. Both deny wrongdoing and intend to sue UKAD over the allegations. Lawyer Lewis Power said on Tuesday: ''The two boxers strenuously deny taking any performance-enhancing drugs. Sri Lanka says Chinese firm drops claim over Port City's delay COLOMBO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) has dropped its claim against the Sri Lankan government for $143 million in compensation for delaying the $1.4 billion Colombo Port City development, in return for getting additional land for the project, the government said on Tuesday. The news completes a U-turn on the Port City project on Colombo's new waterfront by President Maithripala Sirisena's administration, which had suspended the project in March last year because of concerns over the award of the contract to the Chinese construction giant by the previous government. It will now award CCCC a minimum of 110 hectares of land out of a total 269 hectares that have been reclaimed from the sea in the commercial heart of the capital adjacent to the main port and the historic Galle Face Green. The project is managed locally by CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, which signed an agreement with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) in September 2014 in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping. "The project company has agreed to withdraw all compensation claims for losses due to suspension of the project," the government said in a document seen by Reuters. However, the government has stuck to its decision not to grant the freehold on 20 hectares of land to the Chinese firm, the cabinet document said, as India has strongly protested against the move. Instead, all the land will be held on a 99-year lease, a cabinet document said. India, which uses the adjoining Colombo port to tranship 80 percent of its imports and exports, has raised strong concerns over granting freehold land to China. Since coming to power at the start of 2015, President Sirisena's administration has suspended most Chinese-backed infrastructure projects that, it says, were overpriced and financed on onerous terms harmful to the national interest. If not Hinkley, what's next for Britain's power supplies? LONDON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - As the British government considers whether to go ahead with EDF's 18 billion pound ($23.84 billion) Hinkley nuclear project, it will be weighing up the alternatives. The decision by new Prime Minister Theresa May last week to review the project comes at a time when investment in new power plants is desperately needed. All but one of Britain's existing nuclear plants, which produce around a fifth of the country's electricity, are set to close by 2030 as the plants come to the end of their operational lifespans. Hinkely aims to cover 7 percent of electricity supplies. Coal-fired power plants provided around a quarter of the country's electricity last year, but the government plans to close these by 2025 as a part of its efforts to meet climate targets. Britain's National Audit Office (NAO) said it will cost 140 billion pounds to build all the plants needed to replace dwindling capacity, but weak investor confidence and low power prices have hit project financing. To spur investment, the government offered EDF a minimum price for the electricity produced by the new Hinkley plant of 92.5 pounds per megawatt hour (MWh) for 35 years, more than double current electricity prices, and a subsidy the NOA said could rocket to around 30 billion pounds. The project, which was promised to deliver power to cook Britons' Christmas dinners in 2017, is now unlikely to be completed until 2026 at the earliest, if at all following the government review. The project was initially delayed as EDF struggled to secure financing but last year China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) agreed to take a 33.5 percent stake in the project while France has also committed to providing backing. EDF has also encountered problems with the design of the new nuclear reactor. A plant being built in Finland using the same technology is almost a decade behind schedule. Despite Britain's review of the project, EDF says it remains confident Hinkley C will still go ahead. Other potential options for Britain: MORE GAS Gas plants can be built at a fraction of the cost of new nuclear plants and the government hopes several will be built over the next few years to help bridge the supply gap. However, no new gas plants have come online since 2013 and the one new large gas plant which secured funding under the government's capacity auction - Carlton Power's Trafford Plant -- has struggled to get financing. The Trafford plant would be capable of generating around half the amount of electricity as Hinkley C. At around 800 million pounds it is less than a twentieth of the cost of Hinkley but gas plants can typically run for around 30 years compared with around 50-60 years for new nuclear plants. Britain has a legally binding climate target to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels. In the longer term, if this target is to be met, most gas plants would only be able to run if they are fitted with technology to capture and store emissions underground. OTHER NUCLEAR Two other groups are planning to build nuclear power plants in Britain: NuGen, which is a joint venture between Toshiba's Westinghouse and France's Engie, and Hitachi's Horizon project. Developers of both projects said they have not been deterred by Hinkley's delays, but both projects still need approval from Britain's nuclear regulator and the companies will need to find investors to help pay the billions of pounds needed to build the plants. These projects are not expected to be completed until after 2025. RENEWABLES Around a quarter of Britain's electricity production already comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar. The government has awarded developers of some new onshore wind projects minimum electricity prices of around 80 pounds/ MWh, while offshore wind projects have won contracts for around 115-120 pounds/ MWh. The government has said its next round of renewable funding will focus on offshore wind and has said around 10 GW of capacity -- equivalent to around 3 Hinkleys -- could be built over the next decade, but developers have warned the sector faces uncertainty following Britain's vote to leave the European Union. IMPORTS/INTERCONNECTORS Power interconnectors with other countries can give Britain access to cheaper electricity prices aboard. Their cost depends on location but National Grid said an interconnector with France would cost roughly 500 million pounds and take 2-3 years to build. Britain already has power connections with France, Belgium and Ireland capable of supplying around 7 percent of the country's peak electricity demand but plans to build several more which could mean imports could meet around 25 percent of demand by 2030. However, developers of the projects have warned their future could depend on the outcome of the country's Brexit negotiations and Britain's status in Europe's energy market. TIDAL Britain has given planning consent for a 1 billion pound, 320 MW tidal lagoon project in Swansea, Wales but has yet to decide whether it will receive a minimum price guarantee under its subsidy scheme. Proponents of the technology say if it is successful it could be rolled out on a much larger scale and said a 3 gigawatt plant, comparable in capacity size to Hinkley, could be build in Cardiff. The government has launched an independent review of the technology which is due to report its findings in the Autumn. INNOVATION A report by government advisor the National Infrastructure Commission said using electricity in a smarter way could reduce the need to build so many new power plants. France buries priest murdered by Islamist militants By Antony Paone ROUEN, France, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Mourners crammed into Rouen Cathedral on Tuesday for the funeral of the Roman Catholic priest knifed to death at his church altar, as France's political leaders sought ways to defeat home-grown Islamist violence. Father Jacques Hamel was leading morning mass in the nearby industrial town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray last Tuesday when the attackers stormed in, forced the 85-year-old to his knees and slit his throat while chanting in Arabic. Amid tight security at the thirteenth century gothic cathedral in northern France, a procession of senior clergy followed pallbearers who carried Hamel's coffin through the "Door of Mercy" and placed it on an ornate rug before the altar. The priest's sister, Roselyne Hamel, told the congregation how during his military service in Algeria her brother had refused an officer's rank so as not give the order to kill, and how he once emerged the sole survivor in a desert shootout. "He would often ask himself: 'Why me?' Today, Jacques, our brother, your brother, you have your answer: Our God of love and mercy chose you to be at the service of others," she said. The service was to be followed by a private burial. Hamel's murder by French citizens was the first Islamist attack on a church in western Europe and came just 12 days after a Tunisian who had pledged allegiance to Islamic State drove his truck through a crowd of Bastille Day revellers in the Riviera city of Nice, killing 84. Islamist militants have killed more than 200 people in France since January 2015. Facing strong criticism from right-wing opponents over its security record, the Socialist government has warned of a long war against militant Islam at home and abroad in places such as Iraq, Syria and Libya. Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said the state must reinvent its relationship with the "Islam of France". France's Muslim minority, the European Union's largest, makes up about 8 percent of the population. URGENCY Since the 1980s, successive governments have tried to nurture a liberal Islam that would better integrate the faith into French society. Meanwhile, the Muslim community, riven by divisions and power politics, has struggled to oppose radical Salafist groups that have established their presence in some mosques and neighbourhoods as well as on the Internet. Valls wants to ban foreign funding for mosques and says all French imams should be trained in France. His interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said that a foundation that would enable the secular state to finance cultural centres linked to places of worship would be established by the end of the year. "We must guard against being paternalistic but we must have the lucidity to recognise that there is an urgency to helping 'Islam of France' get rid of those that undermine it from within," Valls told the weekly Journal du Dimanche. Some Islamic leaders have expressed doubts over the government's plans. "It's on the internet that radicalisation takes place, not in the mosques," Moroccan-born Tareq Oubrou, a leading moderate imam from Bordeaux, told BFM TV. "We mustn't kid ourselves." At least 90 people have been hospitalized from an anthrax outbreak in Russia, including 50 children. Eight are confirmed as infected with anthrax. Doctors believe at least 6 patients have the more virulent intestinal form of the disease, which killed one boy, age 12. Authorities say it's the first fatal anthrax outbreak in Russia in more than 75 years. The outbreak originated in a Siberian community after a heat wave melted the permafrost where spores of anthrax remained alive inside the frozen carcass of an infected reindeer. Animals fed on that thawed carcass, which may have been up to a hundred years old, then transmitted it to reindeer that nomadic herders killed and ate. Herders face a quarantine that may last until September. The deadly bacteria is also indicated in the mysterious deaths of thousands of reindeer in the regionvarious reports have placed the total number of dead animals at up to 2,500. The outbreak happened in the Yamalo-Nenets region of Western Siberia, where an unusual heat wave brought temperatures up to 82 degrees for 18 consecutive days in July. Temperatures in the Yamal tundra above the Arctic Circle have hit highs of 95 degrees this summer, compared to an average of 77 degrees. "The medical crisis was caused after reindeer became contaminated with zombie anthrax bacteria which had been frozen in the Siberian permafrost," reports the Siberian Times. Zombie anthrax? Let's break that down. The regional governor's office said in a statement to the Siberian Times that the disease probably originated from a thawed reindeer carcass that died from anthrax more than a hundred years ago. The animal's dead body was frozen on the tundra long ago, and the bacteria lay dormant. But high temperatures this summer caused the tundra to thaw, and with it, the infected carcass, which was likely encountered by hungry animals seeking food. They fed on the reindeer, and the anthrax bacteria within it. Anthrax is biologically hardy in the extreme, and can remain viable for a century or more even with temperature fluctuations well above and below freezing. It is also possible that the anthrax was embedded in a human corpse which thawed, and was eaten by vermin, which then transmitted the bacteria up the food chain to humans. Or, maybe no corpse-eating took place at all. Feeding animals need only to munch a little bit of earth near a place where an infected body is buried, human or animal, to potentially come in contact with anthrax spores. The bacteria was probably dormant since at least 1941, when the last outbreak occurred. NBC reports that authorities in the region stopped vaccinating reindeer against anthrax a decade ago, because there had been no outbreaks for over 50 years. More than 60 people are considered at risk for having been infected in the 'zombie anthrax' outbreak of 2016. Some 2,500 reindeer have also died, though some of the animal deaths may be attributable to heatstroke. "The animals are unaccustomed to such high temperatures," the governor's office told the Siberian Times. Weather.com meteorologists report that Pangody, a town in the heart of the Yamalo-Nenets region, had high temperatures of at least 82 degrees Fahrenheit 18 straight days from July 6-23, peaking at 92.7 on July 23. The region is home to a large population of Nenets people, a nomadic indigenous group who subsist on herding reindeer. The Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region is well known as source of high quality venison, a great quantity of which is exported overseas. The 12-year-old boy who died in the anthrax outbreak on Saturday is reported to have eaten infected reindeer meat, and consumed the animal's blood. His grandmother died a day earlier, but the cause of her death has not yet been confirmed as anthrax. Russian authorities are evacuating affected people to the regional capital of Salekhard. "We have taken all measures to isolate the area," regional Governor Dmitry Kolybin said to the Associated Press. "Now the most important thing is the safety and health of our fellow countrymen the reindeer herders and specialists involved in the quarantine." A mass vaccination of reindeer is taking place in the region, but those efforts may be too late, Russian Academy of Sciences biology professor Vladimir Bogdanov told NBC News. Global Meat News (yes, this publication exists) reports that the outbreak will devastate the region's venison exports. "This disease has been present in our country for a long time and we have 35,000 officially registered animals with anthrax in burial sites," Russian sanitary body Rospotrebnadzor spokesperson Julia Demina said. "These are the places where anthrax spores could be found in the soil." "We are now conducting another large burial, where we will pour bleach [into the ground], build fences and set up a special marker in navigation systems, so that, for the next 25 years, any grazing of agricultural animals here will be banned," added Vyacheslav Hritin, head of Salekhard Veterinary Center, which spends a considerable amount of time fighting against the disease. "On the one hand the permafrost began to melt, on the other the animals were short of fodder and they ate the plants together with the land," explained Professor Irina Donnik, rector of the Ural State Agricultural University. "It is obvious that there was a cattle cemetery here at some stage. This disease is transmitted very rarely from animal to animal; more often it moves via the feed base." From the Siberian Times: Senegal's Gueye joins Everton on four-year deal from Villa Aug 2 (Reuters) - Everton have signed Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye on a four-year deal from second-tier Aston Villa, the Premier League club said on Tuesday. The 26-year-old, who joined Villa from French side Lille last season, made 38 appearances for the Midlands team, who were relegated from England's top-flight last season. No financial details were disclosed but British media estimated the deal was worth about seven million pounds ($9.33 million). "I am very happy to be here at Everton and I am very happy and excited to put on the Blue shirt to start the new season here," Gueye told Everton's website (www.evertonfc.com). "Everton is a big team with big players and great fans. I have played a season with Aston Villa which was a hard season but I think my style is good for the Premier League." The Senegal international made 134 appearances for Lille, and helped the club win the Ligue 1 title in 2011. British-Iranian aid worker appears in Tehran court - family By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin DUBAI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - A British-Iranian aid worker, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, detained since early April and accused by hardline Revolutionary Guards of trying to overthrow Iran's government has appeared in court for the first time, her family said on Tuesday. Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, has dismissed the Revolutionary Guards' accusation. In a statement, the family said Zaghari-Ratcliffe, arrested as she tried to leave Iran after a short visit with her two-year-old daughter, appeared in the Revolutionary Court on Monday. The court handles security-related cases. "When I spoke to Nazanin yesterday, she was deeply upset," Richard Ratcliffe said. "She is desperate that our daughter has been kept away from her mother and father now for four months," he said, noting, "This remains a very cruel case." A judiciary spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a London-based charity that is independent of Thomson Reuters and operates independently of Reuters News. In a telephone conversation with her husband after the first hearing, Zaghari-Ratcliffe said that she would be allowed access to a lawyer. She was not allowed to share any of the details of that court session over the phone, the family said. "(Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family) were instructed to present her lawyer's name for approval by the judge," the family said. Such permission is required by Iranian law if an individual is accused of national security-related crimes. The lawyer must be approved by the head of the judiciary. John Ratcliffe, who is Nazanin's father-in-law and a British lawyer, has approached the Iranian Embassy in London for a visa to attend the next trial. No date for the trial has been announced. Several Iranian dual nationals from the United States, Britain, Canada and France have been detained in the past few months and are being kept behind bars on various charges, including espionage or collaborating with a hostile government. In a statement, Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO Monique Villa said Nazanin-Ratcliffe "should soon be able to see a lawyer for the first time in her four months of detention, including 45 days in solitary confinement". "We do not know what the exact charges against her are." She said that, in her professional capacity at the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Nazanin had never dealt with Iran, and that the Foundation had no dealings with Iran whatsoever. Cobalt International's Angola stake sale to Sonangol unlikely Aug 2 (Reuters) - Cobalt International Energy Inc said it was unlikely to close a $1.75 billion sale of its 40 percent stake in two offshore oil blocks in Angola to the state oil company, sending its shares down as much as 43.5 percent. The oil and gas producer, which reported a bigger quarterly loss on Tuesday, is facing a U.S. Department of Justice probe into its Angolan operations. The company said in August last year it would sell its stake in the oil blocks to Angola's Sonangol, which holds the remaining stake. "Although we prefer the same transaction with Sonangol to close, I am pleased that we can remarket these...assets to third parties," Chief Executive Tim Cutt said on a post-earnings call on Tuesday. The company's net loss widened to $205.55 million, or 50 cents per share, in the quarter ended June 30, from $66.81 million, or 16 cents per share, a year earlier. Libya car bomb targets security forces in Benghazi, kills 22 - officials By Ayman al-Warfalli BENGHAZI, Libya, Aug 2 (Reuters) - A car bomb targeting security forces in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi killed at least 22 people and wounded 20 on Tuesday, a commander of the forces and medical officials said. The blast occurred in a residential area in the Guwarsha district, the scene of fighting between security forces loyal to Libya's eastern government and an alliance of Islamists and other opponents. The alliance, the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, said it had carried out the attack, according to a statement posted on media sites linked to the group. It claimed that 28 people were killed and as many as 70 wounded. Benghazi has been plagued by violence since Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar launched a military campaign against the Shura Council two years ago. His forces have advanced in several areas in recent months, but still have not gained full control of Benghazi. It was the fourth vehicle bombing in the city in a week, though the toll from Tuesday's blast was far higher than in previous attacks. The attack targeted a gathering of the special forces unit of the LNA, said Fadel al-Hassi, another LNA commander. A Reuters witness said the powerful explosion reduced a three-story building to rubble, and that 10 vehicles, some of them armoured, had been destroyed. Four field commanders were reported among the dead and some soldiers' bodies were trapped under the rubble. Haftar's forces are allied to a government that has been based in eastern Libya since 2014, when armed groups set up a rival administration in the capital, Tripoli. A United Nations-backed government moved into Tripoli earlier this year, but Haftar and the eastern government have so far rejected it. Tuesday's attack came a day after Haftar's forces claimed control of a strategic entry point to Guwarsha that had long been held by Ansar al-Sharia, a group linked to al-Qaeda that is part of the Shura Council. Islamic State also has a presence in the area, and last week claimed another suicide attack in Guwarsha that left at least three members of the security forces dead and 25 wounded. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday it is in the United States' national security interest to support the Tripoli-based government's fight against Islamic State, a day after his administration said it launched air strikes there. Cobalt International says Angola stake sale off track Aug 2 (Reuters) - Cobalt International Energy Inc said it was unlikely to close a $1.75 billion sale of its 40 percent stake in two offshore oil blocks in Angola to the state oil company, sending its shares down as much as 43.5 percent. The oil and gas producer, which reported a bigger quarterly loss on Tuesday, also said it was suspending operations in the Gulf of Mexico to conserve cash. The company said in August last year it would sell its stake in the oil blocks to Angola's Sonangol, which holds the remaining stake. Cobalt's Angolan operations are being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice. "Although we prefer the same transaction with Sonangol to close, I am pleased that we can remarket these...assets to third parties," Chief Executive Tim Cutt said on a post-earnings call on Tuesday. The company also said its keenly watched Goodfellow #1 exploration well in the Gulf of Mexico was dry. Cobalt said its quarterly loss widened mainly because of a write-off related to the well, which the company started drilling in March. The company's net loss widened to $205.55 million, or 50 cents per share, in the quarter ended June 30, from $66.81 million, or 16 cents per share, a year earlier. The company said it cut its workforce by more than 60 percent over the past several months. As of June 30, its long-term debt was $2.03 billion and its cash and cash equivalents was $833.8 million, including $250 million received from Sonangol, which will presumably be returned. Bangladesh's missing militant link: the threat from abroad By Serajul Quadir and Tom Lasseter DHAKA/NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - When Bangladeshi authorities last month released the names of 261 men who have gone missing from their families, in an attempt to find militants hidden in this country of 160 million people, at the very end of the list was "Jilani alias Abu Zidal". He was not in Bangladesh. The young man, an engineering school dropout, travelled to Syria last year to fight for Islamic State. In April, IS announced he was blown to bits during battle by a 23-millimeter gun, the sort used to shoot down aircraft. Asked why Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion, a domestic anti-terrorism agency, listed Jilani among the 261 names, its spokesman Mufti Mohammad Khan said neither the man's family nor the police had notified the battalion of the death. "So we included him in the list." A Google search for Jilani, whose real name was Ashequr Rahman, would have brought up an Islamic State notification of his death. Distributing the alias of a dead jihadi in an all-points bulletin is just one illustration of how Bangladesh authorities have failed to confront the international links of radical Islamist groups in the country. Police and government officials here continue to insist they are facing a home-grown threat -- a "grave error," according to regional experts on militant groups. Banking officials admit being lost when it comes to interdicting foreign funding for attacks. Law enforcement officers have been slow to complete basic steps of intelligence-gathering, weeks after a July 1 assault in which five young men killed 20 people they'd taken hostage at a cafe in the capital. DOMESTIC MILITANTS The government says the July 1 attack -- and another on July 26 in which police killed nine militants believed to be plotting a similar assault -- were the work of domestic militants and it has dismissed claims of responsibility from the Islamic State. That fits with a pattern of the nation's rulers reflexively blaming their rivals in Islamist opposition political parties for fomenting unrest. Dhaka has recently doubled down on its position that IS does not exist in Bangladesh. Authorities on Tuesday named a prime suspect in the cafe attack, Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury. Analysts say he is the same person IS identified in April as its commander in Bangladesh, who goes by the alias of Sheik Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif. Asked whether by naming Chowdhury officials had implicitly acknowledged Islamic State is in Bangladesh, Monirul Islam, head of a counter-terrorism cell for the Dhaka police, disagreed. "Our stand is very clear," Islam told Reuters, "that there is no IS inside the country." Many "lone wolf" and self-styled jihadist groups have pledged support to IS around the world, in addition to a reported 22,000 foreigners who have left their countries of origin to fight on behalf of the group. However, the line between self-declared adherents and actual IS command-and-control is often unclear. Bangladesh has for years denied that global jihadi networks like al Qaeda and Islamic State operate on its soil. But the recent spate of attacks by scattered and hard-to-detect groups gunmen claiming loyalty to both shows such distinctions are losing relevance. That has left authorities struggling to contain an escalating offensive by militants in a nation with a $28 billion-a-year garment industry and which, crucially, sits between south and southeast Asia, regions that contain the largest Muslim populations in the world. WAVE OF KILLINGS Officials in Dhaka have ordered crackdowns on long-standing Bangladeshi domestic Islamist political and militant groups, arresting more than 11,000 people in June alone in an effort to stop a wave of killings, including by machete hacking, that have targeted liberal bloggers, academics and religious minorities. The attention to old foes is diverting attention from an emerging international problem, said Animesh Roul, executive director of a New Delhi-based think tank, the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict. "They are still focusing too much on the existing militant networks and have failed to realise that the IS or AQIS (Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent) monsters are fishing in the troubled waters and succeeding to a large extent by enticing the youths or grassroots extremists," Roul said. Roul, who penned a study of the militant threat in Bangladesh published in May by the Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy, called it "a grave error." Regional terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna of the Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore said his research, including interviews in Dhaka with fighters in custody, shows that militants in Bangladesh "received financing, instruction and assistance from the Islamic State". With an unrelenting focus on domestic Islamic militants, authorities have admitted to being challenged in tracking the movements of money and people from abroad. Three of the Dhaka cafe attackers went missing for months before the attacks. Asked if authorities had combed through passenger manifests to check whether they had left the country -- a possible clue to who might have helped organised the slaughter -- a police official speaking three weeks after the assault said no one had done so. "We did not check yet, but that will be done," said Mohammad Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. SINGAPORE CONNECTION In interviews with one former senior central banking official and a current senior government official with direct knowledge of banking operations, neither could point to an instance in which Bangladeshi agencies had successfully identified and disrupted external funding for militant groups. It's a daunting task. Millions of overseas workers sent home about $15 billion in the fiscal year that ended in June 2016, the second-largest source of foreign exchange after garment exports. Among that diaspora were eight Bangladeshi men, detained between March and April in Singapore, who had formed a group they called the Islamic State in Bangladesh. Mostly construction workers, they'd failed to reach Syria and were saving cash to return home and launch attacks, according to Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs. The group's leader, a 31-year-old draftsman at a construction firm, was inspired by Islamic State propaganda he found online. He had a list of 13 categories of people under a title of "need to kill", including security forces, politicians, media and "disbelievers", such as Hindus and Christians. Another clutch of men, 26 in all, were arrested in Singapore between last November and December after forming a "study group" that supported the ideology of Al Qaeda and Islamic State, according to Singapore's home affairs ministry. Australia's tiny miners rise from the ashes of the bust By James Regan SYDNEY, Aug 3 (Reuters) - From gold to graphite to zinc to lithium, Australia's army of "penny dreadful" stocks is rising from the ashes of the mining bust and growing at rates that majors like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto can only wish for. Micro miners are posting double or even triple-digit gains, buoyed by a belief that metals prices have bottomed, while companies that managed to come through the downturn are being aided by cheaper labour and operating costs. "It's about the growth and the profit that can come very quickly," said Perth-based retail investor Tim Larmont, who has been dabbling for over two decades in a sector that's known as a hothouse for day traders and speculators. "There's always that expectation it will end tomorrow, but it looks like it could last longer this time. These companies aren't burning through money like they used to. Anyone that's survived is more responsible." Renewed optimism is reflected in near-record attendence at this week's Diggers and Dealers mining conference, where some 1,800-plus prospectors, miners and bankers are crowding into the outback town of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia's goldfields. Gold miners were like "rock stars", Evolution Mining chairman Jake Klein told the conference. "Investors are happy, investment banks love us. I've never had more invitations to corporate and sporting events and we've even upgraded our accommodation. We used to be in the caravan park." Metals prices have started to turn up after years of declines. Zinc is up 41 percent so far this year and nickel up 21 percent, while gold is trading at near record highs in Australian dollar terms. Small cap gold miners are "absolutely minting it", said UBS small companies portfolio manager Stephen Wood, while lithium, used in batteries, is grabbing interest as a transition away from fossil fuels. LOW COSTS, LITTLE DEBT While the mining bust spelled the end for legions of small miners, those that remain are in the best shape in years. Labor costs have dropped by as much as 50 percent since 2010 and an inability to borrow during the lean years means most miners carry little debt. Machinery used to power the iron ore and coal mining booms in the last decade can now be purchased on the cheap, keeping overheads to a minimum, said Frank Lee, general manager of Ross's Auctioneers and Valuers in Kalgoorlie. And a soft oil price is providing cheaper diesel to many Australian mines and exploration sites that operate far from the electricity grid. Lithium miner Pilbara Minerals easily raised A$85 million ($64 million) in a heavily oversubscribed placement in April and a further A$15 million from retail investors. "Everything is cheaper today and that removes a lot of the cost pressures new mining projects face," said Pilbara chief executive Ken Brinsden. Nickel and gold miner Independence Group raised A$250 million last month in an issue that was 2-1/2 times oversubscribed, while gold miner Ramelius Resources and nickel prospector S2 Resources have also easily raised extra capital. The Australian Stock Exchange's (ASX) Small Resources Index is up 65 percent this year, more than triple the gains for the big miner-weighted ASX 200 Resources Index, while the ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index has surged over 100 percent. By comparison, sector big-leaguers BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have risen around 10 percent. Citi is forecasting earnings per share growth in the overall mining sector to turn from a fall of 53.1 percent in fiscal 2016 to growth of 14.8 percent in 2017. Any confidence in the rally, though, is being kept on a short leash after years of bruising falls in an industry notorious for going down as fast as it goes up. "We are in the midst of what is an embryonic resource sector recovery," said Gavin Wendt, an analyst for MineLife, which specialises in small Australian mining companies. "It's still early days, of course." Bigger miners with diversified portfolios, who are generally more measured in their public statements, have also been less enthusiastic about the prospect of a lasting upturn. BHP Managing Director Andrew Mackenzie recently told investors to "expect a period of prolonged lower commodity prices and volatility" and others also are cautious. "The sector is looking better than it has in a long time ... but we live in volatile times, so one should be careful not to get too optimistic," said Shaw and Partners analyst Peter O'Connor. Venezuela leader names minister accused of drug crimes by U.S. CARACAS, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday named Nestor Reverol, a military general accused of drug crimes by the United States, as his new interior minister and removed his top economic official Miguel Perez from cabinet. Tropical Storm Earl strengthens as it churns toward Belize MEXICO CITY, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Earl bore down on Central America's Caribbean coastline late on Wednesday, strengthening as it was forecast to strike land as a hurricane, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The storm was about 350 miles (563 km) east of Belize City blowing maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour (97 kph), and is expected to reach the coast of Belize, famed for its coral reefs, by Thursday morning. A hurricane warning is in effect from Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico, southward to the border between Belize and Guatemala. A storm becomes a hurricane when its maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph (119 kph). The NHC said in a statement the storm was first expected pass just north of the Honduras Bay Islands. The Miami-based center said Earl "is likely to become a hurricane before it makes landfall" while dumping between 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) of rain over a wide swath of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. "These rains could result in life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," the NHC said. Once the storm passes over Mexico, the NHC forecasts that on Friday it will enter into the southern rim of the Gulf of Mexico where national oil company Pemex operates dozens of oil platforms. The shallow water areas off the Gulf between the states of Veracruz and Campeche account for about three quarters of Mexico's total oil output. China regulator asks insurers to examine product risks - Caixin SHANGHAI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) has asked insurers to thoroughly assess business risks and strengthen their risk controls, the online financial magazine Caixin reported Wednesday, citing anonymous industry sources. China's insurers have rapidly moved into risky investments in recent years, analysts say, prompting increased regulatory scrutiny in recent months. Insurers were asked to examine risks in their product offerings, their use of funds, administration practices, repayment ability, debt burden and other areas, Caixin reported. A CIRC representative declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. In June, the state-owned Shanghai Securities News reported that CIRC was investigating insurers' risk controls with respect to equity and real estate investments. More recently, Reuters and other news sources reported that China's banking regulator was drafting rules to restrict equity investments sourced from wealth management funds at small banks, in a change that could spell trouble for small lenders heavily dependent on wealth management revenue. China stocks firm on property shares; Hong Kong hit by global weakness SHANGHAI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - China stocks edged higher on Wednesday as property shares rallied for a second day and on growing expectations of state-owned enterprise (SOE) reforms. But trading volume in Shanghai, which shrank to a two-month low on Tuesday, remained thin amid signs that investors are turning their focus to gold and bonds. China's blue-chip CSI300 index rose 0.2 percent to 3,195.81 points by the lunch break, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.3 percent to 2,979.44. In Hong Kong, main indexes dropped over 1 percent, tracking losses in global equity markets. Lingering concerns over China's economy continued to haunt investors. A private survey showed on Wednesday that growth in the services sector cooled in July, with weaker expansions in activity prompting companies to shed staff for first time in four months. Although regulators are hoping to guide capital into the real economy with tighter rules, analysts say liquidity is actually flowing into perceived safe haven assets such as bonds and gold. "The economy is in such a bad shape. How can you expect wise money to invest in the real economy?" said Chang Chengwei, analyst at brokerage Hengtai Futures. China's outstanding margin loans dropped for five straight sessions to a one-month low. In contrast, Huaan Gold ETF, China's biggest gold exchange-traded fund, jumped 35 percent in size over the past month. Overseas investment products are also in hot demand. Sentiment on Wednesday was underpinned by further strength in property shares, which rose 1 percent after reports earlier this week showed home prices are still rising rapidly in most larger Chinese cities. Investors also bet on SOE reforms, pushing the Shanghai SOEs Index over 1 percent to a record high. The government has long pledged changes to the often bloated, inefficient state sector, but it has increasingly relied on such firms in recent months to drive economic growth in the face of faltering private investment, spurring doubts about its commitment to reforms. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index dropped 1.7 percent to 21,752.01, while the Hong Kong China Enterprises Index lost 1.4 percent to 8,997.54. HSBC fell 1.7 percent after reporting core first-half profit fell 29 percent, below estimates, as revenue at Europe's biggest bank was hit by slowing economic growth in its key markets of Britain and Hong Kong. Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Aug 3 PRAGUE, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Wednesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA========================== Real-time economic data releases.................... Summary of economic data and forecasts........... Recently released economic data.................. Previous stories on Czech data............. **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/2E/events-overview ==========================NEWS================================== KOMERCNI BANKA: Czech lender Komercni Banka reported on Wednesday a 19.4 percent rise in second-quarter net profit, lifted by gains from the sale of its stake in Visa Europe. Story: Related stories: MIGRANTS: Czech President Milos Zeman believes his country should refuse to take in refugees to ensure they cannot commit "barbaric attacks", his spokesman said on Tuesday. Story: Related stories: KOFOLA: Kofola CeskoSlovensko said it expected price rises to help earnings later this year but was not ready to confirm guidance. Story: Related stories: CEE MARKETS: Polish assets firmed on Tuesday after a long-awaited bill aimed at resolving the problem of Swiss franc-denominated loans in the banking system looked less harmful to banks than investors had feared. Story: Related stories: ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------ Index/Crown Currency Latest Prev Pct change Pct change close on day in 2016 vs Euro 27.022 27.053 0.11 -0.09 vs Dollar 24.092 24.537 1.81 3.09 Czech Equities 876.28 876.28 -0.43 -8.37 U.S. Equities 18,313.77 18,404.51 -0.49 5.1 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 GMT =====================PRESS DIGEST============================ ONLINE SHOPPING: Czechs spent a record 41 billion crowns ($1.70 billion) on online shopping in the first half of the year, according to data from the Association of Electronic Commerce. Price comparison website Heureka.cz estimated online shopping makes up 7.5 percent of all retail sales, above a world average of 5.5 percent but below a more than 10 percent share in the U.S. and UK markets. Hospodarske Noviny, page 1 JAGUAR LAND ROVER: Czech firms have started meeting with carmaker Jaguar Land Rover to supply its future plant in Slovakia, according to an official with state investment agency CzechInvest. The British company reiterated Britain's decision to exit the EU was not impacting its plans. Hospodarske Noviny, page 12; pvs story: Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy. For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX For updates on CEE currencies TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets Prague Newsroom: +420 224 190 477 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com ($1 = 24.0840 Czech crowns) (Reporting by Prague Newsroom) South African vote tests ANC hold on cities, Zuma in focus By Nqobile Dludla and Mfuneko Toyana JOHANNESBURG/PRETORIA, Aug 3 (Reuters) - South African polls closed on Wednesday and the tally began for local elections where the ruling African National Congress (ANC) could lose control of key cities for the first time since apartheid ended. Analysts say the ANC is facing the toughest electoral challenge in its history against the backdrop of high unemployment, an economy not expected to grow this year, and a series of scandals that have dogged President Jacob Zuma. A significant loss of support would be a blow for a movement that embodied South Africa's liberation struggle. Its next major test comes in national elections in 2019. Opinion polls see a particularly close race in the capital Pretoria, economic-hub Johannesburg and the symbolic Nelson Mandela Bay municipality named after the anti-apartheid icon. The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) was expected to maintain Cape Town, the only big city not run by the ANC. The DA is a historically white-dominated movement hoping to expand support under its new black leader Mmusi Maimane. "I voted DA because I'm sick of the rotten, corrupt ANC," said Simpiwe, an unemployed 55-year-old surrounded by shacks in a rundown Nelson Mandela Bay township on the southeast coast. He declined to give his second name for fear of reprisals from militant members of the ANC in his neighbourhood. Fires were lit in waste bins on street corners where people gathered to discuss the vote as darkness fell. First results could be known as early as 2100 local time (1900 GMT) but final results nationwide are not expected before Friday. Polls officially closed at 1900 local time but if people were in line at that time, they could still vote. Many who queued earlier said they were worried about Zuma's performance and the state of Africa's most industrialised economy, where one in four is unemployed. ZUMA SCANDALS Security guard Senzo Makhubela said the ANC needed to build more houses and do more to develop areas like Diepsloot, the shantytown where he lives north of Johannesburg. But he was sticking with the ruling party for now, despite the travails of its leader. "Zuma doesn't make decisions alone so the ANC is not Zuma alone, it's a collective," said the 32-year-old. Zuma survived an impeachment vote in April after the Constitutional Court said he breached the law by ignoring an order to repay some of the $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his private home. In December, he was widely criticised for changing his finance minister twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting and alarming investors. The currency has since recovered. Zuma has said he would repay some of the funds spent on his home and rejected the accusations. But anger is rising in a country on the brink of recession. Analysts predict a downgrade by ratings agencies to "junk". The leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led by firebrand Julius Malema, Zuma's one-time protege and former ANC youth leader, is another challenger. Malema plans to redistribute among poor blacks wealth still mostly in white hands. In Johannesburg, Edward Mariba, 44, said he voted for the EFF. "I wanted to give the new kids on the block a chance." ANC loyalists said they remained confident Malaysian democracy group plans 1MDB protest rally KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Malaysian democracy group Bersih plans a protest rally to demand greater government accountability and action to tackle a multi-billion-dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB, an official of the group said on Wednesday. The U.S. Justice Department filed civil lawsuits last month alleging that more than $3.5 billion was misappropriated from state fund 1MDB, founded by Prime Minister Najib Razak and whose advisory council he chaired until recently. Bersih said it planned a roadshow and several protests ahead of the street demonstration, whose timing it did not reveal. "Not protesting is not an option," Bersih chairwoman Maria Chin told reporters, adding that the group aimed to gather more diverse groups and stakeholders for the rally, although she did not identify them. "Awareness of 1MDB at the ground level is not yet there, we need to raise the level of anger and awareness," she added. More than 200,000 people turned out in the Malaysian capital last August for a similar rally organised by Bersih, demanding the resignation of Najib. Opponents of Bersih, which draws the bulk of its support from Malaysia's ethnic Chinese minority, said at the time that the protest aimed to challenge the political power of ethnic majority Malays. A national security measure took effect this week in the middle-income emerging country, giving the prime minister power to suspend civil liberties in any region he declares a "security area". The U.S. civil lawsuits do not name Najib, but refer to a high-ranking government official who received more than $700 million of the misappropriated funds. A source familiar with the investigations told Reuters the official, named as Malaysian Official 1 in the lawsuits, was Najib. Slovakia- Factors To Watch on Aug 3 BRATISLAVA, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Wednesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Slovak Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA======================== Real-time economic data releases.................. Summary of economic data and forecasts......... Recently released economic data................ Previous stories on Slovak data.......... **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/1C/events-overview ==========================NEWS================================ IMMIGRATION: Czech President Milos Zeman believes his country should refuse to take in refugees to ensure they cannot commit "barbaric attacks", his spokesman said on Tuesday. Story: Related stories: NATO-RUSSIA: Hungary's foreign minister said on Tuesday he thought it "unrealistic" that Russia would attack any NATO member, a view that contrasts with some other NATO member countries in the region who see Moscow as a real threat. Story: Related stories: For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX Main currency report TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 474 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom) Rio Tinto earnings slump to 12-year low, warns conditions still tough By Sonali Paul and Barbara Lewis MELBOURNE/LONDON Aug 3 (Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto reported a 47 percent slump in first-half profit to its weakest in 12 years on Wednesday, still beating forecasts and a strong balance sheet allowed it to pay a higher dividend than expected. It said commodity markets remained a challenge, even as the mining sector stages a recovery from the hammering inflicted by a plunge in prices for raw materials caused by a drop in Chinese demand. The watchword is caution across the industry as markets are oversupplied and asset sales to reduce debt take longer than some investors would like. Rio's new Chief Executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques said he was focused on shoring up the company by cutting costs further and did not expect help from commodities markets that were given a provisional lift in the second quarter by easy credit in China. "So we are confident, but absolutely not complacent. Looking forward, we expect market conditions to remain challenging and volatile," Jacques told reporters. "We can't assume a quick recovery of China, that will not happen. The fact of the matter is that China is slowing down," he later said to analysts. The world's biggest commodity market, China, provides up to half of Rio's revenue, Jacques said, although the percentage varies from year to year. Underlying earnings for the six months to June fell to $1.56 billion from $2.92 billion a year earlier, beating analysts' forecasts around $1.46 billion, according to an externally compiled consensus. Gains in the aluminium business were better than expected, while iron ore and copper missed forecasts, analysts said. "It's a decent result in difficult times," said Paul Gait, an analyst at Bernstein in London. Rio's share price was down 0.8 percent by 1445 GMT, while the sector eased 0.3 percent. 'BUILD AND SMART BUY' Relative to the rest of the industry, the world's no.2 iron ore miner is strongly placed as it has cut debt faster than its peers, allowing it to dig new iron ore, copper and bauxite mines. Net debt decreased to $12.9 billion from $13.8 billion in December and Bernstein said the ratio of net debt to EBITDA, closely watched as an indicator of financial health, had fallen to 1.1. Rio Tinto's balance sheet enabled it to announce a half-year dividend of 45 cents a share, in contrast to rivals Anglo American and Brazil's Vale, which have suspended dividends. The payout beat analysts' forecast of 41 cents. Some analysts have said Rio Tinto should use its balance sheet to buy distressed assets rather than build new mines, but Jacques said the assets Rio Tinto wants are not for sale and prices others had paid for stakes in copper mines had been high. As one of the more bullish sectors, world copper supplies could begin to face a deficit in two to three years, and in 10 years' time there would definitely be a shortfall, Jacques said. "We've been very clear - it's about build and smart buy, and the word smart you can put in capital letters," he told reporters. Rio remains on track to cut costs by $2 billion over the two years to December 2017. Rio Tinto says it has learnt the lessons of the past when mining firms typically overspent during periods of high commodity prices, leading to overproduction and then a slump in markets. Jacques said capital expenditure would remain far lower than in the boom at less than $4 billion this year and $5 billion next year. British-era bridge on Indian highway collapses, 20 people missing MUMBAI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - More than 20 people aboard two buses and other vehicles are feared missing after a colonial-era bridge in western India was washed away in the early hours of Wednesday in a river swollen by recent heavy rains. The two buses were on their way to Mumbai when the older of two parallel bridges on the Mumbai-Goa highway, said to have been built under British rule, collapsed near Mahabaleshwar, media reports quoted eyewitnesses as saying. "The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains," Devendra Phadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra state, said on Twitter. Mahabaleshwar is a hill station 230 km (140 miles) south of Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra. "There is no confirmed assessment about casualties since the area is very dark. Administration will ensure speedy rescue and relief operations," Fadnavis said in another tweet. O.P. Singh, chief of the state-run National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), said 80 rescuers, including divers, had rushed to the area but their efforts were being hampered by heavy rains. "We have not even spotted the buses so far," said Rakesh Ranjan, deputy commandant of operations at the NDRF. He said the river's current was very strong. Ranjan said 183 people have died and 7.7 million people have been displaced in four northeastern Indian states alone due to monsoon rains and floods so far this season. In neighbouring Nepal, 84 people have died and 37 were injured in incessant rains, with another 10 still missing. South Sudan president fires ministers allied to rival Machar By Denis Dumo JUBA, Aug 3 (Reuters) - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir fired six ministers allied to his long-time rival Riek Machar late on Tuesday, widening a political rift in the world's newest nation and drawing threats of more fighting. Kiir filled the vacant posts, including petroleum minister, with people linked to a breakaway faction of Machar's SPLM-IO party, further aggravating divisions at the top of the oil producer. Around 60,000 people have fled a fresh outbreak of clashes between the two men's supporters over the past three weeks, the United Nations says, on top of the hundreds of thousands already forced out of their homes by two years of ethnically-charged violence. Both sides agreed a peace deal last year and set up a unity government. But the ceasefire broke down several times and Machar left the capital last month, demanding an international force intervene to keep their forces apart. The chaos has dismayed regional and world powers who helped broker South Sudan's secession from Sudan in 2011, and had hoped its independence would draw a line under decades of war and instability that spread across east Africa. Kiir dismissed the ministers of the interior, petroleum, higher education, labour, water, as well as lands and housing in a statement read out on state television. The replacements were made on the recommendation of Vice President Taban Deng Gai, who announced he was taking over the SPLM-IO in July. "We are not surprised by the steps taken by ... Kiir and Taban Deng Gai," Machar's deputy spokesman, Nyarji Jermlili Roman, said. "We will march to Juba and put an end to this drama if the foreign forces are not deployed," he added, referring to the buffer force demanded by Machar. The two years of civil war that erupted after Kiir sacked Machar as Vice President in 2013 has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced over 2 million, many of whom fled to neighbouring Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan. Indian minister visits Saudi to repatriate 10,000 stranded workers JEDDAH, Aug 3 (Reuters) - A junior Indian foreign minister arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday on a mission to bring home 10,000 laid off Indian workers stranded in the kingdom without enough money for food or plane tickets. Vijay Kumar Singh tweeted that he had arrived in the Western city of Jeddah and begun meeting with the Indian consulate there, adding the hashtag "#NoIndianLeftBehind". A sharp drop in oil prices has led to a spending slowdown in Saudi Arabia, the world's top exporter, and some construction firms that employ South Asian workers have fired their staff. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Saturday that the employers had not paid the workers' wages and that they now faced a food crisis. The Jeddah consulate is distributing emergency food rations to the employees pending efforts to repatriate them. Finland's Kesko posts strong results as retail sector recovers HELSINKI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Finland's second-largest retailer Kesko Oyj reported higher than expected quarterly profit as the economy shows signs of recovery and tough competition in the country's grocery market starts to ease. Following years of stagnation, the Finnish economy grew 0.6 percent in the first quarter from the previous three months and that has allowed retailers to pull back from a price war. Kesko's core operating profit rose to 79.1 million euros ($88.7 million) in the three months to the end of June from 76.4 million a year earlier, ahead of market consensus of 76.8 million euros in a Reuters poll. Shares in Kesko rose almost 6 percent to 41.87 euros by 0800 GMT. Finland's retail sector is highly concentrated, with market leader S Group having a grocery market share of about 46 percent in 2015 while Kesko had around a third. Profit at the grocery division rose slightly from a year earlier, suprising analysts who had on average expected a 14 percent drop. "The competitive situation has eased up somewhat and consumers are a bit more positive. Kesko has also managed to push some price pressure down to the value chain," said Sauli Vilen, analyst at Inderes Equity Research, with 'reduce' rating on the stock. Greece wants 'Plan B' after Turkey threatens to quit EU migrant deal - paper BERLIN, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The European Union needs to come up with an alternative plan for tackling migration after Turkey threatened to back out of an accord to help stem the influx of migrants to Europe, Greece's migration minister told German daily Bild. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said over the weekend that Ankara would back out of the agreement with the EU if the bloc did not deliver the promised visa-free travel for Turks in return. The 28-nation EU is dependent on Ankara to enforce the deal which has sharply cut the number of refugees and migrants leaving Turkish shores for Greece. Grappling with a major financial crisis, Greece struggled to cope with the influx. "We are very concerned," Greek Migration Minister Yannis Mouzalas told mass-selling Bild. "We need, in any case, a Plan B." German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said on Monday Europe would not be blackmailed by Turkey in talks on visa liberalisation, which have been hampered by a dispute over Turkish anti-terrorism legislation and a crackdown after an abortive coup on July 15. Mouzalas also called for a fairer distribution of refugees in Europe, many of whom arrive from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and head for Germany and Sweden. But some countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, have objected to proposed EU quota system for resettling migrants across the bloc. "The refugees must be distributed right away to all EU countries - and not just to individual (states)," he said. More than 257,000 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea from the start of this year to July 27, and at least 3,000 have died, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday. These figures represent a sharp increase from the same period in 2015, the IMO said. Moneysupermarket.com CEO to step down; H1 profit rises Aug 3 (Reuters) - Price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com Group Plc said Chief Executive Peter Plumb would step down by May next year, but did not cite any reasons for his departure. Plumb, who took over as chief executive in 2009, has seen the company's share price jump from 45 pence to 302 pence and its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rise at a 20 percent compound annual growth rate, Chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown said. "This looks a net negative for us as we think he has done a good job, but certainly not indicative of issues/problems," Investec analysts wrote in a note. Plumb is stepping down citing personal reasons and he has not planned a new position yet, Investec analysts said. Shares in the company fell as much as 5 percent on Wednesday on the London Stock Exchange. The company said a formal process to appoint Plumb's successor had begun. Peel Hunt analysts said Plumb's resignation would interest and possibly unsettle the market. "This change comes at a time of broader corporate moves within the PCW (price comparison website) sector, suggesting a swift resolution would be welcome," Peel Hunt analysts said. The company, which started as a mortgage listings firm in 1993, reported a 6 percent rise in adjusted operating profit at 53.8 million pounds ($71.5 million) in the six months to June 30, in line with its guidance. Revenue rose 10 percent with strong growth in its money and home services, said the company, whose brands include TravelSupermarket.com and MoneySavingExpert.com. The group, which calls itself the largest price comparison website operating in the UK, saw single-digit growth in July and said it was confident of delivering its expectations for the full year. Analysts expect it to post an operating profit of 98.10 million pounds for the year, according to Thomson Reuters data. MoneySuperMarket.com shares were down 4.5 percent at 288.5 pence at 0757 GMT, underperforming the Stoxx Europe 600 Eur Price Index. Bitcoin worth $72 mln stolen from Bitfinex exchange in Hong Kong By Clare Baldwin HONG KONG, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Nearly 120,000 units of digital currency bitcoin worth about US$72 million was stolen from the exchange platform Bitfinex in Hong Kong, rattling the global bitcoin community in the second-biggest security breach ever of such an exchange. Bitfinex is the world's largest dollar-based exchange for bitcoin, and is known in the digital currency community for having deep liquidity in the U.S. dollar/bitcoin currency pair. Zane Tackett, Director of Community & Product Development for Bitfinex, told Reuters on Wednesday that 119,756 bitcoin had been stolen from users' accounts and that the exchange had not yet decided how to address customer losses. "The bitcoin was stolen from users' segregated wallets," he said. The company said it had reported the theft to law enforcement and was cooperating with top blockchain analytic companies to track the stolen coins. Last year, Bitfinex announced a tie-up with Palo Alto-based BitGo, which uses multiple-signature security to store user deposits online, allowing for faster withdrawals. "Our investigation has found no evidence of a breach to any BitGo servers," BitGo said in a Tweet. "With users' funds secured using multi-signature technology in partnership with BitGo, a lot more is at stake for the backbone of the bitcoin industry, with its stalwarts and prided tech under fire," said Charles Hayter, chief executive and founder of digital currency website CryptoCompare. The security breach comes two months after Bitfinex was ordered to pay a $75,000 fine by the U.S. Commodity and Futures Trading Commission in part for offering illegal off-exchange financed commodity transactions in bitcoin and other digital currencies. BITCOIN SLUMP Tuesday's breach triggered a slump in bitcoin prices and was reminiscent of events that led to the 2014 collapse of Tokyo-based exchange Mt Gox, which said it had lost about $500 million worth of customers' Bitcoins in a hacking attack. Bitcoin plunged just over 23 percent on Tuesday after the news broke. On Wednesday it was up 1 percent at $545.20 on the BitStamp platform. Tackett added that the breach did not "expose any weaknesses in the security of a blockchain", the technology that generates and processes bitcoin, a web-based "cryptocurrency" that can move across the globe anonymously without the need for a central authority. A bitcoin expert said the scandal highlighted the risks of companies using cryptography for their ledgers. "The more you rely on its benefits, the greater the potential for damage when keys are stolen. We still have some way to go to create highly secure but convenient systems," said Singapore-based Antony Lewis. The volume of bitcoin stolen amounts to about 0.75 percent of all bitcoin in circulation. It is not yet clear whether the theft was an inside job or whether hackers were able to gain access to the system externally. On an online forum, Bitfinex's Tackett said he was "nearly 100 percent certain" it was no one in the company. Bitfinex suspended trading on Tuesday after it discovered the breach. It said on its website that it was investigating and cooperating with the authorities. The security breach is the latest scandal to hit Hong Kong's bitcoin market after MyCoin became embroiled in a scam last year that media estimated could have duped investors of up to $387 million. The bitcoin trading company closed after the scandal. The president of the Hong Kong Bitcoin Association said the only way to protect information is to disperse it in so many small pieces that the reward for hacking is too small. "For an attacker, the cost-benefit strategy is quite easy: How much is in the pot and how likely is it that I'm getting the pot?" said Leonhard Weese. Italian police arrest Syrian suspected of trying to join militants ROME, Aug 3 (Reuters) - A Syrian man was arrested in the northern Italian city of Genoa on Wednesday on suspicion of planning to travel to his home country to join Islamist militants, police said. Anti-terrorism officers detained the unemployed 23-year-old on charges of supporting international terrorism, though there was no indication he was planning any attacks in Italy, police added. Also on Wednesday, Rome's police commissioner unveiled new anti-terrorism measures for the city, which is seen as a potential target partly due to the Vatican and Pope Francis. The arrested Syrian is suspected of wanting to join the Nusra Front Islamist rebel group, which re-branded itself last week as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and cut ties with the al Qaeda jihadist network. Police said they were investigating the arrested man's relationship with other foreigners in the Genoa area to determine whether they were trying to recruit fighters. The man's brother and three Libyans were among those being investigated, and several mosques or Islamic cultural centres in Genoa and the city of Rapallo about 28 kilometres (17.4 miles) away had been searched, police sources said. In Rome, new security plans include stationing police at entry points to the Colosseum amphitheatre and extending an existing "maximum security zone" around St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. In an apparent response to last week's murder of a priest in a French church, Rome increased surveillance of religious sites around the city, the police commissioner said in a statement. Authorities will also inspect shopping centres to prepare contingency plans, an apparent reaction to the shooting dead of nine people in a Munich mall last month. Rome police will also step up checks on cruise ship passengers and night clubs, and "clean up" illegal settlements along the banks of the Tiber river. Why is oil market rebalancing taking so long? Kemp By John Kemp LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Rebalancing the oil market is proving a long and frustrating process because the oil-exporting countries hit hardest by the slump were themselves some of the fastest-growing oil consumers before prices tumbled. As oil revenues have shrivelled, their economies have slowed or gone into recession, removing one of the most dynamic drivers of oil demand, and leaving the rest of the world economy to fill the gap. The slowdown in demand from oil-exporting countries has worsened the oversupply situation and prolonged the market rebalancing process ("Commodity slump intensifies risks to emerging markets", Reuters, Oct. 8 ). Rebalancing has come to rely on production cuts, and stimulating additional demand from China and India, as well as the advanced economies which had shown little or negative growth prior to 2014. The first stage of the rebalancing process is therefore proving exceptionally difficult and slow because it is fighting the headwinds caused by the drop in oil prices. Once prices start rising significantly, however, the market is likely to tighten faster than many analysts expect because oil consumption in emerging markets is likely to accelerate again with the extra oil revenues. NEW CONSUMERS Oil-exporting countries accounted for more than one third of the global increase in oil consumption outside the United States between 2004 and 2014, as rising oil revenues fuelled a boom in their domestic economies. Between 2004 and 2014, oil consumption outside the United States increased by 11.4 million barrels per day (bpd) ("Statistical Review of World Energy", BP, 2016). Fifteen oil-exporting countries identified separately in the BP Statistical Review accounted for 4.2 million bpd of extra demand (Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Norway, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Algeria, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates). Consumption growth was especially rapid in Saudi Arabia (+1.7 million bpd), Russia (+0.6 million bpd), Iran (+0.5 million bpd) and the United Arab Emirates (+0.3 million bpd). But with the exception of Mexico, every one of the 15 oil-exporting countries analysed separately in the review reported increased domestic oil consumption during the decade to 2014. All the rest of global oil consumption growth was attributable to China (+4.4 million bpd), India (+1.3 million bpd) and Brazil (+1.2 million bpd). Brazil experienced its own oil- and agriculture-driven boom between 2004 and 2014. Brazil behaved like an oil-exporting economy even though the country continued to import refined fuels. Oil consumption surged by 1.2 million bpd between 2004 and 2014 while oil production rose by just 800,000 bpd. Brazil has subsequently been hit hard by the drop in oil and other commodity revenues ("Brazil's fuel consumption falls as the economy shrinks", Reuters, May 6 ). If Brazil is analysed as an oil-exporting economy, then the group accounted for nearly half of all the growth in global oil consumption between 2004 and 2014. POSITIVE FEEDBACK Commentators tend to divide the world into "net consuming" and "net exporting" countries but the 15 major exporters accounted for 17.3 million bpd of oil consumption in 2014, up from 13.1 million a decade earlier. Surging oil prices between 2004 and 2014 brought an enormous influx of revenue for exporters, stimulating their economies and resulting in a surge in internal demand for everything from vehicles to electricity and construction. Paradoxically, higher oil prices helped tighten the global oil market because they stimulated even more demand growth in oil-exporting economies. The price-revenue-demand relationship is one of many positive feedback mechanisms operating in the oil market which have tended to amplify price swings and intensify the price cycle. Once oil prices slumped, however, the mechanism shifted into reverse. Falling revenues caused oil-exporting economies to slow and forced cutbacks in government, business and household spending. Since the middle of 2014, domestic oil demand in the major oil-exporting countries has levelled off or even started to fall ("Middle East economic slowdown will cut oil demand growth", Reuters, Jan. 20 ). Total oil consumption in the 15 major exporters actually declined by 90,000 bpd in 2015 and is likely to decline again in 2016. The slump in oil-exporting economies is a major reason why global economic growth and trade have been so sluggish in the last two years. Lower oil prices have produced a negative shock for the global economy because the hit to investment and consumption in exporting countries is large and immediate while gains for consuming countries are smaller and take longer to materialise. SLOW ADJUSTMENT So far, the United States has been excluded from the analysis because it is both a larger oil producer and consumer, has been a limited exporter until recently, and has a large and diversified economy, unlike any other major oil exporter. U.S. oil consumption declined by 1.6 million bpd between 2004 and 2014, mostly as a result of increased efficiency, while domestic production rose by around 4.5 million bpd, mostly thanks to shale. In many ways, the United States was responsible for the end of the oil boom by reducing its own oil demand while boosting supply, resulting in an enormous net shift in the global oil balance. The country is slated to play an outsized role in rebalancing, with shale production already down sharply, and oil consumption increasing for the first time since 2005 (excluding the post-recession rebound in 2010). The other advanced economies in Europe and Asia account for a relatively small share of global consumption and are not dynamic enough to contribute much to rebalancing on either the demand or supply sides. Apollo consortium frontfrunner for Anglo's $1.5 bln Australian coal assets -sources By Anjuli Davies LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - A consortium led by private equity firm Apollo Global Management has emerged as the frontrunner for Anglo American's metallurgical coal mines in Australia, valued at up to $1.5 billion, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Anglo American, like its peers, is selling off prized assets after a prolonged commodities rout that has left it with high levels of debt. The mining firm said in February that discussions were underway about divesting its Moranbah and Grosvenor assets, as part of its plans to sell $3-4 billion of assets this year in order to cut debt. The process is being run by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Apollo has now teamed up with energy-focused private equity firm Riverstone Holdings and Pennsylvania coal exporter Xcoal Energy & Resources, founded by Ernie Thrasher and Chris Cline, a billionaire entrepreneur often dubbed the King of Coal, and is on site finalising details of the deal, one of the sources familiar with the matter said. The consortium, which has yet to enter exclusive talks but could sign a deal within weeks, has financing lined up from four banks, this source said speaking on condition of anonymity. Reuters previously reported that major mining firms BHP Billiton and Glencore as well as suitors from China, Japan and India were looking at the assets. Anglo American last week booked a $1.2 billion impairment on the value of the Moranbah-Grosvenor assets, which it said reflected a weaker outlook for the price of metallurgical coal, used in steel making. It said it could not comment on the "ongoing" sale process. Apollo, Riverstone and Glencore declined to comment, whilst Xcoal and BHP Billiton did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "It's a complex process," Anglo American Chief Executive Mark Cutifani said last week. Several bankers said BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), the world's largest metallurgical coal exporter, has bid for the assets, but could run into competition issues in China and Japan, which would slow down completion of a sale at a time when Anglo American needs cash to pay down debt. One banker said the private equity consortium had put in a higher offer than BMA, but financing was the key stumbling block because banks, under pressure from clean energy campaigners, are reluctant to lend to the coal industry. Maoist chief Prachanda elected as Nepal prime minister KATHMANDU, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Nepal's parliament elected former Maoist rebel chief Prachanda, who led a decade-long insurgency that toppled a Hindu monarchy, as prime minister on Wednesday after predecessor K.P. Oli resigned rather than face defeat in a vote of no confidence. Pushpa Kamal Dahal, 61, who still uses a nom de guerre that means "Fierce", won 363 votes out of the 573 cast in the 595-member parliament, Speaker Onsari Gharti said. Central London house prices show biggest fall in 7 years after Brexit LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - House prices in London's most expensive areas recorded their biggest fall in nearly seven years in July after the Brexit vote reinforced a downward trend caused by a rise in property taxes, a consultancy said on Wednesday. Knight Frank's prime central London index fell 1.5 percent last month from a year earlier, due to the uncertainty created by the June 23 referendum and a rise in property taxes which pushed up prices and brought sales forward to the start of 2016. "Since the vote, a number of buyers have requested discounts due to the climate of political and economic uncertainty," Head of London Residential Research Tom Bill said. "The decision to leave the European Union has provided a backdrop of short-term uncertainty that is affecting behaviour in the prime central London property market," he said. Prime central London stretches from Notting Hill and Knightsbridge, home to department store Harrods, in the west to the City of London and Islington towards the north and east. In Knightsbridge, prices fell 7.3 percent last month, the biggest drop of any of the 15 areas examined whilst the biggest rise was 5.3 percent in the City of London. Property prices in the capital's most desirable areas began recording annual declines in the run-up to the vote, according to Knight Frank, but July's fall is the biggest since October 2009, when Britain began recovering from the 2007-8 financial crisis. But Knight Frank said that the primary reason for the decline remained changes to stamp duty, a property tax, which raised the amount paid on the most expensive properties and on second homes and buy-to-let investments, key to the central London market. Commercial property took the biggest hit in the wake of the EU referendum with investors pulling out money from funds, forcing some to be suspended. But there have been warnings in recent weeks from housebuilders and estate agents that residential property prices and demand could suffer. Britain's biggest housebuilder, Barratt Developments , said last month that it might slow the pace of construction to prepare itself for an expected slowdown. London-focussed estate agent Foxtons blamed Brexit for its slump in profits. Knight Frank said rental values last month fell 3.6 percent in London, a city where many young professionals cannot afford to buy their own homes due to high property prices. The number of prospective tenants fell 6.8 percent year-on-year in the three months to the end of June, impacted by the vote, it said. Germany hands ex-Yugoslav spies life sentences for dissident murder By Joern Poltz MUNICH, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Two former Yugoslav intelligence chiefs were jailed for life by a German court on Wednesday for masterminding the murder of a Yugoslav dissident in the southern German state of Bavaria more than three decades ago. The court in Munich found Croats Josip Perkovic, 71, and Zdravko Mustac, 74, who were top officials in the communist-era Yugoslav secret service, guilty of complicity in the murder of Stjepan Durekovic, also a Croat. Durekovic was found dead of gunshot wounds and head injuries in a garage in the town of Wolfratshausen in 1983. The crime went back three decades to the period before the break-up of Yugoslavia in war in the early 1990s leading to the emergence of seven independent Balkan states. "The prime motive was to kill a regime critic, a separatist," presiding judge Manfred Dauster told the higher regional court in Munich. "Durekovic was to be muzzled - politically, but also physically." Croatia extradited Perkovic and Mustac in 2014, under pressure from Germany. Defence lawyers plan go to Germany's federal high court to appeal Wednesday's ruling in Munich. If the sentences are upheld, Perkovic and Mustac will be able to apply to serve them in Croatia. Another man, the owner of the garage who had managed to win Durekovic's confidence, was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany in 2008 for his part in the murder. At the time, the court established that 22 Croats were murdered in West Germany, at the behest of the Yugoslav leadership. Croatia initially refused to comply with Germany's extradition requests for the two men, triggering a diplomatic dispute in 2013 that threatened to overshadow the state's accession to the European Union. Shortly before joining the EU on July 1 2013, in a move that irked its EU partners, Zagreb changed its laws to prevent the extradition of suspects in crimes committed before 2002, when new EU extradition rules took effect. The Zagreb government said at the time that it wanted to protect veterans of Croatia's 1991-95 independence war from facing potential prosecution elsewhere in the EU. It denied any connection with the Perkovic case and pointed out that some EU member states had the same 2002 time limit. The government later removed the time restriction after the European Commission warned it could face legal action, including possible loss of EU development funds. Perkovic helped set up Croatia's national intelligence agency as it seceded from Belgrade in 1991, when Yugoslavia broke up in bloodshed, and held senior security posts through the 1990s. Malaysian man charged with rape escapes jail after marrying 14-year-old victim By Beh Lih Yi JAKARTA, Aug 3 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A Malaysian man charged with raping a 14-year-old girl has avoided prison after he married her in a case that has sparked anger from rights groups and calls for a ban on child marriage and justice for victims of sexual violence. Ahmad Syukri Yusuf, 22, was charged with statutory rape of the girl late last year and faced up to 30 years in jail and whipping for the offence, but he later married the teenager under Islamic law, according to prosecutor Ahmad Fariz Abdul Hamid. The prosecutor said a court in Kuching, in Malaysia's eastern state of Sarawak ruled there was no need to proceed with the case after Ahmad Syukri submitted a marriage certificate and the girl withdrew the complaint. Delivered last week, the court ruling prompted fury from women's rights groups. "It is very common for rapists to marry their survivors, especially when they are underage, to cover up their crime," Kuala Lumpur-based Women's Aid Organisation spokeswoman Tan Heang Lee told Thomson Reuters Foundation. "There is usually a high risk in this kind of cases that these girls will be subject to a lifetime of sexual abuse. Her marriage is basically an extension to rape," she added. Under Malaysia's civil laws, the legal minimum age for marriage is 18 but Muslim girls who are under 16 can obtain permission to marry from Islamic courts. Ethnic Malays, who are Muslim, make up about 60 percent of the country's 30 million population. There are about 16,000 girls in Malaysia who were married before their 15th birthday, according to Human Rights Watch citing the latest available government statistics in 2010. Globally, 15 million girls are married before the age of 18 each year according to campaign group Girls Not Brides. Ann Teo, vice-president of the Kuching-based Sarawak Women for Women Society, said accused rapists should be prevented from marrying their victims. Besieged by Republican criticism, Trump insists campaign is unified By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Republican Donald Trump insisted on Wednesday that his presidential campaign is unified, even as he faces open revolt from some in his party amid one of the most disruptive controversies of his unruly White House run. "There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before. I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support. Beat Crooked H!" the Republican nominee wrote on Twitter early Wednesday, referring to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. The message belied the chaos that has erupted in the Republican Party after the New York real estate magnate engaged for days in a public dispute with the parents of a Muslim American soldier who died in Iraq. The uproar has led many Republicans to distance themselves from Trump and voice support for the Khan family. Several media outlets reported on Wednesday that the campaign is in disarray and that Trump had rejected advice from his staff to drop the battle with the Khans. According to one news report, the Republican National Committee is looking at its options in case Trump drops out. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus is furious about the dispute with the Khans and has spoken with Trump repeatedly asking him to change course, ABC News reported Wednesday. It said senior officials are looking into how to replace Trump on the Republican ticket for the Nov. 8 election. The Trump campaign had no immediate comment on the report. Late on Tuesday, Meg Whitman, a prominent Republican fundraiser and chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise , endorsed Clinton's White House bid, calling Trump an "authoritarian character" and a threat to democracy. In an interview with The New York Times, Whitman said it was time "to put country first before party." Trump has had a running dispute with Khizr and Ghazala Khan since they took the stage at last week's Democratic National Convention to cite their son's sacrifice and criticize Trump's proposal to combat terrorism by temporarily banning Muslims from entering the United States. Many Republican leaders, including House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain, have criticized Trump's attacks on the parents of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who received the Bronze Star Medal after he died in Iraq in 2004. TIDE OF CRITICISM Trump hit back on Tuesday by denying both Ryan and McCain support in their re-election bids, in an interview with The Washington Post. Even Trump's longtime ally, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, said on Tuesday it was inappropriate to criticize the Khan family. Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican in Congress to endorse Clinton, although several other Republicans in Congress have said they will not support Trump. The dispute over Trump's treatment of the Khans, coming just two weeks after he was formally anointed the White House nominee at the Republicans' convention, was the latest rift in a party already frayed by internal dissent over Trump. A former reality TV star who has never held public office, Trump swept aside 16 rivals to win the party primary contests, winning support particularly from white blue-collar workers who feel neglected by the political establishment. His plans have included the ban on Muslims and building a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. He has also proposed renegotiating trade treaties, opening up to Russia, revamping NATO and has suggested Japan and South Korea should get nuclear weapons. Trump's incendiary and often off-the-cuff rhetoric on Muslims, women and Mexican immigrants has drawn widespread criticism, including from some Republicans. On Tuesday, Democratic President Barack Obama unleashed his strongest attack yet on Trump, calling him unfit for the presidency and asking Republican leaders why they continued to endorse him given their repeated criticisms of his actions. Iran executes Kurdish Islamists for armed attacks By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin DUBAI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Iran executed up to 20 Kurdish Islamists suspected of attacks on security forces, drawing condemnation from rights groups which said the convictions may have been based on forced confessions. State news agency IRNA said members of the Tawhid and Jihad group were executed on Tuesday, but did not give a figure. Rights groups said between 10 and 20 people were killed. They were convicted of killing two Sunni Muslim clerics, several police and wildlife guards, abducting a number of people and carrying out armed robbery and bombings in Western Iran, IRNA said. Iranian state television broadcast what it said were the confessions of some members of the Sunni Muslim group, in which they said they targeted both Shi'ite and Sunni clerics whose ideologies they regarded as heresy. Iran's seven million Kurds make up around 10 percent of the population. Most live in Kurdistan and other northwestern provinces on the border with Iraq. Many Kurds seek greater rights for their region. The area has seen increased clashes between Kurdish militants and government security forces in recent months. Iran's Intelligence Ministry said in a statement carried by IRNA that more than 100 members of the Tawhid and Jihad "terrorist" group had been identified, many of whom had been arrested or killed in clashes since 2011. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, an independent organisation based in New York, said 20 prisoners had been hanged. It said Iran's Supreme Court had rejected the appeal of one of the convicts, Shahram Ahmadi, against his death sentence despite assertions his confession was made under torture. Human Rights Watch condemned Iran for what it said was the "mass execution of at least 10 prisoners". Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW's Middle East and North Africa director, said Iran had executed at least 230 people in 2016. Iran is one of the world's top executioners, international rights groups say. Amnesty International said Iran executed at least 977 people in 2015, compared to 320 executions in Pakistan and at least 158 in Saudi Arabia. Iran rejects international criticism of its rights record as politically motivated. UAE healthcare firm AVIVO aims to raise $500 mln in London float in March DUBAI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - United Arab Emirates-based healthcare firm AVIVO Group aims to list in London next March and raise around $500 million from the offering, its chairman told Reuters on Wednesday. The company is the latest from the emirates' burgeoning healthcare sector to seek a listing in Britain, as restrictive listing rules in their home jurisdiction and the lure of selling to institutional investors that are specialists in the industry draw them to London. AVIVO Group has 43 healthcare outlets, including hospitals, clinics and dentistry services, the majority of which are in the UAE but also in Kuwait. "We're planning nine months from now, end of March," Chairman Shailesh Dash said of the initial public offering, adding the listing will combine both shares from current investors and also new shares to provide funding to the company. The company will select banks in the first week of September to arrange the IPO, he said. Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank assisted the company in arranging a round of pre-IPO funding to bring in new investors, so they are "some of the favourites" to be mandated on the flotation, Dash said in an interview. However, there were other banks looking to be chosen as arrangers and a pitching process to review applications was ongoing, he said. The company could choose to bring in other professional investors before the listing or as cornerstone investors as part of the offering, Dash said. AVIVO announced in May an investment by IDB Infrastructure Fund II, a fund sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank. AVIVO is seeking to expand its operations into other Gulf countries, including Qatar and Oman by the end of this year, by opening new facilities and also via acquisitions. It announced last week it had purchased a majority stake in Kalium Group, which specialises in aesthetic medical procedures and distributing medical supplies. The UAE healthcare sector has experienced substantial growth in recent years as an increasingly wealthy population becomes more susceptible to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. Italy would "positively consider" U.S. request to use airbases for Libya strikes ROME, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Italy signalled it would most likely allow the use of its airbases and airspace for strikes against Islamic State militants in Libya if the United States asks, Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti said on Wednesday. "The government is ready to consider positively a request to use airbases and national airspace, and support the operation, if it is believed that it would lead to a more rapid and effective conclusion of the ongoing action," Pinotti said in testimony to the lower house of parliament. U.S. planes began bombing Islamic State targets in Libya on Monday at the request of the U.N.-backed government in Tripoli to help push militants from their former stronghold of Sirte. OMV CEO says Iran oil contracts not yet ready for investment By Shadia Nasralla and Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich VIENNA, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Iran's oil contracts are not yet fit for Austrian energy group OMV to invest in planned projects in the country, which hopes foreign investment will revamp its ageing oil infrastructure, OMV's chief executive told Reuters on Wednesday. In May, four months after most international sanctions against Iran were lifted after it agreed to shrink its nuclear programme, OMV signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Iranian Oil Company for several projects there. OMV Chief Executive Rainer Seele said in an interview that talks to fine-tune a model contract for international oil companies have not been successful yet. "This process is still ongoing, this is taking quite a long time... We have not yet defined a clean framework for the projects that are interesting for us," Seele said when asked how long this might take. "We can make an investment decision only when we really know what the framework and the conditions are." OMV's envisaged projects are in the Zagros area in western Iran, including the Cheshmeh Khosh and Band-E-Karkheh fields where OMV had started operations in 2001, and the Fars field in the south. Iran's cabinet on Wednesday approved a draft for the country's new oil and gas contracts that includes 150 changes to a previous model contract, state broadcaster IRIB said. Another hurdle for OMV to start injecting fresh money into Iran, which needs $200 billion to return to pre-sanctions output levels, is an outstanding debt Iran owes OMV to reimburse it for past appraisal and exploration activities. "If you owe me money and you're not giving it back to me and then want to proceed with me in the future, would you think that's a good combination?" Seele said of the debt linked to OMV's activities before international sanctions were imposed on Iran in 2006. Spain's Rajoy says budget talks with rival are first step amid deadlock MADRID, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Wednesday his People's Party (PP) and smaller rival Ciudadanos had taken a first step towards unfreezing deadlocked Spanish politics by agreeing to discuss a 2017 budget proposal due in mid-October. Rajoy said a day earlier that Spain may have to hold its third election in under a year if parties such as the Socialists continued their steadfast opposition to his centre-right PP and its efforts to form a government. Spain has been under a caretaker administration for nearly eight months after a December election stripped the PP of its majority in parliament and coalition talks were inconclusive. Another election in June also failed to result in a government. "This is a first step and, as you know, even the longest journey always starts with a first step," Rajoy told a news conference after meeting Ciudadanos (Citizens) leader Albert Rivera. The centrist Ciudadanos has been the most forthcoming of Rajoy's rivals, promising to abstain in any parliamentary confidence vote to allow a PP government. But Ciudadanos, which came fourth in both ballots, has too few seats to form a parliamentary majority with the PP alone. For this only the Socialists are big enough, but the party has repeatedly said it would oppose Rajoy. At an earlier news conference, Rivera heaped pressure on Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, urging him and his party to accept a PP-led minority government. "If he keeps up his inflexible 'no, no, no' stance, Spain will be condemned to a perpetual blockage and an unprecedented institutional crisis," Rivera said. It is unclear how long negotiations between parties can drag on for. Rajoy accepted a mandate from Spain's King Felipe to form a government but has yet to set a date for a confidence vote. At Wednesday's news conference, Rajoy announced the PP had drafted a list of ten policy proposals to form the basis of any coalition talks, and that he and Rivera had agreed to discuss the most pressing, the 2017 national budget, plans for which need to be presented to Brussels by mid-October. Other policies on the list include an education reform, tweaks to labour laws and an overhaul of the regional financing and welfare systems, he said. Clinton campaign studying alternative to U.S. ethanol mandate By Valerie Volcovici and Rory Carroll WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign has solicited advice from California regulators on how to revamp a federal regulation requiring biofuels like corn-based ethanol be blended into the nation's gasoline supply, according to campaign and state officials. The move is the clearest sign yet that, if elected, Clinton would seek to adjust the regulation, called the Renewable Fuel Standard, possibly hurting her chances in corn-growing states like Iowa where she faces a tough battle against Republican rival Donald Trump in the Nov. 8 election. The Renewable Fuel Standard, created by Congress in 2005, mandates that transportation fuel sold in the United States contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels. It was intended to cut greenhouse gas emissions and expand the U.S. renewable fuels sector while lowering reliance on imported oil, but is opposed by the oil industry and environmentalists and has been criticized as a mere subsidy to corn producers. Clinton advisers have contacted the California Air Resources Board to discuss whether a policy like California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a market-based system rather than a mandate, could be applied at a national level to replace or augment the Renewable Fuel Standard, CARB officials said. Mary Nichols, head of the CARB, said she discussed the state's regulations with Clinton advisers. While a backer of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Nichols said she told Clinton's advisers they could avoid political backlash by focusing on other carbon-reduction strategies instead, such as expanding electric vehicle sales and cleaning up emissions from coal-fired electricity. Nichols did not provide further details on the discussions. A Clinton campaign official, who asked not to be named, confirmed the discussions with CARB but gave no further details. A campaign spokesman said the campaign has been seeking advice from "a diverse set of stakeholders." Former Obama administration climate and energy adviser Heather Zichal said on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week that the Renewable Fuel Standard was broken, but that a Clinton administration could make "modifications" to fix it. "Mandates aren't necessarily a perfect way to regulate," Zichal said at the July 27 event. The U.S. corn lobby hopes to convince both Clinton and Trump to uphold the regulation, which requires a doubling of U.S. biofuels use to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022, when congressionally mandated volume targets are set to expire. The program is designed to last indefinitely after that. Environmentalists, anti-hunger activists and the oil sector have called for the rule to be repealed or changed because they say it raises food and fuel costs without delivering the emissions reductions that it was intended to achieve. MARKET-BASED SYSTEM The California regulation, a key part of the state's effort to combat climate change, requires a 10 percent reduction in the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by 2020, but leaves it up to companies to decide how to reach that target. California enacted the Low Carbon Fuel Standard in 2007 targeting oil refiners and distributors that sell in the California market. It angered Midwestern ethanol interests because the regulation counts the carbon dioxide footprint of transporting biofuels into the state for blending, effectively blocking many of those imports. Oil companies have also complained that the regulation is costly. Clinton in May expressed support for the federal Renewable Fuel Standard in an opinion piece published in an Iowa newspaper, but also said it could be improved. "We have to get the RFS back on track in a way that provides investors with the certainty they need, protects consumers, improves access to E15, E85, (ethanol blends) and biodiesel blends, and effectively drives the development of cellulosic and other advanced biofuels," Clinton wrote in the May 28 column in the Iowa Gazette. Clinton's openness to overhauling the Renewable Fuel Standard appears to contrast with Trump's position. During the state-by-state battle for the Republican presidential nomination, Trump said he supported the biofuel mandates set out in the Renewable Fuel Standard. Corn and ethanol industry lobbyists said they have been talking with both the Clinton and Trump campaigns to argue in favor of the Renewable Fuel Standard. U.N. Security Council to meet on North Korea missile launch -diplomats UNITED NATIONS, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council will meet on Wednesday over the latest North Korea missile launch after the United States and Japan requested the meeting, diplomats said. North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Wednesday that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters for the first time, the latest in a series of launches by the isolated country in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions. South Sudan president fires ministers allied to rival Machar By Denis Dumo JUBA, Aug 3 (Reuters) - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir fired six ministers allied to his long-time rival Riek Machar late on Tuesday, widening a political rift in the world's newest nation and drawing threats of more fighting. Kiir filled the vacant posts, including petroleum minister, with people linked to a breakaway faction of Machar's SPLM-IO party, further aggravating divisions between senior politicians in the oil producing nation. About 60,000 people have fled an outbreak of fighting between supporters of the two men in the past three weeks, the United Nations said, on top of the hundreds of thousands already forced to flee in two years of ethnically charged violence. U.N. emergency relief coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, told a news conference during a visit to Juba that the violence and "the culture of impunity" must stop before the humanitarian crisis worsened even further. The two years of civil war that erupted after Kiir sacked Machar as vice president in 2013 has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than 2 million, many of whom fled to neighbouring Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan. The personal rivalry between Kiir, from the Dinka group, and Machar, a Nuer, has worsened ethnic splits in a country awash with weapons. Both sides agreed a peace deal last year and set up a unity government. But the ceasefire broke down several times and Machar left the capital last month, demanding an international force intervene to keep their forces apart. The chaos has dismayed regional and world powers who helped broker South Sudan's secession from Sudan in 2011, and had hoped its independence would draw a line under decades of war and instability that spread across east Africa. In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner voiced dismay at the conflict and appeared to blame both sides. "The United States is deeply disappointed in the leadership of South Sudan, that given the opportunity of independence, and then frankly a second chance that came with the August 2015 peace agreement, have thus far failed to put aside personal power struggles for the good of their people," he told a daily briefing. Toner said the United States was putting pressure on both sides to end the violence. Kiir dismissed the ministers of the interior, petroleum, higher education, labour, water, as well as lands and housing in a statement read out on state television. The replacements were made on the recommendation of Vice President Taban Deng Gai, who announced he was taking over the SPLM-IO in July. With FDA approval, GM mosquitoes could join Florida's Zika fight By Kate Kelland LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes could be let loose in Florida's battle against the Zika virus if regulators approve them - and a decision is expected imminently, according to British firm Oxitec that engineers the insects. Modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes - genetically altered so their offspring die before being able to reproduce - are under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for possible use in the United States. Oxitec wants to conduct an investigational trial in the Florida Keys region to evaluate the GM strain's effectiveness in reducing populations of Aedes mosquitoes, which can spread diseases including Zika, dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya. Efficacy trials in Brazil, Panama, and the Cayman Islands showed that its genetically modified mosquitoes can reduce localised Aedes aegypti populations by more than 90 percent. As well as FDA approval, the Florida district's board has pledged to seek residents' approval before going ahead. Some Florida residents have signed a petition expressing concern about the release of the GM insects, saying they could have unknown and unintended effects on the ecosystem. Oxitec's head of field operations Andrew McKemey told reporters in London on Wednesday that his firm had been invited by the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District to propose a pilot study of the technology. "We expect a decision (from the FDA) any minute now," McKemey said. "We've already built a laboratory there (in Florida) - a mass production unit - so (with approval) we could start immediately." The Zika outbreak was first detected last year in Brazil, where it has been linked to more than 1,700 cases of microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies. The virus has spread rapidly through the Americas and Caribbean and its arrival in the continental United States, where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes thrive in the warmer southern states, had been widely anticipated. Florida health officials have so far confirmed 15 non-travel related cases of Zika. Egyptian Mubarak-era tycoon gives up 75 pct of wealth in reconciliation deal CAIRO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Hussein Salem, a businessman and ally of Egypt's deposed president Hosni Mubarak, and his family have given up 75 percent of their wealth in a deal that will allow them to return to Egypt without facing prosecution, his lawyer said. Salem was arrested in 2011 under an international warrant in Spain, where he fled in the aftermath of the 18-day popular uprising that ended Mubarak's 30-year rule. An Egyptian court sentenced him in absentia to seven years in jail and fines totalling more than $4 billion in 2011 after convicting him of money laundering and profiteering. He later faced further graft-related convictions but was cleared in 2014 of charges related to gas exports to Israel along with Mubarak and a former oil minister. "I am very happy with the outcome of the case and feel that we can begin to move forward," says Mahmoud Kabish, a former dean of the Faculty of Law at Cairo University and Salem's lawyer. Salem, who also holds Spanish citizenship, was a major shareholder in East Mediterranean Gas (EMG). Egyptian opposition groups had long complained that EMG was selling gas at preferential prices to Israel and other countries, depriving Egypt of potential revenues. Egypt's Illicit Gains Authority recovered 5.3 billion Egyptian pounds ($596.85 million) in the reconciliation deal with the Salem family, according to state television. Adel al-Saeed, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, said the tycoon transferred 75 percent of his wealth to state ownership, including land, agriculture, and hotels. Saeed said the deal guaranteed that Salem and his family, who also had extensive investments in Red Sea resorts, could return to Egypt without facing prosecution. Emirates chairman says firefighter died in plane disaster DUBAI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - A firefighter was killed while battling flames that erupted when an Emirates airline plane flying from India crash-landed in Dubai, the carrier's chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum said on Wednesday. Sheikh Ahmed said authorities were still investigating the incident, in which 14 other people were admitted to hospitals with mainly minor or moderate injuries. He said the crash-landing was not caused by any security breach. He said the plane, which had entered service in 2003, had undergone maintenance in 2015 and that the United Arab Emirates pilot had over 7,000 hours of flying experience. Hezbollah sees no immediate end to Syria war, partition in Iraq and Syria a possible outcome By Samia Nakhoul, Laila Bassam and Suleiman Al-Khalidi Beirut, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah said the partition of Iraq and Syria was a possible outcome of sectarian fighting across the region and there was no prospect of any end to the war in Syria until after November's U.S. presidential election. Sheikh Naim Qassem, deputy leader of the Iran-backed group, whose forces are fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad against rebels supported by Western and regional powers, said Hezbollah, Iran and Russia would stand by Assad until the end. In an interview with Reuters, he said recapturing Aleppo, Syria's second major city where a decisive battle is unfolding, remained an objective but was not an immediate goal. The U.S. and its allies say that by waging war against his own people, Assad can have no future in Syria, while Russia and Iran, wholly opposed to regime change, maintain he is the legitimate president, albeit of a state shrunk by rebel gains. Both coalitions fear his sudden departure could destroy what is left of Syria after more than five years of civil war, bequeathing a shell state to the jihadis of Islamic State and Al Qaeda. Qassem said both Syria and neighbouring Iraq, where Islamic State has also seized territory, could split. "On the battlefield and in view of regional and international interventions I don't rule out that one of the ideas proposed is finding a state of partition in those two countries but will it succeed or not? "So far the forces that want the unity of Iraq and Syria are able to prevent the idea of partition but we should remain worried about ... the possibility that some countries might push these two countries or one of them into partition." Assad was the best protection against this, Qassem said. "With President Assad the solution can be logical and rational in finding political parameters that can give the opposition its share and the regime its share and there could be coordination which allows for putting things back in order and reviving authority in Syria", the white-turbaned sheikh said. DIE-HARD COMMITMENT The intervention of Russia's air force since last September, after Iran, Hezbollah, and Iraqi Shi'ite militiamen had fought relentlessly to keep Assad in place, has confounded the designs of Washington and regional Sunni powers such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Qassem said, opening the way to a political solution. "Iranian and Russian relations with Syria helped achieve steadfastness on the ground because both support Assad staying in power and back a political solution," the Hezbollah number two told Reuters. The Syria war grew out of Arab spring-inspired protests in 2011 calling for democratic change. Before Iran, Hezbollah and Russia came to Assad's aid, his grip on power appeared to be failing. Their support was seen by diplomats and Middle East experts as key to Assad's survival. Syria's civil war, now in its sixth year, has killed more than 250,000 people, displaced more than 6.6 million inside the country and forced another 4.8 million to flee, creating a huge influx into neighbouring countries and Europe. Qassem said the months-long push on rebel-held Aleppo by Assad's government forces was aimed less at recovering Syria's major city than at separating the rebels from Idlib, their stronghold in the north-west, and choking their supply lines from Turkey. Aleppo, with a population of more than 2 million people now, has been divided for years into rebel and government areas. "The main objective of the Syrian state and allies was to cut the road between the city of Aleppo and Idlib. As for liberating Aleppo that's a different goal that may not be undertaken quickly..." "Regaining Aleppo will remain one of the goals of the Syrian state and its allies but we're not tied to a timeframe", said the Hezbollah leader. FIGHTING GLOBAL THREAT The Lebanese group, a Shi'ite Islamist party with a powerful armed wing, describes its role as part of a struggle against the growing regional threat presented by Sunni Muslim jihadists, who it labels takfiris for their radical ideology, violent and uncompromising stance. The conflict in Syria has further fuelled an old regional rivalry between the Shi'ite Islamist government of Iran and the conservative Sunni Muslim kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one of the main sponsors of the insurgency against Assad. Qassem said the United States, one of the power brokers in finding a solution to the crisis, was distracted by its November presidential elections and not ready to commit to any action until a new president takes over next year. "The US administration is convinced that the period ahead of the presidential elections is a wasted time, that it can await until the new president assumes power. Then, the prospects of a solution or of a prolongation of the crisis will be clear." He said the sacrifices of Hezbollah, which has lost hundreds of fighters in Syria, were worthy, otherwise the ultra-hardline jihadists of Islamic State would have taken control in Syria and expanded into Lebanon. "We have prevented the expansion of the crisis into Lebanon and this is a major achievement, we prevented the takfiris from disrupting the resistance and laid the basis for the steadfastness of Syria. These great achievements deserve every sacrifice," he said. He said Islamic State, which is being targeted by coalition air strikes, will increase its attacks in Europe and beyond, adding that the group has an expansionist strategy and will use any means to achieve its goals. "European pains are big and will increase more and more," Qassem said, adding that Islamic State "will not leave an opportunity in all the countries of the world without exception to attack when it can and when is able to." Fed penalizes Goldman Sachs for use of confidential data By David Ingram NEW YORK, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve Board said on Wednesday it had ordered Goldman Sachs Group Inc to pay a $36.3 million civil penalty for the unauthorized use and disclosure of confidential information. The Fed Board also said in a statement that it was seeking to impose a fine on a former Goldman managing director, Joseph Jiampietro, and bar him from the banking industry for what the board said was his and his subordinates' unauthorized use and disclosure of confidential information. A lawyer for Jiampietro, Adam Ford, called the allegations against him demonstrably false and said his client would fight them. "As Mr. Jiampietro has said from the start, he never requested confidential supervisory information from anyone, and never used it for his or anyone's benefit. The Fed has the law wrong and the facts wrong," Ford said in a statement. Goldman said it was pleased to have resolved the matter, which centered on a former Goldman associate, Rohit Bansal, who admitted to illegally obtaining documents from a friend at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Goldman said it notified regulators. "We previously reviewed and strengthened our policies and procedures after Bansal was terminated. We have no tolerance for the improper handling of confidential supervisory information," the bank said in a statement. Bansal was fined but spared a prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of theft of government property. Czech deputy PM rejects refugee quotas, says country should fight any EU sanctions PRAGUE, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic should not accept any refugees, Deputy Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Wednesday, rejecting the European Union's quotas and threatening legal action if sanctions are imposed. Babis, a billionaire, is also the finance minister and leads political party ANO, currently the country's most popular. "After what has been happening in Europe, I say clearly that I don't want even a single refugee in the Czech Republic, not even temporarily," Babis said in an op-ed article for www.expres.cz on Tuesday. The Czechs and other central European countries have been highly critical of the European Union's response to the migrant crisis, which saw more than a million people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and beyond enter the bloc last year. The Prague government opposes an EU quota system to redistribute asylum seekers but has not followed Slovakia and Hungary in challenging it in the courts. Hungary will also hold a referendum on Oct. 2 to ask its citizens whether they accept the EU system. The quotas were agreed by a majority of EU states but whether or how Brussels could force countries to take in refugees against their will is unclear. Babis has said he opposes even a modest pledge by Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka's government to accept 80 Syrian migrants, a tiny proportion of the millions fleeing the civil war there, from a Turkish camp. His comments echo views expressed by Czech President Milos Zeman, who according to his spokesman believes the country should refuse to take in refugees so they cannot commit "barbaric attacks" like those in Germany and France recently. . Separately, Babis also said that the situation in Turkey has changed since the EU struck a deal with Ankara to reduce the influx of migrants to Europe from the Middle East. "I won't respect the quotas. The situation has changed. There is a dictator in Turkey," Babis said on his Twitter account. In his www.expres.cz article, Babis said sanctions could not be imposed over quotas he dismissed as "senseless and absurd". "And even if they came, then the Czech Republic should fight the European Commission's decision and sue it over possible sanctions," he said, adding that the country should follow the example of Hungary and Slovakia on the refugee issue. U.N. chief "deeply troubled" by North Korea missile launches UNITED NATIONS, Aug 3 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is "deeply troubled" by North Korea's recent missile launches, his spokesman said on Wednesday after one of the rockets landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters for the first time. Pakistan police say British woman's suspected 'honour killing' was murder LAHORE, Pakistan Aug 3 (Reuters) - A British woman whose husband alleges she was killed for marrying him against her parents' wishes was murdered, Pakistani police said on Wednesday. The case attracted attention because it came just days after the high-profile "honour killing" of outspoken social media star Qandeel Baloch, whose brother confessed to the crime and has been arrested. Samia Shahid, 28, a beautician from Bradford who had gone to visit her family in Pakistan, died last month in the village of Pandori in northern Punjab, the political power base of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Police spokeswoman Nabeela Ghazanfar said a forensic report on Shahid's death had been released to a three-member investigative committee led by Deputy Inspector General Police Abubakar Khuda Bakhsh. "The report says that she neither committed suicide, nor did she die a natural death," Ghazanfar told Reuters. "She died of asphyxia after her breathing was choked, which leads to the possibility she was murdered. Now the team will carry out investigations along the lines that this is a murder." Shahid's relatives said she had died of a heart attack, but her husband, Kazim Mukhtar, told Reuters last week that he believed she had been poisoned and then strangled. No arrests have been made so far, but Shahid's father and a cousin have been questioned by police. Police are also searching for her divorced first husband, Choudhry Shakeel, who is missing. Mukhtar, her second husband, told media last week that the couple had received death threats from her family in the past. He also said her family was angered that Shahid converted from the majority Sunni to the minority Shia sect of Islam after the couple married. Some 500 women are killed each year in Pakistan by relatives who feel their family has been shamed by a daughter or sister fraternising with men, eloping or otherwise infringing conservative demands on women. MBDA delays German missile defence proposal to end-September By Andrea Shalal BERLIN, Aug 3 (Reuters) - European defence manufacturer MBDA will submit its proposal for a $4.5 billion German missile defence system by late September, two months later than planned, but still hopes Germany can approve the project early next year, it said on Wednesday. Germany chose the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), made by MBDA and Lockheed Martin Corp, last year over Raytheon Co's Patriot system, but said the firms would have to meet tough performance milestones to retain the contract, one of Germany's biggest arms projects. If the project is not approved by the German parliament in early 2017, it could well slip into 2018 or later due to German elections next year, which would delay fielding the next-generation missile defence system until 2023 or later, a German government source said this week. MBDA, jointly owned by Airbus Group, Britain's BAE Systems Plc and Italy's Leonardo Finmeccanica SpA , said the companies involved in the project needed more time to negotiate and finalise details of their proposal. "We expect to submit the proposal by the end of September, and would assume that the German parliament can review the plans early next year," said MBDA spokesman Roland Kuntze. German officials are determined to avoid the costly delays and technical challenges that have plagued another big European programme, the Airbus A400M military transport plane. Kuntze said MBDA was separately assessing whether it could find a European source for an exciter, a component on the MEADS fire control radar, instead of the one developed independently by Lockheed and tested on the MEADS system. The study should be completed in coming weeks, he said. Airbus and Leonardo also build such equipment, but would have to carry out costly and potentially time-consuming work to develop and test the required component, according to two sources familiar with the programme. Germany, however, has already expressed interest in buying the Lockheed part, the sources said. Poland in talks with Chinese buyers over LOT airline stake WARSAW, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Poland is in talks with potential investors from China over selling a stake in the state airline LOT, Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday. Poland's eurosceptic, conservative government has been looking to tighten its relations with China since coming to power last year. The two countries pledged deeper co-operation during the visit of China's leader Xi Jinping to Warsaw in June. "LOT is our national carrier, which we are trying to save no matter the cost. It is deeply in debt," Morawiecki told state news agency PAP on Wednesday, adding that without a national carrier Poland would become a more peripheral country. LOT, one of the world's oldest airlines, has for years struggled to compete against low-cost competitors like Ryanair (RYA.I) and bigger rivals. The state-owned airline was saved from bankruptcy in 2012 thanks to public aid of more than 500 million zlotys ($130 million). "The previous government has already granted public support for LOT, we cannot grant another and we are looking for an investor," Morawiecki said. "According to EU law a carrier from outside the EU cannot take over more than 49 percent of a carrier from the EU, hence we are in talks with potential investors, among others, from China," he said. Morawiecki also said that usually it is a very long road to finalise such a transaction. Earlier on Wednesday, a Polish local newspaper reported that Chinese carrier Air China is interested in buying a 49-percent stake in LOT with a delegation from the Chinese firm expected to arrive in Warsaw over the coming days. Air China was not immediately available for comment. INVESTMENT Poland's Supreme Audit Office said in April that despite the aid and some improvement in performance, LOT had little chance of survival without finding an outside investor. LOT is a relatively small carrier whose widebody fleet will rise to just eight aircraft when two new 787 Dreamliners enter the fleet next year. The company says it makes on average over 200 flights daily. Central and eastern Europe has seen a rise in investment from China, as the world's second-largest economy wants to boost ties between Europe and Asia, among other as part of its One Belt, One Road initiative. Last year, China's sixth largest private company CEFC bought a stake in Czech airline firm Travel Service, operator of low-cost carrier Smartwings and the second-largest shareholder in Czech Airlines. Business / Local by Thobekile Zhou Chinese and Indian retailers are reportedly rejecting the South African rand in Harare.Traders in the informal sector are also doing the same.In June, bankers and industry recommended the adoption of the South African rand as the major transacting currency.Bankers said the adoption of the rand would be one of the measures needed to address the cash challenges the country is facing.On the other hand, traders in the informal sector are refusing to accept the rand as they are afraid to hold on to a currency that was likely to lose value in a short period.According to the Herald, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce chief executive Takunda Mugaga said it was difficult to have a currency competing with the US dollar at the moment."The US dollar is not only a credit currency, but is also being taken as a reserve currency. The US dollar strengthens when other currencies are going down. Thus the demand for the US dollar is normal," he said.Mugaga said it was not a good idea for Government to enforce the use of the rand and other currencies as it was likely to fuel the emergence of another parallel market.He said the public was also rational and made informed decisions.However, Harare City Council is accepting the rand from ratepayers but only through the bank. Greece says EU-Turkey deal to stem migrant flow largely holding BERLIN, Aug 3 (Reuters) - A deal between the European Union and Turkey to stem a flow of migrants has largely held, though Athens is watching with concern events unfolding in Turkey, where an attempted coup was put down last month, Greece's migration minister told the German newspaper Bild. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said over the weekend that Ankara would back out of the agreement with the EU if the bloc did not deliver the promised visa-free travel for Turks in return. The 28-nation EU depends on Ankara to enforce the deal, which has sharply cut the number of refugees and migrants leaving Turkey for Greece. Grappling with a major financial crisis, Greece struggled to cope with the influx. "Up to now the agreement is well-kept," Greek migration minister Yiannis Mouzalas said in a transcript of remarks. "...Of course we are worried, but up to now, the number of people arriving on our islands is not an indication of non- compliance towards whatever has been agreed." Greece's migration ministry issued what it said were written responses to Bild questions after the German publication quoted Mouzalas as saying the EU needed a 'Plan B' to counter Turkish threats to back out of the accord. "We are very concerned," Bild quoted Mouzalas saying. "We need, in any case, a Plan B." The Greek ministry appeared to distance itself from that remark, with no reference to that particular quote in the transcript it released on Wednesday evening. German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said on Monday Europe would not be blackmailed by Turkey in talks on visa liberalisation, which have been hampered by a dispute over Turkish anti-terrorism legislation and a crackdown after the abortive coup on July 15. Mouzalas also called for a fairer distribution of refugees in Europe, many of whom arrive from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and head for Germany and Sweden. Some countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, have objected to a proposed EU quota system for resettling migrants across the bloc. "The refugees must be distributed right away to all EU countries - and not just to individual (states)," he said. More than 257,000 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea from the start of this year to July 27, and at least 3,000 have died, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday. Greece's Titan Cement buys stake in Brazil's Cimento Apodi for $100 mln Aug 3 (Reuters) - Greece's Titan Cement said on Wednesday it is buying a stake in Brazilian cement manufacturer Companhia Industrial de Cimento Apodi for about $100 million. Titan said it had entered a joint venture agreement that Cimento Apodi be controlled on a 50/50 basis by the Dias Branco Group and a Titan/Sarkis vehicle, 94 percent of which is owned by Titan. Titan's said its investment would be financed through available cash. Zimbabwe police use batons to break up anti-government protest By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Anti-riot police used batons to break up a peaceful march in Zimbabwe's capital on Wednesday, the latest public protest against how President Robert Mugabe's government has handled the economy. Mugabe, 92, and in power since independence from Britain in 1980, is increasingly under pressure from angry Zimbabweans, as well as his war veterans allies, who last month rebuked him as a manipulative dictator, calling on him to step down. At a meeting of its politburo in Harare, Mugabe's ZANU-PF party expelled nine senior officials, including four war veteran leaders linked to the July 21 statement that denounced Mugabe, the party's administration secretary said, as a purge against Mugabe's former allies intensified. Zimbabwe has witnessed several anti-government protests in recent months, including the biggest stay-at-home demonstration by activist pastor Evan Mawarire's #ThisFlag movement in July. Hundreds of people marched on the streets of Harare on Wednesday against government plans to introduce local bank notes, as authorities grapple with a serious dollar crunch. Police kept watch and the marchers presented a petition at ministry of finance offices in central Harare. But baton-wielding police charged at the protesters as they approached the Parliament building, beating them until they dispersed. The police beat three reporters, including a BBC journalist, and broke his camera. Some protesters threw rocks at the police, who also had water cannons, but did not use them. "We don't want bond notes because they will wipe out the few U.S. dollars left. They have come to destroy the country. We do not want them," said protester Wesley Chawada, who was waving the old Zimbabwean dollar currency, which was dumped in 2009. Former vice president Joice Mujuru on Tuesday challenged the planned issuance of the bond notes at the Constitutional Court. Demonstrators denounced Mugabe, accusing ZANU-PF of failing to create up to 2.2 million jobs that it had promised during its campaign for the 2013 presidential vote, which Mugabe won amid opposition charges of rigging. "Mugabe just quit, I will forgive you", read one placard, while another said "No to police state, you have failed Mr Mugabe." Mugabe plans to contest the next election in 2018, his last under a new constitution. That has deepened divisions in ZANU-PF, with war veterans opposing his bid and supporting Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to take over from Mugabe. Poland in talks with Chinese buyers over LOT airline stake By Marcin Goettig WARSAW, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Poland is in talks with potential investors from China over selling a stake in the state airline LOT, Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday. Poland's eurosceptic, conservative government has been looking to tighten its relations with China since coming to power last year. The two countries pledged deeper co-operation during the visit of China's leader Xi Jinping to Warsaw in June. "LOT is our national carrier, which we are trying to save no matter the cost. It is deeply in debt," Morawiecki told state news agency PAP on Wednesday, adding that without a national carrier Poland would become a more peripheral country. LOT, one of the world's oldest airlines, has for years struggled to compete against low-cost competitors like Ryanair (RYA.I) and bigger rivals. The state-owned airline was saved from bankruptcy in 2012 thanks to public aid of more than 500 million zlotys ($130 million). "The previous government has already granted public support for LOT, we cannot grant another and we are looking for an investor," Morawiecki said. "According to EU law a carrier from outside the EU cannot take over more than 49 percent of a carrier from the EU, hence we are in talks with potential investors, among others, from China," he said. Morawiecki also said that usually it is a very long road to finalise such a transaction. Earlier on Wednesday, a Polish local newspaper reported that Chinese carrier Air China is interested in buying a 49-percent stake in LOT with a delegation from the Chinese firm expected to arrive in Warsaw over the coming days. However, a LOT spokesman said he had no knowledge of any plans for a capital tie-up between LOT and Air China. "I have no knowledge regarding any planned capital co-operation between LOT and Air China," Adrian Kubicki, LOT spokesman said. "We have commercial co-operation with Air China, which we want to develop, regarding the Warsaw-Beijing route." Air China was not immediately available for comment. INVESTMENT Poland's Supreme Audit Office said in April that despite the aid and some improvement in performance, LOT had little chance of survival without finding an outside investor. LOT is a relatively small carrier whose widebody fleet will rise to just eight aircraft when two new 787 Dreamliners enter service next year. The company says it makes on average over 200 flights daily and carries about 5 million passengers each year. Central and eastern Europe has seen a rise in investment from China, as the world's second-largest economy wants to boost ties between Europe and Asia, among other as part of its One Belt, One Road initiative. Last year, China's sixth largest private company CEFC bought a stake in Czech airline firm Travel Service, operator of low-cost carrier Smartwings and the second-largest shareholder in Czech Airlines. Chile's social media electoral campaign ban triggers concerns SANTIAGO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - A ban on the use of social media for campaign purposes ahead of local elections in Chile in October has been criticized as overly restrictive and prompted a cross-party group of lawmakers to present a motion on Wednesday to have it overturned. According to the guidelines of Servel, the electoral service, "Carrying out electoral propaganda through social networks like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, among others," would be against the rules. Campaigning in the media will only be allowed via the press and radio between set dates, it says. Proposals to curb online speech in a number of countries have alarmed policymakers who see the internet as a medium for debate and expression. In Chile's Andean neighbor Bolivia, supporters of President Evo Morales want to regulate social media after it was blamed as a key factor in Morales' failure to win a February referendum on his continued rule. In Chile itself, politicians said Servel had poorly interpreted a new law aimed at improving transparency. "Servel's interpretation is like putting a muzzle on candidates," lawmaker Cristian Monckeberg said in broadcast comments. The motion to overturn the ban is supported by lawmakers from both the left-leaning government and the right-wing opposition, who have said they hope the government will treat the proposal with urgency. Hurricane Earl nears Belize By Manuel Carrillo and Henry Romero BELIZE CITY, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Hurricane Earl thundered towards the shores of Belize on Wednesday, dumping heavy rain on Honduras and prompting people to take cover on the Caribbean coastline as the large storm closed in. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Wednesday night that within hours Earl would hit Belize and that on Thursday it would travel over Mexico's southern Yucatan peninsula or the north of Guatemala. Earl was blowing maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour (121 km per hour), as it churned about 40 miles east of Belize City (64 km), the NHC said. There were over 1,000 people in shelters in Belize City, Philip Willoughby, a city official in charge of emergency management, said by telephone on Wednesday evening. In Honduras, the government said close to 150 people were evacuated. In the eastern part of the country, 88 shipwrecked fishermen were rescued in La Mosquitia, while two are still missing, Luis Florentino, deputy chief of emergency agency COPECO, said by telephone. In its last update on Wednesday, however, the NHC said the Honduran government had eliminated warnings for the coast and the Bay Islands. In Mexico, national oil company Pemex tweeted that it was monitoring the hurricane but it had not evacuated oil platforms. Quintana Roo's tourism minister Raul Andrade Angulo said that the 410,000 travelers currently visiting the state would be safe because the region has 788 hurricane shelters for more than 280,000 people, including 55 shelters for tourists. Red flags were put up on beaches in Cancun to keep tourists away from the sea. Earl, the fifth named storm of the 2016 season, is expected to bring 8 to 12 inches of rain in parts of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico's Yucatan peninsula through Thursday night, the Miami-based NHC said in a statement. Pregnant in Miami: Zika's arrival adds new anxieties By Letitia Stein and Jilian Mincer TAMPA, Fla./NEW YORK, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Since Florida officials declared that the Zika virus is circulating in the state, Miami-area resident Karla Maguire has avoided taking her toddler son to a playground where mosquitoes may be biting. She walks her dogs less frequently and vigilantly applies bug repellant when she must go outside. An obstetrician and gynecologist who is herself pregnant, Maguire has become scrupulous about following the advice that she gives patients to protect against Zika, which can cause a rare but devastating birth defect. Maguire works near the city's Wynwood neighborhood identified on Friday as the first site of local Zika transmission in the continental United States. "It is frustrating to spend a lot of time avoiding mosquitoes," said Maguire, a physician at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, noting the discomfort of wearing long sleeves during Florida's steamy summer. "You just end up being inside a lot." Physicians in Miami and beyond have seen this week a spike in concerned calls from pregnant women, particularly after health officials advised them not to travel to Wynwood and said any expecting mothers who had done so since mid-June should be tested for Zika. On Wednesday, Florida said it would provide Zika testing to pregnant women at county health departments at no cost, and make available additional lab services to handle "the expected increase in tests being administered." The warnings raised anxiety in a city already on high alert for Zika's arrival from Latin America, where it has spread quickly since first being detected in Brazil last year. The threat to newborns aside, Zika is otherwise considered a mild illness, and up to 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms. All summer, Florida health officials have issued daily notices tallying the rise in cases acquired through travel to countries where Zika is widespread and advised the public to protect against mosquito bites. Along with 15 local cases, Florida is monitoring 391 picked up through travel abroad, which include 55 cases involving pregnant women. One baby born in the state to a woman infected in Haiti has been diagnosed with the birth defect microcephaly, a condition defined by small head size that can lead to developmental problems. TAILORING THE MESSAGE Health officials expect that southern U.S. states vulnerable to mosquito-borne disease will see smaller, localized Zika outbreaks, given widespread use of window screens and air conditioning, compared with Latin American countries. In Miami's trendy Wynwood district, known as a place to hop between art galleries and tour outdoor murals, some doctors fear that a counterculture ethos may diminish the impact of medical recommendations to combat Zika. Batsheva Stern, who is 28 weeks pregnant, sees no reason to avoid the district, where her husband, Zak, owns a popular bakery. "I'm not so nervous," said Stern, 27, recounting the advice of her midwife: "Don't freak out, nothing is happening." But Dr. Elizabeth Etkin-Kramer, a gynecologist in private practice nearby, worries about birth defects resulting from unplanned pregnancies in some of her Wynwood-area patients who eschew birth control pills, noting the community is also skeptical of vaccines and antibiotics. On Tuesday, she met with a patient who is 18 weeks pregnant and working near the affected area. The patient questioned her recommendation to be tested for Zika infection. "Her feeling is, if something is going on, there is nothing you can do about it, short of termination," said Etkin-Kramer, an officer in the Florida district of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "I think it would be important to know, and if God forbid she is positive, then we can look closely by ultrasound and get a lot more information." Beatriz Mendes Pereira Lopes, 26, an attorney who is five months pregnant, has moved twice trying to avoid Zika. She went to Miami in April, as the hot months in her home of Brazil spurred mosquito breeding. Last month, she returned to Brazil, now in its cooler winter, anticipating its mosquitoes would be in hibernation. Now that Zika has begun circulating in Miami, she concedes that her future options may be limited until a vaccine is developed. Storm Earl becomes a hurricane off Belize - hurricane center Aug 3 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Earl strengthened into a hurricane off the coast of Belize on Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Hurricane Earl was close to the coast of Belize and was forecast to be heading to Mexico's Yucatan peninsula after that, bringing some stormy weather to Honduras and Guatemala along the way. Anti-Semitic incidents rise 11 percent in UK this year LONDON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - The number of anti-Semitic incidents in Britain rose by 11 percent in the first six months of the year reflecting a worrying trend of intolerance across the country, a Jewish advisory body said on Thursday. The Community Security Trust, which advises Britain's estimated 260,000 Jews on security matters, recorded 557 incidents from January until June, the second highest number for the first period of a year since it started collecting figures in 1984. The year-on-year rise comes at a time when politicians and police have warned about growing levels of hate crimes since Britons voted to leave the European Union on June 23, with Muslims and Eastern Europeans particularly targeted, although the CST said it had not seen a spike after the referendum. It also follows accusations of anti-Semitism against figures in the opposition Labour Party. "This rise in reported anti-Semitism comes at a time when division, intolerance and prejudice appear to be deepening within our society," said CST Chief Executive David Delew. "Reversing this worrying trend requires real leadership from all political parties, and for the social media companies to take their share of the responsibility." In its report, the CST said the average monthly number of hate incidents directed at the Jewish community was now almost double that recorded in 2011-13. Social media was the medium for almost a quarter of all incidents and had become an "essential tool" for campaigns of anti-Semitic harassment aimed at Jewish public figures and politicians. One Labour Jewish lawmaker, Luciana Berger, reported in April she had received thousands of online abusive messages including threats to rape her. The CST said most of the occurrences took place in April, May and June when anti-Semitism was in the news with Berger's disclosure and Labour launching an inquiry into whether the party had a problem in its ranks ranging from a former London Mayor to Oxford University students. "The message should go out to everyone that we will not stand for anti-Semitism. Perpetrators of hate crimes against Jews will be caught and prosecuted and the bystanders must be educated," said lawmaker John Mann, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism. Pakistan is desperate and it is showing. The world is not even remotely interested in listening to Pakistani rhetoric on Kashmir. So in order to attract attention, the Pakistan government declared July 19 a "black day" in memory of the slain Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani. Pakistan's prime minister did some grandstanding by declaring at a rally: "We are waiting for the day (when) Kashmir becomes (a part of) Pakistan." External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj promptly hit back accusing Nawaz Sharif of advancing the "despicable design" of destabilising South Asia by exporting "dirty money and dangerous terrorists". New Delhi made it amply clear that sections of Pakistani establishment could continue to dream but it had no locus standi on the issue. Knockout India had already delivered knockout punch to Pakistan at the United Nations on the issue of Kashmir. Strongly hitting back at Islamabad for raising in the UN the issue of the killing of Burhan Wani, Delhi had said Pakistan "extols" the "virtues" of terrorists, thus using terrorism as a state policy towards the "misguided end" of coveting the territory of others. India's ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin was responding to the remarks made by Pakistani envoy Maleeha Lodhi on Wani's killing during a debate on human rights in the 193-member UN General Assembly on July 13. Burhan Wani's funeral procession in Tral, south Kashmir. (Reuters) In her statement, Lodhi not only raised the Kashmir issue but also mentioned the "extra-judicial" killing of Wani, whom she described as a "Kashmiri leader", by Indian forces. Other senior Pakistani officials had also been using the turmoil to further their agenda so as to take advantage of the tension in the Valley. The Pakistani PM's advisor on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, suggested that "India cannot suppress the voice of Kashmiris - who are struggling for their just right of self-determination by using brutal force and committing human rights violations in the Occupied Kashmir." Pakistan has, since its independence, believed that because of Kashmir's Muslim majority status, it has a right to seize it from India by fair means or foul. In the absence of this external dimension, the problem was much more manageable. After all, India's democratic institutions have been successful in addressing the grievances of several other groups that have felt alienated from the mainstream. But the Kashmir issue has got entangled in an India-Pakistan structural conundrum where a revisionist Islamabad has tried to change the status quo in its favour by using Kashmir as leverage. Both the conservatives and the liberals in India fail to see the complexities inherent in the tangled web that India and Pakistan have woven in Kashmir and refuse to reckon with the long-term consequences of their supposed "solutions". It is clear that no Indian government is in a position to allow Kashmir's secession from India for fear of encouraging separatist movements elsewhere in the country. India's democracy and secularism would receive a body blow if India accepted the idea that because Muslims are the majority in a state they should secede. In this light, if there has been a success in the India-Pakistan "peace process" in the last few years, it has been a recognition on both sides that territorial changes are strictly out of bounds. Moreover, there will be broader geopolitical ramifications of an independent Kashmir which will remain dependent on the kindness of its neighbours. India, Pakistan and China will try to enhance their strategic interests and compete for the loyalty of Kashmir. Contention It is not readily evident if an independent Kashmir would not be as much of a bone of contention between India and Pakistan as the present state of affairs. Islamist extremism would get a boost worldwide even as India, already under assault from rising Islamist fundamentalism, will find it difficult to manage growing tensions between Hindu extremists and Islamist radicals. It would be no exaggeration to suggest that it would be the end of India as the world has come to know. It is also important to recognise that the Indian state, for all its faults, is not the only guilty party in this context. The saga of Kashmir is one of competing nationalisms and all versions are equally self-serving. If the Indian government continues to champion Kashmir as a symbol of India's secular democratic ethos and fails to acknowledge that a majority of Kashmiris have ceased to view themselves as Indians long back, then the separatists who want independence from India will continue to refuse to account for the aspirations of the Hindus and Ladakhis as if they are not a part of this dispute at all. If in the Indian state's narrative there is no place for those who don't want to be Indians, in the narrative of the so-called freedom fighters there is no place for those who do want to be a part of India. Negotiation Pakistan has a revisionist agenda and would like to change the status quo in Kashmir, while India would like the opposite. India hopes that the negotiations with Pakistan would ratify the existing territorial status quo in Kashmir. Successive Indian governments have worked on negotiations on this premise. But at its foundation, there are irreconcilable differences. No confidence-building measure is likely to alter this situation. India's belief has always been that the peace process will persuade Pakistan to cease supporting and sending extremists into India and start building good neighbourly ties. Pakistan, in contrast, has viewed the process as a means to nudge India to make progress on Kashmir, which is a euphemism for Indian concessions. The Indian government has responded well to Pakistani provocations. There is no need to be diffident about India's role even as Indian polity tries to find a way out of continuing violence in Kashmir. Pakistan should be told to focus on its own problems and let Indian democracy work out a solution to Kashmir. News / Local by Thobekile Zhou Newly appointed Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube has asked council for more time to commerce his duties.He held a similar post in Victoria Falls and he want to wind up business and is also serving his three-month notice.City mayor, councillor Martin Moyo told reporters in Bulawayo Tuesday that Dube will start work on October 1."Mr Dube is our new Town Clerk and he will start work on October 1. He told us that he needs to wind up business before he comes to Bulawayo and we agreed. In the meantime we will work with our acting Town Clerk Mrs Sikhangele Zhou," said Moyo.He takes over from the late Middleton Nyoni. News / Local by Thobekile Zhou Bulawayo City Council has warned of an imminent crippling water rationing regime in three months time.Officials say the city with more than one million residents is only left with three month water supplies at its supply dams.The city's six supply dams are holding a cumulative 150 million cubic metres of water, which is 36 percent of their total capacity.Addressing the media on Tuesday, Director of engineering services, Engineer Simela Dube said Upper Ncema, one of the supply dams has already been decommissioned and Umzingwane may follow in three months."I believe if we conserve water Umzingwane can take us to the next rainy season without us resorting to further water rationing. We're all aware that we're already under water rationing.So we're calling on residents to further restrict their water usage because if we impose rationing on them, it will come with penalties," said Simela."Our water levels are now at 36 percent of capacity. Upper Ncema Dam has been decommissioned as it is now one percent full. We're anticipating that Umzingwane will be decommissioned in the next three months if water is not used sparingly. But if water is conserved Umzingwane can take us to the next rainy season," he said.Council introduced water rationing penalties in March 2010 as a response to the deteriorating water situation prevailing then and to deter consumers from irresponsible use of water.Under the water rationing scheme, houses in the eastern suburbs were allocated not more than 350 litres per day, while those in the western suburbs were to use 300 litres. News / Local by Mkhululi Zulu Mkhululi Zulu is Zapu Bulawayo Province Information and Publicity. Dr Dumiso Dabengwa ZAPU's President says that the economic meltdown in the country is getting worse each day.Briefing the party leaders on the current situation at ZAPU's offices, Cde Dabengwa said that he had received reports of deaths from starvation of people especially in the rural areas.A man starved to death in the Luveve suburb and was only discovered 4 days after because he was living alone. Life had become impossible for this man as it is for the thousands living ones at his age in the area.These reports come as the government has attacked NGOs claiming that they support opposition parties.The NGOs have been distributing food whenever necessary without political party affiliation being a pre-requisite for the deserving.They also come as people in the densely populated areas of Bulawayo talk of only Zanupf members receiving food packages especially maize. Some are said to be receiving double potions enabling them to send to their rural folks.The ZAPU president hailed the resistance by the people as the situation gets worse politically leaving no room to say much against the retrogressive political setup. Sporadic and spontaneous demonstrations that have occurred recently have triggered more vicious repercussions on suspected leaders or individuals.Leaders of the now non- complying war veterans have been humiliated by arrests amid accusations of treason.He also noted that Pastor Evan Mawarire has had to leave the country and is now afraid to return after open threats by the head of state.One is never safe if the President angrily talks about him or her.There are general and wanton arrests, threats and state sponsored counter demonstrations to intimidate once more the population.Comrade Dabengwa said that peaceful demonstrations or shut downs must effectively convey a message to the government but these have been received with the usual arrogance.This is unfortunate as it frustrates and infuriates the younger generation more and more. The youths may see no other option except confrontations of any kind. He reiterated ZAPU's position that it is only after the implementation of the genuine devolution of power that the country will start to develop. There is no other remedy. News / National by Staff Reporter MDC-T Bulawayo East legislator Thabitha Khumalo was on Wednesday admitted to a Harare hospital after suffering from inhalation of tear gas during #NoToBondNotes protest.The demonstrations started peaceful and ended with riot police chasing and tear-gassing protestors.Three journalists were also attacked by heavily armed riot police who confiscated their professional gadgets. News / Press Release by Staff Reporter Coalition Of Democrats (CODE) agreement states that the chairmanship of the agreement rotates after every two months in alphabetical order of member parties.It is in that spirit that President Gilbert Dzikiti is replaced by President Simba Makoni of MKD as chairperson of CODE.President Dzikiti indeed faced the birth pains and immedeate nursing of CODE at a critical time in the history of Zimbabwe.Indeed CODE leaders namely President Welshman Ncube, President Elton Mangoma, President Farai Mbira and President Simba Makoni chose to unite for the people of Zimbabwe. The signing of CODE is historical in that it is first of such magnitude where leaders are committed to a framework of working together towards a Zimbabwe that we all want.Political parties had to come together in building a better Zimbabwe for us all.There is indeed strength in unity and diversity.1, Mavambo Kusile Dawn has taken over the chairmanship of the Finance and Administration Committee deputised by Movement for Democratic Change MDC.2, MDC takes over Organising deputised by Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe RDZ3, International and Diaspora Relations will for the next two months under the armpits of Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe RDZ deputised by ZUNDE.4, Media,Information and Publicity has been taken over by the MDC and deputised by DARE.5, Elections will be chaired by DARE and will be deputised by Mavambo Kusile Dawn MKD.6, Policy Research and Advocacy will for the next two months be chaired by MKD and assisted by MDC7,Women's group will for the next two months be chaired by MDC that will be assisted by RDZ8, Youth committee will be under the custody of RDZThe signing of the Coalition of Democrats(CODE) framework presents a new narrative for the people of Zimbabwe where ego and selfish aspirations were discarded for a better people centred Zimbabwe.Indeed the challenge and crisis of governance can only be answered by those who are inclusive and not exclusive.The foundation of CODE has been its rallying call not to exclude anyone .To date applications from various political parties are being considers by the relevant committeeWe are humbled to have been led at this inception phase by DARE President Gilbert Dzikiti and we have no doubt that President Simba Makoni will carry on the baton and torch of CODE for the next two months.We are happy that we have committed ourselves to universal suffrage and in that light have called for the next election to be held under the auspices and supervision of the international community.CODE invites all Zimbabweans to this campaign which will be held in parallel to the inclusive policy. 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 WASHINGTON President Barack Obama on Wednesday cut short the sentences of 214 federal inmates, including 67 life sentences, in what the White House called the largest batch of commutations on a single day in more than a century. One of those inmates is John Anthony Mickens, of Louisa, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in relation to committing a felony. Mickens, 58, was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for the drug offense and five years for the gun offense, with the sentences to run back to back. That meant he would have stayed in prison for more than 17 years. He will be released in 2018, according to information supplied by the White House. Almost all the prisoners were serving time for nonviolent crimes related to cocaine, methamphetamine or other drugs, although a few were charged with firearms violations related to their drug activities. Almost all are men, though they represent a diverse cross-section of America geographically. Obamas push to lessen the burden on nonviolent drug offenders reflects his long-stated view that the U.S. needs to remedy the consequences of decades of onerous sentencing requirements that put tens of thousands behind bars for far too long. Obama has used the aggressive pace of his commutations to increase pressure on Congress to pass a broader fix and to call more attention to the issue. One of the inmates, Dicky Joe Jackson of Texas, was given a life sentence in 1996 for methamphetamine violations and for being a felon with an unlicensed gun. He told the ACLU in a 2013 report that a death sentence would have been preferable, adding, I wish it were over, even if it meant I were dead. Another recipient, Debra Brown of Tennessee, was convicted of selling cocaine in 2002 and sentenced to 20 years. Both Browns and Jacksons sentences will now end Dec. 1, along with most of the rest of those receiving commutations Wednesday. Mickens was 49 when he was arrested in December 2007 after the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force and Charlottesville Police SWAT team searched his home and found 70 grams of crack cocaine, 45 grams of powder cocaine, $600 in cash and a handgun. He had been sentenced to five years in prison by a Charlottesville Circuit Court judge in 1989 for distribution and possession of cocaine. According to U.S. District Court records, in 2009, Mickens asked a federal judge in a hand-written letter to reconsider his case, if possible, admitting he had lived for years with drug ad-diction. I dont want to grow old in the penitentiary, he wrote. Please grant me the chance to see my mother again before she passes away, the chance to see my daughters before theyre grown, just the chance to receive treatment and live a normal life. His sentence was reduced to reflect recent changes in the sentencing guidelines to 10 years. In 2011, the guidelines were change again and court records show that Mickens again appealed to a federal judge for a sentence reduction. Here I am 54 years old and 10 more years to do. What good would I be at 64 other than Social Security? he wrote. I hope youll give me some consideration. I dont think Im really a bad person, I just had a bad problem. He sentence was reduced by one month, to meet the new minimum sentencing guidelines, court records show. All told, Obama has commuted 562 sentences during his presidency more than the past nine presidents combined, the White House said. Almost 200 of those who have benefited were serving life sentences. All of the individuals receiving commutation today incarcerated under outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws embody the presidents belief that America is a nation of second chances, White House counsel Neil Eggleston wrote in a blog post. Eggleston said Obama examines each clemency application on its specific merits to identify the appropriate relief, including whether the prisoner would be helped by additional drug treatment, educational programming or counseling. He called on Congress to finally pass a criminal justice overhaul to bring about lasting change to the federal system. Presidents tend to use their powers to commute sentences or issue pardons more frequently at the end of their presidencies, and Obama administration officials said the rapid pace would continue during Obamas final months. We are not done yet, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates said. We expect that many more men and women will be given a second chance through the clemency initiative. Though theres broad bipartisan support for a criminal justice overhaul, what had looked like a promising legislative opportunity for Obamas final year has mostly fizzled. As with Obamas other priorities, the intensely political climate of the presidential election year has confounded efforts by Republicans and Democratic in Congress to find consensus. Obama has long called for phasing out strict sentences for drug offenses, arguing they lead to excessive punishment and incarceration rates unseen in other developed countries. With Obamas support, the Justice Department in recent years has directed prosecutors to rein in the use of harsh mandatory minimums. The Obama administration has also expanded criteria for inmates applying for clemency, prioritizing nonviolent offenders who have behaved well in prison, arent closely tied to gangs and would have received shorter sentences if they had been convicted a few years later. Civil liberties groups praised that policy change but have pushed the Obama administration to grant commutations at a faster pace. The Clemency Resource Center, part of NYU School of Law, said more than 11,000 petitions are pending at the Justice Department and that the group believes 1,500 of them meet the administrations criteria to be granted. But the calls for greater clemency have sometimes sparked accusations from Obamas opponents that hes too soft on crime, an argument that is particularly resonant this year as presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton trade claims about who is best positioned to keep the country safe. Many people will use words today like leniency and mercy, said Kevin Ring of the group Families Against Mandatory Minimums. But what really happened is that a group of fellow citizens finally got the punishment they deserved. Not less, but at long last, not more. There he was, an Albemarle County police officer, sitting in his swim trunks above a big tank of water taunting small children and adults alike. When a young girl stepped up to the plate, Andy Gluba didnt hold back. Do you know what you have in common with a spray bottle, the crime prevention officer asked the girl. You both mist. The bright pink and yellow ball suddenly whizzed past the crowd of onlookers to smack directly on the big, red dunk button. Yelling, Gluba landed with a colossal splash in the tank. He came up, sputtering and laughing, and congratulated the young girl. On Tuesday, the Albemarle County and Charlottesville police departments held a National Night Out event to get to know the community. The event happens every year across the country on the first Tuesday in August and aims to connect police and fire rescue personnel with their local communities. Its a way for us to reach out to the community so they can meet us and we can meet them, and know each other and work together, said Gluba, who organized the local event. With the things going on around the country, its that much more important for us to have a strong community bond the community here has been great with support for us. Its also kind of our way to pay them back for that support, he added. We want them to see were people, too, and were part of their community. We all need to work together. Taking up a third of Targets parking lot in the Hollymead Town Center, the police brought a lot of equipment to talk about their different jobs. In one corner, Albemarle Traffic Officer Randy Jamerson showed people the different equipment used by the SWAT team, including a shield, helmet, sniper rifle and a battering ram. Its on an as-needed basis when were deployed, but we do more pre-planned stuff than we do emergency call-outs, Jamerson said. I would say we have five to 10 call-outs a year. Jamerson said the team is often requested to help other local agencies, such as Charlottesville and Greene County, with arrests that might require a little extra manpower. The team also assists investigations conducted by the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force, he said. Say theyre looking for someone whos suspected of burglaries or home invasions, Jamerson said. Based on the suspects criminal record if theyre known to be violent or carry firearms we might be asked to secure a residence before turning it over to the arresting officers. The situation has to rise to a certain level before were utilized. Walking toward the shiny red Hollymead Fire Rescue engine, almost-3-year-old Kohen Granger proudly showed his plastic fire helmet to a firefighter. His mom, Chelsey Granger, said she heard about National Night Out earlier that day and decided to check it out. Kohen really likes fire trucks and police vehicles, so hes really here for the transportation aspect, Granger said, laughing. We, of course, love and support the organizations, but were kind of more here for the transportation because, at his age, trucks and cars are a big deal. Granger said she thinks its important for the community to get to the know people who take care of their community the people doing the dirty work, she said. Its nice to meet them and see whos actually out here, said Granger. Along with exciting police gear, motorcycles and trucks, the Albemarle County Police Department also brought their bicycle team to help fit kids for helmets and give away safety gear. All of the money used to buy the helmets comes from red-light traffic cameras. The money collected from those tickets is used for the community never for police equipment or profit, police said. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Conservation Police also spent time at the event getting to know the community and explaining who they are, according to Sgt. Steve Ferguson. Formerly known as game wardens, Ferguson said the title was changed for simplicitys sake. We enforce all the laws of the commonwealth, so we do everything these guys do, but, in addition to that, we do wildlife, boating and fishing enforcement, Ferguson said. Its like, all doctors go to medical school and some stay as general practitioners, but some specialize. Were specialists. Conservation police officers go through the same basic academy training as other police officers but then go through additional training to enforce boating such as on the James River and hunting. The Charlottesville Police Department also brought their Crime Prevention Team to this years event and handed out gun locks, pamphlets and magnets. Lt. Steve Upman said the event was the perfect opportunity to partner with Albemarle police and get to know their shared community. We want to thank people and educate people on questions they may have, as far as crime prevention, and just meet and greet with the public, Upman said. Our goal is to get this bigger every year. Next year, Upman said the Charlottesville department hopes to host their own event and invite the Albemarle police to the city. Along with the two police departments and Hollymead Fire Rescue, representatives from the Virginia State Police, Mission BBQ, the Albemarle County Police Foundation, the Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle Emergency Communications Center and the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA also attended Tuesdays event. Sitting back up on his perch in the dunk tank, Gluba continued his merciless taunting of passersby. For $1, anyone could throw a ball to try to knock the officer into the water. All proceeds will go toward two Albemarle County officers currently fighting cancer, Gluba said, and Target donated the money to rent the tank. As the crowds thinned around dinner time Tuesday, Glubas taunts grew louder and bolder in an effort to garner more donations. Spotting a man about to throw a ball, Gluba laid into him. Oh, come on now, said Gluba. You better go put on a Red Sox shirt if you hope to hit the target. Squaring off, the man carefully positioned himself before firing. The ball hit the target with a thud and, once again, Gluba hit the water. Police executed search warrants at Kortes home on Fosters Branch Road in Albemarle County, as well as his office at the university. UVa has placed Korte on administrative leave, according to police. According to his biography on UVas website for its media studies department, Korte has been the director of film studies in the Department of Drama since 1970, and he was a program adviser for the Virginia Film Festival since its inception in 1988. UVa spokesman Anthony de Bruyn says, though, that Korte has not been associated with the Virginia Film Festival for at least the past eight years. So, the grim business of electing the 45th president of the United States begins. Now that both parties have confirmed their nominees, we offer two predictions of which we are absolutely certain. Heres the first one: This will not be a joyful campaign. We know the election will be historic, but how? Heres some historical context on the choices before: Both sides are making a big ask. Donald Trump is asking Americans to do something theyve never done before entrust the highest office in the land to someone who has served neither in government nor in any high-ranking military post. That prospect is part of his appeal to some voters, but a cause of concern for others. Does he really know anything about the issues hell face? Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, is asking Americans to do something they dont like to do keep the same party in the White House for three terms in a row. There have been periods in American history when one party did dominate the White House for long stretches at a time; those periods also ended with the aftermath of World War II. Since 1952, only once have voters given a party a third term in 1988. Voters that year would probably have happily re-elected Ronald Reagan if they could have; instead, they stayed the course with his vice president, George H.W. Bush. Even then, things might have turned out differently if Democrats had nominated a better candidate than Michael Dukakis. Are voters in 2016 disposed to give Barack Obama a third term if they could? Unclear. His approval rating hovers right around 50 percent, perhaps lower on any given day. Most people think the country is on the wrong track, they just dont agree on which track we should be on. If voters elect Clinton, it wont be because theyre eager to keep a Democrat in the White House, but because theyre eager to keep Trump out. The parties have put forward two profoundly unpopular nominees. The side that can best reassure voters that their candidate wont be a disaster will probably win. Unfortunately, that will take the form of each side trying to terrify voters about the other candidate. Both sides are tapping into two historic transformations remaking the country, one economic, one demographic. The United States is going through a fundamental re-ordering of the economy not seen since the Agricultural Age gave way to the Industrial Revolution. As with any revolution, there are winners and losers, and Trump has done a masterful job of harnessing the fear of the losers, or those who at least worry they will be losers in a post-industrial economy. Trump promises a restoration, to somehow bring back manufacturing jobs from overseas as if it that were possible. Many of those jobs are gone for good, made obsolete by technology. Trumps is a backwards-looking view whose only solution is to enact tariffs that would simply raise the price of imported goods (unintentionally reviving echoes of the disastrous Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930). He never talks about creating the jobs of the future. Still, he has an emotionally satisfying argument. Clinton, meanwhile, is relying on the obverse of those same economic trends that are swelling Trumps support; her vague calls for investment ring Pavlovian bells for those who see a new economy that relies on things like broadband and educated workers with high-tech skills. She doesnt pretend to understand that new economy, though, so cant really explain it very well. (By contrast, Virginias senior senator, Mark Warner, has devoted his political career to articulating those economic changes and what they mean to communities.) Further roiling Americas economic angst is a simultaneous demographic makeover. The Census Bureau projects that by 2043, whites will no longer be a majority, merely the largest plurality in an increasingly diverse society. Clinton is counting on those demographics to propel her to victory; Trump calls for a pause in immigration, a more significant but less flashy policy proposal than his famous wall on the Mexican border. Politically, Trump is like King Canute, trying to hold back the tide. Its not a strategy that can work long-term, but could well work in 2016 when voters are in a sour mood and the Democrats have put forth a nominee widely considered untrustworthy and not particularly likeable. Trump hopes to win blue-collar voters who once were reliably Democratic; Clinton runs well with college-educated suburban voters who once trended Republican. Nationally, that means Trump is trying to pick off the industrial Midwest, while Clinton tries to flip increasingly Hispanic Arizona and turn Virginia and North Carolina, with their growing suburbs, into Democratic bastions. Those calculations influenced each candidates choice of a running mate with Trump picking a Midwestern governor, and Clinton going with a Spanish-speaking Virginian, in the form of Tim Kaine. Regardless of the outcome, this seems an election that will accelerate realignment. That brings us to our second prediction: One of these parties is going to be in for a very ugly blood-letting after the election, because somebody here is very, very wrong. If Clinton loses, Democrats will have to ask themselves: Shouldnt they have realized that Clinton was a terrible candidate? The Democrats will likely go through a painful tug-of-war for the partys soul that will probably pull it further to the left; weve already seen a foreshadowing of that with the Bernie Sanders campaign. Losing vice presidential candidates often wind up first in line the next time around, assuming theyve done a good job and dont get blamed for the defeat. Would Kaine be positioned for 2020, or would the party lurch so far left that even he has a doubtful future in the party? If Trump loses, Republicans will have to ask themselves: How did they allow their party to be captured by an unpredictable outsider who isnt really a true conservative? Theyll also likely be riven by this question: Should the party go back and accept the results of its post-2012 autopsy which urged softening its stance on immigration so it could engage in greater outreach to minorities in a demographically changing America? Or did Trump, with all his flaws, still show the party a different way to win with a more explicitly nationalist appeal? The coming campaign will not be pretty. Its aftermath wont be, either. The Roanoke Times NIGER - Africa - Bushmeat is considered a luxury and delicacy in Africa, so here are some wonderfully grotesque African bushmeat recipes to spice up your barbecue this summer. In Western and Central Africa, bushmeat consists of apes, bats, rodents, endangered species as well as in some areas of Africa even humans. The key to preparing bushmeat is to either consume the meat raw or to leave it out in the sun so that viral pathogens contained within the meat can ferment and breed. Remember that HIV originated from a similar virus in primates called simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV); researchers know that HIV initially jumped into humans after people in Africa came into contact with infected bush meat. Were pioneers in AIDS. There are several distinct strains of HIV, indicating that this cross-species transfer has occurred several times. Its not just the deadly Ebola virus which is acquired by eating and handling bushmeat but simian foamy virus, smallpox, chicken pox, tuberculosis, measles, rubella, yellow fever and yaws. This is why African cuisine is such a delicacy, and brings such goodness to the world. As high IQ Africans, were really proud of our bushmeat consumption and our dedication to world cuisine, African bushmeat chef, Ombobo kolombo, said from his Sierra Leon, restaurant stall on Sunday. Bushmeat cuisine from Africa 1) Barbecue Apes Apart from being hunted and eaten into extinction, Africans eat this meat either raw or barbecued. Leave the meat to fester in the sun so bacteria and HIV viruses can breed and spread with more efficiency. 2) Bats Grilled or boiled in a horrible pungent soup where the viral pathogens can flourish. This West African delicacy is an Ebola lovers delight. 3) Cane Rat The largest rats in Africa, these are consumed by the thousands daily and are a staple food in many African nations. Marinate with Ebola infected bats to make an even more delightful culinary creation. 4) Anything that moves in a jungle Pretty much anything that moves in the bush, is eaten. 5) Humans It goes without saying that cannibalism does still occur in Africa, because when there are no animals left to eat, then long pigs will suffice. Its the the second half of the year and time for some exciting new and facelift/update launches. This year already has been a tough one for the auto industry. It started with the odd-even rule and Delhi diesel ban, which affected many automakers. However, we have entered the second half of the year and the situation looks brighter now with upcoming launches and facelifts. Though, five months are still left for the year to come to an end, most of the launches will be conglomerated around the festive season. Here is a list of upcoming 19 cars which will cost less than Rs 19 lakh. 1. Renault Kwid 1-Litre and AMT The chatter for this car began a long time ago and it was finally teased to the Indian audience at the 2016 Auto Expo. The 0.8-litre Kwid is doing phenomenally well in the Indian market with its segment above features and muscular looks. The 1-litre and AMT variants are also expected to be very successful in the market. The 1.0-litre Kwid has made its debut in Brazil alongside other India bound cars like the Kaptur and the Koleos. 2. Tata Tiago (AMT) The Tata Tiago has started to gain momentum in the market. This car will soon be launched with an AMT transmission, which will make it more attractive in the market. The AMT offers a comfortable city drive which becomes a blessing in the bumper to bumper traffic. The car features a 1.2-litre Revotron, three-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.05-litre Revotorq three-cylinder diesel engine out of which, the petrol is expected to get the automatic upgrade. 3. Tata Kite 5 Another entry from Tata, this car is highly acclaimed for its design. It is essentially a Tiago with a boot. This sedan looks beautiful and might get some feature upgrades too. It is expected to carry the same engine options of the Tiago and cost somewhere around the Rs 4.2 lakh mark. 4. 2016 Chevrolet Beat This car has been on the books for a long time. Finally, there are signs that this car will debut around September. The car has also been spotted in the country, which means it is in its final phase of testing. Chevrolet Beat ACTIV and Essentia (Beat sedan) were showcased at the Auto Expo and now the carmaker has confirmed that Beat Activ, Beat facelift and Essentia compact sedan will make it to production. 5. Mahindra Small Bolero (Sub-Four Metre) Expected to launch this month, this Mahindra is being entrusted to revive the Bolero name in the country. As this will be smaller than four metre in length, the carmaker will most likely install a 1.5-litre mHawk diesel engine, which is also found in the other sub-four metre SUVs of the brand. 6. Volkswagen Polo, Vento (Updated 1.5-Litre TDI) The 1.5-Litre TDI engine of the Polo and the Vento is undergoing a turbo update. This engine will develop more power and will be launched soon. While the current tune generates 104PS in the Vento, the update will bump it up to 109PS. This update is expected to happen in October. 7. Volkswagen Ameo TDI (Diesel) Launched recently, the Ameo is the first sub-four metre sedan by the German automaker. The sedan is as of now only available in three petrol trims and the diesel variants will be on sale in the festive season. The petrol mill in the Ameo is a 1.2-litre unit and the diesel will be a 1.5-litre unit borrowed from the Polo hatchback. The TDI Ameo was last spotted testing a few days back, check it out. 8. Hyundai Elite i20 Automatic A phenomenal success, the Elite i20 is one of the highest-selling Hyundai models. To take it a step further, Hyundai will soon introduce an automatic variant of the car, which will be mated to the petrol engine. This gasoline mill is a 1.2 MPi unit which has a power output of 83PS. 9. Maruti Baleno RS The Baleno on steroids, this car has fans eagerly waiting ever since it was showcased at the Auto Expo. Featuring a turbocharged 1.0-litre motor, this car has the power of 108 horses under its belly and gets disc brakes all around. This car will most likely be launched in late October. 10. Toyota Etios Facelift The entry-level Toyota sedan will undergo minor changes this year. The facelift will have reworked front and rear bumper along with minor body changes. Also, there might be a digital instrument cluster and some minor tweaks in the interiors. 11. Fiat Avventura Urban Cross Showcased at the Auto Expo, this crossover hatchback is a more luxurious avatar of the Avventura. It is expected to come with a 1.4-litre petrol motor and a 1.3-litre 16V MULTIJET engine. It will also feature plush interiors with a five-inch touchscreen infotainment system. 12. Skoda Rapid Facelift It's about time Skoda rolls out the updated Rapid. This car will feature minor body tweaks along with an upgraded equipment list. The facelift might have a similar front look as seen on the Octavia and the Superb, with sharp rectangular headlamps and vertical black coloured slats. The car will get a new bonnet, ORVMs with integrated side blinkers and redesigned headlamps and taillamps. 13. Tata Xenon Tata's take on an adventure vehicle, this pickup has been the go-to vehicle for the people who like to take the road less travelled. Now, Tata is coming out with a facelift for this pickup which will boast both equipment and design changes. Tata Motors has launched an updated Xenon in South African, called 'Evolve'. The updated includes a new front bumper, a roll-over bar, nudge guards at the front and the rear and updated alloy wheels. Inside, it gets leather upholstery, power windows, integrated music system with navigation and Bluetooth and a tilt-adjustable steering. 14. SsangYong Tivoli SsangYong has seen some success with the Rexton SUV in India. To further capture the SUV space, it will launch the Tivoli in India, which is a global success. This is a compact SUV and will rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta and Renault Duster. The Tivoli in Europe has a 1.6-liter petrol and diesel engines. These are most likely to enter the Indian market. 15. 2016 Hyundai Elantra The next-gen Elantra is all set to be the next head turner for Hyundai. It has a beautiful shape and comes packed with features. It is based on the second iteration of Hyundais Fluidic Sculpture design language and will be launched in September in India. This sedan will feature a 4.2-inch LCD screen which will provid a host of information. Also, it will come with Hyundais latest 7.0-inch and 8.0-inch infotainment systems, which support both Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto. 16. Tata Hexa Tata's answer to the Innova Crysta, the Hexa will be a sedan SUV cross and has muscular looks. It will come feature packed with a 400Nm diesel engine. This vehicle will come equipped with six airbags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP). Also, the car will have four drive modes -- Automatic, Comfort, Dynamic and Rough-Road. 17. Toyota Innova Crysta Petrol The Toyota Innova Crysta has witnessed an overwhelming response in India. It has become the highest-selling MPV/SUV in the country, beating the likes of the Hyundai Creta and the Vitara Brezza. The bookings for the petrol variants of the MPV have begun and it will be launched soon. 18. Volkswagen Polo GTI The mighty Polo GTI is all set to rip off its rubber on Indian tarmac. This car launches itself from 0 to 100 kmph in 6.7 seconds, courtesy the 1.8 TFSi petrol motor which produces 192PS of power and 250Nm of torque. 19. Maruti Ignis The next big thing from Maruti, the Ignis hatchback will be placed below the Baleno and above the Swift and will most likely be sold through the NEXA outlets. The car will most likely feature the 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.3-litre diesel engine. There is also a possibility of Maruti introducing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the hatchback. There are some reports which suggest that this car will now be launched in 2017 so as to cope with the rising demand for the Vitara Brezza. These cars have the potential to change the Indian automotive market. With majority of the cars being from Tata, Maruti and Hyundai, customers all over India will soon have a wide new range of vehicles to choose from. Source:CarDekho.com CAG has now recommended that the government should recover the excess amount that RIL recovered from its customers, without sharing the profit with the government. New Delhi: Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) might have to fork out $1.6 billion on its KG-D6 block if the government accepts a report of the comptroller and auditor general of India (CAG) on hydrocarbon production sharing contracts tabled in parliament on Tuesday. CAG has observed that RIL had claimed an excess expense of $1.6 billion in developing the D6 block, which they subsequently recovered against the gas price administered by the government. However, RIL went on to produce far less amount of gas that such a huge investment would have yielded. CAG has now recommended that the government should recover the excess amount that RIL recovered from its customers, without sharing the profit with the government. As per the production-sharing contract between the producer and the government, an operator is allowed to recover all his cost before sharing profit with the government; a provision, which CAG says encourages companies to inflate cost to delay profit sharing. CAG has said that the government should recover the expenditure claimed by RIL on the basis of improperly declared discovery area and faulty procurement and service contracts that clearly showed deficiencies in implementation. The report is a follow-up audit of RIL's eastern offshore (KG-DWN-98/3 block) KG-D6 block that has reviewed the developments between the period 2012-13 and 2013-14. Its earlier report, tabled in 2014, has covered the period between 2008-12. In its latest report, the official auditor has said that between 2012 and 2014, RIL claimed excess cost recovery of $46.35 million (Rs 278.70 crore) on testing the feasibility of wells D29, D30 in the KG-D6 area. This needs to be appropriately assigned and reversed in view of the oil ministrys May 2015 directive that disallowed recovery of such expenditure. Together with the findings of the earlier audit of 2014 that had estimated excess cost recovery by RIL in the KG D6 block at $1,547.85 million (Rs 9,307.22 crore) during 2012-14, the total amount to be recovered now goes up to $1.6 billion. While providing cost recovery numbers, CAG has also pointed out that the matter still remained unresolved, as the RIL had gone for arbitration over some of its observations. The operator has invoked arbitration on some of these exceptions (under-utilisation of gas handling facilities, un-connected wells) and these matters presently stand unresolved, CAG said in its report. A RIL spokesperson refused to comment on the CAGs fresh findings and said that the company was still studying the report. Moreover, the matter flagged by the auditor was already under arbitration, he said. In its previous reports CAG had slammed the oil ministry and its technical arm directorate general of hydrocarbons (DGH) for not exercising enough control and vigil over KG-D6 block, leading to instance of excess cost recovery. In its report, CAG also took note of state-owned ONGC's gas flowing into eastern offshore fields of RIL KG-D6 block. A committee headed by Justice AP Shah is already looking into the dispute between the two oil-producing companies and is likely to submit its report soon. Earlier an independent expert (appointed by ONGC) DeGolyer & MacNaughton (D&M) had reported that a substantial portion of gas in the Godavari area and KG-DWN-98/2 (both of ONGC) had migrated to KG-D6. In case if the ministry of petroleum and natural gas accepts D&M report conclusion that RIL did draw gas from ONGC's contiguous fields, and directs RIL to compensate ONGC for the same, it may affect the financials of KG-DWN-98/3, including cost petroleum, profit petroleum, royalty and taxes over its entire period of operation (since April 2009 when production of gas commenced from the block), CAG said indicating that government would have to rework KG D6 maths to prevent loss to the exchequer. Further CAG observed that 831.88 sq km of KG-D6 area was being used by RIL even though the government had asked it to surrender non-producing areas, as per the terms of PSC. The government, it said, should recover this. Oil ministry had ordered RIL to relinquish 6,198.88 sq km out of total KG-D6 area of 7,645 sq km, as per the contract that allowed retaining only area were discoveries are made. However, the operator relinquished only an area of 5,367 sq km retaining an excess area of 831.88 sq km. The operator also paid petroleum exploration licence (PEL) fees of Rs 33.2 lakh relating to the excess retained area, CAG said, Indicating its frustration over non-adherence to its earlier recommendations on KG-D6 block, the auditor in its report said that many of the issue it had pointed out in the previous audits (2006-12) of the block still persist. CAG also said government should include $63.78 million, which RIL got through marketing margin on gas supplies from its KG-D6 block, in overall price of gas for calculation of royalty payable to government and profit sharing. (This story originally appeared on Financial Chronicle) The bank said in a regulatory filing that at the Board of Directors meeting held on July 21, it had sought consent of the shareholders to borrow the money. New Delhi: Kotak Mahindra Bank plans to raise Rs 5,000 crore by issuing bonds for fulfil its general corporate business. The plan is within the bank's Rs 50,000 crore borrowing limit approved last year. The bank said in a regulatory filing that at the Board of Directors meeting held on July 21, it had sought consent of the shareholders to borrow the money. It will issue securities "in the nature of unsecured, redeemable non-convertible debentures/bonds, in Indian/foreign currencies in the domestic and or overseas markets for an amount up to Rs 5,000 crore, for its general corporate purposes within the overall borrowings limits of the Bank, on a private placement basis", the filing said. The money is planned to be raised in one or more tranches. The outstanding privately placed non-convertible debentures issued by the bank currently aggregate to Rs 962 crore. Kotak Mahindra Bank stock was trading at Rs 763.25, up 0.81 per cent, on BSE. Government employees have the option to investment up to 15 per cent of their deposits in equity market while non- government subscribers can invest up to 50 per cent in stocks. New Delhi: Pension fund regulator PFRDA will launch two new schemes with aggressive and conservative options of investing up to 75 per cent of funds in equity by subscribers in a months' time. "We will launch two life coverage schemes with aggressive and conservation investment options in equity in a months time," Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Chairman Hemant Contractor said. Under aggressive investment options, the subscribers would be allowed to start with up to 75 per cent investments of their deposits into equity which will be reduced over a period of time as their age increases, he said. In the other option or scheme, the subscribers will start with investing 25 per cent of their deposits into equity which will too decrease subsequently over a period of time, he added. At present, subscribers are allowed to start with investing up to 50 per cent of their deposits in equity to our subscribers, Contractor said. The overall return on investment for PFRDA was 11.5 per cent. The rate of return for non-government subscribers is slightly higher at 13 per cent compared to 9.5 per cent of government employees subscribing to the scheme. Government employees have the option to investment up to 15 per cent of their deposits in equity market while non- government subscribers can invest up to 50 per cent in stocks. Contractor said: "The proposal to allow government employees to invest up to 50 per cent of their deposits in equity is with the government. They have not approved it so far." National Pension System (NPS) is administered and regulated by PFRDA. The scheme was initially for government employees and later offered to other subscribers as well. PFRDA manages 1.3 crore subscribers including 44 lakh government employees with a total corpus of Rs 14,000 crore. Apollo Hospitals chairman Prathap C. Reddy and managing director Preetha Reddy (sitting beside the chairman) along with a group of oncologists during the launch of their exclusive cancer institutes in Hyderabad on Wednesday. (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: In a change of its age old strategy of building big multispeciality hospitals, Indias largest healthcare provider Apollo Hospitals is planning to focus on setting up specialty institutes to cure lifestyle diseases. We looked at the enormity of disease burden on people, especially due to cancer, cardiac, and diabetes. So we have built a chain of diabetes clinics. Now we are bringing all our cancer hospitals under one umbrella, so that it can integrate better and grow better. We will somewhere in future have specialty hospitals for cardiac also, Apollo Hospitals executive vice-chairman and MD Preetha Reddy told this newspaper. Ms Reddy, the eldest daughter of the founder Prathap C. Reddy, was in Hyderabad on Wednesday to launch Apollo Cancer Institutes a new initiative that will put all cancer treatment facilities under a new brand, which is expected to improve cancer treatment further. The healthcare major plans to introduce precision oncology treatment by using advanced equipments such as proton therapy machine. Ms Reddy said the group will invest Rs 650 crore for providing proton therapy treatment facilities the first in Southeast Asia at its cancer institute in Chennai by mid-2017. Oncology is one of the biggest revenue generators for the Chennai-based group as over 20 per cent of its income from this area. Speaking during the launch, the Apollo Hospital chairman said the country needs to address the issue of growing lifestyle diseases through prevention. Apollo cancer institutes in Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bilaspur, Bengaluru and Madurai are part of this new initiative. Hyderabad: Information Technology minister for Telangana State KTR Rao on Wednesday confirmed that the government of Telangana along with Nasscom will jointly host the 2018 World Congress on Information Technology in Hyderabad. Speaking at the Nasscom press conference, Mr Rao announced that India had won the bid to host the prestigious annual event in 2018 before going on to talk in lengths about the much awaited GST Bill. Indias bid for the World Congress received competition from Taiwan and Armenia early on in the race but afterwards proved to be an easy victory. The dates for the event, though, has yet to be confirmed but World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), Secretary General, Jim Poisant was present himself to announce the final decision and to help India make the necessary preparations required for the upcoming event. India will have to be careful ahead of the event Ajay Devgn has spent a year-and-a-half going unshaved and sporting a certain look for his next directorial, Shivaay. The dedicated actor went all the way to the top of Balkan mountains, shot in extreme conditions and left no stone unturned for his Diwali release. While the actor, who is also directing the venture, is all set to share the films trailer this week, we get you an exclusive preview of the trailer, which will be launched in Indore. And from what weve seen its clear that the movie has all the elements to be a huge money-spinner when it releases. Ajay Devgn as Shivaay: The trailer is fast, crisp and is packed with lots of visuals from the film. Ajay Devgn makes a dramatic entry in the trailer, which doesnt really focus on his chiselled body. While Ajays physique is one of the highlights, the focus is more on narrating the journey of a man and his hurdles. Ajay looks intense in the opening shot and the trailer doesnt give away much about the story line. High-octane action: Being the son of an action director, the ability to execute action scenes to perfection is something Ajay carries in his blood. Returning to direction after eight years, the actor/director has pulled out something special when it comes to action in the movie. Lets just say that it sets a new benchmark for Bollywood films. Its not just about how spectacular the visuals of these action scenes are, but it also about the execution. Balkain Mountains: Major portions of the trailer have stunning visuals of the Balkan Mountains, where the actor shot the films most important portion. It shows Ajay climbing up the mountain, hanging from the edge of the cliff and performing daredevil stunts. As a director and as an actor he succeeds in making you part of his difficult journey and makes sure you dont blink. Trailer impact: Apart from how the trailer has been edited, major credit should go to the background music, especially the one song highlighted in the trailer, as well. Composed by Mithoon, the score is on par with Hollywood in terms of quality. Mithoon has really moved out of his comfort zone and has come up with a brilliant score. The trailer is all set to come out next week on August 7, and Ajay will be launching it in Indore. Around 40 percent of the schools catering to low-income students were near at least one fast food restaurant. (Representative Image) Compared to schools with mostly white students, schools with higher numbers of Hispanic, black, and low-income students are more likely to have tobacco retailers and fast-food restaurants in easy reach, researchers say. Schools are places where we expect to be healthy, supportive environments for kids, but right outside the door (students) could be exposed to unhealthy influences, lead author Heather DAngelo of Westat in Rockville, Maryland told Reuters Health in a phone interview. I was surprised that there were so many tobacco outlets near schools, said DAngelo, who at the time of the study was at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. DAngelo and her colleagues randomly selected more than 18,000 public schools in 97 U.S. counties, then analyzed their proximity to retailers within an 800-meter radius roughly equivalent to a 10-minute walk. They report in the American Journal of Public Health that 40 percent of the schools were near at least one fast food restaurant, 77 percent were close to at least one retailer likely to sell tobacco products, and 38 percent of schools were close to both. Schools with higher numbers of Hispanic, black, and low-income students receiving free and reduced-price lunch were more likely to have tobacco retailers and fast-food restaurants within a ten-minute walk. More than 50 percent of schools with a majority of Hispanic students were within 800 meters of both a tobacco outlet and a fast food outlet, compared to 21 percent of schools with a majority of white students. When researchers took population density into account, they found that every 10 percent increase in the proportion of a schools Hispanic students was associated with a five percent higher likelihood the school was within walking distance of places to buy both tobacco and fast food. A 10 percent increase in low-income students was associated with a three percent higher likelihood a school was near both kinds of stores. The researchers also report that fast food and tobacco were more easily accessible for older kids, suggesting that retailers may be well aware of and ready to take advantage of the autonomy and purchasing power of older youths. High schools had 40 percent more fast food restaurants and 24 percent more tobacco outlets within 800 meters than did primary schools and high schools had nearly 1.5 times greater odds of having both nearby, they wrote. The researchers say theirs is the first study to consider the availability of both tobacco and fast food on the basis of students socioeconomic and racial characteristics. The study did not analyze how students get to school, whether they leave campus during lunchtime, or where they live. Nor did the researchers have data on students eating habits, or their weight or health status. This is looking at one point in time, said DAngelo. I cant say one thing causes another. However, theres still an association here. She noted that since the study only looked at fast food chains, the number of restaurants serving unhealthy food in the areas studied could be even higher. DAngelo and her co-authors argue that while licensing or zoning policies could restrict students exposure to tobacco and unhealthy foods, more research on neighborhood disparities is needed in order to change public policy. Food and tobacco habits begin at a young age, and habits tend to consolidate and stick or track over time, said Steven H. Kelder, an epidemiologist who was not involved with the study. Kelder, who co-directs the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Austin, told Reuters Health by email that studies like this one provide information on how to address growing health disparities based on race and income and could point to the need for tighter restrictions at the point of sale, or counter-marketing to students of color. In this country we have a history of commercially taking advantage of poor, less educated, and vulnerable populations, Kelder said. Documenting health disparities highlights the need to address uncovered problems. Off-site technicians doing the heart monitoring remotely is a much better option, experts say. (Photo: Pixabay) Instead of having heart monitors with noisy alarms near patients' beds in the hospital, it might be better to have off-site technicians do the heart monitoring remotely, a recent study suggests. Traditional on-site heart monitoring can involve a lot of false alarms that don't always help detect cardiac arrests and other serious events, said lead study author Dr. David Cantillon, a researcher at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. "Important warning signs are often missed among a large volume of nuisance alarms," Cantillon said by email. "This is referred to as alarm fatigue, and this has been associated with serious adverse outcomes, including patient deaths across the United States." As an alternative, Cantillon and colleagues examined outcomes for more than 99,000 heart patients at the Cleveland Clinic and three nearby regional hospitals who were monitored remotely. None of the patients in the study were in critical condition or receiving intensive care. Technicians at the remote central unit monitored up to 48 patients at a time and alerted hospital staff whenever alarms suggested something might be amiss. These remote technicians provided more than 410,000 notifications over the 13-month study period, about half of which were related to heart rhythm or blood pressure issues, researchers report in JAMA. Emergency response teams (ERTs) were activated in about 3,200 cases, including 980 instances when the heart rhythm or blood pressure changes occurred no more than an hour earlier. Most of these warnings - 79 percent - were accurate notifications of situations when patients needed urgent help, the study found. In addition, the remote technicians directly notified ERTs on the worsening condition of 105 patients who needed immediate intervention. This included advance warning of 27 cardiopulmonary arrests - all but two resulting in a return of circulation. The remote monitoring system was also associated with a reduction in the total number of patients who needed monitoring at any given time. This so-called weekly census dropped by almost 16 percent, when compared with the prior 13-month period. Overall, remote monitoring didn't appear to lead to more cardiac arrests. There were 122 during the study period and 126 in the previous 13 months. Limitations of the study include its observational design, which makes it impossible to determine if remote monitoring directly causes specific outcomes, the authors note. To prove a benefit, researchers would need to randomly assign some patients to receive on-site monitoring and others to off-site monitoring, noted Dr. Sumeet Chugh, director of the Heart Rhythm Center at Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles. But the findings still suggest that patients might benefit when dangerous events are identified and emergency response teams are activated quickly, Chugh, who wasn't involved in the study, said by email. "In most hospitals, a certain proportion of beds are equipped with the capability to monitor the patient's heart and breathing in real time," Chugh said. "The goal is to catch any warnings or abnormalities early, so that critical events such as heart or lung arrest can be either prevented, or managed rapidly." The woolly mammoths of Alaska were the last surviving mammoth population. (Photo: AP) BERLIN: Scientists say that one of the last surviving populations of woolly mammoths was likely driven to extinction by lack of drinking water. Mammoths lived on Alaska's St Paul Island in the Bering Sea until about 5,600 years ago. They never came into contact with humans, who only arrived on the island in 1787. Researchers from the United States examined evidence of environmental change and found that the mammoths' demise coincided with declining freshwater resources caused by rising sea levels and drier climate. In a study published Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, they concluded that mammoths may have contributed to their own demise by congregating around remaining water holes. By trampling the vegetation these Ice Age giants hastened erosion that further reduced the freshwater supply. A police spokeswoman said that the truck had been donated by the Boston Police Foundation and was valued at $89,000. (Photo: Facebook) New York: It's the ice cream truck that police hope can defrost any lingering iciness from ordinary Americans on particularly hot days: meet the latest $89,000 addition to the Boston police fleet. Festooned in balloons and unveiled to the public on Monday, the blue-and-white van is marked with police insignia and has "Free Ice Cream" written in large blue letters underneath a serving hatch. "If you had told me 30 years ago that the Boston Police Department would have an ice cream truck as part of its patrol force... I would've said you were crazy," said city police commissioner William Evans. The truck is part of a city community policing effort set up in 2010 to reach out to children. The initiative has already handed out more than 120,000 free pots of chocolate and vanilla ice cream. A police spokeswoman said that the truck had been donated by the Boston Police Foundation and was valued at $89,000. Although it will not make daily patrols it will be out in force at community events or on particularly hot days in the city, she said. "I absolutely love the new truck," Evans said. "The goodwill it generates between my officers and our city's young people is undeniable and nothing short of remarkable." Police said the ice cream is donated by a local Massachusetts dairy. The joke arose years ago when an email campaign wrongly claimed that if 8,000 people put themselves down as Jedi it would have to be officially recognised as a religion. (Photo: Instagram) Sydney, Australia: Atheists are urging Australians not to describe themselves as "Jedi" in the upcoming census, warning that doing so in homage to "Star Wars" makes the country appear more religious than it really is. Ahead of the August 9 five-year census, the Atheist Foundation of Australia has requested citizens mark themselves down as having "no religion" if they do not consider themselves tied to a faith. "If old religious men in robes do not represent you... don't mark yourself as 'Jedi'," says a campaign poster featuring Yoda and two other Jedi masters. Jedi' and other joke religions are not placed in the 'No Religion' category but in 'Not Defined'. This makes Australia seem more religious than it really is." Foundation president Kylie Sturgess said she was encouraging people "to be counted as what they are". "Our attitude is, well here's an opportunity to have a say on the census; pop down what you are," she told AFP. "Maybe 'no religion' suits you, maybe you are someone who has drifted away from the church. "But unfortunately 'Jedi' is just not an option on the census." The joke arose years ago when an email campaign wrongly claimed that if 8,000 people put themselves down as Jedi it would have to be officially recognised as a religion. At the 2001 Australian census, more than 70,500 people listed their faith as "Jedi knight" or something similar, which would indicate the country had nearly as many believers in the "Force" as it had members of the Salvation Army. "Whether or not people took the claim seriously, it was the start of a reporting phenomenon that gained speed internationally," the Australian Bureau of Statistics said in 2013, adding that New Zealand, Canada, England and Wales subsequently reported large Jedi contingents. Jedi numbers dropped in the 2006 Australian census to 58,053 but bounced back five years later to 64,390. Sturgess admits that she has put down Jedi as a "bit of a laugh" in the past. "But the fact is that the ABS just doesn't count it, they consider it 'not defined'," she said, adding "the joke is kinda getting a bit old". Australian statisticians could instead follow Britain's example. In the 2001 England and Wales census, 390,000 people, or 0.7 percent of the population, entered their religion as "Jedi" but they were included among the atheists. Or they could embrace non-traditional movements as New Zealand did in 2015 when it recognised pastafarians -- who wear colanders on their heads, revere pirates and believe the world was created by a giant deity made of spaghetti. BENGALURU: A fight between a husband and wife led to the murder of latters mother in Kebbahalli near Sunkadakatte in Kamakshipalya police station limits on Tuesday morning. The deceased has been identified as Manjula (47), a resident of Basaveshwaranagar. Her son-in-law Nagaraj Nayak is absconding after the incident. According to the police, Nayak, who works in a private company, got married to Manjulas daughter Sumalatha about five years ago and the couple has a son. From the last few months, Nayak was suspecting his wifes fidelity and used to frequently quarrel with her. On Tuesday morning also, he picked up a quarrel over the same issue. After learning about the incident, Manjula rushed to the couples house and she got into a heated argument with Nayak, supporting her daughter. An enraged Nayak pushed her aside and tried to stab his wife with a knife. In a bid to save her daughter, Manjula came in between and she got stabbed in her abdomen. As she fell unconscious, Nayak locked the main door from outside and escaped. Hearing Sumalathas screams, neighbours opened the door in a while. Manjula was immediately rushed to a hospital, but she succumbed on the way, the police said. Based on the complaint filed by Sumalatha, the Kamakshipalya police have launched a manhunt to nab the accused. Female sugarcane workers are often forced by their families to undergo sterilisation or a hysterectomy so they do not get pregnant from the repeated abuse. (Photo: Representational Image) Mumbai: Every year after the monsoon, Gouri Bhiwde and her husband joined tens of thousands of workers migrating to the west of Maharashtra to cut sugarcane. Every year, Bhiwde and other female labourers were sexually assaulted by supervisors and landowners, she said. After one difficult pregnancy, Bhiwde's husband and his family took her to a doctor, who advised her to have a hysterectomy to prevent any further complications. "The doctor said, 'let's take it out'," Bhiwde said by telephone from her village in Beed district. "He said, it'll only cause trouble." Female workers in western Maharashtra's sugarcane fields routinely face abuse and rape by landlords and middlemen who enslave them through debt bondage, activists say. They said women are often forced by their families to undergo sterilisation or a hysterectomy so they do not get pregnant from the repeated abuse, and can work without a break. "It is an unimaginable violation," said Nirja Bhatnagar, regional manager at ActionAid in Mumbai, which has surveyed dozens of female sugarcane cutters in Beed district. "There is no human rights violation worse than having to remove your uterus so you can enter an informal economy that does not care for you," said Bhatnagar. However, a spokesman for the sugar factories' cooperative denied that women are abused. "We have not heard of any such instances," said Sriramji Shete, a vice chairman of the Maharashtra State Co-operative Sugar Factories Federation. "If they are unhappy with the wages or the conditions, why would they keep coming back?" he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. India is the world's second-largest sugar producer. In Maharashtra, about 500,000 rural poor migrate to Beed, Solapur, Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts every year to cut sugarcane. The workers are hired as couples. Most are in debt bondage, receiving about 50,000 to 60,000 rupees ($745 to $895) from a middleman as an advance against working for six to eight months. At the end of that period, the workers are often told they still owe money, and that they must return the next season, activists say. During the harvesting season, which runs from November to May, migrant workers erect flimsy shacks of straw and plastic to live in. There is no running water, electricity or toilets. The cutter couples, sometimes accompanied by their older children, work from about 4 a.m. to late afternoon. They then carry heavy loads of sugarcane and stack them in carts drawn by bulls that take them to the factories for crushing. There may be a doctor to tend to cuts and injuries, but workers must take care of major illnesses - and pregnancies, campaigners said. Child labour is rampant, and because only couples are hired, girls are married before the legal age of 18, said an activist who works in Satara. The women often suffer miscarriages and those with children are told that sterilisation or a hysterectomy is the only fix, she said. "It is the worst form of slave labour, and women suffer the brunt of it," said the activist who spoke on condition of anonymity as she did not want to get the workers in trouble. "You can't really blame the family - they are resigned to their fate. They know there is abuse, but they know they must work," she said. ActionAid's Bhatnagar and the activist said they had met doctors who perform hysterectomies. The procedure costs about 35,000 rupees ($525), and sink the poor family further into debt. The women are generally unaware of the risks of doing hard manual labour soon after the surgery, and the effects of the procedure at a young age, they said. Calls to a doctor in Beed went unanswered. Unionising the workers may give them a voice and some protection, but these efforts are opposed by the sugar lobby, with many factories owned by wealthy politicians, activists say. "There are laws against bonded labour and against abuse, but these are poor, low-caste workers who are afraid of the higher-caste owners," said Flavia Agnes, a co-founder of women's rights organisation Majlis in Mumbai. "They have to go back to the same fields to work. They have no option," she said. Anandiben has submitted her resignation to the Governor. (Photo: Twitter/ANI) Gandhinagar/New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Wednesday submitted her resignation to Governor O P Kohli hours after the BJP Parliamentary Board accepted her offer to quit and authorised party president Amit Shah to pick her successor to lead the party in 2017 polls. Anandiben, who will turn 75 this November, handed over the resignation letter to Kohli in the presence of ministers and party leaders at Raj Bhavan in the evening. Kohli has asked her to continue until the new cheif minister takes charge. "Anandiben has submitted her resignation to the governor," state unit BJP president Vijay Rupani told reporters after coming out of Raj Bhavan. Earlier in the day, the BJP Parliamentary Board which met in Delhi authorised Shah to pick Anandiben's successor after accepting her offer to resign. The meeting of the Parliamentary Board, which was chaired by Shah and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appointed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP general secretary Saroj Pandey as party's central observers to hold consultations with the MLAs for electing the new leader. Shah will be travelling to Gujarat tomorrow where he will hold consultations with party leaders and attend the Legislature Party meeting, likely to be held on Friday to elect the new leader. Though her departure was anticipated, the first woman chief minister of Gujarat had offered to step down on Monday ostensibly due to her age, as she is turning 75 soon. Meanwhile, the political circles are abuzz with the likey choice of her replacement. According to leaders in BJP, the decision on Anandiben's successor could be taken within the next two days. "We are yet to decide the time of the Legislature body meeting (to elect new leader) as state Observer Nitin Gadkari is busy. It (meeting) can happen any time after 3 PM tomorrow or even a day after. Our national president Amit Shah will decide it as he is arriving here tomorrow," said state unit BJP in-charge Dinesh Sharma. He said the Legislature Party meeting to decide the nextCM will be held in the presence of state Observers as per the process. Parrying a query on likely contenders for CM's post, Sharma said, "A party worker will be chosen as next chief minister." Interestingly, state unit BJP chief Vijay Rupani whose name is in the reckoning for the post besides others, virtually ruled himself out of the race, saying he would like to work for the party organisation. "I have told the party leadership that I would like to work for the organisation," Rupani said. Names of "number two" in state Cabinet and incumbent Health minister Nitin Patel, Union minister Purshottam Rupalaand Assembly Speaker Ganpat Vasava, a tribal leader, are stilldoing the rounds. Nitin Patel, who is considered to be the front-runner, said, "The party Central leadership will decide on who will be the chief minister." Anandiben, meanwhile, issued advertisements in newspapers here today listing the works done during her two-year tenure. Hyderabad: For the second time in less than a week, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday assured Andhra Pradesh that the Centre would consider more and more financial assistance to it and fulfill all promises made to it. Mr Jaitley was forced to make a suo moto statement in Lok Sabha on Tuesday in order to pacify agitating Telugu Desam and YSR Congress MPs who continued their stir for a second day demanding that the Centre immediately declare special category status for AP as was promised by it. Mr Jaitley informed the Lok Sabha that on Tuesday itself he had spoken to AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu over the issue and had informed him that the Centre was working on alternatives to give more assistance to the state. He appealed to the agitating MPs to withdraw their protests in RS and allow the proceedings to go on. Responding to Mr Jaitleys intervention in the matter, Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party leader and Union minister of state Y.S. Chowdary said at a press conference in the evening that they would wait for the outcome and then plan further agitations over the issue. He said that there was no going back on continuing the partys agitation over the issue till AP got special category status as well as special financial packages as promised by the Centre. Earlier in the day, placard-holding TD and YSR Congress MPs had separately gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament and shouted slogans, demanding special category status for AP. During the Session, YSR Congress MPs had rushed to the podium and TD members raised slogans from their seats, disturbing the proceedings. However like Monday, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan continued with both question hour and zero hour amid the sloganeering by the AP MPs. The Speaker, later on, advised the Andhra Pradesh MPs that she would allow a debate on the issue. Lucknow: A day after SP leader and Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan triggered controversy by hinting that the Bulandshahr gangrape could be a political conspiracy, a BJP leader on Wednesday escalated the row by saying that the UP leader would realise the gravity of the situation if his "wife and daughter were gangraped". "Miyan Azam Khan ke beti aur bibi se gang rape ho jaye tab Azam ki aankh khulegi Bulandshahr highway par 12 saal ki beti aur maa ke saath gang rape par ochhi baat kahi," (Azam Khan's eye would open only if his daughter and wife were gangraped, he has made absurd comments of Bulandshahr gangrape of 12 year old girl and her mother)," BJP spokesman IP Singh tweeted from his Twitter handle @ipsingh1432. Reacting to Singh's distasteful comments, Azam said, "This is the culture of BJP. You can complain to someone with whom you expect decent talks." "I am a sensitive person. Bulandshahr incident is condemnable and strict action is needed in the case. Similar incidents have also happened, if me or the government want to know the reality behind it, what is wrong in it? It will only increase sections in the FIR and in future could save a girl. If someone abuses me for that, then he can do so," he told reporters here. Azam had earlier stoked controversy by suggesting that the Bulandshahr highway gangrape could be an outcome of political conspiracy against the ruling party, drawing condemnation from rival parties. He termed the gangrape of the minor girl and her mother by a group of bandits near Bulandshahr last week as attempt to "malign" the Samajwadi Party (SP) government by those who want to "come to power" in poll-bound UP. Assembly elections in UP are due early next year. The law forbids children below the age of 18 working in mines and other hazardous industries but many families living in extreme poverty rely on children to boost household income. (Representational Image: YouTube screenshot) Koderma/Bhilwara/Sydapuram: In the depths of India's illegal mica mines, where children as young as five work alongside adults, lurks a dark, hidden secret - the cover-up of child deaths with seven killed in the past two months, an investigation has revealed. Investigations over three months in the major mica producing states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh found child labour rife, with small hands ideal to pick and sort the valued mineral that puts the sparkle in cosmetics and car paint. But interviews with workers and local communities discovered children were not only risking their health in abandoned "ghost" mines off official radars, but they were dying in the unregulated, crumbling mines, with seven killed since June. In the mud-and-brick village of Chandwara in Bihar in eastern India, a father's grief laid bare the ugly reality of the illegal mining that accounts for an estimated 70 percent of India's mica output. Vasdev Rai Pratap's 16-year-old son Madan was killed in a mica mine along with two other adult workers in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand on June 23. "I didn't know how dangerous the work in the mines is. Had I known, I would never have let him go," said Pratap, sitting on a charpoy - a traditional woven bed - outside his home, surrounded by friends and family who had come to mourn the teen's death. "They said it took almost a day to dig out his body after the mine collapsed. They cremated him without telling me. I didn't even see my boy before they set him alight." Pratap, like other victims' families and mine operators, has not reported the death, choosing to accept a payment for his loss rather than risk ending the illegal mining on protected forest land that brings income to some of the countrys poorest areas. The farmer said he was promised a 100,000 rupee payment from the operator of the mine but has yet to receive it. The mine where Madan was working is illegal, and no one was available to comment on the teenager's death. The law forbids children below the age of 18 working in mines and other hazardous industries but many families living in extreme poverty rely on children to boost household income. The Thomson Reuters Foundation findings were backed up by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi's child protection group Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) - or Save the Childhood Movement - which documented over 20 mica-related deaths in June - including that of Madan and two other children - double the monthly average. BBA discovered four children were killed in July. India is one of the world's largest producers of the silver-coloured, crystalline mineral that has gained prominence in recent years as an environmentally-friendly material, used by major global brands in the car and building sectors, electronics and make-up. "Blood Money" A spokesman for the Ministry of Mines said safety in mica mines was a matter for state governments who are facing mounting pressure from the mining industry to grant licences to illegal mines. Social activists also support these calls, claiming it will help crackdown on the flourishing black market in mica, worker exploitation and abuse, and child deaths. "The central government has no machinery to inspect or control the mines," the spokesman Y.S. Kataria said. BBA workers, who have been trying to stop child labour in Jharkhand's mica mines for almost a decade, said Madan's death and the six others in the past two months were just the tip of the iceberg, estimating fewer than 10 percent of mica mine deaths are reported to the police. "Although there are no official figures on child deaths in the mines as it is all illegal, we hear about them through our networks in the villages where we work," said Raj Bhushan, BBA's Jharkhand Project Coordinator. "Normally, we hear about 10 fatalities on average in a month. But in June, we documented over 20 deaths, including two of boys aged around 15 years old." Officials from India's Directorate of Mines Safety were not available to comment on the number of child fatalities. The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a government organisation, conducted a fact-finding mission in Jharkhand's Koderma and Giridih districts in June and found children as young as eight mining mica. "We didn't get any reports of children being injured or dying due to mine accidents such as collapses as it is all illegal and not reported openly. But it may be happening," said the head of the fact finding mission of NCPCR, Priyank Kanoongo. A senior official from Jharkhand's labour department, which is responsible for ensuring child labour laws are followed, said there were no reports of children dying due to mica mining. "Firstly it is a violation of the law of the land if people are mining without any approval and if they are engaging child labour, they committing a double crime," said Principal Secretary of Jharkhand's labour department S.K.G. Rahate. Officials know of child labour District officials admit child labour is a problem in some mines but say it is restricted to remote pockets where government services and welfare schemes have failed to reach the poor with training in new industries and schooling. "There are some portions where mica mining is going on and where children are involved, and we're trying to roll out schemes to support families to generate other income such as training in goat breeding, masonry and making pickles," said Uma Shankar Singh, District Collector for Giridih. Dutch campaign group SOMO estimates up to 20,000 children are involved in mica mining in Jharkhand and Bihar. Investigations by the Thomson Reuters Foundation over three months found children working in and around mica mines in northern Jharkhand, southern Bihar and in Rajasthan in India's northwest. In vast open-pits in Jharkhand, children as young as six squatted among glittering rocks scouring with their bare hands for shiny, brittle mica flakes, while older ones descended rickety ladders into shafts seeking better quality silicate. In Giridih's Tisri area, Basanti sifted through the reddish earth searching for pieces of mica while her 10-year-old son Sandeep climbed into a rat-hole dug in the side of the hill and descended 3 metres (10 ft) to pound on the wall with a pick-axe. His mother said the skinny boy in checked shorts and a white T-shirt has been working in the mines since he was seven and, with his contribution, the family earns 300 rupees ($4) daily. "I know it's dangerous but that's the only work there is," she said, squatting on the ground, a metal dish partially filled with mica beside her. "I know Sandeep doesn't want to do it but it is what it is. If he was able to go to school and learn and become something then that's good, but first we need to eat." "Even adult mine workers arents safe" In Bhilwara district in Rajasthan, boys as young as five were seen climbing down narrow, crumbling shafts to cut mica with a hammer and chisel, working for up to eight hours a day. Their sisters sifted and separated the mica on the surface, squatting on their haunches and using their bare fingers. Older girls also separated the mica and took it to a collection point. "Mine owners say the children aren't working inside the mines, they're outside. That they're just earning a little extra for the family," said Rana Sengupta, chief executive of the non-profit Mine Labour Protection Campaign in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. "But the children have no business being anywhere near the mines, inside or outside. Even adult mine workers aren't safe." At a mine in Bhilwara's Tiloli village, two young girls sat on a mound of dirt, sorting mica pieces by the side of a mine partly filled with rain water. "I don't go into the mine. It's too deep, I get scared," said Pooja, who looked about seven years old. "I sort bigger pieces from smaller pieces. It's not so hard." A few feet from her sat nine-year-old Payal, also sorting mica pieces with her bare hands. Dhanraj Sharma, a commissioner in Rajasthan's Labour Ministry, said he was not aware of child workers in the mines in Bhilwara or "anywhere else in the state". "Their parents are working in the mines, and the children stay with them. They may be playing there, they may be doing some small things for the parents. That doesn't mean they are working," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The recent surge in demand for mica has revived a flagging industry in India that dates back to the late 19th century when the British discovered mica in a belt spanning Jharkhand's Koderma, Giridih and Hazaribag and Bihar's Nawada, Jamui, Gaya and Bhagalpur districts. Once boasting over 700 mines with over 20,000 workers, the industry was hit by 1980 legislation to limit deforestation and the discovery of substitutes for natural mica, forcing most mines to close due to cost and stringent environmental rules. In 2013/14 India only had 38 reporting mica mines, according to India's Bureau of Mines. Threats and Intimidation But renewed interest in mica from China's economic boom and a global craze for "natural" cosmetics has sent illegal operators scurrying to access the hundreds of closed mines in India and created a lucrative black market. Figures from India's Bureau of Mines show the country produced 19,000 tonnes of mica in 2013/14. But the same data shows exports were 128,000 tonnes, with more than half, or 62 percent, going to China followed by Japan, the United States, the Netherlands and France. Despite numerous emails and phone calls, no one could be reached at the Bureau of Mines to comment on the discrepancy in the numbers. Leading Indian colour and pigment maker Sudarshan said experts estimate about 70 percent of mica production in India is from illegal mining in forests and abandoned mines. This mica is sold to various traders, processors and exporters with deals conducted on mobile phones leaving no paper trail as it leaves India for manufacturers overseas. "We sell the mica to an agent in town, who sells to a big buyer from Kolkata, who exports to China, the United States, Germany and Brazil," said mine operator Dhara Singh, who said he and his brother owned a half dozen mines in Bhilwara. When asked about the two young girls sorting mica at the site in Bhilwara's Tiloli village, he said they were volunteers. But within minutes, four men arrived on two motorbikes, forcing all visitors from the site. The abuse of workers and threats of violence and intimidation tainting the industry have added to the mounting demand within the industry for the government to intervene to ensure all mines are operated legally while also helping impoverished communities find new sources of income. "The stock is there, the demand is there but the government is not granting licences," said one Giridih-based businessman, who exports mica to China, Germany and Britain. "Exporters continue to work, buying the mica from here and there. But there is a general sense of insecurity that the government could crack down any time. It is better they grant the licences and take the royalty." Schools Instead of Mines While the industry is economically unfeasible for some countries due to the need for manual labour, it remains a key earner in India where labour costs are low - particularly when child workers are used. Child rights campaigners say authorities have overlooked these child labourers for years but hope drawing attention to child deaths in the mica mines may highlight the dangers and force governments to act. Occupational hazards include head injuries, cuts and abrasions, skin and respiratory infections like silicosis, tuberculosis and asthma - but the risks from mining in poorly maintained, unregulated mines were also proving lethal. BBA's Bhushan said he and his workers met with most of the families of those who died in mining accidents in June, and found their only means of survival was this unlicensed mining. "All were poor households who are dependent on mica mining for an income," Bhushan told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "They fully understand these places are death traps, but they also realise they have little choice but to go back there the next day. It is essential that authorities address this issue before more children die." In a huge open quarry inside the dense forests of Domchanch in Koderma district in Jharkhand, Sushila Devi diligently pounds at glinting grey rocks with a hammer, breaking away chunks of mica and tossing them into a large plastic basin. The 40-year-old mother of six has been collecting mica every day for over a decade, yet she - like most other workers - has no idea what it is or its price on the global market. "We don't know what mica is, where it goes and what it is used for. All I know is that if I work hard and collect it, I will get some money," she said, adding that she gathers around 10 kg of the mica daily which earns her 80 rupees ($1). "We take it to a nearby mica dump and the dealer buys it for 8 rupees per kilo. I don't know how much he sells it on for. He would never tell us. Why would he risk losing more profit?" The mark-up is huge, say activists. Mica is bought from miners at a maximum of 25 rupees (40 cents) a kilogram, yet top quality sheet or "ruby" mica sells for up to $2,000 a kilogram, according to USGS data, helping boost demand for synthetic mica. Unique Mineral British cosmetics company Lush, which prides itself on its handmade products and ethical trading, switched from natural to synthetic mica in 2014 due to concerns about child labour. Lush's head of ethical trading Simon Constantine said he knew something was amiss when armed guards were needed to accompany auditors to one Indian mine supplying their mica. But the retailer, which has stores in almost 50 countries, then discovered this year that the synthetic mica it was using instead also had traces of natural mica. The company said it is tackling that. "Mica took us a bit off guard as it was a new material that we had not really used before," Constantine told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview in Lush's head office in the English south coastal town of Poole. "But buying is an imperfect system that doesn't end ... it's always more of an improvement than a finished product." Up to 10 percent of mica globally is used in cosmetics. Estee Lauder Cos Inc (EL.N) is another cosmetics company using mica in its products but said it only sourced 10 percent of its mica from India and was working with BBA to tackle child labour, helping fund schools in villages in mica areas. "We strongly believe that education is a cornerstone in this effort, helping young people stay in school and providing the skills that will allow them to later on get work outside the mica industry," Estee Lauder said in an email statement. "While this programme has yet to end child labour in mica mines, it shows that responsible business practices and sustained collaboration can create better prospects for children living in the mica-mining region." L'Oreal said more than 60 percent of its natural mica came from the United States while the rest came from other countries including India. "In India, mica mainly originates from socially and economically challenged regions where there is a risk of child labor, unsafe working conditions, and where the supply chain involves multiple actors," the company said on its website. L'Oreal said it was important all players worked together and a summit in February in Delhi on responsible mica sourcing, organised by French non-profit organisation the Natural Resources Stewardship Circle (NRSC), was a good first step. NRSC's Executive Director Catherine Peyreaud said child abuse in mica had been going on for years but it was only when revelations about mica being used in cosmetics hit global headlines two years ago that action really started. She said NRSC was now completing a five-year plan with concrete steps to tackle child labour and improve living conditions in mica areas so children did not return to mining. In Koderma's Dhab, one of about 45 villages where BBA is working, Pooja, 13, proudly shows off the run-down school she has attended for almost two years since she left mica mining. Dressed in her school uniform - a pristine white short-sleeved shirt and a navy skirt - the bare-footed girl excitedly points out her classroom amongst the row of blue doors in the white-washed building. "I like going to school. I have friends here and I get to play and also get to study and learn things. I am happy that BBA came and helped our parents to understand that making children work is not good," said Pooja, who dreams of becoming a teacher. "The mining was dangerous. When we were down there, we were always looking up thinking the earth and rocks might fall on us. It happened to me once, but I managed to get out as my friend Munni helped me. I got badly hurt that time." Company Action Pooja is one of the lucky ones and many more companies sourcing mica from India are now making efforts to stop children from working in the mines and provide alternatives. German drugmaker Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE) discovered children were collecting mica at mines used for its supplies in 2008 so cut some of its suppliers and now only sources from Jharkhand and child-free legal mines. The company said in a website statement that it had also set up mica sources in the United States and Brazil and was producing some effect pigments based on synthetic mica. Another major buyer, Chinese pigment manufacturer Fujian Kuncai Material Technology Co Ltd, said its audits had found no evidence of child labour in its supply chain although acknowledged that it was a complex challenge. A Fujian Kuncai spokesman said the company was setting up its own firm in India to buy directly from - and audit - mines. It was also joining forces with child rights group Terre des Hommes and helping to fund a programme to save 10,000 children from child labour in Koderma and Giridih districts of Jharkhand. "Alone one cannot make the difference and we are looking forward to work together reaching our shared ambition: no child labour in the mica supply chain," the spokesman said. With companies needing mica willing to fund community initiatives, campaigners believe legalising the industry could undermine the black market in mica and help improve health and safety standards as well as combating child labour. However environmental campaigners would not welcome the reopening of these mines. Many mines are now on protected forest land and would not get approval to operate legally. Sengupta from the Mine Labour Protection Campaign in Rajasthan said a first step to combat child labour would be to mandate that all mines have an operator to report to the state to ensure workers' safety and earnings and no child workers. "In many instances, children are being forced to work because their parents aren't getting paid properly or because the father has fallen ill and has no health care," he said. "If operators are in place at every mine, we would go a long way in checking child labour." Some legal mines have managed to tackle child labour. The Sri Venkata Kanakadurga and Uma Maheshwari mica mines in Talupur in Andhra Pradesh are among the oldest and biggest licensed mines in the area but mine supervisor Syed Ismail said children don't work in the mines anymore. "In these parts, mica has always been traditional work that entire families have engaged in. My father worked in a mine and we would visit," said Ismail who has been in and out of mines since the age of five. "Over the years access to schools has made sure children are no longer in the mines. Now children here say M is for Mica." While campaigners hope that a renewed push to clean up the mica industry will help generations of children, it is too late for Pratap who has lost his youngest son, Madan. The last time he saw Madan was in April when the teen left the village in search of a life beyond farming and cattle, filled with dreams of returning home as a businessman. "He told me he was going to do something with his life and I was happy for him so I let him go," said Pratap. "How could I know the work he was doing was going to kill him?" The embassy officials were also learnt to have started collecting the details of those who wish to return. (Representational image) Thiruvananthapuram: Many nurses in Oman are also reportedly facing repatriation threats even as the number of Malayalis among the thousands stranded in Saudi Arabia is said to be only around 300. The NORKA department is getting in touch with the Indian embassy officials in the wake of reports that nurses in various hospitals in Oman faced repatriation threat as part of localisation. We are looking into the issue and awaiting further details, said NORKA secretary Usha Titus. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday that though it was initially feared that about 700 Malayalis were among those stranded in five labour camps in Saudi Arabia, now it was learnt that the number was around 300. Meanwhile, NORKA sources said that though an official figure on the Malayalis was yet to be received, unofficially it was said to be even below 200 only. Ms Usha Titus said that as of now the condition of those in the camps was safe and further steps on bringing them home would be decided after minister of state for external Affairs V.K. Singh reaches there. The embassy officials were also learnt to have started collecting the details of those who wish to return. Arrangements for filing complaints with Saudi labour authorities were also being provided. Sources in Saudi Arabia told DC that serious hardship was faced mainly by a section of employees who had been opting for cash instead of food as part of their remuneration packages. Companies either used to offer free food or give food allowances. Owing to the present financial crisis, many firms stopped paying food allowance. But those who were opting for food instead of allowance were getting the food, said the source. Peoples defied curfew on Wednesday and marched towards Eidgah with the body of Reyaz Ahmad Shah, witnesses said. (Photo: H U Naqash) Srinagar: Protests erupted in many parts of Kashmir Valley on Wednesday following the killing of two more civilians, one of them a casual security guard at an ATM kiosk in summer capital Srinagar. The 20-year-old Riyaz Ahmed Shahs autopsy report says that as many as 360 pellets had been embedded in his body resulting in his instant death. His family said that he was returning home from duty at an ATM in Srinagar's Kani kadal area on a scootie (motorbike) when he was stopped at a makeshift security check-point in City's Syed Mansoor Sahib locality. He was allegedly beaten up and then shot from a close range late Tuesday night. The incident evoked anger and outrage in Srinagar and hundreds of residents defied curfew to join his funeral on Wednesday afternoon. Protests are underway and have turned violent at some places. Mosque loudspeakers are reverberating pro-freedom slogans and rebellious songs. Police confirmed the death and said they are investigating who shot Shah and in what circumstances. The PDP-BJP government is, so far, silent on the incident but former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his National Conference party termed it as "yet another shocking proof of brutality and barbarism". They lashed out at present incumbent Mehbooba Mufti for what they alleged is her insensitive, obtuse remarks over the course of the last few days and said the Chief Ministers "shocking insensitivity had emboldened the brutal response to the current unrest in the Valley". Abdullah also accused the Centre of being oblivious to the ongoing unrest in the Valley. He tweeted, Two more protestors killed last night. The CM (Ms.Mufti) still wants to behave as though its business as usual but why is the centre oblivious? The separatists, on the other hand, are up in arms against the civilian killings and have asked the people to continue to hold protests against Indian occupation, repression and brutalities. Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who are part of a recently formed issue-based loose alliance of separatists sat on dharna outside their respective residences in Srinagar to protest against the killings. A placard at these protest sit-ins read Stop genocide in Kashmir. Another said Save Kashmir and yet another Stop State terrorism. As per the interpretation of the anti-defection law by the Supreme Court in G Vishwanathan case in 1996, a member elected or nominated by a political party continues to be under its control even after his or her expulsion. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to revisit its two-decade-old verdict on the anti-defection law holding that an elected or nominated member of Parliament of a political party is bound by its whip even after expulsion. "Though we have heard the matter at length, we are not answering the question," a three-judge bench comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi, P C Pant and Arun Mishra said while disposing of a petition filed by UP politician Amar Singh and Bollywood actor-turned politician Jaya Prada. The apex court was deciding on the question whether an expelled member could be disqualified under the law, if he or she defies party whip. The issue had cropped up after Singh and Jaya Prada, who were members of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively, had moved the Supreme Court on their expulsion from the Samajwadi Party on February 2, 2010, anticipating ouster from Parliament. Pyarimohan Mohapatra, who was expelled from Biju Janata Dal, had also moved the apex court on the issue. "The petitioner MPs have already completed their tenure. It would be more appropriate to not answer the question," the bench said. Earlier, the court had reserved the order on the petition seeking to revisit the 1996 verdict on the anti-defection law by which a member elected or nominated by a political party continues to be under its control even after expulsion. The petitioners had contended that they have landed in a piquant situation as expelled members and apprehended disqualification under the anti-defection law if they chose to defy party's whip on any issue in Parliament. The counsel for Singh and Jaya Prada had said the interpretation of the anti-defection law, as per a 1996 ruling of the apex court, does not apply to them as they did not form their own party. As per the interpretation of the anti-defection law by the Supreme Court in G Vishwanathan case in 1996, a member elected or nominated by a political party continues to be under its control even after his or her expulsion. The apex court on November 15, 2010, had directed that no action shall be taken against Amar Singh and Jaya Prada under anti-defection law in the event of their defying a party whip. The two leaders had then sought interim stay on any possible action against them in case they decided to vote in favour of Women's Reservation Bill to which the SP was fiercely opposed. Singh has now returned to Samajwadi Party and was elected to Rajya Sabha recently after being nominated by the party. The apex court had decided to make the reference while considering that the judgment in the Vishwanathan case was not clear on certain aspects of the anti-defection law. Earlier, the two leaders had argued that anti-defection law could be invoked only against those who either defect from the party or defy its whip while being in the party. However, they had contended that in case like theirs, they did not defect from the party but were expelled, and as unattached members, they were not amenable to the party's whip. The two MPs had moved the apex court fearing they may be disqualified from Parliament for not abiding by the party whip in view of the apex court 1996 verdict. They felt the apex court's interpretation of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution impinged upon fundamental rights of the expelled members, including their rights to equality, free speech and expression and life under Articles 14, 19 and 21 respectively. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reiterated there was no proposal before his government to grant statehood to the region. (Photo: PTI) Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday sought to put onus on the Centre to resolve the contentious Vidarbha statehood issue and asserted there was no threat to his post over the emotive matter on which the ruling allies BJP and Shiv Sena are deeply divided. Making a statement on the issue in the Legislative Council a day after doing so in the Assembly, Fadnavis reiterated there was no proposal before his government to grant statehood to the region. "The Constitution of the country gives the right of creating separate states to the Centre and not to the state government. The Centre has blanket and overriding powers in this regard. As far as the issue of Vidarbha is concerned, there is no proposal for a separate statehood for the region before the state government," Fadnavis said. "I am the CM of a unified Maharashtra and there is no threat to my post. As a party, BJP favours creation of smaller states but Sena favours a unified Maharashtra. But in the government, both parties are working in tandem," he said. Narayan Rane (Congress) then asked Fadnavis to clarify in the House whether he would continue as the Chief Minister of a united Maharashtra in future as well. Responding to him, Fadnavis said, "I know you want me to remain the CM forever, which will happen. There is no need to dwell on the intricacies of words". Bengaluru: Expressing his gratitude to the people and leaders who stood by him in his hour of grief, Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah on Tuesday issued an emotional statement and said, "I pray that no parent should reach a stage of losing their grown-up children." Mr Siddaramaiah who had reached the city on Monday evening, is taking rest at his residence. In the evening, he issued the statement through his press secretary. The CM thanked thousands of people who prayed for his son's recovery when late Rakesh was undergoing treatment in a Belgium hospital. "Rising above caste and community sentiments, people prayed for his recovery in temples, churches and mosques. I thank them. I also thank governor, Vajubhai Vala, AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh, party leader in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, former Kerala CM, Oommen Chandy, former chief ministers, B.S. Yeddyurappa, H.D. Kumaraswamy Jagadish Shettar and D.V. Sadananda Gowda and S.M. Krishna who came to pay tributes." He further said, "When we were in Brussels, Mr Vijayendra and his wife, who are originally from Bengaluru, gave homely food to us. We would never forget their love and affection extended to us in this hour of crisis. It may take a long time for me to come out of this shock. Personally, I am trying hard to come to terms with my son Rakesh's death." Later Mr Siddaramaiah called up Janata Dal (S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda and thanked him for sending him a letter expressing his condolences. Mr Gowda, who was down with fever, could not attend the funeral of Rakesh. New Delhi: Members of YSR Congress continued their protest seeking special category status for Andhra Pradesh in Lok Sabha for the third day on Wednesday, but members of the TDP, an NDA partner, kept away from it. As soon as the House took up Question Hour, YSR Congress members trooped into the Well raising slogans like 'we want justice' and 'special status for Andhra'. "You continue with the protest despite the statement by the Finance Minister...why do you do that," Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had yesterday assured the House that the issue was under consideration of the government. But the YSR Congress MPs continued with their protest which went on till noon when Zero Hour was taken up. For the past two days, YSR Congress and TDP members have been raising slogans and displaying placards demanding special category status for their state after Telangana was carved out of it. While YSR Congress members had been protesting inside the Well, TDP members used to demonstrate by standing on the aisles. TDP is unhappy at the Narendra Modi government for not providing the desired funds to Andhra Pradesh after Telangana was carved out of it. The fissures between BJP and TDP are being seen as so serious that there is speculation that the party led by N Chandrababu Naidu could even walk out of the NDA. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Raos suggestion to hold all university, boards and entrance exams online like the GMAT, GRE and JEE to stop leaks of question papers is not implementable in the near future, experts have said. This was conveyed by education officials after assessing the possibility of holding online-only exams in the next couple of years. They said it could be done in five years, if the government took up an extensive awareness campaign on the benefits of online exams. Officials added that universities will need good computer infrastructure for students to practice online exams. Authorities told the government that most students from rural backgrounds were still not familiar with computers and online exams could create problems for them. They said the CBSE which mainly caters to urban students was still struggling to convince students to opt for online JEE for the past five years most students still opt for the pen-paper format. When CBSE removed offline centres in Hyderabad for JEE, parents even took kids to towns like Warangal and Khammam to make them appear for the offline exam. Despite added expenses, they favoured the offline exam, said Mr P. Madhusudhan Reddy, of the TS Junior Lecturers Association. They said most schools and colleges did not have the infrastructure to cater to the needs of lakhs of students who take the exams. We have suggested that online-only exams could be taken up in phases. We should try to begin with holding an online Eamcet, Icet and Edcet. We can think of holding online exams in universities, an official of the higher education department said. Conducting board exams like SSC and Intermediate is impractical at this point as over 7 lakh apply for each exam every year. Providing computers to such a vast number of students at one go requires a huge funds, he said. Teachers unions too feel that online exam for lakhs of students is not possible given the meagre fund allocations by the government to conduct exams. We are not in a position to provide basic facilities like benches and desks to students writing exams. There are hundreds of schools where students sit on the floor and write exams. There is no power in several government schools. This is the reality, said teacher union leader P. Ravinder. Islamabad: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday arrived in Islamabad to attend South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) meeting of home/interior ministers. The visit comes amid violence in Kashmir where authorities allegedly killed dozens of Kashmiris after the killing of 22-year-old youth Burhan Wani, triggering outrage among residents. Leaving for Islamabad to attend the Saarc HM Conference. This Conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security, Mr Singh wrote on his official Twitter account before his departure. Looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime, he added. Relaxation upon visa-policy for nationals of SAARC countries shall also be brought under discussion during the meeting. Mr Singh is expected to raise the issue of most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and cross border terrorism during the Saarc conference. Accompanied by a delegation comprising officials from his ministry and external affairs, Singh, who is on his maiden visit to Pakistan, will be underlining meaningful cooperation among the South Asian countries. The visit comes notwithstanding threat by LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, who warned of a countrywide protest in Pakistan by his outfit if Singh arrives in Islamabad to attend the Saarc ministerial conference. There is little possibility of Singh having a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the wake of strain in Indo-Pak relations after the killing of Burhan Wani in Jammu and Kashmir on July 8. Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said Pakistans desire for peace was not its weakness adding Kashmir was not an internal issue of India. Mr Sharif said Pakistan supported global efforts for peace and could not ignore the human rights violations in Kashmir. Addressing the concluding session of a three-day envoys conference on foreign policy, the Prime Minister termed support to the Kashmiris demand to self-determination in accordance with the resolutions of United Nations Security Council the cornerstone of Pakistans foreign policy. He said the indigenous movement of Kashmiris for their freedom was rejuvenated with the sacrifices rendered by the young generation. Bengaluru: Stung by the huge uproar over last week's rain induced floods in the city, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed Bengaluru Urban district officials to ruthlessly clear encroachments and illegal constructions on rajakaluves and tank bunds in Bengaluru South taluk, which witnessed a chaotic situation. Talking to the media after a review meeting with ministers, the city mayor and officials, at his home office, Krishna, on Wednesday, the CM blamed encroachments for the flood and water logging in Bengaluru South, BTM Layout, Mahadevapura and Bommanahalli Assembly constituencies. Revenue officials have identified 1,923 illegal constructions in the city and have cleared 822 of them. I have directed officials to clear the remaining 1101 illegal constructions too," he said. The issue of vacating the stay obtained by owners of several illegal constructions came up during discussion the CM had with the Chief Secretary and Advocate General. To argue cases pertaining to illegal encroachments, the government has decided to appoint a senior counsel in the High Court, Mr. Siddaramaiah said. He agreed to release Rs 140 crore for taking up emergency work in rain affected areas which will be utilized to clear rajakaluves and storm water drains. New layouts like Deo Layout, Anugraha Layout and Akshaya Nagara Layout have been developed by encroaching on rajakaluves with government officials involved in issuing licenses to construct these layouts. "I have asked the Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development department to enquiry into the illegalities in the issue of licenses by BBMP officials. I will take action against errant officials responsible for issuing license for illegal layouts", Mr Siddaramaiah warned. He instructed forests officials not to obstruct the work of BBMP in rain affected areas.. "Since there is lack of co-ordination among the departments, I have constituted a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to ensure better co-ordination, this committee will meet every Saturday", the CM said. To fill up potholes, the CM directed the BBMP commissioner to utilize the emergency funds of corporators. Each corporator has Rs 20-30 lakh emergency fund which can be used for filling potholes in the city, he said adding that the Python machine can be used to fill potholes. Siddaramaiah sad, but at work Two days after the heartbreak of losing a much loved son, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah resumed work, albeit at his home office Krishna and not the Vidhana Soudha. And not before, overcome with grief on Tuesday, he remained shut away in his room on the first floor of Cauvery, his official residence. It was Ministers D.K. Shivakumar, R.V. Deshpande, Ramesh Kumar, Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa and H.K. Patil who persuaded him that the best way to get through the tragedy was to throw himself into his work. On Wednesday, the CM, on whom the loss has clearly left a mark, finally attended meetings with officials. Hyderabad: After a month-long hiatus, the Telangana state government is about to begin the process of reorganisation of districts once again. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has convened a meeting with senior officials on Thursday to finalise the proposals for new districts. The draft notification is expected in the second week of this month. The process of creating new districts had halted after June 30, when the CM had convened the last meeting with legislators and TRS leaders to take their views on new districts. The demand for creation of Siricilla district from Karimnagar and Nirmal district from Adilabad had come to the fore in this meeting. The Chief Minister had directed officials to examine both demands and submit a report whether the two districts were viable or not. Revenue officials are expected to submit a report on this issue. Sources meanwhile said officials felt that Siricilla district would not be viable as it would be too small. The CM was supposed to hold an all-party meeting in the first week of July to take the views of all political parties on the new districts. However, with the launch of Haritha Haram on July 8 and with the entire government machinery engaged in planting of saplings, the process had come to a halt. With the Dasara deadline for launching new districts only two months away, the government has now stepped up efforts to expedite the process. Officials are expected to submit a detailed roadmap to the CM on the new districts by incorporating enough precautions to see that the entire process doesnt land in legal trouble. While Mr Rao is keen on creation of 14 new districts, taking the total to 24, officials are not ruling out the possibility of a 25th district, for which Nirmal and Vikarabad are competing. New Delhi: Border Security Force (BSF), the country's largest border guarding force, has decided to replace the routine physical training drills for its jawans and officers with yoga. The decision to replace the daily 45-minute physical training drills with yoga at all its units was taken by BSF Director General KK Sharma after 1,900 personnel of the force recently completed a special training under the tutelage of Baba Ramdev at his facility in Uttarakhand's Haridwar. "Yoga has been made mandatory in the force and the jawans and officers will now undergo regular training in this skill. The routine PT exercises will be replaced by yoga," the DG said. He added that a committee of senior officers of the force has been constituted that will suggest if, apart from yoga, any other physical exercises are required to be included in the daily regime of the 2.5 lakh personnel-strong force. Ramdev had conducted a special 10-day session for the personnel of the force at his Patanjali yoga institute which ended earlier this week. Sharma had recently said the paramilitary force has decided to "intensify" yoga training of its troops and the aim is to have at least one trainer in this discipline in each platoon-level formation. A platoon, comprising about 35 personnel, is the minimum strength of an operational team in the force. Yoga acts as a stress buster and it is important for the men and women of the force, as they are deployed in some of the most difficult areas as part of their duties in border guarding and internal security domain, the BSF Director General had said. BSF guards India's two important borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh apart from conducting anti-Naxal operations in the Left Wing Extremism hit states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Around 136 prisoners lodged in the Nagpur Central prison who cleared exams on yoga were given a remittance of three months earlier this year. (Representational Image) Mumbai: A convict who was sentenced to jail by a Nagpur court for raping a relative in 2012, walked free before his term ended because he topped the yoga exams conducted by the Maharashtra Prisons Department. According to a report in The Indian Express, Sheetal Kawale was released from jail, 40 days before his prison term ended. An official from the State Prisons Department said that he scored a distinction in the exam and thus was granted the 40-day reduction in his sentence. Two other convicts, Sachin and Balu Pund, who were imprisoned for seven years in a 2011 assault case, were also granted a reduction in their terms for doing well in their yoga exams. According to the jail official, while Sachin scored 83 in the 100 mark tests, Balu managed a 70% and they were given a 40 and 30 days reduction in jail term respectively. It was the Centre that had asked all states in the country to promote Yoga last year in all walks of life and the Fadnavis-led government decided to introduce the exams in the central prisons of Maharashtra. In Nagpur Central Prison, close to 350 inmates, including undertrials have been practising yoga everyday. Around 136 prisoners who cleared exams on yoga were given a remittance of three months earlier this year for exams which were conducted in May 2016 and October 2015. The Indian Army has incorporated Yoga Asanas into the daily routine of the soldiers in high altitude areas including Siachen. New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday informed Rajya Sabha that over 13 rounds of talks have taken place with Pakistan to find a solution to Siachen issue. "Indian government has made it clear to Pakistan that the solution to Siachen Glacier is a part of the larger issue to include Pakistan's support to terrorism in India." he said. Parrikar added that on December 9 last year, External Affairs Minister met the Pakistani leadership on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia process for regional cooperation on Afghanistan. "These discussions directed the Foreign Secretaries of both countries to work out the modalities and schedule of the meetings under the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue on various issues including Siachen," he said. However, the defence minister said the Indian soldiers deployed in extremely harsh terrain and weather conditions are suitably equipped and properly trained to undertake the operational challenges and carry out their mandated tasks. The soldiers deployed at Siachen Glacier are provided with quality winter clothing including 'Extreme Cold Climate' clothing. Besides, they are provided with prefabricated insulated shelters and wherever it is not possible to construct such shelters due to technical difficulties, insulated tents are provided which can withstand low temperatures up to -500 Celsius, he said. The Units are self-sufficient for a period of 240 days of supplies. During winters/cut off season, daily maintenance of troops is carried out by rotary/fixed wing assets, he said. The only memory Sana had was of Ambala and her home in Delhi. (Representational photo: file) New Delhi: It was an awkward reunion for 22-year-old Sana when she returned to her family in North-east Delhi, after remaining untraced for a decade. For after facing much she was kidnapped, held captive, raped, married, forced to mother two kids, trafficked and made to work in a dance bar she had to go through the painful moment of introducing herself to her family, who had given up every hope of finding her. According to reports, Sana was just 12-year-old when, on her way to a relatives place close by, she was forced into a car and drugged by a couple. On waking up, Sana found herself locked up with ten other girls her age. The couple kept her there for 15-20 days and then took her to a village in Gujarat where she was sold to a farmer, Rubiya, Sanas mother was quoted as saying. Recounting the horror she had been through, Sana elaborated that she was forced to work in the farm during the day and was locked up in a small motor shed during the night, where the farmers son Balwant would rape her everyday. Balwant would beat me up and burn me with cigarettes, Sana said. The ordeal continued for two years, until the couple, who abducted her, came back for her. She was taken on a trail along Ambala, Chandigarh and other places in Punjab, at the end of which she was sold to one Jarnail, in a non-descript village. Jarnails relatives forced me to get married to an elderly driver, Bhagera Singh. I gave birth to two of his sons, Mamveer and Ranjit. After three years, he died and his family took away my sons and threw me out, Sana said. But Sanas woes were far from over. The only memory Sana had was of Ambala and her home in Delhi. Lost and unsure of her next course, she took off to Ambala where she met a woman who promised her a job in Silliguri. Sana was again trafficked, this time into a dance bar. But the situation was different this time. Move by her story, the woman promised to reunite Sana with her family. She used to frequently visit Delhi and knew about the city. Based on the description of the area, she brought me to Janta Colony, Sana recounted. Though Sanas parents had shifted houses in the last decade, they were eventually located with the help of the neighbours. Recounting how Sana had to introduce herself to her mother, police sources confirmed that the case has been reopened. A case of kidnapping registered in 2006 was declared unsolved. Now that the victim is back, we will reopen the case and bust the human trafficking racket, said DCP (northeast) AK Singla. American Diabetes Association 2016 Tour de Cure will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Enterprise South Nature Park, 190 Still Hollow Loop in Chattanooga. Registration opens at 8 a.m. or register online at diabetes.org/chattanoogatour or call 865-524-7868 x3343. "This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Tour de Cure. Not only are we having our 10, 25, 40, 62, and 100 mile road rides, but we are also including mountain biking and a one mile memory walk. Begin the day with lite breakfast fare and lunch is provided by The Feed, Tremont Tavern and 1885 Grill," officials said. All routes are fully supported with well stocked rest stops along the way. Sag safety vehicles and mechanics are on duty at all times. New Delhi: Setting in motion the process for picking a new Gujarat chief minister, BJP on Wednesday gave its go ahead to incumbent Anandiben Patel to resign and authorised its president Amit Shah to pick her successor in consultation with the legislature party. The legislature party meeting is likely to be held on Friday after Shah reaches Ahmedabad tomorrow. Patel will tender her resignation to the Governor today, senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting held at the Prime Minister's residence. The Board also appointed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and party general secretary Saroj Pandey as central observers for the legislature party meeting in which the new leader will be formally elected. Shah, who is an MLA in the Gujarat Assembly, will also attend the meeting. Patel's successor will be among the party's MLAs, Naidu asserted. He also rejected reports that Shah can replace Patel, saying the party needs his leadership at the national level as he has taken it to "great heights" and led it to many successes. No name of her successor was discussed in the Board's meeting, he said. "The Parliamentary Board gave its approval to Anandiben Patel's wish to quit. She had wished to be relieved of her responsibility as she would turn 75 soon. She has set up a great precedent for lakhs of party workers. It put on record her very good work as the chief minister and as a minister earlier," Naidu said. She has been in the state government for over 18 years which, he noted, is perhaps unprecedented for a BJP leader. Naidu said Shah will hold consultations with the legislature party before the new leader is elected. "Our president is also an MLA. He will be present in the meeting. He will hold consultations following which the successor will be decided," he said. A party source said the Board has authorised Shah to pick the chief ministerial nominee. Asked about reports that Shah is a contender for the top post, he asserted, "Such a question does not arise. He is the party president and going to remain party president. The party needs his leadership at the national level. There is no such discussion at all." Nitin Patel, the number two in the state's cabinet, and Gujarat party chief Vijay Rupani, who is also a minister, are seen as the front-runners to succeed Anandiben Patel. Chennai: Hilary Clinton made history by winning Democratic Partys nomination for the US presidential election to become the first woman presidential candidate in the country. If one goes by AIADMK Coonoor MLA A. Ramu, Hillary contested the elections after being inspired by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. After all, the main and whole reason for America seeing its first ever woman Presidential candidate is Amma, said first-time legislator Ramu in the Assembly on Tuesday. The Coonoor MLA said that when then US secretary of state Hillary Clinton visited India in 2011, she had also met Jayalalithaa and her presidential candidature was the impact of the meeting. Ms Clinton was inspired and mesmerised by Jayalalithaa's amazing English proficiency and governing skills, he told the Assembly amid his party colleagues thumping the tables. He noted that the whole world was still celebrating the importance of that meeting today. Immediately after US president Barrack Obama backed Hillary's candidature, Jayalalithaa sent a letter congratulating former US secretary of state on June 17. Kindly accept my heartiest congratulations on clinching the nomination as the Democratic Party's candidate for the election of the president of the US. It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction for all the women in the world and in particular, women in democratic electoral politics, that you have become the first woman to be a candidate of one of the two major political parties in the US for the presidency. In creating history, you have given voice and hope to the cause of women empowerment across the world, Jayalalithaa wrote in the letter. New Delhi: Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday deplored violence against Dalits in the name of cow protection but maintained that their getting converted would not end prejudices, days after his ministerial colleague Ramdas Athawale suggested that members of the community should embrace Buddhism. Asserting that Hinduism does not sanction discrimination, the minister said, "No person who discriminates against another human being could ever be called a Hindu." "If you respect cow it is great, but other human beings also have the right to live, right to do their work. If you want to respect a cow respect it. Nothing wrong in this, but that doesn't mean that you can kill anybody on that pretext. That is totally wrong," Mr Naidu told reporters on the sidelines of an event to felicitate IAS topper Tina Dabi, a Dalit. His remarks came in the backdrop of BJP facing flak over incidents of violence against Dalits by cow vigilantes in various states including Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. He said some people have suggested that conversion can end this problem, but that has not happened. There have been cases where people came back saying they witnessed the same situation in other religions also, he said. "See, some converted, then they came back and said we are witnessing same situation there. Now they are complaining that they are not getting reservation as Constitution does not provide reservation on the basis of religion," Naidu said. Naidu's comments came days after the statement by Athawale, a Dalit leader from Maharashtra, that people from the community should embrace Buddhism to avoid pressure or violence against them. There have also been reports of some Dalit families, who have been protesting after being denied permission to attend a temple festival in Tamil Nadu's Karur region last week, threatening to convert to Islam. Emphasising on equality, Naidu said, "Bharat Mata ki jai means glory of all those who live in this country", adding that those who live in this country are Indians and they are equal in all aspects. New Delhi: Gujarat will get a new chief minister by the end of this week, after the BJP accepted the resignation of Anandiben Patel on Wednesday. The BJP wants the new chief minister to hoist the national flag on Independence Day in Gujarat. The decision on the next chief minister will be taken after party leaders hold consultations with the state's MLAs. BJP president Amit Shah will travel to Gujarat on Thursday where he will hold consultations with party leaders and attend the legislature party meeting, likely to be held on Friday to elect the new leader. Union minister Nitin Gadkari and party general secretary Saroj Pandey are the two central observers appointed by the BJP parliamentary board and they have already left for Gujarat. The race is now considered to be between Cabinet minister Nitin Patel and state unit chief and Cabinet minister Vijay Rupani. Saurabh Patel, another contender, is out of the reckoning because he is related to a top industrialist. Dismissing speculations that Mr Shah was being considered to replace Ms Patel, Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said, Amit Shah will remain BJP president. Jackline Mwende was brutally slashed by Stephen Ngila at her home in Masii, Machakos County in Kenya for failing to bear him a child. (Photo: Youtube screengrab) A husband in Kenya hacked his wife's hands off with a machete for failing to conceive after seven years of marriage. According to a report in The Daily Mail, Jackline Mwende was brutally slashed by Stephen Ngila at her home in Masii, Machakos County in Kenya for failing to bear him a child. Ngila reportedly told his wife, This is your last day before brutally chopping of her hands and attacking her on the head. Whats worse, doctors had told the husband that he was the one impotent, not his wife. They told him last year that his fertility problem could be rectified with treatment - but he failed to show up for appointments. Mwende called for Ngila to he jailed for life 'for being heartless and wanting to kill me despite my love for him.' She said they had separated for three months, following which he returned and in a fit of anger committed the horrific attack on her. Ngila was arrested a day after the incident and remains in police custody, said the report. In its 30-page report dated August 1, the CRS said that the China selling nuclear reactors to Pakistan for Chasa-3 andChasma-4 are in violation of the current Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP) Washington: Continued instability in Pakistan could impact safety of its nuclear weapons and materials, a latest US Congressional report has said as it described the sale of two nuclear reactors by China to Pakistan a violation of the NSG guidelines. "While US and Pakistani officials continue to express confidence in controls over Pakistans nuclear weapons, continued instability in the country could impact these safeguards. Furthermore, continued Indian and Pakistani nuclear weapons development could jeopardise strategic stability between the two countries," the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its latest report on nuclear weapons of Pakistan. CRS, which is an independent and bipartisan research body of the US Congress, prepares periodic reports on issues of importance for lawmakers for them to take informed decisions. It is not considered as an official view or report of the US Congress. In its 30-page report dated August 1, the CRS said that the China selling nuclear reactors to Pakistan for Chasa-3 andChasma-4 are in violation of the current Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines. "US officials and other NSG members have said that the Chasma-3 and -4 sales by China are inconsistent with current Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines," CRS said in its reports, days after another US-based think-tank Arms Control Association (ACA) made similar allegations. Contracts for Chasma-1 and -2 were concluded before China joined the NSG in 2004. At that time, other NSG members agreed "to grandfatherconstruction of plants in Pakistan which China had initiated,"Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Countryman said during a May 12, 2015 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. In 2008, China and Pakistan agreed to the Chasma-3 and -4 construction "in response to the US-India Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement", according to a 2015 Nuclear Proliferation Assessment Statement submitted by the Obama Administration to Congress, it said. China argues that the contracts for Chasma -3 and -4 are grand fathered, but Countryman stated that the NSG did not agree to grandfather any additional reactors. The NSG changed its guidelines in 2008 to allow nuclear trade with India, but the group does not allow trade with Pakistan. "At present, China is apparently the only country planning to sell nuclear power reactors to Pakistan," CRS said. According to CRS report, although Pakistan has made significant reforms in this area, many observers continue to be concerned that other states or terrorist organisations could obtain material or expertise related to nuclear weapons from elements in Pakistan. CRS said, according to some observers, spent fuel from Pakistans Karachi and Chasma nuclear power plants could be vulnerable to theft or attack. However, Pakistani officials have expressed confidence in the security of its facilities and have said that Islamabad has no plans to transport spent fuel from either reactor, it said. Furthermore, CRS said chronic political instability in Pakistan and Islamabad's military efforts against the Taliban and al-Qaeda have raised concerns about the security of the countrys nuclear weapons. "Some observers fear that Pakistans strategic nuclear assets could be obtained by terrorists or used by elements in the Pakistani government. However, US officials have generally expressed confidence in the security of Pakistans nuclear weapons," it said. "The collapse or near-collapse of the Pakistani government is probably the most likely scenario in which militants or terrorists could acquire Pakistani nuclear weapons," it said. Noting that the main security challenges for Pakistans nuclear arsenal are keeping the integrity of the command structure, ensuring physical security, and preventing illicit proliferation from insiders, the report said some observers are also concerned about the risk of nuclear war between India and Pakistan. "The two countries most recently came to the brink of full-scale war in 1999 and 2002, and, realizing the dangers, have developed some risk reduction measures to prevent accidental nuclear war," it said. "Nevertheless, Pakistan continues to produce fissile material for weapons and appears to be augmenting its weapons production facilities as well as deploying additional delivery vehicles steps that will enable both quantitative and qualitative improvements in Islamabad's nuclear arsenal," it added. Some observers have also argued that Pakistans expansion of its nuclear arsenal, development of new types of nuclear weapons, and adoption of a doctrine called "full spectrum deterrence" indicate "the growing nuclearising of Pakistans national security policy." These developments have "sparked international concerns about the safety and security" of the countrys nuclear weapons, as well as raised "concerns that these weapons might be used through intentional, inadvertent, or accidental launch in a crisis or in limited warfare with India," CRS said. Washington: In his strongest denunciation of Donald Trump yet, US President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the Republican presidential nominee is "unfit to serve as president" and asked the Republican leaders to withdraw their support for his candidacy over his rhetoric. "I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president," Obama said at a White House news conference. "I said so last week. He keeps proving it." Obama added that Trump has shown he is "woefully unprepared to do this job" after his comments on military families as well as his handle on foreign affairs. He slammed Trump for his rhetoric, including the one against parents of a slain Muslim-American soldier and said the Republican presidential nominee doesn't have the judgment, temperament or understanding to be the president of the country. He also criticised the Republican leadership who are supporting the billionaire from New York. "There has to come a point at which you say enough," Obama said. "The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesn't appear to have basic knowledge around critical issues in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, means that he is woefully unprepared to do this job," the president said at the White House. Obama remarked that Republican denunciations of Trump "ring hollow" as they continue to endorse Trump. "The question that I think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him? What does this say about your party that this is your standard bearer?" Obama said. "This isn't a situation where you have an episodic gaffe. This is daily and weekly where they are distancing themselves from statements he's making." Obama said this opinion of Trump is shared by prominent Republicans. "I think what's been interesting is the repeated denunciations of his statements by leading Republicans, including the speaker of the House and the Senate majority leader and prominent Republicans like John McCain," he said. "There has to be a point in which you say this is not somebody I can support for president of the United States, even if he purports to be a member of my party," Obama said. "The fact that it has not yet happened makes some of these denunciations ring hollow. I don't doubt their sincerity. I don't doubt that they were outraged about some of the statements that Mr Trump and his supporters made about the Khan family," he said referring to the statements made by Trump against the parents of Muslim-American soldier Humayun Khan who was killed in Iraq war by a suicide bomber. At some point, Republicans should realise that Trump has gone too far and that the things he says indicates he "doesn't have the judgement, the temperament the understanding to occupy the most powerful position in the world," Obama said. Washington: Donald Trump has hit back at Barack Obama for terming him unfit for presidency, saying the "terrible president" would go down as the worst in American history. "Well he's a terrible president. He'll probably go down as the worst president in the history of our country, he's been a total disaster," Trump told Sinclair Broadcast group in an interview on Tuesday. "You look at what happens in the Middle East, in Syria and his line in the sand. I think it just means he's concerned I'm going to win," he claimed. "Don't forget last time he said I would never get the nomination, now he is saying I wouldn't get the election now all of a sudden he said the other day maybe I can win the election, no I guess he probably has to say that kind of thing," Trump said when asked about Obama's statement on Tuesday. "I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president. I said so last week and he keeps on proving it," Obama told reporters at a joint news conference with the Singapore Prime Minister on Tuesday. Read: Obama says Trump unfit to be US president, wants GOP to reject him Trump reiterated his stand and said he does not regret having criticised the parents of a slain Pakistani-origin American Muslim soldier Humayun Khan who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004. "I don't regret anything. I said nice things about the son and I feel that very strongly but of course I was hit very hard from the stage and you know it's just one of those things but no I don't regret anything," he said. Trump's own party leaders have come out openly against the Republican presidential nominee for being critical of family members of the soldier. He also did not had regret calling his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton a devil. "No, I don't think so, I think it is what it is. She's a very deceitful person, she lies, she cheats, no I don't think that's too far at all," he said. He maintained his belief that the upcoming presidential election is rigged. "I'm talking about at the voter booth. I mean we've seen a lot of things over the years and now without the voter ID's and all the things going on and some bad court cases have come down," Trump said. "I just hear things and I just feel it and I felt it having to do with the primaries. I looked at Bernie Sanders I said 'he isnt going to win." "I thought this whole thing was rigged and I think the general election is gonna be, we're gonna have a lot of problems we have to be very careful," Trump said. During the interview Trump refused to entertain the challenge posed to him by Warren Buffet on revealing his tax returns, saying he does not know Warren Buffet and has never met him. Panama has vowed to improve its fight against money laundering and tax evasion, but has fallen short of regulations the OECD wants to see adopted internationally. (Photo: AFP) Panama City: The government of Panama announced a bill that would take a range of steps against countries that put it on their blacklists of "tax havens" in the wake of the Panama Papers revelations. The legislation would impose tax, trade and migration measures on companies or individuals from those countries that "engage in practices that discriminate or imply damage to economic interests" of Panama, a statement said. The move could be directed at France, which put Panama back on its national blacklist of tax havens in April following the Panama Papers reports, which showed how some of the world's wealthy stashed assets in offshore firms created by the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. Colombia could also be targeted for keeping tariffs on Panama textile imports despite a World Trade Organization ruling calling for them to be scrapped. Panama has vowed to improve its fight against money laundering and tax evasion, but has fallen short of regulations the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development wants to see adopted internationally. The bill will be put to Panama's Congress for debate and a vote. The injured flight attendant has been forced to go to physical therapy multiple times a week to address neck and back pain suffered during the incident. (Photo: Youtube screengrab) Lexington (Kentucky): A slurring, belligerent passenger aboard an American Airlines flight from Lexington to Charlotte in the United States, who had consumed too much Jack Daniels, was banned from flying after his antics on the plane resulted in injury to a flight attendant. The man, one Michael Kerr, was caught on cellphone video confronting the flight crew just after the flight had landed, reports the Washington Post. According to the report, Kerr refused to sit down when crew members asked passengers to remain seated as the plane taxied to the gate after landing. Instead, Kerr continued standing and threatened to break a flight attendant's jaw. Moments later, Kerr rushed to the front of the plane and attempted to shove his way past a flight attendant, using his leg and upper body to press into her while she resisted. Eventually, he succeeded in shoving her to the ground, which enraged the pilot. "Enough!" the pilot yelled. "You don't put your hands on my flight attendant! Enough!" But this did not deter Kerr, who claimed that he was going to put the incident on Facebook and that they were online, even as the flight crew tried to subdue him using a seat-belt strap. Police arrived 15 to 20 minutes later, and apologised to the other passengers while trying to control Kerr. The man punched, kicked and continued to hurl abuses even as he was dragged off the flight, said the report. Kerr was charged with being intoxicated and disruptive, assault on a female, communicating threats and interfering with the duties of a flight crew or attendant, according to the Observer. He was later released on a $25,000 bond, but banned from flying as he is awaiting trial. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA blamed alcohol for the ruckus created by Kerr, stating that such incidents had become more frequent due to flight delays and cancellations which enables passengers to go to an airport bar and get drunk while waiting for their plane. The injured flight attendant has been forced to go to physical therapy multiple times a week to address neck and back pain suffered during the incident, said the report. Second Missionary Baptist Church will host its 150th Church Anniversary Celebration Aug. 12-14. The celebration will include a banquet featuring a dramatization chronicling Seconds history on Friday, Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. in the church. Tickets are available at the church for a donation of $25 for adults and $15 for students. The last day to buy tickets is Sunday, Aug. 7. Purchase of banquet tickets, banquet video, anniversary t-shirts and/or placing ads in the commemorative souvenir book can be made through the church office by calling 423-624-9097 or dropping by the church office. On Sunday, Aug. 14 at 10:45 a.m., the celebration speaker will be Pastor Emeritus Rev. Paul A. McDaniel. The celebration theme is Celebrating 150 Years as Second Looks to the Future with scripture taken from Jeremiah 29:11 NIV which states, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Everyone is invited to join in the celebration and historical milestone. Second Missionary Baptist Church is located at 2305 E. 3rd Street where Dr. Ernest L. Reid, Jr. is the pastor. If you have any questions or need additional information please contact the church office at 423-624-9097. North Korea has test-fired a series of ballistic missiles in recent months, in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions. (Photo: AFP) Washington/ Tokyo: The US on Tuesday strongly condemned North Korea's "provocative" ballistic missile test and asserted that America's commitment to the defence of its allies, including South Korea and Japan, in the face of such threats remains "iron-clad". "We are aware of reports that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired ballistic missiles. We are monitoring and continuing to assess the situation in close coordination with our regional allies and partners," State Department spokeswoman Julia Mason said. "We strongly condemn this and North Korea's other recent missile tests, which violate multiple UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology," Mason said. These provocations only serve to increase the international community's resolve to counter the North Korean prohibited activities, including through implementing existing UN Security Council sanctions. "We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these provocative actions," Mason said. America's commitment to the defence of its allies, including South Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, remains "iron-clad", she said. The US remains prepared to work with its allies and partners around the world to respond to further North Korean provocations as well as to defend itself and allies from any attack or provocation, Mason said. "We call on North Korea to refrain from actions and rhetoric that further raise tensions in the region and to focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations and commitments," Mason said. According to the US Strategic Command, its systems detected two North Korean missile launches on August 2, 2016. "The simultaneous launch of two presumed No Dong intermediate range ballistic missiles occurred near the western city of Hwangju," it said. "Initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan," US Strategic Command said in a statement. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) determined the missile launches from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also condemned the North Korean test missile that landed 250 kilometres (155 miles) off Japan's coast as an "outrageous act" which threatened his country. "It's a serious threat against our country's security," Abe told reporters. "This is an outrageous act that cannot be tolerated." Defence minister Gen Nakatani said the missile landed in the Sea of Japan off the north coast in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) - the first time a North Korean missile has landed in Japan's EEZ since 1998. It was the first ever North Korean missile to land in Japan's EEZ in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) facing the Korean peninsula. The North Korean missile in 1998 landed in Japan's EEZ in the Pacific Ocean after having flown over the country's territory. Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga, the government's top spokesman, also harshly criticised the launch. "There was no early warning," he told reporters. "From the perspective of the safety of aircraft and ships, it is an extremely problematic, dangerous act," he added. "We immediately launched a strong protest against North Korea and condemned (the launch) in the strongest language" through diplomatic channels, he said. Vatican City: Pope Francis has lamented that children are being taught at school that gender can be a choice, adding that his predecessor, Benedict XVI has labelled current times "the epoch of sin against God the Creator." Francis weighed in with his view on gender and what he said was that of the emeritus pontiff while meeting privately last week with bishops from Poland during his pilgrimage there. The Vatican released a transcript on Tuesday of those closed-door remarks. The pope said he wanted to conclude his remarks by reflecting on this: "We are living a moment of annihilation of man as image of God." Francis said: "Today, in schools they are teaching this to children -- to children! -- that everyone can choose their gender." Without specifying, he blamed this on textbooks supplied by "persons and institutions who donate money." The pope blamed what he called "ideological colonizing" backed by "very influential countries" which he didn't identify, adding "this is terrible." One such "colonization" he said, "I'll say it clearly with its first and last name -- is gender." The "colonization" theme is one he has railed against before, including during an Asian pilgrimage in 2015. This time, though, he volunteered that he has discussed the gender issue with Benedict, who has lived at the Vatican since retiring in 2013. "Speaking with Pope Benedict, who is well, and has a clear mind, he was telling me: 'Holiness, this is the epoch of sin against God the Creator.' He's intelligent! God created man and woman, God created the world this way, this way, this way, and we are doing the opposite," Francis told the Polish bishops today shortly after his arrival in Krakow at the start of a five-day pilgrimage. Francis ended by telling the Polish bishops he wanted them to reflect on this: "We must think about what Pope Benedict said -- 'It's the epoch of sin against God the Creator.'" The judge rejected the pleas for a non-custodial sentence, calling the convict crafty and rebuking her for using her failed arranged marriage to sexually abuse a minor. (Photo: Representational Image) London: A 43-year-old Muslim woman from the United Kingdom (UK) has been jailed for seven years after being convicted of sexually abusing a minor girl. Raheelah Dar has been found guilty by the Teesside Crown Court of three counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child, says a report in The Sun. The abuse began to take place 17 years ago, when Dar, then aged 26, began to groom and abuse the young girl, who was 9 then, following the failure of her first arranged marriage. The sentence was announced after the survivor told the court that she had felt isolated and unable to engage with people ever since she was abused. She went on to tell the court that she struggles to maintain friendships as people cannot understand her psychological issues and had to drop out of university as her grades had dropped significantly due to her stress, the report said. The survivor said that even something as simple as a compassionate hug now causes her to have panic attacks. She has also developed a fear of visiting doctors and has indulged in self-harm as a result of the sexual abuse she suffered as a child. The convicts defence lawyer Alison Pryor told the court that Dar had suffered from mental health issues throughout her life which had worsened due to two failed marriages and the death of her daughter in 2008. She added that Dar has been shunned by her Muslim community for religious reasons following the conviction, and hence should not serve a prison sentence. She said, The shame that this has brought and will bring upon Miss Dar and her family cannot be underestimated. This is different from what you would find in another case of this type. That is punishment over and above what this court can impose. But the judge rejected the pleas for a non-custodial sentence, calling the convict crafty and rebuking her for using her failed arranged marriage and internal conflicts about sexual orientation to have a sexual relationship with a 9-year-old girl. Bangladesh blames the JMB for a recent wave of Islamist-inspired killings that have raised fears for the safety of religious minorities in the country. (Photo: Representational Image) Dhaka: Bangladesh police shot dead an Islamist leader suspected in a series of recent killings targeting foreigners and religious minorities, an official said Wednesday. Nazrul Islam, 28, was killed Tuesday in a shootout with police, who said he had been involved in at least 11 murders and two other attempts and was a senior leader of the banned Islamist group Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Dhaka police described Islam, also known as Bike Hasan, as a "top JMB terrorist" and said they recovered a pistol and bullets from the site of the gunfight. Bangladesh blames the JMB for a recent wave of Islamist-inspired killings that have raised fears for the safety of religious minorities in the country. "He was shot dead during a gunfight at Mahendra Crossing in Rajshahi city early Tuesday morning when we raided the area. Later we learned that the person killed in the raid was the notorious Bike Hasan," the city's police commissioner Shafiqul Islam told AFP. The 28-year-old earned the nickname for his skills on the motorbikes that the men behind the wave of killings have frequently used to make a quick getaway, Islam said. "It's a major success in our ongoing drive against extremists," he added. Police suspect Nazrul Islam of involvement in the murder of at least five Hindu men as well as a Japanese farmer shot dead in northern Bangladesh last year. He is also accused in the killings of a liberal university professor, a leader of the minority Sufi faith and a Christian grocer. Bangladesh authorities are under pressure to crack down on extremism in the world's third largest Muslim-majority nation after a recent increase in gruesome attacks. Five gunmen stormed an upscale cafe in the capital on July 1, killing 20 mainly foreign hostages and two police officers in Bangladesh's deadliest single militant attack of recent years. Police said the five were members of a new faction of JMB led by a Canadian of Bangladeshi origin and whose members, many drawn from rich families, had vowed allegiance to the Islamic State organisation. The IS has said the five cafe gunmen were its soldiers. It released photos of the carnage and the attackers posing with their black flags hours before commandoes ended the siege. The IS also claimed responsibilities for most of the 11 murders Nazrul Islam was accused of. Police reject that claim and say the group has no presence in the country. The rally was organised by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, which consists of social, religious and political groups. (Photo: Twitter/ANI) Islamabad: Hundreds of Pakistanis have rallied in the capital, Islamabad, against the imminent visit of India's interior minister, Rajnath Singh. Some 2,000 chanted slogans against India, claiming that Kashmir belongs to Pakistan. Read: SAARC summit: Rajnath Singh sets off for Pakistan visit today Singh is due in Islamabad later on Wednesday to attend a meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Read: Hafiz Saeed warns of nationwide protests if Rajnath Singh visits Pakistan The rally was organised by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, which consists of social, religious and political groups. Syed Salahuddin, the leader of Hizbul Mujahideen was also seen at the rally. Activists of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Hizbul Mujahideen, United Jihad Council (UJC) and other such group protested to denounce Singh's trip. (Photo: AP) Islamabad/Lahore: Thousands of activists of various religious and jihadi outfits led by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed today protested across different Pakistani cities against the visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, accusing him for the unrest in Kashmir. Activists of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Hizbul Mujahideen, United Jihad Council (UJC) and other such group protested to denounce Singh's trip, who arrived here earlier on Wednesday to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial conference being hosted by Pakistan. Saeed led the rally in Lahore's Mall Road and vent out his anger over the government's decision to 'welcome' Singh despite his alleged "role in the killings of innocent Kashmiris". Saeed said Pakistan government has added insult to the wounds of Kashmiris by welcoming Singh. "We were not expecting that the Pakistani rulers would welcome Singh who is responsible for the killings of innocent Kashmiris," he said, adding the rulers should have refused to receive the Indian home minister to lodge its protest over Kashmir atrocities. Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) also held demonstrations in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, Faisalabad and Muzaffarabad. In Islamabad, the JuD held demonstrations at three points simultaneously, forcing the government to seal off the red- zone. Syed Salahuddin, the leader of militant outfit Hizbul Mujahidden, who is also chief of UJC, and local leaders of other groups were seen during the protest in the capital. Another protest was organised by Mishal Malik, wife of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, in front of National Press Clubhere. On Tuesday, a JuD caravan led by Talha Saeed, the son of Saeed, had staged a sit-in at the Line of Control near Chakothi in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), where they were stopped by Pakistani security forces. The protesters today continued their sit-in, demanding that India receives relief materials brought by them for Kashmiris. A JuD statement said that it has no plans to leave the place unless India receives relief goods, dry food and medicines for the Kashmiris. Hafiz Abdur Rauf, chief of Falayh-i-Insaniat Foundation, a sister organisation of JuD, said many doctors and paramedical staff were also present in the sit-in. "These doctors and para-medical staff want to go Sri-Nagar to treat our injured Kashmiri brethren," he said. Various religious and jihadi outfits in Pakistan are opposed to Singh's visit as they held him responsible for the unrest in Kashmir. Earlier, Saeed has warned the government that Singh's presence in Islamabad may create "unrest" among Kashmiris aswell as Pakistanis in the face of scores of killings in Kashmir. Islamabad: Upping the ante, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said Kashmir was witnessing a "new wave of freedom movement" and asked the diplomats to apprise the world that Kashmir was "not an internal matter" of India. Addressing the concluding session of the three-day Envoys Conference organised by foreign ministry here, Sharif said, "Resolution of the lingering dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people is the corner stone of Pakistan's foreign policy". "Today Kashmir is witnessing a new wave of freedom movement," Sharif said, needling India on a day when Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived here to attend the SAARC Interior Ministers' Conference. "This movement is running into the bloods of third generation of Kashmiri people and the world has itself seen its intensity in the wake of July 8," Sharif said, referring to the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in Kashmir. "The Kashmiri youth are writing new chapters of sacrifices to get the right to self determination," he said. "They have lost eyesight due to bullets but the desire for freedom is guiding them to the destination," he added. He asked Pakistani envoys to apprise the world that "the Kashmir was not an internal matter of India". "The ambassadors should make the world feel that Kashmir is not the internal problem of India, as India already accepted it as dispute territory and the UN also declared it as a dispute between India and Pakistan," he said. The conference was attended by envoys of Pakistan posted at Washington, Beijing, New Delhi, Afghanistan, UN New York, UN Geneva, Vienna, Brussels and Moscow among others. Sharing his vision with the envoys, Sharif said that all bilateral issues with other regional countries should be solved though talks in a peaceful way. "We cannot afford a conflict. If we became part of any conflict, then our progress in the social and economic fields would be affected," he said. He said Pakistan wants peace in the world on the basis of honour, dignity and equality. "But our desire for friendly ties should not be considered as weakness. We believe in mutual interests, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the affairs of others," Kashmir said. Earlier, the Prime Minister's advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz told the concluding session that it was wrong to portray that Pakistan was facing isolation. Pakistans Permanent Representative to UN Maleeha Lodhi said the conference acquired special importance in view of the Prime Minister's directives to take stock of the current situation. She said, "Kashmir remained top agenda of the conference in view of the indigenous Kashmir uprising in the backdrop". Lodhi said that in line with the Prime Ministers directive, she would step-up diplomatic campaign to highlight alleged human rights violations in Kashmir at the UN. Members of the religious body were not happy to leave an important topic like jihad out of teaching course being set for students. (Photo: AFP) Islamabad: An Islamic religious body in Pakistan on Tuesday demanded the government to include Quranic verses about importance of jihad in the proposed school curriculum. The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) raised serious concerns over not including verses about jihad in the proposed syllabi for public educational institutions. The CII chairman Maulana Muhammad Khan Sheerani said that that the Federal Education and Professional Training Ministry should include the verses about importance of jihad in curriculum. The council also asked the four provinces to make the teaching of the Holy Quran as a compulsory subject from grade 1 to 12. The issues of verses about jihad and teaching of Quran was raised when the government presented a draft of proposed curriculum before the CII, which is constitutional body, to suggest measures for implementation of Islam in the country. According to CII sources the members of the religious body were not happy to leave an important topic like jihad out of teaching course being set for students. "484 verses of jihad are mentioned in the Quran but they were deliberately not included in the syllabus so students could not be taught about it," CII member Maulana Zahid Qasmi told media. "I personally conveyed my reservation over the proposed draft," he said. The resolution asks Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ban cartoon channels in general, and Doraemon in particular. (Photo: Youtube grab) Lahore: A resolution to ban Hindi-dubbing of popular animated series Doreamon was submitted on Wednesday in Pakistan's Punjab Assembly, saying it will have a "negative impact" on the "educational and physical well-being" of Pakistani children. The resolution was submitted by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf member Taimur Masood. It said all cable network in the country is running Doreamon cartoon round-the-clock and it is leaving a 'bad impact' on children. Doreamon is a popular animated Japanese series. The resolution asks Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ban cartoon channels in general, and Doraemon in particular. The resolution also suggests limiting the hours of cartoon channels. "The Hindi-dubbing of Doreamon is not only affecting the language of Pakistani children but as a whole leaving a bad impact on the society as well," it said. "Cartoon channels are having a negative impact on the educational and physical well-being of children," the resolution said, which is likely to be discussed in the next assembly session. The resolution has demanded the House to take up the matter with Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and directs it to immediately ban the cartoon programme. Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was taken ill during a roadshow in Varanasi and forced to return to the national capital, was today "stable" and has been shifted to Ganga Ram Hospital in west Delhi. Gandhi was admitted to the Army's Research and Referral Hospital here late last night due to high fever. The 69-year-old Congress chief returned here by a chartered flight close to midnight after she had to abandon the 8-km roadshow in Varanasi midway due to illness. Gandhi has been shifted to Gangaram Hospital as she had earlier also undergone treatment there, sources said. Earlier in the day, AICC media cell in-charge Randeep Surjewala had said that she is stable and is recovering under medical supervision. "Yesterday itself, she had said that she would return to Varanasi to meet the people and to have 'darshan of the historical temple of Kashi Vishwanath Ji'. On return, she was admitted to hospital in Delhi, is stable and is recovering under medical supervision", he had said in a statement. The Congress President is overwhelmed by the concern and affection of fellow countrymen and crores of Congressmen and has thanked everyone for their good wishes, he had said. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, were by her side. Her son-in-law Robert Vadra also visited her. Senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had yesterday said that her condition was "stable" after she suffered a bout of "dehydration, vomited and had fever" in Varanasi. Three hundred people, mostly Indians, had a miraculous escape today when a packed Emirates flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai crash-landed and exploded on the runway here, shutting down one of the world's busiest airports. Emirates confirmed that flight EK521 with 282 passengers and 18 crew members on board was involved in an accident at Dubai international airport. The airline said there were 226 Indians aboard the Boeing 777-300. "We can confirm that there are no fatalities among our passengers and crew. All passengers and crew are accounted for and safe," the airline said in statement. Around 10 passengers were treated for smoke inhalation and burn injuries at a hospital after the accident. Only one person was admitted for long-term treatment, local media said. The flight departed at 10.19 AM from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and was scheduled to land at 12.50 PM at Dubai International Airport. Among the 282 passengers, seven infants were also travelling, Thiruvananthapuram Airport director George Tharakkan told PTI. The flight had two Indian crew members on board, he said. There were a total of 74 foreigners on board including 24 from the UK, 11 from the UAE and six each from the US and Saudi Arabia. There were no official word for the cause of the accident, but media reports said the landing gear collapsed and the plane slid and exploded. The incident was the most serious to date for Emirates, it being the only loss for the airline since it started operations in 1985. The plane which was involved in the accident was 13 years old. Meanwhile, Dubai airport authorities suspended all operations after the Emirates flight accident. A total of 21 flights, including two to India, departing from Dubai were cancelled as a result of the incident. Some inbound flights were diverted to other regional airports. "Emergency response teams at Dubai Airport have fully extinguished the fire on the Emirates plane. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated," the Dubai media office tweeted after the accident. Video footage showed smoke billowing out of the Boeing 777 after the accident. Sai Bhaskar, a passenger on the flight, said most of the those travelling in the plane were from Kerala. There was no problem during the flight, Bhaskar said. "There was no announcement about any technical snag. We felt as if the flight first landed, went up again and hit the ground. When smoke engulfed the flight, we realised there was something amiss and we felt there was some danger," he said. "It was difficult to open the emergency exit at first," Bhaskar said, adding that if they had been stranded inside the aircraft even for a minute more, there would have been a tragedy. Some of the passengers were injured while trying to jump from the emergency exit, Bhaskar said. "People have inhaled smoke. Those who left the plane early might not have. But those who went out later have inhaled smoke," another passenger said. Another passenger said the jet's engine blew as soon as crash-landed. Shaji, one of the passengers, said he along with his three children and wife had a narrow escape. When the flight was about to land they heard a sound and there was smoke all over. Immediately, all the emergency exits were opened and everyone was asked to quickly move to the exit doors, he said. "One by one all of us escaped. My wife and me suffered minor injuries," he added. "I couldn't believe my eyes. I was absolutely horrified," Sarah-Louise Sherwood, an eyewitness, told the BBC. "The slides came out but they were blowing all over the place. People managed to escape - from what I saw - before there was a big explosion, with flames everywhere. We had taxied and stopped right next to where it was happening and people in my plane were just saying 'oh my god' and 'get us off this plane'," she said. No cause has so far been established for the crash, but images shared on social media suggest a belly landing, which occurs when an aircraft lands without its landing gear fully extended, using its underside to come to a halt. Emirates said that its main priority remains with those involved and offering support to concerned family and friends. Dedicated telephone lines had also been activated for family members -- UAE -- 8002111, UK -- 00442034508853 and the US -- 0018113502081. Ismail Abdel Wahed, executive director of Air Accident Investigations at the UAEs General Civil Aviation Authority, said the investigators will examine the scene and collect the necessary information including the black box data. According to CNN, Dubai-based Emirates is the largest airline in the world by available seat kilometres, while Dubai is now the busiest international airport for passengers. Emirates is also the biggest operator of Boeing 777. It flies 157 of them to 109 destinations worldwide. Jet flight develops glitch A Jet Airways flight bound for Mangaluru returned to the Dubai airport after pilots detected a technical problem. Flight 9W-531, with 166 people on board, landed safely in Dubai. Technicians have rectified the problem, an airline statement said. The aircraft later commenced its journey to Mangaluru with 159 passengers and seven crew members on board, the airline said. Apple CEO Tim Cook during his visit met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and spoke of possibilities of manufacturing, but the company has not submitted any proposal with the IT Ministry to set up its plant in India, Parliament was informed today. Cook visited Hyderabad on May 20 to launch the technology centre relating to their maps division in presence of Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekar Rao, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology P P Chaudhary said in a reply to the Lok Sabha. "He also called on the Prime Minister on May 21, 2016. He shared Apple Inc's future plans for India and spoke of possibilities of manufacturing and retailing in India. There is no proposal with this ministry from Apple Inc to set up a manufacturing unit in the country," Chaudhary said. After meeting senior officials from manufacturing giant Foxconn, partner of Apple, the then telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in May had said the Cupertino-based technology major was coming to manufacture iPhones in India. Apple has been lobbying hard for exemption from the mandatory 30 per cent local sourcing on the ground that its products have such high-end technology that these cannot be sourced locally here. The government in June relaxed FDI norms by giving a three-year exemption from local sourcing to foreign players in single-brand retail and a further five-year relaxation for 'state-of-the-art' and 'cutting-edge' technology. The opposition Congress today raised the issue of JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar being refused entry into the visitors' gallery of Maharashtra Assembly here, saying he was not a terrorist and in a democracy anyone can watch the House proceedings. Raising the issue through a point of information, Congress MLA Nadeen Khan said there was no obvious reason for not allowing Kumar, who had a valid pass, in the Assembly. "Is Kanhaiya Kumar a terrorist that he wasn't allowed," Khan, a former minister, said.Speaker Haribhau Bagade told Khan that he will seek details of yesterday's incident. Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan termed the incident as "shameful". "He is not a terrorist. In a democratic set-up, anyone can come and watch the proceedings of the law-making bodies. There must be a probe as to who ordered him to be stopped," Chavan said. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union leader was in the city yesterday to attend an anniversary function of Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) of India. "I wanted to watch the proceedings of the Vidhan Sabha here. I specially wanted to listen to the debate on the issue of Vidarbha. But I was not permitted inside," Kanhaiya Kumar had said yesterday. He said he possessed a valid visitor's gallery pass duly issued by the authorities, but the legislature security barred his entry, and he later left for Raigad district. "They said my entry is 'on hold'. When I asked them to clarify, they had no reply. I wanted to watch the democratic process and had all the necessary permissions and a pass, yet I was stopped," he had said. Dr. Mehmet Oz, of the Dr. Oz Show, will make a personal appearance at the Embassy Suites at Hamilton Place on Wednesday, Aug. 17, to benefit the Believe campaign for a new Childrens Hospital at Erlanger. Due to the popularity of this TV personality, heart surgeon, radio host and best-selling author, reserved seats to the special breakfast event are expected to sell out quickly and space is limited. Dr. Oz has won seven Daytime Emmy Awards for the Dr. Oz Show, which appears locally on WDEF-News Channel 12. He is a professor of Surgery at Columbia University and his research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive surgery, alternative medicine and health care policy. Dr. Oz was a featured health expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show for six seasons, spanning over 60 episodes. He has authored seven New York Times best-sellers, including You: The Owners Manual. He has a regular column in Oprah Magazine and Time, has been named Time magazines 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century and Forbes Most Influential Celebrity. From 8 to 9 a.m., guests will enjoy a personal "VIP Meet and Greet" with Dr. Oz, who will be available for photos and autographs. This event is limited to 50 guests and the $100 per person registration fee also includes a continental breakfast catered by Ruths Chris Steak House, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., followed by Dr. Ozs talk on The Good Life: The Health You Really Want, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., concluding with a question and answer session. VIP check-in starts at 7:30 a.m. Guests will enjoy a continental breakfast catered by Ruths Chris Steak House from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Hear Dr. Oz's talk on "The Good Life: The Health You Really Want," followed by audience questions and answers, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Onsite check-in starts at 8 a.m. To register for the $100 VIP Meet and Greet or the $25 breakfast and talk, go to www.erlanger.org/oz . This online registration accepts Visa, Master Card, American Express and Pay Pal accounts. Registration is available only online. Home Minister Rajnath Singh today arrived here to attend the SAARC Interior Ministers' conference being held tomorrow during which he is expected to raise the issue of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, designated as global terrorist, and cross border terrorism. Singh, who arrived here this evening on his maiden visit to Pakistan, has been accorded tight security amid threats from Lashker-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen terror groups against his visit. The Home Minister was flown in a helicopter to the Serena hotel located in posh Islamabad locality. It is also the venue of tomorrow's meeting where Singh will be underlining the need for meaningful cooperation among South Asian countries. Roads leading to the hotel have been heavily barricaded by the police and para-military forces to ward off any threat from terror groups. In the past, there have been instances when terrorists rammed explosive-laden trucks into the hotels. Despite tight security, around 100 people gathered outside the hotel shouting anti-India slogans and protested against Singh's visit. LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Syed Salahuddin had warned of a nationwide protest if Singh arrives in Islamabad to attend the SAARC ministerial conference which would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Before leaving for Islamabad to attend the day-long SAARC Home Ministers' Conference, Singh said he was "looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime." "This conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security," said Singh, who is expected to tell Pakistan to stop sponsoring terror in India and rein in groups like Lashker-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. India has been demanding handing over of Dawood, who has been designated as a global terrorist by the anti-terror body of the United Nations, for running an organised crime syndicate from Pakistan. Tomorrow's meeting is preceded by the 7th Meeting of the SAARC Interior/Home Secretaries which is being held today. The Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who is leading the Indian delegation, arrived here yesterday. There is little possibility of Singh having a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the wake of strain in Indo-Pak relations after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in Jammu and Kashmir on July 8. Not only did Prime Minister Sharif praise Wani but he also remarked that "Kashmir will one day become Pakistan", a comment which evoked a sharp reaction from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who said his dream of the state becoming a part of his country "will not be realised even at the end of eternity". On the eve of the conference, Sharif said that Kashmir was witnessing a "new wave of freedom movement" and asked Pakistani diplomats to apprise the world that Kashmir was "not an internal matter" of India. "Today Kashmir is witnessing a new wave of freedom movement," Sharif said, needling India. Apart from terrorism, other key issues to be discussed include liberalisation of visa, illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and small arms and how to make coordinated and concerted efforts to combat such menace. The three-tier meeting began at the joint secretary-level and then moves on to Secretary and Home Minister-level meetings. The focus of the meeting will also be on strengthening networking among police forces of SAARC member-countries and also enhance information-sharing among law enforcement agencies. Upping the ante, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said Kashmir was witnessing a "new wave of freedom movement" and asked the diplomats to apprise the world that Kashmir was "not an internal matter" of India. Addressing the concluding session of the three-day Envoys Conference organised by foreign ministry here, Sharif said, "resolution of the lingering dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people is the corner stone of Pakistan's foreign policy". "Today Kashmir is witnessing a new wave of freedom movement," Sharif said, needling India on a day when Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived here to attend the SAARC Interior Ministers' Conference. "This movement is running into the bloods of third generation of Kashmiri people and the world has itself seen its intensity in the wake of July 8," Sharif said, referring to the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in Kashmir. "The Kashmiri youth are writing new chapters of sacrifices to get the right to self determination," he said. "They have lost eyesight due to bullets but the desire for freedom is guiding them to the destination," he added. He asked Pakistani envoys to apprise the world that "the Kashmir was not an internal matter of India". "The ambassador should make the world feel that Kashmir is not the internal problem of India, as India already accepted it as dispute territory and the UN also declared it as a dispute between India and Pakistan," he said. The conference was attended by envoys of Pakistan posted at Washington, Beijing, New Delhi, Afghanistan, UN New York, UN Geneva, Vienna, Brussels and Moscow among others. Sharing his vision with the envoys, Sharif said that all bilateral issues with other regional countries should be solved though talks in a peaceful way. "We cannot afford a conflict. If we became part of any conflict, then our progress in the social and economic fields would be affected," he said. He said Pakistan wants peace in the world on the basis of honour, dignity and equality. "But our desire for friendly ties should not be considered as weakness. We believe in mutual interests, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the affairs of others," Kashmir said. Earlier, the Prime Minister's advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz told the concluding session that it was wrong to portray that Pakistan was facing isolation. Pakistans Permanent Representative to UN Maleeha Lodhi said the conference acquired special importance in view of the Prime Minister's directives to take stock of the current situation. She said, "Kashmir remained top agenda of the conference in view of the indigenous Kashmir uprising in the backdrop". Lodhi said that in line with the Prime Ministers directive, she would step-up diplomatic campaign to highlight alleged human rights violations in Kashmir at the UN. The Supreme Court today extended the parole of Sahara chief Subrata Roy till September 16 with a condition that he has to deposit to Rs 300 crore with Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The direction for depositing the amount came after Roy complied with the order of July 11 by which he was asked to deposit the balance of Rs 300 crore, out of the Rs 500 crore promised by him when he was granted parole on humanitarian grounds following the death of his mother. The court also asked the 68-year-old Sahara chief that apart from the Rs 200 crore remaining amount, an additional Rs 100 crore should be deposited by him. Taking note that Roy has deposited Rs 300.68 crore, a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur extended his parole and gave him the opportunity to raise the remaining amount to secure bail in the case. The bench, also comprising Justices A R Dave and A K Sikri, has allowed the Sahara group to go ahead with sale and alienation of their properties to raise an amount of Rs 5,000 crore as a bank guarantee which they have to deposit in addition to Rs 5,000 crore to get bail for Roy. During the hearing, the bench made it clear that failure to deposit Rs 300 crore by the next date of hearing would lead to Roy going back to the jail. The hearing also saw SEBI telling the bench that till now Rs 195.07 crore has been generated by it by selling Sahara properties through e-auction. However, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Roy, complained that the properties sold through the platform of e-auction has fetched less money than desired and sought a direction to SEBI to take some of the properties out of e-auction. The bench accepted the request and said that Sahara would inform SEBI in advance before the second round of e-auction about the properties the group desires to take out of the platform for negotiating on its own with the prospective buyers. It said other properties would have to be sold through e-auction and prospective buyers have to participate in it. When it was repeatedly argued by Sibal the need for pulling out the properties from e-auction, the bench warned him, saying, "Don't play games here with us." "We are tired of all your games. Don't show all these difficulties," the bench observed. SEBI said it has already sold eight properties of Sahara for Rs 195.07 crore and gave the nod for selling the remaining 50 properties through e-auction. For the interim bail of Roy, the court had put conditions like depositing Rs 5,000 crore in cash and a bank guarantee of equal amount and tough terms, including payment of the entire Rs 36,000 crore which includes interest. The money will be paid back to the investors of Sahara. Sibal said the group is working hard to generate the amount and its effort has brought result after Roy was enlarged on parole. He said that by December, the group would be in a position to fulfill all the conditions and talks were going on with Canara Bank for Rs 1,500 crore bank gaurantee. However, the bench said Rs 5,000 crore in cash along with Rs 5000 crore of bank gurantee, was only for releasing Roy on bail and he has to return the money of the investors. The issue of sale of three overseas hotels of Sahara-- Grosvenor House Hotel in London, New York Plaza and Dream New York hotels -- also cropped up during the hearing. While Knight Frank India Pvt Ltd said negotiations were underway for the purchase of hotels at USD 1.3 billion, Sibal said they were offering the amount for all the three hotels, but there are parties who are ready to pay same amount for a hotel each. SEBI's counsel, senior advocate Arvind Dattar said that Sahara has got prime properties like Aamby Valley which could be utilised for raising the amount. To this, Sibal said, "Why do you worry about my golden hen that hatches golden egg." The bench shot back, saying, "You at least deposit the golden egg with SEBI." The apex court had passed an order on March 29 stating that SEBI would also not sell any property owned by the beleaguered group for a price less than 90 per cent of the circle rates for the area in question without the permission of the court. To raise the money, the bench also allowed the group to encash money invested in mutual funds, gold deposits and shares in National Stock Exchange. While granting parole to Roy, the apex court had said they were free to meet prospective buyers of properties and move within the country under police escort. It had also said that SEBI would, meanwhile, continue with the auction of the properties of Sahara. The apex court had earlier asked SEBI to initiate the process of selling "unencumbered" properties of Sahara group, whose title deeds are with the market regulator, to generate the bail money for release of the group chief. SEBI was asked to devise a suitable mechanism for the sale in consultation and under the supervision of Justice B N Agrawal, former Supreme Court judge, and seek help of experts or expert agencies, if required in the process. The regulator was also asked to keep the Sahara group "duly informed about the steps taken by it in which event Sahara shall be free to provide such inputs as may be considered necessary so that the properties fetch a fair price towards sale consideration". The ED has booked former Union Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela and some others on charges of alleged money laundering in connection with sale of a prime National Textile Corporation (NTC) land in Mumbai which reportedly caused a loss of Rs 709 crore to the exchequer. The CBI had filed a criminal case of corruption last year taking cognizance of which the Enforcement Directorate has now registered an offence under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Officials said the agency has worked on the case after gathering inputs from CBI and other agencies and also identified the "proceeds of crime" created by the accused. They said Vaghela, a former Gujarat Chief Minister, and others named in the FIR will soon be summoned for questioning. The case pertains to the sale of NTC land in upmarket Worli area of Mumbai to a private Kolkata-based firm for a meagre Rs 29.35 crore when Vaghela was Minister for Textiles. CBI had alleged that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy and transferred the land in a wrongful manner, for a total consideration of Rs 29.35 crore (approx), whereas its actual value was much higher, causing an alleged loss of Rs about 709.27 crore to the government exchequer. It was alleged that during the UPA rule, Vaghela, who moved from BJP to Congress, had overruled recommendations of officials of his ministry suggesting that NTC must make a detailed evaluation of the land before the nod for transferring it to the private company was given. CBI had registered its FIR under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and cheating and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act concerning criminal misconduct. Besides Vaghela, currently the Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, those named in the CBI FIR included the then Chairman-cum-Managing Director of NTC K Ramachandran Pillai, its then Director (Technical) R K Sharma, Senior Manager (Legal) M K Khare and a Kolkata-based private firm and its Director. The property in question is part of over 80,785 square metre land of "sick" Madhusudan Mills which was taken over by NTC under the Textile Undertakings (Taking Over of Management) Act, 1983 and the Textiles Undertakings (Nationalisation) Act, 1995. It was alleged that in the process of settling of issues regarding taking over of assets and liabilities of the said firm, Vaghela overruled the opinion of senior officers of the Textiles Ministry seeking a comprehensive proposal from NTC, including the actual valuation of the land for settlement of the issues, the CBI FIR alleged. Vaghela allegedly abused his official position to approve the sharing of the land in the ratio of 65:35 in favour of the Kolkata-based private company and its owner, it had claimed. Accordingly, 35 per cent of the land was transferred to the Kolkata-based company against a consideration of Rs 29.35 crore, which was lower than the actual cost of the land, causing a loss of Rs 709.27 crore to the exchequer. Saudi Arabia today agreed to swiftly resolve plight of thousands of laid-off Indian workers including providing them free passage to return to India and clearing their unpaid dues after Union Minister V K Singh apprised the Saudi government about the humanitarian crisis. The Minister of State for External Affairs held extensive talks with Saudi Labour Minister Mufrej Al Haqbani here who promised urgent action to resolve the difficulties being faced by around 7,000 Indians, most of whom are living in camps after losing their jobs due to economic slowdown in the oil-rich Gulf country. The Saudi government also agreed to allow transfer of Indian employees, who have lost their jobs, to any other company within Saudi Arabia. Singh arrived here today to assess the situation and finalise modalities to bring back the stranded Indian workers who even do not have money to buy food. As per reports, the Labour Minister issued orders to allow the Indian workers to immediately transfer their sponsorship (kafala) and renew their residencies. Under the kafala system, which is applicable to foreign workers, employees are not allowed to move to a new job without approval of their bosses. "We discussed all the issues related to Indian workers. It was brought out that the problem is because of one company which has not provided the humanitarian facilities as per the law of the land. "The government of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken serious note of this lapse and have taken immediate action to ensure that all camps where Indian workers were staying are provided facilities like medical, food, hygiene and sanitation," Singh said, describing his meeting with Haqbani as "very good". Satisfied over Haqbani's response, Singh said he was thankful to the Saudi government for "very positive action and maganimous attitude". Singh said Saudi government is also providing free passage to all those who want to go back to India and that they will also honour the claims filed by workers against the companies which have defaulted their payments. "They have also agreed to allow transfer (of employees) to any other company within Saudi Arabia. Necessary action is in hand by the embassy of India to prepare suitable lists for filing claims as well as for people to go back. I am thankful to the Saudi government for very positive action and magnanimous attitude exhibited," Singh said. Thousands of Indian workers have lost their jobs due to slowdown in Saudi economy, triggered by low oil prices and cut in spending by the government. Currently, a total of 7,700 affected Indian workers are living in 20 camps. The Indian mission has been providing food to the Indians who cannot buy it. Saudi Arabia's Okaz daily quoted labour ministry official Abdullah al-Alyan as saying that "immediate and urgent action" was needed to resolve the issues of 2,500 Indian workers from Saudi Oger company. Ahead of Singh's visit, the Indian embassy in Riyadh had launched an initiative to collect details of the Indians laid off by their employers so that those wanting to return home can be sent to India. The Indian government had requested the Saudi authorities to give the unemployed Indian workers exit visas without NoC (No-Objection Certificate) from employers and also urged it to clear the dues of workers who have not been paid for months, whenever they settle the accounts with the companies concerned. As per rules, no foreign employee can leave the country without NoC by the employers. Making a statement in Parliament on Monday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said the workers will be brought back home, asserting that not one of them will go hungry. "Not one worker of ours will go hungry. This is my assurance to the country through Parliament...We will bring all of them back to India," she had said. Government today approved the much- awaited Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 that proposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic norms including up to Rs 10,000 fine for drunken driving and Rs 2 lakh compensation for hit-and-run cases. The bill also has provision of up to Rs 10 lakh compensation in case of road fatality. "The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016. It is a historical step towards making our roads safe and save lakhs of innocent lives," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told PTI after the meeting. He said the proposals are based on the recommendations of transport ministers from 18 states, and the bill includes penalties in the range of Rs 1000-Rs 4000 for over-speeding. As per the bill, driving without insurance will be punishable with Rs 2,000 fine and/or three-month imprisonment, while driving without helmets will attract Rs 2,000 fine and 3-month suspension of licence. The provisions also include that guardian/owner will be deemed to be guilty in case of road offence by juveniles while registration of the vehicle will be cancelled. Government today approved the much- awaited Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 that proposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic norms including up to Rs 10,000 fine for drunken driving and Rs 2 lakh compensation for hit-and-run cases. As per the new provisions "guardian/owner shall be deemed to be guilty and there will be a penalty of Rs 25,000 with three years imprisonment and cancellation of registration of the Motor Vehicle." Traffic violations also would now attract a penalty of Rs 500 in place of Rs 100 earlier while disobedience of orders of authorities will attract a minimum penalty of Rs 2,000 in place of Rs 500 earlier. Penalty for unauthorised use of vehicles without licence has been proposed at Rs 5,000 while those driving without license will have to shell out the same amount and those found driving despite disqualification would be fined a minimum Rs 10,000. The proposal also include penalties of Rs 1,000 in case of LMV and Rs 2,000 for medium passenger vehicle. Penalty for dangerous driving would be increased to Rs 5,000 from Rs 1,000 while drunken driving under the proposed new law would attract a fine of Rs 10,000. "If aggregators are found violating lincencing conditions, they will be charged a sum of up to Rs 1 lakh" while overloading of vehicles would attract a penalty of Rs 20,000. Those not wearing seat belts would attract Rs 1,000 fine and those found not wearing helmets while driving two-wheelers would be charged a penalty of Rs 1,000 while their licenses will be disqualified for three months. In the present Motor Vehicle Act, there are 223 Sections out of which the Bill aims to amend 68 sections. The Bill also proposes insertion of 28 new sections. "The important provisions include increase in compensation for Hit & Run cases from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh. It also has provision for payment of compensation upto Rs 10 lakh in road accidents fatalities," Gadkari said. The Minister said amendments mainly focus on issues relating to improving road safety, citizens' facilitation while dealing with the Transport Department, strengthening rural transport, last mile connectivity and public transport, automation and computerisation and enabling online services. He said the government is committed to reducing the accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent. The bill holds significance in the wake of India accounting for 5 lakh road accidents every year in which 1.5 lakh people lose their lives. The bill was pending for long as many states had earlier expressed reservations saying that it may encroach upon their administrative among other rights. "The states are on board now after a Group of Ministeral panel of 18 Transport Ministers from different political parties deliberating on the issue and recommending penalties," the Minster added. The GoM headed by Rajasthan Transport Minister Yoonus Khan had held three meetings and gave its recommendations to amend the present Motor Vehicle Act. Terming the proposed bill as "the biggest reforms in the Road Safety & transport sector" Gadkari said the Bill would overhaul the transport system bringing in transparency. The Bill propose to improve the transport scenario in the country by permitting the states to grant exemptions in stage carriage and contract carriage permits for promoting rural transport, public transport, last mile connectivity and for passenger convenience and road safety. It also proposes that the State Government can specify a multiplier, not less than one and not greater than 10, to be applied to each fine under this Act and such modified fine. The bill proposes that the State Government can regulate the activities in a public place of pedestrians and such means of transport. "Improving delivery of services to the stakeholders using e-Governance is one of the major focuses of this Bill. This include enabling online learning licenses, increasing validity period for driving licenses, doing away with the requirements of educational qualifications for transport licenses are some of the features," the Minister said. Also, to improve the registration process for new vehicles, registration at the end of the dealer is being enabled and restrictions have been imposed on temporary registration. In the area of road safety, besides proposing to increase penalties to act as deterrent against traffic violations, to help the road accident victims, Good Samaritan guidelines have been incorporated in the Bill. The Bill also proposes to mandate the automated fitness testing for the transport vehicles with effect from 1st October 2018. "This would reduce corruption in the Transport Department while improving the road worthiness of the vehicle. The penalties are also proposed for deliberate violation of safety/environmental regulations as well as body builders and spare part suppliers," Gadkari said. To bring harmony of the registration and licensing process, it is proposed to create National Register for Driving Licence and National Register for Vehicle registration through "Vahan" & "Sarathi" platforms, an official statement said. This will facilitate uniformity of the process across the country. The process for testing and certification for automobiles is proposed to be regulated more effectively. The testing agencies issuing automobile approvals have been brought under the ambit of the Act. It was not all that difficult for the Silicon Valley software giant Oracle to pay $9.3 billion for a company called NetSuite. But then, writing big cheques has rarely been a problem for Oracle, which over the last 11 years, has acquired dozens of companies in its quest to find more and more customers. The hard part is now in the hands of Thomas Kurian, a soft-spoken 49-year-old who has to figure out how the new purchase will work with what Oracle already has. While Larry Ellison, Oracles brash executive chairman, is still an outsize personality at the company he co-founded, Kurian has been the key figure in Oracles attempted reinvention, overseeing sweeping changes in its engineering. That includes the creation of a network of 21 data centres around the world, a project that has cost perhaps $15 billion. NetSuite is Oracles first major acquisition intended to tie into this new global system. Money isnt the problem for us, said Kurian, who is Oracles president of product development. He added that between 2004 and 2014, we spent some $40 billion to $45 billion on acquisitions. Oracle became a giant by selling directly to businesses software packages that do things like manage the books and keep track of customers. Now, most industry experts think the company needs to show that it is finally in a position to rein in competitors that have been stealing customers away with fresher technology delivered over the internet, a concept called cloud computing. And the trade-offs Oracle must now make accepting lower profit margins because customers are less interested in the older, pricier technology reflect the hard decisions many older tech companies must make to avoid getting left behind. Theres no doubt Oracle moved late, said Al Hilwa, an analyst at IDC. They had doubts about the business, and the profit margins, but the way companies are spending forced them to change. Oracles new data centres are intended to power a cloud-computing network to compete with the established services provided by the likes of Google, Amazon, Microsoft and IBM. And the NetSuite acquisition could help Oracle pull even with smaller, cloud-focused companies like Salesforce and Workday, which provide their own technology to manage business operations like sales and human resources. Kurian would seem an unlikely person to play such a key role in one of Silicon Valleys iconic companies. Born and raised in a middle-class family in Bengaluru, Kurian ended his first day in the United States in his freshman dorm room at Princeton University, which he shared with his identical twin, George, who is now chief executive at NetApp, another Silicon Valley company. The day we left India was the first day we saw a computer, said George Kurian, who after graduation worked at Oracle while Thomas Kurian was a consultant at McKinsey. The two also went to Stanford Business School together. Mark Hurd and Safra Catz, both chief executives at Oracle, manage the companys sales and finance. Ellison, who is 71 and shows no inclination to retire, counts on Kurian to run the core of any big tech company: thousands of engineers. The NetSuite deal is something of a coming-out party for Oracles global cloud, possibly signalling the start of a new round of acquisitions, along with hefty spending to keep building out this network. But spending upward of $2 billion a year on building a cloud network, Kurian said, is table stakes for the biggest tech companies. In NetSuite, Oracle saw a cloud company whose sales of e-commerce and manufacturing software to smaller businesses were stalling as it tried to move into international markets. Oracle figured it could distribute that software efficiently over its cloud. It also hopes to reach smaller companies that cant afford Oracles traditional high-cost, high-maintenance product. Ellison played no role in the acquisition of NetSuite, according to Oracle, since he owns about 40% of that company. Ellison, who is alre-ady worth $45 billion, according to Bloomberg, will reap another $3.7 billion on the NetSuite deal. He still attends regular corporate strategy sessions, along with Hurd, Catz and Kurian, grilling each on their respective portfolios. Oracle has hundreds of different types of software for businesses, but more than anything it is known for powerful databases. Many global airlines, banks and manufacturers wouldnt function without them. Customers treat the big, Oracle-strength software like sacred objects that should never be altered, while theyre happy to experiment, for example, with a new offering from Amazon. Thats one reason Oracle has a hard time moving toward new technology, said Steve Miranda, Oracles vice president for applications development. New companies have what is called a minimum viable product they can sell, said Miranda, a 24-year veteran at Oracle. At his company, Miranda said, that minimum is in reality a fairly high-end product. Kurian, who has been at Oracle for 20 years, is known to move quickly in meetings, seeking slides before a presentation and immediately zeroing in on the one slide where he spots a problem. If there are no problems, the meeting is cancelled. Soft-spoken or not, he will let rip a profanity-laced tirade if he sees too many problems. I wont comment on the language, but we are very honest with each other, very hard on ourselves and very direct, said Miranda. If youre striving to be the best of the best, it comes with the territory. Moving goal posts As fast as Kurian moves Oracle down the technology field, the competition keeps moving the goal posts. Soon after the NetSuite deal Thursday, Amazon announced that its cloud business had second quarter revenue of $2.9 billion. Just the amount Amazons cloud segment grew from the previous quarter, $320 million, was $90 million more than all NetSuites revenue for the second quarter. Much of that revenue comes from selling bare-bones computing that Oracle doesnt care about. But increasingly Amazon is offering its own databases, and customers are signing on. It targets Oracle directly at its promotional events and offers something called serverless computing, which charges for applications per line of code rather than monthly fees or upfront licences another potential threat to Oracles profit margins. Oracle has built a large operation in Seattle, paying big for cloud talent from Amazon and Microsoft. (Google also has operations there, making Seattle something of the nations cloud town.) But local hands there say Oracle isnt yet a noticeable presence. Right now, I go to all-day meetings, and their name doesnt come up, said Matt McIlwain, a managing director of the Madrona Venture Group, a Seattle venture firm. The next big competition in cloud computing also involves artificial intelligence, fed by loads of data. Soon, Kurian said, Oracle will offer applications that draw from what it knows about the people whose actions are recorded in Oracle databases. The company has anonymised data from 1,500 companies, including 3 billion consumers and 400 million business profiles, representing $3 trillion in consumer purchases. Most of the worlds data is already inside Oracle databases, said Kurian. Thats the kind of hold on peoples information that perhaps only Facebook can match. But Mark Zuckerberg doesnt sell business software. At least, not yet. A 26-year-old woman and her husband manhandled two policemen on Cubbon Road in the early hours of Wednesday. According to the police, Jiaxi Yu of China and her husband Prashanth Hiremath, 28, from Bengaluru were arrested by the Commercial Street police. Jiaxi is a teacher in China while Prashanth works as a software engineer in a private company. Around 12.15 am, Prashanth, was riding the bike with Jiaxi as pillion. Both of them were in an inebriated state and Prashanth lost control over his bike and fell down, said the police. Meanwhile, Fayaz, head constable at Devarjeevanahallii police station and Lingaraju, a police constable attached to Seshadripuram police station, who were deployed for duty near Manekshaw Parade grounds as part of Independence Day preparations, noticed the couple. They ran towards them to help them, but Jiaxi, who assumed that they had come to create trouble, abused and slapped the constables. Prashanth also joined his wife and manhandled the constables, added the police. The other policemen who were on duty, noticed the couple creating a ruckus and alerted the control room, who informed the Commercial Street police station. As there were no woman police officer at the spot, Gangammanagudi police station inspector Mary Shailaja was informed. She went to the spot with two women constables and took the woman and Prashanth to the police station. The couple were drunk and were arrested based on a complaint filed by the police constables who were manhandled. The woman has a valid passport and visa and had come to the city around four months ago. Prashanth and Jiaxi live in HSR Layout, said the police. DH News Service Publix Super Markets customers and associates in Chattanooga and Cleveland heeded the call to put their money where the miracles are by showing immense support and raising money on behalf of sick and injured children treated at Childrens Hospital at Erlanger. The three-week fundraiser raised $25,788 locally for the new childrens hospital and resulted in a campaign life record of more than $4.6 million for 24 Southeast regional hospitals to fund life-saving equipment, programs and research. This years total resulted in more than $39 million raised nation-wide since the beginning of the partnership between Publix and Childrens Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals. We are so appreciative of the nine years of partnership we have had with Publix since the Hurricane Creek store opened in 2007, said Rebecca Brinkley, director of Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals at Childrens Hospital at Erlanger. Our Publix associates have once again raised the bar for our community by increasing donations made to the Childrens Hospital by an incredible 95% compared to last years fundraising campaign. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Publix associates and customers rallying to help their local CMNHospital through the purchase of $1, $3, and $5 Miracle Balloons at the register. Funds raised by local Publix locations will go directly to the Believe Campaign to build phase one of Erlangers new childrens hospital. We are honored to have the longtime support of Publix associates, customers and vendors, and especially appreciative of this years efforts to increase overall campaign fundraising by 16 percent, said John Lauck, president CEO of Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals. Its inspiring to see the impact a community can have on local kids when given the opportunity to donate at the register. Our associates have truly made the difference for the past 25 years, said Maria Brous, Publix director of media and community relations. Without them, we wouldnt have been able to achieve our stellar campaign results. And with the passion of our associates comes the generosity of our customers. Weve always said, we have the best customers in the industry. And each year, they rise to the occasion to support our local Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who fell ill during a roadshow in Varanasi on Tuesday, is stable and recovering at a city hospital here. She is stable and recovering under medical supervision, party spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here on Wednesday. Sonia was admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital on Tuesday night as she was running a high fever and was dehydrated due to exhaustion from the roadshow. She was shifted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, which she is known to frequent, on Wednesday afternoon. A health bulletin issued by the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said that Sonia was dehydrated but stable. She has been put under the care of a team of doctors from the Department of Pulmonology. The 69-year-old leader was brought to Delhi by a chartered flight on Tuesday night with doctors from the Banaras Hindu University in attendance. She was administered intravenous fluids at the VIP lounge of the Varanasi airport before doctors gave clearance to shift her to Delhi. Sonia, who has been under the weather for a while, went ahead with the strenuous roadshow in Prime Minister Narendra Modis Parliamentary constituency, but had to call it off at the fag end. She was very keen to go, had a bit of strain I guess, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told the media at the airport, where she received her mother and brother Rahul Gandhi. I regret that I could not complete the tour due to my illness. I was deprived of the fortune to have a darshan of Kashi Vishwanath in the holy month of Savan, Sonia had said in a statement in Varanasi, promising to return soon. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was scheduled to meet Sonia at the hospital. Union Minister for Steel Birender Singh on Wednesday assured a delegation of workers from Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant at Bhadravathi in Shivamogga district that there is no proposal before the Centre either to close down the factory or privatise it. After receiving a memorandum from the leaders of Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant Workers Association here, the minister promised that the government will study all options on how to revive the public sector undertaking. Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar, Shivamogga MP and state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa, Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi and others were present during the meeting. The minister promised us that there is no proposal before the government to privatise or shutdown VISL, Joshi told Deccan Herald after the meeting. The Association, in its memorandum, stated that the VISL would soon get iron ore mines as the Karnataka government has recently agreed to reserve 156.10 hectares of ore-bearing area in Ramadurga region of Ballari district. Once the plant gets the mines, the supply of raw material would not be a problem. After taking over the unit in 1998, the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) invested only Rs 300 crore over the years and the plant has not been modernised. At present, only 350 non-executives, 135 executives and 1,600 contract employees are working at the VISL. Despite all constraints, the VSIL is achieving more production and better productivity through various cost-saving measures. The losses have also come down in the past two-three years, the memorandum said. Any move by the government to privatise the plant would have several implications as Bhadravati town is entirely dependent on the factory, the memorandum said. The association also demanded that the minister ensure that SAIL puts in more funds and technology to revive the plant. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene will hold a farmers convention in front of the Raitha Bhavan in the town on Thursday condemning the police atrocity against protesting farmers for Mahadayi water. Addressing protesters here on Wednesday, K S Shanthaswamimath of Raitha Sangha said that the state government used the police force for suppressing the farmers agitation for Mahadayi. He demanded that the government should implement Kalasa-Banduri project at the earliest and bear the medical expenses of the persons injured in the lathi charge. He also sought that the cases filed against the farmers should be withdrawn and they should be released from jails immediately. Deputy Commissioner Bommanahalli, speaking at separate meeting in the wake of the protest planned by farmers, said that there wont be Navalgund bandh on Thursday. Though we have not clamped prohibitory orders, liquor shops have been directed to down shutters. We have not imposed any restrictions and the protesters should ensue a peaceful demonstration, he said. The Chetak helicopters of the Indian Coast Guard and Sea King choppers of the Indian Navy hovered over the Savitri river, at times at extremely low altitude, looking for survivors. Twenty-two people are feared dead when a British-era bridge on the Mumbai-Goa highway in the Raigad district collapsed on Tuesday. In river rafts, a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team sailed several kilometres up and down to look for the ill-fated buses. The telephones at control rooms at Mahad and Mumbai continued to ring. Hundreds of people lined up by the side of the river on the Mumbai-Goa Highway to help authorities in the search and rescue operation. With intermittent rain, winds and the strong current, the rescue operation was an extremely difficult task. The search and rescue mission is being executed jointly by the Maharashtra government, navy, air force, coast guard, NDRF and the railways. A coast guard Chetak helicopter is carrying out search over the spot, while an IAF Mi17 helicopter undertook a search down the river. Two navy Sea King helicopters, 42B and 42C, are being used to carry divers and search, said Commander Rahul Sinha, spokesperson, Ministry of Defence. Volunteers and adventure experts are also helping the government agencies. I live in this area. I travel between Raigad and Ratnagiri on a regular basis and I have been over this bridge hundreds of times...never did I think that it would go down, said Ramesh Sawant, a resident of Mahad. 389mm rain in 24 hours The flood in the Savitri River is a result of massive rainfall in the popular hill station of Mahabaleshwar, which is a hotspot of the Western Ghats, a World Heritage Site designated by United Nations, DHNS reports from Mumbai. The Mahabaleshwar region received 389 mm rainfall in 24 hours ending on Tuesday and 410 mm in the next 24 hours ending on Wednesday. According to the Mumbai-based Regional Meteorological Observatory of the IMD, since June 1 this year, Mahabaleshwar has recorded 3,914 mm rainfall. The state government has started restoration works in Assam as floodwaters further receded. People too have begun leaving the relief camps. The recent wave of floods in the state left 32 people dead and 40 lakh affected. While 14 districts are still engulfed by floodwaters as the Brahmaputra and seven of its tributaries are flowing above the danger level, nearly 7.70 lakh people are still affected. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, as on Tuesday, 804 villages have remained affected by floods and 23,000 people have taken shelter in 117 relief camps. The state government has started its assessment of damage and restoration works on war footing, official sources said. The Army troops swung into action helping the civil administration to control the flood situation in Majuli. The Army personnel from the nearby 41 Sub Area, Jorhat and Spear Corps, toiled relentlessly, skillfully employing their resources in plugging the breach in the anti-flood bund near Bongaon in Majuli. This breach, which caused the devastating floods on the largest riverine island affecting thousands of people has, to a large extent, been tamed, said Guwahati-based defence PRO Lt Col Suneet Newton. Newton added that the Army troops have been assisting the district administration in providing flood relief at Majuli Island from July 28. Rhino carcass recovered On Wednesday, a carcass of an adult male rhino, which had died due to the devastating floods in Kaziranga National Park (KNP), was recovered with its horn fallen off, near Bokpara Forest Camp in Kohora Range of the KNP, official sources said. Due to the massive floods in Kaziranga, 311 animals have died, including 22 one-horned rhinos and 221 hog deer, besides other animals, sources added. The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) has lashed out at the BJP-led government in Assam alleging it has failed to tackle the devastating problems of floods, erosion and encephalitis in the state. In a statement on Wednesday, AJYCP president Biraj Kumar Sarma said, "The current flood has, in fact, exposed the utter inefficiency of the government where nearly 50 people died, not to speak of the lakhs affected in the state." Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar on Wednesday demanded that the state government should order a judicial probe into police atrocities on farmers in Navalgund and Nargund taluks during the Mahadayi agitation. Shettar told reporters in Chitradurga that one could not expect the ADGP-headed committee probing the incident to do justice. This was because senior police officers were involved in the incident. So, a commission led by a High Court judge should conduct an investigation into the incident, the former chief minister said. He said suspending a few constables was not enough. It should be ascertained as to who ordered the lathi charge on the farmers, Shettar said. The former chief minister said that his party was demanding a judicial probe as the state government was scared of the CBI. Shettar said that a Cabinet meeting should be called and the non-bailable cases booked against farmers should be withdrawn unconditionally. Members of the Kalasa-Banduri agitation co-ordination committee and Jaya Karnataka tried to besiege Shettar after he came out the central jail after meeting Mahadayi protesters in Ballari. But the police stopped them from doing so. Trying to pacify the protesters, Shettar said that he would lead efforts to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, seeking his intervention in solving the issue, if the state government co-operates. But, before that a cordial atmosphere should be created between the governments of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra for an out-of-court settlement of the dispute. Shettar said that work on the project had started during the BJP regime, when canals were constructed at a cost of Rs 120 crore. After Shettar left, agitation committee convenor Mahesh Pattar said it was as if the Opposition party was dead in the state. Guns N Roses with Slash on lead guitar? Not in this life time. At least thats what Axl Rose said back in 2012 when asked about a potential reunion with the bands original members. Fast forward four years and there they are sharing a stage before sold out arenas under the GNR banner. This is the first time since 1993 that three of the original members front man Rose, lead guitarist Slash, and bassist Duff McKagan have delivered their eardrum-bursting rock n roll together.Dizzy Reed (keyboard), Richard Fortus (rhythm guitar), Frank Ferrer (drums), and Melissa Reese (keyboard) joined the three legends to finish out the group.After all these years its a miracle that theyre even alive after all the carnage and chaos of the L.A.metal scene they spawned from in the 1980s.They quickly became one of the worlds most raucous, and successful, rock bands. During that time they amassed an impressive and dedicated fan base that has been sorely missing its rock n roll fix since 93.GNRs set list encompassed all the hits that fans have been craving to hear live once more. No doubt the demographics have changed since the last tour. Instead of long-haired rebel rousers, the event sported all age groups. Many of the 40,000 in attendance at the Georgia Dome were in diapers the last time an authentic GNR show toured.Among the history of decadence that the band has, they also are known for their tardiness. That frame of mind seems to have gone out the window along with Axls previous certainty that the band would never reunite. Guns N Roses has been taking the stage on this tour on time, even early for some gigs.Thats not a bad idea considering they put on a jam-packed set that goes non-stop for over two and a half hours. The Georgia Dome set list included:It's So EasyMr. BrownstoneChinese DemocracyWelcome to the JungleDouble Talkin' JiveEstrangedLive and Let DieRocket QueenYou Could Be MineYou Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory/Raw PowerThis I LoveCivil WarComaBand intros into Slash solo - Speak Softly Love (Love Theme From The Godfather/Andy Williams)Sweet Child O' MineOut Ta Get MeJam ("Wish You Were Here/Layla)November RainKnockin' on Heaven's DoorNightrainEncore:Jam/Angie/PatienceThe SeekerParadise CityThe band sounded great. They didnt look too bad either. Like most men in their 50s, Axl has put on a bit of the middle age spread. But his vocal chords are still in perfect pitch. He hit all the high notes to their now classic hits. Slash seems not to have really changed at all since the good ole days as far as one can tell beneath his signature black top hat perched atop of a jungle of curly black hair, standing behind his screaming Gibson Les Paul. Duff McKagan laid down excellent bass riffs throughout the night and took the microphone for a cover of Iggy and the Stooges Raw Power.As the last sets of pyro flamed out to the chorus of Paradise City it was clear that we should never count something out too soon. Guns N Roses has come back to the stage where they belong. In a rare occurrence, the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday postponed a ministers reply during a debate on Thursday. The incident occurred as Opposition DMK members stalled the proceedings over the remarks by a member from the treasury bench. AIADMK MLA Muthiah, during his debate, remarked there are 89 scarecrows in the House, apparently referring to the total number of DMK members in the House. Angered by the legislators statement, DMK MLAs wanted the speaker to expunge the remarks made by Muthiah. Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian was applauded by the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday for his good presentation of the Goods and Services Tax Bill. Opposition leaders, led by former finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram, quoted Subramanian in their speeches to caution the Modi government against deviating from the CEAs line. Subramanian, who is in the race for the RBI governors post, was only recently subject to attacks by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy for holding a US green card and taking anti-India position over intellectual property rights. Subramanian, who became CEA in the Modi government, was joined by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in several rounds of talks with Congress leaders, including Chidambaram, and other parties to build a consensus on the GST Constitution Amendment Bill. Opening the debate on the Bill, Chidambaram thanked the government for dropping the retrograde provision of 1 % additional tax. He noted that even the CEAs report on the GST Bill was against levying additional 1 % tax from manufacturing states. Another mention of Subramanian in Chidambarams speech was with regard to capping the tax rate. He said the Congress wanted the tax rate to be capped at 18 % and incorporated in the Constitution so that only Parliament and not the executive could revise the rate. The entire Opposition expressed apprehension over the weakening of states rights of raising financial resources after the GST regime comes into existence. The Left and others demanded an assurance from the government that the fiscal autonomy of states will be protected. Former finance minister P Chidambaram also pleaded for a robust dispute resolution mechanism in place to resolve disputes between the Centre and states. When the GST comes, ensure that there will be flexibility so that states are not forced to come with begging bowls to ask for money, said CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, participating in the debate over the Constitution Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Some flexibility should be given to the states. I demand an assurance on this issue, Yechury said. He also demanded that the tax collected by the state for the state GST should go to the Consolidated Fund of the state. This presents a problem. Where does the revenue go? That is an important aspect, which should be clarified, he said. What is the mechanism and the timeframe within which the revenue will be shared with the states and Centre? he asked. CPI leader D Raja demanded that in the GST council three-fourths of the members should be from the states and the remaning from the Centre to ensure fiscal federalism. BSPs Satish Chandra Mishra said the council vice chairman should be inducted from a party that is not a part of the ruling party at the Centre. Four professionals from the city have developed a mobile phone app that helps to download and read books in Dravidian languages. Kai Books is said to be the countrys first app to download books in Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil. The app has over 3,700 titles on various subjects in all four languages. The books are available for both purchase and rental. Darshan T, a resident of Banashankari, conceived the idea in 2014 to help his mother access Kannada books when they were living in Puducherry. He roped in Abhilash, Nawaz and Nishitha and developed the app in six months. The app offers classics in literature, old books on various subjects and books that are out of print and stock, Darshan, an MS graduate in industrial operations from Dalhousie University, Canada, told Deccan Herald. The Kai Books app has 2,500 free books in four languages. It has 1,200 books, including 1,000 books in Kannada, for sale and rental. A concession of 25% is given on purchase of a book against its paperback cost. The readers will get 75% concession on rental for a period of 20 days. The app can be downloaded using Google Playstore, he added. Initial months were difficult for the team members. They found it difficult to convince the publishers to give the content. Many publishers did not even understand the concept. Some of them thught that the app would adversely affect paperback sales, recalled Darshan. The team members decided to upload non-copyright content to test popularity of the app. We received positive response from readers for the free content. We again approached the publishers with the feedback on response from users. The publishers were convinced and sold the content, he said, pointing out that the new platform is profitable for publishers. DH News Service Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to take serious note of the roads badly damaged due to rains. "Potholed roads are causing traffic nuisance. Hence, the BBMP should deploy Python-5000, an imported machine to fill up such potholes as early as possible, he said while reviewing the flood situation in the city at a meeting held at his home office Krishna. Siddaramaiah pointed out that roads were in bad condition due to poor work carried out by contractors. Co-ordination meeting At the meeting, Siddaramaih directed state government agencies such as BBMP, Bangalore Development Authority, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd, Forest and Police departments to hold a coordination meeting every Saturday. The meeting should be chaired by chief secretary, he noted. Responding to the complaint that Forest department was blocking de-silting work in the periphery of the Madiwala lake, he instructed the Forest department officials to work in coordination with other government agencies especially in the times of crisis. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Public Works Minister H C Mahadevappa, Sarvagananagar MLA and former Bengaluru Development minister K J George were among those who attended the meeting. DH News Service Greeneville/Greene County will be hosting the 2016 National Quilt Trail Gathering from Aug.10-13, bringing with it a tapestry of events related to quilting arts and quilt inspiration, open to the public. The full schedule of events can be found at www.nationalQTgathering.com . When Donna Sue Groves painted a bright green pattern inspired by a Snail Trail quilt, on her mothers barn in rural Ohio, little did she know she would be founding what would become a national folk art phenomenon. The Quilt Trail movement has spread to 45+ states (including east Tennesee and western NC) and into Canada. All independent grass roots projects, each trail has its own goals and unique artwork and approaches. And, organized by the Appalachian RC&D Council (www.arcd.org), they are coming to Tennessee to learn from each other and present their best practices. Tennessee is home to hundreds of quilt barns and downtown quilt blocks. The website vacationaqt.com shows most of the quilt blocks across the state. During the Gathering, the public is invited to the world premiere of the documentary Pieced Together, with Peabody-award winning Director/Producer Julianne Donofrio ( www.piecedtogetherdoc.com ). The film tells the story of Donna Sue Groves, and how, according to Donofrio, one womans love for her mother changed the American landscape and saved her own life while battling with cancer. The film will screen at the Capitol Theatre, Aug. 11, at 8 p.m. ($10, includes dessert bar). The following presentations are also open to the public, at the General Morgan Inn in downtown Greeneville: Merikay Waldvogel, of Knoxville, a published quilt historian, member of the national Quilters Halls of Fame, and one of the key players in the late 20th century quilt history revival, will be the keynote speaker on Friday Aug. 12, at 9 a.m. ($10). Nationally celebrated storyteller, Elizabeth Ellis will use her voice like buttermilk to perform her familys quilt stories on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 9 a.m. ($10). Patricia Mink, director of the Fibers Art program at East Tennessee State University, will give an artist talk on her contemporary quilt work, Thursday Aug. 11, at 3:30 p.m. ($10). Artspace4 Gallery is showing her work for the month of August (free). The Greeneville-Greene County History Museum is also showing a special antique quilt exhibit from their collection for the month of August for a small fee. Ohio hosted the first gathering of Quilt Trails from across the county in 2011 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Donna Sue Groves first quilt barn and the founding of the Adams County, Ohio, Quilt Trail. A national gathering has not happened since then, according to organizer, Emily Bidgood of the Appalachian RC&D Council, so it is a real honor for Tennessee to host. We have trails coming from Nebraska, California, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, South Carolina, to name a few. The four-day long celebration is sponsored by the Appalachian RC&D Council, Tennessee Quilts Jonesborough, Greeneville/Greene County Tourism, the General Morgan Inn, the Greeneville-Greene County History Museum, the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Mary G.K. Fox Foundation. A full schedule and registration for the Gathering are found online at: www.nationalQTGathering.com, and is on social media at facebook.com/ FollowtheQuiltTrail . Contact the Appalachian RC&D Council at 423-979-2581 for more information. The Centre on Wednesday approved the long-pending Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which proposes hefty penalties for traffic rule violators. These will include a fine of up to Rs 10,000 for drunken driving and Rs 2 lakh compensation in hit-and-run cases. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which approved the Bill, has suggested several steep penalties against errant drivers. The suggestions for stricter penalties were made by a high-level committee of transport ministers from 18 states, headed by Rajasthan Transport Minister Yunus Khan. With steep fines, the government is committed to reducing accidents and fatalities by 50% by 2020, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari told DH. India witnessed the highest number of road accidents in the world, with five lakh road accidents every year in which 1.5 lakh people have lost their lives. The provisions also include that the guardian or owner will be deemed to be guilty in case of a road offence by juveniles, while the registration of the vehicle will be cancelled. Twenty-two people are feared dead after two state transport buses were swept away in the Savitri river when a British-era bridge on the Mumbai-Goa Highway in the Raigad district of Maharashtra collapsed late on Tuesday. There are also reports that around three cars and SUVs have fallen into the river, but there was no confirmation from the Raigad district administration. However, Vasant Kumar, who works in a transport company, told the authorities that he saw three cars falling into the river. The incident occurred around 11.30 pm and a massive search and rescue operation was launched in the early hours of Wednesday. Search teams also used magnets in the operations. More than 24 hours after the incident, there is still no clue about the vehicles or the people travelling in them. Intermittent rain and winds have severly hampered the search operations. The search operations, which were later called off, will resume early on Thursday. The over 120 metre bridge was built around 1928 and connects Mahad town to Poladpur in coastal Maharashtra, around 180 km south of Mumbai. The bridge is used by vehicles plying from Goa to Mumbai, while a parallel bridge built in 2001 is used by vehicles plying from Mumbai to Goa. While one Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus was en route to Mumbai from Raigad, the other bus was moving from Rajapur to Borivli. Among the missing vehicles is a Tavera with a family of seven who were travelling from Guhagar to Mumbai. The Savitri river originates in Mahabaleshwar, Satara district, which has received over 800 mm rainfall since Sunday. The river drains into the Arabian Sea, nearly 18 km away from the bridge. It is a very sad incident. We are making all efforts to look for survivors, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after conducting an aerial survey. Fadnavis ordered a probe and said a competent officer would be appointed soon. During the search operation, two bodies were recovered but authorities confirmed that it was not related to the incident The State Government is set to act tough on encroachers of rajakaluves (canals) and storm water drains (SWDs) in the City. The encroachments had led to flooding of several areas after the heavy rain last week. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bengaluru Urban district administration to evict the encroachers without leniency. As many as 822 encroachments have been cleared, while there are 1,101 more such cases. Some of the building owners have approached the court, stalling the eviction drive. We will retain an experienced lawyer and file caveats against them, the chief minister told reporters. He was reviewing the action taken by BBMP and other government agencies after the last weekends deluge. The chief minister said he has ordered action against all officers responsible for granting approvals for construction on stormwater drains in BBMP limits. I have ordered an inquiry into encroachments in DUO Layout, Anugraha Layout, Akshayanagar in Kodichikkanahalli, among others. It appears some officers are involved in approving construction of illegal buildings. We will initiate action against the guilty officers, he said. Responding to the BBMPs proposal for Rs 160 crore to take up emergency works in low-lying areas, the chief minister released Rs 140 crore to take up 75 works. The Bommasandra zone received a major chunk of Rs 65 crore for desilting and other works. Other areas include east zone (Rs 9.30 crore), west zone (Rs 6.70 crore), Koramangala valley (Rs 12.20 crore), Yelahanka zone (Rs 14.80 crore), Mahadevapura (Rs 65 crore), Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone (Rs 5 crore) and Dasarahalli zone (Rs 9.30 crore). DH News Service 2 August 2016 (McKinsey) While its broadly assumed that children will grow up to be better off than their parents, the reality is that a new generation of young people in advanced economies risks ending up poorer. In this episode of the McKinsey Podcast, McKinsey senior partner Richard Dobbs and McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) partner Anu Madgavkar talk with Peter Gumbel about the increase in the number of households that experienced flat or falling incomes in the past decadeand the implications for future growth and economic advancement. Podcast transcript Peter Gumbel: Hello, Im Peter Gumbel, senior editor, based in Paris, at the McKinsey Global Institute. Today Im delighted to be speaking with Richard Dobbs, a McKinsey senior partner in London, and Anu Madgavkar, an MGI partner based in Mumbai. Richard and Anu have been spearheading new research on income inequality for the McKinsey Global Institute, and theyre the coauthors of a new report called Poorer than their parents? Flat or falling incomes in advanced economies. One of its striking conclusions is that two-thirds of households in 25 advanced economies have been affected by this flat-or-falling-income phenomenon. Theyre here today to explain what that is, why its happening, and what it means. Richard and Anu, thank you for being with me today. Richard Dobbs: Hello. Anu Madgavkar: Hi, happy to be here. Peter Gumbel: Great. Let me start with you, Anu. What exactly do we mean by flat or falling incomes? Anu Madgavkar: Our research look at groups of households organized by income segments. Were then able to track what these typical groups have experienced in terms of income growth over the last decade and the period prior to that. When these typical households, in each income segment, see no advancement in terms of their income, were able to say that there is a general lack of economic progress. By this metric, we see a very dramatic increase in the phenomenon of flat or falling incomes. The proportion of households that have been affected by this trend has virtually exploded, from less than 2 percent to as much as 65 percent to 70 percent of the population, in the past decadefrom about 2005 to 2014. Peter Gumbel: Thats a tremendous increase. Have others already looked at this, or is this research quite unique in terms of the bigger debate out there about income inequality? Anu Madgavkar: There has been a lot of very influential and important work on income inequality. But much of it, including the work by Thomas Piketty and others, has really focused on the very top of the income distributionperhaps the top 5 percent of households or the richest 1 percent, even. We dont focus just on that segment. We look across the income distribution at multiple segments to understand how inequality has manifested itself in terms of income trends and income growth for all segments, and not just the richest. [more] The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) will help Hays State Prison in Trion recruit about 70 correctional officers on Thursday, Aug. 18, in LaFayette. The recruitment will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the LaFayette Housing Authority located at 300 South Oak Street. GDOL staff will be on site to help screen the applicants, while prison staff will be available to answer applicants questions. While experience as a correctional officer is not necessary, applicants with prior military experience are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma, or a General Education Diploma (GED). The starting salary for correctional officers at the prison is $31,040 a year. Applicants are encouraged to bring a resume and dress appropriately to improve their opportunities for jobs. Job seekers planning to attend the recruitment are encouraged to visit www.employgeorgia.com to create an account and upload, or prepare, a resume. Having an Employ Georgia account and resume expedites the interview process. For more information about the recruitment, contact the GDOLs Lafayette Career Center at (706) 638-5525. The career center, located at 200 West Villanow Street, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Machine Tool Technician Program in the TN College of Applied Technology (TCAT) at Chattanooga State Community College has received nine $1,000 scholarships, to be used this fall, from the Gene Haas Foundation. The Gene Haas Foundation provides numerous scholarships annually to help students build skills within the machining industry. The foundation also is heavily involved with students who participate in the annual SkillsUSA competitions. Founded in 1983 by Gene Haas, Haas Automation, Inc. manufactures economical and reliable machine tools. Introducing new product lines over the years, Haas now manufactures four major product lines: vertical machining centers (VMCs), horizontal machining centers (HMCs), CNC lathes and rotary tables, as well as a number of large five-axis and specialty machines. All of their products are manufactured in California at one of the largest, most modern machine tool manufacturing operations in the United States. In addition to applying for this scholarship, students may be eligible to receive the TCAT TN Reconnect, which is a grant fund for any adult student age 25 or older that attends a TCAT. This means that once all other forms of aid have been applied towards tuition, such as the Haas Scholarship, the TCAT Reconnect Grant picks up any of the remaining tuition costs, making this program even more affordable. For more information about this scholarship or other career opportunities through the TN College of Applied Technology, please see chattanoogastate.edu/tcat or call 423-697-4433. The Tennessee Environmental Health Association will be hosting the 2016 Hall of Fame induction and Awards Dinner on Sept. 29 at the Coffey Barn in Cleveland. Two new members will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year: Rick Johnson and Trish Gammons, both have dedicated their careers to the environmental health profession. In addition, two TEHA annual awards will be given. The TEHA Community Partnership Award will be given to the city of Cleveland for the operation, promotion, and funding of the Greenway, promotion of the annual Mousecreek stream cleanup, and their operation and maintenance of multiple city parks. The TEHA Educator of the Year award will be given to Johnny Mull for his impact on the Bradley County School System. Mr. Mull has helped to reduce energy and water consumption, improve indoor air quality, reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the community, and increased food safety through installation of new equipment. Prior to the ceremony a low country boil dinner will be served. Tickets to attend are $30 each and must be purchased by Sept. 19. For tickets or information call 619-7883 or tehapresident@gmail.com. The Tennessee Environmental Health Associations mission is to promote environmental health, support and educate environmental health professionals, and recognize individuals that are doing exceptional work in the field. A new study suggests that longer survival of patients with type 2 diabetes could explain increasing prevalence of the condition. These findings indicate, therefore, that rising rates of type 2 diabetes might not necessary be due to increased incidence, but declining mortality. Dr Stephanie Read, University of Edinburgh and colleagues evaluated trends in type 2 diabetes incidence and mortality rates between 2004-2013 by age, sex and socioeconomic deprivation. Data on diabetes diagnosis, population estimates and number of deaths each year was collected from the Scottish Care Information Diabetes database and National Records Scotland. The age range evaluated was 39-90. Overall, there were 180,290 incident cases of type 2 diabetes in Scotland between 2004-2013. Incidence generally remained stable during this time, but there were a number of variations in the findings. Incidence increased among young men, remained stable in young women and declined in older men and women. Incidence also declined across all socioeconomic groups but increased after 2008 in the most deprived groups. Because the distribution of demographic characteristics across Scotland is stable, the researchers report that trends in diabetes prevalence are influenced by the balance found in incidence and mortality changes. Standardised mortality rates declined for both men and women during the study period, with similar reductions found across all ages and deprivation groups. The most deprived groups had higher mortality rates than the least deprived groups. The authors wrote that the increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes could be primarily attributed to declining mortality, rather than increasing numbers of patients developing the condition. They noted a stabilisation in the incidence of adult obesity, which can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as improvements in HbA1c among patients who participated in the 2014 Scottish Diabetes Survey. The researchers added that the decline in mortality might not be due to either earlier diagnosis or improvements in diabetes care. Despite improved mortality rates, type 2 diabetes confers an excess risk of death compared with the non-diabetic population there is still scope to address the increased mortality associated with diabetes, said the authors. Major inequalities by age, sex and socioeconomic status in type 2 diabetes incidence and mortality indicate that effective approaches to treatment and control will need to address existing inequalities. The findings appear in the online journal Diabetologia. The excellent Galaxy S7 Edge camera is retained, along with a 5.7-inch dual-edge display. Samsung has announced the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone at Unpacked 2016 held yesterday. It retains the signature large display, and an all-new stylus to go with it. It is also the first Note smartphone from Samsung to offer IP68 certification, making it water- and dust-resistant. While the specifications of the phone are similar to the Galaxy S7, the Galaxy Note 7 features curved Gorilla Glass 5 glass, both on the front and back. The biggest addition to the phone is the new iris scanner, which adds an extra layer of security over the fingerprint scanner. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S7, the Galaxy Note 7 will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 or an Exynos 8890 SoC, depending on where in the world you buy it from. We expect the Exynos variant of the Note 7 to launch in India. There is 4GB of RAM on the Note 7, with 64GB of base storage. This can be further expanded by up to 256GB via a microSD card. The Galaxy Note 7 houses a 5.7-inch display on the new Note 7, with the dual-edge on display allowing Samsung to keep the form reasonably ergonomic. The Note 7 is 73.9mm wide, against the Galaxy Note 5s 76.1mm width. Despite the larger, 3500mAh battery, Samsung has managed to keep the phones weight at 169 grams. The camera setup is identical to the Galaxy S7 lineup, with a 12MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.7 aperture lens and optical stabilisation. A 5-megapixel front camera is included, which can also shoot in HDR mode. Samsung plans to launch the Galaxy Note 7 across the world on August 19, so naturally, we expect to get our hands on it soon. Stay tuned for more details! Aerotek Inc., a provider of recruiting and staffing services, announced Wednesday that it is seeking to fill hundreds of production positions in Chattanooga. The openings support the growth of Aeroteks partner Volkswagen. New Aerotek team members will work in a climate controlled environment where they will be responsible for manufacturing the Volkswagen Passat and new SUV. The environment is fast-paced and deadline-intensive. Successful applicants should hold a high school diploma and be detail-oriented with the ability to operate quickly and accurately. Contract employees are eligible for Aeroteks benefits. "We are proud to work with VW on adding more great jobs in the Chattanooga area, said Lucas Hiler, Aerotek strategic account executive. Its a great opportunity for VW, for the local economy and for us at Aerotek. The pay rate starts at $13/hour with a $1 shift premium for working night shift. Pay tops out at $15.50/hour. To go along with a great starting pay rate, Aerotek offers a full benefit package, and bi-yearly bonuses that equate to 6 percent of the income employees earn. Here are the job requirements: Candidates must be 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED, and have legal authorization to work in the U.S. Previous manufacturing experience is preferred, but not required. All candidates will be required to submit to a background check and drug screening, as well as provide two professional references. Must be available to work weekly rotating (6 a.m.-4:45 p.m. and 6 p.m.-4:45 a.m.). Candidates who are interested in learning more and applying can visit Aerotektn.com or attend a hiring event at one of the following locations: Aug. 9, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Urban League 730 E. M. L. King Blvd. Chattanooga, TN 37403 Aug. 16, 2-6 p.m. East Ridge Community Center 1517 Tombras Ave. East Ridge, TN 37412 Aug. 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. North River Civic Center 1009 Executive Dr., Suite 102 Hixson, TN 37343 Aug. 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Hospice of Chattanooga 4411 Oakwood Dr. Chattanooga, TN 37416 A week after Amazon received same clearance for drone deliveries in UK. Alphabet, Googles parent company, has received clearance from the White House, United States of America, to test its proposed drone deliveries in select areas of the country. The decision is one of the most prominent ones in the US National Science Foundations recent $35 million investment declaration in research of unmanned flights. These tests, to be conducted by Google, will contribute to making drones easier and safer for inspection or rescue missions. Part of Alphabets Project Wing, delivery drones aim to bring sellers an upper hand on delivery times and attract more customers. Aerial deliveries promise shorter times and lesser manual labour. The Federal Aviation Administration had previously eased rules regarding commonplace drone usage but refrained from allowing commercial permit. With the new declaration by the White House, the near future holds promise for small, commercial aerial drones to find commonplace application among stores and e-retailers. Amazon was one of the first movers in this sector, conceptualising drone deliveries via Amazon Prime Air delivery system in 2013. In response, Alphabet (then Google) started Project Wing in 2014, to form its own fleet of drone delivery system. Only last week, Amazon announced its clearance to test drone deliveries in the United Kingdom, and Alphabets clearance to test drones for commercial purposes in the USA may match the timeline by which Amazon intends to begin full-fledged drone delivery systems. Google intends to roll out its services by next year, setting up an example by when people may expect such services. In India, drone deliveries may not be as readily implemented as in other nations like the UK and USA. For one, the country is yet to adapt smart technology on a large scale, and smart cities are still on the rise. The internet scape of the country is still taking shape, and recreational drone usage is still on its nascent stages. Drone deliveries, to presume, may take as long as two to three years to concretely formulate. Irish miner Conroy Gold & Natural Resources has discovered a new gold bearing lode in its first drilling at the Clay Lake project. At the Clay Lake-Clontiberet gold target in Northern Ireland, the company drilled at a depth of 102m high grade gold intersections of 1 meter at 15g per tonne gold and 1 meter at 8.4g per tonne fold. The drillhole intersected five gold bearing lodes including a new one. In July, the AIM listed company also found four new zones at its Glenish gold target, a 147 hectare gold-in soil-anomaly, 7.5km south west of Clay Lake. Chairman professor Richard Conroy said: I am delighted that the new drilling programme has already yielded such excellent results both at Glenish, where we recently intersected 4 new gold zones and now at the companys flagship Clay Lake-Clontibret gold target where we are targeting a multi-million oz gold resource. Shares in Conroy Gold were down 7.09% to 33.91p at 1053 BST. Anton Yelchin was killed when his vehicle rolled backwards and crushed him against a security gate US automaker Fiat Chrysler will face a lawsuit from the parents of former Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin , who was killed in a freak accident involving a Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicle. Irina Korina and Viktor Yelchin claim that a fault in the design of the car was to blame for their son's death, and are seeking damages from Fiat, as well as retailer AutoNation. The suit contends the defective gear selector was poorly designed and manufactured. "Anton Yelchin was crushed and lingered alive for some time, trapped and suffocating until his death," the lawsuit states. 1.1 million Cherokee models were recalled in April as regulators found that drivers were confused by its gear-shifters, causing various incidents of roll aways and serious injuries. The suit does not say how much Yelchin's parents are seeking in damages, but their attorney, Gary A. Dordick, said they want the company to be punished and hope the lawsuit changes its business practices. "In spite of our unbelievable grief, we decided to come here to prevent other families from the same tragedy," Victor Yelchin said. Anton Yelchin was most well-known for his role as Pavel Chekov in the reworked Star Trek franchise. London stocks spiked higher initially on Wednesday despite downbeat US and Asian sessions, as investor attention will move from the raft of global services data to the week's big Bank of England rate announcement. After half an hour of trading the FTSE 100 was virtually flat at 6,646.22, up less than one point from Tuesdays close, while the FTSE 250 was 89 points lower at 16,972.22. Following gloomy economic indicators from the industrial and construction sectors earlier in the week, there is a very small chance the UK services PMI at 0930 BST could provide a lift. The July services PMI is expected to remain at the 47.4 levels seen in the flash estimate taken between 12-21 July, however CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said given the stabilisation in the political climate seen since mid-July there is the outside possibility that these might improve. A further deterioration here would certainly raise the stakes further for tomorrows Bank of England rate decision, where expectations remain high that well see a cut in rates for the first time in seven years, he said. Over in the US, the ADP employment report is at 1315 BST, while Markits services PMI is at 1445 BST and ISM non-manufacturing is at 1500 BST. In corporate news, HSBC Holdings' shares were on the up in spite of profits falling by more than a quarter amid difficult conditions in the first half of the year. Investors were no doubt pleased with news of a $2.5bn (1.8bn) share buyback thanks to the sale of the bank's Brazilian business. In the six months to 30 June, HSBC's pre-tax profits of $9.71bn were down 28.7% from the same period last year earlier and short of the City's expectations of around $10bn. Fashion retailer Next was also sashaying higher despite a mixed second quarter update, with group sales rising 0.3% on the same period a year ago but retail sales down 3.3%. The retailer warned that cost prices would rise by 5% due to the GBP devaluation and that 2016 sales could fall by 2.5%, which was an improvement on previous guidance. Total sales, including markdown, were down 0.7% at Next Retail in the year to date and up 5.4% at Next Directory, for a total increase of 1.8%. Leading a group of miners on the back foot on Wednesday due to growth in China's services sector slowing in July, Rio Tinto was lowest as its interim results showed profits fell to a 12-year nadir as crumbling commodity prices hit home. But though Rio's numbers were in bang in-line with analyst forecasts the mining behemoth said caution was still required for the medium-term. In the six months to 30 June, the day after which saw new chief executive Jean Sebastien Jacques officially take the reins, underlying profit fell 47% to $1.56bn, while the miner cut the interim dividend 58% to 45 cents a share. Market Movers FTSE 100 (UKX) 6,668.52 0.35% FTSE 250 (MCX) 17,054.70 -0.05% techMARK (TASX) 3,449.06 0.05% FTSE 100 - Risers Next (NXT) 5,335.00p 4.00% HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 498.85p 3.32% Standard Chartered (STAN) 600.30p 1.81% SSE (SSE) 1,527.00p 1.60% Fresnillo (FRES) 1,980.00p 1.28% Sky (SKY) 906.50p 1.17% Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 187.90p 1.13% Aviva (AV.) 390.90p 0.85% Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 323.40p 0.84% Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,739.00p 0.77% FTSE 100 - Fallers InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 3,057.00p -1.51% Pearson (PSON) 875.00p -1.07% Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 396.20p -0.93% Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 755.00p -0.72% Informa (INF) 704.50p -0.63% British American Tobacco (BATS) 4,793.00p -0.57% Glencore (GLEN) 184.75p -0.57% Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,162.00p -0.51% London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 2,734.00p -0.44% Intu Properties (INTU) 299.10p -0.43% FTSE 250 - Risers Pendragon (PDG) 31.81p 2.81% Fidessa Group (FDSA) 2,588.00p 2.62% Laird (LRD) 302.60p 2.51% Telecom Plus (TEP) 1,066.00p 2.50% Diploma (DPLM) 837.00p 2.32% Hastings Group Holdings (HSTG) 195.20p 2.15% Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 294.10p 2.05% Riverstone Energy Limited (RSE) 970.00p 1.78% Tullow Oil (TLW) 187.00p 1.69% PZ Cussons (PZC) 336.90p 1.48% FTSE 250 - Fallers Aggreko (AGK) 1,131.00p -8.12% Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 294.00p -2.65% G4S (GFS) 180.00p -2.33% Shawbrook Group (SHAW) 178.30p -2.25% NCC Group (NCC) 323.10p -2.09% Polypipe Group (PLP) 232.90p -1.90% Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (MLC) 413.40p -1.88% DFS Furniture (DFS) 208.50p -1.84% Rank Group (RNK) 214.10p -1.83% Redefine International (RDI) 42.57p -1.73% Fruit and vegetables could become more expensive in the UK if foreign seasonal workers, who pick British produce, are barred from the country post-Brexit. Big producers from the UK have urged the government to deal the potential employment deficit for the food-supply chain by setting up a scheme for seasonal workers. The Guardian reported that about 90% of fruit and vegetables are picked and packed by between 60,000 to 70,000 workers from abroad, mainly from Europe. Producers said that if employment prospects for seasonal workers is not protected production could move abroad where there are large operations already active. Reportedly, seasonal workers are already deterred from coming to the UK because of Brexit Over 98% of the previous seasonal workers scheme, which ran between 1948 to 2013 before Theresa May scrapped it as home secretary, returned home after coming to the UK to work. Brexit has created economic uncertainty for businesses and no more so than for the Britains food industry, they claimed.. Food is the biggest sector of engagement for Europe with hundreds of contracts woven into supply chains. Post-Brexit, the UK will have to renegotiate these contracts as the country imports over 40% of its food and over a quarter from the EU. In 2015 the UK imported 38.5bn worth of food and drink and in comparison it exported homegrown food and drink worth only 18bn. Farming employs 3.9m people in the UK and grows raw ingredients for the food and drink industry, which is worth about 108bn. The National Farmers Union (NFU) is currently undertaking a consultation with farmers in order to help shape domestic farm policy post-Brexit. NFU president Meurig Raymond said: There is a clear need for agriculture and horticulture to show unity. When our consultation with our members is complete we will then be in a position to work alongside other organisations with shared goals and vision to ensure that British agriculture has a profitable and productive future outside of the EU and that the industry capitalises on those new opportunities. The UK will also have rework farm insurance, subsidy payments and environmental stewardship programs after Brexit. First half profits at Rio Tinto fell to their lowest since 2004 as crumbling commodity prices hit home, but though the numbers were in bang in-line with analyst forecasts the mining behemoth said caution was still required for the medium-term. In the six months to 30 June, the day after which saw new chief executive Jean Sebastien Jacques officially take the reins, underlying profit fell 47% to $1.56bn, which was exactly the same as the consensus forecast. Pre-tax profits slumped 27% to $5.36bn, marginally falling short of expectations of $5.38bn. The miner cut the interim dividend 58% to 45 cents a share, reflecting the board's new policy to link the payout to underlying earnings. Having generated net cash from operating activities of $3.2bn, the dividend payout was worth around $0.8bn in total and, following the $1.9bn 2015 final dividend, saw net debt reduced 6% to $12.9bn during the half, which was much better than the market projections for a modest rise to $13.8bn. Rio said the falls in commodity prices removed $1.9bn from its underlying earnings, which was only partially offset by a $241m gain from currency movements and a $410m boost from lower cash costs. Its analysis of the global economic situation and demand for commodities was guarded, with uncertainty clouding China's "long transition path of slower and less commodity-intensive growth. The miner sees the global economy as "stuck in a subdued low-productivity growth pattern which would indicate that continued caution is required for the second half of 2016. Jacques said the board's focus was on "delivering value to shareholders", adding: "Our balance sheet strength and Tier 1 assets provide a stable foundation in these uncertain and volatile markets, which is fundamental in a cyclical and capital-intensive industry. We will generate cash at every opportunity, which we will then allocate in a disciplined way to deliver returns to shareholders, while also investing in compelling growth." Britain should send Navy warships to Gibraltar to stave off the threat posed by Spain's push for joint sovereignty , according to a former adviser for the Ministry of Defence. Luke Coffey argued it was a necessary measure to protect The Rock during negotiations for Britain's exit from the European Union. Coffey is the director of the Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, and has made the claim despite consistent votes from residents in the region to remain a British territory. 96% of Gibraltar citizens voted to remain in the EU during the Brexit referendum, but the Leave campaign narrowly won the vote, and now negotiations surrounding the triggering of Article 50 have begun. The Spanish government were quick to call for a sharing of sovereignty after the vote to leave, with foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo being snubbed by Westminster. First and foremost, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liam Fox, Michael Fallon, and David Davis should make a joint visit to Gibraltar as soon as possible, Coffey wrote in Conservative Home. The Ministry of Defence should also make a grand gesture by increasing the Royal Navys visible presence in Gibraltar. This would send an important message to the Gibraltarians. He added that Spain's actions were "anachronistic, and that Britain should be ready for any scenario. The UK needs to prepare for the worst. This could include maintaining a robust air bridge if the land border is closed. Gibraltar rests at the foot of the Iberian Peninsula, and has been the focus of a diplomatic struggle between Britain and Spain for many years. Investors gave Standard Chartered the thumbs up on Wednesday as the bank reported a slump in first half profits but managed to cut bad debts. The FTSE 100 firm led the risers. First-half profits fell to $893m from $2.1bn as income fell on the back of weaker growth in key markets and a group restructuring. Shareholders will not receive a dividend and the company warned that economies had slowed even further this year and the outlook was more cautious. Underlying pre-tax profits fell to $994m from $1.8bn, while operating income fell 20% to $6.8bn. There was also a 34% improvement on bad loans to $1.1bn. Other banks were boosted by a 2019 deadline for PPI claims with Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC all up. Investors were no doubt pleased with HSBC's news of a $2.5bn (1.8bn) share buyback thanks to the sale of the bank's Brazilian business. Fashion retailer Next was also sashaying higher despite a mixed second quarter update, with group sales rising 0.3% on the same period a year ago but retail sales down 3.3%. Rio Tinto was on the back foot as its first half results showed profits fell to a 12-year low as crumbling commodity prices hit home. Direct Line and Admiral gave up gains from Tuesday. Market Movers FTSE 100 (UKX) 6,633.82 -0.17% FTSE 100 - Risers Standard Chartered (STAN) 629.30p 6.73% HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 507.60p 5.14% Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,832.00p 4.19% Next (NXT) 5,320.00p 3.70% GKN (GKN) 291.40p 1.75% Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 188.60p 1.51% Mediclinic International (MDC) 1,060.00p 1.44% Barclays (BARC) 147.75p 1.20% BT Group (BT.A) 408.30p 1.16% BHP Billiton (BLT) 945.70p 0.89% FTSE 100 - Fallers Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 391.80p -2.03% Persimmon (PSN) 1,650.00p -1.90% Admiral Group (ADM) 2,173.00p -1.72% British American Tobacco (BATS) 4,740.00p -1.67% United Utilities Group (UU.) 988.50p -1.64% Imperial Brands (IMB) 3,983.00p -1.61% Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 149.20p -1.58% Relx plc (REL) 1,412.00p -1.53% Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) 8,425.00p -1.52% Babcock International Group (BAB) 954.00p -1.50% Oil services group Lamprell has appointed Christopher McDonald as chief executive officer with effect from 1 October, succeeding Jim Moffat who will be retiring as previously announced. McDonald, a US national, was executive vice president and group head of business development with Petrofac in the UAE, where he was accountable for global sales. Lamprell said he has extensive international experience in the energy, procurement and construction and oilfield services sectors, having worked and lived in the USA, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. Before joining Petrofac, he spent 18 years with Halliburton/KBR, where he served on the board of MW Kellogg Ltd. and led KBR's worldwide lump-sum EPC sales and marketing activities. Chairman John Kennedy said: I am absolutely delighted that we have managed to secure the appointment of someone of Christopher's calibre and experience. He has an outstanding track record with two of the most respected companies in our industry and he brings a significant depth of leadership capability and market knowledge. At 1220 BST, Lamprell shares were down 1.8% to 69p. The Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, along with several public and private partners, on Tuesday unveiled a new community safety initiative, Look Before You Lock focused on eliminating unnecessary child and pet deaths due to vehicular heat stroke.The kickoff event took place at the Hixson Walmart located on Highway 153. Tuesdays event featured a marked patrol unit with an outside and inside thermometer comparing the difference in temperature to shoppers coming in and out of Walmart.The patrol unit will be on static display each day this week at various Walmarts in Hamilton County. Parents who wish to see the display can view the unit at the following locations: Wednesday Hamilton Place Walmart, Thursday Signal Mountain Walmart, and Friday Soddy Daisy Walmart. The patrol unit will be on display during the day.Vehicular Heat Stroke is a significant and deadly problem facing our nation. Every day, parents and care-givers are finding themselves more and more distracted whether it be from outside factors, in-car gadgets, stress, or cell phones. Statistically, child deaths due to vehicluar heat stroke are at an all time low since 1998, but despite the fact that numers are lower, there have been 683 vehicular heatstroke related deaths since 1998 in the United States. On average, there are (37) deaths per year.Each of these deaths were uncessassary and 100% preventable.In 10 minutes, a car's temperature can rise over 20 degrees with 80% of total heat rise accumulating in the first 30 minutes. During the hottest summer months, maxium temperatures can easily reach 130 degrees.Even in the cooler months, interior temperatures can be 50 degrees higher than the outside. For an example, even with an outside temperature of 60 degrees, the temperature inside your car can still reach 110 degrees given the right conditions.Ulitmately, a child dies when his/her body temperature reaches 107 degrees.During the kickoff event, Sheriff Hammond was joined by HCEMS Director Ken Wilkerson, Erlanger Childrens Emergency Department Director, Dr. Darwin Koller, Walmart Market Manager for Southeast Tennessee, Jeff Eversole, Chattanooga - Hamilton County Health Department Highway Safety Coordinator, Monica Baker, and McKamey Community Outreach Officer, Jennifer Heinzel, to discuss ways to prevent vehicular heat stroke and how it can affect children and pets.The HCSO handed out bright yellow, removable, door decals that parents and caregivers can place on their driver-side windows to serve as reminders to check their back seat as they exit the vehicle. Parents who are interested in receiving a free decal my visit either the HCSO West Annex located at 6233 Dayton Boulevard or at the HCSO East Annex located at 8395 East Brainerd Road. Parents or caregivers may also receive a decal by visiting one of our weekly scheduled Safe Journey Car Seat Checks. More information can be found at www.hcsheriff.gov.For more information about the HCSO Look Before You Lock Program or to find out how one's business or organization can participate, please contact the HCSO Public Information Office at 423-209-8906.For more information on how you can prevent vehicular heat stroke, visit:http://noheatstroke.org/fact_sheet.pdf (English)http://noheatstroke.org/ninovehiculo.pdf (Spanish) Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Jobs or no jobs, developers kept city property-tax abatements Columbus routinely offers tax abatements to businesses pledging to create jobs, but when those promises aren't kept there are usually no consequences. Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) students from Chattanooga State Community College recently returned from the 52nd Annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Louisville, Kentucky. SkillsUSA NLSC is a showcase featuring career and technical education students. More than 6,000 of these students, who were all state contest winners, competed hands-on in 100 different trade, technical and leadership fields. During the statewide competition this past spring in Chattanooga, Tennessee, students who won gold medals earned the right to advance to the national competition. These students competed in 13 events and eight of them earned medals. Gold : Quiz Bowl Rick Mahoney, Mike Hall, Sara Wilson, Chantal Simmons & Daniel Clements; Jill Wentworth, advisor. Silver : Marine Service Technology Weston Jeno; Jimmy Jones & Ed Grun, advisors. Bronze : Employment Application Process Connie Davis; Diane Jackson, advisor. Medical Assisting Alondra Gomez; Cindy Rutledge, advisor. For more information about technical education programs in the TN College of Applied Technology, please call 423-697-4433 or visit www.chattanoogastate.edu/tcat. Erlanger officials will be joined by Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and County Mayor Jim Coppinger to kick-off National Health Centers week on Monday, Aug. 8, at noon at the Dodson Avenue CommunityHealth Center. State Rep. JoAnne Favors, who has been a lifelong advocate for community health centers, will be honored for her support and commitment at this event. Representative Favors was recruited out of retirement to serve as administrator of the Southside andDodson Avenue Community Health Centers and is credited with having stabilized the health centers and ensuring they continue to serve this community, said Angel Moore, current CEO of Erlangers community health centers. For decades her commitment and focus has been to improving the health of this community, by ensuring affordable, accessible health care to vulnerable populations and strengthening family relations, Ms. Moore said. As part of her continued commitment to the mission of community health centers and to the communities they serve, Rep. Favors will be actively and aggressively working with Erlanger leadership, along with other community leaders, to discuss plans for a future site for the Southside Community Health Center that will better meet the needs of that community, according to Ms. Moore. Ms. Moore will be presenting the award to Rep. Favors during Mondays kick-off ceremony which is held annually to recognize supporters of community health centers and highlight the many services the Erlanger centers provide to area residents. Rep. Favors has a lengthy professional career in health care and has served in various capacities, including health administration, certified clinical specialist, head nurse, tenured associate professor of nursing atChattanooga State and member of the Erlanger Health System board of trustees. In 2004 she ran a successful campaign for Tennessee State Representative and was unopposed for her second term and currently serves as Chair of the Professional Occupations Committee, Assistant Majority Whip and Secretary of the Health and Human Resources Committee. She was named Tennessee Nurse of the Year for District 4 and served as past president of the Tennessee Nurses Association. Patient Appreciation Day will be held at both Southside and Dodson Community Health Centers on Thursday, Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Free health information will be available to patients and refreshments served by board members and staff. This years theme, Celebrating Americas Health Centers: Innovators in Community Health, highlights more than 50 years of recorded history and growth of health centers in comprehensive, high-quality preventive and primary health care to patients, regardless of their ability to pay. According to National Health Centers, health centers serve as the medical and healthcare home for nearly 24 million people annually. One in every fifteen people living in the United States depends on their services. The Southside and Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers focus for over 45 years is to provide primary and preventive medical care for people of all ages, including prenatal and OB/GYN services. The centers also offer educational information on nutrition, exercise programs, diabetes, hypertension and how to stop smoking. These services are a part of the centers' approach to providing high-quality clinical care regardless of the patients ability to pay and a reflection of their service to the community. For more information on the events or health services, contact the Southside Community Health Center,100 East 37th Street, at 778-2700 or Dodson Avenue Community Health Center, 1200 Dodson Avenue, at 778-2800. Cornish Commons wins three awards Photo by Casey Braunger for Ankrom Moisan Architects [enlarge] Birmingham, Alabama-based Capstone Development Partners won three awards for Cornish Commons, the 20-story complex for Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. Capstone was one of the winners in the 2016 Student Housing Business Innovator Awards for the residence hall and academic building, which opened in July 2015 at 2025 Terry Ave. Ankrom Moisan Architects provided architecture, interior design and identity services. Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty Co., was the contractor. The team also included Cochran, Coughlin Porter Lundeen, Holaday-Parks, Raymond-Northwest and Brumbaugh & Associates. Cornish Commons was developed by CDP in collaboration with Cornish College of the Arts. It won awards for best public/private partnership, most creative public/private financing and best new development. There were over 100 entries, and 23 awards. Cornish Commons cost $49.6 million, excluding the land. A joint venture of Capstone and Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, a Chicago private equity fund, lease the site from the college and own the building. Capstone On-Campus Management manages the building and Cornish manages student services. When the ground lease expires in 2056, Cornish will own the building. Cornish Commons has housing for students, practice studios, lounges, a community kitchen, two floors for academic spaces, and a first floor commons for students and faculty. It earned the LEED gold for Homes Midrise Certification and was named 2015 Building of the Year by the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. For all the winners, go to http://tiny.cc/9jqcdy/. Subscriber content preview NEW YORK (AP) U.S. stocks took their biggest loss in almost a month on Tuesday as investors worried about the health of the U.S. economy and sold shares in retailers and car companies. Machinery companies also fell and the price of oil continued to decline. Travel companies fell after cruise line operator Royal Caribbean cut its projections for the year, and automakers and suppliers fell after car companies reported lower U.S. sales for the month of July. Banks finished lower as investors worried about the health of banks in Europe. While stocks set all-time records as recently as July 22, they've been trading in a very narrow range for the last few weeks. Since stocks aren't making big gains, investors are sensitive to signs of trouble for the U.S. economy, like weaker sales of autos or last week's disappointing GDP report. . . . Subscriber content preview MINSK, Belarus (AP) Russia's state-controlled nuclear company says it's ready to replace a nuclear reactor for Belarus' first atomic plant after a construction accident. Rosatom's deputy director, Alexander Lokshin, said Monday that construction workers preparing to install the reactor failed to strap it up properly. He said it slipped down slowly and touched the ground softly in the July 10 incident. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE A Northgate strip mall property sold last week for $7.85 million, according to King County records. The 44,747-square-foot parcel is at 835 N.E. Northgate Way. The seller is HB Northgate LLC, an entity of HB Management, which is run by developers Jonathan Breiner and Edward Hewson. . . . Airbnb co-founder and CPO, Joe Gebbia, today announced the creation of Samara, a dedicated multi-disciplinary innovation and design studio within Airbnb. Conceived with the support of co-founders Brian Chesky and Nathan Blecharczyk, Samara will bring together design and engineering experts from Airbnb to further avant garde ideas and build advanced services that explore new areas of the Airbnb community. The Yoshino Cedar House, designed and built by Airbnb for Kenya Haras House Vision exhibition in Tokyo and created in collaboration with Go Hasegawa As a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Gebbia has always been impassioned by design and its power to reimagine the future. Inspired by the tenacious and hearty samara seedling, the mission of this new internal design studio is to develop services and ideas that extend Airbnbs values and vision into new areas. With experts from a range of backgrounds, Samara will delve into architecture, service design, software engineering, and new economic models. The Yoshino Cedar House, designed and built by Airbnb for Kenya Haras House Vision exhibition in Tokyo and created in collaboration with Go Hasegawa We believe healthy communities are those that support each other, and were inventing new pathways to enable this, said Gebbia. Samara will give us even more experimental space to apply what weve learned over the last eight years and pioneer services for connection, commerce, and social change within and around the expanding Airbnb community. The Yoshino Cedar House, designed and built by Airbnb for Kenya Haras House Vision exhibition in Tokyo and created in collaboration with Go Hasegawa The team behind Samara has already begun its work with the launch of the Yoshino Cedar House, a glimpse into enlivening rural municipalities. Designed and built for Kenya Haras House Vision exhibition in Tokyo and created in collaboration with Go Hasegawa, a Tokyo-based architect, the house realizes how architectural features can engender a deeper relationship between hosts and guests. Following the exhibition, Yoshino Cedar House will be permanently installed in Yoshino, a bucolic town in the Nara district of Japan, where it will be a bookable Airbnb listing that is maintained by the village. Proceeds earned from guests who visit will be used to strengthen the cultural legacy and future of the area, which has struggled as younger generations migrate away from rural towns. The Yoshino Cedar House, designed and built by Airbnb for Kenya Haras House Vision exhibition in Tokyo and created in collaboration with Go Hasegawa With Yoshino Cedar house, Samara created a new way to merge the community with space for guests. And the end result a listing run by and for the benefit of a local village is the first Airbnb of its kind. The team will closely monitor the progress of Yoshino Cedar House and consider expanding this model to rejuvenate similar rural communities around the world. Well done to Gareth Leslie who has raised more than 20,000 for Make-A-Wish by walking the Camino de Santiago. The Bruckless man, who lives in Killybegs, trekked over 800km in just 26 days. He was inspired to undertake the journey, he told the Democrat, after seeing the film The Way with Martin Sheen and his son Emilio Estevez. His parents suggested he try to raise funds for charity at the same time. I selected Make-A-Wish because they help children with all kinds of life-threatening conditions. It's very tough going for them and I wanted to do whatever I could, Gareth said. I definitely never imagined it would take off like this. I thought we'd never get 1,000. It's incredible, it's come from everywhere - Donegal to Cork, America, Australia the UK. People really are so good. There's so much going on but they dig deep to help others. Pictured: Gareth at the end of his mammoth trek, at the famous Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela Gareth was welcomed home on Monday night, July 25, with a fun 5k fundraiser organised by Jackie Byrne and Carmel Gamble as the finale of their Pat and Annies 100 Day challenge. There was a huge turnout and 1,700 was raised. The contributions, Gareth said, are still coming in. We have a lot of smiles gathered up. I can't believe we've reached 20,000. It really is amazing! If you would like to help, visit Gareth's Walk for Make A Wish Ireland on justgiving.com. 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. Ronald Moede was born on December 21, 1934, in Rio Creek, WI. The son of the late Fred and Emily (Hanamann) Moede, he married Bonnie Neinas in Brussels on June 4, 1960, and they were married for 62+ years. He was a life-long resident of Rio Creek and was an innovative dairy farmer. He owned and managed a large dairy operation, Meade Manor Farms, which had been homesteaded by his grandfather, August Moede, in 1895. The log cabin home, barn, and herd grew to become one of the larger dairy farms in Kewaunee County under his guidance. Upon his retirement, it evolved into Meade Manor Pet Clinic, a vet service for small animals, but the land continued to flourish and produce. Ron graduated from Casco High School, Class of 1952 and Graham School for Cattlemen, Kansas. He was a member of the Wisconsin Holstein Breeders, Kewaunee County Holstein Breeders, and the National Holstein Association. He was a charter member of the Algoma FFA Alumni. His family exhibited champion dairy cattle at local, state, and national dairy cattle shows. In 1984, in Madison, the Wisconsin FFA named him Outstanding Farmer and in 1995, he was named and honored at the Wisconsin State Fair as a Century Farmer. He served as an elder in his church for many years as well as a trustee and various committee appointments. In his younger days, he was active in dartball and also high school sports. He received the Algoma Honorary Chapter Farmer Award, and the Unified Board Business Award. In his retirement, he drove school bus for 15 years for the Algoma School District and was a member of the Great Lakes Sports Fishermen. A hobby later enjoyed was his chicken farming. He raised a small flock of chicken, and he enjoyed passing out extra eggs to friends and relatives when the supply was greater than the family could handle. He was an avid sports fan and he and Bonnie attended both Packers Super Bowl games in 1996 and 1997, and also the Milwaukee World Series in 1983. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, both here and in upper Michigan and Minnesota. He even got Bonnie to go along with him to Lake of the Woods on the Canadian border to do some ice fishing. He held Packers season tickets since 1960 and at the time they bought their tickets they were allowed to pick out where they wanted to sit on the sidelines --there were no end zone seats yet-- and the tickets cost $5.00 a piece! He traveled through most of the U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii as well as traveling to the Caribbean and Europe. He enjoyed a summer place in Door County for 20 years. He told many stories of farming with his dad and the fact that at the age of 12, he had his own team of horses to work with on the farm. Responsibility came early as he was left in charge whenever it was necessary for his parents to be gone for a few days. He learned to drive a truck at an early age and often drove himself to school in 8th grade and parked the vehicle a few doors down at a relatives. This was because chores need to be done before and after school. The first tractor purchased was in 1937. In his retirement, he had it restored and displayed in local fairs and tractor shows. He would tell of shocking grain and threshing crews traveling from neighbor to neighbor and the wonderful table his mother would set full of food. A vivid memory was the day WWII ended. The whole neighborhood and working crew quit in the early afternoon (unheard of) and celebrated With beer and music! Even the clergy arrived and joined in. It was a day to remember! In his lifetime he went from horses and the depression, to the digital age and unimagined luxuries. There was no electricity and no running water in his youth and now he had wireless phones, computer screens in his vehicles, along with heated steering wheels and heated seats. Who would have thought that back then. Ron is survived by his wife Bonnie; son Robert (Debbie Harms) Moede; grandson Michael and granddaughter Megan; siblings, Terry (Jane) Moede, Paul (Roxie) Moede; sisters-in-law, Diane Fontaine, Sheila (Don) Baudhuin; and brothers in-law, Dan (Mary) Neinas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Emily Moede; sister, Marilyn (Arno) Schneider; father- and mother-in-law, Herman and Madeline Neinas, and brother-in-law, Gary Fontaine. Visitation will be held at Kinnard Funeral & Cremation Services Algoma, on Friday, October 7, 2022, from 4-7:30 pm with a prayer service at 6:30. Visitation will continue on Saturday, October 8th at St. Johns Lutheran Church Rankin, from 9-11:00 am. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am with Dr. Rev. Christopher Jackson officiating. Burial to follow in Evergreen Cemetery. Online condolence message may be shared at KinnardFCS.com. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Kewaunee County 4-H Dairy Fund and the Projection Screen Fund at St. Johns- Rankin. Belhaven University is celebrating the opening of its new downtown Chattanooga campus with a ribbon cutting and tour of the facility on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 11:30 a.m. The campus is at 820 Broad St. For those attending the ribbon cutting and tour, park in the lot adjacent to the building. The school will pay for parking. The Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce is coordinating this event. Belhaven University Chattanooga is a branch campus of Belhaven University whose primary campus is in Jackson, Miss. At their downtown Chattanooga campus, Belhaven offers degree programs tailored to meet the needs of busy working adults. These degree programs include the Associate of Arts in Business, Bachelor of Science in Management, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Social Services, Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, Bachelor of Health Administration, Bachelor of Science in Management with Criminal Justice concentration, Master of Science in Leadership and Master of Business Administration. Online degree programs are available for those who cannot physically attend class one evening a week at Belhavens downtown Chattanooga campus. Home Four wheelers Toyota Cracks The MPV Market: 7,800 Units Of Innova Crysta Sold In July oi-Kennedy Paul Toyota India is establishing itself as the king of the MPV segment with the Innova Crysta. Barely three months since its launch the Innova Crysta is emphasising as the best in the MPV segment. In July 2016, Toyota India sold 7,800 units of the Innova Crysta and commands a waiting period of two months. On the whole, Toyota sold 12,404 units of products in the India, which accounts for 2.76 percent compared to the previous year. Also Read: Test Drive Report Of The Innova Crysta Even the ban on diesel cars more than 2000cc in the NCR of Delhi has not affected the sales of the Innova Crysta simply because it enjoys the brand equity of the customers in India. Toyota has started the bookings for the petrol variant of the Innova Crysta to counter the diesel ban and make inroads in places where the diesel ban has been implemented. Toyota Kirloskar Motors Director and Senior Vice-President (Sales & Marketing) N Raja said, "We had to shut down production at our Bidadi plant on July 30 on account of Karnataka bandh in the absence of which our growth would have been more in terms of sales." He also commented on the diesel ban, "We are confident that the honourable court will consider our submissions during the next hearing and hope the matter is amicably resolved at the earliest." The petrol variant of the Innova Crysta is expected with the spec of 2.7-litre VVT four cylinder engine - found in the middle east - producing 162bhp and 245Nm of torque which will be mated to 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic gearbox. While Vice President Joe Biden was bringing some star power to the Democratic convention in Philadelphia last week, the American ambassador to Ireland visited Louth. Ambassador Kevin O'Malley, who had accompanied the Vice President on his recent visit to Cooley, called to the County Hall in Dundalk where he met chief executive Joan Martin, council officials and some of the county councillors. Cllr Jim Tenanty from the Ardee Municipal District said the ambassador spoke about local industry and tourism and when Cllr Tenanty raised the issue of Ardee Castle and the efforts being made to use it as a possible tourism and heritage attraction, Mr O'Malley was fully supportive of the council's efforts. He thought attractions such as Ardee Castle would be of great interest to visitors from the United States. He thought we should aim for tourists from mid-west America and stress the fact that when they arrive in Dublin, Louth is just half-an-hour down the motorway, Cllr Tenanty said. After years of trying to get Ardee Castle utilised, one of the finest Norman Castles in the country and certainly the finest in any town in the country, the financial investment required is finally starting to materialise. Louth County Council has applied to Failte Ireland for a 200,000 grant to turn Ardee Castle into a tourism centre. The council chief executive Joan Martin has told Ardee Municipal District Committee that an application for a grant has been lodged with Failte Ireland and the process is now underway to get planning permission to begin the changes necessary to make the Castle accessible to the general public. This work would include wheelchair accessibility and bringing the building up to fire regulation standards. The main work would have to be carried out through the building next to the Castle itself similar to the access work carried out at Malahide Castle. The 1.2 million in capital funding has been allocated for the entire work, should planning be approved. Independent councillor Jim Tenanty had pressed for Louth County Council to apply for a grant from Failte Ireland. This capital grants scheme was launched by Failte Ireland for their Ireland Ancient East tourism brand, Cllr Tenanty said. Ardee Castle could benefit from this scheme and that is something I hope materialises. It could be part of the Failte Ireland brand. Cllrs John McGahon, Peter Savage, Maria Doyle, Maeve Yore, also attended the meeting with ambassador O'Malley last week. Gardai thanked the public for their support and cooperation during the Biden visit. This is a special year for The Friary in Dundalk - St Malachys Church - which has been the home of the Dominican Fathers in the town for over two hundred years. The Fathers came to Dundalk in 1777 and before that they had been in Carlingford since 1305. This year, the Dominicans, and friends of the Dominicans all over the world, are celebrating the 800th Jubilee anniversary of the Dominicans, the Order of Preachers, founded in 1216. The Prior at St Malachys is Fr Gus Champion, a Wicklow man, who ministered in Argentina and Portugal. Fr Champion is joined by Fr Bede McGregor, who was the previous Prior and who is now works closely with EWTN the global Catholic television and radio network, and lectured at St Patricks University Maynooth for many years.. Also at St Malachys are Fr Gabriel Harty, known all over Ireland as The Rosary Priest, who is now chaplain to St Malachys Girls School, Fr Ronan Cusack, Fr Ciaran Doherty, and Fr John Walsh. The Dominicans founded an abbey in Carlingford in 1305. Henry VIII or rather his chancellor Thomas Moore, destroyed and pillaged the monasteries in 1539 so the Dominicans had to continue their work secretly in the Cooley peninsula. In the early 1700s they started serving the people and teaching in Faughart, Haggardstown and Kilcurry and were known as the Friars of Carlingford. The first Dominican chapel in Dundalk was an old Linen factory around Linenhall Street. From the early days in Carlingford they had provided a school. In 1827 they opened a school in Dundalk known as the Poor School. This was two years before Catholic Emancipation, so it gives an idea of the dedication and bravery of these men. Preaching, celebrating Mass, and teaching, by Catholic priests, was seen as subversive activities. It was only in 1832, three years after Catholic Emancipation, when the Government was contributing towards education, that the Dominicans were able to provide a chapel school attached to the Dominican priory in Anne Street. The school was now part of the new national system, a fully recognised national school. For 17 years this was the only school under Catholic management in Dundalk. In 1853 a school for higher studies was opened, a secondary school, and it existed until 1861 when the Marist Fathers came over from France and were invited by the Archbishop of Armagh to set up a school in Dundalk, which of course, became St Marys College. A new school building was built in 1900 heated by hot air pipes and fires with equipment for the teaching of cooking, sewing, knitting and typewriting, the computer technology of its day. This was divided into three independent schools: boys, girls, infants. Then in 1953 the school buildings that now exist were built. They were one of the largest and most modern in the country, and you would still travel the length of the country to find schools with such a magnificent concert hall. Indeed, one of the countrys greatest playwrights travelled from Kerry in 1960 to see the first performance of his first great play in the Friary Hall in Dundalk. His name was John B Keane and the play was called Sive. Generations of Dundalk people went to the Friary schools, including myself, and attended services throughout the year at St Malachys Church. The Dominicans will always be held in the highest esteem by the people of Dundalk and beyond. For 239 years they have served the people and have been involved in the educated of generations beginning at a time when it was a crime to seek an education and to practice a religious faith. This year, they are commemorating the 800th Jubilee Year of the Dominicans, and the fact that for most of that time the Dominicans have been here in Louth, working tirelessly for the people. Next month a book covering that time in Dundalk will be published. It will be well worth the read. Dr. Dewayne Thompson, chair of the Department of Business at Lee University, has assumed the office of chair of the 2016-17 Board of Directors for the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the only global accrediting body to accredit business, accounting, and business-related programs at all degree levels. The announcement was made at the ACBSP Annual Conference held in Atlanta. Dr. Thompson began his one-year term at the conclusion of that conference. I am both humbled and excited to chair the ACBSP Board of Directors as we serve our 13,000 members around the world, said Dr. Thompson. ACBSP aims to provide confidence to students who attend ACBSP-accredited programs that they will receive a quality business education. Working with an organization that shares my core values and purpose is an incredible opportunity. Dr. Thompson has been an active member of ACBSP for many years. He has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2014. He served as secretary, vice president, and president of ACBSP Region 3. He has been an accreditation site team evaluator and mentor, and he has served as member and chair of various ACBSP committees, including the Marketing Committee. In 2013, Dr. Thompson was honored with both the International Best of Regions Excellence Award and the International Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Thompson brings a wealth of educational leadership experience and business savvy to ACBSP, which is vital to our global strategy, said Jeffrey Alderman, ACBSP president and CEO. I anticipate the upcoming year will bring numerous opportunities and challenges, and we are so fortunate to have his steady hand guiding our growing organization. Dr. Thompson has worked as both a full-time faculty member and as an administrator in the Department of Business at Lee University over the past 35 years. Having served as a faculty member in business administration with a focus in management and ethics courses for 18 years, he moved to administrative positions for the past 15 years. In addition to administrative duties, he is a professor of management teaching to both undergraduate and graduate students. He has taught or led seminars in Paraguay, Ukraine, and China. Additionally, other professional obligations required his travel to Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Cambodia, and Switzerland. He is involved in his local community serving on various boards and committees; moreover, he currently is serving on the local Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. ACBSPs mission is to promote continuous improvement and recognize excellence in the accreditation of business education programs around the world. ACBSP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as a specialized accreditation agency for business education. ACBSP currently has 1,215 member campuses, 238 of which are located outside of the United States. Of those campuses, 968 have achieved accreditation and more than 150 are in candidacy for accreditation. Individual members on these campuses now exceed 13,000. For more information, visit www.acbsp.org. The first few years are crucial for any new business. This is the make or break time that so many start-ups fail to make it through as they look to find their feet. In fact, the Australian Bureau of Statistics says that more than 60 per cent of small businesses shut within three years of starting out. Clearly some of those will be bad businesses that just arent good enough to survive a tough world, but many others fail to overcome a simple problem: a lack of money. As Greg Hayes, of Hayes Knight Accountants and Advisers, told the Huffington Post: The biggest reason for failure is a lack of capital. Its a common story that many people go into business under-capitalised and they just run out of money. One way to overcome that, barring winning the Oz Lotto, is to attract investment. There are people out there looking for new ideas and ventures to support in return for a profit. It might not be exactly like Shark Tank on Network Ten in the real world but its not far off. Here are some ways to get your own sharks to bite on your business idea and get you over the initial hurdle of starting a new business Business plan Most businesses will have a clear vision about what their product or service is and what they want to achieve. If youre looking for investment, though, this must be clarified in a clear and thorough business plan. In this you need to spell out: what your business is and why youve set it up the goals that you have set yourself your analysis of the market and how you fit into it an assessment of your target customers and why they will want your product or service information about the structure of your business how your business is being financed details of how you intend to market your business As Entrepreneur notes, the length of the plan really will depend on the nature of your business but the information listed above should take at least five to ten pages to convey, especially when packaged up in a professional looking design to present to an investor. By the same token, dont be tempted to churn out hundreds of pages for your plan the investor will get bored and give up. Be thorough, but give them everything they need in a clear and easy-to-access format. Its best to come up with your own if you can, but the Government does offer a template for your business plan if youre struggling. It also offers a MyBizPlan app so that you can create the document on your tablet. Your CV and knowledge As the owner of a start-up all eyes are on you and your ability to deliver. Investors are going to want to see a good CV that shows you have the ability to make a success of your idea and, as a result, deliver profits. Its also good to show that you have a solid all-round knowledge of business and finance, the sort of person who is familiar with the terms in a trading glossary or at ease reading the Australian Business Review. A good deal What is the investor getting for their money? They dont just want the glory of helping to discover an up and coming business or a warm and fuzzy feeling of doing some good with their wealth. Theyre in it for some return. You need to be able to project what they will make and how soon they will make it. Dont be fooled into promising too much, they will see through this and probably write you off as a fantasist as a result. Investors will probably want a stake some equity in your business for stumping up the cash. Be careful that you dont give too much away. This is all about striking a delicate balance. You want an investment offer that delivers a decent stake and good returns for the money they are providing while ensuring you get enough money to get yourself off the ground and not handing all of the proceeds away to someone else for your efforts. No-one said it would be easy! A spark The other thing that an investor might want to see is something that wed loosely describe as a spark. They want to see something in you and/or your business proposal that stands out from the crowd. Exciting new innovations or new ways of doing things are much more likely to catch the eye than proposals that offer to do the same as someone else but slightly better. Pinpoint your USP and highlight it at every turn. Six faculty members were awarded promotion in rank to professor from associate professor by the Lee University Board of Directors and include Drs. Ron Brendel, Skip Jenkins, Patricia McClung, Megan Moe, Louis Morgan, and Jeffrey Sargent. Dr. Brendel received his masters and doctoral degrees in voice performance at Temple University in Philadelphia, and his bachelors degree in music education at Evangel College. He joined Lees School of Music in 2005 as assistant professor of voice. He teaches all levels of applied voice in the School of Music, coordinates music for the Liturgical Chapel services, and coordinates Performance Seminar for the School of Music. Dr. Brendel sings a wide repertoire of opera, oratorio, and recital music. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2006 at tenor soloist in Mozarts Coronation Mass. In oratorio, he sings the music of Handel, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Paart and others. He has done many standard tenor roles in the music of Mozart, Donizetti, Britten, and Gilbert and Sullivan. He has done dozens of solo recitals, and has presented papers and performances at academic conferences worldwide, from New Zealand to England to the United States. His specialization is the music of Benjamin Britten. Further, he has 20-plus years of ministerial experience in church music in a variety of denominational settings. Dr. Jenkins joined Lees faculty in August of 2004 as an assistant professor of historical theology. He earned his doctorate at Marquette University, two masters degrees at Duke University Divinity School, and his bachelors degree at Lee College. He is an active member of The Society for Pentecostal Studies and currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Theology in Lees School of Religion. Dr. Jenkins has received Lee Universitys Excellence in Advising Award and the Excellence in Teaching Award, and he has also been the recipient of the Janet Rahamut Award. Dr. Jenkins and his wife, Larisa, founded a student-oriented mentoring house whose stated purpose is spiritual, academic and social accountability. Dr. McClung received her doctorate at the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom, her masters degree at Lee University, and her bachelors degree from the University of London. She joined Lees faculty in 2002 and teaches special education in the Helen DeVos College of Education. After beginning her career as a high school teacher in the U.K. Dr. McClung moved to the U.S. and served students with disabilities. Initially, she was a coordinator for students with disabilities for Project Head Start and then worked in the Bradley County school system as a special education teacher and then as a coordinator from 1993-2001. Dr. McClung was recognized as Teacher of the Year for Bradley County schools and for her work with Inclusion, by the state of Tennessee. She has also received Lees Excellence in Advising Award and the Charles W. Conn Award for service. Dr. McClung has traveled extensively to many parts of the world, accompanying students on their Lee University Global Perspective Experience. Her research interests and writing involve narrative and biographical inquiry that includes the Life Perspective Story Method as a primary means of investigation. She attends conferences on education, diversity, and globalization as well as conducting in service trainings for local school systems. Dr. Moe (known to students as Doc Moe) joined the Lee faculty in January 2005 and is a professor of communication. She received her doctorate at the Pennsylvania State University, her masters degree from the University of California, Davis, and her bachelors degree from Westmont College. Dr. Moe is the discipline coordinator of the of the communication degrees at Lee and oversees the advertising, communication studies, and education emphases. Moe is an active member of the National Communication Association and was honored with the Mid-Career Award for teaching leadership and artistic scholarship in 2013. A 10-year board member of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) of Chattanooga, she is also the faculty advisor for the Lee Advertising Federation, as well as advisor for Lees National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) team. She was recently named the AAF District 7 Educator of the Year, receiving the Donald G. Hileman Award. Dr. Moe continues to spend her time engaging in and presenting research at various academic conventions. Dr. Morgan, originally from Morgantown, Miss., serves as a professor and as the director of Library Services. A faculty member at Lee since 2003, he previously served as archivist at the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center (Church of God archives). In addition to his responsibilities in Squires Library, Morgan teaches graduate courses in leadership and serves as an academic advisor. He also serves on the Deans Council, Academic Council, and Master of Ministry Studies graduate committee. His honors include Lees Excellence in Advising Award, the prestigious James E. Ward Library Instruction Award from the Tennessee Library Association, and inclusion in a list of international men and women as one of 40 Young Influencers in the Church of God. Dr. Morgan has presented papers on servant leadership, self-sacrificing leadership, and transformational leadership. He earned his doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Regent University where he received the Outstanding Graduate honor. He earned his masters degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and his bachelors degree at Lee University. Dr. Sargent joined the Lee faculty in 2005 and currently serves as the chair of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and as a professor of psychology. Prior to joining the Lee faculty, he worked as a mental health therapist and a school counselor in Alabama. Dr. Sargent earned his doctorate and a masters degree at the University of Alabama, a masters in counseling at the University of Alabama Birmingham, and his bachelors degree from Lee College. Softbank Group has agreed to buy British semiconductor maker ARM Holdings for Pounds 24.3 billion (about US$31.4 billion) in cash, the companies announced Monday. Softbank agreed to pay a hefty premium for ARM, with a price of 1,700 pence (about US$67.28) per ARM share, which is a 42.9 percent premium over the $47.08 closing price as of Friday, the last business day before the deal was announced. The surprise move will help Softbank gain a solid foothold in the Internet of Things, considered the next major wave of development in the enterprise computing business. Softbank plans to preserve the ARM organization including its senior management team and brand-partnership-based business model and culture and it will keep the company headquarters in Cambridge, England. In addition, Softbank plans to at least double its employee headcount in the UK and increase the headcount at ARM over the next five years. We have long admired ARM as a world renowned and highly respected technology company that is by some distance the market leader in its field, said Softbank chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son. ARM will be an excellent strategic fit within the Softbank Group as we invest to capture the significant opportunities provided by the Internet of Things. The ARM board sees the Softbank deal as a compelling offer and has been reassured that ARM will remain a very significant UK business and will continue to play a key role in the development of new technology, said Chairman Stuart Chambers. IoT Insight ARM is a major semiconductor intellectual property supplier, with a core business in scalable, highly energy-efficient processors. Its technology is embedded in more than 95 percent of smartphones and more than 30 percent of all chips with processors sold worldwide in 2015, the company said. This looks to be a strategic investment by Softbank in the semiconductor business, said Kevin Krewell, principal analyst at Tirias Research. By buying ARM, Softbank has a piece of the growth segments in the semiconductor business IoT, smartphones, automotive and servers because ARMs IP is licensed by every major company in these markets, he told the E-Commerce Times. Softbank may see the ARM acquisition as a long-term diversification strategy, suggested Dilip Sarangan, mobile and wireless communications industry principal at Frost & Sullivan. It could be hedging against the limited success of some of its core businesses, including U.S. wireless provider Sprint, he told the E-Commerce Times. Moving On The slow growth of Sprint and the diminishing role of the carrier likely led to the move from Softbank, Sarangan said. Sprint was seen as an acquisition that could help Softbank grow despite the market pressures in Japan. However, with Sprint having failed to provide that growth, Softbank may be looking to diversify its product portfolio to capitalize on IoT revenue growth, rather than subscriber growth in the U.S. The ARM deal ultimately is bad news for Sprint in the U.S., said Michael Jude, a program manager at Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan. In light of Sprints inability to complete a merger with T-Mobile, the lack of future investment from Softbank will lead to longer-term questions about the viability of the company, he told the E-Commerce Times. Softbank probably wants to minimize its exposure until it can find a way to divest itself of its Sprint holdings at minimal loss, and is looking for other investment opportunities, Jude reasoned. The ARM deal came about six weeks after Softbank announced it would sell a $7.9 billion stake in Alibaba Group in order to reduce its debt and increase its liquidity. Both the Softbank and Alibaba boards had agreed to the coordinated deal. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Thursday attempted to walk back some of his remarks at a Wednesday morning press briefing during the Democratic National Convention, saying they werent meant to be taken seriously. Among other things, Trump suggested that Russian intelligence services should look for more than 30,000 deleted emails belonging to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and reveal them to the world. Russia, if youre listening, I hope youll be able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing, Trump said. I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press. Trump made the astounding comments in response to the Clinton campaigns charges that Russian hackers, working in conjunction with Russian intelligence agencies, orchestrated the leak of nearly 20,000 Democratic National Committee emails, and that they timed their release to help the Trump presidential campaign. Damage Control Security experts, Democratic officials and some members of Trumps own party were among those who blasted his Wednesday remarks. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., put out a statement calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a thug and warning that Russia should stay out of this election. Facing a fierce backlash, with some officials questioning whether he had financial motivations to cozy up to the Russian government, Trump told Fox News that he was being sarcastic and did not intend that his comments be taken literally. Trump officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Yuri Melnik, press secretary for the Russian Embassy to the U.S., declined to comment on any of the specific comments by Trump or anyone else, and said he had no knowledge of Trumps business activities in Russia or elsewhere. In general, I believe that the Russia-related allegations floating around are completely inadequate and inappropriate, Melnik told TechNewsWorld. Its surprising how childish the narrative is. U.S. privacy and civil liberties advocates blasted Trumps statements, given the nature of the cybersecurity breaches that have impacted the government and private sector in recent years. At a time when the U.S. is confronting serious cybersecurity threats from foreign adversaries, the comments of the Republican candidate for President are beyond reckless, Electronic Privacy Information Center President Marc Rotenberg told TechNewsWorld. Not Quite Deleted The potential breach of even nonclassified email belonging to the former Secretary of State constitutes a serious security risk, said Kevin OBrien, CEO of GreatHorn. A string of recent security breaches, including the 2015 hack of the Office of Personnel Management and more recent attacks, up to the DNC breach in May, likely were the work of Russian cyberthieves, he told TechNewsWorld. On the issue of the thousands of Clintons deleted emails, that information trail in the age of cloud computing is not necessarily safe from rediscovery, OBrien added. Whether its removed from the recipients systems and servers has no impact on that datas continued existence in the myriad systems that it moved through prior to arrival, or was copied to if those systems were themselves compromised, he explained. The deleted emails could have been vulnerable to direct endpoint compromise, which means the server might have been infected with malware that made shadow copies of the deleted emails, or that third-party applications that ran in conjunction with the email transfer agent and server software may have been compromised. The extended perimeter of any individual who received messages in any of those threads also may have been compromised. Russias Meddling The FBI earlier this week launched an investigation into whether the Russians were involved in the DNC hack. Cybersecurity experts at CrowdStrike last month published evidence linking Russian hackers operating under the names Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear to the DNC breach. The groups have been tied to a series of infiltrations of U.S. government agencies and other American entities. A spokesperson at the FBI did not comment specifically in response to Trumps comments, but pointed to an extensive statement FBI Director James Comey released about Clintons use of a personal email server. The agency did not find direct evidence that Secretary Clintons personal email domain, in its various configurations since 2009, was successfully hacked, he said. However, Comey did make an interesting reference to the potential for cyberthieves to access Clintons emails through a back door: We do assess that hostile actors gained access to the private commercial email accounts of people with whom Secretary Clinton was in regular contact from her personal account. Clinton used her personal email extensively while traveling outside of the U.S., including sending and receiving emails in the territory of sophisticated adversaries, he pointed out. Given that combination of factors, said Comey, we assess that it is possible that hostile actors gained access to Secretary Clintons personal email account. Microsoft on Thursday won its nearly four-year battle against a New York district court judges warrant requiring it to turn over customer emails held on a server in Ireland. Microsoft had complied with demands to turn over account information stored on its servers in the United States, but it had refused to give up the emails themselves, contending a U.S. judge did not have the authority to issue warrants for information stored abroad. Microsoft two years ago lost its bid to vacate the warrant; it subsequently lost an appeal filed with the District Court for the Southern District of New York. It then appealed to the Second Circuit Court, which ruled in its favor. The Second Circuit Court reversed the district courts denial of Microsofts motion to quash the warrant, vacated its order holding the company in civil contempt of the court, and remanded the case with instructions to quash the warrant insofar as it demanded user content stored outside of the U.S. The Courts Rationale In essence, the Second Circuit Court ruled that the Stored Communications Act does not explicitly or implicitly envision the application of its warrant provisions overseas. When Congress passed the SCA in 1986, the intent of its warrant provision was to require that a neutral third party provide predisclosure scrutiny of a search-and-seizure request in order to afford heightened privacy protection in the U.S., Circuit Court Judge Susan L. Carney wrote in the ruling. Congress did not abandon the instruments territorial limitations and other constitutional requirements, she found. The governments interpretation of the term warrant would require us to disregard the presumption against extraterritoriality that the Supreme Court re-stated and emphasized in two earlier cases, which the Second Circuit Court is not at liberty to do. One Giant Leap for Privacy This is a groundbreaking decision that helps protect privacy rights around the world, said Lee Tien, senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The court recognized the vital privacy protections under the SCA, and correctly ruled that the government cant use a U.S. search warrant to force Internet service providers to reach email stored outside the U.S., he told the E-Commerce Times. The ruling is undoubtedly a major win for citizens and companies alike, remarked Yasha Heidari of the Heidari Power Law Group. It reaffirms the notion that no matter how badly certain government agencies want to apply domestic laws abroad, theyre prohibited from doing so, he told the E-Commerce Times. The ruling is laudable, according to Daniel Castro, vice president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. The U.S. government should have sought access to the information through a mutual legal assistance treaty rather than a warrant, he told the E-Commerce Times. The very fact that the ruling is being proclaimed as such a big victory indicates the sad state of affairs now prevailing, Heidari observed. Implications of the Ruling In a concurring opinion, Judge Gerard Lynch urged Congress to update the SCA, which he described as badly outdated, to better balance current law enforcement needs and users privacy. The law lets Microsoft get around an otherwise justified demand to turn over emails by simply storing them outside the U.S., he noted. The courts ruling could impact decisions for business to host and store information abroad to escape the governments intrusive behavior, noted Heidari. It provides a big incentive to have servers and data centers abroad. Law enforcement agencies long have voiced concerns about their inability to access suspects electronic communications. The International Communications Privacy Act, introduced this spring in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, addresses the issue. It seeks to amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code to reform the MLAT, allowing law enforcement to obtain electronic communications relating to foreign nationals in certain circumstances. Google and its parent company Alphabet are facing new charges in the European Commissions ongoing investigation of allegations that Googles comparison shopping and online advertising platforms violated antitrust laws. The EC on Thursday alleged that Google had abused its dominant position by systematically favoring its own comparison shopping service in search results. Further, it artificially restricted the ability of third-party websites to display search ads from Googles competitors. While Google has developed many innovative products, it doesnt have the right to deny other companies the right to compete and innovate, said Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Today we have further strengthened our case that Google has unduly favored its own comparison shopping service in its general search results pages, she said. It means consumers may not see the most relevant results in their search queries. The Commission also has raised concerns that Google has hindered competition by limiting the ability of its competitors to place search adverts on third-party websites, Vestager said. Google responded to the allegations via Twitter. In reaction to EC: We believe our innovations and product improvements have increased choice for EU consumers and promote competition (1/2) Google in Brussels (@GoogleBrussels) July 14, 2016 Well examine the Commissions renewed cases and provide a detailed response in the coming weeks (2/2) Google in Brussels (@GoogleBrussels) July 14, 2016 Google and Alphabet have 10 weeks to respond to the charges. Merchant Links The Commission made a detailed examination of Googles prior argument: that it shouldnt consider comparison shopping services in isolation, but together with services provided by merchant platforms such as Amazon and eBay. The EC has received several complaints about Google in a range of areas, including the companys advertising business, according to an EU official who asked not to be identified. The charges involving AdSense cover an area that the Commission already was aware of when it opened the investigation in November 2010, the official told the E-Commerce Times. Dominant Position Google has controlled about 80 percent of the market for search advertising in the European Economic Area over the past 10 years, according to the Commission. A large percentage of the companys revenue stems from agreements with Direct Partners, which might result in antitrust violations. Among the arrangements the EC considers problematic are exclusivity deals that prohibit search ads from Google competitors; premium placement of a number of search ads; and giving Google the right to authorize competing ads. The EC charges are another step in leveling the playing field to achieve fair competition, said Foundem CEO Shivaun Raff, the lead complainant in the EC case against Google. The Commission should be wary of Googles attempts to use delaying tactics to reinforce its dominance in the market, he warned. While the Commission is clearly heading towards a robust prohibition decision, Raff said, we are concerned that if it does not act conclusively in the near future, there may be little competition left to protect. Xiaomi on Wednesday unveiled the Mi Notebook Air, its challenger to the MacBook Air. The 13.3-inch model is priced at US$750, compared to the MacBook Airs $1,050 price tag in China. The device is also available in a 12.5-inch version. The Mi Notebook Air, which runs Windows 10, offers a number of features that arent available in a MacBook Air. This is Xiaomis way of saying, Lets not let Apple, Lenovo, or the bigger manufacturers from Taiwan, like Acer and Asus, take this opportunity from us, said Jeff Orr, a senior practice director at ABI Research. While Xiaomi is in the shadow of Apple from a brand perspective, they let Apple be that iconic brand, he told TechNewsWorld, and instead give people something like the functionality and experience of Apple at a more affordable price but in the Windows experience. Under the Hood The Mi Notebook Air has a full-sized backlit keyboard and an edge-to-edge glass screen with thin bezels. The 13.3-inch model is gaming-ready, with a full HD display (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), an Intel Core i5 processor, Nvidias GeForce 940MX discrete graphics card, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and a SATA slot that can handle drives of up to 256 GB. It weighs about 2.8 pounds. It has one USB-C port for charging, two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI port and a 3.5mm audio port. It has a 9-hour battery life, and the battery gets a 50 percent charge in 30 minutes, according to the company. Xiaomis Mi Notebook Air Users can play games like Dota 2 at 85 frames per second at full HD resolution, Xiaomi said. The 12.5-inch Mi Notebook Air has a 12.9 mm frame that weighs about 2.4 pounds. It has an Intel Core i3 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It does not have discrete graphics. Battery life is said to be more than 11 hours, and its priced at about US$525. State of the PC Market There have been some recent encouraging signs in the global PC market. Its sales decline has slowed, according to IDC. Worldwide PC shipments in Q2 totaled 62.4 million units, a 4.5 percent decline year over year. The firm had expected a 7.4 percent drop. That sets up the market for improved performance in the second half of the year, IDC suggested. Xiaomi may benefit from this expected slight upturn. The opportunity in China is the younger middle class, ABIs Orr remarked. This kind of computing platform would be a centerpiece in their home environment, and Id expect multiple users rather than a single user. Xiaomi is offering both lightness and great performance, and this will elevate them above local original device manufacturers, who make products for Taiwanese OEMs, Orr suggested. What those local ODMs lack that Xiaomi has is marketing and distribution. Locking Horns With Apple? Apples revenue from China fell 33 percent year over year, to $8.8 billion, and it no longer is the companys second-biggest market. This laptop from Xiaomi mostly targets Lenovo, Asus and Acer customers rather than Apples, observed Eric Smith, a senior analyst at Strategy Analytics. Its just sexier to call out Apple, he told TechNewsWorld. In any event, Apple isnt going to try to open all the doors in China for its products, ABIs Orr remarked. The reason it wants to have Macs in China is because of the developer potential. If you can develop more Mac content and services that benefit the regional market, you create a demand and distinction for the Mac. 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Thats according to the most recent data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as Climate Central reported. Symphony Lake, near Anchorage, Alaska. Photo credit: mcav0y / Flickr Between March and May of this year, the meteorological spring, the entire state has been about 10 degrees hotter than normal, with an average temperature of 32 F. That may sound cold, Climate Central noted, but warmth is a relative term. That temperature handily beat the previous record hot spring of 1998 by 2 F (1 C), according to NOAA. The cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau have experienced their hottest springs since records began. How much spring temperatures departed from the average in Alaska this spring. Photo credit: NOAA / Climate Central Frightening effects of a warming Alaska include melting permafrost, increasing wildfires, an acidifying ocean and depletion of habitat for critical species, scientists have warned. Alaska isnt only experiencing the hottest temperatures on record by a huge margin,observed Gizmodo: The states frozen rivers broke up earlier than ever before. The growing season shifted earlier than ever in recorded history. The state is also drying up quick, with only the very lowest coastal regions not in active drought right now. Climate Central reported: Rick Thoman, climate science and services manager for the NWSs Alaska region, said that several factors had converged to keep Alaska so relatively toasty, including persistent high pressure systems over the region and warm waters off the coast. Early snowmelt has also exacerbated the spring heat. The effects of the elevated temperatures are readily apparent, Thoman said, with berries ripening weeks earlier than usual, very early last frosts and an early start to construction projects. Climate Central observed that temperatures in Alaska have also steadily risenlike the planet as a whole and the Arctic in particularthanks to the excess heat trapped by human emissions of greenhouse gases. Indeed, scientists say that 2016 may end up being the hottest year in recorded history and by the widest margin, as Common Dreams reported. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Scientists Turn CO2 Into Solid Rock Arctic, Greenland Stuck in Feedback Loop of Melting Flooding and Climate Change: French Acceptance, Texas Denial Atmospheric CO2 Reaches New High, Arctic Ice Shrinks to New Low By Nadia Prupis Record carbon dioxide levels are set to surpass the symbolic threshold of 400 parts per million (ppm) this year and will likely never fall below that line again in our lifetimes, according to a new study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change. Photo credit: NASA Scientists at the UK Met Office used emissions data, sea surface temperature figures and a climate model from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii to track the trajectory of CO2 levels and found that carbon dioxide will for the first time remain above 400 ppm all year and hence for our lifetimes. Emissions have increased over the past 12 months due to the continued burning of fossil fuels, but the impact has also been exacerbated by an unbridled El Nino event. Reports from earlier this year also found that 2016 is poised to become the hottest year in recorded history. The findings highlight increasingly urgent concerns about global efforts to curb climate change as outlined in the Paris agreement negotiated last December and signed in April by nearly 170 nations. Its a sign we are still on track for a high emissions scenario. We wont be looking at below 400 ppm in our lifetimes, Richard Betts, co-author of the study and Met Office scientist, told Climate Home. The outlets editor Ed King reports: The fact emissions rose faster than usual, Betts told Climate Home, was no surprise. Higher CO2 rates are expected as El Nino warms and dries tropical land areas, slowing the uptake of carbon by trees and plants and increasing the risks of forest fires. [.] If and when the world continues to warm as the UNs climate science panel predicts it will based on current rates of warming gases, the threat of more fires at that scale could rise. The study also found that devastating forest fires in Indonesia in 2015 and 2016which NASA scientists warned at the time were the worst climate crisis on Earthmay have fueled about 20 percent of El Ninos addition worldwide CO2 levels. Photo credit: NOAA Carbon concentrations have passed the 400 ppm limit before, but never permanently. The new study confirms that those days may be over for good. Once you have passed that barrier, it takes a long time for CO2 to be removed from the atmosphere by natural processes, Betts told the Guardian on Monday. Even if we cut emissions, we wouldnt see concentrations coming down for a long time, so we have said goodbye to measurements below 400 ppm at Mauna Loa. The authors write: In the longer term, a reduction in CO2 concentration would require substantial and sustained cuts in anthropogenic emissions to near zero. The safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is around 350 ppm maximum, climate advocates say. But according to Betts, We could be passing above 450 ppm in roughly 20 years. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE May Shatters Yet Another Monthly Heat Record as CO2 Levels Soar New Website Helps Connect the Dots Between Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change Noam Chomsky: The Doomsday Clock Is Nearing Midnight The Climate Costs of Offshore Oil Drilling England has cut its plastic bag use by 85 percent ever since a 5 pence (7 cent) charge was introduced last October, according to government figures. Englands plastic bag usage has dropped significantly ever since a 5p levy was introduced last year. Flickr The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced that 6 billion fewer plastic bags were taken home by shoppers in England. The levy also resulted in a 29 million ($38 million) donated to charity and other good causes thanks to the charge. This is the equivalent to the weight of roughly 300 blue whales, 300,000 sea turtles or three million pelicans, DEFRA said about the eliminated bags. People will take 6 billion fewer single-use plastic bags this year #reusebags https://t.co/lbWcBaMG4V pic.twitter.com/u9dovKEPez Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) July 30, 2016 To arrive at the 6 billion figure, officials calculated that the seven main retailers in England (Asda, Co-operative Group, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose) passed out 7.6 billion bags in 2014. However, after the 5 pence charge was enacted, the retailers handed out just over half a billion bags in the first six months. According to the Guardian, the bag fee was introduced to help reduce litter and protect wildlife. The idea also came about because English consumers were steadily using more and more bags every year, as you can see in the chart below. Plastic bag use set to plummet 90% in England since 5p charge started https://t.co/CDzE98uXvD pic.twitter.com/Xi5WZSlWFM Jess Shankleman (@Jess_Shankleman) July 30, 2016 Environment Minister Therese Coffey said taking 6 billion plastic bags out of circulation is fantastic news for all of us. It will mean our precious marine life is safer, our communities are cleaner and future generations wont be saddled with mountains of plastic, she added. Incidentally, England is the last member of the UK to adopt the schemeScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland had already been charging for bags for years. Wales, for instance, stopped giving out free plastic bags back in 2011, cutting usage by 71 percent between 2011 and 2014, WalesOnline reported. The publication noted that Northern Ireland has had a bag tax since April 2013 with the the number of bags issued by supermarkets falling from 190 million to 30 million in 2014. Scotlands similar legislation in 2014 slashed plastic bag usage by 80 percent. Government bans or fees on these single-use items are clearly working, and they come at a crucial time for our oceans. A startling report from earlier this year warned that if plastic pollution continues at the current rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. Around eight million tonnes of plastic makes its way into oceans each year, posing a serious threat to our natural and marine environmentexperts estimate that plastic is ingested by 31 species of marine mammals and more than 100 species of sea birds, DEFRA said. It shows small actions can make the biggest difference, but we must not be complacent as there is always more we can all do to reduce waste and recycle what we use, Coffey noted. We can all do our part in slashing or eliminating our plastic footprint. The plummeting plastic bag use demonstrates the huge benefits just a small change in our everyday habits can make. It means less damaging plastic finding its inevitable way into our waterways and countryside. This is a massive boon for nature and wildlife, Andrew Pendleton of Friends of the Earth told the Guardian. With attention now turning to the millions of non-recyclable coffee cups that go to landfill and to oversized boxes and excess packaging as a by-product of online shopping, the government and forward-thinking businesses have a golden chance to cut waste and reduce resource use in a sensible way that consumers welcome, he added. The first commercial crop of Arctic Applesgenetically modified (GMO) apples that wont turn brown when slicedare about to hit the market. Visiting our Washington field trial today, and the Arctic Fujis are certainly a good-looking bunch this year! pic.twitter.com/VeE09TsJlq Arctic Apples (@ArcticApples) October 7, 2015 The apples stirred up major controversy in February 2015 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) deemed both the Arctic Golden Delicious and Arctic Granny varieties safe for human consumption. It was the first time the federal agency approved an aesthetically-improved genetically engineered food. According to Good Fruit Grower, a publication from the Washington State Fruit Commission, after 20 years of development, Okanogan Specialty Fruits is expecting to harvest its first commercial crop of about 50 bins of Arctic Golden Delicious in Washington this year. The Canadian company will also plant its first Arctic Granny Smiths this year and is awaiting approval from the USDA for a third variety, the Arctic Fuji. On Dec. 31, 2015, the company formally submitted a petition to the USDA requesting the deregulation of its GMO Fuji, and announced plans for its fourth variety, the Arctic Gala. Neal Carter, company president and founder, told Good Fruit Grower that his company has planted roughly 15 acres of Goldens in Washington, which will yield a small crop this fall. The blossoming venture plans to add more acreage mostly in Washington this year for its Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny varieties, with even more in other states and Canada in the following few years. .@Fruits_Veggies A4: Apples! Harvest isn't 'til Sept, but we have nonbrowning dried slices in the meantime! pic.twitter.com/K0BrDpaxhX Arctic Apples (@ArcticApples) February 3, 2016 Carter said that the first apples will be test marketed in select stores this year. As production ramps up, more apples will by distributed to locations in the U.S. and Canada. Carter declined to name which growers, packers or retailers will be working with Arctic Apples. Good Fruit Grower reported that once regulatory agencies have approved the apple varieties, the company may promote its flagship product like any other apple you see in the market. What that approval means is its treated like any other apple variety, Carter said. The 1st Arctic apples of the season were picked last week! Looking good next to conventional, as always: pic.twitter.com/r2w71x5Acl Arctic Apples (@ArcticApples) September 8, 2015 So why doesnt an Arctic Apple turn brown? As NPR explained: The non-browning trait was created by inserting extra copies of genes that the apple already possessed. These genes normally create an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase, which is responsible for the chemical reaction that causes browning. Yet when extra copies of the gene are added, the apple reacts by shutting down all of them, stopping production of the enzyme and preventing the browning reaction. (Like any apple, these apples eventually will go brown from normal rotting. Its the immediate enzymatic browning thats blocked.) However, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of Food & Water Watch, warned that this method of genetic engineering, known as RNA interference, could have unintended effects to the apple and to the people who consume it: This technology uses RNA to silence a target gene, but mounting evidence has shown that meddling with the genes could have unintended effects within the plant and also on organisms that eat the plant. The particular gene targeted by this technology allows the apples to be sliced without turning brown, which could mislead consumers into thinking they are eating fresh apples when they might be eating apples on the verge of rotting. Browning is an important indicator to consumers in determining the freshness of an apple or apple slice. The silenced gene is also heavily involved in a plants natural defense against pests and pathogens, which could lead to trees that are less healthy than non-GMO apples and rely on more chemical treatments to ward off pests and disease. Environmental organizations and concerned consumers have also criticized the USDAs stamp of approval. The USDAs environmental review received 73,000 comments that vehemently opposed the commercialization of the apples. In an article, Friends of the Earth warned that people who buy the apples wont even know they are eating it: Like other genetically modified organisms, the Arctic apple will not be required to be labeled as genetically engineered. Following intense consumer backlash, a number of major food companies such as Wendys, McDonalds and Gerber expressed that they had no plans to source or sell the GMO apple. Okanogen Specialty Fruits is owned by Intrexon, which has a major stake in the similarly controversial GMO salmon company, AquaBounty. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE EU Fails to Approve Technical Extension for Weed-Killer Glyphosate 6 Questions for Monsanto Taiwan Recalls Quaker Oats Products Imported From U.S. After Detecting Glyphosate Bayer Confident It Can Still Strike Deal with Monsanto, Merger Could Spell Disaster for Farmers and Global Food Supply President Obama, along with the U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service, announced regulations Thursday to ban nearly all commercial elephant ivory trade in the country. This landmark decision, coming from the country with the second-largest market for ivory, should have a significant impact on the trade. The ban helps fulfill President Obamas 2013 executive order to combat wildlife trafficking. Were excited the Obama administration has taken this important step to reduce the domestic trade in ivory, Sarah Uhlemann, international program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said. The United States has one of the largest markets for ivory in the world and reducing demand here will go a long way toward saving elephants in Africa. The ban follows a series of actions Kenya has taken to end the illegal ivory trade, including the burning of huge piles of tusks. Experts say roughly 96 elephants are killed daily30,000 annuallyfor their tusks. Thursdays bold action underscores the United States leadership and commitment to ending the scourge of elephant poaching and the tragic impact its having on wild populations, Sec. of the Interior Sally Jewell said, who serves as co-chair of the Presidents Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking. We hope other nations will act quickly and decisively to stop the flow of blood ivory by implementing similar regulations, which are crucial to ensuring our grandchildren and their children know these iconic species. Under current rules, ivory can be traded in the U.S. if it was imported before the African elephant was listed as endangered or if the animal died of natural causes as long as there was documentation, according to The New York Times. These rules provided opportunities for traffickers to use the legal markets as cover for illegal imports. The new rules, which take effect July 6, limit the import of sport-hunted trophies to two per hunter, per year. Before the new rule there was no limit on trophies per year. The sale of ivory that was part of a move or inheritance is prohibited under the new rule. New prohibitions and restrictions will be placed on foreign commercial and noncommercial enterprises, The New York Times said. Since we proposed this rule in 2015, we received more than 1.3 million comments from the public, demonstrating that Americans care deeply about elephants and overwhelmingly support African elephant conservation, Fisheries and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe said. Our actions close a major avenue to wildlife traffickers by removing the cover that legal ivory trade provides to the illegal trade. We still have much to do to save this species, but today is a good day for the African elephant. One major exception to the rule allows musicians to trade instruments containing small amounts of ivory. Genuine antiques, artwork and chiseled chess pieces will be tradable under new conditions. Each item must be made with less than 200 grams of ivory to be eligible for sale, The Washington Post reported. Were particularly pleased that the rule confirms that domestic trade and international travel with existing musical instruments that contain small amounts of African elephant ivory arent contributing to the poaching crisis, Heather Noonan, the vice president for advocacy at the League of American Orchestras, told The New York Times. Not everyone is happy about the news. Ivory dealers and collectors said the new rules will cost them $11.9 million, according to The Washington Post. Century-old artifacts will be worthless because proving the items age will be difficult. The result of this is the antique ivory business has all but ceased in this country, Anton Bruehl, a collector and researcher, told The Washington Post. I cannot sell it in this country. I dont even know if I can donate it to this institution. Bruehl conducted a survey of collectors that found up to 30,000 people who own ivory-adorned walking sticks, pianos, Japanese style panels painted with water colors and furniture will be affected by the new rules. Though, his opinion is not a popular one as the ban is receiving praise from all over the world. Next week U.S. officials will visit Beijing to talk about further action against the global ivory trade, according to The Guardian. Ivory prices were already dropping in Asia in response to the ban, Peter Knights, chief executive of WildAid, said. Hes hoping Japan will soon make a move to stop illegal trading. For now, wildlife activists are celebrating this latest victory. The new regulations will make it much harder for criminals to use the United States as a staging ground for illegal ivory trade, Ginette Hemley, senior vice president of wildlife conservation at World Wildlife Fund, said. They also send a strong signal to the international community that the US is committed to doing its part to save elephants in the wild. This Newsy video provides more information about the ban and the state of ivory in the U.S.: YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Huge Success: Two Years of Zero Rhino Poaching in Nepal Kenya to Burn Biggest Ever Stockpile of Illegal Ivory Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman to Attend Torching of Largest Ever Ivory Stockpile to Help Put an End to Poaching Elephants Being Slaughtered for Ivory Faster Than They Can Reproduce Earlier this year, Monsanto commercially launched its Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeansa product undoubtedly attractive to soy farmers. The new seeds not only promised higher yields, but it would be a new tool in a soy farmers arsenal to battle superweeds that have evolved to resist the herbicide glyphosate, aka Roundup. Xtend soybeans are genetically altered to withstand both glyphosate and an existing herbicide called dicamba. Healthy soy leaves (left) compared to soy leaves with evidence of dicamba exposure (right). Flickr, University of Wisconsin But in reality, the promise of Monsantos splashy new bean appears to be short-sighted, leaving farmers with the much worse end of the bargain. Here are three reasons why. 1. Its illegal to use dicamba on GMO soy Even though dicamba has been around for decades, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not yet approved dicambas over-the-top use on genetically engineered soybeans. However, as NPR reported, even though Monsanto has given growers clear instructions not to use the herbicide on the crops, farmers are (illegally) using it anyway. Officials estimate that 200,000 acres in Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel and Tennessee have been affected. As NPR described about Arkansas soy growers: Farmers in this part of the country are struggling to control a weed called Palmer amaranth, also known as pigweed. Many of the weedkillers theyve used in the past dont work anymore. Weed expert Bob Scott says theyre desperate for new tools. If we didnt need this so bad, we wouldnt be having this conversation, Scott said. Ah, Path Dependence: end of the road in sight for #GMO/herbicide treadmill? @nprDanCharles on dicamba & soy https://t.co/gbWEpJ2YZ0 Glenn Stone (@glenndavisstone) August 2, 2016 2. Dicamba has a drift problem Dicamba is extremely prone to drift, meaning it can be picked up by the wind and land on neighboring fields and even on native plants that cannot withstand the pesticide. When exposed to the pesticide, soy leaves that are not dicamba-resistant are left cupped and distorted. Additionally, the EPA has not yet approved Monsantos pesticide that is supposed to go with their new GMO soy. Monsanto and DuPonts new herbicide, DuPont FeXapan herbicide plus VaporGrip Technology, has glyphosate and dicamba, and is designed to reduce drift and lower volatility but still awaits approval. Agronomist Tom Barber of the University of Arkansas wrote in AgFax that hes seen several thousand acres of soy fields in Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas this season already affected by either drift, volatility, temperature inversions or tank contamination from dicamba herbicide applications. Many growers I am sure felt that they did not have a choice, either spray dicamba or lose the crop, Barber wrote. Based on the number of acres affected, it appears that many fields of cotton and soybean containing this technology have been sprayed with an off-labeled application of dicamba either preemergence or postemergence or likely, both. Even worse, farmers who do not want to buy Monsantos new dicamba-resistant beans now might be forced to get them just to project themselves, Barber explained to NPR. Theyre afraid that theyre not going to be able to grow what they want to grow. Theyre afraid that theyre going to be forced to go with that technology, he said. In response to the dicamba problem, Monsanto execs repeated to Delta Farm Press that farmers are warned about illegal spraying. However, the companys product communications lead Kyel Richard also seemed to pass the buck of enforcement to state regulators: Richard: The thing I want to underline is we, as a company, arent an enforcement agency. Were confident that the state officials will be evaluating the complaints, will investigate and will take appropriate actions. As a company, we cant speculate on what action government officials will takeespecially those who are investigating complaints of misuse. Im sure theyre working diligently and will be taking action. 3. The vicious superweed cycle Finally, like the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, superweeds are evolving to withstand the very chemicals meant to kill them. Dicamba is no different. University of Arkansas weed expert Jason Norsworthy discovered in greenhouse experiments that pigweed could evolve resistance to the chemical after just three generations, NPR reported. Dr. Nathan Donley, a scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, told EcoWatch last month that dicamba-resistant weeds have already been found in Kansas and Nebraska. Monsanto and DuPont Announce New Weed Killer for GMO Crops EcoWatch https://t.co/dyuedsbYzT @foeeurope @GreenpeaceAustP EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) July 11, 2016 Donley pointed out that Monsantos own analysis has indicated that dicamba use on cotton and soy will rise from less than 1 million pounds to more than 25 million pounds used per year. This will only create superweeds that are resistant both to glyphosatealready the worlds most widely applied herbicideand dicamba. The indiscriminate use of glyphosate created these resistant superweeds in the first place and now these companies want farmers to indiscriminately use dicamba, Donley said about Monsanto and DuPonts new dicamba-glyphosate herbicide . You dont have to be a genius to know how this will end. Reuters reported that Monsanto has invested more than $1 billion in a dicamba production facility in Luling, Louisiana, to meet the expected demand for its Xtend products as the company steps away from its bread-and-butter glyphosate herbicide business. Glyphosate has faced major controversy ever since the World Health Organizations International Agency cancer research arm linked the compound to cancer last year. An illness that might be linked to toxic algae blooms combined with a record number of boat collisions has taken a toll on Floridas manatee population this summer. Since May, eight dead manatees have been found in the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County, a waterway thats been fouled with microscopic toxic algae, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Florida manatee cow and calf. Keith Ramos, USFWS We are still narrowing down the cause, but the hypothesis is still that the change of vegetation that the manatees are eating makes them susceptible to complications in their guts, Martine de Wit, lead veterinarian with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said. De Wit said the manatees have been found with little or no seagrass in their stomachs. The animals digestive systems were filled instead with algae commonly known as seaweed. Researchers say the animals succumb to illness so quickly they drown. Videos from residents have documented the manatees struggle. The water coming from Lake Okeechobee contains fertilizer, sewage and stormwater, which is flushed into portions of the Indian River, according to the Sentinel. The stretch of the Indian River has been a killing field for brown pelicans, bottlenose dolphins, manatees and many species of fish. The microscopic algae has turned waters a greenish, brown color, some spots as thick as guacamole, as previously reported by EcoWatch. This isnt the only year toxic algae has impacted manatees. More than 150 manatees have died in the past four years, the Sentinel said. The manatees are also facing an increased threat from recreational boaters. Manatees are being killed by boat strikes at a record pace this summer, Florida Today reported. As of July 22, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had counted 71 manatees killed by boats, compared with 58 manatees killed by boats by mid-July 2009. In 2009, a record 97 manatees died from boat strikes, the publication said. An increase in boat traffic on Floridas waterwaysbecause of less expensive fuel, a mild winter and a hot summeris causing more collisions with manatees, according to Dr. Katie Tripp, the director of science and conservation at Save the Manatee. Tripp argues the increase in manatee boat strikes shouldnt be attributed to a population increase. We disagree, said Tripp. We believe that educated, compliant and watchful vessel operators are key. Though manatees are already facing enough threats, the species might also lose some of their protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. Save the Manatee is urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service not to change the status of manatees from endangered to threatened. We firmly believe downlisting without better controlling the escalating threats is premature, said Tripp. The organization is calling for residents to sign Floridas Clean Water Declaration in the effort to reduce pollutants in the states waterways. However, Fish and Wildlife Service officials dont appear to be rethinking their plan. Aerial surveys show the manatee population has risen from 1,267 to more than 6,300 in 25 years, according to the agency website. Officials also believe there is no direct link between manatee deaths and blue green algae blooms in the St. Lucie River and estuary in Martin County Florida. A decision on reclassifying manatees could come as early as next year. A change in the status could effect boating speeds in waterways and access to protected areas. The toxic algae problem is not limited to Florida. Algae blooms that have been occurring in Lake Erie since 2013 returned last week. Sections of Presque Isle State Park are closed because of the harmful algae blooms, the Erie Times News reported. Jim Grazio, Great Lakes biologist for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, told the Erie Times, Harmful algae blooms are capable of producing toxins that can cause skin irritations, nausea or vomiting in humans, and potentially be fatal to animals. Climate change may lead to more algal blooms in the future, according to the New York Times. Some of the features of climate change, such as warmer ocean temperatures and increased light availability through the loss of sea ice in the Arctic, are making conditions more favorable for phytoplankton growthboth toxic and nontoxic algaein more regions and farther north, Kathi Lefebvre, a biologist at NOAAs Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, told the Times. By Robert McSweeney Last year saw records in the Earths climate system continue to tumble, says the latest State of the Climate report from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The 300-page report, released Tuesday and now in its 26th year, is an annual assessment of the worlds climate, scrutinizing the Earths land, oceans, ice and atmosphere. It is compiled by more than 450 scientists from 62 countries. State of the Climate Report Carbon Brief takes a look at how rising greenhouse gas emissions, with the help of a strong El Nino event, made 2015 into a record-breaker. Greenhouse Gases Last year was record-breaking for concentrations of all three of the main long-lived greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). At the Mauna Loa Observatory, where scientists have been monitoring CO2 since the 1950s, the average concentration for the year as a whole surpassed 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time. At 400.8 ppm, CO2 levels in the atmosphere were 3.1 ppm greater than 2014the largest annual increase of the 58-year record. In addition, March 2015 was the first time average CO2 concentration across the globe has been more than 400 ppm for an entire month. Global annual average CO2 levels for 2015 finished just shy of the 400 ppm milestone, at 399.4 ppm. You can see this in the chart below, one of several graphics produced alongside the report. Meanwhile, levels of both methane and nitrous oxides reached new record highs in 2015, at 1834.0 parts per billion (ppb) and 328.2 ppb, respectively. Global average carbon dioxide concentrations since 1958, with Arizonas coal-fired Cholla power plant in the background. NOAA / Photo by John Fowler Global Surface Temperature As was widely reported in January, observations show that 2015 was the hottest year on record. The 2015 globally averaged surface temperature was 0.42-0.46 C above the 19812010 average, topping the previous record set in 2014 by 0.13-0.18 C. The range in values reflect the different datasets used by various meteorological agencies to calculate global temperature. 2015 was also the first year to see average global temperatures surpass 1 C above pre-industrial levels. Fourteen of the 15 warmest years on record have now occurred since the beginning of the 21st century, the report notes, with 1998 the only exception. The strong El Nino event in the Pacific Ocean contributed to the record global temperatures, the report says, though it does not quantify by how much. Prof. Adam Scaife, head of long-range forecasting at the Met Office, told Carbon Brief earlier this year that El Nino made a contribution of only a few hundredths of a degree to the 2015 record. El Nino is expected to have more of an impact on 2016s average temperature, Scaife noted, contributing around 25% to what will most likely be a new record global temperature in 2016. Across the global land surface, record or near-record warmth was reported across every inhabited continent, the report says. Twelve countriessuch as Russia and Chinareported record high annual average temperatures. Top: Average surface temperatures for 2015, against a baseline of 1981-2010. Shading indicates where temperatures are above (red) or below (blue) average. Bottom: Global temperature since 1880 for the surface (dark red line) and the troposphere (pale red line), against a baseline of 1981-2010. NOAA Land temperatures in 2015 saw a record number of warm dayswhich are days where the maximum temperature reaches the top 10 percent for the average for that season during 1961-90. Globally, 2015 saw almost twice the number of warm days than the annual average for 1961-90. There were also a record low number of cool days in 2015. These are days when the maximum temperature doesnt rise above the chilliest 10 percent of days for that season during 1961-90. There were almost half the number of cool days in 2015 than the average for 1961-90. Oceans As well as above the surface, 2015 was a record year for the worlds oceans. Global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in 2015 were 0.33-0.39 C above the 1981-2010 average, surpassing the previous record set in 2014 by 0.10-0.12 C. The strong El Nino during 2015 contributed to record high SSTs across much of the tropical Pacific Ocean, the report notes, which boosted global SSTs. You can spot the El Nino event in the map below by the warm SSTs in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The whole of the top 700 m of the worlds oceans saw record warming in 2015, exceeding the record set in 2014. As oceans absorb more than 90 percent of the heat trapped by the Earths atmosphere, the level of warming reflects the continuing accumulation of heat in the upper layer of the oceans, the researchers say. Top: Global map of upper ocean heat content in 2015. Shading indicates where ocean heat content is below (blue) or above (orange/red) average. Bottom: Graph of heat content for the upper ocean (red line) and deep ocean (blue line) since 1993. NOAA Warming ocean temperatures also contributed to global sea levels hitting new heights last year. Water expanding as it warms is one of several different components of sea level rise, along with melting glaciers and ice sheets and changes to how much water is stored on land. In 2015, global sea level was approximately 70 mm higher than when the satellite record began in 1993. This is, in part, down to the long term rising trend of 3.3 mm per year plus the effect of the strong El Nino, which boosted sea level in 2015 by an extra 10 mm. During El Nino events, rainfall over the oceans tends to increase, while decreasing over land. This reduces the amount of water stored on land, temporarily adding to sea levels. You can see from the map below that sea levels in the central Pacific Ocean were as much as 20 cm higher than usual during 2015. Top: Global sea levels in 2015, compared to a baseline of 1993-2014. Shading indicates areas where sea levels are higher (blue) or lower (brown) than average. Bottom: Global sea levels since the satellite record began in 1993, compared to a baseline of 1993-99. NOAA / Photo by Roberto Mangual Arctic At 1.2 C warmer than the 19812010 average, land surface temperatures in the Arctic in 2015 equalled the existing record, held jointly by 2007 and 2011. The Arctic land surface has warmed by 2.8 C since 1900, the report notes. 2015 also saw sea ice cover hit its lowest winter peak since the satellite record began, the report says: Under the influence of persistent warming temperatures, the Arctic sea ice cover is diminishing in extent and thickness. The lowest maximum sea ice extent in the 37-year satellite record occurred on 25 February 2015, at 7% below the average for 19812010. The winter maximum, when Arctic sea ice typically reaches its maximum extent, is one of two points each year of particular interest, the report notes. The other is at the end of summer, when the ice reaches its annual minimum extent. The minimum sea ice extent in September 2015 was 29 percent less than the 19812010 averagethe fourth smallest in the satellite record, the report says. Highly Significant Overall, the report shows that 2015 was yet another highly significant year for the climate, says co-author, Dr. Kate Willett, a senior scientist at the Met Office: Looking at a range of climate measurements not only was 2015 the warmest year on record by a large margin, it was also another year when the levels of dominant greenhouse gases reached new peaks and sea levels and ocean heat content were all at their highest levels. As the report runs to almost 300 pages, there are plenty more facts and figures than the selection weve picked here. You can find the full-length version on the American Meteorological Societys website to peruse at your leisure. This article was reposted with permission from our media associate Carbon Brief. Last year topped the chart as the warmest year in the modern record, according to data released Wednesday by the worlds top meteorological agencies. Global temperature in 2015 was 0.75C above the 1961-1990 long-term average and a full 1C above preindustrial times, according to official figures from the UKs Met Office. People attempt to cool off near a damaged water pipe in Karachi. Photo credit: Rehan Khan / EPA Rising greenhouse gases and a small contribution from the El Nino in the Pacific combined to cause the record temperatures in 2015, the Met Offices Prof. Adam Scaife tells Carbon Brief. There is unlikely to be any respitescientists expect 2016 to be even warmer than 2015, says Scaife. Overall, we expect El Nino to contribute around 25 percent to what will most likely be a new record global temperature in 2016. The two major U.S. meteorological agenciesNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)also confirmed 2015 as the warmest year on record today. Dr Gavin Schmidt, director of the NASA Goddard Institute of Space Studies, said: 2015 was remarkable even in the context of the larger, long-term warming trend. In a joint summary with former head of NASA GISS, Dr. James Hansen, Schmidt says 2015 global temperature smashed the prior record and should practically terminate discussion of any slowdown in the pace of global warming. Forewarning Each year, the worlds major meteorological organizations calculate the global average surface temperature. Its one measure of how the world is responding to greenhouse gas emissions. Well before the end of 2015, it was looking likely that it would end up as the hottest year on record by quite some margin. In an announcement timed to coincide with the UN climate talks in Paris in early December, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said it expected 2015 to be the first year to see global temperatures rise 1C above preindustrial levels. The Met Office predicted at the end of 2014 that 2015 would be among the hottest years on record, with global temperature likely to fall within the range 0.52-0.76C above the 1961-1990 average. The actual observed temperature anomaly of 0.75C is at the upper end of that range. From this point of view, yesterdays news that 2015 was the hottest year on record comes as no great surprise. Perhaps whats most remarkable is how much hotter it has been. How the Met Offices annual forecasts (grey shading) compare to actual observed temperatures (red) since 2000. The prediction for 2016 is another year of record-breaking warmth, with global temperature expected to fall within 0.72-0.96C above the 1961-1990 average. Photo credit: Met Office Levels of Confidence Measuring global temperature is complicated. Scientists estimates come with a range of possible temperatures either side of a central figure, to reflect that uncertainty. While yesterdays announcement puts 2015s global temperature at 0.75C above the 1961-1990 long-term average, the scientists say it could realistically be as low as 0.65C or as high as 0.84C. (Note: The Met Office traditionally uses a 1961-1990 baseline, rather than the less well-defined preindustrial level. Where it uses term preindustrial, this refers to the 1850-1900 average.) When it comes to temperature rankings, what matters is whether the difference between individual years is more or less than the range of uncertainty. If its more, scientists can be confident one year was warmer than the other. If its less, they cant say for certain either way. After Fighting Lucas Museum, Friends Of The Parks Will Not Fight Obama Library By Gwendolyn Purdom in News on Aug 3, 2016 7:58PM Obama was at a D.C. library today! (Getty Images) The Obama Foundation won't face the aggressive opposition that ultimately doomed the Lucas Museum as the foundation moves forward with building the Obama presidential library in Jackson Park, the Friends of the Parks confirmed on Wednesday. According to a press release, the parks advocacy group will not pursue the same kind of legal action they did against the Lucas Museum because the Jackson Park library site is technically not public trust land. That doesn't mean the group is happy about the park location of the planned museum, library and Obama Foundation headquarters. In the release, Friends Executive Director Juanita Irizarry said her group is still "dismay[ed] at the use of existing parkland in Jackson Park, rather than abundant vacant land nearby" but that "there is no realistic legal remedy at this time to protect this public open space from this development." The Obama camp announced last May they'd be bringing the library and foundation to Chicago, and news surfaced last week that Jackson Park had been chosen over other site contenders like Washington Park. The complex is expected to cost at least $500 million and will tentatively open in 20121, the Tribune reports. In the case of the Lucas Museum, the Friends of the Parks pushed filmmaker George Lucas to shift his proposed 17-acre plot of lakefront real estate, which also happened to be a parking lot, with months of tangled legal action. Ultimately, Lucas pulled out of the deal in June, much to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and other city officials' disappointment. In early July, a New York architect even proposed an alternative Chicago site, the sprawling U.S. Steel campus, but Lucas and his art collection were long gone. Supporters hope today's announcement means Obama and his library will be staying put. Chinas incredible straddling bus went for its first test ride on Tuesday in the city of Qinhuangdao in the Hebei Province. Cars driving under the worlds first Transit Elevated Bus in the city of Qinhuangdao Xinhua The Transit Elevated Bus, or TEB, first made headlines in May after a prototype debuted at the 19th China Beijing International High-Tech Expo. The conceptdesigned to help solve Chinas terrible traffic problemsparked imaginations worldwide, because, well, it could literally drive over cars. Yesterday, on a 300-meter controlled track, a life-size version of the TEB went for its inaugural run with simulated traffic conditions. The test, which had the bus driving at 10 kilometers an hour, was to evaluate the breaking system, power consumption and drag of the bus, New China TV reported. Watch it in motion here: Participants were allowed to hop onto the futuristic bus for a spin. Theres enough space on this for old ladies to have a dance performance, said one user on Weibo, according to the BBC. Chinas Xinhua news agency said that the fully electric bus is roughly 72 feet long and 25 feet wide (or about two traffic lanes) and a single TEB can carry up to 300 passengers. When its finally ready for real-life public transport, it should clock speeds up to 40 miles per hour as it runs on rails built on ordinary roads. Any car under 7 feet tall should be able to travel underneath. As the BBC pointed out, up to four TEBs can be linked together, allowing a potential carrying capacity of 1,200 people at a time. The biggest advantage is that the bus will save lots of road space, the projects chief engineer, Song Youzhou, told Xinhua in May. Song said that the bus is similar in function to a subway but at 16 percent of the cost, adding that construction time would be shorter. He also claimed that the TEB could replace about 40 conventional buses, which would result in up to 800 tons of fuel savings a year and help mitigate 2,480 tons in carbon emissions. Other countries such as Brazil, France, India and Indonesia are said to be interested in their own version of the TEB. (Photo: REUTERS / Stringer)Police with riot gear guard a checkpoint on a road near a courthouse where ethnic Uighur academic Ilham Tohti's trial was taking place in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region September 17, 2014. Tohti, an ethnic Uighur academic in China, is being kept in shackles and has been refused warm clothing ahead of his trial in the Xinjiang region, his lawyer said, in a case that has drawn concern over judicial and human rights abuses. Reuters was unable to reach the court for comment. A court in Tianjin China has sent a Christian leader from an underground church to more than seven years in jail in a crackdown on human rights activists. Hu Shigen was sent to prison on charges of subversion, becoming the second person to be jailed in two days for subversion by the court 100 kilometers (60 miles) south-east of Beijing, International Business Times reported. It cited China State media as reporting that Hu pleaded guilty in Tianjin to "damaging national security and harming social stability." The international community has referred to the cases as a government attempt to silence critics, IBT said. Around 300 lawyers and activists have been rounded up since last year as part in the nationwide crackdown, the BBC reported on Aug. 3. Out of them, two activists are currently facing trial while around 20 still remain in detention. Hu was the latest to be jailed by Chinese courts during a week of activist trials and public confessions that have shocked international observers, The Guardian reported. He was sentenced to seven years and six months' imprisonment and derived of political rights for five years. Prior to this jail term, Hu had spent 16 years in prison for other political offences, including sharing leaflets about China's 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square. After the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, he co-founded the China Freedom and Democracy Party, The Los Angeles Times reported. In the early 1990s, he wrote articles and made fliers calling for the commemoration of the 1989 victims, but when he devised a plan to fly a drone to release them over Tiananmen Square in 1992, he was arrested. In 1994, he was sentenced to 20 years in jail for "organizing and leading a counter-revolutionary group" and "engaging in counter-revolutionary propaganda and incitement." Hu was released in 2008 after 16 years and resumed his activism. He was detained again in 2011 and 2014. Hu's latest case came in a series of court sentences against rights activists and lawyers that observers claim have almost zero credibility, The Guardian said. Police swooped on them more than one year ago, holding them secretly detention and later arrested several others on subversion charges. Families of those arrested say they had no access to their relatives. China Human Rights Defenders, a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington DC, said the detentions and trials make a mockery of China's officially-stated commitment to rule of law. On July 31, a lawyer from the Fengrui firm, Wang Yu, in a video interview was said to blame "foreign forces" for influencing the law firm's activities and using her family to attack the Chines government. Yu has now been released on bail, however, some experts believe that she agreed to do the interview in order to protect her son and husband, the latter of whom is in detention and also faces charges of subversion. Considered to be the Ten Best UFO Photos Ever Taken I am sure that we could add more pictures to this list but these are considered ten o... South Side March Honoring MLK Will Build On Powerful, Timely History By Gwendolyn Purdom in News on Aug 3, 2016 8:00PM Video via mlkmemorialchicago.org When participants gather at 63rd Street and Kedzie Avenue on Saturday morning to commemorate Martin Luther Kings 1966 civil rights march into Marquette Park, theyll be following in historic footsteps that left an indelible mark on the cityand on the arc toward racial justice in this country that continues today. Following Fridays unveiling of a permanent memorial remembering Kings historic march, the Saturday walk comes 50 years after Martin Luther King, Jr. called his Chicago march rallying for open housing and against segregated schools the first step on a 1,000 mile journey. Because it was happening in a major Northern city, the original Marquette Park march of 700 activists, religious leaders and other community members, played a big part in shaping Kings civil rights legacy. This year's march which will travel through nine blocks on the citys South Side and conclude with the Takin It To The Streets festival in Marquette Park, which features music, dancing, and inspirational speeches. King made several visits to Chicago in the 60s, even moving his family into an apartment in what is now North Lawndale for several months in 1966. The city was a smart place to spread his message considering the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights named the it the most residentially segregated large city in the nation in 1959 (not that todays Chicago is much better: we dropped a bit to the dubious distinction of third most segregated city in January). When King returned in the summer of 1966, Chicagos Coordinating Council of Community Organizations had teamed up with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to form the Chicago Freedom Movement. That summer he helped launch Operation Breadbasket, a push to support black-owned businesses; addressed a packed Soldier Field on the subject of housing discrimination; and tacked a list of demands on the door of City Hall. Video via mlkmemorialchicago.org Just before the Aug. 5 march, racial tensions were extra high. That July, a police officer had shut off a fire hydrant neighborhood kids were cooling off in on the citys West Side, sparking three days of violence in the area. The movement was holding regular protests in all-white neighborhoods by late July. The march itself was heated, too. Marchers were met with anger and, in some cases, bottles and rocks being hurled at them. According to the MLK Living Memorial website, King told reporters that day: I have never seen, even in Mississippi and Alabama, mobs as hateful as Ive seen here in Chicago. Rendering of the MLK Living Memorial by Bruce Bondy, image courtesy of Chicago Public Art Group This weekends events aim to highlight how far the city has come from that time and, with racially-charged tragedies and violence still unfolding in the city and across the country, how far we have to go. For more information and more first-hand accounts from the Living Memorials fascinating collection, click here. Saturdays march kicks off at 9 a.m. To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020. Political buzzwords being added to a new Mandarin-Tibetan dictionary reflect positive progress in Tibetan society, according to the official linguists advising the publishers. On Wednesday, the Tibetan Language Advisory Committee (TLAC) in the rapidly developing Chinese region released a list of nearly 900 new words and phrases. Translated into English, the list includes "precision in poverty relief" as well as more esoteric entries. "Maker" refers to tech entrepreneurs, a new breed across China, while "Internet plus" is the campaign to strengthen Internet infrastructure and get traditional industries working online. "Three stricts and three earnests" is a political phrase urging officials to be disciplined in six aspects of their work and life. "With the fast development of society, many words have been coined to meet people's need to talk about novel things," said Yeshe Sangpom, an official with TLAC. "The new words are an indicator of Tibet's modernization in politics, the economy, culture and education," said Yeshe Sangpom. "They show the vitality of the Tibetan language." Featuring 8,000 new entries added since the last edition in 1985, the dictionary is being published in 30 volumes by Minzhu Press in consultation with the TLAC. Three volumes have already been released of a work that will be three times as thick as the 1985 version. Degyi Yangzom, a dissertation student at Tibet University is relieved. "I used these buzzwords in my paper, but I didn't know how to translate them properly," she said. "Now we have a standard translation, I feel safer using them." Tibetan is one of the most ancient languages in China, dating back to the seventh century. It is used by about 8 million people in Tibet and the neighboring countries of India, Nepal and Bhutan. According to renowned Tibetan translator Wangchug, the top three buzzwords in the years around Tibet's emancipation in 1959 were "slave," "landlord" and "class enemies." How times have changed. It's easy to see why the Internet, technology and official discipline are being much discussed by Tibetans. About 2.17 million households in Tibet have access to the Internet, and nearly 85 percent of Tibetan transactions via payment platform Alipay came via mobile devices last year. Tibet has also been very involved in China's campaign against corruption, with the former Party chief of the Qinghai-Tibet railway company under investigation for graft. Kelly, Pastore debate inflation, energy policy in congressional race Kelly and Pastore went head-to-head in a debate Tuesday that was organized by WQLN and Erie News Now, which first aired the taped debate Thursday. The Japanese cabinet approved an economic stimulus package worth 28.1 trillion yen (US$274 billion) on Tuesday to support Japan's sluggish economy in the wake of Britain's decision to leave the European Union. The package was approved at an extraordinary cabinet meeting Tuesday after the Bank of Japan decided to take additional monetary easing at a policy meeting last week. The package includes additional expenditure by the state and local governments totaling 7.5 trillion yen, among which 1.7 trillion yen will be allocated to building infrastructure to boost tourism and agriculture, and 2.5 trillion yen to enhancing welfare such as nursing care and childcare. The government will also allocate 2.7 trillion yen to rebuilding areas hit by massive earthquakes in 2011 as well as in April. Another 600 billion yen will be used to help small and medium-sized companies deal with possible negative effects from Britain's decision to leave the European Union. In an effort to boost personal consumption, the government will launch a subsidy program to provide 15,000 yen each in cash to low-income earners. The stimulus package also includes public expenditure totaling 13.5 trillion yen, including extending to Osaka a magnetically levitated train line planned earlier from Tokyo to Nagoya. The government estimates the stimulus would push up real gross domestic product (GDP) by around 1.3 percent in the next two years. Todo lo que necesitas saber para comenzar tu dia Suscribirse implica aceptar los terminos y condiciones Ely, Cambridgeshire is best known for its majestic cathedral dubbed the 'Ship of the Fens' because it dominates the flat landscape. The city, which is the second smallest in England, is about 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about 80 miles by road from London. 14:55, 28 OCT 2022 You are here: Home Taiwan's police arrested nearly 2,000 drug users and traffickers during a three-day campaign that began on July 29, seizing 38.8 kilograms of drugs. Police said in a press conference on Tuesday that among the suspected traffickers, 203 were adults while 72 were under age. Drug cases involving minors are increasing when schools are closed for summer holiday, according to police, who said they only arrested 16 under-age drug traffickers in a crackdown in early July. In a typical case in the recent campaign, the police found 20 teenagers taking drugs at a gathering in Taoyuan City. Educational institutions on the island reported 1,020 drug-related cases to the police in 2015. You are here: Home Yang Weize stands trial on Wednesday. [Photo / Xinhua] Yang Weize, former Communist Party chief of Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, stood trial on Wednesday for accepting bribes. Yang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Jiangsu Provincial Committee, was accused of taking advantage of his various official posts from 2005 to 2014 to seek benefits for others in real estate development and personnel promotion. In exchange, Yang accepted bribes worth over 16.43 million yuan (around 2.48 million U.S. dollars) either by himself or through his wife, according to the indictment from the People's Procuratorate of Ningbo in east China's Zhejiang Province. The procuratorate filed the charges with the Ningbo Intermediate People's Court. Yang confessed to taking bribes and expressed remorse in court. The court ruling will be announced on a later date. The maximum penalty for those convicted of accepting bribes of at least 3 million yuan in an "extremely serious case" with "extremely vile impact" is the death penalty, according to a new judicial explanation issued in April. However, a two-year suspended death sentence may be issued if there are mitigating factors. More than 60 people, including journalists and members of the public, observed Wednesday's hearing. A Florida man has been arrested on Saturday after allegedly stabbing his wife twice due to some messy fruit peelings. The man, 84-year-old West Palm Beach resident Uriel Bradshaw, has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. According to police reports, Bradshaw's altercation with his wife began over some messy mango peelings. Bradshaw had allegedly been eating mangoes in one of the bedrooms of their house, and when his 65-year-old wife walked in. The arrest report further stated that Bradshaw's wife got very irritated because he was making such as big mess. He had been leaving mango peelings all over the bedroom floor. An intense argument started after she pointed out the mess to her husband, eventually culminating with Bradshaw getting up and lunging at his wife multiple times with a steak knife. He managed to stab her twice, once on the right shoulder and another on her chest. Bradshaw's wife then ran away and started banging on the walls of her house, trying to alert her daughter. Thankfully, she was heard and the police were immediately called. Officers who responded to the call have stated that they found fresh wounds on Bradshaw's wife, as well as blood stains throughout the house. Bradshaw was promptly arrested and held on a $10,000 bond. The 84-year-old Bradshaw has stated that while he remembers getting into an argument with his wife, he does not remember actually stabbing her. While his wife appears to have escaped further injury, Bradshaw was nonetheless charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. So far, it is unknown if the 84-year-old has hired a lawyer to argue his case. Prior to the incident, Bradshaw has so far been a pretty upstanding citizen, with court records stating that he has never had any felony charges filed against him before. North Korea seems to be living up to its promise of a physical response against recent U.N. sanctions, as the Communist country launched two ballistic missiles on Wednesday. While the first missile was reported to have exploded immediately after its launch, the second missile managed to fly 620 miles, ultimately landing in waters near Japan. According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, one of the North's missiles, which appeared to be a Rodong-type medium-range weapon, reached Japan's exclusive economic zone, well within 200 nautical miles from the Asian nation's shoreline. Japan has reacted strongly to the North's missile launch, calling out the Communist country for its aggressive actions. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has issued a statement about North Korea's missile launch. "The missile launch poses a serious threat to Japan's security and it is unforgivable act of violence toward Japan's security," he said. While the international community has been unanimous in the condemnation of the North's actions, top NK diplomat to the United States Han Son Ryol stated that the Communist regime's launch of the ballistic missiles is an act of self-defense. Self-defense against the United States, that is. "The tests were "self-defensive actions to cope with the threat from the United States. It is the United States who provokes, it is the United States who has conducted that kind of launch many many times," the diplomat stated. "It is the U.S. who threatens DPRK with missiles. All these kinds of actions tell us the U.S. is taking hostile actions against DPRK. Our rocket and missile launches take place because that is the way to defend ourselves," he added. North Korea has been especially aggressive with other countries recently after the Communist country experienced yet another round of sanctions from the United Nations earlier this year. Recently, the North's leader, Kim Jong Un, personally received sanctions over alleged human rights abuses in his country. The Communist state has not taken the sanctions against its leader lightly, with Ryol stating that the sanctions were a declaration of war against his country. The diplomat further stated that any negotiations with the United states must be dealt with under wartime laws. Record executive Mickey Memphitz Wright has put his and his estranged wife Toya Wrights differences aside as she mourns the loss of her two brothers. Toyas brothers Joshua and Rudys lives were taken by gun violence over the weekend. Despite their current divorce issues, Memphitz shared his condolences with Toya and her family on Instagram earlier this week. Sleep in Peace to My Brothers in Law, he wrote. Im Lost & Deeply Saddened. My Sincerest Condolences to The Family & Associated Loved Ones. The Love Was & is still Real. RudeBoi & Fish, you will be missed 4Ever. Until we Meet again Soliders, watch over the The Fam. We Love Ya the LongWay. That Type of Love They Dont Know Nothing about. Im convinced, this world is Sideways. The tragedy comes just days after Toya officially filed for divorce from Memphitz. She cited irretrievable breakdown of the marriage as the reason. And its safe to say their split will continue to amicable, according to documents obtained by Bossip Tuesday. Memphitz signed the documents, giving the green light for a judge to review their case. He also has opted out of getting his own lawyer. He did acknowledge that he got the papers from Toya and is okay with the process taking place in their current home state of Georgia. The two were married for five years and revealed marital issues back in 2014. The last of their issues played out on this season of WeTV's Marriage Bootcamp: Reality Stars. Be sure to keep up with Enstars for the latest on Memphitz, Toya, and your favorite celebrities. In the latter half of the 1930s, British officials under the leadership of Olaf Caroe doctored and garbled the records of the 1914 Simla Conference to make them support the assertion that India's north-eastern borderline lay legitimately just where Henry McMahon had tried to unsuccessfully place it. By the end of World War II, Caroe's fabrication had to a large extent been made good--the alignment he named the "McMahon Line" had been established as the de facto British-India north-eastern borderline (falling short only in its leaving Tawang to Tibet). The assertion that this was also the de jure border had apparently solid evidence, documentary and cartographic, to support it. The evidence for its legitimacy was, however, fraudulent, and Caroe's deception was eventually exposed. Yet, Nehru's absolute refusal to negotiate a boundary settlement with China continues to be Indian government policy. Flash The Syrian army carried out offensive against a town held by the Islamic State (IS) group in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour on Tuesday, killing 60 of them, state news agency SANA reported. The military units attacked IS positions in the town of Jnaineh, two kilometers west of Deir al-Zour, said SANA. It added that the military units also foiled an attack by the IS on government-controlled parts in that oil-rich province, killing dozens of them, including the commander who was leading the attack. The IS controls much of the countryside of Deir al-Zour province, except the city, which is still under the government control, but besieged by the IS. Russian aircrafts frequently carry out airdrops of aid and food to the besieged people in that city. Deir al-Zour holds a strategic importance to the IS, due to its proximity to the IS-controlled areas in neighboring Iraq. Wiranto and the Biak Massacre The water tower on Kota Biak. From Biak Massacre Citizens Tribunal "This constitutes a betrayal and this is what we must stop!ersal respect to human rights." -Wiranto. in Abepura July 6, 2013) Recalling the 1998 Massacre in Biak Wiranto was armed forces commander and minister of defence during the July 6, 1998 Biak Massacre in West Papua. When asked about the massacre, he said that If there is a power that raises a flag, and it is not the Red and White flag [of Indonesia], then this is a betrayal of the military and of the entire nation. This constitutes a betrayal and this is what we must stop! (Suara Pembaruan Daily, 7 July 1998, punctuation in original, quoted from here: http://www.biak-tribunal.org/verdict-announced).On July 6, 1998, hundreds of peaceful demonstrators gathered on a prominent hill in the town of Biak were deliberately attacked by members of the Indonesian military and police. At the beginning of the month, the Papuans had peacefully raised the Morning Star flag. The Papuans in Biak were asserting their right to self-determination after more than three decades of Indonesian military occupation of West Papua. The slaughter began with a dawn raid on a peaceful encampment by the town's water tower as many of the protesters slept or prayed. After the shooting stopped, the dead, dying, and wounded were loaded onto trucks and driven to the nearby naval base. Surviving Papuans were tortured and then loaded aboard Indonesian naval vessels and dumped into the ocean. Women were raped aboard the ships. Many of the victims had their hands bound or were stabbed before being thrown into the sea. Bodies of the victims washed up on Biak's shores during the following weeks. Approximately 200 Papuans, including children, were killed.At the time, the new, nominally democratic government of Indonesia disingenuously denied the massacre had taken place, contending the bodies washing ashore were victims of a tsunami that had struck Papua New Guinea more than hundreds of miles to the east. Filep Karma had led the pro-independence demonstration in Biak. For several days the flag was on display. Then on July 6, the Indonesian military attacked and Karma was shot in both legs while he was praying at the scene Karma was sentenced by the Indonesian court to 6 years in prison. However, two years later he was released when Gus Dur became president in 2000. Karma was again arrested in 2004 at a flag-raising. He was tried and sentenced to 15 years in prison for 'treason.' He was released from prison late last year.see more As the Turkish government restores order after the failed coup, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and seven other leading science and engineering societies today expressed concern for the human rights of the Turkish scientific community, which has reportedly been subject to restrictions including travel bans and the ordered return of Turkish academics working abroad. The future prosperity and security of any nation depends on its ability to be a knowledge-based, innovative society and to a considerable extent on the work of its scientists, engineers, academics, and researchers, the science group wrote, in a letter to President Recep Tayyip Erdoganof Turkey. They emphasized that the health of the scientific enterprise requires that scientists have freedom to think independently and innovatively and are able to engage with scientists around the world. Noting that the Turkish government had previously stated that democracy, freedom, and the rule of law are nonnegotiable in Turkey, the science organizations urged President Erdogan to follow through on this pledge to fully respect human rights, the rule of law, and due process to protect both citizens and the scientific community. The letter was signed by AAAS CEO Rush Holt, executive publisher of the Science family of journals, as well as the leaders of the American Anthropological Association, the American Association of Geographers, the American Physical Society, the American Sociological Association, the American Statistical Association, Sigma Xi, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. Reports of forced resignations, suspensions, and travel bans affecting thousands of Turkish scientists and academics are deeply troubling, and deeply problematic for any civil society, said Rush Holt, CEO of AAAS and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. We urge President Erdogan to follow through on his pledge to protect basic human rights, the rule of law, and academic freedoms for citizens and scholars alike. According to news coverage by the journal Science, tens of thousands of Turkish civil servants have lost their jobs in the wake of the failed July 15 coup. More than 1,500 university deans were reportedly forced to resign, over 21,000 teachers lost their licenses, and scholars working abroad were instructed to return to Turkey. ### The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science as well as Science Translational Medicine, Science Signaling, a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances, Science Immunology, and Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes nearly 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world. The non-profit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert!, the premier science-news Web site, a service of AAAS. See http://www.aaas.org. The letter can be viewed in PDF format here. BOSTON - Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths, accounting for about a third of all tumor-related deaths. Adenocarcinomas, a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), account for about 40 percent of cancer diagnoses, but few treatments are available for the disease. A team of investigators led by Elena Levantini, PhD, a research associate in Hematology-Oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, have identified a subtype of human adenocarcinoma. The research could help determine which individuals are at greatest risk of developing lung tumors that may be amenable to a new therapy to inhibit their progression. The results - done in collaboration with the Cancer Science Institute at the National University of Singapore (CSI NUS) - were published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine. "Advances in lung cancer therapy require a greater understanding of the molecular origins of this deadly disease," said last corresponding author Levantini, who is also a researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Technologies at the Italian National Research Council (ITB-CNR). "Understanding the differences among lung cancers also could lead to innovations in treatment strategies and allow us to overcome drug-resistance, relapse and disease progression." Levantini and colleagues previously showed that NSCLC tumor cells frequently express too little or none of a transcription factor called C/EBP, a protein that regulates gene expression and cell proliferation in lung tissues. It's also known to play a role in a form of leukemia, as well as liver cancer, squamous cell skin carcinomas, squamous cell cancers of the head and neck and other cancers. In their previous work, the scientists suspected that C/EBP may act as a tumor suppressant in normal cells, but the mechanism by which its absence promoted lung cancer tumors remained unclear. In a series of in vitro experiments, the researchers demonstrated that C/EBP indeed works as a tumor suppressant by restraining the expression of another molecule known to play a role in triggering and maintaining tumor growth. This molecule, called BMI1, is an oncogenic protein that has been implicated in colon cancer, a form of leukemia and breast and gastric cancers. To determine the relationship between the suspected tumor suppressor (C/EBP) and the oncogenic protein (BMI1), the researchers first altered a line of human adenocarcinoma cells to overexpress C/EBP. That led to a marked reduction in the expression of BMI1. When the team analyzed tissues from 261 patients with NSCLC, they found an inverse correlation between the two molecules; that is, more than 80 percent of patient tissues with low levels of the tumor suppressing C/EBP were positive for BMI1 expression. Likewise, an analysis tissue samples from patients with lung adenocarcinoma with no or low C/EBP expression revealed that those with lower levels of BMI1 were more likely to survive, a pattern that has prognostic value, the researchers wrote. "Our findings suggest that the lung cancer subtype defined by the loss of C/EBP expression might specifically benefit from therapies that inhibit BMI1," the scientists wrote. "Thus, identifying factors that modulate its expression has generated major clinical interest." The research team was also able to validate its findings in mice. In one set of experiments with mice engineered to express no C/EBP, the scientists found an inverse relationship between the transcription factor and BMI1 that was nearly identical to its data from human adenocarcinoma. By manipulating BMI1 expression in vivo, the researchers were also able to confirm that decreasing the expression of the oncogenic protein was enough to fully inhibit tumor formation and even significantly arrest tumor growth. "BMI1 plays a substantial role in many solid tumors, including one of the most aggressive models of lung cancer, and its expression is linked with tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, prognosis and recurrence," Levantini said. "Our findings could help us design better therapies for the subset of adenocarcinoma patients with low C/EBP and high BMI1 expression pattern." ### Study coauthors include first author Kol Jia Yong, Henry Yang, Bhavin M. Thakkar, Ross A Soo and co-corresponding author Daniel G. Tenen, all of the CSI NUS; BIDMC investigators Daniela S. Basseres, Robert S. Welner, Wen Cai Zhang, Meritxell Alberich-Jorda, Junyan Zhang, Lorena Lobo de Figueiredo-Pontes, Chiara Battelli, Christopher J. Hetherington, Min Ye, Hong Zhang, Karen O'Brien, Olivier Kocher, Pu Zhang and Bing Lim; Benedict Yan; Giorgia Maroni; Maria Cristina Magli; Alain C. Borczuk; Lyuba Varticovski; Young-Choon Moon; Nadiya Sydorenko; Liangxian Cao; and Thomas W. Davis; Atsushi Iwama; Balazs Halmos and Donna Neuberg. For a full list of contributors and their institutions, please see the full article online. This work was funded by National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI P50 CA90578) Project 2 grant; the NCIS Yong Siew Yoon Research Grant through donations from the Yong Loo Lin Trust, the Singapore Ministry of Health's National Medical Research Council under its Singapore Translational Research (STaR) Investigator Award, and by the National Research Foundation of Singapore and the Singapore Ministry of Education under its Research Centres of Excellence initiative; FAMRI YCSA initiative; FAMRI YCSA 052409 and FAMRI CIA 103063, FAMRI YCSA 072165, Doctor's Cancer Foundation Award, IASLC Award, MIUR Flagship Interomics Project and MSMT Navrat grant LK21307. Researchers were supported by Jose Carreras fellowship, FIJC-10; NCI T32/K12/R25 award; the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; the National Medical Research Council of Singapore (NMRC/CG/NCIS/2010) and the DF/HCC Cancer Center Support Grant 5P30 CA006516. About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and consistently ranks as a national leader among independent hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding. BIDMC is in the community with Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, Anna Jaques Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Lawrence General Hospital, Signature Healthcare, Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare, Community Care Alliance and Atrius Health. BIDMC is also clinically affiliated with the Joslin Diabetes Center and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center and is a research partner of Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Jackson Laboratory. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox. For more information, visit http://www.bidmc.org. SAN FRANCISCO (August 3, 2016) - Household insects -- our most overlooked roommates -- are grabbing the spotlight after centuries in the shadows. Prior research in the growing study of life indoors has shown that our homes support a variety of bugs in the far reaches of cupboard corners and attic alcoves. Now, researchers are looking beyond the nooks and crannies to consider the socioeconomic context of these households. A team from the California Academy of Sciences, North Carolina State University, and the Natural History Museum of Denmark surveyed the number of different insects in 50 urban homes and determined that wealthier neighborhoods host a greater number of species types than their lower socioeconomic counterparts. The findings are published today in the journal Biology Letters. "The sheer amount of life thriving within your home -- under carpet, in closets -- is astonishing," says Dr. Misha Leong, lead author and post-doctoral researcher at the Academy. "Now we're learning that neighborhood affluence was one of the primary predictors for the number of different bug types -- mostly non-pests -- living inside, which really surprised me. We hope our findings inspire people to reimagine the context of their homes and apartments within the larger environment." Modern urbanization has greatly influenced the ecological environment, particularly in terms of the variety and abundance of life that surrounds us. Aside from urban variations in climate and environment, this new study points to socioeconomics as a key player in determining the types of life we find inside our concrete jungles. This work suggests that the management of neighborhoods and cities can have effects on biodiversity that extend from trees and birds all the way to the bug life in bedrooms and basements. The luxury effect Urban ecologists have been observing how socioeconomics impact species diversity for nearly two decades. Previous studies have determined that higher affluence is frequently associated with more biological diversity across species of plants, birds, bats, and lizards -- a phenomenon coined the "luxury effect." Scientists have only recently begun examining the relationship between socioeconomics and arthropods, a group that includes insects and their close relatives. Arthropods can have six legs (like moths), eight legs (like spiders), or sometimes one hundred legs (like centipedes), and fly or wander from the outside environment into the indoor world. "The biodiversity of the indoor environment is still a relatively unexplored area of research," says Michelle Trautwein, co-author and curator of entomology at the Academy. "Our houses are really permeable and dynamic. Through our studies, we hope to inspire citizens all over the globe to get curious about the species in their everyday lives. We still have so much to learn about indoor ecology and the ever-evolving relationship between humans and arthropods." A hands-and-knees investigation With the help of headlamps and knee pads, the research team surveyed 50 urban homes in Raleigh, North Carolina to collect samples of arthropod species. The specimens, stored in glass vials for safe transport to the lab, were painstakingly identified under a microscope to determine the number of arthropod families represented, indicating overall arthropod diversity in each household. Besides average neighborhood income, the study took into account such factors as the homes' square footage, size, surrounding vegetation, and more. Houses tend to serve as light and bait traps, passively collecting species that find their way inside from vegetation outside. The study found that homes in higher income neighborhoods had higher arthropod diversity. A likely mechanism is that homes in these neighborhoods host a greater diversity of plants that, in turn, allowed for a greater variety of plant-loving arthropods to find their way inside and thrive indoors. The scientists found that individual houses without significant plant coverage in the yard could still support high arthropod diversity when located within more affluent neighborhoods. This finding suggests that features such as parks and communal landscaping that are characteristic of wealthier neighborhoods as well as lush landscaping choices of neighbors can compensate for local choices of homeowners. "Seeing how these community-wide planning decisions cascade through the neighborhood and into homes is fascinating," says Leong. "Besides parks and communal landscaping, the decisions made at the micro-scale of individual property owners collectively scales up. This influences the ecological dynamics within their respective neighborhoods and cities, which can then impact the biodiversity you find in your bedrooms and basement." Insects in the great indoors? "Don't panic" The scientists researching indoor arthropods describe home environments as their own unique, thriving ecosystems. Roughly 100 different species of arthropods are found inside the average home. One common misconception: the mistaken belief that most of these species are pests. "Even though we spend billions of dollars each year to control for cockroaches, ticks, termites and other infestations, there are still a number of overlooked, benign species," says Leong. "Don't panic -- most bugs aren't the problem roommates we make them out to be." The study's authors are traveling the globe to better understand our tiny, closest companions. Trautwein, Leong, and their colleagues are in the midst of a multi-year project sampling arthropods (and collecting face mite samples) alongside citizen scientists in homes on all seven continents, exploring the overlooked life that shares our homes and bodies on a daily basis. Past expeditions include Sweden, the Peruvian Amazon, and houses in the Academy's own San Francisco backyard. The scientists will continue collecting house-dwelling arthropods in Australia, Madagascar, China, and Antarctica through 2017. ### About Research at the California Academy of Sciences The Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability at the California Academy of Sciences is at the forefront of efforts to understand two of the most important topics of our time: the nature and sustainability of life on Earth. Based in San Francisco, the Institute is home to more than 100 world-class scientists, state-of-the-art facilities, and nearly 46 million scientific specimens from around the world. The Institute also leverages the expertise and efforts of more than 100 international Associates and 400 distinguished Fellows. Through expeditions around the globe, investigations in the lab, and analysis of vast biological datasets, the Institute's scientists work to understand the evolution and interconnectedness of organisms and ecosystems, the threats they face around the world, and the most effective strategies for sustaining them into the future. Through innovative partnerships and public engagement initiatives, they also guide critical sustainability and conservation decisions worldwide, inspire and mentor the next generation of scientists, and foster responsible stewardship of our planet. Flash Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday that the United States has failed to fulfill its nuclear obligations "accurately." "If they were committed to their promises accurately, and did not hinder the process of nuclear deal implementation, we could count on them and sit to discuss other issues with them," Rouhani said in a live televised speech. Rouhani's remarks were a reaffirmation of the country's top leader's Monday comments on the implementation of the nuclear deal clinched between Iran and world powers last year. "The United States has violated its obligations (over the implementation of the nuclear deal) and is busy destroying Iran's economic ties with other countries," Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday. In some areas, Iran still has problems in the transfer of money via the large international banks for the transactions that it has with its economic partners, Rouhani said. The Iranian president expressed the hope that such problems will be gradually solved in the future. In work that aims to protect soldiers from biological and chemical threats, a team of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists has created a material that is highly breathable yet protective from biological agents. This material is the first key component of futuristic smart uniforms that also will respond to and protect from environmental chemical hazards. The research appears in the July 27 edition of the journal, Advanced Materials. High breathability is a critical requirement for protective clothing to prevent heat-stress and exhaustion when military personnel are engaged in missions in contaminated environments. Current protective military uniforms are based on heavyweight full-barrier protection or permeable adsorptive protective garments that cannot meet the c, ritical demand of simultaneous high comfort and protection, and provide a passive rather than active response to an environmental threat. The LLNL team fabricated flexible polymeric membranes with aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) channels as moisture conductive pores. The size of these pores (less than 5 nanometers, nm) is 5,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. "We demonstrated that these membranes provide rates of water vapor transport that surpass those of commercial breathable fabrics like GoreTex, even though the CNT pores are only a few nanometers wide," said Ngoc Bui, the lead author of the paper. To provide high breathability, the new composite material takes advantage of the unique transport properties of carbon nanotube pores. By quantifying the membrane permeability to water vapor, the team found for the first time that, when a concentration gradient is used as driving force, CNT nanochannels can sustain gas-transport rates exceeding that of a well-known diffusion theory by more than one order of magnitude. These membranes also provide protection from biological agents due to their very small pore size, which are less than 5 nanometers (nm) wide. Biological threats like bacteria or viruses are much larger and typically more than 10-nm in size. Performed tests demonstrated that the CNT membranes repelled Dengue virus from aqueous solutions during filtration tests. This confirms that LLNL-developed CNT membranes provide effective protection from biological threats by size exclusion rather than by merely preventing wetting. Furthermore, the results show that CNT pores combine high breathability and bio-protection in a single functional material. However, chemical agents are much smaller in size and require the membrane pores to be able to react to block the threat. To encode the membrane with a smart and dynamic response to small chemical hazards, LLNL scientists and collaborators are surface modifying these prototype carbon nanotube membranes with chemical-threat-responsive functional groups. These functional groups will sense and block the threat like gatekeepers on the pore entrance. A second response scheme also is in development - similar to how a living skin peels off when challenged with dangerous external factors, the fabric will exfoliate upon reaction with the chemical agent. "The material will be like a smart second skin that responds to the environment," said Kuang Jen Wu, leader of the LLNL Biosecurity & Bionanosciences Group. "In this way, the fabric will be able to block chemical agents such as sulfur mustard (blister agent), GD and VX nerve agents, toxins such as staphylococcal enterotoxin and biological spores such as anthrax." Current work is directed toward designing this multifunctional material to undergo a rapid transition from the breathable state to the protective state. "These responsive membranes are expected to be particularly effective in mitigating a physiological burden because a less breathable but protective state can be actuated locally and only when needed," said Francesco Fornasiero, LLNL's principal investigator of the project. The new uniforms could be deployed in the field in less than 10 years. "The goal of this science and technology program is to develop a focused, innovative technological solution for future chemical biological defense protective clothing," said Tracee Whitfield, the DTRA science and technology manager for the Dynamic Multifunctional Material for a Second Skin Program. "Swatch-level evaluations will occur in early 2018 to demonstrate the concept of 'second skin', a major milestone that is a key step in the maturation of this technology." ### The work is funded by the Chemical and Biological Technologies Department of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in the "Dynamic Multifunctional Materials for a Second Skin D[MS]2" program, and by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program. Other researchers contributing to this work include Eric Meshot, Jose Pena, Sangil Kim and Phillip Gibson (Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center). Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory provides solutions to our nation's most important national security challenges through innovative science, engineering and technology. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. To arrange for an interview with a researcher, please contact the Communications staff member identified at the end of each tip. For more information on ORNL and its research and development activities, please refer to one of our media contacts. If you have a general media-related question or comment, you can send it to news@ornl.gov. ANALYTICS - Johnny on the spot ... Mass spectrometry and direct sampling come together in a powerful way with a new technology that can identify a material in mere seconds. PenDoc, invented by Gary Van Berkel and Vilmos Kertesz of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, could help in drug discovery, medical diagnostics, food safety, the environment, forensics and national security. The design consists of a pen-like sampler that the user touches to the surface being tested. The sample is then dissolved in the pen and transferred to a flowing solvent stream and on to a mass spectrometer and analysis software. The mass spectrometry market for rapid detection is expected to reach $19 billion globally by 2020, according to Transparency Market Research. [Contact: Ron Walli, (865) 576-0226; wallira@ornl.gov] Image: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/news/images/01%20pendoc%20tip.jpg Cutline: Oak Ridge National Laboratory's PenDoc makes sampling the surface of a strawberry for pesticides, for example, quick and easy. ENVIRONMENT - Addressing the mercury challenge ... An Oak Ridge National Laboratory study is providing an unprecedented watershed-scale understanding of mercury in soils and sediments. Researchers focused on evaluating mercury and soil properties along the banks of a mercury-contaminated stream in Oak Ridge, Tenn., sampling 145 locations and performing kayak-based video mapping. Ultimately, the work could help scientists develop sorbents and other technologies to bind or remove mercury from soils, said research team member John Dickson, a post-doc in the Environmental Sciences Division. Complete results will be presented in Phoenix at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America annual meeting in November. [Contact: Ron Walli, (865) 576-0226; wallira@ornl.gov] Image: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/news/images/02%20mercury%20story%20tip.jpg Cutline: By wet-sieving stream sediment, (from left) Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Kenneth Lowe, Melanie Mayes and John Dickson sort sediment into different particle size in this stream near Rocky Top. ENERGY - High-efficiency heating ... Salt and ammonia are key ingredients of a high-efficiency natural gas-fired heat pump system being developed by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Rheem and ClimateWell. Potentially, the SaltX system could provide 43 percent greater efficiency than today's best furnaces and maintain its rated capacity to outdoor temperatures of minus-4 degrees Fahrenheit. "The innovative approach of this system is that the salt is embedded in a matrix treated by nanoparticles, allowing it to crystallize during the desorption process," said ORNL's Kyle Gluesenkamp, who leads the project. The salt and ammonia are housed in an outdoor unit with a water loop connecting to the indoor central air duct heat exchanger. This design results in a much higher energy density, lower cycle times, smoother output and higher efficiency at lower cost. The system, expected to provide a payback of three to four years in some climates, is also more compact than competing heat units. [Contact: Ron Walli, (865) 576-0226; wallira@ornl.gov] Image: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/news/images/03%20saltx%20tip.jpg Cutline: The SaltX heating system offers better efficiency than today's best furnaces and a potential payback of just three to four years. ENGINES - Getting the soot out ... Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are taking a closer look at previously uncharacterized, microscopic soot particles collected during lab experiments on light-duty, multi-cylinder advanced combustion engines. The ORNL-led team is widely known for advancing a combustion technology called reactivity controlled compression ignition that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions and particulate matter, or soot, and improves fuel efficiency in a low-temperature combustion environment. The team detected the particulate matter in this mode. "We're further analyzing the soot to learn more about its potential impacts on light-duty engines and air quality," said ORNL's John Storey. The particulate matter discovery is part of a paper that summarizes ORNL's long-term research using RCCI technology published in "Soot Dynamics in Internal Combustion Engines," a special edition by the International Journal of Engine Research. [Contact: Sara Shoemaker, (865) 576-9219; shoemakerms@ornl.gov] Image: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/news/images/04%20soot%20tip.jpg Cutline: Melanie Debusk collects soot samples from a reactivity controlled compression ignition engine at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's National Transportation Research Center. HYDROGEN - Coming to a station near you ... A stationary vessel developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers Zhili Feng and Yanli Wang could be the key to less expensive hydrogen storage, making it possible for more hydrogen-powered vehicles to hit the road in the near future. Feng and Wang have designed a steel-concrete composite vessel that optimizes cost, scalability, durability and safety, effectively solving the hydrogen embrittlement problem that causes corrosion in conventional stainless steel containers. With Feng's steel-concrete composite vessel, small vents prevent pressure buildup. "By allowing hydrogen to migrate through the innermost layer of the vessel through ports, the design mitigates hydrogen embrittlement in a layered steel alloy vessel," Feng said. "This design is safer and more cost-effective, making hydrogen easier to store at the station." [Contact: Jennifer Burke, (865) 946-1405; burkejj@ornl.gov] Image: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/news/images/05%20Hydrogen%20storage%20tank.jpg Cutline: A 90-kilogram 430-bar prototype of the steel-concrete composite vessel has been manufactured, and is undergoing fatigue testing. CLIMATE - Future cool down ... Increasing temperatures are one of several conditions scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are studying to determine how changes in climate -- along with population growth and aging power plants -- will affect the nation's future energy needs. Looking at greater Chicago, a multi-laboratory team led by ORNL's Melissa Allen developed a methodology using ORNL's high-resolution climate and population prediction tools to investigate how certain energy generation portfolios (incorporating renewables and technology) can help meet the projected rising demand for electricity. "Results showed that in scenarios where power was created using renewables, supply margins did not achieve industry standards," Allen said. "But when we added technology options to the mix, the margins improved by double digits." [Contact: Sara Shoemaker, (865) 576-9219; shoemakerms@ornl.gov] Image: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/news/images/06%20climate%20tip.jpg Cutline: ORNL's new climate change methodology helps predict energy efficiency impacts in rapidly growing areas like greater Chicago. This tool can be applied to any U.S. or global region. MATERIALS - Interdependent defects ... Scientists have long known that adding tiny defects into otherwise perfect materials can influence the substance's electronic or magnetic properties. Now, a new study led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory shows that defects in complex oxides do not act independently, which will change how scientists understand this class of materials. After shining light on strontium titanate samples, the researchers observed changes in conductivity that could only be explained by interactions among the materials' defects. "These defects actually talk to each other," said ORNL's Paul Snijders. "The cascading changes make these defects correlated." The findings will inform research that seeks to make use of complex oxide materials for next-generation electronic devices or catalysts. The team's research is published in Scientific Reports. [Contact: Morgan McCorkle, (865) 574-7308; mccorkleml@ornl.gov] Image: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/news/images/07%20defects%20tip.jpeg Cutline: An ORNL-led study discovered that defects (pictured in green, purple and yellow) in strontium titanate interact to influence the material's overall properties. GEOCHEMISTRY - Storing carbon ... Storing carbon dioxide for millennia in geologic formations relies on effective seals. Gernot Rother of Oak Ridge National Laboratory participated in analysis of neutron scattering data taken at the Julich Centre for Neutron Science during a collaborative study led by Cambridge University and Shell Global Solutions. The investigation employed experiments and modeling to assess if a caprock trapped carbon dioxide supplied by an underlying aquifer. Researchers revealed a barrier-forming zone in which minerals dissolve, react with carbon dioxide and precipitate to clog pores. "Changes happening at the nanometer length scales that neutrons interrogate define how well caprock works as a barrier," Rother said. "Coupled geochemical reactions and fluid flow phenomena in nanopores control the seal integrity. This particular caprock retains carbon dioxide far longer than expected." [Contact: Dawn Levy, (865) 576-6448; levyd@ornl.gov] Image: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/news/images/08%20storing%20carbon%20tip.jpg Cutline: The Carmel caprock, which overlies an aquifer naturally charged with carbon dioxide, was analyzed with neutron scattering, revealing alteration only in the basal 7 cm and progression of caprock corrosion an order of magnitude slower than expected. ### Recently, a team of astrobiologists from the EU funded MASE (Mars Analogues for Space Exploration) project descended 1.1 kilometers below Earth's surface to the Mars-like environment of the Boulby Mine in the UK looking for answers about life on other planets. Six members of the MASE team headed to the mine on the North East coast of England to study ancient formations of honey-comb like hexagonal patterns that were formed 250 million years ago. Similar geological formations have been observed on Mars and the analysis of these rocks will help future space missions to better identify potential sites to look for biosignatures. Speaking about the recent investigation, MASE Scientific Coordinator Professor Charles Cockell from the UK Center for Astrobiology explains: "In Boulby the rocks were formed around 250 million years ago, in a giant inland sea. We think the polygonal shapes are connected to the expansion of salt when the sea periodically dried out, similar to the processes we see in places like Death Valley in California today. These features are similar to some environments we see on Mars. We suspect that the rims contain clay, iron and organics and we want to test the hypothesis that they contain signatures of life." The objective of the campaign to Boulby Mine was to collect solid samples to study their composition whilst at the same time testing different life-detection instruments that can be used to study salt deposits on Earth and elsewhere. The campaign was also part of the UK Centre for Astrobiology's MINAR (Mine Analog Research) work that seeks to advance science and technology for planetary exploration using the mine. The overall aim of MASE, a collaborative, four-year research project supported by the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7 - Grant Agreement n 607297), is to provide new insights into the adaptations of life to Mars-like conditions and the potential preservation of their biosignatures. The European Science Foundation (ESF) leads the co-ordination and dissemination strategy for MASE which is running from January 2014 to December 2017. Speaking about their involvement, ESF Chief Executive, Jean-Claude Worms said: "The European Science Foundation works closely with the MASE team, supervising the administrative and scientific progress of this unique project. ESF has a long track history in key European initiatives to advance research on life-detection in extraterrestrial environments. Through sampling of analogue sites, studying and stressing anaerobic organisms as well as mimicking the natural fossilisation processes, the MASE project addresses our current limitations in knowledge and will advance our ability to assess the habitability of Mars and detect life. " The MASE team is drafting the first scientific publications, which will be publicly available in Open Access format and widely disseminated through scientific databases. http://mase.esf.org/ ### Issued by: Rachel Graham, MKC Communications, 00 353 1 7038608 For MASE project information please contact: Mr. Nicolas Walter Administrative Coordinator European Science Foundation nwalter@esf.org Dr. Patricia Cabezas Administrative Coordinator European Science Foundation pcabezas@esf.org Prof. Charles Cockell Scientific Coordinator University of Edinburgh c.s.cockell@ed.ac.uk Note to Editor: The Mars Analogues for Space Exploration project is supported by European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement n 607297. The MASE consortium consists of Charles Cockell (The University of Edinburgh, UK); Petra Rettberg (The German Aerospace Center, Germany); Ricardo Amils (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain); Viggo Thor Marteinsson (MAT?S ltd., Iceland); Pascale Ehrenfreund (Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Netherlands); Felipe Gomez Gomez (Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial - Centro de Astrobiologia, Spain); Christine Moissl-Eichinger (Medical University of Graz, Austria); Frances Westall (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France) and Nicolas Walter (European Science Foundation, France). European Science Foundation (ESF): ESF is a services-based organisation that contributes to the European Research Area (ERA). It is building on core strengths developed over 42 years in peer review, evaluation and project management services and hosts five Expert Boards and Committees that provide in-depth and focused scientific expertise in selected disciplines. More at: http://www.esf.org/esf-today/recent-developments.html Scientists from the German Center for Infection Research have discovered that an infection with the filarial nematode Wuchereria bancrofti increases the risk of HIV infection by two to three fold Since the start of the HIV epidemic, there have been speculations as to why HIV and the immunodeficiency syndrome it causes have spread so much more in Africa than in other countries around the world. Scientists from the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) have now, for the first time, confirmed one reason for this: in a cohort study conducted in Tanzania, they discovered that an infection with the filarial nematode Wuchereria bancrofti increases the risk of HIV infection by two to three fold. The study has recently been published in the Lancet. "Adolescents and young adults are particularly affected: they showed an approximate three-fold increase for the risk of HIV infection when infected with Wuchereria bancrofti," explains Dr. Inge Kroidl from the Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at the University of Munich Medical Center (LMU). Scientists at the LMU Tropical Institute conducted this 5 yearlong population based cohort study together with scientists from the University Hospital of Bonn, as well as with DZIF African Partner Institutions in Tanzania. Wuchereria bancrofti : a worm infection with severe consequences Infections with the thread-like roundworm Wuchereria bancrofti cause lymphatic filariasis (LF), a disease of the lymphatic vessels that, in the worst case elicits elephantiasis. Images of elephant-like deformed limbs are not uncommon in these endemic regions of Africa. The drug combinations used to treat these infections in African communities are only effective against microfilariae, the worms offspring which enter the blood stream and from there are transmitted further by vector mosquitoes. In contrast, adult worms often reside in the hosts lymphatic system and can survive for many years. LF infections in the participants of the study currently published in the Lancet were diagnosed by a positive circulating filarial antigen (CFA) test. Study confirms a connection between filarial infection and risk of HIV infection. This study was designed to identify risk factors for HIV infection in the general population of southwest Tanzania. A sub-group of 1,055 people was subsequently tested for roundworm infection (filariasis). Over the study period, a total of 32 new HIV infections were described. People with filariasis compared to those who did not have filariasis had a 3.2 fold increased risk of HIV infection in the age group 14 to 25 years and a 2.4 fold increased risk in the age group 25 to 45 years. Those over 45 years had a 1.2 fold increased risk. "Now, after this longstanding theory has been confirmed, the work is really just beginning," explains Prof Michael Hoelscher, Director of the Tropical Institute in Munich, LMU and initiator of the cohort studies which were started in 2006. Further studies have been planned together with researchers from the University Hospital of Bonn. "What is important now is to find therapies that also rapidly eliminate the adult W. bancrofti worms," emphasises Prof Achim Hoerauf, whose career has revolved around filariasis research and within the DZIF, strives to develop novel drugs to treat these worms. "The results of this study are interesting, also from an immunological standpoint. They can help us to better understand factors which facilitate infection, and consequently help find preventative and therapeutic approaches," says Prof Hans-Georg Kraeusslich, Director of Virology at the University of Heidelberg and coordinator of the DZIF research field "HIV". Long-term research funding for Africa European Commission funding has made these results possible. Together with the Tanzanian Ministry of Health, the European Commission started strengthening research capacities in the Tanzanian healthcare system ten years ago. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has also contributed to these developments and has dedicated itself to further strengthening healthcare research in Africa in 2011. Amongst other things, their commitment is highlighted by the support of 5 research networks for health innovation in sub-Saharan Africa which have a total funding budget of around 50 million euros starting this year. TAKE-OFF, one of the five networks, is dedicated to filariasis research. In this network, Prof. Hoerauf and Dr. Kroidl will continue their successful research in the fight against filariasis with collaborators in three African countries. Klaus Rudischhauser, Deputy Director-General at the Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development shared his enthusiasm, "This success has clearly demonstrated how long-term funding can contribute to developing novel interventions for major diseases like HIV." ### Publication Kroidl I, Saathof E, Maganga L, et al. Effect of Wuchereria bancrofti infection on HIV incidence in southwest Tanzania: a prospective cohort study. Lancet 2016; published online August 2, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31252-1 Contact Dr. Inge Kroidl Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine LMU Medical Center T: 49-89-218017637 E-mail: ikroidl@lrz.uni-muenchen.de Prof. Michael Hoelscher Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine LMU Medical Center DZIF research field HIV T: 49-89-218017613 E-mail: hoelscher@lrz.uni-muenchen.de Prof. Achim Hoerauf Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology University Hospital of Bonn DZIF research field Novel Antiinfectives T: 49-228-287-15675 E-mail: achim.hoerauf@ukb.uni-bonn.de ATLANTA-The Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University has won a federal grant to study the relationship between nature walks and behaviors associated with autism stress responses in children. The three-year, multi-phased study will be funded by a $160,650 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service's National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge. The research will examine the impact of tree canopy in urban landscapes on the symptoms of children with autism. The studies will also look at the relationship between nature walks and memory in children with autism participating in community partners' summer programs. Dr. Brian Barger, a research assistant professor at CLD in Georgia State's School of Public Health, will collaborate with university researchers and community partners in Georgia, Arizona, Nebraska, Colorado and South Carolina. "We are building on prior studies of other populations, researching the relationship between natural environments and stress, depression, memory and capacity to focus," said Barger, "and we will take that approach and extend those findings to focus the lens on children with autism." In addition to scientific articles, research teams will work with community partners to develop a "Lessons Learned" document aimed at providing practical advice to nature groups interested in working with children with autism. "We are excited about the grant funding," said Dr. Daniel Crimmins, director of the CLD. "This research will give us another tool to pass on to caregivers and communities to use towards improving care for children with autism and related disabilities." CLD is part of a network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, one of 67 programs in the country funded by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CLD is in the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development at the School of Public Health at Georgia State. ### Around one in ten young men and one in eight young women in Britain who are sexually active have experienced a distressing sexual problem lasting at least three months in the past year, according to new research published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. [1] The study showed that very few young people experiencing difficulties had sought professional help about their sex lives. The researchers say that failing to address problems in early adulthood could potentially affect sexual happiness and relationships in the future. The findings come from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3) - the largest scientific study of sexual health lifestyles in Britain - carried out by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UCL and NatCen Social Research. 'Sexual function' is defined as the extent to which a person is able to participate in and enjoy a sexual relationship. Sexual function problems are often assumed to be more relevant for older people, and the authors believe this is the first study in the UK to focus on sexual function in early adulthood. The researchers analysed survey data from 1,875 sexually active and 517 sexually inactive participants aged 16 - 21 years old. The survey used items from a specially designed measure of sexual function to ask participants which sexual difficulties lasting three months or more they had experienced in the past year. Other questions included to what extent these problems had caused participants distress, and if they had sought help or advice about their sex life. [2] They found that a third of sexually active young men (34%) and just under a half of sexually active young women (44%) had experienced one or more sexual problems lasting at least three months in the past year. These figures were not much lower than for the wider 16-74 age group, which the team had investigated in a previous study. [3] Focussing on distress caused, the new research found that around one in ten young men (9%) and one in eight young women (13%) who were sexually active reported at least one sexual problem lasting three months or more in the past year which they had felt distressed about. Among young women, the most common distressing problems reported were difficulty reaching a climax (6% of sexually active women) and lacking interest in sex (5%). Among young men the most common were reaching a climax too quickly (5% of sexually active men) and difficulty getting and keeping an erection (3%). Lead author Dr Kirstin Mitchell, who began the research at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and is now based at the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, said: "When it comes to young people's sexuality, professional concern is usually focussed on preventing sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy. However, we should be considering sexual health much more broadly, as sexual difficulties can impact on young people's sexual wellbeing in the longer term. "Our findings show that distressing sexual problems are not only experienced by older people in Britain - they are in fact relatively common in early adulthood as well. Sex education and sexual health service professionals need to provide reassurance and opportunities for young people to discuss and address these problems early on. If we want to improve sexual wellbeing in the UK population, we need to reach people as they start their sex lives, otherwise a lack of knowledge, anxiety or shame might progress into lifelong sexual difficulties that can be damaging to sexual enjoyment and relationships." Over a third of young people (36% of men and 42% of women) who reported one or more sexual problems had sought help about their sex life, but this was rarely from a professional source. They most commonly reported seeking help from family and friends, or the media and self-help sources including the internet. Only 4% of young men and 8% of young women who reported a sexual problem had consulted a professional (such as a GP, sexual health professional or psychiatrist) about their sex life in the past year. Among those young people in the survey who had not had sex in the past year, 10% said they had avoided doing so because of sexual difficulties that either they or their partner had experienced. [4] Study co-author Professor Kaye Wellings from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: "UK sex education is often silent on issues of sexual satisfaction, but these are clearly important to young people and should be addressed. Sex education could do much more to debunk myths about sex, discuss pleasure and promote gender equality in relationships. Teaching young people the importance of communication and respect within relationships is also key to helping them understand and address problems that may occur in their sex lives." The authors note that their study may be limited by factors including possible recall bias and underreporting in the self-reported survey responses. ### The study was funded by the Medical Research Council and Wellcome, with additional funding from the Economic and Social Research Council and the Department of Health. The MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow is funded by the MRC and the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO). Kirstin R Mitchell, Rebecca Geary, Cynthia Graham, Soazig Clifton, Catherine H Mercer, Ruth Lewis, Wendy Macdowall, Jessica Datta, Anne M Johnson, Kaye Wellings, Sexual function in 16 to 21 year olds in Britain, Journal of Adolescent Health. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.05.017 Once the embargo lifts the paper will be available at the following link: http://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(16)30089-1/fulltext [1] Of those surveyed, 9.1% of young men and 13.4% of young women who were sexually active reported at least one distressing sexual problem in the past year lasting three months or more. [2] Sexually active defined as those reporting vaginal, oral or anal sex with at least one partner in the year prior to interview. Sexually inactive defined as those who had previously had a sexual experience but did not report having one in the year prior to interview. The researchers used the Natsal-SF, a measure of sexual function specifically designed and validated for use in this and other population prevalence surveys. Options for sexual function problems given in survey were: lacked interest in having sex, lacked enjoyment in sex, felt anxious during sex, felt physical pain as a result of sex, no excitement or arousal during sex, difficulty in reaching climax, reached climax too quickly, difficulty getting/keeping an erection (men only), uncomfortably dry vagina during sex (women only). [3] Mitchell KR, Mercer CH, Ploubidis GB, et al. Sexual function in Britain: Findings from the third national survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles (Natsal-3). Lancet 2013;382:1817e29. [4] In total 262 men and 255 women had previously had a sexual experience but did not report having sex in the year prior to interview. About the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a world-leading centre for research and postgraduate education in public and global health, with more than 4,000 students and 1,000 staff working in over 100 countries. The School is one of the highest-rated research institutions in the UK, and among the world's leading schools in public and global health. Our mission is to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice. http://www.lshtm.ac.uk About Wellcome Wellcome exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive. We're a global charitable foundation, both politically and financially independent. We support scientists and researchers, take on big problems, fuel imaginations and spark debate. Wellcome.ac.uk The Medical Research Council is at the forefront of scientific discovery to improve human health. Founded in 1913 to tackle tuberculosis, the MRC now invests taxpayers' money in some of the best medical research in the world across every area of health. Thirty-one MRC-funded researchers have won Nobel prizes in a wide range of disciplines, and MRC scientists have been behind such diverse discoveries as vitamins, the structure of DNA and the link between smoking and cancer, as well as achievements such as pioneering the use of randomised controlled trials, the invention of MRI scanning, and the development of a group of antibodies used in the making of some of the most successful drugs ever developed. Today, MRC-funded scientists tackle some of the greatest health problems facing humanity in the 21st century, from the rising tide of chronic diseases associated with ageing to the threats posed by rapidly mutating micro-organisms. http://www.mrc.ac.uk ROCHESTER, Minn. -- A team of Mayo Clinic researchers has identified evidence of bacteria in sterilely-obtained breast tissue and found differences between women with and without breast cancer. The findings are published in the Aug. 3 issue of Scientific Reports. "Our research found that breast tissue samples obtained in the operating room under sterile conditions contain bacterial DNA, even when there is no sign of infection. Furthermore, we identified significant differences in the breast tissue microbiome of women with cancer versus women without cancer," says Tina Hieken, M.D., a breast surgical oncologist at Mayo Clinic. "Our work confirmed the presence of a distinct breast tissue microbiome and that it is different than the microbiome of the overlying breast skin." According to the National Cancer Institute, a microbiome is a collection of microorganisms and viruses that live in a specific environment in the human body. Dr. Hieken says, globally, breast cancer accounts for nearly one quarter of all cancers and is the leading cause of cancer death among women. She says that while there are established risk factors for breast cancer, at least 70 percent of breast cancer cases occur in women of average risk, and current prediction models are poor at identifying risk for individual women. "Differences in the microbiome have been implicated in cancer development at a variety of body sites including stomach, colon, liver, lung and skin," says co-investigators Amy Degnim, M.D. a breast surgical oncologist at Mayo Clinic. "There is mounting evidence that changes in the breast microbiome may be implicated in cancer development and the aggressiveness of cancer and that eliminating dangerous microorganisms or restoring normal microbiota may reverse this process," adds Nick Chia, Ph.D., a microbiome researcher at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Hieken says it remains unclear whether small shifts in microbial communities, the presence of a virulent pathogenic strain or the absence of a beneficial one might be responsible for promoting the development of cancer in the breast microbiome. However, she says the findings of this study will spur further research to identify potential causes of breast cancer development and new microbial-based prevention therapies. ### Co-authors are: Tina Hieken, M.D. Jun Chen, Ph.D. Tanya Hoskin, M.S. Marina Walther-Antonio, Ph.D. Stephen Johnson Sheri Ramaker Jian Xiao, Ph.D. Derek Radisky, Ph.D. Keith Knutson, Ph.D. Krishna Kalari, Ph.D. Janet Yao Larry Baddour, M.D. Nicholas Chia, Ph.D. Amy Degnim, M.D. All co-authors are from Mayo Clinic. The authors wish to thank the women who participated in this study and Michelle Neseth for her administrative support. The study was supported by grants from the American Society of Breast Surgeons Foundation, The Fraternal Order of Eagles Cancer Research Fund, the Mayo Clinic Department of Surgery Research Unit and Mayo Center for Individualized Medicine. About the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center As a leading institution funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center conducts basic, clinical and population science research, translating discoveries into improved methods for prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. For information on cancer clinical trials, call the clinical trial referral office at 1-855-776-0015 (toll-free). About Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education and research, providing expert, whole-person care to everyone who needs healing. For more information, visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic or http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/. The golden tegu lizard, previously thought to be a single species, may actually comprise four distinct clades, including three new cryptic species, according to a study published August 3, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by John Murphy from the Field Museum of Natural History, USA and colleagues. Tegus are among the largest Neotropical lizards, and while some species occur only in Brazil, Tupinambis teguixin inhabits much of northern South America. Commonly known as the golden tegu, T. teguixin is also sometimes called the "black and white" tegu and can be confused with the closely related species, Salvator merianae. To help resolve the systematics and nomenclature of this species, the authors examined museum samples of golden tegus for genetic and morphological differences across its geographical distribution. The authors noted subtle differences in leg scale morphology, as well as the shape of eye and lip areas, and identified substantial genetic divergence across the tegus large range. The authors split the species currently recognized as T. teguixin into four morphologically distinct but geographically overlapping species, including three new cryptic species - T. cryptus, T. cuzcoensis, and T. zuliensis - that look similar to the human eye but are genetically distinct. The authors suggest that further research in northeastern South America might identify additional species within the T. teguixin group, which would aid in planning for tegu conservation. "We demonstrate for the first time that two lineages of the Golden Tegu, Tupinambis teguixin, are living side by side at multiple locations in South America, and that T. teguixin is composed of at least four distinct species," said John Murphy. "This situation is known in many other species. What is surprising is that it has gone unrecognized in a species heavily exploited by humans for more than 200 years." ### In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0158542 Citation: Murphy JC, Jowers MJ, Lehtinen RM, Charles SP, Colli GR, Peres AK Jr, et al. (2016) Cryptic, Sympatric Diversity in Tegu Lizards of the Tupinambis teguixin Group (Squamata, Sauria, Teiidae) and the Description of Three New Species. PLoS ONE 11(8): e0158542. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0158542 Funding: George Washington University and the National Science Foundation funded part of this project (DBI-0905765, DEB-1441719) to R. Alex Pyron. But, no funding for this project was received by the other authors. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Summer is always the best time of year to get a good blasting at a festival or mega-band concert, but how many of us give a thought to our delicate sense of hearing as our ears are assaulted? Birds are capable of replacing damaged hair cells in the inner ear after exposure to loud sound, but mammals are not, potentially leading to deafness. However, Glen Watson from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA, explains that one remarkably resilient animal has no problem rescuing damaged hair cells. Sea anemones, which detect passing prey with the vibration-sensitive hair cells covering their tentacles, have remarkable regenerative properties that allow them to rebuild the missing halves of their bodies when they tear themselves in two during reproduction. 'It occurred to me that if any animal could recover from damage to its hair bundles, anemones would be the ones', says Watson. Having discovered a cocktail of proteins in the mucus coating sea anemone bodies that allows them to repair injured hair cells in as little as 8 min, Watson and Pei-Ciao Tang decided to find out what effect the restorative proteins might have on damaged mouse cochlear cells. The team publishes their discovery that the sea anemone proteins can repair damaged mouse cochlear hair cells in Journal of Experimental Biology at http://jeb.biologists.org. Recalling that growing the delicate hair cells in the lab was very challenging, Watson explains how he and Tang eventually succeeded in dissecting the minute cochleae and attaching the cultured cells to coverslips thanks to advice from Karen Smith and other colleagues. Watson also describes how hair cells have a bundle of minute hair-like structures on the surface - stereocilia - that are tethered at the tips by protein strands in a V-shaped formation and he explains that it is the tethers that break when hair cells are damaged, causing the stereocilia to collapse. Knowing that calcium is an essential component of the tether structures, Watson and Tang transferred the hair cells to an environment lacking calcium for 15 min in an attempt to reproduce the destruction produced by sound in mammalian cochleae. Describing the effects, Watson says, 'The stereocilia splayed rather than occurring in well-organised bundles'. In addition, the hair cells were unable to take up a dye that undamaged hair cells absorb readily; they were severely damaged, in much the same way that the cells in our cochleae are damaged by loud sound. Having confirmed that the low calcium environment was destructive, Watson and Tang collected the mucus from starlet sea anemones that had damaged tentacle hair cells, isolated the repair proteins and added the protein cocktail to the damaged mouse hair cells for 1h. The hair cells recovered significantly - the stereocilia were no longer splayed and the cells improved sufficiently to absorb the dye; the sea anemone proteins had repaired the damaged mouse cells. Watson and Tang then searched the mouse genome for examples of the crucial repair proteins and found evidence that mice produce many proteins that are closely related to the sea anemone repair proteins, suggesting that it may be possible to mobilise the same repair mechanisms in mammals with damaged hearing. Watson hopes that this ground-breaking discovery will eventually lead to a treatment for patients with acute hearing loss. However, he acknowledges that this research is in its infancy and is keen to discover the mechanism that could eventually allow sea anemones to restore our hearing. ### REFERENCE: Tang, P.-C., Smith, K. M. and Watson, G. M. (2016). Repair of traumatized mammalian hair cells via sea anemone repair proteins. J. Exp. Biol. 219, 2265-2270. URL: http://jeb.biologists.org/content/219/15/2265 doi:10.1242/jeb.135459 This article is posted on this site to give advance access to other authorised media who may wish to report on this story. Full attribution is required, and if reporting online a link to jeb.biologists.com is also required. The story posted here is COPYRIGHTED. Therefore advance permission is required before any and every reproduction of each article in full. PLEASE CONTACT permissions@biologists.com THIS ARTICLE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL WEDNESDAY,3 August 2016, 18:00 HRS EDT (23:00 HRS BST) MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. (August 3, 2016) Mantis shrimp, often brightly colored and fiercely aggressive sea creatures with outsized strength, use the ultraviolet reflectance of their color spots as well as chemical signals to assess the likelihood of victory in combat, according to research led by a Tufts University doctoral candidate. The findings, published today in Royal Society Open Science, mark the first time that researchers have demonstrated that mantis shrimp (Neogonodactylus oerstedii) use both color and chemical cues when fighting over resources. "Mantis shrimp, or stomatopods, are well known for aggressive temperaments and complex visual systems, but until now we've known very little about whether and how they use color to communicate with other mantis shrimp," said Amanda Franklin, a Ph.D. student in the biology department of Tufts University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the first and corresponding author on the paper. "Our experiments demonstrate that they use a complex signaling system that combines the UV reflectance of an important spot of color as well chemical cues to help them judge their opponent's state of aggression, fighting ability and the presence of a stomatopod in a refuge." Mantis shrimp live in cavities in coral rubble or rock where they hide from predators, process food, mate and brood eggs. Because of the importance of their refuges, they are known to fight aggressively for them, punching and lunging at each other. The punch of certain types of mantis shrimp is strong enough to break glass. The creatures' vibrant colors and their warlike nature have attracted a devoted following of enthusiasts. Before fighting, mantis shrimp typically perform a threat display which shows their meral spots -- a patch of bright color on each of their club-like raptorial appendages. Researchers put sunscreen on the meral spots of some shrimp to temporarily dim the spots' UV reflectance, then staged fights. (Mantis shrimp were not injured as a result of the experiments.) Mantis shrimp that perceived an opponent's UV reflectance as low were more willing to fight and to escalate contests more quickly, suggesting that the spot enhances the threat display and provides valuable clues about an opponent's level of aggression. Researchers also temporarily dulled the ability of some of the mantis shrimp to detect chemical cues. Without the benefit of chemical signals, mantis shrimp approached an opponent's refuge more quickly and behaved less aggressively, suggesting that the chemical cues help them assess the size of an opponent and determine if an opponent is inside their dwelling. Color and chemical signals enable mantis shrimp to avoid fights that they would likely lose, said Franklin. She and her fellow researchers hypothesize that mantis shrimp use chemical cues first to determine the presence of an opponent, and then continually flick their antennae throughout a fight to evaluate changing chemical signals. Meanwhile, UV reflectance enhances the visibility of the meral spot and the threat display, from which an opponent can estimate the ferocity of the pending fight. ### Other authors on the paper were N. Justin Marshall of the Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, and Sara M. Lewis, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Tufts University, who is Franklin's advisor. The work was funded by the Fulbright Science and Technology Fellowship, a Tufts University graduate student research award, and crowdfunding through Experiment, a crowdfunding platform. Amanda M. Franklin, N. Justin Marshall, Sara M. Lewis, "Multimodal signals: ultraviolet reflectance and chemical cues in stomatopod agonistic encounters," Royal Society Open Science, online August 3, 2016, DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160329. Figures and video are available here. About Tufts University Tufts University, located on campuses in Boston, Medford/Somerville and Grafton, Massachusetts, and in Talloires, France, is recognized among the premier research universities in the United States. Tufts enjoys a global reputation for academic excellence and for the preparation of students as leaders in a wide range of professions. A growing number of innovative teaching and research initiatives span all Tufts campuses, and collaboration among the faculty and students in the undergraduate, graduate and professional programs across the university's schools is widely encouraged. Flash United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien Tuesday called on all actors in South Sudan, including the international community supporting the country, to work together for a peace that will enable the nation and its people to realize their hopes for a better future. "We all need to work together, fast and hard to create peace," said Mr. O'Brien, speaking with UN Radio halfway through his three-day mission to crisis-torn South Sudan, where the humanitarian situation has worsened after fighting broke out three weeks ago in and around the capital, Juba, between rival forces backing President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar. "There is no better platform for people to have hope, to be able to invest in their future, and to be able to [] to utilize the undoubted assets not just the people of the country but also the land," he emphasized. Noting that though rains had been unpredictable, he said that the land offered a lot of promise. "There is opportunity for people [] to fend for themselves and to grow [crops], have an agricultural future [and to] supply others within the country [as well as] to create markets and [] help everybody start generating the opportunities for prosperity," he noted. Underlining that people are compelled to make difficult choices and take incredible risks, such as having to flee their homes when their safety and security or the future of their children is threatened, he noted: "It directly flows from conflict." "Just as you and I would, if you can't feed your children, get them to education, [find] necessary medicines, or have a baby safely if you are [pregnant]," he added, outlining the severe challenges that people have to face because of conflict. Turning to the challenges humanitarian workers have to contend with on a daily basis, Mr. O'Brien, who is also the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, underscored that access for humanitarian workers and those on a humanitarian mission is a right that is guaranteed under international laws. He added that conflict had severely restricted aid access if not prohibited it altogether, in some instances. Mr. O'Brien further emphasized that humanitarian workers are driven by humanitarian needs. They operate on the basis of independence, impartiality and neutrality, and must be given free, unimpeded access to reach all people in need, wherever they may be. Furthermore, he said that attacks on humanitarian workers or facilities, such as the recent looting of a UN World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse, severely impact the availability of food and relief material for those in need as well as the ability of humanitarian workers to deliver such items to those desperately needing the support. "[The people who looted that warehouse] have removed the chance for others to survive and to be protected," Mr. O'Brien emphasized, adding that those who committed that criminal act must be held accountable. The top UN humanitarian official also underlined the importance of partnerships and coordination with the Government and relief actors on the ground, stressing that harnessing such partnership further strengthens the humanitarian support and makes it more cost effective. He added that by working with the State authorities in order to help them deliver on their obligations and provide basic services to the people of the country, both at the local and at the federal level, fosters the conditions for peace to grow and consolidate. Such a situation, he said, would allow the people of South Sudan, the world's youngest country, to build a confident country with hopes for the future. The bat-killing fungus recently detected for the first time in western North America is genetically similar to strains found in the eastern United States and did not likely originate in Eurasia, according to a study published today in the journal mSphere. The findings have implications for resource managers battling the spread of the devastating disease white-nose syndrome (WNS) in North American bats. Results of the U.S. Geological Survey and USDA Forest Service study provide clues about the origin of this strain of the Pseudogymnoascus destructans fungus, or Pd. This fungus causes WNS and was recently found on a bat near North Bend, Washington, about 1,300 miles from the previous westernmost detection in Nebraska. Because Pd is also present in Eurasia and North Bend is located near an international port, the scientists studied DNA from the Washington fungus to determine if it had roots abroad. "Although it remains unclear how Pd reached Washington, this finding guides us to look to North America as the source," said Jonathan Sleeman, director of the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC), where the Washington bat was confirmed Pd positive. "Now that Pd has been identified in the western U.S., it's critical to continue working with resource managers to help conserve imperiled bat species, which are worth billions of dollars per year to North American agriculture and forestry." In March 2016, a little brown bat found sick near North Bend tested positive for WNS. Following this discovery, the USGS NWHC provided DNA from the fungus on the bat's skin to a laboratory at the Forest Service's Northern Research Station (NRS) for genetic analysis. "The severity and potential ecosystem-level effects of WNS in North America make it one of the most serious wildlife diseases ever recorded," said Daniel Lindner, a research plant pathologist with the Forest Service's NRS and a co-author on the study. "We have made a lot of progress in understanding WNS and in monitoring its spread, but more work is needed to determine how disease impacts will vary among bat populations in eastern and western North America." Scientists at the Forest Service's NRS, sequenced DNA from multiple strains of Pd, including the fungus cultured from the Washington bat, to determine that it most closely matched fungal strains from eastern North America. White-nose syndrome was first documented in New York state in 2006 and has rapidly spread westward in North America to neighboring states and into Canada. The disease has killed millions of beneficial, insect-eating bats and threatens several formerly abundant bat species with extinction. Based on the current understanding of Pd distribution in North America, scientists cannot determine if the fungus reached Washington from the east by bat movements or through human activities. However, ongoing surveillance efforts coordinated through the multiagency WNS response effort continues to provide insights on the spread of WNS, the impacts of this disease on bat populations and the potential for population recovery. The national WNS response effort is coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and involves federal, state and non-governmental organizations, including representatives from the bat conservation and caving communities. "These results confirm that Pd is capable of movement far across North America. They do not, however, change the importance of taking precautions to reduce the risk of spread by humans," said Jeremy Coleman, National WNS Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "There's much we don't know about how Pd will affect populations of western bats, so it is critical to limit spread as much as possible until we can improve survival of susceptible bats." WNS is not known to pose a threat to humans, pets, livestock or other wildlife. ### For more information about WNS, please visit the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and Forest Service's Northern Research Station websites. Cancer treatments based on laser irridation of tiny nanoparticles that are injected directly into the cancer tumor are working and can destroy the cancer from within. Researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Copenhagen have developed a method that kills cancer cells using nanoparticles and lasers. The treatment has been tested on mice and it has been demonstrated that the cancer tumors are considerably damaged. The results are published in the scientific journal, Scientific Reports. Traditional cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy have major side affects, because they not only affect the cancer tumors, but also the healthy parts of the body. A large interdisciplinary research project between physicists at the Niels Bohr Institute and doctors and human biologists at the Panum Institute and Rigshospitalet has developed a new treatment that only affects cancer tumors locally and therefore is much more gentle on the body. The project is called Laser Activated Nanoparticles for Tumor Elimination (LANTERN). The head of the project is Professor Lene Oddershede, a biophysicist and head of the research group Optical Tweezers at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with Professor Andreas Kjr, head of the Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Panum Institute. After experimenting with biological membranes, the researchers have now tested the method on living mice. In the experiments, the mice are given cancer tumors of laboratory cultured human cancer cells. "The treatment involves injecting tiny nanoparticles directly into the cancer. Then you heat up the nanoparticles from outside using lasers. It is a strong interaction between the nanoparticles and the laser light, which causes the particles to heat up. What then happens is that the heated particles damage or kill the cancer cells," explains Lene Oddershede. Design and effect The small nanoparticles are between 80 and 150 nanometers in diameter (a nanometer is a millionth of a millimeter). The tested particles consist of either solid gold or a shell structure consisting of a glass core with a thin shell of gold around it. Some of the experiments aimed to find out which particles are most effective in reducing tumors. "As physicists we have great expertise in the interaction between light and nanoparticles and we can very accurately measure the temperature of the heated nanoparticles. The effectiveness depends on the right combination between the structure and material of the particles, their physical size and the wavelength of the light," explains Lene Oddershede. The experiments showed that the researchers got the best results with nanoparticles that were 150 nanometers in size and consisted of a core of glass coated with gold. The nanoparticles were illuminated with near-infrared laser light, which is the best at penetrating through the tissue. In contrast to conventional radiation therapy, the near-infrared laser light causes no burn damage to the tissue that it passes through. Just an hour after the treatment, they could already directly see with PET scans that the cancer cells had been killed and the effect continued for at least two days after the treatment. "Now we have proven that the method works. In the longer term, we would like the method to work by injecting the nanoparticles into the bloodstream, where they end up in the tumors that may have metastasized. With the PET scans we can see where the tumors are and irridate them with lasers, while also effectively assessing how well the treatment has worked shortly after the irradiation. In addition, we will coat the particles with chemotherapy, which is released by the heat and which will also help kill the cancer cells," explains Lene Oddershede. ### Contact: Lene Broeng Oddershede Professor, head of the Danish National Research Foundation Center StemPhys head of the research group Optical Tweezers at the Niels Bohr Institute University of Copenhagen Tel. 45-2494-2534 Email: oddershede@nbi.dk Andreas Kjr Professor, head of the Cluster for Molecular Imaging Panum Institute University of Copenhagen 45-3532-7504 akjaer@sund.ku.dk University of California, Berkeley engineers have built the first dust-sized, wireless sensors that can be implanted in the body, bringing closer the day when a Fitbit-like device could monitor internal nerves, muscles or organs in real time. Because these batteryless sensors could also be used to stimulate nerves and muscles, the technology also opens the door to "electroceuticals" to treat disorders such as epilepsy or to stimulate the immune system or tamp down inflammation. The so-called neural dust, which the team implanted in the muscles and peripheral nerves of rats, is unique in that ultrasound is used both to power and read out the measurements. Ultrasound technology is already well-developed for hospital use, and ultrasound vibrations can penetrate nearly anywhere in the body, unlike radio waves, the researchers say. "I think the long-term prospects for neural dust are not only within nerves and the brain, but much broader," said Michel Maharbiz, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences and one of the study's two main authors. "Having access to in-body telemetry has never been possible because there has been no way to put something supertiny superdeep. But now I can take a speck of nothing and park it next to a nerve or organ, your GI tract or a muscle, and read out the data." Maharbiz, neuroscientist Jose Carmena, a professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences and a member of the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, and their colleagues will report their findings in the August 3 issue of the journal Neuron. The sensors, which the researchers have already shrunk to a 1 millimeter cube - about the size of a large grain of sand - contain a piezoelectric crystal that converts ultrasound vibrations from outside the body into electricity to power a tiny, on-board transistor that is in contact with a nerve or muscle fiber. A voltage spike in the fiber alters the circuit and the vibration of the crystal, which changes the echo detected by the ultrasound receiver, typically the same device that generates the vibrations. The slight change, called backscatter, allows them to determine the voltage. Motes sprinkled thoughout the body In their experiment, the UC Berkeley team powered up the passive sensors every 100 microseconds with six 540-nanosecond ultrasound pulses, which gave them a continual, real-time readout. They coated the first-generation motes - 3 millimeters long, 1 millimeter high and 4/5 millimeter thick - with surgical-grade epoxy, but they are currently building motes from biocompatible thin films which would potentially last in the body without degradation for a decade or more. While the experiments so far have involved the peripheral nervous system and muscles, the neural dust motes could work equally well in the central nervous system and brain to control prosthetics, the researchers say. Today's implantable electrodes degrade within 1 to 2 years, and all connect to wires that pass through holes in the skull. Wireless sensors - dozens to a hundred - could be sealed in, avoiding infection and unwanted movement of the electrodes. "The original goal of the neural dust project was to imagine the next generation of brain-machine interfaces, and to make it a viable clinical technology," said neuroscience graduate student Ryan Neely. "If a paraplegic wants to control a computer or a robotic arm, you would just implant this electrode in the brain and it would last essentially a lifetime." In a paper published online in 2013, the researchers estimated that they could shrink the sensors down to a cube 50 microns on a side - about 2 thousandths of an inch, or half the width of a human hair. At that size, the motes could nestle up to just a few nerve axons and continually record their electrical activity. "The beauty is that now, the sensors are small enough to have a good application in the peripheral nervous system, for bladder control or appetite suppression, for example," Carmena said. "The technology is not really there yet to get to the 50-micron target size, which we would need for the brain and central nervous system. Once it's clinically proven, however, neural dust will just replace wire electrodes. This time, once you close up the brain, you're done." The team is working now to miniaturize the device further, find more biocompatible materials and improve the surface transceiver that sends and receives the ultrasounds, ideally using beam-steering technology to focus the sounds waves on individual motes. They are now building little backpacks for rats to hold the ultrasound transceiver that will record data from implanted motes. They're also working to expand the motes' ability to detect non-electrical signals, such as oxygen or hormone levels. "The vision is to implant these neural dust motes anywhere in the body, and have a patch over the implanted site send ultrasonic waves to wake up and receive necessary information from the motes for the desired therapy you want," said Dongjin Seo, a graduate student in electrical engineering and computer sciences. "Eventually you would use multiple implants and one patch that would ping each implant individually, or all simultaneously." Ultrasound vs radio Maharbiz and Carmena conceived of the idea of neural dust about five years ago, but attempts to power an implantable device and read out the data using radio waves were disappointing. Radio attenuates very quickly with distance in tissue, so communicating with devices deep in the body would be difficult without using potentially damaging high-intensity radiation. Marharbiz hit on the idea of ultrasound, and in 2013 published a paper with Carmena, Seo and their colleagues describing how such a system might work. "Our first study demonstrated that the fundamental physics of ultrasound allowed for very, very small implants that could record and communicate neural data," said Maharbiz. He and his students have now created that system. "Ultrasound is much more efficient when you are targeting devices that are on the millimeter scale or smaller and that are embedded deep in the body," Seo said. "You can get a lot of power into it and a lot more efficient transfer of energy and communication when using ultrasound as opposed to electromagnetic waves, which has been the go-to method for wirelessly transmitting power to miniature implants" "Now that you have a reliable, minimally invasive neural pickup in your body, the technology could become the driver for a whole gamut of applications, things that today don't even exist," Carmena said. ### Other co-authors of the Neuron paper are graduate student Konlin Shen, undergraduate Utkarsh Singhal and UC Berkeley professors Elad Alon and Jan Rabaey. The work was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency of the Department of Defense. Every day, more than 3,000 new abstracts are uploaded to PubMed, the main biomedical literature reference database. Even in a researcher's narrowly-defined field, it is impossible to stay on top of the ever-evolving webs of interconnections between these papers. For example, a new gene is described - might it be relevant to a researcher's specialty? It could take many painstaking hours of searching to discover the answer. Now a new tool developed in the A.C. Tan lab at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and described today in the journal Bioinformatics helps researchers make these connections. The free tool, HiPub, is available for download as plugin for the Chrome web browser. "HiPub looks through all this text and tries to recognize what is being called genes, proteins, drugs and diseases. It extracts this information and visualizes it in a network. Especially in molecular biology or cancer biology, it's useful to see the connections between these things in their biological context," says Aik Choon Tan, PhD, investigator at the CU Cancer Center and associate professor at the CU School of Medicine. Tan gives the example of a hypothetical researcher who reads a paper exploring the genes KRAS and MEK, known to influence the development of certain cancers. "The researcher wants to know if these genes have any relevance to her specialty, maybe something like p53 [another gene known to influence cancer]." The researcher queries "P53" along with the new article and HiPub visualizes how the researcher's interest is connected to the genes in this new paper. If connections seem compelling, the researcher could design experiments to test these links. "The idea of text mining isn't new," Tan says. "Computer scientists have been doing it for ten or twenty years. But the real application of text mining in biomedical research is very limited. HiPub is a way to use text mining to streamline the process of knowledge discovery." ### The project is a collaboration between Tan and colleagues in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Korea University in Seoul, Korea, including first author Kyubum Lee and co-senior author Professor Jaewoo Kang. Korea University hosts the HiPub description page, http://hipub.korea.ac.kr/, which includes download link and user guide. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A new study of the interplay between function, form and ergonomics reveals an important strategic design trade-off for automotive manufacturers: Investments in both function and ergonomics result in higher market share, whereas investments in both function and form impose a share penalty. Car companies can either "design for satisfaction" by investing in function and ergonomics or "design for delight" by investing in form, said Raj Echambadi, a professor of business administration at Illinois and co-author of the new research. The paper, which will be published by the Journal of Marketing, also finds that older vehicles with higher levels of form design hold their market-share value better than older vehicles with higher levels of functional or ergonomic design. The reason? According to Echambadi, form is conspicuous and universal while functionality and ergonomics are intrinsically personal. Form broadly equates with a vehicle's "cool factor": the aesthetics of a Corvette, for example, or the unique teardrop shape of a Harley Davidson's gas tank. Function and ergonomics are about performance and comfort: how well the product performs, how smooth the ride is, and how the product-user interface looks and feels to the driver. "What is comfortable for you might not be comfortable for me," said Echambadi, also the James F. Towey Faculty Fellow at Illinois. "Anyone can produce a 365-horsepower engine. But when you talk about the unique form design of a Lexus RX 350 or a Chrysler 300 - well, that's much more difficult to imitate." Drawing from diverse disciplines such as marketing, industrial design and engineering, the researchers examined the interplay among three distinct product-level dimensions - form, function and ergonomics - and their impact on the market share of a product using repeated cross-sectional data obtained from several different sources in the U.S. light-vehicle industry. Because older vehicles with higher form design hold their market share better than older vehicles with higher functional or ergonomic designs, "firms that focus on functionality and ergonomics need to introduce next-generation products more frequently than firms focused on form, who can afford to wait longer," said Echambadi, also the senior associate dean of MBA programs and strategic innovation at the College of Business. "Because the value of form is slightly higher and the value decay is slightly less steep, car companies that focus on form can let their existing design be in order to extract value from the marketplace, and then introduce a new model later," he said. "When you focus on form, it means you don't have to innovate every 24-36 months." However, if a company overinvests in any of the design factors, it can be counterproductive, Echambadi said. "Sometimes there are natural trade-offs," he said. "When you focus a lot on performance or comfort, technical constraints begin to emerge and there are inevitably trade-offs with respect to form." On the flip side, the manufacturer of a vehicle with superior form design may receive a market share penalty by also taking functional or ergonomic elements to the extreme, since such a product could be considered "overdesigned" by consumers. "Amping up the styling and performance is a risk, and what happens is you end up overshooting the market with a costly product, thereby targeting a narrower segment of the market," Echambadi said. "What's the difference between 370-horsepower engine versus 390-horsepower engine to a customer? Unless you're a car expert, there's no perceptible difference. "Car companies need to be extremely aware of when they're crossing the line into overkill because there are direct implications on cost to the consumer. If you need to invest, invest in either functionality and ergonomics, or in form - one or the other. This is the strategic capability trade-off." However, car companies shouldn't create a car with extraordinary functionality but a subpar form design, Echambadi said. "You'll still need to at least be average in form design to appropriate share growth," he said. "But beyond being average, there are no returns to scale for going above and beyond in the form department." The average also depends on what segment a company is competing in. "The average is going to be a lot different for the luxury car market than it will be for the economy car market," Echambadi said. "So a manager needs to understand the segment that they are competing in, in order to assess the average level of design required." Given the size of this industry, the monetary implications of these interactions is substantial, Echambadi said. "Shifting market share up or down by even a tenth of a percentage point in the overall industry represents more than half a billion dollars," he said. ### Echambadi's co-authors are Rupinder P. Jindal of the University of Washington at Tacoma; Sangwon Lee of Ball State University; and Kumar R. Sarangee of Santa Clara University. Editor's notes: To contact Raj Echambadi, call 217-244-4189; email rechamba@illinois.edu. The paper "Designed to Succeed: Dimensions of Product Design and Their Impact on Market Share" is available online. A major international research project led by a University of Sussex academic provides new evidence that the common belief in a cultural divide between the West and the rest of the world is little more than a myth A major international research project led by a University of Sussex academic provides new evidence that the common belief in a cultural divide between the West and the rest of the world is little more than a myth. Cultural psychologists have long argued that people living in Western cultures show a rather distinctive pattern of self-beliefs, compared to those who live in other parts of the world. Westerners, it is claimed, are unusual in that they tend to see themselves as independent from others. A sharp contrast between Western "independence" and non-Western "interdependence" has been at the heart of psychologists' thinking about cultural diversity for the last 25 years. The new research, involving 73 researchers working in 35 nations and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (UK), explored how people of different cultures see themselves and their relationships with others. The research involved 10,000 participants from over 50 cultural groups spanning all inhabited continents. The findings, just published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, reveal that the self-beliefs of members of Western cultural groups have much more in common with the rest of the world than was previously suggested, contradicting the generally accepted view of a "West versus the rest" divide in concepts of selfhood. Simultaneously, the research reveals much more diversity among cultural groups from different "non-Western" parts of the world than was previously acknowledged. Dr Vivian Vignoles, Reader in Social Psychology at the University of Sussex, Principal Investigator of the Culture and Identity Research Network, and lead author on the project, explains: "Self-perceptions influence our social relationships, health and lifestyle choices, community engagement, political actions, and ultimately our own and others' well-being. "Our new research provides a much richer and more accurate picture of cultural diversity in self-perceptions than was previously available. It shows that when we label a cultural group as 'individualist' or 'collectivist', this can lead us to make a lot of false assumptions about how people in that group will see themselves, and so we may wrongly predict how they might respond to our communications or interventions. "Our findings suggest that members of Western cultures tend to view themselves as more self-directed, unique and self-expressive than those from some, but not all other parts of the non-western world, and they do not typically view themselves as more self-interested or self-reliant. Western cultural groups are not an 'exception' but form part of the kaleidoscope of cultural diversity. "Cultural groups in other parts of the world have distinct models of selfhood that are poorly reflected by previous models of culture and self-perceptions. In fact, the prevailing cultural models of selfhood in Middle Eastern, East Asian, Sub-Saharan African or Latin American world regions are at least as different from each other as they each are from the Western model." The new findings will help researchers to understand better how psychological processes vary in different parts of the world. In future they could help practitioners to engage more effectively with members of diverse cultural communities; whether in business and trade, health promotion, international conflict resolution or development. ### Notes for editors: For more information, images, or interview requests, contact Patrick Reed, Media Relations Manager, on 01273 873659 - press@sussex.ac.uk MEDIA RELATIONS Communications and External Affairs | University of Sussex | Sussex House | Brighton BN1 9RH | United Kingdom T +44 (0)1273 678888 | press@sussex.ac.uk http://www.sussex.ac.uk/newsandevents Reference: Vignoles, V. L., Owe, E., Becker, M., Smith, P. B., Easterbrook, M., Brown., R., Gonzalez, R., Didier, N., Carrasco, D., Cadena, M. P., Lay, S., Schwartz, S. J., Des Rosiers, S. E., Villamar, J. A., Gavreliuc, A., Zinkeng, M., Kreuzbauer, R., Baguma, P., Martin, M., Tatarko, A., Herman, G., de Sauvage, I., Courtois, M., Gararsdottir, R. B., Harb, C., Schweiger Gallo, I., Prieto Gil, P., Lorente Clemares, R., Campara, G., Nizharadze, G., Macapagal, M. E. J., Jalal, B., Bourguignon, D., Zhang, J., Lv, S., Chybicka, A., Yuki, M., Zhang, X., Espinosa, A., Valk, A., Abuhamdeh, S., Amponsah, B., Ozgen, E., Guner, E. U., Yamako?lu, N., Chobthamkit, P., Pyszczynski, T., Kesebir, P., Vargas Trujillo, E., Balanta, P., Cendales Ayala, B., Koller, S. H., Jaafar, J. L., Gausel, N., Fischer, R., Milfont, T. L., Kusdil, E., Ca?lar, S., Aldhafri, S., Ferreira, M. C., Mekonnen, K. H., Wang, Q., Fulop, M., Torres, A., Camino, L., Lemos, F. C. S., Fritsche, I., Moller, B., Regalia, C., Manzi, C., Brambilla, M., & Bond, M. H. (2016). Beyond the 'East-West' dichotomy: Global variation in cultural models of selfhood. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General,. 145(8), 966-1000. Available online: http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/xge-xge0000175.pdf LOS ANGELES -- A cardiac imaging study led by Hossein Bahrami, MD, PhD, assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), along with investigators from Johns Hopkins University and five other institutions, showed a correlation between higher inflammatory biomarkers and an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). CAD is a narrowing of the arteries, likely due to the presence of calcified and non-calcified plaque. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) on June 27, 2016. Researchers examined nearly 925 men, 575 of whom were infected with HIV, from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. The researchers used computed tomography (CT) angiography to detect signs of subclinical CAD, such as narrowed arteries and the amount, density and calcification of plaque. Participants were also measured for the presence of seven inflammatory biomarkers. This study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the largest coronary CT scan imaging study on men infected with HIV to date. "We found that men infected with HIV had higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers than men who were not infected," said Bahrami. "There was a strong, independent association between the presence of these inflammatory biomarkers and subclinical CAD detected by CT scan. Although this study does not definitely prove the causal relationship between these markers and heart disease, it is suggestive of a possible role that persistent inflammation (even in HIV infected patients that are under appropriate treatments) may play in increasing the risk of heart disease in these patients." HIV-infected individuals are at an estimated twofold higher risk of CAD compared to those who are not infected with HIV. The development of antiretroviral therapy has significantly prolonged the lifespans of those living with HIV infection. However, they are more prone to chronic illness, such as cardiovascular disease and CAD, and they present at a younger age. These factors combined have made research into treating chronic illness in men with HIV all the more important. The CT imaging was crucial to this study, as researchers were able to detect subclinical CAD in a younger population rather than waiting until participants exhibited clinical symptoms. Moreover, researchers were using a broader set of inflammatory markers than in past studies, which provides more information about inflammatory pathways involved and potential causes for inflammation. "Inflammation has only recently been studied as a possible reason for chronic heart disease," said Bahrami. "Confirming the relationship between HIV-related inflammation and the marked increase of CAD among men infected with HIV allows us to move forward in our attempts to better manage the health of these patients according to their specific medical needs." In ongoing research efforts at the Keck School, Bahrami and team are also using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the changes in heart muscle, as well as details of coronary artery function in men affected by HIV. This advanced form of imaging evaluates several features of the heart that could not be evaluated with cardiovascular CT scans. This ongoing project is significant, as HIV-infected patients appear to have even higher risk of abnormalities in the heart muscles compared to their increased risk of coronary artery disease. Bahrami's research hopes to illuminate what causes HIV-related inflammation, as well as identify specific pathways involved and the best means of treatment or management of heart diseases in HIV patients. ### ABOUT THE KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF USC Founded in 1885, the Keck School of Medicine of USC is among the nation's leaders in innovative patient care, scientific discovery, education, and community service. It is part of Keck Medicine of USC, the University of Southern California's medical enterprise, one of only two university-owned academic medical centers in the Los Angeles area. This includes the Keck Medical Center of USC, composed of the Keck Hospital of USC and the USC Norris Cancer Hospital. The two world-class, USC-owned hospitals are staffed by more than 500 physicians who are faculty at the Keck School. The school today has more than 1,500 full-time faculty members and voluntary faculty of more than 2,400 physicians. These faculty direct the education of approximately 700 medical students and 1,000 students pursuing graduate and post-graduate degrees. The school trains more than 900 resident physicians in more than 50 specialty or subspecialty programs and is the largest educator of physicians practicing in Southern California. Together, the school's faculty and residents serve more than 1.5 million patients each year at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, as well as USC-affiliated hospitals Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. Keck School faculty also conduct research and teach at several research centers and institutes, including the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine at USC, the USC Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute, the USC Roski Eye Institute and the USC Institute of Urology. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked Keck School of Medicine among the Top 40 medical schools in the country. For more information, go to keck.usc.edu. This research was supported by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under award number R01 HL 095129, with additional support from UL1 RR 025005 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and NIH Roadmap for Medical Research. Bahrami was supported in part by NHLBI grant 5K23HL 128164A and National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) grant 5T32EB009035-06A1. Contents of this press release are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the NIH. As the city of Dallas seeks to attract new growth around Executive Airport, nearby residents have concerns as to how this growth will impact neighborhoods. The city has tapped The University of Texas at Arlington to examine how future enhancements at the airport in south Oak Cliff could spur economic growth and enhance the quality of life for surrounding neighborhoods. Graduate students from UTA's Institute of Urban Studies in the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs will develop a land use study to act as a guide for future development around the airport. Shima Hamidi, director of the Institute of Urban Studies and an assistant professor of planning in CAPPA, said the study will take a collaborative approach to involving residents and will tailor recommendations to address their concerns. Community engagement is critical to the study, Hamidi said. Residents who live near the airport should be stakeholders in the decision-making process. They are invested in their neighborhoods and will be directly impacted by the outcomes of future development. The student researchers will lead the community engagement process, encouraging participation from area residents and business owners. A series of public input meetings will be held to identify concerns and hear ideas about potential growth around the airport. The first community meeting was conducted in late June with more than 75 attending. In addition to community engagement, the research team will conduct an assessment of the airport and adjacent neighborhoods to analyze conditions including building locations, land use, circulation and traffic, and sociodemographic and socioeconomic patterns. The study also will identify best practices among high performing local, national and international airport development programs. The completed study will include several design scenarios as well as standards that will support economic growth, community partnerships, branding and physical improvements to the area. The Executive Airport land use study highlights UTA's commitment to shaping sustainable urban communities as outlined in the Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions | Global Impact. CAPPA Dean Nan Ellin said the airport project is "a wonderful opportunity for students to become involved in revitalizing an important district of Dallas." Mark Duebner, Dallas'aviation director, said, "There will be many development opportunities for the airport and the surrounding area in the next few years. The recommendations that come from this student will steer us to make the best choices for this community." The institute is currently working with the city of Dallas to assess walkability and the pedestrian experience in the downtown area. In the past two years, the institute also has completed a Dallas Fair Park proposal, a Waxahachie trails plan, a comprehensive plan for Palestine, Texas, a Mineral Wells downtown redevelopment plan and many other projects. CAPPA's Institute of Urban Studies was established by the Texas Legislature in 1967. The institute provides a broad array of services to communities and municipalities, including customized planning, management services, comprehensive plans, corridor plans, transportation plans, feasibility studies, park and open spaces plans, market area studies, retail analysis, neighborhood development research and many other services. ### About CAPPA Established in 2015, the UTA College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs unites the former schools of Architecture and Urban and Public Affairs, offering programs in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, planning, public administration, and public policy. The College includes the David Dillon Center for Texas Architecture, the Digital Architectural Research Consortium, the Institute of Urban Studies, the Arlington Urban Design Center based at Arlington City Hall, and the Parallel Construction design/build program. About The University of Texas at Arlington The University of Texas at Arlington is a Carnegie Research-1 "highest research activity" institution of about 55,000 students in campus-based and online degree programs and is the second-largest institution in The University of Texas System. U.S. News & World Report ranks UTA fifth in the nation for undergraduate diversity. The University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is ranked as the top four-year college in Texas for veterans on Military Times' 2016 Best for Vets list. Visit http://www.uta.edu to learn more, and find UTA rankings and recognition at http://www.uta.edu/uta/about/rankings.php. For more on the Strategic Plan, see Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions | Global Impact. Patients suffering from so-called immune-mediated neuropathies frequently have a long medical record. As there are no diagnostic tests available to reliably diagnose the disease, the diagnosis is frequently made belatedly and patients can be misdiagnosed. Accordingly, many years often pass before an effective therapy is started. However, not all patients respond to first-choice drugs even when treated immediately. An autoimmune process is believed to cause this neuropathy in which the immune system attacks and destroys components of the nerve fibres. "How exactly this mechanism works is largely unknown. This fact obviously makes it more difficult to develop targeted drugs," says Dr. Kathrin Doppler, specialist at the Department of Neurology and Polyclinic of the University of Wuerzburg. Publication in Brain Kathrin Doppler with Luise Appeltshauser, doctoral student of medicine, and Claudia Sommer, senior consultant and professor of neurology, have now identified a potential trigger of such neuropathies in a new study. They present the results of their research in the current issue of the journal Brain. "We found that some patients have antibodies against the protein Caspr," Kathrin Doppler outlines the central study result. Caspr is involved in building myelin sheath gaps, the so-called Nodes of Ranvier, a nerve fibre structure crucial to forward nerve impulses. The scientists were able to show that in patients with antibodies against Caspr, the structure of the Nodes of Ranvier is destroyed and nerve function is severely impaired. Successful therapy for sufferers In their study, the Wuerzburg researchers examined 35 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), a chronic form of inflammatory nerve disorder, and 22 patients suffering from Guillain-Barre syndrome, an acute form. In one patient each with CIDP and Guillain-Barre syndrome, antibodies against the protein Caspr were detected in the blood. Moreover, the scientists were able to show that antibody production in these patients can be inhibited by the drug Rituximab which reverses the symptoms. Even though antibodies for Caspr are found in only a small set of patients, antibody-associated immune neuropathies are probably more common than assumed so far. Caspr is the third protein in this area of the Nodes of Ranvier for which autoantibodies have been identified. In the past years, researchers from Spain and Japan have also identified autoantibodies against two other Nodes of Ranvier proteins, Contactin-1 and Neurofascin-155, in patients with immune-mediated neuropathies. Hope for a better diagnosis "Our study backs the assumption from previous studies that patients who have antibodies against proteins of Nodes of Ranvier exhibit characteristic features," says Kathrin Doppler. This means: The disease develops rapidly, causes severe paralysis and responds poorly to standard therapy with corticosteroids or immunoglobulins but excellently to Rituximab treatment. The Wuerzburg neurologists found that strong neuralgia is another typical symptom in patients with Caspr antibodies. Patients with antibodies against the two other proteins, Neurofascin-155 and Contactin-1, in contrast typically exhibit a distinct tremor in targeted movements. According to the Wuerzburg scientists, this study raises hopes of identifying a cause at least in some of the patients suffering from inflammatory neuropathies and that a simple blood test for autoantibodies might help them get targeted treatment. ### Gather round, children. Its the Cambrian Explosion Story Hour and Douglas Erwin is back. The theme of the hour: Debunk Stephen Meyer and Darwins Doubt without naming them. Yes, this is familiar ground. Since we examined his proposals a year ago, Erwin seems to have joined the Oxygen Party (see our reviews from 2013, 2014, and 2016). In his latest paper, co-authored by scientists from Yale, Georgia Tech, and UC Riverside, the renowned paleontologist from the National Museum of Natural History does an interesting double take. Erwin roundly criticizes the notion that a rise in oxygen in the Precambrian oceans could have fueled the emergence of complex body plans. But in the conclusion, he ends up embracing oxygen anyway as a creative evolutionary force a mystical retreat from scientific explanation. The paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Earths oxygen cycle and the evolution of animal life, demonstrates with geophysical models that for most of the Proterozoic just before the Cambrian explosion oxygen levels were likely insufficient to fuel the complex metabolic pathways required for active, motile organisms. Would this part of the Abstract sound encouraging to evolutionists desperately needing an answer to Meyer? Herein, we quantitatively explore one aspect of the evolutionary coupling between animal life and Earths oxygen cycle the influence of spatial and temporal variability in surface ocean O 2 levels on the ecology of early metazoan organisms. Through the application of a series of quantitative biogeochemical models, we find that large spatiotemporal variations in surface ocean O 2 levels and pervasive benthic anoxia are expected in a world with much lower atmospheric pO 2 than at present, resulting in severe ecological constraints and a challenging evolutionary landscape for early metazoan life. We argue that these effects, when considered in the light of synergistic interactions with other environmental parameters and variable O 2 demand throughout an organisms life history, would have resulted in long-term evolutionary and ecological inhibition of animal life on Earth for much of Middle Proterozoic time (1.8-0.8 billion years ago). [Emphasis added.] The paper counters oft-stated assumptions that multicellular organisms began to innovate all kinds of new tricks as oxygen levels steadily rose. Although it should be stressed that many key biological innovations must have preceded the Late Proterozoic emergence of basal metazoan clades, we suggest that early multicellular organisms would have had to contend with a patchy and evolutionarily restrictive oxygen landscape for much of Proterozoic time, despite background local O 2 levels that may, in some cases, have been sufficient to fuel their metabolic needs. Although our discussion here focuses on metazoans, if periodic anoxia was common throughout shallow oceans during the Neoproterozoic, all eukaryotic life may have been oxygen-stressed on evolutionary timescales. This relationship may, in part, explain the early rise but protracted diversification of eukaryotes. Erwin and his co-authors have pulled the rug out from under his colleagues who trusted in oxygen. But now comes the double take. Its not a bug; its a feature! Suddenly, oxygen hit a threshold in the Late Proterozoic. Like magic, it created complex animals. Finally, we hypothesize that the interplay between long-term changes in base-level pO 2 and some degree of spatiotemporal oxygen variability may promote rather than inhibit biological and ecological innovation. For example, theory predicts that environmental fluctuation can often reinforce evolutionary transitions in individuality, such as multicellularity. A critical combination of baseline pO2 and spatiotemporal variability may thus have ratcheted the evolution of more advanced forms of multicellularity in some eukaryotic lineages. In addition, variability in the marine oxygen landscape against the backdrop of increasing baseline O 2 during the Late Proterozoic may have acted as a creative evolutionary force, ultimately favoring rapid phylogenetic diversification and ecological expansion among early animal lineages. Future work pinpointing when and how this transition occurred will be essential for fully understanding how changes in surface O 2 levels have affected the tempo and mode of early metazoan evolution. Indeed. When and how. Fully understanding. Keep up the good work. Nature, too, retells the Tale of the Creative Oxygen. Referring to a study of salt crystals that contained 11% oxygen, more than expected for 815 million years ago, they say: The authors suggest that high oxygen levels drove animal evolution, rather than the other way around. How about an empirical test for that hypothesis? Add more creative oxygen to Lenskis E. coli test tubes, perhaps? A Snipe Hunt for Eukaryote Origins Another double-take occurs in an open-access paper in Trends in Cell Biology, On the Archaeal Origins of Eukaryotes and the Challenges of Inferring Phenotype from Genotype. Gautam Dey, Mukund Thattai, and Buzz Baum undercut a favorite evolutionary notion, only to embrace it in the end. You can see the bad news part of the story in this summary from Cell Press on EurekAlert. How long have you heard that the first eukaryote was born when a bacterium engulfed an archaeal cell, creating a wonderful symbiosis that led to todays eukaryotic cells replete with chromosomes in a nucleus, mitochondria, and all the other organelles? Think again. The textbooks are wrong. The first eukaryote is thought to have arisen when simpler archaea and bacteria joined forces. But in an Opinion paper published June 16 in Trends in Cell Biology, researchers propose that new genomic evidence derived from a deep-sea vent on the ocean floor suggests that the molecular machinery essential to eukaryotic life was probably borrowed, little by little over time, from those simpler ancestors. We are beginning to think of eukaryotic origins as a slow process of growing intimacy the result of a long, slow dance between kingdoms, and not a quick tryst, which is the way it is portrayed in textbooks, says Mukund Thattai of the National Centre for Biological Sciences in India. But lest evolutionary colleagues worry, the authors have no intention of pandering to Darwin critics. Theyre only rearranging the timeline, offering Slow Eukaryogenesis instead of Fast Eukaryogenesis. They found some genes (but not the organism) near a deep-sea vent that suggest that a mysterious ancestor named Loki is lurking around. Loki (short for a proposed Lokiarchaeota) might be a snipe ancestor (snipe are birds, and they are eukaryotes, right?). The hunt is on for this cell that they think has precursors to true eukaryotes that is, machines doing jobs for archaea that were later co-opted for eukaryotes of the future: Loki is so far unique among archaea in having a large number of highly conserved actin and actin-like proteins, proteins with homology to gelsolin, representatives of all three ESCRT complexes, and a putative BAR domain protein. However, these ESPs [Eukaryotic Signature Proteins] most likely function within a typical TACK family archaeal cellular milieu. It follows that we should look to other TACK archaea as a guide to potential function in addition to eukaryotes.Given its larger complement of actin-like and potential gelsolin-like regulators, Loki may then be capable of assuming different forms. However, given the recent discovery of actins involvement in nuclear functions, actin homologs could function to regulate gene expression in Loki. In a similar vein, since all cells have to divide, it should be no surprise that all bacteria and archaea encode machinery that enables their membranes to undergo regulated or unregulated membrane scission. Thus it is likely that, in Loki, ESCRTIII does this job: inducing a change in membrane topology that is as old as cellular life itself. More magic, whether performed in a long, slow fashion or at a quicker pace. Evolutionists need to stop the bad news, good news jokes. Enough magic acts and storytelling. The goal of science is to provide a vera causa for observed effects. Except in some highly imaginative fiction, oxygen is not a creative evolutionary force. A gas cannot devise body plans. A living archaeal cell at a deep sea vent is not the ancestor to all eukaryotes. Complex specified information is present. Molecular machinery is present. What necessary and sufficient cause other than intelligence can explain these observed realities? Photo: Story hour at the library, by United States Army, Cpl. Hwang Joon-hyun, Yongsan Public Affairs [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Flash South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Tuesday evening sacked six Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in Opposition (SPLM-IO) ministers and two deputies. The affected ministers, who were sacked in a televised presidential decree on the national broadcaster, included Interior Minister Alfred Lado Gore, who was replaced by Michael Tiangjiek Mut. Gore, the second in command in opposition faction, was however retained and named the Minister of Land, Housing, and Urban Development, replacing Mary Alfonse Nadio Lodira. Kiir replaced Dak Doth Bishok, the minister of petroleum with Ezekiel Lul Gat. The former minister of higher education Peter Adwok Nyaba was replaced with Yien Tut. Mabior Garang De Mabior, the former minister of water resources and irrigation was replaced with Sofia A. Gai. Peter Marcello, the minister of labour was replaced with Gabriel Duop Lam. The president also replaced Diop Lam who was the deputy minister with Rieu Gatliek Gai and named Natake Allan as deputy minister for labour to replace Elizabeth Achuei. Kiir said the reshuffle was carried out based on recommendation from the newly appointed First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai who took over from ex-rebel leader Dr. Riek Machar. The reshuffle comes after Lam Akol resigned as Minister of Agriculture, calling for regime change, saying the peace deal which was aimed at ending more than two years of fighting is "dead'. All the ministers who were sacked on Tuesday are loyal to Machar who fled Juba on July 9 following heavy clashes which erupted between forces loyal to him and President Kiir. According to UNHCR, the deadly clashes between the two rival factions have sent thousands of civilians fleeing city including 60,000 others who have fled to neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, President Kiir has reiterated his rejection of the regional force being mooted by the international community to help stabilize South Sudan. Information Minister Michael Makuei accused the African Union (AU), the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and UN for creating political turmoil in a bid to colonize South Sudan. Makuei told journalists on Tuesday evening in Juba that the two bodies are out to prove that the transitional government that was put in place in April is not working so that they can prolong their stay in the country. "We do not understand what the bodies mean by intervention when we are fully a sovereign state," he said, adding that the call for intervention is simply a new way of colonizing the country and tear it apart. IGAD, AU and the UN have called for the deployment of third force to guard key government institution and act as the buffer zoon between the two rival armies in July. The regional countries are due to hold a summit in Ethiopia this weekend to finalize plans to send troops from East African countries to Juba. But Makuei said the action is not acceptable since it is not within the mandate of the organizations. "This move is tantamount to the colonizers coming back in form of organization and claim to work for humanity with hidden agenda," he added, accusing the former political detainees for accepting to be used to cause chaos in the country. Going abroad to seek your fortune is a concept that has been around for hundreds of years, but now new research suggests that the Asia-Pacific region has more potentially wealthy people than other parts of the world.While the richest still mainly live in the developed world, East Asia and the Pacific are two areas with the fastest growth in share of the globes wealthiest elite - this as more wealth comes from emerging countries, especially China. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Oxford and Kings College London, examined the varying fortunes of the worlds richest people between 1988 and 2012 to identify which parts of the world the top one per cent come from. It finds that compared with previous decades, many more of the global super-rich are from emerging countries, with a corresponding decline in the share of those from advanced economies.The United States still dominates with 38 per cent of the individuals in the global top 1 per cent in 2012, but this is much smaller than in 1998, when Americans made up nearly half of this group. By contrast, Chinas share in the global top one per cent rose from 1.3 per cent to 3.4 per cent between 2005 and 2012, while its share of the worlds billionaires is much larger - some 14 per cent in 2016.While citizens of advanced economies still made up the biggest share - at 79 per cent of the global top one per cent in 2012, the research calculations show this is on a downward trend, and is 7 to 11 per cent lower than between 1988 and 2005.The data also shows that Japan is second to the United States, with a share of 8.5 per cent, followed by Germany at 5.8 per cent, France at 5.4 per cent, Brazil at 5.3 per cent, and the United Kingdom rounding out the top six at 4.7 per cent.The researchers combined two sets of data: national household surveys covering most of the global population and economy, and information from the World Top Incomes Database, estimated from income tax records.Overall, the study finds there is currently less of a gap now between the worlds advanced and developing countries compared with previous decades, but inequalities still remain very high.The research shows that Brazil is the developing country with the largest share of the global one per cent with 5.3 per cent in 2012. But, it points out that while the South American country is large and relatively prosperous, it has a very high level of inequality. This means that wealthy Brazilians are able to cross the threshold but the incomes of the non-rich are correspondingly lower.The study also points out that both Chinas and Indias shares of billionaires are disproportionately higher than their share of individuals in the global income top one per cent. This suggests they are also particularly unequal at the very top compared with other countries.The turning point for the emerging economies appears to have been around 2005 said Professor Sudhir Anand, from the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford. That is when its citizens increasingly started to enter the ranks of the global rich.This trend was undoubtedly reinforced by the global financial crisis in 2008, which slowed growth in the advanced economies, he added, but developing countries were already beginning to catch up before then.As long as emerging economies continue to grow faster, which seems likely for the near future, the trend will continue with developing countries comprising an increasing share of the global top one per cent.According to Dr Paul Segal from the Department of International Development at Kings College London, it is by no means clear that the rich from traditionally poorer countries will contribute to declining global inequality, nor do we know if they will bring benefits to the less fortunate.We see inequalities within countries remaining high, and senior executives and business owners may find they share less in common with citizens of their own country than with their counterparts in other countries. They become a global class of their own, he said. Very sure there are shops in Shanghai and Beijing. Just google it and do not go for the cheapest (to prevent you end up with rashes). Some higher level massage places also do waxing as a part of a luxury spa treatment (again sure for Shanghai & Beijing). Hefei I do not know that well, but looking at the development its gone through I would assume also there they have this available. Can you please advise us where we can find a good carpenter in Nicosia Flash South Korea on Wednesday denounced the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s launch of ballistic missiles, which were conducted in an apparent protest against a decision to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korean soil. Seoul's foreign ministry said in a statement that it was in a blatant violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a sternly provocative act toward the international community as well as South Korea. The ministry said it will take necessary measures in close cooperation with major countries, while strengthening sanctions and pressures against the DPRK together with the international society. The statement followed the DPRK test-firing two ballistic missiles, estimated to be Rodong, eastward from its west region on Wednesday morning. One exploded right after the launch, but the other traveled about 1,000 km into east waters. It was the third launch by the DPRK of its ballistic missiles since South Korea and the United States early last month announced the agreement to install on THAAD battery in Seongju county, some 250 km southeast of Seoul, by the end of next year. Just a day after the announcement, the DPRK test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off its east coast to demonstrate against the THAAD deployment decision. In times of emergency, the SLBM is very hard to detect and track with the THAAD's X-band radar. On July 19, Pyongyang launched two medium-range Rodong missiles and one shorter-range Scud missile. The THAAD system is incapable of Rodong and Scud missiles as the DPRK missiles fly at an altitude of 20-30 km, much lower than the altitude of 40-150 km at which THAAD interceptors shoot down missiles. There's the Victorian International School of Sharjah but I haven't heard anyone talk of it in years and I don't think it was ever that highly regarded to begin with. Most Australian families in Dubai opt for one of the British curriculum / IB schools. There's scores of them. It will come down to your budget and priorities and what school you get into, as the better schools are all popular and have waiting lists. On the flip side, there's many new spaces in the new schools that have opened recently. Google is your friend. Where you live is also dependent on your budget and where your husband is working. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Tuesday, August 2, 2016 Interesting. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) includes information on its website about Sensitive Locations, which is CBP-speak for Places where we wont arrest you if you are an illegal immigrant. In careful, oh-so-delicate and respectful language, the agency explains that immigration laws are not to be enforced at designated sensitive locations so that illegal aliens can be free to live their lives without fear or hesitation. It reads in part The policies provide that enforcement actions at or focused on sensitive locations such as schools, places of worship, and hospitals should generally be avoided, and that such actions may only take place when (a) prior approval is obtained from an appropriate supervisory official, or (b) there are exigent circumstances necessitating immediate action without supervisor approval. The policies are meant to ensure that ICE and CBP officers and agents exercise sound judgment when enforcing federal law at or focused on sensitive locations, to enhance the public understanding and trust, and to ensure that people seeking to participate in activities or utilize services provided at any sensitive location are free to do so, without fear or hesitation. This policy is designed to ensure that these enforcement actions do not occur at nor are focused on sensitive locations such as schools and churches without meeting special exceptions, the ICE Sensitive Locations Policy states. Locations covered by Sensitive Locations Policy include, but are not limited to: Schools, such as known and licensed daycares, pre-schools and other early learning programs; primary schools; secondary schools; post-secondary schools up to and including colleges and universities; as well as scholastic or education-related activities or events, and school bus stops that are marked and/or known to the officer, during periods when school children are present at the stop; Medical treatment and health care facilities, such as hospitals, doctors offices, accredited health clinics, and emergent or urgent care facilities; Places of worship, such as churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples; Religious or civil ceremonies or observances, such as funerals and weddings; and During public demonstration, such as a march, rally, or parade. The enforcement actions covered by this policy are (1) arrests; (2) interviews; (3) searches; and (4) for the purposes of immigration enforcement only, surveillance, the ICE further explains. The CBP FAQ answers are accompanied by a Spanish translation, and the CBP website provides a toll-free number and email address so aggrieved illegal aliens can report immigration that violate these policies. As I said Interesting. Your Ethics Alarms Ethics Quiz of the Day is Is this a responsible, competent and ethical exercise of government power? I have seen a few right-wing sites that are foaming at their metaphorical mouths over this, calling it a virtual how-to guide for illegal aliens, and a literal advertisement for illegal immigration. I wouldnt go that far. Still, this is Hanlons Razor at its most insidious, as is the Obama administrations entire illegal immigration policy. It is stupidity, not conspiracy, but it is so stupid that it is sinister. The government that is pledged to enforce the law cannot intentionally instruct law breakers about how they can best avoid apprehension. I shouldnt have to explain why this is true. If illegals want to engage in strategies to avoid the rightful consequences of their illegal acts, then let them find lawyers. Such lawyers, by the way, would be violating ethics rules by assisting clients in illegal and unethical conduct. This disgracefulbut with this administration, typicalrule of law-undermining conduct will indeed get the Ethics Alarms This Will Help Elect Donald Trump designation, and its this kind of idiocy under Obama that has made Trump a viable candidate. Thats unethical all by itself. The government posts about sensitive locations show how unhinged by progressive cant and political correctness nonsense Democrats have become, with incalculable damage to the nation. ______________________ Pointer: Jasper and Sardine Tuesday, August 2, 2016 Attract the Right Job or Clientele: How to Use Mishaps As Opportunity The norm for most people is to become very frustrated over mishaps no matter who was at fault. Over the years, I learned from wise people to welcome these incidents as signs that its time to take a mental break. Walk away, by yourself for your very own mental walk into the woods. View mishaps as a gift in disguise to allow guidance for a new direction My Story Yesterday was one of those days. It would have been easy to get myself into a bad mood but instead, I laughed. The story actually begins with two very good friends. One is temporarily on pain medication. As I confirmed the time to catch up by phone, she claimed that the medicine caused her to mistakenly make a date that she couldnt possibly keep. Our call was cancelled. Friend number two is located half-way around the world. I was so looking forward to catching up with her, too. But she never put our call on the calendar and so double-booked with a client. Realization to Action The alarm sounded that it was time for a mental break. Relaxed, I silently reviewed and prioritized the more important projects to be completed. Motivation kicked in to take action! Instead of feeling sorry for myself. I was excited to recognize I could complete what had been sitting in front of me. Gift of Time The gift of time had been handed to me by my two very good friends. With determination, the project was completed and a sigh of relief could be heard. Your Story Many people give themselves a pity party when things dont work out. It drags them down and slows their progress to a screeching halt. How you handle forgotten appointments and mishaps is a reflection on your personal brand. Attitude demonstrates the care you hold for others plus the determination you hold within to continue achieving your goals. As a job seeker, you may find on occasion the interviewing manager will forget your appointment. Call back the next day to inquire if everything is okay. Doing so will put you in the leadership position for conducting the newly set interview appointment. Do You: Recognize missed appointments provide the extra time you originally wished you had? Get on the ball to pursue those projects left on the back burner? Always have a pipeline filled with goals and milestones to be achieved? By having a full pipeline for your own projects, just as you would fill a pipeline with client possibility, you will never be at a loss for what to do next. This activity will keep you on track and ahead of the curve for developing business. Sales Tips: Exchange lost opportunity for new opportunity Maximize time however you may Maintain a continuous goal and milestone document to make the most of every day Be forgiving for the good people to forgive you when errors are on your end Willingly reset missed appointments Be kind and willing to unravel issues that arise After you believe issues are resolved, inquire as to satisfaction with the outcome In your quiet time, search inward for new ideas to be pursued When friends reconvene suggest your new ideas to see which take off. In the end, you will see the downtime as a gift in disguise that leads you to the Smooth Sale! For Business Consultation and Conference Speaking Schedule an Appointment to Learn More: elinor@smoothsale.net Visit Elinors Author Page Sponsored By googleplus From: Chuck Gallagher -- The Business Ethics Expert - Keynote Speaker For Immediate Release: Dateline: Greenville , SC Wednesday, August 3, 2016 We Work Here, Its OK An Ethics Excuse The article in question is: US wildlife workers plead guilty to poaching-related charges in Colorado. It was first posted July 12, 2016 by Dan Elliott of the Associated Press. The article begins: Two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees pleaded guilty to poaching-related charges in the killing of a trophy-class bull elk in western Colorado(they) pleaded guilty to trespassing on private land that was closed to hunting at the time of the 2014 incidenttwo other men who didnt work for the federal agency were along on the hunt. Not only did two the employees violate the laws of the very agency they are obligated to protect, and not only did they flaunt the rules to two others not associated with the service, but they posted the selfie and trophy on the social media to show everyone they had broken the law. This is what we might characterize as triple-stupid. Employment again is not an ethics excuse. Interestingly, the two hunters are still with the service, even though they are officially (not technically) poachers. They did not hunt for meat or the pelt; they wanted the antlers. The penalty was $200 in fines (less than a pittance) and the guy who killed the animal was ordered to donate $5,000 to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (fair enough). Potentially their hunting and fishing privileges could be suspended for five years, after another round of reviews. The Consequences The case is transferable to most any other industry, and it is most always against the rules. It is the bank teller stealing funds, the car mechanic taking your new car for his weekend ride or the stock broker investing your funds in her company. Employment is not an ethics excuse. The hunters knew the rules. There are no gray areas. They broke the rules because they realized there were few consequences. I have no way of knowing this, so it is strictly an opinion, but I would not be shocked if they hadnt bent the rules several times before. Their arrogance got them caught. They underestimated the power of the social media when they were dumb enough to post the picture. That is what got them caught not oversight! Every choice has a consequence, and perhaps the fact that the hunter was caught may seem a enough, but organizationally throughout the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the punishment may be negligible to thin. It begs ethical training as employment isnt an ethics excuse. By extension, it is also worth asking why many other governmental have no ethical training on the federal, state or local levels. It would be one thing if this incident where the only one we have seen in years; we all know better. Just six months into 2016, we have detailed cases poor ethics in all aspects of government from local politicians on the take to the twisted bureaucracy of the Veterans Administration. In addition to being plain wrong, it is impossible to calculate how much each case of unethical behavior costs the taxpaying public. Even this tiny case cost us money in terms of legal fees and it is still on-going. In the case of the VA, it has cost many lives. It the case of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, billions of dollars. Who cares? We should all care. I do not for a second believe that ethical training will put an end to such violations of the public trust, but it may stop a percentage some people may be forced to think twice. Barring that, those who are caught, will and should expect consequences. Might I also suggest that those who are caught after receiving ethical training should suffer larger consequences? Forewarned should be forearmed; in this case, it is more of a chance than the elk had! YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME! The post This is a relatively small (but sick) incident but as we shall see it has huge implications. The be clear this post is neither for nor against hunting. Those opinions are yours. This post is about organizational arrogance and a lack of ethical training within the organization. Perhaps the issue is can employment be an ethics excuse?We Work Here, Its OK This is not an ethics excuse!The article in question is: US wildlife workers plead guilty to poaching-related charges in Colorado. It was first posted July 12, 2016 by Dan Elliott of the Associated Press.The article begins:Two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees pleaded guilty to poaching-related charges in the killing of a trophy-class bull elk in western Colorado(they) pleaded guilty to trespassing on private land that was closed to hunting at the time of the 2014 incidenttwo other men who didnt work for the federal agency were along on the hunt.Not only did two the employees violate the laws of the very agency they are obligated to protect, and not only did they flaunt the rules to two others not associated with the service, but they posted the selfie and trophy on the social media to show everyone they had broken the law. This is what we might characterize as triple-stupid. Employment again is not an ethics excuse. Interestingly, the two hunters are still with the service, even though they are officially (not technically) poachers. They did not hunt for meat or the pelt; they wanted the antlers.The penalty was $200 in fines (less than a pittance) and the guy who killed the animal was ordered to donate $5,000 to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (fair enough). Potentially their hunting and fishing privileges could be suspended for five years, after another round of reviews.The case is transferable to most any other industry, and it is most always against the rules. It is the bank teller stealing funds, the car mechanic taking your new car for his weekend ride or the stock broker investing your funds in her company. Employment is not an ethics excuse.The hunters knew the rules. There are no gray areas. They broke the rules because they realized there were few consequences. I have no way of knowing this, so it is strictly an opinion, but I would not be shocked if they hadnt bent the rules several times before. Their arrogance got them caught. They underestimated the power of the social media when they were dumb enough to post the picture. That is what got them caught not oversight!Every choice has a consequence, and perhaps the fact that the hunter was caught may seem a enough, but organizationally throughout the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the punishment may be negligible to thin. It begs ethical training as employment isnt an ethics excuse.By extension, it is also worth asking why many other governmental have no ethical training on the federal, state or local levels. It would be one thing if this incident where the only one we have seen in years; we all know better. Just six months into 2016, we have detailed cases poor ethics in all aspects of government from local politicians on the take to the twisted bureaucracy of the Veterans Administration. In addition to being plain wrong, it is impossible to calculate how much each case of unethical behavior costs the taxpaying public. Even this tiny case cost us money in terms of legal fees and it is still on-going. In the case of the VA, it has cost many lives. It the case of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, billions of dollars.I do not for a second believe that ethical training will put an end to such violations of the public trust, but it may stop a percentage some people may be forced to think twice. Barring that, those who are caught, will and should expect consequences. Might I also suggest that those who are caught after receiving ethical training should suffer larger consequences?Forewarned should be forearmed; in this case, it is more of a chance than the elk had!YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!The post The perfect Ethics Excuse We Work Here, Its OK appeared first on Chuck Gallagher This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO, TX In the 2002 movie Minority Report, Tom Cruise plays a cop in the precrime unit of the D.C. police department who uses psychic precognition to arrest people before they actually commit a crime. The Department of Homeland Security has hired two University of Texas at San Antonio researchers to develop its own precog program, looking for ways to detect and catch whistleblowers before they can steal sensitive information. Nicole Beebe, the director of the Center for Education and Research in Information and Infrastructure Security at UTSA, and Daijin Ko, a UTSA professor of management science and statistics, have been awarded more than $649,000 to continue developing a new computer algorithm that alerts an organization if an employees computer usage becomes suspicious. So its looking at what type of data has been processed by a user of a work station by file type; by data type, as in encrypted, encoded; as in strings, things like credit card numbers, account numbers, social security numbers personal identifying information that potentially a person should not be storing on their machine, Beebe said. In the largest intelligence leak in U.S. history, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden downloaded more than 1.7 million classified documents on the organizations programs before leaking those documents to the press and seeking asylum in Russia in 2013 prompting some to label him as a traitor for the leaks and still others to call him a hero for exposing the organizations far-reaching domestic spying program. Only a few months prior to the Snowden leaks, Army Private First Class Chelsea Manning pled guilty to leaking thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan battlefield reports as well as U.S. State Department diplomatic cables to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. Beebe said researchers have developed psychological profiles of potential whistleblowers and their typical behavior before stealing information, but the problem is that no two leakers are exactly the same or display the same behavior. The new strategy by the UTSA team started with a $371,170 grant from DHS in 2013, the same year as the Snowden leak, focuses more on detecting anomalies in individual behavior as well as behavior that deviates from an employees profile, which considers a host of demographic data and other factors. Their algorithm kicks into high alert, for instance, when an employee starts to store massive amounts of information on their computer drive or other storage devices - something that might indicate the person is about to bolt with sensitive information. Or to use a Snowden analogy why someone is collecting a bunch of PDFs and PowerPoints because theyre getting ready to exfiltrate them out, she said. While Beebe is focusing on the data forensics of the project, such as detecting traces of sensitive data left on data storage devices, Ko is working on developing an algorithm for the computer software to build a profile of users and their projected characteristics. What our system is trying to do is just trying to capture the multi-variable nature of their outlying behaviors so not just only one or two features that we have been using but 30 features or 50 features, Ko said. Based on age, gender, tenure and job classification, among other traits, the system is able to decide what type of computer usage is normal for that user and what type of usage would be considered an anomaly that might indicate a threat. Ko said with the help of statistical models, theyve been able to make a few hundred user profiles. Some of the behavior is common to all of the ages to you dont need that many profiles but eventually for the better system we will need a lot of data so thats why we need the big data analytics here, he said. Ko said using mock data in tests the system has been able to detect an insider threat with 99 percent accuracy. The comparison to the 2002 science fiction movie is not lost on Beebe. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. I talk about Minority Report in a lot of my work that I do because theres a lot of analogies, she said. The team is working with of Def-Logix, a computer security service in San Antonio, to develop the actual system and deploy it for testing at an unnamed industry partner. In about two years, Beebe said the system will be able to rolled out and used by businesses and government organizations around the nation. Its only when the companies and researchers partner together that research becomes a reality, Beebe said. As more companies out there are willing to work with us and allow us to beta test and deploy and get real world data, the more impactful our research is going to be for them and society, she said. As with any tool, Beebe said the new threat detection system isnt guaranteed to catch all threats or indefinitely solve the problem of insider leaks. I think what youre going to find in most organizations is a significant portfolio of cybersecurity tools and approaches, she said. Theres no one size fits all thing that catches everything and this is a new tool - a new arrow in that quiver, a new tool in that toolbox to detect something they could not detect before. BOERNE A San Antonio woman accused of forcing frightened tubers from a Kendall County creek at gunpoint last summer faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of assault at trial this week. Kathleen D. Daniel, 73, told officers responding to the July 4, 2015, incident that two teen girls floating down West Sister Creek were trespassing, according to police video in which Daniel confirmed firing a warning shot into the ground. Daniel also admitted brandishing the pistol at the stepfather of one of the girls who alerted by her panicked phone call had run from a downstream pickup point on the creek to the property in Sisterdale. The unwelcome guests tubing friends Skylar Obuch and Jaci Lewis and Lewis stepdad, Bobby Windle were escorted up the driveway to FM 1376 by Daniel and others. Asked by the deputy why she didnt call 911 to report the alleged trespassers, Daniel replied, If I thought youd respond, I would have. The jury also saw video of bikini-clad Obuch quoting Daniel as having shouted, Get out or Ill shoot! as they floated by on West Sister Creek, a tributary of the Guadalupe River. She pulled a gun and pointed it at us, a tearful Obuch said, recalling how they hid underwater as they tried to pass. I thought she was going to kill us. No charges were brought then, but Daniel was indicted in February on three charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, one for each victim. Records show she was freed from jail on bonds totaling $50,000 pending her trial, which began Monday before state District Judge Keith Williams and is expected to conclude by Friday. Prosecutor John Hoover asserts no trespass occurred because, as a navigable stream, the public has the right to use West Sister Creek. Mark Neugebauer, a surveyor at the Texas General Land Office, testified Tuesday that he measured the stream in August, at the request of local investigators, and found it met the requirements to be a navigable stream. A private landowner cannot impede the public access to a navigable stream, Neugebauer said. The property was previously owned by Vernon Friesenhahn, Daniels husband, but more recently has been listed as belonging to Sister Creek Ranch Ltd., in which Daniel claims an interest, authorities say. Daniel had previously complained to authorities about trespassing tubers, according to defense attorney Larry Bloomquist. His probing revealed that witness Deputy Mathew Cathy did not walk during the investigation into the creekbed, where Bloomquist indicated No Trespassing signs were posted. Are you aware a person has the right of self protection if someone is trespassing? Bloomquist asked Cathy. Yes, the deputy responded. WOOSTER, Ohio Peter Piermarini believes theres a new, biological way to combat the mosquitoes that transmit Zika, dengue, malaria and other dreaded diseases: make them unable to pee. An entomologist with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University, Piermarini and collaborators at Vanderbilt and Cornell universities are looking for ways to disrupt the mosquitoes Malpighian tubules, which are the equivalent of human kidneys. Female mosquitoes rely on their kidneys when consuming a human blood meal, Piermarini said. They may ingest the equivalent of their own body mass in blood, so they need to immediately get rid of the excess fluid they consume. They achieve this by urinating on their host while they are still feeding. As a result, Piermarini explained, mosquitoes with impaired kidney function would be less likely to escape the human host they are feeding on and survive the ingestion of blood. As part of this line of research, Piermarinis team has previously identified a chemical that compromises a mosquitos ability to excrete urine. This chemical, he said, interferes with the function of a class of mosquito proteins called potassium channels, which are involved in excretion. In addition to blocking their kidney function, the chemical leaves mosquitoes unable to fly and in several cases severely bloated, all of which would lead to a shorter lifespan for the mosquitoes. Additionally, in a new paper published earlier this year in the online journal PeerJ, Piermarini reported the discovery of 4,000 genes in the Malpighian tubules of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which are affected when the insect feeds on blood. Aedes mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of Zika virus, which can cause birth defects and poor pregnancy outcomes. They also help spread dengue fever, which infects hundreds of millions of people annually and can be fatal, and a host of other dangerous diseases worldwide. Zika in Ohio A highly invasive insect, the Asian tiger mosquito is present in parts of Ohio and could potentially transmit Zika if the virus were to become established in the state, according to Piermarini. Our data provide new insights into the molecular physiology of Malpighian tubules in mosquitoes, Piermarini said, referring to the new study. Our findings also reveal potentially important molecular targets for the development of chemical or gene-silencing insecticides that would disrupt renal function in mosquitoes. Piermarini said existing control measures for mosquitoes are being challenged by the emergence of resistance to conventional insecticides that target the mosquito nervous system. Consequently, he explained, it is becoming increasingly necessary to identify novel physiological targets to guide the development of new insecticides. We have demonstrated in our previous research that the kidneys of mosquitoes offer a valuable, new physiological target for insecticides, he said. But our understanding of how this tissue contributes to the metabolic processing of blood meals by mosquitoes is limited. Genomics To learn more about these processes, Piermarini and colleagues used state-of-the-art genomics to sequence the genes that are expressed in the Malpighian tubules of adult female Asian tiger mosquitoes, and documented the changes in gene expression that occur after mosquitoes feed on blood. We found significant changes in the expression of around 4,000 genes after blood feeding, he said. Notably, there was a suppression of genes associated with the production of urine and an activation of genes associated with the detoxification and excretion of metabolites produced during blood digestion. This study represents the first characterization of global gene expression in the Malpighian tubules of mosquitoes, and offers molecular insights into the physiological roles of the mosquito kidneys during the processing of blood meals. The results also demonstrate that blood feeding elicits a dramatic functional transition of the mosquito kidney from a tissue specializing in urine production to one specializing in detoxification and metabolic waste excretion, Piermarini explained. With this information, Piermarini said, his team will now able to identify specific molecular mechanisms that may be playing especially important roles in the metabolism of blood meals by mosquito kidneys and would be high-priority targets for insecticide development. If we can develop insecticides targeting the mechanisms activated after a blood meal, then we may be able to establish next-generation mosquito-control products that are highly selective for adult female mosquitoes, which are the only blood-feeding life stage and are most important for disease transmission, and that would not be harmful to non-blood feeding beneficial insects, such as honeybees, he said. High tunnel crops to be featured during educational short course Growers, educators and industry personnel can learn more about the aspects of high tunnel crop production during a short course Nov. 9 offered by ISU. The government is clamping down on property investors, which could have significant implications for diversified farmers and rural estates. "In the past couple of years weve seen an increasing tax assault on people with extra dwellings," says Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser to the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV). "New investors are face a higher rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax on purchases as well as reduced tax relief on mortgage interest, and there are also further implications for landowners taking a longer-term view." Although former Chancellor George Osborne cut the general rate of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) from 28% to 20% from April 2016, the 28% level remains for gains made on residential property excluding an individuals principal place of residence, which still qualifies for 100% relief. "From April 2019 the tax must be paid within 30 days of the ownership transfer, which could create some serious cash flow difficulties for anyone handing properties over to the next generation," says Mr Moody. 'Considerable challenges' "It will also raise considerable challenges when it comes to defining residential property, and calculating the capital gain, which may go back to 1982 base values." For example, a barn in the process of conversion is likely to be classified as residential. Apportioning the gain in mixed use properties such as a farm will be particularly difficult. In the case of a farm sale, CGT on the land and buildings will be levied at 20%, whereas the gain on residential properties will be charged at 28%. "A lot of property has been owned for a long time, so the gain will be calculated on 1982 base values, and if its been developed from a barn into residential use more recently that will present a further challenge," says Mr Moody. "Employing an experienced and qualified valuer in these cases will be essential." The "severe" cut in prices for lambs by local processors this week is "not justified" and is "nothing more than an attempt to knock producer confidence", according to the Ulster Farmers Union. Local processors have cut their prices this week by 30p/kg or 6 per lamb, leaving quotes around 365p/kg. "This drop in prices is completely unjustified as there has been no great surge in numbers recently," said UFU beef and lamb chairman, Crosby Cleland. "Local slaughter numbers are lower than both the same time last year and in 2014." "Local price cuts an attempt by processors to knock producer confidence" He added that there has also been "much greater activity" by southern buyers in the market due to the strength of the Euro against Sterling. "To date the favourable exchange rate has boosted live market competition, something which local processors have had difficulty dealing with," Mr Cleland said. "The fact that GB deadweight prices continue to return more than 4/kg shows that the market is capable of passing back more to farmers. "This demonstrates that the local price cuts are nothing more than an attempt by processors to knock producer confidence in the hope that this jolts farmers into panic sales," warned Mr Cleland. 'Desirable carcase' With the store lamb trade off to a good start, Mr Cleland noted that producers now have another option to market their lambs, especially those that do not yet have the desired finish. "Marketing in-spec lambs no heavier than 21kgs is still most desirable carcase to satisfy the widest range of markets. "I would encourage farmers to keep making every effort to sell their lambs in-spec. "Holding onto lambs in the hope of improved prices risks bringing more out of spec lambs on the market and these overweight lambs will increase the amount of meat in circulation. "Unfortunately this will only give processors more excuses to pull prices further on the lambs which do meet market specification," said Mr Cleland. Leave campaigners and Conservative Party donors earned 4 million from EU farm subsidies last year and are set to gain again if the government goes ahead with plans to link any post-Brexit deal with the EU, environmental organisation Greenpeace have said. Donors to Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom and other members of the Conservative Party gained from the EU policy last year due to their large estates, the organisation said. Supporters and donors of Vote Leave, could benefit from large pay-outs to their estates, including Lord Bamford and Sir James Dyson. "As the new environment secretary, Andrea Leadsom has a crucial decision to make for the future of our environment," Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven told the Huffington Post. "She can allow wealthy landowners to keep millions of pounds worth of taxpayer farm subsidies or she can use this opportunity to finally sort out this broken system. Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom "Its hard to imagine people accepting that money promised to the NHS from Brexit campaigners, including some big landowners, could be lavished instead on the country estates of the super-rich. "These public funds need to be targeted on helping farmers facing real hardship and in supporting schemes that protect our wildlife, prevent floods and store carbon." Last month, the group entered into the debate on post-Brexit farm subsidy policy by being a signatory to a letter which urged any subsidy policy to be linked to environmental performance. In a letter sent to Prime Minister Theresa May, the signatories said better food, farming and trade policies can help cut greenhouse gas emissions within those industries by 80% by 2050. 'We provide thousands of jobs and benefits to the environment' But in a joint statement to Mrs Leadsom just hours after her appointment, leaders of the UK's farming unions issued a call for the maintenance of subsidies at EU levels. "We provide thousands of jobs and deliver countless benefits to the natural environment," they said. "To be able to do this, and more, we are looking to all UK governments to commit to maintaining current levels of farm support." During their referendum campaigns, Leadsom and farm minister George Eustice said that current levels would be kept. "I have made it clear that I will guarantee the current level of support under a UK Agricultural Policy," Leadsom told the Countryside Alliance echoing similar statements made by Eustice that countries outside of the EU were able to give more to their farmers than the UK currently does. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the Treasury select committee that "all farmers will continue to receive the current levels of subsidy, it would be at the level that they currently enjoy and that level of support would be perpetuated." A spokesperson for the Department for Environment said: "The Secretary of State has been very clear that we now have an unparalleled opportunity to make sure all our policies are delivering for Britain and to grow our world-leading food and farming industry. "She has underlined the need for continuity for farmers and is looking forward to working with industry and the public to develop new proposals that provide tailored support for our agricultural industry as we leave the EU." Matthew White Ridley, 5th Viscount Ridley, told Energydesk that the Blagdon estate is a business supporting jobs in Northumberland. "All CAP subsidies received by the Blagdon estate are re-invested on the estate, including in environmental conservation such as the creation of new flower meadows, new hedgerows and new environmentally friendly field margins, for which the estate has won awards. "In campaigning for the UK to leave the EU I was arguing in the broader public interest, and against my own immediate interest." There is growing concern among Northern Irish beef producers due to the increasing price difference between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Ulster Farmers Union Deputy President, Victor Chesnutt, said that over the past month prime cattle prices across Great Britain have strengthened on a weekly basis and are currently averaging 346p/kg for R3 cattle. He explained that while trading conditions for farmers in the rest of the UK have improved, prices in Northern Ireland have continued to stagnate. "Local processors have up to now been trying to stall any increases in the base price. Ulster Farmers Union Deputy President, Victor Chesnutt "This has resulted in the growth of the price differential from 3p/kg to 13p/kg over the last month, which on a 380kg animal is almost 50. "For local farmers this is a concerning trend, with many still trying to recoup heavy losses from finishing cattle earlier in the year," said Mr Chestnutt. Local processing representatives have recently reported an improvement in trading conditions, part of which is attributed to the Euro-Sterling exchange rate which has moved onto much more favourable terms for local processors seeking to export. Long term impact on farmers "Despite these improving conditions, local processors have to date not been prepared to pass this back to farmers. "Once again this demonstrates that processors are working off a policy of short term gain for them and forgetting about the long term impact this has on the farmers who supply the raw materials," added Mr Chestnutt. Earlier in the year the UFU highlighted the lack of activity by NI's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to tackle the price differential and their acceptance of the status quo. "With a new Minister in place we expect changes in the direction DAERA policy will take, particularly in terms of trying to increase live exports from Northern Ireland," said Mr Chestnutt. He added that since the EU referendum there has been much talk about potential trade barriers between the UK and ROI. "DAERA need to focus on the trade barriers that already exist for local farmers seeking to trade cattle with Great Britain. "Reducing red tape and promoting the live export of cattle from Northern Ireland will be essential going forward in helping to sustain local beef production," said Mr Chestnutt. A spokesman for Muller said milk prices for September will remain unchanged, and are "confident that they will continue to be competitive." The response from the German dairy giant comes after the National Farmers Union demanded an explanation into Muller's September milk price reasoning. The NFU called on Muller to explain why the company is not increasing it in line with 'extremely positive' market signals for UK milk prices to its suppliers. NFU dairy board chairman Michael Oakes said that Mullers non-aligned suppliers estimated at around a third of its 1,900 farmer suppliers would be frustrated that they were not seeing the benefits of a market that was starting to experience positive price movements after two years of downturn. North of the border, NFU Scotland said the decision by Muller to ignore market signals is a "slap in the face" for its non-aligned producers who have endured "two years of falling prices". 'We did not expose farmers to very low returns' The Muller spokesman said the organisation's aim is to deliver a "stable" and "competitive milk price". "Where we differ from many other milk buyers in the UK is that throughout the crisis resulting from very high levels of milk supply and weak demand for commodity dairy products, our aim was to deliver a stable, competitive milk price on all litres bought from our farmer suppliers. "We honoured our contract terms and did not expose our farmers to very low returns for excess milk from spot markets during this period by introducing A&B contracts. "Whilst we agree with our Farmer Board that the markets are showing positive signals, we have a different view on when this can be translated into milk price. "We are optimistic for the future and hopeful that we might see stronger returns for our business and the farmers who supply us soon." Police in Aberdeenshire are hunting for thieves who stole 32,000 worth of cattle from farms. Three Limosin, two Simmental and a British Blue cow were taken from fields between Blackburn and the Hatton of Fintray between June 27 and July 8. A further 14 Charolais cows were stolen from land a short distance away, near Monymusk, at about 2pm on July 27. All the cows have ear tags. A total of 32,000 worth of livestock is thought to have been stolen. Police Scotland Inspector Jon Millar, the local Policing Inspector for Garioch, said: "We are appealing for any information on these incidents which may or may not be related." "While this type of crime is relatively rare in this area, the loss of cattle can have such a devastating and lasting impact on famers and their families. "We are working with them and the wider farming community and industry to try and identify who is responsible and where the cattle have gone. "It is believed the animals were herded into a waiting vehicle." "Our local officers are providing additional visibility in the area and we will continue to work with our partners and communities to reduce the risk of further incidents. "It is vital we speak to anyone who may have seen the cattle being taken from the field or walked along the road. "Id also specifically appeal to anyone who may have been offered the livestock or carcasses." Rural Payments Wales (RPW) and the Rural Payments Agency in England (RPA) have been ured to co-operate to ensure the remaining 2015 cross border Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) claims are paid without further delay. RPW claims that the remaining cross border claimants which are yet to be paid have been held up by a file of corrupted data provided by the RPA which its systems have not been able to read. Tenant Farmers Association Cymru Chairman Dennis Matheson said that the farming sector had been given "assurances" by both RPW and the RPA that the "data problem has been resolved." TFA Cymru Chairman Dennis Matheson Mr Matheson said: "We can only hope that there are no further delays in completing these payments which have been awaited for some time. "These businesses would normally have expected to have received payment in December or January at the latest. These delays are having a crippling impact on cash flow." 'Complexity of individual claims' TFA Cymru has also been told that there are other reasons for delayed payments including the complexity of individual claims and those involving young farmer entitlements. "I welcome the openness of the dialogue TFA Cymru has had with RPW. "Dealing with cross border issues is always going to be difficult when two different computer systems have to find a way of talking to each other. "It is important that there is some early thinking about how these problems can be resolved in advance of beginning to make payments against 2016 BPS claims. "I do not want cross-border farmers to be left in the same position this time next year," said Mr Matheson. "Now that we are in the period for negotiating our way out of the EU and developing our own schemes and policies for agriculture, it will be important to address cross border issues from the beginning. "Although England and Wales will be coming forward with their own schemes and policies for farms which straddle the Welsh border, appropriate administrative arrangements must be put in place to ensure the smooth operation of any new schemes," said Mr Matheson. Farming has always had an intrinsic relationship with technology, with the last century seeing farm yields greatly increased by new methods and technologies. From breakthroughs in nutrition, genetics and informatics to satellite imaging and meteorology, agriculture has seen vast improvements. For the relationship to work, costs and the price of end products must not increase, whilst allowing yields to rise. This is particularly important moving forward as the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN (FAO) has predicted that in order to keep pace with population growth, food production must increase by 70 percent by 2050. The agriculture industry is faced with a number of challenges in achieving these imperatives with limited availability of arable land; global climate change; the growing scarcity of water; the price and availability of energy - particularly from fossil fuels; and the impact of urbanisation on the supply of rural labour. Technology will play a central role in helping to overcome these challenges while ensuring costs are kept to a minimum and this can already be seen with the arrival of precision agriculture in the milking industry, for example. Business projects have won funding from organisations in the past (Picture: NASA) By combining scientific expertise, soil chemistry and disease management with intelligent sensors and information technology, farmers have been able to simultaneously increase crop yields and reduce waste. For farmers and growers, depending on the type of farming involved, special sensors collect data regarding soil and crop behaviour, animal behaviour, machine status, storage tank and outbuildings status from remote sites. Collected data, can not only detect signs of disease in crops and animals much sooner than they would otherwise become noticeable, but can also provide greater insight into farming activities to make process improvements. Other valuable data that can be harnessed includes weather conditions and forecasts, scientific crop information, historic yield, plant and animal diseases and their symptoms, and regional rules and regulations such as which chemicals can be applied and when. Precision farming is not limited to a particular size or type of farm; it has a number of different applications that can be utilised in a number of different farming areas: Large field arable farming Precision agriculture follows the crop growth cycle in all its steps from seeding, planting, application of fertilisers and pesticides, through to harvesting. Currently, farm vehicles used in large field arable farming are becoming more sophisticated with state-of-the-art functionality, equipped with GPS, sensors embedded in different parts of the vehicles, sophisticated data visualisation tools on board, and the ability to transmit data. Telematics and tracking technologies continuously record location and travel routes to avoid going over the same patch twice, record working times and utilisation of vehicles, as well as their condition in real-time. New products are also able to use visualisation technologies to detect weeds, which the vehicle then destroys on the spot. Data returned to the equipments manufacturer can also provide useful information on wear and tear, aiding in the development of improved designs. Small to medium sized field arable farming Medium and small sized fields can benefit from connected and intelligent vehicles, in the same way large field arable farming can. However, they also need sophisticated sensing activities at soil and plant level. Spatially-enabled mobile sensing technologies provide detailed analysis of field conditions such as the humidity in different soil layers, the amount of nutrients in the soil, temperature, as well as rainfall, wind direction and speed. Farmers are often reluctant to invest in radically new technologies unless there is a proven business case Correct preparation is vitally important due to the diversity of soils; a single field may contain multiple soil types. Livestock and animal monitoring Precision farming solutions are deployed in order to monitor the location and the health of livestock in a number of ways. In the case of cows, sensors are placed on or within the animal and an alert is sent wirelessly to a tag mounted on the cows ear. The data is then sent to the farm management information system, which can also be available on the farmers mobile phone or tablet. Oestrus monitoring allows farmers to know the precise time when the animal is on heat ready for insemination. A sensor mounted in a collar worn by the animal can detect lameness and other ailments and a rumen monitoring system records acidity levels and temperature within the animal, enabling farmers, vets and nutritionists to achieve optimum care conditions. For horses, a sensor-carrying belt attached to the animal may detect unusual behaviour which may be a sign of disease. And for poultry farming, sensors can monitor the animals health and welfare, often affected by the intensive and crowded conditions in sheds. Indoor horticulture Greenhouses need frequent monitoring to ensure any failure is detected immediately and a range of conditions are constantly under control. Indicators such as solar radiation, temperature, humidity and air quality, presence of mildew or pests must remain within the necessary ranges. Continuous sensing and communication of data sensed with the farm management systems ensures these conditions are met. Return on Investment The Return on Investment (RoI) in precision farming systems is not always easy to quantify in terms of actual numbers. Farmers are reluctant to invest in radically new technologies unless there is a proven business case. However, the market is starting to show case studies in which the RoI is real. The benefits for farmers are numerous, including savings of time and money, as well as limiting their environmental impact. Using sensor technology means that toxic spraying can occur only when absolutely necessary. Other applications may alert farmers in case of dry soil and other conditions that may require attention or human intervention. In other words, everything about the use of data and analytical systems can be used to inform decision making, in order to make better use of land and resources. Monitoring Olive Groves in Italy Farms and greenhouses are generally small compared with large arable fields. Because of the crops high value, losses are proportionally high and likewise savings from reduced spoilage are also high. The olive fruit fly Bactrocera Oleae is a serious pest causing major losses of the crop as Oil extracted from the infested fruit has a lower quality. TeamDev, an Italian software company, developed a decision support system based on data collected by Libeliums Sensor Platform. The network collects ambient and weather data including temperature, humidity, rainfall, atmospheric pressure and integrating it with other information using software developed for farming management. The company worked with an organisation of Umbrian olive producers to develop a web-based system to understand the behaviour of the pest. The software created the model of fly diffusion based on the conditions in each olive grove. As a result, the understanding of the growing and environmental conditions enabled better control of the pest. The technology investment was recovered over one year. The Way Ahead The smart farming vision is starting to show its potential beyond connected and intelligent vehicles, with application areas such as horticulture, high-valued crops and precision livestock farming, all able to benefit from precision agriculture. The benefits and the RoI of smart farming in those areas are also starting to become apparent. The farming community is moving in different directions. On one side a minority, digitally aware and with funds, is appreciating the transformative power of smart farming. But on the other side, a sceptical community that wants to understand more about it. Moving forwards with the smart farming vision means having clear explanations of its impact to the farming community. The engagement with farmers on the positive impact is a fundamental step. Farming associations and the smart farming ecosystem should strongly focus on education in order to move from scepticism to enthusiasm. Tree cover on agricultural land has increased across the globe, capturing nearly 0.75 Gigatonnes carbon dioxide every year. A new study titled Global Tree Cover and Biomass Carbon on Agricultural Land provides insights into the patterns of this tremendous change at global, regional and national scales. According to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), agriculture and land-use change account for about 24% of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change will also have strong impacts on food security in the long-term. But a recent study has shown that the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from crop and livestock production is limited. At the same time, large forest areas, primarily in the tropics, are still being converted into agricultural land to feed the worlds growing population. For these reasons, agricultural practices that can significantly reduce carbon emissions are in high demand. Agroforestry systems Trees on agricultural lands also known as agroforestry systems have the potential to contribute to climate change mitigation while improving livelihoods and incomes and providing invaluable ecosystem services at the same time. The World Bank estimates that globally 1.2 billion people depend on agroforestry farming systems, especially in developing countries. "Results of our spatial analysis show that trees on agricultural land sequestered close to 0.75 Gigatonnes of carbon dioxide globally per year" However, trees on agricultural lands are not considered in the greenhouse gas accounting framework of the IPCC. A team of researchers from various institutions in Africa, Asia and Europe carried out a study to assess the role of trees on agricultural land and the amount of carbon they have sequestered from the atmosphere over the past decade. The study looks at biomass carbon on agricultural land both globally and by country, and what determines its distribution across different climate zones. Biomass on agricultural land globally "Remote sensing data show that in 2010, 43% of all agricultural land globally had at least 10% tree cover, up from eight percent in the preceding decade," said Robert Zomer of the World Agroforestry Centre, lead author of the study. "Given the vast amount of land under agriculture, agroforestry may already significantly contribute to global carbon budgets." However, regional differences in the trend are significant. The distribution of tree cover on agricultural land depends on climatic conditions in different parts of the world. High tree cover is found in humid areas such as South East Asia, Central America, eastern South America, as well as central and coastal West Africa. Tree cover on agricultural land was moderate in south Asia, sub-humid Africa, central and western Europe, the Amazonia and mid-west North America. On the other hand, low tree cover was found in east China, northwest India, west Asia, the southern border of the Sahara Desert, the prairies of North America and southwest Australia. Biomass on agricultural land by country Remarkable differences are noted in changing biomass carbon stocks over time among countries. Brazil, Indonesia, China and India had the largest increases, while Argentina, Myanmar, and Sierra Leone had the largest decreases in biomass carbon stored on agricultural land. High average carbon mass levels were to be found in 26 countries in the humid tropics, with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and Indonesia in the lead. On the other hand, 60 countries found in arid and desert parts of the world around the Sahara Desert in North Africa, the Kalahari in southern Africa, Middle East, as well as central and southern Asia recorded low carbon levels over the ten-year period. "Study results show that existing tree cover makes a major contribution to carbon pools on agricultural land, demonstrating the potential to add to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts," said Jianchu Xu of the World Agroforestry Centre. "If tree cover is accounted for, the total carbon stock is over four times higher than when estimated using IPCC tier 1 estimates alone." Given the large amount of agricultural land where tree cover is below its potential, the study suggests that a huge mitigation potential exists and should be explored more systematically. "The results of our spatial analysis show that trees on agricultural land sequestered close to 0.75 Gigatonnes of carbon dioxide globally per year over the past decade," said Henry Neufeldt, Head of Climate Change research at the World Agroforestry Centre. "If we can harness good policies to enhance positive examples and stop negative trends, trees in agricultural landscapes can play a major role in greenhouse gas mitigation. "But no one should say that this is already solving the problem for agricultural emissions as long as we do not know what is actually happening on the ground." Ulster farmers will 'not lie down and wave the white flag' when Brexit negotiations begin, says Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) president Barclay Bell. "Currently the UK is 60% self-sufficient in food, so 40% of our food has to be imported to feed the 60 million people in the UK," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster. "The Danes will want to continue to get their bacon on our supermarket shelves, Ireland will want to continue to get their beef and dairy products into our markets, France will want to get in with their wine. "Here we have the world's fifth biggest economy and reciprocal arrangements will have to be established." Mr Bell says the outcome of these negotiations will shape the future of agriculture but he has warned that the process will demand patience. Last month, Irish agriculture minister Michael Creed said there was 'no upside' for Irish farmers after Brexit. "The immediate things that are coming into focus is sterling but even where we were last week - weve been in that space for five of the last ten years so there is nothing new in that that level of volatility," Creed said. "But if the value of sterling continued to worsen, we would have to consider whether we would want specific policy instruments to tackle that - thats an issue for my department in consultation with the Taoiseachs department and the whole of Government and the Central Bank." Exit goals The Ulster Farmers' Union drew up a list of priorities as the long process of negotiating a replacement for the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) begins. Mr Bell says the outcome of these negotiations will shape the future of agriculture but he has warned that the process will demand patience. "There are no quick fix solutions out there. Farmers need to understand that this will be a slow and often frustrating process," said Mr Bell. "However we have to start with a road map of where we want to go. That is why we believed that it was crucial, even at this early stage, to set out what we consider the priorities are for the negotiations." Those priorities included maintaining support to farmers equivalent to that presently provided by the EU. Professor Curran said said non-tariff barriers could raise costs for NI farmers by between 2% and 4% and a recent study by the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) found that a 2% increase in non-tariff barriers could actually reduce the North's GDP by 1.4% in the long-run. That is if border and custom controls are re-introduced. "The best-case scenario would be a Norwegian-style deal with access to the European Free Trade Area and membership of the European Economic Area. "We cannot return to the kind of trade agreements that existed pre-EU membership in 1973 which provided special access for agricultural products. Thats not legally possible anymore because of the EU treaties." Third series of Clarkson's Farm in production, Amazon confirms "AGC is offering growers a total of $600m in cash, plus a portion of the shares in the listed entity, the value to be determined by the share price of the listed company, the number of co-perative shares owned and the average proportion of the total harvest handled by CBH over the past five years. "Although I was fortunate enough to meet with (The Nationals WA leader) Terry Redman in Denmark, at that stage The Nationals had just committed funding to the Department of Parks and Wildlife and was unwilling to put more funding into the bushfire risk mitigation program DEFS was trying to establish," Mr Iffla said. "Family business is a business first but the family has to be functional," he said. "To create this facility and run a business at the same time is not easy but the family and staff have been outstanding in keeping things going. "We all know there will be no silver bullet available to us in turning this around, but one thing is for certain, we need every member of our sheep supply chain working on a series of agreed strategies - individually we have little chance of making a difference." Spring Lake moves forward with town manager contract State Local Government Commission to review Spring Lakes contract to hire a former Kenly town manager, but the state treasurer remains opposed. A Los Angeles businessman pleaded guilty Monday to using undeclared bank accounts at Bank Leumi and other Israeli banks to hide $21 million and avoid paying U.S. taxes. Masud Sarshar owned and operated Apparel Limited, Inc.. It designed, made, and sold clothes. Sarshar signed a plea agreement admitting one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of obstructing the internal revenue laws. The plea agreement requires him to serve 24 months in prison and pay more than $8.3 million in restitution to the IRS. He also agreed to forfeit half the money that went into the accounts. For decades, at least two relationship managers from Bank Leumi and a second (so far unnamed) Israeli bank helped Sarshar hide millions of dollars. Between 2006 and 2009, he diverted more than $21 million in untaxed business income to the undeclared bank accounts. The accounts earned more than $2.5 million in interest. Sarshar didnt report on his individual and corporate tax returns any of the diverted money or the interest from 2006 through 2011. He also stipulated in his plea agreement to a civil penalty for not declaring the foreign bank accounts. The penalty will be 50 percent of the highest balance in the accounts. Caroline Ciraolo, head of the DOJs Tax Division, said, The message of this case is clear: There are no safe havens for tax cheats or those who help them. Relationship managers from Bank Leumi and the second Israeli bank visited Sarshar often in Los Angeles. At his request, neither bank sent him account statements by mail. Instead they provided account information in person. The DOJ said a relationship manager loaded electronic copies of Sarshars Bank Leumi account statements on a USB drive, which she concealed in a necklace worn during her trips to the United States. To keep the foreign accounts secret, Sarshar sometimes met with the bankers in his car. Bank Leumi created back-to-back loans for Sarshar. The DOJ said, Through back-to-back loans, which Bank Leumi made to Sarshar through its branch in the United States . . . , Sarshar was able to bring back to the United States approximately $19 million of his offshore assets without creating a paper trail or otherwise disclosing the existence of the offshore accounts to U.S. authorities. The bankers told Sarshar to get Israeli and Iranian passports so their banks compliance departments wouldnt flag him as a U.S. citizen. After the compliance departments still flagged Sarshar as a U.S. citizen, the bankers told him to transfer his money to a third Israeli bank, which he did in late 2011. * * * In 2014, Bank Leumi paid $400 million to settle DOJ and New York charges that it helped U.S. taxpayers hide assets and income in unreported accounts in Israel and around the world. The bank paid $270 million to resolve federal charges and $130 million to settle the New York regulators allegations. Under the New York settlement, Bank Leumi USA agreed to ban its former chief compliance officer from the banks compliance activities. The New York settlement also required Bank Leumi to fire or ban a number of senior bankers and install an independent monitor. In 2008, Bank Leumi USAs CEO appointed an employee with no compliance experience to be the chief compliance officer. The CCO served until 2010 and approved parts of the tax evasion scheme. Bank Leumi entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ that was filed in federal court in Los Angeles. The bank admitted a 10-year criminal scheme to conceal U.S. taxpayer accounts in Israel, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the United States. Bank Leumi is one of Israels biggest banks. It has subsidiaries in seven countries and more than 13,000 employees. _____ Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. Hell be the keynote speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016. As an investor, Im always looking for the next great American company. Who will create tomorrows Twitter, Facebook, or Google? Today it is just as likely to be someone born in Beijing or Jaipur as it is to be someone from Boston or Boulder. In 2016, you no longer have to be in Silicon Valley to launch a successful startup. Colorado is home to many. However, national borders do still matter and our current immigration system unfortunately isnt designed to allow anyone looking to create the next Fitbit the ability to easily do so in America. As a result, we lose out to other countries as non-US founders start their ventures to countries like Canada, Chile, or Singapore instead of the US, often because its impossible for them to get appropriate visas to create their companies while living in the US. Thats why Im spreading the word about the Partnership for a New American Economys Reason for Reform campaign, which calls on business leaders, entrepreneurs, students, and others from across the US to tell Congress why America needs immigration reform by recording a short video clip from their cell phones or computers, giving their reason for reform. Check out Reason for Reform here and submit your own video. Coinciding with the launch of this campaign, Partnership for a New American Economy has marked today as a National Day of Action and is holding events in all 50 states and in Washington, DC to call attention to the economic contributions of immigrants in America. The day will also include the release of new state-specific research. You can check out your states report here. Immigrants have historically been an entrepreneurial bunch. Today, immigrants represent more than 10 percent of Colorados entrepreneurs. In 2014, their businesses contributed more than $560 million in revenue to Colorados economy. Of the nine Colorado-based companies that appear on the Fortune 500 list, a third of them were founded by immigrants or their children. These three firms alone provide 53,000 jobs and generate more than $20 billion in revenue each year. Providing sufficient staffing for these companies is another hurdle. Today in Colorado, there are 15 unfilled jobs for every one unemployed STEM worker. While we should certainly be investing in our own STEM education, we should take advantage of the thousands of international students who come here to study and are ready to fill these gaps immediately upon graduation. A new Colorado report released today by the Partnership for a New American Economy (PNAE) calculates that 27.5 percent of all students earning STEM-related PhDs in Colorado are from other countries. Many of these students want to stay to further the research they started in their programs and build companies from their findings. Almost 1,000 jobs could be created for American workers if even half of the 740 graduate students on temporary visas in Colorado were allowed to stay upon completion of their programs. Americas future as the global leader in innovation remains in the balance until our immigration system is fixed. A large portion of a reform package should focus on updating our system to better reflect the business landscape and market realities of the 21st Century. Bryce Dallas Howard would love to learn to twerk. Bryce Dallas Howard at the London screening of Pete's Dragon The 35-year-old actress - who has children Theo, nine, and Beatrice, four, with husband Seth Gabel - wishes she was a "killer" hip-hop dancer and able to successfully pull off the raunchy moves. She said: "I'd love to be a killer hip-hop dancer. I want to be able to twerk." But twerking isn't the only thing Bryce is keen to learn, as she also wishes she had a better memory for song lyrics and popular phrases. She told Stylist magazine: "I'd like to be one of those people who can instantly remember lyrics. I can't do lyrics or idioms. "Recently, I tried to say to my husband the phrase 'What am I, chopped liver?' but I got it wrong. Instead, I said 'What am I, mashed potato?' " Meanwhile, the 'Pete's Dragon' actress - who married Seth in 2006 after first meeting him at New York university - has praised her spouse as her "everything". She said: "He's my everything. We've been together for over 15 years." And the 'Jurassic World' star admitted she can "enjoy" her children more now they are older and don't need her to attend their every need in the way she did when they were babies. Asked if she prefers babies or animals, she said: "Now I've had mine I can enjoy them without having to think about changing their nappies or making sure they sleep. I go crazy over a cute one." Bryce recently admitted her kids think she's cool after seeing her play ranger Grace in 'Pete's Dragon. Rather than thinking Elliott the Dragon - the best friend of young orphan Pete, played by Oakes Fegley - is a CGI creation, the actress' children were convinced the mythical creature was real, earning her some major kudos at home. She said: "I think the idea of there being a real boy whose best friend is a dragon, the film feels like a real world where a dragon exists. This film is very grounded, it's very much of this world. It feels timeless, you don't quite know when it's set. But it's a very grounded world but there's a dragon and the dragon looks very real and fits into the world, so that is just wish fulfilment for me. "When I got to ride on the back of Elliott, I was screaming, 'I'm in my mid-30s and I'm riding on the back of a dragon!' It was very exciting for me. I've got kids and their first thought when they first saw it was not, 'Oh Eliot is a CGI character.' They were like, 'Oh my gosh, you worked with a dragon!' And that's the best feeling. It made me cooler than I usually am to the kids." August has got under way and the movie summer keeps on flying by. Not surprisingly, there are a whole host of great indie films on the horizon this month. Julieta We take a look at some of the films that you cannot afford to miss over the coming weeks - and there's going to be an eclectic range of movies for you to enjoy. - The Idol - released 12th August Hany Abu-Assad is set to return to the director's chair with his latest feature film The Idol. Abu-Assad has brought us films such as Paradise Not and The Courier during his career and The Idol is his first film since Omar back in 2013. As well as being in the director's chair, Abu-Assad has also teamed up with Sameh Zoabi to pen the film's screenplay. Mohammed Assaf, an aspiring musician living in Gaza, sets a seemingly impossible goal: to compete on the program, Arab Idol. Tawfeek Barhom takes on the central role of Mohammed, in what is one of the biggest film roles of his acting career to date. He is joined on the cast list by Kais Attalah, Hiba Attalah, Ahmad Qasem, and Abdel Kareem Barakeh. The Idol played at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and has gone on to be met well by the critics. The Idol is a beautiful looking film and is driven forward by a wonderful central performance from Barhom. From start to finish, Barhom is engaging and enchanting in this coming of age tale. The movie is set to a backdrop of difficulty and struggle and yet, the director has managed to craft a story that is filled with hope and aspiration. The Idol is an inspirational and emotional watch. - The Childhood Of A Leader - released 19th August We see a whole host of directors make their feature debut every year and Brady's Corbet's first film is one of the most talked about debuts of the summer. Corbet is in the director's chair for The Childhood Of A Leader, which is based on the short story of the same name by Jean-Paul Sartre. Corbet has teamed up with Mona Fastvold to adapt the short story into a movie screenplay. The Childhood Of A Leader has played on the festival circuit since last year; winning Best Debut film and Best Director at the Venice International Film Festival. It is a movie that has also been winning over critics and audiences. The director has brought together a terrific cast as Berenice Bejo, Liam Cunningham, Stacy Martin, and Robert Pattinson are all on board. An American family settles into the French countryside at the end of the First World War, where the father (Cunningham) is involved in the peace negotiations around the Treaty of Versailles. His wife (Bejo) is a devout Christian who struggles with the tantrums of their defiant young son, whose wilful outbursts begin to demonstrate a monster in the making. Infused with the same sense of dread as The Others and The Omen, The Childhood of a Leader is an ominous portrait of emerging evil. Cobet has created a movie that is dark, creepy, and very atmospheric - there is a sense of dread that really does hang over the whole film and is incredibly unsettling. It is a terrific directorial debut and I am already excited to see what this writer/director does next. - Tickled - released 19th August If you love your documentary movies, then Tickled could be the one for you as it promises to be one of the most intriguing films in this genre in 2016. Journalist David Farrier, who stumbles upon a mysterious tickling competition online, makes his feature film directorial debut as he teams up with Dylan Reeve. Reeve is also making his feature film debut, as he makes the leap from shorts for the first time. After stumbling upon a bizarre competitive endurance tickling video online, wherein young men are paid to be tied up and tickled, reporter David Farrier reaches out to request a story from the company. But the reply he receives is shocking the sender mocks Farrier's sexual orientation and threatens extreme legal action should he dig any deeper. So, like any good journalist confronted by a bully, he does just the opposite: he travels to the hidden tickling facilities in Los Angeles and uncovers a vast empire, known for harassing and harming the lives of those who protest their involvement in these films. What starts out as a light-hearted film, turns into something much darker as Farrier and Reeve explore the dark side of bullying on the internet and how an online life can have a huge impact in the real world. Tickled is a fascinating and rather disturbing documentary that takes a dark twist that you certainly were not expecting. It really is one of the best documentaries of 2016 so far. - Kids In Love - released 26th August Chris Foggin is another filmmaker who is making his feature film debut this summer. Foggin is no stranger to the director's chair with short film That Night and Friend Request Pending already under his belt. Now he is at the helm of Kids in Love, which was written by actors Sebastian De Souza and Preston Thompson - it is the debut screenplay for both. As well as penning the screenplay, Thompson, and De Souza are set to star in the coming of age film. Will Poulter, Alma Jodorowsky, Cara Delevingne, Gala Gordon, and Jamie Blackley complete an exciting young cast list. Kids In Love follows a group of friends live their lives in London, imitating art and enjoying a fast-paced lifestyle. The movie received its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival earlier this year and will receive a limited release this summer. There is a charm to Kids in Love and it is exciting to see new directing and writing talent emerging. - Julieta - released 26th August Pedro Almodovar is back in the director's chair this summer with his new film Julieta. As well as being in the director's chair, Almodovar has also penned the screenplay, which is based on a short story by Alice Munro. Almodovar has brought us movies such as Volver and Broken Embraces and this is his first feature since I'm So Excited back in 2013. The movie sees Emma Suarez and Adriana Ugarte take on the older and young version of the title character and they are joined on the cast list by Daniel Grao, Inma Cuesta, and Michelle Jenner. Julieta is a teacher of fifty-five. She writes a long letter to her daughter, Antia, trying to explain all the things she has kept secret from her over the last 30 years. When she has finished her confession, she doesn't know where to post the letter. Her daughter abandoned her when she was eighteen and Julieta hasn't heard from her in the past twelve years. She has searched everywhere, but now realises that Antia has become a total stranger to her. Julieta is about destiny, guilt complex and the unfathomable mystery that leads some people to abandon those they love, erasing them as if they meant nothing. It is also about the pain that this brutal desertion provokes in the victim. Julieta was part of the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, where it competed for the prestigious Palme d'Or - losing out to Ken Roach's I, Daniel Blake. Almodovar has brought us some terrific character dramas during his career... and Julieta is another. This is a film that explores the theme of guilt and how it can have a huge impact on a life. Other indie films to watch out for this August, include The Wave, The Carer, Sweet Bean, The Confession: Living The War On Terror, and Almost Holy. by Helen Earnshaw for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco is enjoying a "remarkably normal" life in Italy. Charlotte Casiraghi The 30-year-old royal - who is the daughter of Caroline, Princess of Hanover - has settled in well in Rome with her boyfriend, filmmaker Lamberto Sanfelice. A source told PEOPLE magazine: "Things are remarkably normal. She is happy for the moment, enjoying what seems like quiet stability ... "The couple seem very comfortable out of the spotlight. He has been on vacation with Charlotte, her son and her family, and they seem to be enjoying this time together. The story is that they're approaching their first anniversary together and things are good between them." And Charlotte - who has two-year-old son Raphael with her former partner Gad Elmaleh - is enjoying the best that Rome has to offer including trips to markets or days out in the park. The mother-of-one has also got to know Lamberto's friends and the happy couple enjoy having dinner together from time to time. Charlotte also speaks fluent Italian, which has no doubt made it easier for her to settle in. At the back-end of last week, HBO confirmed that the eighth season of hit fantasy series Game of Thrones would be its last, bringing to a close the story that has captured the hearts of fans all over the world. Credit: HBO Based on George R. R. Martin's novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, the show has woven many storylines intricately together and now even surpassed the books in terms of where it has got to plot-wise. Now jumping even further ahead, with Martin straggling behind despite fans waiting for many years for a new book, the show will wrap things up within the next two and a half years. But who will rule over the Seven Kingdoms when all is said and done and take their seat on the Iron Throne? Today, we look at the case for Daenerys Targaryen Credit: HBO Full Titles Daenerys of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of Meereen, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Lady Regnant of the Seven Kingdoms, The Unburnt, Protector of the Realm, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons. Claim to the Iron Throne She's the daughter of the Mad King, who was murdered by Jaime during the Robert Baratheon uprising, and the last (to this point) Targaryen family member to sit on the Throne. Accomplishments Credit: HBO She put in the work to learn how to speak Dothraki, understanding that the Dothraki people would never take her seriously unless she could speak in their native tongue. She realised that this would be a huge part of her attempts to claim the Iron Throne and has been putting her plan into action to take the Seven Kingdoms for some time now. Upon learning the language, she was married to Khal Drogo, thus becoming one of the most respected women the Dothraki have ever met. And, as we saw in season six, those who continue to turn their back on Daenerys will burn. Disrespected all of her life by her brother Viserys, she was mentally, physically and sexually abused by the rotten white-haired boy. Unfortunately for him, when his sister married Drogo she stepped into a world of immense power, and Viserys' journey was brought to a swift end halfway through the show's first season. Though she was left without a husband when the witch Mirri Maz Duur left him in a vegetative state, Daenerys proved that she wasn't about to let that bring her so far short-lived reign to an end. Instead, she took the three dragon eggs in her possession and walked into a burning fire, only to emerge naked moments later with her three new flying 'children'. Credit: HBO Moving on to Qarth, once again she found it hard for people to take her seriously, with merchant Xaro leaving her army depleted and her dragons missing after he betrayed her. Taking her revenge and eventually regaining her dragons, Daenerys locked both him and her treacherous handmaiden in an empty Qarth vault to rot. Again she made a move to a different city, this time stepping into Astapor and Slaver's Bay hoping to gain control of the unsullied soldiers who served there. She recognised that her army wasn't even nearly large enough to step into Westeros just yet, so in going to purchase her soldiers she made a big decision - to hand over one of her dragons in exchange. What the slave trader Kraznys Mo Nakloz didn't bargain on however was that whilst he was insulting Daeny repeatedly in Valyrian, she could understand every work. She ordered the dragon she had just exchanged to burn him alive, before telling her new soldiers to kill their previous masters, and offering them freedom if it was something they desired. Astapor was another city in which slaves were treated like dirt. Daenerys began to see herself as a woman of the people, sacking the city and acquiring the soldiers there, once again offering them their freedom after killing their former ruler. She burnt down Astapor, leaving nothing but dust in her wake. Yunkai also housed many slaves, so Daenerys tried a different approach. Instead of immediately launching an attack, she met with the slave trader of the city and told him that if they freed all of their slaves there would have to be no sacking, death and violence. As is often the case in GoT however, there was a battle to be had, and Daenerys' army brought down vicious ruler Razdal and his men, before freeing the slaves of Yunkai. Meereen was next on her list. She would once again go in and free the city of unwanted rulers. But this wasn't to be as easy a task as the ones that had come before. Whilst she at first did well to liberate the city, there was a revolt by a group known as the Sons of the Harpy. With Daenerys' decision to remain in Meereen for a while and rule, there was always going to be conflict and claims to the power she had. This wasn't just happening in this city though - those that she had defeated in the past had once again reared their ugly heads, so Daenerys simply instructed her followers to make sure they knew they could 'live in her new world or die in their old one'. Credit: HBO Ruling but later falling prey to being a prisoner of the Dothraki, who no longer saw her as a leader or someone in a position of power, Daenerys was initially forced to Vaes Dothrak, where all the widows of deceased Khals had to go and live out their days. Attempting to intimidate those who were treating her badly, Daeny once again wangled her way out of a tight spot, with the help of Jorah Mormont and Daario Naharis. Proving she is truly 'The Unburnt', the khalasar that had once treated her terribly - or those members of it who didn't perish in the flames - bowed before their new queen. At the end of season six, we saw Daenerys teamed with not only her current Dothraki and former slave followers along with Varys and Tyrion Lannister, but the arrival of new allies, such as Houses Martell, Tyrell and (some of) Greyjoy. Her movement to Westeros has finally begun. Cons Credit: HBO She is often unwilling to hear out other people's points of view. For example, Jorah Mormont who has been incredibly loyal to her throughout her journey to Westeros, was banished from her company when she realised he was first sent to her as a spy. She also left two of her dragons, Rhaegal and Viserion in catacombs after finding out her biggest dragon, Drogon, was becoming uncontrollable. Whilst this at the time may have been the smartest move for the Mother of Dragons, it was proved to be one of the worst ways she could have treated them. They even lashed out at her at one point upon hearing her voice in the catacombs. Daenerys is also a woman with her father's blood. Known as the Mad King, he was a ruler that burned men alive with wildfire, cackling as he did so and murdering sons in front of their fathers, all to remain in control and prove exactly how powerful he was. Though Daenerys hasn't done anything close to that just yet, and Cersei Lannister is looking more to be the successor to the 'Mad' title, if Daenerys doesn't allow herself to be more open to other's ideas and points of view, she could be headed in the same direction. Likelihood of winning the Iron Throne: Very high by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on There have been some big changes on Arrow throughout the four seasons broadcast to-date. We've had deaths, resignations from Team Arrow, life-changing injuries and the destruction of Starling City - now named Star City. Colton Haynes as Roy Harper/Arsenal in Arrow / Credit: The CW Going back to its roots with season 5 then, we will see Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and on-off girlfriend Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) bringing in new recruits to Team Arrow, including the already-introduced Curtis, played by Echo Kellum. Now it looks like Oliver will be calling in some early help from close friend Roy Harper (Colton Haynes), with Kellum's Snapchat story showing that the actor is already on the set of the show in Vancouver, Canada. The reintroduction of Roy AKA Arsenal at this point makes a lot of sense. He was introduced to viewers as a petty thief, but turned his life around to become the perfect sidekick for the Green Arrow. With most of the world believing that Roy was the man behind the Green Arrow's mask however, and that Roy is no longer alive, it could be tricky weaving him into storylines that only include those closest to him. Meanwhile, it was recently revealed that Haynes would guest star throughout the second season of Ryan Murphy's Scream Queens on FOX. With such a big commitment moving ahead, it's more than likely Roy isn't returning to Arrow for good, but rather for a few appearances here and there. Arrow season 5 premieres in the US on The CW on Wednesday, October 5 at 8pm ET. by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Bangladesh's industries minister Amir Hossain Amu has stressed on the need for accelerating the pace of skilling manpower for the development of the country 's readymade garment industry. Now, the country needs about 38,000 technically skilled and about 33,000 manpower skilled in marketing in RMG sector, Amu said at an apparel expo in Dhaka, BSS reported. In order to achieve the target of earning $50 billion from apparel exports by 2021, it is necessary to accelerate the initiatives of creating skilled and trained manpower, the minister said. Bangladesh's industries minister Amir Hossain Amu has stressed on the need for accelerating the pace of skilling manpower for the development of the country's readymade garment industry. Now, the country needs about 38,000 technically skilled and about 33,000 manpower skilled in marketing in RMG sector, Amu said at an apparel expo in Dhaka.# Creating skilled manpower in various segments, including textile production, quality control, fashion designing, etc, will also help in reducing Bangladesh's dependence on foreign manpower, he added. Stating that the present government is working to create skilled manpower for the garment industry, he mentioned that the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation is playing a vital role in developing apparel sector of the country, by providing all sorts of assistance to apparel entrepreneurs like training, marketing and financing. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Multi format retailer and K Raheja promoted Shoppers Stop's standalone net loss fell sharply by 37.33 per cent from a fiscal ago period in the three months ended June 30, 2016.In a BSE filing, the company said its standalone net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2016-17 dipped to Rs 13.56 crore as against Rs 21.64 crore for the same period of the previous fiscal. Multi format retailer and K Raheja promoted Shoppers Stop's standalone net loss fell sharply by 37.33 per cent from a fiscal ago period in the three months ended June 30, 2016. In a BSE filing, the company said its standalone net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2016-17 dipped to Rs 13.56 crore as against Rs 21.64 crore for the same period of the...# For the reporting quarter, income from operations grew 10.64 per cent to Rs 772.18 crore compared to 697.89 crore of the prior fiscal's first quarter.However, on account of new stores and acceleration of depreciation in respect of certain stores, depreciation expanded 87 per cent year on year for the quarter under review.Shoppers Stop managing director Govind Shrikhande said, We have seen good progress on two fronts. A growth of more than 25 per cent in our online business and share of private and exclusive brand going up 60 bps.Apart from Shoppers Stop, the company operates other formats like Hypercity, Crossword, Mothercare, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Bobbi Brown and M.A.C. (AR) Fibre2fashion News Desk - India Entrepreneurs from Japanese city of Izumisano have proposed setting up towel manufacturing industry in Northern Uganda's Gulu district. Entrepreneurs from Japanese city of Izumisano have proposed setting up towel manufacturing industry in Northern Uganda's Gulu district. The proposal was made during a courtesy visit paid by Japanese entrepreneurs on Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe. Museveni advised the Japanese investors to study the economics of growing, harvesting and...# The proposal was made during a courtesy visit paid by Japanese entrepreneurs on Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe. Entrepreneurs from Japanese city of Izumisano have proposed setting up towel manufacturing industry in Northern Uganda's Gulu district. The proposal was made during a courtesy visit paid by Japanese entrepreneurs on Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe. Museveni advised the Japanese investors to study the economics of growing, harvesting and...# Museveni advised the Japanese investors to study the economics of growing, harvesting and increasing cotton yields per acre. He said that the economics of producing cotton on a small-scale is not a good idea, and farmers should produce cotton on medium and large-scale basis. Entrepreneurs from Japanese city of Izumisano have proposed setting up towel manufacturing industry in Northern Uganda's Gulu district. The proposal was made during a courtesy visit paid by Japanese entrepreneurs on Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe. Museveni advised the Japanese investors to study the economics of growing, harvesting and...# Izumisano City mayor Yasuhiro Chiyomtsu said they would develop Gulu Municipality, in addition to investing in towel manufacturing. Entrepreneurs from Japanese city of Izumisano have proposed setting up towel manufacturing industry in Northern Uganda's Gulu district. The proposal was made during a courtesy visit paid by Japanese entrepreneurs on Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe. Museveni advised the Japanese investors to study the economics of growing, harvesting and...# In recent years, Uganda has turned importer of cotton from being an exporter earlier due to dip in production along with rise in demand. (RKS) Entrepreneurs from Japanese city of Izumisano have proposed setting up towel manufacturing industry in Northern Uganda's Gulu district. The proposal was made during a courtesy visit paid by Japanese entrepreneurs on Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe. Museveni advised the Japanese investors to study the economics of growing, harvesting and...# Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is one of the most awaited films of the year because of its interesting star cast. The fans are excited to watch Aishwarya Rai Bachchan romancing Ranbir Kapoor on the silver screen. Recently, the stories of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's cameo role in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil went viral on the internet. But the official spokesperson of Dharma Productions clarified to a leading portal and said, "Contrary to rumours, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is playing a very pivotal and unusual role in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. In fact, it is probably the most unusual role she has played." Click on the slider below to see Aishwarya Rai's rare pictures. The movie made headlines in the past too, when Anushka Sharma said that she is the one, who is playing the main lead in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Also Read: INSIDE PICTURES Of Aishwarya Rai's Dubai Villa She told a leading daily, "The film is not a triangular love story and I play the female lead in the film. I am very excited to start shooting for the film. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has a different and interesting role and it would be lovely to see her in that." Very recently it was reported that Ranbir Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have shot for an intimate scene in the movie. Not just that, it was also said that the Bachchan family is very upset with it. If news are to be believed, in the said scene the two actors will lick chocolate off each other's bodies. Rumour has it, the two will also share a lip-lock in the film. Well, we have to wait for the film to get released to know the truth behind all these rumours! Bipasha Basu is having the time of her life in Bali, Indonesia, and is currently holidaying with her husband Karan Singh Grover at the exotic holiday destination. The leggy lass, Bips, has posted new bikini pictures on her Instagram handle, and she looks smoking hot! Check out Bipasha Basu's new bikini pictures from Bali here! Bipasha Basu, captioned the pictures as, "Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind... It's a bright .. bright... Sun Shiny Day @fsbali #fourseasonsjimbaran," and "Bali Bliss @fsbali #fourseasonsjimbaran." Hot Bikini Pictures! 'Chak De India' Girl Chitrashi Rawat Holidays In Goa Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover are also seen enjoying their time at the sun-kissed beaches of Bali. They were seen at spas, going for boat rides, at fancy restuarants and spotted doing yoga. They also shared pictures from their hotel rooms sporting pyjamas and hugging each other. Bips & KSG are surely having a ball of a time there. Hilariously Funny Tweets! 25 Times Fans Ended Up Trolling Bollywood's Logic Right after her honeymoon with KSG, Bips had revealed that she always "loves to have an extended honeymoom" and she's living her dream and making it come true by taking vacations on a regular basis. 15 Cute Pictures Of Shraddha Kapoor, No 10 Will Surely Put A Smile On Your Face! Karan Singh Grover and Bipasha Basu tied the knot on April 30, 2016 and KSG was quoted as saying "I must've have been a saint in my previous birth to deserve such a beautiful, loving, caring bride. Every moment spent with you is bliss I love you forever and a day.." Sultan Success Bash! Salman Khan Meets & Greets Fans A few hours ago, actor Ranveer Singh shared a priceless flashback picture of himself with the Superstar Akshay Kumar and we can't stop drooling over the 'Mohwak' look of young Ranveer! He posted this pictures on the Instagram and wrote, "PRICELESS #Throwback!!! My Fanboy moment with the One & Only@akshaykumar #9DaysToRustom (Watch this space!)" Check Out Akshay-Ranveer's Many Lovely Moments Below: If you guys don't know, this picture is from the sets of Keemat, where Akshay & Raveena were shooting for a romantic number. But you won't believe what exactly happened, when Ranveer reached on the set of the film, just to meet and greet Akshay. During the interview with Rajeev Masand, Ranveer, himself explained the entire incident and here's what he had said: "It was at SNDT college where Akshay and Raveena were shooting for a movie called Keemat. My cousins had come from Canada, this is like early '90's when Akshay sir had a purple Lancer and all my cousins wanted to do in Mumbai was meet Akshay Kumar." Katrina Kaif's Hot Bikini Pictures To Sensuous Intimate Scenes In Baar Baar Dekho Trailer! "So my father had to make calls, find a contact, locate the manager for the shooting. Obviously, even I had to meet Akshay Kumar. When we reached there, some song shooting was happening in the rain where Raveena was looking literally ravishing." "I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life. I was short and fat, with broken teeth and a mohawk and there's this rain sequence. Sir (Akshay) had worn this shirt open at his chest and Raveena ji was in white and I was staring at her." "She obviously was not very comfortable with me looking at her like that, so she asked the security guy to escort me away. For me that was shattering, I was heartbroken because I was told to leave the set, then I feel this hand on my shoulder." "I'm almost in tears but I look up and I see this shining aura behind this man (points to Akshay Kumar), he looks at me and says - 'Hey, I like your haircut. And I was like 'Yeaaaaa'." "He obviously saw that I was heartbroken because I was asked to leave and he just came and did that much and I got a picture with him and I was like 'man, one day I'm going to be like that guy!'" We all know that Shahrukh Khan and Karan Johar share a close bond. Shahrukh and Gauri were the first ones to watch some exclusive promos of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. SRK liked it and revealed to the media that he loved the songs of the movie. And guess what. Karan Johar cried after reading what Shahrukh Khan said about his movie. Karan told a leading news agency, "It is very kind of Shahrukh Khan to say that. I am excited about it (film and music). Shahrukh's opinion matters to me the most. I was moved to tears when he said that." Check out some adorable pictures of SRK and Karan, which show their beautiful friendship. Talking about Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Shahrukh Khan had said, "I have heard three songs and they are amazing. I have heard the title track, it is one of the most nicest ballet... it is fantastic.'' Also Read: Dangerously HOT! This Picture Of Nargis Fakhri Cooking In A BIKINI Will Make Your Jaw Drop! Ae Dil Hai Mushkil features Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma. The movie is said to have some intimate scenes which is creating a lot of controversies. Not much has been revealed about the film. But during an event Karan Johar shared this about Ae Dil Hai Mushkil,"I am going to reveal something to you today about my next film ADHM the name of the hero is Aayan he is Hindu in the film and she is Alizeh. She is Muslim in the film and there is no conflict in the love story.'' Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will release on Diwali this year and it will be clashing with Ajay Devgn's Shivaay. So readers, are you excited to see Ranbir, Anushka and Aishwarya in ADHM? Do tell us by commenting below. Thomas from the Maze Runner Series made his first appearance after 5 months, in a juice bar and is almost unrecognizable at the first sighting. One of his fans, who also works in that juice bar posted it on her personal twitter profile. The Maze Runner actor Dylan O'Brien, who was spotted in a long hair and beard look appeared in a photo with a fan, for the first time ever since he met with a serious accident on the sets of Maze Runner: The Death Cure, in March. The fan named Vanessa Denegri tweeted on her personal twitter profile saying, "Guys I just met Dylan O'Brien... He just walked into jamba juice and I took his order I'm crying." "MY LIFE HAS BEEN MADE, meeting you was the best thing ever @dylanobrien," she wrote alongside posting a photograph of her with her idol. "He was alone!! But he was smiling and laughing because I was about to burst into tears, He looks a lot better, he was smiling and all!!" she added. Dylan, while filming a scene for his upcoming Maze Runner installment, was run over by a car and was seriously injured breaking several bones on his face. Consequently, the production of the film got delayed and the release of the film was pushed further to January 12, 2018. Anjali Menon, the writer was harshly criticised by the Prathap Pothen and blamed for the shelving of his Dulquer Salmaan starring Project. Recently, Anjali reacted to Prathap's allegation is an epic way. The National award winner feels that it is immaterial to respond to such allegations, as the issue might be blown out of proportions. Anjali's response is widely accepted by the social media. Prathap Pothen, the director of the project, had recently stated that he decided to drop the project due to Anjali Menon's poor screenplay. He had also alleged that the writer was not ready to respect his views. According to Prathap he waited for almost one year for Anjali Menon to complete the screenplay. But the final output was extremely disappointing and totally opposite to his views and expectations. But, several industry members immediately came forward to defend Anjali, pointing out that she has already proven her talent as a writer with the movies Manjadikuru, Usthad Hotel, and Bangalore Days. They point out that Prathap Pothen's anger management issue is infamous among the industry insiders. Well, we hope that the duo will soon clear their misunderstandings and revive the project. It seems like Nivin Pauly has opted for a new style for his upcoming film. The actor was seen in an all new look during the audio launch ceremony of Tamil actor Vikram's upcoming film Irumugan. Nivin Pauly was seen sporting a thick beard along with grown hair. He simply looked dashing in blue jeans and trademark black shirt and he instantly grabbed the attention of many. His latest photos have gone viral in online circuits. Click below to see some pictures of Nivin Pauly in his all new look.. Well, the event was held in Tamil Nadu and the function was attended by the bigwigs of Tamil film industry. It was indeed great to see Nivin Pauly among the biggies and it is definitely a signal of his growing popularity in Kollywood, which reached newer heights with release of his film Premam. Reports suggest that, the new look of Nivin Pauly would be for his upcoming Tamil film directed by Gautham Ramachandran. The actor would be seen in a rustic character in the yet-to-be-titled film. Meanwhile, the actor has completed the first schedule of shoot of his next Malayalam film, directed by Sidhartha Siva. The actor plays the role of a student leader in the film and the actor would be seen with a thick beard in that film also. Parvathy Jayaram Parvathy, who started her film career in the year 1986 with the film Vivahithare Ithile Ithile decided to quit acting after her marriage with actor Jayaram in the year 1992. She also confirmed that she is no longer interested to make a comeback to films. Samyuktha Varma It did make news when Samyuktha Varma refused an offer to act along with Rajinikanth in the film Baba, owing to her marriage with actor Biju Menon. The actress who has won good number of awards left the industry after her marriage. Shalini Shalini entered the industry as a child artist and became a lead actress with the film Aniyathipravu. She acted in close to 10 Malayalam films as the lead actress and later quit films after her marriage with actor Ajith. Divya Unni Divya Unni, who entered the films as a child artist, later went on to become one of the top actresses of Mollywood. The actress left the scene after her marriage in the year 2001. She was later seen as a host of the show American Jalakam in Asianet. Nazriya Nazim Nazriya Nazim was at the peak of her career when she got married to actor Fahadh Faasil. She was last seen in the film Bangalore Days, which was a phenomenal success. Neither Fahadh nor Nazriya has denied the chances for a comeback of the actress to films. Samvrutha Sunil Samvrutha Sunil, who debuted with the film Rasikan in the year 2004, did feature in a good number of films in Malayalam. The actress decided to quit films after her marriage in the year 2012. Gopika Gopika did make a mark of her own in the entire South Indian film industry. The actress left films after her marriage in the year 2008. She did make a brief comeback to films in the year 2013 with the film Bharya Athra Pora. Manju Warrier Manju Warrier quit films in the year 1999 after her marriage with actor Dileep. And it was after a gap of 14 years that the actress made a comeback to the industry with the film How Old Are You. Actress Isha Talwar of Thillu Mullu (2013) fame hopes her upcoming Tamil romantic drama Meendum Oru Kadhal Kadhai inspires audiences to open up to the idea of inter-caste marriage. Meendum Oru Kadhal Kadhai is the remake of a hit Malayalam movie titled Thattathin Marayathu and Isha has said that the Malayalam version had a major impact on its audiences. She is essaying her role from the original, which had Nivin Pauly playing the lead. Though a remake, Isha feels the movie has been treated in a different manner to suit the sensibilities of Tamil moviegoers. "This is a nicely adapted film. Although it features the same story, treatment-wise it's very different. The fact that it's being made in Tamil means you're catering to different audiences and different sensibilities," she told IANS. Directed by Mithran Jawahar, the movie is about a Hindu boy falling in love with a Muslim girl and the consequences that arise because of their relationship. "The impact my character from the original left on the audience was phenomenal. In Kerala, people have walked up to me in the airport and have told me how my film inspired them to open up to the idea of inter-caste marriage," the 28-year-old said. The Mumbai based actress won many awards including the South Indian International Movie Award (SIIMA) for Best Female Debutant for her performance in the Malayalam version of the film. "I hope the Tamil version too leaves a similar effect on the audience. I know friends who have had problems marrying out of their community and this kind of situation is prevalent everywhere and it exists in all strata of society," she added. Produced by veteran actor Sangili Murugan, Meendum Oru Kadhal Kadhai is all set to hit the screens this Friday (August 5). Also Read: Oops! Jiiva Caught Staring At Kajal Aggarwal Jonathan Parry has joined PEI-Genesis as Managing Director in Europe; it was announced by Steven Fisher, company Chairman and CEO. Parry reports directly to Fisher and is based at the Southampton, UK; European headquarters. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160802006789/en/ Jonathan Parry has joined PEI-Genesis as Managing Director in Europe, reporting to Steven Fisher, company Chairman and CEO, and based at the company's Southampton, UK European headquarters. (Photo: Business Wire) In his new role, Parry is responsible for the overall financial and operating performance of the company's operations in the United Kingdom and Europe, including sales and marketing, vendor relations, production, and operations. "Having Jonathan on board in Europe brings innovative new thinking to our overseas operations," said Fisher. "His extensive experience will help us lay the groundwork for our company moving forward." Parry brings over 15 years of sales and operations leadership to PEI-Genesis. Prior to taking on his new role, he was the Managing Director for the European organization of Dialight plc, where he had full P&L responsibility across manufacturing, R&D, sales, marketing and head office functions with 800 employees and manufacturing locations in the UK, Germany, and Denmark. "Jonathan's solid track record will allow him to focus strategically on our European operations," said Fisher. "I expect him to build on the strength of the excellent team we have in place and expand our presence throughout Europe by solving customer interconnect problems from design to delivery." Before his work with Dialight, Parry was the Chief Operating Officer for JCC Lighting Products, providing leadership during a transitional time in the business. During his tenure, Parry helped to establish JCC as the fastest growing LED lighting company in the UK. Parry served as the European Product Director at Wolseley PLC from 2005 - 2009 and from 2001 2005 was the Head of Global Sourcing for Sainsbury's Supermarkets. Parry holds a Bachelor of Science honours degree in Engineering Management from Durham University. About PEI-Genesis PEI-Genesis is one of the world's fastest assemblers of precision connectors and cable assemblies. From the largest connector component inventory in the world, they develop engineered solutions that support the military, industrial, medical, aerospace, transportation and energy sectors worldwide. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, PEI-Genesis has production facilities in South Bend, IN; Chandler, AZ; Southampton, UK; and Zhuhai, China as well as sales offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. More information may be found at www.peigenesis.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160802006789/en/ Contacts: PEI-Genesis Kathleen Herron, 215-737-1147 Kathleen.herron@peigenesis.com LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC (MONY.L) reported profit before tax of 47.1 million pounds for the six months ended 30 June 2016 compared to 37.8 million pounds, previous year. Profit for the period increased to 37.9 million pounds from 30.2 million pounds. Earnings per share was 6.9 pence compared to 5.5 pence. Adjusted earnings per share was 7.8 pence compared to 7.3 pence. First-half revenue was 157.6 million pounds, compared to 143.9 million pounds, a year ago. During the first half of 2016 Group revenues grew by 10%, with MoneySuperMarket.com business revenues up 12%. The Group said growth was particularly strong in Home Services and Money with momentum steadily returning to Insurance. The Group delivered single digit growth in July with insurance outperforming. The Board remains confident of delivering its expectations for the year. Moneysupermarket.com Group also announced that Chief Executive Peter Plumb has indicated to the Board his intention to step down as Chief Executive of the Group. This will happen on or before the Group's AGM in May 2017, to ensure smooth succession planning. The Board of Moneysupermarket.com has decided to increase its interim dividend by 8% to 2.75 pence per ordinary share. Shareholders have the opportunity to elect to reinvest their cash dividend and purchase existing shares through a Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen continued to be strong against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday, as economic stimulus package announced by the Japanese government fell short of investors' expectations. Japan's cabinet approved Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's 28tn ($275bn) economic stimulus package yesterday. Meanwhile, the Asian shares traded lower, tracking the weak lead overnight from Wall Street and the continued fall in crude oil prices. Worries about the capital adequacy of European banks also weighed on investor sentiment. Crude oil prices fell more than 1 percent on Tuesday to below $40 a barrel on worries of oversupply. In economic news, the latest survey from Nikkei revealed that the services sector in Japan turned to expansion in July, with a services PMI score of 50.4. That's up from 49.4 in June. Also, the composite index came in with a score of 50.1, up from 49.0 in the previous month. Traders await the Bank of Japan's minutes from its monetary policy meeting on June 15 and 16, due Thursday. At the meeting, the BoJ voted to hold its target of raising the monetary base at an annual pace of about 80 trillion yen. Tuesday, the yen rose 0.89 percent against the euro, 0.11 percent against the pound, 1.45 percent against the U.S. dollar and 0.85 percent against the Swiss franc. In the Asian trading, the yen rose to more than 3-week highs of 112.97 against the euro and 104.31 against the Swiss franc, from yesterday's closing quotes of 113.22 and 104.61, respectively. If the yen extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 109.00 against the euro and 101.00 against the franc. Against the Canadian and the New Zealand dollars, the yen advanced to nearly a 1-1/2-month high of 76.76 and nearly a 1-month high of 72.51 from yesterday's closing quotes of 76.95 and 73.06, respectively. The yen may test resistance around 75.00 against the loonie and 70.00 against the kiwi. Against the U.S. and the Australian dollars, the yen edged up to 100.75 and 76.51 from yesterday's closing quotes of 100.89 and 76.74, respectively. The yen is likely to find resistance around 98.00 against the greenback and 72.00 against the aussie. Looking ahead, service sector PMI reports from major European economies for July and Eurozone retail sales data for June are due to be released later in the day. In the New York session, ADP U.S. private sector jobs data, Markit's final U.S. services PMI, ISM's U.S. non-manufacturing PMI, all for July, and U.S. crude oil inventories data are slated for release. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Millennium & Copthorne Hotels PLC (MLC.L) reported pretax profit of 56 million pounds for the first half of 2016 compared to 62 million pounds, previous year. Profit to equity holders of the parent decreased to 30 million pounds from 36 million pounds. Earnings per share was 9.3 pence compared to 11.2 pence. Total revenue for the first six months grew by 3.5% to 418 million pounds, in part reflecting higher land sales. Hotel revenue declined by 1.4% to 360 million pounds during the first six months of 2016. In constant currency, hotel revenue declined by 4.3% during the same period. The Group said this was due to deterioration of trading in key gateway cities of New York, London and Singapore. Group RevPAR in constant currency fell by 4.2% in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period last year. The Group said this is due to decreases in both occupancy and average room rate of 1.4% points and 2.2% respectively. Kwek Leng Beng, Chairman said: 'We are disappointed by our hotel operating performance during the first half of 2016, particularly in New York and Singapore, which remain areas of focus for the Group. The UK referendum vote to leave the European Union, together with recent terrorist activity, has further intensified uncertainty over the direction of the global economy.' The Board of Millennium & Copthorne has declared an interim dividend of 2.08 pence per share. The final dividend for the year, however, remains under review. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LONDON, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Motivforce Marketing & Incentives (http://www.motivforce.com), the global agency that specialises in reengineering B2B loyalty marketing programs, e-learning and performance incentives, has been named Best Channel Marketing Agency at the CRN Sales & Marketing Awards in London. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/817414 ) Organised by CRN, the leading digital provider of news for the UK technology channel and IT distributors, these awards recognise the achievements of individuals and teams that are behind the best marketing campaigns in the UK's IT distribution channel. Motivforce's CRN award submission focussed on the pioneering programs that the agency has designed and deployed for IT customers, including IBM, Lenovo, Schneider Electric and Kemp Technologies. In total Motivforce operates channel marketing programs for IT sector clients with collectively around 100,000 Business Partner participants in 132 countries globally. The CRN win comes on the back of a string of awards Motivforce has achieved in 2016 for its ground-breaking work with clients, in particular the Lenovo LEAP channel marketing program and Celebrity Rewards incentive scheme for Celebrity Cruises. The Lenovo LEAP (Lenovo Expert Achievers Program) won Best Innovation in E&L Partnership at the UK Engagement & Loyalty Awards, beating off competition from Vodafone, Q-Park and MyCheck. LEAP has also been recognised in the USA with a PRO Award for Best B2B Campaign. The PRO Awards are the gold standard for excellence in promotional marketing, celebrating the best of the best campaigns over the past year. Motivforce's Celebrity Rewards travel agency incentive program for Celebrity Cruises has been recognised by the Institute of Promotional Marketing (IPM) with a Gold Award for 'Best Loyalty or Relationship Campaign' and Silver for 'Most Effective Incentive Program'. The judges said: "Celebrity Rewards won in both categories because not only was this program a pioneering, lucrative and revolutionary trade incentive scheme in the cruise industry, it also critically drove the right selling behaviour which delivered against all Celebrity Cruises' business objectives, launching to tight timescales and even tighter budget, in an extremely competitive market." David Cox, CEO, Motivforce commented: "We are thrilled to have won five such prestigious awards so far this year. This is a huge achievement as Motivforce was up against strong competition each time from other finalists. It is extremely rewarding to see our unique approach to reengineering loyalty, the success of programs like Lenovo LEAP and Celebrity Rewards, and the dedication and creativity of our teams, being recognised in this way. "The challenges of deploying a program such as Lenovo LEAP can't be underestimated," he continued. "After IBM sold its System X86 server division to Lenovo, including its Business Partner distribution channel, we were tasked with building a new channel loyalty program from scratch whilst enticing traditional and long term IBM resellers to switch alliances to Lenovo. "The logistics were also complex - 5,000 participants, 700 firms in 60 countries involving 8 languages. Despite these challenges, LEAP's results were outstanding. The LEAP program not only encouraged the former IBM BP channel to migrate and remain loyal to Lenovo, it more than doubled the active user base and achieved significant revenue for Lenovo - 40% over target. "Similarly the Celebrity Reward program achieved record results for Celebrity Cruises, cutting through the crowded travel industry marketplace thanks to ground-breaking elements such as high-level engagement, unprecedented reward flexibility, product experiential rewards, auctions and bespoke participant analytics," David Cox explained. "The Celebrity Rewards program has been a phenomenal success, exceeding Celebrity Cruises ambitious targets and driving desired selling behaviour. Celebrity Rewards attracted almost 9,000 agent participants - 75% over target; doubled the target set for increasing Average Per Day spend of each guest; and secured record early bookings for 2016." About Motivforce Marketing & Incentives Motivforce is the leading boutique global agency dedicated to reengineering loyalty marketing programs, distribution channel incentives, e-learning engagement and incentive travel, in order to deliver the right results for our clients. We are experts. Motivforce combines unrivalled PhD level research and behavioural analytics with innovative program design, proprietary e-learning tools, technology, multi-lingual communications, tactical sales promotions and exceptional rewards to deliver award-winning programs. http://www.motivforce.com The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. awarded the city of Chippewa Falls a $215,770 Community Development Investment grant to assist in the redevelopment of the downtown riverfront area. Chippewa Falls was one of six communities in Wisconsin to receive a CDI grant in order to boost downtown redevelopment projects, according to a press release from the WEDC. "Community Development Investment Grants are an extremely effective vehicle to help spur economic development and improve the quality of life for those who live and work in those communities," WEDC Secretary and CEO Mark Hogan said in the press release. The grant also will assist in restoring the two-story, historic 1883 building built by the Chippewa Lumber and Boom Co, the release said. The historic nature of the building will be preserved by bringing electrical and plumbing up to code and performing flood mitigation efforts. Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Duncan Creek Wine Bar and Grille would be relocating to the Chippewa Lumber and Boom Co. The wine bar and grille has no plans to relocate. Zaful's rapid transformation into a globally popular e-commerce brand was recentlyexplained by management SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Zaful is a direct-to-buyer online store that offers fashionable clothing at wholesale prices to its customers. Zaful's spectacular rise in the online retail market has invoked awe in competitors and market analysts alike. Nowmanagement of the online fashion store decided toreveal the secrets behind their meteoric growth during a recent business event. The management of Zaful discussed how they ensure customer satisfaction, which is the largest contributor to the continuous and broad-spectrum growth of the online fashion store.They said that meticulous quality assessment of each and every product before they are shipped to their customers is a top priority for their team. Thorough quality control analysis of each product is the first step. "We are quite aware of the demands of our geographically separated buyers. This is why we have introduced a number of shipping options to them. Someone who can wait for the product to reach his doorstep can choose postal mail service, whereas buyers who have some sort of urgency can opt for express delivery options." "As we calculate the shipping costs and let our customers know about the total cost at the time of checkout, they don't need to worry about hidden charges. We also monitor each and every shipment and we are trying to improve the speed of delivery and lessen costs," said a senior managerat Zaful. Customer experience is of paramount importance to Zaful. So much so that the cross-border e-commerce company has introduced around-the-clock chat and phone support to stay in touch with their buyers. "Customers who are not satisfied with product quality, or who are looking for any kind of after sales support, have 30 days to return their products. We have a policy to address and resolve any such issue within two days. We also aim to introduce a VIP chat service in the near future to help customers in a better manner," added the senior manager. About the Company Zaful (http://www.zaful.com/)is part of the Globalegrow family of companies, along with Rosegal and SammyDress. Like its cousins, the e-commerce store offers trendy fashion apparel and accessories. The e-commerce store is known for quickly updating their products and periodicallyintroducing user-friendly features. HONG KONG, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Zurich Insurance (Hong Kong) is honored with the highly-competitive HKMA Quality Awards Certificate of Merit. Having gone through a stringent application and screening process and assessed by leaders of different industries in Hong Kong, Zurich outshone other competitors in areas of leadership, strategic planning, customer service, knowledge management, workforce management and business operations. Being conferred the honor is an accomplishment for Zurich as it recognizes the company's continuous efforts to achieve management excellence. Golden combination of outstanding leadership and open corporate culture stimulates employees' potentials Believing that leadership is at every chair, Zurich trustfully empowers employees to do what they are best at to give full play to their talents. Transformation and innovations are always brought to business--from Zurich Way of Working (ZWoW), a Zurich-unique process that greatly improves efficiency internally, to a market-disruptive "Zurich HK" mobile app where customers are able to complete insurance claim submissions at their fingertips. Customer centricity drives higher quality and better communication with customers By placing customers at the center of all business activities, Zurich puts tremendous emphasis on quality of products and services delivered. The company's strong and powerful Customer Experience and Propositions team is dedicated to striving for continuous improvements in customer services and experiences across different communication touchpoints. Its comprehensive services include a user-friendly "Zurich HK" mobile app for SMEs and individual customers to manage their insurance plans and to submit claims effortlessly, a secure online payment gateway portal ZONE for intermediaries to obtain express quotations and policy wordings instantaneously, and Zurich International Programs and Zurich Risk Room for corporate customers to manage their insurance solutions on a global scale. Determined to continuously optimize products and services, Zurich's Transactional Net Promotor Score (T-NPS) system was introduced in 2015 to collect the Voice of Customers -- a critical indicator to evaluate customer satisfaction. Zurich believes that it is only through true understanding of customers can the company accurately prioritize, and dedicate capacity to what is important. Workforce sustainability and gender equality are valued As employees are Zurich's most valuable asset, ample training and development to equip them to be at their best are provided. The company's training and development team has introduced the eLearning platform in addition to an array of local-specific training modules -- allowing employees to customize their career development. For long-term industry development, injection of new blood is pivotal. Zurich's Claim Apprenticeship Program helps to nurture future insurance elites, offering them valuable learning and hands-on experience. Zurich spares no effort in promoting gender equality in workplace as the company believes that no single employee's value and ability should be judged by his/her gender. As such, Zurich treats each and every employee on equal basis and this can be proven by the staff benefit where domestic partners of permanent staff are eligible to enjoy medical protection from Zurich as long as they match the company's basic definition of being a domestic partner, irrespective of their legal marital status and gender. This is well-received by Zurich's employees since it was made available. Zurich's diversity and inclusion efforts are recognized by its attainment of the Economic Dividends for Gender Equality certification (EDGE). As the saying goes, "Rome was not built in a day". Zurich's fruitful achievement does not come easily and it was the hard work and dedication of all members of staff and the appreciation of customers that made it possible. Zurich is determined to persistently and continuously improve so as to accomplish its brand value: to provide intelligent protection to those who truly love. The HKMA Quality Award was first launched in 1991 by The Hong Kong Management Association. With this annual Award, the Association seeks not just to reward, but also bring public recognition to those organizations that have achieved outstanding standards of quality and made a lasting commitment to the process of quality management. Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading multi-line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets. With more than 55,000 employees, it provides a wide range of general insurance and life insurance solutions and services. Zurich's customers include individuals, small businesses, mid-sized and large companies, including multinational corporations, in more than 170 countries. The Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1872. The holding company, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN), is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt (ZURVY) program, which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information about Zurich is available at www.zurich.com. Zurich's presence in Hong Kong dates back to 1961. In Hong Kong, Zurich offers a full range of flexible general insurance and life insurance products and solutions for individuals, small businesses, and mid-sized companies, as well as large corporate customers, catering to their insurance, protection and investment needs. Zurich was also awarded the 10 Year Plus Caring Company Logo for 2015/2016 by the Hong Kong Council of Social to acknowledge its commitment in "Caring for our Community", "Caring for our Employees" and "Caring for our Environment" over the past years. Company Logo http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/4715 For media enquiries, please contact: Zurich Insurance (Hong Kong) Winnie Lam +852-2977 0875 (direct) Email Contact BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 5:00 am ET Wednesday, Eurostat releases retail sales figures for June. Eurozone retail sales are forecast to expand 1.8 percent year-on-year in June after rising 1.6 percent in May. Ahead of the data, the euro showed mixed trading against the other major currencies. While the euro dropped against the greenback and the pound, it held steady against the yen. Against the franc, it rose. The euro was worth 1.1199 against the greenback, 113.18 against the yen, 1.0839 against the franc and 0.8391 against the pound as of 4:55 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LONDON, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As the UK market is coming to terms with the outcome of the referendum, entrepreneurs and business owners convene at this year's Fast Forward your Business (FFYB) event in London in September to learn about post-Brexit business strategies and the top 10 global trends to impact UK businesses in the years to come. From the rise of A.I, bionics, drones and 3D printing houses to virtual reality and instant translation tools - the change coming in the next 4 years is estimated to be greater than in the last 20 years combined. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395245 ) 10-11 September 2016 Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands Hammersmith International Centre, London, W6 8DR, United Kingdom Hosted by the Entrepreneurs Institute, the FFYB is the worlds largest annual entrepreneur event of its kind and forms part of a 2016 world tour with live events in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, UK and South Africa. New for this year is the international Start Up Battle, organised in association with Rockstar Hubs International, a competition for companies in the early stages of growth to apply for investor funding and mentoring with the live finale in London 10-11 September 2016. Also new is an Entrepreneur Expo and the FFYB Awards Ceremony, recognising the most innovative start-ups leading the way in the top 10 trends. For the first time, the event will be streamed live with 360 video and virtual reality, offering virtual attendance to all events on the tour. Roger James Hamilton, founder of Entrepreneurs Institute, explains: "The number of people switching from a career in employment to entrepreneurship is the largest vocational shift in history. We have grown from 100 million entrepreneurs in 2000, to 400 million today, to a forecast 1 billion worldwide by 2020. While it becomes increasingly difficult to find a job, it is becoming increasingly easy to launch and grow a business." He continues: "Immigration fears, EU policies and now Brexit all add to the uncertainty for those worried about the future of their careers and families. That is all the more reason to understand the new entrepreneurial opportunities that are opening up as a result of Brexit." "Since Brexit, the UK has seen the largest purchase of a British company by a foreign company in history, with Softbank buying ARM Holdings for a record 24 billion. In the last week, China's Taikang Life has become the largest shareholder in British Auction House, Sotheby's." "VC firms have also invested over $200 million in UK start-ups in deals that have taken place since the Brexit referendum. This inflow of capital investment in British companies is set to continue, and British entrepreneurs are increasingly looking beyond the EU to build truly global businesses." "The Bank of England has already warned that half of all British jobs are at risk of being lost to robots and artificial intelligence in the next 20 years. Now is the time for individuals to learn the skills of entrepreneurship so they no longer have to be competing for jobs - and with a global business, when you are trading with customers in other countries and earning in other currencies, a falling pound works in your favour." At the Fast Forward your Business Event, Hamilton will be interviewing British entrepreneurs and sharing case studies on how to transition from employment to entrepreneurship and grow a global business using the latest technology platforms and freely available resources. Joining Hamilton on stage are change makers Simon Zutchi, Peter Bookah and Radka Dohnolova. Roger James Hamilton is available for comments and interview. Media contact: Sofie Haag, sofie@entrepreneursinstitute.com, Tel. +44-79-7210-4125 Quick links: https://www.geniusu.com/worldtour2016launch http://www.rogerjameshamilton.com http://www.startupbattle.org http://www.geniusu.com http://entrepreneursinstitute.com https://twitter.com/rogerhamilton https://www.facebook.com/rogerjameshamilton VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Finning International Inc. (TSX: FTT) reported second quarter 2016 results today. All monetary amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. HIGHLIGHTS -- Canada reported improved profitability. EBIT(1) margin of 4.4% included the unavoidable costs incurred during the shutdown caused by the Alberta wildfires; Adjusted EBIT margin(2)(3) of 6.3% was in line with Q2 2015 and above the previous two quarters. -- South America delivered strong EBIT margin of 8.8% in a difficult market environment; Adjusted EBIT margin was 9.1%. -- UK & Ireland is executing its plan to transform its business model, improve operational performance, and lower its cost structure. While Q2 2016 results were negatively impacted by significant severance and restructuring costs related to workforce reductions and steps to optimize the facility footprint, the UK & Ireland operations are expected to return to historic profitability levels by the end of 2016. -- SG&A(1) costs decreased by 13% from Q2 2015, excluding significant items and the Saskatchewan operation acquired effective July 1, 2015. As a result of decisive actions taken in all regions since 2014, SG&A costs in 2016 are expected to be 20% below 2014 levels, excluding the impact of foreign exchange. -- Free cash flow(3) was strong at $64 million, bringing year-to-date free cash flow to $94 million, which is a substantial improvement from ($162) million use of cash in the first two quarters of 2015. Management continues to expect free cash flow to be modestly over $300 million in 2016. -- Reported EPS was $0.03 per share. Adjusted EPS of $0.20 per share excluded severance and restructuring costs of $0.07 per share, primarily in the UK; charges resulting from the strategic repositioning of the UK's power systems business totaling $0.05 per share; and the unavoidable costs related to the Alberta wildfires of $0.05 per share. "The second quarter results demonstrated the benefit of actions taken to improve our operating performance and reduce costs in our Canadian and South American operations. I am pleased with the improvement in Canada's profitability, particularly considering the impact of the recent wildfires in Northern Alberta. In South America, we continued to execute well in a tough market in Chile, and are encouraged by the opportunities emerging in Argentina," said Scott Thomson, CEO and president of Finning International. "Our results in the UK and Ireland were impacted by severance and restructuring charges, related to workforce reductions and branch closures, as well as the anticipated sale of a non-core business following the conclusion of a strategic review of our power systems division. I am confident that our UK and Ireland business is moving in the right direction and we will restore EBIT margin to historical levels by the end of the year." "We have now taken action to restructure all three of our regions to align with market conditions, which will reduce our SG&A costs by about 20 percent between 2014 and 2016 excluding the impact of foreign exchange," continued Mr. Thomson. "While we expect the environment to remain challenging, we are now well positioned to improve profitability and generate strong free cash flow this year." Q2 2016 FINANCIAL SUMMARY --------------------------------------------- $ millions, except per share Q2 2015 amounts Q2 2016 (restated)(4) % change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 1,310 1,680 (22) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA 77 157 (50) EBITDA margin(3) 6.0% 9.4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT 29 106 (72) EBIT margin 2.3% 6.3% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income 5 62 (92) Basic EPS 0.03 0.36 (92) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Free cash flow 64 70 (8) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Included in Q2 2016 and Q2 2015 results are the following significant items that management does not consider indicative of operational and financial trends either by nature or amount. These significant items are summarized below and described in more detail on page 3 of the Company's Q2 2016 Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q2 2016 Significant Items by Operation $ millions, except per share South UK & Finning amounts Canada America Ireland Total(i) EPS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT / EPS 28 38 (26) 29 0.03 Severance and restructuring costs 1 1 11 13 0.07 Impact from Alberta wildfires - unavoidable costs 11 - - 11 0.05 Estimated loss on disputes - UK power systems - - 5 5 0.02 Write-down of net assets - UK expected sale of non-core business - - 5 5 0.03 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBIT / Adjusted EPS 40 39 (5) 63 0.20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBITDA 65 54 3 111 -------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT margin 4.4% 8.8% (10.5)% 2.3% -------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBIT margin 6.3% 9.1% (1.9)% 4.9% -------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBITDA margin 10.3% 12.5% 1.2% 8.5% -------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q2 2015 Significant Items by Operation $ millions, except per share South UK & Finning amounts Canada America Ireland Total(i) EPS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT / EPS 52 52 12 106 0.36 Severance costs 3 3 - 6 0.03 Statutory tax rate change in Alberta - - - - 0.01 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBIT / Adjusted EPS 55 55 12 112 0.40 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBITDA 81 74 18 163 -------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT margin 6.1% 9.4% 4.2% 6.3% -------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBIT margin 6.3% 10.0% 4.3% 6.6% -------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBITDA margin 9.3% 13.6% 6.7% 9.7% -------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) Consolidated results include corporate and other operations, mostly corporate head office -- Revenues were down 22%, with lower revenues from all operations. New equipment sales decreased by 41%, driven mostly by lower sales in Canada (Q2 2015 included significant mining deliveries) and South America due to challenging market conditions and reduced industry activity. Order backlog(3) of about $500 million at the end of Q2 2016 remained unchanged from Q1 2016 and Q4 2015, reflecting continued weakness in most markets. Product support declined by 10%, primarily as a result of reduced demand from the mining industry in South America, and lower parts and service volumes in the Canadian oil sands due to the Alberta wildfires. -- Gross profit declined by 21%, in line with revenues. Lower margins on new equipment, parts, and rental, mostly from competitive pricing pressures, were offset by a shift in the revenue mix to product support. As a result, gross profit margin was maintained at around 26%. -- The decrease in Adjusted EBIT from Q2 2015 was driven by significantly lower revenues in Canada and South America due to reduced industry activity, particularly in new equipment sales; increased competitive pricing pressures in all operations; and an Adjusted EBIT loss in the UK & Ireland where the Company's recent actions to lower the cost to serve customers are yet to be fully realized. -- While Adjusted EBITDA in Canada and South America declined by 19% and 27%, respectively, substantially lower EBITDA performance in the UK & Ireland weighed on consolidated results. Adjusted EBITDA was down 32% from Q2 2015, significantly less than Adjusted EBIT (down 43%) and Adjusted EPS (down 50%) due to the fixed nature of depreciation and finance costs. -- Free cash flow was $64 million compared to $70 million in Q2 2015, as lower earnings were offset by lower supplier payments and rental investment reflecting reduced activity levels. All operations generated positive free cash flow in Q2 2016. Year-to-date free cash flow of $94 million was a significant improvement from ($162) million use of cash in the first two quarters of 2015, driven mostly by higher free cash flow in Canada. The Company's balance sheet remains strong. Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio(2)(3) was 2.2, and net debt to invested capital ratio(3) was 37.9% at the end of Q2 2016. Q2 2016 INVESTED CAPITAL --------------------------------- Q2 2016 Q1 2016 Q4 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invested capital(3)($ millions) Consolidated 3,041 3,085 3,240 Canada 1,695 1,685 1,760 South America (U.S. dollars) 824 796 811 UK & Ireland (U.K. pound sterling) 153 182 157 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invested capital turnover(3)(4)(times) 1.78 1.82 1.78 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted ROIC(1)(2)(3)(%) Consolidated 9.4 10.4 10.9 Canada 9.3 10.1 10.6 South America 14.2 14.5 14.0 UK & Ireland 3.3 7.4 9.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, invested capital decreased by about $85 million from Q4 2015. This was primarily driven by lower equipment inventories and rental assets in Canada, reflecting the Company's ongoing efforts to reduce surplus inventories and dispose of underutilized rental fleet. Canada's new equipment inventories were down by about $110 million from the end of 2015. All operations continue to focus on improving supply chain efficiencies. -- Adjusted ROIC declined to 9.4% mostly due to lower earnings in all operations, reflecting of continued challenges in the marketplace. Q2 2016 HIGHLIGHTS BY OPERATION Canada -- Revenues declined by 27% mostly as a result of lower new equipment sales across all sectors and the impact of the Alberta wildfires on product support volumes in the oil sands. New equipment sales were down 54% reflecting large mining deliveries in Q2 2015 and lower industry activity in Q2 2016, primarily in the oil & gas markets. Product support revenues were down 7% primarily due to the interruption in oil sands activity during the Alberta wildfires, partly offset by stronger demand for parts in the oil sands in April and June as well as a contribution from the Saskatchewan dealership. Compared to Q1 2016, the Company saw improved product support activity in the construction sector and believes that product support revenues would have been higher if the oil sands operations had not been interrupted by the fires. Rental revenues declined by 27% impacted by lower rental utilization and competitive pricing in a weak market. -- Gross profit margin was higher driven by a revenue shift to product support and improved service margins, partly offset by lower new equipment and rental margins from increased competitive pricing pressures. -- Excluding the Saskatchewan operation and significant items, year-to-date SG&A costs were down by 13% from the same period of last year. The Canadian operations remain on track to achieve over $150 million in annual fixed cost savings by the end of 2016 and reduce annual fixed SG&A costs by over 20% from 2014 levels. -- The unavoidable operating costs during the evacuation of about 800 employees and a 6-week interruption of business in the Fort McMurray area are estimated at $11 million. Management anticipates the negative impacts on profits from the business interruption may be partially offset by expected rebuild activity in the Fort McMurray area during the next 18 to 24 months, as well as possible insurance recoveries. -- Adjusted EBITDA margin of 10.3% was higher than 9.3% in Q2 2015 and improved from the last two quarters. Adjusted EBIT margin was 6.3%, similar to Q2 2015 despite a 27% decline in revenues, and above Q1 2016 Adjusted EBIT margin of 4.0%. South America -- Revenues declined by 20% (down 24% in functional currency - U.S. dollars), indicative of continued weak market conditions across all sectors as copper prices remained suppressed. New equipment sales decreased by 44% (down 47% in functional currency), driven by a slowdown in construction, energy, and mining activity. Product support revenues were down 12% (down 16% in functional currency), as some mining equipment remained parked and copper producers continued to delay maintenance and component replacements to achieve cost reductions. However, compared to Q1 2016, product support was up 4% in functional currency. -- Adjusted EBIT margin was 9.1%, compared to 10.0% in Q2 2015. South American operations delivered solid profitability with a continued focus on managing costs, improving operating efficiencies, and capturing product support business by providing innovative solutions to customers in a very difficult market environment. United Kingdom & Ireland -- Revenues decreased 9% (down 8% in functional currency - U.K. Pound Sterling) due to reduced activity in the Company's key markets, mostly coal, steel, and oil & gas sectors. New equipment sales and product support revenues were down 10% and 13%, respectively, in functional currency. -- Adjusted EBIT results were negatively impacted by lower revenues and margins due to increased competitive pricing pressures, as well as asset provisions and adjustments reflective of an uncertain market environment. In addition, the benefit of SG&A cost savings from workforce reductions, facility closures, and other restructuring initiatives have not yet been realized. As a result, adjusted EBIT margin was a negative (1.9)%, compared to 4.3% in Q2 2015. -- UK & Ireland continued to execute its plan to sustainably lower the cost to serve customers by transforming its business model, optimizing its facility footprint, increasing supply chain velocity, and improving the performance of the power systems business. -- In Q2 2016, the Company reduced its UK workforce and facilities footprint, resulting in severance and restructuring costs of $11 million. -- Following a strategic review of the UK's operations, management recorded a $5 million write-down of net assets and other costs related to the anticipated sale of a non-core business in the power systems division. -- In addition, management recorded a $5 million estimated loss on two disputed power systems projects. The Company expects the UK & Ireland operations to return to historic profitability levels by the end of 2016. CORPORATE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS Dividend The Board of Directors has approved a quarterly dividend of $0.1825 per share, payable on September 1, 2016 to shareholders of record on August 18, 2016. This dividend will be considered an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION --------------------------------- --------------------------------- $ millions, except per share amounts Three months ended June 30 --------------------------------- --------------------------------- 2015 (restated) % 2016 (4) change New equipment 377 639 (41) Used equipment 101 106 (4) Equipment rental 53 68 (22) Product support 775 863 (10) Other 4 4 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total revenue 1,310 1,680 (22) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross profit 343 435 (21) Gross profit margin 26.2% 25.9% SG&A (315) (331) 5 SG&A as a percentage of revenue (24.1)% (19.7)% Equity earnings of joint venture and associate 6 2 Other expenses (5) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT 29 106 (72) EBIT margin 2.3% 6.3% Adjusted EBIT 63 112 (43) Adjusted EBIT margin 4.9% 6.6% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income 5 62 (92) Basic EPS 0.03 0.36 (92) Adjusted basic EPS 0.20 0.40 (50) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA 77 157 (50) EBITDA margin 6.0% 9.4% Adjusted EBITDA(2)(3) 111 163 (32) Adjusted EBITDA margin(2)(3) 8.5% 9.7% Free cash flow 64 70 (8) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- --------------------------------- $ millions, except per share amounts Six months ended June 30 --------------------------------- --------------------------------- 2015 (restated) % 2016 (4) change New equipment 892 1,191 (25) Used equipment 199 173 15 Equipment rental 109 139 (22) Product support 1,596 1,710 (7) Other 8 8 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total revenue 2,804 3,221 (13) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross profit 724 849 (15) Gross profit margin 25.8% 26.3% SG&A (652) (671) 3 SG&A as a percentage of revenue (23.3)% (20.8)% Equity earnings of joint venture and associate 7 3 Other expenses (5) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT 74 181 (59) EBIT margin 2.7% 5.6% Adjusted EBIT 130 206 (36) Adjusted EBIT margin 4.7% 6.4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income 20 115 (83) Basic EPS 0.12 0.66 (82) Adjusted basic EPS 0.39 0.72 (47) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA 173 283 (39) EBITDA margin 6.2% 8.8% Adjusted EBITDA(2)(3) 229 308 (26) Adjusted EBITDA margin(2)(3) 8.2% 9.6% Free cash flow 94 (162) 158 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 30, 2016 Dec 31, 2015 -------------------------------- Invested capital 3,041 3,240 Invested capital turnover (times) 1.78 1.78 Net debt to invested capital 37.9% 36.7% ROIC(3) (6.4)% (3.0)% Adjusted ROIC 9.4% 10.9% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To download Finning's complete Q2 2016 results in PDF, please open the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/FinningQ22016results.pdf Q2 2016 RESULTS INVESTOR CALL The Company will hold an investor call on August 3 at 8:00 am Eastern Time. Dial-in numbers: 1-800-319-4610 (within Canada and the US) or 1-416-915-3239 (Toronto area and overseas). The call will be webcast live and subsequently archived at www.finning.com. Playback recording will be available at 1-855-669-9658 until August 10, 2016. The pass code to access the playback recording is 00624. ABOUT FINNING Finning International Inc. (TSX: FTT) is the world's largest Caterpillar equipment dealer delivering unrivalled service to customers for over 80 years. Finning sells, rents, and provides parts and services for equipment and engines to help customers maximize productivity. Headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., the Company operates in Western Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, the United Kingdom and Ireland. FOOTNOTES (1) Earnings Before Finance Costs and Income Taxes (EBIT); Earnings per Share (EPS); Earnings Before Finance Costs, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA); Selling, General & Administrative Expenses (SG&A); Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). (2) Certain second quarter 2016 and 2015 financial metrics were impacted by significant items management does not consider indicative of operational and financial trends either by nature or amount; these significant items are summarized on page 2 of this news release and described on page 3 of the Company's Q2 2016 MD&A, and the financial metrics that have been adjusted to take these items into account are referred to as "adjusted" metrics. (3) Management believes that providing certain non-GAAP financial measures provides users of the Company's consolidated financial statements with important information regarding the operational performance and related trends of the Company's business. By considering these measures in combination with the comparable IFRS measures set out in this MD&A, management believes that users are provided a better overall understanding of the Company's business and its financial performance during the relevant period than if they simply considered the IFRS measures alone. These financial metrics, referred to as "non- GAAP financial measures" do not have a standardized meaning under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which are also referred to herein as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For additional information regarding these financial metrics, including definitions and reconciliations from each of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable measure under GAAP, see the heading "Description of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations" in the Company's Q2 2016 MD&A. (4) Management has voluntarily changed its presentation of certain expenses to provide reliable and more relevant information to users of the financial statements and better align with industry comparable companies. In addition, management concluded that certain cost recoveries are better reflected as revenues. Certain line items have been restated in the comparative 2015 periods but the impact of restatement is not significant. For more information on the impact to financial statements, please refer to note 1 of the Company's interim condensed consolidated financial statements. FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER This report contains statements about the Company's business outlook, objectives, plans, strategic priorities and other statements that are not historical facts. A statement Finning makes is forward-looking when it uses what the Company knows and expects today to make a statement about the future. Forward-looking statements may include words such as aim, anticipate, assumption, believe, could, expect, goal, guidance, intend, may, objective, outlook, plan, project, seek, should, strategy, strive, target, and will. Forward-looking statements in this report include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: expectations with respect to the economy and associated impact on the Company's financial results; workforce reductions; distribution network and goodwill impairment; facility closures; expected revenue; expected free cash flow; EBIT margin; expected profitability levels; expected range of the effective tax rate; ROIC; market share growth; expected results from service excellence action plans; expected results from cost reductions and transformation initiatives; anticipated asset utilization; inventory turns and parts service levels; the expected target range of the Company's net debt to invested capital ratio; estimated loss on disputes regarding two power system projects in the UK, anticipated sale of non-core business in the U.K.; and the expected financial impact from the Alberta wildfires. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated by us, forward-looking statements in this report reflect Finning's expectations at August 2, 2016. Except as may be required by Canadian securities laws, Finning does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions which give rise to the possibility that actual results could differ materially from the expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements and that Finning's business outlook, objectives, plans, strategic priorities and other statements that are not historical facts may not be achieved. As a result, Finning cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements include: general economic and market conditions; foreign exchange rates; commodity prices; the level of customer confidence and spending, and the demand for, and prices of, Finning's products and services; Finning's dependence on the continued market acceptance of products and timely supply of parts and equipment; Finning's ability to continue to improve productivity and operational efficiencies while continuing to maintain customer service; Finning's ability to manage cost pressures as growth in revenue occurs; Finning's ability to reduce costs in response to slowing activity levels; Finning's ability to attract sufficient skilled labour resources as market conditions, business strategy or technologies change; Finning's ability to negotiate and renew collective bargaining agreements with satisfactory terms for Finning's employees and the Company; the intensity of competitive activity; Finning's ability to raise the capital needed to implement its business plan; regulatory initiatives or proceedings, litigation and changes in laws or regulations; stock market volatility; changes in political and economic environments for operations; the integrity, reliability, availability and benefits from information technology and the data processed by that technology. Forward-looking statements are provided in this report for the purpose of giving information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of Finning's operating environment. However, readers are cautioned that it may not be appropriate to use such forward-looking statements for any other purpose. Forward-looking statements made in this report are based on a number of assumptions that Finning believed were reasonable on the day the Company made the forward-looking statements. Refer in particular to the Outlook section of this MD&A for forward-looking statements. Some of the assumptions, risks, and other factors which could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this report are discussed in Section 4 of the Company's current AIF and in the annual MD&A for the financial risks. Finning cautions readers that the risks described in the MD&A and the AIF are not the only ones that could impact the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that are currently deemed to be immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on Finning's business, financial condition, or results of operations. Except as otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring or other unusual items or of any dispositions, mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or other transactions that may be announced or that may occur after the date hereof. The financial impact of these transactions and non-recurring and other unusual items can be complex and depends on the facts particular to each of them. Finning therefore cannot describe the expected impact in a meaningful way or in the same way Finning presents known risks affecting its business. Contacts: Finning International Inc. Mauk Breukels Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs (604) 331-4934 mauk.breukels@finning.com www.finning.com The .FM is now available on CentralNic's state of the art, proprietary technical backend registry service BRS Media, a diverse and growing media e-commerce firm that assists traditional and interactive media companies build and brand on the power of the Internet, today announced that dotFM, the .FM Top-Level Domain Registry, has been successfully deployed on the CentralNic Registry Platform. CentralNic is the exclusive wholesaler for over 30 new Top-Level Domain extensions, including .xyz, .site, .online, .website, .space, and .tech, which are ranked among the top twenty five most subscribed new Top-Level Domain extensions. One in three of all domains registered under new TLDs globally uses the CentralNic platform, ranking CentralNic as the leading global supplier with approximately 8 million of these domains under management. "We are thrilled to be working with CentralNic, with a global network of 1,500 registrars and 100,000 resellers, this migration will significantly increase the retail footprint of the .FM, .RADIO.fm .RADIO.am into growing and emerging markets," remarked George T. Bundy, Chairman CEO of BRS Media Inc. "In addition, the CentralNic Registry will add full support for Internationalised Domain Names (IDN) and Premium Domains. dotFM has always provided the marketplace with a professional, reliable, secure and stable 'Industry Specific' domain extension and this move will continue that world-class administration." CentralNic CEO Ben Crawford said, ".FM and its affiliated domain extensions are good examples of how to succeed as 'dotIndustry' domains, with their longstanding adoption by companies who have redefined their industry, such as Last.fm. We are excited to add this group of high quality TLDs and SLDs to the CentralNic backend platform." BRS Media has pioneered the 'multimedia' domain space since launching the .FM .AM Top Level Domains in 1998. Since that time, the .FM Brand Registry Service has evolved to meet the growing demand and creativity of our clientele. Today, our comprehensive portfolio of registrants not only includes broadcasters, Internet radio and the music community, but also interactive companies, premier social media ventures and podcast entrepreneurs worldwide. Some of the world's most innovative .FM brands include; Overcast.fm, CarrieUnderwood.fm, Earbud.fm, Rainmaker.fm, Douban.fm, Jazz.fm, Dubtrack.fm, Coca-Cola.fm, Summertime.fm, among thousands more. CentralNic launched the .FM TLD; .RADIO.fm .RADIO.am SLDs on August 1st and will launch .AM through its new EPP Gateway Service on August 30, 2016. The .FM Top-Level Domain is available directly from dotFM (https://dot.fm), as well as, through most ICANN Accredited Registrars (https://get.fm/registrars) like: Go Daddy, Hover, Name.com, Dynadot, Network Solutions, Gandi.net, United Domains, and many more. Information about .FM Domains, Domain Spotlights, Premium Domains and more is available at https://Get.fm About CentralNic Group plc: CentralNic (LSE: CNIC) is a London-based AIM-listed company which earns revenues from the worldwide sales of internet domain names over its proprietary technology platform. It operates a global wholesale network, supplying domain names to over 1,500 vendors in 77 countries. CentralNic is the exclusive wholesaler for over 30 new Top-Level Domain extensions (the new alternatives to .com and .net), including .xyz, .site, .online, .website, .space, and .tech, which are ranked among the top twenty five most subscribed new Top-Level Domain extensions. CentralNic is celebrating 20 years as one of the world's pioneering registry service providers. About BRS Media Inc.: Based in the South of Market district (SoMa) of San Francisco CA, BRS Media (https://brsmedia.fm) was established in 1995, and is celebrating over 20 years Online, featured as one of the fastest growing privately held companies by the SF Business Times and Inc. Magazine for five consecutive years. Its portfolio of leading online properties includes: dotFM dotAM, spotlighting Domain Innovation and Brand Registry Services for media based .FM and .AM domains; .RADIO.am .RADIO.fm, Internet Radio's only truly Open Innovative Domain Extentions and @RADIO.am @RADIO.fm, free and premium Web-based Email Services; dotFM and dotAM are registered trademarks of BRS Media, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005598/en/ Contacts: Junaid Siddiqui BRS Media Inc. jsiddiqui@brsmedia.fm LONDON, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- *Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for all finalists* *Winners will be revealed 15 November 2016* Over 140 of Britain's leading businesses, business leaders and social enterprises, of all sizes and disciplines, have today been revealed as finalists for the 2016 Lloyds Bank National Business Awards. Some of the shortlisted finalists include Westfield Europe, Missguided, the University of Sheffield, World First, Hotel Chocolat, MKM Building Supplies and Ziferblat. The finalists represent categories including The Amazon Digital Business of the Year, Howard Kennedy Employer of the Year, Smith & Williamson Scale-Up Business of the Year and The QBE Insurance New Exporter of the Year Award, in association with Exporting is GREAT. The finalists were chosen from the hundreds of businesses that entered or were nominated across 18 award categories. They will now prepare for live presentations to an expert judging panel who will decide the overall winners. Described as "the Oscars of great British business" by David Cameron, former Prime Minister, this year's prestigious award ceremony will take place on Tuesday 15th November, at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, where the winners will be revealed. For the first time, Conor McGinn MP recently hosted a reception for the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards at the House of Commons. This enabled finalists to meet fellow entrants, the National Business Awards Advisory Board members, judges (who they will present to in September) and sponsors of each category. Tim Hinton, Managing Director, Mid Markets and SME Banking, Lloyds Banking Group said: "We are proud to be the headline sponsor of the National Business Awards for the second year running, as part of our support for British enterprise. These awards recognise the vital role that businesses play in driving growth and value in our economy and the exceptional individuals behind them. I wish all the finalists the very best of luck." Angus Thirlwell, Co-Founder & CEO of Hotel Chocolat, a finalist in the Lloyds Bank Mid-Market Business of the Year Award category said, "This has been the most exciting year in our brand history and everything we have achieved is through our amazing team. Being shortlisted for this award is great recognition for our whole team." Colin Shenton, CEO of Ziferblat UK & Ireland, a finalist in the Lloyds Bank New Business of the Year award category said, "Ziferblat is such an exciting new business to lead, in its first18 months it has evolved dramatically and far surpassed our initial expectations and we have beaten every projection. When prestigious awards such as the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards recognises the efforts of our committed team it is a reward for hard work, focus and the goals we have achieved thusfar. I am incrediblypleased to be shortlisted from such a strong field; this will benefit our business in so many different ways." Tom Broughton, Group Brand Director of the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards said: "Due to the high number of entries for this years' awards, narrowing the entries down to 140 finalists was a difficult task. But through a thorough and comprehensive judging process, the selected finalists demonstrate exceptional quality and diversity across a range of business sectors within the UK. We are now looking forward to the next step of the process and meeting some of the finalists face-to-face." Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all finalists or for details on how to attend the event. For National Business Award images and logos visit ubm.box.com/v/nba-2016-press-area About the National Business Awards Open to organisations of all sizes from all sectors across the UK, the National Business Awards is the UK's most prestigious independent business recognition platform with its particular emphasis on excellence, innovation and ethical business. Now in its 15th year, the National Business Awards connects the nations' professionals through its annual awards ceremony; year-round thought leadership and round table events; and is UBM plc's flagship awards programme. Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for further information or follow us on Twitter @businessawards. 2016 categories include: The QBE Insurance New Exporter of the Year in association with Exporting is GREAT The Customer Focus Award The Amazon DigitalBusiness of the Year The Howard Kennedy Employer of the Year The Lloyds Bank New Business of the Year The Duke of York New Entrepreneur of the Year The Lloyds Bank Small to Medium-Sized Business of the Year The Vonage Business Enabler of the Year The Grichan Partnership Sustainable Business Award The Duke of York Award for University Entrepreneurship The Business Award for Arts and Creative Services The Innovation Award The Smith & Williamson Scale-Up Business of the Year The Lloyds Bank Positive Social Impact Award Inflexion Entrepreneur of the Year The Lloyds Bank Mid-Market Business of the Year About UBM EMEA The National Business Awards is organised by UBM EMEA. UBM EMEA connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands and expand their markets.Through premier brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show and many others, UBM EMEA exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Eurasian Minerals Inc. (the "Company" or "EMX") (TSX VENTURE: EMX)(NYSE MKT: EMXX) is pleased to announce the sale of EBX Madencilik A.S., the wholly-owned EMX subsidiary that controls the Sisorta gold property (the "Property") in Turkey, to Bahar Madencilik Sinayi ve Ticaret Ltd Sti ("Bahar"), a privately owned Turkish company, pursuant to a Share Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with Bahar. Please see www.eurasianminerals.com for more information. Commercial Terms. The Agreement provides for Bahar's staged payments to EMX as summarized below (all amounts in USD): -- $250,000 cash payment to EMX upon closing of the sale (completed). -- Annual cash payments of $125,000 ("Advance Cash Payments") payable on each anniversary of the closing date until commencement of commercial production from the Property. -- 3.5% of production returns after certain deductions ("NSR Payment") for ore mined from the Property that is processed on-site (increased to 5% if the ore is processed off-site). -- The Advance Cash Payments will be credited at a rate of 80% against the NSR Payment payable after commercial production commences. -- The NSR Payment is uncapped and cannot be bought out or reduced. Bahar intends to immediately commence advanced exploration and development work on the Sisorta project. Project Overview. The Sisorta project, located in the Eastern Pontides mineral belt, is a volcanic-hosted, near-surface, high sulfidation epithermal gold deposit. Exploration programs at Sisorta, principally funded by partners, have included 123 diamond drill holes totaling over 16,000 meters, geologic and alteration mapping, geochemical sampling, and geophysical surveys. This work has outlined a 1000 by 600 meter zone of shallow oxide gold mineralization with underlying copper and gold porphyry potential at depth. The Sisorta Property is another example of EMX's execution of the prospect and royalty generation business model. Partner funded exploration expenditures advanced the project through drill delineation of a resource in 2009, with EMX regaining 100% control of the project in Q1 of 2015. This set the stage for the Agreement with Bahar, a Turkish mining company that recently put the Altintepe gold mine into production with joint venture partner Stratex International PLC. The Altintepe mine occurs in the same region and has similar styles of mineralization as Sisorta. Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and employee of the Company. Dr. Jensen has reviewed, verified and approved disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release. About EMX. Eurasian Minerals leverages asset ownership and exploration insight into partnerships that advance our mineral properties, with EMX retaining royalty interests. EMX complements its generative business with strategic investment and third party royalty acquisition. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause Eurasian's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the 20-F and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. Contacts: Eurasian Minerals Inc. David M. Cole President and Chief Executive Officer (303) 979-6666 Dave@EurasianMinerals.com Eurasian Minerals Inc. Scott Close Director of Investor Relations (303) 973-8585 SClose@EurasianMinerals.com www.EurasianMinerals.com VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 03, 2016) - Targets generated as a result of exhaustive compilation work, complimented by the Gold Rush Challenge, of all mining and exploration data comprising more than 75 years of mining history from its Sigma/Lamaque Mine and Mill acquisition. "Lamaque Deep" is the most obvious untested gold target in proximity to the Sigma/Lamaque Mines, and corresponds to the depth intersection of the Lamaque Mine Main Plug (historic production of more than 4.5 million ounces) and the Sigma Mine gold mineralized shear veins structures (historical production of 4.5 million ounces). The Lamaque Mine was Quebec's largest gold mining operation from 1955 to 1985 and was host to one of the highest "ounce-per-vertical-meter" gold mines (~4,000 ounces/m) in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The Sigma and Lamaque mines, separated by only 500 m, share the same lithological and structural mineralization controls; the Sigma Mine was in production from surface to a depth of 1,850 meters ("m") and the Lamaque Mine produced from surface to a depth of 1,100m. The Lamaque Deep target is being tested by one master pilot hole forming the basis to originate multiple secondary wedged off-set holes at various depth intervals; drill program designed to fully test the intersecting gold bearing geometries between the Sigma and Lamaque deposits and the depth extension of the Lamaque Main Plug. Integra Gold is hosting the First Annual Fete d'Ete today, August 3rd 2016, in Val-d'Or, Quebec. The Fete d'Ete is a community celebration where members of the financial community who have supported the Company and members of the local population can spend time with Integra management and local employees to learn more about the project and the Company's plan for the future. Follow Integra Gold on Facebook and Twitter, and join the Company for a Facebook Live Q&A with CEO Stephen de Jong and Executive Chairman, George Salamis Wednesday August 3rd, at 3:30pm EST. Integra Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: ICG) (OTCQX: ICGQF) ("Integra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the initiation of a 2,000m pilot hole on its Lamaque Deep target, situated on the Lamaque Gold Project ("Lamaque") located in Val-d'Or, Quebec. Once the pilot hole has been completed (est. completion Q4 2016) the target will be tested with a minimum of 15 wedged holes originating from the pilot hole at various intervals. The Company is anticipating the entire program including wedges will total 10,000m of drilling. "We have been looking forward to drill testing this target ever since we took ownership of the ground and historic records as part of our mill acquisition in October of 2014. The target area, defined by a box that's roughly 1 km by 1 km starting at a depth of 1,000 m below surface, represents one of the most exciting drill targets in our exploration program today. For almost 50 years these two mines, less than 500m from one another, were operated by two major company owners, Placer Dome and Teck, who cumulatively produced over 9 million ounce of gold. Over the history of these two deposits, the respective mine management groups were of the view that both gold deposits were related, but could not test this target due to the ownership structure." Lamaque Deep Exploration Target Concept and Parameters In 2015, following the acquisition of the Sigma/Lamaque Mine and Mill complex immediately adjacent to its Lamaque South project, Integra commissioned the services of several industry experts to consolidate, validate and evaluate the historic digital data from the two past producing mines, amounting to 6 terabytes in size. This compilation was used to define potential geometric extensions of the Lamaque Main Plug intrusive which hosted over 85% of the 4.5 million ounces of gold produced at the Lamaque Mine over a 50 year period. The depth extension of the Main Plug, with targeting further refined by the Company's in-house knowledge together with information from this year's Gold Rush Challenge submissions, will now be tested by first drilling a master pilot hole located in the structural footwall of the mineralized intrusive plug. The completed master pilot hole will then form the origin for multiple (minimum of 15) wedged off-set holes at various intervals below 1,000m vertical depth, designed to test for gold mineralized extensions below Lamaque. The Lamaque and Sigma Mines are located 500m from one another and are being interpreted by the Company's exploration and geological team as two different setting of a singular gold deposit and mineralized system. These mines each produced more than 4.5 million ounces of gold respectively; however, the Sigma Mine reached a vertical depth over 700m deeper than Lamaque. The Lamaque Mine ceased operations in 1985 due to falling commodity prices, labor unrest, and development limitations due to insufficient infrastructure; the mine was not closed as a result of the mineralized system being exhausted at depth. Integra's compilations of mine workings from the lowest levels of mining at Lamaque conducted by Teck, showed excellent gold grades often in excess of 15 g/t and vein continuity over hundreds of meters; hence the view that the mine was not shut down due to lack of gold or pinching veins at depth. The Lamaque Mine was the largest gold producer in Quebec over a 30 year period, from 1955 until its closure in 1985. The historic data compiled by the Company provides compelling evidence that down-dip extensions of the gold-bearing system of the Lamaque Mine Main Plug, where it intersects shear structures dipping south from the Sigma Mine side of the original property boundary, continues at depth. As part of the compilation process, a 3D model of the main mineralized structures and geology has been produced and clearly demonstrates the potential for significant gold resource extensions at depth. Integra's technical team, supported by external experts, has identified several instances in the database showing documented proof that gold mineralization, both low and high grade over wide zones in excess of 90m in thickness, exists in conjunction with the depth extensions of the Lamaque Mine itself. The Company's technical team has concluded that the historic results clearly demonstrate proof-of-concept that gold mineralization continuity exists at depth below the two mines and warrant further drill testing. Geological compilation work has also demonstrated that the Lamaque Deep target area hosts most of the gold bearing structures and favorable host rocks from both mines providing optimal gold discovery conditions: pipe-like intrusive dioritic "plugs," a favorable host rock which dips northeast towards the Sigma mine, and similar quartz-tourmaline-pyrite gold bearing vertical and "flat" veining arrays related to shear zones. The downward projection of most of the gold mineralized shear zones from the Sigma Mine are also dipping southward towards the extension of the Lamaque Main Plug itself, providing an ideal exploration target area below 1,100m depth at the Lamaque Mine. Compilation work shows that this target zone with its optimal set of host conditions was previously intersected in a very limited historic drill-campaign conducted in 1997 by previous operators. Though this limited drilling was not performed at optimal orientations due to its location and limited access, it intersected significant widths of gold mineralization. Follow-up exploration and development was never completed due to financial restraints the company was facing at the time. These limited gold intercepts with the optimal target horizon provided strong evidence of continuity at depth. Aggressive drill campaigns on the Triangle and other deposits over the past 4 years, together with information gathered during the Company's recent Gold Rush Challenge, were also of tremendous value in identifying the ideal target conditions related to the Lamaque Deep concept. The structural and lithological similarities between Triangle/No. 4 Plug and Sigma/Lamaque cannot be ignored, nor can the valuable lessons learned from the Gold Rush Challenge. Both have been pivotal in the structuring of this Lamaque Deep drill campaign. A summary of some of the historical drill intercepts that have identified extensions of mineralization below the Lamaque Main Plug, representing an extremely limited amount of historic drilling within a large volume of rock, in the down-dip direction and up to 500m away from known past mining activity, are listed below: Summary of 1997 Historic Drill Results ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drill Holes From To Total Length Total Length Au (ft) (ft) (ft) (m) (g/t) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17112 1612.0 1651.8 39.8 12.13 6.94 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including 1623.8 1637.9 14.1 4.30 16.44 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17383 373.8 462.6 88.8 27.07 2.72 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including 373.8 400.0 26.2 7.99 4.96 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including 446.2 455.0 8.8 2.68 6.66 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17384 71.0 97.0 26.0 7.92 1.15 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17431 432.2 736.1 303.9 92.63 1.36 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including 440.6 500.0 59.4 18.11 2.74 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- which includes 452.0 485.2 33.2 10.12 3.66 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17911 20.5 23.5 3.0 0.91 4.51 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17912 116.5 126.6 10.1 3.08 4.18 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Drill hole data and assay results from historic Sigma Mine database (McWatters period); no minimum thickness; intervals selection strictly by gold grade with no cut-off applied; QA/QC procedures and processes have not been audited by Integra. To view pictures of selected drill core from the McWatters 1997 drill program please click on the following link: http://www.integragold.com/i/pdf/2016-06-02-fig2.pdf To view idealized representations of the 3-D model (historic infrastructures, Lamaque Main Plug, mineralized high angle structures) and projection of the proposed pilot hole, please click on the following link: http://www.integragold.com/i/pdf/2016-08-03-nrm-icg-XdS8us.pdf On-line Lamaque Deep Presentation An on-line presentation of the Lamaque Deep concept was prepared in June of 2015.. The presentation highlights the initial findings of the compilation work, and is presented by Herve Thiboutot, Senior VP of Integra Gold. Also included is a summary of the "proof-of-concept" material which led to the delineation of the exploration target area associated with Lamaque Deep. The presentation can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.integragold.com/i/pdf/2016-06-02-fig1.pdf Project and Company Profile Integra Gold is a junior gold exploration company exploring advanced stage projects in Val-d'Or, Quebec, one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world. The Company's primary focus is its high-grade Lamaque South project. In 2014, Integra completed the accretive acquisition of the Sigma Mill and Mine Complex, a fully permitted 2,200-2,400 ton per day mill and tailings facility. With major federal and provincial permits in place, existing infrastructure and significant exploration potential, this acquisition removed major costs and shortened timelines typically associated with developing mine projects. With a current market capitalization of approximately $400 million, Integra has raised over $100 million since 2013, at successively higher share prices, despite depressed gold prices. In August 2015, Eldorado Gold Corporation completed a strategic investment in Integra, acquiring 15% of the outstanding common shares. Integra was recently named to the TSX Venture top 50 performers in 2015 and the OTCQX Best 50 award for 2015. Qualified Person The Lamaque project is under the direct supervision of Herve Thiboutot, Eng., Senior Vice-President of the Company, and Jacques Simoneau, P. Geo., Exploration Manager of the Company. Mr. Thiboutot and Mr. Simoneau are Qualified Persons ("QPs") as defined by the National Instrument 43-101. The Company's QPs have reviewed the technical content of this release. Quality Assurance -- Quality Control ("QA/QC") Thorough QA/QC protocols are followed on the project including insertion of duplicate, blank and standard samples in all drill holes. The core samples are submitted directly to the Bourlamaque and ALS-Chemex laboratories in Val-d'Or for preparation and analysis. Analysis is conducted on 1 assay-ton aliquots. Analysis of Au is performed using fire assay method with atomic absorption (AA) finish, with a gravimetric finish completed for samples exceeding 5 g/t Au. Results published are from the gravimetric finish assay if above 5 g/t and from the AA finish assay if lower than 5 g/t. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Stephen de Jong CEO & President Follow Integra Gold On: Twitter: http://twitter.com/integragoldcorp Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain disclosures in this release constitute forward-looking statements. In making the forward-looking statements in this release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company, including that the Company is able to obtain any government or other regulatory approvals, that the Company is able to procure personnel, equipment and supplies required for its exploration and development activities in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis and that actual results are consistent with management's expectations. Although the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, among others, those matters identified in its continuous disclosure filings, including its most recently filed MD&A. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. CONTACT INFORMATION Corporate Inquiries: Chris Gordon: chris@integragold.com Or visit the company website: www.integragold.com SUNNYVALE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Liquid Robotics, the leader in long-duration, unmanned ocean robots, and their Japanese partner, Hydro Systems Development (HSD), have successfully delivered the first fleet of Wave Gliders to the Japan Coast Guard. Liquid Robotics and HSD will assist the Japan Coast Guard in deploying eight Wave Gliders for a multi-year mission providing autonomous observation and situational awareness of ocean currents, wave activity, and weather along Japan's coastlines. This is the first ocean observation network in Japan's history that will provide comprehensive and economical monitoring of Japan's ocean conditions. Wave Gliders are long-duration, environmentally friendly ocean robots that collect and communicate real-time ocean data without using fuel. This is the largest fleet deployment of Wave Gliders in Japan. Data collected by the fleet of Wave Gliders will provide real-time information for the Japan Coast Guard's operational use. Missions by four of the JCG Regional Branches are planned imminently. "It is an honor to assist the Japan Coast Guard with helping protect their coastal environments and populations against natural emergencies and to enhance their understanding of their coastal seas," said Gary Gysin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Liquid Robotics. "Together with HSD, we will partner to bring real-time, actionable intelligence to help the Japan Coast Guard safeguard their seas." With support from Liquid Robotics, HSD has led customer missions ranging from typhoon tracking, to tsunami detection, to general oceanographic studies using Wave Gliders. The Wave Glider returned excellent results and recorded long-term, time-series data information that was not possible with ships. This data has led to a better understanding of the environmental conditions in and around Japan with improved national-level safety and disaster resilience. "Hydro Systems Development is excited to support the Japan Coast Guard in their efforts to better monitor Japan's ocean environment and ensure the safety of those in and around the sea," said Takashi Kitsuda, President of Hydro Systems Development. "We are grateful for the support from Liquid Robotics and know that the Wave Glider presents a game-changing technology for the ocean environment and for the Japan Coast Guard." About Liquid Robotics: Liquid Robotics designs and manufactures Wave Gliders, the first wave and solar-powered unmanned ocean robots. With our partners we address many of the planet's greatest challenges, by transforming how to assess, monitor, and protect the ocean. We solve critical problems for defense, commercial, and science customers. Visit http://www.liquid-robotics.com to learn more. Liquid Robotics and Wave Glider are registered trademarks of Liquid Robotics, Inc. About Hydro Systems Development (HSD): Hydro Systems Development develops and integrates underwater sensing systems for both the marine and in-land water sectors. They proudly support national hydrographic/oceanographic institutes, universities, governmental authorities, and many other private companies as their customers. The Company is passionate about adopting state-of-the-art technologies from around the world for the Japanese domestic oceanographic instrument market ecosystem. Visit us at http://www.hydro-sys.com/ or contact us at info@hydro-sys.com. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3040733 For media questions, please contact: Joanne Masters Liquid Robotics www.liquid-robotics.com Email Contact MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Moncton, New Brunswick charity The Humanity Project, has won $50,000 through the goeasy Community Project to meet the growing demand for nutritious meals for the city's working poor and homeless. The funds will be used to purchase and install industrial cooking equipment and ingredients to continue feeding more than 4,500 Moncton-area residents every month. This was the first year that goeasy Ltd. (TSX: GSY), ("goeasy" or the "Company"), a leading full-service provider of goods and alternative financial services that improve the lives of everyday Canadians, ran the goeasy Community Project. The program was developed to help support those looking to create change in their own backyards by nominating local projects for the chance to win $50,000 towards their project. The winning project was one of more than 70 entries from across Canada and was selected as one of the top three finalists for a public voting process to receive the $50,000 in funding. The Humanity Project succeeded in mobilizing local support through their tight knit community and social media channels to win a Canada-wide voting process. Public participation was widespread, as Canadians rallied behind the three finalist projects with votes of support coming in from across all regions in Canada. "Our mission is to end homelessness one person at a time. We are doing amazing with what we have making sure that our homeless and our working poor are being fed on a daily basis, but there is so much more we can be doing," said Shelley Butler, Communications Lead for The Humanity Project. "With $50,000 in new funding from goeasy, we can dramatically improve our kitchen and the number of people we can help. What goeasy has helped us to do is amazing. This is going to be a life changing thing for our community." "The number of communities and Canadians that got behind this program was overwhelming and it was an extremely close race amongst the three finalists. In the end, the story of the Humanity Project and the people behind it really captured the hearts of Canadians and had the most votes," said Andrea Fiederer, Chief Marketing Officer at goeasy. "The Humanity Project is a volunteer-led organization that really demonstrates the impact of grassroots engagement. We know the people behind the project and the community of Moncton will benefit tremendously from the $50,000 that they will be awarded from goeasy." The installation and renovation of The Humanity Project's kitchen will be documented in a video production that will be promoted nationally by goeasy in October, providing further profile for this worthy local project. More information on The Humanity Project can be found at http://goeasy.com/communityproject/. About goeasy goeasy Ltd. is a leading full-service provider of goods and alternative financial services that improve the lives of everyday Canadians. Today, goeasy Ltd. serves its customers through two key operating divisions, easyhome and easyfinancial. easyhome is Canada's largest lease-to-own company, offering brand-name household furniture, appliances and electronics to consumers under weekly or monthly leasing agreements through both corporate and franchise stores. easyfinancial is the leading provider of alternative financial services, offering consumer loans between $500-$15,000, and is supported by a strong central credit adjudication process and industry leading risk analytics. easyfinancial also operates an indirect lending channel, offering loan products to consumers at the point-of-sale of third party merchants. Both operating divisions of goeasy Ltd. offer the highest level of customer service and enable customers to transact through a national store and branch network of over 180 easyhome Leasing and 200 easyfinancial locations across Canada and through its online and mobile eCommerce enabled platforms. goeasy Ltd. is listed on the TSX under the symbol 'GSY'. For more information, visit www.goeasy.com. Contacts: goeasy Ltd. Andrea Fiederer Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer (905) 272-2788 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) Wednesday said it has agreed to sell $1.50 billion of equity units to Goldman, Sachs & Co., Credit Suisse and Mizuho Securities. The net proceeds are expected to be $1.45 billion and will be added to the general funds of NextEra Energy Capital Holdings. The transaction is expected to close on Aug. 8, 2016. The clean energy company plans to issue equity unit in a stated amount of $50 and each equity unit will consist of a contract to purchase NextEra Energy common stock in the future and a 5 percent undivided beneficial ownership interest in a NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. debenture due Sept. 1, 2021, to be issued in the principal amount of $1,000. The debentures will be guaranteed by NextEra Energy Capital Holdings' parent company, NextEra Energy, Inc. Total annual distributions on the equity units will be at the rate of 6.123 percent. Each stock purchase contract will require the holder to purchase NextEra Energy common stock for cash, based on a per-share price range of $127.63 to $159.54 that represents 25 percent premium at the higher end. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) Wednesday said it has agreed to sell $1.50 billion of equity units to Goldman, Sachs & Co., Credit Suisse and Mizuho Securities. The net proceeds are expected to be $1.45 billion and will be added to the general funds of NextEra Energy Capital Holdings. The transaction is expected to close on Aug. 8, 2016. The clean energy company plans to issue equity unit in a stated amount of $50 and each equity unit will consist of a contract to purchase NextEra Energy common stock in the future and a 5 percent undivided beneficial ownership interest in a NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. debenture due Sept. 1, 2021, to be issued in the principal amount of $1,000. The debentures will be guaranteed by NextEra Energy Capital Holdings' parent company, NextEra Energy, Inc. Total annual distributions on the equity units will be at the rate of 6.123 percent. Each stock purchase contract will require the holder to purchase NextEra Energy common stock for cash, based on a per-share price range of $127.63 to $159.54 that represents 25 percent premium at the higher end. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LONDON, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In a low oil price environment, oil and gas operators are now engaging in price-responsive strategies and the optimisation of existing assets. In the North Sea, many of these operating companies are looking at ways to re-evaluate maintenance, inspection and HSE practices to make ends meet. The following statistics are just part of an infographic created from a recent survey of thousands of asset integrity professionals working in the field today. The results prove to be scary reading for those currently working on North Sea assets and paint quite a negative picture of the state of Asset Management in the North Sea oil and gas sector. More than half of asset integrity professionals have had their budgets cut in the past year, 58 per cent of the same segment of people have said that falling oil prices will affect the standard of asset integrity delivery in their company. When asked "How robust is your company's asset integrity programme from 1-10 with 1 being "terrible" and 10 being "excellent" the average result was only 5.4! With 58% deeming their own asset integrity programmes below a 5 out of ten! With oil prices mooted to stay below $80 a barrel for as long as three years, how much worse could asset integrity confidence and performance get? Worryingly 51% of those asked have had the remit of their job expanded since the downturn which is likely due to job losses over recent years. 48% firmly believe or are not sure if this expansion is sustainable. So the question is, are they being driven to breaking point? Will costly potentially deadly mistakes be made due to this extra workload? Our infographic also asks questions about what they feel is their company's greatest weaknesses are, as well as what they feel are the greatest challenges facing the industry as a whole in these difficult times. View the full infographic here: http://www.aimaberdeen.com/infographic-asset-integrity-clear-and-present-danger-mc?utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=11782.009-external-pressrelease&utm_term=infographic&utm_content=text&mac=11782.009_prnewswire&disc=11782.009_prnewswire If you want to know more about Asset Integrity Management we have invited the leaders of Asset Management from across the North Sea, plus the Directors of the newest and most innovative industries to attend our Asset Integrity Management, Aberdeen Summit between 26th-27th September 2016. View the agenda here: http://www.aimaberdeen.com/agenda-mc?utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=11782.009-external-pressrelease&utm_term=agenda&utm_content=text&mac=11782.009_prnewswire&disc=11782.009_prnewswire Please contact Richard Jones on +44(0)20-7036-1300 or email Richard.jones@iqpc.co.uk should you have any questions or for the infographic or agenda to be emailed to you or if you would like to apply for a complimentary press pass. 03 August 2016 Acron Group Sells its Stake in Chinese Producer Hongri Acron PJSC Acron (Moscow Exchange and LSE ticker: AKRN) has announced the sale of its subsidiary holding 50.5 per cent interest in Chinese Hongri Acron to an independent Hong Kong-based investment holding company. Acron's Board of Directors Chair Alexander Popov commented on the transaction: 'In line with Acron Group's long-term development strategy, we decided to sell our stake in Hongri Acron plant in China and focus on further development of our Russian production assets. Nevertheless, China has been and will remain our key partner and a priority market to sell our products outside Russia. For this reason, Acron Group will maintain its strong presence in China turning our efforts to advancing the local distribution network Yong Sheng Feng, which has been successfully selling Russian fertilisers under Acron brand in the Chinese market for eight years. 'On behalf of Acron Group, I would like to thank all employees and management of the Hongri Acron for their dedicated work and maintaining high reputation of Acron brand in the Chinese market'. Media contacts: Tatyana Smirnova Tel.: +7 (495) 777-08-65 Public Relations Investor contacts: Ilya Popov Tel.: +7 (495) 411-55-94 (ext. 5252) Investor Relations Additional information: Acron Group is a leading global vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally with a diversified product portfolio consisting of complex and straight nitrogen-based fertilisers, as well as industrial products. In 2015, the Group's sales volume was 6.3 million tonnes. Acron sells its products in 60 countries. Russia and China are its key sale markets. In 2015, the Group posted consolidated revenue under IFRS of RUB 106,055 million (USD 1,740 million) and net profit of RUB 16,706 million (USD 274 million). Acron's shares are listed on the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 13,000 people. A high degree of vertical integration, including two chemical production facilities, a phosphate mine, a potash-mining project, wholly owned transport infrastructure and an international distribution network, create a platform for the Group's dynamic growth. Further information is available on our website at www.acron.ru/en. This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: ACRON via GlobeNewswire [HUG#2032855] B3BS5Q4R30 Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Canadian-owned Irving Oil announced today it has reached an agreement with Houston-based energy, manufacturing and logistics company, Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX), to acquire its Whitegate refinery located near Cork, Ireland. The Whitegate facility is Ireland's sole refinery, processing up to 75,000 barrels of crude oil per day and producing transportation and heating fuels such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene. Built in 1959, it has a workforce of 160 employees as well as many contract personnel. The acquisition will enable Irving Oil to expand its business across the Atlantic basin to gain valued customers in Ireland, in addition to securing optionality for its business. "We are pleased to have signed an agreement to purchase the Whitegate refinery," says Arthur Irving, Chairman of Irving Oil. "It's a good day for our company and we're looking forward to welcoming the Whitegate team to Irving Oil." The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter once all conditions of the sale have been met. Upon closing, Irving Oil will assume full ownership of the refinery and continue full operation of the facility, including maintaining its existing workforce. "We are delighted to be pursuing an acquisition that feels so natural for us," says Ian Whitcomb, President of Irving Oil. "The Whitegate refinery has a tremendous reputation as a vital and secure supplier to the Irish market, and we will uphold that commitment very proudly and very seriously." "As operators of Canada's largest refinery, Irving Oil is a proud Atlantic Canadian company, family-owned and operated for close to a century," says Sarah Irving, Executive Vice President of Irving Oil. "Our history and role in supplying Atlantic Canada and the US northeast ensures we bring exceptional experience and commitment to the people of Whitegate and to customers across Ireland." "On all fronts, we've been impressed by the Whitegate refinery and its people," says Mark Sherman, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Irving Oil. "The operational performance of Whitegate is strong, it has well established and diligent maintenance schedules and we are struck by the positive working environment seen amongst its people. In many respects, our refineries share common qualities and it's one of the reasons we found this opportunity to be so compelling." Irving Oil looks forward to sharing more information on this acquisition upon the close of the purchase and sale agreement. About Irving Oil Irving Oil was founded in 1924 and is a privately owned regional refining and marketing company with a history of long-term partnerships and relationships. Irving Oil operates Canada's largest refinery, in Saint John, NB, which is located 65 miles north of the US border and has reached production rates in excess of 320,000 barrels per day. With over 900 fueling locations, operations from a network of distribution terminals, and a delivery fleet of tractor trailers, Irving Oil serves wholesale, commercial and retail customers in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and New England. Media Contact: Sam Robinson Public Affairs, Irving Oil samantha.robinson@irvingoil.com +1-506-650-4947 Digital customer solutions and services helped increase direct sales and revenues while boosting loyalty program registrations Accenture (NYSE:ACN) has collaborated with Melia Hotels International (NYSE: MEL) to implement a new digital transformation strategy, which helped increase direct sales by 27 percent, achieve more than 336M Euros in 2015 in direct sales revenue, and add more than one million registrations to its re-launched Melia Rewards program. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005182/en/ Accenture helped implement a new digital transformation strategy for Melia Hotels International. (Photo: Business Wire) Accenture Interactive combined its digital marketing and commerce expertise with deep hospitality industry experience from Accenture Travel to build and implement a new digital transformation strategy at Melia Hotels International, the largest hotel company in Spain and one of the largest in Europe. This initiative was called Be More Digital. Together the companies implemented a range of digital solutions and services for the hospitality industry that helped improve the effectiveness of direct sales channels, spanning web, mobile and call centers. This strategy has set customer personalization as a top priority for all digital sales channels and touches every stage of a customer's experience from booking to staying with the hotel group and beyond. This is underpinned by digital direct sales channels, such as Melia.com, Melia app and a dedicated call center. In addition, customer data is now analyzed and used to target new and existing customers. The re-launch of the Melia Rewards program has even increased member participation, which now accounts for 80 percent of total direct sales. Jose Maria Dalmau, vice president of Global Sales and Marketing at Melia Hotels International, said: "This digital transformation is strategically important to the growth of our robust hotel, resort and vacation club property portfolio. We've not only already achieved impressive results but are forecasted to deliver even stronger numbers. With Accenture's help, direct sales increased 27 percent in the first year of implementation and are expected to grow on a 30 percent basis over the next three years. We serve every customer with content personalized just for them to build stronger one-on-one relationships, nurture loyalty and drive an increase in direct sales at every digital touchpoint." This growth is primarily driven by a new customer segmentation strategy that supports more than 200 million communications every year, more than 500 new landing pages custom designed to each customer's individual preferences and marketing activities that are run in-house. This approach to marketing achieved a 25 percent increase in programmatic marketing return on investment. The results of the digital transformation has increased direct sales to more than 40 percent in the first quarter of 2016. Further, the 27 percent increase in 2015 direct sales has translated to a 17 percent growth in share of overall Melia Hotels International's sales. Mercedes Oblanca, managing director, Accenture Travel, said: "We are pleased to have helped Melia Hotels International advance its digital agenda in the hospitality industry. A recent Accenture survey revealed that 66 percent of guests consider several hotel companies and visit several websites before booking, so optimizing the performance of a hotel's digital channels is critical for reaching the right guest with the right message at the right time and place." To address the future digital requirements of the hospitality industry, Melia Hotels International and Accenture have teamed to develop a new digital marketing strategy that Accenture Interactive will support. It consists of digital content production, marketing campaign management services and advanced customer analytics. About Accenture Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions underpinned by the world's largest delivery network Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 375,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com. Accenture Interactive, part of Accenture Digital, helps the world's leading brands drive superior marketing performance across the full multichannel customer experience. Accenture Interactive offers integrated, industrialized and industry-driven digital transformation and marketing solutions. It was recently named by Ad Age as the world's largest and fastest-growing digital agency. To learn more follow us @Accenture Social and visit www.accenture.com/interactive. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005182/en/ Contacts: Accenture Jose Sanchez, 34 91 596 6585 jose.l.sanchez@accenture.com or Stefanie Schumann, 847 722 4144 stefanie.l.schumann@accenture.com Crippling threat caused 34 percent of business victims to lose revenue and 20 percent even had to cease operations immediately Executives in the U.S. are disproportionately targeted and 96 percent of U.S. organizations are not very confident in their ability to stop ransomware Malwarebytes, the leading advanced malware prevention and remediation solution, released new findings today on the growing threat to companies from ransomware. The multi-country study surveyed 540 CIOs, CISOs and IT Directors from companies with an average of 5,400 employees across the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Germany and found that nearly 40 percent of businesses have experienced a ransomware attack in the last year. Of these victims, more than a third lost revenue and 20 percent had to stop business completely. The report, entitled "State of Ransomware," was sponsored by Malwarebytes and conducted by Osterman Research to explore ransomware attack frequency, how it works in an enterprise environment, ransom cost, infiltration points, impact, preparedness and more. "Over the last four years, ransomware has evolved into one of the biggest cyber security threats in the wild, with instances of ransomware in exploit kits increasing 259 percent in the last five months alone," said Nathan Scott, Senior Security Researcher at Malwarebytes and ransomware expert. "Until now, very few studies have examined the current prevalence and ramifications of actual ransomware incidents in the enterprise." Additional international findings include: Nature of attacks: 46 percent of all ransomware attacks originated from email. 46 percent of all ransomware attacks originated from email. Cost of attacks: Nearly 60 percent of all ransomware attacks in the enterprise demanded over $1,000. Over 20 percent of attacks asked for more than $10,000, 1 percent even asked for over $150,000. Nearly 60 percent of all ransomware attacks in the enterprise demanded over $1,000. Over 20 percent of attacks asked for more than $10,000, 1 percent even asked for over $150,000. Many are paying the ransom: Globally, more than 40 percent of victims paid the ransom demands. Globally, more than 40 percent of victims paid the ransom demands. Significant time spent on remediation: More than 60 percent of attacks took more than 9 hours to remediate. More than 60 percent of attacks took more than 9 hours to remediate. Attacks frequent in certain industries: Healthcare and financial services were the leading industries attacked with ransomware globally, both of which were targeted well above the average ransomware penetration rate of 39 percent. Healthcare and financial services were the leading industries attacked with ransomware globally, both of which were targeted well above the average ransomware penetration rate of 39 percent. Potential loss of life: Amazingly, 3.5 percent even said lives were at stake because of ransomware's debilitating effects. Amazingly, 3.5 percent even said lives were at stake because of ransomware's debilitating effects. Severe downtime: 63 percent spent more than an entire business day trying to fix endpoints. 63 percent spent more than an entire business day trying to fix endpoints. Switch from protection to disaster planning: The most popular way of addressing the problem is not through protection, but by backing up data (over 71 percent). In the United States alone, nearly 80 percent of companies have suffered a cyber attack in the last year and more than half experienced a ransomware incident. Seventy percent of attacks impacted mid-level managers or higher, while 96 percent of U.S. organizations aren't very confident in their ability to stop ransomware Key U.S. findings include: Security attacks with ransomware are increasing: Nearly 80 percent of U.S. companies have suffered a cyber attack in the last year and more than half experienced a ransomware incident. US organizations are the most attacked among the countries surveyed. Nearly 80 percent of U.S. companies have suffered a cyber attack in the last year and more than half experienced a ransomware incident. US organizations are the most attacked among the countries surveyed. Ransomware attacks target healthcare and financial services: Healthcare and financial services were the leading industries attacked with ransomware globally, both targeted well above the average ransomware penetration rate of 39 percent. Healthcare and financial services were the leading industries attacked with ransomware globally, both targeted well above the average ransomware penetration rate of 39 percent. Email is the top vector for spreading ransomware: More than half of the U.S. attacks originated with email. Germany (61 percent) and the United States (59 percent) both see the highest level of ingress for ransomware through email, either through email attachments or malicious links in email messages. Email is much less common in the United Kingdom as an entry point for ransomware (39 percent) and in Canada (30 percent). More than half of the U.S. attacks originated with email. Germany (61 percent) and the United States (59 percent) both see the highest level of ingress for ransomware through email, either through email attachments or malicious links in email messages. Email is much less common in the United Kingdom as an entry point for ransomware (39 percent) and in Canada (30 percent). Upper management and C-Level executives are at a higher risk: 68.4 percent of U.S. respondents noted ransomware attacks impacted mid level managers or higher. 25 percent of incidents attacking senior executives and the C-Suite. 68.4 percent of U.S. respondents noted ransomware attacks impacted mid level managers or higher. 25 percent of incidents attacking senior executives and the C-Suite. Cybercriminals held high-value data for ransom: Nearly 80 percent of the U.S. organizations breached had high-value data held for ransom. Nearly 80 percent of the U.S. organizations breached had high-value data held for ransom. Attacks are impacting more than initial endpoints: More than 40 percent of ransomware attacks in all four countries were successful in impacting more than a single endpoint, with nearly 10 percent of the attacks affecting more than one-quarter of the endpoints in the business. More than 40 percent of ransomware attacks in all four countries were successful in impacting more than a single endpoint, with nearly 10 percent of the attacks affecting more than one-quarter of the endpoints in the business. Security organizations are not confident in their defenses: Decision makers in U.S. organizations have a relatively low level of confidence in their ability to effectively stop ransomware and are less confident about ransomware prevention than their counterparts in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. 96 percent of U.S. organizations aren't very confident in their ability to stop ransomware. Decision makers in U.S. organizations have a relatively low level of confidence in their ability to effectively stop ransomware and are less confident about ransomware prevention than their counterparts in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. 96 percent of U.S. organizations aren't very confident in their ability to stop ransomware. Current enterprise security measures are weak against ransomware: Almost half of ransomware incidents in the U.S. occurred on a corporate desktop within the enterprise security environment. Almost half of ransomware incidents in the U.S. occurred on a corporate desktop within the enterprise security environment. Ransomware remediation takes hours: 44 percent of attacks on U.S. companies forced IT staff to work more than nine hours to remediate the incident. Globally, the figure is 63 percent of incidents that took more than nine hours to remediate. To address this issue head on, Malwarebytes also announced today new anti-ransomware additions to Malwarebytes Endpoint Security, an innovative platform that delivers powerful multi-layered defense for smart endpoint protection against malware and ransomware. Endpoint Security platform customers will have access to signature-less behavioral monitoring technology that automatically detects and blocks both known and unknown ransomware, greatly reducing vulnerability to these attacks. "The results from this survey further emphasize that any business in any region is incredibly vulnerable to ransomware," said Marcin Kleczynski, CEO of Malwarebytes. "Cybercriminals are increasing their use of ransomware in their attack strategies globally, causing business disruption, loss of files and wasted IT man-hours. In order to stay safe, businesses must invest heavily in both employee education and technology. We are thrilled to be able to give companies a solution that can thoroughly protect them against ransomware threats." Osterman Research will be presenting a webinar on the study findings on Wednesday, August 10th. To register for the webinar, visit https://webinar.darkreading.com/2312?keycode=SBX&cid=twitter. To view the full State of Ransomware report, visit https://go.malwarebytes.com/OstermanRansomwareSurvey.html. About Malwarebytes Malwarebytes protects consumers and businesses against dangerous threats such as malware, ransomware, and exploits that escape detection by traditional antivirus solutions. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, the company's flagship product, has a highly advanced heuristic detection engine that removed more than five billion malicious threats from computers worldwide. More than 10,000 SMBs and enterprise businesses worldwide trust Malwarebytes to protect their data. Founded in 2008, the company is headquartered in California with offices in Europe, and a global team of researchers and experts. For more information, please visit us at www.malwarebytes.com. Malwarebytes reflects the operating philosophy of its founder and CEO Marcin Kleczynski: to create the best disinfection and protection solutions to combat the world's most harmful Internet threats. Marcin was recently named "CEO of the Year" in the Global Excellence awards and has been named to the 2015 Forbes 30 Under 30 Rising Stars of Enterprise Technology list and the Silicon Valley Business Journal's 40 Under 40 award, adding those to a 2014 Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Malwarebytes Follow us on Twitter: @malwarebytes https://twitter.com/malwarebytes Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/malwarebytes See us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/malwarebytes Read our latest Malwarebytes Labs blog: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005545/en/ Contacts: Malwarebytes Doron Aronson, 408-221-6992 Global Communications daronson@malwarebytes.com SAN MARCOS, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: THR) (the "Company," "Thermon," "we" or "our") today announced consolidated financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017 ("Q1 2017"). Financial summary for Q1 2017 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2015 ("Q1 2016"): Revenue of $63.4 million, a decrease of 3% compared to Q1 2016 Orders of $77.5 million, a 21% increase compared to Q1 2016 Backlog of $95.4 million compared to $76.4 million at Q1 2016 Gross margin of 41% compared to 47% in Q1 2016 Fully diluted GAAP EPS of $0.08 compared to $0.14 in Q1 2016 "We were pleased to see an increase in orders and backlog during the first quarter; however, gross margin performance fell significantly below our expectations. The gross margin results reflect continued volatility in the end markets we serve and an increased level of pricing pressure. In addition, higher concentrations of Greenfield and facility upgrade and expansion ("UE") revenue, product and service mix and geographic mix all magnified the downward pressure on gross margins. We believe that gross margin pressure will continue in the near-term while our end markets begin to recover. "Our strong balance sheet enables us to operate from a position of strength, and we will continue to invest in certain long-term growth opportunities that we believe will create significant shareholder value in the future. However, we will prudently manage our spending and optimize our cost structure where appropriate," said Bruce Thames, President and Chief Executive Officer. During Q1 2017, the Company generated revenue of $63.4 million versus $65.2 million in Q1 2016, a decrease of $1.8 million or 3%. On a comparative basis, foreign currency translation effects negatively impacted Q1 2017 revenue by $0.7 million or 1%. Revenue generated from the acquisition of Industrial Process Insulators, Inc. totaled $5.5 million during Q1 2017. During Q1 2017, Greenfield and MRO/UE (facility maintenance, repair and operations and upgrade or expansion) revenue totaled 43% and 57% of revenue, respectively, compared to 38% and 62% in Q1 2016, respectively. Gross margin during Q1 2017 was 41.2% compared to 47.1% in Q1 2016. Gross margin performance during the quarter was negatively impacted by a higher concentration of Greenfield and UE sales where margins are typically lower due to factors such as pricing pressure and product mix and lumpiness related to the supply of third party sourced products ("buy-out products"). Additionally, a higher level of construction revenue in Q1 2017 negatively impacted gross margin by approximately 2%. Q1 2017 orders were $77.5 million versus $63.9 million in Q1 2016, an increase of $13.6 million or 21%. Q1 2017 backlog of $95.4 million represents a 25% increase over Q1 2016 backlog of $76.4 million. Q1 2017 net income attributable to Thermon and GAAP EPS was $2.5 million or $0.08 per fully diluted common share compared to $4.4 million or $0.14 per fully diluted common share in Q1 2016. After taking into account certain one-time charges (see table, Reconciliation of Net Income attributable to Thermon to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS), the Company generated Adjusted net income in Q1 2017 of $2.5 million and Adjusted EPS of $0.08 per fully diluted common share compared to $5.9 million and $0.18 per fully diluted common share in Q1 2016. Outlook The Company is maintaining its revenue guidance of flat to low single-digit growth in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016 and expects the second half of the year to be stronger than the first half based on the timing of projects currently in backlog. In addition, the Company anticipates that the gross margin pressure experienced during the first quarter will continue in the near term; however, this should be mitigated with the typical seasonality of the business beginning in the third quarter. Conference Call and Webcast Information Thermon's senior management team, including Bruce Thames, President and Chief Executive Officer and Jay Peterson, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss Q1 2017 results during a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. (Central Time), which will be simultaneously webcast on Thermon's Investor Relations website located at http://ir.thermon.com. Investment community professionals interested in participating in the question-and-answer session may access the call by dialing (877) 312-5421 from within the United States/Canada and (253) 237-1121 from outside of the United States/Canada. A replay of the webcast will be available on Thermon's Investor Relations website beginning two hours after the conclusion of the call. About Thermon Through its global network, Thermon provides highly engineered thermal solutions, known as heat tracing, and complementary products and services for process industries, including energy, chemical processing and power generation. Thermon's products provide an external heat source to pipes, vessels and instruments for the purposes of freeze protection, temperature maintenance, environmental monitoring and surface snow and ice melting. Thermon is headquartered in San Marcos, Texas. For more information, please visit www.thermon.com. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Disclosure in this release of "Adjusted EPS," "Adjusted EBITDA," "Adjusted net income," "Free cash flow" and "Return on equity," which are "non-GAAP financial measures" as defined under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), are intended as supplemental measures of our financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). "Adjusted net income" and "Adjusted fully diluted earnings per share (or EPS)" represents net income attributable to Thermon before acquisition related contingent consideration accounted for as compensation, adjustments to our deferred tax liability for a tax rate change, and the income tax effect of any non-tax adjustments, per fully-diluted common share in the case of Adjusted EPS. "Adjusted EBITDA" represents net income attributable to Thermon before interest expense (net of interest income), income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, non-controlling interests and acquisition related contingent consideration accounted for as compensation. "Return on equity" for the three month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, represents Adjusted EBITDA for each respective period that is multiplied by four to represent a full year's results, divided by the average of total equity at June 30 and March 31 for each respective period. We believe that the average total equity properly accounts for net income that occurred during the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015. "Free cash flow" represents cash provided by operating activities less cash used for the purchase of property, plant and equipment, net of sales of rental equipment and proceeds from sale of land. Foreign currency impact on revenue is calculated by comparing actual current period revenue in U.S. Dollars to the theoretical U.S. Dollar revenue we would have achieved based on the weighted-average foreign exchange rates in effect in the comparative prior period for all applicable foreign currencies. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are meaningful to our investors to enhance their understanding of our financial performance and are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to compare our performance with the performance of other companies that report Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income or Return on equity. Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Return on equity should be considered in addition to, not as substitutes for, income from operations, net income, net income per share and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. We provide Free cash flow as a measure of our liquidity. Our calculation of Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, Free cash flow and Return on equity may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. For a description of how Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, Return on equity and Free cash flow are calculated and reconciliations to the corresponding GAAP measures, see the sections of this release titled "Reconciliation of Net Income attributable to Thermon to Adjusted EBITDA and Return on Equity," "Reconciliation of Net Income attributable to Thermon to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS" and "Reconciliation of Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow." Forward-Looking Statements This release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws in addition to historical information. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our industry, business strategy, plans, goals and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources and other financial and operating information. When used, the words "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "budget," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "will," "future," "should be" and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking statements in this release. Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations regarding future events, results or outcomes. These expectations may or may not be realized. Some of these expectations may be based upon assumptions, data or judgments that prove to be incorrect. In addition, our business and operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could result in our expectations not being realized or otherwise materially affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Actual events, results and outcomes may differ materially from our expectations due to a variety of factors. Although it is not possible to identify all of these factors, they include, among others, (i) general economic conditions and cyclicality in the markets we serve; (ii) future growth of energy and chemical processing capital investments; (iii) our ability to deliver existing orders within our backlog; (iv) our ability to bid and win new contracts; (v) competition from various other sources providing similar heat tracing products and services, or alternative technologies, to customers; (vi) changes in relevant currency exchange rates; (vii) potential liability related to our products as well as the delivery of products and services; (viii) our ability to comply with the complex and dynamic system of laws and regulations applicable to international operations; (ix) a material disruption at any of our manufacturing facilities; (x) our dependence on subcontractors and suppliers; (xi) our ability to obtain standby letters of credit, bank guarantees or performance bonds required to bid on or secure certain customer contracts; (xii) our ability to attract and retain qualified management and employees, particularly in our overseas markets; (xiii) our ability to continue to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our liquidity needs; (xiv) the extent to which federal, state, local and foreign governmental regulation of energy, chemical processing and power generation products and services limits or prohibits the operation of our business; and (xv) other factors discussed in more detail under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 31, 2016. Any one of these factors or a combination of these factors could materially affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and could influence whether any forward-looking statements contained in this release ultimately prove to be accurate. Our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future performance may differ materially from those suggested in any forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update these statements unless we are required to do so under applicable securities laws. Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Selected Balance Sheet Data (Unaudited, in Thousands except per share amounts) Three Months Three Months Ended Ended June 30, 2016 June 30, 2015 ------------- ------------- Sales $ 63,396 $ 65,223 Cost of sales 37,282 34,486 ------------- ------------- Gross profit 26,114 30,737 Operating expenses: Marketing, general and administrative and engineering 18,202 17,598 Acquisition related compensation - 1,376 Stock compensation expense 906 875 Amortization of other intangible assets 2,816 2,816 ------------- ------------- Income from operations 4,190 8,072 Interest income and expense, net (706) (802) Debt cost amortization (102) (109) ------------- ------------- Interest expense, net (808) (911) Other income (expense) 277 (168) ------------- ------------- Income before provision for taxes 3,659 6,993 Income tax expense 1,015 2,467 ------------- ------------- Net income 2,644 4,526 Income attributable to non-controlling interests 118 97 ------------- ------------- Net income attributable to Thermon $ 2,526 $ 4,429 ============= ============= Net income per common share: Basic income per share $ 0.08 $ 0.14 Diluted income per share $ 0.08 $ 0.14 Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per common share: Basic common shares 32,232 32,103 Fully-diluted common shares 32,694 32,492 June 30, March 31, 2016 2016 (unaudited) ------------- ------------ Cash $ 72,558 $ 84,570 Total debt 90,332 93,612 Total equity 301,883 298,701 Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Net Income attributable to Thermon to Adjusted EBITDA and Return on Equity (Unaudited, in Thousands except Return on Equity) Three Three Months Months Ended Ended June 30, June 30, Adjusted EBITDA and Return on Equity 2016 2015 -------------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- Net income attributable to Thermon $ 2,526 $ 4,429 Interest expense, net 808 911 Income tax expense 1,015 2,467 Depreciation and amortization expense 4,230 4,012 ----------- ----------- EBITDA (non-GAAP basis) $ 8,579 $ 11,819 =========== =========== Stock compensation expense 906 875 Non-controlling interests 118 97 Acquisition related contingent consideration accounted for as compensation - 1,376 ----------- ----------- Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis) $ 9,603 $ 14,167 Adjusted EBITDA - Annualized for a full fiscal year (non-GAAP basis) $ 38,412 $ 56,668 ----------- ----------- Average total equity for the three month periods ended June 30, $ 300,292 $ 277,238 ----------- ----------- Return on Equity (non-GAAP basis) 13% 20% =========== =========== Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Net Income attributable to Thermon to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS (Unaudited, in Thousands except per share amounts) Three Three Months Months Ended Ended June 30, June 30, Adjustment Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS 2016 2015 to: -------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ GAAP net income attributable to Thermon $ 2,526 $ 4,429 Acquisition related contingent consideration accounted for as Operating compensation - 1,376 expense Tax effect of Canadian tax rate change Income tax on deferred tax liability - 455 expense Income tax Tax effect of non-tax adjustments - (365) expense ----------- ----------- Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) $ 2,526 $ 5,895 =========== =========== Adjusted fully-diluted earnings per common share (non-GAAP) $ 0.08 $ 0.18 Fully-diluted common shares 32,694 32,492 Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Cash provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow (Unaudited, in Thousands) Three Three Months Months Ended Ended June 30, June 30, 2016 2015 ----------- ----------- Cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ (7,034) $ 3,979 Less: Cash used for purchases of property, plant and equipment (2,009) (3,783) Plus: Sale of rental equipment 20 - Plus: Proceeds from land sale 441 - ----------- ----------- Free cash flow provided (used) $ (8,582) $ 196 =========== =========== CONTACT: Sarah Alexander (512) 396-5801 Investor.Relations@thermon.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Scorpio Gold Corporation ("Scorpio Gold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: SGN) reports its intention to undertake Phase 2 of an exploration program on its Nevada Assets totalling approximately US$750,000. Mineral Ridge Program A breakthrough in the understanding of the Mineral Ridge deposit as it relates to gold emplacement resulting from a deep ductile strain event or events earlier this year, has led to the preparation by the Company of a detailed comprehensive phase 2 exploration Program, which will set the stage for growth in 2017. It is expected that the new phase 2 exploration program will consist of the following; -- 3.5 months of detailed field mapping by the Company's geology team which will focus on investigating the post mineral structural features in order to determine the localities that gold has originally formed in. This is expected to comprise of approximately 500 multi-element samples to aid in the understanding of the geology. -- A 3 month cost effective in-house ground geophysical survey comprising of vertical gradient and total field magnets and VLF (Very Low Frequency) electromagnets over the areas of interest designed to delineate post mineral faulting as well as aid in the understanding of the geological architecture during the gold formation. -- To be followed by 10 small diameter diamond drill holes in the first priority target derived from the above mentioned fieldwork and geophysical surveys which will set the stage for a more comprehensive 2017 drilling campaign. -- 10 HQ size diamond drill holes designed to test and further define the Drinkwater Highwall Open Pit economics. -- 5 HQ size diamond drill holes designed to test and further delineate the Bunkhouse Hill (Mary LC Phase 4) economics. -- The estimated cost for this program is US$718,000. Goldwedge Program The Goldwedge exploration program is three-fold. First, sampling the Goldwedge proposed Plan of Operations boundary, second sampling the Keystone - Jumbo area and third conducting an in-house cost effective vertical gradient and total field magnets and VLF (Very Low Frequency) electromagnets geophysical surveys. In the Goldwedge area, soil sampling will be used to augment drillhole targeting in the vicinity of the Goldwedge mine and to understand the mineralization controls in the collapsed caldera to the North of the Goldwedge mine. In the Keystone - Jumbo area this program will be targeting structural intersections between East-West to East-Northeast structures and Northwest structures which have been identified as the main controls on mineralization in the Keystone and Jumbo pits in order to generate drill targets to include in future drill permit applications. The geophysical surveys will help to understand geological and structural controls in the area, especially where ground cover is present. The estimated cost for this program is US$33,000. About Scorpio Gold Scorpio Gold holds a 70% interest in the producing Mineral Ridge gold mining operation located in Esmeralda County, Nevada with joint venture partner Elevon, LLC (30%). Mineral Ridge is a conventional open pit mining and heap leach operation. The Mineral Ridge property is host to multiple gold-bearing structures, veins and lenses at exploration, development and production stages. Scorpio Gold also holds a 100% interest in the advanced exploration-stage Goldwedge property in Manhattan, Nevada, with a fully permitted underground mine and 400 ton per day mill facility. The Goldwedge mill facility has been placed on a care and maintenance basis and can be restarted immediately when needed. Scorpio Gold's President & CEO, Peter J. Hawley, PGeo., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content of this release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, SCORPIO GOLD CORPORATION Peter J. Hawley, President & CEO Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without restriction, any statements regarding the Company's proposed exploration programs for 2016, or future exploration programs. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements, including risks related to open pit mining and heap leach operations, including unanticipated changes in the mineral content of materials being mined; unanticipated changes in recovery rates; changes in project parameters; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; availability of skilled labour and the impact of labour disputes; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; the results of exploration and development programs and the timing and cost of such exploration and development programs; changes in metals prices; the availability of cash flows or financing to meet the Company's ongoing financial obligations; unanticipated changes in key management personnel; changes in general economic conditions; other risks of the mining industry; and those risk factors outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Contacts: Scorpio Gold Corporation Peter J. Hawley President & CEO (819) 825-7618 phawley@scorpiogold.com www.scorpiogold.com MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- WSP Global Inc. (TSX: WSP) ("WSP" or the "Corporation") today announced its financial and operating results for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 ended June 25, 2016. SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Good financial performance for the quarter with adjusted EBITDA margin of 10.3% and organic growth in net revenues for all reportable operating segments, with the exception of Canada. Additionally, backlog grew 4.9% organically, across all reportable operating segments. -- Revenues and net revenues of $1,545.7 million and $1,215.5 million, up 3.2% and 11.6%, compared to Q2 2015, respectively, mainly due to acquisition growth. Consolidated organic growth in net revenues for the period was flat. On a standalone basis, MMM experienced organic growth of 4.7% for the quarter and 6.4% for the first six month of 2016. -- Strong backlog at $5,667.4 million, representing approximately 10.6 months of revenues, up $137.7 million or 2.5% compared to Q1 2016, and up $1,105.4 million or 24.2% compared to Q2 2015. On a constant currency basis, backlog organic growth increased 4.9% compared to Q1 2016 and 10.1% year-over-year. -- Adjusted EBITDA of $125.0 million, up $19.0 million or 17.9%, compared to Q2 2015. Included in our Q2 2016 adjusted EBITDA is a provision of $6.3 million related to workforce rightsizing and real estate footprint consolidation pertaining to our western Canadian operations. -- Adjusted EBITDA margin at 10.3%, compared to 9.7% in Q2 2015. -- Adjusted net earnings of $56.0 million, or $0.56 per share, up 22.3% and 9.8% respectively, compared to Q2 2015. -- Net earnings attributable to shareholders of $52.2 million, or $0.52 per share, compared to $95.4 million or $1.07 per share for Q2 2015, which included a non-taxable gain on disposal of an equity investment of $69.7 million. Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions (net of tax) had an impact of $0.11 on net earnings per share attributable to shareholders. -- DSO stood at 82 days compared to 77 days in Q1 2016 and a 3 day improvement compared to Q2 2015. -- Quarterly dividend declared of $0.375 per share, with a 55.4% Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("DRIP") participation. -- Net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio stands solid, at 1.8x; incorporating full 12 month adjusted EBITDA for all acquisitions, the ratio stands at 1.7x, in line with our target range. -- Full year 2016 financial outlook reiterated. "I am pleased with our performance in the second quarter as all reporting segments, with the exception of Canada, achieved positive organic growth. We also increased our adjusted EBITDA margin, which is now at 10.3%. During the last few months, I have had the opportunity to visit several of our teams around the world. As we look forward together, we remain focused on our 2016 priorities, namely: building on our strong technical expertise and collaboration to drive the existing business; continuing integration activities, in order to drive costs synergies and improve margins; and advancing key initiatives to drive future growth, via both organic growth and select acquisitions," said Alexandre L'Heureux, incoming President and CEO of WSP. "Despite the economic slowdown in Western Canada and the potential impact of Brexit in the UK, we enter the second half of the year with good momentum. We are therefore reaffirming our full year financial outlook." CHANGE OF DIRECTOR WSP announced that Mr. George J. Pierson stepped down from the Corporation's Board of Directors to pursue an executive opportunity, effective immediately. Mr. Pierson has served as a Director of the Company since October 31, 2014. DIVIDEND The Board of WSP declared a dividend of $0.375 per share. This dividend will be payable on or about October 15, 2016, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 30, 2016. FINANCIAL REPORT This release includes, by reference, the 2016 second quarter financial reports, including the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and the Management Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") of the Corporation. For a copy of our full financial results for the second quarter of 2016, including the MD&A and the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, please visit our Website at www.wsp-pb.com CONFERENCE CALL WSP will hold a conference call at 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) on August 3, 2016, to discuss these results. The telephone numbers to access the conference call are 1-647-788-4922 or 1-877-223-4471 (toll-free). A presentation of the second quarter of 2016 highlights and results will be available on the same day at www.wsp-pb.com in the Investors section, under Presentations & Events. A replay of the call will be available until August 13, 2016. The telephone numbers to access the replay of the call are 1-416-621-4642 or 1-800-585-8367 (toll-free), access code 32861582. The replay of the conference call will also be available in the Investor section of the WSP website under Presentations & Events, in the days following the event. ANALYST AND INVESTOR DAY The Corporation also announced that it will be holding an Analyst and Investor Day on September 20, 2016 at the Centre Mont-Royal, in Montreal, Quebec (Canada). For additional information on the Analyst and Investor Day, please visit the Investor section of our website at www.wsp-pb.com. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Q2 YTD -------------------------------------------------------- 2016 2015 2016 2015 -------------------------------------------------------- (in millions of For the For the For the For the dollars, except period from period from period from period from number of shares March 27 to March 29 to January 1 to January 1 to and per share data) June 25 June 27 June 25 June 27 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenues $1,545.7 $1,497.2 $3,028.7 $2,900.9 Less: Subconsultants and direct costs $330.2 $408.3 $651.1 $787.2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net revenues(i) $1,215.5 $1,088.9 $2,377.6 $2,113.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Personnel costs $922.7 $846.1 $1,832.5 $1,644.7 Occupancy costs $56.2 $50.9 $114.0 $104.1 Other operational costs(1) $112.4 $88.1 $216.5 $178.3 Share of earnings of associates $(0.8) $(2.2) $(1.9) $(4.7) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBITDA(i) $125.0 $106.0 $216.5 $191.3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acquisition and integration costs(i) $5.1 $(47.2) $12.5 $(42.5) Amortization of intangible assets $20.4 $18.2 $40.2 $36.5 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment $17.9 $14.5 $36.2 $28.5 Financial expenses $10.7 $14.2 $19.1 $24.9 Share of depreciation of associates $0.4 $0.5 $0.8 $0.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings before income taxes $70.5 $105.8 $107.7 $143.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income-tax expense $18.0 $9.8 $27.5 $18.4 Share of tax of associates $0.2 $0.5 $0.4 $1.1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings $52.3 $95.5 $79.8 $123.5 Attributable to: - Shareholders $52.2 $95.4 $79.8 $123.7 - Non-controlling interests $0.1 $0.1 $0.0 $(0.2) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basic net earnings per share $0.52 $1.07 $0.80 $1.39 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diluted net earnings per share $0.52 $1.07 $0.80 $1.39 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basic weighted average number of shares 100,172,985 89,548,573 99,919,652 89,251,117 Diluted weighted average number of shares 100,205,307 89,603,450 99,946,297 89,280,429 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) Non-IFRS measures are described in the 'Glossary' section (1) Other operational costs include operation exchange loss or gain and interest income NON-IFRS MEASURES The Corporation reports its financial results in accordance with IFRS. However, in this press release, the following non-IFRS measures are used by the Corporation: net revenues; adjusted EBITDA; adjusted EBITDA margin; adjusted EBITDA before Global Corporate costs; adjusted EBITDA margin before Global Corporate costs; adjusted net earnings (loss); adjusted net earnings (loss) per share; adjusted net earnings (loss) excluding amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions; adjusted net earnings (loss) excluding amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions per share; acquisition and integration costs; backlog; funds from operations; funds from operations per share; free cash flow; free cash flow per share; days sales outstanding (or DSO) and net debt to adjusted EBITDA. These measures are defined below. Management believes that these non-IFRS measures provide useful information to investors regarding the Corporation's financial condition and results of operations as they provide key metrics of its performance. These non-IFRS measures are not recognized under IFRS, do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and may differ from similar computations as reported by other issuers, and accordingly may not be comparable. These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS. Net revenues Net revenues are defined as revenues less direct costs for subconsultants and other direct expenses that are recoverable directly from the clients. Net revenues are not an IFRS measure and do not have a standardized definition within IFRS. Therefore, net revenues may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Investors are advised that net revenues should not be construed as an alternative to revenues for the period (as determined in accordance with IFRS) as an indicator of the Corporation's performance. Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before financial expenses, income tax expenses, depreciation and amortization and acquisition and integration costs. Adjusted EBITDA is not an IFRS measure and does not have a standardized definition within IFRS. Investors are cautioned that adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to net earnings for the period (as determined in accordance with IFRS) as an indicator of the Corporation's performance, or an alternative to cash flows from operating, financing and investing activities as a measure of the liquidity and cash flows. The Corporation's method of calculating adjusted EBITDA may differ from the methods used by other issuers and, accordingly, the Corporation's adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures used by other issuers. Adjusted EBITDA margin Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as adjusted EBITDA expressed as a percentage of net revenues. Adjusted EBITDA margin is not an IFRS measure. Adjusted EBITDA before Global Corporate costs Adjusted EBITDA before Global Corporate costs is defined as adjusted EBITDA excluding Global Corporate costs. Global Corporate costs are expenses and salaries related to centralized functions, such as global finance, human resources and technology teams, which are not allocated to operating segments. This measure is not an IFRS measure. It provides Management with comparability from one region to the other. Adjusted EBITDA margin before Global Corporate costs Adjusted EBITDA margin before Global Corporate costs is defined as adjusted EBITDA before Global Corporate costs expressed as a percentage of net revenues. Adjusted EBITDA margin before Global Corporate costs is not an IFRS measure. It provides Management with comparability from one region to the other. Adjusted net earnings (loss) and adjusted net earnings (loss) per share Adjusted net earnings (loss) is defined as net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders excluding acquisition and integration costs and the income tax effects related to these costs. Adjusted net earnings (loss) is not an IFRS measure. It provides a comparative measure of the Corporation's performance in a context of significant business combinations in which the Corporation may incur significant acquisition and integration costs, which the Corporation believes should be excluded in understanding the underlying operational financial performance achieved by the Corporation. Adjusted net earnings (loss) per share is calculated using the basic weighted average number of shares. Adjusted net earnings (loss) excluding amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions and adjusted net earnings (loss) excluding amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions per share Adjusted net earnings (loss) excluding amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions (net of income taxes) is defined as adjusted net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders excluding the amortization of backlogs, customer relationships, non-competition agreements and trade names accounted for in business combinations and the income tax effects related to this amortization. Adjusted net earnings (loss) excluding amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions (net of income taxes) is not an IFRS measure. It provides a comparative measure of Corporation performance in a context of significant business combinations. Adjusted net earnings (loss) excluding amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions (net of income taxes) per share is calculated using the basic weighted average number of shares. Acquisition and integration costs Acquisition and integration costs pertain to transaction and integration costs related to business acquisitions (up to 24 months from the date of acquisition) as well as any gains or losses made on disposals of non-core assets. In 2015, acquisition and integration costs included gains made on the disposal of equity investments in associates. Acquisition and integration costs is not an IFRS measure. Acquisition and integration costs are items of financial performance which the Corporation believes should be excluded in understanding the underlying operational financial performance achieved by the Corporation. Backlog Backlog is not an IFRS measure. It represents future revenues stemming from existing signed contracts to be completed. The Corporation's method of calculating backlog may differ from the methods used by other issuers and, accordingly, may not be comparable to similar measures used by other issuers. Funds from operations and funds from operations per share Funds from operations is not an IFRS measure. It provides Management and investors with a proxy for the amount of cash generated from (used in) operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital items. Funds from operations per share is calculated using the basic weighted average number of shares. Free cash flow and free cash flow per share Free cash flow is not an IFRS measure. It provides a consistent and comparable measurement of discretionary cash generated by and available to the Corporation. Free cash flow is defined as cash flows from operating activities as reported in accordance with IFRS, plus discretionary cash generated by the Corporation from other activities (if any), less net capital expenditures. Free cash flow per share is calculated using the basic weighted average number of shares. Days Sales Outstanding ("DSO") DSO is not an IFRS measure. It represents the average number of days to convert our trade receivables and costs and anticipated profits in excess of billings into cash, net of sales taxes. The Corporation's method of calculating DSO may differ from the methods used by other issuers and, accordingly, may not be comparable to similar measures used by other issuers. Net Debt to adjusted EBITDA Net Debt to adjusted EBITDA is not an IFRS measure. It is a measure of our level of financial leverage net of our cash and is calculated on our trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA. ABOUT WSP As one of the world's leading professional services firms, WSP provides technical expertise and strategic advice to clients in the Property & Buildings, Transportation & Infrastructure, Environment, Industry, Resources (including Mining and Oil & Gas) and Power & Energy sectors. WSP also offers highly specialised services in project delivery and strategic consulting. Its experts include engineers, advisors, technicians, scientists, architects, planners, surveyors and environmental specialists, as well as other design, program and construction management professionals. With approximately 34,000 people in 500 offices across 40 countries, WSP is well positioned to deliver successful and sustainable projects under its WSP and WSP / Parsons Brinckerhoff brands. www.wsp-pb.com. Forward-looking statements Certain information regarding WSP contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although WSP believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and may be based on assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. WSP's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The complete version of the cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements as well as a description of the relevant assumptions and risk factors likely to affect WSP's actual or projected results are included in the Management Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter and year ended June 25, 2016, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and WSP does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless expressly required by applicable securities laws. Contacts: Alexandre L'Heureux, Chief Financial Officer Incoming President and Chief Executive Officer WSP Global Inc. 514-340-0046, ext. 5310 alexandre.lheureux@wspgroup.com Isabelle Adjahi, Vice President Investor Relations and Corporate Communications WSP Global Inc. 514-340-0046, ext. 5648 isabelle.adjahi@wspgroup.com Frost & Sullivan's Manufacturing Leadership Council prepares to honor companies leading the industry into the Manufacturing 4.0 era MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Manufacturing leaders from around the world are invited to nominate their breakthrough projects and outstanding individual achievements for Frost & Sullivan's 2017 Manufacturing Leadership (ML) Awards, the industry's most prestigious awards program. Logo -http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395161LOGO To submit a nomination, manufacturers can click the link and complete a simple form that will be reviewed and scored by our industry expert ML Awards Judges: http://frost.ly/np Now in its 13th year, the ML Awards program honors companies and individuals shaping the future of global manufacturing. The program also honors partners that have assisted ML Award winning manufacturers in achieving transformational breakthroughs. By winning an ML Award, companies and individuals are able to demonstrate that they are world class when it comes to driving innovation, operational efficiency, customer value, the use of advanced digital technologies and employee engagement. "In a highly competitive market, the Manufacturing Leadership Awards, from Frost & Sullivan, allows us to stand out to our customers and partners, demonstrating our commitment to excellence," said Brad Martin, chief operating officer at Senet, Inc., the ML Awards' Manufacturer of the Year (Small Enterprise) for 2016. Other recent ML Awards company honorees include: 3M Boeing Co. Coca-Cola The Dow Chemical Company Eaton Corporation Ford Motor Co. General Electric Co. General Motors Co. IBM L'Oreal USA Lockheed Martin Motorola Nalco Raytheon Thule Top individual ML Awards winners have included 3D printing inventor and 3D Systems Chief Technology Officer Charles W. Hull; former Ford Executive Vice President for Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs John Fleming; General Electric Chairman and CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt; and Sir James Dyson, inventor and founder of the Dyson Company. Recipients of the ML Awards receive global recognition as manufacturing industry leaders and will be honored at the Manufacturing Leadership Summit, in June 2017. Partners may facilitate nominations for their outstanding manufacturing customers. Winners are those companies that receive the highest scores from the ML Awards Judges. Partners facilitating winning nominations are also publicly honored. The ML Awards program includes categories for manufacturers that are transforming their businesses through the use of emerging technologies. Those categories include Big Data and Advanced Analytics, Mobility and the Internet of Things in Manufacturing. New categories for 2017 will feature leadership projects in Collaborative Innovation, Smart Projects and Talent Management. Manufacturers and their partners can submit 2017 ML Award nominations in the following project categories. 2017 Project/Company Awards: Big Data and Advanced Analytics Leadership Customer Value Leadership Engineering & Production Technology Leadership Enterprise Technology Leadership Collaborative Innovation Leadership Internet of Things in Manufacturing Leadership Mobility in Manufacturing Leadership Smart Products Leadership Talent Management Leadership Operational Excellence Leadership Supply Chain Leadership Sustainability Leadership Manufacturers may also nominate their individual leaders in the following categories: Visionary Leadership Award Lifetime Achievement Award Full descriptions of these categories are available at: http://frost.ly/n0 Submissions may be made through December 9, 2016 and may be submitted online using a downloadable form. ML Awards winners will be notified in February 2017, prior to a public announcement of the winners. For more information on the Manufacturing Leadership Awards, including past ML Awards recipients, examples of completed nomination forms and to download and submit nomination forms, visit: mlawards.gilcommunity.com About the Manufacturing Leadership Community The Manufacturing Leadership Council, Frost & Sullivan, is the world's first member-driven, global business leadership network dedicated to senior executives in the manufacturing industry. The Manufacturing Leadership Council's mission is to help senior executives define and shape a better future for themselves, their organizations, and the industry at large by focusing on the intersection of critical business and technology issues that will drive growth today and in the future. The Council offers an extensive portfolio of leadership networking, research, thought leadership content, and professional development products, programs, and services -- including the Manufacturing Leadership Community Website, an online global business network with over 7,000 members around the world; the annual Manufacturing Leadership Summit; the Manufacturing Leadership Awards, celebrating industry achievement; and the thought-leading Manufacturing Leadership Journal. For more information, please visit www.MLCouncil.com About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure. The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies? Contact: Jeff Moad Manufacturing Leadership Council 510-531-3456 Jeffrey.moad@frost.com LANSING, MI -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Andiamo Corporation (OTC PINK: ANDI), a Wyoming holding company, is pleased to announce that the Company's Board of Directors has approved a reduction in the number of authorized Common Shares from 4 billion to 250 million Common Shares. The Company believes the overall value of Andiamo Corp has a tremendous upside and wishes to reflect that value in its stock price. The reduction is being filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State. The Company intends to raise additional growth capital to achieve a share price worthy of a move to a higher trading arena. "We decided that a reduction in the number of authorized shares would have a positive effect on both our share price and shareholder confidence," stated William White, CEO of Andiamo Corporation. "We believe our shareholders will be more comfortable with a number of authorized shares that is reflective of our current outstanding." About Andiamo Corporation: Andiamo Corporation, a Wyoming company, is a publicly traded company which specializes in prepackaged software services. Increased revenue and business opportunities have helped expand its role as a holding company. Specifically, we are looking for established companies with recurring revenues who need a capital infusion in order to move their business to the next level of profitability. With our additional resources, Andiamo now offers an end-to-end solution to ensure the success of our clients inside the micro-cap funding community, getting them the funding they need to bring their products to a national level with the aim of improving their bottom line. For more information on Andiamo Corporation, visit our website at http://www.andiinc.us, and sign up for our newsletter and receive the Company's latest news and updates delivered right to your email. Safe Harbor Act: This release includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involves risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the impact of competitive products, the ability to meet customer demand, the ability to manage growth, acquisitions of technology, equipment, or human resources, the effect of economic business conditions, and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel. The Company is not obligated to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. Contact Andiamo Corporation at: Email Contact WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (AAWW) announced the company currently expects its adjusted EPS from continuing operations in 2016 will be lower than adjusted EPS in 2015 by a high-single-digit percentage. Excluding the anticipated impact from Amazon startup expenses and from Southern Air's operations on EPS in 2016, as well as West Coast port congestion-related earnings in 2015, the company anticipates adjusted EPS in base business will grow by a low- to mid-single-digit percentage in 2016. Atlas Air expects adjusted earnings per share in the third quarter of 2016 to be approximately 20% to 25% of full-year 2016 adjusted EPS. Atlas Air Worldwide reported income from continuing operations, net of taxes, of $20.9 million, or a loss of $0.26 per share reflecting the impact of warrant accounting and transaction-related expenses, for the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with income from continuing operations, net of taxes, of $28.4 million, or $1.13 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2015. On an adjusted basis, income from continuing operations, net of taxes, in the second quarter of 2016 totaled $20.2 million, or $0.80 per share, compared with $29.4 million, or $1.17 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Total operating revenue decreased year-over-year to $443.27 million from $455.83 million. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Glen Eagle Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: GER) ("Glen Eagle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with local miners to supply Cobra Oro's processing plant with high grade mineral containing no less than 10 g/t Au. The proceeds before expanses will be shared 70/30 on average in favor of Cobra Oro. The ratio could increase to 40% for higher grade mineral exceeding 25 g/t Au. The agreement was signed in compliance with the local mining regulations. Cobra Oro has done extensive fire assays at its laboratory to test the quality of the mineral brought on site and the results have confirmed that the minimun acceptable grade of 10 g/t Au as per the agreement was met on a regular basis. This past week, Cobra Oro has received among other shipments 57 tonnes of supplies grading 31.4 g/t Au which meets the company's objective to increase gold production by processing higher grade mineral. The longer term stategy is to increase volume by adding equipment with bigger capacity as stated in a News Release dated July 6, 2016. Gilles Laverdiere, P.Geo., a qualified person under NI 43-101 has approved the content presented herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Glen Eagle Resources Inc. Jean Labrecque President 514-808-9807 www.gleneagleresources.com CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Arsenal Energy Inc. ("Arsenal") (TSX: AEI)(OTC PINK: AEYIF) is pleased to announce that, in connection with its previously announced business combination Lone Pine Resources Canada Ltd. ("Lone Pine") by way of a plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), it has entered into an amended and restated arrangement agreement ("Amended and Restated Arrangement Agreement") with Lone Pine, amended as of August 2, 2016 and effective as of June 23, 2016. The Amended and Restated Arrangement Agreement incorporates the Plan of Arrangement, which sets out the specific terms and conditions of the Arrangement, and updates certain administrative and procedural matters provided therein, including the anticipated closing date of the Arrangement, which is now expected to be on or about September 12, 2016, assuming receipt of all necessary court and securityholder approvals and the satisfaction of all other conditions to the Arrangement. As previously disclosed, completion of the Arrangement will result in the shareholders of Lone Pine and Arsenal receiving common shares of a new corporation, named Prairie Provident Resources Inc. ("Newco") in substitution for their existing shares, with Newco in turn indirectly holding the combined undertakings of Lone Pine and Arsenal. Upon completion of the Arrangement, former Lone Pine securityholders will hold 77% of the fully-diluted Newco shares and former Arsenal securityholders will hold 23% of the fully-diluted Newco shares. The Plan of Arrangement, which is attached as a schedule to the Amended and Restated Arrangement Agreement, contemplates that there will be 100,000,000 common shares of Newco outstanding on a fully-diluted basis following completion of the Arrangement, of which an aggregate of 23,000,000 will be issued to former holders of common shares of Arsenal (including common shares issued upon conversion of all outstanding incentive awards of Arsenal). Accordingly, the Plan of Arrangement has set the exchange ratio at 1.1417218 common shares of Newco for each outstanding common share of Arsenal. A copy of the Amended and Restated Arrangement Agreement will be posted under Arsenal's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). In addition, on August 2, 2016, the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta issued an interim order ("Interim Order") authorizing, among other things, the holding of a meeting (the "Meeting") of the holders of common shares and incentive awards convertible into common shares of Arsenal (the "Arsenal Securityholders") at which the Arsenal Securityholders will be asked to approve the Arrangement. The Meeting is scheduled to be held at the Calgary Petroleum Club on September 8, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. (Calgary time). The record date for the Meeting has been set as July 25, 2016 and only Arsenal Securityholders of record on such date will be entitled to vote on the Arrangement. The vote required to approve the Arrangement at the Meeting is the approval of not less than (i) 66 2/3% of the votes cast by holders of common shares of Arsenal present in person or by proxy at the Meeting; (ii) 66 2/3% of the votes cast by the Arsenal Securityholders, voting together as a single class, present in person or by proxy at the Meeting; and (iii) a simple majority of the votes cast by holders of common shares of Arsenal present in person or by proxy at the Meeting after excluding the votes cast in respect of the shares beneficially owned or controlled by persons whose votes may not be included under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. The joint information circular for Lone Pine and Arsenal for the Meeting ("Circular") contains information regarding the procedures for voting on the Arrangement, as well as the background to, details of and other material information relating to the Arrangement. Arsenal anticipates that it will begin mailing the Circular on August 9, 2016, at which time the Circular (including all appendices) will also be made available under Arsenal's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). If the Arrangement obtains the necessary approvals from the securityholders of Lone Pine and Arsenal, Arsenal and Lone Pine will attend a hearing before the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta currently scheduled for September 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. to ask the court to grant a final order in respect of the Arrangement. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Statements that constitute forward-looking information relate to future performance, events or circumstances, and are based upon internal assumptions, plans, intentions, expectations and beliefs. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by words such as "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "will", "should", "believe", "forecast", "budget", "potential" and similar expressions. Although Arsenal believes that the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, they should not be unduly relied upon. There can be no assurance that the assumptions, plans, intentions, expectations or beliefs contained in the forward-looking statements or upon which they are based will in fact occur or be realized (or if they do, what benefits Lone Pine, Arsenal or New Lone Pine will derive therefrom). Actual results or outcomes may differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The difference may be material. Forward-looking statements address future events and circumstances and, accordingly, by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, many of which are beyond Arsenal's influence or control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those currently anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the potential for counterparties to be unable or unwilling to close transactions and the inherent risks associated with the oil and gas industry, such as: operational risks in exploration, development, exploitation and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production rates, costs and expenses; commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; marketing and transportation risks; environmental risks; competition from others for scarce resources; the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; changes in laws or governmental regulation of the oil and gas industry, including with respect to tax, royalty and environmental matters. This list is not exhaustive. Readers should also review the risk factors described in other documents filed by Arsenal from time to time with securities regulatory authorities in Canada, including its most recent annual information form, available electronically under Arsenal's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. In respect of the forward-looking information and statements concerning completion of the proposed Arrangement and the anticipated timing for completion of the Arrangement, Arsenal has provided such information and statements in reliance on certain assumptions that they believe are reasonable at this time, including assumptions as to the time required to prepare and mail shareholder meeting materials, including the required information circular; the ability of Arsenal to receive, in a timely manner, the necessary regulatory, court, shareholder, stock exchange and other third party approvals; the ability of Arsenal to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of the Arrangement; and expectations and assumptions concerning, among other things: commodity prices and interest and foreign exchange rates; planned synergies, capital efficiencies and cost-savings; applicable tax laws; future production rates; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; and the availability and cost of labour and services. The forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by securities laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement Contacts: Arsenal Energy Inc. Paul Lawrence Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer (403) 262-4854 ir@arsenalenergy.com www.arsenalenergy.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Central Command has said that seven al-Qaeda militants were killed in two separate airstrikes near central Yemen last month. 'A July 8 strike killed one al-Qaida operative and a July 16 strike killed six al-Qaida operatives and injured one,' Defense Press Operations Director Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told Pentagon reporters Tuesady. Strikes in Yemen against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula put consistent pressure on the terrorist network and prevent the enemy from plotting and executing attacks against Americans, the U.S. homeland and U.S. allies, Centcom officials said in a statement announcing the strikes. '[Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula] remains a significant threat to the region and the United States,' Davis said. 'It is using the unrest in Yemen to provide a haven from which to plan future attacks against the U.S. and its interests. We will continue to degrade, disrupt and defeat al-Qaida and its remnants around the world, as in Yemen. We remain committed to defeating AQAP and denying it safe haven regardless of its location,' he added. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Holaira, a developer of medical devices to treat obstructive lung diseases, announced the initiation of treatments in the AIRFLOW-2 Clinical Trial for patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a procedure called Targeted Lung Denervation* (TLD). Under the direction of principal investigator, Christophe Pison, M.D., Ph.D., the first patient was treated at the Grenoble University Hospital Centre (CHUG) in Grenoble, France, using the Holaira Lung Denervation System. "The first patient treated, a 50-year-old female with COPD, tolerated the therapeutic treatment extremely well," said pulmonary specialists, Professor Pison and Dr. Amandine Briault. "The minimally invasive procedure was performed in about an hour with no procedural complications. TLD is the first medical procedure that targets the whole lung by disrupting overactive nerves into the lungs, which opens up the airways making it easier to breathe. It would be a true breakthrough for our patients to provide a lasting clinical improvement from this one-time procedure." The AIRFLOW-2 (NCT#02058459) clinical trial is a randomized interventional study of bronchoscopic Targeted Lung Denervation using the Holaira Lung Denervation System, a catheter-based system developed to treat patients with moderate to severe COPD. The system's proprietary technology delivers targeted energy to disrupt nerve signals to the lungs using a process known as denervation. The AIRFLOW-2 trial follows completion of the AIRFLOW-1 trial earlier this year and is currently underway at 16 institutions throughout Western Europe. It is the first randomized clinical trial with a sham control for TLD. "Earlier studies of TLD now have three-year data demonstrating the procedure is feasible, safe and well tolerated in patients," said Martin Mayse, M.D., founder and chief technology officer at Holaira. "Conducting a sham-controlled trial is an important control step to assure the integrity of the scientific data as we work to make this new technology a treatment option for COPD patients." The company also announced that it has received CE Mark approval for its Lung Denervation System for use during TLD, the one-time ablative therapy procedure that opens obstructed airways to improve breathing and has the potential to provide lasting, whole lung improvement for COPD sufferers. "The CE Mark approval is an important regulatory milestone for our Lung Denervation System," said Dennis Wahr, M.D., chief executive officer for Holaira. "This certification recognizes that the product complies with all applicable European health, safety and environmental product directives. "From the onset, it has been our goal to develop a lung denervation system that meets the needs of patients suffering from obstructive lung disease while positively impacting their ability to breathe, exercise, and overall quality of life for the long-term. With the treatment of the first patient in the AIRFLOW-2 trial and receiving CE, we're that much closer to making this a reality," continued Dr. Wahr. About COPD: COPD is a progressive disease that is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, yet it remains widely unrecognized. COPD is characterized by a persistent airflow limitation due to a progressive narrowing of the airways interfering with normal breathing, resulting in shortness of breath (dyspnea), wheezing, chest tightness, and a productive cough. It is estimated that COPD affects 4 to 10 percent of all adults in European countries,(1) and that nearly 190 million people have COPD(2) worldwide, with more than 15 million adults diagnosed in the United States.(3) Pharmacological treatment is the approach for most patients today. Inhaled drugs are used once or twice daily to relax and temporarily open airways. Other forms of treatment include pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen administration and surgical intervention. These treatments provide temporary relief. The annual financial burden of lung disease in Europe is EUR 141 billion and COPD accounts for almost half(4). In the United States, COPD costs are estimated to be $50 billion annually(5). About Holaira Founded in 2008, Holaira, Inc., of Minneapolis, Minn., is a privately held company developing the Holaira Lung Denervation System to address chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by treating the overactive airway nerves during Targeted Lung Denervation (TLD). TLD is a minimally invasive procedure that targets the parasympathetic innervation of the lungs.(6) This one-time bronchoscopic procedure provides an ablative therapy that opens obstructed airways to improve breathing. TLD is currently under clinical investigation for COPD and is not yet commercially available. More information may be found at www.holaira.com. *Targeted Lung Denervation (TLD) is currently under clinical investigation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is not yet commercially available. Holaira is a trademark of Holaira, Inc. (1) http://www.efanet.org/get-advice/copd (2) COPD, May 2013, TDR, Inc. (3) CDC MMWR, Nov 23 2012, Vol 51, No.46 (4) EFA 2009 COPD (5) American Lung Association, COPD Fact Sheet, Feb. 2011 (6) Belmonte K. Cholinergic Pathways in the Lungs and Anticholinergic Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Proc Am Thor Soc 2005; 2: 297-305. Media Contact: Lorraine Marshall Wright Holaira +1 (206) 605-4553 lmwright@holaira.com In the Increasingly IoT Intensive Automotive Component Market, Suppliers Need an Affordable, Single PLM & QMS Solution to Easily Collaborate, Scale and Accelerate Time to Market FOSTER CITY, California, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Arena Solutions, a pioneer in cloud-based, unified product lifecycle management (PLM) and quality management system (QMS) solutions, today released highlights of its success in penetrating the automotive component supplier industry. Automobiles are rapidly becoming at least as intricate and interactive as a smartphone. From deep wireless device integration to driverless automobiles and the software defined car, vehicles rolling out of the factory are many times more complex than they were just a few short years ago, and IoT (Internet of Things) plays a central role. With hundreds of IoT companies already in its stable of customers, Arena is enjoying enviable traction in this white hot market segment. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151117/288645LOGO Competitive pressures and the need for rapid innovation are requiring auto component suppliers, many of them very young companies, to rapidly produce completely new modules and subcomponents. Even more challenging, they must do so in high mix and high rate-of-change production runs while simultaneously improving quality and functionality with every release as they sprint to be first to market. Similar to consumer electronics and medical device manufacturers, automotive suppliers and sub-suppliers are increasingly turning to Arena because only it can deliver a unique combination of PLM and QMS that also incorporates industry leading supply chain solutions. Arena assures a higher degree of interoperability to avoid the frustration of linking together third party dissociated solutions. Indeed, as the automotive component market increasingly incorporates IoT technologies, and vehicles become more connected and complex, it's only natural the industry would look to Arena, which has more than 250 IoT customers, a number that few competitors can match. With Arena, automotive component manufacturers can: Provide flexibility and ease of use for QMS in the cloud Connect the entire supply chain to the product record for heightened visibility Enable all stakeholders to participate in the quality process Scale as needed to meet the needs of fast growing companies Avoid the costs associated with the maintenance of additional hardware and software - Arena PLM and QMS require only a standard web browser Secure their product data, thanks to a highly secure, multi-tenant cloud-based architecture and dedicated security team Reduce manufacturing costs Aperia Technologies, based in Burlingame, Calif., began using Arena PLM in 2013. The company was founded in 2010 and released its first product in mid-2015. Their device, the Halo Tire Inflator, monitors tire pressure for the trucking industry and, when it becomes low, automatically inflates the tire. "Arena is our master repository of record," said Roget Ratchford, principal engineer at Aperia. "One of the greatest benefits of Arena is it reduces ambiguity down to zero. You can always get the right answer no matter where you are, on the ground, in the office, in the air, on the phone. If you need current rev, information on parts, go to Arena. It's the pivot on which all of our other databases run." Aperia also extensively takes advantage of Arena Quality. "With Arena Quality, we know who's got the ball in their court, what needs to be done, and when was it achieved," Ratchford added. "It's enormously helpful. Quality issues don't get lost or overlooked, because all the information is right there in the product record where everyone can see it." Starline, a St. Petersburg, Russia-based supplier of next generation automotive telematic security systems and services to automakers, provides a good example of why manufacturers in EMEA are increasingly turning to Arena to solve their product design and supply chain challenges. "We started high-level hardware development in Russia about five years ago," said Alex Borisov, head of research and development at Starline. "We used a spreadsheet application to manage our bill of materials, and it was very hard to control, especially because we use many of the same parts across different products." After two years, however, Starline recognized that the company needed to deploy PLM software to manage their BOM, and they selected Arena because it was best suited for electronic products design and, as a cloud-based solution, it was simpler to deploy, easier to connect to suppliers with and cost much less than traditional, on-premises PLM software. "The automotive industry is in the midst of a technological transformation," said Steve Chalgren, EVP of product management & chief strategy officer at Arena. "Both new startups and established suppliers are creating highly complex, innovative components. They're recognizing that traditional, mechanical focused on-premise PLM solutions can't deliver the electronic high tech PLM and QMS capabilities that are required by the electrical, firmware, and software development teams. As a result, they're increasingly turning to Arena Solutions." About Arena Solutions Arena invented cloud PLM. Its holistic suite of PLM, supply chain and QMS solutions enables innovative OEMs with complex electronics to manage their bill of materials, facilitate engineering change orders and speed prototyping to improve margins and collapse time to market. Arena has been ranked a Top 10 PLM provider and won the coveted Design News Golden Mousetrap Award in 2016. For more information, please visit http://www.arenasolutions.com. To learn more about Arena Solutions: Visit the Arena Solutions website. Read the Arena blog on product design, development and manufacturing. Follow @arenasolutions on Twitter. Follow Arena on LinkedIn. Arena and Arena Solutions are trademarks of Arena Solutions, Inc., Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. All rights reserved. Other product and company names are the property of their respective holders. CARDSTON, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- American Creek Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: AMK) ("American Creek") is pleased to report that its JV partner, Tudor Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: TUD) ("Tudor") has commissioned a comprehensive Magnetotelluric survey ("MT survey") on the Treaty Creek Property located immediately adjacent to Seabridge Gold's KSM project in the "Golden Triangle" of NW British Columbia 75km north of Stewart. American Creek and Tudor recently entered into a joint venture agreement with Tudor holding a 60% interest and American Creek and Teuton Resources Corp. each holding 20% carried interests in the project. Tudor is the operator. The survey, already in progress, is being run by Simcoe Geoscience Ltd. using the same geophysicist that designed, ran, and interpreted MT surveys on the adjacent KSM and Brucejack projects owned by Seabridge Gold and Pretivm Resources respectively. The program is also using the same equipment and technology that continues to be used with great success on the adjoining properties. MT surveys, a geophysical technique that measures fluctuations in naturally-occurring electrical and magnetic fields, have been used extensively by Seabridge and Pretivm to assist them in discovering and developing new deposits. The Deep Kerr, Lower Iron Cap, Mitchell at Depth, and extensions of Deep Kerr deposits are some of the discoveries within Seabridge's KSM project where MT technology was utilized in discovering and in developing drill targets for these core zones. Pretivm Resources, whose deposits (Snowfield/Brucejack/Valley of the Kings) are adjacent to the KSM, has also had great success using MT technology in the discovery and development of their deposits. This confirms the reliability and accuracy of MT technology within the large hydrothermal system encompassing the KSM, Snowfield/Brucejack, and Treaty Creek projects. This hydrothermal system is one of the largest in the world with the southern half being shared by Pretivm's deposits on the east and Seabridge's deposits on the west. The northern half of the system extends through the Treaty Creek property. In 2011, Seabridge commissioned a single line array MT survey through the Treaty Creek property to cover their proposed tunnel route as part of their KSM development plan. The exploration objective was to detect porphyry-rich mineralization and/or associated alteration zones to depth and to establish an understanding of the geological system and fluid pathways to great depth within the KSM survey area. The survey was successful in discovering potential porphyry-rich mineralization and/or associated alteration zones to depth as it revealed a large conductive body at depth which extends upward to the surface between MT sites 214 and 216. This area contains gossanous outcrops along with surface mineralization and also includes the previously explored Orpiment zone. The survey also shows a more prominent feeder extending over 3km from the large conductive body at depth. This feeder is approximately 750m wide and extends to the location of the Copper Belle zone where another large conductive body (less than 200ohm-m) appears on the survey starting between MT sites 208 and 209. The northeast tip of Copper Belle, a bulk-tonnage type gold-copper-molybdenum porphyry, appears to be located at the northeast tip of this low resistive anomaly. The drilling that American Creek conducted in 2007 and 2009 (prior to the MT survey) at Copper Belle was primarily between MT sites 209 and 210 and therefore did not intersect the MT anomaly, however hole CB-14 (the closest hole to the anomaly) carried 0.8g/t gold over 241m and ended in mineralization. The MT anomalies on the Treaty Creek property have a direct correlation with magnetic highs. A large magnetic anomaly starts precisely where the MT anomaly near Copper Belle begins. Both the MT survey, and a previously conducted Mag survey on Treaty Creek, independently suggest the possibility of a metallic deposit in porphyry form. When the two correlate with each other so perfectly it is referred to as a "strong contact". The extent of the MT anomaly will remain unknown until the current MT survey is complete, but the magnetic high directly associated with it covers approximately nine square kilometers. Simcoe Geoscience Ltd. is currently running an extensive 3D survey that covers all the areas of known mineralization on the Treaty Creek property. This will reveal the extent of the existing MT anomalies in far greater detail, and potentially reveal new anomalies, giving Tudor the same type of insights that have contributed to the discoveries on the Seabridge and Pretivm properties within the same hydrothermal system. Tudor is also planning to commence drilling at Treaty Creek within the next week. Darren Blaney, American Creek's President & CEO, stated: "We are very much looking forward to the advancement of the Treaty Creek project and are pleased that Tudor is now on the property and that work is commencing. The exact same MT survey technology presently being employed by Tudor at Treaty has been the key to the recent world class discoveries that have been made by both Seabridge and Pretivm to our south. Our shareholders have been anticipating this event for quite some time and now their patience and support will be rewarded." An updated link with more information regarding the MT survey and the Treaty Creek property can be found on the American Creek website homepage. American Creek Resources Ltd. is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral deposits within the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Information relating to the Corporation is available on its website at www.americancreek.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: American Creek Resources Ltd. Kelvin Burton 403 752-4040 info@americancreek.com www.americancreek.com MEMPHIS, Tenn. Every nation has sacred places, where history has stopped and lingered, and visitors are hushed by memories of redemptive sacrifice. One is the balcony outside Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. On this spot a familiar voice was stilled, but also somehow magnified, becoming part of our collective conscience. This site is now part of a fine museum the National Civil Rights Museum that unfolds the story that King told and shaped. How 12 million Africans were shipped as slaves across the Atlantic, the largest forced migration in history. How they built resilient institutions that maintained their identity and demanded their freedom. How a great war ended slavery but not oppression. How African-Americans suffered a century of cruel and systematic indignity. Then came a movement of conscience in which being a community organizer could demand the courage of a soldier and get your head cracked open. A movement opposed by domestic terrorists who bombed homes and churches, and murdered children (should we refer to them as radical Christian terrorists?). This story of a captive people who forced America to fulfill its own ideals the story of prisoners who freed themselves and also freed their jailers is one of the most compelling moral narratives outside of scripture. Leaders such as King believed that history has an arc, determined by the appeal of freedom and the Author of freedom. And their vision of human rights became an inseparable part of the American story: a nation that declared high ideals, then was judged by them, and now is motivated by them to expand the circle of inclusion, protection and promise. I happened to visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the same time that a presidential candidate attacked the mother of a fallen American soldier by employing an anti-Muslim stereotype (maybe she wasnt allowed to have anything to say). Donald Trump went on to assert that the soldiers father, Khizr Khan, had no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim I have never read the Constitution a statement that proved Khans point. My point here is not that Trump is a classless, egotistical sadist though the case is strong. It is that Trumps view of nationalism is based on culture, ethnicity and exclusion. It does not even matter if suspicious outsiders have made what Abraham Lincoln called so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. Their faith, in Trumps view, is foreign and immediately associated with stereotypes of oppression and violence. The same is true with Mexican ethnicity, which Trump has identified with sexual aggression and murder. Trump is not merely indifferent to the language of racial and religious inclusion; he is actively hostile to the premise. Leaders who support Trump members of Congress, conservative thought-leaders, figures of the religious right do so for a variety of reasons. But whatever their motivations, they are encouraging an alternate and degraded version of Americas story. In Trumps telling, this is a nation that was once great, but is now besieged and infiltrated by threats to its identity. Other nations France is no longer France have allowed their distinct cultures to be overwhelmed by immigration and outside influences. America must be protected by a strong leader from the same fate. And Trumps America is defined as the familiar nation of decades past, which was largely white and Christian. In fact, America is the model for the world when it comes to integrating Muslims and people of other faiths into a pluralistic society. Rather than recognizing this achievement, Trump would undo it, and foster the kind of conflict he warns against. But there is even more at stake. Those who support Trump are setting the Republican Party at odds with the American story told by Lincoln and King: a nationalism defined by striving toward unifying ideals of freedom and human dignity. Is this what the speaker of the House, the Senate majority leader, the chairman of the Republican Party and so many other good people intended when they entered politics? Is this how they define their souls high purpose? In his last public address, the night before his murder, King mused on mortality, saying he would die happy and not fearing any man because he was sure of his lifes mission, which included standing up for the best in the American dream. Which Republican leaders can now rest in that confidence? It is not too late to repudiate. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. OCEAN VIEW, Delaware, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer Biological Therapy Market size is expected to reach USD 100 billion by 2023; as per a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160418/799556-a ) Rising incidence rates and increased adoption of biologic therapy will drive global cancer biological therapy market size. According to WHO estimates, the number of new cancer cases are projected to rise by 70% in the next two decades, largely due to increased consumption of alcohol and tobacco. It is estimated by the ACS that 180,890 prostate cancer and 246,660 breast cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2016 in the U.S. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/676 Mounting global geriatric population is predicted to boost cancer biological therapy market size owing to correlation between new cases and old age. Elderly population is more prone to the disease and according to ACS, 86% of cases in the U.S. were recorded in individuals aged 50 and above. High associated cost attributed to the cost of drug development may act as a major bottleneck to growth. Millions of dollars are spent in identifying a potent drug, obtaining its preclinical data and carry out its clinical trials. Monopoly is yet another factor that contributes to higher cost. The emergence of new therapeutic classes with reduced adverse-effects, such as immuno-oncologics will change the industry landscape. Cancer vaccines market was over USD 1.9 billion in 2015. Approval of the first vaccine sipuleucel-T (Provenge) for metastatic prostate cancer by the FDA will boost growth in the immunotherapy segment. Cancer growth blockers market was over USD 18 billion in 2015, and is expected to grow at 5.8% CAGR from 2016 to 2023. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors dominated revenue share among the growth blockers in 2015 and is expected to continue witnessing steady growth. Monoclonal antibodies market size was over USD 21 billion in 2015. Antibody therapy has been the most successful and important approach for treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Bispecific monoclonal antibodies are anticipated to grow at 6.5% CAGR from 2016 to 2023. Browse key industry insights spread across 90 pages with 60 market data tables & 47 figures & charts from the report, "Cancer Biological Therapy Market Size By Product (Monoclonal Antibodies [Naked Monoclonal Antibodies, Conjugated Monoclonal Antibodies, Bi-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies], Vaccines [Preventive, Therapeutic], Cancer Growth Blockers [Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, Proteasome Inhibitors, mTOR Inhibitors], Blood Cell Growth Factors [Lenograstim, Filgrastim], Cytokines [Interferons, Interleukins], Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 - 2023" in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/cancer-biological-therapy-market Key insights from the report include: U.S. cancer biological therapy market share was over 80% of the North American revenue in 2015, and is anticipated to grow owing to increased public funding for R&D and other government initiatives. Germany revenue was over USD 4 billion in 2015 and contributes largely to the Europe cancer biological therapy market size. Major drivers include favorable insurance and public reimbursement policies. For instance, about 90% of the German population is covered by 'Statutory Health Insurance' and only 10% of population by private insurance players. China will drive Asia Pacific cancer biology therapy market share by providing favorable growth opportunities to players, which will motivate them to invest in R&D of biologic products. The favorable reimbursement plans will further accelerate growth. Key players include Novartis International AG, Amgen Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Eli Lilly, Seattle Genetics, Inc., Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Celgene Corporation are some notable companies vying for global cancer biological therapy market share. Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/676 Global Market Insights has segmented the cancer biological therapy industry on the basis of product and region: Cancer Biological Therapy Market Product Analysis (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2023) Monoclonal antibodies Naked monoclonal antibodies Conjugated monoclonal antibodies Bispecific monoclonal antibodies Vaccines Preventive vaccines Therapeutic vaccines Cancer growth blockers Tyrosine kinase inhibitors Proteasome inhibitors mTOR inhibitors Blood cell growth factors Lenograstim Filgrastim Cytokines Interferons Interleukins Cancer Biological Therapy Market Regional Analysis (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2023) North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany UK France Spain Italy Asia Pacific India China Japan Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina MEA South Africa Saudi Arabia Browse Related Reports: 1. In-Vitro Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests Market Size By Test Type [Fetal Occult Blood Test (Guaiac, Immonu-FOB Agglutination, Lateral Flow Immuno-FOB, Immuno-FOB ELISA), Biomarker (Tumor M2-PK Stool, Transferrin Assay), CRC DNA Screening Test (Methylated Gene Testing, Panel DNA), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, Japan, China, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 - 2023:Read More 2. Breast Cancer Therapeutics Market Size, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Development Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 - 2023: Read More About Global Market Insights Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology. Contact Us: Jack Davis Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights, Inc. Phone: 1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1 888-689-0688 Email: sales@gminsights.com Web: https://www.gminsights.com NEW YORK, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Interactive Scavenger Hunt Will Apply Strayboots' Mobile Gaming Expertise to Attract Domestic and International Tourists and Companies Worldwide Strayboots, the leading global provider of mobile team building scavenger hunts, announced today its partnership with Destination Jonkoping AB to bring the first public scavenger hunt to Sweden. The partnership will begin with an interactive tour of the city of Granna, with plans for more cities to follow. The partnership with Destination Jonkoping is part of a larger regional initiative to increase awareness of the area among domestic and international tourists and companies. The scavenger hunt will offer visitors an interactive tour of Granna that they will be able to access on their smartphones free of charge though a dedicated URL and additional information provided at Tourism Offices throughout the city. Granna is situated in Jonkoping Municipality, Sweden with 2,553 inhabitants in 2010. As the fourth largest municipality in Sweden, Jonkoping is a popular destination among both domestic and foreign travelers, averaging $3.8 billion in tourism sales and 1.4 million day visits in 2015. "We are excited about working with Strayboots to help visitors have fun discovering all that Jonkoping has to offer by creating the best mobile experiences to showcase Granna," said Patrik Olderius, CEO of Destination Jonkoping AB. "Swedes are among the most mobile-savvy people in the EU so working with Strayboots to create something truly innovative was a natural fit for us." According to figures provided by Destination Jonkoping AB, 77% Swedes have a smartphone, with 76% using it to access the Internet and 57% navigating using a mobile GPS. Added Mr. Olderius, "People expect two things when it comes to using their smartphone for information: to be educated and to be entertained. As a partner, Strayboots has a unique understanding of how to do both." Strayboots brings a proven track record creating fun, interactive scavenger hunts incorporating the latest advances in mobile technology. Strayboots' scavenger hunts are deployed in more than 50 major cities throughout the USA and used for team building by more than 600 corporations, including Fortune 100 companies and organizations worldwide. The partnership with Destination Jonkoping AB continues the company's expansion to global markets helping clients reach and attract mobile audiences through engaging discovery experiences designed for their smartphone. "Our team is thrilled to be working with Destination Jonkoping to translate the beauty and history of Granna into a memorable scavenger hunt experience for visitors," said Strayboots co-founder and Senior Vice President, Jeremy Brooks. "We look forward to helping to increase awareness of the area as a world travel destination and center of business and technology innovation for tourists and companies alike." About Destination Jonkoping AB The aim of Destination Jonkoping AB is to make the geographic location of Jonkoping Municipality more attractive and generate growth through more visitors to Jonkoping Municipality within the areas of tourism, events and meetings/conferences. The Municipality has seen a steady population increase since 2005 and today has a total of 133,597 inhabitants living across its five cities, including Jonkoping and Granna. In 2013, the average income and employment in Jonkoping were on par with levels for the whole country and 785 new companies were registered in the municipality during 2014. Destination Jonkoping AB is a wholly owned municipal company with 20 staff. About Strayboots Strayboots is the leading global provider of mobile scavenger hunts for corporate team building, group adventures and city exploration. With Strayboots, customers can reach and engage mobile audiences by offering highly customized digital experiences that foster connections, improve performance and build trust. Strayboots hunts are delivered nationwide and used by more than 1,000 organizations including Fortune 100 companies, cities and businesses worldwide. The company's main offices are in Tel Aviv, Israel, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and New York, NY. To learn more please visit https://www.strayboots.com/events/ Contact info: Strayboots Karen Kuller +972-58-617-3724 karen@strayboots.com Destination Jonkoping AB Patrik Olderius +46 725 07 01 21 patrik.olderius@destinationjonkoping.se LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto Plc. (RTNTF, RIO, RIO.L, RTPPF) reported Wednesday higher profit in its first half, benefited by one-time gains. Underlying earnings were hurt by weak sales mainly reflecting lower prices. The company's profit before taxation for the first half increased to $2.10 billion from $1.75 billion in the same period last year. Net profit attributable to the owners of the company more-than-doubled to $1.71 billion from $806 million in the prior-year period. Earnings per share from continuing operations increased to 94.9 cents from 43.5 cents last year. Net earnings reflected net gains on disposals of business of $0.2 billion, non-cash exchange rate and derivative gains of $0.6 billion, an onerous contract provision of $0.5 billion and restructuring costs of $0.1 billion. However, underlying earnings for the period were $1.56 billion, down 47 percent from $2.92 billion in the year-ago period. Underlying earnings per share fell to 87.0 cents from 159.1 cents last year. The Iron Ore group's underlying earnings of $1.74 billion were 17 percent lower than 2015 first half. This was primarily attributable to lower prices. The company noted that cash cost improvements, lower energy costs and positive currency and other movements partly offset the $1.9 billion impact of lower prices. Consolidated sales revenues for the half year declined 13.8 percent to $15.50 billion from $17.98 billion in same period of last year, reflecting a $2.6 billion reduction due to the decline in commodity prices. Volumes were higher in iron ore, following the increase in capacity at the Pilbara ports and mines, and in bauxite, from increased production at all four mines. Volume declined in refined copper at Kennecott, as a result of the drawdown in inventory in 2015 first half, and in gold production at both Kennecott and Oyu Tolgoi. First half iron ore sales of 158.9 million tonnes were eight percent higher than 2015 with a strong rail performance and no major weather events in contrast to last year. The company said it delivered strong operational performances in iron ore, bauxite and aluminium, with all key commodities on track to meet full year guidance. Looking ahead, Rio Tinto said that its production guidance is unchanged, except for mined copper, which is now expected to be between 545 and 595 thousand tonnes in 2016. Further, the company declared interim dividend of 45 US cents per share, equivalent to $0.8 billion. The dividend is consistent with its policy that for 2016 only, the total full year dividend will be not less than 110 US cents per share, equivalent to $2 billion. In London, Rio Tinto shares were trading at 2,423 pence, down 0.76 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de PETERSBURG, VA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- On Saturday, August 6, Pamplin Historical Park will host a talk exploring the strategic significance of railroads in and around Petersburg during the Civil War. Founder and owner Robert B. Pamplin Jr. invites visitors to participate in the one of a kind lecture presented by Tim Talbott, historian and Associate Director of Education, Interpretation, Visitor Services, and Collections at Pamplin Historical Park. At the beginning of the Civil War there were fewer than three-hundred rail lines in the United States, and many lines were unconnected to each other. Railroads were as yet untested as a military resource. The importance of controlling the rail lines was quickly proven at the outset of the war. Railroads were recognized as valuable means of transporting soldiers, materials, and food, as well as becoming strategic military targets. During the Civil War, the Confederate and Union armies constantly struggled for control of the rail lines throughout central Virginia. Petersburg was the primary railroad hub for the region. Essential goods, raw materials and troops came from the south through Petersburg to reach Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy. The survival of the Confederate government was dependent on the supplies that came through Petersburg by rail. Talbott's lecture, "Iron Ties: Petersburg and its Railroads," will focus on the importance of Petersburg and the dramatic battles for control of the area's rail lines. "This was a defining period in America's history, and preserving these stories is critical to communicating the principles and sacrifices of that time to future generations," said Pamplin. "We're pleased to be able to continuously add to our country's collective knowledge, whether by offering experiences and lectures at the park or by sharing and discussing forgotten anecdotes." The talk will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6, at Pamplin Historical Park's Education Center. This event is free with membership or regular Park admission. About Pamplin Historical Park One of "Virginia's Best Places to Visit" according to the Travel Channel and designated as a National Historic Landmark, Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier is a 424-acre Civil War campus located in Dinwiddie County, Va., offering a combination of high-tech museums and hands-on experiences. The park has four world-class museums and four antebellum homes. The park is also the site of the Breakthrough battle of April 2, 1865, and America's premier participatory experience, Civil War Adventure Camp. For more information, please call 804-861-2408 or visit www.pamplinpark.org. About Robert B. Pamplin Jr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. has earned eight degrees -- including two doctorates -- in business, economics, accounting, education and theology. He has been honored nationally as a businessman, philanthropist, ordained minister, educator, historical preservationist and author of 23 books and comic books, including two book-of-the-month club selections. Pamplin's business interests include media (the Portland Tribune and 25 community newspapers), textiles, construction and agriculture. He has been awarded many honorary degrees and featured in national magazines, in newspapers and on television. He has served on presidential and state commissions, and he has been chairman of the board of trustees of three colleges. Pamplin is widely recognized as America's leading historical preservationist and foremost diversified entrepreneur. For more information, visit www.pamplin.org. Contact: Wendy Lane Stevens 503-546-7900 wendy@lanepr.com The first half-year has passed, and Chinese automakers have already unveiled their sales performance. Among which Chinese automaker JAC (Shanghai Stock Exchange: 600418) has continued its dominance of the burgeoning South American auto market with a focus on young, tech-savvy, and style-conscious drivers. The release of JAC's S2 model SUV in Chile, Colombia, and Paraguay, in June and July, followed the success of its Frison pick-up and the record-breaking S3. With a stylish and sporty exterior, high-end specifications, outstanding off-road performance and reasonable price tag, the S2 is expected to repeat the sales success of the S3, which has sold over 300,000 vehicles globally since its release nearly two years ago. The S3 quickly became the best-selling Chinese compact SUV in the Chilean market when it was released last year, while the Frison became the No.1 Chinese pick-up model in the country when launched this May. JAC also hopes that the Frison will repeat this success when it enters the Uruguayan market in August. In terms of commercial vehicles, JAC recently celebrated its 300,000th high-end light-duty truck sold. As it's known, JAC has sold over 300,000 high-end, light-duty trucks internationally over the last fourteen years. In the South American market, it has made a great impression with the best-selling Chinese models in Chile, Peru and Colombia, among others. Due to its excellent reputation and high-quality products, JAC has also entered the highly competitive Southeast Asian market, which has been dominated by Japanese brands for a number of decades. JAC's Euro V light-duty truck has also entered large and developed auto markets such as Turkey and Mexico. Eco-conscious drivers save the world in style JAC also plans to expand its international exports of electric vehicles (EVs) in the coming months. In April JAC's EVs became the third best-selling electric models worldwide with 2,331 vehicles sold that month. Supporting the evolution of this high-growth sector, JAC has continually developed its electric vehicles, boosting its sales by 400% compared with the same period last year. In particular, the IEV 6S, launched at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show, has received much acclaim from customers for its stylish exterior and eco-friendly technology. The IEV 6S is the first pure electric SUV to be released in China, equipped with an advanced Samsung lithium battery and with a range of up to 300km. JAC continues its rise during the first half year During the first half of the year, JAC has sold 333,639 vehicles, an increase of nearly 15% from the same period last year, according to data from the China Automobile Association. The S3 model has performed particularly well, selling 97,457 units during 2016, winning an award as the H1 SUV sales champion in China. Industry experts have put JAC's recent success down to its focus on quality products and high level of customer care. About JAC Motors JAC Motors is an automaker that develops full-line independent brand vehicles including light, medium, and heavy trucks, sedans, MPV, SRV, buses, chassis, engineering machinery, engines, and gearboxes. Based in Hefei, China, the company's research and development center drives its innovation. JAC also founded China's first overseas research and development center in Turin Italy and a second in Tokyo, Japan. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006065/en/ Contacts: JAC Motors Crystal Feng, +86-551-62296885 jacmotors@jac.com.cn http://jacen.jac.com.cn/showroom/s5.html http://goal.jac.com.cn/ WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump received the endorsement of the father of a US Navy SEAL who died in the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack. Charles Woods came out in support of Trump Tuesday. He is the father of Tyrone Woods, a former Navy SEAL, who gave his life fighting to protect Americans during the terror attacks on the U.S. consulate and the CIA compound in the Libyan city of Benghazi. Tyrone's sacrifice saved more than twenty-five American lives, and is considered an American hero. Woods said he chose to endorse Trump for mainly two reasons: national security as well as the economy, the two most important issues that voters are going to have to decide upon next November. Trump said Tyrone Woods is an American hero and his father is a tremendous person whom he has great respect for. Hillary Clinton's critics attribute her poor judgment to the tragic deaths in Libya. The Trump Campaign said Clinton's reckless decision to invade Libya unleashed radical Islamic terror groups that threatened Americans. Compounded with her failure to provide the necessary security upgrades and reinforcements cost four Americans their lives. The Campaign alleged that the former Secretary of State lied to the world about what happened to cover up the role of Radical Islam. 'We could have known more about her actions, but she illegally stored and then deleted 33,000 emails,' it added. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. OAKVILLE, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Giyani Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: WDG) ("Giyani") is pleased to announce the appointment of John L. Petersen a world renowned energy storage specialist to the Board of Directors with immediate effect. John Petersen has been engaged in the practice of law for 37 years and is a global thought leader on energy storage and sustainability issues. His diverse experience in corporate finance, natural resource development and advanced battery technologies give him a unique perspective on the technical, economic and supply chain challenges of energy storage, vehicle electrification and alternative energy. From February 2003 through January 2007, John served as a director of Axion Power International, Inc., including a two-year stint as board chairman. John is a 1976 graduate of the College of Business Administration at Arizona State University and a 1979 graduate of the Notre Dame Law School. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in May 1980 and was licensed to practice as a Certified Public Accountant from March 1981 through December 1990. "It is an absolute pleasure and privilege to be working closely with John as we review the numerous opportunities currently available to develop a new vertical integrated platform in the new exciting energy sector. His invaluable experience will fit well with growing Giyani into a powerhouse participant in this sector," states Duane Parnham Executive Chairman. Giyani would also like to announce further board and management developments designed to strengthen our team moving forward. Effective immediately Scott Breard will join the Board as an Independent Director. Mr. Breard is a business and marketing professional as well as an author and speaker. Mr. Breard attended the University of Guelph prior to opening his first retail store, Hot Shots Games in 1999 at the age of 25. Mr. Breard is currently a partner of an online marketing agency that specializes in re-branding as well as social media and online reputation management. He has previously held positions as Director of Marketing with Olhausen Billiards, USA and Vice President of Marketing with Jack Nathan Health's Clinics at Walmart, Canada. Giyani has appointed Dan Crandall as Chief Financial Officer with immediate effective Mr. Crandall is a Senior Manager at Marrelli Support Services Inc. possessing approximately 10 years of experience. He specializes in providing Chief Financial Officer, accounting, regulatory compliance, and management advisory services to numerous issuers on the TSX, TSX-Venture and other Canadian and US exchanges. Dan is a CPA, CA and has an Honours Bachelor of Accounting (Co-op) degree from Brock University. Mr. Crandall will replace Duane Parnham who was acting CFO. In connection with the above appointments, subject to exchange approval, Giyani has granted 500,000 options exercisable at 30 cents per share in accordance with the company's stock option plan. The options have a five year term and vest immediately. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giyani Gold Corp. Duane Parnham, Executive Chairman Forward Looking Statements This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Giyani believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Giyani's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Giyani undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Contacts: Giyani Gold Corp. Duane Parnham Executive Chairman 1.289 837 0066 dparnham@giyanigold.com COLUMBUS, OH -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Sermonix Pharmaceuticals LLC, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on late-stage women's health products, convened the inaugural meeting of its Oncology Steering Committee July 14th in New York City. The group, which included world-renowned experts focused on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, discussed the utility of Sermonix's lead investigational drug, lasofoxifene, in breast cancer treatment and survivorship. "Sermonix is engaging with some of the leading experts in the management of breast cancer patients and survivors, and the input we received at our meeting was invaluable," said Dr. David Portman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of Sermonix. "Sermonix looks forward to contributing to this important therapeutic area and exploring other uses for lasofoxifene in the oncology space with the ongoing guidance from this esteemed group of researchers and clinicians." Lasofoxifene, a third-generation selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), is one of the most well-studied drugs in its category. It has been evaluated in more than 15,000 women in a comprehensive worldwide phase I-III clinical development program that includes the PEARL, OPAL and other trials, showing a positive impact on vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) in addition to a reduction in the risk of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. With breast cancer treatment routinely involving use of aromatase inhibitors that block estrogen production, side effects for survivors frequently include VVA and osteoporosis. These issues are increasing as survival rates rise and women live longer than ever post-breast cancer treatment. "There is an unmet need for therapies that can address common genitourinary symptoms of breast cancer survivors," said steering committee member Dr. Michael Krychman, Executive Director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine in Newport Beach, California. "These women suffer disproportionately from severe vulvovaginal atrophy that impacts not only their partner relationships, but also negatively impacts their psychosocial well-being. Many of these women either choose not to or cannot tolerate traditional estrogen therapy since it has a box warning for breast cancer, and as many as 20 percent are non-compliant on aromatase inhibitors due to the side effect profile." Clinical studies have shown that in women with osteoporosis, lasofoxifene reduced the risk of vertebral fractures by 42 percent and non-vertebral fractures by 24 percent compared to placebo, and reduced estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer by 80 percent. Sermonix plans to seek FDA approval for the use of lasofoxifene to treat several women's health indications, including osteoporosis and symptoms of VVA. Approval in other territories will also be sought. Dr. Larry Norton, Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Breast Cancer Programs at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a member of the steering committee, stated: "Many breast cancer treatments may have deleterious effects on bones, so there are survivors who, for this reason as well as natural aging, are at increased risk for osteoporosis and consequently osteoporotic fractures. While there are therapies that help in these cases, not everyone benefits and some do not tolerate these therapies well. So there is a need for alternative and additional bone-strengthening medications. Since lasofoxifene may also provide improvement in vulvovaginal atrophy, another common problem in breast cancer survivors, it could be useful in improving their health in several ways." The Sermonix Oncology Steering Committee members are: Shari Goldfarb, M.D., Medical Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Rinath Jeselsohn, M.D., Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Michael Krychman, M.D., Executive Director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine in Newport Beach, California; Medical Director, Sexual Medicine, Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach, California Larry Norton, M.D., Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Breast Cancer Programs at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Medical Director of the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center; Norna S. Sarofim Chair in Clinical Oncology; Breast Cancer Research Foundation Scientific Director Richard Santen, M.D., Professor of Medicine: Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Virginia School of Medicine. Immediate Past-President, The Endocrine Society More on lasofoxifene Lasofoxifene -- a SERM, also known as an estrogen agonist/antagonist -- was originally developed through collaboration between Ligand Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer. Pfizer developed lasofoxifene for osteoporosis. It did not receive FDA approval in 2009; however, in Europe lasofoxifene was approved for osteoporosis treatment by the EMEA that same year. Pfizer never marketed lasofoxifene in Europe and subsequently rights to lasofoxifene reverted to Ligand in 2011. Sermonix obtained licensing rights to oral lasofoxifene from Ligand in February 2015 and is currently pursuing regulatory approval. About Sermonix Sermonix Pharmaceuticals LLC is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on bringing new and emerging late-stage women's health products through clinical development and regulatory approval. Founded in 2014, Sermonix has assembled a considerable management team with success in women's healthcare development. Dr. David Portman, Sermonix's founder and CEO, was principal investigator for the Phase II and Phase III lasofoxifene clinical trials and was actively involved during the drug's clinical development. Dr. Portman has experience in all stages of the regulatory approval process. James Symons, MS, PhD, is Vice President of Clinical Development at Sermonix and was the global clinical lead for the lasofoxifene development program for vulvovaginal atrophy as well as for multiple women's health submissions to the FDA during his tenure at Pfizer. Paul Plourde, Sermonix Oncology Team Leader, was previously with Astra-Zeneca, where he was instrumental in the development and approval of both tamoxifen and Arimidex. Elizabeth Attias, MMSc, ScD, Vice President of Business Development, has experience in all stages of women's health product assessment, market development, launch and commercialization. Miriam Portman, M.D., is the Chief Operating Officer of Sermonix. She is former Co-director and Founder of the Columbus Center for Women's Health Research and has extensive experience in clinical research, with a focus on FDA regulatory issues, clinical trial conduct, budgets and contracts. Contact info: Kelsey BaRoss kbaross@rosecomm.com 201-656-7178 ext. 214 Blue Goji will be in attendance at the VRLA expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, Calif., Aug. 5-6. VRLA, www.virtualrealityla.com, is the world's largest virtual reality (VR) expo, and Blue Goji is thrilled to be teaming up with HTC Vive to demonstrate Goji Play's upcoming "Active VR" enhancements at the Vive pavilion. In addition, Blue Goji will be exhibiting at GamesCom in Cologne, Germany, Aug. 18-21. GamesCom, www.gamescom-cologne.comis one of the largest expos in Europe for gaming, and Blue Goji will be showcasing its new Active Gaming/Active VR offerings on popular VR and non-VR platforms, supporting both Blue Goji and many third-party VR games. Blue Goji has been enhancing Goji Play, the company's core, patent-pending game platform, and developing new VR games for leading VR platforms such as HTC's Vive to deliver a unique, immersive Active VR experience. The Active VR enhancements and new VR games will be released in the next Goji Play system upgrade, scheduled for November 2016. "Goji Play will transform any suitable cardio machine, like ellipticals and stationary bikes, into an immersive 'Game Station' for playing VR games. More importantly, infusing full-body cardio motion into VR game plays, Goji Play has demonstrated promising results eliminating or significantly reducing the common problem of VR-induced motion sickness," commented Coleman Fung, Blue Goji co-founder and CEO. Fung continued, "We are very excited about Goji Play's new capability to expand VR game play beyond the sedentary or limited-movement model. And the possibility of resurrecting millions of underutilized or unused cardio equipment at home!" About Blue Goji Based in Austin, Texas, Blue Goji develops technology that makes fitness fun. Blue Goji's Goji Play fitness game system transforms conventional cardio workouts into engaging and fun experiences for both adults and kids. The Goji Play game system earned a coveted 2016 Red Dot Award for Product Design. Blue Goji was founded in 2011 on the gaming expertise of Charles Huang and Kai Huang, co-founders of Red Octane, developers of the highly successful Guitar Hero franchise, and the big data software expertise of Coleman Fung, founder and former CEO of OpenLink Financial. For more information, please see www.bluegoji.com. Goji Play, GojiTate, GameBreaks, and other products, brands and trademarks are property of Blue Goji. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006083/en/ Contacts: PR Consultant for Blue Goji Laura M. Pennino, 281.286.9398, 713.419.1776 mobile lp@penninoandpartners.com @laurapennino or Blue Goji Frank Huang, 512.270.4747 x 114 COO frank@bluegoji.com Johnsons main concern is to keep us safe Im writing this letter in support of Sen. Ron Johnson, a true Wisconsinite who built a successful business in Oshkosh, which he has put on hold to serve all of us. Russ Feingold sees Wisconsin as a chance to get back on the gravy train. When Sen. Johnson last beat him, Wisconsin was truly fed up with Feingold and what he stood for. So he headed out to California, where he gained even more of the liberal, socialistic doctrine that we heartland Americans despise. He used to talk proudly of receiving more than half of his donations from Wisconsinites. That is no longer the case. Well over 50 percent of his political donations come from out-of-state. Feingold was our senator when the VA boondoggle was festering, leaving Ron Johnson to bring accountability for the VA. Now Johnson has set up a way to fire inept VA doctors and administrators. Feingolds loyalty to veterans and the military is questionable, as he voted 11 out of his 18 Senate years against the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act), which authorizes our military. Feingold knows nothing about growing business because he has never produced a product or signed a paycheck for an employee. He has lived off the government nearly all of his professional life in one form or another. Ron Johnsons main concern is to keep Americans safe as he heads up the Senate Homeland Security Committee. He is constantly working to keep us safe in spite of the Obama administrations reckless actions. Johnson was the senator who put Hillary Clinton on the spot, asking her about Benghazi and receiving her angry response: What difference, at this point, does it make? Johnson gave a great speech at the Republican National Convention about the difference it makes to the families of the four dead Americans. He is a man of integrity and knows how to create jobs. Hes a true Wisconsinite, and we need him to keep working for us. Denis A. Kirkman, Holcombe RICHMOND, VA and RALEIGH, NC -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Local Hardee's restaurants throughout Virginia and North Carolina raised $114,596 to support military families and veterans with the recent Stars for Heroes campaign. During the month-long campaign that ended recently, Hardee's customers donated $1 for non-profit support organizations and received a commemorative, patriotic Star cut-out. Those guests also received a Hardee's coupon sheet valued at $10 in savings on the purchase of menu items and the Star was placed on the wall of the local restaurant. Half of the proceeds from this year's Stars for Heroes fundraiser at the Hardee's locations operated by franchisee Boddie-Noell Enterprises (most of which are in North Carolina and Virginia) go to The Patriot Foundation which is based in North Carolina. The other half of proceeds go to organizations supported nationally by Hardee's: USA Cares, Stand Up and Play Foundation and the Gary Sinise Foundation. "This was a very good year for the Star fundraising campaign and we appreciate the worthwhile support our Hardee's customers in Virginia and North Carolina made with their purchase of these Stars," said Jerry Allsbrook, chief marketing officer for Boddie-Noell. "We all know how many military installations and families of current and former military are in these two states, and it's wonderful to see our customers support these families as they work to secure a positive future after serving our country." This year's campaign was one of the strongest in recent years and Allsbrook noted that 81 of the company's participating restaurants in Virginia and North Carolina each displayed 500 or more individual Stars purchased by customers. The Top 3 restaurant locations with the most Stars sold were the Hardee's of Celebration Station at 3342 Virginia Beach Blvd., in Virginia Beach, the Hardee's of Gloucester at 2398 George Washington Memorial Hwy. in Hayes, VA, and the Hardee's of Coeburn at Hwy. 58 in Coeburn, VA. The Patriot Foundation began in 2003 to provide college scholarship assistance initially to children of Army Special Operations soldiers. Since then, the Patriot Foundation has broadened its reach, donating more than $4 million through this year and providing some 1,400 college scholarships as well as child care for spouses who need to go back to school. Patriot Foundation now benefits all major units at Fort Bragg, including the 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps and the Join Special Operations Command. Additionally, Patriot Foundation now supports the major organizations at Fort Campbell, Ky. "We're very grateful for the collaboration again with Hardee's and Boddie-Noell," said Chuck Deleot, president and board chair of The Patriot Foundation. "They've been supportive of the military and veteran community over the years and we appreciate the generosity of their customers." About Boddie-Noell Enterprises Boddie-Noell is proud to have been a Hardee's franchise operator for more than 50 years. Family owned, Boddie-Noell is the largest Hardee's franchisee in the United States with 337 restaurant locations in four states. The company is based in Rocky Mount, N.C. For more information, visit www.bneinc.com. Contact: Rick Rountree Boddie-Noell 919.878.1144 rick@rickrountree.com MATANE, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) The Government of Canada is committed to investing in job creation in order to stimulate economic growth and increase prosperity for Canadians. It is aware that communities must diversify strategically by focusing on innovation in order to develop lasting regional competitive advantages. As such, support for communities' transition and diversification is a priority for the Government of Canada. Remi Masse, MP for Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapedia, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) and Minister responsible for CED, confirmed the signing of a three-year agreement with three regional organizations. Tied to the agreement is a financial commitment of $3 603 258 that will be used to support economic development in the community. The funds will be allocated equally to the three CFDCs. Specifically, the SADC de la Mitis, SADC de la Matapedia and SADC de la region de Matane will each receive $1 201,086. Today's announcement arises from the signing of three-year agreements totalling more than $86 million among the Government of Canada and the CFDCs, BDCs, the CFDC/BDC Network and Capital Reseau of Quebec. That financial assistance, announced July 19, 2016 by Greg Fergus, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of ISED and Minister responsible for CED, will benefit 57 CFDCs, 10 BDCs, the CFDC/BDC Network and Capital Reseau SADC et CAE. The agreements provide the CFDCs and BDCs with the flexibility and means they need for fulfilling their mission. By supporting the growth of SMEs and fostering the development of local economies, CFDCs and BDCs help create well-paid jobs for the middle class and those who work hard to improve their standard of living. In Quebec, roughly 10,000 businesses every year benefit from the services of these two agencies, which means an average annual investment of $70 million in Quebec communities. The CFDCs also get involved in over 1,250 economic development projects every year. The funding comes from the Community Futures Program (CFP) that, in Quebec, is operated by CED. Quotes "The renewal of the agreement between CED and these organizations is excellent news for the region. For the next three years, they will be able to carry out their mission and contribute to economic growth and job creation within the community." Remi Masse, MP for Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapedia "I am very pleased with the renewal of the agreements between the Government of Canada and the CFDCs and the BDCs. The financial stability provided by those agreements enables these agencies to focus on achieving priority objectives. As a result, diversified, competitive economies to benefit the entire country are sure to be evidenced." The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED CED is one of the six regional development agencies under the responsibility of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Related links For more information about the CFP: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/programs/cfp/index.html Website of the CFDC/BDC Network: http://www.sadc-cae.ca/ Stay connected Follow CED on Twitter @CanEconDev Contacts: Media Relations Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions 514-283-8818 dec.media.ced@canada.ca Growth of +4.3% in sales at constant scope and exchange rates to 1.24 billion EBITDA of 208 million (+7.7% at constant scope and exchange rates) Strong decline in net debt compared with at 30 June 2015 Net income, Group share: 49 million (+50.7% at constant scope and exchange rates) Regulatory News: The Vicat Group (Euronext Paris: FR0000031775 VCT) (Paris:VCT) has today reported its 2016 half-year results, as approved by the Board of Directors on 2 August 2016. Audited condensed consolidated income statement ( million) H1 2016 H1 2015 Change (%) Reported At constant scope and exchange rates Consolidated sales 1,237 1,243 -0.4% +4.3% EBITDA* 208 203 +2.3% +7.7% EBITDA margin (%) 16.8 16.3 EBIT** 103 93 +11.2% +16.5% EBIT margin (%) 8.4 7.4 Consolidated net income 60 43 +38.7% +44.5% Net margin (%) 4.8 3.5 Net income, Group share 49 34 +45.7% +50.7% Cash flow 153 140 +9.2% +15.0% *EBITDA: sum of gross operating income and other income and expenses on ongoing business. **EBIT: EBITDA less net depreciation, amortization and provisions on ongoing business. Commenting on these figures, Guy Sidos, the Group's Chairman and CEO said: "The Vicat Group delivered a good performance in the first six months of the year. The positive trends from the first quarter continued, with our business growing across most of our markets, with especially renewed growth momentum in France and in Egypt. In line with our strategy, we generated strong cash flow and considerably reduced our debt compared with the first half of 2015. Confident in the effectiveness of our business model combining production and financial efficiency, we will continue to leverage the investments we have made in recent years and our strong market positions towards further profitable growth". In this press release, and unless indicated otherwise, all changes are stated on a year-on-year basis (2016/2015), and at constant scope and exchange rates. 1. Income statement for the first half of 2016 1.1. Consolidated income statement The Vicat Group's first-half 2016 consolidated sales came to 1,237 million, almost stable (-0.4%) on a reported basis and up +4.3% at constant scope and exchange rates by comparison with the same period of 2015. In the first half of 2016, the Cement business posted a -1.5% decrease in operational sales on a reported basis, but a +4.9% increase at constant scope and exchange rates. The Concrete Aggregates business recorded growth of +3.5% in its operational sales on a reported basis, or a rise of +5.9% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with the first half of 2015. The operational sales recorded by the Other Products Services division rose by +2.0% on a reported basis and by +4.2% at constant scope and exchange rates. The breakdown of first-half 2016 operational sales by business shows a small decrease in Cement's contribution to 53.7% of operational sales from 54.8% in the first six months of 2015. The operational sales contribution from the Group's Concrete Aggregates business edged higher to 32.2% from 31.2% over the same period in 2015. Lastly, the contribution made by Other Products Services was globally stable at 14.2% of the Group's operational sales, compared with 14.0% in the first half of 2015. The contribution made by Vicat's main businesses Cement, Concrete and Aggregates was almost stable at 85.9% of operational sales, compared with 86.0% in the first half of 2015. Trends in the Group's sales in the first six months of 2016 reflected: a negative currency effect of -4.7% owing to appreciation in the euro against all the other currencies in countries in which the Group operates, except for the US dollar organic business growth of +4.3% deriving from: business growth in France, Turkey, the United States, India, Egypt and Italy weaker business trends in West Africa, predominantly with a steep contraction in sales in Mauritania, a stable performance in Senegal and Switzerland, and a very modest downturn in Kazakhstan. The Group's consolidated EBITDA rose +2.3% to 208 million. At constant scope and exchange rates, EBITDA moved up +7.7%. The increase in EBITDA at constant scope and exchange rates was largely driven by: a very significant EBITDA increase in Egypt on the back of growth in volumes and a reduction in energy costs following the start-up of two coal grinders in the second half of 2015. These positive factors helped to largely offset the impact of lower prices another strong EBITDA improvement in the United States, chiefly as a result of the increase in selling prices and volume growth in Cement, which offset to a very large extent the volume downturn in the Concrete business in California a robust improvement in the EBITDA generated by the Group's operations in Turkey on the back of volume growth across all its businesses, which offset to a very great extent the impact of lower price in Cement and, lastly, an increase in EBITDA in France. This performance reflected an increase in volumes delivered by the Group across all its businesses in the first six months of the year. It was supported by favourable weather conditions in the first quarter and a gradually improving macroeconomic and industry environment, despite the slightly weaker pricing environment in Cement and Concrete. These positive factors have fully offset the impact of: a very small EBITDA contraction in India given the decline in selling prices, which was almost completely offset by the volume growth and lower production costs a decline in EBITDA in Switzerland given the impact of the steep decline in prices during the third quarter of 2015 and a very modest contraction in Cement and Concrete volumes during the first half of 2016, despite lower production costs a significant decline in EBITDA in Kazakhstan as a result of certain higher costs caused by the devaluation of the Kazakhstani tenge and the small decline in selling prices and, lastly, a decline in EBITDA in West Africa, mainly in Mauritania owing to a steep decline in volumes and fiercer price competition. EBIT came to 103 million, up +11.2% on a reported basis and up +16.5% at constant scope and exchange rates on the 93 million reported in the first half of 2015. The EBIT margin on consolidated sales came to 8.4% compared with 7.5% during the first half of 2015. Net interest expense declined by 9.4 million to 18.4 million (from 27.8 million in the first half of 2015). This reflected a decrease of 7 million in the cost of the Group's net debt, chiefly as a result of the debt restructuring in India carried out in July 2015. Tax expense rose to 29.1 million, representing a +4.1% increase on the previous year. The effective tax rate declined by close to 4 points to 34%, with the suppression of the exceptional 10% contribution in France. At constant scope and exchange rates, consolidated net income came to 60 million, representing an increase of +44,5% and net income, Group share, advanced by +50.7% to 49 million. 1.2. Income statement broken down by geographical region 1.2.1. Income statement, France ( million) H1 2016 H1 2015 Change (%) Reported At constant scope and exchange rates Consolidated sales 405 388 +4.4% +4.4% EBITDA 51 49 +4.1% +4.1% EBIT 21 18 +16.7% +16.7% Consolidated sales in France for the six months to 30 June 2016 grew by +4.4% at constant scope and exchange rates to 405 million. First-half performance showed the benefit of a gradually improving economic and industry climate and a favourable base of comparison given the more supportive weather conditions than in the first quarter of 2015. To note, the Group's sales in France picked up slightly (+0.9%) in the second quarter of 2016 compared with the second quarter of 2015 despite the social unrest that took place in the country and unfavourable weather conditions. EBITDA rose by +4.1% to 51 million. As a result, the EBITDA margin held almost firm at 12.6%, compared with 12.7% in the first six months of 2015. In the Cement business , operational sales rose by +4.8% over the first half as a whole (consolidated sales up +2.3%). After the very strong first-quarter increase thanks to the supportive weather conditions, operational sales were stable in the second quarter as a result of social unrest in France and less favourable weather conditions. Based on these factors, volumes sold in the domestic market and to export markets rose by close to +10% in the first half, with an increase of close to +15% in the first quarter and over +6% in the second quarter. Selling prices edged lower in the domestic market throughout the period, albeit gradually stabilising in the second quarter. Accordingly, the Group recorded a healthy EBITDA increase in this business of +16.6% at constant scope and an improvement of almost 250 basis points in its EBITDA margin on operational sales. , operational sales rose by +4.8% over the first half as a whole (consolidated sales up +2.3%). After the very strong first-quarter increase thanks to the supportive weather conditions, operational sales were stable in the second quarter as a result of social unrest in France and less favourable weather conditions. Based on these factors, volumes sold in the domestic market and to export markets rose by close to +10% in the first half, with an increase of close to +15% in the first quarter and over +6% in the second quarter. Selling prices edged lower in the domestic market throughout the period, albeit gradually stabilising in the second quarter. Accordingly, the Group recorded a healthy EBITDA increase in this business of +16.6% at constant scope and an improvement of almost 250 basis points in its EBITDA margin on operational sales. The Concrete Aggregates business recorded a +4.7% increase in its operational sales (+4.4% rise in consolidated sales) on the back of significant growth in volumes of over +10% in Concrete and a small rise of over +1% in Aggregates. After the very strong growth in operational sales recorded by the business in the first quarter (+10.3%), second-quarter operational sales were stable, reflecting unfavourable weather conditions and the social unrest in France. Selling prices again moved lower in Concrete, while holding firm in Aggregates. Given the very low level of concrete prices, the Concrete Aggregates business recorded a breakeven EBITDA performance in France, a decrease when compared to the first half 2015. recorded a +4.7% increase in its operational sales (+4.4% rise in consolidated sales) on the back of significant growth in volumes of over +10% in Concrete and a small rise of over +1% in Aggregates. After the very strong growth in operational sales recorded by the business in the first quarter (+10.3%), second-quarter operational sales were stable, reflecting unfavourable weather conditions and the social unrest in France. Selling prices again moved lower in Concrete, while holding firm in Aggregates. Given the very low level of concrete prices, the Concrete Aggregates business recorded a breakeven EBITDA performance in France, a decrease when compared to the first half 2015. In the Other Products Services business, operational sales advanced by +10.0% (+7.0% on a consolidated basis). Its EBITDA totalled 6 million, representing a very significant rise of +66.2%. 1.2.2 Income statement for Europe excluding France ( million) H1 2016 H1 2015 Change (%) Reported At constant scope and exchange rates Consolidated sales 198 206 -4.1% -0.6% EBITDA 45 49 -8.1% -4.7% EBIT 26 28 -6.8% -3.4% First-half 2016 sales recorded in Europe, excluding France, pulled back -4.1% on a reported basis, but remained almost stable at constant scope and exchange rates compared with the first six months of 2015. In Switzerland, the Group's consolidated sales dropped -4.5% in the first six months of 2016. At constant scope and exchange rates, they were almost stable (-0.9%). The Group's sales performance in Switzerland was held back in the first half of the year by the end of deliveries to a number of large projects and lower average selling prices as a result of the fiercer competitive pressures in the second half of 2015. As a result, EBITDA declined -4.3% over the period, triggering a contraction of around 80 basis points in the EBITDA margin. In the Cement business , operational sales declined -8.3% on a reported basis and -4.8% at constant scope and exchange rates. Consolidated sales fell -11.8% on a reported basis and -8.5% at constant scope and exchange rates. After a significant decline in its first-quarter operational sales (-8.6% at constant scope and exchange rates), its second-quarter sales recorded a smaller contraction (-1.9% at constant scope and exchange rates). Over the first half as a whole, volumes fell by more than -4%, primarily as a result of the end of deliveries to a number of major projects. Even so, volumes dropped less than -2% in the second quarter, following on from a contraction of more than -8% in the first quarter. Selling prices recorded a steep decline owing to the fierce competitive pressures seen in the third quarter of 2015. The EBITDA generated by the business declined -6.4% at constant scope and exchange rates in the first half of 2016. Accordingly, the EBITDA margin on operational sales suffered a small decline of 60 basis points. , operational sales declined -8.3% on a reported basis and -4.8% at constant scope and exchange rates. Consolidated sales fell -11.8% on a reported basis and -8.5% at constant scope and exchange rates. After a significant decline in its first-quarter operational sales (-8.6% at constant scope and exchange rates), its second-quarter sales recorded a smaller contraction (-1.9% at constant scope and exchange rates). Over the first half as a whole, volumes fell by more than -4%, primarily as a result of the end of deliveries to a number of major projects. Even so, volumes dropped less than -2% in the second quarter, following on from a contraction of more than -8% in the first quarter. Selling prices recorded a steep decline owing to the fierce competitive pressures seen in the third quarter of 2015. The EBITDA generated by the business declined -6.4% at constant scope and exchange rates in the first half of 2016. Accordingly, the EBITDA margin on operational sales suffered a small decline of 60 basis points. In the Concrete Aggregates business , operational sales rose by +5.2% on a reported basis and by +9.1% at constant scope and exchange rates over the first half as a whole. Following the strong growth in operational sales in the first quarter (+16.7% at constant scope and exchange rates), business kept growing in the second quarter (+4.1%), albeit at a slower pace. This performance was driven by a small decline in concrete volumes of close to -3% as certain major projects were completed and the start-up of others was delayed. This contraction in concrete volumes was fully offset by an increase in aggregates volumes of over +1%, supported by road and civil engineering projects, and a very strong increase in the "landfill" business. Accordingly, ex-works prices dipped slightly, while market prices in aggregates recorded a steep increase on the back of brisk "landfill" business. Against this backdrop, the EBITDA generated by the business posted a significant increase of +28.5% at constant scope and exchange rates, and the EBITDA margin on operational sales increased by 280 basis points. , operational sales rose by +5.2% on a reported basis and by +9.1% at constant scope and exchange rates over the first half as a whole. Following the strong growth in operational sales in the first quarter (+16.7% at constant scope and exchange rates), business kept growing in the second quarter (+4.1%), albeit at a slower pace. This performance was driven by a small decline in concrete volumes of close to -3% as certain major projects were completed and the start-up of others was delayed. This contraction in concrete volumes was fully offset by an increase in aggregates volumes of over +1%, supported by road and civil engineering projects, and a very strong increase in the "landfill" business. Accordingly, ex-works prices dipped slightly, while market prices in aggregates recorded a steep increase on the back of brisk "landfill" business. Against this backdrop, the EBITDA generated by the business posted a significant increase of +28.5% at constant scope and exchange rates, and the EBITDA margin on operational sales increased by 280 basis points. The Precast business posted a decline in its operational sales of -10.5% on a reported basis and -7.2% at constant scope and exchange rates. The bulk of this decline was attributable to lower sales of rail sleepers following the late start-up of projects and stronger pricing pressures in prefabricated products. After a stable performance during the first quarter (+0.1% at constant scope and exchange rates), the second quarter brought a significant decline in operational sales (-10.7% at constant scope and exchange rates). Accordingly, EBITDA was -46.2% lower at constant scope and exchange rates over the period as a whole. In Italy, consolidated sales rose by +8.7% owing to solid growth in volumes (+10%) in a domestic market still marked by a tough macroeconomic and industry environment. Selling prices edged lower. As a result of these factors, EBITDA contracted by -23.1%. 1.2.3 Income statement for the United States ( million) H1 2016 H1 2015 Change (%) Reported At constant scope and exchange rates Consolidated sales 176 163 +7.7% +7.7% EBITDA 22 13 +72.1% +72.1% EBIT 8 (1) n.s. n.s. Business in the United States continued to recover in a firm macroeconomic environment providing further support for the construction sector in the regions where the Group is present. As a result, the Group's consolidated sales advanced by +7.7% on a reported basis and at constant scope and exchange rates. EBITDA came to 22 million, up +72.1% compared with the first half of 2015. In the second quarter, the Group's business in the region stayed positively oriented, with its consolidated sales advancing by +8.1% at constant scope and exchange rates (after a +7.1% increase in the first quarter). In the Cement business , operational sales grew by +16.8% on a reported basis and at constant scope and exchange rates. Consolidated sales recorded growth of +28.4%. Growth continued in the second quarter, with operational sales advancing by +15.5% at constant scope and exchange rates, a slightly slower pace than the +18.4% growth recorded in the first quarter. Volumes continued to grow (+10%) on the back of upbeat trends in the South-East region (close to +22%), which fully offset the very slight dip in volumes in California (-1%) as a result of the very poor weather conditions in the first half. Selling prices rose significantly across both areas as a result of the hikes introduced in 2015 and those announced during the first half of 2016. Driven by these factors, the Group's Cement EBITDA in this region grew significantly (+77.4%) in the first six months of the year, with the EBITDA margin on operational sales increasing by more than 600 basis points. , operational sales grew by +16.8% on a reported basis and at constant scope and exchange rates. Consolidated sales recorded growth of +28.4%. Growth continued in the second quarter, with operational sales advancing by +15.5% at constant scope and exchange rates, a slightly slower pace than the +18.4% growth recorded in the first quarter. Volumes continued to grow (+10%) on the back of upbeat trends in the South-East region (close to +22%), which fully offset the very slight dip in volumes in California (-1%) as a result of the very poor weather conditions in the first half. Selling prices rose significantly across both areas as a result of the hikes introduced in 2015 and those announced during the first half of 2016. Driven by these factors, the Group's Cement EBITDA in this region grew significantly (+77.4%) in the first six months of the year, with the EBITDA margin on operational sales increasing by more than 600 basis points. In the Concrete business, consolidated sales and operational sales dropped back -1.3% on a reported basis and at constant scope and exchange rates. After a business contraction of -4.3% in the first quarter, with the steep fall in business in California owing to poor weather conditions, the second quarter brought renewed growth (+1.0% at constant scope and exchange rates), with further brisk trends in the South-East region, which fully offset the slight contraction in California. Volumes declined by over -7% in the first half of the year, with the brisk trends in the South-East region only partially offsetting the volume contraction in California as a result of the unfavourable weather conditions. Prices recorded a healthy increase in both regions, but rose further in California. Against this backdrop, the EBITDA generated by the Concrete business posted a significant increase in the first half (+56.2% at constant scope and exchange rates), and the EBITDA margin on operational sales improved by close to 200 basis points. 1.2.4 Income statement for Asia (Turkey, India and Kazakhstan) ( million) H1 2016 H1 2015 Change (%) Reported At constant scope and exchange rates Consolidated sales 268 286 -6.1% +8.7% EBITDA 52 62 -16.9% -4.3% EBIT 29 36 -18.7% -9.1% Sales across Asia as a whole came to 268 million in the first half of 2016, down -6.1% on a reported basis, but up +8.7% at constant scope and exchange rates. EBITDA fell back -16.9% on a reported basis and -4.3% at constant scope and exchange rates. In Turkey, sales came to 109 million, down -1.9% on a reported basis, but up +11.7% at constant scope and exchange rates. After recording a strong increase in the first quarter (+23.0% at constant scope and exchange rates) on the back of supportive weather conditions, business continued to expand in the second, albeit at a more moderate yet solid rate (+5.2% at constant scope and exchange rates). First-half EBITDA came to 21 million, down -3.9% on a reported basis, but up +9.5% at constant scope and exchange rates. In the Cement business , operational sales in the first six months of the year rose by +9.6% at constant scope and exchange rates (consolidated sales up +4.8%). On a reported basis, operational and consolidated sales fell back -3.8% and -8.0% respectively. Following the strong growth in operational sales in the first quarter (+20.4% at constant scope and exchange rates), supported by the more favourable weather conditions, business grew at a slower rate in the second quarter (+3.8% at constant scope and exchange rates). This increase over the first half of the year derived from an increase in volumes. The Group was able to take full advantage of the restart of its first kiln at its Bastas plant by seizing growth opportunities in the Ankara market, which offset the impact of the volume decline in the Konya market. Selling prices moved lower over the period as a whole. However, the contraction was less marked in the second quarter. Accordingly, the EBITDA generated by the Cement business was lower in the first half by -5.7% at constant scope and exchange rates, with the EBITDA margin on operational sales narrowing by close to 400 basis points. , operational sales in the first six months of the year rose by +9.6% at constant scope and exchange rates (consolidated sales up +4.8%). On a reported basis, operational and consolidated sales fell back -3.8% and -8.0% respectively. Following the strong growth in operational sales in the first quarter (+20.4% at constant scope and exchange rates), supported by the more favourable weather conditions, business grew at a slower rate in the second quarter (+3.8% at constant scope and exchange rates). This increase over the first half of the year derived from an increase in volumes. The Group was able to take full advantage of the restart of its first kiln at its Bastas plant by seizing growth opportunities in the Ankara market, which offset the impact of the volume decline in the Konya market. Selling prices moved lower over the period as a whole. However, the contraction was less marked in the second quarter. Accordingly, the EBITDA generated by the Cement business was lower in the first half by -5.7% at constant scope and exchange rates, with the EBITDA margin on operational sales narrowing by close to 400 basis points. The operational sales recorded by the Concrete Aggregates business increased by +22.3% at constant scope and exchange rates (+7.4% on a reported basis). Consolidated sales also moved up +22.3% at constant scope and exchange rates (+8.2% on a reported basis). Following growth in operational sales in the first quarter (+30.4% at constant scope and exchange rates) thanks to favourable weather conditions, the start of significant projects initially planned for 2015 providing a favorable basis for comparison in this beginning of year, business continued to expand in the second quarter (+16.6%). Over the first half as a whole, volumes rose in concrete and in aggregates, as the dynamism of the Ankara market largely offset the decline recorded in the Konya region. In this environment, selling prices remained stable in concrete and moved higher in aggregates during the first six months of the year. Accordingly, EBITDA grew higher over the first half to reach 1.6 million, compared with a loss of 1.4 million in the first six months of 2015. In India, the Group posted consolidated sales of 140 million in the first half of 2016, up +1.7% on a reported basis and up +8.7% at constant scope and exchange rates. The growth in operational sales at constant scope and exchange rates picked up further momentum in the second quarter to reach +12.7%, compared with +5.0% in the first quarter. Volumes sold rose by over +28% to total more than 2.5 million tonnes during the first half. This increase reflects the strategy implemented by the Group since year-end 2015 of seizing opportunities as the macroeconomic and industry environment firms up, with a number of major projects starting up. Volumes recorded a strong acceleration in the second quarter, with growth reaching close to +38%, compared with close to +19% in the first quarter. Competition intensified amid this volume growth, driving down average selling prices, with the fall accentuated by an unfavourable geographical sales mix. As a result, first-half EBITDA posted a small decline of -1.6% at constant scope and exchange rates to 27.7 million. The EBITDA margin contracted by around 220 basis points. Consolidated sales in Kazakhstan declined very steeply, falling -46.6% on a reported basis to 20.2 million given the very strong devaluation in the tenge that took place in August 2015. At constant exchange rates, consolidated sales were almost stable (-0.5%). Volumes rose by more than +1% during the period. Selling prices dropped slightly because of a macroeconomic environment marked by the fall in commodity prices and tighter monetary conditions. Taking these factors into account and the significant negative impact of the devaluation of the Kazakhstani tenge on certain fixed costs, first-half EBITDA came to 3.6 million, down -38.9% at constant scope and exchange rates. 1.2.5 Income statement for Africa and the Middle East ( million) H1 2016 H1 2015 Change (%) Reported At constant scope and exchange rates Consolidated sales 190 199 -4.5% +0.3% EBITDA 38 30 +25.6% +30.4% EBIT 19 12 +57.6% +62.3% In the Africa and Middle East region, consolidated sales came to 190 million, down -4.5% on a reported basis but stable at constant scope and exchange rates. The Group's performance in the region was characterized by a healthy top-line increase in Egypt, which fully made up for weaker sales in West Africa at constant exchange rates. The factor holding back performance in West Africa was primarily the significant business downturn in Mauritania, while activity remained stable in Senegal over the period. After a very small decline in first-quarter sales (-0.7% at constant scope and exchange rates), second-quarter sales advanced slightly (+1.2% at constant scope and exchange rates) in the whole region. As a result, and given the very substantial reduction in production costs in Egypt, the region's overall EBITDA contribution recorded a very strong increase (+30.4% at constant scope and exchange rates). In Egypt , consolidated sales came to 67.0 million, stable (-0.3%) on a reported basis but up +11.6% at constant scope and exchange rates. After sales growth of +14.5% at constant scope and exchange rates in the first quarter, business continued to grow at a brisk pace in the second quarter, with the top line rising by +9.2%. This performance reflected the volume growth of over +15% over the first six months, albeit at a more rapid pace in the first (+22%) than in the second (+10%) quarter, reflecting the negative effect deriving from the fact that Ramadan occurred entirely during June in 2016. Selling prices continued to decline during the first six months of the year owing to the heavy pressures observed in 2015, especially in the second half, coupled with the impact of Ramadan on selling prices that started to be felt as soon as the end of May. As a result, first-half 2016 EBITDA surged to almost 12 million, well ahead of the breakeven performance recorded in the first six months of 2015, supported by the positive impact on energy costs of the start-up of the two coal grinders in the second half of 2015. , consolidated sales came to 67.0 million, stable (-0.3%) on a reported basis but up +11.6% at constant scope and exchange rates. After sales growth of +14.5% at constant scope and exchange rates in the first quarter, business continued to grow at a brisk pace in the second quarter, with the top line rising by +9.2%. This performance reflected the volume growth of over +15% over the first six months, albeit at a more rapid pace in the first (+22%) than in the second (+10%) quarter, reflecting the negative effect deriving from the fact that Ramadan occurred entirely during June in 2016. Selling prices continued to decline during the first six months of the year owing to the heavy pressures observed in 2015, especially in the second half, coupled with the impact of Ramadan on selling prices that started to be felt as soon as the end of May. As a result, first-half 2016 EBITDA surged to almost 12 million, well ahead of the breakeven performance recorded in the first six months of 2015, supported by the positive impact on energy costs of the start-up of the two coal grinders in the second half of 2015. In West Africa, consolidated sales declined -5.5% at constant scope and exchange rates (-6.6% on a reported basis). Following a first-quarter contraction of -7.4%, consolidated sales posted a smaller decline in the second quarter (-3.5% at constant scope and exchange rates) as sales volumes in Senegal picked up amid a favourable industry environment. Volumes were stable throughout the period, with an increase of close to 4% in Senegal offsetting the steep decline recorded in Mauritania. Selling prices fell back slightly in Senegal, showing a sequential improvement in the second quarter compared with the first quarter of 2016. Conversely, they fell further in Mali and Mauritania. Taking these factors into account, EBITDA came to 26.1 million, down -14.6% at constant scope and exchange rates. 1.3. Income statement broken down by business segment 1.3.1. Cement ( million) H1 2016 H1 2015 Change (%) Reported At constant scope and exchange rates Volume (thousands of tonnes) 11,074 9,876 +12.1% Operational sales 761 773 -1.5% +4.9% Consolidated sales 639 658 -2.9% +4.2% EBITDA 168 163 +3.3% +9.3% EBIT 95 86 +9.7% +14.9% In the first half of 2016, the Cement business posted a -1.5% decrease in operational sales, or a +4.9% increase at constant scope and exchange rates. Selling price trends varied from one region to another, with a strong rise in the United States, but with declines more or less marked across the other regions as a result of macroeconomic constraints and competitive forces specific to each of them. Overall, the price effect was negative for the first half of the year as a whole. The impact of this negative trend in selling prices on operational sales was offset to a great extent by solid growth of +12.1% in volumes in the first half of the year. This strong volume increase was supported by performance in India, Turkey, Egypt, France, the United States and, to a lesser extent, by Kazakhstan, Italy and West Africa. Switzerland was the only country to record a volume contraction in the first six months of the year. Against this global backdrop of higher volumes, but lower prices, EBITDA came to 168 million, up +3.3% on a reported basis and up +9.3% at constant scope and exchange rates. This performance reflected a significant increase in EBITDA in the United States, Egypt and France, offsetting the declines recorded in other countries. Taking these factors into account, the EBITDA margin on operational sales advanced by 100 basis points to 22.1% from 21.1% in the first six months of 2015. 1.3.2. Concrete Aggregates ( million) H1 2016 H1 2015 Change (%) Reported At constant scope and exchange rates Concrete volumes (thousands of m3 4,331 4,002 +12.1% Aggregates volumes (thousands of tonnes) 10,945 10,048 +8.9% Operational sales 456 441 +3.5% +5.9% Consolidated sales 445 429 +3.6% +5.8% EBITDA 28 27 +4.3% +7.5% EBIT 6 2 +160.4% +181.0% The Concrete Aggregates business recorded growth of +3.5% in its operational sales on a reported basis, or a rise of +5.9% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with the first half of 2015. The key driver was expansion in the Group's business across all its regions except for the United States where it was hit by the adverse weather conditions in California during the first part of the year. This encouraging performance reflected healthy growth in concrete volumes (+8.2%) and aggregates (+8.9%), especially in Turkey and France. Selling prices in concrete moved higher in the United States, were stable in Turkey and declined slightly in France and Switzerland. Conversely, aggregates selling prices increased across all the regions in which the Group operates. EBITDA came to 28 million, up +4.3% on a reported basis and up +7.5% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with the first half of 2015. As a result, the EBITDA margin on operational sales was stable at 6.1%. 1.3.3 Other Products Services ( million) H1 2016 H1 2015 Change (%) Reported At constant scope and exchange rates Operational sales 201 197 +2.0% +4.2% Consolidated sales 154 156 -0.9% +0.6% EBITDA 11 13 -13.8% -12.0% EBIT 3 4 -41.0% -41.3% Operational sales rose by +2.0% on a reported basis and by +4.2% at constant scope and exchange rates. EBITDA came to 11 million, down -12.0% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with the first half of 2015. 2. Balance sheet and cash flow statement At 30 June 2016, the Group had a solid financial position, with a strong shareholders' equity base of 2,413 million compared with 2,545 million at 30 June 2015. This decrease in shareholders' equity was largely attributable to the negative impact of exchange rate fluctuations, which totalled -83 million. Net debt totalled 1,059 million, down -132 million from 1,191 million at 30 June 2015. Accordingly, the Group's financial ratios improved appreciably. Its gearing dropped to 43.9% at 30 June 2016 from 46.8% at 30 June 2015, while its leverage ratio was at 2.3x, down from 2.7x at 30 June 2015. Bank covenants do not pose a threat to either the Group's financial position or its balance sheet liquidity. At 30 June 2016, Vicat complied with all financial ratios required by covenants in financing agreements. Cash flow came to 153 million, representing an increase of 9.2% and of 15.0% at constant scope and exchange rates. The Group's capital expenditure came to 61 million in the first half, representing a decrease on the first-half 2015 level (81 million). It is expected to lie in the 130-150 million range over 2016 as a whole. 3. Outlook In 2016, the Group expects further improvements in its performance, capitalising on continued growth in the United States and India, plus renewed growth in Egypt and, to a lesser extent, in France. In addition, the Group expects to continue to benefit from lower energy costs, particularly in Egypt. Lastly, the Group will continue in 2016 to pursue its policy of optimizing cash flows and reducing its level of debt. For 2016, the Group provides the following guidance concerning its markets: In France , the Group expects macroeconomic conditions to stabilize, with a slight and very gradual improvement in the industry environment. In view of these factors, volumes are likely to rise very slightly over the full year in a pricing environment that should improve throughout the second half of the year. , the Group expects macroeconomic conditions to stabilize, with a slight and very gradual improvement in the industry environment. In view of these factors, volumes are likely to rise very slightly over the full year in a pricing environment that should improve throughout the second half of the year. In Switzerland , the Group's business activities will continue to be impacted by an unfavourable pricing environment given the impact of the pressures observed in 2015, with the macroeconomic and industry environment still affected by the revaluation of the Swiss franc in early 2015. Volume trends should improve very gradually during the year. , the Group's business activities will continue to be impacted by an unfavourable pricing environment given the impact of the pressures observed in 2015, with the macroeconomic and industry environment still affected by the revaluation of the Swiss franc in early 2015. Volume trends should improve very gradually during the year. In Italy , volumes are likely to stabilize during the year at a historically low level of consumption amid a persistently challenging macroeconomic situation. Meanwhile, in light of the recent consolidation in this market and the Group's selective sales and marketing policy, the trend in selling prices could be slightly more favourable. , volumes are likely to stabilize during the year at a historically low level of consumption amid a persistently challenging macroeconomic situation. Meanwhile, in light of the recent consolidation in this market and the Group's selective sales and marketing policy, the trend in selling prices could be slightly more favourable. In the United States , volumes are expected to rise further, in line with the rate of sector recovery in the country. Selling prices should also increase in the two regions in which the Group operates. , volumes are expected to rise further, in line with the rate of sector recovery in the country. Selling prices should also increase in the two regions in which the Group operates. In Turkey , market trends are broadly expected to remain firm. The Group should capitalize fully on its strong positions in the Anatolian plateau and its efficient production facilities and also reap the benefit of the restart of its kiln 1 at its Bastas plant. Selling prices are expected to remain volatile amid fiercer competition. , market trends are broadly expected to remain firm. The Group should capitalize fully on its strong positions in the Anatolian plateau and its efficient production facilities and also reap the benefit of the restart of its kiln 1 at its Bastas plant. Selling prices are expected to remain volatile amid fiercer competition. In India , the Group remains very confident about its ability to capitalize fully on the quality of its production facilities, staff and positions in a market that should benefit this year from an upturn in the macroeconomic environment and, more specifically, from the infrastructure investments that have been announced. In a context that should remain favourable for growth in cement consumption, prices are likely to remain very volatile. , the Group remains very confident about its ability to capitalize fully on the quality of its production facilities, staff and positions in a market that should benefit this year from an upturn in the macroeconomic environment and, more specifically, from the infrastructure investments that have been announced. In a context that should remain favourable for growth in cement consumption, prices are likely to remain very volatile. In Kazakhstan , the Group will be able to leverage the quality of its manufacturing base and teams amid persistently tight monetary conditions. The devaluations made during 2015 will have a significant impact on the Group's financial performance in 2016. In this environment, competition is likely to remain fierce in a market that boasts real growth potential. , the Group will be able to leverage the quality of its manufacturing base and teams amid persistently tight monetary conditions. The devaluations made during 2015 will have a significant impact on the Group's financial performance in 2016. In this environment, competition is likely to remain fierce in a market that boasts real growth potential. In West Africa , in spite of a market that is set to continue growing at a brisk pace over the year, competition may again take a toll in 2016, owing to a pricing environment offering very little visibility in the short term but that seems to be stabilising in line with market positions. , in spite of a market that is set to continue growing at a brisk pace over the year, competition may again take a toll in 2016, owing to a pricing environment offering very little visibility in the short term but that seems to be stabilising in line with market positions. In Egypt, the gradual restoration of security should enable the Group to confirm the recovery in its business trends. The Group will reap the full benefit in 2016 of the introduction of coal following the late 2015 start-up of the two coal grinders. In view of these factors, the Group anticipates an improvement in its performance over the full year despite a pricing environment set to remain volatile. 4. Conference call To accompany the publication of the Group's 2016 half-year results, Vicat is holding a conference call in English that will place on Thursday 4 August 2016 at 3pm Paris time (2pm London time and 9am New York time). To take part in the conference call live, dial one of the following numbers: France: +33 (0)1 76 77 22 30 United Kingdom: +44 (0) 20 3427 1911 United States: +1646 254 3363 To listen to a playback of the conference call, which will be available until 13 August 2016, dial one of the following numbers: France: +33 (0) 1 74 20 28 00 United Kingdom: +44 (0) 20 3427 0598 United States: +1 347 366 9565 Access code: 164952# Next report: Third-quarter 2016 sales after the close on 3 November 2016. ABOUT VICAT The Vicat Group has close to 7,900 employees working in three core divisions, Cement, Concrete Aggregates and Other Products Services, which generated consolidated sales of 2,458 million in 2015. The Group operates in eleven countries: France, Switzerland, Italy, the United States, Turkey, Egypt, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Kazakhstan and India. Over 68% of its sales are generated outside France. The Vicat Group is the heir to an industrial tradition dating back to 1817, when Louis Vicat invented artificial cement. Founded in 1853, the Vicat Group now operates three core lines of business: Cement, Ready-Mixed Concrete and Aggregates, as well as related activities. Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute forecasts regarding results or any other performance indicator, but rather trends or targets. These statements are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's annual report available on its website (www.vicat.fr). These statements do not reflect the future performance of the Company, which may differ significantly. The Company does not undertake to provide updates of these statements. Further information about Vicat is available from its website www.vicat.fr. APPENDIX CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2016 Consolidated financial statements for the six-month period to 30 June 2016 approved by the Board of Directors on 2 August 2016 The consolidated financial statements for the first half of 2016 and accompanying notes are available in their entirety on the Company's web site at www.vicat.fr. Breakdown of operational sales in the six months to 30 June 2016 by country and by business segment: ( million) Cement Concrete & Aggregates Other Products & Services Operational sales Inter-segment eliminations Consolidated sales France 181 191 125 496 (91) 405 Europe (excluding France) 79 87 59 224 (26) 198 United States 93 112 205 (29) 176 Asia 231 54 18 303 (34) 268 Africa and Middle East 177 13 190 0 190 Operational sales 761 456 201 1,418 (181) 1,237 Inter-sector eliminations (123) (12) (47) (181) Consolidated sales 639 445 154 1,237 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION ASSETS June 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 (in thousands of euros) Notes NON CURRENT ASSETS Goodwill 3 1 018 569 1 040 307 Other intangible assets 4 122 598 135 818 Property, plant and equipment 5 2 041 452 2 121 011 Investment properties 17 579 17 766 Investments in associated companies 51 057 49 854 Deferred tax assets 148 537 150 292 Receivables and other non current financial assets 122 616 122 672 Total non current assets 3 522 408 3 637 720 CURRENT ASSETS Inventories and work in progress 364 157 407 192 Trade and other accounts 464 270 376 627 Current tax assets 42 701 53 715 Other receivables 184 371 150 725 Cash and cash equivalents 6 178 138 254 371 Total current assets 1 233 637 1 242 630 TOTAL ASSETS 4 756 045 4 880 350 LIABILITIES June 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 (in thousands of euros) Notes SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Share capital 7 179 600 179 600 Additional paid in capital 11 207 11 207 Consolidated reserves 1 951 126 2 060 741 Shareholders' equity 2 141 933 2 251 548 Minority interests 270 823 292 160 Shareholders' equity and minority interests 2 412 756 2 543 708 NON CURRENT LIABILITIES Provisions for pensions and other post employment benefits 8 180 903 134 729 Other provisions 8 100 099 95 938 Financial debts and put options 9 1 196 777 1 225 391 Deferred tax liabilities 203 374 228 019 Other non current liabilities 5 044 5 369 Total non current liabilities 1 686 197 1 689 446 CURRENT LIABILITIES Provisions 8 13 043 13 204 Financial debts and put options at less than one year 9 109 016 114 884 Trade and other accounts payable 280 055 283 734 Current taxes payable 35 878 37 274 Other liabilities 219 100 198 100 Total current liabilities 657 092 647 196 Total liabilities 2 343 289 2 336 642 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 4 756 045 4 880 350 CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT June 30, 2016 June 30, 2015 (in thousands of euros) Notes Sales 11 1 237 449 1 242 559 Goods and services purchased (806 854) (812 143) Added value 1.22 430 595 430 416 Personnel costs (205 482) (207 425) Taxes (32 626) (33 141) Gross operating income 1.22 14 192 487 189 850 Depreciation, amortization and provisions 12 (102 725) (108 508) Other income and expenses 13 13 575 11 975 Operating income 14 103 337 93 317 Cost of net financial debt 15 (14 712) (21 729) Other financial income 15 6 318 4 370 Other financial expenses 15 (10 033) (10 446) Net financial income (expense) 15 (18 427) (27 805) Earnings from associated companies 3 759 2 400 Profit (loss) before tax 88 669 67 912 Income tax 16 (29 080) (24 923) Consolidated net income 59 589 42 989 Portion attributable to minority interests 10 474 9 247 Portion attributable to the Group 49 115 33 742 EBITDA 1.22 14 207 712 203 059 EBIT 1.22 14 103 497 93 089 Cash flow from operations 1.22 152 512 139 659 Earnings per share (in euros) Basic and diluted Group share of net earnings per share 7 1,09 0,75 CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS STATEMENT (in thousands of euros) Notes June 30, 2016 June 30, 2015 Cash flows from operating activities Consolidated net income 59 589 42 988 Earnings from associated companies (3 758) (2 400) Dividends received from associated companies 922 1 176 Elimination of non cash and non operating items - depreciation, amortization and provisions 105 758 109 214 - deferred taxes (8 488) (12 337) - net (gain) loss from disposal of assets (1 797) (1 409) - unrealized fair value gains and losses (514) 2 640 - other 802 (213) Cash flows from operating activities 1.22 152 514 139 659 Change in working capital requirement (34 622) (136 877) Net cash flows from operating activities (1) 18 117 892 2 782 Cash flows from investing activities Outflows linked to acquisitions of non-current assets - property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (69 650) (97 066) - financial investments (24 697) (703) Inflows linked to disposals of non-current assets - property, plant and equipment and intangible assets 2 873 2 537 - financial investments 496 1 118 Impact of changes in consolidation scope 0 (55) Net cash flows from investing activities 19 (90 978) (94 169) Cash flows from financing activities Dividends paids (77 857) (77 109) Increases in capital Proceeds from borrowings 1 371 155 328 Repayments of borrowings (21 877) (49 810) Acquisitions of treasury shares (244) (484) Disposals or allocations of treasury shares 2 412 2 485 Net cash flows from financing activities (96 195) 30 410 Impact of changes in foreign exchange rates (8 200) 8 934 Change in cah position (77 481) (52 043) Net cash and cash equivalents opening balance 20 225 096 242 990 Net cash and cash equivalents closing balance 20 147 615 190 947 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (in thousands of euros) Capital Additional paid in capital Treasury shares Consolidated reserves Translation reserves Share-holders' equity Minority interests Total share- holders' equity and minority interests At January 1, 2015 179 600 11 207 (70 133) 2 206 447 (149 698) 2 177 423 281 870 2 459 293 Consolidated net income 33 742 33 742 9 247 42 989 Other comprehensive income 2 027 102 918 104 945 11 314 116 259 Total comprehensive income 35 769 102 918 138 687 20 561 159 248 Dividends paids (66 108) (66 108) (11 967) (78 075) Net change in treasury shares 2 800 (524) 2 276 2 276 Changes in consolidation scope and additional acquisitions Increase in share capital Other changes 1 987 1 987 42 2 029 At June 30, 2015 179 600 11 207 (67 333) 2 177 571 (46 780) 2 254 265 290 506 2 544 771 At January 1, 2016 179 600 11 207 (67 008) 2 221 553 (93 804) 2 251 548 292 160 2 543 708 Consolidated net income 49 115 49 115 10 474 59 589 Other comprehensive income (29 009) (65 670) (94 679) (17 786) (112 465) Total comprehensive income 20 106 (65 670) (45 564) (7 312) (52 876) Dividends paids (66 292) (66 292) (13 880) (80 172) Net change in treasury shares 3 368 (787) 2 581 2 581 Changes in consolidation scope and additional acquisitions Increases in share capital Other changes (340) (340) (145) (485) At June 30, 2016 179 600 11 207 (63 640) 2 174 240 (159 474) 2 141 933 270 823 2 412 756 Group translation differences at June 30th, 2016 and 2015 are broken down by currency as follows (in thousands of euros) June 2016 June 2015 US Dollar 45 861 43 432 Swiss franc 200 555 228 642 Turkish new lira (147 996) (131 608) Egyptian pound (68 335) (54 195) Kazakh tengue (85 323) (65 135) Mauritanian ouguiya: (5 115) (1 985) Indian rupee (99 121) (65 931) (159 474) (46 780) View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006155/en/ Contacts: VICAT Investor relations contact: Stephane Bisseuil, Tel.: +33 (0) 1 58 86 86 14 stephane.bisseuil@vicat.fr or Press contacts: Marion Guerin, Tel: +33 (0)1 58 86 86 26 marion.guerin@tbwa.com Regulatory News: SoLocal Group (Paris:LOCAL) is providing some additional information illustrating the financial restructuring plan: Rights Issue Debt Conversion into Equity Reserved Capital Increase Reinstated Debt MCBs (m) Shareholders Warrants Creditors Warrants Participation Rate Amount of Cash Raised (m) Issue Price Amount (m) Issue Price Amount (m) Issue Price Reinstated Debt MCBs # of Warrants (m) Strike Price # of Warrants (m) Strike Price 1.00 400 1.00 164 2.14 400 200 39 1.50 45 2.00 75% 300 1.00 100 1.00 384 4.73 400 39 1.50 155 2.00 100% 400 1.00 1.00 384 4.73 400 39 1.50 155 2.00 Amount of Cash Raised (m) Existing of Shares (m) # of Shares (m) created through: # of Shares (m) before dilution from MCB and Warrants # of Shares (m) created through: # of Shares (m) after dilution from MCB and Warrants Rights Issue Debt Conversion Reserved Capital Increase MCB Redemption Shareholders Warrants Exercise Exercise of Creditors Warrants 39 400 77 516 100 39 45 699 300 39 300 100 81 520 39 155 713 400 39 400 81 520 39 155 713 About SoLocal Group SoLocal Group, European leader in local online communication, reveals local know-how, and boosts local revenues of businesses. The Internet activities of the Group are structured around two business lines: Local Search and Digital Marketing. With Local Search, the Group offers digital services and solutions to clients which enable them to enhance their visibility and develop their local contacts. Thanks to its expertise, SoLocal Group earned the trust of some 530,000 clients of those services and over 2.2 billions of visits via its 4 flagship brands (PagesJaunes, Mappy, Ooreka and A Vendre A Louer) but also through its partnerships. With Digital Marketing, SoLocal Group creates and provides Internet users with the best local and customised content about professionals. With over 4,400 employees, including a salesforce of 1,900 local communication advisors specialised in five verticals (Home, Services, Retail, Health Public, BtoB) and Internationally (France, Spain, Austria, United Kingdom), the Group generated in 2015 revenues of 873 millions euros, of which 73% on Internet and ranks amongst the first European players in terms of Internet advertising revenues. SoLocal Group is listed on Euronext Paris (LOCAL). More information may be obtained at www.solocalgroup.com. All financial data and indicators are published in details within the report of Consolidated financial information as of 30 June 2016 which is available on the corporate website, www.solocalgroup.com (finance area). This press release contains forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement does not constitute forecasts as defined in European regulation (EC) 809/2004. Although SoLocal Group feels that its estimates are based upon assumptions which we believe to be reasonable, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in said forward-looking statements. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of SoLocal Group to differ from those contained in the forward-looking, please refer to the "Risk factors" section of the "Document de Reference" filed with the French financial markets authority (AMF) and available on the Internet sites of the AMF (www.amf-france.org) and of SoLocal Group (www.solocalgroup.com). Accounting data represented on an annual basis in audited consolidated form and on an quarterly basis in unaudited consolidated form. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006255/en/ Contacts: SoLocal Group Press Delphine Penalva, +33 (0)1 46 23 35 31 dpenalva@SoLocal.com or Edwige Druon, +33 (0)1 46 23 37 56 edruon@SoLocal.com or Investors Elsa Cardarelli, +33 (0)1 46 23 40 92 ecardarelli@SoLocal.com BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Swiss stock market ended Wednesday's session virtually unchanged. Shortly after the start of trading, the market slipped beneath the 8,000 point level and remained there for much of the day. However, the market staged a recovery in the afternoon thanks to a tailwind from Wall Street. The mood among investors was one of caution Wednesday. The recent losing streak among the U.S. markets, coupled with yesterday's concerns over the European banks has had a negative impact on confidence levels. Investors are also looking forward to Thursday's announcement from the Bank of England and the U.S. jobs report on Friday. The Swiss Market Index decreased 0.01 percent Wednesday and finished at 8,010.10. The SMI hit an intraday low of 7,973 points. The Swiss Leader Index gained 0.08 percent, but the Swiss Performance Index lost 0.05 percent. LafargeHolcim was among the best performing stocks of the session, with an increase of 1.3 percent. The company has sold the majority of its stake in its subsidiary Huaxin Cement. The luxury goods companies overcame early weakness and finished in the green. Richemont climbed 0.9 percent and Swatch added 0.6 percent. Syngenta was another notable gainer, with an increase of 1.1 percent and Lonza advanced 0.5 percent. Dufry gained 0.6 percent, recovering some of yesterday's losses. Following yesterday's weak performance, the banks staged a recovery. Credit Suisse gained 0.9 percent and UBS rose 0.6 percent. Julius Baer also finished higher by 0.2 percent. Actelion dropped 1.3 percent. U.S. drugstore chain CVS announced that it has removed Opsumit from its list of covered medications. Opsumit, a treatment for pulmonary hypertension, is considered the Actelion drug with the greatest growth potential. Clariant weakened by 1.0 percent after it was downgraded to 'Equal weight' from 'Overweight' by Morgan Stanley. Sonova declined 1.0 percent, Swiss Life surrendered 0.6 percent and Kuehne + Nagel lost 0.5 percent. The pharmaceutical heavyweights finished in the red Wednesday. Roche decreased 0.6 percent and Nestle fell 0.5 percent. However, shares of Nestle finished higher by 0.4 percent. In the broad market, GAM sank 13 percent after the asset manager reported half year figures. Belimo surged 6.7 percent after its half year results exceeded expectations. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WINNIPEG, MANITOBA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- IGM Financial Inc. (IGM) (TSX: IGM) today reported preliminary total mutual fund net new money in July of ($76.3) million as shown in Table 1. Total assets under management were $138.5 billion at July 31, 2016, compared with $134.7 billion at June 30, 2016 and $137.9 billion at July 31, 2015. Mutual fund assets under management were $132.3 billion as at July 31, 2016, compared with $128.7 billion at June 30, 2016 and $131.6 billion at July 31, 2015. Assets under management are shown in Table 2. Table 1 - Mutual Funds Net New Money(i) Month ended July 31, 2016 Investors IGM ($ millions) (unaudited) Group Mackenzie Counsel Financial -------------------------------------------- All Mutual Funds Gross Sales $559.2 $474.9 $65.6 $1,099.7 Net New Money ($24.7) ($69.3) $17.7 ($76.3) Long Term Mutual Funds Gross Sales $467.8 $439.9 $62.7 $970.4 Net New Money ($51.8) ($72.1) $17.3 ($106.6) (i)Mutual Fund Net New Money is defined as Gross Sales less Gross Redemptions and is consistent with the terminology used by The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC). Table 2 - Assets under Management ($ billions) July June July % Change % Change (unaudited) 2016 2016 2015 Last Month YOY ------------------------------------------------------- Total Assets under Management(1) $138.54 $134.68 $137.87 2.9 0.5 Mutual Fund Assets under Management $132.33 $128.73 $131.61 2.8 0.5 Investors Group Mutual Funds $78.24 $76.20 $77.03 2.7 1.6 Mackenzie Mutual Funds $49.66 $48.21 $50.48 3.0 (1.6) Sub-advisory, institutional and other(2) $13.93 $13.46 $13.27 3.5 5.0 ------------------------------------------------------- Total Mackenzie $63.59 $61.67 $63.75 3.1 (0.3) ------------------------------------------------------- Counsel Mutual Funds $4.44 $4.32 $4.16 2.8 6.7 (1) Excludes assets managed by Mackenzie on behalf of Investors Group and Investment Planning Counsel. These assets had a value of $7.7 billion at July 31, 2016 ($7.5 billion at June 30, 2016 and $7.1 billion at July 31, 2015). (2) Includes $45.5 million of Exchange Traded Fund assets managed by Mackenzie. Preliminary average mutual fund assets under management and average total assets under management for the quarter to date are set out in Table 3. Table 3 - Average Assets under Management (3) ($ billions) (unaudited) Quarter to Date --------------- Total Average Assets under Management (4) $137.03 Mutual Fund Average Assets under Management $130.95 Investors Group Mutual Funds $77.46 Mackenzie Mutual Funds $49.11 Sub-advisory, institutional and other $13.70 --------------- Total Mackenzie $62.81 --------------- Counsel Mutual Funds $4.38 (3) Based on daily average mutual fund assets and month-end average institutional, sub-advisory and other assets. (4) Excludes average assets of $7.6 billion managed by Mackenzie on behalf of Investors Group and Investment Planning Counsel. IGM Financial Inc. is one of Canada's premier personal financial services companies, and one of the country's largest managers and distributors of mutual funds and other managed asset products, with over $138 billion in total assets under management. Its activities are carried out principally through Investors Group through a network of over 5,300 Consultants, Mackenzie Financial Corporation through a diversified network of third-party financial advisors and Investment Planning Counsel through a network of financial planners who are dedicated to serving the needs of their clients. A MEMBER OF THE POWER FINANCIAL CORPORATION GROUP OF COMPANIES. Contacts: Media Relations: Ron Arnst 204-956-3364 ron.arnst@igmfinancial.com Investor Relations: Paul Hancock 204-956-8103 investor.relations@igmfinancial.com BSD Crown Ltd. (LSE: BSD) (the "Company") Update re: Company's deposits and cash held with a bank in Azerbaijan Ramat Gan, 3 August 2016 Further to the announcement dated 26 July 2016 the Company wishes to update the market on recent developments in relation to the cash deposit (approximately US$13.6 million) (the "Deposit") held by the Company with The International Bank of Azerbaijan ("IBAR"). Following demands made by the Company to IBAR, documents purporting to relate to the Deposit have recently been received from IBAR, indicating that since 2013, the Deposit has been allegedly used as collateral for loans taken by Israel 18 B.V. ("Israel 18"), the controlling shareholder of BGI. These loans pre-date the control change in Israel 18 and the current period of ownership of its controlling shareholder. To the best of the knowledge of the Company, it has never agreed to use such Deposit as collateral or as a guarantee in favour of any third party, nor was any alleged claim ever mentioned by IBAR. Furthermore, the Company has in its possession contradictory documentation. The Company has instructed its lawyers to act, on its behalf, in order to explore and pursue all courses of action andrights regarding the Deposit. Once such matters have been clarified, the Company will consider the consequences on past audited financial statements of the Company. A further announcement will be made in due course. The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. Enquiries: Gregory Gurtovoy, chairman of the board: office@bsd-c.com SUMMERSIDE, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Infrastructure Canada Investing in local infrastructure helps ensure that Canadians have safe water and wastewater systems they can rely on, and efficient and modern public transit systems so they can get to work on time and back home safely at the end of a long day. Today, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable H. Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island and the Honourable Paula Biggar, Prince Edward Island Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy announced a bilateral agreement that will make more than $112 million in combined funding available under two new federal programs - the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund and the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund - and supported by provincial government infrastructure programs. The federal government is providing up to 50% of funding for the projects supported through these programs. The provincial government and municipalities provide the balance of funding. The agreement is part of Phase 1 of the 10-year Investing in Canada plan, which will help lay the foundation for the longer-term federal investment strategy. Also announced today was an initial list of 23 approved projects under the two new funding programs including Tignish's Sewage Treatment Plant upgrades that will increase the existing facility's capacity to treat wastewater and therefore better protect the environment, as well as transit upgrades in Charlottetown that will make public transit more inclusive across the city in addition to cutting commute times for everyone. Quotes "We are very pleased to have reached an agreement for Prince Edward Island, done in solid partnership with the province, which will make $112 million in funding available so that PEI communities can address their infrastructure priorities, while helping grow the middle class with good, well-paying jobs." The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities "Investments in clean, strategic infrastructure build stronger communities, grow our economy and protect our environment. We are pleased to partner with the federal government and Island communities to support key priorities that will encourage sustained prosperity for our province." The Honourable Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island Related products Complete list of identified projects in Prince Edward Island: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Ceremony_EN_FINAL.pdf Quick facts -- This funding is part of the first phase of Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada's historic $120-billion plan to support public infrastructure across the country over the next 10 years. -- Phase 1 of Investing in Canada provides $11.9 billion in investments to support public transit systems, green infrastructure projects, and social infrastructure projects. Details on Phase 2 of Investing in Canada will be announced over the next year. -- The funding available under Phase 1 will be provided through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, both of which will be managed through agreements between the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments. -- Under this agreement, the Government of Canada has made its funding retroactive to April 1, 2016, so projects can proceed without delay to ensure a productive construction season. Associated links Federal infrastructure investments in Prince Edward Island: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/pe-eng.html Have your say on infrastructure: infraconsults.ca Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada's new $120 billion infrastructure plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/index-eng.html The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/cwwf-fepeu-eng.html The Public Transit Infrastructure Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/ptif-fitc-eng.php Twitter: @INFC_eng Web: Infrastructure Canada Contacts: Brook Simpson, Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities 613-219-0149 Brook.Simpson@canada.ca Ron Ryder Senior Communications Officer Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy 902-368-5112 rrryder@gov.pe.ca Infrastructure Canada 613-960-9251 Toll free: 1-877-250-7154 infc.media-medias.infc@canada.ca TORONTO, CANADA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Vendome Resources Corp. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: VDR)(FRANKFURT: 9VR) is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated June 30, 2016 and July 18 2016, it has completed its non-brokered private placement financing for aggregate gross proceeds of $542,562.46, by issuing 59,008,331 units (the "Units") of the Company at a price of $0.0075 per unit for gross proceeds of $ $442,562.48, and 13,333,331 "flow-through" shares at a price of $0.0075 per share for gross proceeds of $99,999.98 (collectively, the "Private Placement"). Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company and one half of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles its holder to purchase one additional common share at an exercise price of $0.01 for a period of 3 years from the closing date of the Private Placement. The Company closed its first tranche of the Private Placement on July 27, 2016 of which the Company issued 21,089,999 Units for gross proceeds of $158,174.99 (the "First Tranche"). The Company closed its final tranche of the Private Placement on August 2, 2016 of which the Company issued 37,918,322 Units for gross proceeds of $284,387.49 and 13,333,331 "flow-through" shares for gross proceeds of $99,999.98 (the "Final Tranche"). Finders' fees consisting of $54,256.25 in cash and 7,234,166 broker warrants ("Broker Warrants") were paid to the finder's in accordance with policies of the TSXV. Each Broker Warrant is convertible into one broker warrant unit (a "BW Unit") at a price of $0.0075 per BW Unit for a period of two years from the date of issuance. Each BW Unit consists of one Share (a "BW Share") of the Company and one-half Warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "BW Warrant"). Each BW Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Share (a "BW Warrant Share") of the Company for a period of 3 years following the date of issuance of the BW Warrants at a price of $0.01 per BW Warrant Share. The net proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement will be used to finance the Company's working capital requirements. Completion of the Private Placement is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the Exchange and the securities regulatory authorities. Due to the fact that the Private Placement was completed by issuing securities at a price lower than $0.05 per security, the Company is required to obtain a waiver from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). In order to obtain the waiver from the Exchange, the Company sought the approval of its shareholders for a consolidation of the Common Shares on a ten to one basis (the "Consolidation") at the upcoming annual general meeting, which is scheduled for September 6, 2016. The Company has received proxy forms from shareholder's holding 53.51% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company, approving of the Consolidation. The securities issued under the First Tranche are subject to a hold period expiring on November 28, 2016 and the securities issued under the Final Tranche are subject to a hold period expiring on December 3, 2016. About Vendome: Vendome is a mineral exploration company located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Our primary focus is to acquire "near-term production" exploration mining projects and existing producers. Vendome Resources Corp. is managed by an experienced team of mining professionals with extensive operating and financial experience. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VENDOME RESOURCES CORP. W. John Priestner President and Chief Executive Officer Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. Contacts: Vendome Resources Corp. W. John Priestner President and Chief Executive Officer info@vendomeresourcescorp.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Office supplies retailer Office Depot (ODP) is turning in a strong performance during trading on Wednesday, climbing by 8.5 percent. The gain by Office Depot comes after the company reported weaker than expected second quarter earnings but announced the initiation of a quarterly dividend of $0.025 per share. Office Depot also said it is exploring strategic alternatives for its European business and has a process underway to determine if a sale of the business could be executed on terms acceptable to the company. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwired - August 03, 2016) - Ask any of the thousands of fans who've been energized this past year by the Clay Melton Band's (www.claymeltonband.com) high octane shows throughout their home state of Texas, and they'll usually use names like John Mayer and Foo Fighters to describe their explosive vibe. But dig deeper into Clay's musical journey and you'll hit on that classic moment at age 11 when he heard Jimi Hendrix's "All Along The Watchtower" and his world quickly changed. Influenced further by Vaughan, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles, Clay was being hailed as a young master blues guitarist by his mid-teens. The Dallas International Guitar Festival proclaimed Clay "one of the TOP 10 Guitar Players in Texas under 20 years old!" after his performance brought down the house. More recently, Clay Melton Band has received phenomenal feedback on their new EP from industry greats such as Grammy winning producer Jared Lee Gosselin (Velvet Revolver, Frank Zappa, Macy Gray) who said, "This kid is a force of nature!" Also a Grammy-winning producer, Joel Soyffer (Joe Cocker, Doobie Brothers, Aloe Blacc) mixed and mastered the EP at Coney Island Studios. Now well past the "teenage sensation" stage, 22-year-old Clay and his group, Clay Melton Band -- featuring drummer Zach Grindle and bassist Raymon Minton -- have developed a guitar driven pop-influenced alt-rock style that draws dynamically on his blistering Texas blues influences. For those who haven't seen The Clay Melton Band live in concert, the trio created a fiery in studio performance video for "Home" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIZDNqNHYCk), which is currently being promoted to Triple A Radio nationwide via Twin Vision Promotions. Other tracks from the self-titled EP include "Remember," which Clay penned at 17 and is the set's representative "breakup song," addressing our tendency to feed frustration rather than address real problems. "Stop & Listen" is a harmony laden power ballad tapping into the part of a relationship where one partner comes to the conclusion that he or she just doesn't have the same desire anymore. In the song, Clay urges us to "Stop and listen to the soft sound of love, running away/So quiet in its escape/Then one day you wake/There's nothing inside." The music videos for "Tonight" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OqqbgQuYcc) and "Home" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIZDNqNHYCk) were recorded at SugarHill Studios in Houston owned by Dan Workman (ZZ Top, Beyonce) who said, "I've had the privilege of watching Clay evolve from a gifted intuitive guitarist to a complete performer and songwriter. He has managed the hardest of Tasks: crafting a musical identity that lives up to the promise of a precocious talent." Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/8/3/11G109210/Images/GN__0604-web-39b541906088a310af68fc0bdd24d2c1.jpg Embedded Video Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIZDNqNHYCk Contact: Chrissy Sutphin CAS PR 703-505-0207 SACRAMENTO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Sacramento-based technology experts Natoma Technologies, Inc. was recently awarded two major contracts with the State of California. The first engagement is for the State Treasurer's Office (STO). This project is to upgrade the 14-year-old Debt Management System (DMS) to the latest Oracle Technology and make improvements to enhance usability as well as functionality. Managing California's debt is a core mission of the STO and this project will provide improved tools to execute that function. The DMS project involves project management services, analysis, technical architecture, development, upgrades, testing, deployment and operational services. Natoma Technologies was also selected to develop the Secretary of State's LLC e-Filing system project, which will provide a public user interface to file LLC forms within a secure, user-friendly and efficient online application. "After 18 years as a consulting and service partner with the State of California, we are honored to be chosen to support their ongoing improvements and connectivity to the most up to date technology needs. Projects like this keep California moving forward as a national software leader, which aligns with Natoma Technologies mantra to be the most efficient technology solutions provider," stated Marty McGartland, CEO of Natoma Technologies. About Natoma Technologies Founded in 1998, Natoma Technologies is a technical consulting firm and system integrator focused solely on public sector with headquarters in Sacramento, CA and a federal office in Arlington, VA. Since their founding in 1998, state and federal agencies have trusted Natoma Technologies to deliver information technology solutions that control costs, improve efficiency, and help them work smarter. Natoma Technologies is committed to delivering projects 100% on time and on budget -- every time. For additional information, visit www.natomatech.com. Media Contacts: Stacey Divine Infuze Marketing Email Contact 916.662.8282 Amanda Quarry-Radmand Natoma Technologies Email Contact 916.276.0096 NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - MetLife Inc. (MET) released earnings for second quarter that decreased from last year. The company said its bottom line declined to $0.92 billion, or $0.83 per share. This was lower than $1.77 billion, or $1.56 per share, in last year's second quarter. Analysts had expected the company to earn $1.15 per share, according figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The company said revenue for the quarter fell 2.3% to $16.96 billion. This was down from $17.36 billion last year. MetLife Inc. earnings at a glance: -Earnings (Q2): $0.92 Bln. vs. $1.77 Bln. last year. -Earnings Decline (Y-o-Y): -48.0% -EPS (Q2): $0.83 vs. $1.56 last year. -EPS Decline (Y-o-Y): -46.8% -Analysts Estimate: $1.15 -Revenue (Q2): $16.96 Bln vs. $17.36 Bln last year. -Revenue Change (Y-o-Y): -2.3% Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Dundee Corporation (TSX: DC.A) ("Dundee") senior management will host a conference call on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 10 a.m. ET to discuss the company's second quarter 2016 results. SECOND QUARTER 2016 RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST Date: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 Time: 10 a.m. ET Webcast: http://www.dundeecorp.com/ Live Call: 1.888.231.8191 or 1.647.427.7450 Replay: 1.855.859.2056 or 1.416.849.0833 Replay Passcode: 40459747 Dundee plans to issue a news release containing the second quarter 2016 results after market close on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 and will also post it to the company's web site. The conference call will be archived for replay until Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at midnight. An archive of the audio webcast will also be available at Dundee's website. ABOUT DUNDEE CORPORATION Dundee Corporation is a public Canadian independent holding company, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "DC.A". Through its operating subsidiaries, Dundee Corporation is engaged in diverse business activities in the areas of investment advisory, corporate finance, energy, resources, agriculture, real estate and infrastructure. Dundee Corporation also holds, directly and indirectly, a portfolio of investments mostly in these key areas, as well as other select investments in both publicly listed and private enterprises. Contacts: John Vincic Media Relations Dundee Corporation (647) 402-6375 Dominion Diamond Corporation (TSX: DDC, NYSE: DDC) (the "Company" or "Dominion") is deeply saddened to announce that after his extended battle with leukemia, Robert Gannicott has passed away this morning at the age of 69, with his life-partner, Geraldine Peacock at his side. "It is a sad day at Dominion. Bob Gannicott was a visionary and a pillar of the Canadian diamond industry. He built the Company from the ground up, taking it from a junior mining company to what is it is today as Canada's largest independent diamond producer. Bob was an exceptional leader as well as a good friend and mentor, he will be deeply missed by all who had the good fortune to work with him and to know him," said Brendan Bell, Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gannicott was a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since the Company's inception as a diamond company in 1992. He was Chairman of the Board from June 2004 until April 2016, and was Chief Executive Officer of the Company from September 1999 to July 2015. Mr. Gannicott led the Company through its growth following the Company's discovery and founding of the Diavik Diamonds Project in 1994 and 1995, through to the acquisition of the iconic American luxury diamond jewelry brand, Harry Winston. He later took advantage of a rare opportunity with the acquisition of the Ekati Diamond Mine and sale of Harry Winston, returning the Company to its roots as a pure-play Canadian diamond miner. The Company was re-named Dominion Diamond Corporation. About Dominion Diamond Corporation Dominion Diamond Corporation is the world's third largest producer of rough diamonds by value. Both of its production assets are located in the low political risk environment of the Northwest Territories in Canada where the Company also has its head office. The Company is well capitalized and has a strong balance sheet. The Company operates the Ekati Diamond Mine and also owns 40% of the Diavik Diamond Mine. Between the two mining operations, diamonds are currently produced from a number of separate kimberlite pipes providing a diversity of diamond supply as well as reduced operational risk. It supplies premium rough diamond assortments to the global market through its sorting and selling operations in Canada, Belgium and India. For more information, please visit www.ddcorp.ca View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803006792/en/ Contacts: Dominion Diamond Corporation Investor Relations Ms. Kelley Stamm, (416) 205-4380 Manager, Investor Relations kstamm@ddcorp.ca or Media Relations Ms. Laura Worsley-Brown, (867) 669-6105 Senior Advisor, External Relations laura.worsley-brown@ekati.ddcorp.ca CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/03/16 -- Savanna Energy Services Corp. (TSX: SVY) - Second Quarter Results Savanna generated revenue of $54.9 million, adjusted EBITDAS of $9.2 million and a net loss, attributable to shareholders of the Company, of $16 million or $0.18 per share in the second quarter of 2016, compared to revenue of $92.7 million, adjusted EBITDAS of $24.9 million and a net loss, attributable to shareholders of the Company, of $10.5 million or $0.12 per share in Q2 2015. The significant decline in year-over-year industry activity levels, driven by continuing low oil and natural gas prices, and having fewer rigs on contract in Australia, resulted in the lower overall revenue, operating margin and adjusted EBITDAS amounts in Q2 2016, relative to Q2 2015. In 2016, the Company's total debt, net of cash has declined by $27.8 million to $247.2 million, as of the date of this release. The impact of the industry activity and commodity price declines on Savanna in Q2 2016 was mitigated by the twelve contracted new-build rigs added in late 2014 and early 2015 and lower costs throughout the organization. Lower costs were a function of the significant restructuring efforts undertaken in 2015 and continuing cost control initiatives in 2016. These restructuring and cost control efforts reduced field office and general and administrative costs by $6.5 million, or 35%, in Q2 2016 relative to Q2 2015. Despite the very low utilization levels and significant year-over-year pricing declines in North America and having fewer rigs on contract in Australia, lower costs throughout the organization allowed Savanna to generate positive operating margins in each of the countries in which it operates in Q2 2016. In Canada, revenues declined by $11 million and operating margin declined by $4.2 million relative to Q2 2015. In the U.S., compared to Q2 2015, revenues declined by $11.2 million and operating margin declined by $6.2 million. In Australia, revenues were $15.6 million lower and operating margin was $9.1 million lower than in Q2 2015. Of the revenue and operating margin decreases in Australia, $5.6 million related to Q1 2015 stand-by charges recognized in Q2 2015. Excluding the effect of these stand-by charges, Savanna's overall operating margin in Q2 2016 was $14 million lower relative to Q2 2015, and operating margin percentages were six percentage points lower. General and administrative expenses declined from $9.9 million in Q2 2015 to $5.3 million in Q2 2016. As a result, EBITDAS was $14.9 million lower than in Q2 2015. In Canada, long-reach drilling, well servicing and rentals all experienced significant activity and pricing declines, which resulted in lower revenue and operating margins compared to Q2 2015. However, the significant restructuring and cost control efforts undertaken by Savanna in 2015 and 2016 partially mitigated the corresponding decrease in operating margins and operating margin percentages in each of the divisions above, relative to Q2 2015. Amidst the decreased activity and pricing environment in Canada, in Q2 2016 Savanna generated $1.5 million in operating margin on $13.4 million of revenue, compared to $5.8 million in operating margin on $24.6 million of revenue in Q2 2015. Sequentially, operating margins decreased compared to the $9.7 million generated on $38.6 million of revenue in Canada in Q1 2016. The decrease sequentially was based on seasonal decreases in activity in Canadian long-reach drilling, shallow drilling, and oilfield services, which were magnified in 2016 by the prevailing low industry activity levels. Savanna's U.S. drilling and well servicing divisions also experienced significant activity and revenue declines relative to Q2 2015. Lower U.S. revenue was partially offset by the effect of operating a greater proportion of higher-spec and higher day rate drilling rigs, cost control and restructuring efforts, and an appreciation in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar. Sequentially, the effect of a contract expiry on a Velox triple drilling rig, which was re-contracted at a significantly lower rate, as well as the effects of lower rates and wet weather in U.S. well servicing in Q2 2016, resulted in lower operating margin compared to Q1 2016. Savanna generated $3.7 million in operating margin on $13.8 million of revenue in the U.S. in Q2 2016, compared to $6.8 million in operating margin on $17 million of revenue in Q1 2016 and $9.9 million in operating margin on $25.1 million of revenue in Q2 2015. In Australia, Savanna's drilling, well servicing and trucking divisions also experienced significant activity and revenue declines relative to Q2 2015. The decreases were driven by fewer rigs under contract, a decrease in trucking activity related to decreases in both well servicing and drilling activity for Savanna in Australia, and timing on the recognition of $5.6 million of Q1 2015 stand-by charges in Q2 2015. Savanna generated $9.2 million in operating margin on $27.7 million of revenue in Australia in Q2 2016. Excluding the $5.6 million of Q1 2015 related stand-by revenue and operating margin that did not meet revenue recognition criteria in the first quarter of last year, this represented a $10 million, or 27%, decrease in revenue and a $3.5 million, or 28%, decrease in operating margin in Q2 2016 compared to Q2 2015. As in North America, cost control and restructuring efforts partially mitigated the impact of the revenue and activity declines in Australia. Sequentially, operating margin decreased from the $12.3 million generated on $38.8 million of revenue in Australia in Q1 2016. The decrease in operating margin sequentially was a result of four fewer rigs on contract in the quarter, decreases in trucking activity related to decreases in overall activity for Savanna in Australia, as well as the receipt of a $0.7 million contract termination fee during the first quarter of this year. Overall for the quarter, the year-over-year decrease in industry activity levels, combined with the decrease in the number of rigs under contract in Australia, and the effect of the $5.6 million of Q1 2015 revenue recognized in Q2 2015, resulted in a 62% decrease in EBITDAS and a 48% increase in the Company's net loss, compared to Q2 2015. The decrease in EBITDAS was partially offset by a decrease in depreciation expense as well as the effect of deferred tax expenses recorded in Q2 2015 based on Alberta income tax rate increases in June of last year. The Q2 2016 net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company was $16 million, or $0.18 per share, compared to a net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company of $10.5 million or $0.12 per share, in Q2 2015. Compared to Q1 2016, Savanna's net loss increased primarily as a result of the decrease in EBITDAS. The decrease in EBITDAS was partially offset by a $5 million, non-cash, provision for onerous office and shop lease contracts related to leased office and shop space no longer in use, recorded in Q1 2016. The Q1 2016 net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company was $10.1 million, or $0.11 per share. Year-to-date Results The prevailing low oil and natural gas prices during the first half of 2016, and the resulting decrease in industry activity, as well as having fewer rigs on contract in Australia, negatively affected overall revenue, operating margin and EBITDAS relative to the first half of 2015. The impact of the industry activity and commodity price declines on Savanna was mitigated by the twelve contracted new-build rigs added in late 2014 and early 2015, cost control initiatives, and the significant restructuring efforts in 2015 and 2016. EBITDAS before severance costs was $31.3 million in the first half of 2016, which is a 50% reduction from 2015, while revenues decreased by 40% in the same respective periods. Long-reach drilling, well servicing and rentals in Canada all experienced significant activity and pricing declines, which resulted in lower revenue and operating margins compared to the first half of 2015. The significant restructuring and cost control efforts undertaken by Savanna in 2015 and 2016 limited the corresponding decrease in operating margin percentages to eight percentage points, relative to the first half of 2015. Overall, the decreased activity resulted in a $56.3 million, or 52%, decrease in revenue and an $18.9 million, or 64%, decrease in operating margins in Canada. Savanna's U.S. drilling and well servicing divisions also experienced activity and revenue declines relative to the first half of 2015. However, having a greater proportion of higher-spec and higher day rate rigs working in the first half of 2016, cost control and restructuring efforts, and an appreciation in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar, limited the decrease in operating margin percentages to four percentage points compared to the first half of 2015. Overall, operating margins in the U.S. decreased by $13.9 million, or 57%, compared to the first half of 2015, while year-over-year revenue decreased $33.9 million, or 52%. In Australia, Savanna's drilling, well servicing and trucking divisions also experienced activity and revenue declines relative to the first half of 2015. The decreases were driven by fewer rigs under contract and a decrease in trucking activity related to decreases in both well servicing and drilling activity for Savanna in Australia. As in North America, cost control and restructuring efforts partially mitigated the impact of the revenue and activity declines in Australia, limiting the decrease in operating margin percentages to three percentage points. Overall, revenue in Australia decreased by $8.4 million, or 11%, and operating margins decreased by $4.9 million, or 19%, relative to the first half of 2015. Overall, for the first half of 2016, EBITDAS decreased by 45% to $29.4 million relative to the first half of 2015, as a result of significant activity, revenue and operating margin decreases in North American drilling and oilfield services, combined with the decrease in the number of rigs under contract in Australia. Despite the decrease in EBITDAS, the cost control and restructuring initiatives of 2015 and 2016, together with the decrease in severance costs, kept EBITDAS percentages relatively flat in the first half of 2016 relative to the first half of 2015. Severance costs aggregated $1.9 million this year versus $9.3 million in the first half of 2016. The decrease in EBITDAS was also the primary driver for the increase in the overall net loss in the first half of 2016, compared to the first half of 2015. Balance Sheet Savanna's working capital at June 30, 2016, was $30.3 million, which includes $12.3 million in cash and is net of the $4.2 million drawn on its Canadian operating facility. Savanna's total long-term debt outstanding on June 30, 2016, excluding unamortized debt issue costs, was $260.6 million, compared to $277.1 million outstanding at December 31, 2015. The June 30, 2016 total long-term debt amount includes $9.3 million of unrealized foreign exchange on U.S. dollar denominated debt as well as $5.7 million in gross partnership debt, of which Savanna's proportionate share is approximately 50%. Savanna's total debt position at June 30, 2016, net of cash, was $252.5 million compared to $275 million at December 31, 2015. Savanna's total debt, net of cash as of the date of this release is approximately $247.2 million. Financial Highlights The following is a summary of selected financial information of the Company: (Stated in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts) Three months ended Six months ended June 30 2016 2015 Change 2016 2015 Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPERATING RESULTS Revenue 54,905 92,727 (41%) 148,642 247,279 (40%) Operating expenses 40,476 58,736 (31%) 106,159 167,145 (36%) Operating margin(1) 14,429 33,991 (58%) 42,483 80,134 (47%) Operating margin %(1) 26% 37% 29% 32% EBITDAS(1) 9,163 24,068 (62%) 29,414 53,882 (45%) Attributable to shareholders of the Company 9,171 23,844 (62%) 28,892 52,655 (45%) Per share: basic 0.10 0.26 (62%) 0.32 0.58 (45%) Adjusted EBITDAS(1) 9,193 24,907 (63%) 31,302 63,155 (50%) Attributable to shareholders of the Company 9,201 24,683 (63%) 30,780 61,928 (50%) Per share: basic 0.10 0.27 (63%) 0.34 0.69 (51%) Net loss (16,669) (11,254) 48% (26,782) (1,080) (i) Attributable to shareholders of the Company (16,004) (10,519) 52% (26,071) (494) (i) Per share: basic (0.18) (0.12) 50% (0.29) (0.01) (i) Basic weighted average shares outstanding (000s) 90,251 90,251 0% 90,251 90,238 0% Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (000s) 90,251 90,251 0% 90,251 90,238 0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASH FLOWS Operating cash flows(1) 2,444 17,074 (86%) 20,811 43,310 (52%) Per share: basic 0.03 0.19 (84%) 0.23 0.48 (52%) Acquisition of property and equipment(1) 2,770 12,518 (78%) 5,197 48,515 (89%) Proceeds on disposal of assets 5,199 1,617 222% 7,544 15,213 (50%) Dividends paid - 2,707 (100%) - 4,951 (100%) Per share: basic - 0.03 (100%) - 0.03 (100%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCIAL POSITION AT Jun. 30 Dec. 31 2016 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Working capital(1) 30,278 35,691 (15%) Capital assets(1) 715,240 776,574 (8%) Total assets 797,376 879,146 (9%) Long-term debt, including the current portion thereof 260,619 277,081 (6%) Total debt, net of cash(1) 252,534 275,020 (8%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) Calculation not meaningful NOTES: (1) Operating margin, operating margin percentage, EBITDAS, adjusted EBITDAS and operating cash flows are not recognized measures under IFRS, and are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management believes that, in addition to net earnings, the measures described above are useful as they provide an indication of the results generated by the Company's principal business activities both prior to and after consideration of how those activities are financed, the effect of foreign exchange, and how the results are taxed in various jurisdictions. Similarly, working capital and total debt, net of cash are not recognized measures under IFRS; however, management believes that these measures are useful as they provide an indication of the Company's liquidity. - Operating margin is defined as revenue less operating expenses. - Operating margin percentage is defined as revenue less operating expenses divided by revenue. - EBITDAS is defined as earnings before finance expenses, income taxes, depreciation and share-based compensation and excludes other expenses (income). - Adjusted EBITDAS is defined as EBITDAS before severance costs. - Operating cash flows are defined as cash flows from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital. - Working capital is defined as total current assets less total current liabilities excluding the current portions of long-term debt. - Total debt, net of cash is defined as total long-term debt, including the current portion thereof but excluding unamortized debt issue costs, plus bank indebtedness, net of cash. (2) Certain industry related terms used in this press release are defined or clarified as follows: - Savanna reports its drilling rig utilization based on spud to release time for its operational drilling rigs and excludes stand-by, moving, rig up and tear down time, even though revenue may be earned during this time. Source of Canadian industry average utilization figures: Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors. Industry utilization figures are calculated in the same manner as the Company. To segregate industry utilization by rig type, industry totals by well depth range are used. - Savanna reports its service rig utilization for its operational service rigs in North America based on standard operating hours of 3,650 per rig per year. Utilization for Savanna's service rigs in Australia is calculated based on standard operating hours of 8,760 per rig per year to reflect 24 hour operating conditions in that country and excludes stand-by time, even though revenue may be earned during this time. Reliable industry average utilization figures, specific to well servicing, are not available. Segmented Results - Contract Drilling The following is a summary of selected financial and operating information of the Company's contract drilling segment: (Stated in thousands of dollars, except revenue per day) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 30 2016 2015 Change 2016 2015 Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue $ 24,675 $ 43,636 (43%) $ 76,159 $ 152,117 (50%) Operating expenses $ 19,018 $ 28,847 (34%) $ 55,928 $ 100,859 (45%) Operating margin(1) $ 5,657 $ 14,789 (62%) $ 20,231 $ 51,258 (61%) Operating margin % 23% 34% 27% 34% Billable days 894 1,784 (50%) 2,976 6,005 (50%) Revenue per billable day $ 27,601 $ 24,460 13% $ 25,591 $ 25,332 1% Operating (spud to release) days 747 1,291 (42%) 2,465 4,647 (47%) Wells drilled 133 181 (27%) 538 677 (21%) Meters drilled 243,702 412,974 (41%) 810,994 1,175,489 (31%) Meters drilled per well 1,832 2,282 (20%) 1,507 1,736 (13%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECOND QUARTER RESULTS Overall contract drilling revenue decreased relative to Q2 2015, as a result of lower activity levels in Canada, the U.S. and Australia, and lower day rates in Canada. In Canadian long-reach drilling, billable days were down 42% while day rates were 11% lower compared to Q2 2015. Billable days in the U.S. decreased 55% compared to Q2 2015, while average day rates were higher based on changes in rig mix. In Australia, billable days decreased 44% relative to Q2 2015, with fewer rigs under contract this year versus last. However, per day revenue in Australia increased, in the same respective periods, based on the Company's new performance-related pricing model on its drilling rigs there. The overall decreases in activity and pricing is reflective of the low oil and natural gas prices that have persisted throughout 2015 and 2016, as well as the continued uncertainty surrounding the oil and natural gas industry, and the resulting decrease in customer drilling activity. Given the activity and pricing declines, cost control continues to be a major focus of the Company. Field office costs, excluding severance costs, were $1 million lower in Q2 2016, compared to Q2 2015. The following summarizes the operating results in the second quarter of 2016 and 2015 by type of rig or geographic area. Long-reach drilling in Canada includes the Company's telescoping double drilling rigs, TDS-3000 drilling rigs and TDS-2200 drilling rigs. (Stated in thousands of dollars) Long-reach Shallow Drilling Drilling Drilling Drilling Q2 2016 Canada Canada U.S. Australia Total ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 7,588 19 9,937 7,131 24,675 Operating margin(1) 1,309 (241) 2,641 1,948 5,657 Operating margin %(1) 17% (i) 27% 27% 23% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue excluding cost recoveries 6,585 23 8,214 6,639 21,461 Operating margin(1) 1,309 (241) 2,641 1,948 5,657 Operating margin %(1) 20% (i) 32% 29% 26% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average number of rigs deployed 52 16 28 5 101 Utilization %(2) 8% 0% 10% 27% 8% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) Calculation not meaningful (Stated in thousands of dollars) Long-reach Shallow Drilling Drilling Drilling Drilling Q2 2015 Canada Canada U.S. Australia Total ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 14,654 (58) 17,811 11,229 43,636 Operating margin(1) 4,533 (323) 7,056 3,523 14,789 Operating margin %(1) 31% (i) 40% 31% 34% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue excluding cost recoveries 13,242 (87) 17,096 10,755 41,006 Operating margin(1) 4,533 (323) 7,056 3,523 14,789 Operating margin %(1) 34% (i) 41% 33% 36% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average number of rigs deployed 52 16 28 5 101 Utilization %(2) 13% 0% 20% 33% 14% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) Calculation not meaningful YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS Contract drilling revenue decreased in the first half of 2016 relative to the first half of 2015, as a result of: a 42% decrease in billable days in long-reach drilling, a 51% decrease in Q1 coring activity, and lower day rates in Canada; a 65% decrease in billable days in U.S. drilling; and a 32% decrease in billable days in Australia drilling. These decreases were driven by the low oil and natural gas prices that have persisted throughout 2015 and 2016, and the resulting decline in overall industry drilling activity. Based on the low activity levels, the Company has continued to focus on cost control after undergoing a significant restructuring in 2015. Field office costs were $4.1 million lower compared to the first half of 2015, while severance costs decreased to $0.9 million in the first half of 2016, compared to $1.3m in the first half of 2015. The lower field office and severance costs partially mitigated the overall decrease in operating margin percentages relative to the first half of 2015. The following summarizes the operating results in the first half of 2016 and 2015 by type of rig or geographic area. (Stated in thousands of dollars) Long-reach Shallow Drilling Drilling Drilling Drilling YTD 2016 Canada Canada U.S. Australia Total ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 26,361 8,565 21,986 19,247 76,159 Operating margin(1) 4,487 3,232 7,874 4,638 20,231 Operating margin %(1) 17% 38% 36% 24% 27% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue excluding cost recoveries 23,530 8,316 19,192 17,546 68,584 Operating margin(1) 4,487 3,232 7,874 4,638 20,231 Operating margin %(1) 19% 39% 41% 26% 29% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average number of rigs deployed 52 16 28 5 101 Utilization %(2) 13% 12% 10% 37% 13% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Stated in thousands of dollars) Long-reach Shallow Drilling Drilling Drilling Drilling YTD 2015 Canada Canada U.S. Australia Total ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 58,355 21,385 50,258 22,119 152,117 Operating margin(1) 16,734 9,577 18,443 6,504 51,258 Operating margin %(1) 29% 45% 37% 29% 34% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue excluding cost recoveries 51,659 21,133 46,649 21,455 140,896 Operating margin(1) 16,734 9,577 18,443 6,504 51,258 Operating margin %(1) 32% 45% 40% 30% 36% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average number of rigs deployed 52 16 27 5 100 Utilization %(2) 23% 23% 32% 29% 26% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Segmented Results - Oilfield Services The following is a summary of selected financial and operating information of the Company's oilfield services segment: (Stated in thousands of dollars, except revenue per hour) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 30 2016 2015 Change 2016 2015 Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue $ 30,471 $ 49,402 (38%) $ 73,400 $ 96,034 (24%) Operating expenses $ 21,699 $ 30,248 (28%) $ 51,148 $ 67,253 (24%) Operating margin(1) $ 8,772 $ 19,154 (54%) $ 22,252 $ 28,781 (23%) Operating margin % 29% 39% 30% 30% Billable hours - well servicing 31,744 48,381 (34%) 72,730 91,601 (21%) Revenue per billable hour - well servicing $ 877 $ 880 (0%) $ 885 $ 875 1% Operating hours - well servicing 23,656 31,488 (25%) 54,051 67,276 (20%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECOND QUARTER RESULTS Operating margin for Savanna's oilfield services division in Q2 2016 decreased relative to Q2 2015, based on decreases in revenue in the same respective periods. The revenue decrease was driven by: a 19% decrease in operating hours and a 24% decrease in per hour revenue in Canadian well servicing; a 34% decrease in operating hours and a 19% decrease in per hour revenue in U.S. well servicing; and a 41% decrease in billable hours in Australia well servicing. Of the billable hour and revenue decreases in Australia, nearly half related to timing on the recognition of Q1 2015 stand-by charges in Q2 2015. The remainder of the revenue decrease in Q2 2016 compared to Q2 2015, was a result of having three fewer rigs on contract and a 65% decrease in trucking revenue related to decreases in both well servicing and drilling activity for Savanna in Australia. In Canada and the U.S., the decreases in activity and pricing are reflective of the significant decline in oil and natural gas prices throughout 2015 and 2016, and resulted in lower overall operating margins being generated by the Company in North America as well. The following summarizes the operating results by geographic area: (Stated in thousands of dollars) Q2 2016 Canada U.S. Australia Total ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 5,953 3,904 20,614 30,471 Operating margin(1) 475 1,089 7,208 8,772 Operating margin %(1) 8% 28% 35% 29% Average number of rigs deployed - well servicing 57 18 12 87 Utilization % - well servicing(2) 18% 37% 32% 24% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Stated in thousands of dollars) Q2 2015 Canada U.S. Australia Total ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 9,985 7,274 32,143 49,402 Operating margin(1) 1,586 2,836 14,732 19,154 Operating margin %(1) 16% 39% 46% 39% Average number of rigs deployed - well servicing 65 18 12 95 Utilization % - well servicing(2) 20% 55% 41% 36% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS Operating margin for Savanna's oilfield services division decreased in the first half of 2016 compared to the first half of 2015, based on decreases in revenue in the same respective periods. The revenue decrease was driven by a 24% decrease in operating hours and an 11% decrease in per hour revenue in Canadian well servicing, and a 29% decrease in operating hours and a 7% decrease in per hour revenue in U.S. well servicing. Additionally, rental revenue decreased by 39% in Canada and 45% in Australia in the first half of 2016 compared to the first half of 2015. The decrease in rental revenue in Canada was a result of decreased demand, while the decrease in Australia related to decreases in trucking based on fewer Savanna rigs, both well servicing and drilling, working this year versus last. Based on the low activity levels, the Company has continued to focus on cost control after undergoing a significant restructuring in 2015, which resulted in a $2.2 million decrease in field office costs compared to the first half of 2015. A decrease in severance costs also partially mitigated the decrease in overall oilfield services operating margin relative to the first half of 2015. Severance costs related to oilfield services totaled $0.9 million in the first half of 2016, compared to $2.5 million in the first half of 2015. The following summarizes the operating results by geographic area: (Stated in thousands of dollars) YTD 2016 Canada U.S. Australia Total ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 17,177 8,891 47,332 73,400 Operating margin(1) 2,844 2,607 16,801 22,252 Operating margin %(1) 17% 29% 35% 30% Average number of rigs deployed - well servicing 57 18 12 87 Utilization % - well servicing(2) 22% 38% 35% 27% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Stated in thousands of dollars) YTD 2015 Canada U.S. Australia Total ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 28,579 14,563 52,892 96,034 Operating margin(1) 3,005 5,948 19,828 28,781 Operating margin %(1) 11% 41% 37% 30% Average number of rigs deployed - well servicing 65 18 12 95 Utilization % - well servicing(2) 26% 54% 36% 39% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Outlook In the second quarter of 2016, Savanna faced extremely challenging industry conditions, particularly in North America, as persisting low oil and natural gas prices magnified the normal effects of seasonality in Canada, and reduced industry activity levels dramatically. During this period, Savanna experienced very low utilization levels and significant year-over-year pricing declines in North America, as well as fewer rigs on contract in Australia. The impact of these decreases was partially alleviated by the fundamental structural changes made to the Company in 2015 and, combined with continuing cost control initiatives in 2016, allowed Savanna to generate positive operating margins in each of the countries in which it operated in the quarter, despite the significant revenue and activity declines. Savanna has continued to reduce costs in 2016 and will continue to align its business with the variable nature of the oilfield services industry. Annualized field office and general and administrative cost savings, from Savanna's cost control and restructuring efforts, are now expected to be over $70 million relative to the Company's 2014 exit run-rate. Looking forward, the remainder of 2016 will continue to be challenging for Savanna and the oilfield services industry as a whole, based on persisting low oil and natural gas prices, and the uncertain duration of the current low price environment. Although commodity prices have improved compared to earlier in 2016, both oil and natural gas prices remain relatively low and Savanna's customers in Canada still have limited visibility into what their spending levels will be in the second half of 2016 and into 2017. The Australian liquefied natural gas industry is also not immune to global commodity price pressures; and although Savanna's take or pay contract status on the majority of its rigs in Australia have helped mitigate the impact of North American activity reductions in 2016, certain of these contracts began rolling over in Q2 2016. In Q1 2016, Savanna had 15 of 17 rigs earning revenue under contract in Australia and that number decreased to 11 on average in Q2 2016. As of the date of this MD&A, Savanna has ten rigs remaining on long-term contract through to the end of 2016. However, the Company expects to secure some short-term work for certain of the rigs off contract in the second half of 2016, based on current commitments from, and ongoing negotiations with, its customers in Australia. Ultimately, Savanna believes it is in a strong competitive position to re-contract its drilling and service rigs in Australia, although new contracts are likely to be shorter in term than the Company's previous contracts in Australia. In the U.S., Savanna secured a short-term contract in Q2, albeit at a lower rate than previously, for one Velox triple drilling rig for which the contract had expired. Negotiations with respect to a second Velox triple drilling rig, the contract for which is set to expire in late 2016, have also begun. In late Q2 2016, Savanna also began to reactivate stacked rigs out of its Odessa base of operations. Short term work for certain of these rigs has been secured and Savanna expects to have at least two to three additional drilling rigs working in Q3 2016. Management believes that the structural changes Savanna underwent in 2015, and the reduced overall cost structure have the Company positioned to manage through reduced activity levels for the remainder of 2016 and beyond. In addition, the amendments to its key financial covenants related to its senior secured revolving credit facility negotiated in March 2016, provide Savanna with increased financial flexibility through to the end of 2017. Savanna remains committed to its shareholders and debtholders, with a focus on managing its balance sheet and costs in all aspects of its business and leveraging its assets to maintain and gain market share. As a result of the measures already undertaken and others currently in progress, Savanna believes that it has taken the steps necessary to navigate through the current downturn. When industry conditions improve, management believes that Savanna will be in an excellent position to capitalize on a recovery utilizing its competitive cost structure, experienced management team, and its proven ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances. These core competencies will be deployed utilizing the Company's significant footprint in three countries that should have strong participation in an eventual recovery of oil and gas market fundamentals. See "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements". Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements Certain statements and information contained in this press release including statements related to the Company's expectation that annualized field office and general and administrative cost savings will be over $70 million relative to the Company's 2014 exit run-rate, expectations of low activity levels and low oil and natural gas prices for the remainder of 2016 and its effect on the oilfield services industry and Savanna, the expectation that the Company's take or pay contract status on the majority of its rigs in Australia will help mitigate the impact of North American activity reductions in 2016, expectations of securing some short-term work in Australia for certain rigs off contract in the second half of 2016, the belief that the Company is in a strong competitive position to re-contract its drilling and service rigs in Australia and that any such contracts are likely to be shorter in term than previously, the expectation that the Company will have at least two to three additional drilling rigs working out of its Odessa base in Q3 2016, the impact of the structural changes undertaken by Savanna in 2015 and the continued cost control initiatives in 2016, the expectation that the Company has taken the steps necessary to navigate through the current downturn and its ability to capitalize on an eventual improvement oil and gas industry conditions, and statements that contain words such as "could", "should", "can", "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "will", "may", "likely", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", "maintain", "retain", "grow", and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analysis made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In particular, the Company's expectation that annualized field office and general and administrative cost savings will be over $70 million relative to the Company's 2014 exit run-rate is premised on the Company's actual Q2 2016 field office and general and administrative costs relative to that in Q4 2014. The Company's expectation of low activity levels and low oil and natural gas prices for the remainder of 2016 and its effect on the oilfield services industry and Savanna, and its expectation that the Company's take or pay contract status on the majority of its rigs in Australia will help mitigate the impact of North American activity reductions in 2016, are premised on industry and commodity price estimates, actual results experienced to date in 2016, customer contracts and commitments, the Company's expectations for its customers' capital budgets, the status of current negotiations with its customers, and the number of contracted rigs currently deployed in Australia and North America. The Company's belief that it is in a strong competitive position to re-contract its drilling and service rigs in Australia, its expectations of securing some short-term work in Australia for certain rigs off contract in the second half of 2016, and its expectations of having at least two to three additional drilling rigs working out of its Odessa base in Q3 2016 is premised on current negotiations and discussions with, and commitments from, its customers and potential new customers. The Company's expectation of the impact of the structural changes undertaken by Savanna in 2015 and the continued cost control initiatives in 2016, is premised on cost reductions realized to date related thereto. The Company's expectation that it has taken the steps necessary to navigate through the current downturn and its ability to capitalize on an eventual improvement oil and gas industry conditions is premised on operational improvements and cost and debt reductions realized in 2015 and to date in 2016. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the price and demand for oil and natural gas; fluctuations in the level of oil and natural gas exploration and development activities; fluctuations in the demand for well servicing, oilfield rentals and contract drilling; the effects of weather conditions on operations and facilities; the existence of competitive operating risks inherent in well servicing, oilfield rentals and contract drilling; general economic, market or business conditions; changes in laws or regulations, including taxation, environmental and currency regulations; the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management; the other risk factors set forth under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's Annual Report, and under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form and other unforeseen conditions which could impact on the use of services supplied by the Company. All of the forward-looking information and statements made in this press release are qualified by this cautionary statement and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by the Company will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to or effects on the Company or its business or operations. Except as may be required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking information and statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Other Savanna's full Q2 2016 report, including its management's discussion and analysis and condensed consolidated financial statements, is available on Savanna's website (www.savannaenergy.com) under the investor relations section and has also been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Savanna will host a conference call for analysts, investors and interested parties on Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the Company's second quarter 2016 results. The call will be hosted by Chris Strong, Savanna's President and Chief Executive Officer and Dwayne LaMontagne, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. If you wish to participate in this conference call, please call 1-888-892-3255 (please call 10 minutes ahead of time). A replay of the call will be available until August 18, 2016 by dialing 1-800-937-6305 and entering passcode 960604. Savanna is a leading North American and Australian contract drilling and oilfield services company providing a broad range of drilling, well servicing and related services with a focus on fit for purpose technologies and industry-leading aboriginal relationships. Contacts: Savanna Energy Services Corp. Chris Strong President and Chief Executive Officer (403) 503-9990 Savanna Energy Services Corp. Dwayne LaMontagne Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (403) 503-9990 www.savannaenergy.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Tesoro Corporation (TSO) revealed a profit for second quarter that declined from last year. The company said its bottom line declined to $418 million, or $3.47 per share. This was lower than $586 million, or $4.62 per share, in last year's second quarter. Analysts had expected the company to earn $1.77 per share, according figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The company said revenue for the quarter fell 23.6% to $6.29 billion. This was down from $8.23 billion last year. Tesoro Corporation earnings at a glance: -Earnings (Q2): $418 Mln. vs. $586 Mln. last year. -Earnings Decline (Y-o-Y): -28.7% -EPS (Q2): $3.47 vs. $4.62 last year. -EPS Decline (Y-o-Y): -24.9% -Analysts Estimate: $1.77 -Revenue (Q2): $6.29 Bln vs. $8.23 Bln last year. -Revenue Change (Y-o-Y): -23.6% Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. StatRad, a San Diego, CA-based developer of services medical image management technology for quality teleradiology, raised $13m in equity funding. A strategic institutional partner made the investment. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate development of technology, growth in teleradiology services and its RadConnect cloud-based image sharing solution. Led by Chief Executive Officer Vishal Verma, M.D., StatRad provides software to ingest, view, share and store medical images in the cloud, which facilitates a global image exchange accessible by patients, physicians and healthcare networks. The company offers its software as a service (SaaS) and as a web scale platform (PaaS), which can assist a multitude of healthcare companies, such as image analysis and medical device businesses, with the ability to efficiently incorporate medical images into their software solutions. FinSMEs 03/08/2016 After receiving a green signal from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Hrithik Roshan's upcoming film Mohenjo Daro has cleared another major hurdle. The Bombay High Court on Tuesday has ruled in its favour, dismissing a plea for interim relief by petitioner Akashaditya Lama accusing the director Ashutosh Gowariker of copyright infringement. The High Court also fined the petitioner, who was the director of 2012 film Cigarette Ki Tarah, a sum of Rs. 1.5 lakh, saying that the intention behind the plea was only to harass the filmmaker. Lama had approached the court in July seeking a stay on the release of the period drama alleging that Gowariker had stolen the film's story. He further claims that he had narrated the story back in 2001 to Jaswinder Ballu Saluja, an editor who has worked in some of Gowariker's films like Lagaan and Swades. According to him he had even sent a couple of mails to Ashutosh seeking an explanation and only when he did not receive a response did he approach the court. The fine amount will be donated to Naam Foundation, an organisation founded by Nana Patekar and Makarand Anaspure that works for the betterment of farmers in Maharashtra's drought-prone areas, as Gowariker wanted to give the money to some welfare organisation. The film is all set to release on 12 August. New Delhi: L&T Power has won a contract worth Rs 3,860 crore from Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd. "The power business of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) through its joint venture company L&T-MHPS Boilers Pvt Ltd has secured order of Rs 3,860 crore from Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd (NUPPL)," the L&T said in a release. The contract includes design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of 3x660 MW Ghatampur Thermal Power Project - steam generator and auxiliaries package for NUPPL at Ghatampur, Uttar Pradesh. L&T-MHPS Boilers Private Limited is a 51:49 joint venture between L&T India and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS), Japan. "This is a prestigious order from NUPPL for supercritical steam generators, with state-of-the-art equipment meeting new emission norms. LMB will meet the project schedule with best endeavors and resources conforming to international quality standards," said Shailendra Roy, CEO and Managing Director, L&T Power. The subsidiary power company is currently into execution of nine units of steam generator packages for similar large capacity steam generators (660 MW) in the country totalling 5940 MW. Besides, the company has already achieved commercial operation of six supercritical units of 660-700 MW. "LMB is also executing nine export orders for supply of pulverisers and pressure parts for various MHPS projects in Japan and Indonesia. It has already executed eight MHPS export orders with the supply of pressure parts, pulverisers and engineering services to Middle East, Africa and South East Asia," the company said. Chandigarh: The work to set up an integrated aviation hub at Hisar will begin during the year-long golden jubilee celebration of Haryana. The 'Swarn Jayanti' celebrations of Haryana will begin on November 1 and last till October 31 next year. Haryana was carved out of Punjab as a separate state in 1966. "The state-of-the-art aviation hub would be developed over an area of over 3,000 acres. The central government has been urged to include Hisar and Karnal in the Regional Connectivity Scheme which would come into effect in the second quarter of 2016-2017," Haryana's Civil Aviation Minister Rao Narbir Singh said here today. He said a series of activities to be undertaken in the first phase of this project include expansion of the existing runway from 4,000 feet to 7,000 feet, provision for night-time landing, construction of additional Hangers for Maintenance Repair Overhaul and renovation of the terminal building. "A budget provision of Rs 50 crore has been made in the current financial year for this purpose. Apart from this, Rs 20 crore has also been earmarked for development of airstrips at Pinjore, Karnal, Bhiwani and Narnaul," Singh said. "As announced by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the aerodrome at Hisar would be elevated as international airport, Singh said in an official release. He said the state government has 196 acres of land at Hisar Aerodrome. "The Haryana government has already engaged M/s Frost and Sullivan India Private Limited, Chennai as consultant for development of Hisar Aerodrome as Integrated Aviation Hub," he said. Based on the recommendations of the consultant, several of the consultant, several other activities like an aerocity comprising housing, commercial development, would be undertaken in a phased manner. "This will also help in city side development, employment generation and would have multiplier effect on state GDP," he said, adding Khattar had briefed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar about the plans during a meeting in Delhi recently. The Union minister was requested to consider setting up of the proposed MRO Hub of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to serve the aircraft and helicopters of the defence forces at this Airport, Singh said. Besides, the Union Minister also broached the idea of setting up a centre for over hauling of tanks of the Indian Army at Hisar since the location is not very far from the international borders nor very close to it, Singh said The Haryana Civil Aviation Department has written a letter for getting approval of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation regarding site clearance for developing Hisar aerodrome as international airport or integrated aviation hub. RIYADH Saudi Arabia has agreed to assist thousands of laid-off Indian workers stranded in the kingdom without money or food, India's junior foreign minister Vijay Kumar Singh said on Wednesday. A sharp drop in oil prices has forced cuts to state spending in Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter. Construction firms have been squeezed financially and have laid off tens of thousands of south Asian and other foreign workers. More than 6,200 of the stranded Indian workers were employed by construction firm Saudi Oger, a conglomerate owned by the family of former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, which has been unable to pay workers' salaries for months, according to Indian officials. Singh, visiting Riyadh on Wednesday to meet Saudi Labour Minister Mufrej al-Haqbani, said the Saudi government had provided assurances that it would resolve the crisis and ensure workers' financial claims were pursued, even if the workers returned home. "Things are not as bad as they have been shown and projected," the minister said in joint remarks with Haqbani after their meeting. "Things are very fine. We are in constant touch with all the officials and the various departments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." Haqbani said Saudi Arabia's King Salman had directed officials to take all measures to resolve the problem at the government's expense, and Riyadh would hire lawyers to pursue the workers' claims and make sure their rights were respected. "Yesterday, we contracted all the providers to provide health, catering, maintenance and everything, and we contracted the airlines to send back anybody who wants to go there upon the approval of the Embassy of India, Haqbani said, according to a text of the remarks provided by his ministry. STRANDED A Lebanese newspaper reported on Wednesday that the Saudi government was in talks with Hariri on a proposal to take over Saudi Oger. Under the proposed deal, the buyer would assume all debts and financial obligations of Saudi Oger. Saudi Oger officials and Saad al-Hariri could not be reached for comment. In the past, the company has declined to speak publicly about its finances. Saudi officials were also not available to speak about the reported takeover proposal. A total of about 7,700 Indian workers were stranded, according to Indian officials. Of these, 4,072 were staying in worker camps in Riyadh while 2,153 were in Jeddah. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Saturday the workers faced a "food crisis" because employers had not paid their wages. The Jeddah consulate was distributing emergency rations to the workers pending efforts to repatriate them. Saudi Arabia says it investigates any complaints of companies not paying wages and if necessary obliges these firms to do so or risk fines and other penalties. Other foreign governments, including France, the Philippines and Bangladesh, have been pressing Saudi authorities and company executives to ensure that construction firms pay their workers. Before the economic slowdown, about 10 million foreigners, largely from south Asia, southeast Asia and other parts of the Middle East, worked in Saudi Arabia, many in low-paid jobs in sectors Saudis spurn such as construction, domestic service and retailing. (Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Andrew Torchia and Janet Lawrence) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. LONDON Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday kickstarted her bid to reshape the British economy for a post-Brexit world, reviving the once unfashionable concept of industrial policy 30 years after Margaret Thatcher killed it off. May chaired the first meeting of the "Cabinet Committee on Economy and Industrial Strategy" in her Downing Street offices, bringing together the heads of 11 other ministries to set out her vision for a state-boosted industrial renaissance. "The prime minister emphasised that the objective of the governments new industrial strategy should be to deliver an economy that works for all," a spokesman said in a statement issued after the meeting. After a referendum campaign that revealed dissatisfaction in many of Britain's struggling post-industrial regions, May is pitching a plan to reunite the country and strengthen her grip on power by raising the prospects of those who she casts as "hard-working people". The June 23 vote to leave the European Union has raised serious questions about the future of the world's fifth largest economy, with some surveys indicating a recession, a hit to consumer confidence and a possible fall in investment. The challenge is to find a formula that arrests a decades-long decline in Britain's manufacturing sector by helping firms tackle the challenges posed by globalisation without blunting the market forces that make them competitive. The meeting focused on ways the government could support growth in different areas of the country, the spokesman said. Chancellor Philip Hammond told the meeting that by reducing the productivity gap between the rest of the country and London and the southeast, economic output could rise by 9 percent, adding over 150 billion pounds to the economy. Ministers agreed the strategy should also be focussed on "playing to the countrys strengths while also creating an economy that is open to new industries, particularly those that will shape our lives in the future," the spokesman said. That push that could help carmakers such as Jaguar Land Rover (TAMO.NS) and Nissan (7201.T) and aerospace industry leaders like BAE Systems (BAES.L) to weather the Brexit storm. It is also geared to support the creation of new technology firms such as microchip designer ARM, which was sold to Japan's SoftBank (9984.T) last month for $32 billion. Experts say recent efforts at implementing closer cooperation between the state and industries such as carmakers and aerospace have been partially successful, but need to be scaled up and placed at the heart of government thinking. "The very fact that the new prime minister is chairing this committee, I hope, addresses one of the weaknesses of the last two administrations ... that is the relative lack of joined-up thinking, a cross-governmental approach," said Terry Scuoler, head of the EEF manufacturing trade body. "If this committee chaired by the prime minister states something, it is going to be potent." While policy detail is scarce, the strategy is likely to combine state-backed investment in traditional infrastructure such as roads and rail with funding for modern essentials such as broadband and lower energy costs, along with a push to train more of the highly-skilled workers that industry says it needs. NOT PICKING WINNERS Industrial policy has a toxic legacy in Britain. It was once used to help failing national champions through a series of flawed policies in the 1960s and 1970s that sought to arrest a decline in manufacturing influence. "We're not getting into the business of picking winners - it's more about creating the right environment," a government source who spoke on condition of anonymity said. Already, less than a month after the fallout from the Brexit vote swept her into power, May has two major industrial headaches. Last week, she surprised French utility EDF (EDF.PA) and China with a last-minute decision to review their project to build a nuclear plant in Britain, calling into question her approach to Chinese investment, which is seen as a crucial source of infrastructure cash. Speaking after the meeting, the spokesman said Britain would continue to seek investment from around the world. [L8N1AJ5JP] May also has to deal with Tata Steel (TISC.NS), which put thousands of jobs under threat earlier this year when it said it wanted to sell its British steelmaking operation, citing high energy costs and low global steel prices. The firm is now investigating a possible joint venture instead of a sale. "If Theresa May backs British manufacturing that is steel-intensive, then suddenly theres a market here for British steel and that could make Port Talbot (steel plant) a viable operation," said Ben Orhan, analyst at IHS Global insight. "(But) it really depends where the focus is going to be." The refocusing of Britain's economic policy, which for the last six years was aimed at balancing the books and heavily reliant on foreign money to replace state infrastructure spending, also carries a potentially huge political prize. With the opposition Labour Party, long seen as the champion of the working classes, locked in a vicious internal ideological struggle and losing sway in its traditional heartlands, May has an opportunity to win over those who saw voting 'Leave' in the EU referendum as a 'nothing to lose' protest vote. "The Brexit vote and euroscepticism was strongest in former manufacturing areas, where the industry has gone, the good jobs have gone and people feel disaffected," said David Bailey, professor of industry at Aston Business School. "If May's going to do something about reconnecting, manufacturing has got to be part of the story." (Additional reporting by Costas Pitas, Sarah Young and Maytaal Angel; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Tom Heneghan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Pope Commends Knights of Columbus' Refugee Work, Missionary Spirit Papal greeting sent to K of C's 134th international convention Contact: Joseph Cullen, 203-800-4923, joseph.cullen@kofc.org; Andrew Walther, 203-824-5412, andrew.walther@kofc.org; both with Knights of Columbus TORONTO, Aug. 3, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a letter of greeting to the Knights of Columbus (K of C), Pope Francis praised the organization for its charity, especially on behalf of Christian refugees, for its missionary spirit and for its commitment to strengthening the faith of its members. In reference to the Knights' efforts on behalf of persecuted and marginalized Christians in the Middle East, the letter stated: "especially close to the Holy Father's heart in these days are the afflictions of our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world suffering from poverty, injustice, exile and, increasingly, violent persecution." The letter noted the "strenuous efforts being made" by the Knights "to defend their human rights and legitimate aspirations in the public forum and to provide for their needs, particularly through the [K of C] Christian Refugee Relief Fund and numerous other initiatives of practical support and solidarity." It asked "the Knights and their families to pray in a particular way for an outpouring of God's mercy and the grace of conversion upon all those whose hearts have been darkened by hatred, brutality and ruthless disregard for human life and dignity." The convention's theme, "A Light to all Nations," was a missionary one, and the papal greeting noted that: "In fidelity to the vision of Venerable Michael McGivney, the Knights have consistently sought to embody the missionary dimension of our Christian faith, which finds its highest expression in service to the Lord in the least of his brothers and sisters." The letter also thanked the Knights for their work on behalf of the family, noting: "At every level, the Knights of Columbus has always been concerned to accompany men in their Christian vocation, especially as husbands and fathers, and to support the Church's efforts to build strong Catholic families." Thanking the K of C for the support of the World Meeting of Families and the Synod of Bishops on the Family, the letter continued: "At a time when the natural institution of marriage is gravely threatened, not least by legislative proposals that disregard its specific character, this witness is essential for the defense of the family and the strengthening of its indispensable role in fostering the growth of individuals in maturity, the cultivation of community values and the moral progress of society as a whole." The letter also applauded a new K of C-initiative, stating that Pope Francis "trusts that the Knights' new initiative Building the Domestic Church While Strengthening Our Parish will assist parents in their efforts to foster an environment of prayer and closeness to the Lord at home and to participate actively as a family in the liturgical and apostolic life of the local Church." The pope's message was conveyed in a letter from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Nearly 100 bishops including almost a dozen cardinals were present along with more than 2000 attendees at the convention as the letter was read at the opening business session on Tuesday. Share Tweet After the separatist leaders called for a boycott of pro-India politicians, asking people to cease all interactions with them, many mainstream political activists have either publicly resigned or have gone into hiding in the last 25 days of unrest in Kashmir Valley. Both politics and politicians are missing in action on the ground here and their return to the public discourse seems to be a distant possibility. Fearing being seen on the wrong side of the divide again, many have either publicly resigned from their parties or have used the podium of the mosques to declare their allegiance towards the ongoing agitation. These are mostly grassroot political workers in villages and towns of almost every party, including the ruling PDP. Iftikhar Misger, a National Conference leader who unsuccessfully contested Assembly bypoll against Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, lives in the volatile Cheeni Chowk area of Anantnag town. He was recently seen raising anti-India slogans in a video that went viral on social networking sites. It is not clear how the protesting crowd caught hold of Misger on Saturday evening, but in the video, surrounded by people, the businessman-turned-politician is seen telling people that he is giving up his security and choosing to be "on the side of his people." Anantnag town in south Kashmir has been the epicentre of violence for the last 25 days, and has witnessed killings of many youths and hundreds have been injured. The images of Misger, shouting anti-India slogans were enough to shake Kashmir's political circles. This is the first time in the troubled region a mainstream politician has publicly joined separatism after quitting mainstream politics. On Monday, Misger refused to talk on the issue saying, It was a conscious decision as mainstream politics have failed to bring a possible solution to the problem. Kashmir remains on the edge with hardly any signs normalcy returning as mainstream politicians go missing on the ground, reports of attacks against them have also increased in the recent days. Late on Monday evening, Mujeeb-Ur-Rehman, who had earlier fought an election on Awami Ittehad Party led by Engineer Rashid against the chief minister, too resigned from his party. Rehman, a resident of Anantnag town, at the forefront of the ongoing unrest, said he was quitting mainstream politics and joining the struggle of his people for the "resolution of Kashmir issue." I dont think being a pro-India politician is a viable option now at least for grassroot leaders like us, who interact with people on a daily basis. How can you be part of a supposedly democratic process when the ruling class justifies killing of young people and blinding of innocent children, he said. A palpable fear and a sense of despondency has overtaken these political activists throughout Kashmir, who are increasingly coming under attack from people for choosing to be on the side of the oppressor. Late on Sunday evening, Education Minister Nayeem Akhters house was attacked in Parrarpora locality, while the ministers family lives in his official residence, attackers hurled a petrol bomb at his private residence in a posh locality in uptown Srinagar. Although no one was injured, the message was clear enough to make politicians jittery. This was the second attack on Akhtar in two weeks, last time he was rescued by an additional deployment of forces from capital, after he come under attack from the stone-pelters in north Kashmirs Bandipora town. I dont know if any of my colleague has even tried to come out of their official residence in these days, except for travelling to secretariat a few times, leaving aside meeting workers or going to their constituency, a minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government, told Firstpost. Those living up south are more vulnerable and prefer to be on the side of the people. We have become irrelevant as people dont pay heed to separatists, it is a leader-less agitation, he added. Recently, a joint statement issued by the Hurriyat Conference had asked people to hold mainstream leaders accountable and answerable for their betrayal. For Indias local collaborators (PDP MLAs) facilitating the oppression of their own people, their moment of reckoning and introspection is over, the statement said. The cycle of killings seems to be continuing and protests are refusing to die down particularly in south Kashmir. Late on Monday, a personal security officer of Ramban additional deputy commissioner opened fire on a crowd of protesters and shot dead one man and critically injured another at Lethpora area of Pulwama district. Both the security guard and the ADC were taken into custody by police after the incident, Superintendent of Police Awantipora Shridhar Patil said. For the politicians, be it the ruling class or those in Opposition, living in these volatile hotspots seems to be a herculean task, as a leaderless less and uncontrollable street agitation has engulfed the valley of Kashmir. Monday also witnessed the resignation of BJP leader, Ghulam Hassan Zargar, who unsuccessfully contested 2014 Assembly polls in Kulgam area of south Kashmir. Zargar chose a protest rally to announce his resignation from the party. Auto refresh feeds The Coast Guard has deployed a Chetak helicopter to carry out search for people who were swept away from the bridge. Soon after the incident, Raigad SP Suvez Haque and Collector visited the spot where the bridge once stood. Darkness had hampered operations, which resumed this morning. "Also, we have kept two teams in Mumbai and two teams in Pune in stand-by mode, and they would be roped in as and when needed," he said. "Our team of special divers is equipped enough to handle the situation as with the help of oxygen masks, they can go deep up to 10 metres down and can stay there for long," the official added. He added the teams have covered 100 to 200 metres from bridge and would expand the search area. Four teams of NDRF, comprising 40 deep-divers in each, have joined the Coast Guard and other agencies engaged in rescue and relief operations and are scouring the mishap site. "As soon we got information about the tragic incident, we dispatched two teams from Pune and two teams from Mumbai who are searching for missing persons in the swollen river," an NDRF official, who was monitoring the rescue operations, said. According to Hindustan Times , 12, of the 17 passengers who are suspected to have been washed away, have been identified. Two buses of the state-owned undertaking Jaigad-Mumbai and Rajapur-Borivali are suspected to have washed away in the flood. A total 21 passengers including four crew members were reportedly onboard of the buses. Precious lives lost in the unfortunate bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa highway. My prayers go out for the safety of the missing. A Sea king 42C all-weather aircraft with a diving team has been launched by the Navy.A Sea king 42B helicopter on another mission was also diverted to the area for search. According to a Defence spokesperson, Coast Guard deployed a Chetak helicopter at about 8:15 am to carry out search for people who were swept away from bridge. My heart goes out to the the persons who were on board the two buses and other vehicles that have gone missing in the Savitri river in Mahad. I offer my condolences to the kin of those who lost their lives and pray for the safe rescue of those who are missing, he said. Konkan Railway officials are constantly in touch with the control room set up by the State Government at Mahad. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered Konkan Railway to render the necessary assistance to the state government in rescue operations. Konkan Railway has rushed its rescue team and provided men and material including Self-Propelled Accident Relief Medical Van (SPARMV) and Accident Relief Train (ART), medical team, and mechanics and engineers. Meanwhile, the opposition parties and ruling BJP's ally Shiv Sena have mounted attack on the government, questioning why the old bridge was still under operation. The state government, on the hand, has maintained that an audit of the bridge was conducted well before the monsoon, but the details of the report are unavailable as of now, according to Times Now. According to reports, turbulent flow of the Savitri river as it continues to overflow along with poor weather conditions is affecting the work of the rescue teams. Maharashtra chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis has reached at the spot of accident to take stock of the situation while the rescue operations are underway. The bridge is located on the NH-17 connecting Panvel, on the outskirts of Mumbai, and Goa. At least two buses and several other vehicles went missing near Mahad city after a bridge on Savitri river collapsed on Wednesday due to torrential rains in the Konkan region. "As of today, we have no problem," Dhavalikar said. The minister also said that every bridge in Goa was being examined by engineers from his department every six months. Dhavalikar also said that there were three major bridges in Goa's Bicholim, Sanvordem and Quepem areas which were constructed during the Portuguese era. He was asked by reporters, if negligence on part of the Maharashtra government could have led to the major accident along the National Highway 17. Speaking to reporters at the state legislative assembly complex, Dhavalikar said: "Negligence cannot be of the Maharashtra government. It is a department's mistake, engineers' mistake." As a result of the bridge collapse in the early hours of Wednesday, two buses and several vehicles were reported missing with at least 20 persons missing. Goa PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Wednesday faulted government engineers for negligence which could have led to the collapse of a British era bridge over the Savitri river in Maharashtra. Two state transport buses with 18 passengers and four crew members had gone missing in the Mahad tragedy, as reported by PTI Twelve among the passengers travelling on the two buses that got washed away have been identified, according to a Hindustan Times report. Seven passengers were identified from the Jaigad-Mumbai bus that departed on Tuesday evening at 6.30pm while five people aboard the Rajapur-Borivali bus have been identified, the report said. GoM will carry out a safety audit of all such old bridges: CM @Dev_Fadnavis at Mahad Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra fadnavis has announced a probe into the Mahad bridge collapse tragedy while he was visiting the city to take stock of the situation. Fadnavis has also said that a state-wide safety audit of all old bridges after Wednesday's tragic incident, adding that the rescue operations will go on untill the search is over. Two bodies have been recovered in the search operations following the collapse of a British-era bridge, on the Mumbai-Goa highway across the river Savitri. The incident happened at around 2 am on Tuesday. Reports also added that at least around 20 people are missing. Four NDRF teams comprising 115 personnel are deployed in the rescue ops, including divers who have been pressed into rescue operations, Rajnath Singh said in parliament. The teams have reached the spot and rescue operations have begun. Mumbai-Goa highway bridge collapse: 2 bodies have been recovered so far, says Raigad district collector, Sheetal Ugale ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 The Coast Guard has joined the rescue operation, as reported by Times Now. With the Prime Minister having been apprised of the situation, the centre too has offered assistance to the state government. The Navy has also been pooled in as two aircraft and a Chetak helicopter are also deployed to expedite the rescue process. Pictures of the bridge that collapsed on Mumbai-Goa highway in late night hours. Rescue operations underway pic.twitter.com/Q2Y1kebJAj ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 Pics of Indian Navy's all weather aircraft deployed at site of bridge collapse in Raigad (Maharashtra)for search ops pic.twitter.com/ifnaIx7ohs ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 Speaking on the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis has said that all efforts are being made to locate the two buses save any survivors. A massive search operation is underway, and the Prime Minister has assured of all help from the Centre, Fadnavis said, as reported by ANI. Minister for Public Works Eknath Shinde told reporters that a structural audit of all bridges in Maharashtra been ordered after the tragedy. The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also told the House that the Centre is coordinating with the state government and will provide the necessary help for the rescue operations. Singh made the statement after Vinayak Raut of Shiv Sena raised the issue, saying the incident happened as the bridge remained operational even though it was considered unsafe and another bridge over the river was constructed by the state government. The Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today sought a judicial probe into the Mahad tragedy. Raising the issue in the State Assembly, former CM Prithviraj Chavan also said a case under IPC section 302 should also be filed against PWD minister Chandrakant Patil. Meanwhile, Raigad SP, Buvez Haque has said that the rescue operations are being impeded due to continuing heavy rainfall and swift flow of the Savitri river but NDRF teams but all possible efforts were being made to locate any survivors, as reported by Times Now. He also advised people to refrain from going out while heavy rainfall continued. He also said that helplines are active to provide any information. According to reports on CNN-News18, two Maharashtra government-run buses, which left Chiplun and Ratnagiri, are said to be missing while several cars have been washed away. The two buses, that went missing, included 18 passengers, two drivers and two conductors. The bridge that collapsed was about 5 km from the town of Mahad in Raigad district, about 170 kilommtre south of Mumbai. Officials told media that flooding of the river Savitri could be the reason behind the collapse. However, NDRF DG also said that rescue operations will be hampered due to continuous rainfall. "Heavy rains are likely to hamper rescue operations. We hope conditions improve when our teams reach the collapse site." Chetak helicopters were deployed at around 8 am on Wednesday to carry out search operations to look for those who were swept away after the collapse. The local deputy superintendent told Firstpost that 80 percent of the bridge had collapsed due to heavy rainfall. #BREAKING | Eyewitness says two cars were washed away during the bridge collapse; No casualties confirmed yet in Maharashtra bridge collapse News18 (@CNNnews18) August 3, 2016 #UPDATE | 2 state buses missing, reports suggest many cars have been washed away News18 (@CNNnews18) August 3, 2016 One team deployed with 50 people from Pune; Heavy rains are going to hamper rescue operations, says NDRF DG OP Singh to CNN-News18 News18 (@CNNnews18) August 3, 2016 "The bridge which collapsed was constructed during the British era. One eyewitness said two cars were washed away. We are trying to confirm the same. The operations are underway. NDRF teams are on their way from Pune," Raigad Collector Sheetal Ugale told CNN-News18. "After talking to NHAI, the traffic has been moved to the new bridge which has been built parallel to the damaged bridge," Sheetal added. Pictures from the spot of bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa highway in Raigad (Maharashtra) pic.twitter.com/wSM49SYkbn ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 There are two parallel bridges on the river Savitri. The bridge which collapsed was constructed during the British era and could not withstand the tumultuous rain, news reports said. According to reports, traffic has been redirected from the spot. Officials are expecting fewer casualties and lesser damage since the collapse happened late in the night. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted that the primary reason for the collapse seems to be "the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar." Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with Fadnavis and was updated with all the details related to the incident. Spoke to Raigad SP & Collector about bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa highway. Administration has rushed to spot for rescue&immediate measures. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 There were 2 parallel bridges : one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one got collapsed. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 Traffic on highway is stopped. Administration is ascertaining strength & stability of new bridge. Once confirmed, traffic will be resumed. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 There is no confirmed assessment about casualties since the area is very dark. Administration will ensure speedy rescue & relief operations. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 Raigad Collector confirms that one way traffic is now resumed on the new bridge. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016 Meanwhile, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan demanded judicial enquiry in this incident and members of the Opposition also demanded for the resignation of the PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil. Heavy rainfall has been going on over coastal Maharashtra for the past few days and the last 24 hours have seen torrential downpour that pounded the state. With 389 mm of rain, Mahabaleswar received the highest rainfall in the country in a span of 24 hours from 8:30 am on Monday, Skymet reported. This was also the highest rainfall recorded in 24 hours during the last 10 years. With inputs from PTI New Delhi: The NIA will soon take over the case of missing Kerala youths who are believed to have joined banned international terror group Islamic State after the state police completed its investigation. Official sources said Kerala police had meticulously investigated the case and identified at least 21 youths who have gone missing from the state. Among them, 17 were from Kasaragod and four from Palakkad. They include four women and three children. Two women were among those missing from Palakkad. The sources said the Kerala police had finished its part of the investigation and the case was now being transferred to the NIA for carrying out the probe overseas. The exercise will include collecting of evidence from foreign countries. A notification is expected to be issued this week under which all the nine cases registered by the Kerala police will be handed over to the NIA, they said. The probe by the state police was wound up with the arrest of a 29-year-old Bihari woman, suspected to be involved in recruitment of young men and women from Kerala for Islamic State. She was taken into custody just before she was to board a plane to Kabul where her husband, also allegedly linked to Islamic State, is currently located. The woman, identified as Yasmin Ahmed, was arrested by a special team of Kerala police from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi when she was about to leave the country for Kabul on Sunday, police said. The woman is the second wife of main accused Abdul Rashid, a native of Kasaragod, and is alleged to have played a key role in the recruitment of state youths in Islamic State, sources said. The NIA and police forces of various states have so far arrested 54 youths across the country after registering cases to investigate their alleged links with Islamic State. The terrorist outfit is using various platforms to propagate its ideology and to attract young people from across the world. New Delhi: A demand for a special audit by CAG into the third-party administrator (TPA) rejecting or slashing medical insurance claims of policy holders in contravention of law, was made in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) said as per insurance regulator rules, TPAs cannot slash or reject a claim. "It is the right of insurance company." But thousands of mediclaim insurances are rejected or slashed by TPAs, he said alleging a nexus between TPAs and the insurance companies. He demanded a special CAG audit into the medical claims accepted and rejected to bust the racket. A third-party administrator (TPA) is an organisation that processes insurance claims or certain aspects of employee benefit plans for the insurer. Javed Ali Khan (SP) raised the issue of Railways deciding to terminate 16 passenger train services and curtail service of three others in the Moradabad division of Uttar Pradesh. Terming the step as 'anti-people and anti-poor', he said when the Rail Budget was presented, it was dubbed as 'janta ka budget' or people's budget. But the actions are anti-people, Khan said. He sought to know when the full services will be resumed as the order issued says these have been put off indefinitely. Viplove Thakur (Cong) raised the issue of a school girl committing suicide in Ghaziabad when teachers of a private school she studied in, allegedly harassed her parents for non-payment of school fee. The new education policy, she said, should check private schools and not merely pay lip-service. Md Nadimul Haque (TMC) raised the issue of adulterants being used in food articles including fruits and vegetables, that caused cancer and other diseases. Stating that healthy people led to a healthy nation, he said alarming levels of pesticide residues were being found in food articles and steps should be taken to check adulteration. He then went on to mention about the recent controversy surrounding instant noodles Maggi saying it was banned in several parts of the country but his party-ruled West Bengal gave it a clean chit. Later the ban was lifted, he said. "You should be strict but you should not go on a witch hunt. Genuine manufacturers have to be protected," he said. This drew a remark from Deputy Chairman P J Kurien which he himself later expunged it saying it was an off-the-cuff remark. Supporting Haque on adulteration, K K Ragesh (CPI-M) said 18.67 per cent samples collected of fruits and vegetables contained pesticide residues, which was alarming. He wanted the FSSAI to intervene and take necessary preventive steps. Asking the Health Minister to pay special attention to the issue, Kurien said "Kindly note and take stringent action." Senior SP leader Naresh Agrawal said every year 1.5 lakh people are killed in road accidents. He suggested that the National Highway Authority of India should earmark a part of the cess it collects towards road safety. He pointed out that despite a decision that there would be a trauma centre every 50 kms on national highways, no action has been taken yet. Agrawal also sought helmets for two-wheeler riders to be made compulsary across the country. Renuka Chowdhury (Cong) highlighted the problems faced by farmers in Telengana in getting bank loans and asked the government to extend the date for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna. T Subbarami Reddy (also Congress) raised the issue of missing children, saying if the missing children are not traced, they become anti-social elements or made beggars. Jharna Das Baidya (CPI-M) raised the issue of child trafficking in different parts of the country and asked the government to take steps not only to recover the missing children, but also prevent such incidents. DMK member Kanimozhi highlighted the problem of bonded labour in the country. Madhusudan Mistry of Congress raised the problems being faced by people affected by the construction of Narmada dam project in Gujarat. BJP member Vinay P Sahasrabuddhe made a case for focussing on development of tourism to inculcate a sense of participation among people. Mumbai: Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of "shielding" junior Housing Minister Ravindra Waikar, who is facing allegations of land grab, and alleged that a relative of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was also involved in "amassing" vast land. Nirupam, who had earlier alleged that Waikar misused his office to get slum rehabilitation contracts, claimed at a press conference that he had documents in his possession to support his charge. "I have the '7/12' (land title document) papers which prove that a relative of Uddhav Thackeray and Ravindra Waikar are involved in amassing vast tracts of land in Konkan region. They bought almost 110 acres of land at Korlai village in Murud taluka in Raigadh district," Nirupam told a press conference. Uddhav Thackerays wife, Rashmi, and Ravindra Waikars wife, Manisha, had jointly purchased and co-owned a property in Raigads Korlai village, the documents reportedly show. Nirupam demanded that the "source of funding for purchasing the land" be probed. Stating that he is not against anybody from political class doing business or having personal ties, he said there is a "conflict of interest" involved in this matter. Nirupam had earlier accused Waikar of "usurping" 20 acres of land in city's green lung Aarey Colony and misusing his official position to secure a slum redevelopment project contract for a firm in which he is a partner. Waikar had dismissed the allegation, saying it was part of a political game to defame him. Nirupam alleged that Fadnavis has "misled the legislature" on the issue by saying that no irregularities were found against Waikar and demanded an investigation into the issue. When contacted, Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said, "My party did not want to offer any comment on the issue at this moment." Last week during the Assembly, Devendra Fadnavis assured the Legislative Council of verifying the proofs against the "tainted" ministers and taking action against them, in a bid to pacify the Opposition, which has had refused to let the House function for three consecutive days over the issue. "The ministers have explained their stand on the charges levelled against them. The Leader of the House has answered as well. Yet, the Opposition is unsatisfied with our replies which were based on proofs as well," Fadnavis said. "However, we are ready to examine all the proofs submitted by the Opposition and verify them. If any truth is found in them, we won't hesitate to take immediate action against the concerned ministers," he said. New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was taken ill during a roadshow in Varanasi and forced to return to the national capital, was on Wednesday "stable" and has been shifted to Ganga Ram Hospital in west Delhi. Gandhi was admitted to the Army's Research and Referral Hospital here late Tuesday last night due to high fever. The 69-year-old Congress chief returned here by a chartered flight close to midnight after she had to abandon the 8-km roadshow in Varanasi midway due to illness. Gandhi has been shifted to Gangaram Hospital as she had earlier also undergone treatment there, sources said. Earlier in the day, AICC media cell in-charge Randeep Surjewala had said that she is stable and is recovering under medical supervision. "Yesterday itself, she had said that she would return to Varanasi to meet the people and to have 'darshan of the historical temple of Kashi Vishwanath Ji'. On return, she was admitted to hospital in Delhi, is stable and is recovering under medical supervision", he had said in a statement. The Congress president is overwhelmed by the concern and affection of fellow countrymen and crores of Congressmen and has thanked everyone for their good wishes, he had said. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, were by her side. Her son-in-law Robert Vadra also visited her. Senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had on Tuesday said that her condition was "stable" after she suffered a bout of "dehydration, vomited and had fever" in Varanasi. Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning to assess the condition of Indians who have lost their jobs. As Union Minister Sushma Swaraj promised in the Parliament, the government will also make arrangements to bring back Indians, who want to return home. Arrival & early morning start to the work. With the dependable team @CGIJeddah #NoIndianLeftBehind pic.twitter.com/s5e1SvyFzt Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) August 3, 2016 While addressing the Rajya Sabha on Saturday, Swaraj said that she was sending Singh to Riyadh and that the government has ensured rations to all those living in camps there. My colleagues @Gen_VKSingh will go to Saudi Arabia to sort out these matters and @MJakbar will take up with Kuwait and Saudi authorities./5 Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016 Responding to a tweet by Imran Khokhar, Swaraj asked the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to serve food to Indians in Jeddah. Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar is also in talks with the Saudi and Kuwait governments for the evacuation of Indians who want to return. We have asked the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to serve you food in Jeddah. /1 @Imran_khokhar84 Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016 Swaraj assured the Rajya Sabha that she was personally monitoring the situation and that no Indian worker rendered unemployed will go without food. The Indian Embassy in Saudi too has collected details of those being laid off. Akbar also met Saudi Ambassador Saud bin Mohammed Al Sati and discussed the difficulties being faced by Indians who have lost their jobs. Parliament lauded Swaraj during the Monsoon Session for her commendable effort to help Indians stuck in Saudi Arabia. However, this is not the only time when the Indian government has planned and executed a major rescue mission. Here are some others. Operation Sankat Mochan In 2016, India launched Operation Sankat Mochan to evacuate Indians from South Sudan. Around 146 Indians were evacuated. The evacuation was planned in coordination with the local authorities, as well as the support of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. The entire operation took place under the supervision of Swaraj, who had formed a high-level task force to monitor the situation in South Sudan. Indian nationals - Pls move out of South Sudan. We hv sent two aircrafts. If situation deteriorates, we will not be able to evacuate u.Pl RT Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 14, 2016 Operation Rahat India evacuated around 4,000 Indians from war-torn Yemen in 2015. India also received a request from 26 countries, including the United States of America, for help to evacuate their nationals as well. MEA Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted the list of countries that had asked for assistance. Requests for Indian assistance in evacuation from Yemen keeps growing. On last count 26 requests received. pic.twitter.com/hn3TScsvFh Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 6, 2015 The massive evacuation operation that India launched in Yemen was termed Operation Rahat. Some Pakistani nationals were also rescued by Indian forces during the operation. As Firstpost had reported earlier, the Indian government had told the US that it will help rescue American citizens in Yemen. Despite a no-fly zone enforced in Yemeni airspace by international coalition, India requested Saudi Arabia to allow aerial sorties to Saana on daily basis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too tweeted about the operation. Salute the services of our civilian & defence officials & organisations in helping evacuate our citizens from Yemen. Continue your efforts! Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2015 India completed its air evacuation operation on 9 April. "The entire evacuation effort has resulted in the evacuation of over 5,600 persons. These include over 4,640 Indian nationals and about 960 foreign nationals from 41 countries," the External Affairs Ministry said. The evacuation operation from Yemen is over. General V.K.Singh is returning tonight. We are closing our Embassy there. Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 9, 2015 In January 2015, around 1,000 Indians were evacuated from Ukraine after the External Affairs ministry made arrangements to get them to Kiev. The Indian mission in Ukraine facilitated this evacuation from the restive eastern region of Lugansk to Kiev. In 2014, around 4500 Indians including 750 nurses were evacuated from Libya. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval successfully negotiated the release of 175 Indians including 46 nurses from Iraq. With inputs from agencies. Thousands Download Movie Proving God Exists; 'Atheism is Dead!' Claims Producer Contact: Jen Thompson, Living Waters Publications, 800-437-1893, jthompson@livingwaters.com LOS ANGELES, Aug. 3, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Within two days of its release, thousands have purchased an early viewing of a one-hour movie that its producers claim destroys atheism with one scientific question. The film, "The Atheist Delusion," will be released on YouTube in two months. To view high resolution image click here The executive producer, Ray Comfort, said, "Just a few years ago atheism was entering the Promised Land. Books by new atheists such as Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, and Sam Harris were topping the New York Times Best Seller list. However, the landscape seems to have drastically changed. Hitchens has sadly passed away, Dawkins has suffered a stroke, and Harris has fallen from favor after being accused of racism and bigotry. And the much anticipated 2016 Reason Rally, which organizers expected would draw 30,000 atheists to Washington, D.C., managed to attract a mere 2,000, by some atheist estimates. "It seems the atheists have argued their case in the public forum and it was dismissed for lack of evidence," Comfort noted. "People have more sense of reason than atheists give them credit for." Comfort, whose movies have been seen by millions, believes his film is the final nail in the coffin for atheism, adding, "The atheist's pretense is over. The movie provides irrefutable scientific proof of the Creator for those who will listen. Watch it at AtheistMovie.com and bow for a moment of science." Official Trailer: youtu.be/Awpzsi4YUHs Press Room: www.atheistmovie.com/press For a review screener and interviews with Ray Comfort, contact Jen Thompson: jthompson@livingwaters.com Share Tweet AIADMK is all set to move six amendments in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Constitutional Amendment Bill to help its passage in the Parliament. #BREAKING | AIADMK to move 6 amendments in GST Constitutional Amendment Bill News18 (@CNNnews18) August 3, 2016 Tamil Nadu was the only state that had raised objections to the bill. Virtually all states have supported the idea of GST except the southeastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu which has some reservations," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said. The suggestions by the state government were noted by the Punchhi committee. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 14 June and presented a 29-point memorandum, reported The Indian Express. She reportedly asked Modi to accept the suggested amendments made by her government to the GST Bill. She had also said that the GST, in its proposed format, would affect the autonomy of the state government. At the recently-convened Inter-State Council meeting chaired by Modi, Jayalalithaa said that the Punchhi Commission has made certain recommendations that fully support the stand taken by the Tamil Nadu government, reported Business Standard. Tamil Nadu's position on GST implementation is well known, and I do expect that our proposals will be considered favourably," Jayalalitha said. AIADMK plays a crucial role in the Rajya Sabha with its share of 13 members. The major concerns regarding the GST are about the impact on the fiscal autonomy of the states and the huge permanent revenue loss. Tamil Nadu is a major manufacturing and exporting state and the revenue loss to the state on account of GST is estimated to be about Rs 9,270 crore annually. Jayalalithaa had written letters to Modi listing out 10 points which were not in favour of Tamil Nadu. India Today quoted an AIADMK spokesperson as saying, Out of the 10 issues, there are still three key issues that remain to be resolved, as far as Tamil Nadu government is concerned. Tamil Nadu is a producing and exporting state. We produce 50 percent more than what we consume. So our needs are unique. One of the demands of the state has been to ensure that revenue be neutralised. Hundred percent compensation to states for revenue loss, subjecting polluting raw and finished materials, petroleum products, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to non-rebatable levy are some of the other demands. These are in consonance with the recommendations of the committee. Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh Raman Singh, on Wednesday, said that the Centre has assured help to states for the first three years in case of a loss. Sure,GSt will be passed, Centre has assured that it will help states for first 3 years in case of loss: Raman Singh pic.twitter.com/f3hcWZ6doa ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 With inputs from agencies Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is a busy man, what with running a state government, bailing out party members and Parliamentary Secretaries, wooing Navjot Singh Sidhu and launching new attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If he chooses to spend the next 10 days at a meditation centre in Dharamsala, a little 'Eat Pray And Love' style, some would say he has earned it. Kejriwal arrived at a vipassana or meditation centre in Dharamkot, upper Dharamsala on Monday for a 10-day session. But before that, he ensured that he took one last dig at the BJP government and Anandiben Patel's resignation. During this period, Kejriwal will not be allowed to take up any official work and will not have access to newspapers, television and any other form of media. This would certainly be a challenge for the chief minister, who has a flair for the dramatic. The participants at the centre will have to meditate from 4.30 am till 9.30 pm. Pawan Sharma, in-charge of the vipassana centre, said Kejriwal would be briefed about his daily routines on Monday, and the course would start on Tuesday morning, and continue till 11 August evening. The centre in-charge said that Kejriwal will have to follow the schedule and will not be allowed to interact with the other participants. They can only direct their questions to their teacher at specified intervals. During the course Kejriwal would stay without his staff. "Nobody would be allowed to meet Kejriwal during the course. Even his security would not stay with him at the centre," Sharma added. The participants will be served simple meals, comprising rice and dal. According to the Himachal Vipassana Centre, the 10-day course is an introductory one to vipassana where the technique is taught step-by-step every day. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will be in-charge of the government till then. This is, however, not the first time that the AAP leader has taken some "me time". In March 2015, he had gone for a similar session after hectic campaigning for Lok Sabha elections in May 2014. He had gone to a naturopathy institute on the outskirts of Bengaluru for a 10-day treatment of his persistent chronic cough problem and other ailments. Kejriwal, who suffers from chronic cough and asthma, was in fact advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go for holistic treatment, according to The Economic Times . Though not much is known about chief ministers going on a break when in office, Kejriwal has time and again proved that he likes to do things differently. The only other politician whose holidays are as widely speculated about is Rahul Gandhi's. While Kejriwal goes through vipassana, in his absence the nation can only ruminate on what fresh drama a rejuvenated Kejriwal will unleash. With inputs from agencies The Congress rank and file in Telangana has got a tongue-lashing from the high command over its failure to protest against the anti-Dalit remarks made by Raja Singh, BJP MLA from Hyderabad. The riot act was read out to the top leadership of the state unit on Wednesday morning and office-bearers were told to shun their laidback approach and get their hands dirty on the field. On Sunday, Raja Singh had put out a video on his Facebook page, calling Dalits who indulge in cow slaughter 'galeez' (filthy). Justifying the assault on Dalits in Una in Gujarat by cow vigilante groups, Raja Singh said, "Those Dalits who were taking the cow, the cow meat, those who were beaten, it was a very good thing to happen." Now for a party like the Congress, that had gone big on the Rohith Vemula suicide at Hyderabad Central University, the 38-year-old MLA's anti-Dalit outburst was an issue being given to it on a platter. Especially since Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had come twice to the University earlier this year, identifying himself and the party closely with the Dalit cause. It is surprising that no one in the Telangana Congress even thought of reacting to Raja Singh's comments coming so soon after the huge Dalit rally in Gujarat on Sunday and the national outrage over the beating up of Dalits in Una. What has upset the high command more is that the Aam Aadmi Party, which has a negligible presence in Hyderabad, staged a protest with Delhi leader Somnath Bharti flying in to lead it, but Congress remained in silent mode. The Congress has now been ordered to lay siege to Raja Singh's home and/or the BJP office in Hyderabad on Thursday with at least 5,000 activists. The cadre has been told to "make its presence felt", leaving the how to do that, open to interpretation by those on the ground. An emergency meeting has been called on Wednesday afternoon, where Raja Singh's Facebook video also will be played out for those who have not even seen it yet. Sources in the Congress point out that Goshamahal, the assembly constituency that Raja Singh represents, was till 2014, a Congress stronghold, with former State Minister Mukesh Goud representing it. Which is why Delhi is seething at the state and city unit missing out on an opportunity to corner the BJP. The party bosses in Hyderabad have also been told to file a case under the SC/ST Atrocities Act against Raja Singh, since the recording of the video took place in the city. The intention is to test the Telangana Rashtra Samiti government and grab the opportunity to attack K Chandrasekhar Rao if his police do not take action against Raja Singh. The BJP is yet to make up its mind on how to deal with its rabble-rouser MLA. For now, it has asked him to lie low and he won't be sharing the stage with Prime minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Hyderabad on 7 August. If the BJP feels the heat of the protests, it may issue a show cause notice to Raja Singh. But the party is divided over whether Dayashankar Singh-like treatment should be meted out to him. The BJP leader from Uttar Pradesh was expelled from the party for calling Mayawati a prostitute. That is because Raja Singh even otherwise does not care much for the party apparatus in Telangana. He operates on his own and with his strident Hindutva image, is quite popular among right-wing voters in Goshamahal, a predominantly Hindu constituency. Raja Singh also has a strong backing of the RSS and with his involvement in gau rakshak dals, he is known to take a strong anti-Dalit and anti-Muslim stance, especially when it comes to cow slaughter and terrorism. Many in the party point out that should the BJP want to run a polarised election campaign in UP, Raja Singh with his divisive rhetoric may just be the tonic the doctor would order for Amit Shah. By all accounts, it was an impressive road show. The optics were hugely encouraging. But what happened in Varanasi on Tuesday should worry the Congress more. As Sonia Gandhi fell ill midway through the programme and eventually had to be airlifted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital in the Capital via a chartered flight cutting short her Varanasi outreach, it became clear as daylight just how much the moribund party is dependent on its president. The last of the Mohicans capable of bearing the weight of Gandhi surname. Traversing the same route in the ancient city that propelled bete noire Narendra Modi to power in 2014, an ailing Sonia Gandhi kicked off her party's campaign for the 2017 Assembly polls in a state where it last enjoyed power 27 years ago when mobile phones were unheard of and BR Chopra's Mahabharata was still playing on TV. The setback has been turned around by Prashant Kishor into a catchy slogan 27 saal, UP behaal but there is only so much that a hired poll strategist can do. He can't win you elections. Sonia Gandhi can. Presumably. Which is why against her doctor's advice, a gritty Sonia took part in a roadshow flanked by thousands of fervent Congress workers from the Circuit House to Englishiya Line, a distance of about eight kilometres. Kishor has it covered. The plan is simple. Claim a slice of the Brahmin vote pie that BJP is slowly bleeding away. Woo the Dalits to consolidate the Dalit-Muslim votebank. One of the interesting things about the Congress party is that despite facing a massive erosion of mass base and near total extinction of national footprint, it still retains a core fluidity. This plasticity makes it possible for the Congress to tune its shape and ideology in accord with poll strategies. Simply put, unlike the BJP, Congress can run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. So it can remain a "secular party" for Muslims and yet adopt a soft Hindutva line to woo the Brahmins. Sonia's schedule, therefore, was instructive. The eight-km rally that began at around 2 pm had the first stop at Ambedkar Chowk where the Congress president paid floral tribute to father of the Indian Constitution. Her itinerary also included a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, two meet-the-press events and then a stopover at the statue of former Congress politician Kamlapathi Tripathi, a Brahmin and a local minor deity. UP's five-time MLA Ajay Rai who now represents the Pindra constituency and is known for his organizational strengths, had mobilized a sizeable throng that surged and gave full-throated slogans as Sonia reciprocated with gusto, standing on the SUV door and waving to the crowd that stretched a kilometre beyond her vehicle. From the 'minority' stretch starting from Nadesar to Ghausabad to Pili Kothi where rose petals were showered from rooftops and chants of "Sonia Gandhi-Congress zindabad" rang loud to the "Hindu" areas of Maidagin, Bisheshwarganj where priests stood chanting Sanskrit mantras through blaring loudspeakers, the entire show was impressively planned and executed. But after she had garlanded the Ambedkar statue and before her cavalcade could wind its way towards the Kashi Vishwanath temple she was overcome by high fever and vomiting that triggered a mini-emergency. Sonia was immediately taken to Babatpur airport to take a return flight to Delhi but was admitted to the VIP lounge inside the airport premises and administered intravenous fluids. The nature of the indisposition still remains unclear but the 69-year-old Congress president, whose chartered flight landed in Delhi around midnight before she was taken to the hospital, was reportedly stable. Comments from senior party functionaries and family members indicate the extent to which Sonia stretched herself despite being unwell. UP Congress chief Raj Babbar told Times of India that Sonia had fever for the past three days but had decided to go ahead with the road show."While she was keen on the temple visit, the doctor accompanying her advised against it," he added. Ajay Rai said, "She was running high fever. It was decided that she fly back to Delhi." While waiting with her brother Rahul for Sonia to land at Delhi airport, Priyanka Gandhi said: "She was unwell for a couple of days. But since the programme was there, she was very keen to go. I think it was maybe a little strenuous." Pushing 70 and indisposed, it would have been understandable had Sonia given the road show a miss. But while it shows her commitment and energy, it equally points to the crisis in leadership within Congress. Sonia apparently is keen on her son taking over the mantle but evidently suffers still from a lack of confidence in the president-in-waiting. Despite all the brouhaha, this should worry the party. Despite a broadly perceived parliamentary consensus on the single biggest tax reform bill the GST the AIADMK has put a last minute spanner on the day Rajya Sabha is to debate and discuss the landmark piece of legislation. The party, which has 13 MPs in Rajya Sabha, moved six amendments to be considered by the government when it comes for voting and passage in the Upper House later Wednesday. However, the government is unlikely to yield to the amendments moved by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's party. Some of the amendments moved like imposition of 4 percent additional tax in interstate trade and give the collected money from that 4 percent additional tax to the state from where goods originate sounds unrealistic and would amount to redrafting of the GST Bill. Other demands made by the AIADMK would not be a problem. Jayalalithaa wants that petroleum products, crude oil, tobacco to be out of GST purview. The Modi government has already agreed to keep petroleum, liquor and tobacco products to be out of it. Senior ministers are in touch with AIADMK leaders and hope to find a resolution to the subject by the time it comes for voting in the evening. Even if they don't reach to a mutually acceptable outcome, the, 122nd Constitutional Amendment Bill is all set to be passed. Given a broad understanding on various issues and excellent personal rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, it is understandable that even in case the two parties don't reach to a settlement, the AIADMK would not push things too far and vote against the bill. The party would at best lodge their protest and walk out of Rajya Sabha, which would effectively mean half support. Jayalalithaa's concerns stem from the fact that Tamil Nadu is a manufacturing state and in the GST regime, it is actually the consuming states and non-manufacturing states which will benefit the most. Earlier Maharashtra and Gujarat (when Modi was chief minister) too had raised objections but since the time Modi became Prime Minister, things have changed. Gujarat and Maharashtra both led by BJP are now supporting the bill. For passage of a Constitutional Amendment Bill, the House needs to be in order and the bill and each of its provisions passed not less than half of the total strength of the House (122 of a total of 244) and two-third of present and voting. With BJP and Congress arriving at a negotiated settlement and all other regional supporting it, the passage of the bill should not be an issue. The numbers in Rajya Sabha as on date is self-explanatory. The government on Tuesday circulated certain official amendments to the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014 on GST. The Bill is currently pending in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill was introduced and passed in Lok Sabha in May 2015. It was then referred to a Select Committee of Rajya Sabha which submitted its report in July 2015. With the Bill listed for passage this week, we explain key provisions in the Bill, and the amendments proposed. What is the GST? Currently, indirect taxes are imposed on goods and services. These include excise duty, sales tax, service tax, octroi, customs duty etc. Some of these taxes are levied by the Centre and some by the states. For taxes imposed by states, the tax rates may vary across different states. Also, goods and services are taxed differently. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a value added tax levied across goods and services at the point of consumption. The idea of a GST regime is to subsume most indirect taxes under a single taxation regime. This is expected to help broaden the tax base, increase tax compliance, and reduce economic distortions caused by inter-state variations in taxes. What does the 2014 Bill on GST do? The 2014 Bill amends the Constitution to give concurrent powers to Parliament and state legislatures to levy a Goods and Services tax (GST). This implies that the Centre will levy a central GST (CGST), while states will be permitted to levy a state GST (SGST). For goods and services that pass through several states, or imports, the Centre will levy another tax, the Integrated GST (IGST). Alcohol for human consumption has been kept out of the purview of GST. Further, GST will be levied on 5 types of petroleum products at a later date, to be decided by the GST Council. The Council is a body comprising of Finance Ministers of the Centre and all states (including Delhi and Puducherry). This body will make recommendations in relation to the implementation of GST, including the rates, principles of levy, etc. The Council is also to decide the modalities for resolution of disputes that arise out of its recommendations. States may be given compensation for any revenue losses they may face from the introduction of the GST regime. Such compensation may be provided for a period of up to five years. Further, the Centre may levy an additional tax, up to 1 percent, in the course of interstate trade. The revenues from the levy of this tax will be given to the state from where the good originates. Expert bodies like the Select Committee and the Arvind Subramanian Committee have observed that this provision could lead to cascading of taxes (as tax on tax will be levied).[i] It also distorts the creation of a national market, as a product made in one state and sold in another would be more expensive than one made and sold within the same state. What are the key changes proposed by the 2016 amendments? The amendments propose three key changes to the 2014 Bill. They relate to (i) additional tax up to 1%; (ii) compensation to states; and (iii) dispute resolution by the GST Council. Additional tax up to 1 percent on interstate trade: The amendments delete the provision. Compensation to states: The amendments state that Parliament shall, by law, provide for compensation to states for any loss of revenues, for a period which may extend to five years. This would be based on the recommendations of the GST Council. This implies that (i) Parliament must provide compensation; and (ii) compensation cannot be provided for more than five years, but allows Parliament to decide a shorter time period. The 2014 Bill used the term may instead of shall. The Select Committee had recommended that compensation should be provided for a period of five years. This recommendation has not been addressed by the 2016 amendments. Dispute resolution: The GST Council shall establish a mechanism to adjudicate any dispute arising out of its recommendations. Disputes can be between: (a) the Centre vs. one or more states; (b) the Centre and states vs. one or more states; (c) state vs. state. This implies that there will be a standing mechanism to resolve disputes. These amendments will be taken up for discussion with the Bill in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The Bill requires a special majority for its passage as it is a Constitution Amendment Bill (that is at least 50% majority of the total membership in the House, and 2/3rds majority of all members present and voting). If the Bill is passed with amendments, it will have to be sent back to Lok Sabha for consideration and passage. After its passage in Parliament, at least 50 percent state legislatures will have to pass resolutions to ratify the Bill. Once the constitutional framework is in place, the Centre will have to pass simple laws to levy CGST and IGST. Similarly, all states will have to pass a simple law on SGST. These laws will specify the rates of the GST to be levied, the goods and services that will be included, the threshold of the turnover of businesses to be included, etc. Note that the Arvind Subramanian Committee, set up by the finance ministry, recommended the rates of GST that may be levied. The table below details the bands of rates proposed. Several other measures related to the back end infrastructure for registration and reporting of GST, administrative officials related to GST, etc. will also have to be put in place, before GST can be rolled out. The author is a senior analyst at PRS Legislative. Auto refresh feeds "I will not accept that this problem is just one created by Pakistan or separatists," he said. "You cannot escape the issue by just blaming Pakistan for the problems in Kashmir," he said. "Just because of good tourism in one season in Kashmir, you cannot think you solved the problem. If you do not pay attention to this problem, it will turn into a law and order problem." "There must be a conspiracy being hatched by Pakistan. But you have to look at the measures you are taking to counter it," Yechury told the government in Rajya Sabha. In response, a beleaguered Arun Jaitley said that BJP will take strict action against Dayashankar Singh. "I should tell Mayawati ji that the party shares her grief over this issue, I will look into this matter, we stand with her...I am personally hurt that a BJP party person used such derogatory words against Mayawati," he said. "This is not only a woman's issue. This is a man's issue," said TMC MP Derek O'Brien. Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury stressed on the fact that the man making such remarks was none other than the vice president of the UP unit of BJP and demanded that he be arrested. "A man speaks with such language on the day both houses are discussing issues on violence on Dalits?" she said. "The nation will not forgive BJP for this, especially with what is going in Gujarat," ANI quoted Mayawati as saying. "There are wars of thoughts and ideas in the House, but never have I used derogatory words against anyone ever," she said. "The insulting words used against me are against all of womankind," said Mayawati. "Dayashankar Singh should be arrested. Otherwise, if in response to this people get violent, it will not be on my conscience," she added. UP BJP vice president Dayashankar Singh's cheap remark against BSP chief Mayawati created uproar in the Parliament as Opposition leaders attacked the Modi government over the issue. In response, a beleaguered Arun Jaitley said that BJP will take strict action against Dayashankar Singh. "I should tell Mayawati ji that the party shares her grief over this issue, I will look into this matter, we stand with her...I am personally hurt that a BJP party person used such derogatory words against Mayawati," he said. "This is not only a woman's issue. This is a man's issue," said TMC MP Derek O'Brien. Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury stressed on the fact that the man making such remarks was none other than the vice president of the UP unit of BJP and demanded that he be arrested. "A man speaks with such language on the day both houses are discussing issues on violence on Dalits?" she said. "The nation will not forgive BJP for this, especially with what is going in Gujarat," ANI quoted Mayawati as saying. "There are wars of thoughts and ideas in the House, but never have I used derogatory words against anyone ever," she said. "The insulting words used against me are against all of womankind," said Mayawati. "Dayashankar Singh should be arrested. Otherwise, if in response to this people get violent, it will not be on my conscience," she added. UP BJP vice president Dayashankar Singh's cheap remark against BSP chief Mayawati created uproar in the Parliament as Opposition leaders attacked the Modi government over the issue. "On one hand, BJP did a lot of things to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti and assured Dalits that they will do a lot to celebrate it. On the other hand, Dalits still do not have reservation rights in the private sector," she added. "The legal rights which Ambedkar created for the backward sections of the society will only reach the society when honest work is done for providing those rights to them," she said. "Even after the country got independence, whether it is Congress rule or BJP rule, the sad truth is that the Dalits are still suffering," Mayawati said in the Rajya Sabha. "There is an urgent need to change the mindset of the major political parties of the country towards Dalits," she said. "I have to tell the Union government that this is a serious matter. I ask the government to give justice to the Dalit victims in Gujarat. It is not enough to just send the Gujarat CM to meet them. Action needs to be taken against authorities which were negligent. They should be arrested," she said. "In the name of protection of cows, a lot of unfair things are being done. Injustice against Dalits is being done in the name of protection of cows," said Mayawati in the Rajya Sabha. Crimes against Dalits being done in the name of cow protection, says Mayawati "Instead of making Dalits a political weapon, Congress, BJP and other parties should be reminded that they should rise above petty politics and work for the development of backward sections," she said. "The victims often do not get justice in case of a CID probe," said Mayawati in the Rajya Sabha. "Gujarat government did not act quickly enough. It was only when the media picked up this issue that some action was taken." "This Una incident case should run in a fast track court. We also demand that one of the judges should be a Dalit," Mayawati said. "Forget about Dalits getting justice, even their FIR is not filed many times and the latest example is the Una (Gujrat) incident," she also said. Deputy Chariman PJ Kurien denies that the House is taking the subject lightly. Rajya Sabha is currently debating Aam Aadmi Party lawmaker Bhagwant Mann's video of him entering Parliament by crossing several security layers. Mann then posted it on social media, inviting attack from MPs across party line, who termed his act as a security breach. In the video, which went viral, Mann was seen showing entry gate through which MPs enter Parliament House and saying how strong is the security. "The car is registered with the Lok Sabha. It has a censor, which has the vehicle details. As soon as so you come near the gate, the censor identifies the car and announces the name and number of the car," Mann says in the video with him crossing several layers of the security. On the fifth day of the Monsoon Session (Friday), Aam Aadmi Party MLA Bhagwant Mann's filmed a video entering Parliament by crossing several security layers, which eventually caused uproar in both the Houses. Mann, who posted it on social media, invited attack from MPs across party line, who termed his act as a security breach. As soon as the House assembled, she informed it about the action being taken on the issue which had led to the adjournment of Lok Sabha proceedings on July 22. "The inquiry committee shall inquire into the serious security implications and related aspects.... (and) suggest suitable remedial measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future and recommend appropriate action in the matter," the Speaker said. The member is "advised not to attend the sittings of the House" until a decision is taken in the matter, Mahajan said. Mann was not present in the House. The panel has also been asked to "suggest remedial measures" so that such episodes are not repeated. Mahajan has formed the nine member panel headed by BJP MP Kirit Somaiya which includes Anandrao Adsul (Shiv Sena), Meenakshi Lekhi, Satya Pal Singh (both BJP), B Mahtab (Biju Janata Dal), Ratna De Nag (Trinamool) and K. C. Venugopal (Congress) and other members. Therefore, the "act of the member" has put the security of the Parliament in peril, she said. Mahajan said she had consulted leaders of all political parties and everyone supported her actions on this issue. Describing Parliament as "sanctum sanctorum" of democracy, Mahajan recalled that on 13 December, 2001, security personnel had sacrificed their lives protecting the parliament and after that entire security system was reviewed and overhauled. It put "security of the parliament in peril", Mahajan added. Mann has been asked to appear before the panel by 10.30 am tomorrow and make his submission. Addressing the Lok Sabha as soon as it reassembled after the weekend break, Mahajan said taking audio video footage of security zones in the parliament by Punjab's Sangrur MP Mann on July 21 and putting them on social networking site was improper. "The act of the member of audio-visual recording of the Parliament and posting it on the social media puts the security of Parliament in peril," the Speaker said, adding that several members had expressed concern over the issue on Friday last. The panel, chaired by BJP member Kirit Somaiya, has been asked to submit its report by August 3, while Mann has time till tomorrow morning to submit his explanation to the committee. Acting tough, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today said AAP MP Bhagwant Mann's videography of the Parliament House complex had put its security "in peril" and asked him not to attend the House till a decision is taken on the matter while setting up a nine-member panel to probe the issue. The Lok Sabha is likely to discuss The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill today. Apart from this, the Lower House is also slated to discuss The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill. Sasikala Pushpa began crying in the House over the issue of attacks on women in the country. She has alleged that she was harassed and was being forced to quit her post. "So what if we disagreed with you? This is not the country we are used to living in," O'Brien said. "The Prime Minister needs to come in the House and say that we can live in the India we know, the India of unity and diversity." "For Rs 15, they (Dalits) are being killed because they are Dalits. I am a gau sevak. But in the name of gau sevaks, don't cross the line. This is a sitaution which has gone beyond the border of this country. Since they are taking these decisions, they must listen to what the UN had to say about this country," he said. "The curb on religious fundamentalism, this is a dangerous situation. If it happens and happens and happens, it is a decision. This is a decision of this government. Otherwise, the Defence Minister would not have said what he said yesterday," TMC MP Derek O'Brien said, referring to Parrikar's remarks that Aamir Khan needs to be taught a "lesson" because of his remarks on intolerance. An angry Parrikar responded by saying that he did not take the name of any person in the video. "Since the BJP government came to power, they targeted Muslims first. Now, they are committing atrocities against the Dalits. The Prime Minister should come to the Parliament and clarify on what is happening," Mayawati said. CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury responded to Parrikar and said, "What he said is objectionable. That cannot be acceptable. Tomorrow, are you going to threaten me? If he is raksha mantri, kiska raksha ho raha hai?" Defence Minister Parrikar responded to the uproar in the Rajya Sabha over his remarks against Aamir Khan and said, "Let them see the video themselves and make up their minds." "We should think about the respect for women. In Bareilly, a teacher was abducted during daytime. This is not right. The government should speak. Why is the government silent?" she said. "There are rapes taking place against Dalit women everywhere in the country. The government should take this matter seriously," Mayawati said. Naqvi agreed with her and said the government was ready for a discussion. "I am really embarrassed for standing here and talking about the same issue once again, even after the Nirbhaya gangrape...I want a discussion on women's protection. I do not care which place. I do not want politicising of this issue," Jaya Bachchan said in the Rajya Sabha. An emotional Jaya Bachchan got up in the Rajya Sabha and demanded a discussion on the issue of safety of women. "In view of seriousness of matter, Bhagwant Mann is further advised not to attend the sessions of Parliament for further two weeks," she said. "The chairperson (of the committee) has sought extension of time for further two weeks. I have accepted the request for extension," Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said. On the issue of AAP MP Bhagwant Mann being barred from the Parliament for making a video of the Parliament House complex, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that the committee probing this issue had asked for more time. "This legislation will only be passed after a serious discussion. I hope the Finance Minister passes the Bill not on the strength of his numbers, but on the basis of logic," Chidambaram said. "Government tried to pass the GST Bill without the support of the principal Opposition and I am happy they failed," he said. "Many issues are still outstanding issues and still need to be resolved. We had earlier tried to pass the GST Bill with the support of the Opposition and we failed," he said. "I welcome the friendly tone of the Finance Minister's speech. I think the tone and approach has changed over the last few weeks," Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said. "People of India expect low indirect taxes. There are many voices in the government which speak for the corporate, but someone must speak for the people. I am doing that," Chidambaram said in the Rajya Sabha. "When this Bill is passed today, we will prepare for the next stage of the debate, which is the Central GST Bill. I want an assurance from the Finance Minister....This is a very important legislation. I want an assurance that when that Bill is brought, that will be brought as a Financial Bill and not as a Money Bill," Chidambaram said. "Persuade all parties and sections of the people that a standard of 18 percent is the most appropriate," he added. "The worry that we have is creeping taxation. But that is what Parliament is for. Taxation is the exclusive power of the Parliament. It is ultimately Parliament which calls the shots in taxes," he said. "I, on behalf of my party, loudly and clearly demand that the GST rate should not exceed 18 percent," Chidambaram said in the Rajya Sabha. Bill in next stage of GST debate should be brought as a Financial Bill: Chidambaram Chidambaram warns that a rate too high, something like 23 percent, will be inflationary. He insists that the Bill needs to be passed as a finance Bill. The critical point we shouldnt be miss here is that the Congress is pitching for 18 percent standard GST rate and isnt ready to give up on this point in any case. This comment is crucial since the NDA government has not yet arrived on a single rate. Chidambaram attacks the Narendra Modi government, saying it does not care about the problems of the common people. Chidambaram stresses on the point that the rate should be changed only with the permission of Parliament, and thus makes Congress compromise formula that the GST rate should be included in the GST Bill, though his party is willing to compromise on the earlier demand that the rate should be included in the constitution. According to Firstpost Financial Editor Dinesh Unnikrishnan, P Chidambaram has hit the core point in his speech the final GST rate. Chidambaram positions Congress as the voice of poor and emphasises on the fact that standard GST rate should not exceed 18 percent on the lines of what governments chief economic advisor, Arvind Subrmanian, suggested. "It (GST) violates states' autonomy. It results in permanent revenue loss to the state of Tamil Nadu. We strongly oppose this Bill," AIADMK MP A Navaneethakrishnan said in the Rajya Sabha. "We have moved an amendment that the compensation should be for at least 5 years," he added. "Tamil Nadu will lose Rs 9270 crore because of GST. This is not a small amount," he said. "Till date, the revenue-neutral rate has not been fixed by the government," he said, adding that this was a problem in the GST Bill. "Petroleum and petroleum products must be kept outside GST permanently. We can save our people only then," he said. "It is a well-known fact that Tamil Nadu is a manufacturing state. It is also known that this method of taxation is destination-based. We strongly oppose that," he said. He then went on to elaborate on the changes which AIADMK wanted in the GST Bill. "The composition of the GST Council is not fair. The weightage of each state's vote should be in proportion to their representation in the country," said the AIADMK MP in the Rajya Sabha. "Now let me tell you about the ping pong match," O'Brien said "I'm feeling like a teenager in the presence of these senior lawyers," O'Brien said. "There is the politics of the Bill. GST can also be interpreted as the Girgit Samjhauta Tax," TMC MP Derek O'Brien said in the Rajya Sabha. TMC MP Derek O'Brien has always been dramatic in his speeches, and his speech during the GST Bill is a perfect example. The money has to first come from Centre to states and then from states to local bodies. If the availability of funds to local bodies gets delayed, that can seriously hamper functioning of local bodies, Patel cites. In a larger context, this problem is not for MCGB alone. It would apply to all big and small local bodies across the country in the GST regime. Patels remarks suggest the magnitude of challenge the Modi government has while implementing the revolutionary tax regime. Patel raises the challenge of GST implementation. Under the GST regime, when various indirect taxes including sales tax, VAT and Octroi get consolidated in one uniform tax rate, will large local bodies such as MCGB get funds on time for its daily functioning? Patel asks. Firstpost Financial Editor Dinesh Unnikrishnan says that NCP Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel raises an interesting case of states within the states, citing the example of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGB), which under Octroi alone garners about Rs 8000 crore to Rs 9000 crore per annum. "The Prime Minister should come to the House apologise to the nation. If he cannot come, we will be happy even if Finance Minister Jaitley apologises," Budania said. "It was Congress which forced you to follow the right path of this Bill." "At that time, the then Gujarat CM had said that this Bill is against the welfare of the nation. Today, the same man who is now PM, said that this Bill is benefitial for the nation," he said. "When the Congress had brought this Bill to the Parliament, then BJP had protested against it," said Narendra Budania, Congress MP from Rajasthan. PM Modi should apologise to the nation for his U-turn on GST Bill: Congress in Rajya Sabha "We have given this notice for discussion to wake up the government. It is unfortunate that the Taj of Hindustan is burning but the central government cannot feel the heat. Which kind of heat will wake up the Kashmir government?" Azad said. "Today, it has been 30 days since curfew was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir. I do not think that any state in India has seen curfew for 30 days since Independence," Congress leader Azad said. "Please call for an all-party meeting and send a delegation to Kashmir," he said. "This cannot be solved through law and order machinery," he said. "The silence of the Prime Minister is more eloquent than words. He is sending the message that the government does not care about the situation in Kashmir." "This is one of the most grave situations I have risen in to speak. I have not seen continuous curfew for 30 days in my life. How can we remain silent? More than 1000 incidents of firing have been reported in a month. More than 8000 have been injured. 60 are dead. It is inhuman and criminal. Why are we using pellet guns? I am told that even Israel does not use pellet guns against Palestinians," CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury said. "If you (BJP) were not opposing this Bill at that time, this Bill would have been passed two years ago. So, you are actually responsible for delaying the Parliament passing this Bill, but we are taking the blame," he said. "Why was it that in 2011, some ministers who are sitting on that side were opposing this Bill?" Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said in the Lok Sabha. "Today, the Parliament is going to take a big step for the freedom from tax terrorism," he said. "Some people will know the condition of taxation in our country," he added. "Today is 8 August. On this day many years ago, Mahatma Gandhi had moved the nation with 'Bharat choro' slogan," PM Narendra Modi said in the Lok Sabha. "Therefore, who won and who lost is not a matter of debate," the Prime Minister further said. "But the credit for this Bill does not belong to one party. It belongs to the culture of Indian democracy," Modi said. "It is true that someone created this Bill while someone else nurtured it," he said. "Just as someone gave birth to Krishna and someone else raised him," he said. "The most important requirement was the creation of trust between Centre and the states. The most important thing was to not decide this on the basis of sheer numbers. That is why I have earlier said that democracy is not just about numbers," he said. "We were successful in taking care of a lot of flaws with the GST Bill. 'Ek manch, ek manth, ek marg, ek manzil' is the mantra behind GST which all of us have experienced," the PM said. "Sometimes, there were doubts about the GST. When I was the CM, even I had doubts about GST. And today, because of seeing GST continuously as a CM, my viewpoint changed when I viewed it as Prime Minister," Modi said. "All Centre and states need to unite to create a mechanism for Ek Bharat," PM Modi said in the Lok Sabha. I had different view of GST because I looked at it earlier from the point of view of a CM: PM Modi in Lok Sabha "A message will go to the people through GST that the consumer is the king," Modi said. "GST gives a guarantee of security to small traders and businessmen. It will result in economic growth." "Despite our differences, we made efforts to take GST forward," he said. "A uniformity in the processing of taxation will come through GST." "In the entire discussion of GST, none of us used it as a platform for politics. We rose above politics for the welfare of the nation," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the Lok Sabha. GST will send the message that the consumer is the king: PM Modi in LS "Even during the all-party meeting, I had said that the credit for the GST Bill goes to all political parties," the Prime Minister said. "It is a matter of great strength for Indian democracy that all of us are making efforts to take this forward together," he said. "It is also true that we need to have IT-preparedness and legal preparedness. In the world, even the countries which are praised for their democracy find it tough to deal with Bills," he said. "Because of GST, the taxpayer will realise that he will benefit from honesty. Therefore, we will succeed in bringing down the generation of black money," Modi said. "There will be data integration. Because of a strong cross-checking mechanism, a seamless method which will help in catching any wrongdoing will be created," the PM said. "GST will help in curbing corruption and black money," Modi said. "Corruption will move towards zero because of GST," he said. "When something happens in Africa, the Prime Minister tweets about it. But when the Taj of India is burning, the heat is not reaching the central government," he added. "We were told that he spoke on Kashmir issue in Madhya Pradesh because the CM told him to do so. This shows that the Parliament means nothing to the PM and he would not have spoken on the Kashmir issue if the Chief Minister had not asked him to do so," he said. "This is the fourth time we are asking the Prime Minister to provide a statement in the House," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said in the Rajya Sabha. PM spoke on Kashmir in Madhya Pradesh just because the CM told him to do so: Azad in RS "When you truly feel pain from the heart, it will reach Kashmir," he said. "When you say Kashmir is an integral part of India, it should not only be on paper. There should be integration of hearts and minds. What about the integration between federal and state government?" said Azad. "Law and order in Kashmir in not just in the hands of Jammu and Kashmir police, but also in the hands of paramilitary forces," Azad further said. "If someone says that Mehbooba Mufti should alone solve the problem in Kashmir, that is not possible for her," he added. "Kashmir is secular. The destruction of Kashmiriyat and insaniyat is not happening because of democracy but because of the pellet guns," he said. "There is a difference between communalism and separatism. Militants are also targeting Muslims. Militancy has no religion," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said in the Rajya Sabha. "You can only keep Kashmir in India when you treat Kashmiris as equals," he said. "Shoot the people but do not use pellet guns. Pellet Guns are worse than live bullets. It is worse than killing people," he further said. "The Prime Minister said that the people of the country love Kashmir. But the people of Kashmir should also love the country," JD(U)'s Sharad Yadav said. "Merely repeating what Atal Bihari Vajpayee said is not going to create that trust. Create that trust by stopping the communal polarisation that is taking place in the country," he said. "If everyday you talk about abrogating Article 370, you talk about love jihad, ghar wapsi, are you creating trust?" said Yechury. "Unless you address the central question of the promises made to the people of Kashmir at the time of independence, this problem will not be solved," he said. "The problem today can only be solved if you initiate a political dialogue. I have urging this government that this can only come through with an atmosphere of trust. "The trust deficit exists (in Kashmir) because of the string of betrayals of the promises made," said the CPI(M) leader. He also took a dig at the government's foreign policy and said, "When you want to wish Happy Birthday, you go to Pakistan." "If other governments have engaged in dialogue in the past, what is preventing this government from initiating the political dialogue?" Yechury said. "The threat we face today is not a mere question of autonomy. There is also an orchestrated terrorist threat in Kashmir," he said. "Today, there is an attempt to create dual power in Kashmir," Dasgupta further said. "Let us remember that dialogue cannot be done if we are going to tie the hands of the executive." "While I agree with Sitaram Yechury that we need a form of political approach, the form and time of that approach should be different," he said. "We have been talking about development and healing hearts and unfortunately, we have come across a rather big emotional divide. At an earlier time, it was thought that Article 370 would facilitate the process of integration. But we may have actually hardened the emotional divide," he said. "A lot of the people who have taken to the streets may be spontaneous. But there is also a large degree of pre-meditation in the protests," he said. "That was the death of Burhan Wani. The death of any Indian should be a source of anguish. But Burhan Wani never considered himself an Indian. And what do you say about a person who glamourises terrorism?" Dasgupta said. "The problem we face in Kashmir today is somewhat different from the problems we have faced earlier," he said. "Three months ago, Kashmir was peaceful. We had a unique political experiment. It was an alliance between the Valley and Jammu, something which was unique and encouraging. And then something broke loose," he added. "While we try to evolve a consensus on this issue, we should sometimes be brutally frank about what we are dealing with," Swapan Dasgupta, nominated MP, said in the Rajya Sabha. "I wish people in this Parliament talked about sending a delegation to AIIMS, where a girl injured by pellet guns is admitted," he said. "Why do we only remember Kashmir when it is burning? Guns will not solve any problem," he said. "The people of this country should understand what the problem in Jammu and Kashmir is." "Why wasn't there any problem in Kashmir until 1987?" said a dramatic PDP MP Nazir Ahmad Laway in the Rajya Sabha. Why do we remember Kashmir only when it is burning? asks PDP MP in Rajya Sabha Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia: When we are talking about Swachh Bharat, we should first clean our minds. Fringe elements have now turned into the Centre today. Why the Home Minister didn't visit Rohith Vemula? PM made a strong statement: Shoot me, not the Dalits. But why he didn't include Muslims? Muslims can never be part of Hindu nationalism but they are a part of Indian nationalism. Sexual violence against Dalit women has increased. About eight lakh Dalits are dependent on selling skins, bones of dead cows, what will they do now? AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi: No democracy in the world has prioritise animal life over human life. But the Indian democracy has. Why do gua rakshaks have come to power? The credit goes to the idealogy of ruling party. What right do so-called gau rakshaks have to look at what I eat? NK Premchandran, RSP MP from Kollam: The attrocities against the Dalits is politics. Educational, economical and social upliftment is the need of the poor. We all should work together and committ ourselves in taking action in order to stop the atrocities on Dalit. Also, I would appeal all the state governments to take strictest action against anti-social elements who try to disrupt the harmony of secular fabric of the country. It is pointless to blame the other government. Why did we celebrate Ambedkar's 125th anniversary with such genuinty? Respecting Ambedkar is like respecting India. Seva Bharati, an RSS organisation, is one of the organisations which has been majorly active at the grassroots for the upliftment of Dalits. Dalit community has contributed a lot towards Indian heritage. When India was under the British Rule, no matter how atrocities were inflicted on them, still they stood by India. They never demanded a separate country. We in the government emphathise with the Dalits. On PM Modi's silence, Singh said, "Has any PM spoken during all discussions in Parliament? When PM spoke on the atrocities, and gau rakshaks, I issued an advisory that strict action should be taken against such gau rakshaks. Our biggest challenge is to counter the twisted mentality of the perpetrators. What happened in Una was extremely condemnable. "This is rumour that after BJP came to power that the atrocities on Dalit have increased. Just ask yourselves if this is true. Show me the data records. I don't want to point fingers at any political party. But following figures would explain: In 2013, 39,346 cases were registered against atrocities, 40,300 and 35,564 were registered respectively," Singh said. "We can make India world's best country if we consider humanity above all. There are many articles in our Indian constitution for Dalits. But there is a need for effective laws to act on these articles. Our government is working at socio-economic development of the Dalits." "It is painful that even after 70 years of independence we are still discussing atrocities on Dalits. We cannot deny that there are people from several castes and religion. We should not politicise the atrocities on Dalits," Singh said. On Friday, 12 August, 2016 the bills for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha are Mental Health care Bill,2016 and Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016. Congress leader Anand Sharma said that the government should not be hypocritical. He said, "When administrators have high salary, MLAs have a good rise, why don't we get the same treatment?" Ram Gopal Yadav, SP, Uttar Pradesh raised the issue of the low wages of the members of Parliament. He said, "The pay of the MP's is only a fraction of ministers in Telangana Assembly or Delhi Legislative Assembly. We are asked to reduce our expenditure but we cannot do that when we have to entertain people of our constituency. The rising inflation also makes it difficult for us to sustain ourselves." In the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha Congress leader Shashi Tharoor raised the issue of failing start-ups in India. He said, "The government has given tax incentives to the start-ups but everyone knows that they don't make any money in the first few years. Hence the tax incentives should be given to the angel investors." After GST this is the second resolution which has been adopted unanimously. She added, "This house earnestly appeals to all sections of society in India to work for the early restoration of normalcy and harmony. This is to restore confidence in people and youth in general. The resolution is adopted unanimously." Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan announced that the resolutions proposed on the Kashmir issue has been passed. She said,"This house expresses serious concern over the violence in Kashmir Valley. Everyone here conveys loss of life caused by the deteriorating situation. The house is of the firm view that there cannot be a compromise on security." Dubbing passage of the GST Constitution Amendment Bill as historic, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said that manufacturing taxes and VAT will come down with the new national sales tax but the same for services tax will be decided by states and Centre. The Goods and Services Tax (GST), which will subsume over a dozen central and state levies including excise duty, service tax and VAT, is "perhaps the most important" tax reform, he said soon after Rajya Sabha overwhelmingly voted for the legislation. "Today is a historic day for the reason that Rajya Sabha has passed the GST bill which have been held up for a very long time. All members present at the time of voting, voted in favour of the bill," Jaitley told reporters in Parliament House. Thanking Congress and other opposition parties for supporting the legislation, he said proceedings in the Upper House demonstrated to the world that this is a great day for Indian democracy and Indian federalism. "In fact Indian democracy and Indian federalism are at there very best in as much as all national political parties and regional parties, state governments have come together to usher a major taxation reform.. The government wanted to build a larger consensus, which we succeeded in doing," he said. Asked if the implementation of the GST would mean rise in cost of air travel, mobile bills and eating out because of incidence of service tax going up in the new regime, he said that tax rate would be decided by the GST Council, comprising of the Centre and the states. "Manufacturing taxes will certainly will come down, VAT will come down. What level services taxes are to be kept is a discretion of GST Council. It will depend on what states along with Centre will decide," he later told Times Now. On Congress demand for not converting the supporting GST legislation as Money Bill, Finance Minister said he has not pre-decided on bringing the Bills as Money or Finance Bills. "Once the GST is implemented, it will bring basic changes as far as the Indian tax structure is concerned, it will converge India into one unified market, with one unified tax in the country, it will improve the base of taxation, it will make evasion extremely difficult. "The central and state governments have to work together to make this a great success. Overall, I think we had an excellent debate," he told reporters. He said although every state government is on board in order to implement one of the most important taxation reform in India, the fact is that it has been passed unanimously all regional and national parties have actively supported it. Congress hoped that subsequent legislations for its implementation like CGST and IGST bills would be brought in the Winter Session as financial and not money bills. Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said he was only half satisfied with the Finance Minister's promise made in the Upper House in this regard. "It's a half promise. Therefore, I am half satisfied," he told reporters after the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill. Chidambaram said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has assured that he will hold discussions with the Congress party before bringing the bills. Senior Congress leader and former Law Minister Kapil Sibal cited the example of Aadhaar Bill to claim the new legislations could be converted into Money Bills to block voting. "We have seen the Aadhar Bill was converted into a money bill and we were not given the right to vote on it. We have doubt that this GST bill will also be turned into a money bill whereby a discussion on it will take place in Rajya Sabha but members will not be allowed to vote on it. We are concerned over it," he said. "We hope that it will be a financial bill and there will be a discussion on it and we will be given the right to vote on it," he said. Another Congress member Renuka Chowdhury said, "They have considered many of our aspects. Have to wait and see what happens in the winter session." NCP leader Praful Patel said it is very good that the Constitution amendment bill to bring GST was passed with general consensus. "It is good for the country and states will also benefit, especially those which considered themselves as backward as they will get more revenue. "We hope that the Bill to be brought by government in November will also be passed with general consensus. Finance Minister has given an assurance that whatever bill will be brought, it will be honoured," he said. Earlier in the day, Congress had made it clear to the government that firm assurances for keeping the GST rate capped at 18 per cent and bringing subsequent legislations needed for its rollout as financial bills alone could ensure its support to the long-pending Constitution Amendment bill. "We also demanded an assurance that the CGST and IGST should not be moved as money bill. The Central GST and Integrated GST are bills which will apply on taxpayers, on common man. They must be debated and voted upon by both Houses of Parliament. We hope to get assurance from the Finance Minister. If these assurances are forthcoming, we will be able to support," Chidambaram told reporters. The GST Bill will finally be taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha. India Inc had said it is looking forward to introduction of the much-awaited Goods & Services Tax (GST), saying it would be a very significant step in the field of indirect tax reforms in India. The government has circulated official amendments to the GST bill to drop 1 percent additional tax and include a definite provision in the statute for compensating states for revenue loss for 5 years as it gears up to discuss the long-pending bill in Rajya Sabha. The eleventh day of Parliament's Monsoon Session on Monday began with AIADMK Rajya Sabha member Sasikala Pushpa's statement where she said that she was facing a "life threat" and was being "compelled to resign". Sasikala, who hit the headlines for slapping DMK leader Tiruchi Siva at the airport on Saturday, said: "I am receiving an unconditional apology from Tiruchi Siva. Something was spoken against my party leader and I behaved like that." The parliamentary proceedings over the day saw the passage of the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016, that provide for putting the NEET in place for admission to medical and dental courses across the country from next year; and National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Rajya Sabha. The Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws Amendment Bill 2016 was moved in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passing. Key proceedings/issues discussed in Lok Sabha: Supplementary demands over additional spending The government sought parliament's nod for additional spending of Rs 1.03 lakh crore, though the cash outgo will only be Rs 20,948.26 crore. Presenting the Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2016-17 in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sought parliament's approval for a transfer of Rs 5,000 crore towards National Employment Guarantee Fund and Rs 1,000 crore for providing funds to Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves for Sovereign Strategic Crude Oil Reserve at Vizag, Mangalore, and Pudur. Bill for speedier recovery of bad loans passed The Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws Amendment Bill 2016 was moved in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passing. Piloted by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the bill seeks to amend four laws the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002; the Recovery of Debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993; the Indian Stamp Act, 1899; and the Depositories Act, 1996. Special status: TDP MPs protest in Parliament Unhappy over the Centre's stand on special status to Andhra Pradesh, TDP, a partner in NDA government, staged protests both inside and outside Parliament. Seeking immediate announcement for special status, the MPs of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) tried to disrupt the proceedings in the Lower House. Holding placards and raising slogans in support of their demands, the TDP members in the Lok Sabha began the protest as soon as the house met for the day. They rushed to the speaker's podium, demanding that the government fulfill its commitments under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan repeatedly appealed to members to return to their seats but they continued the protest. The Speaker conducted the proceedings amid the uproar before adjourning the proceedings till 2 pm. Attack on Dalits and Muslims Opposition members expressed concern over growing attacks on Dalits and minorities and called for stern action against cow vigilante groups which have been targeting them. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandopadhyay underlined the need for action against those targeting the Dalits and Muslims to uphold secularism and communal harmony. Key proceedings/issues discussed in Rajya Sabha: GST Bill listed for Wednesday The government has listed the GST bill for discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, hoping it will be passed through consensus, but the opposition Congress said that consultation is still on over the issue and an agreement is not yet finalised. In view of the development, the BJP has issued whip for all its Rajya Sabha members to be present in the house for the next three days. "The GST bill is listed for Wednesday. We hope it will be passed through consensus," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said. Bills to put in place NEET passed The Rajya Sabha passed by voice vote the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016, that provide for putting the NEET in place for admission to medical and dental courses across the country from next year. The bills provide for a Constitutional status to the 'National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and seek to amend the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, and the Dentists Act, 1948. Responding to a debate on the bills in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda said the whole exercise was aimed to stop multiplicity of examinations, to bring transparency to curb corruption and to stop exploitation of students. Uproar over Manohar Parrikar's comments on Aamir Khan Rajya Sabha witnessed a brief uproar by opposition members over alleged remarks by Manohar Parrikar against actor Aamir Khan even as the Defence Minister denied having said what was been quoted to him. During the Zero Hour, Derek O'Brien (TMC) raised the issue of "dangerous" rise in religious fundamentalism in the country, saying the government, ministers and people associated with the ruling party were "shooting their mouths off every day". "The Prime Minister needs to come and say these are in fact mistakes, this is not thinking of the government. Prime Minister come here and assure us that we can live in the India we know Unity in Diversity". As soon as he finished his Zero Hour mention, Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad quoted a report which said 'Parrikar takes a swipe at actor Aamir; those who speak like this must be taught a lesson'. "So may I ask him (Parrikar who was sitting in the House) what lesson he is going to teach us...The entire nation should be told what type of action and lesson he is going to teach the minorities of this conuntry," Azad said. To this, Parrikar said: "I would only say one thing. Let the members see the video...and make up their mind". However, this did not pacify the agitated opposition. Kenny Stinson and Perfect Tym'n Release Tribute Album to Marshall Family This press release has been removed for failure to pay. Christian Newswire extended credit for the distribution of this press release but was not paid for services rendered. Share Tweet Contact: Andrew Brunet, 803-374-4069 New Delhi: Issues ranging from the collapse of a bridge in Maharashtra claiming several lives to the Indo-Bangla land boundary agreement and the peace deal with NSCN(I-M) were raised in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Shiv Sena member Shrirang Barne raised the issue of the collapse of a British-era bridge over a swollen Savitri river on the Mumbai-Goa highway in Raigad district of Maharashtra, in which at least two persons drowned and 20 others were missing as two buses were swept away. He warned that another bridge in Chiplun may face a similar fate and said though the government had started work to widen the highway since 2011, the pace of work in his constituency, between Panvel to Indapur, was slow and no work has been done for the last three years. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress) said although a year has passed since the finalisation of India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement, the enclave dewellers, who chose to reside in India, were being denied basic amenities. Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland People's Front) said exactly a year has passed since the "historic peace deal" between the government and the NSCN(I-M) but there has been "no final settlement" as yet. The former Nagaland Chief Minister said in 1997, a ceasefire agreement was signed between India and NSCN(I-M) and over 100 rounds of talks were held between them. He demanded urgent steps for a speedy solution to the problem. Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader in Lok Sabha, said while government was celebrating 125th Anniversary of B R Amebdkar, copies of his literature was unavailable as the Maharashtra government has not given permission for reprint. Kharge said since July 2014, there has been shortage of the literature and asked the government to give "high priority" to the issue. At this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said he will inform the concerned minister on the matter. Satyapal Singh (BJP) demanded minimum wages for farmers, while his party MP Hukum Singh said over Rs 2,000 crore was yet to be paid to sugarcane farmers in several parts of western Uttar Pradesh. Another BJP MP Satish Kumar Gautam said the compensation given by the Centre after the recent hailstorm in which large quantity of standing crops were destroyed, was yet to be disbursed by the farmers. BJP member Shyama Charan Gupta said Election Commission should count poll expenses of a candidate from the day his name is announced by his party and not from the day it announces the election schedule, as is the practice now. In an apparent reference to the upcoming UP assembly polls for which parties like SP and BSP have declared several candidates, he said they have been canvassing for votes for almost a year ahead of the polls and spending a lot of money whose account has not been kept by the EC. Such a practice also discourages the poor from fighting elections, he said. Sushmita Dev (Cong) objected to an announcement by the official agency tasked with updating citizenship roll in Assam that Bengali-speaking people will not be listed as original inhabitants. It will lead to two classes of citizens, she said, adding that Bengali-speaking people have been staying in Assam since 19th century. Kalyan Banerjee (TMC) accused the Centre of trying to reduce subsidy on kerosene oil available under the PDS and said it should increase PDS quota of oil and reduce its price as well as that of LPG cylinder. Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) said since 2016 was the centenary year of Biju Patnaik, a major road in New Delhi, under the NDMC, be named after him. Anto Anthony (Congress) demanded that the Aranmula village in Pathanamthitta constituency be declared as a heritage village, while Ranjeet Ranjan (Cong) said over 1700 villages have been affected by floods in Bihar. DMK Treasurer MK Stalin on Tuesday slammed the ruling AIADMK government on a number of issues. He asked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to clarify the charges levied by expelled AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa that she was "slapped" by a leader. Pushpa had first rushed into the Well of the House on Monday to get permission to make her statement and then broke down several times as she said she faced death threats from the state government and alluded to her being "slapped by a leader". She, however, did not make it clear who slapped her and when. Raising the issue, Pushpa said, "If an MP is being slapped by a leader, where is human dignity," provoking strong protest from members of her own party AIADMK. The DMK leader further charged the AIADMK government with "water mismanagement" and held it responsible for the dying crops in the state, The Hindu reported. In Erode, to take part in the memorial day event of freedom fighter Dheeran Chinnamalai, Stalin said that the people have placed DMK in a strong position to question the wrongdoings of the ruling party. But the strongest charge Stalin levied on AIADMK and Jayalalithaa was the deteriorating safety of women in Tamil Nadu. Stalin, who also travelled to Coimbatore to participate in a party function, said that women in the state "have no safety or security" referring to the Sasikala Pushpa incident, reported The Times of India. The report also said that Stalin came to the defence of the expelled AIADMK MP Pushpa and asked for the senior leaders of the party to come out with a clarification on the issue. Pushpa, who reportedly slapped DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, was dismissed for bringing "ill fame" to the party and claimed to have faced pressure to quit. She also claimed to have received death threats post the slapping incident. On 25 July, the Upper House of Parliament witnessed chaos over the demand for Special status for Andhra Pradesh. The chaos has had a cascading effect on ties between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra and its ally, the BJP. Following the fruitless debate in the Rajya Sabha, the obviously unhappy TDP supremo and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu voiced his concern over the future of the BJP-TDP alliance. They (BJP) are passing the buck to Congress, Naidu is alleged to have said, while addressing a meeting of the core committee of the party along with TDP MPs at Vijaywada on Sunday. It is a political decision that the BJP has to take and display more statesmanship and political pragmatism than the Congress who played around to gain electoral gains in 2014 polls, he said. TDP MPs, whose adjournment motion on AP's special status rocked the Lok Sabha on Monday were, however, in agreement when Chandrababu rejected options for withdrawal from the NDA government fearing it could be counter-productive. Wait and watch was his advice to partymen who were keen to stage bandhs and dharnas. It is not fair on Arun Jaitleys part to now plead that the Centres hands were tied. It was the BJP which campaigned for special status in the Upper House, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju is said to have told party leaders at the meet. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had told the Rajya Sabha that the demand for special status was under consideration. I am assuring MPs of Andhra Pradesh that the government is committed to whatever has been assured. We are with the people of Andhra Pradesh. Give us some time, he said, continuing what is seen as a non-committal stance of the Centre towards a poll promise. The NDA has compounded the problem for Chandrababu Naidu. In statements made by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Finance Minister Jaitley in Rajya Sabha, he said that while the 13th Finance Commission gave only Rs 69,000 crores to AP, the 14th Finance Commission had given Rs 2,09,340 crores. TDP leaders hotly argue that there is no link between the recommendations of finance commissions. Both Congress and the TDP are a cause of our misery. We are the victims, said TDP leader and Minister Ganta Srinivas Rao. The funds given by Centre are not adequate for even the compound walls of institutions, he said replying to Venkaiah Naidus claim that Rs 2,050 crores were given to AP. Naidu too is in no mood to soft pedal on its ally. The BJP alliance has cost us more than 17 assembly and 4 Parliament seats in the 2014 elections in Telangana and AP, Naidu reportedly said at the meeting. One section of voters (Dalits and minorities) have distanced themselves from the TDP. But in the larger interests of the state, I continued the tie-up. Though TDP wanted to improve its headcount in Rajya Sabha, I gave the seat to Nirmala Seetharaman in 2014, and Suresh Prabhu in 2016 hoping to get more projects for AP, he stated. Opposition and ruling party unite Special status is one issue over which all the warring parties of the southern states come together. Left parties, the Congress and the YSR Congress observed a one-day bandh in 13 districts of AP on Monday and Tuesday. They torched buses, staged dharnas and also blocked roads on the highways. TDP MPs took their battle to the Lok Sabha for the second day on Tuesday. Dharnas and protests have marked the Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra region since Monday wherein markets and schools stood shut and buses were off the roads. Though TDP is officially not participating in the bandh and protests, cadres are supporting the protest. We dont want the people to feel that we are keeping quiet for the sake of the BJP, said senior TDP MLC Jupudi Prabhakar Rao. For two years we begged and cajoled Modi and BJP to do justice for us. But they have turned a blind eye. TDP cadres will support the bandh as even Chandrababu is ready for a face-off with the Centre, he said. Looming unrest Chandrababu Naidu is unhappy over the Centres dilly-dallying in handing special status to AP. His advisers within AP government contend that the lack of special status would upset the apple cart in terms of procuring funds to build the new capital, Amaravati. Special status is guaranteed by the Constitution of India through an Act of Parliament, as in the case of Jammu and Kashmir. However the special category status is granted by the National Development Council, an administrative body of the government, as in the case of north-eastern states and Uttarakhand. Now the NDC is substituted by the Niti Aayog. While special status empowers economic, financial legislative and political rights, the special category status only deals with economic, administrative and financial aspects. A bureaucrat, on condition of anonymity, said, Chandrababu has made huge commitments to investors from Singapore, China, Japan, UK and even Russia. If he fails to get special status by hook or crook, his grand plans for waterways, airports, bullet trains, highways, data warehouses and agricultural marketing will go topsy-turvy, he explained. It is common knowledge in administrative circles that the special category status, promised to the state by the previous UPA government, may not come easy. The Centre told the Lok Sabha in the last winter session that neither Andhra Pradesh nor Telangana meet the criteria for that status. After the Planning Commission was dismantled and substituted with Niti Aayog, both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are forced to wait for the new body to set a new formula to fulfill the mandatory norms under the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014. Telangana and several other small states such as Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttaranchal and Haryana, have staked claim for special status. Special status would exempt them from several economic, fiscal and regulatory prerequisites and labour and fiscal restrictions. Secondly, such a status would make the Centre the custodian of all development activities in these states, without giving the party in power at the Centre no political control on ground. This is why the BJP is treading carefully. Thanks to omission of the previous UPA government in not putting the special status proposal on paper, the BJP is looking to milk the TDP and Chandrababu Naidu for all that the ally is worth. Despite Union Minister and BJP strongman of the south M Venkaiah Naidu oozing confidence over fulfilling all assurances made in Parliament, the power corridors of Delhi spell a different story. TDP leader and Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Y Sujana Chowdary has indicated that with or without the special status, the NDA government is offering an alternative package with incentives like tax concessions to attract investors. Tax concessions to the state would mean there would be no grants in aid but only loan facilitation by the Centre. The Modi government is keen to make Chandrababu Naidus grandiose plans as part of NDAs Make In India campaign, thereby claiming part of the credit. We want AP to grow together with India and become the pilot ground for all global schemes like mega city, smart city, agriculture and IT, instead of its own growth engines, said a senior BJP leader in AP. Both AP and national BJP troubleshooters are unhappy with the TDPs attack on the Centre. They say that the debate has been renewed with the Private Members Bill of a Congress MP in Rajya Sabha KVP Ramachandra Rao. It is a Congress trap to break the BJP-TDP alliance for which the TDP has fallen, said P Mankyala Rao, AP Endowment Minister and a BJP legislator. Countering the claims in Parliament on central funding for capital cities of smaller states, Rao said that hardly Rs 195 crores was given by UPA government for building Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh. But we have given almost Rs 2,050 crores for Amaravati, he said, adding that the Centre has to care for every state and not just AP. Why is the Congress silent now on queries as to non-inclusion of special status in the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014? he questioned. What is clear is that the issue is nowhere near over for now. As allies TDP and the BJP bristle at each other, it is anybodys guess as to who will blink first. Speculations on the next Gujarat chief minister reached a fever pitch when senior BJP leaders met early on Wednesday to discuss, among other things, who will succeed Anandiben Patel. The leaders emerged from the meeting and stated that the resignation of Anandiben was accepted but they remained tight-lipped and instead said that they will announce the name of the new CM soon. Senior party leader Venkaiah Naidu, however, dispelled popular thought and said that BJP chief Amit Shah is not in the race for the post. Gujarat is BJP stronghold and who gets to run it ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls is a crucial question for the party right now. Shah has his plate full with Uttar Pradesh polls just six months away. Although, among the frontrunners, there are a few names which are repeatedly coming up and also seem like very viable options. Here are the people who are being vetted for the coveted post. Vijay Rupani The topmost contender for the CM post, 60-year-old Vijay Rupani is the state president for BJP and a Cabinet minister. Considered the most non-controversial of the lot, Rupani became an MLA for the first time in 2014. He won the bypolls for the Rajkot West seat which was vacated by Vajubhai Vala. Vala became Karnataka Governor later. According to reports, Rupani is pre-approved as the next possible CM by the party and is widely accepted because of his ability "to handle political crisis." Because of this attitude, Rupani was elevated as the BJPs state unit chief while retaining his status as the minister. Party sources admit that Rupanis conciliatory traits and his malleable personae are the main attributes that would see him through as the possible successor of Anandiben. Explaining why Rupani is being considered for the top job, a senior party insider was quoted by The Times of India as saying, "He is articulate, is known to party workers across the state, besides being familiar with the requirements of the organisation and the government." Rupani belongs to the Jain community and hails from Rajkot. Incidentally, Rajkot is the heartland of Saurashtra and the stronghold of Patels, the same community whose virulent agitation exposed the caste fault lines in the state. Rupani's birthday falls on 2 August. If he takes over as the chief minister, it will be a birthday gift by the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a senior BJP leader from Ahmedabad told Firstpost. At a time when the OBCs and Dalits are up in arms in Gujarat, making a CM from a non-OBC community can help in avoiding a tricky situation. Executive Editor of Firstpost Ajay Singh wrote that apart from Rupani's affable attitude, his proximity to the current BJP leadership PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah is well-known. "But that's not the reason why he is most likely to be chosen as chief minister as in Modis politics such a conventional metric does not work," wrote Singh. Nitin Patel His is the second name that comes up for the post as after Rupani, 60-year-old Nitin Patel is the second-in-command in Gujarat. Patel had shown his interest in the CM's post during the 2014 General Elections. According to many media outlets, the issue of who gets to helm Gujarat in 2017 Assembly polls remains a race between Vijay Rupani and Nitin Patel. Patel is being seen as a daunting contender, as he belongs to the Patidar community, especially at a time when the BJP is trying to keep Patels on its side. Patels have been quite restless with their demand for quota. Even though his efforts did not yield much result, Nitin Patel has been the bridge between agitating Patel leaders and the government. Patel contested his first assembly election in the state in 1995 and has been a member of BJP for the past 30 years. Bhupendrasinh Chudasama His strong allegiance to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and his clean image are a few reasons why he is being seen as a strong contestant for the post. However, reports said compared to Rupani and Patel, he does not stand much of a chance. A non-controversial leader and currently cabinet minister in the state, Chudasamas name might be chosen for the position. However, recently Aam Aadmi Party alleged Chudasama's involvement in the Talati scam when one of the accused Kalyansinh Champawat named him in the case. AAP dubbed Talati scam bigger than Madhya Pradesh's Vyapam scam. Parshottam Rupala Recently appointed in the central Cabinet as the Minister of State of Agriculture, Rupala is the national BJP vice-president. Rupala was a popular pitch for the CM post when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014. Rupala, who was a school teacher before he joined politics, is from the dominant Kadva Patel community of Saurashtra. Reports said that the minister is the most admired orator in party's state unit after Modi. According to The Times of India, his vast army of supporters were disappointed when he was given only the minister of state rank in the Union Cabinet. Bhikhubhai Dalsaniya An RSS man, 52-year-old Dalsaniya is the state BJP general secretary and the "most powerful leader in the party from the Modi era. With roots in the Sangh Parivar, Dalsaniya acts like a bridge between the RSS and the BJP. However, since he still works in the Sangh, his chances as the next Gujarat CM could be affected. The phenomenon of violence against the Dalits has now attracted international attention, thanks to the gruesome episode involving the militant cow-protectors and some Dalit boys over the skinning of a dead cow at Una, Gujarat. Predictably, the Modi government is under attack from all sides opposition parties, national media and non-governmental organisations. It is said that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has got a 'Dalit-problem'. The critics are not impressed by the fact that as a political party, the BJP has got maximum Dalit MPs, and the Ministry of Social Justice that looks after Dalit interests, happens to be one of the largest ministries under Modi. It is the only ministry under the Modi regime that has one cabinet minister (a Dalit) and as many as three ministers of state. In fact, if you go through the latest Annual Report of the ministry (2015-16), you will realise how exhaustive the list of schemes for the empowerment of the Dalits is. But the fact remains that atrocities against Dalits is an ever-increasing phenomenon. Is it due to the advent of the Modi government in May 2014; something that Modis critics attribute to? If not, who are the real oppressors of Dalits in India? I would like to look at these two questions beyond headlines and sound bytes. Let us refer to some cold statistics as provided in the Annual Report of the Ministry of Social Justice, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and old clippings of some national news papers. The NCRB reports (released in October 2015 and quoted in the Annual Report by the Ministry) reveal that in 2014, crimes against the Scheduled Castes (SC) were pegged at 47,064 a sharp rise over 39,408 such cases reported in 2013, and 33,655 in 2012. This shows an increase in by 19 percent in 2014 over 2013. NCRB statistics further reveal that in 2014, some 2,233 Dalit women were raped. In 2013, 2,073 Dalit women reported rape, as against 1,576 women in 2012, 1,557 women in 2011, and 1,349 women in 2010. Kidnappings, abductions, and similar crimes against Dalits were reported in 2014. Their corresponding figures in 2013 were lower. Obviously, all this indicates a worrying trend. The annual report reveals the number of cases of atrocities against Dalits in various states in 2014. The figures are: Andhra Pradesh - 3,762, Bihar - 10,907, Gujarat - 1,161, Haryana - 482, Karnataka - 2,650, Kerala - 1,094, Madhya Pradesh - 3,463, Maharashtra - 2,391, Odisha - 3,437, Rajasthan - 7,722, Tamil Nadu - 2,348, Telengana - 2,267, Uttar Pradesh - 9,145 and West Bengal 222. These figures reveal that maximum atrocities against Dalits took place in Bihar, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telengana. And that means that the atrocities have nothing specific to do with either Modi or the BJP. In fact, more atrocities against Dalits have taken place in non-BJP ruled states than those under the BJP. Specifically talking of the murders of Dalits, the states where it has alarmingly increased happen to be Haryana, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. In 2014, the number of Dalits killed in Haryana was 21. The corresponding figure in Bihar was 56, in Tamil Nadu it was 72, in Madhya Pradesh it was 80. Here again, the death toll cannot be linked to the rule of a particular political party. However, it is noteworthy that the rate of atrocities against the Dalits have seen the sharpest increase in Haryana. According to a report in The Times of India (9 August, 2014), figures compiled by the National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) from NCRB reports revealed that a total of 3,198 cases related to atrocities on Dalits have been registered between 2004 and 2013, as against 1,305 from 1994 to 2003. Haryana DGP SN Vashisht admitted to the increase in crime against Dalits. Which party was ruling the state during these years? It was the Congress, not the BJP. The phenomenon of the rising crimes against Dalits needs to be seen from a wider perspective. It is quite possible that earlier the crimes were committed but were not registered or complained to the police. But with the growing awareness among Dalits, victims are coming forward to protest and register cases in police stations. And that is reflected in the increase in numbers. Secondly, as the NCRB suggests, there has been a continuous increase in the overall rate of crimes in the country (and this has been reflected in cases with the Dalits). For instance, the incidents of cognizable crimes in the country, during the decade from 2004 to 2014 showed a higher growth of 19.9 percent as compared to 14.6 percent population growth during the decade. The NCRB says that population is one of the important factors influencing incidence of crime. However, in my considered view, the changing socio-economic factors explain best the rising crimes against Dalits all over the country. This point, noted also by the NCRB, needs a little more elaboration. It is a myth that the upper caste Hindus such as Brahmins and Kshatriyas are real exploiters of Dalits. In fact, castes over the last many decades have not been as rigid as it is believed to be. In independent India, the higher ritual status of Brahmins has not translated necessarily into their economic or political supremacy. On the other hand, it is the so-called backward castes, or 'Shudras', referred to as other backward classes (OBCs) in administrative parlance, who have gained the most, whether it is the capture of political power, the acquisition of land, and migration to other regions. The policy of quotas or reservations has particularly benefitted the OBCs, whose ritual rank and occupational status are above "untouchables". In fact, it is the OBCs, as many studies reveal, who have displaced the Vaishyas and Brahmins from the traditional political and economic dominance. But Dalits, tribals and near-untouchable groups such as artisans and servicing castes, remain broadly unaffected in the changing share of power in post-independence India. The first wave of land reforms in the 1950s aimed at conferring ownership rights on existing tenants of land. This displaced the large class of zamindars (large landowners), but created a substantial class of medium-sized owner-cultivators, many of whom were OBCs. And it so happened that once the OBCs cornered the benefits of this first wave of legislations, they subsequently did everything to deny the benefits to the marginal farmers and the landless, who usually are the near-untouchables and Dalits. In fact, most of the severe caste-violence in the country have been between these OBCs and the Dalits. In 1980, the National Police Commission had noted this disturbing trend in caste conflicts between backward castes and scheduled castes. With the onset of the 'Mandal factor' in Indian politics, this trend got further magnified, clearly evident in all the Annual Reports of the Home Ministry in 1990s. No wonder why states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where the 'Mandal factor' is the strongest, happen to be the states where maximum crimes against Dalits have taken place, something we have already noted above. It is also not surprising why there are so many anti-Dalit incidents in Tamil Nadu, supposedly a progressive state after the capture of power by the Dravidian parties, many decades ago. In fact, the first major incident of violence against the Dalits took place in Kilvenmani in east Thanjavur in 1968 where 42 Dalit labourers were killed the year DMK assumed power in the state. The land owning non-Brahmin castes, who dominate the Dravidian parties, have been antagonistic to both Brahmin and Dalit interests. As socio-cultural anthropologist Nathaniel Roberts says, From the 1960s onward, the Dravidian parties unabashedly courted the powerful and populous BC (backward) castes, who were at once Dalits most immediate oppressors and the foundation of the Dravidian parties social and political dominance in rural Tamil Nadu. To conclude, the rising violence against the Dalits is not a phenomenon that came to the surface after Narendra Modi became the prime minister. Beijing: A Chinese legal rights activist was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on subversion charges Wednesday, in the second in a series of cases underscoring the ruling Communist Party's determination to rein in government critics. State broadcaster CCTV said Hu Shigen had pleaded guilty to "subversion, damaging national security and harming social stability" at the start of his hearing before the Tianjin No 2 Intermediate People's Court. It said Hu had decided not to appeal the sentence. His brief trial came a day after the court issued a suspended three-year sentence to activist Zhai Yanmin. Both were arrested in July last year with two others as part of a nationwide crackdown on legal rights activists. About 300 lawyers and activists were initially seized and questioned before most were released. Hu, 61, was accused of leading an "underground organization" that masqueraded as a church but was dedicated to identifying and drawing attention to accusations of government abuses. He worked with others, some of whom are also facing trial this week, to "organize activities that manipulated public opinion and disturbed public order," prosecutors were quoted as saying by state media. "Hu's ideology and his behaviors have seriously harmed the country and social stability," state media quoted prosecutors as saying. Hu had been sentenced in 1994 to 20 years in prison on the now-abolished charge of counterrevolution in connection with his political activities, but was released in 2008 after his sentence was reduced. His previous prison term contributed to his harsh sentencing in the most recent case, prosecutors said. "After completing his criminal punishment, Hu Shigen again committed crimes against national security and, as a recidivist, should be severely punished under the law," prosecutors said. A graduate of prestigious Peking University, Hu was a professor in the capital when he became active with a would-be political opposition party following the army's violent crackdown on 1989 pro-democracy protests centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Two other cases are expected to be heard by the court in the northern Chinese city this week, including those of activist Gou Hongguo and lawyer Zhou Shifeng, head of the Fengrui Law Firm that frequently took on sensitive cases and represented numerous government critics. More than a dozen other lawyers and activists remain jailed, their legal status uncertain. The trials are part of a pattern established under the administration of President Xi Jinping to use more sophisticated legal means to attack perceived opponents as it maintains pressure on activists and non-governmental organizations. Several, including fellow Fengrui lawyer Wang Yu have made televised apologies for the crimes they are accused of and denouncing the legal activism as directed by unidentified "hostile foreign forces" to smear and attack the Chinese government. Activists such as Hu and Zhai worked alone or in affiliation with law firms to gather evidence of government abuses and lead clients and the disgruntled in street protests while spreading word online. Their actions were harshly denounced by the authorities as interference in the legal process. Many family members of those being held say they and their retained lawyers have been denied access to the detainees for more than a year, receiving only occasional updates by word of mouth. Some have been briefly detained themselves while seeking information. Trump-Pence Pence Praying Goes Viral on Facebook Trump Accepts Prayer for Him and Pence and Becomes Viral Sensation Contact: Aaron Mills, 661-809-1132, aaron@truelife.org ROANOKE, Va., Aug. 3, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Trump-Pence Town Hall in Roanoke, Virginia, became the setting for a patriotic prayer that has gone viral on Facebook with over 1.7 million views in five days. www.facebook.com/bestoftrump/videos/1055888134504306 At the end of the Town Hall, Trump announced that there would be only one more question. As hundreds shouted Trump heard Jesse Connors in the cacophony asking, "How can we be praying for you?" Quieting everyone down, Trump directed the microphone to Jesse where he told Trump and Pence that he loved them and wanted to pray for them. In one of the most truly beautiful moments of the campaign, Trump and Pence both agreed. This unplanned moment of these candidates emotionally participating in prayer with thousands watching is comforting the evangelical world for the Trump-Pence ticket. About Jesse Connors Jesse Connors is the founder of a faith-based Virginia non-profit TrueLife.org, which provides video answers to lifes hard questions from a Christian perspective. TrueLife.org has partnered with thousands of churches across the country to promote church invitation and Christian evangelism. Jesse is a Liberty University Communications alumnus ('02), Former White House intern for George W. Bush, former Fox News Channel employee and congressional staffer. He later graduated with a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary ('07). Jesse is an experienced public speaker and available for comment on the Trump Town Hall event, Trump's candidacy and the importance of maintaining biblical values in America. Contact To learn more about Jesse Connors or TrueLife.org please contact: Aaron Mills, Public Relations Manager Cell: (661) 809-1132 info@truelife.org Share Tweet Berlin: Greece's immigration minister called on the European Union to draw up a back-up plan in case Turkey reneged on a controversial deal aimed at stemming the influx of migrants. "We are very worried. We need a Plan B in any case," Yannis Mouzalas told Germany's Bild daily. Due to its geographic proximity to Turkey, Greece has become a key gateway country for migrants seeking to reach Europe. At the height of Europe's migrant crisis last year, thousands of asylum seekers landed every day on Greek Aegean islands close to the coast of Turkey. Arrival numbers have since plunged following an EU-Turkey deal reached in March, in which Ankara agreed to take back Syrian migrants arriving in Greece in exchange for billions of euros in aid and visa-free European travel for Turkish citizens. But relations between Ankara and the West have deteriorated over criticism against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's massive crackdown following a failed coup. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview with the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Monday that Ankara could withdraw from the accord if Europe failed to allow visa-free travel for Turks by October. But his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier rejected any talk of "blackmail," telling Rheinische Post newspaper: "That is absurd." "The fact is there are conditions for the visa-free policy and they are known to everyone," he said. "Turkey pledged to undertake the necessary steps to hold up its end of the agreement. That is not yet the case and Turkey still has work to do," added the German foreign minister. Islamabad: Upping the ante, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said Kashmir was witnessing a "new wave of freedom movement" and asked the diplomats to apprise the world that Kashmir was "not an internal matter" of India. Addressing the concluding session of the three-day Envoys Conference organised by foreign ministry here, Sharif said, "resolution of the lingering dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people is the corner stone of Pakistan's foreign policy". "Today Kashmir is witnessing a new wave of freedom movement," Sharif said, needling India on a day when Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Islamabad to attend the Saarc Interior Ministers' Conference. "This movement is running into the bloods of third generation of Kashmiri people and the world has itself seen its intensity in the wake of 8 July," Sharif said, referring to the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in Kashmir. "The Kashmiri youth are writing new chapters of sacrifices to get the right to self determination," he said. "They have lost eyesight due to bullets but the desire for freedom is guiding them to the destination," he added. He asked Pakistani envoys to apprise the world that "the Kashmir was not an internal matter of India". "The ambassador should make the world feel that Kashmir is not the internal problem of India, as India already accepted it as dispute territory and the UN also declared it as a dispute between India and Pakistan," he said. The conference was attended by envoys of Pakistan posted at Washington, Beijing, New Delhi, Afghanistan, UN New York, UN Geneva, Vienna, Brussels and Moscow among others. Sharing his vision with the envoys, Sharif said that all bilateral issues with other regional countries should be solved though talks in a peaceful way. "We cannot afford a conflict. If we became part of any conflict, then our progress in the social and economic fields would be affected," he said. He said Pakistan wants peace in the world on the basis of honour, dignity and equality. "But our desire for friendly ties should not be considered as weakness. We believe in mutual interests, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the affairs of others," Kashmir said. Earlier, the Prime Minister's advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz told the concluding session that it was wrong to portray that Pakistan was facing isolation. Pakistans Permanent Representative to UN Maleeha Lodhi said the conference acquired special importance in view of the Prime Minister's directives to take stock of the current situation. She said, "Kashmir remained top agenda of the conference in view of the indigenous Kashmir uprising in the backdrop". Lodhi said that in line with the Prime Ministers directive, she would step-up diplomatic campaign to highlight alleged human rights violations in Kashmir at the UN. BENGHAZI, Libya A car bomb targeting security forces in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi killed at least 22 people and wounded 20 on Tuesday, a commander of the forces and medical officials said. The blast occurred in a residential area in the Guwarsha district, the scene of fighting between security forces loyal to Libya's eastern government and an alliance of Islamists and other opponents. The alliance, the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, said it had carried out the attack, according to a statement posted on media sites linked to the group. It claimed that 28 people were killed and as many as 70 wounded. Benghazi has been plagued by violence since Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar launched a military campaign against the Shura Council two years ago. His forces have advanced in several areas in recent months, but still have not gained full control of Benghazi. It was the fourth vehicle bombing in the city in a week, though the toll from Tuesday's blast was far higher than in previous attacks. The attack targeted a gathering of the special forces unit of the LNA, said Fadel al-Hassi, another LNA commander. A Reuters witness said the powerful explosion reduced a three-story building to rubble, and that 10 vehicles, some of them armoured, had been destroyed. Four field commanders were reported among the dead and some soldiers' bodies were trapped under the rubble. Haftar's forces are allied to a government that has been based in eastern Libya since 2014, when armed groups set up a rival administration in the capital, Tripoli. A United Nations-backed government moved into Tripoli earlier this year, but Haftar and the eastern government have so far rejected it. Tuesday's attack came a day after Haftar's forces claimed control of a strategic entry point to Guwarsha that had long been held by Ansar al-Sharia, a group linked to al-Qaeda that is part of the Shura Council. Islamic State also has a presence in the area, and last week claimed another suicide attack in Guwarsha that left at least three members of the security forces dead and 25 wounded. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday it is in the United States' national security interest to support the Tripoli-based government's fight against Islamic State, a day after his administration said it launched air strikes there. In recent days, air force jets allied to the LNA have been on the offensive in Derna, about 250 km (155 miles) east of Benghazi, conducting strikes against a separate Shura Council coalition that is active in the city. (Writing by Aidan Lewis; editing by John Stonestreet, G Crosse) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Islamabad: Hundreds of Pakistanis have rallied in the capital, Islamabad, against the imminent visit of India's interior minister, Rajnath Singh. Some 2,000 chanted slogans against India, claiming the predominantly Muslim region of Kashmir, now divided between the two countries, belongs to Pakistan. Singh is due in Islamabad later on Wednesday to attend a meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. The rally was organized by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, which consists of social, religious and political groups. Syed Salahuddin, the leader of Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest militant group fighting Indian rule in the disputed region, was also seen at the rally. On Tuesday, a similar rally against Singh's visit to Islamabad was held in New Delhi, with Hindu ultra-nationalists demanding that India cut off all ties with Pakistan. Mexico City: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pressed the US in a television interview broadcast on Wednesday to extradite preacher Fethullah Gulen, saying waiting to get the alleged coup plotter was "intolerable." Erdogan complained in the interview with Mexico's Televisa television that US authorities were asking for documents for the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Gulen, whom he accuses of being behind last month's failed military putsch. "You have to be blind and deaf not to understand that he is behind all of this," Erdogan said. "If we request the extradition of a terrorist then you should fulfill that," he said. "If you start asking for documents and what not, then it's a huge obstacle in our way of fighting terrorism." "But at the moment we are running into the difficulty of not being able to receive a terrorist that we are asking to be extradited," he said. Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999 and has denied any involvement in the 15 July putsch bid. Turkish authorities sent a new package of documents to the American authorities for Gulen's extradition, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said. "In terms of fighting against terrorism, we have no time to lose, six months or one year, that's simply intolerable," Erdogan said. US Secretary of State John Kerry said on 18 July that Turkey must present "genuine evidence" and "not allegations" against the Muslim cleric for his extradition. Already strained ties between Nato allies Turkey and the United States have been aggravated by the failed putsch, with some government ministers even alleging Washington could have had a hand in the plot, which US officials firmly reject. Turkish authorities have detained some 18,000 people in a post-coup crackdown. LONDON European Union attempts to tackle the migration crisis have been a failure, amounting to "too little, too late" with not enough being done to tackle people-smugglers, a committee of British lawmakers said on Wednesday. "Europes efforts to address this colossal refugee crisis have been lamentable," said Keith Vaz, chairman of the British parliament's Home Affairs Committee. "The atrocious conditions in migrant camps within and on the borders of the richest countries on earth is a source of shame." A flood of refugees from the Middle East and Asia, many escaping conflict in Syria and Iraq, has grown into Europe's worst migration crisis since World War Two. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday more than 257,000 migrants and refugees had entered Europe by sea this year and at least 3,000 others had died. Following a year-long inquiry, the British committee said the failure of members of the Schengen area system, which allows free passage between most EU states, had made the problem worse by failing to agree on control of its external borders. "The EU's March 2016 agreement with Turkey on return of migrants is arguably a first step towards a meaningful response but it has come far too late and is itself highly controversial for a number of reasons," the committee said. The lawmakers said too much was being left to the countries most affected, such as Italy, Greece and Turkey, and Vaz said naval deployments in the Mediterranean had failed to deter the migrant flows or disrupt people-smuggling gangs. "The EU's response in combating people-traffickers who are exploiting, exacerbating and profiting from this crisis has been poor," he said. Closer to home, the committee said recent figures suggested Britain was unlikely to meet its own target of resettling 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020, and said maintaining an agreement with France for British border checks at French Channel ports should be a priority for the British government. There has been speculation that the deal could be at risk following the vote in June for Britain to leave the EU. "Our priority is to offer humanitarian support to those most in need while maintaining the security of our borders," said a Home Office (interior ministry) spokeswoman, adding that Britain was committed and on track to meet its target for Syrian refugees. (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Google had announced Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) last year in October following which it was also launched in India earlier this year. Now, Google is expanding AMP to search on your smartphones or tablets. Until now AMP were seen in the Top stories section of the Google Search Results page on mobile phone. Now, AMP support has been expanded across the entire search results page and is not restricted to just the Top stories section. Google says it has more than 150 million AMP docs in our index, with over 4 million new ones being added every week. Nick Zukoski, Software Engineer, Google said in a blog post, To clarify, this is not a ranking change for sites. As a result of the growth of AMP beyond publishers, we wanted to make it easier for people to access this faster experience. The preview shows an experience where web results that that have AMP versions are labeled with the AMP logo. When you tap on these results, you will be directed to the corresponding AMP page within the AMP viewer. Google will now indicate AMP articles with a small icon for all search results. Clicking on that blue link will take you to the AMP version of the story instead of the traditional website. AMP for mobile search is currently in developer preview and Google plans to launch it widely later this year. via Dividend stocks are the heart and soul of any well-constructed portfolio. Having said that, there are so many dividend-paying stocks populating the landscape these days that it can be rather difficult to decide which ones best suit your long-term investing goals. With this in mind, our Foolish team of dividend experts offer their five top picks below that may be worth adding to your portfolio in the month of August. This company's stock is way down, but far from out Tyler Crowe: In cyclical industries like oil and gas, the best way to maximize your profits is to find steady dividend-payers and buy them when they're out of favor. So far in 2016, the market really isn't a fan of oil refiners, as rising oil prices have led to smaller refining margins. That makes now a great time to buy beaten-down refiners, and that is why HollyFrontier (HFC) looks like a great dividend stock to buy in August. What really sets HollyFrontier apart from independent oil refiners is the geographic advantages it enjoys. With major refineries in the Midwest and Rocky Mountains, its facilities are close to hard-to-access crudes that sell for a discount to national benchmark prices. Similarly, these refineries are also in places where it's difficult to deliver refined petroleum products, so HollyFrontier enjoys slightly larger refining margins than others in more competitive refining markets. Just as importantly, the company runs a tight operation, having kept its operational costs in check and thereby allowing it to profit from these geographic advantages. Gasoline and diesel consumption won't evaporate any time soon, and the refining industry waxes and wanes just like any other cyclical industry. So with shares of HollyFrontier down nearly 50% this year and the dividend yield at 5.5%, now seems like an opportune time to buy shares. A top-notch dividend stock Andres Cardenal: PepsiCo (PEP 2.11%) is a giant in nonalcoholic drinks and snacks. The company owns 22 brands that make over $1 billion each in global revenue, and it enjoys rock-solid competitive advantages in scale, global distribution network, and financial resources to invest in marketing and advertising. Demand in the industry is changing, as many consumers around the world are increasingly conscious about the importance of nutrition. Fortunately for investors, PepsiCo has been betting on this trend for several years now, and innovation is delivering results. According to management, nearly 9% of the company's revenue comes from new products, while "guilt-free" drinks and snacks represent 45% of revenue. It's not easy for such a big company operating in a mature industry to find new growth opportunities, especially in times when foreign currency headwinds are hurting performance in international markets. However, PepsiCo is still expecting a healthy 9% increase in core constant-currency earnings per share during 2016. PepsiCo has a pristine trajectory of dividend payments over the long term. The company has paid uninterrupted dividends in every year since 1965, and it has 44 consecutive years of consistent dividend growth under its belt. After raising dividends by 7% this year, PepsiCo stock is trading at a dividend yield of 2.8%. Best of both worlds Matt DiLallo: Enbridge (ENB -0.64%) pays its investors pretty well. In fact, at 4.3% the Canadian energy infrastructure giant's current yield is more than double the market's average as measured by the yield of the S&P 500. And that's a rock-solid income stream, given that long-term fee-based contracts secure 95% of Enbridge's cash flow, and it only pays out 40% to 50% of its available cash flow. As lucrative as Enbridge's current yield might be, it's poised to go much higher in the future. The company has an enormous backlog of commercially secured projects consisting primarily of fee-based assets. Because of that, Enbridge expects to grow its available cash flow from operations by 12% to 14% through 2019, which is projected to fuel 10% to 12% dividend growth over that same time frame. The company expects to deliver that growth while maintaining a conservative coverage ratio of two, along with an investment-grade credit rating. The bottom line is that investors who are looking for a reliable income stream that will rise over the next few years should strongly consider Enbridge. A rebound in the making? George Budwell: British pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK 1.48%) has had a tough go of it in recent years due to declining sales of its flagship respiratory product, Advair, combined with a slew of high-profile clinical failures and its bribery scandal in China. The net result is that Glaxo's trailing 12-month payout ratio has ballooned to an astronomical 681%, and its debt-to-equity ratio isn't much better at 259%. So, when the pound sterling crashed following the Brexit vote, Glaxo seemed destined for a dividend cut and perhaps further restructuring to lower costs going forward. However, the drugmaker pulled off a small miracle in the second quarter, beating analysts estimates due to the strong performance of newer pharma products like the HIV medicine Tivicay and its growing footprint in the vaccine space. Based on its strong second-quarter results, Glaxo decided to raise its annual guidance for the remainder of the year, forecasting an impressive core EPS growth of 11% to 12% for 2016. Even with this double-digit growth trajectory, though, the sustainability of Glaxo's dividend isn't guaranteed. But management did note in its second-quarter earnings release that the company plans to keep the quarterly payout at around $0.57 per share (based on current exchange rates) through 2017. So, if management remains true to their word, Glaxo should be able to start attracting income investors in large numbers once again, especially in light of its hefty yield of 5.18% and improving growth prospects. Detroit's best? Daniel Miller: While Ford has been a clear fan favorite since the Great Recession, given that it funded its own turnaround without the help of a unique bankruptcy, the second quarter showed that General Motors (GM 0.21%) may have finally started to pull away as Detroit's best automaker. During Q2, GM's revenue rose by $4.2 billion year over year to $42.4 billion. That strong performance filtered down to the automaker's bottom line, too: GM's EBIT-adjusted income reached $3.9 billion, a staggering 37% increase over the prior year -- and a company record. Throughout the first half of 2016, GM's return on invested capital has reached an impressive 30.5%, a 710-basis-point improvement over the same time period a year earlier, proving that GM is running its business as efficiently and intelligently as ever. GM recently bagged more segment awards in J.D. Power's 2016 Vehicle Dependability Study than any other automaker and received seven awards in J.D. Power's 2016 Initial Quality Study, showing that GM's offerings are greatly improving. The kicker here is that GM -- and most other automakers -- are not sizzling growth opportunities, as their primary profit-generator, the U.S. market, is likely plateauing. That doesn't mean GM's top or bottom line is done growing, but it does mean it will increasingly be seen as an income play. At a share price of $30, GM's forward price-to-earnings sits just above five, according to Morningstar's estimates, and its yield is a robust 4.6%. General Motors is cheap -- too cheap for a company that may now be Detroit's best automaker -- and a 4.6% yield looks very tempting for investors looking to buy a dividend stock in August. In this clip from the Industry Focus: Energy podcast, Sean O'Reilly and Taylor Muckerman explain why production costs are one of the most important numbers for potential investors to understand before buying shares of an oil company. Listen in to hear what factors get covered under that metric, how the industry has been getting so much better at reducing those costs year after year, and learn about a few companies that are doing especially well. Also, the hosts look at how location affects the costs of production, which ranges most companies are looking at, why so many companies have been talking up the Permian Basin lately, and more. A transcript follows the video. This podcast was recorded on July 28, 2016. Sean O'Reilly: Moving on to production costs. This is really where especially onshore conventional producers have been focusing, because they've been cutting exploration and development costs. They're not finding more oil, but they've really been getting more efficient. They've been trying to -- and they've had to -- because of this downturn. You see these estimates where most producers I've seen that are just onshore shale producers, their production costs come down 20%, 30%. Walk us through that. Taylor Muckerman: Almost sometimes on an annual basis. O'Reilly: Yeah, it's crazy. Walk us through what production costs entail, how they're getting better at it, I guess, and maybe a few more names that are doing well. Muckerman: Yeah, so you're looking at ... You've got the drilling activities, which is basically setting up shop, drilling the wells; and then the completion aspect, which is the majority of the cost. You're looking at generally 60% or above for the completion side, and that's the fracking and the extracting. What you've seen over the last year or so is companies do everything but the completion stage, because it is the most expensive and it can be done relatively quickly. It's just very capital intensive, very labor intensive, and very resource intensive, because you're dealing with proppants, you're dealing with all the fluids, the sand, the silicone, whatever they might be using. That does vary by field. If you're looking at some of the drilling costs across the four major basins in the U.S., [in] the Bakken, drilling cost is $1 million. O'Reilly: For a well? Muckerman: For a well, it's about $2.5 million in the Bakken, Marcellus, just under $2 million, Eagle Ford, right around $2 million, and Permian right around $2 million. This all comes with different depths, different horizontal lengths. By depths and horizontal lengths, I mean the depth straight down that these wells are being drilled, and then the lateral and horizontal length is basically the length of the frack stages that they're drilling out, which are getting several thousand feet now. And then within that several thousand feet, you've got several fracking stages that they go through to access multiple different portions of this well. The Bakken is the deepest and the longest generally, with the Marcellus being the shallowest, and less long underground horizontally, left, right, north, south, east, west, wherever the heck they're trying to get this oil from. Then, on top of that, you've got the profit, fluid and completion costs that are different. You might expect, because the Marcellus is the shortest and less deep, that it would be the cheapest, but no: It's actually the most expensive when it comes to proppant and fluid costs. It just varies quite widely, which is why you see companies choose to specify in certain basins ... You've got some companies like an EOG (EOG -1.75%) that spreads itself all around. O'Reilly: They're mostly in Eagle Ford. Muckerman: Yeah, they're the largest producer in Texas. They're one of the largest producers in North Dakota. They've got a small percentage of assets they're trying to grow internationally, but for the most part, they're the largest domestic oil producer in the U.S. O'Reilly: I see a lot of players -- in their latest quarterly earnings, they're talking up ... Just focusing on the Permian. Why? Muckerman: Well, compared to the Bakken and Marcellus ... O'Reilly: This is West Texas, for everybody that doesn't know. Muckerman: Oklahoma as well. What you're looking at here is a field that's kind of been looked at last, but it has supposedly tremendous reserves. The Marcellus got tapped very heavily for some oil, but mostly natural gas. The Bakken and Eagle Ford have just been the darlings of the shale energy revolution, with Harold Hamm basically pioneering up in the Bakken and a little bit into southern Alberta. The Eagle Ford was just a rush. Everyone wanted in on that. The Permian has kind of been one of the last low hanging fruits to be discovered, and it's just got multiple different layers to it. They can tap a well, drill a little bit deeper, tap another whole resource formation. They call them a stacked play, basically, where you see these wells stacked on top of each other where you can access them at different depths. O'Reilly: Before we move on, how have companies been able to drop these production costs so much, like you just said, like 30%? How are they doing that? Muckerman: One thing is you've been seeing greater wells drilled per rig, so you've seen "pad drilling" is what they call it. Rather than having to completely disassemble a rig, move it to a new well site and then reassemble it and drill again, these rigs are basically movable. In some instances, they'll just basically put them on tracks almost like ... not like a railroad, but the same general idea. O'Reilly: Like excavator tracks. Muckerman: Yeah, yeah, exactly. You've got these rolling wheels on basically a bulldozer track that they can move those in quadrants around a well site. You're drilling multiple wells with the same rig, so it shortens the time frame and the manpower that you need to disassemble and reassemble. And then [there are ] the longer laterals with more fracking stages in those laterals, so you don't have to ... You're just drilling that one well and then accessing many, many, many more points within that well and then you've obviously got optimization with the proppants and the fluids that they use just in testing. In the major fields in the United States, the Bakken, the Eagle Ford, the Permian, and offshore Gulf of Mexico, drilling and completion costs have come down roughly 25% to 30% since 2012. That's basically the bread and butter of the United States. If you stripped out those four basins, we're not producing hardly any oil. Now that we've had some time to digest Valero Energy's (VLO -2.29%) second-quarter earnings, let's ask the most important question for long-term investors: Is now the time to buy the stock? The past two quarters haven't been kind to oil refiners because of breathtakingly low refining margins, so you're certainly justified to feel skittish. Despite the low margins, though, Valero has managed to maintain impressive operations while displaying good financial discipline. In all, it looks like a great time to buy for the future. Here's why. Valero's balance sheet There were really two key takeaways from Valero's second-quarter earnings. First, the company beat earnings expectations and reported $503 million in adjusted net income. Second, the company managed these earnings despite low refining margins. In fact, when combined, Valero's first- and second-quarter margins are the lowest the company has experienced since the two-quarter period spanning the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012 . Despite these difficult conditions, caused by oil-price volatility and an abundance of stored petroleum products, Valero's balance sheet remained pretty solid. Its debt-to-capitalization remained within its 20% to 30% target range at just under 27%. Its net cash from operating activities in the second quarter were over $2.3 billion. And its cash and investments approached $5 billion. This financial discipline and flexibility is critical for a company that's so heavily affected by refining margins, which Valero expects to remain low for the rest of 2016. It's also important for the company to continue to improve and strategically expand its operations, which is exactly what it's been doing. Recent acquisitions and investments In late June, Valero used its extensive cash positions to purchase 50% of the Parkway pipeline from Kinder Morgan, giving it 100% ownership. The pipeline, with 110,000-barrel-per-day capacity, transports petroleum products from Valero's 305,000-barrel-per-day St. Charles refinery to Kinder Morgan's Plantation pipeline in Mississippi. Valero can expand the capacity of the parkway system to 200,000 barrels per day. Additionally, Valero completed an agreement to build a new lateral segment to connect to the Colonial pipeline system. In total, the purchase allows Valero to distribute refined products to a significant portion of the Eastern United States. Valero touts the capital discipline of these moves, where the "acquisitions are strategic to Valero's core business and investments are consistent with our strategy to grow our logistics assets." Further growing its core business, Valero also completed the expansion of its Houston refinery, adding an additional 90,000 barrels per day in capacity. The facility, which started up in June, should increase exports from its key refinery base in the Gulf. Time to buy As the company points out, these investments -- and the entirety of its 2016 capital program of $2.6 billion -- are focused on long-term earnings growth. That fact, along with relatively strong earnings despite the current environment, makes it slightly surprising to see Valero continuing to trade near 52-week lows . It's possible that the low price is driven by Valero's significantly reduced revenues and income compared with 2015, when refining margins were much higher. It's also possible that the potential for low margins for the rest of 2016 has scared off potential investors. Regardless, the company's trailing price-to-earnings ratio remains lower than that of some of its industry competitors, making it appear cheap. Additionally, Valero continues to reward investors with a high dividend yield and share buybacks, staying committed to returning 75% of net income to investors this year. Valero has proved it can profitably maintain high throughput capacities even with low margins. There's no reason to believe it can't maintain that type of success long-term. With strong earnings in a difficult environment, a high dividend, and a rock-solid balance sheet, Valero definitely looks like a buy. Health care costs in the United States are plaguing both consumers and providers alike with the latest illustration of the trend coming from Aetna on Tuesday. In its second-quarter earnings filing, the insurance provider said it will pull out of planned 2017 expansion into Affordable Care Act exchanges. The move came after announcements earlier this year from UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH) and Humana (NYSE:HUM), which also announced plans to cut back on ACA exchange participation next year. While we are pleased with our overall results, in light of updated 2016 projections for our individual products and the significant structural challenges facing the public exchanges, we intend to withdraw all of our 2017 public exchange expansion plans, and are undertaking a complete evaluation of future participation in our current 15-state footprint, Mark Bertolini, Aetnas chairman and CEO, said in a statement. Aetna, the nations third-largest health insurer behind UnitedHealth and Anthem (NYSE:ANTM), sells Obamacare plans in 15 states. Bertolini said the company has been hurt by the high cost of medications and procedures for customers in the exchanges. These people need these procedures and they need these drugs and they need to be covered, he said. But when you couple that with a risk-adjustment mechanism for high-risk people, that really is limited by virtue of the legislation, it causes everyone in the system to lose money. Bertolini said the exchanges could work if adjustments were made to the health-care law. In its current form, though, its nearly impossible. More From FOXBusiness.com Summer Swoon Unlikely as Markets Tiptoe into August Modify [the legislation] to include risk adjustment that allows us to cover more sick people, which is what we want to do, he said. Which is what we do, by the way, in Medicare, and if we can get that structure proper then well be just fine, well be able to take care of everybody. On Tuesday, Aetna and Humana agreed to sell certain Medicare Advantage assets to Molina Healthcare. This comes after the two companies proposed a merger in late July. However, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit last month in an attempt to stop Aetnas takeover of Humana, saying the merger would create an anti-competitive environment. The DOJ filed a related suit to stop Anthems takeover of Cigna. When were both together, were 10% of the overall U.S. market and, at any given local market level no more than that, where the largest competitors are the Blues that have 50,60 and 70%, Bertolini said. So I dont think were going to be all that omnipresent. I think we have a more national presence and an ability to provide product across the United States, which, for portable people, will be a really good thing. Bertolini outlined what the next president needs to do in order to make the exchange system more effective for all Americans who use it. Lets take care of the people who are in the pool. Lets recognize what their cost is. Lets build the financing around it to do it. If we want to get younger people in the pool lets create a separate set of products for them because they dont need the kind of intensity that the current people do. Lets admit who were covering, make the financing work and it will all come together. In the meantime, if other major U.S. health care providers decide to reevaluate their Obamacare exchange participation, more troubles may be on the horizon for customers. Jeff Loo, director of Healthcare Equity Research at S&P Investment Advisory Services said 2017 is adding up to be a very challenging year as large providers pull out of expanding their ACA offerings. You can have a lot of marketplaces without competition and it would raise costs due to a lack of competitors," Loo said. "It would put a lot of pressure on non-profits such as Blue Cross Blue Shield to participate in these markets. Some regional providers would need to step up as well. Health officials have been scrambling to get a handle on the Zika virus as a total of 14 cases likely transmitted by local mosquitoes have been identified in Florida. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent an emergency team to the Miami area to assist with its investigation of the outbreak. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said on FOX Business Networks Cavuto: Coast-to-Coast that he hopes to isolate the virus to a one-square-mile area in the Wynwood Arts District of Miami. The State of Florida Health Department has been testing people around the area. The good news is yesterdays batch of urine tests came back negative, so we are continuing to focus in on Wynwood, Gimenez said. A majority of the Wynwood residents are made up of a large Puerto Rican and Southern American population who may have picked up the Zika virus from their travels to their homeland. The reason that we have so many cases of travel related Zika in Miami is that we have 60% of the people in Miami-Dade were born somewhere else and a lot them travel back and forth between their native countries and Miami," he said. According to the CDC, many people infected with the Zika virus wont have symptoms or will only have mild symptom that can last for several days to a week. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told FOX Business Networks Liz Claman on Monday that a virus outbreak across America is unlikely, but the challenge is preventing pockets of outbreaks from spreading further. There will be pockets in the country, such as what were seeing in Florida now and what we might see in Texas and other Gulf Coast states, where you could have an outbreak that hangs around and is sustained for several months or longer, Fauci said. The mayor hopes to quickly eradicate the virus and has extended its adulticide aerial spraying to 10 square miles and two square miles of larvaecide spraying in the next couple of days. We have to continue [having] are guard up and we are giving the same message to all our residents, and basically is, if you are going outside, especially during the early morning and early evening hours, when the mosquitos are active, to wear long clothing and use some mosquito repellent, Gimenez told host Charles Payne. Mayor Gimenez said the biggest tourist destinations, such as Miami Beach, are relatively safe due to the prevailing breezes that keep the mosquitos away. Zika really only affects a small percentage of people. Most people that actually get bit and have the disease or catch the virus dont even know they have it, he said. You can't run a functioning, efficient, and profitable business without software. The apps, tools, and cloud-based services we invest in serve as the foundation upon which your employees communicate, how they brainstorm ideas and collaborate on projects, and how you manage every aspect of operations, from product development and sales to customer service and keeping track of the books. Nowhere is the difference good software can make more apparent than in startups. If an agile startup business with only a handful of employees takes a chance on the next killer app and it pays dividends, that business "power tool" could completely transform how they do business. We've already got you covered with our monthly PCMag Startup Toolkit of the best new hardware, software, and apps for startups. But when it comes to the business power tools making the biggest difference to a startup's productivity and bottom line, we thought it best to ask the startup founders themselves. AdMobilize, Branch Metrics, and Illumio are all startups we've featured in the PCMag Startup Spotlight, breaking down their platforms, business plans, and what makes their technology and market approach unique. We asked AdMobilize CEO Rodolfo Saccoman, Mike Molinet, co-founder and COO of Branch Metrics, and PJ Kirner, founder and CTO of Illumio, to name five software tools making the biggest difference to their businesses. A few of the apps overlapped, so we ended up with 13 business power tools across collaboration, development, and productivity. COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION 1. SlackUnsurprisingly, one of the tools that got multiple recommendations was game-changing collaboration app Slack. AdMobilize's Saccoman said he's seen significant enhancements to organizational efficiency as internal emails have been reduced by 95 percent. "It allows us to keep a pulse of the company, foster culture, and has proven to be a real-time braintrust," he said." Branch's Molinet got straight to the point: "Let's be honest, there is no better internal communication tool than Slack," he said. "From the technology, to their team, to the wide variety of slackbots it supports, Slack has changed the way thousands of companies work, including ours." 2. SkypeAdMobilize still has a relatively small number of employees, but the tight-knit team is dispersed globally with offices in Miami, Washington, D.C., London, and Bogota, Colombia. Saccoman said that when it comes to bringing all those employees together for virtual meetings, there's still no better tool for his startup than Skype. "Skype is still the most reliable and cost-efficient video communication tool for our team of 35," he said. -Rodolfo Saccoman, CEO of AdMobilize 3. HipChatRather than jumping on the Slack bandwagon too, Illumio's developer-heavy team prefers Atlassian HipChat. As Kirner explained, the startup is using the collaboration platform for a lot more than just messaging. "Not only is HipChat a great tool for collaboration, our Ops team has turned it into a self-service automation robot for developers to control their cloud infrastructure," said Kirner. "HipChat is the new shell." OPERATIONS AND PRODUCTIVITY 4. FreshdeskPopular help desk software Freshdesk was the other power tool with overlapped recommendations from both AdMobilize and Branch. Saccoman and Molinet both sang its praises. "Freshdesk is a neat tool to engage with those customers that require quick feedback, and provides our business development team a platform to make sure we provide unmatched customer service," said Saccoman. "We tried every customer service and ticketing system on the market, and Freshdesk is the best that fits our needs," added Molinet. "You can easily customize the design of the emails to provide personalized service and avoid that 'ticketing' feeling you get when writing in to most support teams. We're fortunate to have found them after failing to have a good experience with so many other tools." 5. GreenhouseGreenhouse is an applicant tracking (AT) and recruiting platform used by customers including Airbnb, Evernote, Pinterest, SurveyMonkey, Vimeo, Zenefits, and others to find, engage, and hire qualified candidates. Molinet said Greenhouse is a solid applicant tracking tool that's made a significant impact on recruiting efficiency and the candidate experience. "We've cut our average candidate cycle time in half after implementing GH and also given our candidates a much more consistent and positive experience. The tech is a little buggy occasionally and the reporting and UX leaves a lot to be desired, but I'm sure they'll improve that over time. Overall, it's an effective solution for what it's for," said Molinet. 6. HubSpotMarketing automation tool HubSpot provides customer relationship management (CRM), email marketing, social media management, web advertising, and landing page hosting all in one. Saccoman said AdMobilize uses it to manage its client base and lead pipeline. "HubSpot is an amazing platform to manage our existing clients and pipeline," said Saccoman. "We have tried many tools, but Hubspot's user interface and user experience are fantastically productive." 7. OutreachOutreach is an account-based sales communication platform with integrated workflows and analytics and built-in Gmail and Salesforce integrations. Branch uses Outreach as the main conduit for all sales team communication. "Outreach has transformed how our sales team works. It allows you to create and send custom messages and integrates well with Gmail so everything looks native," said Molinet. "The analytics system is helpful for us to ensure the communication flow hits the right people at the right time. It's a favorite on our sales team, and we've seen amazing results in increased customer conversion with their tools." 8. TransferwiseTransferwise is a peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfer service that allows users and businesses to send money internationally according to real-time exchange rates or the mid-market rate. The platform makes payments, invocies, and all manner of financial transactions run smoothly for AdMobilize's distributed global workforce. Saccoman put it simply: "Transferwise allowed us to streamline payments globally." DATA AND DEVELOPER TOOLS 9. AnsibleAnsible (now owned by Red Hat) has long been one of the most popular open-source projects on GitHub. Put simply, it's an IT automation platform that makes it radically easier to spin up and configure applications and cloud-based infrastructure. If your DevOps team isn't using Ansible, Illumio's Kirner said it's more than worth a try. "Our DevOps team appreciates the simplicity of Ansible. It's a robust, extensible orchestration/configuration tool with great community support," said Kirner. 10. ConsulDeveloped by software startup HashiCorp, Consul is another open-source tool, this one for discovering and configuring cloud infrastructure services. Developers and IT can use software can scale to multiple data centers and provides features like key/value stores, health checks, and failure detection for computing clusters. For Illumio, it's serves as the next step after Ansible, particularly when creating and managing its ecosystem of modular components, known as microservices. "Consul's Service Registry and Discovery features are helping us build out our microservices applications," said Kirner. 11. GatlingGatling is all about load testing. This open-source framework is an HTTP stress tool for simulating high-performance loads on any number of applications, particularly cloud and browser-based apps. Illumio uses Gatling to make sure its applications can handle increased scale and load, without the need for exhaustive manual testing. "With Gatling, we can simulate scale and load easily without needing to start up thousands of systems," said Kirner. 12. InsightSquaredBusiness intelligence (BI) tools come in many shapes and sizes for different use cases. InsightSquared is a BI platform geared for sales performance analytics, and Branch uses the tool to analyze and streamline how its sales team operates. "When I asked a few friends at startups the number one tool they couldn't live without, they said InsightSquared, so we went ahead and tried it. It's amazing," said Molinet. "We haven't fully implemented it and are already impressed. You can slice and dice all sorts of sales (and some marketing) data in a way that is impossible in Salesforce, which allows us to get important insights into our sales activities. If you have a sales team and you use Salesforce, then InsightSquared is definitely a worthy investment." 13. RedisRedis is one of the world's fastest databases. The open-source in-memory database and data structure store is used most readily as a database cache and message broker, but Illumio takes the technology even further. "Everyone knows Redis as a blazing-fast in-memory data structure store," said Kirner. "We not only put it to use for caching, but we also can run programs on the Redis servers to offload work from the web servers." This article originally appeared on PCMag.com. Image source: Getty Images. While conditions in the oil sector remained brutal during the second quarter, Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) was still able to make solid progress on its strategic initiatives. The company is now in a much better position -- both operationally and financially -- than it was to start the year, which sets it up for success when industry conditions improve. Drilling down into the numbers Weak oil and gas prices continued to weigh on Devon Energy's earnings, leading it to report a net loss of $1.6 billion, or $3.04 per share. That said, the bulk of that loss was due to an impairment charge the company recorded during the quarter. Core earnings, which adjustfor charges like that, were $33 million, or $0.06 per share. That was much better performance than the core loss of $249 million, or $0.53 per share, that the company turned in last quarter. Three things fueled this stronger performance. First, rebounding oil and gas prices resulted in Devon Energy's realizing $17.97 per barrel of oil equivalent, or BOE, which was 32.8% higher than last quarter. In addition to that, production from the company's core assets exceeded the midpoint of its guidance by 6,000 BOE/d. Finally, operating costs continue to fall, with the company's lease operating expenses (LOE) declining by 26% year over year and coming in 5% below the low end of the company's guidance range. Devon Energy's cost reduction efforts have really paid off. The company continues to make progress to push down LOE, which is leading it to reduce its guidance range again this quarter. The company now anticipates LOE in the range of $1.6 billion to $1.7 billion, which is $150 million less than it projected last quarter when it reduced guidance by $50 million from its initial projections. Meanwhile, general and administrative expenses continue to plunge and are now down 30% year over year, which is ahead of schedule. A look at the outlook One of the most significant accomplishments Devon made during the quarter was the completion of its asset sale program. Initially, the company planned to sell $2 billion to $3 billion in assets. However, it exceeded that target by announcing $3.2 billion in assets sales. Furthermore, the company did that without having to sell its entire position in the Midland Basin, which it has decided to retain. As a result of this, the company is increasing its production guidance by 18,000 BOE/d, which is 3% higher at the midpoint. Devon Energy plans to use two-thirds of its asset sale proceeds to pay down debt, with the rest of the cash to be reinvested to accelerate its production growth. In fact, the company had already announced that it is boosting its 2016 capital expenditures budget by $200 million to speed up development in its STACK and Delaware Basin plays in the second half of the year. That said, the company is not yet ready to boost spending any further, especially given the recent 20% slump in oil prices. However, it now has the cash to increase spending once oil prices cooperate. Investor takeaway While the tough industry conditions have hurt Devon Energy's earnings, it is starting to mute some of that impact through its cost-cutting measures, as well as its ability to deliver much stronger production. Additionally, the company's asset sale plan was a smashing success, with it exceeding expectations despite retaining a key asset. This is putting the company in a better position -- not only to weather the current downturn, but also to thrive when conditions finally begin to recover. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Matt DiLallo has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Devon Energy. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Wildfires were one thing that impacted Endurance's earnings last quarter. Image source: Getty Images. Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd.(NYSE: ENH) reported second-quarter financial results on August 1, reporting higher net income than in the year-ago period, but as we saw in recent quarters, the dilution related to the insurer's acquisition of Montpelier Re in 2015 took a bite out of earnings per share. At the same time, Endurance Specialty reported growth across a number of key metrics that measure its long-term value and earnings power. Here's a closer look at Endurance Specialty's earnings report, as well as what to expect going forward. The key numbers Net income in millions. Data source: Endurance Specialty. A closer look at Endurance Specialty's performance Even with big, catastrophic losses in the insurance portfolio in the quarter, the company still reported profitable underwriting (measured by its combined ratio below 100%): The company took $73.6 million in catastrophic claims in the quarter, with $11.1 million in net reinstatement premiums and $7 million attributable to noncontrolling interests reducing the net impact on Endurance Specialty to $55.5 million. These claims increased the net loss ratio to 62.7%, from 52.2% one year ago. The claims were primarily related to the company's reinsurance segment, which saw its combined ratio increase (a bad thing) from 73% to 88.7%, while the insurance segment reported a lower combined ratio (a good thing) of 93.2% compared to 95.2% one year ago. Both gross and net premiums written were up sharply from the year-ago quarter: Gross income premiums written were $1.14 billion, up 32%. Net income premiums written were $717.8 million, up 28%. This increase was driven both by the company's insurance segment (up 26%) and the reinsurance segment (up 39% gross, 30% net), which saw strong gains from renewals related to the Montpelier Re acquisition in the second half of 2015. Investment income -- the profit made by investing the "float" of insurance premiums, was $44 million, up $11.7 million from last year, though its invested assets and cash position of $8.6 billion at quarter-end was down 3% from one year ago. Looking ahead Chairman and CEO John Charman had the following to say on the earnings call when describing Endurance Specialty's strong recent growth, and how that growth has driven better efficiencies, better geographic exposure, and should reduce risk of losses even as it drives higher earnings: Even in an increasingly competitive environment, and with larger-than-usual catastrophic losses, Endurance continues to deliver profitable underwriting, and it delivered acceptable profits from its investments as well. While the Montpelier Re acquisition continues to weigh on per-share earnings growth, management expects that the larger scale of reach it now has, as well as its ability to drive costs down as it fully integrates Montpelier's operations with its own core, will pay of over the long term. So far, premium growth offers some indication that it's working, but only time will prove out how much per-share value gets realized. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early, in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Jason Hall has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Endurance Specialty. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image source: Getty Images. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners(NYSE: BIP) is off to a solid start in 2016. Thanks to investments made over the past year, the company's funds from operations (FFO) are up 12% so far this year. Further, with several strategic initiatives in the pipeline, the company is very optimistic about its future. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners results: The raw numbers Funds From Operations by Segment Q2 2016 Actuals Q2 2015 Actuals Growth (YOY) Utilities $100 million $93 million 7.5% Transport $102 million $104 million -1.9% Energy $43 million $23 million 87% Communication $19 million $20 million -5% YOY = year over year. Data source: Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. What happened with Brookfield Infrastructure Partners this quarter? Energy fueled growth this quarter: The utilities segment benefited from strong connection activities in the UK regulated distribution business as well as from growth projects commissioned over the past year. The transportation segment was a little lighter due to an $8 million hit from foreign currency fluctuations as well as lower vehicle traffic on its Brazilian toll road business. Higher volumes at its rail business in Brazil partially offset this along with higher traffic on its Chilean toll roads and cost savings at its Australian railroad. The energy segment benefited from boosting its North American gas transmission business stake as well as from higher spreads in its natural gas storage business. The communications segment remains relatively stable. What management had to say CEO Sam Pollock,commenting on the company's results, said: Brookfield Infrastructure Partners has been an active acquirer over the past year, which is fueling robust FFO growth. At the moment, it is in the process of closing three transactions that will drive growth in the near term. During the quarter, the company invested $130 million in a portfolio of urban toll roads in Peru. A30-year concession backs these toll roads, which will drive stable cash flow over the long term. In addition to that, it has identified several expansion projects to drive returns higher. Shortly after the quarter closed, it invested $180 million in a natural gas storage business. Doing so doubled the company's natural gas storage capacity, making it one of the largest independent storage providers in North America. Also, it acquired this capacity below replacement cost, which should fuel attractive long-term returns as the storage market normalizes. Finally, the company is nearing the close of a transaction to invest $350 million in acquiring a stake in an Australian port and rail logistics business. That said, it initially sought to buy a larger stake in that entity, but had to settle for a smaller role in the transaction due to regulatory concerns and a competing offer. Looking forward In addition to those transactions, Brookfield has two more deals in the pipeline. First, it is in exclusive discussions to acquire a stake in a natural gas transmission company in southern Brazil from oil giant Petrobras (NYSE: PBR). That business is 100% contracted under long-term ship-or-pay agreements. Brookfield expects to invest a minimum of $700 million into the deal. In addition to that, the company was awarded a portfolio of greenfield transmission lines in Brazil and is in discussions with several sellers to acquire operating assets to build a business with substantial scale. These transmission lines are under 30-year concessions that will earn stable cash flow. The company anticipates investing about $200 million to complete these projects over the next few years. With so much visible growth ahead of it, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners decided to increase its quarterly distribution by 3.5%, which is on top of the 7.5% increase it announced earlier this year. Further, it believes that its next distribution increase at the beginning of 2017 could be "at the higher end of our annual distribution growth range" of 11% to 13% if it completes all of its anticipated acquisitions and organic growth projects. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Matt DiLallo owns shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image source: Getty Images It seems that no matter how much change we see in the oil and gas market from quarter to quarter, earnings results from Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE: MMP) remain remarkably steady. Even though profits from the few business segments that are exposed to commodity prices have been adversely impacted, it seems as though a new project is starting up to offset the declines. This quarter was much of the same. Here's a quick snapshot of the company's results and what management has planned in the coming years. Magellan Midstream Partners' results: The raw numbers Results (in millions, except per share data) Q2 2016 Q1 2016 Q2 2015 Revenue $518.9 $519.8 $498.5 Adjusted EBITDA $292.5 270.1 $281.8 EPS $0.82 $0.91 $0.78 Distributable cash flow $221.0 $205.3 222.8 Distribution coverage ratio 1.18x 1.12x 1.31x Source: Magellan Midstream Partners earnings release Like the prior quarter, management noted that the decline in Magellan's distribution coverage ratio -- the metric for measuring the health of its payout -- was attributed to higher than normal maintenance capital work in the first half of the year. Maintenance capital spending was $31 million for the quarter, a 40% increase compared to this time last year. The company had to increase maintenance capital spending for the year from $90 million to $100 million related to repair work on a pipeline that was affected by flooding this past quarter. On the operations side of the business, Magellan pretty much held steady. There were some gains on the reined product side of the business from its 4.6% raise in tariffs in the second half of 2016. There was also the added benefit of higher volumes moving through the system thanks to higher gasoline demand. For its crude oil segment, operational margin declined on slightly lower volumes and a customer buying out the remainder of its storage contract in 2015. Source: Magellan Midstream Partners earnings releases, author's chart What happened with Magellan Midstream Partners this quarter? In July, the company completed the construction of its new refined product pipeline connecting to the Little Rock, Arkansas region and started delivering 75,000 barrels per day. We can expect to see the pipeline's impact on third quarter earnings The company also completed work on its Corpus Christi Condensate splitter. The facility will start up in September and will be completely operational by the fourth quarter Construction was completed on the Platteville-to-Cushing segment of its new Saddlehorn pipeline and will be operational this month. Because of the structure of the joint venture in this pipeline, Magellan won't report operational results on the project until the 1st quarter of 2017. The company announced that it would build another marine storage terminal in Pasadena, Texas on the Houston Ship Channel. The 1 million barrel storage facility will hold both refined products and ethanol and will include a dock capable of docking Panamax-sized ships and a connection to the company's existing Galena Park storage terminal. The project is estimated to cost $335 million and will be operational in 2019. The company intends to increase storage at its Seabrook storage terminal by 4 million barrels to a total of 5 million and add another ship dock to the Seabrook terminal. The Seabrook terminal is a 50/50 joint venture between Magellan and LBC Tank Terminals, LLC. Management decided to increase its distribution to $0.82 per unit. This represents an 11% increase from this time last year. What management had to say The addition of the Pasadena, Texas marine storage and export terminal is a decent sized project for Magellan, but as CEO Michael Mears stated on the call, it is just the first step in what is expected to be a much, much larger project. This statement right here is one of the most overlooked aspects of pipeline projects. While the company wholly acknowledges that the initial phase of the project may be a bit above its target return rate, it's also doing some of the heavy lifting to set the company up with an easily expandable asset that can generate higher returns with further development. 10-second takeaway After another expected earnings result for Magellan in the second quarter, it appears that things are looking much better for the second half of the year. The addition of the Little Rock pipeline and the Corpus Christi condensate splitter will be a welcome addition to the company's cash flows over the next two quarters. These two projects should help alleviate the issue of lower distribution coverage ratios we have seen in the last two quarters. One thing worth keeping track of in the upcoming quarters is the progress of the Saddlehorn pipeline and its ability to be fully functional by the end of the year and whether the company has any issues with volumes. We're still seeing oil and gas production across the US decline and some customers are cutting back on pipeline commitments. Hopefully this won't be an issue for Magellan. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Tyler Crowe owns shares of Magellan Midstream Partners.You can follow him at Fool.comor on Twitter@TylerCroweFool. The Motley Fool recommends Magellan Midstream Partners. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The sun isn't quite setting on the potash industry's troubles, but with Saskatchewan's decision to hold off a major review of how it imposes royalties on miners like PotashCorp will be one less worry for the industry. Image source: Getty Images. Considering PotashCorp's (NYSE: POT) dramatic announcement on Thursday that it was slashing its quarterly dividend by 60% to just $0.10 per share amid continuing weakness in the fertilizer components, the crop nutrient producer's management probably have a lot on their minds. On the upside, they have one less worry in the wake of reports from mid-July that the Saskatchewan provincial government will be easing up its review of its potash royalty scheme. Heading lower For the fifth time in the last sixth quarters, PotashCorp had to lower its earnings expectations for the coming year. It says it now expects to earn between $0.40 and $0.55 cents per share, down from the $0.60 to $0.80 per share range it cut its guidance to in April. It had started off the year with a slightly more robust forecast of generating between $0.90 and $1.20 per share. With net profits falling 30% in the current quarter to $121 million, the last thing it would need is for the government to take an even larger tax bite. The Saskatchewan government initiated a significant change to its tax policy last year that at the time PotashCorp said could reduce its pre-tax earnings by as much as $100 million, but amid falling tax revenues, the province said it would also review the entire royalty scheme. Taxing potash's patience Under the current system, which is admittedly complex, Saskatchewan taxes producers twice: once for potash mined on government property, and again for production of potash in the province, but at a rate based on the price of the crop nutrient rather than the volume produced. When potash prices were running near $900 per metric ton several years ago, undoubtedly the province enjoyed a windfall and didn't complain, but in the ensuing years, values of all commodities have fallen. Potash in particular has suffered as a result of the collapse of the Belorussian-Russian cartel, which had acted to constrain supply and keep prices elevated. In 2013, just prior to Belaruskali and Uralkali splitting apart in a bid for more market share, potash was going for around $400 per metric ton, but quickly dropped to $315 per tonne immediately afterwards. India recently signed a contract for 2016 potash delivery at $227 per tonne while China, the world's largest importer (and thus able to command a better price) just signed an annual contract for $219 per metric ton. Canpotex, the North American potash marketing organization owned by PotashCorp, Mosaic (NYSE: MOS), and Agrium (NYSE: AGU), is still in the process of negotiating a delivery price with China. But prices remain depressed. In its just-released earnings report, PotashCorp said it realized average prices of just $154 permetric ton in the quarter, below the $178 per metric ton it got in the first quarter and a far sight below the $273 per metric ton it realized in the year-ago period. 2 for me, 1 for you That kind of low pricing cuts into the take the Saskatchewan governmentgets, but a royalty scheme based on production volumes ought to net it more. While production is also falling -- PotashCorp produced 2.27 million metric tons of fertilizer component in the second quarter, down from 2.39 million metric tons a year earlier -- it has still produced more potash than its sold for three straight quarters. But producers are beginning to rationalize their mining output. PotashCorp announced it was suspending operations at its Picadilly mine in New Brunswick and temporarily halted production at both its Allan and Lanigan projects in Saskatchewan. Similarly, Mosaic recently announced that it was idling its provincial Colonsay mine and laying off 330 workers, while Canpotex shelved plans to construct a $775 million export terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert due to "economic and commercial considerations." Gone, but not forgotten The continued unraveling of the potash market has finally convinced the Saskatchewan government to slow down its review of how royalties are levied. While it says the review will remain ongoing, the province's economy minister says now is not the time to upset the apple cart. "When we see prices recovering and volumes improving, then perhaps we can move forward," he was quoted as saying, "But at this time, we just don't think that's the right move to make." PotashCorp remains optimistic there's a light at the end of the tunnel, and has pointed out that previously, years during which China was late signing its benchmark delivery contract (or never signed one) have been followed immediately by years with higher demand and prices. The market, however, is still in flux and remains in oversupply. It remains to be seen whether enough mines have been idled, production has been sufficiently cut, and demand is becoming strong enough for that predicted U-turn to occur. Those factors are more than enough to concern investors without adding the possibility of a disruptive tax royalty scheme to the mix. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Rich Duprey has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. In July, the Long Term GARP portfolio gained 4.3% versus 3.4% for the S&P 500 Index. The month was quite busy for our holdings in the portfolio. Starbucks (SBUX), Quest Diagnostics (DGX), IAC (IACI), Unilever (UL), BP and Live Nation (LYV) all reported quarterly results. In the case of Starbucks, investors have set such a high bar for the company, because it has posted six years of same-store sales of more than 5% or more. Caffeinated Earnings It is why the company has seen its market value grow to approach that of McDonalds (MCD). Starbucks has expanded distribution in China of its bottled frappuccino beverages, its K-cup distribution on the Nestles Nespresso Platform in Europe, and has a bottled tea beverage partnership with AmBev next year. In my opinion, these moves will boost the companys ready-to-drink business this year and in 2017. Add to this 12.5 million Starbucks card users in the US and 19 million more in the Asia Pacific region. In my view, there is growth potential for new units all across China, India and Africa. Investors are valuing the company at a 30+ multiple. It is well earned, in my opinion. Tougher Climate Oil major BP faces a tougher challenge given the drop in energy prices. In my opinion, CEO Bob Dudley has done a superb job of rebuilding the oil giant to recover from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. When the price of oil improves for BP, it will dramatically help the oil giants financial results, in my opinion. Commodities are notoriously cyclical, so navigating the ups and downs of the oil market is just something shareholders in BP have to accept. Close Shave Unilever made an interesting purchase by buying Dollar Shave Club for $1 billion. In my view, the deal gives the company a large presence in the shaving market domestically with the potential to expand the model internationally, as well as to other business segments. Photo Credit: Marco Pakeningrat via Flickr Creative Commons The post Starbucks takes on the world appeared first on Smarter InvestingCovestor Ltd. is a registered investment advisor. Covestor licenses investment strategies from its Model Managers to establish investment models. The commentary here is provided as general and impersonal information and should not be construed as recommendations or advice. Information from Model Managers and third-party sources deemed to be reliable but not guaranteed. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Transaction histories for Covestor models available upon request. Additional important disclosures available at http://site.covestor.com/help/disclosures. Image source: U.S. Silica. For U.S. Silica Holdings (NYSE: SLCA), second-quarter earnings were much of the same from prior quarters: Drilling activity continues to decline, its industrial and specialty products segment keeps picking up the slack, and management has been keeping an eye on financials to avoid debt issues faced by many of its peers recent months. One big difference between this quarter and the prior ones, though, is that management has been very busy making acquisitions that should help lead to better times ahead. Here's a quick snapshot of U.S. Silica's results and what management has been doing this past quarter. U.S. Silica's results: The raw numbers Results* Q2 2016 Q1 2016 Q2 2015 Revenue $116.9 $122.5 $147.5 Operating income ($15.5) ($14.3) $10.0 Earnings ($11.9) ($10.6) $9.9 EPS ($0.19) ($0.20) $0.18 * in millions, except per-share data.Data source: U.S. Silica earnings releases. One thing that you may notice is that earnings declined $1.3 million sequentially, but earnings per share actually improved by a penny. The reason for this is the company issued 10 million shares toward the end of the prior quarter to raise cash for acquisitions and other expenses. There has been a recurring theme with US Silica's earnings results recently. For several quarters now, the company's industrial and specialty products segment has been a relatively reliable source of earnings while its oil and gas proppant segment continues to wade through the decline in drilling activity across the U.S. This quarter, it was especially pronounced as oil and gas' contribution margin swung into the loss column while its industrial and specialty products had another standout quarter. Image source: U.S. Silica earnings results, author's chart. What happened at U.S. Silica this past quarter? The company took $2 million in restructuring and business development related expenses. Management considers these one-time expenses and reported a per share loss of $0.17 with these charges stripped out. As promised, the company put that cash from its capital raise last quarter to work on acquisitions. The company acquired land adjacent to its Ottawa, Illinois, mine with intentions to expand operations there, it acquired the sand unit of privately held New Birmingham Inc. for $210 million, and on the day of its earnings release it announced the acquisition of logistics specialist Sandbox Enterprises for $210 million. Both acquisitions are expected to be accretive to earnings per share to the tune of $0.40 to $0.60 in 2017. Total cash on hand at the end of the quarter was $452 million, but that was before the $194 million that is committed to the Sandbox Enterprises and New Birmingham acquisitions. Total debt at the end of the quarter remained the same as the last quarter at $490 million. Capital spending ticked up a bit to $17.3 million compared to $6.1 million the prior quarter. Management also upped its guidance for capital spending from $15 million-$20 million to $28 million-$33 million. That change is attributed to the Ottawa, Illinois, land purchase. Management continues to refrain from giving guidance because of what it sees as continued uncertainty in the oil and gas markets. What management had to say Last quarter, CEO Bryan Shinn hinted in the company's earnings release that it was on the hunt for a company or two, and it certainly delivered this past quarter. After spending close to $440 million on companies and new properties, Shinn seemed to indicate that the company wants to get back to the basics of maintaining cost control and making sure that these new acquisitions will drive bottom-line results. 10-second takeaway U.S.Silicacontinues to face major headwinds from lack of drilling activity in the continental United States. Now that oil prices are dropping again, chances are that those woes will continue inthecomingquarters. Fortunately, its industrial and specialty products business remains strong and has kept the company from deep losses that would strain the balance sheet. In the coming quarters, it will be worth seeing whether these new acquisitions do lead to the kinds of per-share gains that management claims they will be. A per-share turnaround of $0.40 to $0.60 inearningswould put the company solidly back into the profit column. It will also be worth seeing how these results translate to the cash flow statement now that capital spending has ticked up a bit and it continues to pay a modest $0.06-per-share dividend each quarter. These investments should help in this regard, but we need to see the results first before we make adefinitiveconclusion. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Tyler Crowe has no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow him at Fool.comor on Twitter@TylerCroweFool. The Motley Fool recommends U.S. Silica Holdings. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Former White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush, Ari Fleischer, weighed in on why he sees the Trump campaign message as focusing on the wrong opponents. He has to start making Hillary his opponent, not the Khan family, not a judge who is an American from Indiana, this is his problem: Hes focused on the wrong people, Fleischer told the FOX Business Networks Stuart Varney. Fleischer raised concerns that the narrow window of opportunity for Trump to change his message and focus on Hillary Clinton could hurt the candidate come November. He has had two terrible weeks in a row in a campaign that only has 14 weeks left. This is math and its timing and if he does not get better at message discipline he will turn out to have been the biggest loser that he can imagine. Hes throwing out a winnable race. Fleischer then pointed out that Trump missed an opportunity to take on the Obama Administration and Hillary Clinton over the state of the U.S. economy. Think about last Friday when he was given the golden opportunity the United States government validated everything Donald Trumps been saying. The economy grew at a 1.2% clip for the quarter, slowest recovery since 1949, But, Fleischer continued, Does Trump immediately pounce on it, does he make that the message of the day, does he call Hillary 1.2% Hillary and make the case [that] this is why incomes are flat, this is why there is income inequality, this is how come people cant pay their college loans? No, hes still fighting about the Khans. Fleischer then had one final tip for Trump before the Republican candidates campaign becomes damaged beyond repair. Stop counterpunching, youve gotten to be such a good counterpuncher youre about to knock yourself out. An eye-opening new documentary airing on the Discovery channel this week paints a devastating portrait of Americas water crisis. Directed by five Academy-Award winners, the four-part series Killing the Colorado, points to a future of soaring water prices and shows why more than 40 million Americans could soon be without access to safe and affordable drinking water. The tragedy in Flint, Michigan, is only one example. This is just the beginning of things to come, said Susan Raymond, one of the filmmakers behind the project. Weve been asleep at the wheel. Our infrastructure is crumbling and were going to have more and more Flints. Were all going to have to deal with this disaster. The series, which premieres on Aug. 4, is based on the Pulitzer-nominated ProPublica series by journalist Abrahm Lustgarten that raised questions about the root causes behind the water shortage in the West, asking whether it is the fault of draconian water laws, short-sighted politicians, farmers, engineers or Wall Street private equity firms coming in to buy up water rights. In my experience and reporting, most people dont think a lot about the availability of the water they rely on every day, and they certainly dont think that they might one day lose access to it, Lustgarten told FOX411. If they did, losing access because water became so expensive that they could not afford to buy it is probably the last reason they would expect to hear. Foreshadowing doom and drought in the American West is nothing new and dates all the way back to the late 19th Century when the one-armed Civil War hero John Wesley Powell explored the length of the Colorado River and returned to predict that it would be an insufficient source of water in the years to come. The Colorado River is responsible for providing seven states and 40 million people with water, not to mention irrigating the agriculture that provides a large portion of Americas food supply. The river is quickly being depleted as demand for water in the region increases, due mainly to population growth. The West is really just the first cutting edge of this, but ultimately, the lessons we learn out here are going to have direct application to most of [the United States], Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper says in the documentary. [The Colorado River] supplies either some or all of [the] water for about one out of ten Americans. And the fact that theres not enough of it and there never will be enough of it creates divisive conflict, Killing the Colorado also pulls back the curtain on the world of water traders, Wall Street bigwigs who are turning water into a commodity that can be bought and sold like oil. America can no longer count on getting clean and safe water for free anymore, filmmaker Alan Raymond told FOX411. It irks people that water has become like oil, a commodity. Every time we told people what were doing [with the film] we would get an instant negative reaction. People have this idea that water should be free, but those days are coming to an end. The concept of water trading is nothing new. Its been happening for decades here in America, and has proven successful in Australia. But Killing the Colorado, shows both sides of the story, including how the desire for profit could drive up prices at the tap or fix a problem politicians are reluctant to touch. Plenty of farmers are opposed to the privatization of water rights, and with good reason. Theyre able to point to the devastation of Crowley, Colorado, a town of barren pastures and economic wreckage that dried up after selling off its water rights to the highest bidder, a controversial example of what are often referred to as high and dry deals. Its a big and complicated issue, according to Raymond. All people, from consumers to farmers, are going to have to come to accept that eventually they will pay more for water. When the latest issue of Penthouse came out, Utah Governor Gary Herbert was likely somewhat surprised to see his name on the cover of the mens magazine. The magazine declared, "Utah's Governor Wants to Handle Your Penis." Part of the latest Penthouse issue focuses on Herberts claims that pornography a public health crisis, which he signed in a resolution about back in April. However Herbert said he's actually glad the magazine called him out. "If a magazine like Penthouse is taking you to task, that's always a good sign that you're on the right side of history. Utah is a leader in the fight against pornography, especially with the focus on the harm it poses to our children," the governor's spokesman Jon Cox told FOX 13. "The fact that the industry feels so threatened by a non-binding resolution meant to raise awareness of this problem shows you just how desperate they can be." Utah's resolution -- which was signed by Herbert and sponsored by Senator Todd Weiler and Representative Curtis Oda -- calls for "Education, prevention, research and policy change" in order to address the "pornography epidemic" in Utah and the United States. The resolution claims porn causes "dissatisfaction in marriage and infidelity and has a "detrimental effect on the family unit." Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt reportedly protested the resolution by sending recent copies of his magazine to every member of the Utah State Legislature. A 4-year-old Michigan boy is on a mission to raise money for children with cancer after losing his best friend to a brain tumor. On Monday, Connor Nicol, of Macomb, hosted a garage sale and lemonade stand in memory of Ella, 3, who died last year. He raised $93. On Thursday, the boy will continue to fundraise in his driveway by selling pink lemonade. I just want to help other kids, Connor told Fox 2 Detroit. Connors goal is to raise money to buy toys for children undergoing cancer treatment, his mother, Diana Nicol, told Fox 2. "He's very serious about this," Dina told the news channel. "He tells people, especially his grandfather, that it is a $5 donation for the lemonade." Connor still misses his best friend, he told Fox 2. "We used to play and have fun and blow bubbles," Connor told the news channel. "I love her." Thursdays fundraiser begins at 11 a.m. and the family is accepting donations via mail as well. When evening starts, I cower and sit in the corridor. Theres rustle, and a rocket is flying. I pray, God, please, let it miss the house, let it miss the house. -- A woman living in Makiivka, Ukraine Donald Trumps recent comments about Russia and Ukraine brought the conflict back to the attention of our nation this past weekend. What people might fail to realize is the sheer scale of the humanitarian crisis in the Ukraine because of that conflict. The lives of millions of Ukrainian men, women, and children teeter on the edge. An elderly Ukrainian woman Ill call Ellen told a World Help partner, "My grandson and I live in a village a few kilometers from the front lines in eastern Ukraine, she said. We have a big familythree children, four grandchildren, and elderly relatives we care for. With so many of us living together we have nowhere to go. Every day we hear shooting, people die, and we are surrounded by an atmosphere of fear and hopelessness. The children are frightened by loud noises, we have little food, and we haven't been receiving pensions or salaries since the beginning of the war. In eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists and government forces have been clashing for the last two years, normal life consists of praying explosive shells wont land in your living room, we're caught in a trapwe can't stay, but we have nowhere to go. We don't even have anyone to talk to about our problems, because everyone around us is in the same situation. Life was not always like this for Ellen and her family. Two years ago a revolution promised to take Ukraine out of the clutches of a political carousel and into economic and social reform. The road to reform had been bloody, but the future seemed partly hopeful, almost optimistic: A reborn Ukraine peered from the horizon, with another opportunity to show the world why she could also be a modern nation like the rest of Europe. Then Russia invaded Crimea starting a crisis that continues throughout various regions of Ukraine. Over the years, several ceasefiresone of which lasted only three dayshave been negotiated between Ukraine and Russia, yet the conflict has found no resolution. In the midst of the ensuing and spectacular political war of words between the two nations, a humanitarian crisis, set on low fire, has now come to a boil. According to a report released last month by the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), the crisis in Ukraine has now claimed the lives of 9,371 people2,000 of these civilians killed mostly by shellingand wounded 21,532 others. Almost 2 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced by the fighting in east Ukraine, and an estimated 2.7 million400,000 of these childrenlie trapped in the separatists self-proclaimed states. Ukraine is the forgotten humanitarian crisis of 2016. Many of the internally displaced people cant find employment, lack basic food and hygiene supplies, and are living in overcrowded refugee camps. Medical services in the outskirts of metropolitan areas are underfunded and overstretched. Why us, why us? It is not a life. We are a family of six surviving on two pensions. Neither of us can afford medication. They would have better killed us here than suffering like this, said an elderly woman with cancer living in Donetsk city. Aggravating the situation is the fact that humanitarian aid organizations - like ours - have been barred access to some of these areas, and as the conflict drags on, the living conditions continue to deteriorate. In sum, if you are from eastern Ukraine, you are either trapped in the war zone, living under the anxiety of militants, or you are displaced from your home, wandering west, seeking opportunities the government cant provide. The promise of a new Ukraine seems to have vanished from sight. The future now lies buried under the rubble of shelling and the weight of a failing economy. Ellen still has hope, but it isnt in any government. Only God can help us, she said. In our obsession with politics in this country, we mustnt forget the lives actually affected by our policies. The legendary Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu rightly observed generations ago that If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. But he also taught that if you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. And right now, our strategy suggests we know neither the enemy nor ourselves. That must change, and quickly. The president refuses to know that our current adversary in radical Islam lives by an apocalyptic worldview one that relies on unconscionable levels of slaughter to bring about its final caliphate. One cannot rationalize away such an irrational ideology. No medieval battles over Jerusalem, no features of Guantanamo Bay and certainly no aspect of Western culture can justify this level of bloodlust. And yet the current administration stubbornly searches for a clarification that might explain that militant Islam is the result of something other than irreconcilable religiosity. It is a theme akin to we have met the enemy and decided to deny its existence. This obfuscation and denial is the pattern of the administration, one revealed early on when officials termed the Islamic terrorist attacks as man-caused disasters and combat operations as overseas contingency operations. This willful ignorance has prompted a dangerous mismatch in priorities. The president telling future military leaders, for example, that they are derelict in their duties if they deny climate change creates an environment of false truths, resulting in unsafe policy. Those on the front lines cannot defend against the threat when the threat is purposely misidentified. It has also led to dishonest conclusions, such as arguing that the loss of territory equates to American military success, and the frequency of terrorist attacks represents the Islamic States desperation. Even those with a cursory knowledge of jihadists understand that the successful execution of an attack is seen as a signal of divine support. Frequency only strengthens their resolve. One should never be so intransigent as to deny the truth of the enemy. That only concedes the initiative and gives the enemy an ability to outmaneuver you strategically. Indeed, thats partly why gruesome scenes unfold almost weekly in cities all over the world -- Americans almost always counted among the victims. From Fort Hood to Chattanooga and San Bernardino to Orlando, from Paris to Brussels and Dhaka to Nice, the current national security strategy has done little more than teach geography. Instead, we must get into the head of the enemy. All three of us have been there. Its not pretty. There exists an unparalleled devotion to their cause; a fanatical adherence to Islamic conventions. Take for instance Abu Zubaydah, a senior Al Qaeda leader captured in 2002. His religious fidelity led him to actually thank his overseers for enhanced interrogation because, according to him, those captured were permitted by Allah to provide information once they reached their own limit for physical or psychological hardship. He said you must do this for all the brothers. They are resolute in their convictions. They are dedicated to the slaughter of any who do not share their warped vision for the future. Thats the enemy. But America must also know itself. Jihadists do not distinguish between black and white, young or old, poor or rich. Our enemy sees us all as Americans, and we should do the same. It is essential that we champion American exceptionalism -- defined not as a pompous view of self, but as the beacon of light for individual freedom in a world lacking it. We must have a shared understanding that our country, our constitutional republic, will always be the last great hope for liberty. And above all, we must agree to protect it. The government must also know its responsibilities. The next administration and each one thereafter must embrace its constitutional obligation to provide for the common defense, and must never put the interests of others above those they serve. Those leaders should clearly and correctly define the enemy, and articulate an unambiguous national and international strategy to defeat it. Make no mistake; we are at war. And the enemy possesses an unalterable 7th century ideology with 21st century capabilities. But even the most dogmatic can be defeated. They have been defeated when the United States, leaders and citizens alike, chose to know the enemy and resolved to defeat it. From the Barbary Wars to Nazism, Imperial Japan to communism, America chose sacrifice over compliancy, bravery over fear. The American people squared their collective shoulders and faced the threat head-on. All of this can be done. And we will do so with unwavering integrity, renewed strength and unapologetic resolve. Knowing ourselves and our enemy will ensure victory. Allen West is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and is the Executive Director of the National Center for Policy Analysis. Dr. David Grantham is a Senior Fellow at the NCPA, served with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and holds a Ph.D. in history from Texas Christian University. Politically correct tyranny is afoot at the University of Houston. I was recently made aware of a student at the university who was suspended for 50 days by the student government association and ordered to attend diversity training over a reference she made about the Black Lives Matter crowd. (She can still go to class but she can't participate in student government activities.) #ForgetBlackLivesMatter; more like AllLivesMatter, wrote Rohini Sethi, the vice president of the schools student government association. Click here to join Todds American Dispatch: a must-read for conservatives! Ms. Sethi wrote those words last month just a few hours after five Dallas police officers were assassinated. Her belief that every life matters set off a firestorm of controversy among students including the Black Student Union. They were among several predominantly African-American groups who demanded that Ms. Sethi be punished for exercising her First Amendment rights. For her to say on her social media forget black lives matter, its almost as if to say if all of us were to die tomorrow, she wouldnt care, BSU president Kadidja Kone told the Washington Post. Just for her to say, forget Black Lives Matter, is a punch in the stomach, student Nala Hughes told ABC 13 News in Houston. The 100 Collegiate Men, an organization for black students, also condemned the idea that all lives matter. As of today, African American students do not feel welcome, comfortable, represented, valued or even acknowledged at the University of Houston, read a statement provided to the Post. Students at the University of Houston want to feel adequately represented. They do not feel that this is being accomplished as long as Rohini Sethi is in office. In order to placate the torches and pitchfork mob, the student government association gave SGA President Shane Smith full authority to mete out a punishment. And Mr. Smith was more than happy to oblige. According to the Daily Cougar, Ms. Sethi was suspended from government activities for 50 days. She was also ordered to attend three cultural events each month, write a letter of reflection on her Facebook posting and make a public presentation detailing the knowledge she has gained about cultural issues facing our society. She was also ordered to attend mandatory diversity training basically a form of ideological conversion therapy. Its ironic because I thought the academic lefties were opposed to conversion therapy. Check out Todds new YouTube Channel for unfiltered Conservative Commentary! "The First Amendment prevents a person from being jailed by the government for what they say, Mr. Smith wrote in a statement. The First Amendment does not prevent people from receiving other consequences for what they say, including workplace discipline." I suspect had jail been an option, Mr. Smith wouldve tossed Ms. Sethi in county lockup just to teach her a lesson. It is a fair point that one ignorant social media post alone may not warrant such sanctions, he wrote. However, serving in a public role means that we are held to a higher standard and rightfully so. Oh, so Mr. Smith is a school yard bully. Im certain he will grow up to be a fine community organizer. But while Mr. Smiths actions are reprehensible, they are not nearly as reprehensible as the actions of the grownups who actually run the University of Houston. They provided a statement to the Houston Press trying to distance themselves from the actions of the student government association. "The University of Houston continues to stand firm in support of free speech and does not discipline students for exercising their Constitutional rights, the statement read. Thats true. They just let power-hungry little fascists-in-training do their dirty work. Such cowardice! Ms. Sethi did not return messages seeking comment but she did post a statement on Facebook. I disagree with the sanctions taken against me by my SGA because I believe I have done a great deal to better understand the controversy I caused, she wrote. I have also apologized for my words because no student should feel as though I do not have their best interests at heart. Even so, I will abide by the sanctions for as long as they are in place. Ms. Sethi has done nothing to warrant an apology. What happened to this young lady is despicable and detestable. She was publically shamed and verbally flogged because she believes every life has value. But such an opinion is no longer allowed at the University of Houston -- where free speech has been strung up by a politically correct lynch mob. Donald Trump declined to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan and two Republican senators who face tough re-election bids, claiming on Tuesday that he's "not quite there yet." "I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country. We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet. I'm not quite there yet," the Republican presidential nominee said of endorsing Paul Ryan during an interview with the Washington Post. Ryan, who ultimately decided to back his party's nominee, gave a similar answer in May when he was first asked about endorsing Trump. "To be perfectly candid, I'm not ready to do that right now," he had told CNN. The Wisconsin Republican is being challenged by local businessman Paul Nehlen in his state's congressional primary, which is scheduled to take place next Tuesday. Trump posted a tweet on Monday in which he thanked Nehlen for his "kinds words" of support after the candidate found himself embroiled in controversy for attacking Khizr and Ghazala Khan, two Gold Star parents who've been critical of him. Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com Ivanka Trump responded Tuesday night to comments made earlier in the day by President Obama calling her father "unfit to serve and woefully unprepared to do this job in an "On The Record with Greta Van Susteren" exclusive interview, saying that he understands "how to put this country to work." "I clearly disagree," Trump said when asked of her reaction to what Obama told reporters. "I think he'd be an excellent president," she said, adding, "He understands how to create jobs, and maintain them." "He understands how to put this country to work -- that makes him very qualified," she told Van Susteren. Trump pointed to her father's experience creating jobs at large construction sites as something that qualified him to tackle fixing the nation's infrastructure problems, and also would appeal to voters who wanted an outsider to change the direction the country. "I look at my father's own experience in creating jobs, building infrastructure, you know every time he builds a 92-story building, every time he has in the course of his career built a massive skyscraper, that's unbelievable experience for repairing the dilapidated infrastructure in the country," she said. "I think the American people want change," she told Van Susteren. "They see an outsider that can bring fresh perspective and solutions to the table to bring the country where it needs to go." She said that one of the most incredible things about her father's campaign so far has been watching him fill arenas all over the country with "people who are so hopeful and excited and passionate about the message he has for them, and about his ability to fulfill their hopes for this country." When asked about her father's ongoing war of words with the Muslim American parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq, Trump told Van Susteren she thought her father "shared his thoughts." "Captain Khan was an American hero, there's no argument on that fact, and everyone respects his sacrifice for our country," she said. The businesswoman said while her father always told her "never to say never" on the possibility of running for elected office one day, she told Van Susteren the possibility of running is "not something I want to be doing." She also discussed her friendship with Chelsea Clinton, calling her "a great girl" and "great friend," despite their parents running against each other for president. "I think we have a great respect for each other and that hasn't changed," Trump said of Clinton. She added that the two have stayed close to each other, despite the "intensity and scrutiny" they're currently going through during this election cycle. "Were not the candidates," Trump said. "Were the children of the candidates, and we both respect our parents." The U.S. government airlifted the equivalent of $400 million to Iran this past January, which occurred as four detained Americans were released by Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The cash transfer was the first installment paid in a $1.7 billion settlement the Obama administration reached with Iran to resolve a failed 1979 arms deal dating from just before the Iranian Revolution. State Department spokesman John Kirby denied the cash transfer was done to secure the release of the four Americans -- Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian; Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine; Christian pastor Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, whose case had not been publicized before the release. "The negotiations over the [arms deal] settlement ... were completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home," Kirby said in a statement. "Not only were the two negotiations separate, they were conducted by different teams on each side." "The funds that were transferred to Iran were related solely to the settlement of a long-standing claim at the U.S.-Iran Claims Tribunal at The Hague," Kirby's statement concluded. However, the Journal says U.S. officials acknowledge that Iranian negotiators on the prisoner exchange said they wanted the cash to show they had gained something tangible. The Journal also reported that President Barack Obama did not disclose the $400 million cash payment when he announced Jan. 17 that the arms deal dispute had been resolved. The administration has not disclosed how the $1.7 billion was paid, except to say it was not paid in dollars. The cash flown to Iran consisted of euros, Swiss francs, and other currencies because U.S. law forbids transacting American dollars with Iran. Since the cash was airlifted, Iran's Revolutionary Guard has arrested two more Iranian-Americans. Tehran has also detained dual-nationals from France, Canada and the U.K. in recent months. "Paying ransom to kidnappers puts Americans even more at risk," Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said ina statement. "While Americans were relieved by Irans overdue release of illegally imprisoned American hostages, the White Houses policy of appeasement has led Iran to illegally seize more American hostages." Click for more from The Wall Street Journal. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Tuesday that President Barack Obama was "the worst president, maybe in the history of our country" after Obama called Trump "unfit to serve" and "woefully unprepared to do this job" earlier in the day. "I think he's been a disaster. He's been weak, he's been ineffective," Trump said on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor." "I believe I know far more about foreign policy than he knows. Look at Ukraine. He talks about Ukraine [and] how tough he is with Russia, in the meantime they took over Crimea." Earlier Tuesday, Trump said that Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton have single-handedly destabilized the Middle East while putting the country at risk with Clintons use of a private email server. "She is reckless with her emails, reckless with regime change, and reckless with American lives, Trump said. The real estate mogul also restated his concern that the November election would be "rigged". He told host Bill O'Reilly that recent court rulings striking down voter ID laws in Wisconsin and North Carolina meant that people would "vote 10 times, maybe. Who knows?" "I am very concerned and I hope the Republicans are going to be very watchful," Trump said. Obama delivered his broadside against Trump while fielding a question at the top of a White House press conference with the visiting prime minister of Singapore. Obama diverted from the central topic of that visit moving along the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal, which Trump opposes to fundamentally question whether the federal government could function properly if Trump wins. I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president, Obama said, adding, He keeps on proving it. The president questioned whether Trump has basic knowledge on key issues. He went on to say that with past Republican nominees including his former rivals John McCain and Mitt Romney he never had doubts about their ability to do the job of president even though they disagreed on policy. Had they won I would have been disappointed, but I would have said to all Americans, this is our president, Obama said, noting he was confident they would abide by certain rules and observe basic decency. Obama added: But thats not the situation here ... There has to come a point at which you say, 'Enough.'" The Associated Press contributed to this report. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump drove a wedge between himself and top congressional Republicans Tuesday, refusing to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan and Arizona Sen. John McCain in upcoming primaries and harshly criticizing New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte. In an interview with The Washington Post, Trump said he was "just not there yet" when asked if he would endorse Ryan in next Tuesday's primary against Paul Nehlen. The statement was very close to words Ryan used in the long months before he endorsed Trump, when he told CNN on May 6, "I'm not there right now." On Monday evening, Trump sent out a tweet thanking Nehlen for his support in the real estate mogul's ongoing war of words with the Muslim American parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq. Thanks to @pnehlen for your kind words, very much appreciated. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2016 Ryan campaign spokesman Zach Roday said that neither the Speaker "nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement. And we are confident in a victory next week regardless." Trump also refused to back McCain, who faces an Aug. 30 primary against two GOP opponents, and who Trump has previously derided for being captured during the Vietnam War. "Ive never been a big fan of John McCain and I just hate the way veterans have been treated by John and other people," Trump told "The O'Reilly Factor" Tuesday night. "He should have grabbed that issue [of the VA wait time scandal]. That's his issue." As for Ayotte, who is running for a second Senate term against New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan and who skipped the Republican National Convention, Trump told the Post: "You have a Kelly Ayotte who doesn't want to talk about Trump, but I'm beating her in the polls by a lot." It was not immediately clear to which poll Trump was referring. A poll taken by WMUR-TV and the University of New Hampshire prior to the national party conventions showed Ayotte trailing Hassan, 45 percent to 42 percent, while Trump trailed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton 39 percent to 37 percent among Granite State voters. "I dont know Kelly Ayotte. I know shes given me no support zero support," Trump added in the interview. "We need loyal people in this country. We need fighters in this country. We don't need weak people." Ryan, McCain and Ayotte had all said they would support Trump as the GOP presidential nominee. However, all three also chided Trump for engaging in a flap with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart after his death in 2004. From the stage at the Democratic National Convention, Khizr Khan criticized Trump's position on Muslims and asked whether the real estate mogul had read the Constitution. Trump said the grieving father had "no right" to criticize him but later acknowledged their son is a hero. Ayotte, who previously said she was "appalled" by Trump's spat with the Khans, responded to Trump's latest comments with a brief statement: "I call it like I see it, and I'm always going to stand up for our military families and what's best for the people of New Hampshire." The Post, citing Ayotte's campaign, reported that she still planned to vote for Trump in November. McCain's response was a lengthy denunciation in which he said the GOP nomination does not confer on Trump "unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us." Ryan condemned any criticism of Muslim Americans who serve their country. "Captain Khan was one such brave example. His sacrifice and that of Khizr and Ghazala Khan should always be honored. Period," Ryan said. Also Tuesday, retiring New York Rep. Richard Hanna became the first Republican member of Congress to say he will vote for Clinton in November instead of Trump. "He is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country," Hanna wrote in a column published in The Post-Standard newspaper of Syracuse, New York. "He is unrepentant in all things." Hanna was joined by Maria Comella, a former senior aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in declaring support for Clinton. "As someone who has worked to further the Republican Party's principles for the last 15 years, I believe that we are at a moment where silence isn't an option," Comella told CNN. Hanna and Comella join dozens of high-profile GOP leaders who have previously said they would not vote for Trump, including the party's 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney, and Bradshaw's former employer, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. On Monday, Sally Bradshaw, one of five senior Republican strategists tasked with identifying the party's shortcomings and recommending ways it could win the White House after the 2012 election, said she was leaving the GOP and would vote for Clinton if the race in her home state of Florida appears close come Election Day. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Voters say the top issues facing the country are the economy and terrorism. They think Donald Trump will handle one of them better than Hillary Clinton, while the candidates tie on the other. A new Fox News Poll on the 2016 election finds more voters trust Trump than Clinton on the economy (+5 points). He also bests Clinton on handling the federal deficit (+5 points). Those are the only issues where he comes out on top. Its a draw on terrorism and national security, as the candidates receive 47 percent apiece. In May, Trump led Clinton by 12 points on doing a better job on terrorism (52-40 percent). Equal numbers of voters say the economy and terrorism are the most important issues facing the country today (22 percent each). Education is the only other one to receive double-digit mentions (11 percent). Heres the rest of the list: race relations (9 percent), the federal deficit (5 percent), health care (5 percent), climate change (4 percent), immigration (3 percent), foreign policy (3 percent), and drug addiction (2 percent). Clinton beats Trump by wide margins on education (+23 points), and on the lower priority concerns: climate change (+31 points), race relations (+28 points), drug addiction (+19 points), foreign policy (+16 points), and health care (+11 points). She also has the advantage on one of Trumps signature issues -- immigration (+7 points). Who would do better picking the next Supreme Court justice? Thats a hot topic this election. Voters trust Clinton over Trump by eight points. They also think shes more likely to preserve and protect the U.S. Constitution (+7 points). CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL POLL RESULTS By a 22-point margin, voters trust Clinton over Trump when it comes to using nuclear weapons (56-34 percent). Thats twice the advantage she held in May (49-38 percent). Yet voters are more likely to trust Trump to destroy terrorist groups like ISIS (+9 points). The candidates now tie on restoring trust in government (43-43). Thats a shift since May when Trump had an eight-point advantage (46-38 percent). Despite Trumps claim that he understands the concerns of everyday Americans, Clinton bests him on empathy. By a 51-40 percent margin, voters say shell do a better job looking out for their family during tough economic times. In June 2012, Barack Obama topped Mitt Romney on this measure by 47-36 percent. Poll-pourri How do voters feel about Trumps praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin? Fifty-two percent of voters say its no big deal. For 44 percent, its bothersome. Most Republicans say its no big deal (72 percent), while two-thirds of Democrats say it bothers them (66 percent). The Fox News poll is based on landline and cellphone interviews with 1,022 randomly chosen registered voters nationwide and was conducted under the joint direction of Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R) from July 31-August 2, 2016. The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points for all registered voters. Former President George W. Bush appeared to criticize Republican nominee Donald Trump - without mentioning him by name - Tuesday, charging fellow GOP members to make sure that "everyone feels welcome" in the party. Bush was speaking at a Cincinnati fundraiser for Ohio Sen. Rob Portman. The Wall Street Journal reported that Bush attacked policies of "isolationism, nativism and protectionism." During the course of his campaign, Trump has said he would consider defending NATO allies only "if they fulfill their obligations to us"; limit immigration from countries affected by terrorism; and renegotiate trade deals and implement tariffs on foreign goods. "It was an interesting exercise of statecraft, former Ohio secretary of state Ken Blackwell told the Journal in describing Bush's speech. No one could say he directly spoke in attack mode against Donald Trump. Neither could anybody miss the fact that he thought there were some cutting-edge issues that Trump is advancing that need to be scrutinized and debated. Both Bush and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, skipped last month's Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. George W. Bush's brother Jeb unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination this year and has repeatedly criticized Trump. Click for more from The Wall Street Journal. Republican lawmakers are fuming over a bombshell report overnight that the U.S. government airlifted the equivalent of $400 million to Iran this past January as four detained Americans were released by Tehran and say the transaction has put more Americans at risk of being taken hostage. The cash transfer, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, was the first installment paid in a $1.7 billion settlement the Obama administration reached with Iran to resolve a failed 1979 arms deal dating from just before the Iranian Revolution. The cash flown to Iran consisted of euros, Swiss francs, and other currencies because U.S. law forbids transacting American dollars with Iran. While the Obama administration denied the cash transfer was done to secure the release of the four Americans, GOP lawmakers said it was tantamount to ransom. "Paying ransom to kidnappers puts Americans even more at risk," Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said in a statement. "While Americans were relieved by Irans overdue release of illegally imprisoned American hostages, the White Houses policy of appeasement has led Iran to illegally seize more American hostages." The four released Americans are Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian; Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine; Christian pastor Saeed Abedini; and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, whose case had not been publicized before the release. State Department spokesman John Kirby said their release was on an entirely separate track from the settlement payment and, in an interview Wednesday with Fox News, said any suggestion it was tied to ransom is utterly false. We just dont pay ransom. This was not ransom, he said. Kirby further said there was no secret about the payment. It was their money, Kirby told Fox News, noting the funds had been frozen and it made no sense for us to continue to drag out their claim. He argued the compromise struck with Iran worked to the taxpayers benefit because potentially billions more could have been on the line. In a written statement, Kirby said the negotiations over the Americans and over the settlement were even conducted "by different teams on each side." He said: "The funds that were transferred to Iran were related solely to the settlement of a long-standing claim at the U.S.-Iran Claims Tribunal at The Hague." However, the Journal says U.S. officials acknowledge that Iranian negotiators on the prisoner exchange said they wanted the cash to show they had gained something tangible. The Journal also reported that President Obama did not disclose the $400 million cash payment when he announced Jan. 17 that the arms deal dispute had been resolved. The administration has not disclosed how the $1.7 billion was paid, except to say it was not paid in dollars. The logistics of this payment -- literally delivering a plane full of cash to evade U.S. law -- shows yet again the extraordinary lengths the Obama administration will go to accommodate Iran, all while hiding the facts from Congress and the American people, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., said in a statement. Hundreds of millions in the pockets of a terrorist regime means a more dangerous region, period. And paying ransom only puts more American lives in jeopardy. Since the cash was airlifted, Iran's Revolutionary Guard has arrested two more Iranian-Americans. Tehran also has detained dual-nationals from France, Canada and the U.K. in recent months. Click for more from The Wall Street Journal. Influential Republican allies of Donald Trump are trying to arrange an intervention what amounts to a strategic review with the GOP presidential nominee in a bid to convince the candidate to change up his approach after a rocky few days, Fox News has learned. The effort includes party boss Reince Priebus, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. NBC News first reported that the figures are looking to meet with Trump in the coming days to discuss a possible reset, hoping to involve Trumps children in the effort. Fox News is told that while some are pushing for a meeting, the intervention may end up consisting of a series of phone conversations with the candidate. But there is no question supporters want to get the candidate back on message about Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration's record. The move comes amid a whirlwind of post-convention controversies -- including the GOP nominees feud with Muslim parents who lost their son in Iraq and his decision to hold back a primary endorsement for House Speaker Paul Ryan and others GOP lawmakers. But campaign chairman Paul Manafort, speaking Wednesday with Fox News, voiced confidence in the campaigns position and denied knowledge of any intervention effort. This is the first Im hearing of that, Manafort said. The campaigns focused and the campaign is moving forward in a positive way. The only need we have for an intervention is maybe with some media types who keep saying things that arent true. Manafort stressed that the campaign has now installed a director in every state as it pushes forward to November. Newly released fundraising numbers also show Trump and the GOP raised $80 million in July, marking a surge in fundraising compared with past months and drawing close to the combined $90 million raked in by Clinton and the Democrats last month. "The campaign is in good shape, Manafort said. But The Washington Post quoted sources describing Priebus as very frustrated with Trumps campaign. Gingrich, in an interview with Post, also warned that Clinton could be gaining the edge. Trump is helping her to win by proving he is more unacceptable than she is, he said. Fox News John Roberts contributed to this report. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence on Wednesday endorsed House Speaker Paul Ryan for re-election, breaking with running mate Donald Trump -- who said just a day earlier he was "not quite there yet" when asked if he would support Ryan in his primary race. I strongly support Paul Ryan, strongly support his re-election, the Indiana governor told Fox News. "Hes a long-time friend," Pence said. "Hes a strong conservative leader. I believe we need Paul Ryan in leadership in the Congress of the United States to rebuild our military, to strengthen our economy and to ensure that we have the kind of leadership in this country that will make America great again. Ryan faces businessman Paul Nehlen in next Tuesday's primary election. Pence did not criticize Trump for holding back his support for the incumbent. But the remarks are a striking contrast with what Trump had said Tuesday in an interview with The Washington Post, when he declined to endorse the 2012 GOP vice presidential nominee. I like Paul. I like Paul. But these are horrible times for our country. We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And Im just not quite there. Im not quite there yet, Trump said. Trumps repetition of the phrase not quite there yet, which he used four times in the interview, echoed Ryans own hesitancy to back Trump. When asked if he would endorse the billionaire, Ryan told CNN in May: "I'm just not ready to do that at this point. I'm not there right now. Trumps refusal to endorse Ryan, as well as Trump critic and Arizona Sen. John McCain, has reportedly caused frustration among top Republicans, some of whom are planning an intervention after a rough few days in the news cycle for the billionaire. Pence sought to dampen the flames of controversy somewhat when he spoke to Fox News, saying Trump and Ryan are building a good relationship. Well, I think what Donald Trump said is hes not there yet. These are two men that are building a good relationship, Pence said. And Im very confident after Donald Trumps elected president and Paul Ryans re-elected to Congress and to speaker of the House, these two men are going to do great things to restore this country at home and abroad. Pence also claimed that he had spoken to Trump about his friendship with Ryan, and his intention to endorse. He said Trump strongly encouraged me to endorse Ryan. With the political conventions behind them, Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee are scrambling to close their ground game gap with Hillary Clinton boosting fundraising and concentrating on vital battlegrounds, even as some sources suggest they have a long way to go. The campaign notoriously has lagged Clinton's in organizational strength, but faces the unavoidable reality that a ticket to the White House requires victory in key swing states like Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. In a sign they're taking the task seriously, the campaign on Wednesday announced $80 million in donations for the campaign and the GOP in July, money that can be used to target their message at these voters. The haul marks a big fundraising surge for the GOP nominee, and comes close to the combined $90 million raked in by Clinton and the Democrats last month. "The campaign is in good shape. We are organized. We are moving forward," campaign manager Paul Manafort told Fox News' "Happening Now" on Wednesday, saying they've now hired 50 state directors. The fundraising comes despite a rocky post-convention period for Trump that has included dealing with backlash over the candidates feud with Muslim parents whose son was killed in Iraq. Sources say behind-the-scenes, though, concerns continue to surface that Trumps ground game isnt yet strong enough to compete with the Clinton machine. It hasnt been the smoothest ride, one source with knowledge of Trumps field operations in the South told FoxNews.com. Another described the operation as all over the place. But Karen Giorno, a senior Trump adviser and Florida chief strategist, maintains the campaign has a plan in play that includes a coordinated multi-state Trump-RNC push that will challenge Democrats in key states. She vowed a visible acceleration in the battlegrounds but added its not a one-size-fits-all plan. This is a non-traditional campaign in a non-traditional year, she told FoxNews.com. As you look at Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio each effort is different. Florida, which has 29 electoral votes up for grabs, has emerged in the past two decades as one of the most important battleground states in the country. Giorno said Team Trump has amassed a large army of volunteers and supporters in Florida, boasting its a well-oiled machine that is growing. Soon, shell put another 10 people on the payroll mostly in leadership positions. Both the Trump and Clinton campaigns are working with their respective national committees -- where Democrats likewise have a staffing edge in some places. In Florida alone, Democrats maintain a paid team more than twice the size of the Republicans'. The goal of the Clinton camp is to have 100 operational field offices in the Sunshine State. Last month, it set up shop in Miami. Miami and South Florida in general are going to be a large part of our strategy for success, Simone Ward, Clintons Florida director, told The Miami Herald. It is a major [get out the vote] universe for any presidential campaign, and in particular ours. In Pennsylvania, Democrats have a field staff of more than 100 while Republicans have 54. In Ohio, Democrats have 70 on staff as of June 11; Republicans have 53. Ninety-plus days before a totally winnable election and Im stunned, Gary Nordlinger, president of a political consulting firm and adjunct professor at George Washington Universitys school of political management, told FoxNews.com, regarding the on-the-ground organizing. Im just shocked that Republicans did not learn from their mistakes in 2012. Despite campaign promises going into the Republican National Convention in Cleveland to step up their operations this month, staffing on the ground may still be spotty. FoxNews.com called Trump headquarters in Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and North Carolina -- but only in Florida's office in Sarasota did a person answer the phone. Calls on Aug. 1 -- and again 24 hours later -- to the other three offices either were not answered or not returned when voicemail messages could be left. An 11:06 a.m. ET call on Aug. 1 to the Pennsylvania branch led to this message: The person youve called has a voicemail box that has not been set up yet. To Giorno, the comparisons of staffing numbers are not the best way to size up the rival teams. [Clintons] playbook is so last century, she said. Were lean and mean and we get to adjust they have this clunky, old school apparatus. Despite the data, Nordlinger says the New York businessman isnt to blame. Im not laying this at Trumps feet, he said. [The RNC] has had four years to prepare for this. But the RNC, too, pushes back on any suggestion their ground game is lacking. The RNC has built the most efficient and effective ground game in the partys history, RNC spokeswoman Lindsay Walters told FoxNews.com. We are focused on the entire ticket, working to get all Republicans on the ballot elected to office. Walters said the RNC has had staff on the ground in key states since 2011. Currently, there are 489 paid staffers, 4,100 trained organizers and thousands of volunteers in the field. In total, we have over 775 total staff dedicated to beating Hillary Clinton, Walters said. No other campaign, committee, or organization has been doing this for as long as we have. We are the infrastructure for the entire GOP ticket. And the Trump campaign has embraced that. The U.S. Air Force has declared its F-35A Lightning II fighter jet combat ready, marking a major milestone for the controversial aircraft. The stealth fighter, which has been beset by cost overruns and delays, has a $110 million price tag. The $379 billion weapon program is the most expensive in Americas military history. Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of the Air Combat Command, announced the aircrafts combat readiness Tuesday. I am proud to announce this powerful new weapons system has achieved initial combat capability, he said, in a statement. The F-35A will be the most dominant aircraft in our inventory because it can go where our legacy aircraft cannot and provide the capabilities our commanders need on the modern battlefield. Carlisle said that the aircraft had met all key criteria for reaching initial operational capability. Airmen have been trained, manned and equipped to conduct basic close air support, interdiction and limited suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses in a contested environment with an operational squadron of 12-24 aircraft, according to the Air Forces statement. All the necessary logistical and operational elements are also in place, and the F-35A has the ability to deploy and conduct operational missions harnessing the programs weapons and missions systems, the statement explained. The 34th Fighter Squadron of the 388th Fighter Wing, based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the first operational F-35A squadron. The squadron completed a successful June deployment to Mountain Home AFB in Idaho and a series of eight-aircraft sorties last month, the Air Force said. The weapon programs delays and cost issues have fueled high-profile criticism. Earlier this year Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., described the development of the F-35 as a scandal, citing cost overruns that have been disgraceful. Critics have also highlighted technical issues with the F-35s Autonomic Logistic Information System, or ALIS, the so-called brain of the aircraft that controls its operations, maintenance, scheduling and supply chain management. With the Air Forces announcement of combat readiness, the Pentagon will be eager to open a new chapter for the F-35 showcasing its capabilities such as sophisticated sensor technology that enhances pilots view of the battlefield. It has been trash-talked a lot, but this is one mean machine and it will prove its combat value, Rebecca Grant, president of Washington D.C.-based defense research firm IRIS Independent Research, told FoxNews.com. Its ready to go to war, its ready to keep the peace. Developed by Lockheed Martin, three variants of the F-35 Lightning II will eventually replace legacy fighters for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. FoxNews.coms Cody Derespina contributed to this report. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers Yahoo is investigating a potential security breach, after 200 million Yahoo user accounts reportedly showed up for sale on the dark web. A hacker linked to breaches of LinkedIn and MySpace databases posted the Yahoo information on a marketplace called The Real Deal, Motherboard reported Monday. It's unclear if the Yahoo login credentials came from a stolen company database or were obtained though some other hacking method. A Yahoo spokesperson told Motherboard that the company was aware of the credentials being stolen online, but did not confirm whether Yahoo itself was hacked. The company said that it was still investigating the potential security breach, according an article BBC News published Tuesday. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment. Many of the accounts appear to be disabled or otherwise inactive. Motherboard attempted to contact more than 100 email addresses from the database, and many of its queries came back as "undeliverable." The hacker who posted the data told Motherboard that the addresses were most likely from 2012. This is not Yahoo's first security issue. In 2012, a breach exposed 453,000 passwords, while a 2014 breach involved what the company described as a "coordinated effort" to gain access to Yahoo email accounts. In May, the US House of Representatives blocked Yahoo access on its network over concerns that it was a target for hackers. Yahoo sought to reassure its customers on Tuesday, telling BBC News that it "works hard to keep our users safe, and we always encourage our users to create strong passwords, or give up passwords altogether by using Yahoo Account Key, and use different passwords for different platforms." This article originally appeared on PCMag.com. Secure messaging app Telegram this week pushed back on reports that Iranian hackers breached dozens of accounts and accessed millions of user phone numbers. "Keep calm and send Telegrams," the company titled a Tuesday blog post that suggests a Reuters story about the alleged breach is overblown. That story said the hack was "the largest known breach of the encrypted communications system." It pointed to Telegram's process of activating new devices via SMS text messages. "When users want to log on to Telegram from a new phone, the company sends them authorization codes via SMS, which can be intercepted by the phone company and shared with the hackers," Reuters says, citing cyber researchers. Telegram, however, says "this is hardly a new threat." The company has repeatedly advised users to utilize two-step verification to avoid such breaches. "If you do that, there's nothing an attacker can do," according to Telegram. The Reuters report also said hackers "identified the phone numbers of 15 million Iranian users." Telegram acknowledges this was possible at one point. "Certain people checked whether some Iranian numbers were registered on Telegram and were able to confirm this for 15 million accounts," it writes. "As a result, only publicly available data was collected and the accounts themselves were not accessed. Such mass checks are no longer possible since we introduced some limitations into our API this year." Anyone who wants to check individual phone numbers can still do so one by one; Telegram was quick to point out that "this is also true for any other contact-based messaging app" like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. This article originally appeared on PCMag.com. Got your map? How about a compass? Whatever you carry, make sure not to depend on your smartphone in a national park. Cell service can be spotty or even nonexistent, which means your phone may be useless if you get lost or hurt on the trail. The biggest mistake visitors make is thinking if they have a smartphone, theyll be safe, said John Kelly, a public affairs officer at Acadia National Park in Maine. Since mistakes like that contribute to injuries, it may be getting harder for rangers to keep visitors safe this year, as record numbers are arriving to celebrate the National Park Services centennial year. The park service predicts 10 million more Americans will visit national parks this year, topping last years record attendance of 307 million. AAA reports that 79 percent of Americans and nearly half of millennials it surveyed said they are likely to visit a national park in the next 12 months. Thats a good thing for America's national park system-- but many of those visitors arent aware of or fail to prepare for the risks associated with the outdoors. And even those who do prepare may not pay sufficient attention to their surroundings. That, national park spokesmen say, is the leading cause of injuries and deaths. There were 164 fatalities and 1,184 injuries across the National Park Service in 2014, the last year such numbers were available. The majority of accidents are related to driving, hiking and water activities, said National Parks Service spokeswoman Kathy Kupper. People get really excited and forget this is a wild place, said Jamie Richards, public affairs officer for Yosemite National Park in California. You get people climbing over railings to get closer to the waterfalls Those railings and barriers are there for your safety. A few years ago, three young hikers died after one climbed over a railing at Yosemites Vernal Falls, and the others attempted a rescue. All three were swept over the falls. This past June, a 23-year-old man died in Yellowstone National Park after he left a boardwalk where tourists are required to walk and fell into a scalding hot acidic spring. And a few weeks later, just hours after a young woman posted a photo of herself at the edge of the Grand Canyon on Instagram, she fell 400 feet to her death when she apparently moved out of the way of hikers on the narrow trail. Many National Park Service spokesmen dont think trying to take selfies is necessarily making visitors less safe, unless they are disregarding safety protocols to do so. Another concern, Richards says, is that some visitors dont consider their fitness levels or ask enough questions before heading out. There is no shuttle bus to bring you back from the top of the mountain, she said. Another is parents who let their kids race ahead on a trail. Kyle Patterson, spokesman for Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, suggests keeping everyone together, giving older kids their own trail maps and having the kids mark a specific trail on their own maps. And dont even think of going on a hike without carrying sufficient water. Many people dont realize that dehydration can lead to very serious repercussions even death. A tip: Consider the CamelBak All Clear water bottle, which purifies stream water in a minute using UV technology. Hikers also dont always think about the wearing proper footwear. Flip-flops on any trail is not good, said Kelly. The chances of dying in a national park are very slim, but an injury or mishap can derail a vacation and demand many hours from search and rescue teams. We are seeing an increase in injuries and search and rescue incidents this year due in part to unsafe behavior on the part of visitors, Crater Lake National Park posted July 27 on Facebook and shared more than 650 times. The experts offer some safety tips for visitors: --Use free park shuttles to lessen traffic and help prevent car accidents. --Keep a safe distance at least 25 feet from animals. Those squirrels and deer may look cute, but they are wild. --Stay out of fast water. Rushing streams in the park can be dangerous so dont get in the water ever, said Patterson. The fast water is very powerful and can knock you over even if you are just wading. --Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return, so they can alert authorities if youre not back at the expected time. --If a problem arises, you can help rangers find you or your lost child by hugging a tree and staying where you are. One person can head down the trail to alert authorities and, along the way, ask passing hikers to report a missing child or an injury. --Carry a first-aid kit. (I learned this the hard way in Joshua Tree National Park when one of my kids fell into some thorny cacti.) Christina Tunnah, the regional manager for the Americas at World Nomads, which supplies travel insurance and travel safety advice, suggests the kit should contain gauze, bandage tape, disinfectant, tweezers (for tics and splinters), scissors, cotton buds, etc. Bee sting ointment, bug bite spray and antihistamine pills and cream are also good bets as well as a few lollipops or hard candies to ease the pain. Especially for kids, Tunnah said, If there is a mishap on the trail, nothing soothes tears, pain and fear better than candy. The most important tip: Use common sense. Now where is that trail map? Selling products into retail industry is tough. Competing head to head with the big brands is almost impossible. They have established partnerships in distribution and access to seemingly unlimited marketing budgets. In fact, ten companies control the majority of consumer brands on the shelf at your local retailer. Fortunately, for consumer product entrepreneurs, these large companies are more likely to buy an entrepreneurs innovative product than create one on their own. 1. Entrepreneurs see a problem that current products don't solve. The large product companies are more likely to create new brands with the same ingredients that have been on the shelf for decades. But product entrepreneurs are looking for ways to solve a problem, not repackage existing solutions. This is one of the requirements for getting in front of retail buyers for new consumer product companies. Related: 5 Strategies for Generating Consumer Demand 2. Entrepreneurs create unique, patentable products. Product entrepreneurs create new and unique products. Their goal is to patent them which prevents the large companies from copying their idea. This allows the entrepreneur to grow sales unimpeded by direct competition and eventually sell their patents to the big brands. Related: Jessica Alba's Honest Company Is Reportedly a $1.7 Billion 3. Entrepreneurs are usually first on new macro economic trends. Historically, large consumer product companies take longer to respond to trends. The natural and organic market growth has been substantial over the last ten years. However, big brands were late to the party. This is why the natural and organic market was initially was filled with startups which now have grown into larger companies serving the masses. Startups will always be the ones to pioneer new product trends as they are willing to take more risks to achieve their dreams. Related: 5 trends every American small-business owner needs to watch in 2016 4. Entrepreneurs want the product for themselves. Jessica Alba founded Honest because she wanted to buy products that didnt pose toxic risks for her kids. Large consumer product companies are less likely to create products out of necessity. Their corporate structures intrinsically impede this kind of innovation. So for those of you that have a product ideas that are unique, patentable and solves problems that exists in the market - be encouraged. There will always be a place in retail for you to test and grow your ideas. And who knows, maybe one of the big consumer brand companies will buy your product next. A recent Price WaterhouseCoopers study reveals a striking gap about the role of "purpose" in corporate America: Although 79 percent of business leaders surveyed said they considered purpose central to business success, just one-third of leadership teams were actually using it when making vital business decisions. Related: 10 Inspiring MLK Quotes on Leadership and Purpose Think about your own business. You started with the vision, excitement and drive to make it happen. You worked crazy hours, took on challenges and came out on top -- more often than not, anyway. But, since your company began firing on all cylinders, why has purpose seem to have fallen by the wayside? Isnt there more to life, you might be asking, than watching your companys earnings pile up? If this describes you, then youve reached the tippy-top of Tony Robbins pyramid of human needs. Youve ascended to and passed the steps to security, variety, significance, connection and growth. And now youre at the pyramids peak: contribution. To keep motivation high, according to human behavior expert Daniel Pink, you now have to work to contribute to and serve a cause greater than yourself. Once youve achieved liftoff, treading closely to your foundational mission will be what drives your passion and success -- benefiting you and your team. That foundational mission might include helping every kid in Washington, D.C., graduate from high school (as I did) or bringing clean water to communities in Honduras. Whatever it is, we all know the fulfillment that comes from serving. Having a mission that excites you to your core will nullify your need for accountability or motivation. Your mission will drive your creativity and energy,naturally. A perfect time for purpose For entrepreneurs who have achieved stability, generational shifts provide a reason beyond personal fulfillment to recommit to their company's mission. Related: 4 Ways a Clear Purpose Benefits Your Business One shift in particular: At the close of 2015, millennials officially surpassed baby boomers as the largest living generation, and are expected to comprise 75 percent of the workforce by 2025. Given their sheer mass, combined with their shifting professional goals, this generation is changing capitalism. Thanks to millennials, a companys "cause" has become as important, if not more so, than its profit-making potential. Almost all millennials surveyed -- 94 percent -- have said that they want to use their skills to benefit a cause. And more than half have said theyd actually take a pay cut to find work that matches their values. So, especially in the coming years, a company's "cause" will become a powerful factor for attracting talent. That's why keeping a laser focus on your mission will likely pay off for you as never before, by bringing you loyal, cause-conscious customers. Ninety-one percent of millennials -- who are an exceptionally brand-loyal generation -- have said on surveys that they would switch brands to patronize a competitor that better aligns with their beliefs. Especially with millennials calling the shots, purpose is what sets your company apart. It brings talent to the door, polishes your brands image and keeps customers coming back. But becoming a mission-first operation takes patience and practice. Here are three ways to put your companys purpose front and center: 1. Bring your mission to meetings. Shift every conversation away from transactional language to how youre helping others and tapping into the mission. To kick off the meeting, ask everyone in the room to share a mission moment they experienced in the past week. At lifestyle brand Life is Good, employees focus on using I get to instead of I have to statements as a way to bring the mission to life on a day-to-day basis. When cause and talent come together, everybody wins. When Life is Goods senior executives met to find a new company president, they looked to Lisa Tanzer, a longtime board member of Life is Goods Kids Foundation. Tanzers stated focus is on the companys philanthropic efforts, and her unique business background at Hasbro, Staples and PricewaterhouseCoopers gives her own I get to some bite. 2. Make social responsibility the new bottom line. Its not always easy to credibly live your mission, but some company priorities must top quarterly earnings. My company, in fact, was recently forced to choose between team members well-being and the companys bottom line. Thanks to a complaint, the federal governments review process left 14 team members without work. If wed looked only at our bottom line, wed have let these employees go, but we chose to keep them on the payroll until the complaint was resolved. By keeping them on board and finding ways for them to contribute, we demonstrated our devotion and caring for our more than 200 employees. Patagonia, too, does a great job of this. At its own expense, the outdoors company recently studied the number of synthetic microfibers released into the waterways as its jackets are washed. It found the annual impact to water organisms to be the equivalent of 11,900 plastic bags. The company is now on a mission to address the problem, helping to clean up both the planet and its environmentally conscious image. 3. Help employees make it personal. Make employees a part of what you believe in by telling them your companys story every chance you get. Then, offer them the chance to carry it forward. Household products brand Method gives its employees three days each year to personify the company mission. Team members are encouraged to clean up their communities however they see fit, whether through litter pickups, food bank volunteering or other methods. To ensure employees all the way up the company ladder work toward its mission, Method has even reincorporated itself as a public benefit corporation and codified its purpose into its corporate governance. Related: I Am Millennial. Hear Me Roar! All entrepreneurs start their companies on a mission to make the world a better place, but the struggles of business make those dreams easy to forget. Isnt it time you recommitted to yours? The mayor of Stockton, Calif., is pushing back against allegations of negligence after a gun stolen from his home was used in the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy, according to reports. The San Joaquin County District Attorneys Office stated Friday that one of two guns registered to Mayor Anthony Silva and stolen in separate incidences was identified as the murder weapon in the Feb. 23, 2015, fatal shooting of Rayshawn Harris, CBS News reported. Prosecutors said Silva failed to immediately report the 40-caliber semi-automatic pistol as stolen from his unoccupied home. On March 22, 2015, Silva reported the gun missing -- 27 days after the teen was shot while standing in his driveway. Silva, who is running for re-election, told FOX40 its just silly for people to present him as a negligent gun owner, insisting he stores his trigger-locked weapons in a closet and out of the reach of his young son. Most gun owners, unless youre sleeping with your weapon at nighttime or unless youre a public safety officer, chances are youre not checking your gun every single day, Silva said in the Monday interview, admitting he didnt check on his weapons daily. The Stockton Police Department recovered the gun while investigating a domestic dispute on June 9. Silva previously stated he felt sick to his stomach about the death, according to CBS News. Silva, 42, refused to address timeline gaps, citing an ongoing investigation, but asserted, as soon as I realized that my gun was missing, and I wasnt going to be able to recover it, I reported it. Criminal proceedings were suspended and a mental competency evaluation ordered Tuesday for a man accused of attacking five transients in various San Diego neighborhoods, killing three of them. At Jon David Guerrero's scheduled arraignment, Deputy Public Defender Dan Tandon told Judge Frederick Maguire that the defendant was severely mentally ill'' and he doubted his client's ability to understand the charges against him. The judge ordered the competency evaluation and scheduled a hearing for Oct. 7. Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey objected to the judge's decision, alleging that Guerrero demonstrated "extreme planning'' in the crimes and that he "was not a person suffering from a disorganized mind.'' Guerrero, 39, was charged last month with three counts of murder and two counts of premeditated attempted murder, along with a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders. He could face the death penalty if convicted. During the hearing Tuesday, Harvey alleged Guerrero attacked all of his victims while the homeless men were sleeping, driving railroad spikes into their bodies and setting two of them on fire. When Guerrero was arrested July 15, three railroad spikes and identification from two victims were found in his backpack, the prosecutor said. A search of the defendant's apartment turned up a bucket filled with rocks, railroad ties and railroad spikes, Harvey said. San Diego police said the victims were brutalized as they slept on roadsides, in open areas and under freeway bridges. The first attack in the series occurred July 3. About 8 a.m. that day, the burning body of Angelo De Nardo, 53, was found underneath an Interstate 5 offramp near the 2700 block of Morena Boulevard in Bay Park. A railroad spike had been driven into his head and chest, Harvey said. Witnesses described seeing a man running across the freeway near Clairemont Drive, carrying a gas can. The following day, Shawn Mitchell Longley, 41, was found dead at a park in Ocean Beach and a railroad spike was found next to his body, the prosecutor said. That same day, 61-year-old Manuel Mason was severely wounded -- a railroad spike driven into his sinus cavity -- near Valley View Casino Center in the Midway district, Harvey said. On the morning of July 6, Dionicio Derek Vahidy, 23, was gravely wounded in downtown San Diego by an assailant who fled after leaving a towel burning on top of him. A railroad spike was found next to the victim, who died in a hospital four days later. Authorities have not released a suspected motive for the violence. There are no indications that the suspect knew the victims, according to police. Click for more from Fox 5. A Detroit man has been arrested after buying explosives from an undercover agent, amassing weapons and talking about carrying out an attack, federal authorities said. A criminal complaint charges Sebastian Gregerson, 29, with unregistered possession of a destructive device and unlicensed receipt of explosive materials. He made an initial appearance Monday in U.S. District Court and is being held pending a Thursday detention hearing. The Detroit News, which first reported the allegations, said two of Gregerson's supporters declined to comment outside of court. The Associated Press sent an email Tuesday seeking comment from Gregerson's court-appointed lawyer, Miriam Siefer. The complaint chronicles a counterterrorism investigation that began in April 2015 following a tip that Gregerson, who the FBI said also is known as Abdurrahman bin Mikaayl, had weapons. The FBI said he bought grenades on Sunday from the undercover agent in Monroe and was arrested. The complaint said Gregerson earlier purchased "an arsenal of weapons, ammunition, tactical gear and tactical training materials." It doesn't say whether Gregerson was planning an attack or why he was purchasing explosives. The U.S. attorney's office in Detroit hasn't elaborated. In June, the FBI said Gregerson bought road spikes online that can be used to slow or disable vehicles. Other purchases included tactical training items, including handguns and dummy rounds. "The purchase of training versions of these weapons makes it unlikely that the weapons were purchased for recreational use, such as hunting," the complaint states. There are many ways to monetize a website. And of those, one of the most simplistic and easily employed methods is advertising. Related: Are You Taking Advantage of Google's Local Inventory Ads? Google is offering just such a program for website owners: AdSense. AdSense works to match text ads and display ads to the content already on your website, making them highly relevant and clickable. You get to decide on the size of the ads, as well as where you want to place them. And, with text ads, you can even customize the colors and the ads' overall appearance. But, to make any money with ads, you need to do two things: comply with Googles terms of service, and drive traffic to your site. So, heres a brief rundown of how to do that, along with some basic information on how AdSense works and what to do to generate revenue. How AdSense works Google employs a real-time auction for advertisers to bid on ad spaces. When a specific advertiser puts forth the highest-paying ad, that ad is automatically displayed on your website. There is no need to approve a list of ads to start monetizing with AdSense, though you do have some control over the content thats shown: You can allow or block ads based on your preferences. AdSense users are paid according to the number of impressions and clicks their ads receive. For this reason, AdSense sites have traditionally fallen into one of two categories, though there are others: Publishers with a high volume of daily content. When it comes to advertising, the more traffic and the higher the number of impressions and clicks, the better. A constant flow of content keeps visitors coming back for more. Portal sites. These are sites with highly targeted keywords that display the maximum number of ads and have a high bounce rate because of how often and how quickly users click away from them. Its safe to say that there are pros and cons to both of these approaches and that the effectiveness of portal sites is suspect at best. But, bottom line, even a site with a slower publishing schedule of quality content can benefit from using AdSense ads, assuming it's driving traffic. So, that's how AdSense works. Now, here are some best practices for making the most of your AdSense account. Related: 10 Things Nobody Tells You About Google AdWords Follow best practices. Some popular locations for ad units include: the header, the sidebar, the actual content, below blog posts and in the footer. Youll want to display ads strategically, to maximize revenue, especially since you can only have up to three ads on a single page. Where you display ads will also be contingent on the particular website theme or design youre using. Here are some best practices all website owners should follow: Make sure you arent violating any of Googles AdSense policies, or you account may be banned. Check for the successful implementation of ad units on your site. They usually take a little bit of time to populate after installation. View your website on different browsers, to be sure. Move ads away from other links or clickable content on your site. This will help you reduce accidental clicks. Be on the watch for sudden spikes in traffic. Monitor your website with Google Analytics for unusual activity. Keep your content family-safe, or you could end up violating the terms of service. Make sure your ads are mobile-friendly. Screen size can have a significant impact on what the user sees, and how intrusive the ads are. Either minimize the number of in-content ads, or use responsive ads. Placing your ads Google has several suggestions for the placement of your ads. Its most important recommendation is to prioritize user experience over maximized ad revenue. Sneaky "black hat" tactics should be avoided. Google does not allow you to draw attention to your ads or to encourage your website visitors to click on them, even if that action is designed to help you out. If you want to solicit financial support, consider implementing a tip jar -- such as with PayPal -- instead. The only Google-approved label for ads on your site is Advertisements or Sponsored links, so dont use any other copy. In addition, clean up your sites navigation and keep searcher intent in mind when creating content. Also: Implement ads without getting in the way of the user, make the ads easy to read and create a pleasant experience overall. Google notes that three ad units per page isnt always ideal for a good user experience. Be aware of when one or two ads would be better for the user than the full three. Finally, in terms of a more advanced tip, use heatmap software to determine exactly what your visitors are looking at most on your website, as well as what theyre clicking on. This data can help you decide on the best placement for your ad units. Optimize ad performance. Once you've built your website, placed your ad units and made sure you've adhered to best practices, you only have to optimize your ad performance. This actually begins with choosing your ad types, sizes and locations. These may seem like small considerations, but they are quite important. When you go to create ads within your AdSense account, Google will suggest that you use certain ad sizes. By all means, use the recommended ad units, but also try experimenting with others to find out what works best for you. Also, keep watch on the ad content appearing on your site. If you think certain ads shouldnt be appearing on your site at all, block them. That way, irrelevant ads will show up less on your site. Another tip is to A/B split-test your ads. This is simply the process of comparing the efficacy of one ad over another, typically by altering one small variable, such as the link color. Fortunately, this function is built right into AdSense, which is convenient. Be clear on what you want to test, and run separate experiments in instances where you want to test more than one variable. Final thoughts If ads are your primary source of revenue, then traffic and optimization are the two keys to your success, and even the future sale of your site. Without traffic, you wont make any money, and even if you do have traffic, with weak ad performance you still wont make money. Related: YouTube Is a Lousy Place to Make Money Finally, consider that, when valuing an advertising site, potential buyers dont shy away from sites needing a little improvement. So, while you dont have to have reached peak effectiveness with your ad revenue, to achieve a healthy exit, you should still optimize your process. The father of a man who allegedly threw a rock at a Coatesville, Pennsylvania patrol vehicle in July wrote a letter to the police department in which he expressed his sincere apology and commended the officer for his actions. The incident happened when Officer Jared Davis was on patrol as a male walked off the sidewalk from in front of the library and threw an object, according to police. Dashcam footage shows the man hitting the vehicle shattering front windshield. Police say Davis was attempting to exit his patrol vehicle when the male allegedly attacked, attempting to strike him in the head with the same rock. Police identified the man as Eric Watson Jr. Watson's mother drove from North Carolina and his father flew from Jamaica--simply to say sorry. With permission from the family, the department posted the father's heartfelt letter to Facebook. In the letter, the mans father wrote that he apologized for his sons alleged actions. In addition, he said that he admired the action taken by officer Jared Davis by displaying professionalism beyond the norm. The City of Coatesville Police Department wrote that they hope that all involved parties see this as an opportunity to move forward in a positive direction. Click for more from Fox 29. A 23-year-old woman in Oregon was taking photos of her friend jumping into a river when she suddenly slipped -- and plunged 90 feet off a cliff to her death, investigators revealed Monday. The woman was identified as Sydney Craft of Roseburg. She and her friend were visiting the North Umpqua River northeast of the city. Investigators called to the scene Sunday afternoon said Craft was dead when they arrived. Her friend tried unsuccessfully to give the woman CPR, police said. Craft had fallen off the cliff to the river's edge, investigators added. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, Glide Fire District 2 and the Fire District 2 steep angle rescue team all responded to the scene, Fox 12 reported. "These things are very unfortunate," sheriff's captain Dwes Hutson told The Oregonian. "This was a tragic accident." Roseburg is nearly 70 miles south of Eugene. Click for more from Fox 12. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Police suspect a 30-year-old runner whose body was found in a New York City marsh was strangled and possibly sexually assaulted. Police say that they were called for a report of a woman who left her home around 5 p.m. Tuesday for a run in Howard Beach, Queens, and didn't return. They say the body of Karina Vetrano was later found in a marsh hours with signs of strangulation and with her clothes in disarray. The city's medical examiner's office is working to determine the cause of death. There were no arrests. Federal authorities say a retired police officer who tried to breach a secured area outside New York's Trump Tower as Donald Trump was coming home has been arrested. Authorities say he was carrying a gun, but legally, and posed no threat to the Republican presidential nominee. Anthony Shark was released without bail Wednesday. The 54-year-old is charged with assaulting Secret Service agents. Authorities say he defied agents' orders, tried to walk through a sealed-off stretch of sidewalk and grabbed at agents Tuesday night. Defense lawyer Annalisa Miron says Shark is a retired New York Police Department officer working as a security guard at a jeweler near Trump Tower. She calls the incident an "example of Donald Trump ruining another regular person's life." Trump's campaign referred inquiries to the Secret Service. A bride-to-be is lucky to have her engagement ring back after it slid off her finger in Lake Michigan. It was missing for two days before it was found by a complete stranger. 'Miracles can happen': Engagement ring recovered in Lake Michigan https://t.co/EpwhCtaG2g pic.twitter.com/cXFKodwsgY FOX 61 (@FOX61News) August 3, 2016 Jamie Kennedy asked her Facebook friends in South Haven, Michigan to let her know if anyone found her ring. Her post just happened to have been seen by John Dudley, the president of a metal detector club in western Michigan. Dudley battled strong waves and found the 1.3-carat ring in the bottom of the lake -- making Kennedy believe 'miracles can happen.' WZZM-TV reports that Dudley reached out to Kennedy, a Decatur resident, and offered his services. Kennedy says she "practically walked on water" when Dudley gave her a thumbs-up to indicate that he had found it. Kennedy posted on social media that the ring had been found, and shared photos of her smiling, showing off her newfound ring with Dudley. Click for more from Fox 2. A Henderson, Nevada Army veteran has been told he cant fly his American flag, at least not the way he wants to. Ken Jacksons giant American flag appears at the Crystal Creek apartment complex. The management wants the flag displayed in a different manner. Jackson said thats something he shouldnt have to do. Jackson has lived at the complex for five years and has been flying his flag on his patio for the last three. Management last week told him it needs to come down. I told her Im a vet, I have the right to fly it. She goes, You do have the right to fly it, you have the right to hang it, but it has to be on a pole, Jackson said. Jackson said the flag is attached to a homemade pole in an appropriate manner. Management disagrees. According to managements code, if a resident wants to display an American flag, it must be on a pole, and the pole must be attached within the confines of the patio. It cant be attached to the outside of the building. Click for more from Fox 5. At the time, I thought I was getting an incredible deal. It was only after I stared at the number that I realized I had probably paid around $100 too much. I spent the second week of my vacation to southeast Asia in Thailand. After receiving some great tips from a student I met on a Bangkok street, I was whisked away by my personal tuk tuk (a three-wheeled vehicle commonly found in Asia) driver to a rather impressive tailor shop. As soon as I walked through the shop's doors, I felt special. The salesman welcomed me and offered me a complimentary beverage. I asked for a Singha beer, and in a quick moment another man brought me an unopened can and cracked it open. As I sipped on my new favorite brand of beer, the salesman showed me assorted fabrics in various patterns for some custom-made shirts. Related: 4 Business Lessons I Learned on Summer Vacation, Trekking the Andes to Machu Picchu This guy was smooth. He made me feel like both a valued customer and a friend at the same time. I ultimately ordered seven shirts, two pairs of pants, three scarves (as presents for the women in my life) and two ties. I had never purchased custom clothing, and I felt a little like a movie star getting my measurements taken. It felt great knowing I'd get some clothes that actually fit me perfectly. Then the bill came. Close to $600. I said that seemed like a lot. That's when the salesman threw in the extra pair of pants. I agreed to the price, gave my credit card and off I went. Later, I realized I probably paid too much. Ultimately, though, I didn't care. I had a pleasant experience in this shop, and the clothes were quality and fit me well. I walked away with not only a new wardrobe, but also the biggest lesson that I realized during my time in Asia: 1. Businesses that treat customers well and provide positive experiences can charge a premium. Here are four other business lessons I was reminded of during my trip. 2. Offer something unique. Stephen J. Bronner This was particularly a problem in Laos, where I spent the first week of my vacation. On streets both in the capital of Vientiane and miles outside of the city, you'll find numerous shops right next to each other that sell the same assortments of food, beverages and other goods. Many of the stores even have similar signs. How do these businesses attract customers? I wondered. Lesson: Always make sure you and your business stand out from your competitors. If your offering isn't unique, make sure your marketing is. 3. Study the market. Stephen J. Bronner Upon arriving at Khao San Road, the famous backpacker street in Bangkok, I was pleasantly overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the merchants and large crowds. There is an assortment of things to buy on this tourist-friendly street, such as clothes, food and Henna tattoos. Several people were walking around with crispy scorpions on sticks. I just had to try one. The scorpion salesman told me the price was 150 baht (about 35 baht equals a dollar). I came back at him with an offer of 100 baht. He agreed. I took my scorpion and munched on it. The salesman most likely walked away a happy man. Related: 10 Dumb Things That Air Travelers Have Done You see, things in Thailand are cheap. It wasn't until later that I realized you can get a full dinner for about 50 baht, so yeah, I got ripped off with my first purchase in Bangkok. Lesson: Do your research and know the value of things so you don't waste precious funds. 4. Don't rely on gimmicks. Stephen J. Bronner One of the more interesting places that I visited in Thailand was the floating market of Damnoen Saduak. There, patrons board long-tail paddle boats and are whisked around to various shops on the canal. It's an amazing and beautiful experience. The one thing I didn't see, though, is anyone actually purchasing any goods. So despite an amazing gimmick, and a literal hook to pull in customers, not many people were opening their wallets. Lesson: It's one thing to get customers through your doors. It's another for them to actually give you their business. 5. Be assertive, but not aggressive. Stephen J. Bronner In Bangkok, you'll find tuk tuk drivers everywhere, and man, do they want your business. I was standing in the street eating some amazing pad Thai, and a driver asked me if I needed a ride. Really? Can't you see I'm eating? Related: How Muay Thai Kickboxers Embody the Soul of Entrepreneurs As I walked around Bangkok, drivers would follow me down the street or casually strike up conversations with me, pretending to be helpful before revealing they were a tuk tuk driver and wanted to chauffeur me around -- for a high price, of course. These guys were so aggressive, I quickly grew sick of their tactics and just starting ignoring all of them completely. Lesson: Our culture idolizes entrepreneurs, but some of our most celebrated business leaders are just as unethical as the next guy maybe more so. Last year, rapper and entrepreneur 50 Cent filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after making more than $100 million off his record label, his clothing line and a vitamin water company that was acquired by Coca-Cola. Hes not broke, mind you; just using the court system to stiff creditors for $28 million. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who at one time was heralded as an entrepreneurial rock star, pushed a breakthrough in laboratory testing to consumers, knowing full well that it wasnt ready for prime time. Tens of thousands of blood test results had to be voided. The question is, how many misdiagnoses did that cause? Related: Jennifer Lawrence to Play Elizabeth Holmes in New Movie About Theranos This is nothing new. I can rattle off dozens of similar stories. In late December of 2001, ImClone founder and CEO Sam Waksal tipped off family and friends that his companys new cancer drug, Erbitux, was about to be rejected by the FDA. He was convicted on insider trading and tax evasion charges and served five years in federal prison. Martha Stewart, who traded on the leaked information, spent five months in prison for lying about it to investigators. The media mogul was forced to resign her position as CEO of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia as part of a five-year ban from being an officer of a public company. The great irony of the story is that Erbitux was later approved by the FDA and has been a major drug in the fight against cancer. In 2008, ImClone was acquired by Eli Lilly for $6.5 billion. A little patience and ethics and Waksal and Stewart could have avoided the whole sordid mess ... and been richly rewarded. Related: The Biggest Judgment Error You Don't Know You're Making The good news is that bad actors can redeem themselves. Waksal, who has a doctorate in immunobiology, was released from prison in 2008 and founded his second biotech company, Kadmon Holdings. Last week, Kadmon, which is developing drugs for cancer and autoimmune disorders, raised $75 million in a successful IPO. And Stewart is once again chairman of her company. You may not feel empathy for these entrepreneurs and Im not at all sure they deserve it. Hubris is not exactly a likeable leadership trait. But they somehow managed to bounce back from their self-made disasters. What they lacked in humility and ethics they made up for in tenacity. The same can be said of many famous entrepreneurs, some of whom narrowly avoided ugly consequences for ethical lapses by virtue of little more than dumb luck. Case in point, one Steven P. Jobs. Related: What Personality Traits Made Steve Jobs Successful? Around the same time that events were unfolding at ImClone, the tech industry was embroiled in a much bigger and more far reaching scandal of its own: stock option backdating. Executives at dozens of tech companies received back-dated stock options to take advantage of lower exercise prices. The practice was entirely legal, except for one catch: the net gain is a taxable expense for the company. Failing to report it accurately or covering it up is accounting fraud. By 2008, dozens of top executives -- mostly CEOs and CFOs -- at Altera, Broadcom, Brocade, Cirrus Logic, KLA-Tencor, McAfee, Take Two, Verisign and about a dozen other technology companies had lost their jobs over the fallout. Many more had to give up their ill-gotten gains. One or two received prison terms. One of the companies hardest hit by the scandal was Apple. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigated two large backdated option grants: one for 4.8 million shares to the companys executive team and another for 7.5 million shares to Jobs, who was CEO at the time. An internal investigation by Apple resulted in SEC charges being brought against two top executives, both of whom had benefitted directly from the backdated options. SVP and General Counsel Nancy Heinen mainly took the fall for $40 million in underreported expenses, but CFO and director Fred Anderson was also severely sanctioned. Interestingly enough, Apples investigation exonerated Jobs. By chance, his options were underwater and had been cancelled and replaced with restricted shares, so he never benefitted from the backdating. He also got a pass for being unaware of the accounting implications, despite circumstantial evidence to the contrary. A similar investigation at Disney into backdated options at its Pixar subsidiary also cleared Jobs of any wrongdoing. It was just plain luck that neither investigation found a smoking gun that would have forced directors and the SEC to do something that none of them wanted to do: fire and bring charges against the nations most valuable and celebrated CEO. The moral of all these stories: Nobody deserves to be hoisted up on a pedestal; were all human. For more on what it takes to be successful in today's highly competitive business world, get Steves new book, Real Leaders Dont Follow: Being Extraordinary in the Age of the Entrepreneur, and check out his blog at stevetobak.com. An Arizona woman who had previously been convicted of faking a cancer diagnosis in order to obtain a government-funded abortion was again convicted Tuesday, this time for defrauding a veterans' organization. Chalice Renee Zeitner, 31, was found guilty of two counts of fraud schemes, two counts of theft and one count each of money laundering, identity theft and receiving an item obtained by fraudulent use of a credit card, The Arizona Republic reported. Zeitner alternately claimed to be a Marine Corps vet, a race-car driver and an attorney from South Africa in an effort to gain standing with the Veterans Hope charity and Armed Forces Racing, prosecutors said. She then allegedly used those relationships to defraud other groups out of tens of thousands of dollars. Zeitner also opened a credit card account using personal information from the founder of Veterans Hope and spent $25,000, prosecutors added. Shes set to be sentenced on Sept. 8. Zeitner was convicted on 11 counts of fraud and forgery in April, stemming from the cancer-for-abortion scheme. Shes due to be sentenced in that case next week. According to attorneys for the state, Zeitner told her doctor in 2010 that she was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for cancer and that her fetus had been exposed to radiation. After a specialist found her fetus was healthy, they say Zeitner didn't give up the scheme and forged a letter from another doctor that stated her pregnancy had to be terminated to save her life. The Arizona health care program in which Zeitner was enrolled covers the cost of abortions in limited circumstances, such as when a mother's life is endangered. Prosecutors say she never mentioned cancer when she applied. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An Emirates flight from India with 300 people on board crash landed at Dubai's main airport Wednesday, sending black smoke billowing into the air and halting all flights at the Middle East's busiest airport. A firefighter died while responding to the blaze, but none of the passengers or crew on board were killed. The accident was the most serious ever for Emirates, which has grown at a breakneck pace over the last three decades and turned its hometown of Dubai into a major long-haul international air hub. It was the second major air disaster for a Dubai government-backed airline in less than five months. Speaking to reporters in Dubai, Emirates Group CEO and chairman Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said 10 people were hospitalized after the incident, but stressed that all passengers were safely evacuated before the plane was engulfed in a fireball. He said one firefighter died trying to put out the fire. Emirates said the accident happened around 12:45 p.m. local time as Flight EK521 was arriving from the southern Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram. It confirmed that "all passengers and crew are accounted for and safe," but gave no details of what went wrong. "We do not have ... all the information. Thankfully there (were) no fatalities among our passengers and crew," Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, the airline's chairman and CEO, said in a video statement . "Our thoughts are with everyone involved." BREAKING: #Dubal #EK521 explosion over right wing shortly after coming to stand still pic.twitter.com/vp1YFhfIe0 Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) August 3, 2016 The Boeing 777-300 was carrying 282 passengers and 18 crew members from 20 different countries, according to the airline. Those onboard included 226 Indians, 24 Britons, 11 Emiratis, and six each from the United States and Saudi Arabia. Airline officials refused to answer questions from journalists, including what might have caused the accident. A problem with the plane's landing gear appeared to have at least been a contributing factor. Video shot by a passenger on another flight showed the plane tilted to its right side and careening on its belly as thick smoke poured out. The right wing appeared to have been torn off the fuselage during the crash. Emirates predicted there would be an eight-hour delay in operations across its network, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers during the busy summer vacation season. The Dubai Media Office said flights resumed at the airport a little before 7 p.m. "Our main priority at this time is the safety and wellbeing of all involved and full co-operation is being extended to the authorities and emergency services managing the situation," Emirates said. Passengers escaped the burning plane using inflatable slides. At one point after coming to a stop, part of the plane exploded into a bright orange fireball. By the time firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze, the roof of the plane had been consumed and scorched from the cockpit all the way to the tail. Director General of Residency and Foreigner Affairs at Dubai airport, Mohammed al-Marri, told The Associated Press some of the passengers had their passports with them, but that others lost their passports during the quick exit from the aircraft. Based on the passenger manifest, al-Marri said officials were able to facilitate the entry of the flight's passengers into the United Arab Emirates. In Dubai International Airport's gleaming Terminal 3, the home of Emirates, the typically bustling arrivals hall was hushed. Flat-screen televisions showed all incoming Emirates flights delayed or rescheduled. Dubai resident Girisankal Gangadhakan said his wife called him after the plane landed to tell him that she and their three children onboard had been involved in an accident but were safe. "I was shocked when I heard about that," he said. The Boeing 777 departed Thiruvananthapuram at 10:19 a.m. and was scheduled to land at 12:50 p.m. local time, according to Emirates. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. Many blue-collar migrant workers employed in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf nations come from Kerala, which is a popular beachside tourist destination. T.P. Seetharam, India's ambassador to the UAE, said Indian diplomats had been dispatched to the airport and had met directly with many passengers. "Many of them are in shock after such an event, and there may be minor bruises," he said in a telephone interview from Abu Dhabi. Dubai International is by far the Mideast's busiest airport, and is the world's busiest air hub in terms of international passenger traffic. It handled some 78 million passengers last year. Fast-growing Emirates is the region's biggest carrier. The government-backed airline has a good safety record, with no other major accidents recorded since its founding in 1985. The 777 model is one of the workhorses of Emirates' fleet. It operates more than 120 of the twin-engine planes, more than any other airline. The Emirates accident follows the crash of a FlyDubai 737-800 jetliner in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, in March that killed all 62 onboard. The two airlines operate independently of one another, though they share the same chairman and are both ultimately owned by the government of Dubai. Two girls in British Columbia came to the rescue of a cat with her kittens stuck for days underneath a trailer in the back of their elementary school, the CBC reported. The girls in Summerland, east of Vancouver, heard one of the kittens meowing and scratching to get out, but could not reach the animal. Eventually, the girls got one of their friends' fathers to come by with a power drill and removed one of the large boards trapping the cats. "We could hear it scratching the walls inside and we were like, 'we have to get it out,'" Isobel Schneider, 11, said. The adult cat was bone-thin. One of the girls made sure the animal got food and water right away. "If we didnt hear that cat, she and those kittens would have died," Mackenzie Stevens, 10, said. "Its a really cool feeling that we rescued them." At least 25 former members of a notorious Nazi special unit rumored to have committed unthinkable atrocities are living free in Britain, including two ex-lieutenants who drew the interest of a famed Nazi hunter, The Sun reported. The newspaper found more than two dozen soldiers who served in the Ukrainian-bred SS Galizien division, formed in 1943 to be one of Adolf Hitlers elite paramilitary units. Most of the men interviewed by The Sun said they saw little, if any, fighting, or were only hoping to gain Ukrainian independence from The Soviet Union. But two of the former Nazis, 90-year-old Myron Tabora and 92-year-old Ostap Kykawec, were named persons of interest by Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal. Two others were alleged by the U.S.S.R. to have committed war crimes. Being a fragile old man must never be a reason to gift an amnesty to a murderer, Holocaust researcher Dr. Stephen Ankier told The Sun. In all, 8,528 ex-SS Galizien soldiers were in British custody after the war. But, though the U.K. found screening the men to be a nearly impossible task, Britain rejected sending the men to the Soviets. We only have their own word for it that they have not committed atrocities or war crimes, Brigadier General Fitzroy Maclean said at the time. The SS Galizien is accused of burning Polish villagers alive in February 1944 as they liquidated Huta Pieniacka. The following month, the division is said to have attacked a monastery and killed 150 people in Pidkamin. One of the men, though he denied ever firing a rifle, sought to justify the actions of the group. But what is a war crime with what the Russians did? said Tabora, one of the men Wiesenthal sought. I heard about Polish people being killed in Ukraine, but Poles were killing Ukrainians just the same. Added Tabora: It was mutual. And what about the British Empire killing people? There was a record number of refugees and migrants who applied for asylum in Europe last year -- a 122 percent increase from 2014, the Pew Research Center reported Tuesday. The data showed about half of the asylum seekers were from war-torn countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. The countries that saw the most applications in the European Union were Germany, Norway and Switzerland. Europe received a total of 1.3 million refugees in 2015. Some 442,000 asylum-seekers arrived in Germany. The country has grown uneasy after recent attacks committed at the hands of asylum seekers. Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been criticized over her country's policies, has remained committed to offer asylum to seekers. I didnt say this was going to be simple, she said. That we could just do it. But I am still convinced that we can do it. This is a historic test in a time of globalization. In July, a Syrian man whose asylum bid had been rejected in Germany recorded a cellphone video of himself pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group before he tried to get into an outdoor concert with a bomb-laden backpack. He was turned away and blew himself up outside a wine bar instead, injuring 15 people. In another high-profile attack last month, a Syrian man attacked a pregnant woman with a meat cleaver, killing the woman and her baby. The Associated Press contributed to this report The appearance of a vacation at a swanky Mediterranean beach resort is just a pretext to unleash terror. For at least two years, ISIS has been telling foreign fighters who wish to join the Islamist group in Syria to book round-trip tickets to Southern Turkey and arrange stays at seaside resorts to avoid suspicion. But once the terrorist-wannabes are in Turkey, theyre smuggled into Islamic State-held territory and quickly instructed in the art of killing. When they go back to France or in Germany, they can say, I was only on holidays in Turkey, said Harry Sarfo, a German prisoner who joined ISIS in 2015 and recently spoke to The New York Times. The longer they stay in the Islamic State, the more suspicious the secret service in the West gets, and thats why they try to do the training as quickly as possible. Sarfos prison cell interview provides a rare glimpse under ISIS mask, illuminating the practices and operations of a group that shrouds itself in secrecy. One of Sarfos more notable revelations is the existence of an intelligence unit charged with identifying suitable foreign recruits and exporting those fighters around the globe to carry out the groups deadly deeds. Known in Arabic at Emni, the group is run by one of ISIS top leaders, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, who is known primarily as an Islamic State spokesperson. Sarfo described Emni as extremely organized and efficient, with divisions for European, Asian and Arab affairs. Soon after he arrived in Syria in April 2015, Sarfo was asked by Emni to return to Germany for a future attack. During that conversation, Emni operatives told him the group desperately needed attackers in Germany and Britain because previous recruits had chickened out. Another man at the meeting asked about terrorists in France. And they started laughing, Sarfo told The Times. But really serious laughing, with tears in their eyes. They said, Dont worry about France. Seven months later, coordinated attacks at various Paris locations killed 130 people. Two of Adnanis top Emni lieutenants, Abu Souleymane and Abu Ahmad, have strong links to the Paris attackers. A hostage at the Bataclan theatre during the Paris attacks overheard one of the terrorists ask another: Should we call Souleymane? The first terrorist was quickly admonished for speaking in French and told to switch to Arabic. Ahmads Turkish telephone number was found in the cellphone of a would-be attacker arrested before the Paris assault and also written on a piece of paper in the pocket of pants holding a severed leg belonging to one of the Paris suicide bombers. Members of Emni told Sarfo that the group had not had luck infiltrating the U.S. with operatives who had visited Syria, and were instead utilizing social media as the primary method to recruit terrorists. For America and Canada, its much easier for them to get them over the social network, because they say the Americans are dumb they have open gun policies, Sarfo said. They say We can radicalize them easily, and if they have no prior record, they can buy guns, so we dont need to have no contact man who has to provide guns for them. A contact man or clean man is typically a new Muslim convert and is a staple in many European attacks, Sarfo said. The person acts as a go-between for an ISIS operative and the terrorist on the ground, supplying instructions, information about how to properly credit ISIS and ferrying videotaped pledges for ISIS to use. Sarfo said he began plotting his escape from ISIS soon after his illusion of the group was shattered while he helped on a propaganda film shoot. He had previously assumed the videos were not staged. But for this video, Sarfo walked back and forth with a black ISIS flag while other fighters shot and killed captives during take after take, trying to perfect the look of the execution. After killing one person, a German fighter turned to Sarfo. How did I look like? he asked. Did I look good, the way I executed? 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza Heats Up Chesapeake with New Location New Option for Customizable Fast-Casual Pizza Offers 10 Pizza for All Guests, Plus Chance to Win Free Pizza for a Year CHESAPEAKE, VA (PRWEB) August 03, 2016 - 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza, a fast-casual American spin on authentic, hand-tossed Neapolitan pizza, is coming to the Great Bridge Shopping Center with the opening of its Chesapeake location on Thursday, August 4. The new restaurant is located at 237 South Battlefield Boulevard. To celebrate, the first 10 guests through the doors on August 4 at 11 a.m. will win free pizza for a year*. In addition, all guests who visit the grand opening between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. and Like 1000 Degrees Pizza on Facebook, follow on Instagram or Twitter, will receive a FREE 10 pizza of their choice**. The Chesapeake 1000 Degrees Pizza is owned and operated by local entrepreneur Jim Samples, who previously worked in the mortgage banking industry. The location is part of a two-unit franchise deal signed by Samples, who expects the second restaurant to open next year in the Hampton Roads area. 1000 Degrees will serve craft beer in addition to personalized, made-to-order authentic Neapolitan pizza. Each pizza starts with fresh, never frozen, hand-tossed dough, created with authentic Neapolitan 00 flour and available in both a personal 10 and shareable 14 sizes. Guests then choose to create their own pizza or order one of the 1000 Degrees Favorites. I saw the Hampton Roads area as a relatively untapped market for this type of concept serving fast-casual, authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, said Samples. 1000 Degrees offers a consistent, quality product and I look forward to opening the doors to share that with the community for many years to come. Customizing a 1000 Degrees pizza is truly a unique experience, as guests can choose to top theirs with any of the more than 50 high quality cheeses, sauces, meats, vegetables and other toppings all for one flat price. While choosing their toppings, customers are guided down an assembly line of pizza consultants to create a pizza that is totally unique to them. Outside of the build your own option, there are more than 12 varieties of specialty pizzas including favorites like The Smokey Pollo, also known as Barbecue Bourbon Chicken, which features sweet and smoky bourbon barbecue sauce, roasted chicken, red onion, pineapple, shredded Grande brand mozzarella and blue cheeses, and The Philly, which is a cheese steak pizza topped with thinly sliced rib-eye, caramelized Spanish onions, balsamic glaze, shredded Grande brand mozzarella and provolone cheeses. Pizzas are then fired to perfection at 1000 degrees in a custom, handmade, rotating deck Neapolitan brick oven in just two minutes. 1000 Degrees is heating up the Chesapeake area with the opening of our first location in Virginia, said 1000 Degrees CEO and Founder Brian Petruzzi. Im confident that we serve the best hand-tossed Neapolitan pizza in the area and provide an unparalleled customer experience that will keep people coming back for more. Unlike traditional Neapolitan pizza which has a slightly undercooked center and requires a fork and knife to eat, 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza has fused this classic style with American flare. The result is a thin crust pizza that maintains the light and airy appeal of a Neapolitan style pizza. 1000 Degrees pizza captures American appeal and old world Neapolitan flavor. The company currently has more than 10 domestic restaurants open and one international location in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 1000 Degrees is growing at a rapid pace, estimating it will open more than 80 units by the end of 2016, and projecting an additional 170 units by 2017. 1000 Degrees in Chesapeake is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. To learn more about 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza or to be part of its daily free pizza contests, please visit https://www.facebook.com/1000degreeschesapeake or call 757-482-0915. Free pizza for a year winners will receive 52 Free Pizza Cards. ** Excludes our Gluten Free Pizza Crust About 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza brings guests the finest hand-tossed Neapolitan pizza. Founded in 2014, the international franchise has experienced unparalleled growth and is on target to have more than 80 units open by the end of 2016, and projects more than 170 units by 2017. For more information on the 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza brand, or for franchise or investor relations, please visit the company website at http://www.1000DegreesPizza.com. SOURCE 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza Contact: Kayla 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza +1 8479451300 ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus FirstLight Home Care Announces Plans to Expand in Pittsburgh Area Nationally known home care franchise hosts seminar to showcase new ownership opportunities in western Pennsylvania. August 03, 2016 // Franchising.com // CINCINNATI, Ohio. FirstLight Home Care, a provider of quality, non-medical home care, is hosting a free Franchise Seminar August 30th from 6 8 p.m. at Hampton Inn Pittsburgh/Wexford-Sewickley in Wexford, Pennsylvania. The company invites entrepreneurs to attend to learn about upcoming ownership opportunities in the Pittsburgh area and hear more about FirstLights recent growth and development. The need for quality, non-medical home care services has never been greater, and we want to provide the path for entrepreneurs in western Pennsylvania to meet this growing need, said Jeff Bevis, FirstLight Home Care Chief Executive Officer. Seminar attendees will understand the benefits of owning a non-medical home care franchise and have the chance to interact with FirstLight executives who will explain how the franchise will support them every step of the way. This free, no obligation informational seminar is open to all area entrepreneurs. Larry France, Director of Franchise Development, will share ownership opportunities and discuss the huge potential of the growing non-medical home care industry. Attendees will also learn about the many ways FirstLight Home Care sets its franchisees up for success, including through its award-winning training and operational support programs. Owning a FirstLight Home Care franchise gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives, while building their own business in the fast-growing, $75 billion non-medical home care industry, added France. To register for the Free Home Care Franchise Seminar, visit LINK or call (866) 985-5348. For more information about FirstLight Home Care, visit www.firstlighthomecare.com. About FirstLight Home Care FirstLight Home Care creates a new standard in non-medical home care by combining best practices with innovative approaches to make the franchise an emerging market leader in a fast-growing industry. Services can be provided at private residences, assisted-living facilities, retirement communities, nursing homes, adult-family homes or group homes. Clients might also include new mothers, individuals recovering from surgeries and others. To learn more, visit www.firstlightfranchise.com. SOURCE FirstLight Home Care Media Contact: Jennifer Rice jrice@ripleypr.com ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Lorraine Ryan, 69, of Orange went into our Saviors hands on Friday, July 29, 2016, in Charlottesville at UVA Hospital. Lorraine is survived by her son, Matthew Marshall of Charlottesville; two sisters and one brother, Catherine Nichols of Boston, Mass., Patricia Fish of Fredericksburg and John Ryan of North Cape May, N.J.; and six nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her father, John R. Ryan; and her mother, Teresa Ryan of Seaford, N.Y. Lorraine was born on March 5, 1947, in Brooklyn, N.Y. She graduated from Island Trees High School in Levittown, N.Y., in 1964 and Adelphi University in 1990. Later in life, she earned her teaching certificate and taught high school English and journalism for more than 20 years. In 1972, Lorraine married Kenneth Marshall. They brought their only child, Matthew John, into the world in 1974. Lorraine, a survivor of acute leukemia, had been cancer free for more than 25 years. In 1995, she moved to Fredericksburg. After brief teaching jobs in Roanoke Rapids and Wayne Country Day School in North Carolina, Lorraine finally settled in Orange and began teaching at Orange County High School in 2001. She retired from teaching in 2014. Lorraine was a devoted mother and teacher. She loved her students and music of all kinds. She saw potential in students that they did not see themselves, and helped them develop their skills, which gave them confidence to face their future challenges. Lori was known to be a great conversationalist. She was a member of Christ Anglican Fellowship in Orange, where she participated in Bible studies, and provided greeting cards for all occasions to be sent to congregants. An animal lover, Lorraine kept two cats, Atticus and Scout; named for characters from her favorite book, To Kill A Mockingbird. Lorraine was also a member of her local book club and was very social, spending time with friends and traveling to visit with her son and siblings. Her family and friends will always remember her for her constant smile and great sense of humor. A visitation is scheduled for Lorraine Frances Ryan from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, at Preddy Funeral Home, 250 West Main St., Orange. The formal memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at Orange County High School in the auditorium, followed by a reception in the high school cafeteria. Pastor Jim Beavers from Christ Anglican Fellowship will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Lorraines life. Flowers may be sent to Preddy Funeral Home, or donations may be sent in honor of Lorraine to one of her favorite charities, Orange County Animal Shelter, 11362 Porter Road, Orange, VA 22960; or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, lls.org. Police Forces May Be Infiltrated by White Supremacists Warns FBI The FBI warned law enforcement agencies of "white supremacist infiltration of law enforcement" as a potentially significant national threat in 2006. This warning may provide insight into the underlying motive of some of the recent shootings by police of unarmed Black Americans. -- Because of intensifying civil strife over the recent killings of unarmed Black men, women, and boys, many Americans are wondering, "What's wrong with our police?" Remarkably, one of the most compelling but unexplored explanations may rest with a FBI warning of October 2006, which reported that "White supremacist infiltration of law enforcement" represented a significant national threat. Several key events preceded the report. A federal court found that members of a Los Angeles sheriff's department formed a Neo Nazi gang and habitually terrorized the black community. Later, the Chicago police department fired Jon Burge, a detective with reputed ties to the Ku Klux Klan, after discovering he tortured over 100 black male suspects. Thereafter, the Mayor of Cleveland discovered that many of the city police locker rooms were infested with "White Power" graffiti. Years later, a Texas sheriff department discovered that two of its deputies were recruiters for the Klan. In near prophetic fashion, after the FBI's warning, white supremacy extremism in the U.S. increased, exponentially. From 2008 to 2014, the number of white supremacist groups, reportedly, grew from 149 to nearly a thousand, with no apparent abatement in their infiltration of law enforcement. In 2015 alone, at least seven San Francisco law enforcement officers were suspended after an investigation revealed they exchanged numerous "White Power" communications laden with remarks about "lynching African-Americans and burning crosses." Three reputed Klan members that served as correction officers were arrested for conspiring to murder a black inmate. At least four Fort Lauderdale police officers were fired after an investigation found that the officers fantasized about killing black suspects. The United States doesn't publicly track white supremacists, so the full range of their objectives remains murky. Although black and Jewish-Americans are believed to be the foremost targets of white supremacists, recent attacks in Nevada, Wisconsin, Arizona, Kansas and North Carolina, demonstrate that other non-whites, and religious and social minorities, are also vulnerable. Perhaps more alarmingly, in the last several years alone, white supremacists have reportedly murdered law enforcement officers in Arkansas, Nevada and Wisconsin. In fact, the FBI reports that of the 511 law enforcement officers killed during felony incidents from 2004 to 2013, white citizens killed the majority of them. Of the citizens stopped by law enforcement officers in New York City and Chicago, white citizens were more likely to be found with guns and drugs. Given the white supremacist penchant for violence, guns and drug trafficking, the findings may be an indication that their network is just as destructive and far-reaching as that of foreign terrorist groups. The unfortunate consequence of today's threat is that a law enforcement officer may be good or bad, a villain or hero; one exceptionally prone to exhibit malicious forms of racial hatred, or distinctively suited to protect the racially oppressed. But the paradox doesn't end there. The white supremacist threat brings to light a dark feature of the American experience that some believed extinct. It rouses ingrained notions of distrusts between police and communities of color while bringing to bear the vital interest citizens of good will share in the complete abolishment of race as a judgmental factor. As the nation struggles to resolve the perplexities of police brutality, the white supremacist threat should inform all Americans that today's civil discord is not borne out of a robust animosity towards law enforcement, most of whom are professional. Rather, it's more representative of a centuries-old ideological clash, which has ignited in citizens of good will a desire to affirm notions of racial equality so that the moral ethos of American culture is a reality for all. Research & Writing by: Samuel V. Jones, a former military police captain and currently a professor of law focusing on criminal law at The John Marshall Law School. Original publication: 41 Thurgood Marshall Law Review 103 (2015) : http://gardenearth.com/documents/thurgood-marshall-law-review/ Sources: thegrio.com/2015/05/12/fbi-white-supremacists-law-enforcement/ Photo credit: John Roman Contact: Professor Samuel V. Jones, The John Marshall Law School, 315 South Plymouth Court, Chicago, Illinois 60604 Phone: 312.427.2737 ext. 866, Cel: 312.213.0731 For more information, please visit https://works.bepress.com/samuel_vincent_jones/ Contact Info: Name: Professor Samuel V. Jones Email: 7jones@jmls.edu Organization: The John Marshall Law School Address: 315 South Plymouth Court Phone: 312.427.2737 ext. 866 Release ID: 125236 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) Financial Advisor David J. Osio Increases Philanthropic Support on a Global Scale Businessman David Osio strives to make a difference around the world through his philanthropic efforts. He is known for his support of music, art, medical research and the community. -- For more than two decades, financial counsel expert, David Osio has been in constant collaboration with a number of non-profit organizations whose support betters the people, art and culture in the communities where he develops business. In addition to growing financial services, Osio continues to expand his support to charitable organizations on a global scale. David Osio has notably supported the MISO (Miami Symphony Orchestra) for the years in which he served as a member of the Orchestra Board. "We are an annual supporter of the Miami Symphony Orchestra" stated Davos Financial Group CEO David J. Osio. "It is rewarding to see these iconic foundations such as the Symphony have the ability to stay in operation year after year and bring joy to the community with help from our donations." Osio is also a longtime supporter of international foundation, The Children's Orthopedic Foundation where he has been a traditional sponsor of the EPK events every year. "Every little bit helps when it comes to medical research for children," said Osio. "My hope is that someday those who are fortunate enough can come together to make a financial difference for this important cause." Known as the founder and CEO of Davos Financial Group advisory group, David J. Osio successfully leads the direction of the company and its positioning in the domestic and international markets. Osio has facilitated an increase in Davos' income levels, along with its geographical expansion into strategic cities such as Geneva, Lisbon, New York, Miami and Panama City. In each new city where Osio's businesses operate, he has made it a point to continue charitable growth. Other support includes donations to the Wayuu Taya foundation, UMA Foundation, and the Fundana Foundation. Osio also played an important role supporting the arts by funding the Saludarte Foundation of Art in Miami, with the latest exhibition of artist Carlos Cruz Diez. Thanks to these contributions supporting communities in need, David Osio has achieved various international awards and recognitions. The financier is the founder and CEO of Davos Financial Group (DFG) where he is responsible for domestic and global strategy. Over the past 20 years, David Osio has transformed DFG into a global company with offices in major financial centers across the globe. In 1988, Osio graduated as a lawyer with honors from the Catholic University Andres Bello in Caracas. He began his career in Venezuela as Director in the Legal Desk MGO, providing legal advice to multi-national clients such as Ferro and Consolidated Bank. Almost a decade later, David Osio completed a specialization at the Institute of Higher Administration Studies (IESA) in Caracas, from 1996 to 1998. In 2010 Osio reached advanced professional credentials, studying Management Investment Portfolios at the New York Institute of Finance. For more information, please visit http://www.officialdavidosio.com/ Contact Info: Name: David Osio Organization: Davos Financial Advisors; Davos Realty Source: http://marketersmedia.com/financial-advisor-david-j-osio-increases-philanthropic-support-on-a-global-scale/125948 Release ID: 125948 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) Diammonium Phosphate Industry Analysis, Development Trends, Chain Structure and Opportunities for 2021 The Diammonium Phosphate Industry Research Report of 150 pages and providing rich tables and figures to support the Diammonium Phosphate market analysis is now available with RnRMarketResearch.com -- For people who are keen on the Diammonium Phosphate Market the Global and Chinese Diammonium Phosphate Industry, 2010-2021 Market Research Report would be a useful report to refer to as it is an exhaustive study on the present market scenario of this industry. The report also gives a special insight into the growing Global & Chinese market of this industry. The report summarizes key statistics of the market and the overall status of the manufacturers in this industry. The report is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry. Order a copy of this report at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/purchase?rname=632224 The report encapsulates all the latest news and developments in the industry along with the progress in the technology front. The information summary helps the reader of this report to be updated on all the activities of the industry. It mentions the recent trend in this market along with a market outlook both at the Global and Chinese market level. The report mentions top eight manufacturers of this market. The details covered in this portion include a detailed profiling of the company along with its products offerings, product information over the period of 2010-2016 along with the key contact person in the firm. So a person looking to diversify the business knows his competitors and also has a fair idea on the business offerings of its competitors. The Diammonium Phosphate Market report covers the capacity of production of this industry along with production value, supply and consumption. It includes the level of competition in this market and the performance of the players in specific geography like USA, EU, Japan and China. The total market analysed in this report is divided by company, by country, and by application or type for the competitive landscape analysis. The report also estimates 2016-2021 market development trends of Diammonium Phosphate industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. To end with the Diammonium Phosphate Industry report includes ten proposals which cover the market entry strategies, suggestions on managing economic challenges and various marketing channels. This section of information is very useful for a prospective market player who is planning to startup something new in this industry. In order to prevent the new players in the market from any unpleasant experiences and safeguard against market giants there is a feasibility analysis of New Project Investment. The investment research gives a snapshot of all the pros and cons of this industry as well as speaks about the opportunities and threats. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2010-2021 Global and Chinese Diammonium Phosphate market covering all important parameters. Major Points from Table of Contents Chapter One Introduction of Diammonium Phosphate Industry 1.1 Brief Introduction of Diammonium Phosphate 1.2 Development of Diammonium Phosphate Industry 1.3 Status of Diammonium Phosphate Industry Chapter Two Manufacturing Technology of Diammonium Phosphate 2.1 Development of Diammonium Phosphate Manufacturing Technology 2.2 Analysis of Diammonium Phosphate Manufacturing Technology 2.3 Trends of Diammonium Phosphate Manufacturing Technology Chapter Three Analysis of Global Key Manufacturers Chapter Four 2010-2016 Global and Chinese Market of Diammonium Phosphate 4.1 2010-2016 Global Capacity, Production and Production Value of Diammonium Phosphate Industry 4.2 2010-2016 Global Cost and Profit of Diammonium Phosphate Industry 4.3 Market Comparison of Global and Chinese Diammonium Phosphate Industry 4.4 2010-2016 Global and Chinese Supply and Consumption of Diammonium Phosphate 4.5 2010-2016 Chinese Import and Export of Diammonium Phosphate Chapter Five Market Status of Diammonium Phosphate Industry 5.1 Market Competition of Diammonium Phosphate Industry by Company 5.2 Market Competition of Diammonium Phosphate Industry by Country (USA, EU, Japan, Chinese etc.) 5.3 Market Analysis of Diammonium Phosphate Consumption by Application/Type Chapter Six 2016-2021 Market Forecast of Global and Chinese Diammonium Phosphate Industry 6.1 2016-2021 Global and Chinese Capacity, Production, and Production Value of Diammonium Phosphate 6.2 2016-2021 Diammonium Phosphate Industry Cost and Profit Estimation 6.3 2016-2021 Global and Chinese Market Share of Diammonium Phosphate 6.4 2016-2021 Global and Chinese Supply and Consumption of Diammonium Phosphate 6.5 2016-2021 Chinese Import and Export of Diammonium Phosphate Chapter Seven Analysis of Diammonium Phosphate Industry Chain 7.1 Industry Chain Structure 7.2 Upstream Raw Materials 7.3 Downstream Industry Explore More Reports on Materials & Chemicals at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/reports/materials-chemicals About Us: RnRMarketResearch.com is your single source for all market research needs. 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Contact us for your special interest needs and we will get in touch within 24hrs to help you find the market research report you need. sales@rnrmarketresearch.com + 1 888 391 5441 For more information, please visit http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/global-and-chinese-diammonium-phosphate-dap-industry-2016-market-research-report-market-report.html Contact Info: Name: Ritesh Tiwari Email: sales@rnrmarketresearch.com Organization: RnR Market Research Address: UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India Phone: + 1 888 391 5441 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/diammonium-phosphate-industry-analysis-development-trends-chain-structure-and-opportunities-for-2021/125942 Release ID: 125942 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) AromaRain Adds New Car Diffusers and AromaFaith Necklaces to Aromatherapy Lineup Delivering further on company's mission to allow for aromatherapy anywhere, new products maintain same high quality and excellence of design it has become so well known for, AromaRain reports -- Aromatherapy anywhere becomes even easier to achieve, as AromaRain adds several new products to the company's lineup at https://www.aromarain.com. With new car diffusers, AromaFaith-series necklaces, and other products now being available, AromaRain's quality and exclusive designs can easily be enjoyed throughout the day and in any setting. Making use of premium materials like 316L surgical steel, AromaRain essential oil diffusers deliver high-end aromatherapy experiences at prices anyone can afford. "We're happy to announce that we've just made some major additions to our product lines, with much-requested car diffusers and a new AromaFaith line of necklaces now ready for our valued customers to enjoy," AromaRain CEO Chris Derenberger said, "As always, these new diffusers embody a level of quality that makes them really stand out, and our appealing designs cannot be found anywhere else. We think our fans are going to really enjoy these new products and the ways they can make aromatherapy even more rewarding." Aromatherapy is the practice of using carefully selected essential oils to sculpt and improve human moods and general well-being. With roots dating back thousands of years to the ancient, ritualistic burning of incense, aromatherapy has in modern times become more popular than ever before, with companies like Young Living and doTERRA helping to make it even more accessible and widely known. AromaRain is one of the world's leading unique designers and producers of essential oil diffuser jewelry that encourages the dispersion of aroma from essential oils and other compounds used in aromatherapy. After turning to essential oils in the wake of a back injury that led to nearly unbearable side effects of traditional medicine, the founders of the company resolved to create a new line of products that would stand far above the existing options in terms of both quality and value. Since 2013, AromaRain essential oil necklaces and their other diffuser jewlery have become some of the best-reviewed and most frequently recommended on the market and on Amazon. Thanks to the use of high-grade materials like 316L surgical steel and hypoallergenic rhodium plating, along with quality-focused production techniques like weld-free, one-piece body construction, AromaRain diffusers hold up far better to everyday use than most competing products. A parallel focus on excellence and uniqueness of design also means that AromaRain diffusers, whether as necklaces, bracelets, or in other formats, also enhance everyday life in other ways that customers consistently appreciate. At the same time, a firm commitment to keeping costs down ensures that every AromaRain product is extremely affordable. With the new stainless steel aromatherapy car diffuser now being available, enjoying the benefits of aromatherapy anywhere becomes easier and more practical. The company's new AromaFaith line of Christian-themed necklace diffusers will likewise open up a range of appealing new options for many. Those interested in the new products or the AromaRain story can learn more at www.aromarain.com. About AromaRain: With a full range of premium necklaces, bracelets, car diffusers and other products, AromaRain makes it easy and affordable to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy anywhere. For more information, please visit https://www.aromarain.com/ Contact Info: Name: Chris Derenberger Organization: AromaRain Address: PO Box 106 Mineral Wells, WV 26150 Phone: 304-210-5146 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/aromarain-adds-new-car-diffusers-and-aromafaith-necklaces-to-aromatherapy-lineup/126032 Release ID: 126032 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) Shelby Dermatology Celebrates 10 Years Of Proudly Serving The Clanton Area The clinic is now expanding their practice and offering a full day of services in the area every other week, reports http://shelby.dermatologistsofbirmingham.com/. -- Since 2006, the compassionate, experienced doctors of Shelby Dermatology have been proudly serving the people of Clanton, Alabama. The main offices of the clinic are found more than 30 miles to the north in Alabaster. Nonetheless, the doctors have traveled to Clanton to see to the skin care issues of the local population every other week for more than a decade. Now, Shelby Dermatology has expanded their services to the people of Clanton. The half-day, every other week schedule has been extended to a full day of appointments every other week. Local demand has increased so much over the past 10 years that the practitioners at shelby dermatology happily began offering longer hours in April of 2016. This expansion means that the doctors are able to assist more people in Clanton than ever before. The Clanton satellite office has remained an endeavor that is close to the hearts of Shelby Dermatology's doctors. Offering diagnosis and treatment for everything from minor skin irritations to melanoma, the doctors are proud to have made a positive difference in the lives of so many of Clanton's residents. In some situations, they have even had the opportunity to perform life-saving surgeries that have enabled patients to return to a healthier, more active life. Shelby Dermatology's doctors are able to see patients in Clanton who are presenting a wide range of symptoms. People suffering from psoriasis, eczema or rosacea can experience welcome relief thanks to expert diagnosis and reliable treatment methods. The doctors have successfully dealt with mild to severe acne for dozens of Clanton's residents, giving them smoother skin and the confidence they need to take on all of life's challenges. Perhaps most importantly, Shelby Dermatology's doctors have performed hundreds of mole exams and other skin cancer detection tests at their satellite office. This deadly, extremely common form of cancer affects a large proportion of Clanton's population, which means that a screening by a dermatologist is an extremely important step. Once a skin cancer diagnosis is made, the doctors work quickly to create a treatment plan. Unlike many other dermatologists who have one, preferred skin cancer treatment method, the practitioners at shelby dermatology are committed to finding the best possible treatment for each individual patient. This may mean electrodessication and curettage in some instances and an excision in others. The doctors also specialize in Mohs Micrographic Surgery. Mohs surgery was first developed in the 1930s. Since then, researchers have greatly refined the techniques and tools involved to make mohs surgery one of the most successful skin cancer treatment methods. Thanks to its extreme precision, millions of patients have been cured by Mohs surgery. Even the most stubborn instances of skin cancer can be addressed with this revolutionary procedure. Dermatologists who perform Mohs surgery undergo specialized training to become expert at the technique. Shelby Dermatology's doctors have undergone this training, and this allows them to bring Mohs surgery to the people of Clanton. Because of the considerable experience of these doctors, many patients have felt the triumph of overcoming a skin cancer diagnosis. Shelby Dermatology is excited about the opportunity to continue to expand the services that it provides to the people of Clanton. People who are interested in a consultation with a doctor may contact Shelby Dermatology's main office at 205-588-7000. About Shelby Dermatology: Shelby Dermatology opened in 2006 to serve Shelby County and the surrounding areas. Their goal has always been two-fold; to deliver excellent dermatology health care and foster congeniality among staff and patients. As a result, Shelby Dermatology's patients have found their office not to be just a skin clinic, but a holistic dermatology practice that welcomes them in spirit while healing their skin problems and bettering their skin health. While focusing on skin disease and treatment is a priority, they also remain mindful of the increasing costs of health care and feel it is their responsibility to reduce costs on our end -- without compromising care. Shelby Dermatology's team is comprised of ethical doctors working side by side with a competent and friendly staff to deliver the best dermatology care to their patients in a welcoming environment. For more information, please visit http://shelby.dermatologistsofbirmingham.com/ Contact Info: Name: Greg Bourgeois Organization: Shelby Dermatology Phone: (205) 621-9500 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/shelby-dermatology-celebrates-10-years-of-proudly-serving-the-clanton-area/126043 Release ID: 126043 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) NY Lawyers Ronemus & Vilensky Land 2.3 Million Dollars In Compensation For Client Beaten By Police Ronemus & Vilensky, who specialize in medical malpractice law, recently took a case to defend a young man with Asperger's who was beaten by police, winning him $2.3 million in compensation. -- Wrongdoing is all around, but it is perhaps most upsetting and destructive when it comes from the institutions that people expect to care for and protect them. This is why it is essential for individuals to have legal resource when these trusted institutions do them harm. That is why the New York law firm Ronemus & Vilensky was founded. They have earned an outstanding reputation in securing compensation for those harmed by medical malpractice, and have now branched out into civil cases. They have just earned a major victory on behalf of a client with Asperger's, who was wrongfully arrested and beaten by police officers. The law firm has a specialist Cerebral Palsy Injury Attorney (abogados de paralisis cerebral) with a strong medical background, who can help identify the negligence of doctors and health care professionals as a contributing factor to the development of the condition. This can happen during pregnancy, delivery, or even early childhood. This medical background similarly equips them to take on Medical Malpractice (mala practica medica) cases, winning millions in compensation to cover past and future medical bills, lost earnings, pain, suffering and emotional trauma. Their latest case was a different nature however. Their claimant was dragged from his car, kicked and beaten by police, all for allegedly firing a gun. In fact, his car had been backfiring. After they realised he had no gun, the police officers nevertheless detained him for over an hour, and gave him a series of punishing fines. A spokesperson for Ronemus & Vilensky described the result, "Our client suffered a concussion and permanent spinal damage from the incident, yet the city offered just $150,000 in compensation. We successfully secured $2.3 million in compensation in court - a figure much more in keeping with the true cost to this young man's life, both present and future. This speaks to our passion for justice and dedication to the client, as well as our confidence in taking on cases both in and outside of the medical field." About Ronemus & Vilensky: The attorneys at Ronemus & Vilensky prepare each case as if it were going to trial, whether it does or not. If the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement, they are fully prepared to try the case in court immediately. This strong, dedicated position has earned them a formidable reputation among defense firms and insurance companies, which leads to unparalleled results. For more information, please visit http://www.ronvil.com/ Contact Info: Name: Manny Email: office@ronvil.com Organization: RONEMUS & VILENSKY Address: 112 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 Phone: 212-779-7070 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/ny-lawyers-ronemus-vilensky-land-2-3-million-dollars-in-compensation-for-client-beaten-by-police/126073 Release ID: 126073 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) New Jersey Grandma Arrested for Potentially selling Illegal Pills ( August 02, 2016 ) Montvale, NJ -- Linda Famelico a 60 year old grandmother from Montvale, NJ has been charged with possession and the intent to sell prescription drugs. Famelico is incriminated for selling addictive drugs to private investigators. When she was arrested, she had 35 ready to sell packages of Oxycodone. She is being charged with six counts of possession and distribution of a narcotic.Famelico also received two counts of third degree distribution of a deadly substance, another count of third degree occupancy with the intent to sell a dangerous product, two counts for motives to sell within close range to a public school. Famelico is being held at the Bergen County Jail on a twenty thousand dollar bond. When Linda Famelico was arrested, she was out on bail after being incarcerated for being apart of a gigantic drug bust where police confiscated more than a thousand pills, excessive amounts of marijuana and about eighteen thousand dollars. Famelico and her husband were incriminated for supposedly having and peddling pain suppressants like Oxycontin and Xanax. A representative from Drug Rehab Newark said: "this New Jersey grandmother has been arrested so many times for dealing with drugs and being apart of drug rings, why hasn't she already been put in jail? There's no reason for someone to get arrested for the same crime so many times and not learn from those experiences. Although she has grandchildren, she needs to be taken off the street for her repeat offences." About Drug Rehab Newark 07558: Drug Rehab Newark is an organization offering detox and rehabilitation services to Tennessee residents and all other U.S. citizens. The drug rehab in New Jersey proudly serves all those in need of help overcoming their substance abuse disorders. Clients are in control of their own recovery with choices in the type of program they undertake and the method of treatment: inpatient, outpatient, or partial hospitalization.With a staff dedicated to empowering each client and providing them the skills and tools necessary to end their addiction, Drug Rehab Newark is a rehabilitation center like no other. For more information, please visit http://www.drugrehabnewark.org/ or call 973-947-8129. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Matteson Partners Taking On New In-House Legal Recruitment Clients (Mon 29th May 17) Huong Nghiep A Au Vocational Guidance School Launches New Major (Thu 25th May 17) FSP unveils new Industrial and Gaming power solutions at COMPUTEX 2017 (Wed 24th May 17) The Best Free Keylogger of 2017 Has Been Announced by the Official Remote Keylogger (Tue 23rd May 17) The Remote Keylogger Development Team Announces An Update to the Official iPhone Keylogger (Thu 11th May 17) CaptureStream Announces its New Streaming Video Recorder and Downloader (Mon 8th May 17) Sun City RV Celebrates Becoming the Exclusive Dealer for Aluminum Trailer Company (ATC) in AZ ( August 02, 2016 ) Peoria, AZ -- When it comes to choosing a great trailer or toy hauler, it's broadly agreed that quality is very, very important. Leading Arizona consignment dealer Sun City RV certainly agrees, always exploring ways to bring more value and choices to their enthusiastic customer-base when it comes to the trailer niche an beyond. In exciting news, the company recently celebrated they have become the exclusive dealer in Arizona for ATC, Aluminum Trailer Company, a firm well known for producing some of the absolute best quality trailers in the industry. Customers couldn't be happier with the news. "Sun City RV is proud to be the exclusive Arizona dealer for ATC, Aluminum Trailer Company and their line of world-class aluminum trailers," explained Derek Niday, General Manager of Sun City RV. "Their trailers are about 1/3 lighter than the average trailer and our customers appreciate the high quality workmanship and unsurpassed durability designed to last three generations. The ATC trailers complement our existing RV consignment inventory giving our customers a wide range of choices when looking for a trailer or toy hauler here in the Phoenix area." According to Sun City RV, ATC offers a number of different aluminum trailer choices, with premium quality highlights that include trailers that cover nearly any common (or uncommon) need. The ATC Toy Hauler trailers have been quite popular for the extreme precision of their design, high qualify Amish craftsmanship and attention paid to every detail. The relationship between Sun City RV and Aluminum Trailer Company even allows customers to order a custom built ATC trailer to meet their needs perfectly and have it delivered in under seven weeks. Early customer feedback for the new ATC line has been positive across the board. Adam W. recently wrote, "Just wanted to drop you a note and let you know your trailer is better than I could have hoped for. The design, workmanship, fit and finish of your trailer is better than anything on the market. The amount of storage is awesome, size of the bathroom and garage in a 20 foot trailer is phenomenal. The trailer tows awesome! The first trip had to be towed across a creek that I was concerned about dragging but with the position of axles and the spread I wasn't even close to dragging!" And John C., from Phoenix, recently said: "I've been hunting for the right trailer to pick up for a year now and after seeing the ATC trailers at Sun RV, this is definitely the route I'll be taking soon. The lighter weight, amazing design and selection has won me over, which says something because my knowledge of trailers is pretty deep." For more information visit: http://www.suncityrv.com About Sun City RV: Sun City RV is proud to be the No. 1 Recreational Vehicle Consignment Dealer in Arizona. Since opening our doors in 1997, Sun City RV has kept a firm commitment to provide our customers with the best consignment programs, service and parts in the industry. We are located in Peoria, Arizona near Sun City in the West Valley, and we proudly serve the entire Phoenix metro area. We are a family owned and operated dealership that has earned and maintained an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau since we opened. We are here to make your experience buying or selling an RV as quick and hassle-free as possible. As a Recreational Vehicle Consignment Center, our company is fully licensed, bonded, and insured, offering our customers a safe and hassle-free environment to sell their recreational vehicle. Sun City RV's professional staff prides itself on being straightforward, honest and ethical. Sun City RV is also the exclusive ATC Dealer (Aluminum Trailer Company) in Arizona and the Phoenix area for their world class, precision built aluminum trailers. Available now are the Aluminum Toy Haulers, Aluminum Open Car Haulers, Aluminum Utility Trailers and Aluminum Motorcycle Hauler Trailers. Sun City RV also has an experienced and reliable Service and Parts Department, offering competitive pricing for all your RV maintenance needs. We provide repairs, maintenance, body work, service and parts for all makes and models. Our RV technicians are RVIA and RVDA Master Certified to provide the best quality service. We are also proud to offer off site Mobile RV Service. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Matteson Partners Taking On New In-House Legal Recruitment Clients (Mon 29th May 17) Huong Nghiep A Au Vocational Guidance School Launches New Major (Thu 25th May 17) FSP unveils new Industrial and Gaming power solutions at COMPUTEX 2017 (Wed 24th May 17) The Best Free Keylogger of 2017 Has Been Announced by the Official Remote Keylogger (Tue 23rd May 17) The Remote Keylogger Development Team Announces An Update to the Official iPhone Keylogger (Thu 11th May 17) CaptureStream Announces its New Streaming Video Recorder and Downloader (Mon 8th May 17) Blowout Equipment Industry 2016 : Market Size, Share and Forecast Report by Radiant Insights, Inc The blowout equipment industry is segmented on the basis of types, applications, and regions. Product types consist of BOP (blowout preventers), BEM (blowout equipment manifolds), well killing facilities, and others. -- Blowout is a term used to indicate the uncontrolled flow of fluids during the production or drilling of oil &/or gas. It could occur due to multiple reasons. The failure of pressure control systems while producing oil &/or gas from a reservoir is a common cause. If not checked in time, the hydrocarbons ignite, leading to a firestorm. This can be avoided through the deployment of blowout equipment. The worldwide blowout equipment industry is projected to grow lucratively over the forecast period (2011 to 2016). This may be credited to the development of novel products that are more accurate and work well under a vigorous environment. Moreover, the oil & gas industry, in the years gone by, has conducted considerable research focused on avoidance of accidents and smooth functioning of operations. Browse Full Research Report With TOC: https://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-blowout-equipment-industry-2016 This has been triggered by accidents resulting in colossal damage to products and machinery, even costing human life. Companies have to face stringent legal action in the event of such occurrences. This prompts them to lower their risks by careful planning and usage of the most-suitable equipments. Market growth is also fueled by the rising number of oil & gas wells being drilled. The blowout equipment industry is segmented on the basis of types, applications, and regions. Product types consist of BOP (blowout preventers), BEM (blowout equipment manifolds), well killing facilities, and others. 'Others' includes equipment used in conditions involving high toxic gas content. See More Reports of This Category by Radiant Insights: https://www.radiantinsights.com/catalog/machinery BOPs manage erratic pressures and unrestrained flow during drilling. They also restrain drilling fluids and tubing from blowing out of the well. Several products with varying sizes, styles, and pressure ratings are available in the market. As per configuration, BOPs are further split into ram and annular. Regional fragments encompass the United States (U.S.), Europe, China, and Japan. The U.S. is an important market for blowout equipment. This attributes to the presence of a large number of wells for exploration and production of shale gas. Some key participants of the global blowout equipment industry are American Completion Tools, Domino Machine, Sichuan Honghua Petroleum Equipment, and The Subsea Company. Other well-known vendors include MTQ Corporation Limited, Eastern Oilfield Supply, Henderson Oilfield Products, and Kingrig Group. Request A Sample Copy Of This Report at: https://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-blowout-equipment-industry-2016/request-sample About Radiant Insights,Inc Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. We assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. We have a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets. In addition to over extensive database of reports, our experienced research coordinators also offer a host of ancillary services such as, research partnerships/ tie-ups and customized research solutions. For more information, please visit https://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-blowout-equipment-industry-2016 Contact Info: Name: Michelle Thoras Email: sales@radiantinsights.com Organization: Radiant Insights, Inc Address: 28 2nd Street, Suite 3036, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States Phone: 1-415-349-0054 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/blowout-equipment-industry-2016-market-size-share-and-forecast-report-by-radiant-insights-inc/126111 Release ID: 126111 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) Honeycomb Paper Market Growth and Analysis Report By Radiant Insights, Inc The global honeycomb paper market is expanding at the lucrative rate in the coming years. Honeycomb paper is the building and packing material. -- The global honeycomb paper market is expanding at the lucrative rate in the coming years. Honeycomb paper is the building and packing material. They are majorly used in common doors inside houses. It is made up of a layer of fiberglass, and the layer of honeycomb followed by another sheet of fiberglass. This paper is stronger than steel when compared pound for pound. During the Second World War, paper honeycomb was announced for the airplane sector. Manufacturing of honeycomb paper is quite economical. Honeycomb paper finds use in several applications. It is broadly used as an energy dissipating material. These materials are for aerial delivery functions. It comprises 3 photographs. Browse Full Research Report With TOC: http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/honeycomb-paper-market-research-report-2015 Eco-friendly paper honeycomb can also be used for packaging purpose as they are very efficient and flexible to use. Honeycomb packing keeps the goods secure at the time of transportation. Usage of honeycomb packing is highly advantageous than plastic, material as it could be reprocessed. Honeycomb packing keeps the product protected of rapid occurrences of water flows and firing. The panels and door made up of the paper honeycomb are lightweight and durable, thus, drives the industry. It gives pleasant look to the building. Furthermore, honeycomb paper unites with plastic, steel, plywood, and other textiles. These products attribute to save our greenery. Therefore, the worldwide market is projected to observe high demand in the near future. Region wise, major segments in the overall market encompass Asia, North America, and Europe. Leading countries are Japan, China, United States, and Germany etc. Key manufacturers in the global honeycomb paper market consist of Honicel, CorTek, Inc., Pregis Hexacomb, CORINT, Hebei Shengming Honeycomb Paper, JaiShan Juli, Hexcel, Ultracor, and Mid-States. The total market can also be evaluated by capacity utilization, supply/demand, production, capacity, and profit. Request A Sample Copy Of This Report at: http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/honeycomb-paper-market-research-report-2015/request-sample About Radiant Insights,Inc Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. We assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. We have a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets. In addition to over extensive database of reports, our experienced research coordinators also offer a host of ancillary services such as, research partnerships/ tie-ups and customized research solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/honeycomb-paper-market-research-report-2015 Contact Info: Name: Michelle Thoras Email: sales@radiantinsights.com Organization: Radiant Insights, Inc Address: 28 2nd Street, Suite 3036, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States Phone: 1-415-349-0054 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/honeycomb-paper-market-growth-and-analysis-report-by-radiant-insights-inc/126113 Release ID: 126113 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) Marvin Vasquez SEO Marketing Brand Recognition Booster New Site Launched A new SEO and marketing outsource company has launched, provided by entrepreneur and expert Marvin Vasquez. New and experienced business owners can use his expertise to boost their brand recognition and climb Google's rankings through multi faceted campaigns. -- Visionary entrepreneur and marketing specialist, Marvin Vasquez, has announced the launch of a new outsourcing service, offering a new twist on outsourcing which is different to what's currently being provided in the industry. Marvin has been a professional marketer for years, and is the founder of Multi Marketing USA, a digital marketing agency located in New York. He's also a past winner of The Westchester Business Council 40 Under 40 Rising Stars Award. More information can be found on his company website at: http://multimarketingusa.com. Marvin Vasquez is an authority leader when it comes to digital marketing and outsourcing services for any business niche. He has partner with companies that are currently serving to Top 500 Inc. He's preparing the launch of his new outsourcing services this coming September, 2016, allowing companies to benefit from his expertise in digital marketing. As part of this new service, he is also available to be booked for speaking engagements and panel discussions. On the Multi Marketing USA site, visitors can find a range of services offered by Marvin Vasquez, so they can see how their companies can benefit from his input. This includes full digital marketing strategies that can help improve brand recognition and design. In addition to this, companies can work with Marvin Vasquez to employ marketing campaigns that capitalize on Facebook advertising, retargeting ads, mobile ad campaigns, PPC marketing campaigns, and press release citations. He also offers fully fledged SEO campaigns, SEO infrastructure analysis, broken link identification and outer read, site crawl reviews and SEO consultations to help ensure each business owner's website is as advanced as it can be when it comes to capitalizing on the power of Google search rankings. The site explains how branding is a key role in any marketing or SEO campaign, and brand naming, identity structure brand positioning, and brand story can play a crucial role in any business forging its path in the landscape of its niche. This can be accomplished by honing and creating the best possible site for that business to thrive. Multi Marketing USA and Marvin Vasquez with his outsource servicing can help business owners to craft powerful website designs, including funnel sites that enhance conversion, e-commerce web development, Shopify sites, Magento sites, and Parralax sites. Vasquez is also available for panel discussions and speaking engagements. Interested parties wanting to find out more about Marvin or his services can get in touch using the contact details provided on the Multi Marketing USA website. For more information, please visit http://www.multimarketingusa.com Contact Info: Name: Marvin Vasquez Organization: Multi Marketing USA Address: Westchester, New York Phone: 877-653-9393 Release ID: 126171 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) Awesome Party Donates Hire Services To Melbourne's Top Christian Radion Station Awesome Party to donate party hire services for a fete event organised by one of Melbourne's top radio stations, 89.9 Light FM. The Melbourne-based radio station, will be raising the funds to help that Australian children in need. -- Awesome Party, a well known hire company for karaoke machines, have announced they will be donating their party hire services equal to the value of $3000, to help raise money from the fete event by one of Melbourne's top radio stations, 89.9 Light FM. The Melbourne-based radio station, will be raising the funds to help Australian children in need. Light FM 89.9, is a Christian radio station dedicated to bringing positive, safe, family friendly and 100% clean media content . They have invited Awesome Party Hire to be a part of their upcoming fund-raising event and have expressed that they could also use their party equipment hire services as raffle and one of the spinning wheel prizes. The firm have gladly accepted the invitation and did not hesitate to offer their services as part of the raffle prizes. Awesome Party Hire owner James Balcombe says they've always admired the fete events organized by Light FM radio station and their efforts toward providing and improving a more up to date safer, family friendly radio content . He said they're thrilled to be able to a part of an event to an organization that has given so much and done so much good over the years. Awesome party hire isn't a stranger within the other suburbs of Melbourne either, having been a part of events that are either sponsored or organized by well known organizations such as McDonalds, Bunnings, WorkSafe, RMIT University and other respected establishments within the community. As their common practice, they have also requested to the christian radio station to bring awareness to the community the importance of hiring quality and safe party equipment in lieu of the most recent jumping castle accident. The company is also hoping that through their equipment, people attending the fete can experience , if not compare, party equipment that truly brings fun while raising safety awareness. Awesome Party Hire was founded in 2008 and serves the party equipment rental service industry.It is a well known hire company for quality, non-China made jumping castles, slushie machines, karaokes, photo booths and mechanical bulls. For more information, please visit http://www.awesomepartyhire.com.au/ Contact Info: Name: James Balcombe Email: contact@awesomepartyhire.com.au Organization: Awesome Party Hire Address: Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Phone: 0419 599 666 Release ID: 126132 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) PPI Payments Launches New Website Dedicated to helping people throughout the U.K. claim PPI insurance compensation. -- AUGUST 8, 2016 - LONDON, U.K. - Throughout the United Kingdom, thousands of people have felt the impact associated with the wrongful sales of PPI insurance policies. One company, PPI Payments, is dedicated to "righting the wrongs" of the banks by helping people claim compensation from the wrongful sales associated with their insurance policies. The company recently announced the launch of their new website: www.ppipayments.co.uk and encourages individuals throughout the U.K. to visit the site and contact the company to begin the process of starting a claim. PPI, also known as credit insurance, credit protection insurance, and payment protection insurance, is a type of insurance that began in the 1990s with the intention of helping people maintain payments on borrowed loans and investments in times of crisis such as the loss of a job, injury, or illness. The insurance would help cover the cost of bills such as credit cards, mortgages, and car loans by making the minimum payments on these debts for individuals affected by unforeseen events for a period of up to 12-months. Unfortunately, many banks exploited this program, wrongfully selling insurance policies to individuals who, often, were misinformed of the policy details or were making payments on a policy they never requested. Moreover, thousands of other people who purchased PPI insurance policies and fell on hard times often realized that, although the insurance was supposed to help them pay off certain loans, these payments were never made. PPI Payments wants to help individuals affected by this pandemic by offering assistance to those needing to open a claim to reclaim lost money through the purchase of mis-sold payment protection insurance policies. The company encourages affected policyholders to visit their new website, which offers additional information and articles about payment protection insurance and mis-sold insurance claims as well as helpful tips and advice on what customers can do to seek compensation. For more information about PPI Payments, visit www.ppipayments.co.uk. ### For more information, please visit http://www.ppipayments.co.uk Contact Info: Name: Kevin Smith Organization: PPI Payments Address: Farnsworth Court, 1 W. Parkside London, U.K. SE10 0QF Phone: 0800-634-8668 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/ppi-payments-launches-new-website/126225 Release ID: 126225 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) Greenville Plumbing Launches To Deliver Best Plumbing Services In Greenville, South Carolina Greenville Plumbing is a brand new venture created by experienced plumbers from Greenville, South Carolina, to deliver unmatched quality of service and great value to their home community. -- Plumbing is an essential part of any functioning urban metropolis, and even the smallest problem can quickly become a disaster for home and business owners. Unfortunately, due to the nature of these problems, people need a rapid response plumber, and that can often mean a punishing price. Greenville Plumbing is a new venture created by the most experienced Plumbers Greenville SC has to offer. Together, they will provide a better service than the community has ever had, at the best possible prices. The business was conceived by individual contractors who realised they could provide a better service to the whole area by pooling their resources under a single banner. This would mean better coverage, quicker response times, and better value for customers. The experienced team operate fully equipped vehicles placed at strategic points throughout Greenville, so they are never far away. The company can also offer commercial plumbing as well as residential services, and are capable of a full fit out of a new store front, restaurant or new build office block. Their rates are the best of any plumber Greenville SC currently has in operation, ensuring they offer an attractive price to go with their outstanding work. A spokesperson for Greenville Plumbing explained, "We want to make sure every aspect of the customer experience is extraordinary. From the first phone call we will treat our customers like family, and go to whatever lengths are necessary to ensure their plumbing problems are swiftly and effectively resolved. We are a new company, but we plan to grow rapidly by simply offering a better service for less than people in Greenville and the surrounding areas might expect. In that way, we will create a client list that stays with us in the years to come, and we can go from strength to strength together." About Greenville Plumbing: Greenville Plumbing is a new company that provides residential and commercial plumbing services to the residents and businesses in Greenville SC. The company was formed by experienced plumbers who wanted to offer a better quality of service to the people in their hometown. The company offers comprehensive installation, repair and maintenance services together with affordable emergency callouts. For more information, please visit http://www.plumbersgreenvillesc.org/ Contact Info: Name: PRWhirlWind Organization: PRWhirlWind Source: http://marketersmedia.com/greenville-plumbing-launches-to-deliver-best-plumbing-services-in-greenville-south-carolina/126261 Release ID: 126261 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) Toledo Plumbing Launches To Provide The Best Plumbing Services In Toledo Ohio Toledo Plumbing is a new plumbing business created by the town's best plumbers, to offer the best plumbing maintenance and repair services possible to the surrounding neighborhoods. -- Plumbing is integral to modern living, but is often forgotten about until it goes wrong. If it does, it can quickly become disastrous. This means people can suddenly find themselves in desperate need of a plumber, and need reliable, affordable services to call upon. Sadly, such services have been few and far between in Toledo, Ohio. Now however, Toledo can rely on its very own plumbing company, thanks to the launch of Toledo Plumbing, a new venture created by homegrown plumbing contractors. The company founders are some of the best Plumbers Toledo Ohio has to offer, who realised they were able to serve the community better together than any could alone. The new company brings them together with an excellent support staff, united by a commitment to absolute customer satisfaction, fair pricing, and careful diligence. The business launch has been accompanied by a new website. The site is cleanly designed and offers full contact details on the homepage for easy enquiries. It sets out a comprehensive overview of their services, which include both residential and commercial plumbing, as well as maintenance, repair and initial outfitting. The site also includes details on the Toledo plumbers' unique attitude and approach. A spokesperson for Toledo Plumbing explained, "Toledo Plumbing is thrilled to be announcing its official launch, and we can't wait to begin establishing new, long-lasting relationships with a wide range of clients. We have spent a great deal of time and energy nailing down our approach, so that people can rest assured they will receive only the very best standard of service from us, from day one. We are excited about the possibilities for this business, and for the difference we can make to people and businesses in Toledo, Ohio. Our website will enable people to find us quickly and easily online, and our rapid response ensures no one will be left waiting." About Toledo Plumbing: Toledo Plumbing provides residential and commercial plumbing services to residents and businesses in the Toledo Ohio area. Their experienced and expert team of plumbers are fully licensed, bonded and insured, and can provide emergency call out services at any hour of any day. The company aims to offer outstanding customer satisfaction, thanks to great value and unparalleled expertise. For more information, please visit http://www.plumberstoledoohio.org/ Contact Info: Name: PRWhirlWind Organization: PRWhirlWind Address: 3550 executive parkway suite 7- 311 Toledo, OH 43606 Phone: (419) 464-9818 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/toledo-plumbing-launches-to-provide-the-best-plumbing-services-in-toledo-ohio/126239 Release ID: 126239 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) Anti-Aging Product Market Is Set To Grow At A 6% CAGR To 2018 : Radiant Insights,Inc RadiantInsights.com has announced the addition of "Global Anti-Aging Product Market Trends, Growth And Forecast Report Up To 2018 : Radiant Insights, Inc" Market Research Report to their Database. -- The anti-aging product market will experience a good run during the forecast period (2014-2018) due to aiding customers in fighting ageing and preserving their beauty. It is expected to showcase a CAGR exceeding 6% over the next four years. Anti-aging products are advertised to fight problems such as sagging, wrinkles, blemishes, graying, and pores. But the competition among market players can impede market growth. View Full Report with TOC @ http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-anti-aging-product-market-2014-2018 The worldwide market is segmented by products, services, and regions. Products encompass hair care, cosmetics, and skin care. Hair care products nourish and restore hair to its original color. These products are manufactured from synthetic or organic substances. They include shampoos, gels, conditioners, hair colorants, and other accessories. Skin care will be the highest revenue generating segment of the global anti-aging market. Skin care products will experience a robust growth rate due to the presence of e-commerce platforms and online shopping sites. They mainly consist but not restricted to face and body lotions. The industry aims to capitalize on the baby boomer population aged between 50 and 70 to sell such products. Cosmetics will face a huge demand due to peels, face masks, and creams. Consumer awareness related to these products will face a huge role in attaining sales. Services include sclerotherapy, chemical peel, hair restoration, breast augmentation, adult acne therapy, anti-pigmentation therapy, liposuction services, abdominoplasty, and eye-lid therapy. Studies regarding anti-pollution creams, sirtuins, and epigenetics are anticipated to change the market scenario. Download Sample Copy Of This Report At http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-anti-aging-product-market-2014-2018/request-sample Regions include North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and RoW (Rest of the World). Asia Pacific will see a rapid growth due to the popularity of cosmetic surgeries done at an economical price. North America has generated almost USD 2.4 billion in 2013. It will continue to generate additional sales to cater to the teenage and elderly populace primarily influenced by Hollywood. Prominent players in the global anti-aging product market encompass L'Oreal SA, Unilever Group, Procter & Gamble Co., and Beiersdorf AG. Players are mostly focused on R&D (research and development) to launch novel products to entice new customers and increase their market presence. See More Reports of This Category by Radiant Insights: http://www.radiantinsights.com/catalog/healthcare About Radiant Insights,Inc Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. We assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. We have a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets. In addition to over extensive database of reports, our experienced research coordinators also offer a host of ancillary services such as, research partnerships/ tie-ups and customized research solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-anti-aging-product-market-2014-2018 Contact Info: Name: Michelle Thoras Email: sales@radiantinsights.com Organization: Radiant Insights, Inc. Address: 28 2nd Street, Suite 3036 San Francisco Phone: 4153490054 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/anti-aging-product-market-is-set-to-grow-at-a-6-cagr-to-2018-radiant-insightsinc/126285 Release ID: 126285 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) Modern Limousine Service Launches Brand New Website The site was built with users in mind and features tools that help make their reservation experience a breeze, reports http://www.modernlimoservice.com. -- Modern Limousine Service, A premier private car service in Los Angeles, has recently announced the launch of their brand new website. In addition to showcasing all of the company's services, the website includes a number of features that help make reserving a car an easier process for clients. The new website and features are available right now at http://www.modernlimoservice.com/. "We are beyond excited to be launching a new website for our service. We love coming up with new ways to better serve our clients, and we know that this is one of the ways we can achieve that goal," said Sam, a representative of Modern Limousine Service. "The new site was built with our clients in mind, and we've included a lot of features we think they're going to love. Just like our name implies, everything on our site is modern, easy to navigate, and makes the reservation process as easy as possible." Whether someone is simply in need of Airport Car Service in Los Angeles or a business owner needs to get to a corporate gala, Modern Limousine Service is up to the challenge. Their new website includes tools that help to streamline the car reservation process for all of their clients. These features include an instant quote tool for those who want to know the cost of their ride prior to booking as well as the ability to instantly reserve the limousine of their choice. For those who prefer to make a phone call and speak to someone on the Modern Limousine Service team, the company's contact information is easy to find right on the homepage of the new website. Sam went on to say, "We sincerely believe that our LAX Airport Car Service is the best in the business. Our expert drivers are committed to maintaining professionalism, which means that clients can expect safe, comfortable, and high-quality service. We believe that the new website we've just launched reflects these values and will allow us to take our services to new heights." About Modern Limousine Service: Modern Limo Service in Los Angeles is the premier private car service in the area. Their expert drivers offer the highest quality of professionalism, comfort, and safety. When clients reserve a ride with them, they can have the peace of mind that their driver will be prompt and will meet all of their transportation needs. Modern Limo Service specializes in corporate, special event, and airport car service. For more information, please visit http://www.modernlimoservice.com Contact Info: Name: Sam Organization: Modern Limousine Service Phone: (877) 660-4735 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/modern-limousine-service-launches-brand-new-website/126305 Release ID: 126305 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) John Ross Palmer unveils Havana 2016 A hallmark of John Ross Palmer's career is traveling the world, being inspired by new cultures and then unveiling his inspiration in an original art series at his Historic Houston Heights Art Gallery. This year he traveled to Havana, Cuba. August 3, 2016 (FPRC) -- On July 29, 2016, Artist John Ross Palmer unveiled his international art series Havana 2016 to much fanfare at his Historic Houston Heights Art Gallery. Guests sipped mojitos, devoured Cuban sandwich bites and crunched on plantain chips while admiring Palmers vibrant 11-piece original art series. Prior to the unveiling through private previews by his First Class Club (FCC), Palmer had successfully placed 9 of the paintings from the series into private collection. From June 23-26, Palmer was a guest of the Texas Lyceum (TexasLyceum.org) on a learning adventure to the enigmatic island of Cuba. The Texas Lyceum is the states pre-eminent non-profit, non-partisan leadership organization whose mission is to develop the next generation of leaders for our state. Since 1980, the Lyceum has engaged in civil discourse to educate diverse Texans on pressing policy issues facing the state. In addition to touring, dancing and dining, the group of Texas leaders learned from panelists including former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela Otto Reich and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett on both historic context and a potential future relationship with Cuba as a business partner. It was fascinating to incorporate learning from such exceptional leaders into my annual international art adventure, explains Palmer. Havana 2016 combines powerful imagery of the Cuban people, the Hemingway estate, a cigar factory, the Tropicana and many more iconic symbols to give my collectors a true taste of Havana, Cuba. I am so thrilled and humbled that it has been so well received by my collectors. The original art series Havana 2016 is complemented by a documentary produced by acclaimed filmmaker Neiman Catley and a first-class catalogue. On July 29th, Palmer honored his First Class Club members by presenting them with gifts of original art, Cuban cigars and champagne flutes with Havana 2016 he personally etched in the glass. Palmer will determine the destination for his 2017 adventure in January of 2017 after an essay contest by his FCC. If you have any questions about Artist John Ross Palmer or his art series Havana 2016, please contact gallery co-owner Ryan Lindsay at 713-861-6726 or Ryan@JohnPalmerArt.com. Send an email to Ryan Lindsay of r 7138616726 Recent Press Releases By The Same User Construction & Design Inc. will serve as 2019 Corporate Sponsor for John Palmer Art (Mon 18th Mar 19) Artist John Ross Palmer Lays Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Tue 5th Feb 19) Art Launch & John Ross Palmer Initiate the 2019 Escapist Artists (Mon 4th Feb 19) John Palmer Art Names Trees of Hope as its 2019 Charity of the Year (Thu 10th Jan 19) Art Launch names Marianne & Kenny Terrell as Brunch Honorary Chairpersons (Tue 7th Aug 18) Art Launch and John Ross Palmer Initiate the 2018 Escapist Artists (Tue 6th Mar 18) Protection providers are being warned they face a crossroads, to simplify, innovate and promote their products better or risk being overtaken by industry outsiders keen to distrupt the status quo. Ian McKenna, director of the Finance and Technology Research Centre, warned if traditional providers failed to wake up soon, there are plenty of fintech firms, large and small, already assimilating client information and making positive consumer contact, ready to revolutionise this market; referring to the potential use of big data and biometrics. He called the UK market very inefficient, with not enough insurers to promote effective competition, adding that a move from paper to digital in recent years was simply replicating the same old processes online. There are a small number of professional protection distributors, along with a vast number of advisers who find it all too complex, said Mr McKenna. Innovation of product features has just created an arms race of small print. Protection Reviews marketing director Roger Edwards said the industry is stuck in a loop of providers adding complexity to stay marginally ahead of competitors. No one is ripping up the current product set and doing something totally different, he argued. With critical illness cover for example, its add a new, rare condition that keeps them at the top of CI Expert until the next provider does the same thing. This doesnt engage consumers, and it makes the advisers job more difficult, but it lets the provider hang onto market share. Mr Edwards accused life companies of prioritising pensions and investment over protection to meet short term targets, with real innovation and disruption being a long term game. PruProtect was first to push into the big data space with its Vitality healthy living initiative, using customer health and lifestyle data to offer rewards and lower premiums. Since it split in late 2014, VitalityLife has continued to take this strategy forward, introducing incentives for healthy behaviours. At that time, Zurichs head of retail propositions Peter Hamilton said peoples attitude to sharing personal data was changing. He saw a generation emerging who will expect to be rewarded for keeping healthy via FitBits and Apple Watches. Providers are developing new technology, said Mr Hamilton, but resources have recently been diverted to other business areas to cope with regulatory change, citing the pension freedoms as an example. Traditional insurance product life cycles and time to market are too extended in an age where your new mobile phone is on its way to obsolescence pretty much as soon as youve taken it out of the package, he added. Deepak Jobanputra, deputy chief executive officer of Vitality Life, agreed tech giants like Apple or Amazon could make the move across and really disrupt things, although he suggested barriers to entry could prevent newcomers. Its not inconceivable, but I dont see why the two cant be complementary, we dont make the devices, but theyre central to our shared value vision which aims to make people healthier as well as protecting them. Walker Crips aims to grow its assets under management to 10bn in the next 10 years to keep pace with the minimum the firms chief investment officer said is needed to do business. Mark Rushton said he expects growth to be mainly on the managed portfolio side of the business. Currently the firm has a total of 4.1bn in assets under management. We have a target of reaching 5bn by 2018 and going forward in time we want to double that in 10 years time, he said. The minimum you need to run a business like this has grown, partly because doing the business has become more complicated, as there is more regulatory burden; which is as it should be. If you look back at the business mix as it was in 2012 after the asset management sale, there was a big chunk of execution only and custody, along with some advisory and discretionary, but now we have grown that managed side of the business much more. Ideally we will keep the administrative side growing a little while the managed business grows underneath it, he added. Mr Rushton said Walker Crips is looking to grow further, but following its acquisition of Barker Poland last year for 4.2m, this would probably be at a slower pace. He admitted: We have only recently done the Barker Poland deal and that was just over a year ago, we have been taking on individuals and we will continue but the pace may slow a little bit. If you look regionally at our spread there are some obviously little gaps, Mr Rushton said. They are not massive problems, but it would be useful to fill those. The north east and north west are two areas where there are gaps, but we are going to be opportunistic. Last month Walker Crips published its results for the year ending 31 March, which saw pre-tax profits more than double. The investment management side of the firm generated revenue of 23.64m, while the wealth management arm generated 2.43m. Mr Rushton added: Although the wealth management revenue looks small, it is still an important adjunct to the overall business. A lot of clients come to us advised by IFAs, but others want some financial planning. A report released by IW Capital today (3 August) has revealed investor confidence is at a significant low following the UKs decision to leave the European Union on 24 June this year. The survey, which interviewed 2,000 UK adults and 1,000 British investors found that 58 per cent of those interviewed were not confident they understand the implications of Brexit on investment strategy, whilst 52 per cent were not confident they understood the implications of Brexit on pensions. For the same question but posed on the impact on their tax bill, 55 per cent said they were not confident what that would be. Elsewhere, 55 per cent of investors said they did not understand the implications of Brexit on the long-term prospects of the FTSE, 52 per cent said they did not understand the implications on the property market and 49 per cent on the future value of the pound. IW Capital also asked investors if they would consider supporting small and medium enterprises through private investment channels in the aftermath of Brexit, with 52 per cent of all investors stating they would. A total of 70 per cent of investors aged 18-34 said they would back SMEs, whilst 68 per cent of investors in London said they would, constituting the highest proportion of any region. A total of 58 per cent of male investors said they would support this sector. Yesterday (2 August), FTAdvisers sister publication Investment Adviser reported UK retail investors withdrew a huge 3.5bn from funds during June as concerns over the EU referendum confirmed 2016 as one of the toughest environments on record for asset managers. Retail investors withdrew some 2.8bn from equity funds during a month which was dominated by the vote on 23 June, according to figures from the Investment Association. The Property sector, which saw mass withdrawals from a number of funds and their subsequent suspension of trading at the start of July, suffered some 1.4bn of net outflows. Alan Solomons, director of London-based Alpha Investments and Financial Planning said: This is a report aimed at highlighting the crowd funding business of IWE. The reality is that sterling went down which boosted the potential profits of the larger companies who had overseas earnings which would be recorded in sterling as being more due to the weakening pound. Small companies on the London Stock Exchange took a pounding as it was rightly perceived that they would not as a whole benefit from falling sterling as imports would cost more and their sales would be predominantly UK. What the general public knows about investing is not worth the paper it is written on unfortunately. ruth.gillbe@ft.com Members of Parliament will address the issue of financial scammers targeting vulnerable people including the elderly in a debate in the House of Commons on 8 September 2016. Julian Knight, member of parliament for Solihull and Patricia Gibson, member of parliament for North Ayrshire and Arran is bringing the debate. The motion as it stands is that the elderly and vulnerable are groups at high-risk of having harm done to their financial, emotional and psychological well-being from criminals who target them with scam calls, posts and visits. It will call on financial institutions and the communications industry to put in place mechanisms to protect potential victims from scams, and make further calls on the government to recognise the threat from scams to victims ability to live independently. Additionally, it will call on Theresa Mays government to make suggestions on further steps to tackle such criminality. Ms Gibson called National Scams Team estimates that the average age of a scam victim is 74 alarming. The Financial Conduct Authority has previously highlighted the higher risk of investment and other frauds to the over 55s. There is some difficulty in establishing the extent of scams on consumers as it is thought only 5 per cent of victims report they have lost money to scams but the average victim loses around 1,000, though there are cases where victims have lost hundreds of thousands of pounds. Victims report feeling embarrassed and afraid their families will judge them as incapable of living alone which means they may avoid reporting the scam to the authorities. The impact of dementia and other impairments makes vulnerability more pronounced and the ability to repeatedly target an individual more possible. Mr Knight said: My advice is simple: if someone calls you at home offering a financial product - put the phone down - it is likely to be a scam. Whats more, dont be tempted by talk of tax loopholes you will come a cropper. In July this year, Zurich issued a fresh call for the government to clampdown on pension scammers, pressing for tougher regulation of introducers to help safeguard consumers. At that time, the firm proposed that introducers could be contractually linked to authorised independent financial advisers or pension schemes as part of a series of proposals surrounding pension scams. In February this year, it was revealed a third of people aged 55 or more have been targeted by potential pensions scams in the last three months. Richard Ross, director of Norfolk-based Chadwicks said while there are some obvious measures that should be put in place these must be in tandem with better financial education. If this is not to be a persistent problem then measures should be targeted not just at todays vulnerable people but also tomorrows. The average age of 74 for victims is unhelpful without an indication of the distribution but it implies a large proportion of victims are relatively young and unlikely to match the vulnerable criteria. The best way to help these avoid being robbed is to educate them. Scientists have warned the UK has only 100 harvests left in its soils due to intensive farming. Perhaps it is no surprise then that landlords are beginning to address soil health in tenancy agreements. Soil is the building block of all farming and critical to biodiversity. Yet scientists have warned that basic nutrients are in sharp decline across vast tracts of agricultural land. Against a backdrop of price volatility and climate change, issues such as soil compaction, erosion, flooding and declining levels of organic matter and soil nutrients have all become more important. See also: Only 100 harvests left in UK farm soils, scientists warn The United Nations declared last year the International Year for Soils and earlier this year, the Soil Association warned action was needed if the UK was to retain its long-term ability to produce food. Questions to ask your landlord If soil health is included in your tenancy agreement, there are a few questions you might want to ask your landlord: Can you see base figures for the farm? On what basis are the calculations made? What was the size of sample? What was the weather like when the sample was taken? On what date and time of day was the sample taken? Who has control of testing when your tenancy ends? Will tests be carried out on a like-for-like basis? Who pays for testing? Is there a force majeure clause? (This would exempt a party from meeting certain targets on time in the event of extraordinary events such as freak weather) As a result of greater focus on the issue, landlords are increasingly starting to look at ways of encouraging tenants to improve the resilience and health of the soils they farm. But what are they doing, how and why? The Crown Estate approach With many tenants on farm business tenancies (FBTs) of five years or less, there has long been debate about how to tackle the problem of those who focus on short-term returns rather than long-term sustainability. The Crown Estate, which owns 106,000ha across the UK, has sought to tackle the problem head on by becoming one of the first institutional landlords to introduce a soil-testing regime as part of all new tenancy agreements. Ken Jones, director of the rural and coastal portfolio, says addressing soil management is a no-brainer for a commercial organisation taking a long-term view of its asset base in order to preserve its value. He also believes it is in the interests of tenants who are safeguarding both the quality and the yield of the crops they produce. Measuring baseline soil standards Under its Project Soil programme, the Crown Estate has introduced a clause in all new FBTs that require the tenant to maintain and where possible improve the soil. The first of these agreements was put in place two years ago. Prior to any new tenancy, soil samples are taken from every field by precision farming company SOYL to assess levels of nutrients such as N, P & K, as well as pH, soil structure and organic matter. The costs of the tests and the data produced are shared 50:50 between the business and the incoming tenant. What it gives is a baseline that tenants mustnt go below, says Mr Jones. It is a little like carrying out an inventory before someone goes into a flat. If soil tests at the end of the agreement show that indices have fallen, the tenant is effectively required to pay for putting the land back into the condition it was at the start of the tenancy. But Mr Jones says the goal is not to get to that point and the estate offers workshops to all tenants that look at best-practice soil management. Getting contractual details right Emma Folkes, legal direct at solicitor Burges Salmon, has been working with the Crown Estate on making soil health a part of their tenancy agreements. Particular terms are included in the contracts to ensure every party is clear on the approach to soil monitoring, she says. These include: Definitions of soil reports and specified targets based on structure, nutrient profile and other indicators. Tenant repairing covenant to leave soil in no worse a condition than commensurate with a specified target. A mid-term and outgoing soil test must be conducted and the landlord has the right to carry out mid-term tests if tenant fails to. The soil data collected is preserved so there is a clear history. Details setting out the sharing of costs of incoming and outgoing soil testing. If outgoing soil tests reveal that the soil conditions fall short of the specified targets, that is a dilapidation and is treated in the same way as others, says Ms Folkes. Addressing this might involve calculating the cost of putting the soil back into a condition that meets the targets in the agreement. The intention is for it to be in both the landlords and tenants interests for the soil measures to be met, as that maximises productivity and protects the vigour of the land, says Ms Folkes. So the aim is very much for the relationship between landlord and tenant to be a partnership and for the issue of adherence to the tenants covenants to be largely self-regulatory. Incentives for improving soil quality At the moment, there is no financial incentive for a tenant to improve the soil beyond the baseline, but this is the next goal. The estate is working with the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) to work out the right approach for rewarding people who add value to the soil. The powers that be, in terms of deciding how you value soil quality, havent yet come up with the right metrics to give us that answer, says Mr Jones. So at the moment [the agreement] is protective, but we do hope to develop it so it can be more positive and we can put carrots in place as well as sticks. This could be at least two years away and there could be several different iterations before they hit on the right way to deliver this. It is a work in progress, butwe have to start somewhere. Changes to the FBT tendering process As soil management becomes increasingly important, it is changing the way the estate selects successful bidders, says Mr Jones. Bid ranking not only rests on the rent offered, but also the strength of the soil management plan, which is also required as part of a tender. In all of the tenancies (about 10) that have come up since the new scheme was introduced, it has been the farmer with the best soil management plan who has won the land, he says. This means they have turned down higher offers of rent in favour of an applicant who has produced a better soil plan. AHA tenancies and soil The Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 has been reformed recently to update the provisions for compensation for tenants at the end of an agreement. Schedule 8 has been updated so tenants can be compensated for improvements made to the holding through the use of manure, soil improvers and digestate, not just purchased manure and fertiliser. The aim is to give outgoing tenants an incentive to farm sustainability and leave the soil in good condition for incoming tenants. It is not to say that this is a charitable exercise, because they were commercial rent offers, but they certainly werent the highest offers. Other landlords approach The Crown Estate may be the most high-profile landlord taking this approach, but according to agents, the use of soil indices clauses in agreements is becoming more common than it was five or 10 years ago. There is also lots of talk about others going down a similar path. Rob Mackin, head of farming at the National Trust, says it is not something the charity has introduced into its tenancies yet. However, as a first step we have started to score soil condition across our properties and we will increasingly consider factors affecting soil health as part of our future letting procedures. The Duchy of Cornwall Estate says it has been working with its tenants on soil issues (see panel) but has not made a decision on whether to include it more formally in agreements. The critics view George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association, says he absolutely agrees that soil quality is a major issue. But he argues including soil monitoring in FBTs is dealing with the symptoms, rather than the cause and giving people longer-term security would be one of the best ways of encouraging them to invest in soil management. Where we have seen a shift from long-term security to having security of, say, three years, why would someone invest in lime, soil improvers and organic matter? he argues. Mr Dunn says taking nutrient measurements over a relatively short period could also prove to be meaningless. We know from year to year on the same parcel of land you could have massive amounts of trace elements one year and then low amounts the next. Measuring over two points that are not very far apart on a short-term FBT doesnt give you an adequate view of what is happening with that soil. Looking at it over a 10- to 15-year period, you would be able to get a better view. A time of experimentation Jeremy Moody of the CAAV stresses the use of such agreements is at an experimental stage. While measuring and valuing certain indices might be a well-trodden path, there are others such as soil organic matter that are new terrain. As agreements come to an end, it will be important to look at what works, what doesnt and how to draft the next agreement better, he says. Mr Moody says one of the problems in coming up with a system for penalties and incentives is that things that are generally regarded as true about soil science might not be quite as true in detail. And that poses practical questions once you start to apply legal requirements and monetary values. Tenants considering such an arrangement should consider if what they are being asked to do is realistic and how to allow for things that are outside their control. For example, if you are looking at somewhere with repeated flooding, or if one or two of your tenancy years are subject to unusual levels of rainfall, do you have a get-out clause? Case study: Steff Munks, Lincolnshire Steff Munks has taken on three farms on the Crowns Billingborough Estate in Lincolnshire over the past two years. All of the farms, totalling 1,750 acres of arable ground, are let on five-year FBTs and include the soil-testing requirement. Mr Munks says he has no concerns about signing up to the agreement and as a landowner himself he can see why the estate wants to ensure soil health is maintained. The last thing we would want if we had a tenant was for the land to be run down to a point where it was not productive. Before he took occupation, he was given information about nutrient levels, as well as organic matter and soil structure. It was very useful. We had been doing this on our other farms for four or five years, so it is something we would have done anyway. We very much precision farm, so it fits with our approach. Mr Munks said if soil indices fall below the baseline level he will have to cover the costs of putting it right, but this is not a scenario he expects to ever face. We have a plan in place to improve it and we are looking at the bigger picture and hoping we are going to be here in 10 or 15 years. We are putting organic matter back into the farm and trying to improve soil structure, as well as P and K levels. At the end of the day we are looking to get the highest production out of the land and on that theory we have to get soils to the right standard. Story Highlights Beer continues to edge out wine, liquor as preferred alcoholic drink 65% of Americans say they drink alcoholic beverages A quarter of drinkers say they occasionally drink too much WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Beer remains the alcoholic beverage of choice among Americans who imbibe alcohol. While 43% of Americans who drink alcohol say they prefer beer, 32% say wine and 20% say liquor. These results come from Gallup's 2016 Consumption Habits survey, conducted July 13-17. The 43% of U.S. adult drinkers who say they drink beer most often is the highest since 2002, when 44% said the same. At several points since 2005, wine and beer essentially tied as the preferred alcoholic beverage, but in the last three years beer has held firmly as the top choice. Americans' drink of choice differs by gender, as it has since the 1990s. Half of female drinkers prefer wine, based on combined data from 2010 through 2016, while beer and liquor tie as their next-favored beverage (23%). Meanwhile, 54% of male drinkers name beer as their preferred drink, followed by liquor (22%) and wine (18%). These gender differences largely echo men's and women's alcoholic beverage preferences from the previous decade (2001-2009). American Drinkers' Alcoholic Beverage Choice, by Gender Do you most often drink liquor, wine or beer? Men, 2001-2009 Men, 2010-2016 Women, 2001-2009 Women, 2010-2016 % % % % Liquor 19 22 25 23 Wine 20 18 47 50 Beer 57 54 24 23 Gallup, July 13-17, 2016 Most Americans Drink, but Higher-Income More Likely Since 1939, Gallup has consistently found that a solid majority of Americans consume alcohol; however, the precise percentage has varied between 55% and 71%. The low point came in 1958, while the high occurred in the late 1970s. This year, 65% of Americans say they imbibe and 35% say they wholly abstain. The choice to drink alcohol varies markedly among income groups. Between 2010 and 2016, 79% of higher-income Americans said they have occasion to imbibe, compared with 63% of middle-income Americans and 49% of lower-income Americans. These differences may stem from higher-income Americans having more disposable income to spend on alcoholic beverages. Americans' Reports of Drinking Behavior, by Annual Household Income 2010-2016 Have occasion to drink % Less than $30,000 49 $30,000 to less than $75,000 63 $75,000 or more 79 Gallup, July 13-17, 2016 Drinking Not an Issue for Most Americans; More Problematic for Men In the most recent poll, 25% of those who drink alcohol say they sometimes drink more than they should. Between 2010 and 2016, men (26%) were more likely than women (16%) to say they occasionally drink excessively -- a gender discrepancy largely unchanged from the previous decade. Reports of Occasionally Drinking Too Much, by Gender Occasionally drink too much % Men, 2010-2016 26 Men, 2001-2009 28 Women, 2010-2016 16 Women, 2001-2009 16 Gallup, July 13-17, 2016 Bottom Line Drinking remains a popular pastime for most Americans. For the nearly two in three Americans who imbibe, beer is consistently the preferred beverage of choice. However, more women continue to favor wine over beer and liquor. Gender differences in drinking behavior do not stop at favored alcoholic beverage, however. Men are more likely than women to say they occasionally drink more than they should. A study by the University of Texas at Austin last year revealed that alcohol advertisement sales have increased 400% in the past four decades. This increase in advertisement sales could, in part, reflect a lack of growth in the percentage of Americans who drink alcohol and the stability of their preferred beverage of choice. Alcohol producers must compete with an ever-increasing number of producers and a population of drinkers that, rather than expanding, has remained relatively constant for decades. Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics. Survey Methods Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted July 13-17, 2016, with a random sample of 1,023 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is 4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the total sample of 682 adults who drink alcoholic beverages, the margin of sampling error is 5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting. Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 60% cellphone respondents and 40% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. View complete question responses and trends. Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner Divorce: 'Daredevil' Actress Pregnant with Fourth Baby? Couple Not Splitting Anymore? It's been over a year since the Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner split was announced but neither of the two have reportedly filed divorce documents until now. Countless fans are wondering if the "Daredevil" stars were really serious when they first announced their split. Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner Divorce:'Elektra' Actress Hiding her Baby Bump In a report by ENSTARZ, Jennifer Garner attended an event for the Nine Lives movie premiere, where the "Juno" actress positioned her hands near the belly and wearing a ruffle red dress to conceal the baby bump. Also, the mannerisms of Ben Affleck's wife gave pretty clear details on hiding the pregnancy. Hollywood Gossip claims that the baby Jennifer Garner is carrying is, in fact, Ben Affleck's. This will be the couple's fourth baby on the way, reports say. Though this could be true, both stars are yet to comment on these pregnancy reports. Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner Divorce: A Possible Fix Marriage The divorce announcement was declared over a year ago, but Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are occasionally spotted frolicking over Los Angeles. In fact, in the premiere of "Batman vs Superman" last year, the couple were there along with their three children. Some sources say that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are arguing whether or not extending the family to four children is a good idea. However, fans think that it's a no brainer that the pair is debating for a fourth child. Other sources say that having their fourth kid could save the failing marriage of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. So far, the couple has not yet confirmed the real status of their relationship. Will the pair stay or go? Unless, Ben Affleck bring Jennifer to the premiere of "Justice League" next year, then that would be the official "Yes" to the people. Tell us what your thoughts about the Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner on the comment section below. Maze Runner 3 Release Date, News & Update: Dylan OBrien Now Filming Again? Teen Wolf Season 6 Actor Filing Lawsuit Against Fox? Countless fans are now excited for the upcoming release of the "Maze Runner 3" movie. Now, new reports are claiming that Dylan O'Brien was spotted filming for the film five months since he got some major injuries while performing a deadly stunt. Dylan O'Brien resumes filming for 'Maze Runner 3' movie PEOPLE reports that Dylan O'Brien was sighted for the very first time since suffering serious injuries in an onset accident. Sources have claimed that the "Maze Runner 3" was unnatural in is new look. Under a thick beard, Dylan O'Brien was seen grabbing some snack at the Sherman Oaks, California branch of Jamba Juice. It can be recalled that the "Teen Wolf" Season 6 actor is rushed in the hospital on March 18, 2016 after getting hit by car while filming for the "Maze Runner 3" movie. Previous reports have claimed that Dylan O'Brien was suddenly pulled off from a moving vehicle that caused him to fall and hit by another car. Insiders have claimed that the "Maze Runner 3" got major cuts, concussions and a facial fracture. With these injuries, fans have started speculating that Dylan O'Brien will no longer be joining the "Maze Runner 3" movie and the upcoming "Teen Wolf" Season 6 series. However, with the recent sighting, there is now a big possibility that fans would be seeing Selena Gomez' ex-flame in the mentioned productions. 'Maze Runner 3' actor Dylan O'Brien files lawsuit against Fox Meanwhile, other reports are now claiming that Dylan O'Brien could possibly file a lawsuit against Fox. GamenGuide has previously reported Fox is the one to be blamed for the "Maze Runner 3" accident. Insiders have divulged that Fox allowed Dylan O'Brien to perform the fatal stunt without even rehearsing for it. According to reports, sudden changes in the sequences of events were made, which later caused confusions among the "Maze Runner 3" cast and crew. Fox and Dylan O'Brien are yet to comment on these reports. "Maze Runner 3" is expected to hit theatres by storm in 2018. Stay tuned to GamenGuide for more "Maze Runner 3" spoilers, news and updates! After promise of protection, land needs to be restored to be used. Some nurses at Samaritan Health Services can apply their on-the-job training toward a bachelors degree thanks to a new arrangement with a Eugene college. The agreement with Northwest Christian University, announced his week, allows registered nurses who have completed Samaritans critical care internship program to get academic credit for that training in the schools RN to BSN program. Samaritan officials said the arrangement would benefit both nurses and the Corvallis-based health care network. We typically have a number of nurses who want to complete their bachelors degree while continuing to work, said Bill Howden, vice president for patient care services at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, and this agreement facilitates that process as well as helping us address the ongoing need for critical care nurses. The online degree program consists of 10 eight-week classes taught by NCU instructors. It is open to graduates of accredited nursing programs with unencumbered nursing licenses. A similar agreement with Lane Community College allows recent graduates of the Eugene schools nursing program to move into Northwest Christians RN to BSN program. This log includes incidents in which there might have been a public disturbance or a risk to the public. Information comes from the Corvallis Police Department, the Benton County Sheriffs Office and Oregon State Police. It does not include all calls for service. The status of incidents might change after further investigation. Locations are approximate. People arrested or suspected in crimes are considered innocent until proven otherwise. Corvallis Police Department TUESDAY, AUG. 2 METH: 3:10 a.m., 910 N.W. Kings Blvd. An officer on patrol behind Rice's Pharmacy reportedly located Dalton James Davis-Williamson, 25, no address listed, sleeping. The officer reportedly found a residue testing positive for methamphetamine following a consent search. Williamson was charged with criminal trespass and unlawful possession of methamphetamine and booked into the Benton County Jail. MONDAY, AUG. 1 RECKLESS BURNING: 10:08 p.m., 115 S.W. Second St. An officer responded to the alley for a report of a dumpster fire. The officer later located and arrested Jesse Dale Molarius, 23, no address listed, in connection with the dumpster fire. Molarius was booked into the Benton County Jail and charged with reckless burning, second-degree criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. FRIDAY, JULY 29 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: 4:35 p.m., 1600 block of Southeast Crystal Lake Drive. An officer responded to an apartment for a report of the front door deadbolt being glued. The officer drilled out the deadbolt and inside the vacant apartment found cabinet doors left open, interior doors locked and the knob of a thermostat missing. SO IS THERE GOING TO BE A SECOND DATE?: 1 p.m., 400 block of Northwest Maxine Avenue. A man reported to police that he believed a woman, whom he met online, stole checks from his home while the two were on a date. The man added that he didn't want to pursue charges, but he wanted the incident reported. Expedia.de honors the Eislabor : Bonn ice cream shop named one of worlds top 5 Bonn ice cream shop "EisLabor" is named one of worlds top 5. Foto: Alexandra Molleken Bonn The taste of summer is right here in Bonn. One of the top 5 ice cream shops in the world is just a stones throw. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Where do you find the best ice cream in the world? Travel website Expedia set out to answer that question and came up with a list of the best ice cream cafes worldwide. Under the top 5 - none other than Bonn! The Eislabor (Ice cream laboratory) is doing some big time celebrating today. Last year, in the summer of 2015, the travel forum Tripadvisor named the Eislabor Germanys best ice cream shop. Now the Bonn shop has gone global with even a world ranking. One of the Expedia testers had loads of praise for the ice cream, Here they make magic with milk from organic farmers: From salt-caramel to orange to mint. Or perhaps rather an ice cream praline? Mhmm... The final judgement, This is the taste of summer. Michael Weiss of Eislabor is thrilled about the new achievement and honor, We think its great! And we are delighted that the Eislabor so well represents the culinary scene in Bonn, acting as an ambassador of good taste - even worldwide. Congratulations! 20 Bilder The ice cream shop "EisLabor" in Bonn Whether it be fruity ice cream flavors like apricot, passion fruit, berry sorbets or unusual flavors like avocado and salt-caramel or even classics like chocolate and Amarena - ice cream lovers will all find a personal favorite at the Eislabor. As well, there are fancy ice cream specialties and desserts. Even traditional ice cream varieties have a special flair here: One employee tells of the popular vanilla ice cream - made with the vanilla from an orchid flower rather than the usual bourbon vanilla. This vanilla is much more intense and flowery, explained the longtime sales associate to us last year. Flavors change on a daily basis but chocolate and strawberry lovers dont need to worry: The traditional flavors are always on hand. The selection of ice cream is large and varied. Also on offer is vegan and lactose-free ice cream. A highlight is the apple sorbet, which consists only of apples grown in the region. Its really no wonder that the two shops have earned such widespread popularity. One is located at Maxstrae 16 in the Altstadt and the other is at Friedrich-Breuer-Strae 16/corner of Hermannstrae in Beuel. Ranking ahead of the Eislabor were Gelateria Dondoli in San Gimignano, Italy (1st place), Murphys Ice Cream in Dingle, Ireland (2nd place), Horrays Gelato in Stratford-upon-Avon, U.K. (3rd place) and Capogiro Gelato in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the U.S. (4the place). Traffic delays on the A59, A560 and A565 : Junction Bonn - Poppelsdorf blocked after accident BONN Commuters this morning faced many delays due to accidents on the autobahn. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken A single vehicle was involved in a serious accident this morning at Reuterstrae where it connects to the 565 autobahn. It occurred during morning rush hour at 6:42 a.m., 23 fire and emergency units responded. Police had to close the entrance and exit from Poppelsdorf for several hours. According to the Fire Department, the car drove into a central crash barrier and an oncoming vehicle was damaged by flying debris from that car as it crashed. Four people were riding in the car that crashed and two of them were injured, one of them suffering possible life threatening injuries. They were treated by paramedics on the scene and rushed to the hospital. The other two passengers were supported by emergency personnel on the scene. Motorists also had to deal with congestion on the A59 and A560. Two cars and a truck were involved in an accident between the junction of Sankt Augustin-West and Bonn-Northeast in the direction of Konigswinter. The right lane was blocked and traffic was led past the accident site. Traffic backed up for ten kilometers, meaning an extra travel time of 45 minutes for many. Because workers had to clean-up the accident site on the A59, traffic heading towards Sankt Augustin on the A560 was also delayed. Traffic there was backed up for around 5 kilometers. Article Protecting the worlds oceans an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs. COLUMBUS Local business owners are proposing their own plan for the downtown traffic signals as city officials continue to debate the topic. The Columbus Downtown Business Association sent an email to city council members, staff and Mayor Mike Moser this week outlining a proposal the group says is supported by downtown business owners, residents, employees and customers. The plan, which was emailed a couple of hours before Monday nights city council meeting, calls for traffic signals along 13th Street at 27th, 25th and 23rd avenues and at 14th Street and 25th Avenue to remain in place. These signals, the email states, are needed to protect pedestrians crossing downtown streets and prevent vehicles from speeding through the area. A separate email from representatives of Tooley Drug also supports keeping the 13th Street traffic signals to allow people to safely cross the street and back vehicles out of parking spots. City council members discussed the topic at length during Monday nights meeting, but didnt take any action to alter the course of the ongoing signal evaluation. Although some city officials and residents are clearly unhappy with how the process is proceeding. I think were going down a path thats in conflict with what the wishes of the council are, in my opinion, Moser said during the debate. The mayor, who owns Columbus Music along 13th Street, said city staff should have given input from citizens and council members more consideration before moving forward with the traffic signal evaluation. A study completed last year by Lincoln-based Iteris Inc. showed traffic signals arent warranted at any of the 11 downtown intersections included in the evaluation, and six intersections were identified where the signals could be replaced by stop signs. However, city council members voted 5-3 in April 2015 against a staff recommendation that outlined how to proceed with the evaluation and possible removal of the signals. The process restarted last month with support from the Traffic Control Device Committee, which is comprised entirely of city staff members, and a 90-day evaluation of the signals at three downtown intersections began when the lights were set to flash yellow or red. Councilman Jim Bulkley agreed with Mosers assessment of the process, saying many people are not real excited about the traffic signal plan. Instead of professionally evaluating the intersections, Bulkley suggested using the opinions of business owners, residents and others who are frequently in the downtown area to decide whether the traffic signals are needed. Maybe we dont need a study to tell us that, he said. Maybe we just need to talk to the people that use it all the time. City Administrator Joe Mangiamelli quickly opposed that idea. We cant make these decisions on a popularity contest, he responded. They have to be based on sound practices. Mangiamelli said the evaluation is needed to protect the city against potential liability should a malfunctioning signal cause an accident, or if a decision is made to remove the signals at an intersection. Councilman Prent Roth was more direct with his thoughts on the signal discussion. Lets get them to work or take them out, he said. I dont understand why we cant get them to work. Roths main concern is that the pedestrian crossing signal at 27th Avenue and 13th Street hasnt worked for months because of an electrical short. He said the council is moving in a reasonable and proper direction by evaluating the other traffic signals before deciding whether they should stay or go. Council President Charlie Bahr agreed. Id like to see the process through, he said, adding that its important to consider public input on the topic while also protecting the city against potential liability. After the 90-day evaluation period, which is near the halfway point for signals at 14th Street and 25th Avenue, 13th Street and 27th Avenue and 14th Street and 23rd Avenue, staff members will forward a recommendation to the city council on whether the signals are needed. Permanent changes wont be made without council approval. The signal study was authorized to determine whether the city can save money by removing some of the decades-old equipment and adding stop signs instead of upgrading the devices. Iteris puts the cost of installing a modern signal at $100,000 to $150,000, plus about $3,000 a year to operate the equipment. Removing the signals and adding stop signs at an intersection would cost an estimated $5,000 to $10,000. On Monday, City Engineer Rick Bogus told the council some of the signals are operating on borrowed time. He also wants to have a structural engineer look at the metal signal poles at each of the 11 intersections included in the study to determine whether they need to be replaced. Those poles were put up in the 60s. They might be fine, but they might not, Bogus said. If the plan is approved, some signals could be removed next spring with another three intersections evaluated at that time. PHOTOS: Nigerian Pop Icon, Tuface Idibia Shares New Photos In Milan, Italy bohlah at 3-08-2016 06:41 AM (6 years ago) (m) The music star was seen in and around Milan earlier today, looking like hes in Italy for a business visit. The music star was seen in and around Milan earlier today, looking like hes in Italy for a business visit. He likely flew to Milan straight from South Africa where he had been recording The Voice Nigeria which ended on Sunday. Theres nothing on his social media pages about a show in Europe this week, but theres been cryptic messages on his handles, suggesting hes working on something called Mr Senator. No one knows if its a song, a CSR project or hes actually considering partisan politics. For more scintillating and juicy stories, follow the official Naijapals accounts On Twitter - @Naijapals and Facebook - www.facebook.com/naijapals He likely flew to Milan straight from South Africa where he had been recording The Voice Nigeria which ended on Sunday.Theres nothing on his social media pages about a show in Europe this week, but theres been cryptic messages on his handles, suggesting hes working on something called Mr Senator. No one knows if its a song, a CSR project or hes actually considering partisan politics. Post Reply I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist Posted: at 3-08-2016 06:41 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero bennieben at 3-08-2016 06:44 AM (6 years ago) (m) Highest boss Posted: at 3-08-2016 06:44 AM (6 years ago) | Upcoming Highest boss Reply GermoDon at 3-08-2016 06:57 AM (6 years ago) (m) Oyibo no care.u b Tourist Posted: at 3-08-2016 06:57 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac Oyibo no care.u b Tourist Reply winace at 3-08-2016 07:05 AM (6 years ago) (f) Nice pictures. We know u are not d busybody kind of person snapping pictures every seconds like ur other colleague bit dis sure look nice. Posted: at 3-08-2016 07:05 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero Nice pictures. We know u are not d busybody kind of person snapping pictures every seconds like ur other colleague bit dis sure look nice. Reply EDDYPRINCE at 3-08-2016 07:10 AM (6 years ago) (m) Good one 2baba,, but nor go sleep with one pikin there oh,mk belle nor go show Posted: at 3-08-2016 07:10 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero Good one 2baba,, but nor go sleep with one pikin there oh,mk belle nor go show Reply jossy60 at 3-08-2016 07:14 AM (6 years ago) (m) hmmm... olowori oko annie. ENJOY UR SELF GUY. Posted: at 3-08-2016 07:14 AM (6 years ago) | Upcoming hmmm... olowori oko annie. ENJOY UR SELF GUY. Reply Tos2130 at 3-08-2016 08:53 AM (6 years ago) (f) Quote from: GermoDon on 3-08-2016 06:57 AM Oyibo no care.u b Tourist naija man for u na. Posted: at 3-08-2016 08:53 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac naija man for u na. Reply Tos2130 at 3-08-2016 08:55 AM (6 years ago) (f) Quote from: winace on 3-08-2016 07:05 AM Nice pictures. We know u are not d busybody kind of person snapping pictures every seconds like ur other colleague bit dis sure look nice. na soo nna. Posted: at 3-08-2016 08:55 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac na soo nna. Reply Tos2130 at 3-08-2016 09:01 AM (6 years ago) (f) Quote from: EDDYPRINCE on 3-08-2016 07:10 AM Good one 2baba,, but nor go sleep with one pikin there oh,mk belle nor go show true talk oooooooo Posted: at 3-08-2016 09:01 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac true talk oooooooo Reply Slimchery at 3-08-2016 09:58 AM (6 years ago) (m) My world greatest 2baba, always on point, like say i know were him dey i for go meet am, milano nor far from germany Posted: at 3-08-2016 09:58 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac My world greatest 2baba, always on point, like say i know were him dey i for go meet am, milano nor far from germany Reply ngfineface at 3-08-2016 10:24 AM (6 years ago) (f) I love the fact that he always wears his wedding ring unlike Kaycee. Its shows much respect for his wife. Anyone that want to fool with him is ofcourse welcomed Posted: at 3-08-2016 10:24 AM (6 years ago) | Hero I love the fact that he always wears his wedding ring unlike Kaycee. Its shows much respect for his wife. Anyone that want to fool with him is ofcourse welcomed Reply MumsyTeePeeM at 3-08-2016 10:44 AM (6 years ago) (f) 2baba on point aka *******of many nations Posted: at 3-08-2016 10:44 AM (6 years ago) | Upcoming 2baba on point aka *******of many nations Reply kison at 3-08-2016 10:54 AM (6 years ago) (m) JUST CONTINUE TO BE CAREFULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. Posted: at 3-08-2016 10:54 AM (6 years ago) | Hero JUST CONTINUE TO BE CAREFULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. Reply gogoman at 3-08-2016 11:51 AM (6 years ago) (m) he go soon get pikin there Posted: at 3-08-2016 11:51 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero he go soon get pikin there Reply OLUCHI5 at 3-08-2016 11:59 AM (6 years ago) (m) see everywhere like heaven. Posted: at 3-08-2016 11:59 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac see everywhere like heaven. Reply CHRISETTE at 3-08-2016 12:27 PM (6 years ago) (f) Nice pictures Posted: at 3-08-2016 12:27 PM (6 years ago) | Hero Nice pictures Reply morgan1 at 3-08-2016 01:05 PM (6 years ago) (m) Nice one 2 baba,,, Posted: at 3-08-2016 01:05 PM (6 years ago) | Hero Nice one 2 baba,,, Reply schmit at 3-08-2016 03:15 PM (6 years ago) (f) Abraham Posted: at 3-08-2016 03:15 PM (6 years ago) | Hero Abraham Reply tommy70 at 3-08-2016 06:59 PM (6 years ago) (m) OYA COME MAKE WE GO. Posted: at 3-08-2016 06:59 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac OYA COME MAKE WE GO. Reply Why Google stores your data? You might want to delete the Google history for the privacy reasons, but the purpose of history is to take a glance at what you were browsing, your location, the apps that you use, the device information and many others. Convenience or privacy? Clearing the history might keep you peaceful, but it actually aggravates your online experience. The reason is that Google makes use of all the data to make things more easier and convenient for you. If you delete the Google history and data, even search recommendations might become less accurate. It's up to you to decide if you want to sacrifice on your convenience or privacy. Look at the Google Data Taking a look at what Google actually knows about you is quite simple. You need to go to the history page of Google. If you are signed into the concerned Google account, you can see the details as shown here in the image. It will have sections such as Web & App History Voice & Audio Activity Device Information Location History YouTube Watch History YouTube Search History Disable Google history If you don't want to delete the history permanently, you can stay inactive for a specific duration and reactivate it to enjoy what Google offers you. To disable the history, you need to go to the Google history page from your browser, and click on the section that you want to disable. Go to the menu button at the top right corner and click on Settings. Here, you will find a switch next to "Your searches and browsing activity". You can toggle this option off. Delete Google history If you really want to delete all the data that Google has, you can go to the Google history page from the browser, and go to the specific data section. Over there, choose the menu button and select the Delete options. Here, you can choose from when you want to delete the data. You can delete up to 4 weeks of activity from the Advanced option. You can also choose the option "All time" to leave no traces of your data. Motorola Moto Z Play passes through TENAA: Top 7 Rumored Specs Features oi -Harshita Motorola has not yet made any official announcement around the Motorola Moto Z Play, however rumors have been doing rounds that the phone is under works. Rumors and conjectures have somewhat confirmed that the phone exists and might get launched sooner than later. As far as its specifications are concerned, enough is now known about the device, courtesy leaks and rumored reports. The device was earlier spotted on AnTuTu site, which spilled the beans about its specifications. Moto E3 (2016) with Android 6.0 Marshmallow Announced Officially! Now, the unannounced Moto Z Play is spotted on China's TENAA regulatory agency's certification, which suggests imminent launch of the phone. The phone appears on certification a few days after a set of pictures of the device showed up online, which showed its design and confirmed the presence of audio jack. A recent report also suggested that Motorola is working on offering bigger pixels on the rear camera of its next generation Moto Z and Moto X smartphones. Here we take a look at top 7 rumored specifications of the upcoming Motorola Moto Z Play. 12 Amazing Pokemon Go Tips and Tricks to Catch All of Them HD AMOLED display for immersive visuals: The XT1635-03 or the Moto Z Play, as per the latest spotting, is expected to flaunt a 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED display, packing in 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution. There is no confirmation on whether the device will feature a Corning Gorilla Glass protection or not. Octa-core chipset to take care of performance: The phone is expected to be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 625 chipset with an octa-core CPU, paired with an Adreno 506 GPU for graphics. Honor Note 8 Goes Official with 4GB RAM, USB Type-C Port: All You Need to Know Huge 64GB expandable internal storage: There seems to be enough storage space on the upcoming Moto Z Play smartphone. To team up with the chipset, there will be a 3GB of RAM inside along with 64GB of native storage, expandable using a microSD card. 7 Hidden features of Lenovo Vibe K5 Note Which You Might Not Know 16MP primary camera for photography enthusiasts: In the photography department, the phone will feature a 16MP rear camera with flash, paired with a 5MP front-facing camera to take care of selfies and video chats. The camera will be supported with native editing tools and features. A recent report also suggested that Motorola is working on offering bigger pixels on the rear camera of its next generation Moto Z smartphone, however nothing is confirmed. Xiaomi Redmi Pro Mini specs leaked, to come without dual-camera The return of 3.5mm jack: A recent photo leak showed off the 3.5mm earphone jack on the Moto Z Play. While the other Moto Z models come without the audio jack, it seems like Motorola is bringing the slot back with the upcoming Moto Z Play smartphone. DEBUNKED! 7 Myths Related To Headphones And Earphones That Are Not True Big Battery: To take care of the power supply to the phone, there will be either a 3300mAh or a 3510mAh battery on board. The battery will most likely be supported with quick charge technology for a faster charging of the battery and power saving mode available on the phone. USB Type C and more: The phone will come pretty slim, measuring in at 6.99mm in thickness. The Moto Z Play will be based on the design of its previously launched models, however with slight changes including the presence of an audio jack and more. Like its older siblings, the Moto Z Play will also come with USB Type C connectivity port. The handset will be offered in Black and White colour variants. Best Mobiles in India COLUMBUS An anti-gun protest delayed U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse's arrival to a local town hall meeting by more than an hour Tuesday. By the time the Republican lawmaker showed up at the American Legion, about a quarter of the approximately 100 people in the crowd had already left. Sasse and members of his staff are conducting a series of meetings across the state to listen to constituents and provide help with Social Security, veterans benefits and other federal programs. Though the meetings are meant to focus on government functions, not politics, Sasse did take questions for about 30 minutes from the crowd after saying another constituent services meeting will be held in Columbus within a month. A majority of the questions zeroed in on the upcoming general election. Sasse has been vocal in his opposition to both the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and said he wont be voting for either person. More than one attendee said Trump wasnt their first choice as the Republican nominee, but not supporting him would hand the election to Clinton. They questioned why Sasse has not backed Trump. Sasse said a vast majority of people in the country are opposed to both candidates. He said he doesnt work for the Republican Party, he works for the American people and took an oath when taking office to protect the Constitution. Im not here to persuade you how to vote. And I respect your vote and I dont have any power over it. We are all going to vote in November. The Senate doesnt pick the president. You do, he said. When pressed further by audience members who argued that not voting for Trump is a vote in favor of Clinton, Sasse said that wasnt true. I think when you vote, again I respect those who hold a lesser-than-two-evils view, you are doing more than saying who you want to preside from 2017 to 2021 over the executive branch. Youre also telling your kids what America means and what kind of candidates you want more of in the future, he said. Sasse said Trump and Clinton have both affirmed President Barack Obamas view of unilateralism. I dont trust that either of these two candidates can raise their hand and in good faith say they believe in limited government and theyll exercise executive self-restraint, Sasse said. Another topic brought up at the meeting was the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. When questioned about the state of the agency, Sasse said his office has done a lot of oversight after 24 veterans died while on waiting lists for medical services through the VA system in Phoenix. He also touched on the 40-mile rule for veterans to receive medical care. If the VA cant meet your need within 40 miles, youre supposed to immediately have the option to go to your local hospital, Sasse said. Sasse, a first-term senator, was also asked how many lawmakers are actually present during discussions on the floor. The Congress is so dysfunctional. Five hundred and thirty-five people in the Congress, 435 serve in the House and 100 serve in the Senate. Of the 100 that serve in the Senate, there are two to six people there and 94 people are off trying to raise money. On some level, some are doing their work in the committee process, he said. Sasse said there would be more fruitful discussion if no committees met and nobody was out fundraising during the legislative session. U.S. Strikes Accelerate Gains Against ISIL in Libya By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2016 U.S. precision airstrikes on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targets in Sirte, Libya, that began yesterday at the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord have allowed GNA-affiliated forces to accelerate the fight to expel ISIL from the Libyan city, a Pentagon spokesman said today. Five U.S. precision strikes yesterday took out one of ISIL's T-72 tanks, two military vehicles, an insurgent fighting position, a second T-72 tank and two construction vehicles, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said, adding that so far today, the United States has made two more airstrikes on ISIL targets there, eliminating an ISIL rocket launcher and a heavy-equipment excavator. Strike Removed Menacing Problem Yesterday's airstrike on the first tank in the southwestern Sirte neighborhood of al-Dular removed what was a menacing problem for GNA forces, Davis said. The ISIL tank was hidden in a group of trees and close to buildings where civilians could have been, he noted, "ISIL had used it repeatedly to beat back GNA forces, against civilians," he said, "and it represented a challenge and a problem for [GNA fighters] to be able to get into the city." Since the airstrike that took out the first tank yesterday, GNA forces have moved into the neighborhood in their mission to drive out ISIL fighters, Davis said. Coordinated Strikes The U.S. airstrikes in Sirte are being done "in conjunction and coordination with, and in support of, the GNA," the U.S.-recognized Libyan government, Davis told reporters. "The objective is to help the GNA retake Sirte," he added. "Over the past few months, the [GNA-affiliated forces] have worked to defeat ISIL, and they have been spectacularly successful." The GNA forces collapsed an area of the ISIL stronghold of Sirte where the enemy controlled much of the coastline along the Gulf of Sidra, stretching from near Tripoli up to Benghazi, he said. And ISIL fighters' numbers are shrinking in Sirte, he noted. "We have seen those forces work very effectively to collapse ISIL's control down to a very small area, which really comprises the city center of Sirte," Davis said. "As they've gotten that far, they needed help getting across the finish line. This is a chance for us to help them." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address F/A-18C Crashed, Pilot Ejected Safely Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160802-23 Release Date: 8/2/2016 6:09:00 PM From Naval Air Forces Public Affairs NAVAL AIR STATION FALLON, Nev. (NNS) -- An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Wing Pacific, Detachment Fallon, crashed into an open field near Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, at approximately 10:50 a.m. PDT. The pilot ejected safely from the aircraft, was recovered by emergency response personnel, and has been transported to medical facilities on the air station for evaluation. The F/A-18C Hornet was on temporary assignment to Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Detachment Fallon, from Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 232. Initial reports indicate no structures or personnel on the ground were damaged or injured in the mishap. The cause of the mishap is under investigation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Air Force's F-35A Conducts Successful 'Kill' Test Against Drone Sputnik News 22:42 02.08.2016(updated 02:07 03.08.2016) In the lead up to being declared combat ready, the US Air Force carried out a "kill" test with the fifth-generation fighter against a UAV. After hinting last week that the troubled, $1 trillion fighter jet could soon be deemed combat worthy, developer Lockheed Martin made the official announcement on Tuesday. "With the F-35A, the Air Force now has a fighter combining next-generation radar-evading stealth, supersonic speed, fighter agility and advanced logistical support with the most powerful and comprehensive integrated sensor package of any fighter aircraft in history," the defense giant said in a statement. The jet had to pass a number of tests in the last few days, including one along the California coast involving a drone and an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile. "After launch, the missile successfully acquired the target and followed an intercept flight profile before destroying the drone, achieving the first F-35 Air-to-Air kill or 'Boola Boola,' which is the traditional radio call made when a pilot shoots down a drone," officials said in a press release, according to DoD Buzz. The F-35 taking part in the test was able to track and target the drone with its onboard sensors. The pilot, Maj. Raven LeClair, was able to coordinate the targeting data using the jet's state-of-the-art helmet-mounted display. "It's been said you don't really have a fighter until you can actually hit a target and we crossed that threshold with the first air-to-air weapon delivery of an AIM-9X. This successful test demonstrates the combat capability the F-35 will bring to the US Military and our allies," the pilot said in a statement. "This test represents the culmination of many years of careful planning by combined government and contractor teams. We want to operators will receive the combat capability they need to execute their mission and return home safely we cannot compromise or falter in delivering this capability." While the air-to-air tests appear to have been successful, the Air Force has had trouble with is evasion of surface-to-air missile tests, claiming that the plane's stealth is simply too good. "If they never saw us, they couldn't target us," said. Lt. Col. George Watkins, according to Defense News, explaining that the drills could only be carried out after pilots switched on their transponders. "We basically told them where we were at and said, 'Hey, try to shoot at us.'" The F-35, the most expensive weapons system ever built, has suffered dozens of setbacks throughout its production. In addition to flight performance tests that show the fifth-generation fighter is outperformed by older aircraft, the F-35 has also experienced technical errors that could put the pilot's life at risk, including a faulty ejection seat. With the F-35A approved, the Pentagon is still waiting on the Marine Corps' F-35B variant and the US Navy's F-35C model. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Gives No Details on Bases Used for Libya Strikes Due to Operational Security Sputnik News 20:27 02.08.2016 The United States declines to reveal details on military bases used to conduct US airstrikes against Daesh in Libya due to the operational security, Pentagon spokesperson Michelle Baldanza told Sputnik on Tuesday when asked about the possibility of using military bases in Italy for the recently launched campaign. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Tuesday did not rule out the possibility of providing access to the country's military bases, in particular Naval Air Station Sigonella, to Washington to support the US campaign in Libya. "We have a range of capabilities at various locations in the region that will allow us to carry out these airstrikes," Balzanza said. "Operational security precludes me from providing further details, but I can tell you that the operations were conducted with proper notification and coordination of our partner nations." On Monday, the Department of Defense announced that the US military had conducted airstrikes against Daesh jihadists in Libya at the invitation of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA). "The US military, under US Africa Command, will provide support to GNA-aligned forces, to include key information about the fight in Sirte, and manned and unmanned airstrikes against IS-Libya targets inside Sirte," Baldanza added. Libya has been in a state of civil unrest since May 2014. The United Nations helped to bring about a ceasefire in late 2015, and on March 31, the UN-backed Government of National Accord took office in Tripoli. Daesh, which is outlawed in Russia, the United States and many other countries, gained presence in Libya in the years following the overthrow of leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US May Be Allowed to Use Italy's Military Bases for Anti-Daesh Campaign in Libya Sputnik News 13:52 02.08.2016 Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Tuesday did not rule out the possibility of providing access to the country's military bases to Washington to support the recently launched US campaign against the Daesh terrorist group in Libya. ROME (Sputnik) In particular, Italy is considering Naval Air Station Sigonella as a possible host to US troops. "If there are such requests, we will consider them and, of course, in case we take a decision, we will inform the parliament," Gentiloni said in an interview with the local Uno Mattina radio station. On Monday, the US Department of Defense spokesperson announced that the US military had conducted airstrikes against the Daesh jihadists in Libya at the invitation of the Libyan Government of National Accord. Later that day, Italy's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it positively assessed US airstrikes against IS positions in Libya. Libya has been in a state of civil unrest since May 2014. The United Nations helped to bring about a ceasefire in late 2015. On March 31, the UN-backed Government of National Accord took office in Tripoli. Daesh, which is outlawed in Russia, the United States and many other countries, gained presence in Libya in the years following the overthrow of leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korea Denounces Japan's Revived Claim to Liancourt Rocks Islands Sputnik News 12:09 02.08.2016(updated 14:22 02.08.2016) Seoul condemned Tokyo's renewed claim to Liancourt Rocks islands and warned it would decisively react to its sovereignty violation, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck said Tuesday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, Japan's Defense Ministry published a white paper in which it deemed Liancourt Rocks islands, also known as Takeshima in Japanese and Dokdo or Tokto in Korean, its sovereign territory. "The [Korean] government strongly condemns the Japanese government including its sovereignty claims to Dokdo Islets, which is clearly our own territory by historical, geological and international standards, in the 2016 defense white paper on Aug. 2. Korea's Ministry of National Defense will firmly react against any attempts to infringe upon the sovereignty of the Dokdo Islets, and will seamlessly protect our rights to the Dokdo Islets," the spokesman said, as quoted by The Korean Herald. In February, Japan said it would continue clarifications both domestically and abroad on the disputed islands. In April, South Korean Foreign Ministry urged Tokyo to stop claiming the Liancourt Rocks islands, as Tokyo was preparing to issue a diplomatic white paper laying claims to the disputed islands later that month. The Liancourt Rocks islands have been administered by South Korea since 1954, but Japan disputes Seoul's sovereignty over the territory. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, African Troops Train for Peace by Lameck Masina August 02, 2016 The U.S. Army is training southern African soldiers involved in peacekeeping missions and disaster relief operations. Nearly 200 military personnel from seven countries are taking part in the Southern Accord an annual two-week training that kicked off Tuesday in Malawi's capital, Lilongwe. Brigadier General Jon Jensen, deputy commanding officer for U.S. Army Africa, told reporters in Lilongwe that for the first time, this year's training includes how to effectively respond to natural disasters. "We have brought some U.S. military personnel that have extensive experience in disaster response, [situations such as] hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding to help look at all contingencies and possibilities of response here in Malawi," he said. Malawi has for the past two years experienced severe flooding. Last year, nearly 200 people were killed, and thousands of hectares of crops were washed away. The United States has gradually increased military training and assistance for African governments as part of efforts to keep the continent stable. The Southern Accord training typically focuses on peacekeeping and relief operations. Malawi currently has about 850 troops deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission there. The U.N. troops are sometimes called upon to battle militias or rebel groups in Congo's eastern provinces. "We are not doing just traditional peacekeeping, we are actually doing the fighting," said Lieutenant General Griffin Supuni, chief of Malawi's army. "And to fight in terrain like the DRC, to effectively operate in the DRC, you don't just wake up one day, take your uniform and rifle and you march in the jungles of DRC. You have to train." This year's field training will include shooting exercises and parachuting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN's Ban Stresses Need to Protect Yemeni Children From Saudi Airstrikes by Margaret Besheer August 02, 2016 The U.N. secretary-general said Tuesday that he still had "very strong concerns" about protecting Yemen's children from airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition fighting there. Ban Ki-moon made the remark during a briefing to the U.N. Security Council on his annual report about children in armed conflict. The report, which includes a blacklist of entities that harm children in war, this year listed the Saudi Arabian-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen as one of the parties that kills and maims children and engages in attacks on schools and hospitals. The Saudis protested their inclusion on the list. Ban, bending to what he said was "undue pressure" and threats of losing funding for lifesaving U.N. programs, agreed to take the coalition off the blacklist until a review could be completed. "I have since received information on measures taken by the coalition to prevent and end grave violations against children," Ban told the council. "I still have very strong concerns about the protection of Yemeni children. They must always come first." He said U.N. officials would continue to engage with Saudi officials about their concerns, but that "the content of the report stands." Ban told member states, "If you want to protect your image, protect children." His special representative on children and armed conflict, Leila Zerrougui, said the goal of the report "is not to cause discomfort, but rather to bring about change for boys and girls confronted by violations the international community considers abhorrent." Saudis point fingers Saudi Arabia's U.N. ambassador, Abdallah al-Mouallimi, condemned the governments of Israel and Syria for their exploitation of children, including the Syrian regime's targeting of schools and hospitals one of the same charges alleged against Saudi coalition forces in Yemen. Al-Mouallimi said his government makes children a priority and has set up a group to investigate the allegations. "We will submit the findings to the U.N. as soon as possible," he said. He again dismissed accusations that the Saudis had pressured Ban to remove them from the blacklist, saying, "We never applied any such pressure on the secretary-general." Human rights groups called again Tuesday for the coalition to be returned to the blacklist. "Unlawful airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition have killed and maimed hundreds of children in Yemen and damaged dozens of schools, but the coalition strong-armed the secretary-general in an attempt to escape scrutiny," said Jo Becker of Human Rights Watch. "The coalition should be returned to the secretary-general's list of shame until it stops its indiscriminate bombardment of Yemen's civilians." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Sudan Facing Huge Humanitarian Crisis, UN Says by Lisa Schlein August 02, 2016 South Sudan is facing a massive humanitarian and displacement crisis, with thousands of refugees fleeing to neighboring countries and many more becoming internally displaced. The U.N. refugee agency said Tuesday that the number of South Sudanese refugees fleeing to Uganda over the past 10 days had doubled, to more than 52,000, since fighting between government and rebel forces erupted three weeks ago in Juba, the capital. Another 1,000 have fled to Kenya, and 7,000 have gone to Sudan, the agency said. The escalating violence has put the fragile cease-fire agreement hatched last August between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar on life support, along with the recently formed unity government. The latest surge of 60,000 refugees pushed the overall number of South Sudanese refugees to nearly 900,000 since civil war broke out in December 2013. Those arriving in Uganda have reported that a variety of armed groups some allied with the government, others with rebel forces and still others seeking to profit from the chaotic situation have been preventing people from leaving South Sudan. Melissa Fleming, the UNHCR spokeswoman, said, "Some people are finding that they cannot leave because they do not have the money to pay people off. But definitely it is very difficult to leave without some cash in order to pay whoever is asking for it at the checkpoint. "Refugees have also reported that armed groups operating across different parts of South Sudan are looting villages, murdering civilians and forcibly recruiting young men and boys into their ranks." Fleming noted that more than 85 percent of the refugees arriving in Uganda are women and children under 18. She told VOA that many refugee children are suffering from severe malnutrition in both Uganda and Kenya. "We are very concerned about quickly having the capacity to treat the increasing numbers of malnourished children who are coming across, and some severely malnourished who need immediate nutritional assistance," Fleming said. 4.8 million hungry The displacement and health situation inside South Sudan is even worse. The United Nations reports more than 1.6 million people are internally displaced and an estimated 4.8 million people are short of food. According to the World Health Organization, severe food shortages have created a nutritional crisis. "We estimate that some 600,000 children in South Sudan under 5 are acutely malnourished," said spokeswoman Fadela Chaib. "WHO has sent a newly designed kit containing supplies for the medical management of severe acute malnutrition in children, and further supplies are on their way," Chaib said. "This kit is really designed to provide help to malnourished children. It has appropriate food, but also medicines and equipment to take care of children who are suffering precisely from malnutrition." At the end of June, South Sudan declared an outbreak of cholera in Juba county. This fast-moving disease, which also has been reported in camps for internally displaced people, already has killed 21 people among the 586 cases detected. Chaib told VOA the high fatality rate was "probably a result of lack of access to health care." "Currently, only Juba teaching hospital has been designated as a cholera treatment center," the WHO official said. "At least 100 additional beds are needed." Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by contaminated food or water. It can kill within hours if not promptly treated. To combat the outbreak, WHO, the South Sudanese Ministry of Health and its partners are conducting an oral cholera vaccination campaign, targeting more than 14,000 people in its initial phase. But given the conflict and the limited access to health care, safe water and sanitation, the World Health Organization has warned that the risk of the further spread of cholera and other diseases remains a major concern. With the coming rains, WHO expects an increase in malaria and water-borne diseases. The U.N. health agency is particularly concerned about malaria, which is the No. 1 morbidity factor in the country. Since June, South Sudan has reported 3,316 cases of malaria in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal state. An explosion of measles, a major killer of young children, has infected 1,564 children as of mid-July, including at least 17 who have died. WHO's Chaib said "most of the measles cases have been reported in camps for internally displaced people, where families live in overcrowded conditions and many children are malnourished." With support from UNICEF and other partners, WHO has vaccinated more than 13,000 children, and plans a countrywide follow-up measles campaign for November. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Carolina ANG support PACOM theater security package By Senior Airman Dillian Bamman, 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published August 03, 2016 OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) -- Osan Air Base welcomed the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing during their deployment as the 157th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in support of a U.S. Pacific Command theater security package. TSPs on the Korean Peninsula have been vital to the Pacific Air Forces force posture since March 2004, and the deployment of the 157th EFS is no exception. They arrived with over 300 Airmen and 12 F-16 Fighting Falcons, prepared to demonstrate the commitment to always be ready to "fight tonight." "The deployment of the 157th EFS provides unique opportunities to integrate various forces into joint, coalition and bilateral training across diverse environments," said Lt. Col. Nicholas Johnson, the PACAF command operations, plans and requirements chief of fighter operations. "Enhancing U.S. and Korean interoperability assures shared international responsibilities to provide assistance during regional crises and allows us to build cooperation and bolster regional security interests and goals," Johnson said. "The 157th EFS demonstrates the U.S. military's contribution to the Indo-Asia-Pacific rebalance by maintaining training and operational readiness." In order to keep their F-16s flying, maintainers continually repair, inspect and improve their aircraft in their deployed environment. "We're providing fully combat-capable F-16s to the fight every day, and we're prepared to 'fight tonight' if needed," said Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Shelley, the 157th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit superintendent. Even though the 157th EFS has continually been proactive in their readiness response, they still have work to be done during the next several weeks. "This deployment underscores U.S. commitment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific rebalance in an unpredictable and uncertain region and sends a clear message to the international community that the U.S. is serious about security and stability in the region," Johnson said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIL in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 3, 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 Fighter aircraft conducted five strikes in Syria: -- Near Raqqah, a strike struck an ISIL headquarters. -- Near Manbij, four strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions. Strikes in Iraq Fighter, remotely piloted aircraft and rocket artillery conducted seven strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Kisik, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position. -- Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and suppressed an ISIL mortar position. -- Near Qayyarah, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL mortar system, two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL assembly area. -- Near Ramadi, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device, five ISIL vehicles and four ISIL tactical vehicles. -- Near Rawah, a strike destroyed an ISIL fuel tanker. -- Near Tal Afar, a strike struck an ISIL headquarters. Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Globalization and U.S. Africa Command: Understanding the New World By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Aug. 3, 2016 Globalization is a process as old as humanity itself. It goes in fits and starts and probably began when one tribe of homo sapiens explored new territory and found another set of homo sapiens already living there. That exchange of commerce, culture, ideas and views was the beginning of the globalization process. Globalization affects everything and it is inherently neither good nor bad -- it just is. The difference today, as opposed to the days of sail or steam, is the speed of globalization. Ideas, capital and culture move at Internet speeds today. The tyranny of distance has evaporated and more than 3 billion people on the globe have access to the information and opportunities of the Web. New-Era Threats It is no surprise that globalization also affects threats -- requiring new looks, new strategies and new tactics. Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has repeatedly spoken about "transnational and transregional threats." He says threats that once could be isolated to a specific country have now routinely spread across the national and regional boundaries. Dunford cites North Korea as an example, saying that once a conflict on the Korean Peninsula could be isolated to that area. Today, that is no longer the case, and if North Korea initiated conflict, it would quickly spread to include the capabilities of U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Cyber Command. The continent of Africa puts substance to this. Africa is a huge, diverse continent with some long-established nations but with most still in the process of forming, Amanda J. Dory, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs, said in a recent interview. Developing Transregional Strategies The newest combatant command -- U.S. Africa Command that stood up in 2007 -- finds itself at the forefront of this effort to develop transregional strategies. "The ingredient for success in dealing with transnational, transregional threats is all about the network of partners you build to deal with them," Dory said. Africom works with the nations of the continent individually and encourages the nations to act together, she said. "There's nothing that stays in the boundary of a country anymore," said former U.S. Africa Command commander Army Gen. David Rodriguez in an interview earlier this year. "All of the threats end up being regional and transregional in nature ." He added, "In addition to 'regionalizing' [the effort] on the African continent, we 'internationalize' it with the other partners -- the European Union, France, the U.K., the Italians." The command coordinates the efforts as much as it can, "and we look at the gaps and see where we can fill them in," Rodriguez said. The current commander sees things much the same way. "Ethnic strife, poverty, mass atrocities and illicit trafficking threaten stability and economic growth, particularly in nations with weak governments," said Marine Corps Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month. "Consequently, Africom must continue to work with national and international partners to disrupt these transnational threats and prevent the export of terror on the continent, in the region and ultimately to our homeland." "If you parse the idea of transregional threats, what we are seeing are the attacks that are happening on state sovereignty coming from a variety of different directions," Dory said. More Challenges Technical advances shared via globalization means sovereign states have more challenges to deal with than they did in the past either in economic competition or in security. "In Africa the challenge you have is with sovereign states whose sovereignty came so recently," Dory said. "They have the huge challenge of creating effective governance structures in the globalized context." The threats are constantly shifting and the ability of individuals and small organizations to penetrate borders easily is problematic and will be for decades to come, Dory said. Therefore, "the security piece has to progress in tandem with governance development," she said. States where security is overemphasized tend to smother public participation and democratic process, Dory said. Partnerships This is the question, she said, that the U.S. government asks partners in Africa. "What is it we can do as external partners to keep both of those moving in parallel?" Dory said. This must start with the political will of individual countries, she said, but the Department of Defense including U.S. Africa Command can do a lot to help the process along. The effort is paying off, Dory said. In September last year, Burkino Faso faced a military coup. It failed. The coup failed, she said, because the Burkinabe people didn't accept it, and second, because the regional countries and organizations such as ECOWAS and the African Union brought pressure on the coup leaders. Banding together to say the coup was unacceptable helped turn the tide, Dory said. "The [AU] organization is essentially saying, in regards to coups, we believe in the voice of the people and this is not acceptable in our membership," Dory said. "The AU amplifies international laws and norms and that has a huge impact." Another example was the presidential election in Nigeria. "Predictions were that it would go poorly, that it would be hijacked, there would be tremendous amounts of violence," Dory said. "None of that came to pass and you had a peaceful transfer of power from one party to a different one for the first time. Nigerians breathed a sigh of relief. So did the region. It was an example of transfer of power to an opposition party not seen often." The real need in Africa is the need for strategic patience, whether it's the need for security engagements or economic and governance cooperation, Dory said. "[In the U.S.] We measure things in four-year timescales because that's relevant to our democratic process," she said. "That doesn't work well with the support we are providing in Africa and many other areas of the world. Decades would be a better timescale." Multinational Joint Task Force Africom has worked diligently with the African Union, and that, too, is paying off, Dory said. "Organizations like the African Union have really come into their own," she said. The AU is working with many African nations to identify problems and build security capabilities. The AU is also working closely with sub-regional groupings. The most recent success is with respect to combating Boko Haram by establishing a Multinational Joint Task Force in N'Djamena, Chad, Dory said. The nations involved are Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Benin and Niger. The impetus, she said, was the rise of the deadly terrorist group in Nigeria and its spillover into neighboring countries. "The region, when faced with the threat of Boko Haram began the diplomatic process to repair some badly damaged relations," Dory said. "It is no secret that Nigeria and Cameroon in particular had long-standing grievances and territorial disputes, but both realized that the current threat environment required them to work together." A Nigerian commander currently leads the organization and the headquarters creates a location where the international community can plug in to provide support, Dory said. Along with the AU, the United Kingdom, France and the United States work with the task force to provide practical support -- advice, information, intelligence and some equipment. "You have a transnational community coming together to deal with a transnational threat -- a network to deal with a network," Dory said. Success breeds success, and Dory said she'd like to see more of this type of cooperation on the continent. It will be needed to oppose not only Boko Haram, she said, but also the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya. It will also help nations establish control over ungoverned or weakly governed areas on the continent, she said, and it will also help nations benefit from the accelerated pace of globalization. The benefits of globalization far outweigh the debits, said Dory, noting that's true in the United States and it is also true in Africa. But its pace and complexity require the development of adaptive strategies and consistent implementation by the U.S. and African partners alike, she said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-289-16 August 03, 2016 Statement by Secretary Carter on Air Force F-35A Achieving IOC I want to congratulate the U.S. Air Force on today's announcement that the F-35A has achieved initial operational capability. This is a significant milestone for an aircraft that will allow the U.S. to maintain the advantage of air superiority for years to come. I know that even after being declared combat ready, there is more work to do with this critical program, but the Air Force, Air Combat Command and the men and women of Hill Air Force Base should be proud of this major step forward for the F-35A. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases /News-Release-View/Article/900754/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Terrorism, Economic Growth Top Agenda At Washington Summit With Central Asian States August 03, 2016 by Mike Eckel WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for more cooperation in fighting terrorism and spurring economic growth as he met on August 3 with foreign ministers from the five Central Asian states. The key meeting in Washington, the second such gathering, comes as the United States tries to re-engage in a region that is dominated by Russia and China, and is facing increasing danger from political instability and Islamic terrorism. The five ex-Soviet countries -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan -- all have historical ties with Moscow. All have also watched nervously as Russia moved in 2014 to seize Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and stoke conflict in eastern Ukraine. In his opening remarks, Kerry said the talks would focus not only on violent extremism and economic growth, but also environmental degradation. "Today we hope to make further progress, through a new regional approach, built around initiatives on counterterrorism, trade and investment, economic development, and clean energy," he said. In a nod to the jitters felt over Russia's policies in Ukraine, Kerry said the United States supports "without hesitation, the sovereignty, the territorial integrity, and the independence of each Central Asian state." U.S. diplomats also made reference to longstanding human rights concerns that have troubled U.S. relations with most, if not, all the five countries. Uzbekistan is notorious for using torture against inmates, and jailing rights activists on trumped up criminal charges. Kyrgyzstan's jailing of an ethnic Uzbek rights activist and journalist prompted criticism from the U.S. State Department and soured ties between the two countries. "Make no mistake, our work together is not going to prevent us from continuing the dialogue that we've already engaged in on other areas of concern," he said, "including the need for transparency and accountability in governance, and the importance of such basic human rights as freedom of religion, speech, and association." Homegrown Terrorism In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, Washington moved to deepen ties with many of the Central Asian states, utilizing bases in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to ferry troops and materiel to the war it was leading in Afghanistan. But Moscow grew wary of the U.S. military presence in what it viewed as its backyard, and leaned on Central Asian states to stop aiding the American-led war effort. U.S. companies have long sought greater access to the region's bounty of natural resources. Kazakhstan is home to major uranium deposits, for example, and some of the world's largest oil and gas reserves. The region has faced threats from homegrown Islamic terrorism for years; recently, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan have all seen their nationals travel to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State extremist group. Concern has also grown in recent years about potential political instability stemming from the age of the leaders of the region's two largest countries, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Both Nursultan Nazarbaev and his Uzbek counterpart, Islam Karimov, are in their late 70s and both have been in power since the Soviet collapse, building governments that heavily focused on their leadership and style. Experts have warned that the death of either could result in major jockeying for power among the elites and competing clans within the two countries. Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/kerry-central-asia- foreign-ministers-meeting/27897292.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 Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan Said To Be Hacking, Spying On Dissidents August 03, 2016 by RFE/RL Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and other authoritarian governments have reportedly acquired cybertools used by Western law enforcement and have been using them to hack and harass dissidents. Researchers have found that since the early 2000s, companies like Verint and Nice Systems have sold mass surveillance products to the secret police in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the Associated Press reported. Israeli technicians from both companies have rotated in and out of Tashkent, the Uzbek capital, for tech support and maintenance. That equipment has allowed Uzbek secret police to quickly locate and arrest people who discuss sensitive information on the phone or via e-mail, including a dissident Uzbek blogger, the dissidents say. "The authorities' main weapon is people's fear," Tulkin Karayev, an Uzbek exile in Sweden, told AP. "Freedom of speech, freedom of expression -- all this is banned." Over the past two decades, Uzbekistan has "imprisoned thousands to enforce repressive rule," Human Rights Watch reported last year. The price of dissent is arbitrary detention, forced labor, and torture, the group said. But there is little to stop governments that routinely violate basic rights from obtaining the same so-called "lawful intercept" tools that have been sold to Western police and spy agencies, AP said. People tracked by the technology have been beaten, jailed, and tortured, according to human rights groups. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that hackers believed to be working on behalf of the Kazakhstan government tried to infect the computers of lawyers and other associates of exiled dissidents with spyware. The hacking campaign involved physical surveillance and threats of violence, in a rare instance of cyberattacks coming alongside real-world crimes, Reuters said. A research team examined e-mails sent to a group that included New York human rights lawyer Peter Sahlas; Italian attorney Astolfo Di Amato, who is involved in a legal dispute with Kazakhstan; and exiled Kazakhstan publishers Irina Petrushova and Alexander Petrushov, both of whom fled Kazakhstan years ago. The e-mails tried to trick recipients into installing one of two types of commercially available spy software and were likely sent by an Indian company hired for the job. The pair of exiled Kazakh publishers produce the online newspaper Respublika, which has printed leaked or hacked e-mails from the government. "We suspect that the use of malware by governments to spy on political dissidents, especially exiles who live outside of their government's direct sphere of influence, is increasingly common," the research team concluded. With reporting by AP and Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/uzbekistan-kazakhstan- said-hacking-spying-dissidents/27897226.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 Update: air strikes against Daesh 3 August 2016 British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh Latest update - Tuesday 26 July Typhoons bombed a terrorist mortar position in northern Iraq. - Wednesday 27 July Typhoons destroyed Daesh strongpoints on the Mar'a Line in Syria, whilst Tornados attacked a safe house for foreign fighters in northern Iraq. - Thursday 28 July a Reaper provided close air support to Syrian democratic forces fighting near Manbij, Tornados destroyed a mortar in northern Iraq, and Typhoons bombed a bunker in western Iraq. - Saturday 30 July a Reaper provided further close air support near Manbij in Syria. - Sunday 31 July Tornados attacked a group of Daesh terrorists in northern Iraq. - Monday 1 August Tornados participated in a major coalition air strike on Saddam's former palace in Mosul, used by Daesh as a headquarters and training establishment for foreign terrorists, while Typhoons destroyed a network of fortified positions on the outskirts of Manbij. Detail Following their recent victory at Qayyarah West airfield, Iraqi ground forces continued offensive operations against Daesh around Qayyarah and Sharqat, supported by coalition aircraft. On Tuesday 26 July, Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s provided overwatch, and conducted a successful attack with a Paveway IV guided bomb against a terrorist mortar position. Tornado GR4s were also active in the same area the following day, when they used a pair of Paveway IVs to demolish a building which had been identified as a safe house used by Daesh foreign fighters near Sharqat. Meanwhile, Typhoons conducted a successful Paveway attack on two terrorist strongpoints, close to Syria's border with Turkey, at the northern end of the so-called Mar'a Line. RAF aircraft continued to provide close air support to the Syrian democratic forces on Thursday 28 July, when a Reaper patrolled the Manbij area. The Reaper's crew conducted four attacks with Hellfire missiles against several groups of Daesh fighters, and assisted in four further attacks by coalition fast jets. In Iraq, Brimstone-armed Tornados destroyed a mortar near Qayyarah, while a pair of Typhoons used a Paveway IV to strike a Daesh bunker on the shores of Lake Qadisiyah. A Reaper was again in action over Manbij on Saturday 30 July, when it conducted two attacks with Hellfire missiles on Daesh fighters and also provided targeting assistance to a coalition air strike. Sunday 31 July saw Tornados patrolling near Qayyarah, where they used a Paveway IV to bomb a group of terrorists spotted in the open. In Mosul, extensive surveillance had established that Daesh were using a palace, built by the former dictator Saddam Hussein, as a major headquarters and training centre for foreign terrorist recruits. The complex, sat in a large secure compound next to the Tigris, included not just the main palace building, used as an accommodation and meeting venue by the terrorists, but also a number of more discreet outbuildings used for command and control, training, internal security and repression. A large coalition air package drawn from several nations conducted a carefully coordinated attack on the complex on the afternoon of Monday 1 August. The British contribution was a pair of Tornados, armed with the largest guided bombs in the RAF's inventory, the 2000lb Enhanced Paveway III, which were used to target first the headquarters buildings, then a security centre. Initial analysis indicates that the coalition mission was successful. Over Syria, Typhoons again flew close air support missions for the Syrian democratic forces on 1 August as they advanced into Manbij. A network of fortified positions on the south-western edge of the town, held by a large number of Daesh extremists, was destroyed by a salvo of eight Paveway IVs. Previous air strikes 1 June: Reapers were in action again, one patrolled the skies above Qayyarah, where a camouflaged set of loaded rocket launch rails were spotted and destroyed with a Hellfire missile. A second Reaper patrolled over eastern Syria and western Iraq, and located a terrorist check-point on the Iraqi side of the border, west of Al Qa'im, which was stopping the free movement of traffic. Again, a Hellfire missile was employed and the check-point successfully attacked. Two Tornado missions provided reconnaissance and close air support to Iraqi forces around Fallujah. One pair of Tornados used Paveway IVs to conduct simultaneous attacks on two Daesh-held buildings close to a canal to the south of the city; one building housed a terrorist sniper team, the other a recoilless anti-tank artillery piece. Both targets were destroyed by direct hits. The second Tornado flight successfully silenced a heavy-machine-gun positioned in a third Daesh strongpoint after it opened fire on the advancing Iraqi troops. 2 June: Three successive flights of Tornado GR4s and Typhoon FGR4s provided close air support to Iraqi units on the southern outskirts of the city. One Tornado flight conducted four attacks with Paveway IV guided bombs, striking a bunker and three teams of terrorists armed with an anti-tank gun, rocket-propelled grenades and a heavy machine-gun. A second Tornado mission delivered simultaneous attacks on two Daesh-held buildings, then a third bombing attack on a heavy machine-gun position that had opened fire on Iraqi troops. The Typhoon flight dealt with a further artillery piece, using a Paveway IV. In northern Iraq, another pair of Typhoons struck a group of terrorists spotted advancing towards peshmerga positions near Kisik, then headed to an area south-east of Mosul where they used three Paveways to attack more extremists mustering in and around a large warehouse. 3 June: Operations over southern Fallujah continued when a pair of Typhoons conducted Paveway attacks on two Daesh strongpoints which had opened fire on Iraqi forces with machine-guns and other weapons. Two Reaper remotely piloted aircraft patrolled over the city the following day, exploiting their long endurance and excellent surveillance capabilities to provide persistent overwatch for the Iraqi troops on the ground. During the course of Saturday, the Reapers delivered five attacks, using two GBU-12 guided bombs and three Hellfire missiles, against two machine-gun teams, two Daesh firing positions and a tunnel network. They also provided assistance to five other air strikes conducted by coalition fast jets on terrorist positions. 5 June: Tornados were again in action over southern Fallujah. A factory producing improvised truck-bombs was struck with a pair of Paveway IVs, destroying two vehicles that were being prepared for use, and two further attacks with Paveways accounted for two anti-tank weapons. 6 June: Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s continued to provide close air support to the Iraqi operation to liberate Fallujah. A coalition surveillance aircraft spotted a group of Daesh terrorists taking up position in a building to the west of the city, allowing them to be quickly targeted by the Typhoons using a Paveway IV guided bomb. In northern Iraq, intelligence had located a large truck-bomb factory near Mosul and two RAF Tornado GR4s armed with 1000lb Enhanced Paveway II guided bombs were tasked with its destruction. A single EPW II destroyed the factory. 7 June: Operations around Fallujah continued when Tornados successfully attacked a weapons and ammunition stockpile hidden to the south-east of the city. 8 June: Tornados conducted three attacks to support Iraqi ground forces engaged in firefights with terrorists inside Fallujah. Despite the close proximity of the Iraqi forces, the GR4s were able to deliver simultaneous attacks with Paveway IVs against two strongpoints housing Daesh machine-gun and artillery teams. They then struck a further machine-gun position when it also opened fire on the Iraqis. Typhoons also contributed to the Fallujah operations, using Paveway IVs against two groups of Daesh extremists armed with a light machine-gun and rocket-propelled grenades. In northern Iraq, another Typhoon mission successfully attacked a Daesh-held building east of Mosul, whilst a Reaper used a GBU-12 bomb to demolish a building where another coalition surveillance aircraft had observed terrorists unloading supplies. A second Reaper patrolled over Syria and employed a Hellfire missile to destroy a Daesh truck travelling at speed on the open road south of Raqqa. 9 June: Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s continued to provide close air support to Iraqi ground forces fighting to liberate Fallujah. One Tornado flight conducted successful attacks using Paveway IV guided bombs against four Daesh-held buildings from which terrorists were directing machine-gun fire at the Iraqi forces. A second Tornado mission used a Paveway IV to destroy a building west of the city, within which a terrorist armed vehicle was reported by nearby Iraqi troops to be concealed. 10 June: A Reaper worked in close conjunction with other coalition aircraft to engage Daesh rocket and mortar teams operating near Qayyarah. The Reaper provided support to two coalition strikes on rocket positions, then used its own Hellfire missiles and a GBU-12 guided bomb against a further set of rocket launchers and a mortar. A Typhoon FGR4 flight was also operating near Qayyarah, and they conducted attacks against five targets: three buildings where Daesh extremists had been spotted gathering and two more rocket launcher positions. North-east of Mosul, another pair of Typhoons destroyed a heavy machine-gun team with a Paveway IV. To the south, Tornados again provided close air support over Fallujah, using their Paveways against three strongpoints which housed two machine-gun teams and a group of terrorists armed with rocket-propelled grenades. 11 June: An RAF Reaper continued to hunt terrorist rocket and mortar teams around Qayyarah, conducting three attacks with Hellfire missiles. 12 June: Another Reaper patrolled over Qayyarah, and also fired three Hellfires, its targets were two terrorist vehicles and a group of Daesh fighters. Typhoons were also active nearby, and used Paveway IVs to attack two groups of terrorists caught in the open and two Daesh-held buildings. A Typhoon mission also joined Tornados operating over Fallujah; the Typhoons used one Paveway IV against a machine-gun position, whilst the Tornados delivered five very precise attacks in very demanding circumstances, with Iraqi troops extremely close to the terrorist targets. Paveway IVs were used to destroy a rocket team, an anti-tank gun, a heavily armed pick-up truck and a heavy machine-gun team, whilst a Brimstone missile silenced a light machine-gun. During Sunday night, a pair of Tornados armed with 1000lb Enhanced Paveway II guided bombs conducted a carefully planned strike on a factory to the south-west of Qayyarah where truck-bombs were being built by Daesh. Four EPW IIs hit their targets accurately and initial reports suggest the mission was a success. 13 June: A pair of Typhoons assisted Iraqi troops as they engaged in very close combat inside Fallujah. Our aircraft delivered four precision attacks, all with Paveway IV guided bombs, that destroyed five strongpoints defended by Daesh terrorists armed with machine-guns, rocket-propelled grenades and an anti-tank gun. 14 June: The Typhoons continued operations over Fallujah, and again worked very closely with the Iraqi units hitting five terrorist positions including sniper and machine-gun teams. In northern Iraq, around Qayyarah, a second Typhoon flight and a Reaper supported Iraqi and Kurdish units. The Typhoons attacked a Daesh-held building with a Paveway IV, while the Reaper conducted four attacks: a GBU-12 guided bomb was used against a group of terrorists gathered at a weapons stockpile, and three mortars were attacked in turn with Hellfire missiles. The Reaper also tracked the arrival of a truck-bomb and observed it being concealed inside a garage this surveillance enabled a successful attack to then be delivered by a coalition aircraft which destroyed the vehicle. 15 June: Two Typhoon flights saw action over Fallujah on Wednesday, and between them they conducted seven successful attacks with Paveway IVs. Again all were in very close support of Iraqi ground forces, accounting for terrorist teams armed with heavy weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, and a 23mm anti-aircraft gun. 16 June: With Iraqi forces making steady progress pushing into Fallujah, two flights of Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s contributed to the coalition's air support. Our aircraft successfully attacked four Daesh machine-gun positions that were identified by the Iraqi ground forces, using Paveway IV guided bombs. 17 June: An RAF Reaper patrolling over northern Iraq, north of Bayji. The Reaper's crew identified a large mortar and a Daesh truck, both were destroyed by Hellfire missiles. 18 June: A second Reaper operated in the same area, supporting an offensive by Iraqi forces. It used four Hellfires and a GBU-12 guided bomb to successfully engage three armed pick-up trucks which were firing at the Iraqi troops, a fourth vehicle and a trench position. In north-west Iraq, in Harunah, two pairs of Tornado GR4s, armed with eight 1000lb Enhanced Paveway IIs conducted a pre-planned strike on a complex of buildings which had been identified by intelligence as a headquarters, accommodation and weapons facility for Daesh foreign fighters. All four target buildings were destroyed. Another Reaper patrolled over Syria and attacked a Daesh vehicle south-west of Manbij, destroying it with a Hellfire missile. 19 June: Typhoons were in action over Fallujah, providing close air support to Iraqi troops who had penetrated to the city centre. Six terrorist strongpoints housing machine-gun, artillery and rocket-propelled grenade teams were struck in a series of precision Paveway attacks. In northern Iraq, a Reaper used a pair of Hellfires to engage two groups of Daesh extremists north of Bayji, while Tornados used a Brimstone missile against a third group in the same area, and a Paveway IV against a rocket-launcher north of Mosul. 20 June: An armed reconnaissance patrol by Tornados over eastern Syria used a Brimstone missile to attack a truck-bomb hidden under a tarpaulin between two ruined buildings north of Dayr az Zawr. The Brimstone scored a direct hit; a massive explosion followed, which confirmed how heavily the vehicle had been laden with explosives. Further west, near Raqqah, a Reaper conducted three attacks with Hellfire missiles against a Daesh vehicle and extremists on foot. Typhoons and Tornados were again active over Fallujah, and used Paveway IV bombs to destroy four Daesh machine-gun posts engaged in very close combat with the Iraqi security forces. Since the start of the operation to liberate Fallujah, RAF aircraft have prosecuted some 96 targets in and around the city and neighbouring areas in the Euphrates valley. 21 June: Reaper patrols north of Bayji continued, and five attacks were conducted in support of Iraqi offensive operations. Hellfires accounted for two supply vehicles and a truck armed with an anti-aircraft gun, as well as an observation post dug-in on a ridgeline. A GBU-12 guided bomb destroyed a Daesh mortar team, spotted as they fired at an Iraqi position. A Typhoon flight operated further north, north-west of Mosul, where they used a Paveway IV to hit a rocket-launcher site. 22 June: Typhoon FGR4s, based at RAF Akrotiri and supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, flew close air support missions over Fallujah. They successfully attacked three Daesh strongpoints with Paveway IV guided bombs, the targets had been identified by Iraqi ground forces as being manned by machine-gun and rocket-propelled grenade teams. North of Bayji, Tornado GR4s and a Reaper supported an Iraqi offensive operation. The Tornados employed one Paveway IV and three Brimstone missiles to destroy four Daesh fighting positions along a defensive embankment, whilst the Reaper used a single GBU-12 guided bomb to destroy two more positions. 23 June: A second Reaper continued support in the area into Thursday and used a Hellfire missile to eliminate a terrorist spotted with a man portable surface-to-air missile. Typhoons continued their support over Fallujah as well, conducting a Paveway IV attack on a machine-gun team. Another Typhoon flight operated over northern Syria, close to the Turkish border and destroyed two Daesh-held buildings several miles east of Azaz. 24 June: A Reaper supported an Iraqi offensive near Sharqat, west of Kirkuk. Its crew used a Hellfire missile to destroy an engineering vehicle which was being used to create defences ahead of the Iraqi advance. Tornados patrolled further north and employed a Paveway IV against a mortar position north-west of Mosul. Typhoons conducted further operations over Fallujah and were called in by the Iraqi army to destroy two machine-gun positions on the northern outskirts of the city. A total of 101 targets have been successfully prosecuted by the RAF in Fallujah and neighbouring areas since the start of the Iraqi operation to liberate the city. 25 June: A Reaper again on patrol near Sharqat, and this aircraft delivered three successful attacks with Hellfire missiles against a truck, a group of terrorists, and a van which Daesh had been seen loading with weapons and ammunition. 26 June: Intelligence had determined that Daesh were using a large concrete bunker in western Iraq as a weapons facility. Due to the massive construction, built during the Saddam era, it was decided to use four Stormshadow missiles against it, as the weapon has particularly good capabilities against such a challenging target. The missiles were launched by two Tornados, all four Stormshadows scored direct hits and penetrated deep within the bunker. Also in western Iraq, south-east of Hit, a Typhoon flight used a single Paveway IV to destroy a much smaller bunker built by Daesh south-east of Hit. In northern Iraq, a Reaper provided close air support near Sharqat for the third successive day, using its Hellfires to attack a vehicle, a group of terrorists on foot, and a team planting improvised explosive devices. 27 June: While Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s conducted reconnaissance missions to gather intelligence on Daesh activity, Typhoon FGR4s and Reaper remotely piloted aircraft provided support to both Syrian democratic forces and Iraqi units. The same day, in Syria, a pair of Typhoons conducted a successful attack with Paveway IV guided bombs against a Daesh strongpoint on the south-western outskirts of Manbij. 28 June: Typhoons executed a similar attack against a mortar position close to Manbij. Over Iraq, a Reaper supported Iraqi ground forces near Sharqat in the north of the country. The Reaper used Hellfire missiles against two groups of extremists caught in the open, including a machine-gun team engaged in combat with the Iraqi troops. 29 June: Typhoons and Reapers conducted a number of attacks against Daesh terrorists fleeing in the face of Iraqi operations in Fallujah. A Typhoon struck two vehicles and a large group of extremists with Paveway IV bombs west of Fallujah and two Reapers destroyed a further four vehicles and a group of fighters, using Hellfire missiles and a GBU-12 guided bomb. One Reaper observed the Daesh vehicles refusing to stop and pick up fellow armed extremists trying to escape on foot. Another Reaper was active near Sharqat, where it destroyed two vehicles with Hellfire missiles and attacked a group of terrorists with a GBU-12 bomb. 30 June: With Daesh forces continuing to flee in defeat from their former stronghold of Fallujah, Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s patrolled over the desert of Anbar province and located a group of terrorist vehicles a number of miles to the south-west of Ramadi. Attacks with four Brimstone missiles and a Paveway IV guided bomb successfully accounted for five trucks. In northern Iraq, a pair of Typhoons used Paveway IVs to bomb two Daesh mortar teams some 25 miles south-east of Mosul, while a Reaper conducted two attacks with Hellfire missiles against terrorists fighting Iraqi forces near Qayyarah. 1 July: The following day, Tornados used a Paveway IV to destroy a Daesh defensive position in the Qayyarah area. 3 July: Two RAF Reapers provided close air support to Iraqi security forces mounting an offensive near Sharqat. The Reapers gave targeting and surveillance assistance to three air strikes by coalition fast jets and conducted seven attacks of their own. They used six Hellfire missiles and a GBU-12 guided bomb against various groups of Daesh extremists engaged in close combat with the Iraqi troops, and a truck. In north-western Iraq, a Tornado flight used a Paveway IV to destroy a Daesh-held building near Tal Afar, while Typhoons successfully targeted a tunnel and trench network south-east of Hit, striking with two Paveway IVs. 4 July: A pair of Typhoon FGR4s used Paveway IV guided bombs to destroy a number of rocket launchers near Qayyarah. The Typhoons then moved further north and attacked a terrorist muster point some 25 miles south-east of Mosul. 5 July: Typhoons were again active near Qayyarah where they conducted two successful Paveway IV attacks that destroyed a mortar team and a nearby ammunition stockpile. The Typhoons were two of the fifty coalition aircraft controlled over Syria and Iraq that day by an RAF Sentry E-3D, making its regular contribution to the coalition's command and control of a round-the-clock air campaign, and were, as ever, supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker. 6 July: Tornado GR4s used Paveway IVs to strike a river crossing near Qayyarah which had been improvised by Daesh following successful coalition attacks against their supply routes. Meanwhile, a Reaper patrolled near Sharqat in support of Iraqi ground forces, and used Hellfire missiles against a motorcycle mounted terrorist observation team. It then struck a group of extremists identified manoeuvring in the open nearby. 7 July: In the early hours of Thursday, an RAF Reaper assisted Iraqi ground forces operating near Sharqat in the north of the country. The Reaper's crew conducted two successful precision attacks using Hellfire missiles against two small groups of Daesh extremists firing on the Iraqi troops from a fortified position. Having located a larger group of terrorists, the Reaper then provided targeting assistance to an attack by coalition fast jets. In northern Iraq, Tornado GR4s dropped a Paveway IV guided bomb which destroyed a heavy position 15 miles east of Mosul. Typhoon FGR4s meanwhile patrolled to the north of Ramadi and used a Paveway IV against a group of Daesh fighters concealed in a tree line. 8 July: A Reaper again supported operations around Sharqat. It conducted four attacks, with three Hellfires and one GBU-12 guided bomb, against several groups of terrorists manoeuvring in a gully, and an ammunition truck which was being loaded with rocket-propelled grenades. Over Anbar province, Typhoons maintained their patrols along the Euphrates north and west of Ramadi and supported an Iraqi unit engaged in very close combat with three Daesh heavy machine-gun and rocket-propelled grenade teams. Despite the proximity of the Iraqi troops, the three positions were successfully struck with Paveway IVs. 9 July: A Reaper employed a Hellfire to destroy a truck carrying a Daesh group north of Bayji. 10 July: Tornados conducted an armed reconnaissance mission in the Mosul area. North-west of the city, they used Paveway IVs to attack a command and control post, a mortar team, and a weapons cache, then used a Brimstone missile to destroy a second weapons stockpile. A second Tornado flight operated over Anbar province conducted four attacks with Brimstone missiles to destroy a group of engineering vehicles, which Daesh had mustered to construct positions 35 miles south-west of Ramadi. 11 July: Tornado GR4s conducted an armed reconnaissance patrol in the Sharqat area in support of Iraqi ground forces. Our aircraft were able to identify a mortar position and delivered a successful attack using a Paveway IV guided bomb. 12 July: Patrols by Paveway-armed Typhoon FGR4s continued over northern Iraq. One flight destroyed a heavily armed Daesh truck near Qayyarah, taking great care to avoid causing damage to a nearby mosque. Near Tal Afar a second Typhoon mission struck another armed truck concealed in a covered parking bay a large secondary explosion followed as the vehicle's cargo of ammunition detonated. That night close to the Iraqi border with Syria, a meeting of Daesh commanders was known to be in progress at Kerabilah and a pair of Tornados conducted an attack with a salvo of four Paveway IVs that completely demolished the building. The Tornados then flew north-east to the area north of Bayji and used Brimstone missiles to destroy two terrorist truck-bombs. 13 July: A Tornado mission also used Brimstones to destroy two 120mm heavy mortars some distance from Hit, whilst Typhoons destroyed a Daesh strong-point south of Sinjar using Paveway IVs. 14 July: Two Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s patrolling the Mosul area spotted Daesh personnel using a truck-mounted crane to perform maintenance work on an armoured vehicle. Paveway IV guided bombs destroyed both vehicles with direct hits. 15 July: Typhoons operating further west, conducted a Paveway bomb attack on a mortar position concealed in a tree-line a number of miles south of Sinjar. 17 July: Typhoons also patrolled over Anbar province in western Iraq. Some miles north-west of Ramadi, they observed a vehicle being loaded with weapons from a terrorist storehouse. A Paveway IV destroyed both the store and the supply truck. 18 July: Again in Anbar Province, Typhoons observed terrorist activity around a tent hidden in a dense palm grove. An attack with a Paveway IV not only struck the terrorists but also set fire to two stockpiles of ammunition and equipment and damaged a Daesh truck parked nearby, again under the trees. 19 July: Tornado GR4s used a Paveway IV against a mortar position near Qayyarah, while Typhoons employed a Paveway bomb to attack another mortar position south-east of Mosul. 20 July: Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s, supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, patrolled over northern Iraq. North of Mosul, a Daesh-held building was identified in the path of a Kurdish advance. This was successfully targeted by Tornados using a Paveway IV guided bomb. 21 July: Tornados again operated over northern Iraq. A Paveway IV bomb attack destroyed a Daesh-held building, along with a terrorist vehicle, a few miles to the south of Bashiqah. 22 July: RAF Typhoon FGR4s flew an armed reconnaissance mission along the Euphrates valley. They identified and struck a Daesh mortar team on the northern bank of the river with a Paveway IV. 23 July: Reaper remotely piloted aircraft have also continued to be very active in both their surveillance and attack roles over Iraq and Syria. A Reaper operated in close support of Iraqi ground forces in northern Iraq, around the Sharqat and Qayyarah areas. The Reaper's crew conducted a successful attack, using a Hellfire missile against a Daesh mortar team firing on the Iraqis. They also provided targeting support to several highly accurate strikes by both artillery and coalition fast jets, which destroyed a number of rocket launchers. 24 July: Another Reaper flew over northern Syria to support Syrian moderate opposition forces fighting Daesh terrorists along the so-called Mar'a Line. The Reaper used a Hellfire missile to destroy a terrorist position which had been firing at the Syrians. The Reaper then used its sensors to locate a second position, which was successfully struck by another coalition aircraft. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghan Forces Say They Captured Key IS Base by Noor Zahid August 03, 2016 Afghan security forces say they have captured the Islamic State (IS) group's regional headquarters in the eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. IS militants have been using the so-called Welayat-e Khorasan (Khorasan province) base for the recruitment and training of fighters in the Haska Mena district of Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, Afghan authorities say. According to Afghan army sources, Haska Mena has been largely cleared of IS militants in recent assaults by the Afghan military. "As a result of the offensive, we have cleaned many areas, including Gurgurai and Shabai villages in the district," Afghan Army Col. Shireen Aqa told reporters. "IS's key bases, including a recruitment center, have been captured," Aqa said, adding that 27 IS fighters have been killed and another 17 wounded. The Khorasan base was considered a stronghold for the IS group in Afghanistan. The group used it as a regional center for waves of attacks in the country. Local residents told VOA that Afghan forces have captured many areas in the district. "Government forces have recaptured the Gurgurai high school which had been under IS control and was turned into a military post," a local resident told VOA. "It looks like the government forces are determined and will continue their offensive against the militants," said the resident. The governor's spokesperson told VOA that provincial authorities would soon start providing assistance to people who suffered from IS brutality. Afghan authorities last week declared the neighboring Kot district free of IS militants, saying security forces killed nearly 300 IS fighters during a month-long offensive. IS has been active in a number of Nangarhar districts where the group has launched multiple attacks on government forces and villages. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Charity Linked to Terrorism Tries Aid Delivery to Indian Kashmir by Ayesha Tanzeem August 03, 2016 Hundreds of activists, blocked while trying to deliver an Islamist charitable organization's relief supplies and ambulances from Pakistan to India in the disputed Kashmir region, staged a sit-in Wednesday in protest. The activists belong to the Falah e Insaniat Foundation, which the United States has designated a terrorist organization. Pakistani authorities on Tuesday had stopped their convoy of 20 trucks loaded with relief supplies, along with 12 ambulances at the border town of Chakoti. It's near the Line of Control dividing Kashmir between Indian- and Pakistani-administered sections. Authorities had told the FIF activists to wait for clearance from the Indian side, said Ghulamullah Azad, who oversees the charity's activities in Muzaffarabad, capital of the Pakistani-managed part of Kashmir. Demonstrators on Wednesday demanded that the United Nations or Red Cross take the convoy items to the Indian side. Kashmir, claimed by both India and Pakistan, has been the source of at least three wars between the nuclear rivals. Some Kashmiris say they would like independence from both countries. Recent attacks The Indian side has seen a wave of violence since Indian security forces killed a young, popular militant commander last month. Clashes between rock-throwing youth and security forces have left dozens dead. The Indian government has declared curfew in parts of the scenic valley and restricted movement and assembly in the rest. FIF is closely linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar e Taiba (LeT), a group blamed for a series of 2008 attacks in the Indian port city Mumbai that left 166 dead, including several foreigners. LeT has been declared a terrorist organization by both the United States and United Nations as well as banned by Pakistan. The current head of FIF, Hafiz Abdur Rauf, was also a senior leader of LeT and is on the U.S. list of specially designated global terrorists. Terrorist links The U.S. State Department considers FIF an alias of LeT. In a news release dated Nov. 24, 2010, announcing the designation, the department said "the United States will not tolerate any support to this organization. LeT has attempted to use FIF as a way to evade scrutiny. This designation will help put to an end that attempted evasion." Many analysts think Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD), the humanitarian front of LeT, changed its name to FIF to avoid sanctions. JuD leader Hafiz Saeed, also closely linked to FIF, has been declared a terrorist by both the United Nations and the United States. The U.S. has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Mysterious relationship with Pakistan JuD's legal status in Pakistan is shrouded in mystery. The government has not categorically banned it, like its parent organization LeT. Islamabad has said it has fulfilled the country's obligations as a U.N. member state by freezing the group's assets and banning its members from travel. The Pakistani Electronic Media Regulatory Authority recently banned coverage of JuD activities, stating the organization was on the U.N. list of terror groups. The United States contends the money raised through FIF in the charity's name also goes to fund terrorist activities, especially against India. However, the organization seems to enjoy state patronage in Pakistan. According to Pakistan's English-language Dawn newspaper, FIF was among the first organizations allowed to set up relief camps when people displaced by fighting in the country's northern tribal areas started returning home in 2014. "The Pakistan Army is really cooperative toward us," Mohammad Sarfaraz, the camp's chief organizer, told Dawn. "We were the first ones to set up a greeting camp to receive" internally displaced people, "even though that area was in the red zone." Many NGOs complain that while the government requires them to apply for certificates before they can provide disaster relief, charities such as FIF, with links to militancy or extremist ideology, are allowed to operate freely. This, they say, help such groups not just raise money for their activities, but also generates goodwill to help with their recruitment efforts. Roshan Mughal contributed to this report from Muzaffarabad and Chakoti. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Washington to Focus on Upgrading Patriot Anti-Missile Systems in South Korea Sputnik News 17:33 02.08.2016(updated 17:34 02.08.2016) Washington will concentrate on upgrading its Patriot PAC-2 air defense systems in South Korea to PAC-3 systems. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The United States will focus on upgrading its Patriot PAC-2 air defense systems in South Korea to PAC-3 systems to better protect the country from possible North Korean missiles, US Army Secretary Eric Fanning told reporters at the US Air Force's Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek on Tuesday. "Right now we're focused on upgrading the Patriot system that we have here in [South] Korea," Fanning said as quoted by South Korea's Yonhap News Agency. South Korean media previously reported that the US military planned to upgrade the PAC-2 with more advanced PAC-3 systems by 2018. Fanning on Tuesday said he saw the potential for upgrades, but did not confirm the reports. The PAC-2, first deployed during Operation Desert Shield in 1990, was the first ballistic missile defense system to intercept a ballistic missile during war. Its successor, the PAC-3, is more advanced and has an over 90 percent interception rate. In July, the US Department of Defense announced it would deploy the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) anti-missile in South Korea to counter the threat from Pyongyang. Fanning told reporters on Tuesday that US and South Korean officials had discussed other options to protect the capital. The THAAD system is designed to intercept short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles at the terminal incoming stage. The system's potential deployment on the Korean Peninsula has caused concern in North Korea, as well as China and Russia. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belarusian Nuclear Mishap Shows Soviet-Like Secrecy Still Rules August 03, 2016 by Tony Wesolowsky Thirty years after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in neighboring Ukraine, Belarus, which saw a quarter of its territory contaminated in the world's worst nuclear accident, is building its first energy plant powered by the atom. However, mounting mishaps at the site in Astravets are raising concerns over safety not least in Lithuania whose capital, Vilnius, lies less than 50 kilometers from the site. Making matters worse is the Belarusian authorities' opaque response, an uncomfortable echo of the Soviet Union's initial silence after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. "Frankly, [the Belarusian authorities] must understand that we cannot just rely on their words, because quality and culture of safety is not sufficient so far," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said in an interview with RFE/RL. The latest accident took place on July 10, when a nuclear reactor shell was reportedly dropped while being moved. Rumors of the snafu circulated before local resident Nikolai Ulasevich, who is a member of the opposition United Civic Party and running for parliament in elections on September 11, posted details on his Facebook page on July 25. He said that a 330-ton nuclear reactor shell fell from a height of 2-4 meters on July 10 during an exercise ahead of its planned installation a day later, an event at which journalists were set to attend. Ulasevich said his claim had been backed by 10 people who passed on the information to him during his electoral signature-collecting campaign. The posting was quickly gobbled up by Belarusian opposition media. More than two weeks later, on July 26, the Belarusian Energy Ministry confirmed that an "emergency situation" had occurred at the construction site on July 10. The ministry offered only a few more morsels of information, saying that the incident took place at the warehouse facility, while the reactor was being moved "horizontally." Also on July 26, the Russian state-owned company Rosatom, the nuclear plant's main contractor, denied the reactor shell had been damaged, and should be installed as planned pending permission from supervisors. Despite such assurances, on August 1, Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk said installation of the reactor shell was being suspended pending further safety checks, according to Belapan. On August 1, Rosatom again said the reactor shell was not damaged, but added the company could replace it if needed, hinting things could be more serious than officials are stating. Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka is betting nuclear power will free his country from Russia's energy grip. (Some 90 percent of Belarus's gas imports come from Russia.) The plant at Astravets, however, is being built by Russian companies and Moscow is jointly financing the project, which is estimated to cost between $5 billion and $22 billion. Unit 1 is due online in 2018 and Unit 2 in 2020. Two other reactors are planned by 2025, but construction on these units is only in the planning stage. Soviet Deja Vu Lukashenka remained tightlipped after the accident, prompting many to draw parallels with the Soviet authorities in 1986, when no information was issued about the Chernobyl accident for 10 days after the initial explosion. "For me it's a natural deja vu, as if I traveled back in a time machine a quarter of a century when we were investigating the causes of the Chernobyl disaster. Then, it was the same, but the difference was it was a totalitarian state, the Soviet Union, and now it's the supposedly democratic government of Belarus," Yury Varonezhtsau, a physicist and former parliamentary deputy, said in an interview with RFE/RL's Belarus Service. "I don't believe that the authorities didn't know what happened there. The worst thing is that we don't know either. So, whether the reactor really did fall or whether some part burned, that's where I see the real danger in the situation," Varonezhtsau said. Lukashenka, a five-term president who has been described as Europe's last dictator, has a difficult balancing act trying to improve relations with the EU while keeping the country's closest ally and financial backer, Russia, onside. Nervous In Lithuania Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linkevicius said the lack of transparency on the part of Belarusian officials was unacceptable. "These incidents, happening from time to time, lack of transparency, we're learning about them from open sources, usually too late, then trying to get more information, and this is not how it should be in reality. This last incident when a nuclear reactor vessel was possibly damaged is very dangerous," Linkevicius said. Lithuania and other critics say Minsk has failed to carry out an environmental-impact study for Astravets. The power plant will draw water for its cooling reactors from the Nevis River, which also supplies drinking water in Lithuania. It's not the first mishap at the construction site, nor the first time Belarusian officials have dragged their feet divulging any details. The structural frame of the nuclear service building at the site collapsed on April 8, as first reported by the Belsat independent TV station. According to the report, supervisors, under pressure to meet a deadline, ordered workers to pour too much concrete, causing the structure to collapse. No mention of the accident was made in the Belarusian state media or by officials, with the spokesman at the plant first denying anything had happened. On May 6, the Belarusian Energy Ministry, however, did confirm an "incident" had occurred during the pouring of concrete, but the "defect" had been dealt with. "All in all, we are really not satisfied with the process so far, and also we believe this is not just a bilateral problem, it's a regional [problem] and we would like to internationalize it as much as possible," Linkevicius said. Lithuania agreed to close its own Ignalina nuclear facility as part of its 2004 accession agreement with the EU. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said on July 26 that Vilnius would work with the international community to block the plant coming online if Minsk failed to take steps to ensure international safety standards at the site. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Yukiya Amano said in Minsk on April 19 that the nuclear agency "has worked closely with Belarus on all aspects of this major project and will continue to offer every assistance." He said with two reactors under construction, Belarus "is one of the most advanced of what the IAEA calls 'newcomer' countries." Asked for comment on the July 10 incident, the IAEA press office offered only the following statement to RFE/RL: "For this nature of event, the IAEA does not provide the kind of assessment that you are seeking." With reporting by RFE/RL's Belarus Service Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/belarus-nuclear- mishap-soviet-style-secrecy-rule/27898340.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 Expert claims US lavishing praise on Chinese military to increase own expenditure People's Daily Online By Zhang Tianrui (People's Daily Online) 15:59, August 03, 2016 Military experts have claimed that Western media is deliberately exaggerating the so-called China Threat and praising China's military in order to procure more funding for their countries' own militaries. British media recently published a new report announcing that in the next four years, China will possess the world's largest navy, consisting of between 270 and 279 vessels. Before that, the International Maritime Security Center announced its belief that in 2020, the Chinese navy will claim between 265 and 273 vessels, while the U.S. guessed the number to be closer to 260. However, a U.S. report stated that, although China's navy will be the largest in terms of number of vessels, it will still lag behind the U.S. navy's operational capability. It is also estimated that by that time China owns two aircraft carriers, six or seven nuclear-powered attack submarines, five to seven nuclear-powered strategic submarines and 18 to 20 destroyers and cruisers equipped with Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Yin Zhuo, a military expert said that the number of vessels in a country's navy does not determine its operational capability; average tonnage of vessels is also a major concern. For the U.S., this figure is around 7,000 to 8,000 tons, which means the vessles are mostly large warship with high ocean-going operational capability. The U.S. meanwhile exaggerates China's speed of development in order to get still more funds for its military, Yin told the CCTV in an interview. Cao Weidong, another military expert, expressed his belief that the most serious security threat China currently faces comes mainly from the sea. There are a number of sovereignty disputes regarding islands, and some countries have frequently conducted close-in reconnaissance in China's airspace near China's coast. For this reason, China needs a number of vessels for the purposes of security and defense. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea Reportedly Launches Ballistic Missile Towards Sea of Japan Sputnik News 03:01 03.08.2016(updated 03:07 03.08.2016) North Korea has test fired a ballistic missile from its east coast, according to South Korean media reports. the missile was launched from the North Korean province of Hwanghae-Namdo toward the Sea of Japan, Yonhap news agency reports. Pyongyang has launched a number of missiles in recent months, and also conducted nuclear tests. Both have been condemned by the international community, including Russia, China, the United States, and the United Nations. Harsh new sanctions have been implemented against the country. The DPRK claims to have developed a miniaturized nuclear warhead that could, theoretically, be launched with an intercontinental missile. The United States has used these tests as justification for the installation of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the peninsula, despite criticism from both China and Russia that the battery threatens their own national security. The latest test comes after Pyongyang's outrage over the THAAD deployment. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USSTRATCOM Detects, Tracks North Korean Missile Launches U.S. Strategic Command Public Affairs 8/3/2016 OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) systems detected what we assess were two North Korean missile launches at 5:53 p.m. CDT, August 2, 2016. The simultaneous launch of two presumed No Dong intermediate range ballistic missiles occurred near the western city of Hwangju. Initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) determined the missile launches from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America. The men and women of USSTRATCOM, NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, and U.S. Pacific Command remain vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies to maintain security. USSTRATCOM's mission is to conduct global operations in synchronization with other combatant commands and appropriate U.S. government agencies to detect, deter and prevent strategic attacks against the U.S., its allies, and partners, and to be prepared to deliver warfighting capability to defend the nation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mass Walk-Out? Hundreds of Soldiers Resign From German Army Sputnik News 18:18 02.08.2016 Over 400 German soldiers have filed applications for resignation from the country's armed forces, Rheinische Post reported. Most applications have been approved. Though, the exiting soldiers have to pay back their education expenses to the state. From the middle of 2014 to present, 469 soldiers, including 62 women, have filed applications to suspend their military service. According to the newspaper, 67 % of the applications were accepted, 25% were disapproved. The remaining applications were considered unlawful or withdrawn by the applicants themselves. "When the risk in the profession of a soldier to kill or be killed in specific combat situations is perceived as a fundamental experience for the first timeonly then it leads to such consequences," German political expert Katrin Kunert said, cited by DW. Earlier, Reihnische Post also reported that the number of German soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders was on the rise. In 2015, the figure increased by 15% compared to the previous year, from 204 to 235 patients. The resignations are especially damaging in the case of officers or candidates for officers. All in all, 153 resignations were filed by German officers who now will have to reimburse the cost of their studies, totaling 5.6 million euro. On a case by case basis, each officer will have to pay the German government between 1,200 to 69,000 euros. Currently, the German army consists of 167,000 soldiers, which is lower than the initial target of 170,000. As previously reported, the head of the German Ministry of Defense Ursula von der Leyer is planning to expand the German armed forces by 7,000 before 2017. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Estonian Military Instructors Leave for Iraq to Provide Anti-Daesh Training Sputnik News 03:48 02.08.2016 A group of six Estonian military instructors left for Iraq on Monday to provide anti-Daesh training to national troops, the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces said in a statement. TALLINN (Sputnik) The Estonian instructors will be deployed in the province of Anbar where the Iraqi army is carrying out an anti-Daesh operation and are expected to engage in the training program provided by the US-led anti-Daesh coalition as part of the OIR for six months, the statement added. "Estonian servicemen will partake in the Operation Inherent Resolve [OIR] targeting Daesh terrorists. They will not be directly involved in fighting, they are in charge of training local soldiers, police and border patrol troops," the statement said. The OIR has been launched by a coalition of more than 60 nations since 2014 in an effort to eliminate the Daesh group outlawed in the United States, Russia and many other nations in Iraq and Syria. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address British jets attack former Saddam palace in Mosul Iran Press TV Wed Aug 3, 2016 2:52PM British warplanes have targeted one of Iraq's former dictator Saddam Hussein's palaces in the northern city of Mosul, the UK Ministry of Defense says. According to a statement by the ministry on Wednesday, two Tornado warplanes from the Royal Air Force carried out the attack on August 1, as part of a multinational squadron tasked with destroying the Daesh-controlled palace. The compound, located near the Tigris River, was used by the Takfiri group "as a major headquarters and training center for foreign terrorist recruits," the statement added. It was one of the 50 luxury mansions that Saddam built across the Arab country during his 24-year reign. The Mosul palace featured man-made waterfalls and housed American military personnel during the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. Apparently, the fortified complex also included more discreet outbuildings that were used by Daesh for internal security and repression. The Tornado jets were reportedly fitted with the RAF's largest guided bombs, the 900kg (2000lb) Paveway III bunker busters. London's own initial assessments hinted that the seven-nation mission that took place on Monday afternoon was successful. The coalition has yet to release additional details in this regard. "Daesh has been losing followers and territory for months and emphatic strikes like this show that we and the coalition will not waver," UK Defense Minister Michael Fallon said as he visited RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus on Wednesday. During his visit to the base, which is frequently used by RAF fighters to launch airstrikes on purported Daesh positions inside Syria and Iraq, Fallon said that more British troops were going to be deployed in Iraq later this month. In late July, London decided to send 250 more troops to the Arab country, raising the total number of British troops to more than 500. The UK's involvement in the US-led campaign against militants in Iraq and Syria stirred controversy after British Special Forces were spotted fighting alongside anti-government militants in Syria. According to a report published by the Times in early June, British troops have been frequently crossing into Syria to support the so-called New Syrian Army (NSA), allegedly protecting them from attacks by Daesh. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Unintentional Consequences': Japan Warns of Chinese Aggression in Pacific Sputnik News 00:35 03.08.2016(updated 02:08 03.08.2016) Citing Beijing's actions in the South China Sea, Japan's annual defense review expresses "deep concern" over China's refusal to accept to the nine-dash line territorial ruling. Entitled "Defense of Japan 2016," the new report outlines Tokyo's defense priorities for the coming year, and chief among its concerns is China's growth in the Pacific. "There hasbeen a noticeable trend among neighboring countries to modernize and reinforce their military capabilities and to intensify their military activities," the report reads. In particular, it points to Beijing's actions in the South China Sea, "where the Hague-based Court of Arbitration recently ruled against China's territorial claims. Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling as valid, and aims to follow through with its land reclamation projects in the region. "China is poised to fulfill its unilateral demands without compromise," the report reads, adding that this could result in "unintentional consequences." The Chinese Defense Ministry has criticized the report for hyping an already tense situation. "China's military is extremely dissatisfied with this and resolutely opposed to it," it said in a statement. The United States and its Pacific allies, including Japan, have expressed concern over Beijing's construction of artificial island in the South China Sea, claiming they will used to establish an air defense zone. China maintains it has every right to build within its own territory and that the islands will be used primarily for humanitarian purposes. The Pentagon has carried out a number of aggressive naval and air force patrols near these projects, and vows to continue to do so in the wake of the Hague ruling. Washington has also conducted joint military exercises with regional partners, including Japan, which has rolled back key provisions of its pacifist constitution," the 2015 report read. Tokyo's defense report from the previous year made similar claims about Beijing's intent. "Nevertheless, in the waters and airspace in the periphery of Japan, especially the East China Sea and the South China Sea, it has become increasingly common for countries to unilaterally assert their rights or take actions, based on their unique assertions which are incompatible with the existing international law and order. "This has caused situations of undue infringement upon such principles." Neither the United States nor Japan have any territorial claims in the South China Sea. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Leans Toward Curbing Activities of Group Linked to Gulen by Ayaz Gul August 02, 2016 Pakistan assured Turkey on Tuesday it is exploring legal measures against educational and other institutions linked to Fethullah Gulen, whose followers Ankara blames for last month's abortive coup. The 75-year-old Muslim cleric, who lives in self-imposed exile in the United States, has denied involvement. "We are going to protect the schools and students as far as those are concerned under some alternative arrangements whereas their [other] activities have to be managed or curbed in whatever way our Turkish brothers would like us to do," Pakistani foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz said in Islamabad. He was addressing a joint news conference with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and congratulated Turkey for its "victory for democracy and liberty". Ankara has been pressing Pakistan to shut down Gulen-linked establishments in the country and has intensified pressure since the coup. Thousands of Pakistani students are enrolled in Gulen's network of some two dozen schools operating in Pakistan for more than two decades. He runs several business entities and has established a branch of his so-called Rumi Forum in the country, a think tank platform promoting intercultural and intellectual dialogue. Cavusoglu said that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has already shared documents with Pakistani leaders about activities of Gulen's group in Pakistan. But he agreed with Aziz that students and their families "should not be affected badly" while trying to resolve the issue. "We have full cooperation with Pakistan in that regard. I am sure the necessary measures will be taken and we have to be very careful with such organizations and their causing risk or threat for the security and stability of every country that they have presence," said Cavusoglu. Under Erdogan, traditionally close ties between Pakistan and Turkey have deepened and expanded. The Turkish foreign minister strongly defended demands for shutting down Gulen's international establishments and a nationwide crackdown the government has unleashed on alleged coup plotters. "We are taking all the necessary legal measures against the plotters of the coup, namely the terrorist organization Feto, headed by Fethullah Gulen based in Pennsylvania. All those responsible will be brought to justice. This bloody terrorist organization has a global network of schools, business associations and cultural organizations," said Cavusoglu. Gulen's Islamist "Hizmet" movement is believed to be running some 2,000 educational establishments in about 160 countries. Turkish authorities have in recent days dismissed 1,400 military personnel while more than 50,000 have lost their jobs and over 18,000 have been detained for allegedly playing a role in the unsuccessful uprising. Gulen, Erdogan's opponent, has lived in the U.S. for nearly two decades. Turkey is demanding Washington extradite him and has sent documents to U.S. authorities on Gulen's alleged involvement in the failed coup. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Future is Here: Russian Army Already Uses Several Types of Laser Weaponry Sputnik News 18:27 02.08.2016(updated 18:28 02.08.2016) The Russian Armed Forces have been equipped with laser weapons, the country's deputy defense minister said. SAROV (Sputnik) The Russian Armed Forces already have some types of laser weaponry in service, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said Tuesday. "It is not some sort of exotics anymore, those are not experimental, prototype models we have already commissioned several types of laser weaponry," Borisov said addressing an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of All-Russian Research Institute for Experimental Physics (RFNC-VNIIEF) in Sarov. Borisov earlier said that weaponry based on new physics principles (beam, geophysical, wave, kinetic and other types of weapons) would define the shape of the Russian Armed Forces under the new state arms procurement program until 2025. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Military Gets Customized Il-96-400 'Doomsday Plane' Sputnik News 10:32 02.08.2016(updated 12:31 02.08.2016) Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has handed a customized airborne command system Il-96-400, also known as the 'doomsday plane', over to the national Defense Ministry, Ilyushin aircraft manufacturer announced. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The new third-generation airborne command post is based on the Russia-made long-haul wide-fuselage passenger airliner Il-96-300, which can carry up to 300 people. "The Il-96-400 plane went into service under the contract with the Russian Defense Ministry. The specially-equipped aircraft was built by the Voronezh Joint Stock Aircraft Company," the statement issued on Monday read. The new plane has four powerful engines and advanced avionics. It weighs 270 tonnes and has a maximum flight range of 7,500 miles. Late in 2015 the Russian military has already received a second-generation 'doomsday plane' based on an Ilyushin Il-80 aircraft. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Army Repels Major Daesh Attacks on Deir ez-Zor Sputnik News 17:10 02.08.2016 The Syrian army, supported from air, managed to repel the attacks of the Daesh militants in the west of the city of Deir ez-Zor, a source told RIA Novosti on Tuesday. DAMASCUS (Sputnik) Control over the Deir ez-Zor province is shared by the Syrian army and Daesh, which is outlawed in Russia. "The army has repulsed strong Daesh attacks on al-Bagilya settlement, and an attack on the water supply facilities in the west of Deir ez-Zor. Aviation bombed places where the terrorists concentrated in the west and north-west of Deir ez-Zor," the source said. According to the source, ahead of the start of the attack, the Syrian military destroyed a car bomb before the bomber was able to bring it close to the government troops' positions. During the attack on the militants, the Syrian troops blew up two tanks and two SUVs. Syria has been in the state of civil war since 2011. On February 27, a ceasefire worked out by Russia and the United States took effect in the country. Terrorist groups are not covered by the agreement. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin Dismisses Claims of Using Toxic Gas Bombs at Mi-8 Downing Site in Syria Sputnik News 12:57 02.08.2016(updated 12:58 02.08.2016) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed on Tuesday accusations of toxic gas dropped in the Syrian province where a Russian helicopter was downed the previous day as an unfounded information attack. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia's Mi-8 transport helicopter was shot down in the northwestern province of Idlib on Monday while returning from a humanitarian mission in Aleppo. All three crew members and two reconciliation center officers on board perished in the attack classified by the Russian General Staff as a terrorist act. Media reports alleged late Monday that dozens in the Idlib city of Saraqib suffered from toxic gas allegedly dropped after the Mi-8 helicopter was shot down. "In this case, we do not have information on how the operation is conducted. Moreover, it is very difficult to react to such information attacks, it is not always clear on what sources they are based on," Peskov told reporters. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Responds Coolly to Turkish Accusation That West Supports Terror by Steve Herman August 02, 2016 U.S. officials Tuesday responded dispassionately to accusations made by an angry Turkish leader, who last month survived a coup attempt, that "the West is supporting terror and standing by the coup plotters." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "is certainly free to express his views and his frustrations as he sees fit," said State Department spokesman John Kirby. Erdogan reiterated in a televised address earlier Tuesday that "actors inside acted out a scenario for a coup written from the outside," and those whom Turkey "imagined to be friends are standing by the coup plotters and by the terrorists." The State Department spokesman insisted that despite Erdogan's increasingly provocative comments, "what matters is the partnership with Turkey is going forward." Erdogan, in his speech, directly called on the United States to extradite a former imam who the Turkish president alleges was the mastermind behind the plot to overthrow the democratically elected government. "What kind of strategic partners are we, that you can still host someone whose extradition I have asked for?" Erdogan asked. Imam denies link Fetullah Gulen, a 75-year-old Erdogan rival who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States for nearly two decades, has denied any connection to the uprising. Turkish officials, meanwhile, say they have sent a second set of documents to the U.S. government detailing why it is urgent to arrest Gulen, whom Ankara regards as leading a terrorist organization. U.S. officials will not directly comment on the requests from Turkey, stating only that documentation has been received and is being analyzed, but no judgment has apparently been made on whether there has been a formal extradition request, as Ankara insists it has submitted. "I don't want to set an expectation up that we're going to be able to give you a blow-by-blow of the process as it works its way through," Kirby told reporters. The Turkish president lashed out at Washington and the country's other NATO allies a day after the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford, met with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim an encounter designed to try to narrow the rift that has developed since the July 15 coup attempt. Purge follows coup bid The violent attempted overthrow by elements of Turkey's military, which fired on unarmed civilians, left more than 230 people dead. The Turkish government has subsequently been purging tens of thousands of perceived internal enemies under a state of emergency enacted after the coup. Erdogan defends his crackdown as necessary to prevent Gulen supporters from attempting another coup. A group of Turkish lawmakers is visiting Washington and New York City this week to press for Gulen's extradition. "We would like to see America take some serious steps" against Gulen and, while mulling Turkey's extradition request, "put him in custody or prevent his activities" on U.S. soil, Kamil Aydin, a lawmaker from the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party, told VOA on Monday. He and three other Turkish lawmakers have been meeting U.S. officials at the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department. Numerous observers of Turkey characterize the country as torn between two Islamic movements one led by an increasingly authoritarian Erdogan, who is criticized as weakening the rule of law and governing institutions, and the other by the enigmatic Gulen, who lives in virtual isolation in a sprawling rural American compound. Gulen was previously put on trial in absentia in Turkey in 2000 and acquitted in 2008. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Richard Lance London a Danville man suspected of killing a man who had been in a relationship with his grandmother was fatally shot by police in South Carolina early Tuesday morning. London was a suspect in the death of Melvin Eugene Powell, 80, who was found by police Sunday afternoon at 23 Elizabeth St. In announcing Londons death, a Danville Police Department news release stated Powells body was found with visible signs of violent injury. Danville police have not said how Powell died, or what Londons motivation was for killing Powell. London, 22, was identified as a suspect in Powells death, but fled in a Mercury Sable sedan that was taken from the scene, a police news release stated. He was wanted on an outstanding probation violation and was entered into the National Crime Information Center as a wanted person and an armed homicide suspect, according to the release. The associated vehicle was also entered. At 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, members of the Lake City Police Department in Lake City, South Carolina, tried to stop Londons vehicle. After a short pursuit on heavily traveled U.S. 52, police said London stopped the car and exited, firing a handgun at the officers. London was shot by Lake City police and later died in a local hospital. Danville police did not specify why London was in South Carolina. At this time there are no other suspects in the murder of Melvin Powell, according to the release. London was charged four times in the past four years with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to online court records in Danville. He was last wanted for a probation violation. Danville police have found no leads to any family members of Powell. Anyone having knowledge of living relatives of Melvin Powell are requested to call (434) 799-6508. The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday evening officially turned the process to pick a replacement board member over to the court system following yet another feisty exchange that ultimately ended in a call for unity. Tuesday evening was Pastor Lashawnda Reynolds first time at National Night Out in Danville. She was with her church family from the Christina Life Baptist Church on Bell Drive to offer prayer, snacks and water to residents in Cardinal Village. She said she will be back next year. Im adding it to the things we do, she said. Hundreds of people went to 12 sites in Danville, where 18 neighborhoods celebrated National Night Out an annual community building promotion of positive partnerships between law enforcement and the people they serve. Last month, the country was in a state of mourning from African-American men and women being fatally shot by police, to police officers being targeted and killed while protecting the public. Theres never been a more important time for police and communities to come together than right now, said Danville Sheriff Mike Mondul. This is a great opportunity for police to interact positively with the community, not under a stressful environment. Thats how you build bridges, he said. Danville Police Deputy Chief R.D. Hairston said National Night Out is the departments consistent effort to work with the people to be united together against crime. That unity hinges on whether or not people know who they live with. We have to teach people how to be neighborly, said Cardinal Village Residents Association President Constance Grandma Covington. Covington, like many people at Cardinal Village on Tuesday evening, wore a royal blue Night to Unite T-shirt. National Night Out is about the community coming together residents, police, firefighters and elected officials to form unity, Covington said. National Night Out in Danville feels like a neighborhood cookout, with food, music and camaraderie among the people. At Cardinal Village, young kids played on one of the two bounce-houses or in the water spraying from a fire hydrant while spectators talked, joked or watched the George Washington High School cheerleaders and the Kuumba West African dance group perform. Engine No. 3 was on display as Scott Burke and Kevin Farris of the Danville Fire Department talked about fire safety and precaution. It was a chance to get out and meet the people, Burke said. The Schoolfield and Edgefield area held its first National Night Out event Tuesday. Mayor John Gilstrap called it our feature neighborhood. This is an expression of our concern for this community, said Rick Markham, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, the neighborhoods National Night Out host. God has placed us here to serve. Its where I should be, said Danville Public Schools Superintendent Stanley Jones. He said he feels a need to be a part of the community to help local children. Their Neighborhood Watch organization has been around for a year, with more than 20 members. We Are Family by Sister Sledge began playing as the speakers ended and the meal began at Calvary Baptist Church. NEW YORK You'll be able to unlock Samsung's new phone by just looking at it. The Galaxy Note 7 will come with an iris scanner, which matches patterns in your eyes with what was detected by your phone during setup. It offers an alternative to fingerprint ID, which doesn't work well when fingers are wet. Of course, the four-digit passcode will still work. We challenged our engineers to design a security system that's convenient and safe at the same time, said Justin Denison, a senior vice president for product strategy at Samsung. It took five years to perfect, but it only takes a glance to unlock your phone. Beyond that, though, the updates in the Note 7 are mostly enhancements, such as a stronger glass screen and more storage 64 gigabytes, with a slot to add more. Even the iris technology isn't new, as Microsoft's Lumia 950 phones had it. The Note 7 comes with a better camera but it's the same one that the smaller Galaxy S7 phones got in March, save for interface enhancements to access settings and switch between the front and rear cameras more easily. Samsung had lost its mojo after Apple matched the company on size with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2014, but thanks to the popularity of the S7, Samsung just reported its best quarterly financial results in two years. The new Note 7 phone comes weeks before Apple is expected to announce new models. Samsung typically releases its regular-size phones in the spring and jumbo phones in August. This time, Samsung has just one large model, which stays at 5.7 inches. It will have curved edges a well-liked feature limited to a special Edge model before. The Note 7 will be available in the U.S. starting Aug. 19. Prices haven't been announced. Samsung is also releasing an updated virtual-reality headset with a dedicated home button, a wider field of view and a black interior to improve viewing. The new Gear VR will be available Aug. 19 for $100. A previously announced 360-degree camera called Gear 360 also comes out that day, for $350. As phones mature and innovation slows, VR has been one area in which gadget makers try to entice consumers. As with past Note phones, the Note 7 comes with a stylus. It expands on a feature that lets you magnify text and images by hovering the pen over it. With the pen, people will have ways to easily create and share GIF animations. The Note 7 also expands on a feature to give sensitive files an additional layer of security. You'll be asked for an iris scan, fingerprint or passcode to access documents you place in a Secure Folder. This way, if you're handing the phone to friends to browse pictures, you're not inadvertently giving them access to confidential work documents. In previous phones, Samsung's Private Mode merely hid files and worked only with selected apps. Samsung says Secure Folder stores sensitive documents and even entire apps in a separate, secure location. DENVER, Aug. 2, 2016 /CNW/ -- Vista Gold Corp. (the "Company," "we" or "our") (NYSE MKT: VGZ) (TSX: VGZ) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an underwriting agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation and Rodman & Renshaw a unit of H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, acting as co-lead underwriters and joint book-running managers and representatives of the underwriters named therein, under which the underwriters have agreed to buy on an underwritten basis 10,750,000 units (the "Units"), each Unit consisting of one common share (each a "Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant a "Warrant"), at a price of US$1.40 per Unit for gross proceeds of US$15,050,000 (the "Offering"). Each Warrant will be exercisable for 36 months following the closing date and will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Share upon exercise at an exercise price of US$1.92 per Share, subject to adjustment. The Company has granted the underwriters an option, exercisable in whole or in part, to purchase up to an additional 15% of the Units issued under the Offering to cover over-allotments, if any, and for market stabilization purposes. The Offering is expected to close on or about August 8, 2016, subject to obtaining customary TSX and NYSE MKT approvals. The Company intends to allocate the net proceeds from the Offering to pursue completion of the permitting and to perform selected technical studies that the Company believes will further de-risk the Mt Todd gold project, enhance the economics of Mt Todd and prepare it for development if and when economic conditions warrant. Remaining proceeds will be used for working capital requirements and/or for other general corporate purposes which include ongoing regulatory, legal and accounting expenses, management and administrative expenses, and other corporate initiatives. The Company will file a prospectus supplement with the securities commissions in each province and territory of Canada (other than Quebec) to supplement the Company's Canadian short form base shelf prospectus dated July 11, 2014, and the Company will file a prospectus supplement to the Company's current shelf registration statement on Form S-3, effective August 15, 2014 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in connection with the Offering for which this communication relates (collectively, the "Offering Documents"). The Offering Documents will contain important detailed information about the securities being offered. Before you invest, you should read the Offering Documents and other documents that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the Offering. Copies of the Underwriting Agreement and the Offering Documents will be available for free by visiting the Company's profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml, as applicable. Alternatively, a copy of the Offering Documents can be obtained by contacting the Company, attention: Connie Martinez at (720) 981-1185, Suite 5, 7961 Shaffer Parkway, Littleton, Colorado 80127 or by contacting any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering at Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation, attention: Equity Capital Markets, 181 University Avenue, Suite 1500, Toronto, ON, M5H 3M7, email: ecmcanada@cantor.com, or Rodman & Renshaw a unit of H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, 430 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022, email: placements@hcwco.com. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, Units, Warrants or Shares in any state or province in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, province, or other jurisdiction. About Vista Gold Corp. The Company is a well-funded gold project developer. Our principal asset is our flagship Mt Todd gold project in Northern Territory, Australia where we continue to work to identify opportunities to improve project economics with the goal of advancing the project toward development. We also hold approximately 4.4% of the outstanding common shares of Midas Gold Corp., non-core projects in Mexico and the United States and royalty interests in Indonesia. For more information about our projects, including technical studies and resource estimates, please visit our website at www.vistagold.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such things as, statements with respect to the expected closing date of the Offering and the use of proceeds from the Offering are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information; and other such matters are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information contained in this press release include the following: our understanding and belief of the current market conditions, approved business plans, exploration and assay results, mineral resource and reserve estimates and results of preliminary economic assessments, pre-feasibility studies and feasibility studies on our projects, if any, our experience with regulators, and positive changes to current economic conditions and the price of gold. When used in this press release, the words "optimistic," "potential," "indicate," "expect," "intend," "hopes," "believe," "may," "will," "if," "anticipate," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, our ability to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Offering and to use the proceeds from the Offering as expected, uncertainty of resource and reserve estimates, uncertainty as to the Company's future operating costs and ability to raise capital; risks relating to cost increases for capital and operating costs; risks of shortages and fluctuating costs of equipment or supplies; risks relating to fluctuations in the price of gold; the inherently hazardous nature of mining-related activities; potential effects on our operations of environmental regulations in the countries in which it operates; risks due to legal proceedings; risks relating to political and economic instability in certain countries in which it operates; as well as those factors discussed under the headings "Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed on February 26, 2016 and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information; whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vista-gold-corp-announces-us15-million-bought-deal-offering-of-units-300308075.html SOURCE Vista Gold Corp. TSXV: URC VANCOUVER, Aug. 2, 2016 /CNW/ - Uracan Resources Ltd. (TSX.V:URC) ("Uracan" or the "Company") announces that it has closed the second tranche of its non-brokered private placement. The second tranche consists of 3,600,000 flow through ("FT") shares at a price of $0.05 per share for gross proceeds of $180,000, and 704,000 non flow though ("NFT") units at a price of $0.05 per share for gross proceeds of $35,200 for a combined total gross proceeds of $215,200. In total, 19,600,000 flow through ("FT") shares at a price of $0.05 per share for gross proceeds of $980,000, and 12,831,500 non flow though ("NFT") units at a price of $0.05 per share for gross proceeds of $641,575 were issued in the two tranches. The total gross proceeds of the financing is $1,621,575. Each non-flow through unit consists of one half of a common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $0.10 per common share until June 30, 2017 in the first tranche and until August 2, 2017 in the second tranche. Finder's fees of 6% of the gross proceeds of the offering were paid on a portion of the offering. The securities issued in connection with these financings are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day which will expire on December 3, 2016. Finder's fees associated with the second tranche closing were paid in cash to third parties, in aggregate of $12,412. Proceeds will be used to continue exploration and development of the Company's Clearwater Property located in the Southwest Athabasca basin region of Saskatchewan along the southwest extension of the Patterson Lake Trend, as well as for general corporate purposes. The Patterson Lake Trend hosts Fission Uranium Corp.'s Triple R deposit (Indicated resource: 2.0Mt @ 1.83% U 3 O 8 containing 81.1M lbs U 3 O 8 , Inferred resource: 0.785Mt @ 1.57% U 3 O 8 containing 27.15M lbs U 3 O 8 ) and the NexGen Energy Ltd. Arrow deposit (Inferred resource: 3.48Mt @ 2.63% U 3 O 8 containing 201.9M lbs U 3 O 8 ). ABOUT URACAN RESOURCES LTD. Uracan Resources Ltd. (TSX.V:URC) is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on exploring for uranium deposits in Saskatchewan and Quebec, Canada. In July 2014 Uracan signed an agreement with Forum Uranium whereby Uracan can acquire up to a 70% interest in the Clearwater Property near the southwestern margin of the Athabasca Basin, immediately adjacent to Fission Uranium's Patterson Lake South discovery. Forum is the 100% owner of the Clearwater Property. In early 2013, Uracan signed an agreement with UEX Corp., whereby Uracan acquired the option to earn from UEX a 60% participating interest in the Black Lake Property along the northern margin of the Athabasca Basin. UEX currently holds an 90.69% interest in the Black Lake Project with AREVA Resources Canada Inc. ("AREVA") holding the remaining 9.31% interest. Uracan continues to review additional opportunities worldwide to capitalize on management's exploration and financing capabilities. Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Marc Simpson, P. Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("N.I. 43-101") standards. ON BEHALF OF URACAN RESOURCES LTD. "Clive Johnson" "Marc Simpson" Clive Johnson Marc Simpson Chairman President and CEO CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The foregoing information may contain forward-looking information relating to the future performance of the Company. Forward looking information is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, changes in world commodity markets or equity markets, the risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities administrators (available at www.SEDAR.com ). Forward-looking statements are made based on various assumptions and on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking information contained herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these assumptions, beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Uracan Resources Ltd. SANTIAGO, Aug. 2, 2016 - Li3 Energy Inc. , (OTCQB: LIEG News) ("Li3"or the "Company"), a US-listed and South America based global exploration company in the lithium and minerals sector which holds a 49% interest in the Maricunga lithium project in Northern Chile (the "Project"), announced today that it is reviewing the recently-announced transaction between Minera Salar Blanco SpA ("MSB"), which owns a 51% interest in the Project, and Lithium Power International (ASX: LPI) to advance the Project (the "Proposed Transaction"). Li3 will attend a shareholders meeting for Minera Li, the project company for the Project, on August 8, 2016 to hold initial discussions with MSB regarding the Proposed Transaction. The shareholders meeting will be the first discussion between Li3 and MSB regarding the Proposed Transaction.Li3 has not received or reviewed any official notification or documentation about the Proposed Transaction from MSB and has not approved the Proposed Transaction. Based on the publicly-available information regarding the Proposed Transaction, Li3 considers the shareholders agreement of Minera Li, as well as other agreements and resolutions previously approved by Minera Li's shareholders, might have been allegedly violated. Li3 is closely monitoring the Proposed Transaction and is evaluating its legal options with respect to the Proposed Transaction with its legal advisers. Li3 Energy Inc. is an exploration stage public company in the lithium mining and energy sector. Li3 aims to acquire, develop and commercialize a significant portfolio of lithium brine deposits in the Americas. With its interest in the Maricunga Project, coupled with the completion of the NI 43101 Compliant Measured Resource Report and the Cocina acquisition, Li3's goals are to: a) advance Maricunga to the Feasibility Stage; b) support the global implementation of clean and green energy initiatives; c) meet growing lithium market demand; and d) become a mid-tier, low cost supplier of lithium, potassium nitrate, iodine and other strategic minerals, serving global clients in the energy, fertilizer and specialty chemical industries. Additional information regarding the Company can be found in our recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as well as the information maintained on our website www.li3energy.com.Any statements contained herein which are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements identified by or containing words like "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "target," "goal," "plans," "objective," "should", or similar expressions. The Company gives no assurances the assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based will prove correct. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and are based on information currently available to us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed herein due to many factors, including, without limitation: obtaining the necessary funding for the company's on-going operations; validation of the POSCO technology; obtaining and the issuance of necessary government consents; confirmation of initial exploration results; the Company's ability to raise additional capital for exploration; development and commercialization of the Company's projects; future findings and economic assessment reports; the Company's ability to identify appropriate corporate acquisition or joint venture opportunities in the lithium mining sector and to establish appropriate technical and managerial infrastructure; political stability in countries in which we operate; and lithium prices. For further information about risks faced by the Company and its Maricunga project, see the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2015. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect events or circumstances which arise after the date of this release, except as required by law.Luis Saenz, Chief Executive Officerluis.saenz@li3energy.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug 2, 2016) - Tudor Gold Corp. (the "Company" or "Tudor Gold") (TSX VENTURE:TUD) wishes to announce the following exploration update regarding its properties in the Golden Triangle area of the Skeena Mining Division near Stewart, British Columbia. A Magnetotelluric ("MT") Geophysical Survey managed by Simcoe Geoscience is underway on the Company's Treaty Creek property. The MT survey has been designed to cover favorable areas identified by previous drilling and geophysical programs. The survey should provide a reliable subsurface resistivity image and has been undertaken due to the successful application of the technology in the area. The first priority is to extend the known results of a previous MT survey collected in 2010 which indicates an anomalous zone on the western edge of the property bordering on the Seabridge discovery property. Past data from all partners and the current MT data being collected will be incorporated into a complete database for Tudor Gold. Tudor Gold will be analyzing and utilizing this data to progress the 2016 and 2017 drill programs. The Company will be commencing a drilling program on the Treaty Creek property within the next few days. The Company has now completed approximately 1500 meters of drilling on the Electrum property and is awaiting assay results. A trenching and sampling program is about to commence on the Electrum property. The Company announces sampling programs on the Orion property and the Eskay North properties are scheduled to begin during the first week in August. A bulk sample on the Doc property (Mackie project) is also planned the first part of August 2016. About the Company Tudor Gold is focused on being a significant explorer in British Columbia's Golden Triangle, an area which hosts multiple past-producing mines and several large deposits that are approaching potential development. The Company has a 60% interest in both the Electrum and Treaty Creek properties, and a 100% interest in the Mackie, Eskay North, Orion, Fairweather, Delta and the High North properties, all of which are located in the Golden Triangle area. There are no known resources or reserves on any of the Company's mineral properties, and the presence of mineral deposits on properties adjacent to or in close proximity to the Company's mineral properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's properties. Walter Storm, President and Chief Executive Officer Cautionary statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Corporation's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Corporation is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. LONDON, Aug. 3, 2016 /CNW/ - Horizonte Minerals Plc, (AIM: HZM, TSX: HZM) ('Horizonte' or 'the Company') the nickel development company focused in Brazil, is pleased to announce the transfer to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company of the remaining two licences that make up the Glencore Araguaia nickel project ('GAP') in north central Brazil. This completes the licence transfer under the agreement ('Asset Purchase Agreement') to acquire GAP from Xstrata Brasil Explorac o Mineral Ltda ('Xstrata'), a wholly owned subsidiary of Glencore, as announced by the Company on 28 September 2015. Highlights The closing of the transaction completes the consolidation of GAP and Horizonte's Araguaia Project creating one of the largest nickel saprolite projects globally The transfer includes the advanced Serra do Tapa nickel deposit Combined projects currently the focus for a new Pre-Feasibility Study due for completion in Q3 2016 Commenting on the closing of the transaction, Horizonte CEO Jeremy Martin said, "I am very pleased to announce the closing of the transaction with Glencore. The purchase of the GAP project and consolidation with our existing Araguaia project creates one of the highest grade saprolite nickel projects globally. We are in the final stages of completing a new Pre-Feasibility study on the combined project with the aim of demonstrating that Araguaia will sit on the lower end of the global cost curve and the upper end of the grade curve with low capital intensity. In short our aim is to develop one of the lower cost ferronickel operations with short capital repayment, while offering operational flexibility for increased nickel production in the future. Following the PFS, the next major milestone on the project will be the full Feasibility Study which is scheduled to commence later this year. This should run in parallel with an improvement in the global nickel markets, prices have increased over the last three months lifting from the multi-year lows seen in Q1 2016." Background Following the registration by the National Department of Mineral Production of Brazil ('DNPM') of the transfer of the outstanding GAP licences from Xstrata to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, Horizonte has now completed the second and final allotment to Xstrata of Initial Consideration Shares. Further to the above, the Company has issued and allotted 50,729,922 new Ordinary Shares to Xstrata, being the Consideration Shares equivalent in value to US$1,340,000. These closing Initial Consideration Shares were issued at a price of 1.99 pence (the 'Issue Price'). In accordance with the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement the Issue Price was equal to the five day weighted average price per Ordinary Share on AIM, taken on the business day when the transfer of the remaining GAP licences was confirmed, and converted at a rate of exchange as set out in the Asset Purchase Agreement. This allocation of shares signifies the completion of the issuance of the Initial Consideration Shares to a total value of US$2,000,000. Initial Consideration Shares were previously issued under the Asset Purchase Agreement to the value of US$660,000 in November 2015 following transfer of the first GAP licence. Admission The issue of the new Ordinary Shares is being made from existing authorities granted to the Directors at the general meeting held on 25 November 2015. Accordingly, the issue and allotment of the new Ordinary Shares is not subject to shareholder approval. Application has been made for the admission of the 50,729,922 new Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM and it is expected that such admission will take place on 8 August 2016 ('Admission'). The new Ordinary Shares will rank pari passu with the existing Horizonte Shares currently in issue. Following Admission, there will be 721,934,300 Horizonte Shares in issue. The commercial terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement are as announced by the Company on 28 September 2015. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014. About Horizonte Minerals: Horizonte Minerals Plc is an AIM and TSX-listed nickel development company focused in Brazil, which wholly owns the advanced Araguaia nickel laterite project located to the south of the Carajas mineral district of northern Brazil. The Company is developing Araguaia as the next major nickel mine in Brazil, with targeted production by 2019. The Project, which has good infrastructure in place including rail, road, water and power. Horizonte has a strong shareholder structure including Teck Resources Ltd. 28.1%, Henderson Global Investors 17.0%. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the potential of the Company's current or future property mineral projects; the success of exploration and mining activities; cost and timing of future exploration, production and development; the estimation of mineral resources and reserves and the ability of the Company to achieve its goals in respect of growing its mineral resources; and the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks related to: exploration and mining risks, competition from competitors with greater capital; the Company's lack of experience with respect to development-stage mining operations; fluctuations in metal prices; uninsured risks; environmental and other regulatory requirements; exploration, mining and other licences; the Company's future payment obligations; potential disputes with respect to the Company's title to, and the area of, its mining concessions; the Company's dependence on its ability to obtain sufficient financing in the future; the Company's dependence on its relationships with third parties; the Company's joint ventures; the potential of currency fluctuations and political or economic instability in countries in which the Company operates; currency exchange fluctuations; the Company's ability to manage its growth effectively; the trading market for the ordinary shares of the Company; uncertainty with respect to the Company's plans to continue to develop its operations and new projects; the Company's dependence on key personnel; possible conflicts of interest of directors and officers of the Company, and various risks associated with the legal and regulatory framework within which the Company operates. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. SOURCE Horizonte Minerals Plc VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 03, 2016) - East Africa Metals Inc. (TSX VENTURE: EAM) ("East Africa" or the "Company") is pleased to report that Tanzanian Goldfields Limited ("Tanzanian Goldfields"), the Company's partner in Tanzania and Developer of the Magambazi Project, has appointed Mr. Gareth Taylor as General Manager for Tanzanian Goldfields. Mr. Taylor has extensive experience in deep level, intermediate, shallow underground and open cast mining in a number of African countries including Mali, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania. For 28 years he was employed by AngloGold Ashanti where he was head of mining and planning for the company's East and West Africa regions and also Managing Director of the Geita Gold Mine in Tanzania. In 2006 Mr. Taylor joined Barrick Gold, where he was Executive General Manager for Barrick Gold Tanzania and Vice President for Barrick Gold Africa, responsible for all Barrick's operational interests in Africa. In 2010 he joined Shanta Gold Limited and held positions as COO and CEO whilst bringing the New Luika Gold Mine to production. Shanta was a company focused on small to medium sized orebodies with production in the 50,000-100,000 ounce per year range requiring relatively low capex with fast payback. Andrew Lee Smith, Company President and CEO stated, "East Africa's Board and Management welcomes the appointment of Gareth Taylor to lead Tanzania Goldfield's technical and operating team in the development of the Magambazi Project. Mr. Taylor has a depth of experience in mine development and mining operations in Tanzania that makes him the ideal candidate to advance our mutual interest in the Magambazi project." The Magambazi Project and Handeni Properties Pursuant to an agreement between Tanzanian Goldfields and East Africa (see news release dated March 7, 2016), East Africa agreed to sell its Magambazi Project, Handeni properties and all properties in Tanzania (the "Tanzanian Assets") to Tanzanian Goldfields for US$1 million and the right to purchase 30% of gold produced during the mining operations at any of the Assets, for a per ounce payment equal to the lesser of: (i) production cost plus 15% based on the Developer's historical and budgeted production costs, and (ii) the prevailing market price for gold. The Magambazi Project is located in the emerging Handeni gold district in eastern Tanzania, 180 kilometres northwest of Dar es Salaam and 140 kilometres southwest of the port city of Tanga. The Project consists of two mining licenses (which cover 9.9 square kilometres) and two prospecting licenses, for an aggregate total of approximately 91 square kilometres. An initial mineral resource estimate for Magambazi was announced on May 15, 2012. Using a cut-off grade of 0.5 grams per tonne gold, Magambazi is estimated to contain an indicated mineral resource of 15.2 million tonnes grading 1.48 grams per tonne gold and containing 721,300 ounces, as well as an inferred mineral resource estimate of 6.7 million tonnes grading 1.36 grams per tonne gold and containing 292,400 ounces. Other key terms of the agreement between East Africa and Tanzania Goldfields also include the following commitments from Tanzanian Goldfields: pay East Africa approximately US$1 million in cash for the book value of the camp, equipment and other assets; convey to East Africa the right to receive a 1.6% Net Smelter Royalty on production, capped at US$1.8M; issue treasury shares of Tanzanian Goldfields that are expected to represent 9.9% of the Tanzanian Goldfields' outstanding shares. Tanzanian Goldfields intends to list on the London Stock Exchange's AIM and expects to issue such shares to East Africa before the listing; and offer East Africa a seat on the Board of Directors of Tanzanian Goldfields and a seat on the Management Committee of the Magambazi project. East Africa is not required to contribute to capital or exploration expenditures with respect to the construction and development of any of the Assets. East Africa has received US$450,000 at the date of this news release towards the purchase price and camp payments, with the balance due March 2017. About East Africa In addition to the Tanzanian Assets, the Company's principal assets and interests include both the 70%-owned Harvest polymetallic VMS exploration Project, which hosts the Terakimti Deposit and which covers approximately 86 square kilometres in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, 600 kilometres north northwest of the capital city of Addis Ababa, and the Adyabo Project, hosting the Mato Bula trend Adyabo Resource, covering 225 square kilometres immediately west of the Harvest Project. The Company owns 80% of the Adyabo Project, and upon execution of a net smelter return agreement the Company will own 100% of the Adyabo Project, subject to a 2% NSR. East Africa now has mineral resources defined at both projects in Ethiopia and plans to continue to test priority targets. More information on the Company can be viewed at the Company's website: www.eastafricametals.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Andrew Lee Smith, P.Geo., CEO Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "budget", "schedule", "may", "will", "could", "might", "should" or variations of such words or similar words or expressions. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by East Africa as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of East Africa to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: early exploration; the closing of the agreement with the exploration and development company to advance the Magambazi Project or identify any other corporate opportunities for the Company; mineral exploration and development; metal and mineral prices; availability of capital; accuracy of East Africa's projections and estimates, including the initial mineral resource for the Adyabo, Harvest and Magambazi Projects; estimated exploration licence extensions, interest and exchange rates; competition; stock price fluctuations; availability of drilling equipment and access; actual results of current exploration activities; government regulation; political or economic developments; foreign taxation risks; environmental risks; insurance risks; capital expenditures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities; personnel relations; the speculative nature of strategic metal exploration and development including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves; contests over title to properties; and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, as well as those risk factors set out in East Africa's management's discussion and analysis for the year end December 31, 2015, management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and East Africa's listing application dated July 8, 2013 and Tigray Resources Inc. Management Information Circular dated March 28, 2014. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The contained gold figures shown are in situ. No assurance can be given that the estimated quantities will be produced. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the successful integration of Tigray Resources Inc.'s business with the Company; the price of gold; the demand for gold; the ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the timely receipt of any required approvals; the ability to obtain qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the ability to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner; and the regulatory framework regarding environmental matters, the renewal or extension of exploration licences, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although East Africa has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. The Company does not update or revise forward looking information even if new information becomes available unless legislation requires the Company do so. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 03, 2016) - Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE: EXK) (TSX: EDR) released today its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016. Endeavour owns and operates three underground silver-gold mines in Mexico: the GuanacevA mine in Durango state, and the BolaAitos and El Cubo mines in Guanajuato state. (Please click here for an audio review of Q2 highlights). The Company's financial performance in the Second Quarter, 2016 improved compared to the Second Quarter, 2015. Revenues were down due to lower silver production and lower silver prices, but earnings were up as a result of lower operating costs. Management successfully strengthened the balance sheet over the past six months through two ATM equity offerings and improved free cash flow. Highlights of Second Quarter 2016 (Compared to Second Quarter 2015) Financial Net earnings of $1.7 million (1) ($0.01 per share) compared to a net loss of $1.0 million (loss of $0.01 per share) ($0.01 per share) compared to a net loss of $1.0 million (loss of $0.01 per share) EBITDA (2) decreased 7% to $10.1 million decreased 7% to $10.1 million Cash flow from operations before working capital changes decreased 15% to $9.4 million Mine operating cash flow before taxes (1) increased 5% to $17.3 million increased 5% to $17.3 million Revenue decreased 7% to $44.5 million Realized silver price increased 1% to $16.54 per ounce (oz) sold Realized gold price increased 8% to $1,289 per oz sold Cash costs (2) decreased 38% to $5.37 per oz silver payable (net of gold credits) decreased 38% to $5.37 per oz silver payable (net of gold credits) All-in sustaining costs (AISC) (2) decreased 38% to $10.53 per oz silver payable (net of gold credits) decreased 38% to $10.53 per oz silver payable (net of gold credits) Raised net proceeds of $30.8 million in Q2, 2016 through two At-the-Market (ATM) equity financings. Endeavour completed its second ATM equity offering subsequent to quarter end, raising an additional $13.9 million in net proceeds Cash increased 178% to $56.8 million and working capital increased 318% to $72.1 million from year end Operations Silver production decreased 14% to 1,551,851 oz Gold production increased 17% to 15,649 oz Silver equivalent production was 2.7 million oz (at a 75:1 silver: gold ratio) Silver oz sold down 22% to 1,493,790 oz Gold oz sold up 11% to 15,364 oz Bullion inventory at quarter-end included 113,064 oz silver and 221 oz gold Concentrate inventory at quarter-end included 41,209 oz silver and 903 oz gold Acquired the El Compas gold-silver mine project in Zacatecas, Mexico Outlined several prospective veins over a seven km by seven km area at the Terronera project Raised 2016 production guidance to 9.0 million to 9.8 million oz silver equivalent, increased capital budget to $17.4 million and exploration budget to $10.1 million to accelerate growth projects, including 23,000 metres extra drilling The Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management's Discussion & Analysis can be viewed on the Company's website at www.edrsilver.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov. All amounts are reported in US$ Mine operating cash flow, EBITDA, cash costs and all-in sustaining costs are non-IFRS measures. Please refer to the definitions in the Company's Management Discussion & Analysis Endeavour CEO Bradford Cooke commented, "Having successfully minimized our all-in sustaining costs and boosted our free cash flows in recent quarters, management returned its attention to optimizing near-term production and long-term growth in Q2, 2016. Our production is well ahead of plan for the year and as a result, we revised our operating plan and raised our production guidance by about 13% for 2016. "Thanks to the turn-around in precious metal prices, we were able to substantially boost our cash and working capital and return some of our focus to exploration, development and acquisitions. Endeavour made its first acquisition in four years with the purchase of Oro Silver and its high quality El Compas gold-silver project in Zacatecas. We also sampled several new high grade veins at Terronera. "Upcoming catalysts for the second half of 2016 include permitting a new mine at GuanacevA, developing a new ore-body at BolaAitos, evaluating a production ramp-up at El Cubo, exploration results across all projects, advancing updated resource estimates and engineering studies at Terronera and El Compas, and adding to our land position in Zacatecas." Operations Update, Revised Operating Plan At GuanacevA, throughput of 1,085 tonnes per day (tpd) in Q2, 2016 lagged behind plan as the new mining contractor focused on mine development in order to provide better stope access in H2, 2016. Ore grades were lower and metal recoveries were higher compared to Q1, 2016. Management expects production to meet the low range of 2016 production guidance. The Company plans to invest $2.8 million in H2, 2016, part of a three-year, $8.4 million capital investment, to commence mine development and ramp down into the Santa Cruz Sur ore-body to access an indicated resource of over 650,000 tonnes grading 250 g/t silver and 0.70 g/t gold. The currently defined ore-body is open to the south and at depth. Underground drilling is planned to continue exploring the mineralized zone once underground access is available. At BolaAitos, throughput averaging 1,498 tpd exceeded plan as mining at LL-AsunciAn uncovered new extensions of the ore-body beyond the resource blocks and also in and around historic mine workings. Ore grades were lower and metal recoveries were higher compared to Q1, 2016. Management has revised 2016 production guidance higher to 900,000-1,000,000 oz silver and 24,000-26,000 oz gold, with throughput decreasing to 800 tpd in H2, 2016 as originally guided. On July 11, 2016, the Company announced plans to invest $1.7 million capital in H2, 2016 to develop the Plateros orebody located only 50 metres from the existing LL-AscunciAn mine workings. The development will access an indicated resource of over 130,000 tonnes grading 116 g/t silver and 1.61 g/t gold, still open at depth. Underground drilling is planned to continue exploring the mineralized zone once underground access is available. At El Cubo, throughput was above plan at 1,562 tpd as management elected to continue mine development sufficient to sustain 1,500 tpd in Q2, 2016 and 1,000 tpd in H2, 2016 given the rising precious metal prices. Endeavour has also made a decision not to ramp down production to care and maintenance by year-end as previously guided, and various operating plans are under evaluation for production to return to 1,500 tpd with additional mine development. Management has revised the 2016 production guidance higher to 1,700,000-1,900,000 silver ounces and 19,000-21,000 gold ounces. On July 11, 2016, the Company announced plans to invest $1.6 million in H2, 2016 to extend the V-AsunciAn ramp an additional 1.6 km in order to access an indicated resource of more than 300,000 tonnes grading 141 g/t silver and 1.55 g/t gold. The V-AsunciAn ore-body extends well south of the current mine plan, but further evaluation work is needed before Endeavour can commit to any additional development. Financial Results For the second quarter ended June 30, 2016, the Company generated revenue totaling $44.5 million (2015 - $47.7 million). During the quarter, the Company sold 1,493,790 silver oz and 15,364 gold oz at realized prices of $16.54 and $1,289 per oz respectively, compared to sales of 1,912,595 silver oz and 13,797 gold oz at realized prices of $16.34 and $1,191 per oz respectively in Q2, 2015. After cost of sales of $31.6 million (2015 - $40.9 million), mine operating earnings amounted to $12.9 million (2015 - $6.8 million) from mining and milling operations in Mexico. Excluding depreciation and depletion of $4.1 million (2015 - $9.3 million), and share-based compensation of $0.2 million (2015 - $0.2 million), mine operating cash flow before taxes was $17.3 million (2015 - $16.4 million) in Q2, 2016. Net earnings were $1.7 million (2015 - net loss of $1.0 million) after exploration expense of $3.2 million (2015 - $2.6 million) and corporate general and administrative costs of $1.9 million (2015 - $2.5 million). The falling Mexican peso and continued focus on cost reductions resulted in lower consolidated operating costs, which fell 12% to $73.01 per tonne in Q2, 2016. This resulted in lower cash costs per oz, net of by-product credits (a non-IFRS measure and a standard of the Silver Institute), which decreased 38% to $5.37 per oz of payable silver compared to $8.60 per oz in Q2, 2015. Similarly the lower operating costs and lower exploration and development expenditures resulted in all in sustaining costs (also a non-IFRS measure) decreasing 38% to $10.53 per oz compared to Q2, 2015. Resuming mine development and exploration programs will increase all in sustaining costs for the second half of the year. Cash holdings grew to $56.8 million and working capital at the end of Q2, 2016 rose to $71.2 million which is sufficient for the Company to meet its short and medium term growth goals. Conference Call A conference call to discuss the results will be held on Wednesday, August 3 at 10am PDT (1pm EDT). To participate in the conference call, please dial the following: Toll-free in Canada and the US: 1-800-319-4610 Local Vancouver: 604-638-5340 Outside of Canada and the US: 1-604-638-5340 No pass-code is necessary to participate in the conference call. A replay of the conference call will be available by dialing 1-800-319-6413 in Canada and the US (toll- free) or 1-604-638-9010 outside of Canada and the US. The required pass-code is 00647 followed by the # sign. The audio replay and a written transcript will also be made available on the Company's website at www.edrsilver.com. About Endeavour - Endeavour is a mid-tier silver mining company focused on growing production, reserves and resources in Mexico. Since start-up in 2004, Endeavour has posted nine consecutive years of accretive growth of its silver mining operations. Endeavour's three silver-gold mines in Mexico combined with its strategic acquisition and exploration programs should facilitate Endeavour's goal to become a premier senior silver producer. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding Endeavour's anticipated performance in 2014 and the timing and results of exploration drill programs. The Company does not intend to, and does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Company's title to properties; fluctuations in the prices of commodities and their impact on reserves and resources as well as those factors described in the section "risk factors" contained in the Company's most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form filed with the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: the continued operation of the Company's mining operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, mining operations will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with management's expectations and achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. ENDEAVOUR SILVER CORP. COMPARATIVE HIGHLIGHTS Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 Q2 2016 Highlights 2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change Production 1,551,851 1,805,569 (14%) Silver ounces produced 3,061,916 3,625,619 (16%) 15,649 13,430 17% Gold ounces produced 31,609 29,238 8% 1,511,109 1,761,926 (14%) Payable silver ounces produced 2,984,791 3,531,850 (15%) 15,200 13,122 16% Payable gold ounces produced 30,718 28,551 8% 2,725,526 2,745,669 (1%) Silver equivalent ounces produced(1) 5,432,591 5,672,279 (4%) 5.37 8.60 (38%) Cash costs per silver ounce(2) 6.49 7.88 (18%) 8.30 13.88 (40%) Total production costs per ounce(2) 9.61 13.43 (28%) 10.53 16.86 (38%) All -in sustaining costs per ounce(2) 10.82 15.09 (28%) 377,198 371,745 1% Processed tonnes 785,751 752,537 4% 73.01 82.80 (12%) Direct production costs per tonne(2) 73.66 82.73 (11%) 9.94 11.05 (10%) Silver co-product cash costs (2) 10.41 10.85 (4%) 774 806 (4%) Gold co-product cash costs (2) 823 784 5% Financial 44.5 47.7 (7%) Revenue ($ millions) 86.0 98.8 (13%) 1,493,790 1,912,595 (22%) Silver ounces sold 3,005,109 3,774,570 (20%) 15,364 13,797 11% Gold ounces sold 30,619 29,596 3% 16.54 16.34 1% Realized silver price per ounce 15.86 16.72 (5%) 1,289 1,191 8% Realized gold price per ounce 1,254 1,207 4% 1.7 (1.0) 274% Net earnings (loss) ($ millions) 3.5 0.4 (821%) 12.9 6.8 88% Mine operating earnings (loss) ($ millions) 19.2 15.9 21% 17.3 16.4 5% Mine operating cash flow(2) ($ millions) 28.7 36.0 (20%) 9.4 11.0 (15%) Operating cash flow before working capital changes (2) 16.9 24.8 (32%) 10.1 10.9 (7%) Earnings before ITDA (2) 18.8 27.2 (31%) 72.1 26.7 170% Working capital ($ millions) 72.1 26.7 170% Shareholders 0.01 (0.01) 200% Earnings (loss) per share - basic 0.03 0.00 100% 0.08 0.11 (23%) Operating cash flow before working capital changes per share (2) 0.15 0.24 (36%) 113,236,504 101,976,901 11% Weighted average shares outstanding 108,941,454 101,976,901 7% (1) Silver equivalent ounces calculated using 75:1 ratio in 2016 and 70:1 in 2015 (2) Cost metrics, EBITDA, mine operating cash flow, operating cash flow before working capital changes are non-IFRS measures. Please refer to the definitions in the Company's Management Discussion & Analysis. ENDEAVOUR SILVER CORP. CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30 June 30, June 30 2016 2015 2016 2015 Operating activities Net earnings (loss) for the period $ 1,699 $ (974 ) $ 3,528 $ 383 Items not affecting cash: Share-based compensation 1,404 1,114 1,861 1,594 Depreciation and depletion 4,211 9,457 9,433 19,975 Deferred income tax expense (recovery) 46 1,075 (57 ) 2,078 Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) 108 8 (134 ) 148 Loss on available for sale assets - - 269 - Loss on derivative liability 1,372 - 1,372 - Finance costs 518 306 581 612 Net changes in non-cash working capital 828 8,078 (9,496 ) (1,441 ) Cash from (used in) operating activities 10,186 19,064 7,357 23,349 Investing activites Property, plant and equipment expenditures (4,122 ) (9,352 ) (7,209 ) (18,017 ) Proceeds from disposition of available for sale assets - - 448 - Investment in long term deposits - - 133 - Cash used in investing activities (4,122 ) (9,352 ) (6,628 ) (18,017 ) Financing activities Repayment of revolving credit facility (5,000 ) (4,000 ) (8,000 ) (4,000 ) Repayment of obligation under finance lease (163 ) - (389 ) - Debt issuance costs (170 ) - (474 ) - Interest paid (215 ) - (389 ) - Public equity offerings 32,026 - 41,124 - Exercise of options and warrants 5,254 (224 ) 5,285 (449 ) Share issuance costs (1,168 ) - (1,446 ) - Cash from (used in) financing activites 30,564 (4,224 ) 35,711 (4,449 ) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 36,628 5,488 36,440 883 Effect of exchange rate change on cash and cash equivalents (165 ) (8 ) (5 ) (148 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 20,385 26,300 20,413 31,045 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 56,848 $ 31,780 $ 56,848 $ 31,780 This statement should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2016 and the related notes contained therein. ENDEAVOUR SILVER CORP. CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (expressed in thousands of US dollars, except for shares and per share amounts) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Revenue $ 44,510 $ 47,719 $ 86,051 $ 98,828 Cost of sales: Direct production costs 26,975 31,091 56,819 62,360 Royalties 276 243 485 491 Share-based compensation 230 167 286 240 Depreciation and depletion 4,144 9,382 9,298 19,836 31,625 40,883 66,888 82,927 Mine operating earnings 12,885 6,836 19,163 15,901 Expenses: Exploration 1,908 2,479 3,107 3,553 General and administrative 3,155 2,574 5,183 4,403 5,063 5,053 8,290 7,956 Operating earnings (loss) 7,822 1,783 10,873 7,945 Finance costs 294 354 581 667 Other income (expense): Foreign exchange (1,847 ) (704 ) (1,333 ) (1,371 ) Investment and other (43 ) 330 (184 ) 684 (1,890 ) (374 ) (1,517 ) (687 ) Earnings (loss) before income taxes 5,638 1,055 8,775 6,591 Income tax expense (recovery): Current income tax 3,480 954 4,891 4,130 Deferred income tax 459 1,075 356 2,078 3,939 2,029 5,247 6,208 Net earnings (loss) for the period 1,699 (974 ) 3,528 383 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax Net change in fair value of available for sale investments 45 256 207 660 Comprehensive income (loss) for the period $ 1,744 $ (718 ) $ 3,735 $ 1,043 Basic earnings (loss) per share based on net earnings $ 0.01 $ (0.01 ) $ 0.03 $ 0.00 Diluted earnings (loss) per share based on net earnings $ 0.01 $ (0.01 ) $ 0.03 $ 0.00 Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding 113,236,504 101,976,901 108,941,454 101,976,901 Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding 114,661,697 101,976,901 109,969,054 101,976,901 This statement should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2016 and the related notes contained therein. ENDEAVOUR SILVER CORP. CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (expressed in thousands of US dollars) June 30, December 31, 2016 2015 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 56,848 $ 20,413 Investments 104 614 Accounts receivable 30,962 24,343 Inventories 12,608 17,350 Prepaid expenses 1,823 2,510 Total current assets 102,345 65,230 Non-current deposits 874 855 Deferred income tax asset - 223 Mineral properties, plant and equipment 53,419 47,925 Total assets $ 156,638 $ 114,233 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 14,248 $ 18,949 Derivative liablitiy 1,372 - Finance lease obligation 388 1,180 Income taxes payable 4,191 5,844 Credit facility 10,000 22,000 Total current liabilities 30,199 47,973 Credit facility - long term 4,000 - Provision for reclamation and rehabilitation 7,804 7,762 Deferred income tax liability 7,204 7,623 Total liabilities 49,207 63,358 Shareholders' equity Share capital, unlimited common shares authorized, no par value, issued and outstanding 120,983,022 shares (Dec 31, 2015 - 102,776,470 shares) 422,492 368,898 Contributed surplus 8,327 9,465 Accumulated comprehensive income (loss) 62 (145 ) Retained earnings (deficit) (323,450 ) (327,343 ) Total shareholders' equity 107,431 50,875 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 156,638 $ 114,233 This statement should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2016 and the related notes contained therein. THUNDER BAY, ON, Aug. 3, 2016 - Premier Gold Mines Ltd. ("Premier") (TSX:PG) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter agreement with Orion Mine Finance ("Orion") to fully-fund the cash component of the recently announced acquisition (the "Acquisition") of the Mercedes Mine (the "Mercedes Mine") from Yamana Gold Inc. ("Yamana") for a total purchase price of US$140.0 million (based on the July 5, 2016 closing price on the date of signing the non-binding letter of intent with Yamana). It is expected that the cash component (US$122.5 million) of the purchase price will be funded with a comprehensive financing package (the "Financing") provided by Orion and comprised of the following: Senior Secured Gold Prepay Facility of US$42.2 million for which Premier will deliver to Orion 2,450 troy ounces of gold per quarter for a period of 15 consecutive quarters following the closing date of the Acquisition plus an interest rate of 6.5%. Premier will have the option to satisfy four interest payments in common shares of Premier issued at a 10 day volume weighted average closing price ("VWAP"); Silver Stream of US$11.5 million (50% of the silver production from the Mercedes Mine for the initial four quarters, 60% for the subsequent four quarters, and 70% until the delivery of 1.25 million ounces of silver, after which the delivery will be reduced to 25% of the silver production until the delivery of 2.0 million ounces, and reduced further to 12.5% thereafter) with an ongoing payment based on 20% of the prevailing silver price; An increase in Premier's existing unsecured credit facility with Orion of US$15 million to US$45 million (US$5 million currently outstanding). The interest rate associated with this facility will remain unaltered at 6%; 1,000,000 Common Share Purchase Warrants at an exercise price equal to 130% of the Equity Subscription Price (defined below) exercisable until 24 months after the closing date of the Acquisition; Equity component of US$35 million at an issuance price (the "Equity Subscription Price") equal to the VWAP of Premier's Common Shares during the 10 business days leading up to the closing date of the Financing. Premier has the option to reduce the equity component by up to $20 million at its sole discretion; and An offtake obligation of 15 koz Au annually relating exclusively to production from the Mercedes Mine. The Financing is subject to customary closing conditions including, the execution of definitive documentation with respect to the Financing and the receipt of all required regulatory approvals (including the Toronto Stock Exchange). The balance of the purchase price will be financed through the issuance to Yamana upon the closing of the Acquisition of 6,000,000 common shares in the capital of Premier and 3,000,000 common share purchase warrants, with each warrant having an exercise price of C$4.75 per common share until 24 months after the closing date of the Acquisition, subject to approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Pursuant to the acquisition agreement with Yamana, Premier has agreed to acquire all of the shares of Yamana's indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, which indirectly owns all interests in the Mercedes Mine. Located in Sonora State in Mexico, the Mercedes Mine has been in production since 2011 and is currently mining 3 underground gold-silver deposits. From 2012 to 2015, the mine produced an average of ~110.5 koz of gold annually. The Mercedes Mine currently has Mineral Reserves of 333 koz gold and 3,750 koz silver contained in 2.4 million tonnes of ore at 4.33 g/t of gold and 48.8 g/t of silver; Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources (exclusive of reserves) of 537 koz gold and 5,817 koz silver contained in 5.0 million tonnes of ore at 3.36 g/t of gold and 36.5 g/t of silver; and Inferred Mineral Resources of 239 koz gold and 2,001 koz silver contained in 2.2 million tonnes of ore at 3.45 g/t of gold and 28.9 g/t of silveri. "This financing arrangement was constructed with a view toward minimizing near-term shareholder dilution," stated Steve Filipovic, Chief Financial Officer of Premier. "With positive cash flow expected during the second half of this year we expect Premier's financial position will continue to strengthen as we progress toward 2017." The Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions including receipt of the required Mexican anti-trust approval and the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Stephen McGibbon, P. Geo., Vice President of Corporate & Project Development, P. Geo., is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. Premier Gold Mines Limited is one of North America's leading exploration and development companies with a high-quality pipeline of projects focused in proven, safe and accessible mining jurisdictions in Canada and the United States that includes world class gold mining districts such as Red Lake and Geraldton in Ontario and the Carlin and Eureka-Battle Mountain Trends in Nevada. This news release contains certain information that may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking information"), including but not limited to information about the structure, terms and timing of the Acquisition; the structure, terms and timing of the Financing; whether the Acquisition and the Financing will be completed; and information relating to the properties and relating to the Mercedes Mine. This forward-looking information entails various risks and uncertainties that are based on current expectations, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in such information. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength of the global economy; the price of gold; operational, funding and liquidity risks; the degree to which mineral resource estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources; the degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable are present; and the ability of Premier to fund its substantial capital requirements and operations. Risks and uncertainties about Premier's business are more fully discussed in Premier's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada available at www.sedar.com. Readers are urged to read these materials. Premier assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by law. ____________________________ i Per Yamana 2015 Annual Information Form SOURCE Premier Gold Mines Ltd. Contact Ewan Downie, President & CEO, Phone: 807-346-1390, Fax: 807-346-1381, e-mail: Info@premiergoldmines.com; Web Site: www.premiergoldmines.com TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - August 03, 2016) - On September 28, 2015, it was announced that an agreement had been reached to sell the Glencore Araguaia nickel project ("GAP") in north central Brazil to HZM. Pursuant to a conditional asset purchase agreement ("Asset Purchase Agreement") between, amongst others, Horizonte Minerals Plc ("HZM") and Xstrata Brasil ExploraAAo Mineral Ltda. ("XBEM") a wholly-owned subsidiary of Glencore Canada Corporation (Glencore Canada Corporation together with XBEM, "Glencore"), HZM agreed to pay a total consideration of US$8 million to XBEM, which held the title to GAP. The consideration was/is to be paid according the following schedule: US$2,000,000 in ordinary shares ("Ordinary Shares") of HZM (the "Initial Consideration Shares"). 23,777,273 Initial Consideration Shares with a value of US$660,000 were issued to XBEM on 25 November 2015. The balance of a further 50,729,922 Initial Consideration Shares (the "Second Tranche Shares") with a value of US$1,340,000 were issued to XBEM on August 3, 2016 (the "Transaction"); US$1,000,000 after the date of issuance of a joint feasibility study for certain project areas, to be satisfied in Ordinary Shares (at the five-day volume weighted average price taken on the tenth business day after the date of such issuance) or cash, at the election of HZM; and the remaining US$5,000,000 consideration paid in cash, as at the date of first commercial production from certain specified resource areas. The Asset Purchase Agreement contains customary warranties regarding GAP and the parties' ability to enter into the Transaction, and is subject to customary termination rights and confidentiality obligations. Immediately before the Transaction, Glencore owned and exercised control over 23,777,273 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 3.54% of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. Upon issuance of the Second Tranche Shares, Glencore acquired 50,729,922 Ordinary Shares. After giving effect to this issuance, the percentage of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares owned and controlled, directly and indirectly, by Glencore increased by approximately 6.76% and Glencore now owns and controls, directly and indirectly, a total of 74,507,195 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 10.3% of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. The Second Tranche Shares were issued by HZM to XBEM as partial consideration for GAP. The Second Tranche Shares had an aggregate value of US$1,340,000 (US$0.026 per share) out of a total purchase price payable by HZM for GAP of US$8,000,000. Using the Bank of Canada Noon Rate of Exchange on August 2, 2016 this represents an aggregate value of C$1,753,926 or C$0.035 per share. Glencore's decision to enter into the Transaction was made in connection with its decision to dispose of GAP. Glencore will continue to review its investment alternatives from time to time and may determine to increase or decrease its equity ownership in HZM through the acquisition or sale of additional outstanding common shares or other securities of HZM through open market or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws. HZM's head office is located at 26 Dover Street London, United Kingdom, W1S 4LY. Glencore Canada Corporation's head office is located at 100 King Street West, Suite 6900 P.O. Box 403 Toronto, Ontario M5X 1E3. XBEM's head office is located at Avenida Afonso Pena No. 2770, 2nd Floor, Bairro Funcionarios, CEP 30130-007, City of Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A copy of the early warning report corresponding to this press release can be obtained from Stephen Young, Company legal counsel, at 416-775-1556 or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Glencore is one of the world's largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 90 commodities. The Group's operations comprise around 150 mining and metallurgical sites, oil production assets and agricultural facilities. With a strong footprint in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, Glencore's industrial and marketing activities are supported by a global network of more than 90 offices located in over 50 countries. Glencore's customers are industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, oil and food processing. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. Glencore's companies employ around 160,000 people, including contractors. Glencore is proud to be a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the International Council on Mining and Metals. We are an active participant in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Rockpool Est. 1989 is officially dead, but on Monday, Eleven Bridge, a reincarnation of the long-time heavy hitter, will rise from the ashes, with Neil Perry and his crack team, including executive chef Phil Wood and sommelier Sebastian Crowther, still at the helm. So what's for dinner? The produce-driven approach is still there, but Eleven Bridge will showcase a return to tableside cooking and a celebration of "the mastery and art of the finest cooking", according to Perry. "We're looking forward to going back to an a la carte menu and the name change, so our customers are more relaxed and not confused. "Luxury is choice, so they get to come back and have a choice of nine or ten starters and so on. We're very focused on the level of service; dishes finished at the table is one of our signatures, so that will be much more engaging." Expect local abalone, cooked in brown butter, to be carved and plated table-side, lamb served unveiled in a puff of tea-smoke and Hiramasa kingfish sashimi sauced with aged mirin at the table. The lobster from Eleven Bridge, the new incarnation of Rockpool Est. 1989. Photo: David Griffen There's also a whole lobster, roasted and split to share with congee and garnishes, a quail poached and served with its eggs in a drunken shao hsing dressing, and chicken served with scallop mousse and a bacon-coffee dashi. Good news for sweet tooths, too. "We're looking forward to date tart going back to its original size; it was a petite four but now everyone can order a whole slice." Advertisement Perry and his Rockpool kitchen forged some of Australia's best-known dishes; from the date tart (calm down, it's still on the Eleven Bridge menu) to the rich and noble lobster congee, and fish fillets poached in coconut milk. With that in mind, we asked Perry to predict which dishes from the new menu might reach that same cult status, or in the very least, go on to instagrammable glory. 1. Whole partridge steamed in bread with walnut and cabbage salad, $59 "We cook a whole partridge in Chinese steam bread; it's hermetically sealed and steamed, so it cooks to be super tender but really flavourful in a hot and sour sauce," Perry says. "The bread is broken open tableside and served on the side, to soak everything up. It's really beautiful and a dish that I think people will really love." The partridge Eleven Bridge, the new incarnation of Rockpool Est. 1989. Photo: David Griffen 2. Hand-picked mud crab salad with salted duck egg mayonnaise, $54 "The mud crab dish is so simple; I love the idea of that beautiful hand-picked mub crab with not too much else going on, just a couple of elements. A lot of energy goes into perfectly picking and cooking the crab, and the salted duck egg mayonnaise really accentuates that taste of the sea." 3. Tea-smoked lamb pastrami with eggplant and raisin salad, $59 "The lamb sits in a pastrami brine for a week, so it takes on a peppery coriander flavour, and then it's tea-smoked and sliced table-side," he said. "It's served with a salad that's almost like a Chinese fish-fragrant eggplant; just super delicious." 4. King prawn mousse rolled in pangrattato served on squid ink butter, $36 "The mousse is a really delicious ball and in the centre, there's a liquid prawn sauce, which turns it into this wonderful moist thing. It's steamed and rolled in Italian breadcrumbs, and served on squid ink butter, which is dark, rich and inky - a nice foil to the prawns." 5. Poached john dory with fresh tofu and miso, $59 "This dory is really delicate but full of flavour; the miso dashi is quite clean and the tofu is very fresh. It's a quite beautiful dish." President Barack Obama answers a question a joint news conference with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the White House Washington. Associated Press SHARE By Justin Sink, Bloomberg News (TNS) WASHINGTON President Barack Obama on Tuesday reaffirmed his support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the controversial 12-nation trade deal, and said that he believes he has "the better argument" than the pact's foes, including Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. The agreement has become a flash point in the 2016 election, and Obama acknowledged that globalization and technology have increased anxiety among some Americans. But Obama said that abandoning trade deals is not the solution. "The answer cannot be to back away from trade and the global economy," he said at a news conference at the White House following a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. "It is here to stay. It is not possible to cut ourselves off. To try to pull up the drawbridge on trade would only hurt ourselves and our workers." Both Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton have said they would not support the agreement, which has drawn the furor of blue-collar workers and activists in both parties. "Right now I'm president, and I'm for it," Obama said. "I think I've got the better argument." The World Bank says the deal, which would be the biggest U.S. trade agreement since the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, could raise gross domestic product by an average 1.1 percent in member countries by 2030. The pact goes beyond typical trade agreements that focus mostly on reducing tariffs by highlighting stricter safeguards for patents and leveling the playing field for companies that compete with government-backed businesses. Obama said the deal would also create enforceable labor and environmental rules, enabling countries party to the agreement to better police undesirable activities such as human trafficking, wildlife poaching, illegal fishing, child labor and deforestation. "It gives us leverage to promote things that progressives and people here in this country, including labor unions, say they care about," Obama said. "I have not yet heard anybody make an argument that the existing trading rules are better for issues like labor rights and environmental rights than they would be if we got TPP passed." Clinton helped negotiate the deal as Obama's secretary of state but was forced to disavow the completed agreement under pressure from her primary opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an opponent of the pact. Sanders earned broad applause during his Democratic convention speech last week when he said Democrats should seek to block any effort to bring up the deal during Congress's so-called lame duck session after the election. "I've got some very close friends, people I admire a lot, but I just disagree with them," Obama said. "That's OK. I respect the arguments they're making. They come from a sincere concern about the position of workers and wages in this country." Republican lawmakers have shown little appetite for holding a vote on the deal, which Trump routinely belittles on the campaign trail as bad for American workers. Last month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appraised the odds for the deal this year as "pretty slim." Photos by Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune/TNS With our mix-and-match guide, you can build the burger you like. Here are three combos to get you started. From left, pickled onions, Gruyere and chimichurri sauce; Stilton, bacon jam and grilled pineapple-jalapeno salsa (or leave them whole); and raclette, sauteed mushrooms and marrownaise. SHARE Raclette, clockwise from left, Gruyere and Stilton cheeses, bring different flavors to your burger. Marrownaise? What? That's when you take the marrow from roasted bones and stir it into your favorite mayo. You'll love the beef-on-beef flavor. Beefy burgers benefit from the bright addition of chimichurri, and with farmers market season in full swing, it's easy to adapt your finds into the sauce. Bacon jam gives your burger a salty-sweet hit. Make it yourself, or look for jarred versions in specialty shops and some grocery stores. By Joseph Hernandez, Chicago Tribune (TNS) A good burger is a glorious thing. The confluence of savory meat, fresh toppings, soft bread and flavorful condiments creates a nearly perfect bite. I say "nearly" because the burger-eating experience can't go on forever. Eventually, you've eaten the thing, and that's when the sadness sets in (that is, until you fix yourself another). The thing about burgers is that burger nirvana teeters on the knife's edge of mediocrity and greatness. Of course it's easy to make an OK burger, but making a great one is surprisingly just as simple. The blueprint for a great burger starts with what else? the meat. We won't condescend to you: You probably know better than cooking from frozen: those dry, relatively tasteless pucks. The heart and soul of a burger, after all, is its juiciness. And while pre-packed ground beef will do in a pinch, it's not always clear when it was ground. Your best bet? Ask your butcher or someone at the meat counter to grind your preferred meat blend. Whether you opt for chuck, brisket or a combination of meats, keep in mind fat content: You want at least 15 percent fat. But why stop there? Go for the gold with an 80-20 ratio for maximum juiciness. When it comes to seasoning, salt and pepper are all you'll need. You're not mixing meatloaf, so don't bother gilding the lily. Tenderly, gingerly flatten your patty to be just larger than your bun (burgers contract!), about 4 inches in diameter. Or smash it. (Leah Eskin explains how here.) At this point, you're either going to grill or griddle the burger. Sure, a searing hot grill imparts smoky flavors, but the loss of liquid seems a terrible waste; a flat surface cooks the burger in its own juices. Whatever method you decide, season the meat generously on both sides and throw it on the hot surface. Sear each side to desired doneness. Personally, rare to medium rare are ideal, but I don't know your life you may like it well-done! (The quote "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it," comes to mind.) For a bun, you can go standard. Or pick a potato roll, brioche, rye or pretzel bun: No matter how you roll, butter the insides and throw it on the grill or grill pan. Don't argue. And you're done! Or are you? If the patty is the canvas, the condiments are your colors. Of course you can go classic: Cheese (American or cheddar), crisp iceberg lettuce and a just ripe summer tomato, plus ketchup, mustard and mayo like the Three Musketeers of Flavortown, they'll never betray you. But we're here to up your burger game. Get artistic with our mix-and-match categories here. Pick a cheese, a topping, a sauce. Layer as you like. Go! CHEESE Put down the basic American cheese. You've had enough burgers with the stuff, and it's definitely not going anywhere. It's time to branch out. 1. Go for the gold with oozy, gooey raclette, the Swiss cow's-milk cheese that is, in a world, molten. It's basically like pouring a cauldron of fondue on your burger, and what's wrong with that? 2. If you're looking for something less messy (napkins were invented for burgers, according to history, probably), opt for another Swiss cheese, Gruyere. Sweet and nutty when young, aged Gruyere would contribute rich, earthy flavors to your burger. 3. While raclette and Gruyere complement the meat, Stilton is an assertive choice that will reward you with creaminess, funky aromatics and an injection of salty goodness (and it goes great with sweeter toppings). TOPPINGS If you're grilling, take advantage of the already-hot surface to char some toppings and thereby add deeper smoky flavors with each bite. 1. First, seed and core a jalapeno (or any pepper) before blistering it over the flame (a vegetable grate will come in handy here), which will tame the pepper's heat while coaxing out sweet, smoky flavors. Grill a slice or more of fresh pineapple. Then chop and mix with the pepper for an easy salsa upgrade. 2. Steak Diane is one of those '70s-era dishes that have gone out of fashion, but its flavors thanks to a caramel-y sauce are perfect on a burger. Rather than prepare the dish just for the sauce, it's easier to saute earthy mushrooms in butter with a sliced shallot, finished off with a glug of brandy (or even a nutty, semi-dry sherry). The alcohol contributes a little more richness to the topping, marrying its flavors with the mushrooms and helping deepen the caramelization in the pan. 3. Pickling can be quite a chore, but "quick pickling" is a handy skill for any home cook. While store-bought pickles are great, the quick pickle allows you to play with different veggies, slices and flavors. Think of it this way: A quick pickle is basically a marinade for vegetables. Sliced red onion on a burger can be too acidic and astringent, an aggressive component that can throw a burger's flavors out of whack. Some time in a brine, though, softens its flavors while still keeping its crunch. In a clean jar, add 1 cup apple cider vinegar and dissolve 1 teaspoon each salt and brown sugar. Add 6 white or black peppercorns, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper and 1 sliced red onion. Set aside for a minimum of 30 minutes to allow flavors to marry. Pickled onions can be prepared days in advance; they will keep for 3 weeks refrigerated. SAUCE Burgers should be juicy enough to stand on their own, but if you're looking to amp up the flavor quotient, a sauce is your best bet. They can be mayo, mustard or ketchup, of course, or go more exotic and chef-y. 1. Argentinians swear by chimichurri, the piquant, verdant green herb sauce found on many a steak throughout the country. Beefy burgers benefit from the bright addition of chimichurri, and with market season in full swing, it's easy to adapt your finds into the sauce. A favorite is blending a bunch of garlic scapes milder than their mature counterparts with a handful each of parsley and cilantro, juice from half a lemon, a glug of red wine vinegar and enough olive oil to yield a chunky, aromatic puree. 2. Double down on the beef flavor with a little something my partner's family likes to call "marrownaise," essentially an aioli boosted by extra-savory roasted marrow. After sourcing two or three (go crazy!) 4-inch pieces of marrow from your butcher, roast in a 425-degree oven for 30 minutes. Allow to cool, then scoop out the marrow into 2 cups of your favorite mayo, along with one clove finely minced garlic and 1 tablespoon minced parsley. Apply liberally to your burger. 3. Bacon on a burger is done, it's old, stop it now. I don't mean it, of course, because bacon on a burger is just one of those things that never go out of fashion. That said, it's always OK to mix things up. One way is with bacon jam, a salty-sweet hit of meaty bacon and caramelized alliums (the family of vegetables made up of onions, shallots and garlic). And while it takes a little bit of time to make some at home, you can easily find jars of the stuff in grocery stores and specialty markets. SHARE By Rashda Khan, Rashda.Khan@gosanangelo.com / @Rashda_SAST After almost three hours of discussion and two failed motions at City Council on Tuesday, the bottom line is short-term rentals are illegal in San Angelo. The city's Planning and Development Services Department defines short-term rentals as rentals of an entire house or dwelling unit for a period of fewer than 30 consecutive days. Several San Angelo residents weighed in passionately on both sides of the issue. For some, short-term rentals helped pay the bills and hold on to their properties. For others, it was about maintaining the integrity of neighborhoods where they invested in a family home and an environment to raise children in. Councilwoman Charlotte Farmer, of Single Member District 6, made the motion to postpone a decision on short-term rentals until more information could be gathered on the issue. "I want to come up with a solution, not just say yea or nay on the issue," she said. "I think we need to look at a little longer, certainly longer than ... this morning. I'm sure there's a happy medium." Councilman Lane Carter, representing SMD 5, seconded her motion because "we have to work out some issues before we go forward." Some of the issues he mentioned included the need to amp up code enforcement to deal with existing and future ordinances and create a standardized vetting process that applies to all short-term rentals. The motion to postpone failed to pass. Mayor Dwain Morrison liked the ordinance amendments proposed by the city's Planning & Development Services department, which would "allow short-term rentals with conditions." He called it a good compromise because "it'll make people on both sides mad, and that to me is a good ordinance." Councilman Marty Self made a motion to accept the ordinance amendment as presented, allowing for backyard camping and two-year renewals of certification. However, that motion also failed. While the proposed ordinances would have impacted all short-term rentals in the city, the majority of the existing properties are clustered around Lake Nasworthy. Bill Richardson, who won the SMD 1 council seat this year and represents the area, said the majority of the feedback he received opposed legalizing short-term rentals. "If you buy a house in a residential area, it should remain a residential area," he said before voting. "I have to go with the vast majority that doesn't want them. Neighborhoods are where families belong. That's not where businesses belong." The failure of the two motions and the fact no one on the council made a third motion means the ordinance stays unchanged. Some, including the mayor, seemed confused about what the result meant: would the short-term rentals continue doing business as they were without any additional regulations or does it stop this mode of renting in San Angelo. Jon James, director of planning and development services, explained that according to existing ordinance, short-term rentals are illegal. "The confusion arises because there is no specific ordinance that talks about short-term rentals," he said. "But it is addressed in a roundabout way." James shared Section 313 of the city's Zoning Ordinance, in which short-term rentals are defined as nonresidential and therefore not allowed within residential zoning areas: "Characteristics. Household Living is characterized by the residential occupancy of a dwelling unit by a household. Tenancy is arranged on a month-to-month or longer basis. Uses where tenancy may be arranged for a shorter period are not considered residential. They are considered to be a form of transient lodging (see the Retail Sales and Service and Community Service categories)." According to Anthony Wilson, the city's public information officer, those who operate short-term rentals as such could face legal action. "It's not like an iron door slamming shut," he said. "People need fair warning." Wilson said the city is considering a grace period to allow existing short-term rentals to wind down, and he will provide details as they become available. Owners of short-term rentals also can apply to the Planning Commission to operate bed-and-breakfasts, which are legal, he said. While bed-and-breakfasts are also rentals of less than 30 consecutive days, only part of a dwelling individual rooms or a guest cottage is rented out. "They would have to operate the business differently," Wilson said, adding that owners would have to be on-site and rent out rooms rather than entire houses. SHARE By Staff Report The Sutton County Hospital District reached a resolution involving employment contract disputes for two of its physicians. The hospital district's board of directors agreed that it will work with Mark and Kristy Edwards to resolve their employment complaints following a closed session consultation with the hospital district's attorney at a special meeting Monday. In a letter sent to Robert L. Spurck, counsel for SCHD, from the Edwardses' attorney, Joshua Flynt, the Edwardses, both contracted physicians with the hospital district, said their complaints came as a result of nontransparent conduct by the hospital district's Chief Executive Officer John Graves. "Mr. Graves conduct over the last year caused my clients to question whether the Board wants to continue employing them," the letter states. "And his ongoing behavior gives them no confidence that he will act as an honest broker in these discussions." The letter states that significant trust issues have developed between the Edwardses and Graves because Graves contacted the Edwardses almost a year ago allegedly in an attempt to "inappropriately leverage their personal relationship with Dr. Chris Hall in contract negotiations." The letter states that in a string of emails and privates conversations this year, board members deliberated with one another directly and through Graves to develop a plan for renegotiating and terminating the employment contracts of Hall and the Edwardses. Chris Hall, a former contracted physician with the hospital district, sued Graves and SCHD saying that Graves and the board of directors broke the law by violating the Texas Open Meetings Act, then fired him in retaliation after he blew the whistle on them. "Mark and Kristy have significant questions related to the Board's position on their continued employment with the hospital," the letter stated. "The Edwards request that the Board clearly set forth its intention regarding continued employment, termination, desire to attempt renegotiation." The hospital board unanimously approved a motion during Monday's meeting for Burroughs Healthcare Consulting Network to work with the Edwardses in reaching a solution with their employment contracts, contingent that the two doctors agree to work with Burroughs. Graves declined to comment Wednesday and said in an email he would provide details regarding Monday's meeting soon. SHARE Luis Ayala Shannon Strasburg By Staff report A man and woman who work for a food service contractor are accused of improper sexual activity with inmates at the Tom Green County Jail. Luis Carlos Ayala, 51, and Shannon Lorrian Strasburg, 45, are private employees of the contractor that prepares meals in the jail, according to a news release from the Tom Green County Sheriffs Office. They are charged with violations of the civil rights of person in custody; improper sexual activity with person in custody, the release states. The two were charged with separate and distinct violations, according to the release. The charge is a state jail felony, punishable by 180 days to two years imprisonment and up to $10,000 in fines. The Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division received information that the offenses were taking place in the jail and conducted several interviews, the release states. Investigators presented the information theyd gathered to the District Attorneys Office and obtained warrants for both suspects. Ayala and Strasburg were charged and arrested Tuesday and booked into the Tom Green County Jail, the release states. Neither suspect has other arrests on record in Tom Green County. A 2014 county document shows Aramark Correctional Services is contracted to provide food services at the jail through the end of August. Aramark, with headquarters in Philadelphia, had a job opening for "Cook Supervisor - Tom Green County" listed on monster.com, posted Monday. Aramark officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening. The investigation is ongoing, and no further information was released. SHARE The plentiful rainfall in May and June, followed by the driest July on record has ushered in perhaps the hottest August with dying tall brown grass across the range creating a tinderbox for wildfire potential. Already grass fires have occurred in parts of Tom Green, Irion, Reagan and Crockett counties. "So far, the Elkins Ranch has escaped range fires and we have been lucky," said Mike Elkins of Barnhart. "But wildfires have been all around us. The nearest one was on the Dublin Ranch, south of Barnhart. "However, there remains plenty of pasture grass for livestock to graze," he said. "We plan to ship calves this weekend and will probably put molasses feeders out for the mother cows when we turn them out." Barnhart is 52 miles southwest of San Angelo. George Blackstone, grandfather to Mike and brother, Steve, moved to Barnhart in 1925 to ranch with his brother "Nip" Blackstone. Nip stumbled upon the ranch in 1909 when he made a trip to San Angelo by train to purchase cattle for his ranch in the Indian Territory of Oklahoma. At age 64, George retired from ranching and handed the reins over to his daughter and son-in-law Nina and Fred Elkins. Steve Elkins was just a child when his parents took over the ranch and Mike was born on the homestead in 1946. Steve and Mike operated the 23,000-acre ranch as a partnership for the last 20-plus years. "We have restocked with sheep for the first time in many years. We have been a straight cow-calf operation but with another drought coming on, we thought it was time to get back in the sheep business," Mike told me (laughing). Although Mike and his wife, Mary Lou, have turned over the ranch operation to their sons, Chad and Mark Elkins, Mike still rides the range often. There have been several grass fires in Crockett County recently. More than 4,000 acres burned in Crockett County in August 2015. A grass fire burned 3,400 acres, of which 3,000 were on the VIP Ranch near Ozona, said Pierce Miller, general partner. "The fire smoldered for a day following another blaze on the Bob Buchholz Ranch, south of the VIP, and a day later it burst out with low humidity and strong winds," Miller told me. "Thanks to the Ozona Volunteer Fire Department and the Texas A&M Forest Service with all their personnel and equipment, the fire was finally contained. "About half of the fire was on land that burned in 2011. Interestingly, much of the cedar that died from the drought did not burn to the ground, only blackened. No structures were lost, and most of the fencing was metal posts and wire," Miller said. The Pierce ranch dates back to 1897 when Joe S. Pierce came to West Texas from Pennsylvania. His son, Victor I. Pierce, put much of the present-day operation together, which fourth-generation Pierce Miller continues to oversee. "Spring and early summer rains did wonders for producers around much of the state to promote significant growth of range grasses and other plants. However, the normal midsummer dry down has accelerated statewide since July 1, especially with 100-degree temperatures in most regions," said Andy Vestal, director for emergency management programs at Texas A&M University in College Station. The drying effect has left forages, grasses and woody material on the ground as potential fuel for wildfires, Vestal said. "The potential for these to be ignited by dry lightning or a spark from outdoor work, such as welding, or by someone who didn't take the proper precautions with a burn pile or while grilling, is something people need to be aware of," Vestal said. "It can be especially dangerous when this dry situation is combined with elevated wind velocity." The Texas A&M Forest Service Outdoor Burn Ban map showed 87 counties had implemented bans. The Forest Service's July 25 Fire Danger Forecast showed most of the state with a moderate level of danger. The El Paso area in far West Texas and a few counties in the Rio Grande Valley were under a "high" fire potential forecast, with a very small area in that region under a "very high) level. Vestal said conditions are expected to worsen throughout the summer and may last for some time as forecasts for the state are calling for a change in weather patterns that will bring less precipitation than the previous 12 months. Jerry Lackey is the agriculture editor emeritus. Contact him at jlackey@wcc.net. SHARE Hughes Suspect had worked for lawyer injured By Staff Report A prominent San Angelo lawyer and the mother of the man accused in Monday nights double shooting in Grape Creek were the two people who suffered gunshot wounds in the incident, the Tom Green County Sheriffs Office said. The man arrested in the shooting has several connections to San Angelo lawyer Theodore Tip Hargrove and, according to his LinkedIn profile, worked for the office of state Sen. Robert Duncan. Gabriel Hughes, 31, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after a standoff that lasted several hours at his residence on Sutton Road in northwest Tom Green County. Hughes was being sought in the shootings on a rural road several miles from his home. Both victims were taken to Shannon Medical Center, where Cathleen Hughes was reported Monday night in serious condition undergoing surgery, said Sheriffs Lt. Christina Lopez. Shannon declined to provide further information Tuesday. A Sheriffs Office news release Tuesday morning said Hargrove had been released after treatment. A Home Motors tow truck was seen removing a 2013 Toyota Tundra pickup registered to Hargrove from March Road near U.S. 87 in Grape Creek. According to Gabriel Hughes page on LinkedIn, a social media network, he was a graduate of St. Marys University law school and twice was employed at Hargroves law office. The page also said he was employed from January 2013 to present with Duncans office as a committee clerk. Duncans office said Hughes employment there lasted from January to March 2013. Gabriel Hughes briefly worked for the State Affairs committee in early 2013, Duncan said in a statement Tuesday. He is a bright young man that undoubtedly faces challenges in his life. I wish the best for his family during what must be a very difficult period. A call made to Hargroves office had not been returned Tuesday afternoon. Tom Green County court records show that Gabriel Hughes was represented in court cases at least three times in the past eight years by Hargrove: On a speeding ticket in May 2006, on a DWI charge in August 2010 and on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in October 2010. All three charges, heard in Tom Green County Court-at-Law, were dismissed. Events began just after 4 p.m. Monday when law enforcement authorities responded to a report of two shooting victims on U.S. 87 and March Road, Lopez said. The shooting victims were found in the Toyota pickup about 10 miles south of the residence on Sutton Road where Gabriel Hughes was later found. The property is owned by Hughes parents, Don and Cathleen Hughes, according to Tom Green County Appraisal District records. It was not clear exactly where the shooting occurred. The victims were transferred from the pickup into an ambulance on March Road. Several canisters of gas were deployed into the home before authorities apprehended Gabriel Hughes outside the house, the Sheriffs Department said, and nobody was injured in the arrest. The San Angelo Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and a few other law enforcement agencies assisted in the effort, Tom Green County Sheriff David Jones said. The Department of Homeland Security provided local authorities with air support, Lopez said. Gabriel Hughes is a 2010 graduate of St. Marys University School of Law in San Antonio and a 2005 graduate of the Citadel, The Military College of the South, according to his LinkedIn page. His name is not listed on the Texas Bar Association website. Online jail records showed no bail set for Gabriel Hughes. One of the charges against him was a first-degree felony, and the other was a second-degree felony. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, first-degree felony, is punishable by five to 99 years in prison and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000. To OUR Gourmet Retailer Readers While Gourmet Retailer no longer exists as a separate print publication and website, Progressive Grocer will continue to feature new content about boutique retailing in our ongoing coverage of Independent Grocers. Please update your Gourmet Retailer bookmark and check our Independent Grocers topic page regularly for updates and fresh content. -- The Progressive Grocer Team After years of legal setbacks, voting rights advocates are increasingly hopeful that momentum has shifted their way.Over the past week, federal courts have issued sometimes scathing rulings against laws that made it harder for citizens to vote in Kansas, North Carolina North Dakota and Wisconsin . And last month, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Texas' voter ID law, considered the strictest in the nation, discriminates against minority voters and ordered a lower court to fix it before November."The courts have really come out strongly in defense of the basic principle that every American citizen has the right to vote free of manipulation and suppression, particularly this racially discriminatory suppression that we've had," said Liz Kennedy, director of the government and democracy reform project at the left-leaning Center for American Progress.Nearly three dozen states, mostly controlled by Republicans, have enacted laws in recent years requiring voters to present a government-issued photo ID. They argue it's necessary to prevent voter fraud. Democrats and civil rights groups, however, point out that voter fraud is a vanishingly rare problem (present in 3 of every 1 million votes, according to one study ). They say the true motivation is to keep minorities and other groups that are more likely to vote Democratic from easily casting their ballots.In addition to voter ID laws, some GOP-led states have also reduced the number of early voting days or made it more difficult for citizens to register to vote. Such changes have also led to legal battles."I think it's become clear to policymakers that the courts are going to be pushing back," said Barry Burden, director of the University of Wisconsin's Election Research Center, who testified against his state's voter ID law. "It's not one rogue judge. It's a series of district courts and appeals courts that are saying to the states, you've gone too far."The U.S. Supreme Court gave voter ID laws its blessing back in 2008 in a case known as Crawford vs. Marion County Election Board that upheld an Indiana law. After the GOP won control of more states during the 2010 elections, numerous legislatures passed voter ID restrictions. Momentum accelerated even more after the 2013 Supreme Court ruling that overturned parts of the federal Voting Rights Act in a case known as Shelby County vs. Holder.Prior to that ruling, all or parts of 14 states were subject to preclearance, meaning the federal Justice Department had to approve any changes to their election laws. Once free to pass changes without federal permission, some states enacted strict voting rules."If you look at the North Carolina and Texas laws, they're much stricter than the Indiana law that the Supreme Court upheld in the 2008 Crawford case," said Rick Hasen, an election law professor at the University of California, Irvine.Republicans continue to defend these laws as necessary for preventing voter fraud, but the courts aren't buying that argument anymore."Voter fraud in North Dakota has been virtually non-existent," wrote District Judge Daniel Hovland in a ruling Monday. By contrast, he found that "the record is replete with concrete evidence of significant burdens imposed on Native American voters attempting to exercise their right to vote in North Dakota."Hovland noted that plaintiffs in the Crawford case hadn't been able to show harm imposed by a voter ID requirement. But over time, that's changed."When Crawford was decided, these laws were relatively new and the evidence was relatively thin," said Danielle Lang, voting rights counsel at the Campaign Legal Center, which opposes the restrictive laws. "The voting rights community has done a very good job of putting up facts and building up a factual record of people who are affected."A 2014 study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that voter turnout dropped by about 2 percent in Kansas and Tennessee, when compared to other states that didn't have voter ID requirements.And who's not voting in voter ID states? Often, members of groups that might be inclined to vote Democratic. In North Carolina, the 5th Circuit found that legislators had sought to reduce or eliminate methods of voting used primarily by African-Americans with "almost surgical precision."The court found that unacceptable."We recognize that elections have consequences, but winning an election does not empower anyone in any party to engage in purposeful racial discrimination," ruled Judge Diana Gribbon Motz. "When a legislature dominated by one party has dismantled barriers to African-American access to the franchise, even if done to gain votes, 'politics as usual' does not allow a legislature dominated by the other party to re-erect those barriers."Despite the recent rulings, the voting wars aren't over. Some of these cases will be appealed, while voting cases in Alabama, Ohio and Virginia are still making their way through the legal process.Nevertheless, with judges worried about discrimination and openly skeptical of voter fraud claims, voter ID proponents are losing allies on the bench. Most importantly, the death of Antonin Scalia and the now longstanding vacancy on the Supreme Court means there's no longer a fifth vote to overturn the recent appellate rulings."There must be something wrong with all these laws that keep getting struck down by the courts," said Kennedy, of the Center for American Progress. "The courts have finally said that the balance of the harm is on the side of voters." Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will face Republican Bill Bryant in the general election after the favored candidates of both major parties easily outdistanced other candidates in a crowded gubernatorial field.Appearing at U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers' campaign headquarters Tuesday night in Spokane, Bryant said he believed finishing within 10 points of Inslee would be a strong launching pad for his campaign. He fell just short of that mark in early returns, trailing the incumbent by 11 percentage points.In an interview before the returns, Bryant said Inslee was focusing on the presidential race and Donald Trump instead of the issues facing Washington: high unemployment, a troubled Department of Social and Health Services and a lack of funding for public education."If I had his record of failure, I'd focus on Mr. Trump, too," Bryant said.Inslee touted increases in jobs in the state over the past four years and increased staet spending on early learning, full-day kindergarten and smaller classes in lower grades. "I'm proud of what we've accomplished," he said in a statement. "We're not done yet."Republican Marty McClendon of Gig Harbor will square off against state Sen. Cyrus Habib, a Democrat from suburban King County for lieutenant governor.All nine of the state's executive positions are up for election this year, with the governor and lieutenant governor's posts drawing the most interest and a string of retirements bringing a wealth of political hopefuls and perennial candidates onto the ticket.Inslee, who is seeking a second term, finished the evening with nearly 49 percent of the vote while Bryant, a businessman and former Seattle Port District commissioner, outdistanced the rest of the field with 38 percent. They were at the bottom of the long candidate list on the primary ballot but were the only ones spending significant amounts on their campaigns.With five-term incumbent Brad Owen retiring from the lieutenant governor's spot, that office, too, drew unusual attention from candidates. Sitting atop the pile in Tuesday's tallies were McClendon, a real estate salesman and radio talk show host, and Habib, a lawyer and legislator who finished slightly ahead of two other Democratic legislators, Karen Fraser and Steve Hobbs.Former Spokane Mayor Mary Verner did not succeed in her attempt to replace her current boss, Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark, who is retiring after two terms. Voters will choose between Republican Steve McLaughlin and Democrat Hilary Franz in November.Erin Jones, a former Rogers High School teacher, and Chris Reykdal, an Olympia legislator, are at the top of a nine-person list in the race to replace Randy Dorn as the state's next superintendent of public instruction.The general election race for state auditor, another open seat because embattled incumbent Troy Kelley opted not to seek a second term, will come down to Mark Miloscia, a Republican legislator, and Pat McCarthy, a Democrat who serves as Pierce County executive.Secretary of State Kim Wyman, a Republican who is seeking her second term, will face Democrat Tina Podlodowski in the general election. With election night results from all 39 counties tallied, Wyman has 48.4 percent of the vote and Podlodowski has 45.8 percent.Attorney General Bob Ferguson picked up 73 percent of the vote against Libertarian Joshua Trumbull but both move on to the general election because they were the only two in the race. Public pension plans are reporting dismal investment returns this year, a development that will likely mean governments will have to pony up more money in the coming years.So far, no major pension plan has reported a preliminary annual investment return of more than 1.5 percent. That's thanks to a volatile stock market that's seen wild swings spurred mainly by political and economic events abroad. Some smaller plans, such as the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board, have reported earnings as high as 2.6 percent. Still for many, this year marked their worst earnings year since the Great Recession.The slim earnings for fiscal 2016, which ended June 30 for most plans, is well below the average earnings target of about 7.5 percent. It also marks the second year in a row that plans have missed the assumed rate of return: Most reported an investment gain between 2 percent and 4 percent in fiscal 2015.Plans rely heavily on investment earnings -- roughly 80 cents on every dollar paid out to retirees is from investments. When plans dont meet their earnings target in any given year, it negatively impacts their assets because annual payments from current employees and governments arent enough to cover the annual payouts to retirees.The nations largest pension plan, for example, reported a preliminary investment return of 0.6 percent for fiscal 2016. The meager return means that the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) ended the year with $295 billion -- about $7 billion less than a year ago.Meanwhile, pension liabilities aren't improving and, in some cases, are actually increasing. Public pension plans nationally were nearly 74 percent funded in 2015 with more than $1 trillion in unfunded liabilities. Clearly this is going to generate some fresh unfunded liabilities, said Tom Aaron, a senior analyst at Moodys Investors Service.Even an investment return of 5 percent for the year would increase plans overall liabilities by 10 percent, according to a Moodys analysis of 56 major public pension plans. This comes at a time, Aaron added, when state and local governments are already dealing with heightened contribution requirements to amortize past unfunded liabilities.With two bad years in a row, any pension funding gains made in 2013 and 2014 -- when many pensions earned double-digit returns -- have essentially been wiped out.Other plans across the country are reporting similar preliminary results to CalPERS. The California State Teachers Retirement System reported a 1.4 percent return , resulting in a decline of $3 billion in assets. New York States pension fund, which closed its fiscal year on March 31, reported a 0.2 percent investment return . Its total assets declined by about $5 billion. San Diego Countys $10.2 billion pension fund claimed a 0.5 percent return . And the Oregon Investment Council reports the state's public employees' plan has logged a 1.24 percent return for the year.The main culprit for the poor performance was investment losses in domestic and global equities. Since August of last year, the stock market has swung wildly -- twice thanks to bad economic news from China , and more recently due to uncertainty around Britains decision to leave the European Union.Another issue is that pension plans are relying less on more stable but low-yield investments like bonds. Instead, they rely more on potentially higher-yield investments in public and private equities. It hasn't paid off: The median annual return for public pensions over 20 years is expected to hit about 7.5 percent for the 2016 fiscal year -- the lowest point in more than 15 years -- according to a recent estimate from the Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service.June and July, however, have been marked by stock market gains. By the time CalPERS released its investment return data in July, assets had crept back up to about $302 billion -- roughly where they were a year ago.Either way, governments will likely have to budget more in the coming years to cover expected shortfalls. The New York state controller recently warned New York City it might have to pony up at least $100 million in additional pension payments starting in 2018 if the citys fund continues to post low earnings. In Oregon, the states pension actuary projected it would have to pay $885 million more in total pension costs next year thanks in part to low earnings but also because it lowered the plans assumed rate of return to 7.5 percent.Many other plans are also taking steps to gradually lower their assumed rate of return, said Cathie Eitelberg, a senior vice president at The Segal Group. While that has the effect of increasing the cost for governments and employees, it reduces the risk the pension plan will miss its investment target. Theyre all very focused on risk management going forward and how they can better manage volatility, said Eitelberg. Gov. Charlie Baker has signed into law a bill requiring men and women be paid equally for comparable work in Massachusetts.Baker signed the bill during a State House ceremony yesterday.The bill's proponents say women are currently paid on average about 82 percent of what their male counterparts make for comparable work in Massachusetts.In what backers say is a first-in-the-nation provision, the new law bars employers from asking prospective workers to provide a salary history. Supporters say that practice can perpetuate a cycle of lower salaries for women. Prospective employees could voluntarily offer salary information.The law also lets employees discuss their salaries with other workers without facing retribution from their employer.The new law takes effect July 1, 2018. William J. Bratton, the city's 42nd police commissioner, said Tuesday he would step down from the department in mid-September to go into private industry, capping a 45-year career in policing which has been innovative and controversial at a time of constant challenges to law enforcement around the country.Taking over from Bratton, 68, will be Chief of Department James O'Neill, 58, a respected commander who is credited with devising the NYPD's new strategy of neighborhood policing, a linchpin in mending the department's frayed relationships with communities of color."We celebrate a transition filled with continuity, filled with shared vision," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a City Hall news conference at which he was flanked by Bratton and O'Neill.De Blasio called Bratton's contribution to the city and the nation as "literally inestimable and extraordinary" and said O'Neill, a native of Flatbush, Brooklyn, was one of "the best prepared incoming police commissioners this city has ever seen with decades of experience.""I try to leave each place with the bus headed in the right direction, with the right people on the bus, before I go, three or four people who are qualified to drive that bus," said Bratton, who appointed O'Neill as chief of department in 2014.O'Neill, who has been with the NYPD for 33 years, said the department's success will be shaped by its ability to work with the communities."With the help of every New Yorker we will continue to facilitate all the good that is done daily by law abiding residents in our neighborhoods," said O'Neill, whose new job will pay $208,000, officials said.Bratton is leaving at a time when major crimes in the city are at historic lows, with murders down about 5 percent and shootings down nearly 20 percent from last year. But it also is a time of increased violence against police, which in late 2014 led to the assassinations of Det. Wenjein Liu and Det. Rafael Ramos and has resulted in police killings in Texas, Louisiana and elsewhere. The commissioner was embarrassed when rank-and-file officers turned their backs on de Blasio at Liu's and Ramos' funerals. He called the defiant protests inappropriate.Bratton has also been dogged by criticism that his "Broken Windows" policy of going after quality-of-life offense victimizes minorities. Bratton also had to weather criticism after the alleged police chokehold death of Eric Garner in 2014 on Staten Island and has had to take disciplinary action against some former commanders embroiled in a federal corruption probe involving political contributors, which has spilled over to City Hall. Bratton said the federal probe had nothing to do with his decision to leave the department, noting his good relationship with Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.Both Bratton and de Blasio wouldn't say where Bratton will work next. But later Tuesday the global consulting firm Teneo Holdings, a relatively new firm in the field based in New York and London, announced on its website Bratton would join the company in Manhattan. Bratton will start a risk management operation, the company said.De Blasio and Bratton said most of the current NYPD administration will remain when Bratton leaves Sept. 16. Among those remaining will be First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker and Counter Terrorism Chief John Miller.Taking over O'Neill's job as chief of department, the highest-ranking uniform position, will be Chief of Patrol Carlos Gomez, a Suffolk County resident who immigrated as a child from Cuba in 1968 at age 6. He asked that his hometown not be identified."A bit of surprise, you know, it's a great position, a great honor," Gomez told Newsday.Last year, Bratton had made no secret he didn't intend to stay on even if de Blasio was re-elected. But even as he told reporters last week that he wouldn't stay beyond 2017, Bratton had already given notice on July 8 to the mayor after a crime briefing, de Blasio said.The fact that Bratton had already resigned was one of the most closely guarded secrets in the de Blasio administration and wasn't even known by many of the commissioner's deputies until 10 a.m. Tuesday. Monday night Bratton attended a regular dinner at Wolfgang's Steakhouse on Greenwich Street with federal law enforcement officials, including the two city U.S. attorneys and special agents in charge of various agencies, telling none of them about his impending announcement.Bratton said he had to leave the dinner when O'Neill called to say de Blasio wanted to talk with him, apparently about the secret succession plan. O'Neill said he received a call from de Blasio about 8 p.m. telling him of his selection as the new commissioner."Jimmy will be taking my place at the next dinner with them," chuckled Bratton, as his wife Rikki Klieman beamed in the audience.At a Tuesday night National Night Out event in Brownsville, Brooklyn, with Bratton, O'Neill and de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a retired NYPD captain, praised Bratton's two stints as commissioner, saying he "changed the mindset of policing" in New York and across the nation. He said O'Neill is "a cop's cop, a people person" who leaves the city's security in the right place, the right time with the right man to take us in the right direction."When Bratton, de Blasio and O'Neill took the stage in Brownsville, looking out on several dozen people, the crowd clapped. One woman booed but only for a moment.Bratton succeeded Ray Kelly in 2014 at a time when the department's relationship with minority communities was badly fractured by its stop and frisk tactics, which a federal judge found to have treated blacks and Hispanics unfairly. Bratton set out to mend fences, drastically pulling back on stop and frisk, which he compared to a medicine no longer needed in a city where crime continued to drop.Faced with sudden spikes in shootings in 2014 and 2015, Bratton had O'Neill devise strategies to curb the gunfire by pulling cops from desk jobs to patrol troubled precincts. As it became apparent that the Islamic State terror group posed a new threat, Bratton got de Blasio to add more than 1,300 new police officers and deploy many to the new, heavily armed Critical Response Command and Strategic Response Group. Bratton also embraced technology and gave smartphones to all officers, employed ShotSpotter to pinpoint gunfire and made Compstat statistics more widely available to the public.Bratton also shook up the NYPD structure, reorganizing units and making Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce the overall investigative leader for the department.Reaction was mixed among the public.Amarimba Charles, 40, said she was "sort of shocked, in a bad way" to hear Bratton is leaving."I'm hoping we do move in the right direction," she said, adding she was pleased with Bratton's performance and that she'd embrace O'Neill's tenure."One thing we need is more activities with the police and community," she said. "There's a lot of room for improvement."The Rev. Steve Kalloo, pastor with the Christian Visions Ministry in Brownsville, a former Trinidad police officer for 15 years, said he was "no fan of Bratton" and was happy the commissioner is stepping down. "Eric Garner should be alive today, I blame Bratton for that.""If you want better relationships, you have to pull down the blue wall of silence," he said. But he hopes O'Neill can be better."A police that comes through the ranks will make a better commissioner," he said.Andrea Butler, 55, came to national night out with her grandchildren. She was upset to hear Bratton is leaving the department."For the short time, he was doing a good job," she said. But she was hopeful with O'Neill: "You have to give everyone a chance. We'll see how it goes. I'm going to think positive."At Tuesday's news conference, O'Neill said the department in the past had sometimes "lost focus" and that the administration was committed to changing "our posture and getting on the right course and lowering crime but not at the expense of losing support."Bratton leaves after spending 31 months on the job. He had also served as commissioner under Mayor Rudy Giuliani from 1994 through 1996, but left amid reports that the mayor resented Bratton's high media profile. Bratton and the late Jack Maple pioneered the CompStat crime data system, widely credited with transforming policing. That departure was on Bratton's mind Tuesday as he quipped that Giuliani had given him the key to the city but "He didn't tell me he had already changed the locks."After his first term as commissioner ended in 1996, Bratton bounced around private industry and landed the police chief job in Los Angeles in 2002, a position he held until 2007. He tried at one point without success to become head of Scotland Yard.As Bratton and de Blasio left City Hall after Tuesday's news conference, they were met by demonstrators.Bratton served in U.S. Army during Vietnam War and is a graduate of Boston State College. (TNS) WARWICK, R.I. With tight budgets and lots of water to cover, environmentalists in New England are asking for the publics help to try to deal with a growing issue: harmful algae blooms and cyanobacteria.Its really exciting to see communities stand up and help us, said Curt Spalding, an Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator. This is a big move.Spalding said there are not enough people to monitor all of the ponds and lakes in Rhode Island and beyond. But ordinary people can help.People huddled under a tent behind the Warwick Police Department Tuesday morning, while others stood in the rain, protected by umbrellas, listening to the presentation and sometimes interrupting with questions. They included EPA and R.I. Department of Environmental Management officials as well as University of Rhode Island Watershed Watch students and volunteers.Hilary Snook, a senior scientist with the EPA who works in a lab in Chelmsford, Mass., and covers most of the region, told the gathering about a new mobile application people can download for free on Android and IPhones: bloomWatch People near water can take photos of possible algae blooms and upload them to the app. They will add the name of the pond or lake where they took the photo, and more information such as the weather.The information shared through the app will help scientists, water quality managers, and public health officials who are tracking the blooms, according to an informational sheet about the app.Algae blooms can be caused by stormwater runoff, for example, and could make the water bright green, as if paint had been spilled in it. If it has cyanobacteria that releases toxins, people could suffer several conditions, from skin rashes to symptoms of Alzheimer's and more, Snook said. If environmentalists confirm the presence of harmful cyanobacteria, the Department of Health issues a closure of recreational activities in those bodies of water.Through a grant, the EPA was also able to purchase kits with microscopes and other tools that it distributed to volunteers near the water, Snook said.Volunteers are trained to learn how to collect water samples, and look at them under a microscope. They can then take photos of what they see, and those photos are then shared on a website called INaturalist for the cyanoscope project. On the project's webpage, people can access a map and see photos of the different bacteria that have been found by volunteers.This is a great tool, said Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, adding that there is a dramatic need for testing water in the state. (TNS) TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said Wednesday he will sign an agreement with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne designed to help both regions attract research and development of self-driving cars.Snyder said the agreement is a framework to guide discussions that could lead to specific ways for the two governments to work together."It's just an agreement to say how can we collaborate more on innovation," Snyder said Wednesday morning after he spoke at the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, an automotive conference. "If you look at it, Ontario is strong in the automotive industry as is Michigan. And how can we talk about what is the future....of the industry? how we can work together on that?"Snyder said he and Wynne plan to sign the agreement at about noon at the automotive conference, which is hosted by the Center for Automotive Research.Snyder also spoke about Michigan's Planet M initiative, a marketing effort launched in May that is designed promote the state and its automotive research and development efforts.Like the Pure Michigan campaign, Planet M effort is designed to capture something essential about the states strengths its engineering talent, its history of automotive innovation, its manufacturing capacity, even its four-season environment that allows testing of new vehicle technology in realistic weather conditions.Another piece of the puzzle is the state's plans to turn the former Willow Run bomber plant into a testing center for connected vehicle technology and self-driving cars. In July, the state announced it spent $1.2 million to buy a 311-acre chunk of the Willow Run. "We are moving ahead to make Willow Run a reality...I encourage the whole industry to get behind this, because this needs to happen," Snyder told several hundred automotive executives and analysts at the conference today.Snyder also said he plans to push for a federal designation of Willow Run as a testing site for autonomous vehicles.The governor first announced plans for Willow Run in January during his state of the state address.Built by Henry Ford in 1941, the old plant made B24 bombers during World War II and was later sold to General Motors in the 1950s. It has been empty since GM closed it in December 2010. An unfortunate side effect of being a governmental organization serving more than 600,000 people: Youre bound to use quite a bit of electricity. And that means paying a little extra to the utility.Washington, D.C., like many local governments, has long faced peak demand charges for using so much power. Essentially it pays the utility a certain amount to be ready to supply as much power as the city government will need on the day of the year when it uses the most.And thats a big part of the reason solar power can help save the district money, even if its portfolio of panels doesnt come anywhere close to meeting 100 percent of its needs.Peak demand can increase the cost of our power purchase by a quarter to a third, said Tommy Wells, director of the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE).The city purchases power from 22.2 megawatts of solar-generating capacity right now not including panels outside the district that it buys power from. But it has plans to install 11.4 more megawatts by spring 2017, according to DOEE Program Analyst Emil King. When all is said and done, the district will have panels on 49 building tops and parking lots, and some on the ground enough to save $25 million over 20 years. The district is paying for it straight out of its capital budget.And theres room to grow that portfolio too. Many of the districts schools are poor candidates for solar now because theyre going through modernization projects that involve new roofs. While the roofs are being installed, the district can make sure theyre solar-ready. Once the roofs are in place, the district can consider them for solar panels.Like Yolo County, Calif. , the District of Columbia can take advantage of net metering programs. That means it can sell power for as much as it would buy it for. Thats helpful on weekends, when the solar panels are generating electricity but many government workers arent in the office to use it.Overall, the goal for D.C. is simply to shift demand. The districts panel-crowned buildings get about 20 percent of their energy from solar, and overall the city government gets about 3.5 percent of its power from the sun. By producing energy on site, the government can shave off peaks in usage and bring its power bills down as well as cut its reliance on electricity generated by fossil fuel-powered plants.Thats an important part of the citys motivation behind the panels as well. The city has been aggressive in its climate change efforts, joining the Compact of Mayors initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In June, the City Council agreed to source half the districts electricity from renewable sources by 2032.In the future, Wells said, he wants to work storage capacity into the citys plans as well. By adding the ability to store solar power and dispatch it strategically, the city will truly be able to shift its demand on the grid to the times that make the most sense and save the most money.So the future, which we will probably have to pilot for others," he said, "will be how to pair solar with energy storage for the purpose of shaving peak demand usage." The conversation around body-worn cameras has exploded as the direct result of several high-profile police shootings in recent months, and has many asking if large departments are deploying the relatively new technology appropriately.From policies meant to protect privacy and outline when officers are required to record an encounter to who is able to review footage, civil rights advocates evaluated 50 large departments where municipal police agencies are excelling and where they are falling short.In the latest iteration of the Police Body Worn Cameras: A Policy Scorecard , researchers from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Upturn, a Washington, D.C.-based public policy consultant, looked at where cities need to focus efforts around body-worn cameras.Though no jurisdiction received stellar marks for their body camera policies, Wade Henderson, president and CEO of the civil and human rights conference, said three jurisdictions stood out for their complete lack of a public-facing policy: Aurora, Colo., Detroit and Pittsburgh.Residents of these cities should be very concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability on how these cameras are used, Henderson said during a press call. These police departments are enhancing surveillance of innocent people throughout their cities with no accountability for how the footage is used, when the cameras must be turned on or off, if they are videotaping victims during incredibly personal and sensitive moments, or what if any consequences there would be for officers using their cameras inappropriately.The study of each city was based around eight key factors: whether a policy was publicly available; whether policy allowed officer discretion when it comes to recording an incident; whether the policy addresses personal privacy concerns; whether an officer is allowed to review footage; whether there are limits placed on the retention of non-flagged footage; whether there are clear prohibitions against tampering with or deleting footage; whether footage is available for review by individuals filing a complaint against the department; and whether there are limits to the use of biometric technologies.Two cities Ferguson, Mo., and Fresno, Calif. failed to meet any of the criteria outlined by the research effort.Of these key factors, local agencies have largely failed to address the many of these larger issues surrounding police body-worn cameras, said Harlan Yu, principal at Upturn. Despite what Yu calls a rapid adoption of the video technology, departments have neglected to ensure the tools are not used questionably.One of the main selling points for body-worn cameras is their promise to bring transparency and accountability to community-police interactions," Yu said, "but body-worn cameras are not a panacea and they dont automatically bring about accountability. In order for cameras to live up to their promise, departments have to carefully craft policy safeguards to guide the use of these cameras and the footage that they produce.While many people might not consider the deeper implications of officers reviewing footage before filing a written report, both Yu and Henderson said the practice offers an unfair advantage and makes the testimony of others involved seem less credible.Officers should be prohibited from viewing footage until after reports are filed," Henderson said. "Footage can be misleading or incomplete and allowing officers to preview footage provides an opportunity to conform reports to what the video appears to show rather than what the officer recollects."Yu and Henderson also took issue with the lack of policy limitations when it came to biometric technologies. Yu said industry plans to include facial recognition capabilities into some body-worn cameras would take devices past a tool for accountability and transparency, and effectively turn them into surveillance devices.According to the scorecard, only the Boston Police Department had taken policy steps to disallow the future use of biometric identification features.Manufacturers like Taser have suggested that they plan to build facial recognition into their camera systems in the near future," Yu said, "and this means that officers on the beat could scan faces on the street in real time to identify individuals or perform a broad face search across months and months of archived footage to search for associations and other evidence."When asked whether select state legislation aimed at limiting body-worn camera footage from the public record was cause for concern, Yu said efforts to restrict video was concerning, especially as it relates to use-of-force incidents and complaint cases.That is one of the most concerning trends that we are seeing, he said. We are seeing that across the country. Obviously, there is a balance that needs to be had here with privacy, personal privacy of those being recorded in the community.Yu went on to say that many of the public record laws throughout the states have not been updated to consider the implications of body-worn cameras. While he urges state legislatures to revisit the issue, he said the trend toward limiting the footage outright is "a disturbing one." (TNS) -- The ability to unlock electronic devices using eye-recognition technology, a feature that has been mostly confined to government agencies, is starting to reach the consumer market. On Tuesday Samsung unveiled the latest example: Its new smartphone, which scans users irises so they can unlock it with a glance.Its a logical next step beyond fingerprint scanning, said Geoff Blaber of CCS Insight, a market analysis firm.And Samsungs move to include iris scanning in its upcoming Galaxy Note7 phone could open the door to put the biometric security technology in the hands of more people.Samsung introduced the Samsung Galaxy Note7, its latest large screen phone, on Tuesday. It will go on sale in the U.S. on Aug. 19, with advance orders starting Wednesday.The 5.7-inch, high-definition screen phone-tablet, or phablet, is Samsungs latest competitor to similarly sized iPhones from chief rival Apple, which broke ground with fingerprint sensors in 2013 with the introduction of iTouch ID.During a recent demonstration in San Francisco for The Chronicle, Samsung executive Justin Denison held the phone about arms length at eye level and unlocked it almost instantly.The phones owner can also use the fingerprint scanner or a PIN code. The biometric technology will work with Samsungs mobile security platform, called Knox, that allows the owner to create a special folder for work documents or apps that a child or spouse cant access.If you share the phone with a child or friend, you dont want them to get into everything, Denison said.The Note7 wont be the first phone with iris scanning other manufacturers who have introduced it include Microsoft, Fujitsu and Vivo, a Chinese company but it is certainly in the vanguard.If one major vendor introduces it, others will follow, said biometrics expert Anil Jain of Michigan State University.Indeed, the research firm Strategy Analytics said the Note7 is a trigger for adoption of iris scanning in the smartphone market, although it would only make up about 1.8 percent of the worldwide market by the end of this year and about 5 percent in 2017.Apple isnt likely to include iris scanning with the iPhone 7, which is expected to be introduced in September, but if the market is to take off, Apple might consider adopting it in iPhone 8 or similar models in 2017, said Linda Sui, Strategy Analytics director of wireless smartphone strategies.Whether consumers find the feature useful remains to be seen, said Jain, a computer science and engineering professor.That will be an interesting question, he said. Say youre in a meeting and you want to unlock the phablet. Are you going to hold it in front of your face and unlock it by looking at the iris scanner or just put your finger on the fingerprint reader because thats less obtrusive?The phone has an infrared emitter and sensors that can scan the patterns of a persons irises, which form and dont change by the time a person is 18 months old. Its a unique identification technique considered more secure than fingerprints or facial features, which can both change over time.However, while fingerprint identification has been widely used for more than a century because its relatively inexpensive, iris identification technology which has required expensive scanning equipment has only been around since the early 1990s.Since the introduction of mobile phones, the costs have become more comparable to fingerprint technology, Jain said.India, which is using a combination of fingerprint and eye-scanning technology to register its 1.2 billion people for a national identity card, constitutes by far the biggest application of iris identification, Jain said.Also, he said, Dubai is using iris scanning to keep people who have been expelled from the country from returning, while airport officials in Amsterdam use the technology to process frequent air travelers. The U.S. military has used the technology for access control.Jain, together with a Michigan State professor and a doctoral student, made headlines last month after re-creating a murder victims fingerprints to unlock his Samsung Galaxy S6. The team digitally enhanced the victims fingerprints, then used a 3-D printer to recreate his fingertips.One advantage with iris scanning technology is that it is more difficult to spoof iris than face or fingerprint, Jain said. (TNS) -- Seniors and others who check their Social Security information online now are required to use "a text-enabled cell phone" to access their personal information.The more than 26 million Social Security account holders were notified of this new rule, which took effect Monday, by email late last week. A detailed statement about the change was posted on the Social Security website on Saturday."Now, all new and current my Social Security account holders will need to provide a cell phone number able to receive text messages. People will not be able to access their personal my Social Security account if they do not have a cell phone or do not wish to provide the cell phone number," according to the announcement.This new rule is frustrating for people like Mary Pat Adams of Rochester."I don't do text messaging, though I do have a cell phone. This means I can't log in online to see my account," she said Friday. "This is going to be a problem for a lot of people."The new "multifactor authentication" has users login into their "My Social Security" with their username and password, as before. However, it adds an additional step.Once a user logs into their account, a unique, one-time code is automatically sent to their cell phone via text. Then user must then enter that code within 10 minutes to access their personal information. The code expires after 10 minutes.The change is described as being necessary "to comply with Executive Order 13681, which requires federal agencies to provide more secure authentication for their online services."The abruptness of the change has caught more than just Adams by surprise. Local Social Security employees were not aware of the rule on Friday, even though it went into effect three days later.When called, one Rochester Social Security staffer struggled to find any reference to the new rule. He checked the administration's web site, which had no mention of the rule. Eventually, he came across a message about it on his office's intranet system.The worker, who did not want his name used, said there had been no mention of the change at any of the Rochester office's weekly employee briefings. The manager of the Rochester office referred all questions the Social Security office in Chicago.Doug Nguyen, Social Security's regional communications director, did not respond to questions on Friday. On Saturday afternoon, he sent an email with a link to a new statement posted on Social Security's website explaining the change.The abruptness of the change plus the lack of knowledge by staff made Adams suspicious.On Friday, she called a number on the email. The phone system required her to give personal information to reach to a person. Once she reached a live person, the woman did not know anything about the change. Adams became worried that she was being tricked and hung up.Her next step was to pack up the four visiting grandchildren staying with her and drive to Rochester's Social Security officer to ask about the new cell phone requirement."When I finally saw someone, they were chagrined about the whole thing," she said.It turned out the staff had not been informed yet, but the Social Security worker talking to Adams had received the same email and was worried about how it wouaffect his mother.The 73-year-old Adams says many of her friends do not have cell phones or don't text with them. She feels this change is going to be "a real challenge" for many and will limit their access to information about their accounts.The Social Security statement acknowledges that this might cause problems for some people."We are limited to text messages for the initial MFA implementation due to technical and resource constraints, but we expect to provide additional options in the future," according to the statement. "We understand that not everyone may have a cell phone or cell service. However, research shows that an overwhelming majority of American adults have cell phones and use them for texting."A 2015 Pew Research Center study found that 78 percent of U.S. adults ages 65 and older own a cellphone. The same study found that only 20 percent of U.S. adults ages 65 and older owned smartphones in 2015. Williams has made clear its door may be open to not only Jenson Button but also Sergio Perez for the 2017 season. It is an uncomfortable period for the Grove team's existing drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas, with plenty of rivals including Daniil Kvyat and Lance Stroll having already been linked with their seats. Now, deputy boss Claire Williams has told PA Sport that current McLaren driver and F1 veteran Jenson Button is a key target -- but not the only option. "I am not sat here waiting for Ron Dennis to make his decision or for Jenson to make his decision," she warned. Also open at present is the future of Sergio Perez, after the Mexican rejected Force India supremo Vijay Mallya's recent claim that he is definitely staying for 2017. The 26-year-old Mexican said at Hockenheim that his future can only actually be decided by me and his multiple sponsors headed by billionaire Carlos Slim. "Sergio has done a great job this year, he is an intelligent driver, and of course he is going to be someone we are looking at," Williams said. "He is (also) very eloquent, so commercially he would be strong for any team. Of course he is going to be someone you'd consider if he is available." (GMM) LEBANON, Pa. A frozen bakery company will build a new facility in Lebanon County and bring more than 100 full-time jobs to the area. Lebanon Valley Cold Storage and Distribution Center will build its new facility on a 22-acre site in the Lebanon Rails Business Park in North Lebanon Township, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday. A 120,000-square-foot refrigerated warehouse with a production area is expected to be completed early next year. Bakery operations, including at least three production lines, will be added in a second phase of the project. Wolf said the company will invest $38.7 million in the project and create 131 full-time jobs over the next three years. The company received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development that includes a $250,000 Pennsylvania First program grant, $262,000 in job creation tax credits, and $58,950 in WEDnet funding for employee training. Before Charlie Gutshall, owner of Anthracite Properties, LLC, began to clean up the property at 101 S. Walnut St. in Mechanicsburg, he said there were old cars in the yard and the porch appeared to be falling apart. There hadnt been any real maintenance done to the property for a very long time our objective was to basically clean it up, Gutshall said. Now he wants to follow through on a full restoration and convert the building into a pair of townhouses. On Tuesday, the Mechanicsburg Borough Council unanimously approved the conditional use application of the Walnut Street property by Anthracite Properties, LLC. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code allows for the council to put extra conditions on the use of an area within the Borough of Mechanicsburg. A public hearing period and council hearing are required by the code. Its an interesting property, and it seemed to me to be a good candidate for restoration because of its good location, Gutshall said. Previously, older homes were bought and chopped up into a bunch of tiny little apartments, according to Roger Ciecierski, Codes and Zoning Officer for the Borough of Mechanicsburg. By contrast, Gutshall plans to restore this property, thus retaining the historical integrity of the building. Ive heard nothing but good things from everyone, including council members, people from the public, people who just drive by plus its in my neighborhood, Ciecierski said. The existing two-story, single-family home will be turned into two, two-story townhouses. In this way, Gutshall said the property would once again be productive. Other items covered in Tuesdays meeting included Community Day in the Park on Aug. 20 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park and the 10th annual Run for Reading held by the Joseph T. Simpson Public Library at Friendship Park on Aug. 13. Anant Maheshwari appointed as President of Microsoft India Published: August 3, 2016 Technocrat Anant Maheshwari was appointed as the President of Microsoft India, a subsidiary of US based software giant Microsoft Inc. He will join Microsoft India in September 2016 and will take over operations of the company from January 2017. He will succeed Bhaskar Pramanik who retires in March 2017. In his new role in Microsoft India, Maheshwari will be responsible for all of Microsofts product, service and support offerings across India. About Anant Maheshwari He holds electrical & electronics engineering degree and a masters degree in economics from Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani. Prior to this appointment he was working as the President of Honeywell India. He was responsible for Honeywell Indias operations in three strategic business groups viz. automation and control solutions and aerospace. In last 12 years, he had held various business leadership roles in Honeywell including that of managing director. Prior to joining Honeywell India, Maheshwari was working with McKinsey & Co. where he worked with clients across multiple industries including telecom, IT and ecommerce, engineering equipment, private equity, automotive, steel, and pharmaceuticals. Month: Current Affairs - August, 2016 Topics: Anant Maheshwari appointments Business Economy Microsoft Persons in News Latest E-Books Japan cabinet approves economic stimulus package worth $275 billion Published: August 3, 2016 Japans cabinet has approved an economic stimulus package worth 275 billion dollars in attempt kick-start the economy and boost growth of the worlds third-largest economy. Decision in this regard was Japanese Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. The Japanese government expects that this package will boost gross domestic product (GDP) by 1.3%. Key Facts The economic stimulus package of measures aims at tackling deflation and strengthening the national economy of Japan. It includes increase expenditure for the national and local governments as well as significant investments in the countrys infrastructure. It also includes in a supplementary budget, which will be considered by an extraordinary session of Parliament starting in September. It also will provide support of small and medium-sized enterprises in Japan over the next two years. More than half of package sum has been earmarked for the current fiscal year. The package also includes spending on reconstruction of disaster zones, including parts of north-eastern Japan which were devastated by 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Background Japans economy, which is the third largest economy (in terms of nominal GDP) in the world after US and China, has been affected by stagnation and slow economic growth. In order to revive the economy Japanese government under the Prime Minister Sinzo Abe already had announced series of measures to halt economic stagnation. In 2012, Japanese government had announced series measures such as structural reforms, monetary easing and fiscal stimulus as part of the plan dubbed as Abenomics. Month: Current Affairs - August, 2016 Topics: Economy International Japan World economy Latest E-Books : ; - CM ?; - Been doing its thing in Queens since 1919. Photo: Conrad Poirier A little-known fact about New York City is that a good amount of milk was once produced here. The areas dairy heartland is upstate, but for centuries literally since the Dutch were calling it New Amsterdam somebody in this city has been bottling milk, and for most of that time even raising the dairy cows. Sadly, that era will come to an end on October 30, when Elmhurst Dairy, the last remaining producer inside city limits, closes its 80-year-old plant in Jamaica, Queens. Its been churning out milk for 97 years and, for most of the aughts, supplied the milk you drank from carafes at Starbucks around town. Its products are currently in 8,300 local stores and 1,400 of the citys public schools. CEO Henry Schwartz says the family-owned and -run company just isnt profitable anymore. The plant has stayed open long past the years that it was economically viable, he tells the Times, adding, The family did so at a very high cost, but is unable to continue to do so without ongoing losses. The closure will put 273 people out of work, and a dairy-industry analyst predicts that without Elmhursts almost 1.5 million gallons coming in every week, the price of milk citywide could go up by a nickel per quart. Maybe even worse, according to Schwartz, is the fact that now its going to come from out of town, too. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. By William Schwartz | Published on 2016/08/02 While the pacing in "Bring It On, Ghost" is slow as usual we do finally get some important information cleared up fairly quickly. It turns out that Hye-seong can in fact see ghosts, the man's just very good at pretending like he can't. What any of this has to do with Bong-pal or Hyeon-ji is still mostly shrouded in mystery, but I'm just glad that the main story is moving forward in perceptible fashion at all. Now there's actual dramatic tension when Hye-seong is on-screen. Advertisement ...Which for the most part is not all that often, since as usual the bulk of the story goes to exploring the relationship between Bong-pal and Hyeon-ji. They've moved on from the usual vague antagonism to actually admitting they like hanging out with each other. While Kim So-hyun is super pouty when it comes to everything that happens at the amusement park, this is quite appropriate for the role. When in need of an actress who will act like a high school girl, an actual high school girl is a pretty good pick. Not that Hyeon-ji is a high school girl really. Her changing of clothes, while most obviously a puzzling display of ghost logic, is symbolically representative of Hyeon-ji's character growth. Hyeon-ji can wear a pretty dress to symbolize that she's not really a high school student anymore, and Hyeon-ji can also wear a new outfit to better outline her new job as a ghostbuster. Why? Because it looks cool. That remains the best general defense of "Bring It On, Ghost", which continues to fumble somewhat when it comes to the actual ghost-related shenanigans. While the mental hospital case is interesting, it also ends really quickly, necessitating another random generic ghost fight just to fill for time. I like the ghosts better when we have some basic idea of why they're still hanging around in the world of the living at all, since among other things it gives more personality to the fights. This flaw notwithstanding, "Bring It On, Ghost" does consistently manage to be cute in the main important ways. Cheon-sang and In-rang look completely ridiculous in their ghostfighting outfits, although given that they're just the middlemen for an inherently weird job the look is appropriate. And I just can't get enough of that ridiculous ghostfighting van, where did they even get that thing? Did someone on the production team find it in the back alley behind their mom's house? Review by William Schwartz "Bring It On, Ghost" is directed by Park Joon-hwa, written by Lee Dae-il-I and features Ok Taecyeon, Kim So-hyun, Kwon Yul, Kim Sang-ho, Kang Ki-young and Lee David. Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help DEAR ABBY: I'm obsessed with having sex. I can't stop. Ever since I was 8 I've been having sex, and now I'm 18. I have a boyfriend I've been dating since I was 8, and we can't stop having sex. I want to stop, but he doesn't want to. I keep on doing it because he says if I don't he'll leave me. Please help. What do I do? -- OBSESSED IN MIAMI DEAR OBSESSED: There are worse things than losing a boyfriend who threatens to dump you if you don't have sex with him. Chief among them is having sex with someone because you have been coerced. Because you feel you are "obsessed," you may have what is called a sex addiction. Licensed psychotherapists treat people with sexual compulsive disorders, and self-help groups help individuals suffering because they can't control their sexual behavior. A 12-step program that has been mentioned before in my column is Sexaholics Anonymous, which originated in 1979 and is based on the same principles as Alcoholics Anonymous. Its website is sa.org. Visit it to find a local meeting. DEAR ABBY: Within the last year, I met an amazing man who is head over heels for me. We were married five months later, partly because he was deploying. I had always dated "bad" boys with commitment issues, but now I have a wonderful husband. Everything happened so fast. I'm now having to put the career I worked very hard for on hold. I love him very much, don't get me wrong, but all the drastic changes have me feeling confused and scared. I feel we may have rushed into marriage too soon. Regardless, this is where we are now. Any insight? -- NEWLYWED IN UTAH DEAR NEWLYWED: To be honest, MOST people feel a degree of fear and confusion when they find themselves in unfamiliar territory. On the plus side, you have married a winner after dating a series of turkeys. Because your husband is deployed, you now have a chance to start evaluating various ways to apply your talents and experience with an eye toward restarting your career or finding a new one. If your husband intends to make a career of the military, research jobs you can do regardless of where he may be posted. DEAR ABBY: My husband has ongoing relationships with two of his exes' daughters. One girl's mother is deceased, and he has been divorced from the other for more than 20 years. He allows them to call him "Dad" even though they are adults and he has been married three times over. I don't understand why he has allowed this to go on, but he blows me off when I bring it up. Am I being petty for having concerns, or should I just let them be? -- CONCERNED SPOUSE DEAR CONCERNED: Yes, you are being petty. Your husband may have been the most stable and loving parental male figure in those women's lives, which is why they still call him "Dad." Their relationship should not diminish the one he has with you, unless you make them feel unwelcome because of your own insecurity. So put on a smile, set out the welcome mat and befriend them, and I predict you will reap big dividends. DEAR ABBY: My daughter and I disagree about whether it's all right to hold the door open when the air conditioning is running on high to keep the house cool. She'll hold the door open while standing in the doorway talking to her friends who drive up in a car. In the meantime, I am paying for the AC to run full blast. Please give us some guidance. -- ANONYMOUS MOM IN RALEIGH DEAR MOM: I'll try. Rather than venture into the physics of how air conditioners work, may I suggest that because your daughter lives with you and you are paying the bills, she should have enough respect for you to do as you ask. DEAR ABBY: My partner, "Andrew," and I have been together for four years. I'm a high school teacher, and he works for a major department store. Andrew has always wanted to be a flight attendant and now has the opportunity to interview for a position with a regional carrier. If he gets the job, he will have to relocate to the mid-Atlantic. I want him to follow his dreams and be successful, and I want to support him, but right now I'm not in a position financially to leave my job and go with him. Although I'm a good teacher, there is additional education I need to pursue, and I have worked with my department chair on a five-year plan that includes some study abroad. I hope to teach at a community college in the future, but what if I'm not hired close to where Andrew works? How do I deal with all this? -- MESSED UP MAN IN MASSACHUSETTS DEAR MESSED UP MAN: You recognize that some challenges lie ahead for you and Andrew if you are both going to live your dreams and achieve your full potential. You say you have worked out a five-year plan that includes study abroad. In a year or two, it could have been Andrew writing me about the same insecurities you are feeling. Separation doesn't have to mean the end of your relationship if you are both determined not to let it. You owe it to yourselves to have a little faith, give it a try, and "what will be will be." DEAR ABBY: Another birthday is coming up for one of my grandchildren and there is absolutely nothing we can think of that she doesn't already have five of. We are simple people but love our grandchildren and would like to get them something original once in a while. Our kids buy them everything they want in every color and style. Our grandkids have clothes they wear once and toys that are still in the packages. Spending time would be a good idea except that they want to be entertained at expensive attractions and are bored with just spending time together. We want to be part of their lives, but we don't have a clue as to how to do it. Can you help? -- OUT OF IDEAS IN FLORIDA DEAR OUT OF IDEAS: I'll try. Is there anything that you can MAKE for your grandchildren that cannot be found in a store -- perhaps something from your oven? Many grandchildren have fond memories of Grandma's brownies, chocolate chip cookies, apple cake, etc. If the answer is yes, then bring -- or send -- a package to your grandchildren. I say this because my grandmother, Rose Phillips, used to have the most wonderful brownies (with powdered sugar on top!) on her kitchen counter when our family would come to visit. If she had sent me a box as a gift, I would have been delighted. Something like this is a gift that only you can give. It's something special and it won't break the bank. DEAR ABBY: I am the mother of a 13-year-old son, my only child. For the past 10 years I have been living with mounting guilt over the fact that he doesn't have a sibling. It's not because my husband and I haven't tried, we have. But fertility issues took us down an empty road, and adoption discussions were just that -- discussions. I can't tell you how many times our son has said he wishes he had a sibling. Every time, it's like a knife in my heart and the guilt surges back. I think about the future and how he will have no brother or sister to share life with or lean on when something happens to my husband or me. Although I have always felt blessed to have him, I can't escape these feelings. Sometimes I feel like I have failed him horribly. It's worth noting that my son is a happy, well-adjusted child. He has good peer relationships in school, is close to me and my husband and has hobbies and friends he enjoys spending time with. My love for him is endless, and I pray that he will forgive me someday for not being able to give him what he has so deserved. -- SAD MOM IN OHIO DEAR SAD MOM: Take a step back, stop self-flagellating and ask yourself how many times your son may have also asked for a puppy. You say you have raised a happy, well-adjusted son. That's an accomplishment that should fill you with pride. Not being able to give birth to another child is not something you should feel guilty about or need forgiveness for, and neither is refraining from adopting "so your son would have a sibling." Not all siblings have the kind of relationship you fantasize about. While some do, many do not. Please consider carefully what I have said and search your heart. And if you still think you are guilty of any sin of omission, discuss it with a licensed psychotherapist. DEAR ABBY: Last year I found out my husband borrowed $3,500 from our savings account and gave it to a female co-worker. When I asked where the money had gone, he lied to me. It has been more than a year and the co-worker hasn't repaid the money. She comes up with cockamamie excuses, but has plenty of money to buy gifts for her grandkids and new clothes for herself. When I contacted her about it, she called human resources on my husband! He said no one at work likes her and she has a lot of personal problems. Our marriage has been rocky, and we need this money back. What's really going on here? How do I get her to start paying back the money? I have reached the end of my rope and my husband is no help whatsoever. He gets mad whenever I ask about the money. Some advice, please? -- NEEDS THE MONEY DEAR NEEDS THE MONEY: Stop asking your husband about the money. It should be clear by now that the woman he gave it to has no intention of repaying it. As to her not being liked at the office, HE must have liked her or he wouldn't have forked over all that dough. Because your marriage is "rocky," I'm recommending that you seek couples counseling. Perhaps with the help of a mediator your husband will be able to be completely truthful with you. That's essential because good marriages are based on trust. 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. DEAR ABBY: Some time ago I was descending an escalator when a suitcase belonging to the woman ahead of me got stuck. She had put the bag in front of her, and the wheels had caught on one of the steps. When she reached the bottom of the escalator, she fell over her suitcase, and then I fell over her. I scrambled on my hands and knees as fast as I could to get out of the way of the dozens of people behind us, visualizing a pileup and injuries. Fortunately, an attendant quickly grabbed the suitcase, and no one was hurt. As he did he said, "NEVER put a suitcase ahead of you on an escalator! Always carry it behind you so you can control it!" I hope this letter will save others from what could be a dangerous situation. -- AVOIDED A PILEUP IN NEW JERSEY DEAR AVOIDED: Whoa! So do I. Thank you for the warning. DEAR ABBY: Recently my wife was out for some training all day on a Saturday. Our 11-year-old daughter had been invited to a birthday party on the same day, so I was to drop her off. My wife and daughter told me the birthday party "might or might not" be a sleepover party. My daughter would inform me at the end of the party if she were spending the night. I wanted to know at the time I dropped her off whether she was going to be sleeping over. My wife claimed I "didn't need" to know. She accused me of being unreasonable, and said it was OK for me to find out at the end of the party. I don't mean to be picky, but as a dad was I being unreasonable? -- RESPONSIBLE PARENT IN OREGON DEAR PARENT: No. As the parent responsible for your daughter that day, you had every right to know what the plans would be so you could plan your own evening. When the invitation was issued, that information should have been conveyed so your daughter would be prepared and take along her pajamas and toothbrush. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby. 11:01, 28 OCT 2022 A truck driver at Mt Arthur Coal mine has had his job reinstated by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) which found his dismissal harsh despite the workers offensive onsite banter. During an almost two-hour radio session, the truck driver, Jodie Goodall, was heard saying a number of discriminatory comments including racism against Muslims and lewd sexual innuendo. While the FWC found that the mine had adequate reason to dismiss Goodall, it said the dismissal was harsh given that he had an excellent employment record and would suffer significant economic consequences if dismissed. The Commission then ordered his reinstatement. HC talked to Elise Croft, partner at Kott Gunning Lawyers, and discussed what HR should know about harsh dismissals and the FWC. The word harsh is concerned with the economic and personal consequences on the employee resulting from being dismissed, as well as the gravity of the misconduct in question, she said. One of the biggest challenges for HR is determining whether a dismissal is unfair when balanced with the misconduct, she added. In order to make a sound decision, HR should weigh up notions of harsh, unjust, or unreasonable knowing that a dismissal can be unfair if even one of these words applies. This becomes even more difficult when you know that you need to look after other employees those who have borne the brunt of the misconduct, Croft told HC. Distilled down to basics, HR will need to consider three factors once the misconduct has been proven: Few relationships in life are more meaningful than those established at birth. This was certainly the case for Lorrine Miller, when in September 1951 she was delivered by Dr. Charles Davant, Jr. at Blowing Rock Hospital, while it was still under construction. The hospital officially opened a few months later the following year. Although neither party realized it at the time, Miller would grow up to be endearingly connected to Blowing Rock Hospital for the rest of her life. Being the oldest of six children, Miller felt a strong desire to support her family financially. After graduating from Watauga High School, she was hired as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Blowing Rock Hospital. Without a drivers license at the time, she fondly remembers riding into town each morning with her dad to be dropped off for work. Eager to contribute, yet inexperienced in her position, Miller credits Edna Hartley, a seasoned CNA, for taking her under her wing and feathering her to success. The dynamic duo quickly became friends and worked together on the second floor for many years. Miller also served in delivery, central supply, acute care, the operating room and the emergency department before deciding to go back to school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 1978. I will never forget my first shift back at the hospital as an LPN, said Miller with a smile. At that time, we were taught in school to wear the traditional nurse uniform, so I pulled my hair back and proudly placed my nursing hat on my head. Not long after, nurses stopped wearing that uniform, but nonetheless, it was a special moment for me. Over the course of her 47-year-career she cared for thousands of patients and survived the occasional snow storm by spending the night in the hospitals med student quarters. More recently, she witnessed Blowing Rock Hospital join Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS) in 2007 and transition into a post-acute care facility, Blowing Rock Rehabilitation and Davant Extended Care Center in 2013. Miller is now looking forward to the future when The Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge will open later this summer. After conducting a community needs assessment, ARHS determined it would be in the best interest of the region to replace the existing Blowing Rock facility with a larger, modern 112-bed post-acute care center located on a 68-acre tract alongside Hwy 321. The Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge will offer residents short and long-term rehabilitation care, skilled nursing, palliative care and assisted living, as well as an on-site medical clinic and pharmacy. Although change is never easy, I believe its time to embrace the future, said Miller. I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for the staff, residents and their families at The Foley Center. Outside of work, the Daisy Award winner [for extraordinary nursing] enjoys spending time with her family, at church, making hot pepper jelly and jumping on her trampoline a Miller approved secret to a youthful spirit. When asked about retirement, she smiled and said, The Lord has me where I am for a reason, to serve others and regardless of what building we are in, I dont believe He is done with me yet. Maybe, after I celebrate my 50th year at The Foley Center, Ill consider it. To learn more about Appalachian Regional Healthcare System or The Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge visit www.apprhs.org Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket On Tuesday, Aug. 2, newly-elected District Governor Gary Dills visited the Boone Sunrise Rotary Club for the first time since assuming office. A retired Air Force colonel, Dills urged members to embrace Rotary Internationals 2016-17 theme, Rotary Serving Humanity. Chosen by incoming Rotary International President John Germ, the theme embraces the organizations 4-Way Test, to support truth, fairness, peace and international goodwill. [This is a] new Rotary year of opportunity to serve humanity at home and abroad, Dills said in a recent message. As always, cultures around the world are changing we see glaring evidence every day, everywhere. Rotary must and is adapting to changing demographics and diverse lifestyles, he added I am a Rotarian because I believe in serving people to give them an opportunity to have better lives because of our service. The Boone Sunrise Rotary Club, along with the Blowing Rock and Boone Noon clubs, are members of District 7670, which covers several counties across Western North Carolina. About Rotary International Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the worlds most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. About Boone Sunrise Rotary The Boone Sunrise Rotary Club has served the High Country and local community since 1986. We connect to help create positive and lasting change locally and globally and have a fun time along the way as we learn and connect with each other. Boone Sunrise Rotary Club meets Tuesdays at 7:30 am at the Boone Marriott. To learn more about the Club, please visit BooneSunriseRotary.org or Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/BooneSunriseRotary/ Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket The following information is provided by local law enforcement agencies. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Compiled by Jessica Isaacs The following were provided by the Watauga County Sheriffs Office. July 22 INCIDENT: Calls for service were reported on Old U.S. Highway 421 in Boone and a victims dog was reported stolen. July 26 INCIDENT: Breaking and entering a motor vehicle and larceny from motor vehicle were reported at the Hunger and Health Coalition in Boone. INCIDENT: Breaking and entering a motor vehicle and larceny from motor vehicle were reported at Jenny Lane and Poplar Grove Road in Boone. INCIDENT: All other offenses were reported at 1033 New River Hills in Boone. INCIDENT: Larceny was reported at 5578 U.S. Highway 421 N in Vilas. ARREST: A male suspect, 34, of 220 Sunrise Ridge in Vilas, was charged with felony possession of a firearm by a felon. Secured bond: $20,000. Trial date: Sept. 7. July 27 INCIDENT: A missing person was reported at 4358 N.C. Highway 105 S in Boone. INCIDENT: Larceny, forgery and fraud were reported at 843 Forestridge Drive in Boone. INCIDENT: DVPO violation was reported at 167 Morning Dove Lane in Boone. INCIDENT: Simple physical assault was reported at 411 Will Perry Road in Vilas. ARREST: A male suspect, 22, of 161 Darby Court in Boone, was charged with FTA. Secured bond: $25,000. Trial date: Aug. 23. ARREST: A male suspect, 38, of 1593 Draft Road in Butler, Tennessee, was charged with FTA. Secured bond: $500. Trial date: Sept. 9. July 28 INCIDENT: Fraud and larceny were reported at 835 Tom Jackson Road. INCIDENT: Breaking and entering a motor vehicle and larceny from motor vehicle were reported at 305 Arnett Hollow Road in Vilas. INCIDENT: Breaking and entering a motor vehicle and larceny from motor vehicle were reported at 733 and 735 Bairds Creek Road in Vilas. INCIDENT: Larceny from motor vehicle was reported at Boone Ironworks, 253 Ray Brown Road in Boone. INCIDENT: Simple physical assault was reported at 126 Kenneth Brown Road in Boone. INCIDENT: Breaking and entering a motor vehicle was reported at 1985 Aho Road in Blowing Rock. ARREST: A male suspect, 20, of 249 Meat Camp Rock Road in Boone, was charged with AWDW. Trial date: Sept. 7. ARREST: A male suspect, 20, of 7482 Phillipi Church Road in Raeford, was charged with felony larceny by employee. Secured bond: $2,500. Trial date: Sept. 7. ARREST: A male suspect, 29, of 5280 N.C. Highway 105 S in Boone, was charged with failure to pay monies, failure to return property rented and DV protective order violation. Secured bond: $815. Trial date: Aug. 18. ARREST: A male suspect, 22, of 625 W King St. Apt. 2 in Boone, was charged with felony assault on a female. Trial date: Sept. 9. July 29 INCIDENT: Calls for service were reported at 220 Owl Rest Lane in Deep Gap. ARREST: A male suspect, 26, of 7615 Old U.S. Highway 421 N in Zionville, was charged with contempt of court/perjury/court violations and resist/delay/obstruct. Bond: $980. Trial date: Aug. 2. ARREST: A female suspect, 41, of 363 Grandfather Road in Banner Elk, was charged with fraud worthless checks. ARREST: A male suspect, 43, of 221 Alpine Road Apt. 2 in Blowing Rock, was charged with civil contempt child support. Bond: $9,750. ARREST: A male suspect, 28, of 1240 Raven Rock Road in Boone, was charged with parole and probation violations. Secured bond: $10,000. Trial date: Aug. 12. ARREST: A female suspect, 19, of 428 Bluebird Lane in Boone, was charged with second degree trespassing. Secured bond: $500. Trial date: Aug. 9. July 30 INCIDENT: Simple assault was reported at 1074 George Wilson Road in Boone. INCIDENT: Possession of drug paraphernalia and one half ounce or less of marijuana were reported on Broadstone Road in Banner Elk. INCIDENT: Calls for service were reported at 1243 Joe Shoemaker Road in Vilas. INCIDENT: Unsafe discharge of a firearm was reported at 163 Holly Hills in Boone. INCIDENT: Fraud was reported at 836 Howard Edmisten Road in Sugar Grove. ARREST: A male suspect, 32, of 1243 Joe Shoemaker Road in Vilas, was charged with assault on a female and contempt of court/perjury/court violations. Trial date: Sept. 20. ARREST: A male suspect, 19, of 126 Kenneth Brown Road in Boone, was charged with assault on a female. Trial date: Aug. 23. ARREST: A male suspect, 50, of 139 Patton Lane in Boone, was charged with felony breaking and entering a motor vehicle and misdemeanor larceny. Secured bond: $2,000. Trial date: Sept. 7. ARREST: A male suspect, 24, of 309 Meadowhill Apartments Apt. 24 in Boone, was charged with OFA failure to pay fine. Secured bond: $392. Trial date: Aug. 18. July 31 INCIDENT: Vandalism was reported at 1858 Meat Camp Road in Boone. Aug. 1 ARREST: A female suspect, 31, of 167 Martin Lane in Boone, was charged with OFA child support. Secured bond: $7,106. Trial date: Aug. 2. ARREST: A male suspect, 44, of 1033 Seven Oaks Road in Boone, was charged with felony federal probation violation. ARREST: A male suspect, 19, of 385 Colonel Francis Road in Crumpler, was charged with injury to personal property and failing to comply with judgment. Bond: $475. Trial date: Sept. 2. ARREST: A male suspect, 49, of 111 Kings Drive in Thomasville, Georgia, was charged with OFA FTA. Secured bond: $9,178. Trial date: Aug. 2. ARREST: A male suspect, 22, of 271 North Woods Road in Boone, was charged with felony parole and probation violations and misdemeanor parole and probation violations. Secured bond: $22,000. Trial date: Aug. 2. (Reuters) A Georgia man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to trading on inside information that authorities say was obtained by hackers through a worldwide scheme to steal information from services that distribute corporate news releases. Leonid Momotok, 48, pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, for his role in an alleged scheme that involved the theft of more than 150,000 unpublished press releases from Business Wire, Marketwired and PR Newswire. Four other people have pleaded guilty to charges pending in Brooklyn and New Jersey, including three traders who like Momotok were arrested in August 2015. To read this article: We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here The funds not only held direct assets in the UK, but markets worldwide reacted to the result of the referendum, which in turn affected the value of the funds, it states in a press release . The United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union was the single most important event of the second quarter of the year for investment funds registered in Finland because they hold almost five billion euros worth of assets in the United Kingdom, estimates the Bank of Finland. The most popular target countries for investments by funds registered in Finland 1. Finland 2. The United States 3. Sweden 4. Luxembourg 5. The United Kingdom Source: The Bank of Finland The value of the funds was affected particularly by the sharp fall in share prices and the pound in the immediate aftermath of the referendum. The Bank of Finland also points out that approximately half, or 224, of investment funds registered in Finland held assets in the United Kingdom at the end of June. The total value of the assets, 4.7 billion euros, only accounted for 4.6 per cent of all assets held by these funds. The United Kingdom is nonetheless the fifth most popular target country for investments by funds registered in Finland especially among equity and bond funds. Equity funds, for example, saw the value of their investments fall by 0.7 billion euros and received redemption requests worth an additional 0.7 billion euros in June, the press release indicates. Some real estate funds operating in the United Kingdom suspended or restricted the redemption of fund units after an unusually high number of investors sought to redeem their shares in the aftermath of the membership referendum. Investment funds registered in Finland, however, do not have direct assets in funds that suspended trading, according to the Bank of Finland. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Irene Stachon Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi The initiative is interesting. Without more information about Russia's plans to invite countries to talks, it is impossible to comment [on] the issue more closely. On a general level, it can be concluded that the issue of flight safety in the Baltic Sea Region is both topical and important, a ministry spokesperson says in a press release . Russia's plans to invite military experts from the member states of Nato and non-member states from the Baltic Sea Region to negotiations in Moscow are interesting, according to the Finnish Minister of Defence. Russia, meanwhile, has revealed that aviation and maritime safety, as well as issues related to monitoring military exercises, will be on the agenda of the talks, according to TASS. Anatoly Antonov, a deputy Defence Minister of Russia, states in an interview with the news agency that ensuring that all military aircraft use their transponders while flying over the region is a priority for the Russian Ministry of Defence. The proposal to oblige all aircraft to use transponders while flying over the region was originally made by President Sauli Niinisto while he met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Finland in July. Reports about the invitation have stirred up some confusion in Sweden primarily because neither Sweden nor Finland have yet been formally invited to the negotiations. We're aware that they're planning to hold such a meeting based on reports in the Russian media, Johan Murray, a spokesperson for the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, confirmed to Svenska Dagbladet. The Estonian Ministry of Defence, the newspaper writes, has already received a formal invitation and is currently considering whether or not to participate in the negotiations. Murray estimates, however, that the fact that an invitation has been sent to Estonia but not yet to Finland or Sweden may not necessarily be of any significance. We currently can't comment on the matter in more detail. We'll comment on the invitation if and when one is sent to us, he said. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Handout AFP / US Navy 6th Fleet Source: Uusi Suomi CCTV of one of the suspects Melville Galle Jnr, one of the brothers charged with shooting Gda Brian Hanrahan Garda Brian Hanrahan previously made headlines when he was shot in the leg and back in New Orleans in January of last year. He had just withdrawn $200 (175) from the ATM when he was approached by two men who have since been charged with attempted second-degree murder in the United States. Gda Hanrahan is reported to have told his attacker to "Go f*** yourself" when he demanded his wallet. His attacker said: "You think I'm playing?" and shot him. The shooting occurred in the early hours of the morning in an area of the city not usually frequented by tourists. Charged In March, it emerged that two brothers charged with shooting and robbing Gda Hanrahan are due to go on trial. The garda was found by police at 5.40am on January 27, 2015, lying injured in the driveway of a house. Melvin P Galle Jnr (40) and his brother Keith M Galle (33) were both charged with attempted second-degree murder and armed robbery. Gda Hanrahan, a married father-of-two, required surgery to remove a bullet. He had to spend time in hospital afterwards and his wife Emma and mother Rosemary flew over to the US to be at his bedside. Originally from Killenaule in Co Tipperary, Gda Hanrahan told police that he met one of the suspects, who brought him to the area from the historical French Quarter of the city, telling the tourist that he knew where they could get a drink. The victim said that he went to an ATM and withdrew $200 (175). When they reached the 2200 block of New Orleans Street, about two miles north of the French Quarter, a second man approached Gda Hanrahan and asked him for cash. When Gda Hanrahan refused, the suspect shot him, took his money and fled. The medical care for Gda Hanrahan reportedly topped 900,000 and a number of fundraising events were held for him, including one at Limerick's Henry Street Garda Station. His wife Emma Holland, who is also from Killenaule, and his parents were daily visitors at the ILH-Interim LSU Hospital. Community Over $5,000 was collected by various local police departments and agencies to go towards any travel costs or medical bills on behalf of the Hanrahan family. The Irish community in New Orleans also raised funds. Police had offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects and attributed the apprehension of the men to "solid police work coupled with cooperation from the community". The Galle brothers were arrested days later by police less than a mile from the scene of the shooting. Stillorgan Reservoir with its octagonal Screen House where the treated water can be further filtered Water accessed by 200,000 people living across south Dublin is at risk of contamination. Irish Water is planning a 80m upgrade of the 150-year old Stillorgan Reservoir amid concerns that treated drinking water could be at risk of contamination from terrorists, wildlife, or vandalism. The utility plans to build a covered reservoir that can store 160 million litres, which is around two days' supply. Works will take up to two years to complete and will involve building three water storage cells in a flat-roofed building measuring 275 metres by 174 metres. A control and treatment building will also be developed. Launch The company will today launch a six-week public consultation on the proposed new covered reservoir, prior to submitting a planning application to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. A similar project was given permission in 2002. Irish Water said the covered reservoir was "essential" to safeguard the quality of the drinking water. "Irish Water has already invested 3.4m in a new system to improve the disinfection of drinking water stored in the Stillorgan Reservoir," it said. "Following this investment ... the long-term solution to upgrade the reservoir is now being progressed." Submissions can be made up to September 14. The Stillorgan Reservoir holds drinking water treated at Vartry before it is distributed across south Dublin. It is considered "critical" to the continued supply and quality of water in the region, and the development is supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and HSE. It is one of only two uncovered reservoirs in the State, and the other one at Ballyboden will be replaced in 2017. Head of major projects at Irish Water Geoff O'Sullivan said safeguarding the quality of drinking water was a "top priority" for the company. "We have committed to investing 80m to ensure the upgrade to the reservoir provides the long-term solution that is required to secure the water supply," he said. "This is part of a national investment plan that is being implemented on the basis of greatest need under our 25-year strategy, the Water Services Strategic Plan." The EPA said for some time it had called for the reservoir to be covered. "The open storage of treated water places the supply at direct risk of environmental (eg microbiological pollution from wildlife) or deliberate contamination (eg from unauthorised access, vandalism or terrorism)," it said. "Previous EPA audits have found evidence of unauthorised access to the reservoir which puts the supply at risk. "The EPA has been calling for the covering or replacement of the Stillorgan Reservoir at the earliest opportunity to address these concerns," the agency has said. Country Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe More women, juveniles help drive need for more space at the jail Bloomington's Indian Cultural Center opens west of city Bloomington's Indian population, most notably its young adult demographic, has been on the rise. The Indian Cultural Center is trying to reach them. One wonders if Republican leaders have begun to realize that they may have hitched their fate and the fate of their party to a man with a disordered personality. We can leave it to the professionals to determine exactly what to call it. Suffice to say that Donald Trump's response to the assorted speakers at the Democratic National Convention has not been rational. Why denigrate the parents of a soldier who died serving his country in Iraq? And why keep it going for four days? Why assail the record of a decorated general who commanded U.S. forces in Afghanistan? Why make fun of the stature of a popular former mayor of New York? Surely Trump must know that at any convention, including his own, people get up and criticize the opposition party's nominee. They get their shots in, just as your party got its shots in. And then you move on to the next phase of the campaign. You don't take a crack at every single person who criticized you. And you especially don't pick fights that you can't possibly win, such as against a grieving Gold Star mother or a general. It's simply not in your interest to do so. The fact that Trump could not help himself, that he clearly did, as he said, want to "hit" everyone who spoke against him at the Democratic convention, suggests that there really is something wrong with the man. It is not just that he is incapable of empathy. It is not just that he feels he must respond to every criticism he receives by attacking and denigrating the critic, no matter how small or inconsequential. If you are a Republican, the real problem, and the thing that ought to keep you up nights as we head into the final 100 days of this campaign, is that the man cannot control himself. He cannot hold back even when it is manifestly in his interest to do so. What's more, his psychological pathologies are ultimately self-destructive. (Disclosure: I was a guest speaker at a fundraiser for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton last month; I have no role with her campaign.) Trump is, in this respect, unlike a normal politician. A normal politician knows that no matter how much criticism gets under the skin, the thing to do is to smile and wave it off. You don't have to mean it. You don't even have to appear to mean it. But it is what you do, if only to avoid compounding the damage. Trump cannot make this simple self-serving calculation. He must attack everyone who opposes him, even after he has defeated them. He must continue talking about Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's father, even after Cruz has thrown in the towel. He must humiliate New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, even after Christie has lain down before him. Many of Trump's supporters admire him for his bold challenge to political correctness. But his political incorrectness may be only an unintended side effect of his malady. Some of the insults he fires back at his critics are politically incorrect: the racist and misogynist taunts. But others are just childish: making fun of someone's height, or suggesting that someone's father was involved in the Kennedy assassination. It's not really politically incorrect to say that a prisoner of war is not a hero because he got captured. It's just a way of saying, I don't care if you're a war hero. You criticized me and now I've got to hit you. Trump's insults are scattershot - only sometimes touching the raw racist and xenophobic nerves in society. The most important fact is that he is unable to control his responses to criticism. He must double down every time, even if it means digging himself deeper and deeper into the hole. Imagine such a person as president. What we have seen in the Trump campaign is not only a clever method of stirring up the anger in people. It is also a personality defect that has had the effect of stirring up anger. And because it is a defect and not a tactic, it would continue to affect Trump's behavior in the White House. It would determine how he dealt with other nations. It would determine how he dealt with critics at home. It would determine how he governed, how he executed the laws, how he instructed the law-enforcement and intelligence agencies under his command, how he dealt with the press, how he dealt with the opposition party and how he handled dissent within his own party. His personality defect would be the dominating factor in his presidency, just as it has been the dominating factor in his campaign. His ultimately self-destructive tendencies would play out on the biggest stage in the world, with consequences at home and abroad that one can barely begin to imagine. It would make him the closest thing the United States has ever had to a dictator, but a dictator with a dangerously unstable temperament that neither he nor anyone else can control. One can hope it does not come to that. In all likelihood, his defects will destroy him before he reaches the White House. He will bring himself down, and he will bring the Republican Party and its leaders down with him. This would be a tragedy were it not that the party and its leaders, who chose him as their nominee and who now cover and shill for this troubled man, so richly deserve their fate. Kagan is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a contributing columnist for The Washington Post. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ India has a problem in South Asia. And, it stems from a simple fact New Delhis relationship with Colombo, Male, Dhaka, and Kathmandu does not fall into the conventional paradigm of state-to-state ties. India historically has had a role -- sometimes willing and sometimes reluctant -- in the internal politics of these countries. It has been involved in their creation (Bangladesh), moments of regime-change (Nepal), civil war and reconciliation (Sri Lanka) and regime-stabilisation and democracy promotion (Maldives). This role lends it influence and power but also breeds resentment among the nationalists and those who lose out. And this section now has an ally -- an increasingly assertive China willing to play the same game as India in a region New Delhi considers its own. Nowhere has this been more acutely felt than in Nepal, which gets a new prime minister, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, on Wednesday. This has been greeted with a sigh of relief in Delhi. There is a good reason for it. India has had a difficult year with its closest neighbour and had a hand in Prachandas elevation to the top job. But, it is not the end of the story. For, Nepal is a case study in the challenges India will confront as it implements Prime Minister Narendra Modis neighbourhood-first policy. Internal polarisation, external shocks Nepali society is diverse. Nepali politics is exclusionary. This contradiction is at the heart of the political impasse in the Himalayan country. The political elite -- from hill Hindu upper-caste communities -- pushed through a constitution in September 2015 that entrenched it in power and alienated the Madhesis of the plains bordering India. The Madhesis protested. The state cracked down and deployed the army. Delhi stepped in. It wanted Nepal to pause the process or make swift corrections to the constitution, warning a conflict at the border could spill over. But this time, the Nepali hill elite, which has lobbied with Delhi countless times for power, did not want Indian advice -- it would have led to a gradual power-shift to other social groups. As Madhesis protested at the border, disrupting fuel and goods supplies to Kathmandu, India backed the pressure tactic. The Nepal government used it to whip nationalist sentiment, painting India as the external aggressor and Madhesis its pliable agents. It also used the moment to turn to China for help. Beijing promised fuel but delivered so little it barely met Kathmandus demand. Costs, logistics and geography made it inviable. Nepal and China subsequently signed a transit agreement. But the pact does not identity either the ports, routes or the custom formalities. The pacts operational value is doubtful but it symbolised Nepals attempt to break out of dependence on India. But the pressure from the Madhesi movement and India was immense. Kathmandu amended the constitution, enhancing Madhesis political representation and promising their inclusion in state organs. It did not however deliver on their key demand for revision of federal boundaries. The border opened up and the movement dissipated by February but the alienation persisted. India was not happy with Nepal prime minister KP Oli for his refusal to address Madhesi grievances, his use of the nationalism and anti-India card and his enthusiasm in inviting China to counter India. It used its old links with Prachanda -- the Maoist leader who had first signed a peace deal with other democratic forces against the king in Delhi in 2005 -- and encouraged him to get out of the government. China, political and diplomatic sources confirm, wanted the Maoists to stay on in the Oli government and preserve Left unity. But Prachanda sensed an opportunity to get to power himself. He had other concerns on transitional justice and peace process and was reassured he would not be victimised. The opposition party, Nepali Congress, and the protesting Madhesi forces backed him. India will, after a nine month interlude, have a friendly government in Kathmandu. Prachanda, in an interview to the Hindustan Times last week, committed to addressing Madhesi concerns and keeping a balanced foreign policy, amid the perception of a tilt towards China. Twin challenges The change in government re-establishes Indian primacy in Nepal but does not necessarily answer the fundamental question confronting Delhis diplomats across the region. How do you retain traditional influence and shape outcomes in a diverse society and fragmented polity? In Nepal, India wants a Madhes that is accommodated within the political mainstream and can punch proportionate to its substantial demographic strength. But, it also wants cordial ties with Kathmandu, which is reluctant to make this concession. The dilemma is eerily similar to the one India faces in Sri Lanka, where it swings between the impulse to push Tamil accommodation and keep Colombo in good humour. In both cases, while balancing interests, India must continue to nudge dominant actors towards an inclusive constitutional settlement. How does India counter a new China, willing to invest in building up regional elites who may no longer be as sensitive to Indian interests? Beijing is in South Asia to stay. In terms of resources, it will be difficult for Delhi to compete with Beijing. But India has natural advantages in terms of geography, connectivity and people-to-people ties. And it has to build on that. There is widespread perception in Nepal that Delhi does not deliver on visible big development projects. India will have to get its processes in order to assist with infrastructure, step up development assistance, enhance investments, tie in smaller economies to its market, and maintain extensive political networks from the top to the bottom. As Nepal shows, the neighbourhood will require constant political engagement, a wise mix of hands-on and hands-off approach, a wider diplomatic arsenal and transforming lives by delivering on development promises. India has a Himalayan task ahead. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kashmir has been on the boil for 26 days now. The killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani has brought normal life to a grinding halt. In the violence that followed, 55 people have been killed and thousands injured. The government in New Delhi is unmoved and the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP coalition has failed to normalise the situation. Notwithstanding the presence of the armed forces, Kashmir has undoubtedly slipped into the azaadi discourse and the mainstream parties have retreated. South Kashmir, where Burhan was killed, is considered to be a PDP stronghold. On June 21, Mehbooba won a by-election with a significant margin, but the area refuses to embrace normalcy. It has spearheaded the current phase of unrest that replicates 2008 and 2010, when Kashmir erupted with the renewed call for resolving the political issue. The Amarnath land row in 2008 pushed Kashmir back to abnormality and the 2010 agitation further galvanised it. A lull of six years ended when violence engulfed the Valley yet again. Whatever narrative a section of the media, particularly the television channels, uses to let an average Indian to know that it was all the handiwork of Pakistan, the fact remains that the way Kashmir is reacting is the reflection of a deep-rooted political discontent that has not been addressed. Today the government is not in control of the situation and it is akin to 1990, when a parliamentary delegation headed by Rajiv Gandhi visited Srinagar and reported back we have lost Kashmir. The only difference is that then Farooq Abdullah had resigned and gone away from Srinagar. Notwithstanding the fact that today the mainstream parties such as National Conference (NC), the PDP and Congress have formidable structures on the ground, they lack the audacity to wage a fight against the dominant political discourse that has been shaping and guiding the agitation centered on azaadi. Iftikhar Misgar, the NC candidate who unsuccessfully fought the bypolls against Mehbooba, publicly called off his relationship with the mainstream and chanted pro-azaadi slogans in a crowd in Anantnag. He was followed by Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman who had also fought the election against Mehbooba. Most mainstream party workers have gone into hiding to save themselves from public wrath. Read | As Kashmir boils, CM Mehbooba caught between politics and people The anger that is ruling the streets is the manifestation of a long-pending political dispute that New Delhi refuses to recognise. The hate India movement has moved to the fourth generation and the boys who seem to be at the helm today have even challenged the relevance of an influential leader like Syed Ali Geelani, who issues protest calenders under a joint platform with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik. The past few days have seen these boys defying the relaxation programme contained in these calendars and asked shopkeepers not to open their shutters. It was left to the Lashar-e-Toiba to ask the people to follow their programme. A visit to Pulwama district is itself a challenge. A few camps of a Special Operations Group of J&K Police have been razed to the ground and the Army is in the barracks. It was in Kareemabad (Pulwama) that a militant commander appeared in a public rally of thousands on July 31. For the residents it is a liberated zone. Read | Do not use pellets in Kashmir, cant go on blinding young protesters There is no denying the fact that the state government failed to handle the situation, but the real problem lies in the political disconnect that has been cemented over a period of time. With the PDP joining hands with the BJP, adding to the discomfort an average Kashmiri feels with New Delhi, a string of proposals such as the beef ban, challenging the state flag, setting up of a Sainik colony and a separate township for Kashmiri Pandits have left the Kashmiris more insecure in an atmosphere that has been overlapping with the wave of intolerance across India. The hanging of Afzal Guru pushed Kashmir into a new phase of militancy, which is now dominated by the local youth whose numbers have been increasing. Wani emerged as an icon who symbolised the increasing anger against the State. He thus found a place in a society that had bid farewell to violence in the mid-1990s. His coming to the forefront also demonstrates that Kashmir was in search of a leader as people had lost faith in others. With tens of thousands of people attending his funeral it brings forth the dark reality that suggests that people are losing faith in the democratic ways of achieving a political goal. Read | From Ashfaq Majid Wani to Burhan Wani: Are protests in Kashmir a redux of 1990? In such situations what gets strengthened in Kashmir is that New Delhi has neither cared about Kashmir in the past nor does it do so today. The appointment of interlocutors after the 2010 unrest and an all-party delegation visiting Srinagar was something the UPA did, but they failed the people by not even owning the report it submitted. If your own government in the state has failed to make a difference, there is no way out but to engage with the separatists who may not represent the political constituencies, but have a certain proximity to the dominant sentiment on the ground. The cry for azaadi, even if it may not be palatable is getting louder today and the youth who are at its forefront have the potential to drift away into violence. Pakistan may avail this opportunity but the larger question that needs to be addressed is who offered this to them on a platter? Certainly New Delhi has failed in recognising the political nature of the problem. Shujaat Bukhari is a Srinagar-based journalist The views expressed are personal When it comes to children, India continues to be an uncertain nation. It cant decide whether its vast population of children is a responsibility, a resource or a liability. Our national confusion has found its latest expression in the new child labour law passed by both houses of Parliament in July. Between this law and the various noises currently being made in draft policy documents, there is a vast gap. Apparently, the ministry of human resource development (HRD) has chosen to ignore these gaps. Perhaps the task of drafting a new, coherent policy on education has proved much too exhausting under the circumstances. Read | Everything you need to know about Child Labour Amendment Bill Two years ago when the former minister for HRD, Smriti Irani, mooted the idea of a new national policy, it was welcomed. Details of the 1986 policy had faded, therefore no one thought of assessing its performance and status. Views were gathered from village and district levels, and a committee chaired by TSR Subramanian was set up to draft a document on the basis of this vast amount of data about what ordinary people want to see in a national policy. A few months ago, reports stated that the drafting committee had submitted its report, but the ministry declined to release it, saying it must first gather feedback from the states. Unhappy with this argument, Subramanian went ahead and released the report himself. As if these developments were not disconcerting enough, Irani , who had initiated the policy drafting process, had her portfolio changed in a Cabinet reshuffle, and a new minister the fourth in seven years took over HRD. Read | Child labour law: We have once again failed our children A new document has been uploaded on the ministrys website. It has a strange title: Some Inputs for Draft National Educational Policy 2016. Normally, governments dont provide inputs; they receive inputs from others. One wonders what message the ministry wants to convey by saying that it is providing some inputs. The phrase can be interpreted either as a sign of unusual modesty or something ominous that only the ministry can provide inputs. Several of the ideas included in the Inputs document are drawn from the Subramanian committee report. The difference is that these ideas have now been put across more mildly. A common weakness in both documents is the absence of a string to tie the various ideas together into a coherent whole. There are sections where the second paragraph contradicts the first. One example is the section that first critiques the examination system and then recommends annual exams after Class V. This will violate the Right to Education (RTE) law promulgated six years ago. Read | Its back to a dark past for the children of India The absence of a coherent vision has intensified with the passage of the child labour amendment Act. If the President gives his assent to this Act, the agenda of educational reforms will receive a body blow. The Act not only legitimises childrens involvement in lucrative activities, but also opens the door for all kinds of industries to hire adolescents. Even younger children, who are covered by the RTE can now join the income-generating activities of the family after school hours or during vacations. All these allowances have been made in the name of practicality or adjustment with the so-called Indian reality a euphemism for poverty. The new child labour law will make RTE a pleasant memory and the dream of extending it to Class 10 a foolish dream. It will also take the last shred of substance out of the rhetoric of Indias demographic dividend. Indias vast population of adolescents and youth will now serve as an army of semi-educated workers available at low wages for low-tech industries. Read | Child workers trapped in mica mines With the passage of the new child labour Act, India has taken a giant leap backwards. The gains made over several decades of research and advocacy, judicial intervention and political mobilisation are being tossed away. The idea that children have rights took a vast global effort to get established as a UN Convention. The fact that India signed it was no routine matter. Our preparedness to shift millions of children from the labour market to schools was poor. It took two flagship national missions, sustained over two decades, to achieve a semblance of universal enrolment in the early primary classes. Universalising enrolment at the upper primary stage, i.e. Classes 6 to 8 posed a tougher challenge. And now, when this prolonged effort was approaching success, the revised child labour Act moots the facetious idea that schooling and earning can go together. Millions of little boys and girls can now join the two ends of a glass bangle over a burning candle when they return from school in the afternoon. I saw this activity in several homes in Firozabad a few years ago. It gave me an idea of what hell might be like. Bangle-joining is predominantly a family-run business. Along with beedi rolling, it has now been deleted from the list of hazardous occupations in the new child labour law. As for girls education, the new Act implies a terrible setback. The permission it grants for letting children work in family enterprises after the school hours will soon pull the daughters of poor parents out of school. The exhaustion of work, compounded by chronic malnourishment, can be guaranteed to affect their performance at school. If the new educational policy brings the pass-fail system back to upper primary classes, we can easily imagine the consequences. Children, especially girls, belonging to labour families will fail and get disqualified for further education. Krishna Kumar is professor of education at Delhi University and former director NCERT The views expressed by the author are personal Whats in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet William Shakespeare might say so, but we in India beg to differ. A name is everything: Its an identity and a signpost that reminds us of an often glorified past. If all goes according to plan, soon West Bengal will shed its tilt towards the West and become Bengal. The jury is still out on the vernacular substitute to this, with Bangla and Banga topping the list. Read | No West in Bengal? State cabinet adopts resolution for name change In India, that is Bharat, a name is a tool used by cultural and political parties to reach out to the sons of the soil, or rake up sentiments, like the Punjabi subah or Tamil eelam. So what would it be if other states, the ones that have not yet taken the desi turn like Odisha, were to follow West Bengal aka Bengal aka Bangla aka Banga? Here are a few: Delhi: The prime options to replace Delhi are Indraprasta and Dilli. While the former gives a more cultural tinge to the National Capital, the latter has a more aam aadmi appeal to it and no, thats not a pointer to which political party would prefer which name. Read | Paschim Banga or Banga? Imminent name-change divides state over dropping West Goa: This state goes by different names and none of it refers to Feni. Goparashtra, Gomanta, Gopakapattam, Gopakapuri, Nelkinda, and Sindapur are some of the old names. The name Govarashtra finds mention in the Mahabharata and when translated it means a land of cowherds. All are big names for a small state. Kerala: Keralam is how the state is written and referred to in Malayalam. It is an idea that echoes in literary and political circles whenever the flow of dirhams or riyals reduces. Some etymologists wrongly decipher the origins of Keralam to the land of coconut (as Kera means coconut). And if etymology could be drawn from current demography, we could also look at Gulfalam. Read | Mamatas cabinet removes West from Bengal Tamil Nadu: Tamil nationalism as a political cause is today a thing of the past and Madras has become Chennai. But still in the narrow lanes of Mylapore or in teashops outside the Madurai Meenakshi Temple, or during the annual Tamil language conferences in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, one can hear whispers for a Tamizh Nadu. No matter how we change the names of our states, little is going to change in the day of the life of an average Indian. Were all creatures of habit and thats going to be the way it is: In north India, a southerner will still be called a Madrasi and in Kerala a person from Odisha will be a Bengali; and, the sale of the Star of Bombay at duty-free shops will show no signs of a dip, and yet you cant shout Bombay at Chowpatty or at CST without fearing the Marathi manoos. Twitter: @vijucherian SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With the HD version of actor Rajinikanths film Kabali being leaked online, the threat of growing illegal market looms large on the Indian film industry. The leak, which happened in Malaysia, has raised a question on what steps are being taken to stop this demon. Earlier, Abhishek Chaubeys Udta Punjab and Indra Kumars Great Grand Masti were leaked even before their release, and with Kabalis leak despite the producers moving Madras High Cort and getting an interim injunction restraining 169 internet service providers (ISPs) in the country from giving access to illegal websites Bollywood seems to have reached its tipping point. Read: Dishoom seeks court protection against piracy, submits encrypted copy to censor Actor Varun Dhawan, whose recent release Dishoom obtained the John Doe order from Bombay High Court, which does not allow mobile services or internet services to allow illegal film download says, Piracy is hurting our industry as a whole.People will always watch movies; piracy is giving them an alternative way of watching in it their phone. Maybe mobile service providers can ban illegal downloads automatically. I just feel we have to come together, says Dhawan. Actor Varun Dhawan and John Abraham in a still form the film Dishoom. However, National Award winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar feels the problem is not just limited to protecting a film till release. My concern is not just about before the release, my contention is also that if a movie is releasing on Friday, on Saturday on corner of the road, someone is sending DVD for Rs 50. I really want the central and the state government to have stringent laws against this which is eating up the revenue, he says. Actor Shahid Kapoor in a still from the film Udta Punjab. The film was leaked online just two days before theatrical release. Read: Madaari: Film industry not united on piracy, says Irrfan Filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee mirrors the same thought. I have to say that Bollywood and worldwide distribution has to get more innovative to counter piracy. You need to get the films to people who want the film. You cant sit on it and try to control it and wait for the audience to come to you, he says Actor Rajeev Khandelwal, however, blames the public that watches pirated copies of films. Piracy is here because of illiteracy, people here dont know what they are doing. Piracy means you are killing an industry, just the way you are not paying taxes and stealing it away from our government. If this continues, filmmakers will fear investing money in a film, people will start losing jobs and the industry will fade away, he says. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON While Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone are ruling the international scene with Hollywood biggies Baywatch and xXx, Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor has expressed desire to work in Russian, Chinese or French films if the script and her character is good. Speaking at a special screening of the Punjabi film Chauthi Koot, Sonam, asked if she would do a Punjabi film, said, I dont know the language; I do understand it. I understand Sindhi and Hindi more, but why not? I dont think, as an actor, a language should curb your enthusiasm. If I like the story and if it is Punjabi, Chinese, Hindi, Marathi, Russian, French or any language, I will do it if I like the character. The only one in recent times that can be considered is Sonu Sood and Amyra Dastur working with superstar Jackie Chan in the English-Hindi-Mandarin film Kung Fu Yoga. Read: I will never say I know it all, says Sonam About Chauthi Koot, Sonam said, It is a very beautiful film and I cried profusely watching the film and after 40 minutes of the film, my tears didnt stop. Its sensitively made and directed beautifully; I am fortunate that I got the opportunity to watch the film. I request people to watch the film in the theatres. I have shot numerous films in Punjab and they have captured the essence of Punjab in the 1980s very beautifully. It is a very moving film. Sonam is will next be seen in the film Veerey Di Wedding. Read: No shame in revealing my age, says Sonam Follow @htshowbiz for more On the heels of Sultan and Kabali, this Friday will see the release of a glut of films - 14 of them. While Salman Khans Sultan and Rajinikanth-starrer Kabali were released across close to 5500 screens worldwide on July 6 and July 22 respectively, lesser films or films with average star-cast have failed to find enough number of screens. Either they had to push their films towards September or had to be content with whichever Friday they could get. Watch: Manoj Bajpayee in the trailer of Budhia Singh - Born To Run Biggies such as Mohenjo Daro and Rustom are set to reap the benefits of a long Independence Day weekend, so relatively smaller ones have to be released on August 5. Watch: Aditi Rao Hyadri, Arshad Warsi in a song from The Legend Of Michael Mishra Bollywood Manoj Bajpayee is the most well known star this time. His Budhia Singh Born To Run will be jostling against Rajeev Khandelwals Fever and Arshad Warsis The Legend Of Michael Mishra. Rajpal Yadav will also be seen in Babuji Ek Ticket Bambai which is based on the theme of familial prostitution. Hai Apna Dil Toh Awara, Purab Ki Awaz and Moods Of Crime are also set to open this week. Watch: Trailer of Rajeev Khandelwals thriller Fever Hollywood Its going to be a tough week for Hollywood films in India. Its surprising because Hollywood doesnt normally release two big films simultaneously in India. Matt Damon returns as Jason Bourne, and he will battle it out with the DC superheroes in Suicide Squad. Bourne has a huge fan following in India and that can make it tough for Suicide Squad. Watch: Matt Damon returns in Jason Bourne Watch: Trailer of much-awaited Suicide Squad Punjabi Gurvinder Singh made heads turn with his amazingly crafted Anhe Ghore Da Daan in 2011. A big name in the film festival circuit, Singh is back with Chauthi Koot based on the post Operation Blue Star in Punjab. It was screened and appreciated in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Watch: Trailer of award winning Chauthi Koot Tamil GV Prakash Kumar is trying hard to be the next youth sensation in Tamil cinema. But, its not going to be easy for his Meendum Oru Kadhal Kathai which will be up against Jeevas Thirunaal. Both have sizeable fan following and its difficult to predict a clear-cut winner at this stage. Watch: GV Prakash Kumar in Meendum Oru Kadhal Kathai trailer Malayalam Another fight is brewing in the South as Mohanlals Vismayam is up against Marubhoomiyile Aana, and Ann Maria Kalippilaanu. He definitely has the edge, but content is still the king in the Malayalam cinema. . Watch: Acting powerhouse Mohanlal returns in Vismayam All these films are set to face a hard time to make profits because of the limited number of screens. This is the bitter reality of how a big film, even before its release, can ruin a small films business Follow @htshowbiz for more Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Parliament is set to pass the crucial Constitution Amendment Bill to roll out a nationwide Goods and Services Tax (GST), Indias biggest tax reform measure. Heres a look at how it could affect you: Graphic: Vignesh Radhakrishnan As India readies for a countrywide Goods and Services Tax (GST), a team of technology specialists and tax experts are busy stitching together a robust country-wide information technology (IT) network and to make the rollout seamless. GST Network (GSTN), a special purpose vehicle (SPV), was set up as a private limited company in 2013 to create a robust IT backbone to enable real-time taxpayer registration, filing returns, handle invoices, execute inter-state tax settlements, and connect states for two-way data flow. The system which is being prepared by Infosys is 60% through and will be ready to be rolled out by December-end, GSTN chairman Navin Kumar told HT. As far as the hardware required to put the software in action, the government will be in a position to release those funds once the Constitution Amendment Bill is passed by the Parliament, Kumar said. The tech backbone will be a portal-driven system that will connect the databases of the states and the centre and will help check tax evasion and help broaden the tax base. The portal is likely to be named gstindia, sources said. The tech network will tested through a string of simulated dry runs before the new tax systems expected roll-out from April 1, 2017. This exercise will take place and glitches ironed ahead of implementation once the GST rates on specific goods and services are decided. The rates will likely be specified in the sub-ordinate legislations that will have to be passed after the main central law is enacted. These include the state GST law, the central GST law and the inter-state GST law. These are enabling legislations that are necessary for rolling the new tax system. GST will replaced a string of central and local levies such as excise duty, value added tax and octroi into a single unified tax and stitch together a common national market. The hardware network of storage servers and computers for GSTN will involve an estimated cost of about Rs 500 crore. IT services major Infosys has prepared a software to enable the traders, manufacturers, service providers to register with the government with a GST identity code. The government had awarded a contract worth Rs.1,380 crore to Infosys Ltd to build and maintain the technology network. GSTN is assisting 17 states and 5 union teritories to absorb the system and the workings to deal with the tax returns, tax structure, payments etc by giving them training and support. In the second stage, it will develop systems for assessing and auditing tax returns and filings, Kumar said. For the ease of the taxpayer and the tax administrators the finance ministry is also likely to set up two sets of 24-hour help lines. Also, for the tax payers who are technologically challenged, government is likely to have tax return preparers and agents who can be approached for outsourcing of these services for a nominal fee. The IT backbone, Kumar said, is designed in a manner that is easy to understand and will ensure a seamless transfer of funds with transparency. Over 800,000 employees working with different public sector banks (PSBs) could soon have a reason to cheer. The government and the Banks Board Bureau (BBB) are in a hurry to announce employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) for PSB employees, especially in the backdrop of the entry of 21 new small and payments banks, and a number of mid-management professionals reaching retirement age soon. The government also wants to bring in some parity in the remuneration structure of state bank employees with their private sector peers. ICICI Bank, Axis and HDFC Bank, among others, regularly offer ESOPs to employees based on their performances. The plan is likely to be in place by March next year, which means employees would be issued shares by April, government sources said. Each lender will have its own schedule and payment mechanism. We dont want to have a one-size-fits-all formula for this... each bank will have its unique and independent scheme.. the plan is almost ready the BBB is giving the final touches, sources added. The ESOP scheme for PSB employees is part of the seven-point reform programme Indradhanush announced by the government last year. Besides giving ESOPs, the finance ministry and the BBB are looking at innovative ways to increase the compensation packages of employees. While, it is difficult to tamper with the fixed component of the package, the BBB is keen to increase the variable part. According to sources, a human resource policy is also likely to be worked out, comprising out-of-turn promotions and fancy postings within and outside the country. Bank officials may also be allowed to apply for jobs in other state-owned lenders. At present, postings are determined by the Centre. We are looking at innovative ways for the variable part. It may include ESOPs or increasing the amount of performance-linked incentives, or bonuses, or some other perks, Vinod Rai, chairman, BBB, had earlier told HT. Finance minister Arun Jaitley has also said that the government is considering offering ESOPs to PSB employees. The plan, however, is likely to face opposition from trade unions. Share prices will fluctuate and we dont believe we will be owners of the banks if we get ESOPs... why should employees buy and sell shares? said CH Venkatachalam, general-secretary, All India Bank employees Association (AIBEA) . SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Zakir feels his luck is good. From his truck, the Municipal Corporation of Delhis (MCDs) toll gate at Badarpur Border is visible. This is usually not the case. I have waited here for 3-4 hours also. The queue is 2-3 km long, says Zakir at 12 am on Wednesday., He is transporting 16 tonnes of wheat from Bhopal to Sadar Bazaar in the National Capital. Over 20,000 truck drivers enter Delhi in a day through 122 checkpoints on its border. At the checkpoints drivers have to pay an entry tax called the octroi, a municipal-level tax. The Goods and Services Tax (GST), billed as Indias most-ambitious tax reform and the legislation for which was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, will subsume a bevy of taxes including this entry tax. Vinay Roy, who collects the entry tax at the Badarpur toll point , however feels that the government cannot do away with toll gates altogether. Roy has been on the job for six months and the prospect of losing it does not excite him much. Though a single tax seems like a good idea to Faridabad resident Dhruv Mohan Jain, he also says: Without toll gates how do you know who is coming or going out. Yes, the time saved from not exchanging receipts will reduce the waiting period. According to a Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) study, a typical truck spends nearly 16% of the time at check posts. A truck in India covers an average annual distance of only 85,000 km as compared to 150,000 to 200,000 km in advanced countries. With a common rate of GST across India, checking for sales tax at interstate barriers would not be required. Thus, if the waiting time halves, it would theoretically add 8% additional truck capacity due to efficiency, Nomura, a brokerage and research firm, said in a recent research report. Zakir, who like the others at the toll plaza has no clue what GST is, says it would be great service to truckers if MCD toll booths vanish. While this may happen in other cities of the country, at least in Delhi, Zakirs queue is not shortening soon. The Supreme Court has mandated environment compensation charge or green tax, which commercial vehicles have to pay when entering Delhi. Trucks, after passing the MCD toll, line-up again. However, Mahesh Sharma, a supervisor with DEP Toll, the company contracted to collect the green tax, says this queuing up of trucks is good for the city. If all the trucks are allowed to enter and exit Delhi freely, there would be a traffic chaos inside the city around the times trucks enter, he says. Commercial vehicles carrying goods can travel in the city at prescribed timings enter after 11pm and exit before 7am. But all this is just expectation and speculation. Nothing will change soon at the Badarpur toll gate, or any at any of the 121 checkpoints, till the details of GST whether to do away with toll gates or if the green levy will also subsumed are yet to be decided. Till then, Zakir will have to wait. NEW DELHI: For 22-year-old Sana, life has come a full circle after 10 painful years. Abducted when she was 12, Sana was trafficked, sold twice, raped, married forcefully, made to bear two kids and worked in a dance bar before she could find her way home in northeast Delhi. Her family had accepted it as their fate when efforts over three years failed to trace Sana. The police had also declared the case shut. On July 25, it was an awkward homecoming for Sana whose mother could not recognise her. A police officer privy to the details of the case told HT that Sana had to introduce herself to her mother who had lost all hope of getting back her daughter. In the safety of her home, Sana shared her ordeal over ten years. She told her family that a couple had abducted her from near her house in Janta Colony, Seelampur. Her family now lives in Kabir Nagar in the same area. Sana had gone to visit a relative nearby. She said a couple dragged her into a car and drugged her. When she regained consciousness after several hours, Sana found herself in a locked in a room in Ambala with 10 more girls of her age. The couple kept her there for 15-20 days and then took her to a village in Gujarat where she was sold to a farmer, Rubiya, Sanas mother, said. The farmer kept Sana confined to a water pump room in an agricultural field for two years. She was forced to work in the fields during the day and was locked in the room during the night. During this period, the farmers son, who she identified as one Balwant, kept raping her. Balwant used to beat me up and burn me with cigarettes, Rubiya said. After two years, the same couple who had abduced her, returned. They took her along to different locations in Ambala, Chandigarh, and some places in Punjab. In a village in Punjab, she was sold to one Jarnail. Sana doesnt recall the name of the village. Jarnails relatives forced me to get married to an elderly driver, Bhagera Singh. I bore him two sons, Mamveer and Ranjit. After three years, he died and his family took away my sons and threw me out, Sana said. She returned to Ambala as it was the only place she knew. She had a faded memory of her address in Delhi. Delhi and Jamnapaar (trans-Yamuna) were my only memory of the city I was born in, she said. In Ambala, she met a woman who took her to Siliguri in West Bengal, promising her to get a job there. In Siliguri she worked in a dance bar. Moved by her story, the woman promised her help to return home. She used to frequently visit Delhi and knew about the city. Based on the description of the area, she brought me to Janta Colony. They learnt about the new address from neighbours. Sanas parents run a grocery shop in the area. DCP (northeast) AK Singla said the case will be reopened. A case of kidnapping registered in 2006 was declared unsolved. Now that the victim is back, we will reopen the case and bust the human trafficking racket, said Singla. (The name of the victim and her mother have been changed to protect their identity) NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over the use of Chinese manja, the Delhi high court on Tuesday days ahead of Independence Day when kite-flying peaks asked the government when it will issue the notification banning threads coated with powdered glass. You (Delhi government) know the urgency, kites are flown on August 15. You get instruction from authorities concerned by when the notification prepared by you and vetted by Delhi governments law department will be issued, a bench of chief justice G Rohini and justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal said. Chinese manja is a nylon thread coated with powdered glass. The bench sought the status of the order after it was informed through the Delhi governments counsel that the notification has been sent to the lieutenant governor for his approval. That (notification) is waiting (L-Gs approval) and beyond that we (Delhi government) have no control, Delhi governments counsel said. The Delhi government had on Monday told the court that Chinese manja would be banned soon as it is conscious of injuries caused by the kite-flying thread made of nylon. The court was informed that the Delhi government was in process of issuing a notification for banning Chinese manja and only allowing kite-flying with a cotton thread or natural fibre, free from metallic or glass components. The Supreme Court has recently sent a similar matter to the National Green Tribunal, observing that since the issue relates to protection of environment and wildlife, same should be adjudicated upon by the tribunal. The court was hearing a plea of Zulfiquar Hussain who has alleged that earlier the victims of the synthetic thread were birds, but now humans are also under threat and referred to the recent death of a 28-year-old man in East Delhi whose throat allegedly got slit by such a thread while he was riding a motorbike. NOIDA/MEERUT: The family of the woman and her minor daughter gangraped by highway bandits accused Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan on Tuesday of heaping more agony on them by terming the incident a possible opposition conspiracy. Would he have made a similar statement had his own family faced such an ordeal? questioned the Noida-based man whose wife and daughter were sexually assaulted. The statement made by Azam Khan has further agonised us, said the husband-father of the survivors who he said were in shock. NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Tuesday solved the case where two employees of a rice trader were robbed of Rs 80 lakh at gunpoint by four men riding bikes in west Delhis Punjabi Bagh four days ago. Ajit Singh, 24, who works with a leading private bank, and his two associates, Aashu Shrivastava, 30, and Mukesh Pal, 26, were arrested in connection with the robbery case. Around Rs 45 lakh out of the Rs 80 lakh robbed was recovered from them. Police said the arrested bank employee was the mastermind behind the crime. He used to assist the employees of the rice merchant in depositing money in his bank. Deependra Pathak, joint commissioner of police (southwestern range), said Singh was in need of money and planned to rob the two employees. He lured his five associates and included them in the robbery plan after promising them an equal share in the stolen money. On July 28, the two employees, Aman Gupta and Shubham, went to merchant Ved Prakash Guptas home in Punjabi Bagh to collect Rs 80 lakh .They kept the money in a black bag and rode a scooty to the bank on Asaf Ali Road. As they approached the Shakur Basti railway underpass, four men riding two motorcycles waylaid them, pointed pistols at the two and snatched the bag. Further probe pointed the needle of suspicion at Ajit Singh, the banker. He was taken into custody and grilled during which he broke down and confessed to the crime, said an investigator. Singhs interrogation revealed that he leaked the information to Aashu that he would receive a payment of Rs 80 lakh. The phone call details of Singh and Aashu were obtained and analysed. It was established that the two had frequent telephonic conversations on the day of robbery, the officer said. NEW DELHI: The Delhi government will oppose the interim bail plea of Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav, serving life sentence in 2002 Nitish Katara murder case. The government will also plead to the Supreme Court not to show any leniency in revising their punishment, sources said. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a petition filed by the convicts on Friday, seeking revision of enhanced jail term by the Delhi High Court. The convicts have pleaded for interim bail after the Delhi government denied parole to the duo. In February 2015, the Delhi High Court had sentenced Vikas and his cousin Vishal to life imprisonment, with a stipulation that they undergo at least 30 years imprisonment without benefit of remission. The Supreme Court had upheld the High Court verdict. The convicts have filed a special leave petition before the apex court, seeking revision of the enhanced punishment. The government will oppose the interim bail besides pleading with the Supreme Court that convicts require no leniency. All facts showing their antecedents during the course of their conviction will be presented to the court, a source said. The Delhi government has filed an affidavit before the apex court. The affidavit includes details of communications between the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh government to highlight that the convicted duo misused their liberty at least on two occasions and did not appear before a court in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, even as they left Tihar jail on pretext of being produced before the court. A case is registered against Vikas and Vishal Yadav in Badaun. Sources said the duo visited Badaun from Tihar jail for being produced in a court on numerous occasions in the past. A Delhi government official said the facts have come to light after the UP government shared information related to the Badaun case with the Delhi government. We had sought information about the case after we got a tip off about their trip to Badaun, the official said. BULANDSHAHR/GHAZIABAD: The victims family in the Bulandshahr robbery and gang rape has reposed faith in the suspended team of three officers, including former senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vaibhav Krishna, and said the same team be allowed to investigate the case. The former SSP was the one who immediately showed us several photographs of suspects as per our description. There, we identified the prime suspect from a photograph. The SSP had assured us immediate action. We want him back. We are considering transfer of the case to Ghaziabad once the suspects are arrested, said the uncle of the 13-year-old victim girl. Now, we have another problem. We may have to change the residence after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders visited our house on Tuesday. They should have called the family at some undisclosed location. We will soon shift elsewhere, he said. The girls uncle, who was himself held captive during the incident, said that they got clues about the suspects as they were calling each other by names. They called each other as Raees, Abbas, Aslam, Mukhtiar, Amit etc. They had two to three small torches which helped us see their faces. Raees, Bablu and Naresh were identified by the girl and her mother. The prime suspect was clean shaven, short and had a wheatish complexion. If these men are not arrested, we will demand a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry, he said. We have not been provided medical reports as yet. We have not been approached by police for 164CrPC statements. The minor girl is in trauma and does not want to go to Bulandshahr as the place will remind her of the incident, he said. However, the office of UP CM tweeted on Tuesday, On #UPCM@yadav akhilesh instruction, Sh.Sujith Pandey, IG meerut will head the #Bulandshahr case (sic). Another tweet from the handle said, @yadav akhilesh also directed PS Home/DGP to ensure speedy investigation and ensure justice is delivered at the earliest. On their part, the Bulandshahr police could not make more arrests on Tuesday. The police on Monday arrested Raees, Jabar Singh and Shavez. The three arrested suspects have no previous crime record. We are getting their criminal history from other police stations compiled, said Rameshwar Kumar, station house officer, Kotwali Dehat. Senior superintendent of police Anees Ahmad Ansari said that teams were on the lookout for other suspects. Meanwhile, BJP workers and locals protested and burnt effigies at Kala Aam Chowk in Bulandshahr on Tuesday and raised slogans against the rising crimes in the state. Our leaders went there without any supporters and just to assure the family that they are not alone. We abided by all legal procedures to ensure that their identities are not disclosed. There was no public meeting held and a personal meeting was made with the family, said Chandra Mohan, UP BJP spokesperson. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Mohd Tamannay, 18, from Tughlaqabad woke up with a high fever last week. When the fever didnt abate, his worried parents took him to a neighbourhood physician. The doctor recommended we take Tamannay immediately to Safdarjung, said his father Mohd Islam, who is a tailor. Tamannay is being treated for dengue but due to lack of a bed he sleeps on the floor. He has dengue but is getting better and his platelets are increasing, said Islam. Tamannays platelet count was 20,000 when he was admitted to Safdarjung on Thursday. The normal range is 150,000-450,000. The municipal corporations of Delhi registered 29 new cases of dengue in the week ending July 30, taking the total number of cases to 119. This is more than twice the number of cases confirmed during Delhis worstever dengue outbreak in 2015, which affected 16,000 people and killed 60. Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain urged people not to panic and insist on hospital admission as it burdens the health system. There is no shortage of hospital beds in Delhi. A maximum of 5% of dengue patients need to be admitted to the hospital .The rest can be treated in OPDs, said Jain. Last year, we admitted 1.2 lakh1.5 lakh people with fever in Delhi government hospitals during the dengue season but only 5,000 7,000 had dengue. We admitted 20 times the number of patients because of panic, said Jain. Work to prevent dengue started earlier this year with the Delhi government setting up a Special Dengue-control Cell in May to work closely with the civic bodies on breeding-control and raising awareness. The cell used data to identify the population and places in Delhi which are at risk of dengue. Nearly 65% of the people affected by dengue last year were between 15-45 years, said Dr SM Raheja, in-charge of the dengue control cell. These are people who step out of their homes to go to schools, colleges or work. The data has also been used to map the hotspots. Breeding control measures were intensified in these areas, Raheja said. Delhi Medical Association is helping the state government to run awareness campaigns in 200 schools. The students were being taught how to prevent the mosquito-borne disease and asked to pass on the information to their neighbours. Schools such as Presidium and Springdales have issued advisory to their students on dengue and other water-borne diseases. We have sent SMS alerts and uploaded directions on the parents portal to send their wards properly covered. As special task force has been set up to clean the school, said GS Matharoo, CEO Presidium schools. Springdales School, Pusa Road, has asked junior students to wear pants and full sleeves shirt. These are bad times because of the rain. It is not only mosquitoes but we also need to protect children from other insects. This will continue till October so we have to keep the children protected, said Ameeta Mulla Wattal, principal of the school. Instead of only checking buildings for mosquito breeding, the MCD has come up with innovative and eco-friendly solutions to prevent the disease, such as dengue-free coolers. These coolers have a mosquito net above the water container that prevents mosquitoes from coming in contact with the water. The net can be made by a local cooler shop and costs around Rs 20-30, an official said. The corporation is also in the process of testing the effectiveness of the herbal extract of Agave Americana as a larvaecide. Lab studies have found it to be extremely effective in killing larvae between 1 to 6 hours without polluting the water, the official said. As part of a pilot project, the MCDis using this extract instead of larvaecide, temiphos granules, in several neighbourhoods to check its efficacy. We have allowed private hospitals to increase their bed strength by 10-20%, this will add at least 1,000-1,500 beds, said Jain. The government has also restricted the sale of blood-thinning drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen and diclofenac till October. While the price for NSI Ag and Elisa MAC tests required for detecting dengue has been capped at Rs 600, a platelet count test will cost Rs 50 at all hospitals and laboratories. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON DHARAMSALA: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is on a 10-day break from work and will spend the time meditating in a village near Dharamsala. The Aam Aadmi Party leader started an introductory course in Vipassana an ancient Indian form of meditation at the Himachal Vipassana Centre in Dharamkot on Tuesday. He will not take up any official work during his time there and will not have access to mobile phones, pagers, television or newspapers, according to the rules of the centre. Kejriwal will follow a strict regime. His day will begin at 4am and end at 9.30pm, said the centres in-charge Pawan Sharma. He will eat simple meals and will not be allowed any food after mid-day. He will sleep on a concrete bed and will be given a blanket, bedsheet and a pillow. He may have to wash his clothes if the need arises, Sharma said. Participants arent allowed to interact with each other. They can only speak with their trainers at specific intervals. The 47-year-old chief minister who has been busy with AAPs campaign in Punjab for next years assembly elections had taken 10 days off in January, too, to treat his chronic cough and diabetes at a naturopathy clinic in Bengaluru. This was his second stint at the clinic where he had spent 12 days in March 2015. Located at an altitude of 2,000 metres amid deodar (cedar) forests with the Dhauladhar range in the backdrop, Dharamkot is called the Tel Aviv of the hills for being a favourite destination among Israeli tourists. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BULANDSHAHR: Her face covered with a scarf, the 16-year-old arrived at the Bulandshahr police headquarters on Tuesday, accompanied by her father. A victim of alleged rape, she had come to seek proper investigation into her complaint. There were others, too. Women from different parts of the district, all alleged rape survivors and seeking justice. The gang-rape of a 35-year-old woman and her minor daughter near this Uttar Pradesh town has turned into a rallying point for other victims of sexual assault, all of them hoping that the spotlight on the latest incident will also help them highlight their grievance against alleged police laxity. Bulandshahr, a district headquarter town around 70km from Delhi, has seen a steady stream of top police officials, political leaders and media personnel since Saturday, a day after five members of a Noida-based family travelling to Shahjahanpur in a car were waylaid, their cash and other valuables looted before the two women were gang-raped. The incident has sparked outrage across the country which introduced stringent laws to prevent sexual assault of women after the December 2012 gang rape and murder of a paramedical student in Delhi. But for those present at the police headquarters on Tuesday, the laws mean very little without help from police. My daughter was lured and abducted by one of our neighbours. She was taken to Himachal Pradesh where she was raped in a hotel. The police have not added sections of rape to the FIR and not even conducted her medical examination, the minors father said. The FIR was lodged at Pahasu on July 10. He alleged that police scared his daughter by saying that medical examination entails surgery. When other cases can be taken up on a priority and with such huge resources roped in, our case should also be taken up in a similar manner, the father said. Another rape survivor said she had come to seek a different investigating officer in her case of abduction and rape at Khurja in January. The accused is pressurising us to take back the case. We are getting threats from the accused persons and the police have not done anything in the case to protect us. The present investigating officer says that my case has no weight to take action against the accused, she said. I came here as I heard that lot of senior officials are camping in Bulandshahr after the recent gang rape incident and thought they will hear our woes. Superintendent of police (rural) Pankaj Kumar Pandey said he has ordered changing the investigating officer. In case of the minor girl, the accused will be arrested today. I have directed the police station officers for immediate arrest. Sections of rape are also added to her FIR, he said. Apart from the victims of crime against women, some victims of other cases such as murder also visited police headquarters and requested the media to highlight their cases. I have come here in anticipation that those accused murdering my son will be arrested soon. Since media has highlighted the gang rape case, our case should also be heard at some level. However, there has been no arrest till date, the father said. Newly-appointed senior superintendent of police, Anees Ahmad Ansari, said that there will be no laxity in dealing with cases, especially in cases of crime against women. I have directed all officers to hear the complaints and to ensure that all victims get fair treatment and proper investigation. The FIRs must be properly registered and investigation carried out as per provisions. Other cases will also be monitored carefully, he said. In Delhi, BJP national secretary Srikant Sharma gave out statistics to highlight alleged lawlessness in the state. UP tops the list in crime against women, he said, adding that 2,920 rape cases were reported between March, 2012 and March, 2016, besides 12,198 murders and 6,015 robberies. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Indias biggest tax reform, the Goods and Services Tax bill, is set to cross the Rajya Sabha hurdle to become a reality nine years after it was mooted in Parliament. The NDA government has secured all-round support for the constitution amendment bill that will be taken up by the upper House for passage on Wednesday and potentially pave the way for rolling out a single tax to replace a string of local levies. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last year but remained stuck in the upper House where the ruling NDA does not have the numbers. The government circulated nine amendments on Tuesday that aimed to address concerns of the Congress and other opposition parties: more teeth to the grievance redressal mechanism, scrapping a proposed 1% additional tax, and mandatory compensation for revenue loss of states under the new tax regime. The government said the GST council will establish a mechanism to adjudicate disputes involving the Centre and the states in three possible scenarios: Centre versus one or more states, the Centre and states versus one or more states and state versus state. A standing mechanism to resolve disputes was a key demand of the Congress. Although the Centre rejected the Congress demand to cap the GST rate at 18% in the amendment bill, it has verbally assured the party to ring-fence the tax rate in the GST bill that will come up after the constitution amendment is passed in Parliament and approved by majority of the states. It also accepted a demand of regional parties that tax collected by state governments will not be parked in the consolidated fund of India, to allow quick disbursements. The concept for a nationwide uniform tax was first announced by then finance minister P Chidambaram in his 2007 budget speech. The UPA government introduced the constitution amendment bill on GST in the 2011 budget session but failed to build a consensus. The bill lapsed at the end of the last Lok Sabha. The NDA government worked for the past two years to reach out to the opposition parties, especially the Congress, for the GST which will dramatically change the countrys indirect tax regime. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa to secure support. Everyone has the feeling it will be a win-win situation for all. The bill is coming after much deliberation and we are positive about the outcome. We are confident all parties will come together to pass the bill, said parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi discussed the GST issue with senior leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Chidambaram and Anand Sharma. In the original bill, the compensation for losses was kept as an option. In the amendment, the Centre has stated that Parliament shall provide for compensation to states for any loss of revenue, for a period which may extend to five years. Trinamool Congress questioned why the government is keeping the option open for giving compensation for a lesser period. The government may bring a fresh amendment on Wednesday to make the compensation mandatory for five years. GREATER NOIDA: A court has rejected a plea for a second investigation into the lynching of Mohammad Ikhlaq in Bisada village on September 29 last year. The district court also refused to allow a plea of Ikhlaqs family to seek details of the recovered meat recovered. Ikhlaq was killed and his son critically injured after a mob attacked them over rumours that they slaughtered a calf. The court said the pieces of meat recovered from Ikhlaqs house (as those accused of lynching him claim) and near the villages power transformer are part of the evidence in the cow slaughter case lodged against Ikhlaq and six of his family members. The court refused to entertain the application as the demands were illegitimate. Also, there was no signature of the applicant on the letter, said Ram Sharan Nagar, counsel for the accused. Last month, Ikhlaqs family had sought re-investigation in the case and addition of three new names in the FIR. They had also sought details of the meat which belonged to a cow or its progeny on forensic examination. The applicants plea has nothing new It appears that the application is not fit for further hearing. Hence the court rejects the plea of the applicant, the court said in its order. On the night of September 29, Bisada resident Mohammad Ikhlaq and his son Danish were attacked by a local mob over allegations of slaughtering a cow and storing its meat. Ikhlaq had succumbed to his injuries while Danish survived with a fractured skull. Eighteen people, including three juveniles, were arrested on charges of murder and assault. The accused demanded that a case of cow slaughter be registered against Ikhlaqs family, citing the forensic report of the meat recovered from Ikhlaqs refrigerator. An FIR of cow slaughter was registered against Ikhlaq and six of his family members on June 15. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON FARIDABAD: The probe in Bulandshahr gangrape case has revealed that one of the three main accused in the horrific highway crime was a quarrelsome man who was thrown out of his home and disinherited. Bablu, 22, who was sent to a 14-day judicial custody along with two others, hails from Aterna village in the Faridabad district of Haryana, said Bhupendra Singh, DCP, Ballabgarh. Acknowledging his violent nature since childhood, father Roopchand said the family was shocked by the news and wanted him punished. He must be punished for this grievous crime. No one from the family or village will go to defend him, he said. Roopchand added that Bablu was banished from the family home two years ago and since then he was working as taxi driver in Bulandshahr. Eight years back, he was disinherited from the property after he engaged in physical violence with family members, said Bablus father. KHODA (NOIDA): Are you looking for the girl who was raped? Take a right, says a local standing with a group of people. They all know her house and are gladly guiding reporters, camera persons and even politicians, as they discuss how the incident ruined the girls life. Near the girls house, there is hardly any space to stand. Everybody in the colony wants a glimpse of the girl and the mother who were raped in Bulandshahr on July 29 night. The camera persons some of them perched on terraces jostle to get the right shot, while reporters are fighting for a space to do their piece-to-camera. Amid the circus, the girls father stands with a blank face, clueless. Muffle your face with a handkerchief and tell us who raped your daughter. We do not have time to blur the face, we need to send the visuals as soon as possible, shouts a reporter. His camera person zooms the video camera into the face of the girls father. He does as directed. After a detailed byte, the father removes the handkerchief. Just as he is about to go in, another set of reporters stop him and asks him to repeat himself. How many times should I repeat what happened with my daughter and my wife? They have been raped. What else do you want to know? My daughter was better till last night. With all the people visiting, she is now being asked to recall everything again. She has fallen sick again. She cannot stop crying. Please leave us alone. I wish we had never returned, the father says with folded hands and breaks down. The reporters record that too. Send this byte in the ticker, shouts one. The reporters have set up a camp of sorts in the girls house, having laid charpoys and placing their gadgets, tripods, cameras, mikes and laptops on it. When they get tired, they lie down to stretch their back, munching on chips. Some politicians also visited the family in the day. Just a day ago, the victims family had said it was impossible for them to stay at their house after the incident as everybody now knows what happened to them. The hordes of people were doing them no good. Explaining how the media and politicians defeat the purpose of the law meant to conceal the identity of the rape victims, advocate Shilpi Jain says, The law was made to protect the victim from the mental agony and torture of recalling the episode repeatedly. The moment media and politicians land at their residence, the purpose is defeated. Everyone knows who was raped and all locals talk about it. Legally, if the family wants, they can move court against such politicians and media but they are not aware of their rights. Ideally the court should take suo motto cognisance in such matters, restricting the entry of media and politicians, but in our country they are not sensitive enough, she adds. Downstairs is no better. Hundreds of locals, including women and children, gathered to catch a glimpse of politicians visiting the girl. As cavalcades of politicians enter the narrow lane, a group of kids run behind the SUVs. She used to say hello whenever she went to school, says a neighbour, referring to the survivor in past tense. Now everyone is going to look at her differently. After all, what happened is very shameful. They should have quietly gone to their village . Why return here, says the woman, discussing the case with others. My daughter asked me what happened to her friend. I had nothing to say. She wanted to go visit her but I did not allow. I have full sympathies but I cannot expose my daughter to what rape is at this age, another woman says. The rest nod in agreement. The men share the same view. Badnami toh hui hai. Ab pehle jaisi zindagi kahan rahegi, one man says. Gender expert Kalpana Vishwanath says, There is already so much stigma attached to rape that the girl will never be able to forget what happened with her. The people wont let her. On top of it the insensitive media and politicians, make the situation worse. We should work to make the law on concealing the identity of the victim more effective. Till now, it has been made a joke each time such a case is reported. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Days after accusing Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of giving him death threats, Aam Aadmi Party legislator Asim Ahmed Khan said on Wednesday that a political conspiracy was being hatched in the chief ministers office at a particular point in the village. Addressing a press conference at his Daryaganj residence, Khan said a group of women created a ruckus at his fathers shop with an intention to fix his father in wrong cases. Asims father, Nassem Ahmed Khan, has filed a police complaint. Terming the allegations as trash, AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai told PTI that Khan is left with no other work but to attack the Aam Aadmi Party. He was sacked by the Delhi government for corruption. The only job he has left is to team up with the corrupt BJP and attack the AAP, Bajpai said, rejecting the MLAs allegations. Read more: AAP MLA Asim Ahmed Khan says he has received death threats from Kejriwal The former Delhi food and civil supplies and environment minister was sacked by Kejriwal from his Cabinet last year allegedly for taking a bribe of `6 lakh for allowing construction of a building in his constituency. The CM had transferred the complaint to the CBI. The Matia Mahal legislator, however, continues to be a part of the AAP. We have filed a complaint. We have provided CCTV footage of the scuffle at the shop in Meena Bazar. Since we had got prior information about such an attack we had filed a case on August 1 as well. As planned, the incident happened the next day. We want the police to probe the connections of these women, Khan said. According to Khan, he came to know about the alleged conspiracy through an anonymous call from the Delhi Secretariat claiming that the AAP leaders were conspiring against Khan and his family. The caller warned me that Kejriwal was conspiring to implicate my family members in a fake molestation case and the same thing happened, Khan said. He also demanded scanning of phone records of the three women, who he claimed had criminal record. He also said he will soon spill the beans about AAP. Khan added that some miscreants allegedly assaulted his personal security officer at his residence on Wednesday and tried to snatch away his pistol. Three men in a white car stopped outside my house at around 3am, on Wednesday and began hurling abuses. When my guard approached them, they tried to snatch away his weapon and threatened to kill me, he said. Khan alleged that he has been facing threats after he raised the issue of the sacrilege of the Quran in Malerkotla in Punjab. The Punjab Police had on July 24 arrested AAPs Mehrauli MLA Naresh Yadav in connection with this case. This issue is very sensitive to us. We are demanding a probe into the matter by the party. What action is the party taking against its MLAs? At least probe the charges. Instead I and my family are facing threats, Khan said. What I have been indicated is that the top AAP leadership, including Kejriwal ji, is behind the conspiracy to slap a false case against my father, he alleged, adding, Target me. Why are you targeting my father? Your fight is with me. (with PTI inputs) More than two years after manual scavenging was prohibited, the practice continues unabated in the national capital. The Delhi State Legal Service Authority (DSLSA) has reported that at least 233 such workers are working with various agencies in the capital. Manual scavenging or the practice of cleaning human excreta manually from dry latrines and sewers is prohibited under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Terming it a shocking state of affairs, a Delhi high court bench of justice BD Ahmed and justice Ashutosh Kumar on Wednesday sought explanation on affidavits filed by government agencies claiming they do not employ manual scavengers. This completely belies the statement made by the Delhi Jal Board, MCDs and other authorities concerned, it said. Take action against those officers under whose jurisdiction this is happeningRegister an FIR, let them go to jail, the bench remarked adding, We are a country of poor people but not for poor people. As per the 2013 Act, a person is punishable with up to two years in jail for engaging or employing any person for hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank. In the previous hearing, the bench refused to buy the agencies statement that no manual scavengers exist despite admitting the existence of a large number of toilets, which are linked to sewers. The court directed the DSLSA to conduct a survey to identify manual scavengers for their rehabilitation. Dharmesh Sharma, member secretary of DSLSA, said of the 233 manual scavengers, 104 were government employees and the rest, 129, were outsourced or private contract workers. One of the scavengers was a post graduate, the report said. Read more: Life in the gutter: Manual scavenging banned, really? Sharma said employees of municipal corporations and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) do not enter deep pits and oursource the job to other workers. The report said MCD has not supplied any safety equipment to its workers who clean sewers or latrines. It said the DJB, however, provides gumboots, ropes, gloves, safety belts, helmets and first-aid-box to such workers. However, the workers rarely use them as they are heavy and they are not given transport to carry them from one place to another, the report said. Many of the manual scavengers are suffering from poor eyesight, skin diseases, spinal injuries, respiratory problems and tuberculosis. The report also said that the use of alcohol and drugs is rampant among the outsourced workers. DSLSA said the Centre and state government has not prepared any scheme for welfare and rehabilitation of manual scavengers in Delhi. The report quoted an NGO as saying that most scavengers are daily workers hired from UP, Bihar, Rajasthan and other states. The NGO also claimed that 1,070 people died while cleaning sewers in the last few years. The HC fixed the matter for further hearing on August 10. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When it comes to police preparedness on highways to check eventualities like the Bulandshahr road hold-up and gang rape, it would not be out of place for travellers to feel insecure and afraid. A reality check by HT teams paints a grim picture. Policemen were seen patrolling in tempos, which at their maximum speed could touch 40km in Kanpur and Kanpur Dehat. Think about this vis-a-vis the Scorpio-bound criminals who looted a truck in Etawah on the national highway on Monday night. In many places, policemen were caught napping on duty in Etawah -- home district of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav-- utterly negligent about their firearms, which were easily vulnerable to theft. Read | I want to punish attackers with my own hands: Bulandshahr rape victim The HT team travelled in three different directions on the Kanpur-Allahabad highway, from Akbarpur in Kanpur Dehat till Unnao, and about 75km from Auraiya to Etawah. In Kanpur, although policemen were found awake on the highway to Maharajpur that borders Fatehpur district, they were equipped with 303 rifles and had only a tempo to patrol the sensitive highway. They were not connected to the control room through wireless communication either. The tempo was especially arranged at the local level. Its driver, who didnt want to be named, said his employer was assured that the cost of diesel would be borne by the force. On the NH 2 towards Naubasta, Sachendi and Akbarpur, the stretch was completely unprotected. Not a single policeman was seen during the 70-km-long drive. This, despite the orders for heightened patrolling on the highways after what happened in Bulandshahr. Highways in the state of UP are as vulnerable to crime as its residents. Lack of effective police patrol and lax laws make them a travellers nightmare. Take the case of NH-2, the highway connecting Delhi with Varanasi. Those not in the know call this the road to prosperity. Considered the lifeline of trade and commerce, this highway has played an important role in the development of the state. Read more: Noida woman, daughter raped near Bulandshahr highway, 15 detained But not many know that the UP police have marked NH-2 as unsafe, because this where a traveller can be waylaid, looted, kidnapped, raped and even murdered. And this is not the case with NH-2 alone. Three other national highways in the state NH- 24 which connects Ghaziabad with Lucknow, NH- 91 linking Delhi and Kanpur and NH -93 connecting Agra and Bareilly also have the dubious distinction of being unsafe for travellers. The family that became victims to the brutality of a tribal gang in Bulandshahr last Friday was travelling on NH-91. Criminal activities are also reported on other highways but maximum cases of road hold-ups and loot have been reported from these four national highways, said IG (law and order) Hari Ram Sharma. While 42 highways are maintained by NHAI, 83 state highways are managed by UPSHA. The IGs, DIGs and SPs of the districts through which these four highways pass have been asked to carry out regular patrolling. The officers have also been asked to set up barriers, check posts and pickets, says IG (law and order) Hari Ram Sharma. The state police have also decided to seek help from the officials of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and UP State Highway Authority (UPSHA) for safe movement of travellers. It has been decided that two cops of sub-inspector rank will be deployed with a police team at toll plazas on the highways to check suspicious vehicles. Read | Bulandshahr rape: Wish we never came back, please leave us alone, pleads family The Delhi government is set to take over the two branches of the privately-run Maxfort School after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jungs nod late on Tuesday night. This is the first time that the Delhi government has initiated such an action against a private unaided school after a clutch of complaints against it. The Maxfort Schools Rohini and Pitampura branches will now be run by the government. The school which has four branches in Delhi is currently being run by the Chadha Educational Society and S Jagat Singh Chadha Charitable Trust. Maxfort School has moved the Delhi High Court against the governments action. Late on Tuesday night, Jung gave his approval to the AAP government to take over the school against which there were complaints of violation of the Delhi School Education (DSE) Act 1973 and Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009. Read: Two Maxfort schools get takeover notice on EWS quota On April 11 this year, the Directorate of Education had issued show cause notices to the two branches of the school. The school was then given 15 days to respond to the notice. What happens after the government takes over the school? The government will take over the management of the school from the private party and appoint an administrator to run the school. In this case, the school is run by a charitable trust. The administrator can be an official from within the government or from outside but appointed by the government. The school will still remain private, where students will have to pay the fees. There will be no change in the principal and teachers of the school. The government will now pay salaries to the school staff. The government which gave the schools authorities personal hearings, also examined bank details of the two schools. According to sources, the government was not satisfied with the responses and lack of co-operation from school authorities and initiative the takeover process. Members of the Parents Association had filed a complaint with Delhis education minister Manish Sisodia, last year against the school. Complaints ranged from harassment of parents and children by increasing fees to fake admission under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category and tax evasion through manipulation of records. Following complaints, the government had constituted two committees, one under the department of education and the other under the District Magistrate (DM) north-west. Read: Pvt schools on govt land hike fees without nod, parents confused The DOE committee in its report said the EWS/DG admissions for the year 2014-15 and 2015-16 were far below the 25% of the total strength, violating the RTE Act. The school had also failed to maintain the service records and personal files of teachers and failed to furnish details relating to salary statements of the staff, attendance registers of the staff and other necessary documents. The DMs report stated that the school has collected capitation fees and the management of the schools had violated section 24 of DSE Act, 1973. The section states that every recognised school shall be inspected at least once in each financial year which could not be done, due to lack of co-operation from the schools committees. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a move that may have implications in Punjab politics, the Delhi governments transport department has seized and released eight luxury buses of Indo-Canadian Transport service, a company in which Punjabs deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal reportedly has a stake. The transport department said the Mercedes buses were operating without permits, running a passenger service from the Delhi airport to Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Chandigarh and Amritsar. The buses charge Rs 1,700-2,500 for a 400-km journey. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest the assembly election in Punjab next year and the party has been campaigning against the Badal government in the state. Sources said the action against the Indo-Canadian Bus service was taken after a complaint from AAP MLA from Bijwasan, Devender Sehrawat. The airport area is under my constituency and I noticed the buses were plying illegally, ferrying passengers to various cities of Punjab. I submitted a complaint to the transport department and the Lieutenant Governor, said Sehrawat. Officials said eight buses were seized in a week. Some operators of the black and yellow taxis at the Delhi airport met us and filed a complaint against the Indo-Canadian Transport service. We deployed our enforcement team at the airport. On Monday only, four buses were seized. The drive will continue and if the buses ply again, criminal action will be initiated, said KK Dahiya, special commissioner (transport). The buses were parked at the transport departments Burari office. The bus operator, later, paid the challan and took the buses on Tuesday. The office of Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, however, denied any seizure by the Delhi government. All the documents of buses and permits are up to date, said an official. Hardeep Kumar Arora, manager, Indo-Canadian Transport service too said: None of our buses have been seized as we have proper permit and documents. Delhi government officials, however, said that the buses had tourist permits and to pick passengers from Delhi, they need to have stage carriage permit. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As the deadline for making villages `open defecation free is fast approaching , officials in Faridabad have adopted a novel method to ensure it is not missed. They wake up in the dead of night, rush to remote villages and catch red-handed people defecating under bushes and open farmlands. They then take help of the village elders to teach them civic lessons. There are 116 panchayats in Faridabad district alone, out of which 47 have woman sarpanchs. The district administration of Faridabad set the deadline of August 15 for making these 47 villages free from open defecation. A detailed presentation was made by senior state government officers before all 116 sarpanchs in Faridabad recently. After being educated on how open defecation causes health hazard and how cleanliness improves the quality of life, the sarpanches took oath to make their villages free from open defecation. Two dates were finalised . For 47 villages headed by women sarpanches, August 15, 2016 is the deadline. For the remaining villages headed by male sarpanches, November 1, 2016 is the deadline for making the villages free from open defecation. We educate people in our village to use toilets and do not go for open for defecation, said Kamlesh, Sarpanch of Samaipur village. Some people living on rent in our village mostly defecate in the open. But we have told them that by August 15 our village has to be free from open defecation, she said. But with the deadline approaching, officials cannot take a chance. They started visiting the villages open defecation is prevalent. Government officers hold meetings at the spot where people defecate in the open. It becomes difficult for villagers to meet due to the bad smell. We make them realize the bad effects of open defecation on their health, said a senior state government officer. I visit such villages early in the morning, especially areas where people defecate in the open. Yes, I do see some people with bottles of water, defecating in the open, said Upendra Singh, district consultant, Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). I and some elders in the village advise such people, Upendra said. An old lady Ramvati, 70, a resident of Samaipur village, remains deployed with a lathi in her hands at a particular point in the village where people defecate. When people come for defecation, my mother questions them and sends them back home, said her son Harish. She advises them to use the toilet and the people follow, he added. We are confident that even some panchayats headed by male sarpanches will be made free from open defecation by August 15 though their deadline is November 1, a senior officer said. The poor who do not have toilets are getting financial assistance for constructing toilets, the officials said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi culture minister Kapil Mishra has demanded a law for public killing of rapists, saying they should be treated as terrorists while also advocating the need to give arms training to women. Mishra made the comments in his blog in the wake of the Bulandshahar gang rape incident, which he said can happen to anyone, anytime. In last one year, 450 minor girls have been raped in the national capital, Mishra claimed. I have been against death penalty for a long time, but I want to say that rapists are terrorists and they should be treated like one. ...give arms and arms training to all girls and women. Let them kill those who try to rape them, let them kill their rapists. Give exemplary punishment. Parliament should pass a special law following the Bulandshahar incident and rapists should be killed publicly, Mishra wrote. Mishra, Aam Aadmi Partys Karawal Nagar MLA and one of its most vocal leaders, said age bar for trying should be done away with while dealing with sexual offenders as if one is old enough to rape, he is old enough to be punished like adults. He demanded that identity of criminals who have raped or sexually harassed a female should be made public. The burden of the crime should fall on the criminal and not the victim. Garbage disposal wont be a hassle for residents if they make a little effort and adopt simple methods. This is the takeaway from the initiative by the residents of Sangam Vihar. For proper disposal of garbage, 45 families adopted the concept of community composting introduced by a self-help group. A few homemakers of the area were taught the correct way to convert garbage into compost. The project was started six months back and residents accepted it in a few months. Known to be Asias largest unauthorised colony, waste management has been a huge challenge for Sangam Vihar. Civic infrastructure is also crumbling. There is no designated place where residents can dump garbage. So they have been throwing it on an empty piece of land. Auto-tippers, a service arranged by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) for garbage collection, come once in two or three days. As a result, rotting garbage invites flies, insects, rats, and reptiles and facilitates breeding of mosquitoes causing serious health problems. After initial hesitation and confusion, residents joined the initiative and at present nearly 75% of wet garbage generated by the families is being turned into compost. Delhi is already facing huge garbage disposal crisis as the city produces over 9,000 metric tonnes (MTs) waste every day. And the three designated Sanitary Landfill sites (SLF) in Okhla, Ghazipur and Bhalswa are operational despite the fact that they are full to capacity. Ranju Minhas, founder of NGO Team Shield, said, Sangam Vihar lacks infrastructure facilities. The residents dont have access to dhalaos and they dump garbage in the open or in vacant areas. This leads to unhygienic surroundings and increases the chance of spread of diseases especially in rainy season. Hence, we chose this area. The response has been encouraging. Read: Locals adopt zero waste policy, pilot project to begin in Mehrauli The NGO members organised workshops and asked residents to use cloth bags because they are non-biodegradable. If people start treating garbage at home they wont need polybags anymore, she said. The members distributes cloth bags in the locality. Babita Negi, one of the volunteers and resident of the area, said that the success of this programme wouldnt have been possible without the support of the residents and their willingness. People thought that it would generate smell and attract flies thats why they were reluctant to be part of it. They were also not keen to segregate kitchen and dry waste at home, she said. Negi kept two huge plastic drums to collect wet waste in her lane. She put waste and sawdust in equal quantity regularly. The bins were kept tightly covered to prevent foul smell. To supply oxygen for composting, I made a few holes in the drums. The helps in converting garbage into compost in six weeks time. After seeing the results, other resident followed, she said. The organisation is providing these drums free of cost. Jaishree, another volunteer and resident, convinced the residents in her lane. I managed to convince people to participate, but I had to be alert because sometime people would dump waste in polybags and this could hamper the process, she said. We are working hard to promote the concept in Sangam Vihar as garbage disposal is a big issue and needs immediate attention, said Meenu, a volunteer from the area. People of the area seem excited with the introduction of the concept and admit that it becomes their responsibility if the civic body does not collect garbage. SDMC is collecting the garbage after an interval of two to three days. At times, it takes more time. In the given circumstances, it becomes our responsibility to look for solutions, Saroj, a resident, said. The volunteers are talking to the garbage collectors in the area and encouraging them to use the disposal method. We want to make them understand the value of organic waste. As of now, garbage collectors just pick dry waste and dump rest of the garbage in the open which becomes a trouble over the period of time. If they also adopt the concept, things will become easier for us, said Minhas. Neeraj Gupta, chairman, central zone and councillor from Sangam Vihar, said, SDMC has engaged auto-tippers for garbage collection but these kinds of initiatives are important for garbage disposal. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Noida woman who was gang-raped with her daughter on national highway 91 in Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr, is determined to get the culprits punished. Narrating the incident, she said she saw one bulky and another short robber actively directing others during the night of horror in the fields along NH-91. They had already overpowered the men of our family. We were held captive. The robbers took out safety pins tucked to our clothes and pierced us. We were helpless as they were armed and had overpowered us.., she said. The family said the robbers beat them up with sticks, rods and a hammer whenever anyone tried to speak or move. They did not listen as we pleaded. Four people took the girl to the other side of the field... They beat her up and two of them assaulted her one by one... During the medical examination, the doctor was harsh and told me that case was fake. I told her that no one would like to put any member of his or her family in such a situation as we were in, she said. The horror continued with the family for over two hours till the robbers left. One member then managed to free himself and set the others free. The family says the accused should be brought to book at the earliest. Read: Bulandshahr rape: Wish we never came back, please leave us alone, pleads family We need justice first. Any compensation or anything else is a later part. The women from our family have stood firm and identified Raees, Jabar Singh and Shavez and got them arrested. We got two cheques of `50,000 each for the mother and the girl. We are awaiting the arrest of the remaining accused. We heard that the UP chief minister will come to Ghaziabad to meet us. We still dont know about the programme, the girls uncle said. Akhilesh Yadav is likely to inaugurate the Ala Hazrat Haj House in Ghaziabad on August 4. Ghaziabad district magistrate, Nidhi Kesarwani, however said the CMs programme stands postponed. There has been no new date as yet. The programme on August 4 is postponed, she said. The girl is still in trauma and is worried about her future prospects as she wanted to go for civil services... We may change her school now as people know about the incident and the family here, the uncle, who was held captive during the incident, said. The UP police, who arrested three suspects on Sunday, have failed to arrest the other accused. Sources said police teams were trying to locate members of the Salim Bawaria gang in connection with the case. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The gang rape of a woman and her minor daughter from Noida on national highway 91 in Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr is not an isolated case. Data released by the State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB) showed that in 2015, several gang rapes were reported from western UP. According to the data released in July, Bulandshahr reported 31 gang rapes, second only to Moradabad where 34 incidents were reported. Read more: I want to punish attackers with my own hands: Bulandshahr rape victim The highest number of cases, 97, was recorded in Moradabad range that comprises Rampur, Bijnore, Amroha, Sambhal and Moradabad. This was followed by Meerut range comprising Bulandshahr, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Baghpat and Hapur with 87 cases. Saharanpur range recorded 35 incidents followed by Bareilly with 40 cases. This is the first time that the SCRB report has included gang rape as a separate crime. A total of 458 gang rapes were reported in UP in 2015, which were in addition to the rape cases. About 3,025 cases of rape were reported in the same period. West UP has always registered a high rate of criminal activities. The condition of women is pathetic in the area, be it the trend of shared wives, rapes or female foeticide, said Madhu Garg, state president of All-India Democratic Womens Association. Uttar Pradesh as a whole contributes for high number of gang rapes, revealed the 2014 report of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). Over 25% gang rapes in 2014 were reported from UP. A total of 574 cases of gang rape were reported in 2014. Cases of gang rape took place in the state earlier too but now victims are not shying away from reporting the crime. Such incidents have happened in villages and cities in the past, said Madhavi Kuckreja, a social activist working in remote areas of UP. Many believe reporting of rape cases rose after the December 16, 2012, Delhi gang rape. A man in east Delhis Laxmi Nagar strangled his wife a week ago, hid the body in his beds storage compartment, and slept with his lover on the very couch that concealed the macabre crime, police said. Suspect Feroz Khans live-in partner, Suman aka Pooja, allegedly helped him get rid of his nagging wife, 31-year-old Haleema, after she found out her husbands extramarital affair. The lovers strangled Haleema with a stole in a rented flat last Wednesday. They hid the body in the bed box and waited for an opportunity to get rid of it. They pretended to be as normal as possible. They even welcomed guests, betraying no signs of any abnormality in their behaviour, an officer said on Wednesday. But the fear of getting caught with a rotting body overcame the duo, and around 4am on Friday, they crushed the dead womans face with sticks and a blunt object. They stuffed the body with a mutilated face into a gunny bag, and dumped the sack in a waste dump nearby. Job done, they locked the flat and bolted. But police caught them on Tuesday in their hideout, barely a couple of kilometers from where they lived. Feroz told police he and Haleema were married for around 12 years, but she left him some two years ago and started living separately. They waited tables in restaurants in east Delhi. The estranged husband then fell in love with Suman, a waitress at a restaurant where Feroz worked. Soon, Suman moved to Ferozs rented flat and they started living together. When Haleema learnt about Ferozs live-in relationship, she decided to reclaim her husband despite his objection and entreaties to leave him alone. Haleema, it is said, remained adamant and mounted pressure on him to split up with Suman. Last Wednesday, Haleema came to the flat, confronted the couple, and refused to leave. Enraged, the duo overpowered and pinned her down. Feroz took out a stole and strangled her, an officer said. Delhi Police investigators approached the cold-blooded murder in a calculated way after residents informed them of a suspicious bag in the garbage dump on Friday afternoon. Rishi Pal, the deputy commissioner of police (east), said three investigating squads collected information about women missing from nearby localities. They gathered details about missing tenants after July 26 and 27. A door-to-door search for vacant and locked flats led us to the one we were searching for. The landlord recognized Haleema from the photographs of the woman with the battered face. Other tenants in the building identified her too, the officer said. The landlord said Feroz and Suman, tenants of 10 months, abruptly vacated the flat on July 29. The two were missing, and their mobile phones were switched off. But digital surveillance gave away the location of their phones somewhere in Shakarpur. It didnt take long to trace the new flat where the suspects were hiding. The brutal gangrape in Bulandshahr throws up memories of how Uttar Pradeshs police force has been misused and politicised. It may neither be wrong nor exaggerated to say that the police has become the politicians hand maiden that has been used even to chase bees and buffaloes. If facts are allowed to speak, as they should be, there is evidence to prove that the states top most politicians have actually used cops to hunt down buffaloes and inquire into how bees flew past a chief ministers face when she was addressing a rally in Lucknow. The cops showed amazing alacrity after then chief minister Mayawati ordered an inquiry in to establish if the bees had swarmed past her because a hive had been disturbed by her political opponents. A posse of policemen spent days looking for hives and even sought advice from experts who study bee behavior. That was in 2010. More rape victims come out to seek justice in Uttar Pradesh after Bulandshahr incident In 2016, Azam Khan, the number two in Akhilesh Yadavs cabinet, has taken the same route. Instead of empathising with the family of the Bulanadshahr horror and expressing shock over how a mother and her minor daughter were raped in a field barely 100 metres off a UP highway, Khan actually said, To get power, politicians can get down to any level, they can murder people, trigger riots, kill innocent people, so the truth has to be found out. He suggested that the government--his government--needs to keep a watch on its political opponents because people can stoop to any level in politics. The same Khan used the police--as if the men in uniform were personal slaves--to look for buffaloes that went missing from his farmhouse. For days, cops went on a massive buffalo hunt, combing fields with sniffer dogs to track down the buffaloes. The minister, according to some reports, even had CCTV footage of slaughter houses scanned. This is the priority in a state which has abysmal crime data it should be embarrassed by. Lets take rape statistics alone. According to the State Crime Records Bureau, the number of rape cases have jumped by over 160 percent in one year alone, up from 3,467 in 2014 to 9,075 in 2015. Wish we never came back, please leave us alone: Bulandshahr crime victim family The police, in fact, has become increasingly politicised in Uttar Pradesh and appears to be taking their cue from their political masters. During the Samajwadi Partys previous tenure between 2004 and 2007, the government had recruited over 20,000 constables but the recruitment process reeked of favouritism and their appointments were cancelled by Mayawati. She even took the matter right up to the Supreme Court but the SP returned to power in 2012 and withdrew the case from the apex court. For years, politicians have been resisting police reforms that would insulate the cops from their masters. The nexus in which both choose to cosy up to each other has led to a situation where statistics mean little. Any chief minister should have asked why UP has the dubious distinction of seeing a 160 percent rise in the number of rape cases. Instead, as the Bulandshahr family has reported, the police asked a hundred questions of the victims before lodging a complaint. It cannot be that the men in uniform spring into action to look for bees and buffaloes and sleep through a brutal gangrape that sears into the states and the nations conscience. (The views expressed are personal. The writer tweets as @shammybaweja) The incredible insensitivity of some of our politicians was on display when SP leader Azam Khan stated that the Bulandshahr rape was motivated by political considerations. It must be checked if the ghastly incident is the handiwork of those who want to gain power in the state by tarnishing the image of this government, he said with no thought as to how this belittles the trauma suffered by the victims. To add to this is the manner in which the police has handled the whole situation. The initial FIR apparently mentioned rape, dacoity and illegal confinement and it is only after the police admitted to a clerical error that sections relating to gang rape and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act were added. Read | Azam Khan sees political conspiracy in Bulandshahr rape, draws flak It is such lapses which can lead to a miscarriage of justice as we have seen in the past. Instead of respecting the privacy of the family at this moment, various politicians have been calling on them forcing the father to repeat the story much to his distress. With so much attention on them, the identities of the victims are now well known in the locality making it difficult for the young girl victim to resume her studies. There is such stigma attached to rape that even if the girl somehow surmounts this ordeal, she is will still be treated with disdain by society, or at least large sections of it. The law prohibits anyone from revealing the identity of a rape victim, yet this is often overlooked. It was only recently that the Delhi Commission for Women chief revealed the identity of a minor rape victim. Read | Bulandshahr rape: Wish we never came back, please leave us alone, pleads family This latest in a long line of rapes brings out the need for fast-tracking these cases. We have seen that as cases are prolonged for want of proper investigative procedures and forensic evidence, the victims are made to relive their trauma in the courts and also become more vulnerable to intimidation by the offenders. The victims also require counselling to deal with the psychological problems they will face after such a traumatic experience. Emotional and physical rehabilitation could take years. This is something the government needs to look at. At present there are some NGOs which do this, but this has to be institutionalised as part of the justice system. The aim should be to help victims get past their ordeal and get on with their lives. For this we need better law enforcement, speedier justice delivery and emotional assistance. This will not eliminate the problem, but it certainly could help lessen it in the face of growing criminality, a largely indifferent society and opportunistic politicians. After a run of 11 years, curtains came down on IIIT Amethi campus when its 148 students were shifted to the Allahabad campus on Tuesday. This is the third major project to be shut down since the Modi government came to power at the Centre after the proposed Mega Food Park and Hindustan Paper Mill met similar fate in the constituency of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi. Amethi is considered as bastion of Congress and has been represented by the Gandhi family. The students of Rajiv Gandhi IIIT have been shifted to the Allahabad campus and the Amethi campus will be transferred to the Ambedkar University, Lucknow, as per government decision, Director IIIT-Allahabad GC Nandi said on Wednesday. Read more | Amethi: Smriti Irani replaces Rahuls pet project with varsity A decision to this effect was taken in May when the then Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani had announced shutting down of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Amethi and opening of satellite institute of Babaseheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, on that campus. Though the students will be able to continue their studies in Allahabad, 75 employees of the IIIT are on warpath as they allege that no arrangement has been made for them. They have also threatened to launch an agitation from August 12 if no arrangement is made for their absorption. Rahul had raised the cancellation of Shaktiman Mega Food Park in Jagdishpur in Amethi in Lok Sabha and the party had said that scrapping the project was part of political vendetta by the Modi government. Jagdishpur Paper Mill Ltd (JPML) was to be set up in two phases in the constituency but last December the Centre decided to shift it to Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. The Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) may have to introduce quotas for hiring faculty. The human resource development (HRD) ministry has retained an enabling provision in the proposed IIM bill that can be invoked to ensure the premier business schools adhere to the Centres reservation policy for the faculty. The billthat would empower the institutes to grant degrees, and not diplomas is expected to come up for a decision of the cabinet soon, a government source said. The cabinet had discussed the bill at a meeting in May and told the HRD ministry to make changes to ensure the autonomy of the institutes was not diluted. A government official said it had also been decided to give IIM alumni a say in running the institutes by mandating that five of the 14 members of the IIM board of governors would be alumni. In its final form, the draft bill requires the institutes to make special provisions for the social and educationally backward classes in employment. The official said the provision can be used to issue executive instructions for quotas when the ground rules for recruitment of faculty are notified. Read more: CAT for IIM seats to be held on Dec 4, registrations from Aug 8 to Sept 22 The constitution empowers the government to set aside quotas for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes for social empowerment of the historically-marginalised communities. The IIMs adopt the reservation policy for admission of students but have resisted attempts for quotas while recruiting the faculty. In 2008, the then HRD minister Arjun Singh had ordered all centrally-funded institutions including IITs and IIMs to implement faculty quotas. The move, however, had triggered protests. The IITs eventually toed the government line but the IIMs were defiant. Sources said most IIMs dont follow quota for faculty. Unlike other educational institutions under the ministry, the IIMs cite a 1975 government order that exempts scientific and technical posts from reservation. It implicitly treats management as a subject under the category of science and technology. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Some 650 Pakistanis are fighting in conflict zones in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and Central Asian states and their return to the country could add to sectarian strife, according to a media report on Wednesday. Intelligence agencies have identified 132 of these Pakistanis and expressed fears about their return after being defeated by international forces, Dawn newspaper reported. The National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) of the federal government has alerted law enforcement agencies to take preventive measures and to tighten security on Pakistans borders, especially in Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and coastal regions, and at airports. An unnamed security official was quoted as saying by Dawn that the defeat of fighters in Middle East, Afghanistan and Central Asian states had put Pakistan on the verge of sectarian violence. This prompted the NCMC to advise the interior ministry to take steps to prevent the return of these fighters, the official said. The NCMC directed the intelligence and law enforcement agencies to also keep surveillance on families of the individuals who had travelled to conflict zones and might create multiple security risks for Pakistan on their return, the official said. Another unnamed senior official said intelligence agencies had reported about Pakistani fighters plans to return to the country. He said these fighters were gathering in Afghanistan and planning to take refuge on the border. A source in law enforcement agencies told the newspaper that foreign fighters who have suffered heavy losses in Afghanistan, Middle East and Central Asian region could also take refuge in Pakistan. Fighters of other nationalities, especially those belonging to the Central Asian states, might find Afghanistan as a safe haven. But our own nationals who are fighting in Syria and Iraq would prefer moving back to Pakistan, the source said. The return of foreign terrorists to our region has the potential of creating multiple security risks for Pakistan. Their increased strength in Afghanistan would also lead to a new wave of instability in our immediate neighbourhood with the potential of spillover effects into (the Federally Administered Tribal Areas). The NCMC had issued a similar alert in January, asking police chiefs of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces and the commandant of the Frontier Constabulary to improve checking at inter-provincial check posts as huge catches of arms were being smuggled into Punjab, Pakistans most populous province. Amir Rana, the director of the think tank Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, said: Though sectarian violence in Pakistan has decreased in the last few years, the expected return of the foreign fighters would increase the fear that the scourge may raise its head again. Therefore, the government is taking preventive measures. Around 900 government and public-sector firm employees were sacked and 19,000 handed out other punishments in 2015 for corruption and misconduct. The penalties ranged from dismissal, pay-cuts to a simple warning. An Indian Police Service officer was one of the 900 officials sacked, said the Central Vigilance Commissions annual report tabled in Parliament recently. An income tax commissioner was ordered to take a temporary pay-cut while a former chief town planner of the municipal corporation of Delhi saw his pension being reduced. The increase in penalties was the result of the anti-corruption watchdogs efforts to conclude cases within a time-frame, a government official said. Corruption was one of the main issues raised by the BJP in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, has pledged stern actions against corrupt officials. The 20,000 cases include 3,600 senior officers penalised on the recommendations of the central vigilance commission for lack of integrity. A quick comparison shows that the number of senior officers penalised in 2015 was the highest in a decade. In 2014, just 2,144 bureaucrats got into trouble. While the CVC deals with complaints against senior officials, complaints against other staffers are handled by the chief vigilance officers (CVO) deputed in various departments to keep a check on corrupt practices. Over 17,000 employees were acted against on being found guilty by chief vigilance officers, parliament was told. These included managers of state-run firms and public sector banks, scientists and at least one Kendriya Vidyalaya school principal were among those punished. But, the list of departments that make up a bulk of the cases throws up some surprises. For one, it isnt the usual suspects--police or income tax officers--who ended up on the vigilance commissions wrong side. The dubious distinction goes to bank officials. Nearly 60% of the 928 officials sacked last year were bank managers. Every second public servant to face action, too, worked for a bank. . SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a major Dalit outreach, the Aam Aadmi Party will be holding Dalit dialogue across Punjab starting later this week. The initiative stems out of partys decision to come up with a Dalit manifesto for Punjab assembly polls, scheduled early next year. The initiative comes at a time when atrocities against Dalits have gained focus in the ongoing political discourse in the country. Party sources said the gist of the Dalit dialogues, which will be organised in each district of the state, will find reflection in the Dalit manifesto - a one of a kind electoral move by AAP for a specific caste group. The Dalit manifesto is expected to be out towards the end of September. Read: After manifesto gaffe, AAP divided on playing religion, dera cards in state As per the 2011 Census, Scheduled Castes make for 32% of Punjabs population making them the single biggest vote bank in terms of caste groups. The manifesto will have a clear roadmap and promises aimed at empowerment of Dalits. Health and education are likely to be the thrust areas in it as majority of Dalits depend on government institutions in both these sectors, a senior AAP leader said. Senior party leaders justify the step and refuse to view it through the prism of casteism. A senior party leader described it as an initiative to increase bonding of party with the poor and Dalits. Ever since its emergence, AAP has always been a party of the poor. In Delhi, the migrants, Scheduled Castes and minorities make the core of its support base. Even in its first assembly election in 2013, AAP won eight of the 12 reserved constituencies in Delhi, he said while adding that the first open letter that AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal wrote after joining politics was to the Valmiki Samaj in Delhi. Read: Bathinda AAP rebels float new political party Apna Punjab Be it the party symbol (broom) or big ticket events like beginning AAP political campaign from Valmiki Mandir in Kejriwals New Delhi constituency, they point to the partys outlook, leaders recalled. Besides the symbolism, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been quick in responding to events related to Dalits across the country. Kejriwal visited Hyderabad University when the campus was raging with the controversy surrounding suicide of Rohith Vemula. Kejriwal recently visited Una in Gujarat where a group of Dalits were attacked by cow vigilantes group. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On July 11, in Una, Gujarat, a video was circulated in which four Dalit tanners were assaulted by vigilantes because they were suspected of killing a cow. After the outcry that followed, reports about eight Dalit men being thrashed by vigilantes, supposedly for having stolen, killed and eaten a cow, on July 10 in Karnatakas Chikkamagaluru district came out. On July 26 in Madhya Pradesh, two Muslim women were assaulted by right-wingers for carrying beef and detained by police. The protests against these attacks have been wide-ranging, and Parliament too, especially the Rajya Sabha, has witnessed fury over Dalits being discriminated against for their food habits. Unlike in the rest of the country, however, the beef tactic is showing no sign of working in Tamil Nadu. On March 18, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court put one petitioner firmly in his place. The two-judge bench was passing orders on a public interest litigation filed by K Gopinath, pleading with the court to remove small shops selling meat, especially beef, along the Girivalapadhai (mountainous walkway) of the Murugan temple in Palani. These shops made the Hindu devotees uncomfortable according to the petition. The court ordered that the plea be dismissed and also said clearly Nowhere in the Indian Penal Code it is stated that eating non-vegetarian food is an offence. There is no law touching eating habits of any religion and in such a view of the matter, the contention of the petitioner that eating beef is an offence, cannot be accepted. With that rather no-nonsense order, the bench closed the case, preventing any further controversy on the issue. Tamil Nadus Dalit leaders too are livid at the state of affairs. Hindu fundamentalist forces want to polarise the society into Hindus and others so they use the cow as a tool to polarise the Hindus, D Ravikumar, author and a former legislator of Dalit party VCK (Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi), said. First, they construct Muslims as the other and now they are constructing Dalits as the other. They need the support of casteist forces now for a numerically strong violent mob. This is the reason they are using the casteist aspirations of OBCs to further their Hindutva agenda, he said. Political analysts in the state say that the reason beef-eating has never really been an issue here is due to its complex recent history of rationalism and atheism. The entrenchment of the Dravidian movement in the past is a key reason for this, N Sathiyamoorthy, a political analyst with the Observer Research Foundation, said. The Dravidian movement may not be as relevant today as it was then, but its past influence remains. As of now, there is little chance that beef can become an issue in the major part of the state, he said. Suba Veerapandian, general secretary of the Dravida Iyakka Thamizhar Peravai (DITP), a pro-Dravidian outfit agrees. What has happened in Una will not happen here in Tamil Nadu and that is solely because of the vast influence of the Dravidian movement on the Tamil society, he said. The Dravidian movement, launched in the 1940s by Periyar EV Ramasamy Naicker, was a rationalist and atheist movement against the Brahmin rule in the state. The powerful social movement managed to shatter the practice of untouchability well before other states, as well as ushering in social reform in other spheres. One of the core commitments of the movement was to end discrimination on the basis of caste this included allowing members of all communities into the sanctum sanctorum of temples, allowing everyone to become priests and stopping the usage of caste as surnames for people. Periyar publicly dropped his surname Naicker a caste native to western Tamil Nadu. The idea of Tamil Nadu being a heterogeneous and tolerant state is one that is still prized in political circles. In rural areas, there are multiple folklore gods, KS Radhakrishnan of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a key political party in the state, said. People would sacrifice goats historically and still do. There is a great deal of tolerance in Tamil Nadu society. Hindus go to Velankanni (a famous church in Nagapattinam) and to dargahs when they are unwell. Many Christians believe in astrology, he said. Tamil Nadus social structure is different to that of any other state in the country. Seventy percent of the population comprise what the state calls Backward Classes, the equivalent of the Centres OBCs (Other Backward Castes). Twenty five percent of the population, according to the 2011 Census, is made up of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). A mere 5% makes up the remaining Forward Castes. The SC population is comprised of three main castes the Pallars, Paraiyars and the Arunthathiyars. Of these, sociologists point out that the Pallars traditionally do not consume beef. Some sub-castes within the Paraiyars as well as the Arunthathiyars are traditionally beef-eaters. Some Muslims and Christian families also consume beef. Others classified as OBC, say, sociologists, traditionally do not cook beef at home. In the recent past, many of these communities may buy and eat beef outside, but cooking it at home is not a norm. This is not to say that beef has no social connotations at all. In Tamil Nadu beef is not served in established mainstream non-vegetarian restaurants [such as established, popular chains like Karaikudi, Anjappar which serve meat dishes], C Lakshmanan, an associate professor at Madras Institute of Development Studies, said. They have already restrained themselves from serving beef in these places. In Kerala, more of buffalo meat is served than cow meat. In Tamil Nadu bull meat is served and cow meat is rare. You must understand that traditionally south Indians, especially Tamils, are big meat eaters, the Dalit studies expert said. A recent government survey indicates that only 30% of Indians over the age of 15 are vegetarian and that 97.65% of Tamil Nadu is non-vegetarian. In August 2003, when then chief minister J Jayalalithaa imposed a ban on the sacrifice of animals and birds, a public furore erupted. Barely six months later, Jayalalithaa hurriedly repealed this law, in the face of anger from the electorate, just ahead of the 2004 general elections. The Jayalalithaa-led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) came a cropper, not even winning a single seat. In 2006, she lost the elections to the rival DMK, with political pundits arguing at the time that her bid to stop animal sacrifice and what that implied an upper-caste homogenising attitude went a long way towards her loss. If beef is used as a divisive tactic in Tamil Nadu it will be along caste lines and not in the Islamophobic moves as has been done in coastal Karnataka, for instance. As Dalit scholar, Stalin Rajangam pointed out, this is not purely speculative. When (BJP president) Amit Shah came to Madurai before the elections (in 2015), pamphlets were distributed saying that the Pallar community is not a part of SCs because they do not eat beef. There was an attempt to divide the SC community itself. Luckily, it did not really work and is unlikely to in the near future at least, he said. Here is another revealing incident from April 2015: the Dravida Kazhagam (DK), an organisation founded by Periyar to propagate the ideals of the Dravidian movement, was about to hold its annual beef feast and was startled when Chennai Police refused to grant permission to hold it. The DK knocked on the doors of the Madras high court, was allowed to hold the feast, and did so amidst tight police security. The idea of eating beef is to prove a point that beef is not the food for a few communities alone and to stop discrimination on the basis of food, K Veeramani, president of the DK, told this reporter at that time. Food habits are personal and no one has the right to interfere in food choice, Veerapandian of the Dravida Iyakka Thamizhar Peravai, which is closely aligned with the DK, said. The beef feast is carried out in an effort to break the notion that people who eat beef are lower in some fashion. This feast is to ensure that we break caste barriers and show that everybody can eat any kind of food that no one should be ostracised or discriminated against on the basis of what they eat, he said. DK has been holding this feast every year for decades now, DMKs KS Radhakrishnan said. In August 2015, an issue that had been plaguing the Coimbatore region in western Tamil Nadu suddenly flared up. Animal rights activists in the area had been stopping trucks carrying cattle to neighbouring Kerala, claiming that cattle were being transported in an inhumane manner, flouting existing rules. While this pushback has been happening for at least a decade, small pro-Hindu outfits jumped into the melee that year. Cattle trucks were stopped at the border and cattle rescued and taken to gaushalas nearby. Vexed cattle traders and beef merchants in Tamil Nadu and Kerala went on strike, downing shutters and petitioning their respective state governments. So many people were affected at that time, Thendral Selvaraj, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cattle Traders Association that led the protests at the time, said. Cattle traders from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu all ply through Coimbatore to reach Kerala. All of these people, the farmers who sell their aged cattle at markets in these states, labourers who load the cattle, those who sell hay the entire industry was hit by these pro-Hindu outfits posing as animal rights groups, he said. Cattle merchants in the states of Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu went to court, filing a large number of petitions, demanding that they should be allowed to continue with their livelihood in peace. While no official figures are available on the size of the cattle trade in Tamil Nadu, Selvaraj pegs it at around Rs 35 crore in revenues annually, with over one lakh people associated with the industry. In Coimbatore, Erode, Kumbakonam and Chennai alone, he says, over 1,000 families have been in the cattle trade for generations. A huge beef crunch in Kerala, as a result of the strike in Tamil Nadu, forced Oommen Chandy, who was Kerala chief minister at the time, to write to Jayalalithaa on August 11, 2015, requesting her to step in to resolve the issue. The Coimbatore district administration then hurriedly organised meetings between stakeholders and within a month, the problem was resolved and cattle began to ply freely once again. The issue is that they were transporting cattle in a cruel manner without adhering to the rules, Senthil Kumar, a local member of the pro-Hindu fringe outfit Hindu Makkal Katchi in Coimbatore, said. Even calves get transported to be killed and eaten. How can we allow that? he asked. Despite the aspiration to outrage, the reality is that neither animal rights nor the pro-Hindu groups managed to stop trucks again. The most interesting opinion on beef comes from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Ninety percent of the Tamil population does not eat beef. People eat other types of meat here, N Sadagopan, spokesperson for the RSS in the state, said without explaining where these statistics are from. What is more interesting comes next. But no one will beat another person up simply because he is eating beef. This is not an issue with the common man, he added. Dalit leaders remind everyone that the cow is only one tool of polarisation and Tamil Nadu should not imagine it is safe. [Here] the cow cannot be a symbol. This is very clearly an OBC casteist society. Other symbols are used instead, like honour, and killings happen in that name. In 2019, we will see again the casteist and communal forces joining hands together just like it happened in 2016. They will come back in a stronger way, Ravikumar of the VCK said. He warned, This is a dangerous trend for religious minorities and Dalits. (In arrangement with Grist Media) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday accepted resignation of 74-year-old Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel, clearing the way for a young face to take over the party in a state that is under its rule for last 18 years. BJP parliamentary board members, who met at Prime Minister Narendra Modis residence, also authorised party chief Amit Shah to choose Patels successor. Shah will travel to Gujarat on Thursday and attend a meeting of the legislature party where MLAs will elect their new leader. Briefing reporters after the meeting, senior party leader Venkaiah Naidu dismissed speculations that Shah was in line for the top job. BJP chief Amit Shah is not being considered for the CMs post, the party needs him at the national level, Naidu said. Moreover, Shah would be busy with the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh early next year and others before general elections in 2019. The parliamentary board also decided to send observers to Gujarat to hold a meeting of the legislature party to elect a new leader. Sources claim that Shah wants partys Gujarat unit chief Vijay Rupani to succeed the states first woman chief minister. They say Anandiben has reservation about the proposal, given Rupanis proximity to Shah whom she considers responsible for her ouster. Health minister Nitin Patel enjoys her backing. Read | Anandiben Patels exit may force other BJP chief ministers to step up She offered to resign on Monday, a decision seen prompted by mounting pressure over her governments handling of a string of political protests. In a Facebook post, Anandiben said that she told the BJP leadership about her plan to step down two months ago. She said the party needed a fresh face before next years state elections. She had been under pressure since last years protests by the Patidars seeking quotas in colleges and jobs, and more recently, over the public beating of four Dalit men by self-styled cow protection groups. Allegations of irregularities involving her family members have also put the CM on a sticky wicket. Read | The Gujarat question: Who will step into Anandibens shoes? The BJP leadership is likely to factor in the unrest among the Patidars as it chooses Anandibens successor in the state that goes to polls in December 2017. Nitin Patel, who served in Modis cabinet in the state, enjoys the backing of the community. Rupani, on the other hand, belongs to the Jain community, numerically insignificant in Gujarat, but is a confidante of Shah, who handed over the reins of the state BJP to him. The final call on choosing her successor would be taken by PM Modi. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who will be in Delhi on Friday, will also be consulted. Read | The rise and fall of Anandiben Patel Rajya Sabha witnessed heated exchanges between Congress and SP members on Wednesday after the gangrape of a mother and daughter in Bulandshahr in UP, with the government saying that law and order was a state matter although the incident was condemned. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Rajni Patil of the Congress said the number of incidents of rape and other atrocities against women was on the rise and there was an urgent need for the House to discuss the issue. She mentioned the gangrape of a mother and her minor daughter when they were travelling from Noida to Kanpur. As other Congress members joined in, Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan, a SP MP from UP, likened Congress raising the issue with crocodile tears and torture and asked them not to do politics over the issue of atrocities and crime against women. She said she had given notice for discussing the issue several days ago but the notice has not yet been accepted. I do not care which part of the country the incidents have taken place. I want to discuss. I do not want to politicise, she said. Congress Ambika Soni shot back, saying it was a minister of the SP government in Uttar Pradesh who was playing politics over the incident. Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the ghastly incident, whether in Uttar Pradesh or any other part of the country, needs to be condemned in strongest terms and strictest action should be taken against culprits. Maintaining that law and order is a state subject, he said expressed hope that the UP government would act strongly in the case. We are ready for a discussion on womens security. Please give notice, we will discuss it, he said. As the Congress members continued to raise the issue and SP members vociferously retorted, deputy chairman P J Kurien said the matter raised was very serious and every member was seeking a discussion. No problem. Please give notice, he said. Tapan Kumar Sen (CPI-M) said a notice for short duration discussion on the issue was given a few days back and it is pending in chairmans office. In 2011, when the Congress-led UPA government introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in the Lok Sabha, it set the deadline of April 2012 for the rollout of the new indirect tax regime. Two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, red flagged the reform legislation that aims to stitch together a common market by dismantling fiscal barriers between states. It is a single national uniform tax levied across the country on all goods and services. In the last two years, as the GST negotiations between the NDA and the opposition reached its peak, the Congress never forgot to mention at every possible place how Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then chief minister of Gujarat, had blocked the bill on the political ground. With the GST bill set to pass the Rajya Sabha hurdles on Wednesday, the claims and counter-claims of who should get the credit for Indias biggest tax reform are bound to echo in the political arena. Read | GST bill almost a reality, to be tabled in Rajya Sabha today The BJP has an advantage, being in power and steering the long-pending legislation to its conclusion. But the history of the Indian GST cant be complete without the contribution of the Congress. Its a common knowledge that since 2011, the Congress-led UPA government has pushed the bill for three years till it lost power at the Centre. The Congress party also formed an empowered committee of state finance ministers, headed by West Bengals Ashim Dasgupta to hammer out the differences between the states. A task that ultimately went to Trinamool Congress Amit Mitra. For the last two years, Congress had been consistent in demanding three major changes in the GST bill. It batted for a tax rate capped at 18%, taking a pro-people stand so that consumers dont bleed under the new tax regime. Read | How behind-the-scenes managers helped pave the way for GST deal The principal opposition party has forced the government to accept its two demands: To scrap the 1% entry tax that was aimed to benefit three states and giving more teeth to the grievance redressal mechanism. Although the government didnt agree to the Congress third demandto cap the tax rate in the 122nd constitution amendment billit has agreed to do so in the GST bill that will come in the winter session of Parliament. We wanted a pro-people Good and Smart tax bill. We wanted the bill to help both the corporate and the consumers, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said. Union information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu maintained that the government wanted to take the Congress along. Although we had numbers. We were sure that we want the Congress support for the bill, Naidu told Hindustan Times, indicating further the importance of the Congress party in the passage of this historic bill. Now, it will all depend on the Congress propaganda machinery how far they can publicise the partys role and credit in the passage of the GST. And it wont be an easy task against the BJP. Read | Here is why GST may increase your phone bill but reduce eating out costs SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The revelation of plans to carry out a Brussels-type attack in densely-populated areas of Hyderabad by an IS module has exposed chinks in the security apparatus in the city, especially at the IT Corridor. Five IS operatives, arrested by NIA on June 29, had disclosed their plans to carry out an attack in areas like Bhagyalakshmi temple near Charminar in the old city and the IT Corridor at Madhapur in Cyberabad. With IT exports touching Rs 75,000 crore annually, Hyderabad, a software hub, has become an obvious target as it can grab worldwide attention immediately. However, a check at Raheja Mindspace IT Park at Cyberabad, which houses 135 software companies, exposed some glaring loopholes in the security setup. The 109-acre IT SEZ has state-of-the-art electronic surveillance system with over 150 high-definition CCTV cameras being monitored by a team of experts at a command and control centre in the main building of the Raheja corporate office. Click here to read all the stories in this series so far But the most glaring security lapse is at the main entrance where there is no physical check of vehicles or frisking of people. It provides easy access to terrorists, observed Dr Ramesh Babu Kanneganti, director of Centre for Human Security Studies, who accompanied this correspondent to the IT Park for the check. Security officials at the campus told HT that every person and vehicle is watched closely through CCTV. If we get the slightest suspicion, we alert our security people who in turn inform the Cyberabad police, chief security officer of Raheja Mindspace, Moses Sudhakar said. He, however, said it was not possible to physically check around one lakh people and 40,000 vehicles entering the software park. The second tier of security is at each building, where visitors are allowed inside only after they register themselves and are given a pass. However, there are no metal detectors or physical checking of people. Read | Chinks in the security armour of this popular Shia mosque in Lucknow What is shocking is that none of the security guards are armed. What will happen if heavily-armed terrorists make a surprise attack? asked Kanneganti, who has done a post-doctoral study on counter-terrorism in Israel. Moses argued that the 450-odd personnel are capable of holding terrorists for some time before police responded, but admitted that they were not trained to face major terror attacks. Kanneganti said the entire campus did not have electronic equipment to detect explosives. He also highlighted the lack of coordination between personnel of different buildings. There is no mobile security staff alerting companies in case of an emergency. When contacted, Cyberabad police commissioner Naveen Chand told HT that they had quick response teams that could respond to situations within minutes. We have Octopus forces with specially trained commandos. The QRTs are positioned at key locations. We also have Rapid Action Forces to meet any eventuality, he said, but refused to divulge details citing the need for secrecy. Moses said there is one QRT at Inorbit Mall, adjacent to Raheja IT park. The response time is three and a half minutes, he said. But Kanneganti asked, How can they hold the terrorists even for three minutes with bare hands? This small time is enough for the terrorists to kill a large number of people or blast buildings. The Cyberabad police had some time back proposed providing arms licences to corporates in the IT corridor with two guns to each company so that their security personnel can hold terrorists for some time, but the proposal has not seen the light of the day. We are examining it, Chand said. Read | Red alert: Why alarm bells should be ringing at Mumbai airport The 190-odd software companies in Cyberabad, including those in Raheja Mindspace, had formed a Cyberabad Security Council in 2006 in coordination with police, primarily to ensure security to IT employees. After the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the scope of the council was expanded to terror attacks. The measures taken include installation of electronic surveillance systems with 24x7 monitoring mechanism and deployment of bomb disposal squads and dog squads. We have laid highly sophisticated fibre optic network all over Cyberabad connected to surveillance cameras which are 98% operational, said Vemuru Srinivasa Prasad, founder and former secretary of Cyberabad Security Council. He however said that this will serve only 30% of the security and the rest would have to be done by police. After all, what can we do if some terrorists attack the IT park from a hotel across the road using rocket launcher? he asked. BJP said on Wednesday that attacks and terror unleashed by ruling BJD workers on their political opponents is not conducive for democracy and claimed that people are experiencing undeclared emergency in Odisha. The manner in which attacks on political opponents are rising during BJD rule, there is a feeling of undeclared emergency among people in Odisha due to terror unleashed by the ruling party activists, BJP state unit vice-president Samir Mohanty said here. People with opinions different from that of BJD are being attacked in a planned manner as part of a conspiracy at the direction of the third floor, the BJP leader claimed, apparently pointing finger at chief ministers office. Third floor refers to Patnaiks office situated on the third floor of the state secretariat. This is not good for democracy, Mohanty said, adding, it is unfortunate that common people are subjected to immense inconvenience and harassment in the name of the chief ministers security, for which heavy police force is deployed. Mohanty said even when Patnaik visits a hospital, the entire area is converted to a fortress amid heavy police deployment, causing untold miseries for the patients and their attendants. BJD claims that Patnaik is a very popular chief minister ... why is he so afraid ? he wondered. Alleging that the attack on Union minister Santosh Gangwar and other senior BJP leaders recently in Bargarh was led by a BJD MLA, Mohanty said BJP workers were beaten up by another BJD MLA and corporater last week in Boudh in the presence of police. Visuals of the Boudh incident shown on TV channels shows where state ministers were present, he said, adding that it proves the murderous attack on BJP workers was mounted at the behest of ministers. Similar attack was perpetrated on BJP activists by the ruling BJD workers at Angul, he alleged. More than her resignation, it was Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patels continuation in office that the Congress was banking upon for the revival of its political fortunes in the state after almost two decades. The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) move to replace Anandiben about one-and-a-half-year ahead of the assembly elections has upset the Congress calculation to some extent. The opposition party wanted Anandiben to continue and strengthen the anti-incumbency factor against the ruling BJP. That would have been an ideal situation for us, a Congress strategist said. Her brutal handling of the Patidar agitation, massive corruption apart from the growing unrest among Dalits over atrocities across the state had given us a clear edge over the BJP ahead of December 2017 elections. Among the frontrunners to replace Anandiben are state BJP chief Vijay Rupani and senior minister Nitin Patel. While Rupani is a Jain leader, Nitin Patel is an influential Patidar from north Gujarat. Read: The Gujarat question: Who will step into Anandibens shoes? Though the move might negate the anti-incumbency against the BJP to some extent, Congress leaders are hopeful that the tide has already turned against the ruling party and any change at the top cannot save it from an imminent defeat. BJP days are numbered. Any change of face will not help them, senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia said. Congress general secretary in-charge of Gujarat Gurudas Kamat said Anandibens resignation was long overdue and the move is a clear indication of the BJPs sure defeat in 2017 elections. The Congress optimism stems from the growing disillusionment of Patidars and the Dalits with the BJP. The Patidars agitation over reservation and the recent outrage over the thrashing of four Dalits for skinning of a dead cow at Una in Gir Somnath district put Anandiben and the BJP on a mat. The BJP is facing the heat not only in Gujarat but across the country, especially in the politically important state of Uttar Pradesh that goes to polls in March next year. Out of power in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah for the past 21 years, the Congress is drawing up a comprehensive campaign strategy to dethrone the ruling party in the upcoming polls. Chhabildas Mehta was the last Congress CM from 1994-1995. From 1998, the BJP has been in power in the state for the past 18 years, of which Modi ruled for 12. Read: Anandibens resignation accepted, Amit Shah wont replace her: BJP For its part, the Congress party has been making the right moves. To woo the Patidars, the opposition party has promised 20% reservation for the economically backward classes among the upper castes. The BJP government tried to placate the Patidars by announcing 10% reservation for EBCs in May this year following a nine-month long sustained agitation led by Hardik Patel. However, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) rejected it. Among the other slew of appeasement moves, the Congress appointed Hasmukh Desai, a Patidar, as president of its Surat city unit. Out of the 60 organisational posts in Surat city, Patidars have bagged more than 25. It named Jyotiben Sojitra, also a Patidar, as the president of its womens wing of Surat. More than 12 lakh Patidars, hailing from different districts in Saurashtra and north Gujarat, live in Surat and work in diamond, textile and other industries. The Congress is also buoyed by its impressive performance in the local bodies elections in rural areas in December last year when it won 21 of the 31 district panchayats. Read: Anandiben Patels exit may force other BJP chief ministers to step up The alleged atrocities on Dalits will be another key poll issue and the Congress will seek to corner the BJP on Una and other similar incidents across the state. But the worry for the Congress is the emergence of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a third political force in the state. The AAP has declared that it will contest all the 182 assembly seats in the 2017 polls. Delhi chief minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal has already sounded the poll bugle in the state with a two-day tour on July 9-10 followed by his visit to Una to meet the victims and their family members on July 22. Kejriwal and other AAP leaders are hopeful that Hardik Patel will join and campaign for their party in the upcoming polls. Congress leaders, however, reject the suggestion and claim that their party is the natural alternative to the BJP. Politics in Gujarat is bipolar in nature. Our party is the natural alternative to the BJP. The AAP will remain a small player in the 2017 polls, Modhwadia said. Read: BJP hits back at Cong, says Gujarat CMs resignation not a big issue SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Rajya Sabha will likely set India on path to a new tax regime when it takes up the goods and services tax bill on Wednesday afternoon, nine years after the proposal was first made. After much political wrangling, the Modi government has secured the support needed for the constitution amendment bill to be passed by the upper house and set the ball rolling for a single tax to replace a string of local levies. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in 2015 but failed to make a headway in the upper house, where the ruling NDA does not have the numbers. The debate starts at 2pm. The government will want to wrap up the discussion and pass the bill on Wednesday itself. The bill will have to be sent back to the Lok Sabha as changes have been made to the one passed by it last year. The monsoon session concludes August 12. The government is targeting a launch date of April 1, the start of the fiscal year, but it looks ambitious. The earliest the GST will kick in will be in July, say experts. Nine changes Though the architect of the tax reform, the Congress was leading the opposition to the bill but came around after the government agreed to some changes. Everyone has the feeling it will be a win-win situation for all. The bill is coming after much deliberation and we are positive about the outcome. We are confident all parties will come together to pass the bill, parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar said. The government circulated nine amendments on Tuesday to address concerns of the Congress and other opposition parties. These include a more robust grievance redressal mechanism, scrapping of 1% additional tax and mandatory compensation to states for revenue loss under the new tax regime. The GST council will have a system in place to decide on disputes between the Centre and a state, the Centre and more than one state or between two states. A mechanism to resolve such disputes was a key demand of the Congress. The GST council will have representatives of the Centre as well as states. Read| How behind-the-scenes managers helped pave the way for GST deal Though the Centre rejected the Congress demand to cap the GST rate at 18% in the amendment bill, it has assured the party to ring-fence the rate in the bill that will come up after the constitution amendment is passed in Parliament and approved by at least 20 states. It also accepted a demand of regional parties that tax collected by state governments will not be parked in the consolidated fund of India, to allow quick disbursements. Not all are GST-ready The concept for a nationwide uniform tax was first announced by then finance minister P Chidambaram in his 2007 budget speech. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi discussed the GST issue with senior leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Chidambaram and Anand Sharma. While politicians seem to be on board, many companies are unprepared for the GST. Companies, particularly smaller ones, are apprehensive, Reuters quoted GR Ralhan, head of Roamer Woollen Mills in Ludhiana, as saying. He called for more time to adjust and said a high rate of GST could put his firm out of business. Countries that have introduced GST have often faced a relative economic slowdown before the benefits of a unified tax regime kick in. Read| Here is why GST may increase your phone bill but reduce eating out costs The Gujarat High Court today issued a notice to the state on a PIL seeking direction to the government to ensure systemic disposal of cow carcasses and to take pro-active measures against gau rakshaks to avoid incidents like the thrashing of Dalits at Una. A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi issued a notice to the state government, additional chief secretary of Home department, and principal secretary of the panchayats, rural housing and rural development department. The matter will now come up for hearing on September 8. The PIL, filed by Ratna Vora, head of NGO Ambedkar Karwan that works for the Dalits and other depressed sections of the society, claimed in her petition that no circular or guideline has been issued by the state government to village panchayats to ensure systemic disposal of dead animals under relevant sections of Gujarat Panchayats Act-1993. Vora also sought immediate action from the state home department to stop unlawful activities done by hooligans in the name of gau raksha. Read | Engineers, realtors: Gau rakshaks in Gujarat just a WhatsApp message away The PIL comes in the backdrop of an incident involving gau rakshaks or cow vigilantes thrashing four Dalits from Mota Samadhiyala village of Una taluka in Gir Somnath district for skinning a dead cow last month. The video of the incident caused widespread protests by Dalit groups and several leaders like Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and AAP Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the village to meet the victims. The Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954, amended hurriedly in 2011 provides protection to the cows that they can never be slaughtered, but failed to provide any direction to the administration as to what should be done to the dead cows, the PIL states. As per section 99 of the Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1993, such Panchayat is duty bound to make provisions for the matters specified in schedule 1 wherein clause 1(g) deals regarding the systematic disposal of carcasses, it states. However, it said, the panchayat, rural housing and rural development department has not directed the village panchayats to implement the law. The PIL states that Dalits are becoming easy prey at the hands of Hindutva organisations, and hence sought a court direction to the state Home department to immediately issue circulars to all the police departments and officers to take pro-active action against any activities of the hooligans under the pretext of gau raksha. In 2011, government amended the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act-1954, for protection of an animal (cow) but failed to make any protection to Dalit and Muslim community who are traditionally engaged in meat profession, it further states. Read | Dalits protest Una thrashing in Modis hometown, blame BJP and Hindutva Parents of minors caught driving and causing fatal accidents are looking at three years in jail and a fine of Rs 25,000 while the registration of their vehicles may also be cancelled. The provision is part of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016, which was cleared by cabinet on Wednesday and hailed by Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari as the single biggest reform in the laws governing road safety. The draft bill also entails a steep hike in penalties for traffic offences Rs 1,000 for jumping a red light or driving without a seat belt/helmet, a 10-fold jump on the current amount. It comes with a three-month licence suspension. In a first, the cabinet also approved the road transport and highways ministrys proposal to bring taxi aggregators such as Uber and Ola under the ambit of the motor vehicle law. Violating licensing norms which the ministry is currently finalising will result in the app-based taxi services being fined between Rs 25,000 and Rs 1 lakh. The ministry plans to introduce the bill, which has 68 amendments and 28 new sections, in Parliaments ongoing monsoon session. The amendments were recommended by a group of state transport ministers set up by the Centre to review road safety rules. Drunk driving a leading cause of road accident deaths in India will invite a fine of Rs 10,000, up from Rs 2,000. The compensation for road fatalities has been fixed at Rs 10 lakh while the payout in hit-and-run cases has been increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh. Seventeen people were killed every hour at least 400 a day on Indias roads in 2015, according to government data. The draft bill, once approved, will replace the 26-year-old Motor Vehicle Act, which was last amended in 2001. Talking on the phone while driving will result in a penalty of Rs 5,000 instead of the current Rs 1,000. Lawmakers and government servants will shell out twice the amount for violations. The steep penalties will act as a deterrent and help bring road disciple, said Gadkari. Making parents and guardians accountable for the crimes of their minor wards is a new section in the bill, and comes in the wake of a string of fatalities caused by underage drivers. The menace was highlighted in April when a Class 12 boy ran over a 33-year-old man while out for a joyride in his fathers Mercedes in Delhi. At present, allowing an unauthorised person to drive ones car invites a fine of up to Rs 1,000 and a jail term of up to three months. The minor is tried under the Juvenile Justice Act, under which the maximum sentence for any crime is three years in a reform home. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to attend the Saarc interior ministers conference during which he is expected to raise the issue of most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and cross border terrorism. Accompanied by a delegation comprising officials from his ministry and external affairs, Singh, who is on his maiden visit to Pakistan, will be underlining meaningful cooperation among the South Asian countries. He met with Amir Ahmed, additional secretary in Pakistans interior ministry in Islamabad. Before leaving for Islamabad to attend the day-long Saarc home ministers conference, the home minister said he was looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime. This Conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security, said Singh, who is expected to tell Pakistan to stop sponsoring terror in India and rein in groups like Lashker-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Singhs visit comes notwithstanding threat by LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, who warned of a countrywide protest in Pakistan by his outfit if the Indian home minister arrived in Islamabad to attend the Saarc ministerial conference. Thursdays meeting is preceded by the 7th Meeting of the Saarc interior/home secretaries which is being held on Wednesday. The Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who is leading the Indian delegation, arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday. There is little possibility of Singh having a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the wake of strain in Indo-Pak relations after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in Jammu and Kashmir on July 8. Not only did Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif praise Wani but he also remarked that Kashmir will one day become Pakistan, a comment which evoked a sharp reaction from external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who said his dream of the state becoming a part of his country will not be realised even at the end of eternity. Apart from terrorism, other key issues to be discussed include liberalisation of visa, illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and small arms and how to make coordinated and concerted efforts to combat such menace. The three-tier meeting began at the joint secretary-level and then moves on to Secretary and Home Minister-level meetings. The focus of the meeting will also be on strengthening networking among police forces of Saarc member-countries and also enhance information-sharing among law enforcement agencies. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa in June, he sought her support for the Goods and Services Tax bill in national interest, even though her state stood to lose revenue under the new law. Last month, urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu met Jayalalithaa in Chennai both leaders spoke in Telugu and the CM indicated her party will not stand in the way of the GST bill. For the past one year, NDA managers like Naidu and finance minister Arun Jaitley have silently worked behind the scenes to build a political consensus elusive for the past five years to ensure that the GST bill sees the light of the day. After he met Jayalalithaa, Modi told Naidu and Jaitley to contact leaders of 29 political parties and the ten nominated members individually. When Naidu met Congress president Sonia Gandhi last year at her residence, she complained that Opposition parties were not getting enough time to speak in the House. Naidu, then in-charge of parliamentary affairs, dished out statistics to show how the Opposition bench had gotten more time than what it had during the first UPA regime. Read | Nine years later, GST bill ready to become reality; to be tabled in RS today After his meeting with Gandhi, Naidu quickly followed it up with meetings with Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Jyotiraditya Scindia, K V Thomas and Veerappa Moily. There is a good monsoon and there is a good monsoon session. India will make history on Wednesday when the GST bill is passed in Rajya Sabha, Naidu told HT. When CPI(M) and Samajwadi Party felt they were left out in these consultations, senior government managers sat with Sitaram Yechury (CPIM) and Ramgopal Yadav (SP). Meanwhile, in Jaitleys meetings with state finance ministers, Congress-ruled states urged him to roll-out the GST regime quickly. NDA ministers even urged business chambers, when their leaders came to meet them, to talk to Opposition parties to push GST. Last month, the governments calculations showed it had enough numbers to pass the legislation in Rajya Sabha but waited for the Congress to come on board. Read | After big breakthrough, GST nitty-gritties might take time SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police did nothing, will do nothing; politicians offer just lip service, cried the traumatized woman gangraped along with her teen daughter by highway robbers near Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. More than half-dozen politicians of various parties visited her home in Ghaziabad on Wednesday. Journalists too waited their turn to meet the 35-year-old victim, and for a sound-bite from her 14-year-old daughter, if possible. All I want is justice. I want to punish the attackers with my own hands. I dont trust politicians. They are promising many things, but they dont have any accountability. I want them to safeguard the future of my child, the distraught mother told reporters. The police are at fault too, as is the government. The culprits should be hanged and the government should allow me to hang them with my own hands. Police have arrested three men from the nomadic Bawariya tribe since the July 30 incident that shocked the nation. Read: Let our women shoot Bulandshahr culprits in public: Rape victims family The victims were on their way to a family function for a dead relative at Shahjahanpur when their car was waylaid on a desolate stretch of national highway 91 near Bulandshahr; the women were robbed, dragged out, taken to a field, and repeatedly raped. Police officers promised to nab the culprits. It has been three days now, but only three men are arrested. Police should arrest them all, the woman said, and thanked the media for standing by our side. BJP members staged a protest and burnt effigy of the state government at Kala Aam chowk in Bulandshahr on Tuesday. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo) Besides leaders of the Samajwadi Party, BJP and Congress, local Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Amar Pal Sharma visited the family on Wednesday, and assured financial help for the daughters education. The girl says she doesnt want to go to school. Such horrific incidents leave a scar for a lifetime. We have assured the family of all possible help, he said. Police suspect the criminal clan headed by Saleem Bawaria, a crook from Gangoh in Saharanpur who has a cash reward of Rs 15,000 on his head, to be behind the incident. The victims immediately identified him from the photographs of criminals, said Meerut zone IG, Sujit Pandey, who is investigating the case. The Bawariyas inhabit some villages in Saharanpur and Shamli, but the culprits might have moved out after last weeks gang-rape prompted the Samajwadi government in the poll-bound state to put its might in the gangs tail. The incident could have been avoided if police had made a comprehensive inquiry into a robbery at a dhaba on the night of June 30. The main accused in the July 30 gang-rape, Raees, was involved in the incident a month earlier, but police apparently let him off then. Read: Will commit suicide if we dont get justice: Bulandshahr rape victims family The dhaba owners alleged that an armed gang in the guise of police came there late at night and assaulted workers of the eatery, which is barely 4km from Raeess village. Raees was taken into custody, but was freed after witnesses failed to recognize him. After last weeks incident, Raees was arrested again. He often came to my dhaba to have a smoke, and recently he offered to help me get cheap bikes for Rs 3,000-5,000. However, I declined the offer, the dhaba owner said. (with inputs from Peeyush Khandelwal in Bulandshahr) Two IndiGo flights carrying at least 100 fliers each veered 25 seconds away from crashing into each other midair owing to turbulent weather in Dhaka air space, just beyond India-Bangladesh border on Tuesday. Passengers on board IndiGo flight 6E-813 from Mumbai to Guwahati were panic-stricken when the plane nosedived after the pilots discovered that the aircraft was on the flight path of IndiGo flight 6E-136 approaching from the opposite direction. The Chennai-bound 6E-136 had taken off from Guwahatis Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport. We were about to reach Guwahati when the aircraft suddenly went down and shook dangerously making a loud noise. It was a horrific experience, a passenger said. In Mumbai, an IndiGo spokesperson said that four passengers complained of giddiness and two cabin crew were provided first aid as the sudden evasive action to avoid a collision suddenly shook up the plane. IndiGo flight 6E-813 en-route to Guwahati from Mumbai experienced turbulence due to monsoon activity over the sub-continent on August 2. During such weather situations, there are two types of activities first is cumulo-nimbus activity and second is clear air turbulence (CAT). While the former can be detected by the weather radar, as per which the flight crew typically takes deviations and fly to avoid any turbulence the latter, is experienced occasionally which cannot be detected by the weather radar, the airline said in a statement. Flight 6E-813 flight experienced CAT which could not be detected by the weather radar. This caused the aircraft 6E-813 to climb by about 250-300 feet. At the same instance another aircraft 6E-136 (Guwahati-Chennai) was crossing 6E-813. Following the prescribed protocol, the pilot immediately applied the resolution advisory (RA) triggered by TCAS (traffic collision avoidance system). TCAS is onboard equipment that advises pilots about the traffic in the proximity of the aircraft and also instructs pilots the avoidance action (RA) to maintain desired separation between the aircraft. The statement further said the passengers along with the cabin crew on board were physically shaken due to monsoon activity. In addition to applying the RA, the pilot had immediately alerted the air traffic control (ATC) about the situation on-board, and requested for a doctor and ambulance at the Guwahati airport, it said. The flight made a normal landing and immediately after landing, the four passengers along with the two cabin crew were administered with the necessary medical assistance. As per the doctors report, there were no major injuries reported, the IndiGo statement said. It added: As an airline, we rely upon ATCs traffic advisory and ensure to comply with their instructions. At IndiGo, safety of the passengers, crew and the aircraft are of top priority and at no time it can be compromised. William Shakespeares fans who think theres nothing in a name should come to Kolkata to hear the din and debate that began minutes after the state government announced on Tuesday that West Bengal will be soon be renamed as Bengal (in English) and Banga or Bangla (in Bengali). Both intellectuals and commoners are engaged in debates, often heated, as the states name is likely to change in a matter of weeks. This should have happened long ago. The original name of our state was Banga (also spelt Bongo). We are going back to that. Keeping West in the name is meaningless. This will be far better. I wanted this for long. The government has taken a good decision and I am very happy, said noted novelist Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay. It is logical to change the states name to Banga or Bangla, said actor Soumitra Chatterjee, a Dadasaheb Phalke awardee. The likes of poet Nirendranath Chakraborty, writers Tilottama Majumdar and Swapnamay Chakraborty, however, objected to the idea of dropping West from the name, as they believe this will do injustice to the memories of the Partition that split Bengal or Banga into two during Independence. The name West Bengal is deep-rooted in our consciousness since Independence. What will we gain from this change in name? We need to do better justice to history while changing names. It is West Bengal that reminds us of the pain and sorrows of the Partition. The deeper history is rooted in our consciousness the better. I, therefore, find no relevance to this decision to change the name, young writer Tilottama Majumdar said. The government should discuss it with eminent personalities before coming to a decision. Doesnt West Bengal imply that this is not East Bengal? remarked nonagenarian poet Nirendranath Chakraborty. Lyricist and film director Anindya Chatterjee even went so far as to suggest a referendum on the issue. The proposal, which was passed by the West Bengal cabinet on Tuesday, will have to be ratified in the state Assembly before it is placed before the Parliament for its approval. Given the majority the states ruling party enjoys in the Assembly, the passage of the proposal in the state Assembly is only a formality. The prime reason behind the governments initiative to change name is to lift the states position in the alphabetical order to get early chances of speaking at meetings between the Centre and the states. While many supported the government on this ground, other argued the name change would be just also because there is no East Bengal and what was earlier known as East Bengal is now Bangladesh. The proposal of changing the states name is being discussed for several years. We will definitely get practical advantages due to Bangla or Banga (Bongo). Previously, it took a lot of time to reach W in alphabetical order. We will climb quite a few stairs up. I welcome the governments initiative, educationist Pabitra Sarkar said. Among those who welcomed the decision to drop West from the name, there was hardly any unanimity over the new name in Bengali. Union minister of state for heavy industries Babul Supriyo welcomed Bengal as the name in English but objected to Bongo in Bengali. Bengal in English is fantastic and makes a great pair with Bangla the State and its language Bangla Bhasha - but not BONGO PLEASEEEEEE, he tweeted, arguing that it sounded like the name of a musical instrument. Writer Nabanitra Deb Sen proposed Bangabhumi or Banga Pradesh as the new name, while writer Samaresh Majumdar said the state should be called Bangla even in English. Bangla is the best option, even in English, eminent poet Shankha Ghosh said. The special session of the assembly that will be convened to discuss and pass the resolution of change of name of the state is likely on August 29 and 30. The change of name was first discussed during the tenure of the Left Front government. Incidentally the name of Calcutta, the state capital which was also the nations capital till 1911, was also changed to Kolkata in 2001. Home minister Rajnath Singh will travel to Pakistan on Wednesday to attend a meeting of Saarc interior ministers, becoming the first Indian leader to visit the neighbouring country since the terror attack on Pathankot airbase took ties to a new low. Several Pakistan-based terror groups, including Hafiz Saeeds Jamaat-ud-Dawah and Syed Salahuddins Hizbul Mujahideen, have warned of protests against the visit. The groups have accused Singh of having a role in the widespread violence in Jammu and Kashmir that was triggered by the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani last month. Read | Reading between the lines: What Hafizs threats against Rajnath visit mean During the two-day Saarc meet, Singh is expected to raise New Delhis concerns about Islamabads support for terror groups and the circulation of fake Indian currency and drug trafficking from Pakistan. India has ruled out a meeting between Singh and his Pakistani counterpart or other leaders, with officials saying the atmosphere is not conducive to such an interaction. In recent weeks, India and Pakistan have engaged in a war of words after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif referred to Wani as a Kashmiri leader and described his death as an extrajudicial killing. Pakistan has also ramped up efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue but has received little support for its stance from key Western powers. Back-to-back visits to Pakistan last December by foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised hopes of better bilateral ties. During Swarajs visit, the two sides also agreed on starting a new Comprehensive Dialogue process but ties went into a tailspin after the Pathankot attack, which was blamed on Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed. The two sides have not had any substantive dialogue since the Mumbai attacks of November 2008. That assault was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba and claimed 166 lives. Read | Enough reasons for Rajnath Singh to go to Pakistan In the depths of Indias illegal mica mines, where children as young as five work alongside adults, lurks a dark, hidden secret -- the cover-up of child deaths with seven killed in the past two months, a Thomson Reuters Foundation investigation has revealed. Investigations over three months in the major mica producing states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh found child labour rife, with small hands ideal to pick and sort the valued mineral that puts the sparkle in cosmetics and car paint. But interviews with workers and local communities discovered children were not only risking their health by working in abandoned ghost mines off official radars, but they were dying in the unregulated, crumbling mines, with seven killed since June. In the mud-and-brick village of Chandwara in Bihar in eastern India, a fathers grief laid bare the ugly reality of the illegal mining that accounts for an estimated 70% of Indias mica output. Vasdev Rai Prataps 16-year-old son Madan was killed in a mica mine along with two other adult workers in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand on June 23. I didnt know how dangerous the work in the mines is. Had I known, I would never have let him go, said Pratap, sitting on a charpoy -- a traditional woven bed -- outside his home, surrounded by friends and family who had come to mourn the teens death. They said it took almost a day to dig out his body after the mine collapsed. They cremated him without telling me. I didnt even see my boy before they set him alight. Pratap, like other victims families and mine operators, has not reported the death, choosing to accept a payment for his loss rather than risk ending the illegal mining on protected forest land that brings income to some of Indias poorest areas. The farmer said he was promised a Rs 100,000 ($1,500) payment from the operator of the mine but has yet to receive it. The mine where Madan was working is illegal, and no one was available to comment on the teenagers death. A girl shows mica flakes she has collected while working in an open-cast illegal mine in Giridih district of Jharkhand on January 22, 2016. (Nita Bhalla, Thomson Reuters Foundation) Indian law forbids children below the age of 18 working in mines and other hazardous industries but many families living in extreme poverty rely on children to boost household income. The Thomson Reuters Foundation findings were backed up by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthis child protection group Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) -- or Save the Childhood Movement -- which documented over 20 mica-related deaths in June -- including that of Madan and two other children -- double the monthly average. BBA discovered four children were killed in July. India is one of the worlds largest producers of the silver-coloured, crystalline mineral that has gained prominence in recent years as an environmentally-friendly material, used by major global brands in the car and building sector, electronics and make-up. Blood money A spokesman for Indias ministry of mines said safety in mica mines was a matter for state governments who are facing mounting pressure from the mining industry to grant licenses to illegal mines. Social activists also support these calls, claiming it will help crackdown on the flourishing black market in mica, worker exploitation and abuse and child deaths. The central government has no machinery to inspect or control the mines, the spokesman YS Kataria told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Sixteen-year-old Vinita goes into a rat-hole mine to search for mica in Giridih district of Jharkhand on June 27, 2016. (Nita Bhalla, Thomson Reuters Foundation) BBA workers, who have been trying to stop child labour in Jharkhands mica mines for almost a decade, said Madans death and the six others in the past two months were just the tip of the iceberg, estimating fewer than 10% of mica mine deaths are reported to the police. Although there are no official figures on child deaths in the mines as it is all illegal, we hear about them through our networks in the villages where we work, said Raj Bhushan, BBAs Jharkhand Project Coordinator. Normally, we hear about 10 fatalities on average in a month. But in June, we documented over 20 deaths, including two of boys aged around 15 years old. Officials from Indias Directorate of Mines Safety were not available to comment on the number of child fatalities. Read | Human rights of tribals violated in Coal India mines, alleges Amnesty The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a government organisation, conducted a fact-finding mission in Jharkhands Koderma and Giridih districts in June and found children as young as eight years old mining mica. We didnt get any reports of children being injured or dying due to mine accidents such as collapses as it is all illegal and not reported openly. But it may be happening, said the head of the fact finding mission of NCPCR, Priyank Kanoongo. A senior official from Jharkhands labour department, which is responsible for ensuring child labour laws are followed, also said there were no reports of children dying due to mica mining. Firstly it is a violation of the law of the land if people are mining without any approval and if they are engaging child labour, they committing a double crime, said principal secretary of Jharkhands labour department SKG Rahate. Girls work in an illegal open-cast mine in Giridih district of Jharkhand on June 27, 2016 (Nita Bhalla, Thomson Reuters Foundation) Officials know of child labour District officials admit child labour is a problem in some mines but say it is restricted to remote pockets where government services and welfare schemes have failed to reach the poor with training in new industries and schooling. There are some portions where mica mining is going on and where children are involved, and were trying to roll out schemes to support families to generate other income such as training in goat breeding, masonry and making pickles, said Uma Shankar Singh, district collector for Giridih. Dutch campaign group SOMO estimates up to 20,000 children are involved in mica mining in Jharkhand and Bihar. Investigations by the Thomson Reuters Foundation over three months found children working in and around mica mines in northern Jharkhand, southern Bihar and in Rajasthan in Indias northwest. In vast open-pits in Jharkhand, children as young as six squatted among glittering rocks scouring with their bare hands for shiny, brittle mica flakes, while older ones descended rickety ladders into shafts seeking better quality silicate. In Giridihs Tisri area, Basanti sifted through the reddish earth searching for pieces of mica while her 10-year-old son Sandeep climbed into a rat-hole dug in the side of the hill and descended 3 metres (10 ft) to pound on the wall with a pick-axe. His mother said the skinny boy in checked shorts and a white T-shirt has been working in the mines since he was seven and, with his contribution, the family earns Rs 300 ($4) daily. I know its dangerous but thats the only work there is, she said, squatting on the ground, a metal dish partially filled with mica beside her. I know Sandeep doesnt want to do it but it is what it is. If he was able to go to school and learn and become something then thats good, but first we need to eat. Thirteen-year-old Gudiya breaks away pieces of mica from rocks in an illegal open-cast mine in Koderma district of Jharkhand on June 29, 2016. (Nita Bhalla, Thomson Reuters Foundation) Even adult mine workers arent safe In Bhilwara district in Rajasthan, boys as young as five were seen climbing down narrow, crumbling shafts to cut mica with a hammer and chisel, working for up to eight hours a day. Their sisters sifted and separated the mica on the surface, squatting on their haunches and using their bare fingers. Older girls also separated the mica and took it to a collection point. Mine owners say the children arent working inside the mines, theyre outside. That theyre just earning a little extra for the family, said Rana Sengupta, chief executive of the non-profit Mine Labour Protection Campaign in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. But the children have no business being anywhere near the mines, inside or outside. Even adult mine workers arent safe. At a mine in Bhilwaras Tiloli village, two young girls sat on a mound of dirt, sorting mica pieces by the side of a mine partly filled with rain water. I dont go into the mine. Its too deep, I get scared, said Pooja, who looked about seven years old. I sort bigger pieces from smaller pieces. Its not so hard. A few feet from her sat nine-year-old Payal, also sorting mica pieces with her bare hands. Dhanraj Sharma, a commissioner in Rajasthans labour ministry, said he was not aware of child workers in the mines in Bhilwara or anywhere else in the state. Their parents are working in the mines, and the children stay with them. They may be playing there, they may be doing some small things for the parents. That doesnt mean they are working, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The recent surge in demand for mica has revived a flagging industry in India that dates back to the late 19th century when the British discovered mica in a belt spanning Jharkhands Koderma, Giridih and Hazaribag and Bihars Nawada, Jamui, Gaya and Bhagalpur districts. Once boasting over 700 mines with over 20,000 workers, the industry was hit by 1980 legislation to limit deforestation and the discovery of substitutes for natural mica, forcing most mines to close due to cost and stringent environmental rules. In 2013/14 India only had 38 reporting mica mines, according to Indias Bureau of Mines. Sheet mica extracted from a mine of Andhra Pradesh on June 29, 2016 (Vivek Muthuramalingam, Thomson Reuters Foundation) Threats and intimidation But renewed interest in mica from Chinas economic boom and a global craze for natural cosmetics has sent illegal operators scurrying to access the hundreds of closed mines in India and created a lucrative black market. Figures from Indias Bureau of Mines show the country produced 19,000 tonnes of mica in 2013/14. But the same data shows exports were 128,000 tonnes, with more than half, or 62%, going to China followed by Japan, the United States, the Netherlands and France. Despite numerous emails and phone calls, no one could be reached at the Bureau of Mines to comment on the discrepancy in the numbers. Leading Indian colour and pigment maker Sudarshan said experts estimate about 70% of mica production in India is from illegal mining in forests and abandoned mines. This mica is sold to various traders, processors and exporters with deals conducted on mobile phones leaving no paper trail as it leaves India for manufacturers overseas. We sell the mica to an agent in town, who sells to a big buyer from Kolkata, who exports to China, the United States, Germany and Brazil, said mine operator Dhara Singh, who said he and his brother owned a half dozen mines in Bhilwara. When asked about the two young girls sorting mica at the site in Bhilwaras Tiloli village, he said they were volunteers. But within minutes, four men arrived on two motorbikes, forcing all visitors from the site. The abuse of workers and threats of violence and intimidation tainting the industry have added to the mounting demand within the industry for the government to intervene to ensure all mines are operated legally while also helping impoverished communities find new sources of income. The stock is there, the demand is there but the government is not granting licenses, said one Giridih-based businessman, who exports mica to China, Germany and Britain. Exporters continue to work, buying the mica from here and there. But there is a general sense of insecurity that the government could crack down any time. It is better they grant the licenses and take the royalty. V Gangi Reddy, president of non-profit Rural Reconstruction and Development society, at a mineral dumping ground near Ananthamadugu village in Sydapuram. (Vivek Muthuramalingam, Thomson Reuters Foundation) Schools instead of mines While the industry is economically unfeasible for some countries due to the need for manual labour, it remains a key earner in India where labour costs are low -- particularly when child workers are used. Child rights campaigners say authorities have overlooked these child labourers for years but hope drawing attention to child deaths in the mica mines may highlight the dangers and force governments to act. Occupational hazards include head injuries, cuts and abrasions, skin and respiratory infections like silicosis, tuberculosis and asthma -- but the risks from mining in poorly maintained, unregulated mines were also proving lethal. BBAs Bhushan said he and his workers met with most of the families of those who died in mining accidents in June, and found their only means of survival was this unlicensed mining. All were poor households who are dependent on mica mining for an income, Bhushan told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. They fully understand these places are death traps, but they also realise they have little choice but to go back there the next day. It is essential that authorities address this issue before more children die. In a huge open quarry inside the dense forests of Domchanch in Koderma district in Jharkhand, Sushila Devi diligently pounds at glinting grey rocks with a hammer, breaking away chunks of mica and tossing them into a large plastic basin. The 40-year-old mother of six has been collecting mica every day for over a decade, yet she -- like most other workers - has no idea what it is or its price on the global market. We dont know what mica is, where it goes and what it is used for. All I know is that if I work hard and collect it, I will get some money, she said, adding that she gathers around 10kg of the mica daily which earns her Rs 80 ($1). We take it to a nearby mica dump and the dealer buys it for Rs 8 per kilo. I dont know how much he sells it on for. He would never tell us. Why would he risk losing more profit? The mark-up is huge, say activists. Mica is bought from miners at a maximum of Rs 25 (40 cents) a kilogram, yet top quality sheet or ruby mica sells for up to $2,000 a kilogram, according to USGS data, helping boost demand for synthetic mica. Sixteen-year-old Babloo uses a hammer to break pieces of mica in Giridih district of Jharkhand on June 27, 2016. (Nita Bhalla, Thomson Reuters Foundation) Unique mineral British cosmetics company Lush, which prides itself on its handmade products and ethical trading, switched from natural to synthetic mica in 2014 due to concerns about child labour. Lushs head of ethical trading Simon Constantine said he knew something was amiss when armed guards were needed to accompany auditors to one Indian mine supplying their mica. But the retailer, which has stores in almost 50 countries, then discovered this year that the synthetic mica it was using instead also had traces of natural mica. The company said it is tackling that. Mica took us a bit off guard as it was a new material that we had not really used before, Constantine told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview in Lushs head office in the English south coastal town of Poole. But buying is an imperfect system that doesnt end ... its always more of an improvement than a finished product. Up to 10% of mica globally is used in cosmetics. Estee Lauder Cos Inc. is another cosmetics company using mica in its products but said it only sourced 10% of its mica from India and was working with BBA to tackle child labour, helping fund schools in villages in mica areas. We strongly believe that education is a cornerstone in this effort, helping young people stay in school and providing the skills that will allow them to later on get work outside the mica industry, Estee Lauder said in an email statement. While this programme has yet to end child labour in mica mines, it shows that responsible business practices and sustained collaboration can create better prospects for children living in the mica-mining region. LOreal said more than 60% of its natural mica came from the United States while the rest came from other countries including India. In India, mica mainly originates from socially and economically challenged regions where there is a risk of child labor, unsafe working conditions, and where the supply chain involves multiple actors, the company said on its website. LOreal said it was important all players worked together and a summit in February in Delhi on responsible mica sourcing, organised by French non-profit organisation the Natural Resources Stewardship Circle (NRSC), was a good first step. NRSCs executive director Catherine Peyreaud said child abuse in mica had been going on for years but it was only when revelations about mica being used in cosmetics hit global headlines two years ago that action started to combat the problem. She said NRSC was now completing a five-year plan with concrete steps to tackle child labour and improve living conditions in mica areas so children did not return to mining. In Kodermas Dhab, one of about 45 villages where BBA is working, Pooja, 13, proudly shows off the run-down school she has attended for almost two years since she left mica mining. Dressed in her school uniform -- a pristine white short-sleeved shirt and a navy skirt -- the bare-footed girl excitedly points out her classroom amongst the row of blue doors in the white-washed building. I like going to school. I have friends here and I get to play and also get to study and learn things. I am happy that BBA came and helped our parents to understand that making children work is not good, said Pooja, who dreams of becoming a teacher. The mining was dangerous. When we were down there, we were always looking up thinking the earth and rocks might fall on us. It happened to me once, but I managed to get out as my friend Munni helped me. I got badly hurt that time. A girl shows mica which she has collected from an illegal open-cast mine in Giridih district of Jharkhand on June 27, 2016. (Nita Bhalla, Thomson Reuters Foundation.) Company action Pooja is one of the lucky ones and many more companies sourcing mica from India are now making efforts to stop children from working in the mines and provide alternatives. German drugmaker Merck KGaA discovered children were collecting mica at mines used for its supplies in 2008 so cut some of its suppliers and now only sources from Jharkhand and child-free legal mines. The company said in a website statement that it had also set up mica sources in the United States and Brazil and was producing some effect pigments based on synthetic mica. Another major buyer, Chinese pigment manufacturer Fujian Kuncai Material Technology Co Ltd, said its audits had found no evidence of child labour in its supply chain although acknowledged that it was a complex challenge. A Fujian Kuncai spokesman said the company was setting up its own firm in India to buy directly from -- and audit -- mines. It was also joining forces with child rights group Terre des Hommes and helping to fund a programme to save 10,000 children from child labour in Koderma and Giridih districts of Jharkhand. Alone one cannot make the difference and we are looking forward to work together reaching our shared ambition: no child labour in the mica supply chain, the spokesman said. With companies needing mica willing to fund community initiatives, campaigners believe legalising the industry could undermine the black market in mica and help improve health and safety standards as well as combating child labour. However environmental campaigners would not welcome the reopening of these mines. Many mines are now on protected forest land and would not get approval to operate legally. Read | Child labour bill passed, teens above 14 can be hired for non-hazardous jobs Sengupta from the Mine Labour Protection Campaign in Rajasthan said a first step to combat child labour would be to mandate that all mines have an operator to report to the state to ensure workers safety and earnings and no child workers. In many instances, children are being forced to work because their parents arent getting paid properly or because the father has fallen ill and has no health care, he said. If operators are in place at every mine, we would go a long way in checking child labour. Some legal mines have managed to tackle child labour. The Sri Venkata Kanakadurga and Uma Maheshwari mica mines in Talupur in Andhra Pradesh are among the oldest and biggest licenced mines in the area but mine supervisor Syed Ismail said children dont work in the mines anymore. In these parts, mica has always been traditional work that entire families have engaged in. My father worked in a mine and we would visit, said Ismail, who has been in and out of mines since the age of five. Over the years access to schools has made sure children are no longer in the mines. Now children here say M is for Mica. While campaigners hope that a renewed push to clean up the mica industry will help generations of children, it is too late for Pratap who has lost his youngest son, Madan. The last time he saw Madan was in April when the teen left the village in search of a life beyond farming and cattle, filled with dreams of returning home as a businessman. He told me he was going to do something with his life and I was happy for him so I let him go, said Pratap. How could I know the work he was doing was going to kill him? Read | New child labour law has failed kids again, says Kailash Satyarthi The Supreme Court extended Sahara chief Subrata Roys parole on Wednesday on the condition he will deposit Rs 300 crore with market regulator Securities And Exchange Board Of India (Sebi) by September 16, failing which he will be sent back to Tihar Jail. A bench headed by chief justice TS Thakur had on May 6 granted four-week parole to Roy to perform his mothers last rites and it was then extended on July 11 till August 3. During the hearing Roys counsel, senior advocate Kapil Sibal asked for another extension and promised to pay the amount in the first week of September. But, the CJI told Sibal: You say you have properties worth Rs 1,87,000 crore, but you are not able to sell them. If we allow you to pay Rs 200 crore every time then you will take at least five years to make the total deposit of Rs 24,000 crore. Sibal told the bench Sahara has paid Rs 5,000 crore in cash and only the bank guarantee amount of Rs 5,000 crore was left to secure Roys regular bail as per an earlier SC order. He said the amount will be finalized by December as Canara Bank has agreed to pay Rs 1,500 crore margin money. He wanted permission to re-sell certain properties which Sebi had sold in e-auction because the prices at which they were sold did not yield the market value. But, SC declined his plea and said: We will not allow you to sell the properties which are to be sold by SEBI. We dont have confidence in you. If we allow, you will not sell. The CJI made it clear that Sahara can sell those properties which are not to be e-auctioned by Sebi. The court also allowed Sebi to continue its second round of e-auction to dispose Saharas remaining 51 properties and recover the dues the company owes to investors. Roy was sent to Tihar jail on March 4, 2014, after he did not comply with a court order directing him to refund deposits collected from investors. He was granted bail on the condition of furnishing a bail bond of Rs. 10,000 crores, -Rs. 5,000 crore in cash and the balance amount through bank guarantee. Roy was granted parole only this year since his company has not managed to organize the funds to deposit the bail bond money. The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to revisit its 1996 verdict, which ruled that even expelled lawmakers are bound by their party whip, failing which their membership from the Parliament or assembly can be revoked under the anti-defection law. A three-judge bench headed by justice Ranjan Gogoi refused to re-examine the legal provisions on petitions filed by Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and former party member Jaya Prada. The order means a lawmaker will be compelled to obey party whip even if he/she has been expelled, else face disqualification under anti-defection law. Even AIADMKs expelled MP Sasikala will have to follow her partys whip to avoid disqualification proceedings. The matter was referred to the bench in 2010 after the duo requested the top court to have a re-look at its own verdict. The SC had given them protection from any action under the anti-defection law. We do not want to answer the questions raised before us, the bench said disposing of the petitions. The petitioners had completed their Rajya Sabha tenure, it noted. The bench, however, kept it open for the top court to adjudicate the questions raised in future in an appropriate matter. Enacted during the Rajiv Gandhi government, it aims to ensure political stability and strengthen parliamentary democracy by checking defections. A senior lawyer, who represented Singh, said: We argued the case for three days and expected answers from the court. Singh, then a Rajya Sabha MP, and Jaya Prada, the then Rampur MP, were expelled from the SP for anti-party activities. They moved SC to preempt action against them for voting for the womens reservation bill, which Samajwadi Party fiercely opposed. They wanted the court to clarify if an expelled member could be disqualified under the law, in case s/he chooses to defy a party whip. The 1996 SC verdict, which the leaders had virtually sought a review of, held that a member elected or nominated by a political party continues to be under its control even after his or her expulsion because they make use of the party name and symbol to contest. Singh and Jaya Pradas had contended that the anti-defection law could be evoked only against those who either defected from the party or defied its whip while being in the party. But, in their case, they did not defect from the party but were expelled. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress president Sonia Gandhi was stable and under observation of specialist doctors at the Armys Research and Referral Hospital here after she was admitted on Tuesday night due to high fever, her party said on Wednesday. No medical bulletin on her health has been issued by the hospital but the Congress said she is recovering under medical supervision. The 69-year-old Congress chief returned to New Delhi by a chartered flight close to midnight after she had to abandon the 8km roadshow in Varanasi midway due to illness. AICC media cell incharge Randeep Surjewala said she is stable and is recovering under medical supervision. Read | Cong president Sonia Gandhi falls ill in Varanasi , cuts short her road show Yesterday itself, she had said that she would return to Varanasi to meet the people and to have darshan of the historical temple of Kashi Vishwanath Ji. On return, she was admitted to hospital in Delhi, is stable and is recovering under medical supervision, he said in a statement. The Congress president is overwhelmed by the concern and affection of fellow countrymen and the crores of Congressmen, and has thanked everyone for their good wishes, he said. Sources said doctors have kept Sonia under observation as she had high fever on Tuesday and was dehydrated due to exhaustion during the road show. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were by her side. Her son-in-law Robert Vadra also visited her. Senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had said on Tuesday that her condition was stable after she suffered a bout of dehydration, vomited and had fever in Varanasi. An impressive road show by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency Varanasi on Tuesday despite ill health has given a head start to the partys campaign for next years Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. The decision to launch the campaign from Varanasi was a strategic one. The Congress wanted to send a message that it is no longer a marginal player in the state and is ready to take on the BJP with a show of strength in Modis bastion. Apart from lifting the morale of party workers, Gandhis show was also aimed at consolidating the traditional Brahmin-Muslim-Dalit vote bank of the Congress. Varanasi comprises 15% Muslims, 17% Dalits, 15% Brahmins, 10% Yadavs and others constitute the remaining 43%. Congress managers were keen to show that the party organisation does exist on the ground in UP despite repeated poor show in the past elections. Out of the total 403 seats, the Congress had won just 28 in the 2012 assembly elections. Organisational weaknesses had often been blamed for the Congress poor show in Uttar Pradesh where the party is desperately seeking a revival of its political fortunes after being thrown out of power in 1989. Veteran leader ND Tiwari was the last Congress CM in UP. Varanasi found itself in the spotlight in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls when Modi decided to contest from the city. He was challenged by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) strongman Arvind Kejriwal while the Congress had fielded Bhumihar leader Ajay Rai. Modi won the elections with a huge margin defeating Kejriwal by more than 3.7 lakh votes polling 5,81,022 (56.37%) votes. Kejriwal bagged 2,09,238 (20.30%) and Rai came a distant third with 75,614 (7.34%). Muslims, who constitute about 3.5 lakh of the total 15 lakh electorate, had then overwhelmingly voted for Kejriwal. Barring 2004 when the Congress won the seat, Varanasi has been a BJP stronghold since 1991. In the 2009 elections, the Muslims had voted for BSP candidate Mukhtar Ansari, giving a scare to BJPs Murli Manohar Joshi, who won by a narrow margin of 17,000 votes. Ahead of the 2014 polls, the Congress had put Varanasi in the list of 16 constituencies where it planned to hold US-style primaries to ensure that the grassroots workers have a say in the selection of party candidates. However, it was subsequently taken off from the list after Modi decided to contest from the seat. On Tuesday, Muslims had come out in large numbers to make Gandhis road show a success. She also sent a message to Dalits by garlanding the statue of BR Ambedkar at the start of the road show. She was to end her road show by garlanding the statue of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kamlapati Tripathi, but she fell ill before that. Later in a statement, the Congress chief attacked the Modi government accusing it of being pro-industrialists and pro-rich and ignoring the poor, backward classes and minorities. With the successful road show, the Congress hopes that it will once again emerge as a key player in the countrys most populous state. That is still a tall order and much depends on the partys ability to sustain this political tempo for the rest of the campaign till assembly elections in February-March next year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Protests are not a new thing at the State University of Performing and Visual Arts (SUPVA) here. The varsity houses North Indias only government institute for film and television, besides three other institutes for design, fine arts and architecture. However, this time, students of the film institute have declared a war on vice-chancellor Ashwini Sabharwal. They have been boycotting classes for eight days and holding demonstrations. Alleging that they were a victim of the V-Cs dictatorship, the students have sent a 50-page report to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, demanding Sabhrwals resignation. Two of our students met CM Khattar in Chandigarh last Wednesday. He asked us to give him a detailed report of our problems, so we compiled everything and sent him a copy on Tuesday, a student, Lokesh Kumar, said. Started in 2011, the first batch of the film institute completed its three-year course in July this year, as the institute didnt have filming equipment for them to make their final project. The next batches have also been affected as they say the institute has yet not procured the required equipment. So, the institute has decided to maintain a zero year for 2016-17 batch. I was supposed to pass out last year. But, I couldnt make my final movie in sixth semester due to lack of equipment. We have no clue when well pass out. Some have lost hope and left the course in-between, Kumar said. State University of Performing and Visual Arts staging a protest in Rohtak. (Photo: Institute website) Initiated by the students of film and television (FTV), the protesters were joined by the students of other courses as well on Tuesday. There is no faculty, no equipment. How can we study? asked Amit Sharma, another student of the FTV course. About 90% rooms in the university are closed. Camera labs, edit studios, library, auditoriums are all empty. We have attached photographs of the rooms in our report sent to the CM, he said. On the other hand, V-C Sabharwal said most protesters had been detained by the university for misbehaviour and nonpayment of fees. Theyre upset because I didnt sanction a hefty budget for them. After consulting various experts, I could cut down over `70 lakh from the budget and save public money. These student leaders are backed by some faculty members who want to see me out, he said. On the institute delaying the degrees of the students and observing zero year, the V-C said, We have detained only four students results from batch 2011 because they havent paid their fee. Zero year is good as it will give us a chance to clear the backlog so that future batches dont suffer. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By offering to quit almost one-and-a-half years before her tenure ends, Anandiben Patel has become just another name in a long list of Gujarats Patidar chief ministers who failed to serve their full term. Read | Anandiben Patel offers to resign as Gujarat CM, BJP to decide on successor As was the case with her predecessors Chimanbhai Patel, Babubhai Patel and Keshubhai Patel Anandibens premature exit plan has forced the BJP to look for a face that fulfils its caste equations. In view of the ongoing agitations, the party may go for a Patel (accounting for 14% of six crore Gujaratis) or a Dalit (7% of the total population). Alternatively, it may elevate somebody from a third caste with either a Patel or a Dalit as the deputy CM. Read | The rise and fall of Anandiben Patel The third option could lead to Vijay Rupani, who holds dual responsibility of cabinet minister and state president, becoming the chief minister. Being a member of the minority Jain community, he can be seen as a neutral leader at a time when both the Patidars and Dalits are up in arms against the government. Whats more, he belongs to Saurashtra the nerve centre of the agitation. Read | BJP brass will discuss Gujarat CM Anandiben Patels successor today If the party decides on having a chief minister from the Patidar community again, health minister Nitin Patel and former party president Purshottam Rupala are most likely to bag the post. Both belong to the disgruntled Kadva Patidar community. Though 60-year-old Nitin is seen as a non-controversial face, he doesnt enjoy any clout either among the people or party cadre. Rupala was considered a strong alternative to Anandiben when Modi was searching for a successor in Gujarat. Now that shes packing, the 62-year-old stands a good chance of taking over. RSS man Bhikhu Dalsania is a senior Leuva Patel leader who has a firm grip over the cadre, but not being a peoples leader could go against him. There, however, is always a chance that the BJP may go for somebody from the lower caste. In that case, social justice and welfare minister Ramanlal Vora or tribal leader Ganpat Vasava are the most likely to land the job. Read more | Dalit uprising may have contributed to Anandiben Patels ouster Read more | Social media like Anandibens FB resignation, call it Digital India initiative SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Minister of state for external affairs, Vijay Kumar Singh, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday on a mission to bring home 10,000 laid off Indian workers stranded in the kingdom without enough money for food or plane tickets. Singh tweeted that he had arrived in the Western city of Jeddah and begun meeting with the Indian consulate there, adding the hashtag #NoIndianLeftBehind. A sharp drop in oil prices has led to a spending slowdown in Saudi Arabia, the worlds top exporter, and some construction firms that employ South Asian workers have fired their staff. Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Saturday that the employers had not paid the workers wages and that they now faced a food crisis. The Jeddah consulate is distributing emergency food rations to the employees pending efforts to repatriate them. Saudi Arabia says it investigates any complaints of companies not paying wages and if necessary obliges these firms to do so or risk fines and other penalties. Twelve of the 17 passengers who are suspected to have been washed away in the flood with the two MSRTC buses, when a bridge near Mahad collapsed last night, have been identified. A family of five who live in the city are among them. Two buses of the state-owned undertaking Jaigad-Mumbai and Rajapur-Borivali are suspected to have washed away in the flood. A total 21 passengers including four crew members were reportedly onboard of the buses. Seven passengers were identified from the Jaigad-Mumbai bus that departed on Tuesday evening at 6.30pm. Among the passengers identified, four are from same family and includes a girl child. A total nine passengers were travelling on the bus. Sunil Bahikar, Snehal Sunil Bahikar, Dipali Krushna Bahikar, Anis Santosh Bahikar, Prashant Mane, Dhondu Kokare, Avinash Malap and Suhani Balekar are the names of the passengers identified. Five persons from the Rajapur-Borivali bus have been identified as Atif Chaugule, Aved Chaugule, Balkrushna Varak, J. Bane and Bapu. Five members of a family including an 11-year-old boy are missing after the bus they were travelling in fell into the river when the bridge gave away. The family was returning from Khandala. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Snehal Bahikars brother Sameer Balekar said the family had left from Raigad for Mumbai on Tuesday night around 11.30pm. Snehal, 30, was accompanied by her husband Sunil, her sister Dipali, 28, and her brother-in-law Bhushan Bahikar. The families stay in the western suburbs in Mumbai. We heard of the bridge collapse in the morning. We have been trying to get in touch with them but we have not heard of anything except for the accident, said Sameer adding that his family has left for Mahad where the mishap occurred. Balekar is constantly trying to speak with the bus depot in the region from where the state transport bus departed. They just told us that their bus is missing; they have got no update and are busy with the rescue operations, Balekar said. Both the men work in private companies in Mumbai. Snehals nephew Anil also tagged along with them on the trip. Balekar said he did not speak to his sisters on Tuesday night as they were expecting them to be home by the afternoon. The rescue teams have failed to find the buses even after 12 hours of the incident. Uptil now, the teams found only two dead bodies but they have not been identified yet. Some news channels reported that the belonging to one of the driver of MSRTC bus also found. At least 29 people are missing and feared dead after the rain-swollen Savithri river washed away a 100-year-old bridge on the Mumbai-Goa highway at Mahad 170 km south of Mumbai on Tuesday night, taking with it two buses and at least one SUV. Nearly 24 hours after the incident, there was no sign of either people or vehicles. The danger was first spotted by a man who works in a garage nearby who saw the bridge disappear with two buses on it around 11.30 pm. He called up his employer who alerted the police. Heavy and incessant rain and the moonless night hampered search efforts that had to wait till day broke nearly six hours later, by when three teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and squads from the Navy and the Coast Guard reached the scene. They used helicopters and boats and rafts to scour the area all along the rivers course till Harihareshwar, where it empties into the Arabian Sea, but found no trace of people or vehicles till late on Wednesday, when operations were scaled back as night fell. The navy and the coast guard have stationed ships off Harhareshwar to try and spot any survivors who may have been washed out to sea. Officials said the heavy rain in the catchment area at Mahabaleshwar (309 mm in the 24 hours ended 8.30 am on Wednesday) and all along its course upstream of Mahad (230 mm in the same period) had turned the river into a raging torrent of muddy water. This was hampering the search and rescue operations. The experts on the scene said they were at a loss to explain why there was no sign of at least the two big buses. They even used magnets in a bid to home in on the metal bodies of the vehicles. The state had certified the bridge as safe in the inspection undertaken in May. There was reportedly also pressure from locals not to demolish it, though a new bridge had been built just a few feet away in 2000. This new bridge too has been closed to traffic as a precaution. The traffic along the highway has been diverted along smaller roads in the area. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who first tweeted about the tragedy at 2 am on Wednesday has ordered a probe into the bridge collapse. He also announced a structural audit of all 36 colonial-era bridges along the Mumbai-Goa highway. The Raigad district collector Sheetal Ugale clarified that the two bodies found near Dasve village were not connected to the bridge collapse. Earlier the senior police officials had said the bodies could have been from the vehicles washed away after bridge gave way. The Maharashtra state road transport corporation said 22 of those missing had been on board the two buses, four of them crew members. So far, the identities of 20 have been confirmed. MSRTC officials said they were alerted to the tragedy by the driver of one of the four buses that had left Poladpur for Mahad after 11 pm on Tuesday. Sanjay Kedar was driving the last of the four buses when he realised the bridge a short distance from Mahad had been washed away. He used the new bridge to drive to Mahad, where he found that only the first bus had reached. He then alerted the authorities to the bridge collapse and said the other two buses that had left before him may have been washed away. MSRTC authorities said that by their schedule the bridge would have collapsed 10-15 minutes after the first of the four buses passed over it. According to locals, the British government had written to district administration in 2010 informing that the bridge at Mahad has completed 100 years and its utility period was over. Despite the letter from British government, the PWD gave report saying the bridge was in good condition. Considering the heavy traffic on the route, the PWD had built new bridge parallel to old one in 2000. Despite the new bridge in place, administration allowed vehicular traffic moving to Mumbai from the old bridge. As choppers hovered over the Savitri River in search of victims of a fatal bridge collapse on the Mumbai-Goa highway on Wednesday, family members and relatives of the missing victims sat anxiously by the telephone or glued to the television awaiting any news about their fate. Sunil Balekar, 38, a resident of Vile Parle, told HT that his two sisters Snehal Bahikar, 30, and Dipali Balekar, 28 Snehals husband Sunil, 32, and Dipalis nephew Anish, 11, were missing since Tuesday evening. At 6 pm, soon after finishing the last rites of my father, who had died 13 days ago, Snehal and Dipali called me before taking the state transport bus from Chiplun, Ratnagiri, said Balekar, whose family is from Jaigad village in Ratnagiri. We were anticipating their arrival until we received a call around 7 am from relatives from the village who told us that their bus could have been on the bridge when it collapsed. Anish Balekar, 11, is among those missing since the bridge collapsed on Mumbai-Goa highway. (HT File Photo) At least 29 people are missing since two buses and about 10 private vehicles fell into the river after the British-era bridge was washed away near Mahad. The bridge collapsed around midnight on Tuesday, and vehicles, unable to see the missing section in the dark, too fell into the river. Two Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses were among the vehicles, carrying 17 passengers in total. Sunil said for the next 12-13 hours, the family made frantic calls on disaster helplines that flashed on various TV news channels but a voice on the other end only said that rescue operations were on and that they were not found yet. Sunil and Snehal are residents of Girgaum while Dipali stayed at Vakola, Santacruz. According to Sunil, Anish had come to Mumbai only a year ago and is a student at a municipal school at Prabhat Colony. Snehal Bahikar and her husband, Sunil, residents of Girgaum, are missing since the incident. (HT File Photo) Also missing is Avinash Malap, 40, hailing from the same village, who was accompanying the family on their way back to Mumbai. We have a joint family with 15 people living in different parts of Mumbai. Everyone has gathered at Vile Parle and is very worried. Every time the phone rings, the whole house falls silent and I rush to answer the phone only to hear the same questions being asked about whether they have been traced, said Sunil, adding he had returned from his village just 10 days back. It is unimaginable that the bridge would collapse, considering that there was hardly any rain at the time. Relatives of some feared victims did not wasted no time and rushed to the spot. Resident of Tardeo, Sunil Katkar, 43, said he had heard from his elder brother, Mangesh, 60, last at 8:30pm on Tuesday after he boarded a bus for Mumbai from Chiplun. His (Mangesh) phone has been unreachable since Wednesday morning, said Katkar. My family members and I reached Mahad by afternoon but still got no information about him. We are in constant touch with rescuers and hope that he is safe. Another resident of Chiplun village, Sushant Mohite said his friend Ramesh Kadam, who was travelling via a Mumbai-bound Tavera taxi is missing. Officials carrying out rescue operations have told us that a Tavera is missing, we hope that it was not his, said Mohite from Mahad. The driver of the taxi, Gorakhnath Munde, who is from Mulund, is also missing. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON At least 29 people were missing since two buses and about 10 private vehicles fell into a swollen Savitri river after a British-era bridge was washed away near Mahad on the Mumbai-Goa national highway on Tuesday night. The Coast Guard and the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday deployed choppers for the search operation. According to sources, two male bodies were recovered, but central agencies didnt confirm the news. Recovery of those fallen into the river, alive or dead, seemed slim as the rescue operations may slow down post 5 pm as visibility diminishes. The force of the river also makes it tough for rescue boats to scour the area. Experts said that it is likely that the victims and vehicles were washed into the sea. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who first tweeted about the tragedy at 2 am on Wednesday morning, called for a probe into the accident by competent authorities. He also announced a structural audit of all 36 colonial bridges along the Mumbai-Goa highway. Read the story here : British-era bridge near Mahad washed away in floods, 29 feared dead Below are the highlights : 5pm Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the spot and ordered inquiry into the incident. Fadnavis said that the search operation will go on till all the missing persons are found. 4pm Basant Kumar, who works in a garage on the banks of Savitri river, was the first to notice that the bridge had given way and informed police. The driver of a state transport bus stopped vehicles traffic on the highway and may have prevented a bigger disaster, HT Correspondent Yogesh Joshi reports from the spot. 3.30pm People living nearby say that the British government had written a letter to the district administration in 2010 that the bridge at Mahad had completed 100 years and should not be used. The state public works minister has denied receiving any such letter . 3.15pm The government has issued toll-free contact number (1077) for any details about people missing in the Mahad accident. People can also call up 02141-222118 3pm Mahad recorded 230mm rain between 8.30am on Tuesday and 8.30am on Wednesday. Poladpur, which is located upstream, on the Savitri river recorded 260 mm rainfall. The Savitri river rises from the Mahabaleshwar plateau, which has recorded 390mm rain during the same period. 2: 05 PM Contradicting statements emerge While locals claim two bodies were recovered 8 km downstream from the bridge in the Savitri river, NDRF and other rescue agencies are saying no bodies were recovered so far. However, Raigad collector and the state public works minister Chandrakant Patil said that two male bodies have been recovered but identities were not yet confirmed. State authorities expressed concern saying the vehicles may have travelled as far as 35 km down the river. 2: 00 PM Twelve of the 17 passengers who are suspected to have been washed away in the flood with the two MSRTC buses, have been identified. A family of five who live in the city are among them. Read more about the passengers here - 12 passengers identified from the Mahad tragedy, five of a family among them 1: 52 PM Pictures of the collapsed bridge and the rescue operations are here. 1: 46 PM More information coming in, meanwhile, read five things you have to know about the Mahad bridge collapse published by our Mumbai bureau here. 1: 44 PM The old bridge remained in use even while a newly constructed bridge runs parallel to it, our reporter Kunal Purohit tweets. 1:37 PM Guilty officials and minister Chandrakant Patil must be sent to trial for murder, Ajit Pawar says in the assembly while discussing the bridge collapse. 1:30 PM The government was planning to demolish the bridge in December this year, PWD minister Chandrakant Patil tells reporters. The bridge was built 100 years ago but we allowed traffic on it because locals wanted it to be used, Patil adds. The bridge was tested for stability in the month of May and was found fit to use, Patil informs reporters . 1:25 PM 14 hours after the bridge collapse, authorities have no idea of how many cars, people fell into the river, our reporter Kunal Purohit reports from Mumbai. Both the missing ST buses were heading to Mumbai, one from Rajapur and the other from Jaigad. 1:10 PM According to Presley Thomas, our crime reporter in Mumbai, an all weather aircraft with a diving team was launched by the Indian Navy. Also a National Disaster Response Force team comprising of divers, swimmers, boats and rescue equipments was sent to Mahad. 1:00 PM According to reports at least two persons drowned and 20 others are missing as two buses swept away after the collapse. Vehicular traffic on the Mumbai-Goa Highway (NH-66), which was severly afftected till late in the morning following a bridge collapse near Mahad last night, is getting back to normalcy. The state highway police control room said that baring the 80 kilometre stretch between Panvel and Indapur, no jam has been reported, though traffic is moving below its normal pace. Inspector General (IG) of police, Konkan Range, Prashant Borude said traffic between Panvel and Indapur has been affected due to the on-going four-lane road construction. Due to incessant rainfall, the roads are filled with potholes. This has slowed down traffic considerably, Borude said. Otherwise traffic on the rest of the stretch to Goa is flowing satisfactorily, he added. Following the collapse of the old bridge at Mahad last night, only small vehicles were allowed to ply on the new bridge built parallel to the old one. Heavy vehicles and trailers were stopped alongside the road, causing the traffic to slow down. However, the new bridge was thrown open to heavy vehicles late in the morning, easing the flow of traffic. Traffic is flowing half an hour below its normal speed,the highway police control room informed. The traffic on the Mumbai-Goa Highway was blocked for a few hours on Wednesday morning after the bridge collapsed, assuming it would hamper the rescue operations. However the new bridge which was inaugurated just a few years ago was opened to the vehicles after that. The new bridge was mainly used by vehicles coming to Mumbai from Goa and Ratnagiri side. Smaller vehicles going towards Goa were also allowed to use that bridge,said one police officer. The traffic towards Goa was later diverted via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Those vehicles passed via Pune, Chiplun and Ratnagiri, he said. These issues caused traffic to go really slow till 12 noon. The police had to deploy officials at several places in the highway to manage the traffic. The situation became normal in the afternoon. Because of road widening work, motorists have been facing numerous issues on the Mumbai-Goa highway for the past several months now. The diversion and rains worsened the situation on Wednesday, the officer said. Developers of multi-storey projects in Sector 107 of Noida on Wednesday withdrew their petition asking the Supreme Court to review its 2013 judgement that had quashed land acquisition for their projects. In their submission before the top court, the builders said they had offered enhanced compensation to farmers whose land was acquired, in accordance with a SC verdict delivered in 2015. They claimed the landowners had agreed to their offer. The 2015 verdict, which the builders are banking on to resolve the crisis they have been facing after the acquisition was quashed, held that in case of a bad acquisition the developers must pay the landowners more compensation and return 10% of the developed land. On hearing their argument, the court advised the developers to go to the Allahabad high court to work out their settlement and the courts stay on the acquisition lifted. Builders and the Noida authority will plan their next move on Thursday. The SC order is expected to be uploaded online on Thursday. We will follow the same, said Arun Vir Singh, additional chief executive officer, Noida authority. Homebuyers of these projects said they hope to get justice in the high court now. We have been suffering for the past three to four years due to litigation over land. It has drastically affected our financial position, said Punit Parashar, a buyer. The legal issue in Sector 107 pertains to 547 acres acquired by the Noida authority in 2008-09, which it allotted to realtors for their projects. In 2011, farmers challenged the acquisition in the Allahabad high court on the grounds that the land was acquired by implementing the urgency clause of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, for industrial purposes, but it was being used for group housing. They told the court in an affidavit that they were ready to accept increased compensation and withdraw their cases. The HC resolved many of those cases on July 12 this year, but many farmers cases against the land acquisition were still underway in the SC. On June 30, 2014, the HC had ordered a stay on construction of group housing projects Amrapali Heart Beat City, Lotus 300, Greater Value Sharnam and Sunworld Vanalika following a separate petition by Maharishi Ved Vidya Peeth, a trust, and a group of farmers who demanded their agricultural land back on the grounds that Noida authoritys acquisition was faulty. The HC order had affected around 5,000 homebuyers whose projects are in different stages of construction. The HC vacated the stay on July 11 after the authority assured in court it will give 64% increased land compensation and 10% of the developed land to farmers. The farmers and Maharishi Trust have agreed to the compromise, said Kapil Tyagi from buyers legal cell, which is handling the issue in the court. The SC had asked the buyers to first get the stay by Allahabad high court lifted. We got relief from HC in July and hoped the SC would also provide relief. But now again SC has asked us to go to Allahabad HC, said Parashar. The accommodation of the mother and daughter duo, who were allegedly raped by highway robbers at Bulandshahr on July 30, in Khoda colony of Ghaziabad was flooded with politicians and media personnel on Wednesday. Neighbours of the victims were suspicious of the media persons and asked the media not to disturb their privacy. The building where the victims have lodged reeks of sewerage smell due to shared bathrooms in the building and heaps of garbage were lying every few steps. Around 2pm, relatives of the victims allowed the media to enter their one-room accommodation, one by one, for interviews. The 35-year-old victim said, All I want is justice. I want to punish the attackers with my own hands. I dont trust politicians. They are promising many things but they dont have any accountability. I want them to safeguard the future of my child. The police is at fault, as is the government. I want them to understand the situation and provide safety to women so that such incidents do not occur henceforth. The culprits should be hanged till death and the government should allow me to hang them with my own hands, she told HT. She said she does not want to recall the incident and appreciated the media for its support. The police officials had promised to nab the culprits. Now, it has been three days since the incident took place and only three persons are behind bars. The police should arrest (all of) them as soon as possible. It all happened because the media stood by our side, she said. A couple of plainclothes police personnel were also stationed in front of the residence. One of them initially resisting the interview attempt. On the night of July 30, the victims were forcibly stopped at Bulandshahr while they were on the way to Shahjahanpur. The robbers allegedly raped the 35-year-old woman and her 14-year-old daughter in the nearby fields and fled with their valuables. Three of the accused have been arrested so far. Apart from half a dozen local leaders of Samajwadi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress, local Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Amar Pal Sharma also visited the victims family on Wednesday and assured financial help for the girls education. The girl says she doesnt want to go to school. Such horrific incidents leave a scar for a lifetime. We have assured the family of all possible help towards her education, Sharma said. He also slammed Samajwadi Party leader and state Cabinet minister, Azam Khan, over his controversial comment suspecting the role of the opposition parties in the incident. His comment shows how apathetic the government can be. It seems like he is supporting the accused persons, Sharma said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Circle presidents of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of Sultanpur Lodhi constituency on Tuesday threatened to boycott the party if Sajjan Singh Cheema, who has filed his nomination from the constituency, was given ticket. Circle presidents Jang Bahadur Singh, Kulwant Singh, Ranjeet Singh, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, Angrez Singh, Nachattar Singh, levelled allegations against Cheema saying he was a controversial police officer and was not perfect for a party that was working to end corruption from the society. They have also written a letter to party convener Arvind Kejriwal with an affidavit signed by 19 office- bearers of the party demanding stern action against Cheema. The affidavit mentioned that in 1998, Cheema, then DSP of Malot, had allegedly tortured and lodged a false FIR against them when they were protesting for the release one polling agent to whom Cheema had illegally detained. The affidavit reads, We produced our proof in the sessions court following which the court cancelled the FIR. The presidents alleged that Cheema, who is a retired SP from Punjab police, has already been facing allegations of taking bribe from police officials for promotion to higher posts due to his proximity with the chief minister and the deputy chief minister. They alleged that Singh had properties worth crores in Punjab and the US in the names of his children and brothers. The presidents said that many corrupt people had entered the party, which should be looked into. WHERE IS PROOF, ASKS CHEEMA Sajjan Singh Cheema refuted every allegation levelled against him. He said, How can they say that I am having property worth crores, do they have any proof ? They cannot malign my image by levelling such allegations. He added, Just because they are afraid that I will get ticket which they wanted, they are plotting a conspiracy against me. They were the ones who welcomed me with open hands when I joined the party and now they are levelling allegations because they cannot see me getting the party ticket. But they hold no proof against me. he added. Anandpur Sahib MP and Akali leader Prem Singh Chandumajra sought the Centres intervention to secure the release of three Punjabis allegedly held hostage by their employers in Libya on Tuesday. Chandumajra drew the central governments attention to the plight of the three hostages during the zero hour. Those held hostage are Sarabjit Singh of Latala village, Titu Bansal of Bowani village and Malkit Singh from Ghaloti village, all from Ludhiana district. All of them are welders, Chandumajra said. The MP said the three were allegedly kept in illegal confinement by their employers who had taken away their passports. They had not been paid their salaries, he added. The families of the three alleged that their passports had been seized by the officials of the oil company in which they were working, and hence they were not in a position to return. They had left for Libya on April 28. Their families have come to know about their plight from some other Punjabis working there as they were not even being allowed to contact anybody by phone, the MP said. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh welcomed the consensus between various political parties on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill on Wednesday. He, however, stressed on safeguarding the interests of small traders while imposing the new tax regime. We must ensure that the GST is aimed at facilitating all trade and business across the country and convince everybody, especially stakeholders that it will not end up as an instrument of harassment he said in a statement here. Amarinder, who is also the deputy leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, expressed satisfaction over the agreement on 18% cap on the GST that, he added, had been vigorously pursued by the Congress to ensure that the GST does not turn exorbitant in future. He said several stakeholders, including small traders and businessmen, had expressed certain apprehensions and misgivings about the GST that needed to be removed. It is important that the actual stakeholders are convinced about the benefits of the GST, he added. Blurb: Punjab Congress chief says it is important to safeguard interests of small traders Travel agents claimed on Tuesday that Chandigarh-Dubai Indigo flight got a good response and all the introductory fare seats 5-10 seats per flight have been sold out. The flight will be starting from September 26 and departure is going to be at 4:15 pm while from Dubai to Chandigarh the departure will be at 6:05 am. The carrier will be an Airbus 320 plane. It has been expected that this corridor will attract more people. Earlier, people had to go to Delhi to catch Dubai flight, said MS Bajaj, who runs Bajaj Travels Limited in Sector 17. The company informed that return-fare of a trip with departure on October 1 and arrival on December 28 is Rs 22,500. But departure in February of 2017 and return in the same month is costing just over Rs 10,000. After the sale of introductory fare tickets by Indigo, the return trip to Dubai is costing around Rs 15,000 Rs 18,000, Bajaj said. Vineet Sharma, who runs Sheetal Travels in Sector 17, confirmed that introductory fare tickets had been sold out. We have been getting queries by groups having 35-40 people. For a person who wants to depart on October 1 and come back on October 4 the cost will be around Rs 17,500 and for one way it is costing ` 8,300 per person, he said Travel agents say that the rates are climbing now. Aditya Ghosh, president, IndiGo, said, Chandigarh has been a promising market for us. The new service will reinforce our commitment to the state of Punjab and Haryana. This will also provide increased convenience for customers travelling from Himachal Pradesh and other adjoining cities of Punjab and Haryana. We are fully prepared to launch the flight and other airlines will also be interested after seeing such a positive response, said chief executive officer, Chandigarh international airport, Sunil Dutt. As of now there is no formal inquiry from any other operator to start any other international flight, he added. Taking it up as a challenge, the police commissioner has announced a Rs 2-lakh cash reward for any information on the accused in the Rs 15-lakh robbery that took place in Punjab National Bank at Jawahar Nagar Camp on Monday afternoon. Apart from that, he has also announced the same cash reward and promotion for cops who provide information or are successful in arresting the accused. Caught in a security camera, the robbers entering the bank. (Video grab) Police have pressed several teams to solve the case. Cops scanned CCTV cameras in the vicinity to trace the accused who robbed the bank at gunpoint in broadlight. They were riding Pulsar motorcycles without registration plates on them. Heres the CCTV footage of the robbery: Heres what had happened on Monday Police suspect that the accused did a proper recce of bank premises. They suspect that a local gang is behind the robbery. They are also going through three months worth CCTV footage. Police commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh said police will conceal the identity of the person who provides information on the accused. Four armed persons robbed Rs 15 lakh at gunpoint from Punjab National Bank at Jawahar Nagar Camp on Monday afternoon and fled with ease. Division number 5 police registered a case under Sections 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and relevant sections of the Arms Act. Two days after Rs 15 lakh was robbed from a Punjab National Bank branch here at gunpoint, police arrested the kingpin, Sukhwinder Singh, a history-sheeter. Police have recovered Rs 6 lakh of the booty, a pistol, five cartridges and a motorcycle from the possession of the accused. Police said Sukhwinders three accomplices, who are at large, have been identified and the robbery was planned when they were together in jail. Sukhwinder is a resident of Jawahar Nagar Camp, which is in the same area where the robbery was committed. He had come out of the jail only four-and-half months ago and bought the pistol used in the robbery from Meerut. Commissioner of police Jatinder Singh Aulakh said police scanned footage of CCTV cameras installed in the area and his location at the time of the crime helped crack the case. The police scanned footage of nearly 500 CCTV cameras to identify the accused. The accused had entered the bank with faces covered, but their faces were without a veil after the crime was committed. Teams have been dispatched to nab his three accomplices, Aulakh said. At least four cases of loot, arms act, house trespass, attempt to murder among others were registered against Sukhwinder between 2010 and 2013 at different police stations in the city, police said. Sukhwinder has been booked under sections 397 (robbery with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy). In barely 90 seconds, the accused robbed the unguarded PNB branch of Rs 15 lakh on Monday afternoon. Six employees and a customer were inside the first-floor bank office when the raiders barged in, firing in the air. Rs 2 lakh reward to informer Once Sukhwinder was identified as one of the robbers, his pictures were circulated among the informers, who provided specific information about his whereabouts to the police. We will give Rs 2-lakh reward to the informer who provided the information about Sukhwinder, Aulakh said. Watch | Video of the robbery One-year-old Yogita who was found abandoned at Yamunanagar in May last year will now be brought up by a US-based couple. A local court gave her legal custody to Jason Michael Rees (32) and her wife Jennifer Nicole Sherdon (30), residents of Jacksonville, North Carolina, USA after the couple expressed the desire to adopt an Indian Child. Haryana state council for child welfare, Bal Vikas Bhawan, Sector 16-D had sought permission from the court to grant the legal custody of Yogita to the duo. The couple got married on December 19, 2011 but no child was born out of the said wedlock. They claimed of always desiring an Indian child and thus decided to adopt one from India. The couple approached the America World Adoption Association, USA, which is duly recognised by Indian government for placement of a child. The said agency forwarded the application to Haryana State Council for Child Welfare, for adoption and their appointment as natural guardian/ parent. Yogita was found abandoned at Yamuna Nagar. A First Information Report (FIR) was duly registered at Buria police station of Yamuna Nagar in Haryana on May 19, 2015. he child was medically examined and her date of birth was assessed to be May 15, 2015. Police made failed efforts to trace out the parentage of the child. The said child was in the custody of Shishu Greh, Sector 15, Panchkula. The child was later taken care by Haryana State Council for Child Welfare. The council later forwarded the case to the Central Adoption Resource Agency CARA, a body constituted under the ministry of women and child development, government of India for giving requisite clearance. CARA gave no objection certificate to the council for giving custody of Yogita to the US couple. Submitting the plea in the court, the council said, The couple is financially well off. They are capable of affording the necessary expenses for upbringing and providing good education to the minor baby. Future of the said child will be bright in case they are allowed to be appointed as natural guardian/parent and take Yogita to USA. The couple undertakes to shower all their love and affection on her. Opened in 1999 to help people of Ghanupur Kale and its periphery avail themselves of better medical facilities, Bhai Himmat Singh Satellite Hospital is facing neglect. The hospital along with four other named after Panj Pyaras focus mainly on providing services to expecting mothers in peripheral areas of Amritsar. Pregnant women visiting the hospital, however, are far from happy. Look at the condition of this hospital. I am admitted here for delivery, and I need hygienic environment. What I am getting here is the opposite. Even toilets are not clean. I can catch any infection, said Kanwaljit, an expecting mother, who came to the hospital from Chheharta. Broken urinals at Bhai Himmat Singh Satellite Hospital in Ghanupur Kale village (Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo) Around 60 patients visit the outpatient department (OPD) of the hospital every day. There are also two dispensaries running on the hospital premises, one under the civil surgeon and the other being run by the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). Wild growth, algae and mosquito larvae thriving in stagnant water surrounding the hospital. (Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo) After having a tough time commuting on the dilapidated road that leads to this hospital, the patients, most of whom are pregnant women, visiting the OPD and dispensaries are welcomed by stagnant water surrounding the premises and pungent smell. A PLETHORA OF PROBLEMS There are seven rooms, including a ward, in this sixbedded hospital. The room has six fans, of which three were not working when HT visited the hospital. Neema, a visitor, said: The fans are not working. We expect better facilities at such a hospital. Manjit Kaur, a patients attendant, said: Bed sheets are dirty. We have been told to get our own bed sheets from home. With the passage of time, the government has failed to update facilities at the hospital and even its building is considered to be unsafe. Cracks have appeared on the walls, and due to overflowing sewage, the building has been damaged. Sukhjinder Singh, a resident, said, The hospital is in a poor state. But we cant be running to the city for all health issues. A doctor on duty, on the condition of anonymity, said: Patients have to face a lot of problems. Also, the building is not safe. We have written a number of times to the authorities concerned. They just keep passing the buck. The hospital keeps receiving pregnancy cases at odd hours. The nursing staff present at night feel unsafe in absence of any security guard. Recently, deputy commissioner Varun Roojam, civil surgeon Dr Pradeep Chawla and municipal commissioner Sonali Giri visited the hospital and assured help, but nothing has happened yet. Its obsession with wooing the Jat Sikh vote has not paid off. So, the Congress will try to reclaim what was traditionally its own Hindu and Dalit vote banks. Its choice of candidates was cited as the main reason behind the partys poll drubbing in 2012. This time round, the Congress intends to get the poll math right by fielding candidates of the community whose numbers count. The party has invited applications by August 15 from ticket aspirants and the final list is expected to be out by mid-September after screening of names by the central election committee (CEC) of the party and the final nod of party president Sonia Gandhi. Despite ally BJP having states predominantly urban seats in the seat-sharing arrangement, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal had fielded 11 Hindu candidates in the 2012 polls after sensing the need to reinvent his partys Panthic image. The Congress, on the other hand, had let loyalists and kinship be the deciding criteria for its candidates in many seats, urban or rural notwithstanding. As a result, it fielded Sikh faces even in urban assembly segments having considerable Hindu population. In Mansa for instance, the party accommodated Gurpreet Gagowal, daughter-in-law of then sitting MLA Sher Singh Gagowal, as a last-minute entry to the candidates list. Sukhbir went for Hindu candidate Prem Mittal, who successfully breached the Congress bastion. Likewise, Harminder Jassi lost Bathinda (urban) to SADs Hindu candidate Swaroop Chand Singla and Surinder Pal Sibia lost Sangrur to SADs Parkash Chand Garg. BJP minister Anil Joshi trumped Karamjit Singh Rintu from Amritsar (North) seat, having considerable Hindu votes. Likewise, the Congress pitched Hindu candidates even in Sikh-majority segments. Dharamveer Agnihotri lost from Tarn Taran and Mangat Rai Bansal from Maur with the exception of Arvind Khanna from Dhuri. Little wonder then that the seat tally of the Congress, which had won a majority of seats in the Malwa belt in 2007 state polls, was down by six. Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh says the party is likely to field Hindu faces in assembly segments where the community has high percentage of votes. The SAD-BJP took more seats than us in Malwa. Many urban seats, especially those with mandis (grain markets) have considerable trader population. In such seats, the party may opt for Hindu candidates. For instance, on urban seats of southern Punjab districts of Bathinda, Mansa and Sangrur, Amarinder told HT. SHUFFLING OF SC MLAs Once a Congress bastion owing to the Dalit vote bank, the partys poll fortunes have been sliding in the Doaba belt since the 2007 polls. The Congress mustered just four seats in 2007, and in 2012, six came to the Congress kitty out of 23. To regain the lost Dalit vote bank, the party is mulling shuffling some of its sitting MLAs. Amarinder says while no legislator would like to be dropped, a shuffle may be needed in some reserved seats. We won just 10 reserved seats in the 2012 polls and SAD-BJP won 20 of the total 30. We will have to see if shuffling some MLAs would take care of anti-incumbency, he added. He, however, refused to divulge seats that may see such a change. As for Jat Sikh votes, the Congress is banking on farmer issues and Amarinders recent activism on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue Captain has announced that he and Congress MLAs will quit their posts is to counter the rhetoric of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal that Punjab has not a drop of water to spare. The Congress has also to contend for Jat Sikh votes with the Aam Aadmi Party, which has been able to make inroads into the Panthic and peasantry votes, the stronghold of the SAD. POLL MATH: SITTING MLAs STRIKE RATE JUST AROUND 50%! After facing two back-to-back poll drubbings, the Congress may even like to change MLAs of general seats who are facing high anti-incumbency. Though Amarinder denies such a possibility, Congress insiders say the strike rate of the partys sitting MLAs has been around 50% since the 1992 elections in Punjab. The party had won 90 seats after the SAD boycotted polls in 1992. Of them, just 14 returned to the 1997 assembly which brought Parkash Singh Badal government to power. In 1997, of the 14, just six made it to the 2002 assembly. In 2002, Congress had 62 MLAs, of which 37 lost in 2007. In the 2012 polls, 21 of the 44 sitting MLAs lost, they say. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Punjab government is ready to admit Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Bhagwant Mann in any of the rehabilitation and de-addiction centers in the state. This was declared by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on the final day of his two-day long sangat darshan (public meet) programme in his assembly segment Jalalabad, 50km from here, in Fazilka district on Wednesday. This comes in reaction to at least three Lok Sabha MPs having asked the House speaker to send Mann, allegedly an alcoholic, to rehab as he is said to have attended the proceedings in a drunken state. He is also under the weather for shooting a Facebook live video of his journey from home in Delhi to Parliament, which is being probed by a House panel after allegations of security compromise. Also read | Defiant Mann tells panel he has done no wrong; most members want strict action On SYL, lambasts Cong Sukhbir also called it laughable that Congress is calling for an all-party meeting on the issue of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. Congress negative and discriminatory brand of politics lies at the bottom of the issue, and it has a history replete with examples of step-motherly treatment to Punjab, he said. He said that it must not be forgotten that Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh welcomed the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982 when she laid the foundation stone of SYL that was envisaged to share river water with Haryana. The problem of drug menace in Punjab came under the scanner of Rajya Sabha on Wednesday with members raising questions over the alarming number of cases and Congress demanding CBI probe into allegations against ministers of the ruling SAD-BJP combine in the state. The government said it was taking steps to eradicate the menace, adding that mere taking of names is no basis for lodging prosecution. During question hour, nominated member KTS Tulsi raised the issue saying the number of drug-related cases being reported from Punjab was disproportionately high and out of the 15 top districts on this count, 13 belonged to Punjab. Read: Punjab indeed has a drug problem, worse than India, world Tulsi said nearly 40 cases were being reported from the state every day, which was nearly half of the reported cases in the entire country, and sought to know what serious steps the Centre was taking to check the alarming situation. Minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju said the government was not taking the situation seriously. He said youth giving in to drugs anywhere in the country should be a matter of concern. Read: Punjab better-off than Haryana in drug abuse, says Sukhbir He said the home ministry was in constant touch with the state government to take on the menace. State govt involvement However, Tulsi said, It is widely believed that a minister in the state government is involved in drug smuggling. Raising questions, he said the traffickers were not being targetted and added it appeared the Centre too was complicit in protecting the state. Read: BJP echoes SAD, but Sidhu says drugs ferried in red-beacon cars Rijiju responded by saying that an eminent lawyer like Tulsi would know that merely taking a name is not sufficient to launch prosecution against someone. Read: After health minister, now CM Badal downplays drug issue in Punjab Bajwa demands CBI probe Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa said a former national champion Jagdish Singh Bhola, who was arrested on drug trafficking charges, has made shocking allegations against three ministers of the Prakash Singh Badal led government and named one of them as the kingpin. Demanding a CBI enquiry into the accusations, Bajwa said only a probe could bring the truth to light. Rijiju said it would be unfortunate if a demand for probe was carried out based on a name taken for merely political reasons. Punjab vulnerable due to location In reply to several questions, Rijiju gave details of the seizures and raids being made to tackle the drug menace in Punjab. He admitted that Punjab, due to its location, was quite vulnerable as the borders at some places were quite porous. Dissatisfied with the reply, Bajwa and some other Congress members stood up and vociferously demanded CBI probe. As the opposition members continued to protest, deputy chairman PJ Kurien said if they were not satisfied, they could take the matter as per the rules. If you want a half an hour discussion, give notice, he said. According to details provided by the minister quoting Narcotics Control Bureau data, 23,709 cases in 2014 and 22,231 in 2015 were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the country. Of these, 9,159 and 10,233 cases were registered in Punjab in 2014 and 2015 respectively. NDA ally Shiv Sena member Sanjay Raut said Udta Punjab movie had spoken about the issue of drugs in Punjab but the problem was prevalent in other states as well and party drugs like Ephidrine was being widely used and big people were involved in this. Read: Udta Punjab: Facts, figures and falsehoods of states drug problem Rijiju said in 2015 97.3 kg Ephidrine and 729 kg of Pseudo-ephidrine were seized. Madras actor Catherine Tresa is neck deep in work with four films in her kitty already. However, the actor, who is been considered to play the leading lady in Udhayanidhi Stalins yet-untitled upcoming Tamil film, has expressed her keenness to do the film. Even though she has two Telugu and two Tamil films in her kitty, she is keen to sign the project because she really loved the script. Its an out-and-out comic entertainer and Catherine is quite excited to sign the project, said a source close to Catherine. Read: Films let me push my limits as an artist, says Catherine Tresa The makers havent finalised the rest of the cast and only plan to go on the floors by this year-end. Since the project will take a few more months to take off, she hopes to relieve herself of one of her existing projects and join the team, the source said. Read: Post Madras, Catherine Tresa to play journo in Kanithan To be produced by Thenandal Films, the project will be helmed by Thalapathy, an erstwhile assistant of director Ponram. Catherine was last seen on screen in this years Telugu blockbuster Sarrainodu. ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Superstar Rajinikanths Twitter account was hacked late on Tuesday, says a report in India Today. His official Twitter handle @superstarrajini tweeted Rajinikanth #HitToKill, much to the dismay of his fans. It was later discovered that his account had been hacked by an unidentified techie. A few hours after the incident, the actors daughter Aishwarya R Dhanush confirmed the news on Twitter. She also assured his fans that his real account would be retrieved soon. Read: Shun noise, Kabali has made over Rs 40 crore on Day 1, say trade pundits Rajinikanth joined Twitter only in 2013 but has a huge following: More than 3 million. But the actor isnt known to be active on social media. Read: Will Kabali be actor Rajinikanths new touchstone? The Times of India reported that after the attack, the hacker followed Kamal Haasan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kabalis director Pa Ranjith, Kabalis producer Kalai Puli S Thanu and publicist Riaz Ahmed. The account has since un-followed these people after being restored. Rajinikanth made an impressive comeback with Kabali, which has turned out to be Indias biggest opener grossing Rs 48 crores (domestic market) according to IANS, unlike his last two outings, Lingaa and Kochadaiiyaan. ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Calling Donald Trump an authoritarian character and a threat to democracy, Meg Whitman, a prominent Republican fundraiser and chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, endorsed Democrat Hillary Clintons White House bid late Tuesday. To vote Republican out of party loyalty alone would be to endorse a candidacy that I believe has exploited anger, grievance, xenophobia and racial division. Donald Trumps demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character, Whitman posted on Facebook about the Republican nominee. In an interview with the New York Times, which first reported the endorsement, Whitman said it was time to put country first before party and that she would give a substantial contribution to Clintons campaign. Whitman told the Times that Trump is a dishonest demagogue and said that those who look at other failed democracies and believe it cant happen here are mistaken. Trumps unsteady hand would endanger our prosperity and national security. His authoritarian character could threaten much more, Whitman wrote on Facebook. Whitmans endorsement is the latest from a string of business leaders who have moved to back Clinton in recent days, including other high-profile Republicans. Clinton reached out to Whitman personally about a month ago, according to the Times report. Her campaign also courted former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who delivered an endorsement speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week. Clintons campaign viewed Bloomberg, a billionaire Republican and household name, as being able to go toe-to-toe with Trumps claims he is best suited to run the country given his own business credentials, according to those familiar with the discussions. While endorsing Democrat Hillary Clintons White House bid, Whitman said Trump is a dishonest demagogue. (Reuters file photos) Dallas Mavericks owner and television personality Mark Cuban also backed Clinton last week, calling her campaign chairperson John Podesta on the night she accepted her nomination to say he was ready to support the former secretary of state. Cuban on Saturday made a surprise appearance at a Clinton rally in Columbus, Ohio, reversing course from earlier statements that he would likely vote for Trump. Leadership is creating consensus in our amazing country and letting everybody know that American exceptionalism and the American dream are alive and well, thats what leadership is, thats what Hillary Clinton is, said Cuban. Clintons campaign released a list in June with business leaders from whom they had secured support. Among them were several high-profile Republicans, including Dan Akerson, a former chairman and chief executive at General Motors. A car bomb targeting security forces in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi killed at least 22 people and wounded 20 on Tuesday, a commander of the forces and medical officials said. The blast occurred in a residential area in the Guwarsha district, the scene of fighting between security forces loyal to Libyas eastern government and an alliance of Islamists and other opponents. The alliance, the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, said it had carried out the attack, according to a statement posted on media sites linked to the group. It claimed that 28 people were killed and as many as 70 wounded. Benghazi has been plagued by violence since Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar launched a military campaign against the Shura Council two years ago. His forces have advanced in several areas in recent months, but still have not gained full control of Benghazi. It was the fourth vehicle bombing in the city in a week, though the toll from Tuesdays blast was far higher than in previous attacks. The attack targeted a gathering of the special forces unit of the LNA, said Fadel al-Hassi, another LNA commander. A Reuters witness said the powerful explosion reduced a three-story building to rubble, and that 10 vehicles, some of them armoured, had been destroyed. Four field commanders were reported among the dead and some soldiers bodies were trapped under the rubble. Haftars forces are allied to a government that has been based in eastern Libya since 2014, when armed groups set up a rival administration in the capital, Tripoli. Read | Siege of Aleppo: The Islamic State will benefit from this mayhem Fighters of Libyan forces allied with the UN-backed government fire weapons at Islamic State fighters during a battle in Sirte, Libya. (Reuters ) A United Nations-backed government moved into Tripoli earlier this year, but Haftar and the eastern government have so far rejected it. Tuesdays attack came a day after Haftars forces claimed control of a strategic entry point to Guwarsha that had long been held by Ansar al-Sharia, a group linked to al-Qaeda that is part of the Shura Council. Islamic State also has a presence in the area, and last week claimed another suicide attack in Guwarsha that left at least three members of the security forces dead and 25 wounded. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday it is in the United States national security interest to support the Tripoli-based governments fight against Islamic State, a day after his administration said it launched air strikes there. In recent days, air force jets allied to the LNA have been on the offensive in Derna, about 250 km east of Benghazi, conducting strikes against a separate Shura Council coalition that is active in the city. Read | Libya crisis: US air strikes will not help clear the fog of war in Tripoli Some 650 Pakistanis are fighting in conflict zones in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and Central Asian states and their return to the country could add to sectarian strife, according to a media report on Wednesday. Intelligence agencies have identified 132 of these Pakistanis and expressed fears about their return after being defeated by international forces, the influential Dawn newspaper reported. The National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) of the federal government has alerted law enforcement agencies to take preventive measures and to tighten security on Pakistans borders, especially in Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and coastal regions, and at airports. An unnamed security official was quoted as saying by Dawn that the defeat of fighters in Middle East, Afghanistan and Central Asian states had put Pakistan on the verge of sectarian violence. This prompted the NCMC to advise the interior ministry to take steps to prevent the return of these fighters, the official said. The NCMC directed the intelligence and law enforcement agencies to also keep surveillance on families of the individuals who had travelled to conflict zones and might create multiple security risks for Pakistan on their return, the official said. Another unnamed senior official said intelligence agencies had reported about Pakistani fighters plans to return to the country. He said these fighters were gathering in Afghanistan and planning to take refuge on the border. A source said foreign fighters who have suffered heavy losses in Afghanistan, Middle East and Central Asian region could also take refuge in Pakistan. Fighters of other nationalities, especially those belonging to the Central Asian states, might find Afghanistan as a safe haven. But our own nationals who are fighting in Syria and Iraq would prefer moving back to Pakistan, the source said. The return of foreign terrorists to our region has the potential of creating multiple security risks for Pakistan. Their increased strength in Afghanistan would also lead to a new wave of instability in our immediate neighbourhood with the potential of spillover effects into (the Federally Administered Tribal Areas). The NCMC had issued a similar alert in January, asking police chiefs of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces and the commandant of the Frontier Constabulary to improve checking at inter-provincial check posts as huge catches of arms were being smuggled into Punjab, Pakistans most populous province. Amir Rana, the director of the think tank Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, said: Though sectarian violence in Pakistan has decreased in the last few years, the expected return of the foreign fighters would increase the fear that the scourge may raise its head again. Therefore, the government is taking preventive measures. Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, the communist leader who is set to become Nepals premier for the second time after the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, has often flip-flopped on relations with India. Prachanda has had a long association with India, having spent many years in the country during Nepals civil war from 1996 to 2006. At that time, India was a safe haven for Prachanda and many Maoist leaders, and they never tried to antagonise Indian authorities that were fighting a domestic Maoist insurgency. Here are some key points you need to know about Prachanda and his ties with India: 1) Prachanda once sent a letter to the then BJP government, seeking Indias goodwill and moral support for the Maoist movement in Nepal and expressing a desire for cordial relations with New Delhi. With the rise of the domestic Maoist insurgency, India engaged with Nepals Maoists and Prachanda, thinking that the move could encourage Indian Maoists to join peaceful politics. Prachanda and the erstwhile Seven Party Alliance signed a 12-point agreement in New Delhi that many believe is the basis for Nepals transition from a monarchy to federalism. 2) After signing the Comprehensive Peace Accord in 2007, Nepal decided to hold elections to a Constituent Assembly in line with the 12-pont deal. Maoists emerged the largest party in these polls and Prachanda briefly served as prime minister during 2008-09. At the time, Prachanda had very cordial relations with Indian leaders and diplomats. However, Prachanda chose to visit China first, breaking the long tradition of Nepali premiers visiting India first. This irked India and Prachanda took a series of steps that further antagonised the Indian side. He urged that all treaties and agreements with India should either be scrapped or replaced. Matters reached a low point when the Prachanda-led government decided to sack then army chief Rookmangud Katawal while India opposed the move. Following the impasse, Prachanda resigned and blamed India for his fall. 3) Prachanda was replaced in the post of premier by another leftist leader, Madhav Nepal. Prachanda then claimed India was behind the Nepals elevation to the post and said: We will talk to the owner not the servant. Relations between India and Nepals Maoists dipped and Prachanda raised the issue of national sovereignty and publicly said he would never bow his head before India. 4) Time and again, Prachanda has tried to move closer to China. He reportedly made some secret visits to China and inspired Chinese firms to invest in Nepals infrastructure and energy projects. 5) After prime minister Nepal failed to deliver a new constitution through the Constituent Assembly process, Prachanda again reportedly became close to India and worked for holding elections to the second Constituent Assembly under the leadership of then Chief Justice Khilraj Regmi. But Prachandas party lost the polls and he again blamed India and some foreign powers for engineering the debacle. 6) Prachanda has often been inconsistent in his public statements about relations with India. After the massive earthquakes of 2015, Prachanda tried to get close to the Chinese, who reportedly insisted on a grand left alliance and helped bring Prachanda and another veteran communist leader, KP Sharma Oli, together. Expressing displeasure with the new constitution that was adopted soon after, parties from the Madhes region blocked key trade points with India. It was then that Prachanda famously said in Kathmandu, Nepal does not want to be Indias yes man. He also criticised India for imposing the blockade in Nepal. 7) After Oli became the premier last October, there was a gradual erosion in Prachandas political position. The parties of both Prachanda and Oli share the same leftist vote bank and this challenge made Prachanda look for an alternative to Oli. Many in Kathmandu believed Prachanda once again reached out to India to topple Olis government. Prachanda also sent his trusted lieutenant Krishna Bahadur Mahara to India to talk with Indian officials. Many believe Prachanda tilted towards India to only fulfill his political ambitions since he has also publicly said he will also continue to strive to maintain the ties with China that were forged under Oli. Free and great, or divided and confused. Diverse and powerful, or troubled and broken. In search of a single word encapsulating their country at this moment, Americans offered pollsters a lexicon reflecting both hope and dissonance. The most-uttered word from about 1,000 responses to the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey was freedom, with free not far behind at No. 4. Great took second place and good, powerful, wonderful and awesome also occupied the top tier. But crowding the list were entries mirroring national angst. Divided ranked third, and confused and troubled tied for fifth, amassed alongside other words of distress: broken, lost, and more bluntly, screwed. Pollsters say grouping peoples answers together with synonyms and related words is a better reflection of public sentiment. Viewed that way, struggling, declining and their synonyms accounted for the biggest chunk of words, from about one-fifth of answers. Some 18% of respondents offered words related to American greatness, prosperity and power, which collectively ranked second, followed by those linked to freedom (15%), and confused, lost and similar choices (10%). Positive and negative words were almost evenly split. When you see words like freedom and divided together, you get a good little portrait of what people are thinking, said Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large at Merriam-Webster, the dictionary publisher. You cant get more balanced than that. Republicans used struggling, declining and similar terms more than Democrats (27% versus 15%). Those without college degrees were also likelier to do so. Bobby Underwood, a 67-year-old retired carpet mill worker in Dalton, Georgia, chose troubled when challenged to describe his country. With killings of police officers, Islamic State group attacks, a divisive election and concerns about the economy and illegal immigration, Underwood said he was left with an unhappy word in his mind. Troubled, he said. That pretty much sums it up for me. More than 350 individual words flowed into the poll released this week from bossy, boring, bountiful and bigoted to eclectic, enthusiastic and equal. Also: paradise, perplexing, and a few cases of profanity. They pointed to high ideals democracy, opportunity, liberty and dire assessments greedy, racist, and doomed. Some screamed in all capital letters: UNITED and TERRIFIED. Others used punctuation for added effect disaster!! and great! Jack Blanton of Lexington, Kentucky, thought of his 81 years in weighing his answer. He grew up in a rural town in the Appalachian foothills, working on his grandparents tobacco farm and later in a steel mill. He moved around the country and saw the world, earned a Ph.D., and rose to become a university vice president. He wondered what other country could give a farm boy such a life, and concluded Americas best days are ahead. He decided on great. Who wouldnt be optimistic? he asked. My whole life has been blessed. Republican leaders frustration with Donald Trump mounted Wednesday following a series of startling statements from the GOP nominee, including his refusal to endorse House speaker Paul Ryans re-election. But there was no evidence GOP officials were backing off their support of Trump in the White House race. Party chair Reince Priebus, a close friend of Ryan, is deeply irritated by Trumps recent actions and his unwillingness to listen to the advice of senior advisers. Priebus has been speaking with campaign chairman Paul Manafort and the billionaires children, who are said to agree that Trump needs to stop picking fights within his own party, according to a Republican official with knowledge of the conversations. Priebus and the Trump confidants, as well as numerous GOP lawmakers, have been particularly irked by the candidates repeated criticism of an American Muslim family whose son, a US Army captain, was killed in Iraq. Trump on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that the GOP frustration was hurting his campaign. He wrote on Twitter: There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before. I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support. Beat Crooked H! a reference to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Trump stunned Republicans by telling The Washington Post in an interview Tuesday that he wasnt ready to endorse Ryan, who faces a primary contest in Wisconsin next week. Ryan has backed Trump despite deep differences on policy and temperament, and has encouraged other Republicans to unite behind the partys nominee. Trumps latest comments come on the heels of his criticism of Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004. Trump has said he himself was viciously attacked by the Khans, who appeared at last weeks Democratic convention and challenged the Republicans fitness to be commander in chief. Former Trump adviser Barry Bennett acknowledged signs of poor morale among the campaign staff he maintains contact with, but said it would be silly dismiss Trumps chances with three months before Election Day. This would be the end of any other Republican candidate in the history of the country. And hes only 5 or 6 points behind, Bennett said. Reiterating the vision of Hinduism being the essence of India, RSS president Mohan Bhagwat claimed India did not have a problem with various identities homegrown or with roots outside and said no one is treated as a foreigner. Participating in a seminar on Identity and integration, Bhagwat on Tuesday recalled Indias long tradition of syncretism, and accused politics of sometimes disturbing the unity in diversity in the country. The world today needs Indias example to resolve conflicts, he said. Bhagwat was here for a week-long visit mainly to attend a three-day mahashibir (camp) of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), the UK version of RSS, which has grown exponentially since its foundation in 1966. The news media was kept away from the mahashibir. We have a glorious tradition of unity in diversity. We see diversity as the manifestation of unity, of a single inherent unit, of the underlying oneness. We have no problem with identities. Oneness and many-ness are not opposites; it is not so in our tradition, he said. This unity in diversityis being lived. Where to find it? Go anywhere, where Hindus live. Hindu is that identity that says all identities are respected, accepted and they are bound together by this magnificent oneness of atman. Hindu says diversity is to be celebrated. It enriches our unity, Bhagwat added. Presenting a picture of harmony in Indian society, Bhagwat said there were so many inter-marriages and mingling in everyday life that no one noticed it. We go to each others religious placesnot only the identities who have origin in the land of Bharat, but also other identities acquired from outsidethey come together and we celebrate their identities also. In spite of our history, we dont treat anyone as a foreigner. A gyani from every discipline was equally respected in the past, and that is what happens even now. Answering questions, Bhagwat said that according to Indian tradition, every individual can independently decide which faith to belong to. But using other means, and using conversion for some other things, and converting people by lure or some other means, that is aggression on individual rights. That should not be allowed, that is what our tradition tells us, he said. Urging Hindus settled anywhere to become torch-bearers of unity in diversity, Bhagwat said: Unity can be achieved within diversity, without conflict. But then you have to be a human being. You have to have that compassion. You have to have clarity of truth. And you have to have the daring not to succumb to lowly impulses, existing or artificially created from somewhere. Accompanied by private security during the visit, Bhagwat did not speak to the news media. Questions were invited at the seminar by text on a mobile number, but queries by journalists on the Narendra Modi government or on Indias reservation policy were not taken up. Organized by the HSS, other main speakers at the seminar attended mostly by HSS members or supporters were Gauri Das, managing director of Bhaktivedanta Manor ISCKON UK; Samani Pratibha Pragya, head nun of Jain Vishva Bharti, London; and Girdharilal Bhan, former president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Islamic State has named a new leader of Boko Haram, the Nigerian militant group which last year swore allegiance to it. Abu Musab al-Barnawi was named Islamic States governor for West Africa in a two-page interview in its weekly magazine, al-Naba, which was circulated late on Tuesday. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler who took office last year, has made it a priority to defeat Boko Haram, which has tried to create a state adhering to strict sharia law in the northeast during a seven-year insurgency. Boko Haram controlled a swathe of land in northeast Nigeria around the size of Belgium at the end of 2014 but was pushed out by Nigerian troops, aided by soldiers from neighbouring countries, early last year. In the interview, al-Barnawi said Boko Haram was still a force to be reckoned with and that it had been receiving new recruits. Despite having been pushed out of most of the territory it controlled, Boko Haram has carried out suicide bombings in northeast Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad, focusing on busy public areas such as markets and mosques. Fulan Nasrullah, a security analyst, said al-Barnawi had been a senior figure within Boko Haram who was previously the groups military commander. The Islamic State publication did not mention Abubakar Shekau, who was the groups leader and represented the Nigerian jihadists in videos during an insurgency that has killed about 15,000 people and displaced more than two million. Shekau, whose death has been reported on numerous occasions by the army only for him to reappear in videos, was last seen in a video circulated in March in which he seemed to suggest he was ailing and Boko Haram was losing its effectiveness. A video emerged the following week saying there would be no surrender. In June, a senior US general said Boko Haram had fractured internally, with a big group splitting away from Shekau over his failure to adhere to guidance from Islamic State. The Nigerian group swore allegiance to Islamic State, based in Syria and Iraq, in March 2015. That assessment came days after US officials said they had seen no evidence that Boko Haram had so far received significant operational support or financing from Islamic State militants, concluding the loyalty pledge had so far mostly been a branding exercise. Israeli lawmakers have approved jailing children as young as 12 convicted of terrorist offences following repeated attacks by young Palestinians, parliament said on Wednesday. The Youth Bill, which will allow the authorities to imprison a minor convicted of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder or manslaughter even if he or she is under the age of 14, passed its second and third readings... Tuesday night, an English-language statement said. It added that the seriousness of attacks in recent months demands a more aggressive approach, including toward minors. The statement quoted Anat Berko, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus right-wing Likud party and the bills sponsor, as saying to those who are murdered with a knife in the heart it does not matter if the child is 12 or 15. Violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel since October has killed at least 219 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Many of the assailants were young people, including teenagers. Other youths have been shot dead during protests and clashes with security forces. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked gave the bill full backing when it came before a ministerial committee last year. Youths, such as Ahmed Manasra, who engage in terror and seek the death of Jewish civilians will not be shown mercy by the law, media quoted her as saying. Manasra, a 14-year-old Palestinian, was convicted in May of the attempted murder of two IsrUaelis in a knife attack last October. He was 13 when he carried out the attack. His sentencing hearings will begin on September 22. Along with a 15-year-old cousin he stabbed and seriously wounded a 20-year-old and a 12-year-old boy in the Jewish settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev in annexed east Jerusalem. The cousin was shot dead by security forces, while Manasra was hit by a car as they fled. Manasra, an east Jerusalem resident, was the youngest Palestinian to be convicted by an Israeli civilian court in the current round of violence. Israeli rights group BTselem criticised the bill and Israels treatment of Palestinian youths. Rather than sending them to prison, Israel would be better off sending them to school where they could grow up in dignity and freedom not under occupation, it said in a statement Wednesday. Imprisoning such young minors denies them the chance of a better future. Military law, applied to Palestinian residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, already allows imprisonment of 12-year-olds. A 12-year-old Palestinian girl from the West Bank, convicted of attempted murder by a military court as part of a plea bargain and sentenced to four months, was released from prison in April. North Korea fired a ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time on Wednesday, drawing an outraged response from Tokyo and ramping up tensions with the United States and South Korea. The US military said the North had actually launched two Rodong intermediate-range missiles simultaneously, but one appeared to have exploded on take-off. The launches followed a North Korean threat of physical action over the planned deployment of a sophisticated US anti-missile system in South Korea, and came just weeks before the start of large-scale, joint South Korea-US military exercises. Japan said the one missile had landed in the Sea of Japan, some 250 kilometres (155 miles) off its northern coast and within the countrys Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Its a serious threat against our countrys security, prime minister Shinzo Abe told reporters. This is an outrageous act that cannot be tolerated. The United States condemned what it called a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Koreas use of ballistic missile technology. This provocation only serves to increase the international communitys resolve to counter (North Koreas) prohibited activities, said Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross. Two Missiles Launched US Strategic Command said the two missiles were launched from a site in western North Korea at around 7:50 am Seoul time (22:50 GMT Tuesday). Initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan, it said in a statement. The latest North Korean missile launch on Wednesday entered Japanese-controlled waters. (AFP Graphic) It was the first time a North Korean missile has been fired directly into Japanese waters. The second stage of a medium-range missile fired over Japan had splashed down inside the EEZ off Japans Pacific Ocean coast in 1998. Japans top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga slammed Pyongyang for providing no advance warning of Wednesdays test. From the perspective of the safety of aircraft and ships, it is an extremely problematic, dangerous act, Suga said. The Rodong is a scaled-up Scud variant with a maximum range of around 1,300 kilometres (800 miles). Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile tests this year in defiance of UN sanctions imposed after its fourth nuclear test in January. On July 19 it launched three ballistic missiles including one Rodong in an exercise that the North said simulated a nuclear strike on the South. Elevated Tensions That came just days after Washington and Seoul announced an agreement to deploy the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system in South Korea by the end of next year a move condemned by Pyongyang and also vehemently opposed by China and Russia. South Korean foreign minister Yun Byung-Se said Wednesdays missile test only served to underline the need to deploy THAAD. Tensions on the divided Korean peninsula are also building up ahead of an annual South Korea-US military exercise later this month that involves tens of thousands of troops. North Korea says such drills are a provocative rehearsal for invasion, while Washington and Seoul insist they are purely defensive in nature. Our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad. We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation, Ross said Wednesday. There are nearly 30,000 US troops permanently stationed in South Korea. Pyongyang has repeatedly warned of pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets there and elsewhere, although the main focus of its nuclear weapons programme is to develop a credible strike threat against the US mainland. Since its fourth nuclear test, North Korea has claimed a series of technical breakthroughs for its weapons programme. It said it had miniaturised a nuclear warhead and successfully tested an engine designed for an inter-continental ballistic missile that could reach the US mainland. While some experts say the claims are exaggerated, most acknowledge that the Norths nuclear and ballistic missile programmes have made significant strides. CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda was on Wednesday elected as the 39th prime minister of Nepal after securing the required majority in the Parliament. This is Dahals second tenure in the countrys top post. He secured 363 votes in the election. He was supported by Nepali Congress, Sanghiya Gathabandhan, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and other fringe parties during the election. Dahal was the only candidate for the election. Of the total 595 members, 573 had cast their votes in the election. There were 210 votes cast against Prachanda. Born into a simple lower-middle class family on December 11, 1954, in Kaski district, Prachanda was the first prime minister when Nepal became a Republic in 2008. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Agriculture and Animal Science. After college, he spent six years as a teacher, and later served at American development agency USAID for some time in western Nepals Jajorkot, which was undergoing massive poverty and inequality. The dire socio-economic conditions in Jajarkot inspired him to join politics, in order to help uplift the poor. On the other hand, due to lack of opportunity and weak economic condition of his own family and surroundings since his early childhood, he had already tilted towards left ideology and believed it can only bring changes in society. He soon began working with the left leaning Pushpa Lal Group in 1972. The group was one of the most vibrant and dynamic communist groups in Nepal at the time and career communist cardre like Prachanda had found enough space for growth. He formed Marxist Group in 1975 and later joined CPN (Fourth Convention) in 1978. With full-fledged membership of CPN (FC) in 1979, Prachanda was elected as Chitwan district committee member in 1980. He became a regional bureau member in 1982. In 1984, he became the president of All Nepal Youth Association, which soon led to his elevation to the party leadership. In 1985, he was elected as central member of CPN (Masal)s 5th General Convention. Shortly afterwards, he became the partys politburo member. After the party split in 1986, Prachanda sided with Mohan Baidya Kiran. The Sector Incident of 1989 forced Kiran to resign, making way for Prachanda to lead the party in 1990 as general secretary. He is the party head since then. He became the general secretary of CPN (Unity Center) in 1992 and general secretary of CPN (Maoist) in 1995. The Second General Convention of the CPN (Maoist) elected him as the party chairman in 2001 and he has held the position to date even after the party was converted to UCPN-Maoist. Prachanda led the armed revolution in 1996 and also became the supreme commander of the Peoples Liberation Army. Submitting a 40-points demands to the then prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prachandas CPN(Maoist) declared a peoples war on Feburary 4, 1996 and started looting weapons of policemen posted in rural Nepal. Prachanda led the bloody civil war for 10 years, during which over 13,000 people were killed, over 1000 disappeared, and thousands were displaced. Ending his 25-year long underground life, Prachanda made a public appearance at Baluwatar, the prime ministers residence, on June 16, 2006 with his deputy, Baburam Bhattarai. Once a wanted man for revolting against the state, Prachanda became the prime minister of Nepal on August 18, 2008 and remained in office till May 25, 2009. Nepal turns a new chapter in its tumultuous politics, with the Parliament voting on Wednesday to elect a new prime minister, and sole candidate Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda will be returning to the post he had held first in 2008. The Maoist leaders life is intertwined with Nepals often bloody history of inching towards democracy and shaking its past as a Himalayan kingdom. Born into a simple lower-middle class family on December 11, 1954, in Kaski district, Prachanda was the first prime minister of Nepal Republic in 2008. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture and Animal Science. After college, he spent six years as a teacher, and later served at American development agency USAID for some time in western Nepals Jajorkot, which was undergoing massive poverty and inequality. The dire socio-economic conditions in Jajarkot inspired him to join politics, in order to help uplift the poor. On the other hand, due to lack of opportunity and weak economic condition of his own family and surroundings since his early childhood, he had already tilted towards left ideology and believed it can only bring changes in society. He soon began working with the left leaning Pushpa Lal Group in 1972. The group was one of the most vibrant and dynamic communist groups in Nepal at the time and career communist cardre like Prachanda had found enough space for growth. It is a sad aspect of Nepals left movements that it always remain divided, taking on the names of Marx, Lenin and Mao, and describing themselves as Soviet style, Chinese style and so on. For a career-oriented, educated and ambitious leader like Prachanda, the Puspa Lal Group was not suitable. He formed Marxist Group in 1975 and later joined CPN (Fourth Convention) in 1978. With full-fledged membership of CPN (FC) in 1979, 'Prachanda' was elected as Chitwan district committee member in 1980. He became a regional bureau member in 1982. In 1984, he became the president of All Nepal Youth Association, which soon led to his elevation to the party leadership. In 1985, he was elected as central member of CPN (Masal)'s 5th General Convention. Shortly afterwards, he became the party's politburo member. After the party split in 1986, 'Prachanda' sided with Mohan Baidya 'Kiran'. The Sector Incident of 1989 forced Kiran to resign, making way for Prachanda to lead the party in 1990 as general secretary. He is the party head since then. He became the general secretary of CPN (Unity Center) in 1992 and general secretary of CPN (Maoist) in 1995. The Second General Convention of the CPN (Maoist) elected him as the party chairman in 2001 and he has held the position to date even after the party was converted to UCPN-Maoist. 'Prachanda' led the armed revolution in 1996 and also became the supreme commander of the People's Liberation Army. Submitting a 40-points demands to the then prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prachandas CPN(Maoist) declared a peoples war on Feburary 4, 1996 and started looting weapons of policemen posted in rural Nepal. The Maoists started blowing up police posts and terrorising the people and gradually expanded its military and political clout across rural Nepal. People from backward communities and ethnic minorities extended support to the Maoists. The deterioration of Kathmandu politics in the wake of the Royal massacre of 2001 came as a panacea to the Maoists. Prachanda led the bloody civil war for 10 years, during which over 13,000 people were killed, over 1000 disappeared, and thousands were displaced. Ending his 25-year long underground life, 'Prachanda' made a public appearance at Baluwatar, the prime ministers residence, on June 16, 2006 with his deputy, Baburam Bhattarai. Once a wanted man for revolting against the state, Prachanda became the prime minister of Nepal on August 18, 2008 and remained in office till May 25, 2009. Prachanda and his aides were never stopped giving rants that they joined the over ground politics to capture the state through the legal means. As premier, Prachanda saw the Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katwal as a major obstacle for his rise to power. He decided to sack Katwal, who was later reinstated by the president Ram Baran Yadav. In the wake of the political crisis that ensued, Prachanda resigned from the post of prime minister. He started blaming India for all internal political changes in Nepal. His party started splitting. At present, Prachanda is heading CPN(Maoist Center). Between 2011 and 2015, Prachandas Maoist party, once the largest, split into four different groups. With the split, his party could not do well in the second Constituent Assembly elections in 2013 and was relegated to the third position. Prachanda alleged rigging of elections, but later accepted the results. Prachada is known for living a lavish life. When he became prime minister in 2008, he was widely criticised for purchasing and sleeping in a bed that cost 100,000 rupees. For a proletariat and communist leader who fought for equality and ending poverty for four decades, sleeping in a such an expensive bed was seen as a joke. Fond of Blue Label whisky, Prachanda was also criticised for wearing an expensive Swiss Rado watch. Often his party activists and leaders have criticised him for such opulence and accumulating billions of rupees in wealth. The party even formed a probe committee to find out the status of corrupt leaders but its report was never made public. Prachanda is married to Sita Dahal. They have three daughters and a son. He has also written book on Nepalese society and politics. He still faces cases on his involvement in killings of people during the armed conflict. Protesters took to the streets at several places in Pakistan on Wednesday ahead of Indian home minister Rajnath Singhs arrival in Islamabad for a meeting of SAARC interior ministers. Singh, the first Indian leader to visit Pakistan since the terror attack on Pathankot airbase in January took ties to a new low, was scheduled to reach around 4 pm on a special flight, officials said. Civil society groups and religious and hardline organisations staged protests against his visit in Islamabad and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In Islamabad, the express highway was blocked by a large number of workers of the Hurriyat Conference. A large number of children and rights activists gathered for a protest at Muzaffarabad Press Club, demanding the Pakistan government should not receive Singh. Read: Reading between the lines: What Hafizs threats against Rajnath visit mean Pakistani Kashmiri protesters block a main highway in protest. (AFP) Several Pakistan-based terror groups, including Hafiz Saeeds Jamaat-ud-Dawah and Syed Salahuddins Hizbul Mujahideen, have also warned of protests against the visit. These groups accused Singh of having a role in the widespread violence in Jammu and Kashmir triggered by the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani last month. During the two-day SAARC meet, Singh is expected to raise New Delhis concerns about Islamabads support for terror groups and the circulation of fake Indian currency and drug trafficking from Pakistan. India has ruled out a meeting between Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan or other leaders, with officials saying the atmosphere is not conducive to such an interaction. Sources in Pakistans interior ministry also said there are no chances of a meeting between Khan and Singh because of public pressure. The protesters in Islamabad and PoK alleged Indian authorities were continuing to target Kashmiris and the Pakistani government should snap relations with India. Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while talking to a Pakistan TV news channel, said SAARC countries should be urged to resolve the Kashmir issue. Read: Enough reasons for Rajnath Singh to go to Pakistan Protesters burn posters bearing the images of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RajnathSingh. (AFP) A gathering of SAARC official ahead of the meeting of ministers discussed the exemption of visas for specific groups of travellers. The existing manual system of issuing visas will be replaced with an online system for receiving applications and a database will be set up in this regard. Pakistans director general for immigration and passports, Usman Bajwa, was elected the new chairman of SAARC Immigration Authorities. Addressing the participants, Bajwa said the introduction of a liberal visa regime among SAARC countries would bring the people of these countries closer to each other. In recent weeks, India and Pakistan have engaged in a war of words after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif referred to Hizb commander Burhan Wani as a Kashmiri leader and described his death as an extrajudicial killing. Pakistan has also ramped up efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue but has received little support for its stance from key Western powers. Back-to-back visits to Pakistan last December by foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised hopes of better bilateral relations. During Swarajs visit, the two sides also agreed on starting a new Comprehensive Dialogue process but ties went into a tailspin after the Pathankot attack, which was blamed on Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed. The two sides have not had any substantive dialogue since the Mumbai attacks of November 2008. That assault was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba and claimed 166 lives. There are no signs Donald Trump will drop out of the race but Republicans are preparing themselves for it, just in case their nominee did, given how unpredictable he can be. ABC News reported on Wednesday Republican party officials are so frustrated -- and confused by Donald Trumps erratic behaviour -- that they are exploring how to replace him on the ballot if he were to drop out. They cant force him out though, the network added. Trump campaign advisers pushed back on the report, but the nominee himself, who is prolific on social media, has not responded to the report. The report also said the party is furious with Trumps refusal to endorse leading Republicans running for election. Specifically Speaker Paul Ryan, the senior-most elected Republican in the country, and Senator John McCain, both of whom endorsed him despite initial reservations. The nominee told The Washington Post in an interview on Tuesday he was not there yet on endorsing Ryan and McCain, using Speaker Ryans own words for him several weeks ago. The Republican party is undergoing another churning over their nominee, who caused world-wide outrage recently by insulting parents of a fallen Muslim American soldier. Some Republicans have gone over to his rival Hillary Clinton, such as Hewlett-Packard executive Meg Whitman, who once ran for California governor as a Republican. Donald Trump on Wednesday hit back at Barack Obama for terming him unfit for presidency, saying the terrible president was a disaster and probably the worst in American history, as the war of words between the two leaders escalated. Well, hes a terrible president. Hell probably go down as the worst president in the history of our country, hes been a total disaster, Trump told Sinclair Broadcast group in an interview on Tuesday. You look at what happens in the Middle East, in Syria and his line in the sand. I think it just means hes concerned Im going to win, he claimed. Dont forget last time he said I would never get the nomination, now he is saying I wouldnt get the election now all of a sudden he said the other day maybe I can win the election, no I guess he probably has to say that kind of thing, Trump said when asked about Obamas statement. Obama had strongly denounced Trump, saying he is unfit to serve as the 45th president of the US. I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president. I said so last week and he keeps on proving it, Obama said on Tuesday. Trump reiterated his stand and said he does not regret having criticised the parents of a slain Pakistani-origin American Muslim soldier Humayun Khan who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004. I dont regret anything. I said nice things about the son and I feel that very strongly but of course I was hit very hard from the stage and you know its just one of those things but no I dont regret anything, he said. Trumps own party leaders have come out openly against the Republican presidential nominee for being critical of family members of the soldier. He also did not had regret calling his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as a devil. No, I dont think so, I think it is what it is. Shes a very deceitful person, she lies, she cheats, no I dont think thats too far at all, he said. He maintained his belief that the upcoming presidential election is rigged. Im talking about at the voter booth. I mean weve seen a lot of things over the years and now without the voter IDs and all the things going on and some bad court cases have come down, Trump said. I just hear things and I just feel it and I felt it having to do with the primaries. I looked at Bernie sanders I said he isnt going to win. I thought this whole thing was rigged and I think the general election is gonna be, were gonna have a lot of problems we have to be very careful, Trump said. During the interview Trump refused to entertain the challenge posed to him by Warren Buffet on revealing his tax returns, saying he does not know Warren Buffet and has never met him. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss Pyongyangs launch of a ballistic missile that for the first time landed in Japanese-controlled waters. The United States and Japan called for the urgent talks, which are to begin at 4 pm (2000 GMT). North Korea fired two intermediate-range missiles simultaneously, but one appeared to explode on takeoff, according to the US military. The second missile landed in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), some 250 kilometers (155 miles) off Japans northern coast and within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply troubled by the latest test launch, his spokesman said, adding that such actions seriously undermine regional peace and stability. We reiterate the call on the DPRK to heed the united call of the international community to reverse its course and return to the process of sincere dialogue, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, using the initials for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the Norths official name. Britains Deputy Ambassador Peter Wilson said: This is the first time that a DPRK missile has landed in the Japanese EEZ. I think this is something that the council should take extremely seriously. Wilson said the latest launch was a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit North Korea from developing missile technology. The US Strategic Command said the two missiles were launched from a site in western North Korea around 7:50 am Seoul time (2250 GMT Tuesday). The council has repeatedly condemned North Koreas missile launches, but a US-drafted statement circulated last month following an apparent submarine-launched missile test has bogged down in discussion with China, the Norths closest ally. On June 23, the council adopted a statement condemning North Korea for two medium-range missile tests. North Korea has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since it first tested an atomic device in 2006. The council in March adopted its toughest sanctions resolution to date, banning exports of coal, iron and other minerals from North Korea and imposing other restrictions, in particular in the banking sector. KABUL: The Afghan Taliban publicly executed a 19-year-old woman in northern Sar-e-Pul province for abandoning her family due to domestic issues. Azada was first tried in a desert court and then shot dead on Monday by her brother and Taliban militants in Kohistanat district, Khaama Press reported. According to a government official, the woman left her home about two months ago and took shelter in a house. She was brought back by her brother who promised to ensure her safety. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LONDON: Britains maritime authorities said on Tuesday an Indian ship named Malaviya Twenty was detained in July after surveyors found five deficiencies when it docked in Great Yarmouth. This was the second ship belonging to Mumbai-headquartered GOL Offshore Limited to be detained after Malaviya Seven was detained at Aberdeen in June. The vessel was among three new detentions in July and was still detained as of July 31, the agency said. GOL Offshore describes itself as an integrated offshore oilfield services provider. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BEIJING: Chinese navy has fired dozens of missiles and torpedoes during exercises in the East China Sea that come amid heightened maritime tensions in the region, underscoring Beijings determination to back up its sovereignty claims with force if needed. The live-fire drills that began on Monday follow Chinas rejection of an international arbitration panels ruling last month that invalidated Beijings claims to a vast swath of the South China Sea. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON HONG KONG: Hordes of angry passengers stranded after Typhoon Nida pummelled Hong Kong crowded the airport on Tuesday, desperately seeking flights as the city emerges from lockdown while the storm swept across southern China. Hundreds of flights were cancelled, schools and shops shut and the stock market closed for the day as the storm brought violent winds and torrential showers. Gusts of 151 kilometres per hour whipped the city and rain lashed down during the night, leaving three people injured and a trail of fallen trees and torn-down scaffolding. The storm triggered a Typhoon 8 signal, the third-strongest category, which was taken down a notch around midday as winds eased and the typhoon passed onto mainland China. But as the citys deserted streets began to come to life as buses and train services resumed, Hong Kongs Chek Lap Kok airport was inundated with stranded passengers. An airport authority spokesman told AFP only 500 flights would run between 6 am and midnight local time on Tuesday. On a normal day, the airport would handle 1,100 flights. More than 150 flights were cancelled Monday as Nida approached, leaving stranded passengers to sleep on the floor in the departure hall. Hong Kongs flagship carrier Cathay Pacific and its subsidiary Dragonair cancelled all of their flights in and out of Hong Kong for 16 hours, from 10 pm Monday until 2 pm Tuesday. Security guards prevented passengers without flights from reaching check-in desks Tuesday, redirecting them to another part of the airport to seek help from staff. Some complained that airline staff had not given them food vouchers or emergency accommodation despite lengthy waits. The airline was giving inconsistent information. There was no announcement whatsoever about accommodation, food or the weather situation. Its chaotic, one passenger told local channel TVB. After sweeping past Hong Kong, Nida made landfall early Tuesday in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, with winds still blowing at up to 151 kilometres per hour. It was the strongest typhoon to hit the Pearl River delta in 30 years, the China News Service cited experts as saying. DHAKA: A Bangladeshi-Canadian suspected of heading the local Islamic State faction and a sacked army official were named on Tuesday as the masterminds of the brutal attack on a Dhaka cafe that left 20 hostages dead. Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the Bangladeshi-origin Canadian citizen, and former army major Zia Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque were behind the attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in the elite Gulshan area, inspector general of police AKM Shahidul Haque told a news conference in Dhaka. Though Chowdhury has been named by Bangladeshi officials as a leader of the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), leading counterterror experts have identified him as the head of the IS chapter in Bangladesh. He is believed to have fled from Canada to Bangladesh in 2013. The major was sacked from military service for his alleged attempts to organise coups in recent years. The police chief announced a reward of 2 million takas each for information leading to their arrests. Haque said nine suspected militants, who were gunned down in a police raid in Dhakas Kalyanpur area on July 26, were also connected with these two men. In an overnight drive, security officials killed the nine militants and arrested one more as he tried to escape. The militant who was shot and captured is now being treated for bullet injuries. Intelligence sources had said earlier Chowdhury held several meetings with the militants at Kalyanpur and went into hiding after the police raid. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack but the government rejected it. KATHMANDU: Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Center, was the sole candidate to file his nomination on Tuesday for the election to the post of prime minister. Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba proposed Prachandas name while Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara seconded it. His bid was also backed by Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal chairman Upendra Yadav. Earlier, the Communist Party of Nepal-UML, the second largest party in Parliament, had said it would field a candidate for the post but it decided on Tuesday not to file any nominations. It also decided to vote against Prachanda and to sit in the opposition. Prachanda is now set to with majority votes in the House on Wednesday. He needs 298 votes in the 595-member Parliament to win. His CPN-Maoist Centre, the third largest party in Parliament with 82 seats, has the backing of the Nepali Congress, the largest party with 207 seats. The agitating Sanghiya Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha also threw its weight behind Prachandas candidacy after finalising a three-point agreement with the Nepali Congress and CPN-Maoist Centre. The efforts by Madhesi parties to amend the countrys new Constitution could receive a boost after they finalised the agreement on backing Prachanda. However, the cautious SLMM will not join the Maoist-led government even though Prachanda and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba requested it to become part of the coalition. Prachanda is perceived as being relatively soft on the demands of the SLMM and observers said the Madhesi leaders are now expected to play a constructive role in national politics and calm the situation in the southern Terai plains, which were hit by a prolonged agitation over amending the Constitution adopted last year. The three-point agreement finalised by the SLMM states that Prachandas new government will implement several conditions set by the Madhesi alliance, including declaring those killed during last years protests as martyrs, providing relief and compensation to the injured and forging political consensus on the SLMMs demands for constitutional amendments.. BEIRUT: A Syrian rescue service operating in rebel-held territory said on Tuesday a helicopter dropped containers of toxic gas overnight on a town close to where a Russian military helicopter was shot down hours earlier. A spokesman for Syria civil defence said 33 people were affected by the gas in Saraqeb, in rebel-held Idlib province. The group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers, posted a video on YouTube apparently showing a number of men struggling to breathe and being given oxygen masks by people in civil defence uniforms. Medium-sized barrels fell containing toxic gasses. The Syrian civil defence was not able to determine the type of the gas, said the spokesman. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WASHINGTON: As Donald Trump insults and attacks Khizr and Ghazala Khan, parents of a fallen Muslim-American soldier, his own multiple deferments from military service are facing fresh scrutiny. But despite the waning support and sharp criticism from across the political divide, Trump hit the campaign trail with a new term for his Democratic rival: The Devil. Speaking in Pennsylvania , he derided Bernie Sanders capitulation and decision to support Hillary Clinton. Sanders, he said, made a deal with the devil. Shes the devil. According to a report in the New York Times, between 1964 and 1968, Trump received four deferments for ongoing education, and one, after he had finished studies, for bone-spurs on his heels. Saved by the spurs, protrusions caused by a pile-up of calcium that can be treated, Trump stayed home as men his age were shipped to Vietnam to fight a war that US would lose. In earlier accounts, Trump claimed he was saved by getting lucky in the draft lottery he drew a number that took him way back of the queue of those to deploy before him. The NYT report said Trumps public statements about his draft experience sometimes conflict with his Selective Service records, and he is often hazy in recalling details. Evading conscription had not derailed presidential campaigns of Bill Clinton and George W Bush, but Trump faces extra scrutiny because of his attacks on the Khans. Calling Trump unfit to serve as president, President Barack Obama on Tuesday challenged Republican leaders to repudiate their nominee. So far, only Richard Hanna, a Republican member of the House of Representatives, has done so. He said Tuesday he would be voting for Clinton, becoming the first congressman to cross the party line. Polls show Americans do indeed believe Trump will do better than Clinton in fixing the economy. Clinton, whose poll numbers are up by between 3 and 9 points, tried to address this gap by undertaking a bus tour of areas hit hard by unemployment. Her campaign is also trying to undercut Trumps appeal as a businessman. Warren Buffet, the man often called the richest in the world, appeared with Clinton at a campaign event on Monday and challenged Trump to release his tax records. Clinton is leading Trump in all major polls and holds a 4.4-point lead over him in the RealClearPolitics average, but has failed to widen the gap despite Trumps growing list of blunders. LONDON: An influential committee of the British Parliament has called for an immediate announcement about the future of nearly 3 million EU citizens in the country following the Brexit vote, and suggested three possible cut-off dates. The idea is to reassure migrants who arrive in Britain before the cut-off date of their indefinite future in the country. Setting the cut-off date will avoid a surge in immigration, the Home Affairs Committee of Parliament said in its latest report. Keith Vaz, chair of the committee, said: The biggest issue relating to Brexit is migration. There is a clear lack of certainty in the governments approach to the position of EU migrants resident in the UK and British citizens living in the EU. Neither should be used as pawns in a complicated chess game which has not even begun. Britons voted in a June 23 referendum to exit the EU, triggering a political storm that resulted in the exit of former premier David Cameron. UK is yet to start formal negotiations on the exit. Prime Minister Theresa May has reassured EU migrants in UK but has not confirmed their indefinite stay, linking it to the fate of nearly 1.5 mn Britons living in EU countries. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By Robert Collins Suhr The strategic railroad town of Corinth was a key target for Confederate armieshoping to march north in support of General Braxton Braggs invasion ofKentucky. In late summer 1862, Confederate armies were on the march everywhere. The most notable advance, that of the Army of Northern Virginia, ended in stinging defeat along the banks of Antietam Creek, Maryland, in mid-September. Southern hopes, therefore, turned to the West. In the western theater, General Braxton Bragg prepared to take his Army of Tennessee north into Kentucky. He hoped to exploit a division in the Union commandMaj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell commanded eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, and Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant the western end of both statesand defeat Buell before Grant could reinforce him. The ambitious operations in the West eventually would involve all four armies in Braggs district. Major General Kirby Smiths command at Knoxville was to join Bragg in Kentucky, while Maj. Gen. Sterling Prices Army of the West and Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorns Army of the Mississippi kept Grant busy in northern Mississippi. When he heard that Grant was reinforcing Buell, Price launched an attack toward Iuka, Miss., but two Union columns, one led by Grant himself, almost trapped his army on September 19. Five days later, Price decided to join Van Dorn so they could attack Grant in force. With Union interest concentrated chiefly on Braggs invasion of Kentucky, Grants command was scattered about western Tennessee and northern Mississippi in several garrisons. Impetuous and aggressive (he was a former Indian fighter), Van Dorn evaluated potential objectives before deciding to attack the strongest, the one at Corinth, Miss. Two strategic railroads, the Mobile & Ohio and the Memphis & Charleston, linked up there, and control of the rails was, as always, a paramount concern in the war. After the Battle of Iuka, Grant transferred his headquarters to Jackson, Tenn., leaving Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans in command at Corinth. Both Rosecrans and Van Dorn had graduated from West Point in the class of 1842, Rosecrans near the top of the class and Van Dorn near the bottom. Rosecrans was an army engineer for 10 years before resigning his commission to go to work for a railroad. In 1861, he re-entered the army as a colonel of engineers under his friend, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, in West Virginia. The army transferred him west, and when Maj. Gen. John Pope conversely went east, Rosecrans became commander of the Army of the Mississippi. Rosecrans missed the Mexican War, whereas Van Dorn was in the thick of the fighting, being brevetted twice for bravery. He had risen to the rank of major (in the elite 2nd U.S. Cavalry) when the Civil War broke out. Originally assigned to the East at the request of General Joseph E. Johnston, his prewar regimental commander, Van Dorn was transferred west after being in almost constant conflict with Confederate authorities over his rank and command. He later commanded the Army of the West at the Battle of Pea Ridge, and the District of Mississippi at Vicksburg during the summer of 1862. Van Dorn knew that Rosecrans had 15,000 troops at Corinth, with another 8,000 at the nearby garrisons at Iuka, Burnsville, Rienzi, Danville and Chewalla. If Van Dorn moved quickly, he could strike before Rosecrans consolidated his forces. With 22,000 men, he would have a numerical advantage of about 3-to-2. To be successful, Van Dorn had to achieve surprise. At first, he did. Without Rosecrans being aware of it, he moved his army from LaGrange to Ripley, where Price joined him on the 28th. The combined army consisted of divisions under Maj. Gen. Mansfield Lovell, Brig. Gen. Dabney Maury and Brig. Gen. Louis Hebert. On the 29th, Van Dorns army marched north toward Pocahontas, thereby threatening the Union garrison at Bolivar. The effort to conceal his objective failed, however, as the canny Grant saw through the feint. On October 1, Grant ordered Rosecrans to concentrate his forces, and the next day the Union units began marching toward Corinth. Rosecrans army consisted of two divisions of his own Army of the Mississippi, those of Brig. Gens. David Stanley and Charles Hamilton, as well as two from the Army of the Tennessee, under Brig. Gens. Thomas Davies and Thomas McKean. Rosecrans had one advantage of which Van Dorn was completely unaware. A Confederate spy, Amelia Burton, sent information to Van Dorn indicating that the Union defenses were weakest on the northwest side of town. Unknown to the Confederates, her message was intercepted, copied and sent along. When Rosecrans took command at Corinth of September 26, he immediately began improving the towns defenses in that direction. Three lines of fortifications protected Corinth. The old Confederate works (from earlier in the year), several miles from town, were on good defensive ground but encompassed a front too wide for Rosecrans to defend with his small army. The Halleck Line, a mile and a half from Corinth, was also too long. The inner line lay immediately outside town where there were five batteries (or forts) on what was called the College Hill Line. The weak points of the Union defenses were where Chewalla Road in the center and Purdy Road on the right pierced the lines. Battery Robinett, a fort with three siege guns, dominated Chewalla Road. Battery Williams, with seven guns, was on the other side of the road and somewhat to the rear of Battery Robinett. The guns in both batteries were manned by regulars from the 1st U.S. Infantry. On the right, Battery Powell was built where Purdy Road came down into the Union lines. The ground about it was open and without rifle pits. On the 29th, Rosecrans cavalry began skirmishing with the Confederates. In the most damaging action, a detachment from the 3rd Michigan Cavalry drove off the Confederates guarding Davis Bridge over the Hatchie River near Pocahontas, and destroyed it. Van Dorn needed to move quickly, but had to wait while his men rebuilt the bridge. The same thing occurred a few miles down the road at Youngs Bridge over the Tuscumbia River, but when his men tried to work, Union skirmishers opened fire, delaying work further until the cavalry could drive them off. To guard against a surprise attack, on October 1 Rosecrans sent Colonel John Oliver to Chewalla with three regiments from McKeans division, and two 12-pound howizers. The morning of the 2nd, a patrol heard drums on a road leading into Olivers rear. Fearing that the Confederates might cut him off from Corinth, Oliver began a withdrawal toward Corinth. Van Dorn camped at Chewalla on the 2nd. That night he held a council of war with his generals and laid out his plan for attacking Corinth. Though he had one or two good maps, Van Dorn drew a crude sketch on paper indicating how he wanted the army to maneuver. His division commanders thus went into combat the next day without a clear understanding of what Van Dorn wanted them to do. To cut off Rosecrans from reinforcements, Van Dorn sent his cavalry to strike the railroad during the night, but by then it had lost its tactical importance. When the last supply train arrived in Corinth on the 2nd, the engineer had orders to return to Jackson that day, as Grant expected the Confederates to seize the rail line. At dawn on October 3, Lovells division led the Confederate army down the road toward Corinth. Five miles from town, Heberts and Maurys divisions left the road to form a line of battle on the east. At 10 a.m., Lovell advanced, driving into Olivers skirmishers. Under pressure, the Union troops retreated, losing a howitzer with a broken axle. Rosecrans reported that Oliver acted feebly and fell back, but in reality, he faced thousands of Confederates with only 500 men. Oliver retreated to a new position on a hill near the old Confederate line. Rosecrans, thinking this might only be a screen to cover a Confederate attack in some other direction, ordered him to keep up resistance. When Oliver reported he needed reinforcements if he was to hold the hill, Rosecrans moved his units forward to the old Confederate line, Brig. Gen. John McArthur reinforcing Oliver with another of McKeans brigades, under Davies, to their right, and Hamilton on his right. Rosecrans ordered Davies and MacArthur to maintain contact with one another, but as the Union lines advanced, the units radiated outward from Corinth so a gap appeared between the two units. When Oliver requested more help, Davies sent him Baldwins brigade and a pair of 20-pound rifles. An initial Confederate advance down the railroad tracks was driven back by cannon fire alone. Lovell then threw his whole division at the hill while Maury attacked Davies left. As Lovells men emerged from cover, Union artillery tore holes in their ranks. Brigadier General Albert Rusts brigade suffered 100 casualties within seconds. Knowing he could not afford to stop the attack, Rust ordered his men to fix bayonets and continue forward. Swinging wide to their left to avoid the railroad cut, the men charged forward with cheers and yells. The 9th Arkansas and 22nd Mississippi raced toward the crest, each unit trying to be the first there. Facing the attack, MacArthur abruptly fell back, exposing Davies left. Davies ordered his troops to retreat to the divisions original position at the junction of Chewalla and Columbus roads, but a wounded messenger brought word that they were cut off from Davies, and would have to retreat with MacArthur. Davies coolly retreated in stages to a line 725 yards in front of Battery Robinett. About 1 p.m., Rosecrans finally decided Corinth was Van Dorns objective. He ordered MacArthur and Oliver to retreat to a ridge and form on Davies left. At the same time, he ordered Stanleys division to move up to support Davies. Rosecrans saw the Confederate success that afternoon as an opportunity to attack. The Confederate left flank hung in the air, with Hamiltons division behind Heberts lines. Rosecrans ordered Hamilton to attack the exposed enemy flank. With an opportunity not merely to defeat the Confederates but to destroy their army, Hamilton fumbled his chance. When he received Rosecrans order to attack (after some confusion), he ordered his division to pivot to the left. Brigadier General Jeremiah Sullivans brigade was soon in position, but Brig. Gen. Napoleon Bufords was delayed by Confederate skirmishers. Thinking they screened the Confederate lines, Buford followed them away from Sullivan. Because of the heavy forest, Hamilton had only one battery of field artillery. With only one small brigade and one battery, he decided not to attack. On the Confederate right, Lovell stopped short of the Union lines when he encountered a half-mile-wide abatis. He thought the position too strong to attack, but saw that there were no defenses to his left, in front of Maury. He reported this information to Van Dorn. At about 3 p.m. the Confederates attacked. For an hour and a half, Davies 11 guns kept them at bay, firing over 1,500 rounds. Twice Davies had to resupply them. When they finally ran out of ammunition, Davies ordered his gunners back to the line at Battery Robinett. The artillery filed slowly to the rear, men looking more like coal-heavers than soldiers, with perspiration streaming down their faces blackened with gunpowder, and the wounded horses leaving a stream of blood in the road, he reported. As the Confederates came closer, the infantry opened fire. For a while it seemed that they would run out of ammunition too, but at about 5 p.m. more was distributed. In the 52nd Illinois, some gun barrels were so hot from firing that the charges exploded when the men tried to load their rifles. Finally, Brig. Gen. John Moores brigade of Maurys division got around MacArthurs right, forcing him to fall back. Worried about his left flank, Davies ordered his division to retreat to the final line at Battery Robinett. Each commander believed that with one more hour of daylight, he could have won the battle that day. Van Dorn believed he would have broken through the Union front, while Rosecrans believed Hamilton would have rolled up the Confederate left. By the end of the day, however, Van Dorn had lost whatever advantage he had enjoyed at the beginning of the campaign. Any chance of outnumbering Rosecrans was gone and, if anything, Van Dorn was now outnumbered. As one Louisiana soldier remembered years later, The forced marches, the terrible hot weather, want of food, and need of rest, so completely exhausted the troops that large numbers of them did not enter the fight, having failed to reach their commands. During the night, Van Dorn sent Major Edward Dillon forward to scout the Union lines, but he was stopped about 40 or 50 yards short when he spotted Union sharpshooters. Van Dorn and others heard the sounds of wagons which he optimistically interpreted as the sounds of axes, a clear indication that Rosecrans was improving his defensive positions instead of falling back. Casualties were high that first day, and would be higher the next. Rosecrans surgeon, Archibald Campbell, selected a large building as a hospital. It became evident in a short time that the building, although a very large one, would be altogether too small for their accommodation, Campbell said. I then took possession of the Tishomingo Hotel, and when it was full, of the Corinth House, as hospitals. For the second day of battle, Rosecrans had all four of his divisions on the College Hill Line, with those having seen the least combat the day before holding the most-exposed positions. As a result, Hamilton was on the far right near Purdy Road, while Stanley was on the left center at Chewalla Road, with Davies between the two and McKean on the far left. In a key section of the Union right, four brigades in a row, all three of Davies and one of Hamiltons, had new brigade commandersthe commanders of each had been killed or wounded the day before. Van Dorns plan for the 4th was to have Hebert begin the attack down Purdy Road toward Hamilton and Davies. Once he had Rosecrans attention, the attack would spread across the front, with Maury attacking down Chewalla Road toward Stanley, and Lovell attacking McKean through the woods. Van Dorns plan for the 4th was to have Hebert begin the attack down Purdy Road toward Hamilton and Davies. Once he had Rosecrans attention, the attack would spread across the front, with Maury attacking down Chewalla Road toward Stanley, and Lovell attacking McKean through the woods. Van Dorn put all his men into the attack. Though the division commanders tried to save a brigade as a reserve, Van Dorn really had no reserve available with which to exploit a breakthrough. He expected Hebert to attack at dawn, but nothing happened. He then sent three men searching for him without success. About 7 a.m., Hebert appeared at his headquarters with the news that he was sick. (Later that year, two Southern newspapers reported that he suffered from narcotics abuse.) Price put Brig. Gen. Martin Green in command. The rattled Green deployed the division and then redeployed it. It was 8 a.m. before he was ready to advance. By then Maurys skirmishers were already hotly engaged with Stanleys skirmishers. Wondering about the absence of activity on his front, Stanley ordered Companies A and K of the 39th Ohio to find out if the Confederates were still there. The Union troops no sooner reached the woods before their positions than heavy small-arms fire sent them reeling back toward their own lines. When Green at last was ready, he started his division forward. Our lines moved across the railroad, advancing slowly and steadily, our skirmishers constantly fighting with those of the enemy, driving them back, he reported. When within 200 yards the command was ordered to charge at double-quick. The whole line now moved forward with great rapidity. Officers and men all seemed eager to be foremost in reaching the fortifications but it was a hard road to travel, climbing over logs, brush, and fallen timbers, while masked batteries of the enemy opened upon us at almost every step with greater slaughter, but nothing daunted, the division pressed forward. Davies ordered his skirmishers out of the way so his artillery could open fire. At 300 yards, some of the Rebel infantry opened fire, and one man fled to the rear. Davies regretted not being close enough to shoot the man (as he claimed to have shot at two the day before). Only a few men ran, and for the moment the Union line held. As the Confederates struck the line, the commander of the 52nd Illinois ordered a withdrawal that a turned into a rout. At about that time, the Union brigade, composed of detatchments from one Illinois and three Iowa regiments, gave way. The two remaining regiments tried to stem the tide until the brigade commander, Colonel Thomas Sweeney, ordered them to fall back to the reverse slope of a hill, where the rest of the brigade rallied. The 56th Illinois was in reserve of Colonel S.A. Holmes brigade on Hamiltons left. The front line fired a few volleys before falling back. The retreat soon became a rout, and they rushed pell-mell upon their comrades, running over men in every direction. The Confederates added to the confusion by turning captured cannon on the Union units still holding their ground. Greens men swiftly drove through the hole in Rosecrans right. My men pressed forward upon the enemy, and with heavy loss succeeded in getting into his works, having driven him from them, capturing more than forty pieces of artillery and forcing him to take refuge in the houses of the town and in every place that afforded protection from our galling fire, Green reported. He was followed and driven from house to house with great slaughter. The Confederates penetrated so deeply into the town that hand-to-hand fighting occurred in the yard outside Rosecrans headquarters. When he heard firing on his left, Maury ordered his division forward down Chewalla Road toward Batteries Robinett and Williams. Defending Battery Robinett was Colonel John Fullers Ohio Brigade of Stanleys division. Fuller had all four regiments on line, with the 11th Missouri in reserve behind the 63rd Ohio. About 11 a.m., Fuller saw Confederates approaching in three or four columns. At their appearance, the 30-pound Parrotts of Battery Robinett opened fire, as did a battery of field artillery. Fuller ordered his regiments to lie down and hold their fire unit the Confederates were close. When they were 100 yards away, Fullers line came to its feet and fired one volley. Captain Oscar Jackson, commanding Company H of the 63rd Ohio, watched the Confederates fall back. As the smoke cleared away, there was apparently ten yards square of a mass of struggling bodies and butternut clothes, he said. Their column appeared to reel like a rope shaken at the end. A second attack came, this one using a ravine to cover the advance. Emerging into sight at a run, the Confederates smashed into the 27th Ohio. That regiment fired one volley before the fighting became hand-to-hand. Fighting centered on the colors of the 9th Texas. A Confederate officer yelled for his men to protect their flag, but Private Orrin Gould of Company G made off with it, despite being shot in the chest. During the first two attacks, the company that Colonel John W. Sprague of the 63rd Ohio had placed in front of Battery Robinett was all but wiped out. He turned to Jacksons Company H to replace it. Jackson ordered his men to the left and moved into position. In his diary he recorded, It was like moving into dead mens shoes, for I had seen one company carried away from there on litters, but without a moments hesitation we moved up. A third attack appeared in sight. As it neared the Union line, it divided, one column, the 2nd Texas Legion under Colonel William Rogers, splitting off so it headed directly at Company H. Sprague asked if he could move the rest of his regiment to support Jackson, but Fuller refused. Rogers, marching to the left of his men, turned about, walking with his back to the Union lines so he could address his men. Boys, when you charge, give a good yell! he urged. As the Confederates charged, a volley from Jacksons company dropped the men in the front rank, bringing the attack to a temporary halt. Since most of his men did not have bayonets, Rogers rearranged his ranks, putting those who did in the front rank. Jackson saw that the Confederates were about to charge before his men were finished reloading. Dont load, boys; they are too close on you; let them have the bayonet, he shouted. To check the Confederate momentum, Jackson ordered his handful of men forward. The two forces smashed into one another, with survival depending on the individual soldiers skill with the bayonet. Jackson continued to fire his pistol point-blank at Confederates until it was knocked from his hand with a musket, and he was thrown to the ground. Meanwhile, carrying the colors of the 2nd Texas Legion, Rogers marched forward to the parapet of Battery Robinett. As he planted the colors there, a Union drummer boy killed him with a pistol. As the Confederates stormed the parapets of Battery Robinett, the regulars tried to drive them back using their ramrods as clubs. As more of the enemy poured into the battery, they grabbed their rifles to fire one volley before retreating to the angle of the fort. With almost half his men down, Sprague ordered the 63rd Ohio to fall back. As they did, Major Zephariah Spaulding was afraid the Confederates would turn his left, so he ordered the 27th Ohio to fall back, stopping on line with the 11th Missouri. While the Confederates took Battery Robinett, Major Andrew Wilson had the 11th Missouri lie down. When the Confederates were 10 paces beyond it, the major ordered a bayonet charge. The regiment came to its feet and charged forward. This sudden impact of a fresh regiment broke the back of the Confederate attack, forcing them back. Further right, Sullivan got off his sickbed to lead a counterattack by the 56th Illinois and 17th Iowa at about the same time Davies men counterattacked. An artillery officer who had remained with the 56th Illinois organized an ad hoc artillery squad that manned a gun, throwing canister into the Confederate ranks. The Confederates gave ground slowly. When they finally ran out of ammunition, they gave three cheers before retreating. A quarter-century later, one former Confederate remembered the battle. Officers and men behaved with a cool and brilliant daring that savored more of romance than of real war, wrote Thomas C. Deleon. Deeds of personal prowess beyond precedent were done; and the Army of the Mississippi added another noble page to its recordbut written deep and crimson with its best blood. Robert Collins Suhr, for further reading recommends, Robert G. Hartjes Van Dorn: The Life and Times of a Confederate General, or Volume 2 of Battles and Leaders of the Civil War. [ Top | Cover Page ] The daySeptember 17, 1862promised to be long and hot, and the regimental commanders in Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis division of the Union Army of the Potomac, now tramping along the Porterstown Road southeast of Sharpsburg, Maryland, ordered their men out of line by squads to fill their canteens from nearby wells. Hundreds of thirsty, dry-mouthed men broke ranks and streamed like blue-jacketed cockroaches toward the wells. The rapid exodus quickly attracted the malign attention of Confederate batteries several hundred yards away, on the western bank of Antietam Creek. The Rebel gunners aim, though largely inaccurate due to the extreme range, put the divisions ambulance train to flight, but did not discourage the parched infantrymen from their much-needed water details. Two privates from the 9th New Hampshire Regiment almost bought the farm in a small orchard near the ambulance park when an incoming shell burst directly in front of them. The projectile hurtled over their heads with a horrendous scream and splintered surrounding apple trees. Hard green apples pelted the men like hail, forcing them to dive for cover. Crawling from beneath their blanket of apples, the two men limped after their water, filled their canteens and returned, bruised but successful, to their admiring regiment. Across Porterstown Road, directly opposite the 9th New Hampshire, the untried soldiers in the 35th Massachusetts Regiment almost joined the dash for water too late. Their runners, loaded down with canteens, finally returned to the regiment slightly before 10 a.m. The sweating men received the warm, muddy water as if it were priceless. They were lucky to have itthe ravening hordes of their fellow soldiers had nearly emptied the wells. The men in Sturgis division were luckier by far than many of the roughly 100,000 Union and Confederate soldiers already scattered about the sunken roads, orchards and cornfields that ringed the Maryland-Virginia border town of Sharpsburg. The entire IX Corps, of which Sturgis division was a part, had been lurching about since daylight on the eastern side of Antietam Creek, but had taken few casualties from the Confederate batteries in the vicinity of Boonsboro Pikemost of the Rebel projectiles had turned out to be duds. Indeed, the monotonous whizzing of the shells had lulled some of the men to sleep. A little over a mile to the north, above Sharpsburg, it was a far different story. Major General George B. McClellans Union army had been attacking General Robert E. Lees outnumbered Confederates for four hours, slashing through woods and cornfields toward the Rebel position on the high ground near a small German Baptist meetinghouse, the Dunker church. Fighting had been horrificwhole rows of opposing soldiers scythed down like new-mown wheatbut nothing had been settled. The fate of Lees ambitious invasion of Maryland, and perhaps of the Union itself, remained very much in the balance. Lee had invaded western Maryland two weeks earlier, intent on relieving the Union pressure on Virginia, particularly during the crucial harvest season. He envisioned thousands of fresh Confederate recruits rushing to his banner from occupied Maryland, which, though officially neutral, had widespread Southern sympathies. A dramatic battlefield victory on Northern soil might also force European recognition of the Confederacy. Audaciously, Lee divided his army, sending Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson southeast to converge on Harpers Ferry, while Maj. Gen. James Longstreet moved north toward Hagerstown. The chance discovery of a copy of Lees orders gave McClellan the opportunity to destroy the Rebel army while it was dangerously divided, but the overly cautious Little Mac delayed long enough for the Confederates to make a stand at South Mountain on September 14, salvaging their supply trains and giving Lee time to plan his next move. Lee gathered his two wings together on the outskirts of Sharpsburg, along Antietam Creek. There he determined to fight it out, depending on McClellans inherent timidity to compensate for the nearly 2-to-1 advantage the Union commander had in troops. The Battle of Antietam had opened at dawn on the 17th. At 10 a.m., Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside, commanding McClellans left wing, received the order to assault Lees right. The movement would necessitate taking the 125-foot-long Rohrbach Bridge, a triple-arched stone span crossing Antietam Creek between two steep banks. Within an hour, 350 Georgians, under the command of Colonel Henry L. Old Rock Benning, repelled two assaults by Brig. Gen. James Nagles brigade to storm the bridge. While Nagle made his second futile charge against the entrenched Confederates on the west bank of the creek, Sturgis placed Brig. Gen. Edward Ferreros brigade along the creek bank south of the bridge. Three times, Sturgis ordered the former New York City dance instructor to take the bridge along Nagles line of approach. Ferrero formed his brigade in a cornfield near a bend in the creek, immediately west of the Lower Bridge Road. The 51st Pennsylvania was in front, followed by the 51st New York, 21st Massachusetts and the untried 35th Massachusetts. It is General Burnsides special request that the two Fifty-firsts take the bridge, Ferrerro shouted. Will you do it? Corporal Lewis Patterson of Company 1, 51st Pennsylvania, a known teetotaler, shattered the ensuing silence with, Will you give us our whiskey, Colonel, if we take it? (The Pennsylvanians had had their liquor ration cut for misconduct on the march.) Yes, by God! cried Ferrero. You shall have as much as you want, if you take the bridge. He added that he would see to it if he had to send back to New York to get the whiskey and pay for it out of his own pocket. Tension rippled through the line as the brigade moved out. The 51st Pennsylvania, following the diagonal approach used by Nagles men earlier, passed northeast behind the 9th New Hampshire toward the right rear of the twin knolls overlooking the creek and bridge. The 51st New York stayed in place while the smaller 21st Massachusetts filed right into the plowed field the New Hampshire men had formerly occupied. The Massachusetts regiment behaved poorly while moving out. Singly and in small groups, rattled soldiers rose up sporadically from their line and shot wildly through the brush toward the opposite creek bank. Lieutenant John W. Hudson, one of Ferreros aides, later observed wryly that the men were firing by guess, and that some had gotten back a good rifle ball to pay for their wisdom. Ferrero posted the 51st New York at right angles to the 21st Massachusetts in the field facing the bridge, then he and his staff moved behind the first knoll to direct the assault of the 51st Pennsylvania. Only the 35th Massachusetts remained undeployed, standing in the middle of the road at the creek bend. Ferrero ordered Hudson to send for the regiment. While the green troops of the 35th Massachusetts double-quicked obliquely to the northeast, the 51st Pennsylvania made its move toward Rohrbach Bridge. Hudson, who had been watching the 21st Massachusetts waste a good quantity of ammunition on the brush-covered western bank, turned his head to the right as a half-hearted cheer reverberated from the crest of the knolls. The already exhausted Pennsylvanians walked and staggered by platoons toward the creek. Tired or not, however, the hard-drinking bunch dove for cover behind the bridge abutments and the stone wall that paralleled the creek north of the bridge. Simultaneously, the 48th Pennsylvania made for the bridge with a small part of the 6th New Hampshire, both units from Nagles brigade. All four regiments started to pour a terrific fire into the opposite bank. They could see the Rebels, in pairs and threes, dodging about through the smoke to escape their bullets. Captain James Wren of the 48th Pennsylvania ordered his men to lie prone alongside the 51st New York, and they cut loose at will into the leafy foliage and Rebel barricades across the stream. Wren was coolly directing their fire when an enlisted man from the 6th New Hampshire wandered over to complain that the Rebels had shot off the trigger finger of his right hand. The wounded man shouted that he still had 40 rounds in his cartridge box and did not want to go to the rear. Wren, succumbing to the thrill of the moment, turned to the man and blurted, Now you bite the ends off these cartridges and I will fire them cartridges of yours. Putting down his sword, Wren took the mans musket and carelessly stood up to shoot. Three balls in rapid succession zinged close by the captains ears. His men shouted to him to get downthe Rebs had his range. At the same moment, Wren saw a Confederate leisurely step from behind a large tree next to the bridge, take careful aim and squeeze the trigger. The bullet whistled just above Wrens head. Wisely, he ducked for cover. Steadying the musket on a fence rail, Wren sighted on the tree. As the Confederate exposed himself for another shot, the captain jerked the trigger and missed. Hastily reloading, he sighted again, determined to draw blood. The next time the graycoat stepped out to shoot, Wren fired. When the smoke cleared, he thought he saw his target double over and drop. Wren promised himself to check his kill if he lived to cross the creek. The noise at the bridge reached a nerve-shattering crescendo as rifle fire, shrieks and curses mingled with the exploding shells and rattling canister from Simmonds Kentucky (Union) Battery, which was firing over the Federals heads into the Confederate positions. Colonel John Hartranfts men in the 51st Pennsylvania scrambled over the fence bordering both sides of the road south of the bridge, and took cover behind the lower wing of the abutment. The colonel, who was with his colors, used the upper abutment for shelter; he ordered his men to tear out the fence rails directly across the mouth of the bridge. From behind the knolls, Ferrero, who had caught up with the 35th Massachusetts, could not understand why the 51st Pennsylvania had not crossed the stream as ordered. The dapper dancing master snapped at the ever-present Hudson to go down and find out why Hartranft had not done as commanded. Before trotting out into the corn-stubbled valley, Hudson pointedly asked the New Englanders not to shoot him in the back. Taking off at a steady trot, Hudson dashed into line just south of the bridge. The men pointed him in the direction of the northern parapet, where he found Hartranft and his color guard huddled below the bridge wall. Hudson screamed for the colonel to cross the bridge. Does he desire it? an incredulous Hartranft shouted back. Yes, sir, Hudson replied. Very well. The two officers headed south together. Hartranft and his color guard worked their way into the crowd on the bridge, while Hudson sought out Colonel Robert B. Potter of the 51st New York and told him to follow the Pennsylvanians across. Potter shouted at his men to move and bolted onto the parapet, where he stood shouting and swearing like a madman. Hudson, for his part, hurriedly raced back to the safety of the knolls. As he explained later, Having on straps & sword & pistol, I was willing to keep moving, lest he prove to be a prize target for some Confederate sharpshooter. Confederate Colonel Benning, commanding the Georgians at the bridgehead, found his position, which his soldiers had held so valiantly for so long, now becoming untenable. The morning attacks had left his men physically exhausted. Their fire dwindled perceptibly as the Yankees down at the bridge began to stir. He passed word along the crest for the men to fall back. At the bridge, Captain William Allebaugh, Sergeant William Thomas, three color-bearers and a member of the color guard bolted across the span and planted the regimental standard in the road at the mouth of the bridge. Simultaneously, Hartranft, hat in hand, rushed to join them, screaming at the top of his lungs. His men followed his excited example, clogging the 12-foot-wide roadway as individuals halted to shoot at Rebel snipers in the opposite treetops. The incoming rifle fire ceased suddenly as the Pennsylvanians reached the middle of the bridge. A short distance to the left, some men of the 51st New Yorkwho had forded the stream and scaled the quarry at the crest of the hillhad outflanked the re-forming 2nd Georgia, which had pulled back from the crest. Union fire cut down Lt. Col. William R. Holmes, Jr., of the Georgia regiment, who died, sword in hand, while attempting to fulfill his vow to hold the bridgehead or die in a ditch trying. Hudson, in the meantime, had reported to Ferrero, who directed him back to the bridge with orders for each regimental commander to form in the road along the western bank of the creek, then occupy the crest above the bridge. By the time Hudson responded, the scene at the crossing had become thoroughly muddled. The 51st Pennsylvania halted in the road at the entrance of the bridge to volley at an enemy that was no longer there. Hartranft leaned against the upper abutment, weakly fanning his hat to speed his men forward. Come on, boys, he panted, for I cant halloo any more. The 51st New York jammed the entire length of the bridge. Men shouted and screamed at one another as they pushed and shoved like so many runners on a giant treadmill. Individual soldiers halted to load and fire into the treetops. There was a great deal of motion, but no headway. To the left rear, the 48th Pennsylvania and 21st Massachusetts, along with a company of the 35th Massachusetts, continued to volley into the far bank. Hudson got hopelessly stuck in the middle of the mob. As he elbowed his way through the frantic herd, he repeatedly bellowed, Make way for an aide! The struggle so exhausted him that when he came within hailing distance of the acting lieutenant colonel of the New York regiment, he blurted the commands to him along with the request, Will you pass it to your colonel along the line? The officer, a new acquaintance of Hudsons, politely but with a hint of exasperation in his voice replied, That is part of your duty, sir. Hudson continued to worm his way through the human roadblock, eventually finding the commanders of both lead regiments, then made his weary way back to Ferrero, who was still at the knolls. Ferrero appeared rather piqued. When Hudson returned from the creek, the tail end of the 51st New York still clogged the bridge, while the rest of the regiment, along with the 51st Pennsylvania, blocked the road on the western bank. Dense, sulfurous clouds engulfed the entire creek bank as the frustrated Federals repeatedly fired at random at any individual Rebel who happened to pop from cover. Corpses, wounded men and piled-up fence rails marked the former presence of the opposing force. Occasional potshots still came from the trees, but there was no genuine Confederate opposition left at the bridge. The 78th Ohio, unknown to the men of Ferreros brigade, had forded the creek above the bend in the Lower Bridge Road in an effort to flank the retreating Georgians from the north. At the same time, a large number of impatient Union troops forded the stream at the big bend and scaled the quarry south of the 2nd Georgia. Meanwhile, the 51st New York and the 51st Pennsylvania retired below the creek bank to the waters edge to avoid enfilading fire from the heights above Boonsboro Pike. Hartranft, who was about 300 feet up the road, sent Lt. Col. Thomas Bell south to fetch reinforcements. Ferrero fumed as he watched his lead regiment, the 51st Pennsylvania, move upstream and lie down under the shelter of the creek bank instead of ascending the heights. Coffee fires with their telltale smoke were being kindled. Hudson, cried Ferrero, tell your colonel to cross the bridge immediately, move along the road to the right, form in line and advance up the hill. The exhausted lieutenant delivered the order to Lt. Col. Sumner Carruth, who immediately got the 35th Massachusetts to its feet. The regiment double-quicked in column through the saddle between the two knolls, down to the creek. The 6th New Hampshireand what could be found of the 2nd Marylandjoined the advance, which almost was trampled to death when Carruth, in a moment of indecision, tried to front his regiment to fire across the creek. He changed his mind in midcommand and unexpectedly moved his herd by right flank onto the bridge. The tumult at the bridge disturbed a large sow and her litter. Bounding over corpses, the pig made straight for the 9th New Hampshire, charged through a gap in the rails and tried to negotiate the opening between the legs of one of the advancing New Englanders. She was too wide and he was too lowthe sow plucked the startled soldier off his feet and carried him, screaming for his life, toward the rear. The 35th and 21st Massachusetts hurried onto Lower Bridge Road and formed along the western bank. During the ensuing crossing, a couple of men dropped snipers out of the trees near the bridge. One sharpshooter, in particular, left an indelible impression on them. As he fell from his perch, one arm snagged a branch and he dangled piteously before plummeting into the creek. Second Lieutenant Farquhar McCrimmon of the 20th Georgia, with 16 survivors from his own regiment and the 2nd Georgia, realized that he could not withstand the onslaught of the two Federal brigades. As the 35th Massachusetts came up the hill, the Confederate remnant raised their hands, waving filthy white rags and pieces of newspaper from their ramrods. They were herded toward the bridge, where Lt. Col. Bell had to calm his angry men, who had surrounded the bested Rebels. After struggling over the fence along the road, the men of the 35th Massachusetts wheezed and crawled part way up the hill toward the crest. Climbing over a split-rail fence on the hilltop east of Ottos Farm, the regiment continued to advance to the right, in full view of Sharpsburg. A shellburst from a Confederate battery in the field beyond plowed into the regiment, killing two. The regiment halted momentarily, then started to withdraw. At the same time, a Rebel battery on the heights along Boonsboro Pike also fired. Hudson, once again on an errand for Ferrero, sauntered across the bridge with an order for Hartranft when a shell exploded and sent fragments whizzing along the steep hill in front of him. Two more shells burst nearby. The barrage caught Bell about 50 yards from the bridge. He had just slapped Private Hugh Brown on the shoulder as he passed, exclaiming, We did it this time, my boy! Barely two steps away, a ball from the second case shot glanced off his left temple. The impact whirled Bell around in a circle and slammed him on his side. Men rushed to his aid as he rolled down the creek bank into the regiments stacked muskets. Concerned, they asked if he was badly hurt. Bell, the left side of his face quickly reddening with blood, put his hand to his temple and calmly replied, I dont think it is dangerous. He paused. Boys, never say die, he added. Hudson found the left wing of the 51st Pennsylvania sprawled along the creek bottom. He asked, Where is your lieutenant colonel? There he is, sir, wounded. Hudsons gaze fell on a stretcher being borne toward the bridge. The officer being carried stared fixedly in Hudsons direction as he was carried south. His dimming glance hurt Hudson badly. An ugly blue bruise was on Bells left temple. Bell, a newly made friend, was dying. Hudson abruptly turned to meet Hartranft, who was coming down the road. Hudson asked why he had not advanced to support the 35th Massachusetts. Ive no ammunition, Hartranft snapped. The two frustrated officers stood there in the road, at a loss for words. They both had to answer to the moody Ferrero. Eventually, Hudson ventured, Shall I tell the colonel so? If you please, said Hartranft. Hudson jogged toward the bridge. He saw three men from his old company struggling with a very heavy man on a blanket. A quick glance at the hat and the way the men tried to tenderly treat the officer told him that the fellow was Lieutenant James Baldwin. You must excuse me, Hudson called out. Ive got something to do across the bridge. With that, he hurried to deliver his latest message to Ferrero. Lieutenant Colonel Joshua K. Sigfried of the 48th Pennsylvania, upon crossing the bridge, immediately detached Captain Wren and his B Company as skirmishers, with orders to cover the quarry and the ridge to the right. The plucky captain and a couple of his people detoured slightly to check on the Confederate that Wren had shot. They found a dead man lying beside the same tree. Captain, one of the men chimed in, that is your man. Wrens men fanned out and began to scramble up the hill. As the ground widened, the captain sent back for more skirmishers. Brigadier General Sturgis personally sent more men to assist. The skirmishers scrounged the far hillside for souvenirs as they proceeded. They discovered the remains of the 2nd Georgia in a slight entrenchment near the top of the hill. Over 40 Rebels had fallen as a unit in near-perfect formation. Lieutenant Colonel Holmes lay five paces behind his color guard, riddled with bullets. Union soldiers set upon the colonels beautiful dress uniform; one stole Holmes expensive gold watch, others cut the gilt buttons off his tunic. Captain Joseph A. Gilmour claimed a shoulder knot. Two men pulled the polished boots off his feet, then callously flipped a coin to see who would have the matched pair. Corporal Dye Davis of Company B happened upon a dead Confederate whose haversack bulged with johnny cakes. Dye coldly jerked the haversack free from the dead man and poured its contents into his own sack. He started to munch a chunk of the captured cornbread as the company moved out. A friend reprimanded him, commenting that he could not eat anything that came from a corpse. Damn em, man, Dye retorted through a mouthful of bread. The Johnny is dead, but the johnny cakes is no dead. He kept eating away. The Federal regiments down by the creek, on the other hand, acted like vanquished troops. The stubborn Georgians, besides holding the entire corps at bay, inflicting severe casualties and causing the frustrated Yankees to needlessly expend an inordinate amount of ammunition upon inferior numbers, had scored an emotional victory. General Burnside had won his bridgeever after to bear his namebut the crossing had been so delayed as to render his victory meaningless. This article was written by John M. Priest and originally appeared in the September 1997 issue of Americas Civil War magazine. For more great articles be sure to subscribe to Americas Civil War magazine today! Baltimore boiled with defiant secessionist zeal in April 1861. On the 19th, an anti-Union mob attacked a unit of Massachusetts troops passing through the Maryland port city en route to Washington, D.C. Before the month was over, Southern sympathizers had temporarily cut rail and telegraph connections between Baltimore and the Federal capital. Talk of Maryland seceding grew louder, and rumors of plots and conspiracies against Federal authority flew fast and free. South of Baltimore at Annapolis, Captain George S. Blake watched the growing turmoil carefully. As superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, he was concerned about the schools growing vulnerability. Even more, however, he worried about potential dangers to a national treasure in his care: the U.S.S. Constitution, better known as Old Ironsides. The Constitution was serving as the academys training ship. In 1858, when the number of cadets had exceeded available dormitory space, academy administrators had acquired the sloop Plymouth as a live-aboardschool ship, but the vessel was too small from the beginning. By 1860, the frigate Constitution had taken her place. The ship brought more than just extra berths. She was the most famous vessel in the navy. Old Ironsides had won her nickname during the War of 1812, when, in a victorious battle against the British H.M.S. Guerriere, the English cannonballs bounced harmlessly off the American ships oak hull. When the Constitution came to the academy, one observer remarked that such a vivid reminder of Americas naval glory would exercise a salutary influence on the minds of the pupils. The qualities that made the Constitution so inspirational also made her a tempting prize for Confederate sympathizers. The week after the April 14 fall of Fort Sumter, off Charleston, South Carolina, to Confederates, Blake heard rumors that Maryland secessionists were plotting to make the Constitution the first ship of war to hoist the flag of the Confederacy. Under orders from Navy Secretary Gideon Welles to defend the Constitution at all hazards, Blake intensified measures to protect the ship. He sent a small armed schooner to patrol the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay. When, on April 20, a vessel carrying troops commanded by Brigadier General Benjamin F. Butler arrived at Annapolis, Blake went aboard to meet the general. Wont you save the Constitution? he asked. Yes, answered Butler, thinking of the Federal governmental document, that is just what I am here for. Are those your orders? a relieved Blake replied. Then the old ship is safe. Realizing at last what Blake had meant, Butler informed him that he had no orders regarding the ship. Nevertheless, he assigned a contingent of troops to protect the Constitution and offered to assist if it became necessary to evacuate the ship. Butlers troops were sufficient to deter saboteurs. But Blake realized they would soon be needed at Washington. Besides, it was just a short-term solution. To secure the academy and the Constitution against attack would require so large a troop presence that maintaining regular instruction would be impossible. So, on the 20th, Blake ordered the ship, the schools trophies and memorabilia, and the acting midshipmen (as the cadets were known) to New York City. As if to confirm Blakes fears, that very day the Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia, was evacuated. Overseeing the voyage to New York would be Lieutenant George Washington Rodgers, scion of one of the nations foremost naval families; Oliver Hazard Perry and Matthew C. Perry were his uncles, and the commandant of midshipmen was his brother, Christopher. Receiving orders at 6:00 a.m. on the 21st, Rodgers and the Constitution set out under tow by the steamer on which Butlers troops had arrived, the Maryland. Just when it seemed the old ship had escaped the clutches of secessionists, she suddenly encountered a trickier foe: Severn River mud, which briefly captured the ship twice. To make matters worse, a false report arrived indicating secessionists were placing obstructions in the outer channel to prevent the Constitution from passing. Rather than try to force the vessel free, Rodgers chose to pipe down the ship and wait for the tide to free her. The next day brought new frustration. Early in the morning the ship broke free, but a heavy squall quickly drove her back into the mud. At 4:30 p.m., a steamer finally freed the Constitution and towed her to deeper water, where she anchored for the next three days. To lighten the ships load for the voyage north, Rodgers sent the ships heavy guns aboard another vessel on the 23d. It was around noon on the 26th when the Constitution reached open water. An uneventful three-day sail brought her to the New York Navy Yard, where she remained until May 8, when she left for her final destination, Fort Adams at Newport, Rhode Island. The rest of the schools faculty and staff reached Newport on the 9th, and less than a week later classes resumed. The academy remained in Newport for the rest of the war but, despite efforts by Northern politicians to obtain a permanent relocation, the school and the Constitution returned to Annapolis in 1865. The old ship would remain in service at the academy until 1871, but not so Blake. He stepped down as superintendent in September 1865, replaced by Union war hero Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter. Perhaps Blake was a hero in his own right, however. He could truthfully say he had saved the Constitution. This article was written by Ethan S. Rafuse and originally appeared in the May 1997 issue of Civil War Times magazine. For more great articles, be sure to subscribe to Civil War Times magazine today! The CIA man who ran Lima Site 36 in Laos was known simply as The Customer, and he commanded a base that didnt officially exist. The north Laotian site, with its crude landing strip in close proximity to the North Vietnamese border, changed hands almost every year, and it perpetually smelled of death. When the brush around the base was burned to clear defensive fields of fire, unexploded ordnance routinely went off. Air Force Pararescue team members race to their HH-3 Jolly Green Giant, as Sgt. Charley Smiths crew did at their secret base in Laos on November 5, 1967, upon learning that Capt. Bill Sparks had bailed out of his F-105 75 miles north of Hanoi. (U.S. Air Force/National Archives) After ignoring an abort order, Pararescue Jumper Charley Smith soon realized why it was issued when MiG-17s attacked his helicopter. On the morning of November 5, 1967, the site was in Laotian army hands, and U.S. Air Force Pararescue Jumper Charley Smith, a tech sergeant at the time, landed on the small runway in one of two HH-3 Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopters from the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, based at Udorn, Thailand. American F-105s would be striking the MiG base at Phuc Yen north of Hanoi that afternoon, and if any went down, it would be Smith and his detachment who would cross into North Vietnam to rescueor recover the pilots. Hundreds of miles away, at about 8 a.m. at the American airbase at Takhli, Thailand, Captain Bill Sparks of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, was walking the walls where extremely detailed and up-to-date maps and photographs of the Phuc Yen target area were posted. Sparks always paid very close attention to the target area and notations of where anti-aircraft positions were located. Of particular interest to him were surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites. Sparks was on his second tour of duty and had recently come out of the Wild Weasels when his electronic warfare officer, Carlo Lombardo, was shipped to South Vietnam. Though hed flown 63 strike missions in 1965, the November 5 mission was only his fifth on his second tour. That all added up to more than 1,800 hours flight time in an F-105 and 2,600 total hours in fighters. That day, Sparks was slated to lead the fourth flight of four supersonic F-105D Thunderchiefs to bomb Phuc Yens hangars, roughly 75 miles northwest of Hanoi. Flying tail-end Charlie was the worst position, as all the enemy gunners would be ready. And Phuc Yen was no soft target, with literally thousands of 37mm, 57mm, 88mm and 120mm guns supported by about 15 SAM sites, two airfields and hundreds of thousands of people on the ground with rifles. Strike Mission When Sparks took off shortly after 12:30 p.m., he formed up with the rest of his group and joined the air tankers. A group of F-4s was flying MiG combat air patrol (MiGCAP) that day to protect the strike planes from enemy fighters, and four Wild Weasels were with the flight to locate SAM sites. As the aircraft made their way toward the target, they regularly refueled from the air tankers that would accompany them to about 50 miles from the Laotian/North Vietnamese border and stay on-station during the strike. By the time the strike force left the tankers, each plane had refueled four times. A string of mountains the pilots referred to as Thud Ridge served as an excellent visual landmark as they approached the target area. It pointed right at Phuc Yen, and it was lightly defended. The Wild Weasels went in first, and Sparks and the rest of the strike force focused on flying in their pod formations, which allowed them to use their jammers to confuse the tracking systems on SAMs. As the strike force crossed the Red River to enter the target zone, the enemy gunners opened fire. Sparks and his fellow pilots jinked their aircraft, staying high enough so their random movements would throw off the gunners, hopefully allowing them to dodge the hail of bullets coming up at them. Ten miles from Phuc Yen, flying at about 540 knots, the Thunderchief pilots lit their afterburners and rolled in for the bomb run at 12,000 feet. Each plane in Sparks flight was carrying six 750-pound M117 bombs left over from World War II and originally designed for the bomb bays of B-17s. The first flight in, however, was carrying cluster bombs to suppress the flak. Sparks always thought that was like trying to bail out the ocean with a teacup, but it had to be tried. The first two flights of four aircraft each flew in, dropped their bombs and cleared the target without any problems, but the third flight went in late, causing Sparks flight to make its bomb run at the wrong angle. As Sparks descended toward the target, his flight caught the full attention of the enemy anti-aircraft gunners, who threw up so much fire that it obscured the airfield. Dropping through the layers of flak, Sparks eventually got to where he could see the target and led his flight in. Without the luxury of smart bombs, Sparks dropped his ordnance and pulled up, rolling to each side to allow the rest of his flight to see him and join the pod formation to confuse the SAMs. Photo interpreters later determined that 18 of the flights 24 bombs went right through the roof of the hangar, leaving nothing intact. At Lima Site 36, Charley Smith and the helicopter crews were in the radio shack, listening to the strike progress. The rescue and recovery crews were always on alert during the missions, and they didnt stand down until the last American aircraft cleared the target area. As they huddled around the radio, Smith and the rest of his detachment heard the strike go in. All four flights dropped their bombs, and no one had radioed that he was hit. No mission today, one of the helicopter crewmen said, and Smith went outside to cook C rations over a campfire. When they got the official confirmation that the strike planes were back over friendly territory, the two Jolly Greens and four A-1 Skyraiders that made up the rescue and recovery detachment would fly to Lima Site 98, where the headquarters of General Vang Pao of the Laotian army was located. Even though Site 36 was still in Laotian hands, it was considered too exposed for the aircraft to stay overnight. Incoming SAMs With his bombs released and the hangar destroyed at Phuc Yen, Sparks waited for his flight to form up in the pod formation. Before the others could get back in formation, however, the radio came alive with calls reporting SAMs in the air. Sparks glanced around and saw three of them coming up toward him as he climbed to get above 4,500 feet, an altitude where the chances of being hit by groundfire dropped drastically. Turning right would be the best way to get away from the SAMs, but it would put Sparks and his flight over heavily defended bridges and a rail yard. So Sparks took a gamble, dropped the nose and made a supersonic run across the rice paddies at an altitude of about 50 feet. The first SAM lost the flight and hurtled skyward. The second missile slammed into the ground, and the third veered off to the right. Just then, one of the Wild Weasel pilots called out that hed been hit. Sparks pulled the stick back to get out of range of the Vietnamese guns, but it was too late. Three 57mm rounds punched through his F-105. The first hit the air turbine motor right in front of his knee, the second slammed through the bomb bay and the third hit the rear end of the plane. The air turbine motor caught fire, fuel in the bomb bay caught fire and a third fire started in the rear. The cockpit filled with smoke, blinding Sparks. To regain some visibility, he popped his canopy, and the slipstream cleared the smoke. The damage to the aircraft began to register, gauges started failing. Eventually, only the compass remained functional. The last time Sparks was conscious of his airspeed, he was doing mach 1.2, climbing as high as he could, and he saw his wingman join up with him. The fires in Sparks plane spread, and he was called in as a SAM several times by American pilots. Thats not a SAM, thats Sparkie! his wingman kept calling. With his F-105 aflame all around him, Sparks main goal was to cross the Red River. Rescue missions werent allowed north of the Red River, as the slow-moving Skyraiders and Jolly Greens would be shot to pieces. Fire melted the right-front-quarter panel of Sparks plane, and he lifted his right leg to keep it out of the flames licking at his foot. The rudder pedal melted and fell onto the floor, but Sparks needed to get past that magic line where he would at least stand a chance of being rescued. The flames reached the 390-gallon fuel tank near the bomb bay, and it blew the doors open. Moments later, the right landing gear caught fire and the tire blew, throwing the gear down to be ripped off. Just as he crossed the Red River, Sparks lost control of his Thunderchief. When he thought it was going into a flat spin, he ejected. When he punched out, he was going about 250 knots at 24,000 feet. As he fell, Sparks remembered his previous ejection, when his parachute risers scraped the bottom of his chin as the chute opened. At 10,000 feet, Sparks heard the mechanism that automatically opened his parachute go off, and he tucked in his chin, but the risers still cut his chin as the canopy deployed. Sparks hauled on one side of his risers to steer the chute to the other side of the river. Ahead were several large open areas that would have been perfect landing zones, had they not been in sight of North Vietnamese villages. Sparks knew that if the villagers captured him, they would beat him before turning him over to the military. Sparks hauled his risers again and managed to glide about four miles, putting two ridgelines between himself and the nearest village. When he spotted a field of what he thought was elephant grass, he headed for it. Just before he struck, Sparks realized the elephant grass was actually bamboo soaring about 75 feet high. He crashed down through it, the sharp bamboo ripping up his parachute. He fell free the last 30 or 40 feet to the ground, landing on his heels. Sparks broke both ankles, chipped bones in both ankles and feet, broke his right kneecap and dislocated his right shoulder. What hurt most was when his ankle slammed into his groin. The Cavalry Is On Its Way Meanwhile, back at Lima Site 36, Charley Smith was in the middle of cooking his C rations when the door to the radio shack flew open. Scramble! Scramble! Were going north, the shouts went up, and Smith ran to his Jolly Green as the pilots started the engines. As the helicopters got airborne, the crew mounted the door gun and Smith got into his gear. He carried an M-16, a .38 revolver and a survival knife. Pararescue Jumpers werent allowed to carry grenades for fear that they would be hit by ground fire and wreak havoc inside the helicopters. Smith carried several anyway, not wanting to be on the ground without them. He kept them hidden in his helmet, and as he picked it up to put it on, he slipped the grenades into his pants pocket. A few months earlier, famed American pilot Karl Richter had been shot down on his 198th mission. Smith was sent to rescue him, but Richter had fallen down a cliff and was dead by the time he reached him. The whole time Smith was on the ground loading Richter into a Stokes basket, he could hear the enemy in the jungle around him. For that mission, Smith was awarded the Silver Star. As the helicopters now sped to rescue Sparks, Smith scanned the ground below, looking for enemies. The weather was clear and perfect for flying, even if it was stiflingly hot with humidity around 90 percent. Struggling through the bamboo, Sparks found it was so thick that the only way to move was to crawl, and the going was slow. A couple times, Sparks found himself several feet off the ground on the thick bamboo and had to pull himself back down. He finally emerged into dense ferns. Sparks had two survival radios and three batteries with him. One radio was issued, the other he had appropriated at some point during his tour of duty. Besides his issued .38 revolver, Sparks also had a small .25-caliber automatic pistol and seven knives. For hydration, he carried six baby bottles full of water, and he drank one as he waited in the ferns, listening to his radio. The number three man in his flight that day was Major Frank Billingsley, whom Sparks had recently instructed in how to run the rescue combat air patrol (RESCAP)the assignment to take care of the downed airman and provide cover until the Jolly Greens and the Skyraiders showed up. Get the hell out of here, Sparks told Billingsley over the radio. Fuck you, Sparkie, Billingsley said. Im running this thing, and I can see better than you. Shut up. Everythings going fine, it looks good. Billingsley held his position, making wide circles around the area to prevent the enemy from getting a fix on Sparks position, but his fuel was running low. He had to break off and fly back to refuel off the tanker. To Sparks surprise, Billingsley was back 26 minutes laterwhich meant the tanker had crossed into North Vietnam, risking taking enemy fire with 100,000 pounds of aviation fuel on board. Billingsley told Sparks the cavalry was on the way. Sparks thought Billingsley was lying. Had the American commanders on the ground had their way, the cavalryin the form of Smith and the men flying the Jolly Greens and Skyraidersnever would have showed up. As it turned out, those commanders had good reason to call the mission off. We Know What Were Doing Captain Harry Walker was flying Smiths Jolly Green that day, and as they made their way toward Sparks, they received orders over the radio to turn back and abort the mission. They were told that Sparks was too far north, and rescuing him would be too great of a risk. Walker made a decision that saved Sparks life. Theres too much static, Walker said. I cant hear you. Were going in to get him. There were a lot of rescue pilots Smith didnt give a damn for, but Walker was one of the good ones. Knowing there were MiGs in the area didnt diminish the threat of enemies on the ground, and Smith kept his eyes open. Anyone wearing pajamas would be a target. On another mission, Smith had had to descend to the ground on a line, and while he was halfway down, he spotted an old man carrying an AK-47. Smith hoped the old man would keep the AK pointed down, but he raised it, and, from his perch on the penetrator, Smith cut him down with his M-16. The Skyraiders reached Sparks about an hour after he was shot down but, to him, it felt more like two or three years. One of the Skyraiders dropped a smoke grenade well away from Sparks position, and Sparks radioed that he was marking the wrong spot. We know that, the pilot said. We know what were doing. When a pilot was down, the Skyraiders would locate him, then mark two positions away from him with smoke to draw the enemy to the wrong spot. When it was time for the Jolly Greens to go in, they would tell the pilot to pop a smoke grenade or fire a flare; then they would pick him up. Sparks, in addition to his knives and guns, carried pen flares, which looked like fountain pens and shot small flares. Sparks fired several, bouncing one off the canopy of Smith and Walkers Jolly Green as it flew overhead. As the helicopter went into a hover and Smith prepared to drop the penetratora heavy anchor-shaped device that penetrated the jungle on a cable and worked as a seatfour North Vietnamese MiG-17s showed up. Someone frantically called over the radio for the Jolly Green to get out. Fuck you, Walker shouted. Ive got more important things to do. The Jolly Green was a sitting duck. A MiG, screaming in at about 300 mph, fired a missile at the stationary target. But the pilot had waited too long. The missile didnt have time to lock on, and it shot past the helicopter, exploding on a hillside in the distance. Luckily, that was the only missile Smith saw fired that day, and the MiGs disappeared after that. Smith later realized that whoever had called the mission off in the first place had probably known about the MiGs in the area. When the penetrator came down, the injured Sparks scrambled toward it and no sooner took his seat and strapped himself in when he felt himself hoisted aloft. With Sparks clinging to the penetratorwhich was still dangling beneath the helicopter, being reeled inWalker and the rest of the rescue and recovery group flew as fast as they could toward safety. Everyone was spraying the jungle with bullets, so Sparks pulled his .38 and fired off six shots, thinking he might as well do his part. When Sparks finally made it into the helicopter, the crewmen were cheering. One of them turned to Smith and said, Tell that son of a bitch not to die until we get to a hospital because we need a live one for a change. Smith kissed Sparks on the forehead, then got to work. The first thing he did was strap a parachute on Sparks and hand him a rifle. Though Sparks injuries were numerous, Smith couldnt get to them right away because Sparks went into shock almost immediately. Smith elevated Sparks feet, and all the crewmen piled coats on him. As Smith pulled an IV out of his medical bag, Sparks started recovering from the shock. I dont think I need that, he said. Sparks turned down Smiths offer of morphinebut later accepted a small bottle of Jack Daniels that Smith passed to him. He thought it was the best medicine he could have. Low Fuel Light As the Jolly Green carrying Smith and Sparks crossed back into Laos at 14,000 feet, it needed to refuel. One of the crewmen tapped Sparks and told him he should see it. Sparks lifted his head and watched the helicopter approach the tanker while all the Low Fuel lights were blinking wildly. What really took Sparks breath away, however, was the sight of the suns last light shining crimson around dark black clouds. At that, Sparks started crying. Originally, the helicopters were going to take Sparks to northern Laos, but they took him to Nakhon Phanom instead. When the Jolly Green landed there, an ambulance was waiting, and it rushed Sparks to a hospital. Sparks was supposed to be checked out at the hospital there, but the X-ray machine was broken, so a plane from Takhli was sent to pick him up. He made it back to Takhli at about midnight, but it was a while before he could be treatedit was time to party. Sparks was taken on a parade around the base and given a few drinks. He was the first pilot to be returned to Takhli after being shot down in almost a year. The rescue of Captain Bill Sparks was the second-farthest north rescue during the war. For his part in the mission, Smith was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. In addition to his DFC and Silver Star, Smith was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and seven Air Medals. For Smith, saving Sparks ranked as one of the most exciting missions of his tour of duty in Vietnam. It was a good mission with a great result. Despite the inherent danger, it was what Pararescue Jumpers lived for. The dozen or so Pararescue Jumpers based at Udorn were on a rotation for mission assignments; they all fought for who would get assigned the missions up north. After rescuing Sparks, Smith was only in-country for another two months. He went on to teach at the Pararescue Jumper school in Hawaii and eventually trained for recovery of Apollo spacecraft. As a 29-year-old Pararescue Jumper, Smiths year in Vietnam gave him the chance to do what he had trained for, what he had prepared for. The rescue of Captain Bill Sparks by Smith and his intrepid team epitomized the selfless dedication of the hundreds of PJs and their support crews who served during the war in Vietnam. Brandon Darnell, a newspaper reporter living in California, conducted extensive interviews with Bill Sparks and Charley Smith for this story. For further reading about Pararescue Jumpers and combat rescues, see Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue by George Galdorisi and Thomas Phillips and That Others May Live: The True Sory of a PJ, by Pete Nelson and Jack Brehm. The hard-fighting 44th Georgia suffered some of the heaviest losses of any regiment in the Civil War. By Gerald J. Smith On March 10, 1862, companies of Georgians from Henry, Jasper, Clarke, Spalding, Clayton, Putnam, Fayette, Pike, Morgan, Henry and Greene counties all assembled at Camp Stephens, outside Griffin. Responding to Governor Joseph Browns mandate to raise forces from each county, the companies were hastily mustered in as the 44th Georgia Regiment Volunteers. On April 4, the new regiment was ordered to Goldsboro, N.C. For some soldiers, it would be the first leg of a three-year sojourn; for many others, it would be the first step toward eternity. The 44th was soon allied with the 3rd Arkansas, the 1st North Carolina and the 3rd North Carolina to form a brigade under Brig. Gen. John G. Walker, in the division of Maj. Gen. Theophilus H. Holmes. On May 27, the brigade was ordered to Richmond to counter Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellans advance up the Virginia Peninsula. The Battle of Seven Pines was just over when the brigade arrived on June 1, and the men assumed picket duty, with some skirmishing, until the Seven Days campaign began later that month. During the lull, the 48th Georgia was added to the brigade to replace the 3rd Arkansas. Also, Brig. Gen. Roswell Ripley succeeded Walker at the helm, and Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill assumed command of the division. The 44th Georgia washed its spears at the June 26 Battle of Mechanicsville. The Union left lay along a ridge on the east bank of Beaver Dam Creek, strongly entrenched and supported by superb artillerya position of great natural strength. Ripleys brigade faced the enemy line at Ellisons Mill. To close with the enemy, the Confederates had to descend a high hill, cross a high-banked creek, struggle through abatis, and endure a maelstrom of lead and iron. In the forlorn attack, the 44th lost 335 out of 514 effectives, including Colonel Robert A. Smith, who was mortally wounded leading the charge. A member of Company C wrote his wife afterward: Nine of my companynow lie under the cold ground. Our regiment tried to take that battery but could not do it. At Malvern Hill on July 1, the regiment was again under heavy fire and lost substantially13 dead and 16 wounded. Ultimately, the Seven Days campaign successfully and bloodily concluded, and Ripleys brigade moved to Richmond, where it stayed until the middle of August. On September 5, the brigade crossed the Potomac into Maryland. At the Battle of Antietam on the 17th, the brigade was posted on the left of Hills line, halfway between the Mumma Farm and Dunkard Church. Early that morning Ripley set fire to the Mumma buildings, crossed the Smoketown road and engaged the Union troops in Millers Cornfield. There, the brigade helped drive back the onrushing Federals and rescue Brig. Gen. John Bell Hoods beleaguered Texas Brigade. Ripley was wounded at the Cornfield and was replaced by Colonel George Doles of the 4th Georgia, who led the countercharge that forced the enemy backward. Out of ammunition from constant firing, the brigade was then moved into the West Woods near Dunkard Church to replenish their cartridge boxes and enjoy their rations. They remained there the rest of the day, harassed by intense artillery fire. In the battle, the 44th Georgia lost 17 killed, 65 wounded and 4 missing, out of 162 effectives. The brigade retreated to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where the men rested from the rigors of the Maryland campaign. Colonel Doles was promoted to brigadier general in November and remained in charge of the brigade. John B. Estes replaced him as colonel. At the beginning of December, the men of the 44th Georgia moved to Port Royal, Va., where they remained until urgently requested to move toward Fredericksburg. The next day the brigade marched to Hamiltons Crossing, on General Robert E. Lees right, which was under the command of Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson. They were placed in reserve. The division, having been in the front line of the fighting at Antietam, was put in the third line of battle at Fredericksburg, and lost only one killed, three wounded and one missing. The winter of 1862-63 was spent near Port Royal. Except for picket duty, all was quiet in the 44th. When Lee reorganized the army in January, the 12th and 21st Georgia regiments joined the brigade in place of the North Carolina units, making it an all-Georgia brigade. It was then moved to the division of Maj. Gen. Robert Rodes, in Stonewall Jacksons storied II Corps. On April 29, 1863, the brigade was ordered back to Fredericksburg in response to Union Maj. Gen. Joseph Hookers feint toward the old battlefield of the previous December. On May 1, the men moved to the Orange Plank road near Chancellorsville. That night, Lee and Jackson planned their famous flank attack to destroy the Federal right wing. The next day, the 44th Georgia, with the rest of the brigade, started at sunrise in a northern direction, then turned left toward the west, in order to circle the unsuspecting enemy. Rodes division, which had led the flanking maneuver, was assigned the first line of battle, stretching for a half-mile on each side of the Plank Road and squarely on the exposed Federal right. The next day, May 3, the brigade assaulted enemy entrenchments near the Chancellor House and drove the enemy away, but at a heavy loss. The 44th Georgia lost 13 killed and 64 wounded. Company I was down to 36 men. The regiment as a whole numbered 348 men and 35 officers. On July 1, the brigade quick-marched to the sound of the guns at Gettysburg, going into line on the extreme left. When the entire Union XI Corps appeared in front of the brigade, the situation became grim. The enemy occupied Oak Hill in front of the Georgians, and immediately began a flanking movement to the left. Doles men fought on the defensive for an hour until Brig. Gen. John B. Gordons brigade of Maj. Gen. Jubal Earlys division came up on the left, linked up with Doles regiments and attacked. The Federals fought valiantly but soon were flanked and had to retreat. With Doles and Gordon pressing home their assault, the retreat became a rout and compelled the entire Federal defense north of Gettysburg to give way. During the pursuit of the routed enemy, Doles men came under fire from an unexpected source. Doles reported later, My line was subjected to and did receive a severe fire from one of our own batteries, from which fire I lost several men killed and wounded. The offending battery was not identified. The brigade was drawn up in line of battle on July 2 to support Earlys attack on Cemetery Hill. For whatever reason, Rodes did not order the advance, and the men, except for heavy skirmishing, remained where they were until the 5th, when the Confederate army retreated. In the action at Gettysburg, the 44th Georgia lost 10 killed, 49 wounded and 9 missing. A survivor summed up the matter: There was an awful fight for three days. I dont think we gained anything there. Following the Mine Run campaign, the brigade went into winter camp near Orange Court House and, except for a bitter winter march in February, rested until May 4, 1864. The Wilderness campaign began for Doles brigade on May 5, when it went into line of battle in the right rear of Brig. Gen. John M. Jones brigade of Maj. Gen. Edward Johnsons division. The Federals attacked before Jones had his men deployed and routed the Confederates already in place, exposing Doles left, held by the 4th Georgia. The regiment wheeled left to meet the flank attack while the 44th Georgia and 12th Georgia engaged on their front, buying precious moments for Lees army. A timely counterattack by Gordons men relieved the Union pressure and restored the Confederate line. On the 6th, the 44th and its sister regiments participated in a night attack on the Union right flank, which, had not darkness intervened, might have forced the entire Federal line out of position. Losses in the hard-fighting 44th Georgia for the two days of combat in the Wilderness were 14 killed, 29 wounded and 2 captured. Three days later, the brigade was in line at Spotsylvania, occupying the center of the western side of a large bulge in the line known as the Mule Shoe. The 44th Georgia was at the center of the brigade. The entrenchments were a scant 200 yards from a pine forest that concealed enemy movements. On the evening of May 10, the Federals bombarded Doles sector, then launched an overwhelming attack. Doles men fought obstinately against 5-to-1 odds. Union Colonel Emory Upton paid tribute: The enemy sitting in their pits with pieces upright, loaded, and with bayonets fixed, ready to impale the first who should leap over, absolutely refused to yield the ground. Nevertheless, the Georgians eventually were forced to yield after heavy losses. The Federals poured through the breach, but once again, a Gordon counterattack, aided by Doles remnant, restored the Confederate line. Losses in the 44th Georgia, which had borne the initial shock of the breakthrough, were horrendous26 killed, 28 wounded and 182 captured. Company I lost 38 men out of 63. The regiment, now reduced to a few squads, participated in the rest of the Spotsylvania campaign, but never regained true fighting strength. It stayed with the brigade until the end, suffering a steady hemorrhage of casualties throughout Earlys Shenandoah Valley campaign in the autumn of 1864. It was present at Fort Steadman on March 25, 1865, and in the final assault at Appomattox Court House, where a flag of truce halted further hostilities on April 9, 1865. Two days later, when the remnants of the Army of Northern Virginia stacked arms, 62 survivors of the 44th Georgia were present for duty, out of the original 1,115 who had left home in 1862. As Captain John Harris remembered years later, The impartial historian, when he collects up the facts and figures, will show that the 44th Georgia Regiment suffered a greater casualty in killed and wounded, in proportion to the number carried into action, than any other regiment on the Southern side. Union General Judson Kilpatrick was flamboyant, reckless, tempestuous, and even licentious. In some respects he made other beaux sabreurs like fellow-cavalrymen George Custer and J. E. B. Stuart seem dull. Because he was a passionate man, Kilpatrick won many admirers and made many enemies during his Civil War careerand not all of his enemies wore gray. Those who knew him usually held one of two opinions. He was either a heroic and noble soldier, or (as one Federal officer wrote) a frothy braggart without brains. Opinions varied because Kilpatrick was complex. He was a hell-for-leather warrior most of the time, but often stood quite as eager to withdraw from a fight as he had been to enter it. He loved to make speeches to his troopers and worked hard to get public notice, but drove his men and horses so roughly, seemingly without regard for their well-being, that he earned the nickname, Kilcavalry. And in an army rife with gamblers and drinkers, Kilpatrick touched neither playing cards nor bottle; but he lacked integrity and cherished certain other vices. Physically, he looked anything but the romantic concept of the cavalryman. He was bantam-sized, with a lantern jaw, pale eyes, and frizzy red sidewhiskers. But being vain, he dressed with a certain flair. He wore carefully tailored uniforms, great boots, and a black felt hat tilted at a rakish angle. A staff officer once remarked that it was hard to look at him without laughing. But Kilpatrick impressed others with his restless energy, for he seemed always to be in a hurry to accomplish some great deed. He was born Hugh Judson Kilpatrick near Deckertown, New Jersey, on January 14, 1836. His father was a farmer, but in his teens young Kilpatrick decided against agriculture as his own profession. Politics attracted himan interest which remained with him through the yearsand before he reached 20 he was stumping rural New Jersey on behalf of a local Congressman seeking renomination. The Congressman won and rewarded his young supporter by offering him an appointment to the United States Military Academy. At West Point, Kilpatrick (Class of 1861) dropped his first name, won satisfactory grades, acted in Dialectic Society dramas, and developed his talent for public speaking. When the secession crisis swept the Academy he harangued cadets from the South with his Union sentiments. As a consequence he found himself involved in several fist fights, but despite his size he thrashed his way to victory more than once. He was so caught up in the clamor to defend the Union that he got up a petition with classmates signatures and sent it to the War Department. The petition asked special permission for the Class of 61 to graduate some months earlier than usual, so that its members could serve the nation as quickly as possible in this time of crisis. The request was granted. On the April day on which he graduated (he was the class valedictorian), Kilpatrick married Alice Nailer, of New York, in the West Point chapel. He went to war carrying a silken banner which bore her name. Although he became a lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery upon graduation, Kilpatrick had no desire to fight the war either in the Regular Army or as an artilleryman. He turned to the volunteer service in a search for high rank and glory, and soon was commissioned captain in Duryees Zouaves (5th New York Infantry). At once he hurried south to join the regiment at Fort Monroe, Virginia, where he worked hard to mold his company into an effective fighting unit. But he was humane as well as stern, and able to win his soldiers confidence and affection. His first assignments in the fieldminor scouting and foraging expeditions failed to satisfy his craving for battle. He had to wait until June 10 for his first touch of glory. On that day he became the first Regular Army officer to be wounded during the war, being struck in the thigh by a grapeshot while directing his men during the Battle of Big Bethel. Although this first large land fight of the war was a Confederate victory, Kilpatrick won high praise from the Northern press for his coolness and efficiency. As a result, while on leave to recuperate from his wound, he found himself a lieutenant colonelcy in the Harris Light Cavalrysubsequently designated the 2d New York. He accepted his commission on September 25, as did several other officers from Duryees Zouaves. He served with the newly organized unit in the defenses of the nations Capital until late in January 1862. Then, tired of the dull routine of garrison life, he accepted the post of chief of artillery on militia Major General James H. Lanes expedition into Texas. But he had barely started for Kansas, the rendezvous point for the march, when he learned that the expedition had been scrapped. More restless than ever for activity, Kilpatrick returned to his regiment at Arlington, Virginia. When Major General George B. McClellans Army of the Potomac sailed down the coast to the Virginia Peninsula, Kilpatrick remained behind with the 2d New York and conducted some minor raids through northern Virginia. During one of these, a night reconnaissance near Falmouth Heights, he demonstrated a talent for cunning and audacity. He had only one regiment in his command, but when he found himself confronting Confederate pickets he shouted orders to nonexistent reinforcements. Hearing him and believing that at least a brigade of cavalry was surrounding them, hundreds of Rebels scurried down the Heights, crossed the Rappahannock River, and burned the bridge so that Kilpatrick could not follow and capture them. In July and August 1862, Kilpatrick went raiding. He struck at Stonewall Jacksons communication lines in the Shenandoah Valley, burned railroad depots and destroyed tracks, ties, and telegraph lines. Late in August he participated in his first engagement at Brandy Station, Virginia, where he and the rest of Brigadier General George D. Bayards cavalry brigade were repulsed by J.E.B. Stuarts legions. On December 6, 1862 Kilpatrick became the colonel of the 2d New York. His fame continued to. grow, and in February 1863 he was given brigade command, at age 27. He led his brigade on Stonemans Raid during the Chancellorsville Campaign. Although the operation, on the whole, was a failure, some of Stonemans officers, Kilpatrick among them, acquitted themselves well. With a detached force, Kilcavalry captured towns in enemy country, again destroyed railroad apparatus, and by marching sixty miles a day penetrated to within two miles of Richmond. His daring threw the Confederate Capital into a mild panic, but finally he had to retreat down the Peninsula to the Union lines outside Fort Monroe, to avoid being captured. Following Stonemans Raid, Kilpatricks fame crested. He rode the crest when on June 9 he charged up Fleetwood Hill near Brandy Station during the greatest cavalry battle fought in North America. At the top of the hill his troopers engaged in saber-to-saber fighting against Stuarts horsemen, trying to push the Rebels from the summit. Kilpatricks brigade charged in three waves, but the first two melted away under enemy artillery and flank fire. Elsewhere on the field other Federal brigades were faltering disastrously, and Kilpatrick realized the importance of holding the hill. With his third regiment he was able to smash into the Rebels and scatter themand for a short time it appeared that his success would throw the battle in the Federals favor. But Stuart rallied his troopers and ultimately forced Kilpatrick and his comrades from Fleetwood. The battle went into the history books as another Rebel victory. But the Union horsemen had shown dash and determinationand none among them so much as the little gamecock from New Jersey. Four days later Kilpatrick was wearing the star of a brigadier general. During the operations that preceded the battle of Gettysburg, he helped prevent Stuart from marching his cavalrymen through Maryland, by way of Edwards Ferry and Boonsborough, to join the major portion of General Robert E. Lees army. Although he was at first roughly handled by Brigadier General Fitzhugh Lee at Aldie, Viriginia, on June 17, a counterattack enabled him to chase the enemy from the field. Four days later he engaged in a fierce saber battle against Brigadier General Wade Hamptons cavalry, which culminated in a charge that drove the Rebels out of Upperville, Virginia, and finally through Ashbys Gap upon their own infantry columns in the Shenandoah Valley. On June 28, 1863, the Army of the Potomac was reorganized. When Major General George G. Meade assumed over-all command, Kilpatrick was assigned a division in the Cavalry Corps. The unit consisted of two brigades under newly appointed generals, George Custer and Elon J. Farnsworth. Kilpatrick led his new command in its task of covering the armys center, as the Federals followed Robert E. Lee into Pennsylvania. On the last day of June Kilpatrick encountered Stuarts cavalry division in Hanover, Pennsylvania. The Federals were drawn up in the streets of the town, resting, when Stuarts leading brigade battered and nearly routed Farnsworths command. Farnsworth and Kilpatrick rushed up to re-form and steady their line, and they directed a vigorous counterattack that dispersed the Gray horsemen and nearly resulted in the capture of Stuart himself. After the Confederates rode off, Kilpatrick took Farnsworths brigade toward Gettysburg. After a sharp skirmish against Hampton on July 2, the cavalry reached the rear of the Army of the Potomac. On the morning of July 3 Kilpatricks command took position on the left of the Union line, across the Emmitsburg Road. July 3, 1863, marked the beginning of Kilpatricks decline as a soldier. To that date his career had been promising and distinguished; great things had been expected of him. But on July 3 he made an unwise decision that resulted in the shattering part of Farnsworths brigade and the death of its young commander. Following Picketts Charge, Kilpatrick directed Farnsworth to attack the extreme right of Rebel line. This was ordered, ostensibly, to exert such pressure on that vital defense point that the Confederates would be thrown back and their line opened up to a crushing assault by divisions of Union infantry. But it is also clear that Kilpatrick ordered the charge in frustration at having been kept out most of the days fighting. He realized that only an energetic officer who committed his troops to battle would win glory on this field. But he asked the impossible of Farnsworth. The brigade commander was required to attack strongly positioned infantry over rough, boulder-strewn ground, despite being outnumbered. In point of fact, Farnsworth had tried that very thing a short while before and had failed signally. Naturally, he was stunned by the order. General, do you mean it? he asked. Shall I throw my handful of men over rough ground, through timber, against a brigade of infantry? The 1st Vermont has already been fought half to peices; these are too good men to kill! Kilpatrick was enraged that Farnsworth should question his command. Do you refuse to obey my orders? If you are afraid to lead this charge, I will lead it. A witness to the confrontation later recalled the General Farnsworth rose in his stirrupshe looked magnificent in his passion, and cried, Take that back! Kilpatrick hesistated a moment and backed down, but would not withdraw his order. For some seconds there was silence between them, until Farnsworth said quietly, General, if you order the charge, I will lead it, but you must take the responsibility. His troopers made the charge, were as successful as the Light Brigade at Balaklava, and the responsibility indeed rested on Kilpatricks shoulders. In his official report of the battle, however, he tried to cover up his mistake with bombastic words about the infantrys failure to exploit the confusion into which Farnsworth had thrown the Rebel right. In the same report Kilpatrick praised the young general whose courage he had openly questioned a short time before: he baptized his star in blood, andfor the honor of his young brigade and the glory of his corps, he yielded up his noble life. Kilcavalry truly earned his sobriquet that day, but he tried to make amends by vigorously pursuing Lee into Maryland. In the days immediately following the battle he captured some of Lees wagons, and at such places as Hagerstown, Falling Waters, Williamsport, and Boonsborough, achieved varying degrees of success in combat against Confederate infantry and cavalry. In reporting these engagements, however, Kilpatrick indulged a perennial weakness for exaggerating the number of prisoners taken and hte number of casualties inflicted upon the enemy. As the war moved farther south, Kilpatrick returned to Virginia and spent the rest of the summer and that fall slugging away at J.E.B. Stuarts horsemen. He took a short respite from this grueling work when he used his artillery to bombard two Confederate-manned gunboats in the Rappahannock. Afterward the slugging matches resumed, and he fought fa series of battles at and near Brandy Station. In one of these he achieved a modest feat by escaping from an encirclement set by Stuarts men. However, this was later described in slightly grander terms by one regimental historian: Kilpatrick thus escaped serious injury, defeated his pursuers, and presented to the beholders one of the grandest sights witnessed in the New World. During the winter of 186364 Kilpatrick sat in winter quarters and did some thinking. He reassessed his career, and re-evaluated his goals. At length he decided that his future was to be in terms of elective office: first, he would become governor of his native state, and then the President of the United States. And he determined to prosecute the war in a way that would assure the attainment of these goals. He knew that his cateer, and therefore his future, had been jeopardized at Gettysburg and in subsequent campaigning. Clearly he needed a plan that would give him new prominence and would once again splash his name across the Norths newspapers. After much deliberation he conceived such a plan. He would enter Richmond with his cavalry, free the Union prisoners there, and perhaps even capture Confederate officials. The more he thought about it, the more eager he grew to test teh scheme. he boasted to others of its brilliance, and it was not long before his boasts were circulating through the army, and northward. President Lincoln eventually heard of it, and began to wonder. In this third year of hostilities the President was almost desperately searching for a blueprint for peace. Despite Kilpatricks uneven past performances, Lincoln called the cavalryman to the White House and asked for details. Kilpatrick was more than happy to oblige. When he learned that Lincoln was anxious to distribute through Virginia copies of his amnesty proclamation for secessionists who wished to come back into the Union, he assured the President that his expedition would be the ideal means to that end. Lincoln finally gave his approval for the raid, and a joyous Kilpatrick returned south to put it to the test. On the morning of February 28, 1864 he started his cavalry toward Richmond from Stevensburg, Virginia. His 4,000 troopers rode in two columns. Under his personal command 3,500 of them were to strike the city from the north; 500 in a detachment led by a boyish, onelegged colonel named Ulric Dahlgren, were to attack the Capital from the south. Dahlgren had been taken into Kilpatricks plans because he was eager to smell helland, incidentally, because he had impeccable social credentials (his father was a prominent Federal admiral). The raid began smoothly enough. The columns proceeded south by widely divergent routes, planning to make a concerted attack on Richmondbelieved to be only thinly guarded this winteron March 1. Both Kilpatrick and Dahlgren met with little opposition in their destruction of railroad lines and private property, and distributed hundreds of copies of the Presidents proclamation. But the Yankees coming had been anticipated by the Confederates. Just outside Richmond Kilpatrick was hit by units of Rebel infantry, artillery, and cavalry. He faltered and then retreatedbeaten back fro n the city when success was nearly in his hands. Dahlgren, meanwhile, was stymied by an unfordable river and reached the city too late to coordinate an attack with Kilpatrick. The colonel and his men were sent on a disorderly retreat through a winter storm and were finally surrounded by Rebel home guardsmen. In an ambush fight the detachment was cut to pieces and Dahlgren met a tragic death at 21. His hopes crippled, Kilpatrick retreated to Fort Monroe. There he fretted that instead of enhancing his reputation, the raid had broken it beyond repair. His anxiety deepened when a national controversy developed around papers found on Dahlgrens body, stating that the raiders had planned to burn Richmond and kill President Jefferson Davis and his Cabinet. Before the controversy became clouded and at last faded out, Kilpatrick did in fact see his name prominently displayed in the newspapersespecially Southern newspapers, who called him a barbarian, and worse. Kilpatrick had just cause to feel concern. His failure resulted in his transfer from Virginia to the Western theater, where he was assigned to a cavalry command under Major General William T. Sherman. It was a demotion of sorts, and Kilpatrick could not delude himself into believing otherwise. When he went west, Kilpatrick was no longer the cocky, self-assured firebrand he had been the year before. He had tasted defeat and censure, and they had been bitter pills indeed. Nevertheless, he did his best to fit comfortably into Shermans command. Soon after joining his new division, he used it to spearhead the Federal drive through Tennessee and into Georgia, over Taylors Ridge to Buzzard Roost and through Snake Creek Gap to Resaca, Georgia. In battle outside Resaca, in May, he had his first large dose of action in the West. There he was so badly wounded that he was forced to leave the field and return north for recuperation. But through three years of war, he had not learned how to relax from campaigning. He returned to duty in July, against his doctors orders, when he heard that Sherman had crossed the Chattahoochee River and was moving on Atlanta. By the time he returned to the field, his commander was in the city, after General John Bell Hoods Confederate Army of Tennessee had abandoned it in retreat. Because his wound prevented him from riding horseback, Kilpatrick commandeered a carriage and rode alongside his troopers, shouting orders from the front seat. From the carriage he even conducted a raid against the Confederateheld Atlanta-Macon Railroad. On August 18 Kilpatrick, now able to ride again, led another raid against Rebel communications south of Atlanta. He marched his division and some auxiliary units to the railroad between Jonesborough and Griffin, destroyed some miles of track, and then was challenged by enemy cavalry, who pushed his force to Lovejoys Station. Arriving there on August 20, he found Rebel infantry sitting across his path. Nearly surrounded, Kilpatrick mustered some of the spirit that had won him a strong reputation earlier in the war. He faced his troopers about, charged, and in the words of one historian, simply rode over the Confederate cavalry to safety. Sherman was not pleased, however, with the scanty accomplishments of the raid. While he did not censure Kilpatrick personally, he relied more heavily than ever before on his infantry to catch and overwhelm Hood. At first Sherman planned to defeat Hood by separating him from his lines of communication and supply. Then he decided to turn his back on the Confederate commander and with a part of his army push east across Georgia to Savannah and the coast, burning out the state. He sent Major General George H. Thomas Army of the Cumberland back into Tennessee, where he was to deal with Hoods westward-marching army. Then Sherman made ready to march to the sea. He chose Kilpatrick to lead his cavalry, although Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant had previously appointed Major General James H. Wilson to command all the horsemen in Shermans theater. Sherman explained his decision to Wilson in curious terms: I know Kilpatrick is a hell of a damned fool, but I want just that sort of man to command my cavalry on this expedition. He then directed Wilson to join General Thomas in Tennessee. During the march to the sea, Kilpatrick made quite a name for himself. His name, in fact, became infamous to Georgians, who watched his cavalrymen run wild over their property. They learned that Kilpatrick overlooked incidents of pillaging and thievery by his men because he frankly enjoyed wreaking havoc on secessionists. Some of the generals favorite vices also came to public attention during the campaign. Georgia newspapers reported that he travelled with female companions, including two Negro girls who cooked for him and with whom he engaged in the most familiar and indecent conversation. And a Confederate prisoner later recalled marching in tow beside Kilpatricks carriage and seeing the general stretched out comfortably on the seat with his head in a womans lap. Kilpatricks men merrily laid waste to the state, and when the cavalry occupied the capital, Milledgeville, Kilpatrick joined in their fun. He and his officers broke into the Georgia House of Representatives and staged a mock legislative session. Although a teetotaler, Kilpatrick reportedly took the speakers stand and regaled the assembly with tales of the cavalrys gallant campaigns against enemy wine cellars and whiskey store rooms. After a round of speechmaking the congressmen drew up a series of resolutions, including one declaring the Georgia Ordinance of Secession a damned farce. During the march Kilpatrick carried on a running war against Major General Joseph Wheelers cavalry, who constantly hovered on the fringes of Shermans army. Often Wheeler bested Kilpatrick in skirmishes and engagements, but not even Fightin Joe was able to curtail Shermans inexorable march through the state. On the other hand, Kilpatrick got the better of Wheeler now and again, as in November when under Shermans orders he swung his cavalry north toward Augusta and then south toward Millen. It was a feinting movement and Wheeler, taking the bait, concentrated his cavalry at Millen, thinking that the Federal horsemen were heralding Shermans advance. Actually Sherman was marching unmolested in another directiontoward Savannahwith his four infantry corps. Fuming at his deception, Wheeler tried to get even. On one occasion he routed Kilpatrick from a night bivouac. On another day he pushed him away from some strategic objectives which he had planned to destroy. And when Kilpatricks cavalry reached Aiken, South Carolina, Wheelers men struck them so viciously that the Federals were driven out of the town like chickens. On the whole, however, Kilpatrick did an efficient job of guarding Shermans flanks. When the army reached Savannah, just before Christmas 1864, Sherman wrote him: The fact that to you, in great measure, we owe the march of four strong infantry columns, with heavy trains and wagons, over 300 miles through an enemys country, without the loss of a single wagon, and without the annoyance of cavalry dashes on our flanks, is honor enough for any cavalry commander. When Sherman resumed his march, from Savannah through the Carolinas, Kilpatrick redoubled his efforts to make the Confederacy suffer. At the start of that campaign, according to prevalent rumors, he issued large quantities of matches to his troopers. He left no doubt about his intentions when he told some of his officers: In after years when travelers passing through South Carolina shall see chimney stacks without houses, and the country desolate, and shall ask who did this? some Yankee will answer, Kilpatricks cavalry. And he spoke even more plainly to a group of foot soldiers: Therell be damned little for you infantrymen to destroy after Ive passed through that hellhole of secession. He tried hard to keep his word. As an example, consider his short but unpleasant stay in Barnwell, South Carolina, where his troopers were careless with their matches. While flames consumed part of the town, Kilpatrick held a gala ball at his headquarters and even forced some of the local ladies to dance with his officers. Thereafter his soldiers renamed the place, fittingly, Burnwell. Through South Carolina Kilpatrick continued his war against both Wheeler and Lieutenant General Wade Hampton, whose cavalry guarded the retreat of the Army of Tennessee, once again under General Joseph E. Johnston. In addition to authorized warfare, Kilpatrick engaged in a bitter personal feud with Hampton, stemming from reports that Hamptons men had lynched captured Federal troopers. Although Hampton denied the charges, Kilpatrick heatedly declared that he would retaliate in kind. It is difficult to determine where the burden of guilt in this should rest, for unauthorized killings undoubtedly took place on both sides, but certainly the issue inflamed the bitter feelings that already existed between Kilpatrick and his opponents. Since Kilpatricks men retaliated by violating private property, the people of South Carolina suffered most for it in the long run. Shortly after Shermans army entered North Carolina, Kilpatrick endured perhaps the most embarrassing hour in his career. It came about because of his old fondness for female companionship. Despite his raccoon-like face and slight build, Kilpatrick had always considered himself a ladies man. When his wife Alice died in 1863, his passionate nature apparently turned into licentiousness. While in Virginia he had been intimate with a pretty camp follower who had also been a good friend of his subordinate, Custer. And in North Carolina he travelled with another companion, a tall, handsome, well-dressed lady. Presumably it was she who, clad only in a nightgown, was routed from Kilpatricks headquarters near Fayetteville, North Carolina, when Hamptons cavalry attacked it one night in March 1865 Kilcavalry himself, wearing nightshirt and boots, was nearly captured when a Confederate swooped down on him and demanded to know General Kilpatricks whereabouts. Realizing that in his sleepwear he had been taken for an ordinary soldier, Kilpatrick pointed to a passing horseman and said, There he goes! The Rebel spurred his mount and was off, and Kilpatrick wasted no time finding a horse of his own and riding to safety. His lady friend, meanwhile, had to hide in a ditch until the fighting was over. When the Confederates learned these facts, they laughed heartily at Kilpatricks expense. But the Rebels merriment could not last. In subsequent weeks Sherman proceeded to back Johnston into his final corner, and Kilpatricks men bagged scores of prisonersConfederates who sensed the futility of waging a doomed campaign. On April 26 Johnston was forced to surrender his army to Sherman near Durham Station, North Carolina, and the war was over. After the Rebel army disbanded, Kilpatrick was promoted major general of volunteers and won a brevet major generalship in the Regular Army. Kilpatricks postwar life was varied and colorful if ultimately tragic. Resigning his commission, he was appointed minister to Chile by President Andrew Johnson. In South America, his libertine days at an end, he married the niece of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Santiago and settled comfortably into domestic life when he was recalled to the United States in 1868. Kilpatrick later became a director of the Union Pacific Railroad, tried his hand at playwriting, and spoke to numerous veterans associations. He switched his politics to vote for Democrat Horace Greeley in 1872, but afterward returned to the Republican fold and was reappointed minister to Chile in 1880. He served there until his death the following year from a kidney ailment. He never achieved his most cherished goals. Though in February 1864 he had envisioned himself a future governor and President, he made only one bid for elective officea rather modest one, as a congressional candidate from New Jersey, in 1880. But he was soundly defeated. Though it may seem a minor defeat, Kilpatrick never quite got over it; he always longed for the adulation of the electorate. For a man who had seen many hopes destroyed during his lifetime, this was perhaps the cruelest disappointment of all. This article was written by Edward G. Longacre and originally published in the April 1971 issue of Civil War Times Illustrated Magazine. For more great articles, be sure to subscribe to Civil War Times magazine today! Dear Editor: Why is the work on Highway 92 being done in the daytime rather than at night? T We have a new tourism campaign for the San Mateo County coast. It goes like this: Donald Trump's White House campaign was in turmoil on Wednesday after he angered senior Republican Party leaders by criticizing a dead soldier's family and refusing to back the re-election campaign of House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan. On Tuesday, Trump denied both Speaker Ryan and Senator John McCain support in their coming primary contests, hitting back at critics in the Republican leadership who have taken him to task for his insistent public dispute with the parents of the soldier, a Muslim U.S. Army captain killed in the Iraq war. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was furious over the failure to endorse Ryan, who is the most senior elected Republican, and over Trump's feud with the Khan family, two Republican sources said. "He feels like a fool," a Republican source familiar with the situation said of Priebus. More than any other major figure in the Republican establishment, Priebus worked to bring Trump into the party's fold despite the New York businessman's status as an outsider. Trump, who had never previously run for public office, beat 16 rivals to become the Republican presidential nominee for the Nov. 8 election. Ahead of last month's Republican Party Convention, the RNC chairman sought to rally the fractured party behind Trump. Priebus feels burned by Trump's string of self-inflicted wounds and his refusal to observe basic decorum by giving Ryan his support. But in what appeared to be an effort to soothe ruffled feelings, Trump's vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, said on Wednesday he endorsed Ryan as "a strong conservative leader," and was doing so with Trump's blessing. The Indiana governor told Fox News it takes time to build relationships in politics and that was exactly what Trump and Ryan were doing. Trump has had a running dispute with the parents of Army Captain Humayun Khan since they took the stage at last week's Democratic National Convention. Khizr and Ghazala Khan cited the sacrifice of their son, who was killed by a car bomb in 2004, and criticized Trump's proposal to combat terrorism by temporarily banning Muslims from entering the United States. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. S ix months after the Governments flagship scheme to help Londons first-time buyers was launched, the choice for would-be home owners is at last improving. Help to Buy London was introduced in February, recognising that first-timers in the capital need more help to get on the ladder, and is due to end in December. Under the scheme, buyers can borrow up to 40 per cent of the value of a new home priced up to 600,000 from the Government, interest free for the first five years. When you sell you repay the government loan, plus a share of the rise in value of that 40 per cent, should you make a profit. You will need a five per cent deposit, and a mortgage of 55 per cent to cover the rest. Latest figures show just 256 households have so far used Help to Buy London. Critics point out that not everyone can raise a five per cent deposit. For the average first-time spend in London of about 350,000 this means finding 17,500 deposit, plus legal fees and stamp duty. Not all young buyers, many already saddled with student loan repayments, are happy about taking on more debt. Fewer still earn enough to raise the maximum 330,000 mortgage allowed under the scheme. Low uptake has also been blamed on insufficient new build. Now, though, that seems to be changing, and buyers can take their pick of some excellent developments around the capital. PECKHAM, SE15 From 455k: Woods Road, Peckham Woods Road, by Crest Nicholson, is just off Peckham High Street and an easy walk to Queens Road Peckham train station. The homes will be ready next spring. Using the full Help to Buy London loan, a one-bedroom flat, priced from 455,000, will require a 22,750 deposit, a 250,250 mortgage, and a 182,000 government loan. Two-bedroom flats start at 555,000, which breaks down as a 27,750 deposit, a 305,250 mortgage and a 222,000 government loan. Three-bedroom flats from 585,000 require a 29,250 deposit, a 321,750 mortgage, and a 234,000 government loan. BETHNAL GREEN, E2 A winner in the great east London property revolution of the last decade, Bethnal Green is now all gastropubs and galleries, bankers and boutique hotels and beyond the pockets of most first-time buyers. But Titanium Point by Guinness Homes has Help to Buy flats, available to move in now. Two-bedroom flats start at 570,000. Using the full Help to Buy London loan, this means a deposit of 28,500, a loan of 228,000 and a 313,500 mortgage. Titanium Point is beside Regents Canal cross a footbridge and you are in Mile End Park. The nearest station is Mile End in Zone 2, with 15-minute journeys to the West End or City. BOW, E3 First-timers can buy in Bow, focus of billions of pounds worth of regeneration, at Le Mare Terrace, St Pauls Square. Light and bright, each flat has a balcony, while Mile End, Bow Road and Bromley-by-Bow Tube stations are close, as are Limehouse Overground and Devons Road DLR. Mile End Park is a stones throw away, leading on to Victoria Park, and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. There are great pubs and bars around Limehouse, and shopping galore at Westfield Stratford City. From 420,000 for a one-bedroom flat, with 21,000 deposit, a loan of 168,000, and a 231,000 mortgage. PUTNEY HILL, SW15 From 515,000: one-bedroom flats at leafy, well-connected Putney Rise, SW15 require a 25,750 deposit Putney Rise, Putney Hill, is halfway between Putney Heath and the shops, restaurants, and Zone 2 stations of Putney, with excellent links to the West End. One-bedroom flats from 515,000 require 25,750 deposit, a 206,000 loan, and a 283,250 mortgage. Two-bedroom flats from 595,000 require 29,750 deposit, a 238,000 government loan, and a mortgage of 327,250. The first homes will be ready to move into in November. WHETSTONE, N20 Northway House is a smart new scheme near Totteridge & Whetstone Tube in Zone 4. It offers a 40-minute journey to central London, a good high street with delis and cafes, and Hertfordshire countryside within a couple of miles. Twenty Help to Buy two-bedroom flats go on sale in September. Prices have yet to be released but two-bedroom flats in earlier phases were priced at about 500,000. In every area of business, being proactive beats being reactive. For example, if investors can follow the ebbs and flows of the stock market, they can predict when to invest and when to hold back garnering a profit. The same is true in hospitality. However, this notion of beingproactive rather than reactive when it comes to providing positive guest feedback is still a foreign concept to many. It doesn't just mean offering your guests a pleasant stay in the hopes of a positive review. Rather, it's about actually understanding the needs of each individual guest to provide them with the best experience. How? Self-Service Model Guests like good service but it doesn't mean they want to talk to your staff every time they want a new bottle of hair conditioner. e3's Travel Trends whitepaper noted that airports are moving to self-service models (self-bag drop and self-boarding) in an effort to gain a competitive advantage. Helsinki was the first airport in the world to use beacons to monitor WiFi-enabled phones of its passengers. This provides them with real-time data on how many passengers are moving through the airport. Up next: they want to provide push message notifications to passengers based on where they are in the airport. The hotel industry has slowly started to jump on the self-service industry (think of SPG's keyless entry and Japan's robot hotel. However, we can take it a step further with real-time interactions and messaging. Real-Time Messaging Right now, hotel-to-guest interactions happen in primarily three stages: online pre-stay (for research), in-person during their stay (interactions with staff) and online again post-stay (for reviews and feedback). What hotels aren't leveraging are online interactions with guests during their stay. That's where real-time messaging comes in. Using services like Checkmate, hotels can engage guests before they arrive and during their stay in real time with SMS, email and Facebook messaging. Instead of waiting to hear on an online review that your guest wished they had an extra blanket, you could instead use real-time messaging. Hotels are able to solve this issue during the guest's stay, preventing negative reviews before they occur. Hyatt was the first hotel to experiment with using Facebook's Messenger application. This allows guests to communicate with them exactly like they communicate with their friends. Marriott Rewards members can use their Mobile Requests feature on their app to instantaneously make requests during their stay. Predictive vs. Proactive So what does this have to do with predicting guests experiences? Being proactive is the first step of the puzzle. If we want to compete against rising threats to the industry, hoteliers have to engage with guests in real-time. The next step of the puzzle, which I believe we will get to one day, is predicting what guests want. Some hotels already have this data from their loyalty programs, enabling you to know your guest prefers lower floors and two extra pillows during their stay. I think the future of guest feedback is to be able to mine this data to prepare for guests' arrival. Using their personal profile info allows hotels to be more than just being proactive, but actually be predictive. Until we move fully predictive, let's focus on getting better at being proactive when it comes to guest satisfaction. For real-time messaging, here are three aspects you should look for: Instantaneous communication: Your real-time messaging app should provide you with the ability to send messages to guests instantaneously Multiple channels: It should allow you to communicate with guests on multiple channels text, email, social media etc. Simple and easy to use: It should be easy for not only guests to use but your hotel staff as well. The only way to prevent negative reviews, and to satisfy today's mobile-savvy, instant-gratification guest, is to provide a simple way for them to connect with you, when they want to, where they want to. Welcome to the world of real-time hotel-guest communications. About TrustYou TrustYou is on a mission to make communication and feedback simpler and more productive. All communication channels, together in one place, is the new way of doing business. Today, customers expect instant responses on their preferred communications channels. As a subset of communication, feedback is the foundation to build better products, services and companies. TrustYou helps companies win through the power of listening and provides a Guest Experience (GX) Platform that makes listening to customers easy, powerful, and actionable. The platform unlocks the potential of guest feedback and helps to: Create unlimited opportunities to listen and respond to guests' needs. Understand all reviews across the web and make better business decisions. Publish hotel reviews on the website and on Google and allow positive feedback to influence bookings. TrustYou empowers companies to earn trust, make better decisions, and ultimately, win. View source Kinseth Hospitality Company (KHC) is pleased to announce the breaking of ground at the construction site of the Tru by Hilton in Cheyenne Wyoming. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Tru by Hilton, located at 423 Fox Farm Road, took place on August 3, 2016. To kick-off the event City of Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen, President and CEO of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce; Dale Steenbergen, Board Chair of Visit Cheyenne; Barry Sims, Gateway South Investor Tom Reiman and VP of Kinseth Hospitality; Gary Kinseth each shared their excitement for the project. Next partners Michele and Rich Bolkovatz, Kay and R.C. Reiman, Gary Kinseth, Tom Reiman, Pam and Wally Reiman, and Kim Andereck (not pictured), unveiled a 3D chalk painting of the hotel that will soon stand in the same location. The modern hotel will offer guest rooms and amenities for both leisure and business guests. "Tru is a disruptive brand, as evidenced by its statement-making entrance to the midscale category and now the Cheyenne market," said Alexandra Jaritz, Global Head for Tru by Hilton. "We know the brand will have broad appeal to by Cheyenne area travelers who span generations but share a similar 'zest for life' mindset. At its core, Tru is value-engineered to provide guests with a contemporary, consistent and fresh experience in an affordable way, while at the same time being operationally efficient to our owners." The 90 room, 4 story hotel is owned by Gateway South LLC, and will be managed by Kinseth Hospitality Companies. It is expected to be completed in late Spring 2016. About Tru by Hilton Tru by Hilton is a revolutionary midscale hotel brand providing a simplified and spirited approach that is grounded in value for business and leisure travelers. Disrupting the midscale hotel space, Tru by Hilton will offer modern and functional guest rooms and social connectivity with reimagined public spaces, including an open lobby comprised of four zones where guests can work, play, lounge and eat. Designed to appeal cross-generationally, guests will enjoy complimentary amenities including breakfast, coffee and tea; optional mobile check-in and Digital Key; a multifunctional fitness center; and high-speed Wi-Fi. Single-serve wine and beer, fun snacks and light meal options will be available for purchase at a 24/7 retail market. Tru by Hilton is the newest addition to Hilton Worldwide's portfolio of market-leading brands. Learn more at www.trubyhilton.com. About Kinseth Hospitality Kinseth Hospitality is a leading hotel management, development and ownership company. KHC has a proven track record of developing and operating award-winning hotels, restaurant and meeting facilities. Kinseth Hospitality is based in North Liberty, Iowa, and currently operates over 65 hotels and 5 branded restaurants in 12 states. For more information regarding KHC please contact our Corporate Sales and Marketing Team at 319-626-5600 or visit www.kinseth.com. Jeff Schrader 847-202-7954 Kinseth View source It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home If Corporations Are People, How Are They Held Accountable? A set of recent Supreme Court decisions has granted certain privileges once reserved only for flesh-and-blood citizens to corporations. Recent Wharton research looks at the potential confusions that arise from that point of view and what might help. A brace of recent Supreme Court decisions has granted certain privileges once reserved only for flesh-and-blood citizens the right to be free from government limitation of political speech, for example, or to exercise religious convictions to corporations. The decisions have been dissected by legal and political scholars, but comparatively little thought has been given to how this new definition of corporate civic identity interacts with social theories of culture. Such a study would help scholars understand the rights, norms, behaviors and duties of the corporations that have become, like Pinocchio, real people. Thats what Gwendolyn Gordon, professor of legal studies and business ethics at Wharton, advocates for in her recent research, Culture in Corporate Law, or: A Black Corporation, a Christian Corporation, and a Maori Corporation Walk into a Bar . The paper, published in the Seattle University Law Review, examines the cases that, together, brought this new idea of corporate personhood into existence Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores and argues that they need to be looked at with a new lens. This newly gained maturity of the corporate persons in our midst requires corporate law scholars to take seriously a concept they have long held at arms length, namely, culture, Gordon writes. Without some theory of how these entities can or ought to interact with social norms, patterns of conduct, implicit constraints on the exercise of power, or societal wells of meaning, corporate law will cease to be connected to social reality. In other words, Gordon said in an interview: We have these decisions. They are wacky, but what are we going to do with them? Surprising Parallels In her research, Gordon lays out the case for a cultural study of corporate personhood by comparing the concept of culture in legal scholarship and anthropology, and then uses the anthropological idea of culture to analyze Citizens United and Hobby Lobby. She then turns to the implications and challenges involved in such a study and brings in her own long-term fieldwork with a New Zealand corporation owned by Maori people, the study of which provided surprising parallels to the issues at hand. The analysis Gordon advocates for is fraught from the beginning because, she writes, of the troubles inherent in applying cultures fuzzy nature to scholarship that, like law and economics, likes bright-line tests and incontrovertible formulas. That has historically made cultural analysis a challenge to use in the study of corporate law. Compared to the streamlined elegance of law and economics, sophisticated cultural analysis with all its unwieldiness and tendency to resist schematization has had seemingly little to contribute, she writes. Further complicating the examination is that there is no singular concept of culture. Classic studies have considered culture to be manifested through a societys ceremonial clothing, its timeless traditions and practices, and/or its seemingly homogenous traditions of thought, Gordon writes, but more modern studies are concerned with the tensions and frictions between essential pieces of the culture, the relationships between them and the forces that pull them apart and keep them together. On a more practical level, the very nature of corporate law complicates the study because, although the cases Gordon cites are federal, the bulk of corporate identity is not formed at the national level. Even as youre examining these opinions and imagining what corporations might need religious or cultural exemptions, the question goes to state law. Even as youre examining these opinions and imagining what corporations might need religious or cultural exemptions, the question goes to state law, she says. Were already starting from something super squishy and difficult to define. Now particulate it out to 50 states, all of which have different stances on what corporations should be doing and how. Outside vs. Inside Ultimately, Gordon writes, there may be infinite ways to consider corporate culture in the wake of Citizens United and Hobby Lobby. But the pursuit of the secret sauce to determine which corporations have which personalities and rights is vital, she argues, if these new corporate persons are going to find their place in the greater fabric of society. Corporations are only limited on the outside. Dont do X, Y and Z, and to the extent they can get away with X minus one, they will do that. Its rational, and it would not make sense for the way business is done to limit themselves in that way, she said. My hope, my daydream, is to get around somehow this notion of the law as limits to bad actors and figuring out what it is, whatever that might be, that moves us to a world that has corporations within themselves being concerned with the social weal. This article is reprinted with permission from Knowledge@Wharton. The performance is being filmed for a new documentary Following on from her amazing Electric Picnic performance last year it has to have been Stradballys first hula-hoop solo! the force of nature that is Grace Jones plays a Dublin Olympia show on September 21. Tickets priced 45 go on sale on Friday August 5, and wont be hanging around for long. Jointly promoted by u:mack, Mother and Blinder Films, this unique performance for the camera will feature in 2017s Grace Jones The Musical Of My Life documentary, which the Jamaican has been working on with director Sophie Fiennes since 2005. The request comes on the back of the success of the Irish funded films 'Room' and 'Brooklyn' Screen Producers Ireland has called for a return to pre-2008 rates of support for the Irish Film Board. Before the recession hit, the IFB had a budget of 20 million from the government. Over the last eight years that figure has been slashed by 44 per cent, leaving their current budget at 11.2 million to support film, TV and animation projects. Screen Producers Ireland is a members organisation that promotes the growth and sustainability of a working environment conducive to a strong independent production sector. They're a voice for 130 different independent film, television, animation and digital producers in Ireland. SPI has alerted the government that if it does not increase its funding for Irish film projects, vital employment opportunities could be lost. Advertisement It is crucial that Irish Film Board funding is restored to 20 million so that Irish producers can compete on a level playing field with their international counterparts, said SPI chief executive Barbara Galavant to the Irish Times. Supporting all forms of on screen production has important economic, cultural and tourism benefits and must be prioritised. Substance: Inside New Order coming October 6 Outspoken bassist Peter Hook will release a tell-all biography about the history of New Order. The book will include outrageous anecdotes and plenty of geek facts for superfans. In his previous books, Hook has talked about the Madchester scene (The Hacienda) and Joy Division (Unknown Pleasures). Hook is in the middle of a bitter lawsuit against his former New Order bandmates, accusing them of "pillaging" the group's name and owing him 2.3 million in royalties. The book is due out October 6. Paris is world famous as the 'City of Love', but it's a somewhat sad and forlorn looking Michael Peter Balzary - better known to millions of Red Hot Chili Peppers fans as Flea - who ambles into the bar of this trendy Montmartre boutique hotel. His downcast demeanour is surprising given that the 53-year-old bassist is usually considered the most lively, animated and upbeat member of the legendary L.A. band. "I'm doing ok," he replies to Hot Press' concerned query about his wellbeing. He runs his hands - both knuckles are tattooed with the word 'LOVE' - over his trademark tight crop (today it's dyed electric blue) and sighs. "I broke up with my girlfriend," he admits. "So I'm kind of sad, to tell you the truth, but I'm ok." Naturally, one commiserates: that's terrible... "Yeah. I mean, I know she's alive," he mumbles, "but we broke-up two days ago." He brightens momentarily when I mishear and say, "Two years ago?" "Two days!" he laughs. "I hope I'm better in two years. It's ok. Yeah, I'm doing my work. It's good." He gestures towards the digital recorder on the table. "So, shall we?" He orders a Perrier from a passing waiter (he's been sober for many years) and we immediately get down to business. Flea first formed RHCP with frontman Anthony Kiedis in 1983. Surely, by now, they're all well used to playing in front of tens of thousands of people? "I care about them," he says about RHCP fans. "I care about the music. Which is a mission of my life: to be great, you know? There's times when it's brutal. There's times when I walk up on the stage and I'm very tired, but I always give everything I have. I try to be a channel for the energy to move through me." Do you get energy from the crowd? "Yeah, I get energy from them. I get energy from the music, you know? The music comes from a divine place and I try to let go and let the music move me, so I don't have to do it all. You know? I try to get out of the way and let the music do the talking." The Warrington band, who so tragically lost their lives in February, look set to claim top spot Viola Beach look set to claim a posthumous UK No. 1 this week. The Warrington band's self-titled debut currently leads the way, in what would be a beautiful if bittersweet triumph. The quartet Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe, and Jack Dakin along with their manager, Craig Tarry, died in Sweden in February, when their tourbus plunged from a bridge. The hotly-tipped outfit had played in Dublin just weeks earlier, with their impressive performance in support of Blossoms at The Academy further proof of their immense potential. In June, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin took time during their Glastonbury Pyramid Stage set to pay tribute, playing a video of the band's single 'Boys That Sing' before joining in; give that a watch below. It's good news for smaller and independent acts who want to get their music on radio or to journalists Yangaroo Music Ireland have launched their digital delivery service in Ireland, and the company hopes to make an impact in the European market. The company claims that the way the Irish media currently receives music from outside the three major record labels is haphazard and disorganised. New releases by the major artists have been sent digitally for a number of years and Yangaroo Music offers a service which streamlines the way media receive and access music. Advertisement Yangaroo is the market leader for radio stations in Canada, the USA, South America, Australia and New Zealand. Yangaroo and IASCA CEO Sinead Troy says, I chose Yangaroos technology above all others as it is not only the best in the business, but easily highlights local music, as demonstrated in Canada via their Maple System. IASCA are the first to bring this technology to Europe and the only songwriters association to licence this technology to create a new service that will benefit both their members, the songwriters and artists of Ireland, and Irish media." Working with the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI), all independent radio stations are pre-registered, and Yangaroo Music now invite all other media to join us by signing up at www.yangaroomusic.ie AUSTIN Texas' voter ID law, considered the strictest in the nation, will be significantly diluted for November's election, and the state will spend at least $2.5 million on an education campaign, under agreed terms submitted to a federal judge Wednesday. The deal between Texas and minority groups suing over the photo ID measure allows for voters lacking required identification to cast ballots by signing an affidavit, a process similar to safety nets in place in other states with voter ID laws. It also stipulates that Texas will develop a "detailed" education plan on voter ID requirements for the upcoming election and will have to continue those efforts beyond November. The state agreed to spend at least $2.5 million on its new effort, according to the filing, which is more than the roughly $2.4 million the state spent combined during the 2013 and 2014 election cycles on education outreach. Texas is being forced to dilute its voter ID law, considered the most restrictive measure of its type in the country, after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that it violated federal law by discriminating against minorities. The appeals court ordered a federal judge in Corpus Christi to find a way to accommodate those in Texas who don't have one of the seven required identifications for voting in the state. Lawyers for Texas and minority groups have been communicating daily by phone and email to hammer out terms for an agreement, according to a court filing last week that signaled the two sides were close to a deal on at least some terms for a remedy. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos still has to give final approval. A hearing has been set for next week. "We're very encouraged by this agreement. It provides critical safeguards for voters," said Danielle Lang, a lawyer with the Campaign Legal Center, which is representing U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, in the case. "We would not have agreed to anything that we didn't believe fully protected the citizens of Texas." Lang noted that lawyers for the minority groups could still file documents later Wednesday asking for the voter ID law to be softened beyond the terms agreed upon with the state. Attorney General Ken Paxton's office defended the law, but cautioned that the "case is not over." "In light of the Fifth Circuit's recent decision, we are working hard on saving all the important aspects of our voter id law," said Paxton spokesman Marc Rylander. "Given the time constraints of the November elections and the direction of the Fifth Circuit, today's filings pertain to a proposed interim remedy while we continue evaluating all options moving forward, including an appeal of the Fifth Circuit's decision to the U.S. Supreme Court." Under the deal filed Wednesday, voters in November's election would be able to fill out paperwork to swear that they could not obtain an appropriate form of ID to vote and would indicate the reason. Along with the affidavit, voters would present an alternate form of ID: voter registration card, birth certificate, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or some "any other government document that shows the name of the voter and an address." The affidavit will be translated into Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese, according to the filing. The proposed deal also builds in safeguards to prevent poll workers and election officials from dissuading someone lacking the proper identification from casting a ballot. It stipulates that the "reasonableness" of a voter's grounds for not being able to obtain necessary identification "shall not be questioned by election officials. And election officials also are not allowed to question or challenger voters about lacking an ID, while poll watchers are forbidden from communicating with any voter about presenting identification or the validity of why they lack the necessary identification Little brothers often follow in the footsteps of their older siblings, whether it is in sports, at high school or just wanting to tag along. For two brothers from Texas, the roles were reversed when little brother wanted to join the Army. Their paths eventually led them to Fort Leonard Wood for Advanced Individual Training. When Pvt. Jorge Bastida, 20, decided to join the Army Reserve, it wasnt something he expected his brother to do. For Jorge, it was a matter of pride and the opportunity to attend college to better his life. I always thought it would be pretty cool to wear the uniform and didnt think there would be anything to lose if I joined the military, Jorge said. Pvt. Felipe Bastida, 22, was already working as a truck driver in Texas when the competitive spirit, and the sense of patriotism, put him on the same path as his younger brother. One of the main reasons I joined was because our parents are immigrants, Felipe said. I feel really lucky to have been born here, and I feel like I had to do something to pay back our country. Mom and dad both immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in the late 1980s and first settled in Upland, Calif., before ending up in Victoria, Texas. The thought of their sons joining the Army wasnt expected at first, but mom, Tania Bastida, said the Family is proud of their two soldiers. Jorge added that it was because he and Felipe were breaking new ground for the Family. We are the first in our family to join the military, so I think its kind of a big deal to them, and to us, he said. The brothers attended Basic Combat Training together at Fort Jackson, S.C., but were not in the same platoon. However, their close proximity helped the brothers support each other all the way to graduation. Basic training was hard for us, Jorge said. Felipe did push me a little bit. We do compete a lot, even in the little things. The Bastida brothers then came to Fort Leonard Wood for AIT for motor transport operator school. It was here that Felipe started to take on more of a big brother role as a Soldier. It didnt go unnoticed by the platoon sergeants. Felipe is pretty much a good big brother and a hard-charger, said Staff Sgt. Reggie Page, platoon sergeant for Company A, 58th Transportation Battalion. Thats why we picked him as a squad leader. Hes like a big brother to the squad. For Felipe, it was just part of being a good soldier. He said he noticed the little things, such as soldiers talking in formation. He started to push those around him to do better. Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Luchs, Co. A platoon sergeant, said Felipe and Jorge are a big reason their squad is one of the best. Their maturity level is beyond what we normally see here at AIT, Luchs said. Also, their discipline and take-charge attitude is beyond reproach, and by far they are part of the top 20 percent in the class. Felipes squad is normally the one we dont have problems with. They take their job serious, and its been that way since day one. Following their graduation from AIT on July 19, the Bastida brothers reported to the 370th Transportation Company Detachment at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, together. Just like theyve done the rest of their Army careers. We feel so proud and happy they are together on this journey, Tania said. They are so close, and their bond is stronger than ever. An online exclusive is an article or story that does not run in the print edition of the Houston Herald. Typically 2-3 are posted online every Wednesday morning. It is another feature for users who purchase full web access from the Herald. Click here to subscribe for print, digital or both. 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. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. 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Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. ivists released cockroaches and locusts at two London branches of a UK restaurant-chain after the company was involved in a UK Border Agency immigration sting against its own staff.Byron Hamburgers, which has over 60 branches across the UK, is facing a growing backlash after it entrapped its own staff by calling them to a fake meeting which was in fact part of an operation to detain and deport illegal migrant workers.Activists, who have since started a campaign against the company, using the hashtag #boycottbyron, said that they released many thousands of the insects into two of the burger-chains London branches on Friday evening in response to Byrons dehumanised behaviour, Mail Online reported.A London branch was also forced to close on Sunday night after hundreds of protestors gathered outside.The raids, which took place across London on 4 July, saw immigration officers round up 35 people from Albania, Brazil, Egypt and Nepal, the Home Office has confirmed.Byron employees were allegedly told to attend a health and safety meeting at 9.30am, according to a report from The Guardian.In a statement published on its website, Byron said that it was unaware that any of its workers were in possession of counterfeit documentation until the Home Office brought it to its attention.Companies that employ illegal workers can be fined a maximum penalty of 20,000 per employee, which meant that Byron was facing a fine of up to 700,000 - but it evaded the penalty by colluding in the sting, Mail Online reported.The company said in its statement: The Home Office recognises that Byron as an employer has always been fully compliant with immigration and asylum law in its employment practices.We have cooperated fully and acted upon the Home Offices requests and processes throughout the course of their investigations: it is our legal obligation to do so. of the worlds most influential HR personalities, Lazlo Bock, stepped down from his role as head of people operations at Google last Wednesday (27 July).Holding the role for ten years, Bock transformed Googles workplace and culture: helping the company grow into the 65,000-strong workforce it is today.His influence has also reached beyond Google with his policies changing the fundamentals of how todays modern tech firms operate. His book, Work Rules! Insights from Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead, has also inspired HR leaders outside of the tech world.Part of the reason I wrote Work Rules! was to open source what weve been doing so that others can borrow, tweak, and adapt what weve done that works, he told Lifehacker.Bock radically changed Googles hiring processes from clunky methods such as using brain teasers on billboards into a much smoother system.I hate brainteasers, he told Forbes a few years ago. Theres no evidence that they suggest how people will perform on the job. Some of our interviewers still ask them. Im trying to get them to stop.He also brought in employee-friendly policies such as free meals, shuttle buses and take-your-parents-to-work days.His views have often gone against typical HR knowledge as well. For instance, he has said paying for outside training wastes money and is personally against performance reviews which he says are stacked.One of his most controversial policies was to fracture the pay structure by offering office superstars much more than their peers. One much publicised example involved two workers in the same area: one receiving a stock award of $10k while another received $10m because he was seen as an elite worker.Its hard work to have pay ranges where someone can make two or even 10 times more than someone else, he told Business Insider previously.But its much harder to watch your highest-potential and best people walk out the door. It makes you wonder which companies are really paying unfairly: the ones where the best people make far more than average, or the ones where everyone is paid the same.He is being replaced by Eileen Naughton, Googles vice president for sales and operations for the UK and Ireland. Naughton joined Google in 2006 after working at Time.Bock will continue to help Google in an advisory role while also consulting with other companies. bal accountancy firm KPMG is streamlining its graduate scheme recruitment process after internal research revealed that its millennial applicants were frustrated at the multiple stages of its old system.Applicants for KPMGs UK graduate scheme were formerly made to go through three separate assessments over several weeks, and research revealed that millennial applicants were not happy.The firm surveyed 400 new graduates who had applied for roles in the UK this summer, and found that over one-third were annoyed at how long the recruitment process took and the lengthy wait to find out the outcome of their application.Over half of those surveyed also expressed disappointment at not receiving any feedback if they had been unsuccessful.The firm says it has now overhauled the process: applicants will be assessed during the course of one day, and will receive a job offer or feedback on why they have not been offered the position within two days.Simon Collins, UK Chairman and Senior Partner of KPMG, said the company felt it had to make the changes to make sure it could compete with smaller start-up or tech firms, which tend to offer a faster recruitment process, to secure the best graduate employees, BBC News reported.Collins said: We are competing with the full gamut for the best brains and talent leaving university: getting our graduate recruitment right is crucial to the long term success of our business.Collins suggested that business leaders need to understand and address the fact that Millennials dont want to navigate a cumbersome and convoluted recruitment process when applying for a job.The move comes hot on the heels of other global companies which have changed their recruitment strategies to better suit millennials.US investment bank Goldman Sachs announced last month that it would scrap face-to-face interviews on university campuses in favour of video interviews, and accountancy firm Deloitte changed its selection process last year so that recruiters can no longer see which university candidates studied at. t week, a top law firm will be officially commemorating the Homosexual Law Reform Act in an effort to encourage inclusion and diversity across not only the organisation but the entire industry.We thought it was worth celebrating partly as an acknowledgement of how far New Zealand has come but also as a reminder that weve still got some distance to go, said Nick Wells, chief executive partner at Chapman Tripp.Student-led organisation Rainbow Law approached the full-service firm to arrange the event which will see Justice Matthew Muir speak at Chapman Tripps Auckland offices on the evening of August 8Rainbow Law is a student-led organisation for the LGBT+ community at Auckland Law School. The organisation offers support to those questioning their sexual and/or gender identity as well as linking students to the wider LGBT+ legal professional community.Justice Muir is the first openly gay High Court judge and his partner of 31 years, James Peters, was one of the members the Gay Taskforce that worked closely with the Hon. Fran Wilde to achieve homosexual law reform 30 years ago.Wells confirmed that the event is open to other Auckland firms and law students and said he hoped the occasion would send an important message to everyone in the industry.Like a lot of commercial activity in Auckland, youve got to bring your best game to work particularly in professional services sector but youre never going to bring your best if you dont think you can be in it heart and soul, said Wells. Thats what this is supposed to signal.The Auckland-based exec also said he hoped the event would show students that everyone is welcome as well as instilling some confidence in the up-and-comers.It allows them to say; Well, if I go into that interview and they dont make me feel welcome and I dont want to be in that environment then actually there are alternatives out there, he told HRM.It makes them feel welcome but it also sets a benchmark of expectations of how firms should behave and act, he added.Wells noted that law firms across the country are increasingly turning their attention to diversity initiatives a trend he welcomed warmly.None us are perfect not Chapman Tripp, not any of our competitors but were all working at this together as a profession and I think thats really strong, he told HRM.Its a long way from the law firms that existed when I started working a long time ago, he admitted. We tried to fit into a mould and Im pleased to say those days are long behind us and this new future is a better and healthier one for us all to be in. Conservatives have reaffirmed their support for a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, with certain conditions. Throughout its years in government, the party of former prime minister Stephen Harper consistently rejected calls for a national inquiry into the phenomenon. Advertisement In November, interim Tory leader Rona Ambrose announced a major shift when she said her party would support an inquiry led by the new Liberal government. Tory indigenous affairs critic Cathy McLeod released a statement Wednesday confirming her party's position after attending the formal launch of the inquiry in Gatineau, Que. But McLeod's words also suggested her party will be pushing for tangible results. As she has during past debates in the House of Commons, McLeod referred to her experience as a nurse in rural, indigenous communities in British Columbia, where she "too-frequently witnessed first-hand" violence against girls and women. Advertisement "There is a need to take action in a way that will make a real difference," she said in the release. She added that the party "supports the public inquiry, as long as it remains focused on reducing these horrific tragedies and achieving measurable improvements in the day-to-day lives of Indigenous women and girls." McLeod added perhaps pointedly that families of victims seek justice, "not just more resolutions and recommendations." She urged the government to provide police with the resources they need to arrest perpetrators and expressed concern about the "Liberals' movement away from appropriate sentences for violent crime." Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould has pledged to review aspects of the former government's "tough on crime agenda," including controversial mandatory minimum sentences. Harper warned of "multi-million" costs Harper long maintained that a formal inquest into missing and murdered indigenous women would only result in more study instead of action. He also expressed concerns that the costs associated with an inquiry could snowball. Advertisement "I would rather spend my time focusing on what actions we can take to improve these situations, prevent these situations, than have more multi-million dollar inquiries," Harper said when pressed on the matter in 2014. McLeod noted Wednesday that the budget for the inquiry has increased to $53 million from the $40 million that was earmarked in the federal budget a 33 per cent jump. The Liberals, she said, will "need to ensure that costs and timelines are kept under control as the inquiry moves forward." McLeod added that Conservatives will be watching closely to see if commissioners "materially improve on the more than 40 reports with recommendations that already exist." All MPs care about issue: McLeod Last December, McLeod rose before in the House of Commons to say there was not a single member of Parliament who isn't "horrified by the national tragedy" of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. Advertisement She also acknowledged that the Liberals pledge to call an inquiry reflected a call from many across Canada. "We offer our support to this initiative and for the government to fulfill its promise to these families," she said at the time. "My sincere hope is that the national inquiry will bring the answers, closure and peace that these families so desperately need." The speech received a standing ovation in the House. ALSO ON HUFFPOST: There's one secret to making your shareholders happy. A new study from analytics firm MSCI shows that overpaying your CEO is no way to guarantee high returns for shareholders. The study, which looked at 429 companies, showed that firms that gave their top executives greater equity incentives saw "below-median returns" between 2006 and 2015. Advertisement In fact, over the study period, shareholders made more from companies where CEOs were paid below the median levels in their sectors. Such firms made as much as 39 per cent more than those whose pay was above sector medians. MSCI looked at CEO compensation according to two metrics: "Summary pay," which includes stock option values on the day they were granted, as well as restricted share grants. It also looked at "total realized pay," which describes the actual money that CEOs pull in on an annual basis. Advertisement The firm arrived at its results by comparing CEO pay against shareholder returns, looking at both annual and cumulative pay for the decade-long study period. This is what the research found: The chart above shows a "small but consistently negative relationship" between higher CEO summary pay and 10-year total shareholder returns (TSR). It found a similar trend when looking at cumulative summary pay: Finally, it compared cumulative returns against CEO compensation that was both above, and below median levels. Advertisement And, well, just look at what MSCI discovered: In other words, MSCI's research found little to no evidence that paying CEOs more makes shareholders more money. Meanwhile, a study of executive pay in Canada yielded results that were all over the map. Last year, The Globe and Mail hosted an interactive tool by Global Governance Advisors that showed little, if any correlation between CEO compensation and company performance. Magna International CEO Donald Walker, for example, was on the high end of compensation, but the company also saw strong shareholder returns. Advertisement The opposite was true of BlackBerry Limited CEO John Chen, who was among the highest percentile in terms of pay, but whose company performance ranked with the worst. Also on HuffPost: maroke via Getty Images School classroom with school desks and blackboard in Japanese high school A transgender Edmonton student's privacy was breached after teachers called her by her male birth name, according to a recent Alberta's privacy commissioner's office ruling. Keri Ridley, an adjudicator for the office, ruled last week the Edmonton Public School District broke the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Advertisement School agreed to keep gender identity private Before the girl began attending the school, which isn't identified in the ruling, she and her parents met with school officials. She explained that she is transgender and has yet to change her birth name. She specified that she did not want her classmates to know that she is trans. The ruling states "school officials agreed" and made a pledge to the student and her parents to keep the information private. One of the accomodations the school agreed to was that during roll call, teachers would read out her chosen name instead of her birth name. However, her birth name would remain in the school's computer database. Advertisement Teachers outed student's name On six different occasions, the school admitted in the report, teachers read the girl's birth name aloud during roll call sometimes even displaying the name on a projector screen from the computer system. "On one occasion a supply teacher loudly discussed with the [student] the process to have her name changed," the ruling noted. Ridley ordered the school district to make reasonable arrangements to protect against the disclosure of students' personal information in future. "This is a landmark ruling." Last year, Alberta Education mandated all school districts draft a policy to protect LGBT students. The Edmonton district's draft policy is a good step toward protecting students, Ridley stated in her ruling. Advocates say this unfortunate situation is proof of the importance of having such policies in place. Advertisement "I think it's a landmark ruling and a victory for transgender students across Alberta," University of Alberta professor Kris Wells told Metro News. Once youve been outed, you cant go back, Wells added, in an interview with the Edmonton Journal. Marlene Hanson, the district's supervisor of diversity education, said the district is learning how to handle similar situations to protect transgender students' rights. Hanson told CBC News, "We know that it was very frustrating and disappointing at the time. And certainly we regret that it happened and we acknowledged that to the family," Also on HuffPost: Vancouver police are investigating whether an attack on a man speaking Turkish was a hate crime. Dino Demir was sitting on the patio of a Starbucks at Davie and Denman streets, and using the cafe's Wi-Fi to speak to a friend in the U.K. He moved to another part of the downtown cafe so as not to bother two other customers near him, but then moved back to the patio, where the reception was clearer, according to the Vancouver Sun. Advertisement 'Go back to your f***ing country' Demir noticed the two customers, both men, were gesturing at him. One was drinking beer and holding a six-pack. He told CTV Vancouver the men seemed to be upset that he was speaking Turkish. He said something about my language," Demir said. "Youre talking a foreign language and you came into this country, go back to your f***ing country.'" Demir said he told the men that they shouldn't be drinking in public, and asked the man where he was from, according to the Sun. Then he punched me in the jaw," he said. Advertisement Dino Demir said two other Starbucks patrons seemed to be upset that he was speaking Turkish. (Photo: Facebook) Demir was punched twice in the face and thrown into the bushes. He is currently recovering from a broken nose. Police are recommending a charge of assault against a 54-year-old Vancouver man, and are reviewing whether the attack meets the criteria of a hate crime. Demir told CTV he felt targeted because he was speaking Turkish. He said he's a citizen, a taxpayer, and a "proud Canadian." Before the Mount Polley Mine disaster struck two years ago, our communities of Xat'sull First Nation and Likely lived in the reassurance from B.C. and the company that no such tragedy could ever happen. On August 4, 2014, our lives and the landscape were changed forever, as the impacts of mining are forever. Both our communities rely on the Quesnel Lake watershed for our way of life and economic prosperity. Yet the Mount Polley disaster -- which sent 24 billion litres of contaminated process water and tailings into the lake -- endangered all of that. The mine waste has moved well off of the mine footprint, and is loose within the Fraser River watershed. Advertisement Contaminated water from a mine tailings pond leaked into the waterways around the Mount Polley mine in 2014. (Photo: Canadian Press) Two years later, it is still unknown what the long-term effects will be, and numerous local families and businesses have suffered great losses and hardship. Many of us doubt we can be made whole again -- by the mine or the province. For example, previous to the disaster, harvesting and processing up to 200 salmon per Xat'sull family was at the heart of our food security, teaching our children about the land, and engaging in cultural practices such as trade and sharing with the less fortunate. Mount Polley responded to our ongoing concerns about contaminated salmon by delivering the equivalent of three tins of salmon per Xat'sull member last winter. The total lack of understanding and inadequate response -- from a company who boasts excellent First Nations relationships -- is stunning and revealing. Advertisement Likely and Xat'sull remain deeply concerned about water. After many months of local pressure to secure safe drinking water, the mine provided (inefficient) domestic water filters for Quesnel Lake homeowners. It continues to use an under-performing water treatment plant that discharges mine effluent to Quesnel Lake, has not finalized a long-term water management plan and recently asked the Ministry of Environment to relax water quality requirements at the water treatment plant. It has left local residents fuming. Have we really come to the point where wanting clean water makes us dissidents? The Mount Polley mine in B.C. (Photo: Imperial Metals) B.C. has not fined nor penalized the company for this disaster. Instead it granted hydro tax breaks -- even as parent company Imperial Metals made a first quarter profit of $17.7 million for 2016. This was done with the full support of the B.C. Liberal government who has benefitted financially from the donations of this company. Local businesses and residents have received nothing. While the province announced some changes to the mining code in July, the updates are not strong enough to prevent another Mount Polley disaster. Advertisement In 2015, the province's Mount Polley Independent Expert Review Panel estimated two massive tailings dam failures will occur every 10 years. The recent B.C. Auditor General's condemning report on mining in B.C. stated the obvious: mining self-regulation is not working and a thorough overhaul is required. Communities across the province are still at risk. Workers clean up the lake in July 2015 after the leak. (Photo: Imperial Metals) Xat'sull never gave consent to the re-opening of the mine, nor to the ongoing discharges into the lake. Our traditional economic system lives off the interest, not the principle, of the land, to ensure long-term security. Current extractive economies are unsustainable and spend the principle in less than a generation. For more than 100 years, the Quesnel Lake watershed produced billions of revenue dollars for government and industry through tourism, logging and mining, and a once-profitable Horsefly River sockeye salmon run. Downstream farmers, First Nations, and sport and commercial fishers also depend on the integrity of the Quesnel Lake watershed for their livelihoods. It's all connected. The precedents being set now will impact future disasters and how they are addressed. We all must demand that health and safety be put before one company's profits, that sustainable economies be supported, and that local communities have decision-making powers over their own future. Advertisement Xat'sull and Likely know that it's easy to be good neighbours when you respect and understand each other. It's time for the mining industry and B.C. to act in the best interest of impacted communities and ecosystems, not just the bottom line. Take a moment to read a love story today. There's a constant flow of negative news lately with fear being the catalyst. Knowing that fear's counterpart is love I invite you to spend 10 minutes of your day today getting lost in love stories. You may have heard I gifted my wedding bands and engagement ring. To do so, we asked Canadians to submit their love stories. Nearly 400 couples submitted. I appreciate the opportunity to give these rings away. Advertisement I'm publishing these stories because they are a reminder of love and an opportunity to step away from our selves to celebrate others for a moment. It should be noted that we are not be asking people to vote, compare or judge but instead to read, share, relate and hope. LOVE STORIES Lisa In the name of full disclosure, this entry is not for me. However, it doesn't make it any less special. This entry is really for my best friend, Samantha. Samantha and Ben's love story is exceptional. They met by chance in Toronto, and totally hit it off, but on their first date he revealed that he was moving to Hawaii in a month. Sam called me the next day in tears because she knew she had found someone just as extraordinary as her, and didn't want to get her heart broken yet again. As her sounding board, I told her to take the gamble, and to have the best month of her life. A week before Ben was to leave, he asked Samantha to come with him. This love story has travelled to Hawaii, to Australia where they got engaged in front of the Sydney Opera House, and is now backpacking across Europe on the #sbmegatrip. At the end of their European adventure, my best friend will be settling down in Hawaii with her soon-to-be husband who found his dream job. I realize that this entry is just one of hundreds you will receive, and that there are many amazing couples who are all worthy of such a generous opportunity. But as I write this, I realize that these rings represent more than just a joyous future for one special couple--they will be adjoining many love stories together. I can't think of anything more romantic for my beautiful, wears-her-heart-on-her-sleeve best friend. She deserves the privilege to carry our stories alongside her own, and I know she will do so proudly. Advertisement Terri-Lynn Matthew and I met in university. We instantly became close, going on crazy adventures together. We were only friends, nothing ever happened, but I loved him with my whole heart right from the start. After Matthews' mother passed away in 2003, he went to Australia. I supported him, hoping that while he was away he would realize we were meant to be. When he came home, he was still emotionally unavailable, we had a bit of a fight and stopped talking. I moved away to Saint John NB for school, but also to get away the heartache. While away, Matthew met someone else and got married. When I moved back to Halifax, we slowly started to become friends again. Except this time Matthews' wife us from seeing each other. So once again, we didn't see each other for a few years. When we found each other again, it was I who was in the relationship. In fact, Matthew was leaving his wife, but I was leaving for BC to be with my boyfriend. A few months before I was supposed to leave, MBF, you were here in the city, again playing at the Carleton, and Matthew and I came to see you play. He says that after hearing, "love is an easy thing to miss" he needed to tell me how he actually felt about me. 3 weeks before I was supposed to move, I went to Newfoundland to see my grandparents, and when I came back, Matthew had taken a shuttle to meet me at the ferry in Sydney. Somewhere on the 5 hour drive back to Halifax, in the mountains of Cape Breton Nova Scotia, Matthew Donald Lent told me he loved me. That he had loved me for 12 years and wanted to be with me. But that he wasn't asking me not to go. He would wait for me for the rest of his life but he knew that we would be together someday. I told him I needed to go, because I couldn't have a life of what ifs. The day before I was due to move, Matthew left, with my car to drive to BC, all alone. An hour before my flight, I put my then boyfriend, on a flight to BC by himself. I phoned Matthew who was now in Quebec, and told him to come home. That I chose him, and I was staying right where I was. After 12 years, we had finally found each other. That was almost 3 years ago, and 2 weeks ago we celebrated our sons first birthday. Like every couple, we have our ups and downs. But or highs outweigh our lows, more good days then bad. We work hard every day for a love that was 12 years in the making, and 100% worth the wait. I love him more and more every day, first as a friend, then as my lover, and now as the father of my child. Caitlin My love story is ordinary. It's the classic "meet cute". We met in university. We shared the same major. I noticed him one particular day because he was wearing flipflops and it was -30 degrees outside. He had his laptop open, and the background on it was a great white shark. He was drinking a chocolate milk. We became fast friends. We were both with other people at the time, but still kept in touch. My heart broke when finally, we were both single, and he said he was going on a date with another girl. It didn't work out, thankfully for me. One night, over Scrabble, he kissed me, and the rest is history. It's been over six years of passion, joy, anger, sadness and love. It hasn't always been easy. Love is never easy. We spent a lot of time apart, as his job as a literal circus performer in a high dive act took him over the world. We graduated, and I decided I wanted to move to London to work. He never questioned it, and he never asked me not to. He supported me, encouraged me, and even moved with me for part of the time I was there. I know that I ended up, somehow, with the most kind, loving man in the world. He knows how to make me laugh when I am sad, but also how to drive me absolutely crazy. It's funny how a person can make you so happy but so angry at the same time. I know that when I get a haircut, he will be waiting with two kinds of candy- one for if I like my haircut, and one for if I don't. I know that I said our love story was ordinary, but I wasn't being truthful. Our love story is extraordinary because we make it so. We choose to have an extraordinary love. We work at an extraordinary love. It's all worth it because we get to spend each day knowing that we have, and always will, the one person in our life who will always be there for us. I wanna make it with him. Advertisement photos by Allison Seto President Barack Obama's approval rating got its own convention bump and stands at its highest level since just before his second inauguration in 2013. Obama's approval rating dipped to 50% after the Republican convention, but has risen to 54% in the wake of his party's convention, with 45% disapproval according to a new CNN/ORC Poll. That's the most positive approval rating of his second term. ---------------------------------------------- Get complete coverage of breaking news on CNN TV, CNN.com and CNN Mobile. Watch CNN live or On Demand from your computer or mobile device using CNNgo. ---------------------------------------------- Adam Mooz Photography/Flickr Last week, Justice Catherine Bruce, a judge from British Columbia, made history in Canada and in North America in general. She ruled that John Nutall and Amanda Korody, two Canadian convicted on terrorism charges, were instead entrapped by the RCMP. What was called in the media as the Victoria bomb plot, was rather a pure creation of the 240 RCMP agents who were paid in almost one million dollars in overtime money. Both defence lawyers of Nutall and Korody and Justice Bruce named it: "manufactured crime." The unusual factor here isn't that entrapment was used, but the decision of the judge to accept it as one. Advertisement In fact, in 2014, Human Rights Watch released a report named: "US: Terrorism Prosecution Often an Illusion." The document closely examined 27 federal "terrorist" cases in the U.S. and showed how, among others methods, entrapment became a systematic tactic adopted by the federal American law enforcement agents to "create" terrorist plots and later "foil" them. This was what the deputy director at Human Rights Watch and one of the authors of the report concluded: "But take a closer look and you realize that many of these people would never have committed a crime if not for law enforcement encouraging, pressuring, and sometimes paying them to commit terrorist acts." Furthermore, the report points to the fact that "nearly 50 percent of the federal counterterrorism convictions since September 11, 2001, resulted from informant-based cases. Almost 30 percent were sting operations in which the informant played an active role in the underlying plot." Advertisement More recently, it was revealed that Omar Mateen, the Orlando shooter who killed 49 people in a gay nightclub in Florida, was also a subject of an entrapment attempt by the FBI in 2013. According to the media reports, Mateen "did not bite" and then was let go by the federal police. How did Mateen come to their attention? Did they decide to "lure" him because they already knew of his mental health issues, of his desperation? That is unclear. In Canada, no such an investigations were conducted to determine the role of police forces play in terrorist plots. From media reports, it seems there is always an informant involved in most of the high-profile Canadian terrorists plots: the Toronto 18, and the Via Rail plot. Even in the recent arrest of the Larmond twin brothers from Ottawa, both accused of wanting to join the ISIL, an informant had been paid $550,000 by the RCMP to befriend the suspects and another additional $250,000 was paid to him to testify for preliminary hearings that never happened. In the current international context of terrorism, these convictions fit very well with the fear narrative that our civilization is threatened by "Islamic terrorism." In the case of the Via Rail plot, not only was an informant used to encourage the accused to move on and act upon their ideas, but it is worth noting that one of the accused, Chiheb Esseghaier, has mental health issues and the other accused has financial problems. These two facts are not random, they are crucial elements especially since it was mentioned in the Human Rights Report: "The FBI often targeted particularly vulnerable people, including those with intellectual and mental disabilities and the indigent." John Nuttal and Amanda Korody were clearly vulnerable people. They were struggling with drug addiction and were on social assistance. Chiheb Esseghaier was another vulnerable person. Dr. Lisa Ramshaw, a forensic psychiatrist who interviewed him and watched him closely concluded that he suffered from psychotic disorder, most likely schizophrenic. However, the federal judge, Michael Code, rejected the argument that Esseghaier wasn't criminally responsible for his actions due to mental illness, and consequently, Chiheb Esseghaeir and his co-accused were convicted with life sentences without parole. In the current international context of terrorism, these convictions fit very well with the fear narrative that our civilization is threatened by "Islamic terrorism." That the justice system would always try to be on the safe side and not order the release of people even if there is evidence that they wouldn't have committed the crime without the entrapment. The mere thoughts and talk of waging "Jihad" combined with the presence of an informant who incited and even provided material support came to be accepted as enough evidence for a terrorism conviction. With Bill C-51, or the Anti Terrorism Act 2015, the threshold for those sort of convictions have even been lowered, since thoughts and talk about promoting terrorism are enough to consider you as a terrorist. Advertisement The ongoing silence of the Liberal government regarding Bill C-51 is an implicit acceptance of what the previous government achieved in silencing, among others, freedom of expression under the name of national security. Living in the west end of Toronto means that it's easy to get sucked into that area's restaurant vortex. So it isn't often that I'm able to venture to the east end of the city and explore its dining scene. And what a shame that is. Riverdale, Leslieville and the Beaches have countless independent spots that offer fantastic food. Just off the top of my head, I can think of Ruby Watchco, Ascari Enoteca, Brooklyn Tavern and Sushi Marche. And of late, I can add The Peasant Table to this list. The Peasant Table is self-described as a gastropub that specializes in Northern Italian cuisine and includes regional influences from the Adriatic Sea and Eastern Europe. The owner, Chef Boris Babic, is a veteran of Canada's culinary scene for over 20 years; most recently, he was with A1 Autostrada and Michael's on Simcoe. Advertisement Babic chose the Riverside District to open his restaurant. But this neighbourhood holds a bit of culinary notoriety; it can be tricky to attain success in this area as a restaurateur. Unlike west-end spots where awareness and patronage can build very quickly, on the east side, it requires a bit more patience and for families to warm up to new spots. However, Babic isn't concerned. He knows the community and its residents like the back of his hand because he happens to live a few blocks down the street from his restaurant. Babic does have additional aces up his sleeve to win over the crowds. Along with seasonal menus, a uniquely curated drinks list, sourcing locally from companies like Cookstown Greens and Abate Poultry Farm, one of the primary elements is offering an unbeatable deal. Case in point: the surf and turf for two on the menu. At a jaw-dropping price, it's a steal and probably the cheapest price in town for this kind of dish. On the plate: 14oz Black Aberdeen rib eye steak from Nebraska. It is wet-aged in house for 45 days, grilled and served with a mountain of grilled shrimp and calamari. Completing the meal is a forest of broccoli rabe, charred asparagus and a gold rush of crispy smashed potatoes. Another draw would have to be black ink cod fritters with smoked paprika aioli -- but with a slight lament: they look like lumps of coal. Aesthetics aside, they're nuggets of creamy pleasure. The beer batter makes for an ethereally light and puffy fritter. Crispy on the outside, the cod itself is flaky and tender on the inside. Advertisement Black ink makes an encore in the form of homemade pasta. The nero di sepia is a simple but divinely delicious dish. Ample amounts of grilled calamari and shrimp get tossed with al dente pasta. It's finished with roasted tomatoes, parsley, chili flakes and agilio e olio. While the mains and seafood-oriented dishes were strong, the antipasti and salads needed work. The burrata, direct from Italy, was undoubtedly creamy and unctuously rich. It was paired with poached pears and truffle honey prosciutto -- but the latter component was burnt and taking a bite of it obstructed any ability to further enjoy the other items on the plate. Then there was the barbabietola salad with gold and red beets, spinach, quinoa, goat feta, sunflower seeds, red onion and orange thyme vinaigrette. While it was a spectrum of vibrant colours -- and even with all its ingredients -- it was a flavour dud. The beets weren't sweet enough to balance the other ingredients on the plate; as a result, the raw onions and salty feta overpowered the dish. Advertisement Despite a technical execution issue and a salad misstep, The Peasant Table offers an array of comfort and modern dishes with generous portion sizes. It is a welcome addition to this neighbourhood and I'm keen to make a return visit to try more items on their menu. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: Written by Elisa Krovblit Every city has its hotspot -- the coolest community, the hippest 'hood. It's the place where the stylemakers go, where the trendsetters do their thing. It's about knowing where to go, where to be seen. The area may evolve over time, as it becomes more mainstream -- as the vibe trickles down into the masses and mainstream knowledge. The "cool" may move to a less popular destination, and those that want to be "in the know" follow. So how do those cool communities compare? Here is the consensus, but if you've got your own ideas, or your favourite neighbourhood didn't make the list, take YPNextHome's Great Canadian Neighbourhood Survey to add your faves as contenders! Toronto: West Queen West Advertisement Queen West has long been the home of Toronto's scene. It sprawls along Queen West for miles and spills into side streets and alleys with unsigned entrances to places so avant garde that you need to know exactly where to go in order to find them. Bars and lounges cater to the cutting edge, where DJ beats and busy crowds find each other late into the night. Queen West has its staple of bars and music venues that have endured over the ages, like The Horseshoe and The Cameron House. There is a huge selection of restaurants, and patios here are just made for people-watching, like the Black Bull and The Rivoli. While the main drag of Queen West will always have its allure, it's become more mainstream and the epicentre of cool has migrated west -- to West Queen West -- a continuation of the community just a bit further out of the way of the downtown strip. While still undergoing gentrification, the area has come alive with the old stores and dilapidated buildings having new life breathed into them and becoming the new urban destination. West Queen West makes the grade and was recognized by Vogue magazine as the second-hottest neighbourhoood in the world! Montreal: Pointe St. Charles Advertisement A village within the city, Pointe St. Charles -- The Point -- is an old Irish neighbourhood with amazing new bars and restaurants. On the water, this quiet community has been gentrifying and becoming the hot new destination. It's got the Marche Atwater just over the bridge, and new businesses, bars, cafes, restaurants, lounges, boutiques and stylemakers are moving in, renovating old spaces and building new ones. Ottawa: Hintonburg The country's capital has some cool power. There are quite a few neighbourhoods that everyone goes to when they go to Ottawa, but the one to watch for is Hintonburg. Originally established as a small blue-collar community, Hintonburg has gone through hipster gentrification. Now you're more likely to find the most perfectly roasted coffee bean than you are to find inner-city grit. A charming and tranquil community, its denizens trade in the artisanal, there is a strong movement to the process, of providing quality, originality and integrity over big brands and cheap eats. The Hintonburg Happening is a community celebration to recognize its artisans, artists, performers and community residents. Food, drink, style, design -- the nine-day festival showcases what this community prides itself on being. Calgary: 17th Ave. SW Advertisement There's a coolness about 17th Ave., and everyone knows it. It has a lot going on, especially when it comes to the best restos, lounges and dining. From foodies to shopping to nightlife and a little bit of everything in between, a stroll down 17th Ave. keeps it real. It's a bit rock 'n' roll, a bit streety and a bit hipster all in one. It's a fun, vibrant area and those that call it home or claim stake to its strip usually have the personality to match. Full of independents, each shop, each business and each flavour brings a unique feel to the community. People are trying to go beyond the average and embrace individuality. Vancouver: Fraserhood With Main Street becoming just a little bit "yuppified," Fraserhood takes its place as the current hotspot and coolest community. Part of the larger Kensington-Cedar Cottage, the whole area's got some interesting things going on, but Fraserhood is at the centre of it all. With the trendiest restaurants and people-watching places that are made to be seen, Fraserhood has the cachet -- and this is where the cool kids are at these days. From its working class roots, it's grown into an authentic and richly colourful community, where you'll find gorgeous artisan pizza, great indie clothing, some spectacular design and some great indie culture developing. Take the Great Canadian Neighbourhood Survey: Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: But beyond the theory the net result of that is more and more people unable to buy their own homes, unable to live on the wages they earn from one job, having multiple jobs unable to provide for their children the things theyd like to be able to provide. Dealing with the symptoms requires a Government to do something in order to increase pay and security. Its actually that simple. I have a confession - I'm no expert on this subject. I've not even got a PhD yet. As a sales pitch for this article I realise it's not the strongest. But if recent events are anything to go by I'll be on Newsnight by the end of the week, head-to-head with Evan Davis. Because Brexit showed that politics has changed. Expertise is now suspicious. Facts? Well they're not to be trusted. And evidence deserves nothing but side-eye. Post referendum, 'common sense' is King. Sounds great doesn't it? How could you possibly argue with common sense? But those two words are some of the worst in politics. You hear them everywhere. When people say the government should run the economy like a household budget, it's common sense that's meant to be talking. If only George Osborne had visited millions of homes each night to shout that 'it looks like bloody Blackpool illuminations in here'. Budget balanced! Advertisement Or when there's a discussion about how to solve crime and someone says we need to lock up every criminal and swallow the key. Even if it's exaggerated to say the average Briton commits one crime every day, if we did that, we better start building more prisons. We face an almost endless to-do-list of deeply complex problems. Pick almost any of them and there'll be someone with a 'common sense' approach to solving it. It's snake oil, but people seem more tempted than usual to swallow it. Enter stage left, Trump and Farage. This is now mainstream politics, 2016. Common sense is the last thing politics needs. Because, with respect, we get things wrong. A lot. We excel at it. Take everyone's favourite pre-Brexit policy issue: benefits. The public assume that one quarter of working adults are unemployed (a fair few seem to think they're all sat at home every day watching Jeremy Kyle and are appearing on the show). Never mind that the real figure is just 5 per cent. It must be higher. It feels more. The same with the number of people in the UK who are Muslim. The figure isn't 21 per cent, as many people believe, it's around 5 per cent. Advertisement Or think about how much land we've paved over in the UK. Have a guess. Unless you said 2 per cent, you're way off the mark. On issue after issue you see the same thing. Immigration, crime, the economy - you name it, we get it wrong. But that's completely understandable. Politics involves some very big, complex issues. Unemployment alone involves globalisation, fiscal policy, monetary changes, business strategy, education, psychology, to name just a few factors. But it's far easier just to think that it's a problem of lazy people refusing to work. Which is probably why common sense is so appealing; it's a call to inaction. It convinces us that we're already experts. No deep understanding of an issue or policy required. No research. No study. No checking of facts. Deep down, we just know. Common sense is the politics of the pub. The University of Life. Everyone's enrolled, and people think they're excelling at every subject. The problem is, there's no textbooks and no one to mark your work. Anecdote is your lecturer. And it's teaching everyone a different syllabus. Advertisement It might teach Luke from London that gender equality isn't a problem because he works in PR and all his managers are female. Plus, just look at the heels on our new Prime Minister! But the fact, women are still under-represented in boardrooms, politics, the legal profession...and on and on. It might teach Tess from Tunbridge Wells that young people are all trying to outdo the Rolling Stones in their heyday. Something must be done! Think of the children (etc.). But take a look at the stats. Rates of drinking, drug use and under-age sex are all plummeting. This is the danger when evidence is trumped (sorry) by everyday experience and common sense. If someone thinks climate change is a hoax because it's been rather chilly up north in December, I don't want them anywhere near environmental policy. Call me elitist, but I want the best brains on the job. Which is why the referendum was so depressing. We no longer recognise the value of experts and expertise any more. Before the vote it was shown that Leave supporters didn't trust academics, economists and businesspeople on EU membership. Ironically, you'd think it was common sense to recognise that they might have a clue what they're talking about. More so than an Average Joe like me or you. Certainly more so than those who claimed the EU is run by faceless bureaucrats because they didn't know the name of their MEP (presumably common sense doesn't extend to understanding how Google works). Petros Giannakouris/AP In the clinic where I provide medical care in Greece there is a child's drawing on the wall. Crayon colours on tattered paper show a family in front of their home; the house is still standing, and the family is still intact. The drawings next to it are of guns and explosions. Outside the clinic, bleaching beneath the Greek sun, there are rows of tents; accommodation for almost two thousand people. Refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan have lived under these canvases for months already. They have been stranded after Europe closed its borders and the EU devised a controversial and morally compromising plan to return refugees to Turkey. There are more than fifty camps like this in Greece, for tens of thousands of refugees. In this camp, like most others, roughly a third of the inhabitants are children, and many are unaccompanied by family. Advertisement People here have traveled far beyond breaking point in journeys they never wanted to undertake. They have fled conflict and survived dangerous and desperate voyages. Many have bullet wounds; all have lost homes, families, friends, and certainties. They have been broken and are trying to rebuild: in prayers at the camp's makeshift prayer room; in classes at the small school staffed by volunteers; at the couple of market stalls that have sprung up selling cigarettes, shampoo, and vegetables; and at the chair set in front of a broken mirror and shaded by a scrap of tarpaulin where a resourceful Syrian barber gives his customers back some dignity. Many people carry smartphones with photographs attesting to interrupted lives and happier times; like the crayoned house, these images represent a precious past and a longed-for future. Today Mahmood is rushed into the clinic, carried by a brother, followed by his mother. Unconscious, unresponsive, but still breathing. The nurse swiftly attaches an oxygen saturation monitor, straps on a blood pressure cuff, and urgently pinpricks a blood glucose, while I try to establish what happened. 'He just collapsed,' our translator says, condensing the story. Mahmood is from Syria. I have a feeling that he should look older than his fourteen years, but he doesn't, he just looks like any other young teenager in Europe. 'Mahmood, can you hear me?' My best efforts in Arabic elicit no response. But the numbers come out fine: his heart rate is just a little high, his breathing just a little shallow. Behind me his mother sighs. It has happened again. These episodes have occurred intermittently since the family left Damascus. A young boy's psychosomatic response to trauma. We stay with Mahmood until he feels calm and able to leave. Advertisement In just a few months, Orange Planet Pictures will release a film to reveal the life of a person we believe to be of great significance in 21st Century animal welfare. 'To The Moon and Back' summates the life of Jill Robinson who has worked within China and Vietnam to bring an end to the unimaginable horrors of bear bile farming. Two years ago, when I first decided to take on this project, I was asked why. Even now, I'm asked the reasons behind my intention to make a documentary to tell Jill's story. So, to answer that question as simply and directly as possible, these are my reasons. You may remember that during the summer of 2015, a then unknown American dentist called Walter Palmer felt it was within his rights to hunt and kill a lion called Cecil. The global condemnation was vast, vitriolic and entirely justified. But I noticed from various Social Media outlets that among the anger and sadness there was also a feeling of hopelessness. In fact, I myself felt disempowered and thoroughly inert in the face of something that appeared to be 'quite legal'. How could that be? In the most graphic way, I realized that just because something was within the law doesn't necessarily make it right. The mass feeling of inertia was the most worrying aspect as millions of animal loving people across the world questioned how they could make a difference when something so abhorrent was sanctioned at the highest level. What can one person do against the imperious march of trophy hunters when a Government says it's OK? Advertisement Well, I guess I was fortunate because I had met Jill Robinson. If ever there was a person to inspire at times like that it was Jill. In China, bear bile farming is still legal. When Jill started her charity Animals Asia in 1998 to end the practice, it was significantly more prolific and less known that it is now. And the point is this. When she started, Jill was much like the millions of angry, upset and emotionally prostrate people who saw countless images of a bespectacled dentist draped over a macabre collection of dead African mammals. But, with nothing more than her resolve, Jill peacefully and intelligently began a movement that has now saved hundreds of bears, created two beautiful and expansive sanctuaries and is well on the way to ending bile farming for good in Vietnam. Jill is not wealthy or privileged and the path was predictably difficult. But, she did it anyway. She witnessed animal suffering that was perfectly legal in a politically charged and socially complicated country yet overcame the fury, emotion and inertia to make a change. And when she made that decision, she wasn't really any different from the rest of us. So, it's with that in mind that I needed to make this film; to prove beyond doubt that with the right resolve and attitude WE, ordinary people, CAN take on a bogus legal framework in a country that perpetuates needless cruelty. The second reason for making this film is to demonstrate how Jill, a Westerner, has brought together large groups of native people in China to tackle animal rights issues themselves. When she arrived in China in the early nineties, there was one animal rights group. Now there are over two hundred. And these are young, dynamic and organized groups who are as appalled and angry as anyone else to see moon bears caged for three decades for their bile, polar bears withering in zoos and dogs being slaughtered for the meat trade. Over two thirds of the staff at the Animals Asia sanctuaries are Chinese or Vietnamese and I have seen with my own eyes how tirelessly these people work. It's a remarkable situation that's often overlooked in the West. At the time of writing this, thousands of bear paws have been seized on their way from Russia to China. I saw some of the anti-Chinese remarks on Twitter which are not atypical following news stories such as this. However, the tide is changing and thanks to Jill's ability to inspire welfare groups in China, it's no longer appropriate to tarnish all Chinese with the same brush. Advertisement Finally, the way in which Jill has effected these changes in Asia has created a blueprint for a peaceful, intelligent and 'inward-out' approach. There are no 'shouty' politics, no threatening rallies and no bolshie Western superlatives in the face of unpalatable Asian 'traditions'. Jill has shown that, to put in place real and meaningful change means working WITH bear bile farmers, dog meat traders and zoos. Real change comes from the INSIDE. That's why I wanted to make this film. And I've always said that if just one person sees it and does what Jill's done for animal welfare then the benefits to conservation will be immeasurable. The trailer for Jill Robinson: To The Moon and Back is available now : https://vimeo.com/172926148 I hate it that we have voted to leave the EU. It looks like national self harming - done because lots of people are angry for lots of reasons and the vote leave leaders channelled that anger by repeating things that even they probably didn't really believe. They did so without knowing what would happen if we left the EU - and they still don't know and they don't have a plan. Lots of leave voters had lots of different reasons to vote that way and perhaps some didn't listen to the repeated lies by the chief leave campaigners - but it seems likely that lots of people are blaming the EU for things that are not the fault of the EU. It seems that lots of poorer areas in the UK voted for Brexit - did these voters think that the EU was entirely to blame for their problems and that now, left to the tender mercies of the Tory ruling elite, they will be better off - surely not? Advertisement Of course we can't just ignore the vote - even though it was called by Cameron for cynical political reasons - who having screwed everything up - resigned and left other people to clear up his mess. Because if we ignored the referendum result - it would invalidate the idea of any other referendum in the future and we would lose a valuable democratic tool - that damage is done. Brexit is going to be a complex and messy process - and involves leaving an immeasurably complex relationship with the EU and it will probably do us economic harm in the long run. No one had a plan for Brexit - especially not the bunch of Leave politicians who led the campaign and they are still making it up as they go. One thing seems clear - that if we are to exit from the EU we will have to come to terms with the other members over trade and one issue will be central - that of the free movement of labour. The Europeans are likely to demand that we agree to some form of free movement for workers in exchange for free access to the EU markets. It might be that we cannot have the vital economic advantages of free trade with EU countries without some form of free movement of labour - something that would continue to bring the migrants into the UK; some thing that some pro-Brexit campaigners said they wanted to stop. Advertisement Liam Fox one of the pro-Brexit Tories - now with joint responsibility for negotiating Brexit along with David Davies and the chief clown - Boris Johnson - has stated that free movement cannot be a part of any future deal with the EU. Fox is quoted as saying that they must 'implement the views of the British people" over free movement. It is on this point that we should be very careful not to concede more than the vote result demands. The voters were asked to say wether we should leave the EU or remain a member - no more than that. They were not asked to consider the nature of any future relationship - they were not asked to vote on future trading relationships or an free movement. The referendum gave democratic authority to do just one thing - to cause this Country to leave the EU and we should do it causing the least harm to our Country as we can. Pro-Brexit politicians can say that the voters demand an end to free movement of labour from the EU - they can insist that the voters demanded anything they like - but the referendum asked one question only. Any other claims are only opinion and should not shape the future of this Country not on the authority of that one vote. Anything else is likely to be about pro-Brexit politicians imposing their own agendas in a way that could further damage our future and we should make sure they don't get away with it a second time. Advertisement It is as credible to argue that the pro-Brexit voters voted as they did did so for a whole host of reasons - vague ideas about sovereignty - just not liking the idea of foreigners coming to the Country - but also legitimate concerns about immigration and how we cope with it. But the referendum demands just one thing - we leave the EU - no more. One thing seems increasingly clear - no one had a plan on how to the do this and don't seem to have one yet - and surely no one thinks that is good for the Country and our children's future? For most, travelling with your siblings is something only endured when you're younger: an experience limited to annual family holidays in Spain; brutal fights in the back of a car during a claustrophobic road trip around France; or trying to drown each other in a swimming pool somewhere in Europe. Once those golden days are over, summer holidays end and you move out of home, travelling with your brother or sister isn't something many of us tend to do. In fact, for the sake of peaceful family relations, it's something actively avoided. We've all been there. I remember sitting sulkily around a table in a cafe in France, refusing to talk to anyone in my family, before my Dad dramatically stood up and yelled across the entire restaurant: 'this is the last holiday we're taking as a family, ever', before tripping over the bench behind him and cracking his camera lens. Despite my Dad's premonitions, nearly 15 years later, we still travel together. Push past the memories of seeing my Dad naked on a nudist beach in Lanzarote, or being sick on each other after one car journey too many, and we've found that travelling together is a great and genuinely enjoyable experience. Most of the time. Advertisement From travelling with someone who you don't have to make small talk with, to being able to openly tell someone you're homesick and want to go home, travelling with someone as close as your sibling has lots of benefits. Below are our experiences of travelling together; experiences that definitely don't include pushing each other into swimming pools. Laura's Experience It's a little ironic that Claire and I run a travel blog, given that travelling makes me anxious. With a dislike of airports (so crowded); a growing fear of flying (all those miles of air below you and nothing to hold you up); and genuine spatial dyslexia, I'm not the tranquil traveller I'd like to be. If I'm travelling with friends or a boyfriend, the whole thing can be quite stressful. Whether it be trying to force a smile on the plane, or staring at a map with the realisation that I've walked in a 5 mile circle; the pressure of making sure everyone is having a great time can sometimes ruin a trip. Travelling with Claire is different. When travelling with someone you've known your entire life, who also witnessed your Dad's debut on the nudist beach, there's no pressure to be felt at all. They've sat through those endless road trips with you; been on that plane when everyone got food poisoning and was violently ill; and also been bored out of their mind, wandering around yet another museum in Northern France. There is no need to impress here, no burden to make sure they are having the time of their lives. Travelling with a sibling instantly eases the pressure. Travelling with a sibling can also be reassuring. When I was at university, I decided to go on an ill-fated trip around Europe with a friend. A week in and things weren't going well. There were public fights, tears, stony silences and the eventual termination of our trip. I flew home after seeing just two countries and with a friendship that never really recovered. However, travelling with a sibling means there is a mutual understanding that however much you irritate each other, you're not going to bail on one other. You'll look after each other and things will blow over, because you've come through much worse before (the time Claire and I lost our minds during our university finals and nearly killed each other, for example). Travelling with a sibling means reassurance and safety; knowing they've got your back and you have theirs. Advertisement Lastly, travelling with your brother or sister is important. It makes for better memories, a better appreciation of each other and a stronger relationship. Claire and I also have another brother and sister, who we also travel separately and together with. We're by no means the Brady Bunch, but as adults we've been able to spend time together that we perhaps wouldn't in our everyday lives and as a result, share brilliant memories. Don't get me wrong: travelling with a sibling isn't always fun. Claire and I fight, annoy each other and often wish we were travelling with someone else. But with 30 years of history behind us we know that 5 minutes later, we'll both be fine and ready to carry on with our adventure. That's what siblings do best. Claire's Experience People often ask if I enjoy spending time with Laura, which I find odd. Of course I'm going to enjoy spending time my twin sister: she's my other half - my biological, real half. Laura and I are very similar, even down to the smallest things such as when we feel hungry, when we feel tired (just after lunch) and we both share a deep hatred for walking tours. Travelling with Laura is really like travelling with myself: it's easy, stress free and for the most part, fun! There is one element of travelling with a sibling, however, that can result in arguments. This is the total lack of politeness found only between brothers and sisters. Laura and I have no fear of telling one another exactly how it is, or how much we're not enjoying an experience. This, of course, can result in hurt feelings. Advertisement When travelling with a friend, you generally attempt to maintain a constant degree of politeness, even if on the inside you're hating every moment of an experience. Internally you might be dying a little, but externally you continue to smile. Who wants to come across as the moody, high-maintenance friend on holiday? Not me. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) there's none of that between me and Laura. In fact, on a recent trip to Rotterdam, Laura bluntly and loudly pointed out that for the last hour I had been uttering three sentences, on repeat: 'I'm thirsty, I need a wee, I need a sit down'. I was ordered to stop. Like a small child, I was publicly shamed. Although incidents like this can cause tension, for the most part, cutting out the politeness (the only way siblings know how), is actually a blessing when travelling. It saves time, ensures everyone is having fun and prevents any silent resentment creeping into your relationship. Together, we have donned fur hats in Russia, battled crowds in Tokyo, toured the White House in Washington and searched for fairies on the Isle of Skye. These experiences surpass any memories of sibling tensions or rivalries. Travelling with a sibling allows you both the time to really appreciate one another; something that can often be lost in day-to-day family politics and general life. A giant humpback whale breaching the waves right in front of you is a magnificent sight - a once in a lifetime experience. Photographer Eric Smith recently captured such a sighting on camera, but it went viral for all the wrong reasons: as those aboard looked on in wonder, a man was flicking through Facebook on his mobile phone and missed the entire thing. The photographer told CBS News that a whale and her calf were "flapping, breaching, jumping, mouths eating fish," but the man never budged. He has five photographs of the man who was busy with his phone as the whales danced around the surface of the boat. The caption below the picture on multiple sites reads: "A sign of the times?" Similarly, Microsoft recently pitted a goldfish against a millennial in a proverbial 'stare down' - a game of who can focus longer? The goldfish won. Studies link the goldfish's victory (and our increasing distraction) to our growing dependence on disruptive technologies that bombard our thought processes and demand our attention. Is it true that smarter technology is making us all dumber - and if it is - should we be worried? Is there a need for businesses to do something about it? What would happen if we invested the time technology saves us more wisely? Thinking slower to work better Daniel Kahneman's seminal book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, contains the central thesis that there are two modes of thought: 'System 1' is fast, instinctive and emotional; 'System 2' is slower, more deliberative and more logical. Difficulties arise when we try to solve large, complex problems using fast 'System 1' thinking. When 'System 2' thinking is deliberately put in to action, with the brain given enough time to allow it to percolate, great things can be achieved. In fact, many of the smart technologies that stand accused of dumbing down a generation would have been designed using 'System 2' thinking. Advertisement What if the time we gain from new technologies could be put to good use in pursuit of slower thinking? In future, the organisations which embrace a two-speed working environment are the ones that will thrive. They will save time by utilising the most relevant and up-to-date digital technologies, many of which will then be operated using more automatic, faster 'System 1' thinking. But rather than instinctively using these time savings to cut costs, forward-thinking companies will reinvest this money back in to the processes that require slower, 'System 2' thinking. Companies that follow a Design Thinking approach already work in this considered way. Both they and their clients appreciate the long-term value that's derived from seeking to solve design problems through thoughtful, human-conscious methods. They harness the best of both the digital and human worlds, by respecting the output from each. More complicated than it sounds But this is more complicated than it sounds and requires us to stay in the problem longer. We all have a propensity to jump to a solution as quickly as possible. It's uncomfortable staying perplexed. We have been programmed to believe that time is money, hence a quick project (or quick answer) is a good project. The boom of yesteryear saw us all put our faith in getting things done quick quick quick, yet in today's environment we find ourselves face to face with some really complex problems which have too many moving parts. Quick thought doesn't allow one to consider all of the issues and to truly understand the problem. "Move fast" and "Agility" have become the new business mantras, yet Einstein famously said: "It's not that I am so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer..." In a world where volatility is the new norm, thinking deeply enough and long enough will allow us to come up with something truly differentiated. Advertisement Google X, the software giant's secret "moonshot" lab, where they seek to create world-changing ideas, promotes this type of 'System 2' thinking. The company culture encourages its workers to chat, be curious and creative. Google glasses and self-driving cars would never have generated enough oxygen to leave the incubator if they had based their innovative design approach on speedy 'System 1' thinking. In navigating our digital future and mulling over how best to help staff and customers win the proverbial stare-downs in the years ahead, there is a desperate need for slower, more deliberate thinking through some of the most complex problems the world has ever faced. Reinvesting the time technology saves us into 'Systems 2' thinking could be the elixir that helps smart companies move ahead in the innovation race and turn a sign of the times into business advantage. Who knows - they may even be able to re-invent the goldfish bowl altogether. Sources: Thinking, Fast and Slow What it's like to work at Google Khizr Khan Challenges Donald Trump To Take A Naturalization Test I challenge Trump to take the naturalization test with me any day. His is demagoguery and pandering for vote. A divider like Trump can never be the steward of this country, he said. Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim American war hero who gave Donald Trump a lesson on citizenship at the Democratic convention last month, wants the GOP nominee to take the U.S. naturalization test.Khan, who became a United States citizen after emigrating from Pakistan in 1980, issued the challenge on Monday in reaction to a Trump foreign policy address in Youngstown, Ohio, in which the businessman proposed instituting an ideological test to visa applicants before allowing them to enter the country. Under the test, Trump said, applicants would be subjected to extreme, extreme vetting in order to screen out any who have hostile attitudes toward our country or its principles.But Khan, who lives in Virginia with his wife Ghazala, rejected such rhetoric.This is my country too, Khan told The Huffington Post in an email. We must make it safe as Muslim Americans it is our obligation to keep our country safe. We reject all violence. We support better immigration policies. We stand as a testament to assimilation and being part of patriotic America as anyone else.He then challenged Trump to take the U.S. naturalization test along with him. Some of you will have read about the horrifying attack that took place at a disabled care home last week in Japan, and some of you will not. If you haven't, you're not a bad or uninformed person; you're the proof that this story did not receive adequate attention particularly from the Government. The attack took place last Wednesday about 30 miles south-west of Tokyo and has been stated to be Japan's worst mass killing in post-war history with 19 deaths and more injuries. The man who committed the murders used to work at the care home and was known to the Japanese Government as having a severe hatred of disabled people. In a letter to the Japanese Parliament, he demanded all disabled people be euthanized. He was committed to a psychiatric hospital after the letter but was released 12 days later as the doctor believed he posed no risk to others. An odd decision considering he offered to carry out hundreds of killings of the disabled himself. If you want to read more about the events of the attack I would recommend The Guardian's coverage. What I read was sickening and I was reminded of the all too real vulnerability disabled people deal with every day. I reacted to the news on a personal level as it was my community that was the target of a violent attack; however I do not feel this discredits my demand that the murders receive more attention. An able-bodied person will feel horrified by the news, but only a disabled person can think "it could have been me" and want to do everything in their power to ensure it never is. Advertisement I read the statement issued by The White House, but found nothing that commented on the impact of the attack on the disabled community in Japan or in the UK. There was, and still is, no official statement made by the UK Government either offering sympathy to the victims or condemning the hate crime against the disabled. This is a huge reason why you could have missed this story. The lack of any acknowledgement by the Government almost made me as upset as the crime itself. It is unbelievable and disappointing that 19 vulnerable people who were murdered by a person who once looked after them didn't seem to warrant an acknowledgement from the Government and didn't start a public campaign of solidarity that attacks on other minority groups have received. Part of the reason for this is that no one is calling this attack what it is, a hate crime. It has been called a 'knife attack' or a 'mass killing' but what it is, is a mass murder by a man who hated and targeted the disabled and this cannot be ignored. The complete lack of any official statement by the UK Government illustrates the extreme lack of attention disabled issues and the disabled community receive. After the attack I emailed Penny Mordaunt, the new Minister for Disabled People, why she of all the members of Parliament, had not made a statement about the murders. I got a reply from one of her assistants directing me to the 'Prime Minister's calls with international leaders' webpage where there was one sentence about halfway down where it says Ms May expressed her condolences but then moved on to how important Japanese investment is in the UK. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but there isn't actually any mention of disabled people or the fact that this was a shocking hate crime on vulnerable people. And while this sentence is "public" in the loosest sense of the word as I was unable to find it myself with all the research skills a law degree provides, it is not an official statement which can only be interpreted as meaning this horrific event wasn't important enough to warrant one. Advertisement When I asked Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of the most celebrated Para-Olympians in the UK and member of the House of Lords, for her thoughts on why the attack went so unnoticed she had this to say. "I find it upsetting that there is little public outcry when disabled people are murdered. Once again it shows that many disabled people are not considered the same, and that as a result their life has less value. Even quietly it sends out a message that disabled people are worth less and this impacts on disabled people in subtle ways that won't be as harsh as hate crime (although it might be), but makes them believe they are worth less." Sebastian Schipper / Laia Costa, Frederick Lau, Franz Rogowski / Drama-Thriller / 2016 / 15 / 138mins Behold the true power of the butterfly effect on the bigscreen - it's German thriller Victoria. After leaving a techno club in Berlin, Spanish music student Victoria (Laia Costa) bumps into a group of four drunk, dodgy young lads. One of them, Sonne (Frederick Lau), takes a fancy to her, inviting her to join them again and again till she eventually caves in. It's as creepy as it sounds. Shame on you, Victoria, for dragging us along like the sober friend that JUST WANTS TO GO HOME. Making dangerous decisions at 3am with a head full of shots isn't the best way to get an audience to empathise with a lead protagonist, especially when we are meant to be satisfied with the 'love makes you do crazy shit' school of thinking. Advertisement Oh yes, Victoria falls head over heels for Sonne. Knowing that premise isn't such a bad thing. On the contrary, I feel it adds to what the film has to offer, which isn't much. The first hour seems to be some quasi-romance, a literal 'brief encounter', and their crimes seem consigned to their contraband from a cornershop. But remember: films reek with naivety. Your gut feeling is to tut and roll your eyes - surely this girl can't seriously consider these men to be safe? She could quite easily walk away from the start. Character development within a romantic structure is lame but little do you know director Schipper is luring you in for the sucker punch - a dick move in some cultures, but this time he's doing you a massive favour. There's a progressive symbolic construction throughout Victoria, building toward a violent finale. Our leads attempt to steal a car, rob a store, fight some people, smoke weed on a roof, all before the main twist and the utterly dreadful, cathartic conclusion. The single shot style works ridiculously well. Managed seamlessly, gracing scenes with realist discretion, the photography is nothing short of a technical masterpiece. You're an omnipotent presence following Victoria's self imposed descent into chaos - it's the film trip of a lifetime, a realist counterweight to the fantasy of Birdman and the GoPro indie comedy of Hardcore Henry. Borderline spontaneous dialogue contributes to Victoria's aura. We're there, with them. Involved. A crime that seems as real and possible as any other. A Bonnie and Clyde on Adderall, if you will. This reference resonates with the leads too. If anything we learn more about Sonne than we do about Victoria - given the implication that we are observing from her perspective, this seems fair - but the title does little to justify Sonne's brief, yet destructive, impression on Victoria's life. Advertisement Unless this, then, is the night that comes to define her life. Indeed it must be. Morality and mortality have never seemed so aggressively real. First hour aside, this European hit has few rivals, technically or aesthetically. What else: it's a classic in the making, even if it is reserved for a cathartic thriller. Film as a Film - 4 / Target Audience - 4 / General Audience - 3 GRADE B+ For more film & music gossip follow @THEMOVIEGUVNOR on Twitter. Harry also writes his own blog. As a party we relied too much on one man and his vision for this country, we have 1000's of volunteers up and down the country at our fingertips that were dormant under Farage's leadership, the public see the same people time and time again in the press, this is why some voters do not see us as a credible alternative, charisma and charm can only get us so far. Farage's departure has left us with a massive decision, a decision that will make or break our party. We must not have a divide like the Conservative party has with the North, we need a leader who can unite not only the party but the entire country. Our job is no longer to protest the establishment but to become a force to be reckoned with that sends a chill up the spine of Labour and the Conservatives. As a party we have the enthusiasm, talent and determination to take this country forward and with a little more professionalism, strategy and structure we can become an unstoppable force. With the current state of British politics UKIP needs a leader with a true vision and who will take us from being a party of protest to being a party for the future of the United Kingdom. No means no and this is regardless of the views of Theresa May, we must fight to secure the best possible deal for the United Kingdom outside of the European Union. A graphic used by CCHQ during the 2015 general election showed Ed Miliband in the pocket of the SNP, well this is now the Conservative party. Theresa May has been Prime Minister for a matter of days and has already said she will not invoke article 50 until the SNP agree; but they will never agree. We need to be constantly talking about Brexit and making sure that the 17.4 million people that voted to leave the European Union get what they voted for. However our job is almost done as far as the European Union is concerned. Our MEPs will slowly start to pull out of Brussels and with that our message must evolve and change. Advertisement Jonathan's vision for UKIP is exactly what I had hoped for. He understands that we must reach out to the 13.6 million people who voted leave on June the 23rd but did not vote UKIP in the general election. The traditional Labour voters - especially in the North East - have been abandoned by the champagne socialists who claim to represent them. The Labour party as too busy holding secret meetings and fighting with each other to fight for the working class. Conservative voters will also be looking closely at UKIP because of one women, Theresa May. The Conservative party don't really care and I am still of the opinion Vote Leave didn't really want to win the referendum but wanted to settle a long battle that was once fought on the playground at Eton between Boris Johnston and George Osborne. As an ex Conservative I know their grassroots membership will not stand for the scenario that played out during the leadership election. UKIP will become more and more appealing to the grassroots membership and electorate if Jonathan becomes leader. The Conservative party have denied the British public of the best opportunity to get the best possible deal when leaving the European Union and they will not forgive or forget those actions if the negotiations are mismanaged. To appeal to the 13.6 million voters that voted to leave but not for UKIP we need a strategy and Jonathan knows that. He is ready to establish task-forces for a wide range of tasks in upcoming elections. He is ready to form groups to help defend current council seats that were won in 2013 as a priority with others dealing with by-elections, targeting winnable seats and one for the 2020 general election with contingency plans in place in case of an early general election. Advertisement Jonathan also understands the need for funding to fight target seats like Hartlepool in 2020. UKIP's message needs to develop, the quality of literature needs to improve as does the parties media image and campaign materials. The constitution of the party needs to be updated which should bring power back to the party membership. A reform of the party membership structure is also on the cards with Jonathan as leader. Jonathan knows that the leader's job is to provide direction and accountability at every stage but not to micromanage it. Throughout the UK we're used to seeing a familiar shadow on our pavements as birds fly over-head. But in the coming years a new object could be filling our skies and casting a new, unfamiliar shadow - drones. With our shopping habits changing retailers are increasingly looking at new ways technology can help boost sales and drive online traffic. Major retailers are therefore looking at drones as a way of using technology to speed up delivery times. However, statistics show that Brits still love to shop inside physical stores, particular when purchasing food and drink. Therefore, Artificial Intelligence is being used by big brands and supermarkets alike, not to boost online sales, but to improve the in-store experience and to keep people buying products inside physical stores. Advertisement "Big data" and AI may be terms commonly heard in tandem with tech giants like Facebook and Google, but it's becoming increasingly important in all walks of life. And it just may affect what you're looking at on supermarket shelves. According to recent figures released by the Office of National Statistics, the amount of money spent online by Brits has almost tripled - in 2008 just 5p of every 1 spent in shops was spent online but by 2015 this had risen to 13p. It is clear that the UK's shopping habits are changing and supermarkets face a challenging few years, especially when you couple this with the uncertain post-Brexit market conditions. However, by investing in technology, like AI, both leading supermarkets and brands can gain a competitive edge over their rivals and keep shoppers in store. Despite the increase of internet spending, nearly nine-tenths of all shopping in the UK is still done in physical stores. This rings particularly true when Brits shop for food and drink, so it's clear that the UK will not be moving exclusively online any time soon. Advertisement This figure may sound extremely positive for bricks and mortar stores but supermarkets and big brands cannot rest on their laurels and assume this will continue. Having items out of stock on the shelves is a huge issue and will simply turn shoppers out of the store and onto their laptops. For example, at Trax, we worked with a global brewer who was noticing a dip in sales of beer in the weekend. Trax's AI discovered that an average of one in five of the brewer's brands were out of stock on the weekend across stores in a number of different countries. We have all experienced the situation where you go into a store for a particular item and find it is out of stock or simply nowhere to be found on the shelves. This happens more often than not during particular events, like a heatwave, when certain items go off the shelves faster than normal. The reason this happens is because both supermarkets and brands have been essentially using outdated methods to monitor stock levels, with a sales executive manually walking around the store with a clipboard and pen. This method is not only cumbersome but also prone to human error. With the march of internet shopping continuing, supermarkets must innovate to keep shoppers in store. In today's fiercely competitive retail environment understanding how products look, how they perform, and how they persuade on the shelves has never been so business critical. So from Nestle to Coca-Cola these brands need big data in real time and technology like AI makes it possible to analyse and gain reliable data from thousands of shelves in less time than it takes to boil a kettle. To give an example of how AI is being used, with Trax consumer packaged goods manufacturers can take a single photograph, on a smartphone, of a supermarket shelf and generate data about the performance of every brand on that shelf within minutes, due to Trax's deep-learning AI system. Advertisement This means store managers can ensure that the shelves are constantly stocked, predict trends, and see which promotions are working particular well. So, the next time you walk into store and see a new beer on the shelf, for instance, its positioning in the supermarket, the stock levels, the promotion launching the product, and its pricing could all well be influenced by artificial intelligence. In my last blog post I described how New Labour's neo-liberal recasting of education as a means to an end rather than as an end in itself which had left the question 'what is knowledge' wide open and handed the coalition government the opportunity to define what counts as knowledge and whose knowledge counts. Michael Gove, then Secretary of State for Education, grabbed that opportunity with both hands and ran and ran and ran with it, elevating those things he, as a privileged white man, valued and disregarding everything else. Gove saw the fallacy of New Labour's claim that knowledge had only instrumental value and took the opportunity to give a Conservative answer to the question what counts as knowledge which is now entrenched in Britain's educational policies and structures. At a speech at Cambridge University in 2011 Gove praised: mathematics, English, the sciences, foreign languages, history and geography ... [as] rigorous intellectual disciplines tested over time whilst overseeing an educational policy which devalued less traditional disciplines like media studies. The 2013 National Curriculum focused on rote learning and emphasised the importance of Standard English and learning the chronology of British history. Gove was having direct influence on what counts as knowledge and he is conservative, with a small 'c'. Gove preferred the traditional in terms of culture, knowledge, and teaching method, commenting on Gove's approach to knowledge writing in 2013 John Yandell, of the Institute of Education, characterised Gove's view as: Knowledge, like culture, is something to be preserved, transmitted from generation to generation, not something to be made. He further argued that Gove's conservatism extended to his view of teaching methodology, holding that Gove prefers the traditional didactic methods with the teacher venerated to the 'sage on the stage'. This view of teaching methodology as the student being a passive vessel waiting to receive knowledge from the teacher is exactly what Paulo Freire was famously describing, and critiquing, in his Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Freire frames a pedagogy of the oppressed as a system that must be co-intentional, that is one in which the student and teacher work as partners discovering reality and that there must be a praxis to education that is about transforming and recreating that knowledge as part of the process of liberation. Praxis, for Freire, is a combination of action and reflection, he argues that dialogue is not enough but that people must come together to act to change their environment by reflecting upon it. Advertisement It is in his second chapter that Freire sets out his infamous model of students as empty vessels that passively receive knowledge which he describes with an analogy to banking. In his analogy he describes the teacher as the subject and the student as the object of a system where knowledge is deposited by the teacher in the student: This is the 'banking' concept of education, in which the scope of action allowed to the students extends only as far as receiving, filing, and storing the deposits. Freire is critical of this because it fails to generate real knowledge. Real knowledge, as Freire calls it, requires the teacher and the student to engage in communication, inventing and re-inventing knowledge and throughout the process being both teacher and student. Gove's vision of education relates closely to the banking model described by Freire, further Gove favours this absolutist idea of knowledge with limited scope for more modern ideas of relativism and this is clear from the 2013 version of the National Curriculum which has as its stated objective the introduction of children to: the best that has been thought and said In his speech to Cambridge University Gove stated that: Richard Wagner is an artist of sublime genius and his work is incomparably more rewarding - intellectually, sensually and emotionally - than, say, the Arctic Monkeys. He praised: the genius of Pythagoras, or Wagner ... the brilliance of Shakespeare or Newton, ... [and] Balzac or Pinker and he derided To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, and Lord of the Flies whilst lauding the work of George Eliot, Jane Austin, Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy. That Gove is saying one form of knowledge is more valid than another is concerning, that he derides every form of knowledge that reflects a cultural history other than white Englishness is prejudiced against everyone who doesn't identify with white English culture. Being taught someone else's culture, rather than your own, is a form of emancipation, it is also less engaging and more difficult. Gove's educational ideals are what Freire describes as cultural invasion. John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is challenging and arguably racist but it does explore issues of migration and exposes the reader to challenging ideas. Lord of the Flies explores the juxtaposition of individual welfare as against the common good. To Kill a Mockingbird directly challenges the racism of the American Deep South, as well as challenging, through the character of Boo Radley, prejudices around mental health. Conversely George Eliot focuses on subject-matter that is undeniably provincially English, whilst Jane Austin explores the romantic lives of the English gentry, Charles Dickens, although often critical, only departs from exploring life in Victorian London to go as far as Paris in A Tale of Two Cities, and Thomas Hardy is described by Wikipedia as: in the tradition of George Eliot Gove's model of education has contributed to the growing disenfranchisement of minority groups, particularly young Black men, which in turn contributed to the London riots of 2011, yet the coalition government, and the subsequent Conservative government have pushed on with the reforms he heralded, as Professor David Gilborn noted in 2013: Alena Gedeonova via Getty Images In a time of budgetary cuts and the paring down of public services, the Prime Minister's pledge of 33million to go towards eradicating modern slavery is significant. It sends a clear signal not only that slavery is unacceptable - an 'evil' as Mrs May put it - but that it is a reality in our society and something that we all collude in. The exploitation of vulnerable people is due to market forces dictated by those that have purchasing power - whether that is for cheap fashion on the high street or sexual gratification on the back streets. It should be welcomed that the Prime Minister has acknowledged that slavery and exploitation are part of a process which can begin abroad in countries where there are few employment opportunities. Young people have little choice over their futures other than they need to earn money to support themselves and their family. It is quite right that international development budgets should stimulate local economies not just improve literacy rates. Indeed a first class degree is of little use to a young woman if she isn't able to secure a decent job in her community - she is immediately vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation - work that she has no choice but to take. Advertisement Exploitation exists under the umbrella of organised crime and it is - as the name suggests - highly professional and strategic. It is also hidden and brutal. This is why the police and statutory agencies face a tough battle, which not only relies on intelligence and police operations but adequate victim support to empower slaves to escape. It must be remembered that many people who find themselves in slavery come to the UK from countries which are often run by corrupt officials, where the police are not always trustworthy, and where there is no such thing as social support. Gangs will be locally based - the traffickers will know the victims' families, which is the main hold over a person - there is no such thing as an idle threat by these criminals. Despite the seemingly gloomy situation and impossible task that the Prime Minister has set, there is an opportunity for the Church to step up to the table; to provide a unique service that is absent from governmental strategies to combat modern slavery - that of loving the stranger. The Church of England has an unrivalled network across this country. We might have the media claiming that the church is in decline but nevertheless one million people in this country alone turn up regularly to hear what their vicar or lay minister has to say about furthering the Kingdom of God. The Anglican Communion is a huge resource with strong leadership in the most deprived countries of the world - places which have the highest instances of slavery and exploitation. We also must not forget that as the established church we have representatives in the House of Lords who hold the government to account. The Bishop of Derby has been working closely to end slavery for a number of years in the House of Lords and also in Derby Diocese. Through his work on the draft Modern Slavery Bill and the consequent landmark legislation Modern Slavery Act 2015, the value of partnerships between external agencies and the Church to eradicate slavery became apparent. After the success of the first human trafficking summit in Derby over two years ago, the Derby and Derbyshire Modern Slavery Partnership was established and the Diocese has a place at the table - the only faith group. Through Bishop Alastair's leadership the local authorities realised that the Church is quite a tour de force - it has relationships with a cross range of organisations that the councils and police could not cultivate easily. The Diocese has made an offer of support to the people who are paid and legally responsible for eradicating slavery - it is based on loving the stranger with no strings attached. Advertisement We now have a strong working relationship with Derbyshire Police, Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council who value assistance based on compassion and social conscience rather than statutory obligation. Parishes across the Dioceses help through prayer and hosting awareness raising events to include everyone not just the faithful. The Mothers' Union has taken on the need of the police for supplies for victims by fundraising and producing emergency packs. This came from a conversation with the lead police officer who wanted the victims in his station to have dignity and feel that they were safe - but time pressures meant that his officers couldn't go shopping to the local supermarket after a raid. Through the local voluntary sector and a church based charity which works with prostitutes, a pilot project was established to see how best to look after victims whilst they were deciding on their own future. Creating a safe space is one of Derby Diocese's potential offers. Many thanks to the Prime Minister for taking modern slavery seriously and funding our dedicated public sector; but exploitation will not stop without the help of the public. The Church is in the position of moral leadership which we should use both to inspire and also support all of those touched by this crime against our humanity. Philippa Rowen, Chaplain to the Bishop of Derby Want to know the secrets of Facebook's algorithms? First, please enjoy this gif of a jumping ferret: Literally that was it. By clicking on this link on Facebook, and staying on for twenty seconds, you've massively increased the probability of my article showing up on your friends' news feeds. Thanks. That's the point of algorithms - if you understand the rules, you can play them by doing the same thing over and over again (ask Donald Trump). And that's what we want from our digital tools - we expect to talk to other people if we dial their number, we expect webpages to load if we have a functional internet connection, and we expect our augmented reality video games not to crash the ONE time a Pikachu shows up. And we are understandably upset when our technology does not do what it promised us, and we get justifiably suspicious if the tools we use start showing patterns that do not serve to make our use easier, but rather to influence us. Advertisement Take for example Facebook's heavily criticised and arbitrary censorship policy. In 2015, Pakistani actor and director Hamza Ali Abbasi posted a status condemning the Charlie Hebdo attacks: Facebook later restored the post and apologised for the error, and the whole incident is not entirely surprising: Mr Abbasi used several words which would likely flag his post as hate speech, which is against Facebook's community guidelines. It is also possible that the number of the words flagged would rank it on a scale of "possibly offensive" to "inciting violence", and the moderators reviewing these posts would allocate most of their resources to posts closer to the former, and automatically delete those in the latter category. So far, this tool continues to work as intended. And, of course, this is all speculation: tech giants like Facebook and Google must guard their algorithms carefully - though they espouse transparency in the name of progress, the entire foundation of their existence rests on the secrecy of their code. We are largely comfortable with this, happy to feed them enormous amounts of our data because what we get in return in the form of connectivity and information is immeasurable. However, as companies that have emerged from democratic ideologies they must remain bound to these same principles. Advertisement Earlier this month, another of Hamza Ali Abbasi's posts was deleted, this time for mourning the death of a 22 year old "militant" in the Muslim majority region of Indian occupied Kashmir. I use the inverted commas, because following the death of Burhan Wani, 200,000 people attended his funeral. To them, this was a man fighting not simply for an aimless religious cause, but for freedom from police brutality for himself and the people who contributed to his phenomenal social media reach who had suffered like him, and continued to suffer after his death: 11 were killed in riots following the funeral, amidst accusations of police brutality. This illustrates a dangerous point: we are allowing our technology political clout, in defining what a "militant" is Facebook automatically assumes the right to decide what can be censored. A social media tool that becomes structurally integral to society will inevitably be granted the power to shape it - a fact not lost on Nikhil Pahwa, the founder of an Indian telecommunications news website as Facebook sought to bring free Internet to millions in India at the cost of net neutrality. Despite aggressive marketing from Facebook, which washed the streets of India and the notifications of their users (one user reported ""FB just listed an uncle's account as having signed up to support Free Basics. He passed away two years ago.") active and intelligent campaigning from Indian political activists ultimately led to an effective ban on anything resembling Free Basics in February earlier this year. Regardless of bitter comments by Facebook executives about "anti-colonial sentiment" damaging the Indian economy, ultimately vocal support, spread on Facebook itself, demonstrated the power of the people in the largest democracy on Earth. And yet this democracy crumbled in Kashmir in recent weeks: newspapers were banned for four days, and mobile coverage for twenty as violence raged in the valley, leading to 49 deaths (of which only 6 were not due to police action) , and several Pakistani journalists, activists and film makers posting about the situation found their accounts blocked. A discussion group started by a New York anthropology student for Kashmir Solidarity was also removed. Following criticism of censorship, Hamza Ali Abbasi was subject to a further 3-day ban from Facebook. Advertisement It's no secret that my generation loves the social media, and society over the last decade has come to rely on it. But if the same company whose leaders encourage women to lean in can simultaneously delete all traces of social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch (brutally murdered by her own brother in the name of 'honour') then that openly calls the integrity of their product into question. While it's easy for Facebook to claim a "technical glitch" removed the video of the fatal shooting of Philando Castile, they cannot hide behind the complexity of their infrastructure as their biases become increasingly clear. Ultimately, as with any other technology, it is essential that Facebook's consumers are responsibly aware of how their product works, lest the tool's intention swallows their own. Edinburgh is a festival city for the whole of August, come rain (it does) and shine (likewise) we locals struggle to negotiate our day-to-day lives through the festival crowds, but we do so with a smile. The festival is largely contained in the city centre and even in town there are pockets that remain untouched by the madness... so where do the locals go? 1 Behind the Book Festival - just a block or two to the west on Queensferry Street you'll struggle to find a hopeful actor giving out a single flier. This city centre street is home to one of the capital's best ice cream shops, Affogato and to traditional jewellery and antiques emporium, Goodwin's. 2 Go North North of George Street (check out the amazing view) nestles some of Edinburgh's finest independent boutiques. On Thistle Street you'll find 21st Century Kilts (fancy a leather kilt, sir - this is your kind of shop), Kakao by K (modern Scandi design-led clothing), Jane Davidson (one of the UK's top design boutiques), ALC (think denim) and Pam Jenkins (the shoe shop of your dreams). Advertisement North and West - Hill House Studios host whisky tastings every evening till the 14th at 8pm. Further north on Queen Street you'll find Scotland's oldest bespoke tailor, Stewart Christie for all your traditional tweeds. Clientele include a smattering of Scotland's glitterati and the country house set. 3 Honour Edinburgh's storytelling tradition by heading to two of the city's finest independent bookshops. Golden Hare books in the suburb of Stockbridge (20 mins from the centre to the north) and The Edinburgh Bookshop in Bruntsfield - only a stone's throw from where Muriel Spark lived in a tenement on the south side of the city. 4 Even in the thick of it you can visit Edinburgh brand Urban Reivers in a basement on George Street only a couple of doors up from the Assembly Rooms. This label's signature perfume in its REEK range is Damn Rebel Bitches - based on the lives of the Jacobite women. It is mixed by indie perfumer Sarah McCartney and launched recently, has been garnering rave reviews. The reivers' signature range of vintage map silk accessories will come as a relief after the cliched tourist gifts with which you'll be bombarded on the Royal Mile. 5 If you're feeling really adventurous head down to the Edinburgh Fashion Festival pop up shop at Ocean Terminal in Leith where you'll find a range of Scottish design talent. The Scottish Design Exchange also has space in this modern shopping centre and their range is well worth a peek. If you have books you don't want to take home, drop them in while you're down to innovative local charity Street Reads which provides books to the homeless. Advertisement Bloomberg via Getty Images I wasn't surprised to see the statistics published after last month's European Union referendum. According to YouGov's final polling figures there was a huge age divide - 71% of 18 to 24 year-olds voted to remain in the EU, whilst 64% of over-65s backed the leave campaign. There was also a marked difference between those with different levels of education - those with few formal qualifications voted Leave in as great a proportion as graduates voted Remain. Indeed there is a close correlation between the Leave vote and areas with low social mobility, highlighted on the Sutton Trust's Mobility Map. Advertisement Since its inception, the Sutton Trust has worked with a number of governments to raise awareness of the country's social mobility issues. I was heartened that Theresa May's used her first speech as Prime Minister to comment on social mobility. She was absolutely right to highlight the importance of ensuring that everyone has the same opportunities regardless of social background. So it was good to see her cabinet appointments including so many more comprehensive and grammar-educated ministers, a reflection of the achievements of schools which are attended by 90 per cent of the population. Analysis by the Sutton Trust found that Theresa May's new Cabinet has the lowest proportion of privately-educated Ministers since Clement Attlee's first Cabinet in 1945. In short, our new Cabinet is more representative than the last. Justine Greening, our new Education Secretary, is someone who has previously supported the Sutton Trust and championed social mobility. In a speech at the launch of the Sutton Scholars in 2014, she said: "social mobility can transform the lives of this country's young people." There is no doubt that these are positive moves for social mobility. The Sutton Trust's Leading People research consistently highlights the dominance of privately educated people across many professions in our country, from doctors to actors. Advertisement But despite these positive changes, our society is plagued by low levels of social mobility issues which is seriously harming the life chances of disadvantaged young people. At age 5, children from the poorest 10% of families in the UK are already 19 months behind the richest 10% - a gap which persists and widens through primary and secondary school and up to university level. One of Justine Greening's biggest tasks will be assessing the value of post-school opportunities. Irrelevant of background or social class, everyone in life deserves the same opportunities. However, it's important that schools are providing students with the best careers education and post-education advice. A lot more needs to be done to develop essential life skills for state school pupils. These include such skills as articulacy, social skills and teamwork, which are often taken for granted amongst independently educated students. We need to ensure that a good technical education is a route to social mobility too. At the moment further education colleges are measured on 'success rates' rather than student results and job success rates - and this has to change. There is a similar problem with apprenticeship programmes where the emphasis is on quantity rather than quality. It is hugely important that teachers promote apprenticeships as a post-education career choice with as much emphasis as they do universities. However, there is very real worry that Brexit will seriously reduce the number of career opportunities for young people. The IMF recently announced that it was lowering expectations for global growth post-Brexit, which raises questions about the country's economic stability. Advertisement I am pleased that the latest Bank of England analysis is slightly more cautiously optimistic than earlier projections, but if the country does head towards another recession as some fear, it will disproportionately impact on young adults at the beginnings of their careers. Those from more privileged background are likely to jump to the front of the queue ahead of their disadvantaged counterparts. It is crucial that a post-Brexit Britain makes sure that young people still have the same chances to fulfil their talents. The next generation needs clearer options and better information from those around them in order to play to their strengths and fulfil their potential. I hope the new Prime Minister translates her first day promise into real action to make that happen. Note: Our accounts contain the personal recollections and opinions of the individual interviewed. The views expressed should not be considered official statements of the U.S. government or the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. ADST conducts oral history interviews with retired U.S. diplomats, and uses their accounts to form narratives around specific events or concepts, in order to further the study of American diplomatic history and provide the historical perspective of those directly involved. In the depths of the Cold War, the USSR in 1957 launched Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit the earth. This had a profound effects on American society, as it both frightened Americans and undermined the notion of American exceptionalsim. The very next year saw the publication of The Ugly American, the bestselling novel which excoriated American diplomats for their failure to understand Southeast Asian customs and language, in marked contrast to the Soviets, who were able to communicate effectively with the locals and thereby win influence. These two rather disparate events not only led to a dramatic turn towards the hard sciences in school, but also in a revamping of the Foreign Service Institute's language programs. This account was compiled from an interview by ADST with Howard E Sollenberger (beginning December 1997) served as a Chinese language professor and the executive officer of the language school in the 1950s. He would later become the Director of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) in 1971. Read the entire Moment on ADST.org. This Moment was edited by Gabby Mendy. Advertisement SOLLENBERGER: Sputnik was the Russian satellite, the first satellite that was put up to orbit the earth. This, in fact, caused a big stir in the United States. Suddenly it appeared as though the Soviets were ten feet tall. They had jumped ahead of us on getting a satellite in orbit, so we began to look at all the other things that were coming out. There was a book out then by the title of The Ugly American. That suddenly attracted a lot of attention because it purported that the Americans were way behind the Soviets in terms of their relationships with people in foreign countries, language, understanding the cultures, etc. It affected the way in which the Congress began to look at training, as well as the Department of State, and taking advantage of that situation that [Deputy Under Secretary of State for Administration from 1955 until 1960] Loy Henderson and others in the Department, decided to move and to move aggressively on the issue of training. Advertisement Generally, the language program came out pretty well on that because that was really about the only part of the Institute that was functioning. The junior officer training program was going on and it was a continuing sort of thing. That came under attack, the way in which that was handled. Of course, the whole recruitment system came under attack by the Wriston Committee [which called for wholesale reform of the State Department, including the integration of the Foreign Service and the home (civil) service "where their functions and responsibilities converge"].. But there was generally a good deal of interest on the language aspect of the training program. This, again, may have been because Wriston was the chairman, was interested, and had an acquaintance with Dr.[Walter Bedell] Smith [Under Secretary of State]. And the fact that we seemed to be producing something. The fact that Loy Henderson was there [at the Wriston Committee], and heard all of the discussion on the training program, and had gotten acquainted really with the staff of the Institute at the same time, really...led later to the expansion of the language training, and establishment of the field schools in Spanish, French and German overseas. He began to take a keen interest in language training. And the interesting part of that was that he felt that he had been denied an opportunity when he should have had it as a young officer, and he wanted to see that others had the opportunity to get that. That was one of the benefits that came from this committee meeting, and the fact that Loy Henderson himself came to all of the advisory committee meetings on the Institute on training. I remember Loy (pictured) asking me at one point whether we knew what skills we had in the Foreign Service at posts. Do we know at posts who can speak French in France, etc., and around the world?I said, "No, I don't think we do, that's a question for Personnel." We said if you would draw him up a message to be sent out worldwide to get information on this, we'll do it. I said, you have to understand also that this will be self-appraisal, people saying what they think their own competence is.He said, "That's a good place to start." We went out with that and found there was really a very big gap between competence in the language and assignments in the field. What can we do about it? Well, there are a lot of logistic problems if we wait for people to come back to Washington to train them to go out. It's going to take a long time.He said, "Let's not wait." Advertisement I said, "The alternative is to set up facilities either at posts or central schools overseas in a crash program that would pull people in who do not have the language proficiency in the country and train them. The place to start is in the world languages where the demand is the greatest."Loy Henderson said, "Do it." So we proceeded, and I think it was 1957 that on a crash basis set up schools, one in Nice, one in Frankfurt, one in Mexico City to deal with the so-called world language shortage to train people.Personnel was horrified. The idea of pulling people away from their posts when the posts were screaming for more staff, and sending them off to school. They had hoped it would be a matter of just a couple weeks. It's not going to work that way. If you're serious about it, it should be four months, if you want to get them really up to snuff, three months at the minimum, and if you have a three-month period, you ought to build up the follow-up at the posts so they can continue their training when they get back because probably most of them would start off from scratch and are not going to get to the 3 level [basic proficiency, on a scale where a 5 is completely bilingual] in three months. You have a better chance of doing that in the field, than doing it back here. We knew there would be opposition, particularly from Mr. Rooney [Congressman John Rooney of New York]. As it turned out there was. Advertisement Loy Henderson was willing to accept that and to go ahead with it. He had enough clout in the Department to make it stick through the Personnel system, and we pulled people in to all three of these schools for three months, 12 weeks of very intensive training. I was involved in going out and deciding where the schools should be located, and setting them up. I did not like the idea of setting up a school in Nice. I knew that would attract a lot of negative comment, particularly from Congressman Rooney, but there were reasons why they thought Nice was the place to do it. We had a large building there and so rent would be free, a very nice estate to locate and that would accommodate the training program. That worked, and in a very short period of time we put a large number of people through this program, and sent back to the French, German, Spanish speaking posts. This was really a sort of unprecedented focus. The German training was in Frankfurt, and the Spanish in Mexico City. Interesting, I fought Mexico City, but I was overruled. I wanted to have it set up outside the large metropolitan area -- there were too many distractions within the city. I had located a school in the countryside that was not in use that we could rent. There were accommodations, they were not luxurious accommodations, but they were livable. Review of the plan to set it up there was turned down on the basis it would be hard to get people to go to a place like that, even for three months. So it was put in Mexico City, which we did. It worked reasonably well. This was also a time when, under the National Defense Education Act, Title IV [passed in 1958, its purpose was to provide funding for U.S. education institutions at all levels in the wake of Sputnik], the government was required to identify language needs and language skills. And as a result of that we had to develop a testing system. Advertisement It was also obvious that we needed standards in testing if we were going to try to get people up to a level that was considered important so far as their function in the Foreign Service. That system got underway. As part of the buildup we also put regional language supervisors in the field, and this was not only in the world language areas, but elsewhere also, in the Middle East and in Asia. But in Asia it was primarily done through the field schools that we had then in Taipei, Taiwan, and in Tokyo. The people who'd been assisted with the post language training program -- in other words a follow-up on the training that would be given in the United States. Enrollments in the post language training program... increased from about 600 in 1953 to 4500 by 1960, a tremendous jump. In addition to that the Congress began to move and in an amendment to the Foreign Service Act -- the amendment came in 1960 -- the Congress stated that it..."was the policy of the Congress that chiefs of mission and Foreign Service officers shall have to the maximum practical extent among their qualifications a useful knowledge of the principal language, or dialect, of the country in which they are to serve, and knowledge and understanding of history, the culture, the economics, political institutions, and interests of such country and its people." A very broad and sort of mandate statement of principle and policy. That was followed by another Senate policy which required the Department to designate language as central positions, and the level of language proficiency that was required, and to report annually to the Congress on its compliance. [Senator J William] Fulbright and [Senator Mike] Mansfield were probably the principal people that were pushing this. Both of these people had called me up to the Senate to talk about what they wanted to do, and what the problems really were in the Foreign Service. I remember a couple of these sessions that I had with them and it was clear that they were serious.... Advertisement The advantage at that particular point was that we had Loy Henderson's support. And the other positive thing was that we had a director, a business man, who was able to get the budget up and he faced a lot of problems with Congressman Rooney to the point where Mr. Rooney at one point on the floor of the House of Representatives called on the floor to have him fired. Q: Was there any way to co-opt Rooney? We had Rooney (pictured) handlers who used to take him around on trips. He liked to go to Rome and Paris and people sat with him and fed him a lot of liquor. Were you able to get anybody to sort of get to him to make him understand what was going on? SOLLENBERGER: I think it was a fun thing for him. Plus he had a constituent that he'd hoped to get some business for, Berlitz. He was probably responsible for, I think, closing down our language schools. But they had pretty well done the emergency crisis job. He made a visit to Nice, a place he liked to go to. So under his pressure the school there folded. But the advantage that I had in trying to move ahead in organizing this program on an emergency crash basis was the support first of Loy Henderson, not the support...but really the push from Fulbright and Mansfield in the Senate, and the way in which they were able to in a way force the Department to do what it didn't want to do but reluctantly they did. And getting the budget for this. The result really of the Congressional policy statement was that language became much more important, not only the world languages, but the so-called hard languages. This put a real burden on the Institute because materials for advance training in many of these languages did not exist, or were quite unsatisfactory. And it required a major effort within the Institute for research and development of teaching materials, as well as teaching methods. Trying to not only keep up but to get ahead in the field. We had to recruit, and at that particular time it was not easy to persuade people from the academic community to come and work for the State Department. Part of the reluctance was because McCarthy's attack on the State Department, and the academics did not want to subject themselves to that sort of a situation. I was lucky because about the same time that we had to start expanding, the Army Language School in Monterey was contracting and was becoming less academic in its focus, not as experimental as they had been. Advertisement The dean and two of his senior linguists wanted to leave, so I recruited them and brought them to the State Department. I made the dean my deputy, and the other two moved in to a hard language field where we had had shortage. We had really a top notch staff. If you looked anywhere in the country in academia we could match them and stand tall with the quality of linguists that we had at that particular time.... By 1965, the Institute had published through the Government Printing Office [GPO] materials in 30 different languages, and most of these had tapes to go with them, and we worked out arrangements with the GPO whereby these could be sold to the public. So this began to have an effect in terms of the academic community where they were able to get the materials that were produced at an advanced level. And it began to change some of the instruction patterns in a few of the academic centers, not many but in a few. But it was sort of a wedge, if you will, of influence in the language teaching and in the academic world. At the same time the testing system, the S/R testing scale, the proficiency testing scale, became of more interest in the academic community. They would send people to the Institute to observe the testing procedures. We on several occasions sent teams of people out to several of the academic institutions, particularly when they were having workshops in dealing with language proficiency, because there was increased pressure on the academic world to begin to produce people who could practically use the language in everyday situations.... It became pretty clear that if you had the language requirement before coming in, you'd be getting people who had been primarily majors in foreign languages, and the Department felt, and I think rightly so, that they couldn't put that much emphasis on a pre-service requirement, particularly when you could do it after they got into the service. So while there were tests that were given, and records were kept of the language aptitude, as well as the language proficiency, the plan really was that they would get the language of their first post of assignment, and they would be required to get to a certain level. I think it was S-2 [speaking level 2, minimal proficiency] to get off the probation. Sputnik and The Ugly American, probably these two things that really led to the establishment of the National Defense Education Act. And putting in the National Defense Education Act Title IV on language and area studies. Of course, this dealt primarily with American education, but also with the needs of the government. There was a committee set up... that had representatives of different agencies. I eventually ended up in that group, and met with them representing the Institute. It became very clear that before they could do anything they would have to have a system for measuring language proficiency. They turned to the Institute as the place where the linguists were. A group of professionals said, "Come up with something that we can use." So we sat down, and we worked at it. We developed a language area system for evaluating proficiency, or skill, or background knowledge. It was based on a practical utilization scale which later became the S/R scale [speaking and reading] that's still used. Advertisement We experimented with different ways of developing the scale. We brought in some outside expertise, psychometricians who were dealing with matters of this sort. [Note: Psychometrics refers to the measurement of an individual's psychological attributes, including the knowledge, skills, and abilities a professional might need to work in a particular job or profession.] We were in touch with Princeton to get their view. We developed first of all a scale, and a form, that could be used for self-appraisal, and we distributed this on a trial basis within the Department of State, to people who had agreed in advance in doing this. They would subject themselves to a test so we could see how the self-evaluation matched up with the test that they were given. And the test was to have been an oral interview, not structured at that particular point. It was really not very standardized, or calibrated properly at that early stage. But we also had a questionnaire on area. That was harder to develop, but we did, and after we tested it out in the Department of State, we decided to send it overseas on a self-appraisal basis, on a volunteer basis, and we got quite a few returns from that. And that gave us a base from which to compare later on how tests, as they came back for tests, how this compared with the way in which they had rated themselves.We found a fairly high correlation between self-appraisal, but we were a little suspicious of that because they knew they were going to be tested. So the tendency, if you knew you were going to be tested, is to lower your self appraisal. But we also had some records from people who had claimed on their applications to the Foreign Service their language skills, and testing them they did not know they were going to be tested after that. We got a little better view on that and decided we couldn't go on a self-appraisal basis, particularly if assignments were going to be based on language skills, and if there was a possibility of promotion being based on language skills, you had to be able to defend within reason the scales that you use. We worked very hard on this. The same information was sent out by the government committee to universities where it sort of disappeared at that time. It was only some years later that they began to become interested in the system that the government was using because it had spread from the Institute to others; the Army was beginning to use it, CIA was using it, USIA [U.S. Information Agency] was basing its program and policies, and AID [U.S. Agency for International Development] was doing the same thing. Advertisement coke said: And your basically, no scratch that your saying it was wrong and dumb then but since they did it then wrong and dumb is ok to do now. Click to expand... And where exactly did I say it was right ?? I am merely, once again, pointing out the HYPOCRISY.I'm not sure if people on here don't know our history, or if they willingly and purposefully ignore it ?? But their ODS kicks in and they start screaming about what Obama has done, without ever considering the far greater and infinitely more illegal actions of one of their most beloved icons. Listen to this companion podcast on SiriusXM POTUS 124. _______________________________________ "It's not the notes, it's what's between them. It's what you don't play that makes it jazz." - Gary McRoberts, 1976 _______________________________________ Watching Bill Clinton's prime time address to the Democratic National Convention, it occurred to me that what mattered most was not what he said, but what he didn't. In the parlance of playmakers and the influence strategies they wield, Clinton unerringly executed two plays, ill-advised or brilliant, I'm not sure: The filter and pass. One to edit and omit, the other to ignore. Advertisement "I met a girl," Clinton began, a high-risk entry that must have begged the question, Which girl? I wondered aloud if Clinton knew he was digging himself a hole and whether or not he'd brought a ladder. He breezed through their courting, family and political life, presenting a picture of Hillary's rare grit and intelligence. There was no attempt to finesse enduring questions of their marriage, his infidelities, and various alleged calamities by both. By way of a freezing play, the disco, Clinton acknowledged, but only vaguely, some heartbreak. But the elephant was still in the room. Another elephant was in Florida: Donald Trump was watching. In a news conference the next morning the newly-minted GOP nominee huffed that Clinton had "left out the most interesting chapter." Trump's play was a suggestive ping. He'd recognized the ruse and was formulating fresh attacks. By offering Hillary neither an inoculation for his misdeeds nor any bridge over her own tarpits, Bill sent an unmistakable signal to his wife's arch rival: He won't (or can't) stand in the way of Trump's character assassinations. Advertisement Having picked the avuncular Tim Kaine as her VP, Hillary now stands alone, vulnerable to Trump's cutting quips. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, perhaps Sen. Bernie Sanders, too, will work to leaven the billionaire's ad hominem, but they are stripped of official capacities and now imperfect shields from The Donald's lurid narratives. Some may say that Trump will smear Hillary at his own peril. But that it resonates with Crooked Hillary, one wonders who or what can stop him from further bludgeoning of the potential first woman president. Bill Clinton did little to stop Trump and even less to help his wife. Or so it seems. Officially, he'll point to his 5,000-word convention tribute and his determination to show Hillary as The Real One. But his plays were obvious and conventional, almost too much so given his rhetorical skills. He might instead have turned and rushed Trump by way of the preemptive strategies already well-used by The Donald, notably the crazy ivan and trump (no relation). But he played it safe, almost dumb. Dumb like a fox, I wonder. WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 06: U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a statement from the Roosevelt Room at the White House on the deployment of U.S. troops in Afghanistan July 6, 2016 in Washington, DC. Obama said more U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan than he originally planned, leaving 8,400 U.S. troops rather than the intended 5,000. Also pictured is Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter (R). (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Two weeks ago, President Obama announced that the U.S. will draw down its troops in Afghanistan from 9,800 to 8,400, altering his original plan to reduce the number to 5,500. His decision suggests that conditions on the ground are not as promising as he expected them to be, and maintaining a larger number of troops is important as he believes "it is in our national security interests... that we give our Afghan partners the best opportunities to succeed." The president, however, did not spell out what success actually means. If he meant that Afghanistan will eventually become a stable and functioning democracy, he is fundamentally mistaken. Indeed, even if the U.S. stations three times as many troops for another 15 years or more, given the multiple conflicts, ruthlessness, and duplicity of the players involved and the country's long history, the U.S. cannot rescue Afghanistan from the quagmire in which it finds itself. The president's concluding remarks strongly suggest that the U.S.' military presence in Afghanistan is essentially open-ended, saying: "...given the enormous challenges they face, the Afghan people will need the partnership of the world, led by the United States, for many years to come." [Emphasis added.] Advertisement The facts on the ground remind us of the Vietnam War -- a needlessly prolonged conflict with no prospect of victory -- except that the war in Afghanistan is even more complicated and becoming increasingly intractable. To understand what the U.S. strategy should be to end a war that has lasted more than any other in U.S. history, consider the following: First, Afghanistan is a landlocked country with a rugged and mountainous terrain replete with thousands of caves, some of which are miles long and familiar only to the indigenous population. Historically, no power has been able to conquer and sustain its conquest of Afghanistan from the time of Alexander the Great, including the Mongols, the British Empire, and Soviet Russia. Demographically, the country has a population of 32 million, 99 percent of whom are Muslims, composed of tribes and kinship-based groups in a multilingual and multi-ethnic society. As such, the country is politically divided and lacks social and political cohesiveness. Second, given the history and determination of the Taliban, bringing them to submission was always a non-starter. Even though the U.S. is fully aware that many Taliban militants operate from safe havens inside Pakistan and other hard-to-reach areas, the U.S. is still unwilling to confront Pakistan, giving the Taliban no incentive to negotiate in earnest. Advertisement As long as this situation remains unchanged, the touch and go negotiations over the past 14 years will lead to nowhere. Just like the Vietcong, the Taliban strongly feel that they will eventually wear out any government in Kabul, and will keep fighting and make all the sacrifices until they exhaust the U.S. and eventually prevail. Third, Afghanistan's border with Pakistan -- the Durand Line -- stretches through the entire southern and eastern boundary between the two countries and is poorly delineated and unprotected. It divides the Pashtun tribes of the region between Afghanistan and Pakistan and has been a source of increasing tension between the two countries, which explains Pakistan's unique concerns and determination to protect its national interests and have a say about Afghanistan's current and future political order. There is concrete evidence, revealed by the former head of Afghanistan's main intelligence agency, Rahmatullah Nabil, that Pakistan fully supports the Afghani Taliban to achieve a dual purpose: maintain its influence in Afghanistan, and prevent India from establishing a presence in the country, thereby thwarting any effort by New Delhi from encircling it. Chris Alexander, Canada's former Citizenship and Immigration Minister and former Ambassador to Afghanistan, flatly stated "Canada and its allies must take a united front against Pakistan because it is a sponsor of terrorism that threatens world security." That said, the Obama administration was and still is unwilling to confront Pakistan because the U.S. views the country as an ally in the war on terror, and the Pakistani military serves to secure the U.S.' strategic interests in south and central Asia. Fourth, the growing presence of ISIS and the return of strong elements of al-Qaeda, numbering between 1,000 and 3,000 fighters, have become increasingly evident in the mountainous region along the Pakistani border. Their recent attack against the Hazara minority killed 80 people, presumably because members of the community provided some support to the Assad regime in Syria. US military spokesman Brigadier General Charles Cleveland aptly put it: "That's our concern, these high profile attacks, they are effective because they're not that difficult to achieve." Advertisement It can be expected that ISIS attacks will become more frequent, especially because of its steady retreat in Iraq and Syria, while further destabilizing Afghanistan and complicating the war efforts regardless of the extent of the U.S.' continuing military backing. Fifth, the premature introduction of democracy to Afghanistan is inconsistent with the culture of tribalism and dominance of Islam orthodoxy in the country. Although the new constitution recognizes gender equality, participatory politics, and some civic and political rights, it has also institutionalized tribal nationalism and ethnic hierarchy. Given the above, one might ask why did the U.S., under both the Bush and Obama administrations, feel that it could go to any Muslim country, such as Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and others, ravage them, and then impose political values of which they are not disposed or willing to accept? Afghanistan's social and political setting makes it prone to ethnic and civil wars and the breakdown of state institutions. The West can at best provide only a model of democracy, and has no business going far and wide to promote its political culture, which is alien to the natives, and doing so under the gun no less. This Vietnam syndrome must come to an end in Afghanistan. It is reminiscent of a slot machine gambler who pours money into the machine, hoping to get the jackpot that never materializes, finally leaving the machine exasperated and broke. Neither Bush nor Obama learned the bitter lessons of Vietnam, and both poured money and resources into a failing enterprise with no end in sight. Advertisement After the U.S. officially spent more than $650 billion in the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda, in addition to $150 billion contributed by other allied countries, Afghanistan remains a mess. Bribes and favoritism are pandemic, and hundreds of millions are skimmed by corrupt officials, over which hardly anyone frowns. As things stand now, the four-nation group (comprised of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the U.S.) has no plans to resume the negotiations with the Taliban, who has refused to participate in any negotiations since January. They fundamentally disagree about the political framework that should govern Afghanistan in the future. The next U.S. administration must change course and develop an exit strategy that offers some face saving way out. An agreement that all conflicting parties should accept rests on three pillars: It is a given that the Taliban must be an integral part of any future government, as long as they commit themselves to basic human rights, specifically in connection with women, and prevent al-Qaeda and other extremist groups (including ISIS) from using Afghanistan as a launching pad for terrorist attacks against the U.S. or any of its allies. The moral argument against the Taliban has to be based on religious precepts to which they can relate and would enable them to change their ways without losing face. For example, there is nothing in the Koran that permits discrimination against women -- rather, we find a defense of gender equality: "I shall not lose sight of the labor of any of you who labors in My way; be it man or woman; each of you is equal to the other." (3:195) Nor is there any indication in the Koran that women are not permitted to receive an education. Advertisement Pakistan will have to be, for the reasons cited above, part and parcel of any solution to protect its national security interests and prevent India from meddling in Afghani affairs. Islamabad must also commit to ridding the country of radical Islamists, especially al-Qaeda. From everything we know, Pakistan and the Taliban can agree on such a political formula. The U.S. should withdraw its forces from the country over a period of a couple of years, leaving behind a contingency of a few hundred military personnel, along with a UN presence, to monitor and ensure compliance with the agreement. I have spent most of this summer in Europe, during one of the most volatile periods I can remember. In only the past several weeks, gun violence and terrorism have hit Orlando, Dallas, Baton Rouge, Nice and Munich. In the US, the continued violence has reignited the crucial debate and search for an explanation on the specific cause of our extremely high rate of gun murders; by far the highest in the developed world. Is it because the U.S. has such an enormous volume of easily acquired guns, in the legal and black markets, or is there something else to the story; something about our society that makes us more prone to this tragic problem? Is it because of systemic, socioeconomic or cultural inequalities? For years, I have seen many parallels to this debate in Europe, and wonder if the ideas and understanding regarding gun acquisition and ownership that have been gained across the Atlantic can shed light on what the US should consider, as we cross the halfway point of a bloody summer. Much of the thinking on violence in the United States is informed by comparisons made to a variety of countries with lower murder rates, and most importantly, with fewer guns per capita, such as Canada, Japan and the U.K. Many studies and statistics on crime have shown that the U.S. murder rate is approximately 5 times that of the Eastern and European countries. A recent study by the OSCE (Organization for Security and Economic Cooperation in Europe) found that the murder rate within the United States is approximately 5 per 100,000, compared to the majority of European countries with murder rates often below 1 per 100,000. A similar study in 2013 by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime found a similar gap in the number of violent crimes between the US and Europe that resulted in murder. Advertisement To tackle this dire situation, we are forced to confront the cold reality of how dangerous and shameful our relationship to guns has been for far too long. We need to focus on the broader spectrum of differences between the U.S. and other countries to examine how cultural, social and regulatory approaches have afforded them a completely different reality when it comes to gun violence and safety. Unlike the US, European countries set out early to create a framework that strictly defines gun ownership. The European Council Directive of June 18th, 1991 provides comprehensive direction and understanding of gun control in the EU. It prohibits the private possession of fully automatic weapons, and regulates the possession of semi-automatics and handguns. This unique organization relies on a system of licenses that must be obtained prior to gun ownership. The license can only be issued after successful background checks and significant reasons have been provided as to why an individual wants and needs to own a weapon. It is a very restrictive program that was put in place over the protests of many, but it's implementation has worked well, up until recent years. Despite the recent wave of terrorism violence, both France and Germany have strict gun laws, and Germany in particular, has some of the strictest laws in the world. Licenses are rarely granted for self defense purposes; a strong contrast to U.S. policy and politics. Advertisement In order to obtain a gun license, individuals have to practice for at least one year at an official shooting Federation. After the Federation has given approval, police investigate criminal and mental health records. If all clears, individuals can be granted authorization which is valid for up to three years. The newly permitted buyer must purchase a gun within a specific time period or the buying license automatically expires. If purchased, additional regulations apply, such as the number and type of guns one is permitted to own and requirements that all guns must be stored in a locked safe. In France, Norway and the UK, the right to private gun ownership is not guaranteed by the Constitution, and violations to protocol are not taken lightly. If someone is caught with illegal possession of firearms, the maximum penalty is at least a seven year prison sentence and stiff fines. This strict regulatory environment has had undeniably powerful impact. No single European country has more than 30% of its population in possession of guns. Compare that to 88% in possession in the United States. Statistics show that criminal assaults with guns kill 30 Americans every day, and injure another 170. The US has at least 270,000,000 guns legally registered to private citizens, compared to France's 19,000,000 or the UK and Norway, with 4,000,000 and 1,300,000 guns respectively. Obviously, Europe has still endured gun violence. Deaths in Sweden, Denmark and Norway's mass shooting are only a few examples. The last several months have brought a wave of terror attacks involving guns in France and Germany, and were perpetrated by individuals who were able to purchase weapons on the black market from Eastern Europe left from previous conflict zones, such as Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia and Albania, and more recently, weapons sent from the US to arm the opposition in Syria have been traced to black market sales in Jordan. Further instability in countries such as the Ukraine and Libya has added to this challenge, in addition to the return to Europe of foreign fighters recruited and trained in weapons by ISIS and other organizations. To further cloud the debate, we are now faced with the daunting task of addressing the availability of guns and gun parts on the Internet. A vast secret network of weapons smugglers have taken advantage of the Schengen open borders agreements and gun parts, used to rebuild previously deactivated weapons, have been available for purchase online on the so called encrypted "black net", which has led to an unprecedented rise in gun violence in European cities. Unlike the UK, which has very strict laws regarding deactivation, including permanent disablement of shooting capabilities, most of continental Europe still caters to gun collectors and their need for intact original firearms, which in the wrong hands, are very easy to reactivate. Advertisement Europe struggles with other paradoxes as well. Several countries rank among the top ten biggest arms exporters in the world. Included on that list are Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy. Additionally, the role of the internet in recruiting, promoting and mobilizing terrorism and violence has become a tremendous challenge. Severe restrictions need to be put in place to safeguard all of our societies worldwide. Recently, Israeli Intelligence has taken an active lead in helping Europe as it faces the first steps of implementing the necessary restrictions that have been instrumental for protecting Israel. Despite these very concerning and dangerous developments which are now forcing Europe to aggressively catch up on how criminal action of this nature has found a way to go around the rules of law enforcement, the key differences in the numbers of shootings and how that relates to the availability of weapons is what should be considered most important. On a positive note, the illegal black market for acquiring firearms can be susceptible to leaks, and has also provided information in past years leading to a number of arrests. In contrast to the US's alarming statistics of random gun violence and recent, calculated attacks like Orlando's mass shooting, nearly all of the violence in Europe, involving guns and otherwise, have been inspired by political and terrorist motives. This aspect presents a sharp contrast to very recent shootings in Dallas or Baton Rouge, or with the horrific massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary. In light of these examples, it is sadly ironic that the US, which has been largely successful in preventing terrorist attacks since 9/11, maintains and justifies such a lenient approach to gun ownership. Despite how overwhelming, complicated and far-reaching it may seem, all of this chaos and instability can offer an opportunity for all of us to strongly reevaluate the many different tools and mechanisms against violence that are being used in the world today. It is absolutely imperative that an international global effort take place in the name of making our communities and cities safe. This is starting to take place. Last week, the German government called for EU-wide gun controls in the wake of the Munich shootings, as it emerged the teenage attacker purchased a gun on the "dark web". In the US, a strong step in the right direction is the recently passed law in Massachusetts that bans the sale and possession of all automatic weapons in the state, reinstating a previous law allowed to expire in 2004. The word "evangelical" is one of the most abused words in our culture and even in the church. Earlier in my adult life, I almost always encountered this word as we shared testimony or witness, which was grounded in a deeper motivation to reach people outside the fellowship of the church with the good news of the difference that Jesus had made in our lives. Increasingly, I sense that the word "evangelical" now connotes something very different for many people. I am more likely to encounter this word as I listen to television or radio reports on political elections, or as I overhear conversations about the fragmentation of religious denominations. So what does the word "evangelical" mean? It is not a synonym for conservative. At the same time, liberalism has no future without it. It is not a subgroup within a political party or within a church. Whenever the word "evangelical" is used in this way, something is deeply wrong. Advertisement "Evangelical" is the good news that points to Jesus and his coming kingdom which forgives our sin, overcomes our injustices and heals our divisions. I may have first experienced the good news in a more private, personal way; for example, I remember the words in Isaiah 1:16, 18, "Wash yourselves, make yourself clean ... though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow," without fully absorbing the clear calling of Isaiah 1:17: "seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow." In time, the salvation of God came to include more than my inner world, and encompassed my relationships with others and indeed with all of creation. This was God's agenda, and it was and is comprehensive. If we could achieve all of this, on our own, we would have. The gift granted to an evangelical is that Jesus has done and is doing this for us and through us. The sin of an evangelical is to claim this as an (exclusive) possession within a culture or a portion of the church. I have been nurtured and fed by the stream of Christianity that flows from the deep reservoir of evangelicalism. I praise God for this gift. And so I cannot allow such a beautiful, life-giving word - "evangelical" - to be marginalized, scorned, scapegoated or neglected. One option would be to simply find another word for "evangelism." A friend recently suggested "love." Why not substitute the word "love" for "evangelism"? Here a problem arises: it is also true that in a culture of individualism, we are prone to self-deception. Love may not carry the full weight of God's agenda; it might exclude facets of justice or compassion, courage or empathy or sacrifice. Anyone who has ever experienced betrayal will know that the word love carries its own baggage! Advertisement The good news, the evangelion (Greek) (evangelism) of God's reign was a radical idea that shattered stereotypes and included the excluded. I simply push back a bit against the default notion that we allow the word to be defined by those who fail to appreciate or embody its true meaning. We are in desperate need - in the culture and in the church - of an evangelical movement that does not suffer conformity or captivity to the way it is so often perceived, stereotyped and yes, even lived. Here's the problem with political correctness: If we tell people that it's not OK for them to share certain thoughts and feelings, what happens to those thoughts and feelings? They don't just go away. They don't disappear simply because social norms make it verboten to give voice to them. Those thoughts and feelings are stifled and suppressed, but not forgotten. They go underground -- and when they go underground, they fester. They intensify. They grow -- magnified by the frustration of not being allowed to express them. People may bite their tongues and refrain from saying negative things, but those thoughts and feelings are still very much alive -- and they are toxic. People don't change their opinions just because those opinions are deemed unacceptable to share publicly. They hold onto them, keeping their opinions to themselves, until someone gives them permission to go public -- which is exactly what Donald Trump has done. Advertisement Last year when he announced he was running for president, and commented about "Mexico sending us their drugs and rapists," Trump gave others permission to cast off the muzzle of political correctness as well. For the first time in many years, people felt they could speak their minds. Finally, after three decades of stifling political correctness norms, millions of Americans have found their voices, and it's not a pretty sound. The fair-haired boy -- the hero of disgruntled, resentful, angry, disappointed, fearful Americans -- has made it OK for people to talk about what's really on their minds. Because that's what HE does -- with no filter between his brain and his mouth, Trump is a walking, talking, stream of consciousness, a verbal lava flow of white-hot emotions, perceptions, and conspiracy theories. That's one of the things his fans admire -- he doesn't self-censor. He isn't strategic in crafting his message. He just says whatever comes into his head in the moment -- letting the chips fall where they may. Millions of people want to do that same thing -- speak their minds without fear of being shushed and shamed for being "politically incorrect." (Photo: Randall Hill, Reuters) A few days ago, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich wrote: "Trump ... supporters seem to have come out of nowhere, expressing in large numbers ideas far more extreme than anything that has risen to such popularity in recent memory. In South Carolina, a CBS News exit poll found that 75 percent of Republican voters supported banning Muslims from the United States. APPP poll found that a third of Trump voters support banning gays and lesbians from the country. Twenty percent said Lincoln shouldn't have freed the slaves." Advertisement Experts and pundits are surprised by these findings -- but they shouldn't be. These sentiments have been there all along -- for decades. Folks simply weren't allowed to express them. These beliefs and feelings were masked by a thin veneer of social acceptability. Political correctness clamps a lid on our freedom to express our authentic thoughts and feelings to one another. Political correctness puts a damper on meaningful discussion of important issues, especially those related to race, ethnicity, race, culture, gender, religion, sexuality and other sensitive topics. Political correctness throws a wet blanket on any progress we might have made if we had felt free to share our feelings, our fears, our resentments, our hopes, our anxieties, our prejudices, our values and beliefs -- to have an open discussion about what we really think and feel. The proponents of political correctness are well-intentioned, to be sure. Their goal was to cultivate a cultural climate of mutual respect, tact, tolerance, and sensitivity to the feelings of others. The problem is, censuring people's words does nothing to change their hearts and minds. I would argue that it probably does just the opposite. Here's the bottom line: How are we ever going to have authentic, meaningful conversations about sensitive issues of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, cultural difference and values if we can't talk about what's really on our minds? How can we build bridges of understanding if we can't speak openly? Former NAACP chairman Julian Bond once said: "You hate to think you have to censor your language to meet other people's lack of understanding. ... As a nation the U.S. has a 'hair-trigger sensibility' on race that can be tripped by both real and false grievances." Advertisement Are we really so fragile, so sensitive, that we can't bear to hear someone else speak their truth, even if that truth is painful to hear? Do we need to be protected from each others' perceptions, fears, anger and resentment? Are our "feelings" so delicate that we can't bear to listen to the pain, confusion, and frustration that other carry in their hearts? In my consulting work over the years, I've noticed that when people in an organization can tell the truth about what's really going on -- about the important issues affecting them -- the healthier that organization is. The same holds true for families -- the more family members can tell each other the truth about their feelings and thoughts -- the healthier that family is. "You're only as sick as your secrets," psychologists tell us. Secrets eat away at our insides. Secrets are not conducive to healthy relationships -- in business, in families, or in societies and countries. When we have to keep our true feelings secret, we are sickened by the suppression. We swallow the poison of our resentments, while hoping those we resent will die. We will never rid our country of prejudice, racism, sexism, bigotry, and xenophobia by prohibiting uncomfortable, painful conversations. Trump may have actually given us a gift by rejecting conventional norms of political correctness, and by removing the lid from the boiling cauldron of negative feelings shared by millions of our fellow citizens. Isn't it better to KNOW how people really feel? Isn't it healthier to air our feelings -- especially negative feelings -- so we can help one another face our fears, process our resentments, and work through our anger? Advertisement We humans crave order and security -- we long to feel some sense of control in our lives. But the world is chaotic, unpredictable, fast-paced, and changing -- rife with risks and dangers, both real and imagined. "Challenges to the existing order -- diversity, influx of outsiders, breakdown of the old order -- are experienced as personally threatening because they risk upending the status quo order [people] equate with basic security." (Robert Reich) That's Trump's appeal -- he promises to take charge and make everything all right again. He names the monsters and bogeymen hiding under our beds and reassures us he will dispatch them once he's in the White House. His promise to "Make America Great Again" offers his followers the hope of safety, security, law and order. For decades, political correctness proponents have said, "Don't share your true feelings and thoughts, especially if they're negative. It's not OK to say those things." Donald Trump says, "I feel your pain. Tell me your troubles. Tell me where it hurts -- and I will kiss your boo-boos and make them all better." By not allowing people to speak of their fear of "others," their financial and social anxiety, their despair about the future, we have failed to deal with the chronic, soul-crushing pain that millions of Americans have been feeling for a long time. The fact that the pundits and pols are surprised at the anger, fear, resentments, and faulty information our fellow citizens have been brooding over tells us that they are out of touch. And political correctness is one of the reasons they're out of touch. Political correctness is one of the reasons we're all out of touch -- and surprised by Trump's widespread popularity. Advertisement By not being willing to have uncomfortable and awkward conversations with one another -- by not dealing with our negative perceptions and feelings, we have created the perfect conditions for someone like Trump to ascend to the role of hero of the disenfranchised and distressed. Political correctness has a down side, and we're all seeing it ... "big league." "Our framework is a result of the analysis and synthesis of research on learning sciences, views from futurists and economists, standards around the world, and needs of employers and societies -- all organized to be maximally comprehensive, compact, appropriate, and globally relevant." -- Charles Fadel According to Center for Curriculum Redesign (CCR) founder Charles Fadel, education is "falling behind its mission to prepare students for the future: a world that's increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous." Curriculum was significantly redesigned in the late 1800's when societal and human capital needs demanded it. But the 21st century bears little resemblance to the past. WHAT should we teach young people in an age where Dr. Google has an answer for everything? Humans are living longer; the traditional professions disappear while new ones are created; international mobility is drastically increasing population diversity; terrorism, environmental threats and inequality need our collective attention; and robots and gene editing are coming, requiring us to re-examine the very core of what it means to be human. WHAT does all that we know now, and all that we still can only imagine, mean for Curriculum? Advertisement If we agree that the technological trends futurists are predicting will mean constant and dramatic changes for all, why aren't we more focused on rethinking the WHAT of education i.e. WHAT curriculum will make education more relevant in the future? According to Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the OECD, Fadel's book, Four-Dimensional Education: The Competencies Learners Need to Succeed, provides a "first of its kind organizing framework of competencies needed for this century which defines the spaces in which educators, curriculum planners, policy makers and learners can establish WHAT should be learned." The Global Search for Education begins a five part series to discuss WHAT should students learn for the 21st century? We welcome Charles Fadel for Part 1: What is Four-Dimensional Education? "Because of the vast amount of information that needs to be covered and the pressure of preparing for standardized tests, relatively few educators are able to consistently provide the time needed to effectively integrate new learning goals into the curriculum." -- Charles Fadel Advertisement Charles: It is an unpredictable world. What does it mean for Curriculum? The unpredictable context requires a paradigm switch so that the goal of education is no longer to impart information but to teach students to navigate an ever-changing world. For this they will need versatility i.e. breadth as a hedge against rapidly changing conditions, an increased capability i.e. depth to engage with complex challenges, along with a diverse set of competencies such as adaptability, increased collaboration between cultures, etc. towards the goal of a sustainable humanity via fulfilled individuals. What elements of curriculum do we need to change? Traditional disciplines currently take up most of the available time and leave little space for newer subjects, branches and topics within traditional disciplines for example complex systems in mathematics, modern disciplines (e.g. entrepreneurship), interdisciplinary, cross-cutting themes, and competencies. Because of the vast amount of information that needs to be covered and the pressure of preparing for standardized tests, relatively few educators are able to consistently provide the time needed to effectively integrate new learning goals into the curriculum. We need to redesign curriculum to both broaden and deepen understanding; the current content will need to be re-examined with a fine-toothed comb. That process involves distilling each discipline into its core essential questions, and restructuring the information to highlight these concepts and meta-concepts as well as their processes, methods and tools. We need to examine the rationale behind each item; does it provide practical value for the future? Cognitive value for transfer and extension to other faculties? Emotional or aesthetic value due to its inherent beauty? These facets should be highlighted, and the items found to have no clear justification except inertia should be removed. This does not mean cutting out entire subjects by any means. The question is not whether students need to learn math, but which parts of math are no longer useful? For example, perhaps it is no longer useful to spend core curriculum time learning long division, or some algorithms of trigonometry. "We need to redesign curriculum to both broaden and deepen understanding; the current content will need to be re-examined with a fine-toothed comb." -- Charles Fadel Are paradigm shifts difficult in large established systems where there may be a lot of inertia? Correct. The inertia is propelled at two levels: the policy level, and the level of human expertise and authority. Advertisement At the policy level, most countries must work with an inherent level of instability, with elections and changes of leadership occurring every few years. The frequent changes of personnel at both the staff level and the ministerial level, and the political pressures to balance the competing interests of voters, parents, unions, businesses, and so on, often preclude the continuity necessary to reflect on large-scale trends, plan for long-term goals, take calculated risks, or embrace change and innovation. At the level of human expertise and authority, decisions are often reserved for subject-matter experts. These experts' opinions are partial and biased in certain predictable ways. First, experts feel responsible for upholding earlier standards, as they have sometimes been part of creating them and promoting their benefits. Being loyal to their field of study, they also find it difficult to discard parts of the whole cloth of their field's knowledge, even after those parts have become outdated. Second, it is also very difficult for experts to add new disciplines to traditional fields of knowledge. For example, algorithmics and game theory are topics that are relevant for current advancements in a variety of fields that use mathematics, but tradition-oriented mathematics experts do not include them in their efforts to reform mathematics curriculum. Additionally, expert academics often operate in relative isolation from the demands of the real world, sometimes unaware of the ways their discipline is currently being applied in professional settings outside academia. Finally, these subject-matter experts place a large emphasis on the ways others in their field around the world are accomplishing similar curriculum reviews. In trying to adjust to emulate the others, they are subject to groupthink, and together they are rarely able to be highly innovative. We're seeing a growing consensus among employers and world leaders that curriculum does not adequately prepare graduates for today's workforce and world. Thoughts? Advertisement In addition to learning content deeply, students will need to apply that knowledge using "21st Century Skills": Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration. But skills are only one further dimension. In addition to skills, students will need to learn Character qualities: how students engage and behave in the world. Policymakers are beginning to see their importance as part of a formal education, although educators and employers have known this for a long time. Despite what is traditionally conceived of as progress, for example, economic growth, material productivity, etc, countries are now tracking other indicators of social progress and the level of their responses to local and global challenges, for example, poverty, violence, corruption and sustainability. This highlights the need for students to develop and build positive character qualities in addition to the knowledge and skills most needed for success. In order to deepen and enhance the learning in these three dimensions -- Knowledge, Skills, and Character qualities--there is an important additional fourth dimension needed for a fully comprehensive twenty-first century education: Meta-Learning (often called learning to learn--the internal processes by which we reflect on and adapt our learning). It is not enough to implicitly include this fourth dimension in all the other dimensions--its significance must be highlighted explicitly, so that we are constantly reminded to incorporate meta-learning strategies into the knowledge, skills, and character portions of our learning experiences, learning how to strive to improve no matter what goals we set for ourselves. "We will need the courage to innovate, letting go of the comfort of an existing system and working under conditions of uncertainty toward a better one." -- Charles Fadel Why do you believe your framework is the best approach? Our framework is a result of the analysis and synthesis of research on learning sciences, views from futurists and economists, standards around the world, and needs of employers and societies -- all organized to be maximally comprehensive, compact, appropriate, and globally relevant. By being able to consider all the necessary goals of a 21st Century curriculum at one time, policy makers, curriculum designers, teachers, and parents can more effectively make decisions about the future of education. The framework does not prescribe a particular path forward; rather it lays out the map clearly so that everyone can speak the same language about improvement, even as they create different instantiations of how to get there. Advertisement How can successful implementation be realized given the complexity of the issues? At the policy level, we will need to strive toward a stable consensus among political factions, and clearly articulated vision of the kind of education students now need. At the level of disciplinary experts, there needs to be continuous involvement of real-world users of the disciplines, in addition to reform-minded academics. We will need to leverage best practices from education systems around the world as well as industry where applicable. We must carefully re-examine the relevance of what we teach, curate the traditional disciplines, add relevant modern disciplines, and place emphasis on more holistic "whole student" learning--not just knowledge but also skills, character, and meta-learning. Finally, we will need the courage to innovate, letting go of the comfort of an existing system and working under conditions of uncertainty toward a better one. Thank you Charles. In Part 2 of our series with Charles Fadel, we will focus on WHAT Knowledge. (All Photos are courtesy of CMRubinWorld) C M Rubin and Charles Fadel A year ago, Wen-Jay Ying was feeling depressed. Her for-profit CSA business, Local Roots NYC, was four years old and looking around the industry, it seemed like there were suddenly many similar businesses who were in talks with investors, getting huge boosts of capital or moving into big warehouses and new markets, creating massive scale. The kind of scale that could have the potential to change, or "disrupt," our entire food system. Ying had never started her business with that kind of scale in mind. "I felt like I was doing something wrong," she said. Getting this week's harvest from a small, local farm is never as easy as ordering a pair of shoes on your mobile phone. But some companies have tried hard to bring consumers both the modern conveniences that they're accustomed to, and the local, small farm-grown ingredients that they're increasingly demanding. Through the economies of scale and proprietary software, these tech-based services believe in creating drastic changes throughout the food system. But we might wonder whether going for mass-scale leaves out some of the best things about supporting hyper-local, small-scale agriculture. Before there were online groceries or meal-kit services priding themselves on small farms, of course, there was CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture. In these cooperatively-run groups members have the opportunity to meet one another at pick-up sites, meet the farmers supplying the shares, and pitch in by volunteering. New York City alone saw more than one hundred CSAs sprout up in its neighborhoods since the program's inauguration in 1995. In 2011, Ying created Local Roots--a more curated weekly pickup of food from local producers than your typical CSA share--with a desire to make the farm-to-table connection easier and more fun for New Yorkers and farmers; she also just wanted to get to know her neighbors and community on a deeper level. She started the company with her own savings and a staff of just herself, and used her networks from working in farmers markets. As with a traditional CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), Local Roots members subscribe for a season and generally pick up their shares--usually at a friendly neighborhood bar--rather than getting them delivered, a big difference from today's online-ordered food subscription models. Advertisement But five years ago, food and changing the food system had yet to become the darling category of tech startups that it is now. Fast-forward to 2016, and home-delivered meal-kit companies, featuring all the ingredients to cook specific recipes, are on the rise, projecting 5 billion in growth over the next decade. Ecommerce sites offering local food from small farms have emerged as well. Two of them, Good Eggs and Farmigo burst onto the scene quickly thanks to investment capital, only to shrink back; last month, Farmigo announced the end of its service. "I thought my only option to become a real business was to focus more on my profit margins, gaining more customers and scalability, but I knew that wouldn't make me happy. As a business owner, I felt left out and inadequate," said Ying of her competition. Then, she took part in a 6-month business class held by Etsy.Org for "Regenerative Entrepreneurs" and was introduced to the teachings of Judy Wicks. Wicks talked about businesses growing "deep roots" in your communities and leading with your heart in business, recalled Ying. "It was the first time someone told me that you can have success in your business not based purely on money but by a different value system--of cultural or emotional capital." Advertisement Over the five years, Ying saw her membership grow steadily, and she eventually increased her pick-up locations to a total of twenty throughout New York City with home delivery orders done on bicycle. She employs a small part-time team of seven, and continues to partner with most of the same farms that she began with. She views her network of farmers as family. However, in the last year, there was an unprecedented plateau in new membership sign-ups, which meant that some of the farms who were planning ahead for their season with even more crops than they supplied Local Roots with last year had to find other avenues for their surplus. That is a small obstacle for the farms to deal with, considering Local Roots NYC only buys around 60,000 lbs of produce per year. Still, it was heartbreaking and Ying worried about it putting a strain on her farmer relationships. So what happens when an entire service and customer pool shuts down, as with Farmigo? In a blog post, Farmigo CEO Benzi Ronen listed resources where former customers could find its small-farm suppliers' food. "We're dedicated to doing all we can to provide support in the transition, and as a first step, we've created lists of all of our producers so customers can stay connected," he wrote. Last year, another online grocer for regional food from small producers, Good Eggs, announced it was closing all its operations outside the Bay Area. Meaning, its customers and community of farmers and producers in New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans, were abruptly disconnected (as well as some 140 staff positions). The setbacks of both Good Eggs and Farmigo might leave people wondering whether growth-focused, software-based companies are an appropriate fit for distributing food from a number of small, local farms. Are the goals of rapid growth an inherent mismatch when dealing with slow, small-scale agriculture? "Tech can scale very quickly, iterate on product very quickly. Distribution and infrastructure can scale with a little more of a natural handicap," said Josh Morgenthau, an owner at Fishkill Farms and the former NYC General Manager for Good Eggs. "But then farmland doesn't necessarily scale and for any given season, you're usually planning for it in the winter and then it's set in motion, and it's hard to have predictable supply based on the weather." In fact, this season his family's orchard is suffering from a lack of nearly all its stone fruit, as with many other Northeastern orchards thanks to a late frost in spring. Advertisement "I think there can certainly be expectations from venture capitalist-based tech startups, but to grow food distribution successfully, the models that I've seen that have worked better rely on quite a bit of industry and slow, methodical growth, which can be kind of antithetical to the growth mindset in the venture capitalist world," he said. Morgenthau noted the farmer cooperative Lancaster Farms as an example of slow, methodical growth as opposed to the guts-for-glory approach of investment-backed tech startups. The food distributor, which has CSA and wholesale operations, was able to achieve scale through specialization amongst its farmers and pooling resources, which Morgenthau described as an "elegant solution." "They didn't try to become in one fell swoop a full-scale grocer. It's a farmer cooperative so there's also a real sense of ownership and investment in the farms they work with and a level of collaborative investment," he said. We might turn the restaurant industry, which has a long relationship--deeper roots, you might say--working with small farms in its region. Many of the restaurants who've pioneered local food actually reflect the business size and scale of the small family-operated, independent farms that they source from. And although it may be more time-consuming to get food from several small farms rather than wholesale restaurant suppliers, some chalk it up to the "emotional capital" that Ying has embraced. "For me as an owner of a small independent restaurant I have been able to develop the best relationships with companies that are on the same level as mine in terms of size," said Jacques Gautier, chef/owner of the 10-year-old Park Slope restaurant, Palo Santo. Advertisement Gautier mentioned that he buys all his eggs from the same hatchery in the Hudson Valley (Tello's) each week, and has changed his wine list over the years due to the fact that he enjoyed working face-to-face with wineries in Long Island that direct-distribute, like Wolffer Estate and Channing Daughters. "I find that when I work with other small businesses that are on that level, then I get better service. I'm working with somebody who understands me and my business, they're sympathetic to it and it's a much better relationship that I can form. It's symbiotic as opposed to me depending on some large company," he explained. He felt that the startups that are bringing home-delivered local food en masse to audiences was a step "in the wrong direction": "I want to spend more time at the farmers market, have more direct contact with the farmers, I don't want a middle man," he said. Gautier noted that there have been many "middleman" startups that have approached both restaurant owners and small farms over the years, looking to tap into the market of those interested in local food. "It can't be genuine by nature because what we want is to change the fact that we've become so distanced from where our food is coming from. So one one hand they're making it more available but on the other hand, they're taking us away from the source." But Michael Anthony, chef of Gramercy Tavern and Untitled, and another pioneer in championing local food and direct-sourcing from small farms, felt hopeful about the potential impact of technology to create greater scale. "It's much easier for a chef to sit down at a computer and place an order from one or two vendors than 20 or 30," he said of the difficulties of sourcing from small farms. "We have to recognize that one of the primary goals of businesses' scaling up is finding efficiency--it's American, or maybe we give a high priority to convenience." Advertisement Clearly, he said, there is a growing tendency amongst consumers to want to know more about their food and connect with their farmers. And for a business to deliver on that, they'd need to put in the extra effort, think creatively and twist themselves. "Businesses have to let their ideals drive them, but it takes work," he said. Anthony mentioned that Blue Apron, a meal-kit service that often puts the spotlight on the small farms that they source from, is one company he's interested in watching as they evolve. "They have a very idealistic mission and they're growing at an astounding pace and they know how to differentiate powerful and positive local relationships but the question is, can they? What's the model that they'll put in place and how will they impact small agriculture?" It would seem that emotional investment is prerequisite for any business taking on the daunting challenge of trying to create more scalable access to local farms. But when a large company goes belly-up, it takes down in addition to all the capital funneled into it all the relationships, trust and emotional investment built into it through its network of members and suppliers. Is that loss justly weighed into decision-making? The modus operandi of startups is identifying a problem, getting the smartest people together in a room, and cracking that nut. Ronen and Rob Spiro, CEO of Good Eggs, are very smart and dedicated people who led talented teams. But for various reasons, their outfits have left behind many small farms who can't adapt as quickly and just shut down operations. And it can't be a great experience for a membership eager to get more involved in their local foodshed. CSAs are somewhat notorious for lacking in "user experience." But they're at least easy--and virtually cost-free--to get off the ground again should one fail. Advertisement Of course, it's never anyone's intention to fold, and responsible damage control is being pursued by Ronen, who wrote in an email that he's transitioning Farmigo to focus on software only "as a means to helping farmers." Morgenthau, who has refocused his efforts on his family's Upstate New York farm, said he was hopeful for a middle ground between a full-stop competitor to Fresh Direct and small, CSA-like local distribution models to emerge: "My sense is that there is room in that in-between area to specialize and gain a market there." For now, Ying said she's contented to keep her "head in the sand," and focus on introducing more events for her community and suppliers like cooking clubs, field trips and dinners. To the challenge of excess produce from this year's stagnant CSA membership, she was able to connect those farms through a friend to another local organization that needed to buy extra. That solution itself brought another sense of community partnership. Over the last decade, partisanship has mutated from bitter bickering and point scoring into the dangerous polarization of the U.S. This political rift is punishing red, blue, black, white and everyone in between. Divisiveness and gridlock have taken a turn for the worse with Donald Trump's call for Russia to hack Hillary Clinton's emails and for his decidedly un-presidential attacks on Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Muslim Gold Star parents of the deceased Army Captain, Humayun Khan. With this being the latest and perhaps most flagrant misstep from the Republican presidential candidate, the litany of politically toxic statements including building walls along the Mexican border, banning Muslims from entering the U.S., withdrawing the U.S. from NATO, and many other assertions, it is now time to believe the inherent national and global danger posed by these electoral promises. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. The blithe exhortation for Russia to find the lost Hillary emails, along with the callous and tone-deaf response by the Trump campaign to the Khan family proves that even patriotism no longer unites us in our politically extreme times. While Trump has taken partisan rhetoric to new and dangerous heights, his candidacy and improbable rise to prominence are symptomatic of deeper fissures in America's political and social fabric. Bitter partisanship and obstructionism has marked the last eight years of President Obama's term in office. From our inability to pass a national budget in 2011, for which the U.S. lost its AAA credit rating, to our inability to form a consensus around a series of domestic and global threats, it is clear that matters of national interest, especially those that do not get resolved in the four-year electoral cycle, are hardly prioritized. Our elected leaders need a new Grand Bargain as urgently as our country needs a new social compact. The ballot box in November 2016, like every election before, is our opportunity to cast an image of what we want our country to be. But make no mistake, while the outcome of this election is dire, all levels of government need new forms of accountability and public alignment. For this to happen, the public needs to get off the sidelines. Passive Facebook activism will not address the urgent challenges we face and the equally urgent, yet fleeting, opportunities we have to shape our future and our country's role in the world. The ballot box is the one place to drive lasting change and there is no voter's remorse or do-overs in a democracy. Advertisement For a country, even one as great as the U.S., to be competitive in the 21st century, a decent public education can no longer rely on a ZIP code lottery. Infrastructure must be built, modernized and enhanced to withstand the strain, speed and interconnections of domestic and global commerce. Public safety must apply to everyone, everywhere and freedom to bear arms can no longer trump freedom from mass casualty events, which have been visited upon our most vulnerable in Sandy Hook and our most patriotic in Fort Hood. For the U.S. economy to reach its full potential, equal pay for equal work has to move from being a remote campaign promise to an urgent priority worthy of implementation. In our times, which are increasingly being defined by man-made risk, global threats do not recognize borders. The vile ideology espoused by ISIS through its deft social media strategy, like Zika-spreading mosquitoes marching north due to climate change, can only be defeated through a resolute global response. U.S. leadership and engagement on the international stage, including positive perceptions around the world about "Brand America," are needed now more than ever. Looking for who to blame for the paralysis that has seized our discourse is unimportant. We can no longer look for causality, we must now respond to the effects of years of partisanship, special interests, and an electoral process where politicians spend more time worrying about reelection than legislating with their constituents in mind. If anything, the structural flaws in our democracy are starting to show in some insidious ways. Chief among these flaws is the two-party oligarchy parceled out in gerrymandered electoral districts, the outsized role of special interests and campaign-finance, and no term limitations in Congress and the Senate. Increasingly the American people are being left behind and the American Dream is as fleeting as it has ever been. Advertisement The walls of Fortress America will provide little comfort if the country remains on a perilous course of political in-fighting and social tension, which is increasingly playing out on our streets. Police violence against black Americans who suffer a heavy-handed justice system, like reprisals against the police, which are becoming dangerously calculated as we saw in Baton Rouge and Dallas, are but the latest examples of violence from which we have become desensitized. Sadly, unless we drive real social change and compromise, the next occupant of the White House, like the current one, will have to continue consoling the nation following senseless mass casualty events. Last week President Obama signed the DARK (Deny Americans their Right to Know) Act into law that pre-empts Vermont's and all other state's mandatory GMO labeling laws. This bill, passed by Congress two weeks ago, was championed by Senators Debbie Stabenow and Pat Roberts (Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Ag committee) along with USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. It creates a federal "non-labeling" standard for foods produced in part or entirely with genetic engineering. The legislation is a gift to the pesticide and food industries who make and sell GMOs. It allows companies to use QR codes or 1-800 numbers instead of clear on-pack labeling to disclose the presence of GMOs, forcing consumers to scan the code or make a call, effectively burying and hiding the information. Millions of American consumers have been fighting for what 64 countries around the world already require: a clear on-pack statement indicating a presence of GMO ingredients. Vermont's law was the first in the nation and took effect July 1st, with more states soon to follow with the same requirements. Major food brands had already clearly labeled their products nationwide in response without raising prices, disclosing whether products were produced in part or entirely with genetic engineering. Over 90% of GMO crop acreage is engineered to be saturated and survive huge doses of toxic weed killers, including Glyphosate, which has been deemed a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Consumers and physicians are rightly concerned about increasing residues of this and other herbicides on GMO foods as well as their impact on the environment. Advertisement This DARK Act was made possible in large part by what I and other movement leaders see clearly as the Organic Trade Association's (OTA's) betrayal of the movement to mandate labeling of GMOs in America, forever preempting Vermont and all other states from mandating disclosure of GMOs on packaging. Apparently Executive Director of the OTA, Laura Batcha, and board chair Missy Hughes, General Counsel of Organic Valley, with support from Organic Valley CEO George Siemon, decided to act unilaterally and endorse the Stabenow Roberts legislation, without review and approval of the OTA board. The explanation given is pathetic and self-serving: that organic products can claim to be produced without genetic engineering, which was already the case; and that dairy and meat products from animals fed GMO grain cannot automatically make a GMO-free claim. The latter is a trivial issue compared to pre-empting citizens' right to mandate disclosure of the presence of GMOs, and should be addressed through separate litigation and legislation. More importantly, OTA's leadership demonstrated a complete lack of integrity and courage in standing against the biotech agenda championed by Vilsack, Roberts and Stabenow. As a movement we already went through this exact scenario in February, when Vilsack and Stabenow were leaning hard on multiple movement representatives to take this deal, myself included, and then focused on pressuring Just Label It (JLI) and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to split the movement and provide enough political cover to wavering Democrats to get 60 votes to cloture. At that time movement leaders counseled JLI and EWG that the broader movement did not support making a deal that would allow the QR code plan to move forward. I stressed that it was time for the movement to come together and fight: I and others appreciate that you believe we will lose a floor vote and thus we should cut a deal along lines that Vilsack and Stabenow are pressuring on: industry gets two years to prove that people know their QR code or whatever tells them if a product is GMO or not. The rest of the movement's intel is that it will be very difficult for the opposition to get enough Dems, and we want to fight this out. If we concede and give them cover to preempt VT, then there are any number of ways they can keep kicking the can down the road. Vilsack and Stabenow believe in the stupid patchwork BS and want to see VT preempted, and are leaning hard on you and JLI to help make it happen. It's time to come together and fight. You guys are crucial leaders and allies but part of a much larger movement... if JLI and EWG go rogue it's going to suck on every level for you and all of us. You made your case to movement leaders, we debated and considered and none of us is down with the course you want to go. So bam, let's throw down and take it to 'em, let's target the farm state wavering Dems and bring the fight like we've been bringing it all along. And indeed the broader movement brought it hard, united, in March, and knocked the opposition on their butts. Farm state Dems for the most part went our way. The reason we won in March, as much as the voluntary nature of the legislation, was that the QR code disclosure itself was such a discriminatory way to bury product information and preempt states rights. Once we won that decisive victory, the new baseline "worst case" result for our movement was "mandatory" disclosure via QR codes, and given the huge momentum we were riding, our movement correctly believed we had more than a fighting chance of defeating a compromise mandatory QR disclosure that Stabenow would fashion with Roberts. Getting 60 votes to cloture would be a very difficult lift when the BS nature of QR disclosure itself was so central in defeating Roberts' voluntary version. Knowing this, unbeknownst to anyone except probably JLI and EWG, Stabenow and Vilsack evidently leaned on OTA to be the movement traitor, giving trivial concessions to organic interests in return for OTA to not only endorse but actively lobby and campaign on behalf of their bill to pre-empt Vermont and other states with federal QR BS. OTA played their Judas role to a T, providing the necessary political cover to wavering senators, and their press release endorsing pre-emption of on-pack labeling of GMOs is masterful in disguising the knife into the back of the movement. Their subsequent efforts to put lipstick on this travesty of a bill were extraordinary, working hard with Stabenow and USDA to counter FDA's exposure of how fatally flawed this legislation is. OTA and Organic Valley attempted to spin their support was not crucial to passage, to which Jim Leahy, lead lobbyist for Citizens for GMO Labeling stated: As a 30+ year lobbyist, I am comfortable with my understanding of how Congress works. OTA's support was clearly critical to the proponents of this bill. US Senators are not in the habit of providing incentives to get organizations on board with a bill if that support is not necessary. The argument that OTA jumped on a bill that was passing anyway is either naive or disingenuous. The sponsors knew that if they could split our side, they would provide cover for farm state Dems who wanted to vote yes, but were being held captive by strong consumer opposition. OTA provided the cover necessary for them to bolt. You were the tipping point. Since the legislation OTA endorsed was the same that Gary Hirshberg, JLI and Stonyfield Chairman, was advocating the movement take over the winter, many believed that JLI was party to this and giving tacit blessing behind the scenes with relevant Senators and staff. I hoped this was not the case and that Gary, along with JLI and EWG were with us, as only JLI was in a position to stop OTA's betrayal. JLI and OTA overlap substantially and Stonyfield is Organic Valley's largest customer. If Gary and JLI chose, they could have pressured them to publicly walk back their endorsement of the Stabenow Roberts bill. That didn't happen and actions speak louder than words. Recent JLI and EWG statements are pretty revealing. It's now clear JLI played a Pontius role washing their hands not doing anything to stop OTA's betrayal. No one got anything good here except the pesticide and junk food industries. The red line for our movement is an on-pack disclosure that clearly indicates whether a food is genetically engineered. The requirement of QR codes as a stand in for labeling is a joke and lauding this "compromise" for trivial concessions to organic industry interests is ridiculous. What if instead of the USDA organic seal we could only use a QR code? It's not for OTA, Organic Valley or any other organization to trade away Americans right to know what's in the food we eat. OTA's board chair and executive director claim they are authorized by OTA's membership to make unilateral decisions of this magnitude without board review, because they are informed by task force recommendations representing membership expertise and perspective. This is false: the red line that came out of the OTA task forces on GMO labeling, is that clear on package disclosure of GMOs is a sovereign right of all Americans. Batcha and Hughes chose to go rogue preempting this right, and there is no excuse for it. The leading organic food brand, Nature's Path, has already resigned its board position and my company, Dr. Bronner's will resign from OTA itself if we don't see actions taken by September to remedy the leadership problems at OTA. I'm not sure how deep and broad the corruption and disorder is at OTA, but I half expect the leadership of OTA and JLI to receive awards for this fiasco. Separately, leaving alone the merits or lack thereof of the organic check-off program that limits marketing claims to those that don't "disparage" the disaster of industrial agriculture, OTA's leadership is now advocating that OTA and its membership should also not "go negative" on industrial agriculture. I just ordered OTA's own consumer survey data, and I'm pretty sure that it's going to show what we all know: the number one driver of organic food, especially organic produce, is consumer concerns about toxic pesticide residues in their food. We should further be communicating that the industrial ag machine is ripping fertility out of our soil, poisoning our water and bodies, killing huge amounts of non-target wildlife while creating massive dead zones in the ocean, and driving us off the climate change cliff. We need to transition agriculture globally to sustainable organic practices that builds soil health, sequesters carbon and provides healthy food for our children and children's children, and provides bio-diverse habitat for wildlife on a planet not facing catastrophic climate change. We also need to get animals out of their cages and back on the land in mixed organic farming systems, and reduce consumption of animal products. Apparently OTA's leadership has lost perspective and doesn't have the strength to maintain core organic values while dancing so close to the devil in Washington. Organic industry interests will be best served by leadership that is organizationally feared, not personally liked in DC. All is not lost, of course. A powerful coalition of organizations have coalesced to form a powerful food movement in the US, unleashing market and cultural drivers here and abroad for more transparency and away from ingredients engineered to be saturated in toxic herbicide. We exposed industry collusion with academics that whipsaw US regulatory agencies and process regarding both GMOs and pesticides. We have built a politically potent food movement that is battle tested and ready for the next fight, knowing now who our real friends and allies are. The new NBC sitcom The Good Place just might be the most optimistic television show ever. Starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, The Good Place suggests that despite every shred of evidence most of us see in this life, ultimately there is justice. Someone is watching, says The Good Place, which premieres Sept. 19. Every action in our life on Earth is noted and assigned a point value. Positive when that action makes life a little better, negative when that action makes life a little worse. When our run here is finished, those with high scores are rewarded with eternity in The Good Place, where life is all soulmates and frozen yogurt shops. Everyone else goes to The Bad Place, which seems to be something like waiting in line for eternity at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Advertisement Now it could be noted that most organized religions some time ago latched onto this idea of being rewarded or punished in the afterlife for our behavior here. But Good Place creator Michael Schur says this is a different approach to the afterlife. "I was reading a lot of books about religious conceptions of the afterlife across all world religions," he told TV writers in Beverly Hills. "And then, after I did all that for like a month straight, I realized that it was utterly irrelevant, because this wasn't a religious show. Religion is almost irrelevant. It's really about ethics." Even the impetus for the show, he said, came from much more secular issues. "I conceived it as a system of pure justice," he said. "Like when you're driving around L.A. and someone cuts you off or does something annoying, I would think, 'That's negative 8 points, man. That's negative 8 points, what you just did.' "My secret hope was that there is an omniscient system that we're all being judged by, that it's impartial and definitive and absolute, and you don't have to worry about judging bias. It's like, 'This is the system. These are the points, plus and minus.' " Advertisement This plays out in The Good Place with Bell playing Eleanor Shellstrop, a woman who just died and finds herself meeting Michael - think St. Peter, played by Danson - at the entry point to The Good Place. Michael explains that because she led an exemplary life, like all her relief work in Africa, she's among the relative select few who made it to The Good Place. She will live in a house built to reflect all her taste, like her fondness for clown paintings, and she is introduced to her soulmate, Chris (William Jackson Harper). Michael is relentlessly positive and reassuring throughout the orientation. Eleanor smiles graciously and meets some of her equally qualified neighbors, like the Buddhist monk. It's only later, when she and Chris are alone, that she says this is all a mistake. She wasn't a good person in life. She bilked senior citizens by selling them worthless medicine. She'd never been to Africa. She hates clowns. Advertisement Seems The Good Place isn't The Perfect Place. Why not? Well, Danson offers a hint. "Michael only recently was promoted to middle management," he explains, "and he's in way over his head." So Eleanor brings a different dimension to this land of good people, some of whom turn out to be more good than others. But she likes being here, especially when she discovers she can drink 30 glasses of wine and wake up without a hangover. So she tries to strategize how she can remain, coming up with a series of schemes that often make Chris her reluctant accomplice. In the end, says Schur, "The actual main question is what it means to be a good person. That's the only intention." "The characteristics that Eleanor displays when she gets to the good place are not malicious," says Bell. "They're not evil. She's simply been living by this guideline that 'Isn't it every man for himself and shouldn't I be putting myself first?' Advertisement "So her road to learning how to be a good person is really learning about incorporating other people into her worldview. She's got a lot of hard work to do that she doesn't want to do. But unless she discovers how to be a good person, she's not going to be able to earn her place there." They dug up bones back in the 1990's that scientists believed were Caucasian, very old bones. The alleged 'natives' got very upset, and Bill Clinton ordered them to be quickly reburied before all scientific work could be done on those bones. Whether you travel to a traditional office or telecommute from a coworking space, sitting for hours can lead to poor posture and pain, along with an assortment of other maladies. Spending multiple hours every day parked at your desk, hunched over a computer or smartphone takes a toll on your neck, shoulders, spine, and overall good health. Several studies point to the dangers of sitting too long, which is associated with increased rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other conditions. Your mission: to give your body a break and help combat the toll of sedentary slouching. Advertisement Elevate your workspace to create an ergonomic workstation. It's not necessary to buy a standing desk. In fact, suddenly going from sitting all day to standing all day can lead to other health problems according to some experts. Move your laptop to a counter-height work area for a short period to give your body a break. Or, raise your computer a little higher, so you're not looking down on it. Ideally, your screen should fall directly within your natural gaze. Pay attention to how your shoulders hang and where your wrists rest for maximum comfort. Have a walking meeting. Instead of moving from the chair at your desk to the chair in the meeting room, suggest you and your colleagues talk while strolling around the office, or outdoors. Doing so will also help keep the discussion brief and gives participants a break from extended sitting. A brisk walk gets your body moving, your blood pumping, and generates some energy to power through an afternoon slump. Improve your posture with yoga. One of the many benefits of yoga is the strengthening and stretching of the muscles along your spine and core. While there are many poses that help counteract hunched shoulders and craning necks, here are nine yoga moves that zero in on the problem areas caused by excessive hunching over a computer. A few minutes a day spent doing restorative yoga poses like these can help you stay strong, limber, and pain-free. Stand up. Get on your feet and move, stretching and walking around at least once an hour. Have a face-to-face conversation with a coworker instead of emailing, calling, or messaging. This also allows for recalibrating your body and mind. Advertisement Try back-friendly furniture. Investing in a good office chair is like choosing a quality mattress for a better night's sleep - you spend hours every day there, so it should provide the comfort and support you need. An adjustable chair can be customized to your specific proportions to facilitate good posture. TIME TO "UN-RIG" THE SYSTEM By Don C. Reed Is the system "rigged"? Listen to Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig: "We have a corrupt government, yet one that is perfectly legal." One Supreme Court decision is at the root of the corruption. "Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission", allows unlimited financial donations by corporations, unions and individuals. This virtually guarantees domination of the government by special interests and the rich. If you are a billionaire and you want to influence the system, all you need to do is pick your party or your candidate, make out your checks (as many millions of dollars as you wish), give them to a Political Action Committee (PAC), and they will do the rest. Legally, there should be no contact between the candidate and the PAC, but that is no problem for donors. If a candidate is in favor of cutting taxes on the rich, for example, ads praising him/her will pop up like daisies after Spring rain. How important is this? In 2012, the entire U.S. Presidential elections including the Congressional elections-- $6.3 billion. A lot of money? Advertisement Just one Republican billionaire, Sheldon Adelson, has a net worth nearly four times that--approximately $23 billion. He could literally put up the money for an entire election. It used to be, a person running for office did not need millions of dollars to pay campaign costs. He/she would make speeches in front of groups, and at election time the voting process would take place. Now, TV ads skyrocket the costs. Also, it was once illegal to flood the system with wealth. Today, it is expected. Could the Supreme Court undo this act of mandatory corruption, if a case challenging its Constitutionality were brought to them? Yes, they could. But would they, if they are Republican appointees? I doubt it. The Supreme Court has had a Republican majority for decades. Now, with the death of arch-conservative Antonin Scalia, the court has 4 Democrats and 4 Republicans. Advertisement When President Obama nominated a well-qualified moderate justice Merrick Garland, as was his right and obligation, the Republican-controlled Senate refused to do their duty; Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would not allow a vote. If Donald Trump becomes President? He has promised to stack the court with ultraconservative Republicans. Here is the Trump list of judges, all Republican appointees, all with a track record of conservative decision-making. If the Court goes back to a conservative majority with young judges, (lifetime appointments) the rich will own the government for generations. But there is hope. We can "un-rig" the system--if we meet two challenges. First, we need Hillary Clinton in the White House. She has pledged to fight Citizens United, even if it requires a Constitutional Amendment. Second, we need a Democratic majority in the Senate, to prevent Republicans from continuing to block Supreme Court candidates as they are doing now. Advertisement To take control of the Senate will mean changing 4 Senate seats from red to blue. And if we win? Suddenly, a fair political process becomes possible. "A more liberal court could overturn Citizens United, restore voting rights and workers' rights, protect women's rights... allow the President to address climate change..." To achieve this goal, which Senate races should be most vigorously fought? For your consideration, here are a magnificent seven Democrats, all in close races. Some are incumbents, some challengers, all are deserving of your support. (Note: my key issue is stem cell research. When there are two individuals with equal pro-stem cell positions, I make no recommendation. It takes courage for a Republican to go against their party's anti-science stance, and that deserves respect.) WISCONSIN: Russ Feingold. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Maggie Hassan. FLORIDA: Patrick Murphy NEVADA: Katherine Cortez Masto OHIO: Ted Strickland. COLORADO: Michael Bennett MISSOURI: Jason Kander. In the next few weeks, I will write about each one of these top-notch Democrats, and detail the contests they face. To be continued... On June 8, Khan died in a suicide car bombing at the main gates of his base. Khan, an ordnance officer with the Germany-based 201st Forward Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, had watched as several of his soldiers prepared to do a routine vehicle inspection. His unit was charged with the day-to-day security and maintenance of the camp. When an orange-colored taxi drove toward them, Khan ordered his soldiers to "hit the dirt," said his father, who received details of his son's death from his commanding officer. Khan walked toward the car, motioning for it to stop, his father said. A makeshift bomb inside it exploded, killing him and two Iraqi civilians in addition to the two suicide bombers. Ten soldiers and six Iraqi citizens were also wounded, the Army said. Buried with full military honors, Khan was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. If disgruntled followers of Senator Bernie Sanders truly share their candidate's environmental priorities, they should shift their vote to Hillary Clinton this November. Not to support her--as some of them have vowed to do--would be tantamount to the proverbial "Cutting off one's nose to spite one's face." One assumes that most of Sanders' loyal backers subscribe to the senator's following statement of principle. "This election is about climate change, the greatest environmental crisis facing our planet and the need to leave the world in a way that is healthy and habitable for our kids and future generations." Sanders' perspective is shared by presidential nominee Clinton, as witness to her declaration that "climate change is one of the defining threats of our time". Moreover, she has proposed to do something about it, principally through a mandated carbon emissions strategy and a crash program to expand the use of clean, renewable energy. Advertisement Clinton is one of the two presidential candidates with a realistic chance of winning the election. The other, Republican Donald Trump, rejects the validity of the existential environmental threat to our civilization. Indeed, Trump pledges to rescind government policies aimed at curbing the adverse effects of climate change. That includes withdrawal from the international climate accord that President Obama helped negotiate earlier this year in Paris. In response to his critics, Trump insists he "is for clean air and clean water." (What politician isn't?) In the next breath, he dismisses climate change as a gigantic hoax. The stark contrast between the two major candidates creates a moral imperative for Sanders' people to switch their support to Clinton. That makes it all the more incomprehensible to hear some of Sanders' followers claim they will shift to Trump. No matter that they still may be smarting at their candidate's primary defeat. Their conversion to Trump is equivalent to selecting Jesse James for sheriff if one can't vote for Wyatt Earp. Advertisement The same cognitive dissonance applies to those Sanders' backers who say they will vote for Green Party leader Jill Stein as an alternative to Clinton. Stein displays the same sense of urgency about climate change as do her democratic rivals. Indeed, she advocates declaration of a national emergency to expedite mitigation of climate change, with a target of achieving 100 percent reliance on renewable energy by 2030. But she has no chance of winning. For her followers -whether disaffected Sanders' disciples or not--who share her environmental concern, defection to Clinton is the logical move. Consider that whatever votes Stein's progressive agenda would attract would otherwise most likely go to Clinton in what is expected to be a close election. If you hear me talking today with a heavier accent than usual, the explanation is simple: I'm back from a trip to Russia and still fighting the jetlag. I was travelling with a very interesting group of people -- faithful and adventurous supporters of KCRW. We began our trip in St. Petersburg and then proceeded to Moscow. So let me start with St. Petersburg, the city where I was born and lived until 1977. This was my third trip back home since then, and I was very pleased to find the city in much better shape compared to what I've seen in the past. The city was jammed with tourists eager to experience the so-called White Nights -- the several weeks in June and July when daylight lasts almost until midnight. We stayed in a hotel walking distance from the famous Bronze Horseman, the monument to Peter the Great. It was created by French sculptor Etienne Maurice Falconet and commissioned by Catherine the Great. For the last two centuries the sculpture has been the symbol of the city. Looking at its gigantic granite pedestal, one can't help thinking about

Pentagon spokesman Commander Gary Ross

Several other North Korean rockets have gone farther and even over Japan. But Pyongyang called them satellite launches while Washington, Seoul and Tokyo said they were disguised tests of missile technology. After several failures, the North put its first satellite into space aboard a long-range rocket in December 2012, and conducted another successful satellite launch in February. In June, North Korea, after a string of failures, sent another type of mid-range missile known as Musudan more than 1,400km (870 miles) high. Analysts said the high-altitude flight meant North Korea had made progress in its push to be able to strike US forces throughout the region. North Korea routinely conducts weapons tests, but the latest launch came after North Korea warned of unspecified physical counter-actions against a US plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year. On 19 July, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, according to Seoul defense officials. The North's state media later confirmed that it fired ballistic rockets carrying trigger devices for nuclear warheads as part of simulated pre-emptive atomic attacks on South Korea. Analyst Kim Dong-yub at Seoul's Institute for Far East Studies said the latest Rodong launch appeared to be aimed at showing an ability to attack US military bases in Japan, a major source of reinforcements for US troops should a war break out on the Korean Peninsula. Hyon Kwang Il, director of the scientific research department at the North's National Aerospace Development Administration, told the Associated Press last week that Pyongyang's military had mastered the main and core techniques in long-range ballistic missile technology, including the starter engine technology, how to separate the different stages, guidance control techniques and re-entry and it's all ready to be operational. North Korea is known to have an arsenal of estimated 300 Rodong missiles whose maximum range is 1,300 kilometers (800 miles). A Rodong fired in March flew about 800 kilometers (500 miles) while two other Rodongs launched in 2014 flew about 650 kilometers (400 miles). In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test A lab employee from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety's regional office in Gangneung, east of Seoul, checks for radioactive traces in the air, in Gangneung, soon after North Korea announced it successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test. The office in Gangneung is the closest one to the site of the North's claimed test. Officials said it will take three to four days to analyze air samples in detail for any traces of radioactivity, the Yonhap news agency reported EPA In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un signing a document of a hydrogen bomb test in Pyongyang In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test People watch a TV news program showing North Korea's special announcement at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea AP In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test South Korean people watch TV news at Seoul station EPA In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Japan's meteorological agency officer Yohei Hasegawa displays a chart showing seismic activity, after a North Korean nuclear test, at the agency in Tokyo Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Ko Yun-Hwa, administrator of Korea Meteorological Administration, briefs reporters showing seismic waves from the site of North Korea's hydrogen bomb test, at his office in Seoul Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test North Korea's border county of Kaepoong is seen from a South Korean observation post in Paju near the Demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas as North Korea announced it had successfully carried out its first hydrogen bomb test Getty Images North Korea is expected to carry out more weapons launches in coming weeks to protest annual US-South Korean military drills that begin later this month. North Korea describes the drills as an invasion rehearsal. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea and tens of thousands of more in Japan. 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 }} A woman whose husband claims she was the victim of an honour killing was strangled, Pakistani police have said. Samia Shahid, from Bradford in West Yorkshire, died while visiting relatives in her ancestral village in the northern Punjab region of the country. Her family have said she died of natural causes, but her husband Syed Mukhtar Kazam believes she was killed because the family did not approve of her marriage to him. The couple married in Leeds in 2014 after Ms Shahid left her first husband, a cousin from Pakistan, to be with him despite her familys disapproval. Ms Shahids family have denied any involvement in her death. The News newspaper, in Pakistan, said a forensic report has confirmed that she was murdered. It said the report stated clearly that her death had been caused due to suffocation, as she was stopped from breathing. Last week, Mr Kazam claimed there was a 7.5in bruise on his wifes neck and he had seen a copy of a post-mortem report. 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 the 28-year-old had moved to live in Dubai with him last year but had made trips to UK to talk to her parents about her relationship. She visited Pakistan after she was told her father was ill, he added. Mr Kazam said she was healthy and he did not believe her death could have been due to natural causes. He told The Guardian he had begged her not to go to Pakistan as he could see it was a lie but she did not listen. A friend in Bradford told the newspaper Ms Shahid had been pressured into marrying her cousin in Pakistan in 2012 after the match was arranged when she was young. It was expected that her cousin would apply for a visa to live in the UK but she eventually left him and returned alone. Her family were said to have not accepted the divorce and reported her missing to police in November 2014 when she left for Dubai to be with Mr Kazam. Additional reporting by PA 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 former Isis militant turned whistleblower has warned that the terror group is planning a simultaneous attack on the UK, France and Germany. Harry Sarfo, who was born in Germany but raised in the UK, said Isis commanders want to carry out multiple attacks in Europe. He told the New York Times that when he arrived in Syria in 2015 he was told to return to his home in Bremen, Germany to plot a terror attack. The 27-year-old described an encounter with masked members of Isiss secret service, who told him and a German friend they needed to go home. He said: He was speaking openly about the situation, saying that they have loads of people living in European countries and waiting for commands to attack the European people. And that was before the Brussels attacks, before the Paris attacks. They said, Would you mind to go back to Germany, because thats what we need at the moment. And they always said they wanted to have something that is occurring in the same time: They want to have loads of attacks at the same time in England and Germany and France. In pictures: The rise of Isis Show all 74 1 /74 In pictures: The rise of Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters of the Islamic State wave the group's flag from a damaged display of a government fighter jet following the battle for the Tabqa air base, in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from Islamic State group sit on their tank during a parade in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from the Islamic State group pray at the Tabqa air base after capturing it from the Syrian government in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from extremist Islamic State group parade in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping A video uploaded to social networks shows men in underwear being marched barefoot along a desert road before being allegedly executed by Isis Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping Haruna Yukawa after his capture by Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping Khalinda Sharaf Ajour, a Yazidi, says two of her daughters were captured by Isis militants Washington Post In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Spokesperson for Isis Vice News via Youtube In pictures: The rise of Isis A pro-Isis leaflet A pro-Isis leaflet handed out on Oxford Street In London Ghaffar Hussain In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Isis Jihadists burn their passports In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid A man collecting aid administered by Isis in Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid A woman collecting aid administered by Isis in Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid Local civilians queue for aid administered by Isis. Since it declared a caliphate the group has increasingly been delivering services such as healthcare, and distributing aid and free fuel In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces detain men suspected of being militants of the Isis group in Diyala province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Mourners carry the coffin of a Shi'ite volunteer from the brigades of peace, who joined the Iraqi army and was killed during clashes with militants of the Isis group in Samarra, during his funeral in Najaf In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi Shiite Turkmen family fleeing the violence in the Iraqi city of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, arrives at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Arbil, in Iraq's Kurdistan region In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi A photograph made from a video by the jihadist affiliated group Furqan Media via their twitter account allegedly showing Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi delivering a sermon during Friday prayers at a mosque in Mosul. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an Islamist caliphate in the territory under the group's control in Iraq and Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq Shiite's Al-Qubba Husseiniya mosque explodes in Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq Smoke and debris go up in the air as Shiite's Al-Qubba Husseiniya mosque explodes in Mosul. Images posted online show that Islamic extremists have destroyed at least 10 ancient shrines and Shiite mosques in territory - the city of Mosul and the town of Tal Afar - they have seized in northern Iraq in recent weeks In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq A bulldozer destroys Sunni's Ahmed al-Rifai shrine and tomb in Mahlabiya district outside of Tal Afar In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces celebrate after clashes with followers of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi, in front of his home in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi at his home after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis A vehicle burns in front of a home of a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi woman holds her exhausted son as over 1000 Iraqis who have fled fighting in and around the city of Mosul and Tal Afar wait at a Kurdish checkpoint in the hopes of entering a temporary displacement camp in Khazair In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees Displaced Iraqi women hold pots as they queue to receive food during the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, at an encampment for displaced Iraqis who fled from Mosul and other towns, in the Khazer area outside Irbil, north Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria A militant Islamist fighter waving a flag, cheers as he takes part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa. The fighters held the parade to celebrate their declaration of an Islamic "caliphate" after the group captured territory in neighbouring Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters wave flags as they take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province Reuters In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters travel in a vehicle as they take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Fighters from the Isis group during a parade with a missile in Raqqa, Syria. Militants from an al-Qaida splinter group held a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria, displaying U.S.-made Humvees, heavy machine guns, and missiles captured from the Iraqi army for the first time since taking over large parts of the Iraq-Syria border In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters during a parade in Raqqa, Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Fighters from the Isis group during a parade in Raqqa, Syria. Militants from the splinter group held a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria, displaying U.S.-made Humvees, heavy machine guns, and missiles captured from the Iraqi army for the first time since taking over large parts of the Iraq-Syria border In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters hold a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters during a parade in Raqqa, Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria A member loyal to the Isis waves an Isis flag in Raqqa In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi anti-government gunmen from Sunni tribes in the western Anbar province march during a protest in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. The United Nations warned that Iraq is at a "crossroads" and appealed for restraint, as a bloody four-day wave of violence killed 195 people. The violence is the deadliest so far linked to demonstrations that broke out in Sunni areas of the Shiite-majority country more than four months ago, raising fears of a return to all-out sectarian conflict In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces hold up a flag of the Isis group they captured during an operation to regain control of Dallah Abbas north of Baqouba, the capital of Iraq's Diyala province, 35 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq Isis fighters parade in the northern city of Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi army to fight against the predominantly Sunni militants from the radical Isis group, demonstrate their skills during a graduation ceremony after completing their field training in Najaf In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Kurdish Peshmerga troops fire a cannon during clashes with militants of the Isis group in Jalawla, Diyala province In pictures: The rise of Isis Lieutenant General Qassem Atta speaks during a press conference Iraqi Prime Minister's security spokesman, Lieutenant General Qassem Atta speaks during a press conference about the latest military development in Iraq, in the capital Baghdad. Iraqi forces pressed a campaign to retake militant-held Tikrit, clashing with jihadist-led Sunni militants nearby and pounding positions inside the city with air strikes in their biggest counter-offensive so far In pictures: The rise of Isis A police station building destroyed by Isis fighters An exterior view of a police station building destroyed by gunmen in Mosul city, northern Iraq. Iraq's new parliament is expected to convene to start the process of setting up a new government, despite deepening political rifts and an ongoing Islamist-led insurgency. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani issued a decree inviting the new House of Representatives to meet and form a new government In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq Smoke billows from an area controlled by the Isis between the Iraqi towns of Naojul and Tuz Khurmatu, both located north of the capital Baghdad, as Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces take part in an operation to repel the Sunni militants In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An elderly Iraqi woman is helped into a temporary displacement camp for Iraqis caught-up in the fighting in and around the city of Mosul in Khazair In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi Christian woman fleeing the violence in the village of Qaraqush, about 30 kms east of the northern province of Nineveh, cries upon her arrival at a community center in the Kurdish city of Arbil in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi woman, who fled with her family from the northern city of Mosul, prays with a copy of the Quran AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq The body of an Isis militant killed during clashes with Iraqi security forces on the outskirts of the city of Samarra Reuters In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi civilians inspect the damage at a market after an air strike by the Iraqi army in central Mosul EPA In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Members of the Al-Abbas brigades, who volunteered to protect the Shiite Muslim holy sites in Karbala against Sunni militants fighting the Baghdad government, parade in the streets of the city AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Shia tribesmen gather in Baghdad to take up arms against Sunni insurgents marching on the capital. Thousands have volunteered to bolster defences AFP/Getty In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis A van carrying volunteers joining Iraqi security forces against Jihadist militants. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced the Iraqi government would arm and equip civilians who volunteered to fight AFP/Getty In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters of the Isis group parade in a commandeered Iraqi security forces armored vehicle down a main road at the northern city of Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq An Islamist fighter, identified as Abu Muthanna al-Yemeni from Britain (R), speaks in this still image taken undated video shot at an unknown location and uploaded to a social media website. Five Islamist fighters identified as Australian and British nationals have called on Muslims to join the wars in Syria and Iraq, in the new video released by the Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Al-Qaida inspired militants stand with captured Iraqi Army Humvee at a checkpoint belonging to Iraqi Army outside Beiji refinery some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Baghdad. The fighting at Beiji comes as Iraq has asked the U.S. for airstrikes targeting the militants from the Isis group. While U.S. President Barack Obama has not fully ruled out the possibility of launching airstrikes, such action is not imminent in part because intelligence agencies have been unable to identify clear targets on the ground, officials said In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants attacked Iraq's main oil refinein Baiji as they pressed an offensive that has seen them capture swathes of territory, a manager and a refinery employee said In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants from the Isis group parading with their weapons in the northern city of Baiji in the in Salaheddin province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq A smoke rises after an attack by Isis militants on the country's largest oil refinery in Beiji, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad. Iraqi security forces battled insurgents targeting the country's main oil refinery and said they regained partial control of a city near the Syrian border, trying to blunt an offensive by Sunni militants who diplomats fear may have also seized some 100 foreign workers In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group stand next to captured vehicles left behind by Iraqi security forces at an unknown location in the Salaheddin province. For militant groups, the fight over public perception can be even more important than actual combat, turning military losses into propaganda victories and battlefield successes into powerful tools to build support for the cause In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq An injured fighter (C) from the Isis group after a battle with Iraqi soldiers at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis aiming at advancing Iraqi troops at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis group taking position at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis group inspecting vehicles of the Iraqi army after they were seized at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq One Iraqi captive, a corporal, is reluctant to say the slogan, and has to be shouted at repeatedly before he obeys Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Iraqi captives held by the extremists Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Iraqi captives held by the extremists Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group force captured Iraqi security forces members to the transport In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group transporting dozens of captured Iraqi security forces members to an unknown location in the Salaheddin province ahead of executing them In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq A major offensive spearheaded by Isis but also involving supporters of executed dictator Saddam Hussein has overrun all of one province and chunks of three others In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group executing dozens of captured Iraqi security forces members at an unknown location in the Salaheddin province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis militants taking position at a Iraqi border post on the Syrian-Iraqi border between the Iraqi Nineveh province and the Syrian town of Al-Hasakah In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis rebels show their flag after seizing an army post AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis militants waving an Islamist flag after the seizure of an Iraqi army checkpoint in Salahuddin Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Demonstrators chant slogans as they carry al-Qaida flags in front of the provincial government headquarters in Mosul, 225 miles (360 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad. In the week since it captured Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul, a Muslim extremist group has tried to win over residents and has stopped short of widely enforcing its strict brand of Islamic law, residents say. Churches remain unharmed and street cleaners are back at work Sarfo, who is currently serving a prison sentence in Germany for terror offences, said there had been many recruits in the UK and Germany, but they had chickened out before carrying out attacks. But in contrast, they had more than enough volunteers for terrorist attacks in France. He said when his friend asked about French recruits, the Isis commanders had started laughing and said dont worry about France. The former postman said hundreds of militants had definitely returned to Europe. The victims of the Nice attack He said they looked to target people with criminal histories, in particular because they often had ties to organised crime and know you get fake IDs or they know you have contact men... who can smuggle you into the European Union. When The Independent interviewed Sarfo in May he said he had been persuaded to join Isis because he thought their videos demonstrated unity under one flag... white, black, Asians and Arabs from all walks of life protecting the Sunni Muslims. He said he had felt victimised in Europe after being repeatedly detained and put under surveillance by intelligence agencies after converting to Islam from Catholicism. He said he became radicalised after coming into contact with Rene Marc Sepac in a Bremen jail after he was sentenced to two years in prison for taking part in an armed robbery of a supermarket. Sarfo claimed he decided to leave the caliphate after three months having witnessing the brutality of life 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 man sentenced to 16 years in an Italian prison for killing British student Meredith Kercher has filed an appeal against his conviction. Lawyers acting on behalf of Rudy Guede have said he is innocent and are seeking another new trial. It is the latest challenge in the long running legal saga following the death of the 21-year-old in Perugia in 2007. Guede, originally from the Ivory Coast, was convicted of sexually assaulting and stabbing Ms Kercher in her bedroom and sentenced to 30 years in prison but it was later reduced to 16 years on appeal. American Amanda Knox, Ms Kerchers flatmate, and Ms Knoxs then boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were also convicted to 28 and 25 years respectively for the crime in 2009. But two years later they had their convictions quashed following an appeal and were released. A hearing in January 2014 reconvicted them before the Italian Supreme Court finally overturned the guilty verdict for good in March 2015. 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 The Court of Cassation said there was an absolute lack of biological traces of the pair in Ms Kerchers room and on her body and said there were stunning flaws in the investigation. Guedes conviction for homicide found he was acting with others, but he is the only person who has been definitely convicted for the murder. It is unclear whether his request for a new trial can be granted as he has already exhausted all his appeals. Additional reporting by PA 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 }} Europes reaction to the worlds greatest refugee crisis in 70 years has been lamentable, and living conditions in refugee camps like the Jungle, outside Calais, are a source of shame to wealthy countries like the UK and France, a committee of MPs have concluded after a year long enquiry. The all-party Home Affairs committee reserved particular scorn for Philip Hammond, who at the time was Foreign Secretary, but is now Chancellor, for his complacent attitude to the thousands of refugees making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean from Libya, at the mercy of criminal gangs. The 80-page report, Migration Crisis reveals for the first time the uneven reaction of local councils to David Camerons decision that the UK would accept 20,000 of the most needy refugees fleeing Syrias civil war. Out of 1,602 accepted under the scheme up to March 2016, 610 were in Scotland, 171 in Yorkshire and Humberside, and 105 in Coventry. Only four out Londons 32 boroughs have taken in any refugees at all. Recommended Read more 2016 on course to be deadliest year on record for refugees The United Nations has calculated that at the end of 2015 there were 65 million people around the world forcibly displaced from their homes by war or persecution, 21 million of whom had fled their home countries. The figures are higher than at any time since the end of the world war in 1945. In 2015, nearly 1.3 million applied for political asylum in the EU, double the number in 2014. More than half were from Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan. Just over 38,000 asylum requests in 2015, 3.1 per cent of the EUs total, were made in the UK. The UKs borders are protected by an agreement with France and Belgium which means that applications to enter the UK are processed across the far side of the channel. This has resulted in camps like the Jungle, where there are children who have not been allowed into the UK, despite having family here. Conditions in the camps are absolutely atrocious and are directly causing suffering and ill health, the report warns. The Jungle refugee camp in Calais (PA) The committee chairman, Keith Vaz, added: Europes efforts to address this colossal refugee crisis has been lamentable. The atrocious conditions in migrant camps within and on the borders of the richest countries on earth is a source of shame. It is horrifying that large numbers of the 85,000 unaccompanied children already in the EU have gone missing. It is unacceptable that the 157 unaccompanied children in Calais with family in the UK have still not arrived here. Alex Fraser, director of Refugee Support at the British Red Cross welcomed the MPs' call for children trapped in the Jungle to be reunited with relatives. It is unacceptable that vulnerable children, who have been through more trauma than most adults could imagine, are stuck in camps when they have family here in the UK who could be looking after them, he said. Despite the risk that refugees would attempt to cross the Channel illegally, the UK has only three boats patrolling the coastline. Even Croatia, the newest and poorest EU state, has three times that many watching its coastline. Italy has 600. When the head of the UK Border Force, Sir Charles Montgomery, appeared before the Home Affairs Committee in December 2015, he had not been told what his budget for 2016-17 would be. The MPs said that keeping him in ignorance so long was unacceptable and that the number of patrol boats was worryingly low. The person ultimately responsible for the delay was the then Home Secretary, Theresa May. Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Show all 8 1 /8 Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' People gather outside the Eritrean church at the camp The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' A fire at the camp destroyed shelters for 180 people The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' A fire at the camp destroyed shelters for 180 people The Hummingbird Project This problem, however, is dwarfed by the numbers of refugees trying to cross the Mediterranean into southern Europe. During 2016, nearly 228,000 reached Europe by sea, the greatest number coming from Libya, and 2,920 were recorded as having died in the attempt. When Mr Hammond gave evidence to the committee, the then Foreign Secretary was dismissive of any suggestion that EU states should seek access to Libyan waters to thwart the people smugglers, and in return should offer Libya financial support. The report damningly concludes: For the action to be limited to rescuing people from the sea and collecting drowned bodies, as it seems to be at present, is wholly unacceptable. The approach taken by the then Foreign Secretary in respect of Libya, where a reported 500,000 people are waiting to cross the Mediterranean illegally, is complacent. 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 }} More than 20 British passengers were among hundreds of people on board an Emirates plane that crash-landed at Dubai International Airport. The smoking plane skidded along the tarmac as it landed on Wednesday afternoon before being engulfed by a huge fireball that gutted much of the aircraft. A spokesperson for Emirates said all 282 passengers and 18 crew members were safe, with no serious injuries reported. Video shows explosion on Dubai jet that crash landed A statement said flight EK521 was involved in an operational incident during its scheduled landing in Dubai as it arrived from Trivandrum International Airport in India. We can confirm that there are no fatalities among our passengers and crew. All passengers and crew are accounted for and safe, it continued. The main priority remains with those involved and offering support to concerned family and friends. Dedicated telephone lines are now active for family members. All departures and arrivals were temporarily suspended at Dubai International Airport and Emirates said it expected a network-wide delay lasting eight hours. Phone lines have been set up for support concerned family and friends of those on board. Anyone in the UK can call 0203 450 8853, in the US 0018113502081 and 8002111 in the UAE. In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai An Emirates plane erupts in flames after crash landing at Dubai International Airport on 3 August 2016 jamesdxb/Instagram In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Footage showed a fireball bursting from the plane after it crash landed at Dubai International Airport In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Smoke rising after an Emirates flight crash landed at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. AP In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Emirates plane crash lands at Dubai International Airport YouTube In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai An Emirates Boeing 777-300 at Dubai International Airport on 3 August 2016. EPA In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Emirates airlines Boeing 777-300 A6-EMW plane flight number EK521 from Trivandrum to Dubai lays on the ground in Dubai airport after being gutted by fire EPA In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Dubai International Airport after an Emirates Airline flight crash-landed, the UAE August 3, 2016. Reuters The full list of nationalities of the flights passengers and crew on board are: 226 - India 24 - UK 11 - UAE 6 - US 6 - Saudi Arabia 5 - Turkey 4 - Ireland 2 - Australia 2 - Brazil 2 - Germany 2 - Malaysia 2 - Thailand 1 - Croatia 1 - Egypt 1 - Bosnia & Herzegovina 1 - Lebanon 1 - Philippines 1 - South Africa 1 - Switzerland 1 - Tunisia Were you or your friends and relatives affected by the crash? Contact us by emailing lizzie.dearden@independent.co.uk. 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 Israeli parliament has approved a new law allowing child "terrorists" as young as 12 to be jailed. Politicians supporting the Youth Bill said it was borne of necessity amid a wave of attacks by Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank. Children as young as 13 have been shot dead by security forces while allegedly attempting stabbing attacks and the Israeli mission to the UN said juveniles were responsible for 47 acts of terrorism since September. USA: Palestinians taught to "stab Jews" at schools - claims Israeli UN envoy The new law, which passed its second and third readings in a Knesset committee on Tuesday, allows authorities to imprison minors under the age of 14 for crimes such as murder, attempted murder and manslaughter. It was opposed by 16 politicians, with support from 32 MKs and one abstention. Courts will be allowed to postpone prison transfers and shorten or cancel jail sentences as part of the legislation, which called for a more aggressive approach. The introduction to the bill reads: The seriousness that we attach to terror and acts of terror that cause bodily injury and property damage, and the fact that these acts of terror are being carried out by minors, demands a more aggressive approach including toward minors who are convicted. The law was proposed by Anat Berko, a member of Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party, who said: This law was borne of necessity. We have been experiencing a wave of terror for quite some time. A society is allowed to protect itself. To those who are murdered with a knife in the heart it does not matter if the child is 12 or 15. Perhaps this law will also do something to protect these children from being used to slaughter people. The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Show all 10 1 /10 The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Getty Images The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus EPA The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child According to the Israeli mission at the UN, 47 of the acts of terrorism committed over the last 11 months have been carried out by Palestinian minors and 22 Israeli children have been attacked. Military law, which is applied in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, already allows the imprisonment of 12-year-olds and has drawn concern by the UN and human rights groups. The Israeli organisation B'Tselem was among those criticising the new law. Rather than sending them to prison, Israel would be better off sending them to school where they could grow up in dignity and freedom not under occupation, a spokesperson said. Imprisoning such young minors denies them the chance of a better future. The Knessets approval came hours after Israel was criticised in a meeting of the UN Security Council on children in armed conflict. Venezuelas representative Rafael Ramirez called on Israel to fulfil obligations under international humanitarian law, including the principle of proportionality, while Israeli diplomats hit back by condemning Hamas use of children in Gaza. Since September last year, 34 Israelis and two American citizens have been killed in Palestinian attacks, while more than 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli security forces in the same period. Officials said the majority were carrying out or attempting attacks, while the rest were killed in clashes with Israeli forces. 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 percentage of young, disadvantaged students attending university has fallen for the first time since current records began, new government data has shown. Around 22 per cent of 19-year-olds who had been claiming free school meals at the age of 15 went onto university 2013/14, down from 23 per cent the previous year. Recommended Read more Mass demonstration against Tory cuts to education confirmed in London Since the 2005/06 academic year, the number of poor students heading into higher education has risen year-on-year from as low as 13 per cent. The percentage of state students not eligible for the meals who went to university also fell in 2013/2014, down from 40 per cent to 39 per cent, but are still above the 33 per cent low in 2005/06. The Government, however, said the figures show the number of young, poor students is at a record high. Universities Minister, Jo Johnson, said: We are seeing record numbers of disadvantaged young people going to university and benefitting from the real opportunities our world-class universities can offer. Despite rising tuition fees, a retrospective student loan hike, and the axe of the maintenance grant, Mr Johnson insisted that everyone in the country should be allowed to rise as far as their talents will take them, whoever they are and wherever theyre from. He said: We will not rest until every young person in our country has the chance to fulfil their promise. He also acknowledged there is a gap still persisting depending on a students background, adding: There is still more work to do to build a society that works for everyone. Pam Tatlow, chief executive of university think-tank MillionPlus, said, despite the marginal decline in the number of students in receipt of free school meals progressing to higher education, it welcomed the upward trend in the progression of these and other students to university. Recommended Read more Disadvantaged youth at risk of being put off university if fees rise She said: This progress would not have been possible without the contribution of modern universities to widening participation. The pace of change in the so-called selective universities remains both glacial and small in terms of the number of admissions of students from widening participation backgrounds. These figures confirm that modern universities are key to the achievement of the new Prime Ministers ambitions to improve social mobility. The Government also added its stats have shown over 70 per cent of working graduates were employed in professional jobs six months after graduating, regardless of background. Additional reporting by Press Association 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 travel to New York City in February 2017. Whens the best time to book? Meera Gunzi A You could buy now and lock into a particular fare - probably around 450 return - but personally I would wait until the end of the year, not least in case plans change. Its infuriating being locked into a non-refundable, non-postponable trip if something else comes up. February is an off-peak month for leisure travel, apart from modest surges in demand caused by romantic travellers on Valentine breaks, and a small number of families on half-term trips. Recommended Read more 48 Hours In New York So, assuming you are happy to fly from an airport in the London area, I would wait to see what British Airways and Virgin Atlantic decide to offer in their now-traditional New Year sales. Both airlines have periodic pushes to try to fill their spare capacity, and I would expect to see some good deals for your travel dates. If Heathrow and Gatwick are equally easy for you, the cheapest deals are likely to be on British Airways from the latter. Gatwick fares tend to be lower than Heathrow, though BA has only one flight a day from the Sussex airport. I would also check what Norwegian is charging from Gatwick, though it is an even less frequent flyer. Finally, can I persuade you to travel via Iceland? February is a great month to be there, with the chance of seeing the Northern Lights, and if you stay 24 hours or more on the way out then you pay only 13 in Air Passenger Duty, compared with 60 more if you fly direct. 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 }} In the beginning, there was Brexit. And then there was Grexit, Frexit and Czexit all coined with good reason. Its become a bit of a game to argue over which country will follow in the footsteps of Britain and be next to leave a union of nations perceived by many as intrusive, incompetent and bossy. And, inexplicably, the latest candidate is Italy or, if you prefer, Quitaly. The current anti-European Union feeling hasnt emerged out of sheer collective madness. There are many long-term problems, including fiscal rigidity and fiscal dumping, that Brussels never seems to find the time or willingness to tackle. This is to the detriment of a project led by founding father Jacques Delors as the launch pad of continuous pan-European prosperity based on a pact between public institutions, private sector enterprises and workers leading to decently paid work for everyone, plus time for family life. Various decades down the line these ideals havent materialised, apart from for a lucky few. So the EU has to change. But why do we have to quit it and throw it all away? Many still think the EU project is worth having a go at; if nothing else, it is now virtually impossible to come out of it the shared arrangement without disastrous collateral damage. Italy, despite the rumours, has no intention of turning its back on Europe. In fact, it has among the most to gain from staying put. For Italy, a founding member of the EU Italy (next year, the EU will celebrate the 70th year of its foundation in Rome, the city where the finalising papers were signed), the union has become part and parcel of the countrys identity. EU referendum - in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 EU referendum - in pictures EU referendum - in pictures A woman in a wheelchair with British and European Union flags shows her support for the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union on the day of the EU Referendum in Gibraltar Getty Images EU referendum - in pictures A polling station being used in the EU referendum at Batley Town Hall in the constituency Labour MP Jo Cox PA EU referendum - in pictures People arrive to vote in the EU Referendum at the Library where British MP Jo Cox was shot and fatally wounded last week in Birstall EPA EU referendum - in pictures A man arrives to vote at a polling station for the Referendum on the European Union in north London REUTERS EU referendum - in pictures Voters queue to enter a polling station at Trinity Church in Golders Green in London Getty Images EU referendum - in pictures British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha Cameron leave after voting in the EU Referendum at Central Methodist Hall, Westminster Getty Images EU referendum - in pictures Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn cast his vote at a polling station at Pakeman Primary School in Islington Getty Images EU referendum - in pictures Chelsea pensioners arrive at a polling station near to the Royal Chelsea Hospital PA EU referendum - in pictures A woman wearing an "I'm In" t-shirt, promoting the official "Remain" campaign, leaves a polling station in London AFP/Getty Images EU referendum - in pictures People queuing outside a polling station on Amott Road in London PA EU referendum - in pictures Scotland's First Minister and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell, react as leave after casting their votes at a polling station at Broomhouse Community Hall in east Glasgow AFP/Getty Images EU referendum - in pictures A man wearing a European themed cycling jersey leaves after voting at a polling station for the Referendum on the European Union in north London REUTERS EU referendum - in pictures Ukip leader Nigel Farage arrives to cast his vote at Cudham Church of England Primary School in Biggin Hill, Kent PA EU referendum - in pictures Justice Secretary and prominent 'Vote Leave' campaigner Michael Gove poses with his wife Sarah Vine after voting in the European Union referendum at their local polling station in Kensington Getty EU referendum - in pictures Nuns leave a polling station after voting in the EU Referendum in London EPA EU referendum - in pictures People arrive to cast their ballots in the EU Referendum in Gibraltar. The United Kingdom and its dependant territories are going to the polls to decide whether or not the the United Kingdom will remain in the European Union Getty Images EU referendum - in pictures A man driving a van covered in stickers urging people to vote for the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union drives outside a polling station on the day of the EU Referendum in Gibraltar Getty Images EU referendum - in pictures A sign on a gable wall in Belfast's, Loyalist Tigers Bay urging voters to leave the EU using scripture from Revelation 18:4, as voters head to the polls across the UK in a historic referendum on whether the UK should remain a member of the European Union or leave PA Historically, Mediterranean peoples thought of Europe as somewhere else a morally decent place, within reach but always hard to get to. For Spaniards, Greeks and Portuguese countries that suffered at the hand of obscurantist dictators Europe meant Scandinavia, France, Holland and Germany. And Britain too. As an ideal, it represented hope, and for many, particularly the young and unfulfilled, it still does. A united, functioning Europe may be an illusion but pursuing the dream of integration cannot make the situation worse. That is why, as an Italian, I found it utterly amusing to see that the British press had invented the term Quitaly as the Italian equivalent of Brexit. After all, there is no such thing. Very few Italians want, or even countenance, leaving the EU. True, the countrys banks are in bad shape. Unemployment has been high for many years. Highly-skilled people often choose to move abroad for work. Italy spends money to educate young people who then take their know-how and use it to benefit foreign nations. Italy's labour market cannot absorb them. The number of children per family has also dropped dramatically; it is immigration that keeps Italy demographically balanced enough to keep it functioning and its pensioners know that. We know that its not all roses for Italy. Quitaly is being mooted as a result of its economic circumstances and following the pledge of the Five Star Movement (M5S) to come out of the euro. But thats not M5S policy anymore too many Italians thought it was a daft approach to garner sufficient votes, and it was dropped. Anti-European sentiment, if it was ever there in Italy, is certainly not widespread. In fact, Italians are now looking forward to replacing Britain as the third most influential country in the union. Recommended Read more Japanese men are literally working themselves to death Consider this: Germany needs France to prove that Berlin is not hegemonic and a bully. Paris has always known this and has exploited the situation too. Eventually London became a counterweight, used by the Germans used to warn the French to be less demanding with their requests on competition laws and fiscal rigueur. But now London has gone and the Germans have to put up with Frances whims in the knowledge that Berlin cant be at the helm of Europe without Paris. Its also worth noting that France used to get the support of Britain and play that off against Germany, too. The magical Germany-France-UK triangle the alchemy that kept the EU alive for a long time has vanished. What now? Italy isnt exactly the UK it is, undoubtedly, a less stable economy but it desperately hopes it will gain more concessions from the EU (and blood-thirsty creditors) by becoming the new holder of the balance of European power. And it will probably get them. Italy is a pillar of the EU. Finally, its started to realise that its punching well below its weight, and has been for some time. No longer: Brexit is Italys much-awaited European catharsis. A new Institute for Justice report titled Barriers to Braiding details the various occupational licensing rules that affect African hair braiders. The report shows that licensing African hair braiders has real-world costsand no public safety benefits. African hair braiding is a natural process of caring for hair that does not require scissors, heat, or chemicals. Yet, despite its substantial differences from cosmetology, 16 states still force African hair braiders to go through onerous, time-consuming cosmetology training programs. Getting a cosmetology license takes between 1,000 and 2,100 hours to complete and costs thousands of dollars. Though cosmetology courses teach students how to cut and use chemicals on hair, a possible justification for some sort of licensing scheme, these skills are entirely unrelated to African hair braiding. This type of braiding is not even taught in cosmetology schools. The District of Columbia and 14 states require specific licenses for hair braiders that are separate from cosmetology licenses. These licenses come with mandated training that takes between six hours and 600 hours, depending on the state. At the other end of the spectrum, there are 20 states that do not require any licensing for African hair braiders (two have a simple registration system). The stated justifications behind occupational licensing schemes are always steeped in concerns for public safety. But if African hair braiding posed legitimate safety concerns, why are states with no training requirements not experiencing increased levels of braiding-related injuries or death? (Hint: because it is completely safe). The full breakdown of hours of training and type of license required by state can be seen in the figure below: The requirements to braid hair are completely out of line with the risks posed to the public. Among the states that make African hair braiders acquire a cosmetology license, the amount of training required is between three and 19 times greater than the hours necessary to become licensed as an emergency medical techniciana job that deals with life and death situations. It should come as no surprise that these requirements create high barriers to entry. Data from 12 states and the District of Columbia show that the more training states require, the fewer people relative to states' black populations are professional braiders. To highlight one example from the table, Mississippi mandates no training and had over 1,245 registered braiders in 2012. Neighboring Louisiana requires over 500 hours of training and, even though it has a larger black population, had only 32 licensed braiders in 2012. As Diana Furchtgott-Roth and I chronicle in our book Disinherited: How Washington Is Betraying America's Young, these barriers to work have real-world consequences. When writing the book, we spoke to Melony Armstrong, the subject of the documentary Locked Out: A Mississippi Success Story. She recounted the six-year struggle she faced to work as an African hair braider. After being forced to comply with numerous government-imposed hurdles, Melony filed a lawsuit against Mississippi to free herself and other hair braiders from the state's excessive licensing requirements. In April 2005, after a hard fight in the state legislature, Mississippi governor Haley Barbour freed hair braiders to practice their trade without the burdensome, pointless regulations. Now, all that is required to be a hair braider is a $25 payment and compliance with Mississippi's health and hygiene codes. As IJ's data show, there were thousands of people who followed Melony's example and registered to work as African hair braiders in Mississippi. Occupational licensing is a common way to keep people out of work. Countless occupations, from handymen to interior designers, face barriers to work that do little to protect public safety. IJ's report shows that states with extensive licensing requirements should simply allow African hair braiders to work. And to anyone worried about public safety, I challenge you to find one incident of death by braiding. This article originally appeared on Reason. Jared Meyer is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He is the coauthor with Diana Furchtgott-Roth of Disinherited: How Washington Is Betraying America's Young. Follow Jared on Twitter here. Interested in real economic insights? Want to stay ahead of the competition? Each weekday morning, E21 delivers a short email that includes E21 exclusive commentaries and the latest market news and updates from Washington. Sign up for the E21 Morning eBrief. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Comments by Donald Trump about Russia and Vladimir Putin during the American election campaign caused surprise and alarm in the US and among its Western allies. Just in the past two weeks he had said that he may not come to the aid of Baltic states if the Russians invaded; questioned the viability of Nato; repeatedly mentioned that he should get on well with Putin; and invited the Russian intelligence service to hack Hillary Clintons emails after having benefited from the disclosure of 20,000 documents which were highly damaging for Clinton and the Democrats. He was accused, over the weekend, of condoning the Russian annexation of Crimea. Trump has also appointed Paul Manafort the chairman of his campaign team. He is the man who engineered the election of Viktor Yanukovych to the Ukrainian presidency in 2010. And, after Yanukovychs fall and exile in Russia (which led to the civil war which has left the country bitterly divided), he has been helping to organise opposition in Kiev to the Western-backed president Petro Poroshenko. He also has ties with a number of Russian businessmen, including the controversial oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Manaforts appointment has, as is to be expected, drawn fierce criticism from the Democrats with some saying his Russian connections must stop the Trump campaign from getting access, as presidential candidates do, to classified security briefings. It has also been claimed that Manafort bears responsibility for Trumps supposedly pro-Kremlin views over the Ukraine and Crimea in particular. These views were expressed during an interview with George Stephanopoulos, the ABC anchor and former communications director for Bill Clinton, during an interview. Trump declared that he would ensure, on becoming president, that Putin would not send troops into Ukraine. Hes not going into Ukraine, OK, just so you understand. Hes not going to go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down. You can put it down. You can take it anywhere you want, said Trump. A somewhat surprised Stephanopoulos interjected: Well, hes already there, isnt he? Trumps response, after a pause, was: OK, well hes in a certain way, but I am not there. You have Obama there, and frankly, that whole part of the world is a mess under Obama with all the strength that youre talking about and all of the power of Nato and all of this. Trump went on to say the people of Crimea, from what Ive heard, would rather be with Russia than where they were. And you have to look at that, also. This shows a lack of general knowledge and confusion on the part of Trump, as well as a lack of articulacy which makes John Prescott look like a seasoned orator. But American presidents in the past have often misspoken, showing a lack of grasp of geopolitics; in 1976, 13 years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, President Gerald Ford declared there is no Soviet domination of eastern Europe. So does Trump really reveal a blatantly pro-Moscow stance in his views on Ukraine and Crimea? I was in Crimea covering events leading up to the annexation and it was a turbulent and complex time. The speed at which key strategic points were taken over by Russian speaking separatists and the synchronised appearance of the soldiers in unmarked uniform, the little green men, was a strong indication that a takeover plan by Moscow had been in place. Donald Trump speaks about Vietnam The confrontation between Ukrainian and Russian forces and Russian separatist militias were highly emotive and, at times, violent affairs. The referendum to join Russia was boycotted by Ukrainian nationalists and the Tartars in Crimea, who believed it would be rigged anyway. The Russian loyalists voted: the result, to no ones surprise, was 93 per cent in favour of embracing Moscows rule. It remains the professed policy of the West that Crimea, which was part of Soviet Russia until 1954, must be returned to Ukraine. But no serious Western statesman or woman believes that is going to happen. The best that can be hoped for is trying to ensure that the rights and welfares of the Tartars and Ukrainians who live there are protected. Eastern Ukraine, meanwhile, remains a frozen conflict, as I saw when revisiting the region recently. Reigniting it will not solve matters as the Minsk agreement which led to the ceasefire, recognises. Perhaps Trump, too, was just recognising the reality on the ground especially when it came to Crimea. Manafort, meanwhile, will continue to remain under scrutiny. That indeed should be the case; any dodgy links should be exposed. He is, however, doing nothing wrong in helping the Ukrainian opposition to unite. 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 The government of President Poroshenko has been backed by millions of dollars of Western aid, but it has failed to tackle endemic corruption, economic woes continue and there is rising public disenchantment. It certainly needs an effective opposition. Manafort does, however, pose a threat to the Democrats. He played a key role in reviving the political career of Viktor Yanukovych, which seemed all but over after Ukraines highest court stripped him of power in 2004. Two years later, with the help of Manafort, the Party of Regions, led by Yanukovych, won the highest number of seats in parliament and it did so again the following year. By 2010 the comeback was complete, with victory in the presidential election. (Yanukovychs fall, four years later, was due to internal and international factors over which Mr Manafort had no influence.) In engineering victory for Yanukovych in 2010, Manafort focused on regional and ethnic voting patterns and tapped into the sense of disenfranchisement of those who felt they had been ignored by the political elite in Kiev. Trump is tapping into the same kind disillusionment in America. It is Manaforts abilities in the electoral field, rather than what happens with Russia, which are likely to be of real value to the Republican candidate. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump will every now and then deliver a plea for Republican Party unity. Those are the moments of sanity when he is thinking more or less like a regular candidate. Its not electoral rocket science; if you want to be president it helps to have your party behind you. Party unity is about discipline, however, and Mr Trump is the chaos candidate. Keeping everyone off balance is his modus operandi, including people who should normally be his allies. He is also the candidate of microscopically thin skin. When he perceives a slight, considerations of party and strategy vanish. It matters not if the person who has flicked dust in his eye happens to be Republican. He will knock their eye out with a brick. Yet all of a sudden the talk is about the party now coming asunder because Mr Trump has now committed the greatest sin yet, telling The Washington Post that he cannot back the re-election bids of either Senator John McCain in Arizona or House speaker Paul Ryan in Wisconsin. Reince Priebus, the head of the Republican National Committee, is said to be apoplectic. There was talk on Wednesday, even, of Mr Priebus and other top party officials confronting Mr Trump, in a sort of campaign intervention, to force him to start behaving the way they think they should. For the sake of the party and for his campaign. They see all hopes of turning the White House Republican again dimming fast. The remarks to the Post, by the way, were an attempt first by their candidate to change the subject from the catastrophe that his vendetta with the parents of a slain Muslim-American soldier had become. It has more or less worked. But they are also merely a continuation of what Mr Trump has been up to months - tweaking his own party almost for fun, never mind the consequences. Usborne on Trump - dropping out In late March, I watched as Mr Trump paused while addressing a jammed hotel ballroom in Janesville, Wisconsin, to say how honoured he felt to be in the home town of Mr Ryan. It triggered a chorus of jeers and boos, to which he said: Wow. I was told, Be nice to Paul Ryan A Trump supporter close to this reporter, yelled out so everyone, including the candidate, could hear, Throw him over the wall. Mr Ryan, second in line to the presidency, that is. Mr Trump replied replied, Really? I am very surprised at this statement. Surprised, my backside. The candidate was deliberately making mischief. Party unity be damned. Relations with Mr Ryan were later to turn more poisonous when he he publicly agonised over whether to endorse Mr Trump once the nomination was his. Im just not ready to do that at this point. Im not there right now, the speaker famously told CNN in May. Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Reince Priebus, has backed Donald Trump (Getty) Note what Mr Trump told the Post this week about Mr Ryan. Im not quite there yet, he said, with just a week before next Tuesdays primary election in the speakers Wisconsin district. Mr Trump never forgets, never mind that Mr Ryan did eventually endorse him. He then went onto Twitter to express admiration for Mr Ryans challenger. Maybe he too will come round and back Mr Ryan before its too late. But that is unlikely in the case of Senator McCain whose prospects in his 30 August primary are much more uncertain. Mr Trump just doesnt like him. Ive never been there with John McCain because Ive always felt that he should have done a much better job for the vets, Mr Trump. That terrible noise you hear is the GOP clinker groaning and splitting. After months of rough seas, the Republican galleon has now sailed into a full-blown hurricane, one set off by Mr Trumps belittling of Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of the dead soldier, and now his public dissing of Messrs Ryan and McCain. President Barack Obama himself on Tuesday challenged his Republican colleagues to revoke their endorsements of Mr Trump. That isnt happening yet. Even Mr McCain, a Vietnam War hero seemingly doesnt have the guts to go there. But some in the party are starting to jump ship. Meanwhile, Mr Trump said via Twitter, remarkably, insists that party unity is greater than "ever before". Meanwhile, Paul Manafort, his campaign manager, took to Fox News to push back against any notion that his boss had lost the plot entirely. Mr Trump "is in control of his campaign", he averred, adding, "the campaign is in very good shape". On Tuesday, Richard Hanna, a Republican Congressman from New York, declared he would vote for Ms Clinton in November. (Brave-ish only, since he is not running for re-election.) That evening Meg Whitman, a top Hewlett-Packard executive and former Republican candidate for governor in California, called Mr Trump a demagogue and threw her support to Ms Clinton. Vin Weber, who used to be New Gingrichs number two in the House of Representatives, said on Wednesday he could no longer stomach the New York billionaire and would become a Democrat if he wins the White House in November. It was Mr Gingrich, a former House speaker, who when asked about the spinning apart of the Republican Party by Sky News at last months convention in Cleveland replied: Well, were much better off than the British Labour Party. Is that so? Every where I go, I encounter disunity, Larry Sabato, the University of Virginia politics professor, told CNN on Wednesday. This is the story of 2016, the dissolution of the Republican Party and I don't know if they can come together when it is all over. Mr Trump has repeatedly been given the chance to forge party unity. Priebus, McCain, Ryan, they all endorsed him. So did Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell. The RNC, guided by Mr Priebus, managed somehow to stitch together a convention in Cleveland that did not come asunder. But the last few days have shown us beyond all doubt that Mr Trump has never given more than lip service to party unity. He isnt binding the party together. He is willfully blowing it apart. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It was Oliver Letwin, Im reliably informed, who once remarked politics gives off a smell to the electorate. The punter either takes to it or recoils. The Hinkley Point deal, delayed while Theresa May reconsiders her options, might not be off but it certainly doesnt smell right. It would be easy to see Hinkley as a crony arrangement of the sort May never liked, but this would be to misread the message coming out of Number 10. The fate of the long-planned nuclear plant is about something altogether much more profound: Mays government is setting out its stall to solve the problem created by Margaret Thatchers success. And that problem is how to reinvent capitalism. Every Prime Minister since the Iron Lady has fenced with the issue but not left much more than a scratch. Major never got out of campaign mode, fending off his own party as much as the opposition. The calm breeze of globalisation washing over Blairs cool Britannia, at the time a portent of stormier things to come, meant he never really had to question it. Gordon Brown couldn't keep an agenda together for more than a news cycle. And Cameron, well, he never stopped being a hostage, either to his coalition partners or, in the end, to his own party. Theresa May says she has an 'open mind' over Brexit negotiations The new Prime Ministers emphasis on an industrial strategy isnt just a gimmick but a total recasting of how we should think about economic growth. A central criticism of George Osbornes Treasury was that it only concerned itself with the speed of growth and never questioned its quality. May is taking a markedly different tack; not only does the quality matter (her focus on closing the productivity gap, for example), which means higher skilled jobs, but also the geography of growth. Spreading national wealth across the UK is critical to remaking capitalism. Without a functioning economy, it is impossible for places to have purpose. Mays capitalism isnt about helping poorer places to catch up because theyve been left behind, its about giving them back what theyve lost their purpose. Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Show all 27 1 /27 Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Andrea Leadsom Andrea Leadsom has been appointed Secretary for Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Getty Images Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Priti Patel Priti Patel has been appointed International Development Secretary PA Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Alun Cairns Alun Cairns will stay on as Welsh Secretary Reuters Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Karen Bradley Karen Bradley is now Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Rex Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Greg Clark Greg Clark has been appointed Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy PA Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? James Brokenshire James Brokenshire has been appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland PA Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Stephen Crabb Stephen Crabb has resigned as Work and Pensions Secretary PA Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Theresa Villiers Theresa Villiers will not return as Northern Ireland Secretary. She was reportedly offered a role by Theresa May, but turned it down, saying it was not one she felt could take on Getty Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Chris Grayling Chris Grayling has been appointed Transport Secretary PA Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Damien Green Damien Green has been appointed Work and Pensions Secretary Getty Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Liz Truss Liz Truss has been appointed Justice Secretary Getty Images Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Patrick McLoughlin Patrick McLoughlin who was Transport Secretary has been appointed Tory Party chairman and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Getty Images Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Justine Greening Justine Greening has been appointed as Education Secretary Getty Images Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Gavin Williamson Gavin Williamson is to become the new Government Chief Whip Reuters Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Jeremy Hunt Jeremy Hunt will continue as Health Secretary Getty Images Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Nicky Morgan Nicky Morgan lost her job as Education Secretary Reuters Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Michael Gove Michael Gove has been sacked as Justice Secretary Reuters Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? John Whittingdale John Whittingdale left his job as Culture Secretary EPA Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Oliver Letwin Oliver Letwin, the Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster, has been sacked from his role in the cabinet PA Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Philip Hammond The former Foreign Secretary has been made Chancellor EPA Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Boris Johnson Leading Brexit campaigner is given the role of Foreign Secretary Getty Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Amber Rudd Leading Remain campaigner takes Theresa May's old job of Home Secretary PA Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Michael Fallon Stays as Defence Secretary AP Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? Liam Fox The former Defence Secretary is named as head of new Department for International Trade PA Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? David Davis The former shadow Home Secretary and leadership rival to David Cameron is named Secretary of State for Leaving the European Union - aka Brexit minister PA Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? George Osborne Gone as Chancellor - and fails to secure any new role in May's government GETTY Theresa May's Cabinet: Who's in and who's out? David Mundell The Conservative Party's only Scottish MP retains his role as Scottish Secretary Getty Images This rejection of Osbornomics can also be seen as a repudiation of corporatism. Hinkley Point is a symbol of this. One might argue HS2 and even the delayed Heathrow expansion are, too. When strong political leadership has been needed on projects of national importance, too often ministers have melted into the wallpaper. The charge of dithering has entered the realms of political cliche. Big business often fills that abdicated leadership role, solving the immediate problem (funding) but in the process creating a set of more intractable ones (the loss or relocation of jobs, for example). An effective industrial strategy is an answer to this absence of political leadership. This change in economic strategy may yet claim more political victims. Lord Jim ONeill may resign as Commercial Secretary to the Treasury because of the move (nominally, at least) away from the Northern Powerhouse. Hes clearly a talented and connected man, and would be a loss. But running a country isnt like running Goldman Sachs; the bottom line cant be the only consideration. Imported talent from industry has always struggled to adapt to the ministerial grind. This isnt their fault, more that the priorities which they are brought in on can change quickly. George Osborne envisioned a type of capitalism he felt ONeill could help him deliver; Theresa May has other ideas. Shifting away from a perceived corporatist cronyism, towards something we might call clean capitalism, means an opportunity to have a different conversation with the British people about what to expect from government when it comes to the economy. Theresa May is reported to have told Osborne, when she sacked him, that he had over promised and under delivered. In a sense, that is the test of Mays attempt at remaking capitalism. Can she deliver it in a way that real people feel the change? Too many policies under the last regime just didnt cut through. Quantitative easing corrected bank balance sheets but very little trickled down to small businesses. A jobs miracle helped to prop up the economy, but it didnt build many new careers or industries. One adviser described Mays approach as in the short-term, less gimmicks, more projects. In the long-term, this has the makings of a generational political change. Remaking capitalism will reinvent the Conservatives as the workers champions. The cosy arrangement between big business, Treasury and the unelected chumocracy is ending. Number 10s new occupants have let it be known: this Prime Minister is for clean capitalism, not corporatism. I have a feeling the temporary stop in Hinkley is only the start of it. Liam Booth-Smith is Chief Executive of think tank Localis Irish oil exploration firm Aminex has announced the completion of a deal to sell 30pc of the business to ARA Petroleum, a subsidiary of the Zubair Corporation at an Extraordinary General Meeting. The news comes a day after the company was granted a year's extension to its Mtwana exploration field in Tanzania. The deal will see the Zubair Corporation invest 19.5m (23m) into Aminex. In a statement the company said an application has been made to both the Irish Stock Exchange and to the UK Listing Authority for 983,136,095 cornerstone placing shares and 318,934,907 placing shares to be added to the official list on both exchanges. The deal means that ARA, another unnamed financial institution and Aminex management will now control 45pc of shareholders' voting rights. The company also confirmed that its facility in Kiliwani North is now in production, while the Ruvuma site is financed and is ready to proceed. Aminex's share price recovered to 1.29 (1.52) having fallen to 1.26 (1.49) on the announcement. In July of this year the Sunday Independent reported that Aminex had sealed a financing deal with the wealthy Omani Al Zubair family which was confirmed at yesterday's EGM. The Zubair Corporation are a leading asset management firm based in the Middle East. The group has interests in a multitude of areas including energy, and logistics. Ronan Dunne, the outgoing Irish chief executive of O2 UK, has been named group president of America's biggest mobile operator, Verizon Wireless. Mr Dunne will take charge of "all aspects" of Verizon Wireless' operations in the US, including network, digital and marketing processes, from September. The move places him as a contender for the role of chief executive at the telecoms giant when it next becomes available. Mr Dunne makes the move after eight years as chief executive of O2 UK, Britain's second biggest mobile operator. Before being appointed to his new US role, he was linked with an aborted 10bn leveraged buyout of O2 UK following a failed takeover bid from rival mobile operator Three UK. "Ronan brings a wealth of expertise, as well as global wireless perspective and experience," said John Stratton, executive vice president and president of operations at Verizon Wireless. "He has a proven record of performance in highly competitive environments. We look forward to his leadership as Verizon continues to invest in and evolve our wireless business to provide the best experience for our customers." Educated at Blackrock College in Dublin, Mr Dunne later qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte and moved to London in the 1980s where he worked for a number of companies before joining O2 in 2001. In 2005, he became chief financial officer of the UK operator before being appointed chief executive in 2008. O2's parent company, Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica, has been trying to sell O2 to bring down its own debts. But despite the successful sale of O2 Ireland to Three in 2014, the European Commission blocked the sale of O2 UK to Three UK, citing concerns over competition and pricing for UK consumers. The operator Mr Dunne joins is currently on an acquisition spree, announcing a 2.15bn takeover of Dublin-based telematics firm Fleetmatics earlier this week. Last month, Verizon inked a 4.4bn deal for Yahoo, the once-powerful online portal that employs over 200 people in Dublin. Headquartered in New York, Verizon logged revenues of $132bn in 2015 from 113 million retail customers. As well as a mobile phone service, it also has its own fibre broadband network, which generates $10bn annually. The company is trying to diversify into advertising and content distribution with the mobile industry currently undergoing structural pressure due to a price war and limited returns from mobile connections. Read more: Verizon's Irish takeover is one block in global technology strategy Bruce Cozadd, chief executive, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, with Debbie Gardner and Willie McCormack at the official opening of the new manufacturing and development facility for the US pharma company in Monksland, Co Roscommon, yesterday. Photo: Shane O'Neill Biopharmaceutical giant Jazz Pharmaceuticals has unveiled its new 50m facility in Ireland. The new site is the first plant to be built by the company in Ireland and has been under construction since 2014. It is expected that the company will employ up to 50 people at the 17-acre site in Co Roscommon over the next three years. Jazz Pharmaceuticals is currently headquartered in Dublin and employs around 100 people here. The company has a current market capitalisation of $9.1bn (8bn) and global revenues of $1.3bn. The company employs 850 staff worldwide and has been headquartered in Ireland since a 2011 inversion saw the firm merge with Azur Pharma in a $500m (452) deal. The plant was opened by Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor yesterday. "Having a global pharmaceutical company of this calibre establish such a facility in Co Roscommon is hugely significant, demonstrating serious commitment by the company to the region," the minister said. "The jobs created when the facility is operating at full capacity will be of great benefit to the local area and economy." Jazz chairman and chief executive officer Bruce Cozadd said: "We were encouraged to come to Roscommon because of the excellent track record of this community in supporting the pharmaceutical industry and the pool of local talent available." The project was undertaken with the support of the IDA and Roscommon Country Council. The new plant will see Jazz further grow its global operations, with the company having secured a takeover of Alize Pharma as well as the $1.5bn (1.3bn) deal for Celator Pharmacueticals agreed in May. Mr Coddard added: "This new manufacturing and development facility is an investment in Ireland and also an investment in our growing global infrastructure, which will enable us to more closely oversee and control the process of bringing high quality products to patients. "It is particularly meaningful for us to open it in Ireland, close to our global corporate headquarters in Dublin." Last week it was announced that Jazz Pharmaceuticals had entered into a $181m deal with Pfenex, a manufacturer of cancer drugs. Pfenex will receive an upfront payment of $15m, with the possibility of another $161m in additional payments from Jazz based on the achievement of additional development goals. The firm's share price has been steady on Wall Street over the course of this year and was trading down slightly yesterday at $150 per share. Analysts predict third-quarter revenues in the company will range between $350m and $400m. Hotel cloud platform SiteMinder is to create 100 jobs in Ireland with the potential for further growth down the line. The Australian firm has opened a new office in Galway where the initial jobs will be based. The positions have been established to help support its 20,000-strong customer base. The roles will be based across the areas of graduate sales as well as customer training and support analysts. SiteMinder's European headquarters is based in London with the Galway base established to complement it. The company's Irish customer base already includes the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel and the K Club, as well as Galway's The Connacht Hotel. The Galway expansion comes a month ahead of the company's tenth anniversary. SiteMinder EMEA managing director Dai Williams said the company is delighted to join the "thriving technology hub" in Galway. "We have identified (Galway) to be greatly aligned with our company's culture and mission of providing terrific career opportunities for local talent who are passionate about technology and can benefit from an attractive lifestyle and work-life balance. "It will also allow us to further fuel the success of our multilingual sales and customer support teams servicing hotels located in Europe and all corners of the globe," the SiteMinder boss said. The Irish operation will be headed up by ex-Google executive Ruairi Conroy, who joins the company from AdRoll. "Such high-growth companies are an exact fit for our talented and ambitious graduates who wish to embark on an exciting career path," Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor said. "Galway is fast becoming a tech hub and SiteMinder is an exciting addition with the creation of at least 100 jobs, which will benefit the entire region and have a positive knock-on effect," she said. SiteMinder's products include The Booking Button, which is a wholly-branded engine for direct bookings through the web, mobile or social. The firm also provides market intelligence that helps hotels set room prices as well as a website creator for independent hoteliers. The business has partnered with over 400 of the industry's top connectivity providers to establish itself. SiteMinder is owned by Sydney-based Online Ventures Pty. The company is expanding in Europe due to the continent's major uptake in online booking. According to the latest figures from Eurostat, Europe is on course to become the first continent to see offline booking overtaken by online as the primary form of booking travel products. Germany, Spain, and Italy are leading the way in terms of adoption of online booking. The company was recently awarded the prestigious Top Hotel Star Award for The Channel Manager, its online distribution platform. The announcement follows another two job announcements last week. Offshore investment firm DMS said it is to double its workforce with the creation of 50 jobs while tech firm PTC also announced the creation of 50 jobs over the next two years. Every year, the United States Department of State issues its annual Trafficking in Persons Report also known as the TIP Report -- which evaluates the efforts of 188 countries and territories, including the United States, to fight modern slavery. The purpose of this Report is to enlighten, energize, and empower, writes Secretary of State John Kerry in his introduction of the 2016 Report. By issuing it, we want to bring to the publics attention the full nature and scope of the $150 billion illicit human trafficking industry. Those countries with governments that fully comply with the standards fall into Tier 1. Countries that do not comply, but are making significant efforts to do so, are on Tier 2. The Tier 2 Watch List includes countries that do not comply with the minimum standards but are making significant efforts, but no more so than during the previous year, and have a significant number of trafficked persons. Finally, countries on Tier 3 do not comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so. Last year, 19 countries moved up in the tier rankings while 27 were downgraded. This years Report focuses on successes in fighting modern-day slavery, and what needs to be done to counter traffickers tactics. Because even though governments have enacted new laws against all forms of human trafficking, are prosecuting traffickers, are protecting victims and empowering them to rebuild their lives, and have elevated public consciousness about this crime, there is still so much more that needs to be done. Still, If there is a single theme to this years Trafficking in Persons Report, it is the conviction that there is nothing inevitable about trafficking in human beings, writes Secretary of State John Kerry. Just because a certain abuse has taken place in the past doesnt mean that we have to tolerate that abuse in the future or that we can afford to avert our eyes. Instead, we should be asking ourselveswhat if that victim of trafficking was my daughter, son, sister, or brother? Secretary Kerry concludes: This years TIP Report asks such questions, because ending modern slavery isnt just a fight we should attemptit is a fight we can and must win. Saoirse Ronan in 'Brooklyn', one of the recent success stories of the film industry Film industry executives are calling for a household charge to replace the TV licence fee in a bid to provide extra funding to Ireland's producers. Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) wants a "Household Media Charge" to boost the industry which has seen its funding fall in recent years. It also called for the restoration of 20m in funding for the Irish Film Board. SPI's 2017 pre-budget submission echoes calls made last month by the Irish Film Board, which also requested a return of the 20m funding which has been reduced since 2008. SPI said in its submission that employment opportunities in the Irish film industry would be squandered without improved Government support. "The indigenous film and TV production sector has suffered from cuts to Irish Film Board funding in recent years. Between 2008 and 2014, IFB funding was decreased by 40pc," SPI ceo Barbara Galavan said. "This has had a significant negative effect on the film and television production sector, particularly indigenous film-makers who provide much-needed work and opportunities for Irish creative talent. It is crucial that Irish Film Board funding is restored to 20m so that Irish producers can compete on a level playing field with their international counterparts." SPI also called for an extension of the Section 481 regime which provides taxation relief for companies operating in the film industry here. The scheme is set to expire in 2020. SPI said RTE and TG4 required extra funding in order to meet their obligations under the Broadcasting Act, and said neither should be dependent on commercial or ad revenues. Ms Galavan added: "Budget 2017 offers a pivotal opportunity for this government to show it is committed to supporting the creative industries and to nurturing growth in the indigenous production sector. A strategic approach to increasing the funding available to producers will result in significant economic and cultural dividends." The Government has previously considered the issue of a household charge to assist Irish broadcasters, but decided against the measure. Minister for Communications Denis Naughten is exploring ways of improving license fee collection rates, including the possibility of calling in the Revenue Commissioners to detect evaders. The Irish Film Board called for the restoration of the 20m Government grant last month, citing the successes of recent hits such as 'Brooklyn' and 'Room'. Irish films took in an estimated 125m worldwide during 2015/16, which included over 18 miliion admissions. Matt Damon has spoken about his initial desire for revenge after the murder of a childhood friend. The 45-year-old actor has recently returned to cinema screens as the ex-CIA assassin with amnesia in the new Jason Bourne movie. In the fifth film in the hugely successful franchise, Bourne is determined to get his long-awaited revenge against his former employers. However, for Matt it brought back memories of his own desire for revenge after his big brother Kyles best friend was murdered when the actor was 19, and living just outside Boston, Massachusetts. Speaking about the ordeal for the first time, Matt told The Mirror: I remember going through the whole trial afterwards. The night the killers got convicted I had this moment of elation and called my brother to say, We got them! And he just said, Who cares? His brother's reaction struck a chord with the Good Will Hunting star as he realised that getting revenge would make little difference to the tragic loss of their friend. Obviously he didnt mean they shouldnt have gone to jail. But I had put all my energy into thinking that would change what happened. And it didnt change anything." Matt sighed. There was no moment of sweet revenge you just have to handle the pain. Now I tend to get past that desire for revenge very quickly, or else you can end up living in the pain and it will consume you. The best revenge is living well. The Harvard University educated actor's movie career has gone from strength to strength since then, and new film Jason Bourne, in which he stars alongside Alicia Vikander, looks set to be the most successful yet after taking $106 million (80 million) worldwide in its opening weekend. Hollywood actress Courteney Cox clearly does not share her Friends character Monicas abhorrence of anything unclean. Cox (52) joined adventurer Bear Grylls in Kerry last month to film his new TV series Running Wild, and the star braved it out in the wild. The day of filming began with an early start for Cox who left Killarney's five-star Hotel Europe and her Snow Patrol musician boyfriend Johnny McDaid behind for the elements. The former Friends star had to eat a scrotum full of maggots for the show. Grylls told how the pair thought they'd won the jackpot when they found a dead sheep for dinner meat. Instead, they found maggots - apparently the perfect back-up meal. Courteney will star in the survival show alongside champion ski racer Lindsey Vonn for two days of gruelling tasks. It is raining and windy the adventure with @courteneycox is going to be a big one! wrote Co Down native Bear on Twitter, leaving no doubt that the challenges the stars endure will be intense. The Emerald Isle has been reported to be a potential venue for Cox and her Snowpatrol beau as they prepare to walk down the aisle, with Ashford Castle in Co Mayo being named as a potential choice. Comedian PJ Gallagher is reminiscing about his old RTE show Naked Camera. Still one of RTE's most-successful comedies to date, the foul-mouthed hidden camera show was his 'big break' and the one that put him - and Jake Stevens - on the Irish comedy map. The same show even spawned a spin off, Makin' Jake, that took him over to America where he caught the attention of chat-show king Conan O'Brien. He reveals that he would dearly love to make another version of the hit show - but he fears the format has become "dated". "We tried to make another one seven years ago. We tried it again one more time with all new, different characters but it just didn't work. "People just caught us out and to be honest, I think hidden camera shows have had their day now. There's so many things out there now. I think the only reason we got away with it was because there hadn't been anything like that for years. "Mike Murphy was the last time. That was in the 80s and we came along 30 years later to have a go and it felt like no one had done it in ages. "So I think you can't do it any more. You say hidden camera show to people now and they just raise their eyes and go, 'Ah Jaysus, yeah whatever.' It's a shame. I loved it." All of this is delivered with the cheery exuberance that PJ has become famous for and he betrays no sense of regret at having tried to recreate something that just didn't work out. One of the biggest misnomers about comedians is that they're going to be a barrel of laughs to interview. But unlike many Irish comedians, PJ is genuinely funny off-stage as well as on. Yet he freely admits that it takes a certain type of character to become a comedian and stand up on stage trying to draw the belly-laughs from a room full of total strangers. "There's something wrong with all of us. Why else would you do it? Why would you stand up in front of people and ask for their attention if you didn't get enough hugs as a child or something? "It's not a normal way to behave, to want to get up there and put yourself in front of a jury every day, it's an unusual way to carry on." It's not hard to see why he's become one of Ireland's best-known comedians, despite having left school when he was 16. Video of the Day Born in 1975, he grew up in the resolutely middle-class suburb of Clontarf, where he went to St Paul's school and had a perfectly 'normal' upbringing. Last year saw him reveal that he was actually born in the famous mother-and-baby home Bessborough House. He was placed in foster care as a newborn before being adopted by Helen and the late Sean Gallagher. He and sister Stacey were adopted and he describes himself as a "typical Irish mammy's boy" and growing up in his house was always "a great bit of craic". But PJ admitted he has battled from confidence issues throughout his life, which he puts down to being adopted and feeling "like there was never a place for me". He found some personal resolution after meeting his birth parents, who ended up marrying each other, when he was 28. He said meeting them was "amazing" and he also discovered he has four half-siblings, two brothers and two sisters. Meeting them probably helped him lay some demons to rest. It was also cathartic for him to use the experience of being adopted for a new comedy show called Separated at Birth, which met with acclaim. The famous funnyman, who's married to wife Elaine and lives near his mum in Marino, is now taking a new career turn with his first serious acting role. After a lifetime playing various interpretations of his own complex characters, the 4fm presenter's now going to put himself in the hands of writer and director Una McKevitt for her new play Alien Documentary as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival. And he admits it's a strange experience having to read off a script for a change. The funny man had to brush up on some of those skills he learnt in the Gaiety School of Acting some 17 years ago. "It's the first time I had to do something where I'm no version of myself. With stand up you can say whatever you want and there's no order to it and generally, you're just trying to get laughs," he said. It's also a total role-reversal for him as he plays an introverted guy with a shady past. "It's about three lads who kind of know each other. They have a heart-to-heart and all of us have a dark secret and it kind of comes out. I play a very shy guy. It's the opposite of me. I wouldn't have trouble holding a conversation," he said. He admits to feeling the pressure of performing alongside two other actors. "If I get up on stage and something goes wrong during stand-up, it's grand. "This time there's people leaning on you, depending on you and you can let people down. And like that, you have to stay in character," he said. "Stand-ups have it easy. Stand-ups will say they have it hard as it's just you standing up on stage. "But when you do this, you realise it's a much harder gig as there's so many people depending on you. You can't just play for laughs, there's points in this show which are really tragic. "There's some horrible dark parts and trying to be true to them and get comfortable to not having a laugh, that's tough." The British government has refused to hand over the Roger Casement diaries to Ireland after Dublin City Council petitioned ex-prime minister David Cameron for them. Five journals, known as the 'Black Diaries', which alleged he was a homosexual man, are kept in the UK Public Records Office in Surrey. Expand Close Irish patriot Roger Casement. Photo by Central Press/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Irish patriot Roger Casement. Photo by Central Press/Getty Images The council wrote a letter asking for the diaries to be donated to Ireland but Jeff James, the Keeper of Public Records, replied saying said that the diaries are the property of the UK. Casement was hanged for treason in London 100 years ago today age 51, following a failed attempt to land German weapons, intended for use during the Easter Rising, at Banna Strand in Kerry. His relatives, Patrick Casement and his wife Dr Anne Casement, travelled from their Co Antrim home to view plans for a statue in his honour in Sandycove, Co Dublin. Events in Dublin to mark Casement's centenary today include an exhibition at Collins Barracks museum, a wreath-laying ceremony at Glasnevin, where he is buried, and an open day at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, Co Dublin. ELKO The Elko County Republican Scholarship Committee, chaired by John Norton, chose Deseret Johnson as the recipient of the $1,000 scholarship for the coming year. Deseret is a Wells High School Senior who plans to attend Brigham Young University in the fall to major in family consumer science education. Johnson submitted an outstanding 700-word essay answering the questions, If I was President of the United States of America, what would be the three most important issues to solve, and why? How would I solve them? Johnsons essay was very impressive and heartwarming. The Elko County Republicans encourage all graduating students in Elko County to apply and to write an essay focused on the questions being asked each year by the scholarship committee. Congratulations to Johnson and to her parents Marianne Dahl Johnson and Robert Johnson. Niall Casement , a relative of Roger Casement and Charlie Flanagan TD Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade pictured placing a wreath this morning at Glasnevin Cemetery at a commemoration ceremony and unveiling of a plaque on the one hundreth anniversary of the execution of Roger Casement at Pentonville Prison Niall Casement, a relative of Roger Casement and Charlie Flanagan TD Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade pictured placing a wreath this morning at Glasnevin Cemetery at a commemoration ceremony and unveiling of a plaque on the one hundreth anniversary of the execution of Roger Casement at Pentonville Prison Guests watch proceedings pictured this morning at Glasnevin Cemetery at a commemoration ceremony and unveiling of a plaque on the one hundreth anniversary of the execution of Roger Casement ar Pentonville Prison Niall Casement, a relative of Roger Casement and Charlie Flanagan TD Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade pictured placing a wreath this morning at Glasnevin Cemetery at a commemoration ceremony and unveiling of a plaque on the one hundreth anniversary of the execution of Roger Casement at Pentonville Prison A commemorative ceremony was held in Glasnevin Cemetery this morning for the last executed leader of the 1916 Rising. Roger Casement (51) was killed 100 years ago today after being found guilty of treason in a British court. He was hanged at Pentonville Prison in London, with his remains only being repatriated back to Ireland in 1965. The event was attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan and Niall Casement, a relative of the Easter Rising leader. The ceremony included a wreath-laying service with a Military colour party followed by a minute silence to commemorate Casement. A reading of the trial documents relation to the plea from the accused were also read out with a priest from the Irish Prison Chaplaincy Service in the UK also in attendance to recite a prayer. Minister Flanagan described Casement as one of the more intriguing personalities involved in the 1916 Rising. His work to expose cruelty and abuse in Africa secured his legacy as one of the great Irish humanitarians of the early 20th Century, and his commitment is reflected in Irelands strong standing involvement with UN peacekeeping missions and out strong commitment to overseas development, Mr Flanagan said. I am pleased to represent the Government here today as, together with members of his family, we remember Casements life and idealism and reflect on his legacy, he added. A 26-year-old man accused of stabbing a young camper in the throat at Dublin's Hell Fire Club has been further remanded in custody. Michael Corbett is charged with assault causing harm to three teenagers, two males and a young woman, on the afternoon of June 27. The incident took place at the Hell Fire Club, otherwise known as Montpelier Hill, a popular south Co. Dublin site for hikers surrounded by lands owned by the State forestry company Coillte. He had been refused bail by Dublin District Court on June 29 and was held in custody. Mr Corbett, who has an address at Woodbine Close in Raheny in north Dublin, appeared again before Judge Conal Gibbons at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday. Defence solicitor Brian Coveney said the case was listed for directions from the DPP to be given. However, the directions were not available and Mr Coveney said there was consent to the case being adjourned for four weeks. He remained silent during the proceedings as Judge Gibbons further remanded him in custody to appear again on August 31. A psychiatric assessment of him had been ordered at an earlier stage. Expand Close The scene of the incident in which three people were hurt. Photo: Arthur Carron / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The scene of the incident in which three people were hurt. Photo: Arthur Carron He made no reply to the charges. At his bail hearing earlier Garda Pauline Glennon said three campers, an 18-year-old woman, a male aged 18 and a 17-year-old boy, were at the Hell Fire Club, at Killakee Road. The defendant, who was not known to them beforehand, allegedly travelled there by taxi and remained with them for a couple of hours. They also went picking logs. Gda Glennon said it was alleged the 18-year-old youth was stabbed across his throat, in to his chest and was assaulted with a log of wood. She had added that the young woman and the second youth were also struck with the log. The three teens were rushed to Tallaght hospital and were treated for a number of hours but were not kept overnight. During the bail hearing, the court heard that Mr Corbett felt he was going to be attacked and there was a weird air about the place. His solicitor had told the court he had serious underlying psychiatric problems and he claimed he was restraining the victim; there was a scuffle and this was something he did not want to happen. He has not yet entered a plea to the charges. A secondary school principal was suspended from her position after a number of "very serious" complaints against her, the High Court has heard. Justine Hughes, who is the principal of Colaiste Na Mi post primary school located at the Johnstown Educational Campus, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, denies allegations of serious misconduct made against her. The co-educational school, which is run by the Louth & Meath Education Training Board (LMETB,) first opened its doors to students in 2013. The High Court heard on Wednesday that last year eight members of current and former staff at the school made what Tom Mallon Bl for the LMETB said were "very serious" complaints about Ms Hughes in relation to child welfare and health and safety issues. Counsel said that arising out of the complaints the LMETB commenced an investigation, which he said is to be conducted by a barrister, into the allegations. In addition the LMETB suspended Ms Hughes last January on pay pending the outcome of the investigation. Expand Close Colaiste na Mi crest / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Colaiste na Mi crest Last month she launched a High Court challenge against her employer's decision to hold an investigation into the allegations. Permission to bring that action was granted by Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, who also placed a stay on the investigation until the High Court proceedings have been determined. The case was adjourned and will return before the High Court later this year. The case returned before Mr Justice Bernard Barton on Wednesday after Ms Hughes's lawyers brought a motion seeking to have a stay placed on a decision to reduce Ms Hughes's pay. After she was suspended she was diagnosed as having a psychiatric illness and was deemed by her employer to be on sick leave. The LMETB informed her that under the terms of the relevant sick leave scheme her pay is to be reduced after a certain period of time. She now fears that her pay, while she remains on sick leave, will eventually be reduced to zero. This would cause her and her family hardship, it was submitted. Her lawyers also told the court that she denies each and every allegation of misconduct that has been made against her. The LMETB had opposed the application, arguing it was entitled to reduce her pay under the terms and conditions of the relevant sick leave scheme. In his ruling Mr Justice Barton said Ms Hughes had initially been placed on what is known as administrative leave. However she was subsequently placed on sick leave which he said was triggered as a result of her becoming ill following her suspension. In the circumstances the judge said he had to dismiss the application to place a stay on her pay being reduced. Doubts have emerged over the future of the Garda crackdown on burglary, Operation Thor, with Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald declining to give any assurance that it will continue into next year. The initiative is being funded through a 55m cash injection, which is also helping to pay for increased garda overtime to tackle gangland feuding. However, in an interview with the Irish Independent, the Justice Minister, Ms Fitzgerald, said Operation Thor was only scheduled to continue until the end of the year and she was non-committal about whether it would continue after that point. The operation has been credited with bringing about major decreases in burglary, theft and robbery rates across the country. CSO statistics show that burglaries dropped by 18.5pc in the 12 months to the end of March, while the burglary rate in the first quarter of 2016 was 36.5pc less than in the same period last year. Patrols But Ms Fitzgerald said the future of the operation would hinge on a review that is set to take place later this year. "We will see what the crime patterns look like," she said. Department of Justice officials have also said budgetary issues will come in to play when a decision is being taken. The minister's comments were greeted with concern by Irish Rural Link, an umbrella body for 600 community groups. It has been pushing for increased community policing in rural areas that have been blighted by burglaries in recent years. "If this leads to a decrease in the number of gardai patrolling rural areas, then it would be very worrying," said spokesperson Louise Lennon. The group said that while the CSO figures were encouraging, the reduction in the numbers of burglaries in northern, western and southern regions was a great deal less than in the eastern and Dublin metropolitan area. It said it was also aware that serious crimes were going unreported in rural areas, as there was a lack of confidence that the proper resources were there to provide comprehensive policing. Read more: Revealed: How gardai found 'inside man' behind hundreds of robberies Read more: Crime Ireland: Business on the brink as owner 'has had enough' of break-ins Ms Fitzgerald said the gardai had always had good intelligence on who was carrying out burglary sprees, but had not necessarily had the resources to tackle the culprits. "What they have been able to do over the past year is focus on this and target particular groups," she said. But now that many of the main players were in prison or facing charges, the situation needed to be re-evaluated. "You have to review what is happening," she said. New laws being introduced to act as a deterrent to burglars would also have a bearing, including the electronic tagging of burglary suspects on bail. "Gardai have said they want this. They are going to get it in the bail legislation at the beginning of next term," the minister said. Also being introduced is legislation requiring the district court to impose consecutive sentences where a burglar is being sentenced for multiple offences. This will also allow the courts to refuse bail for offenders who have a previous conviction for domestic burglary coupled with two or more pending charges. Around 1,300 arrests have been made for a variety of offences - including burglary, handling stolen goods, possession of firearms and drugs offences - since Operation Thor began last November. Gardai have mounted more than 24,000 crime-prevention patrols and around 30,000 targeted checkpoints nationwide since then. The operation has also involved: additional high-visibility patrols in identified burglary hot spots; the use of new high-powered vehicles by the armed Regional Response Units; efforts to disrupt the stolen goods market; programmes to help reduce re-offending by prolific offenders; and a high-profile national crime-prevention awareness campaign. Gardai have also focussed on providing targeted crime-prevention advice in local communities and enhancing support for victims. Read more: Sex assaults and homicides on the rise, but drop in burglaries - CSO Rue des Infirmieres in southern France where the young woman was attacked A 25-year-old Irish woman who was savagely beaten by three men in France is believed to have been the victim of a mugging. Aislin Noone was walking back to her apartment in Avignon at around 7am on Saturday when she was attacked. She was hospitalised following the incident and suffered serious injuries to her mouth, cheeks and nose, police said. Ms Noone later realised her handbag was missing, leading police to believe the attack was part of a robbery. Initial reports indicated she was hit with a motorcycle chain, but the town prosecutor said she was actually punched repeatedly in the head by all three of her attackers. She doesn't have a very clear memory of the assault as it was very fast and violent and she was so shocked, he told the Mirror. The prosecutor added that she saw one of the men with a chain before falling to the ground and becoming unconscious. He said that although Ms Noone didnt see the men taking her bag, its absence suggests robbery was the motive in the attack. However, the bag contained only an old mobile phone and a credit card. The attack took place after Ms Noone had been socialising with friends on the last night of the annual festival of Avignon. She is believed to have been living in the town for several months. A former politician who was arrested three times over the Bank Holiday weekend had previously been detained by gardai for breaching a crime scene. James Heffernan, who was a Labour Party senator in the last Seanad, was released from garda custody yesterday morning. He was arrested three times in 36 hours in the area surrounding the Indiependence festival on the old Dublin Road in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. In May, Mr Heffernan was also questioned and subsequently released without charge after he had entered a crime scene in Dublin's Temple Bar. Mr Heffernan is a qualified primary school teacher and former Limerick county councillor for the Kilmallock area. He was elected to the 24th Seanad as a Labour candidate but lost the party whip after voting against the government on the Social Welfare Bill in 2012. Earlier this year, the 36-year-old ran in the General Election for the Social Democrats, receiving over 3,000 first preferences. The Irish Independent understands that he has been in dispute with that party in recent weeks and failed to attend a disciplinary hearing. The recent arrests have caused concern among his colleagues. The first arrest on Sunday was on public-order grounds. Gardai became concerned about what has been described as erratic behaviour. It is alleged that one officer was verbally abused. Sources say Mr Heffernan refused to calm down or leave the area as directed. Ultimately, he was detained and taken to Fermoy garda station. It is understood that he vehemently protested about being detained. During one angry confrontation in the station, it is alleged that one garda was assaulted. The officer was not injured and did not require medical treatment. Mr Heffernan is then alleged to have spat at another arresting officer. Several hours later, he was released without charge. However, 90 minutes later, he was detained outside Mitchelstown for suspected drink driving and taken back to the garda station for a second time. After he had been released, a third incident occurred in the Mitchelstown area later on Monday and he was re-arrested. This incident is understood to have involved another public-order matter similar to what had allegedly happened on Sunday afternoon. He was taken to Fermoy garda station and detained overnight, before being released without charge yesterday. Mr Heffernan was not responding to calls yesterday but did post a photograph of a cut lip on social media. A file will be sent to the DPP. A transgender woman who was a male member of the Orange Order has told of her dream to rejoin the organisation in its female lodges. When she was a man, Adrianne protested against Belfast's annual Gay Pride parade in 2005. She was also a member of the Orange Order. Adrianne: "When I was growing up, gender roles were more enforced than they are now" https://t.co/jsppSo2w73 Victoria Derbyshire (@VictoriaLIVE) August 3, 2016 But it was during that protest she made eye contact with a young gay man and in that moment decided to accept who she really was. And now, she has dreams of again wearing the sash, only for a women's lodge. Although she feels it may be too soon for the devout Christian organisation to accept a member from the LGBT community. Adrianne told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: "I just thought, 'what am I doing here? Why am I protesting against them? They're just human beings like me' "I knew at that moment that I had to start living as a woman." Adrianne first began to question her gender in primary school growing up in Liverpool. But she concealed how she was feeling and in a bid to hide them further, in her mid 30s she made her way to Northern Ireland. She found the Rev Ian Paisley's Free Presbyterian church where she hoped by filling her life with activities in the church, it would take her mind off her transgender feelings. "My theory was like the plant analogy. If you don't water it, it will die. So if you don't give the transgenderism a thought then you can't dwell on it and it'll go away." However, around four years ago she began the formal transition process "I felt like an actress playing a male part. Although I had come to like the person I was playing, it was still acting." Since her transition she has moved to a new church and resigned from the Orange Order. Adrianne has since married her partner, who is also transgender. She added: "I feel marginalised. I don't feel like I belong in the LGBT community, because of my history and my political beliefs. "Conversely, I no longer feel part of the evangelical, conservative, Protestant community. The nature of what I'm doing excludes me from that social sphere." She says that she would like to have been given the opportunity to rejoin the Orange Order in the women's lodges. "I don't know if it would ever really be possible [for a transgender woman to join]. "Maybe in future I think it would be possible, but maybe that's something for another generation. "It would be wonderful if they did. You have to challenge the status quo, preconceptions and prejudices to move on." SAN DIEGO For the 11 Elko High School Family Career and Community Leaders of America members, their advisers and parent chaperones who attended the National Leadership Conference in San Diego, CA June 28-July 8, the trip was a learning experience of a lifetime. According to Elko FCCLA Chapter Advisor Barbara Hereford, a record-setting attendance of over 8,500 members, advisers, partners, and guests, representing all 50 states and the Virgin Islands, were in attendance for this years conference, where student attendees participated in a wide variety of competitions, career training, and workshops. This years conference theme, Empowered, inspired attendees to make the right choices and commit themselves to making a positive impact within their families, schools, FCCLA chapters, and communities. The conference provided the students wonderful opportunities for energized learning while listening to inspiring speakers, to expand their leadership skills, sharpen their talents, and explore career pathways, said Hereford. Six teams from Elko High School participated in Family and Consumer Sciences related competitive events offered at the National Leadership Conference, including STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events. These events support foundational, leadership, and workplace skills. Each of the teams took top honors in their respective competitions. Gold Medal Winners were: in National Programs in Action, Senior Division, Daniel Fullerton, Trysten Petrie, and Jonathon Thorpe, and in Illustrated Talk, Senior Division, Alina Croft and Lauren Dimick. Silver Medal Winners were: Chapter Service Portfolio, Junior Division, Mariela Avila. Chapter Service Portfolio, Senior Division, Jasmine Mata, Robert Sandoz, and Griselda Zataray. Chapter Service Display, Senior Division, Luis Mata. Focus on Children, Senior Division, Janae Pentilla. The trip wasnt all work for the Elko High School representatives, as they were afforded the opportunity to spend two days at Disneyland, visit the San Diego Zoo, and participate in the By Sea and By Land Tour of San Diego Bay, along with a tour of the Midway. Chapter members Trysten Petrie and Janae Pentilla attended the Ford Driving Skills for Life Hands-On Advanced Driver Training Course at the Qualcomm Stadium, where they put their driving skills to the test and participated in a variety of courses including the impaired driving and vehicle handling courses all designed to make them better drivers in new 2017 Ford Mustangs, Fusions, Focuses, and Escapes. A 5K run hosted by the National Leadership Conference caught the eye of chapter members Mariela Avila, Lauren Dimick, Daniel Fullerton, Jasmine Mata, Luis Mata, Jonathon Thorpe, Griselda Zataray, and adviser Barbara Hereford, who chose to participate in the run, with proceeds from the event going to fund FCCLA Education Programs. I am very proud of these students, said Hereford. They worked very hard on their projects and to earn the more than $2,100 for each of them to attend this years conference. They represented both their school and their chapter admirably. We also appreciate all of the support we receive from our entire FCCLA Chapter, fellow students, parents, the EHS administration, staff, the school district, and our community members. Irish families bound for Floridas Disney World should continue with their travels despite an outbreak of the Zika virus in a small part of the State, an infectious disease expert has advised. However, women should avoid becoming pregnant while visiting the popular theme resort located in Orlando, said Professor Sam McConkey, head of the department of tropical medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons. The virus has been linked to severe birth defects. The alert in Florida comes after some 14 people have been diagnosed with the Zika virus, which they caught after being bitten by mosquitoes found in a small radius north of downtown Miami. However, Miami is 236 miles from Orlando, where the resorts are, and no cases of the virus have emerged there. Prof McConkey said women who were pregnant or thinking of pregnancy should not visit Miami if possible. He pointed out that while the cases were so far confined to the Wynwood area of Miami, it was quite likely that the Zika virus could be transmitted in other parts of the United States. It is not that the mosquitoes would fly from Miami to Orlando, Professor McConkey told the Irish Independent. However, mosquitoes can be infected after biting people with the Zika virus who have come from South and Central America. Women who visited the affected area in Miami since June 15 are advised not to become pregnant for eight weeks. Pregnant women who visited the area on or after this date should have a blood test to find out if they were exposed to Zika. Read More A spokeswoman for Sunway Holidays in Dublin said that it had not been contacted by any family booked for Disney World. Visitors to Florida are being asked to check in advance the type of precautions they should take, such as insect repellent. A spokeswoman for Floridas theme parks said that they have mosquito control down like no place else has." An Irishman who is being held in a detention centre in Australia is expected to return to Ireland in the coming days. Bernard Lee (26), originally from Greystones, Co Wicklow, is being held at Yongah Hill Detention Centre near Perth after he failed to secure residency and his working visa was cancelled. He was detained by armed police and immigration officials on July 25. He had been living in Australia for seven years. Mr Lee will now be escorted by security officials from Perth, in handcuffs, back to Ireland on Friday night. The tiler and bodybuilder was relieved to hear last Saturday of his imminent release. "All the security guards have said that they've never seen someone get home from here after only 11 days," he said. "There's a big smile on my face, I can tell you that." An Irish bride was left devastated when her dad died four days after her wedding and her travel insurance didnt cover the cancellation of her honeymoon. June Robbins (34) wed Vinny Reid (35) on August 1 2015 in Dublin and they were looking forward to their honeymoon to the Maldives. Junes father Tony (68) passed away from lung cancer four days after he walked her down the aisle. We were married for four days and due to go on our dream honeymoon that evening. [There were] 12 hours in the difference between death and holidaying recovering from the most incredible wedding, said June. June said her fathers lung cancer returned in April 2015 but he didnt tell her about his condition. My dad was told in April 2015 his lung cancer had returned. He chose not to tell us. It was a shock when we had to complete Mapfre's insurance claim and we saw it in black and white. The cancer he told me had gone on November 2014 was back. We didnt know about my fathers condition, she said. June and Vinny had taken out travel insurance from Multitrip.com for their dream honeymoon in the Maldives. We saved like crazy to fulfil our first dream today as man and wife. When her dad passed away she cancelled the 5,500 holiday and found that Multitrip doesnt provide holiday cancellation cover if a close relative has a terminal illness. Every time there has been communication with Multitrip/MAPFRE it was distressing and deeply deeply upsetting because of this fact. Terms and conditions are fine, but did we have to ask every close relative there at our wedding if they had a terminal illness so we could travel? Medical confidentiality, parental protection/disclosure and generalised terms and conditions mean that Vinny and I didn't get what we paid for - travel protection, said June. June said shes speaking out now to warn others of the protection that travel insurance actually provides. Now we hope justice prevails because of realising the impact of this situation on two regular human beings who worked hard as anyone does for their dream honeymoon. A spokesperson for Multitrip.com said: "Multitrip.com have been liaising with Mapfre Assistance in relation to the decision on this claim and whilst its not company policy to comment on specifics of this case, both parties were satisfied that there was a firm basis on which the claim was declined. "Notwithstanding this Multitrip.com will be contacting the customer through Mapfre Assistance to establish a positive outcome in recognition of the difficult family circumstances in this case." An 8-year-old girl has died after a farming accident in Co Mayo on Tuesday evening. Gardai have confirmed that the young girl was fatally injured in an incident involving a tractor on a farm near Islandeady, Co Mayo at around 5pm. The victim was named today as Jessica Needham (8) from Lismolin, Islandeady, County Mayo. A garda spokesman said the accident happened at 5pm yesterday involving a tractor on the farm. She was taken to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar. She was pronounced dead at 5.40pm. Local people said today the whole community was shocked and deeply saddened by the tragedy and their hearts go out to her parents Patrick and Michelle. A close family said: "The young girl was always out and about and was very active. "Her family are very well respected in the community and have lived here all their lives." So far this year seven people have lost their lives on Irish farms, while the figures show that 18 deaths occurred last year. Read More A spokesman for the HSA confirmed that they have been informed by gardai of the tragic accident: "We have been notified about that. We will be sending inspectors tomorrow. "This is obviously a very sensitive issue and it will be treated accordingly." Vice Chairman of Mayo County Council Christy Hyland said he was shocked to learn of the death: "As a councillor my sympathies go out to the family and the relatives of this child. It is a terrible tragedy." Cllr Hyland (Ind) explained that it was the second tragedy to hit the area after sheep farmer Christy Gallagher (51) fell to his death from Mweelrea mountain on Sunday. The local politician explained that he was at Mr Gallagher's funeral on Tuesday evening when news filtered through of the child's death. "This is our second tragedy in a few days and the whole community is grief stricken. We were at Christy Gallagher's funeral when we learned about this. "Christy was out herding sheep on Mweelrea Mountain on Sunday when he slipped and fell 200ft to his death." Councillor Frank Durcan (Ind) said this evening's tragedy took place "only a few miles from the Taoiseachs home". Its very tragic for any family to have an accident like that. There have been a lot of farm deaths involving children and the Government has learned nothing from it. Councillor Cyril Burke (FG) said: Its a very sad situation for the family to lose their eight-year-old while working on the family farm. For the rest of their lives it will be very difficult for them. You can never be too careful with children on a farm. ELKO St. Mark Lutheran Preschool welcomes Bertha Pfeifer as its new director effective Aug. 1. Pfeifer, a native of North Dakota, received her degree in education at Minot State University graduating in 1991. That same year Pfeifer was employed by the Elko County School District where she taught kindergarten for 18 years and second grade for seven years at Spring Creek Elementary School. She retired from teaching at the end of the 2015-2016 school year. Pfeifer has a son in Elko and a daughter in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She also has six grandchildren. A member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Pheifer is excited to share her passion of working with young children and promoting early childhood education as Preschool Director. St. Mark Lutheran Preschool has served the Elko community for 28 years and is licensed by the state of Nevada. Many second generation families have walked through its doors. Registrations, with limited openings available, are being accepted for both the 3 and 4-year-old class and the 4 and 5-year-old classes for the 2016-2017 school year beginning on Sept. 6. For more information or to register your child call 738-4750. Due to the summer schedule please leave a message for your call to be returned. ONE of the largest national parks in Europe is to be created on the fringes of Dublin after the State stepped in to buy almost 5,000 acres of mountainous land. Minister of State Michael Ring confirmed to Independent.ie that the land has been bought from Nama despite a long-running row over a 2.5m valuation. Minister Ring announced that his department will purchase 4,900 acres (or 1,983 hectares) of the Dublin Uplands, in the area known as the Featherbeds. He declined to reveal the final price agreed but it is understood that Nama did agree to a lesser amount. Expand Close Nama owned land in the Dublin mountains in the background / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nama owned land in the Dublin mountains in the background Mr Ring said this is good news story for the whole country. The deal will be closed in the coming days but Mr Ring said he wanted to announce it today in order to reassure locals who have been concerned that the land would be sold to a private party who might want to develop houses or wind turbines. The land will be added to the Wicklow Mountains National Park, expanding the total size of the National Park to 22,000 hectares. The move comes after weeks of pressure on the Government to purchase the land bank, valued at 2.5m. The land takes in Kippure down to Glenasmole Valley and Bohernabreena Reservoir, and is among the largest tracts to come on the market in recent years. But more than 90pc is in a special conservation area, meaning it cannot be used for development. Local were concerned it could be used to erect wind farms, and a number of offers to purchase are understood to have been made. The State has reservations about the asking price of 2.5m, which is the equivalent of the entire 2016 budget for the National Parks and Wildlife. Correspondence revealed by the Irish Independent today showed that Nama had no intention of selling the land at a discount - and the agency says the State will have to move "quickly" to prevent it being sold to another party. In an email to Dublin South West TD John Lahart, Nama said it had indicated to the Department that it is willing to give them first refusal on the land. The head of public affairs Martin Whelan wrote: "You will note however that Nama cannot gift or sell land or property at less than market value to any entity, public or otherwise. "There is significant private sector interest in acquiring these lands and the Department has been made aware of this interest and the need to indicate its position quickly lest the administrator will sell to the other party." Mr Lahart had said it would be "scandalous" if the land was not bought by the State. "It is part of the most picturesque part of Dublin," he said. An English woman has issued an appeal for her missing son who she believes may be in Ireland. Curtis Higgins (29) was last seen in his home in Manchester at around 11am on Sunday morning. Mr Higgins, who lives with his mother Denise, is 6'4, has greenish blue eyes and short brown hair. He was last seen wearing navy slacks, a pale green top with a 'Manchester Royal Infirmary' logo on it, black trainers and a black backpack. Mr Higgins sent a message to his mother shortly after leaving their home stating that he wasn't coming back. His phone has since been turned off and his passport cannot be found. Police are currently following up reports that Curtis' bank card has been used to purchase a ferry ticket from Holyhead to Ireland. His mother, Denise, said that Curtis was in good humour in the days leading up to his disappearance. She said: "He was in good spirits with me in the few days before he went and I've talked to all of his friends and they said he was happy with them too." The family have connections in both Westport and Longford and on a previous trip Curtis expressed an interest in visiting the home of his late grandmother in Westport. Mrs Higgins said that this is not the sort of thing that he'd normally do. She said: "This is totally out of character. He is not thinking like the Curtis I know. He has a responsible job and is a member of the Labour party. He is not normally the sort of person who leaves responsibilities." Mr Higgins, who is a trainee shop steward with Trade Union Unite, also has connections in Northern Ireland. Fine Gael General Secretary Tom Curran "categorically denies" putting a party councillor under pressure so he would not appear at a court case involving former minister John Perry. Mr Curran was asked to address the growing controversy at a meeting of Fine Gael's trustees, during which he refuted the allegations being levelled by Mr Perry and Sligo councillor Hugh Keaney. A source close to the trustees told the Irish Independent the allegations have caused "concern" within the party and that Taoiseach Enda Kenny has described them privately as a "distraction". But the senior figure insisted there would be no repercussions for Mr Curran unless those making the allegations can produce "evidence" to support their claims. "At the moment it's a case of one word against the other and as trustees, there's very little action we can take," the source said. Read more: Perry claims may haunt Fine Gael as focus turns to role of councillor Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar yesterday voiced his concerns but said it is a matter for the party's national exeucutive. The trustees have in recent days written to both Mr Keaney and Mr Perry and said the matter is with their legal advisors. Mr Keaney has yet to speak publicly about the issue but has told colleagues that he has "phone records" to back up his claims that he was put under pressure not to appear as a witness. The case was settled after six days leaving Fine Gael saddled with costs of around 500,000. Read more: Leo Varadkar 'concerned' at allegations Fine Gael councillor pressurised not to appear at court case Gardai in Westport and the Health and Safety Authority have launched separate investigations into the young girls death. Stock picture Separate investigations have been launched following the death of an eight-year-old girl in a farming accident. The girl was fatally injured in an incident involving a tractor on a farm in the region of Islandeady, Co Mayo. The accident occurred at around 5pm yesterday. The girl was brought to Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar where she was later pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination on her body will be carried out today. Gardai in Westport and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have launched separate investigations into the young girl's death. Last night local councillor Frank Durcan described it as a "tragic" accident for the close community. "It's only about four or five miles from me and would be only a few miles from Taoiseach Enda Kenny's home," the Independent representative said. "It's very tragic for any family to have an accident like that. "There have been a lot of farm deaths involving children and the Government has learned nothing from it. "There should be laws enacted prohibiting children from being near farms," Mr Durcan added. Castlebar councillor Cyril Burke expressed his sympathy after hearing the news. "It's a very sad situation for the family to lose their eight-year-old while working on the family farm," he told the Irish Independent. "For the rest of their lives it will be very difficult for them. You can never be too careful with children on a farm." The HSA confirmed it had been notified about the accident and would be sending inspectors down today as part of the investigation. "This is obviously a very sensitive issue and it will be treated accordingly," a spokesman said. This is the second farm-related fatality to occur in Mayo in recent days. A farmer in his fifties was killed when he fell and sustained injuries while moving sheep on Mweelrea Mountain. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Last year 18 people died on Irish farms. Leo Varadkar believes the measures should be included in Octobers Budget. Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has said he is in favour of introducing a so-called sugar tax in the Budget. A ten cent levy on a can of fizzy drink would yield the exchequer 100m, according to pre-budget documents published by the Department of Finance. While Mr Varadkar said he believes the measures should be included in Octobers Budget, he warned that a sugar tax is not the complete solution to tackling obesity. Yeah. I think a sugar tax is a good idea. I dont think it's the solution to obesity. A lot of different measures are going to be required to get on top of obesity, he said. The Dublin West TD also acknowledged Independent.ie reports that the drinks industry is considering legal action to stave off such a tax. I suppose when you introduce any change, any new tax, or any change to the law, theres always the risk it could be challenged legally by those who dont agree with it, Mr Varadkar said. Mr Varadkar made the remarks at the launch of the 23rd edition of the Working for You handbook by the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU). At the event in Dublin City on Wednesday, INOU chairperson Ann Fergus called on Mr Varadkar to fully restore the Christmas Bonus in the budget. The minister told reporters the issue will be considered during discussions with Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe. ELKO Rep. Mark Amodei campaigned for Rep. Joe Heck during the grand opening Tuesday of the Elko County Republican headquarters. The office is at 2363 N. Fifth St. No. 102 and will be the central location for all things Republican August through November, said Elko County Republican Party Chairman Lee Hoffman. If you want any campaign materials, we dont have everything yet, but youre going to be able to come down here and get it, he said. Amodei stopped in Elko because Heck asked him to speak on his behalf. Heck is running for U.S. Senate, and he couldnt attend the opening because he was on Army Reserve training. Amodei told the crowd he knew this campaign season was going to be phenomenally nasty with people trying to smear their opponents. He said he wondered what people would say about Heck. Joe Heck is a public servant, Amodei said. He served in the legislative branch on the state level. He served in the legislative branch at the federal level. Hes running to be a United States Senator, thats in the legislative branch. Well those are good things, that means hes had a little practice. Heck was a Nevada state senator from 2005 to 2009 and then was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. Amodei said he thought Heck would be a good fit in the Senate because of his experience in the military and as a doctor because foreign relations and healthcare are big issues. I dont want to tell anybody what to think, because were Republicans and we dont like to be told what to think, which is a good thing, but when youre thinking about where this healthcare stuff is all going to end up, its like, huh, I wonder if having somebody who is a medical professional might be of assistance, Amodei told the crowd. He said he is proud to call Heck a colleague. When asked who he is endorsing for the presidential race, Amodei said Donald Trump, because he is the nominee. During the primary race, Amodei had endorsed two other candidates, but said he would support whoever the voters chose as the nominee. Rose of Tralee contestant, Pamela Allen, is preparing to teach Daithi O Se the ropes of cattle showing when she takes to the stage at this year's festival. The Monaghan rose, who works as a nurse in Tallaght Hospital in Dublin, has been spending "as much time as possible" on her family's dairy farm in Drumacruttin, Dunraymond, in the run up to the festivities. The 23-year-old says being with the cows is keeping her calm. "In the morning time before I'd go to any Rose events, I would go out and milk the cows, because it gives you time to just focus on your day because it can be stressful leading up to it," she said. "The cows are so relaxed. They just come in they are nearly like your friends, you can just switch the radio on, start milking and just chill out with them," she said. The former Trinity College graduate says she plans to tell charismatic host, Daithi O Se, all about her farming roots at the Rose of Tralee International Festival now celebrating its 57th year. "I can't wait to chat to him about farming because it's something I've always been very passionate about. I will obviously be showing Daithi on stage how to show cattle in the ring, it'll be an education for him," she laughed. "My brother is a sheep farmer and my uncle is a big Massey Ferguson contractor so going to shows and going away on exciting trips with my father was massive part of my upbringing," she said. Pamela, who is a member of the local Holstein Friesian YMA, says going to the local marts with her father after a week of working nights has also been therapeutic. "It's a great way to meet people, all the other roses know how much I love it. When I moved up to Dublin first I found it really hard to get used to all the noise and the traffic because I'm so used to the peace and silence on the farm at home. The girls would be laughing at me when I'd tell them the cows were calving at the weekend but then I brought them to visit and they really enjoyed it," she said. However, Pamela's biggest farm fear is spotting rats and mice in the loft before doing the milking. "I could be there for 10 or 15 minutes screaming my head off," she said. The night before heading off to the Kingdom with the Roses, Pamela says she will have to say a special goodbye to the cows, particularly her show calves. "I'm excited and nervous. I won't be sleeping much in the run up to it but it will be an amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope I do my friends, family and the cows proud," she said. Trump scarecrow Donald Trumps scaremongering days are far from numbered as the republican US presidential candidate has been immortalised into a scarecrow in Durrow, Co Laois. Complete with uncannily familiar golden straw used for his hair, the billionaire businessman has been a huge source of inspiration for makers entering this years festival, celebrating its 7th anniversary. More than 100 hilarious scarecrows, including The Enormous Turnip, The Runaway Bride, Pirates of the Carrot Peeing Gareth Bale and a Giant Giraffe were on display for the national week long festival that ended yesterday. Evelyn Clancy, committee member, said entrants spent monthscleverly designing the perfect scarecrow. We had a massive dinosaur, Noahs Arc, a life-sized giraffe and lots of Donald Trump effigies, she said, adding there wasnt a crow left in the village. The standard is getting higher and higher every year, people are going to great lengths and getting very creative. There was a huge buzz all around the area. Crowds of around 19,000 came from all over the country. It was a huge effort by everyone involved and were already looking forward to next year, she said. Former Miss Northern Ireland Tiffany Brien has shared personal photographs to illustrate her battle with bloating. Photo: Instagram Former Miss Northern Ireland Tiffany Brien has revealed dramatic photographs of how much her stomach can bloat in just a few hours. The beauty blogger posted the photographs on her Facebook page to make the point. "we are not all what we seem on social media". In the first photograph her stomach is noticeably bloated, while in the second her tummy is toned and taut from her hard work at the gym. She commented: "No I'm not six months pregnant. It's just my food baby ... These two photos are 12 hours apart, left before bed and right when I woke up ..." Expand Close Tiffany Brien / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tiffany Brien Ms Brien added: "We are not all what we seem on social media. I thought I would share a bad day with you to show you nobody is 'perfect' and it is okay to have an off day where your body just decides to not play ball. Don't worry girls, it happens to the best of us, all part and parcel of being a female! It is a delightful cocktail of lack of sleep, stress, hormones and food intolerances. A mixture for a whole lotta bloat." The Holywood woman won Miss Northern Ireland in 2012, she went on to be placed in the top ten at Miss World Beach Beauty and was first runner up at Miss World Sport. However she admitted despite her glamorous life, bloating can afflict her at inconvenient moments, such on while on an evening out in a tight dress, "I could be half way into my main course and I suddenly feel uncomfortable and now really unattractive with a big bloated belly". Ms Brien said she has noticed that certain foods can trigger the bloating, and also warns that stress and not getting enough sleep can also trigger it. Expand Close Tiffany Brien / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tiffany Brien She also added some her of top tips to avoid bloating. * Get your zzz's! Expand Close Tiffany Brien. Photo: Instagram / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tiffany Brien. Photo: Instagram * Write a food dairy and reflect where and when you bloat. * Don't over exercise to compensate for a bloated belly. It's not fat. Exercising will most likely make it worse. * Look into gut health supplements - multivitamins and probiotics. * Drink peppermint tea to soothe your tum. Expand Close Tiffany O'Brien / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tiffany O'Brien * Relax and be happy... It'll be okay, you're not alone. Promise. Aidan Timmons and Motoring Editor Eddie Cunningham team up to help readers make the right choice with their next car. Aidan visits dealers all over the country to produce a monthly guidebook on the values of used cars. He is co-editor of Motor Trade Publishers, who supply a car-valuing service to the motor trade, insurance companies and finance houses. Eddie is author of former best-seller Clever Car Buying My father is no longer able to drive. He has a 2008 Mercedes C-Class with 110,000km on the clock. We have a 2011 Volkswagen Passat which is giving a bit of trouble and we'd like to get something newer. Should we try to trade-in both and buy a new car? Or just the one? The Mercedes is in good condition. The Passat has taken a lot of hacking from our two teenage passengers. We don't have much of a budget, say 10,000, along with the cars. I'd like a Nissan Qashqai but my husband wants another Passat. What would you recommend? Aidan: I think you might have more luck with selling both cars privately. Very few dealers will retail a 2008 C Class as it will probably require a heavy investment to make it retail-ready, complete with warranty and other assurances. Regardless of how well it has been minded, wear and tear items will soon raise their costly heads. If it is a C180 Elegance Automatic (most were) try to extract around 8,000 from it; maybe more if it has a full service record and is cosmetically very good. With at least the same again from the Passat, you're looking at a budget in the mid-twenties. That's a cash base that allows you to go anywhere. Nothing wrong with staying with a Passat. The new model was launched last year and the market is readily supplied with good, clean and fresh plated one-year-olds. The 1.6 TDi Comfortline will be most popular but VW sold a lot of well equipped Highline models, too. The Qashqai is a different proposition. It is taller and in terms of space, is around halfway between a hatchback and a saloon. Depending on how much over 25,000 you have, you might find a new model within reach. Certainly a 2015 plate seems a reasonable expectation. Perhaps broaden your scope to bring in the Hyundai ix35, Ford Kuga, Honda CR-V (a bit bigger than most SUVs), Toyota Rav4, VW Tiguan, and maybe even the estate version of the Skoda Superb and Peugeot 508. There are no bad choices there. Eddie: Research constantly shows that women are the real decision-makers when it comes to buying a car. Hubby might 'buy' it but wife makes the core decision. So my money is on you getting a Qashqai. If your heart is set on it, I am not going to dissuade you though I think the new Volkswagen Tiguan may well be worth a look. That might make even more sense if you trade the Passat against it (and might take some of the work out of moving the two used cars). I agree with Aidan: sell the Merc privately. It sounds like a good buy. Has my garage ripped me off? I recently got a major service for my Ford Mondeo (2013, 85,000km). The garage called to say two of the tyres were badly and unevenly worn and needed replacement. They charged me 110 each. I thought that was saucy and checked online and found an outlet only a few kms away selling the tyres for nearly half that. How can that be? Aidan: By any chance, might you be measuring a premium brand tyre from your garage with an economy one from the tyre outlet with which you are making the comparison? It seems extraordinary that a premium brand tyre, as is usually fitted by franchise dealers, can be bought at 50pc cost elsewhere? Most tyre centres simply quote the brand and cost of their tyres. It is not until you delve into the complexities of each tyre that you can begin to appreciate the enormous differences between a good tyre and an excellent one; often from the same brand. Tyre manufacturers are now obliged to display various ratings connected to key attributes of each tyre. These are usually summarised as rolling resistance (the loss of energy from a rolling tyre; expressed as an impact on fuel economy), wet grip performance, and decibel ratings. The grades for rolling resistance and wet grip start at the letter A, and end at the letter G. Premium brands tend to perform much better in all cases. Some research even suggests that the difference in fuel consumption can be as much as 6 l/1,000km which would justify the cost fairly quickly. And if the tyre fitted by your garage has better wet-grip capabilities and reduces your stopping distance, it could be the difference between having an accident or avoiding one.Your tyres are the only contact patch with the road (patch is no bigger than an A4 sheet of paper). It is an investment in the safety of you, your occupants and pedestrians. You mention your old tyres were unevenly worn. Did you need suspension parts replaced? Or was tracking enough to solve that problem? Tracking comes at an additional cost so perhaps your garage absorbed it into the cost of the tyre. Quotes from tyre centres certainly don't include tracking. Eddie: Why don't you go back to your garage - if you haven't already done so - and ask? There is a huge amount of mystery (I could use the word 'ignorance' but that would be misconstrued) around tyres. Aidan has adeptly dealt with the safety and financial reasons for fitting the best you can afford but that does not rule out someone taking advantage. In this case I doubt that is what happened but I wouldn't let it fester any more. Check first that you are dealing with like-for-like products and then ask the garage. Do let us know how you get on. I'm at a loss over what to do. I have a Fiat Punto (2004) which has given me no trouble but I'm moving to Dublin soon to a new job and need something up the years. I have 8,000 I can spend on a car now. Should I wait until I get better paid over the next year or get something reasonable now? I'd really appreciate your advice on this because time is short before I make the move. Aidan: Tough decision alright. Your 2004 Punto isn't going to depreciate much over the next few months so as long as it is in fine fettle, then perhaps stick it out another while longer and get a couple of thousand euro more. At this budget, every 1,500 or so can make the difference in another year's registration plate. Such is the compression in values in the market at present, not to mention the budgetary sensitivity of many buyers, that prices for different years are squeezed closely together. This has meant that for a long time the cost to change has been excellent value for money. Crucially, it can mean you get into a fresher model with lower mileage without breaking the bank. A supermini will probably still suit you when the time comes to change. This autumn might be a bit soon to muster the sort of dough you will need to make a big impact on your affordability but watch out for some good deals towards the end of the year. Or, better still, start shopping around October (after the Budget). Venture into a few dealerships and see what trade-ins they already have in their books. Lots of new car buyers will lodge their inquiries with dealers in October and November and expect to take delivery of their 2017 cars early next year. However, dealers will already have an indication of some trade-ins as they will form part of pre-ordered new car deals. By lodging your interest early, you can manage your budgetary expectations and get your name on the list for a well-minded used car much earlier than anyone walking in from the street as a fresh customer next year. Look out for the usual strong performers like the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo, Toyota Yaris, Renault Clio, Opel Corsa, Skoda Fabia, and Peugeot 208. If your Punto gives up the ghost unexpectedly, then you're not totally out of luck either. There is a very healthy supply of used cars in the market off the back of strong retail sales over the last couple of years so choice will be good. Eddie: I understand your concern but I would definitely hold on. Get a good few more euro into your pocket, research the market and buy as new as you can. All the cars Aidan mentions are a good choice so I won't befuddle you with as many more. But I would say you should try to sell the Punto privately when you come to buy. Then you will be in the brilliant position of being a cash buyer - something dealers always love. And you will be able to drive a bargain. Good luck. JUST TO SAY We love getting your enquiries but can't reply to all queries in as full a manner as this due to time and space restraints. We try to deal with as many as possible via email. But you can help us help you if you make sure to include the following critical elements in your query: * Total budget. * Annual mileage. * Size of car required (number of seats). * Present car (make, model, year and mileage). ecunningham@independent.ie Premium What will it take to unite Ireland? Opinions are divided There are those for whom Northern Ireland is a geographical fragment of the UK holding true to empire on its western flanks, and those for whom partition is a century-old wrong that must be overturned. Somewhere in the middle are the persuadables people willing to accept either unity or union, so long as the justification is logical. One way or another, the unity conversation is in the air. The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that US forces had conducted air strikes against Isil in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte. The action may be the first move in a sustained international offensive against Isil outside of Iraq and Syria. The US strikes were conducted after a request from the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), which has been engaged in battles with Isil in Sirte since May. While the attack is not the first time that US warplanes have bombed Isil in the country, Monday's move could prove more significant in that it signifies a deepening of US and wider Western commitment to buttressing the Libyan administration, militarily, politically and economically. At a time when the GNA is trying to restore order in the country, there are growing international concerns that Isil may be establishing a stronghold there. US intelligence estimates, for instance, indicate that the number of Isil members in Libya has probably doubled to between 4,000-6,000 in the last 12-18 months, with growing evidence that a significant number of these terrorists are travelling from Iraq and Syria where, because of offensive operations from the coalition forces, Isil fighters are believed to be at the lowest levels for at least two years. Underlining these international worries, Libya was one of the key agenda items at a summit in April between US President Barack Obama, the then UK Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. At the meeting, one of the items discussed was that, some five-and-a-half years after the death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, there may be a potential 'window of opportunity' to bring greater order to the country. Due to the failure to plan for the aftermath of the Gaddafi regime, which Obama has called the "worst mistake" of his presidency, the nation is currently controlled by rival militias, governments and parliaments. In this context, Obama has said that a full range of tools will now be used to roll back Isil. Following the series of terrorist attacks in Europe, the continent's leaders also want to eliminate the prospect of Isil developing a base of operations in Libya. Beyond military actions, the G5 has also discussed a broader plan to stabilise the country, including restoration of oil production to shore up the economy, and stemming migration flows from the country. On the oil front, as UN statistics underline, the country has long relied almost entirely on oil and gas extraction, which accounts for 95pc of export earnings and 99pc of government income. Oil reserves in Libya are the largest in Africa and amongst the top 10 globally, with production of some 1.65 million barrels per day in 2010 prior to Gaddafi's ousting. However, production today stands at around 360,000 barrels a day (bpd) which reflects Libya's plunge into chaos since then, including Isil attacks on oil infrastructure. Rejuvenating Libya's oil production is not just critical to improving the economy, but also to the GNA's survival and to alleviating migration flows. One of the signals that progress is being made came on July 31 when Libya's state oil company, National Oil Corporation (NOC), announced the "unconditional" reopening of blockaded oil ports which have the collective capacity to potentially export over 600,000 bpd following a deal between GNA and the Petroleum Facilities Guard. The latter is a militia that had blocked the ports for around a year-and-a-half, asserting that it had not been paid by the Libyan government. Should the deal hold, the NOC hopes to increase production by some 150,000 bpd within two weeks, with the ambition of boosting output to around 900,000 bpd by January. Such enhanced production will, however, only add to the current global over-supply of oil. On the migrant front, much attention has recently been paid to the deal earlier this year between the EU, Turkey and Greece, under which new irregular migrants crossing to Greece return to Turkey, with Brussels footing the bill. In return, the EU admits vetted Syrian refugees directly from Turkey - one for each Syrian asylum seeker Ankara took back from Greece. However, migration from Libya to Italy is a pressing issue too. Taken overall, Monday's military strikes underline that efforts now appear to be being intensified to shore up the GNA and to tackle Isil. Underlying this is the strategic priority to prevent the terrorist network using Libya as a key base of operations to attack Europe, whilst also mitigating migration flows. Andrew Hammond is an Associate at LSE IDEAS (the Centre for International Affairs, Diplomacy and Strategy) at the London School of Economics and is an adviser at ReputationInc Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'The militarisation of Europe in order to encircle Russia presents a huge threat to humanity' Professor Ray Kinsella's letter (Irish Independent, August 1) justifiably advocates a referendum to put Irish neutrality into Bunreacht na hEireann. Irish neutrality was ended with Ireland's facilitation of the US-led Afghan and Iraq wars. It's vital that the restoration of Irish neutrality should be positive or active neutrality, as distinct from our isolationist neutrality during World War II. From the 1960s on, our neutrality has taken the clear route of supporting international peace and justice. Many of the current Middle Eastern conflicts have their roots in Western exploitation and interference. Al Qa'ida and Isil are the product of this interference and their attacks on Western countries, however unjustified, are predictable blowback responses that will continue until just peace is established. As Prof Kinsella rightly points out, the militarisation of Europe for the purpose of encircling and threatening Russia presents an even greater threat to the people of Europe and to humanity than the conflicts in the Middle East. There is a false perception since the end of the Cold War that the threat of nuclear holocaust has diminished. Nuclear weapons have become far more sophisticated and powerful, and sub-nuclear weapons containing large amounts of depleted uranium have already been used by the US and Nato in the Balkans and the Middle East. A limited but devastating war in Europe could suit the economic interests of the US elite who see their economic world dominance being threatened in recent times, provided such a war can be maintained at a sub-nuclear and regional level. Old-fashioned Russian roulette gave the participant a one-in-six chance of blowing their brains out. Playing Russian roulette with nuclear arms has a greater chance of blowing the whole world up. Ireland must take the road towards peace and justice, and away from the madness of militarisation and war. Dr Edward Horgan Castletroy, Limerick Russia's treatment of neutral states In his letter 'Neutrality must be put to the vote', Professor Ray Kinsella writes that "the recent NATO summit put in place the infrastructure for war", and that Russia's priorities are "modernisation of its defence capability to ensure stability both within its own borders, and globally - particularly in the Middle East. This does not remotely equate to a threat to Europe". The problem with that view is that Russia began to build its war infrastructure on Nato borders (in its Kaliningrad enclave) long before the Nato summit, and even before the so-called Arab Spring. Since 1999, Russia has been repeatedly calling snap exercises including more than 100,000 troops, in breach of the Vienna Document that Russia signed. In these exercises, Russia simulated nuclear attacks not only on Nato members like Poland (Exercise Zapad in 2009), but also on neutral Sweden (in March 2013). According to a Swedish-language 'Svenska Dagbladet' report, the 2013 operation involved two TU-22M3 bombers escorted by four Su-27 flankers - the planes carried out mock attacks on a military facility near Stockholm and a second facility in southern Sweden. This, and the evidence that a Russian submarine entered Sweden's territorial waters in October 2014, was the reason why Sweden launched its largest military operation since the Cold War. Added to this is the fact that Russia's FSB security service allegedly abducted an Estonian officer - on Estonian territory - in a cross-border raid. What's more, on February 18, 2015, Russian Tu-95 bombers flew just 40km off the Irish coast with their transponders off, causing civilian airline planes carrying hundreds of people to be diverted in mid-air to avoid potential collisions. These incidents provide a completely different picture of how Russia treats neutral countries. Grzegorz Kolodziej Bray, Co Wicklow We're in midst of world media war This week, Pope Francis said, "The world is at war, but it is not a war of religions." Meanwhile, we have Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan closing down 130 media outlets after the recent failed coup in that country. In my opinion, we are in the middle of a world media war. There are many battles being fought through the world media, and social media in particular. There are those who are trying to control the media, there are those who use the media to promote their evil goals, like Isil, and we have the 'snipers' (trolls) who like to pick out their individual targets for 'assassination'. Make no mistake, this is real war and a war which feeds off austerity and that sense of betrayal felt by many across the globe towards the leaders who promised them a better future, then let them down. Damien Carroll Kingswood, Dublin 24 This is not a conflict of religions The recent atrocities perpetrated by terrorists are more related to climate change and economic instability than to a clash of cultures or religions. No ideology or religion can justify or condone the despicable slaughter of a priest before his congregation. Such acts are cowardly and criminal in the view of Islam. Long before the Geneva Convention came into existence, Islam had enjoined its adherents to not kill a child, a woman, an aged or infirm person, or a priest; not to harm a church, not to cut a tree, not to obliterate a stream and not to slaughter even animals, except for food. The wars in Congo, Rwanda, Cambodia, eastern Ukraine, the former Yugoslavia and the Middle East have nothing to do with religion and everything to do with power, conquest and hegemony. The Syrian war has evolved into more extreme and sectarian violence, with awful humanitarian and refugee repercussions. Europe has tasted a little bit of what small countries like Jordan have had to grapple with over the past few years. It is wise to keep reminding ourselves that the West cannot lose close allies who stand in the vanguard of combating international terrorism. Jordan has reached 'host country fatigue', with millions of refugees overwhelming its public services. Schools have even returned to the double-shift system abandoned years ago, just to accommodate Syrian children. As Jordan's King Abdullah II put it: "We are in the midst of a third world war." We cannot afford to fall into the terrorists' trap and claim that this war is a war of religions. This is a war between civilisation and barbarism. This is a critical time to pool our resources, pursue a holistic approach, look after close allies like Jordan and show the world that there is hope, even after genocide. Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob London NW2, United Kingdom Cara Delevingne returns to her home town for the premiere Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto will be joining Suicide Squad co-star Cara Delevingne in her hometown of London for the film's European premiere. The star-studded cast will hopefully be causing less havoc than their motley crew of supervillain characters in the hotly-anticipated comic book adaptation as they walk the red carpet in Leicester Square on Wednesday night. Leto has raised eyebrows with his method acting as The Joker, admitting to sending live rats, a dead pig and bullets to his co-stars. Meanwhile Robbie, who plays his girlfriend Harley Quinn, and Delevingne, who takes on sorceress Enchantress, have been making headlines with their saucy revelations, including Delevingne's love of the Mile High Club, on their promotional tour for the David Ayer-directed film. Smith stars as Deadshot, one of the anti-hero crew hired by government agent Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) to execute a dangerous black ops mission to defeat an unknown but powerful force in exchange for clemency. Also in attendance will be fellow Brit Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who plays Killer Croc, plus Joel Kinnaman, Karen Fukuhara, Jai Courtney and Jay Hernandez. :: Suicide Squad will open in UK cinemas on Friday. Nevadas Supreme Court justices heard arguments in two different cases this past week on whether to uphold the states education savings account (ESA) program as constitutional. Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general who defended the law on behalf of the Nevada attorney general, opened the first hearing, the case of Schwartz v. Lopez, by noting, Nevadas system for educating students in grades K through 12 is in a state of crisis. No one seriously disputes that reality. By many measures Nevada has the worst education system in the country. Nevadas response to this crisis last year was a multi-faceted reform package with an innovative education savings account program at its core. But while the ESA program has raised the hopes of countless Nevada students and their patents, it has not gone into effect for one and only one reason the district courts counterintuitive reading of Article 11, Section 6. A Carson City judge had blocked the creation of ESAs over that portion of the state Constitution. Clement said Section 6 requires the Legislature to do only three things: Fund public schools and universities. Fund public schools before any other appropriations. Fund public schools in an amount the Legislature deems to be sufficient. Senate Bill 515, which established funding for the distributive school account (DSA), was the first appropriation bill passed, and the Legislature deemed it sufficient, Clement argued. SB515 established a statewide average per pupil funding of about $5,700 in the DSA. Under questioning by the justices, Clement also pointed out that the education savings account bill, Senate Bill 302, was passed three days prior to the appropriation bill. It set out that most students pulled from public schools and educated in private schools or at home could draw up to 90 percent of that $5,700, or about $5,100, for an ESA from DSA. Thus, lawmakers knew precisely what they were appropriating on a per pupil basis. But District Judge James Wilson of Carson City in his injunction blocking enactment of the ESAs declared that appropriation means to set apart for or assign to a particular purpose or use in exclusion of all others. Later, in the Supreme Court hearing, under questioning by Justice James Hardesty, attorney Tamerlin Godley, representing those trying to overturn the law, argued, The first appropriation has to be only for the operation of the public schools. The money cant come out of public schools and it cant diminish what they appropriated as sufficient Clement countered that the Constitution does not say that the DSA has to be used for public schools exclusively. DSA is just an account, and they put money in there for two purposes, knowing it was sufficient for both purposes, he said. And thats the way it should be analyzed in that issue. Asked about the public school funding having to be first, Clement offered, We think, just like at the Olympics, if theres a tie for first, youre still in first. Clement went on to argue that lawmakers did not know how many ESAs there would be so they funded both public schools and ESAs on a per pupil basis in the DSA account, deeming the funding sufficient for both purposes. Less than an hour later the court heard Duncan v. State Treasurer, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, which claims ESAs violate the constitutional prohibition against using taxpayer funds for sectarian purposes. A Clark County judge in May dismissed that argument, saying ESAs are neutral on the matter of religion. Richard Katskee of Americans United for Separation of Church and State argued that the state strictly maintains ownership and control of ESAs, meaning they are public funds, even though parents designate where to send the checks. Tim Keller, an attorney with the Institute for Justice who is representing parents who want ESAs upheld, told the court, The fact is, not one dollar will reach a religious institution except by the private choice of parents. Keller argued that parents know best how to educate their children. My clients are trapped in chronically poor performing schools based on nothing more than their ZIP codes, based on nothing more than where they live right now. This program gives them the opportunity to escape those schools, Keller concluded. The lawmakers knew what they were doing and the justices should not undo their effort to provide education choices based on frivolous technicalities. Lisa McGowan, who was named the g Hotel & Spa Best Dressed Lady at the Galway Races . Photo: Andrew Downes, Xposure Finalists: Mary Wolfe, Lisa McGowan, Anne McCarthy, Linda Morisson and Winner Sarah Donworth from Limerick at the Spring/Summer Best Dressed Lady at Naas Racecourse. Picture: Michael Donnelly. Lisa McGowan (right) from Tullamore, Co Offaly, was crowned Best Dressed Lady at the Galway Races at Ballybrit in one of her own designs, taking home the 10,000 prize. Garda Ciara Murphy (left) from Dunboyne, Co Meath, scooped the Best Hat title. Photo: Ray Ryan Lisa McGowan, from Tullamore, Co Offaly, who was named best dressed lady, pictured with racegoers at the Galway Races in Ballybrit, Co Galway. Picture: Andrew Downes/Xposure Lisa McGowan from Tullamore won the Best-Dressed Lady competition on Ladies Day at the Galway Races. Photo: Hany Marzouk Lisa McGowan, from Tullamore, Co Offaly, who was named best dressed lady, pictured with racegoers at the Galway Races in Ballybrit, Co Galway. Photo by Cody Glenn/Sportsfile The winner of Best Dressed Lady at this years Galway Races has taken on the trolls and won. Lisa McGowan, from Tullamore, Co Offaly, decided to speak out about cyber-bullying after receiving a torrent of abuse from online trolls following her win at Ballybrit. Rather than focusing on her outfit, the nasty comments targeted her body shape, her skin colour and her smile. In a Facebook post, the insurance broker lambasted her critics, writing: I've read lots of stuff about me over the last few days, horrible hurtful comments droopy boob syndrome, should have worn a bra, make-up atrocious, tangoed, satalite [sic] dish reception, fake Hollywood smile..Oh lads the list goes on. Expand Close Best Dressed Lady competition winner Lisa McGowan, from Tullamore, Co Offaly. Photo: Andrew Downes / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Best Dressed Lady competition winner Lisa McGowan, from Tullamore, Co Offaly. Photo: Andrew Downes She also warned trolls to take responsibility for their comments, and to recognise the impact they have on people: To all of you cyber bullies out there... P**S OFF AND GET A LIFE. Would you like to be on the receiving end? Speaking to Independent.ie, Lisa said she felt she had to defend herself. Read More Id had enough, to be honest. Its the Best Dressed Lady, if you dont like the dress or the hat or the way its styled, thats fair enough, but things started getting personal, she said. Ive always been known to stand up for myself and my family, its just the way I was brought up. I said, Im not taking this anymore. Expand Close Lisa McGowan (right) from Tullamore, Co Offaly, was crowned Best Dressed Lady at the Galway Races at Ballybrit in one of her own designs, taking home the 10,000 prize. Garda Ciara Murphy (left) from Dunboyne, Co Meath, scooped the Best Hat title. Photo: Ray Ryan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lisa McGowan (right) from Tullamore, Co Offaly, was crowned Best Dressed Lady at the Galway Races at Ballybrit in one of her own designs, taking home the 10,000 prize. Garda Ciara Murphy (left) from Dunboyne, Co Meath, scooped the Best Hat title. Photo: Ray Ryan No ones going to diss me or my boobs or anything else - I am who I am, Im the shape that I am, Im healthy and thank God theres nothing wrong with me. She added that the worst part of the experience was that people were posting the hateful messages anonymously. Video of the Day Nobody has the right to tear anybody down, especially anonymously. Say it to my face and be prepared for my reaction, but dont say it behind my back, behind a screen, she said. Lisas post has since received close to 5,000 likes and hundreds of comments from women showing their support. She said it has already reached 350,000 Facebook users. Expand Close Lisa McGowan, from Tullamore, Co Offaly, who was named best dressed lady, pictured with racegoers at the Galway Races in Ballybrit, Co Galway. Picture: Andrew Downes/Xposure / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lisa McGowan, from Tullamore, Co Offaly, who was named best dressed lady, pictured with racegoers at the Galway Races in Ballybrit, Co Galway. Picture: Andrew Downes/Xposure She said shes been stunned by the reaction, but that its shown her there is such a thing as girl power. I absolutely did not expect such a huge reaction to the post. What Ive learned from it is, girls look after girls. When you see the Spice Girls and the girl power stuff, you think, what a load of rubbish, but there is so much truth to that. Ive had at least 300 messages from complete and utter strangers, people who have no interest in fashion at all, saying fair play for standing up for girls who dont have the courage. Read More She worried that her parents would be unhappy with her use of expletives in the post, but said theyre proud of her for speaking out. Lisa won a prize of accommodation and vouchers from the G Hotel worth 10,000, and is about to launch her own fashion line, Strawberry And Lime. At the end of the day, I got the last laugh, I got another 5,000 followers on my Facebook page and Ive had a top Irish modelling agency on to me about doing some modelling work for them, she said. Its opened my eyes to how strong girls are, girls who are being bullied and picked on, girls who are hurt and feeling down. The support from women all over the country and from girls I didnt even think liked me has been brilliant. The Cononish Gold and Silver project is located in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park A mine is set to yield the first commercially-produced gold in Scotland. Scotgold Resources launched an ore processing trial at its Cononish Mine near Tyndrum, Stirlingshire, on Wednesday, described by the Australia-based company as " a very significant development" as it seeks to advance the plant to full production. The Cononish Gold and Silver project received planning permission from the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park back in 2011. The processing trial, using ore from its stockpile, will test the m arketability and profitability of Scottish gold. It will target a reported "first pour" production of between 400 and 600 ounces during an initial six-month trial. Scotgold chief executive Richard Gray said: "It is extremely satisfying to be able to celebrate this significant milestone with some of our long-standing stakeholders. "The achievement of gold production provides tangible evidence of our progress and we appreciate the support of all our stakeholders in getting to this point." Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the mine to mark the milestone. Japan said its self-defence force would remain on alert in case of further launches. North Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile, which landed close to Japan's coast on Wednesday August 3. The missile which has been described as a grave threat to Japan was the latest in a series of launches by North Korea in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The main body of the missile landed in Japan's economic exclusion zone escalating regional tensions that were already high after a series of missile launches this year and the decision by the United States to place a sophisticated anti-missile system in South Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the launch as a "grave threat" to Japan and said Tokyo "strongly protested". Japan also said its self-defence force would remain on alert in case of further launches. A U.S. State Department spokesman condemned the launch, and said it would "only increase the international community's resolve to counter" North Korea's actions. The U.S. Strategic Command said it had detected two missiles, one of which it said exploded immediately after launch. The launch showed North Korea's ambition to "directly and broadly attack neighbouring countries and target several places in the Republic of Korea such as ports and airfields", the statement said, referring to South Korea by its official title. The missile appeared to be a Rodong-type medium-range missile that flew about 1,000 km (620 miles), it said. The United States will begin large-scale annual drills with its ally South Korea later this month that it bills as defensive in nature and not provocative. North Korea typically protests against the drills, which it says are a rehearsal for invasion. "The North Koreans seem to have been timing their recent short-range and medium-range missile tests to the weeks ahead of U.S.-South Korean joint exercises," said Joshua Pollack, editor of the U.S.-based Nonproliferation Review. "If the allies can exercise their armed forces, so can the North," he said. On July 19, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles that flew between 500 km and 600 km (300-360 miles) into the sea off its east coast. The North later said the launches were part of an exercise simulating preemptive strikes against South Korean ports and airfields used by the U.S. military. The latest launches follow an agreement last month between South Korea and the United States to deploy an advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defence anti-missile system in the South. North Korea had threatened a "physical response" against the deployment decision. The North came under the latest round of U.N. Security Council sanctions in March after its fourth nuclear test in January and the launch of a long-range rocket the following month. Tensions have been high on the Korean peninsula since the January nuclear test. The two Koreas remain technically at war under a truce that ended fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. The bouncing castle came loose from its moorings. More than a dozen children were hurt after an inflatable slide came loose from its moorings and blew over at a carnival. Dorset Police said 13 children were treated by paramedics at the Swanage Carnival following the incident on Wednesday afternoon. Two of the children were taken to hospital in Poole after complaining of neck pain, the South West Ambulance Service said. Police said officers remained at the scene and would be speaking to organisers of the carnival. Read More "13 children were treated at the scene by paramedics for minor injuries," the police spokeswoman said. "They have either stayed to enjoy the afternoon or have gone home. None of the injuries sustained are being described as serious." An air ambulance also attended the scene but was stood down. Earlier this year, seven-year-old Summer Grant, from Norwich, died after the bouncy castle she was playing on was blown away by a gust of wind in Harlow, Essex. Environmental officials are trying to establish the source of a devastating pollution incident that killed more than 1,000 fish in a Northern Irish river. Several kilometres of a tributary of the River Faughan at Claudy, Co Derry has been contaminated with suspected silage effluent. A range of fish species died in the polluted waters. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said officials from the Loughs Agency and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) had been on site since the incident was first reported on Monday night trying to establish the origin of the pollution. A DAERA spokesman said: "Staff from Loughs Agency, who are leading this investigation, are working closely with NIEA to quantify the number and species of fish affected, and the cause, which is suspected to be silage effluent. "The latest available figures are that in excess of 1,000 fish of a range of species have been killed over several kilometres of river. Assessment of the kill is still ongoing." East Derry MP Gregory Campbell called for an urgent investigation. "This is a major pollution tragedy on the Faughan which is a well-known salmon and trout river in the North West for anglers," said the DUP representative. "The wider implications on this major fish kill for future generations of fish stock cannot be underestimated and it is imperative that the source of the pollution is found as soon as possible to minimise further losses." Sinn Fein Assembly member Caoimhe Archibald called for tough penalties for anyone found guilty of polluting a river. "The penalties imposed for incidents such as this should be as severe as the law allows," she said. "At times the fines are not a sufficient deterrent and do not match the damage being done to the environment." A flight out of the UK was forced to make a 600-mile diversion due to a disruptive passenger who claimed to have a gun onboard. The EasyJet service from Edinburgh was bound for Funchal in Madeira on Monday but had to make an emergency landing in Lisbon. One passenger revealed: "Once we landed in Lisbon we were advised to stay in our seats as the police would be boarding to remove the passenger who had been abusive to those around him and said he had a gun." Reports that the passenger claimed to have had a gun on board have not been confirmed by the airline. The flight was met by police in the Portuguese capital and then made its way to its intended destination around 605 miles away, delayed by about two hours. The airline has apologised for any inconvenience caused to passengers but stressed it takes such incidents seriously. An EasyJet spokeswoman said: "EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY6957 from Edinburgh to Funchal on August 1 diverted to Lisbon and was met by police due to a passenger behaving disruptively. "EasyJets cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time. "Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously, do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour on board and always push for prosecution. "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused." Russian air power began supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (below) late last year, an intervention which tipped the balance of the war in Assads favour, eroding gains the rebels had made that year. A Syrian rescue service operating in rebel-held territory claimed yesterday a helicopter dropped containers of toxic gas overnight on a town close to where a Russian military helicopter was shot down hours earlier. A spokesman for Syria Civil Defence said 33 people, mostly women and children, were affected by the gas in Saraqeb, in rebel-held Idlib province. The group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers, posted a video on YouTube apparently showing a number of men struggling to breathe and being given oxygen masks by people in civil defence uniforms. Syria Civil Defence workers, who went to the scene of the attack, said they suspected the gas was chlorine but could not verify that. "Medium-sized barrels fell containing toxic gasses. The Syrian Civil Defence was not able to determine the type of the gas," said the spokesman. The Syrian government and its Russian allies were not immediately available for comment. The Civil Defence spokesman said it was the second time Saraqeb had been hit by toxic gas. The group was aware of around nine suspected chlorine gas incidents across Idlib province since the conflict began, he said. Monitors at the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks violence on all sides in the civil war, said barrel bombs fell on Saraqeb late on Monday, wounding a large number of citizens. Russia's defence ministry said a Russian helicopter was shot down near Saraqeb during the day on Monday, killing all five people on board, in the biggest officially acknowledged loss of life for Russian forces since they started operations in Syria. The helicopter came down in Idlib province, roughly mid-way between Aleppo and Russia's main air base at Khmeimim in the western province of Latakia, near the Mediterranean coast. Russian air power began supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (below) late last year, an intervention which tipped the balance of the war in Assad's favour, eroding gains the rebels had made that year. The Russian defence ministry said the Mi-8 military transport helicopter was shot down after delivering humanitarian aid to Aleppo as it made its way back to Khmeimim. No group has claimed responsibility for downing the helicopter. Government and opposition forces have both denied using chemical weapons during the five-year-old civil war. Western powers say the government has been responsible for chlorine and other chemical attacks. The government and Russia have accused rebels of using poison gas. UN investigators established that sarin gas was used in Eastern Ghouta in 2013. The United States accused Damascus of that attack, which it estimates killed 1,429 people, including at least 426 children. Damascus denied responsibility, and blamed rebels. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed in late 2015 that sulphur mustard, commonly known as mustard gas, had been used for the first time in the conflict, without saying which party in the many sided conflict it thought had used it. BMLGJustin Moore will do four shows in four different cities immediately following the release of his fourth studio album, Kinda Dont Care, on August 12. The Arkansas native kicks off his mini-tour Monday, August 15 in Little Rock, before continuing on to Music City on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he stops off in Charlotte, North Carolina, before wrapping up the special dates August 19 with the Indianapolis stop on Brantley Gilberts Take It Outside Tour. Look for the exact details about each show to be revealed on Justins website and social media accounts in the coming days. This week, the lead single from Kinda Dont Care, You Look Like I Need a Drink, breaks into the top 10. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. It is not the first time that we human beings have insisted on trying out what it feels like to jump into the void. At a Republican Party convention in 1858, President Abraham Lincoln then a candidate for the United States Senate declared: A house divided against itself cannot stand. Looking at the Republican and Democratic conventions, it is curious to note how the GOP celebrated Donald Trumps triumph of the will in Cleveland and the lack of enthusiasm some Democrats felt for Hillary Clinton in Philadelphia the birthplace of the American War of Independence despite the fact that she was making history as the first female presidential nominee on a major party ticket. Something serious is happening in the world when experience, reason, and common sense have gone away. It is worrying to see torches, flags, uniforms and dramatic speeches, that in times of crisis and discontent, have been the fuel that set the masses on fire and led them down the path of destruction. The Twitter kids, the new generation of media makers, are not connected to anything, not to truth or seriousness There is a very clear reality right now and it is not that we are not pitting the old against the new. Because we are fighting with ideas that we have already transcended, but that, in some ways, are seen as the guarantors of a smooth transition. Especially in comparison to the free fall that will follow entrusting a mischievous child in the best of cases or an egomaniac in the worst of cases with the laboratory that could make the entire world explode. Given this context, it would be good to learn the big lessons that this summer of our discontent is teaching us. First, the Twitter kids, the new generation of media makers, are not connected to anything, not to truth or seriousness, or even to an intention for what they propose to be possible. They only want their shouts and insults to ring out louder than the rest. We are facing a general crisis where the new wants and demands fury, noise and vengeance while the old is incapable of articulating a solution. Second, the actions of the representatives of the old political order like that great advocate of the Patriot Act, Iraq invasion and 2008 economic crisis, former President George W. Bushfueled Trumps candidacy. The absence of proposals and injustice march on victorious while carefully prepared plans and years of experience languish in a long, futile, useless fight. Simply because the new provocateur is allowed to lie and insult while they would have just dismissed the traditional politicians. Now this reality is not just a bad movie; it has become a nightmare for many societies that were not able to straighten out the course they were taking and that will only lead them to devastation. Its difficult to say how we will get up on November 9 after everything is done. The world may wake up to Trump and not know how to get back to sleep again. Is there, however, any hope that a clown will not become the president of the United States and that reason will prevail? The problem is that reason, like justice, is not an individual process and it is not in the hands of just a few. It is a current, like air, and the harvest that a whole generation shares. And, as the Bible says, in order to be able to say yes, one must know how to say no first. Sign up for our newsletter EL PAIS English Edition has launched a weekly newsletter. Sign up today to receive a selection of our best stories in your inbox every Saturday morning. For full details about how to subscribe, click here And, in that sense, we should have said no to the obsolete political class. We should have said no to the speculators and swindlers who caused the economic crisis and did not pay for it. We should have said no to the politicians who, boosted by publicity campaigns, felt that being able to change history on the basis of a lie was worth any price. This summer we must recognize that we are not on the edge of the cliff because we are already in free fall. Let us hope that all those who cheer with balloons for the man who presents himself as the new leader of the Western world will think it over. That would be the only way to avoid a disaster. I look forward to continue reflecting with you in September. English version by Dyane Jean-Francois. Nicholas Young did not pose any threat to the Metro system, officials said (AP) A law enforcement officer walks on the street outside the home of Nicholas Young A Washington, DC police officer charged with attempting to support Islamic State has made his initial appearance in court. Nicholas Young, 36, from Fairfax, appeared at the US District Court in Alexandria. A magistrate appointed a public defender to represent Young after he requested a court-appointed lawyer. The FBI said Young is the first law enforcement officer in the US to be charged under the federal government's terrorism law. Young was wearing a T-shirt and what appeared to be his uniform trousers. Authorities say he was arrested earlier on Wednesday at the Metro Transit Police headquarters in Washington. He said little else during the court hearing, which lasted less than five minutes. Prosecutor John Gibbs said Young could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the terrorism charge. Court documents say Young bought nearly 250 US dollars (188) in gift cards he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile messaging apps. AP A deranged father tried to flush his baby down a toilet during a bizarre family fight about childcare. Dennis Gateley (31) was arguing with the mother of his six-week-old son about childcare at a home in Pittsburgh on Tuesday August 2, when he pulled out a gun, police told WPXI.com. After a fight with the mother, Gateley allegedly grabbed the baby and shoved him head first down the toilet. He hit the babys head against a wall, tossed his crib down a staircase and screamed Im going to kill them!, witnesses told CBS Pittsburgh. Trying to protect the mother and baby, the family dog viciously attacked Gateley. The mother managed to grab the baby, run outside and call police but Gateley refused to come out of the home when a SWAT team arrived, according to CBS. The standoff lasted two hours before Gateley surrendered and was arrested. The baby was treated at the Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC but it was unclear how seriously he was injured Tuesday afternoon. The mother suffered a black eye and Gateley was treated for the dog bite at a different hospital. He was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats and endangering the welfare of a child. After he was arrested Gateley allegedly told two cops, I could have picked either one of you off at any time. I had the advantage, because I had the high ground, according to CBS Law enforcement officers are seen outside the home of Nicholas Young, a Washington Metro Transit Officer, Wednesday (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) A transit police officer was arrested on Wednesday on charges he attempted to provide material support to Islamic State, the U.S. Justice Department said. In July, Nicholas Young, who lives in Virginia, sent codes for gift cards worth $245 to an FBI informant. The gift cards were intended for mobile-messaging accounts that Islamic State uses to recruit its followers. Young believed the informant he was messaging was an acquaintance who was working with the militant group, according to court records. Young, who had worked for the transit authority since 2003, had been on the radar of federal law enforcement since 2010, according to an affidavit in the complaint filed in U.S. district court in Virginia on Tuesday. Metro authorities said Young was fired immediately after his arrest on Wednesday. The 36-year-old U.S. citizen is the first law enforcement officer charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Justice Department has brought Islamic State-related charges against more than 90 people since 2014. Young did not pose a threat to Metro train riders or employees during the six years he was under federal surveillance, according to Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the Eastern Virginia U.S. Attorney's Office. "None of the things that he said, none of the things he wanted to do related to anything here. His interest was totally in how he could get overseas and what he could do over there," Stueve said. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Law enforcement officers work outside the home of Nicholas Young, a Washington Metro Transit Officer, Wednesday (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Passengers ride a Washington Metro subway train at the Chinatown Metro Station in Washington (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Law enforcement officers work outside the home of Nicholas Young, a Washington Metro Transit Officer, Wednesday (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) In 2014, he met several times with an undercover FBI agent who was posing as an eager recruit of Islamic State, according to the affidavit, and advised the agent about how to evade law enforcement as he left the United States to join the militant group. Young sent the gift card codes after the informant told him that the group needed help setting up mobile messaging accounts, according to the affidavit, and then promised to cover his tracks: "Gonna eat the SIM card. Have a good day." "Metro transit police alerted the FBI about this individual and then worked with our federal partners throughout the investigation," said Metro general manager Paul Wiedefeld, calling the allegations against Young "profoundly disturbing." Young had traveled to Libya in 2011 to support rebels trying to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi, the affidavit said. That year, he also discussed with informants ways of smuggling guns into the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, where he will appear on Wednesday, according to the Justice Department. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pictured at a parade in Pyongyang - Seoul says his country has fired a ballistic missile (AP) The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting on North Korea's latest missile tests at the request of the United States and Japan. South Korean and Japanese officials said one ballistic missile fired on Wednesday landed near Japan's territorial waters. US officials said initial indications were that a second missile exploded immediately after launch. Britain's deputy UN ambassador Peter Wilson said this was the first time a North Korean missile had landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone. "I think this is something the council should take extremely seriously," Mr Wilson said. "This is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions." UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the tests "seriously undermine regional peace and stability". AP Switzerland's former finance minister said he believes the stress of bailing out the country's biggest bank, UBS, caused him to suffer a heart attack. Hans-Rudolf Merz suffered the heart attack at the height of the financial crisis in 2008 as Switzerland embarked on the bailout of UBS, which was hit by massive US subprime mortgage losses. Mr Merz told Swiss daily Neue Zuercher Zeitung that he was fit at the time and believes the heart attack resulted from "momentary overloading due to the UBS rescue". He said he had learned on the day it happened that authorities might have to provide some 60 billion dollars (45 billion) in guarantees. Mr Merz, who was finance minister from 2003 to 2010, said: "I hadn't expected this immense sum. That simply knocked me over." AP A US congressman has become embroiled in a row over a proposed plan for flights between Cork and Boston. The Democratic Party congressman, Peter DeFazio has written to the EU Transport Commissioner, Violeta Bulc, to voice his concerns over the proposed new transatlantic route. The politicians concerns relate to the operator of the proposed service, Norwegian Air International, as he believes the company are taking advantage of Singaporean employment law. He wrote: These outsourced crews are hired on contracts governed by Singapore law. In fact, although most, if not all of Norwegians pilots live in Europe, in order to join Norwegians workforce, they must contract with a crew leasing specialist in Singapore and abide by terms governed under Singapore law. If Norwegian were a US carrier, there practices would not be acceptable under US airline labor laws, and I am confident they are not acceptable under the laws of Norway. They certainly are not consistent with the fair labor principles of the European Union. Mr DeFazio also said he did not wish to undermine the authority of the Irish Aviation Authority, however to sanction airlines' exploitation of flags of convenience is to push the global airline industry down a slippery slope. He wrote: As European legacy carriers face increasingly challenging market conditions, what will be the next Norwegian, and what flag of convenience will appear on the sides of its aircraft? I do not believe that anyone, on either side of the Atlantic, can assure the flying public with confidence that this race to the bottom will end well. Norwegian Air International had announced in September it would launch a new route from Cork to Boston, however the project has faced a number of setbacks since then. US authorities have refused to sign off on the route and the EU is set to hold arbitration on the matter. On Wednesday morning objections to the proposed route were also raised by the president of the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA), Captain Evan Cullen. Mr Cullen told RTEs Morning Ireland: At the moment we have members of the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) who are Irish, they live in Europe but theyre employed on Chinese contracts. When they have a problem with their employer, their remedy is in China. It is not in the EU or the US, or in Dublin it is in China. Equally we cannot stomach a situation whereby people are employed on contracts whose jurisdiction is in Thailand when they are working in between Cork and Boston. He said he anyone arguing that the process should be allowed to go ahead should consider a situation in which the positons might be reversed. He asked: How would the people of Cork feel if a factory was established, a major employer factory was established in Cork and all of the employees were on Asian contracts of employment, where the minimum wage is not set by the Irish government or the EU, it is set by the government of Thailand or the government of Singapore, where unfair dismissal is set by the labour relations in Thailand and Singapore? How would they feel if that was introduced into their local economy and that cost space, would they think thats fair? Norwegian Air International issued a clarification, denying the claims being made regarding the proposed new route. The airline said it does not have any Asian-based crew members or pilots and that any crew members, including those who may work on the proposed Cork to Boston route, will be employed under the labour laws of the country they are based in. The Irish Aviation Authority also refuted the claims, saying Norwegian Air International was not operating under a flag of convenience and that its staff would be subject to the highest standards of labour. The group also said the US congressmans correspondence to the EU Transport Commissioner was filled with well-worn and false arguments. SHARE Adraine Jackson-Garner, director of the Littlejohn Community Center, makes a hot dog plate as part of activities at the South Carolina Summer Feeding Program booth at the gathering in Clemson. Adelyn Wood of Greenville gets a free bicycle helmet. Related Photos National Night Out in Clemson By Kirk Brown of the Independent Mail Every August, Clemson police officers meet with residents on National Night Out. But with scrutiny of police shootings of unarmed suspects, and in light of recent attacks that killed eight law enforcement officers in Louisiana and Texas, this year's event took on added meaning, said Clemson police Capt. Jeff Stone. "It is really important to be able to interact with the community in a positive way," said Stone, who supervises the city's patrol officers. He was pleased that the gathering Tuesday night at Nettles Park attracted dozens of residents. "We've got a lot of support in Clemson," Stone said. Similar events happened Tuesday night in more than 16,000 communities across the nation. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office and Anderson Police Department present their annual Night Out in late October to coincide with Halloween. One of the main goals of National Night Out is to show residents that police officers are "here to protect them and keep them safe," said Clemson police Sgt. Shunna Kelley. Besides law enforcement officers, numerous community groups were on hand Tuesday night in Clemson. Free hot dog plates were served and children who attended received bicycle helmets. There also was a demonstration involving Clemson's police dog, Tonka. Clemson resident Jon Varner went to the park with his wife and their two sons, ages 4 and 8. "It is good to get to know police officers," he said. Varner said he is relieved that Clemson has not had the police-related turmoil that other communities have experienced. "We all think it is insulated. I hope that it is," he said. "I hope that decent folks living together can get beyond their differences." Brian Ross, who also lives in Clemson, brought his 10-year-old daughter Jaylynn so she will learn not be afraid of police officers. Ross said he doesn't worry about police violence is Clemson. "I don't even think about that," he said. Instead, Ross said, he is more concerned about Islamic terrorists gaining a foothold in the United States. Pendleton resident Lindsey Watley said she attended the event to show support for police officers. "Sometimes people forget they are public servants," she said. Follow Kirk Brown on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM Local police officers and Civil Guards in the Catalan resort town of Roses. Albert Garcia With the country on a level four terrorism alert in the wake of attacks in France and Germany, Spain is stepping up security throughout its Mediterranean coastline, with armed patrols and drones being rolled out to protect the millions of holidaymakers that will flock to its beaches over the next month. The attacks in France, as well as the situation in Turkey, along with the attacks last year in Tunisia, have prompted many vacationers to change their summer travel plans in favor of Spain, and particularly Catalonia. Catalonias regional government is aware of the danger and the impact any kind of attack would have on Spains tourism industry. In response, they have assigned large numbers of regional Mossos dEsquadra police officers armed with submachine guns and assault rifles to resorts such as Roses and Lloret de Mar, where they are patrolling sea fronts and controlling access to beach areas. Jordi Jane, Catalonia's interior minister, said that his own security services had warned of an attack in France. In June, the US State Department issued a travel alert warning its citizens about the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe, targeting major events, tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centers and transportation. The large number of tourists visiting Europe in the summer months will present greater targets for terrorists planning attacks in public locations, especially at large events, said the note. Following the attack in Nice on July 14, Catalonias regional premier, Carles Puigdemont, met with anti-terrorism officers. Jordi Jane, the regions interior chief, said that his own security services had warned of an attack in France. At that point, armed units were deployed to resort areas as well as train and bus stations, airports and government buildings. Drones for Benidorm Further down the coast in Alicante province, Benidorm, one of Spains most popular resorts, is being patrolled by a drone. Sign up for our newsletter EL PAIS English Edition has launched a weekly newsletter. Sign up today to receive a selection of our best stories in your inbox every Saturday morning. For full details about how to subscribe, click here We were pioneers, but other towns are now using drones, says Carlos Lopez of the Benidorm local police, and one of four officers responsible for the surveillance craft. The drones are mostly used for detecting swimmers in trouble, vessels which have gone adrift and smoke that could be a sign of a forest fire, a common occurrence in the summer months. But they are also useful in the detection of many other kinds of risk situations, said the officers. Over 18 million tourists visited Spain in the first four months of 2016 alone, representing a 13% rise from the same period last year. The country broke a record for international tourist arrivals last year with over 68 million visitors, of whom 1.5 million came from the United States, according to official figures. English version by Nick Lyne. SHARE By Frances Parrish of the Independent Mail The Iva Planning Commission is working to address rental property concerns after complaints have been filed about landlords, and tenants reportedly have not complied with their responsibilities. The commission, with the help of Town Clerk Tim Taylor, is drafting a new ordinance to regulate landlords, tenants and rental houses and to prevent more houses from becoming blighted or condemned. "It should protect everybody, but we are still drafting it," Taylor said. "We are trying to be careful about not being too strict, but enforceable." Taylor said the ordinance under development would require landlords to apply for a business license, which would help build a complete database of landlords and rental houses in the town. The planning commission has been working to help clean up the town to attract more homeowners and businesses. Marlene Wiles, a planning commission member, said the beautification of the downtown area is having a positive effect in surrounding neighborhoods. But it's not really catching on with some landlords, she said. "I think it's a great idea to help our town get cleaned up," Wiles said about the proposed ordinance. "When people decide to move here with a family, the first thing they look at is the school district. Well, we have a great school district. The second thing they do is drive through the neighborhoods." Annette Holley, a landlord in Iva for about 40 years, is looking forward to an ordinance to help with any future troublesome renters. "I think it will help the landlords to enforce the rules if the town backs you," Holley said. Because she's had trouble getting renters to keep the grass cut at properties, she provides that service for them. Holley said she does her part to help keep the houses in shape, but sometimes she has trouble getting her tenants to keep the houses clean. After tenants leave, she usually needs to have the yard and house cleaned. She also spends money fixing things, such as drains in the bathrooms. "I think it would be the responsibility of me if something breaks," Holley said. "But renters should keep it (the house) clean and tell the landlord if something is broken." Taylor said he hopes the ordinance will help encourage landlords and tenants to keep rental properties functional and looking nice, so the town won't need to condemn any homes. Taylor said some of the rental houses are starting to fall into disrepair. "One reason we want to do this is to keep houses from getting to that condition. Once a landlord gives up on the house, that house is on a steady decline," Taylor said. "No one wants to live beside a condemned house." If the ordinance is passed, some residents, such as Fran and Terry Allen, hope property values will increase. The Allens said degraded rental properties near their home have brought the property value down. "If everyone would put in as much effort in cleaning up the town as Tim Taylor does, everyone would gain in value," Terry Allen said. "The property values are going down. The street you live on represents the future cost of your home." The planning commission is looking for feedback from other landlords as it works to develop a final version of the ordinance and send it to the Town Council for a vote. "We want to work with them," Wiles said. "We want it to be a community project." Follow Frances Parrish on Twitter @frances_AIM SHARE By Cassie Cope, ccope@thestate.com South Carolina House members and candidates should not spend campaign money on dry cleaning, vehicle maintenance or to buy gifts for other House members, a House ethics subcommittee said Tuesday. The subcommittee approved an advisory opinion for House members after legislators submitted questions asking what expenses can and cannot be reimbursed with campaign money. Ethics Committee chairman Kenny Bingham, R-Lexington, said he encouraged House members to request an opinion on specific scenarios. Legislators are "cautious and cognizant" of public scrutiny, Bingham said. The ethics panel said House members and candidates should not spend campaign money to pay for private social clubs. However, if the member joins a civic organization such as a Rotary Club in his or her role as a House member, those dues can be paid for with campaign money. House members also cannot pay for their living expenses for example, their electric bills with campaign money. The ethics panel said S.C. House members can use campaign money to pay for: - Donations to nonprofit organizations as long as the member, member's business or family members do not make money from the donation; - S.C. newspaper subscriptions or news services; - Membership dues for political organizations. House members may not pay for attorney's fees from campaign contributions if they are criminally charged or indicted, the panel said. However, if they are found not guilty, they may reimburse themselves with their campaign money on a case-by-case basis. That issue arose after former S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, used his campaign account to pay for his attorneys as he tried to fend off ethics charges. Harrell pleaded guilty in 2014 to misusing campaign money. In February, the S.C. House Ethics Committee ruled Harrell had to repay $113,475 that he spent from his campaign account on attorneys. The full House Ethics Committee will have to approve the advisory opinion. By Tracie Frost India recently released a new national intellectual property rights policy which seeks to enhance Prime Minister Narendra Modis Make in India scheme by boosting innovation. The policy, which comes at an important time for U.S.-India relations, has been widely criticized in the Indian press. India currently ranks 37 out of 38 countries in the United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) Global Intellectual Property Chamber Index. Based on 30 indicators spread across six categories patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, enforcement, and international treaties the index gives India an abysmal score of 7.05 out of 30 possible points. The greatest concern for the USCC is an Indian rule prohibiting patents for incremental changes and Indias use of compulsory licensing provisions as a means of effectuating technology transfer. Also noted as areas of concern were a series of court rulings regarding copyright infringements, deficiency of regulations for data protection, and poor enforcement of civil and criminal remedies. Compulsory licensing has long been a sore spot between the U.S. and India. This tool, legal in certain circumstances under the WTO, can be invoked to allow a company to produce a patented product without the consent of the patent owner. The Indian Patents Act allows compulsory licenses for drugs if they are considered unaffordable and if the Indian government grants permission for drug makers to manufacture them. The new policy specifically states that India will continue to utilize the legislative space and flexibilities available in international treaties and the TRIPS Agreement to gain access to licenses for drugs as it deems necessary. This is a troubling development. Studies referenced by the United States Trade Representative suggest that up to 20 percent of drugs sold in the Indian market are counterfeit and could represent a serious threat not only to patent-holders, but also to public health and safety. Another area of disagreement, the rule under the Indian Patents Act, which sets the standard under Indian law for innovation, essentially prohibits patents for incremental improvement or innovation. Pharmaceutical companies frequently apply for patents covering incremental changes in drugs, but Indias law does not recognize incremental changes as patentable. Critics argue that denying patents for improvements to existing technologies, which must rise to the same rigorous standard of novel, useful and non-obvious, undermines the incentives that encourage innovation. Yet, Indias new intellectual property policy keeps this rule intact. That the new national intellectual property rights (IPR) policy does not resolve either of these concerns with Indias existing intellectual property policy is a disappointment. However, the policy does address several other areas of importance: IPR Awareness: the policy seeks to create public awareness about the economic, social, and cultural benefits of intellectual property rights. Generation of IPRs: the policy lays a framework to stimulate the generation of IPRs. Legal and Legislative Framework: the policy points to the importance of strong and effective IPR laws to balance the interests of rights owners with larger public interest. Administration and Management: the policy provides a plan to modernize and strengthen IPR administration. Enforcement and Adjudication: the policy strengthens the enforcement and adjudicatory mechanisms for combating IPR infringements. Treaties: the policy examines Indias agreement to some multilateral treaties, perhaps including the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. Each of these objectives is set out in detail in the new policy plan. In addition, the policy makes the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, the coordinating department to guide and oversee implementation and future development of IPRs in India. The United States has remained cautiously optimistic regarding Indias evolving intellectual property landscape. When the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued its annual Special 301 Report, it recognized several positive developments in IPR. India issued a draft for public comment for the new national policy and subsequently held hearings with interested stakeholders, which the U.S. saw as a significant step forward in transparency. Additionally, India has maintained strong channels of communication on IPR with the U.S. since Modis first Trade Policy Forum with the U.S. And Indias increasingly public recognition of the importance of IPR highlighted in the new policy is encouraging. The USTR has emphasized that Indias courts have a reputation for providing fair and deliberate treatment of both foreign and domestic litigants. However, the USTR recognizes continued reasons for concern in the Indian IPR environment in addition to the problems with the new policy as outlined above. India maintains the highest tariffs on medicines and medical devices among the WTO members identified in the USTR report. These tariffs, combined with regulations that lack transparency or that exempt domestically-developed or -manufactured medicines, inhibit market access. Another concern for USTR is that Indias proposed Patent Rule Amendments could introduce new incentives to pressure patent applicants to localize manufacturing in India and require the submission of sensitive business information to Indias Patent Office. Finally, the report emphasizes the lack of an effective system for notifying interested parties of marketing approvals for generic pharmaceuticals and high levels of piracy and unpredictability in the market. USTR concludes that all of these issues undermine a vibrant and competitive sector for Indian and U.S. companies. Observations While India has made some overtures to improving the intellectual property environment for foreign firms, many issues remain to be addressed. The response to the New National Intellectual Property Rights Policy in the Indian press indicates that resolving those issues could be a long, difficult road. About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email india@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. Managing Your Accounting and Bookkeeping in India In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we spotlight three issues that financial management teams for India should monitor. Firstly, we examine the new Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS) system, which is expected to be a boon for foreign companies in India. We then highlight common filing dates for most companies with operations in India, and lastly examine procedures and regulations for remitting profits from India. Using Indias Free Trade & Double Tax Agreements In this issue of India Briefing magazine, we take a look at the bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that India currently has in place and highlight the deals that are still in negotiation. We analyze the countrys double tax agreements, and conclude by discussing how foreign businesses can establish a presence in Singapore to access both the Indian and ASEAN markets. Passage to India: Selling to Indias Consumer Market In this issue of India Briefing magazine, we outline the fundamentals of Indias import policies and procedures, as well as provide an introduction to engaging in direct and indirect export, acquiring an Indian company, selling to the government and establishing a local presence in the form of a liaison office, branch office, or wholly owned subsidiary. We conclude by taking a closer look at the strategic potential of joint ventures and the advantages they can provide companies at all stages of market entry and expansion. Actor Anuj Sachdeva , enjoyed his first negative stint in Colors ' popular show, Swaragini . He also received appreciation as well as bashing for trying to separate one of tellydom's loved and adored couples, SwaSan (Swara and Sanskaar). Anuj's character made an exit from the show a few weeks back. Later, the man flew out of the country to attend the World Film Festival, where he bumped into another hottie from the television industry Gautam Gulati . Both the actors were invited to be a part of the film fest. Now that Anuj's work commitments pertaining the trip are concluded, the actor is busy unwinding in the party capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada. Roaming all over the country, both Gautam and Anuj are having a whale of a time. But it isn't just the two of them. Making the duo, a trio, TV czarina Ekta Kapoor also joined them. When we reached Anuj who told us, "My vacation has been fantastic. Gautam is here too for the film festival. Its our first time in Vegas and we are enjoying a lot. In fact we tagged along after the film fest we had come for, which just ended. Hence, we extended our trip and came down to Vegas." Featured Video Only last night, the trio caught a Broadway show which Anuj is all praises about. He says,"Just last night, we went for a Broadway Show, which was absolutely fantastic. In fact, the Broadway shows are something that as an actor one must watch. It inspires you to do better and qualitative work." Anuj will further fly down to The Big Apple, as he as a few work related meetings scheduled. "I will also be meeting a few school friends of mine and may even bump into Gautam again." He is also pleased as he got to squeeze in some 'ME' time on his work trip as well. Well, good for Anuj, who would come back as rejuvenated as ever. Nihar Info Global applies for trademark registration for 'ONVO' Nihar Info Global Limited informed to the exchanges that it has successfully applied for Trademark registration of its private label "ONVO" under the 'Trademark Classes 18 and 21. ... October 28, 2022 | 2:37 pm Rupee rises 4 paisa to 82.29/$ Early on Friday, the rupee strengthened against the US dollar by 4 paise to 82.29, helped by a weak US dollar in the international market and strong local equities. The influx of new fore... October 28, 2022 | 2:30 pm PNB Housing Finance's net profit increases by 12% PNB Housing Finance announced on Thursday that its September 20222023 quarter net profit increased by 11.7% to Rs 262.63 crore, thanks to a little increase in core income. In the same period... October 28, 2022 | 2:25 pm Dhanuka Agritech soars ~8% as board to consider buyback Dhanuka Agritechs stock surged as much as 8% in Fridays intraday session and touched a high of Rs742. The company stated in its filing with the exchanges that at its ensuing ge... October 28, 2022 | 2:18 pm Markets trade flat amid volatility; Nifty below 17,800 dragged by metals Domestic benchmark indices in a volatile session and trading flat after a gap-up opening on Friday. Both the Sensex and Nifty benchmarks are in the green during the afternoon market session ami... October 28, 2022 | 2:00 pm A burned-out bus in the city of Navidad. Leo Carioca (Reuters) More information Brasil envia 1.200 militares para atajar la ola de violencia en el Norte del pais As security concerns mount ahead of the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympic Games on Friday, Brazils northeastern Rio Grande do Norte has been hit by a wave of violence since July 29. In just four days, some 80 incidents have taken place ranging from torched buses, attacks on public buildings and private property, and even a fire on one of the regions most famous beaches, in the state capital of Natal. The central government has responded by saying it is to send 1,200 soldiers this week. The state government says the decision to block cellphone signals in the Parnamirim jail could be the reason for the disturbances. In recent days, a number of messages have appeared on social networks warning that any kind of blocking would make the whole state shake. In March 2015, Rio Grande do Norte declared a state of emergency in its prisons. Since the beginning of the year, almost 300 prisoners have escaped Due to the violence, which has begun at nightfall, the transport system in Natal was shut down on Sunday. On Monday a limited service resumed, patrolled by armed police. Schools and some shops closed on Monday. There have also been a number mass jailbreaks. In the early hours of Monday, 14 prisoners escaped from the Ribeira provisional detention center in Natal. Authorities say that 68 people have been arrested for their involvement in the disturbances, among them one of the heads of the so-called Crime Syndicate, which is believed to be behind the attacks. The public prosecutors office in Rio Grande do Norte says that the Crime Syndicate is an offshoot of the First Commando of the Capital (PCC), a gang that controls organized crime in Sao Paulo and other Brazilian states. This year, the group, which controls drug trafficking in the area, was the target of Operation Alcateia, aimed at dismantling the criminal networks that run the states jails. Robinson Faria, the state governor of Rio Grande do Norte, admitted on Monday that the state was exposed and that the full extent of the violence was still not clear. But the problems in states jails date back many years. In March, Cristiano Feitosa, a former justice secretary in Rio Grando do Norte, told local media that the states prisons had a capacity of 3,500, but that the current number of prisoners being held in them was 7,500. He recommended blocking cellphone signals as the first step to dealing with the problems in the states jails. In March 2015, Rio Grande do Norte declared a state of emergency in its prisons. Since the beginning of the year, almost 300 prisoners have escaped, and according to sources within the penitentiary system, a number of prisoners have the run of their jails. According to official figures, more than 10% of murders in Rio Grande do Norte are linked to the penitentiary system. English version by Nick Lyne. Mark Hannan. Photo from Facebook A former casino employee pleaded guilty on Tuesday to stealing from the Winnebago Tribe Mark Hannan, 20, was a cage cashier at the Native Star Casino . He admitted he stole between $11,000 and $15,000 from the Class II facility that's located on the Nebraska portion of the reservation. According to the plea agreement , Hannan "created false jackpots" and took the proceeds. He was seen on surveillance footage "literally putting the money into his pockets," the document states. The thefts occurred over a rather short period of time -- November 2015 to February 2016, according to the plea. He admitted his crime when confronted by casino personnel and again when interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the agreement reads. Hannan was indicted in April and initially entered a not guilty plea in May. He is due to be sentenced on October 31, according to a schedule agreed by his attorneys and federal prosecutors Join the Conversation Related Stories Students at Catholic school, believed to be in South Dakota, ca. 1930-1940. Photo from Marquette University, Department of Special Collections and University Archives The majority of the kids I went to school with are dead, says Manny Jules, because of the experience they had, the abuse. Jules, 63, is the former chief of the Kamloops band of First Nations in British Columbia. As a child, he attended a residential Catholic school, where he remembers students experiencing physical, sexual and emotional abuse while separated from their families and community. This trauma, shared for decades by Native American youths across Canada and the United States who were sent to Catholic schools, is at least in part to blame for the high level of alcoholism, drug abuse and suicide in Indian communities. Today, the Catholic Church has apologized Pope Benedict XVI did so in 2009; Pope Francis did in 2015. But the Church still operates schools for Native children. And that is where the real reconciliation is happening. The Catholic Church's legacy at Indian boarding schools in the United States and Native residential schools in Canada is well known. But author Naomi Schaefer Riley , who just released a book titled The New Trail of Tears: How Washington Is Destroying American Indians , believes the church is trying to make up for its negative history: Get the Story: Naomi Schaefer Riley: Catholic schools for Native Americans, known for abuse and assimilation, try to do good (The Washington Post 8/2) Other Recent Opinions from Naomi Schaefer Riley: Naomi Schaefer Riley: One Way to Help Native Americans: Property Rights (The Atlantic 7/30) Naomi Schaefer Riley: The Loophole Economy Is No Jackpot for Indians (The Wall Street Journal 7/28) How Political Correctness Is Leading Us To Ignore Abuse on American Indian Reservations (Independent Women's Forum 7/25) Related Stories Join the Conversation Indian filmmaker, Sridhar Rangayan is not an ordinary filmmaker at all and it's rather sad that very few of us know about him and his work. Rangayan, who is also the founder and director of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is a man who deserves respect for a lot of reasons. According to a recent DNA report, the filmmaker will be the Grand Marshal at Montreal Pride to be held on August 14 this and hes all set to lead the Pride parade along with the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. What is Montreal Pride? montrealgazette An annual LGBT pride festival that is held in Montreal, Quebec is one of the biggest events in Montreal. This will be the 10th year of this Montreal Pride and this largest LGBT gathering in the Francophone world will attract close to 500,000 local and international visitors. The Pride that will be celebrated over the course of seven days will begin from August 8, 2016. In an interview, Rangayan, who is obviously excited about this opportunity said: IndianFM1 "I am excited to fly the Indian tricolour along with the rainbow flag to underline that I am both Indian and gay both my identities are a matter of pride for me. I am both humbled and honoured to be chosen to lead Montreal Pride as one of the Grand Marshals. It is indeed a great privilege and, as with any privilege, comes with responsibilities. I hope that I can amplify the struggles and victories of the Indian LGBT community, and seek global support in ensuring a free and equal society." As part of the activities that will be held during this festival, Rangayans debut film Gulabi Aaina (Pink Mirror) made in 2003 (which is still banned in India) will also be screened on August 10. YouTube His latest award winning film Breaking Free will also be screened at the prestigious The Royal Cinema on August 17. In a male-dominated industry, many Bollywood actresses have time and again spoken and rooted for pay parity. However, amidst all the debates and discussions on why women too deserve to be equally paid in Bollywood, Deepika Padukone has successfully become the first change-maker. Pinterest According to a Mumbai Mirror report, Deepika Padukone is charging a whopping Rs 12 crores for Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati. Mumbai Mirror has also quoted a source who gave some intricate details about the same. According to Mumbai Mirrors claims, they have also seen a mail exchange that contained details of the contract. This hasn't come as a surprise for any of us because when Forbes released its list of 100 richest Indian celebrities for 2015, Padukone was the ONLY woman to feature among the top-10. Says a lot, doesn't it? Pinterest "For Ram-Leela she got Rs 1 crore, for Bajirao Mastani, which came two years later, it was Rs 7 crore, this time it is Rs 12.62 crore, making her the first Bollywood actress to break the Rs 10 crore barrier! In 2015, Kangana Ranaut had made tall claims of receiving the highest fee among actresses but the amount was close to Rs 11 crores but it wasnt verified. Pinterest Deepika Padukone, who is no less than a full-throttle brand in herself (courtesy: her big Hollywood debut film with Vin Diesel) surely deserves this remuneration. PInterest Does this hint at good days for actresses ahead? Time will tell. *Fingers crossed*! The Uttar Pradesh Police has so far taken into custody 15 people in connection with the horrific Bulandshahr gangrape where a 14-year-old was sexually assaulted along with her mother on Delhi-Kanpur highway. All of the arrested persons allegedly belong to a nomadic tribe called Bawariyas. Times Content Take a look at who the Bawariyas are, their crime trail and modus operandi and how they evade arrest. 1. Bawariyas are a nomadic tribe found in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. They have scheduled caste status in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The tribe is involved in a range of criminal activities such as murder, rape, burglaries, etc. for even a small sum. 2. They are allegedly the worst of the 13 nomadic tribes involved in criminal activities in Uttar Pradesh and have operated since pre-Independence times. They leave their excreta behind at the scene of crime as a part of a ritual. 3. They operate in groups of usually 5-10 persons. The group comprises of men and women and even children. They apply oil on their bodies so they can easily wriggle out in case someone tries to grab hold of them. Times Content 4. They roam around paces and generally target houses built near railway tracks and highways. They first identify potential victims by a recce in guise of utensil or cloth sellers. 5. They frequently change their locations and settle in groups near highways or railway tracks to evade arrest. The groups re-unite at a spot after 15-20 days to divide their booty. 6. Even before the Bulandshahr gangrape incident along NH-91, Bawariya gang members were spotted in the area. Around 400-500 villagers had alerted the police and held a mahapanchayat of 40 villages at the police station in the presence of the SO, who announced increased police presence and instructed villagers to form groups and keep watch at night. ste.india.com 7. Once arrested, they don't give away any clues about the rest of their tribe. 8. Bawariya members were arrested earlier this year for abducting and raping a nurse working with a private hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan. During investigation, the police found that six motorbike-borne men thrashed the nurse and forced her to sit on their bike before raping her at an isolated spot. 9. They commit most of the crime in rainy season because they consider it an auspicious time. 10. The Bawariya gang is also known as Kaccha Banyan gang because they prefer to dress in underwear and vests and striped knickers. 11. One of the main reasons, according to the police, the gang members go scot-free because they are known with different names such as saasi, mewaiti, ghumantu, kangra and bhaatuat different places. Times Content 12. The police had arrested five men allegedly belonging to the Bawariya tribes from a bus in Mathura in April 2015. Rs 5 lakh, gold jewellery, mobile phones, country-made pistols and live cartridges were seized from them. In November last year, a Bawariya member was arrested in Gurgaon for carrying out dozens of chain-snatchings in Bengaluru. 13. Five persons allegedly belonging to the tribe were arrested from Ghaziabad in July this year. A Scorpion SUV among other things was recovered from their possession. 14. In 2013, five Bawariya gang members confessed to 24 murders and nearly 100 cases of loot in Delhi-NCR, Meerut and Bulandshahr. The gang members used to offer lifts to passers-by before taking them to a secluded spot and robbing and killing them. 15. In 2012, the Special Task Force of UP police arrested farman allegedly a Bawariya gang member carrying a Rs 50,000 reward. He was involved in cases ranging from looting and assault to murder, including hacking a constable to death before taking off with his motorcycle. 16. Police claims that with time, Bawariyas have gone hi-tech too - they now use trucks or cars to flee crime scenes, use mobiles to stay in touch with other gang-members and are also using latest weapons. A duty-free shop at Madrid airport. GETTY IMAGES A record 68 million international travelers visited Spain last year, making this the third top destination in the world. The tourism sector has been trying to diversify away from the sun-and-sand formula, in a bid to attract visitors who are more interested in cities and shopping than in beach bars. With this type of customer in mind, the Spanish tax agency has launched DIVA, a project aimed at simplifying the paperwork for non-EU citizens seeking value-added tax (VAT) refunds. Shopping tourism is of great interest, and if travelers have a satisfactory experience, Spain could position itself as a destination of reference Lluis Llorca, Global Blue Spain Applicants will save time by avoiding the lines to get the invoices stamped by customs officers. Instead, the invoices will be digitally recorded at the time of purchase. The tourism and trade secretaries have worked together to streamline international shoppers experience in Spain. Their figures show that Britons and Germans who make up the largest chunk of tourists are the least interested in buying goods while on vacation. By contrast, Chinese tourists are the biggest spenders when they go abroad. Global Blue, a tax-free shopping network operator, estimates that in 2016 the average shopping budget of a Chinese visitor to Europe will be around 3,500. Spain only represents 5% of global spending on shopping, compared with France or Italys 20%. It ranks fifth in the European Union luxury market, behind France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland, according to the Spanish Luxury Association. Sign up for our newsletter EL PAIS English Edition has launched a weekly newsletter. Sign up today to receive a selection of our best stories in your inbox every Saturday morning. For full details about how to subscribe, click here. A test run of digital VAT refunds was recently completed at the T1 terminal of Madrid airport. The goal is to create a digital invoice validation system so that international visitors may get their money back faster. The Loewe store on Madrids Gran Via, the refund intermediary Global Blue and the Spanish tax agency collaborated on this early test. Luis Llorca, director general of Global Blue Spain, says that the test run was satisfactory and that around three million travelers will soon benefit from the new service. Stores will provide tourists with a form that includes a code bar or QR, which will need to be scanned at a VAT refund stand before going home, he said. There will be greater oversight and less paperwork. At present, tourists can get invoices stamped by a customs official and send them back to the store, or else get immediate refunds from authorized intermediaries. It is one more element, another piece of the puzzle, says Llorca, explaining that Barcelona and Madrid make up 90% of all refund forms that get stamped in Spain. Shopping tourism is of great interest, and if travelers have a satisfactory experience, Spain could position itself as a destination of reference, he adds. There is no official inauguration date for the new system yet. The tax agency said that it will be introduced gradually, beginning with locations with the highest volume of refund stamping requests. In Andalusia, scanning stands will be set up in Algeciras, Tarifa, La Linea de la Concepcion and Malaga airport. More will be distributed at Palma de Mallorca airport, at T1 and T2 terminals in Barcelonas El Prat airport, at T1, T4 and T4S terminals in Madrids Barajas airport, at the airports of Valencia and Alicante, and at the maritime station of Alicante. English version by Susana Urra. After years of delay and deliberations the Rajya Sabha is set to pass the Goods and Services Tax (amendment)Bill (GST), touted as the biggest tax reform in independent India. The bill had been in limbo for years ever since it was introduced by the UPA-I government in 2007. RSTV The BJP which was opposed to the bill then, however in December 2014 introduced it as a constitutional amendment. Even this couldn't make much progress as the NDA lacked the numbers in the upper house, Rajya Sabha, even though it was passed by the Lok Sabha. What is GST? Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST) aims at streamlining all the different types of indirect taxes across the states and implement a single taxation system. This include central indirect taxes like excise duty, countervailing duty and service tax, as also state levies like value added tax, octroi and entry tax, luxury tax. In other words it is a tax levied when a consumer buys a good or service. BCCL/ Representative Image It will have two components - Central GST levied by the Centre and State GST levied by the states. However, only the Centre may levy and collect GST on supplies in the course of inter-state trade or commerce. The tax collected would be divided between the Centre and the states in a manner to be provided by parliament, on the recommendations of the GST Council. Objective As stated above the principle aim is to avoid double taxation on the same goods/ services, and a uniform tax across the country. It will make it easier for business to comply with tax regime and encourage better corporate tax compliance. Application GST is collected on value-added goods and services at each stage of sale or purchase in the supply chain. GST paid on the procurement of goods and services can be set off against that payable on the supply of goods or services.The manufacturer or wholesaler or retailer will pay the applicable GST rate but will claim back through tax credit mechanism. BCCL/ Representative Image Benefits The GST will replace the existing multiple taxes and will make the process simple and make it more transparent. In the long run it will result in reduction of prices and encourage economic growth. Since more unrecognised sectors will come under the taxation it will also increase the tax revenue of the government. It will also be a boost to the export sector as it is not applied for goods/services which are exported out of India. How much will be the GST? Even though it is not specified, the tax rate is expected to be around 14-16 percent. A panel led by the Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian had recommended it to be set around 17-18 percent. For a city much-cherished across the country as being eminently liveable, one of Pune's main entry points, its railway station, is rather unwelcoming with its litter, stench, beggars and stray dogs, among other things. BCCL Endorsement of the griminess comes in the final survey report for cleanliness ranking, which lists Pune junction as among the 28 unclean major railway stations in the country. The station ranks an abysmal 391 out of 407 in the category of A1 and A railway stations on the cleanliness count. Pune, incidentally, is one of the 75 A1 railway stations in the country. The survey, commissioned by the director of environment and housekeeping management of the Railway Board, dubs Pune station as "below average" and puts it in level 5 for cleanliness. The preliminary survey report released in March this year had also ranked Pune as one of the dirtiest stations in India. Beas railway junction in Punjab was rated the cleanest station in the A1/A category. It was followed by Gandhidham, Vasco, Jamnagar, Kumbakonam, Surat, Nasik Road, Rajkot, Salem and Ankleshwar stations. Bringing up the rear in this category were Madhubani, Ballia, Bakhtiyarpur, Raichur and Shahganj. BCCL Surat took the top honours for cleanliness among railway stations in the A1/A category with a footfall of more than 50,000 passengers a day. It was followed by Panvel, Yesvantpur, Bangalore, Secunderabad, Dadar, Kozhikode, Kalyan, Chennai and Mumbai CST. The bottom-ranked stations here were Howrah, Delhi, Bhopal, Naihati Jn, Sealdah, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Bandel, Ghaziabad, Barddhaman and, of course, Pune. The survey was launched under the Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan with the objective of measuring passenger satisfaction regarding cleanliness at railway stations. Passengers were asked to rate cleanliness on 40 parameters. Feedback was taken from railway officials at each station, who were part of the Service Improvement Group (SIG), and licensed porters and vendors. The survey was conducted by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation through TNS India Private Limited. The private agency had previously been involved in the annual health survey (2010-11) and cleanliness ranking of major cities (2014), among other survey related requirements of the government. BCCL Commuter groups were unequivocal that the railways had a lot to do by way of cleaning Pune station. They pointed out to the huge, empty promises made about the station over the years. Former railway ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mamata Banerjee had listed Pune to be one of the stations to have world class facilities. Railway Pravasi group chairperson Harsha Shah said it was pertinent that the cleanliness survey had been done by the railways itself. "Many unauthorized people, vendors and beggars roam around the station premises. They litter the platforms and relieve themselves in trains waiting at the station. Passengers too should take up the responsibility of maintaining hygiene," she said. Shah said there were not enough toilets for hundreds of railway personnel, porters and the police. "Many of them too relieve themselves in waiting trains," she lamented. A commuter, Devdutt Kate, said that while there has been a lot of improvement in the last six months, much more needs to be done. "Railway staff and the police must conduct regular checks at the station premises. Ticket checkers are absent during the day. Several unauthorized persons visit the platforms," he said. BCCL Railway officials, however, insisted that no effort was being spared to maintain cleanliness. Pune divisional railway manager B K Dadabhoy said the platforms were much cleaner now. "The stench that used to pervade the premises is gone. People are already commenting about how the station has become much cleaner," he said. "We have appointed a private agency with a 145-member staff to clean the station. The agency works three shifts. Health inspectors and 46 CCTV cameras monitor the cleanliness. Often, passengers litter the platforms and tracks. They, too, should learn to maintain hygiene," he said. Dadabhoy said two special squads, Tejas and Jaagte Raho, have been formed to evict trespassers and beggars during the night hours. "Earlier, more than 200 beggars would roam the station premises and defecate at night, which is hardly the case now. Our officials pay regular visits to the station," he added. Minister of State for External Affairs, VK Singh, will lead the efforts to bring back thousands of Indians who are struggling to survive in the Middle East after they lost their jobs. VK Singh/ Twitter Singh is currently in Jeddah to coordinate the efforts of the Indian Embassy. The first flight carrying Indians, mostly from the southern state of Kerala, is expected to reach India tomorrow. The number of passengers on the flight is yet to be known. The mission had also collected details of those affected, to get clearance for them to leave the country. CGIJeddah/ Twitter An estimated 7,700 affected Indian workers are living in 20 camps after they lost their jobs due to slowdown in the Saudi economy, triggered by low oil prices and cuts in government expenditure. Many who haven't been paid for months were on the brink of starvation. After their plight came to light, the Indian mission in Jeddah along with the local Indian community there made arrangements for food for them. AFP External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had also tasked her deputy, VK Singh, to speed up efforts to bring back those wanting to return. Meanwhile, Dubai-based Indian origin billionaire businessman Ravi Pillai has offered to recruit 3,000 of those who lost their livelihood due the current crisis. BCCL As a mark of our support to the Indian workers who have lost their jobs, the RP Group of Companies will recruit 3,000 workers who are skilled in mechanical trade. Workers with experience in various aspects of mechanical trade can contact the office of Nasser Al-Hajri Corporation at the earliest. We will also continue to explore opportunities to accommodate more unemployed workers in our companies, RP Group chairman Ravi Pillai has said. The current crisis in the middle east is expected to affect millions of Indians, who make up the biggest expat working population in the region. ANI Home minister Rajnath Singh has became the first Indian government representative to visit Pakistan ever since the Pathankot Airbase attack in January. Singh who is in the country for the SAARC Summit reached Islamabad amid heightened security. Singh was given presidential level security cover in the country after designated terrorist Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed threatened to ban Singh from entry in Islamabad. --- 1. Indian-Origin Scientist Finds That Your Phone's Battery Status Can Be Used To Track You Down! Everything can be used to track you these days. Your Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, and even your...phone battery status? Steven Englehardt and Arvind Narayanan from Princeton University have found website scripts designed "retrieves the current charge level of the host device and combines it with several other identifying features", and they could literally 'fingerprint' devices by using charge level, charging status and internet protocol (IP) address. 2. Shaken Awake After #Gurujam, Gurgaon Govt. Now Says They'll Try Governance Models Of Singapore, London And Australia BCCL After the Gurujam shock, the Haryana government may introduce a new governing model for Gurgaon on the lines of Singapore or Greater London. A committee is examining models like Greater London and Singapore to suggest formation of Gurgaon Development Authority (GDA) and chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has told the panel to speed up the work following the recent traffic jam in the Millennium City, which saw 20-hour traffic chaos on Thursday and Friday. 3. The World's Largest Museum Has A Job Opening For A Beer Lover & It Comes With A Six-Digit Salary! flickr If you were given over INR 42 lakhs to study beer, would you take it? The world's largest museum has opened a new job position for a historian/scholar who would like to study the American Brewing History Initiative and it will pay INR 42,85,148 lakhs or $64,000. 4. Emirates Flight From Kerala Crash Lands In Dubai After Fire On-Board, Everyone Safe An Emirates airline flight flying from India crash-landed at Dubai International Airport today. The flight had 275 passengers and crew on-board flight EK521 from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai, and there have been no reported casualties after a complete evacuation. Pictures purportedly showing the incident posted on social media showed a thick black plume of smoke rising from the top of the burning plane. "The aircraft involved in the accident is Emirates Boeing 777-300 A6-EMW. It was delivered in March 2003," Flightradar24 tweeted. When such a young kid aims his slingshot at a policeman, we must realize that we have comprehensively failed Kashmir pic.twitter.com/U10fHcjBbs Sanjiv Bhatt (IPS) (@sanjivbhatt) July 31, 2016 In this ordinary photo of a kid playing with soldiers, people on Twitter saw blood. Journalist Aditya Raj Kaul tweeted a news agency photographers candid photo a Kashmiri boy playfully pretending to aim his toy slingshot at the local police. Those familiar with the ongoing crackdowns and curfews in the Valleys saw only symbolism slingshots loaded with marbles and even chilli powder have been used to fight off mobs of protesters. A group of Romanians who had come to India on a 'looting holiday' are now cooling their heels in jail. After the seven-member gang landed in India on July 12, they struck in quick succession at various jewellery outlets and businesses in Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan in the span of a week, stealing diamonds, jewellery and cash amounting to over Rs 12 lakh. The ring was busted a week after their arrival in India navodayatimes The gang, which included four women, had arrived in India on July 12 on a tourist visa valid till September 2. The ring comprised Nistar (45), Vailuku Jainika Nikku (31), Vaidva Allen (20), Meeradalla Dumiju (34) Marigel Lorena (41), Jaitren Aayana (49) and Michal Shakilina (29). A team of Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Faridabad Commissionerate arrested them when they were leaving Faridabad on July 19. BCCL/representative image All the seven accused are in the custody of Jaipur police pertaining to local jewellery shop heist. Soon after landing in India, they are learned to have hired a cab and headed towards Jaipur where they struck at a jewellery shop, making away with diamonds and gold jewellery. They went to Rewari after this and targeted another jewellery outlet running from shop-cum-residence. BCCL/representative image The gang then landed in Palwal on July 16 where they targeted a shop, followed by two shops in Jawahar Colony of Faridabad and one in Jhajjar district. BCCL/representative image "Our CIA team was chasing them following some inputs about their suspicious activities, and they were arrested from outer Faridabad. We first recovered the diamonds worth lakhs of rupees stolen from a Jaipur shop,'' said Saran police station SHO Manmohan Singh. Explaining their modus operandi, Singh said Nistar and his wife Marigel would first approach the shopkeeper with two more of their group and divert their attention while the other members quickly picked up jewellery and anything they could gather. The show owners saw them as prospective buyers as they were foreigners, and did not suspect them. A notorious criminal gang of Bawarias (a semi-nomadic group scattered over North India) from Rajasthan is believed to have carried out the Bulandshahr gangrape of 35-year-old mother and her 14-year-old daughter. indilens.com The police and several teams of Special Task Force constituted to nab the culprits, are in search of Salim Bawariya, the kingpin of the gang. It was at a rented accommodation in Bharatpur said sources members of the entire gang had gathered 20 days ago. According to the sources, the police have learnt of many members of the Salim Bawaria gang who are active in Bulandshahr and have relations in the district. If the sources are to be believed, Shahwaiz of Hapur district, one of the three accused arrested in connection with the case, is an old and notorious associate of the Salim Bawaria gang which is involved in many cases of loot, rape, murder snatching and robbery that took place of late in many western UP districts. hindustantimes.com A meeting of Salim Bawaria gang members took place 20 days ago at Salims place at Bharatpur in Rajasthan. More than 20 criminals of the gang took part in the meeting. Apart from Shahwaiz, Raisuddin of Sutari village in Bulandshahr and Jabar Singh of Gautam Budh Nagar two other accused of the gangrape case were also present in the gathering, a highly-placed source close to the investigation told Indiatimes. The police got the information after questioning Jabar Singhs wife who is related to Salim, the head of the gang. Singh and his wife were arrested by the police from Rabupura town in Gautam Buddha Nagar district. Indian Express/Necklace lying abandoned at crime scene She also told us the entire gang is divided into groups and they are given a target of certain sum in every meeting that generally take place after an interval of four-five months. All the groups of the gang meet again at Salims place once they meet the target, and collect the sum and valuables from theft, robbery, snatching, etc, he added. Although the police have launched a massive manhunt to apprehend the main culprit Salim and other accused of the case, but they have had no success so far. Several teams of the UP Police sent to Muradabad, Rajasthan and Haryana to arrest the head of the gang have come back empty handed. thehindu.com Raisuddins family cries foul According to Raisuddin's friends and relatives, the police picked him up from his residence at Sutari village at around 3 am on Sunday. Had he committed a crime, he would have never stayed at his home, said his father Sohrab adding that his son is daily wage labourer who loads and unloads cement and fertiliser bags from goods trains at Bair railway station in Bijnor district. His attendance in Railway records proves that he was at work on Saturday as well. In addition, he has no crime history and never faced sent behind bar any faced any trial." hindustantimes.com "If he has no crime record, how can the police claim that the victims have identified him from the 2,000 photographs of criminals shown to them. The police itself is claiming that the shameful incident was a handiwork of Bawaria gang. We are not Bawaria. The police are working in haste and falsely framing people to satisfy their political bosses, he added. Notably, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had given the police 24-hour ultimatum to nab the culprits. Raisuddins family and residents of his village surrounded Kotwali Dehat (the police station concerned) on Tuesday night to press the police to release him. After the Gurujam shock, the Haryana government may introduce a new governing model for Gurgaon on the lines of Singapore or Greater London. A committee is examining models like Greater London and Singapore to suggest formation of Gurgaon Development Authority (GDA) and chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has told the panel to speed up the work following the recent traffic jam in the Millennium City, which saw 20-hour traffic chaos on Thursday and Friday. BCCL Sources in the committee say that Australia's Melbourne model may also inspire formation of rules for the purposed body. Member secretary of the 11-member expert committee and director general of Haryana Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) S K Gupta says the panel has already studied administration of 40 top cities in India apart from the foreign ones. Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority and Jaipur Development Authority are among the Indian cities models studied by the committee. BCCL Former Haryana chief secretary M C Gupta recently visited London for the purpose. The idea behind so much deliberation is to ensure adoption of best model of local governance so that there is no lacunae in implementation of projects. "We also don't want to encroach upon the powers of other bodies like the municipal corporation," says the HIPA chief. The committee is examining possibility of handing over the development and environment related projects to the GDA while leaving the problems related to unauthorized constructions to the existing bodies. The officials feel that such a body will speed up the development of the city. BCCL "The recent traffic jam in Gurgaon was the fallout of lack of coordination between two key departments which failed to ensure construction of sewerage in coordinated way," officials claimed. The issue of GDA had come into limelight in July when Union minister and Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh had taken on the state government stating "small politicians and babus sitting in Chandigarh often make policies and take decisions for the development of Gurgaon". Later, Rao's associates had clarified that he was referring to the Congress regime. Khattar had also strongly supported the demand for GDA. BCCL "It is very old demand and the previous governments kept it under the wraps. The negative attitude of the governments made the issue complex but the BJP government in the state is working on it," he said. With chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar keen on GDA, a formal announcement for the same may be made on November 1, the Haryana Day. Being the golden jubilee year, the state has already announced to organise mega events on the occasion. S K Gupta says that the panel will try to submit its report on GDA by August 30. Separate metro rail corporation Sources in the state government say that the committee is examining need for a separate metro rail corporation for Gurgaon on the pattern of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The committee may also suggest extension of the existing metro services. Also Read: Normalcy Returns To Gurgaon After Traffic Mayhem In this ordinary photo of a kid playing with soldiers, people on Twitter saw blood. Journalist Aditya Raj Kaul tweeted a news agency photographers candid photo a Kashmiri boy playfully pretending to aim his toy slingshot at the local police. Those familiar with the ongoing crackdowns and curfews in the Valleys saw only symbolism slingshots loaded with marbles and even chilli powder have been used to fight off mobs of protesters. However, in the wake of death of Burhan Wani, and exposes of Pakistans link in fuelling Kashmirs protest, opinions have become polarised on the Kashmir issue, and this was evident on reactions. Former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt said it was a sign that we have comprehensively failed Kashmir. When such a young kid aims his slingshot at a policeman, we must realize that we have comprehensively failed Kashmir pic.twitter.com/U10fHcjBbs Sanjiv Bhatt (IPS) (@sanjivbhatt) July 31, 2016 Criticisms of the photos possible message of cuteness asked another question adorable kid today, militant tomorrow? @AdityaRajKaul Don't you realize that the same boy will grow up targeting security personals? Is that what they teach? We were taught not to (@honestology) July 31, 2016 Kids have been reportedly spotted protesting and pelting stones at police and sensitive army locations @AdityaRajKaul @tishtriya this simple pic. describes how deep rooted scar has been made by separatists in the valley against India. Chetan Chandra (@chandrachetan2) July 31, 2016 However, seeing how the soldiers are smiling at the kid, it is evidently a moment of lightness. People tweeted another photo to show that its not all fury and struggle in the valley. Home minister Rajnath Singh has became the first Indian government representative to visit Pakistan ever since the Pathankot Airbase attack in January. ANI Singh who is in the country for the SAARC Summit reached Islamabad amid heightened security. Singh was given presidential level security cover in the country after designated terrorist Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed threatened to ban Singh from entry in Islamabad. Others including Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin, had also protested against the visit of Singh. ANI He will be in the country till Thursday to attend the 7th SAARC Summit, in which India is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan's support to terrorism. However bilateral meetings between India and Pakistan is not on the cards. The visit also comes even as tensions between the two countries continue to remain high, following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani. An erupting volcano on Hawaiis biggest island formed an amazing view of a smiley face with its lava. The beautiful, creepy scene was captured by a video production company in Hawaii that specialises in creating the most unique, fun and flexible air tours across the Hawaiian Islands. The Guardian The viral clip shows the volcano with a large arched "mouth" and two wide "eyes" that make up the face, formed from a lava lake inside a vent. The volcano, called Kilauea, has been active since 1983 and showed its joy as its lava reached the Pacific Ocean for the first time in three years. Take a look! It has been continuously moving on a six-mile journey towards the coast since it began erupting in May. Adam D'Angelo, founder and managing director of Quora. Quora More information Quora se estrena en espanol Quora is one of the most specialized websites created in Silicon Valley. The 2010 brainchild of Adam DAngelo gave up his job as chief technology officer at Facebook to create this new question-and-answer forum that has become a reference point among intellectuals, lecturers, experts and students. It barely has advertisement and generates long conversation threads that may draw the reader in for hours. With one hundred million unique monthly visitors and 130 employees Quora is a product of the times: it started by creating content for readers to consume on desktops, and is now focusing on mobile applications. Investors have poured $150 million in a project that is said to be worth $1 billion Question. How did you come up with Quora? Answer. The idea had been in my mind for some time but I did not give it shape until 2010. Ive always thought there was a lot of knowledge on the internet, but unorganized. I found a web page dedicated to analyzing Hawaiis highway system. There is a desire to share whats known, but no order to do it. Facebooks wall is simple but it was not made for that. And in order to make a web page, you need some basic knowledge that is not so easily found. My wish was to create a space to share quality content. Q. Where does the name come from? A. From quorum. A Latin expression used in English to express agreement by the collective. We want it to be created by the group. Q. How is it different from Yahoo! Answers? A. We distinguish ourselves from the rest of answer services by quality. We dont want to have repeated topics. Just one with a good conversation. We have strict guidelines and we have created a culture around its use. The most important thing is for everyone to sign up with their real name. If you have a reputation in the real world, they will believe you. And vice versa. If you make a name for yourself on the Internet, it translates to the real world. Another key is that we give full credit to the authors. We promote their contributions in the daily email and give visibility to answers that deserve it. Quora Headquarters in Mountain View, CA. Q. What do you do when there is a wrong answer? A. We dont delete it unless it breaks the user guidelines. Whether it is an insult or plagiarism. Votes are also an indicator of quality. Q. Dont you think Wikipedia could have done something similar? A. Their ambition is to be the global encyclopedia online. Its a different concept but with some points in common. We answer questions, we look for different information but with rigor. I really appreciate the involvement of its engineers, who are very good. Its a great project and it is not for profit. Q. Wolfram Alpha also has points in common with you? A.That makes sense because of how accurate the answers they provide are but they are a database. Q.Would it make sense to share your content with third parties? Lets say Siri, Apples personal assistant app, uses Quora content to respond to something A. We dont have specific clients or any agreement or advertisement like that. Q. Its interesting to note that Mark Zuckerberg is one of the users of this service A. In the beginning we invited our friends, who invited others and so on...I dont know exactly how it happened but we do have quite a lot of famous people using it. Given the nature of the project it makes a lot of sense that they do. Q. What was it like leaving Facebook? A. I was the chief technical officer at a time when there was a lot of growth. It was a challenge and it was very beautiful but I was already going out on my own. It was not a departure from one day to the next but something that was thought through and agreed upon. I had to do it because Quora became my obsession. Q. Many startups have problems getting funding. That is not your case. How did you do it? A. When we went to the investors we already had the first version and a significant base of users. It would have been difficult to get money without something to show. We waited to get traction and the investors realized that there was less of a risk. Since then weve been lucky with the numbers. Q. Its strange there are so few typos on Quora. A. Thats partly because of the kind of user we have, educated people who try to write well. Its also in part because our system detects and corrects them. We give priority to those who have good spelling when it comes time to promote answers and the community also makes corrections. Q. What is your business model? A. Advertisement. Right now were doing some tests. Like Google, Yelp and TripAdvisor, we offer content-related advertisement. If someone is thinking of buying a car and searches for information, it is not a bad idea to put an advertisement in that topic. Q. What topics are especially successful? A. Theres a bit of everything but we have great conversations about how police works in different cities, what university is the best for what fields, cooking, trips, everything related to the military world. Well, there has been a lot of interest in Brexit lately. Q. Why in Spanish now? A. Its power is undeniable, there are more native [Spanish] speakers than English. Its growth is brutal. And we have realized that many of our users are from Hispanic countries. They looked but did not participate. We are sure they have a lot to contribute in their language. Meeting in the Quora offices in Mountain View, CA. Q. What can we find in the Spanish version? A. Right after you register and log in for the first time, you get suggestions, a series of topics to follow. Then, it will be whatever they want it to be. Those who are already registered have the option of switching from one version to the other. Q. What will you do to maintain the quality that you care about? A. By betting on the content and careful moderation. Q. Will we find translations from English? A. At first, no. We want everything to be new, from scratch. Maybe later well think about it but not right now. Q. On August 8, Hillary Clinton will answer questions from your users in English. How did you make it happen? A. Well, shes campaigning and she wants to reach our public. One hundred million users is a considerable number to share her proposals with. Q. And what if Donald Trump wanted to do the same? What would be your stance on that? Sign up for our newsletter EL PAIS English Edition has launched a weekly newsletter. Sign up today to receive a selection of our best stories in your inbox every Saturday morning. For full details about how to subscribe, click here. A. We may like him more or less but as a platform we are neutral. So, if he wants to, the door is open. We are a service that is open to all opinions. Q. Have you thought of launching Quora in other languages? A. Right now Spanish is our priority. We dont want to be imperialists who only provide excellent service in English with just one worldview. That is why it is so important that contributions have merit. English version by Dyane Jean-Francois Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. A woman receiving medical assistance following the stampede. Scenes of panic, injured people, misplaced belongings and losses to local businesses were the outcome of a flash mob that ran through the streets of the Catalan resort town of Platja dAro on Tuesday night. The public event, which was organized by German tourists pretending to be chasing a celebrity, quickly derived into a stampede as people mistook it for a terrorist attack and started running in all directions. Regional police deployed throughout Catalonia in the wake of the truck attack in the French city of Nice were quickly sent to the site. Spain is on a level 4 for threat of a terrorist attack, just one below the top level reserved for imminent attacks. When one person starts running, the others run too, and thats very hard to stop Five German women ages 20 through 25, who were working as camp counselors for a group of teenagers, were arrested on Tuesday and charged with disturbing the peace. All five were released on Wednesday but face fines and the possibility of a three-month-to-one-year jail sentence. Local business owners, some of whom sustained significant financial losses, are considering filing complaints to seek damages. Sign up for our newsletter EL PAIS English Edition has launched a weekly newsletter. Sign up today to receive a selection of our best stories in your inbox every Saturday morning. For full details about how to subscribe, click here The flash mob, which included 200 people by some reports, began shortly before 10pm, when participants started running through the streets holding selfie sticks and screaming in German. Many of them also ran in and out of establishments, which is what triggered the panic according to the police. When one person starts running, the others run too, and thats very hard to stop, said municipal authorities. The local police forces telephone lines were collapsed by callers, some of whom asserted that they had heard gunshots. The emergency number 112 received over 100 calls. Several people were taken to hospital after suffering anxiety attacks. A young woman required medical assistance after fainting outside an ice cream parlor. English version by Susana Urra. The Federal Government has handed over to the military, food and non-food items for onward distribution to 800 repented Boko Haram terrorists. The repented terrorists are being catered for by government under its Operation Safe Corridor programme, which is aimed at de-radicalizing, rehabilitating and re-integrating repentant terrorists as part of measures to fast track peace process in the North east. The spokesman of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sani Datti, said in a statement on Tuesday that the items were presented to the military by NEMAs Director General, Muhammad Sani Sidi in Gombe. Mr. Datti quoted the NEMA boss as saying that The initiative, which is in line with international best practices, allowed those engaged in the fighting to voluntarily surrender and embrace peace so that they undergo rehabilitation. He said NEMA would play its role in the programme by providing regular support of food and non-food items for the repentant terrorists up keep. According to the NEMA spokesman, 410 bags of rice, 400 bags of beans, 200 bags of millet, 200 bags of sorghum, 750 cartons of spaghetti, 50 cartons of Maggi cubes and 810 cartons tomato paste are some of the items to be released by the federal government every three months for the repentant terrorists upkeep. Others are; 101 Vegetable oil in 20 liter kegs, 101 palm oil in 20 liter kegs, 50 bags of salt, 100 bags of sugar, 420 cartons of milk and 420 cartons of Milo chocolate, he added. Mr. Datti said: The non-food items include; 800 pieces of mattress, 500 hundred pieces of blanket, 500 pieces of nylon mats, 1000 plastic buckets, 1000 plastic spoons, 1000 plastic cups 1000, plastics plates, 1000 plastic pairs of slippers, 2000 mens wear, 63 cartons of bath soap and 1000 bath towels. He also quoted the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier- General BM Shafa, as saying that: Between September last year and February this year, a good number of Boko haram have come out to surrender. At least, 11 agencies of the Federal Government are directly involved in the Operation Safe Corridor programme. Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday met with the recently sacked chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, at the partys secretariat in Abuja, over the unfolding budget padding scandal in the green chamber. The party had in an August 1, 2016 letter summoned Mr. Jibrin following its inability to reach him via phone call and sms. But the lawmaker representing Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency on the platform of the APC said on Tuesday that he could not be reached because he had gone underground to avoid an attempt by quartet of Speaker Dogara and others who were determined to kidnap me. He later met behind closed doors with the partys national deputy chairman, North, Lawal Shuaibu; national secretary, Mala Buni; and vice-chairman, North-West, Inuwa Abdulkadiri. Mr. Shuaibu said the party had already met with the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, whom Mr. Jibrin accuses of padding the 2016 budget. He, however, said the party was not in a position to pass judgment on the allegation and counter-allegations. He also denied that the party was planning to sanction Mr. Jibrin for his unrelenting media campaign against Mr. Dogara and others. There is nothing like passing any judgment on any member of the party, Mr. Shuaibu said. We only play our role as the umpire in this matter to see how we can create some atmosphere of peace and unity among our members. He continued, I was reading today in your paper that we called him to discipline him; discipline him on what? Whatever happens in the House of Representatives or the Senate under the constitution and their rules, they are immune. But when certain things go, of course, the party needs to call its members to know how best to unite any feuding members and that is exactly what we did. I want to say what we discussed honestly speaking was to get a better brief because we have to be carried along. They are our members, we should know from them directly what is really going on, so that we can see how we can handle the situation without necessary making it a town square dance. The deputy national chairman stressed that the party would continue to engage Dogara and Jibrin, who are APC members, suggesting a peace deal had not been brokered yet. We are discussing with them and it is an ongoing consultation. We are not done with them, we sat with the speaker; we just finished sitting with him (Jibrin) and we would continue to sit. Mr. Jibrin said, Im here on the invitation of our great party, the APC. We discussed extensively on the crisis in the House of Representatives. We will continue to discuss and engage ourselves. I will continue to honour the invitation of our party and I am sure that whatever it is we decide you will know in the due course, he said. Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Umar Buba Jubril, has said that the Executive cannot be exempted from the budget padding scandal currently rocking the House. Jubril, who is representing Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was speaking against the backdrop of the allegations of padding of the 2016 budget by Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, and some principal officers by a former Appropriation Committee chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin. The anti-graft agencies and police, who have acknowledged receipt of petitions against the Speaker and other principal officers of the House from Jibrin, are set to investigate allegations that some insertions were made in the 2016 budget for the purpose of corrupt enrichment. But Jubril, in an interview with Daily Trust yesterday in Abuja, argued that since the budget was passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, investigations must start from the executive. I dont see any case to be investigated here except you want to investigate a law that was passed by the parliament and was assented to by the executive. So, both the parliament and the executive are culpable. If you want to investigate, investigate the two of us, he said. The deputy House leader also said calls for Speaker Dogaras resignation were wrong and in bad faith. But the Presidency yesterday described the allegation by the lawmaker as hollow, saying it was not worth reacting to. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said this in a telephone chat last night when asked to respond to the call for the probe of the Executive by Mr. Jubrin. Mercy Corps Nigerias humanitarian program aims to provide assistance to populations affected by the crisis in Northeast Nigeria. With funding from humanitarian donors including OFDA, FFP, EU, and ECHO the humanitarian programs engage in several interventions including but not limited to food assistance, non-food items (NFI), protection, livelihoods, cash transfers, WASH and capacity building of humanitarian response actors. Mercy Corps is scaling-up and expanding its humanitarian response in Northeast Nigeria to reach more beneficiaries with additional assistance in a wider geographic area. Job Title: Human Resources Manager Job Description Program/Department Summary: Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on conflict mitigation, adolescent girls empowerment, economic development and humanitarian assistance. With funding from variety of government donors and foundations, Mercy Corps has been able to work together with communities in Nigeria to respond to these needs, bringing benefit to more than 50,000 beneficiaries per year. All Mercy Corps interventions in Nigeria are implemented in a conflict and gender sensitive manner. With the rapid growth and increasing activities in Mercy Corps, there is the need for a middle management staff to complement managements efforts at sustaining the resolve to meet its HRM objectives. General Position Summary The HR Manager is responsible for coordinating activities within the HR unit, ensuring excellence and timely delivery on job requirements. The HR Manager is required to provide efficient oversight function in the management of human resources activities for Mercy Corps programs in Nigeria; assist in the achievement of Mercy Corps program objectives with the facilitation of recruitment, remuneration and staff development issues. The Human Resources Manager will be based in Abuja with frequent travels to project locations including the North East Essential Job Functions Ensure an effective and efficient HR system Assist Operations Manager in designing and implementing improvement strategies in the HR unit Responsible for ensuring efficient filing of personnel files for all staff including recruitment documents, CVs, valid contracts, PAFs, timesheets, employee data sheets, disciplinary papers and performance evaluations: Ensure recruitment of national staff adheres to Mercy Corp approved standard Recruitment Policies and Procedures Ensure adequate participation of HR Department in interviews for new staff; Ensure approved Salaries and benefits adhere to Mercy Corps salary scales and protocols Ensure Mercy Corps Nigeria personnel policies strictly adhere to Nigerian labour law as applicable; this includes payment of appropriate taxes, benefits etc.; Maintain a tracking system for all leave types taken by employees; Maintain up-to- date staffing lists; preferably filing by program and department; Ensure that employee performance evaluations are completed as scheduled; Ensure that all national staff have an up-to- date relevant job description; Coordinate coverage for operations during annual leave of key national staff with management; Oversee the monthly procedure of timesheets for all staff including collection, review and compilation into payroll; train new staff on timesheet procedure; Process monthly payroll in conjunction with finance staff and ensure payroll is delivered in a timely manner; Position Description Responsible for ensuring adequate orientation of all new, national staff on Mercy Corps Nigeria Ensure all new staff receive copies of Nigeria National Staff Policy Handbook and are alerted to Support and advice on policies, as required; Advise staff (national and international) on disciplinary procedures; Advise staff (national and international) on raise policies and procedures; Assist management in conducting or arranging for trainings and/or other human resource Oversee the clearance of terminated employees, as per Mercy Corp policies and procedures; Participate in disciplinary, hiring and termination meetings with program staff upon request; Maintain confidentiality of all national staff personnel issues including disciplinary procedures and Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Other duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibility: The HR Manager directly supervises the HR Officer Accountability: Reports directly to: Operations Manager Works directly with: Program, logistics and finance team Knowledge and Experience Education: at least Bachelor Degree in Business Management / Administration or equivalent professional certificates in Human Resources Management; At least three (3) years HR management experience, preferably with an NGO and in a managerial capacity. Ability to translate letters, reports and meetings as required. Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines and working and problem-solving independently and cooperatively. Knowledge of Mercy Corps systems and procedures (esp. procurement systems) desirable; M&E experience preferred and knowledge of US, EU and DFID regulations helpful. Excellent negotiation and representation skills. Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications. Excellent oral and written English skills required; Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment systems, policies and procedures; Benefits Development activities; Contracts/ pay rates; Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission. Success Factors: A successful candidate will have strong diplomacy skills in managing a team with different backgrounds, abilities, and technical knowledge and will have contextual knowledge of Northern Nigeria. She/he will use effective communication and team-building techniques, have excellent organizational and strong interpersonal skills and display an even temperament and good sense of humor. Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues. How to Apply Interested and qualified c andidates should send their Application and CVs to: [email protected] with the position applied for as the subject of the email. Note: Shortlisting will start as soon as we start receiving applications and deadline might be changed without prior notice. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. One of the robbery suspects arrested, Monday, in Idimu area of Lagos, has said a staff of the bank gave them information about the customer, who was shot and robbed. This is just as the Lagos State Police Command said that the police Inspector that was shot by the bandits at an Automated Teller Machine, ATM, did not die. The command said the officer, identified simply as Inspector Musa attached to 2 PMF Keffi, was shot in the cheek and that he is responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital. Recall that the four-man robbery gang stormed the bank in two motorcycles and waited until the customer came out of the banking hall. They then shot him, collected the withdrawn amount and zoomed off. On their way, they saw Inspector Musa at an ATM and fired shots at him. However, two members of the gang were shot dead by operatives of Rapid Response Squad, RRS, who were on patrol. In his confessional statement, the suspect, Jafar Ismail, said that they were invited by one of the banks staff. He did not disclose the identity of the staff, but it was learned that operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SAS went for the arrest of the banks staff yesterday. Confession The suspect, who disclosed that Monday was not their first time of visiting the bank, said: We have a bank staff, who usually informs us whenever any customer withdraws huge amount. We would position our motorcycles around the bank and wait for the customer. Immediately we sight the person, we would ride our bike close and snatch the money. We usually shoot if the person put up resistance. At the end of any operation, we would give him the largest share and share the rest among ourselves. We were told that this particular customer withdrew over N300,000, but were not successful as police got us. Spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmus, said: Inspector Musa, attached to 2PMF Keffi, Lagos, was trailed from a bank in Idimu where he earlier withdrew some money. They accosted him in his Ford Jeep at Okunola Road near Aregbesola Hospital Idimu and was fired on the cheeks. He was rushed to Lagos State General Hospital, Ikeja, where the bullet was extracted. He was treated and has been discharged. He did not die. Badmus added that investigation was still ongoing. Source: Vanguard The Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, is expected to begin a two-day working visit to Lagos State from today. Mr. Idris visit is believed to be connected to the frequent attacks on members of the public by suspected militants. Following the senseless attacks especially around Ikorodu, Igondo and Arepo, most residents of the areas are fast losing faith in the ability of the police to secure lives and properties as the militants become more daring. It was further learnt that the acting IGP was worried by the high level of insecurity in Lagos and parts of Ogun State and would use the visit to brainstorm with his officers and men on how to redress the situation. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), in Cross River State on Tuesday said it had arrested a 50-year-old woman, Mrs Orit Edet, suspected to be a child trafficker and rescued two children. Daniel Udofia (13) and Imabong Inyang (15) were rescued on the 24th of July 2016 at Ikang in Bakassi Local Government Area of the state following a tip off by concerned residents in the area. The State Comptroller of Immigration, Mrs. Funke Adeuyi, while parading the suspect explained that, the woman brought in the two boys from Eket in Akwa Ibom State and was alleged to be taking them to Cameroon through the Ikang border. On the 24th of July 2016, our men at the Ikang border arrested a suspected child trafficker with two minors, Imabong Inyang, 15, and Daniel Udofia, 13, she said. The suspects and the victims have been in our custody since last week. We are going to hand them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further investigation. Following the current security challenges in the country, our men are always stationed at the Ikang border to check the movement of persons in and out of the state. The Ikang border is the closest to Cameroon and other countries, we must continue to maintain our presence there to forestall any cases of child trafficking and illegal migration. In her statement, the suspect, who comes from Ibesikpo Local Government in Akwa Ibom State, said she decided to keep the children in her custody because she found them roaming the streets, adding that Inyang has lost her parents while Udofia had lost only his mother. She said: I decided to help these children when I found out that they were roaming the area and doing nothing. I am a business woman; I trade in crayfish and fish. The relatives of these children are not aware that they are with me. Former President Goodluck Jonathan is currently in a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa in Abuja. Upon arrival, He was received by Babachir Lawal, secretary to the government of the federation. Mr. Jonathan arrived the Villa at exactly 2 pm and went straight to the Presidents office but did not meet the president on seat. The president had gone to the Mosque straight from the Council chamber where he presided over a meeting of the Federal Executive Council. He came out immediately after the prayer to meet with Mr. Jonathan. This is the fourth time Mr. Jonathan is visiting his successor. He was at the Villa in August and November last year and in June this year. He did not address the press on either occasion. The Katsina state government has disclosed that as part of it women empowerment initiatives, it has procured 720 goats for women in the state. The empowerment scheme was made possible as a result of a N2 billion loan the Aminu Masari administration obtained from the Central bank. What is entirely curious about the scheme is that the Katsina state government claims it cost N102 million. Seemingly justifying the cost of the scheme, Masari said at a press conference yesterday, The goats are insured for one year and veterinary officers will be going round all the LGAs to provide medication that may be necessary, Pray, how much could it possibly cost to buy and insure one goat? 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 Google Ad 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 In one of the most gruesome cases of domestic violence youre bound to find,a Kenyan man has been arrested on charges of chopping off his wifes hands. The man, who has now been identified as 34 year old Stephen Ngila is accused of physically attacking 27 year old Jackline Mwende at her parents home. The couple were living apart at the time of the attack. Mwende said he was drunk at the time he arrived her parents home. What is even more shocking is that after getting tested, doctors confirmed Jackline was potent and that her husband, Ngila is actually impotent! He has reportedly been charged with attempted murder. The Kidney Surgery Team at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, has successfully carried out its second kidney transplant on a 38-year-old unnamed male patient. The Chief Medical Director, Adewale Oke, disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos. He said the transplant was borne out of the hospitals determination to sustain innovation in healthcare delivery in the country. We are pleased to inform you that this is yet another feat in the hospitals quest to provide excellent healthcare for the people of the state through our homegrown professionals. We will continue to strive to provide excellent and accessible healthcare that will improve the standard of living of the good people of state, and its environs, he said. The director said that kidney transplant had come to stay in LASUTH and would save Nigerians who sought foreign medical trip at a high cost in foreign exchange. Also speaking, the Head of the surgery team, Olugbenga Awobusuyi, who expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the operation, said there was no complication during and after the transplant. Mr. Awobusuyi, a Consultant Nephrologist at the institution, however, decried the scarcity of donors, saying, many kidney patients are on dialysis awaiting donors. We hope that we can get donors so as to save the lives of many who are on the waiting list, he said. The consultant said that performing kidney transplant at LASUTH costs between 4 and 5 million naira. According to him, it is more affordable compared to any other charge elsewhere. Apart from being affordable, we ensure best practices in carrying out the surgery and all team members are well coordinated and experienced as they have demonstrated, he said. In her remarks, the Assistant Director, Nursing Services, LASUTH, Modupe Shode, said the feat would bring hope to patients battling with Kidney problems in the country. The institution is prepared to deliver quality services and bring hope to patients, who need the services to improve their quality of life, she said. (NAN) A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that Abiodun Agbele aka Abbey, an associate of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja. The trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, made the order shortly after Agbele, who has been in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, custody since July 1 this year, was arraigned on an 11-count charge of money laundering. When the charges were read to him, the Ekiti governors associate pleaded not guilty. Agbele, who was arraigned with three companies Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited and Spotless Investment Limited, was accused of laundering about N4.685billion by EFCC. Justice Dimgba, who took arguments from parties on the bail application filed by Agbeles lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), adjourned till Thursday for ruling on the application. A suspected drug peddler, Vincent Chidiebere, 31, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra State for allegedly being in a possession of hard drug worth N1.78 billion. The state commander of the agency, Mr. Sule Momodu, while addressing newsmen said the suspect was arrested in Awka, on July 28 with methamphetamine weighing 25.2kg following a tip-off that a shipment of the drug would pass through Anambra from Enugu to Lagos. Based on the information, we set up a team to search vehicles from a particular company. About 11am we intercepted a vehicle carrying the substance and nabbed the suspect, Mr. Momodu said. While stating that the drug tested positive for meth, the commander described the drug as one of the most potent illicit drugs in the world, which has a lot of destructive tendencies on the user. According to him, someone under the influence of methamphetamine can be influenced to make disastrous decisions and can make criminals test the nations security to its limit. He added that the chemicals used for the production were highly toxic and could cause permanent destruction to the ecosystem. The waste from the drug is more toxic than the extracted substance. The people around where it is being produced are likely to be exposed to cancer and other incurable diseases, while children born in the area are likely to be deformed. Momodu, who expressed the readiness of the agency to fight illicit drug production and peddling, enjoined the public to volunteer information that could help stop the illicit business. Although the agency had discovered three meth labs at Nanka, Ozubulu, and Obosi, the commander believed that more laboratories exist. He told the public that Governor Willie Obiano pledged a reward of N500, 000 to anyone with information on where the substances were being produced. He, however, said the suspect will be charged to court when the investigation is completed. The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, has attributed the recent spate of jailbreaks in the country to negligence on the part of top officers of the Nigwria Prisons Service (NPS). Dambazau made this observation while addressing senior officers of the NPS, who were meeting to discuss and proffer solutions to the issue of frequent jail breaks in the country in recent times, on Tuesday. In less than a month, there have been jailbreaks at the Kuje Medium and Koton-Karfe prisons in Abuja and Kogi respectively. While two inmates standing trial for culpable homicide escaped from Kuje by simply scaling the perimeter fence and are still at large, five of the 13 inmates that escaped from the Koton-Karfe prison, have been re-captured. While acknowledging that there were other lapses that made the optimum operation of prisons service in Nigeria a herculean task, the minister stated that not observing routine duties by personnel was the cause of most jail breaks. Quite a number of prisons have structural problems, even the most recent ones are not constructed to the standard, he said. Im aware that a number of them are very old. I have visited some of them and some are as old as a century. Im also aware that the number of inmates have increased while the facilities have not been expanded, Dambazau added. He however, indicted the top officers for not doing what is required to ensure the security of the prisons like patrolling the prisons, manning the towers, keeping records, knowing how many prisoners you have by names not by numbers, describing the development as a function of failed leadership. Why will somebody who is to be on duty, will be absent and nobody will say anything about it? Dambazau, a retired General of the Nigerian Army queried. Someone, who suppose to (sic) patrol will not patrol and nothing is done about it, why is it that someone who suppose to (sic) man towers will not man it and nothing will happen? He insisted that the administration will no longer tolerate all these shortcomings, warning that anybody who has the responsibility of looking after a prison must hold that responsibility squarely because if anything happens, you will be held responsible. Speaking earlier, the Controller General of NPS, Jaafaru Ahmed, lamented that the administrations in the prisons all over the country were in near collapse, saying staff were not taking security matters seriously in their respective prisons. Ahmed also decried the high rate of trafficking in the prisons, which he noted, is resulting in prisoners escaping under questionable circumstances. There are cases where staff decides to absent themselves from duty with reckless abandon and necessary supervision is not carried out, he said. My administration is poised to reduce every form of indiscipline and we will continue to deal with truancy and other compromising attitudes capable of giving a bad image to the Nigeria Prisons Service. Vanguard A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Prince Emma Anyanwu, has described as petty, the attacks by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state against recent borrowing by the Rivers State Government. Punch Final church service for the late first civilian governor of Delta State, Olorogun Felix Ibru, is already underway at the All Saints Cathedral Church Ughelli. Thisday The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks and other financial institutions to allow their customers that are savings account holders to lodge in cheques in their accounts. The Sun The women who said though they are resident in Abuja and far away from home, took turns to speak on the need to organise, rather than argonise. No thanks to the sudden spike in bombings of oil and gas installations, Daily Times Oyo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, passed the Oyo State Tertiary Institutions Staff Retirement Age Bill, 2016 into law with age falsification attracting a penalty of N500,000 and/or five years imprisonment. Daily Trust Senator Buruji Kashamu has appealed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders to call for an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to seek an end to the partys leadership crisis. Leadership Nasarawa state governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state has cautioned labour leaders in the state to be mindful of their limits by taking laws into their hands, saying that they are employees to the state government and should not constitute themselves into an opposition party. The Nation Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has raised a five-man special team to probe the alleged padding of the budget by House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and some of his principal officers. New Telegraph President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated Mr. Sunday Dare, the Chief of Staff/Media Adviser to the former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as an Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Daily Independent Nasarawa Sate government said on Tuesday that it has commenced investigation into the cause of the death of two workers who lost their lives during the visit of the national leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by Ayuba Waba in the state. Majority of Nigerians have kicked against the payment of life pension to governors, their deputies, National Assembly and House of Assembly members as the country battles to climb out of economic recession. In an opinion poll conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) nationwide, the respondents said that the ongoing payment of pensions to former governors should be discontinued. They noted that the former governors, who were now senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, were by implication, earning double pay. In Abuja, 17 of the 18 respondents, who returned their questionnaires, opposed life pension for leaders of the legislative houses, while one person supported it. Also, 16 persons opposed governors enjoying life pension, while only two persons supported it. In South-West zone, 442 of the 600 respondents, representing 73.6 per cent, rejected life pension to governors, while 148 people or 24.6 per cent, were in support. Similarly, 435 respondents, representing 72.5 per cent, opposed life pension for leaders of the National Assembly, while 149 people or 24.8 per cent, supported it. In the North-East, another 600 people responded in the six states. Four hundred and ninety four, of the sampled population, representing 82.33 per cent, opposed the payment of life pension to legislators, while 58 people or 9.67 per cent supported it. The survey showed that 426 people or 71 per cent, also rejected life pension to governors, 132 people or 22 per cent supported it, while 42 people or 7 per cent, were undecided. In South-East, where 100 questionnaires were administered in the five states, 83 respondents voted against pension for legislators while only 12 voted in favour with five respondents undecided. Similarly, in the North-West, 273 questionnaires were administered in Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto with 126 people or 46.15 per cent rejecting life pension to governors, while 105 people or 38.5 per cent, supported it. The respondents in the zone also unanimously rejected payment of life pension to leaders of the legislative houses. Also, all the respondents in North-Central voted against life pension to both former governors and the leaders of the legislative houses. South-South respondents opposed the payment of life pension to ex-governors and legislators. They argued that they were well paid while in office and in addition, went with handsome severance packages. In the case of legislators, they said: Their four-year tenure is too small to attract life pension and moreover, legislators, especially in Nigeria, should be part-time work. (NAN) President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic has disclosed that Nigerias economic downturn is affecting other African nations, especially, its neighbours. The Beninese leader said the fact that Nigeria was not fully exploring her potentials was making other African countries to bear the brunt. Talon, who was on a one-day state visit to Nigeria, spoke at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday during a joint press briefing with President Muhammadu Buhari. The visiting president, who stressed that Nigeria was the engine room of West Africa, charged the Buhari administration to explore non-oil potentials to boost the countrys revenue profile and maintain its status as a big brother in Africa. As Nigeria is not using all its potentials, it is making other African countries suffer. The crisis hitting Nigeria is what is also hitting us. This is an opportunity for us to go back to develop other sectors, he said. He said he looked forward to strengthening the existing bilateral relations between his country and Nigeria, particularly in trade, economy, energy, development and education. Talon also said that his country would collaborate with Nigeria in combating illegal trading activities in both nations. No fewer than five Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were on Wednesday arrested by the officials of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in on of the camps in Borno for allegedly vandalising and stealing camp structures. In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in the state capital, the state commandant of NSCDC, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed this adding that the suspects were arrested in Bakassi camp. Items recovered from the suspects include windows, blends, noggin roofs, pipes and rubbers, among others, Mr Ibrahim said. The IDPs are now causing more havoc by vandalising the hard-earned structure that the government put in place. There are bad eggs among the IDPs who can do anything to get money. Some of them engage in prostitution and sexual abuses while some are into illicit hard drug use. The Command warned the culprits to desist from such crimes or face the full wrath of the law, he said. The Senator representing Ogun East senatorial district, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has said that the proposed August 17 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) slated to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, will only worsen the leadership crisis currently rocking the party. In a statement he circulated in Abuja Tuesday, the senator pleaded with elders in the party to find amicable ways of reconciling the Caretaker Committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi with the sacked Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction. According to him, it would be better for the party to unite the two factions before going ahead with the proposed convention, warning that doing otherwise could worsen the crisis situation. While the Sheriff faction said it would amount to contempt of court to go ahead with the national convention in view of the latest, in a series of conflicting court judgments, which declared any action or decision by the Makarfi faction as illegal, null and void, the national caretaker committee, backed by key organs of the party, including the PDP Governors, has resolved to go ahead with the convention as there is no court order stopping it. Kashamu further warned that unless issues of the various conflicting court injunctions are fully addressed with the two factions in agreement, the outcome of the August 17 convention may also become a subject of fresh litigation. The senator said, Going to Port Harcourt for another national convention on August 17, without addressing the issues that have stuck out like a sore thumb might turn out to be an exercise in futility. I appeal to all our leaders to wade into the crisis and resolve the issues. If we gloss over the issues and facts and go ahead to hold the proposed convention without resolving them, the perception of PDP as a lawless organisation will sink deeper and ultimately public opinion will be against us. An air of palpable confusion pervades our party and the land, with one division of the court saying Makarfis appointment is right while another division of the same court says Sheriff is the authentic national chairman of our party. We cannot continue like this. Already, the nomination (governorship) processes in Edo and Ondo States are being endangered by the current crisis. It is incumbent on all well-meaning leaders and elders of the party to court Senators Sheriff and Makarfi and look for a political solution to this crisis and resolve it, once and for all. Nothing is too much to give, if we truly love the party. The PDP chieftain affirmed that while there was no court injunction stopping the proposed August 17 convention, the reality of a pronouncement by a court in Abuja to the effect that the Makarfi committee cannot lawfully take actions on behalf of the PDP, remained a source of grave worry. Besides the resources that might be wasted on the exercise, Kashamu warned that going ahead with the convention could also constitute contempt of some of the court injunctions on the part of the organisers. He further warned that these loopholes could easily be exploited by groups and individuals who are bent on frustrating the efforts of the party to their own advantage. They wait on the sidelines to analyse situations and then go to court when you least expected to procure orders and judgments that they use to exploit the system, he said. Stressing the need for the party to guard against such avoidable pitfalls, Kashamu appealed to the party leaders to help put an end to the culture of impunity, which he lamented has continued to bedevil the PDP. He stated that for peace to reign, party leaders and members should stop seeing themselves be above the law Thus, it is crucial for us to find a political solution to the leadership crisis, unite our people and resolve the issues so that the various court cases can be withdrawn. An assortment of court orders, rulings and judgments will only deepen the crisis and make it intractable, he added. The senator called on party stakeholders to do the right thing so that when they are called to account for their actions, they will be found on the right side of history and the law. 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 The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old chief priest, Eno Akpan, for allegedly killing his one-year-old daughter, Favour Ufot. Akpan, who hails from Ikot Akpan Udo village in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, is the priest of the village shrine, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. The state Police Commissioner, Murtala Mani, said in Uyo on Monday, that Akpan had a misunderstanding with his wife, Blessing, which resulted in his beating her up. Mani who spoke through the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, said that during the scuffle, Blessing ran to her mothers house and left her daughter behind with her husband. On July 23, the complainant, Blessing, had misunderstanding with the husband, Eno Akpan. In the process the husband beat her up. She left the house to her mothers place, leaving her daughter behind. The husband asked her to come back home and take the child along, she refused and the husband used machete and inflicted cuts on the back and head of their daughter and she died on the spot, he said. The police commissioner said investigation was in progress and the suspect would appear in court after investigation. On his own part, Akpan said he had a scuffle with his wife over her lateness in returning from the market where she went to sell oysters. He said that he used his fists on her, but by the time he picked up a machete to strike her, she pushed their daughter forward and the machete landed on her head. Akpan said that he did not mean to hurt the girl, but her mothers action resulted in her death. Source: Punch A serving member of the House of Representatives, Sani Bello, has been kidnapped. Bello, who is a two-term member representing Mashi/Dutsi federal constituency of Katsina State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was abducted alongside a yet-to-be identified aide at Goburawa village of Birnin Gwari, Kaduna state. The development was confirmed by the Katsina State Police Command on Wednesday. Details later Some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as Shiites, on Wednesday stormed the streets in their hundreds in Kaduna State to protest the ongoing detention of their leader Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and other members. Among them were children, between the ages of 10 and above as they marched through Muhammadu Buhari Way in the state displaying placards and chanting repeatedly free our leader, please free El-Zakzaky, we want justice, He needs to go for medical treatment. The Leader of the protesters, Abdullahi Mohammed, pleaded with the Federal Government to release their leader unconditionally for him to be able to go for proper medical treatment.. The protesters were believed to have started trekking all the way from their base in Zaria since Tuesday, they said they were heading towards Abuja and vowed to remain there until FG grent their request. The protesters claimed most of them were orphans and widows and that El-Zakzaky had been the one catering for their well-being over the years. A suspected fraudster, Abdulrahman Shuaibu, who is currently cooling his heels in police custody in Abuja, following a failed attempt to dupe a presidential aide, has blamed unemployment for his predicament. The 21-year-old suspected fraudster said he relocated to Abuja from his hometown in Hong, Adamawa State, about a year ago in the belief that he could easily find himself a good job with President Muhammadu Buhari in power. Shuaibu, who was paraded on Tuesday by the police alongside his accomplices, Isiaku Zambuk, 47, and Hassan Haruna, 35, explained that he met the gang members at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, and when he requested for their assistance, they asked him to join the gang instead. He said, Sometimes, we would visit a ministry and demand to see the minister. If he is too busy to attend to us, he may give us his business card and through it, well get his number. I have made only N50,000 so far. The Force Public Relations Officer, Donald Awunah, said, The syndicate specialises in sending text messages and calling highly placed individuals such as ministers, senators, governors and captains of industries on the phone, demanding huge sums of money or else the victims should await grievous consequences if they fail to comply. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has given the approval nod to the proposed construction of a power transmission substation in Osun State by the state government. In a letter addressed to the government, titled: Re: Request for Permit to Construct Transmission Line and Substation at Proposed Dagbolu International Market, Dagbolu, Osun, the TCN said it had approved the infrastructure which is to be located in Dagbolu area of the state. The General Manager (Design and Standard) TCN, Mr. Ademola Afolabi who signed the letter dated April 11, 2016 stated that with the construction of a power station, Osun would be in strategic economic position as another commercial hub in the Southwest. The approval came without a cost to the state. TCN noted that the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) document submitted by the state was found to be in conformity with TCNs standard bidding document, which facilitated the subsequent approval. The letter stated that the location of national grid in Osogbo and the approval of new power transmission would attract investors to the state and create employment opportunities. The approval letter reads in part: With this and lucky presence of the only national grid in Osogbo, the state can attract industries, especially heavy industries such as steel, chemical, paints, etc. The beauty of such heavy industries localisation is that they are heavy employers of labour and high contributors to the internally generated revenue of the state. The Dagbolu, Osun hub is adjacent to the rail line and such location, therefore, reduces the cost of production associated with energy and transportation, the letter stated. On this day in 2010: In Kano, Islamic police smashed 80,000 bottles of beer to enforce a sharia law ban on consumption of alcohol that exists in the northern region. Also on this day 2005: The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) raided the Maryland residence of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as part of a probe into whether a U.S. congressman made or approved payments to officials in West Africa. A source familiar with the investigation said the agents were looking for records or documents related to Jeffersons dealing with Abubakar and the former Vice President of Ghana, Aliu Mahama, indicating whether Jefferson paid, offered to pay or authorized payments to officials in the governments of Nigeria or Ghana. A wanted Boko Haram Terrorist, Mohammed Mohammed Zauro, has been arrested by troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in Sabon Gari, Damboa local government area of Borno State. The wanted terrorist was arrested at about 8:30am on Tuesday. The Army Spokesman, Sani Usman, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said preliminary investigation showed that Zauro was arrested while fleeing the heat from Sambisa Forest to Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. Mr. Usman, a Colonel, said the troops recovered a Gionee mobile telephone handset, a fake SAIE/JIBWIS identification card to help conceal his identity and the sum of N7, 900.00 from the terrorist kingpin. In a related development, a suspected terrorist was intercepted by troops along Damboa-Bale Road, in Borno State. The suspected Boko Haram Terrorist, who gave his name as Lawal Aboi, said he voluntarily surrendered himself to the military because was tired of fighting for no just cause. Col. Usman said both suspects are being interrogated by military authorities. Former President Goodluck Jonathan is currently at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he is holding a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the latters office. The former president arrived the Aso Villa at 2 pm Wednesday, and went straight to the presidents office. Dr. Jonathans visit came some few days after a militant group, Adaka Boro Avengers, said that it canceled its earlier plan to declare a Niger Delta Republic after receiving a phone call from the former Nigerian leader to drop the idea. It was learnt that Mr. Buhari, who had earlier presided over a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC. was observing his afternoon prayer at the villa Mosque when his predecessor came calling. He went in immediately after the prayer to meet with Mr. Jonathan. This is the third time the former president is visiting the villa since handing over on May 29, 2015. Details later ***UPDATE*** Speaking with State House correspondents after he emerged from the closed-door meeting with President Buhari, which lasted for about 20 minutes, Jonathan said he, as well as Ijaw elders and traditional rulers, were working to enthrone peace in the restive Niger Delta region. Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups have continued blowing up oil installations in region, vowing to cripple the Nigerian economy except certain demands are met. The former president, who was responding to a question on what role he was playing to ensure that the militant groups abandon their violent struggle and embrace the federal governments offer of dialogue, stressed that a united Nigeria was needed as there cannot be development anywhere without peace. According to him, Nigeria is great not because of oil, but because of her size and diversity. When asked to comment on the ongoing war against corruption, Mr. Jonathan declined, saying most of the cases were in court, assuring that when they were concluded, he would talk at an appropriate time. The former Nigerian leader said he was at the Aso Villa to brief Buhari about his international engagements, especially his recent appointment by the African Union as leader of its election observation mission to Zambia. On August 3rd 2016, the Islamic State (IS) announced via the 41st issue of its newspaper al-Naba, a new leader for Boko Haram, its West African affiliate in Nigeria. His name is Abu Musab Al-Barnawi and very little is known about him except for the fact that he was a former spokesperson for Boko Haram President Muhammad Buharis pledge to fight terrorism head-on in his administration has seen the Islamic-sect Boko Haram lose most of the territory it controlled barely 18 months ago. Its former leader, Abubakar Shekau, who took over from the founder of the terrorist group Muhammad Yusuf, was last heard from in August 2015, in an audio record tape where he boasted about being alive and evading the Nigerian military. Yusuf was publicly executed outside the police headquarters in Maiduguri. Under Shekaus administration, the terrorist group became ruthless and its seven-year insurgency left more than 20,000 people dead, mostly in the northern part of the country. On 14 April 2014, Boko Haram coordinated the kidnapping of 274 female students in the town of Chibok in Borno state. The abduction got widespread condemnation worldwide, with many pointing fingers at former President Goodluck Jonathans administration for its weak and slow handling of the terrorist group. Even though the Nigerian army claimed to have either killed or captured Shekau, he continued to taunt the Nigerian Authorities in numerous recordings. According to reports, IS were annoyed by Shekaus orders to use children as suicide bombers, and his defiance of instructions to stop and extremism eventually led to his termination. Hes been told by ISIL to stop doing that (using Children as suicide bombers) but he has not done so. That is one of the reasons why this splinter group has broken off, Marine Lieutenant General Thomas Waldhauser told Reuters in June. In late March 2015, Boko Haram announced its allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Even though there is little information about al-Barnawi, Information Nigeria understands he appeared once in a Boko Haram clip around 2015, posing as the groups spokesman. In one of his interviews, he was strongly against the name Boko Haram, which translates as Western Education is Forbidden in Hausa. Women on Tuesday protested over alleged night attacks by herdsmen on Ninte village in Godogodo Chiefdom of Jemaa Local Government, Kaduna State. The women from Ninte and surrounding villages staged the protest at the palace of the Chief of Godogodo. The women demanded government intervention to stop the alleged increasing cases of night killings, rape, burning of houses by some assailants in the area. Spokesperson of the protesters, Mrs. Deborah Reuben, accused the government of insensitivity to their plight since the incident started in May. The situation is unhealthy as it is no longer safe. The government we voted into power has left us at the mercy of armed herdsmen, farms cannot be cultivated in the face of high level of impunity, she lamented. Responding, the Chief of Godogodo, Malam Iliya Ajiya appealed to the protesting women to remain calm as everything possible was being done to bring the situation under control. When contacted, the Interim Chairman of Jemaa local council, Dr. Bege Katukah confirmed to NAN in a telephone interview that security men had been mobilised to the affected community. NAN learnt that residents of the affected villages have been relocating to Godogodo, Antang and Gidan Waya, for their safety. Source: Punch Demand Resurrection The PRICE Futures Group - 59 minutes ago Once again, the death of oil demand in the US may be greatly exaggerated. OK, I know I've used that before but it's apropos. Oil markets look poised to close higher on the week as yesterday's US gross... Another Bought Dip Monica Kingsley - 1 hour ago S&P 500 was pulled lower overnight on poor AAPL, AMZN guidance even though current earnings didnt disappoint much odds were any S&P 500 setback would be bought. The premarket downswing brought stocks... Japan Cabinet OKs $200B spending plan to counter inflation AP - Fri Oct 28, 7:35AM CDT Japans Cabinet has approved a hefty economic package including 29 trillion yen ($200 billion) in government spending to counter the blow from inflation, signaling that the greater concern of its policymakers... $SPX : 3,866.19 (+1.55%) $DOWI : 32,622.39 (+1.84%) $IUXX : 11,416.51 (+2.01%) Cotton Dropping Another Triple Digits Barchart - Fri Oct 28, 7:24AM CDT Cotton futures are trading lower with triple digit weakness through the Friday morning. Cotton futures closed off their lows by ~20 points, but were still down by 142 to 271 at the bell. The @USD dropped... CTZ22 : 72.11 (-3.99%) CTH23 : 71.90 (-3.89%) CTK23 : 72.15 (-3.19%) Friday Hog Futures to Respond to Sharp Drop Barchart - Fri Oct 28, 7:24AM CDT Front month lean hog futures worked lower on Thursday with Dec futures getting within 20c of a limit drop on the days low. Dec hogs ultimately lost $3.37, with $0.87 to $2.85 losses in the other front... HEZ22 : 85.675 (+0.65%) HEJ23 : 92.650 (+0.57%) KMZ22 : 95.775s (-0.98%) Stronger Cash Cattle Trade Seen Yesterday Barchart - Fri Oct 28, 7:24AM CDT Cattle futures spent Thursday in a tighter $0.95 range, but ultimately settled with 5 to 32 cent losses. Feeder cattle futures traded 45 to 80 cents lower on the day. USDA confirmed Southern cash trade... LEV22 : 150.975 (-0.28%) LEZ22 : 153.125 (-0.20%) LEG23 : 156.425 (-0.27%) GFX22 : 178.450 (+0.18%) GFF23 : 180.875 (+0.24%) It isnt surprising that J.B. Pritzker just gave another $5 million for early childhood education. Neither is it shocking that the recipient organization is Chicago-based. The most recent grantee of one of the nations leading ECE philanthropists is the Ounce of Prevention Fund, a public-private partnership focusing on years zero through five. The grant is aimed at low-income children, who have been shown to lag behind their peers as they enter kindergarten and elementary. The Pritzker family always makes our head spin, because there's so damn many of them, and they have their fingers in a lot of philanthropic pots. So as with all things Pritzker, its helpful to know which branch of the 30-billion-dollar family this money comes from. J.B. Pritzker and his wife head up the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation. A subset of that foundation, the Pritzker Childrens Initiative funds research and programmatic work to further ECE in underserved communities. The Ounce of Prevention Fund (The Ounce) receives Pritzkers money on a regular basis, but this grant raises the bar. The Ounce plans to use the funds to host the National Summit on Quality in Home Visiting, a forum dedicated to a practice that can especially help the children of poverty. Additional Ounce programs thatll benefit from the Pritzker grant include efforts to help parents and educators navigate the early childhood years, as well as more research. The Ounce is a high-viability, well-connected organization (its president, Diana Rauner, is married to Illinois governor Bruce Rauner). As such, it relies on funds from some big-name donors in Chicago and around the nation, including Kellogg, Gates, the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, the Irving Harris Foundation, billionaire couple Sam and Helen Zell, and the McCormick Foundation. Related: In that rarified company, J.B. Pritzker is an undisputed leader. Hes a founding supporter of the First Five Years Fund, another prominent Chicago organization in this space. He funds research at the Pritzker Consortium on Early Childhood Development at the University of Chicago. His past grantmaking also includes $25 million to a federal partnership (Invest in US) to invest in early childhood education as well as a separate smaller foundation dedicated to the issuethe now-sunsetting Pritzker Early Childhood Foundation. Pritzker has maintained that philanthropic investment (and government dedication) to early childhood development is very much lacking. His giving is as much about spreading the word as it is about delivering services. In 2013, he put $20 million into the Early Childhood Innovation Accelerator, an effort to increase the number of operating ECE programs (another big funder behind that initiative, interestingly, was Goldman Sachs). As his funding record hints, Pritzker takes an interest in thought leadership in the early childhood development field. Partnering with the Bridgespan Group, the Pritzker Childrens Initiative put together a report laying out the case for more investment in this field, from the public sector in particular. One thing is clear: while early childhood education might not yet be at the national level Pritzker envisions, awareness is on the rise, and with it prospects for funding. Related: It's easier to donate a few thousand to charity and think oneself noble than to base self-respect on personal standards of personal achievement. It's simple to seek substitutes for competencesuch easy substitutes: love, charm, kindness, charity. But there is no substitute for competence. Few American writers have inspired more controversy than Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum, a young woman who fled Soviet Russia and became Ayn Rand, the 20th centurys foremost literary defender of capitalism, free enterprise, and rational self interest. Author of works like Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead and Anthem, Rand was also the founder of objectivism, a philosophical movement that advances her ideas. Today, with record infusions of philanthropic cashand amid a surge in the closely related ideology of libertarianismobjectivism is going strong. The quote above, taken from Rands 1943 novel The Fountainhead, gives us a glimpse of her mixed views on philanthropy and charitable giving. While she didnt oppose charity outright, Rands worldview denounces altruism as a primary virtue. A life spent helping others, she argued, demeans both the giver and the receiver. Rands provocative views have drawn scorn for decades. Both her books and her philosophy are regularly attacked for everything from elitism to misogyny, from deifying the rich to just not making much sense at all. Pushing against this are Rands acolytes and true believers, a group associated with the political right and with libertarianism in particular. As might be expected, Ayn Rand fans include many successful Americans who are only too happy to help spread her ideas. While some of us encounter her in the bookstore, at the library, or in casual conversation, there are two main nonprofits out there promoting Rand: the Ayn Rand Institute and the Atlas Society. Meanwhile, there have also been extensive activities on colleges campuses to promote Ayn Rand's ideas. Whos funding this work? The Money Behind the Ayn Rand Institute Founded by Rands heir Leonard Peikoff, the Ayn Rand Institute does a lot to promote objectivist ideas from its home base in Irvine, California. Having grown up in Irvine, I actually remember a representative from ARI visiting my high school to spread the word. As it turns out, that kind of thing is a regular tactic for ARI, which claims to have distributed over 3.2 million free copies of Ayn Rands books since 2002, many of them to teachers, schools, and colleges. ARI also reaches out to students via its annual essay contest, which has received more than 350,000 submissions since 1986. In its capacity as a think tank, ARI employs a team of writers and intellectuals to apply objectivism to modern policy issues and speak about Ayn Rands ideas. Its leader, Yaron Brook, is the author of multiple books and an indefatigable spokesman for objectivism in speeches around the country. ARI does all this on a yearly budget of about $10 million, which has grown in recent years and comes from individual contributions. But there have been several regular donors from the foundation world, and there's a definite corporate tenor here. The BB&T Charitable Foundation is one steady supporter. BB&T Banks affiliation with ARI stems from former president and CEO John A. Allison, who served on ARIs board of trustees. Throughout the 2000s, BB&T contributed regularly to ARI in the five- and six-figures. (See more below on BB&T's college funding related to Ayn Rand.) Additional funders who often donate to ARI include the Balyasny Foundation (a charitable arm of Balyasny Asset Management), the Howard Charitable Foundation, and the Rodney Fund. Donors Capital Fund, one branch of the conservative community fund known as DonorsTrust, has contributed over $500,000. Funds have also flowed to ARI through the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, presumably from a donor-advised fund of one of those libertarian techies we always hear about. A former managing director of Goldman Sachs, Arline Mann, is currently board chair of ARI. Related:Rightward, Ho! Ten Top Funders Behind the Surging Libertarian Movement The Atlas Society What about the other major objectivist organization? Despite their shared devotion to Ayn Rand, the two institutions are not on good terms. In 1990, a philosophical disagreement led Atlas Society founder David Kelley to split from ARI and start his own shop. For those interested, more information on the schism can be found here. Both organizations claim to know Ayn Rand best, but there is some overlap between their funding sources, believe it or not. Financially, the Atlas Society is only a fraction of ARIs size, prohibiting programs like massive book giveaways. It functions as a think tank, publisher and conference host, and there is a focus on bringing young people into the fold. More than ARI, the Atlas Society is willing to engage with the wider libertarian world. Its current CEO, Jennifer Grossman, served as director of education at the Cato Institute, and the organizations board of advisors includes people from the Reason Foundation, the Atlas Network, and Students for Liberty. Topping the list of the Atlas Societys foundation donors is Dunns Foundation for the Advancement of Right Thinking, a Florida-based libertarian funder that weve profiled here. Dunns has given over $1 million to the Atlas Society. The MD Bond Foundation is another regular. At a lower level, the Brigham Family Foundation and the River Oaks Foundation have supported both the Atlas Society and ARI over the years. Related:This Foundation Is a Stalwart Backer of Libertarian Policy. Have You Heard of It? Big Donors Ayn Rands stories are chock-full of heroic male capitalists, and its no surprise that many major Rand funders hail from the ranks of business success. Philadelphia philanthropist Ed Snider is one. His objectivist bona fides include a hand in funding ARI when it first got up and running in the 1980s as well as an executive producer credit on the film Atlas Shrugged Part I. I already mentioned John Allison, the BB&T Bank exec with a deep love for Rand. The financial sector is brimming with further examples including ESL Investments Edward Lampert ($100,000 to ARI), Donald Smith, Arthur Dantchik (who supports ARI and other libertarian think tanks via the Claws Foundation), and Kenneth D. Moelis. Two years ago, a new avenue for Rand-related funding opened up: the Objectivist Venture Fund. The man in question is Carl Barney, who made a fortune on for-profit colleges (hes chairman of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education). A longtime devotee of Rand and an ARI board member, Barneys fund awards grants to well-defined awareness and marketing campaigns that spread Objectivist ideas. Barney has committed $1 million so far to this effort, with $500,000 already disbursed. And thats not all. Barney also heads an entity called the Prometheus Foundation, which has given ARI large grants over the years topping $3 million each. I should note that the Atlas Network (formerly the Atlas Economic Research Foundation) is not directly affiliated with Rand, despite its name and ideological leanings. It does, however, feature Rand-related material on its website. This speaks to Ayn Rands iconic status among libertarians in America, a position these funders have done a lot to maintain. Related: Objectivism on Campus For years, John Allison has been intent on ensuring that young people are exposed to Ayn Rand's ideas, especially if they're studying business. So, for example, a while back, the foundation of BB&T Bank offered $1 million for business education to Western Carolina University, a public state school in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Among the reported stipulations of the gift was that the universitys College of Business make Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, required reading for students. The school took the money. This was not an isolated episode. Allison, who is now the president of the Cato Institute, had offered similar deals to at least 63 schools going back over a decade. Allison has framed his goals as a pushback against the pervasive liberal orthodoxy on campuses. Its really a battle of ideas, he once told a reporter. If the ideas that made America great arent heard, then their influence will be destroyed. Allison said in 2011 that he hoped to extend his grants to 200 schools, but by 2015, BB&T claimed that it was no longer making such grants. Related: How Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation Funds "Economic Freedom" on Campus Facebook is more than just the only social networking site that your parents know how to use, its also a tech giant with the clout to set industry standards for hiring trends. A recent company update revealed that only 17 percent of global employees in tech positions and 27 percent of its senior leadership are women. Hispanics and Blacks account for just 4 percent of its U.S. tech jobs at the social network, and 6 percent of senior leadership. But Facebook says it wants to do better. And like many tech companies worried about diversity, it has a keen eye on strengthening the pipeline of young talent coming into the fields of IT and computer science. That's the context for a five-year, $15 million grant by Facebook to Code.org. Brothers Hadi and Ali Partovi founded Code.org with the goal of expanding access to computer science learning, especially among traditionally underrepresented groups in tech such as women and minorities. The organization launched three years ago with support from heavy hitters including Microsofts Bill Gates, Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg, and Twitters Jack Dorsey, as well as President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore. As we wrote at the time, the Partovi brothers aimed to make computer science as pervasive in American schools as math and life sciences. Related: When Code.org started in 2013, most states did not allow computer science to count toward high school graduation. Three years later, 28 states now recognize computer science classes as satisfying graduation requirements in math, science, or bothincluding California, home of Silicon Valley and the burgeoning Silicon Beach in West Los Angeles. In addition to promoting policy change, the Partovis have made online courses available to girls, minorities and low-income students. According to the nonprofits website, getting computer science education into public schools in Arkansas led to a 300 percent increase in female participation, and a 600 percent jump in African American female enrollment. Those numbers are nothing to sneeze at, and it seems that Facebook is paying attention. Facebooks five-year commitment will help Code.org to drive the development of curricula, public school teacher training and student skills building, particularly among traditionally underrepresented populations in engineering and computer science, said Maxine Williams, global director of diversity, in a statement announcing the grant. It will give thousands of students across the country the access to computer science they deserve. Weve covered a lot of recent grants focused on STEM initiatives, but computer science is especially important for kids growing up in a world dependent on computers. Being able to code is no longer a hobby for nerdsits a crucial skill for people entering the workforce. Tech companies, meanwhile, are deeply concerned about ensuring that they have the human capital they need in coming decades. Thats why Oracle has committed $200 million in this area over the next year and a half, and why Microsoft is dedicated to its YouthSpark program on a global scale. Making computer science education available to underprivileged students is essential to creating economic opportunities for those children in the future, a principle that drives the work of Code.org. Rent a Space, which operates 12 self-storage locations in and around Sydney, recently opened a newly constructed facility in Gregory Hills, New South Wales, Australia. Completed in May, the property at 25 Lasso Road is just off Camden Valley Way, near restaurants and retail stores. It offers drive-up and vehicle storage, moving and packing supplies, and free use of its moving truck and a driver to new customers upon move-in. Security features include electronic access, individually alarmed units and video cameras. The new facility features [more than] 500 rentable self-storage spaces and boasts many state-of-the-art customer conveniences, said Thomas Whalan, general manager. "Our self-storage property was designed to meet the highest expectations of our customers, and we feel that the local residents will find the quality and security of our site very appealing." The area has experienced an increase in self-storage demand, according to a company press release. The region is a very vibrant place to live and work, and were excited to be a part of the areas growth story, said Whalan, an Australian water-polo player who competed in the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. Founded in 1979, Rent a Space is an Australian-owned and -operated business. It has more storage sites under development. This content is from: Portfolio A new report by McKinsey examines the industry amid a volatile environment and offers a look at what investors can expect. Certain tenets of an international insurance treaty may stymie coverage for families of the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, as new evidence points to a deliberate crash and potential pilot suicide as the cause of the planes disappearance two years ago.Peter Foley, the Australian Transport Safety Bureaus program director of the operational search for MH370, admitted for the first time this weekend that damage found in the recovered wreckage suggests the plane was under the control of pilot Zahari Ahmed Shah when it went into the sea in March 2014. Severe erosion along the trailing edge of two recovered wing parts points to a controlled landing, Foley said.Australian authorities also admitted that a Malaysian police report suggesting Shah had plotted a route deep into the southern Indian Ocean on his home flight simulator was genuine. Evidence of any such route has since been deleted.The two admissions throw significant doubt on authorities preferred theory that the planes disappearance was an accident, instead pointing strongly to pilot suicide something that could prevent families of the crash victims from collecting insurance settlements from the airline.Grace Nathan, a spokeswoman for MH370 next-of-kin group Voice 370, said families of the victims who are suing the airline for negligence may now pursue criminal action as well. However, families who accepted payout offers may no longer be covered by insurance.Families who missed the March 8 deadline to initiate lawsuits against Malaysia Airlines may also be stranded if pilot suicide was indeed the cause of the crash, thanks to the 1999 Montreal Convention, which dictates international aviation insurance terms. Under the treaty, claimants have two years from the date an aircraft should have arrived at its destination to file suit for compensation against the carrier.You cant start something now because the limitations date has passed, Nathan told The Australian.Nathan also pointed to the question of airline responsibility in a suicide situation.Even if Malaysia Airlines can successfully determine the cause of the crash, aviation policies often carry exclusions for terrorism or suicide under sanction from the Montreal Convention which may apply here.If it is proven to be pilot suicide, then the insurance becomes void, she said.The Montreal Convention sets a mandated minimum compensation payment of just under $200,000 for claimants in cases where airlines could not produce evidence to defend themselves. Certain families of the victims have filed suit against the airline for the compensation under the assumption that the death of their next of kin was caused by something other than negligence.Nathan has suggested Malaysia Airlines may not be able to meet this financial standard, calling the company practically bankrupt, though a spokesperson for the airline has pushed back against those claims.[There is] adequate insurance coverage in place to meet any legal liability that we may have in respect of those claiming as a consequence of the incident, the spokesperson said.Malaysian investigators concluded the Boeing 777 servicing Flight 370 crashed after someone aboard the jet intentionally disabled its tracking devices, turning it south before it plunged into the Indian Ocean and killed all 239 people aboard. The aircraft had been flying under Malaysia Airlines since May 2002 without mechanical or computer troubles. The communications systems aboard the plane were also operating normally until radio and transponder signals stopped during the flight.The airlines insurers Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty and Lloyds of London unit Atrium have already paid more than $300 million for claims related to the crash. Boston Police Commissioner William Evans is faulting Massachusetts lawmakers for failing to require the fingerprinting of drivers for ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. The House and Senate approved regulations for the services Sunday night, but the bill does not require fingerprinting. Evans said Monday that the goal of fingerprinting is to identify drivers with histories of violent crimes and sexual assaults. Police already fingerprint cab drivers. Im concerned with public safety and making sure that people who hop into a vehicle know the driver and know that hes been vetted, Evans said. Were looking for violent offenders who have sexual histories or violent histories. Thats all we want to wean out here. Ride-hailing companies have fought similar fingerprinting efforts in other cities, arguing their own background checks suffice. Uber and Lyft, both based in San Francisco, have made good on threats to vacate cities that impose fingerprint checks, such as Austin, Texas. The companies spent $9 million in a failed bid to overturn fingerprint requirements there. The bill passed Sunday by Massachusetts lawmakers requires a two-tiered system of background checks for all drivers for the app-based ride services, one conducted by the company and another by the state. It does not require fingerprints checks for drivers. The bill now heads to Republican Gov. Charlie Bakers desk. Baker told reporters Monday that he hasnt had a chance to take a deep dive into the bill and didnt say if he would sign it. Baker said that its critically important that there be a substantial and ongoing background check process. He added: Theres a lot of debate about the best way to get that done. Lyft spokesman Adrian Durbin said the bill sets high safety standards while keeping modern transportation options like Lyft available across the Bay State. This bill expands consumer choice and encourages innovation, and we urge Governor Charlie Baker to sign it into law when it reaches his desk, Durbin said in a written statement. The bill also mandates minimum insurance requirements for each vehicle, and a 20-cent per ride fee that will be paid by the companies. Five cents from the fee will go to a fund to help taxi drivers who have been hurt by competition from the app-based ride services. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Law Enforcement Personal Auto Tropical Storm Earl, forecast to grow into a hurricane, may just graze Mexicos oil-rich Bay of Campeche as it heads west toward the Honduras Bay Islands before making landfall in Belize within the next 24 hours. Earl was 265 miles (425 kilometers) east-southeast of Belize City with top winds of 70 miles an hour, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in an advisory at 8 a.m. New York time. Its winds could peak at 80 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale just before striking Belizes coast early Thursday. We do believe it will become a hurricane between midnight and daybreak on Thursday, said Paul Walker, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc. in State College, Pennsylvania. Forecasts for Earls track have drifted south over the past 24 hours, lessening the possibility of a direct hit on Mexicos Bay of Campeche where state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, has off-shore oil rigs and platforms. More than three-quarters of the crude produced by Pemex comes from the Gulf of Mexico, which includes the bay. The company, which produced 2.18 million barrels of oil a day during the second quarter, said its monitoring Earls progress. After coming ashore in Belize, the forecast calls for Earl to weaken to a tropical depression. Earl could strengthen if it moves back over water in the Bay of Campeche. There is a possibility it bulldozes westward into Belize and stays over Mexico, Walker said. If this thing cant get back out over water there is a real question to if it could get back up to tropical storm strength. Hurricane warnings were issued for parts of Honduras, Belize and as far north as Puerto Costa Maya in Mexico. Earl is the fifth Atlantic storm to form in 2016. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm Hurricane Mexico Cincinnati Financial Corp. announced that R. Philip Sandercox, Erin A. Skala and Wendy A. Hayes joined The Cincinnati Insurance Co., adding expertise to Cincinnati Re, its reinsurance assumed operation. Sandercox, managing director, head of specialty casualty reinsurance, will oversee the strategic direction, underwriting and marketing of the companys specialty casualty reinsurance assumed portfolio. A 28-year veteran of the reinsurance industry, Sandercox most recently served as senior vice president and head of specialty casualty reinsurance at Aspen Re America Inc. and was formerly at Gen Re and Willis Re. He holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Reinsurance (ARe) designations. Skala, managing director, head of property reinsurance, will lead all property treaty underwriting for U.S. and global clients and build a highly technical team focused on producing a diversified property portfolio within Cincinnati Re. Prior to joining Cincinnati Re, Skala was president and chief operating officer of ACE Tempest Re in Bermuda. She brings more than 20 years of experience in property reinsurance underwriting, broking and catastrophe modeling. Skala holds the Associate in Reinsurance (ARe) designation. Hayes, managing director, head of catastrophe risk analytics, will build the companys center of excellence for catastrophe modeling with a focus on technology and scientific capabilities. She brings 20 years of catastrophe modeling experience most recently as operations leader of the U.S. catastrophe management team at Aon Benfield. Cincinnati Re operates as a division of The Cincinnati Insurance Co and is in its second year of expansion. Source: Cincinnati Financial Corp. Topics Reinsurance Property Human Resources Federal health officials, scrambling to fund efforts to combat the spread of the Zika virus in the United States, said on Tuesday they have provided more stopgap money to various locales while calls grew for Congress to cut short its recess and act. Concern is mounting about the threat posed by the mosquito-borne virus after authorities in Florida last week reported the first signs of local transmission of Zika in the continental United States. The Florida Department of Health on Tuesday said it was investigating one more case of locally transmitted infection, bringing to 15 the number of people infected by the bite of local mosquito in the same one square mile (2.6 square km) area of Miami-Dade County. President Barack Obama in February asked the Republican-led Congress to approve about $1.9 billion in emergency funds to fight Zika at home and abroad and pursue a vaccine, but lawmakers have not passed funding legislation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it provided more than $16 million to 35 states and five territories to help detect any cases of microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies, and other Zika-related conditions. U.S. health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly. These awards are a stopgap diverted from other public health resources until Zika funds are provided by Congress, the CDC said in a statement. CDC provided $25 million last month in similar stopgap funding. Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio, seeking re-election this year after an unsuccessful bid for his partys presidential nomination, called on the Senate to interrupt its summer recess to pass Zika legislation. I hope well return to Washington quickly, take a day and just pass this funding measure so we can start to get funds flowing, Rubio said on Monday in Clearwater, Florida. A $1.1 billion compromise bill failed after House of Representatives Republicans attached language that would impose restrictions on abortion and defund part of Obamas signature 2010 healthcare law. Rubio said that while he prefers Obamas $1.9 billion figure, he believes there are enough votes in Congress to win passage of the $1.1 billion compromise. Democratic Florida Senator Bill Nelson and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid also have called on Congress to reconvene to address Zika funding. In an opinion piece in a newspaper in his home state of Kentucky, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blamed Democrats for the failure to pass Zika funding. McConnell urged the Obama administration in the interim to aggressively use funds already available to strengthen our defense against the virus, saying hundreds of millions of dollars in funds that could be used were seemingly unspent. The CDC on Monday recommended that pregnant women avoid Miamis Wynwood neighborhood due to Zika infections there. The Zika outbreak is affecting large parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, with Brazil the hardest hit so far. (Reporting by Natalie Grover in Bengaluru and Toni Clarke in Washington; Additional reporting by Rick Cowan in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham) Topics Mergers & Acquisitions USA Florida Legislation Washington Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Victory Insurance Agency Inc., based in Pearland, Texas. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1983, Victory Insurance Agency (Victory) is a retail insurance broker providing commercial property/casualty, employee benefits, risk management consulting and personal lines insurance services to clients throughout the south central United States. The firm specializes in coverages for public entities and school districts as well as the real estate, manufacturing, distribution, energy, marine, technology, transportation and construction industries. Roger Montemayor and his associates will continue to operate from their Pearland and Lake Jackson, Texas, locations under the direction of Bret VanderVoort, head of Gallaghers South Central retail property/casualty brokerage operations, and John Neumaier, head of Gallaghers South Central employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, is headquartered in Itasca, Ill. Source: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Texas A.J. Gallagher A federal judge has awarded $50,000 in damages to a woman who accused a former Louisiana police chief of sexually assaulting her in his office while she was drunk and he was on duty. U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick ruled that the town of Sorrento and its former police chief, Earl Theriot, are both liable for violating the womans constitutional rights. The judge previously ruled in the womans favor in June, at the conclusion of a daylong trial for the womans civil lawsuit. Dick concluded that the woman was legally incapable of consenting to sex with Theriot given how drunk she was at the time of their Nov. 1, 2013, encounter inside the towns police station. Dicks order awards the woman $15,000 in compensatory damages and $35,000 in punitive damages. At the close of trial in June, Dick had put off a decision on whether Theriot owes the woman any monetary damages. And she didnt rule from the bench on whether the town is liable for the womans claims against it. The 44-year-old woman said Theriot, 68, forced her to perform sexual acts in his office after he found her drunk in public. Theriots attorneys claimed the woman initiated the unconsummated sexual encounter to save herself from jail. The woman testified that the encounter left her in a state of shock and fear. The judge ruled that Theriot abused his power, calling his conduct extreme and outrageous and atrocious and intolerable in a civilized community. There was at least an implied, if not an overt, threat that (the woman) would be arrested and jailed if she did not perform Theriots favor, Dick wrote. The judge ruled the town is liable for Theriots actions because the evidence established that he was the chief policymaker regarding day-to-day law enforcement in Sorrento. In 2014, Theriot was sentenced to two years of probation after he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his sexual encounter with the woman. A court filing that accompanied Theriots guilty plea in the criminal case said he had inappropriate sexual contact with the woman on Nov. 1, 2013. Theriot served as the towns police chief for 12 years. The plea deal for the criminal case required him to resign from his post in Sorrento, where sheriffs deputies now patrol the town of roughly 1,500 residents. On the night before she crossed paths with Theriot, the woman went out drinking with friends. One of them dropped her off at a gas station, where she fell asleep. The next day, Theriot responded to a 911 call and found the intoxicated woman in the gas stations parking lot. He placed her in the front seat of his police vehicle without handcuffs and briefly stopped in front of her home before driving her to the police station. The woman claimed Theriot detained her, forced her to perform sexual acts and physically restrained her after she called for help. The judge, however, said there was conflicting evidence that couldnt prove the womans claims that Theriot restrained her wrists with her belt. Theriot took the stand during the trial but refused to answer questions from the womans attorney, asserting his right against self-incrimination. The Associated Press typically doesnt identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault. The woman said the encounter made her feel ashamed and suicidal. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Louisiana Law Enforcement The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said on Tuesday workers were injured in incidents between 2010 and 2014 at Tesoro Corp.s San Francisco Bay-area refinery in Martinez, California because of a weak safety culture the company permitted to exist. The safety culture at the Tesoro Martinez refinery created conditions conducive to the occurrence and recurrence of process safety incidents that caused worker injuries at the refinery over several years, the board said in the final report of a case study of incidents in which workers were sprayed by sulfuric acid. The case study described 15 instances between 2010 and 2014 when workers were burned by sulfuric acid from the alkylation unit. In an emailed statement, Tesoro said it was working on learning from the incidents at the Martinez refinery. We agree on the critical importance of continually learning from incidents and improving the safety of our operations, and inaccuracies in the case study do not detract from our resolve to learn from these incidents, said Tesoro spokesman Brendan Smith. Smith declined to describe what Tesoro saw as inaccurate in the CSB case study. The Board also said Californias state workplace safety agency, Cal/OSHA, could have carried out vigorous preventive inspections that would have identified practices and equipment problems leading to the accidents. A Cal/OSHA spokeswoman did not have an immediate comment about the boards report. In a February 2014 incident, the CSB said two workers who were sprayed with sulfuric acid did not have needed personal protective equipment, something that a 2013 safety survey conducted by Tesoro at the refinery had identified as a problem. Further, workers interviewed by the board said they faced constant pressure to do work more quickly than they thought safe and to operate the alkylation unit in a manner that lowered costs but increased the risk of injury. One worker told the CSB he used his stop work authority in February 2014 to prevent a release of flammable hydrocarbon despite management pressure to keep the unit in operation. About 84,000 pounds (38,102 kilograms) of sulfuric acid was released in that incident. The Chemical Safety Board has no regulatory authority, but was created by the U.S. Clean Air Act to determine the causes of chemical accidents and recommend safer practices. (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Chris Reese) Related: Topics California The parents of the late Star Trek movie actor Anton Yelchin sued Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV for negligence and product liability on Tuesday over the rollaway crash of a Jeep Grand Cherokee that killed their son. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, is believed to be the first wrongful death complaint linked to the Fiat Chrysler recall in April of more than 1.1 million cars and SUVs because of vehicles that roll away after drivers exit them. Yelchin, 27, was killed on June 19 when his 2015 Grand Cherokee, which was covered under the recall, rolled backward in the steep driveway of his Los Angeles home and crushed the actor against a brick wall and fence. The 18-page lawsuit points to a transmission gear-selector design it describes as defective as being the cause of numerous driverless rollaway mishaps like the one that killed Yelchin. Gary Dordick, the attorney representing Yelchins parents, said Fiat Chrysler had sent a recall letter to the actor that was received seven days after his death. The undated letter addressed to Yelchin was displayed at the news conference and said your vehicle may roll away, striking and injuring you, your passengers, or bystanders, if the vehicles engine is left running, the parking brake is not engaged, and the transmission is not in the PARK position before exiting the vehicle. Dordick said Yelchin had returned to his home on the evening of June 19 to pick up something he had forgotten and exited the car, believing the vehicle to be in park. The Russian-born actor, whose parents were both celebrated figure skaters in the former Soviet Union, was best known for playing the young starship navigator Pavel Chekov in the movie reboot of Star Trek. In spite of our unbelievable grief, we decided to come here to prevent other families from the same tragedy, his father, Victor Yelchin, said in tearful remarks to reporters. His wife, Irina Yelchin, said of her son, He was very special, but now hes very special because his death might just save some other life. The automaker said in a statement it had not been served with a lawsuit and declined to comment on it, but expressed its sympathies to the Yelchin family for their tragic loss. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has said that the gear selectors in question clearly pose a safety issue that has led to hundreds of crashes and dozens of injuries. The problem has been tied to at least 68 injuries, 266 crashes and 308 reports of property damage. Yelchins death marked the first known fatality linked to the issue. The recall applies to 811,000 vehicles in the United States, covering the 2014-2015 model years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicle and 2012-2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans. Fiat Chrysler announced in June that it would soon furnish software upgrades to address the problem in all recalled vehicles. (Additional reporting by David Shepardson in Traverse City, Michigan; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Grant McCool and Jonathan Oatis) Topics Lawsuits California Auto Alliant Insurance Services Inc. has named Doug Fyfe first vice president in its Alliant Americas division. Fyfe will work in the Thousand Oaks, Calif. Fyfe was regional vice president within the insurance division of a professional services company prior to joining Alliant. He also has experience servicing the Los Angeles market as managing co-owner of an insurance brokerage firm. Newport Beach, Calif.-based Alliant provides property/casualty, workers compensation, employee benefits, surety and financial products and services. Topics California Alliant Consumer Watchdog filed a petition in California challenging State Farms proposed rates for its homeowners insurance and wants the insurers to cut its rates by as much as 40 percent. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based consumer group said insurer will be overcharging more than 280,000 homeowners policyholders in the state unless it cuts its rate by as much as 40 percent, or nearly $100 million. According to Consumer Watchdog, State Farm overestimated claims costs and improperly sought exceptions to the rule against excessive rates, resulting in an excessive rate proposal. Consumer Watchdog is citing Proposition 103 in its argument. Prop. 103 is Californias prior approval law that bars excessive home, auto and business insurance rates and requires insurance companies to justify their rates through a public application process. State Farm filed for an overall rate decrease of 26%, but the insurance companys own data shows that an overall rate decrease of at least 40 percent is warranted, Consumer Watchdogs petition alleges. A query seeking comment from State Farm was not immediately returned. Related: Topics California Pricing Trends Professional Program Insurance Brokerage of Novato Calif. has named Susan Etter vice president of underwriting. Etter has been with PPIB for six years managing the underwriting and sales staff. Etter will continue to oversee the various contracts and programs at PPIB, as well as working with Susan Preston, president, to develop new programs. PPIB provides insurance for specialty and service industries. Topics California Underwriting San Diego, CA, August 3, 2016 Atlas General Insurance Services, LLC (Atlas), a national multi-line program administrator, announced the launch of GoQuote, a new online quoting system for managed workers compensation policies. The deployment of GoQuote provides brokers and agents with an easy-to-use online quoting platform. GoQuote works in real-time, enhancing communication with underwriters and enabling online policy viewing and editing. Our customers want real-time response. This system gives brokers the ability to get quote indications and access policyholder information in minutes and on their own time. We believe it will give our broker partners an advantage in the marketplace. said Mike Mathews, President of Workers Compensation at Atlas. The first time Atlas has implemented a system of this kind, this platform will assist agents in successfully competing with larger entities, while improving the level of service and productivity they currently deliver. GoQuote will also help attract new business, increase retention and eliminate inefficiency for both agents and policyholders through streamlined tasks and enhanced processes. For more information about GoQuote, including features, capabilities and benefits, visit atlas.us.com/goquote or contact Cynthia Mead at cynthia@atlas.us.com About Atlas General Insurance Services, LLC Atlas General Insurance Services is a full service program administrator that offers a wide range of insurance solutions. Atlas has expertise in developing and underwriting programs with a variety of insurance carrier partners. Atlas has the primary goal of providing exceptional service and unique options for their clients. For more information, visit atlas.us.com. Media Contact Stephanie Bozzuto Marketing & Communications Director (858) 529-6700 stephanieb@atlas.us.com Topics Agencies Workers' Compensation Talent New Markets Un ottobre da sogno per Antonio Conte: lex ct della Nazionale italiana, attualmente alla guida del Chelsea, nelle ultime quattro gare di Premier League ha collezionato solo successi, conditi da 11 reti segnate e addirittura nessuna incassata. Numeri da record che non sono certo passati inosservati alla Federazione inglese, la quale ha conferito al tecnico leccese lambito premio di Manager del mese. Unavventura oltremanica iniziata in sordina, quella di Conte, pur a fronte di tre vittorie nelle prime tre gare di campionato. A far vacillare, anche se solo per un momento, le certezze del patron del club londinese, Roman Abramovich, i risultati conseguiti tra la 4a e la 6a giornata, coincisi con un pareggio sul campo dello Swansea City e, soprattutto, con le due pesanti sconfitte subite dal Liverpool, sul terreno casalingo di Stamford Bridge, e dallArsenal. In particolare, la debacle interna coi Reds, aveva irritato non poco il numero uno russo, poiche occorsa proprio nel giorno della sua 250esima partita da presidente della societa. Come detto, solo un momento. Dopo lincontro dellEmirates, il tecnico salentino cambia modulo, adottando un piu equilibrato 3-4-3 e inserendo elementi di corsa come lo spagnolo Pedro. Una svolta totale perche, di li in poi, il Chelsea inanellera solo e soltanto vittorie: 2 gol allHull City e al Southampton in trasferta, 3 ai campioni dInghilterra del Leicester e 4 allo United in casa, con un meraviglioso numero zero nella casella delle reti subite. Un fantastico poker, ottenuto tra l1 e il 29 ottobre. Un cambio di marcia sbalorditivo, confermato dal 5 a 0 rifilato ai toffees dellEverton nel primo match di novembre, e una scalata che, man mano, ha portato i blues al secondo posto in classifica, a soli 2 punti dal Liverpool capolista. E allora, non poteva mancare il riconoscimento di migliore allenatore del mese, ottenuto surclassando tecnici del calibro di Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) e Mark Hughes (Southampton). Tanta, ovviamente, la soddisfazione: E un grande onore e voglio condividerlo con i giocatori e con la societa ha dichiarato Conte sul sito ufficiale della Premier League -. E la prima volta che lavoro in un altro Paese, con una cultura diversa, e portare la propria filosofia non e facile, ma ora sono contento di questa scelta. A completare la festa, la premiazione del fantasista belga, Eden Hazard, come miglior giocatore di ottobre. Due risultati importanti per il club, ottimo incentivo per la rincorsa al trono dei campioni, occupato dal Leicester di Ranieri. Il prossimo appuntamento per l11 di Conte sara al Riverside Stadium, tana del Middlesborough neopromosso. Il tempo di festeggiare e gia finito. Vancouver - August 2, 2016 (Investorideas.com Newswire) SilverCrest Metals Inc. (TSXV: $SIL.V) ("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the first drill hole results at its Las Chispas Project ("Las Chispas") located in Sonora State, Mexico . Las Chispas is in a historic silver-gold mining district which presently hosts two nearby precious metal producers. Historic information indicates that only three veins, the Las Chispas, William Tell and Babicanora, of the fourteen historically reported veins at Las Chispas had documented production, between 1880 and 1930. SilverCrest's initial focus is on these three veins. To the Company's knowledge, none of the known veins have been drilled prior to the Company's current campaign. For more information, please refer to our website at www.silvercrestmetals.com. N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, President & CEO remarked, "The initial Las Chispas drill hole results received to date are impressive. Not only do they indicate bonanza grades of up to*** 18.55 gpt Au and 2,460 gpt Ag or 3,851.3 gpt AgEq*, but also show mineralized widths up to 7.2 metres in estimated true thickness. These first results have exceeded our expectations and appear to confirm that historic mining completed in the early 1900's has left behind substantial unexplored, unmined and easily accessible high grade mineralization. Until now, we have only been guided by what we could access from the estimated 11.5 kilometres of historic underground workings with approximate mined widths of 1 to 3 metres. Our drilling adjacent to historic workings now suggests that 1 to 3 metres may be the minimum widths of the Las Chispas vein. By combining our recent underground sampling and new drill results for the first of several veins to be explored, we have begun to discover the hidden potential of this district-wide play. This news release is the first of a series of releases on Phase I drill results and other activities to be announced over the next several weeks." The most significant core drilling results for this release are 4.6 metres wide grading 4.56 grams per tonne ("gpt") gold ("Au") and 621.5 gpt silver ("Ag"), or 963.2 gpt silver equivalent ("AgEq"* uncut, undiluted, see attached Figure) including 0.8 metres grading 3,851.3 gpt AgEq (see attached Photo) in hole LC16-05. Also noteworthy is 7.2 metres wide grading 2.41 gpt Au and 311.5 gpt Ag, or 492.5 gpt AgEq* in hole LC16-08. The following table summarizes the most significant drill assay results (uncut, undiluted) for the Las Chispas vein only; Note: all numbers are rounded. *AgEq based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au) and 100% metallurgical recovery. ** All holes were driled at apparent angles to mineralization and adjusted for true thickness. Las Chispas Main Vein in bold. *** Drill hole grade intercepts range from 1.3 gpt Au and 152.6 gpt Ag to 18.55 gpt Au and 2,460 gpt Ag with a weighted average grade of 3.52 gpt Au and 454.8 gpt Ag. All assays were completed by ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, Mexico , and North Vancouver, BC. All drill holes have intercepted quartz stockwork veinlets, veining and/or breccia. No underground workings have been intercepted while drilling the Las Chispas vein. Drill hole LC16-01 intersected the Las Chispas Vein (outside the potentially identified high grade corridor) with grades less than the initially established cutoff of greater than 150 gpt AgEq*. Holes 2, 3 and 4 were drilled exclusively into the adjacent parallel William Tell Vein and will be reported separately. Holes 9 and 10 intercepted quartz stockwork including anomalous but low gold and silver values. Holes LC16-12 to 19 are pending final results, some of which are William Tell intercepts only, and will be reported once all assays are received and compiled. For comparison purposes, hole LC16-05 intercepted 4.6 metres wide at 4.56 gpt gold and 621.5 gpt silver, or 963.2 gpt AgEq of breccia near the previously announced underground channel sampling result (see new release dated July 19, 2016 ) of 8 metres in vein strike length, 1 metre wide, and grading 1163.0 gpt AgEq, also in breccia. By comparison, the mineralized drill intercept is 2.5 metres wider than the accessible historic workings and the Company's average underground sample widths. Drill holes LC16-05, 08, and 11 intercepted a new continuous vein (unnamed) which appears to be parallel to the nearby Las Chispas Main Vein. This new discovery suggests additional potential for further exploration work with a three hole drill-intercept, weighted average of 1.3 metres grading 1.32 gpt Au, 152.6 gpt Ag or 251.8 gpt AgEq. The Company is completing its expanded Phase I surface drill program having drilled 22 core holes totalling approximately 6,300 metres to date. Nineteen holes have been drilled in the Las Chispas and William Tell veins, and three holes in the adjacent Babicanora ( La Victoria ) area. Based on positive Phase I surface drilling results, the Company is planning a Phase II surface drill program for the fall of 2016. With permitting near completion, the planned 2,000 metre underground drill program should commence in late Q3 or early Q4 2016. The underground drill program will focus on delineation of a potential bulk sample, infill and expansion drilling, and drilling to depth in preparation for the initial Las Chispas resource estimation. The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is N. Eric Fier , CPG, P.Eng, and President and CEO for SilverCrest, who has reviewed and approved its contents. ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC. SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, BC , that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and targeting production in Mexico's historic precious metal districts. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including the pioneering of a responsible "phased approach" business model taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production with subsequent increased value to shareholders. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. These include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the strategic plans, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration, rehabilitation and drilling programs of the Las Chispas Project, including initial extraction program for bulk sample testing and preparation of an initial resource estimate; information with respect to high grade areas and size of veins projected from underground sampling results and drilling results; and the accessibility of future mining at the Las Chispas Project. Such forwardlooking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of expenditures related to rehabilitation and drilling programs; and effects of regulation by governmental agencies. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors including: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law. N. Eric Fier , CPG, P.Eng President & CEO SilverCrest Metals Inc. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE SilverCrest Metals Inc. Contact: SilverCrest Metals Inc. Fred Cooper, Investor Relations Telephone: +1 (604) 694-1730 Fax: +1 (604) 694-1761 Toll Free: 1-866-691-1730 (Canada & USA) Email: info@silvercrestmetals.com Website: www.silvercrestmetals.com 570 Granville Street, Suite 501, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1 Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. More disclaimer info: http://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Disclosure: Investorideas.com is compensated by SilverCrest Metals Inc for annual news publishing effective January 2016. Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info: http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894. Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. The luck of the Irish - weve all heard about it, but weve also been accused of having a very dark side. I mean, read a Martin McDonagh play, a Patrick McCabe book, or even Colm Toibin or most of the fiction coming out of Ireland lately and youll know what I mean. Here are nine Irish things to cast off if you want to live a happier life. 1. Guilt Irish and guilt go together like love and marriage. Blame our punishing version of Catholicism which made us all sure we're heading to hell if we as much as looked at a dirty picture or had bad thoughts. Thankfully, there is a new era today and Irish people can forget the old ways and embrace a guiltless life. Well, maybe. 2. Begrudgery Defined by Brendan Behan as the ability to walk ten miles to a funeral but refusing to cross the road to congratulate someone. Yes, we are begrudgers. Just look at the stick poor old Bono gets for trying to save the world. We need to celebrate the success of others, not secretly hate them for it. Youll feel better too. No you wont. 3. Nasty Gossip No one is quite like the Irish for gossip. Yeats said it all: Great Hatred, Little Room. Tearing down folks makes gossip a cousin of begrudgery, but grudges are usually kept quiet while nasty gossip tends to be spread far and wide. Do you know whos pregnant and whose child it is?!. etc. 4. Snobbishness via GIPHY Especially the South Dublin set who regularly turn up their noses at the Irish yokels from the countryside. Class distinction is still very much alive and well in parts of Ireland and Irish America. Think shanty as against lace curtain Irish. 5 . Complaining about the weather via GIPHY Get. Over. It. It rains about 300 out of 365 days in Ireland. Think of the fun and craic of the people and accept that we dont visit or live in Ireland for the weather. 6. Dont always be late It leads to mental pressure and anxiety. Others even joke about Irish time being slower than GMT. Its okay when it's a night in the pub, but with meetings and appointments, it's plain annoying. 7. Procrastination or shure it will be alright tomorrow" The ability to put things on the long finger is a real Irish trait. Expect the worst when you hire contractors, etc. Don't believe a word when they say they will be there early. But, also, improve your own efforts to get things done. 8. Refusing to visit the doctor Particularly an Irish male trait. They will do anything rather than go for one of those things called a medical check-up. It could save your life literally. 9. Stop asking for directions in Ireland PLUG IN YOUR GPS! If you dont, youll be met with, Oh Jaysus where are we now let me see ah yes, you turn at the crossroads, not the first one but the second one, take a left then a right, right? Then take a left again and you'll pass a house on the right and keep going until you see another house and thats not the one but take a right and a left and theres another house thats not the one either but keep on straight there may be cattle in the field to the right and thats the house at least I think so. Hang on and Ill ask my brother Seamus. The Irish politician arrested three times over the course of two days for drunk and disorderly behavior and for drink driving is alleged to be the Social Democrat James Heffernan from Co. Limerick. Heffernan was affiliated with the Labour Party between 2007 and 2012. He had been an independent from 2012 to 2015. The 36-year-old does not currently hold office in national government, but he was elected as a Senator in the 24th Seanad (Senate) in April 2011. He was elected on the Agricultural Panel for the Labour Party and was recorded as having the second worst attendance record for that Seanad. He was present for only 23% of votes, according to a study carried out by the Irish Independent. While attending the Indiependence music festival in Cork over the course of the recent holiday weekend, Heffernan, a primary school teacher, was apprehended on three different occasions by the gardai (Irish police) for drunken behavior. He is alleged to have spat at an officer trying to arrest him. Earlier reports did not name Heffernan, who was reportedly first arrested at the Cork music festival on Sunday and taken to Fermoy Garda Station, where he continued to act in a disorderly manner and assaulted a police officer. Heffernan was released on Monday morning and taken back to Fermoy later that day and charged with drunk driving. Hours after his second release he found himself back in a Cork garda station for being drunk and disorderly and accosting members of the gardai. Heffernan has since posted an image to his Twitter account of his own broken lip. Nursin a wee fat lip, with a nice cuppa tae and a good read. #chillaxing pic.twitter.com/jmEjXrc8bX Jasper Carrott (@ jimmyheffo ) August 2, 2016 Heffernan moved to Australia in the early 2000s, but the Kilfinane native returned to Ireland to rekindle his political ambitions. He was successful, winning a seat on the old Limerick County Council in 2009. He ran for the Dail as a Labour candidate in the 2007 and 2011 general elections but failed to win a seat. He tried again for the Dail earlier this year, this time as a member of the Social Democrats. While he was a Senator, he lost the Labour party whip in December 2012 after he voted against the party and the government on a Social Welfare Bill. Heffernan has had previous run-ins with the gardai. Earlier this year he was arrested for refusing to leave a crime scene in Dublins Temple Bar. He had been drinking with friends when he stumbled into an area cornered off by Gardai, which they believed may have been a murder scene. Heffernan refused to leave when ordered to do so. He was arrested on the spot, taken to Pearse St. garda station but later released without charge. Before the announcement that Heffernan was to run as a candidate of the new Social Democrats party, he stated that he was in talks with colleagues in Leinster House with the aim of founding a new Irish political party that would challenge Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein flip-flopped every which way and when they saw mass mobilization of people, they cynically jumped on that bandwagon they are bringing innocent kids who maybe are well-intentioned and they are getting them elected and brainwashing them, he told the Limerick Leader. I have been working my socks off up here to try and put together a serious, proper alternative to the politics of intimidation and bullying which Sinn Fein espouse. A bio for James Heffernan is no longer available on the Social Democrats' website. They say that politics makes for strange bedfellows. Well, two of the oddest ducks to share the same Fenian bed were Sir Roger Casement executed 100 years ago today in London and John Devoy. If you read Irish history you would be led to believe that Devoy, the leader of Fenianism in the United States at the time of the Easter Rising, probably loathed Casement. You could not find two men more different in background: CasementProtestant, knighted for his work in the British Foreign Service, and a latecomer to the nationalist movement and DevoyCatholic, imprisoned for his participation in the Rising of 1867 and banished to America where he demonstrated his daring by rescuing fellow Fenians from an Australian penal colony using the American ship, the Catalpa. Devoy became the driving force behind the new militant nationalism that spread throughout Ireland through the Gaelic League and the eventual establishment of the Irish Volunteers. Devoy supplied money and ideas to keep the movement afloat. He also nurtured and groomed rebels in exile in New Yorklike 1916 martyr Tom Clarkefor their return to Ireland. Devoy did not meet Casement until 1914 when he was 74. By that time Devoy had failing hearing and eyesight Based on comments from those on the Irish side of the Atlantic, you would think that Devoy and Casement shared no common ground. Casement had come into things national, Kathleen Clarke, Toms widow, recalled in her autobiography, 'Revolutionary Woman,' and Tom knew very little about him. Naturally, he had no cause to place much confidence in him; and the fact that he had been knighted by England in recognition of services rendered made Tom suspicious of him. Casement was not long enough in nationalist things in this country to prove his genuineness. Joseph Plunketts sister Geraldines opinion was brutally stark: John Devoy simply hated him, she wrote in her autobiography, "All in the Blood." With the outbreak of the Great War, Casement landed in New York. Devoy was suspicious of Casement because he sided with John Redmond, the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, in Redmonds takeover of the Irish Volunteers in 1914. This may have also been the reason why Tom Clarke didnt trust Casement and it wouldnt be a shock if Clarke relayed this opinion to his old friend, Devoy, in New York. Oddly enough, Devoys autobiography, "Recollections of an Irish Rebel," shows an affection for Casement that one would not expect from the tough old Fenian jailbird. The book was not published until a year after Devoys death in 1928. (The interesting thing about the book is that it basically stops after the Easter Rising. There is not one mention of Eamon de Valera, Michael Collins, or the Treaty.) Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! Subscribe to IrishCentral Although he was suspicious of Casement because of the John Redmond/Irish Volunteers fiasco and highly dubious of his plan to seek German help for the coming uprising, Devoy introduced Casement to his German contacts (Franz von Papenfuture stooge of Adolf Hitlerwas a prime New York contact for Devoy), gave him an immense amount of money (probably in excess of $10,000), and packed him off to Europe. Devoy did so with reservations because he did not trust Casements traveling companion, one Adler Christensen. [I] missed the fact, wrote Devoy, that the acquaintance between the two was only of a few weeks duration. Had I understood that, I would have objected strongly to Christensens going as Sir Rogers companion. It is thought that Christensen might have been a British agent, maybe a German agent, or even a double-agent playing both sides. He may also have been Casements lover. Christensendouble-crossed us, said Devoy, [and] proved himself a trickster and a fraud Devoy is blunt in his assessment of Casement and his work in Germany. Casements mission to Germany had three main objects: First, to secure German military help for Ireland when the opportunity offered. Second, to educate German public opinion on the Irish situation, so that the people would stand behind their Government when it took action in favor of Ireland. Third, to organize, if possible, Irish prisoners of war into a military unit to take part in the fight for Irish freedom. Casement did his best in all these things, but did the first ineffectively, succeeded admirably in the second, and failed badly in the third. Devoy may have been old, frail and crotchety, but he was an excellent judge of character. While Tom Clarke may have been suspicious of Casements motiveshe probably thought him a British agentDevoy took Casement for what he wasa true patriotwith a strong shake of salt: While a highly intellectual man, Casement was very emotional and as trustful as a child. He was also obsessed with the idea that he was a better judge than any of us, at either side of the Atlantic, of what ought to be done (though he was too polite and good-natured to say so), and he never hesitated to act on his own responsibility, fully believing that his decisions were in the best interests of Irelands Cause. This created many difficulties and embarrassments for us. Practical politics he did not understand, wrote Devoy, but the end to which the practical politician, the statesman and the soldier should devote their efforts he understood most thoroughly. He was an idealist, absolutely without personal ambition, ready to sacrifice his interests and his life for the cause he had at heart, but was too sensitive about the consequences to others of his actions. When Casement was in London awaiting trial, Devoy selflessly donated $5,000 he had just received from his brothers estate in New Mexico to Casements defense. In his autobiography he slammed the British for their whispering campaign about the Black Diaries, Casements supposedly notoriously graphic descriptions of his homosexual romps on two continentswhich may or may not have been a fabrication of the British Secret Serviceas foul and slanderous propaganda to arouse public opinion in America against him. He wrote of Casements demise at the end of a rope on August 3, 1916: Thus ended the career of one of Irelands noblest sons. [H]e was withal one of the most sincere and single-minded of Irelands patriot sons with whom it was my great privilege to be associated. His name will ever had a revered place on the long roll of martyrs who gave their lives that Ireland might be free. High praise indeed from the man Patrick Pearse called the greatest Fenian of them all. --- Dermot McEvoy is the author of "The 13th Apostle: A Novel of a Dublin Family, Michael Collins, and the Irish Uprising and Irish Miscellany" (Skyhorse Publishing). He may be reached at dermotmcevoy50@gmail.com. Follow him at www.dermotmcevoy.com. Follow The 13th Apostle on Facebook. Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! Subscribe to IrishCentral Five German women who organised a flashmob event that sent dozens of people running in the streets of a Spanish town, apparently fearing there had been a shooting attack, have been arrested. Agents were called to Platja D'Aro, a north-eastern tourist resort town, following reports of shots, which proved to be false, a police statement said. A medium-range ballistic missile fired by North Korea flew about 620 miles and landed in the Sea of Japan. The US Strategic Command said North Korea fired two presumed Rodong missiles simultaneously on Wednesday. It said initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. According to South Korea and Japan, one suspected Rodong missile lifted off from the North's western Hwanghae province and flew across the country before falling in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that it "strongly condemns" the missile launch because it explicitly shows the North's intentions of being able to launch missile attacks on South Korea and neighbouring countries. Japan's defence ministry said the missile landed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone, the 200-nautical-mile offshore area where a nation has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources. Japanese media reported it was the first North Korean missile that has splashed down in Japan's EEZ. "It imposes a serious threat to Japan's security and it is unforgivable act of violence toward Japan's security," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. North Korea has previously fired Rodong and other missiles into the sea but South Korean analysts say Wednesday's flight was one of the longest for a North Korean test. Several North Korean rockets have gone further and even over Japan. But Pyongyang called them satellite launches while Washington, Seoul and Tokyo said they were disguised tests of missile technology. After several failures, the North put its first satellite into space aboard a long-range rocket in December 2012 and conducted another successful satellite launch in February. In June, North Korea, after a string of failures, sent another type of mid-range missile known as "Musudan" more than 870 miles high. Analysts say the high-altitude flight meant North Korea had made progress in its push to be able to strike US forces throughout the region. North Korea routinely conducts weapons tests, but the latest launch came after North Korea warned of unspecified "physical counter-actions" against a US plan to deploy an advanced missile defence system in South Korea by the end of next year. Seoul and Washington officials said they need the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system to better cope with what they call North Korea's increasing military threats. North Korea called the system a provocation that it says is only aimed at bolstering US military hegemony in the region. Pyongyang is expected to carry out more weapons launches in coming weeks to protest against annual US-South Korean military drills that begin later this month. North Korea describes the drills as an invasion rehearsal. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea and tens of thousands of more in Japan. Saudi academic Mohammed Al-Jeffery must facilitate the return of his 21-year-old daughter Amina to the UK, a High Court judge has ruled today. The judge in the case said Amina was being constrained at her father's home in Saudi Arabia - and said he had the power to help her. Mr Justice Holman said today the issue was whether he should exercise that power. Amina Al-Jeffery - who grew up in Swansea and has dual British and Saudi Arabian nationality - says her father, Saudi Arabian academic Mohammed Al-Jeffery, locks her up because she ''kissed a guy''. Lawyers representing Miss Al-Jeffery (pictured) have taken legal action and asked Mr Justice Holman to look at ways of helping her. Amina Al-Jeffery The judge, who analysed the argument at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London in July, delivered his ruling today. Mr Justice Holman was told that Miss Al-Jeffery left Swansea and moved to Saudi Arabia with her family four years ago. Mr Justice Holman said he had concluded that Miss Al-Jeffery's freedom of movement had been severely constrained. He said she could be described as "caged" - although not literally "in a cage". "This is a very unusual case," said Mr Justice Holman. "I have a very wide range of powers." But he said the issue was: "How far could or should this court go to seek to protect a British citizen who resides abroad?" The move by Spains largest bank could end a costly seven-year process by RBS to offload the small business lender, a key EU condition of its taxpayer-funded rescue at the peak of the global financial crisis. RBS has blamed the complexities of creating a standalone technology platform for the delays in selling Williams & Glyn, seen by some analysts as a major milestone in the lenders road to recovery, return to full private ownership and restoration of dividends. Some 6,000 RBS employees have been working on the project to spin-off the 300 branches, equivalent to 1-in-10 of its UK staff. The process has been described by chief executive Ross McEwan as the most complex restructuring in global banking. RBS, which reports results for the first half of its financial year on Friday, declined to comment on the matter yesterday. In a statement, Santander UK, the British arm of the Spanish bank, said it did not comment on market rumours or speculation. It also said it continued to focus on organic growth but could look at opportunities that benefited its customers and shareholders. Santander, which already controls former UK building societies Abbey and Alliance & Leicester, is keen to expand in Britain to offset weakness in its domestic market, where high rates of unemployment and weak economic prospects have led to a rise in bad loans and volatile credit demand. Santander is working on a deal where the units loans, deposits, customers and branches would transfer, while some services would continue to be hosted by RBS, one source told Reuters. A fully agreed deal is unlikely in the coming days, the source added. Spanish rival Banco Sabadell acquired TSB from Lloyds Banking Group in a 1.7bn deal in March last year, in a similar effort to diversify revenues. Santander walked away from a deal to buy Williams & Glyn fours years ago amid concerns about its technology platform. Virgin Money, and Spains BBVA have also been linked with bids. Williams & Glyn has 1.8 million customers, net loans and advances of 20bn and customer deposits of 24bn, making it one of Britains largest prospective challenger bank brands with potential to poach market share in the small business lending sector. The biggest US bottled-water companies Nestle Waters, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Dr Pepper-Snapple Group say Americans have switched from carbonated beverages because their products are calorie-free and as portable as a can of Mountain Dew. But the expectation that future sales will rise has to do with another, less happy reason: crumbling infrastructure. Lead contamination in Flint, Michigan, Washington DC and Newark, New Jersey, has focused attention on Americas decaying pipes. At least $384bn of improvements are needed to maintain and replace essential parts of the countrys water infrastructure through 2030, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. The Waterkeeper Alliance, an environmental watchdog, estimates that about $1.4bn is being spent annually, meaning the country should be all caught up by the year 2290. Concerns in places like Flint do bring bottled water to peoples attention as a safe and sealed source of drinking water, said Jane Lazgin, a spokeswoman for Nestle Waters North America, the largest bottled-water maker. The source of Nestles Poland Spring brand is in Maine, while its Pure Life brand is filtered municipal water. Bottled water, of course, is vastly more costly than tap water and, many contend, far tougher on the environment. Its about 2,000 times more expensive than tap on average, according to Peter Gleick, president emeritus and chief scientist at the Pacific Institute. And it takes a lot of water to manufacture the bottle: triple the amount thats inside, according to data from the Pacific Institute. Moreover, only 30% of the plastic bottles are recycled. But if there are concerns about bottled water, misgivings about soda are greater. Per capita consumption of carbonated soft drinks reached a 30-year low. Americans will each drink 124.5 litres of bottled water this year, 5.5 litres more than soda. The carrier two weeks ago lowered its profit target for the year and trimmed growth plans after bookings on long-haul routes to Europe fell following a series of attacks in Europe and political troubles stemming from Britains vote to leave the EU and the failed coup in Turkey. We dont have any visibility on how people are booking, and were losing group bookings from Asia and the US due to travel warnings, chief financial officer Simone Menne said, although she noted business travel was holding up. The uncertainty comes during the important third quarter for European airlines, traditionally when they make most of their money due to the summer holidays. Other major carriers have cut back on planned growth due to the resulting pressure on prices. Last week Air France-KLM said it was concerned about Frances attractiveness as a destination, while Aer Lingus and British Airways owner IAG gave a cautious outlook for the year. Ms Menne said Lufthansa had sold 67% of seats for the third quarter, 3% less than at this time last year. Unit revenues are set to fall 8% to 9% in the second half and yields a measure of pricing are at levels last seen during the 2009 financial crisis, chief executive Carsten Spohr said. Lufthansa, which has been trying to reduce costs in the light of competition from low-cost carriers and fast-growing carriers such as Emirates and Turkish Airlines, said it aimed to reduce unit costs, excluding fuel and currency, by 2% to 3% in the second half of the year. With the recent market developments, the importance of efficiency gains is prioritised. In 2017, the focus will be on cost efficiency and not growth, Mr Spohr said. In the first half of the year, the airlines unit costs fell 1.3%. Lufthansa has agreed a new pay and pensions deal with cabin crew but is still in talks with its pilots. Lufthansa expects 2016 adjusted earnings before interest and tax to be below that of last year, when it made just over 1.8bn. However, it said it still expected to be able to pay a dividend for this year, as earnings before interest and tax should be above last year, partly thanks to the cabin crew deal that will help reduce its pension costs. Its shares, down almost 30% this year, fell 3.8% yesterday, the biggest faller among European travel stocks. The Dublin-headquartered mobile marketing software company founded by Patrick Leddy has closed the round with investment from seed-stage venture capital firm Dunnhumby Ventures, Enterprise Ireland and Delta Partners Bank of Ireland Seed Fund. A number of high-profile investors also participated in the funding round which Pulsate will use to help the companys expansion, particularly in the US. Pulsate helps companies interact with customers online and limit consumers tendency to discard apps after a short period of time. The reality is the majority of apps are only used once, users churn within the first few days and ignore push notifications. Customers are in the midst of a mobile mind shift and expect content on demand that is tailored towards their immediate context, Pulsate chief executive Mr Leddy said. The Pulsate software claims to solve the problem of user churn by simplifying how marketers communicate with their users, allowing them to send highly personalised campaigns that attract and retain users attention. It does this by interpreting mobile signals in real-time, contextualised situations which enables it to better understand customer behaviour and tailor its customer interaction. Pulsate also unveiled its new mobile marketing growth stack consisting of six products from mobile app engagement to conversation tools. The four-year old company is hoping to tap into the huge projected growth in the industry over the coming years. Pulsate says it is in a strong position to benefit as the sector is slated to increase from $28.6bn a year in 2016 to $98.8bn in just five years. A number of big-name companies have been sufficiently impressed by Pulsate to join its growing list of clients which includes Heineken, Hewlett Packard and NCR. In addition to its Dublin headquarters, Pulsate also has a US office in San Francisco. Shares in the US pharmaceutical giant, among Irelands largest exporters employing 4,000 people here, fell almost 2.5% at one stage yesterday. The shares are up 13% this year, however. The drugmaker did not offer any hints on whether it plans to split into two separate companies, a long-mulled potential decision that has kept investors in suspense. Pfizer said second quarter revenue rose 11% to $13.15bn (11.77bn), topping the average analyst estimate of $13.01bn. Sales of generic medicines rose 16% to $6.04bn, helped by Pfizers $16bn purchase last year of generic hospital products company Hospira. Although generics beat expectations, BMO Capital Markets analyst Alex Arfaei said sales of Hospira products, at $1.14bn, were 7% below his forecast, and suggested limited revenue synergies from that acquisition. Sales of Pfizers patent-protected drugs rose 7% to $7.11bn, 2% below Mr Arfaeis estimate. Higher sales of nerve-pain drug Lyrica helped offset disappointing sales of its Prevnar vaccine for pneumococcal infections. In April, Pfizer terminated a $160bn deal to acquire Irish-based drugmaker Allergan after the US Treasury Department issued new rules restricting tax inversion transactions aimed at slashing taxes. With collapse of the deal, investors have shifted their focus to whether Pfizer will break up, creating one company specialising in patent-protected drugs and another geared toward branded generic drugs. Pfizer for several years has weighed whether such a split makes sense, largely because its patent-protected medicines routinely enjoy sales growth, while its portfolio of generics usually post declines. Pfizer said yesterday it expects to decide by the end of the year. The companys new breast cancer treatment, Ibrance, generated sales of $514m, up from $140m in the year-ago quarter and exceeding Evercore ISIs forecast of $496m. Pfizer earned 64 cents per share, excluding special items, beating the average analyst estimate by 2 cents. Net income fell to $2.02bn, or 33 cents per share, from $2.63bn, or 42 cents per share, hurt by restructuring charges and acquisition costs. Pfizer reaffirmed it expects 2016 earnings of $2.38 to $2.48 per share. It earned $2.20 per share in 2015. Separately, the company said it had reached a $486m settlement of shareholder litigation accusing it of causing losses for shareholders by concealing safety risks of its Celebrex and Bextra drugs. The government revoked certs for 80 model variants of VW, Audi and Bentley vehicles, and fined Volkswagen 17.8bn won (14.3m) for allegedly forging documents on emissions or noise-level tests. The move could slam the brakes on sales for Europes biggest carmaker in the Asian market, where its local unit had more than tripled revenue to 2.82tn won over the past five years before becoming mired in the emissions scandal. Its already clear that Uber is not taking over the world. It faces similarly tough competition in other big Asian markets, such as India and Indonesia, as well as throughout Europe. The problems Uber faces are different in every country, and so is the competition. But the American companys methods are the same everywhere: Arrive with a bang, start a price war (and usually a legal war with regulators), and burn money until competitors retreat. This creates ridiculous situations like the one in India, where Uber claims to have 50% of the ride-hailing market and its main rival, Ola, claims 75% and both companies are subsidising both drivers and passengers. Uber is probably the one exaggerating its market share: The deal with Didi, which gave Uber an 18% economic interest in the Chinese company though it claimed to control more than 30% of the market, suggests that the California startup inflated its success in China. Its the norm for Uber to remain the underdog in big markets while it burns through tons of investor cash. In Indonesia, local company Gojek and Singapore-based Grab have most of the market. In Moscow, Russias biggest taxi market, Israel-based Gett and local Yandex Taxi together handle about 47% of the rides, while Ubers share is no more than 15%. In Germany, MyTaxi has 40% of the nations taxi market, while Uber only offers services in two cities, Berlin and Munich, having abandoned Frankfurt, Hamburg and Dusseldorf last year. And some countries are intent on keeping Uber out altogether. Trying to run taxi services throughout the world is a major operational challenge even when regulators are benign. A month ago, Uber launched in Kiev, Ukraine, where the authorities saw its arrival as a welcome sign of westernisation. In typical style, it offered as many as five free rides to initial clients but it was impossible to find a car with the Uber app. Disappointed Kievans stopped trying. The Uber app slid from an overall third place in Apples Ukrainian app store in early July to 89th on Monday. Sure, Uber can probably prosper without dominating every big taxi market in the world. Its successful and, it has said, profitable in the US. In some markets, being second or third can still be lucrative. Uber is probably right to attempt global dominance, although a subtler approach such as partnerships with, or stakes in, local services might be a better strategy. The investors that have backed its brash tactics, though, are probably not using their money in the most efficient way. In China, Uber burned through $2 billion in two years trying to undermine Didi with predatory pricing. Was it smarter to give that money to Uber (and ultimately to consumers in China), or to invest in Didi, which will now have a monopoly on ride-hailing in China and probably see profitability faster than Uber? Apple did the latter, investing $1bn for an undisclosed stake that was probably about 5%. Its not just Apple that decided to back local ride-hailing companies rather than Uber. SoftBank, led by one of the worlds savviest tech investors, Masayoshi Son, is behind Indias Ola as well as Grab. Daimler, the German carmaker, owns MyTaxi. The logic behind these bets is that the local companies have a better understanding of their countries, as Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal or MyTaxis Nic Mewes argue. Uber wont replace cars with boats when a flood hits one of the cities it serves, as Ola did in Chennai. Uber treats local regulators and industry incumbents with disdain, while MyTaxi tried to co-opt the local industry to its cause, which is the German way. Ubers only real competitive advantage, apart from a war chest full of other peoples money, is that it works in a lot of places. Thats ephemeral, though: Eventually, big local services will form even bigger alliances allowing them to pass travellers to each other across borders the way mobile telecommunications operators do. Investors must examine Ubers global strategy and decide whether swagger and predatory pricing are the way to go. No additional markets are available to Uber without further bloodshed - and thats economically inefficient. So imagine our excitement when freelance multi-media journalist, Kevin O'Brien, contacted us looking for some archive images of Cork in times-past so he could create some then-and-now photo blends. We were not disappointed when he finally shared his hard work with us and we hope you enjoy as much. Don't miss the glorious video at the bottom of this story as well and remember you can buy any of these images right HERE Munster Arcade, St Patrick St 1900s The Munster Arcade was one of Corks biggest department stores until it ceased trading in the 1970s. The premises, along with many others in the area, were destroyed in 1920 during the Burning of Cork after a group of British Auxiliaries were seen throwing a bomb into the ground floor. In the image, the original Munster Arcade facade can be seen. Also in shot is a tram making its way down St. Patricks Street, while suppliers make deliveries with their horse and carts. Vehicles belonging to the City of Cork Steam Packet Company, which imported and exported goods from Britain, can also be seen outside some of the streets stores. Dunscombe Fountain, Shandon Street 1920s The Dunscombe Fountain was located at the bottom of Shandon St near the North Gate Bridge in the area known as Browns Square from 1883 until 1935, according to historian Tim Cadogans book, Cork in Old Photographs. The fountain, which functioned as a gas lamp in its later years never returned to the square and remains lost today. In the past, the area depicted in the photograph was used as a place for traders and vendors to sell their goods. Here in the old image, shawlies sell Christmas holly to well-dressed passers-by. Patricks Hill 1932 This 1932 Peugeot 201 looks a lot different from the newer models but it is well able to mount one of Corks steepest inclines, St Patricks hill. Looking down the hill, nowadays large trees as big as the period buildings line the street on the left hand side, but the top of the climb still offers amazing views looking down towards toward St Patrick Street and beyond. Shandon Street 1953 Shandon Street is one of Corks oldest inhabited areas and has developed a rich legacy over the centuries. Corkonians of a certain vintage will tell you that the street was once one of the busiest retail areas in the city. A period of decline in recent decades saw the street lose some of its charm, though it has always held a special place in the hearts of many locals. More recently, Shandon has undergone a 15m renewal project which has helped to rejuvenate the street. Visitor attractions in the area have also been developed, such as the Butter Museum, St Annes Church and the Shandon Bells. Culturally, the popular Shandon Street Festival celebrates the heritage and history of the area each year, proving that Shandon retains a special place in the heart of Corkonians. Electric Tram, Blackrock 1902 Electric trams served Cork from 1898 1931 until they ceased operations due to the growing popularity of buses. In this photo a tram on the Tivoli to Blackrock route makes its way through Blackrock village in 1902. The building in the centre of the photo has a sign reading Tramway Refreshment Room, while these days, that building is a sign makers. Although the trams no longer run to Blackrock, recent work during the village renewal scheme found that much of the tram lines were intact under the road surface. These will be dug out to form a feature of the new designs for the area. Cork Opera House, Emmet Place 1920s Taken in the early 1920s, the old snap of Emmet Place here offers a glimpse of the original Opera House. Built in 1852, the old building had a beautiful curved front and hosted some of Irelands best touring opera companies and actors until it burned down in 1955 over a hundred years after it was built. In 1965, the Opera house was rebuilt with a new design and was officially opened by President Eamonn de Valera. The new modern facade was later constructed in 2000. Also visible is the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery building, to the left of the Opera House, and Queen Anne House, at the corner of Opera Lane, which dates back to the 1730s. If you are interested in buying these pictures or giving someone the perfect gift follow this LINK In their newly published mid-year economic assessment of farm income prospects for 2016, Teagascs economists say an oversupply in global dairy markets has led to a collapse in dairy commodity prices over the last 18 months. The depressed dairy market has led to increased cow culling across the EU, boosting the EUs supply of beef. EU beef prices have been lower as a result. There is a similar supply and demand imbalance in other sectors. Teagasc economist Kevin Hanrahan said: The Brexit-related slide in sterling, has had an adverse impact on Irish commodity prices generally, notably in the beef sector, given the importance of the UK market in Irish beef exports. The supply of Irish sheep and lamb has increased in 2016. While production in the EU15 has been steady this year, there is likely to be a slower growth in sheep meat demand in the EU. The impact of Brexit has made UK lamb more competitive, both in its home market and when exported to France. Thus, Irish lamb exports are at a price disadvantage in Irelands two main lamb export markets. In spite of lower production costs this year, the lower lamb prices will make Irish sheep farm margins lower than in 2015. Teagascs Trevor Donnellan added: The protracted dairy commodity price slump means this period of low milk prices has persisted considerably longer than in the crisis of 2009. While global dairy commodity prices are now showing some signs of a recovery, it will be of little benefit to Irish milk prices in the current season. A sharp drop in Irish dairy farm incomes in 2016 is now inevitable from the near record levels of incomes in 2014 and 2015. Furthermore, the fall in oil prices over the last 18 months has now filtered through to many areas of the agri inputs market. Teagascs Fiona Thorne said weather conditions for the 2016 cereal harvest have been much less favourable than in 2014 and 2015. It is likely Irish cereal yields will be well down this year on the previous two years, said Dr Thorne. By contrast, it looks like being another good year in terms of international cereal production, which will mean international cereal prices are likely to fall this year compared to harvest 2015. With lower cereal yields and lower prices that there would be a considerable fall in tillage farm incomes in Ireland in 2016, she said. The Irish Farmers Association organised the demonstration. Crane operators and hauliers were stood down for a brief period during the five-hour protest but later returned to work feeding haulage trucks on their way to local mills. Cork barley grower Billy Cotter pledged war on those he claimed were forcing him and others out of the marketplace. Were fighting for our livelihoods. If we are to have any chance of surviving, this has to stop, he said. Mr Cotter, 52, of Castletownroche, Co Cork, warned that the indigenous cereal sector will close if current trends continue. Irish growers claimed importers were undercutting them by up to 30 a tonne of barley, supported by Irish buyers. Mr Cotter, an IFA north Cork county chairman, added: There are obviously merchants buying it, and we are going to find out where they are, and we are going to put enormous pressure on farmers not to buy from those merchants. Philip Kinnane and Joe Parlan with grain farmers at Foynes. Picture: Brian Gavin We are going broke, we are standing up, and, we are going to fight this, he said. He said Irish barley growers were seeking a minimum 135 per tonne for green barley grain which, he said, would still see them operating at a loss. There will be war if we dont get it, he warned. IFA deputy president, Richard Kennedy, who led the protest which began at 8.30am, accused brokers and importers of aggravating an already serious income crisis on Irish tillage farms. James Hegarty, a 39-year old barley grower, from Whitechurch, Co Cork, said he was at breaking point. A spokesperson for the Irish Grain and Feed Association, the representative body of the grain and feed industry, said they recognised tillage farmers were experiencing extraordinary, difficult and challenging times, but they added: There is absolutely no way we can condone people disrupting unloading of boats and disrupting peoples lives like this. There are other ways of dealing with these problems. Meanwhile, a UK grain trader insider, said: Nobody sets the price of grain except globally and it is demand and supply. Irish farmers are given opportunities to sell forward, and unfortunately, this year very few took it. I dont know who would have advised them not to sell, but they do get forward prices. The jobs could take more than three years to be delivered but their announcement are a welcome boost to areas outside Dublin city. Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell OConnor was on hand to announce the creation of 100 jobs at an Australian tech firm, SiteMinder, between now and 2019. SiteMinder provides an online and cloud computing service for the hotel industry worldwide. The company will begin recruiting immediately, it was announced yesterday. Galway has a vibrant and growing technology hub and this was one of the main reasons given for SiteMinder in setting up an office in the west of Ireland. Speaking at the event, Ms Mitchell OConnor said she was delighted to welcome such a dynamic company as SiteMinder to Galway. Such high-growth companies are an exact fit for our talented and ambitious graduates who wish to embark on an exciting career path, she said. Galway is fast becoming a tech hub and SiteMinder is an exciting addition with the creation of at least 100 jobs, which will benefit the entire region and have a positive knock-on effect. It will complement the companys multinational base in London, providing online sales and support in the hospitality industry. SiteMinders largest customer base is in Europe, where online technology looks set to become the most popular method of booking travel products by 2017. Ms Mitchell OConnor was also on hand yesterday to announce the creation of up to 50 jobs at Jazz Pharmaceuticals in Monksland, Co Roscommon, near Athlone. The company opened a new 50m facility which was supported by IDA Ireland. Elsewhere, London-based financial services company Tullett Prebon is to create 300 jobs in Belfast over the next three years. The development was confirmed this morning at a news conference attended by the First and Deputy First Ministers, Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness. It is the first major jobs announcement in Northern Ireland since the Brexit referendum result in June. Tullett Prebon is a leading inter-dealer broker and has a total workforce of 2,700 people in 24 countries. It will establish a technology centre in Belfast to support its international growth strategy. He was talking yesterday following reports he will not be sending trainee priests to study at the national seminary in Maynooth this autumn. His decision on trainee priests from Dublin came amid serious allegations about goings-on in the Co Kildare seminary. There are allegations of different sides, he said. One is that there is a homosexual, a gay, culture that students have been using an app called Grindr, which is a gay dating app, which would be inappropriate for seminarians not just because theyre training to be celibate priests but because an app like that is something that would be fostering promiscuous sexuality, which is certainly not in any way the mature vision of sexuality that one would expect priests to understand. Archbishop Martin also said that another allegation related to the handling of whistleblowers in the seminary. On the other hand, there are people saying: Well, anybody who tries to go to the authorities with an allegation, then theyre being dismissed from the seminary, he said. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin However, despite these two sets of allegations, it was how the accusations were being made that spurred him on to make his decision to stop sending his trainee priests in Dublin to Maynooth. He said that the sending of anonymous letters was a poisonous act. I made this decision some months ago, about an atmosphere that was growing in Maynooth and which youd learn about through anonymous accusations, letters, and blogs, accusing people of either misconduct or accusing the faculty of Maynooth as not treating allegations correctly, he said. I felt that a quarrelsome attitude of that kind was not the healthiest place for my students to be and I decided Id send them to the Irish college [in Rome]. A culture of anonymous letters is poisonous until thats cleared up Id be happier sending my students elsewhere. Archbishop Martin on RTE Radio One yesterday, for the first time, about the Maynooth allegations since news broke about them on Sunday. The Dublin archbishop, separate to the allegations and their anonymous nature, said the seminary in Maynooth needed structural reform. One of the things about Maynooth is that it is a very comfortable seminary, he said. People have their breakfast, dinner, and tea served up to them and I would probably want a more challenging one, where theres a strong integration and dialogue between those who are responsible for formation and the students. I think a lot more structural reform will be needed in Maynooth. I feel that for the situation in Dublin we probably need a different way in the long term. Maynooth could continue as a theological faculty, the students could go there but the formation, I believe, would be better outside the closed, strange, world of seminaries. The medical director of Tropical Medical Bureau said they are testing three to five people a week for the virus. Others have also been phoning in looking for advice. Young couples, in particular, who had holidayed in areas where there was evidence of mosquito-borne Zika virus are asking to be screened. The clinics director of nursing, Siobhan Grehan, said people are coming to the clinic to be screened almost every day now. Ms Grehan said people concerned that they may have contracted Zika can have a blood test to show whether or not they were exposed to the virus. The World Health Organisation said 67 countries have reported evidence of mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission. Officials in the United States have warned pregnant women to avoid travelling to a Zika-affected part of Miami in Florida, where there have been 14 cases of Zika virus caused by local mosquitoes. There is concern that people infected in Florida will travel to other areas of the country where Zika could be spread by mosquitos there. Infection with Zika has been linked with a severe birth condition called microcephaly a neural tubal defect where a new-born baby has an unusually small head because its brain may not have formed properly during pregnancy. Cases of a neurological illness, called Guillain-Barre Syndrome, possibly caused by Zika virus, are also being studied. Zika virus can also be passed between sexual partners and is more likely if the man has symptoms of the disease. Research has shown that Zika virus can be found in a mans semen for up to two months after symptoms have started. While Zika can be transmitted through blood, this mode of transmission is not common. There is no vaccine or specific drug for Zika virus. Ms Grehan said they are advising pregnant women or women planning to conceive to consider the risk of travelling to a Zika- affected area. The ongoing Zika outbreak was first detected last year in Brazil where it has been linked to more than 1,700 cases of the birth defect microcephaly. Ms Grehan, who was speaking on RTE radio yesterday, said the number of cases of Zika virus in Florida is very low, but there was still a risk. However, medical experts always err on the side of caution when it came to pregnancy: So, as a cautionary note, we want people to avoid anything that may potentially cause a risk to an unborn infant. She reckons that the disease will spread from Florida because for every five people that have the virus, only one will have symptoms. The only way to stop the virus spreading is to control the mosquito population. We would always advise people who are travelling to areas where there are mosquitos to avoid being bitten because they carry many diseases. Zika virus is a mild disease, and most people will recover. But it is a potential issue for women who are pregnant or planning to conceive. So if you are pregnant or planning to conceive and if you are travelling to an area like Florida then you need to sit down and think about it, she said. The WHO has recommended that women avoid getting pregnant for up to eight weeks after returning home from an infected area. Eir made the call in its submission to ComRegs consultation on public payphone thresholds, which currently stipulates that the telecoms company may only remove a payphone if it is the focus of antisocial behaviour or if its usage is low averaging at less than one minute a day over a six-month period. Following the consultation, ComReg has announced it will not make any changes to the thresholds. We had hoped that ComReg would recognise our concerns given the low use of payphones and, as outlined in the submission, this service is now become uneconomical, said a spokesperson for Eir. In its submission to ComReg, Eir said the substitution of payphones by mobile phones in particular has resulted in public payphone usage having dwindled to a level that could not warrant the continued imposition of the USO to provide public payphones. It pointed to mobile penetration now at 124.5%, adding: Mobile service is also more affordable and convenient for end users than payphones. Eir called for the usage threshold to be increased to an average of two minutes a day over six months and additional removals criterion to enable the removal of public payphones that have become isolated and therefore extremely uneconomic to serve. In its decision, ComReg said Eir was selected as the service provider for payphones due to its geographical ubiquity, its experience, and its capability, and noted that the consultation was specifically with regard to usage thresholds and did not cover the questions of Eirs service obligations. Eir appears to be aligning the benefit to society with actual (low) use of a particular public payphone, it stated. We consider, however, that public payphones are provided for use by anyone, in particular as a back-up. The people using them and the reason for use will vary depending on the circumstances and it is not relevant to compare it with the general phone usage of other consumers of electronic communications services. We also considered the impact of increasing the level above two minutes and noted this would result in very few public payphones remaining as only a very small number of public payphones have usage of more than three minutes per day. Increasing the threshold to five minutes may have a similar effect to removing the obligation to provide public payphones. A prime example of how much of an eyesore public phoneboxes have become ComReg received a total of 21 submissions on its consultation over the provision of payphones many of which called for the removal of such fixtures because of antisocial behaviour. The Abbey Theatre complained: The phonebox at the corner of Abbey and Marlborough St outside the Abbey Theatre is a prime example of how much of an eyesore that public phoneboxes have become. Its neglected. Its an advertising space, has a broken pane of glass, and tends to be used by those contributing to antisocial behaviour and not the general public. Galway City councillor Donal Lyons argued that specific phoneboxes not identified in the report are in a state of major disrepair and are unsightly, obstructing a busy thoroughfare and at night they are continually being used as urinals in this busy tourist location. Another complainant suggested enclosed phoneboxes be replaced by US-style open pole fixtures. Currently they are being used for a toilet; we have witnessed people urinating in them. Also people smoking inside them, regular drug taking. Personally I would not feel safe inside one of them for fear of mugging or being attacked. This view was backed by business improvement district organisation Dublin Town, which suggested open phoneboxes would reduce public defecation, litter build up, and drug consumption at payphones and would make them more accessible for wheelchair users. Dublin City councillor Ciaran Cuffe complained about Eirs use of phone boxes for advertising . Others called for the retention of public payphones. Its important that all people have access to a phone if they need it. We cannot assume all people are mobile users, wrote one member of the public. Dalkey Community Council made a submission on behalf of a number of concerned residents in Dalkey who are very upset that Dalkey may lose the Eircom phonebox at the Square in the town. It is in a position to serve one end of the town and the local residents find it as a reassuring facility. The salmon project will exploit new techniques in population genomics and quantitative genetics to investigate how Atlantic salmon escaping from farms reduce the survival potential of wild salmon when they breed together in rivers. The interbreeding of wild and farmed salmon reduces the productivity of rivers and is detrimental to fisheries and biodiversity. The salmon project is one of 24 being funded to the tune of almost 40 million distributed via Science Foundation Irelands Investigators Programme and funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation. UCC will lead five of the 24 projects which will involve researchers at the Tyndall National Institute and the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. The Tyndall National Institute projects include theoretical and experimental design of thermoelectric materials for use in various energy-saving applications; the use of magnetics for efficient energy management in electronic devices; exploring the potential of new semiconducting materials to replace silicon in future electronic technologies and enhanced growth processes to prepare thin-film materials for integration into real-world devices. The sixth project, co-led with TCD, was awarded 1.9m, 805,000 of which will come to researchers at the Tyndall National Institute. This project will explore the development of wearable and flexible electronic products as well as the development of circuits which will underpin the internet of things. Professor Anita Maguire, Vice President for Research and Innovation at UCC said: We are delighted with the 9.3 million funding for UCC announced today as it provides us with the supports needed to take ideas and convert them into reality. "Increased levels of collaboration between industry and academia have already delivered significant value to the Irish economy and initiatives like this help boost innovation through the transfer of technologies to companies. Todays announcement will also help make us more competitive when applying for research grants from Horizon2020 and other international sources of funding. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell OConnor TD said: This funding provides an important platform for researchers to advance their investigations and further enhance Irelands reputation for excellence in sectors such as health, agriculture, marine, energy and technology. "Engaging with 39 companies, the programme offers researchers the opportunity to develop their careers, as well as providing industry collaborators with access to the wealth of outstanding expertise and infrastructure found throughout the island. "The alignment of the Investigators Programme with Horizon 2020, the European Unions research funding programme, will lead to further successes in leveraging EU resources and increasing international collaboration. The projects within this programme clearly demonstrate excellent and impactful research which is a key goal of the Governments science and innovation strategy Innovation 2020. To drive national success in Horizon 2020, the SFI Investigator Programme involved the collaborative participation of a number of Government Departments and funding agencies. Co-funding for seven of the projects is being provided by the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland (DfE), the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI), the Marine Institute (MI), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Professor Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland added: The Science Foundation Ireland Investigators Programme supports the highest standard of impactful research, as clearly demonstrated by the outcomes of previous awards. "I have high expectations for these projects; all have undergone rigorous peer review by international experts and we have funded only those projects deemed to be at the pinnacle of scientific excellence. As well as providing an important platform for engagement in Horizon 2020, the programme also creates training and employment opportunities, promotes industrial collaboration and drives advances in energy, agriculture, science, technology and health which will benefit Irelands economy and society. The 24 research projects funded are in a range of strategically important sectors. A further ten projects were also deemed scientifically excellent and impactful by the International Review Panel and are on a reserve list to be funded, if budgets permit later in the year. Health & Medical Development of a clinical test to predict whether breast and prostate cancer tumours are likely to return after surgery; Development of a one-step germ-detection device for use on foods and solid surfaces; Research into the use of novel neurotoxin-based pain killers for chronic pain; Creation of technology for bacterial biofilm disruption and removal with downstream benefits in the areas of drug delivery and water purification; Identification of biomarkers for personalized, cost-effective treatment of chronic kidney disease; Development of cell therapy to treat critical limb ischemia, a complication associated with diabetes; Development of diagnostic devices for analysis of molecules associated with cancer or infectious disease in bodily fluids; Development of a vaccine against MRSA, a hospital-acquired infection; Strategies to non-invasively monitor the progression of inflammation in the brain of a patient with Alzheimers Disease and identification of new ways to slow disease progression; Extraction of compounds from sponges and corals found in Irish waters and examining their therapeutic potential. Food and Marine Investigating the impact of escaped farmed salmon on wild Irish Atlantic salmon populations; Development of biosensors for TB diagnosis in cattle and identification of way to breed healthier, disease-resistant animals; The impact of the biodiversity of farm grassland on productivity and resilience to future extreme environmental events. Energy and Environment The use of magnetics for efficient energy management in electronic devices; New theoretical models to help design energy-efficient devices for future Internet platforms; The design of new software and computer-based models to produce more secure power systems; Optimising how fuels burn in order to provide more efficient energy production. Manufacturing & Materials Enhanced growth processes to prepare thin-film materials for integration into real-world devices; Theoretical and experimental design of thermoelectric materials for use in various energy-saving applications; Exploring the potential of new semiconducting materials to replace silicon in future electronic technologies; Graphene-like materials for the development of future solar-based technologies; Image-based technology to date calcite deposits in carbonate rocks for geochemical, historical and energy-related applications. ICT and Communications Creation of extensive and more effective city dashboards in Dublin and elsewhere through software design, virtual reality and data analysis; An optical/near-infrared detector array to help study stars, galaxies and planet formation. The 24 research projects supported by the Science Foundation Ireland Investigators Programme will be funded through eight research bodies, as follows: Dublin City University (1), Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (1), National University of Ireland Galway (3), National University of Ireland Maynooth (1), Trinity College Dublin (6), Tyndall National institute (4), University College Cork (5), University College Dublin (7). In the second half of last year, the European Network Against Racism Ireland (ENAR Ireland) received 165 reports of racist incidents through its iReport.ie tool, including 37 offences which it described as serious. But its report for the period claims that, in 139 of the incidents, the matter was not brought to the attention of gardai. The largest proportion [55 reports] did not think the gardai would or could do anything about it, 45 thought it would not be taken seriously by gardai and 27 did not feel comfortable reporting to gardai, ENAR Ireland said. 13 reported previous negative experiences with gardai, and one with police in another country. 18 did not know how or where to report to gardai. 14 feared reprisals as a result. It said that of the 28 cases which were reported to gardai, garda responses were predominantly reported as being reasonably prompt initially, but most expressed frustration with the outcome. In one case of very serious conflict and extreme violence, gardai took more than 15 minutes to arrive at a city centre location, and bystanders intervened to help the victims, unhappy with the delay in light of the risk to the victims, it said. In 13 cases, gardai took reports, but there was no follow-up in five of these. ENAR said the period between July-December last year saw the highest number of assaults to date assault appeared in 25 of the reports, including seven with injury. A further 13 cases involved serious threat to harm or kill, it said. Damage was involved in 16 (10%) cases, including against business (2), houses (6), vehicles (6), windows (4) and missiles (3). Abuse was reported in 88% of cases, with 41 cases of repeated harassment (28%) and 38 cases of threat (26%). Verbal abuse was reported in 57% of cases. Fifteen incidents required medical treatment or resulted in serious health problems for the victims, according to ENAR. That included four cases of serious injury (three hospitalised), including an assault on a pregnant woman. One victim reported two suicide attempts as a result of their experience. When it came to the perpetrators of the abuse, the report found middle aged people (36-55) accounted for the most incidents (45) of any age group followed by the 26-35 category (24 incidents). . As to the victims, the largest ethnic category targeted in the period was Black-African. Along with Black-Other, this accounted for 47 of the reported cases (28%). White Europeans (mainly Eastern European) were targeted in 21 (13%) of cases. People described as South Asian were targeted in 20 cases (12%) and Chinese or East Asian in 10 cases (6%). Travellers were targeted in 9 (5%) cases, and Roma in 11 (7%). There is evidence of low levels of trust in gardai to attend all kinds of incidents in a timely manner, and to pursue an investigation, ENAR concluded. Examples of reported racist incidents The nine-month appointment to the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is being funded by the Government as part of its Rebuilding Ireland housing plan. Part of the role will be to oversee the unions online campaign to match students to landlords, which is focusing on encouraging people with spare rooms to rent to students in their own homes. Leonard Collins and Joanne Meadows also vowed to continue their high-profile campaign to change the law after securing the release of their beloved Hank which had been seized by Belfast City Council three weeks ago. Outside Belfast Magistrates Court, they spoke of their relief that Hank had been placed on the councils exemption register, sparing him from destruction. Mr Collins said: It has been three weeks but it seems like three months. It has been very, very difficult. We are glad that common sense has come through and that they recognise that Hank is a friendly dog. As part of his release conditions, Hank is to be kept on a lead with a muzzle; will be assessed by a behaviourist, and his owners have agreed to adhere to any recommended training to control his exuberant nature. Ms Meadows said: We just cant get over we are going to be able to see him again. Even when we were told the decision on Thursday, I didnt want to believe it because I didnt want to get my hopes up. I just miss him so much. Animal rights campaigners who had packed into the public gallery of courtroom 16 in the Laganside Court Complex erupted into applause as District Judge Ken Nixon confirmed he would sign the court order placing the dog on the exemption register. Barrister Mark OConnor, representing Mr Collins, said they wished to thank the public for their support. They are delighted this has been resolved in this way and that Hank can be returned home, the lawyer said. During a hearing which lasted less than five minutes, it was revealed Hank had come to the councils attention as a result of a complaint from a member of the public about alleged mistreatment. When officers attended the property, Hanks owners were not present and the dog was displaying agitated behaviour, it was claimed. The animal was seized when a warrant was executed. He was subsequently examined by a breed expert who concluded that although Hank was a boisterous pit bull-type dog, he did not show any signs of posing a threat, the court was told. An online Save Hank petition had secured almost 285,000 signatures while a Just Giving legal fighting fund has raised almost 20,000 (23,786). Celebrity dog trainer Victoria Stilwell and boxer Carl Frampton were among those who backed Hanks campaign. The IAA will hold a public meeting today in Dublins Red Cow Inn, at which people will have a chance to address any concerns to CEO Brian Murnane. Mr Murnane said yesterday that the meeting was arranged last week as the best way to address questions raised on social media. The purpose of meeting people is to help them understand what we do with the money we raise: People will then decide themselves if we have used funds responsibly or not, he said. They cannot reach that conclusion either way, unless we are transparent. In a Facebook post last week, the IAA outlined the services it provides. They include a helpline; individual and national advocacy; and provision of specific support to various groups. However, the IAA said: We have had to reduce the number of people receiving one particular kind of support, behavioural outreach. This was the only area where we did receive State support, from the HSE. However, the funding we received had to be supplemented from our fundraised income in order to provide the service. It became clear to the board of the charity that this situation could not continue so we informed the HSE and reduced the number of families we were supporting in this fashion from seventeen to two. We have since commenced discussions with the HSE regarding a revised financial model that would allow us to return to providing those supports more widely. There has been sustained criticism on the IAA Facebook page and elsewhere regarding the reduction in behavioural outreach, and general queries about how the IAA has been using the resources at its disposal. Yesterday, the IAA said that its audited accounts from 2010-14 are available to view at its website, autismireland.ie. We find the quantum of the need in society does not correlate to the funds generated, it has been our experience that certain fundraising channels have become less productive than before, said Mr Murnane, pointing to examples such as black tie balls and charity auctions. Strategically, charities need to identify new ways to earn sustainable income to survive, which is a challenge. We receive no State funding except for the HSE contribution to one specific service, to which we also contribute heavily. To that extent, all of the income decline in recent years is due to fundraising declines, which have affected most if not all charities. Mr Murnane said that the cutbacks in behavioural outreach are temporary, admitting that there are more gaps in public services than we or any charity, can fill. He said: We stated that pending an agreement with HSE that allows us to resume that service fully, we will readily do so. We only restricted the programme because the supplementary cost we incurred to hire the highly skilled staff required to deliver the service was greater than our fundraised income could support. Sky News defence correspondent Alistair Bunkal reported that French special forces have just carried out their first counter-terrorism exercise in on a ferry in the English Channel the Irish have carried out several such operations in recent years. Mr Bunkal showed footage of the Irish operation as an example of how a textbook anti-terrorist exercise at sea should be carried out. He said ferries could be considered soft targets compared to aircraft, where there are stringent checks on luggage and, in some cases, armed air marshals onboard. Mr Bunkal pointed out that the Irish exercise featured special forces landing from a helicopter at the same time as others scrambled up rope ladders after alighting from high-speed RIBs (rigid inflatable boats). Mr Bunkal said it was an incredibly difficult thing to board a moving ship in such a co-ordinated manner. The Irish exercise took place in the Irish Sea, just off Dublin Bay, in the middle of May and it wasnt the first. Defence Forces sources confirmed such exercises have taken place every two years for a number of years. The assault teams boarded the Stena Lines Superfast ferry, which had passengers onboard who were told it was an exercise. The special forces Army Ranger Wing alighted from both the RIBs and a helicopter in a pincer movement to secure the vessel. They were also backed up by LE James Joyce, which shadowed the ferry during the operation, and by an Air Corps plane carrying out surveillance. A Defence Forces source said combining Naval Service, Air Corps, and Army in an exercise is a complex operation. The Army Ranger Wing has been practising a number of terrorist countermeasures since well before the Government recently announced that the threat of a terrorist attack in this country has been moved up a notch to moderate. The Army Ranger Wing has specialist skills which were seen in the ferry exercise. Some are trained for a seaborne attack while others are expert in aerial assault tactics. Chief executive Tom Murphy informed the newspapers staff yesterday that Mr Vaughan has been offered and accepted the position of head of content and corporate communications at Cork-based Newsweaver. Mr Murphy said he was sorry Mr Vaughan was leaving, but wished him the best in his new position. The role of Irish Examiner editor is a high-profile, exciting, but complex and demanding job, and Tim has always carried out his responsibilities with great skill, diligence and panache, said Mr Murphy. The two of us have always worked very well together and I am very sorry that he is leaving. However, he has been offered and accepted a new opportunity, a new challenge in a different but related industry that will call heavily on the skillsets that he demonstrated so effectively in the Irish Examiner. Mr Vaughan, who has been editor since 2001, said that after 15 years in the job, it was time to take up a new challenge. While I am really looking forward to the prospect of this exciting and unanticipated opportunity at Newsweaver, its going to be an emotional wrench to leave the newspaper that I love so much and which has been such a huge part of my life for so many years. It has been a total privilege to have had this wonderful job and to have worked with so many great colleagues who have made the Irish Examiner the highly respected newspaper that it is today, said Mr Vaughan. He thanked his colleagues for being there with me on the journey, for the friendship, the support, the fun, the laughs... and the many near heart attacks along the way. He expressed a special word of gratitude to Mr Murphy for his generous and unstinting support and backing in sometimes very trying and difficult circumstances over the years. Mr Vaughan also said words could not do justice to how thankful he was to the Crosbie family for their unwavering commitment to editorial independence since he was appointed editor. So for that, for Teds wise words and his always-infectious enthusiasm for what we do, I will be forever grateful, said Mr Vaughan. Mr Murphy said the company would commence a recruitment process for Mr Vaughans replacement shortly. Mr Vaughan, who has extensive experience of the media and corporate communications industry will join Newsweaver in October. Newsweaver founder and chief executive Andrew OShaughnessy said: Im delighted that someone of Tims calibre is joining our exceptionally talented team at a time when we have very exciting ambitions for international growth. He is widely respected in the media industry, and has a great track record in agenda-setting journalism at the Irish Examiner. His knowledge, experience and skillset is a perfect fit for Newsweaver as we expand our international footprint. Newsweaver works with some of the worlds largest corporations and best known companies, providing pioneering software solutions to complex employee communications challenges. Clients include Rolls-Royce, LinkedIn, Experian, Vodafone, and Aon Hewitt, among several other Ftse and Fortune 1000 companies. The company has pioneered technology solutions that have overcome the challenges facing internal communicators. The tiger is one of five land predators with the greatest proportions of threatened prey whose plight was highlighted by researchers. Half of the animals it hunts in the wild are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list of threatened species. The other most at-risk carnivores were the clouded leopard, with 60% of its prey threatened, the Sunda clouded leopard (50%), an Asian wild dog, the dhole (42%) and the Ethiopian wolf (40%). The scientists compiled a list of 494 prey species that provided food for 17 large carnivores including the lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, grey wolf, Eurasian lynx and spotted hyena. Of the prey species, a quarter were on the red list. Of these, 14% were classified as vulnerable, 9% endangered and 2% critically endangered. Large carnivores that were themselves on the red list were more likely to have threatened prey. On average, 27% of their prey was threatened compared with 19% for non-red list carnivores. The researchers, led by Christopher Wolf from Oregon State University College of Forestry, wrote in the journal Royal Society Open Science: Abundant terrestrial mammalian prey are required for the survival of large carnivores. In fact, there is a strong relationship between prey and carnivore abundance approximately 10,000kg of prey supports about 90kg of large carnivore biomass, regardless of species. When sufficient prey is unavailable, large carnivore populations will decline, possibly becoming locally extinct, he said. Carnivores deprived of prey may come into conflict with humans as they raid farms for livestock or stray into highly populated areas, said the scientists. Large predators were said to be ecologically important as a group of species. As well as keeping crop-damaging herbivores in check, they played a vital role in attracting tourists to developing countries. The scientists concluded: These results show the importance of a holistic approach to conservation that involves protecting both large carnivores directly and the prey upon which they depend. An information campaign has been launched for the new two-week leave. It will guarantee new fathers two weeks leave and basic statutory welfare payments. However, new dads will also need to have a public service card to apply for the leave, due to a demand by the Department of Social Protection to ensure the new system is fully operational online. Mr Varadkar yesterday signed the changes into law, which will cost 5m this year and 20m for a full year. The changes will guarantee fathers 230 a week, paid to their employer from the State. However, Mr Varaddar said bosses should ensure full salary levels remain when fathers take the leave. He encouraged the vast majority of employers to top-up the amounts so workers got normal salary levels. Most fathers in the public sector would receive full salaries for the leave taken, he noted. The self-employed, same- sex couples, and those adopting will also be able to take the leave, he said. Applicants must apply online and also give their employers, where necessary, four weeks notice to take the leave. The leave can be used within the first 26 weeks of the new birth or adoption. Expecting fathers would be informed of the new leave through an online campaign through social networking websites, officials said. Mr Varadkar admited it was unfortunate that other parents with new babies could not apply for paternity leave but there had to be a cut off period. The arrangement applies only from September 1. Mr Varadkar said: We want to make sure that fathers- and mothers-to-be across Ireland know they can start claiming for two weeks of paternity benefit from September 1. We also want to ensure fathers know how to apply. Its really simple, but you need to take a few straightforward steps. Youre eligible for paternity benefit when you take your statutory two weeks of paternity leave and fulfil PRSI requirements. You can take paternity leave at any time within the first 26 weeks of the childs life, or following adoption. Mr Varadkar was commenting on media reports that a party councillor was allegedly warned not to give evidence in Mr Perrys court action against the party. Ive read about the various allegations in relation to the Perry case, he said. Im not involved directly, I dont know the details, I havent seen any of the letters. But obviously I was concerned about any allegation of that nature but I dont know of the facts. Mr Varadkar said that, as it is a party matter rather than a Government one, it is primarily a matter for the executive council of the party to deal with. It is alleged that senior party personnel essentially warned a party councillor not to testify in the Perry case earlier this year, as it would look bad for them. Mr Perry took the party to the High Court after he failed to secure a convention nomination. He argued that Taoiseach Enda Kenny had promised all sitting TDs would be allowed to contest the election. The party settled the case and allowed Mr Perry to stand. He subsequently lost his seat and the party was landed an estimated legal bill of 500,000. However, Hubert Keaney, the Sligo councillor at the centre of the row, is still awaiting the partys response to his allegations. The Irish Examiner understands Mr Keaney initially wrote to the party to highlight his concerns but was less than satisfied with its responses. He sent a second letter seeking a better explanation from headquarters, has not yet received a response. Mr Keaney says he was pressurised by Fine Gaels top official, general secretary Tom Curran, not to give evidence in a case taken against the party. Mr Varadkar said he has full confidence in Mr Curran in light of the claims. Mr Keaney, who is mayor of Sligo County Council, wrote to Mr Curran and Fine Gaels director of elections, Brian Hayes. Neither Mr Hayes nor Mr Curran answered their phones yesterday and a party spokeswoman had no comment when contacted by the Irish Examiner. As the countdown begins to the rush for places when Leaving Certificate students get college offers in less than three weeks, first-year students could face even more pressure than in other years. Each year, some 25,000 students compete for places in the private rental market after around 35,000 spaces in college-owned and private student accommodation are let out. Despite the completion of several purpose-built student complexes in recent years, the shortfall is being barely reduced because student numbers are also rising. The number of private landlords letting houses near Cork Institute of Technology campuses has dropped by as much as two-thirds over the last few years. Wed have had around 150 houses on our list that we circulated to students in the past, but we probably havent 50 this year, said Deirdre Falvey, CIT student services accommodation officer. She said young families have been able to better afford rents and these make for more secure longer lets to landlords. In addition, some landlords have sold houses they were renting as property values have returned to former levels. Some students who have a good relationship with their landlord are keeping the same house for the following year. And other students who were previously in house shares are taking student apartments, so the number of spaces for first years is even less again, said Ms Falvey. Like many other third-level colleges, CIT is now reaching out to local communities to encourage people to rent rooms in their own homes. CIT The Union of Students in Ireland has relaunched a website aimed at matching owner-occupiers with rooms to rent to consider taking on student tenants for the college year. A rent-a-room tax relief allows home owners earn up to 12,000 without any tax liability. University College Cork Students Union welfare officer, Rory ODonnell, said people have been in contact all through the summer in the search for rooms well before the mid-August crunch time after school leavers get their results. The university have come in and got extra beds this year, but student numbers are rising, he said. In the last few years, more first years are going for private accommodation, possibly because second years are choosing to stay in campus places rather than looking for space in the private rental market. Around 56,000 students will receive their Leaving Certificate results a fortnight from today, and most have applied for third-level through the Central Applications Office. Just under 40,000 places were filled in the main round of 2015 CAO offers, which will issue for this years school leavers and others on August 22. Around 5,000 places have already gone to overseas students and some mature students. A further round of offers issues tomorrow to other mature students, those who deferred places last year, and some further education graduates. These two early rounds accounted for 7,500 out of more than 48,000 college places filled by the CAO in 2015. The attack was broken up when the mans colleague hosed down a group of violent teenagers with a fire extinguisher. Christopher Byrne, aged 19, from Cabra Park, who had 39 prior criminal convictions, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm at a Topaz shop in Balgriffin, Dublin 17, on February 19, 2015. The case was heard at the Dublin Childrens Court because a co-accused was a minor. Byrne was sentenced to 12 months supervised probation by Judge John OConnor. He must stay out of trouble and accept help from the Probation Service to help divert him from re-offending. Otherwise his case could be re-entered for breaching the terms of the order and he could face a custodial sentence. Garda Ciaran Upton told Judge OConnor that Byrne and three other youths went to the Topaz shop to buy tea and coffee. The manager suspected one of them of theft. The manager was attacked and ended up on the ground, in a struggle with Byrne, who picked up a solid tin can and used it to strike him over his eye. The victim was struck a number of times and by more than one person when he was on the ground, the court heard. Another shop worker was in fear and intervened by deploying a fire extinguisher to disperse the three youths who ran outside, after which the door was locked shut. Byrnes three friends remained outside, and the door was smashed in allowing him to get out, before all four fled. Gardai arrived after a panic alarm was activated to find the forecourt covered in white powder and the manager bleeding. Byrne had seven convictions for motor theft offences, two for public order charges, seven for theft, one for violent behaviour in a Garda station, as well as trespassing, drugs, and driving offences. Judge OConnor described it as a very frightening experience. Some 1,076 worth of damage was caused. Two other youths, aged 18, will be sentenced later for their roles in the incident. A 17-year-old boy has been released on supervised probation for 12 months after he admitted to violent disorder and criminal damage charges. The Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) has warned all businesses of an increase in the number of scams being experienced. It pointed out that many of these scams have convincing fake email addresses and websites, and international business directory scams are especially prominent. ISME said that these criminal activities were costing millions and advised SMEs to put in place policies to prevent these new and intricate rip-offs of unsuspecting businesses. It has received an increased number of calls in the last three months from companies who are being inundated with pseudo-requests, spurious invoices and sham deliveries, in the mail or over the internet. Chief executive of ISME Mark Fielding said many of the scams occur during the holiday periods. These scams are particularly prevalent during the holiday periods as fraudsters are aware that, in many cases, senior management may be out of the office, leaving more junior staff to take decisions. This can result in a staff member signing for something that they should not be signing, resulting in the company being tied to a contract. Most of these scams concern invoices for subscriptions for online business directories, he said. Mr Fielding said the latest scam involves companies receiving bogus internet correspondence from both the Revenue Commissioners and Taxation Institute requesting certain financial information to process tax rebates. Small businesses are already under pressure and can ill-afford to fall victim to these scams, which could send some over the edge. Fraudsters are becoming particularly sophisticated, and are devising new and intricate methods to rip-off unsuspecting companies. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to stamp out this practice; so the only protection for business owners is extreme caution and continuous staff training. Falling prey to a scam attempt is not inevitable for businesses, it can be avoided if the right training and processes are in place, he said. Mr Fielding said scamscould cost Irish business millions in lost revenue and time spent rectifying the problem. It is imperative that there is an increased recognition by law enforcement agencies of the extent and impact of this fraudulent activity on SME business. For all businesses, When in doubt dont pay out should be the motto, particularly for all suspicious invoices, he said. The boy was born in England and adopted aged two after being taken into care by social services staff, a senior family court judge has heard. Shortly afterwards his adoptive parents moved to a new home near Dublin, and the boy lived in Ireland for more than seven years. Earlier this year the couple returned to England and presented him to social services staff. The couple said they were finding it hard to manage the youngsters behaviour and said he needed help. They fear he would bounce around the foster system if taken into care in Dublin, and said his needs would be best met in Britain. After a family court hearing in Bournemouth, Mr Justice Baker said he was asked to decide whether an English or Irish family court judge should oversee the case. He concluded that the boy was habitually resident in Ireland and said an Irish judge should take the reins. Mr Justice Baker, based in the family division of the High Court in London, said no one involved could be identified: His birth mother used alcohol and heroin during her pregnancy and he was born with foetal alcohol syndrome. Unfortunately, (his adoption) placement ... has been beset with serious difficulties. In particular, his parents have struggled to manage his behaviour. The judge added: It is clear from the documents included in the court papers that (he) has demonstrated particularly challenging behaviour. Over the last eight years, he has had a variety of therapeutic help and assistance from a number of professional agencies, including occupational therapy, psychological assessment, play therapy and psychotherapy. He has been diagnosed as suffering from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood dysregulation disorder, alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder, a sensory processing disorder and a reactive attachment disorder. The Poole social worker described how (his adoptive mother) reported that she and her husband had made the decision not to relinquish care of (the boy) to Dublin childrens services because, in their view, he would bounce around the foster care system and end up medicated in a residential unit and his life chances would be very poor. The social worker reported that (adoptive parents) were of the view that (his) needs would be best met in the UK where (he) would be able to access the therapeutic support he requires. (His adoptive mother) reported that they were aware of the potentially traumatic impact on (him) but felt they had no other option as their family was at breaking point, said Mr Justice Baker. The couple want the boy rehabilitated to their care in the future when he has received the therapeutic intervention he needs and can function within the family, said the judge. The boy has been placed in a residential unit in England pending the outcome of litigation. The judge said he has analysed legal argument about jurisdiction before concluding that the boy is an Irish resident and that his case should be analysed in an Irish court. He said he had heard from barristers Leslie Samuels QC and Sarah OHara, for Poole council; Sarah Morgan QC, Deirdre Fottrell QC and Louise MacLynn, for the adoptive parents; and Omar Malik, representing the boy. One garda suffered a broken jaw and his colleague was also seriously assaulted during the incident in Ballyfermot on September 1 last. Judge John OConnor adjourned the case until next month to allow time to prep-are a pre-sentence probation report on the 17-year-old. He appeared at Dublin Childrens Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. He denies charges for driving without a licence or insurance and a separate hearing date has been set for those allegations. The boy, who was accompanied to court by his parents, made no reply to the charges, the court has been told. The court heard that when he was initially stopped driving a scrambler motorbike, he punched Garda Daniel Matthewson, who suffered a fractured jaw. It was alleged the teen fled and Garda Trevor Mallon called to his home, where he was headbutted by the youth, who cannot be named because he is a minor. The youth has no prior criminal convictions, Judge John OConnor head. Ann Sheridan, defending, said that a few weeks before the incident, the youths home had been raided by mistake by armed gardai and this had affected him. One [allegation] is that there is a homosexual, a gay culture, that students have been using an app called Grindr, which is a gay dating app which would be inappropriate for seminarians not just because theyre training to be celibate priests but because an app like that is something that would be fostering promiscuous sexuality which is certainly not in any way the mature vision of sexuality that one would expect priests to understand, Archbishop Martin said yesterday. He was explaining his decision not to send trainee priests from Dublin to the national seminary this autumn. It comes at the same time as anonymous accusations were being made about the seminary, some of which included allegations of whistleblowers being dismissed and acts of sexual abuse. IN THE past few years, there has been a noticeable push to promote engagement in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) among children, with the introduction of coding lessons in primary school being mooted by Minister for Education Richard Bruton. However, many people argue that in this rush to embrace technology, the importance of the arts in childrens overall development is being forgotten, and that art and design need to be added to the equation to transform STEM into STEAM. Numerous research studies have shown that creative and artistic activities benefit childrens learning and development as a whole, have significant positive impacts on parent-child relationships, and can lead to better mental health in later life. Quality arts experiences in early childhood can also impact the brains development in other areas; for example, learning how to read music can help children in other areas such as maths and languages. And its never too early to start neuroscientists are starting to discover links between high-quality experiences in the early years and the developing brain. Research shows that babies are born with around 100 billion neurons but only about a quarter of the connections synapses already made between them. It is thought that the majority of synaptic connections a person will use in their lives are made by the age of around five. In this context, news that arts company Baboro has secured funding for a major international early years festival in 2018 will be welcomed. The Arts Council has announced that Baboro, which stages a week-long childrens arts festival in Galway every October, is one of the successful recipients of its Making Great Art Work Open Call Project Awards. There will be 130 artists from 17 European countries taking part in the 2018 event, specifically for children aged 0 to 6 years. WELCOME DECISION Aislinn O hEocha, executive artistic director of Baboro, says the decision is an important one for the promotion of artistic activities for the very young. Its important that we are all involved in giving children opportunities to explore their world through creative learning, from when they are babies. Even in the very early years, art gives them a way to express themselves. The funding for the 2018 event is particularly welcome given the nature of producing art and performances for children, says O hEocha. Making work for children, particularly small children, is never going to be sustainable. You cant charge 20 for a childs ticket, the economics would never work. The nature of it is theyre often low-c apacity performances and engagements. Last year, we had a show with a Belgian partner, a beautiful show for 0 to 12 months, but the capacity was 12, so it had to be hugely subsidised. The reality is that while there is interest in making art for children, funding is project by project, which is challenging. In 2013, Baboro launched its relaxed programme, which features performances for parents or teachers who may have concerns about bringing their child/children to a public event. The aim is to provide a comfortable and relaxed space for children to enjoy the show, and in turn provide a stress-free environment for parents. Light and sound is adjusted to reduce any discomfort or anxiety children or parents may have surrounding the theatre experience. The feedback has been very positive and encouraging, not only regarding attending the performances, its the whole adventure of getting on a bus and going to the theatre for the first time. Children who teachers and parents say might find it hard to concentrate are transported by the performance. We have also had engagement workshops with artists, with everything from visual art to robotics. ENCOURAGING TEACHERS Last year, Baboro completed a three-year long project called BEAST (Baboro: Environment, Arts, Science and Technology) to encourage primary teachers to explore cross-curricular teaching through the use of creativity. Its about making art more of an integral part of how we teach and engage with students, because it is challenging and outside the comfort zone for teachers. Teachers should see it as a tool to help them rather than thinking Oh God, I have to do some drama this week; they can use drama to teach maths, for instance. However, O hEocha cautions that artistic activity shouldnt just be seen as a educational conduit. Im always careful in terms of arts education that theatre isnt used as edutainment. Children should have the opportunity to experience art for arts sake. O hEocha also believes the arts is of value in teaching life and coping skills from an early age. We often underestimate children, and theres a danger that as society changes, we try to make everything safe and create bubbles for children; we tell them oh you cant see that or read that. Its really important we expose children to both beauty and difficult topics, to approach them through art in a safe environment. GRAFFITI BEAG Emelie Fitzgibbon of Graffiti Theatre Company in Cork has been championing arts for the very young for many years. Its programme Graffiti BEAG explores the possibilities of play, imagination, creativity and expression with and for children. We train different artists specifically in art for the very young and how to approach them, with gentle engagement all the time but our performance pieces are full-scale theres no compromising. We differentiate between the two, one is the full production and the other is arts intervention coming into the childcare setting. Fitzgibbon also highlights the work being done in primary schools under the Aistear programme, the early childhood curriculum framework for all children from birth to six years, which puts more of an emphasis on play and creativity. Anyone involved in Aistear is passionate about it. I think there may not be enough training in it as yet and it may not be reaching its full potential but its brilliant that it is now moving up through the early years in school. While access is a key concern for Graffiti and it does a lot of outreach work in this regard, Fitzgibbon is keen not to differentiate between social groups. We have a commitment to make art available to everybody, but were not focusing on that you dont want to pigeonhole babies. We could be working at a direct provision centre one day and the Crawford [art gallery] the next. Fitzgibbon says it is hugely rewarding to watch children and adults engaging in creative activity. You see the joy on their faces, which is beautiful that openness to play. Generally, when we have an activity its handed over to the children at the end, with that engagement, you can see them opening up to ideas.The adults also pick up ideas on what to do with their children. She adds that it is important that there is flexibility and understanding when it comes to events for children. At our performances, people dont have to feel their child has to be there they can take them out and well refund them. Its about taking that oh, you have to behave out of it, but theyre usually enraptured anyway. My name is Carolyn, and Im a chronic over-packer. Given the frenzied repacking of bags that takes place in hidden corners of airports, I know Im not the only one, but I recently decided to take myself to task and fix the problem. Every time I pack for a holiday, I convince myself that this time Ill nail it. This time Ill pack the ultimate capsule wardrobe something a Vogue fashion editor would be proud of but instead I end up chucking random bits and bobs into the case, as my mind is flooded with what ifs and just in cases. What if its chilly at night? I think, and pack a cardigan. What if I spill wine on that one? I reason, and pack another. Will I need something smarter than a cardigan? I wonder, throwing in a blazer. Ill bring that dress in case I need something fancy, I decide. But it really only goes with those gold platforms, I realise, throwing them in too. I could attribute this to recent staycations, and lazily stuffing everything but the kitchen sink into the boot of the car, but in the glory days of air travel pre-9/11 I once arrived for a flight with over 40 kilos of luggage in tow, like Irelands answer to Mariah Carey. Clearly, over-packing is a long-held and deeply ingrained inclination. Back then, airline staff would just laugh and roll their eyes, but as it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid having to pay for a check-in bag, its also become hard to justify paying an extra 50 to transport an array of clothing options a few hundred miles across Europe, only to haul them home again unpacked, perhaps, but largely unworn, and ultimately unnecessary. Because we all know how the holiday wardrobe plays out. Weve been there and done that dozens of times, as we discover those essential items we fall back into, again and again, all week long. Those trousers you wore with a crop top last night that are perfect for an amble into town this morning; the skirt that works for day or for night; the metallic sandals you can wear to the beach, then slide on with a maxi dress for dinner. As I recently discovered, packing for a week in the South of France, the solution to the hand baggage challenge is simple: versatility. If that dress only works with those platforms, leave BOTH behind. Find ways to dress things up and/or down. Invest in things you know youll be cool and comfortable in; leave behind those you know you wont. Allow for a maximum of one costume change per day we are none of us Mariah Carey. Finally, remember this golden rule: Place what you think youll need on the bed, then take half of it away. And like me, when I did finally nail it I bet youll still come home with half of it unworn. Roger Casement was hanged at Pentonville Prison in England for high treason on this day 100 years ago. Though remembered as a patriot in this country, mystery and controversy still surround his execution. Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. he travelled to Berlin to enlist German help for the forthcoming Irish rebellion. In much of the English-speaking world, especially in the US, the Germans were pilloried for their attack on tiny Belgium but, having been knighted for exposing the savage conditions of slavery in the Belgian Congo, Casement took a different view of the attack on Belgium. There may be in this awful lesson to the Belgian people a repayment, he wrote. What the Germans were doing in Belgium did not compare with the sufferings Casement witnessed the Belgians inflict on the natives of the Congo. Germany is fighting the battle of European civilisation at its best against European civilisation at its worst, Casement wrote after the war broke out. He considered the British Empire a monstrosity. The Germans authorised Casement to recruit an Irish brigade from among the 2,200 Irish taken prisoner while serving in the British Army, but he only managed to recruit 54 men, and he considered them the dregs of Irish society. Roger Casement The more I see of these alleged Irishmen the less I think of them as being Irish, he wrote. They are the black blot of our claim to nationality. I used to be proud to be Irish, he added, but now had reservations. I feel ashamed to belong to so contemptible a race. He also developed misgivings about the Germans. The more I see of the governing classes in Germany, the less highly I estimate their intelligence, he wrote the following day. He asked the Germans for 100,000 guns but they were only willing to provide 10 machine guns and 20,000 captured Russian rifles, which Casement dismissed as a paltry gift of second- hand rifles. The Germans were supposed to deliver him in a submarine to the arms ship, the Aud, in Tralee Bay, where he was to direct the landing of the guns, but he had different plans. The Aud He was hoping to stop the Rising because he realised it would be a disaster. If I can only get ashore a little head of the rifles I may be able to stop the rising. I tread the pavement with joy my last day in Berlin, city of dreadful night and most forbidding society, he noted in his diary on April 10, 1916. How I loathe the place! Indeed, Casement had come to think of Germany as his prison. He was arrested within hours of landing at Banna Strand in Co Kerry on Good Friday. That evening, he asked Fr Francis Ryan, a Dominican priest who called on him at the police station in Tralee, to pass on a message to the Republicans to call off the Rising, but the priest procrastinated over the weekend and only passed on the message on Easter Monday morning. By then, Casement had been moved to London, where he was questioned on Easter Sunday by Basil Thompson, head of the Criminal Investigative Division at Scotland Yard, and Admiral William Blinker Hall, head of Naval Intelligence. Casement pleaded to be allowed to appeal to those in Dublin to call off the Rising, but Hall wished for it to go ahead so that Irish nationalism could then be suppressed. It is better that a cankering sore like this should be cut out, Hall insisted. In effect, Hall facilitated the rebellion while Casement went on trial in London for high treason on June 26, 1916. There was conclusive evidence that he had tried to recruit Irish prisoners-of-war in Germany to fight against the British in Ireland. His defence counsel, Sergeant Alexander M Sullivan, tried to defend the charge on strictly legal grounds, contending that the 1351 statue he was accused of violating did not apply to acts committed outside the United Kingdom. The prosecution told the defence it had got hold of a Casement diary with some salacious material indicating he had engaged in homosexual practices. It seemed the prosecution was hoping the defence would use the material to support a plea of insanity, but Sullivan rejected the idea. I did not even discuss it with Casement, he wrote, beyond assuring him that the diary would not be alluded to during his trial. He was very nervous about it. It was possibly because of the danger of being cross-examined in relation to the diary that Casement decided not testify in his own defence but he was allowed to deliver an unsworn address to the jury on the third day of his trial. In this, he denied ever asking any Irishman to fight for Germany, or that he had ever received foreign money. I must state categorically that the rebellion was not made in Germany, and that not one penny of German gold went to finance it. After just 55 minutes of deliberation at the end of the four-day trial, the jury convicted Casement, and he was duly sentenced to death. He appealed, but this was dismissed on July 19 after a two-day hearing. There were strong calls for clemency. Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, drew up a petition that was signed by 39 prominent people including writers Arnold Bennett, G K Chesterton, John Galsworthy, and Jerome K Jerome. W B Yeats and George Bernard Shaw also spoke out on Casements behalf. Casement Strong sympathy was roused in the US, where William Randolph Hearst threw the support of his newspaper chain behind a US Senate resolution calling for Casements reprieve. The resolution was duly passed but, due to a mix-up, was not delivered until an hour after his execution. British officials had deliberately undermined the clemency campaign by leaking extracts from Casements diaries to prominent political and religious figures, as well as selected reporters. Photographs of the diary extracts were also circulated with the aim of undermining sympathy for him by depicting him as a moral degenerate. British ambassador Cecil Spring Rice warned Monsignor Giovanni Bonzano, the Papal representative in Washington, that His Majestys Government were in possession of evidence which would make it extremely undesirable that priests of the Catholic Church should publicly ascribe to Casement the character of a Christian martyr whose life should be held up as a model to the faith. The ambassador also gave a similar hint to Cardinal John M Farley of New York. The warning was supposedly to save high officials of the Church from embarrassment. On the eve of Casements execution, Walter H Page, the US ambassador in London, told British prime minister Herbert Asquith he had seen extracts from Casements diary. Excellent, Asquith replied, and you need not be particular about keeping it to yourself. The diary issue was really an irrelevant distraction. Instead of focusing on his brave attempt to stop the rebellion and the injustice of his execution, his supporters became obsessed with futile efforts to depict Casements authentic diaries as forgeries. Politics in the advanced economies of the West is in the throes of a political shake-up unseen since the 1930s. The Great Deflation now gripping both sides of the Atlantic is reviving political forces that had lain dormant since the end of the Second World War. Passion is returning to politics, but not in the manner many of us had hoped it would. The right has become animated by an anti-establishment fervor that was, until recently, the preserve of the left. In the U, Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, is taking Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent, to task quite credibly for her close ties to Wall Street, eagerness to invade foreign lands, and readiness to embrace free-trade agreements that undermined millions of workers living standards. In Britain, Brexit has cast ardent Thatcherites in the role of enthusiastic defenders of the National Health Service. Donald Turmp This shift is not unprecedented. The populist right has traditionally adopted quasi-leftist rhetoric in times of deflation. Anyone who can stomach revisiting the speeches of the leading fascists and Nazis of the 1920s and 1930s will find appeals Benito Mussolinis paeans to social security or Joseph Goebbels stinging criticism of the financial sector that seem, at first glance, indistinguishable from progressive goals. What we are experiencing today is the natural repercussion of the implosion of centrist politics, owing to a crisis of global capitalism in which a financial crash led to a Great Recession and then to todays Great Deflation. The right is simply repeating its old trick of drawing upon the righteous anger and frustrated aspirations of the victims to advance its own repugnant agenda. It all began with the death of the international monetary system established at Bretton Woods in 1944, which had forged a post-war political consensus based on a mixed economy, limits on inequality, and strong financial regulation. That golden era ended with the so-called Nixon shock in 1971, when America lost the surpluses that, recycled internationally, kept global capitalism stable. Remarkably, Americas hegemony grew in this second post-war phase, in parallel with its trade and budget deficits. But to keep financing these deficits, bankers had to be unleashed from their New Deal and Bretton Woods restraints. Only then would they encourage and manage the inward capital flows needed to finance Americas twin fiscal and current-account deficits. Financialisation of the economy was the goal, neoliberalism was its ideological cloak, the Paul Volcker-era Federal Reserves interest-rate hikes were its trigger, and US president Bill Clinton was the ultimate closer of the Faustian bargain. And the timing couldnt have been more congenial: The Soviet empires collapse and Chinas opening generated a surge of labour supply for global capitalism a billion additional workers that boosted profits and stifled wage growth throughout the West. The result of extreme financialisation was enormous inequality and profound vulnerability. But at least the Wests working class had access to cheap loans and inflated house prices to offset the impact of stagnant wages and declining fiscal transfers. Then came the crash of 2008, which in the US and Europe produced a massive excess supply of both money and people. While many lost jobs, homes, and hopes, trillions of dollars in savings have been sloshing around the worlds financial centres ever since, on top of more trillions pumped out by desperate central banks eager to replace the financiers toxic money. With companies and institutional players too frightened to invest in the real economy, share prices have boomed, the top 0.1% cant believe their luck, and the rest are helplessly watching as the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage, as John Steinbeck wrote in his classic 1939 novel. And so it was that large chunks of humanity in America and Europe became too indebted and too expensive to be anything other than discarded and ready to be lured by Trumps fear-mongering, French National Front leader Marine Le Pens xenophobia, or the Brexiteers shimmering vision of a Britannia ruling the waves again. As their number grows, traditional political parties are fading into irrelevance, supplanted by the emergence of two new political blocs. One bloc represents the old troika of liberalisation, globalisation, and financialisation. It may still be in power, but its stock is falling fast, as David Cameron, Europes social democrats, Hillary Clinton, the European Commission, and even Greeces post-capitulation Syriza government can attest. Hillary Clinto Trump, Le Pen, Britains right-wing Brexiteers, Poland and Hungarys illiberal governments, and Russian president Vladimir Putin form the second bloc. Theirs is a nationalist international a classic creature of a deflationary period united by contempt for liberal democracy and the ability to mobilise those who would crush it. The clash between these two blocs is both real and misleading. Clinton versus Trump constitutes a genuine battle, for example, as does the European Union versus the Brexiteers; but the combatants are accomplices, not foes, in perpetuating an endless loop of mutual reinforcement, with each side defined by and mobilising supporters on the basis of what it opposes. The only way out of this political trap is progressive internationalism, based on solidarity among large majorities around the world who are prepared to rekindle democratic politics on a planetary scale. If this sounds utopian, it is worth emphasising that the raw materials are already available. Bernie Sanderss political revolution in the US, Jeremy Corbyns leadership of the UKs Labour Party, DiEM25 (the Democracy in Europe Movement) on the continent: These are the harbingers of an international progressive movement that can define the intellectual terrain upon which democratic politics must build. But we are at an early stage and face a remarkable backlash from the global troika: Witness Sanders treatment by the Democratic National Committee, the run against Corbyn by a former pharmaceutical lobbyist, and the attempt to have me indicted for daring to oppose the EUs plan for Greece. The Great Deflation poses a great question: Can humanity design and implement a new, technologically advanced, green Bretton Woods a system that makes our planet ecologically and economically sustainable without the mass pain and destruction preceding the original Bretton Woods? If we progressive internationalists wont answer that question, who will? Neither of the two political blocs now vying for power in the West even wants it to be posed. Yanis Varoufakis, former finance minister of Greece, is Professor of Economics at the University of Athens. The question is not where to holiday, it is how. We are so connected, we are never away or off-line anywhere. Time, once a friend, has become an enemy. Now there is no Sabbath in the week and no week in the year when there is a real holiday. The tempo is constantly high and old rhythms of seasons, punctuated by holy days is gone. In a world where no corner, however, remote is beyond the reach of emails or apps, travel is formulaic, not adventure. The modern holiday is becoming exhausting because we are increasingly incapable of taking our ease. Wifi oozes fretfulness everywhere. Obsessing about putting everything up into the ether means there is no downtime. Travelling on the information super highway means no byway is off the beaten track. The slavery of the modern workplace follows you on tour. Sending snap shots and messages into the void of social media does not capture the moment, it interrupts it. You arrive at the Taj Mahal or the pyramids only to take selfies of yourself for Facebook, facing the camera but away from the wonders of the world. Experience is increasingly fussed over and self-curated, not enjoyed. It is not just that we are on show, we work frantically to put the show up online for all to see. It is not about a communal experience of interacting with others anymore, it is electronic graffiti that says I was here. But, of course, you could have been anywhere. The experience you went so far for is just a backdrop for the next post online. I post online continuously, therefore I am. I respond to email while on holiday, therefore I am not forgotten, yet. The tyranny of email is ubiquitous. It allows a continuous, insidious control, not only from above, but by one colleague over another. Why talk when you can create a record of I told you so? Of course, its a record created by me, on my terms. The inward blizzard of email, is too much to deal with and in its density, is a swamp-like form of entrapment. The trap, of course, is complete if needs be, but nonetheless, it is a trap. Non-reply is taken as a negative confirmation. Obversely, non-reply by the empowered can be a tool of passive aggression, creating status anxiety among the ignored. It is electronic death by another means. Scope out your space and dont deal with it, out of hours, and anxiety of a different sort creeps in. Its Stockholm syndrome. The gizmos of the office, pocket-sized and hand-held, are as indispensable as a childs comfort blanket or essential cuddly toy. They are invested psychologically with powers of attachment that leave us deeply agitated when separated. If we are not connected, we are alone, and maybe worse disremembered. Modern technology is as enslaving as it is empowering in its always-on neediness. The reverse autism of the computer generation is that silence is more disturbing than discordant noise. It began with the wireless; continued with the television; and exploded with IT. We all know houses where the radio is never off, or maybe the television too. Its noise-pollution because silence cannot be borne. To be alone, outside the noise, would be shocking introspection. Silence and disconnection are the new dark. The weekend before last, I was at a friends house along with a few others. A woman in the company was Irish, and home on holidays from a scenic part of England. There are glorious walks to be had in her surrounding countryside and people come out from London for the day. She noticed how they arrive at especially scenic spots, but there is no serenity, only selfies. There is no appreciation of experience for its own sake, no sharing together, only desperation to create instant memory. They fail in the objective of capturing experience, because like all which surpasses understanding, truth cannot be curated from facts. In travel books such as Chaucers Tales the journey, usually shared, is part of the experience. Modern airports enable transport anywhere, but in the sense of real experience, do not allow for a journey anywhere. From the moment of arrival, all face forward in queues, punctuated by interrogation and examination until at the moment of take-off all face forward again, strapped into seats that make the interior of a John West tuna tin seem spacious. That is a curious thing about so much of modern mass travel, it is noticeable for how it succeeds in compressing people. Bolt upright, for hours, until landed and then, even before exiting the plane, the ping-ping of percolating electronic devices announce arrival back into the comfort zone of the electronic ether. You have been airlifted in an uncomfortable chair for thousands of miles but you have not got away. From your first inane electronic upload, you deprive your friends and work colleagues of a seasonal opportunity to get away from you as well. The cafe, once a place for conversation and communal conviviality is now habitually infested with a robotic species, alone in their own ether, and faced down into handheld devices. A place of leisure has become a work station. Communication is a fix more addictive than coffee. Trains and buses likewise are prison blocks for solitary confinement. Every passenger is immolated in his own electronic cell, aurally gagged with headphones and chained by astonishingly thin wires straggling from their ears into their clothing. As a lifelong bus passenger, I remember when Dublin buses were an astonishingly fertile breeding ground for conversation and gossip especially the overheard variety. One of the great tropes of insidious slander, which enabled the unspeakable or the unbelievable be repeated, was that an unnamed man told me such and such on the bus. The late Maeve Binchy raised all that into an art form. But buses now are full of people enveloped in private noise, curiously called communication, en route to offices offices which they then astonishingly insist in bringing on holidays. When everything is programmed for us, or curated by us to be put into programmes of our making, there is no surprise and no delight. In modern travel, planetary loneliness has replaced a world that was our oyster. Recreation, in the meaning of re-creating is not a passive pursuit. There must be a sense of adventure in holiday that goes beyond inhaling incense in a day spa as an antidote to the stress of the email we will not disconnect from. There is a general spiritual exhaustion that marks the end of any sense of magic in the world. The capacity for the automation of every human being through technology threatens our capacity to have fun and to be giddy. We speak of sweatshops in the third-world with horror. But then we insist on travelling ourselves, equipped as first-world sweatshops, living in relative luxury, euphemistically in hammocks on the factory floor of the modern office, which now can be literally anywhere because we are always there. It was the first publicly acknowledged hearing in a year-long case shrouded in secrecy and involving hundreds of activists. The official Xinhua News Agency said a court in Tianjin sentenced Zhai Yanmin, who was arrested in July last year as part of a government campaign which paralysed Chinas activist legal circles. Some 300 lawyers and activists were seized and questioned. In a searing denouncement, Mr Obama challenged top Republicans to drop their support for their partys nominee, declaring: There has to come a point at which you say, enough. The outgoing presidents blistering critique of his potential successor followed Mr Trumps criticism of an American Muslim family whose son, a captain in the US Army, was killed in Iraq. A growing number of Republicans have disavowed Mr Trumps comments, but most of those who have endorsed him are sticking by that stance. At a White House news conference, Mr Obama said: If you are repeatedly having to say, in very strong terms, that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him? What does this say about your party that this is your standard bearer? The US president said his opposition to Donald Trump is about more than policy differences. He said while he disagreed with his Republican opponents in the 2008 and 2012 elections, he never thought they were unfit to do the job. Mr Obama has heightened popularity in his eighth and final year in office. He has made clear he plans to be an active player in the White House race, campaigning around the country for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. The president and first lady Michelle Obama spoke at last weeks Democratic convention in Philadelphia, where Khizr and Ghazala Khan also made an appearance. Mr Trump responded with a statement that summarised the points he makes in his stump speeches: Obama-Clinton have single-handedly destabilised the Middle East ... released criminal aliens into our country who killed one innocent American after another ... produced the worst recovery since the Great Depression (and) shipped millions of our best jobs overseas. Last week, Khizr Khan criticised Mr Trumps call for a temporary ban on Muslims coming to the US and challenged whether he had read the American constitution. Mr Trump has questioned why Ghazala Khan did not speak, implying her religion prevented her from doing so, and has said he was viciously attacked by Khizr Khan. Mr Khan delivered an emotional address at last weeks Democratic convention, with his wife standing by his side. The Pakistan-born Khan told the story of his son, US army Capt Humayun Khan, who was posthumously awarded a bronze star and purple heart after his death in 2004. Mr Trumps unwillingness to let the matter subside sparked outrage from several Republicans. Arizona Senator John McCain, said Trump did not have unfettered licence to defame those who are the best among us. Rescuers pulled out bags of body parts from the survivors of the crash on Route 99, where the speeding bus hit the pole of a highway exit sign head-on, said Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke. It sheared straight through the bus, stopping at the first rear axle with a great impact, he said. Emergency workers climbed in through the windows to pull out trapped passengers. Others were ejected and were lying in a ditch. Five people were killed and at least five others were airlifted to hospitals, said Highway Patrol officer Moises Onsurez. He did not have information about any additional injuries or the cause of the single-vehicle crash. The pole went through the centre of the bus, and thats where the injuries were sustained, he said. The still-intact sign stuck out from the roof of the crumpled bus. Wreckage and debris including seat cushions, drink containers, pillows, and a blanket were scattered in lanes and on the shoulder of the highway, near the town of Livingston. Onsurez identified the driver as Mario David Vasquez from the Los Angeles area. The 57-year-old was among those with major injuries and was airlifted to hospital. The bus, operated by Autobuses Coordinados USA, was heading to Washington state and was due in Livingston at 1.30am local time to change drivers. The crash occurred just before 3.30am between the community of Atwater and Livingston, a few kilometres down the highway. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration listed the carrier as having a satisfactory rating as of May 17. The bus was inspected in April and had three violations, including a lack of or a defective brake warning device. That violation was not further described, and there was no indication if each of the items had been fixed. The highway runs through farm fields and almond orchards in the San Joaquin Valley north-west of Fresno. Its northbound lanes were closed during the investigation, backing up traffic. Hundreds of priests and bishops filled Rouen cathedral along with many hundreds more people, including Muslims who have joined in the grieving since the murder of 85-year-old Fr Jacques Hamel, who was slashed by his attackers while celebrating morning Mass at a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. The priests murder sent shockwaves through other faiths and all of France. It came less than two weeks after 84 people were killed in a truck attack on Bastille Day revellers in Nice. Evil is a mystery. It reaches heights of horror that take us out of the human, Archbishop Dominique Lebrun said during the two-hour Mass. Isnt that what you wanted to say, Jacques, with your last words, when you fell to the ground? After you were struck by the knife, you tried to push away your assailants with your feet and said, Go away, Satan. You repeated it, Go away, Satan. With those words, Archbishop Lebrun said, You expressed... your faith in the goodness of humans and that the devil put his claws in. Roselyne Hamel, the priests sister, told the crowd: Lets learn to live together, lets be workers for peace. Archbishop Lebrun extended thanks to Catholics attending the service but also to believers of other religious faiths, in particular the Jewish community and the Muslim community, very affected and already decided to unite for: Never again. He invited people to return to churches on August 15, the day celebrating the Assumption of Mary, to express that violence will not take over in their hearts. Compiled by Italian musicologist Andrea Vitali over his lifetime, it comprises 6,242 CDs, 728 LPs, hundreds of singles plus DVDs, VHS videos and audio cassettes. The authenticity of the recordings including the specific instruments used to re-create the sounds of past centuries was of crucial importance in putting the collection together. The music is being sold as one lot at an online auction held by London-based CooperOwen auctions and is estimated to fetch 300,000 (356,719) . The breadth and detail of the collection means it is possible to hear more than 1,000 years of western civilisation through the medium of music. The entire collection spans from as early as 400AD and runs to 1900, but it is the period between 800AD and 1700 which is exciting curators. Louise Cooper, owner- managing director of CooperOwen Music Media Auctions, said: This is simply a staggering collection compiled by an expert who attempted to get to the authentic sound of music since 400AD. The eras are broken down into antiquity, up to the end of 700AD; the middle ages, from 800 until 1300; renaissance, from 1400 to 1500 ; baroque from 1600 to 1750; and classicism, from 1750 to 1830. It clearly would be of much interest to academics studying music who might wish to digitalise it. Andrea, who owns the collection, is putting it up for sale because he is concentrating on new projects. We anticipate interest from around the world. Another lot is Sir Elton Johns piano on which he wrote some of his most popular songs including Yellow Brick Road and Blue Eyes. The 19th century instrument has a starting price of 75,000. The auction also includes a guitar that Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain used and smashed during the American leg of his last tour before he died. It has a guide price of 100,000. Reckless road user ENGLAND: A driver speeding at 154mph (250km/h) has been banned from the roads for 56 days, Suffolk police said. Louie Howlett, 21, was caught on the A11 at Icklingham, Suffolk, by a roads policing officer with a laser speed detection device on April 18, 2016. Howlett, of High Street, Lakenheath, admitted exceeding the 70mph limit and was sentenced at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Hewas driving a Seat Leon. Inspector David Giles, of Suffolk & Norfolks roads policing team, speaking after the hearing, said: This speed is truly staggering and shows a complete disregard for other road users. Rare birth ENGLAND: One of the most endangered species of big cat has given birth to two cubs. It is believed there are only 70 Amur leopards in the wild, with Twycross Zoo saying the new arrivals could help ensure the long-term survival of the species. The birth of the cubs five weeks ago to parents Kristen and Davidoff was captured on camera with the cubs already making an appearance in public at the Leicestershire zoo. Director of life sciences Dr Charlotte Macdonald said: Amur leopards are so precious - there are so few left in the world. Bunny bandits USA: Police in New York City are searching for two men who broke into an unlocked apartment and made off with a pet rabbit. The men also took a bracelet and a passport from the Bronx residence. A CCTV photo shows the men walking down the pavement, one of them carrying the rabbit cage. Dog aid USA: A dog in New Jersey saved its owner by breaking glass and barking for help, police said. Northvale police chief William Essmann said the dog broke a pane of glass and started barking to get attention. Two women who were walking by called police. Police were able to enter the home, where Mr Essmann said they found the dogs owner with an unknown medical condition that she may have suffered for an extended period of time. She was taken to hospital for treatment and the dog sustained a minor injury to one of its paws. Paint mystery USA: Police in a New Hampshire city are trying to find out who spray-painted Im drunk on the side of their station at the weekend. Portsmouth police sergeant Chris Kiberd said officers noticed someone had spray-painted the message at some point during the night. Mr Kiberd said surveillance cameras are placed around the municipal complex but none were recording in the area where the graffiti was discovered. Other cameras reportedly captured two males with hoods covering their heads fleeing from the scene at around 1am. In a combative speech at his palace in Ankara, Erdogan said charter schools in the US were the main source of income for the network of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who he says masterminded the bloody July 15 putsch. Im calling on the United States: what kind of strategic partners are we, that you can still host someone whose extradition I have asked for? Erdogan said in a speech to local representatives of multinational firms operating in Turkey. Burma Analysis: Chinas More Proactive Policy Could Hold the Key to Peace in Burma China granting free passage to ethnic armed group leaders through Chinese territory is part of a more openly supportive policy on Burmas peace process. So that they could attend the summit in the border town of Mai Ja Yang in Kachin State, the Chinese authorities allowed ethnic armed group leaders to travel freely through Chinese territory from the Muse border in northern Shan Statea marked departure from previous practice. In 2011, senior Karen National Union leader Mann Nyein Maung was detained by Chinese immigration officers while also transiting through Chinato reach the border town, and Kachin Independence Army headquarters, of Laiza in Kachin Stateand was handed over to the Burmese authorities. Sentenced to life imprisonment, he was released in a 2012 amnesty. China had also been steadfast in its support for Burmas military regime prior to the 2011 handover to a nominally civilian government, lending the country an economic lifeline while it remained isolated by stringent sanctions from Western countries. As the ethnic armed group leaders crossed the border into China at Muse, they were reportedly treated courteously by Chinese immigration officials and allowed to proceed freely on the one hour drive to the border connecting Mai Ja Yang in Kachin State. Tar Bong Kyaw, secretary of the Taang National Liberation Army (a group conspicuously absent from the Mai Ja Yang summit), told The Irrawaddy in Ruilithe Chinese border town opposite Musehow Chinese authorities ignore our traveling now. He recalled how Chinese intelligence officers would chase him in the pastbut they now let him travel through China without restriction. He commented that he would not have been able to meet the Irrawaddy reporter in a public place in previous times. Conventionally muted on the topic of Burmas politics and its long-running civil conflicts, China has recently become more vocal and demonstrative in its support of Burmas peace process. During the Mai Ja Yang ethnic armed group summit, which ran July 26-30, Chinas Special Envoy on Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang gave an address on the opening day, stating that China backed all the forces that support internal peace in Burma. Sun Guoxiang announced that China had donated US$3 million to the Joint Monitoring Committee, a body overseeing the commitments of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement reached between the previous government and eight ethnic armed groups in October last year. This more proactive stance may reflect a growing realization of the importance of peace in Burma for China, given their substantial economic interests in Burma, and their longand perennially unstableshared border. Every day at the Muse border, fleets of trucks can be seeing ferrying large quantities of goods between the two countries. Most of the towns on the border with China that are controlled by ethnic armed groupssuch as Mai Ja Yang, Laukkai, Pangshang and Monglanow resemble Chinese towns, their growth having been driven by investment from Chinese businessmen. Burmas most powerful ethnic armed groups, the United Wa State Army and the Kachin Independence Armyalongside others such as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (Kokang), the National Democratic Alliance Army (Mongla), and the Taang National Liberation Armyhave benefitted from border trade agreements with Chinese authorities, alongside private Chinese investment. Chinas leverage over a wide portion of Burmas ethnic armed groups is therefore considerable. Chinas role may be key to resolving Burmas peace process. In his address at the Mai Ja Yang summit, the Chinese envoy said he expected all ethnic armed groups to attend the 21st Century Panglong Union Peace Conference scheduled for later this month, where a peace deal including a blueprint for federalism is hoped to be reached. However, he cautioned that resolution might not come all at once. Using the example of a train undertaking a journey, the envoy said that not all passengers would get off at the same station, but at separate stations along the line. Burma Security Increased After ISIS Hit List Targets Aung San Suu Kyi Burmas Presidents Office says that security on State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi will increase, in response to reports that she was on an ISIS hit list in Malaysia. RANGOON President Offices Spokesperson Zaw Htay said that State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyis security would be increased, in response to reports that she was on an ISIS target list in Malaysia. We dont need to worry too much but we also cant underestimate it. We will take this matter seriously and will increase security during her local and international tours, Zaw Htay told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday. The Straits Times reported on Tuesday that Aung San Suu Kyi was on an ISIS hit list sent to Maylasias Negri Sembilan police station on Monday, along with the Malaysian prime minister, his deputy, the attorney-general, the inspector-general of police, and three ministers. The report stated that the two-page letter entitled IS threat included photographs of the targeted leaders and claimed there were about 700 ISIS militants in Negri Sembilan. Malaysian police have dismissed the claim. It said police would investigate the authenticity of the letter and try to establish the identity of the sender. Given the nature of IS activities, the group generally works by connecting with in-country networks. Although we havent faced terrorist attacks, we will watch suspicious networks closely. We will also cooperate with the international community, including Asean and the Malaysian police, Zaw Htay said. ISIS is an acronym for the jihadist group known as The Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (or the Levant). The armed organization controls areas of conflict-torn Iraq and Syria. Burma Women Continue to Suffer Due to Land Grabs and Militarization Land confiscation and rights abuses linked to militarization in southeastern Burma have particularly adverse impacts on women, human rights advocates say. RANGOON Land confiscation and rights abuses linked to the continued militarization of ethnic minority regions in southeastern of Burma has had particularly adverse impacts on women, ethnic Karen human rights advocates said at a press conference in Rangoon. While the launching of the peace process in 2011 and a series of bilateral ceasefires with ethnic armed groups has lessened certain abuses, including forced labor and extrajudicial killings, new business opportunities have led to an increase in land seizures, they said. The Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) has documented the experiences of women in rural areas of Karen and Mon states and Tenasserim and eastern Pegu divisions, and has compiled four years worth of findings on the effects of landmines, land confiscation, forced labor, torture and violence against women in a report released on Wednesday. The report, Hidden Strengths, Hidden Struggles: Womens Testimonies from Southeast Myanmar, was based on the analysis of 1,048 documents, including 98 interviews with separate women, said KHRG advocacy officer Jasmin, who pointed out a change in the type of abuses suffered by local women since 2012. 2012 was the year the previous government reached a bilateral ceasefire with the Karen Nation Union, the largest ethnic Karen armed group whose operations span the area of study, and which also signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in October last year. Jasmin said, In our report ten years ago [Dignity in The Shadow of Oppression, published in Nov 2006], cases of rape and forced porterage [for the Burma Army] were extensively documented. In our report this year, accounts of such abuses have lessened, with a change in the form of rights abuses. Because of the peace process, we now have more business operations, and land confiscation has become the main problem, Jasmin added. They are losing their livelihoods and still being displaced due to that. Despite the signing of both bilateral and nationwide ceasefire agreements, the presence of Burma Army troops across rural areas continues to threaten the safety of local people, especially women, said the rights advocates. They added that a lessening in hostilities has had the side effect of diminishing the authority of women at the village level. Over 60 years of civil conflict, with the enrollment of men in rebel armies, women have had to step forward and become village leaders. With the return of men over the last few years to their traditional positions of authority in the community, women have lost these roles. Jasmin said the report aimed to heighten the publics awareness of the experiences of women and their changing roles in the southern part of the country. However, the KHRG advocates noted that locals in the area of study still fear to talk openly about instances of abuse, making it hard to verify and adequately document them. The KHRG also urged the government, legislators and the Karen National Union to improve justice mechanisms and create secure avenues for women facing gender-based violence and abuses linked to land confiscation to file cases with local authorities, and bring perpetrators before independent and impartial civilian courts. The KHRG framed these demands with reference to Burmas obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which Burma signed in 1997. Win Mra, chairman of Burmas National Human Rights Commission, attended the press conference and commended the KHRGs report, which he said fairly documents human rights violations, the situation since the ceasefires and the [2015] election, and abuses against women. He stressed the importance of implementing the recommendations contained in the report, rather than merely continuing to document cases and hold seminars and workshops. Our [national human rights commission] is doing the same activities as the KHRG and as the Gender Equality Network. We will not stop with workshops. We will continue working to achieve results, Win Mra said, with reference to the commissions partnership with UN Women on empowering rural women. Business Burmese Bank Signs Trade Financing Agreement With ADB The United Amara Bank signs off on a trade finance agreement with the Asian Development Bank allowing them a letter of credit for US$4 million for international transactions. RANGOON The United Amara Bank (UAB) signed off on a trade finance agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday at Rangoons Sedona Hotel that allows UAB a letter of credit (LC) insuring them for US$4 million for each international transaction the bank makes. The LC is a bank guarantee service for those involved in import-export business ventures. When a cash payment must be made, a third party (the ADB) makes a guarantee on behalf of the service provider (the UAB). An LC process can adopt varying time frames, with some banks specifying that one transaction is allowed every two to three months, according to Kyawt Kay Khaing, UABs Chief Business Officer. ADB will allow [UAB to make transactions of] US$4 million each time. If the specified rate is up, the traders need to wait until next time, she said. The project aims to boost Burmas trade volume. Currently, the LC approach is not practically popular among small and medium businesses in Burma, who continue to perform transactions using the more traditional Telegraphic Transfer (TT) method. This involves customers transferring the money after receiving goods from a foreign company. In addition to being risky, Burmese businesspeople widely criticize the TT system as delaying trade flow. ADBs country director for Burma, Winfried Wicklein, stressed that he believes the impact of the trade finance program will bring benefits not only for domestic businesses in Burma as they connect with international commercial communities, but also new opportunities for local banks to extend their business with international banks. UAB owner Nay Aung is the son of Aung Thaung, who is now deceased but was once a notorious hardliner in Burmas former military regime. Many famous conglomerates and figures with ties to military generals have been faced with US economic sanctions, including former general Aung Thaung. Yet Nay Aungs UAB has never been featured on US sanction lists. A board member of UAB, Than Win Swe, confirmed that UAB is not on the US sanction list. If UAB was on the sanction list, how could ADB collaborate with UAB? he said. The UABs Chief Executive Officer, Thein Lwin, stated that their customers could now potentially connect with 200 ADB partner banks in the US, Europe and other Asian countries; ADB, he said, will issue a Foreign Letter of Credit on behalf of UAB if the foreign banks require an additional guarantee or confirmation. Both UAB and ADBs senior officials pointed out that under this deal, Burmese businesspeople will be backed by a AAA rating, ADBs highest credibility score. The UAB will officially launch applications on August 15 for those clients who want to access the banks credit scheme. Interested applicants need to provide trading licenses issued by the Ministry of Commerce. Customers are not required to pay any service charges for utilizing the LC, however, they must guarantee fees required by the bank for financial transactions, according to Kyawt Kay Khaing. Kyawt Kay Khaing declined to provide specific information about guaranteed fee rates because they are designated by ADB, and the fees depend on both the foreign country and the banks involved. For example, the rates for transactions in Asia and in Europe are different. The agreement is a part of ADBs Trade Finance Program (TFP), which offers both guarantees and loans to banks to facilitate international trade. At Wednesdays signing ceremony, Rangoon divisional chief minister Phyo Min Thein and the Central Banks deputy governor Set Aung presented honors to both the ADB and the UAB. Interview Social Welfare Minister: Deforestation and Exploitation of Resources Contributed to Flooding The Irrawaddy speaks with Win Myat Aye, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, on responding to Burmas floods. As Burma once again experiences serious flooding, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has invited civil society organizations (CSOs) to join the ministrys relief and rescue efforts. The ministry is set to meet CSOs in Mandalay on August 6 and has invited organizations from Kachin, Chin and Shan states, as well as Sagaing, Magwe and Mandalay divisions. Floods have affected more than 50,000 people so far, most of them in Arakan State and Mandalay and Magwe divisions. Win Myat Aye, minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, spoke to The Irrawaddys Htet Naing Zaw about his ministrys plans to address the rising water levels. What have you been doing to respond to the flooding? I have been inspecting the situation on the ground. I just got back from Magwe, Minbu, and Pwintphyu [in Magwe Division]. We have seen floods in towns along the Irrawaddy River. The flooding was severe in Minbu, and some villages, along with [locals] cattle, had to be relocated. We are providing relief supplies in these places. I met those affected and comforted them. It seems that the floods may not subisde over the next two days, so we have talk with the Magwe regional chief minister and the border affairs and security ministers to move people to safer places. It is not that all the townships are facing floodingonly townships along the Irrawaddy River. There has been no flooding in inland towns. We have not yet declared a state of emergency, because the effect of the floods is not nationwide. When the waters subside, it will go downstream into Lower Burma, so we are doing preventative work, such as evacuating people and cattle in advance. Does your ministry have a sufficient budget for the relief and rescue work? We do have a sufficient budget. We also have disaster preparedness funds, and we are also cooperating with civil society organizations, but their participation is still low. Maybe it is just because the floods have not caused a serious impact. Which places were hit the hardest? You can check the flood mapping which we have posted on our ministrys Facebook page and our website. We have an emergency response center and that center has published a flooding map in cooperation with international partners. It will be clearer if you have a look at the map. For the time being, Magwe and Minbu have been hit worst by floods. What are the short-term and long-term plans of your ministry to address the flooding, since we also saw devastating floods last year? Speaking of a long-term plan, we need to take a look back at the causes of this. Deforestation and exploitation of resources contributed to this. Waterways and tributaries have silted up, which caused floods. These things need to be solved in the long run. Our ministry is also making plans to solve it. We have dredged watercourses in Pegu and the floods there are not as severe as last years. The long-term solution is afforestation and dredging of watercourses. And well do it, but for the time being, we have to [focus on] rescue. The disaster preparedness central committee is led by the second vice-president and I am the vice chair. The central committee is set to meet on August 5 and the meeting will be attended by all the chief ministers in the division and state governments and concerned ministries. In the meeting, we will discuss solutions. What is your message to flood victims? Some Facebook users have posted the photos of last years floods, and in some cases, this has led people into thinking that the situation needs to be treated as a state of emergency. So, I want people to verify the news. I would like to urge them to continuously watch the announcements of Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV), and Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, and our ministry. Some users have shared incorrect news and last years weather predictions by experienced meteorologists, which misled the people. I want to stress that people need to verify these reports. We have a hotline, and people can contact directly us for any inquiries round the clock: 067-404666 or 067-404777. You can enquire, send information and seek advice at those numbers. Whats more is that we have developed an Android application. We will upload it soon on our website for download. Through this app, users will be able to contact us for help. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016 (8:29 am) - Score 818 Once again Cityfibre has chosen Bradford-based Exa Networks to be its ISP partner for the launch of their new ultrafast multi-Gigabit capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband / Ethernet network in the city and metropolitan borough of Sheffield (South Yorkshire, England). The fibre optic infrastructure builder acquired the new metro network as part of last years 90m move to gobble KCOMs UK network assets (excluding the Hull and East Yorkshire network), which should eventually enable them to expand into 50 cities by 2020. Since then theyve been working to commercialise it and open the network up to more businesses. Apparently the 6-year deal is worth 3.3 million and commits Exa Networks to delivering 250 school and business connections under an existing national framework agreement in Sheffield, with related customers benefiting from access to the new ultrafast service (including in Doncaster and Rotherham). Greg Mesch, CEO of CityFibre, said: Were delighted to extend our framework agreement with Exa into Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham. With this latest call-off, we demonstrate our ability to leverage our expanded footprint and drive commercialisation of the acquired assets at pace, bringing 10 cities into commercial production within seven months of acquisition close. It also brings us within striking distance of 4,000 connections sold year to date. So far the number of connections sold by CityFibre on the networks it acquired from KCOM has reached 1,450 (note: many are still being prepared for launch) and the value of contracts sold on the assets has risen to 22.1 million. Cityfibre currently aims to have deployed their fibre optic network across 50 UK cities by 2020. Its worth pointing out that three years ago Cityfibre also signed a deal with Sheffield-based ISP Ask4, which allowed the provider to offer ultrafast, gigabit-speed internet services via Cityfibres existing networks. Elsewhere Cityfibre also faces some competition in Sheffield, not least from Hyperoptics 1Gbps FTTP/B broadband network that launched into the city at the end of 2015 (here) and they mostly focus on big apartment buildings or office blocks. The Evolution of Communication Technology The age of drones, which has been sneaking up on us for several years, is fully here. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy yesterday announced a wide-ranging program to promote the commercial drone industry. Steps include a $35 million, five-year research funding project by the National Science Foundation; a broad range of support from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI); a $5 million down payment to New York to support the industry; and a commitment by industry groups to support an educational effort around privacy best practices. Google parent company Alphabet will cooperate on part of the initiative called Project Wing. The testing is aimed at exploring issues related to drone delivery services, according to Bloomberg. The company will conduct experiments at one of six Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sites with an eye toward setting standards for commercial services. The government is not the only entity working on drones. For instance, last month AT&T began using drones for aerial inspections of cell towers. The company, in part of the announcement excerpted by The Verge, said that drones do the job more quickly, more safely and more comprehensively than humans. In the future, drones may play an even more interesting role for the carrier: They will be dispatched to hover over crowded areas, such as concerts or disaster sites, to temporarily boost wireless coverage. A lower-profile company set to use drones is Zipline, a startup supported with funding from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Its goal is to deliver medical supplies to inaccessible areas in the United States. It has already delivered supplies in partnership with the government of Rwanda. Zipline, which will initially serve remote areas in Maryland, Nevada and Washington, is not the first to perform this task. Business Insider says that Flirtey, in conjunction with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, delivered medical supplies in Cape May, N.J. in a demonstration for the United Nations. The news is good for drones. At the same time, as the administrations move suggests, a lot of work remains. RCR Wireless, in a story on Amazons partnership with the UK government for drone delivery of parcels, pointed to areas that must be addressed. Technology enabling maintenance of Internet and GPS connectivity is key. Drone-to-drone communications, obstacle avoidance and standardized protocols also must be developed. It has long been clear that drones will play a big role in corporate and civic life. We are at the point now at which the government and industry are working through the technical and regulatory issues that must be solved in order to make this happen. Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk. The cast and the crew just finished filming the movie "Fifty Shades Darker" which is a sequel to "Fifty Shades of Grey," months before its release to the big screen. With that, there have already been reports on what is there to expect on the third sequel, "Fifty Shades Freed." Since filming of the movie "Fifty Shades Darker" has already wrapped up, actors of the film are already excited for its outcome. One of the actors of the show, Luke Grimes expressed his thoughts on the movie versus the book. Luke plays the role the brother of Christian Grey, Elliot Grey. According to Grimes, the second and third sequel movies, "Fifty Shades Darker" and "Fifty Shades Freed" are introducing more characters now compared to the first film, "Fifty Shades of Grey," as reported by Melty. He believes the fans should be expecting to see something fresh and different in these two upcoming films. As for his character's fate in the story, Luke Grimes' role as Elliot is in a relationship with the main character's friend, Anastasia's roommate, Kate Kavanagh. Based on the book, Elliot and Kate will tie the knot in the end. However, reports claim that it may be different on the movie, since Elliot cannot let go of his old ways, the playboy type. Parent Herald reported that there have been photos circling around the internet, posted by the fans who are very excited of the movies' release. There have been photos of the two shooting in Paris and even a leaked photo of the wedding location for the main characters of the show, Christian Grey and Anastasia Steel. The chemistry between the two actors is highly undeniable and is continuing to create speculations of an affair going on between them. However, there was never any confirmation to the affair as actor Jamie Dornan who plays Christian Grey, is happy and in love with his wife and kids. The movie "Fifty Shades Darker" is set to premiere on February 2017. Watch the official trailer below: Samsung is making subtle yet important changes to the Samsung Gear VR, which will help improve the company's standing in the virtual reality platform. While it is still the best when it comes to mobile virtual reality, other competitor are definitely making their dent in the market. The improvements include a better touchpad, more connectivity options and a larger view. The new headset will be publicly available starting August 19th, but preorders are already being taken as of August 3rd. According to The Verge, the most important enhancement is the inclusion of the USB Type-C port, which is modular. Out of the box, the Gear VR will be compatible with the new Galaxy Note 7. However, there is also the micro USB connector, thus making the Gear VR compatible with older units - the Galaxy Note 5, S6, S7 and S7 Edge. The USB Type-C port also also opens the door for future additions, such as accessories and motion controllers. What makes it even better, is that the ports are not flimsy adaptors. Instead, connectors that are attached to the headset themselves can be swapped with a flip of a switch. The new Gear VR also has a 101-degree field of view. This is an entire 5 degrees more than its direct predecessor. Meanwhile, the new touch pad is flattened out. Samsung also added a specific button to take users back to the menu. In addition, the Gear VR received a new look. Samsung replaced the original white finish to a sleeker midnight blue finish. The interior of the headset is colored the same, as Samsung admits customers complained that the white reflected light. The padding is also thicker and softer, thereby making the experience more comfortable. According to C|Net, the device will be priced at $99 (80, AU$159), which is just the same as last year's model. Apple's latest iPhone 7 is set for pre-order by September 16 and its newest space blue color was leaked by its carriers. Famous for his reliable and numerous gadget leaks, American blogger and editor, Evan Blass recently wrote on twitter that the iPhone 7 will be available next month. Sadly, he did not elaborate further about the said device. Apple has not issued a official statement yet about the said rumor. However, Evan Blass' leak might be the real deal as Apple usually releases its new flagships sometime in September according to The Tech News. As this exciting report heightens, another rumor leaked by iPhone's carriers made the rounds online recently. BGR stated that the fourth largest wireless carrier in the world, China Unicom, posted a teaser image that may verify key features of the upcoming iPhone 7. It might come up in its newest color, the Space Blue version, which might replace the Space Gray version. Also, it is speculated that the said iPhone boasts a dual camera setup supported by its powerful chip and RAM. A giant ally like that of China Unicom is unlikely to take the runway from Apple itself. The normal scenario would that be of Apple releasing an official statement about the availability, launch, design and functions of the iPhone 7. Ironically, the technology industry is already used to leaks and rumors from famous bloggers, writers and China - based gadgets. This was proven true with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus last year. Whether the iPhone 7 rumors are true or not, every smartphone junkie out there awaits the 16th of September or until the exact day the latest iPhone will be unveiled in the market. After all, the iPhone is a continuous big hit, right? Last Friday, NASA made an order for SpaceX to transport its astronauts into the International Space Station. The order is an important one as it opens the door for more reliable and faster missions, thereby giving scientists more time for actual study. According to All India Roundup, SpaceX will bring as many two crews, four individuals in total, to the ISS. For the mission, the private spacecraft and rocket company will also include as much as 220 pounds of cargo. The mission will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This second crew rotation mission is the fourth and final in a contract in NASA's Commercial Crew Transportation Capability Contracts. Another was ordered for Space Xin November 2015 and another two for Boeing last year. According to NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager Kathy Lueders, "These systems will ensure reliable U.S. crew rotation services to the station, and will serve as a lifeboat for the space station for up to seven months." As Clarksville Online adds, SpaceX and Boeing are currently in the midst of creating and trying out hardware and assets to carry out the mission. In the future, NASA will need to identify which company will fly the initial post-certification mission to the ISS. The contract requires a minimum of two and maximum of six missions. SpaceX took the last bid, as the company finished developmental milestones and design reviews for its Crew Dragon spacecraft, Falcon 9 rocket and other associated ground systems. Gwynne Shotwell, who is SpaceX's president and chief operating officer, shares that the company is making notable progress with Crew Dragon. She said, "We appreciate the trust NASA has placed in SpaceX with the order of another crew mission and look forward to flying astronauts from American soil next year." SpaceX is working hard on four Crew Dragon spacecrafts at its Hawthorne facility. Two of these will be used for qualification testing, while the other two will be for flight tests next year. Microsoft has announced that its Hololens augmented reality (AR) headset is opening up for sales in Canada and the US. Microsoft Hololens project head Alex Kipman wrote in a blog post on Tuesday, August 2, that instead of going through an application process as before, now all business customers and developers in North America can now order up to five HoloLens development kits apiece. The Hololens AR headset costs $3,000 per unit and orders can be placed through the Hololens website. A Microsoft account is required from those who are placing orders on the website. According to The Verge, Microsoft kept Hololens under wraps until now. For the first wave of headsets starting to be shipped in March, the company carefully vetted would-be buyers. According to Kipman, all of these early orders have been already filled. It is unclear how many Hololens kits have already been sold. Sales of Hololens kits are opened to anyone, but Microsoft is still positioning Hololens AR device as purely for developers. The difference now is that, unlikely the previous order page the new requires an invitation letter, using just a standard checkout system. Even if theoretically now sales are open to anyone, given the early state of the hardware and its high price, this is a purely academic distinction for most people. However, things are now much simpler for those who want to experiment with the Microsoft Hololense headset. Microsoft did not announce yet when it will launch a consumer edition of Hololens. But research institutes and private companies much have been already working on various potential applications. According to PCWorld, one such application was demonstrated in Toronto, at last month's Worldwide Developer Conference in Toronto. Japan Airlines presented a Hololens app that allows engineers get up close with a computerized full scale model of a jet engine. A HoloLens package called the Microsoft HoloLens Commercial Suite is also launched by Microsoft along with the new purchasing rules. The Commercial Suite adds various control and security features to the headset, limiting its functioning to running only certain apps. A little less than a week before the 2016 Australian census, a lone federal politician has come out and said that he opposes the retention of names and addresses to be collected in the census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. A spokesman for independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who represents the federal electorate of Denison in Tasmania, told iTWire that the parliamentarian, who is known for his integrity and principled stands on many issues, was opposed to the measure that was quietly sprung on the public in December. "Andrew opposes the retention of names and addresses in the Census," the spokesman said. "He will be writing to the Assistant Minister to the Treasurer again, requesting that the policy be reconsidered." The minister referred to is Alex Hawke, whom Wilkie contacted once in May when a constituent of his wrote to him expressing concerns about the retention of names and addresses collected in the census. iTWire also contacted the Labor Party and the Greens about the issue, but neither party has responded. Wilkie was an analyst with the Office of National Assessments but resigned in 2003 over Australia's decision to back the US in its invasion of Iraq. He has held the seat of Denison since 2010. The issue of the ABS making it compulsory for names and addresses to be provided has become controversial, after questions arose over the need for the same. The ABS quietly announced in December last year that it planned to retain names indefinitely this year and tie them to personal data. Recently, when the current ABS chief David Kalisch admitted that the organisation had been lying and retaining names for quite some time, he backtracked a bit and said that the retention this time would be limited to four years. Adding fuel to the fire was a former head of the ABS, Bill McLennan, the author of most of the Census and Statistics Act, who pointed out that the word "compulsory" did not figure in the Act. He wrote: "By regulation, the ABS has prescribed 'name' as a topic on which statistical information may be collected and from which statistics are to be produced. However, as far as I can determine, no statistics are planned to be produced from the census about 'name'. Therefore that statistical information, that is 'name', can't be considered as being collected 'for the purposes of taking the Census'." The ABS has not responded to queries by iTWire regarding McLennan's arguments. A former head of the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Bill McLennan, says it will take only a 5% non-response to ruin the integrity of data collected in the forthcoming Australian census and make it unreliable. He was reacting to queries from iTWire about the uproar that has been sparked by the ABS decision to retain names and addresses from the forthcoming census for four years and tie them to individuals' data. McLennan (below) added that there was little that could be done at this late stage to quell the doubts that Australians had about the five-yearly process of data collection. He did, however, concede that if the ABS head, David Kalisch, recanted his decision on retaining names and addresses for four years, then that might calm privacy fears among the general population. The 9 August census is planned to be mostly digital, but the demand for paper forms has increased in the last few days, to the point where an automated phone line for ordering them went on the blink, at least for a while, on Wednesday. The name retention decision, announced in December, has caused a considerable amount of disquiet in the community and the ABS has been trying to calm things down. Kalisch made an appearance on the ABC's 7.30 programme last night trying to play down concerns. As is usual when there is public concern about an issue, politicians have suddenly become visible in taking an interest in the census, with one of them, Nick Xenophon, suggesting on Wednesday, that the census be postponed until things settled down. McLennan, who wrote most of the existing Census and Statistics Act, said that the public did not tend to get uptight about things like this until the last minute, as the typical Australian attitude was that things would work out right. He said that at this stage people would have made up their minds and no amount of reassurance from the ABS would ensure that the data quality would not be compromised. There have been no recent changes in the Act that make it possible for Kalisch to insist on compulsory submission of names, according to McLennan. He said it was unlikely that there would be mass prosecutions of people who indulged in civil disobedience by either withholding information or else submitting incorrect information. While there have been claims that the move towards retaining names and addresses is driven by budgetary constraints, McLennan said these did not stack up. He said that if there were budget shortfalls, then the ABS could make a list of priorities and then focus on the main items. And the census was the absolute top priority, he said. When Mr Spock conducted a Vulcan mind meld, it was My thoughts to your thoughts. Your thoughts to my thoughts. It was all about sharing, an exchange of thoughts, and allowing the participants to become as one. While Palo Alto Networks have subtly changed the word to MineMeld its a similar process collaborate and be of one mind to get the bad guys. It has announced an ambitious programme to help prevent successful data breaches and maintain trust in the digital way of life. In essence, it is to help organisations share threat intelligence among peers, through information sharing organisations, or with government-based programmes, to leverage community-based visibility into malicious activity on the Internet. It says the vision is clear: the more data you ingest, the more you can improve your risk posture. But a data pile alone isnt actionable. To achieve the desired outcome of preventing cyber attacks, organisations must be able to action on collected indicators of compromise (IOCs), automatically transforming them into prevention-based controls for enforcement on security devices. Traditional approaches have challenged security teams with complex workflows, across multiple tools, to aggregate a growing number of threat intelligence source, and drive enforcement down to local devices. As part of its commitment to the security community, and mission of driving a new era of threat intelligence sharing, Palo Alto Networks has announced the public availability of MineMeld to the entire security community. It is an open source tool that simplifies the aggregation, enforcement, and sharing of threat intelligence. Through MineMeld, organisations can integrate public, private, and commercial intelligence feeds, including results from other intelligence platforms, into a unified framework that natively feeds new prevention-based controls to Palo Alto Networks and other security devices. An an open-source tool, MineMeld was built to be extensible, allowing organisations to tailor the input, processing, and output of information for their environments. The source code is available on GitHub, as well as on pre-built virtual machines (VMs) for easy deployment. As part of the MineMeld release, it has partnered with some leading organisations to build a threat intelligence sharing ecosystem, with native support built into MineMeld from the very beginning, including Anomali, The Media Trust, Proofpoint, Recorded Future, Soltra, SpamHaus, as well as its AutoFocus service. MineMeld also supports a wide variety of open source intelligence providers. It encourages others in the security community to take up the banner and join the ecosystem by contributing a new Miner to the tool. It states,Together; we can simplify the sharing of threat intelligence for organisations across the globe, creating a stronger community that drives adoption of intelligence as a core element of a prevention-based strategy. Help us make successful cyber-attacks more costly, and less effective than ever before. MineMeld is free from the Palo Alto Networks Live community, GitHub, or Wiki. Zero-day threat protection is about protecting a device from unknown threats. Some of the key entry points are poisoned links, malware, and drive-by attacks from websites. Check Point Technologies, a global network cyber protection company, has introduced SandBlast Agent for Browsers to protect browsers from the raft of new and evolving zero-day threats by incorporating key components of the security model into the browser. It provides real-time protection, all while reducing the resources required to prevent todays most advanced attacks. Deployed as a simple browser extension (at this time for Google Chrome IE is coming soon), it has a minimal footprint on an organisation's systems, while its Zero Phishing technology dynamically analyses sites, blocking even brand-new phishing sites that have never been seen before. Web-based malware and social engineering attacks targeting organisations are increasing in volume and sophistication, with cyber attackers using the latest evasion techniques and persuasive scams to infect their victims. A preview of an upcoming SANS survey, Exploits at the Endpoint: SANS 2016 Threat Landscape Study, reveals: 41% experienced their most impactful security events through attacks that used drive-by downloads of malicious programs. 80% have been impacted by phishing attacks over the past 12 months, with 68% witnessing an increase in this type of attack. Within our expanding business, weve increasingly been challenged to maintain the security of our endpoints, especially as employees are targeted by hackers using more and more clever social engineering techniques, said Saul Schwartz, enterprise security manager, se2. Having a simple, easy-to-use browser extension that prevents attacks without slowing users down, will be a game-changer for our increasingly mobile workforce particularly from threats such as phishing attacks. SandBlast Agent for Browsers addresses these requirements with features that include: Proactive, real-time protection from advanced malware delivers safe reconstructed content within seconds; Dynamic analysis blocks unknown and zero-day phishing attacks targeting user credentials; Simple, easy-to-deploy browser plugin for Internet Explorer and Chrome that installs in minutes and operates with minimal overhead; and Highest malware catch rate in the industry, utilising advanced sandbox technology and patented CPU-level detection. As cyber attacks are growing in their complexity and frequency, enterprises are increasingly at risk of falling victim to a wide range of browser-based attacks, said Nathan Shuchami, head of advanced threat prevention, Check Point. Existing technologies ask users to wait for content to be evaluated, or require multiple, intrusive software installations on every system. SandBlast Agent for Browsers brings the highest level of protection to users in a simple browser plug-in that blocks unknown and zero-day malware delivered via web downloads, while quickly delivering safe content within seconds. There is a major move to remove the average, highly insecure password and replace it with all manner of things biometrics, voice authentication, two-factor (or more) authentications and so on. Why is the humble password so maligned? The fact is that we are largely incapable of selecting different passwords for each use, let alone making each a complex string of unmemorable letters, symbols, and numbers. Interestingly Barclays Bank UK has said that passwords are out, and voice recognition is in at least it has over 100 characteristics that can be measured. Other banks like HSBC will be implementing touch ID and facial recognition. Microsoft has also beefed up its Windows 10 security, in particular extending Windows Hello to both facial recognition and other biometrics like fingerprints. iTWire sought comment from Centrify, a leading enterprise identity management company. Lachlan McKenzie, ANZ manager for Centrify, warned that many Australian and New Zealand companies risk their IT security by over-relying on passwords. The remainder of the commentary is paraphrased. The most disturbing observation I have found in my first year at Centrify is the blind faith businesses place in passwords. The fact is that compromised credentials are the leading attack vector for data breaches globally. One problem is that people are lazy at creating effective passwords. Because were expected to remember them, many people choose passwords that are easy to recall to a ludicrous degree. Recent hacks reveal the most popular passwords include 123456, qwerty and, of course, password. If you must use passwords use a reputable password manager like LastPass or KeePass. Passwords must be: As long as possible 10-15 characters A mix of alpha, numeric, symbols and upper and lower case Different DO NOT USE the same or similar root section for multiple websites Never written down or shared or stored in plain text use a password vault Passwords also fail due to poor security habits, such as password sharing. Although were all warned not to share our passwords with family members or colleagues, people continue to do it. Passwords can easy be sold on the dark web as evidenced by the majority of breaches coming from stolen or purloined credentials. The solution to this password problem is well known - use mature security standards such as SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) and use multi-factor authentication but the challenge is to encourage businesses to make this sort of protection a priority. Last month, Remy Cointreau, one of the worlds leading alcoholic beverage brands, (ITWire article here) reported it is using the Centrify identity management and mobile management platform to support its 1800 employees globally, who access, on average, 20 different cloud- and web-based applications per day. iTWire has a further article from Centrifys US-based VP, David McNeely here who also warns that an over-dependence on passwords and a reliance on passwords that provide as much protection as a piece of paper in a rainstorm leaves many organisations vulnerable to cyber threats. Microsoft has opened up sales of the HoloLens development kit to anyone with $3,000 to spare, a move that could significantly expand the community of developers building apps for the augmented reality headset. Until now, HoloLens was available only to developers and companies through Microsoft sales reps, but from Tuesday, anyone in the U.S. or Canada can buy up to five headsets online through the Microsoft Store. There was no word about availability in other countries. HoloLens can overlay three-dimensional images onto the real world. By tracking the user's movements, the 3D images can be continually redrawn to match the user's perspective, making them appear like objects in real space. One such application was demonstrated at last month's Worldwide Developer Conference in Toronto. Japan Airlines showed a HoloLens app that lets engineers get up close with a full scale, computerized model of a jet engine. The app can highlight engine parts and show how different components work together in a way not possible with a real engine. The HoloLens now on sale is the same developer edition that has been offered to Microsoft partners, and buyers are asked to acknowledge before completing purchase that they understand it's not a finished product intended for consumers. Microsoft also asks buyers to agree not to resell the product and acknowledge that no refunds are available. Difficulty in obtaining the HoloLens has led to a healthy mark-up on the device on Ebay. On Tuesday afternoon, units were selling for up to $5,000. In June, Microsoft said it was opening up the HoloLens platform, allowing other device makers to build their own versions of the product. Microsoft today began distributing 2016's major Windows 10 upgrade to customers via the operating system's update service. Labeled "Anniversary Update" in a nod to the July 29, 2015, release of the inaugural edition, it was officially tagged as version 1607 to denote year and month. The build number assigned to today's code was 14393.10. Although the upgrade can be downloaded immediately by impatient users -- they simply manually trigger a check for updates in the Settings panel -- the majority will receive it on Microsoft's schedule. "[The Anniversary Update] will roll out automatically to you through Windows Update if you've chosen to have updates installed automatically on your device," wrote company executive Michael Fortin in a blog post today. The "installed automatically" will apply to all users of Windows 10 Home, which does not allow for update deferral. Those running Windows 10 Pro may delay the update, but not indefinitely. Only customers with Windows 10 Enterprise can permanently block the Anniversary Update, and then only by adopting the more restrictive "Long-term Servicing Branch," or LTSB. Fortin also affirmed that, as has been Microsoft's habit, the update will be queued on Windows Update in phases. Large software developers, Microsoft included, often dispense updates in stages, both to minimize the impact on the content delivery network's (CDN) servers and bandwidth, but also to catch and correct unforeseen bugs before they reach the entire user base. Users can also obtain 1607 by downloading the Windows 10 Upgrader from Microsoft's support site. Disk images of 1607 in .iso format, suitable for "clean" installs, are also available from Microsoft's site. Additionally, Microsoft has posted the 1607 version of Windows 10 Enterprise -- the SKU (stock-keeping unit) widely used in large organizations -- as a free evaluation copy. The evaluation expires after 90 days, but during the three-month stretch is fully functional. A Microsoft Account is required, as is registration, to obtain an evaluation copy of Enterprise. promises a bunch of nifty features are coming to the ay Store, like streaming preview versions of apps offering you virtual reality content. That future isnt here yet, but we can glance into the crystal ball thanks to an A teardown by Android lice of the version 6.9 update to the ay Store. The app streaming feature, which works with a few games through search, is coming to the ay Store. The concept is that you can play a few levels of a game before downloading the entire title. It works already in search, but most people tend to go right into the ay Store when looking for an app which kind of limits the appeal. A sample of how this looks is below: Apps like Fruit Ninja can be streamed directly from search. To launch the streaming youll see a try now button. This isnt the same as Android Instant Apps, which pledges to launch any type of app with no lengthy download installation required. so, theres evidence of how virtual reality apps will appear inside of the ay Store when VR hits the Android mainstream. th the Daydream project, will likely feature VR content right inside of ay for both Daydream Cardboard. The ay Store should update automatically on your phone or tablet. If youre the impatient type, you can grab it now from A Mirror. The impact on you: There wont be a major change to your day-to-day Android use with this update. However, it shows that the ay Store will soon do more than just serving as a static storefront for apps. Its a good differentiator for to have. The future just needs to get here sooner. Now we know why there were those nagging rumors about was killing off the app drawer in the next version of Android. It appears to be happening, but maybe not in the way we might have expected. Android lice showed off what it says are leaks of a new Nexus uncher. It kills off the omnipresent search bar in favor of a small button. Tap it to get search, slide it out to go to Now. Android lice Gone is the search bar, replaced with a date widget slide-out access to Now. The home screen now has a persistent date widget, in case you tend to forget what day it is. To get to the app drawer, the report says you slide up anywhere on the bottom app dock to reveal the rest of your applications. The translucence is very iOS-like as you pull up reveal the drawer. Android lice The app drawer lives on, but with a five-icon grid redesigned search bar. Android lice also found a number of new On Tap options that could make s predictive service more useful, such as navigating home, setting an alarm, or finding an ATM. Now on Tap may be an even better companion throughout your day. This is likely still a work in progress, so the final build could look a bit different will probably be shown off when unveils its 2016 Nexus phones. Its also unclear if this will mean the Now uncher is to be no more, if this possible replacement would be available for non-Nexus devices. y this matters: The new launcher seems to target a few goals. One is to nudge you more into Now by transforming the search bar into a slide-out tab inside of Now. And if Now on Tap gets more features, hopes youll take advantage of the predictive service even more. th Android Nougat new phones around the corner, we ought to find out rather soon. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said that, if elected, she would try to curb terrorists from using the Internet as a recruiting tool. "We will disrupt their efforts online to reach and radicalize young people in our country. It won't be easy or quick, but make no mistake we will prevail," Clinton said in her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. But Clinton's statement raises questions over what can be done to prevent terrorists from using Facebook, Twitter and other social media as extremist hunting grounds. "I believe [social networks] have been used by terrorist groups for years," said Elizabeth Bodine-Baron, an analyst with the Rand Corp., a nonprofit research organization. "I think Twitter and Facebook are major platforms being used. ... and YouTube. It can be hard to get rid of stuff, but we can make it harder for the casual observer to find so it's not the first thing popping up." Online recruitment has been an ongoing issue in the fight against terrorism. "Twitter works as a way to sell books, as a way to promote movies, and it works as a way to crowdsource terrorism -- to sell murder," FBI director James B. Comey said in December, according to a report in the New York Times. With the benefit of the Internet, and social media in particular, terrorists can expand their networks beyond their own borders, reaching into homes in the U.S., Europe and around the globe. The Islamic extremist group ISIS had a minimum of 46,000 Twitter accounts in the September-December quarter of 2014, according to a Brookings Institution study. Now a teenager from small-town America can be spotted, recruited and tutored to launch an attack in his own community. Terrorist groups, such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda or home-grown white supremacists, use social networks, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and the cloud-based instant messaging service Telegram to release propaganda, call for violent action, share links and video, connect people to their English-language magazines and take credit for attacks made around the world. Terrorist groups, which often have their own IT support system of people who are both tech and social media savvy, use social networks to find others who might be susceptible to being lured into their organizations. Using Twitter, for instance, they identify potential candidates, reach out to them and then encourage them to connect with them through private communications. Peter Weinberger, a senior researcher at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland, said ISIS has a large organization of people who focus on using social media for recruitment. "We know extremists are tweeting messages," he said. "They put out games, websites and magazines. This stuff is pretty slick. For someone who is vulnerable, they could get access to this and be inspired to do violence." In a November article on the Brookings Institution website, analyst J.M. Berger noted that social media gives terrorists the advantage of volume. By sifting through hashtags, posts and comments on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, among others, organizations can seek out more potential recruits than ever before. "The world continues to deal with the offline consequences of how ISIS works online, hunting among the fringes of society for those rare individuals who can be convinced to act on its behalf, wrote Berger, who studies U.S. relations with the Islamic World and wrote Jihad Joe: Americans Who Go to War in the Name of Islam. Fighting back The U.S. government and social networks have taken steps to not only pull terrorist groups off the social networks but to use social sites to supplant their violent messages. For instance, in February, Twitter announced that it was accelerating its efforts against terrorist groups, increasing its team that reviews reports of Twitter accounts associated with violent extremism and suspending 125,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts since the middle of 2015. Twitter also said it was working with law enforcement on the issue. Facebook also has suspended accounts that it finds are associated with radicalized groups. In February, Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that he wanted to stop terrorist groups from celebrating attacks on Facebook and to keep them from using the social network to lure in and train new recruits. The fact that both Twitter and Facebook have been working to stop terrorists from using their networks has not been lost on ISIS. In February, ISIS made direct and violent - threats against the CEOs of both companies. In a video posted to Telegram titled "Flames of the Supporters," the Sons Caliphate Army, the hactivist arm of ISIS, showed photos of Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey with digitally added bullet holes. "You announce daily that you suspend many of our accounts, and to you we say: Is that all you can do?" the hackers wrote in text across the video. "You are not in our league.... If you close one account we will take 10 in return and soon your names will be erased after we delete your sites, Allah willing, and [you] will know that we say is true." Facebook, Twitter and Google did not respond to repeated requests for comment on terrorists' using of their sites. YouTube, which also terminates known terrorist accounts, has a team working around the clock that reviews videos flagged as potentially objectionable. Under each video is a "promotes terrorism" flag, which viewers also can use to alert YouTube of such videos so they can be taken down. What else can be done? Rand's Boudine-Baron, who has been researching terrorists and their social media activities since 2014, said that while the account suspension campaigns reduce the ease with which people can stumble on to terrorist content and outreach, there needs to be a bigger presence in "counter messaging." That's where the government and social networks could work together. "Various government organizations are engaged in counter messaging campaigns," said Boudine-Baron. "What content can they provide to offer an alternative message? They might provide stories of people who have left ISIS and their reasons behind it; former jihadis countering violent extremism." Using sites like Facebook, YouTube, Telegram and Twitter gets the counter messages to the same population that the terrorists are preying on. The government, according to Bodine-Baron, could play a role in helping to find the right people to make the counter messages. A troubled teenager might not pay attention to a tweet from someone in law enforcement but might listen to someone who has suffered from terrorism or who used to be involved with a terrorist group but turned his life around. The government, she added, also could offer financial assistance to groups and social networks working on counter messaging. "Our government needs to figure out ways to make counter-messaging strategies more effective," Bodine-Baron said. Weinberger agreed, saying that the focus should be on intervention campaigns. "If there are chat rooms where people are talking, think about discrediting that message and get to these same people who are vulnerable and try to redirect them," he said. "Let's say someone says, 'Look at this hashtag.' Then you need someone else debunking that but they have to have someone who would be respected or has an authoritarian voice in that community." Gina Ligon, an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, who also has been conducting research for the consortium on terrorism, said it would be useful to have more information on how terrorist groups share their messages online and what their point of influence s. "We also need to look at what ISIS has done well and what they have struggled with so we could learn for future groups who use these tactics," Ligon told Computerworld in an email. "We have seen an increase in similar techniques from the Al-Nusrah front and other global jihad groups." She added that the government also could fund research on the online influence of violent extremist groups -- both domestic and international. What is a Jew? Israeli museum attempts an answer JERUSALEMI was on a short visit to Israel and spent time with a friend with whom I have been engaged in a 30-year argument. Elli... When anti-Semitism rears its head, we must be ready to fight it Anti-Semitism is a force that is persistent as well as pernicious. When it occurs, it must be fought both by being confronted in real time... Email Links to our top local news stories of the day, Monday through Saturday. Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | A Trump adviser is trying to smear Khizr Khan, the Pakistani-American legal consultant who spoke at the DNC, as a Muslim Brotherhood agent. This ignorant discourse is only possible because people just have no idea what they are talking about. It wouldnt fly if done about Western Christians. So for instance we would know that most Swedes are fairly liberal Lutherans and most Spanish are Catholic. Among far right wing Catholics in Spain you have the secretive cult, the Opus Dei. What the Trump people are doing is the equivalent of charging that a liberal Swedish Lutheran is an Opus Dei agent. That charge wouldnt make any sense to anyone who knew about ethnicity and Christianity in the West. A liberal Swedish Lutheran couldnt be Opus Dei. Im not sure it will do much good, but let me try to explain why a liberal Pakistani wouldnt be Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood as a movement began in Egypt in 1928. It began as a reassertion of Arab Muslim values in the wake of the 1880-1922 direct British occupation of Egypt, and the subsequent British hidden hand in Egyptian affairs through 1956. The Brotherhood is vague about the kind of government they want, but when they had a chance in 2011-13, they supported democratic elections. Although the American far right has long dreamed of criminalizing the Muslim Brotherhood, it is a nonviolent, mainstream political organization in Egypt which held as many as 88 seats in the Egyptian parliament after the 2005 elections, and held a majority in Parliament in the fall, 2011 elections. Egypt is an Arabic-speaking country. Pakistan was ruled by Britain from the 1840s until the partition of British India in 1947. The British in India instituted a tradition of what was called Anglo-Muhammadan law, which introduced into Muslim law ideas such as precedent and common law (Muslim law had tended to be a jurists law). A form of this legal tradition still is taught in South Asian law schools and it tends to be a project of status quo Muslims. Fundamentalists reject this assimilation of British and Muslim law. Their vehicle in South Asia is not the Muslim Brotherhood, which has tended mainly to attract Arabs, but the Jamaat-i Islami Pakistan is a multilingual country where the main official languages are English and Urdu. Urdu is basically the same as Hindi, but with some Arabic and Persian vocabulary. So, Pakistani-heritage Muslims dont typically have anything to do with the Arab Muslim Brotherhood. And even if one did, there isnt anything wrong with that. From everything one hears from Khizr Khan, he is what I would term a Pakistani liberal Muslim. Pakistan has seen since its inception in 1947 a struggle between those, like the late Gen. Zia, who want it to be a fundamentalist Muslim society, and those like its founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who just wanted a place where Muslims wouldnt be oppressed by a Hindu tyranny of the majority. Khans emphasis on the secular constitution, on the rule of secular law, and on democracy are typical for a mainstream educated Pakistani. In his one article on the sharia , he points out that there arent many legal strictures in the Quran, which implies that most law will be secular. Sharia is Muslim religious law, analogous to Halakhah for Jews and Canon Law for Catholics. The US far right wants to equate sharia to the Communist Manifesto or something, but it just is the way Muslims practice the law of their faith. If anyone tried to criminalize Halakhah or Jewish law, wed recognize that for what it is. The same should be true of the criminalization of sharia. Pakistani politics is far more sophisticated than Egyptian, and Pakistan has long-term grassroots parties in a way that Egypt does not. In most Pakistani elections, the Jamaat-i Islami, the fundamentalist party, has polled in the area of 3%. Pakistan is not very much like Egypt in that regard, either, having a strong liberal tradition going back to the poet Muhammad Iqbal and strong grassroots parties like the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Muslim League, both of which are Liberal with a big L, in the 19th century sense of the term. So no, Trumpists, that isnt a thing. A lot of your talking points reference things that arent a thing. August 3, 2016 / TheNewswire / Vancouver, British Columbia - Canadian International Minerals Inc. (the "Company") (TSX-V: CIN) is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the past-producing Tisova copper deposit, located in the prolific Erzgebirge mining district in northwestern Czech Republic. The deposit is encompassed by an Exploration Lands (pruzkumneho uzemi) mineral concession, which is held by Golden Pet s.r.o. ("Golden Pet"), a private Czech company. The concession was granted to Golden Pet by the Czech Ministry of Environment (Ministerstvo zivotniho prostredi) in 2015, and carries a five year term. The Tisova concession incorporates a former copper producer with historical production dating from the 12th century and last producing from 1959 to 1973. Most recently, the mine operated from 1959 to 1973, producing 561,000 tonnes at an average grade of 0.61% copper (Sucek-Kozubek, 1994). While historically the deposit was mined primarily for copper, significant concentrations of other base and precious metals have also been identified, though there appears to be no mention of their recovery in any historical documents. Cobalt was noted in testing as early as 1901, with grades between 0.4% and 0.7% (Zeitschrift fur prakische Geologie, Sucek-Kozubek, 1994). Between 1952 and 1956, various mineral research agencies reported concentrations of up to 0.11% Co, 4.32 g/t Au, and 20 g/t Ag (Hoffman, U., 2010). Tisova is classified as a Besshi-type Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposit. Such deposits are often large and, along with copper and cobalt, normally include other recoverable base and precious metals. One of the world's largest Besshi-type deposits is the Windy Craggy deposit located in British Columbia, which has a measured geological reserve of 297,439,000 tonnes of 1.38% copper, and 0.069 % cobalt, with substantial gold and silver credits (BCEMR Minfile). Two stages of drilling exploration took place at Tisova in the 1950's and 1960's, with more than 100 drill holes having been completed by Czechoslovak state mining companies. Drill logs exist, but under the then current economic system all core was consumed in assaying. The majority of core was only assayed for copper. Postwar exploration and development at Tisova prior to the Velvet Revolution (1948-1989) was typically dictated by strategic, political, and military considerations rather than the strictly economic constraints that provide parameters for western style of exploration and development. The geological model was not fully understood and different criteria guided the application of funds. An exploration program in the central and southern zone of the deposit was executed during the 1971-1989, verifying mineralization down to the level of 400 m below surface (level 9 of Helena shaft). Mining was not resumed and the mine was left to flood. The mineralized bodies at Tisova were concentrated in the three horizons: lower, central and upper. The lower was the most continuous and the central was economically most important. The known length of the lower horizon reaches 1000 m, of which 450 m has been opened by Helena mine. The mineralized zones are present in forms of irregular layers and lenses of variable size, with typical grades of 0.8 % Cu. The average thickness of lenses at the central horizon reached 2-6 m, occasionally 10 m, and exceptionally up to 30 m, with the length of 100-150 m and down dip extent of several hundred meters. An extensive GIS database compilation is currently underway. The Company will provide a further project update upon completion of the data compilation. Acquisition Terms Acquisition of the Tisova concession is proceeding under a letter of intent (LOI) between Canadian International and the two owners of Golden Pet. Under the terms of the LOI, each of the two vendors will be issued 3,000,000 units, for a combined total of 6,000,000 units - each unit comprising one common share and one three year warrant to purchase an additional common share at $0.10. In addition, TIMEX Zdice s.r.o., a private company registered in the Czech Republic, which provided consultation services to CIN during the due diligence period, will be paid $10,000 upon execution of the LOI, a further $15,000 upon acceptance of the definitive agreement by the TSX Venture Exchange, and a final $10,000 on January 15, 2017, for a total of $35,000. A finder's fee is payable on the transaction. Qualified Person The technical data in this news release has been reviewed by Thomas Hasek, P. Eng., a Qualified Person under the provisions of National Instrument 43-101. For further information, please contact: Canadian International Minerals Inc. Michael E. Schuss President and CEO Phone: 604-241-2254 Website: www.cin-v.com Forward-looking Information This news release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements; the uncertainty of future profitability; and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressed qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. NEWSLETTER Sign up Tick the boxes of the newsletters you would like to receive. Just Drinks Daily News The top stories of the day delivered to you every weekday. Just Drinks Weekly News A weekly roundup of the latest news and analysis, sent every Monday. Just Drinks Magazine The industry's most comprehensive news and information delivered every quarter Boca Raton, FL, USA, 08/02/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/ Spending time in a car is a part of life in South Florida. All too frequently, with the restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in South Florida, people get behind the wheel after drinking too much and cause accidents that have long-lasting effects on the victims, according to Boca Raton personal injury lawyer, Andrew Norden of Osborne & Associates. The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles estimates there are nearly 250,000 motor vehicle crashes in Florida every year. http://www.dmvflorida.org/car-accident.shtml. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reports that 40,677 DUI arrests were made in Florida recently. http://www.madd.org/drunk-driving/state-stats/Florida.html. Some common issues that arise for victims after being hit by a drunk driver include: The cost of medical bills for ambulance, hospital, and doctors arising from the crash; Pain and suffering from injuries sustained in the crash Anxiety and fear of driving Car repairs Lost wages because of time missed from work There are a few ways that victims of drunk drivers can get back on their feet after an accident. All cars registered in Florida are required to have insurance. Your car insurance provides personal injury protection (PIP), referred to as no fault, which pays 80% of the first $10,000 in medical bills. PIP pays for an ambulance, hospital and other medical treatment. The amounts not paid by PIP become part of your damage claim against the drunk driver, adds Norden, attorney for personal injury victims. If the drunk driver carries property damage coverage, your car repairs may be covered by the drunk drivers insurance company. Otherwise, if you pay for comprehensive collision coverage, your own insurance policy may pay to fix your car. Frequently, the amount of property damage caused by a drunk driver is more than the available insurance limits, creating personal exposure for the drunk driver. A top personal injury lawyer at Osborne and Associates in Boca Raton can help you through this process. Lost wages can also be paid from your PIP coverage. PIP covers 60% of your lost wages. You will be required to submit a Wage and Salary Verification form, completed by your employer, to the PIP carrier for lost wages to be processed. The 40% of your lost wages not paid by PIP will become part of your damages against the drunk driver. The drunk driver may be prosecuted as a result of his/her conduct. Florida provides an additional source of recovery for victims of drunk driving. Within the criminal case, a victim may have access to the victim compensation fund. The fund has certain requirements that a victim must comply with in order to get the benefits of the fund that are referenced here: victim compensation fund. The victim compensation fund can assist with medical bills, property damage and lost wages from the accident. You will be required to cooperate with the prosecutor in the case against the drunk driver to get the benefit of the victim compensation fund. The experienced Boca Raton personal injury lawyers at Osborne & Associates can help you navigate this process and interact with the prosecutor to maximize the resources available to you. Ultimately, you may need to pursue a civil claim against the drunk driver. In the civil case you can seek to recover all unpaid medical bills, lost wages and future wage time, out of pocket expenses for medical treatment, pharmacy costs, cost of help around the house to assist with tasks you can no longer do yourself, and damages for the pain and suffering experienced as a result of the crash. Florida law also provides a mechanism to punish and deter drunk driving, known as punitive damages. The right to seek punitive damages is not automatic. An attorney must first get permission from the court to pursue a drunk driver for punitive damages. If you have been involved in a crash with a drunk driver, contact the experienced Boca Raton personal injury lawyers at Osborne & Associates now. We handle drunk driving cases and can help you. Call 561-800-4011 now for a no-charge consultation. source: http://www.oa-lawfirm.com/boca-raton-personal-injury-lawyer-explains-recourse-hit-drunk-driver/ Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Photo Credit: Moismann's Having planned a trip to the U.K., Jason Bangerter Executive Chef of Langdon Hall, provided me with an introduction to Mosimanns in London. As most people in the know recognize, Mosimanns is one of Londons premiere private clubs run by none other than Michelin-starred chef Anton Mosimann (OBE). The son of Swiss restaurateurs, the esteemed chef has hospitality in his blood, so it was natural to follow in his parent's footsteps, first helping in the family restaurant where his love for all things culinary began. At 15 he apprenticed at a local hotel and received the coveted Chef de Cuisine Diploma, at just 25. Three years later, he was Maitre Chef des Cuisines at the famous Dorchester Hotel in London and during his 13-year tenure was awarded two Michelin stars, a first for any hotel restaurant outside of France. Photo Credit: Moismann's In 1988 Mosimann acquired a Scottish Presbyterian church in Belgravia and created his first namesake restaurant, an exclusive Dining Club. After the club, came Mosimanns Party Service, which earned him the Royal Warrant of Appointment to HRH the Prince of Wales for Catering Services. He even catered the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, hosted by Prince Charles. Next came The Mosimann Academy in Battersea, with its phenomenal list of cooking courses and an extensive library of over 6,000 cookbooks. Both of Antons sons, Philipp and Mark, joined Mosimanns in 2007 bringing their impressive experiences throughout Europes culinary industry, into the family business. Chef does not like chaos in the kitchen, unlike some Ive been exposed to, this is a quiet, clean and peaceful kitchen (no shouting or yelling) with what appears to be an unflappable staff working like a well-oiled machine. The dining club has seven private dining rooms of various sizes. They are brilliantly designed and individually sponsored by distinguished marques including Lalique, Bentley, Montblanc, Parmigiani, Fleurier and Garrard. Photo Credit: Parm Parmar The Montblanc Room (for two) is probably the worlds smallest private dining room, enchanting and at the same time sensual, with oyster colored walls highlighted by a magnificent crystal chandelier. The Lalique Room seats 12 and is magnificently designed in muted hues of oyster, chrome and steel tones. But its really all about the crystal; the chairs have crystal buttons, the table top is fashioned from a single, solid piece of glass and each table foot is comprised of 551 pounds of pure Lalique crystal, a beautiful piece of art. The stairway walls are lined with photographs of Anton Mosimann with dignitaries including Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Princess Diana, Prince Charles and celebrities who have visited the club. Its a historical time capsule of whos who on the public stage. One of the most beautiful rooms, oddly enough, is the ladies powder room, tastefully designed to resemble a Parisian boudoir. The decor simply transports you to another time. Photo Credit: Moismann's Perched up in The Balcony Bar on Mezzanine level affords guests beautiful views of the dining room below. The Bar, with its leather club chairs is warm, plushy and comfortable. This is where I spent an evening with Mark Mosimann, enjoying the clubs excellent cuisine. Mark joined Mosimanns after four years in Shanghai where he was General Manager of the Laris restaurant. The eatery is known for its food that is not only good, but good for you or cuisine naturelle. They reduce the use of salt and sugar, always use the freshest of ingredients (its a cardinal sin not to), and, where possible, substitute natural yogurt, fromage blanc and tofu for oil, butter, cream and alcohol. Mosimanns signature menu includes classic, well-loved dishes like Scottish salmon and Dorset crab, mushroom risotto (Queen Mothers favorite dish), roast lamb and Antons famous bread and butter pudding. Some items on the menu have been served since the restaurant opened 25 years ago, such as the pudding that is light and fluffy, almost like mousse and extraordinarily delicious. Photo Credit: Moismann's There are also house wines and Champagne bottled under Mosimanns private label. The Champagne is sourced from Epernay, and the wine cellar features the finest collection of wines, housed in a glass room, visible to all. While I enjoyed the marvelous cuisine, Mark filled me in on his life between graduating from the Lausanne Hotel Management School and heading to Mosimanns. His work experience took him to many fine establishments in Switzerland, Beijing, London and then San Francisco. Once dinner was finished we were offered Champagne truffles and a sampling of petit fours. Anton is still chairman of the company, but with Philipp and Mark managing the club, cooking school and catering business, hes been allowed the time to do the things he loves the most: travel and cook around the world at private events. WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Senators Mark Warner and Cory Gardner have established the first ever cyber caucus in the U.S. Senate. This, at a time where they say Congress doesn't have a specific group to turn to in figuring out how to fight cyber issues in their respective committees. The Senators say the caucus will work to educate members of Congress about cyber issues and how better to combat them not only in the halls of congress, but how to work with their constituents in their small businesses and every day lives. They'll focus on many cyber issues from privacy and encryption to the very threats the American people face by the Chinese. "There are two types of companies in America," said Senator Warner quoting the FBI Director. "Ones that know theyve been hacked by the Chinese, and ones who have been hacked but just dont know it." Warner, who has long standing credibility in the telecom industry, says Americans lose $120 billion every year for issues relating to cyber attacks and hackers. The duo hopes to streamline the process within Congress, but also to create a better plan going forward for Americans. Accordingly, the house will be built at the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, Vinh Nguyen precinct, Nha Trang city. The project was approved by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and funded by an investment of VND50 billion from the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography. Photo for illustration (Source: cand.com.vn) The house will have a total area of 2,000sq.m, and exhibit around 20,000 documents and objects affirming Vietnams sovereignty over its sea and islands, especially the two archipelagos. Also at the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, an area to protect and preserve marine creatures collected from Truong Sa archipelago and other Vietnamese waters will be built in an existing tunnel, which is 80m long, 4.5m wide and 4.5m high. The area aims to raise public awareness about the value of marine creature resources and support research on and preservation of important marine creatures. The project will be carried out over two years./. There are 10 offers up to 100% of the costs of tuition and board from UWCs all around the world. For the 2017 entry, UWC Vietnam continues to use the online application registration system, with an earlier timeline. UWC Vietnam will select applicants based on their merits and nominate selected students to UWCs based on their financial needs. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply. List of UWCs that offer placements to Vietnam: UWC Dilijan (Armenia), UWC Pearson College (Canada), UWC Changshu (China), UWC Costa Rica, UWC Robert Bosch College (Germany), UWC Mahindra College, India (2 placements), UWC South East Asia (Singapore), UWC Thailand, UWC USA; and UWC Waterford Kamhlaba (Swaziland). Photo for illustration Applicants to this scholarship program must meet all three following conditions: Vietnamese citizens and currently living in Vietnam, currently enrolled in high school (grade 10, 11, or 12) in September 2016, and born between September 1st, 1999 and August 31st, 2001 (or be between 16 - 18 by September 1st, 2017). Successful applicants should demonstrate the following qualities: * Intellectual curiosity and motivation A genuine urge to learn about the world around oneself and the ability to recognize the details and grasp the breadth of issues (for example global and local concerns) involved in any given topic and to analyze them thoroughly * Active commitment The ability to develop and readiness to reflect, question and confront ones own values, to measure ones behavior within family and community against ones values, and to act on ones own beliefs accordingly and responsibly. * Social competence The ability and readiness to make contact with other people, to interact respectfully with them, to work together with them in a team and to achieve solutions; the ability to express oneself adequately in different situations and to different people * Resilience, personal responsibility, and integrity The ability to look after oneself physically and emotionally during the challenging and transforming experience that a UWC offers; the personal motivation to adhere to UWCs common moral and ethical principles, a sense of humility and an ability to listen and value another persons opinion and experience. * Motivation for UWC Passion, ability, and serious incentive to contribute to and actively promote UWCs values. Other things being equal, preference will be given to a student who would not otherwise have access to such an experience or who would gain the most from the opportunity. Therefore, students from rural areas and students from disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply for this program. Eligible candidates must register online at http://register.uwcvn.org/ to receive reference number and submit their completed applications by email to 2017entry@uwcvn.org by 23:55, September 30th, 2016. A number of applicants will be interviewed online; some of them will then be invited to the group activities and individual interviews in Ho Chi Minh city on December 30th, 2016. Selected candidates will be nominated by UWC Vietnam to the relevant United World Colleges in January 2017 and the United World Colleges will confirm their acceptance to the students directly. Newly accepted students normally arrive at their United World Colleges in August, 2017. UWC was founded in 1962 with the vision of bringing together young people whose experience was of the political conflict of the cold war era, offering an educational experience based on shared learning, collaboration and understanding so that that the students would act as champions of peace. UWC Vietnam is a group of volunteers in charge of promoting UWC in Vietnam, including the selection of UWC scholarships. Since its inception in 2002, it has sent 90 students from 25 cities and provinces to 14 UWCs in Armenia, China, Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Hong Kong -China, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Swaziland, the UK and the US./. Update at 10:30 a.m.: LITTLE SIOUX (MNS) - The tornado moved into the Little Sioux Scout Ranch at 6:35 p.m. At about 9:30 p.m., a hearse left the Scout camp. In its wake, the tornado that ripped through the 1,800-acre primitive Boy Scout camp in Harrison and Monona counties left four children dead and at least 48 people - many of them children - with injuries ranging from bruises to broken bones. Officials have identified the dead as Josh Fennen, 13; Sam Thomsen, 13; and Ben Petrzilka, 14, all of Omaha. The fourth boy killed when a cabin collapsed was identified as Aaron Eilerts, 14, of Eagle Grove. "Sights I've seen, I'm never going to forget," said Trevor Ruffcom, a 14-year-old Boy Scout who went into the camp to help after the tornado hit. A Scout leader familiar with the camp described it as a tent camp with a few buildings. The buildings were out in the open and unprotected by trees. About 90 boys and 12 Scout leaders were staying at the camp. They came from eastern Nebraska, western Iowa and South Dakota. Some were from the Omaha area. The boys ranged in age from 13 to 18 years old. "I was praying, saying 'Don't let me get sucked up. My glasses came off, and I grabbed them. I didn't want to die," said Thomas White, 18, a Boy Scout from Blair, Neb., and a counselor at the camp. "Surprisingly, I was calm but the adrenaline was going. I didn't want to die." "Today is a tragic day for scouting," said Lloyd Roitstein, the executive director of the Mid-America Boy Scout Council in Omaha. "Scouts practice being prepared every day. They had weather radios and talked about storms and discussed where to go." He said they had discussed emergency procedures on Tuesday and had practiced first-aid techniques. Some scouts went hiking Wednesday afternoon but had weather radios and a response plan in case severe weather struck. Roitstein said the boys had already sought shelter in the camp's two main structures when the tornado touched down. Roitstein described the camp as a wilderness experience in a rustic environment. There were no basements at the campgrounds, and the two one-room cabins where the scouts sought shelter were not built to stand up to the wind. Emergency personnel from several communities in Iowa and Nebraska responded to the scene, but Gov. Chet Culver said this morning it was the camp administration, counselors and scouts themselves that were heroes. "They were the real heroes, these young men," he said during an 8 a.m. press conference with the governors of Nebraska and South Dakota. "These directors and counselors saved lives during a time when emergency management could not get to them. Without their heroics, there could have been more dead." Parents of the boys gathered at Nealy Hall in nearby Little Sioux as word of the disaster spread, and emergency crews and police streamed into the area to evacuate survivors and locate victims. Parents were desperate for information, as they talked on cell phones or buried their heads in their hands. "They've got no information from anyone on no specific boys," said one distraught parent at Nealy Hall. "We're getting contradictory reports. Unfortunately, neither the Scoutmaster nor anyone else has any information." It took about five hours for parents to be reunited with their uninjured children, or to be told the name and location of the hospital where their child had been sent. Prior to that, parents spent several anxious hours in the Little Sioux community center waiting to learn of their child's fate. News of the tornado strike was broadcast over radio and television newscasts, encouraging parents not to travel until the storm that raged until roughly 10 p.m. lifted. Many were reunited shortly before midnight at West Harrison High School in Mondamin. The parents who gathered at the community center were told that first responders at the scene were trying to gather names and would let parents know as soon as they had definite information. Some parents slumped against walls. Others pounded their fists against the walls as they anxiously waited for word. A few were lucky enough to get a call from their sons early in the evening. Al Jessen of Fremont, Neb., got a call from his son, Zach, 19, a staff leader at the camp, soon after the storm hit. "He called his mom and said, 'I'm OK, but a lot of boys from the troop were badly hurt.'" Dustin Maaseen, 15, Avoca, was one of 93 Boy Scouts at the Little Sioux camp when the tornado hit. His parents, Roger and Jennie, were at home when they heard of the disaster. Though he didn't say much to them about the event, his parents said their son and his entire troop from Avoca were OK. Dustin suffered several bruises and scrapes on his back. He was taken to West Harrison High School in Mondamin before being transported to Community Memorial Hospital in Missouri Valley. "When he first saw us, he just said, 'Hi mom. Hi dad,'" Jennie said. Roger said it's hard to imagine what the teens experienced inside that building. "He told us he was on his hands and knees and sliding across the floor," Roger said. Roger and Jennie resisted the urge to leave Avoca immediately and drive to Little Sioux. "They kept saying, 'Parents don't come, parents don't come.' It was hard not to," Jennie said. Another parent of an Avoca scout had spotted Dustin and let Roger and Jennie know he was OK. "There was a lot of tears and worry from all of us, the siblings, the grandparents," Jennie said. White said nearly all the injuries and fatalities happened when a small cabin that some campers took shelter in was destroyed. "I don't know where the roof of the cabin, the tables, chairs, bunk beds went," he said. "It was all gone." White said it appeared that the chimney collapsed on the people inside. He said it was the worst thing he had ever seen. The camp sounded its tornado siren Wednesday after White and some adult staff members out watching the storm saw the funnel cloud approaching. He said the 30 staff members at the camp had about five minutes to sound the alarm and get people to shelter. The campers had drilled that week on what to do during bad weather. He said he took a homesick child to shelter and then rode out the storm in a ditch along the side of the road. "A log almost crushed us. It was intense and took the breath out of you," White said. The injured people were sent to several area hospitals. They were taken to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha and hospitals in Onawa and Missouri Valley, and Blair, Neb. The worst of the injuries at CUMC was reportedly a broken hip. At one point, rescue trucks and emergency equipment were backed up for two miles trying to get into the camp. Hospitals in Sioux City went into full-scale disaster alert. Medical helicopters took to the sky before the storm passed to pick up two injured boys. As news of the tornado spread, nurses and other specialists sprung into action at Alegent Health's Community Memorial Hospital. Once hospital administrator Bob Sellers got word his facility would be taking some of the injured teenagers, an incident command was put into place. "We started to call in those that were already off for the day, but the funny thing is a lot of them just showed up on their own," Sellers, visibly worn from the evening events, said as nurses shuffled in and out of the emergency area at CMH. By 2 a.m., only one injured Boy Scout remained of the 14 that were admitted to the hospital. "The first couple of kids that came in were pretty beat up," Sellers said. "We set up a triage out front and then we worked to unite the kids and their families." Of the 14 taken to Community Memorial, three - all with fractures - were transferred to Creighton University Hospital in Omaha. Sellers estimates there were 40-50 staff on hand to help out during the peak time. Two Council Bluffs rescue squads were called up around 8 p.m. to assist the injured of the Little Sioux Scout Ranch, EMS officer Rick Benson said. They were sent after Monona County 911 personnel called the Pottawattamie County 911 center requesting any assistance. The two squads were assigned to go to a school in Mondamin to check out the scouts who had been transported there to be reunited with their parents, Benson said. He estimated between 20 and 30 scouts were at the school. "Our guys checked the kids out, and they didn't transport anybody," Benson said. The two squads waited until parents and the scouts were reunited and arrived back around 1 a.m., he said. "They were there about four hours," Benson said. "There were plenty of ambulances and responders there." Off-duty personnel were called in to ensure there were enough emergency people on hand locally during the time the Council Bluffs squads were up north, he said. On top of caring for the injured Boy Scouts, all patients were moved to the middle of the hospital as the area remained in a Tornado Warning for part of the evening. Terry Landsvork, observation program manager with the National Weather Service office in Valley, said the weather service issued a tornado warning 12 minutes before the twister hit the camp. The weather service facility in Valley was struck by lightning, knocking out its radar. Landsvork, however, said that didn't affect the weather service's ability to track the storm because it was getting a feed from the weather service in Des Moines and Sioux Falls, S.D. The tragedy capped a month of twisters and terror in the Midlands that first claimed lives on May 25, when six people died in Parkersburg. The deadly storm also came less than four days after two tornadoes tore a path of destruction in southwest Omaha, ripping off roofs and knocking down trees. No one died in the early Sunday tornadoes in Omaha. Little Sioux is 20 miles north of Missouri Valley off of Interstate 29. The camp stretches out over 1,800 acres of land in both Harrison and Monona counties. The tornado touched down in the northern part of the camp in Monona County. "It's devastation, it's very, very hard to look at," said Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman said this morning. "It was a blow to the gut, but we'll recover," Culver said. The head of the federal Department of Homeland Security was expected to visit the camp today. - Staff writers Dennis Friend, Courtney Brummer, Tim Rohwer and Tom McMahon contributed to this report. -The Council Bluffs Nonpareil Update at 8:44 a.m.: The names of the four boys who were killed were announced this morning: Aaron Eilerts, 13, of Eagle Grove, Iowa; Josh Fennen, 13, of Omaha; Sam Thomsen, 13, of Omaha; Ben Petrzilka, 14, of Omaha The latest number of injured is 48. Officials said there were 94 scouts and 25 adult and youth scout leaders at the camp when the storm hit. LITTLE SIOUX, Iowa - Several dozen Boy Scouts sat in high school bleachers shortly before midnight Wednesday - still decked out in their beige and green uniforms - and waited to be united with their frantic parents. They were the lucky ones. Four people died and at least 48 people - many of them children - were injured when a tornado ripped through a rustic Boy Scout camp in Monona County. Three of the dead were from Omaha; the fourth was from Eagle Grove, Iowa. Witnesses said the scene at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch was absolutely chaotic. "Sights I've seen, I'm never going to forget," said Trevor Ruffcom, a 14-year-old Boy Scout who went into the camp to help after the tornado hit. It took about five hours for parents to be reunited with their uninjured children, or to be told the name and location of the hospital where their child had been sent. Prior to that, parents spent several anxious hours in a Little Sioux community center waiting to learn of their child's fate. Many were reunited shortly before midnight at West Harrison High School in Mondamin. At least 48 injured people were sent to several area hospitals. They were taken to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha and hospitals in Onawa and Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Blair, Neb. The worst of the injuries at Creighton was reportedly a broken hip. At one point, rescue trucks and emergency equipment were backed up for two miles trying to get into the camp. Officials said there were 94 scouts and 25 adult and youth scout leaders at the camp. They came from eastern Nebraska, western Iowa and South Dakota. Some were from the Omaha area. The boys ranged in age from 13 to 18 years old. Lloyd Roitstein, executive director of the Mid-America Boy Scout Council, today confirmed that four scouts died. Three were 13 years old and the fourth was 14, he said. Their names and hometowns were not immediately being released, Roitstein said at an early-morning press conference. Parents of the boys gathered at Nealy Hall in nearby Little Sioux as word of the disaster spread, and emergency crews and police streamed into the area to evacuate survivors and locate victims. Parents were desperate for information, as they talked on cell phones or buried their heads in their hands. The tornado hit at 6:35 p.m. "They've got no information from anyone on no specific boys," said one distraught parent at Nealy Hall. "We're getting contradictory reports. Unfortunately, neither the Scoutmaster nor anyone else has any information." At about 9:30 p.m., a hearse left the Scout camp. At about 11:30 p.m., a law enforcement official read the names of the injured children and the uninjured to the parents at Nealy Hall. The campers had warning before the tornado hit and they took shelter in two buildings. Between 50 and 60 sought refuge in the north tower, where the roof blew off. The fatalities and most of the injuries were in this "rustic" shelter, scout leaders said. Like the other buildings in the camp, the north tower had no basement. "I don't know where the roof of the cabin, the tables, chairs, bunk beds went. It was all gone," said Thomas White, 18, a Boy Scout from Blair, Neb., and a counselor at the camp. White said it appeared that the chimney collapsed on the people inside. He said it was the worst thing he had ever seen. The camp sounded its tornado siren Wednesday after White and some adult staff members out watching the storm saw the funnel cloud approaching. He said the 30 staff members at the camp had about five minutes to sound the alarm and get people to shelter. The campers had drilled that week on what to do during bad weather. He said he took a homesick child to shelter and then rode out the storm in a ditch along the side of the road. "A log almost crushed us. It was intense and took the breath out of you," White said. "I was praying, saying don't let me get sucked up. My glasses came off, and I grabbed them. I didn't want to die. Surprisingly, I was calm but the adrenaline was going. I didn't want to die." A Scout leader familiar with the camp described it as a tent camp with a few buildings. The buildings were out in the open and unprotected by trees. Scores of ambulances, police and emergency personnel from neighboring counties raced to the scene after the tornado hit at about 6:35 p.m. "It was a very hectic scene," said one state trooper. The hospitals in Sioux City went into full-scale disaster alert. Medical helicopters took to the sky before the storm passed to pick up two injured boys. The parents who gathered at the community center, Nealy Hall, were told that first responders at the scene were trying to gather names and would let parents know as soon as they had definite information. Some parents slumped against walls. Others pounded their fists against the walls as they anxiously waited for word. A few were lucky enough to get a call from their sons early in the evening. "I can't tell you how relieved I feel," said Charleen Willoughby, a Bellevue woman who got a call Wednesday evening from her son, Taylor, 13. Al Jessen of Fremont, Neb., got a call from his son, Zach, 19, a staff leader at the camp, soon after the storm hit. "He called his mom and said, 'I'm OK, but a lot of boys from the troop were badly hurt.'" In Omaha, phones at the Mid-America Council, Boy Scouts of America, headquarters in west Omaha were ringing constantly. Officials couldn't tell parents anything. They were taking numbers. As soon as they knew something, they told the parents, they would let them know. Later, they referred parents to the Monona County Sheriff's Office for information. After the tornado hit, the Mid-America Council quickly put out an alert to other Scouts in the area to help, and dozens of people gathered outside the camp to offer aid. Dan Neary, the current board chairman, said national Boy Scouts officials were flying into the area. "Our hopes and prayers are with the families. We're scrambling to get as much accurate information as we can," said Neary. The tragedy capped a month of twisters and terror in the Midlands that first claimed lives on May 25, when six people died in Parkersburg, Iowa. The deadly storm also came less than four days after two tornadoes tore a path of destruction in southwest Omaha, ripping off roofs and knocking down trees. No one died in the early Sunday tornadoes in Omaha. Terry Landsvork, observation program manager with the National Weather Service office in Valley, said the weather service issued a tornado warning 12 minutes before the twister hit the camp. The weather service facility in Valley was struck by lightning, knocking out its radar. Landsvork, however, said that didn't affect the weather service's ability to track the storm because it was getting a feed from the weather service in Des Moines and Sioux Falls, S.D. Dan Hunt, a member of the Mid-America Council executive committee, said the boys were at the camp for Pohak Pride, a leadership training program. "This is really their first foray into leadership training," he said. The boys learn how to organize patrols of six to 10 boys and organize Scout meetings. "We are saddened by this tragedy. Our hearts go out to these families affected. We are going to do everything we can to stand by these scouts, to stand by these families.," said Iowa Gov. Chet Culver. "There were some real heroes at the scout camp. These young men made it into the bunker, they made it into the bunkhouse. Then after the tornado hit directly the bunkhouse, they immediately started helping each other. ""They were the real heroes, these young men." World-Herald staff writers C. David Kotok, Karen Sloan, Elizabeth Ahlin, Michaela Saunders, Jonathon Braden, Danny Valentine, Jason Kuiper, and Jim Burnett contributed to this report. * Contact the writer: 444-1309, robynn.tysver@owh.com The semitrailer truck driver involved in a crash that claimed six lives on Interstate 80 was inattentive and distracted by outside influences when he rammed into a minivan at a high rate of speed, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper said in an arrest affidavit. The driver, Tony Weekly Jr., 53, of Baker, Florida, was charged in Keith County Court on Tuesday with five counts of felony motor vehicle homicide one for each member of the St. Paul, Minnesota, family who died Sunday in the fiery crash four miles west of Brules I-80 interchange and a single misdemeanor count of reckless driving. Weekly, clad in an orange jail jumpsuit, kept his head down as he entered the courtroom Tuesday. When Keith County Judge Edward Steenburg informed him of his right to hire an attorney and asked whether he had any assets, Weekly responded: Sir, I am a month away from losing my house and my car. The judge set an Aug. 29 preliminary hearing on whether he should face trial in Keith County District Court. Steenburg continued Weeklys bail at $1 million of which he must post 10 percent to be released pending a determination of whether he could afford a lesser bail. The crash occurred just before 11:30 a.m. MDT Sunday in a head-to-head crossover construction zone on Interstate 80. All of the vehicles involved were westbound on the Interstate. The construction zone has a posted temporary speed limit of 65 miles per hour. The normal speed limit is 75 mph. Witnesses said Weeklys truck did not slow down until hitting the first vehicle, Trooper Darrell Crawford said in the arrest affidavit. That vehicle was the minivan carrying the Pals family of Minnesota. Jamison and Kathryne Pals and their three children died as a direct result of the initial impact, Crawford said. Before coming to rest, the vehicles forward momentum pushed them into a Plymouth minivan driven by Sullivan, then a Nissan sport utility vehicle and finally a Ford van. Killed Sunday were: Jamison and Kathryne Pals, both 29, and their children, Ezra, 3; Violet, almost 2; and 2-month-old Calvin. Weekly had minor injuries and was taken to Sedgwick County Hospital in Julesburg, Colorado. Authorities drew blood from him but have declined to comment on what the results might reveal. Weekly was driving for Bohren Logistics Inc. of Garrett, Indiana. A statement from the company said: Those of us at Bohren Logistics are heartbroken by this tragic accident. We extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the relatives and friends of the Pals family for this devastating loss. We also wish the best and a speedy recovery for those injured in the accident. Bohren Logistics is committed to cooperating with law enforcement authorities investigating this accident. Fred Zwonechek of the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety said the Sunday crash was the worst in Nebraska since at least Nov. 6, 2006, when five people died in a two-vehicle, head-on crash on Interstate 80 just west of Shelton, between Grand Island and Kearney. The most fatalities from one crash on record in Nebraska occurred Aug. 8, 1976, when 11 people died, Zwonechek said. A train hit a church bus near Stratton, which is west of McCook. The Palses intended to serve as long-term missionaries in Nagoya, Japan. They were headed to Palmer Lake, Colorado, for a five-week session on learning a language and assimilating into another culture, said Dennis Vogan, vice president of personnel development of the ministry organization WorldVenture. The Palses fit perfectly within our organization, Vogan said. The missionaries in Japan were thrilled and looking so forward to their coming, he said. The Palses had raised enough money to fund their mission work, which was to start in October, he said. Rick Pals, Jamisons father, said Tuesday that funeral services would be held at Jamison and Kathrynes church, Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. He said the families of Jamison and Kathryne have been very touched by the outpouring of sincere support they have received. Weve heard from people from all over the country and all around the world, he said. The president of Christ Bible Institute in (Nagoya) Japan is trying to make arrangements to be here for the funeral. Eventually, Rick Pals said, a foundation will be established to continue the missionary work that Jamison and Kathryne envisioned for themselves. For now, people can donate to www.gofundme.com/joyofjapan. As of Tuesday night, $16,500 had been raised toward the $20,000 goal. The generosity has been wonderful, Rick Pals said. Those donations and prayer are really what people can do to help us right now. Jamison Pals worked for just over three years as a grant writer for Feed My Starving Children. The Christian nonprofit based in Eagan, Minnesota, sends meals specially formulated for malnourished children to orphanages, schools, clinics and feeding programs around the world. Andy Carr, the groups vice president of marketing and development, said Jamison and Kathryne Pals were amazing people and good friends. They were the most humble and selfless people that you could ever meet, he said. In todays world where its so much about me, me, me, it was never about them. It was always about others. Carr estimated that Jamison was responsible for writing grants that brought in well over $1 million to the organization. But his work didnt stop there. We work with many small organizations that cant afford to have grant writers and whenever they had questions about how to proceed, wed point them to Jamison, he said. He would gladly assist them, and his impact went far beyond Feed My Starving Children. This report contains material from the World-Herald News Service. Halloween customs from around the world Halloween is derived from some of the oldest customs in the world. The culture of these traditions are 2000 years old during an age... Spindle Items ..FUN WITH WORDS Have you heard of the saying, to appear smart, be silent. It means if you dont open your mouth, people may... Out of the Past 25 Years AgoOct. 29, 1997 A light industrial park is planned for the site of the abandoned grain mills on Military Road after their expected... Make a plan to vote this November Election Day is less than two weeks away. Have you made a plan to vote yet? Midterm elections are often overlooked, but I urge everyone... 1K Shares Share In the medical field, it is said that July, not April, is the cruelest month. It even has a name, the July Effect. In June, hospitals hum and smoothly operate after a year of working out the kinks. In July, they welcome, or dread, the arrival of new recruits: newly minted physicians and medical students, eager to prove themselves, yet raw and untrained. For me, as a senior resident, it is the best time, when the memories of my intern year meet a desire to teach and to mentor this fledgling group. During a teaching session where the interns are quick to flaunt their knowledge by reciting lists of medical facts, one medical student asks me a striking question: Is this what makes a good doctor? This question follows me as I head to my clinic. My first patient walks through the door. A 56-year-old gentleman who has high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, greets me with a solid handshake and a booming Hello Dr. Chan! You can hardly notice that he had a stroke a year ago. The strength in his right leg has returned, and he looks fit after months of physical therapy and exercise. We chat about how life is going. He has returned full time to his job as an air conditioning repairman. It turns out he is also training students. Sometimes they dont know the practical aspects of the job he laments. But I have a surprise for you doc, Ive finally quit smoking! he exclaims, and I look at him, beaming. We had spent many visits talking about his smoking. Based on the results of recently published studies, we adjust the medications that control his blood pressure. I schedule a follow-up visit, and we say goodbye. My next patient is accompanied by her sister. She is a healthy 35-year-old who is early for her annual visit. She is more restless than how I remember her. Tell the doctor what you told me, her sister urges her. She looks down at her feet. Are you depressed? I ask. She nods and says she is worried about school, and her job is stressful. From my computer, I see that other patients are beginning to arrive. I interrupt and begin a medicine to help with her mood. The day becomes rushed as patients stream into clinic. A 58-year-old homeless woman comes because she walks only a few feet and becomes short of breath. A 32-year-old feels like he is walking on needles. A 46-year-old with wheezing. Another has chest pain. As I see more patients, I find myself speaking less, examining less, explaining less. It seems the main interaction at each visit becomes the one I have with my computer and my connection to each patient is slowly eroded. At the end of the day, I return to the medical students question, what makes a good doctor? Increasingly medical schools, hospitals, and the media are asking this question, perhaps because it is becoming more difficult to answer succinctly. As we train doctors in medical school and residencies, we try to prepare them for the modern health care environment. We prioritize efficiency, which occurs at the expense of listening to our patients. We use technology to improve clinical safety and quality, but at times it prevents us from giving patients our full attention. We implement population-based guidelines, which we sometimes follow blindly without regard for the nuances in caring for an individual patient. It is easy to forget in the long course of medical training that the training itself is not the goal, nor is it the creation of the perfect physician. Instead, as Francis Peabody, a Harvard physician and great humanitarian wrote, Medicine is not a trade to be learned but a profession to be entered. One of the essential qualities of the clinician is interest in humanity, for the secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient. Health care and medical education will constantly evolve, but central to the profession of being a physician still remains the relationship between us and our patients. In this light, everything else that seemed of great importance will begin to grow dim. Armed with this perspective, even as medical practice rapidly changes around us, we will avoid being swept away by the waves of dehumanization. A good doctor ultimately understands the humanity the patient and the doctor share together. During my intern year, one of my patients was a 93-year-old Spanish-speaking lady. Her medical issues consisted of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and osteoporosis and she was admitted to our hospital after falling. I knew the list of medications she took at home. Blood tests showed that her heart was not functioning well. During the discussion with the supervising physician, I impressed him with my in-depth assessment of her case, from a molecular level to her current presentation and how we would care for her. We had our diagnosis and with efficiency and precision; we treated her. I knew her, but I did not know her. When she was brought in, she was transferred from the familiarity of her home, surrounded by family, to the strangeness of our hospital, where an interpreter was needed just to communicate a simple greeting. She had lived 93 years of a full life before this episode, a perspective lost amidst of the medicalization of the patient. I failed to mention or even consider this aspect of her identity. As she lingered in the hospital, she seemed to improve at first, but then unexpectedly died overnight. She was the first patient to die under my direct care and in my mind, I have recalled this scene many times since. The family, which was composed of many relatives, came to see her, and as I began to speak, they surrounded me in a large semicircle. I tried to deliver the unfortunate news, but my words are like drops of mud on the floor. Her sudden death sparked the realization that I did not truly know her and so, what do you say about someone you do not truly know? I ran out of words and fell silent. The attending physician took over and continued the meeting. Afterwards, I told him my conflicted thoughts, and he reminded me, to truly know a patient is to consider who they are outside of their medical condition. And this is the lesson that formed the answer I ultimately gave the medical student with the striking question. Never forget the humanity of our patients, I told her, despite it being a difficult task at times, for this is what makes a good doctor. Isaac S. Chan is a hematology-oncology fellow. He can be reached on Twitter @ithinkichan. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 528 Shares Share Starting this fall, second-year students will no longer have the stress of grades at our medical school, Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). In extending the pass-fail system from the first year to the second preclinical year, WashU joins the other 18 of the top 20 research medical schools on U.S. News and World Report that grade the entire preclinical curriculum on a pass-fail basis. (The sole holdout is Penn, which maintains a graded system for two of three preclinical semesters.) Locally, the change caps an evolving, years-long conversation between students, instructors, and administrators. But we are just one of the many medical schools lately to catch onto a national movement that started long ago. Turbulent sixties Some schools such as Harvard, Stanford, and Yale have maintained preclinical pass-fail for decades. Many other schools dabbled in curricular reform in the 1960s. Opponents hoped the storm would pass. A provocative article published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1978 blamed the transient sociopolitical turmoil of the preceding decade for causing a revolution in medical education with digressions such as social medicine, primary care, elective scheduling, and especially the experiment in pass/fail grading. The authors decried the subversion of traditions and erosion of standards, pleading for maintaining elitism in education. Its important to note that these authors beliefs came from the perspective of resident selection rather than of medical education. They believed that it is impossible to prevent a bright student in a good environment from becoming an excellent physician by manipulating such inconsequentials as the curriculum and the grading system, but they saw evidence that inferior residents were selected in the absence of a class ranking based on grades. Preclinical pass-fail trend Now, the storm has settled somewhat. Though the politics have changed, pass-fail grading is no fad. Schools are now increasingly reaching a stable compromise: grades for clinical clerkships, pass-fail for preclinical courses. In fact, more than half of the aforementioned medical schools changed to all-pass-fail preclinical curricula in the past decade, and none have reverted back to multi-tier grading. The current trend for preclinical pass-fail is driven by two major factors: 1) decreased relative importance of preclinical grades in residency applications, and 2) increased focus on student wellness and mental health. Low importance in residency applications A dwindling minority of residency programs place value on performance in basic science courses. Practically speaking, the data are often uninterpretable. Grade distributions vary dramatically between schools or even within a single institution. These days, preclinical curricula differ in length, course naming, degree integration, and grading scales. In contrast, the USMLE Step 1 exam provides a commonly understood measure of basic science knowledge for all MD students. With the availability of standardized assessment, it is no wonder that surveys of program directors rank basic science honors among the least commonly considered factors for interviewing and ranking applicants. Step 1 scores rank among the most common. Given the importance of Step 1 scores to residency applications, some have worried about the effect of changing grading policies on Step 1 performance. We now know from the experience of several schools that changed to pass-fail that students perform just as well as before. Moreover, schools that switched did not find significant differences in residency match quality. Focus on student wellness Even though preclinical grades do not greatly affect residency applications, they still appear on transcripts and factor into class rank and AOA medical honor society selection. Chronic pressure to get the best grades can lead to significant distress. In recent years, academic leaders have increasingly recognized the importance of mitigating unnecessary stress during medical training. We found that an overwhelming majority of students at all stages at our medical school thought they would be somewhat or much less stressed during the preclinical years if they were evaluated on a pass-fail basis. Multiple peer-reviewed studies verify these beliefs. In a multi-institutional study, students in 3+-interval graded schools had significantly higher stress, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization and were more likely to have burnout or considered dropping out compared to students in schools with pass-fail grading. Grading scale was more strongly associated with student well-being than the number of contact days or tests. When the University of Virginia changed to pass-fail, preclinical students had higher well-being and vitality and reduced anxiety and depression. When Mayo Medical School switched part of its curriculum to pass-fail, students had less stress, improved mood, and even greater group cohesion. When Saint Louis University changed to pass-fail as part of a multifaceted preclinical curricular reform, students had lower levels of moderate or severe depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress. We believe a simple change in grading systems can lead to a clinically significant change in student wellness and mental health. National organization endorsement The alarming levels of burnout among physicians, residents, and medical students demand greater national attention to wellness. The American Medical Student Association passed policy in 2012 stating that it STRONGLY URGES all medical schools to adopt the use of a strictly pass/fail grading policy during the preclinical years of medical school to reduce the risk of poor student health and wellness and to promote teamwork and collaboration rather than competition. In 2012, the American Medical Association (AMA) approved policy entitled Supporting Two-Interval Grading Systems for Medical Education, which acknowledged the benefits of a pass-fail system for the non-clinical curriculum. By 2013, as tabulated by the AMA and published in JAMA, pure pass-fail was the most common preclinical grading system across the country, found at 41 percent of allopathic schools. We believe the so-called pass/fail experiment has finally proven itself and will continue to propagate, not as a reaction to transient sociopolitical turmoil, but as an enduring curricular reform that prevents unnecessary mental turmoil during training. Francis Deng is a resident physician and can be reached on Twitter @francisdeng. Austin Wesevich is a medical student. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 125 Shares Share With Obamacare and creation of health insurance exchanges, many believed that health insurers would compete for patients much the same way hotels, rental cars companies, and airlines compete for customers. By comparing identical benefits packages from different insurers, patients could select their insurer based on the monthly premium and the extent of the hospital and physician network. In a recent Vox article, Ezra Klein urged insurers do something like Southwest Airlines: low prices, narrow networks, exceptional customer service, and not much else. Klein believes insurers dont have the tools necessary to meaningfully impacting a patients long-term health and avoidance of costly medical complications that would justify the upfront costs of prevention and treatment if a patient simply switched to a different insurer the following year. To succeed in health care, own every touch point The problem with Kleins premise is that unlike insurers, Southwest Airlines can ensure an exceptional customer experience because it owns every touch point of its delivery system of flying people across the country. Southwest deliberately chooses one type of airplane (Boeing 737s), focuses on mid-sized airports to speed turnaround times and maximize use of their expensive airplane assets, and improves operational efficiency to provide low prices. Insurers do none of these things. Until insurers own the delivery system, they will have little understanding of the patient experience through the health care system. Without formal hierarchy, structure, or oversight of the entire delivery system, insurers have no way of providing patients hassle-free, worry-free, convenient and timely coordinated and connected care. Because insurers are not interested in running a delivery system, they can only differentiate themselves by customer service or the online tools to help patients determine their benefits or bills. The doctors and hospitals contracted by the insurer likely have negatively impacted the insurers brands. Insurers are seen by many as greedy by cutting reimbursement and meddlesome in their attempts to improve clinical outcomes. With an inability to manage the patient experience, insurers cant become a beloved brand like Southwest Airlines. Health insurance startup Oscar begins integrating delivery system So it isnt surprising that health insurance startup Oscar found it very difficult to do well despite touting [its] use [of] technology to push less costly care and more consumer-friendly coverage. Even with consumer friendly marketing, many patients [were] disappointed to find the insurer behaving like everyone else. Like other insurers, Oscar was unable to manage the patient experience and the medical costs of their contracted networks. As a result, Oscar will be asking New York regulators to raise rates by a weighted average of nearly 20 percent for 2017. So to improve costs and the patient experience, Oscar is now creating a virtual call center. It will provide primary care and urgent care via telehealth. A recent job posting for a virtual primary care physician listed the clinical responsibilities of not only treating the top 20 common diagnoses but also other health care conditions by using labs, imaging and accessing specialists and community health resources. Oscar doctors will also work side-by-side with our technology and product teams to build new tools that will let us care for our members virtually. In other words, Oscar Health will use virtual primary care physicians to help manage their costs and utilization while also managing the perception of their brand. Launch is expected sometime in 2016. Zoom+ is Kaiser Permanente for the 21st century Alternatively, the health care organization, Zoom+, is going in a similar direction. Touted by some as the Kaiser Permanente of the 21st century without the baggage, Zoom+ started as a chain of retail clinics. Specifically, over the past decade they have been focused on creating an integrated health system you can control with your phone. However, that wasnt enough. To own their destiny, they needed to also become an insurer so no longer would they be captives of insurers, captive of large systems. They wanted the ability to sell directly to businesses, governments, individuals, and control that full stack if [they] wanted to. [They] had to make sure [they] had access to the economics to do the innovation that [they] want to do. Full stack meaning, to be the patients primary care provider, specialist care provider, and emergency room, all in one. And all that care would be mediated through, and when appropriate delivered through, the phone. They wanted to control their future. In other words, to succeed, health care organizations need to be both the insurer and the provider of health care delivery. Will integrated health care startups make health care better? For insurers or health care providers to win, they need to be like a Kaiser Permanente (KP), where patient health outcomes continue to be nation-leading and patient experience among the best in the nation. KP owns every touch point from scheduling appointments to having their own doctors and staff to provide care but also reinforce their organizational values and building long-term relationships with patients who come back year after year. Yet despite these multi-year accolades, KP and other accountable care organizations (ACOs) have been unable to expand nationally. Americans continue to paying a price as the chasm between where most of American health care is right now and where it needs to go, preferably in the near future, remains vast notes Dr. Robert Pearl, CEO of the Permanente Medical Group. To close the gap, better health care wont come from the existing fee for service structure doctors and hospitals transforming themselves into ACOs. Instead bridging that chasm will come from start-ups much the same way KP was, a mere 70 years ago, [and] a relative new kid on the block.. The only difference is that it wont take 70 years. It will take 10. Davis Liu is a family physician and head of service development, Lemonaid Health. He is the author of The Thrifty Patient Vital Insider Tips for Saving Money and Staying Healthy and Stay Healthy, Live Longer, Spend Wisely. He can be reached at his self-titled site, Davis Liu, MD, and on Twitter @DavisLiuMD. Image credit: Shutterstock.com After several talks with government officials on what to do with the Russell Terrace Apartments, the Housing Authority received a preliminary approval to convert the housing project to a RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration) project. On Wednesday, it was a packed house filled with residents from Russell Terrace who joined this month's Housing Authority Committee meeting. Last June, the committee issued a proposal to make the conversation from public housing to RAD. If approved, it would stop the proposed demolition for the housing project. According to the committee, this program simply shifts units from the Public Housing Program to the Section 8 Program - which would allow private capital markets to make capital improvements. "It was important for us to look for options that removed the demolition, if we could, from the table," says Laredo Homeless Coalition Chair Jose Ceballos. "This is one option that will proceed. We're seeing progress with the application, and the residents are happy to know that this is an option HUD is assisting with." Jose says they hope for a final approval on the proposal by October. Under RAD, residents would continue to pay 30 percent of their income toward the rent, and they maintain the same basic rights as they possess in the Public Housing Program. In the steamy days of summer, two of the hottest members of the Kiplinger 25 closed to new investors: Harding Loevner Emerging Markets (HLEMX (opens in new tab)), which, like most of its peers, went through a rough patch in 2014 and 2015, soared 14.8% in this years first seven months. That clocked the average diversified developing-markets stock fund by 4.0 percentage points. Vanguard Dividend Growth (VDIGX (opens in new tab)), which has a superb long-term record, returned 7.5% year-to-date, beating the typical large-company stock fund by 1.6 percentage points. In keeping with our custom of removing funds from the Kip 25 if they shut to new investors, we must bid farewell to these two funds. Their replacements: Baron Emerging Markets (BEXFX (opens in new tab)) and T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth (PRDGX (opens in new tab)). The Baron funds manager, Michael Kass, has a solid record. From the time he launched the fund in January 2011 through July 31, it returned 3.0% annualized. That isnt a lot, but it trounced the typical diversified emerging-markets stock fund by an average of 5.3 percentage points per year. The fund charges 1.45% annually for expenses, about average for the category. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up Kass focuses on midsize to large companies with above-average growth and competitive advantages over their peers. Take Indonesias PT Matahari Department Store. It lets space in its stores to other merchants, who pay rent or share a percentage of their sales. The firm should benefit as more Indonesians join the middle class, says Kass. After a nearly five-year-long bear market during which emerging-markets stocks lost 35%, on average, Kass thinks a turnaround is near. Finding good businesses at prices too low to resist, he has moved back into companies based in countries, such as Brazil and Russia, that he had avoided recently. One example: BM&F Bovespa, a Sao Paolobased stock exchange whose stock soared 76% over the first seven months of the year. The fund holds 80 to 90 stocks, with China, India and Brazil representing its three biggest country weightings. Given his funds name, its not surprising that Dividend Growths Tom Huber seeks large, sturdy firms that have the capacity to consistently raise their payouts. Pfizer (PFE (opens in new tab)), General Electric (GE (opens in new tab)) and Danaher (DHR (opens in new tab)) top the portfolios list of 104 stocks. A commitment to pay a dividend encourages company executives to make smart decisions, says Huber. The result, he says, is an all-weather fund that has beaten the market over the long haul. Since Huber took over in March 2000, Dividend Growth has returned an annualized 6.8%. That topped Standard & Poors 500-stock index by an average of 2.5 percentage points per year. The funds expense ratio of 0.64% is well below average for its category. (Kitco News) - Despite golds stellar performance this year and the risks surrounding financial markets, analysts from one bank think the metals 2016 rally may be coming to an end. While we believe the rally has been completely justified, it was largely driven by just two forms of investor demand and we struggle to see how it goes significantly north of recent highs, said Christopher Louney, commodity strategist for RBC Capital Markets, in a report released late last week. We take the seemingly unpopular view, and contend that gold has already seen its 2016 peak. Since the start of the year, gold prices have rallied over 28% and hit a two-year high of $1,377.50 an ounce in early July. Prices have since come off with December Comex gold futures last trading down $9.50 at $1,363 an ounce. RBC analysts are forecasting an average annual gold price of $1,258 an ounce this year and $1,241 an ounce in 2017, noting that without new risk-off events, gold drivers will be weaker from here on out. Louney noted that investors should be cognizant of just how much/little runway remains for gold appetite especially since golds rally has stemmed almost entirely by investor demand, in the form of exchange-traded product demand and Comex positioning, which has already reached record highs. Can an endless investor bid drive gold materially north of recent highs of around $1365/oz? he questioned. In Commodity Strategy, we think not at least not absent another significant risk-off event, he said, adding that it is unlikely for investor demand to push higher given that it is already a crowded trade. In other words, investor demand has led golds rally yet more sticky forms of demand have failed to follow through, Louney explained. Even looking at gold in currency terms, the metal has performed well in U.S. dollars but has seen an even better performance in other currency terms. However, Louney argued that this may not be working in the metals favor, especially in the worlds two largest gold-consuming nations China and India. A strong dollar will remain a hurdle for gold, as the rolling negative correlation will likely re-strengthen, he said. Secondly, while it sounds great on the surface for gold to perform well in non-USD terms, performing well may actually imply demand destruction, he added. Another factor that has helped push gold prices higher has been more global monetary policy from central banks and negative-yielding sovereign bonds. Nonetheless, Louney said he doesnt see this factor continuing to help gold prices later this year. Even if more accommodative global monetary policy were to take the form of more negative rates, it looks difficult for gold to benefit from rates entering deeper negative territory given that most investors that were going to buy gold because of negative rates, probably already have. However, Louney still leaves the chance of a gold rally open, especially as the metal continues to fulfill its role as a crucial safe-haven asset in times of uncertainty. Admittedly, risks to this view include the US recession cycle, a sharp recession in the UK or EU and/or referendum fever spreading around Europe, but this is not our base case, he said. [T]hus we do not see enough drivers on the horizon to justify another leg higher in gold prices. By Sarah Benali of Kitco News; sbenali@kitco.com Follow @SdBenali Red Flag (Joel Kinnaman, left) and Deadshot (Will Smith) are among the leaders of the "Suicide Squad," supervillains recruited out of prison to confront a magical enemy. Clay Enos/ Warner Bros. Pictures SHARE Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje plays the reptilian Killer Croc, one of many memorable characters in "Suicide Squad." (Clay Enos/Warner Bros. Pictures) Margot Robbie, left, and Jared Leto are among the breakout stars in "Suicide Squad." Robbie plays Harley Quinn while Leto is the Joker. (Clay Enos/Warner Bros. Pictures) By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY NETWORK The fantastic felons of "Suicide Squad" have got soul and they're superbad. There's both undeniable sincerity and an over-the-top punk rock vibe to writer/director David Ayer's completely bonkers ode to supervillains (in theaters Friday) tapped to contribute to the greater good. It helps flesh out the comic-book world of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, plus makes a bunch of obscure outsiders just as engaging and fun to watch as that well-known Dark Knight. With powerful metahumans and vigilantes inhabiting the Earth (Ben Affleck's Batman turns up more than you'd expect), the government needs a plan to deal with them. Enter the ruthless Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), who has taken it upon herself to recruit Enchantress (Cara Delevingne), an archaeologist possessed by an ancient witch, as the first member of Task Force X. Its modus operandi is to send its members on deadly missions. And if they don't come back? Oh, well. With shades of Guardians of the Galaxy and the original Ghostbusters, "Suicide Squad" takes its ne'er-do-wells led by the assassin Deadshot (Will Smith) and oddball bad girl Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) from their Louisiana supermax home to battle a magical enemy. Alliances are formed, bonds are shaken, and the group is constantly on the edge of implosion. Because of the size of Ayer's cast, some of the more interesting characters are shorted, especially samurai warrior Katana (Karen Fukuhara) and Australian hoodlum Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) though the latter has a quick run-in with a superhero that knowing comics fans will adore. Deadshot is the movie's emotional heart, and it's Smith's best role in years he gets to showcase some of Concussion's deep emotion but with that old Independence Day swagger. Jay Hernandez similarly impresses as El Diablo, a fiery L.A. gang leader with a horrific back story. Harley, a psychiatrist turned unhinged moll with an undying love for the Joker (Jared Leto), is finally Robbie's star-making turn. And Leto's weirdo take on the Clown Prince of Crime is a far cry from the late Heath Ledger, though it definitely works. A tattooed Tony Montana type, this Joker is a nightclub owner with a thing for bling and a psychopathic determination to find his main squeeze. His relatively brief screen time leaves you wanting more, and Leto and Robbie make a distinctly dynamic duo in their fleeting scenes together. Another relationship that's intriguing but ultimately overshadowed is that of squad leader Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) and Enchantress' human alter ego. While their romance drives one of the many subplots, Delevingne spends most of the film in freak mode, leaving Kinnaman as the guy keeping the fires burning. No matter the character, though, Ayer has a keen way of making you care for them, even the Joker. Like The Dirty Dozen for the Hot Topic generation, the team gets in-your-face introductions and things just grow more mental from there. But compared to its ilk, Suicide Squad is an excellently quirky, proudly raised middle finger to the staid superhero-movie establishment. Review: 3 1/2 stars Suicide Squad Rating: PG-13 (violence and action, disturbing behavior, suggestive content and language) Running time: 2 hours, 3 minutes Director: David Ayer Cast: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Cara Delevingne, Jai Courtney, Adelae Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Karen Fukuhara, Jay Hernandez, Adam Beach SHARE By Kitsap Sun Staff KINGSTON The Edmonds-Kingston ferry route operated with just one of its two boats Wednesday morning because of an electrical problem on the Walla Walla. The Walla Walla was scheduled to return to service with the 11:55 a.m. sailing from Kingston, according to Washington State Ferries. The crew discovered the problem during a routine monthly test of the electrical system after the boat tied up in Kingston Tuesday night. Electricians from Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility were dispatched Wednesday morning and determined a breaker that activates an emergency generator wasn't working and needs to be replaced. Supporters and protesters greet the Navy ship USS Somerset on Tuesday from Pier 66 in Seattle. The ship was one of the vessels in the Seafair Fleet Week parade along the Seattle waterfront. The ship will be open for tours at Pier 90 starting Wednesday. SHARE The Navy ship USS Gridley docks Tuesday at Pier 66 in Seattle. The ship was one of the vessels in the Seafair Fleet Week parade along the Seattle waterfront. The ship will be open for tours at Pier 66 starting Wednesday. Spray from a Seattle fire boat shoots past the stern and flight deck of the USS Somerset on Tuesday as it parades in Seattle for Seafair Fleet Week. Passengers aboard the ferry Hyak watch as the Navy ship USS Somerset lines up to parade Tuesday near Seattle for Seafair Fleet Week. Buddhist monk Senji Kanaeda, of Bainbridge Island, bangs a drum and chants as Navy ships parade Tuesday along the Seattle waterfront from Pier 66 in Seattle. By Kitsap Sun Staff SEATTLE Military vessels participated in Seafair Fleet Week's annual parade of ships Tuesday in Elliott Bay. They included 210-foot medium-endurance Coast Guard cutter Active, homeported in Port Angeles; Navy amphibious assault ship USS Somerset and guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley; and Royal Canadian Navy ship Saskatoon. As part of Fleet Week, tours will be available aboard: Active and Gridley, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at Pier 66. Saskatoon, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at Pier 69. Somerset, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 2-6 p.m. Friday and 12:30-4 p.m. Sunday. Gridley shifted its homeport from San Diego to Naval Station Everett in July. Three other destroyers will follow. Visitors are asked to leave behind backpacks, knives, multi-tools, food and drinks except water to speed up security screenings before boarding the ships. No pets are allowed except service animals. The Coast Guard also will give an aerial search-and-rescue demonstration at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday off Pier 66 with a helicopter team and rescue boat. The rooftop plaza at Pier 66 offers the best view and will have live audio narration of the rescue operation. Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue Division Chief Robert Law adjusts the helmet of Harrison Hamm, 2, of Bremerton, as Law hands out plastic helmets to Harrison and sister Olivia, 5, during Tuesday's National Night Out event at the Haselwood Family YMCA in Silverdale. SHARE Kitsap County Sherrif's Office Citizen on Patrol member Bob McDaniel chats with youngsters as they wait in line for their turn on the inflatable slide during Tuesday's National Night Out event at the Haselwood Family YMCA in Silverdale. By Kitsap Sun Staff SILVERDALE Building relationships with the public has always been a priority for deputies, Kitsap County Sheriff Gary Simpson said Tuesday, but this year's National Night Out comes at a time as police officers are trying to strengthen those ties. Wearing a vintage motorcycle officer uniform he assembled himself and riding an earlier model Harley-Davidson outside the Haselwood Family YMCA in Silverdale, Simpson said the event was about breaking the ice, starting a conversation and maintaining those relationships. "Which is what this is all about," Simpson said. The national event, first held in 1985 in Boston, was mostly directed at children, with a bounce house, slide and popcorn, but booths offered information on a variety of services, from victim's advocates to Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue to the Kitsap Humane Society. Port Orchard and Bainbridge Island police hosted events as well. The event comes after last month's slayings of police officers in Texas and Louisiana. Deputy Schon Montague, the office's community resource officer who organized the gathering, said countering negative perceptions about law enforcement helps both the public and officers do their jobs and recent events have put an emphasis on establishing those connections. "It's made it that much more important," he said. SHARE Ginger Christine Robertson of Poulsbo March 5, 1951 to July 12, 2016 Ginger Christine Robertson, 65, passed away peacefully July 12, 2016 due to complications from type 1 diabetes, a disease that she had battled for over 50 years. She was surrounded by her loving family. Ginger was the daughter of Jim and Pat Gohl of Auburn, Washington, where she graduated from Auburn Academy. She met the love of her life, Chuck Salmon, in 1977 and they married in March of 1985. She enjoyed being the office manager for the law firm of Harris, Mericle and Wakayma in Seattle for 25 years. Ginger is survived by her husband, Chuck; her brother, Larry Gohl (Joy); two daughters: Jennifer Ellis (Owen), Courtney Kennedy (Brian); two nieces: Marie Hettick (Dean), Sally Bowman (Evan); grandchildren: Evan Ellis, Tegan Ellis, Charlie Kennedy and Finn Kennedy. Ginger was loved and respected by many. She took special interest in the needs and struggles of those contracting type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. She especially enjoyed helping young people adapt to these diseases. Ginger enjoyed listening to her husband play his guitar, doting on her grandchildren, and recently moving in to their new "retirement" home. She also loved to ballroom dance as well as going on tandem bicycle trips. A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. on August 20th at the Peninsula Bible Fellowship, 9590 Radcliff Avenue NE, Bremerton, WA 98311. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 1215 4th Avenue, Ste. 1100, Seattle WA 98161. Ginger's amazing energy will be missed, she is cherished, but most of all loved. Until we meet again. SHARE Marjorie Joyce Moorhead of Bremerton Dec. 3, 1923 to July 30, 2016 Joyce Moorhead was born Dec. 3, 1923 and passed away at 92 on July 30th from complications of dementia. Joyce was born in Lewiston, Montana to parents, Robert and Marjorie Martindale. The family moved to Vancouver, Washington so Robert could work in the shipyard. They eventually moved to Ellensburg, Washington, where Joyce grew up and went to school. That's where she met and married Edward Howard. They moved to Bremerton, Washington and had three children. Edward passed away in 1970. Later she met and married Columbus (Red) Moorhead. They were married for 40 years. Joyce was a kind and loving person and loved taking care of her family. She volunteered for the nursing home for 20+ years. She and Red were always seen walking their dogs; she also took exercise classes at the senior center. She looked forward to the annual Labor Day camping trip with the family. She was preceded in death by her late husband, Edward; and her son, Wayne. Joyce's loving memory will live on with her husband, Red; son, Gary Howard (Sandy); daughter, Bonnie McFadden (Dean); stepson, Roy Moorhead; seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. A celebration of life will be Saturday, August 6, 2016; viewing at noon and funeral at 1 p.m. The services will take place at Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home in Bremerton, Washington. Ian Apperly writes: This is laughable. In three years theyve put in (another) tech hub (they are starting to fall from fashion due to their dubious effectiveness), screwed up Victoria Street while holding hands with the NZTA, and bought an air connection to Canberra of all places! This Council promised over twenty projects at the start of the triennium. Exactly zero have been completed. And he looks at the lack of consultation: I want to remind people of Island Bays controversial cycleway and butchered consultation. Owhiro Bay, where residents were ignored over concerns about a camp site. The shambles around density housing, and again, the lack of consultation. Support for an airport extension that makes no sense, spending ratepayer cash in a clear case of corporate welfare. A total lack of support for local High Tech companies, preferring to buy international products over local (better) products. A botched consultation over the Hutt cycleway. Bad consultation in the Eastern Suburbs over cycle options. No overall progress on public transport. No progress in transport at all. Poor key performance indicators across a number of council services. Doctoring business cases prior to public release. Multiple complaints to the Ombudsman that have been upheld. Not being able to tell what the actual rate rise is each year. A high degree of absenteeism from certain councillors. A poor relationship with central government, across many agencies and at cabinet level. Twenty communications staff with far less consultation staff. In-fighting. They have managed to do some things. They painted polka-dots in Bond Street. They are cool polka-dots! Dont forget that when you start voting. And watch for more rewriting of history in the next few weeks. Ask yourself when you read the rhetoric and promises: How? How is it that they are going to change the mess that they have got themselves into, and if they dont recognise the appalling state of the current situation, then should you be voting for them at all? As usual Ill publish my thoughts on the mayoral and council candidates after nominations close. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr The Herald reports: Housing New Zealand applied to evict 4 per cent of its tenants in the year to June. The state agency has told the Herald, in response to an Official Information Act request, that it applied to the Tenancy Tribunal to end 2247 tenancies in the year to June last year, and 2591 in the latest year. The latest number is 4 per cent of its 65,543 state rentals as at March this year one in every 25 tenants, excluding homes rented to community groups. Auckland Tenants Protection Association manager Dr Angela Maynard said the agency was effectively evicting people into homelessness because it was meant to be the housing agency of last resort. If youve been evicted from a Housing NZ house, the private sector doesnt want to know you. Are they supposed to go on the streets? she asked. Housing NZ evicts tenants for basically two reasons only. Either they are refusing to pay their rent, or they are mistreating the property. If they get evicted, it is because they have chosen to behave in a way which leads to their eviction. Almost all state house tenants have income related rents so it is no more than 25% of their income. But Labour housing spokesman Phil Twyford said taxpayers would want the state agency to be tough but fair. Most people would want Housing NZ to have the wisdom of Solomon, he said. You want them to be compassionate, particularly to tenants who might be pretty challenging to deal with, but also tough but fair when it comes to making sure, as a good landlord, that state house tenants are good neighbours and look after their houses. Twyford speaking sense on this. Housing NZ will only apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to end a tenancy as a last resort, she said. For example, when a tenant falls behind in their rent their tenancy manager will contact the tenant to attempt to make a repayment arrangement. She said tenancy managers handed tenants to debt specialists if they fell more than 21 days behind in their rent. If a specialist could not arrange repayments the agency then sought mediation, and only went to the tribunal if mediation failed. It is a last resort. A man who has been partially disabled since a horrific truck accident a year ago is being evicted by Housing New Zealand because he didnt declare income of almost $35,000. Stuart Wilkinson, who turned 50 today, has lived for 14 years in a state house in the Christchurch suburb of Parklands with his wife Leeann and their two children now aged 18 and 15. He said he spent his birthday barricading the house after a Tenancy Tribunal hearing last Wednesday ordered the termination of the tenancy and Housing NZ told him to leave the house ready for a final inspection by Housing NZ today. We have just barricaded ourselves in, he said. So he broke the law, committed fraud, and still has a sense of entitlement so strong he is barricading the house rather than accept the consequences of his fraud. Housing NZ regional manager Jackie Pivac said her agency issued a 90-day eviction notice in May after the ministry told it that Wilkinson was being prosecuted. She said Wilkinson then stopped paying rent, so the agency went to the Tenancy Tribunal to end his tenancy immediately and to recover $3519 in rent arrears. Wilkinson confirmed that he did not declare income from work. I know its wrong, he said. And he has stopped paying rent, but still thinks he should be able to carry on there. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr The Herald reports: This is Gwenda Christine Bush, one of New Zealands most prolific fraudsters. During the past 40 years she has amassed more than 600 dishonesty convictions, filling 57 pages of a court file, for using fabricated sob stories to rip off charities. Yesterday, she was sentenced to 12 months home detention for her latest scam a 12-year rort where she obtained almost $6000 in food parcels, furniture and other assistance from the Salvation Army. Detective Kellie Osborne, the officer in charge of the investigation, spoke to the Herald after sentencing yesterday. In the entire 10 years that Ive been a police officer, this is the most abhorrent type of fraud that Ive investigated, Detective Osborne said. The Salvation Army relies on the generosity of the public, they offer amazing help to people who are in genuine and desperate need. Judge Down said Bushs criminal history was appalling. [You have] 57 pages of convictions, mostly for dishonesty the worst list of previous convictions I have ever seen in 35 years in the criminal justice system. He said Bush, who has two children, started offending in the 70s. Judge Down considered sending Bush back to prison, but noted none of her earlier lags had made a difference to her offending. He did not know if there was any point in sending her again and thought the restrictions of home detention, which she had not served before, might be more beneficial. Someone who is such a repeat and recidivist offender cannot really expect any less than imprisonment. But on the other hand, she has been sent to prison so many times in the past it hasnt made any difference, the judge said. He sentenced Bush to 12 months home detention followed by six months of special conditions. However, if you breach it or you commit further offending during home detention or post-detention conditions you will be brought back to court and you will be resentenced to a term of imprisonment. The Herald reports: The detention of Kiwis living in Australia could be part of a push to purify the country, Labours Corrections spokesman Kelvin Davis says. Davis has hit out after new figures show the number of New Zealanders held in detention centres like that on Christmas Island at 199. There are a total of 1577 people held, including 175 Iranians held, and 142 from Vietnam. Davis questioned why many of the New Zealanders had to be locked up while they appealed their visa cancellation, and said it could be a policy to purify Australia. They are cleansing themselves of undesirables, even if those people have been born in Australia. SHARE By Chambers Williams of the Knoxville News Sentinel Two major upper East Tennessee companies announced expansions of their operations on Wednesday that are expected to result in at least 305 new jobs total over the next five years in Johnson City and Greeneville. Mullican Flooring officials said their company will invest $15 million to expand its Johnson City operation and create 200 additional jobs, while Greeneville-based Forward Air, a trucking and logistics company, said it would spend $4.3 million to expand its facilities to add 105 jobs in Greene County. In an announcement of the Mullican Flooring expansion, the state Department of Economic and Community Development said the company, which ranks among the nation's Top 5 hardwood flooring producers, will acquire a 126,000 -square-foot warehouse at 129 Roweland Drive in Johnson City. It will be used to store raw materials and finished products, freeing up space at the company's Johnson City headquarters and production plant to allow for expansion of manufacturing capacity, creating the new jobs over the next five years. "Forward Air has been part of Tennessee's robust logistics and distribution industry for nearly three decades, and the company's continued investment speaks volumes about our great business climate," Gov. Bill Haslam said in an announcement. "It is always exciting news when a company chooses to expand in our state," said Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd. "There are over 263,000 Tennesseans employed in the transportation, logistics and distribution industry with 12 percent growth expected over the next 10 years. I want to thank Forward Air for adding these jobs to this steadily growing sector and for being a valuable member of Team Tennessee." Founded originally as Landair Transport in 1981 in Greeneville, Forward Air is the 35th largest for-hire carrier in the U.S. Of Mullican Flooring, Haslam said the company is "one of Tennessee's homegrown success stories, and I applaud them for their commitment to provide another 200 jobs for Johnson City and Washington County residents." "Mullican Flooring's expansion speaks volumes to the climate we've established for Tennessee businesses, but also to Mullican Flooring's success as an important corporate citizen and employer," said state Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd, a longtime Knoxville entrepreneur. This newest project will be Mullican Flooring's fourth major development in Johnson City during the past 16 years, the state said. Mullican, which was founded in 1985 as a manufacturer of unfinished solid hardwood flooring, moved its corporate headquarters to Johnson City in 2000. The company added pre-finished flooring to its product line in 2003, and in 2010 completed a $6 million expansion at its Johnson City facility. An additional $12 million investment came in 2012 when Mullican Flooring relocated its Johnson City headquarters and manufacturing operations to a larger facility on Woodlyn Road. That allowed the company to develop new product lines and shift previously off-shored jobs to the United States, the announcement said. U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig, File) MORRISTOWN U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., kicked off his August recess roadshow Tuesday in small-town Tennessee, visiting just the sort of place and people some in the opposing party recently bashed a bit. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee spoke to the AM Rotary Club of Morristown. Corker intends to talk about issues before the nation on a 31-county, four-week tour across the state. In Hamblen County, he talked of economic anxiety, America's fiscal situation and the role of America in the world. (Disclosures: I was once a Rotarian and my daughter is on Corker's staff.) "Globalization is here and we can act like it doesn't exist, but every morning when we get up and use our iPhones we are participating in the global economy," Corker said, noting how Tennesseans with only high school degrees and/or some college feel left behind in the information age. Technology, Corker suggested, is as much a culprit as trade in eliminating what were once stable, career-long jobs. "The future doesn't seem as bright (to some), so you have (economic) turmoil," Corker said. Corker noted the benefits and challenges of trade. "If our country was just dealing with ourselves, we would have a lower standard of living," Corker said. He praised Tennessee efforts to make higher education affordable and called for the next president to "negotiate fair trade agreements that do not disadvantage workers." Imprudent fiscal policy rubs Corker wrong. "One issue not getting as much attention (in the presidential campaign) is our debt," Corker said. "We have $19 trillion in debt and $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities that we cannot pay for over time." He called our fiscal condition a threat to economic and national security. "We've been a global power since World War II," Corker said. "How the United States is going to be involved in the world affects the people of Hamblen County." Specifically, Corker acknowledged some countries are not contributing all they should to NATO but said we should "strengthen the alliance," not do away with it. In a lengthy question-and-answer period, the Rotary crowd, which provides Christmas presents for more than 100 local elementary students while at the same time helping fund a water dam in Zimbabwe, asked about foreign policy and local issues. They think and act= locally and globally, like Corker. President Barack Obama addresses the overnight shooting of police officers in Dallas, Texas, before attending the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday, July 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) SHARE By Michael Collins of the Knoxville News Sentinel WASHINGTON Eight Tennesseans are among 214 drug offenders whose prison sentences were shortened Wednesday by President Barack Obama in the largest single-day grant of commutations in the nation's history. Deborah Lucille Blue of Alcoa, Debra Brown of Nashville, Thomas Duncan of Columbia, Steve Gillespie of Greeneville, Robert L. Matthews of Memphis, Kenneth Smith of Nashville, Jimmy Walden Jr. of Morristown and Byron Willis of Knoxville will see their sentences shortened as a result of Obama's actions. "This is a country that believes in second chances," Obama wrote of the commutations in a Facebook post. But acts of clemency alone won't fix the criminal justice sentence, he said. He called on Congress to pass "meaningful" federal sentencing reform. "The more we understand the human stories behind this problem, the sooner we can start making real changes that keep our streets safe, break the cycle of incarceration in this country, and save taxpayers like you money," Obama said. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Memphis Democrat who has also called for sentencing reform, applauded Obama's actions and urged the president to continue issuing commutations during the rest of his time in office. "These commutations, many of which were for those serving unjustly long sentences for nonviolent drug convictions, are an encouraging development and a significant step by the president toward a more rational and fair justice system something I have long encouraged," Cohen said. Blue was charged with two counts of distribution of cocaine base and with possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, as well as a supervised release violation for distributing cocaine hydrochloride. In 2014, she was given an amended sentence of 19.5 years in prison. Brown was serving a 20-year prison sentence for distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base to a person under age 21. The sentence was handed down in 2002. Duncan was sentenced in 2002 to more than 29 years in prison for possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of five grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute. Gillespie was sentenced in 2006 to nearly 22 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base. Matthews was serving two sentences a 23-year sentence handed down in 1997 for distribution of cocaine base and possession with intent to distribute cocaine in Northern Mississippi; and a 15-month sentence from 1998 for a supervised release violation in Western Tennessee. Smith was sentenced in 2001 to 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; being a felon in possession of firearms; and for giving a false written statement to a licensed firearm dealer. Walden was sentenced to life in prison in 2008 for possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine; and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana. Willis was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2005 for distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride. Under Obama's commutation orders, Blue, Brown, Duncan, Matthews, Smith and Willis will see their sentences expire on Dec. 1. Gillespie's and Walden's sentences will expire Aug. 3, 2018, if they enroll in a residential drug treatment program. SHARE Melvin Madison Bassett, 48, charged with second-degree murder. By Don Jacobs of the Knoxville News Sentinel KNOXVILLE A 57-year-old man who had been stabbed repeatedly last month died 11 days after the attack, prompting a charge of second-degree murder against his alleged assailant. Officers at 3:47 a.m. July 21 found Tommy Lamar Wilson suffering multiple stab wounds lying on the ground in the 1200 block of West Scott Avenue, according to the Knoxville Police Department. He was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he died Monday. Police Department Investigator Preston Whillock obtained information about a suspect and sought a second-degree murder charge against the alleged attacker. Officers from the Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday afternoon located Melvin Madison Bassett, 48, in the Western Heights housing development and charged him with Wilson's death. Bassett, who gave a N. Broadway address, was being held in the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility in lieu of $300,000 bond. Authorities have not released what prompted the stabbing, if Bassett and Wilson were acquainted or the type of weapon used. Bassett, who has a criminal arrest history in Knox County that extends to 1986, was standing before a judge in court three days before Wilson died, records show. Bassett's criminal history includes convictions on aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, fleeing, possession of drug paraphernalia, evading arrest, criminal trespassing, assault and public intoxication, according to records. Bassett on July 28 was in Knox County General Sessions Court on charges of criminal trespassing and evading arrest. The charges were logged July 25 when an officer saw Bassett sitting in a chair on the porch of an apartment in the 1100 block of West Scott Avenue. The officer knew Bassett had been ordered since 2011 to stay out of Western Heights. The officer parked nearby to confront Bassett, but Bassett "jumped up from his chair" and fled, records show. The officer caught Bassett after a foot chase that covered several blocks. General Sessions Court Judge Andy Jackson found Bassett guilty of criminal trespassing. Jackson sentenced Bassett to 30 days in jail, but suspended the punishment to the time Bassett already had been in jail less than four days according to records. Jackson dismissed the evading arrest charge, records show. State Rep. Joe Armstrong, right, with his attorney Gregory P. Isaacs, arrives for a hearing Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Federal Courthouse. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL) By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel Five times former longtime Knox County school board Chairman Sam Anderson met with federal authorities, and five times he says he told them the same thing state Rep. Joe Armstrong assured him taxes on the pair's cut of a profit from a sin tax hike were paid. The taxes weren't paid. Armstrong is now on trial for that. Anderson isn't. Anderson testified Wednesday in the federal trial of Armstrong, a Knoxville Democrat and 28-year veteran of the state Legislature, on charges the lawmaker plotted with accountant Charles Stivers to hide from the IRS and the voting public a windfall Armstrong and Anderson made from a 42-cent hike in the cigarette stamp tax in 2007. Armstrong voted for that hike. The key question for jurors will be whether Armstrong "willfully" hid the profit by funneling it through Stivers' investment firm or, as the lawmaker contends, he was misled by Stivers into believing the taxes were paid when Stivers instead pocketed the $76,000 Armstrong gave him. On Wednesday, defense attorney Gregory P. Isaacs used Anderson's testimony to drive home to jurors his contention Armstrong relied upon Stivers and to point out the disparity between the government's treatment of Armstrong and Anderson. Prosecutors Charles Atchley Jr. and Frank Dale attacked Armstrong's defense claim, using a witness who turned out to be quite a jury charmer. Robert Carter is in his 80s, walks with a cane and has a tough time hearing. He also has a wicked sense of humor, which prompted lots of laughs from jurors in U.S. District Court. Carter, who readily admitted he charged people a "fee" to introduce them to his longtime friend Armstrong, testified Armstrong asked to funnel the money at issue in the case through Carter's firm before the lawmaker even discussed the matter with Stivers. In the early 2000s, every legislative session spurred a new round of rumors lawmakers would boost the tax on packs of cigarettes. The tax was levied via stamps required to be placed on every pack sold in Tennessee. Only tobacco wholesalers could buy the stamps from the state Department of Revenue, but no law bars wholesalers from cutting deals with "investors" to help finance purchase of the stamps in return for a piece of the profits. The rate, though, had not been raised for years. That changed in 2007. "We were hearing (then-Gov. Phil Bredesen) was going to pass the bill (raising the rate)," Tru Wholesale co-owner Boyd Wyatt testified Wednesday. "That changed the whole dynamic of it when you have the governor backing it," co-owner Roger Cox testified. Wyatt needed a friendly lawmaker to keep the pair, whose firm was based in Knoxville, apprised of developments. The reason? Tru Wholesale and a slew of other wholesalers could buy up the stamps at the 2006 rate, hoard them until the law passed and then sell the stamps for a big profit. Wyatt in early 2006 had met Carter through a furniture sale. Later that year, Wyatt told Carter about the tax-stamp hike rumors and his need for an inside man. Carter had just the ticket in Armstrong, whom he billed as a "guy who gets things done." Carter and Armstrong had once worked at the same oil and natural gas company, Tengasco, and Carter had taken to charging people money to meet his legislative friend. Armstrong, Carter testified, had no idea. "Sure, he would have been mad" had Armstrong known, Carter testified. So, for a fee that turned out to be $30,000, Carter used a Christmas party to introduce Wyatt to Armstrong. More meetings followed. Cox joined in. In early 2007, Armstrong told the pair Bredesen was going to announce his support for a tax hike in his State of the State address. A bill was introduced soon after. Armstrong did not sponsor it. Cox said he and Wyatt then had two problems they needed every dime they could get to buy up the tax stamps before the hike, and the Department of Revenue was suddenly rationing the stamps. "Everybody and their brother was trying to buy the stamps," Cox said. Cox and Wyatt agree Armstrong set up a meeting with the state revenue commissioner that resulted in Tru Wholesale getting the green light to buy its full allotment of stamps. Wyatt said Armstrong asked to be an investor. Cox said he recruited Armstrong. Both said they were uneasy. "It just didn't seem right to me," Wyatt said. "I felt a little uncomfortable, Joe being a politician, that he was voting on the bill and making money off it," Cox said. "I asked him if it was legal." It was. It wasn't even an ethical violation so long as Armstrong disclosed a possible conflict of interest before voting. The defense and the prosecution disagree over whether Armstrong did so. Ultimately, Cox needed Armstrong's money. He had tapped out a $2.2 million line of credit and all his cash reserves. Cox said he agreed to buy $250,000 worth of the tax stamps with Armstrong's money, give them to the lawmaker to hold until the hike went into effect and sell them. Armstrong would get most of his money back, but Tru Wholesale charged the lawmaker roughly $50,000 for the privilege. The wholesale firm made a total profit of $3 million on the tax hike. Armstrong didn't have that much cash, so he went to longtime friend and distant relative Anderson. "He said we had the opportunity to make an investment," Anderson testified. "He said we had an opportunity to buy some stamps." Anderson didn't need to hear the details. He was in. The pair went to the now defunct BankEast, where Armstrong served on the board, and took out a loan for $250,000 using the stamps as collateral. In the fall of 2008 just more than a year after the hike went into effect Anderson said Armstrong showed up at his office with a check for $88,301. "I asked him did I owe any taxes, and Joe told me the taxes were already paid," Anderson testified. Armstrong even made a phone call in Anderson's presence to confirm that payment, presumably with Stivers, although Anderson wasn't paying attention and said he doesn't know Stivers. "At the time, I thought the taxes had been paid," Anderson said. "I'm not a person of the world." So, Anderson, like Armstrong, did not report his profit on his 2008 tax return. Unlike Armstrong, the government allowed Anderson to file an amended return. He said he is working with a tax attorney now to handle that. "Are you going to rely on your tax attorney?" Isaacs asked. "Yes," Anderson said. Isaacs turned a knowing smile toward jurors. Stivers, who has struck a plea deal, is expected to testify today. Shawn Smoot returns to court as closing arguments begin before Judge Jeff Wicks in Kingston on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Smoot is accused of killing Brooke Morris, whose body was found in October 2011 in Roane County. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) By Hayes Hickman of the Knoxville News Sentinel KINGSTON After five days of testimony, a Roane County jury took three hours Wednesday to find former Knoxville insurance agent Shawn Smoot guilty of premeditated first-degree murder in the 2011 shooting death of his one-time girlfriend. Smoot, 44, was left to wait one more day to learn his fate. Presiding Criminal Court Judge Jeff Wicks sent the sequestered jury back to a local hotel Wednesday night after hearing victim impact statements from the mother and sister of Brooke Nicole Morris. The six-woman, six-man panel is expected to return this morning to announce Smoot's sentence. The state is seeking a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Morris' mother, Tina Gregg, told the court she will never again know the life she cherished with her daughter. "There will always be an empty chair at our table because of Mr. Smoot," Gregg said. Smoot chose not to testify, nor did he speak on his own behalf before sentencing. Wednesday's guilty verdict came nearly five years since the body of the 23-year-old single mother was found the night of Oct. 15, 2011, along rural Blair Road, south of Oliver Springs in Roane County. Without a weapon or witnesses to the killing, prosecutors built their case largely on circumstantial evidence. Smoot began an affair with Morris while she worked in his West Knoxville insurance office. The tryst later ended Smoot's marriage when his pregnant wife found out. In testimony, Morris' friends and other witnesses described Smoot as a possessive, violent man who drank too much. He was the last person to be seen with her. Less than two hours after the pair left a West Knoxville bar together, Morris was found dead. She had been shot three times. Lead prosecutor Tiffany Starr Smith noted in her closing argument Wednesday that text messages recovered from Smoot's and Morris' phones indicated he wanted Morris to stay with him that night. Meanwhile, Morris was making plans to see a former lover in town from Colorado. "The defendant was fixated on Brooke, and if he couldn't have her he was going to make sure no one could, especially after she ruined his life," Smith told jurors. Prosecutors also focused on shell casings found at the crime scene, one of which had extraction marks that matched those on an unfired bullet discovered in the bottom of a closet at Smoot's townhouse. The bullets were the same caliber as a P32 Kel-Tec pistol Smoot owned one that his roommate testified he saw Smoot handling the day before the murder. The gun has not been recovered. Smoot's court-appointed attorney, Bob Jolley, characterized the ballistics testing as an inexact science. "There is no science. It's, 'I see it, and then I make the identification,' " Jolley said in his closing argument. "This is the state's entire case." SHARE Knoxville will extend its current red-light camera contract for 60 days, giving staff time to study a ruling from the Tennessee attorney general to ensure the city complies with state law. (NEWS SENTINEL PHOTO) By Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News Sentinel Knoxville will extend its current red-light camera contract for 60 days, giving staff time to study a ruling from the Tennessee attorney general to ensure the city complies with state law. "We feel we're doing it the right way, but if we're told the officer has to review every piece of video, then it certainly is going to change the contract," Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch said Tuesday following a City Council meeting during which the extension was approved. "As we understand it, there is conversation with the Legislature in terms of asking a clarification question for the AG, so we're waiting for that clarification." The city was in the process of negotiating a new contract when state Attorney General Herbert Slatery issued a three-page opinion on red-light cameras in early July at the request of state Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden. Holt, who garnered attention in May when he set fire to a citation in a video posted on his Facebook page, has argued the practice of using vendors to monitor red-light violations at intersections is unlawful. Slatery determined the employees of traffic camera companies could not review video footage from the cameras and determine whether a violation had occurred before sending footage to law enforcement. Rather, Tennessee law says only officers commissioned by the state or certified by the Peace Officer Standards Training Commission "and no one else" can review video evidence and decide whether a violation occurred. Slatery wrote that this analysis is not contrary to his office's previous statement that a vendor could "provide information which the city's law enforcement department could then use to decide whether and whom to cite for these traffic violations." Rausch said he believes Knoxville's practice is in line with the state law because it is officers who ultimately issue the citation. "The companies that we work with don't review the violation," Rausch said. "What they're looking at is raw video to make sure the only video we get is video that could possibly contain a violation. The violation is still determined by the officer who reviews that video." Holt, at the time the attorney general opinion was issued, said that while some cities across the state may be following the law, not all of them are. "I don't think that this decision impacts every photo enforcement camera across the state of Tennessee," he said. "But I think it's very clear from the marketing information and other statements made by these companies that this practice is very common. This is prescreened, scrubbed and sent back to municipal police departments for a rubber stamp signature." Also on Tuesday, City Council members denied a request from Salsarita's Fresh Cantina for a larger sign at a planned Emory Road location, the second appeal to come before members since they passed a sweeping new sign ordinance last year. The council also postponed a rezoning request from a West Knoxville auto dealership for two weeks. A frame grab from a cellphone video shows state Rep. Curry Todd removing one of his competitor's campaign signs from the side of the road. Todd has acknowledged that he removed the signs and said he had the right to do so. (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Lovell campaign) SHARE Curry Todd By Clay Bailey, USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee Politics can make for strange allies sometimes. Curry Todd and Mark Lovell proved that Tuesday. Several hours after Todd, the District 95 state representative, was arrested on a warrant charging him with stealing Lovell's campaign signs, the incumbent was due to be released on bond late Tuesday. And who posted that $100 bond? None other than Lovell himself. Along with Diane George and Dana Matheny, Lovell is one of three candidates opposing Todd in the East Shelby County race. "Someone called me and said Curry Todd is still in jail and nobody's posted his bond yet. I thought, we don't need our state representative in jail. He can get out and the judge can decide what to do about it later," Lovell said Tuesday night. When asked whether he though Todd would repay the cost of the bond, Lovell said: "I don't know. It's like lending money to your nephews. You don't expect to get it back. I figured it was a good deed." This odd twist to an already highly contentious campaign began on July 17, when a Lovell campaign staffer recorded a shaky video that showed Todd pulling up numerous campaign signs at Winchester and Shea in Collierville. Todd, who was first elected in 1998, acknowledged two days later that he was the man in the video, but said the property owner had given him permission to put his signs there and also to remove any of his opponents' signs. Multiple attempts to reach the property owner Tuesday were unsuccessful. "Yes, I did pick up the signs the other day, and I took 'em," Todd said last month. "I wasn't trying to hide anything. It was daylight." At the time the video surfaced, Collierville police said they took a report, then sent that to the Shelby County District Attorney for review. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office then made repeated attempts to meet with Todd to discuss the situation, but according to sheriff's office spokesman Earle Farrell, Todd never made himself available. According to Farrell, Todd said he was going to be out of town last week, then said he would come in Friday. When he didn't appear, officials issued an arrest warrant Monday charging Todd with misdemeanor theft under $500. Farrell said Todd was taken into custody at his residence around noon Tuesday. Todd is due to appear in court next Tuesday. "It's like my Daddy always said: 'Don't make me come get ya.' And Curry Todd forced us to come get him," Farrell said. "He could have come in very easily and taken care of this and it wouldn't have come to this." Commercial Appeal reporters Jody Callahan and Daniel Connolly contributed to this report. SHARE By Natalie Neysa Alund A woman accused of shooting her neighbor while he was on the phone talking to a 911 dispatcher was found guilty of first-degree murder Friday and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Heather Young, 35, was convicted by a Morgan County jury of killing Memford Lynn Hamby, 60, on June 25, 2008. The shooting occurred in Hamby's home on Summers Hill Road in Sunbright. District Attorney General Russell Johnson, who prosecuted the case with Assistant District Attorney General Frank Harvey, said the 12-person jury deliberated for just more than one hour before handing down its verdict inside the Wartburg courtroom of Judge E. Eugene Eblen. Under the state's sentencing law, Young must serve 85 percent of her sentence, or 51 years, behind bars. Testimony from Knox County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, who performed an autopsy on Hamby, showed he was shot four times by .22-caliber bullets near the groin, the lower chest, the upper back and in the right cheek. One of the bullets lodged near the spine and ultimately killing him, she testified. Hamby told a dispatcher shortly after 9 a.m. June 25 that he'd been shot twice by Young, an arrest warrant states. A gunshot is audible on the 911 recording played to jurors, and Hamby tells the dispatcher he had been shot again. Two more shots ring out on the recording, and Hamby isn't heard again. Young was carrying towels and a .22-caliber handgun when police apprehended her as she was leaving Hamby's house. The fatal shooting was a result of a dispute between the two over Hamby loaning Young money over a two-year period, then withholding Young's Suboxone pills from her. Suboxone is used to treat opiate addiction. According to Young, she said Hamby had demanded to hold a large portion of her pills as ransom to try and get repayment for the loans. On the witness stand, Young testified she had been in a romantic relationship with Hamby and that she loved him. Assistant Public Defender Walter Johnson had argued that his client was either acting in self-defense when she shot Hamby or was merely responsible for a voluntary manslaughter under a "heat of passion" argument. A jury didn't buy either of those arguments. A coffin is carried at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia to symbolize the death of democracy.(Photo: Mike De Sisti, USA TODAY Sports) Were moving into a general election with two very unpopular candidates at the top of the tickets: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Substantial majorities of Americans dislike them both. Gallup last week found them with precisely equal, and awful, approval ratings: 37% favorable, 58% unfavorable. Each says the other is a corrupt tool. Theyre both probably right. How did we get to this situation? It boils down to failure at every level, from the political class, to the media, to the voters themselves. The consequences, Im afraid, may turn out to be severe. The political class failed in both parties. The Trump phenomenon is a result of the GOP establishment taking a large part of its voting base for granted. GOP donors want open borders in order to save on wages. Many GOP voters, seeing their wages forced down by immigration (both illegal immigration and legal-but-abused programs like the H1B visa program that allows tech companies to pay near-slave wages for foreign programmers and engineers) felt differently. In a huge GOP field, only one candidate, Trump, actually spoke to their concerns. Others, who might have done better, were disqualified, to a large plurality of the primary electorate, by their positions on immigration. A few tried toughening their stances, but it was too late, and Trump steamrollered the opposition. He may not be the best GOP nominee, but the GOP didnt give voters who cared about the subject any other options. On the Democratic side, the entire primary was more-or-less rigged as a coronation for Hillary, to the point that Bernie Sanders fans are still claiming fraud. Fraud or not, theres no question that the Democratic National Committee put a thumb on the scales for Hillary, to the point that, when hacked DNC emails were released on Wikileaks, DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz had to resign. Hillarys track record of money-grubbing and foreign-affairs incompetence is unattractive, but the Democratic Party didnt really allow any other options. The media, meanwhile, didnt do much of a job either. Questions about the Clinton Foundations financial dealings were soft-pedaled or ignored. Hillarys failure to hold a real press conference at all in 2016 received sporadic attention. And the scandal over her illegal email server and the exposure of classified information to hackers didn't get the attention it deserved until, all of a sudden, Donald Trump became the email bad guy. With Trump, meanwhile, the press treated him as a novelty candidate until he had the nomination wrapped up, and then started calling him, basically, Hitler. This didnt get much traction because they do that with every Republican nominee. As David Mastio wrote here, No one is listening anymore. When mild-mannered technocrat Mitt Romney was running for president, Clintons obscure Obama-administration colleague Joe Biden told a black audience that Republicans are going to put yall back in chains. If you listen to Democrats, every Republican who has run for anything in my lifetime has Klan robes in their closet and secret Confederate memorabilia collection. Perhaps we should require reading The Boy Who Cried Wolf in journalism schools. And, of course, voters are to blame, too. One of the flaws of democracy is something called rational ignorance. Voters know that their individual vote isnt likely to make a difference, so its rational for them not to put a lot of effort into informing themselves. Instead, politics is more like sports, with people cheering on a team or an idol regardless of real-world issues. Tyler Cowen writes that much of American politics is about which groups will rise in status over others, rather than policy per se. An electorate that views things this way is not likely to make political decisions that benefit the nation as a whole. The Framers of our Constitution knew this, of course. This is why they created a representative democracy, a republic, rather than a pure democracy. As James Madison wrote in Federalist No. 55, Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob. The idea was that while voters might be rationally ignorant, the better sorts of people would be more informed, and more vigilant. The voters would be like a reset button, but mostly the machinery of government would be run by elites, who had a stronger incentive to know what was going on, and to deal with it effectively on behalf of the nation. The problem is that todays elites arent really the better sorts of people. As Richard Fernandez notes, today we have a principal-agent problem. Those happen when the agent (a lawyer, say, or a public official, or a journalist) cuts deals for himself instead of for the benefit of the people hes representing. Our elites seem to be doing that now looking after themselves, rather than after the country, with traditional limits on self-dealing having vanished. We need to fix that. And maybe we need to work on voters, too. Fixing these problems will be difficult. The consequences of not fixing it are likely to be unpleasant. Will we get around to it? Perhaps eventually. As Winston Churchill said, You can always count on Americans to do the right thing after they've tried everything else. Were getting close. Glenn Harlan Reynolds, a University of Tennessee law professor and the author of The New School: How the Information Age Will Save American Education from Itself, is a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors. Follow him on Twitter @Instapundit. The week before the Republican National Convention, I challenged myself to turn off or scroll past every time I saw Donald Trump's name or heard his voice on radio or social media. I did watch the evening news, trusting I would get enough. More than enough. Does Trump have a media advantage? It seems everywhere you look, you see the orange hair and hear another shocking sound bite from those iconic pursed lips. I will not vote for him. Nothing he can say at this point would change my mind. Even if I had been drawn to any part of his platform and political dramatics, his mocking a disabled reporter disgusted me to the point of dismissal and disdain. He is a bully. And yes, I do think he has a media advantage because cameras always choose the bizarre and cartoonish over the thoughtful and articulate. Why? That's what people prefer to watch and read about. The popularity of reality TV, which is anything but real, is a case in point. Many political analysts try to explain, excuse and in rare cases encourage the racism and riot-making rants that mark the Trump message. People who wanted to throw out Bill Clinton for his sexual indiscretions, those who demonize the Obamas for anything and everything they do and who crucify Hillary Clinton for treason and murder seem happily cavalier about Trump's misdeeds. His lies. His sordid deals. His bigotry. His indiscretions. We need a leader, not an egocentric lunatic. I have no delusion that anything I say changes anyone's minds about where we are as a country and who's best to be president. You couldn't have paid me to attend either of the conventions or to have watched the non-stop live coverage from beginning to end. All that yelling, the silly outfits, the name-calling and hyperbole. All of which is pretty typical of crowded, contentious, loud, hot, summer political conventions through the years. However, the stakes are so high in this election, with the country so contentious, we all need to make hard decisions. Nastiness is epidemic and political polarization has all but made it impossible for even members of the same family who differ politically to get along, let alone have serious conversations. Somebody recently described this election as being not so much between the lesser of two evils, but the evils of two less-ers. Just this morning a friend posted on Facebook making light of the ruling over North Carolina's voter ID laws being discriminatory: "I will gladly sell my right to vote to anyone willing to pay for it. Count me out." My favorite part of the convention coverage besides Michelle Obama's classy presentation and the irony of Trump's wife plagiarizing our present first lady in her speech at the Republican convention were the excuses given by GOP leaders who stood up for the principles of their party by refusing to even go to Cleveland and see Trump hailed as its chief. Their reasons for opting out were creative and intentionally comical, but what they were saying to all of us was clear. "I've got to mow my lawn," said Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake. Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse's excuse was that he was taking his kids to "watch some dumpster fires across the state." Reminds me of the student who explained to the teacher, "I couldn't do my homework because my computer has a virus and so do all my pens and pencils." Hopefully, after November, whatever its outcome, the same thing won't be said about us and our responsibility to do what needs to be done. SHARE Knox County authorities are taking a new approach to curbing the power of street gangs by hitting them with a law originally aimed at the Mafia and other criminal organizations. For the first time in Knox County history, authorities are using the state's Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, or RICO, in the prosecution of alleged members of a street gang accused of selling heroin. Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen announced on Friday the indictment of six people accused as heroin dealers, five of whom the state alleges are also members of the Mafia Insane Vice Lords, a sect of the Vice Lords gang that originated decades ago in Chicago. The sixth defendant is charged with plotting to sell heroin, too, but is not listed under the gang enhancement section of the 30-count indictment. RICO cases are rare, generally used by federal prosecutors and typically involve mob activity, such as loansharking and protection rackets. Tennessee's RICO law goes further by including a definition of racketeering involving the sale of illegal drugs. The state RICO law can be applied if a gang deals in drugs in the quantities large enough to rate top-tier felony charges and so long as the dealers acted as an "enterprise," made money, had a "meeting of the minds" and committed an "overt act" the government can prove. Prosecutor Sean McDermott said the Mafia Insane Vice Lords qualify for RICO action because, unlike drug dealers who also happen to be in a gang, this sect is highly organized and works together. Most Knoxville street gangs are not so highly organized, according to University of Tennessee sociologist Robert Duran. Police say Knoxville's gangs have splintered into various factions since the 1990s. The Knox County Sheriff's Office maintains a database of approximately 1,500 people who the agency says have a verified membership in one of at least 20 street gangs, as well as outlaw motorcycle clubs and white supremacist groups. Earlier this year the state Court of Criminal Appeals struck down the state's gang enhancement law as unconstitutional, saying it was too broad. A revised version of the law requires proof the underlying crime was committed "at the direction of, in association with or for the benefit of" either the gang or a fellow gang member, but it does not address all the issues raised by the appellate court. Since the December death of 15-year-old Zaevion Dobson, the city has focused on gang activity. While social services agencies work to keep young people out of gangs and assist gang members wanting to leave the lifestyle, the Knoxville Police Department has stepped up enforcement. KPD's 17-member gang task force officially the Violence Reduction Team arrested 40 alleged gang members or associates between May 21 and July 24, said KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk. The team assisted KPD's Organized Crime Unit in the investigation into the Mafia Insane Vice Lords heroin ring. Street gangs destabilize already fragile neighborhoods. Using the RICO statute in the prosecution of gang members in certain circumstances could prove to be effective in making Knoxville's streets safer. SHARE A recent writer claimed that the "wall separating church and state" was a "misunderstood separation that has banned God from our schools" and is "not found anywhere in the Constitution." The idea that God and prayer are banned from our public schools is her misunderstanding. Individual students are welcome to pray privately as much as they wish. She is correct that the phrase "wall of separation" is not found in the Constitution. It is a metaphor used by President Thomas Jefferson to help explain his interpretation of the First Amendment. This metaphor is in a letter thanking the Danbury Baptists for their letter of support on this question. They, like the Founding Fathers and many others, were concerned about government imposition of religion. For example, Massachusetts and Connecticut both required membership in the Congregational Church until 1818. Virginia required its citizens to attend the Anglican Church until 1786. William Penn, a Quaker, was forced to flee persecution in New England and start his own state on the frontier so he could practice his religion. I think it is pretty obvious why other denominations would want protection from state-imposed religions to which they did not belong. This is the basis for the "wall of separation," and I should think the writer of the previous letter would welcome it unless she advocates having the government decide which religion she is to follow. She obviously believes we need to use government to impose her beliefs on everybody else, but she needs to remember that if this were to happen, there is no guarantee they will be her beliefs. I wonder how happy she would be if the schools forced her children to worship Allah, Zeus or Quetzalcoatl. Freedom of religion means more than the freedom to impose your chosen religion. Logan Mulford, Knoxville SHARE The Tennessee Valley has been blessed with an abundance of water resources that continue to provide tremendous benefits and opportunities to our communities and their citizens. For decades, our rivers, lakes and waterways have made significant contributions to successful economic development and diverse job creation throughout the region. Municipal and industrial water users alike are regulated by federal and state regulatory agencies. Waste storage and disposal methods are subject to stringent approval, oversight and monitoring by impartial professionals dedicated to maintaining established standards for both ground and surface water quality. Recently in the valley, environmental watchdog organizations have filed notices of intent and formal lawsuits against both private industries and public utilities. They contend that operations have resulted in the polluting of ground and surface water resources, thereby posing a threat to environmental quality. Our municipal and industrial water users have historically sought to balance human needs with protection of the environment through their strict compliance with established regulatory guidelines. However, with no accusation that flagrant violations of established practices have occurred, private industry is now being forced to defend itself, and the costs associated with defense of litigation by public utilities will be shouldered by the innocent ratepayers/taxpayers of the communities they serve. We should carefully consider the potentially adverse consequences of such litigation on industrial recruitment, expansion, job retention and associated economic activity, and that affected public utilities will be burdened with the expense of defending practices that have been in compliance with established regulatory guidelines. Cline Jones, executive director, Tennessee River Valley Association, Athens, Ala. East Tennessee Historical Society awards History Day scholarships AUGUST 3, 2016 at 1:49 p.m. Noah Dunlap Kendall Williamson Abigail Prosise KNOXVILLE The East Tennessee Historical Society has awarded three scholarships to students who participated in the East Tennessee History Day competition, a division of National History Day presented by the East Tennessee Historical Society. The scholarships are made possible annually through the generous donations of Randy and Jenny Boyd, known across the state for their strong support of education. Randy is a former ETHS board member, and Jenny currently serves on the ETHS board of directors. The scholarships include two East Tennessee History Day Scholarships for outstanding primary source research on East Tennessee topics and the East Tennessee History Day Business and Technology Scholarship for outstanding primary source research on a business and/or technology topic. First Place for the East Tennessee History Scholarship was awarded to Noah Dunlap from the L & N STEM Academy, Knoxville. Noah participated in a senior group exhibit titled The 1982 Worlds Fair: Knoxvilles Rise to Prominence, which analyzed the fair as a turning point in Knoxvilles history that drew people from around the world to explore energy development. Noah, a four year National History Day participant, remarked My experiences in National History Day competition have made me a demonstrably better student. I have been pushed to look beyond surface level text and delve deeper into the driving forces behind events I genuinely feel a deeper appreciation now for East Tennessee and American history. Noahs project won first place at district and second place at the state competition. Second place for the East Tennessee Scholarship was awarded to Kendall Williamson from Cosby High School, in Cosby, Tennessee. Kendall produced a senior individual documentary called A Pioneer in the Sky: Kiffin Rockwell, that explored the life and legacy of Rockwell, a Newport, Tennessee native and WWI pilot who died in 1916 while serving in the French service. Kendall stated, Our history keeps us moving forward. We must know the past to fix the future, or we will go nowhere but in circles. I am very grateful to National History Day because it has taught me how to step up and take control of projects and to not be nervous when giving speeches. Kendalls project won second place at both district and state. Abigail Prosise, of Farragut High School, Farragut, Tennessee, was the recipient of the East Tennessee History Day Business and Technology Scholarship with her project From Atoms to Armstrong. The senior individual website examined the connections, collaborations, and resulting technological achievements of two opposing groups, Jewish physicists and Nazi rocketeers, brought to America for scientific research after WWII. Abigail comments, I know my passion for history will make me a better person, because learning about the past helps all of us make better decisions about the future. Abigails project won first place at district and second place at state. Published August 3, 2016 Georgia man pleads guilty to largest known computer hacking and trading scheme AUGUST 2, 2016 at 11:31 p.m. More Than 150,000 Press Releases Stolen from Three Major Newswire Companies Used to Generate Approximately $30 Million in Illegal Trading Profits BROOKLYN, NY Earlier today, 48 year old Leonid Momotok, of Suwanee, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in an international scheme to hack into three business newswires and steal yet-to-be published press releases containing non-public financial information that was then used to make trades that generated approximately $30 million in illegal profits. The guilty plea was entered before United States Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr. at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York. When sentenced, Momotok faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as restitution, criminal forfeiture, and a fine. Using non-public press releases stolen by overseas hackers, Momotok and his group of traders engaged in a brazen scheme that was unprecedented in its scope, impact and sophistication, stated United States Attorney Robert L. Capers. Todays guilty plea demonstrates our steadfast commitment and preparedness to combating the ever-evolving threat of cybercrime and to protecting the integrity of our financial markets. Mr. Capers thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justices Office of International Affairs (OIA) for their cooperation and assistance in the investigation. In one of the most sophisticated insider trading cases weve seen to-date, Momotok and other traders used information to trade on from not yet released press releases obtained by hackers from newswire services. The scheme profited the traders approximately $30 million in ill-gotten profits. Todays guilty plea should send a message to others who seek to cheat the system for a lucrative payday- these schemes only end with prison time and forfeiture of those profits, stated Assistant FBI Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez. According to court filings and facts presented at the plea hearing, between February 2010 and August 2015, computer hackers based in Ukraine gained unauthorized access into the computer networks of Marketwired L.P., PR Newswire Association LLC (PRN), and Business Wire (collectively, the Newswire Companies). The hackers used a series of sophisticated cyber-attacks to gain access to the Newswire Companies computer networks. Once in the computer networks, the hackers stole press releases about upcoming announcements by public companies concerning earnings, gross margins, revenues, and other confidential and material financial information. At one point, one of the hackers sent an online chat message in Russian to another individual stating, Im hacking prnewswire.com. In another online chat, the hackers stated that they had compromised the log-in credentials of 15 Business Wire employees. To capitalize on this stolen information, the hackers shared the stolen press releases with Momotok and other traders through overseas servers. In a series of emails, the hackers provided the traders with credentials and instructions on how to access and use the overseas servers. To assist the hackers steal the most valuable information, the traders created shopping lists or wish lists for the hackers listing desired upcoming press releases from Marketwired and PRN for publicly traded companies. Once Momotok and the other traders received the stolen press releases, they used that information to execute trades ahead of the issuance of the press release. In order to execute trades before the press releases were made public, Momotok and the other traders sometimes had to execute trades in extremely short windows of time. Frequently, all of this illegal trading activity occurred on the same day. Momotok and the other traders traded on stolen press releases containing material nonpublic information about publicly traded companies that included, among hundreds of others: Align Technology Inc.; Caterpillar Inc.; Hewlett Packard; Home Depot; Panera Bread Co.; and Verisign Inc. Momotok and his co-conspirators gained more than $30 million from their illegal trades. In exchange for providing Momotok and the other traders with the stolen press releases, the hackers received a percentage of the illegal proceeds, which were transferred to them through foreign shell companies. Source: FBI Published August 2, 2016 By Choi Sung-jin Major Korean pharmaceutical companies have sharply increased their investment in research and development despite deteriorating balance sheets this year, industry sources said Tuesday. Led by the "troika" of Hanmi Pharm, Yuhan and Green Cross -- with annual sales exceeding 1 trillion won ($8.98 billion) each -- the domestic industry is about to replicate Hanmi's success last year, which broke the export landmark of 8 trillion won with new medicines, they said. Large drugmakers, which recently released their second-quarter results, made aggressive investments in the first half of this year, expanding their R&D spending on new medicines by up to 32 percent from a year ago. Yuhan and Green Cross increased their R&D investment by 25 percent and 20 percent, respectively, in the second quarter. Hanmi's R&D investment fell a little but the company still dominated its competitors in the absolute amount of investment and in the share of R&D spending against sales. The owners of these pharmaceutical firms want their companies to develop new drugs through more active spending on research and development rather than improving short-term performance, industry watchers said. "As the result of focusing on R&D over the past six years, Hanmi hit a jackpot in the export of new medicinal technologies last year, igniting the R&D competition among its rivals," an industry executive said. "CEOs are also trying to win recognition with new medicines, not worrying about short-term aggravation of bottom lines." Yuhan, which has been the market leader here -- largely by selling multinational companies' products rather than developing its own medicines -- is most aggressive in increasing R&D investment, spending 39.5 billion won in the first half-year, including 20.3 billion won in the second quarter. Yuhan's R&D investment against sales last year was 6.4 percent, below the industry's average in the 7 percent range. The company plans to spend more than 100 billion won this year compared with 72.6 billion won last year. Green Cross had record sales of 303.5 billion won in the second quarter but its operating profit dropped 20.5 percent from a year ago because of the 19.2-percent rise in R&D investment during the period. Hanmi's first-half R&D investment fell 13 percent from a year earlier to 82.5 billion won because the company no longer needed to put money into completed projects. But its R&D portion against sales still remains 16.8 percent, the highest in the industry. "Domestic drugmakers had been rather passive in research and development but Hanmi's success last year changed the industrial atmosphere," said Lee Jae-kuk, executive director at the Korea Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association. "We hope more of them will succeed in developing new medicines." His wish may become reality soon. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, about 20 phase-3 clinical trials involving domestic pharmaceutical firms are now under way. The phase-3 test is the last stage of developing new medicines by confirming their safety and efficacy. Products that pass usually win sales approval in one to two years. Lee Jin-wook By Ko Dong-hwan Actor Lee Jin-wook, who has been embroiled in rape allegations, thanked his fans Wednesday after a 20-day police investigation cleared him. "The investigation has proven that truth wins over lies," said C&CO ENS, Lee's agency. "It has deeply embittered us to see the lies being disguised as truths and reported by media outlets. But we restrained ourselves from responding to such lies and waited for the investigation results to uncover the truth." Seoul Suseo police, who investigated the allegations, sent the case to prosecutors on Tuesday, with Lee cleared of the charge. The move came after the police investigation revealed that a woman, 33, who sued Lee on July 14 for allegedly raping her at her apartment, had falsely accused the actor. Police found during questioning, with the help of a lie detector, that her testimony was false and she admitted it. Her legal representatives resigned on July 23 when this became clear. On Monday, police asked the Seoul Central District Court for an arrest warrant for the woman on a charge of false accusation but the court dismissed the request, saying: "It's difficult to see the necessity of arresting her for the charge." The woman, whose identity has not been revealed, had claimed in her suit that the actor, 35, sexually assaulted her after they drank together at her apartment on July 12. She submitted to police her underwear that she claimed contained Lee's semen and a photo of a scar that she claimed he left while attempting to rape her. Lee denied the woman's accusation and filed a countersuit for defamation. / Graphic by Cho Sang-won By Jun Ji-hye North Korea launched two ballistic missiles, believed to be the medium-range Nodongs, Wednesday morning, with one landing in waters within Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) after flying some 1,000 kilometers, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The other missile is believed to have exploded immediately after launch, the JCS said. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that one missile appeared to have landed in Japan's EEZ 250 kilometers west of the Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture. It was the first time for any North Korean missiles to have landed in Japan's EEZ waters. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe strongly criticized the North, calling the launch an "unforgivable outrage." Military officials and experts here believe that the North's latest launch was apparently to show off its ability to strike targets in Japan, including bases of the United States Forces Japan, citing the repressive state's recent provocations to protest the planned deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea. "The missiles, believed to be the Nodong type, were fired from near Eunyul in South Hwanghae Province at 7:50 a.m.," said the JCS. "One missile flew some 1,000 kilometers, while the other one exploded right after launch." The Nodong has a maximum range of 1,300 kilometers and can hit targets on the Japanese mainland and Okinawa. The JCS also noted, "By firing ballistic missiles that potentially can be mounted with nuclear warheads, the North openly showed its ambition and willingness to strike South Korea's ports and airbases as well as surrounding nations." The floor leaders of three opposition parties hold hands ahead of talks at the National Assembly, Wednesday. From left are Rep. Woo Sang-ho of the Minjoo Party of Korea, Rep. Park Jie-won of the People's Party and Rep. Roh Hoe-chan of the Justice Party. / Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo Three opposition parties agreed Wednesday to set up a parliamentary special committee to look into the planned deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery. The agreement was reached during a meeting between their floor leaders at the National Assembly amid growing controversy over the anti-missile system to be deployed next year in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province. They plan to propose the committee to the ruling Saenuri Party soon. "A lot of issues linked to the THAAD deployment have been raised, so the three opposition parties agreed that the National Assembly needs to scrutinize them," said Rep. Ki Dong-min, a spokesman of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK). "There is no justification for the Saenuri Party to reject the proposal." Lack of communication, commercial motives, elitism behind conflict By Kim Bo-eun Ewha Womans University scrapped its disputed plan to set up a night college, Wednesday, after a week-long sit-in by students as well as opposition from professors and graduates. The school's lack of communication with students, the commercial motives for setting up the college and concern over maintaining academic elitism were factors which resulted in conflict over the plan. The plan to establish a night college for workers is one of the education ministry's projects to help universities deal with the forecasted decrease in the number of students amid low birth rates. Ewha was selected among 10 schools to receive 3 billion won from the ministry for the project. The school was denounced for excluding students' opinions in proceeding with the plan, but the school officials said they followed due process. "The school hosted a meeting among faculty members and a student representative before it submitted its plan to the education ministry," an Ewha spokeswoman said. While the student representative had expressed opposition to the plan in the meeting, her opinion was overruled by a majority of supporters. "This is not the first time for the school to unilaterally push forward with a plan; there are many precedents such as the abolition of merit-based scholarships and a project to scale down unpopular majors," the student council said in a statement. As the controversy escalated, school President Choi Kyung-hee announced Monday procedures for the plan would be halted for discussion with students. But on Tuesday night, faculty members of the humanities college also issued a statement, denouncing the school for its dogmatic ways. "This is a critical project which involves restructuring of the school, yet the president and school officials unilaterally pushed forward with the plan, so faculty members including deans did not even know about the plan," they said. "The nature of this college is excessively commercial." Not only the way decisions were made, but also the plan itself generated plenty of controversy. The night college was designed for high school-educated working women as well as those who had been unable to return to work after marriage and childbirth. The school said the college will provide an opportunity for higher education to these women, which would "enhance professionalism in the female workforce." However, students, faculty and graduates said the school already had a similar program, as well as similar majors, claiming this was only a move by the school to "make money by selling degrees." Students of the top women's university here, who need to obtain high scores on the university entrance exam, also said it would be unfair for "less competitive" students to study at the same school and receive the same degree. But some pointed out such reactions from students were elitist, as the students' council's statement earlier said that the program would "produce too many Ewha alumni." Critics say the fundamental problem of the program is that it lures women by offering a degree from a renowned school. They also add that the program creates an unnecessary need for degrees in fields which do not require them. "The majors at night colleges, such as the beauty sector, are not fields that need degrees but skills," said Gu Bon-chang, policy director of civic group World without Worries about Shadow Education. "Approaching night college education with a focus on degrees is problematic." By Lee Kyung-min The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare are on a collision course after the latter decided not to approve the former's plan to offer monthly subsidy to 3,000 young jobseekers. While the SMG claims offering cash is the most practical and effective way to help underprivileged youth suffering from long-term unemployment, the ministry says the measure is not only a populist move that would result in moral hazard but also the city government failed to seek its approval, which is in violation of the law. On Wednesday, the SMG began giving 500,000 won ($447) in cash to a total of 2,381 young citizens who met certain requirements. It plans to give the money monthly for up to six months to the 19 to 29 year olds who have lived in Seoul for more than one year. Immediately after the payments began, the ministry issued a correction order to the SMG to halt the measure. It told the city government to cancel the handouts and report its compliance to the ministry by 9 a.m. today. Related laws stipulate that if a municipality's welfare policy is in violation of the laws or damages the public interest, the health ministry has the authority to issue a correction order and suspend or cancel the policy if the municipality fails to follow it. They also stipulate that heads of the municipalities can file a petition with the Supreme Court within days upon receiving a correction or cancellation order if they object to them. Fully expecting the ministry's reaction, the SMG said it would file a petition with the court if the ministry orders it to cancel the subsidy program. The ministry said the SMG is continuing to undermine the central government's welfare plan, adding that offering short-term cash is merely a political tactic to woo voters. "SMG initially promised to offer the support by issuing debit cards to review whether the money was spent directly in job-seeking efforts, but it opted to give cash. It is an irresponsible populist move, taking advantage of young people's difficulties," a ministry official said. "The SMG also failed to guarantee fairness or transparency in setting up a private body to monitor the plan," he added. In response, the SMG said the central government's policy to support young jobseekers has been simply ineffective. "The government spent some 2.1 trillion won on welfare programs, but young Seoul citizens see no real help coming from them," an SMG official said. "Out of some 1.44 million Seoul citizens in their 20s, 500,000 people are trapped in a vicious cycle of unemployment. Eating and paying public transportation fees, rent, and utility bills is the biggest concern for them, and cash is the most helpful support," he added. The ministry also said the recipients should return the cash in full as it is an illicit gain, but the SMG disagrees, saying they don't have the responsibility to do so as the money was already given before the ministry's order or a Supreme Court decision. Busan Foundation for International Cooperation has selected foreign students for its internship program in Busan. / Courtesy of Naver Blog By Lee Jin-a A Busan city-affiliated organization has recruited international students for its biannual internship program, providing an opportunity for them to get a taste of life in Korean workplaces. According to the Busan Foundation for International Cooperation (BFIC), 48 students from seven countries, including China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Russia and Japan, were selected for the "International Student Internship" this summer. BFIC spread them across 26 companies in Busan for four to eight weeks until Aug 26. During the internship, students will learn professional skills related to international business, marketing and translation. "We want to help foreign students understand Korean office culture and eventually find a job in Korea through this internship," said Alok K. Roy, the BFIC Secretary General. Since 2012, BFIC has held the program twice a year -- January to February and July to August. Students can apply for the internship via BFIC's website. By Kim Hyo-jin The main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) is likely to join forces with smaller opposition parties soon to attempt to block the planned deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery. The party's interim leader Kim Chong-in has refused to clarify his stance on whether to oppose this or not, drawing protests from more antagonistic fellow lawmakers. However, the party is highly likely to position itself against the deployment after a caucus scheduled for Aug. 27. That is because all contenders for the leadership have voiced their opposition to the presence of the U.S. anti-missile system here. Ten party members visited Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday, showing support for residents who are protesting against the stationing of the anti-missile system there. Some lawmakers plan to visit China next week to gather more information about potential diplomatic and economic conflicts over the THAAD issue, according to officials. With speculation running high over the MPK's shifting stance, partisan wrangling over the issue will be further intensified in the National Assembly, especially ahead of the presidential election in 2017. With the opposition bloc joining hands to protest the deployment, the government may find it too burdensome to push ahead with the plan by the end of next year as announced. Rep. Kim Hyun-kwon, a lawmaker affiliated with the party's THAAD Committee, and eight fellow lawmakers including Reps. Lee Sang-min, Pyo Chang-won and Park Ju-min, toured an artillery base in Seongsan-ri, the designated location, and held a meeting with local residents at the county office. By Jung Min-ho An elementary schoolboy was found hanged in the restroom of a building in northern Seoul, police said Wednesday. According to Nowon Police Station, a private institute owner found the 12-year-old boy dead in the restroom on the building's sixth floor at 4:50 p.m., Tuesday. Police said the strap of his bag was used in what appears to be a suicide. After getting permission from his teacher to go to the restroom, the boy left the classroom alone and did not return, police said. They added that there were no signs of foul play within and near the restroom. After checking a surveillance camera at the building's entrance, they also said no strangers entered the building that day. However, his parents denied the possibility of suicide, saying he had no reason to kill himself and was excited about traveling to Jeju Island with his family the next day. Based on testimony of the boy's friends, a local news outlet reported that he was bullied at school, but police have not confirmed this. Police said they will ask the National Forensic Service to conduct an autopsy on the boy to find the exact cause of death. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Tuesday denounced the U.S. free trade pact with South Korea as a "disaster" and a "job killing" deal, reinforcing concern about possible negative effects his election could have on the landmark agreement. Trump made the remark during a campaign stop in Ashburn, Virginia, blaming free trade deals for job losses and other U.S. economic woes, and accusing his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, of backing such agreements. "So listen, since 2000 the number of unemployed people in Virginia has doubled ... Virginia has lost one in three manufacturing jobs since Bill Clinton signed NAFTA," Trump said, referring to the North American Free Trade Agreement. "Signed by Bill Clinton, one of the worst ever, OK. "Hillary rammed through the job killing trade deal with South Korea in 2011," he said. "That South Korean deal is a disaster for us." Trump also blasted the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal, saying Clinton had backed the agreement, but now she's changed her position. "She called it the gold standard, but when she heard me talking about it she said she didn't want it," Trump said, adding that even though she's now expressed reservations about TPP, she will ultimately approve the agreement "with a couple of minor changes." On Monday, Trump made a similar negative remark about the Korea trade deal during a campaign speech in Columbus, Ohio, in an effort to drum up support in one of the "rust belt" cities with declining economies. He said the Korea agreement "has been a killer" of jobs. Trump is expected to seek renegotiation of the Korea trade deal if he's elected to the White House. Though he hasn't directly mention such a possibility, aides have long said that the real-estate businessman wants to reevaluate or go back to "ground-zero" with regard to free trade agreements. The painstakingly negotiated Korea-U.S. FTA has been in effect since 2012 and has widely been considered a symbol of the economic alliance between the two countries. Attempts to revise or renegotiate the agreement could set off diplomatic tensions. Trump vowed to pull out of the Trans Pacific Partnership if elected president. He also said he would immediately renegotiate NAFTA to get a better deal, and withdraw from the deal unless Canada and Mexico agree to a renegotiation. (Yonhap) Colombian students of the Bogota King Sejong Institute pose while wearing hanbok, or traditional Korean dress, during the institute's first Korean Cultural Day in Bogota, Colombia, May 22. / Courtesy of Bogota King Sejong Institute King Sejong Institute plans to offer more cultural programs Cho Jung-yoon, teacher at the Bogota King Sejong Institute in Colombia Cho Youn-chu, teacher at the Surabaya King Sejong Institute in Indonesia By Chung Hyun-chae The booming Korean wave, or hallyu, has prompted some Indonesians to rush to learn the Korean language and culture, according to a Korean teacher. "Riding on the wave of hallyu, Indonesians, particularly young students, have come to us to learn how to read Korean subtitles while watching Korean dramas," Cho Youn-chu, who teaches Korean at the Surabaya King Sejong Institute in Surabaya, the third-largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, told The Korea Times. "Most noticeable is that the students, who came as fans of hallyu and K-pop bands, have become interested in Korean culture, people and the nation itself," Cho said, adding that many of them dream of getting jobs and living in Korea. She visited Korea to attend the eighth World Korean Educators Conference held by the King Sejong Institute Foundation, from July 12 to 15. The foundation was set up in 2012 to support the operation of the institute abroad. About 100 teachers from 77 King Sejong Institute branches in 34 countries participated in the conference along with 230 local educators. The King Sejong Institute is a government-funded Korean language institute for foreigners. The institute operates a total of 143 branches in 57 countries. The Surabaya branch was established last year as the third such institute in Indonesia. The other two are in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and Makassar, the fifth-largest city in eastern Indonesia. "Having a strong desire to go to Korea, students actively participate in culture classes," Cho said. Cho Youn-chu, right, Korean teacher at the Surabaya King Sejong Institute in Indonesia, shows Korean food with participants of the institute's first Korean Cultural Day, May 20. / Courtesy of Surabaya King Sejong Institute She said she had her students experience jjimjilbang, a Korean-style sauna, and noraebang, a karaoke bar, during culture classes on Korean leisure activities. Cho gave a class about the Korean mass transit system. "I was surprised that the students were interested in Korea's public transportation system as they have never experienced such a convenient system in Indonesia," Cho said. "I just felt that the students really want to go to Korea." In contrast to Indonesia, Colombia is often considered to be a sparse land for hallyu where not many people are interested in Asian culture. But understanding Korean culture is also key to learning the Korean language. "Given these circumstances, friction frequently occurs between native and Korean workers (at Korean-invested businesses) due to cultural differences," Cho Jung-yoon, a Korean teacher at the Bogota King Sejong Institute in the capital of Colombia, told The Korea Times. The most urgent task facing the institute is to promote Korea and its culture in Colombia so that it can contribute to resolving cultural misunderstandings there. "I believe we can play a positive role in reducing the cultural gap," said Cho, who also attended the conference. According to Cho, the institute plans to open a business Korean program in the autumn and will offer workers at four to five local companies lectures on cultural differences between Latin American countries and Asian countries. In 2013, the institute signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Police of Colombia, which is controlled by the Ministry of Defense. Under the accord, about 20 selected officers have taken a two-month special program given by the Bogota King Sejong Institute every year. "Our ultimate goal is to nurture pro-Korean experts," Cho added. Leading the Pacific Alliance, a Latin American trade bloc launched in 2012, Colombia has become interested in exchanges with the Asia-Pacific nations including Korea and China. In response to the growing interest in Asian cultures, the Bogota King Sejong Institute has been strengthening its culture classes. "For example, we run a class in which students from the Korea National University of Arts teach our students Gangryeong Talchum, one of Korea's traditional mask dances," Cho said. The traditional mask dance originated from Gangryeong in Hwanghae Province, North Korea. Sending experts to King Sejong Institute branches in other countries is part of its efforts to boost Korean culture overseas since 2013 "We have put an emphasis on culture especially since the start of this year," said Jeong Yu-been, spokeswoman of the King Sejong Institute Foundation. "We will make further efforts to offer more programs to promote Korean culture in more countries." By Song In-jun When I became a student at Hwanil High School, I had to take the role of a leader. I always wanted to inspire others by being a great leader, so I decided to take responsibility for many projects and clubs. But with every experience I quickly learned that being a leader isn't as grand or simple as I thought. I learned to change my values and goals as a leader with every mistake. My first major experience as a leader was when I volunteered to become the head of a world history class project. I planned a small play about Rome and gave overall instructions and roles to every member. One student would do research on Roman law, another would provide a video about its military formations like the Turtle or Phalanx, and others would have their own roles in the project. I expected the students to have some difficulty with their roles, and I was willing to assist them. However, I didn't expect the students to be clueless about Roman history or unable to organize the presentation in the way I instructed them. In the end, I ended up doing all the work by myself. I was exhausted and disappointed by my peers and, more importantly, myself. I was neither effective nor inspiring. After a few weeks of getting advice and reading books, I realized what I had been doing poorly in leading the project. It may sound simple, but I didn't realize that my peers were not seeing the project as I was. I should have painted a vivid picture of the project in their minds and explained the desired outcome. I also should have known each member's depth of knowledge of the subject and simplified their roles according to the student. I understood that a leader must see a project through the eyes of its members and adjust the plan to achieve success. I learned my second and most important lesson as a leader when I was the president of KIMC, a model UN club. During this time, I thought that a leader should not just give out orders but do the dirty work himself or herself. As the leader I planned the meetings, prepared some of the research and wrote resolutions to show how things must be done. Once again, I expected the members to do their best on their given roles. But in reality, no one did their work because they knew I would do it for them. Even worse, the members skipped meetings and showed little respect for me when I scolded them for it. Every week I was stressed out by the disorganized meetings in which the members didn't really know what they were debating about. Once again, I turned to teachers and books for guidance. Through some self-reflecting, I realized that my mistake was that I didn't understand what the members wanted from the club. I thought that we were of the same mind. I thought that our purpose was to prepare for discussions about global issues and then finding solutions. The members were not on the same page. Their main reason for joining the club was to embellish their resumes for entering university. Now I began to change my methods. I asked members what they wanted to major in at university and asked them what issues were of interest to them. Then, the agenda was set in relation to those issues. This was a success. For example, one member was interested in trade, so the agenda was about the illegal ivory trade. Knowing that this was something he could write about later in his university cover letter, he was enthusiastic throughout the meeting, which got other members more engaged in the debate. I also decided to give out more positions that could be included in their university cover letters. Members were made department heads of health, economy and the environment among others. This delegating of authority made my job a lot easier. The department heads started to conduct research and make sure others were focused on the meetings when their agenda was related to their respective departments. I started to trust them, and that trust made the members more responsible. I was very happy with the results. Looking back as a senior at Hwanil, I see that being a leader is not grand or simple. A good leader has to tailor to the needs of the members and see the project through their eyes. He also has to understand the members' motivations and goals within the group. I learned these two ideas through my mistakes and corrections. I know that I will have to take more roles as a leader in the future, and face adversities. But I know these two experiences and these lessons will help me become a better leader. The writer is a third-year student at Hwanil High School in Seoul who wants to major in international relations in college and afterwards study international law. By John J. Metzler PARIS The recurring terrorist attacks which have plagued France seem to have no bounds nor mercy. The murder of a Catholic priest saying Mass in a church near Rouen by two Islamic State thugs brought the crisis to a new low. The daily Le Figaro headlined "Murdered by the Barbarians." An editorial added that Father Jacques Hamel's killing twelve days after the Nice massacre showed, "Islamic State was proving its sinister design: turning the world into a bloody theatre of war." French Religious leaders and the political class soundly condemned the killing with fine words, philosophical platitudes, prayers and calls for solidarity in what has become a ritual since the massacre at Charlie Hebdo, the November murder spree in Paris, and the recent truck carnage in Nice. Now again we have the tears. The murder of Father Hamel, 86 years old, evoked the beheading of seven Catholic monks in 1996, but this was in Algeria albeit at the hands of local Islamic fundamentalists. It recalls the current carnage by Islamic State against the ancient Christian communities in Iraq and Syria. But that is in the Middle East, not the cities and villages of France! Alas it is now here! The chief Imam of the Paris Mosque clearly condemned the bloodshed and the killing of the priest: "This is an act outside of Islam and an act all French Muslims condemn and reject." Many synagogues, mosques and churches including the majestic Notre Dame already have constant protection but it's difficult for the overstretched French police to watch 700 synagogues, 4,000 Protestant churches and 45,000 Catholic churches. Throughout Europe during this sanguinary summer, many of these killers acting in the name of Islamic State have used guns as in Munich, Germany, as well as axes, knives, and a refrigeration truck in Nice. This motorized medieval battering ram of a French Tunisian killer smashed into and killed 84 people and maimed dozens who were celebrating the 14 July National Day, the anniversary proclaiming Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Are we facing religious fanatics proclaiming a warped perversion of politicized Islam, mixed with modern technology, and spread via the internet and selfies? Does this bizarre cult of hate, usually born of petty delinquents and sometime drug users, who suddenly discover and embrace radical Islam, who wish to join the militant jihad in Syria and Iraq, also threaten the freedom of Europe itself? Many of its followers are actually French born but of North African origin. These militants, often the denizens of a netherworld of delinquency and hateful jihadi politics, don't fit a simple profile. They often speak of pursuing an austere near medieval Islam while at the same time streaming their acts on the internet and taking morbid cell phone selfies as if souvenirs for their return and repose in Hell. Even the center-left weekly L'Express magazine headlined, a photo of socialist President Francois Hollande and his Prime Minister Manuel Valls, "In the Face of Terror: Can They Handle It?" Christophe Barbier wrote in L'Express, "The shock wave of the Nice attack splintered national unity and put the authorities in a bad way: are they able to deal with the terrorist threat?' And now try to balance this with respect for the French rule of law and democracy. Paris is tense. People are justifiably nervous. A high police presence is backed by squads of camouflaged soldiers with assault rifles; this is extended beyond the usual airport and train station presence to roving patrols on the boulevards and streets of this majestic city. Even in quiet neighborhoods, squads of elite anti-terrorist police speed by, their faces covered in black balaclavas and machine guns pointed outwards. This is not a show but a depressing realization that the hate which has plagued Iraq, Syria and even Pakistan, has not forgotten France, Germany, nor Belgium. The conservative Valeurs Actuelles, adds that "these Islamists wish to bring France to its knees." Former President Nicolas Sarkozy told an interview that the Left remains prisoner of the "intellectual schemes of the past." He said France must show a "zero tolerance" against "radical Islamic terrorism." As Europe is confronted by another cycle of bloody violence, there are still many politicians and philosophers who seek the often complex rationalizations and remain in denial of the root causes even after Paris, Nice, Orlando, Munich and so many other places. Still, let us proudly shed tears for France. F-35A "Lighting II" / Courtesy of Twitter By Lee Han-soo The U.S. Air Force has declared the controversial F-35A "Lightning II" stealth fighter ready for combat. It said the jet has met initial operational capabilities (IOC), the minimum requirement in combat, search and logistics for any weapon before being deployed. "The F-35A will take us to places where our previous fighters could not," Herbert Carlisle, commander of U.S. air combat command, said. "This will give our generals the required abilities that are needed in modern warfare." The F-35A will make up 75 percent of the F-35 fighter variations planned for the U.S. military. Other variations include the F-35B for the Marines and the F-35C for the navy. The U.S. plans to invest $391 billion into the project. The clearing of the IOC will expedite production of the F-35A and its combat deployment. The F-35A has an operational range of 2,222 kilometers, can reach mach 1.6 (1,958 kilometers per hour), has a 25-millimeter automatic cannon and an additional 8.16 ton weapons payload. South Korea plans to buy 40 F-35A fighter jets for 7 trillion won ($6 billion) over four years from 2018. The F-35 has been mired in controversy for its high price -- $98 million a jet -- and software and engine problems. North Korea's daily food rations to each of its citizens during the second quarter of this year fell to the lowest level in five years and far below what is recommended by the United Nations, a U.S.-based media report said Wednesday. Citing the report by the World Food Program (WFP), Voice of America (VOA) said the communist country has provided an average 360 grams of daily rations to each of its people during the April-June period. This marks the lowest amount of food the country provided to its people since 2011. The second quarter rations are 10 grams short of the total handed out in the January-March period, and also 50 grams less than 410 grams provided to North Koreans in the same period last year. According to VOA, the amount is far less than the North Korean government's own target of 573 grams, and merely 62 percent of the U.N. recommended 600 grams per day. WFP also said, as a result of its nutritional survey on North Korean residents in 2014, it has found that one out of five children aged younger than five years old are suffering from anemia. According to the U.N. organization, it also began a new nutritional support project last month for the vulnerable social group in the country's seven provinces including North Hwanghae and Kangwon. (Yonhap) The United States condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches as a violation of U.N. resolutions on Tuesday, expressing strong commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan. According to the U.S. Strategic Command, the North fired two Rodong intermediate-range ballistic missiles, with one of them exploding right after launch and the other landing in the East Sea. South Korea said the North's missile flew about 1,000 kilometers and landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone waters. "We strongly condemn this and North Korea's other recent missile tests, which violate multiple U.N. Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology," Anna Richey-Allen, a State Department spokeswoman, told Yonhap News Agency. She also said the U.S. plans to raise the issue at the U.N. to bolster international resolve in holding the North accountable for these provocative actions. Such provocations only serve to increase the international community's resolve to counter the North's prohibited activities, including through implementing existing U.N. Security Council sanctions, she said. "Our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, remains ironclad. We remain prepared to work with our allies and partners around the world to respond to further DPRK provocations, as well as to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation," the spokeswoman said. "We call on North Korea to refrain from actions and rhetoric that further raise tensions in the region and to focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations and commitments," she said. (Yonhap) An unidentified man sent a parcel containing a hatchet and a threatening letter to a South Korean school for North Korean defectors. / Courtesy of Twitter By Hong Dam-young Police are searching for a man who sent a death threat to a school in Gyeonggi Province that helps newly arrived North Korean defectors. Police said the school president received a parcel on July 22 that contained a hatchet and a threatening letter. "Do not praise the United States," the letter read. "Do not denounce North Korea. The U.S. is an imperialist. Your president gives North Korean defectors lectures degrading North Korean regime, while the North and South are one people. Those are anti-North Korean actions. You will expect a blow to the back of the head unless it all stops." The letter also contained statements praising North Korea but not leader Kim Jong-un. "The letter seemed to be written by the left hand as it was barely legible," the school's president said. The suspect escaped without a trace after sending the parcel using a courier service commonly available at convenience stores. "It is likely that he is a spy in South Korea, considering his carefully planned runaway route, context of the letter and current political situation between the North and South," police said. The man took public transport and made several transfers during his escape, making it more difficult for police to track him down. "We are not ruling out the possibility that it could be an infraction of the National Security Law carried out by some extremists," police said. By Yoon Seong-hoon It was December 2012 when I first had the renowned Shake Shack burger in Manhattan, New York. I had it with premium beer and realized that the combination was really good. As of this month, I no longer need to go to the Eastern United States or to Tokyo to have this special burger experience. I can have it right here in Gangnam, Seoul. I think the arrival of the Shack has a greater meaning in Korea than anywhere else. It is somewhat different from that of donut chain Krispy Kreme, which was introduced to Koreans not too long ago. But it might be appropriate to liken the arrival of Shake Shack to that of McDonald's in 1988. The American fast food giant has been facing tough times in the Korean market in recent years; I myself rarely go there, and I feel Koreans are more than ready to welcome another burger chain here. McDonald's is a symbol of American capitalism, and "McDonaldization" is closely related to "Americanization." The former term, in general, refers to the practice of focusing on efficiency over quality, and the latter refers to the dominant influence of American culture around the globe. They are related in that McDonaldization became common in many parts of the world, an effect of Americanization that came from the 20th century globalization. The world continues to globalize, and some are already sick of it; and as far as a company serves someone better than others it becomes a global company naturally and theoretically as more people support it. "Shackalization," could be another economic term that will emerge in this globalized society. But unlike McDonaldization and Americanization, Shackalization would focus on ensuring quality through a sustainable corporate engine in this globalized, competitive world. People now favor brands such as Facebook or Google, not because they are from the United States but because their products are good enough. The same goes for burgers chains. There are already many burger chains here in Korea, including from Japan and from right here by Lotte. But as the Shack shows us, there is still a lot of room left for another burger chain, at least in Seoul. The Shack is not just any burger chain. It delivers premium burger, beer and other food and beverage at fairly affordable prices. The outlook for the Shack is similar to those for Starbucks Coffee and Apple; burger markets are already established in many parts of the world, but by providing different values to customers, it could still succeed and become a truly global company. I could have had other burgers here in Korea, but honestly, I could hardly could find one that meets global standards. Are there any global standards when it comes to burgers? It is the same here again. The best of the best in the world can become a global standard, as is the case with Starbucks Corp.'s coffee and Apple, Inc.'s iPhone. Shake Shack's burger can also become a global standard owing to its premium quality and fair price, as well as its restaurants' fairly good atmosphere , if may add. Finally I ask a question: Why should we bring a burger chain from abroad? In the 21st century Korea, food companies may already have enough capital and skills to establish a decent burger chain, so why do we need to bring one from abroad in now? I am not sure how complicated a process is cooking and serving freshly made premium burger, whether it requires difficult technology or knowledge, such as mathematical engineering, as I myself have never tried to make a burger before. It could probably be difficult, as it seems all the good burgers, burgers that are at the same level as Shake Shack's, can be found only in New York, as far as I know. Actually, some Korean companies have tried to establish decent burger chains, although I am not sure how successful they were. Shinsegae Food, Inc. has established a premium brewery-restaurant and an American-style burger joint, albeit the burgers at these restaurants seem less healthy and more expensive. Likewise, Samlip Food Corp., which has brought the Shack to the Korean Peninsula, has also launched a premium sandwich shop, LINA'S, which serves far more expensive fare your average sandwich shop. My point is that Korean food companies are ready when it comes to practical skills, but they lack the skills to provide value to customers: fine quality at a fair price. Burgers at fast food chains here are very cheap and unhealthy, and those from casual dining chains are too expensive but not any healthier. This void in the market provided an opportunity for Shake Shack, which serves quality healthy burgers at a fair price. Now I hope someone understands why Shackalization is different from McDonaldization; we chose McDonald's back then because there were few, if any, choices, but we now choose the Shack out of many other burger chains. Yoon Seong-hoon, a graduate of Korea University Business School, lives and works in Seoul. Write to okjacky@empas.com. By Bae Eun-joo It's vacation time, the time of the year many office workers have been waiting for. Some people have planned their summer getaway months ahead so they can enjoy the time away from their workplace under the most suitable conditions. Amidst the excitement, however, many would question whether it is possible for them to completely disconnect from their office work after they clock out for vacation. A recent survey by the Korea Labor Institute found that Korean employees work 11 hours extra each week through the use of smartphones or tablet PCs, even when they are officially off the clock. Conducted on some 2,402 workers in manufacturing and services industries, the survey found that 86.1 percent of respondents worked with their smartphones or laptops after office hours. Some 27.1 percent said that they work less than 30 extra minutes while 20.1 percent responded that they spend over two hours on extra work. The most common task (63.2 percent) carried out using smartphones or tablets involved connecting to the company internal network and checking emails. Four out of 10 workers said that they are stressed from working "overtime" while 44 percent said they were deprived of sleep because of the extra work. Another survey by the Korea Press Foundation found that over 60 percent of office workers felt uncomfortable when they received work-related messages when they were off duty. The poll conducted on 1,040 office workers showed that 62.3 percent or 648 responded that they are always connected to work through social network services (SNS) and cited Kakao Talk as the main cause of their inconvenience. Some 86.6 percent of the respondents said that their right to privacy needs to be respected and were opposed to continued work though SNS after official business hours. Interestingly, 74.9 percent of those surveyed said they did not respond to messages intentionally and 73.8 percent did not answer phone calls or respond to missed calls, while 72.7 percent did not reply to text messages on purpose. Rep. Shin Kyung-min of the main opposition Minjoo Party recently proposed a revision, often dubbed the "Kakao Talk ban" law, an amendment that aims at forbidding the use of SNS to ask employees to do extra work after official working hours. "With the advance of information technology, the working environment has improved greatly and much work can be easily achieved through Kakao Talk. But at the same time, this technological progress has created a social disease called Kakao Talk prison,'" Rep. Shin said in an interview with local media. Legal experts say that labor hours include not only physical hours at the office but also time actually spent on work-related duties. This means that work performed through SNS while off duty is subject to overtime payment. Any work that continues over ten minutes can be regarded as a continuation of working hours and the worker should be compensated for this, according to legal experts. The German labor ministry has proposed banning company managers from giving their staff work-related instructions after office hours, except for emergencies. Volkswagen, for example, stops forwarding emails to its staff from the company server 30 minutes after they clock out and announced that the workers are not obliged to check emails on weekends or during off-duty hours. BMW, Daimler and Deutsche Telekom have similar policies on limiting work-related communications. Studies released by Chronobiology International found that workers who were assigned jobs by their employers in their free time were more likely to report health problems, including psychological issues, and gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems. Occupational health psychologists Larissa Barber and Alecia Santuzzi coined the term "telepressure" and have defined it as "the combination of a strong urge to be responsive to people at work through message-based information and communications technologies with a preoccupation to quick response times." I have met many office workers, especially in the information and technology industry, who always take their laptops on vacation. They seem to take it for granted that they should be ready to respond to any work-related requests 24 hours a day and gave up on the idea of being on vacation, not to mention being paid overtime, a long time ago. There is no doubt that emails, the Internet and cell phones have brought many benefits to workers to boost their productivity. However, the use of technology, including portable electronic devices, is expected to advance even more in the future and affect every part of people's daily lives to a greater degree. Before it gets to the point where we become slaves to those machines, we must stop this trend and learn how to switch ourselves to "holiday mode." The American monk Ven. Hyon Gak's recent Facebook message has sparked debate on various problems within the Jogye Order, Korea's largest Buddhist sect. The monk slammed the discrimination against foreign monks within the order. Hyon Gak has enjoyed popularity as an author and translator of books on Korean Buddhism. Many Koreans sided with the Harvard-educated monk and expressed regret about his intent to distance himself from Korean Buddhism. But some raised issue with Hyon Gak's message. Critics include Achim Bayer, an associate professor at Seiryo University, Japan, who hit back at Hyon Gak in a contribution to a Buddhist newspaper. Having taught Buddhist studies at Dongguk University, Bayer was well aware of the circumstances and problems of Korean Buddhism. He defended it against Hyon Gak's remarks, saying "Ven. Hyon Gak's view that foreigners are not treated well inside the Jogye tradition does not match what I saw and heard in my everyday life," while underlining that foreigners like Ven. Hyon Gak receive "preferential treatment in many ways." In the last decade or so, a rise in the popularity of Buddhism-related practices has brought the formerly isolated Korean Buddhism much closer to everyday life, even for non-Buddhists and non-Koreans. Foreign monks have played an active role in this transformation. But despite their contributions, it seems they are not getting the proper attention they deserve from the Jogye Order. Foreign monks like Ven. Hyon Gak, who leads a Korean Zen center in Germany, have been instrumental in spreading Korean Buddhism globally. That is why the order should pay more attention to properly training foreign monks and supporting foreign scholars of Korean Buddhism. But the Jogye Order has been backtracking in this area, as seen in its closure of the international Zen Center at Hwagye Temple, the renowned training center for foreign monks, in March. At a time when Korean Buddhism is gaining more attention globally, the Jogye Order should become more effective at assimilating foreign monks, particularly through helping them deal with cultural differences and language barriers. Even though Hyon Gak's message has triggered much controversy, the Jogye Order did not officially respond to the message, brushing it off as just personal sentiment. The Jogye Order should take his criticism of the hierarchy, bias and greed of Korean Buddhism as a chance to reflect on its shortcomings and improve its image. It should also actively pursue self-reform measures, such as promoting financial transparency at temples and paying taxes, to restore the public's trust. Courtesy of Korean War Legacy Foundation Han Jong-woo, president of the Korean War Legacy Foundation By Kim Ji-soo The ongoing ceasefire that began after the Korean War (1950-53) and the simultaneous development of South Korea that have exceeded everyone's imagination, may have made living in division a normal state of affairs for most Koreans. Yet, the war's many atrocities, which pitted brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor, indisputably left a mark on the Korean people. Geopolitically, because it ended in a stalemate, the war is often described as the "forgotten war." But this doesn't mean that everyone has forgotten. Korean War veterans, as well as the public, still exchange their stories from the war The Syracuse, New York-based Korean War Legacy Foundation has stepped up its efforts promoting the exchange in recent years through the eyes of the American veterans who fought in the war. In 2011, with funding from South Korea's Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA), the foundation started with collecting letters and more than 8,000 artifacts, and conducting 800 some interviews, in an effort to digitalize the participation of U.S. veterans in the war. Some 2 million are estimated to have fought in the war. Han Jong-woo, the foundation's president, said that the foundation initially was like a "cyber crypt" where the memory of the veterans were preserved. "These American veterans are pro-Korean human resources that we now have because we shed blood together," Han said. "They are a base for public diplomacy, meaning that these are people who would willingly say good things about our country."He also said that they are a base that the Korean government should maintain. On the foundation's website (http://www.kwvdm.org) are recorded interviews with the veterans. One veteran, Daniel Rickert, is seen recounting how his father, originally from Germany, served in the U.S. Navy in World War I, and how he himself joined the Reserves after high school. Because the veterans are now, on average, 85 years or older, the foundation now focuses on educating future generations by putting these materials in classrooms. From reading his two daughters' textbooks, Han realized that despite Korea's geopolitical and economic rise, not much is written about the Korean War in American textbooks. "There is only one paragraph on the Korean War, despite the growth of Korea, Inc. and the ROK-U.S. alliance," Han said. The foundation created the Youth Corps in 2013 modeled after John F. Kennedy's Peace Corps to enable students to continue their parents' legacy in the war. Coincidentally, one of the Youth Corps members was a history teacher, Samantha Fraser from Georgia, who worked with the foundation to create a Korean War digital history project in 2013 as a possible manual for teaching about the Korean War. The foundation hosts annual conference for history and social studies teachers and the youth corps. This year, the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) signed an MOU with the foundation to endorse the foundation's major projects. Han recently visited Korea along with 10 teachers to attend MPVA- hosted Peace Camp. From 2002 through 2010, he along with Syracuse University helped set up the digital library of Kim Chaek University of Technology in North Korea, and this experience helped him establish the foundation. But what inspired him to create the foundation in the first place was Syracuse University's series of lectures in the early 2000s on Ambassador Han Pyo-wook, to which the Korean War veterans came with bags full of photos and artifacts during their service in the war. The foundation had sponsors, including Park Byeong-yeop, vice chairman of Pantech C&I. However, as a political scientist with a specialization in comparative politics, Han felt it was important to dig deeper into the meaning of the Korean War. "The Korean War is the root of the new Cold War taking place in Northeast Asia," Han said, pointing out how the U.S. war veterans he interviewed remember mainly fighting the Chinese soldiers along the western front. Also, according to Han and the veterans, the war, compared to the growth and prosperity that Korea has experienced since, is almost like a bad memory but with a different ending. Han said when he interviewed the veterans, they remembered a poor, war-torn Korea with the smell of buckets of feces they euphemistically called "honey pots" that men carried on their shoulders, women who always carried big bags on their heads and children who always clamored for something to eat. Most of the veterans were from the so-called "great generation," or those who grew up during the Great Depression of the 1930s and fought during World War II. "When they came back to the United States, they were busy with their daily lives, and over the years, they forgot about it (the war). It was also a war that they did not want to remember," he said. Han is looking to include the 26,000 U.S. servicemen stationed in South Korea in the foundation's digital library as well. Han said there are about three million former U.S. servicemen who served in Korea after the war. "These people are those who know Korea the best. We need to include them, as the war has not ended and their service in Korea is a pillar of the Korea-U.S. alliance," he said. Shin Kyo-yeon, the head nurse at Konyang University Hospital, receives the Civil Merit Medal from Vice Health Minister Bang Moon-kyu at the government complex in central Seoul, July 29. / Courtesy of Konyang University Hospital By Kim Hyo-jin Shin Kyo-yeon, the head nurse at Konyang University Hospital, was at the forefront of fighting the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) when the deadly virus hit the country a year ago. When she heard an 80-year-old MERS patient at an isolation ward was in critical condition, she stepped up and without hesitation performed CPR, which lasted over an hour. Exhausted, she unwittingly wiped sweat. And that was when she was exposed to the patient's body fluid. A few days later, she was confirmed to have contracted the virus. But luckily after 20 days in quarantine for treatment, she overcame it and was able to get back to her job. The government awarded the Civil Merit Medal to the 40-year-old nurse, Friday, citing her fighting for patients suffering from MERS. "The last year was the most frightening year of my life," Shin said. "Diagnosed with MERS, I felt guilty that the hospital and fellow workers might struggle because of my absence. "But what I got was encouragement and support not only from fellow workers but also the public. It helped me get over the disease and come back to where I was," she said. About 80 people who contacted Shin at work were quarantined for two weeks and released with no one testing positive for the virus. Her husband too quarantined himself for a while, but tested negative. After her story was reported by the media, a barrage of messages and emails wishing her a swift recovery poured into her mailbox from all over the country. "Though tough, I had so many happy moments thanks to the attention from caring and loving people," she said. "I realized doing the best at what you are supposed to do can have an impact on other people's lives. I will take this award as encouragement to carry on my mission." The Ministry of Health and Welfare awarded 40 people who worked in the medical field during last year's MERS epidemic. Cho Joon-sung, the chief of the respiratory department at the National Medical Center, and Kim Sook-nyong at the nurse headquarters of Kyung Hee University Gangdong Hospital were awarded medals too. Cho was credited with treating over 30 patients in critical condition with MERS and Kim was recognized for her effort in preventing the spread of the virus by setting up a single occupancy hemodialysis unit. By Lee Min-hyung Samsung SDS is pushing to expand in Europe by signing partnerships with globally-renowned financial companies to supply them with its mobile security systems. The Internet technology affiliate of Samsung Group said Wednesday that it agreed with the British financial firm Barclays to jointly develop digital banking services. Under the deal, Samsung SDS and Samsung Electronics will provide their mobile security systems to the banking company. In particular, Samsung SDS plans to share its security expertise with the Fast Identity Online (FIDO) biometric recognition system. The FIDO office security system, which gained the spotlight at this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February, uses fingerprint and facial recognition technology to offer the highest-level of security for corporate clients. Samsung Electronics, for its part, also plans to provide its Knox mobile security platform. The company embedded the security system into its flagship handsets including Galaxy S7 and Galaxy Note 7. Expectations are that the latest deal will allow the two Samsung affiliates to expand their security-related global profile into the lucrative business-to-business (B2B) sector in Europe. "We have had a strong foothold in the mobile security industry in the United States, but our recent achievement will further boost our expansion into the European market," a Samsung SDS spokesman said. The company also said it has partnered with German-based banknote and security systems provider Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) over jointly developing authentication for mobile devices. G&D, headquartered in Munich, has expertise in banknote printing and supplies security papers and machines for central banks around the world. "The joint project is expected to bring a huge paradigm shift to the existing password-based authentication systems," said the official. In a statement, Samsung SDS also said it has signed deals with a British telecommunications company over establishing a FIDO-based mobile cloud network system. The company, however, did not unveil the name of the company, citing terms of the contract. The FIDO-based system will allow the mobile carrier to offer an industry-leading level of security and reduce its operating costs by helping the firm manage its existing security systems more efficiently, Samsung SDS said. Both parties will begin their joint business applying the project for the country's public state-run organizations. They will then extend the service coverage into the financial and private sectors, according to Samsung SDS. Samsung SDS President Hong Won-pyo said: "The latest achievements clearly reflect that our mobile security expertise is being acknowledged by growing numbers of renowned European companies." "We are going to strengthen our global profile by taking advantage of our recent partnerships with financial and banking leaders in Europe," he added. In May, Samsung SDS forged a partnership with EdgeVerve, an India-based global banking service market leader. The company, better known for its core banking product Finacle, has more than 540 million users in over 80 countries around the world. Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest maker of smartphones, unveiled a new Galaxy Note phablet in New York on Tuesday in a bid to keep up the momentum of its smartphone sales. The launch of the Galaxy Note 7 comes ahead of the latest iPhone launch, expected in the autumn, and days after Samsung reported its biggest quarterly profit in more than two years thanks to strong sales of Galaxy S7 smartphones. "It's a pleasure to welcome friends from around the world as we unpack the newest version of the world's most intelligent smartphone," Koh Dong-jin, head of Samsung's mobile division, said during the Unpacked event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. The Galaxy Note 7 is the follow-up to the Galaxy Note 5. The South Korean smartphone giant named it Note 7, instead of Note 6, in order to sync up its numbering with its other flagship smartphones -- Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge -- ahead of what is expected to be a crucial battle against the iPhone 7. The new Galaxy Note features an iris scanner and an S-Pen that allows users to translate words. Adding an extra security feature, the iris scanner enables only the owner of a device to use the smartphone. For the first time, the S-Pen has an IP68 water and dust-resistance feature allowing users to take notes when it rains or they are in a sandstorm. To offer the feel of handwriting with a real pen, the diameter of the pen tip has been reduced to 0.7 mm, compared with the 1.6 mm of the previous version of the Galaxy Note. It is also the first time for an S-Pen to have a translation feature. In terms of design, the new Galaxy Note is significantly improved. For the first time in the Galaxy Note series, the new version has an edge feature on both sides of the device that allows it to nicely nestle in the palm of the hand. The Galaxy Note 7 also has a High Dynamic Range video streaming capability, enabling users to enjoy high-quality videos and games. Compared with the previous Galaxy Note 5 model, the screen size is unchanged at 5.7 inches. The internal storage of the smartphone is pegged at 64GB and an SD card slot will hold up to 256GB. The Galaxy Note 7's battery capacity increased to 3,500mAh from 3,000mAh. The Galaxy Note 7 is available in four colors -- Blue Coral, Gold Platinum, Silver Titanium and Black Onyx. As an official sponsor of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Samsung is set to launch a large-scale marketing blitz with the new Galaxy Note. Preorders for the new Galaxy Note in South Korea will begin on Saturday, and Samsung is expected to launch the new phablet locally on Aug. 19. Samsung sold 17 million units of the Galaxy S7 smartphone in the April-June period. Boosted by robust sales of the Galaxy S7, Samsung reported a second-quarter operating profit of 8.14 trillion won ($7.3 billion), up 18.06 percent from the same quarter last year. "We faced skeptics who doubted us. We heard from critics who dismissed the large screen and our new S pen," Koh said of the Galaxy Note's first launch in 2011. "But we stayed true to our vision and we persevered. Today, large-screen phones are the fasted growing segment of the smartphone market. Here in the U.S., demand has grown more than 200 percent every year since 2012." Koh said the new Note is the "most intelligent smarphone we've ever created." "At a time when some people wonder if there is no more room for smartphone innovation, our belief in meaningful progress is stronger than ever. And our commitment to listen to customers remains unchanged," he said. Koh also said the iris scanning technology "will provide the foundation for much broader opportunities including mobile banking" and the S pen has become "even more precise, more responsive and now water and dust resistant." "This is how we translate our vision for meaningful progress into innovation that delivers great value and convenience," he said. (Yonhap) The Turkish government has asked the United States to extradite Fethullah Gulen, who is living in self-exile in the U.S., accusing him of organizing the failed coup. / Courtesy of Twitter By Hong Dam-young Turkey has issued a list of some 10 organizations in Korea it says are linked to suspected terrorist organizations allegedly involved in the recent military coup bid, Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. In the wake of the July 15 attempt, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been condemning coup leaders that he says are linked to what he calls the "Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization" (FETO). Erdogan has accused U.S.-based dissident Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the plot. Turkey has been sending lists of FETO-linked organizations to other countries, demanding they be banned. It also has asked the U.S. to extradite Gulen, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. Gulen has denied any involvement in the coup and Washington said it would only extradite him if there is enough evidence. Supporters of Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, protest in Istanbul's Taksim Square, blaming the July 15 attempted coup on dissident Fethullah Gulen. One man is holding a picture of Erdogan. / Courtesy of Twitter The Turkish government also sent the list of suspected terrorist organizations to other Islamic countries, such as Indonesia, asking the groups be shut down. But the list it delivered to Korea -- which contains educational and cultural institutions and private businesses -- did not come with a request for action. "We are only keeping a close watch for now because Turkey didn't file any request for action," a ministry official said. No countries other than Turkey have branded Gulen a terrorist. The DPA news agency said Indonesia has declined Turkey's request to close schools identified as among Gulen's followers. There is fallout from the short-lived plan by the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe idea to grow marijuana two people now charged with drug offenses. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says Eric Matthew Hagen, 34 of Sioux Falls, was indicted by a Moody County grand jury for his role in the tribes marijuana growing facility. Hagen was indicted for conspiracy to possess more than 10 pounds of marijuana, possession of more than 10 pounds of marijuana and attempted possession of more than 10 pounds of marijuana. If convicted, Hagen could be sentenced to 10 years each for the drug conspiracy and possession charges; another seven and a half years for the attempted possession charge. Also, Jonathan Hunt, 43 of Colorado, is charged with conspiracy to possess marijuana. This is a lesser charge because he is cooperating with law enforcement. He is expected to plead to one count of conspiracy to possess more than one-half pound but less than one pound of marijuana. Hunt could be sentenced to two years in prison after entering his plea Aug. 15. According to the Associated Press, the two men were consultants to the tribe which was developing a marijuana resort. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has signed the law On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding the settlement of certain issues of the legal regime of the territories affected by radioactive contamination as a consequence of the Chornobyl disaster," according to the press service of the head of state. The document specifies the characteristics of land use, special use of water, the implementation of urban development activities, protection of atmospheric air on the territory of the Exclusion Zone and ultimate (obligatory) resettlement to ensure the implementation of projects for the transformation of the Shelter object into an ecologically safe system and the reintegration of the affected area. The law also regulates the competence issues of the central and local governments to implement the powers in the exclusion zone. At the same time, the decree of the Ukrainian president dated April 26, 2016 No. 174 On establishment of the Chornobyl radiation-ecological biosphere reserve comes into effect, which aims to preserve the natural state of the most typical natural Polissia reserves, providing support and improving the barrier function of the Chornobyl exclusion zone and zone of ultimate (obligatory) resettlement, the stabilization of the hydrological regime and the rehabilitation of territories contaminated with radio nuclides, contribution to the organization and carrying out of international scientific researches. The law On amendments to some legislative acts concerning the settlement of the issues of legal regime of the territory, which was affected by radioactive contamination as a result of the Chornobyl disaster was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on July 14. Ukraine is ready for compromises and will do all it can to have Ukrainian captives freed, Yuriy Tandyt, an adviser to the Ukrainian Security Service chief, said in an interview with Channel 5 television, whose transcript was posted on the TV channel's website on Tuesday evening. "We are preparing for some processes, I cannot say everything, but believe me, this will be a surprise to many," Tandyt said. "When the formula for releasing 25 of our hostages was first announced [...] we had in fact agreed on a '25-for-36' formula, then the terms were changed not at our initiative. Representatives of the so-called DPR/LPR and Russian representatives in the presence of OSCE representatives were involved in this. A '25-for-50' formula was concluded. We said we were ready even for these compromises. Darya Morozova [the human rights commissioner in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, or "DPR"] said they were ready for an exchange based on the 'all-for-all' principle," he said. Tandyt acknowledged that the parties should agree to compromises. "We are ready for compromises, and we'll do everything to free Ukrainian hostages, I am not saying this just for the sake of it; after all, we have a concrete plan, and, as I've said, we are preparing a surprise," he said. When the 'all-for-all' formula was first mentioned in 2015, Ukraine "handed over 222 people who could have been legally handed over at the time, and 150 people were returned to us then," he said. Kyiv was provided with a list of 1,102 people last year and carefully analyzed it. "We drew up references on each of the 1,102 people, and imagine, we saw surprising things in this figure. For instance, more than 330 out of these 1,102 people are not mentioned on any lists of captives," he said. As concerns the negotiating process, Tandyt said "President Petro Poroshenko" is the chief negotiator for Kyiv in the process. "If we talk about Viktor Medvedchuk's [Ukrainian Choice public movement leader] role, I can say that, taking into account some of his relations and links to the neighboring state's leader, we certainly hope this will help us. But here's what I'll tell you: anything would be fair for freeing the hostages as long as we remember that we are citizens of Ukraine and should remain patriots," Tandyt said. He also stressed that Ukraine has never accepted money for freeing captives. A Douglas County sheriffs deputy lost his job last week after less than a month on the job. Sheriff Chris Degase says Jesse Lafferty, 30, was driving drunk when he crashed his patrol car a few miles northwest of Ava early on July 29. Degase says he hired Lafferty as a full-time deputy on July 1. Lafferty was on duty late on July 28 when Degase called him back to the office in Ava. Lafferty called a dispatcher on the radio shortly after that and said hed crashed his car but didnt know where he was. Laffertys wife also called the dispatcher and said she had spoken with him and was also trying to figure out his location. Another deputy eventually found Lafferty and his patrol car in brush and trees near Highway K at Missouri 14. A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper later wrote that Lafferty failed to stop at a stop sign and hit several trees after he ran off the road. The trooper wrote that Lafferty was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. After Degase and another deputy arrived at the scene, the sheriff says he could tell by how Lafferty was acting that he was under the influence of alcohol. The sheriff asked a state trooper to meet him at his office in Ava and took Lafferty back there. Degase says blood alcohol testing at the office determined Lafferty was drunk. Degase says he immediately fired Lafferty and arrested him on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and other crimes. He was jailed in Ozark County until he could sober up. An ambulance then took him to a hospital in Springfield to be treated for minor injuries. The Highway Patrol lists Lafferty as living in Springfield. Online court records dont show any charges filed by the Douglas County prosecuting attorney for the crash, but paperwork for traffic tickets and DWI charges often take days or weeks to make their way from the Highway Patrols offices to prosecutors desks. Illegal armed formations shelled Ukrainian army positions in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine 71 times in the past 24 hours, the ATO headquarters reported. Militants used 120mm and 82mm, grenade launchers, large-caliber machine-guns and small arms along the stretch between the town of Krasnohorivka, Avdiyivka, and militant-held Horlivka in the Donetsk sector. An infantry fighting vehicle attacked Ukrainian troops stationed outside the villages of Luhanske and Mayorsk. The village of Zaitseve came under fire by militants who used the artillery systems that are banned by the Minsk agreements. From 11:00 to 20:00 local time on Tuesday, the enemy shelled residential districts in villages around the militant-controlled city of Donetsk with the use of mortars. Ukrainian army positions in the Mariupol sector were also shelled with the use of mortars, grenade launchers, machine-guns, and guns of an infantry fighting vehicle. Such populated localities as Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Shyrokyne, Talakivka, and Vodiane came under fire. The town of Maryinka was also under sniper fire. Militants in the Luhansk sector opened both targeted and random mortar and grenade fire on the villages of Novozvanivka and Krymske. The village of Novo-Oleksandrivka and the town of Zolote in Luhansk region came under enemy grenade fire. Militants used an infantry fighting vehicle to attack the village of Stanytsia Luhanska. Novozvanivka was also under sniper fire. Enemy reconnaissance drones were spotted flying near the city of Donetsk. Three Ukrainian servicemen wounded in shelling of Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint's approaches Three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded when illegal armed formations opened fire from light weapons and grenade launchers from 21:30 to 24:00 local time on Tuesday near the demarcation line between a new motorway bridge and the Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint in Luhansk region. The three injured servicemen were admitted to the Stanytsia Luhanska territorial medical institution following the shelling conducted by the enemy, Stanytsia Luhanska district state administration wrote on Facebook. Local residents have not sought treatment, it said. The consequences of damages by shelling are currently being verified. A court hearing on the case of former members of the Tornado special patrol police squad in Kyiv's Obolon district court, which was scheduled for Wednesday, August 3, was postponed until 11:30 Kyiv time on August 9, and will be held behind closed doors, according to a court press secretary. "Police officers have told us they are unable to deliver the suspect to the courtroom. In this connection, the court hearing with the participation of lawyers, prosecutors and judges will be postponed until 11:30 on August 9. In keeping with laws, the hearing will be held behind closed doors," press secretary of Kyiv's Obolon district court Inna Svynarenko told reporters outside the court building on Wednesday. Lawyer of the Tornado members Volodymyr Yakimov told Interfax-Ukraine that he confirmed that information. According to him, the next court hearings are scheduled for August 9 and August 10. In his words, the hearings take place every Tuesday and Wednesday in keeping with the scheduled approved by the court. Yakimov said the defense had been informed that the suspects would not be brought to court on August 3 but the reason had not been mentioned. The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more Three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, and another one was contused in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian presidential administration spokesman for ATO issues Andriy Lysenko said. "None of our servicemen were killed in hostilities in the past 24 hours, however, three were injured. Another serviceman was contused," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday. PRESS RELEASE China and Russia To Deepen Anti-Terror Cooperation Aug. 2, 2016 (EIRNS)Willful fools, such as the RAND Corporation, who argue that Russia would not significantly weigh in, should the United States launch a war on China, might wish to take note of todays remarks by Chinas Ambassador to Russia, Li Hui. Ambassador Li told reporters that Vladimir Putins return to China for the Sept. 4-5 G20 summit in September, followed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiangs trip to Russia for the 21st regular meeting of Heads of Government on Nov. 7-8, are "two important political events [which] will be a further step in expanding and developing the comprehensive strategic cooperation and partnership" between their two countries, TASS reported. Li emphasized expanding cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism, regionally and globally. Citing recent Russian-Chinese anti-terrorist drills as evidence of successful development of bilateral cooperation in this sphere, Li said that Russia and China "intend to continue strengthening practical anti-terrorist cooperation, fight against international terrorism, defend peace and stability in the region and in the world... Russia and China have been for a long time developing close and very effective cooperation in the sphere of anti-terrorism with the help of bilateral mechanisms, as well as on multilateral platforms, such as summits of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS member countries." An interview by Sputnik News with a Moscow-based military analyst today, mooting stepped-up joint Chinese-Russian collaboration on anti-ballistic missile systems ("Sino-Russo Duo: China Mulls Ramping Up Its Missile Defense With Russia"), serves to remind the cognizant that already on May 3, China and Russia made public that they were conducting joint anti-ballistic missile defense exercises, in direct response to anti-ballistic missile systems being deployed around their borders by the British-run Obama Administration. PRESS RELEASE LaRouche: ISIS Threat to Putin Could Have Strategic Fallout Aug. 2, 2016 (EIRNS)The circulation this week of a videotape by "ISIS" promising attacks on Russia, and personally threatening, "We are coming to get you, Putin," involves a greater danger than most "experts" realize, EIR Founding Editor Lyndon LaRouche said today. "This is a shock," LaRouche said. "Do they realize what and whom they are threatening? This is being deployed! This is not ISIS, it is a Chechen-centered complex of terrorism groups and operations. And it was created and is used by the British, by Obama, against Russia, using Saudi Arabia as an instrumentality. Putin has been fighting this, successfully, for nearly two decades. Effectively this is Obama." LaRouche did not rule out that "this might lead Russia to respond, at some point, even strategically. It could contribute to world war!" LaRouches extraordinarily prescient 1998 film presentation, "Storm Over Asia," was produced to expose exactly this Chechen-centered terrorism as being aimed by London at the potential "Russia-China-India strategic triangle," and carrying the threat of a thermonuclear world war. That was the point at which Putin took office and began the long fight which defeated the terrorists in Russia, and is aimed at defeating them internationally now. Of the "ISIS" threat video against Putin and Russia now, LaRouche observed, Actor and comedian Patton Oswalt will finish writing his late wife Michelle McNamaras book about a California serial killer, he revealed in a long Facebook post this week. Oswalt is the author of two books, Zombie Spaceship Wasteland and Silver Screen Fiend: Learning About Life from an Addiction to Film. McNamara, a true crime writer and blogger, had been working on a book about a series of unsolved rapes and murders that occurred in California between 1976 and 1986. The book was based on an article she wrote for Los Angeles magazine, In the Footsteps of a Killer. McNamara died April 21 at the age of 46 at home in Los Angeles. The cause of her death has not yet been determined. Advertisement In his Facebook post, Oswalt wrote: She left behind an amazing unfinished book, about a horrific series of murders that everyone -- including the retired homicide detectives she worked with -- was sure shed solve. The Golden State Killer. She gave him that name, in an article for Los Angeles Magazine. She was going to figure out the real name behind it. Any spare energy Ive managed to summon since April 21st Ive put toward finishing Michelles book, he continued. With a lot of help from some very amazing people. It will come out. I will let you know. Its all her. Were just taking whats there and letting it tell us how to shape it. Its amazing. McNamara was the founder of the website True Crime Diary, a blog dedicated to unsolved murder cases. In the months before her death, she had been increasingly determined to uncover the identity of the Golden State Killer. By day Im a 42-year-old stay-at-home mom with a sensible haircut and Goldfish crackers lining my purse, McNamara wrote in her Los Angeles magazine article. In the evening, however, Im something of a DIY detective. I delve into cold cases by scouring the Internet for any digital crumbs authorities may have overlooked, then share my theories with the 8,000 or so mystery buffs who visit my blog regularly. In his post, Oswalt also said that he planned to return to comedy. And Im going to start telling jokes again soon, he wrote. And writing. And acting in stuff and making things I like and working with friends on projects and do all the stuff I was always so privileged to get to do before the air caught fire around me and the sun died. Its all I knew how to do before I met Michelle. I dont know what else Im supposed to do now without her. ALSO: Patton Oswalt has a thing for the movies Michelle McNamara, writer and wife of Patton Oswalt, dies at 46 Carolyn See, award-winning Southern California writer, dies at 82 Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said that the starting price of Odesa Port-Side Chemical Chemical Plant was set too high. He is confident that Ukraine's State Property Fund (SPF) would make all possible to re-launch the tender to sell the plant. "I think that the most important problem is the price of the enterprise. The Ukrainian appraiser set it. When we came to the government, the appraisal had been approved and we did not have grounds to change it," Groysman said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. He said that he initially believed that the starting price was high. The prime minister said that the lower starting price is the larger number of bidders will be. Then competition will appear during the auction and the final price will be higher. "Now, taking into account experience of the failed auction I can say that there is interest to the facility. The SPF would make all possible to re-launch the sale of the Odesa plant. I think that we will sell this facility no matter how and who tries to hinder it. Maybe someone does not like it, but this is good for the country's economy," he said. Groysman said that the investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau into corruption among top managers of the plant would not hamper the auction, as it is not related to ownership of the plant. It is the sign of its cleanup. Lunar exploration and mining firm Moon Express has become the first private company to receive government approval to land on the moon, possibly providing another boost for the commercial space industry. Armed with the go-ahead from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cape Canaveral, Fla., company plans to launch its unmanned MX-1 lunar lander next year. Previously, only national government agencies have launched missions beyond Earth orbit. For the record: A previous version of this story said Moon Express headquarters were in Mountain View, Calif. The company is based in Cape Canaveral, Fla. We look at the moon as our eighth continent, said Naveen Jain, co-founder of Moon Express. We have explored all of our seven continents, so why not go to the eighth continent. Advertisement On its first mission, the MX-1 lander is expected to take scientific experiments, telescopes and other items to the moon in a test of the spacecrafts software. The lander is set to launch on one of Los Angeles-based Rocket Labs Electron rockets. Eventually, Moon Express plans to mine for resources on the moon, such as platinum group metals and helium-3, which some believe could be a safer nuclear fuel and is present in larger quantities on the moon than on Earth, according to the European Space Agency. Analysts said the approval process could serve as precedent for future private moon missions, as well other commercial ventures beyond Earth orbit, such as SpaceXs mission to Mars, set for 2018, or other firms plans to mine asteroids for resources. It highlights the need for a formal regulatory process for unconventional commercial missions, said Phil Smith, senior space analyst at the Tauri Group. The final approval for the mission came after consultation among the Federal Aviation Administration, the White House, NASA and the State Department, Moon Express said. This level of coordination was necessary because a mission like that of Moon Express is subject to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, an international regulatory agreement initiated by the U.S. and Russia. Among other things, the treaty states that missions to the moon and other celestial bodies must be peaceful and that nongovernmental agencies must get approval from a particular country for activities in outer space. The FAA issues launch licenses to commercial space companies and gives approval to spacecraft, like SpaceXs Dragon capsule, that come back to Earth after blasting into space. But no regulatory agency has authority over commercial activity beyond Earth orbit. In this case, the FAA approved the MX-1 lander, confirming that its launch does not jeopardize public health, safety, U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, or the nations international obligations, the agency said. The FAAs approval is restricted to this single mission, and any future missions would have to receive similar clearance from the agency. Moon Express will also still have to secure a launch license from the FAA, but that part will be less of a hurdle because there is a defined process for it, said Justin Karl, coordinator of the commercial space operations program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Its difficult to get any type of operational licensing when youre trying to do something that no one has ever done before, he said. The fact that a comparatively small outfit like Moon Express has been given the OK to do some unique type of operations that other larger and theoretically more capable aerospace companies have not been able to get before is a very big step for commercial space. Moon Express, which currently has 26 employees, is a contender for the Google Lunar X-Prize, a competition that will award $20 million to the first team that lands a privately funded rover on the moon, travels at least 500 meters and transmits high-definition video and images back to Earth by the end of next year. The company is competing against 16 other teams, including two based in the U.S. Both Pittsburghs Astrobotic Technology and Orlandos Earthrise Space Foundation aim to deliver experiments to the moon for universities and companies. Beyond its mission approval, Moon Express still has many challenges to overcome before launch. The company said that more details about the lander will be released in the next few months. Meanwhile, its ride into space Rocket Labs Electron rocket -- has yet to take its first flight. The fact that they are this far certainly speaks volumes about what theyve developed and how mature private space is getting, Karl said. But, really, the moon is still both literally and figuratively quite a long distance away. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com For more business news, follow me @smasunaga UPDATES: 2:42 p.m.: This story has been corrected to include Moon Express headquarters in Cape Canaveral, Fla. 1:40 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details about the regulatory process and the Google Lunar X-Prize. This article was originally published at 5 a.m. A billion here, a billion there. For a couple of years, Uber Technologies Inc. steadily collected huge sums of capital every few months to fuel its worldwide expansion. But as the ride-hailing company achieves profitability in more regions, investor enthusiasm is hitting a plateau, analysts say. Increasing instead is pressure to ride earnings into an initial public offering and generate returns for existing shareholders. The dynamics in Ubers fundraising climate came into question this week as the San Francisco company announced its intention to offload its money-losing Chinese operation to Didi Chuxing, the dominant ride-share service in the worlds most populous country. Advertisement Analysts have praised the decision, saying Uber had no reason to continue sinking cash into an uphill battle that increasingly looked impossible to win. Nevertheless, the move is a major U-turn for Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick. As recently as October, he said 30% of Uber trips occurred in China and that he would continue to spend $1 billion annually to make the economics work there. Since then, Uber may have concluded that not enough investors wanted to prop up the China business, which is separate from but connected to Ubers global apparatus, observers said. Chinese investors, [venture capitalists] and funds would have certainly been keen to invest into Uber Technologies but not solely Uber China, said Matthieu David of China-based research firm Daxue Consulting. Efforts to raise funds for Uber China reportedly dragged on longer than planned last year, failed to produce the share prices Uber sought and generated confusion as some investors also backed Didi. Uber plopped down several hundred million dollars of its own money on China during a financing last year to boost investor confidence. Uber China hit its max, said Max Wolff, chief economist at Manhattan Venture Partners, which swaps cash for stock with shareholders in closely held firms. Uber China went out for a higher valuation and couldnt get it and then sold [to Didi] for its last valuation at $7 billion. That implies some substantive head winds. Uber could not be reached for comment. Across the rest of the world, Ubers ability to raise funds remains viable. Theres still a lot of people who like Uber and feel a fear of missing out, Wolff said. Its a big name and people hear about it. But its unlikely that Ubers share price, and in turn its valuation, will keep rising at the dramatic rates of the last three years, he said. The companys most recent equity investment $3.5 billion from a Saudi Arabian public investment fund maintained Ubers valuation at $62.5 billion. Holding the valuation flat is not a cataclysm, but it certainly suggests the momentum is not the same, Wolff said. Last month, the company moved away from issuing shares, instead turning to a high-yield loan to raise an additional $1 billion. The loans typically carry a term of about five years and are given to businesses with regular, predictable cash flows, said Mark Turk, senior market manager at Silicon Valley Bank. Creativity in fundraising among start-ups isnt surprising because more of them are staying private longer and, consequently, pricing themselves out of the range of one investor set after another, he said. Companies pursuing their vision seek funds at the lowest costs with the most flexible terms. Uber is poised to grab another $1 billion from Didi as part of its takeover of Uber China, bringing its lifetime fundraising haul above $12 billion. Didi and some of its investors declined to comment on how the investment agreement materialized. On the flipside of the transaction, Uber and its shareholders get a nearly 20% stake in Didi. But that comes with less than 6% voting power, another sign of weak leverage in financing negotiations, Wolff said. Cleaning the China losses off financial statements leaves Uber with adjusted profits meaning some expenses like taxes are discounted in North America, Australia and in greater Europe, which includes the Middle East and Africa, according to data reported by the Financial Times this year. That more positive picture produces an easier story to tell investors if Uber seeks to go public, said Alex Castelli, technology and life sciences industry leader at Cohn Reznick. Though Kalanick has sought to delay an IPO for as long as possible, theres an implied push from investors for Uber to go public sooner so they can spin their freshly liquid returns into other ventures. Uber still faces regulatory issues such as the level of background checks needed on drivers and whether they can be classified as contractors rather than employees. But the Didi deal removes China as a source of uncertainty, experts said. Ubers technology research has the best chance of significantly boosting the companys valuation and reigniting the financing frenzy, said Jay Ritter, a University of Florida professor who studies IPOs and start-ups. Uber is positioned to dominate the market for driverless taxis in as much as two-thirds of the world, but its unclear whether the company can execute its vision, how soon it could happen and how profitable the automated car business would be. The faster those are resolved, the sooner the higher valuations will come, Ritter said. paresh.dave@latimes.com / PGP Twitter: @peard33 Vizio Inc. puts more trust into third-party contractors than many television companies. Rather than relying on its own factories, the Irvine firm has outside manufacturers do the handiwork, allowing Vizio to lower costs for itself and consumers. But Vizio, which recently agreed to sell itself to Chinese mega-firm LeEco for $2 billion in cash, doesnt require vendors to comply with a formal code of conduct a common industry practice defining a companys labor and environmental standards. William Wang, Vizios chairman and chief executive, said theres no need since it doesnt run factories and works with the best manufacturers in the world. Prominent in the arrangement are discussions about maintaining high quality standards, which are the most important thing for the company, Wang said. Advertisement Still, the void concerns analysts who follow factory conditions because the nations second best-selling TV brands relationships with major suppliers such as Foxconn, AmTRAN Technology and TPV Technology are out of step with its rivals for U.S. consumers. Samsung Electronics, LG and Sony are members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition, which subjects the technology giants factories and supply chains to third-party audits. Suppliers such as Foxconn and Innolux say they follow EICC standards, although LeEco and Vizio arent participants. The fact that Vizio isnt on there isnt good, said David Collins, a former manager of Foxconn and Chrysler plants and now chief operating officer for China Manufacturing Consultants. In essence, being a good corporate citizen is good for cost and quality. Vizios lack of membership in the industry organization and its lack of a supplier responsibility initiative, as many companies call it are far from an indictment of its business practices. Retailers who sell Vizios TVs say they still mandate compliance with their own standards. But for a company built on driving down expenses and extracting narrow profit margins, theres an appearance of neglect for how its contractors abroad operate, experts said. Its widely doubted that codes of conduct are a major driver for improving conditions, but they do provide clear evidence that executives are conscious of the issues. If a company doesnt even bother to make its own code of conduct, in terms of working conditions, it must be worse than other companies because at least the others have some sense of social responsibility even if its superficial, said Li Qiang, executive director of advocacy group China Labor Watch. But Vizio has always been one for doing things differently, immediately challenging the market for high-priced televisions when it launched in 2002 with top-quality TVs at budget costs. Its flourishing manufacturing setup has been lucrative for both sides. Vizios contractors are poised to benefit further through the takeover by Chinas LeEco, which hawks TVs and smartphones and develops apps, films and shows. LeEcos factory conditions havent faced recent scrutiny. Executives at LeEco and Vizio lauded their perfect alignment on vision and strategies. For one, both rely on contract manufacturers to make TVs. This year, nearly 3 million LeEco TVs should come from TCL, 2.5 million from TPV and 1 million from Foxconn, according to Taipei-based research firm Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute. Vizio should get nearly 4 million sets from TPV, more than 2.5 million from AmTRAN and 1 million from Foxconn, the researcher said. AmTRAN and Foxconn also are longtime minority owners of Vizio. Analysts said that either may give them an incentive to maintain proper standards or a sense of control enabling them to de-prioritize costly compliance activities. Foxconn, the well-known iPhone assembler criticized for a rash of worker suicides in 2010, declined to comment; AmTRAN and TPV didnt respond. These contract firms employ thousands of people in Taiwan, China and Mexico to make Vizio TVs. Vizio itself has stayed lean at hundreds of employees, with product designers in Irvine and support-call takers in South Dakota. Vizio CEO Wang has prized efficiency. With suppliers, hes said its not about forcing them into low fees but rather about collaborating to decrease their expenses. The structure enabled Vizio to sell nice TVs at steep discounts compared with bigger companies, which were saddled with costs of running factories and structured to generate larger profit. Consumers at Costco, Sams Club, Wal-Mart and Target ate up the bargains. But the same strategy of minimizing burdens could explain why Vizio doesnt enforce its own code of conduct or do the public relations work, said Qiang of China Labor Watch. Vizio has to hold back somewhere versus more diversified and well-financed companies that can devote dozens of people to factory oversight, he said. Vizio disclosed the absence of a formal policy as a risk factor in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing last year as it prepared for an initial public offering of stock. The company says establishing such a policy would duplicate the social and environmental standards that its retail partners already mandate. We dont separately require our suppliers to have their own code of conduct because Wal-Marts applies to all [our] suppliers, said Marilee McInnis, a spokesperson for the stores International Corporate Affairs unit. Target spokesperson Erika Winkels noted that its policies require product makers to conduct their business with a high level of integrity and maintain transparent and accurate records. Retailers demands grew in importance after years of consumer protest about child labor, excessive hours, sweatshop conditions and the purchasing of ingredients from warlords. Life at large factories, especially in China, has improved, but experts are divided on the causes. A booming economy until late last year forced Chinese factories to step up their practices to woo workers who had ample alternatives. Government crackdowns helped too. In other cases, robots decreased the need for intensive manual work. Codes of conduct have played a small role by comparison. I dont think Apple for example can claim any credit for any improved working conditions at Foxconn, said Geoff Crothall of worker dispute tracker China Labor Bulletin. Foxconn increased pay for its employees because of pressure in the domestic labor market. Still, membership in the 12-year-old electronics coalition has more than doubled in the last three years to 115 companies, including smelters, retailers, factories and brand names that together have $4.5 trillion in annual sales. EICC Executive Director Rob Lederer declined to speculate about why Vizio hasnt joined, but he did lay out benefits. Members go through a biennial audit program, an annual supplier risk assessment and gain access to specialists on emerging problems such as forced labor. Failing members get booted. The more people who get subjected to the code of conduct, the better off we think the industry is, Lederer said. For Vizio, being on the outside would invite extra scrutiny if its supply chain acts unethically, said Renaud Anjoran, president at China Manufacturing Consultants. If their suppliers always do the right thing (as expected by U.S. consumers) and as long as nobody accuses Vizio of negligence, there is no issue here, he said by email from China. As soon as bad things start to come out in the press (which is more likely if they have not been actively policing their supply chain), they are very, very vulnerable to critics. paresh.dave@latimes.com Twitter: @peard33 MORE FROM BUSINESS With new feature, Instagram copies a page from Snapchats story Squeezed garment factories use check cashing services to mask true wages, workers say Wanda shuts China theme park for upgrades just 19 months after opening A man returns to the dusty village of his youth after an 18-year absence. A couple is fleetingly reunited after decades apart. A pair of hot-headed brothers seeks to avenge a murder they neither witnessed nor fully comprehend. There is a gun battle. In many ways, Tiempo de Morir (A Time to Die), the 1966 debut drama by Mexican filmmaker Arturo Ripstein, a protege of Luis Bunuel, fits squarely within the category of western in which life-and-death issues of honor and justice play out amid lawlessness and parched landscapes. But the film may be most notable for the writer behind its screenplay, a former journalist from Colombia by the name of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Advertisement Before One Hundred Years of Solitude, the novel that would change his life and the world of Latin American letters, before the Nobel Prize for Literature, before he got into a legendary, mysterious fistfight with Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa, Garcia Marquez worked as a screenwriter. He wrote the story Tiempo de Morir at Ripsteins request and then adapted it for film with the help of a friend, who happened to be the Mexican novelist Carlos Fuentes. The film touches on many of the themes that would materialize in Garcia Marquezs fiction tradition, propriety, fate. It is a story of vengeance that is also at its essence about the dynamics of family. And there is the setting that feels as if its at a remove from reality. Now this early cinematic work is getting a rare public viewing in Los Angeles. To mark the 50th anniversary of the films release, Libros Schmibros, the nonprofit lending library based in Boyle Heights, has organized a one-night, outdoor screening at the Ford Theatres in Hollywood on Friday night. Introducing the film will be the authors son, filmmaker Rodrigo Garcia (most recently of Last Days in the Desert, starring Ewan McGregor). I love the simplicity of the story yet it still has power, Garcia says of his fathers film. Its a guy who returns home after serving time after killing someone in a duel. He thinks its over. But the dead mans sons dont think its over. It has this Greek tragedy aspect to it that your future is already written. You cant escape your past. David Kipen, founder of Libros Schmibros, says he wanted to bring Tiempo de Morir to Los Angeles, not just as Garcia Marquezs film, but as a debut work of an important filmmaker. He also points out that along with the directing of Ripstein, moviegoers can take in the great work of the cinematographer Alex Phillips and the composer Carlos Jimenez Mabarak, who did the score. It has this Greek tragedy aspect to it that your future is already written. You cant escape your past. Rodrigo Garcia, on Tiempo de Morir Film director Rodrigo Garcia, left, son of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, with David Kipen of Libros Schmibros. (Christina House / For The Times ) For Kipen, the showing also represents an opportunity to do something different from the panoply of outdoor summer screenings held around Los Angeles, which are strong on Pretty in Pink and Pulp Fiction, but not so hot when it comes to presenting historic Mexican film (or Mexican film in general). I want to show that there is an audience for more than Top Gun, he says, for something entertaining, literate, literary. Tiempo de Morir doesnt make appearances on best-movies lists. But it is a beguiling picture nonetheless a simple story, simply told and elegantly shot, about an honorable man named Juan Sayago, who becomes mired in events that are beyond his control. As a historical document, the film is fascinating, embodying the Nobel Laureates long-running love affair with cinema. As a journalist in Colombia in the early 1950s, Garcia Marquez had written film criticism under the pseudonym Septimus for the daily El Heraldo in Barranquilla. Captivated by the work of the Italian neorealists, his first review was of Vittorio De Sicas 1948 classic The Bicycle Thief, about a poor man trying to locate his only means of transportation. It was around that time that he began to try his hand at filmmaking. He co-wrote the screenplay for a surrealist short titled La Langosta Azul (The Blue Lobster) about a man investigating the appearance of some mysterious radioactive lobsters. Sign up for our free Essential Arts & Culture newsletter In 1961, taken with idea of becoming a screenwriter, he moved to Mexico. At the time, the Mexican film industry was very vigorous and it sustained itself, says Garcia. People in Mexico went to see Mexican movies assiduously. And those movies traveled very well throughout Latin America and Spain. Throughout this period, Garcia Marquez bounced back and forth between fiction and film, publishing early works such as The Leaf Storm (1955) and No One Writes to the Colonel (1961), but also working on various screenplays including the script for the 1964 morality tale El Gallo de Oro (The Golden Rooster) and En Este Pueblo No hay Ladrones (In This Town There are No Thieves), which was based on one of Garcia Marquezs own short stories. The latter, in fact, featured an appearance by the author, as well as appearances by Bunuel (playing a priest), the novelist Juan Rulfo and the painters Jose Luis Cuevas and Leonora Carrington. Sometime in the middle of the decade, the author teamed up with Ripstein to do a western. I was writing this terrible script and I asked him if we could do a story together, Ripstein told the Mexican newsweekly Proceso in 2014. He wasnt so well known then. That story was Tiempo de Morir. The town [in Tiempo de Morir] is populated by like nine people and they are surrounded by blasted desert, Kipen says. If you read Garcia Marquez novels, One Hundred Years of Solitude, the rural settings you get the sense that places like Macondo are a place apart. But above all, there is the sense that individuals cant escape destiny. In Tiempo de Morir, the lead characters impending death is ultimately what gives the film its tension. The viewer knows it is coming its announced right at the beginning. The authors 1983 novel, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, is also about a man fated to die. And the opening line of the transformative One Hundred Years of Solitude, which came out a year after Tiempo de Morir premiered, also points to inevitable outcome: Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. His work had many aspects, but one aspect is precisely that that something is already written, says Garcia. A man wakes up in the morning and doesnt know that he is already dead. And there is nothing, no good luck or effort or intelligence that can prevent that. [My father] was always very open about his love for Oedipus Rex, he adds, which is very much a story about fate. Tiempo de Morir premiered at the Cine Variedades in Mexico City in August 1966. But it was never a great commercial success. Though beautifully rendered, the dialogue is rather formal, almost arch. Decorous dialogue works well in Garcia Marquezs novels, where characters clinging to tradition face the extraordinary and the bizarre. But it didnt work as well on screen where a large part of the art rests on these human exchanges. But the film nonetheless may have served as a turning point for the author. In his 2009 biography, Gabriel Garcia Marquez: A Life, Gerald Martin writes that the experience of making Tiempo de Morir may have been what pushed the author deeper into literature, in which the writer has greater control over all aspects of the outcome and where the cinematic can be conveyed in ways that transcend mere images. Film is extremely concrete, Garcia says. Even now with the great resource of visual effects, you still need a great deal of mastery not just of technique but storytelling. To try to get poetry out of that will always be hard. Still, cinema would remain Garcia Marquezs passion, even if it was one he observed at a distance. As he told the Paris Review in 1981: My relation with it is like that of a couple who cant live separated, but who cant live together either. +++ Tiempo de Morir When: 7:30 p.m. Friday Where: Ford Theatres, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. E., Hollywood Tickets: $18 general admission; students and children 12 and under $13. Info: fordtheatres.org and librosschmibros.org Find me on Twitter @cmonstah. ALSO Director Rodrigo Garcias life echoes across biblical Last Days in the Desert Andres Neuman crosses boundaries across the Americas in How to Travel Without Seeing Toronto International Film Festival will spotlight female directors and people of color at this years gathering Why two artists surveyed the U.S.-Mexico border ... the one from 1821 In the newest Transformers series, Transformers: Combiner War, the beloved onetime Autobot leader Optimus Prime and evil Decepticon leader Megatron are no longer in charge, relics in a new age of peaceful co-existence between the long-battling sides of Transformers. For those who have not kept up with the many iterations of Transformers, Combiner Wars, which launched Aug. 2, offers a different, and more grown up, look at the world of animated fighting robots. The new Transformers series seeks to court a more mature audience with themes of peace and war, higher stakes (at least two Transformers are killed in the first episode) and heaps of nostalgia. Advertisement The eight-episode animated digital series from Machinima and Hasbro takes place 40 years after the great Transformers war on Earth. Now returned to their home planet, Cybertron, the series blurs the line between good (Autobots) and evil (Decepticons) by introducing the Combiners. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour >> Combiners are a dangerous, new breed of Transformers that were created when the Autobots and Decepticons merged into mega powerful machines. Now the old guard must find a way to work together to stop the encroaching threat. Blending the old and the new, producers hope to capitalize on studies that indicate Transformers as a brand skews older. Machinima Chief Executive Chad Gutstein told AdWeek that its audience research had uncovered the alpha fan. This fan is someone in the late millennial through Gen-X age gap, someone who has huge amounts of engagement, and nine times greater affinity for Transformers than regular fans. Transformers: Combiner War is for the alpha fan. Apparently, data dont lie. At Comic-Con in San Diego, attendees of the Combiner Wars panel got an early look at the series trailer, and the fan response was strong. Despite the complicated Transformers mythos that comes with the new series, Gutstein thinks the new series will not alienate new viewers. Weve seen a trend over the last year where nostalgia content is really resonating with the 18- to 24-year-old audience in a strange way. [This audience is] not old enough to have the nostalgia for the content, but they recognize its nostalgic, and they think its cool. Voice talent for the show includes Jon Bailey (Optimus Prime), Abby Trott (Windblade), Jason Marnocha (Megatron), Frank Todaro (Starscream), Anna Akana (Victorion) and many others. The show debuts on go90 in the United States and will launch internationally on Sohu in China and on Vimeo and YouTube in the rest of the world. MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Artist launches Reparations website and social experiment on white privilege Jason Bourne gets closer to the chaos and danger of real-life protest Warner Bros. looks to Suicide Squad to boost its DC film slate In Hollywood, there are few measures that connote a directors power greater than budget. This week, it became clear that Ava DuVernay has passed a power-player milestone, becoming the first woman of color to direct a live-action film with a production budget over $100 million, Disneys upcoming A Wrinkle in Time. DuVernays adaptation of the 1964 Madeleine LEngle novel was on a list that the California Film Commission released Tuesday of projects receiving tax incentives to shoot in the state. A Wrinkle in Time will bring $85 million in qualified spending to California, state officials said, and receive an incentive of $18 million, the largest since the state program expanded in 2014. DuVernay, who directed Selma in 2014 and executive produced Queen Sugar, a series premiering on OWN Sept. 6, joins a tiny group of women live-action directors who have worked at such budget levels Kathryn Bigelow for the 2002 movie K-19: The Widowmaker, and Patty Jenkins, who is directing next years Wonder Woman movie. Advertisement Among live-action directors of color, she is also in elite company, a group which includes Star Trek Beyond director Justin Lin, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer director Tim Story and Fast 8 director F. Gary Gray. As a woman of color helming a live-action studio tentpole movie, she will be in a category of one. When Women and Hollywood blogger Melissa Silverstein mentioned the milestone on Twitter, DuVernay replied with a quote from Portugese poet Fernando Pessoa: Stones in the road? Ill save each one. Then one day Ill build a castle. A Wrinkle in Time, based on a screenplay by Frozen director Jennifer Lee and starring Oprah Winfrey, is due in 2017. Ava DuVernay responds to new academy invitees Bad Moms and taking the shame out of motherhood on screen Screenwriting guru Robert McKee writes his storys next chapter When the Summer Olympics open Friday in Rio de Janeiro, ceremony organizers will showcase not just world class athletes but also three musical ambassadors. The artists will no doubt attempt, in a few brief moments, to convey Brazils overwhelming musical bounty. Its an impossible assignment for any artist, but if anyone is up to the task its veteran musicians Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. The pair, who rose as part of Rios influential tropicalia movement of the 1960s and 1970s, are expected to perform music that not only played a role in shaping that sound but that in 1968 also scored a revolutionary moment in Brazils history. Ultimately, it resulted in the two being exiled from the country. Advertisement Nearly 50 years later, the pair will appear as part of a ceremony that also includes contemporary Brazilian pop superstar Anitta, whose buoyant sounds draw from the beats of Rios poverty-stricken favelas. Most casual American listeners know Brazils music from one of two sources. The beat-heavy capoeira rhythms are the soundtrack of Carnival and are featured on pretty much any TV segment on the annual celebration. Or the softer, romantic bossa novas as typified by Antonio Carlos Jobim. He became an unlikely crossover sensation when his Girl From Ipanema won the 1964 record of the year Grammy after seductive Brazilian vocalist Astrud Gilberto teamed with saxophonist Stan Getz to cover it. Veloso and Gil, who recently performed at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, are inheritors of that bossa nova sound, but starting in the 1960s, they became involved in a stylistic tropicalismo movement that drew inspiration from the sounds of their home country, the rock n roll revolution ferried by the Beatles and student protests that rocked Paris in May 1968. Listen to a Spotify playlist of new Brazilian music compiled by Randall Roberts In Rio, the two teamed with kindred spirits Os Mutantes, Tom Ze and Gal Costa to record a groundbreaking 1968 album, Tropicalia: ou Panis et Circencis, while simultaneously taking the music to the masses via outrageous concerts. Brazil at the time was under military rule, and the dictatorship felt so threatened by the new music that it arrested and jailed Gil and Veloso. The military wanted us to leave the country, Veloso told the Guardian in 2010. They let us play a concert to raise money for a plane ticket. After spending a few months in jail, the musicians were exiled to London until 1974; since then, they have been lauded as both musical patriots and ambassadors. In America, their contributions were most famously celebrated in a series of David Byrne-curated compilations under the banner Brazil Classics. Which is to say, its a big deal that the two former exiles will not only be on hand to celebrate Brazil but will also be doing so from center stage. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour As in any country with a rich musical heritage, the web that connects that sound with the contemporary pop music created by Anitta is as tangled as that connecting Bob Dylan with Katy Perry. Anitta draws her work from a mix of influences that include commercial pop, hip-hop, cumbia, Jamaican reggaeton and dancehall, as well as Miami bass music and various Caribbean variations. Most notably, she takes inspiration from a distilled version of a Brazilian sound known variously as funk carioca, favela funk or baile funk. The artist rose to prominence after being featured as part of the Furacao 2000 compilations that highlighted the best funk carioca tracks. Featuring crazy synthetic sounds and exuberant beats, the music was born in the underground and gradually morphed into the mainstream-friendly version that Anitta and her group of producers have popularized. Her most popular track is Bang, which has received more than 216 million spins on YouTube since it was released in October. Her 2013 cut Show das Poderosas has been played more than 120 million times since its release. Expect her Friday performance to add fuel to her fame. randall.roberts@latimes.com Theres a lot of terrible music out there. For tips on the stuff thats not, follow Randall Roberts on Twitter: @liledit MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Artist launches Reparations website and social experiment on white privilege Jason Bourne gets closer to the chaos and danger of real-life protest Warner Bros. looks to Suicide Squad to boost its DC film slate Koko, the Gorilla Who Talks, which airs Wednesday on PBS, tells a story whose outlines may no longer be as well known as I would assume. Like people going to the moon, it is science news from back in the 20th century, and perhaps somewhat dusty. And yet, as we become gradually more conscious of the consciousness of animals, its a subject for now and tomorrow. For the unfamiliar, Koko is a female western lowland gorilla who for more than four decades has been the subject of an experiment in human-animal communication. Under the tutelage and care of psychologist Francine Penny Patterson, she learned to sign, starting with eat, drink and more and developing a vocabulary of hundreds of words and, depending on whom you want to believe, to express her desires and emotions in sentences, opening a window into animal self-consciousness at odds with what many regard as possible. (Herbert Terrace, who had run a primate sign-language experiment of his own the subject of James Marshs 2011 documentary Project Nim is the notable skeptic here.) For the record: An earlier version of this article mistakenly identified Koko, the Gorilla Who Talks as a presentation of the series Nature. It is a stand-alone co-production of PBS and the BBC. More than a study of the science involved, however, its a family portrait, really, of Penny and Koko, who have what is described by more than one observer as a mother-daughter relationship. They have been in each others lives a very long time: Patterson, who met a baby Koko in 1971 when she was a Stanford graduate student, was 70 at the time of the programs original British broadcast last year. (The documentary is the work of the BBC Natural History Unit, co-produced by PBS with American narration overlaid for the domestic audience.) Advertisement See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour There is some drama in the story. After a few years of work and bonding, Patterson almost lost custody of Koko when the San Francisco Zoo wanted her back to lend her out to breed; a public campaign allowed Patterson to buy her. And there is a melancholy air to some of it. Patterson regrets that Kokos mothering instincts lavished on dolls and a succession of kittens and cats have yet to be fulfilled with a baby of her own, and she recognizes that her own relationship with Koko is at the back of whats denied her a normal gorilla life. But mostly, there is a succession of days, turning into years and a shared lifetime. Some may be made skeptical by accessory details. Patterson has something of an old hippie vibe; she can seem less than scientific. Some will look no further than the clutter of her surroundings or the bangs she wears to dismiss her as a mere gorilla-hugger, but even the sympathetic viewer may at times feel uncomfortable. There have been questions too, not covered in the film, about the quality of care received by Koko and Ndume, a male gorilla on loan from the Cincinnati Zoo. It doesnt help Kokos case that animal-human communication as a field of study has been out of fashion for years, or that the filmmakers dont fully place Pattersons work within the context of other research projects. In some ways, this shouldnt be controversial at all. There are those who regard animals as furry automatons, whose response to stimulus is merely chemical or mechanical. But anyone who has lived with an animal has shared some kind of language with it; and anyone who has lived with more than one animal knows each as an individual. For the record, a picture of an ape holding a kitten is all it takes for me to go to pieces; that is my bias. People will forget the statistics of how many words Koko knows, Patterson says, but the fact that Koko can love, we can love each other even though were different species really gets people thinking deeply about life and thats what we need to do. robert.lloyd@latimes.com Koko -- The Gorilla Who Talks Where: KOCE and KPBS When: 8 p.m. Wednesday Rating: TV-G (suitable for all ages) MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Artist launches Reparations website and social experiment on white privilege Jason Bourne gets closer to the chaos and danger of real-life protest Warner Bros. looks to Suicide Squad to boost its DC film slate While its a maxim that national days (recently: hot dogs, cheesecake) are mostly ridiculous, at least with this Thursdays National IPA Day, you have an excuse to drink beer while whining about it. And why shouldnt IPA be celebrated? Despite a love-it or hate-it flavor profile that many find off-puttingly bitter, IPA is todays most popular style of craft beer. IPA Day is a great chance to experiment with the style if youre not yet a fan, and with the now prodigious beer scene in Los Angeles there are lots of local IPAs to try. And locally-brewed is good when it comes to hoppy beers. Despite the myth that India pale ale were invented to survive a long ocean voyage to the British colonies in India (a myth thats mostly been debunked, according to prolific beer historian Martyn Cornell), IPA is not a beer that travels very well. The pungent hop aromas and flavors that IPAs are prized for are notoriously transient, and fresh, local IPAs will give you the most flavorful bang for your beer money. With that in mind, here are the eight essential locally brewed IPAs that make perfect pints to celebrate IPA Day or, needless to say, any day. Advertisement Beachwood BBQ & Brewing Any and all of them There are more excellent IPAs pouring in Los Angeles than ever before, but Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach is still the best place to drink them. You really cant lose when picking a house-brewed hop-bomb from the Long Beach brewery, and theres always a big crop to choose from. Cant decide? Try this years release of Hopular Mechanics it features experimental new hops. Money from every pint sold is donated to help fight ALS. 210 E 3rd St., Long Beach, (562) 436-4020, beachwoodbbq.com El Segundo Brewing Co. Mayberry IPA El Segundo Brewing Co. is the place you want to be if youre a die-hard hop-head. With nearly a dozen different variations on the fresh-and-hoppy theme that rotate through the taps year-round, ESBC is a veritable three-ring circus of hops, and Mayberry IPA is the tentpole. Mosaic hops tropical and bright with berry aromas take center stage with a pine-y bitterness underpinning the dry finish. 140 Main St, El Segundo, (310) 529-3882, www.elsegundobrewing.com. Highland Park Brewery Good Green A new IPA from Northeast L.A., Good Green mixes a trio of popular hop varieties into a lighter and highly drinkable ale: Simcoe brings earthy, tropical aromas; Amarillo is peachy with whiffs of cannabis flower; and Citra rounds out the brew with its grassy and citrus-heavy scent. Good Green is on-tap at The Hermosillo bar, and the IPA will be released in cans later in August. 5127 York Blvd, Los Angeles, (323) 739-6459, www.hpb.la. Smog City Brewing Hoptonic Smog City makes a slate of hoppy IPAs, but their understated flagship IPA is founder Jonathan Porters favorite. Bursting with relatively subdued bitterness and a complex hop aroma that shifts on the palate from citrus pith to sticky guava to stone fruit, Hoptonic is the kind of IPA that even a hop-hater could learn to love. The brewery still isnt bottling this IPA though, so youll need to find it on draft.1901 Del Amo Blvd., Ste B, Torrance, (310) 320-7664, www.smogcitybrewing.com. Monkish Brewing TBD IPA Ready for a challenge? Harder to score than a rare Pokemon, Monkish IPAs are the newest fad to hit the L.A. beer scene. Hundreds of thirsty fans line up at the Torrance tasting room hours before opening to catch a four-pack of Monkishs new line of canned IPAs. You gotta follow the brewerys social media to get the tip on when the brews will drop, or just head to the tasting room and hope one is on-tap. From what weve managed to sample, the Monkish take on the IPA is hazy and aromatic, with a softer bitterness and tons of fruity flavors. 20311 S Western Ave, Torrance, (310) 295-2157, www.monkishbrewing.com. Three Weavers Brewing Expatriate The ever-growing Inglewood craft destination is making more beer than ever, but they havent expanded their lineup of IPAs much beyond the core Stateside Session IPA and their flagship Expatriate IPA, and they dont need to. Expat is effortlessly drinkable. The bitterness is in balance with the lean body, and the hop flavors beg to be rolled around the tongue with each sip. It the kind of IPA that seems to disappear from your glass, but you dont even mind because then you have an excuse to order another one. 1031 W. Manchester Blvd., Unit A-B, Inglewood, (310) 400-5830, www.threeweavers.la. Eagle Rock Brewery Populist An early example of a brewed-in-L.A. IPA, Eagle Rock Brewerys Populist might not be hip or flashy, but it is solid and better than ever. Populist has evolved; the brewers tweaked the recipe to boost the hop character and enhance the drinkability. If its been awhile since your last pint of the bright and citrusy IPA, its worth another taste, and Populist is now available in 16-ounce cans from the tasting room. 3056 Roswell Blvd., (323) 257-7866, www.eaglerockbrewery.com. Claremont Craft Ales Jacaranda Rye IPA Way off on the eastern edge of the county is the small-but-excellent Claremont Craft Ales where some of L.A.s best IPAs have quietly been developed. While the brewery has recently delved into fruit additions and bold, boozy double IPAs, Jacaranda Rye IPA is still the stand-out offering. The punchy floral and citrusy hop assault of the ruddy ale is tempered with the piquant flavor of rye grains. You can usually find cans of the brew at Sunset Beer Co. or other craft beer retailers, but a visit to the Claremont brewery is the best way to taste all their great IPAs. 1420 N Claremont Blvd #204c, Claremont, (909) 625-5350, www.claremontcraftales.com. ALSO: Farmers market report: Grapes are in season, and some recipes A secret deli and more from the guy who brought you Nighthawk breakfast bar Where to find kubbeh soup and more Moroccan and Israeli food in Woodland Hills Heres a look at some of the Legislatures most notable moments By John Myers (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) Lawmakers early Thursday morning wrapped up their work for the two-year session of the California Legislature, heaping praise on their many accomplishments. Even so, at least one major item on the to-do list was never resolved. And some of the battles during this session could leave political scars that last much longer. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Consumers could pay a new battery recycling fee under a bipartisan bill sent to the governors desk By John Myers Soil taken from a yard in Commerce near the now-shuttered Exide battery plant is tested in February by a team from the L.A. County Health Department. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Californians who purchase lead-acid batteries like those used to start cars and trucks would pay a new $1 fee under legislation sent to Gov. Jerry Brown early Thursday morning, with the funds earmarked for cleaning up contaminated sites such as the former Exide battery plant in Los Angeles County. The fee charged to battery buyers would rise to $2 in 2022. Lawmakers would direct the revenues estimated to be as much as $40 million a year to deal with contamination sites as needed. "For four decades, our community has been waiting for something, said Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), the author of AB 2153. The bill was the final piece of legislation taken up before the Legislature adjourned, and it received a quick bipartisan vote in both houses within a span of only a few minutes. Garcia said there were late negotiations with the Brown administration on the final details. AB 2153, if signed into law, would not take effect until April 1, 2017. Battery manufacturers and consumers would each pay $1 fees on each new battery for the first five years of the proposal; after that, the full $2 fee would be shouldered by consumers. Some Republican legislators said that setup is a mistake. This tax is regressive, Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) said during the midnight debate. Its paid by the people who make the least amount of money. The Vernon site of the former Exide battery plant was closed under a deal with federal prosecutors last March. Lead contamination in the soil of homes around the plant was discovered two years ago. The battery fee would likely go first to Exide cleanup efforts, which are already underway. Brown estimated in February that the price tag could reach $176.6 million. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sorry, Internet poker fans. It wont be legal in California anytime soon By Patrick McGreevy After 10 bills over eight years failed to legalize Internet poker in California, the latest plan also died Wednesday in the Legislature amid continued squabbling by competing factions of the gambling industry. A bill that would have allowed Californians to legally play poker online lacked support from two-thirds of Assembly members and was not brought up for a vote on the last day of the legislative session. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print The clock runs out on a major bid to overhaul the states energy regulator I've lost to a lot of forces in my time, but never to a clock. It's not a good feeling. PUC reform is officially dead. Mike Gatto (@mikegatto) September 1, 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Lawmakers say goodbye to their termed-out colleagues on the final day in Sacramento By Sophia Bollag Outgoing Democratic state Sens. Isadore Hall III of Compton, left, and Mark Leno of San Francisco share a moment on the last day of the two-year legislative session. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Lawmakers cried, sang, recited limericks and confessed crushes on departing colleagues this week in their farewell speeches for California legislators whose terms are up. For 14 Assembly members and six state senators, Wednesday likely marked their last day arguing on the floors of their respective chambers. In an end-of-session tradition, lawmakers said goodbye to their termed-out colleagues between voting on bills. Assemblyman Matt Dababneh (D-Encino) revealed he might have a legislative crush on outgoing Assemblywoman Nora Campos (D-San Jose). I will not miss anyone more than I will miss you, Dababneh told Campos, who is running for state Senate this fall. Often as a single guy, I get asked ... when are you going to find the perfect girl, and I say, If I find anyone half as amazing as Nora Campos, I would be married the next day. Campos, like the other members whose terms are up, served six years in the Assembly. Termed-out state senators have served eight years. Although new 12-year term limits were passed in 2012, lawmakers elected in 2010, including Campos, are still subject to the old term limits. Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown (D-San Bernardino) sang Katcho, Katcho Man to the tune of Macho Man by the Village People while saying goodbye to Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian (R-San Luis Obispo). Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) recited a limerick he wrote for departing Assemblyman Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina) that drew chuckles for the line, As a doctor, Im happy your blood pressure is lower. Hernandez was running for U.S. Congress before allegations of domestic violence involving his ex-wife crippled his ability to campaign, he told reporters earlier this month. After a judge issued a domestic violence restraining order against him, he took a nearly three-week leave of absence from the Legislature for high blood pressure. The speeches featured many bipartisan compliments for departing lawmakers. Sen. Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) described Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) as his liberal complement in the Senate. This is a sad day for me. You see, Mark completes me, Anderson said. Im sorry I have two more years and I wont be spending them here with you. Assemblyman Richard Gordon (D-Menlo Park) wiped away tears as fellow Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) thanked him. If I have been able to have any effect across the aisle, its because of your grace and your compassion, Jones said. If I had the opportunity to give back my six years so you could have six more, I would do it in a heartbeat. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California workers wont be getting double pay for Thanksgiving Day duty By Liam Dillon (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) State lawmakers defeated a measure late Wednesday that would have given retail and grocery store employees who work on Thanksgiving double pay. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), the bills author, said it was needed as more and more retailers were extending Black Friday sales into Thanksgiving Day. I narrowed and narrowed and narrowed this bill so it only affects the things that concern us the most: the larger retailers who continue to open up on Thanksgiving rather than allowing people to stay home with their families, Gonzalez said. No opponents to the measure spoke on the Assembly floor, but numerous business groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce, were against it. They argued the bill unfairly hurts big-box retailers that are competing with online outlets for sales. The measure fell 10 votes short of passage, with both Republicans and Democrats in opposition. A similar bill from Gonzalez failed last year. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bill to advance Californias high-speed rail project is sent to Gov. Brown By Sophia Bollag In the last few hours before the end of session, lawmakers passed a measure to advance the California bullet train project. Voters approved nearly $10 billion in bonds for the high-speed rail project in 2008, but it has since stalled. The bill passed Wednesday would clarify wording in the 2008 measure and allow some of the money for the project to upgrade existing rail lines. Its a critical investment in our infrastructure, the bills author, Assemblyman Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco), said. But opponents say the bill passed Wednesday alters the voter-approved measure too much. This is a revision of what the voters intended, Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) said. The bill, AB 1889, now heads to the governor for approval. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement An overhaul of Californias taxi regulations passes the Legislature By Liam Dillon In potentially a major change to Californias taxi business, state lawmakers passed legislation late Wednesday to centralize control over the industry, an effort supporters said would allow cabs to better compete with Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing services. The bill, AB 650, would prohibit local governments from setting taxi rates or limit the number of taxis on the road as well as allowing cabs to pick up and drop off passengers outside specific local jurisdictions. Ride-hailing companies have looser regulations in those areas and have made significant inroads into the taxi business. The laws and regulations governing the provisions of transportation services are many decades old and have evolved slowly, said the bills author, Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell). As with many new technologies, the rapid growth of [ride-hailing] companies has created a disruption in taxis archaic model of transportation. Under the bill, the taxi industry would be regulated by state departments that handle transportation. The measure exempts San Francisco, which backers of the measure described as having a unique taxi medallion system. AB 650 would take effect as soon as next year, once Gov. Jerry Brown finishes a reorganization of transportation departments. The bill has caused significant consternation among local governments and within the taxi industry. Last week, the city of Los Angeles voted to oppose the measure unless it was also exempted. Since that vote, Low changed the legislation to accommodate some of the largest objections. Cities will still be allowed to force taxis to pick up in every neighborhood to prevent discrimination and require taxis to accommodate people with disabilities. Some lawmakers opposed to the bill argued on the Assembly floor that it was rushed. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) also contended that the measure lowered worker protections for taxi drivers in an effort to increase competition with ride-hailing companies. Those are such terrible jobs with such few regulations that protect workers that to say the answer to the [ride-hailing] problem, and there is a problem in the sharing economy, is to say, Lets just forget regulations? Gonzalez said. That may be somebodys answer, but thats not mine. The bill now heads to Browns desk. Times staff writer Laura J. Nelson contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print After facing long odds, $3 billion low-income housing bond is done for the year By Liam Dillon A $3 billion low-income housing bond is done for the year. The measure, which would have put a ballot measure authorizing the bond before voters in 2018, was aimed at helping relieve the states huge housing supply deficit, especially for Californias poorest residents. The bill, authored by state Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose), didnt come up for a vote in the Assembly. It faced long odds, needing a bipartisan vote there and then the signature of Gov. Jerry Brown, who had already expressed his opposition. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement After a rocky final few months, Roger Hernandez quietly finishes his legislative career By John Myers (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) A number of politicians wrapped their legislative careers on Wednesday as the Legislature adjourned for the year, but few face as much uncertainty in the months to come as Assemblyman Roger Hernandez. The West Covina Democrat spent much of the final day of the 2016 legislative session sitting quietly at his desk after returning to Sacramento last week in the wake of a domestic violence restraining order in July. Hernandez was then excused on medical leave for the first few days of the August proceedings. In a final farewell speech in the Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, the lawmaker briefly reflected on some 17 years in local and state public service. I leave this floor with great joy and some sadness because I love this job, Hernandez said. This is my favorite job Ive ever had. In the final legislative hours, Hernandez also sought to explain his decision as a committee chairman this summer to kill a closely watched bill to expand the states parental leave law only to then vote for the proposal once it was resurrected by its author, state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara). In a post on his Facebook page, he said the earlier action was because of the original bills impact on small businesses. I believe the impact on small businesses has been taken into greater consideration in todays bill, he wrote on Tuesday. Hernandez recently said that he no longer feels he can mount a campaign for Congress against Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk). The lawmaker left his Assembly colleagues with some advice in his farewell speech. There are so many people that are depending on each and every one of us to fight ardently for them. he said. You are their champion. Dont forget that please. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Planned Parenthood-inspired bill to crack down on secret recordings clears Legislature By Melanie Mason Its already illegal to record someone without their permission in California; under a bill that got final legislative approval on Wednesday, distributing such a recording could lead to even more legal trouble. The bill by Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Echo Park) would make it illegal to distribute secret recordings involving a healthcare provider. The measure was inspired by the high-profile videos taken by anti-abortion activists that purported to show Planned Parenthood doctors and employees engaged in illegal sale of fetal tissue. Planned Parenthood was not charged with any wrongdoing, and the organization argued the videos were doctored. The bill, AB 1671, represents a compromise between Planned Parenthood and media organizations, which were wary that the proposed crime could ensnare journalists. But approval from Gov. Jerry Brown is not a sure thing; the bill creates a new crime and the governor has rebuffed other efforts to add to the penal code. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Lawmakers approve new climate plans to help Californias disadvantaged communities By Chris Megerian (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images) Three more measures intended to address climate change in poor and polluted communities were passed by state lawmakers Wednesday night. They followed on the heels of major legislation approved last week to set a new target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to increase oversight of state regulators. One of the bills, AB 1550 from Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Echo Park), would refine guidelines for spending revenues from the states auction of greenhouse gas pollution credits and would require more money be used to help low-income households. Gomez said the bill would bring greater equity to the states programs. Our most polluted neighborhoods are disproportionately home to Latinos, African Americans and other communities of color, he said. AB 2722 from Assemblywoman Autumn Burke (D-Marina del Rey) would ensure more state grants awarded through a housing program would go toward disadvantaged communities. A third measure, SB 1383 from state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), would direct state regulators to crack down on short-lived climate pollutants, which include emissions that contribute to global warming and create health hazards. Gov. Jerry Browns office has signaled that he supports all of the proposals. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Lawmakers and Capitol staff, tired as long and final day dragged on, vented on Twitter Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Technical difficulties in Californias Capitol On the last night of the legislative session, the state Senate is going old school, said the chief of staff for Senate leader Kevin de Leon. This is pure speculation, but I think Putin just hacked our computer system. Going old school now with paper analyses & bills. Never dull. Dan Reeves (@DanReevo) September 1, 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Lets get the Olympics back to California: Lawmakers OK $250-million spending guarantee for 2024 Summer Games By Patrick McGreevy State lawmakers on Wednesday sent the governor a bill that would allow him to provide up to $250 million in financial guarantees in case the city of Los Angeles goes over budget in its proposal to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) said the authorization is needed to allow the city of Los Angeles to compete to host the Games, which he said are not expected to show a deficit. Lets get the Olympics back to California, De Leon told his Senate colleagues before they voted to approve the bill. The guarantee is required by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee as a prerequisite before any city can be considered for hosting an Olympic Games. Hosting the Games in California is expected to generate billions of dollars for the states economy, stated De Leons bill giving authorization to the governor. The city of Los Angeles expects there will be net revenue exceeding expenses that can be devoted to legacy programs for youth and citizens of California. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New processing standards for medical marijuana would be set under bill sent to governor By Patrick McGreevy Lawmakers proposed new standards for manufacturing medical marijuana products in a bill sent to the governor. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) The University of California would conduct a study of the effects of marijuana on motor skills, and new standards would be set for manufacturing medical cannabis products under legislation sent Wednesday by state lawmakers to the governor. The measure was approved as California prepares to begin issuing licenses to marijuana growers and sellers in 2018 and as voters consider a November ballot measure that would legalize recreational use of pot. The bill by Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) and others would exempt collectives and cooperatives that manufacture medical cannabis products from some criminal sanctions if they meet state requirements. The manufacturing must use processes without solvents or processes with nonflammable, nontoxic solvents. Recent raids and busts on the ground have highlighted the need for this bill, said Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), a co-author of the bill. Cooley said the new manufacturing standards can be enforced by the new Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation. As the bureau ramps up licensure programs and puts regulations in place, it is important that local governments have clarification about what types of manufacturing and extraction are allowed, Cooley said. The measure, which also provides for reporting of license denials, is supported by the California Cannabis Industry Assn., which said it will protect the health and safety of medical cannabis patients. The study on pots effect on motor skills comes as groups opposing recreational use charge that legalization will lead to more automobile accidents in California. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Yes, in your backyard: Legislature OKs easing restrictions on building granny flats in California By Liam Dillon Construction on John Gregorchuks secondary dwelling unit has been stalled because of a legal ruling against the city of Los Angeles. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) It might soon be easier for California homeowners to convert garages into new residences or build additional freestanding structures in their backyards, after lawmakers approved a measure to streamline restrictions on the units statewide. This week, the Legislature approved two measures, SB 1069 from Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) and AB 2299 from Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) aimed at forcing local governments to approve the secondary housing units, often known as granny flats. People are shocked and frustrated when they see the enormous fees and requirements that are preventing them from adding a small unit or converting a room in their house, Wieckowski said in a statement. SB 1069 will eliminate unnecessary fees and reduce requirements to give homeowners more control over their home. Under the two bills, local governments will no longer be able to require homeowners to add parking for new granny flats near transit stops or have a large uncovered pathway to the street, and will limit fees for connecting the additional unit to water and sewer lines. State lawmakers who have tried to encourage building such units for more than a decade as a way to address Californias soaring housing costs have expressed frustration with local government inaction. In Los Angeles, for example, all granny flat permitting is on hold after a Superior Court ruling earlier this year found a conflict between local rules and state law. City officials have tried to resolve the issue recently, but are facing opposition from homeowners who argue that the units would hurt the character of neighborhoods. Gov. Jerry Brown endorsed both measures earlier this year, and is expected to sign them. UPDATE Aug. 31, 4:22 p.m. This post was updated after AB 2299 passed the Legislature. This was originally posted on Aug. 30 at 7:04 p.m. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Wear your jean jacket proudly. Legislature makes denim Californias official fabric By Liam Dillon Its official. The California Legislature has declared denim the states official fabric. Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-Marin County) presented the wryly named AB 501, while his colleagues displayed jean jackets and joked whether Jordache jeans would be included. AB 501 tells both the story of California and global culture, Levine said. Levine easily overcame the opposition. Well, I tried to speak up for California sheep & the Wool Growers Association... But denim still won the day. I voted yes @nathanfletcher Lorena (@LorenaSGonzalez) August 31, 2016 The bill passed 59-3. Gov. Jerry Brown hasnt weighed in yet. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Uber and Lyft drivers could soon face tougher background checks, thanks to bill headed to Gov. Jerry Brown By Liam Dillon Drivers for Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing services could soon face stricter background checks under a measure that passed the California Legislature on Wednesday. The bill would prohibit the companies from hiring drivers who are registered sex offenders, have been convicted of violent felonies or, within the last seven years, have a driving-under-the-influence conviction. The bills author, Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove), said the measure will help ensure the safety of passengers utilizing [ride-hailing] services. He noted that prosecutors in Los Angeles and San Francisco last year found 25 people with lengthy criminal histories driving for Uber. But Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) argued that the measure is too strict and hurts the ability of those with long-ago convictions to find jobs. The language in the bill doesnt take into consideration individuals who committed crimes 10, 15 or 20 years ago, have paid their debt to society and are now model citizens, Quirk said. The bill also mandates a maximum $5,000 fine each time a ride-hailing company violates the background-check rules. The measure now heads to Gov. Jerry Browns desk. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California lawmakers ask governor to criminalize possession of synthetic drug spice By Patrick McGreevy Safety officials assist a man on downtown L.A.'s skid row last week. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) Alarmed that dozens in Los Angeles have been sickened after ingesting a synthetic drug called spice, state lawmakers on Wednesday sent the governor a bill outlawing possession of the substance. The urgency measure requested by the California Narcotics Officers Assn. would make a first offense of possession of specified synthetic cannabinoids or stimulants an infraction. A second or third offense could be a misdemeanor. It is already a crime to sell the drugs. Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton) cited the situation on Los Angeles skid row in which more than 50 people have been hospitalized in the last few weeks, many suspected of using the drug. These synthetic drugs are a uniquely dangerous threat to public safety, Galgiani told her Senate colleagues before a unanimous vote to approve her bill, Senate Bill 139. The measures supporters also included the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the California Police Chiefs Assn. and the Los Angeles Police Protective League. The measure is opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Drug Policy Alliance. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California soon could expand the states family leave law to smaller businesses By Jazmine Ulloa Kim Turner holds her daughter, Adelaide, before a rally at San Francisco City Hall in support of paid family leave. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press) California soon could expand its family leave law to 2.7 million residents across the state, the latest of legislative efforts this session that have sought to assist working parents. SB 654, dubbed the New Parent Leave Act, is headed to the governors desk after it passed out of the state Senate on Wednesday with a 24-12 vote. The bill would allow parents at smaller companies with 20 to 49 employees to take six weeks leave to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, without fear of losing their jobs. Current state law extends only such job protection to those at businesses with 50 or more employees. The legislation also would allow parents to access the states Paid Family Leave Program, which provides up to six weeks of partial wages for some caregiving responsibilities. Supporters of the bill said it closes a loophole in the states family leave law for many employees who already pay for the leave program through payroll deductions and are not eligible for its benefits. But the legislation has faced major opposition from the business community, which has labeled it a job killer, saying it would overwhelm small companies. On the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Murrieta) said it would hurt small businesses already struggling to meet new minimum wage requirements signed into law this year. Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) argued her bill would impact only 6.3% of California companies, while helping 16% of its workforce. She said she had done everything possible to address the concerns of small businesses through amendments that narrowed the scope of the legislation. But we live in a different world today, colleagues, she said. It is a world where both men and women are working. It is a world where both men and women want the opportunity to bond with their newborns, and frankly, no parent should be forced to choose between the well-being of their new child and their familys financial security. The vote Wednesday comes as momentum continues to grow for stronger family leave laws nationwide, and as some tech giants in California have rushed to amend their policies. The state became the first in the country to guarantee workers paid leave to care for a new child or ailing family member more than 15 years ago. But two main challenges have kept many parents from taking advantage of the law: Some could not afford to take time off because of the limited partial wages offered, while others feared they would lose their jobs if they did. Gov. Jerry Brown sought to address the first obstacle when he signed legislation earlier this year to help low-income families. That allows people earning close to minimum wage to be paid 70% of their salary while on leave, while workers with higher pay, up to $108,000 annually, will get 60% of their salary during leave. The change takes effect in 2018. Jacksons bill seeks to tackle the latter challenge and is a priority of the California Legislative Womens Caucus, which the senator co-chairs. It faced trouble earlier this year when it was surprisingly killed in an Assembly committee, following friction between Jackson and Assemblyman Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina). He was stripped of his committee chairmanship earlier this year after a judge granted his ex-wife a domestic violence restraining order against him Legislative leaders in both houses have supported the measures revival. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Scenes from the end of session The California state Capitol in Sacramento. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) The California Legislature wraps up its two-year session Wednesday. As lawmakers debate and vote on hundreds of bills in the final few days, lobbyists and residents have swarmed the Capitol to advocate on issues ranging from energy policy to farmworker overtime pay. Here are some images showing what its like in Sacramento at the close of session. Click the link to see the full gallery. State Sen. Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga) on the Senate floor at the Capitol in Sacramento. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar Energy Industries Assn., works in the rotunda at the Capitol. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Members of the United Farm Workers union hold a rally outside the Capitol in Sacramento after California lawmakers passed legislation that would expand overtime pay for more than 825,000 laborers. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias former budget director tapped to pitch in on Puerto Rico crisis By John Myers Ana Matosantos and Gov. Jerry Brown (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) Ana Matosantos, who served two governors as budget director, was appointed Wednesday by President Obama as one of seven members of a financial oversight board to assist cash-strapped Puerto Rico. Matosantos role on the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico, created through a new federal effort to help the U.S. territory through its fiscal crisis, will be to help create a new dialogue between the islands government and its creditors. Puerto Rico defaulted on a $422-million bond in May, and faces significant problems in providing basic government services. Matosantos, 40, left Gov. Jerry Browns administration in 2013 and has been in private consulting roles ever since. She also served in the Arnold Schwarzenegger administration. With a broad range of skills and experiences, these officials have the breadth and depth of knowledge that is needed to tackle this complex challenge and put the future of the Puerto Rican people first, Obama said in a written statement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown, state lawmakers reach last-minute deal on spending cap-and-trade revenues By Melanie Mason Gov. Jerry Brown, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon pictured in Sacramento in March. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) In the closing hours of the legislative year, lawmakers approved a last-minute deal Wednesday to free up hundreds of millions of dollars from the states cap-and-trade program to fund green projects across the state. Under the agreement, which broke a two-year impasse, the state will spend $900 million on programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions nearly two-thirds of $1.4 billion that has been raised but was tied up unspent in a political stalemate. The money will go toward subsidies for electric cars, new park space and pedestrian-friendly affordable housing. Californias 4-year old cap-and-trade program raises money from businesses that purchase permits to pollute. The deal was announced on the Legislatures final day, and was hailed by the governor and legislative leaders. It comes not long after they inked an ambitious plan to combat climate change by extending and expanding Californias targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Californias combating climate change on all fronts and this plan gets us the most bang for the buck, Brown said in a statement. It directs hundreds of millions where its needed most to help disadvantaged communities, curb dangerous super pollutants and cut petroleum use while saving some for the future. The deal is expected to land on Gov. Jerry Browns desk as early as Thursday morning. The spending proposal is tilted toward urban areas and low-income communities, marking a win for lawmakers who argued their poorer constituents were being left out of the largesse generated by the cap-and-trade program. The final deal included money for energy efficiency upgrades for aging buildings and urban parks, but no money for conservation projects such as wetlands restorations. Such spending priorities are typically haggled over during the budget process, but for two years, the funds were trapped in political limbo, being held as leverage while politically fraught climate bills were being debated in the Legislature. Another 60% of the auction revenues are not subject to the annual budget process; instead, they are automatically directed each year toward certain projects, including the bullet train and affordable housing. This new agreement would allocate $135 million for transit projects such as intercity and commuter rail systems. It would spend $133 million for the states main subsidy program for low- and zero-emission vehicles, and another $80 million for a second subsidy for low-income Californians living in poorer parts of Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley. Thousands of consumers were pushed to wait lists while the cap-and-trade funds were held in limbo. Once the budget is finalized, rebates will go out to those already on the waiting list, with priority going to low-income buyers. It includes $80 million for urban parks and other green spaces. Such projects will be chosen by state and local agencies during a grant process over the next several years. The reality is we have many communitiesespecially in Los Angeles, that are urban asphalt and concrete wastelands, said Senate leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles). He said urban greenerywhich can be as small as an alleyway or pocket park help combat high temperatures caused by vast stretches of asphalt and concrete, leading to lower cooling costs. The plan allocates $140 million to assist disadvantaged communities to develop their own local efforts to combat climate change, such as city planning that includes affordable housing and pedestrian walkways. Multiple bills expected to pass in the Legislature late Wednesday add new restrictions on how the money is spent. About half of those who had received subsidies to purchase low- or zero-emission vehicles were earning more than $200,000 a year, according to a state survey. A new bill would limit the subsidy to those making less than $150,000. Similarly, the spending package includes $50 million to reduce methane emissions from dairy and livestock dependent on a separate bill that would require sharp cuts in these emissions by 2030. And a third bill creates a new program that encourages disadvantaged communities to develop their own local efforts to combat climate change, such as such as city planning that includes affordable housing and pedestrian walkways. The legislation includes $140 million to fund this effort statewide. The spending plan is not as expansive as the one proposed by De Leon earlier this month, which sought to spend $1.2 billion. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) had expressed reservations about using nearly all of the available cash in light of dwindling proceeds from recent cap-and-trade auctions. Facing legal uncertainty due to a pending lawsuit, cap-and-trade auction revenue has sharply declined. The most recent auction, held in August, generated around $8 million. Lawmakers said they hoped the recent extension of the states emissions targets which demonstrated a political will to shore up the program would restore faith from the markets. With this agreement, we take an aggressive approach to investing cap-and-trade funds that provides tangible results for cleaner air and helps lower income Californians benefit from emission reduction programs, Rendon said in a statement. At the same time, we are also maintaining a responsible reserve to provide for the future. Brown, who has championed setting aside money in the case of economic downturn, appeared even less inclined to dip into cap-and-trade dollars. Asked last week if he backed spending those funds, the governor said he was committed to spending a little of that money, placing emphasis on the word little. This post was updated at 12:25 p.m. to include comments from the governor and legislative leaders and again at 11 p.m. to provide more details and context. It was originally published at 11:45 a.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement White House promises more federal aid for Lake Tahoe region By Phil Willon The White House on Wednesday announced a series of new funding and environmental programs to address the deteriorating health of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding forests caused in part by the increasing temperatures brought about by climate change. The announcement came just hours before President Obama was scheduled to address the Lake Tahoe Summit, an annual environmental conference that California and Nevada leaders began two decades ago because of concerns about the declining water clarity in the once crystal-clear Sierra lake. Tahoes surface water temperature in 2015 was the highest ever recorded, while annual snowfall levels have been on the decline. The increasing air temperatures in the Lake Tahoe region also have stressed the surrounding forests, causing an alarming increase in tree mortality and fire danger, according to the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. In response, the Obama administration announced the following assistance: The Department of the Interior will provide $29.5 million to reduce dead trees and other hazardous fuels to improve forest health and decrease the threat of catastrophic wildfires. The Environmental Protection Agency will provide $230,000 to manage and reduce storm water runoff in the Tahoe region. The National Forest Foundation, working with the U.S. Forest Service and local communities, announced it has raised over $4 million for creek restoration projects, for sustainable recreation and to improve forest health throughout the nearby Truckee River watershed. Along with assistance for the Lake Tahoe region, the White House also announced a new partnership between California and the Department of the Interior to assess the future of the Salton Sea. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bill allowing landlords to bar medical pot use is dropped By Patrick McGreevy A lawmaker has dropped a bill that would have allowed landlords to bar tenants from smoking medical marijuana in apartments. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) A state lawmaker has dropped a proposal that would have allowed landlords renting apartments in California to bar their tenants from smoking medical marijuana in their residences. Assemblyman Jim Wood (D- Healdsburg) could not work out an agreement with the chairwoman of a key committee on how to meet the needs of people relying on medical cannabis, an aide said. Wood had said AB 2300 is needed because secondhand smoke can easily travel through windows, doors and shared ventilation system in multiunit apartments and condos. This is about protecting families that live in close proximity to others, Wood said in a recent statement, adding that there are cannabis products that can be ingested without smoking them. However, Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, thought the bill was too limiting on medical cannabis patients. They had a difference of opinion regarding the effectiveness of cannabis delivery mechanisms other than smoking, said Liz Snow, a spokeswoman for Wood, who said the assemblyman agreed to drop the bill in lieu of Jacksons continuing concerns. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print In the wake of allegations against Bill Cosby, California may end statute of limitations for prosecuting rape By Sophia Bollag Artist and actor Lili Bernard, who has accused comedian Bill Cosby of raping her in the 1990s, speaks at a rally at the site of Cosbys star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) California lawmakers on Tuesday sent the governor a bill to end the statute of limitations for prosecuting rape and other felony sex crimes. If the governor signs the bill, crimes including rape and child sexual abuse could be prosecuted at any time. Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) introduced the bill in the wake of news that dozens of women have said comedian Bill Cosby raped them. Most of their cases cannot be prosecuted because the statutes of limitations for those crimes have expired. Its called the Justice for Victims Act for one clear and specific reason: Victims should always have the opportunity to seek justice in a court of law after such a violent act, Leyva said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New campaign donation disclosure rules rejected by the state Senate By John Myers Lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly rejected an effort to create new disclosure rules for California political mailers and money gathered from several donors into a single contribution. Assembly Bill 700 failed by a single vote in the state Senate, needing a supermajority of 27 senators to pass. The complex campaign finance bill became ensnared in a disagreement this month over whether it represented more or less donor disclosure. The states Fair Political Practices Commission voted to oppose late amendments to AB 700 regarding the disclosure rules for earmarked contributions. The bill sought to address instances in which a political contribution is cash collected from a series of donors who ask the identified donor to then earmark the money for a particular campaign. Jodi Remke, the FPPC chairwoman, wrote in a letter last week that the changes to AB 700 would create a loophole for some organizations to bypass the contribution limits. Supporter of the bill disagreed with the FPPCs interpretation, but the disagreement may have proved a distraction in the bills final days. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez tweets support for expanding overtime pay for California farmworkers By Jazmine Ulloa Fabric Fierros of Salinas and other United Farm Workers members cheer as Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) appears in a balcony during a rally after California lawmakers passed legislation that would expand overtime pay for farmworkers. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez on Tuesday took to Twitter to voice his support for a California bill that would expand overtime pay for thousands of farmworkers across the state. Assembly Bill 1066, authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), is headed to Gov. Jerry Brown after it was approved Monday in a historic vote on the state Assembly floor. Brown has made no indication as to whether he will sign the legislation, and his office said Tuesday he generally does not comment on pending proposals. A spokesman also said he would not comment on Perezs support for the bill. Farmworkers that put food on our table deserve same protections that other industries have had for years. CA bill would ensure fairness. Archive: Tom Perez (@SecTomPerez) August 30, 2016 The proposal would roll out new rules for farmworker overtime in 2019, lowering the current 10-hour-day threshold for overtime by half an hour each year until it reaches the standard eight-hour day by 2022. It also would phase in a 40-hour standard workweek for the first time. The governor would be able to suspend any part of the process for a year depending on economic conditions. The United Farm Workers association, which sponsored the bill, said it addressed an injustice inflicted on farmworkers nearly eight decades ago, when they were first exempted from federal minimum wage and overtime standards. The bill has drawn wide and diverse support, including from Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. But prominent business groups, led by the California Farm Bureau Federation and a coalition of agricultural producers, have thrown their political weight against it, saying the legislation would devastate the agricultural community and backfire on the workers it seeks to help. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kamala Harris calls for measures to end the crisis of confidence between police and the public By Phil Willon U.S. Senate candidate Kamala Harris on Tuesday called for new national policies to reduce recidivism by felons released from prison and to make data on crime and police actions more accessible to the public. Harris, Californias attorney general, made the comments during a roundtable discussion on criminal justice at Community Coalition in South Los Angeles. Harris said there is a crisis of confidence between law enforcement and communities that must be addressed. She spoke about how the fatal police shooting of Philando Castile in Minnesota in July and the ambush that killed five Dallas police officers shortly afterward broke our collective hearts. Harris also called for more diversity in law enforcement agencies and additional training to eliminate police bias. In 2015, Harris launched her agencys Open Justice website, which provides public access to data on arrest rates, in-custody and arrest-related deaths and law enforcement officers killed or assaulted breaking the numbers down by race and ethnicity, cause of death and other factors. That is a model of how criminal justice data should be made more transparent nationwide, she said. We need to have mandatory data collection. Publication of data, Harris said. Which means, those who have the information have to report it. ... And the place wheres its being reported should make it transparent. Harris added that transparency includes universal protocols around body cameras for law enforcement officers. Last year, Harris stopped short of supporting statewide requirements for officers to wear the body cameras, including legislation by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) to develop statewide standards on how the cameras would be operated and when the footage could be viewed. Harris, who launched a pilot program on body cameras at the state Department of Justice, had cautioned against using a one-size-fits-all approach to regulate their use. Harris campaign spokesman Nathan Click said theres been no change in Harris position. He said her comment Tuesday was in reference to the findings from the pilot program at the Department of Justice. Harris is running to succeed retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer and is being challenged by a fellow Democrat, Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Cal State students could get help graduating on time under bill sent to governor By Sophia Bollag Gov. Jerry Brown speaks with Steve Glazer, then mayor of Orinda, in 2011. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) California lawmakers on Tuesday sent the governor a bill that could help students graduate in four years from California State University schools. Only 19% of students at Cal State campuses graduate in four years, state Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) said, citing statistics from 2011. Glazers bill would create programs at Cal State campuses to help students graduate on time. Students in the programs would receive extra support from academic advisors and priority registration in classes. They would be required to take a minimum number of credits and maintain a qualifying GPA. Low-income and first-generation students, as well as community college graduates and students from communities with low college attendance rates, would be given priority to participate in the programs. They would also have to be eligible for in-state tuition. State Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) lauded the bill and said it would have helped him when he was in college. He said it took him six years to graduate with a bachelors degree from a California State University. If I had something like this when I was in college, it would have given me the tools to perhaps graduate in four years, he said. State Sens. Robert Huff (R-Diamond Bar) and Pat Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) both praised the legislation, but questioned whether it should be made available to more students. Huff said he wished the program were available to every Cal State student, not just a limited subset. Glazer defended the legislation, saying better graduation rates for a subset of students would save the state money and open spots for other students. Im convinced that everyone will benefit from a more efficient university system, Glazer said. This legislation will open up more pathways to student success and four-year degrees. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Smoking would be banned in California state parks and beaches in bill sent to governor By Patrick McGreevy Amid concerns over health impacts and wildfires, smoking and using electronic cigarettes would be outlawed at Californias 270 state parks and beaches under a bill sent by state lawmakers to the governor on Tuesday. The measure creates a fine of up to $250 for those caught vaping or smoking a cigar or cigarette, or disposing of the remains of a cigarette on a state beach or park. SB 1333 will make our state parks and beaches cleaner and safer by reducing cigarette and tobacco litter, curtailing exposure to second-hand smoke and limiting the threat of park fires, Sen. Marty Block (D-San Diego) told his Senate colleagues Tuesday before they voted 26-10 to approve the bill. He also said cigarette trash can hurt wildlife and fish. The bill is backed by the California State Firefighters Assn., the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Sierra Club Sacramento and the Surfrider Foundation. It has been amended from Blocks original proposal to include a provision allowing the director of the state Department of Parks and Recreation to designate small areas in parks where smoking would be allowed. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sentencing laws in California could be changed to add language about rehabilitation By Sophia Bollag Inmates at the state prison in Lancaster in 2010. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times) California lawmakers voted Tuesday to add language to sentencing laws that would promote so-called restorative justice. State law says the purpose of imprisonment is punishment. The bill the California Assembly voted to send to the governor Tuesday, AB 2590, would amend the law to state that the purpose of sentencing is public safety achieved through punishment, rehabilitation, and restorative justice. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation would have to update its policies to promote inmate rehabilitation under the bill. AB 2590 now goes to the governor. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California could see new rules on flying drones in state parks By Jazmine Ulloa A drone hovers over seals and sea lions at Childrens Pool Beach in La Jolla. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) California soon could have new rules on flying drones in state parks, where regulations on the use of unmanned aircrafts have been vague and vary widely. This bill, authored by Assemblyman Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), makes it unlawful to launch, land or operate a drone without a permit on lands managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It also prohibits the use of drones in the taking of fish or animals. AB 2148 moved out of the state Assembly with a 45-15 vote. Under federal law, unmanned aircraft are prohibited in national parks without a permit, a ban that covers 59 locations and about 350 national monuments, seashores and other sites about 84 million acres in all. But there are no blanket rules for Californias state parks, and the state park system has no systemwide drone policy in place. With such few regulations for drones, Holden said, its like the wild, wild West out there. He said his bill would create a safer environment at state parks, while allowing some exemptions for drone use, such as for conservation or scientific research and for legitimate newsgathering purposes. The National Park Service reported at least 10 drone incidents in areas of Washington, D.C., in 2015, including a Dec. 16 citation of a man operating a drone near the Washington Monument. A drone also was said to be the cause of a big horn sheep stampede in Utahs Zion National Park, and studies suggest that such aircraft can distress bears, sea lions and gulls. But critics have called the bill one of several piecemeal solutions that remained after major drone lobbying efforts killed wider statewide drone regulations this legislative session. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California lawmakers approve bill to deny state contracts to companies that boycott Israel By John Myers Lawmakers took action Tuesday to prevent California state government agencies from awarding contracts to companies that participate in a boycott of Israel. AB 2844 requires any company that accepts a state government contract of $100,000 or more to certify that its not in violation of California civil rights law -- which, said the Assembly members who wrote the bill, would include companies involved in an international Israeli boycott. That global campaign -- the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions movement -- is intended to put pressure on Israel to change its policies until the country ends its occupation of all Arab lands and recognizes an independent Palestine. Other states have taken similar action, and the bill was the subject of eight separate amendments during the 2016 legislative session in Sacramento. The bottom line is that the state should not subsidize discrimination in any form, said the bills author, Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica). AB 2844 now heads to Gov. Jerry Brown for a signature or veto by the end of September. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Compromise struck on Planned Parenthood-backed bill on secret recordings By Melanie Mason A deal has been struck on a controversial bill sponsored by Planned Parenthood to create new penalties for distributing illegal recordings in the wake of high-profile secret videos circulated by anti-abortion activists. The bill, by Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Echo Park), had sought to create a new crime for distributing video or audio recordings involving a healthcare professional that were taken without a persons consent. In California, it is already illegal to make such recordings without all parties authorization. Planned Parenthood argued that adding additional punishment for circulating those recordings was necessary following the controversial videos taped by David Daleiden and other anti-abortion activists that purported to show Planned Parenthood employees illegally trafficking in fetal tissue. The healthcare provider, which has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing, says the videos were manipulated. After the video smear campaign last summer, we experienced a ninefold increase in violence against our providers and our health centers, said Beth Parker, chief legal counsel of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. With the Internet and the tremendous wildfire nature in which news can be spread now through social media, we need to have a crime against distribution by those in particular who did the illegal recording, Parker said. A slap on the hand of a $2,500 fine isnt sufficient. But the proposal immediately raised alarm among civil liberties activists and press organizations, which argued such a penalty could ensnare journalists who are reporting on secret videos. After multiple rounds of amendments, the two sides appear to have reached a compromise: The bill will now make clear that members of the media cannot be held liable if they did not participate in the initial illegal recording. We took precautions to make sure the press could still do their jobs, Gomez said on Tuesday. Nikki Moore, legal counsel to the California Newspaper Publishers Assn., said with the anticipated changes set to be put into the bill Tuesday her group will move from opposed to neutral on the measure. While we find it troubling that this bill potentially criminalizes speech, we realize this bill had political momentum and our immediate concern is to protect newspapers and journalists, Moore said. Another opponent of the bill, the American Civil Liberties Union, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the changes. Gomez said he wasnt surprised by the heated back-and-forth surrounding his bill, AB 1671. I always knew itd be difficult to balance the right of privacy and the right of free speech, Gomez said. I think that is a tension that weve seen in court case after court case and law after law. And we always strive to find that right balance. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Police agencies could soon charge more for concealed-weapon permits under bill headed to governor By Patrick McGreevy (Andrew Burton / Getty Images) The state Assembly on Tuesday sent the governor a bill that would allow local police and sheriff agencies to increase the fee for issuing concealed weapon permits, removing the current $100 cap and allowing charges that fully recover costs for enforcement. Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) introduced the measure, saying the cap has resulted in Sacramento County facing a budget shortfall of about $250,000. Unfortunately, the current fee structure is rigid, leaving a strain on some local budgets, McCarty said. McCarty said the bill does not change the requirements for Californians to get a license to carry a concealed weapon. But Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez of Lake Elsinore said the bill will not prevent gun violence but could result in pricing people out of their constitutional right to carry guns. It is not going to increase anybodys safety, she added. McCarty countered that the bill will provide cities and counties with ample resources to do proper vetting to keep [concealed-weapon permits] out of the hands of people who should not have them. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print If you cant vote in person, this bill would allow anyone you choose to turn in your ballot By John Myers (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) Ballots cast by California voters could be turned in at elections offices by anyone, including campaign workers or political party officials, under a bill sent to Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday. Assembly Bill 1921 removes the language in existing state law that limits help in submitting a vote by mail ballot to close family members. The bills author, Assemblywoman Lorena S. Gonzalez (D-San Diego), has said those limitations are an obstacle to getting ballots back in a timely fashion for voters in need of help. In a legislative committee hearing in June, opponents noted that AB 1921 has no maximum number of ballots a single person can turn in and could therefore open the door to vote tampering during large-scale ballot gathering efforts. Most other states that allow someone to turn in multiple ballots generally limit it to as many as 10 ballots. AB 1921, however, places no maximum number on those that could be submitted to California elections officials by a single person. The bill passed with no floor debate on Tuesday in the Assembly. Brown has until Sept. 30 to sign it into law or veto it. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Smoking would be banned on California college campuses under bill sent to governor By Patrick McGreevy Incoming freshmen tour the dorms at California State University Fullerton last year. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) Smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes would be banned on campuses of the California State University and California Community Colleges systems beginning in 2018 under legislation approved Tuesday by the state Assembly. We need to promote a safe and healthy environment for the campus staff, students and faculty, said Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), who introduced the measure. This bill helps address the harmful health effects that come with smoking and secondhand smoke on our college campuses. The bill is one of many anti-tobacco measures the governor is considering this year. It follows the model set by the semi-autonomous University of California system, which adopted a tobacco-free policy that took effect in 2014. The Cal State system is nearing completion of a smoking policy, but the practice is already banned at Cal State Fullerton. The community college chancellors office says 18 of the 72 community college districts, comprising 37 campuses, already have smoke-free policies. The bill calls for fining violators $25 for the first offense, up to $100 for the third and additional offenses, with the money going to anti-smoking education and cessation programs. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California soon could enhance penalties for sex buyers By Jazmine Ulloa A Los Angeles march against sex trafficking drew hundreds of people carrying signs and chanting Our children are not for sale. (Sandy Banks / Los Angeles Times) The state Assembly on Tuesday sent a bill to Gov. Jerry Brown that would enhance penalties for sex buyers, one of at least two dozen bills this legislative session that have sought to curb the trade of forced sex and labor. AB 1708, authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), would enhance penalties for sex trafficking near schools and impose minimum fines and mandatory minimum county jail terms for people convicted of purchasing commercial sex. It also would recast the crime of prostitution so that the statute differentiates between people receiving compensation for sex from sellers and buyers of sex. By redefining the statute, Gonzalez said, law enforcement officials will be able to decriminalize prostitution for victims and increase the punishment for those who fuel the trade. But the bill might be a tough sale to Brown, who has tended to oppose tough-on-crime policies in the past. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California may start giving vouchers for diapers to families on welfare By Sophia Bollag A family passes by bulk packages of diapers at a Costco store in Tucson. (Chris Hondros / Getty Images) California families on welfare would receive a $50 monthly diaper voucher for young children under a bill sent to the governor Tuesday. The bill would provide a benefit to families in CalWORKs, the states welfare program, that could be used only to purchase diapers. Starting in 2020, families in the program would receive the diaper benefit each month for each child younger than 2. The California Assembly passed the bill 54-12. It requires the governors approval to become law. Diapers may soon become cheaper for all families under a separate bill sent to the governor this month. That bill would exempt diapers from California sales taxes. This post has been updated to reflect an updated vote total. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Assembly members say goodbye to those who are leaving in 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement State senator introduces resolution to condemn EpiPen price hikes By Melanie Mason A pharmacist in Sacramento holds a package of EpiPens. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State Sen. Ed Hernandezs attempt to push through a drug pricing transparency bill sputtered this year, but the West Covina Democrat still wants his colleagues to weigh in on the latest controversy in the cost of prescription drugs: the surging price of EpiPens. Hernandez is introducing a resolution that excoriates the anti-allergy devices manufacturer, Mylan, joining a chorus of federal lawmakers who have accused the company of price-gouging. The price of the emergency injection devices meant to treat severe allergic reactions climbed to more than $600 for a two-pack a more than 500% increase since the drug was acquired by Mylan. Following a firestorm about the price hike, the company has since announced will offer coupons to offset the high cost and that it will sell a cheaper, generic version of the drug. Hernandezs resolution would urge Congress to investigate Mylans near-monopoly on the EpiPen and would urge the federal Food and Drug Administration to reconsider denying approval of generic alternatives. The federal administration and Congress have the power to limit the unrestrained ability of Mylan to gouge our health care system, and they should use it, Hernandez said in a statement. The measure is the latest sign that Hernandez will continue to hammer pharmaceutical companies on prescription drug prices, even though he opted to pull his measure SB 1010 after it was significantly scaled back earlier this month. Hernandez, the chair of the state Senate health committee, intends to hold a series of informational hearings about drug prices in the fall, and he plans to invite Mylans chief executive to participate in one. My experience with Senate Bill 1010 has made me more resolved than ever to bring transparency to these arbitrary and harmful drug price increases, he said. In addition to the series of informational hearings on rising drug prices, I will reintroduce SB 1010 in December. However, something must be done now to correct the market for this particular drug. The joint resolution will come up for a vote on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon and will then head to the Assembly. It must clear both houses by the close of the legislative session on Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bullhooks to control elephants banned in California By Patrick McGreevy Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed legislation outlawing the use of bullhooks to handle and control elephants in California even as many animal handlers have stopped using the devices. The measure by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) got a boost after similar measures were adopted in the cities of Los Angeles and Oakland, and after Feld Entertainment announced an end to traveling elephants in the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circuses. More than 70 Hollywood celebrities including Woody Harrelson, Kim Basinger and Hilary Swank sent Brown a letter urging him to end what they called inhumane treatment of animals. Californias commitment to the humane treatment of elephants is strengthened today, Lara said. Banning bullhooks removes cruel and horrific treatment against these kind, gentle animals. Last year, Brown vetoed a similar measure saying he was concerned it was part of a flurry of bills that was creating more crimes without considering alternatives. Brown declined to comment Monday on why he signed the new bill. Ed Stewart, president and co-founder of the Performing Animal Welfare Society, which cares for eight elephants at its California sanctuary, said: By its very design, the bullhook is meant to inflict pain and instill fear. The use of this archaic and inhumane weapon on elephants -- a species that is self-aware, intelligent and emotional -- is abhorrent. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Was your ballot counted? Youll be able to find out if Gov. Jerry Brown signs this bill By John Myers (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Californians would have a new legal right to be told whether their ballot was counted under a bill that won final approval in the Legislature on Monday. AB 2089 won bipartisan support in the Assembly and now heads to Gov. Jerry Brown. The bills author, Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-Hayward), tweeted the news just after the final vote. In every election, a small number of marked ballots arent counted for a variety of reasons -- from arriving too late to being damaged or illegible and beyond. AB 2089 would require county registrars of elections to set up a free system enabling voters to check what the ultimate outcome was of their own ballot and, if it wasnt counted, why. Many of our constituents whose votes arent counted at a registrars office never know, said Assemblywoman Catherine Baker (R-San Ramon). Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print An effort to impose campaign donation limits on local races is killed by the state Senate By John Myers State lawmakers rejected a plan on Monday to place limits on individual campaign donations for city and county offices, races where in some California communities there are no restrictions on the size of a legal donation. Assembly Bill 2523 was supported by a simple majority of senators, but had been recently amended to require a supermajority vote to actually pass. The bill would have set the maximum campaign donation in a local campaign at a level equal to those for Assembly and Senate races, currently $4,200. It would have allowed local communities to set lower limits if desired. Democrats and Republicans disagreed during the Senate floor debate as to whether setting contribution limits would effectively limit the influence of money on local politics. Floor debate over the bill had just begun when Senate Republicans halted the proceedings and asked for a private caucus meeting of their members. The bill would have required only a single GOP senators support to pass. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ratepayers will remain on the hook for gas leaks after Assembly rejects new legislation By Chris Megerian Shown is the Aliso Canyon facility where an enormous natural gas leak was discovered last year. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Though it was approved by the state Senate earlier this year, legislation that would have prevented ratepayers from being charged for natural gas lost during leaks fell far short and stalled in the Assembly on Monday. The issue gained new attention in the wake of the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak, which lasted four months and forced thousands of people to relocate because of foul air. Although an executive order from Gov. Jerry Brown helped protect ratepayers from covering the cost, there are other, smaller leaks for which theyre still charged. If your gas bill is $50 a month, some small part of that is paying for gas you never got, said Timothy OConnor, an attorney at the Environmental Defense Fund. Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), the bills author, said utilities would be more likely to fix problems with their equipment and prevent methane pollution if they couldnt charge ratepayers for gas that is lost due to leaks or venting. Why we should we be paying for the faults in their system? he said. Were paying to work against our own climate goals. Advocates said utilities ramped up their lobbying in their effort to kill the measure, which they view as unnecessarily punitive. The bill would penalize utilities for the value of natural gas lost due to factors outside of the utilities control, said Chris Gilbride, a Southern California Gas Co. spokesman. This includes venting for safety and reliability, and damage to pipelines caused by third parties. Other business organizations, including the California Chamber of Commerce, have also opposed the bill, calling it yet another burden put onto already heavily regulated industries. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gender pay equity could be expanded under this measure By Sophia Bollag Assemblywoman Nora Campos (D-San Jose), center. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) A bill sent to the governor Monday would prevent California employers from paying women less than male colleagues based on prior salary. The state strengthened its protections against gender-based wage discrimination last year. The bill the state Assembly sent the governor Monday, AB 1676, would add prior salary to the list of reasons women cant be paid less than men. Nationally, a woman on average makes roughly 79 cents for every dollar a man makes, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2014. AB 1676, authored by Assemblywoman Nora Campos (D-San Jose), joins another pay equality bill sent to the governor last week that would strengthen protections against wage discrimination based on race or ethnicity. An earlier version of AB 1676 would have barred employers from asking job applicants about prior salary, but amendments cut that provision from the bill. The governor vetoed a similar bill last year and said in his explanation that the legislation was flawed because it hindered employers from seeking relevant information when determining a workers salary. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Major changes in California elections are on the way if Gov. Jerry Brown signs this bill By John Myers (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) A broad push for millions more California ballots to be cast somewhere other than polling places is now in the hands of Gov. Jerry Brown, after lawmakers on Monday gave final approval to a plan that would allow thousands of neighborhood polling places to be closed. Senate Bill 450 would focus the work of local elections officials on newly created vote centers, one-stop election offices spread out in communities to allow early voting and late voter registration. Supporters have consistently pointed to low voter turnout in recent elections as the impetus for a substantial revamping of the system. Weve got to figure out a way to implement a new voting model, said state Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), the bills author, during Mondays floor debate. SB 450 would allow a handful of counties, if they agree to use the new system, to open fewer vote centers than polling places in 2018. The rest of Californias counties could follow suit in 2020. And with the exception of Los Angeles County, those counties would have to mail each voter a ballot. Those ballots could be dropped off at new, secure drop boxes in various places around the county. (Los Angeles County would have an additional two years to comply with the mailed ballot mandate.) Sen. Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) voted against SB 450, and said he didnt believe the bill does enough to address the needs of the disabled when moving away from in-person voting. Anderson also took issue with suggestions that the system is based on a similarly conceived voting system in Colorado, arguing that Colorado has more strict voter fraud rules than does California. Were not doing the Colorado model, Anderson said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New mandatory prison sentence bill inspired by Stanford sexual assault heads to governors desk By Liam Dillon State lawmakers passed a bill Monday to add mandatory prison sentences for certain sexual assaults a measure inspired by a Santa Clara County Superior Court judges decision not to sentence a Stanford University student to prison in a high-profile case this year. The June decision by Judge Aaron Persky to sentence Stanford student Brock Turner to six months in jail after sexually assaulting an unconscious woman sparked significant criticism that the punishment was too lenient. Under current California law, those convicted of rape using additional physical force must serve time in prison. This measure would require the same punishment for sexual assaults of those unconscious or incapable of giving consent due to intoxication. If we let a rapist off with probation and little jail time, we re-victimize the victim, we dissuade other victims from coming forward and we send a message that sexual assault of an incapacitated victim is just no big deal, Assemblyman Bill Dodd (D-Napa), a coauthor of the measure, said during floor debate in the Assembly. The bill, AB 2888, passed unanimously in the Assembly and now heads to Gov. Jerry Browns desk. Opponents of the measure have argued the states history of mandatory sentencing has disproportionately affected people of color and led to the states large prison population. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California farmworkers could see overtime expanded in the next decade after historic Assembly vote By Jazmine Ulloa In a historic win for farmworkers, California lawmakers on Monday passed legislation that would expand overtime pay for more than 825,000 laborers who bring produce to stores and tables across the state. AB 1066, authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), calls for a four year phase-in of new overtime rules beginning in 2019, ultimately resulting in overtime pay for more than eight hours of work in the fields in 2022. It is headed to Gov. Jerry Brown after it was approved 44-32. The decision followed another intense showdown on the floor of the state Assembly, where a similar proposal died in June four votes short of the majority it needed to pass. As the vote was tallied, applause broke out inside the Assembly chamber and in an overflow room, where more than 100 farmworkers watched the debate on a livestream feed. Outside the Assembly floor, Gonzalez exchanged warm embraces with workers and labor union leaders. These workers have been the face of this bill, she said. Theyre the ones who pushed it, not just today but for decades in California. Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers of America, which sponsored the measure, lauded the workers who came to the Capitol, losing a day of work, to, as he put it, be able to witness history. These are the men and women who every day ensure that we have fruit, vegetables and wine on our tables, he said. Supporters cheer and wave United Farm Workers flags on the steps of the Capitol after CA Assembly passes #AB1066. pic.twitter.com/Sx7DlR6qbx Sophia Bollag (@SophiaBollag) August 29, 2016 During what was an emotional debate, supporters of the bill framed the legislation as a matter of human rights and dignity of work, saying farm laborers deserved the same protections as the vast majority of workers. Assemblyman Jose Medina (D-Riverside) called the vote an opportunity to correct a wrong against a subset of workers that would do more to honor Cesar Chavez than any ceremony, walk or statue. Assemblyman Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) said it was about a simple equation: A fair days pay for a fair days work. This is not an attack on those who employ farmworkers, Thurmond said. But this is in fact what farmworkers have asked us to do. They have asked us to give them dignity, and we have the opportunity to make history todayhistory that has been 80 years in the making. Opponents said they were frustrated with rhetoric that implied farmers did not care about their workers, calling the bill purely symbolic. In a critique similar to those used by opponents of increasing the minimum wage, they argued it could backfire on farmworkers, as it saddled farmers and growers with higher costs and could force them to limit work hours and hire more employees. We are asking our farmers to compete in a global market with a higher cost than any other industry, said Assemblywoman Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield). Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Nicolaus) argued the bill ignored the will of people with their hands in the dirt. This bill means they will get less hours, that they will have less money in their pockets, he said. .@AsmRocky: #AB1066 is going to passspeaker has said he wants it to pass. But workers are going to lose hours, growers will leave state. Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) August 29, 2016 The Western Growers Association called the Assembly decision a major disappointment, calling it short-sighted policy. The members who voted for this bill have placed California farms at an even further competitive disadvantage internationally and with other states, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif said in a statement. The issue of farmworker overtime festered in recent weeks into one of the most contentious at the end of a two-year session that has been marked by major internal Democratic strife, with rifts growing between those members aligned with business interests and those allied with labor. Gonzalez quietly revived her proposal against this backdrop, pushing past the normal procedures used to introduce legislation by replacing the language of an unrelated bill. United Farm Workers argued it corrected an injustice farmworkers have lived with since they were first exempted from federal minimum wage and overtime standards nearly eight decades ago. But prominent business groups, led by the California Farm Bureau Federation and a coalition of agricultural producers, countered its provisions further burdened farmworkers already dealing with increased regulations and an ongoing water crisis. Emotions flared Thursday when hundreds of farmworkers arrived at the Capitol as the state Assembly had been primed to take its final vote. For reasons that are in dispute, the lower house abruptly adjourned without ever taking up the issue, and although Gonzalez contended she had the 41 votes she needed to get the bill passed, the lack of action suggested she did not have the support. 250+ farmworkers in the Capitol today for vote on #AB1066. Many watching floor debate in overflow room. #CAleg pic.twitter.com/FevQzFG4MR Sophia Bollag (@SophiaBollag) August 29, 2016 California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount), who rose to the floor in support of the bill and last week promised to do everything in his power to get it passed, said he spent the weekend having conversations and going over wage data with lawmakers who held concerns. Of the final vote, he said he felt a tremendous sense of history, a tremendous sense of us doing something right. Rendon said Gov. Jerry Brown has not given him an answer when asked if he will support but the legislation, but Rendon said he felt the governor would be thoughtful. When you look at farmworkers they are some of the most vulnerable employees in our state, he said. At the Capitol, Zulma Priego, 40, said she and her three children would benefit from the decision. Im very emotionally moved, she said. We have been struggling for this for many years... Today we took a step forward. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Inmates in county jails cant be denied visits from family, under bill now on its way to Gov. Jerry Brown By John Myers (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times) All of Californias county jails would be required to provide visits from inmate family members under legislation approved on Monday by the state Senate. Senate Bill 1157 would force a change in as many 11 counties that have either fully switched to video conferencing or are in the process of eliminating in-person visitation. Without this, it means we will have incarcerated people in our jails who are not able to bond with children or family members for years, said state Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), the bills author. Critics have said that existing law has allowed counties to save money by shifting to video-only visitation for inmates. During debate on the Senate floor, Mitchell said that some counties are making money by charging family members to connect long distance via closed video systems. Republican opponents largely focused on the potential cost for counties that dont have any in-person visitation space. But some GOP senators lashed out that SB 1157 would allow more illegal items smuggled into jails, and that jail inmates must accept the consequences of their crimes. "That is the penalty for continuing to victimize their fellow citizens, said state Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber). Counties that dont offer in-person visits and are instead moving toward video systems would have until 2022 to change their operations. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California on guard after cyber attacks on elections databases in two states By Phil Willon A voter arrives to cast her ballot in the Arizona primary in March. (Matt York / AP) Californias elections agency announced that there is no evidence that the states voter registration databases had been targeted by the foreign hackers who reportedly infiltrated elections systems in Arizona and Illinois. Yahoo News reported Monday that personal voter registration information for up to 200,000 people at the Illinois Board of Elections had been downloaded by foreign hackers. The FBI issued an alert early this month warning state elections officials about the data breach, according to the Yahoo report. A spokesman for California secretary of state said the agency, which oversees elections statewide, was aware of the cyber attack reports. We have no evidence of any breaches or hacks of our system, agency spokesman Sam Mahood said. Mahood declined to say whether any extra precautions are being taken, saying the agency does not disclose its security protocols. The secretary of states website has been down most of Monday but Mahood said that was not caused by a hack or breach. Unlike some other states, California counties have maintained their own databases of registered voters. However, the secretary of states office is in the process of centralizing voter registration information in a statewide VoteCal database, which is expected to be operational in September. Dean Logan, registrar of voters in Los Angeles County, said the county has a cyber-security unit and outside contractors that constantly monitor all potential threats to the agencys systems. I think that we just live in a time where we have to be really vigilant on this, Logan said. Logan emphasized the computer system that scans and counts votes is separate from the voter registration database and is not connected to the Internet or any other outside computers, insulating the system from hackers. That computer system also is housed in a secure facility, he said. However, Logan said Los Angeles Countys voter registration database is connected to the secretary of states computer system, which is why the reports in Illinois and Arizona are so concerning, he said. We have been looking at this in conjunction with the larger political dialog about the security of elections system and with the presidential election, Logan said. Federal authorities already are investigating cyber attacks in June against the Democratic National Committee and another on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Federal law enforcement officials have said the hack was likely carried out by Russian intelligence agents. The release of Democratic Party emails by WikiLeaks just ahead of Julys Democratic National Convention revealed comments suggesting the party was aiding Hillary Clinton over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, violating the partys commitment of neutrality. Democratic Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz was forced to resign her post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Do reforms to Californias energy regulator go far enough? By Liam Dillon John Gutierrez, 77, a member of the group Save Porter Ranch, joins a February protest calling for Southern California Gas Aliso Canyon storage facility to be shut down. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) A major overhaul of Californias utility regulator is working through the Legislature with the blessing of Gov. Jerry Brown. But some advocates and observers are worried that the efforts dont go far enough to combat the cozy relationships between industry leaders and the California Public Utilities Commission. Even if the new measures get implemented, energy executives will still be able to meet privately with regulators during discussions about setting electric and gas rates -- though there will be more transparency surrounding the communications. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics podcast: A climate-change deal plus a look at the Legislatures final three days By John Myers It was on, then off, then back on again. This week, the last chapters of the summers climate-change agreement were finally written at the state Capitol. On this episode of the California Politics Podcast, we examine how the deal came together and the lingering impact between factions of Democrats in the Legislature. We also look at some of the big items left for action in the Legislatures final few days. And we discuss the impact two longtime statehouse staffers had on decades of California public policy. Im joined by Marisa Lagos of KQED News and Anthony York of the Grizzly Bear Project. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Smartphone cases that look like guns will be outlawed under bill signed by Gov. Brown By Patrick McGreevy Cellphone cases made to look like guns are a new fashion trend but they may also put owners at risk, so their manufacture and sale will be outlawed in California under a bill signed Friday by Gov. Jerry Brown. The legislation was introduced by Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) in response to concerns by law enforcement officials that the phone cases might be mistaken by police officers for a real firearm and lead to a violent confrontation. Some of the cases have a handgun grip and trigger system. These devices are fairly new, and this bill takes a proactive approach to stop a problem before it happens, said Cooper, a former captain with the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department. Brown previously has signed seven other gun-control bills, and he has others on his desk. The latest bill would make it a misdemeanor to import, manufacture or sell smartphone cases that look like guns starting Jan. 1. The bill is supported by groups including the Assn. of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, the California Assn. of Highway Patrolmen, the California Police Chiefs Assn. and the California State Sheriffs Assn. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Brown signs bill to block state funding of coal terminals By Patrick McGreevy Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Friday that prohibits the California Transportation Commission from providing money for any new bulk-coal terminals in the state, and he urged cities with ports to take action to reduce such shipments. I believe action on multiple fronts will be necessary to transition away from coal, Brown wrote in a signing message. In California, were divesting from thermal coal in our state pensions, shifting to renewable energy, and last year coal exports from California ports declined by more than one-third, from 4.65 million to 2.96 million tons. Thats a positive trend we need to build on. State Sen. Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) authored the bill, which was signed even as Brown noted that the city of Oakland has documented the health, safety and climate effects of coal and banned its shipment through the city. Other localities should follow suit and the state should, too to reduce, and ultimately, eliminate the shipment of coal through all California ports, Brown wrote. Thats why Im signing SB 1279 and why I will continue to work with the Legislature on further actions to curb coal and combat climate change. The bill is opposed by groups including the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council, the California Trade Coalition and the League of California Cities. Opponents said the measure might violate U.S. treaty obligations and commerce laws because it singles out one commodity. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Hollywood skyscrapers and other large L.A. developments could get fast-tracked under law signed Friday By Liam Dillon Four proposed mega-projects in Los Angeles could be fast-tracked under a new law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday. The measure aims to speed up any lawsuits under the states primary environmental law governing development against large projects that also pay high construction wages and meet certain greenhouse gas and renewable energy standards. The new law, authored by state Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), applies across the state. And proponents of four projects in Los Angeles have already said they plan to apply for the benefit. The law says that environmental lawsuits against the projects shouldnt take longer than nine months to complete, something that the Los Angeles developers believe could get their projects off the ground three years faster than they would otherwise. Here are the four projects that plan to apply: A $1-billion redevelopment of the Crossroads of the World complex in Hollywood A $200-million hotel and residential development at the corner of Yucca Street and Argyle Avenue in Hollywood The redevelopment of Barlow Respiratory Hospital near Dodger Stadium that would add 400 single-family homes to the property A $1-billion park created by capping 38 acres of U.S. Highway 101 between Hollywood and Santa Monica boulevards Opponents of the law had questioned whether the environmental provisions were strong enough to allow for streamlined review in the courts. It also remains to be seen how much the law will help the projects. None of the six that qualified under a previous version of the law has so far successfully used its provisions to go through court faster. The new law takes effect immediately Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed law No.1474-VIII on amendments to some legislative acts of Ukraine concerning the documents proving a person's citizenship of Ukraine, identity or special status, which is required for the liberalization of the visa regime for Ukraine by the EU, the president's press service reported on Wednesday. The law was passed by the Verkhovna Rada on July 14. This law specifies the list of identification documents which prove a person's citizenship of Ukraine or special status, and determine the legal status of certain categories of people. In addition, this document amends the law of Ukraine on the Unified State Demographic Registry and documents proving citizenship of Ukraine, person's identity or their special status, the law on state registration of documents certifying civil status and the law on procedure of exit from Ukraine and entry to Ukraine by Ukrainian citizens. The implementation of this law will remove legal gaps in the legislation and bring the law on the Unified State Demographic Registry and proof of citizenship of Ukraine in line with current legislation. Aug. 25, 2016, 10:40 a.m. Reporting from imperial beach, Calif. We made it, Oregon to Mexico, along an 1,100-mile beach The drive began at the Oregon border. It ended five weeks later at the Mexican border. Where I almost got arrested. OK, thats an exaggeration. When photographer Allen Schaben and I got to the border of Tijuana and Imperial Beach, the party was much better on the Mexican side. Families were in the water and on the sand, a Mariachi band played, and the whole scene was rather festive compared with two people strolling quietly on the Imperial Beach side. I thought briefly about defecting. One man stood at the fence on the Tijuana side, so I walked up to say hello. I asked why he wasnt swimming and he said he didnt have a bathing suit, then he stuck his hand through the fence to shake my hand. A Border Patrol agent sped toward me in an SUV and yelled for me to stand back from the fence. I hesitated, because what was the big deal? But then I noticed a sign warning against contact or the passing of narcotics through the fence, etc. So I stepped back from the fence because I didnt know if Id be able to write my last road trip columns from a jail cell. Im going to wrap up the series on Sunday, but that wont be the end of my coverage of the California Coastal Commission on the 40th anniversary of the Coastal Act. Theres lots to keep an eye on. Legislation to ban private meetings between commissioners and developers could move forward later today. A vote has been delayed on the controversial proposal for a desalination plant in Huntington Beach, a project that doesnt make a lot of sense in my opinion but has big money backing it. The ever-controversial Newport Banning Ranch project -- a massive hotel/housing development on the last undeveloped plot of privately owned coastal property in Southern California -- will be up for a vote in early September. And the City Council election in Pismo Beach has gotten very interesting because Erik Howell, a councilman and coastal commissioner who ticked off Pismo residents by supporting a development that will block ocean views, now has challengers in his reelection campaign. Howell, if youve forgotten, accepted a $1,000 campaign donation from the domestic partner and business colleague of the lobbyist who represents the Pismo development. If he loses his council seat, he loses his Coastal Commission seat too. So stay tuned. The Coastal Commission will have a new director soon, a new chair and at least two new commissioners, and we need to watch closely because whats at stake is the greatest 1,100-mile coast in the world. 10:25 A.M. reporting from san diego Lawmaker who led 72 coastal preservation bike ride from San Francisco to San Diego still has Schwinn that delivered win Former senator James Mills, 89, stands with the bike he rode from Sacramento to San Diego in 1972 to promote Prop 20, which created the Coastal Commission and led to the Coastal Act. The photo was taken overlooking the San Diego skyline from Mills Coronado apartment Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The bike. I wanted to see the bike, and meet its owner. Arriving in San Diego meant our coastal trek from Oregon to Mexico was coming to an end, and it meant that it was finally time to pay a visit to Jim Mills. Mills, a state legislator from 1962 to 1981, was Senate president pro tempore in 1972 when he decided to support Proposition 20, the coastal preservation act. Without it, conservationists feared, coastal development would run amok, Highway 1 would be widened, and a string of nuclear power plants would spring up on some of the greatest beach fronts in the world. But there wasnt much money to fight Prop. 20s foes, said Mills, who had grown up wading in La Jolla Cove and has a deep appreciation of the states greatest natural resource. So in September 1972, he hopped aboard his canary yellow Schwinn Super Sport and led a bike rally from San Francisco to San Diego. The number of riders swelled at times, Mills said, and bikers were greeted each evening by locals serving plenty of carbs. We ate a lot of weenies and beans, and spaghetti too, he said. He recalled PG&E executives following the cyclists in a chauffeur-driven Cadillac, doing their own spin on Prop. 20. The bike rally drew lots of publicity, Mills said, and whether it made the difference is anyones guess. But Prop. 20 won 55% of the vote and led in 1976 to the Coastal Act that to this day protects the coast for the benefit of fragile marine and land habitats and the enjoyment of everyone. Mills was 45 when he rode down the coast, and 89 now. He greeted me and photographer Allen Schaben at his Coronado condo and said he hasnt done any riding lately, but hes doing a lot of writing. Mills has written several books and is working on another. He leads us down to the basement, and there it is. The dusty, canary yellow Schwinn that Mills rode in 1972, and for many years after the Prop. 20 campaign. He was an avid cyclist. Mills also kept the helmet he wore in 1972. We took the bike upstairs, where Mills put on his helmet and posed next to the bike that is a piece of California history. The Coastal Act has done a great deal of good over the years, Mills said, and the cause is no less important now than it was when he rode south from San Francisco. We need to preserve the coast for the benefit of future generations, he said, and I thank him for his contribution. Aug. 21, 2016, 10:50 p.m. Reporting from the Mexican border Steve Lopez reflects back on his 1,100 mile trek down the California coast 6:57 P.M. Sometimes the sausage is good enough to eat Two things will happen soon. The last column from my 1,100 mile road trip down the California coast will be done. And the reform bill banning private communications between California Coastal Commissioners and developers, as well as others, could finally emerge from the factory. As Ive been saying, Hannah-Beth Jacksons bill sailed through the Senate and should have done the same in the Assembly, but it got pushed off into a dark corner after a very fishy report claimed that reform costs money. The thing has come back to life, though, with amendments that arent as bad as the original amendments. I dont see why we need the amendments at all, or why the wrangling has to take place behind closed doors and out of public view. While I was thinking about that, a reader emailed me a clever idea about how to keep coastal commissioners honest -- make them strap on body cameras, like cops. I like it, and why not do the same with legislators, so we can all see whats going on? Having said all this, though, Im hearing from supporters of Jacksons bill that they think theres actually a chance the legislation is going to be OK, once all the cooks are done tweaking the recipe. Sausage is full of awful stuff, but just about all of it is good on the grill. So as much fun as Ive had telling you to ping Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, @Rendon63rd, and Appropriations Chair Lorena Gonzalez, @LorenaAD80, and ask what gives, maybe we should try another approach. Im told that Rendon, Gonzalez and other Assembly leaders have done some decent work rescuing this much-needed bill from the trash. So go ahead and tweet them again, and tell them youre encouraged, and still watching -- to the extent thats possible -- and counting on them to do whats necessary to get the bill to Gov. Jerry Brown, which is when the real fun will begin. 8:46 A.M. When it comes to coastal protection, why does state Assembly have such a problem with transparency? The need to clean up the way the California Coastal Commission operates was obvious. Commissioners meet privately with developers more than with any other group, by far. They have repeatedly failed to fully explain the nature of those meetings, and have even failed to report them on occasion. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) penned a bill to ban such meetings. It cleared the Senate and bounced over to the Assembly, which nearly killed it, but finally decided this week to merely beat it to a pulp. The toothless mess that emerged from the Assembly Appropriations Committee this week would allow private meetings to continue under certain circumstances, and now Sen. Jackson has the task of trying to put some punch back into her bill. And heres the irony: We dont know which Assembly members, or higher powers, conspired to water down Jacksons bill because there is no transparency in the process. You cant peer through a window into the sausage factory. These amendments were hammered out privately. One can guess that the development lobby and labor groups did not like Jacksons reform bill because it would get in the way of a process that gives an advantage to those who want to build on the coast. One can even guess that the Brown administration shares their view. But we dont know, because a bill to shine a light on important decision-making got pummeled in a dark room, and the perps left no fingerprints. See Dan Weikels story at latimes.com. Ive sent in a request for an explanation to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount). He has appointing authority for four coastal commissioners and itd be nice to hear what he thinks about the handiwork by his Appropriations Committee. If youd like to ping him or Appropriations Chair Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) to ask what happened, try @Rendon63rd and @LorenaAD80. Or you can drop a line to The Silent One @JerryBrownGov, but Ive tried, and despite months of turmoil and controversy on the 40th anniversary of the Coastal Act he signed into law, the governor doesnt want to be disturbed. 7:36 A.M. Summer is in the rear-view mirror, end of journey just down the road The tide splashes up on the beach at sunset on a warm summer evening at Windansea Beach in La Jolla. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Carlsbad. Leucadia. Encinitas. Cardiff. Solana. Del Mar. Summer is disappearing in my rear-view mirror. Week Five of my trip from Oregon to Mexico will be over in just a few days, 1,100 miles after it began. Photographer Allen Schaben is farther down the road, waiting for me in San Diego. Soon well stand at the Mexican border and reflect on a deeper love of the California coast, a greater appreciation of the Coastal Act on the 40-year anniversary of protections that became law. Ill wish Id had a week to spend in places where I only had an hour or two. Ill thank the people we met along the way, and tell others well take up their offer the next time through. Californians are passionate about their coast. Theyre closely watching those in public office whose job is to protect fisheries and dunes, to limit development and maximize access. Ive got one eye on Sacramento myself. On legislative reforms that would serve all Californians. On coastal commissioners, some of whom seem to have forgotten their purpose. Im pulling into San Diego, where the air is warm, the water blue, Mexico in the near distance. 4:14 P.M. La Jolla The palm fronds of a palapa reveal a surfer, a couple and children taking in a warm summer sunset at Windansea Beach in La Jolla. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 1:07 P.M. newport beach Watts in a name? Find Amp-le answers in Newport Beach On Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. (Steve Lopez / Los Angeles Times) Im driving south on the Pacific Coast Highway and spot the sign. The boat name of the week, it says, is Watt A Man. Thats not a mistake. This is the headquarters for Duffy, which makes the electric boats that are part of the culture in the Newport harbor. Many years ago, I wrote a column about a day of hobnobbing and bar-hopping, by boat, with local residents. I also wrote, at the time, about boat owners trying to out-do each other with clever names for the battery-powered boats. One of my favorites was Salt n Battery. So what are some of the newer ones? I walk into the office, and salesman Jim Drayton says one of the best ones this summer was Amp-ly Endowed. Not bad. Tyler Duffield, of the Duffy family, shows me a list with a few more recent winners. Your name here. (Steve Lopez / Los Angeles Times) Its a Ohm Run. Watt the Hey. Watta Yacht. Going back through the years, some of the better names include: Current Affair. Carry Us Ohm Watts the Hurry. Shock Cousteau. Ohmer Simpson. Knots and Volts. I could go on, but why dont you, instead? Send me your best names. Its not as easy as it looks, Duffield said. Its usually the hardest part, he says. Someone comes in and orders a boat, and they get the colors and everything figured out, and the last thing to do is come up with a name before the boat leaves the factory. Yeah, Its a Duff Life out here, where people are Ohm on the Watter, but It Is Watt It Is. 9:13 A.M. Going under in Laguna Beach A snorkeler looks for fish at Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Garibaldi swim and feed on rocks at Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 2:41 P.M. Catching waves in Huntington Beach 10:53 A.M. On our way toward Mexico A view of the beach through a telescope at Pacific City, a new 31-acre mixed-use development in Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City U.S.A. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The site of the proposed Banning Ranch development now before the California Coastal Commission. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The tide rolls in at twilight at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station located on the border of San Diego County and San Clemente. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 4:52 P.M. Laguna Beach 4:45 P.M. Laguna Beach 12:51 P.M. Dana Point A pod of dolphins leaps out of the water with a view of south Laguna Beach in the background on Aug. 12, 2016. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 10:37 P.M. sacramento Profiles in courage: Legislators soften Coastal Commission reform, leave no fingerprints A perfectly sensible bill to clean up the way California coastal commissioners do business has been getting the waterboard treatment. First, Santa Barbara Sen. Hannah-Beth Jacksons SB 1190 was submerged by a ludicrous report claiming it would cost too much money to prohibit private conversations between developers and commissioners. Then it was tossed overboard and dragged like chum. Then on Thursday, legislators pulled SB 1190 back into the boat so badly decomposed its barely recognizable. As my colleague Dan Weikel reports at latimes.com, five amendments gutted the good intentions. The most egregious one allows commissioners to meet privately with developers during on-site visits. This comes just weeks after reports that Coastal Commission Chairman Steve Kinsey met twice with developers of the massive Newport Banning Ranch development and failed to properly report those confabs. Environmental groups, however, would not be able to have such meetings in the bills current form. On my best day, I could not have come up with a more Alice in Wonderland outcome. Details were still emerging, and it wasnt clear which legislators were responsible for the hatchet job, or whether they caved in to political, development or union pressure, or all three. No fingerprints on the body, in other words. Three environmentalists I checked with were livid, and understandably so. Stay tuned for updates on the autopsy, and dont stop letting @JerryBrownGov know how you feel about whats happening to coastal preservation on his watch. #SaveYourCoast 7:46 A.M. Sunset at Crystal Cove Beach Cottages Children run along the beach at twilight near the Crystal Cove Beach Cottages. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The sun sets over the Crystal Cove Beach Cottages in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Isabella, 9, and Holden, 7, roast marshmallows over a beach fire with their parents, Steve and Amy Knuff, of Aliso Viejo at twilight at Crystal Cove Beach Cottages. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Incoming tide rolls onto the beach at twilight at Crystal Cove Beach Cottages. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 1:29 P.M. Column: Fighting for the California coast from a tiny office in her kitchen nook Susan Jordan, who created and runs the California Coastal Protection Network, is seen in her Santa Barbara office. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) If you were a coastal conservation activist in California, with 1,100 miles of shoreline to look after, how would you even decide where to begin? Theres always a battle somewhere, and let me give you just a couple of examples from one tiny section of the coast. Moss Landing is in the news again this week as the Surfrider Foundation and other activists try to stop Cemex, an international sand mining company, from trucking away the beach as it has done for decades, causing erosion that has begun to set off lots of alarms. Read more 8:49 A.M. Hermosa Beach Remember when you could spend a night at a California beach motel for less than a weeks pay? A third-generation motel owner in this seaside town tells me he gets an offer, about every other day, from someone who wants to buy his property, bulldoze it and rebuild. But hes hanging on because three generations of families have been staying at his low-budget, no-frills motel since the 1960s, and he doesnt want to end those summer vacation traditions. Elsewhere on the California coast, motels and hotels have been bought out by chains and developers, driving up the cost of affordable family vacations. Look for my column on the Hermosa Beach motel in the coming days. And if you know of good low-budget beach lodging, or if youve seen your motel go from cheap to chic, drop me a line at steve.lopez@latimes.com Over the next two days, photographer Allen Schaben and I will be in Hermosa and Huntington Beach, reporting on the proposed desalination plant there. And, by the way, we should find out in the next day or two whether legislation banning private meetings between coastal commissioners and developers is released from legislative prison and put up for a vote in the state Assembly. Theres still time to weigh in at #SaveYourCoast and be sure to give a poke to @JerryBrownGov and Assemblywoman, Lorena Gonzalez @LorenaAD80. Read more When doctors told Robert Stone last year that he had terminal cancer, he didnt feel scared of dying. Stone, a handsome man with glasses and a salt-and-pepper goatee, said hed come to accept death as a natural part of life. What he did fear was having too little energy or too much pain to enjoy his remaining days. So last month Stone, 69, became one of the first people in California to obtain lethal medications under a new state law that allows doctors to write prescriptions for terminally ill patients to kill themselves. Advertisement Sitting in his airy Silver Lake home on a recent afternoon, Stone explained that he wont take the pills until the growing fatigue caused by his bone marrow cancer becomes debilitating. Ill know that by how I feel, he said. It gives me some comfort in having control over what the end of my life will be like. For the first time, Americans are planning for the likely possibility of living into their 80s or 90s, said Len Fishman, director of the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. They also know that that can mean living with serious physical and cognitive disease, and its making them think about what choices they would want to make if they were in that situation, he said. Thats led to more patients refusing intensive medical treatments just to prolong their lives, because there might be some things worse than death, Fishman said. More controversially, its also contributed to a recent spike in the number of states looking into legalizing physician-assisted suicide seen as either a humane option for the sick or the beginning of a dangerous trend within medicine. Generally, attitudes around death are changing in part because Baby Boomers the oldest of whom reached retirement age five years ago were the first generation to see their parents live into their 80s, Fishman said. They likely witnessed conditions they wouldnt want for themselves. Indeed, Stone recalled his mothers last months with a grimace. He remembers that when she was hospitalized for congestive heart failure in 1992, her hands were strapped to a hospital bed, a tube down her throat. She eventually ended up in a coma before dying weeks later at age 80. Stone said his mother, father and uncle endured excruciatingly painful situations before they died. If theyd had a choice, I dont think they wouldve done so, he said. It gives me some comfort in having control over what the end of my life will be like. Robert Stone In October, Stones doctors told him his chemotherapy had stopped working and that he probably had one to two years left to live. But unlike his mothers, Stones last months will be peaceful, he said. Since his diagnosis, hes traveled to Vietnam and Japan, two countries hed always wanted to visit. He recently read through stacks of letters dating back to 1962, fondly remembering old friends. And for these happy final months, Im very thankful, he said. Since November 2014, legislators in more than 25 states have introduced bills that would legalize physician-assisted suicide a fivefold increase from the year prior, according to data collected by Compassion & Choices, an organization which advocates for such laws. California is the fifth state after Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont to allow the practice. When Gov. Jerry Brown signed the End of Life Option Act into law in October, he wrote that he believed it would be a comfort to have this option if he were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. In part, states are looking into physician-assisted death because of Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old Californian with terminal brain cancer who decided to move to Oregon in 2014 to take advantage of that states aid-in-dying law. Jessica Grennan, national field and political director for Compassion & Choices, said she thinks the widespread attention Maynard received she ended up on the cover of People magazine and the subsequent passage of Californias law pushed physician-assisted suicide into the national dialogue. I was at a bachelorette party and everyone was asking me questions about this, she said. Dr. E.T. Rulison, 97, is an advocate for the right to die movement. He has a vial of methadone in his safe and will self-administer a lethal dose should he suffer a severe heart attack or stroke. A Gallup poll last year found that 68% of Americans thought doctors should be allowed to help terminally ill patients commit suicide a 10% increase from the previous year. Still, such laws face heavy opposition from some quarters. Opponents say they fear these laws could be the beginning of a societal shift in which some peoples lives are deemed less valuable. Currently only patients with six months or less to live can obtain lethal medications, but those opposed worry the laws could be expanded to include more people. Its a very utilitarian attitude toward human life, said Camille Giglio, head of the antiabortion advocacy group California Right to Life. To say simply because youve got an illness or youve got a disability you should do the right thing and take yourself out of the world. Many doctors have historically been opposed to such laws, saying they go against their oath to save lives. A group of physicians in California has filed a lawsuit to try to overturn the states law. In Oregon, Dr. Kenneth Stevens, an oncologist, has been fighting against physician-assisted suicide since Oregon became the first state to legalize it in 1998. Its changing what doctors do, what hospitals do, he said. I cant fathom why a doctor would do this. In 2000, a terminally ill woman with inoperable cancer who refused treatment asked Stevens for a prescription for lethal medications. He encouraged her to try chemotherapy and radiation instead and fight for the chance to see her sons graduation from the police academy and perhaps see him get married. She agreed, and is still alive 16 years later. Killing someone is not a medical procedure, Stevens said. Because many doctors feel wary about helping patients die, participation in Californias law is completely voluntary. Physicians dont have to prescribe such medications if asked or refer patients to colleagues who will. But public acceptance of the practice has influenced doctors as well. Last year, the California Medical Assn., which represents doctors, switched its stance from opposed to neutral, which many credit with the bills ability to gain sufficient support in Sacramento. In Colorado, where theres a campaign to get a similar measure on the states November ballot, the Colorado Medical Society is reevaluating its opposition to the practice. The times are changing rapidly in terms of national acceptance of the concept of this within the medical arena, said Dr. Catherine Sonquist Forest, a family medicine doctor and professor at Stanford University, in a webinar for California physicians about the new law. For Stone, obtaining the pills has given him confidence that he will be able to live each remaining day fully, thankfully and joyfully. Ive looked back on my life to see how fortunate Ive been, he said. He recounted attending UC Berkeley during the Free Speech Movement, working in the Peace Corps in the Philippines and enjoying a career dedicated to helping the homeless. Since his diagnosis, Stone has been making his way through a bucket list. He had long wanted to photograph every state Capitol building. When he found out he had cancer, he had done 44. He took a photo of West Virginias building in Charleston, the 50th one, in March. Also on the list is learning how to play Lady of Spain on the accordion, an instrument he gave up when he was 11. He starts lessons in a few weeks. soumya.karlamangla@latimes.com Follow @skarlamangla on Twitter for more health news. ALSO Meg Whitman joins chorus of Republicans supporting Hillary Clinton California initiative draws fire for opening the door to TV ads that promote pot smoking Supporters of California gun control initiative have big fundraising lead over opponents A railroad company and the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday appealed a court decision that has stalled a $500-million freight yard they plan to build next to low-income, predominantly minority communities in the harbor area. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. and harbor officials are seeking to overturn a decision in March by Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Barry P. Goode. Goode ruled that the port and BNSF violated state law by failing to adequately assess the environmental impacts of the proposed Southern California International Gateway, which is predicted to handle up to 8,200 trucks a day and the equivalent of 2.8 million 20-foot shipping containers by 2035. Advertisement The Port of Los Angeles prepared an environmental impact report that we strongly believe fully met all requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act Gene Seroka, Port of L.A.'s executive director The judge upheld his decision late last month after hearing objections from the railroad, which argued that he could not, under federal law, require the port to rescind its approvals of the project. If built, the 153-acre rail yard will be in Wilmington next to California 103 and east of Alameda Street between Sepulveda Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway. The huge staging center for trains hauling cargo from the harbor is bordered on the east side by schools, playing fields, parks, housing for homeless veterans and low-income, minority residential neighborhoods in west Long Beach, an area already hard hit by pollution from port operations. In his 200-page ruling, Goode said that the analysis of air-quality impacts required by state law was wanting and failed to provide enough information to foster informed public participation and reasoned decision-making. Goode also concluded that the cumulative environmental effects of the proposed rail yard and other operations in the harbor were not adequately assessed, including the projects potential to foster growth at BNSFs giant Hobart Yard near the interchange of Interstate 5 and the 710. See the most-read stories in Local News this hour >> The appeal claims, however, that the judge applied an inappropriate standard for evidence and disregarded a comprehensive eight-year environmental review that indicated the project would reduce air pollution, noise and truck traffic along the 710 freeway and in the harbor area. The Port of Los Angeles prepared an environmental impact report that we strongly believe fully met all requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act to inform the public and decision-makers of the projects effects, said Gene Seroka, the ports executive director. Rail and harbor officials also contend that Goodes ruling represents an incorrect and unprecedented expansion of the scope of environmental review required by Californias environmental quality act. Unless the ruling is promptly reversed, Roger Nober, BNSFs chief legal officer, said the freight yard is less likely to be built due to the costs and delays caused by the environmental lawsuits. One environmental group that sued the port and has pushed to limit pollution from the project put the blame for the legal wrangling on Los Angeles City Hall. Mayor Garcetti has failed to take the leadership role to make the Port of Los Angeles the greenest port in the U.S. and to protect the health of harbor and freight corridor communities, said Jesse N. Marquez, executive director of the Coalition for a Safe Environment, based in Wilmington. MORE LOCAL NEWS Man shot by LAPD after intense struggle at East Hollywood pharmacy, police say Catastrophic charter bus crash leaves five dead, L.A. driver seriously injured Former LAPD Chief William Bratton to resign as New York police commissioner Today, as I continue my summer trip down Californias 1,100 miles of coastline, I was going to tell you about a developer who has spent 24 years trying to build a hotel on a Monterey Bay sand dune and what he thinks about the regulatory hurdles hes been jumping. Or I was going to tell you about a woman who gave up a lucrative career years ago to work out of a small nook in her Santa Barbara kitchen, running a nonprofit that monitors coastal development. To get through this coastal story, youll need to wade through muck. Advertisement But Im going to hold off on those because something else has come up, as I first mentioned in my Sunday column. If youve got a good pair of rubber boots, now would be a good time to put em on because to get through this coastal story, youll need to wade through muck. Live Updates -- Follow Along with Steve A perfectly good reform bill was advancing smoothly through the Legislature, aimed at making the business of the California Coastal Commission more transparent. But now the bill looks comatose and the plug could be pulled Aug. 11, killing its chances this year. SB 1190 by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) would ban private meetings between coastal commissioners and those who want to lobby for or against any given project. A hotel, for instance, or residential development, or a power plant anything. Sea Ranch landacape (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times ) Why a ban? For starters, the vast majority of those private, or ex parte meetings as theyre known, are between developers and commissioners. This leaves opponents of projects at a disadvantage, and it can leave the public in the dark. Commissioners are required to file a public record of those private meetings, but if youve been following The Times coverage, you know there are a few kinks in the system. Sometimes commissioners fail to file accounts of those meetings. Sometimes their descriptions of the meetings are written not by the commissioners themselves but by the lobbying agents who represent the developers. That alone is odious enough to ban the meetings altogether. And sometimes the commissioners accounts of private meetings are anything but complete and comprehensive, as required. Such as when Commissioner Mark Vargas provided a two- or three-sentence account of his private meeting with U2 guitarist David Evans, in Ireland, just days before voting in favor of the musicians five-mansion Malibu compound. The ex parte process has been corrupted, Jackson told me in May, saying theres a ton of money to be made on coastal development and private meetings give undue influence to those who want to build. These discussions should not take place in private. Thats the whole point that these are secret meetings, and you dont meet in secret with an adjudicatory body thats supposed to be impartial. The bill sailed through the state Senate with wind at its back. But now its run aground in the Assembly. The governor hasnt talked publicly about the commission, going all the way back to February Why? In politics, theres often an official explanation, and the way to identify it as such is that it smells. Bad. In this case, Jacksons bill has been at least temporarily shelved because of a committee report saying that if it is implemented, it could cost the state up to $900,000 a year. As the argument goes, that would be needed to pay for up to six employees who would gather information on projects for commissioners. Heres where Id like to shout out a word for muck male bovine muck. For one thing, project applicants and opponents would still be able to provide written arguments on projects and could still speak at public hearings. The commissions staff would investigate applications as it does now and recommend whether projects meet the requirements of the Coastal Act. Also, as my colleague Dan Weikel has reported, four other studies have concluded that Jacksons bill will have no fiscal effect. And I wonder if anyone thought of this: The Coastal Commission has been sued at least four times over improper contact between commissioners and permit applicants. That kind of thing can cost a fortune. The ex parte process has been corrupted Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) One more reason to hold your nose on the official explanation for tabling the bill is that the $900,000 figure came from a staffer in the states Natural Resources Agency. So what? Ill tell you so what. Janelle Beland is the undersecretary of Natural Resources, and she is Gov. Jerry Browns nonvoting but powerful appointee to the Coastal Commission. At times, it seems like she is running the show. Theres lots of speculation among key players about what the governor is up to in this matter concerning the states most iconic and, arguably valuable resource. When someone asks me whats going on, I tell them I dont know mainly because the governor has refused repeated interview requests. The governor hasnt talked publicly about the commission, going all the way back to February when commissioners fired Charles Lester, the executive director beloved by staff and hundreds of public officials and advocates. So most of us who care about protecting our states beaches, coves, dunes and wetlands are left with questions some of them admittedly loaded: Is there the slightest chance that a $900,000 fiscal impact claim would have been made without Beland or her boss, Natural Resources Agency Secretary John Laird, knowing about it and telling the governor if he didnt know about it already? Tweet committee chair Lorena Gonzalez @LorenaAD80 with #saveyourcoast. Will Brown sign Jacksons bill if it ever gets out of its holding cell and onto his desk? Or does having it stalled this way conveniently spare him the scorn that would come his way if he didnt sign a good-government reform measure so clearly in the best interest of the coast and the public? Does the governor think projects like the two gigantic and controversial billion-dollar plans before the commission a desalination plant in Huntington Beach and a hotel-residential mini-city in Orange County are such good ideas that commissioners deserve to hear about them in private meetings with developers? Finally, is it possible that the governor has for some reason decided that the historically independent Coastal Commission and the Coastal Act he signed into law 40 years ago are no longer such good ideas and need to be quietly hobbled? I tried but could not get ahold of Beland and her bosses Tuesday. Meanwhile, time is running out if the bill is to be saved. The full Assembly Appropriations Committee will decide Aug. 11 whether to rescue Jacksons bill from its holding cell or sentence it to death. If you want to weigh in on the matter, shoot a message to committee Chair Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) on her website or call (916) 319-2080. Or you can tweet her @LorenaAD80 with #saveyourcoast. Getting back to the governor, my message is simple: This coast is ours, meaning everyones. The business of preserving it, protecting fragile sea and plant life, and increasing public access regardless of income or lobbying clout, is a sacred duty. And its business that has to be conducted in the open, not in private. steve.lopez@latimes.com Weigh in at @JerryBrownGov #SaveYourCoast and (916 445-2841) or email governor@governor.ca.gov. MORE FROM STEVE LOPEZ Why Californias northern coast doesnt look like Atlantic City Californias coast: How we come to care and why we sometimes go wrong Our road tripping columnist confronts the dark side of oyster farming and the beauty of breaching whales Tom Brown was scrolling through his news feed on Monday afternoon when he found the school he runs on a list that made him gasp. Ceiba College Preparatory Academy in Watsonville, south of Santa Cruz, was one of 253 California charter schools flagged for discriminatory admissions practices in a new report by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and Public Advocates. The school was one of just 22 the report singled out for discriminating based on academic performance. For the record: An earlier version of this story stated that 24 L.A. Unified charter schools were flagged in the study. Four schools authorized by L.A. Unified were flagged. In the L.A. County area, 24 schools were on the list. The report, released Monday, was the latest in the ongoing research back-and-forth over charter schools, which are publicly funded but can be privately run. Advertisement State law requires charter schools to take in all students. ACLU and Public Advocates started investigating the schools admissions policies after hearing from parents that they might not be doing so. Researchers used a rubric to grade the schools policies, as expressed on their websites. They looked for different types of discrimination: bias against English language learners; requirements for essays, interviews, auditions or academic performance; mandates for parents; and practices that could drive away students who are in the U.S. illegally. We thought it was pretty concerning, said Victor Leung, an ACLU of Southern California attorney who worked on the project. Theres no central authority for charter schools so we wanted to shine a light on it. Many of the schools on the reports list asked for essays or required parents to pitch in or used language that might discourage some immigrant students. Coding the violations can be complex, Leung said, so researchers did not include schools they deemed close calls on the list. When Brown saw his school was flagged, he immediately scanned Ceiba Preps website to try to figure out what was wrong. He noticed a reference to sibling preference for students in good academic standing, which he said didnt gel with his schools policy. Follow the Times education initiative to inform parents, educators and students across California >> He removed the language, then wrote to the ACLU, asking if anything else was wrong. Leung said he was encouraged to see a school changing its policy based on the reports findings. In a written response to the report, the California Charter Schools Assn. urged its member schools to revise their policies, saying, charter schools must be open to any student interested in attending. Weve heard from members who are definitely interested in getting more information about the specific language they found problematic, said Ricardo Soto, the charter groups attorney. L.A. Unified has the largest number of charter schools in the country, but relatively few of them four were flagged, Leung said, because the school system has a pretty good understanding of the law. The nations second-largest school system is in the middle of a battle over its future, with energy flowing into a campaign to create more charter schools. The district recently held a meeting aimed at making it easier for charter and district educators to coexist. Though California has more than 1,200 charter schools, the study measured only 1,000 of them. Leung said researchers ran out of time but included schools in every district. Jennifer Jennings, a New York University sociologist currently studying the ways in which admissions practices in New York City create unequal access to public schools, said she found the study sound, though optimally, you want a more aggressive method. You could have people from different backgrounds approaching the schools and seeing how they respond. Leung said his team relied on policies that were posted online because those are the same materials a parent would encounter when looking to enroll at a school. Brown said he understood. After he told the ACLU he had changed the language on Ceiba Preps website, he was told the school would be taken off the list once the change was confirmed. joy.resmovits@latimes.com ALSO California water conservation dips as relaxed drought rules take effect L.A. Metros sales tax proposal will appear on the November ballot State teachers union has given more than $13 million to extend income taxes on wealthy Californians The driver of a charter bus that crashed in Merced County early Tuesday, killing multiple people, worked long hours and may have been losing sleep after the recent death of his wife, family members said, though his daughter disputed it. Mario David Vasquez, 57, of Los Angeles, had only three to four hours of sleep the night before the crash and was due to finish his driving shift and be relieved in Livingston, a mile north of the crash on Highway 99, family members told L.A.s KNBC-TV. Relatives said Vasquez, who survived the crash with severe injuries, is a hardworking man who rarely took a day off. Sometimes, they said, he worked seven days a week, KFSN-TV of Fresno reported. Advertisement Still, he would not have driven if he were drowsy, and there were always two drivers who took turns at the wheel, family members said. He was very responsible, Vasquezs granddaughter, Denise Menjivar, told NBC. When he got tired, he told the other driver, You can take over from here. Vasquez recently lost his wife of 25 years to cancer, KNBC reported. In a Facebook message written in Spanish, Vasquezs daughter, Mariana Peralta, told The Times that reports that Vasquez might have been driving seven days a week and that he was losing sleep after his wifes death were a lie. She did not comment further. Four passengers died and numerous people were seriously injured when the northbound bus struck the support pole for a road sign at about 3:30 a.m., the California Highway Patrol said. The pole split the white bus down the middle, tearing through the vehicle as it kept moving forward, authorities said. Authorities lowered the death toll Wednesday from five to four, California Highway Patrol Capt. Brian Hawkins said in an afternoon news conference. Hawkins gave few details about the crash, and he answered few questions, citing the ongoing investigation. Hawkins said of the lowered death toll: It was a large scene, and people were transported to multiple locations. It was chaotic, he said. There was a lot going on. Im glad to say its four rather than five. I wish I could say it was zero. A multi-agency investigation will look into environmental, human and vehicle factors, he said. Hawkins said Vasquez was still hospitalized but that he could not comment on the drivers injuries or whether he was fatigued. Hawkins also declined to comment on whether there were passenger restraints in the bus, whether there were any indications of braking or skidmarks on the road, or the conditions of the injured survivors. Its going to take months for us to get to the bottom of everything, Hawkins said. Don Karol, a senior highway accident investigator for the federal National Transportation Safety Board, said at the news conference that it was still unclear whether the 1998 Van Hool bus had a data recorder that could aid investigators. It may or may not have data-recording capabilities, Karol said. Right now, being an older motor coach, its up in the air. Karol said NTSB investigators began arriving on scene Tuesday night. Bus travel is one of the safest means of travel there is, but, unfortunately, when a tragedy like this occurs, theres room for a lot of injury and deaths, Karol said. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter The bus originated in Mexico and had stopped in Los Angeles before continuing north toward Pasco, Wash., said CHP Officer Moises Onsurez. The vehicle is registered to Autobuses Coordinados USA Inc., according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Surviving passengers have described chaos after the pre-dawn crash. Rescuers worked for hours to remove people trapped in the wreckage. Passenger Nakia Coleman was traveling to Pasco after a stay in Mexico to clear her head after losing a son to suicide, the Tri-City Herald reported. She was hospitalized following the crash, which killed her Jack Russell terrier. Coleman, 40, was pinned in her seat, about two feet from the sign pole that tore through the bus. A dead man had been pushed on top of her, she said. Its like one of those Final Destination movie things you never thought would happen in reality, especially to you, Coleman told the Herald, a Pasco-area newspaper. She climbed to the back seat and crawled out an exit window, but other passengers remained trapped, she said. Coleman told the newspaper that the bus was trying to pass another vehicle but that vehicle wasnt allowing him to pass and it kind of ran him off the road. Another passenger, Leonardo Sanchez, who was headed to Oregon to pick blueberries, was sleeping when he was thrown face-first into the seat in front of him, he told the AP. He climbed out, afraid the bus would catch fire. We couldnt pull people out because there was shattered glass everywhere, seats destroyed, he said. Warnke told reporters that rescuers pulled bags of body parts from the bus along with the survivors. Some people suffered severed limbs, and others were thrown from the bus. Autobuses Coordinados USA has an office in East Los Angeles. Phone calls by The Times were not answered, and staff members were not available at the office Tuesday afternoon. The bus involved in the crash has been cited for at least seven violations over the last two years, according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records that identify the vehicle by its license plate number. It has been cited for having a damaged or discolored windshield, a defective or no brake-warning device, prohibited aisle seats and other issues, records show. Autobuses Coordinados was cited during a February 2015 inspection because a driver had a suspended commercial drivers license, records show. hailey.branson@latimes.com Twitter: @haileybranson Times staff writer Veronica Rocha contributed to this report. ALSO Raves leave L.A. for the suburbs, but deaths and drug problems continue Bodies from Angeles forest crash IDd as those of 3 missing Fontana teens Its very sad: Mother with two kids, $500,000 in cocaine in car arrested on Interstate 5, officials allege UPDATES: 12:32 p.m.: This article was updated with information from an afternoon news conference. 10:43 a.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Vasquezs daughter and a revised death count. This article was originally published at 9:45 a.m. Coroners investigators confirmed Wednesday that the three bodies recovered from a mangled pickup truck discovered at the bottom of a deep ravine in the Angeles National Forest were those of three missing Fontana teens. Daniel Gamboa, 19; Kasey Vance, 18; and Samantha Ornelas, 17, suffered traumatic injuries as a result of the crash, said Brian Elias, department chief for the L.A. County medical examiner-coroner. Authorities are still investigating the matter, but so far, Elias said it appears the trio died accidentally. An official cause of death will be determined after autopsies are performed. Advertisement Speed may have been a factor: Families grieve as 3 bodies are pulled from wrecked truck Fontana Unified School District said Wednesday it was saddened to learn about the deadly crash involving the three teens. Two of them graduated last year from Summit High School. Ornelas would have started her senior year on Thursday, the district said in a statement. We are all grieving this loss; it is especially sad when teens who have so much ahead of them are taken so early, the district said. As our students return to school from summer recess, we will provide crisis counselors to offer support on the Summit campus for students and staff. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families as they cope with this devastating loss. Samanthas sister, Isabel Ornelas, has set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for funeral expenses. Our loss came so tragic and quickly, she said. The friends told family on Saturday that they were going hiking in the Angeles National Forest, and possibly heading to Mt. Wilson. When they failed to return home Monday, their families reported them missing and Fontana police held a press conference asking for the publics help in locating them. Later that day, authorities received a report of fresh skid marks on Angeles Crest Highway, near mile marker 40. A Los Angeles County sheriffs helicopter was sent to survey the scene and spotted Gamboas white 2008 Toyota Tundra pickup truck in an area known as the Trees of Color. California Highway Patrol Officer Ryan Bejar said the area where the truck left the roadway is one of the steepest drops along the entire Angles Crest Highway. Although the bodies of the teens were recovered, the crumpled truck was deemed unreachable and will probably remain at the bottom of the ravine, he said. The fresh tire marks appear to show that the vehicle was eastbound on the highway and rounding a curve when the driver hit the brakes hard and went over the edge, according to the CHP. Speed may have been a factor in the crash, Bejar said. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Lonely? Porn 2.0 wants to help ... for a price of course Raves leave L.A. for the suburbs, but deaths and drug problems continue Dylan Noble, fatally shot by Fresno police, was drunk and had traces of cocaine in his body, autopsy shows A blaze erupted Wednesday after a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crew struck a gas line in a Woodland Hills neighborhood, triggering evacuations of nearby homes, authorities said. Flames and smoke rose into the sky just before 1:15 p.m. when the 4-inch main was hit in the 5800 block of North Shoup Avenue, according to Margaret Stewart, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles city Fire Department. Raging flames quickly spread to a backhoe and nearby trees. No injuries were reported. Firefighters monitored the flames, which sent embers toward neighboring homes. Advertisement The tower of flames threatened several buildings in the area, the LAFD said. TV footage showed firefighters using long hose lines to douse the fire. Southern California Gas Co. crews responded to the scene Wednesday afternoon and worked to control the gas leak, officials said. The blaze was extinguished about 4 p.m. and the gas supply was shut off, according to a statement from the DWP. The fire erupted when a DWP crew struck the natural gas main while digging in the area. The line and backhoe both ignited, SoCal Gas said. At the time, the crew was installing an 8-inch line that delivers water to a hydrant for firefighting. In a statement, the agency said that the incident was under investigation, and that protocol requires utility lines to be marked before DWP construction work begins. The gas leak prompted the Los Angeles Police Department to issue an alert to those living nearby. Calling the leak a dangerous situation, police asked residents to stay clear of the area. The department asked the lookie loos that gawked at the fire to stay away, according to a statement. Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. MORE LOCAL NEWS New 4,000-acre wildfire triggers evacuations near Lake Berryessa Driver in fatal bus crash had been losing sleep after wifes death, relatives say; death toll lowered I want to make you mine: Man wearing Virgin Mary T-shirt attacks two L.A. women, police say UPDATES: 4:50 p.m.: This article was updated with information from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. 3:15 p.m.: This article was updated with information from the Los Angeles Police Department. This article was originally published at 2 p.m. A jury in a civil case Tuesday awarded $2.2 million to the family of a 26-year-old man who was shot and killed by a Los Angeles police officer a shooting that Chief Charlie Beck had deemed justified and Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey declined to prosecute. The panel deliberated six hours before deciding that the city should pay damages from the May 2013 shooting of Christian Eaddy, an African American man who had suffered a brain injury as a child. A jury will hold the Los Angeles Police Department accountable if supervisors and administrators choose to bless these bad shootings, said John C. Taylor, one of the attorneys representing the family. Advertisement Officers were dispatched to Eaddys Pacoima home on the afternoon of May 16, 2013. His cousin called 911 reporting that Eaddy was stabbing himself with syringes and was carrying two kitchen knives. The cousin told a dispatcher that Eaddy said he was trying to commit suicide, according to a summary of the incident detailed in a memo by the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. Eaddy was known to become aggressive with police, and four other family members were outside on the driveway watching him, the cousin told the dispatcher. When officers arrived, they saw Eaddy with the knives walking in circles, scraping the blades together as the family members stood by. Police issued several orders for Eaddy to get on the ground, but he advanced toward the officers while holding two large knives, prosecutors said. A witness recalled that Eaddy, striking the blades together, told the officers, Im not going to hurt nobody. Officer Fernando Avila fired his Taser stun gun at the young man, and nearly simultaneously, Officer Christopher Carr fired a single fatal round from about 9 feet away, according to a summary of the incident released by the LAPD in 2014. Eaddy was shot by police within 40 seconds after the officers arrived, according to attorneys for the family. He died at the hospital. Taylor said jurors could identify what a reasonable officer would do by comparing the actions of the two officers: one chose to use less-lethal force, not deadly force. Attorneys for the city had argued that Carr was acting in self-defense and and within the bounds of the departments policies. Edwin Rathbun, an attorney for the city, told the jury of eight men and four women that Carr was justified in using deadly force because Eaddy charged at the officers. The police chief and Los Angeles police commission both ruled in 2014 that the shooting was justified and within policy. In a Sept. 23, 2014, memo, the district attorneys office concluded that Carr had reasonable fear of death or significant injury, and he acted lawfully in self-defense and defense of others. Taylor said Eaddy could still be alive if the officers showed better judgment. He faulted the officers tactical decisions and questioned why they did not wait for several backup units that were en route to the scene. The lawyer also disputed the narrative offered by police and said Eaddy had placed the two knives in a shopping cart in the driveway of his home before he was shot. The knives were recovered from the shopping cart, he said. The department had insisted Eaddy was still holding the kitchen knives when the deadly round was fired. This is a trial about accountability, Taylor said. The LAPD has trouble accepting accountability when they do things wrong. Adding to the argument about the knives, attorneys for Eaddys family contended that the bullet struck Eaddy in a way that showed he turned toward the shopping cart. Thus, he was complying with the police commands, the lawyers said. The verdict was met with relief by Eaddys family, lawyers said, although the mans mother, Iola Propps, died last year. Unfortunately, his mother never got to see this day, Taylor said. For more news in California, follow @MattHjourno. ALSO Accused cop killer shot San Diego officers at point-blank range, prosecutor says City Council approves L.A.'s next police commissioner, attorney Cynthia McClain-Hill Dylan Noble, fatally shot by Fresno police, was drunk and had traces of cocaine in his body, autopsy shows A teenager accused of making terrorist threats and stalking military veterans at Universal Technical Institute in Rancho Cucamonga pleaded not guilty to a handful of felony counts Tuesday. Albert Maida, 19, a U.S.-born Syrian, was studying diesel mechanics at the automotive repair school when students reported him to the administration for making threatening comments and for saying he supported ISIS. Administrators contacted police on June 13 to report Maidas actions, and he was arrested for criminal threats when he arrived at school four days later on June 17. Advertisement According to police reports, students said that over a period of several weeks, Maida made comments in support of ISIS, showed students a picture of firearms he had at home, randomly shouted Allah hu Akbar in class and in the veterans lounge at the school, and asked another student, What would they do if I had a bomb in my backpack? Maida specifically targeted veterans, who are identified as former service members on their school name badges, according to reports. Based on what the students said, deputies felt the actions fulfilled criminal threats, said Jacob Bailey, public information officer from the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department, It was enough to act on the side of caution. The Universal Technical Institute suspended Maida and also increased the law enforcement presence on its Rancho Cucamonga campus, said a student services official. Maidas attorney, Peter Schlueter, said that Maida was initially released on $50,000 bail, paid by his family, but was rearrested last week after the San Bernardino County district attorney filed additional charges against him. He now faces five felony counts two for criminal threats, two for stalking, and one for making a bomb threat. His bail was hiked up to $750,000 and he is being held in a San Bernardino County Jail. Schlueter said that Maida is not a terrorist, but a regular 19-year-old who was simply responding to teasing from other students. He is a Syrian who was bullied at school for being Syrian. They called him ISIS and other things, Schlueter said. He reacted like a teenager. Hes not a meek kid, Schlueter added. If anything, hes mouthy. But Schlueter believes that if a white teenager said the same things that Maida is accused of saying, there would be no case. This is the result of blind prejudice, said Schlueter. During a search of Maidas home on June 17, deputies confiscated more than a dozen firearms, including a Browning automatic rifle and an AR-15 assault rifle. Maidas mother, Najwa Maida, defended her son and her familys right to own guns, which she said were only used for hunting. They are all clean, they are all licensed, she said. Just because my husband loves hunting, we are terrorists? Najwa Maida came to America in 1989 and said that her family is devoutly Catholic. Dozens of family members and friends, as well as a priest, accompanied the family to Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court on Tuesday, and a concerned bishop wrote a letter to the judge in Maidas defense. They just know that we are Arab. They dont recognize that we are Christian, she said, her voice wavering with emotion. They accused us of being terrorists, but they dont know that the terrorists killed our brothers; they killed our cousins. If convicted, Maida faces four years and four months in federal prison, according to the district attorneys office. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 11. Russia's representative in the Contact Group on Ukraine, Boris Gryzlov has noted positive trends towards better security on the contact line in Donbas over the year and a half of implementing the Minsk Agreements. "The February 12, 2015 Minsk Agreements will soon turn a year and a half. It would be possible to sum up the results. Chief among them is the end to the massive loss of life on the contact line and the everyday life gradually resuming in the southeast of Donbas," he told reporters after a Contact Group meeting in Minsk "Regrettably, there is no progress in the political settlement to back up these positive trends," Gryzlov said. An abandoned, illegal campfire sparked the Soberanes fire that has scorched more than 67-square miles of Monterey County and killed one person, state fire officials announced Tuesday. The campfire was about 2-feet by 2-feet and burning away from official hiking trails and campsites when it triggered the larger blaze a few miles east of Highway 1 north of Soberanes Creek Trail July 22, an investigator with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. Authorities are still searching for the person or persons who started the campfire. Advertisement The wildfire fire had burned 44,300 acres and was 25% contained Tuesday, Cal Fire said. It has destroyed 57 homes and burned down or damaged 15 other buildings, the agency said. Just over a quarter of the fire is in the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest, and about 28,000 acres were burning in state-controlled land, including state parks and private property, Cal Fire spokesman Bennet Milloy said. The wildfire killed Robert Reagan III, a bulldozer operator called in July 26 to help battle the fire. At some point, he suffered fatal injuries in a remote area on the southeast end of the fire on state parkland in Carmel, authorities said. Reagan, 35, was a Fresno County resident and the father of two young girls, the Monterey Herald reported. The blaze has been unusually active at night, hampering the firefight, Milloy told The Times. Most fires, we get a little bit of moisture recovery and humidity at night, but, unfortunately, that has not been the case on this entire fire so far, so we havent had that slower fire growth, Milloy said. Humidity as low as 5% has been recorded at night, which is incredibly low, he said. The fire is burning in mountainous regions with peaks up to 4,000 feet high, where the marine layer has had little effect in cooling things down, he said. Firefighters are working in pretty extreme, steep terrain, which has limited much of the battle to ridge-top firefighting, Milloy said. Crews also have been challenged by erratic, shifting winds. More than 5,500 firefighters were battling the blaze, which has burned an area larger than the city of San Francisco. The fire has prompted hundreds of evacuations. Numerous state parks along the Central Coast are expected to be closed through Aug. 6, as well as all trails and roads into the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest. See the most-read stories in Local News this hour >> Flames have encroached on illegal marijuana-growing operations and have forced rescues. On July 25, two people were tending to marijuana plants when they became trapped by flames. They were found by Monterey County sheriffs deputies and all 900 marijuana plants were destroyed by the fire. The next day, firefighters rescued eight men who had been lost for six days and were surrounded by flames while working on an illegal marijuana crop, the Monterey Herald reported. Cal Fire officials said the men were not injured. Meanwhile, crews have made good progress battling the 2,185-acre Goose fire south of Prather in Fresno County, according to Cal Fire. That blaze began Saturday afternoon off Gooseberry Lane and Morgan Canyon and had destroyed three homes. By Tuesday night, the Goose fire was 60% contained and 1,625 firefighters were on scene. As with many of the recent California wildfires, excessive heat, steep terrain and drought-dried vegetation have also been factors in fighting the Goose fire, which is burning in grass and oak woodlands, authorities said. In Los Angeles County, more than 500 firefighters continued to reinforce fire lines and mop up hot spots from the Sand fire in the Angeles National Forest near Santa Clarita. Though hot spots remained by the fire line on the southeast side over the weekend, the fire was not expected to spread, authorities said. Temporary road closures were expected intermittently along Sand Canyon, Placerita Canyon and Little Tujunga Canyon roads in the fire-affected areas this week as utility crews repair power lines. The Sand fire, which burned 41,432 acres and has been blamed for the death of one man, was 98% contained. Staff writer Hailey Branson-Potts contributed to this report. Joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. MORE LOCAL NEWS Man shot by LAPD after intense struggle at East Hollywood pharmacy, police say Catastrophic charter bus crash leaves five dead, L.A. driver seriously injured Former LAPD Chief William Bratton to resign as New York police commissioner UPDATES: 9:10 p.m.: This article was updated with additional figures about the growth and containment of the Soberanes and Goose fires. This article was originally published at 3:40 p.m. Police are searching for a man who they said brazenly attacked two women this week inside their apartments in East Hollywood and Echo Park. Authorities released surveillance footage Tuesday hoping that would help detectives identify and find him before his attacks escalate and become more violent. He is a sexual predator and we need to get him off the streets, said Officer Tony Im, spokesman of the Los Angeles Police Department. Advertisement Surveillance video captured the man walking to the front door of one womans apartment building in the 800 block of North Mariposa Avenue in East Hollywood and waving to a resident, who opened the door and let him inside. The man is seen walking casually through the lobby around 12:20 p.m. Monday before using his green shirt displaying an image of the Virgin Mary to grab the doorknob of the womans apartment, which she had left unlocked while she went to the buildings laundry room. Still holding a plastic bag and a beverage in one hand, the man slips inside. Once inside, the man waited for the victim, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. She returned to her apartment five minutes later to find the man standing behind the door, police said. He covered her mouth with one hand and pushed her against the wall. The woman fell the ground and began screaming. Her yells scared off the man, who ran out of her apartment, police said. An hour and a half later, the man was recorded on video walking through the parking garage of another apartment building in the 1600 block of Cortez Street in Echo Park, police said. At about 1:50 p.m., the man entered the building and the apartment of the second victim, who was at home and had also left her front door unlocked. As he ducked inside her apartment, her dogs began barking. She walked out of her room and saw the man in her living room. She asked, Whats happening? police said. The suspect replied, Youre pretty, I want to make you mine! Thats when he attacked her and slipped his hands in her shirt and fondled her. When she tried to pull away from him, he pinned her to the couch, police said. The womans dogs then tried to bite his leg. The woman was able to break free and push him out of her apartment. The man was described as black, 25 to 30 years old with black hair and brown eye, 6 feet tall and 170 to 190 pounds. Along with the green shirt, the man was wearing blue jeans and white shoes. Anyone with information about the man is urged to call LAPDs Rampart Burglary detectives at (213) 484-3487 or (213) 484-3486. To remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, text LAPD, then 274637 or visit anonymous web tips at LAPD Online. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. Police Wednesday were searching for two armed men who emptied the cash register at Rigos Taco restaurant in Pacoima. The men entered the store, located at 10750 Glenoaks Blvd., and approached the cashier around 11:20 p.m. Tuesday, said Los Angeles Police Officer Tony Im. As they were placing an order, one pulled out a handgun and told the cashier to open the cash register. The cashier complied, and the robbers took the money and fled on foot. Advertisement There are no suspects in custody. No one was injured in the incident, authorities said. The restaurant was open for business as usual the next day. Sergao Mecio, who works at the restaurant but was not present during the robbery, said that four employees, two men and two women, were working the closing shift when the suspects entered. I didnt know that happened, but I came in the morning and saw the news, Mecio said. erica.evans@latimes.com A wildfire near Napa Countys largest reservoir, Lake Berryessa, spread to 4,600 acres in about 24 hours, triggering evacuations as flames tore through a large swath of oak trees. The Cold fire started about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday off Highway 120 west of Pleasants Valley Road and the picturesque city of Winters in rural Yolo County, swiftly scorching the dry grass and timber. By Wednesday night, the fire was only 10% contained. Officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the volatile blaze was burning toward the north, often in remote areas that firefighters had difficulty reaching. Advertisement Late afternoon winds even sent flames over the fire line, forcing ground crews and aerial teams to rush to stem the break in the control boundary, according to Cal Fire. Low humidity and sweltering heat temperatures in the 90s also challenged the more than 620 firefighters deployed to the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Yolo County sheriffs deputies rushed to help evacuate dozens of residents at Golden Bear Estates and Canyon Creek Campground. So far, no homes have been destroyed, but flames threatened power lines along Highway 128, officials said. Encroaching flames have prompted road closures on Highway 128 from the Monticello Dam to Pleasants Valley Road. As the Yolo County fire burned, crews tried to gain control over the deadly Soberanes fire north of Big Sur on the Central Coast. That destructive blaze, which started July 22 from an abandoned, illegal campfire, grew 2,400 acres to 46,700 due to dry conditions in Monterey County. The massive blaze is 27% contained and is still threatening 2,000 homes, prompting numerous evacuations. Flames have consumed 57 homes, 11 outbuildings and five other structures. Bulldozer operator Robert Reagan III was killed July 26 while fighting the fire. The more than 5,500 firefighters assigned to the fire have been hampered by the steep, rugged hillsides. Flames are burning in dense woodlands that are difficult to reach, officials said. The blaze has triggered state park closures along the Central Coast through Saturday, as well as a host of road closures. Trails and roads within Los Padres National Forests Monterey District were also closed. Air quality officials were analyzing the impact of smoke on residents in the area. In Fresno County, the Goose fire had grown to 2,241 acres and was 70% contained by late Wednesday, although much of the blaze was smoldering in remote areas, according to Cal Fire. Since it began Saturday, the Goose fire has destroyed four homes and threatened an additional 400 homes or structures. Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. MORE LOCAL NEWS Its very sad: Mother with two kids, $500,000 in cocaine in car arrested on Interstate 5, officials allege Bodies from Angeles forest crash IDd as those of 3 missing Fontana teens Lonely? Porn 2.0 wants to help ... for a price of course UPDATES: 9:45 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details on the growth of the Soberanes, Cold and Goose fires. This article was originally published at 1:30 p.m. People who flock to the sand may wonder before dipping into the ocean are sharks lurking under the glassy surface just off the coast? The city of Newport Beach is trying to remove some of the mystery. Last week, Newport became the first city in Orange County to launch a page on its website that is dedicated to logging sharks and other marine animals found near the coast. The page also has information about how lifeguards respond to shark sightings and how visitors can be safe in the water. Advertisement In July, lifeguards deployed three acoustic receivers at the Newport Pier, the Balboa Pier and in the swim lines off Corona del Mar in an effort to gather information for the site. The receivers record data from marine animals previously tagged by researchers. When such an animal comes within 500 to 1,000 yards of one of the devices, a transponder on the tagged animal sends a signal. The animals identification number is then logged for tracking. The Web page launch comes two months after a swimmer was bitten by what officials thought might be a 10-foot great white shark at Corona del Mar. Experts have pointed to warmer ocean temperatures as a reason people might be seeing more sharks in Southern California this year. Its just like any other risk we have; we want to learn to educate the public, chief lifeguard Rob Williams said. If we educate ourselves and the public, maybe we can minimize the risks. Lifeguards are expected to pull the receivers and track the data every Monday through the summer in an effort to understand the behavior of sharks in the area, lifeguard battalion chief Mike Halphide said. The receivers will be collected more frequently ahead of planned swimming events; during non-peak months, they will be collected bimonthly or monthly. Halphide said lifeguards scope out the water each morning for sharks or other potential dangers. The data from the receivers, he said, helps them plan how to patrol the area. What were doing is trying to understand the cross-section of whats out there so we can better adjust our procedures, he said. So far, the citys Marine Animal Monitoring Log page contains details of four confirmed shark sightings in Newport Beach, one of which was discovered by the receiver in Corona del Mar. Data show that at 8:30 p.m. July 19, a 15-foot female great white shark that was tagged off Tomales Bay in Northern California swam past the device three times in a 10-minute period. See the most-read stories in Local News this hour >> The most recent ping on a receiver came Friday afternoon, when a bat ray tagged by Scripps in La Jolla swam by the Balboa Pier. Lifeguards say that while the devices give them insight into the behavior of tagged marine life, they arent without challenges. Since the transponder on a shark transmits a signal up to 1,000 yards, it can be difficult to determine how close the shark came to shore. Also, the information is not in real time, so theres no way yet to know whether theres a shark nearby when youre getting in the water. But the hope is that the information on the site will help more people understand all the risks associated with swimming in the ocean, officials said. Though there is a focus on sharks, an attack is a minuscule risk compared with dangers such as rip currents, Halphide said. Rip currents easily kill hundreds more people at the beach, he said. hannah.fry@latimes.com Fry writes for Times Community News. MORE LOCAL NEWS Its very sad: Mother with two kids, $500,000 in cocaine in car arrested on Interstate 5, officials allege Bodies from Angeles forest crash IDd as those of 3 missing Fontana teens Lonely? Porn 2.0 wants to help ... for a price of course The case against the man accused of killing three homeless men and critically injuring two others was put on hold Tuesday so his mental state could be evaluated. A prosecutor also revealed for the first time that Jon Guerrero, 39, allegedly used a railroad spike and hammer to attack all five of his victims. Guerrero, who was arrested July 15 in a string of attacks that started nearly two weeks earlier, faces murder, attempted murder and arson charges. Deputy Public Defender Dan Tandon on Tuesday asked the judge to suspend criminal proceedings so that a court-appointed psychiatrist could determine whether Guerrero is mentally competent to stand trial. Advertisement My client is severely mentally ill, Tandon said. Jon Guerreros arraignment is suspended at the request of his defense attorney Dan Tandon, who claims Guerrero is mentally ill. The judge requested the defendants face not be shown. (David Brooks / San Diego Union-Tribune ) But Deputy Dist. Atty. Makenzie Harvey argued that the way the crimes were carried out and Guerreros interaction with authorities after his arrest suggested he has the ability to understand the proceedings and assist his attorney. During this series of crimes, the defendant demonstrated extreme planning and sophistication, Harvey said. He selected homeless victims and, in each of the cases, the victims were sleeping.... The defendant attacked the victims with the same method and the same weapon. Harvey said an autopsy of the first victim, Angelo De Nardo who was found July 3 under a freeway bridge revealed a railroad spike had been driven into the 53-year-olds head and chest. He was then set on fire. The second victim, Manuel Nunez Mason, was found critically injured in the Midway District on July 4. A railroad spike had been driven into his sinus cavity, blinding him, Harvey said. Shawn Mitchell Longley, found dead in Ocean Beach on July 4; Derek Vahidy, who died of injuries suffered July 6; and a final victim, found bloodied July 15, apparently all were injured by railroad spikes found near the crime scenes, Harvey said. When officers arrested Guerrero, they found a mallet and railroad spikes in his backpack, authorities said, along with the identification of two of the victims. Later, a bucket that contained rocks, railroad ties and more spikes was found in his downtown apartment. As the two lawyers argued their points, Guerrero tilted his body to the right while holding his right ear. At one point he loudly stated, Six years! According to court records, Guerreros mental illness emerged in full force around age 22. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and considered disabled. At one point he was receiving monthly injections of Haldol, an antipsychotic medication. In 2009, Guerrero was arrested and pleaded guilty to robbery for repeatedly knocking down a homeless woman and stealing her bicycle. He was placed on probation and found not mentally competent. He then spent time in Patton State Hospital. lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com Winkley writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune Its been a symbol of honor that no one wants. The gold star denoting a family member who died in combat dates back to World War I, but before last week, the phrase Gold Star family wasnt as widely known as it was during World War II. Then came the controversy surrounding Donald Trump and Khizr and Ghazala Khan, who lost a son, Army Capt. Humayun Khan, to a suicide bomb in Iraq in 2004. Khizr Khan, speaking at the Democratic National Convention, challenged Trumps policies, saying, You have sacrificed nothing and no one. After Trump lashed out at the Khans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars was among the many who came to their defense, with VFW President Brian Duffy saying, Election year or not, the VFW will not tolerate anyone berating a Gold Star family member for exercising his or her right of speech or expression. Advertisement Monica McNeal, president of the Washington chapter of American Gold Star Mothers, wears pins honoring her son, Lance Cpl. Eric L Ward, who was killed in combat. (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press ) There are certain sacrosanct subjects that no amount of wordsmithing can repair once crossed, Duffy said. Arizona Sen. John McCain, in a statement released Monday, said Humayun Khan exemplified the best of America. Captain Humayun Khan of the United States Army showed in his final moments that he was filled and motivated by this love, McCain said. His name will live forever in American memory, as an example of true American greatness. But how did the gold star become a symbol of the ultimate sacrifice? During World War I, a practice developed across the country: Families displayed flags featuring a blue star, a sign that a family member was fighting in the war. Some flags would display more than one star. Just how the next tradition began is unclear, but when a soldier died, the blue star was replaced by a gold one. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson approved a recommendation by the Womens Committee of National Defenses to wear a black armband with a gold star an update on traditional signs of mourning. Its believed Wilson coined the term Gold Star Mother. Over time, two types of service flags were created. One banner had a white background, red border and blue star. The other had a white background, blue border and gold star. In 1928, 25 mothers met in Washington, D.C., to establish a national organization called American Gold Star Mothers Inc. That organization exists to this day. In 1947, Congress authorized the military to issue gold star lapel pins to families of those who had been killed in combat. In 1973, Congress approved another for families of service members who died while on active duty but not in combat. During World War II, the star flags were common sights across the country, often displayed in windows. That changed during the Vietnam War. During that unpopular conflict, when many Americans associated soldiers with government policies, many saw little value in displaying a blue or gold star flag. Those attitudes have changed in recent years. Its been a slow build to get its respect back, said Richard Parker, a public policy lecturer at Harvards John F. Kennedy School of Government. But there was a dissociation within the American public. They were disillusioned with the military after Vietnam. Parker credited Army Gen. Creighton Abrams, a prominent commander during the Vietnam War, with helping to restore the militarys reputation, especially as it moved away from the hugely unpopular draft of the Vietnam era. He used the fact that the military had converted to all-volunteer forces to gain some public favor, Parker said. After Abrams, Gen. Colin Powells support of President George H. W. Bushs Operation Desert Storm caused the militarys approval rating to soar, he said. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, further enhanced the militarys standing, prompting many Americans to enlist in the armed forces. See the most-read stories this hour Although the practice of displaying blue and gold stars has been revived since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the images still remain a mystery to some. The Republican Party in North Carolina sent out a tweet last week criticizing Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine for wearing what it said was a lapel pin of the Honduran flag when he accepted the Democratic Partys nomination for vice president. As a young man, Kaine spent a year as a missionary in Honduras, and the tweet called his flag pin shameful. Actually, Kaine was wearing a blue flag pin to acknowledge his son, a Marine. The North Carolina GOP later apologized. The widow of one serviceman once said she wished more Americans appreciated the meaning of the gold star. Donna Engeman lost her husband, Chief Warrant Officer John Engeman, in 2006 while he was stationed in Baghdad. In 2011 she told an interviewer with the U.S. Army that more needed to be done to educate people on the meaning of the gold star. Its disheartening to be so far into this war, she said, yet when I drive around with a bumper sticker and pin and people just dont know. alexia.fernandez@latimes.com Twitter: @alexiafedz ALSO The Khan familys road to confrontation with Donald Trump How Trump supporters are pushing back against the Khan controversy Veterans group chastises Trump for attacks on fallen soldiers parents Spider-Man, a.k.a. Jeremiah Martinez, 27, recalled the good old days, before June 21, when he had the run of Times Square. He had favorite spots where he climbed street signs to show off his Spidey-like abilities for tourists, hoping they would pose with him for photos in exchange for tips. On a recent sweltering weekday afternoon, the only thing Martinez could climb was a waist-high planter on the edge of one of eight designated activity zones, where he and the other costumed characters who once roamed Times Square are now corralled. Martinez said he was resigned to the new order of the Crossroads of the World, though he laments his receding tips (down from $200 a day to about $80) and the enjoyment he once found working the whole square. Advertisement It takes away some of the extra fun, but were dealing with it, said Martinez, who said hes making up the lost income by booking more childrens parties. Buzz Lightyear holds his mask while standing with other costumed superheroes and cartoon characters at Times Square in 2015 (Jewel Samad/Getty Images ) The city devised the activity zones after years of complaints about aggressive demands for tips and other bad behavior by some of the costumed characters. It was becoming a black eye for New York, said City Councilman Daniel Garodnick (D-Manhattan), who co-authored legislation that gave the citys Department of Transportation the authority to create the zones. There was Bad Elmo, as the New York tabloids called him, charged with disorderly conduct for yelling anti-Semitic rants and a costumed Spider-Man (not Martinez) arrested for punching a police officer. There were allegations of groping and aggressive hustles for tips, usually involving tourists who did not realize that posing with Cookie Monster or Mickey was the beginning of a cash transaction. So starting the first day of summer, the street characters were confined to the new zones 10-foot-by-50-foot rectangles marked off with teal-colored paint on the pavement of pedestrian plazas between West 42nd and West 47th streets, where Broadway and Seventh Avenue crisscross. It is a small stab at taming Times Square, the glittery, Technicolored public space that is a must-see for tourists and an important thoroughfare for residents and commuters. Between 350,000 and 450,000 pedestrians pass through it daily, according to the Times Square Alliance, a business improvement group. The cars, taxis, buses, hawkers selling tickets for bus tours and comedy shows and the contingent of costumed characters just add to the shifting mass. Costumed characters watch activists protest in Times Square. (Yana Paskova / Getty Images ) Dressed in his red and blue polyester outfit, Martinez was joined in an activity zone by a Smurf, two Minnie Mouses, a gowned and face-painted Statue of Liberty on stilts, Elmo, Mario (of video game fame), two Power Rangers and Woody from Toy Story. Hey lady, come take a photo, yelled a Power Ranger, his costume-clad feet placed carefully on the zones painted border. Tourists streamed by in one of the new pedestrian flow zones that are part of the new organizational plan, some glancing curiously at the spectacle. Some take photos from afar. Only a few actually enter the zone. The characters complain that it get overly crowded in their confinement. And several times, Martinez said, break-dancers have squeezed in, taking up the coveted perimeter spots. Business also suffers when Martinez and his partner 25-year-old Anthony Rosa, who dresses as Spider-Mans enemy Venom have to stand next to the desnudas, topless women wearing body paint. They also pose for tips. Rosa said the nearly naked women scare off families with children the target tourists for the costumed characters. Now we have to step to the side so that a butt isnt in the way, he said. Historically, Times Square always has had an edge. In the 1970s and 80s, it was a seedy streetscape filled with porn parlors, drug dealers and dive bars. The area got a cleanup in the 1990s under then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who ran the city on a law-and-order agenda. Now the square has evolved into a glitzy, Disney-fied stage for huge, video billboards and chain retailers and restaurants such as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., H&M and American Eagle Outfitters. Yet, with the costumed characters, painted topless women and ticket hawkers, a bit of grit remains. Officials said a desire to respect the character of Times Square was why they set limitations rather than bar hawkers and street performers altogether. Quirky is fine. Creepy is not, said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, which helped draft the new zone regulations. Ryan Russo, the DOTs deputy commissioner for transportation, planning and management, said negative experiences were outnumbering positive ones. In great public spaces you want to have performances, things to look at and to do, but there was a sense that the balance had gotten out of whack, Russo said. But creating zones for certain activities has raised concerns among some 1st Amendment experts like Norman Siegel, an attorney who was the longtime director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. What the city of New York is creating is a no-free-expression-zone and of all places to create that zone, in the quintessential public space which is Times Square, Siegel said in an interview. Siegel said three or four people have court dates in early September on summons that they violated the zone regulations. Siegel said he would wait to see what happens at the hearings before deciding whether to bring a court challenge. Violations carry penalties of up to $500 in fines or possible jail time for repeat offenses. Tompkins said legal ramifications had been carefully evaluated. There began to be this revelation that this wasnt artistic expression, it was commercial activity, he said. This is vending on the street where somebody is selling pictures in a public space where the city has a right to regulate it. Two blocks north of Spider-Man and friends, the most famous of Times Squares characters, the Naked Cowboy, strummed his guitar in another activity zone. Wearing his minimalist costume of cowboy boots and hat and white underwear, Robert Burck accommodated tourists who leaned into his toned torso for photos. Burck, who has been working Times Square for more than 18 years, said his business has been unaffected, still bringing in $500 to $600 a day in tips. He has noticed, however, an unexpected new sense of professionalism. Now when I get off the subway, I know Im going to work, Burck said. Im in the box. Vera Haller is a special correspondent ALSO Mr. Incredible convicted in Hollywood Boulevard brawl with Batgirl Want to play Superman on Hollywood Boulevard? You might need a pass for that Its tough out here: For costumed characters, Hollywoods Walk of Fame can be as dangerous as Gotham City Texas agreed Wednesday to weaken its voter ID law as courts across the U.S., with only months before the November election, are blocking Republican-controlled states from imposing polling place restrictions that critics say target minorities and the poor. The changes must still be approved by a federal judge. But the looser rules have the important blessing of the U.S. Justice Department and minority rights groups, who sued over the 2011 law and said that 600,000 voters would otherwise lack a suitable ID to cast a ballot this fall. Those voters would now be allowed to sign an affidavit to cast a regular full ballot, and their vote would be counted. Texas must also spend at least $2.5 million on voter outreach before November, according to the joint proposal that Texas and opponents of the law submitted to U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. Advertisement The provisions weve agreed to now are critical safeguards for voters, said Houston attorney Chad Dunn, who is one of the lead attorneys in the lawsuit against Texas. Its a critical leap forward. A spokesman for Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Texas worked fast to soften the law before election day after a federal appeals court last month ruled that the tough ID restrictions which accepted concealed handgun permits at polling places, but not college student IDs violated the federal Voting Rights Act. That was followed by courts Friday dealing setbacks to Republican efforts in three other states to restrict voting: blocking a North Carolina law requiring photo identification, loosening a similar measure in Wisconsin and halting strict citizenship requirements in Kansas. North Dakotas voter identification requirements are also on hold after a federal judge Monday sided with a group of Native Americans who said the law unfairly burdens them. More than 30 states have some form of voter ID rules. But the Obama administration in recent years joined the fight on a new breed of voter ID laws passed in Republican-controlled statehouses, sending the Justice Department to join lawsuits in Texas and North Carolina. ALSO Federal appeals court orders changes to Texas voter ID law Meg Whitman joins chorus of Republicans supporting Hillary Clinton Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine can speak Spanish. Do Latino voters care? Authorities said Wednesday that a Washington, D.C.-area transit police officer has been charged in an FBI sting with attempting to support the Islamic State militant group. The FBI says he is the first law enforcement officer in the U.S. to be charged with a terrorism-related crime. Court documents say 36-year-old Nicholas Young of Fairfax, Va., was arrested Wednesday morning. According to an affidavit, Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile apps that would facilitate communication. But Young actually gave the gift cards to an undercover FBI source. Advertisement Documents show Young has been under surveillance since 2010, and that he traveled to Libya twice in 2011, where he said he joined rebel forces seeking to oust dictator Moammar Kadafi. Officials say Young did not pose any threat to the Metro system. ALSO Hollande says Trump comments sometimes make his stomach turn Emirates airliner with 300 onboard crash-lands in Dubai Why some of Brazils growing homeless population would rather stay on the streets Photo taken on Aug. 1, 2015 shows steel tubes at a dock in Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. [Photo: Xinhua/Wang Chun] China is reportedly considering a sweeping overhaul of its steel industry that would consolidate major steel producers into two giants, with one located in the north and the other in the south. That is part of a latest Bloomberg's report, citing people familiar with the plan. The informed source said Shanghai Baosteel Group Corp and Wuhan Iron &Steel Group Corp will be merged into Southern China Steel Group, while Shougang Group and Hebei Iron &Steel Group will combine into Northern China Steel Group. Smaller steel companies could later be absorbed into the two new groups once they are established. The plan has yet to win formal approval. China's cabinet, or the State Council, issued a guideline on restructuring and reorganization of State-owned enterprises last Tuesday. According to the guidelines, related departments and industries are asked to steadily promote restructuring of enterprises in fields such as electric power, steel and iron, to efficiently cut excessive overcapacity and encourage restructuring of State-owned enterprises. Media say China promises to cut the overcapacity of 45 million tons in the steel industry in 2016, but over the past seven months, it has only finished 30 percent of its goal. A recent survey by Renmin University shows that over half of China's steel corporations are zombie companies. For more, CRI's Shane Bigham spoke earlier with John Ross, senior fellow at Chongyang Institute of Financial Studies, Renmin University. Meg Whitman joins chorus of Republicans supporting Hillary Clinton Meg Whitman, the Hewlett-Packard chief executive who ran unsuccessfully for governor of California in 2010, will back Hillary Clintons presidential campaign, joining other prominent Republicans troubled by Donald Trumps candidacy. As a proud Republican, casting my vote for president has usually been a simple matter. This year is different, Whitman wrote on Facebook. Donald Trumps demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character. Whitman, a major GOP fundraiser whose net worth is about $2 billion, also told the New York Times that she planned to raise money for Clinton. Whitman has already donated more than $100,000 to anti-Trump efforts, but her decision to actively solicit donations for Clinton is a major blow to Trumps fundraising, which has deeply lagged behind Clintons. Last month, Clinton raised $90 million for her campaign and that of other Democrats, while Trump said he raised a bit more than one-third of that. Trumps unsteady hand would endanger our prosperity and national security. His authoritarian character could threaten much more, wrote Whitman, urging fellow Republicans to reject his nomination. In recent days, Trump has drawn scorn from Democrats and Republicans alike for his criticism of an American Muslim family whose son died in combat in Iraq, and several leading Republican operatives have backed off from supporting Trump. Sally Bradshaw, an influential GOP strategist in Florida who advised former Gov. Jeb Bush during his primary campaign, announced Monday that she would leave the party. A day later, Maria Comella, a top former advisor to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, also called Trump a demagogue and signaled her support for Clinton. Trump, she said, has been a demagogue this whole time, preying on peoples anxieties with loose information and salacious rhetoric, drumming up fear and hatred of the other. The move by several Republican women to back Clinton underscores the issues the GOP nominee has had with female voters. Trumps comments about women, including suggesting that a Fox News reporter was menstruating when she questioned him in a Republican debate, have been the subject of advertising by Clinton and super PACs supporting her campaign. While speaking to reporters Tuesday, President Obama declared Trump unfit to become president and said Republican denunciations of Trumps actions were hollow if they continued to endorse him. There has to come a point at which you say, Enough, he said. The alternative is that the entire party effectively endorses and validates the positions that are being articulated. Whitman echoed some of the presidents themes in her Facebook post: Trumps reckless and uninformed positions on critical issues from immigration to our economy to foreign policy have made it abundantly clear that he lacks both the policy depth and sound judgment required as president. She added that in a tumultuous world, America needs the kind of stable and aspirational leadership Secretary Clinton can provide. Updated at 9:16 p.m.: The post was updated with additional comments from Whitman. Meg Whitman joins chorus of Republicans supporting Hillary Clinton Meg Whitman, the Hewlett-Packard chief executive who ran unsuccessfully for governor of California in 2010, will back Hillary Clintons presidential campaign, joining other prominent Republicans troubled by Donald Trumps candidacy. As a proud Republican, casting my vote for president has usually been a simple matter. This year is different, Whitman wrote on Facebook. Donald Trumps demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character. Whitman, a major GOP fundraiser whose net worth is about $2 billion, also told the New York Times that she planned to raise money for Clinton. Whitman has already donated more than $100,000 to anti-Trump efforts, but her decision to actively solicit donations for Clinton is a major blow to Trumps fundraising, which has deeply lagged behind Clinton. Last month, Clinton raised $90 million for her campaign and that of other Democrats, while Trump said he raised a bit more than one-third of that. Trumps unsteady hand would endanger our prosperity and national security. His authoritarian character could threaten much more, wrote Whitman, urging fellow Republicans to reject his nomination. In recent days, Trump has drawn scorn from Democrats and Republicans alike for his criticism of an American Muslim family whose son died in combat in Iraq, and several leading Republican operatives have backed off from supporting Trump. Sally Bradshaw, an influential GOP strategist in Florida who advised former Gov. Jeb Bush during his primary campaign, announced Monday that she would leave the party. A day later, Maria Comella, a top former advisor to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, also called Trump a demagogue and signaled her support for Clinton. Trump, she said, has been a demagogue this whole time, preying on peoples anxieties with loose information and salacious rhetoric, drumming up fear and hatred of the other. The move by several Republican women to back Clinton underscores the issues the GOP nominee has had with female voters. Trumps comments about women, including suggesting that a Fox News reporter was menstruating when she questioned him in a Republican debate, have been the subject of advertising by Clinton and super PACs supporting her campaign. While speaking to reporters Tuesday, President Obama declared Trump unfit to become president and said Republican denunciations of Trumps actions were hollow if they continued to endorse him. There has to come a point at which you say, Enough, he said. "... The alternative is that the entire party effectively endorses and validates the positions that are being articulated. Whitman echoed some of the presidents themes in her Facebook post: Trumps reckless and uninformed positions on critical issues from immigration to our economy to foreign policy have made it abundantly clear that he lacks both the policy depth and sound judgment required as president. She added that in a tumultuous world, America needs the kind of stable and aspirational leadership Secretary Clinton can provide. Updated at 9:16 p.m.: The post was updated with additional comments from Whitman. Donald Trumps central campaign thesis is that America is in steep decline that its citizens should be fearful of crime and terrorism until he can build a wall on the southern border, impose a religious test on immigrants and stand up for police officers. At the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, he tried to win support in his prime-time speech by claiming that as President Obamas tenure ends, Americans watching this address tonight have seen the recent images of violence in our streets and the chaos in our communities. Many have witnessed this violence personally, some have even been its victims. To live in Southern California with a functioning memory is to understand that this narrative is utterly bogus. For conservatives, the last golden age in American politics began in 1980, when Ronald Reagan took office. He declared it morning in America and left office so well-liked that his vice president, George H.W. Bush, was able to keep the White House in Republican hands for another four years. Advertisement But think back to the end of morning. Abroad, American soldiers were fighting in Iraq. And at home, especially here in Los Angeles, our communities were in actual chaos. In the spring of 1991, a man with a video camera caught LAPD officers brutally beating Rodney King. A year later, after a jury failed to convict the police officers involved, the city erupted in riots. Charred palm trees dotted the landscape. Racial tensions ran high, not just between black and white, but among African Americans, Latinos and Korean Americans. Every group was angry and afraid. And that was fairly rational. In 1992, 9 million people lived in L.A. County and there were 2,589 murders. If there was ever a moment to wonder if a diverse city could thrive, if its groups could coexist, that was it. After listening in Cleveland to dire portraits of an America made terrifying by immigrants, my personal reality check could not have been more stark. Today more than 10 million people live in L.A. County, and in the last 12 months, there were only about 650 people killed in L.A. In my youth, that figure would have been cause for ecstatic celebration; now its the norm. But L.A. isnt only bigger, its also more diverse. According to 2015 census figures, its home to around 1 million black people and the nations largest population of Latinos, Asians and American Indians. The Council on American-Islamic Relations estimates that there are roughly 500,000 Muslims in the wider region. Of course, those statistics dont capture what its like to live here day-to-day. After listening in Cleveland to dire portraits of an America made terrifying by immigrants, my personal reality check could not have been more stark. My plane touched down at LAX and I promptly hopped in a cab with a friendly Muslim man who drove me home. Then I lit out for my favorite Mexican taco truck. The next morning, I chatted at a Venice coffee shop with these fellow patrons: a Salvadoran immigrant from a Catholic family, a woman who converted to Judaism and a Buddhist. The next day I patronized businesses owned by people of Korean, Thai and Italian heritage. What would sound, in a former era, like the setup to an ethnic joke is now routine in Southern California. Im just your average Mexican American Jewish Italian, L.A. mayor Eric Garcetti said at the Democratic National Convention. America works best when every strand is woven into our national fabric. Neither he nor I mean to imply that there is no trouble in paradise. As Randy Newman, our regions most incisive satirist, has suggested, our mountain views and palm-tree lined boulevards shouldnt blind us to the homeless folks camped out on the streets. Terrorism may well represent a bigger threat today than it once did. Then again, in 1999 a white supremacist sprayed 70 rounds into a Jewish community center in Granada Hills it was a miracle that no one died then murdered a postal worker because he thought he was Latino or Asian. (He was Filipino American.) Still, if diversity has, in other times and places, coincided with balkanization or even sectarian violence and war, L.A. is proof that we can all, more or less, get along. The citys thriving relative not just to earlier incarnations of itself, but to most places around the country, past and present. To live here is to see that for all the problems we have to solve, Trump is badly out of touch. You can bet hell lose Los Angeles by a historic margin. Conor Friedersdorf is a contributing writer to Opinion, a staff writer at the Atlantic and founding editor of the Best of Journalism, a newsletter that curates exceptional nonfiction. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook MORE FROM OPINION L.A. isnt a suburb. We need to stop planning it like one. To fight Trump, journalists have dispensed with objectivity Republicans are bailing from Trumps sinking ship. Can they stay away this time? Donald Trump has found a new target for his anger: fire marshals. Over the months, the Republican nominee has attacked undocumented immigrants, Muslims, Mexicans, the media, the polls, big business even Gold Star parents who dared to criticize him. Now its the firefighters turn. Twice in the last five days, Trump has publicly attacked local fire officials for limiting the number of people he can pack into his indoor rallies. They dont know what the hell theyre doing, he told supporters in Colorado Springs, Colo. This is why our country doesnt work. Advertisement Maybe theyre a Hillary person, he added. Could that be possible? Probably. (Actually, probably not. Colorado Springs is run by Republicans.) Trump didnt mention that only a few minutes earlier, the same fire department had freed him from a stalled elevator in a hotel. Or that the fire marshal who capped his audience at 1500 raised the limit by 100 after he decided it was safe to do so. Or that the same fire marshal, a man named Brett Lacey, won an award last year for helping to save wounded civilians at a 2015 mass shooting. It doesnt upset me, Lacey told a local television station. Were just doing our job. Exactly. But Trump doesnt seem to get that. Two days later, he lashed out against another fire marshal, this time in Columbus, Ohio. They said in this massive building youre not allowed to have any more than 1000 people, and thats nonsense, he said. Its really politics at its lowest. (Officials said they told Trumps staff days earlier that the facility could only handle that many because of construction outside.) Heres why its worth pausing to consider the way Trump handles minor frustrations like safety regulations: Its another window into his worldview and the way he would handle the much larger frustrations that come with being president. To Trump, everyone is either for him or against him not just other politicians like Ted Cruz or Hillary Clinton, but ordinary civilians like Brett Lacey and Khizr Khan. Anything that stands in his way a difference of opinion, a local fire regulation is probably a conspiracy by his opponents. Last week, he accused the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates of working with the Clinton campaign to rig the debate schedule. (The commission announced the debate schedule last September, long before the nominees were chosen.) Earlier, he said authorities should investigate federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who ruled against him in lawsuits over the defunct Trump University. (He also said the Indiana-born Curiel should recuse himself from the case because hes a Mexican.) If [Donald Trump]s elected, well find ourselves governed by a man who lets petulance and his sense of victimization take over his judgment. And for anyone who really does oppose Trump, his standard response is to threaten retaliation. During the primaries, he warned Joe and Melanie Ricketts, GOP donors who gave more than $5 million to a group opposing his nomination, that they would regret the decision. They better be careful, Trump tweeted, they have a lot to hide! He threatened even more bluntly to retaliate against Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon and the Washington Post, because of the newspapers critical coverage. If I become president, oh, do they have problems, he said in February. Theyre going to have such problems. Its possible, as some have, to look at this record and conclude that Trump is simply thin-skinned. But if hes elected, well find ourselves governed by a man who lets petulance and his sense of victimization take over his judgment. Those are unattractive traits in a candidate and dangerous ones in a president, who has all the machinery of the White House plus federal law enforcement, the intelligence community and the military at his command. The Constitution places limits on the powers of the president, but Trump doesnt always seem to understand that. Early in the campaign, Trump said he would order U.S. forces to target the spouses and children of Islamic State fighters and reinstitute torture as an interrogation method. When former CIA Director Michael V. Hayden said those actions would be illegal, and pointed out that U.S. military officers are required to disobey illegal orders, Trumps first response was cocksure. Theyre not going to refuse me, he said. His campaign later released a written clarification: I do, however, understand that the United States is bound by laws and treaties, and I will not order our military or other officials to violate those laws. It didnt sound much like the real Donald Trump. Another warning sign: Trumps admiration for Russias Vladimir Putin and other foreign autocrats. Hes a leader, Trump has said of Putin. Hes certainly doing a better job than Obama is. All these red flags have led many Republicans, as well as Democrats, to worry about the GOP nominees fitness for office. I would like some assurances that hes not going to be an autocrat, that hes not going to be an authoritarian, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) told the conservative Newsmax network. Heres a simpler, homier test. An old adage says you can judge a persons character by the way they treat the waiter in a restaurant in other words, by the way they treat people with less power. Like the Khans or all those fire marshals. doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com Twitter: @DoyleMcManus Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook. MORE FROM OPINION To fight Trump, journalists have dispensed with objectivity Should we care about Hillary Clintons historic candidacy? Republicans are bailing from Trumps sinking ship. Can they stay away this time? Russia flies a different flag now, but its song remains the same the tune of the Russian Federation anthem is the old Soviet Unions, unchanged. And unchanged too is Russias endless strategizing against the United States. Masha Gessen is a Russian American journalist, author of a critical biography of Vladimir Putin called The Man Without a Face, the Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin. Nuclear arsenal aside, Russia is not the power it once was, but comments by Donald Trump and the WikiLeaks release of hacked Democratic Party documents has brought the relationship of the uneasy adversaries into sharper focus, and brought more questions to the fore. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS INTERVIEW ON THE PATT MORRISON ASKS PODCAST Advertisement Software analysts say Russian intelligence or Russian intelligence-related somebodies hacked Democratic emails. Whats going on? Russia is a disruptive force on the world stage, and thats actually what it aims to be. And I think this is where a very important distinction comes in that people tend to miss: There is no doubt that various Russian intelligence services, and in this particular case were talking about two different intelligence services that apparently werent aware of each other while they were hacking the Democratic National Committees emails. Russian intelligence services hack what they can and aim to create as much havoc, both in Western Europe and in the United States, especially around election time. Thats quite different from saying, as some people have said, Oh, theyre trying to throw the election to [Donald] Trump. I dont think thats whats going on. It actually doesnt work out chronologically either. But they are trying to cause trouble. Would this hacking be meant to be directed at just destabilizing, just causing trouble, or is there a goal, an outcome that they might have in mind? Thats the really important question. I dont think theres a goal that they have in mind. And there are several things that point in that direction. One is that Russia doesnt usually have a goal in mind. Its that the Putin government and Putin himself are not known for creating strategy. What they are known for is creating havoc. The other thing is that talk of the chronology: Both of these actual hacking attacks by the two different agencies occurred in 2015, long before one occurred earlier long before it was even clear that Trump had a shot at the nomination. I think the goal was very much just to create trouble, which is what Russia is known for. The other thing is, of course, that Putin hates Hillary Clinton. This is very personal for him. He has accused Hillary Clinton personally of having inspired and funded the protests in Russia in 2011, 2012. So imagining that Putin wants to do anything possible to prevent the election of Hillary Clinton, that is easy to imagine. How much of this is Putin aware of, do you think, or perhaps even sanctioned or directed? Russia is not a well-run country, and even though it is structured as though it was perfectly centralized, in fact it isnt. And Putin is fairly isolated from a lot of his own government agencies. And the fact that there are these two intelligence agencies that have carried out the two hacking attacks, the fact that they apparently, according to American experts, werent aware of each other, actually points away from the Kremlin and suggests this wasnt personally ordered by Putin. A lot of the way the Russian government works and Russian society works at a larger level has to do with trying to do their best and currying favor by producing good results. So it very much looks to me like these two intelligence agencies were trying to carry out what they thought would be liked by the Kremlin. And then, if they produced good results, that would mean being in favor with the Kremlin and getting additional funding. Thats a lot of the way Russian politics works. One bureaucrat I interviewed once several years ago said, We dont carry out orders, we carry out emanations. Emanations? Emanations, yeah vague signals that point them in the direction in which they should be working. So I think these two agencies were carrying out emanations. It sounds like government by Ouija board. Exactly. And thats the impression you get sometimes. But we havent mentioned Assange, Julian Assange, who made the ultimate decision about when he was going to release the information that he got from the Russian intelligence agencies. We dont know that it was the Russians who decided to release this information just before the Demo convention. That actually looks like it was Assanges decision. Assange is no great fan of Hillary Clinton, and Assange is also a destructive force, and Assange has ties to at least functional ties to Russian intelligence. But hes not been a Russian agent, and hes certainly not Putins personal agent. He has been asked and has said he wont talk about whether theres any governments hand behind these leaks, behind the information. Right, but we dont need Assange to tell us that. I mean, we have top-level American cyber experts telling us that, yes, there is a Russian government hand. But a Russian government hand doesnt mean Putins hand. Would Putin be pleased, or at least not unhappy, with what he has been hearing from the Trump campaign? Given the choice, Putin would prefer Trump to Hillary. There are some things that Putin would certainly like about Trump, including his statement about NATO, and including the fact and this is probably even more important that clearly he doesnt know what the hell is going on in Ukraine, as it shows in the responses he was giving in an interview over the weekend when he made it clear that he had no idea that Russia has actually been waging war on Ukrainian territory for over two years. Thats nice for Putin. He would much prefer to deal with an ignorant buffoon as an American president than he would with a master strategist and a policy wonk and a hawk like Hillary Clinton. I remember reading that when John F. Kennedy was elected, Khrushchev was thinking, Heres a boy, heres a pushover. And certainly Kennedy did not fare well in some of the talks, the initial talks, in his administration with the Soviet Union. The Berlin Wall went up nonetheless. But then there was the Cuban missile crisis. Does the Kremlin, then and now, assess these things strategically, the leadership of the United States, and the mood and the political direction of the United States? That is a really great question and it really goes to the heart of this. We try to make sense of of the way the Kremlin acts by imagining that it functions very much like the American government, which isnt perfect but which has a bit of a longer-term view. Its not true at the Kremlin. I think what youre getting at, and this is very accurate, is that the benefit of having somebody whos ignorant and doesnt have a set anti-Putin opinion becomes American president, that benefit is very short-lived. I cant imagine a Trump-Putin friendship that lasts more than a few months. In fact, I think thats the real danger, or one of the really huge dangers, of seeing Trump become, God forbid, president of the United States, that it will not be a long-lasting friendship, and we will be on the brink of nuclear war because we will have two unpredictable, irresponsible non-strategic leaders in charge of our the worlds nuclear arsenals on both sides. Should we wait for the other shoe to drop, that there will be emails forthcoming from the Republicans or the Trump campaign? Thats a good question. I dont know. I think there are a lot of variables at play. I dont have information about hacked Republican emails. Theres also the variable of the intermediary. We havent seen Russians actually release any of these emails directly. So would someone like Julian Assange, again, be interested in releasing those emails if that happens? Or Anonymous? Or some other agent of information dumping? Will they have an interest in it? And finally, how disruptive would really seeing Republican National Committee emails be? Its hard to predict these things, but I dont see that at this point it would have much disruptive value. What are we likely to find out that Republicans were terrified of seeing Trump become the candidate? We know that. Thats not going to pack any sort of punch. If, on a broader level, youre asking, should we expect more disruption from Russia during this election, then yes, by all means, we should expect more disruption from Russia. If, to the satisfaction of the U.S. government, it were found that the Russian government was indeed behind these hacks and these leaks, is there any risk to Russia? What possible retaliation could be constructed? Russia is like the playboy hooligan, which is one of Russians favorite words for disrupting social order. Its not afraid of reprimand, its not afraid of becoming a pariah on the world stage it already is. What would the United States do back to Russia? Hack its emails and find out that they dont really talk about anything, and theres no policy discussion in that country whatsoever, which is what we would likely find out? I think the Western world is largely helpless in the face of people who seek to do nothing but create havoc and disrupt things, and that is an accurate description of both Putin and Trump. I was thinking that even 25 or 30 years ago, the very idea that the then-Soviet Union would have hacked into and tried to perhaps disrupt a presidential campaign would have this country, the United States, in an uproar, and it doesnt seem to have happened. Do you have any sense of why thats the case? Part of it is we dont actually feel like the United States is in a Cold War, in a confrontation with Russia. I think that Russia is perceived accurately as a huge nuisance, which I know is a little oxymoronic, but I think its accurate in this case, except for, of course, that its got nukes. But unlike 30 years ago, were not obsessed with nukes. Somehow we think that its unthinkable that nuclear weapons would be used, which I think is shortsighted and inaccurate. So we think thats the worst they can do is hack some emails. I think another thing is and I think that has to do just with the United States is a general distaste for the American political establishment, which is very different from the way Americans felt 25 or 30 years ago when they owned their establishment. I think at this point, theyre alienated from it. And the fact that somebody hacked into the establishment, which is how its perceived, that doesnt cause outrage. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook MORE FROM OPINION Trump versus the fire marshals (and everyone else) Millennials are having less sex than any generation in 60 years. Heres why it matters. To live in L.A. is to know Trump is wrong: America is not in decline Republican Donald Trump, the second-most likely person to take over as president in 2017, wants you to know he never asked why the United States cant just use nuclear weapons and be done with our enemies already. Call me cynical, but I dont believe him. Not because incinerating entire cities with a single bomb strikes me as an ingenious strategy that must stay under wraps because it suffers from bad PR (like NAFTA or the TPP). I dont believe Trump because the outlandish statements hes made into microphones and TV cameras for everyone to hear make it entirely plausible that he would wonder in private about making greater use of Americas terrifying nuclear arsenal. Heres an experiment: Put Trumps alleged nuclear bellicosity alongside his more well-known offenses. Shut down Muslim immigration to the U.S. Kill the families of terrorists. Vladimir Putins a great leader. Daughter Ivanka should quit her job if shes sexually harassed. More countries should have nuclear weapons. And we should use ours. Advertisement A presidents public statements matter they provide valuable clues to the thinking of the worlds most indispensable person. Its beyond dispute that Trump uttered five of those statements (records of them exist, just like President Obamas birth certificate), and now he denies making the sixth. This is a man who thought it would be no big deal to riff on Russian hackers destroying the political career of his Democratic opponent. Leave aside for the moment that Trumps candidacy provides a frightening reminder why no country can be trusted with nuclear weapons. On a broader level, a presidents public statements matter they might come across as insincere and too politically massaged, but they provide valuable clues to the thinking of the worlds most indispensable person. And Donald Trump, who allegedly thinks we havent used our nuclear weapons enough, must not become that person. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook MORE FROM OPINION An Olympics lesson for L.A. from Rio To live in L.A. is to know Trump is wrong: America is not in decline Vote in jail? Bill increases the heat more than the light How much easier does Donald Trump have to make it before House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and U.S. Sen. John McCain finally withdraw their endorsements of a Republican nominee who, as The Times editorial board said back in March, is uniquely unqualified to be president? Trumps disparagement this week of the parents of a Muslim U.S. Army captain who killed in Iraq proved hes also incapable of leading the U.S. armed forces usually a big issue with Republicans, particularly McCain, a veteran and former POW in the Vietnam War. Top elected Republican officials should put country before party, the board said, and withdraw their endorsements of Trump. President Obama advised the same, pointing out that while he had policy difference with his Republican rivals for the White House, Mitt Romney (2012) and McCain (2008), I never thought that they couldnt do the job. Trump? Unqualified, and the top Republicans should say so. Advertisement There has to come a point at which you say, Somebody who makes those kinds of statements doesnt have the judgment, the temperament, the understanding to occupy the most powerful position in the world, Obama said. Its hard to find a principled stance in party leaders sticking with Trump. And now Trump has distanced himself from Ryan and McCain, who are both running for reelection, saying, Im not quite there yet, when asked if he would support Ryan. And he flat out said, Ive never been there with John McCain, complaining that McCain has a poor record on veteran issues. Yet Ryan and McCain still endorse Trump. Its hard to find a principled stance in party leaders sticking with Trump. This is a candidate who risks running the Republican Party into a ditch, and who has an embarrassing well, he should be embarrassed lack of knowledge about how the U.S. government, and the world, works. Hes a demagogue and a bully who would make the world a more dangerous place. He has recommended, at various times, that Muslims be barred from entering the U.S. and that families of terrorists be killed (which would be a war crime). He mocked a disabled journalist then lied about it, and made disparaging comments about a female Fox television host then lied about it. He pledged to open up our libel laws to go after news organizations that write critically about him (hes already banned several organizations from covering his campaign events), suggesting that he has little regard for the 1st Amendment. And the list goes on. The New York Times described the failure of top Republicans to repudiate the vileness that heads their ticket as spineless. They are either that, or grotesquely Machiavellian, falling in line behind a man who seems more suited to be a despot than a president, all for the sake of a false front of party unity. The Republicans are as far from unified as a political party can get. The best-case scenario for the party, and the nation, would be for Trump to get routed in the fall and, as the dust settles, the historic conservative base to move the party back from the edges of its current insanity. The worst-case scenario for the nation is that Trump wins, validating his dark and despicable view of the world, and with a Congress whose leadership thus far refuses to stand up to a bully. Scott.Martelle@LATimes.com Follow my posts and re-tweets at @smartelle on Twitter To the editor: In his opinion piece, Victor Davis Hanson presents a series of racist views masquerading as realism, because being openly racist is not acceptable. While the title of his piece may be defensible, its contents are not. ( Why borders matter, Opinion, July 31) His argument boiled down to Western civilization and ways are the best ways, and we have to keep all the dirty brown people away from it because they will pollute our pure civilization and bring with them all of the problems that make their homes unlivable. This was not the case for 19th century Irish, German, or Italian immigrants as Anglo and Protestant Americans once feared, and it is not the case today. Still he claims that political correctness (read: being expected to not be racist) has changed the language we use to describe migration for the worse, becoming more nebulous, as he says, turning illegal alien into undocumented immigrant, even though the only change in the term has been to remove its dehumanization. Undocumented immigrant describes the same thing as illegal alien that is, someone who has moved into the country without being authorized just without adding the unnecessary layer emphasizing foreignness and criminality. Advertisement We may not be able to rid ourselves of borders anytime soon, but the reasons are not because of a need to protect Western civilization from those outside it joining in. Chris Healy, Mission Viejo .. To the editor: Hanson takes a long two paragraphs to get to unchecked Mexican immigration, and spends the rest of his piece hiding his real feelings behind quotes from Plutarch to Jeb Bush. But his last line gives him away: Between friends, unfenced borders enhance friendship; among the unfriendly, when fortified, they help keep the peace. When did America declare Mexico unfriendly? Its amazing how much intellectual hand-waving is needed to hide basic race-baiting. Kelley Willis, Venice .. To the editor: Hanson defends borders as intrinsic to human nature, with a long history, and reflecting rather than creating difference. According to Hanson, those who question the value of borders are elites who can erect their own walls to protect themselves and their property, or discredited communists who once urged universal labor solidarity as a way to prevent war. He dismisses migrants as people who seek only economic opportunity and claims that they fail to assimilate. He is wrong. This is not an either/or issue. Yes, some migrate for economic opportunity a worthy goal. Others flee famine, oppression, or war. They seek refuge and deserve it. It may take time, but most do adapt and assimilate. They also invigorate their host cultures and economies. Cultural and ethnic purity are never a worthy goal. Our country proves the benefits of diversity and change. Karin B. Costello, Santa Monica .. To the editor: Wow. An essay on why borders matter and a fact-based discussion comparing mass shootings in the U. S. to those in the EU. I did a double take to make sure I was reading my Sunday Times. Do those pieces foretell greater balance? Or are they merely summer replacements with regular programming (pun intended) to be resumed in the fall? Gerry Swider, Sherman Oaks Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: Its a shame that The Times didnt consider education one of the key topics to include in this article. The vice presidential candidates backgrounds exemplify differences between the parties on this issue. ( Back Story: Rival platforms miles apart, July 31) Ronel Kelmen Wright, El Segundo .. Advertisement To the editor: In your ruse rival platforms comparison, why did the reporters leave out other topics including: The Economy, Syrian Refugees, National Security, Law Enforcement or Russian Relations? Simple, to me: in every one of these topics the Democrats fall woefully short on the logic or the defense behind their positions. .. Dave Mulnard, Tustin To the editor: Regarding our divided country and platforms, may I comment that Mike Pence, the GOP VP nominee, describes himself as a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order. Perhaps, if the order was restated to say: first an American, then a Republican and then a Conservative, and leave his religion out, we might have more unity; after all, we are not living in a theocracy. Amelia R. Pedrazzi, Hacienda Heights Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Debora Matthews, a 64-year-old Republican, loaded plastic grocery bags into her sport utility vehicle one day this week, down the road from where Donald Trump was entertaining a crowd at a high school auditorium. Matthews shook her head in disgust at the campaign, unable to help her 18-year-old daughter figure out whom to vote for, and considering a Democrat for president for the first time in her own life. His mouth is digging a hole for himself that hes falling into, Matthews said of Trump. Its kind of scary. You cant be that way when youre handling the lives of the people in our country. If Trump recovers from one of his worst weeks as a candidate, he will need to cement, rather than repel, voters like Matthews in swing states like Virginia. Advertisement Interviews with dozens of voters here and in Arizona, another battleground, suggest that many of Trumps core supporters remain locked in and are willing to ignore, forgive or defend the candidates statements. But Trump may be losing a chance to close the deal or make gains with those who are less committed during a crucial phase of the campaign. The small percentage of voters who have not made up their minds in presidential elections often begin forming stronger opinions during and after the two party conventions, the second of which concluded last week. By distracting voters from Hillary Clintons problems and his own message that the economy and immigration system are not working, Trump could be squandering his best opportunity to close Clintons advantages in polling and electoral math; she leads by more than four points in an average of recent polls. And its places like the Phoenix area and the Virginia suburbs near Washington dotted with new housing developments, bustling strip malls and groups of teenagers zipping around on bicycles that could decide the election. A Trump comeback probably wont begin with Matthews. She worries about immigration enforcement, believes the country needs change and was hoping to find a reason to support Trump. But the stay-at-home mom and wife of a military man said Trumps insults last weekend directed at the parents of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who died serving in Iraq, likely sealed her opposition. When someone died protecting their country, that is the ultimate. And to not respect that is terrible, Matthews said of Khan. I know he doesnt know a lot about that type of life. But he shouldnt be talking about it. Trumps battle is hardly lost, though. Many voters loathe Clinton and say they could never bring themselves to choose her. And even as Trump reopened fissures with top elected Republicans this week, his bond with disaffected voters has proved more resilient after past flare-ups. Debora Matthews, a Republican, said she probably wont vote for Donald Trump. (Noah Bierman / Los Angeles Times ) Stubborn bastards get things done, and we need things done, said Brad ONeill, 52, of Phoenix. Even those upset with Trumps attacks on Khans parents believed that other recent controversies, such as his public invitation last week to Russia to find and release Clintons deleted emails, were overblown and misinterpreted by Democrats and the media. Ive come to expect these things from Trump, said Carrington Gupte, 25, of Phoenix. Hes a loose cannon, he suspects everyone is a fraud and everything is rigged. While I dont support his statements about the Khan family, it does not affect my view of him as a presidential candidate. Outside Trumps rally in the Virginia high school, the support was even more full-throated. Men, women and children with Hillary for Prison T-shirts and Make America Great Again hats stood hours in a line snaking around the school, where the gym quickly filled to capacity. A few said they had not heard much about Trumps insults of the Khan family. Others complained that Trump had been subject to a double standard, given that Pat Smith, who lost her son in the attack in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012 had said Clinton lied to her face about the cause of his death. After Khizr Khan denounced Trump at the Democratic National Convention, Trump said Khan had no right to question him, suggested that Khizrs wife did not speak because she is Muslim, and compared his own career as a business owner to their sacrifice as a military family. Loree Thompson, who brought her 13-year-old son to the rally, echoed a defense popular among Trump supporters, the unsubstantiated claim that the Khan family had been paid by Democrats. Loree Thompson brought her 13-year-old son, Brody, to a Donald Trump rally in Virginia. (Noah Bierman / Los Angeles Times ) Does his mouth sometimes get him in trouble? she said of Trump. Hillary, she can say it perfectly. What does that mean? What is she doing for us? But even among the faithful, there were signs of concern. Lou Forbrich, a retiree from Maryland, said he had been a Trump supporter since the businessman announced his presidential run last year, but he was having doubts. Its not one straw thats going to break the camels back. Its any number of straws, he said. If hes going to get people to his side, he cant say what hes saying and distance himself from the rest of the population. Forbrich said he would not support Clinton Hell no! but could nonetheless withhold support from Trump. Once his rally began inside the auditorium, Trump sounded confident that he would win over skeptics like Forbrich, using characteristically brash language. Even if you cant stand Donald Trump, you think Donald Trump is the worst, youre going to vote for me, he said. You know why? Justices of the Supreme Court. He warned that Clinton could pick five super-libs, shifting the balance of power for decades. The argument could certainly hold sway among conservative voters. Its been a top talking point for elected Republicans who have other policy disagreements with Trump. But that approach probably wont be effective with Nancy Smith, a teacher who was renting movies with her husband, Joe, a retired Secret Service agent, Tuesday afternoon near their home here. They cant commit to either candidate believing Trump is too volatile and Clinton a liar. Hes crazy, and I really cant stand her, said Nancy Smith, who voted for President Obama in 2008 and 2012. Trumps rhetoric has become too ugly for Joe, who supported the Republican nominees in the last two elections. For somebody whos trying to unite people, he said of Trump, hes saying some things that are divisive. Bierman reported from Ashburn and Duara from Phoenix. Twitter: @noahbierman, @nigelduara How Khizr and Ghazala Khan went from grieving parents to stars of the presidential race Obama says Trump is unfit to serve, and Trump threatens to walk away from leading Republicans Trump mired in another day of controversy with family of soldier killed in Iraq What do babies, profanity and a lawsuit saga have in common? If its 2016, the answer is the Republican presidential nominee. Im Christina Bellantoni, and this is Essential Politics, a guide to the newsy and sometimes wacky happenings in the political world. Advertisement The biggest thing that happened to Donald Trump came late Tuesday when the San Diego judge who has been the target of the politicians repeated criticism blocked the release of Trumps testimony videos in the Trump University legal battle. U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel denied the request from news organizations for transcripts and video of Trumps depositions. He said there might be legitimate public interest, but the likely media frenzy that would come had a greater potential for harm. Also making headlines Tuesday were a cursing child at a Trump rally, and a crying baby that the billionaire real estate mogul at first called beautiful and then added when it didnt stop, Actually You can get the baby out of here. DEFECTING REPUBLICANS President Obama suggested Tuesday that Republicans should pull their endorsements of Trump, calling him unfit to serve in the White House. Thats probably not the reason a top aide to Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that shell be voting for Hillary Clinton. Im voting for her because I dont believe its enough to say you arent for Donald Trump, said Maria Comella. Also opting out was retiring New York Rep. Richard Hanna. But the biggest defection of the day was Meg Whitman, the Hewlett-Packard chief executive who ran unsuccessfully for governor of California in 2010. As a proud Republican, casting my vote for president has usually been a simple matter. This year is different, she wrote on Facebook. Donald Trumps demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character. Meanwhile, Trump declined to endorse Sen. John McCain or Speaker Paul Ryan for re-election. BACK TO THE BANK Clinton returns to California to raise money for the campaign later this month. The marquee event is a star-studded $33,400-per person luncheon at the Los Angeles home of Oscar winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio on Aug. 23. According to an invitation obtained by The Times, DiCaprios other hosts include Jennifer and Tobey Maguire, Jennifer Aniston, Scooter and Yael Braun, Shonda Rhimes and Chris Silbermann. There is an Aug. 22 evening fundraiser in Beverly Hills chaired by Megan and Peter Chernin, Willow Bay and Bob Iger, Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg, Cheryl and Haim Saban, Alba and Thomas Tull, Ellen and Jon Vein and Laura and Casey Wasserman. Minimum contribution levels are $2,700. Co-hosts get a reception with the candidate and must give or raise $27,000. Hosts must give $100,000 per couple, and they get a photo and dinner with Clinton. There are two Aug. 23 fundraisers in Laguna Beach. One is hosted by Frank Barbaro, Mike Levin and Melahat Rafiei and has similar contribution levels to the Beverly Hills event. Proceeds first go the campaign, then a Democratic National Committee fund, then state parties. The other Laguna Beach fundraiser that day is a lunch hosted by Janet Keller and Chantal and Stephen Cloobeck. It costs $33,400 or $100,000 per couple. Clinton announced Tuesday she raised $90 million in July for her campaign and other Democrats. Get the latest from the campaign trail on Trail Guide and follow @latimespolitics. Check our daily USC/Los Angeles Times tracking poll at the top of the politics page. DNC WOES CONTINUE The fallout from leaked emails that cost Debbie Wasserman Schultz her job as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee continued Tuesday, with the departures of three other high-profile party officials. Chief Executive Amy Dacey, Chief Financial Officer Brad Marshall and Communications Director Luis Miranda all left their posts at the DNC, departures tied to the emails, a source told The Times. OOPS, WRONG WINNER! Secretary of State Alex Padillas office accidentally told two congressional candidates that they would be on the November ballot, despite finishing in third place, Sarah Wire reports. Democrat Joe Shammas said he bought signs and posters, and even resumed campaigning before he found out it was a mistake. For the latest on California politics, watch our our Essential Politics news feed. HAPPENING IN L.A. Billionaire Democratic political activist and potential gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer toured skid row Tuesday with Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who said afterward that he is courting Steyers support for a potential March sales tax initiative for homeless services. And Los Angeles County voters will be asked in November to approve a half-cent sales tax increase that would continue indefinitely to fund a major expansion of Southern Californias transit network. TODAYS ESSENTIALS Trump said Tuesday he has no regrets for taking on the Khan family. Continuing the national trend, South Bay GOP assemblyman David Hadley (R-Manhattan Beach) says says he wont vote for Clinton or Trump in November, calling his own partys nominee a recurring litany of insults, provocation and polarization. Democratic congressional challenger Bryan Caforio called on Republican Rep. Steve Knight to disavow Trump after the Khan dust-up. Knights campaign would only say the congressman has not endorsed anyone in the presidential contest. He may not endorse before November, the campaign said. The Supreme Court has its first chance this week to weigh in on the legal controversy over transgender students, as a Virginia school board seeks an emergency order exempting it from the Obama administrations policy to allow students to use bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. Who will win the November election? Give our Electoral College map a spin. LOGISTICS Miss yesterdays newsletter? Here you go. Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox daily. And keep an eye on our politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics? Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com. Mothers Market & Kitchen in Costa Mesa will partner with Hoag Blood Donor Services to hold a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday in the stores parking lot at 1890 Newport Blvd. All donors will receive a coupon for a free 8-ounce drink from the Mothers Market juice bar. Blood donations will go to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. * Hoag recognized as one of Californias best hospitals Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the sixth-best hospital in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and tied for 11th best in the state. We are honored to be ... included in the rankings with the top healthcare institutions across the country, Robert Braithwaite, Hoags president and chief excutive, said in a statement. U.S. News has done hospital rankings for 27 years. * Big Canyon Real Estate launches new website Big Canyon Real Estate has launched a new website aimed at increasing the profile of the Newport Beach community. We see ourselves as much more than just another real estate company, the agency said in a statement. We like to think of ourselves as an integral part of the community, and we want to do our part to foster and grow the community. The website is BigCanyonRealEstate.com. People who flock to the sand may wonder before dipping into the ocean are sharks lurking under the glassy surface just off the coast? The city of Newport Beach is trying to remove some of the mystery. On Friday, Newport became the first city in Orange County to launch a page on its website that is dedicated to logging sharks and other marine animals found near the coast. The page also has information about how lifeguards respond to shark sightings and how visitors can be safe in the water. In July, lifeguards deployed three acoustic receivers at the Newport Pier, the Balboa Pier and in the swim lines off Corona del Mar in an effort to gather information for the site. The receivers record data from marine animals previously tagged by researchers. When such an animal comes within 500 to 1,000 yards of one of the three devices, a transponder on the tagged animal sends a signal that the citys device picks up and then logs the animals identification number for tracking. The launch of the web page comes two months after a swimmer was bitten by what officials thought might be a 10-foot great white shark while she was swimming at Corona del Mar. Experts have pointed to warmer ocean temperatures as a reason people might be seeing more sharks in Southern California this year. Its just like any other risk we have; we want to learn to educate the public, Chief Lifeguard Rob Williams said. If we educate ourselves and the public, maybe we can minimize the risks. Lifeguards are expected to pull the receivers and track the data every Monday through the summer in an effort to understand the behavior of sharks in the area, said Lifeguard Battalion Chief Mike Halphide. The receivers will be collected more frequently if a big event, like the Junior Lifeguards Monster Mile, is planned. During nonpeak months, the receivers will be collected bimonthly or monthly. Halphide said lifeguards scope out the water each morning for sharks or other potential dangers. The data from the receivers, he said, helps them plan how to patrol the area. What were doing is trying to understand the cross section of whats out there so we can better adjust our procedures, he said. So far, the citys Marine Animal Monitoring Log page contains details of four confirmed shark sightings in Newport Beach, one of which was discovered by the receiver in Corona del Mar. Data show that at 8:30 p.m. July 19, a 15-foot female great white shark that was tagged off the Tomales Bay in Northern California swam past the device three times in a 10-minute period. The most recent ping on a receiver came Friday afternoon when a bat ray tagged by Scripps in La Jolla swam by the Balboa Pier. Lifeguards say that while the devices give them insight into the behavior of tagged marine life, they arent without challenges. Since the transponder on a shark transmits a signal up to 1,000 yards, it can be difficult to determine how close the shark came to shore, according to officials. Also, the information is not in real time, so theres no way yet to know whether theres a shark nearby when youre taking a dip in the water. Halphide hopes that eventually the data will be put on the website immediately after an animal swims by, but the technology has a way to go. But the hope is that the information on the site will help more people understand all the risks associated with swimming in the ocean, officials said. Though there is a focus on sharks, an attack is a miniscule risk compared with dangers like rip currents, Halphide said. Rip currents easily kill hundreds more people at the beach, he said. To visit the monitoring page, go to newportbeachca.gov and search for Marine Animal Monitoring Log. Marine animal monitoring Here is the log of recent recorded detections and/or confirmed sightings of marine animals off Newport Beach that are listed on the citys Marine Animal Monitoring Log web page: July 7: 1 p.m., Balboa Pier. Multiple confirmed reports of a shark swimming near the end of the pier. Lifeguards post an advisory, which is lifted the following day. July 19: 8:30 p.m., Corona del Mar. Acoustic receiver logs an animal that Cal State Long Beach confirms was an estimated 15-foot female white shark tagged last year off the Tomales Bay in Northern California. The transponder on the shark sends a signal up to 1 kilometer, or about 5/8 of a mile. July 21: 10:45 a.m., between 40th Street and the Newport Pier. Huntington Beach police helicopter crew views a small shark swimming about 100 feet offshore. Two Newport Beach lifeguard rescue boats follow the shark to the Newport Pier, where it turns out to sea. Lifeguards post an advisory, which is lifted the next day. July 24: 6 p.m., Corona del Mar. Fishing vessel reports a large shark, about 10 feet, roughly a half-mile offshore. The sighting is confirmed by a state lifeguard vessel. Friday: 1:39 p.m., Balboa Pier. Acoustic receiver logs an animal that Cal State Long Beach confirms was a bat ray tagged by Scripps in La Jolla. During his 53-year career practicing medicine, Dr. Eiming Djang was known for making house calls and taking extensive time to listen to patients, and on Thursday, more than 125 people offered him gratitude and well wishes as he retires. Djang, a longtime USC Verdugo Hills Hospital physician, had a specialty in internal medicine with an interest in gastroenterology. NEWSLETTER: Get the latest headlines from the 818 straight to your inbox >> Among the many patients who gathered in the Council Room at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital on Thursday for Djangs retirement party were Karen and Ed Bryan. The husband and wife have been going to Djang for 35 years, and for the past 20 years, theyve made the trek to see 82-year-old Djang from their home in North County San Diego. When you find a doctor like that, youll go a long distance to make your appointments, Karen Bryan said. He always took time to listen, and has always known exactly the right thing to say or to do, and I dont know what Im going to do. Its like, I dont dare ever get sick again. When Djang would check on patients in their homes, he was known to bring soup or Gatorade to help in their recovery. His inspiration for making house calls up until his retirement was his own family doctor, who visited patients homes, and whom Djang received care from as a child growing up in Johannesburg as the son of a Chinese diplomat. He was the example for me. He was such a wonderful guy. He came to our birthdays. He came when we were sick. He set the bar, Djang said. When Djang wasnt working, his home phone was always available for patients to call. Burbank resident Corky Davis said her doctors referred her to Djang for gastrointestinal problems about two years ago. My doctors pretty much told me, You have a choice. You can go to somebody who doesnt do any procedures anymore, who is older and ready for retirement, who has a wealth of knowledge, or we can give you somebody who does procedures. I elected to go to Dr. Djang for his knowledge, Davis said. Her first visit with him lasted for over an hour. Where do you find a doctor nowadays that gives you that kind of time? Davis asked. I never, until the day he retired, would go to anybody else. Hes kind, hes generous and hes incredibly knowledgeable. There is nobody who can fill his shoes as far as Im concerned. Stephanie Djang said her father was as committed to his family as he was to his patients. You would think that having a father who worked so much and made his patients feel like a priority, that my brother and I would feel left out. We never felt left out. When I was in high school and not doing well with math, he would make an appointment and get up early and go over all my math homework for me, she said. And if we had anything down the street for school, he would close his office. He would come to the programs, and then hed come [back to the hospital] and then work late. Any major event in our lives, every little thing, he was always there, she added. Sometimes, when he did work late, his wife, Ruby, and their two children would meet him for dinner in the hospitals cafeteria. In his retirement, Djang said he is looking forward to spending time with family, including his grandson, Timothy. However, Keith Hobbs, chief executive of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, said he knows that Djang wont be too hard to find. The communitys going to miss him when he goes into retirement mode, but hell probably only still be a phone call away, Hobbs said. -- Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com Twitter: @kellymcorrigan The public events that take place under the banner of America Legacy Fine Arts like the California Art Clubs annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition and the recent effort by Eric Merrell to open the External and Contemplative gallery show have a reputation. ALFA and the CAC functions are known for their classy cachet, attention to detail and smooth operation. Many people contribute to these efforts, and now one of them is mounting her own event. Irina Panasyuk earned her MA in Art and Curatorial Practices in the Public Sphere from USC. With a background in public relations, for the last few years she has been a trusted staff member of ALFAs founder and director Elaine Adams. On Friday, Panasyuk hosts an art auction, Imaginary Places, at Glendales Gauchos Village Brazilian Steakhouse. Its Panasyuks maiden voyage as an art presenter, and the 32-year-old didnt reach this point by accident. A native of Siberia, she danced as a child but always had a passion for all of the arts. As her degree indicates, shes involved in bringing art and people together. Ive been interested in art in the public sphere for a long time, she states, speaking from ALFAs Pasadena office. Ive thought very hard about how to bring art to people, how to make it more accessible to them, and how to motivate them to go see art. Shes collated work by eleven local artists and one New Yorker for a show she calls Imaginary Places. Her own Conflux Arts firm is putting the auction on, with the help of the ChamoLand company. This is my first independent event of this scale, she reveals, " I had work in mind for the auction that I call classic contemporary art. Im responsible for the selection of the pieces and the organizational details. Ive worked with ChamoLand on other events before, and theyre helping with the production. Presumably it took some grit to begin in Siberia and wind up in Los Angeles. Theres a saying: Siberian people are not those who are afraid of the cold, but theyre those who know how to dress warm. I was born in the former Soviet Union and I traveled to the other republics, she says, but theres no place like Los Angeles and the great California weather. I love all the different cultural opportunities in this city. Two artists in the show have never met Panasyuk; she saw their work and contacted them. Perhaps its their individuality that loosely unites them in this grouping. Gwen Samuels makes combinations of hand-stitched fabric and her own photography. Im kind of a hybrid, she says. I have a textiles background and I combine the handmade with the technical. Its craft and fine art. Speaking of some stitched pieces on the Conflux Arts website, she indicates: Those come from an interesting place. Some of those materials had been in a fire and I stitched them together with the photo images. Lynne McDaniel makes evocative soft-focus paintings. I use landscape, the Santa Monica-based artist explains, as a metaphor for feelings. Im not just painting whats in front of me Im more interested in what you dont see. Theyre explorations of time and space. Im exploring myself but Im trying to make the personal the universal. Ten percent of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the U.S. Marines Toys For Tots charity. All of my events will benefit some kind of charity, Panasyuk says. I hope this event builds the Conflux Arts brand name, but more importantly, I hope it helps to bring art to a new audience. I believe that the key to making the world better, Panasyuk advises, is through culture and education. -- What: Imaginary Places Art Auction Where: Gauchos Village Brazilian Steakhouse, 135 N. Maryland Ave., Glendale When: Friday, Dec. 4, 6 to 9 p.m. More info: (310) 795-2752, confluxarts.com -- KIRK SILSBEE writes about jazz and culture for Marquee. HANGZHOU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Yang Weize, former Communist Party chief of Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, stood trial on Wednesday for accepting bribes. Yang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Jiangsu Provincial Committee, was accused of taking advantage of his various official posts from 2005 to 2014 to seek benefits for others in real estate development and personnel promotion. In exchange, Yang accepted bribes worth over 16.43 million yuan (around 2.48 million U.S. dollars) either by himself or through his wife, according to the indictment from the People's Procuratorate of Ningbo in east China's Zhejiang Province. The procuratorate filed the charges with the Ningbo Intermediate People's Court. Yang confessed to taking bribes and expressed remorse in court. The court ruling will be announced on a later date. The maximum penalty for those convicted of accepting bribes of at least 3 million yuan in an "extremely serious case" with "extremely vile impact" is the death penalty, according to a new judicial explanation issued in April. However, a two-year suspended death sentence may be issued if there are mitigating factors. More than 60 people, including journalists and members of the public, observed Wednesday's hearing. For jazz pianists, the trio format affords some of the biggest challenges and rewards. Greg Reitans long-running trio has a bassist whos a source of strong support yet one who leaves a fair amount of space for the lead voice. Likewise, his drummer does everything from whisper with the brushes on a ballad and fire complex fusillades that are simultaneously rhythmic and melodic on fast numbers. A Seattle native, 43-year-old Reitan was taken with the jazz of pianist Ahmad Jamals trio in grade school. I loved his touch, Reitan enthuses, from his Los Angeles home, his use of space and the elegance in his playing. Echoes of the Jamal Trios swinging lyricism can be heard in Reitans playing today, though filtered through 50 years of subsequent jazz history. Reitan leads his trio of bassist Jack Daro and drummer Dean Koba at the Norton Simon on Saturday, in the museums summer music series. Theyll play the music of Bill Evans, Miles Davis and Denny Zeitlin in the Simon Theater. From San Francisco, pianist Zeitlin asserts: Greg has a particularly beautiful pianistic touch and a relaxed intensity to his playing that I think is quite special. The trio disperses to other pursuits before it convenes, opening the continual possibility of surprising new elements added to the music. One of the best things we can do, Reitan confirms, is go on hiatus for awhile. When we get back together, that freshness allows new things to happen. Its like a lab. While at USC, Reitan studied piano with jazz pianist Terry Trotter. I was adjunct professor, Trotter relates. Greg didnt come from the mainstream tradition of jazz piano. He was a combination of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Bill Evans and other contemporary players. But he had an interesting way of combining those different styles into his own. His whole system was geared to assimilating new material and playing very fast in a good way. Trotter is gratified with Reitans post-college trajectory. Greg took what he had and developed it very well, Trotter says. And hes slowed down enough that he can play very reflective ballads. The current Reitan album, Post No Bills (Sunnyside) features some lovely, crystalline ballad playing, like on a heart-clutching version of Coreas Windows. Ive spent a lot of time on my sound and my touch, Reitan says. He studied composition at USC with the great movie composer David Raksin, among others. As a film and TV writer for a busy New York music firm, Reitan composed hundreds of film cues and worked in the studios with some of the citys most renowned musicians. I guess Im old enough, he chuckles, to be able to say that Im old enough to remember when we recorded music live. Composition informs Reitans playing, adding structural dimension that is sometimes readily apparent and sometimes implied. A listener can concentrate on the pianists left hand on the up-tempo performance of Victor Youngs Stella By Starlight on Post No Bills. The chords pop up like lighted steps on an uncertain path surprising in their placement but sure in their direction at every moment. A woman once stepped forward and spoke to Reitan after one of the trio performances. She said, I dont know a lot about music, he reports, but it was very exciting. I heard so many different elements and you took me on a journey! Thats one of the greatest compliments weve ever gotten it shows she listened. They dont need to understand everything we do, Reitan concludes. After all, this is not science experiment jazz. We want our audiences to have a good time, even though there may be a lot of levers and pulleys at work behind the curtain in the music. -- What: Greg Reitan Trio Where: Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena When: Saturday, Aug. 6, 5 p.m. Contact: (626) 449-6840, www.nortonsimon.org -- KIRK SILSBEE writes about jazz and culture for Marquee. National Night Out drew about 300 people Tuesday evening to the historic Catalina Verdugo Adobe, where law enforcement, elected officials and residents emphasized relationship-building in the wake of police-shooting deaths in other cities nationwide. The event has a roughly 30-year history across the country and was developed to foster a partnership between communities and local police. Glendale participants said the event had extra resonance this year following attacks on police in Dallas, Baton Rouge, San Diego and other cities. Shortly after he arrived at the adobe, Police Chief Robert Castro said this years event is more important than ever. The unique thing about Glendale is we have such support from our community, thats what allows us to be successful, he said. We dont have officers [who] dont believe in what theyre doing. They want to serve. They want to help people. They love doing police work. For the second straight year, the Verdugo Woodlands West Homeowners Assn. hosted the adobe event. Castro said roughly 100 officers were deployed at related events citywide. He called it the highlight of our year. Glendale Fire Chief Greg Fish, who also participated in the event at the adobe, said the evening helps with crime-prevention. Not only is it good for neighbor relations, but its good for potential problems in the neighborhood any crime, any disaster its always good to know your neighbor, he said. With minutes before the event began at 6 p.m., Mirna Stanley, president of the association, learned that the grilled cheese truck that was supposed to feed participants broke down on its way. She ordered impromptu pizzas, and participants enjoyed shaved ice from another truck. Then, about 40 minutes later, Stanley announced with excitement that a replacement grilled cheese truck had arrived, and dozens of residents made their way toward it as it entered the adobes driveway. Overall, local residents Ara Hoonanian and Dana Poag, who pitched in to organize the event at the adobe, were thrilled with the turnout. I think well do this every year now, Poag said. For the second time in three months, the council and city officials discussed sober living homes in Huntington Beach neighborhoods. City Atty. Michael Gates indicated during a study session Monday that there was little that could be done since the dwellings which often have six or fewer people living in them, dont offer treatment or services and are classified as regular households are zoned residential, not commercial, and do not require any type of license to operate. The zoning has to be non-discriminatory, he said of the homes, which are often called six packs. Advertisement Gates said his office is looking to address the problem without spurring a lawsuit and is paying careful attention to nearby cities that have been battling the same problem, often with legal entanglements. Facilities with more than seven people are regulated by the state and are licensed, Gates added. He said the city is aware of more than 20 licensed facilities, including four residential detox centers, and has received complaints about 10 facilities. Gates said it was unclear whether the 10 referred to were licensed or unlicensed. City officials say its hard to keep track of the number of unlicensed sober-living homes operating in Surf City. Police Chief Robert Handy said the typical complaints about these places are related to noise and parking. Several residents who attended the study session complained that the people at the sober living homes are often loud into the late hours and take up much of the street parking. Handy added, however, that the noise does not typically rise to the level of nuisance, and police do not currently have a way to regulate the number of cars in a neighborhood. He said police have rarely issued citations for such complaints and can only give parking citations when a vehicle is illegally parked or blocking a driveway. He said the Police Department is working with code enforcement to find a way to remedy these problems. This has been a rapidly evolving problem for us in the last 18 months, and we have seen a rise, Handy said. The chief explained later in a phone interview that he did not know if the number of homes has increased in this time but that his department has been getting a lot more complaints about them. He said he believes the problem has grown because this is a profitable business model that is not heavily regulated. Its happening everywhere., Handy said. I think were on the later side of it. I think were just now starting to experience some of the things other cities have experienced in the past. About a half dozen residents who live on Worchester Lane near Beach Boulevard and Yorktown Avenue, where Handy said there are at least four of these types of residences spoke about their experiences with the homes. I dont have a problem with people who need help, said resident Bridget Kaub. But these are not homes. These are businesses, and they are greatly affecting those of us who live there. These are not neighbors. Others brought up concerns about safety and property values. In recent years, Costa Mesa has attempted to regulate its sober-living homes but faced legal challenges in federal court after a pair of operators sued, contending that the city was discriminating against a protected class of people. Newport Beach also went to court to defend its sober-living ordinance, only to lose after a lengthy and costly legal battle. Were going to find out where we can go and where we cannot go, Gates said. That does not mean this is the end of the story. brittany.woolsey@latimes.com Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey A woman who police say burglarized four Orange County jewelry stores last year including two in Fountain Valley was arrested Tuesday. Fountain Valley police detectives arrested Isabel Ochoa, 30, at her home in South El Monte, the department said in a news release. Police believe she was involved in burglaries at Ballard & Ballard in Fountain Valley, Mimis Jewelry in Fountain Valley, Nicks Jewelers in Fullerton and Diamonds Direct in Laguna Hills. Advertisement Fountain Valley police arrested Victor Herrera, 50, of North Hollywood earlier this year in connection with two of the burglaries. Police said in all four burglaries, entry into the stores was made through the roof and the safes were cut open. The property has not been recovered, authorities said. Ochoa was booked into the Orange County Jail, where she is being held on $2 million bail. Herrera is still in custody awaiting trial. After four years on the Huntington Beach City Council, Mayor Jim Katapodis will not be running for re-election in November. Katapodis, 60, said Monday that he has accepted a job as a law enforcement consultant for the state in Sacramento and will leave the council after his term is up at the end of the year. The retired Los Angeles Police Department sergeant said he will split his time between Sacramento and Huntington Beach. Advertisement He said he applied for the consultant job a few years ago and was offered the position, but ended up turning it down to serve as mayor. I didnt want to have the job and try to do both, he said, adding that the job reopened earlier this year and he decided to go for it this time. It was a tough decision. I love the city. I love what I do. I love the council and I enjoy being the mayor. Ive done a lot of things, and Im really proud of the direction that the citys going in. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Katapodis, who is also the director of the Orange County Transit Authoritys board of directors, said he decided to go back to law enforcement because of his experience on the force. He also served on similar committees for the state and taught classes on the subject. During his tenure on the council, including one year as mayor, Katapodis voted for the controversial plastic bag ban, supported reducing the number of housing units allowed along Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue and voted in favor of making city labor talks more transparent to the public. We have a balanced budget, he said. Other cities are struggling, and were not. Im very proud of Huntington Beach. He also had plaudits for his fellow council members. I think the council now is very, very good, he said. They do their homework and they look for whatever is good for the city. What always drives me is what do the citizens want and what is going to be good for them. Ten people, including incumbents Dave Sullivan and Jill Hardy, have filed papers indicating their intent to run for three seats that will be open on the seven-member council in the Nov. 8 election. Mayor pro tem Sullivan, who is up for re-election this year, is slated to become the new mayor. The mayor pro tem, who got the second most votes in the previous election, traditionally becomes the mayor after being voted in by fellow council members. Barbara Delgleize, who got the most votes in the 2014 election, would become the mayor pro tem if voted in, Katapodis said. Hardy said she is going to miss having Katapodis on the council. We became pretty good friends when he was mayor pro tem and I was mayor, she said. Im going to miss working with him. We agreed on a lot of issues, so Im going to miss his vote as well.... Im very excited for his new job and where hes going in his personal life, as a friend, but I feel sorry for the city. -- Brittany Woolsey, brittany.woolsey@latimes.com Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey A California parole agent was arrested Wednesday on charges that he embezzled a gift card and bus passes from his employer and traded them to a parolee in Huntington Beach for prescription drugs. The Orange County district attorneys office said it has charged Scott Patric Keblis, a 49-year-old Chino resident, with one felony count of embezzlement by a public employee and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance. He could face up to three years in state prison and one year in county jail if hes convicted on both counts. Advertisement Keblis was working as a parole agent for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation when the agency received an anonymous tip in November 2015 that Keblis was giving parolees bus passes in exchange for narcotics theyd been prescribed, according to the district attorneys office. Prosecutors allege that on Nov. 23 that year, Keblis got two bus passes and a $40 Target gift card from the corrections department, saying a parolee under his supervision needed them. Instead, authorities allege, Keblis drove to Huntington Beach later that day in a state-owned vehicle and met with a parolee he wasnt assigned to supervise. There, Keblis gave the passes and gift card to the parole in exchange for $30 and 26 pills of hydrocodone, the district attorneys office alleges. Thursday, Keblis posted a $20,000 bond and was released from Orange County Jail, according to prosecutors. Orange County authorities said the corrections departments internal affairs investigated and made the arrest Wednesday. Because of the criminal investigation, Keblis has been administrative leave from his job since December 2015, according to a corrections department official. He had been employed at the agency since 1990 and most recently worked out of its Orange County office, corrections department spokesman Luis Patino said in an email. An administrative investigation into his employment status will also be conducted by [internal affairs], Patino said. Since the investigations are ongoing, CDCR cannot give further details at this time. Lyn Semeta wants to see more business but less development in Huntington Beach. The 56-year-old planning commissioner first ran for City Council in 2014, when four seats were up for grabs. After placing sixth sandwiched between two incumbents in that election, Semeta is attempting again to earn a seat on the seven-member council. Advertisement I got more votes than one of the incumbents and was about 400 shy of the other, Semeta said. I thought, Im going to do this again. I have that passion still. Semeta, who has lived in the city for 20 years, said she believes that sitting on the Planning Commission for the past two years has helped residents learn about what she stands for. In her role as a commissioner, she has supported amendments to the citys Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan. The plan was adopted in 2010 to revitalize Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue, the citys two major streets, by streamlining the approval process for development projects. It allowed 4,500 residential units in the area based on Huntington Beachs state-mandate housing element, general guidelines for addressing housing needs for all economic segments as the community grows. Last years amendments, prompted by resident complaints about the high rate at which high-density residential projects were popping up, changed the cap to 2,100 units and imposed stricter height and setback requirements. Semeta who grew up in Seal Beach, attended Huntington Beach High School and graduated from UCLA and law school at the University of San Diego said she spoke about housing during the last election, and the subject is on her platform again. I want to preserve our beach suburban character, she said. I know the vast majority of people in Huntington Beach do not want to urbanize the city. We dont have that transportation in place, and were pretty much built out already. For us to be putting in large-scale apartment buildings with not much parking in a city thats pretty built out doesnt make any sense. The part-time business attorney, who has two special-needs daughters, said she has a passion for consensus building and helping people who have diverse interests coming together to solve problems. She said she has led conversations between parents of special-needs kids and the Ocean View School District to help avoid litigation. Im one of those warrior moms, she said. During the time when my kids were young, there was a great deal of litigation going on by parents against school districts because they just werent prepared for the influx of students with special needs. Instead of being the attorney that sued on behalf of the parents which they wanted me to do I said no and said we should collaborate to work together. Instead of having costs go to litigation, lets have them go toward better services. Semeta, whose daughters are now in their 20s, started San Diegos Womens Resource Fair for homeless and battered women and does pro bono work for homeless veterans. Regarding homelessness in Huntington Beach, Semeta said having ties with services is critical. We just cant be giving food or other supplies without trying to help people get at the cause of whats causing their homelessness, whether its mental health issues and they need counseling or they lack job skills and they need training, she said. She also noted the importance of business generating money for the city, especially if development projects are kept in check, she said. Huntington Beach just does not do a good job of [business], she said. We have too many regulations. We have too many fees. We need to strip away at those and do more to actually recruit people to come here and do their business. Thats a steady stream of income as opposed to building residential where its kind of a one-time fee that the city gets and then its providing services and infrastructure needs for all those people. I think we should just focus on business growth. Semeta said she believes social media can be a tool to bridge the gap between residents and elected officials. Im a big believer in the Constitution, and I think that government is supposed to be by and for the people, she said. So many politicians, unfortunately, forget that, I think. They think the governing should have the say as opposed to the other way around. I want to work on increasing the transparency and citizen involvement. Meanwhile, shell walk precincts to meet residents and promote her campaign. I think its very important to get out and hear from the residents what it is that theyre wanting to be worked on in the city, she said. The most important thing is getting input from people. This is another in an occasional look at the 10 people who have filed papers indicating their intent to run for a seat on the seven-member Huntington Beach City Council. Three seats are open, but three incumbents have announced their intentions to try to retain their positions. While their children enjoyed a fast-dwindling summer vacation, a group of parents holed up in the La Canada High School library Monday to try and stay ahead of a technological learning curve thats changing how students learn and teachers teach. About 80 parents and guardians signed up for the most recent Tech Academy, a series of free workshops held this week by the La Canada Unified School District Tech Department to introduce parents to new programs and applications being used in the classroom and offer advice for keeping kids safe and sane as they navigate the Internets deep waters. As LCUSD campuses swiftly move toward a digital future which includes all students eventually owning their own Google Chromebook laptop and teachers and students collaborating on assignments through comments and emails in real time officials want to make sure parents are brought up to speed as well. Technologys been changing and moving so fast, we need to make sure were creating a place where parents can come and ask questions without being afraid, said Jamie Lewsadder, the districts newly promoted chief technology director. This is about equipping them with the tools they need to be involved in their childrens lives. Program specialist and classroom instructor David Paszkiewicz introduces parents to Google Classroom. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer) During Mondays lesson in the high schools Information Resource Center (IRC) participants were given Chromebooks and asked to log in to Google, just as a student would, to access a series of simple tasks. David Paszkiewicz, a program specialist for the district, said a lot has changed since the days when parents received notifications and grades by paper. Youre probably here because you realize theres going to be a lot of technology in your lives and your childrens lives over the next year, and you want to get a heads up on that, he said. We get it. Parents divided into three groups, each focusing on a different Google application being used in the district. Those remaining in the IRCs main room listened as Paszkiewicz explained Google Classroom, a Web platform that lets students and teachers create, organize and work on assignments online. There, students submit work that can be viewed and commented on by teachers and fellow students. Children can ask questions, take quizzes and work together or individually on assignments in full view of their instructors. Paszkiewicz said LCUSD is just taking baby steps and that adoption of such technologies is not being mandated for teachers. Are teachers ready to use these new tools? he posed. Some are, and some are diving in. Parent James Yun explores Google Clasroom. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer) Tech Academy participants then rotated to an upstairs computer lab, where tech department employees and student volunteers helped create new documents through Google Docs that could be stored and reviewed using Google Drive. Parents asked questions at every step and shared initial frustrations or congratulatory high fives with peers, eventually learning how to comment on a document and then review others comments by accessing the drive. In the third class, Lewsadder shared the benefits of using Google Calendar to organize work, appointments and even study sessions. All LCUSD schools now enter campus events on a centralized calendar to which parents can subscribe to receive up-to-the-minute information. If we make a change on our calendars, youll have it on yours, she said, explaining that students can get mobile updates on their schools calendar. This has so much potential to help kids learn how to organize and help themselves. Sebu Chatoyan, father of a seventh-grader and a high school freshman, said after Mondays lesson he appreciated the tutorial but still has a lot to learn. Were new to the district so this is something new for us, he said, expressing his desire to keep track of his childrens progress no matter the medium. Its good to be on top of things. -- Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine Immerse yourself in Mayan culture and Day of the Dead festivities on a 10-day all-inclusive tour of Guatemala offered by Bella Guatemala Travel. The highlight is the All Saints Day Giant Kite Festival on Nov. 1 at Santiago Sacatepequez, in which participants honor the dead by flying large, colorful kites that depict religious, traditional and contemporary themes. Other stops on the itinerary include Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage city; Lake Atitlan; and Tikal National Park and its archaeological sites. Advertisement A trip to a coffee plantation, a chocolate workshop and a visit with Maya weavers from a womens cooperative round out the tour. Group size is limited to 16. Dates: Oct. 27-Nov. 4 Price: $4,495 per person, double occupancy. Includes international airfare, accommodations, three meals daily, tours, entrance fees, taxes and gratuities. Info: Bella Guatemala Travels Dia de Los Mertos and Giant Kite Festival, (818) 669-8435 MORE Two travelers planned a three-day layover in Istanbul but soured on the idea. What can they do? With Tour de France over, how about a hill-grinding Tour de Sonoma? 100 Places in Italy author leads womens tour of Florence The archbishop of Rouen, leading Tuesdays solemn funeral Mass for an elderly priest slain a week ago by two extremists, said the Rev. Jacques Hamel tried to push away his attackers with his feet, saying, Go away, Satan, remarks that underscored the horror of the killing at the altar that touched a chord throughout France. Hundreds of priests and bishops filled the sumptuous Rouen cathedral along with many hundreds more people, including Muslims who have joined in the grieving since the killing of the 85-year-old priest, slashed by his attackers while celebrating morning Mass. Hamels grisly death sent shock waves that went beyond his humble work as a small-town parish priest, touching other faiths and all of France. It came less than two weeks after 84 people were killed in an attack by a hurtling truck in Nice on a crowd of Bastille Day revelers. Advertisement Evil is a mystery. It reaches heights of horror that take us out of the human, Archbishop Dominique Lebrun said during the two-hour funeral Mass. Isnt that what you wanted to say, Jacques, with your last words, when you fell to the ground? After you were struck by the knife, you tried to push away your assailants with your feet and said, Go away, Satan. You repeated it, Go away, Satan. With those words, Lebrun said, You expressed ... your faith in the goodness of humans and that the devil put his claws in. Roselyne Hamel, the priests sister, told the crowd, Lets learn to live together. Lets be workers for peace. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, also in charge of faiths, was among those attending the Mass in the cathedral, which dates from the 12th century. Hundreds of people watched the ceremony on a big screen outside under constant rain. See more of our top stories on Facebook Lebrun, celebrating the Mass, extended thanks to Catholics attending the service but also to believers of other religious faiths, in particular the Jewish community and the Muslim community, very affected and already decided to unite for Never again. Lebrun invited people to return to churches on Aug. 15, the day celebrating the Assumption of Mary, to express that violence will not take over in their hearts. On Sunday, dozens of Muslims in France and Italy attended Catholic Masses as a gesture of interfaith solidarity after the attack on the priest. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, in which the priest, two nuns and an elderly couple were held hostage before the assailants slashed the priests throat and seriously wounded the other man. Another nun at the Mass slipped away and raised the alarm, and police shot to death both attackers as they left the church. Tuesdays ceremony was organized under tight security, and the burial was private. Meanwhile, several cities and towns across the country have decided to cancel traditional August fireworks shows and other outdoor summer events, citing security reasons. After the Nice attack, Avignon and smaller towns canceled their fireworks displays and authorities in Marseilles called off an air show by the renowned Patrouille de France scheduled for next week, an event that draws crowds of more than 100,000 people every year. ALSO Normandy church attacker twice attempted to travel to Syria to fight for Islamic State Muslims in France attend Catholic Mass to show solidarity after attack on priest French Muslims to create foundation to finance mosques and keep out radical benefactors Just before his father's body was to be cremated by Baoji Mortuary, Mr. He discovered that the designated corpse was not actually his father's. According to the registration forms, He's father's corpse was put into the Number 5 storeroom on July 29, and another corpse with the same family name was placed in the same storeroom the next day. Once He alerted workers in the mortuary to their mistake, they looked through and identified all the corpses one by one, but they still could not find He's father. "An investigation by the Civil Affairs Bureau tells us that the corpse presented to Mr. He on July 31 was named Li," read one report. He said the bureau told him that Li's family had taken his father's ashes, and that they had already been buried. Workers opened the grave overnight and retrieved the mistaken ashes. "We hope the mortuary can provide evidence to verify that the ashes are my father's. Otherwise, I hope they can find my father," He said, explaining that identity cannot be confirmed by ashes alone. According to the mortuary, the workers realized that Li was not He's father before they prepared the corpse for cremation. However, since the correct corpse had already been cremated, they decided to proceed anyway. They explained that, in some circumstances, extremely distraught relatives do not bother to or cannot bring themselves to check the corpse carefully. If that had been the case with Mr. He, no one would ever have noticed the mistake. An employee from the mortuary explained that they coordinated with Li's family and received permission to dig up the casket allegedly containing He's father's ashes. However, after cremation, even DNA identification techniques cannot verify identity. The mortuary was ultimately unable to verify the identity of the ashes, but they did apologize to the families for their negligence and mistakes. In normal times, foreign governments -- particularly U.S. allies -- tend to refrain from commenting directly and publicly on American electoral politics. Its a long-standing reciprocal custom; U.S. leaders generally take pains to avoid supporting or opposing a particular candidate in elections elsewhere. So when the French president pronounced himself nauseated by some of the Republican presidential nominees utterances, it raised the question: Will other foreign leaders who have felt insulted by Trump take off the gloves as well? In the course of the campaign, Trump has affronted Mexico by declaring that he would build a border wall and that Mexicans would foot the bill. He has accused Japan and South Korea of freeloading on defense. Hes questioned whether NATO allies are entitled to treaty-decreed U.S. military protection. He regularly threatens to tear up trade agreements. Advertisement But the response from overseas has been relatively muted, with many foreign leaders citing reluctance to interfere in the U.S. presidential race even as their diplomats voice private incredulity over Trumps latest declaration. Francois Hollandes comments came Tuesday evening at a closed-door event for French journalists who cover the presidency, a clubby affair staged over drinks. Its supposed to be off the record, but his remarks almost immediately escaped into the atmosphere. The French leader, referring to the GOP candidate by name, used a term of disgust haut-le-coeur, connoting a desire to retch or vomit in response to Trumps feud with the Muslim parents of a U.S. Army captain who was killed in Iraq. Some of his excesses make your stomach turn especially when he speaks ill of a soldier, the memory of a soldier, he said. Perhaps acknowledging the taboo-breaking nature of his own remarks, the French leader added that the U.S. election held fateful consequences for the entire world, not just Americans. Democracy is also at stake, as we see more and more people tempted by authoritarianism, Hollande said. See the most-read stories in World News this hour >> The French president wasnt the first foreign leader to push back against perceived provocations or to cheer Trump on, as Hungarys right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban has done. Trump has previously drawn criticism from Mexicos President Enrique Pena Nieto, who implied in primary-season newspaper interviews that the Republican candidate has fascist tendencies. Hollande, too, has had unflattering things to say about the mogul-turned-politician as far back as June, when he told a French newspaper that a Trump victory would be dangerous. But Hollandes remarks Tuesday were unusually vivid and direct and stark, said Jeff Rathke, deputy director of the Europe program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. More typical has been the measured rejoinder delivered up by Berlin on Wednesday after Trump jeeringly predicted that German Chancellor Angela Merkel would lose her job over her liberal immigration policies. We dont comment on the U.S. election campaign, said government spokesman Ulrike Demmer. Other foreign leaders have voiced deep concern over Trumps positions without mentioning him directly, as Baltic leaders did last month when he implied he might abrogate NATO treaty obligations to defend them against potential Russian incursion. Recent violent events in France have raised the political temperature, as comments by Trump appeared to fly in the face of worldwide expressions of sympathy and solidarity in the wake of the latest attacks claimed by Muslim militants. Last week, after two teenagers pledging allegiance to Islamic State slit the throat of an elderly French priest as he celebrated Mass at a church in Normandy, Trump angered French officials when he suggested that France is no longer France. It is indeed, retorted Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls. Hollande, facing an uphill battle in elections next year, has been on the defensive over national security public scrutiny that intensified after a Tunisian deliveryman killed 84 people in the Riviera city of Nice by barreling a commercial truck through a crowd of holiday revelers on Bastille Day. That attack was also claimed by Islamic State, although the assailant had shown no previous signs of embracing the groups ideology. After Hollandes outburst against Trump blew up on social media, the presidents camp showed little inclination to walk back the remarks. On Wednesday, French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll told reporters that the American presidential campaign had generated some extremely unusual types of comments widely interpreted as meaning there were no regrets emanating from Elysee Palace, the official presidential residence. Le Foll pointedly observed that President Obama was particularly well-qualified to speak on the matter. A day earlier, Obama had declared that Trump was unfit to be the American president. laura.king@latimes.com MORE WORLD NEWS China sentences longtime activist to nearly 8 years on subversion charge In wake of Turkey unrest, Greece grows nervous about a potential spike in influx of refugees Antibiotics. Plastic suits. Bleach. This is how Olympic athletes are preparing for Rios polluted water A former literature professor who spent 16 years in prison after Chinas 1989 crackdown on democracy protests was convicted of subversion Wednesday and sentenced to 7 years behind bars. Hu Shigen, a writer and member of underground Christian churches, was tried by the No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court in Tianjin, southeast of Beijing. He is among hundreds of people who were detained last year in a broad crackdown on civil society advocates and human rights lawyers. Hu, two other activists and a prominent lawyer are being tried this week in Tianjin. On Tuesday, activist Zhai Yanmin was convicted on subversion charges but given a suspended prison sentence. Advertisement Hu, who is in his early 60s, was born into a poor family and worked in a car factory before going on to study Chinese literature at Peking University in the late 1970s. He became a lecturer at what is now Beijing Language and Culture University in the 1980s. After the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, he co-founded the China Freedom and Democracy Party. In the early 1990s, he wrote articles and made fliers calling for the commemoration of the 1989 victims, but when he hatched a plan to fly a drone to release them over Tiananmen Square in 1992, he was arrested. In 1994, he was sentenced to 20 years in jail for organizing and leading a counterrevolutionary group and engaging in counterrevolutionary propaganda and incitement. Hu was released in 2008 and resumed his activism. He was detained again in 2011 and 2014. Prosecutors closely linked Hus alleged anti-state activities with his participation in underground churches that are not sanctioned by Communist Party officials. Among the evidence presented in Zhais trial on Tuesday was a photo of him being baptized at a meeting of an underground church run by Hu. According to a transcript of the court proceedings Wednesday, prosecutors said that in 2009 Hu used illegal religious activities as a platform to recruit lawyers and petitioners to challenge the rule of the government. Hu sought to seriously threaten the safety of the country and the social stability through a series of criminal activities that challenged government rule, prosecutors said. According to the state-run New China News Agency, Hu held a meeting with Zhai and other activists and lawyers in early 2015. According to a videotaped confession by Zhai that aired on state-run television before his conviction, Hu told the attendees that there were three elements necessary to bring about a transformation in China: a stronger citizen force, conflicts within the ruling party and the interference of international society into Chinese affairs. The agency said Wednesday that Hu had admitted during his trial that he had discussed the three elements for the purpose of inciting a color revolution. I intended to taint the reputation of the legal system, the police and the government, Hu told the court, according to the news agency. I wanted to make more people agree with me and create more distrust of the government among ordinary people. I paid attention to all sensitive cases, and I liked to use the sensitive cases to push my peaceful transformation theory. The news agency also said Hu acknowledged sending fellow activist Gou Hongguo overseas in 2014 to learn techniques for fighting the Chinese Communist Party. Those training sessions included supporters of Tibetan and Xinjiang separatism, according to the news agency. That accusation apparently related to an interfaith conference in Taiwan focused on human rights in mainland China, which attracted Tibetan Buddhists and Muslims from Xinjiang, among others. In addition to his 7-year term, Hu will have his political rights suspended for five years after his release. After news of the verdict was released, Sophie Richardson, China director for Human Rights Watch, tweeted that China was utterly bent on hunting down, locking up or driving into exile every [human rights] lawyer. Still awaiting trial in Tianjin are Gou and Zhou Shifeng, head of the prominent Beijing-based Fengrui law firm. Nicole Liu of The Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report. MORE FROM WORLD In Didi Chuxing, Uber finally met its match Why an Indian activist plans to give up her 16-year hunger strike Taiwans president expresses deepest apologies for governments decades of abuse against indigenous people French President Francois Hollande has strongly criticized U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying some of the things the Republican does make him sick. Some excesses make your stomach turn, even in the United States, especially when as did Donald Trump he speaks ill of a soldier, of the memory of a soldier, Hollande said at a meeting Tuesday with members of the French Presidential Press Assn. Hollande was referring to Trumps recent comments about Capt. Humayun Khan, a U.S. Muslim soldier killed in Iraq in 2004. Advertisement Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said Hollandes comments were a response to Trumps recent verbal attacks on France. In this [U.S. presidential] campaign, there are some extremely unusual types of comments, Le Foll told reporters following a Cabinet meeting Wednesday. Last month, Trump said France would be among countries he would subject to the extreme vetting he is proposing for those seeking to enter the United States, a move he says is necessary to deter attacks by people coming from countries compromised by terrorism. France has been hit by a series of attacks carried out by Islamic extremists since 2015. Le Foll also said that President Obama was well qualified to make comments describing Trump as unfit and woefully unprepared to serve in the White House. In an interview with Les Echos newspaper in June. Hollande said he would consider Trumps election dangerous and that it would complicate relationships between Europe and the U.S. ALSO Meg Whitman joins chorus of Republicans supporting Hillary Clinton Column: Trump versus the fire marshals (and everyone else) Judge blocks release of Trump videos in Trump University fraud case Mexican actress Kate del Castillo wants Mexicos government to drop accusations of obstruction of justice and money laundering related to her meeting last year with drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. Del Castillos representatives said in a statement Tuesday that the actress has filed papers seeking a court injunction demanding prosecutors either charge her with a crime or close the criminal investigation. The Mexican attorney generals office has constantly violated her rights to due process by leaking information of the investigation to the media, and violating her presumption of innocence, the statement said. Advertisement Mexican media published a series of seemingly flirtatious text messages between her and Guzman that were leaked this year. Authorities have said they are investigating possible money-laundering involving Guzman and Del Castillos tequila business and have sought to question the actress. They have said she is considered a witness, and she has not been charged with any crime. A kind of summons for Del Castillo to be questioned has been issued, but the naturalized U.S. citizen has remained in Los Angeles, where she lives. Her lawyer in the United States says she has nothing to hide and is willing to talk to Mexican authorities. Del Castillo arranged actor Sean Penns interview with Guzman in October while the Sinaloa cartel leader was on the lam after his second prison escape. Guzman was recaptured in January. The actress representatives said she will continue with plans to make a movie about him. Kate has consistently made clear that her only goal was to produce an artistic and journalistic project of Guzmans life story and turn it into a compelling and informative film project that would help Mexicans and Americans understand the deadly business of the drug cartels, said the statement from Capitol Media Partners, a Los Angeles-based communications and public affairs firm. Regardless of what comes next, Kate is committed to completing the film project for which she has already committed so much of her time, the statement said. ALSO Mexico OKs extradition of drug lord El Chapo Guzman to U.S. The saga of El Chapo, one of the worlds biggest drug kingpins Mexico transfers drug lord El Chapo to prison in Ciudad Juarez The Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram says it has a new leader, leaving a question: What has happened to Abubakar Shekau, the terrorist leader who earned global notoriety in 2014 when he laughed and threatened to sell more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls as slaves? Shekau was last heard of in March, when he appeared in a blurry video looking weak and defeated, saying, For me the end has come. He wore a turban and sat slumped with an AK-47 propped against his body, a far cry from the boastful and belligerent figure he cut in earlier videos. Some interpreted Shekaus March video as a sign he was dying. Others saw it as a surrender, a view repudiated in a statement from the group in April, affirming that Shekau remained leader. Advertisement But now the leader is Abu Musab Barnawi, former spokesman for the group, and his new role was announced Wednesday. Little is known of Barnawi, who was interviewed in the Islamic State newsletter, Al Naba, which made no mention of Shekaus fate. Shekau declared a caliphate in 2014 and pledged allegiance to Islamic State last year. He has been declared dead by Nigerian authorities several times, only to resurface. But Boko Haram, which once controlled vast swaths of northern Nigeria, has lost most of its territory in recent months. The group calls itself Islamic State West African Province, but Nigerians nicknamed it Boko Haram Western education is a sin a reference to its strict ideology. A multinational force of Nigerian, Chadian, Cameroonian and Nigerian troops announced last week it had taken control of Damasak, near the border of Niger, the last town in northeastern Nigeria controlled by the group, and had cleared fighters from surrounding villages. Damasak was seized by Boko Haram in 2014. A spokesman for the multinational force, Col. Muhammad Dole of Nigeria, said terrorists were disguising themselves as civilians and fleeing. He called on residents to report any suspicious new arrivals. In recent days, Nigerias military has published photographs of the corpses of men it describes as Boko Haram terrorists. The Nigerian army Wednesday announced the capture of high profile terrorist, Mohammed Mohammed Zauro at Sabon Gari village in Borno state. It published photographs of Zauro and another terrorism suspect, Lawal Aboi, both of them clad in civilian clothing, not the camouflage and black turbans the group often wears. The statement said Zauro was trying to flee to Kebbi state in northwest Nigeria using a fake ID card and that Aboi claimed he was planning to surrender. Nigerian forces have freed thousands of people, including women and children, from Boko Harams control in recent months. Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters, many of them facing severe hunger, have surrendered, according to Nigerias military. In Boko Harams heyday two years ago, its fighters launched mass attacks on villages and towns, driving SUVs, motorcycles and even tanks, killing thousands of people. The Nigerian military Tuesday published photographs of the bicycles that it said militants were using to flee. Boko Haram is still able to launch attacks, however, and last week ambushed a humanitarian convoy under military escort, wounding two soldiers and three civilians. As a result, the United Nations announced it was suspending humanitarian convoys to remote areas of Borno state, despite a hunger crisis caused by the conflict. Farmers have been unable to plant crops for fear of attack, and trucks transporting food and other goods have faced ambush. According to UNICEF, 244,000 people in Borno state are facing severe malnutrition, and 2 million people are in need of food aid. robyn.dixon@latimes.com ALSO Emirates airliner with 300 onboard crash-lands in Dubai China sentences longtime activist to nearly 8 years on subversion charge Why some of Brazils growing homeless population would rather stay on the streets UPDATES: 1:50 p.m.: This article has been updated with staff reporting. This article was originally published at 7:45 a.m. All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. Last Friday, Wisconsin became the fifth state this month to overturn voter ID and proof-of-citizenship laws disproportionately affecting minorities. U.S. District Judge James Peterson said as much in a scathing decision questioning the argument that legislation would prevent voter fraud. While voter ID laws are not facially unconstitutional, he said ones put forth by Republicans did nothing to entrust the state's electoral process. "The Wisconsin experience demonstrates that a preoccupation with mostly phantom election fraud leads to real incidents of disenfranchisement, which undermine rather than enhance confidence in elections, particularly in minority communities," Peterson wrote. "To put it bluntly, Wisconsin's strict version of voter ID law is a cure worse than the disease." Among the proposals struck down were limits on early voting rights, a requirement stating people must live in their voting ward 28 days before an election, and an unconstitutional prohibition on fax or email absentee ballots. Peterson said they violated First, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendment rights. The biggest problem, according to Peterson, is that individuals who cannot get proper identification by Election Day would not be allowed to cast ballots. "It has disenfranchised a number of citizens who are unquestionably qualified to vote, and these disenfranchised citizens are overwhelmingly African American and Latino," Peterson said. The Supreme Court Decision's Domino Effect Two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court removed a provision in the 1965 Voting Rights Act requiring any process changes at the state level to be approved by the federal government. One reason given their Shelby County vs. Holder verdict was voting discrimination has decreased in areas historically known for racism. Several Republican-led states rushed to implement strict identification measures while removing provisions making it easier to register, such as same-day and online registration, and pre-registration for teens near 18 years of age. Multiple studies conducted since 2013 found a lower voter turnout among Latinos and African-Americans in states where laws had been enacted; Latino turnout dipped by an average of 9.3 points during primary elections, compared to 8.6 for blacks. The Associated Press found identification card prices went up in 17, some charging as much as $58. Alabama closed nearly three dozen Department of Motor Vehicle locations throughout the state, primarily in poor and diverse communities. In Wisconsin, residents who did not meet voter ID requirements - only valid driver's licenses and federal ID's were accepted - during April's primary election were denied. This excluded expired driver's licenses and passports, student ID's without expiration dates, and tribal ID's from Native Americans without land in Wisconsin. "The Wisconsin decision further confirms that the types of laws that have appeared across the United States since the Shelby decision are nothing more than cynical political strategy used to keep minorities from voting," LULAC National Director Brent Wilkes told Latin Post. "As voter ID laws continue to be overturned across, we applaud this positive step towards healing the wounds of disenfranchisement that historically prevented minority communities from exercising their constitutional right to vote," Wilkes said. A Summer of Change Courts in seven states have modified voting laws over the last three months. In Ohio, two federal judges have deemed a number of proposed voting laws unconstitutional. One said the state cannot eliminate early voting and another said absentee and provisional ballots must be counted, even if the ballot includes minor mistakes. Only July 20, a federal appeals court in Texas ruled that the state's laws directly impact black and Hispanic communities. One week later, a three-judge panel in North Carolina overturned similar laws that banned same-day and early registration. A Kansas judge recently ruled that citizens did not have to show proof of citizenship when they registered. On Monday, a federal judge in in North Dakota blocked a law requiring a photo ID, one that discouraged Native Americans. "The undisputed evidence in the record clearly demonstrates there are likely thousands of eligible voters in North Dakota who lack a quality ID," wrote District Judge Daniel L. Hovland. "The undisputed evidence produced to date supports the conclusion that some of those voters will simply be unable to obtain the necessary ID, no matter how hard they try." Military experts have claimed that Western media is deliberately exaggerating the so-called China Threat and praising China's military in order to procure more funding for their countries' own militaries. British media recently published a new report announcing that in the next four years, China will possess the world's largest navy, consisting of between 270 and 279 vessels. Before that, the International Maritime Security Center announced its belief that in 2020, the Chinese navy will claim between 265 and 273 vessels, while the U.S. guessed the number to be closer to 260. However, a U.S. report stated that, although China's navy will be the largest in terms of number of vessels, it will still lag behind the U.S. navy's operational capability. It is also estimated that by that time China owns two aircraft carriers, six or seven nuclear-powered attack submarines, five to seven nuclear-powered strategic submarines and 18 to 20 destroyers and cruisers equipped with Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Yin Zhuo, a military expert said that the number of vessels in a country's navy does not determine its operational capability; average tonnage of vessels is also a major concern. For the U.S., this figure is around 7,000 to 8,000 tons, which means the vessles are mostly large warship with high ocean-going operational capability. The U.S. meanwhile exaggerates China's speed of development in order to get still more funds for its military, Yin told the CCTV in an interview. Cao Weidong, another military expert, expressed his belief that the most serious security threat China currently faces comes mainly from the sea. There are a number of sovereignty disputes regarding islands, and some countries have frequently conducted close-in reconnaissance in China's airspace near China's coast. For this reason, China needs a number of vessels for the purposes of security and defense. BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's fast-growing service sector has become a new magnet for overseas investors looking for opportunities in the world's biggest emerging market, a report from Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. said. Nearly 50 billion U.S. dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI) entered the sector in the first half (H1) of 2016, 8 percent more than that of the same period last year and representing 70.4 percent of the country's total FDI. FDI in the manufacturing sector, however, declined 2.8 percent, only accounting for 28.3 percent of the total. Given rising salaries and land prices, the manufacturing industry has lost its appeal to foreign investment, and the emerging service sector is overtaking it, a research note from Industrial Bank said. "There is an evident differentiation," said the report. Confronted with a slowing economy, China is counting on its service sector to prop up growth and create jobs, rolling out more favorable policies, including easier market access and fewer restrictions on foreign capital. The service sector expanded 7.5 percent year on year in H1, outpacing a 3.1-percent increase in primary industry and 6.1 percent in secondary industry. It accounted for 54.1 percent of the overall economy, up 1.8 percentage points from a year earlier. The bank expects more overseas capital to flow into the service sector thanks to an expanding global outsourcing market and further opening of the country's economy. Despite the slowdown, China remained one of the world's most important investment destinations. FDI in the Chinese mainland, which excludes investment in the financial sector, rose 5.1 percent year on year to 69.42 billion U.S. dollars in H1, with the growth rate accelerating from the 3.8 percent registered in the first five months. Aug 3, 2016, 9:48am ET FCA to sell auto parts unit Magneti Marelli to Samsung? The Korean electronics giant is said to be interested in the company\'s lighting, infotainment and telematics technology. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is reportedly considering a sale of its auto parts unit Magneti Marelli to Samsung. The Korean electronics giant is said to be interested in the company's lighting, infotainment and telematics technology, sources have told Bloomberg. The parties are allegedly negotiating either a full sale of the entire company, or a partial selloff of the smaller business units. The report is not the first to indicate a Magneti Marelli divestment. Then-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne in 2013 was allegedly involved in talks with Audi to sell the parts unit, along with Fiat's Pomigliano d'Arco factory and the entire Alfa Romeo brand, to raise funds needed to buy a controlling stake in Chrysler. Samsung already supplies components for various automakers, however the company appears to be increasing its focus on the segment. The company last month announced plans to invest $455 million in China's BYD, representing a two-percent stake in the EV maker. Other tech companies, notably Google and Apple, are also believed to be eying the automobile industry as the next potential technology growth sector as the smartphone business begins to plateau. Image by Ronan Glon. United States President Barack Obama makes remarks during the third session of the 2016 Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Photo Credit: Ron Sachs/CNP/AdMedia) WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday called Donald Trump "unfit" to be U.S. president amid bipartisan outcry following the Republican presidential nominee's feud with the family of a fallen U.S. Muslim soldier. "I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president," said Obama here at a press conference. "I said so last week and he keeps on proving it." "The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that has made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesn't appear to have basic knowledge around critical issues in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, means that he's woefully unprepared to do this job," said Obama. Trump provoked bipartisan blame over the weekend after he derisively answered criticism from Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim American solider killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq. Khan, during last week's Democratic National Convention, blasted Trump for his divisive remarks and proposal to temporary ban Muslims entering the country and divisive tone. The bellicose Republican standard-bearer responded by implying that Ms. Khan, who accompanied his husband on stage on the final day of the Democratic National Convention, was forbidden to speak. Bethlehem will pass on a free 7.5-acre former Army Reserve center because it needs millions of dollars of work to be useful. Mayor Bob Donchez advised city council in a recent memo that accepting the land could be more trouble that it it worth. Tuesday night, city council agreed when no members were willing to pass a resolution accepting the land from the U.S. Department of Justice. "It takes millions to bring that up to speed and up to code and it doesn't really fit into our strategic plan (in) any way at this time," Councilman Eric Evans said. The federal government set an Aug. 19 deadline for the city to accept or reject accepting the former Wilson-Kramer Army Reserve Center on Avenue A and Airport Road and using it for public safety purposes. City officials initially thought the 30,000-square-foot facility could be an asset to city police because it contains a firing range and plenty of storage for the department's $1 million vehicle fleet. But studies indicate it could cost millions of dollars to retrofit or build new facilities. At one time Wilson-Kramer may have been quite an opportunity, Evans said, but that's not the case now. He supports Donchez's conclusion that it is not prudent for the city to take on Wilson-Kramer currently. Council President J. William Reynolds said all of the options for using the land were impractical and expensive. He noted the land had to be used for public safety purposes. Now, the federal government can sell the land and it will hopefully be redevelop into a use that creates jobs and produces tax money for the city, Reynolds said. It should be attractive for private investment since it is a great location near highways and Lehigh Valley International Airport, Evans said. Bethlehem has been debating what to do with the property since 2014. The center closed in 2012 when a new regional reserve center opened in Forks Township. Many ideas were floated for its potential use, including police storage and public safety training. It was even considered as a possible site for a regional 911 center, with its close proximity to Routes 22 and 378. But that was abandoned due to the huge price tag of retrofitting it into a 911 communications center. Donchez thinks he can find a more economical solution to the city's storage needs. City officials are considering building a pole building on city-owned land, Donchez has said. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Alcoholic drinks won't be flowing past 2 a.m. at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem anytime soon. Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is seen in June 2013 on South Side Bethlehem. (Lehighvalleylive.com file photo) A new Pennsylvania liquor law passed in June gives casinos the option of buying special liquor licenses to serve alcohol 24 hours a day, overriding the state bans on sales from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. A license costs $1 million and lawmakers expected all 12 casinos in the state to jump at the chance. But it looks like they miscalculated. "The price makes it something you wouldn't even bother considering doing," Sands Bethlehem President Mark Juliano said. "We are not interested in it because, No. 1: price; two, we just don't see what value it adds to our operation to serve alcohol after 2 o'clock." The Sands casino is not interested in becoming the hot destination for Lehigh Valley folks looking to drink once the bars close at 2 a.m., Juliano said. Bethlehem is a different market than Las Vegas where most customers walk back to a hotel room. "We only have 300 rooms, so, 80 percent of our customers are getting into a car to drive home at that hour," Juliano said. "Not many people are returning to North Jersey or New York by bus then. There is a liability and there is just no real benefit to us." The Sands goes to lengths to ensure its gamblers are not intoxicated, Juliano said. "Someone that is looking for a place to drink after 2 o'clock is not going to be a gaming customer we are interested in," he said. The liquor modernization law enacted in June was projected to generate about $150 million in additional revenue for the state by keeping state liquor stores open for longer hours, allowing restaurants, hotels and grocery stores to sell wine, opening up direct shipments of wine, legalizing gas station alcohol sales and 24/7 casino alcohol sales. While area grocery stores, like Wegmans and Giant, plan to apply to sell wine under their liquor licenses. Casinos aren't reporting a demand for late-night alcohol sales and they're turned off by the cost. A casino liquor license costs $1 million annually for the first four years and then $250,000 each year after. Even if lawmakers modified the cost, as The Morning Call reports they're weighing, Juliano said he's still not interested. The newspaper reports a change to the bill has been written to cut the initial license fee to $500,000 and the renewal fee to $250,000. Pennsylvania casinos simply don't see a need for 24/7 alcohol sales, Juliano said. "They (lawmakers) over estimated the interest people would have in it," he said. "I'm not going to speak for the other casinos, but, my understanding is no one is going to take advantage of it." Most of the drinks the Sands serves on the gaming floor are complimentary; 24/7 alcohol sales would require hiring staff to serve and monitor folks imbibing late night. From a business perspective the Sands would never sell enough cash drinks from 2 to 6 a.m. for it to make financial sense, Juliano said. "For a variety of reasons, we don't think that having the privilege to pay $1 million a year makes any sense at all," he said. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Save A different kind of interaction between law enforcement and the public was on display Tuesday night across the Lehigh Valley. With tensions between law enforcement and the public highlighted by violent incidents across the nation, communities including Easton, Phillipsburg and Bethlehem Township hosted National Night Out parties. National Night Out is a community-building event designed to unite law enforcement and other emergency providers with residents, and to encourage public safety. Events at the Bethlehem Township Community Center and Shappell Park in Phillipsburg drew hundreds of people, with events that included demonstrations by the local police departments' K-9 teams. The National Association of Town Watch says on its website there are National Night Out events in all 50 states and many major Canadian cities. The event is held annually on the second Tuesday in August. The South Side Civic Association hosted one of nine events planned in the Easton area, beginning at 5 p.m. at Pioneer Playground. In addition to building relations with first responders, the Pioneer Playground festivities included a Caribbean steel drums performance, Balloons the Clown, and a screening of the children's movie "Zootopia." Approximately 350 people were in attendance, organizers said. Reporters Steve Novak and Kurt Bresswein contributed to this report. Follow lehighvalleylive.com on Twitter at @lehighvalley. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Defense attorneys tried again to postpone the upcoming trial for a solider accused of killing the mother of his teenage girlfriend. Jury selection is scheduled to start Thursday for Caleb Barnes on charges of homicide, conspiracy, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Barnes, a 22-year-old Army soldier who had been stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, is accused of brutally stabbing Cheryl Silvonek in the neck in the early morning of March 15, 2015, after she repeatedly tried to break up Barnes and her 13-year-old daughter, Jamie. Jamie Silvonek, now 15, pleaded guilty in February to all the charges against her -- first-degree murder, conspiracy, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence -- and was sentenced by Judge Maria Dantos to 35 years to life in state prison. As part of her plea deal, Jamie Silvonek agreed to testify against Barnes. Attorneys on both sides of the case were in court on Tuesday, and again Wednesday afternoon, to argue about records of Barnes and Silvonek's phone calls while they have been in Lehigh County Jail. After her plea and sentencing, Silvonek was moved to state prison. Senior Deputy District Attorney Jeff Dimmig said he has provided defense attorney Richard Webster with records of the all of the pair's phone calls. The district attorney's office had turned over Barnes' phone records periodically over the past year-and-a-half, most recently in June. A subpoena was filed Monday for Silvonek's calls, and Webster was given those as well, Dimmig said. Webster took issue with the district attorney's office handling the request for prison phone records, and said he has received 51 files with numerous hours of calls. Webster also added on the record that he was not given notice of Silvonek's guilty plea. Webster then asked again for Barnes' trial to be continued because of the breadth of the new evidence, which the judge denied. After the hearing, but while still in the courtroom, Dimmig gave Webster more evidence. "More discovery?" Webster asked loudly. "Yeah, he keeps making phone calls," Dimmig said. Authorities allege the fatal attack on Cheryl Silvonek was the culmination of planning by the couple, who exchanged text messages about the crime days and then hours before the killing. Prosecutors alleged the couple plotted to kill both of Silvonek's parents as a way to be together. They said Jamie Silvonek, who was 13 but told Barnes she was 17, communicated daily since they met at a concert. Authorities say Cheryl Silvonek first met Barnes on March 6, 2015. When she learned the soldier was a 20-year-old, she told her daughter the relationship had to end, authorities say. District Attorney Jim Martin released text messages between the couple that indicated they spoke for hours about killing Cheryl Silvonek before she was fatally stabbed in a car in the driveway of the family's Randi Lane home in Upper Macungie Township. A friend of Silvonek testified at the pair's preliminary hearing that they discussed killing Silvonek's parents over the phone. Police say after driving to a concert and back on March 15, 2015, a confrontation occurred between Barnes and Cheryl Silvonek. Barnes strangled the elder Silvonek as she begged for her life while her daughter watched in the woman's 2007 Ford Freestyle, as it was parked in the driveway of the Silvonek's Upper Macungie home, prosecutors said. After the killing, prosecutors said Barnes and Jamie Silvonek drove to a Wal-Mart to get supplies and returned to the house. Cheryl Silvonek's body was then driven to a rural area in South Whitehall Township and set on fire, prosecutors say. Barnes and Jamie Silvonek then dumped the blood-laden car in a nearby pond before walking back to the Silvonek home, authorities say. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty against Barnes. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township is the fourth best hospital in Pennsylvania, according to annual rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The publication - known for its ranking reports for hospitals, colleges and other institutions - released its latest findings Tuesday. Two other hospitals in the region also earned accolades, but Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest was the only to place in the top five statewide, earn spots on national lists in five medical specialty categories and be rated high-performing in nine procedures/condition, U.S. News & World Report says on its website. St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in Bethlehem also scored special recognition on statewide lists and were found to be high-performing in certain areas, the website says. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest is the only area hospital to make the U.S. News national ranking in at least one specialty area annually for the last 21 years, according to a news release from the health network. The hospital is listed among the nation's top 3 percent of leading hospitals for cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and GI surgery, geriatrics, orthopedics and pulmonology. "This recognition reflects our health network's relentless focus on improving the quality of care we provide to our community, to keep them healthy and care for them when they are ill or injured," Dr. Brian Nester, the network's president and chief executive officer, said. "Our LVHN colleagues are to be commended for their unwavering commitment to their patients." U.S. News compares nearly 5,000 medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures and conditions. The scores are based on a variety of "patient outcome and care-related factors, such as patient safety and nurse staffing." Hospitals are evaluated nationally in 16 medical specialties, like cancer and cardiology, and regionally in states and major metro areas. The specialty rankings showcase the top 50-hospitals. When a hospital isn't nationally ranked but its score puts it in the top 10 percent of analyzed centers it is deemed high-performing. U.S. News also assigns ratings of high-performing, average or below average for treatment of common procedures, like hip replacement and heart failure. "U.S. News evaluates nearly 5,000 hospitals nationwide," said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis at U.S. News. "A hospital that has emerged from our analysis as one of the best has much to be proud of." St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill ranked 15th in Pennsylvania and high-performing for six common adult procedures, but did not rank nationally in any specialty. St. Luke's did perform almost at the level of nationally ranked U.S. News and World Report hospitals in geriatrics and neurology/neurosurgery, U.S. News notes. The hospital scored high for patient safety and its demonstration of commitment to reducing accidents and medical mistakes, the website states. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg ranked 20th in all of Pennsylvania and high-performing for four procedures/conditions. It ranked 10th in the state last year. It too performed almost at the level of nationally ranked hospitals in the specialty of urology. Easton Hospital in Wilson Borough and St. Luke's Hospital-Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township were each rated high-performing in their treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure. They did not land on any other lists. St. Luke's Hospital in Phillipsburg didn't rank on any of the lists. In some categories, U.S. News & World Report says, hospitals weren't assessed simply because those hospitals had an insufficient number of cases to analyze. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. There is disagreement among Kildare councillors on whether or not the future of Naas A&E department is under threat. No A&Es are going to close, Fine Gael Cllr Darren Scully told a debate on a motion at the Councils monthly meeting recently. The Council agreed to write to the Minister for Health to get more clarity, following motions by Labour councillors and Cllr Thomas Redmond (SF) asking for the clarification over reports on the departments. The Labour group called on the Minister for Health to secure all A&E services in Naas and Portlaoise hospitals and to ensure that no downgrading of services be allowed at either hospital. Cllr Redmond said the Minister must clarify that the two hospitals would not lose their A&Es on foot of a Trauma Steering Group Report and that any plans be halted. Cllr Mark Wall said he could not stand over any downgrading of either A&E. A lot of the Athy area use Portlaoise. If that is closed people may have to go to Dublin or Tullamore, he said. It is a long way if you have a child in pain. Regarding the report, Cllr Wall said: Someone is flying kite. Someone released this to the media. There is no smoke without fire. Cllr Redmond said there had been pre-election promises not to close Roscommon hospital, but Fine Gael had broken that. Cllr Darren Scully said the trauma report referred to was a clinicians report not a report to government to close the A&Es. He said the media had taken the story up. Cllr Scully said previously there had been reports that Wexford and Kilkenny would close but that did not happen. If the A&Es (at Naas and Portlaoise) were to close it would have to be done with a Dail vote, he said. That would be political suicide. It is the media trying to make a big campaign. Cllr Padraig McEvoy said some sections of the media were driving the scare. Cllr Moore (Ind) did not agreed with Cllr Scully. It is a real issue, he said. Some others were not prepared to accept Cllr Scullys assurances. Cllr Mark Lynch (SF) said the report was from medical professionals. Referring to Cllr McEvoys comments, Cllr Wall said that it might be alright for someone in Clane or Celbridge to go to a Dublin Hospital in an emergency but not for someone in south Kildare. You can add another half hour and that is a lot of time, he said urging a letter to be written. Cllr Redmond said GPs had held a meeting with the Minister and the HSEs Dr Susan OReilly. You need to be worried when Cllr Scully says nothing will happen. Something is going on, he said. He said it was unbelievable there would not be full support for the motion. Cllr Scully quoted Labour TD, Brendan Howlin, as stating that the trauma report needed to be killed stone dead. No A&Es are going to close, said Cllr Scully. Mayor, Cllr Ivan Keatley (FG) said that more people are being recruited in Naas Hospital. The meeting agreed without a vote that a letter would go to the Minister. There is a lot of misunderstanding and misrepresenting going on. More than usual even. In this time of mass communication many have forgotten that communication is about listening as well as expressing your own view. Perhaps it was never much different, yet there is little sign that folks want to see the world from another point of view and instead vent, then consume media - social or traditional - that agrees with their take. Some examples. The reaction to the Brexit vote was slack. On social media, we were subjected to a prolonged sneer at those who had voted leave. People who regard themselves as liberal thinkers were circulating pictures and comments which depicted the Brexiters as thick, racist, uneducated and all the rest. Very few of these sneering Facebookers, who had been educated at big expense by the taxpayer, were prepared to step back and say, Im not in favour of Brexit, but Id like to find out why the majority of voters were. Donald Trump gets a kicking in the media every minute of every day. Yet millions of Americans will vote for him as president. The thought of Trump as president is not something many of us here would relish, but rather than adding to the cacophony warning of his undesirable and dangerous form, would we not be better off trying to understand why a nation that four years ago re-elected Barack Obama, as sane and progressive a character youre ever likely to see running for high office, is now considering Trump? The trouble with that is that its not so easy as having a cut. Its an issue we cannot hope to fully understand, let alone articulate here. That said, essentially, there is a frustration among people, a desperation almost. Those living in democracies such as Ireland, Britain and the US feel their living standards are being chipped away at. They are not sure how this is happening, but they are sure that it is and they want some form of redress. There was a super feature in this paper last month about Donnelly Mirrors, to mark a decade since it shut in Naas. Former workers spoke of how well they were treated; the pay, the respect afforded to them, the perks - being helped to send their kids to college as an example. How many of those former Donnelly Mirrors workers feel better off now? How many found a place to work that was more agreeable? Not many, Id guess. There were Donnelly Mirrors all over the country not long ago; places you could get a job with little in the way of a third level qualification and earn enough to buy a home and raise a family. In Cork, where I grew up, Ford and Dunlop were examples of this. They closed in the early 80s. I lived in Carlow town for a while a little over a decade ago. The Sugar Factory was in the process of winding down then. Braun had also closed. Two giant institutions that had provided good employment - not just got numbers off the live register - gone. Never replaced properly. Of course, it is wrong to exalt the past. Growing up in the 80s and early 90s, we were well aware of the high unemployment levels. But at least if you got a job, you would be able to make ends meet. Now, the term working poor has gained traction. And it doesnt just apply to low-skilled jobs. Most of us are living pay cheque to pay cheque. Against this uncertainty, it is logical for a chunk of the electorate to shun the political class that they see as having overseen this trend. If somebody says they are listening to you, your welfare will be their priority, and if they speak passionately then their message can be compelling. It may ultimately be a hollow message, but voters increasingly feel they have little to lose. So many people who have bought into the system - who have always worked or tried to work - have been left behind. They will not be scared into voting remain or for Hillary Clinton because the metropolitan class who are particularly active on Twitter says thats what they ought to do, or else Perhaps if Hillary Clinton or the EU (not that they are the one in the same) want to find out why those who would have favoured them once are turning away they might ask themselves two questions. Why are people working more for less? Why do people feel their future is less secure? If they can come up with reasonable answers and, crucially, do something about it, then they might do better come voting time. *** This article appeared in the print version of the Leinster Leader on July 26, 2016 A man appeared at Naas District Court recently charged with the assault of a security man a local nightclub. Judge Desmond Zaidan heard evidence that Peter Doherty, 22, with an address listed as Ballymaleel, Letterkenny was out for a night in Naas on September 19, 2014 with his uncle. He came to the conclusion that his uncle was under threat and lashed out, hitting one of the bouncers in the Naas Court Hotel. He has no previous convictions, Inspector Mel Smyth told the court, adding that the bouncer had suffered no lasting effects of the punch, and was somewhat embarrassed to have incurred a punch from a man smaller than him and he didnt want to pursue a victim impact statement, because hed gotten worse injuries on the rugby pitch. The defendant is in a steady relationship, his solicitor Tony Hanahoe explained. Hes in employment in Scotland at the moment. He has apologised to the injured party, and the pair have shaken hands, which I witnessed myself. The defendant came to court with 2,000 Mr Hanahoe explained. Judge Zaidan ordered that the money be handed over to the injured party and that he would apply the Probation Act. This year marks the 500th anniversary of the writing of "The book of Fenagh " in 1516. The book of Fenagh is one of Ireland's most important medieval manuscripts. The book is kept in the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. To mark the 500th anniversary, a Book of Fenagh 500 festival took place over the August bank holiday weekend. A major programme of events were organised for the weekend. There were lectures by Professor Raymond Gillespie from Maynooth university, Dr. Bernadette Cunningham from Royal Irish Academy Dublin and Fr. Liam Kelly. On Saturday afternoon there were walking tours with Chris Reid (archaeology lecturer in Sligo Institute of technology) exploring the village, the abbeys, the graveyard and all the monastic ruins. Those who joined these walking tours learned that the village of Fenagh is one of Ireland's best kept archaeologist secrets. Within the confines of the village, dominated by the medical churches and related earthworks, there are more than a dozen significant archaeological monuments representing almost every major period in history. Also on Saturday and Sunday afternoon in St. Caillins N.S, there were exhibitions and displays that the school children put together all linked to the history of the area. The book that the staff and schoolchildren produced was also on display for those who had not seen it. Another delightful event that took place was a concert of medieval music in St. Catherine's Church of Ireland late on Saturday afternoon. Finally on Sunday, the bishop celebrated mass with local priests and in the late afternoon there was a medieval barbeque in the community centre, followed by a drama and music presentation about Fenagh from St. Caillin through the ages. Many people who attended the events said they learned so much about their local area, they claimed they weren't aware that Fenagh was so steeped in history. The school children also added that they had taken their local area for granted but when they started putting their book together, they suddenly realised all the history that was linked to their local area. The event was a huge success with people travelling from all over Ireland to it, and also some came from America and England. Lu Xiaoman. [File photo]; Lu Xiaoman's painting. [Photo/China.com] A collection of paintings of three celebrated women painters were posted on the internet recently. The painters, once called "three beauties in Shanghai", are: Lu Xiaoman, Wu Qingxia and Zhou Lianxia. Most of the people know Lu for her romance with celebrated Chinese writer Xu Zhimo, yet have no idea of her talent in painting. She was good at not only painting, but also operas and writing. Born in 1903 in Jiangsu province, Lu passed away in Shanghai in 1965. Wu's exquisite paintings of carps and wild gooses are her most representative works. She died at the age of 99 in 2008. Zhou's paintings and poems retain a clear and bright style. Died in 2000, she once enjoyed a great popularity in Shanghai and was praised as a "fairy" for her looks and talents. Despite not being as high on the news agenda the refugee crisis is still ongoing, with thousands of people seeking safety arriving on Europes shores every week. The Lib Dems have been proud to stand up for refugees and campaign for the UK to offer help and safety. Tim Farron was the first party leader to visit Calais, Lesvos and Idomeni. He has led the campaign for the UK to take in 3000 unaccompanied refugee children from Europe. Our peers in the House of Lords have worked tirelessly to pressure the government to take in more refugees. On the ground Lib Dem volunteers have raised vanloads of essential items donations to be sent to aid refugees in the camps across Europe. There are serious concerns that Brexit and rising anti-migrant rhetoric could be a backwards step in our campaigns to take in more refugees. The political developments following the leave vote could also take attention away from the ongoing plights of refugees. However we as Lib Dems refuse to let brexit mean that we forget our moral obligations to help refugees. Last week myself and Baroness Shas Sheehan led a team of Lib Dem volunteers to help in the Calais camp. Eight of us in total stayed for a week, sorting donations in the Care4Calais warehouse, helping out with food and essential supply distributions in the camp, cleaning up the camp and teaching English to residents. We learned a great deal about the current situation in the camp. We were pleased to be able to help out in whatever way we could, experience first hand the conditions in the camp and hear the incredible stories and hopes from people who had made it this far. Help is very much needed at the present time, with over 40 new arrivals every day in Calais alone, there are worries that donations are very low at the moment, this could become a severe problem especially during winter months. There are still people who very much need our help and solidarity. We Lib Dems are proud to be on the right side of history in this on-going crisis and continue to campaign to help refugees. * Bradley is an active member of the Lib Dems as a council member for both the SLF and LD4SOS, standing for local elections in 2014 and 2016 and as borough organiser for Camden in 2016. He also has a leading role in the Lib Dem campaign to raise donations for refugees and lobbying the government to settle more refugees. He is currently studying for his PhD in moral and political philosophy specialising in the philosophy of migration, borders and refugees. Brexit means Brexit were among the first words spoken by Theresa May when she was anointed by Conservatives as our new Prime Minister. She swiftly followed that up by appointing prominent Brexiteers to key Government roles to direct the UK withdrawal from the EU. Brexiteers argue that the outcome of the EU referendum provides the UK with a clear and unequivocal mandate to take the country out of the EU. Well, not quite: the result delivered confused and conflicting mandates. Firstly, two out of the four countries which comprise the UK voted to remain: overwhelmingly so in the case of Scotland. Brexiteers do not therefore have a UK-wide leave mandate. It is important to remember that Scotland and Northern Ireland are countries not English counties. Scottish and Irish voters delivered a clear and unequivocal Remain mandate which deserves as much respect as the UK-wide vote: quite how that can be achieved is, at present, unclear. Secondly, during the campaign Brexiteers offered voters all sorts of different alternatives to UK membership of the EU the Norwegian model, the Swiss model, UK in the Single Market, UK outside the Single Market etc. Consequently, there was no single definitive leave mandate. Many of the leave voters I spoke to during the campaign were convinced that UK access to the Single Market would be guaranteed post-exit: if that is not the case will they still be so keen to leave? There is a distinct difference between giving a government a mandate to negotiate exit terms with our EU partners and a mandate to put into effect whatever deal is finally arrived at as that may not meet the expectations of those who voted to leave on 23 June. Thirdly, at the 2015 General Election just under two thirds of the electorate did not vote for the current Conservative Government and 48% voted to remain in the EU on 23 June. Clearly, 48% did not amount to a winning score, but it was still a sizeable mandate from almost half of voters to remain: will their voice simply be swept aside and ignored in the rush to Brexit? Where is the political and democratic legitimacy the mandate for a Party elected with just over a third of votes at the last General Election casting aside the expressed views of almost half the electorate in the referendum? Add to that the election of a new Prime Minister chosen by 331 Tory MPs not the nation and more questions about mandates and legitimacy arise. Yes, of course, all of the above is within the Parliamentary and Party rule books, no laws have been broken, but none of this adds up to a clear and unequivocal mandate from the electorate. What we need and what the Lib Dems have called for is a general election with our Parliament deciding future constitutional arrangements both within the UK and with our EU partners. After all, is that not what the Brexiteers were seeking: Parliamentary democracy? * James Lindsay is a Lib Dem member in Harborough. George Lyon MEP has been reselected at the top of the list in the Scottish Liberal Democrats European selections. Although the votes were counted last Thursday, the results were only announced this afternoon because of a delay in contacting one of the candidates. Lyon attracted 80.7% of first preferences which will give him bragging rights over Sir Graham Watson in the South West who must have thought his total of 79% would not be beaten. The full list is as follows: 1. George Lyon 2. Christine Jardine 3. Lisa Strachan 4. Richard Brodie 5. Jade Holden George Lyons reselection was welcomed by Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, who said: In the three years he has been an MEP, George has built up a considerable reputation amongst European decision makers. He has led many of the negotiations on reform of the common agricultural policy and is currently arguing for reform of the European budget to make it more responsive to the needs of Member States. He is Scotlands liberal voice in Europe. I look forward to campaigning with George and our other hard working European candidates in the run up to the European elections in 2014. George himself said that he was looking forward to leading the team into the 2014 election: I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead our excellent group of European candidates into the next election. It has been a great privilege to serve as Scotlands Liberal Democrat MEP since 2009. With the aftermath of the Eurozone crisis still being felt across Europe and key reforms taking place to the CAP and CFP, there has never been a more important time to have strong liberal voices at the heart of European decision making. I look forward to campaigning across Scotland with our strong team of candidates as we continue to work for the best deal for Scotland. * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings THE Parkway Valley site once slated to be home to a massive 100m retail park is instead being lined up as land for prime office space. Limerick City and County Council is set to hold meetings with the new owners of the Dublin Road land, Capital Assets, to establish its exact plans for the area. With the permission to build a shopping complex in effect expiring on August 14, it is impossible this particular plan which would have brought Limericks first Marks & Spencer and a claimed 2,000 jobs will ever see the light of day. The man spearheading this project, Belfast-based developer Suneil Sharma is reportedly no longer involved at the site after Danske Bank sold the associated loans to investment firm Capital Assets, which has an office at Howleys Quay. Now, with any fresh application for out-of-town retail unlikely to succeed, and the IDA identifying a lack of clean office space in the city as a barrier for firms investing here, multiple parties have indicated the Parkway Valley site will now see ready made accommodation for another big employer. Auctioneer Pat Kearney whose firm Rooneys Auctioneers had business dealings with Mr Sharma says office space has been mooted for the site, while Mayor Kieran OHanlon added: It looks like it will be office accommodation there, which is badly needed. There is a demand for large office complexes. You can see that where Northern Trust is located [at the Ballysimon Road], more development is being planned. Offices have been mooted at the Parkway Valley, with the whole place landscaped now, Mr Kearney said. Wychwood Properties is seeking to build two new office buildings near to Northern Trust, but it is understood these are not linked to the finance companys expansion plans. Mayor OHanlon who represents the Dublin Road area on the council added: The whole structure, as it is, is unsightly, particularly for people coming into the city. It is on the main artery road from Dublin, and it gives a bad impression for business people and tourists. Cllr James Collins, who sits on the board of Innovate Limerick, the local authoritys development arm, said: It would make sense if someone was looking to develop this site, they would address the deficiency in commercial market space. The IDA are telling us there is a strong demand, but one of the barriers is suitable office space for companies. But councillor Joe Leddin, Labour, said any redevelopment of the site must be for a mixed development to include educational, housing and or office type use. He said this will impact positively on our Limerick 2030 masterplan in terms of creating new jobs, homes and community facilities in this part of the city. A local authority spokesperson said: As with all potential investors in Limerick, council officials will be initiating an engagement process with the new owners. We will be organising meetings with them to discuss their plans and look forward to engaging with them. UNPRECEDENTED demand for student accommodation in Limerick has led the university to appeal to homeowners and landlords to come forward and advertise available rooms. UL provides over 2,600 student bedrooms on campus and lists over 1,000 rooms in off campus housing. But it is close to capacity for the upcoming academic year. Over 1,400 student bedrooms in purpose built student accommodation off campus in Castletroy are also fully subscribed for September. John ORourke, general manager of Campus Life Services, said they are calling on homeowners to consider renting an available room. There may be some families in the local area where sons and daughters may have moved to other cities for work or are living abroad and homeowners might consider renting a vacant room, said Mr ORourke. According to the Revenue Commissioners, if homeowners let a room and the rental income for the year does not exceed 12,000, the profits or losses on the relevant sums are treated as nil for income tax purposes. Apr 28, 2021, 9 PM In the summer of 2009, the so-called Ice House Cover realized more than $431,000 in a Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sale. By Colin Sallee While the stamp market in Chicago is rather small these days gone are the days of stamp departments at Chicago-based Marshall Fields and Carsons theres one man who remains committed to selling stamps in the city. And he had quite a story to tell the Chicago Readers Chicagoans blog in July. Charles Berg, the owner of Stamp King, runs and operates the city's last remaining stamp storefront. The Reader published on July 29 a first-person account written by the 74-year-old stamp enthusiast about a historic philatelic story he played a major role in when a revered piece of postal history found its way into Bergs Norwood Park neighborhood store in 2006. The Ice House Cover In the summer of 2009, a cover mailed in 1873 franked with an 1869 90 Lincoln stamp realized more than $431,000 in a Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sale. You can read The New York Times coverage of the sale, which profiles the history of the cover. The Ice House cover, as its nickname suggests, carried a letter from a New England ice merchant to one of his ice houses in Calcutta, India. The Times explained in 2009 why the cover became such a rarity, and it mostly had to do with the 90 Lincoln stamp stuck to it: Early collectors mainly sought to fill their albums with stamps that had been soaked off their envelopes, and an item like the Lincoln, issued in 1869 in a run of fewer than 50,000, would have been no exception. When, at the end of the 19th century, collectors began saving entire envelopes on account of the fascinating tales they revealed about their trips through the worlds postal systems it became apparent that covers with the Lincoln were no longer to be found. In 1914, a New York collector traveling in India did come across one. He sold it to a dealer in New York for $50 or $100 accounts vary and by the 1960s it had been sold to [J. David] Baker, a steel executive and prominent collector in Indianapolis, for $6,500. Lost and Found Fast forward to 1967, when a prized set of roughly 250 covers were stolen from Baker. The set contained the Ice House Cover. About 10 years later, the FBI had found most of the covers that were stolen. However, the Ice House Cover remained unrecovered. That all changed in 2006, when Berg, Chicago's aforementioned Stamp King, helped recover the long-lost cover. In his own words, written for the Reader: I was sitting here one afternoon, and a couple comes in with a cover [a used envelope bearing canceled postage], and they want to know if it has any value. It's a large-size cover, with a 10- and a 12-cent stamp from the 1870s. It also has a black-and-red stamp depicting Lincoln, a 90-cent stamp from 1869. I happened to know that that stamp [is valued at] over $2,000 for a used copy. What is that worth on cover? I turned to the catalog. It's not listed. So I made a phone call to a friend of mine who specializes in 19th-century U.S. stamps. I told him, I have an oversize cover that has a 90-cent Lincoln on it, sent from Boston to Calcutta in 1873. And he tells me, That's the Ice House Cover. It was stolen almost 40 years ago. You cannot let that out of the store. Have you called the police? My response was The couple who brought it in is with me. Can you help me? He knew what I meant. A few minutes later, there were five squad cars outside. Long story short, five hours later, the cover left in the possession of the FBI. The cover eventually found its way to that 2009 auction, and from there into the possession of Dr. Arthur K.M. Woo, a renowned collector revered for his international rarities. The story of the Ice House cover is one of those marvelous stories that makes the stamp hobby, and the fascinating history its items provide, so wonderful. Every stamp and cover tells a story. Charles Berg experienced that firsthand. Hopefully his Chicago store will remain open for that next big find. A paralyzed student from central China's Henan province just received admission to one of Chinas top universities after scoring impressively high marks on the college entrance exam. Zhu Zhiqiang, from the city of Jiaozuo, was born with spinal problems. Since he was very little, he hasn't been able to feel his back. When he was 4 years old, Zhu's mother got him to kindergarten by carrying him on her back, and she continued this habit for the next 14 years. As Zhu's problem progressed, however, it started being difficult for him to sit for long periods of time. His doctor suggested that he quit school, which would have been feasible since junior high is the end of compulsory schooling in China. However, Zhu continued going to class. As soon as he entered high school, with permission from the school, he actually moved his bed to the classroom so he could lie on it while attending classes and doing homework. Zhu was recently admitted by Wuhan University, which is ranked among the top 10 universities in China, thanks to an impressive score of 645 on the university entrance exam. He plans to major in math. Zhang says he is going to work even harder in college. 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BEIJING, Aug. 2 -- Chinese Defense Ministry on Tuesday expressed strong opposition to Japan's 2016 defense white paper, calling the annual document hostile to the Chinese military and deceptive to the international community. "The white paper issued on August 2, full of hackneyed expressions, distorts China's justified and reasonable defense work, heightening issues in the South China Sea and the East China Sea," said Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian in a statement. "Filled with hostility to the Chinese military, it stirs up trouble between China and its neighbors, and attempts to deceive the international community, " Wu said. He said the Chinese military has lodged solemn representations with Japan over the white paper. In the 480-page document, some 30 pages are devoted to irresponsible remarks on China's national defense and China's normal and legal maritime activities in the East and South China Seas. On the South China Sea issue, Wu said Japan was attempting to cause trouble for its own benefit. "What we want to remind Japan is that freedom of navigation has never been a problem in the South China Sea, while interference by Japan and other non-regional countries jeopardizes peace and stability in the region," Wu said. On the East China Sea issue, Wu said the Diaoyu Islands are part of China. He said Japan has hyped up repeatedly the so-called"abnormally close encounter" of Chinese and Japanese military aircraft, but claimed that the video released by the Chinese Defense Ministry in June 2014 clearly showed who was at fault. As for the accusations in the white paper of increased Chinese military activity near the Diaoyu Islands, Wu said what the Chinese military did was entirely in line with the islands belonging to China. He said Japan's ultimate purpose was large-scale changes to its military policy, increased arms and a revision of its pacifist constitution. He urged Japan to create conditions for improved China-Japan ties through concrete action. Japan released its first white paper on defense in 1970 and has compiled a new version each year since 1976. BEIJING, Aug. 2 -- The controversial deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean Peninsula is increasing concerns in neighboring China where some worry that a new Cold War is looming. But make no mistake. It is not fear of the U.S. anti-missile shield that drives such concerns, for China has never, and will never, accepted threats that encroach on its national security. The Republic of Korea (ROK) last month announced plans for a THAAD battery to be deployed in Seongju county, 300 km southeast of Seoul, by the end of next year. Washington claims that THAAD can help defend the ROK against potential security threats from its neighbor, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). But the missile shield is designed to intercept incoming inter-continental ballistic missiles at relatively high altitudes, whereas the DPRK needs only short-range rockets and conventional arms to launch attacks on its southern neighbor. This alone renders THAAD a completely ineffective deterrent. Furthermore, THAAD has a 200 km-range for intercepting missiles, yet it is to be set up 300 km southeast of Seoul, far from the DPRK border. This means the capital and its surrounding areas, the country's most populous region, will not be protected. Again, this clearly shows that there is a hidden agenda behind THAAD, an installation that barely covers Seoul, but extends its reach to China and Russia's Far East. With its X band radar, commanding surveillance of an area that extends over 1,200 miles from the peninsula, THAAD can be used to collect the radar data of warheads and decoys of China and Russia's strategic missiles by monitoring their experiments, thus enabling the United States to neutralize China and Russia's nuclear deterrents and put their national security at risk. This muscle flexing, marked by strings being pulled from Washington where the fallacy of a fictional China threat has been trumpeted for years, is now bringing real, strategic threats to China's doorstep. However, those who wish to scare China will be deeply disappointed, for China has never, nor will ever, bowed down in the face of external security threats. By deploying this weapons system, which far exceeds the Korean Peninsula's defense needs, the ROK is skating on very thin ice by aiding the United States in compromising China's legitimate security interests. It is also destabilizing the strategic balance as well the stability of the region, which it claims that it set out to maintain in the first place. Seoul should wake up and realize that China has never been a source of regional tension and instability, and its neighborly diplomatic philosophy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, should not warrant schemes that undermine the country's national security. Seoul should also realize that it is amity and goodwill between neighbors, rather than a handful of high-tech weapons, that constitutes the true shield of regional peace and stability. China firmly opposes and is strongly dissatisfied with a Japanese defense white paper that is "full of lies", Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Tuesday. The report, approved by the Japanese Cabinet, plays up the South China Sea and East China Sea issues in a groundless manner and attempts to stir up trouble behind the scenes, from which Japan seeks to benefit, Wu said. He accused Japan of unilaterally changing the status quo by illegitimately "purchasing" China's Diaoyu Islands in 2012, enhancing military deployment targeting China, and passing a new security bill to end constitutional constraints on collective self-defense. Japan is attempting to make excuses for its adjustment of military and security policy, military expansion and even amending the Constitution, which should trigger great concern among the international community, he added. The 484-page white paper allocates several more pages to each country, including China and Russia, than the previous report. It devotes more words to China than other regional powers such as Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It also describes China's reclamation work in the South China Sea as a "provocation". "China is carrying out reforms to the People's Liberation Army, which some see as being the largest in the country's history," the report says. "Recently, the reforms have taken place at a rapid pace." Lyu Yaodong, director of the Foreign Policy Researcher Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Japanese Studies, said Japan has exaggerated China's maritime threat in recent years, and its real aim is to make excuses for its military expansion. The Asahi newspaper reported on Tuesday that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will make 57-year-old Tomomi Inada, currently his ruling party's policy chief, defense minister in a Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday. A close ally of Abe, she regularly visits Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which honors convicted war criminals. Lyu said the reported nomination of Inada shows Abe's hard-line stance on defense. "It is expected that Inada will play hardball in Japan's various territorial conflicts with surrounding countries including China," he said. Wang Ping, a senior researcher of Japanese studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Abe is trying to push Japan to become a military power, and nominating a right-wing politician is part of his efforts. Interpretation specifies sanctions for illegal fishing, entry in sovereign waters File photo taken on April 29, 2016 shows a boat moves on the sea near Zhaoshu Island of Qilianyu Islands in Sansha City, south China's Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua] Fishermen illegally operating in waters administered by China are going to face tougher sanctions than being merely driven off, as has been the common practice until now. The Supreme People's Court issued a judicial interpretation on Monday specifying standards for convicting and punishing those engaged in illegal fishing or entry into Chinese territorial waters and refusing to obey commands to leave. Such acts will be considered as "serious" criminal acts and those responsible will be fined and sentenced to less than one year's imprisonment, detention or surveillance. In addition, Chinese and foreign nationals will be held criminally liable for illegally killing endangered wildlife in waters under Chinese jurisdiction. The interpretation is aimed at helping Chinese maritime authorities better deal with thorny cases of infringements on sovereignty and economic rights, and of ecological crime in the South and East China seas. It took effect on Tuesday. The court said it is "China's first full-scale judicial interpretation on maritime crimes". Chen Chang, head of an observation and research station of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, said that before the interpretation, Chinese law had difficulty in effectively restraining illegal fishing by neighboring countries, such as Vietnam. Chen, who studies the deep waters off the Xisha and Nansha islands in the South China Sea, said some foreign fishermen had resorted to poison or even torpedoes to get their catch, seriously damaging the coral reefs. Chinese authorities had few options but to drive them away, "which is not conducive to effective management or deterrence". The new interpretation "offers viable provisions and a basis to support law enforcement", Chen said. Under the interpretation, seas under China's jurisdiction include not only inland waters and territorial seas, but also such areas as contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves. The interpretation covers Chinese citizens as well as organizations engaged in fishing in fishing zones or waters under comanagement of China and other countries. Wang Hanling, director of the National Center for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the CASS, said it is the first time that Chinese law has covered fishery zones jointly managed by China and neighbors. Wang pointed out that under the interpretation both Chinese and foreign citizens who engage in illegal activity in the waters will be punished "they are being treated on an equal footing" and their lawful rights and interests are also guaranteed. "The interpretation will help the agencies concerned to better exercise jurisdiction in the sea and protect China's maritime rights and interests," Wang said. It further clarifies China's maritime jurisdiction based on Chinese law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the country's judicial practices, he said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 Trend: The International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), Azerbaijan's largest lender by assets, is still being prepared for privatization, Rufat Aslanli, head of the countrys Financial Market Supervisory Body, told Reuters. "The government has resolved the majority of IBA's problems, but the privatization process takes some time, and privatization this year is not realistic," he said. On July 15, 2015 the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on the measures for rehabilitation related to the preparations for privatizing the state-owned shares of the International Bank of Azerbaijan JSC. The shortcomings in the management, investment and loan policy of the International Bank of Azerbaijan in recent years, as well as financing of less efficient, risky investment projects worsened the bank's financial state, caused increase in the share of distressed assets and reduced its liquidity, said the decree. In order to overcome the current situation, restore the bank's financial position and ensure its sustainability, the distressed assets of the bank were transferred to the state-owned Aqrarkredit CJSC non-banking credit organization. Bonds for three billion manat were issued under the state guarantee to ensure IBA's liquidity instead. Azerbaijan's banks have largely adapted to the external shocks which led the central bank to float the manat currency and close weak lenders, but privatization of the country's largest bank will not take place this year, Aslanli said. He added that he also did not expect local banks to issue Eurobonds any time soon, given the high level of their dollarisation, currently at a peak of 80 percent. "The adjustment of banks to new realities is now over, and we can talk about the beginning of improvements," he said. The number of banks in Azerbaijan has shrunk to 33 at the start of 2016. Ten commercial banks have lost their licences so far this year, while IBA and Standard Bank are under rehabilitation. Think money protects against insect infestation? Think again. New research finds that the homes in the wealthiest neighborhoods have more diverse creepy-crawlies living indoors than homes in poorer ZIP codes. The finding is a somewhat surprising example of the "luxury effect," in which researchers have found that wealth correlates with more diverse animals, such as birds and bats, living outdoors. It's not entirely clear why affluence also equals diverse arthropods (the group including insects, spiders, millipedes and centipedes), but landscaping in wealthy neighborhoods seems to play a large role, said study researcher Misha Leong, a postdoctoral researcher in entomology at the California Academy of Sciences. "These decisions that are being made collectively by all the neighbors really work together to influence what is going on in your house," Leong told Live Science. "Its not just your property." [Photos: 15 Insects and Spiders That May Share Your Home] Rich bugs, poor bugs Leong and her colleagues used data from an exhaustive biological survey of 50 homes in and around Raleigh, North Carolina, to quantify indoor arthropods. "It's through exhaustive hand-collecting, which means we don kneepads and headlamps," Leong said. Windowsills, the edges of floorboards, spider webs in corners, oil droplets on kitchen backsplashes: All are rich veins for finding insects, spiders and other arthropods, both living and dead. A study published in the journal PeerJ in January documented the researchers' basic results, including the fact that the average house is home to some 100 species of arthropod. "There's this growing realization that there's this biodiversity right under our noses that we've ignored for a long time," Leong said. Among the denizens of Raleigh-area homes were well-known arthropods like cobweb spiders, cockroaches and silverfish. There were also some surprises, Leong said, like a species of ant found in a second-floor hallway that's rare to stumble across even outside. Ninety-eight percent of homes boasted populations of book lice (they eat fungi and mold, not blood) and 100 percent hosted spindly legged flies called gall midges (Cecidomyiidae). The new research digs in deeper to find out why some homes are more diverse than others. Leong and her colleagues combined the insect census data with information from the U.S. census, from satellite imagery of vegetation and from property records. The wealthier the neighborhood, the greater its indoor diversity, the researchers reported today (Aug. 2) in the journal Biology Letters. This correlation was related to the amount of ground cover in a neighborhood. In areas where there was a lot of ground cover, neighborhood wealth didn't really affect arthropod diversity. But when the nearby ground cover was medium or sparse, income made a big difference. Landscaping arthropod habitat Vegetation affects indoor arthropods because many indoor species are really outdoor organisms that accidentally wandered inside, Leong said. In a sparsely vegetated yard, there isn't much habitat for insects, spiders and other creatures. Lower-income neighborhoods that string together many sparse yards thus don't have a lot of biodiversity. [See Dazzling Photos of Dew-Covered Insects] In wealthier neighborhoods, though, more of the homes are landscaped, so one dirt-caked outlier of a yard doesn't deter the local creepy-crawlies as much. "Houses that don't have much local vegetation in their property can really be rescued I don't know if rescued is the right word because not everyone wants more arthropods in their houses but they experience the benefits of higher diversity just through their neighborhood context," Leong said. The researchers are now working to expand their indoor diversity surveys around the world, she said. They've already sampled homes in the Bay Area in California, in cities and in rural areas in Peru, and in Sweden. They're also using the North Carolina data to make fine-grained maps of insect diversity within houses, hoping to answer burning questions like what species live in bathrooms versus kitchens versus common areas. Previously, much of the research on urban entomology focused on pest species, Leong said, but most of the arthropods that live alongside people are benign. There may even be benefits to having a bustling population of arthropods hunting and snaring one another in dusty corners and under rugs. "It would be super-interesting to try to understand whether or not having a more diverse community composition of arthropods helps keep down pests populations," Leong said. Original article on Live Science. A truck driver has reportedly been threatened with a chainsaw during a night of violence in Calais, which the Freight Transport Association (FTA) fears could escalate as numbers in The Jungle camp near the French port swell to more than 7,000 and migrants become more desperate to reach the UK following the Brexit vote. The FTA said migrants had set fire to barricades across the motorway to stop trucks and one Belgian driver reported being threatened with a chainsaw as he tried to reach the port. His boss begged authorities: Please do something, there will be deaths. Our drivers are threatened every night. Chris Yarsley, FTAs EU affairs manager, said: These drivers are just trying to do their job, moving goods from Europe to the UK through the countrys busiest port. Attacks like this are unacceptable and more needs to be done to protect them as they go about their work. Despite The Jungle camp having been partially cleared earlier this year, FTA said the numbers of people at the camp had reportedly swelled to over 7,000 more than at the peak of last summers unrest. The UKs vote to leave the EU has made some migrants more determined to cross the Channel before any changes to the current border controls, FTA believes. Yarsley said: A robust process must be put in place to quickly deal with applications from genuine asylum seekers rather than economic migrants and move them out of the camp. Relocating the camp away from the port would prevent the relentless attacks on commercial vehicles passing close by and allow our members to carry out their job without fear of attack or fines for unwittingly carrying migrants on their trucks. The photo accompanying this article was taken by a Belgian truck driver and shows a road blocked with a flaming barricade and attackers with faces covered. Earlier this week, Lloyds Loading List reported that two Spanish drivers claimed their truck was set on fire by a group of migrants on the ring road leading to the port of Calais during the weekend. One of the drivers told local newspaper Nord Littoral that in the early hours of Saturday morning, during a slowdown in traffic on the ring road, a group of six to 10 migrants appeared, positioning themselves in front of the truck in order to block it. Managing to move the vehicle and get it off the ring road, the drivers made a vain attempt to bring the fire under control, with police and the fire service arriving on the scene. But the London-bound truck and the shipment of fruit and vegetables it was carrying were destroyed. Among the other incidents on an eventful night of migrant activity near the Channel port last weekend, a fire was reported in The Jungle camp and a number of barricades were put up to block the ring road and the motorway intersection, using tree trunks, branches and metal poles, some of which were set alight. At one point, such was the scale of the incursions by migrants on to the ring road, that the police were reportedly forced to divert traffic heading for the port for around 90 minutes. This led to queues forming, giving migrants the opportunity to attempt to board trucks. The fire service was called out a total six times between 10.30pm and 9am on Saturday morning, while five migrants were reported injured, according to Nord Littoral. Following this weeks night of violence which saw a truck driver threatened with a chainsaw, the FTA today said it backed a Home Affairs Select Committee report calling on the UK government to maintain juxtaposed border controls at Calais to protect the UK against terrorism and criminal gangs. The Migration Crisis report - the result of a year-long enquiry by the committee - covers humanitarian and security issues including The Jungle camp in Calais and the Le Touquet agreement, which allows UK border controls to operate on French soil. The report says maintaining the agreement must be a priority for the UK government because post-Brexit calls for it to end would be counterproductive and not in the interest of France or the UK. FTA agreed with the findings that moving the controls to Dover would create major disruption on Channel crossings as infrastructure on the UK side is not scaled up to handle 100% checks on vehicles entering the country. These checks are vital as lorry drivers are often threatened as they approach the French port and migrants slash curtain sides and prise open doors to stow away on their vehicles in an attempt to reach the UK, the FTA said. Chris Yarsley, FTAs EU affairs manager, said: FTA recognises the pressures on governments on both sides of the channel in terms of domestic security. However, the juxtaposed border controls and security investments must continue to help guarantee the security of UK-bound drivers and vehicles who simply wish to perform their job and continue to deliver the UK economy. A lot of bilateral cooperation and investment has already taken place - it would be against both nations interests to remove what is already in place and functioning. Improving what is there is the key - not taking it away. FTA said changing the current arrangement would cause major congestion in Dover port and lead to Operation Stack being recreated at sea, with ferries instead of HGVs. It said the UK and French governments have developed strong links and FTA is urging them to continue working together unchanged. The Migration Crisis report also highlights the need for proper processing of migrants at The Jungle camp to identify genuine refugees and reunite unaccompanied children with family members in the UK something FTA has been calling for since the problem escalated last summer. FTA noted that it had participated in workshops in Brussels to assist the European Commission in its work to produce guidance for commercial drivers to help prevent people smuggling. It is hoped that this will come to fruition next year, the association added. FTA has fed into this process its knowledge and experience of the Calais crossing and also its knowledge of the Codes of Practice issued by Border Force. Yarsley said: FTA welcomes the continued investments in security around both the Port of Calais and the Eurotunnel facility. The association understands the extreme pressure the French government is under at the moment but would ask them to continue to deploy police and gendarmes to ensure the safe passage of drivers and their vehicles in the coastal area. Image: Shutterstock Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 Trend: Strategic friendly and partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are developing at a high level, and the projects of Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR in Turkey give an important impetus to the development of economies of the two fraternal countries, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. He made the remarks at a meeting with Head of SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev held following the session of economic dialogue with the international high-level investors in Ankara, where SOCAR has participated. The Turkish president inquired about the progress in implementation of projects, expressed support for the activity of SOCAR, noted the importance of investment and expressed confidence in the development of the companys activity. Rovnag Abdullayev assured the Turkish president that all the projects implemented by SOCAR in the country will be high-quality and completed in a timely manner. SOCAR president also thanked Erdogan for his support of the company, and said that work on all the projects is underway in accordance with the schedule. SOCAR owns a controlling stake in the Petkim petrochemical holding in Turkey, implements construction projects of the Star refinery and TANAP pipeline. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. Granard will be left without a full time superintendent from this week in a move that looks set to heap renewed pressure on Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan. Both Longford-based Superintendent Fergus Treanor and Se McCormack in Granard are due to take up new positions in Ardee, Co Louth and the Gardais Strategic Transformation Office in Dublin respectively from tomorrow (Thursday). Its been confirmed that Sligo-Leitrim based Supt James Delaney is to take over in Longford after promotion from Detective Inspector level. However, no immediate decision as to who will replace Supt Se McCormack has been made, fuelling fears the district could be left without a full-time Garda chief going forward. A Garda spokesperson would not confirm when or if a replacement was forthcoming, saying simply that any vacancies would be filled in due course. In the interim, the Leader has learned that those duties will be assumed by one, or possibly two inspectors from neighbouring Garda divisions. Its a move which has sparked fury among local politicians and community groups. There is no doubt about it, we need two superintendents in this county, said Joint Policing Committee Chairperson Cllr Gerry Warnock. Its just not good enough and its incumbent on the Commissioner and Justice Minister (Frances Fitzgerald) not to let Co Longford down by ensuring both of these positions are filled as a matter of urgency. They were sentiments Des Skelly, Chairperson of Edgeworthstown Active Retirement Group attested to. He said speculation over the superintendents position in Granard was sending out the wrong message to the wider public. I am disappointed to say the least, he said, while also hitting out at recent crime levels. Its (crime rate) an accident waiting to happen. Sooner or later there will be a death on somebodys hands and instead of going forward we are taking two steps back in policing it. Corlea Trackway is truly one of the midlands hidden gems and as the Leader discovered on a recent visit, it is a bit too hidden for some peoples liking. There have been complaints in the past about poor signage to the facility, not just in Kenagh, but from major local towns as well. Despite this, the Trackway has been declared one of the top ten destinations in the midlands to visit and the Leader headed out recently to tour the trackway and visitor centre and speak to visitors there. It truly was a wonderful couple of hours in the company of Noel Carberry who is not only one of the most informed people in the country on Corlea but someone who also allowed open discussion as the tour progressed. The visitor centre at Corlea interprets an Iron Age bog road which was built in 148 BC across the boglands close to the River Shannon. The road is the largest of its kind to have been discovered in Europe and inside the building an 18 metre stretch of preserved road is on permanent display in a specially designed hall. Bord na Mona and the Heritage Service have carried out conservation work on the surrounding bog to ensure that it remains wet and the buried road is preserved. There is much hope that the latest tourism initiative in Co Longford - Ireland Ancient East - will incorporate Corlea Trackway into its plans thus advancing the magic of the region. At the start of the tour participants were introduced to wood carvings, many of which resemble animals; an ash carving of a bore - a rare piece with the original housed at the national museum - appears to represent a territorial God during the era. Fast forward a few hundred years and research traces a link with the Irish midland bog to a tribe in Germany - The Cauci. Meanwhile in the Irish midlands, over 100 trackways - buried in bogs - were discovered within a 15 mile radius. They discovered that a lot of the trackways stopped in the middle of the bogs and did not lead to anywhere else, explained Mr Carberry who is also a very accomplished musician. As a result of this, it was determined that the trackways were designed to bring people into the bogs so they could make their sacrifices to the gods; they would have been rituals specific to that time. Those on the tour last week also heard that the local trackways connected the two Hills of Uisneach - which was the seat of power before Tara - and Rathcroghan. Mr Carberry said that the Trackway located at Derrahaun (Killashee/Kenagh) was most likely connected to Queen Maeve! The trackways were made of timber, mostly oak because this was long lasting, however as more and more research was carried out, it was discovered that ash and birch were also added at various areas along the trackway. Mr Carberry also pointed out that while many archaeologists believe that trackways were physically covered with bog matter by the people of that era, there was also substantial evidence to prove that they most likely fell back down into the bogs over time. Everything for the trackways, he added, was prepared where the oak trees were grown. Pine, ash and birch were also used. It was time then to examine the trackway for ourselves which is enclosed in a temperature controlled room at Corlea Visitor Centre. Soon a discussion on bog bodies began and it is fair to say that there have been a number of significant finds in respect of this in numerous bogs across the country over the years. Mr Carberry says that there is evidence now to suggest that many of those bodies were offered as human sacrifice and the gods at the time were associated to Lunas and the fertility of the land. The sacrifice, he continued, would ensure that people had a good harvest that year. For Donal Dunne and Matthew Monaghan from Lanesboro, the tour was fascinating. It had been 15 years since Donal was last at the facility and he was impressed with the advancements made there in the intervening years. The building is great here now, he smiled, before pointing out that he was also greatly impressed with the various models around the place. We came here today because Matthew actually said to me that he would like to visit a museum and when I thought about a museum here in Longford, I couldnt think of anything. When I Googled, Corlea Trackway came up, and when we got in here I could see his eyes light up. Mr Dunne went on to say that he could never figure out how birch and oak could be used together as one was durable and the other wasnt, yet both were used in the construction of the trackways. This place has come a long way since I was here and there is a wonderful sense of bog life here. It is a gem right here in Co Longford and it is a really nice experience to come here. When the Leader checked the visitors' book on the way out of the building, we discovered that Italian, Spanish and Irish visitors had stopped into Corlea Trackway and Visitor Centre earlier that day. It seems that more people are discovering Longfords hidden gem. For more on Corlea, see this weeks Longford Leader. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 Trend: It is important to continue positive momentum in the peace process over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by holding another meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the OSCE Minsk Group's US co-chair James Warlick told Trend Aug. 3. The OSCE MG Co-Chair countries are committed to continuing dialogue between the two presidents and are exploring opportunities to bring them together again soon, he said. Although we have no specific plans to travel to the region at this time, we are in regular contact with the sides to prepare for the next presidential meeting, Warlick added. The Vienna and St. Petersburg meetings were successful in reducing the violence along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, resuming substantive talks, and advancing proposals to reduce the risk of violence, he noted. 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. 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 Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.3 Trend: The OSCE monitoring held on the line of contact between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops has passed without incidents, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry said Aug.3. The monitoring was held Aug.3 under the mandate of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative on the line of contact near the Orta Gervend village of Azerbaijans Aghdam district. On the territory controlled by Azerbaijani armed forces, the monitoring was held by the personal representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk and his field assistant Hristo Hristov. On the Azerbaijani territory occupied and controlled by Armenian armed forces, the monitoring was carried out by the field assistants of OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative Jiri Aberle and Peter Svedberg. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 Trend: A phone conversation between Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu took place Aug. 2, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan told Trend Aug. 3. During the phone conversation, the foreign ministers discussed bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as issues related to regional and international agendas. Elmar Mammadyarov reiterated the unacceptability of the treacherous coup attempt against the democratic will of the Turkish people and the constitutional foundations of the state. He said that Azerbaijan as a fraternal country is always close to Turkey. In turn, Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey appreciates the support and the steps taken by Azerbaijan. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.3 Trend: Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has congratulated the US President Barack Obama on his birthday. I extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you on your birthday. Currently, Azerbaijan and the US are bound by close and multilateral cooperation built on friendly relations, said President Aliyev. The fruitful mutual cooperation between our countries continues successfully both in the bilateral and multilateral formats, said the president. The relations in ensuring energy security have developed increasingly and reached the strategic partnership level. The effective cooperation in fighting global threats and terrorism causes satisfaction, added Azerbaijans president. You have great merits in achieving the current level of bilateral relations and cooperation which is expanding day after day, said President Aliyev. I believe that the friendship and cooperation relations between Azerbaijan and the US will further develop and strengthen. At the same time, we pin great hopes on the efforts of the US as the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing country and personally your efforts for peaceful, fair settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in line with the international law, added the president. On this remarkable day, I once again heartily congratulate you, wish you robust health, happiness and success in your activities, said President Aliyev. The opening ceremony of new Shirvan branch of Azer Turk Bank took place on August 1st. The branch, located at Shirvan city, 33, M.A.Rasulzade str. has been established in accordance with the Banks development concept and is equipped with modern banking technologies. Citizens of Shirvan city, as well as residents of neighboring regions, are welcome to use high-quality banking services in Shirvan branch of Azer Turk Bank every weekday from 09.30 to 17.00. Here, individual and corporate clients are offered services on deposits, different loan products, cash and settlement operations, money transfers, plastic cards, utility payments, operations with cash and other transactions. It also should be noted that this is the eighth servicing office of Azer Turk Bank. Last year the Bank established its Yasamal branch and sub-branch 1 in ASAN Service Center in Baku. At the same time, "Baku", "Merkez" and "Ganja" branches were re-opened in new offices meeting modern standards. Azer Turk Bank OJSC, which has identified financial support to the real sector of the economy as its main mission, by 75% is owned by the Government of Azerbaijan. More information about the Bank, its service network, products and services is available at www.azerturkbank.az the Banks corporate pages at social networks or at (012) 945 Call Center. The jihadist-led Jaish al Fatah launched a major offensive in southwestern Aleppo on July 31 to break the siege of the rebel-held part of the city. The offensive comes after the last supply route north of Aleppo was severed on July 28 by pro-regime forces encompassing the Syrian Arab Army, Shia militias backed by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the US-backed Kurdish Peoples Defense Units (YPG). Iran has acknowledged casualties corresponding with the uptick in battles. During the latest offensive in southwestern Aleppo, officials have thus far announced the deaths of five Iranian soldiers. Statements say fighters are killed in Aleppo by takfiri terrorists (A takfiri is a Muslim who accuses another Muslim of apostasy. The Iranian regime uses this label for all Sunni rebels and opposition, not just jihadists). Iranian officials continue to say that combatants are killed during their missions. The death of an IRGC Basij medic was announced on Aug. 3. An IRGC commander on the same day announced the death of a commander in the Afghan Fatemiyoun Division. Officials announced the death of a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War from Ardebil who was a member of the IRGC paramilitary Basij on Aug. 1. Social media posts on pro-IRGC online circles reportedly show a welcoming ceremony held on Aug. 1 for a wounded IRGC major who commands the 102nd Imam Hossein Battalion of Harand in Isfahan province. A member of the IRGCs Alborz province unit was killed on July 31, and his death announced the following day. Army Third Lieutenant Mohammad Moradi was also killed in Aleppo on August 1. There has been heavy fighting for control of the Aleppo Artillery School southwest of the city. Prior to deploying to Syria, Moradi had served in the 22nd Artillery Group of Shahreza County in Isfahan province. The death of the Iranian Army artillery officer suggests that elements of the regular Army continue rotating into Syria as part of the IRGC-led expeditionary force. Army commanders publicly confirmed in April the deployment of special forces, following weeks of hints and announcements offering their services for the Islamic Republic in Syria. Special forces were defeated in one of their first major battles in Aleppo at the hands of the battle-hardened Jabhat al Nusrah, al Qaedas Syrian branch, which is now called Jabhat al Fatah al Sham. Iran has acknowledged the deaths of seven Army commandos, all in April. With the backing of Russian airpower, the IRGC, Iranian-backed militias, and allies succeeded in encircling Aleppo last week. In early July, pro-regime forces launched the operation to link forces from the north and west of the city at Castello Road, the last rebel supply route to the city. The Guard confirmed five fatalities during the course of the operation, including two majors on July 13. At least 42 Afghan and Pakistani militiamen were killed last month, with dozens killed before July 21. Syrian Arab Army, YPG, and Russia dealt the finishing blows last week, completing the encirclement of Aleppo.. The Guard was furthermore instrumental in laying the groundwork of Aleppos siege in February, cutting off rebel supply route to Turkey with the assistance of YPG, Russia, and Iranian-backed militias including Lebanese Hezbollah, Iraqi Shia militias, the Afghan Fatemiyoun Division, and Syrian National Defense Forces. The IRGC put far more of its own ground forces in that operation, losing more than 40 soldiers including brigadier generals. The IRGC prefers to rely on foreign proxies as foot soldiers in Syria with Guard officers advising and leading operations, though the top command has not hesitated to inject its own regular ground forces if necessary. Irans military involvement in Aleppo underscores the strategic importance of the city to Tehran. The potential success of Jaish al Fatah in breaking the citys siege would be a setback, but Iran and its allies are committed to victory in Aleppo, or at least achieving a political solution through military means. Amir Toumaj is a independent analyst and contributor to FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Image from a Jamaat-ul-Ahrar propaganda video. The US State Department added Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a dangerous faction of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, to its list of global terrorists organizations earlier today. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has been behind numerous deadly attacks inside Pakistan and is closely allied with the Afghan Taliban and al Qaeda. State described Jamaat-ul-Ahrar as a splinter group of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, or Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, however the characterization is not accurate. While Jamaat-ul-Ahrar broke away from the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan due a leadership dispute in August 2014, the two Taliban groups reunited in March 2015 [See LWJ report, Pakistani jihadist groups, Lashkar-i-Islam merge into the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan.] Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has staged multiple attacks in the region targeting civilians, religious minorities, military personnel, and law enforcement, and was responsible for the killing of two Pakistani employees of the US Consulate in Peshawar in early March 2016, State noted in its designation. In one of its most callous and deadly attacks, a Jamaat-ul-Ahrar suicide bomber detonated at the entrance of the Gulshan-i-Iqbal park in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore in March 2016. At least 72 people, mostly women and children, were killed and more than 300 were wounded in the blast. Ihsanullah Ihsan, Jamaat-ul-Ahrars official spokesman, proudly took credit for the Easter Day bombing. The target was Christians, Ihsan said in a statement sent to The Long War Journal. He also said that Jamaat-ul-Ahrar wanted to send a message to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that we have entered Lahore. The group has been operating in Punjab province for nearly two years. [See LWJ report, The target was Christians, Pakistani Taliban says of Lahore Easter attack.] The Pakistani Taliban faction has also claimed credit for numerous attacks in the county, including an attack on a polio vaccination team in Karachi in April 2016 (seven policemen killed), the assassinations of Punjabs home minister in August 2015 and the lawyer for Dr. Shakil Afridi, who helped the CIA locate Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad. A dangerous jihadist group with global ambitions The leadership of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is known to have ties to multiple jihadist groups operating in the region. Omar Khalid al Khurasani, a top leader of the group, is closely linked to Ayman al Zawahiri, al Qaedas emir, and has called for the imposition of sharia law and the establishment of a global caliphate. Khurasani has also said that a primary goal of the Pakistani Taliban is to obtain nuclear weapons. [See LWJ reports, Taliban commander wants Pakistans nukes, global Islamic caliphate, and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar celebrates 9/11 attack.] After the US killed previous Afghan Taliban emir Mullah Mansour in a drone strike in Pakistan May 2016, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar mourned his death and urged Muslims to intensify their efforts to wage jihad. With regret the Muslim world has lost a great mentor, spokesman Ihsan said after Mansours death. Jamaat-ul Ahrar also celebrated the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the US and said it will continue to wage jihad until a global caliphate is established. This is a goal shared by al Qaeda and the Islamic State. In 2001, Afghanistan was the only Islamic Emirate [Afghanistan] in the world but now Jihad has spread to a vast swathe of land including Pakistan, Chechnya, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Algeria, Mali and Nigeria. No doubt, 9/11 attacks have awakened the Muslim Ummah [community] and set the Kuffar [unbelievers] on to the free fall into destruction, the group said. Today on the 13th anniversary of 9/11, how true the words of Shaikh Osama Bin Laden (may Allah SWT accept his martyrdom) feel: I swear that America wont enjoy security before we live it for real in Palestine, the statement continued. Today we pay tribute to our Mujahideen brothers who sacrificed their lives so that we could hold our heads high. We in Tehrik e Taliban Jamaat ul Ahrar pledge that we shall continue the mission of our great martyrs until the Khilafah [the caliphate] is established in every nook and corner of the world, it concluded. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Luton is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Bedfordshire. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 258,000. Luton is home to Championship team Luton Town Football Club, London Luton Airport and The University of Bedfordshire. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. For all the latest news from Luton sign up to our newsletter here. 12 days left till the end of the "Travel excitement" campaign from Azer Turk Bank. The campaign started on July 1st was designed to promote cashless payments in the country. In the end of "Travel excitement" campaign, three customers who used payment cards of Azer Turk Bank and made the most frequent payments will be considered winners. During the process of winner determination, the volume of operations will be taken into account along with the number of operations. Winning customers of "Travel excitement" campaign will get an opportunity of one-week vacation in a foreign country. Azer Turk Bank OJSC, which has identified financial support to the real sector of the economy as its main mission, by 75% is owned by the Government of Azerbaijan. More information about the Bank, its service network, products and services is available at www.azerturkbank.az, the Banks corporate pages at social networks or at (012) 945 Call Center. Culture / Events Chopard is proud sponsor of the Austrian Team for this years Beijing-Paris Rally, which might just be the toughest classic car race of the world. Nobody tell the Dakar and the Mille Miglia Aug 04, 2016 | By Luxuo What does one do when faced with what is arguably the toughest classic car race of the world? Once the sport of privileged gentlemen and the aristocracy, common folks shied away from races like the Beijing-Paris rally and remained mainly on the sidelines. Watchmaker and jeweler Chopard is certainly not sitting it out and neither are our two intrepid Austrian drivers. For this years Beijing-Paris Rally i.e. possibly worlds hardest classic car race although the Dakar rally is arguably tougher for all classes of vehicles Chopard was the proud sponsor of the Austrian team as they embarked on the challenge from June 12 to June 17. The driver, Ingo Strolz, conquered the race with his co-driver and mechanic Werner Gassner, while armed with their Mille Miglia GTS Chrono. Incidentally, the Mille Miglia is another classic car race thats no cakewalk either and Chopard is right in the thick of that action too. The car of choice for the Austrian duo was a 99-year-old chain-driven American La France Tourer Speedster, which was interestingly the oldest car of the race. The duo traversed 11 countries, beginning in Beijing and moving through Mongolia, Russia, Belarus, Poland and eventually ending at Place Vendome in Paris. Most of the time we had only 3 4 hours sleep per night because after the daily stage there were repairs to do on the car as well as maintenance works. The race is an extreme challenge for humans and machines, in the Gobi desert there are no streets, only sand tracks and it is hard to navigate. Our car does neither have a tachometer nor a GPS or any other devices. Timing is very important to us. Nevertheless, sand and hard shocks made high demands on the watches, says Ingo Strolz. Chopard also interviewed the Austrian team, who revealed the challenges they faced during races, as well as their opinion on watches. This story is also available in Bahasa Indonesia. Read it here: Chopard Resmi Mendukung Austria Di Rel Beijing-Paris 2016 The great Gold Rush Music Festival returns to the township of Waihi, with the first nuggets of gold dropping for the highly anticipated return of the 2023 festival. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 2 By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: Russia may implement lite versions of both Turkish and South Stream pipelines projects, envisaging Russian gas supplies to Turkey and Europe bypassing Ukraine, Katja Yafimava, senior research fellow in Oxford Institute for Energy Studiess Natural Gas Research Programme belives. The improved Russian-Turkish relationship allows to re-start the negotiations on the Turkish Stream project, and is clearly a positive factor. I believe there are good prospects for implementation of the project by around 2020, not sooner, Yafimava told Trend by email on Aug. 2. Yafimava expects that one string of Turkish Stream (to supply the Turkish market) appears likely. As for the second string of the Turkish Stream, for onward exports to Europe via Turkey is less likely as Russia might be reluctant for Turkey to play an overly important transit role, the expert said. She also noted that, the European Commission might also be against it due to the worsening political relationship between the EU and Turkey. In my view, in addition to one string of Turkish Stream, one string of South Stream lite might be built across the Black Sea, to land in Bulgaria and to connect further to the ITGI thus allowing to create a southern route for Russian gas exports to Europe, Yafimava said. She noted that the European Commission might be more cooperative in finding a regulatory solution for how an onward extension of South Stream lite might operate on the EU territory, thus allowing for reducing dependence on southern European countries including Italy on the Ukrainian transit, but still preserving some transit across Ukraine. Initially, the Russian "Gazprom" planned to build 4 lines of the Turkish Stream with total capacity of 63 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The capacity of each line was expected to reach 15.75 billion cubic meters per year. Later, it was decided to build fewer lines. The Turkish Stream had to replace the South Stream project, which should pass in the Black Sea and through Bulgaria and deliver gas to the Balkan republics, as well as Hungary, Austria and Italy, but was abandoned in December 2014. Gazprom refused from the South Stream gas pipeline because the European Commission did not grant an exception from the rules of the Third Energy Package, which, in particular, says that one gas provider should use no more than 50 percent of the pipeline capacity, and the remaining capacity should be put up for auction. In late 2015 the Turkish Stream project was frozen due to sharp deterioration of relations between Moscow and Ankara when Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber with two pilots on board. On June 27, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter of condolences to Putin over the death of Russian Su-24 pilot and expressed regret over the incident. After that, the two countries relations began to improve. Last week Russia and Turkey announced the resumption of negotiations on the Turkish Stream this week and the intention to create a working group on this project. 14th IS finds pot of gold, discovers WWII vet Tucked away in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, lives a 93-year-old World War II veteran who holds a unique piece of Air Force history. John Johnson, known as Jerry back in Mercer, served in the 9th Photographic Technical Squadron during the time of the atomic strikes on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Johnson was discovered after two years of historical research by the 14th Intelligence Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio as the unit tried to uncover its lineage. When the research begin, the 14th IS was not given much information besides activation dates, higher headquarters names, and where the unit was stationed, said Lt. Col. Dianne T. Hickey, commander of the 14th IS. For two years they were unsuccessful in gaining information. The 14th IS tried searching with the Air Force Historical Research Agency, the Air Force Libraries, numerous internet searches, and even with Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma City, the first duty station of the 9th PTS. June 5, 2016, while looking through books and becoming frustrated, Hickey said she returned to the internet for help. One specific search led her to a partial article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dated Sept. 7, 1997. The article was about someone named Johnson, from Mercer County, Pa. The article stated Johnson was having a reunion with 9th PTS members and that he had photographs of the atomic blasts at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I called the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette archives, said Hickey. They pulled up the full article and provided Mr. Johnsons first name. They could not send me the full article, but they did instruct me how I could sign up a paid subscription and download the full article, which I did. As recommended by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Hickey called the Mercer County Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. The American Legion provided contact information for their state headquarters. I called the American Legion State Headquarters, who had too many John Johnsons to be helpful, said Hickey. She then asked if they could narrow the search with keywords WWII and Mercer County. Thats when they found the name John G. Johnson of Mercer County. This Johnson was a 93-year-old WWII veteran and lifetime member of the American Legion. Hickey was provided an address but no other further details. She said the internet provided a phone number that correlated with the address. She called the number and left a message. Later that evening Johnson returned her call. The unit had finally found its pot of gold. After jumping out of bed with excitement, I grabbed paper and pen and started taking notes as he confirmed he was a member of the 9th Photographic Technical Squadron, stationed at Will Rogers Field and Guam, and had hundreds of photos, negatives and documents from the 9th PTS, she said. Hickey traveled to Mercer County along with John Gephart, a National Air and Space Intelligence Center videographer, who offered support and recorded the interview. Johnson started out his military career in photography as part of the 946th Reconnaissance Squadron, a photo group under the 3rd Air Force Command. According to Johnson, the 946th RS did a lot of photography in the United States mostly from P-38 Lightning aircraft. Sometime between 1944 and 1945 we were in the 9th Photographic Technical Squadron, Johnson said. Right after the peace in Europe, I think in April 1945, we embarked. The 9th PTS embarked to Guam, he said. There they supported all the heavy bombers that flew out of Guam. They did a lot of photography work over the Pacific Ocean, up into Japan. Most of the photographs were taken on B-29 Superfortresses and the cameras had 30 inches of focal length and were all automatic, Johnson added. There was a smaller camera, the C-20, that was used as a handheld device. In those days, you flew at 10,000 feet, had a little magnifying device and you could identify a tiny little ship on a photograph not more than three quarters of an inch and determine what the ship was and what they were doing, said Johnson. He went on to explain that the inside a 30-inch focal length camera there was a large roll of film, around 100 feet long and 8 inches wide. Once the camera was used for photos, the film was brought back and put in a special device. In this device, the film was developed in a can, then put through processing. Then it was taken to the printers, and they would process the negative. The prints were then given to someone at 20th Air Force for analysis and planning. Johnson said the only time he recalls the 9th PTS working with secret and top secret photos was when they were working with Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bomb was dropped on August of 1945, he said. Prior to that time, of course, there was the reconnaissance on several cities in Japan. Hiroshima was not the first choice. Johnson could not remember the other cities they looked at. However, I have copies of leaflets that were dropped on seven or eight cities that were going to be bombed to tell the Japanese that this was going to happen. Johnson was a photograph processor, and he recalled seeing the before and after strike photographs. I couldnt believe it -- no one could believe it. You couldn't imagine the force that thing had, he said. The 9th PTS was in photo production until February 1946. Once the unit was released, they were sent home. I am proud to have served in the 9th Photo and done my little part, said Johnson. I think it was very helpful in the war and in the Pacific. It was a good outfit with good men. Johnson was honorably discharged as a technical sergeant in April of 1946. Hickey plans to formally host Johnson in Dayton September 23-24, 2016. During the visit, Johnson will share his military history, tour the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, and visit the 14th IS, where Hickey will recognize him as an honorary squadron member. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: Azeravtoyol OJSC (Azerbaijans state owned road operator) has prepared an environmental monitoring report covering the 1H of 2016 for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as part of ADBs Road Network Development Program for the country. The report was published on ADBs website Aug. 3. The document includes the results of environmental monitoring as part of the ADB-funded construction of 62-kilometer stretch of M-3 Masalli-Astara highway. Japans Nippon Koei UK Co. Ltd. is the constructions designer. The report says that the construction contractors have not yet been appointed at the time of the documents preparation; therefore, no work was carried out, which could adversely affect the environment. ADB has already completed the funding within two investment programs for reconstruction of roads in Azerbaijan. The first multi-tranche package worth $500 million was approved in 2007. These funds were directed for the construction of Masalli-Astara highway, as well as for the reconstruction and expanding of the Ganja bypass road. The second multi-tranche package was approved in November 2012 in the amount of $500 million. The program envisaged the construction of Masalli-Shorsulu highway. ADB, based in Manila, was established in 1966 and is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Azerbaijan became the ADB member on Dec. 22, 1999. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov GE has been operating in Tanzania since 2013. The company has been a key player in Tanzanias power sector working together with the Tanzania Electricity Power company (TANESCO) and a number of power producers including SONGAS, Symbion Power, Kioo Glass and Tanzania Tobacco Corporation, in order to boost electricity generation in the country. GE is currently working to supply Tanzania Railways with 58 locomotives to further develop oil and gas and mining operations. Interview with Araf Sykes, Regional Sales Manager at GE Tanzania Tanzania is ideally hoping to grow its economy and prepare itself for middle-income status by 2025. Do you feel this is achievable? Yes, definitely. Last year, our GDP growth was running at around 6.9% and it's currently at 7%. Given our President's agenda, and the growth that he seeks, especially in the energy sector, we are currently at around 1.5 GW for the entire country, and we are looking to grow that to 10 GW by 2025. As everybody knows, in order to grow the economy, you certainly also have to grow the power sector, which is underway. There are two projects going on at the moment, in terms of power generation, so I definitely feel that we are headed in the right direction. And what industry trends and developments in East Africa overall, are you most excited about? Definitely the power sector, I would say. That's the most exciting part. As I said, everything hinges on that, and we do currently have a number of setbacks with regards to power, especially in terms of production. For instance, we have had large cement companies mushrooming all over Tanzania, and their biggest concern is power. So, if we can address that issue, then we will definitely be on the right track. Energy is therefore key. I would also add healthcare, which is growing steadily. The national budget for 2016-2017 has almost quadrupled, so this is also currently a very exciting sector. And what are the key areas that you feel need to be addressed in this country, in relation to power? Education, for certain, along with local content, which definitely needs to improve, as well as job creation. So why do you think foreign investors in your sector should pay more attention to this country and this region? We are among the most stable countries in the area, together with growth, as you mentioned earlier. We have many areas investors can target: energy, tourism, healthcare, transportation - with a central corridor to be constructed soon, and which will provide significant access to the land-locked countries around Tanzania. On top of this, there have been huge discoveries of gas, helium and the list goes on. In terms of the EAC region countries, how can they best cooperate to make the most of the opportunities in power generation? Are they able to work in partnership with each other, in order for their efforts to be complementary? We recently completed the power station Kinyerezi I, with 150 MW. On the back of this, we just received approval to go ahead with an additional 185 MW. There is also Kinyerezi II with Sumitomo, the Japanese grant, which has also recently begun. We have the East African Community, which basically strives to improve the region. In terms of working together. As I mentioned, we have a central corridor in the works, which will link us to Rwanda and Burundi, and will definitely increase trade. We have the Uganda oil pipeline project, and we are also looking to put more rail infrastructure in place with World Bank funding. On the power sector side, grid activity is going to increase between Tanzania and Kenya, as well as Zambia, which has huge issues with regards to power. If we are able to export our power to Zambia, this is another way of earning foreign currency, so there are many opportunities there too. And where do you see the most interesting opportunities in energy production in Tanzania specifically? In terms of energy generation, the most immediate one is gas to power, as the Chinese pipeline has recently been constructed. There is also coal, but which is probably more long-term, and given that it's not a very clean form of energy, many investors could be somewhat wary. But there is some opportunity there. Then there is renewable energy, which has received a significant push lately, especially in the West of Tanzania, in an area called Singida. There are many studies around wind energy. Therefore, renewable energy will definitely play a major part in the future, hopefully including solar energy. There have always been significant challenges regarding reliable power supply in this country. The infrastructure is quite dilapidated, there are issues of theft with the transmission system, etc. But what is the situation now for investors wanting to set up industrial and manufacturing facilities in Tanzania? Moving forward, as I mentioned earlier, given that there is such a big drive for power generation in Tanzania and this is actually at the top of our President's agenda this should provide a certain level of comfort to investors, in that we are addressing the issue and things will get better. We recently completed the power station Kinyerezi I, with 150 MW. On the back of this, we just received approval to go ahead with an additional 185 MW. There is also Kinyerezi II with Sumitomo, the Japanese grant, which has also recently begun. So, we are heading in the right direction and there is definitely more to come. That is good to hear. I believe the proven natural gas reserves, according to the consensus, are in the order of 55 trillion cubic feet. How can they ensure that this gas will be extracted and used for local energy production, and not just be sold on to international markets? Well, there is a consortium that includes BG (Shell), Exxon Mobil, Statoil and TPDC, which is the local arm. Most of the foreign investors are obviously looking for their return on investment (ROI), so much of the gas will be for export, especially to Asian markets and the Far East, but it is also stipulated that a certain amount will be used for local consumption, mainly in terms of power generation. There have been discussions about exporting some of the gas to Kenya and perhaps other neighbouring countries, but this is still neither here nor there. Still, there are projects such as the fertiliser plant set to be constructed for gas use, so we are fairly confident that a certain amount will be used for local consumption, even if most of it is earmarked for export. While they recover their initial costs, I suppose? Of course. Could you tell us what the impact of these LNG discoveries will be for Tanzania and the energy sector more generally? Does it represent a total game-changer? Most definitely, yes. It has offered us significant stability, in terms of power generation, as well as growing other sectors within Tanzania. It will obviously provide us with more foreign income, and will hopefully help grow the economy, including the textile industry, etc., thereby allowing us to achieve middle-income status as well. And what role will the private sector have to play as Tanzania strives to meet its energy demands, in terms of technology transfer, human capacity and the level of capital investment in this country? I imagine they can't go about on their own? Yes, there will obviously need to be a certain percentage of foreign investment, as you mentioned. Education is also key, including local content. If we have a stronger population in terms of their level of education, then everything will tend to fall into place. Energy poverty is particularly acute in the rural areas of this country. The statistic I have is that only 20% of the population is linked in any way to the national grid. Why are the traditional ways of delivering power insufficient to reach these communities, and how long will it be before this huge imbalance begins to be addressed? Those figures are probably correct and are essentially about the national grid. There has been a lack of investment, in terms of transmission and supplying all rural areas. Today we have REA, which is the rural agency. Established in 2006? That is correct, better late than never. A good deal of solar energy is also being implemented in rural areas, in seeking to address the issue for households. But, in the long term, the only way to actually reach those villages is essentially to diversify, in terms of having more power generation in different areas. I mentioned Singida with its wind energy, and there is solar in Dodoma, as well as coal in the south and in Rukwa. This seems to be quite a mixed and multifaceted approach they are taking. Yes, because currently over 80% of power generation in Tanzania is hydroelectric, and this has been the case for over 50 years now. We had a very big drought about 10 years ago, which basically placed the country in a limbo, meaning we had to look for emergency power. This is obviously very expensive, and was supposed to be a short term solution, but it has ended up becoming a very long term solution. This more or less crippled the country, in terms of TANESCO's limited ability to grow, as they were busy trying to pay off the emergency power, with much higher rates than for standard power. But the issue is currently being addressed, so we should now hopefully see growth in the area. Just to digress slightly, I was told that Zanzibar's power chord was severed and the entire island was cut off for three months. That's correct, yes. But you have the original underwater cable, and then you also have a second one, put in place by MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation). Within Zanzibar, they are looking to diversify. I know that the EU is carrying out a wind generation study there, so they will hopefully be able to diversify in the future and be less dependent on the submarine cable, which currently feeds them power. Returning to GE as an organisation, clearly Tanzania is trying to partner with as many private sector players as it can, in order to fund and develop major energy projects, in an attempt to bolster the country's grid. You mentioned the Kinyerezi natural gas plant, for which I believe GE supplied the gas turbines? That is correct. We supplied four LM6000 gas turbines, all under an open cycle basis. The project has gone very well and is currently running at full capacity, producing 150 MW. This is the largest gas to power plant in Tanzania to date. My question really was how that particular project will help reduce Tanzania's dependence on expensive rental units and strengthen the overall reliability of its power supply? Initially, as they stop using emergency power, new power generation will start filling that gap. This does not necessarily mean growth to start with. But on the back of this project, like I said, we are planning to produce an additional 185 MW on the same site, namely the Kinyerezi I extension. And what is the expected completion date for this? It should take around two years, but delays also need to be factored in. Right next door there is also Kinyerezi II, which is a Japanese grant and is expected to produce 240 MW on a combined cycle basis. Therefore, if you add all these numbers up, you can see that there is going to be significant growth, along with other gas power projects earmarked in Nkoaranga and Mtwara. As a result, we should see significant growth and change over the next five years in Tanzania's power sector, which will then hopefully motivate investors to come and put up textile industries, assembly and manufacturing plants. EPZ zones have also been set up, especially for export, so we can expect plenty of activity over the coming 5 years. Finally, could you tell us more generally about your overall hopes for the continuing partnership between GE and Tanzania? GE works in several sectors in Tanzania, not just power. We are also very involved in healthcare, which we are looking to strengthen. We recently held a Healthcare Conference, which was attended by the former President, Kikwete, as well as the Minister of Health. It was very positive. We are moving forward in the health sector and look forward to playing a greater role in that field. We are also involved in transportation and locomotion. As you know, we are currently very dependent on the all too often dilapidated road infrastructure, therefore rail is another front where we hope to improve a good deal, especially through our locomotives. Finally, there's the oil and gas sector. These are the areas where we are looking to grow in Tanzania and add value. There are all sorts of opportunities. The revival of Air Tanzania is also on the cards, as the national airline. Since we also manufacture jet engines and are very active in that area, this is yet another opportunity for us to add value and offer assistance. Interview with Lauriano Balilemwa, Accountable Manager of Safari Plus Safari Plus was founded to fly initially within Tanzania, starting with two luxury twin engine Beechcraft 1900s and one twin engine Beech King Air 350. That was the original fleet. Could you elaborate on your scheduled routes encompassing Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar? How are you connected to the Kempinski hotels? Also, can you tell us about the luxury service that you offer? Safari Plus was founded in 2009. The intention of the owner was to accommodate the kind of high end services that you get at the hotel; at that time it was the Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski. There was another hotel in Zanzibar which was called Zanzibar Kempinski and another in the Serengeti which was called Bilila Kempinski. Those three hotels were tourist centres. When you fly for tourism in Tanzania you have to reach Zanzibar for the beach and you have to go to the north to see the animals and to have the safari experience. The owners vision and strategy was to ensure better connectivity because there were no connections between Zanzibar and the Serengeti where you find the Seronera and Dar es Salaam. There are some general aviation operators but because of the nature of the business that they do, if you leave Dar es Salaam at 9am you will be in Seronera at 4pm. It means a whole day of travelling to move from place to place and on a small single engine caravan that is very worrying and tiring. So our owner wanted to come up with a brand and a service to offer to the high end tourist or client, for example someone who comes out of the Kilimanjaro Hotel and gets on a plane to fly to Zanzibar where he can maybe have breakfast and then fly on to Seronera. Zanzibar is just fifteen minutes and Seronera is one hour and 40 minutes. If you leave Dar es Salaam at 7am you can have breakfast in Zanzibar and then fly to Seronera where you can do a safari all day and spend the night in Bilila which was impossible before. That is the concept behind the creation of that triangle connecting the three destinations. This was not really on offer before and even if it was, the time was an issue, because people of that level were not interested in spending their whole day travelling because it would mean that they were too tired to enjoy the safari the next day. Just imagine going on a flight for 15 minutes in the air, ten minutes landing, then an hour later another flight, then another... a whole day flying is quite an exhausting experience. We wanted to provide a kind of bridge to make sure that the three points which are hot spots for tourism were connected. We used the twin engine Beechcraft 1900 which is pressurised, and has a stand up cabin with a two person crew to operate it and is a luxury configured plane. You ask what kind of service we give... we knew by the concept of the owner that the whole issue was to provide a service that was going to be for the high end client; the intention was that people would go out of the hotels and want a high end service just as they received in the hotel. We did that for 2 years, working the connection between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, Zanzibar and Seronera which is the Serengeti and then Seronera to Dar es Salaam once more. Between 2011 and 2012 we did that route with scheduled services. We would fly every day. We flew to Seronera three times a week because of the nature of the clientele that we had and we flew to Arusha daily and to Zanzibar every day. We were able to accommodate the market that was created by then. We were focused on tourism. What were your passenger numbers annually? From the beginning we went on the market vigorously and we had a top end clientele so we were coordinated with the top operators and travel agents. The 1900 aircraft is an 18 to 19 seater so we were taking groups. Sometimes we had 7 people and other times 10 or 15. After two months we saw considerable growth and we noted that our brand was doing well. People were seeing our brand in the market and the numbers were growing. Instead of going to Arusha once a day we started going twice a day and we increased our frequencies to Zanzibar to three times a day. This increased our output in order to meet the demand from the market. The Beechcraft 1900D aircraft After 2012, you started to operate a complete fleet of jets and pressurised planes and helicopters. Can you tell us about some of your additional services other than the Safari flights in that triangle you mentioned? Are you seeing growth across the other chartered services such as medical flights and the helicopter business? How competitive is the chartered aviation sector? We have three aircraft. We have a 1900 II, a 1900D and we have a King Air 350 which is complete luxury with leather seat covers, etc. You dont find any other such product in the market; no one else has it in Tanzania. It is a very exclusive product. I think it is very competitive but not at the level that it is expected to be; I think there is still a lot of room for more operators to be involved and to engage in this. We have seen a shift in demand from the clients, because most of the clients now come with certain conditions from an insurance point of view and from their travel booking, so they want a twin engine because of safety issues and so this means that the caravans are still in the market and they are currently the biggest operator but slowly the demand is shifting from a single engine to a twin engine because of the safety issue. I think the market is still wide enough for more players to come in and prove themselves. When we came into the business in 2012 and when we started with the chartered services, it was a new thing, there was one other company doing it and I didnt know them very well, they were Tanzania Service Limited and they werent doing scheduled flights just unscheduled services. They were a specialised charter operator and they had a very specific clientele. They were not going for tourism because they were dealing with a different sector. Once we came in and started to tap the market of tourism, corporates, the mining sector, etc., everyone started to realise that there was potential in this kind of business mode and people started to come in. How big is the total fleet? We have three aircraft. We have a 1900 II, a 1900D and we have a King Air 350 which is complete luxury with leather seat covers, etc. It is the kind of plane for a nice face to face meeting. It is called a crab seating configuration. You dont find any other such product in the market; no one else has it in Tanzania. It is a very exclusive product. Safari Plus is Tanzanias first high-end charter airline How does Safari differentiate itself from the other players? There are two types of services that are provided here, we have the non-scheduled services and the scheduled services. The other competitors all offer just scheduled flights. When they say they are leaving at 7am, they are leaving at 7am. There are a lot of challenges with that because if you dont leave at 7am then it means you have disappointed your client because they expect to arrive somewhere at a certain time. If you dont depart on time it is a disappointment. The kind of client that has to get somewhere for a meeting needs to be sure that they will arrive on time. They want to look for non-scheduled flights and that is the kind of service that we are providing. We are no longer looking for the kind of client that wants to be on a scheduled flight. We want clients who have their own schedules and want us to suit their needs so that they can book and pay for a flight and travel whatever time they want. Those kinds of corporate are the clients that we are looking at. That differentiates our product. Do you think that Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) should focus now on diversifying the industry by expanding into different geographic options which are thus far relatively unexploited in Tanzania to meet the expectations of a broader range of tourists coming here such as cultural and business tourism? Obviously there is a focus on the northern circuit and the southern circuit and there are a lot of underexploited resources that are somewhat overlooked. I think you are right. This country is completely endowed with a lot of resources and a lot of historical sites and nature. Every region could be a tourist centre. There are some areas where people dont go such as Lindi and Mafia. I think the focus has been on the animals and the safaris but if you go to Ruaha and some of the other National Parks, there is natural warm water and springs for example. You can see how the people there have lived for centuries, which is very interesting for tourists. If you go to Mwanza there are a lot of traditions to see. We do need diversification to see more than just the animals and to see more of the culture that this country has been endowed with. There are so many historical and cultural sites that are extremely interesting for tourists from all over the world. We have one program which is run by the TBC, the national broadcasting corporation, where a guy shows how diverse our country is and everything is a marvel. I think Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) should diversify the offer in the near future to see how much further they can go. What more do you think they could do to lure more of the tourists that currently go to Kenya and Uganda in larger numbers? I think you know of that famous mountain climber who died while climbing the mountain? Someone put that online and said that he was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro of Kenya, but Kilimanjaro is not in Kenya! So that tells you how much people are unaware of Tanzania. You would be amazed because that it often a misconception. I believe that Tanzania Tourist Board needs to build awareness of the things that Tanzania has to offer. That will make a lot of difference. When you travel out of the country people always ask you the same thing, are you close to Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya? and I say no, Mount Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania and they are surprised. The King Air 350 aircraft Would you say that they arent doing enough to brand Tanzania? Yes. I think they need to do more. With everything nowadays being online I think they can do more to make our country known. We have a lot to offer to the world. When you travel abroad, many people think Africa is a country but we are individual nations and we have our own resources, uniqueness and culture. I think we need to create a lot of awareness in Europe and America so that they know what we have to offer. Why do you think tourism in Tanzania is so much more expensive than in Kenya? That is a very interesting question. Do I know the answer? I dont think so! I have a friend who has a cousin in Greece and he wanted to come to Tanzania and so he asked for the tourist package and was amazed at the price. He said for half the price he could travel through Europe. I wonder how this can be. I think many people dont think that tourism in Africa will be expensive. I think it is a matter of the policy makers and the industry players. I think we need to entice people to come. One of the ways to do that is to categorise, so you need to see if you want the masses or people who will pay more. I believe if we lower our charges and our hotel expenses etc. it will obviously lower the cost of tourism in Tanzania. Additionally it is very expensive to operate if you just have 10 visitors in a year but if more people come you can see more turnover. It is expensive to travel from Dar es Salaam to Seronera, even more than it is to travel from Dar es Salaam to Dubai, and people asked why? Because to Dubai you can travel comfortably with Emirates for 600 dollars but to go on safari it is a short flight but costs 700! But that is the way the market is set. I think there are a lot of factors and variables regarding the cost of tourism in Tanzania and in Africa at large. I think the attitude does need to change, not everyone who travels is rich, there are people who are on a budget but still want to travel and see the culture. The notion of safari tourism in Tanzania is that it is very much a premium option. Yes it is a premium option. It is not just about the government and policy makers, you also need to look at the tour operators in Europe. I think they are making the Tanzanian package more expensive than it should be. Everyone is trying to make money out of it. This is because of a lack of information. People travel here and ask can I go to Mafia in 20 minutes by car? but it is 1 hour from Dar es Salaam by plane! The information is missing; if we provide the right information to the people, we can quickly lower the cost of tourism. You can go to Ngorongoro Conservation Area in one day and spend maybe just 100 dollars. But people dont have that information and so they go to a tour operator and pay an agent who will want to make profit from them. One of the ways to lower the cost is to share more information. Safari Plus provides both non-scheduled and scheduled services I wanted to ask you about some of the upscale international hotel chains because you have the connection with Kempinski. Do you think that they are capturing too much of the gains from the tourism sector in comparison with the local operators? Do you think there is not sufficient trickle down? Of course. These hotel chains move their clients. I think it depends on the level of services that these multinational chains provide because the local providers cant offer the same level and even if they could, they can't put themselves out there so that people know their services. They don't have branding. I have been to countries where the service is not as good as what you can find here locally, but they have the branding. I believe this is an opportunity rather than a challenge, for the local sector to see how they can create their own branding and develop their standards and create awareness. People are doing that in the National Parks; most of the National Park hotels are run by locals. They need to create the awareness that they provide a certain level of service. What do you think the Tanzanian government can do to attend to some of the negative environmental and social effects that are an inevitable consequence of a booming and successful tourism sector? I am not sure of the negativity that exists. I know that recently there has been a lot of discussion regarding the introduction of VAT on the tourism sector. I dont have much data on it so I am sceptical to comment. At the end of the day the VAT is paid by the consumer so obviously it is increasing the cost of tourism but people need to know that for the government to be able to operate it needs resources as well and a source of revenue and that revenue has to come from different sources and one of those sources is tourism. I believe Tanzania Tourist Board should be able to coordinate with the tourism operators and come up with something that can benefit both the consumer and the country in terms of revenue. We dont want to lower the number of tourists to Tanzania or create a negative image, because the country has a lot of advantages such as political stability and peace, but if we have one negative image then it becomes known around the world and some other parties can take advantage of that. I think we need to be careful as operators not to spread negativity regarding the VAT. We dont want to scare away the tourists who want to come to Tanzania. We want the tourists to have the right information to be able to make the right choices. In the light of three incidents where the crew of tug boats were abducted in the waters off Eastern Sabah and Southern Philippines, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) published a special report on the Abducting of Crew from Tug Boats in Waters off Eastern Sabah and Southern Philippines. Between March and July 2016, six incidents occurred on board five tug boats towing barges and one fishing trawler, says the report. The report provides an update of the situation, which focuses on the modus operandi of the perpetrators, the status of the abducted crew and the actions taken to combat the events that have occurred. As a result of these six incidents, 33 crew members have been abducted. So far, 18 crew members have been released (thought to be as a result of ransoms being paid), whilst the remaining 15 crew are still being held in captivity. The modus operandi in the six incidents was similar, as the perpetrators targeted the crew, rather than the ship or its cargo. ReCAAP ISC report that it is common for perpetrators to target slow-moving ships, during daylight hours while using fast speed boats and carrying firearms. As a result of the incidents, government officials from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have held meetings to discuss immediate regional maritime and security challenges affecting the three countries. This has led to a Joint Declaration, which aims to address the security issues that are common concerns amongst the three countries. Furthermore, the ReCAAP ISC and the Philippines Coast Guard are working together to monitor the situation closely, sharing the latest information, best practices and lessons learned with the shipping industry and regional authorities. The U.S. Coast Guard will close nine Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS) sites on Friday. In 2015, the Coast Guard, Department of Transportation (DOT) and Army Corps of Engineers proposed decommissioning 62 of the then-existing 84 NDGPS sites. After reviewing the Federal Register comments, the number of site closures was reduced to 37 sites, including 28 DOT inland sites and nine Coast Guard maritime sites: Cold Bay, Alaska; Lompoc, Calif.; Sturgeon Bay, Wisc.; Pickford, Mich.; Saginaw Bay, Mich.; Brunswick, Maine; Key West, Fla.; Elgin, Fla.; and Isabela, Puerto Rico. With the numerous navigation tools available, we determined that this reduction in NDGPS sites does not pose a risk to the mariner, said Cmdr. Justin Kimura from the Coast Guard Physical Aids to Navigation and Position, Navigation and Timing Division. Mariner safety and situational awareness are our top priorities and these site closures will not affect that. With the exception of Isabela and Cold Bay, where NDPGS coverage will stop due to a lack of expressed mariner interest in those areas, the Coast Guard said it will continue to provide single-site NDGPS coverage for port and harbor approaches in all areas currently covered by single or multiple-site coverage. NDGPS transmissions will continue from the 39 Coast Guard and seven Army Corps of Engineers sites that remain open. The Expanded Panama Canal has transited 69 Neopanamax vessels since the Inauguration on June 26, 2016. Specifically, 40 containerships, 24 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers, three vehicle carriers and two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers have transited the Expanded Canal. These LNG vessels were the first to transit the waterway since the Canal opened trade possibilities to this new market segment. In addition, the Panama Canal has received 250 reservations and counting for the Expanded Canal, including seven cruise ship reservations. Since the Expanded Canal opened for business, major liners have rerouted service to the Panama Canal to take advantage of the significant time savings the waterway provides. For example, the 2M Alliance, which includes shipping liners Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Co., announced in July that they are rerouting Asia to U.S. East Coast service to the Panama Canal. The significant demand shown by the maritime industry reinforces the need for the Expansion, its future potential, and the benefits it brings to global commerce and the worlds consumers. We are very pleased with the first month of operations at the Expanded Canal since the Inauguration, said Panama Canal Administrator and CEO Jorge L. Quijano. The increasing demand is further evidence of the maritime industrys continued trust in the Expanded Canal, and the great impact it will have on the future of world maritime trade. Milestone transits for the Expanded Panama Canal, include the following: * June 26 Inaugural transit and containership: COSCO Shipping Panama * June 27 First liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier: NYK Lycaste Peace * July 6 First vehicle carrier (RoRo vessel): NYK Iris Leader * July 25 First LNG carrier: Maran Gas Apollonia In addition, in July, the Panama Canal announced the first recipient of its Green Connection Award was Maran Gas Apollonia and Shell International Trading & Shipping Company. This acknowledged their commitment to reducing emissions by using the Panama Canal route. By transiting the Panama Canal Green Route, the Shell-chartered Maran Gas Apollonia contributed to the environment using the shorter route and reducing CO2 emissions. The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that they will honor the men and women who serve on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sycamorefor outstanding service to the 17th District and our nation. The Alaska Awards Dinner will be held at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorageon Wednesday, August 10, 2016. Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, commandant of the Coast Guard will deliver keynote remarks and RADM Michael McAllister, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District will also address attendees. Alaska's Senator Lisa Murkoswki and Congressman Donald Young will also be in attendance. Special guest will be the renowned Iditarod Musher, AliyZirkle. Although born in New Hampshire andeducated at the University of Pennsylvania, Zirklehas called Alaska home for over 20 years.A three-time Iditarod runner-up, Zirklewas the first woman to ever win the Yukon Quest. A fan favorite, shehas received awards for her outstanding performance as a musher and for her exemplary care of her dogs. She is committed to the Alaskan community that has given her unwavering support and incredible encouragement through the years. Receiving recognition on behalf of the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sycamorewill be CDR James Jarnac, ENG2 Joshua Clegg, BOSN2 Jason Scott and SN Tyrell Miranda.The 225-foot seagoing buoy tender has a crew of 50 personnel who work with aids to navigation; conduct search and rescue, and law enforcement missions; open sea-lanes through ice-congested waterways; and assist in containing and recovering oil spills. They service more than 127 aids to ensure the safety of mariners who navigate the region. In 2015, the crew of the Sycamore had an outstanding record of professional accomplishments spanning multiple Coast Guard missions. Sycamore reinvigorated the Coast Guards law enforcement presence in Prince William Sound by completing 46 at-sea boardings and 43 commercial fishing vessel safety examinations.Always ready for the call, Sycamore responded to 5 search and rescue cases in 2015. During one case, the Sycamore led a multi-unit response to search for a downed aircraft. The search included the Coast Guard Cutter Mustang, a small boat crew from Coast Guard Station Valdez, a C-130 plane and MH-60 helicopter from Air Station Kodiak, as well as an Alaska Air National Guard helicopter. The rescuers courageously contended with severe weather conditions through much of this search, which reduced visibility to 200 yards. The crew has also strengthened partnerships with the local community in Cordova as well as several Alaskan Native Villages. During Operation Arctic Shield 2015 the Sycamore played a key role in standing watch on the last frontier, projecting a strong presence at the furthest reaches of our nations maritime domain. At the close of 2015, Sycamores crew exhibited their commitment to excellence by completing the Command Assessment of Readiness and Training with a nearly unprecedented 98.3 percent combined average across all areas examined. Demonstrating their superb proficiency and teamwork, the crew won first place during the Buoy Tender Olympics challenge at the District 17 Buoy Tender Roundup. The men and women that serve on the Sycamore consistently uphold a commitment to excellence and professionalism embodied in the finest traditions of the Coast Guard, said Anne Brengle, president, Coast Guard Foundation. With an impeccable service record, the Sycamore crew distinguish themselves time and again with the courage and dedication that is required to serve in one of the most challenging climates in the world. The Coast Guard Foundations Alaska Awards Dinner will be held on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at the Hotel Captain Cook, 939 W. 5th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska. A cocktail reception will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner and the program following at 7 p.m. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.3 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: The market price of Turkeys Petkim petrochemical complex is currently estimated at $2.2 billion, said the message from Vagif Aliyev, head of the board of directors of Petkim, posted on the companys website. Petkim is one of the first companies which started to be quoted on the stock exchange in Turkey, he added. Petkim produces around 60 various types of products and delivers its products to over 50 countries. Thereby, it is the biggest exporter in the Aegean region, said Aliyev, adding that 6,000 small and medium-sized enterprises use the companys products in Turkey. He pointed out that 150,000 people have been directly or indirectly involved in the work of Petkim which has been operating for 50 years already. Aliyev noted that Petkim fully supports the government, economy and stability in Turkey. The company will continue its operation for the benefit of Turkey and is ready to cooperate with the government, said the message. Petkim produces plastic packages, fabrics, detergents, and is the sole Turkish manufacturer of such products, a quarter of which is exported. The complex includes 14 plants which produce 20 various types of products. The annual production capacity of Petkim is 3.6 million tons. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 5.6 million tons in July, a decrease of 15 percent compared to a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers Association (LCA). Shipments also trailed the months fuve-year average by more than 18 percent. Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 4.95 million tons in July, a decrease of nearly 14 percent compared to a year ago, while loadings at Canadian terminals dipped even more 23 percent to 643,000 tons, LCA said. Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 26.8 million tons, a decrease of 3 percent compared to the same point in 2015. Year-over-year, loadings at U.S. ports are down by 113,000 tons, but shipments from Canadian ports in the St. Lawrence Seaway have slipped even more, 21 percent, or 743,000 tons. 1804 - Commodore Edward Prebles Mediterranean Squadron launches the first of a series of bombardments on the harbor of Tripoli. Designed to destroy the defending batteries and sink enemy ships, the bombardments are part of the blockade that Preble established in 1803. 1861 - Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles calls for designers to submit plans for ironclad warships to the Navy Department. The design, by inventor John Ericsson, is chosen for USS Monitor, a revolutionary armored ship, carrying her guns in a rotating turret. 1942 - Mildred H. McAfee takes the oath of office to become the first female line officer. She is commissioned a lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve and simultaneously undertakes the duties of being the first director of the newly-established WAVES ("Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service"). 1943 - PBM aircraft (VP 205) sinks German submarine (U 572), north of Dutch Giuiana. Also on this date, USS Buck (DD 420) sinks Italian submarine, Argento, off Tunisia. 1958 - USS Nautilus (SSN 571) becomes the first ship to reach geographic North Pole submerged. Nautilus then proceeds from Greenland to Portland, England, where she receives the Presidential Unit Citation, the first ever issued in peace time, from American Ambassador J. H. Whitney. (Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division) Maersk Line will transform its TP12 service in to a standalone, around-the-world service that provides significantly faster transit times between Far East Asia and the US East Coast. From the Far East to the US East Coast the TP12 service will transit the new Panama Canal locks and call the ports of Newark, Norfolk and Baltimore on the US East Coast. On the return leg to Asia, the TP12 will go through the Suez Canal and call the ports of Salalah (Oman), Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Singapore. This change will significantly improve Maersk Lines product offering to shippers on the Far East Asia and the US East Coast trade. We are changing our TP12 service to provide a better product to shippers in Korea, Northern and Eastern China. By transiting the expanded Panama Canal, we will significantly reduce transit times into key ports on the US East Coast. At the same time, we will reduce our CO2 and exhaust gas emissions due to the shorter distance, says Klaus Rud Sejling, Head of East West Network, Maersk Line. Maersk Line is also improving other services this summer. It will add Busan in South Korea to the Westbound TP10 service. This will significantly improve transit times from Charleston and Savannah on the US East Coast to Busan and North China. In addition, Maersk Line will connect its TP11 and TP8 services to form a pendulum service that expands the coverage of both services. The TP18 service will remain unchanged. There will be no changes to the capacity in Maersk Lines Asia US East Coast network.Maersk Line will deploy 11 vessels of 8,500 TEU in the new TP12 service and 17 vessels of 8,500 TEU in the new TP11/TP8 pendulum service. The changes will take place during September 2016. Nakilat-Keppel Offshore Marine (N-KOM) has signed a fleet agreement with Samos Steamship Company, under which N-KOM will be the preferred shipyard in the Middle East for the repairs of all vessels owned by Samos Steamship Company. The Greek shipping company is an existing client of N-KOM, with several repairs undertaken for their fleet of tankers to date. The deal was signed during this years Posidonia exhibition held in Athens. U.S. shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO hosted a keel laying ceremony on Tuesday, August 2 for the U.S. Navys second Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) the future USNS Hershel Woody Williams currently under construction at the builders San Diego shipyard. The ships namesake, Hershel Woodrow Woody Williams, spoke at the ceremony, and his two daughters, Travie Ross and Tracie Ross, welded their initials onto the keel of the ship. Williams, a retired U. S. Marine, received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. He is the last surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor from that battle. Many dignitaries and fellow Medal of Honor recipients attended the ceremony, including retired Marine Corps Colonel Robert Modrzejewski, a Medal of Honor recipient recognized for his conspicuous gallantry during the Vietnam War; Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Edward Byers, Jr., a Medal of Honor recipient recognized for his efforts during a hostage rescue in Afghanistan; and Brigadier General William M. Jurney, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. The story of Hershel Woody Williams is remarkable. Its a story of valiant devotion, extraordinary courage and American heroism, said Kevin Graney, vice president and general manager for General Dynamics NASSCO. We have the distinct honor of constructing a ship that will reflect the strength and fearlessness of its namesake and will provide global, advanced capabilities for future generations of Marines and sailors to come. USNS Hershel Woody Williams is the Navys second ESB ship. The 784-foot-long ship will serve as a flexible platform to support a variety of missions, including air mine countermeasures, counter-piracy operations, maritime security and humanitarian missions. The ship will provide for accommodations for up to 250 personnel, a 52,000-square-foot flight deck, fuel and equipment storage, and will also support MH-53 and MH-60 helicopters with an option to support MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft. The ship is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2018. General Dynamics NASSCO has delivered three ships in the class to the Navy: USNS Montford Point (ESD 1), USNS John Glenn (ESD 2) and USNS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 1). USNS Hershel Woody Williams is the fourth ship to be constructed by NASSCO shipbuilders under the program and a fifth ship is currently under contract for advanced procurement. In a development first reported by Forbes on Thursday, scheduled delivery of the first Offshore Patrol Cutter, Argus, from Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City, Fla., may be affected by the discovery of Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: PJSC Ukrtransnafta, an operator of Ukraines oil transportation system, plans to conclude long-term contracts until late 2016 to transport 1.5-2 million tons of Azerbaijani and Kazakh oil via the Yuzhne Marine Terminal (the Southern Marine Terminal, Odessa province), Ukrainian media reported citing the companys letter addressed to the countrys Cabinet of Ministers. Ukrtransnafta requested from the Cabinet of Ministers to cancel the order 1483 dated Sept. 30, 2009 the norm on the need to coordinate all commercial operations with process oil with the government. Currently, process oil of different types (Urals, Azeri Light, oil from Ukrainian fields) is being used in different parts of the main oil pipelines system that are significantly different for their physical and chemical properties and cost, said the company in its letter. In order to start the transportation of other kind oil via the pipeline, Ukrtransnafta must displace the existing sort. Earlier, Ukraines Ministry of Infrastructure approved the 75-percent discount for the entrance to the Yuzhne port of oil ships for transit, including via the Odessa-Brody pipeline. Odessa-Brody oil transportation project aimed at diversification of oil supplies to Ukrainian refineries and the development of the countrys transit opportunities. Odessa-Brody pipelines construction was completed in May 2002. The capacity of the oil pipeline and the terminal is 9-14 million tons of oil per year. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova Patrick Henry Community College recently graduated 17 students from its Middle College program. According to a news release from PHCC, Middle College assists 18 to 26 year old students who have not completed high school with obtaining their GED and with academic and career readiness training. Most students who graduate from Middle College enroll in college courses within the year. During Middle College, students can also take the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) test which provides proof to future employers that they possess essential workplace skills success such as applied math, reading, and information processing. Nationally, less than 20 percent of individuals who earn an NCRC credential achieve the gold level or higher. The following students received their GED from the program: Tiffany Boyd of Martinsville, NCRC silver level and college enrolled; Henry De La Cruz of Patrick Springs, NCRC gold level and college enrolled; Jose Marcos Gonzalez of Martinsville, NCRC silver level; Elizabeth Hankins of Axton; Tristen Chase Ingram of Spencer, NCRC silver level and college enrolled; James Tyler Jenkins of Stuart, NCRC silver level and college enrolled; Grace McKinney of Martinsville, NCRC platinum level and college enrolled; Sandra Olague-Guerrero of Collinsville, NCRC silver level; Joshua Perdomo of Martinsville, NCRC silver level; Alexander Ratliff of Bassett, NCRC gold level and college enrolled; Sabrinia Taylor of Ridgeway; Shamoney Taylor of Martinsville; Rebecca Turner of Martinsville, NCRC bronze level and college enrolled; Joshua Wisener of Martinsville, college enrolled; and Travis Wood of Axton, NCRC silver level and college enrolled. Two students graduated with their high school diploma. They are Kimberly Howell of Bassett, NCRC bronze level and college enrolled and Candace Smith of Collinsville, NCRC bronze level. The speakers of the evening included PHCC President Dr. Angeline Godwin, Student Success Center Director Christy Yaple, Middle College Instructor Christy Spencer and Middle College graduate Henry De La Cruz. Crystal Caldwell, a parent of two Middle College graduates, also spoke at the ceremony. Each speaker emphasized success in the face of adversity and pride in the graduating class. For more information about the Middle College program, contact Pam Holland at 656-0222 or pholland@patrickhenry.edu. Details added (first version posted on 15:33) Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 Trend: An inspection carried out by the Turkish government authorities in various companies, including the Petkim petrochemical complex, is not related to SOCARs activity in the country, said Turkeys Energy Minister Berat Albayrak Aug. 3. Albayrak made the remarks at a meeting with the Head of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev, held following the session of High-Level Economic dialogue with international investors in Ankara, where SOCAR participated. After the events on July 15, Turkeys government authorities are conducting inspections in a number of companies operating in the country, including Petkim, explained Albayrak. However, they are in no way connected to SOCARs activity, and are being conducted as part of common inspection of the events. The Turkish minister inquired about the implementation of SOCARs projects in Turkey, as well as the work on the projects, in which Turkish companies are involved in Azerbaijan. He said that the SOCARs investment projects are being implemented according to schedule, and the recent events in Turkeys social and political life have not affected the progress of works. Albayrak added that all projects are being implemented according to plan. The minister also noted that Azerbaijans state oil company is one of the biggest investors in Turkey and the countrys government fully supports SOCARs activity. During the meeting, the sides also discussed new investment prospects to expand SOCARs activity in Turkey, and a number of other issues. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug.3 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The relations between Russia and Turkmenistan are based on the principle of strategic partnership, Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with "Foreign Policy and Diplomacy of Turkmenistan" magazine. He noted that over 100 agreements have been signed between Russia and Turkmenistan in all spheres of cooperation. The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation dated April 23, 2002 is the basic document. Market conditions and in general, the international situation makes it necessary to adjust not only our current work, but also its legal basis, said Lavrov. Russian companies fruitfully operate on Turkmen market, especially, in supply of vehicles and equipment, telecommunications, oil and gas field. Around 190 companies with Russian share operate in Turkmenistan. Russia-Turkmenistan intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation plays an important role in increasing the joint efforts in this sphere. The high-level group for supporting trade and investments, which was recently created within the commission, is a mechanism of control over the fulfillment of the decisions and encouraging the economic relations between Russia and Turkmenistan, as well as the regions of our countries, said Lavrov. Do you spend all year daydreaming about chowing down on a fresh lobster roll from the Cape? Wish more people knew about your favorite Hampden County lobster joint? Find a hidden seafood gem in the North Shore? We want you to help us find the absolute best lobster roll in all of Massachusetts. This month's Best of Mass Lobster Rolls contest is truly statewide, so any lobster shack or eatery, from the outer reaches of Great Barrington to the very tip of Provincetown, can be nominated. Like other Best of Mass contests, chains are not allowed, no matter how kind of okay the McDonald's lobster roll is. You have until Monday, August 8 at noon to nominate your favorite lobster roll from any eatery in the state. Readers will be able to vote their favorite spots into the Top 10 starting on Tuesday, August 9. Following the Top 10, your votes will determine which Final Four eateries our judges will visit. Where can we find the best lobster roll in the state? Nominate your favorite eatery in the comments below, and keep up with the latest from the Best Of Mass Lobster Roll contest at masslive.com/bestofmass. stcc_garvey.jpg Garvey Hall at Springfield Technical Community College SPRINGFIELD - At a time when the U.S. population is aging, Springfield Technical Community College this fall will provide training to address critical needs affecting the elderly, including home health care assistance and treatment for patients with Alzheimer's disease, according to a news release. STCC's Certified Nurse Aide Plus Program, a 167-hour course, will include components about dementia and related neurological disorders, and home health aide training, among other topics. The class is available to people without any prior professional health care experience. This course provides valuable training in areas where there is a growing need for professional care. According to the Alzheimer's Association, 120,000 people 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's disease in Massachusetts in 2016. The Association estimates the number will rise to 130,000 by 2020 and to 150,000 by 2030. People 65 and over represented 14.5 percent of the U.S. population in 2014 but that age group is expected to grow to be 21.7 percent of the population by 2040, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Administration on Aging. This program is approved by the MA Division of Health Care Quality. Students who successfully complete the CNA Plus program will receive a Certified Nurse Aide certificate and be allowed to take the American Red Cross's CNA Examination on the STCC campus at the conclusion of the course. Facts about Certified Nurse Aide Plus Program at STCC: Course schedule: Classes held Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., starting Aug. 15 and ending Oct. 27. No class on Sept. 5 (Labor Day) and Oct. 10 (Columbus Day). Total course hours: 167 Cost: Fees are $2,395, which includes textbooks, liability insurance, scrubs and fees for the Certified Nurse Aide exam. How to apply: Visit STCC's website to enroll online. You also can enroll in person. Go to STCC Building 16, Room 146, to register for the course or call(413 755-4225. peoplesunited.jpg The People's United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People's United Bank, has announced that it has awarded more than $150,000 during its second grant cycle of 2016 to nonprofit organizations throughout Massachusetts. Twenty-nine organizations received funding in support of activities that ranged from basic needs services and affordable housing initiatives, to education, and life skills training programs, according to a news release. Recipients included Lawrence Community Works, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, American Red Cross, Career Collaborative, Massachusetts Affordable Housing Initiative, and East End House. In total, People's United Community Foundation awarded $770,500 during its second grant cycle of 2016 to nonprofit organizations throughout the communities it serves in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The funding was distributed within the foundation's three areas of focus, with 43 percent allocated to community development, 39 percent to youth development, and 18 percent to affordable housing initiatives. Recipients include: Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Aug. 3 By Demir Azizov - Trend: The net profit of Uzbekistans Uztransgaz JSC stood at 748.733 billion soums in January-June 2016, as compared to 786.044 billion soums of the same period in 2015 (4.7 percent decrease), said the report published on openinfo.uz, a single portal of corporate information of Uzbekistan. The official exchange rate on Aug. 3 is 2969.43 soums/$1. The Uztransgaz company supervises the transportation, shipping, transit and export of gas in Uzbekistan. It is a subsidiary of Uzbekneftegaz National Holding Company. The report said that the net proceeds from the sale of products in the first half of 2016 stood at 3.216 trillion soums (7.7 percent increase), the gross profit from the sale of products totaled 1.302 billion soums (12 percent decrease), while the prime cost of the sold products was 1.914 billion soums (27.3 percent increase). The report doesnt specify the volume of natural gas receipts from gas producing enterprises into the gas transport system, as well as export volumes. Uzbekistan ranks third among CIS countries in terms of the gas production volume and is in the top 10 largest gas producers of the world. The country produces around 60 billion cubic meters of gas per year. A section of the Central Asia-China gas pipeline, which exports Uzbekistans gas to China, runs through Uzbekistans territory. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Iran's government approved the framework of Irans new oil and gas contract (IPC) model, Mehr news agency reported Aug. 3. The framework which was already approved by the country's top economic advisory body, the Resistance Economy Headquarters, was ratified at a cabinet session Aug. 3, headed by President Hassan Rouhani. The draft contract model will be submitted to the parliament for final approval. The Resistance Economy Headquarters, chaired by Iran's first vice president Eshaq Jahangiri approved the IPC July 12 after some amendments. In 2015, the Iranian Oil Ministry unveiled its new oil contracts called IPC (Iran Petroleum Contracts) aimed at luring foreign funds and technology. To get an IPC contract, foreign companies must find an Iranian partner. The IPC allows foreigners to have a share in production, but they wouldn't have any share in reserves. Iranian hardliners oppose the idea of IPC, saying that it is against the national interests, but foreign companies, including France's Total, have said repeatedly that the older type of Iranian oil and gas contracts are not attractive anymore. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 Trend: Elkhan Alasgarov, PhD, head of the Baku Network's expert council Iran is Azerbaijans neighbor, and Baku has always tried to maintain friendly relations with this country not only in the economic but also political sphere. Even in the most difficult periods of Tehran's relations with the West, when sanctions were imposed against this country, and unprecedented pressure was exerted on its neighbors, Azerbaijan adhered to the policy of good neighborliness and recognized Iran's right to nuclear energy in peaceful purposes. In turn, Iran has always supported the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and in all forums continues to recognize the fact that Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan. At the same time, in spite of crimes committed by Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh, the countrys policy of ethnic cleansing, crimes against peaceful Azerbaijani and Muslim population, Iran has always tried to maintain relations with Armenia at a high level and often helped it to evade economic isolation. Recently, Iran has made another friendly gesture to Armenia, having signed an agreement on gas export to Georgia through the territory of this country. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh announced this, while commenting on the results of his meeting with Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia Levon Yolyan. Meanwhile, Armenia's reaction to Iran's actions was far from what the Islamic Republic seems to have expected. According to Armenian reports, the country has territorial claims to Iran. To be more specific, it has to do with Lake Urmia. Armenian media outlets widely commented on the photos of Iran's Lake Urmia made by NASA. On the photos, which were made in April 2016, the lake was green. However, the lake was already red a few months later on the new photos made by NASA. http://ru.1in.am/1160524.html. Following that, an article on Urmia turning "blood red" was published in Armenian media. The article stresses that Lake Urmia is the largest salt lake in the Middle East. It is situated on the Armenian Plateau in Iranian provinces that were part of the Kingdom of Greater Armenia at the time of Tigranes the Great. Thus, after making territorial claims to Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Armenia turned to Iran, with the same claims. And that's following the gas deal with Tehran... While youd probably rather be on the lake or at a BBQ, theres no time like the summer to ramp up your marketing for the rest of the year. Taking the time to get your ducks in a row can pay big dividends during the second half of the year, and were here to help you make 2016 a smashing success. In this newsletter, you can learn about the benefits of using plastic and synthetic stock to develop unique and cool marketing materials. If its time to upgrade your business stationery, take a look at the letterhead/envelope options available. And theres no better time than right now to get your 2017 calendar started! Dont let the summer slip awaycontact us today at 800-930-7978 and experience the top-quality products, personal service and attention to detail that will make your project a success. Get your materials going and then head out for fun in the sun! Printing on Plastics Plastic Makes Perfect Think beyond paper and add plastic and synthetic stocks to your marketing mix! Whether you want plastic business cards, loyalty or membership cards, or synthetic menus, were ready to help. Read about Plastic Printing http://www.printingforless.com/Plastic-Cards-Printing.html Custom Letterhead and Envelopes Does your letterhead and envelope set make the right impression on your customers and prospects? If youre ready for a change, were ready to help you create the stationery that perfectly reflects your brand and your business. Whether you want a different kind of paper, custom printing options like embossing or foil, custom inks, larger envelopes, die cuts or more, we can help. Get a quote today and get ready to love your stationery! Get a Quote https://www.printingforless1.com/pricing/pages/stationery.aspx 2017 Calendars Its a date! Calendars for Business Calendars are the perfect opportunity to showcase your business throughout the year. And the best time to get your 2017 calendar started is right now! Learn more about calendar printing on our website. Learn about Calendars http://www.printingforless.com/Calendar-Printing.html In what backers say is a first-in-the-nation provision, the new law bars employers from asking prospective workers to provide a salary history. Supporters say that practice can perpetuate a cycle of lower salaries for women. Prospective employees could voluntarily offer salary information. The law also lets employees discuss their salaries with other workers without facing retribution from their employer. Full Story: http://www.governing.com/topics/mgmt/tns-massachusetts-equal-pay.html *** Youre Invited: Raise Awareness About Equal Pay In Your Community, 8/3, Missoula http://www.matr.net/article-72739.html Youre Invited: Raise Awareness About Equal Pay In Your Community, 8/4, Billings http://www.matr.net/article-72738.html Governor Bullock Takes More Steps to Support Equal Pay for Equal Work http://www.matr.net/article-72757.html Montana Unveils New Plans for Equal Pay for Equal Work http://www.matr.net/article-72756.html Tracey Birch, a woman with 25 years of experience in software development and system administration, had never seen so many women in tech in one room. Last week she was named as one of 49 NASA Datanauts ? just five of whom are men ? for the 2016 program, which aims to give more women with varying programming experience opportunities to use NASA data and code with it. By Samantha Ehlinger Jay Evans http://hs.umt.edu/dbs/people/researchLecturers.php?s=Evans4801 was surprised when he got the call. His employer of 15 years, GlaxoSmithKline, had decided to reorganize and close its R&D operations in Hamilton, Montana and open a new R&D Center on the East Coast. The 27 employees would be laid off or could apply for positions in the new GSK R&D Center. Most of the employees had worked together for 15-20 years. The experienced R&D Team from Hamilton had a difficult decision, relocate their families and leave the beautiful state of Montana or find another solution. The love of living in Montana was powerful and the team launched an effort to stay here and continue the research they have pioneered over the last 35 years "discover and develop novel vaccines, adjuvants and immunotherapeutics." The end result of these efforts is that the team of senior researchers will stay in Montana and not only start a new company Inimmune Corporation http://www.inimmune.com but also develop The Center for Transitional Medicine at the University of Montana to assist other researchers who want to move their research into Clinical Trials and eventual commercialization. The Center for Transitional Medicine at the University of Montana is under development so stay tuned for new announcements. Both are going to have a major impact on Montanas economy. About Inimmune (http://www.inimmune.com) Inimmune is a biotech company in Missoula, MT focused on the discovery and development of new immunomodulatory therapeutics for treatment of Allergic Diseases, Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, Topical Treatment of Skin Diseases and other diseases targeted through innate immune receptor activation or inhibition. Inimmune will also provide fee-based contract services to pharmaceutical industry partners in support of ongoing R&D and Manufacturing Operations. Inimmune is strongly affiliated with the University of Montana and will seek to commercialize technologies from a newly formed cross-functional Center for Translational Medicine at the University. The Inimmune management team includes 5 Ph.D. scientists from GSK Vaccines with over 70 years combined biotech and pharmaceutical industry experience along with highly experienced scientific and technical staff. Their offices are located in the MonTEC center in Missoula. About Jay Dr. Evans is the President and CEO of Inimmune Corp., a biotech company in Missoula, MT focused on the discovery and development of new immunomodulatory therapeutics. Jay is also Research Professor in the Division of Biological Sciences and Director of the Center for Translational Medicine at the University of Montana. Prior to joining the University of Montana, Dr. Evans worked in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry for 15 years at GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines (formerly Corixa Corporation and Ribi ImmunoChem). While at GSK Vaccines, Dr. Evans worked on the discovery and development of novel vaccines, adjuvants and immunotherapeutics. Dr. Evans completed is Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital working HIV immunology, stem cell transplantation and vector-based gene therapy systems. Dr. Evans holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Oregon State University and a B.S. in Biology from Pacific Lutheran University. Jay was raised in the Northwest where he developed an appreciation for science and a love of the outdoors. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship in Tennessee and Texas he moved to the Bitterroot Valley in Western Montana to raise his family and work in the biotechnology industry while enjoying the vast outdoor recreational opportunities Montana has to offer. In January of 2016, Jay and a team of talented scientists from GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines (Hamilton, MT) moved their research program to the University of Montana and started a new biotechnology company in Missoula (Inimmune Corp). Jay is married to Cindy Evans and has three kids (Tyler, Kaylee and Cole). In his free time Jay and enjoys spending time with his family camping, fishing, hiking, hunting and enjoying the Montana outdoors. Merck Foundation provided more than 63 scholarships of one-year Diploma and two-year Master Degree to doctors in many underserved and critical medical specialties in Mauritius such as: Diabetes, Endocrinology, Oncology, Reproductive and Sexual Care, Respiratory care, Acute and Critical Care, Cardiovascular preventive Medicine, Pediatric emergency and neonatal care and more. Merck Foundation conducted their 2nd edition of Health Media Training for the Mauritian Media Representatives in partnership with Media Trust Board, Mauritius; Merck Foundation announces Call for Applications for More than Mother Awards and Diabetes and Hypertension Awards for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students and new potential talents in these fields with the aim to sensitize the communities about critical social and health issues. Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany underscore their commitment to building healthcare capacity in Mauritius during their high-level meetings with H.E. PRITHVIRAJSING ROOPUN, The President of Mauritius, H.E. PRAVIND KUMAR JUGNAUTH, The Prime Minister of Mauritius and HONBLE KAILASH KUMAR JAGUTPAL, Minister of Health of Mauritius. During the two meetings, the long term plans and of Merck Foundation programs in Mauritius was shared by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of both Executive Board of E.Merck KG & Merck Foundation Board of Trustees and Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation. Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, expressed, Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity, by providing access to quality and equitable healthcare solutions. We are committed to transforming Patientcare landscape in Africa through our scholarship programs. More than 1300 scholarships have been provided for young doctors from 44 countries in 27 critical and underserved specialties. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, It was a great honor to meet H.E. PRITHVIRAJSING ROOPUN , The President of Mauritius, H.E. PRAVIND KUMAR JUGNAUTH, The Prime Minister of Mauritius and HONBLE KAILASH KUMAR JAGUTPAL, Minister of Health of Mauritius, to discuss the ongoing Merck Foundation programs and our long-term partnership to strengthen healthcare capacity, break infertility stigma, and support girl education in the country. I am very proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided more than 63 scholarships to young Mauritian doctors for a one-year diploma and two-year masters degree in underserved and critical specialties like Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Diabetes care, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Oncology, Fertility Specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Neuroimaging for Research, Internal Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Ophthalmology, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills, Critical Care, Psychiatry and more. We will continue with our efforts and scale up our scholarship programs to create a stronger platform of skilled and specialized Mauritian doctors in the public sector. Merck Foundation also conducted their MF Alumni Summit to meet the doctors who have completed or are undergoing the scholarships provided by Merck Foundation. The Summit was co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of both Executive Board of E.Merck KG & Merck Foundation Board of Trustees and Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation together with the HONBLE KAILASH KUMAR JAGUTPAL, Minister of Health of Mauritius. Merck Foundation, through their More Than a Mother movement is also working to raise awareness about infertility prevention, male infertility, breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, and addressing a wide range of social issues in the country and across Africa through media partnership and fashion and art with purpose she emphasized. Merck Foundation conducted their 2nd edition of Health Media Training for the Mauritian Media Representatives in partnership with Media Trust Board, Mauritius. The training was conducted to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence our society to create a cultural shift with the aim to address wide range of social and health issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels; to underscore the importance of Empowering Girls and Women in Education and to understand the Influence of infertility stigma and other social issues like GBV, Child Marriage, FGM etc. on women and couples Social and Psychological Impact. Apart from this, it also included a session on the importance of increasing the awareness of early detection and prevention of Diabetes and Hypertension. The training session was co-chaired by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej CEO of Merck Foundation & President of More Than a Mother Movement and Mr. Chayman P. Surajbali Chairman, Media Trust Board, Mauritius, and was addressed by top Medical and Media Experts. Talking about the Health Media Training Program Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej explained, This program is a part of Merck More than a Mother community awareness Program. I strongly believe in the critical role that media plays in shaping our society. The media has the capacity to address and raise awareness about sensitive social and health issues in our communities. We conducted a Health Media Training for Mauritian journalists last year through an online platform. I am extremely happy to meet the media representatives in person during our first onsite training session in the country. Moreover, Merck Foundation also announced the Call for Applications for their 8 important awards for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields. The award announced are: Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards More Than a Mother 2022, in partnership with Media Trust Board, Mauritius Merck Foundation Fashion Awards More Than a Mother 2022, in partnership with Fashion & Design Institute, Mauritius Merck Foundation Film Awards More Than a Mother 2022, in partnership with Mauritius Film Development Corporation Merck Foundation Song Awards More Than a Mother 2022 Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2022 Diabetes & Hypertension, in partnership with Media Trust Board, Mauritius Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 2022 Diabetes & Hypertension, in partnership with Fashion & Design Institute, Mauritius Merck Foundation Film Awards 2022 Diabetes & Hypertension, in partnership with Mauritius Film Development Corporation Merck Foundation Song Awards 2022 Diabetes & Hypertension Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Iran confirmed that Mohammad Moradi, a member of Iranian Army has been killed in armed clashes with Syrian opposition groups near Aleppo. Moradi was a third lieutenant dispatched to Syria from the Army Ground Forces 22nd Artillery Group, the official Mizan news agency reported Aug. 3. He reportedly is the first non-special forces officer from the Army, who has been killed in Syria. Moradi, alongside with eight other members of the 22nd Artillery Group, had been deployed to Syria for a 45-day mission. The 30-year old Moradi was buried in Esfahan city, central Iran. Iranian officials have constantly said that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) provides the Syrian army with advisory support in fight against terrorist groups. However, for the first time in early April reports broke regarding the involvement of Iranian Army commandos in Syria. The Islamic Republic views the Syrian regime as its main strategic ally in the region, as well as a part of the "axis of resistance" against Israel. Tehran has always expressed support for the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Two Air Force JROTC cadets from Utah were selected to attend the Four Star Leadership with General Tommy Franks program held in Hobart, Oklahoma, July 9-15, 2016. Cadets Cole Cutner and Jack Wright from Dixie High School, St. George, Utah, were among only 67 U.S. and international students selected to attend the weeklong leadership camp. Students are chosen based on demonstrated leadership abilities and outstanding character. Four Star Leadership with General Tommy Franks is a partnership between the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum and Oklahoma Christian University. Each organization is committed to investing in the next generation of leaders and to the Four Star Leadership mission of developing the kind of leaders who can solve problems and communicate solutions that will propel the world to greater peace, prosperity and mutual respect, according to the programs website. Col. Bobby Woods, director of AFJROTC, said We are so proud of Cadets Cutner and Wright for their selection to this great camp as well as the other students. We know our cadets learned a great deal and represented the Air Force very well. This was certainly an opportunity of a lifetime and will be an experience they will never forget and will help to make them better citizens and leaders for our nation. Retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks last served as the commander of U.S. Central Command from 2000 until his retirement in 2003. He led the invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of the countrys president, Saddam Hussein, in 2003. Students selected to attend the program have a chance to earn more than $15,000 in scholarships and gain internships and receive letters of recommendation. For more information on the program, visit www.FourStarLeader.com. Retired Brig. Gen. Gunther Mueller; Lt. Col. Steven Combs, executive assistant with Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve; Lt. Col. Mark Holmes, vice commander of the Career Development Academy at Maxwell; and Maj. Wilfredo Ruiz, director of operations for 437th TRS Inter-American Air Forces Academy, formed a board in support of the Air Force Culture and Language Centers Language Enabled Airmen Program this spring. This board convened April 14 to designate 10 of the best Spanish-speaking LEAP captain and technical sergeant applicants to attend the Inter-American Squadron Officer School and Inter-America Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Bogota, Colombia. In each location, these select participants will be afforded the opportunity to hone their language proficiency and cultural skills through interacting with military officers and NCOs from Latin America, while also receiving professional military education The chosen officers and NCOs represent a bench of participants who had previously been selected into LEAP and provided structured language, regional expertise and culture, or LREC, training as part of the programs requirements. ISOS and INCOA curriculum focuses on inter-Americanism, leadership, language, and cultural immersion as Airmen serve as ambassadors and gain tools for future engagements. Utilizing LEAP Airmen to fill these positions is a benefit for everyone involved, said Ruiz, This program enhances the proficiency and credibility of the AFCLC, Air University, and the Air Force mission. The rigor of LEAP is designed to increase competence in LREC skills before sending Airmen to international programs such as ISOS and INCOA, global Language Designated Positions and other language-required missions worldwide. The LEAP training provided to these seven ISOS and three INCOA selectees prepared them with the Spanish language and cultural skills required of this experience. LEAP supports the Air Forces global building partnerships mission by ensuring the highest quality of participants come from its enabled bench. This international PME opportunity with host nation counterparts is one of many methods the AFCLC is putting into place to create venues for its LEAP participants to help build these global partnerships. Holmes remarked, Choosing our Air Forces most qualified candidates to represent our nation outside its borders is an extremely important job. I was honored to be asked to help do this. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Bahram Ghasemi has rejected statements by a UK official about sending weapons to Yemeni Houthi rebels, IRNA news agency reported Aug. 3. Earlier British government spokesman for the Middle East and North Africa Edwin Samuel told Saudi Arabian Okaz newspaper that Irans support for the Houthis is causing a lot of concern, including reports that Iran has been transporting arms to Yemen. This is contradictory to UN Security Council resolution 2216, Samuel added. Reacting to the British official claims, Ghasemi said that his statements are clear interference in the internal affairs of the regional countries and in line with the UKs divisive policies. The Iranian diplomat further referred to the UK official statements as mere lie. Regional countries without intervention of trans-regional countries are able to overcome the crisis and insecurity with dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect, Ghasemi added. Irans principal policy is based on establishing stability and security in the region, he said, adding foreign countries military presence in the region is a destabilizing factor. He also accused the trans-regional powers of promoting extremism and terrorism. Yemen has been in turmoil since September 2014, when the rebels overran the capital Sanaa, forcing President Abd-Rabbu Mansour to flee to Saudi Arabia. Since March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition, which includes Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, has been battling the rebels to restore Hadi to power. Saudi Arabia accuses the Islamic Republic of providing military support to the Yemeni Shiite rebels, something that Tehran denies. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.3 Trend: A rally has kicked off in Yerevans Liberty Square, News.am web site reported. The rally is conducted by Armenias Founding Parliament radical opposition group member Harutyun Aghlamazyan. According to him, they have once again gathered to demand to set free those arrested by the illegitimate regime. The armed group seized the headquarters of the police and interior troops in Erebuni, Yerevan, July 17, demanding the release of the participant of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, coordinator of the opposition Armenian civil initiative Founding Parliament Zhirayr Sefilyan. Coups and counter-revolutions are undesired occurrences in democracies and the complete opposite of democracies, Turkeys president said Tuesday during an interview with Mexican television, Anadolu reported. Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Televisa and reiterated his government's demand for the extradition of US-based preacher Fetullah Gulen who Ankara alleges is the mastermind behind a deadly coup attempt last month. Turkey has sent the US a second request for the arrest of the Pennsylvania-based preacher, the Turkish Justice Minister announced Tuesday. You have to be prepared for any kind of scenario." Erdogan told Mexican television referring to the coup. He said the ruling government has been in power for 14 years and he was elected president with 52 percent support of the country. More than 66,000 workers at state institutions have been dismissed from their posts amid a nationwide probe following the overthrow attempt. Most of the dismissed belong to the Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO), headed by Gulen, that has infiltrated state institutions for four decades. The number, however, is not a true representation of the groups shadowy presence inside the Turkish state, he said. This incident was not a result of the people being fired, he said. However, it was -- the FETO -- the combination of about 40 years. This organization had been in this process in of organizing itself into state mechanisms for about 40 years. They infiltrated Turkish armed forces, Turkish national police and all of the government and state institutions including the judiciary. So they actually infiltrated nerve endings of our state, he said, adding that all data and indicators point to FETO as being behind the crisis. Gulen is accused of implementing the campaign to overthrow the state by forming what is commonly known as the parallel state. You need to be blind and be deaf not to understand that he is behind all of this. The most important point to take into consideration is that these people are excellent liars. They are very successful in lying and our national security strategy document now officially refers to this terrorist organization as a terrorist organization, according to Erdogan. With the strong evidence against Gulen and FETO, time is of the essence when it comes to his extradition, the president said. We have no time to wait six months or one year which is simply intolerable. Turkeys Prime Minister has said ties between Ankara and Washington would be affected if the US did not hand over Gulen who has resided in the state of Pennsylvania since 1999. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The military coup threat in Turkey still remains, the Milliyet newspaper reported Aug. 3, citing sources in the countrys government. It is possible that supporters of Fethullah Gulen, who is believed to be directly involved in the military coup attempt in Turkey, will try to organize provocations among the population, according to the newspaper. An attempt to incite Alawites and Sunnis against each other in Turkey can become one of such provocations, the newspaper article said. Possibility of assassination of some politicians and senior military officials isnt excluded, either, the newspaper noted. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 2 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces will be based outside Ankara, Haber7 newspaper reported Aug. 3 citing sources in Turkish military circles. The newspaper didnt mention the exact location. Changing the residence of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces will take place within the framework of military reforms in Turkey. Earlier it was reported that the countrys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that almost all power structures of the country will be based outside Ankara. The building of the General Staff of Turkey, which was seized by the coup plotters during the military coup attempt in mid-July, is located in the center of Ankara and in the immediate vicinity of the Parliament and the Ministry of National Defense. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, August 3, 2016 According to the 2016 Call Intelligence Index published today by Invoca, a shift from offline to digital marketing spend, combined with the ubiquity of mobile, is increasing calls to businesses at an upward clip. The annual index analyzed more than 58 million calls across 40 industries, providing insight into the role of the phone call in todays omnichannel customer journey. This years Index found that, in 2015, digital channels drove 92% of calls to businesses, up from 84% in 2014. Additionally, the report finds more customer calls come from mobile search than from any other channel. Search and social features like Google call-only ads and convenient click-to-call buttons are further blurring lines between channels, making it easier for customers to call businesses on mobile. Kyle Christensen, VP of marketing, Invoca, says as people use their phones to interface with the world around them also calling businesses more marketers will thrive in this environment who optimize for calls as an integrated part of their omnichannel strategies The study reports that 79% of people switch devices during an activity, and that 63% of people complete a purchase offline after searching online. Marketers are responding to this trend by capturing call data and applying insights from those conversations into their email campaigns, retargeting ads and search marketing. Calls are supplementing digital interactions as customers move between mobile search, web, social, display, email and apps. Online channels, including desktop search and display advertising, drove 38% of phone calls in 2015, representing a 23% rise from 2014. Offline channels, including TV, radio and newspaper ads, drove half as many calls in 2015 (8%) as in 2014 (16%). Mobile search is the biggest driver of phone calls to businesses, responsible for 48% of call volume in 2015, says the report. Desktop search was the second biggest driver, nearly doubling in 2015 (17%) from 2014 (9%). According to the report, consumers who call a business tend to have higher purchase intent than those simply browsing online. To convert that interest into sales, businesses must be determine who is calling and what their journey has been. On weekdays, people call businesses most often in their respective time zones between 11 11:59 a.m. On the weekend, most calls occur from 12 12:59 p.m. People tend to call businesses most on Mondays, which receive 55% more calls than Sundays, the lowest volume day, says the report. Call duration is a key indicator of a calls quality: Calls driven by newspapers (6 minutes, 10 seconds) Online review sites (5 minutes, 54 seconds) Online display ads (5 minutes, 23 seconds) resulted in the longest average conversation times. Across industries and drivers, the average call duration is 4 minutes, 52 seconds, an 18% increase from 2014, indicating that marketers are getting better at generating quality phone calls. The research shows that phone calls are increasing across industries, and particularly for industries characterized by high-value purchases and/or customers who need personalized assistance. Though these industries are also investing heavily in digital channels, phone calls remain a critical point of contact for customers who need additional information or are ready to make a purchase. Home Services, as an industry, decreased its investment in offline channels in 2015. In 2014, offline channels, such as radio, TV and newspapers, drove 32% of calls. In 2015, only 6% of calls were the result of offline drivers. By contrast, calls driven by mobile sources increased from 53% to 62% in 2015, and those from other online sources doubled from 16% to 32% Automotive is undergoing a massive shift from offline to online and mobile sources, says the report. The industry saw a 119% increase in digital sources driving calls in 2015, compared to 2014. Financial Services migrated in 2015 from offline to digital spend. In 2014, the industry drove 44% of its calls from offline channels, and only 29% from online channels. In 2015, the trend flipped, only 26% came from offline channels, and 48% came from digital. For the complete Call Intelligence Index report from Invoca, please visit here. by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, August 3, 2016 Following a series of high-profile incidents in which fatal shootings by police were live streamed on Facebook, law enforcement officials are pushing back by limiting the ability of suspects to broadcast these encounters to the world. In the latest such example, on Monday police in Baltimore County made an emergency request to Facebook to suspend the account of Korryn Gaines, age 23, during an armed standoff which ultimately resulted in her death. Baltimore County Police came to Gaines apartment in Randallstown, Maryland to serve arrest warrants for her and her boyfriend for earlier incidents of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault. Her boyfriend complied, taking a one-year-old boy out of the apartment with him and submitting to arrest. However Gaines, who had a history of impulsive and irrational behavior, refused to leave the apartment and barricaded herself inside along with her 5-year-old-son. Subsequently she began posting live streaming video of the standoff on Facebook and Instagram, including one exchange with her son where she asks the boy what the police are doing and he replies, They trying to kill us. advertisement advertisement A number of Gaines online contacts began responding to the videos with comments encouraging her to continue the standoff, according to officers monitoring her social media accounts, at which point the Baltimore County Police Department made the emergency request to Facebook. The company immediately complied by taking Gaines Facebook and Instagram profiles offline. Finally, Gaines pointed a shotgun at one of the officers and said, If you dont leave, Im going to kill you. The officer responded by shooting at her and Gaines returned fire but missed, and was finally killed by fire from all the officers. The boy received light injuries and is being treated in a hospital. There are a number of justifications for blocking social media access during potentially violent situations. In addition to social media contacts encouraging suspects not to comply with police, as in this case, access to social sites holds out the possibility that armed suspects might gather information about the number and position of police officers from live streaming video or texts from accomplices observing the situation. by Sara Guaglione , August 3, 2016 GQ will increase its newsstand price from $5.99 to $6.99, starting this October. The magazine's March, September and December marquee issues will also increase by a dollar to $7.99. Publisher and CRO Howard Mittman made the decision to raise the cost of GQ after receiving positive market results over the past year with pricier issues, such as GQs 2015 Men of the Year issue, which features higher-quality paper and a larger format for $7.99 per issue. "The print market is shifting and changing at a dramatic rate, but the one constant that remains is consumers still understand and appreciate quality, stated Mittman. He added that in a world full of disposable content, GQ is committed to producing quality editorial that consumers are willing to pay significant premiums for it. advertisement advertisement GQ isnt the first magazine to experiment with newsstand pricing. In May, Rodale Inc. announced Prevention magazine would transition to an ad-free business model to create a premium product. The magazines newsstand price increased by a dollar to $4.99. And the stakes are high to succeed. Details shuttered last year following declining print advertising pages over the last decade. Much of the fashion and lifestyle content that used to appear in Details now appears in GQ Style (previously a special issue from GQ). Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.3 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The movement of Fethullah Gulen has been a sect for many years, the TRT Haber news channel quoted Turkeys Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus as saying Aug.3. The supporters of Gulen movement do not accept other Muslims and believe that the movements leader is without a sin, said Kurtulmus. Turkeys deputy prime minister believes that the religious structures should also fight Gulen movement. Kurtulmus pointed out that Turkey will continue to fight the supporters of Gulen who was involved in the military coup attempt in the country. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu USA Today, Wednesday, August 3, 2016 12:19 PM A new Hillary Clinton ad focuses on Trumps use of outsourcing to manufacture many of his name-brand goods. Using a video from a David Letterman show, the ad overlays text to highlight the extent of Trumps outsourcing. At one point, we see Trump telling Letterman: Thats good. We employ people in Bangladesh. They have to work, too. The ad then overlays: He outsourced jobs to 12 countries. Read the whole story at USA Today WZZM13, Wednesday, August 3, 2016 2:55 PM Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has warned citizens to beware a spam email claiming to come from his office. The email has the subject line, "The Office of The Attorney General Complaint," and is targeting local businesses. The email encourages users to click on malicious links. Read the whole story at WZZM13 by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, August 3, 2016 The New York Times is diving into mobile Spanish-language publishing with the launch of its new NYT en Espanol edition of its news app. The app gives visitors access to all the content published on the newspapers Spanish-language Web site, The New York Times en Espanol, including original journalism as well as translated versions of a number of relevant articles from the NYTs English-language site. Content available on NYT en Espanol spans cronicas or narrative journalism, investigative journalism, opinion pieces and reviews, across a range of formats, including text, photo galleries and video. None of the content accessible on the NYT en Espanol app counts toward the monthly limit of 10 free articles per month from the flagship site or app. That means visitors can consume as much Spanish-language content as they like. (The newspapers Spanish-language Web site also has unlimited access.) Readers with Android devices who want to access the NYTs Spanish-language content just have to open the apps Settings and switch from English to Spanish. It will also appear as the default NYT app on devices where the user had chosen Spanish as the operating language. The unlimited access to Spanish-language content offered by the NYT suggests the newspaper is redoubling its efforts to recruit more Spanish-language readers in the U.S. and internationally. The newspaper launched its Spanish-language Web site, from which the companion app draws content, back in February of this year. The New York Times en Espanol features content produced by a dedicated editorial team based in Mexico City, as well as the work of NYT correspondents across Latin America and areas with Spanish-speaking populations, including Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and Miami, with additional coverage and oversight from the newspapers headquarters in New York City. The NYT also introduced a weekly Spanish-language email newsletter, Boletin, around the same time. by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, August 3, 2016 Pennsylvania residents who pay for Netflix, Hulu or other over-the-top video services must now cough up an additional 6% sales tax on their subscriptions. The new tax on electronic media, which took effect this month, also covers downloads, music, e-books, online games and ringtones. Pennsylvania officials hope the extra revenue -- which reportedly could total $47 million -- will offset a $1.3 billion budget shortfall. The state isn't the first locale to tax streaming video. Thirteen months ago, Chicago imposed a 9% amusement tax, which applies when people stream TV programs, music, movies or online games. Unlike Pennsylvania, Chicago is not also taxing media downloads. Soon after Chicago's tax took effect, a group of residents sued to overturn the measure. They raised a host of arguments, including that the tax violated the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act by taxing online material at higher rates than comparable offline material. advertisement advertisement The residents also argued that the tax is unconstitutional because it effectively regulates interstate commerce -- a task that only Congress is empowered to do. Late last month, a judge in Illinois refused to dismiss that lawsuit in its entirety. Judge Carl Walker in the Cook County Circuit Court threw out several of the residents' allegations, but ruled that they could proceed with claims including allegations that the law is unconstitutional and that it violates the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act. Pennsylvania's move comes as a growing number of states are passing laws requiring online retailers like Amazon to collect sales tax. As of now, Amazon reportedly collects sales tax in 28 states. Epstein-Barr virus is one of the most common viruses to infect humans, and it also appears to play a role in breast cancer. The findings of a recent study may have uncovered the mechanism behind this relationship. Share on Pinterest EBVs influence on breast cancer development may soon be understood. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a member of the herpes virus family, is easily transmitted through oral transfer of saliva and by genital secretions. An incredible 90 percent of all humans on earth are thought to be infected by EBV. Most sexually active adults will pick up the virus at some point in their lives, and about half of all 5-year-olds have evidence of previous infection. Although the majority of carriers do not display any symptoms of infection, it can lead to complications in some individuals, most commonly, infectious mononucleosis , also known as glandular fever. EBV infects two major cell types, firstly, components of the immune system, known as B cells; secondly, epithelial cells, which line cavities of the body, blood vessels, and organs. Over the years, EBV has also been associated with a number of specific cancer types such as African Burkitt lymphoma (a cancer of the lymphatics), Hodgkins disease (a blood cancer), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (a rare head and neck cancer), gastric adenocarcinoma (a type of stomach cancer), and leiomyosarcoma (a smooth muscle tumor). An estimated 200,000 malignancies are caused by EBV annually. Researchers have developed a faster, more affordable method of identifying patients more susceptible to Alzheimers disease using a biochip-based blood test, with the same accuracy as a standard DNA test. Share on Pinterest Biochip blood testing for Alzheimers disease risk provides a faster alternative to standard testing. Standard molecular tests that analyze DNA can be both expensive and time-consuming. However, the biochip test, produced by Randox Laboratories, can conduct multiple tests on a single blood sample, which has both time- and cost-saving benefits, as well as a rapid diagnosis. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene plays a key role in lipid metabolism and is recognized as one of the most significant genetic risk factors for dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. There are three versions of the APOE gene: e2, e3, and e4. The e4 version increases a persons risk of developing late-onset Alzheimers disease, and it may also be associated with an earlier onset of memory loss. Alzheimers is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. One APOE gene is inherited from each parent. If a person inherits one APOE variant from a parent, they have a three times greater risk of developing Alzheimers disease. A person who inherits APOE variants from both parents is 8-12 times more likely to develop the disease. Around 25 percent of the population inherits one copy of the APOE e4 gene. Inheriting two copies increases a persons disease risk by 10 times or more. The biochip blood test accurately detects an individuals APOE4 status from a plasma sample, which in combination with medical and family history, medication, and lifestyle can help offer information, advice, and personalized medicine for the patient. This is the first time that we have used this biochip technology to test for an increased risk of Alzheimers disease, says Emma C. Harte, Ph.D., a research scientist at Randox Laboratories. This type of testing is important in our quest to understand and diagnose Alzheimers and empower patients to understand risks, consider medication, and even make early lifestyle changes. A new, epidemic strain of C. difficile is proving alarmingly deadly, and new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine not only explains why but also suggests a way to stop it. Until now, scientists have not understood what made this strain worse than other strains of the bacteria, the most common cause of hospital-acquired infections. The new strain kills up to 15 percent of infected patients, including those who receive antibiotics, and has become increasingly common over the last 15 years. This has prompted the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to label it an "urgent threat." A Potent Toxin The finding comes from the lab of Bill Petri, MD, PhD, chief of UVA's Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, and a team of international collaborators. PhD student Carrie A. Cowardin was working in Petri's lab when she discovered the diabolical mechanisms this strain of C. diff uses to overcome the body's natural defenses. The strain is so deadly because it produces a toxin that kills protective cells, called eosinophils, found in the gut, Cowardin found. By destroying the gut's natural barrier, the bacteria can spread inflammation throughout the body. "We think that this toxin makes disease more severe by killing beneficial eosinophils, which seem to play an important role in promoting a healthy immune response during C. difficile infection. When the eosinophils were depleted with an antibody or by the toxin, we saw dramatically increased inflammation. Restoring eosinophils by transferring them from a mouse that cannot recognize the toxin prevented the damage inflicted by the epidemic strain," said Cowardin, now a postdoctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis. "This builds on previous work in our lab showing that eosinophils are beneficial and suggests that one reason this strain causes such severe disease is due to its ability to kill these cells." Further, Cowardin discovered exactly how the toxin works, and how well it functions in this role. The toxin, she determined, requires a particular human protein that recognizes bacteria, a protein that plays a key role in the immune response. In short, C. diff is subverting the body's natural defenses to overcome those defenses. This understanding of the toxin's action could be of great importance, as blocking it can rescue the protective cells in the gut. And that approach could lead to a new treatment to stop this deadly strain of C. diff in its tracks. "Nearly every day that I care for patients I am faced with this potentially deadly infection," Petri said. "Carrie Cowardin's discovery of why this strain of C. diff is so dangerous, and most importantly how to combat it, is a huge and most needed advance." First comprehensive list of cancer blood biomarkers researched in last 5 years. Researchers have identified 788 biomarkers in blood that could be used to develop an early stage cancer screening test for the general population. The study, led by the University of Sheffield, is the first to create a comprehensive list of relevant cancer blood biomarkers that have been researched in the last five years. The study also groups them by molecular function and records the technologies that can be used to detect them. The team - from the Universities of Sheffield, Coventry and Warwick - started with over 19,000 scientific studies published over the last five years that investigated blood based biomarkers. Systematic review methods - including ruling out studies in fewer than 50 patients - reduced this to 4,000 studies from which the final biomarker list was compiled. Lead researcher, Dr Lesley Uttley, from the University of Sheffield's School of Health and Related Research, said: "Because of the sheer number of publications in this field, previous reviews have only been able to look at one biomarker or a small group of biomarkers. Our data mining approach allowed us to take in all relevant research findings from the five-year period, which meant we could map the full range of potential blood-based biomarkers that are particularly relevant for early detection of cancer." The work was carried out on behalf of the Early Cancer Detection Consortium, a group of nearly 40 organisations, including universities, hospitals and commercial companies. The Consortium was funded by Cancer Research UK to investigate whether a cost-effective screening test can be used in the general population to identify people with early stage cancers. The next step will be to look in detail at the research behind each biomarker, to check that it is robust and that the biomarker could feasibly be used as part of a screening test. Biomarkers will also be grouped by cancer type at this stage. The validated biomarkers will then be put through a clinical study, using samples from cancer patients and healthy controls, to check how effectively they identify the presence of cancer. Finally, those biomarkers which work successfully in the study will be taken forward into a clinical trial, to see if the screening test works in practice and is cost-effective. ECDC Director and Molecular Pathologist at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Professor Ian Cree, said: "Our expectation is that, once the validation and clinical studies are completed, we will have a suite of around 50 biomarkers, identified using four different tests, that can go into the clinical trial. To complete the validation and the trials will take six to eight years, but in theory, we could have a test ready within three years for use in high risk groups". "Our vision is that the screen will pick up even the small amounts of these biomarkers that might be in the blood at an early stage of the cancer, without necessarily identifying which cancer they relate to. Patients would then be referred for more specific tests, that could narrow down the tumour type." The Consortium has set up a company, Pinpoint Cancer Ltd, to take the research forward and is actively seeking investment and funding for the next stages of the project. Article: Building the Evidence Base of Blood-Based Biomarkers for Early Detection of Cancer: A Rapid Systematic Mapping Review, Lesley Uttley, Becky L. Whiteman, Helen Buckley Woods, Susan Harnan, Sian Taylor Philips, Ian A. Cree, EBioMedicine, doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.07.004, published online 6 July 2016. A team of researchers, led by Drs. Merlin Robb and Jintanat Ananworanich of the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, has found that when antiretroviral therapy (ART) is initiated during early acute HIV infection, it can significantly reduce total HIV DNA levels in the body, which may have implications for the goal of achieving long-term HIV remission. HIV is difficult to cure because it infects long-lived cells in the body, laying down a reservoir of latent virus that can become reactivated long after treatments clear active virus from the body. "HIV reservoir size is pertinent to the goal of HIV remission - that is, undetectable viral load without treatment - because the size of the reservoir may predict time to viral load rebound after ART cessation," explains Dr. Ananworanich, MHRP research physician and a leader in HIV cure research. "It is hypothesized that people with a smaller reservoir size will have a greater chance of achieving HIV remission." This study compared HIV DNA in two well-characterized groups of individuals in Thailand who were diagnosed within a few weeks of contracting HIV and either received treatment immediately or did not. Researchers longitudinally measured the frequency of cells in the blood with HIV DNA, which served as a marker of HIV reservoir size. Findings, published online this week in the journal EBioMedicine, show that without ART, HIV DNA peaked early and established a set-point level during the first 6 weeks of infection and changed little over time without HIV medications. However, if ART medications are started early, the reservoir size declines rapidly. ART reduced total HIV DNA levels by 20-fold after two weeks and 316-fold after three years. "This would indicate that, currently, the most effective way to significantly lower the HIV reservoir size is with very early treatment," said Dr. Robb, MHRP co-director and a leading researcher in the fields of acute HIV and HIV vaccines. "Identifying timing of HIV DNA set point will inform when to intervene." In order to better understand how the immune system responds during the critical moments of early acute infection, MHRP launched two innovative cohort studies in Thailand and East Africa, RV217 and RV254, which provide a foundation for follow-on studies such as this one. MHRP's acute cohorts provide insight into crucial stages of early HIV infection. By focusing on the earliest stages of infection, scientists hope to understand what's needed to create an effective HIV vaccine and possibly inform future investigations into a functional cure. This work was supported by cooperative agreements between The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., and the U.S. Department of the Army and by an intramural grant from the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center. The Government Pharmaceutical Organization, Thailand, Gilead, Merck and ViiV Healthcare provided support for antiretroviral medications. Jintanat Ananworanich was partially funded by NIAID. Article: HIV DNA Set Point is Rapidly Established in Acute HIV Infection and Dramatically Reduced by Early ART, Jintanat AnanworanichcorrespondencePress enter key for correspondence informationemailPress enter key to Email the author, Nicolas Chomont1, Leigh Ann Eller, Eugene Kroon, Sodsai Tovanabutra, Meera Bose, Martin Nau, James L.K. Fletcher, Somporn Tipsuk, Claire Vandergeeten1, Robert J. O'Connell, Suteeraporn Pinyakorn, Nelson Michael, Nittaya Phanuphak, Merlin L. Robb on behalf of the RV217 and RV254/SEARCH010 study groups, EBioMedicine, doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.07.024, published online 19 July 2016. Using new and innovative immune-therapeutic approaches to silence "don't eat me" signaling proteins recognized by specialized cells of the immune system, University of California, Irvine molecular biologists and their colleagues have identified an effective way to combat metastatic melanoma. Led by Alexander D. Boiko, UCI assistant professor of molecular biology & biochemistry at the Ayala School of Biological Sciences and the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center, the researchers discovered that blocking the cell surface protein, CD47 (known as a "don't eat me" signal), on melanoma cells, increased the degree by which these cells were phagocytosed, or "eaten," by macrophages. The team further discovered that blocking CD47 in combination with targeting a second cell surface protein, CD271, previously found to be expressed on melanoma initiating cells, resulted in virtually complete inhibition of metastases arising from human melanoma tumors transplanted in mice. The full study appears in Cell Reports. The cell surface protein CD47 was found to be overexpressed by metastatic melanomas, which helps them avoid being eliminated by the organism's immune system. CD271, on the other hand, had been previously shown by Boiko to mark a cell population in melanomas responsible for tumor initiation and metastatic spread of this aggressive cancer. For the current study, Boiko and his team conjectured that metastatic melanomas relied on the overexpression of both proteins to fool the immune system and spread to other areas of the body. To test this hypothesis, Boiko and his colleagues used specific blocking antibodies against CD47 (to activate macrophage phagocytosis) and CD271 (to selectively target the most aggressive melanoma cell population). When mice bearing human metastatic melanomas were treated with this antibody regimen, researchers discovered that simultaneous application of antibodies against CD47 and CD271 resulted in near complete elimination of metastasis from all organs of experimental mice. Boiko's group has further discovered that this therapeutic effect was mediated by profound alteration of the microenvironment surrounding the tumors, causing immune cells to fight cancer more effectively. "Further research is needed to determine the full anti-metastatic properties of the dual CD47/CD271 antibody therapy and the safety of its application in human patients," Boiko said. "However, combining this therapy with other emerging treatments that also modulate the immune system represents a new approach that may offer increased benefit against metastatic melanomas. These are very exciting times for the cancer immunotherapy field and we are aiming to add an important component to this type of treatment, which will hopefully translate into a more effective outcome for patients." The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant R00 CA154960, F30 CA168059 and T32 GM007365), a Melanoma Research Alliance Young Investigator Award, the J.M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation, the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Fund for Cancer Research. iStock/Thinkstock(LONDON) -- The number of people who left their homes and applied for asylum in Europe surged to a record 1.3 million in 2015, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of 1985-2015 Eurostat data. Last year, Europe saw more asylum applicants than in the previous peak years of 1992 and 2002 combined. Last year's number amounts to about one-tenth of all applications received in the past 30 years in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland. About half of the 1.3 million come from only three countries: Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria nations that have been devastated by war and conflict. The new report also found that a majority of citizens in all EU countries disapprove of how the bloc is dealing with the refugee crisis. The highest disapproval is in some of the places with the largest number of refugees, Phillip Connor, research associate with the Pew Research Center, told ABC News. Countries such as Sweden and Hungary, recipients of large numbers of refugees, had some of the highest disapproval rates, the report shows. The flow of refugees has also impacted European countries population makeup. In several countries, such as Sweden, Hungary, Norway and Austria, the share of the foreign-born increased by 1 percent or more in 2015 alone. Thats a significant population shift in one year, Connor said. It might not seem much, but in the U.S. it took a decade from 2005 to 2015 to increase the foreign-born by 1 percent of the total population. Since 2012, Germany has been the primary destination country for asylum seekers in Europe, receiving 442,000 asylum applications in just 2015. Measured per capita, Hungary, followed by Sweden and Austria, received the highest numbers of asylum seekers in 2015. In comparison, France and the UK received roughly the same number of applications in 2015 as in years prior to last years refugee surge. The number of children reaching Europe alone with no parents or guardians increased in 2015 to about 7 percent of all asylum applicants. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 By Anakhanum Idayatova Trend: The decision on normalization of relations between Turkey and Russia was necessary, Togrul Ismayil, political scientist, associate professor of the Department of International Relations at the Ankara-based TOBB University of Economics and Technology, told Trend Aug. 3. Ismayil said that the cooperation between Turkey and Russia will ensure prosperity and security of the region. Both Turkey and Russia are big countries, regional leaders and the crisis between these countries affects the other countries in the area from the Caucasus to Central Asia, he added. The expert believes that the first meeting of the two countries presidents after the crisis will be very important and many things will depend on this meetings results. Turkey and Russia have many important joint projects, he noted. The leaders have to sit down to negotiations and solve all problems; maybe, find a common position on Syrian crisis. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Russia on Aug. 9 and will have a meeting with the countrys President Vladimir Putin. Relations between Moscow and Ankara deteriorated when Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber with two pilots on board. On June 27, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter of condolences to Putin over the death of Russian Su-24 pilot and expressed regret over the incident. After that, the two countries relations began to improve. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum Adjuvants - ingredients added to vaccinations for influenza and other viruses to help boost their effectiveness - can increase a host's immune response but not enough to protect the obese against the ill effects of the flu, according to a mouse study published this week in mBio, an online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. In a series of experiments among lean and obese mice given influenza vaccines with and without the adjuvants alum and AS03 and later exposed to flu, the obese mice consistently succumbed to flu whereas their leaner counterparts stayed healthy. "Adjuvants increase the antibody responses during vaccination of lean and obese mice to levels considered protective, yet obese mice still succumb to infection," said lead study author Erik Karlsson, PhD, a staff scientist with the infectious diseases department at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. "This vulnerability is likely due to a combination of factors including the increased susceptibility of obese animals to develop severe and even lethal disease when infected with even low levels of virus. Our studies highlight the critical public health need to translate these findings and better understand vaccination in the growing obese population." Nearly 10 percent of the world's adult population and 42 million children under the age of 5 are obese, Karlsson said; in the U.S. alone, severe obesity has been forecasted to increase by 130 percent in the next two decades. "Our study was conducted in a mouse model so we don't know how this will translate directly to humans," added senior study author Stacey Schultz-Cherry, PhD, full member (professor) in the infectious diseases department at St. Jude. "The immune response in our obese animals is reminiscent of the elderly in that you can increase it but there's something wrong with it. They still aren't protected if they get infected with the virus. We need to focus on understanding why this happens and how to overcome this problem." During the study, the investigators vaccinated lean and obese mice with the avian influenza A(H7N9) vaccine or with seasonal vaccine against the A/California/04/2009 H1N1 flu strain with or without adjuvants. Both alum and AS03 increased antibody response in lean and obese mice compared to vaccine alone; however, response in the obese animals was about 50 percent less on average. Beyond stimulating a neutralizing antibody response to the head of the spike-shaped influenza hemagglutinin (HA) protein, the vaccines also increased antibodies to the HA stalk, a potential universal influenza vaccine target, as well as the neuraminidase, a second surface protein of the virus. In additional laboratory tests, the researchers found that vaccinated lean mice generated stronger and broader antibody responses to the influenza H7HA and N9 proteins compared to obese mice. Exposing the mice to influenza virus three weeks after the vaccines, they found that all lean mice were protected from flu and had minimal weight loss. By contrast, all obese mice lost weight and succumbed to flu infection even if they had received the adjuvanted vaccines. The obese mice also had higher viral loads in the lungs three and five days after infection compared to the lean mice; lean mice who received adjuvanted vaccine had nearly undetectable viral loads in the lungs. Increasing the vaccine dose by four times to try to better protect against influenza did not protect the obese mice, and obese mice were susceptible to flu infection even when exposed to less virus, indicating that the hypersusceptibility of the obese host to severe disease could be contributing to decreased vaccine effectiveness, Karlsson said. Researchers may need to look at different vaccine approaches in the obese population, Schultz-Cherry said. But while more studies are needed, "regardless of these results, you need to get a flu vaccine," she said. "Even if you hear on the news that the flu vaccine doesn't match the strains circulating, remember there are three to four different strains in the vaccines, and only one may be a mismatch. Even if the vaccine is not ideal, it's still better than nothing. If you are not vaccinated you are susceptible and can develop severe infection." The study was coauthored by investigators at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev in Beer-Sheva, Israel; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle; the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, N.Y. The work was supported by the NIH Centers of Excellence in Influenza virus Research and Surveillance, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (the fund-raising arm of St. Jude), and Sanofi-Pasteur. Two of the coauthors' laboratories receive funding from GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi-Pasteur. Article: Obesity Outweighs Protection Conferred by Adjuvanted Influenza Vaccination, Erik A. Karlsson, Tomer Hertz, Cydney Johnson, Andrew Mehle, Florian Krammer, Stacey Schultz-Cherry, mBio, doi: 10.1128/mBio.01144-16, published 2 August 2016. Men diagnosed with prostate cancer can be provided with a more accurate estimate of their risk of death from the disease, and treatment planned accordingly, according to a Research Article published by Vincent J. Gnanapragasam, of the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK and colleagues in PLOS Medicine. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, and the risk of disease progression and death is very variable when the disease is diagnosed while it is localized to the prostate gland. Providing as accurate an estimate as possible of the individual risk is important in planning appropriate treatment, which could range from surgery to management by regular observation, as well as in providing advice and support to patients. Based on data from more than 10,000 UK men with prostate cancer, Gnanapragasam and colleagues developed a scheme in which men were grouped into 5 strata with different levels of risk of prostate cancer death, based on straightforward, routinely available, clinical measurements such as prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, disease stage, and tumor grade as judged by biopsy. In two large groups of men with prostate cancer analyzed separately, this scheme performed better in predicting the risk of cancer death compared to the current 3 risk strata system endorsed by most national and international guidelines. In an accompanying Perspective article, Sigrid V. Carlsson and Michael W. Kattan, respectively of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA and Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA, discuss the importance of accurate risk estimation in prostate cancer to guide decision making by doctors and their patients. There was no specific funding for this project. The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry is funded by the Public Health Agency for Northern Ireland. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Article: Improving Clinical Risk Stratification at Diagnosis in Primary Prostate Cancer: A Prognostic Modelling Study, Gnanapragasam VJ, Lophatananon A, Wright KA, Muir KR, Gavin A, Greenberg DC, PLOS Medicine, doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002063, published 2 August 2016. Perspective: On Risk Estimation versus Risk Stratification in Early Prostate Cancer, Sigrid V. Carlsson, Michael W. Kattan, PLOS Medicine, doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002100, published 2 August 2016. 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. In recent months, U.S.-Bahrain relations have been increasingly strained over the issue of the ongoing conflict between the Bahraini regime and the Shi'ite opposition in the country, which is led by the Al-Wefaq Society, the largest Shi'ite opposition body. Bahrain accuses the U.S. of supporting the opposition in both statements and actions and thereby interfering in Bahrain's domestic affairs and working to destabilize its regime. Bahrain's Sunni regime describes the Shi'ite opposition activists as terrorists and traitors who are loyal to Iran and who are undermining the Bahraini monarchy with the aim of turning the country into an Iranian proxy. Tensions between the regime and opposition have been high especially since the 2011 wave of protests demanding the ouster of the regime and the implementation of political reforms in the country.[1] Tensions escalated even further in the recent months following a series of measures taken by the regime against the opposition and its leaders: on May 30, the sentence imposed on Al-Wefaq leader 'Ali Salman was extended from four years in prison to nine years;[2] on June 14 a court ordered to suspend Al-Wefaq's activity, shut down its offices and freeze its assets,[3] and on July 17, the court convicted Al-Wefaq of harming Bahrain's national security and instigating the 2011 riots and ordered to dissolve the society and liquidated its assets.[4] Earlier, two other opposition associations, Al-Risalah and Al-Taw'iya, were also dissolved.[5] On June 20 the government stripped Shi'ite cleric 'Isa Ahmed Qassim of his Bahraini citizenship on the grounds that he served as Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's man in Bahrain and is the spiritual leader of the outlawed Al-Wefaq.[6] These measures against the opposition, in particular the revoking of Qassim's citizenship, sparked criticism from the U.S., which condemned what it characterized as the suppression of nonviolent opposition and called on the Bahraini regime to dialogue with the opposition instead.[7] In addition to criticizing the Bahraini regime's steps against the opposition, U.S. officials recently met with representatives of the Shi'ite opposition in Bahrain. For example, on April 7, 2016, U.S. State Secretary John Kerry met with an opposition delegation during his visit to Bahrain, and implicitly criticized the regime by saying that "respect for human rights and an inclusive political system are essential" in Bahrain.[8] The U.S. ambassador in Bahrain also met with opposition elements, including Al-Wefaq officials, even after the suspension of this society's activity.[9] The U.S. criticism of Bahrain's steps against the opposition, and the meetings of U.S. officials with opposition elements, evoked furious responses from the Bahraini regime.[10] Rage was also expressed by the Bahraini press, which published dozens of articles slamming the U.S. and its officials, accusing them of dishonesty and hypocrisy, of betraying Bahrain and supporting terrorism, of collaborating with Iran against Bahrain and other Arab countries, and even of complicity in the terror attacks perpetrated by Shi'ites in Bahrain. The following are excerpts from these articles in the Bahraini press. U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain meets with Shi'ite opposition elements (Image: Bahrainalyoum.com, June 30, 2016) While Outwardly Friendly To Bahrain, The U.S. Is Secretly Supporting Its Enemies On April 9, 2016, after the U.S. State Department announced that during his Bahrain visit, Secretary of State Kerry had met, on April 7, with a Bahraini opposition delegation, and after Kerry called on the Bahraini regime to respect human rights and to incorporate all elements in the governing of the country, columnist Faisal Al-Sheikh wrote in the Bahraini daily Al-Watan that the U.S. is supporting terrorist elements inside and outside Bahrain: "For many decades, Bahrain has acted in good faith and complete transparency vis-a-vis the American side, and the minimum it expects in return is for its 'friends' to reciprocate - instead of one day discovering in WikiLeaks documents that the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain is in contact with oppositionists who have revolutionary records and blatant loyalty to foreign elements, with the aim of weakening Bahrain's legitimate regime... "John Kerry made unambiguous statements about Bahrain's elections, and placed on the revolutionary associations... the blame for the increasing sectarian tension in Bahrain because of their position regarding the elections.[11] This is true, but Kerry should have clarified his statements more, and proved to us his credibility even more clearly. This is because the events that took place in Bahrain five years ago - that is, the slogans [calling] to violate the law, the spread of an atmosphere of chaos and terrorism, and the clear Iranian [pro-opposition] mobilization that came with them - were not hidden from the U.S. and its intelligence apparatuses. As a result, Mr. Kerry, Bahrain suffered from systematic terrorism, and some of the leaders, and backers, of this terrorism and the instigators of this failed coup [were given] American aid... "Therefore, the time has come to reexamine this American policy that operates by outwardly growing close to countries in the name of friendship while secretly working to support entities and groups with agendas that harm those same countries. History tells us about several of these groups, relating that Al-Qaeda emerged after Osama bin Laden achieved success because he received various types of aid from the U.S. to fight the Soviets. [History proves] that even ISIS was a U.S. creation. "Oh, Mr. Kerry, in order to fight and stop terrorism, the U.S. should first and foremost stop supporting it and those who champion terrorist and extremist religious ideology in their countries. Perhaps you now have a chance, starting with Bahrain, to stop [your] aid to those... who harmed the symbols of the state and to all those who cheered [the slogan] 'Down with Bahrain' - which, Allah willing, will never fall."[12] The U.S. Is The Greatest Violator Of Human Rights - It Should Not Be Lecturing Others On June 5, 2016, following U.S. criticism of the heavier sentence handed down by the appellate court to Bahraini Shi'ite opposition leader 'Ali Salman, columnist Ibrahim Al-Sheikh wrote in the official daily Akhbar Al-Khaleej: "The world's modern history has never seen a country that harms human rights and kills millions like America. Despite this, we see that it is interfering in every aspect of our [Arab] countries, sparking internal strife within them. [America] pretends innocence, and calls for human rights when it itself is far removed from such things. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby's statement regarding the verdict against 'Ali Salman...[13] is provocative and harms a sovereign nation with an independent judiciary [by] ordering it to release one of its prisoners. [Such a statement constitutes] a self-righteous lecture to [this sovereign nation] on who it should and should not imprison, and on what the rules for participating in peaceful protests should be. Yes, this is the same America whose security forces two years ago arrested over 500 protestors who opposed the war in Iraq. "And while we are on the subject of Iraq, then America should be ashamed of itself, since it dons a priest's robes before the world while in reality it acts like the leader of a criminal, murderous gang that destroyed and plundered Iraq, harmed the honor of its dignified women, and committed every shameful act [imaginable]... and then lectured us on morality."[14] U.S. Should Worry About Human Rights Violations At Home Instead Of In Bahrain On June 20, 2016, following State Department spokesman Kirby's expression of concern regarding Bahrain's decision to suspend the activity of the Al-Wefaq Society,[15] Akhbar Al-Khaleej editor-in-chief Anwar 'Abd Al-Rahman wrote in an open letter to Kirby and the U.S. government: "Dear Mr. Kirby, it would be better if, instead of criticizing the Bahraini government like this, you were 'extremely concerned' about what is happening in your own country. The reality there, which you never speak of in your statements, is absolutely horrifying. For example, in 2015 alone, police in your country killed 965 American citizens, yet the police received no punishment befitting their crime. Or, for instance... the horrific crime and shocking violation of human rights - I am referring to the fact that women prisoners in American prisons were forced to have sexual relations with guards in return for improved conditions, and that in the past decade 57 women were murdered in the prisons... "The grim picture in your country does not end there. There are additional terrible facts: Over 88% of black Americans are exposed every day to discrimination and humiliation by white police officers; 68% of black Americans experience negative racist and cruel treatment in courts... "Oh, Mr. Kirby, Bahrain is afflicted by none of the social maladies of the U.S. In Bahrain we are all equal, and there are no differences among the citizens. The situation in our country is several times better than that in yours, where all the nation's wealth is concentrated in the hands of 1% of its tycoons. "You said that you were concerned about the suspension of the activity of a political society [in Bahrain], so I ask you: Would you in the U.S. allow the activity of a political society that incites violence, hatred, and terrorism? Would you allow the activity of a society whose supporters are mostly children and teen boys who are encouraged to throw firebombs at police, terrorize society, and undermine its security and stability?... Why aren't you issuing a statement expressing concern over the long list of human rights violations in your own country? Or do you want us to see that you consider the U.S. a model of perfection and the embodiment of Plato's ideal republic? When we compare our situation with yours in the U.S.... then we have the right, Mr. Kirby, to ask: 'Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?' "In conclusion: Mr. Kirby, you must know that our country of Bahrain is a good and kind land, far from the cruelty and barbarism you know in your own nation. Despite this, it is the duty of the Bahraini government to protect its citizens and residents from the dangers of the Al-Wefaq [Society] and the perils of the forces of evil and crime in Iraq, who fund and support Al-Wefaq and who do not hesitate for an instant to spark murderous chaos in our country."[16] The U.S.'s Values Of Liberalism Need To Be Questioned The Bahraini press also featured a series of articles harshly critical of the U.S., following the State Department's censuring of Bahrain for revoking the citizenship of Shi'ite sheikh 'Isa Qassim. Journalist 'Abd Al-Mun'im Ibrahim wrote: "The country is doing its duty for the security of the citizens who are the ones harmed by the violence and fire [of the Shi'ite opposition]. Therefore, there is no way out of taking substantial measures, rather than superficial ones - not merely bandaging the wound but eliminating the cause of the crime - the knife - which over the past 15 years has been destroying the homeland and killing its citizens. I am referring to the Al-Wefaq Society and its spiritual leader 'Isa Qassim. "If some of the superpowers, particularly America, believe that the legal measures taken by the Bahraini government - that is, closing Al-Wefaq's headquarters, confiscating its assets, and revoking 'Isa Qassim's Bahraini citizenship - are improper and ask [Bahrain] to reverse them, then their faith in values of liberalism should be questioned... The Al-Wefaq Society and 'Isa Qassim do not believe in the values of liberalism, but rather in Iranian [Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's] Rule of the Jurisprudent and the clerics' autocracy... If America or any other European nation relinquishes its liberal values and supports theocratic societies, treating them as democratic, then this means that all their political slogans and the humanitarian principles that they talk about of are nothing but false cover for how they treat others! "The Bahraini government does its duty to protect the security of its citizens from terrorism and from those who incite violence - while America and the West need to clarify their stance vis-a-vis theocracy, that is, the regime of the clerics and the Iranian Rule of the Jurisprudent."[17] U.S., Iran Work Together To Spread Terror In Arab Countries To Bring Them Down Bahraini journalist Al-Sayyed Zahra also addressed the U.S.'s criticism of Bahrain's revocation of 'Isa Qassim's citizenship. Accusing the U.S. of collaborating with Iran to incite and spread terrorism in Bahrain in order to cause its collapse, he wrote: "A while ago I warned in several analysis articles that a new American-Iranian alliance is forming in the region, whose main and tangible driving factor is a convergence of the Iranian and American plans for the Arab region. Both of these plans converge in their opting to destroy and divide Arab countries and spark internal sectarian strife and chaos [in them]. More accurately, this new alliance is one of [spreading] terrorism in Arab countries, mainly by encouraging sectarian and terrorist forces and organizations [there]... "Bahrain too was used as an arena for the convergence of the American and Iranian positions on the developments in the country... Even prior to the attempted sectarian coup in Bahrain in 2011, there was a confluence of American and Iranian voices supporting the revolutionary sectarian elements, expressing the same opinions that could undermine Bahrain's security and stability. "Let us take a good look at the positions declared by American and Iranian officials regarding recent events in Bahrain, and analyze their precise meaning. As we know, there have recently been reports on verdicts [handed down] by the Bahraini legal system and on state decisions, both of which aim to ensure the country's security and stability and block sectarian forces tied to foreign [elements] in order to prevent them from implementing known terrorist agendas. "It is neither strange nor surprising to discover that only two countries in the entire world - Iran and the U.S. - were the first to immediately declare nearly identical hostile positions regarding these developments. Regarding the verdict handed down to 'Ali Salman, the suspension of the activity of the Al-Wefaq Society, and the decision to revoke the citizenship of 'Isa Qassim - regarding all these affairs, officials in Iran and the U.S. had the same position, as expressed in their official communiques and statements... "Therefore, it would not be excessive to say that these positions by Iran and the U.S. embody the new terrorist alliance between the [two countries]... [But] we must not forget that Bahrain already managed to thwart the grand coup plot that Iran and the U.S. tried their best to support, and proved that it was stronger than any pact or plot and can crush any conspiracy to death and bury it."[18] U.S. Ambassador's Meeting With Bahraini Shi'ite Clerics Related To Terrorist Attacks In The Country On July 1, 2016, a roadside bomb killed a woman in the village of Al-Ekar near the Bahraini capital of Manama. Several days prior, the U.S. ambassador to Bahrain met in Manama with representatives from the Shi'ite opposition, some of them members of the Al-Wefaq Society.[19] A July 3, 2016 article in Akhbar Al-Khaleej by writer 'Abd Al-Wahhab Al-Ziyani, written in the wake of these two events, stated: "We can by no means separate the meetings that were held and are [still] being held by the American ambassador to Bahrain with Shi'ite clerics from the terrorist attacks that kill passersby in the streets. Any lay citizen who sees these meetings, and who sees and hears about the attacks that came in their wake, makes the connection between the two. Otherwise, why would the American ambassador hold meetings with clerics at this precise timing, just as happened during the 2011 events?[20] "It is improper for a country to remain silent over the interference of the American ambassador in its domestic affairs. It is not his business, and this behavior is improper and is not in line with international agreements and treaties that outline the role and duties of ambassadors. This situation repeats itself, yet the country does not take a decisive and aggressive stand on this matter, which troubles Bahrainis. It is clear that this [recent] meeting [between the ambassador and Shi'ite oppositionists] was made in coordination with the Al-Wefaq Society, which has been outlawed... The involvement of any ambassador from any country [in Bahrain's affairs] should stop. This is unacceptable and [the importance of] matters concerning Bahrain's sovereignty must not be downplayed..."[21] Endnotes: Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3 By Orkhan Guluzade Trend: A new international terminal for the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway is being built in the Turkish province of Kars, Gazetekars newspaper reported Aug. 3. With this purpose, the old building of the railway station is being demolished in the province, according to the newspaper. In addition, construction of a logistics center in Kars continues. The BTK railway is being constructed on the basis of the Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement. Eighty seven percent of the BTK railway has been constructed in Turkey, Ahmet Arslan, Turkish minister of transport, shipping and communications, said earlier. Azerbaijan allocated a loan of $775 million for the construction of the railway's Georgian section. SOFAZ finances the project in accordance with the Azerbaijani president's decree 'On the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project activities', dated Feb. 21, 2007. The peak capacity of the railway will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. Once the BTK railway is commissioned, it will transport five million tons of cargo a year, but the figure can rise up to 17 million tons in the future, Javid Gurbanov, head of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, said earlier. He added that the Georgian section of the BTK railway will be constructed by late 2016. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.3 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey is an important country for Europe, the TRT Haber news channel quoted Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland as saying Aug.3. He made the remarks during the meeting with Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara. Jagland pointed out that the Council of Europe condemns the military coup attempt in Turkey. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.3 By Aygun Badalova - Trend: Turkeys economic growth will suffer a temporary period of weakness in the next few quarters as a result of the latest military coup attempt in the country, William Jackson, Senior emerging markets economist at Capital Economics believes. The attempted military coup in Turkey last month doesnt appear to have triggered a sharp decline in capital inflows, but there are already signs that the hit to confidence will cause domestic demand and overall GDP growth to suffer a temporary period of weakness in the next few quarters, Jackson said in a report, obtained by Trend. In the aftermath of the coup, Capital Economics analysts argued that Turkeys economy was particularly vulnerable if heightened political risk triggered a slowdown in capital inflows, which in turn could result in a sharp fall in Turkish lira and weaker domestic demand. But for now there are few signs of a significant decline in foreign funding, Jackson said. Data on non-residents net purchases of Turkish equities and public debt showed outflows of $0.5B in the week to July 22, compared with inflows of over $1billion in the week before. But this shift doesnt look dramatic when viewed in the context of the weekly moves seen in the past year and a half, according to the report. Political risk means the tourism sector, which was already struggling, is likely to weaken further, Jackson believes. He said analysts of the company expect GDP growth likely to come in at 2-2.5 percent year-over-year in the second half of the year compared with around 4.5 percent year-over-year in the first half. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said once more that he sees no difference between terrorist groups such as the PKK, PYD, YPG, and Daesh, and U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen's FETO, or Fetullah Terrorist Organization, Anadolu reported. "All those have the capability of acting together against the Republic of Turkey," Erdogan said in an interview with Mexican television. "However, we will continue fighting them," he stressed. In the second part of his interview with Televisa broadcast late Wednesday, Erdogan slammed Gulens claims that Turkey had helped Daesh, saying that in fact Turkey had taken part in the fight against that terrorist group. He said that arms sent to the PYD and YPG in Kobani, northern Syria, reportedly to support the two in their struggle against Daesh, were also seized by Daesh itself. "I told Mr. Obama [U.S. President Barack Obama] beforehand that half of those arms sent to Kobani would go to Daesh," Erdogan said. He called on the international community to take a common stance towards all terrorist groups in order to eliminate them completely. "All the ones that are against Daesh cannot be described as 'good' terror organizations," he said. Pointing to the state of emergency in Turkey declared for three months following the July 15 coup attempt, Erdogan said the purpose was to effectively and swiftly carry out the legal process. "It is Turkey's internal matter, and we make our own decisions." According to the Turkish Constitution, the state of emergency can be declared for a maximum period of six months when serious indications of widespread violence, aimed at removing the free democracy environment or the basic rights and freedoms established by the Constitution, appear, or when the public order is distorted severely due to acts of violence. The July 15 coup attempt martyred at least 238 and wounded more than 2,200 people, who took to the streets to protest the attempt. Erdogan said the coup "was definitely repelled." The country accuses Fetullah Gulen and his parallel state of being behind the failed coup and has sent the U.S. two official requests for his extradition to face trial. Didi is a car-hailing giant in China rivaled by Uber. (Photo : Getty Images) According to a source in Didi Chuxing, Inc., the Chinese company that bought Uber China for $35 billion, Uber investors will be left with a 20-percent stake. Uber's backers expressed concern over the year-long struggle to win the Chinese market. The company spent an estimated $2 billion in ride subsidies. Advertisement The final blow to Uber's marketing strategy happened when the government banned transport companies from giving free rides. Uber's CEO Travis Kalanick made an announcement that the company was going to form a joint venture with Didi a few days after the government's announcement. Anthony Tan, CEO of Grab, said that this was Kalanick's way of surrendering to Didi. Zennon Kapron, managing director of Shanghai-based consulting firm Kapronasia, said, "The road to China has been littered with corpses of foreign technology companies that have tried to operate here unsuccessfully." He also said that Uber's defeat in China "could have been worse." The fierce competition between Uber and Didi started last year when the Chinese taxi company merged with top internet companies Alibaba and Tencent in attempts to loosen Uber's grip in the transport industry. Didi then announced that they will be giving 1 billion yuan worth of free rides. Kalanick reacted by gathering $1 billion worth of pledges. It was the Chinese transport service provider that gathered the most backers and gathered as much as $3 billion from Alibaba, Tencent, Japan's SoftBank Group Corp. and Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. The amount of investment behind Didi is immense. The company declared a balance sheet worth $11 billion and has 300 million users located in 400 cities. Despite the buyout, experts see that this is not the end of the line for Uber. Andy Mok, Managing Director at Red Pagoda Resources in Beijing, said, "They want to be a Cisco of the physical world, the network that routes physical people and objects. In a way, this frees up space for more technology development." Chinese companies like Weibo are gearing to dominate the global market. (Photo : Getty Images) Companies like Google, Amazon, eBay and Facebook have made tremendous sales worldwide except in China. Recently, the same became true with Uber. Experts believe that foreign companies have to come to terms with China's unwavering nationalism and brand loyalty to Chinese equivalents of American companies. Advertisement Arthur Dong, a professor at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business, said, "There's a home-field advantage. Whether it's state function of government policy or a less formal policy, foreign companies are at a great disadvantage." Clones of American brands are also more popular with users. Baidu, Sina Weibo, and Youku Tudou are local versions of Google, Twitter, and YouTube. In 2011, Groupon tried to enter China but found that there are over 200 sites that are offering a similar service. Eventually, Groupon left the country. Aside from a loyal client base, foreign companies have to contend with government pressure. "Since President Xi Jinping took office," said Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, "they have increasingly switched from an economic strategy that emphasizes attracting foreign direct investment to one that favors indigenous innovation and Chinese-owned firms." Government support for Chinese companies is solid. Uber was reported to have lost the battle against Didi when the state issued a ban against free rides. Uber only had 8 percent of the market and said to lose $1 billion a year. The same happened to Google when the search engine giant had to pull out after being censored and a series of cyber attacks. Atkinson said, "I don't know if that's clear evidence the government has its thumb on the scale again, but you've got to think it hurts Uber more than it does Didi." In spite of these challenges, Uber is still struggling to profit in China through a merger with Didi. Their partnership may help both companies recover from the losses incurred by giving ride subsidies. "They fought to a draw. And for an American Internet company, that's as good as a win." William Bao Bean, a Shanghai-based partner at SOS Ventures said. The younger generation is more willing to go on culinary adventures than their older counterparts. (Photo : Getty Images) Yan Zuqiang, head of the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that the aim of the new regulation is to make consumers aware of what the establishment is permitted to sell. The regulation shall take effect on Sept. 1. An online platform was created by the Shanghai FDA and the Shanghai Communications Administration that is supposed to monitor establishments and if they are following safety regulations. Advertisement Food establishments are required to post photos of items being sold and uploaded to the platform. "The online platforms used to require the vendors to submit their pictures via the internet in most cases, which saved time but left loopholes for fake photos," Yan said. Once a violation is detected by the platform, it will send a report to the authorities. There were 200 complaints filed in 2015 from consumers who were victimized by false advertising and poor food quality, according to the Shanghai Consumer Rights Protection Council. There were 17,000 unlicensed food establishments registered in Ele.me that were found to be unlicensed since the platform was launched. The government intends to continue monitoring food establishments as the demand increases. The law will take effect on a national scale in October, according to Fu Weiqiang, division head for laws and regulations at the Shanghai FDA. The online food ordering business in China increased rapidly in the past years. It has now grown to an estimated worth of 45 billion yuan, or $6.7 billion, according to Analysis International. Ele.me or translated to "are you hungry now?" is the biggest online food ordering service in China. The company is valued at $3 billion. It is backed by JD.com and Tencent Holdings. The site has 40 million users and processes daily orders totaling to 60 million yuan or $9.4 million. Most of the orders places are through smartphones. Ele.me is now one of the world's largest food ordering service, second to the U.S.'s Grubhub. Alibaba Takeout is also riding on the online food business as its portal, Alibaba Takeout, follows suit. Foreign scientists are questioning whether a new gene editing technique developed by a Chinese researcher is indeed effective. (Photo : Getty Images) After being hailed as a significant breakthrough, some scientists are now questioning whether a new Chinese gene editing technique is indeed for real. In a statement posted on his blog on July 29, Australian National university professor Gannet Burgio expressed his doubts on whether Chinese geneticist Han Chunyu's NgAgo gene editing technique is indeed as effective as was initially claimed, the Global Times reported. Advertisement According to Burgio, he was not able to replicate the results published by Han in his initial paper detailing the process, despite doing multiple setups and testing on three different genes. He further asserted that the conditions Han detailed in his paper are actually contradictory to those that would result in a successful replication of the results. He went on to say that other labs around the world have also not been able to replicate Han\s results. Burgio has earlier praised Han's new method of modifying genes as being efficient when tested in mice. Researcher Lluis Montoliu of the Spanish National Center for Biotechnology also aired similar doubts. Montoliu said that he had asked Han to provide him with a sample of the NgAgo plasmid that Han used for his research and was provided with by the latter. However, Montoliu said that he wasn't able to replicate Han's results despite using the same reagent. He further said that other labs that used the same reagent were also not able to obtain favorable results. Han's method reportedly uses the bacteria Natronbacterium gregory Argonaute (NgAgo) to deliver DNA components to target cells. The method has been touted to be much better than current gene editing techniques, including the highly successful CRISPR/Cas9, for which it has been claimed to be a potential replacement. Han defended his research, saying that he has done all the proper methodologies to validate the results. He also said that he is to share the research's raw data for others to verify his results, provided that the request is made by the journal Nature Biotechnology, where his original paper was published, China.org reported. Merger Meituan & Dazhongdianping eyes to foster China's Internet Plus Strategy by putting up an e-commerce training university. (Photo : Getty Images) Meituan & Dazhongdianping, a prominent company in the Chinese online-to-offline (O2O) business, has recently announced its plan of setting up a university that specializes in e-commerce, Shanghai Daily reported. Advertisement To be called as Internet Plus University (IPU), the school intends to concentrate on developing business models, technology, and skills to promote China's Internet Plus Strategy. This strategy was proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in 2015, aiming to apply the Internet and other information technology in conventional industries to foster new business developments in China. Meituan & Dazhongdianping CEO Wang Xing reiterated that the essence of the Internet Plus strategy is "improving efficiency and reducing costs across all sectors by integrating the Internet with more industries." With this, the IPU is schemed to integrate the company's training departments to build schools that aim to train internal staff and business partners on mastering and innovating e-commerce. Wang Xing added that the online business platforms should not only focus on marketing and transactions but as well as other upstream services. Established in 2015, Meituan & Dazhongdianping is a merger of meituan.com, a group-buying platform, and dianping.com, a review service website. The company offers a plethora of O2O services, ranging from food delivery to the sale of movie tickets. Partnering with about 4.32 million vendors, the company claimed to have more than 200 million customers since its merger. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's online retail volume has catapulted to 2.25 trillion yuan (335.3 billion dollars) in just the first half of 2016, signifying a 28.2 percent year-on-year increase from last year. Earlier in January, the merger has registered the world's largest O2O fund-raising campaign amounting to U.S.$ 3.3 billion. Wang Xing, one of the firm's CEOs, previously shared that the funds they raised will be used to "explore the untapped consumption potential of Chinese consumers more and offer a better, more convenient user experience." The company lists e-commerce giants Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings as its backers. iOS jailbreaking is the process of removing software restrictions imposed by iOS, Apple's operating system, on devices running it through the use of software exploits. (Photo : Facebook/ Madhuparna Roy) iOS Pangu jailbreak team is facing dire accusations of breaching personal accounts from users through its jailbreaking tool. The accusations started streaming shortly after the release of the current iOS 9.3.3 jailbreak. The allegations included claims where one of the download sources for the Chinese version, the 25PP company, demanded the use of the tool PPHelper. The source also required the Cydia Impactor for the English version of the tool released by Pangu. Advertisement Up to now, however, there has not been any proven correlation between the hacks and the Chinese version of Pangu jailbreak as most users based the accusations on the stereotype of Chinese software. The creator of Cydia has, since then, shown support for Pangu and affirmed doubt on 25PP. According to Slash Gear, it is highly likely that the euphoria was premature following reports from iOS 9.3.3 jailbreakers who discovered several cases of unauthorized access to critical personal information such as PayPal accounts, credit cards, and Facebook. Apparently, most of the unauthorized accesses were traced back to Taiwan, Vietnam, and China, all of which could be the result of proxies. The Pangu team has responded to the claims on their Twitter account, denying all possible links to the wrongdoings, as well as those pointed towards 25PP. The renown jailbreak team also showed disappointment to the alleged charges and assured users that it will look into the problem. Neither we nor 25pp would be so stupid to make money by hacking users paypal account via jailbreak tool. We hope to find out the truth asap. PanguTeam (@PanguTeam) July 31, 2016 Subsequently, Pangu has released an easy-to-use version of the tool in question, which can get accessed via its website. Users have been advised to restore their devices to wipe original jailbreaks and, then, use the new tool to jailbreak iOS 9.3.3 again, so as to guarantee the safety of their accounts. Members of the Pangu team have, further, created and registered an authentic Reddit account where they added their thoughts on the matter. In the meantime, Pangu fans claim that they trust the team since it has released numerous jailbreaking tools in the past without compromising privacy and security of iOS devices. The possibility of security breaches with iOS jailbreak 9.3.3 cannot, yet, get dismissed although some jailbreakers think that the issue possibly grew out the software that the original Chinese version came with, and which may not have been under the total control of the Pangu team itself. Here is an iOS 9.3.3. troubleshooting guide: Miami Dade Mosquito Patrol Goes Door To Door In Miami To Prevent Zika Spread (Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images) An alarming number of Zika cases were recorded in a Miami neighborhood. It became the first place in the United States the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised people, especially pregnant women not to travel to. Florida officials reported that the Zika cases caused by local mosquitoes had increased to 14 from four that was recorded on Friday. Twelve men and 2 women got infected by the virus, but they declined to say whether either woman was pregnant. The recorded cases came from only one neighborhood, New York Times reported. Advertisement The 10 newly recorded Zika virus patients were most likely got infected weeks ago around mid-June. However, the health officials said that they do not think that the local cases may spread wildly like what happened across the Latin America in the past months. The CDC is sending eight disease experts as a special emergency response team to help Florida in its investigation, as requested by Gov. Rick Scott. The state has been working with the investigation on its own since July, when the first possible case of Zika infection caused by local mosquitos was recorded, according to Reuters. Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC Director said in a conference call that the efforts to control the local mosquito have not worked. However, the outbreak does not appear to spread very far. "Nothing we have seen suggests widespread Zika virus transmission," Frieden said. Another concern is that those who are infected with the virus in Florida may travel to other areas of the country where the Zika could then be spread locally by the mosquitoes there, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. The CDC advised those who came from Wynwood, the neighborhood in North Miami where all the cases were found, to use mosquito repellent for three weeks to avoid further transmission at home. They also recommend women not to get pregnant for at least eight weeks if they had travelled from the affected area. They also suggested that pregnant women who live in or had traveled to the affected area after June should be tested for Zika. ISNA on Tuesday quoted Hasan Qashqavi, a deputy foreign minister in charge of consular affairs, as saying the actress visited Iran after she "applied for a visa through a travel agency" under a different name. Qashqavi was quoted as telling tourism officials to carefully examine the documents of those trying to visit Tehran. He added: "We have clerics and lawmakers who have cultural sensitivities and these sorts of events may cause problems later." The actress, known as Candy Charms, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. She previously said on Instagram that she visited Iran to get a nose job. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the uniform of a Russian Navy officer. (Photo : Getty Images) The Russian intelligence service claims hackers penetrated computer systems in government agencies and defense companies after being accused by U.S. government officials of stealing data from the Democratic Party at the behest of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Russia's spooks, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation or the FSB (Federal'naya sluzhba bezopasnosti Rossiyskoy Federatsii), said hackers infected computers in 20 organizations with spyware. It described the malware attack as "targeted and coordinated," and noted some of these networks were hit before by other hack attacks. Advertisement "Information technology resources of government agencies, scientific and military institutions, defense industry companies and other entities involved in crucial infrastructure have been infected," said the FSB, which succeeded the infamous KGB that gained notoriety during the Cold War. Russian president Vladimir Putin worked as a KGB intelligence officer before entering politics and did a lengthy tour of duty in East Germany. He began working for the KGB in 1975 and retired from the agency in 1991 with the rank of Colonel. Putin later became head of the FSB. FSB didn't name the attackers but there's little doubt it's pointing at the West. Its allegations came immediately after U.S. government officials accused the FSB of cyber attacks on the U.S. Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the fundraising committee for Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives. The FBI and private cyber security firms said there is strong evidence Russia engineered the DNC hack to release sensitive party emails so as to influence the U.S. presidential election in favor of Donald Trump. Russia staunchly denies its involvement in the incident, however. The Russian cyber break-ins came less than two days after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called for Russia to hack into Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's emails. Russian hackers also hit the servers of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the party's fundraising group. "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing ... I think you'll be rewarded mightily by our press," said Trump on July 28. A day later, US law enforcement reported attacks on the Clinton Campaign's email files. Previously, the Russians had broken into the files of the Democratic National Committee, releasing emails that showed the DNC had favored the Clinton campaign and had unfairly stacked the deck against her rival, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT). The U.S. National Security Agency's anti-hacking unit is tracking Russian cyber spies to determine if they are responsible for the breach at the Democratic National Committee. Marine Maj. Mark Thompson will face court-martial for the second time in his military career early next year, this time for, among other things, allegedly making false statements to a journalist. Because of that, court proceedings leading up to the trial may involve a third party: Attorneys for The Washington Post, fighting to keep the reporter, John Woodrow Cox, off the witness stand and his unpublished notes out of evidence. In an arraignment for Thompson on Monday at Marine Corps Base Quantico, it became clear that the officer's civilian defense attorney, Kevin McDermott, planned to challenge the veracity and completeness of reports by Cox that concluded Thompson lied in denying his alleged intimate involvement with a female Naval Academy midshipman during an administrative board of inquiry hearing in 2014. McDermott noted that the Post had recently published 45 minutes of audio interviews with Thompson on its website. "We think some of the comments and statements have been taken out of context," McDermott told judge Lt. Col. Christopher Greer. If attorneys do attempt to bring the reporter's notes and testimony into evidence, motions hearings this fall may become a showdown over reporters' rights under the First Amendment: a hotly contested issue that has seen some journalists go to jail rather than give up sources or privileged information. All but one U.S. circuit court have upheld a concept of reporter's privilege that protects journalists from testifying about confidential information or sources. It's an issue that made headlines in July, when filmmaker Mark Boal sued the government over its threat to subpoena his interviews with Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, a former prisoner of war accused of misbehaving before the enemy. But there's a key difference in this case, McDermott told Military.com. Boal's lawsuit, he said, was filed in California, which has strong laws protecting journalists. The same protections, he added, do not apply in this case. "Because this is a military court-martial on federal property, federal laws on reporter privilege would apply," he said. "Under federal law, there is no privilege. You've got two choices: Turn it over or go to jail." A spokeswoman for The Washington Post, Shani George, declined to comment on the matter. Thompson, a former Naval Academy instructor, is charged with false official statement and conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman. The latter charge includes the specification of giving false statements to The Washington Post, an act that prosecuting attorneys argued was designed to publicly discredit the testimony of the two women who accused him of, among other things, engaging in sexual activity with them while they were midshipmen. "I think the best analogy is [Thompson] putting up a bunch of pictures or fliers in a neighborhood saying [the accusers] are liars," Maj. Sridhar Babu Kaza told the court in a May fact-finding hearing. Thompson already served two months and paid a $60,000 fine after being convicted in 2013 of fraternization, indecent conduct, and conduct unbecoming an officer. But he maintained his innocence throughout, and officers concluded at the 2014 BOI hearing that he should be allowed to continue serving as a Marine. Thompson gave lengthy interviews to The Washington Post in an attempt to clear his name, but an extensive two-part story published in March revealed new evidence -- including text messages from the cell phone of one of the accusers -- that appeared to discredit his earlier testimony. Kaza said Tuesday that at this point the government does not plan to put Cox on the stand. But McDermott, incredulous, told Military.com he doesn't know how the prosecution will make its case without him. He added that he may subpoena the reporter's unpublished notes and recordings for cross-examination if he does appear. "For right now, across the board, the lawyers [for The Washington Post] have been routinely telling the government they're not going to make Cox available and they're not going to make available any unpublished material by The Washington Post," McDermott said. "I don't know how [the prosecution will] make the case without being able to authenticate any statement made by my client. They can't just throw newspaper articles in front of a jury." McDermott extensively questioned Greer in court to determine if he knew about the Post reports about Thompson and if he had been swayed by them. Greer acknowledged he had read the stories, but had not formed an opinion. "I view that as I view any newspaper article," Greer said. "Not with skepticism, but I don't feel that anything stated in there had to be the truth." Thompson is expected to appear in court for pretrial motions Sept. 13 and 14. His court-martial is set to begin January 9. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck. 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. A chief petty officer has become the first woman to earn the Navy's "silver dolphins," signaling an enlisted sailor qualified to serve aboard a submarine. Chief culinary specialist Dominique Saavedra will deploy aboard the nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine Michigan in coming months, the first sub to deploy with a crew including enlisted female sailors. According to an announcement from Submarine Group 9, out of Puget Sound, Washington, Saavedra received her pin at a ceremony Tuesday, marking a major milestone for female sailors. "I couldn't be more proud to wear the 'dolphins,' " Saavedra said in a statement. "To have earned the respect of my fellow submariners is more rewarding than expected. I am honored to serve as a qualified member in such a prestigious community." The Michigan is undergoing a maintenance period at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard that will wrap up this summer. A spokesman for Submarine Group 9, Lt. Cmdr. Michael Smith, said a specific timeframe for deployment has not been made clear. When the sub deploys, Smith said, approximately 20 percent of the enlisted crew will be female, or about 29 sailors: two chief petty officers and 27 crew members at the rank of petty officer first class and below. The first four female enlisted sailors entered submarine school in August 2015, crossing one of the last major barriers to women serving in the Navy. In all, 38 enlisted women were selected to enter the training pipeline last year. Officials said in today's announcement that 38 female sailors were selected in a second cycle in May and are designated for future assignment to the cruise missile submarine Florida, out of Kings Bay, Georgia. Officials have said enlisted women will be serving aboard Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarines by 2020. The Navy began integrating women into submarine crews in 2010, beginning with female officers. In 2012, the first four female officers received their "gold dolphin" pins. To date, Smith said, more than 43 female officers have become sub-qualified. Smith said Saavedra was not currently available for interview. The first sub deployments with women were not without incident. In late 2014, it came to light that a male sailor aboard the ballistic missile submarine Wyoming had filmed female officers in the sub's shower area and then distributed the videos. Ultimately, a dozen sailors were investigated in connection to the incident, and 10 received punishments ranging from fines to demotion and time behind bars. In 2014, Navy officials said enlisted female sailors would be assigned to subs that had female officers already assigned to them so that the officers can provide mentorship and support in a challenging environment. Officials with SUBGRU 9 said the Navy would announced a third application round for enlisted women interested in serving aboard submarines in October. Applicants who are selected in that round will serve aboard the guided-missile sub Ohio, out of Bangor, Washington. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck. Related Video: Incirlik Air Base was a chaotic scene on the night of the attempted coup in Turkey. U.S. warplanes flying out of Incirlik were on missions over Syria and Iraq when power went out to the control tower that would guide them back. A Turkish aircraft had just taken off from Incirlik to refuel Turkish F-16s that would bomb the Turkish parliament as part of the coup. The Turkish commander at Incirlik walked across the tarmac to beg the Americans for political asylum. He was refused and later arrested. The details of what went on at Incirlik on July 15 emerged from interviews with officers and enlisted personnel at the base in southeastern Turkey given to The Washington Post and The New York Times. Back at the Pentagon on July 15, officials were clueless. "The people we talk to just aren't picking up the phone," one official said. Air Force Col. David Trucksa, commander of the 447th Air Expeditionary Group and one of more than 2,000 U.S. personnel at Incirlik, said one of his subordinates told him to flip on the TV -- a coup was underway. "We had a portion of our forces still airborne over Turkey, Iraq and Syria," Trucksa said. "So the question is: If this base gets attacked, what do we do? And then -- boom -- the power went out." The base quickly switched to emergency power from generators to get the control tower back online. Turkey closed its airspace the next day -- a Saturday -- but flight operations out of Incirlik resumed on Sunday. Commercial power to the base was not restored for another several days. As Trucksa sought to get his planes back, Air Force Master Sgt. Derrick Goode went around banging on doors to roust personnel. By daybreak, the base was on full alert. "It was shelter-in-place kind of stuff, because of the unknown -- because we didn't know what was going to happen," Trucksa told The New York Times. In the next few days, Turkish police would occasionally drive onto the base to arrest someone, but they never questioned U.S. personnel or searched U.S. facilities, Goode told The Washington Post. U.S. personnel never ran out of supplies during the power outage, Goode said. "We had plenty of water and plenty of food. Nothing was ever rationed at any point." As the coup began to unravel, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asserted control, Turkish Air Force Gen. Bekir Ercan Van, the commander at Incirlik, made contact with U.S. commanders at the base but was denied asylum. Van reportedly was told that Incirlik was Turkish soil and the U.S. could do nothing for him. Turkish national police later arrested him. Van was among more than 150 generals and admirals arrested in a wide-ranging purge of the military ordered by Erdogan that included the shutdown of Turkish military academies. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford was at Incirlik on Tuesday following meetings in Ankara with his counterpart, Gen. Hulusi Akar, the Turkish chief of staff. Akar has told Turkish media that coup plotters put a gun to his head, trying to force him to sign a proclamation against Erdogan. Akar said he refused. "I specifically didn't get into detailed discussions today with General Akar," Dunford told reporters traveling with him. "And I made it a point to say: 'Look, my friend, last week I was happy to hear your voice, I'm happy just to see you now and make sure you're OK. How are you? How are your family? We're going to work through these issues together.' " Dunford said the main mission of his trip was to get assurances from the Turks on continued operations from Incirlik and Turkey's continued involvement in the anti-Islamic State coalition. However, Erdogan has kept up a drumbeat of criticism of the U.S. and warned of repercussions for U.S.-Turkey relations unless the U.S. extradites 75-year-old Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former Erdogan ally now living in exile in Pennsylvania. Erdogan has blamed Gulen for fomenting the attempted coup, a charge which Gulen denies. On Tuesday, Erdogan demanded that the U.S. speed up the extradition process. "We have no time to wait six months or one year, which is simply intolerable," he said. Erdogan and other Turkish officials have also accused senior U.S. commanders of being complicit in the coup attempt. Last week, Erdogan charged that Army Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, was guilty of "taking sides" in the coup, putting Votel in the position of issuing a statement denying any involvement. In his meetings with Akar and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, Dunford, who was the first senior U.S. official to visit Turkey since the coup attempt, said the message he received was that "to deal with the challenges of the region is going to require the United States and Turkey to cooperate." "The consistent theme throughout the day was a reaffirmation of the importance of the U.S.-Turkey relationship -- the need for us to cooperate," he added. "We will have all the access we need to Incirlik, Diyabakir [air base] and other facilities as necessary to prosecute the counter-ISIL fight," Dunford said, using another acronym for the Islamic State. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. U.S. Central Command has launched a second formal fact-finding investigation into credible evidence that U.S. airstrikes killed civilians in and around the ISIS stronghold of Manbij in northeastern Syria, the Pentagon said Tuesday. The latest investigation, similar to an Article 15-6 investigation under Army regulations, will focus on a July 28 airstrike near Manbij that allegedly killed civilians, said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman. Last week, CentCom opened a separate formal investigation into a July 19 airstrike near Manbij. CentCom had also looked into yet another airstrike in or around Manbij on July 23 but found that allegations of civilian deaths were not credible, Davis said. Those investigations are the only ones that have thus far resulted from more than 500 airstrikes conducted by the U.S. and its coalition partners in the Manbij area in support of the U.S.-backed forces of the Syrian-Arab Coalition, according to the Pentagon. The SAC forces backed by Syrian Kurdish fighters have been trying for weeks to take Manbij from the fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Davis said it was "fair to say" that the SAC forces have now gained control of about 70 percent of the city, considered a key center for receiving foreign fighters crossing from Turkey to join ISIS. The two investigations on the Manbij airstrikes were being conducted by an appointed officer and do not come under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but could potentially lead to disciplinary action. Last week, following the announcement that an investigation had begun into the July 19 airstrike, the Pentagon released statistics on allegations of civilian deaths from airstrikes since the air campaign of Operation Inherent Resolve began in August 2014. The Pentagon said that there have been a total of 202 allegations of civilian casualties from airstrikes. Of those 202 allegations, 143 have been judged by the military not to be credible. Of the 59 remaining allegations, 36 have been investigated and resulted in findings that a total of 55 civilians were killed and 29 were injured. The Pentagon said that 23 allegations were still the subject of open investigations, raising the possibility that the military's estimate of civilian deaths could increase substantially. In a briefing to the Pentagon from Baghdad last week, Army Col. Chris Garver, a spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, said of the July 19 airstrike near Manbij that some unverified estimates put the civilian death toll at more than 70. He said that "credible evidence" from the initial U.S. assessment was enough for the command to conclude that "Yes, we have enough to initiate a formal investigation." Garver also described fighting between SAC forces and what he called "Daesh," an Arabic acronym for ISIS, that led to the airstrike. During the fighting, "our SAC partner force observed a large group of Daesh fighters in a convoy who appeared to be readying for a counter-attack against SAC troops in the area, and a strike was called in on Daesh," he said. "The strike was against both buildings and vehicles," Garver said. "Afterwards, we received reports from several sources, both internal and external, that there may have been civilians in the area who are mixed in and among the Daesh fighters." Garver also said that ISIS has a track record in Manbij and elsewhere of using civilians as human shields or as "bait" to draw in airstrikes that kill innocents and then can be used as propaganda against the U.S. and the coalition. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. The commander of U.S. European Command recently said allied nations must pay their fair share of defense costs to deter Russia in comments that support Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's tough talk on NATO. U.S. Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, EUCOM commander and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, emphasized to an audience at last week's Aspen Security Forum that European countries, as well as the United States, have an obligation to spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense. "I support the idea that we have committed to a 2 percent [goal] and of that 20 percent toward modernization," Scaparrotti said July 28. "It's very important; without it, we are not going to outpace Russia's modernization," he added. "We have got to have that in order to have a credible force. I reinforce that with them." Currently, only five of the 28 countries in NATO have honored the commitment to invest 2 percent of GDP in defense, Scaparrotti said. However, he added that 22 others have increased their investment in defense. The NATO commander's comments come about two weeks after Trump caused alarm in mid-July when he suggested the United States might abandon its NATO military commitments if he were elected president. The Republican presidential candidate suggested allies that haven't paid their NATO dues wouldn't be guaranteed of getting help if Russia invaded. However, this is where Scaparrotti parted with Trump's stance on NATO, seeking to reassure allied countries that the U.S. will honor its commitment. "One thing they need to know is they can count on the United States to do what we say we are going to do," Scaparrotti said. The U.S. recently committed to joining other NATO countries in placing a four-battalion force to bolster the military presence in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland in an attempt to deter future Russian military aggression. Moscow continues to modernize its military, Scaparrotti maintains. "They are reorganizing their force; they have made it smaller, so it can be more professional," he said. "When you look at the weapons systems etc., they have been watching us. "They have fired long-range precision missiles from submarines, from surface ships, from medium bombers," he said, "and so I am impressed with that as well." Scaparrotti insisted that Russia is an adversary that must be taken seriously. "We have to be strong, and we also have to look at the world around us and be prepared to invest in the force that we need, to invest in the capabilities that we need, to continue to stretch ourselves so that we outpace these capabilities that they are developing," he said. "We need to do that in the United States and," he said, "we need to do that as the NATO Alliance." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. A 9.7-inch Apple Inc. iPad Pro is displayed at the company's Omotesando store on March 31, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo : Getty Images/Tomohiro Ohsumi) With a removable sleek keyboard and a functional screen which you can touch and write into, Apple Inc. is placing its iPad Pro at the forefront of the hybrid battle in its latest ad released on Monday. The new video was released while the tech world is still guessing on when the iPad Pro 2 will be launched by the Cupertino-based giant. Advertisement The 30-seconder video clip titled "What's in a computer" features the 9.7-inch iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil on the side, Apple Insider reported. The ad voice over begins with "Just when you think you know what a computer is, you see a keyboard that can just get out of the way, and a screen you can touch and even write on." While this was being said, the sleek and elegant iPad Pro table does its tricks. The removable keyboard flips, then fingers touch the screen and writes into the screen with the Apple. The narrator continues, "When you see a computer that can do all that, it might just make you wonder: "Hey, what else can it do?" Before the video ends, it shows briefly the hybrid's two-up Slide Over app views and its picture-in-picture video feature. It is said that the ad is the tech giant's way of breaking the stereotype that tablets cannot be considered as a computer, which one can use for different tasks and can be considered as an efficient work machine. Meanwhile, tech observers and analysts are still guessing on when will Apple Inc. unveil the successor of the successful iPad Pro. As the tech giant has three traditional annual events, rumors has it the iPad Pro 2 will be launched either on September with the new iPhone 7 or on March 2017, Mirror UK reported. Most Apple enthusiasts believe that the company will be launching an iPad on September, but it does not necessarily mean it will be the iPad Pro 2. This is because the tech giant's iPad line has three more versions, iPad Air, iPad Pro and iPad Mini. In terms of specifications, analysts unanimously tipped that iPad Pro 2 will be available starting at 64GB, instead of the usual 32GB. On the other hand, it is still uncertain if the upgraded version will be available with 9.7-inch variant and 12.9-inch variant, or just with the bigger version. Furthermore, rumor has it that the iPhone Pro 2 will sport a True Tone display and 4K video recording. Watch iPad Pro ad below: Cuban right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez, who rated No. 3 on MLB.coms rankings of international prospects, is still weighing multiple options, tweets MLB.coms Jesse Sanchez. Gutierrez has reportedly bounced around to multiple agencies and had a lengthy stay on the free agent market (he was declared a free agent last July) and may now pitch in Japan or wait until next years international signing period to strike a deal. That seems like an awfully lengthy wait for a pitcher who has drawn some pretty solid reviews in the past and as recently as March was said to have re-established himself as a prospect after briefly seeing his stuff take a step backward. Gutierrez is 20 years of age, so hes subject to international spending limitations for now, although if he does wait until next year to sign, the international free agency process could look markedly different, as itll be discussed at length in the upcoming wave of collective bargaining negotiations. That said, there are also a pair of international signings that merit mention 1015Kmart_KYM001A.JPG Stein Mart expects to open in October in the former Kmart store at the Maple Village Shopping Center in Ann Arbor. (File photo | The Ann Arbor News) ANN ARBOR, MI - With work continuing to renovate space at the Maple Village Shopping Center, the opening date for the first new tenant is set. Jacksonville, Florida-based clothing retailer Stein Mart expects to open its Ann Arbor location on Oct. 13 in a renovated portion of the former Kmart store at the shopping center, located near the North Maple and Jackson Road intersection. The 33,600-square-foot store is one of three spaces being built out on the site for national-retail tenants. The company is also opening a new store in West Bloomfield on Oct. 20. "We are also pleased to announce that our Ann Arbor and West Bloomfield stores' merchandise will reflect our newly evolving and exciting strategy to grow modern vendors to reach additional customers in certain markets which support this customer demographic," said Dawn Robertson, CEO of Stein Mart. "We look forward to being part of this community for a long time." Other businesses announced to be moving into the shopping center include Sierra Trading Post and HomeGoods. Stein Mart is a clothing retailer that operates more than 280 locations across the United States. The stores sell men's and women's clothing, accessories, shoes and home fashions. Renovations have been ongoing for weeks at the former Kmart, where the 103,000-square-foot building is being split into four separate spaces. The shopping center is owned by New York-based Brixmor. COOPERSVILLE, MI -- Grassfields Cheese LLC, is conducting a recall of about 20,000 pounds of organic cheeses due to possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a bacteria that can cause serious illness in humans. The company is voluntarily recalling the cheeses "out of an abundance of caution," according to a recall notice issued by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) on Wednesday, Aug. 3. "The potential for contamination was identified during an ongoing investigation of seven cases of human illnesses occurring between March and July 2016 caused by a same type of STEC," according to the recall notice. The department's Geagley Laboratory confirmed the presence of STEC bacteria in a sample of Grassfields cheese collected by state food and dairy inspectors, according to the announcement. The recall involves all types and sizes of organic cheeses manufactured by Grassfields between Dec. 1, 2015 through June 1, 2016 including: Gouda, Onion 'n Garlic, Country Dill, Leyden, Edam, Lamont Cheddar, Chili Cheese, Fait Fras, Polkton Corners and Crofters. The cheeses were sold as wheels, half wheels, and wedges of various sizes. The recalled cheeses were sold from the firm's retail store at 14238 60th Ave., Coopersville MI 49404, to wholesale and retail customers, and to consumers nationwide via sales through the firm's website: http://www.Grassfieldsscheese.com/. Owned by the same family since 1882, Grassfields Cheese switched from confinement farming to grass-based pasture farming in 1991. They added artisan cheeses and a farm store in 2002. And in 2007, they were certified as an organic dairy. Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products are urged to return them to the place of purchase. Consumers with questions may contact Grassfields Cheese at 616-997-8251 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by emailing Grassfieldscheese@gmail.com. "E.coli infection symptoms vary by individual, but often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. If there is fever, it usually is not very high (less than 101@F/less than 38.5@C)," according to the recall announcement. While most persons get better within five to seven days, about 5 percent to 10 percent of those diagnosed with Shiga-toxin producing E.coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Signs that a person is developing HUS include decreased frequency of urination, feeling very tired, and losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids. Persons with HUS should be hospitalized because their kidneys may stop working and they may develop other serious problems, according to the recall notice. Most persons with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent damage or die, the notice said. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention. ANN ARBOR, MI - Democratic incumbent Graydon Krapohl has won the 4th Ward primary race for Ann Arbor City Council. With all precincts counted, Krapohl has 1,005 votes compared to 912 for Lipson and 579 for Giannola. That gives Krapohl 40 percent of the vote. Krapohl, a former city parks commissioner, was first elected to council unopposed in 2014. He was backed by Mayor Christopher Taylor this year. Both of his challengers, Diane Giannola and Eric Lipson, are former city planning commissioners. Krapohl celebrated his victory with supporters at the Mediterrano restaurant on State Street in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Aug. 2. He advances unopposed in the November general election, though write-in candidates still can file. "I think it's an affirmation that people are generally positive about the direction Ann Arbor is going and what we're doing," Krapohl said of his win. "And I'm looking forward to the next couple years to really keep us moving forward, and trying to serve the resident by improving quality of life." Krapohl said he looks forward to working with both of his opponents on different issues over the next two years. Lipson said he called Krapohl on election night to congratulate him. Lipson said it was a clean, substantive, issue-based campaign and Krapohl won fair and square. "On our side, I was honored to have been supported by some of the most professional, ethical, committed, smart, hard-working, wonderful people I have ever met," Lipson said. "We learn from every experience. And I learned a lot about friendship and honor in this campaign." Most importantly, Lipson said, debate on the issues of transparency in local government, action on the dioxane plume, pedestrian safety and the shape of development, including the Library Lot and a new train depot, will not just evaporate with this election cycle. "And that's good. That's democracy. Seeing some forward motion on these issues would be better," he said. Giannola declined to comment. Lipson is an attorney and owner of NewHouse Research and Design. Giannola is manager of the Venture Accelerator at the University of Michigan. Krapohl is the director of business operations for Merit Network. Development has been an issue in the race, particularly as it pertains to the future of the city-owned Library Lot. Lipson is treasurer for the Library Green Conservancy, a citizens group interested in creating a public park/plaza on the downtown lot. Lipson wants to put the question to voters, something the other candidates have opposed. Krapohl and Giannola have voiced support for selling the Fifth Avenue lot for a dense development that would include a plaza. What to do about the Gelman dioxane plume was another issue in the race. Lipson believes the city should seek a federal Superfund cleanup, while Giannola and Krapohl aren't yet convinced that's the way to go. The candidates also are divided on bringing in sharpshooters to kill deer in city parks and nature areas, which Lipson and Krapohl support, while Giannola argues the city doesn't have a deer overpopulation problem. In responses to MLive's Voter Guide questionnaire, the three 4th Ward candidates shared their top three priorities prior to Tuesday's primary. Krapohl's top priorities are continuing to focus on infrastructure and services, strong neighborhoods, and fiscal responsibility. Giannola's top priorities are affordability for all residents, repairing roads and infrastructure plus improving snowplowing, and economic development. Lipson's top priorities are controlling the rate and shape of development, seeking a federal Superfund cleanup of the Gelman plume, and pedestrian safety. Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com. Photo Gallery: Washtenaw County Commissioner Ronnie Peterson Washtenaw County district six commissioner Ronnie Peterson. (Andrew Kuhn) YPSILANTI, MI - Ronnie Peterson is the Democratic candidate for the Michigan state House's 54th District. The longtime Washtenaw County commissioner was the top vote-getter out of a field of six Democratic candidates in the running for term-limited Rep. David Rutledge's seat. The district includes eastern Washtenaw County. Peterson will face Kevin Jardine in the general election. Jardine ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Unofficial results from the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office have Peterson receiving 2,940 votes, or 35 percent of the tally. Ypsilanti City Council Member Anne Brown finished second with 2,189, or 26 percent of the vote. Peterson praised his opponents and thanked the district's constituents. Local schools, Water Street, and commuter rail are the issues that Peterson said he will focus on if he wins the Democratic-leaning district in November. "Those are the challenges. So with a minority or a majority party in Lansing, my role is as an advocate for the constituents in this district," he said. "I want to be more than a person in a legislative seat. I want to be an advocate for my constituency." Other candidates and their vote totals include Gregory Peoples,1,547; Lisa Cardenas, 953; Michael White, 633; and Bill Krebaum, 213. inmate escape.jpg Nicole Vermeylen, 40, of Flushing and Lisa Finlayson, 32, of South Lyon, are accused of escaping police custody after a court appearance on Aug. 3, 2016. (Courtesy of LCSO) BRIGHTON, MI - Things went from "zero to 150" when two female inmates made a daring escape attempt after a court appearance in Brighton on Wednesday, Aug. 3, according to an official. Lisa Finlayson, 32, of South Lyon and Nicole Vermeylen, 40, of Flushing made a run for it about 11:30 a.m. Aug. 3 as a deputy prepared to load them into a vehicle to leave the 53rd District Court, 224 N. First St., said Livingston County Undersheriff Mike Murphy. Finlayson was found within about 15 to 20 minutes of her escape in the water of Mill Pond, but it took deputies about an hour to locate Vermeylen in the 200 block of Second Street, Murphy said. The area flooded with police from the sheriff's office, Brighton police, state police and Hamburg police, and canine unit and a helicopter were on its way when she was located. "(She) had actually broken into a house and actually stolen a purse and a change of clothes and was headed of out of the house when we latched onto her," he said. Finlayson was in jail for driving under the influence causing death and for not showing up to a previous court appearance for a second time, which resulted in an escape charge, Murphy said. According to a report by the Detroit Free Press, she admitted to operating a vehicle with cocaine in her system when she struck and killed 51-year-old motorcyclist Lawrence Pettis in Marion Township in August 2015. Vermeylen was in jail on charges of second-degree felony child abuse and her second offense of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, police said. Police will now seek new charges against the two. Murphy said the two inmates were wearing handcuffs at the time of the incident and typically, the department only sends one deputy with two inmates. They recently reviewed their policies but will review them again, he said. "This is the first time in 15 years or better that this has happened," Murphy said. Darcie Moran covers cops and courts for MLive and The Ann Arbor News. Email her at dmoran@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter @darciegmoran. BAY CITY, MI -- The week before his trial was to begin, a Bay City man accused of attacking a former friend with a hammer has accepted a plea offer. James E. Dawkins Jr., 46, on Wednesday, July 27, appeared in Bay County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon. The charge is punishable by up to two years' incarceration. In exchange for his plea, the prosecution agreed to dismiss a four-year felony charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. Dawkins' trial was to begin Tuesday, Aug. 2. The charge stems from an incident that happened the evening of Sunday, April 10, when police responded to McLaren Bay Region hospital for an assault complaint. Once the complainant, 25-year-old Javon M. Clifford, was finished with his CAT scan and X-rays, he told police that he had been walking east on 24th Street near Jennison when a silver van pulled up near him, court records show. Clifford said Dawkins jumped out of the van and started attacking him with a hammer. He said Dawkins hit him in the back of his head and in his lower back with the tool, court records show. When neighbors started yelling, Dawkins returned to the van and drove off, Clifford told police. Clifford said Dawkins is upset with him because he thinks he stole some presents from Dawkins' children the previous Christmas, court records show. Police wrote in their reports, contained in court records, that Clifford had a small scratch to his head but no visible wounds to his back. Hospital staff told police Clifford suffered no skull fractures and that, in their opinion, his injuries were not consistent with hammer blows, court records show. Police spoke with the neighbors Clifford said saw the assault. They said they saw a man walking with a pizza when another man jumped out of a van and accosted him with a hammer, court records show. Officers later met with Dawkins at his home. He told them he was upset with Clifford over the loss of his children's Christmas presents. When he saw Clifford walking down 24th Street, Dawkins said he "just snapped," left his van, and punched Clifford. Dawkins went on to say he only grabbed the hammer to scare Clifford "and that if he would've wanted to hurt him bad, he could've," court records show. Police arrested Dawkins. Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran is to sentence Dawkins at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6. BAY CITY, MI -- For the first time in 24 years, there's going to be a new face leading Bay County government. Former state Senator and U.S. Congressman Jim Barcia is calling victory in a race versus longtime incumbent Thomas Hickner, bringing a heated race for Bay County executive to a likely end. Barcia also defeated Mark McFarlin in the Democratic Primary and runs unopposed in the November General Election. Unofficial results show Barcia defeating Hickner 8,528-5,768. Official results are still being collected by the Bay County Clerk. "I'm extremely grateful to the loyal supporters who got out the vote today," Barcia said. "Without them, we wouldn't be celebrating this victory." "The county has an incredible number of very good employees," Hickner told The Times. "And I have enjoyed working with them. I will cooperate with Jim in the transition." Tuesday's election pitted two of Bay County's top politicians, both who had previously never lost an election, in a race for a four-year term to run the county's day-to-day operations. Hickner leaned on his nearly two dozen years of service as Bay County's executive during the campaign, while Barcia, who served as a U.S. Congressman from 1993-2003 and a Michigan state Senator from 2003-2011, touted his experience at the state and federal level. After announcing, both candidates acknowledged the campaign would be a lively one. Barcia contends that Hickner told him it was going to be a "very toxic summer," if the former congressman were to file to run. Hickner said he never recalled using the word "toxic." Last month, a pornographic image was sent from Barcia's Facebook page to hundreds of his friends and followers. Barcia said he had no direct evidence that Hickner's team was behind a possible hacking, but said Hickner supporters "are the only ones with the motivation to send such an image." A Michigan State Police investigation showed a virus attacked the Facebook page, but Barcia, who hired an IT professional, disagreed, saying he was hacked. There was also controversy when it came to campaign finance reports. A Michigan political action committee reported that it made two $5,000 contributions to the Barcia campaign, which weren't reported on Barcia's campaign finance reports, sparking Hickner to question the discrepancy. Barcia said he never intended to cash the checks and returned them to former state Sen. Roger Kahn, a Saginaw Republican who runs the PAC. And then Hickner accused Barcia of deceptive advertising for an ad that ran online and on WNEM TV-5 that featured U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin. Barcia removed the ad off his Facebook page. Barcia celebrated his victory with his supporters at his campaign headquarters on Euclid Avenue. In his first 100 days, Barcia said he plans to meet with as many county employees as possible and start stakeholder meetings with leaders across the community. "We need to start our plan of maximizing and taking advantage of all the great assets Bay County has to offer," he said. Hickner wraps up his sixth consecutive term as executive Dec. 31. Barcia called Hickner a "decent man" and thanked him for his years of service to the county. BAY CITY, MI -- A 36-year-old Elkton woman police say had illicit drugs on her during a routine traffic stop has accepted a plea deal, but isn't likely to see incarceration. Tracy R. Champagne on Tuesday, Aug. 2, appeared before Bay County District Judge Mark E. Janer and pleaded guilty to single counts of possessing less than 25 grams of a narcotic or cocaine and possessing marijuana. The former is a four-year felony and the latter is a one-year misdemeanor. In exchange for her plea, the prosecution agreed to dismiss charges of driving on a suspended, denied, or revoked license and driving without insurance. The prosecution also agreed to dismiss second offense enhancements on both of the charges Champagne pleaded guilty to, which would have doubled her potential sentences on each count. The prosecution is also recommending Champagne not be jailed. The morning of Feb. 29, a Bay City police officer noticed a green Pontiac Grand Prix driving with apparently expired registration, court records show. The officer ran the registration and discovered it had been expired since April 2015. The officer stopped the car on Kosciuszko Avenue near South Monroe Street and made contact with Champagne, the car's driver and lone occupant. Champagne told the officer she did not have a driver's license in her possession, that the car belonged to her boyfriend, and that she was just using it to drive to a doctor's appointment, court records show. As Champagne spoke, the officer observed her pupils were constricted and that she was rocking in her seat. The officer placed Champagne in his patrol vehicle and obtained consent from Champagne to search the Grand Prix, court records show. Inside the center console, the officer found a Monarch cigarette pack containing suspected crack and a pipe. In Champagne's purse, he found another pipe, a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana, and three used syringes, court records show. The officer's field tests of the substances indicated they were crack and pot, court records show. The officer arrested Champagne. Champagne is to be sentenced in Bay County Circuit Court, the date of which is pending. DETROIT, MI -- The nation's top law enforcement officer visited Detroit Tuesday evening to celebrate across-the-nation National Night Out activities. "We're here to support you and your ideas ... " U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch told hundreds of Detroit residents from a stage at Fitzpatrick Park on the city's northwest side. "Tomorrow we'll be right back to work on all the issues we face. We will face them together. "And the Department of Justice is your partner. We're here to work with you and we're here to learn from you." Lynch, whom Pres. Barack Obama appointed in 2010 to succeed Eric Holder, said Detroit residents should "be proud" during her short address. "You deserve it," she said. "You've earned it. You have worked for it." Thanks for letting me spend a great #NationalNightOut with you #Detroit! pic.twitter.com/qeKRzV2crt AG 83 Loretta Lynch (@AGLynch) August 3, 2016 National Night Out is an event usually coordinated by police agencies across the country one night per year. Originally started as an effort to empower neighorhoods to mobilize and combat crime, it's increasingly grown into an opportunity for police to interact with the public and strengthen bonds. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, referencing recent controversial police killings and fatal retaliation against police, acknowledged there is currently "a lot of tension in our country" regarding police relations with the public. Detroit police work their "hardest every single to treat everybody with respect and the citizens of Detroit have been extraordinarily supportive." US Attorney General Loretta Lynch @ National Night Out 8th PCT pic.twitter.com/RsmLwtsjFP Detroit Police Dept. (@detroitpolice) August 2, 2016 Philadelphia native and National Night Out founder Matt Peskin said the event has grown to include celebrations in 16,500 communities across the U.S. In the wake of all of these "awful activities" in recent weeks, "this is one of those good things," Peskin said. The park was filled with loud music, dancing, face painting, a petting zoo, a pony, inflatable slides, a special operations transport vehicle, popcorn, ice cream, Secret Service agents, the smell of smoked meats and smiles. Detroit Police Chief James Craig and other officers even danced briefly with childrfen as "Watch me Whip" by Silento blasted in the background. Luciano Brittain, 14, of Detroit, sat on a fence watching it all. He spoke positively of his interaction with Detroit police. It's reactions like his police hope to bolster through events like National Night Out. "All of that stuff that happened in Missouri, I've never seen that happen in Michigan, so I think Detroit police are ... better police," Brittain said. "My friends think the same thing I do." Despite his favorable opinion of Detroit police, Brittain is still wary about law enforcement in general. "When I go to some other states, I'm scared," he said, referencing a recent visit to Alabama to visit relatives. "If I'm not from there, then I don't know what could happen." The National Night Out appearance is the first of several for the attorney general during her two-day visit to Detroit. Lynch plans to join U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade of the Eastern District of Michigan for a regional justice forum at Wayne State University Wednesday morning. An unspecified number of Egyptian expatriate workers have been detained for running away from their employment sponsors Related Egypt secures release of 43 citizens in Saudi Arabia Egypt said it is working to facilitate the repatriation of Egyptian expatriate workers who have been detained -- among many of other nationalities -- by Saudi authorities for violating the countrys labour law. The Egyptian general-consul in Jeddah, Adel Al-Alfy, said the consulate team is following up on the conditions of those who have been detained in the capital Riyadh for "escaping" from their employment sponsors. Under restrictions introduced in March 2013 by the oil-rich kingdom, foreigners are only allowed to work for their legal sponsors and are not authorised to work independently, even if their employers approve. Many foreign workers enter Saudi Arabia under the sponsorship of a Saudi national but end up working for others, or set up their own businesses. "The Egyptian consulate in Jeddah has contacted Saudi authorities in an attempt to find a solution to the matter," Egypts foreign ministry said in a statement late on Monday. The consulate is following up on the conditions of those who have been detained on a daily basis and is working to facilitate the procedures so that they can be extradited to Egypt, the statement added. The ministry did not provide the exact number of Egyptian expatriates being detained. The violators will be fined 10,000 riyals, handed a final exit order and repatriated back home after official travel papers are issued for them. The ministry urged Egyptian workers in the Gulf country to conform to employment and stay regulations to avoid any legal sanctions. Foreigners made up 10.1 million of the total population of 30.8 million in 2014, according to the latest official data. Tens of thousands of Egyptians work in the kingdom. Search Keywords: Short link: DETROIT -- A woman has been charged in the mysterious May death of her 3-year-old son, whose body was found alone, at home, long after he'd died. A maintenance worker found the boy's decomposing body inside a Detroit apartment May 25. The mother, 28-year-old Deanna Shanta Minor, was later identified by police as a patient in a psychiatric hospital. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on Wednesday, Aug. 3 charged Minor with multiple felonies stemming from the death of her son, Aaron Minor, including felony murder resulting from child abuse, second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse, second-degree child abuse and failure to report a dead body. She faces up to life in prison if convicted. A foul odor drew an employee of Madison Estates apartment complex on Trumbull Avenue in Detroit to the apartment about 3 p.m., May 25. He entered and found the child's decomposed body in a bed. Detroit Police Capt. Darin Szilagy of the 3rd Precinct told MLive paramedics were dispatched to the same address within a month prior to the discovery of the child's body. At the time, it's believed the child's mother was having a medical issue and was found "out front on the grass." Szilagy didn't know if Deanna Minor was conscious and coherent at that time. "She was transported to Detroit Receiving Hospital and subsequently in the next day transferred out to University of Michigan Hospital," he said. "It's going to take us time to figure out why she was transported." It's not clear if another guardian was tending to the child when the mother was hospitalized in May. Szilagy in May said the father was not a suspect in any crime related to the child's death, but at the time was sought for questioning. The Wayne County Medical Examiner's office ruled the toddler's death a homicide, but as of Wednesday, a cause hadn't been determined. The medical examiner hasn't released a date for when it's believed the child died. It's not clear why it took more than two months for charges to be filed against the mother. "An extensive investigation was conducted in this case and the facts and evidence in the case will be presented at the preliminary examination," Worthy's office said in a statement issued Wednesday. Man suspected of robbing a Bank of America location in Farmington Hills on Aug. 3, 2016. Police say the suspect was killed at the Victory Inn in Detroit during an attempted arrest Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. DETROIT -- Police on Wednesday were investigating the fatal shooting of a 54-year-old man at the Victory Inn motel on Telegraph Road between Six and Seven Mile roads. Detroit Police Officer Jennifer Moreno said a task force including officers from the Michigan Department of Corrections, Farmington Hills and West Bloomfield were conducting surveillance on a bank robbery suspect at the motel about 10:20 a.m. Wednesday. "They made entry into one of the rooms and a 54-year-old male suspect lunged at them with a knife," Moreno said " ... "He was subsequently shot by two officers." He was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. Police haven't released the man's name. Homicide and crime scene investigators were still on scene investigating as of 1 p.m. Wednesday. West Bloomfield Police Chief Michael Patton said the task force involves Farmington Hills, Novi and West Bloomfield police who work together on serious crimes committed in all three jurisdictions. "It's like a work group with those three agencies," Patton said. Patton said a West Bloomfield police officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave while homicide and internal affairs investigations are conducted. Two MDOC employees there at the scene, according to spokesman Chris Gautz. "The individual had an MDOC warrant and we were actively searching for him," Gautz said. "We routinely ask local law enforcement to assist us in these cases, and they also had a stake in this given he may have been a suspect in the previous day's bank robbery." The man who was killed is suspected of a bank robbery occurred at Bank of America at 25950 Middlebelt Road near 11 Mile in Farmington Hills about 11 a.m. Tuesday. "The suspect approached a teller and passed a note implying he was armed and demanded money, although no weapon was seen," police said in a statement Tuesday. "He obtained an undisclosed amount of cash and left the bank. There were no injuries." Surveillance images of the suspect were released Tuesday. Following the shooting Wednesday, police cordoned off the southern half of the Victory Inn, a 165-unit complex at 17729 Telegraph in Detroit. Dwayne Dent, 56, of Detroit, lives in the same section of the motel as the robbery suspect. He heard the shooting but did not see it. "They kicked down the door and the next thing you know, shots fired," said Dent, who's lived at the hotel for nearly two months and didn't know the armed robbery suspect sought by police. "You could hear it. These walls are not that thick." Dent said he hear about eight kicks before "they knocked the door in." "Then you hear glass break; then you hear, bop, bop, bop," said Dent. "Then debris hit my window. "It was like, 'Oh, jeez, they must be shooting." Following the shooting, police knocked on Dent's door and the doors of other neighbors to check if they were OK. Dent, who pays $220 a week to live at the Victory Inn, says he doesn't associate with most of the people who frequent or live in the motel but has observed suspected drug deals and prostitution. DETROIT -- Making his way to the November election, standing 6-feet 2-inches tall and weighing in at 295 pounds, he is the "Man Beast," Rhyno. Terrance Guido Gerin, current WWE "SmackDown Live" wrestler Rhyno, won the Republican primary for Michigan's 15th House District seat Tuesday, Aug. 2 by 56 votes. The Dearborn Heights native, 40, ran against Paul Sophiea and Richard Johnson in Tuesday's primary election for a spot on the November ballot. While election results were pouring in, Gerin could be seen on a live USA Network broadcast Tuesday night, taking down fellow wrestler Heath Slater in Nashville, Tennessee. In the segment, Slater was arguing for a roster spot with SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan when Rhyno -- Gerin -- burst into the frame with his finishing move, a high-velocity tackle known as the Gore. On the other side of the 15th District's race, Abdullah Hammoud beat five other Democratic candidates. Gerin and Hammoud are looking to fill the seat held by term-limited Democratic state Rep. George Darany. The position pays $71,685 annually. Gerin earned his chops as a wrestler at the Can-Am Wrestling School across the bridge in Windsor, Ontario in the early 1990s. Congrats to BCW Can-Am grad @Rhyno313 for winning the republican primary for Michigan State House of Reps for the 15th District! Scott D'Amore (@ScottDAmore) August 3, 2016 Gerin has sporadically appeared on WWE programming over the past year, and cemented his return on the first edition of SmackDown Live July 26. As for his political plans, he points to his experience working with corporate sponsors in his wrestling career as a valuable attribute. His campaign slogan is "I'll Fight for You" and he's highlighted the potential closing of Dearborn's public pools as a key issue. "I understand some people might be hesitant thinking it's a gimmick," he said, "but my friends and family know my love for this country, my passion for politics and my love for helping people out. If elected, that becomes my number one priority." His next opponent, Hammoud -- not Slater -- is a 26-year-old Healthcare Adviser for the Henry Ford Health System. In the MLive Voter Guide, Hammoud said he wants to continue to serve the community that has invested so much in his growth. An email asking whether the 40-year-old was able to vote for himself Tuesday before his Nashville appearance was not immediately returned. FLINT, MI -- It was a mixed bag for voters Tuesday night. Voters shook up the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, as four newcomers moved on to the general election. Among the incumbents who didn't make the cut was the board's chair whose plans for a government super center in downtown Flint failed to sway enough votes. The Genesee County sheriff won a bitter primary while his counterpart across the border in Lapeer County lost. Also in Lapeer, voters overwhelmingly rejected an ex-state lawmaker's attempt to get back on the taxpayer payroll after his resignation last year amid a sex scandal. Six takeaways from Tuesday night: Bitter fight Longtime Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell survived one of the ugliest -- and most expensive -- sheriff races the area has seen in some time. It was a bruising race for sheriff that saw nearly $400,000 raised between Pickell and a Super Pac that was formed to oust him from office. The anti-Pickell PAC raised about $170,000 compared to $12,000 raised by Argentine Township Police Chief Dan Allen. From television ads to mailers, both sides traded barbs that, at times, got personal. In the end, voters sided with Pickell -- who has held the office since 1999. Pickell moves on to face Matthew T. Krol, who ran unopposed as a Republican. No second act Voters gave a resounding no to Ex-state Rep. Todd Courser's attempt to get back into public office. The former state lawmaker ran for Lapeer County prosecutor after his resignation from the state House amid a sex scandal. Locked in a three-way bid for the Republican nomination, Courser came in a distant third with just 583 votes. If there was any consolation, Tim Turkelson, the incumbent Lapeer County prosecutor who declined to press charges against the anonymous texter Courser claimed was extorting him, also lost by more than 3,000 votes. Winner Mike Sharkey will face Philip Albert Fulks, who ran unopposed on the Democratic side, in the general election. Incumbents Incumbency was no guarantee of victory Tuesday night. The Genesee County Commission got a major shakeup with the exit of four commissioners, including board Chair Jamie Curtis. The Curtis loss was his first since winning the third district seat in November 2006. Democratic primary winner Ellen Ellenburg will face Republican James Miraglia in the general election. But Curtis was not the only incumbent commissioner to lose Tuesday night. District 6 Commissioner Tony Brown lost his Republican primary to Drew Shapiro, while Mike Lynch lost his Democratic primary to Martin Cousineau for the District 7 seat. District 4 commissioner John Northrup withdrew from the race for health reasons but whose name still appeared on the ballot. In Lapeer County, the incumbent prosecutor was not the only law enforcement officer to lose his job. Sheriff Ron Kalanquin lost his Republican bid to Scott McKenna, the former Mt. Morris Township police chief. Voters stay home With what one county official deemed as unprecedented absentee voting, polling spots had sparse attendance through the day in Genesee County. "These numbers are just unbelievable. It's 900 (absentee voters) in Flushing and no walk-ins," said Genesee County Clerk-Register John Gleason. "The walk-in is very low." By night's end, voter turnout stood at less than 20 percent for the primary. Proposals Voters were in a giving mood Tuesday night, giving the nod to a heavy slate of proposals on the ballot, led by a countywide millage for emergency medical service. The EMS millage was the biggest winner, passing by a whopping 73 percent. The Genesee District Library millage won almost 70 percent while voters also said yes to schools with the passage of ballot measures for Mott Community College, the Genesee Intermediate School District and schools in Goodrich and Genesee. Cruising to victory Tuesday was easy street for several longtime Genesee County pols as Democrats Prosecutor David Leyton, Clerk/Register of Deeds John Gleason, Treasurer Deb Cherry and Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright all ran unopposed and have no competition on the Republican side of the ballot. Liane Shekter Smith arraignment.JPG Liane Shekter Smith and her attorney, Brian Morley, stand before Genesee District Judge Nathaniel Perry III on Wednesday, Aug. 3, as Shekter Smith is arraigned on charges connected to the Flint water crisis. (Gary Ridley | MLive.com) FLINT, MI - The former head of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's drinking water unit has been arraigned on charges connected to the Flint water crisis. Liane Shekter Smith was arraigned Wednesday, Aug. 3, on a felony charge of misconduct in office and a misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of duty following an investigation by Attorney General Bill Schuette's office. Shekter Smith stood mainly silent during the hearing, only speaking when Genesee District Judge Nathaniel Perry III asked her if she understood her rights and the charges against her. Schuette claimed Shekter Smith held the responsibility of ensuring clean, safe drinking water for Flint residents, but investigators allege she took steps to mislead and conceal evidence from health officials despite knowledge of citizen complaints over water quality and a deadly Legionnaire's disease outbreak. She is the only person to be fired by the state in connection to the crisis. Schuette's office previously issued an investigative subpoena to compel Smith's on-record testimony as part of its investigation into the Flint water crisis. However, her attorney, Brian P. Morley, said his client would invoke her Fifth Amendment right to not incriminate herself. "After consultation, a timely objection was filed based on Ms. Shekter Smith's right to not provide testimony or evidence that may incriminate her," Morley told Wayne Circuit Judge Timothy Kenny in June during a hearing over the subpoena. "She stands before the court through counsel today asking that that be honored by this court and excusing her from compliance with the investigation." Morley previously said he doesn't expect Smith to ever go on record with what she knows, but does expect her to cooperate with Schuette's investigation -- once he has a better grasp on what information the office already has. "She didn't do anything wrong," Morley said. " ... We may end up discussing this with the Attorney General's Office; I don't know that that will ever become on the record." Shekter Smith, who worked 27 years for the state Department of Environmental Quality, also declined to talk to the Michigan State Police during the agency's administrative investigation into possible misconduct at the DEQ. The MSP report says an attorney for Shekter Smith told a police investigator on Feb. 29 that his client declined Lt. Lisa Rish's request for an interview. Shekter Smith was released on a personal recognizance bond. The felony charges carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison if convicted. A probable cause conference is scheduled for Aug. 9. FLINT, MI - The final state employee has been arraigned on the most-recent round of charges connected to Attorney General Bill Schuette's Flint water crisis investigation. Adam Rosenthal was arraigned Wednesday, Aug. 3, on felony charges of misconduct in office, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to tamper with evidence. He was also arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of duty. Schuette claimed Rosenthal, a water quality analyst at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, willingly participated in the manipulation of lead testing results and falsely reported that the 90th percentile of the results for lead in the city's water supply was below the federal action limit of 15 ppb. The investigation claims a July 28, 2015, report was altered to exclude some high lead tests and Rosenthal forwarded the report on. Two other DEQ employees, Mike Prysby and Stephen Busch, were previously charged by Schuette for their alleged involvement with the altered report. Schuette claims he was also warned by the EPA about particulate lead, which could have signaled a corrosion problem. EPA Flint particulate lead emails by Gary C Ridley on Scribd Rosenthal, 43, of East Lansing, is currently on unpaid suspension by the state. His attorney, James Burdick, declined to comment on the charges and said the accusations would be tried in court. Five other state employees have already been arraigned on the most-recent felony criminal charges filed by Schuette in connection to the water crisis. Rosenthal's supervisor, Liane Shekter Smith, was arraigned earlier in the day. Schuette claimed Shekter Smith held the responsibility of ensuring clean, safe drinking water for Flint residents, but investigators allege she took steps to mislead and conceal evidence from health officials despite knowledge of citizen complaints over water quality and a deadly Legionnaire's disease outbreak. She is the only state employee to have been fired over the crisis. One other DEQ employee, Patrick Cook, along with Nancy Peeler, Corinne Miller and Robert Scott of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services were also charged in the most-recent criminal complaints filed by Schuette. All but Miller are currently suspended without pay. Miller retired in April. Each suspect has been released on a personal recognizance bond. All face up to five years in prison if convicted. Robert Pickell GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Incumbent Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell won Tuesday's primary election over challenger Dan Allen. Pickell won 58 percent to Allen's 42 percent in the Democratic primary. Pickell will face Republican Matt Krol in the November general election. "I very much appreciate all the support that I got from the voters, and I asked them to help me fight back, and they did -- they helped me fight the super PAC that was put together by a couple of millionaires who were really trying to buy the election," Pickell said of the election results. "I couldn't understand why they wanted to do that, and on top of that they ran a dirty, vile campaign -- all negative. And of the years that I've been around, I've never seen a more dirty and negative campaign...but the people saw through it and they kept me, and I appreciate what the voters did for me." Frank Manley, an Allen supporter who helped run the anti-Pickell PAC, stood by the effort to unseat Pickell. "I stand behind everything that we stated in our campaign and I'm waiting for the sheriff to refute anything," said Manley. Allen could not immediately be reached for comment. It was a bitter and costly race for both sides. While Allen's campaign raised $12,000, Pickell's campaign spent more than $217,000 on his re-election, including more than $161,000 since October 2015, according to campaign finance statements filed July 22. But, Allen got a bit of a boost from a super PAC formed by some local high-profile attorneys that aimed to keep Pickell from winning a fifth term. The super PAC, called the New Sheriff in Town, aimed to unseat Pickell and support Allen, who serves as Argentine Township police chief. The super PAC raised roughly $170,000 and was responsible for a number of billboards in the area and likely voter mailings that targeted Pickell's record and a flurry of social media activity. Topics included the sexual assault prosecution of former sheriff's office Lt. Michael Chatterson and the $129,000 Pickell received in pension overpayments from the county. Local attorney Glen Lenhoff, a civil rights and employment law attorney, represented a group of female deputies who sued the Sheriff's Office over Chatterson's sexual misconduct. They settled the case for $500,000. Lenhoff donated $100,000 to the New Sheriff PAC in July, which was registered to the Mott Foundation Building offices of attorneys Manley and Scott Bigger. All three attorneys say the committee was formed to try and bring attention to what they believe are shortcomings with Pickell's performance as sheriff. "Its important to understand that I was not candidate in this campaign, but its equally important to understand that my mission was to expose corruption in the sheriff's department and to educate the public in a manner that most challengers would not be able to do without the political action committee," Manley said. Added Manley, "I believe that the information that we provided is not only accurate, but will come to fruition at the expense of the general public, so Sheriff Pickell may believe he has somehow won a battle versus Dan Allen, but it is my position that the community has lost the war, so no matter how smug and self-satisfied Mr. Pickell may believe he is, the community will pay the price." Pickell, who won past re-election campaigns, including a 2012 race against Allen, has been sheriff since 1999. Obama Flint water 015 President Barack Obama speaks about the fear residents have justifiably after lead was found in the drinking and tap water source in the city while he speaks on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at Flint Northwestern High School on the city's north side. Obama came to Flint to witness, investigate and speak about the Flint water crisis. Jake May | MLive.com (Jake May | MLive.com) Four people from Michigan will be released from federal prison sooner than expected due to commutations of their sentences announced Wednesday. President Barack Obama granted commutations of sentences to 214 people on Wednesday, Aug. 3, according to a news release from the White House. Those who have received a reduced sentence or will be released later this year include: As of Wednesday's announcement, Obama has granted 562 commutations -- more commutations that the previous nine presidents combined and more commutations than any individual president in nearly a century, according to the release. Of those commutations, 197 individuals were serving life sentences. Wednesday's 214 grants of commutations also represent the most grants in a single day since at least 1900, according to the release. For more information on the number of commuted sentences Obama has granted, click here. LAPEER COUNTY, MI -- The Michigan State Police Lapeer Post has announced an academy available to citizens that will help them better understand the job of troopers in the area. The Michigan State Police Lapeer Post has announced a Citizens' Academy that will begin Sept. 22 and will end Nov. 10, according to a news release from the MSP. The eight week academy will meet every Thursday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The first meeting will be held at the First Baptist Church, located at 1212 Knollwood Drive in Lapeer. The academy will give citizens the opportunity to become familiar with the mission and operation of the MSP, understand the procedures troopers follow, increase their awareness of law enforcement's role in the community, and get to know personnel at the Lapeer Post, according to the release. Following the eight week academy, a graduation ceremony will be held on Thursday, Nov. 10. People who are interested in attending the Citizens' Academy should contact the MSP Lapeer Post at 810-664-2905. Interested individuals can also contact Community Service Trooper Tim Fagin at 810-664-2905 or via email at fagint@michigan.gov to receive an application. WASHINGTON - The United States secretly organized an airlift of $400 million to Iran the same day Flint native Amir Hekmati and others were released from Iranian captivity, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper reported Wednesday, Aug. 3, citing unnamed sources, that President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry helped organize the airlift of cash to Iran. Government officials denied any connection between the cash shipment and the release of prisoners, claiming the money was the first payment of a $1.7 billion settlement that resolved claims before an international tribunal over a failed arms deal signed before the 1979 fall of the shah. Reports of link between prisoner release & payment to Iran are completely false. @POTUS statement from Jan: https://t.co/5yuzGxD14s Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) August 3, 2016 "As we've made clear, the negotiations over the settlement of an outstanding claim ... were completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home," State Department spokesman John Kirby is quoted in the article. "Not only were the two negotiations separate, they were conducted by different teams on each side, including, in the case of The Hague claims, by technical experts involved in these negotiations for many years." U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Twp., worked to try and secure Hekmati's freedom, and he said he counts the day Hekmati stepped off the plane in Flint among the proudest of his life. He added he is thankful for those who made efforts to secure the Flint native's release. "I have repeatedly said, before and after Amir's release, that we should never exchange the freedom of innocent Americans for something that could make the world a less safe place," Kildee said. "I strongly believe this today as well. The United States has already previously disclosed the independent transfer of Iranian funds back to Iran in an attempt to settle a decades-long dispute that predated the Americans' imprisonment." Hekmati, a Marine and Flint Central High School grad, was sentenced to death in Iran after traveling to the Middle Eastern country in August 2011 to visit family members there for the first time. He was taken into custody by Iranian authorities soon after his arrival in the country. A 15-minute trial took place behind closed doors with Iran's Revolutionary Court five months into his captivity, and he was sentenced to death on charges of espionage, waging war against God and corrupting the earth. Hekmati's original sentence was eventually overturned in March 2012. He was given 10 years in prison for cooperating with a hostile government after a secret trial with no defense and no word to Hekmati about the re-trial until April 2014. He arrived home at Flint's Bishop Airport on Jan. 21. Egyptian Noble Laureate Ahmed Zewail passed away on Tuesday in the US at the age of 70, his media spokesman Sherif Fouad told Egyptian State TV. According to Fouad, it has not been determined yet whether Zewail died of his cancer or another disease. The spokesman added that procedures are currently undergoing to transfer Zewail's body from the United States to Egypt for burial. In June 2013, Zewail announced he was suffering from a cancerous tumor in the spinal cord, adding later on that he was able to overcome the "critical state" of the disease. Born on 26 February, 1946, Zewail got his bachelors and masters degrees from Alexandria University, before moving to the US to study and receive his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He won the Nobel prize in chemistry in 1999 after demonstrating that it was possible with rapid laser technique to see how atoms in a molecule move during a chemical reaction down to tens of femtoseconds(fs). His experiments led to the birth of the research field referred to as femtochemistry, therefore the late scientist was named "The Father of Femtochemistry". Search Keywords: Short link: At the age of 70, Egyptian born-and-raised scientist Ahmed Zewail passed away following a tough struggle with cancer in his adoptive country, the United States. The death of the Egyptian-American Nobel Laureate, widely mourned in Egypt, puts an end to the life of a man whose remarkable excellence in science had not denied him a perfect taste for politics -- sometimes in a controversial sense -- and whose life in the US never overshadowed his inevitable association with Egypt, where his body would be laid to rest upon his own wishes. Born in the Delta region of Egypt, Zewail graduated in the Alexandria University's Faculty of Science with honours in 1967, only one year after a devastating military defeat for Egypt at the hands of Israel that led so many young Egyptians of indeterminate faith to the call of Egyptian nationalism promoted by the countrys charismatic leader Gamal Abdel Nasser. Like many other prominent science graduates of his time, Zewail -- who had assumed a teaching job at the University of Alexandria while finishing off his masters degree -- received a scholarship for his Ph.D at the University of Pennsylvania. This got him started in a long established career of scientific research that took him to Berkeley in the early 1970s and ultimately crowned him with a Nobel in science in 1999 after he demonstrated that it was possible with rapid laser technique to see how atoms in a molecule move during a chemical reaction down to tenths of femtoseconds (fs). His experiments led to the birth of the research field referred to as femtochemistry, leading scientists to name the late Zewail 'The Father of Femtochemistry'. Zewails Nobel prize introduced him to the Egyptian public as a prominent US-based Egyptian scientist, and he was widely celebrated in the media and in many quarters of Egyptian inteligencia as the symbol of the success that an Egyptian could acheive if afforded the right working conditions. In interviews given to the Egyptian media after 1999, Zewail always spoke affectionately of his childhood and early youth in Egypt and of his dream for a time when Egypt could reassume its interest in scientific research and development something that he had said his generation was privy to, unlike other subsequent generations that had grown up after the heydays of the Nasser 'Egyptian dream with which he never really associated himself. By the accounts of those who knew him as young science student at the University of Alexandria and those who had known him in the years following, was never a man to associate himself with anything other than his own scientific work. In the US he was an American of Egyptian origin; in Egypt he was an Egyptian who went to the US and make an outstanding scientific breakthrough; elsewhere he is a universal citizen who subscribes to science. This was not a show or deliberate act - it was how he felt and how he perceived himself, or at least thought he should be perceived, said an old associate of Zewail from the days of the University of Alexandria. This, perhaps, was why Zewail himself always said he never understood the debate that some critics had in Cairo over his visit to Israel which he always reminded was done in a scientific capacity in the early 1990s something that critics did not digest well At the end of the day, Zewail was never just a scientist but a scientist with a public persona. He is not your typical Berkeley chemistry professor whose ambitions are confined to the walls of their labs; he is a truly ambitious and perfectly hard-working man who has a natural talent for science but also a perfect taste for success as a value in itself and yes, you are right, maybe also for fame, said a US-based Egyptian writer who had met Zewail several times to promote the idea of writing his memoires. This was not exactly something that Zewail would immediately warm up to not so much because he was a private person, although I think he much preferred to keep his private life strictly out of the spotlight, either because he wanted nothing to eclipse his own glory, should their be likes or dislikes to his family, or because at the very end of the day and despite a very long journey of life in the West, deep down he remained this typical Egyptian who would not talk much of his family, said the writer. Ultimately, in his off-camera meetings in Egypt with some who amounted to be Zewail groupies, he never talked much about his life, but instead more about his own persona and his own visions for Egypt. It was then and there perhaps, said a prominent intellectual who had taken part in the early part of these meetings, that the idea of offering Zewail a prominent public service post in Egypt was first discussed. The accounts differ a great deal, but most agree on a suggestion made by one of the journalists who liked to be associated with Zewail and almost acted as a self-offered defacto press secretary for the man. Zewail himself never gave any public recognition with the speculations made about the possibility of his being named anything from the scientific advisor to then-president Hosni Mubarak especially since he was on advisory board to US president Barack Obama to prime minister. He only spoke of his scientific affiliations and his interest to help his country of birth find again its way on the path of quality education and scientific research. For Zewail's critics, this was an outright bluff because he knew that Egypt had almost no budget for scientific research and a terribly insufficient budget for education. However, for his admirers, it was precisely because of this awareness that someone like Zewail could have introduced ideas to help make things possible. Ultimately, after a closer association with Egypt in the wake of the 25 January revolution, which was among the voices to have supported publicly as the anti-Mubarak demonstrations were stretching into their second week, Zewail offered the idea of establishing the Zewail Scientific Research Center to fulfill his dream "for Egypt to have centers of excellence where potential researchers could find the right medium for their contributions. The project did not commence easily and quickly reached complicated phase with the debate over the government allocation of a venue that had originally been assigned for Nile University in what inevitably led to a court case that shed a relatively unfavourable light to Zewail's otherwise generally bright image. The case prompted a debate in the press about Zewail's real intentions and whether he wanted to serve Egypt or to become a bigger star. It also prompted a debate on the untold story of Zewails interest to run for president for Egypt in the wake of the ouster of Mubarak, allowing some voices to suggest that he had come to Egypt with an eye on the presidential seat but failed to raise enough support for a dream for which he would have given up his American nationality. This plan, however, had been practically vetoed by the relevant authorities at the time who openly told him that he cant opt for the top executive job no matter the conclusion of the Arab Spring. On record and off record, Zewail himself had repeatedly denied these accounts as the mere assumptions of those who offered them. Inevitably, two years ago news about Zewails spinal cord cancer became public and that took over the debate about a relatively controversial figure even by critics who had, with hardly any tangible evidence, accused him of soliciting good associations with every Egyptian regime in pursuit of personal glorification. Today, these critics are for the most part gracefully silenced by the sudden news of his not-so-unanticipated death. The room is rather for those admirers who both did not know the man personally, and were simply impressed by his scientific achievement, or those who knew him and liked his wit and intelligence. Search Keywords: Short link: A Cairo court ordered the release of the Doctors Syndicate freedoms committee member Taher Mokhtar and his roommates Hossam El-Din Hamed and Ahmed Hassan on Wednesday on EGP 5,000 bail, the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression said on Facebook. Mokhtar was arrested with his roommates Hossam El-Din Hamed and Ahmed Hassan on 14 January at their apartment in Downtown Cairo on accusations of inciting protests ahead of the fifth anniversary of the 25 January Revolution. They denied the accusations. Their detention has been renewed since then. The prosecution said they possessed "posters that call for protesting and overthrowing the government. However, Mokhtar's lawyer said that he only possessed union documents about the medical conditions of jailed doctors and prisoners rights to decent healthcare. A campaign highlighting Mokhtars history of activism in the medical sector by human rights organisations and public figures had called for his release. Search Keywords: Short link: Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb stressed the necessity of coordination on the selection of sermons topics to address the society's needs in a meeting with the minister of religious endowments Mohamed Mokhar Gomaa and Egypt's grand mufti Shawki Allam, state news agency MENA reported. The three parties agreed on drafting training courses for capacity building of Muslim clerics to increase their efficiency and enhance their skills in preparing and giving sermons as well as discharging of non-qualified preachers and those who exploit religious discourse. This meeting comes amidst a dispute on the standardised, pre-written Friday sermons announced by the endowments ministry but rejected by top Egyptian Islamic body Al-Azhar. El-Tayeb underlined the full coordination between Islamic Research Academy, religious endowments ministry and the official religious authority responsible for issuing edicts for Muslims in the country. He highlighted the importance of unifying edicts and the curtailing of any edicts from unqualified clerics. The grand imam met earlier Wednesday with president Abde- Fatah El-Sisi to discuss the renewal of religious discourse and "spreading good values in society". Last Month, the endowments ministry announced that Muslim clerics will be required to read from a single script prepared by the ministry during the weekly sermon at Friday prayers, a move aimed at promoting moderate Islamic ideology and combating extremism. However, Al-Azhar rejected last Wednesday such a decision. The Council of Senior Scholars, headed by El-Tayeb, said the move amounts to "freezing religious discourse". The Al-Azhar Mosque did not follow the ministry's standardised sermon last Friday, entitled "Cleanliness is a Civilised Behaviour," and instead gave a sermon on national unity and the rights of Christians in Islam. Meanwhile, Egypt's religious endowments minister reiterated that having pre-prepared Friday sermons is of "legitimate national interest," though he stressed that the "era of silencing people is over". The ministry's decision sparked outcry among many clerics last month, who said that scripted sermons would waste an imam's talents and fail to cater to different communities. The ministry has been setting topics for weekly sermons at Friday prayers across the country since 2014. Under the Egyptian constitution, the 1,000-year-old seat of Islamic learning Al-Azhar is in charge of regulating Islamic preaching and proselytising, while the endowments ministry is responsible for administering mosques and Islamic centres. Search Keywords: Short link: Yangon city authorities appear to have come down on the side of angry developers in the row over the suspension of 222 projects either under construction or at the planning stage. Following a city-wide review of project designs, the suspension was ordered because the buildings reportedly violated draft zoning regulations. However, the draft in question has yet to be opened for public comment before its submission to Yangon regional hluttaw for approval. Particular attention is being directed to 12 of the most prominent designs after inspectors ordered the developers to dismantle some floors already built, a step that the developers complained would be extremely costly. The construction companies have already complained that they have been forced to lay off hundreds of workers and could face bankruptcy because of the suspension. On July 29 the chair of Yangon Region parliaments economic committee spoke out in support of the developers. Daw Sandar Min, who heads the regional Finance, Planning and Economic Committee, said they had suffered enormous losses because of the review of projects, which were all approved by the former government. Yangons mayor, U Maung Maung Soe, has now stepped into the row. After he personally inspected three of the sites told to cut floors, he rescinded the order, according to U Kyaw Yin, the developer of Ivy Condominium, one of the buildings involved. Three condos were inspected by the mayor on July 29, and were authorised to continue construction in accordance with the permits they were granted, he said, suggesting that the remaining nine buildings could receive the same permission. He added that some of the developers had met yesterday with the mayor and the chair of the inspection committee, who had agreed that fresh inspections would take place as soon as possible, to be followed by approval of the original permits. At first, the mayor didnt get involved in our case, but now he has expressed his understanding of the implications for the economy, said U Myo Myint, of MKT Construction. [Before,] the committee considered only the aspect of urban preservation, not the economy. Two of the reprieved projects are the 29-storey Kabar Aye Executive Residence (KER) and the 18-floor Mya Kan Thar condo. The third has not been identified. Daw Nilar Kyaw, leader of the inspection committee, said the three projects had submitted complaints about the inspection quicker than the others, allowing fresh inspections to proceed. She called on the other developers to provide their own explanations for flouting the draft zoning rules. We havent issued permits yet, but we have re-inspected the three projects on the basis of the developers petitions. We hope the other developers will submit explanations soon, she said. But MKTs U Myo Myint indicated that the city authorities had already taken the initiative in contacting the developers. They called us first saying that if we submitted explanations they would inspect the buildings again and reissue the original permit. The mayor understands that these 12 buildings were inspected on the basis of new regulations, but had already received permits under the old regulations, he told The Myanmar Times. Inspection committee spokesperson U Ye Min Oo said the committee is not responsible for granting permits. Falcon's security presence in Sharm El-Sheikh was scheduled to begin on Monday The handover of security screening in the Sharm El-Sheikh airport to National Falcon Company for Airport Security, supposed to take place on Monday, has been postponed to the second half of August, Al-Borsa newspaper reported on Wednesday. On Monday, it was announced that Falcon will be in charge of passenger and luggage security in the Sharm El-Sheikh airport, while the police will remain to secure the airport, its terminals, in parking lots and in buildings. The chairman of Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation Ismail Abul Ezz said on Wednesday that the company is awaiting the Civil Aviation Authority permits to sign a contract with Falcon. Abul Ezz added that Falcon has not yet finished the training of its personnel on inspection equipment of airports. Meanwhile, Falcon's CEO Sherif Khaled said that the decision to postpone to takeover is due to the delay in the relocation of security personnel houses near the airport. Khaled highlighted that the company has finished training of 80% of its security personnel per the agreement signed in June with British company Restrata for Consulting and Training to develop the skills of 7000 Egyptian Falcon Group personnel in airport security procedures. Egypt's Ministry of Interior has been fully in charge of all securing Sharm El Sheikh airport, Abul Ezz remarked. The Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation has spent around EGP 400 million for the purchase of inspection equipment for airport security, including explosive inspection equipment. On Monday, Abul Ezz also announced that Falcon will start security operations at Cairo Airport's Terminal 2 after its October reopening. Later, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Luxor, Aswan and Borg El-Arab airports will also have their security procedures taken over by Falcon. The National Falcon Company for Airport Security is a joint venture between Falcon Group (20%) and the government's security authorities (80%), the company's CEO said. A number of countries including the UK and Russia continue to restrict travel to Sharm El-Sheikh airport after a Russian Metrojet airliner -- which took off from the south SInai airport -- crashed last October, killing all 224 people on board. A committee of British aviation experts visited Cairo International Airport to inspect security procedures last month, but has yet to issue a report. Search Keywords: Short link: The Yangon Region government is hoping to finish the last batch of frozen high-rise projects this week those that had yet to receive approval to begin construction under the previous government but which have nonetheless started building foundations. Projects affected by a hugely contentious city-wide suspension on high-rise building that began in May fall into two categories. There are those that received a construction permit and full approval to start work under the previous administration, and those that had yet to get the green light to break ground. A Yangon Region government inspection committee has finished reviewing the 64 buildings that fall into the former category. That committee instructed drastic changes on 12 projects where the results were made public, and which were deemed to violate draft zoning plans. The developers of these 12 projects are now contesting those results and have found support from a separate government committee convened to look into the issue. Developers of the other 52 projects were reportedly told by the committee that no changes were needed, and their investments could proceed as originally planned. There are another 158 buildings in a second group of projects that had a construction permit, but not permission to start work. Developers involved in 107 of these showed a measure of restraint and had not started work when the construction freeze began. They can take their existing plans to Yangon City Development Committees Engineering Department (Building) and apply for a new construction permit. But the other 51 projects already have some form of foundation work in place, and their developers will need to await the results of an inspection. The high-rise inspection committee had finished reviewing 31 of those sites on August 1, and plans to finish the remaining 20 by the end of today, U Ye Min Oo, a spokesperson for the committee, told The Myanmar Times on August 1. The results of these inspections will not be made public, but reported to the government, he said. The government in turn will direct YCDCs Engineering Department (Building) to take action based on the results, he said. Any developers unhappy with the results of the foundation inspection will be able to negotiate with the Yangon Region government and YCDCs Engineering Department, he added. The high-rise inspection committee is only responsible for reporting problems, not taking action, he said. The committee is inspecting the 51 foundation sites using the same rules it relied on for the review of the initial 64 buildings in various stages of completion, U Ye Min Oo said. Details on exactly what these rules are have been scant, however, and businesspeople have criticised what they see as a lack of transparency. Members of the inspection committee previously told The Myanmar Times that their review includes examining the impact the project might have on the surrounding area and community, in addition to checking structural issues. YCDC is working on the draft of a new land-use zoning plan started under the previous government, and aims to finish the draft in September, U Ye Min Oo said. Some of the rules being followed by the inspection committee will become official policy under the new zoning plan, he added. Earlier policies and regulation failed to anticipate Yangons rising population, he said. If the region government was to continue to apply those old policies, Yangon would face difficulties, he said. U Ye Min Oo also suggested that the zoning plan will be the last word in the acrimonious debate over which building projects are, or are not, legitimate. [After the policy is announced] there will be no arguments, he said. All problems will be solved by this policy, which will include all the rules. Translation by San Layy The Yangon Region chief minister said this week that he hopes to support development in 12 townships that sit outside the Yangon City Development Committees jurisdiction, and create jobs for people at the edges of the city. U Phyo Min Thein told a meeting of young entrepreneurs on August 1 that more funding is needed for the townships on the citys outskirts. He did not say how the money could be raised. Yangon Regions 45 townships are supported through the Union budget, but the 33 townships administrated by YCDC receive extra funding raised through tax collection in the city. Former banker U Ye Min Oo, who attended the meeting, said a lack of investment has crippled development in the citys outermost townships. Job opportunities are rare in those townships and people have to work in the industrial zones such as Hlaing Tharyar and Shwe Pyi Tar. Only K6 billion of the Yangon Region governments K40 billion budget has been allocated to the 12 outermost townships, U Phyo Min Thein said. Translation by Khant Lin Oo Mobile phone users will have to register their SIM cards starting next April, the government says. The Ministry of Transport and Communications announced yesterday in state-owned media that starting on March 31, 2017, all unregistered SIM cards will be blocked. The ministry said mobile phone operators will be advised when they receive their licence that they must register the buyer of each SIM card they sell. Mobile subscribers will have to give their name, a copy of their NRC, student card, driving licence or passport, date of birth, address, gender, and nationality in order to register. Telcos offer online SIM registration solutions The ministry said it wanted to smooth the introduction of mobile banking, mobile e-money and online shopping by safeguarding users identity security. Though registration is official policy, many users simply buy cards without registering. SIM cards sellers dont tell customers theyre supposed to register, said Yangon mobile subscriber U Kyi Tun Oo. Mobile technician Ko Htoo Htoo, also of Yangon, said he supported the move. People should register SIM cards because the mobile sector will continue to develop rapidly. People will have to use their cards with greater care, and that starts with registering, he said. Registration can already be carried out on operators premises. The communications sector is dominated by one local operator, MPT (Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications), and two foreign companies, Telenor and Ooredoo. MPT has more than 20 million subscribers, Telenor Myanmar more than 17 million and Ooredoo about 8 million. A new human rights report has highlighted the plight of women and girls in one of the countrys conflict zones. The Karen Human Rights Groups report: Hidden Strengths, Hidden Struggles: Womens Testimonies from Southeast Myanmar comes 10 years after Dignity in the Shadow of Oppression, the groups account of the issues confronting Karen women. The detailed portrayal of womens voices in the latest report is based on an analysis of 1048 documents, including 98 interviews with women, collected by KHRG between January 2012 and March 2016. Hidden Strengths, Hidden Struggles covers the period beginning with the ceasefire agreement between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Myanmar government up to the signing of the nationwide ceasefire agreement in October 2015, followed by the November election, to analyse the changes that occurred during the transition. It describes womens perspectives, including health and education, livelihoods and development, as well as the questions of abuse, agency and access to justice, entailing forced labour, gender-based violence, land confiscations and landmines, arbitrary taxation, and extortion. KHRG presents its report as a tool in developing awareness of local womens concerns and agency in the peace process, and illustrates for the general public womens perceptions of the situation on the ground in rural southeast Myanmar. Naw Eh Thaw, advocacy coordinator of KHRG, said the interviews were taken from village residents that were then analysed by peer groups. One of our difficulties while we were gathering data for the report was the safety of local residents and our staff in the field, she said, adding that military forces posed a security threat despite the existence of a ceasefire. Naw Eh Thaw said the report exposed accurately in detail the threats posed to women by the situation in the zone. Gender-based abuse continues. There is a system by which women who are raped are offered some money [instead of justice]. There are still weaknesses in education, justice and other forms of support, she said. The long distances between villages and the remote location of health centres and primary schools disproportionately affected girls and women. No medical facilities existed even for pregnancy and childbirth. Where facilities did exist, respondents questioned the level of training and skills of the government staff, citing instances of untrained healthcare workers prescribing incorrect dosages of medication, the report said. Who decided longyis couldnt have pockets? Whoever it was, that decision has been rendered void by the folks at Cici, who launched a new collection of traditional outfits featuring pockets over the weekend. At the release on July 31, the store at Hledan Gamone Pwint shopping centre buzzed as women browsed the options. The inspiration for pocket longyis actually comes from menswear, says Su Wai Yee, CEO of Cici. She said she realised that mens clothing almost always features pockets, making it easier for them to function in the modern world without having their hands full. In the age where everyone is attached to their smartphone, the practicalities of having one or more pockets in our clothing have become even more relevant, she said. She added that Western fashions feature convenient pockets inside sleek sportcoats. Even the traditional paso, or mens longyi, is tied in such a fashion that enables men to slip a wallet in their waist or tuck a phone into its folds. Women, however, do not have that luxury. The discrepancy inspired Su Wai Yee to design a womens longyi, or htamein, with pockets. For months, her team developed a variety of designs, trying to overcome the challenges of htameins, which are customarily tied tightly around the waist. The five that made the cut, nicknamed for the days of the working week, are marketed toward a new generation of working Myanmar women. We try to appeal to urban Myanmar women who are out and about at work, Su Wai Yee said. We believe that these women would most benefit from the practical aspect of wearing longyis with pockets. During the launch, excited customers bought up nearly 50 percent of Cicis inventory. A particularly popular service offered free monogram embroidery to those who purchased a longyi and blouse set. The pocket longyis range in price from K22,000 to K24,000, while tops list at K15,000 to K18,000. The store aims to be a ready-to-wear fashion label, so personalised tailoring services are not currently available. The addition of pockets helps Yangons leading ladies reinvent the way they wear their longyis, now adding a touch of modern glamour, not to mention the functionality, to the grace and aesthetics of this well-loved traditional wear, Su Wai Yee said. Cici is designed and made in Myanmar. Its flagship store opened on Shinsawpu Road in March last year, and currently sells its outfits at Bang Bang stores as well as over online platforms including its Facebook page, MyStylo, and shop.com. Women are losing positions of community leadership as ceasefire agreements see men return home from fighting, a new report by the Karen Human Rights Group has found. The report, Hidden Strengths, Hidden Struggles: Womens testimonies from southeast Myanmar, said that women in Karen areas of southeast Myanmar experienced a number of changes in their lives since the 2012 ceasefire between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Myanmar government. One of the key findings was that women who had taken on positions of leadership in their wards and villages while men were away involved in civil conflict were now being squeezed out of those roles. In our report there are eight key issues we focus on, but [one of the most significant] findings was that in the past women had to take leading roles, but after the ceasefire that leading role was handed back to men. Women expressed the feeling that after the ceasefire they were no longer being given a role, said Eh Taw, a spokesperson for KHRC. The report cites a 20-year-old woman from Kyaikto township, in Thaton District. In the past, if the people called a meeting, most of the villagers who participated in the meeting were female, therefore, they selected a woman as the village head in the conflict period. They selected a village head who could speak Myanmar [language] and had self-confidence to speak with the Tatmadaw. She added, After the peace process, females and males are participating in the meetings, so when they select the village head most of them are male [The men] did not attend the meetings [in the past] because of the conflict period. As well as the gender imbalance in villages during the conflict period, reasons given for the high numbers of female village heads included the fact that villagers believed members of the Tatmadaw would be less likely to beat a woman. Respondents told researchers that while some women had concerns about taking on the role of village head, particularly when it required dealing with members of the military or armed groups at night, others believed it had brought them status. A resident of Thaton District in northern Mon State described such a scenario. One village secretary, we called her mo gyi [aunt], she opened her heart to me when I visited her village and she said that, Now the [2012 preliminary] ceasefire has been signed ... no one [armed actor or authority] comes and cares about us. In the past, when the Tatmadaw came, they called me a mo [mother] and gave me food, such as milk, as they asked me to take responsibility for their demands. And when the KNU came, they too offered me a bag of rice, saying that [I spoke for them]. Now however, when people [armed actors or authorities] come to see a mo, they do not care about me any more, and they just ignore me. The report also found that because of the continued presence of armed men in their area, women remain fearful, including over the threat of sexual violence. Landmines were also identified as a further danger lingering after the conflict, one that continues to restrict womens access to land and services, as well as posing a direct threat of death or injury. Other changes reported following the ceasefire involved increased land grabbing particularly in relation to road constructions as moves toward development were accompanied by demand for infrastructure. In their conclusion, the report authors made a number of recommendations, many of which relate to the implementation of The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, to which Myanmar is party. The recommendations include providing training and building the awareness of local administration offices at township and ward/village tract levels on issues of gender inequality and rural womens rights, including on the right of women and men to jointly register their land. It also calls for more work to be done to achieve equal representation of women in leadership positions, from village to Union level including women from different ethnic minority backgrounds and women who have returned after being displaced. Nearly 100,000 people across five regions and one state have been relocated due to flooding, according to data from the Department of Relief and Resettlement covering the period from the last week of July to yesterday. Residents in Sagaing, Magwe, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady and Bago regions, along with Kachin State, have been impacted, with Sagaing, Magwe and Mandalay the worst-affected regions, according to the Department of Relief and Resettlement. A total of 55,336 people from 12,891 households in Magwe Region have been moved to safer ground, while floodwaters in Mandalay Region led to the relocation of 25,040 people from 4974 households. In Sagaing Region, nine townships have been affected by high waters, prompting the evacuation of 13,040 people from 2706 households. Nearly 5000 people were also evacuated across Ayeyarwady and Bago regions, and Kachin State. While populations living in lower Myanmar have fared better, that could change as water levels on rivers upcountry remain above their warning levels and a low-pressure area persists over the Bay of Bengal, likely bringing more heavy rains in the coming days. U Kyaw Lwin Oo, director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, said the swelling rivers in upper Myanmar come as the country enters what could be the peak month of the monsoon season. The monsoon tends to be strong in August. Currently, the strength of the monsoon is very strong due to the LPA [low-pressure area]. Myanmars coastal areas and the lower part of Myanmar can expect isolated heavy rain, he said, warning downstream residents to be prepared for potential flooding. Driving most of the displacement are the swollen Chindwin and Ayeyarwady rivers. The latters water level at a measuring post in Mandalay was recorded on August 1 at its highest point since 2004. At 1325 centimetres (43.5 feet), the August 1 reading was well above the 1260cm mark designated as the rivers warning level. In Mandalay Regions Amarapura township, 12,496 people and 3351 houses were tallied as flood victims by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. Authorities on August 1 banned people from walking on the iconic teak U Bein Bridge as the waters of Taungthaman Lake rose above its boards at points. Meanwhile, the Department of Archaeology and National Museum announced yesterday that visits to the inundated Inwa old city, a popular tourist draw, were prohibited indefinitely. U Tin Maung Win, an Amyotha Hluttaw MP representing the affected townships of Mawlaik and Paungbyin (NLD; Sagaing 2), compared the recently rising waters to widespread flooding across much of Myanmar at this time last year. The flow rate of the water is slower than last years flooding. With the current flooding, the water has increased gradually and also the falling rate of the water level is slow. Residents are having difficulties with transportation and livelihoods due to the floodwaters, he said, adding that floodwaters had reached his home in Mawlaik township. U Aung Thaung Shwe, deputy director of the Myanmar Red Cross Society, said this years flooding was not yet as bad as in 2015. He urged people to be on alert and heed any early warning advisories put out by the government. The director of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, U Than Htut Swe, told The Myanmar Times yesterday that the government was providing three days of basic rations to those displaced by flooding in Mandalay, but he called on civil society groups and charitable associations to lend their support through additional provisions. Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Zaw Myint Maung sought to assure the regions residents that his administration was handling the rising waters. Every day we are sent the amount of rainfall, the amount of water in the dams and the amount the water level is above the danger mark, he said. We also estimate which areas might be flooded We have also arranged speedboats to rescue in cases of emergency. We arrange for healthcare [that might be needed] due to the consequences of flooding. The chief minister added, however, We are a bit worried because the water level in the river is still increasing. Translation by Khine Thazin Han A consortium of organisations advocating for people with disabilities has urged the Ministry of Education to form an Inclusive Education Department. We ask to have an Inclusive Education Department because if there is not a specific department responsible for helping disabled people, then any plans wont be prioritised, said U Tha Uke, secretary of the Action Committee for Children with Disabilities to Access Mainstream Education. The committe is comprised of 15 representatives from different disabilities advocacy groups. On July 6 at the Alternative Education Forum in Nay Pyi Taw, Minister for Education U Myo Thein Gyi declared that matters related to ensuring inclusive education will fall under the Department of Alternative Education. That would be the opposite of what we are trying to achieve, U Tha Uke said at a press conference on July 28. The consortium of advocates, which was formed on June 25, is currently taking a survey of children with disabilities, asking them what difficulties they face in schools. They reported, in a meeting with the minister for education, that there were 30 cases of students with disabilities claiming they had been rejected from enrolment at schools across the country. So far, the committee has confirmed 10 of those cases. The Ministry of Education should have a policy to address student acceptance, said Daw Yu Ya Thu, a representative from the committee who specialises in assisting physically disabled students. If children with disabilities apply for school enrolment, most teachers neglect them because there is no definite policy requiring the schools to accept children with disabilities. The UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities culminated in a signed agreement in December 2011. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw adopted the Disability Rights Law on June 5, 2015. But local implemention of the Disability Rights Law has not yet taken place. According to a 2010 nationwide report from the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, 53 percent of people with disabilities do not have access to education and only 2pc hold bachelors degrees. According to the 2014 census data, 2.3 million people nationwide have a disability, or 4.6pc of the population. A major new national ethnic youth alliance has been formed this week with its first vow being to ensure the inclusion of young people in the forthcoming 21st-century Panglong Conference despite government chiefs attempts to dismiss them. The announcement comes after around 800 youth delegates from across the country gathered at the site of the historic 1947 Panglong agreement for the past week to discuss peace, federalism and ethnic minority rights. Organisers of the Ethnic Youth Conference, which concluded yesterday, told The Myanmar Times that if the government would not allow the youth contingent a dedicated seat at the table, they would lobby ethnic armed groups, civil society groups and politicians. Min Naung Htaw, a representative of the Mon delegation, said, We are not sure yet whether our desire to be involved will be fulfilled or not, but we will find a way by approaching the ethnic leaders and the MPs. Last-minute attempts by the government to halt the Ethnic Youth Conference were ignored by organisers who pushed ahead regardless. But speaking at the time, deputy director general for the Presidents Office U Zaw Htay suggested the young delegates were wasting their time. The government will not take into account their recommendations because it already has plans for the participation of civil society groups in the peace process, he said. But the leaders of the new youth alliance insisted on their right to be involved. Kyaw Min Htike, a Dawei ethnic youth representative, said, We youths are the future of this country. The government should create a pathway for young people in the political sector to have a role in forming a better country. The much-heralded 21st-century Panglong Conference, due to take place at the end of this month, will see 700 representatives of the government, parliament, the Tatmadaw, ethnic armed groups, political parties, ethnic representatives and a small other relevant representatives contingent come together in a bid to reach an agreement to end the countrys long-running civil war. While campaigners have called for a quota of female representatives to be instated, the issue of youth representation has largely gone undiscussed. By far the majority of those who will attend the event tipped as so crucial to the countrys future will be older men. Organisers of the Ethnic Youth Conference, which ran for six days with delegates from dozens of different ethnic groups in attendance, said another key resolution from the event was a unified demand for the immediate cessation of major business projects involving natural resources in conflict zones. When we analysed the causes of conflict, natural resources were seen to be one of the principal issues, said Khun Oo, a Pa-O ethnic spokesperson for the new National Ethnic Youth Alliance. Any big natural resource projects must involve transparency and accountability and should not be allowed to begin until peace has been achieved, he added. While consensus was reached on what would be a positive step toward achieving peace, the youth delegates were unable to gain agreement on another key conference topic how a federal Union should look. Representatives said the new alliance would continue to discuss the issue. Organisers said that the new alliance would comprise representatives of at least 26 different ethnic minorities, with more expected to come on board. We organised a historic event that showed big unity among the ethnic people in the spirit of the 1947 Panglong Agreement. We are proud of it and we will continue working for the federal Union we dream of, said Khun Oo. A sudden, rapid influx of water into Mandalays Taungthaman Lake has forced authorities to block access to the citys famed U Bein Bridge. Barriers were erected on both sides of the bridge to block pedestrian access on August 1 after the waters of the lake rose almost to the level of the bridge walkway. This is the first time since 2004 that the bridge has been closed because of the threat of flooding. The cause is the sudden influx of water from the Ayeyarwady River. U Nyat Gyi, secretary of Taungthaman Boat Association, said, On the afternoon of July 31 the level of the Ayeyarwady River suddenly rose. The east and west entrances of U Bein Bridge were closed off by wooden barriers at 9:30am the next day in order to prevent access. The water is still rising. Local resident U Kyaw Soe, of Shwe Goon Toot ward near the bridge, said the river had risen 2 feet (0.6 metres) over the danger level as water entered through Sagaing Myit Nge River into the lake. Traffic has been banned from the west orbital road of Taungthaman Lake leading to the bridge. The lake water is already thigh-deep on the orbital road. Ayeyarwady River water has been flooding into the lake all night since mid-afternoon yesterday. Four townships around the lake and the bridge are also flooded, he said on August 1. Some visitors have taken to boats to row along beside the bridge, some stretches of which have already been swamped. In 2004, some of the bridges pillars were swept into the water during the flooding at that time. So far the present flooding is not as bad, but it could be if it keeps rising over the next few days. In 2004, it took almost a month for the waters to recede, said U Nyat Gyi. The city official U Bein, a clerk to the Mayor of Amarapura township, used more than 1000 teak pillars to build the bridge that bears his name about 160 years ago. Sunset views from the bridge are a major attraction for foreign and domestic visitors. As of August 1, two stretches around pillar number 220 were underwater, and in most of the rest of the bridge the water had reached the top of the pillars. Translation by Emoon Syrian regime forces bolstered by Russian air strikes recaptured territory overnight in the southwest suburbs of the battleground city of Aleppo, rolling back the short-lived gains of a rebel offensive. Rebels and their jihadists allies launched an assault Sunday in a bid to ease a more than two-week government siege of opposition-held districts of the city. But regime fighters have put up a fierce fightback, retaking several positions from beleaguered rebel forces, a monitor said Wednesday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces seized two hilltops and two small villages in the southwest suburbs of Aleppo late Tuesday. "The regime is launching counter-attacks to absorb the fierce rebel offensive," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. "The opposition offensive has not achieved the results that were expected at this stage," he said. An AFP journalist in east Aleppo said clashes and shelling could be heard throughout the night, followed by barrel bomb attacks and air strikes in the early morning. The groups waging the offensive -- including fighters from Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate and the powerful Islamist Ahrar al-Sham -- have promised to end the government encirclement of eastern parts of Aleppo. They are seeking to capture Ramussa, a district in Aleppo's southwest suburbs, in a bid to cut off government forces and open a new route into the city for rebels. But they have struggled to hold newly-acquired territory in the face of heavy Russian air strikes, Abdel Rahman said. They have managed to keep control of at least four hilltops and one small village, he added. Longtime regime ally Moscow launched an air campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad's forces in September. Wednesday's edition of Al-Watan, a newspaper close to the government, said government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, "advanced again south and southwest of Aleppo causing major setbacks" for rebel factions. And pro-regime website Al-Masdar News said an initial rebel advance into the Ramussa district was pushed back "following a long and gruesome battle". The Britain-based Observatory said more than 50 rebels and allied jihadists had been killed since the assault began, as well as dozens of regime troops. Overnight, at least 10 civilians, including four children, were killed in rebel shelling of government-controlled districts on Aleppo's southwestern edges, the monitor said. More than 40 civilians have been killed by shelling on government-held neighbourhoods since Sunday. The battle for Aleppo -- Syria's second city -- is critical for both the regime in Damascus and the forces seeking to overthrow it. It was Syria's commercial hub until 2012, when clashes left it roughly divided between government troops in the west and rebels in the east. Eastern districts came under government siege on July 17, sparking concerns for the estimated 250,000 people still living there. Last week Russia announced the opening of "humanitarian corridors" to allow residents and surrendering fighters to flee for government-held territory. This was met with scepticism by residents and international observers, and 35 NGOs in a statement on Tuesday called the initiative "deeply flawed". The groups, including Save the Children and Oxfam, urged implementation of a UN call for a weekly 48-hour humanitarian pause in Aleppo. In the surrounding province, 24 people reportedly suffered breathing difficulties in Saraqeb, a town 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Aleppo, after a barrel bomb attack on Tuesday, the Observatory said. Residents said the attack had used chlorine gas, but the monitor could not confirm this. The incident took place close to where Russia said on Monday one of its military helicopters was shot down, killing the five people on board. Syria's conflict has killed more than 280,000 people and drawn in world powers on both sides since it erupted in March 2011. Half the country's population has been forced to flee their homes with an estimated five million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Search Keywords: Short link: Villagers in Pyin Oo Lwin township, Mandalay Region, are benefiting from cuts in red tape that allow them to transfer ownership of land, or to change the use to which the land is put. The new system came into force on July 28, said regional hluttaw MP U Aung Min (NLD). More than 80 land leasing documents and 40 change-of-use permissions for other usages of land have already been granted by township authorities, the land department and the hluttaw as part of their first 100-days project, he said. Besides land leasing documents, they are also issuing change-of-use permits for the first time. Residents of Pin Tee village in the Kone Thar group of villages received their [new use] documents, based on scrutiny that has been carried out since last May. Weve also begun scrutiny for other villages as well, and we will continue to grant the documents, U Aung Min, who represents Pyin Oo Lwin constituency 1, said yesterday. Documents are issued subject to three conditions: ownership of the land must be clear; the village in which it is located must contain 100 households; and no villager may object to the proposed permit or lease alteration. Staff shortages mean that applications are being handled on a village-by-village basis. The issuance of these documents guarantees ownership rights. Land was traded on the basis of informal contracts before. We would like to see this system extended in future, said U Nyunt, a resident of Pin Tee, yesterday. Pyin Oo Lwin township has 21 wards, 37 village tracts and 116 villages. Out of more than 255,000 residents in total, a majority, 62 percent, are urban dwellers, according to the 2014 census. Translation by Kyawt Darly Lin Lawmakers dorming in state-owned accommodation in the capital will now be subject to a 5 percent commercial tax, according to the Nay Pyi Taw City Development Committee. The Sebin guesthouse, which puts up many lawmakers, is not exempt from tax law, the city authority told parliamentarians. Known among some MPs as Heartbreak Hotel for its austere conditions, the guesthouse is owned by the committee, making it a government facility. The commercial tax will be collected from MPs and forwarded to the Internal Revenue Department, the committee said. The Nay Pyi Taw City Development Committee announced on July 26 that MPs staying at the guesthouse must pay commercial tax of 5pc starting on August 1, said U Min Thein, a Pyithu Hluttaw representative from Mandalay Region (NLD; Ngazun). MPs living in the municipal guesthouse are charged K5000 per day and must pay a K250 per diem tax, amounting to about K7000 for one month. Some MPs said if tax is paid on the property, the committee should improve services offered at the compound. If we must pay taxes like we are taking services from the municipal guesthouse, then I want them to provide better services, said Sai Thiha Kyaw from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (Mongyai). Other MPs acknowledged that as the government attempts to set the tax collection system straight, civil servants and elected parliamentarians should be leading by example. Everyone has to pay taxes. The MPs should not be exempt. Now is the time for setting in place a proper taxation system for the country, said U Myat Nyan Soe (NLD; Yangon 3). Daw Khin San Hlaing (NLD; Palae) said, MPs are role models for the public and so this tax should be carried out. Parliamentarians staying at the Sebin guesthouse have previously complained of restrictions at the government-owned facility, including requirements to register family guests and a prohibition on political discussions and trainings at the compound. Translation by Khine Thazin Han A former 88 Generation student turned English teacher was deported shortly after he arrived at Yangon International Airport yesterday as officials informed him of his status on a government watchlist. The new government has been trimming names from the registry of undesirables, with more than 600 removed since June, an immigration official told The Myanmar Times yesterday. But U Maung Maung One, a US citizen, abruptly discovered he had been added to the catalogue only after his international voyage. He had obtained a visa from the Myanmar embassy in Washington, DC, prior to his arrival yesterday, according to police at the airport. I dont know why the embassy approved his visa. The embassy should know that he is on the watchlist, said U Htay Hlaing, deputy director general of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population. According to U Htay Hlaing, the English teacher was added to the list after his previous visit to the country last year, when he violated the provisions of his tourist visa by offering language classes. In a similar case a day earlier, two Pakistani nationals were fined and deported after they held discussions on Islamic Sufism at mosques in Yangon. The new government announced in June that it would begin reviewing the blacklist with the aim of allowing political exiles to return home. The long list of undesirables was composed by successive military regimes, which forced many citizens into exile, primarily taking up residence in the United States, Australia or Europe. Over 250 Myanmar citizens and 350 foreign nationals have been struck from the list, U Htay Hlaing said. He added, however, that many names remain, but would not specify the exact number. We have no plan to publicly release the names of the people removed from the list because it could lead to a disturbance for those people if we breach their privacy. We will inform the people we remove from the blacklist directly, said the deputy director general. U Aye Kyaw, managing director of Rubyland Travels and Tours who was blacklisted last August by the Myanmar Tourism Federation at the behest of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, told The Myanmar Times yesterday that his was among the names recently dropped from the list. My business suffered because I was on the blacklist, he said. The blacklist is a violation of peoples rights. Several staff members from Burma Campaign UK believe they are still enumerated on the list as they have not yet been informed of their removal. In June, Burma Campaign UK wrote to the government asking for confirmation of which staff members remain on the roster and which have been removed. The NLD-led government should publish the blacklist and explain why human rights activists remain on it. Most governments have some form of blacklist to stop criminals or people who are a threat to the country, but people should not be blacklisted just because the government doesnt like what they say, Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, told The Myanmar Times. The government of U Thein Sein scrubbed nearly 2000 names from the blacklist in 2012, including politicians, foreign journalists, pro-democracy activists and armed group leaders. Members of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners U Tate Naing and U Bo Kyi, former prime minister in exile U Sein Win, and Karen National Union (KNU) deputy leader Naw Zipporah Sein were all removed from the blacklist in 2012. However, many people found their names to be entered multiple times with slightly different spellings. Even after their names were removed from the list, some dissidents continued to face issues like visa rejections, or were forced to sign pledges that they would give up politics, or forfeit permanent residence eligibility. U Sein Win, an exiled political leader and first cousin of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was slated to return to Myanmar in July in order to attend Martyrs Day, but refused to sign any agreement of bargain for his trip, according to his brother, U Htwe Win. My brother wont come back if the government makes him sign a pledge. Now he is in America, said U Htwe Win. The AAPPs joint secretary U Bo Kyi said he continues to face problems with his application for permanent residence, which has yet to be accepted. The Presidents Office of the current government informed me that the permanent residence application is still being processed. This new government also has no transparency, he said. If they did, they would release the blacklist data publicly. Additional reporting by Toe Wai Aung A freer media is critical to the countrys political transition, but it is also time for more responsible journalism As a voracious consumer of Myanmar journalism over some time, I am fascinated by how the countrys transition to freedom of the press takes root and prospers. Progress toward press freedom has occurred very rapidly in Myanmar since 2012, but we still see too many instances of journalists being detained and even charged over what they have published. I am not an expert on Myanmars history of government-controlled media, but am conscious of the great respect that Myanmar society has always accorded its writers who sought to influence and improve attitudes of public policy. In some ways, even routine reporting of events and developments today by Myanmar journalists continues this tradition. I am also conscious of the pitfalls of excessively cautious self-censorship that U Pe Myint, now the minister for information, warned about when he attended the 2011 Myanmar Update conference at Australian National University. At that time, U Pe Myint was editor-in-chief of the Peoples Age. The Thein Sein governments relaxation of print censorship did not take effect until 2012. I also agree with the views of former Myanmar Times journalist Ma Nwe Nwe Aye about the valuable role that an open media can play in countries like Myanmar in combating corruption, or in raising public awareness and protecting political integrity in other meaningful ways. I am convinced that Myanmars media has a critical role to play in helping consolidate democracy, as democracy cannot be achieved by political practitioners alone, and cannot fulfil its goals in practice without full and explicit public endorsement. The enthusiasm with which Myanmar journalists have since 2012 consistently exposed sensitive issues and explained ongoing protests and problems is undoubtedly praiseworthy. In many cases, media reporting has ensured government policy has been held to account and the interests of ordinary people (such as workers, land holders and victims of discrimination) have been better protected. In many cases, of course, such media coverage has meant criticism of government policies or practices that may have caused discomfort and perhaps even anger on the part of the authorities. Much of the government sensitivity was exaggerated and may have been unnecessary or avoidable. One cause of such problems may be the absence of adequate laws in Myanmar to protect journalists who publish embarrassing information, to improve the scope for the people to obtain proper redress through the judicial system, and to punish those who have violated the law but who informally enjoy a measure of impunity. Another phenomenon in Myanmar might be the willingness of journalists to accept criticism of the government uncritically. This is probably not surprising, given the history of government control and the lack of trust that developed as a consequence, as well as the incipient nature of a freer press. Journalists also may not be able to obtain clarification of government positions, while it is also true that law enforcement in Myanmar is often frivolous and is pursuing another, political agenda. In this situation, greater mutual restraint by both sides may help. Authorities should refrain from responding with excessive force against protesters. And journalists anywhere must exercise care about the motives behind any action they report, and remember their responsibility to verify the truth, rather than to repeat unsubstantiated information, particularly in highly sensitive areas such as national security. The decision to disclose information must be made judiciously, keeping in mind both the public interest and the reliability of sources. In countries like Australia, we are fortunate to have a range of formal, legal protections which, while not always perfect, go a long way to ensuring the overall system operates fairly. For example, we have strong defamation laws to protect individual reputations (typically not used for other purposes by any government). We also have whistle-blower protection laws, which allow abuses of authority to be challenged without the discloser of the information being unfairly penalised. Australia also has a system of legal aid for those who would not normally be able to afford a lawyer and the costs of mounting a lawsuit, and arrangements through an independent Press Council to ensure media reporting is not mischievous, destructive or in some way unreasonable. Complaining to the Press Council would normally be a last resort, and not often used. Myanmars decision to establish a press council may be welcome, but it will probably not be fully effective on its own. Generally, media reporting in Australia is also subject to more informal scrutiny, often by peers, so that journalists are encouraged to uphold high standards of integrity and not tempted to seek malicious or corrupt gains from media coverage. After so many years of isolation, Myanmars media have opportunities to learn from the experiences of others. New Mandala Trevor Wilson is a visiting fellow at Australian National Universitys Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, a former Australian ambassador to Myanmar and author of Eyewitness to Early Reform in Myanmar. This article is supplied by New Mandala, a specialist website on Southeast Asian affairs based at ANU. [August 02, 2016] Valpak Plans To Expand Presence In Madison, Wisconsin ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today it is looking to further expand its brand footprint in Madison, Wisconsin. The company is seeking a sales-driven entrepreneur to invest in this franchise opportunity and continue to strengthen its market presence. There are more than 130,000 households in Madison that are currently receiving the consumer savings Valpak brings to the area. The expansion comes at an opportune time of growth for the Madison market. In fact, The Bureau of Labor Statistics released preliminary state job totals and claimed a 1.85 percent growth for the area, which ranked 20th in the country. The report boasts Wisconsin's highest ranking in annual job growth since November 2010 and showcases its progressive business strides. "Fostering entrepreneurial success is a key component of our franchise development strategy as we look to grow our brand across the country," said Shak Turner, Valpak's director of franchise sales. "While Valpak is most widely known for its array of print coupons, we are also looking to attract the millennial market in Madison with our impressive mobile offerings. Currently, studies show that 42 percent of millennials use coupons sent via email so, we definitely want to capitalize on this opportunity." With more than 25 million Americans using couponing apps each month, Valpak's digital offerings have been a big draw for new franchisees. Digital coupon use is on the rise, and ample gains are projected in 2016. In the past year, Valpak's print offerings have also expanded with on-envelope advertising and circulars. A leader in cooperative direct mail, Valpak mails coupons to nearly 39 million demographically targeted households per month in 45 states and four Canadian provinces. Today, in addition to its flagship Blue Envelope, Valpak offers its advertisers an impressive portfolio of digital advertising products including valpak.com, Smartphone apps, Google partnerships, website development, mobile web optimization and reputation management. Ideal candidates for Valpak franchise ownership should possess a desire to join a trusted, industry-leading brand, work within a proven franchise system, develop relationships with local businesses and have a comfort level with selling new, digital technologies. Franchisees should also possess a minimum liquidity of $75,000, and a minimum net worth of $150,000. For more information on Valpak franchise opportunities, please contact Shak Turner at [email protected] or 727-399-3091 or visit www.valpakfranchising.com. About Valpak Based in St. Petersburg, FL, Valpak is one of the leading direct marketing companies in the U.S. and Canada. We provide print and digital advertising through a network of 160 local franchises. From mailbox to mobile phone, Valpak brings exciting local business offers and opportunities to millions of consumers. Each month, our well-known Blue Envelope of savings is mailed to about 39 million demographically targeted households in 45 states and in four Canadian provinces. Our digital suite of products, including valpak.com, reaches more than 110 million users. Founded in 1968, Valpak is owned by Cox Target Media, a subsidiary of Cox Media Group in Atlanta. CONTACT: Samantha Rego Valpak 727-399-3139 [email protected] Sloane Fistel Fish Consulting (954) 893-9150 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150212/175295LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/valpak-plans-to-expand-presence-in-madison-wisconsin-300306605.html SOURCE Valpak [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 03, 2016] Destination Jonkoping AB Selects Strayboots to Bring First Public Scavenger Hunt to Sweden NEW YORK, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Interactive Scavenger Hunt Will Apply Strayboots' Mobile Gaming Expertise to Attract Domestic and International Tourists and Companies Worldwide Strayboots, the leading global provider of mobile team building scavenger hunts, announced today its partnership with Destination Jonkoping AB to bring the first public scavenger hunt to Sweden. The partnership will begin with an interactive tour of the city of Granna, with plans for more cities to follow. The partnership with Destination Jonkoping is part of a larger regional initiative to increase awareness of the area among domestic and international tourists and companies. The scavenger hunt will offer visitors an interactive tour of Granna that they will be able to access on their smartphones free of charge though a dedicated URL and additional information provided at Tourism Offices throughout the city. Granna is situated in Jonkoping Municipality, Sweden with 2,553 inhabitants in 2010. As the fourth largest municipality in Sweden, Jonkoping is a popular destination among both domestic and foreign travelers, averaging $3.8 billion in tourism sales and 1.4 million day visits in 2015. "We are excited about working with Strayboots to help visitors have fun discovering all that Jonkoping has to offer by creating the best mobile experiences to showcase Granna," said Patrik Olderius, CEO of Destination Jonkoping AB. "Swedes are among the most mobile-savvy people in the EU so working with Strayboots to create something truly innovative was a natural fit for us." According to figures provided by Destination Jnkoping AB, 77% Swedes have a smartphone, with 76% using it to access the Internet and 57% navigating using a mobile GPS. Added Mr. Olderius, "People expect two things when it comes to using their smartphone for information: to be educated and to be entertained. As a partner, Strayboots has a unique understanding of how to do both." Strayboots brings a proven track record creating fun, interactive scavenger hunts incorporating the latest advances in mobile technology. Strayboots' scavenger hunts are deployed in more than 50 major cities throughout the USA and used for team building by more than 600 corporations, including Fortune 100 companies and organizations worldwide. The partnership with Destination Jonkoping AB continues the company's expansion to global markets helping clients reach and attract mobile audiences through engaging discovery experiences designed for their smartphone. "Our team is thrilled to be working with Destination Jonkoping to translate the beauty and history of Granna into a memorable scavenger hunt experience for visitors," said Strayboots co-founder and Senior Vice President, Jeremy Brooks. "We look forward to helping to increase awareness of the area as a world travel destination and center of business and technology innovation for tourists and companies alike." About Destination Jonkoping AB The aim of Destination Jonkoping AB is to make the geographic location of Jonkoping Municipality more attractive and generate growth through more visitors to Jonkoping Municipality within the areas of tourism, events and meetings/conferences. The Municipality has seen a steady population increase since 2005 and today has a total of 133,597 inhabitants living across its five cities, including Jonkoping and Granna. In 2013, the average income and employment in Jonkoping were on par with levels for the whole country and 785 new companies were registered in the municipality during 2014. Destination Jonkoping AB is a wholly owned municipal company with 20 staff. About Strayboots Strayboots is the leading global provider of mobile scavenger hunts for corporate team building, group adventures and city exploration. With Strayboots, customers can reach and engage mobile audiences by offering highly customized digital experiences that foster connections, improve performance and build trust. Strayboots hunts are delivered nationwide and used by more than 1,000 organizations including Fortune 100 companies, cities and businesses worldwide. The company's main offices are in Tel Aviv, Israel, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and New York, NY. To learn more please visit https://www.strayboots.com/events/ Contact info: Strayboots Karen Kuller +972-58-617-3724 [email protected] Destination Jonkoping AB Patrik Olderius +46 725 07 01 21 [email protected] SOURCE Strayboots [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Turkish police raided the offices of the national science research council on Wednesday, broadcaster NTV said, widening the investigation into followers of the U.S.-based cleric suspected of masterminding last month's coup attempt. Many people were detained in the raid of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Tubitak), NTV said. Turkey's government says the July 15 coup attempt was orchestrated by followers of Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999. Gulen denies the charge and has condemned the coup. Search Keywords: Short link: Weeks after being arrested for allegedly threatening to burn down his ex-girlfriend's apartment and kicking down the door to enter the home, Young Buck found himself back in police custody over the weekend when it was ruled he violated his probation, reports TMZ . The G-Unit rapper was taken to Warren County Regional Jail in Kentucky on Thursday and had his probation revoked on the basis that he may flee and that he poses a danger to others. He was first arrested for the incident on July 21 and released on $5,000 bond. Young Buck is on probation for a gun charge from 2012. He served the majority of an 18-month prison sentence from 2012-2013. The rapper was released yesterday and is expected to return to court for a hearing. -hiphopdx Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. Nairobi (AFP) - Burundi's government has rejected the deployment of 228 UN police to the troubled African nation, saying a French-led UN resolution authorising the force was made without its consent. The UN Security Council on Friday agreed to deploy the force in its strongest move to date to try to end more than a year of violence. "The government of Burundi rejects every aspect of this resolution linked to the deployment of any force on its territory," spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba said in a statement released on Tuesday. The UN resolution was "in violation of the fundamental principles required of the UN family and above all violating its sovereignty," he added. The council adopted the resolution on dispatching the police to the capital Bujumbura, and throughout Burundi, for an initial period of a year. The planned deployment has sparked fury from the authorities who, after initially saying they would accept no more than 50 officers, have now rejected having even that many. Nzobonariba said any UN resolution must be approved by the country it affected, which was "unfortunately not the case". The UN should reconsider the move as Burundi's own security forces were "in perfect control of the situation" throughout the country, he added. The rebuttal had been expected after thousands of people marched through the streets of Bujumbura on Saturday to protest against the measure in a rally organised by the authorities. Burundi has been in turmoil since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced plans in April last year to run for a third term, which he went on to win. More than 500 people have since died, many of them in extrajudicial killings blamed on Burundian police, security forces and militias linked to the ruling party, according to the United Nations. At least 270,000 people have fled the country. Sirte (Libya) (AFP) - Libyan pro-government forces battled to seize more territory from Islamic State group jihadists in their stronghold Sirte on Wednesday but their offensive was hindered by mines and snipers. Fighters allied to Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) -- supported by US air strikes -- are trying to retake the hometown of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi from jihadists who have controlled the city since June 2015. "Our forces... are trying to strengthen their advance with the support of ongoing American air strikes that have given momentum to the military operation," said Reda Issa, a spokesman for forces loyal to Libya's unity government. American warplanes carried out seven strikes against IS positions in Sirte on Monday and Tuesday at the GNA's request. Issa did not say whether further strikes took place on Wednesday. GNA forces have been battling to oust jihadists from the town since May 12. They entered the city on June 9 and have pushed the jihadists out of the city's port, international airport, an air base and a hospital. But their advance slowed as IS hit back with sniper fire, car bombs and suicide attacks. "There are targets that are hard to hit because they are among the houses," said Issa. - 'Support to limit losses' - "American air strikes, which are very accurate, will help to destroy those targets. "Every day the battle's outcome is not settled, the city becomes more full of booby traps," said Issa. "But there is no doubt that the presence of effective and accurate weapons will accelerate the end of the battle." The loss of Sirte would be a major blow to the jihadists, who have faced a series of setbacks in Syria and Iraq. IS took over the city in June 2015, taking advantage of chaos after the fall of Kadhafi. US President Barack Obama defended the air campaign on Tuesday, saying defeating the jihadists there was in America's national interest. Obama has said that American air strikes serve the national security interests of the US and its European allies. Washington has been carrying out air strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq since 2014, with the aim of "destroying" the group, which has carried out atrocities throughout the areas it controls. Washington has launched several strikes against IS in Libya in recent months. In November US bombing in the eastern city of Derna killed a jihadist who Washington said was the most senior IS commander in Libya. But the fight for Sirte has taken its toll on GNA forces. More than 300 have been killed and 1,500 wounded, according to medical sources in Misrata, 200 kilometres (125 miles) east of Tripoli, where the GNA's command centre is located. A spokesman for the GNA forces told AFP: "We asked for (US) support to limit our losses". - US strikes show 'contempt' - "We have had more than 100 amputations, numerous clinical deaths and gravely wounded," Mohamad Ghassri said. The GNA decided to seek help from the US air force instead of buying intelligent weapons for its own warplanes because of the UN arms embargo on Libya since 2011, Ghassri said. Two rival governments are competing for authority in Libya, while dozens of militias vie for power on the ground. The GNA, based in Tripoli, is recognised by the international community, but the elected House of Representatives in the eastern city of Tobruk has refused to endorse the unity government. The authorities based in the east have condemned the US air strikes. On Tuesday the Tobruk parliament summoned the Tunis-based American ambassador to protest, saying it expected a written or verbal response if he could not attend in person. Dar al-Ifta, the highest religious authority in the country, which does not recognise the GNA, also condemned the American air strikes against IS. It said the raids showed "contempt for the many sacrifices of the martyrs" and were a violation of Libya's sovereignty. The Tobruk administration faces its own fight with jihadists. For two years, Libya's second city Benghazi has been the scene of daily clashes between the forces of General Khalifa Haftar, who is aligned with the Tobruk-based authorities, and a militia alliance known as the Revolutionary Shura Council. On Tuesday evening, 23 fighters allied with the House of Representatives were killed in a suicide attack in Benghazi, a medical source in the eastern city told AFP. Libyan pro-government forces, backed by US air strikes, fought to advance on Islamic State group militants in Sirte on Wednesday despite mines and snipers, a spokesman said. "Our forces... are trying to strengthen their advance with the support of ongoing American air strikes that have given momentum to the military operation," said Reda Issa, a spokesman for forces loyal to Libya's unity government. The IS group bastion, located just across the Mediterranean from Europe, has been shaken by weeks of fierce clashes between militants and fighters allied to Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). American war planes carried out seven strikes against IS group positions in Sirte on Monday and Tuesday at the GNA's request. Issa did not say whether further strikes took place on Wednesday. GNA forces have been battling to oust militants from the town since May 12. They entered the city on June 9 and have pushed the militants out of the city's port, international airport, an air base and a hospital. But their advance slowed as IS group hit back with sniper fire, car bombs and suicide attacks. "There are targets that are hard to hit because they are among the houses," said Issa. "American air strikes, which are very accurate, will help to destroy those targets." "Every day the battle's outcome is not settled, the city becomes more full of booby traps," said Issa. "But there is no doubt that the presence of effective and accurate weapons will accelerate the end of the battle." US President Barack Obama defended the air campaign on Tuesday, saying defeating the militants there was in America's national interest. The loss of Sirte, the birthplace of Libya's former dictator Moamer Kadhafi, would be a major blow to the militants, who have faced a series of setbacks in Syria and Iraq. Search Keywords: Short link: The economy of Ghana is losing some GHC4.6 billion (US$2.6 billion, or 6.4 percent of GDP) a year to the effects of child undernutrition, according to a new study launched today in the capital. The Cost of Hunger in Africa: the Social and Economic Impact of Child Undernutrition on Ghanas Long-Term Development (COHA) shows vast amounts being lost through increased healthcare costs, additional burdens on the education system and lower productivity by its workforce. The consequences of stunting (low height for age) are of particular concern. Stunting occurs when children miss out on critical nutrients -- including proteins, vitamins and minerals -- while in the womb and in the first two years of life. This is compounded by diseases and poor hygiene practices. People affected by stunting face lifelong consequences starting in childhood such as frequent illness, poor school performance, having to repeat classes or dropping out altogether, and low workplace productivity. Among other findings, the COHA report reveals that: 37 percent of the adult population in Ghana suffered from stunting as children; 24 percent of all child mortality cases in Ghana are associated with undernutrition; child mortality associated with undernutrition has reduced Ghanas workforce by 7.3 percent. Ghana has made some progress in improving child nutrition over the past two decades, reducing chronic malnutrition or stunting from 23 to 19 percent. However, this study highlights the critical need for further progress. Dr. Margaret Agama Nyetei, the African Union Commissions Head of Health, Nutrition and Population Division, said the issue was vital to the AUs vision and action plan for the next 50 years, known as Agenda 2063. At the African Union, we believe that the realisation of Agenda 2063 and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be possible without fully harnessing the potential of all sectors of the population and this includes our children, she said. The goal of eliminating stunting is key to achieving Zero Hunger, Sustainable Development Goal 2, said Thomas Yanga, Director of the World Food Programme Africa Office. The losses to the economy can be averted through strategic interventions which ensure adequate nutrition for mothers and young children. Stunting is not just a health issue, it needs to be addressed through a multi-sectoral approach and prioritised in all development programmes from community to national level. Ensuring a generation free from malnutrition requires significant investments in nutrition strategies and interventions. There is therefore a need for Ghana to forge strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, particularly the private sector and non-state actors, to combat undernutrition holistically, said Prof. Takyiwaa Manuh, Director of the Social Development Policy Division at the Economic Commission for Africa. In the Northern Region of Ghana, thirty percent of children under five are stunted or chronically malnourished. This not only affects their growth but also their educational development and economic potential, and consequently the future of the country, said Margot van der Velden, WFP Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa. The COHA report is led by the African Union Commission (AUC), in partnership with African governments, the New Partnership for Africas Development Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA); the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Studies have so far taken place in Egypt, Ethiopia, Swaziland, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Rwanda, and are due to be carried out in Chad, Lesotho, Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritania. The COHA National Implementation Team which, was responsible for collecting, processing and presenting results from Ghana was composed of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, UN Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, international organisations concerned with the elimination of child stunting. The launch of the study was under the auspices of the National Development Planning Commission. The Government of Ghana, the African Development Bank, the French Development Agency, the Office of the United Nations Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Rockefeller Foundation, and WFP contributed financially to the realisation of this study in Ghana. 03.08.2016 LISTEN Many people are calling for John Mahama to free the Montie 3 by invoking his powers as permitted by the 1992 constitution. In their judgement, the 4 months custodial sentence is too harsh hence the petition. They believe the President, who is not a trained lawyer, is a better person to determine a more appropriate punishment (ie act as a judge) than a panel of 5 Supreme Court Justices. It is apparent to many discerning Ghanaians that the montie 3 were doing the bidding of the ruling party. NDC was the prime beneficiary of their evil deeds. As result, they believe it is necessary to stand by and with them. It has been reported that the petition has already received over 100,000 signatures. So can/should Mahama ignore the call? The lawyer of the President, Tony Lithur, as well as many other prominent Ghanaians have advised Mahama not to heed to the call to free the Montie 3. The reason is simple such a decision will undermine the judiciary. Already, some lawyers are questioning the powers of the President to free people convicted of criminal contempt. In view of the foregoing, if the President alters the sentence as issued by the Supreme Court, it is very likely that someone will challenge the action at the same court (ie Supreme Court). Imagine this scenario: President Mahama commutes the 4 months sentence to 2 months. Someone then takes the issue to the Supreme Court for interpretation as to the legality or otherwise of the action of the President. The Supreme Court then rules that per their interpretation of the constitution, the President could not and should not have commuted the sentence of the convicts. Consequently, the Montie 3 should be put back in jail. Is the above scenario possible? Yes of course! What would be the effect? Obviously that would result in a constitutional crisis. In the light of the foregoing, should John Mahama free the montie 3? He may have the power but as the good book says, all things may be permissible but not all things are expedient. So NO! NO! NO! BUT WILL he FREE them? If he loved Ghana and wanted to set a good precedence for future Presidents, he would not. But if he loves his party supporters and power more than protecting Ghana from avoidable chaos, he will free them. My verdict Unfortunately, John Mahama will definitely do what will please his political party and not what will be in the best interest of Ghana. Guaranteed!! He will do it and that makes me sad!!! Author: Kwabena Boateng Email:[email protected] 03.08.2016 LISTEN Former President of the Greater Accra Bar Association, Frank Davies, says he was in disbelief and shock after learning some legal practitioners have joined the bandwagon to petition President Mahama over convicted Montie 3. He says their action, which goes against the very system they are supposed to defend, will unroll the strides the justice system has made in the country. I am very saddened, very embarrassed that whatever is going on now is being pushed by lawyers. When we act as lawyers and do things as lawyers we should be guided. If you want to go that route, you will never develop the judicial system, he told Nana Ansah Kwao IV, host of MultiTVs news analysis programme, PM Express Monday. The incarceration of a journalist, Salifu Maase popularly known as Mugabe and two panelists, Alistair Taro Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn of Montie FM following the sentencing by the Supreme Court (SC) for contempt of the court has sparked controversy in the country. Whereas sections of Ghanaians are in support of the conviction of the three men, faithful of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) are in fierce opposition. They claim the presiding judge Sophia Akufo went to the extreme in slamming four months jail term and a penalty of GHC10,000 each on the three men. Considering the option for a review of the custodial sentence appears slim, lawyers for the convicted men in collaboration with a pro-NDC group called the Research and Advocacy Platform (RAPS) decided to solicit enough signatures to compel President Mahama to activate his powers in Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution. The powers, which is one of the special powers enjoyed by a sitting President, enjoins him to grant pardon to convicted individuals. However, this must be done in consultation with the nations Council of State. One of the lawyers for the men, George Loh, has said the petition is not meant to compel the President to behave in a manner he does not wish to. "What people don't understand is that we are not putting a gun on the head of the President to give reprieve to the three men. He can decide to pardon them or not. We are only pleading with him to do something about their custodial sentences," he said. But the former Greater Accra Bar Association president has disagreed with Mr Loh saying their action, as lawyers, will serve as a setback for the justice system in the country. According to him, the discretion to prosecute the three men for contempt of the court rests with the judges and not lawyers. If the custodial sentence handed down to the trio was harsh, the lawyers have no option than to accept it the way it is, he said. What has happened is not something without precedent, he said, adding, the circumstances the trio finds themselves is not something that deserves a prerogative of mercy by the President. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected] 03.08.2016 LISTEN Our Dear Readers: We received the following notice from Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, courtesy of the Molefi Kete Asante Institute for Afrocentric Studies, on Monday, August 1, 2016. It is about an important upcoming international event dubbed Fourth Biennial Kwame Nkrumah International Conference, an important event we will like to share with our readers from around the world (unedited): The staff of the Molefi Kete Asante Institute for Afrocentric Studies hope that you are enjoying a safe and productive summer. I would like to make you aware of an exciting event taking place in Philadelphia, PA on September 1619, 2016. The Fourth Biennial Kwame Nkrumah International Conference will be a powerful gathering of scholars and researchers, policymakers, artists, and activists with the aim of regenerating the Pan-African intelligentsia to provide solution-oriented ideas on issues affecting African people globally. This conference will provide a unique opportunity to network with major thinkers committed to Africa's renaissance! See the link below for more information on how to register for this historic event. I look forward to seeing you there! Asante sana. Molefi K. Asante President For further information, please visit the following link (URL): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fourth-kwame-nkrumah-international-conference-tickets-26262474769 With its theme Reinvigorating The Pan-African Intelligentsia: Developing Organizations And Institutions Committed to Serving African People the Fourth Biennial Kwame Nkrumah International Conference (KNIC4) has as its first aim the amassing of intellectual, academic, and technological, reports and proposals addressing the challenges facing African people globally KNIC4 will afford participants an opportunity to share research and ideas on the realities, challenges, and strategies for developing the Pan-African intelligentsia in the age of globalization, with a particular focus on ways of impacting and influencing institutions/organizations of people of African descent for the development of Africans everywhere. Finally, the conference will clarify the role of the Pan-African intelligentsia in informing strategies for African development and integration into the world economy. Visit the venue site for more information (see the URL above). TIME & VENUE When: Friday, September 16, 2016 at 12:00 PMMonday, September 19, 2016 at 3:00 PM (EDT) Where (Venue): 3020 Market Street3020 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 ORGANIZERS OF THE FOURTH KWAME NKRUMAH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE D. Zizwe Poe, Ph.D. (Conference Convener) (Note: Dr. Poe is the author of Kwame Nkrumahs Contribution to Pan-African Agency: An Afrocentric Analysis). Stephanie Yarbough (Conference Coordinator) ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Thanks. Globally, poverty has been described as having the face of a woman because women represent more than 50% of the poor people in the world. The World Bank report indicated that out of the 1.29 billion poor people in the world, women represent over 70% of them. This situation may be due to several factors such as low level of education of women, small holdings of assets they control, and in Africa, high female fertility and teenage pregnancy. But are women the real face of poverty? A woman is as rich as the poverty of her husband. This statement may be true because if a lady gets to marry or be with a man who is well-to-do, the womans life will be affected one way or the other. That is the life of the woman will be much better off if she gets married to a wealthy man or from a rich home. It can therefore be said that women will be poor if they end up marrying a poor man and their children as well as they themselves will be worse-off. However, it must be noted that the well-being of women does not entirely depend on who they marry but the person they marry may only contribute to whether they become poor or non-poor. One can hence say women are not the real face of poverty since the men they marry have a strong correlation with their poverty level. That is to say, poor men have poor wives and families and eventually bequeath poverty to their family when they die just as rich men bequeath wealth to their families. When the dimension of poverty is looked at in this way but not in an isolated case as just the feminization of poverty, more pragmatic steps can be taken to address the issue of poverty which has become a world menace and canker. In this new perspective, efforts made to address poverty must concentrate on causes and solutions to male poverty and by this female poverty will be resolved as well. Mr. Samuel Osei-Gyebi B.A ECONOMICS FROM KNUST (Teaching Assistant at the Department of Economics, KNUST) MTN, the leading mobile telecommunications company in Ghana, has presented a cash cheque, air time and drinks hamper to the Ada Traditional Council in support of the upcoming Ada Asafotufiami Festival. The Company will also assist with the organisation of the Durbar of Chiefs and People of Ada, the Ada Royal Walk and MTN Asafotu Jam at Kemmat Hotel. During the celebration, MTN will also provide a platform for patrons to experience the Company's newly launched 4G LTE services. There will be 4G LTE experiential setups at vantage points in Ada with data ambassadors and MTN canvassers available to support patrons with their data needs. Data ambassadors will assist customers who need to activate data bundles and also provide internet settings for customers who want to use internet on their phones and devices. In a brief presentation to the chiefs and elders at Ada, MTNs Regional Sales Manager for Greater Accra Region, Mr. Prince Nyarko said, We are pleased to see that the 2016 Asafotufiame festival coincides with our companys 20 years of operations in Ghana. In view of this, we have come to express our gratitude to the people of Ada for your support during the two decades. You have contributed in making it possible for MTN to be in business for 20 years. Mr. Nyarko continued, As an indigenous African organisation, MTN is committed to supporting and promoting our rich Ghanaian heritage and festivals are an important component of this rich heritage. As a result, we have in the past nine years committed our resources to supporting selected traditional festivals each year across the country. MTN delegation used the opportunity to inform the leaders and members of the community of the launch of the MTNs 4G service and encouraged customers to swap their SIM cards to enable them experience the benefits of 4G LTE technology. Receiving the items on behalf of the Ada Traditional Council and festival planning committee, Mr Jonathan Dokutso, the Secretary to the Planning Committee, expressed his gratitude to the management of MTN for their continuous commitment to support Ada Asafotufiami. As part of MTNs plan to support and promote Ghanaian culture and heritage, the company supports over 12 traditional and regional festivals across the country, including the Asogli Yam Festival, Kwahu Easter Festival, Kobine Festival, Oguaa Fetu Afahye, Esikado Kuntum and Hobetsotsoza. The Company also celebrates MTN-initiated regional festivals - Oil City Fest, Savannah fest, Ashanti Fest, Suncity Fest and Sallah Fest, among others. Jakarta (AFP) - Ten drug convicts whose executions were delayed during a chaotic process in Indonesia were only officially informed of the temporary reprieve hours after they had expected to face the firing squad, a lawyer said Wednesday. Despite international protests, one Indonesian and three Nigerian convicts were put to death shortly after midnight last Friday on a prison island -- Jakarta's first round of executions for over a year. But another 10 death row prisoners -- Indonesians as well as nationals from Pakistan, India, Zimbabwe and Nigeria -- were not executed, although authorities have suggested they will face the firing squad later. It is still not clear why the group was spared at the 11th hour and the process has attracted strong condemnation, with one lawyer calling it a "complete mess". Authorities have not given a clear explanation. Theories have ranged from concerns over legal problems with several cases to a major storm that hit Nusakambangan prison island as officials were about to carry out the sentences. Adding to the sense of chaos, a lawyer for one of the 10 said they were not officially informed their executions were being halted until around 6:00 am on Friday (2300 GMT Thursday) -- about five hours after the four others were shot and four hours after authorities had announced the initial executions to the media. Lawyer Arinta Singgih -- who represented one of the group, Indonesian woman Merri Utami -- said that as the hours passed, the group suspected they had been spared but this did not become clear for some time. "At six o'clock, the doors of the isolation cells were opened," Singgih told AFP, referring to the cells where death row convicts wait before being executed. "Guessing that they would not be executed, they walked out of the doors and hugged each other in joy." They were then informed by officials that they would not be executed but were not given an explanation, she said. - 'Ready to die' - Only hours earlier a prison warden had told Utami, whom activists have claimed is innocent and was tricked into becoming a drug mule, to get ready to leave her cell. However moments later the warden told her to stay put -- leading her to suspect the execution might not go ahead. "She had put make-up on and was ready to die," Singgih said, adding Utami had spent the previous day reading a prayer book. "She said that she had never felt that calm before in her life." Lawyer Ricky Gunawan -- whose Nigerian client Humphrey Jefferson Ejike Eleweke was among those tied to a post and shot in a jungle clearing last week -- slammed the "cruel and inhumane treatment" of those left waiting for hours to learn they would be spared. "Imagine the psychological suffering," he told AFP. Last week's executions were the third under President Joko Widodo since he took office in 2014. The last round was in April 2015 when authorities put to death eight drug convicts, including two Australians, sparking international outrage. Widodo has defended dramatically ramping up the use of capital punishment, saying Indonesia is fighting a war on drugs and traffickers must be heavily punished. 03.08.2016 LISTEN It is increasingly becoming embarrassingly clear that a whopping half of Ghanas estimated 27 million people may be totally bereft of a conscience and may also be clinically retarded. This is clearly borne out by the fact that the raging national debate over the 4 months prison term, apiece, handed down by the Supreme Court has almost wholly centered around the right of the so-called Montie Three, namely, Messrs. Salifu Maase, Alistair Nelson and Ako Gunn, to unfettered free speech, even speech that endangers our national security, crudely disregarding the fact that even in the most advanced of Western democracies, such as Canada, Australia, France, Germany and the United States, free speech is inextricably coupled with both legal and moral responsibilities. Almost every one of the critics who have weighed in on the controversy against the Supreme Courts conviction and sentencing of the Montie Three, including a remarkable number of cabinet appointees of the Mahama-led government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has not made a single reference to the countrys media laws, the fundamental basis upon which the conviction and sentencing of the three men was based. And yet, these critics feel so smug and self-righteous in their ungodly cause of prevailing on President Mahama to nullify the Supreme Court verdict. Some critics who ought to know better have even raised obtuse questions over whether the sentencing of the Montie Three to 4 months imprisonment was not arbitrarily informed by naked revenge. What is even more striking about the debate surrounding the sentencing of the Montie Three, as poignantly observed by my good friend Mr. Sydney Casely-Hayford, is the cringing insight which it provides into the abject disrespect of nearly every left-leaning Ghanaian partisan for the civilized rule of law and order. The latest of such moral reprobates to the democratic rule of law and order to sign onto the presidential petition seeking to have the Supreme Court verdict on the Montie Three summarily nullified is Mr. Bernard Mornah, the notorious NDC surrogate and Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), one of the four, or so, splinter Nkrumaist political parties (See Pardon Montie 3 in the Name of Free Speech Mornah Citifmonline.com / Ghanaweb.com 7/31/16). For those who are just tuning in to this column and subject, we have just learned that at least one of the convicted Mahama shills had threatened to rape Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood who, at 69 years old, may be the same age as the parents of the Montie Three convicts. This may be what has prompted some of the left-leaning critics of the Supreme Court to cynically suggest vengeance as the underlying motive behind the sentencing. To be certain, if anybody had threatened my late mother with rape or any form of physical violence, I would have blown out the brains of that SOB without thinking twice about it. But here also, it is significant to highlight the fact that the bestial misogynistic language of violence is standard vocabulary among the rank-and-file membership of the National Democratic Congress. Which is why even publicly avowed human and civil rights advocates like Nana Oye Lithur, the Minister of Gender and Social Protection, would sign onto the presidential petition seeking to have the Montie Three pardoned and immediately released from the Nsawam Medium-Security Prison. Other Mahama cabinet appointees who have signed onto the presidential petition seeking the release of the Montie Three are Ms. Hanna Tetteh, Ghanas Foreign Minister, and Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, the Culture and Tourism Minister. That nearly every one of the Mahama cabinet appointees who have signed onto the presidential petition seeking to nullify the Supreme Courts conviction and sentencing of the Montie Three is a professionally trained lawyer, ought to give us great cause for concern. *Visit my blog at: kwameokoampaahoofe.wordpress.com Ghanaffairs The leaders of the rump-Convention Peoples Party (r-CPP) are virulently vindictive, and so I am not surprised that they have decided to roundly reject the partys own Disciplinary Committees recommendation that Messrs. Nii Armah Akomfrah and Ernesto Yeboah be reinstated, respectively, as the partys General-Secretary and National Youth Organizer (See CPP Rejects Recommendation to Reinstate Suspended Duo Citifmonline.com / Ghanaweb.com 7/31/16). It may be recalled that the two men were suspended by the rump-CPPs Central Committee after they publicly contradicted Mr. Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, the 2016 r-CPP presidential candidate. The bone of contention over which they were indefinitely suspended regarded the recent media expose over a Ford Expedition automobile which President Mahama was alleged to have received from a Burkinabe contractor by the name of Mr. Gibril (Djibril) Kanazoe, while the former was Vice-President in 2012. Mr. Kanazoe had recently been awarded a contract to build a wall around the Ghana Embassy in Ouagadougou, the Burkinabe capital. He would shortly be awarded other no-bid contracts, including one entailing the construction of a highway estimated at the cost of GH 82 million. Mr. Kanazoe would back out of the latter contract after a Ghanaian investigative reporter leaked what clearly appeared to have been a veritable act of bribery a couple of months ago. The problem of Messrs. Akomfrah and Yeboah cropped up after Mr. Greenstreet publicly remarked that he saw absolutely nothing unbecoming with Mr. Mahamas decision to accept an auto gift worth about $100,000 from a contractor who had direct business dealings with the Government of Ghana. The two young men evidently felt that their partys leader had put the party in a bad light in the lead-up to Election 2016, and decided to do some damage control by forcefully and publicly contradicting their 2016 presidential candidate. But what may have complicated matters further was when Messrs. Akomfrah and Yeboah were also reported to have opened an investigative case against President Mahama with CHRAJ, the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, without the collective consent of the rump-CPPs Central Committee. The pair has also complained that the decision to suspend them from their posts was taken in their absence, and that they had not been offered the democratic opportunity to appear before the Central Committee to defend themselves. Maybe somebody more astute and knowledgeable ought to have apprised Messrs. Akomfrah and Yeboah that the rump-CPP, as well as the Nkrumah-led proto-CPP, was never a democratic organization. My beef with the rump-Convention Peoples Party, however, regards their reason for roundly rejecting the recommendation of the partys own Disciplinary Committee, to wit, that the Disciplinary Committee had not waited for the partys Legal Affairs Committee to prefer charges against Messrs. Akomfrah and Yeboah before presenting its report and recommendations. In other words, the Central Committee operatives are faulting the members of the Disciplinary Committee for literally jumping the gun by circumventing the course of natural justice. On the face of matters, the CC membership may be clearly envisaged to have a modicum of logic on their side, except that we are not told what timelines or working schedules the two committees were given within which to respectively present their charges and recommendations. In sum, should it emerge that the Legal Affairs Committee temporally neglected their charges or responsibilities, the membership of the Disciplinary Committee cannot in any way be faulted for jumping the gun. Indeed, what we clearly see here are symptoms that are reflective of the throes of a dying party, or it simply reflects the dogged determination of some powerful forces within the party who are hell-bent on exacting their proverbial pound of flesh, in classical Shakespearean parlance. And, needless to say, it would not be far-fetched to speculate that the Flagstaff House may very well be in the details, as it were. It is all about knowing where the daily bread of the Greenstreet Gang is buttered. *Visit my blog at: kwameokoampaahoofe.wordpress.com Ghanaffairs Reluctantly many thoughts strike my mind while experiencing the ongoing turbulence in Kashmir and many fade away as soon as I jump to the next thought. This violence has always resulted in a devastative consequence for every Kashmiri right from an infant to an old including my 21 year old self. The short clips striking the walls of my skull are similar with the facts everyone is aware of what has happened, what is happening and what will happen in Kashmir. Infinite minds are defeated frightfully by the finite minds full of fear and agony,are set up by Indian occupation who try their best to hurt every Kashmiri physically, mentally and emotionally. There is no end to the killing spree. Our past wounds have not yet recovered that we wholeheartedly welcomed the new ones,thus aching every segment of the body. At each instant there are atrocities, cries, and tragedies following tragedies. One tragedy is not yet settled down; another tragedy is forced into action leaving a terrible scar behind. Kashmiris have suffered a lot and are ready to suffer in future, they alsoare ready to sacrifice their beloved ones, their property and know that a great goal requires a great sacrifice under any circumstance. When we strive for our rights politicians deem us crazy and in this country Im more concerned about the jingoists who fight tooth and nail to falsely portray the image of Kashmiri people. They are annoyed of the religion and rights people of Kashmir preach. Labeling us terrorists, calling our religion with bad names and holding a negative belief that Islam manufacturers terrorists and is a Centre of terrorism is all they do to crush us. They have the notion that terrorism and radicalization is embedded in our bone marrow. If they were allowed to sit on the throne and rule the world their first mission would be to eradicate Muslims from the world. Kashmiris have become the worst nightmares of Indian Jingoists. Its their daily routine to rub salt on our wounded psyche. They are the animals which can never be tamed and have chewed us with their fangs while on the other hand Indian government is no exception. They should understand that a slogan of freedom is ranted from those who are the worst sufferers of barbarism. Our imagination of present and past is nothing but the blood of innocent lives whose bodies were pierced with bullets. How can we accept to bury the past even if the current situation is better! How can we forget July 13 massacre, Sopore massacre, Handwara and kupwara massacre, Gowkadal, Shopian massacre, 2010 killings, Gool killings and Machil fake encounter! What about those who acted as mastermind of these massacres. Were they even posed a single question? Never! To add to it media men and the Bakhts also have been biased because of course the victims belong to Kashmir and the doors of justice are far from the cry of Kashmiri people. They cant even taste the fruits of democracy let alone eat it. Commanding the army to take the worst action is severely condemnable. This makes the situation worse. India should understand that no authority can impose its self-made rules. There is an urgent need of Rai Shumari in Kashmir rather than any Allopath or Ayurveda antidote if they want our bleeding and painful wounds to get healed. Governments are not elected because they were too hungry for the power or to impose restrictions and enforce harsh rules on people. The government is made not to play blame game with the opposition parties and making them realize who on a scale was a cruelest dictator but it is made for the welfare of people, to stabilize the economy during crisis, to understand the problems of its youth. Security is deployed to secure the people from attacks but in Kashmir the security forces are doing the vice-versa. They are icons of massacres, disabling and molesting the people. They enjoy the license of AFSPA fully. Media on the other hand cooks such stories which wholly devastate the people of Kashmir and keep hidden the actual aspirations of Kashmiri people. The whole process sounds spurious and biased whenever it comes to Kashmir. India has sown seeds of hate in the hearts of Kashmiris by their illogical occupation. They dont give a damn about our aspirations. Their harsh gun treatment has left behind fifty graves, three thousand causalities and about a hundred youth partially or completely blind in the present erupted violence. The irony is mass protests were held in Haryana too where the Jats demanded reservation but never had the government acted imprudent. Why are the mass protests in Kashmir being repelled with pellets or bullets? If anyone in Kashmir is taking a religious way to end this bigotry its because they want an end of this occupation. Indian brutality in Kashmir is directly proportional to the generation of Jihadists so-called terrorists. The more brutal the occupier, the more enthusiastic Jihadists go into action. For whole Kashmir these so-called terrorists are real jihadists who play the war against infidels. Infidels have circumscribed Kashmiris in an intolerant atmosphere. These jihadists strongly unsupported the Indian nuisance in Kashmir. Rizwan Rashid PG student Dept. of Mathematics University of Kashmir, Indian Occupied Kashmir [email protected] Turkey needs to take on those responsible for the failed coup last month, but this needs to be done in conformity with the rule of law and human rights, the head of human rights body the Council of Europe said on Wednesday. Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland also said at a joint news conference with Turkey's foreign minister in Ankara that there had been little understanding in Europe on the extent to which a secret network had infiltrated the Turkish army and judiciary. Jagland is the most senior European official to visit Turkey since the failed July 15 putsch, when a faction of the army commandeered tanks, helicopters and fighter jets in an attempt to overthrow the government. Turkey blames followers of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen for the putsch. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, denies the charges and has denounced the coup. Search Keywords: Short link: The African Womens Chartered Accountants Association honoured Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, with the Woman of Substance Award. The Award was handed over by Adv. Thuli Mandonsela, South Africas Public Protector, during a ceremony that took place at the Kyalami Theatre in Midrand Johannesburg, South Africa, on 2 August 2016. In her acceptance speech Dr Dlamini Zuma highlighted the pivotal roles that African women and African women movements play in supporting women entrepreneurship, encouraging young women into further and higher education, including in male dominated professions such as Accounting, as well as the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) areas; expanding womens access to land, to agricultural extension services and advocating for womens access to finance and financial services. Referring to Africas development framework, Agenda 2063, as championing the rights of women the AU Commission Chairperson further stated that: Agenda 2063 identifies the critical priorities for building an integrated, peaceful and prosperous continent, driven by its own citizens and playing a dynamic role in the world. These priorities include investing in people, in health, basic services, but above all in education, skills and technology, with specific focus on science, mathematics, engineering and research. The Woman of Substance Award is of particular significance as the African Unions theme for 2016 is African Year of Human Rights, with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women. Under this theme the AUC is promoting human rights with particular focus on the rights of women and is stimulating dialogue between AU Member States, regional intergovernmental institutions, Civil Society Organisations and development partners on the opportunities, gaps and solutions for enhancing womens economic empowerment and ensuring that women are at the centre of sustainable development, peace, regional integration and economic growth in Africa. Dr Dlamini Zuma received the AWCA Woman of Substance award as South Africa celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Womens March of 1956. In concluding her acceptance speech Dr Dlamini Zuma said she was dedicating the Award to that heroic generation, to all the women, girls and young women, present and future generations, She encouraged them never to give up the struggle. According to the African Womens Chartered Accountants Association (AWCA), organisers, the award is an annual flagship event, launched in 2005, where a carefully chosen woman is honoured and presented with the award of AWCA Woman of Substance. Recognition is given to a woman who has played a significant role in uplifting the role of black women in accounting, audit and financial professions. Furthermore, these women have participated in society by contributing towards social upliftment in communities which they come from or any other communities in South Africa or the continent. A nation is an entity ruled by law. So where there is a lawless society I feel sorry for them. In the US whether you are a presidential candidate or not if you break the law you would go to jail. You threaten to kill judges? I hear some people are signing for the release of those who have been jailed for threatening the judges. These are nation-wreckers says Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, Moderator of the General Assembly of Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The clergyman undoubtedly represents the face of truth, morals and Christian principles in a society where these virtues are threatened by persons for whom attacks on the judiciary is a political phenomenon which should be applauded, and not sanctioned. He is a man decorated for fielding all manner of verbal attacks on his person by ruling party human hounds, as he defends moral principles and lambasts those who perpetuate evil as they ride on the back of political power, which they wield temporarily. In spite of these incessant vitriolic, he has been consistent with his defence of the truth in the spirit of Christianity. We need persons of his caliber to save this country from a looming moral calamity, whose symptoms are being manifested by the number of otherwise important personalities associating themselves with the scum called pardon calling. Anybody who seeks to undermine the authority of the judiciary does not mean this country well. As the bastion against arbitrariness and bad governance, such persons are but nation-wreckers as the clergyman has observed in his outburst against the latest social calamity to befall the nation. He said it all about the vexatious pardon callers who have attracted a deserving national opprobrium. As one of the clergymen always standing for the truth regardless of whose ox is gored, we hereby associate ourselves with his position on the pardon callers. A decent and civilized society is differentiated from its opposite by the prevalence of the rule of law: where rule of law is anathema and those who claim to be leaders do as they please with no recourse to a set of laws administered by a recognizable set of citizens. There would be little under the circumstances to vary it from the animal kingdom where survival of the fittest is the order. Liken this circumstance to a situation where members of a ruling party are above the law. The members, no matter the gravity of their breaches of the set of laws underpinning the management of the country, are spared the rod and that is the situation we find ourselves in today. Good men of conscience who would not be daunted by the sabre-rattling efforts of politicians on the payroll of the ruling party, must stand up and be counted among the patriots of this country and defenders of Godliness. Those who did not find anything preposterous with the threats on the lives of judges and therefore the integrity of the judiciary must undergo conscience test. Such persons have by their gestures brought the country to a crossroad: the spirit of our nation would be harmed if we partake in undermining the judiciary through such actions as calling for the pardon of those who are doing time for their actionable remarks. They must be cleansed of their filth before they can rejoin society. These are persons who can plunge the country into avoidable chaos. When pushing turns to shoving and shoving to fisticuffs and the apple cart is turned upside down, the owner of Montie FM, Mr. Harry Zakour will pack bag and baggage and run away to Lebanon, his original home country to cool off with his family. Even though the man might be holding documents which he can show to prove that he has naturalized, nothing keeps him from denouncing his citizenship and thereafter run away to Lebanon to enjoy his booty. In fact, when the kitchen becomes too hot and the country is in turmoil, he has a choice but full blooded Ghanaians will have no choice but to run away to neighboring countries to become refugees. When war breaks out, Ghanaians, particularly poor women and children will be the losers. The sad aspect of this scenario is that apart from the Atlantic Ocean which lies south of the country Ghana is surounded by francophone countries. We have Burkina Faso in the north, Togo in the East and Ivory Coast in the West. Since a great number of Ghanaians do not speak French, refugees from Ghana to these countries will find it difficult to live there. The best place that Ghanaian refugees can run to hide is Nigeria which is an Anglophone country. Even in Nigeria, Boko Haram and the Avengers in Ogooni are threats. Harry Zakour is a man who set up a radio station solely to run down the standard flagbearer of the NPP and he thinks he is doing a good job for Mr. John Mahama. What this quarter-cast doesn't know is that his plan has seriously backfired because the more Mugabi and his crooks try to vilify Nana Addo, the more sympathy Nana gets from the good people of Ghana. When Mr. Zakour got the frequency with the main agenda to use it to disgrace Nana Addo, he knew no decent Ghanaian will accept his invitation to insult Nana Addo on daily basis because all Ghanaians know the pedigree of Nana Addo. That was why he flew in this half-wit called Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe to do the dirty job for him. Salifu told us that all his children and wife are living somewhere in the UK so he doesn't care what happens in Ghana. If Harry Zakour thinks he can stir the Hornet's nest and run away to Lebanon, he is deceiving himself. The Interpol will bring him down to face justice in Ghana if the country goes up in flames through his misguided zeal. Is this Lebanese turned Ghanaian aware that more than five million Ghanaians voted for Nana Addo during the 2012 general elections and that Nana still has large followers? One person who has disappointed me is Mr. Ato Ahwoi who is one of the directors of Montie FM. This is a gentleman I admire so much but sadly he has disappointed me. From the PNDC era to date, Mr. Ahwoi worked so much to earn the respect of Ghanaians. He is not the insulting type and his demeanor shows that he is cultured. Like his brothers, Kwamena Ahwoi and Kwasi Ahwoi, one can put his hand in fire and swear the mighty oath of Asantehene that their hands are clean. The three brothers helped in no small way to prop up Rawlings' regime and nurtured the NDC to become what it is today. Mr. Ahwoi cannot tell me that he has never been listening to this Mugabe guy. All along I was expecting Mr. Ahwoi to rein in this half-baked journalist. Unlike Harry Zakour who has no visibility and recognition in relevant quarters as far as politics in Ghana is concerned, Mr. Ato Ahwoi is a hard nut to crack. His plea at the Supreme Court the other day was quite good but he should not have allowed this crook called Mugabe to muddy the waters in the first place. Since this boy started his nonsense, all well meaning Ghanaians have been kicking against his uncouth utterances. Ghanaians know very well that an attack on one gentleman is an attack on all. The boy is to terror as mafia is to crime. Because he couldn't make it in the UK, his main goal since he came down is to make money. Such failures will do everything to survive in these hard times. And because his tomfoolery inures to the benefit of Mr. Mahama, the man has kept quiet. Somebody should tell this guy that because of the task ahead, some of us will not waste our precious time on him when comes out of Nsawam prison to start his foolishness and we will meet his insults with patient justice because we are confident of the victory to come. And in the morning after the victory, he will curse the day he was born. The sages were right when they said no condition is permanent. For now the pendulum is swinging right so Harry Zakour and the likes of Salifu can do whatever they want. Let them use their Montie radio to vilify and take Nana Addo and others who oppose the NDC to the cleaners. When the pendulum starts to swing left they will know that a new Pharaoh who has come to Egypt does not know Joseph. Salifu can continue to play the buffoonery when he comes out from prison because he is a nonentity and too young to know the repercussions of civil strife. But Harry Zakour who has lived in this country all this while and who is old enough to know the difference between the wheat and chaff, should know better. Braggarts Turn Jailbirds I knew it will come to this. I knew these goons will go to jail. Mugabe and his fellow fickle-minded panelists will now spend four months in jail and thereafter, come out as ex-convicts. I doff my hat for the Supreme Court judge. There is this maxim in law which says Fiat justitia ruat caelum. This is a Latin legal phrase meaning let justice be done though the heavens fall. This maxim signifies the belief that justice must be realized regardless of the consequences. NDC sympathizers can go and burn the sea if they think the sentencing is too harsh. Mugabe and his fellow rabble-rousers had the funny feeling that because they were working for President Mahama they were untouchable. Her Lordship, Sophia Akufo has made it clear that not even the president can control judges. So now that the Supreme Court has spoken so loudly, what are the NDC supporters who have been gathering at the forecourt of the Supreme Court to support these irresponsible boys, saying again? Upstarts like the Muntie trio threatened the lives of Supreme Court judges and when they were hauled before the apex court to show why they should not be jailed for contempt, the NDC shamelessly organized goons to support them. And when journalists went to cover the story which is so juicy, the same NDC goons attacked them. What these goons did not know was that they compounded the woes of the three contemnors. The arrogance of these NDC supporters might have infuriated the judges and so the judges looked into the faces of the three and said: Go to jail!! These guys are young and the sky would have been their limit if they had tarried small. Some of them could be parliamentarians in future but as it stands now, the distance between them and the parliament house is like from Ghana to China. Article 94 Clause 5 of Ghana's Constitution states that after being incarcerated, an ex-convict cannot become a parliamentarian until ten years have elapsed. Again such ex-convicts cannot mount any throne or skin in Ghana, irrespective of the traditional area the person comes from. As for the GH10,000 that the apex court slapped on each of them as a fine, I am sure by now the NDC gurus have paid because the Akans say if you send a child to fetch water with an earthen pot and she breaks the pot, you don't beat the child. They assigned the boys to do the dirty work and so it is they who will pay. And looking at the way they have looted the nation's coffers, the fine is just a peanut for them. Mr. Harry Zakour has been fined GH30,000 and that too is a peanut because he will just drive to the Flagstaff House and receive a cheque to pay the fine. But for four months, the Montie kpokpogbligbli men will spend their time at the Nsawam prison alone. If they are not lucky and they find themselves in a cell where some NPP supporters are, they will be made to carry shit everyday for insulting their idol, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo. Mugabe was always happy to call people ex-convicts. He even had a list of his so-called ex-convicts which he has been mentioning on air. Today, he is on the way to becoming an ex-convict in a matter of four months. You see how God works in mysterious ways? What I don't want to hear till I die is to hear somebody referring to me as Irresponsible because I have all the traits of a complete gentleman. Justice Sophia Akufo referred to Mr. Harry Zakour as an irresponsible person and that to me is very painful. Listen to how my Webster's Dictionary of Contemporary English defined irresponsible: Acting or done without due sense of responsibility. Good Lord! And did I hear some NDC lawyers saying the sentencing of the Montie trio is too harsh and that we are in election year? Lawyers indeed! When somebody threatens the precious lives of citizens and he is jailed four months, you, a lawyer sits somewhere and says the sentence is too harsh? In her ruling, Justice Sophia Akufo pointed out that there is an element of criminality in their utterances which the Attoney-Genral should have noticed and acted upon. To me, this is an indictment on the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. Do these lawyers understand the sentencing policy of the courts? That is why Justice Sophia said not even the president can control judges. I rest my case for now while I fly into the firmament where angels dwell. Eric Bawah The convicted Montie trio of Salifu Maase aka Mugabe, Godwin Ako Gunn and Alistair Tairo Nelson, seem to be learning in a hard way after being sentenced to four months' imprisonment each for contempt, as they plead for clemency. The three, Mugabe, the host of 'Pampaso' political talk-show programme on Montie Fm and his two panelists, Ako Gunn and Alistair Nelson, have written to President John Mahama from their Nsawam Medium Security Prison base, asking the president to free them. Lawyer for the convicts, George Loh, who is Member of Parliament (MP) for North Dayi, revealed that his clients had written a joint petition to President Mahama to have mercy on them. The Montie 3 (as they are now known) had threatened to kill some of the Justices of the Supreme Court and get one Nash of Mataheko to 'marry' the Chief Justice, if war breaks out following an electoral case the Justices ruled on. Their conviction has since generated a huge furore across the country, with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and government ministers racing to outdo each other to catch the president's eye by signing a contrived petition initiated by the NDC for President Mahama to use his power of prerogative of mercy as enshrined in Article 72 of the country's Constitution to grant them pardon. Plea The petitioners, who are obviously feeling the heat in the confines of the prison yard, have profusely begged President Mahama to tamper justice with mercy. In the said letter, the convicts could not but admit that our statements were unguarded, but we plead that the sentence is harsh and excessive, even though the legal practitioners have said they could have been given a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment each as the law prescribes for contempt charges. But according to the Montie 3, they never intended to harm anybody and that they got carried away by their emotions in making the statement during the said programme. We unreservedly apologized for our conduct before the court, and continue to do so. We humbly petition Your Excellency, the President of the Republic to exercise your prerogative of mercy under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution, they pleaded. Grounds We are law-abiding citizens of this dear country of ours who were contributing to topical issues of the day, but unfortunately, got carried away. Aside that, they said, We are first offenders. We expressed and continue to express remorse for our unguarded statements and humbly reiterate that in making those statements we never intended to harm any person. After being sent to prison, the trio now claims, We have learnt our lessons and promise to be guided by this bitter and painful experience. The convicts, who had boasted that they were not afraid of prison, have suddenly realized that they have young families and asked Mr Mahama: We humbly ask you also to please take into consideration the fact that we have young families who have been embarrassed and devastated by our unfortunate conduct and our subsequent incarceration. Moderator's Beef But Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Right Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, like many others, have descended heavily on those describing the Supreme Court verdict on the three, including serving ministers in the Mahama-led NDC administration, as harsh. For him, such persons are nation wreckers. Speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration service of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Logos Congregation at Achimota College, the man of God insisted that the court was right in exacting the four-month jail term to the trio, adding that the rule of law must work at all times. By Charles Takyi-Boadu By Solomon K. Naambir, GNA Wiaso (B/A), Aug 02, GNA - An international workshop to build the capacity of NGOs and strengthen the use of indigenous knowledge to tackle problems in Africa has ended in Wiaso in the Techiman Municipality. It brought together representatives from Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Gambia. The 12-day programme was organized by the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Development (CIKOD), an African Learning Institute, with support from Christenson Fund and Water Aid of USA and Ghana. The goal was to among other things, exposed the participants to the requisite cultural protocols and food security. It provided the platform to share experiences and net-working around indigenous innovation and community resilience. Mr. Bernard Guri, the Executive Director of CIKOD, said Africans needed local solutions to their problems and it would therefore continue to lead efforts at helping to promote the utilization of available resources to respond to, withstand and recover from any adverse situation in Ghana and the rest of Africa. Mr. David Fletcher, Director of Coadey Institute - Canada, hailed CIKOD for setting the pace in the use of indigenous knowledge in solving problems through training over the past decade. He urged the participants to do more to learn and develop the needed skills and strategies to support the development of the continent. Nana Owusu Gyare II, Akwamuhene of Techiman, rejected the description of the African culture as 'fetishism' and said that was incorrect. He insisted that it was rather full of indigenous knowledge vital for building community resilience. GNA The recent involvement of four Honourable Members of Parliament (MPs) in a robbery and shooting is of grave concern to the Pan African Parliament (PAP), says President of the PAP, Hon. Roger Nkodo-Dang. Addressing MPs in plenary during the second day of PAPs sub-committee meeting, President Nkodo-Dang, said the Parliament has escalated the matter to South African authorities. Todays attendance of senior Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Parliament, was proof that PAP took the issue very seriously, President Nkodo-Dang reassured members. Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Gauteng Police Operations, Major-General Eric Nkuna, accompanied by four police generals, assured Members that he would make their safety his personal responsibility. I would like to say to the House, Your life is our life; your safety is our service. As the Police, we want to make sure wherever you go, you are safe, the Major-General reiterated in addressing the plenary debate. He informed the PAP that the Police had developed an integrated operational plan, and requested that MPs provide clear communication to the SAPS about their whereabouts and itineraries to ensure that police deployment can be strengthened during visits to South Africa. He further enthused that parliamentarians should feel safe to continue with their business and deliberations as usual, while the Police takes care of their safety. After Major-General Nkunas address, MPs took the floor to express their apprehension about the recent incident. His appeal has been received with mixed reactions from the House. Several MPs emphasised that security of African parliamentarians is a political and diplomatic issue, and that both the PAP and the Republic of South Africa have to sharpen their focus on this matter. They echoed the view of Hon. Muntaka Mubarak from Ghana, who said that the host agreement with South Africa has to be reviewed. We must hold the host nation accountable to the terms, added aid Hon. Mubarak. Hon. Rachel Shebesh from Kenya said the fact that the South African police commander and his delegation did not stay to listen to Parliamentarians response to his appeal, was unfortunate. She stated that the PAPs Sergeant of Arms has to liaise more closely with South African police commanders to tighten up the security of its members. Hon. Shebesh further said that the House was skirting around the issue of the host agreement, and that the PAP has to be prudent on how it goes forward to review the diplomatic agreement. Hon. Suleiman Sisay from Sierra Leone expressed his concern about PAP Members safety when they attend the Parliaments next sitting to be held in Cairo, Egypt in October 2016. President Nkodo-Dang responded by saying that MPs safety is receiving high-level political will both in South Africa and Egypt. He said South African President Jacob Zuma has said during a recent visit to Kigali, Rwanda, that he is committed to meet with PAP as soon as the countrys local government elections has passed. He further said that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has guaranteed members safety in a letter to PAP, which he is willing to share with members. Last week, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said in a statement that the security and safety of all Members of Parliament is of paramount importance to South Africa and its Parliament. In ensuring the safety of our public representatives to fulfil their constitutional mandate our Parliament will work with the PAP to assess the safety and security of Members and address any weaknesses that may exist, the statement said. Hon. Hunadi Mateme, a South African MP and representative of the PAP has addressed members, saying that the South African government has given their full support to the MPs and their families affected by the incident. She confirmed that the matter was receiving high-level governmental attention, and that it was an administrative issue. The MPs, one from Senegal and three from Namibia, were en route from OR Tambo International Airport to their hotel in Sandton on 28 July 2016 when the incident took place. President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), Honourable Roger Nkodo Dang has appealed to African states to ratify the Malabo Protocols and Treaties of the African Union (AU), particularly those pertaining to the PAP. Ratification of the AU Protocols and Treaties adopted in Malabo in 2014 will demonstrate the faith that we have in Africa, the faith we have in the African Union and its vision for Africa, Honourable Roger Nkodo Dang stated on Monday, August 1, 2016 in Midrand, South Africa when he officially welcomed PAP members to the second annual Committee Meetings of PAPs fourth Parliament. He noted that ratification of the Malabo treaties and protocols by African states will serve as a beacon of hope for the continents future and as a demonstration that both Africa and the African Union must continue to move ahead. Honourable Dang observed that the moment was now ripe for the whole continent and its people to understand and appreciate that Africa stands to gain more with the ratification of the Malabo protocols without threatening the sovereignty of the AU member countries and their national parliaments. The AU Summit of Heads of State and Government that took place in June, 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea considered and adopted a number of protocols one of which was the Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union relating to the Pan-African Parliament. The President expressed gratitude to all African national parliaments for ensuring that their members avail themselves and participate in the current PAP Committee meetings despite difficult economic conditions prevailing across the continent. Your presence here demonstrates the faith that you have in this Parliament and the work it is doing, the PAP President said. In his welcome address, Honourable Dang also updated the members of parliament about the continued targeted attacks and muggings that the parliamentarians have been subjected to whenever they were in South Africa for the PAP business. The members moved a motion to have the matter debated and discussed exhaustively. The current PAP Committee Meetings will take place concurrently with several other PAP events including a two-day conference for speakers of parliament from all African countries, as well as several workshops for the PAP permanent committees where the members will interact with various experts on matters pertaining to their committees. A former editor of the Mirror, Nicholas Allandu has passed away in Accra. He is thought to be a septuagenarian. Until his transition he lived in his residence at Dansoman having been battling with an illness for some time now. The deceased was a close friend of the late Lawyer RI Alhassan, the running mate of the late Prof Adu Boahen the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the 1992 general election. The late editor was the best man when the first lawyer from the Northern Region was getting married to his British wife, Jane now resident in Tamale. RI Alhassan too became his best man when he too was getting married. Three-time Journalist of the Year, Razak El Alawa remembers him thus he assisted me to acquire my first car when I was the regional editor of the Daily Graphic in the Northern Region. In those days there were no second hand cars and so one had to queue to purchase a car from places like GNTC, Japan Motors. Graphic offered me an amount of 10,000 and so I told the late Nicholas Allandu and he said I should contact the then Northern Regional Commissioner in 1975, Col Kunta Zuma. One day while a convoy was driving past in Sakasaka in Tamale, the regional commissioner whom I had told about the car purchase ordered the convoy to stop and he sent his ADC, Maj Nantogma to call me. When I met him he said I should go and see Maj Sulemana of the RECCE Regiment who had arranged for the purchase and had the car parked at his residence. I contacted him and drove away my first car, Datsun 140 J. When Nicholas Allandu became Ghana's envoy to Saudi Arabia he adopted the name Abdul Rauf. The head of the Dagomba community in Koforidua, Alhaji Abu Adams who broke the news to DAILY GUIDE remembered the deceased thus. He was editor of the Sunday Mirror when the infamous Apollo 568 occurred by which many workers were dismissed. He was one of the victims but when the coup of General Kutu Acheampong took place, he was appointed Ghana's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The late RI Alhassan's wife Jane posted on her facebook wall my husband's journalist friend, Mr. Nicholas Alando has passed away. When I first came to Ghana in 1961, he escorted me around as my husband was still studying in London. By A.R. Gomda Prof Douglas Boateng, a procurement and supply chain specialist, has stated that the over-importation of products such as cars and toothpicks is a major cause of poverty and unemployment in Ghana. Everything is being imported, and for me this is very unfortunate, he said. He made the comments when he joined the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply Ghana (CIPS) to donate 200 copies of his book to the AGI for onward distribution to its members. The donation was a build up to CIPS's Compendium which took place at the National Theatre on Tuesday in Accra under the theme, 'The Role of Procurement In Ghana's Industrialization Drive.' Prof Boateng, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pan Avest International, has explained the issue of over-importation and proffer solutions to it in his new book titled: Executive Insights into Strategic Sourcing. The book is being donated to industry leaders in an attempt to raise awareness about the need to develop more industries in Ghana that can produce goods. He said that if you are an industrialized country, you don't feel these pressures because you can consume what you produce. In Africa, we just consume, we don't produce. His book calls on all players, including the government, to shift their attention to buying local products. Africa and Ghana, in particular, is not poor, there is poverty, but that is because of our own policies. If there is a paradigm shift, we will hopefully be able to start building our industries. Seth Twum-Akwaboah, Chief Executive Officer of AGI, said that industrialization is necessary for economic development, adding that when consumers buy products from Ghanaian industries, everyone in the country benefits. If we are able to buy more made-in-Ghana products, if we source locally, then we will help improve the economic situation and reduce the pressure on our currency, he said. He explained that when a country relies heavily on imports, the value of its currency decreases compared to that of other countries across the globe. Mr Twum-Akwaboah said that the establishment of industries would create jobs and make products cheaper and retain revenue in Ghana. BY Derek Maiolo & Melvin Tarlue Polytechnics in the country emerged as the third most notorious group of institutions cited in IMANI Ghana's Fiscal Irregularities Index released in Accra. Between 2012 and 2014, financial irregularities in polytechnics totaled GH84.2 million, far less than that of MDAs and Public Boards, but significantly higher than of pre-university educational institutions. Overall, these financial irregularities showed a downward trend, dropping from GH38 million in 2012 to GH24 million in 2013, and further down to GH21 million in 2014. Over the three-year period, cash irregularities proved to be the largest type of irregularity by far, comprising over 76 percent of total irregularities. This was followed by contract irregularities which showed the most volatility in the time period and represented 13.3 percent of total irregularities. There are a number of wide ranging volatilities within individual polytechnics Tamale Polytechnic, for example, racked up GH3.5 million in contract irregularities alone in 2012, but had none in that irregularity category in the other two years. Kumasi Polytechnic Ranking either first or second in the yearly rankings across the three years, Kumasi Polytechnic was first on the cumulative list, racking up GH23.7 million in irregularities, representing 28.2 percent of the cumulative total for this category. More than 95 percent of the institutions' irregularities involved cash irregularities. As such, volatility in cash irregularities contributed strongly to its total irregularities. In particular, payments from the institutions' Internally Generated Funds (IGF) were made without parliamentary approval, totaling GH7.4 million in 2013 and GH10.6 million in 2014. Worryingly, it appears that these cash irregularities had been increasing, nearly tripling from GH4.2 million in 2012 to GH10.7 million in 2013 before dropping slightly to GH7.7 million in 2014. Takoradi Polytechnic Ranking second on the list with a total of GH23.6 million in irregularities, representing 28 percent of the cumulative total, Takoradi Polytechnic seemed to be somewhat of an outlier. In 2012, the GH22.5 million in irregularities is more than double of any other polytechnics in the three-year period examined. This resulted from undernoted cash, and more specifically, IGF payments totaling more than GH19 million that were also made without parliamentary approval. Sunyani Polytechnic With GH15 million in total financial irregularities, representing 17.8 percent of the cumulative total, Sunyani Polytechnic ranked third within this category. Cash irregularities were the predominant category of irregularities for this polytechnic. Sunyani Polytechnic accrued only GH88,000 in 2012, but this shot up to GH7.5 million in 2013, staying up at GH7.3 million in 2014. These irregularities were largely cash related. Wa Polytechnic Wa Polytechnic, with financial irregularities totaling GH7.1 million, representing 8.4 percent of cumulative irregularities within this category, ranked fourth on the list. Despite accruing only half the total irregularities of Sunyani Polytechnic, Wa Polytechnic was consistently ranked within the top half of the list, placing third in 2013 and 2014. Moreover, both its financial irregularities and percentile contributions increased yearly, ranging from four percent in 2012 to 16 percent in 2014. Unlike the top three polytechnics, these irregularities were predominantly contract related, making up more than 75 percent of all of the institutions' total irregularities. By Samuel Boadi [email protected] Israeli lawmakers approved jailing children as young as 12 convicted of "terrorist offences" in the wake of repeated attacks by young Palestinians, parliament said on Wednesday. "The 'Youth Bill,' which will allow the authorities to imprison a minor convicted of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder or manslaughter even if he or she is still a child under the age of 14, passed its second and third readings... Tuesday night," an English-language statement said. It added that the seriousness of attacks in recent months "demands a more aggressive approach, including toward minors." The statement quoted Anat Berko, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and the bill's sponsor, as saying "to those who are murdered with a knife in the heart it does not matter if the child is 12 or 15." The Israeli deadly use of force against a Palestinian wave of protests has killed at least 218 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese since October, according to an AFP count. Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked gave the bill full backing when it came before a ministerial committee last year. "Youths, such as Ahmed Manasra, who engage in terror and seek the death of Jewish civilians will not be shown mercy by the law," media quoted her as saying. Manasra, a 14-year-old Palestinian, was convicted in May of the attempted murder of two Israelis in a knife attack last October. He was 13 when he carried out the attack and is yet to be sentenced. Along with a 15-year-old cousin he stabbed and seriously wounded a 20-year-old and a 12-year-old boy in the Jewish settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev in the occupied east Jerusalem. The cousin was shot dead by Israeli troops, while Manasra was hit by a car as they fled. Manasra, an east Jerusalem resident, was the youngest Palestinian to be convicted by an Israeli civilian court in the current round of violence. Israeli rights group B'Tselem criticised the bill and Israel's treatment of Palestinian youths. "Rather than sending them to prison, Israel would be better off sending them to school where they could grow up in dignity and freedom not under occupation," it said in a statement Wednesday. "Imprisoning such young minors denies them the chance of a better future." Military law, applied to Palestinian residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, already allows imprisonment of 12-year-olds. A 12-year-old Palestinian girl from the occupied West Bank, convicted of attempted murder by a military court as part of a plea bargain and sentenced to four months, was released from prison in April. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority has told Citi Business News the implementation of the safety charges on passenger and cargo will be effective by the end of year. The policy, initially scheduled to take off on the 1st of August 2016 , has since been suspended for further deliberation. Per the new directive, passenger and cargo fares are expected to go up by 10 and 20 dollars respectively. The Director General of the GCAA, Simon Allotey also intimated that negotiations with the airlines will begin next week; adding that he is highly hopeful implementation will be effected by the end of the year. We are going to meet the airlines sometime next week to discuss the modalities and the implementation schedule. The final decision will be dependent on the understanding we come to with the airlines, The decision to implement the policy is supposed to be a collaborative one and we would know once we meet the airlines. But the implementation will most likely commence before the end of year but we need to agree on the effective date of implementation with the airlines, Mr. Allotey explained. The announcement also comes on the back of the passage of the amended GCAA Act 2016, Act 906 which strengthens the role of the Authority in maintaining safety and meeting international best practices. The charges which will be limited to international flights is also to enable the GCAA meet its revenue targets as it has been weaned off government's funding. By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana The Supreme Court's conviction and imposition of a four-month custodial sentence and a fine of GH 10,000 each on the Montie trio, and another GH 30,000 fine on the directors of Montie FM has generated heated debate in Ghana over the past few days. The debate, although touches on many aspects of this landmark case, is narrowly focused on whether President Mahama should pardon the convictsMessrs Salifu Maase, Alistair Nelson, and Godwin Ako Gunn after the Supreme Court imposed its sentence on them on July 27, 2016. In spite of strong opposition from sections of society, the call for presidential pardon is growing. Many, especially, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC)the president's partyand civil society groups have described the Supreme Court's sentence as very harsh. The call for presidential pardon is partly borne out of the fact that some, including legal scholars and practitioners, have questioned whether due process and the principles of fair trial were followed by the Supreme Court. Moreover, the call for pardon appears to be rooted in the genuine feeling of the protagonist that the Supreme Court should have tempered justice with mercy as the convicts are first offenders. The call for presidential pardon, indeed, makes a lot of sense from a legal view point but not necessarily from security view point. The purpose of this article, although touches on the issue of due process and fair trial, is not to indulge in the legal debates of same and the inherent moral arguments thereof but to elucidate a serious dereliction of national security duty of President Mahama's appointees which if not checked in the future could be disastrous for the country. How did we get to witness the ensuing tension that greeted the incarceration of the Montie trio? Without looking further, the buck stops at the NDC, and government appointees Attorney General (AG), Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the director of Bureau of National Investigations (BNI)who reneged on their statutory duties as far as the Montie case is concerned. The NDC as a party, and by default the executive arm of government, had earlier distanced itself from the dangerous contemptuous comments and by implication, the national and human security threats that were made by the Montie trio. Yet, the party has been at the forefront of the protest by issuing the strongest condemnation against the Supreme Court verdict. Some NDC top guns including the lawyers of the convicts, government ministers, and pro-NDC civil society groups have joined the bandwagon that calls on the president to invoke his executive powers of mercy under Article 72 of the 1992 Ghanaian Constitution to pardon the convicts. Indeed, the leadership that the NDC has assumed in this case should be expected from a ruling party that seeks to retain power in the forthcoming general elections. However, the pressure from the party on President Mahama to pardon the convicts is irresponsible and it is essentially the reason why he should, at all cost, resist the temptation of pardoning the convicts. To be sure, presidential pardon for convicts is merciful, gracious, and moral act. Yet moral virtues lose their appeal when national and human security is at stake. I will explain further and make my own proposal to the president to strongly rebuke the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police and the Director of the Bureau of National Investigations. The case of the Montie trio is a peculiar example of how extremists' negative campaigning and 'verbal terrorism' against free citizens and state institutions could backfire and put a president and his political party in a very difficult situation. Indeed, such media extremism is a recipe for national and human insecurity! The NDC has all this while denied that the Montie trio were party proxies, and if you will, the political attack dogs against political opponents. They were on their own; we were made to understand, even though Mr. Maase told Ghanaians that he acted the way he did to ensure that the NDC retains power in the forthcoming elections. In short, the NDC's narrative was that it did not 'officially' sanction whatever the Montie trio were doing on radio. While admitting to the uncomfortable truth that the utterances of the Montie trio are 'the new normal' that has replaced 'the politics as usual' on some media houses in Ghana, it is not necessarily legal and certainly has serious national security implications. The Montie trio and those who spurred them on overlooked the existence of the law that sets the boundaries of free speech in a democratic and civilized society like Ghana. The NDC's tacit support for the trio and their subsequent call for presidential pardon fly in the face of ethics and morality. It is bereft of the responsible leadership that is expected of political parties in a democratic environment. But there is a more serious issue to which I now turn my attention. The NDC's self-denial of what happened on Montie FM has turned into betrayal of some sort. The betrayal in the party's narrative has become very clear in two distinct but interrelated ways. First, the party has exposed itself by betraying their proxiesthe Montie trioand consequently exposed them to legal harm for not respecting the limits of democratic politics and free speech. The very conviction and sentencing of the trio demonstrates that the NDC or no political party can cover the backs of its operatives because political parties are only good at doing politics and have no power or responsibility as the final interpreters and enforcers of the laws that govern society. It is therefore a useful lesson for the Montie trio and all political party operatives across board to learn that politics ends where the law begins in constitutional democracies. Legal luminaries in political parties cannot get anyone off the hook when he or she 'sins' against the law and brought before fair and impartial justices of the court. The court is the last bastion of constitutional democracy and the Justices have sworn an oath to defend the constitution and the law and not political parties and their operatives. In that sense, the judiciary through its delivery of justice assists the executive and legislature to perform the collective function of maintaining national security and human rights protection. Second, the NDC and government appointees betrayed the president and Ghanaians as a whole. This argument is situated in the failure of the AG, as the top lawyer of the state, to carry out her statutory responsibility to prosecute the Montie trio for criminal contempt of court. The AG's action or inaction appears to be rooted in the behavior of the police and BNI. While commending the police and BNI for the work they do to keep Ghana secured, these institutions, as far as the Montie trio case is concerned, acted in a way that is quite dangerous for the country especially in an election year when emotions are running sky high. The police and the IGP abandoned their investigative role in the case, and the BNI issued a rushed and warped statement to the effect that the Montie trio lacked the capability to carry out the threats against the Supreme Court Judges. To be sure, a holistic intelligence report should have noted that the ability to carry out a threat that was made on radio, with wide coverage, does not only reside in the hands of those who issued the threat but anyone who shares the sentiments of the threat issuers. It should be inferred by a security-mined person that the Montie trio inevitably, and for the sake of argument, were giving a voice to the 'silent majority'. In reality, this is evidenced by the protests including vigils that were held in support of the convicts. Therefore, by personalizing the issue to the Montie trio alone, the BNI appears to have lost focus on the wider human and national security implications of the behavior of the trio. That constitutes intelligence failure and should not be condoned by the president. In the area of criminality, the BNI and the AG knew very well that the capability had already been exercised in the utterance of the threats as defined in the Criminal Code. This, surely, is not a prudent way of maintaining national and human security, especially in an election year. The BNI's action fell below best practices in the intelligence community around the world. By their nature and scope of activities, Intelligence Institutions should at all times appear apolitical, neutral, and impartial in the gathering and dissemination of actionable intelligence. That was not the impression the BNI created in the minds of Ghanaians when it issued that rushed and warped statement on the Montie trio. The BNI, with the tacit complicity of the AG, clearly threw away the Criminal Code and resorted to its own interpretation of the behavior of the Montie trio. This is tantamount to dereliction of national duty. It has set a bad precedent for the conduct of intelligence in Ghana's burgeoning democracy. The BNI's behavior appears to have tied the hands of the AG who did not show up in court to prosecute the offenders. And the police were 'missing in the action'. This is not only an affront to human rights protection, but also may undermine the maintenance of national security if such institutional behavior is not nipped in the bud. Prof. Edward Akuffo 03.08.2016 LISTEN Such rare judgments rarely escape the lenses of the society. Since antiquity, judgments by Their Lordships, have attracted diverse thoughts from both the laymen and the learned in our society. I contend that such a measure is healthy for the growth of the rule of law, democracy and the evolvement of our judicial system and constitutional arrangements. To latch this with the current fate of what have been so described as the Muntie Trio vis-a-vis the conduct of the Supreme Court of our land in the instant case and the building-pressure on the President to invoke his powers of prerogative of mercy is worth the discourse by all those who seek for the advancement and fidelity of constitutionalism. This article seeks to settle two main issues based on point of law and public morality. Firstly, whether or not the Supreme Court has the power to invoke its inherent jurisdiction to commit and convict persons for Contempt of Court and Secondly, whether or not the President has the power to invoke Article 72 in this instant case of the Muntie Trio. Whether or not the Supreme Court has the power to invoke its inherent jurisdiction to commit and convict persons for Contempt of Court: The 1992 constitution which is the supreme document of the land clothe the Supreme Court and for that matter any other Superior Court (The Court of Appeal and The High Court or Regional Tribunals) with the exclusive jurisdiction to cite persons who bring the authority of the Court into disrepute for Contempt of Court. Article 126 (2) lays the basis for this and it reads as follows The Superior Courts shall be superior courts of record and shall have the power to commit for contempt to themselves and all such powers as were vested in a court of record immediately before the coming into force of this constitution. Same is grounded in Article 19 (12) for Criminal Contempt which reads Clause (11) of this article shall not prevent a Superior Court from punishing a person for contempt of itself notwithstanding that the act or omission constituting the contempt is not defined in a written law and the penalty is not so prescribed. Section 36 of The Courts Act, 1993 also provides that The Superior Courts of Judicature shall have the power to commit for contempt to themselves and all such powers as were vested in a court of record immediately before the coming into force of the Constitution in relation to contempt of court. Also, the Criminal Code of Ghana thus ACT 29, 1960 under Section 10 - Saving for Contempt reads as follows Nothing in this Code shall affect the power of a Court to punish a person for contempt of Court. My Comments: The above stated constitutional provisions and Acts which clothe the Supreme Court with the inherent jurisdiction to cite and punish person (s) for Contempt of Court by itself are arbitrary in nature and defy the principles of natural justice which is the highest form of law. My Lords in their judgment in this instant case, noted inter alia that, ...Nevertheless, we are mindful that the summary power of the Court to punish for Contempt of Court that has been preserved by Article 126 (2) of the Constitution is almost arbitrary and such awesome power calls for circumspection in its exercise . However, they added that We have been compelled to act in this instant matter because of its gross nature. Article 296 (a) (b) emphasizes on how discretionary power should be exercised (a) That discretionary power shall be deemed to imply a duty to be fair and candid; (b) The exercise of the discretionary power shall not be arbitrary, capricious or biased either by resentment, prejudice or personal dislike and shall be in accordance with due process of law. And... In furtherance to this, it must be emphasized that the natural laws of justice procedurally connotes equity and fairness. It is therefore immutable and governs the decisions of all judges or administrative bodies. It is an absurdity of the law for one to be a judge in his own cause. In this instant case, My lords, acted as investigators, prosecutors and judges in their own cause. According to the Supreme Court judgment on the instant case, the attack was directed at the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana and the Apex Court of the land. It is instructive to note that Her Ladyship the Chief Justice, Madam Georgina Wood and Justice Gbedegbe recused themselves from the case on the basis that they were specifically named by the Muntie Trio while Justice Baffuor- Bonnie also recused himself on the basis that one of the shareholders of the company who was cited for contempt was his brother. The Chief Justice in upholding the principle of nemos judex causa sua (no-one may be a judge in his own cause) with approval quoted that, it is of fundamental importance that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done. This move by the eminent jurists signifies the importance of the phenomenon of the law of natural justice within the justice system. The judgment over the rights of others should be free from any kind of bias and must be able to bear an impartial and objective mind to the matter in in controversy, be it, personal or pecuniary bias. The test of bias has been variously described as involving a real likelihood of bias and a reasonable suspicion of bias. In the immortal words of Lord Denning MR In considering whether there was a real likelihood of bias the court looks at the impression which would be given to other people If right-minded persons would think that, in the circumstances, there was a real likelihood of bias. Surmise or conjecture is not enough The reason is plain enough. Justice must be rooted in confidence: and confidence is destroyed when right-minded people go away thinking; the judge was biased. This instant case has propounded an invitation for the whole country to take another look at this very constitutional construction within our statutes. Even though scandalizing the court in itself is a recipe for lowering the authority of the Court in dispensing justice, the gravity of a man sitting on his own case as a judge is more dangerous and affront to the rule of equity, impartiality and fairness that is needed to dispense justice faithfully. There is a need for a spirited advocacy for a change in legislation to quench the mischief that can be created by Judges who cite and punish person(s) for Contempt of Court suo moto. The laws of our land cannot be likened to a traffic light, and must reflect the changing times of the global order. Sowah JSC (as he was then) asserted this stance in Tuffuor v Attorney General in reference to the Constitution when he emphasized that, "Indeed it is a living organism capable of growth and development, as the body politic of Ghana itself is capable of growth and development. Even though free speech comes with greater responsibility, Criminal Contempt should not be used by My Lords as a substitute for the repealed Criminal libel law to visit custodial sentence on person (s) who abuse their right to free speech especially the media as an adopted fourth organ of the state. My Lords can do better as the law stands in our statutes, by restricting themselves to fines or a suspended sentences at worse as a punitive measure. Nothing should be done by the coercive power of the state that which will be seen to stifle the right to speak freely without being subjected to any criminal procedure. The arguments canvassed by the then proponents for the repeal of the criminal libel law from our penal code still remains valid in our contemporary times. Whether or not the President has the power to invoke Article 72 in this instant case of the Muntie Trio: Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution provides as follows: (1) The President may, acting in consultation with the Council of State- (a) grant to a person convicted of an offence a pardon either free or subject to lawful conditions; or (b) grant to a person a respite, either indefinite or for a specified period, from the execution of punishment imposed on him for an offence; or (c) substitute a less severe form of punishment for a punishment imposed on a person for an offence; or (d) remit the whole or part of a punishment imposed on a person or of a penalty or forfeiture otherwise due to Government on account on any offence. Also, Section 17 of the Transitional Provision of the 1992 Constitution provides a further reading and states as follows... The prerogative of mercy of the President under Article 72 of this constitution may be exercised in respect of any criminal offence before the coming into force of this constitution as it may in respect of a criminal offence committed thereafter. The contention that arises herein is whether the Supreme Court by invoking its inherent jurisdiction to cite and convict person (s) for Criminal Contempt of Court can be deemed as punishing for a Criminal offence as compared to Contempt under the Criminal code Section 224 of Act 29, 1960 which states that, A person commits a misdemeanor who in the presence of a Court commits a contempt of court by an insulting, opprobrious or menacing acts or words. It must be noted that there are two types of Contempt of Court. They are the Civil Contempt of Court and Criminal Contempt of Court. The Black Law Dictionary, 9th edition defines Criminal Contempt as An act that obstructs justice or attacks the integrity of the court. A criminal contempt proceeding is punitive in nature. The purpose of criminal-contempt proceedings is to punish repeated or aggravated failure to comply with a court order. All the protections of criminal law and procedure apply, and the commitment must for a definite period. Also in the US case of Bloom v Illinois it was asserted that "Criminal contempt is a crime in the ordinary sense; it is a violation of the law, a public wrong which is punishable by fine or imprisonment or both." It is trite law that Criminal Contempt of Court under the inherent jurisdiction of the Superior Court is a Quasi Criminal Offense. In the light of the foregoing, the Supreme Court speaking through Sophia Akufo JSC indicated in their judgment with respect to the instant case that The attack, which was directed at the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana and the Apex Court of the land, amounts to Criminal Contempt of the Judiciary. Under the Criminal code Act 29, 1960 Section 1 defines offence has having the same meaning as Crime. Therefore, whether Crime or Offence is used, the subject matter remains the same. Crime is defined to encapsulate any act which is expressly prohibited by a statute in force, or by common law with penal consequences. The definition of Crime emphasizes that a criminal offence does not really matter whether it is written or unwritten in so far as it has penal consequences or punitive measure which could either be a fine, imprisonment or both including death sentence. Indeed, Article 19 (12) of the 1992 constitution provided above is an exclusion clause and must not be read in isolation. It must be read together with its parents clause thus Article 19 (12). Article 14 also states that Every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of his personal liberty except in the following case and in accordance with the procedure permitted by law (a) in execution of a sentence or order of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been convicted or (b) in execution of an order of a court punishing him for contempt of court. Our Criminal jurisprudence recognizes contempt as a Criminal offense as stated in Section 224 of the Criminal code even though Article 19 (12), 14 (b) and the criminal code section 10 as stated above are exclusionary clauses with respect to its procedure in citing person (s) for Criminal Contempt. It is my contention that the distinction envisaged by the framers of our constitution is with respect to the inherent jurisdiction of the court to cite and punish under criminal contempt of court and also the authority of the Attorney General to cite and prosecute person (s) for contempt as defined by Section 224 of the Criminal code is a matter of Procedural law and not a controversial matter of whether or not such offences constitute criminal offence or not. To do that was to engage in a clear absurdity of the law which was never contemplated by the framers of our Constitution. Also, the Constitution does not place any limitations or exclusions with respect to Article 72 of the 1992 constitution. The only operative word therein is the qualification of an offence to mean criminal offence as expounded in Section 17 of the Transitional Provision. This means that an offense whether written or unwritten which is a criminal contempt punished by the courts through its inherent jurisdiction or through prosecution by the A.G under the Criminal code are both offenses envisaged by Article72. Therefore, it is only Civil Contempt of Court which does not fall under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution. This approach was advocated by the late Prof. Kludje JSC (as he was then) in the celebrated case of Asare V The Attorney General where he stated inter alia that, I agree that we must adopt a purposive construction of the constitutional provisions. That means that we do not construe words in abstract but within the context in which they are used. Language is a tool for expressing the wishes of the speaker, author or the writer. Therefore, regardless of the theoretical classification of the methodology of the construction, the fundamental rule is for the court to misconstrue every enactment with the purpose of effectuating the true intent of the law maker, in this case the intent of the framers of the 1992 constitution. All other canons of construction have the ultimate purpose of achieving this goal. I do not think the mere recourse to dictionaries of the English Language will resolve the issues which confront us or render any easier the task we are called upon to perform. Again, In Smith v Hughes, Section 1 of the English Street Offenses Act 1959 provides as follows. It shall be an offence for a common prostitute to loiter or solicit in a street or public place for the purpose of prostitution. The appellant solicited men from the balcony by tapping on the balcony railing with some metal object and by hissing to them as they passed in the street beneath her. She was convicted for the contravention of the above section of the Act. In dismissing her appeal, Lord Parker C J stated that ...I approach the matter by considering what the mischief is aimed at by this Act. Everybody knows that this was an Act intended to clean up the streets, to enable people walk along the streets without being molested or solicited by common prostitutes. Viewed that way, it can matter little whether the prostitute is soliciting while in the street or standing in a doorway or balcony, or at a windowin each case her solicitation is projected to and address somebody walking in the street. For my part, I am content to base my decision on that ground and that ground alone. Let me also add that, if the framers of our constitution had wanted to place any limitations or exclusions to Article 72 they would have done so, as it is, in the case of Section 34 of the PRISONS SERVICE DECREE, 1972 (NRCD 46) which states that, Remission for Good Conduct (1) Subject to subsection (3), a prisoner serving a sentence of six weeks or more may by steady industry and good conduct earn a remission not exceeding one-third of his sentence. (2) All or any part of the remission so earned may be forfeited in accordance with regulations for failure by the prisoner to maintain steady industry or good conduct. (3) This section shall not apply in the case of a prisoner who is (a) serving a sentence of imprisonment for life; (b) detained during the pleasure of the National Redemption Council; (c) committed to prison for debt; or It must be noted that Article 72 of the 1992 constitution overrides, or takes precedence over, any Act that seeks to be inconsistent with its provisions. It is therefore my submission that the President with the power vested in him under Article 72 can exercise his prerogative of mercy in this instant case of the Muntie Trio My Comments: The efficacy of constitutionalism cannot be guaranteed without any form of Checks and Balances amongst the three organs of government. The framers of our constitution envisaged a likelihood of arbitrariness or abuse of power by any of the organs of state and therefore sought to cure such mischief with certain constitutional provisions to provide some balancing and checks amongst these state organs. Even though the President in this instant case reserves the right under this constitution to invoke Article 72, it may not lead to the harmony that is needed between the Judiciary and the Executive to faithfully discharge their duties on behalf of the people of Ghana. The independence of the various organs of state is written in black and white in our constitution, although, they are dependent on each other. In the United States case of Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co v Sawyer (Steel Seizure Case), Justice Jackson noted that, While the Constitution diffuses power the better to secure liberty, it also contemplates that the practice will integrate the dispersed powers into a workable government. It enjoins upon its branches separateness but interdependence; autonomy but reciprocity. This point was succinctly posited in the Ghanaian context by the learned Kpegah JSC (as he was then) in his dissenting opinion in Amidu v President Kufuor, Although power is dispersed among the various organs of government, it should not be at the expense of harmony. What is legal may not be what is moral and what is moral may not be what is legal. The seeming pressure being mounted on the President must not sway him into throwing eggs on the faces of the Judiciary. Leadership requires that a leader must lead and not follow. Conclusion: This is my opinion! Chief Obosu Mohammed NPP Member, Mfantseman Dated in Accra This 3rd day of August, 2016 03.08.2016 LISTEN I wish to confess that I am not a professional teacher. By this confession, I know some people may question why I should then be seen to be crying more than the bereaved as far as issues affecting teachers are concerned. But as a parent, whose children are being taught by teachers, and myself having ever been a non-professional teacher I could not help but comment on the worrying and disturbing development of thugs physically abusing teachers. To start with, the teaching profession is not only an enviable one but also a noble one. There is no professional that can boldly say that he /she was not taught by a teacher. In fact, the profession is also very demanding and challenging. Unlike many professionals, whose duties end in their offices after they closed from work, a teachers work does not end in the classroom. Even at home and during holidays teachers are busily working. If parents would be sincere to themselves they would admit that its a herculean task handling their own children [who are few in numbers] at home. How much more a single teacher, taking care of about sixty students/pupils, with different family and social backgrounds? In the universities for instance, over five hundred students do some courses and guess what, the lecturer has to mark their assignments, conduct class tests, and mark their examination scripts in addition to supervising long essays and theses. What we turn to forget is that the teacher, just like any other professional, also has other social commitments to meet apart from their official responsibilities. It is therefore unacceptable to add salt to injury by not allowing them to have their peace of mind to work. Why should we, by our actions torture them physically and emotionally? Well, someone may argue that every job has its own juicy benefits and occupation hazards and that people chose to become teachers on their own volition. Given that such an argument is even true, does that warrant a physical attack on their lives? Just as sociologists have observed that deviants will never cease to be in the society, there may be few bad nuts among teachers who may drag the name of the profession in the mud but majority are doing a very good job by imparting knowledge and also serving as role models to others. I had a friend who always told me that he would never be a teacher. In fact, he gave reasons why he was not interested in the teaching profession. However, his decision changed dramatically later. During our second year in the university, we had a very good lecturer. He never missed lectures. His teaching methods were excellent. During our revision week [prior to our end of year examinations] he revised with us all that he taught in the semester and told us the possible areas that his examination questions might come from. He was very patient and had time for everybody. In fact, he was not only our lecturer but also our father. Guess what! At the end of our second year, my friend told me:Sammy, Ill like to teach after school; I want to be like this lecturer True to my friends word, he is currently a professional teacher. It is very demoralizing when teachers are making all kinds of sacrifices and efforts to impart knowledge, only to be rewarded with slaps and other forms of physical and mental abuse. These days hardly a week passes by without us hearing about thugs in a community attacking teachers or defecating in their classrooms. In some cases, the school premises are turned into ghettos where some social deviants openly deal in illicit drugs, thereby exposing the school children to abuse. But what are some of the possible causes of such unacceptable behavior?. First of all, I see it as gross indiscipline and lawlessness. No disciplined and law abiding citizen will do such things. Another reason, I believe, is lack of respect for teachers. Some parents openly insult teachers in the presence of their children at home and make derogatory remarks about them; and by so doing the students have no respect for their teachers. Gone were those days when a parent voluntarily asked a teacher to discipline his/ her child at school when the child misbehaved. These days, let a teacher punish a child for wrongdoing and hell will let loose. I would not like to make any comparisons. But how many times have we ever heard that thugs entered an office, dragged a professional and beat him/ her up in the persons own office in the presence of his colleague staff? So why should we do such a thing to teachers? Or is it a crime to be a teacher? I was shocked to the marrow to hear in the news that a class five pupil (girl) in one of the basic schools in Accra reported his teacher to her boyfriend for punishing her at school. The boyfriend, together with other thugs went and beat the teacher in the school resulting in the closure of the school. A class five girl having a boyfriend? Incredible! This is where parenting comes in. What kind of training is being given to such a girl at home? How responsible are her parents? Could it even be that her boyfriend is the one looking after her at school? There are some (irresponsible) parents who do not care about what their children eat, what they wear and where they sleep. In fact educating their children is none of their business, let alone training them to become responsible citizens. The sad thing is that, as the children take care of themselves they also give birth to their kinds and the irresponsibility cycle continues. One would not be too bothered if such people eventually suffer alone for shirking their parental responsibilities. Unfortunately, society in general suffers. Attacks on teachers have been going on for some time now. My question is what punishment was given to the perpetrators? Was the punishment severe enough to deter others from embarking on such disgraceful and unacceptable acts? It is time school authorities reinforced security measures in their schools to prevent hooligans and thugs from entering their schools. Truth must be told; there are some teachers whose conducts also leave much to be desired. Being torch- bearers of discipline in the society, they should try as much as possible not to engage in social vices which would bring the name of their profession into disrepute. Another critical issue is the type of punishment they give to students. In fact, this is one of the major causes of the conflict between them and parents. Although they have the right to discipline students, the type of punishment they mete out should commensurate with the offence committed by the students, otherwise parents would naturally not be happy to see their wards hurt in the name of discipline. Teachers make us all what and where we are today. Enough of our disrespect to them!. If we can not reward them appropriately according to their invaluable contributions to the human resource development of the country, we should not take away their peace and happiness by attacking them physically and emotionally. Writers e-mail: [email protected] The writer is an archivist 03.08.2016 LISTEN "Its unfortunate that the petition was initiated at all, and even more unfortunate that its being signed by the likes of the Ministers of Education, and of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Professor Ama Ata Aidoo. The Ministers of State (MoS) turning themselves into clemency advocates for the President to activate Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution and to consequently pardon the three persons convicted of contempt of the Supreme Court (SC), have put Ghana into the book of nations with audacious disregard for the Judiciary and the rule of law. That the high-powered government appointees appending their signatures to the petition is not only laughable but an indelible mark that has stained the executive arm of government with the most dreaded act of hypocrisy and sheer disregard for laws and institutions. Before delving into the spirit of this piece, a synopsis of the matter in reference is imperative. Ghanas Supreme Court, on Wednesday, July 27, sentenced three persons in what has become the Muntie 3 saga. The three persons, namely, Salifu Maase aka Mugabe (the host), Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn (both panellists) threatened the lives of justices of the SC and flagrantly held themselves in contempt of the Court. The Court, acting on a petition citing the trio for contempt, found all three, as well as the directors of the radio station Muntie FM contempt of court and slapped the contemnors with four months imprisonment. Post the judgement, a section of Ghanaians, notably members of the ruling party have staged unalloyed support for the contemnors and are calling on President John Dramani Mahama to exercise his prerogative of mercy to correct what they describe as judicial tyranny. Sad! Praising Diatribe In the full text of the ruling as made available, the justices of the SC have described the actions of the contemnors as diatribe - a forceful and bitter verbal attack on a person or group of persons. Perhaps, what is most worrying is not only the act of the diatribe per sey, but the attitude of the issuing persons, the timing and the platform on which the statements were made. I dilate on each as briefly as I can. First, the timing of the threats was unfortunate, to say the least. The unfortunate statements of the panellist were made on the eve of Martyr's Day, a day described as the darkest in Ghanas history when three high judges; Justices Kwadwo Adjei Agyepong, Poku Sarkodie and Mrs. Cecelia Koranteng-Addow (the latter was breastfeeding her baby when she was abducted) and a military officer were cold-bloodedly murdered by operatives of the Provisional National Defence Council, headed by the leader and founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Flight Lieutenant J.J.Rawlings. The public outcry that followed the abduction and murder of the justices led the PNDC to set up the Special Investigation Board headed by former Chief Justice Mr. Justice Azu Crabbe to unravel the mystery which surrounded the abduction. Interestingly, the SIP concluded that the abduction and murder was a plot hatched in connivance with members of the PNDC with Capt. Kojo Tsikata, the then PNDC Member in charge of National Security as the master-mind. Curiously, the justices were sitting on a review case brought by citizens who felt aggrieved by the Rawlings-led Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, hence their killings as a way of evading justice. Second, the attitude of the panellist, with the host urging them on in an audacious spitting of venom represents grave disregard for state institutions. So spiteful are the words that repeating same is unhealthy. When persons on radio, knowing that the platform on which they sit travels with speed, can issue such repugnant verbiages of threats to justices of the SC, with no fear of arrest, and possible prosecution, then Ghana my beloved country is returning to the dark days of history where decrees sanctioned lawlessness. The contemnors seemed to have been so sure that no state institution was to hold them accountable and predictably so, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) hurriedly stated that the two panellist have no capacity to execute their threats as what they did was an act of needless bravado. Since the BNI admitted to the threats, it ought to have acted forcefully. The speed and rare nature of the statement from the BNI adds to the assertion that the two panellists had their backs well-covered. No wonder as the SC puts it, they completely forgot that they were on planet Earth in a country called Ghana with laws. That the entire government machinery is now pleading for a presidential pardon reinforces the assertion that the Montie 3 had their backs fully covered. Third, the platform, ie Montie Fm, is on record, by one of its directors as having been set up to counter the works of PeaceFM which the NDC perceive as doing the bidding of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). This makes clear of the stations agenda. Perceiving the SC justices as also doing the bidding of the NPP further incentivised the trio to issue threats of such magnitude against the justices of the SC. Institutional Impropriety The BNIs statement clearing the two panellists evidences institutional impropriety given that the reputable security unit ought to have taken into account how it has in the past handled persons who in one way or the other were deemed to have acted ultra-vires. In April, 2016, the BNI picked up the Managing Director of Marbles and Granites Limited Dr. Edmund Ayo Ani and two others on Friday and released them on Sunday afternoon on allegations that they were involved in the circulation of photos of vehicles which were allegedly procured for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and were allegedly being re-branded in the NDC colours. If circulation of photographs could attract such vigour of action, then it begs reasoning that persons who threatened justices of the SC were hurriedly declared as exhibiting needless bravado with no capacity to execute the threats by no less a body than the BNI of dreaded ferocity! Dr Kwesi Aning, a security expert serving as the Head of the Department of Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) was apt when he asserted that the BNI handled the two panellists with kid gloves and that profiling persons and labelling them as incapable of executing a threat action would have required elaborate investigations. Ministers of State and Skewed Advocacy MoS must act in ways that protect the interest of the State and at all times. As members of the Executive, the MoS are enjoined to equally respect the independence of the judiciary. It is an act of hypocrisy for persons holding high ministerial offices in the Republic to belittle the independence of the judiciary which is one of the three bodies that form the government of which they (MoS) form an integral part. How feasible does it sound when such persons sign a petition demanding of the President to literally shoot down the SCs decision through an executive fiat in the guise of Article 72? As the renowned Professor Ama Ata Aidoo has succinctly put it, Its unfortunate that the petition was initiated at all, and even more unfortunate that its being signed by the likes of the Ministers of Education, and of Gender, Children and Social Protection. This is an aberration of justice and an affront to the rule of law. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) is guided by the phrase social protection as its operational construct within which the sector minister is to act. Social Protection encapsulates the principle of ensuring that all persons are protected from abuse, threats and verbal assaults. Advocacy is also a principal object of MGCP in which case it is to promote the better treatment of women and children, and by extension vulnerable people. To the extent that the Montie 3 openly subjected the justices especially the Chief Justice (a woman) in both person and position to high levels of verbal and implied sexual assault, Nana Oye Lithur, the sector Minister should have been the first to wear her garb of activism and condemn the trio in no uncertain terms, after all, that is what she had all the years been noted for. The paradox of her silence is not as shocking as her signing the petition. Also, that, the education minister, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang to have signed the petition adds to the worry of many as these two high-profiled women ought to have praised the SC for imposing the sentences which undoubtedly seek to sanitise the media landscape and promote decorous discourses in the public space. The Presidents Lawyer I read with approval a statement purported to have come from the Presidents lawyer, Tony Lithur in which he averred that the answer in my very humble view, is not the resort to executive intervention by the grant of pardon. The Presidents lawyer put the icing on the cake when he concluded that as a party there is already a stigma in our history of the murder of judges under our watch. We should avoid the deepening of any perception that we are against the judiciary in such fundamental way that translates into threat of physical harm. Well-meaning Ghanaians have since found some relief in Mr. Lithurs statement. One must point out that it is legitimate for people to petition the President on matters of interest to them especially when Honourable George Loh, counsel for the 3rd and 4th contemnors believe that the petition does not constitute a gun on President Mahamas head. However, the fact that the petition is strongly being championed and supported by the Presidents own appointees in high offices is unfortunate and speaks of bad faith. That is why I support the call by well-meaning Ghanaians and organisations such as the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) that the ministers must stop (this kind of skewed) activism (emphasis mine) and represent the interest of the nation. I have pointed out elsewhere that although the President may be legally right to activate Article 72 as the petitioners so demand of him, doing so will be a show of moral turpitude unless all persons serving jail terms are freed in accompaniment with the Montie trio. Conclusion The murder of the judges remains a stigma on NDC as a party and what it could have done in the Montie saga was to have shown its disapproval of the comments of the contemnors and to proceed with a strong support for the four months sentences. That singular action could have helped the party relative to the murder stigma hanging on its neck. Sadly, the party has lost an opportunity to let Ghanaians know that threatening to kill is not an endorsement of the party. Professor Ama Ata Aidoo was apt when she pointed out that well-meaning Ghanaians who desire a wholesome place in Ghana should not sign this petition. The unfortunate paradox is how MoS are disregarding judicial independence through their stately petition. By their organised actions, and the praises for diatribe, it is fair to say that there is a government sponsorship for unruliness. That is a stain on our democratic credentials. It is sad that 34 years after the tragic murder of the three judges, leading government figures and ministers of state would query the imposition of prison terms to contemnors who have threatened the lives of the Supreme Court justices on the eve of the Martyrs' Day. I submit here that the so-called petition is an act of clemency for unruliness! Adama Bukari 03/08/2016 Email: [email protected] The writer is a leadership, governance and social justice activist. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, and Ama Ataa Aidoo, former Minister of Education under the erstwhile Rawlings administration, have condemned the manner in which ministers of state are signing a petition calling on President Mahama to grant pardon to the three Montie convicts. The Supreme Court, presided by Justice Sophia Akuffo, found the three guilty of scandalizing the court, defying and lowering the authority of the court, and bringing it into disrepute. Since the trio was jailed, ministers of state and leading members of the governing NDC have mounted pressure on the president to free them, an act that has attracted condemnation from various sections of society. According to Madam Owusu-Ekuful, the ministers who have signed the petition are demonstrating to the whole world that they support the actions of the three convicted persons who ran down the judiciary in derogatory terms. The Ablekuma West MP particularly took a swipe at the Gender and Social Protection Minister, Nana Oye Lithur, Betty Mould Iddrisu, former Attorney General, Prof Jane Opoku Agyemang, Minister of Education, and Valerie Sawyerr, Presidential staffer, for abetting the despicable comments from the Montie 3 by the signing the petition. She explained that as members of FIDA, an organization set up to fight for the promotion and protection of womens right, they should have known better. We expected them to use this case as a teachable moment to educate the public about womens rights and rape as gender based violence which constitutes a heinous assault on the physical, psychological and emotional well-being of victims. Instead they are leading the charge to pardon the convicts. This is indeed a sad day for women and the fight for womens rights in Ghana, he noted. The MP added: A few weeks ago these same women jumped to the defence of the EC chairperson whom they consider a friend but they dont think the Chief Justice and Sophia Akuffo JSC deserve their attention. This attitude smacks of the highest level of hypocrisy and is contemptible. Every woman in this country who is unfairly attacked, regardless of her status, political affiliation or background, deserves the protection of all who have elected to speak up and defend the women of Ghana, particularly those who are paid with our taxes to work for all of us. According to Ursula, the sad fact is that the radio station was set up for the sole purpose of denigrating, insulting, vilifying and running down anyone they consider an opponent of the President and the NDC. No section of society has escaped their insults and they have been operating for almost 2 years, the MP observed. She said the three convicted persons could have been saved from jail time if those calling on the President to grant them a pardon had called them to order. She added, None of those appealing for mercy now ever saw the need to caution them and call them to order. They actively encouraged them to continue on their destructive path of demonizing everything decent in our society. Meanwhile, Ama Ata Aidoo believes the petition is not only embarrassing but equally places the President in a dilemma as to whether he should listen to the few ministers in his party or allow the separation of powers to work. In a statement, the renowned writer noted: issuing any kind of death threats on any kind of individuals in Ghana or anywhere else in the world is a crime, adding that anyone who issues such threats should be ready to face the consequences of their actions. She added: No one who is interested in Ghana as a wholesome space for all human beings, and especially for its young growing population, would want to sign this particular petition to the President of the Republic. The renowned author and academic said pardoning the three would send the wrong message to the entire country, adding that President Mahama should join the whole of Ghana to take the opportunity of this rather unfortunate affair as a wake-up call. She continued, threatening members of the Supreme Court with violence is certainly not a crime that should be in any way overlooked or pardoned, stressing that the NDC must hold itself and its members accountable, and be ready to face up to any errors and address them as meaningfully as possible. Tunis (AFP) - Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi on Wednesday named local affairs minister Youssef Chahed, 40, as prime minister-designate tasked with forming a unity cabinet. "I met today with the president... who charged me with forming a national unity government," Chahed told reporters outside the presidential palace in Carthage. Chahed, an in-law of Essebsi, now has 30 days to come up with a ministerial team. His appointment comes days after parliament passed a vote of no confidence in outgoing premier Habib Essid. Chahed, who belongs to Essebsi's Nidaa Tounes, takes office as Tunisia struggles with a stagnant economy and the threat posed by jihadist groups operating in the country. "Today we are entering a new stage that requires effort, sacrifice, audacity, courage, selflessness and unorthodox solutions," he told reporters. He promised that women would be better represented in his cabinet than in previous governments and called for greater youth involvement. Starting today, the World Food Programmes ShareTheMeal app will fundraise to support emergency food relief in Malawi, following one of the strongest El Nino weather events on record. The goal is to provide school meals for an entire year to 58,000 school children in Zomba, a district in southern Malawi severely affected by drought and experiencing high levels of food insecurity. The children, aged 6-13 years, will receive a specially fortified porridge, through WFPs school meals programme that supports the Government of Malawis National Social Protection Programme. A daily hot meal at school has been shown to boost attendance and improve childrens ability to learn. Zomba district suffers from low enrolment, high dropout and repetition rates, and wide gender disparities in schools, all of which are likely to be aggravated during this time of crisis. During a recent visit to a school in Zomba district that will benefit from ShareTheMeal, two thirds of children in the playground said they had had no food to eat that morning before leaving home. ShareTheMeal joins what is set to become WFPs largest emergency response in the countrys history, as Malawis already strained food security has worsened following this years El Nino-related drought which caused widespread crop failure. Across southern Africa, it is estimated 18 million people will require emergency assistance of these, WFP is planning to reach at least 11.9 million people with food assistance by early next year. Through the free ShareTheMeal app, smartphone users can donate as little as US $0.50 to provide food to a vulnerable child for a day. Estimations in Malawi show that for every US $1 spent on school meals, at least US $6 are returned in better health and productivity when these children become adults. Malawi is in an extremely vulnerable situation, with estimates showing that more than one in three people will be food insecure over the next nine months, says Coco Ushiyama, WFP Country Director in Malawi. People around the world who have enough to eat can easily imagine the terrible impact that hunger has on children in such a situation. I really encourage everyone to use the ShareTheMeal app and help now. More than one third of children aged under five in Malawi are stunted (have low growth for their age) as a result of malnutrition. A Cost of Hunger in Africa study conducted in Malawi shows that child undernutrition costs Malawi more than 10% of Gross Domestic Product per annum. Malawi also has high rates of HIV/AIDS infections and related deaths which have left many orphans and child-headed households. A quarter of Malawians live in poverty and the number of households experiencing food shocks increased from 20% to 83% from 2012 to 2014, according to latest national statistics. With the majority of livelihoods dependent on agriculture, the population is highly vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters and food insecurity. 03.08.2016 LISTEN By Laudia Sawer, GNA A 19-year-old Junior High School (JHS) student was nearly beheaded by his friend at Tema Newtown in the Greater Accra Region on Sunday dawn. Master Daniel Norteye, who decided to pass the night at his friend's house, woke up with a knife at his throat. Charles Ashitey, alias Zaga, 20 years old, who is believed to have planned to use Master Norteye for rituals, convinced his friend to pass the night with him on the said day. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, Tema Police Regional Public Relations Officer confirmed the incident to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday. ASP Obeng said Ashitey attempted beheading his friend who was spending the night with him after they had returned from a dance rehearsal at about 01:00 hours. At about 04:00 hours when the victim was asleep, he felt a sharp pain on his neck and woke up to see Ashitey holding a knife and cutting his throat. He struggled with him, resulting in him sustaining multiple cuts in his palm and abdomen. The Police PRO indicated that the victim who managed to escape with the knife rushed to his aunt's house and a complaint was lodged at the Tema Newtown Police Station after which he received treatment at the Tema General Hospital. Ashitey was arrested and handed over to the Police by residents. A search in his room revealed a decomposing beheaded snake, eggshells, powder which has been sprinkled in the room and a wooden doll. ASP Obeng said the suspect who claimed ownership of the items said the dead snake belonged to a friend adding that he pleaded with his friend to give it to him instead of eating it. Ashitey also told the police that he did not know what came over him to attempt beheading his friend. Source: GNA Italy's interior minister says a Syrian man has been detained in Genoa on suspicion he intended to join an extremist group in his homeland for the "purpose of international terrorism." Minister Angelino Alfano said in a statement Wednesday the suspect was detained under recent legislation that forbids joining a terrorist group. Alfano says the suspect had "manifested the intention to go to Syria to join the Jabat al Nusra Islamist group." Separately, heightened anti-terrorism measures are being done in Rome. They include the stationing of police cars and van at the end of a boulevard that runs past the Colosseum, and police patrols and surveillance along Via del Corso, a long street lined with clothing shops and which also runs by the premier's office. Search Keywords: Short link: Hundreds of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters and some constituency executives in the Tatale constituency are pressurizing the incumbent Member of Parliament, Cecil Yaawube to contest the upcoming Parliamentary election as an independent candidate. Yaawube who won the 2012 Parliamentary election lost the NPP's Parliamentary primary to Thomas Nbomba. Thomas Nbomba also a new entrant polled 154 votes to defeat Hon. Yaawube, who polled 111 votes at the primary. But majority of NPP supporters, financiers and some constituency executives are threatening to vote skirt and blouse at the 2016 polls if their preferred candidate, Cecil James Yaawube does not contest as an independent candidate. A group called the Friends of Yaawube group on Wednesday organized a demonstration in Tatale. They held placards with inscriptions such as No Yaawube, no vote, 'Accept our offer or don't come here again, women are crying for you and Yaawube come and complete your stalled projects among others. The group's Secretary, Kpante Wilfred Npong told Citi News Hon. Cecil Yaawube remained the people's obvious choice for the 2016 Parliamentary election. He disclosed the group's intention to banish Hon. Cecil Yaawube from the constituency if he turns down their request. He served notice the group's members will vote skirt and blouse at the 2016 polls if Hon. Cecil Yaawube fails to contest the Parliamentary election as an independent candidate. Wilfred Npong commended the MP for the numerous developmental projects he has so far executed in the area. He thus impressed upon Hon. Thomas Nbomba to retain his seat as an independent candidate and accomplish his unfinished agenda. Wilfred Npong said the group was solidly behind the NPP Presidential nominee, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo. He insinuated that the NPP 2016 Parliamentary candidate, Thomas Nbomba is an NDC mole. He claimed with Thomas Nbomba, the NPP has no future in the Tatale constituency and further accused Thomas Nbomba of dividing the NPP fraternity there on tribal lines. As an orphan constituency, it was carved out of the Zabzugu/Tatale constituency in 2012 with Hon. Cecil Yaawube as the first MP. By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has waded into the row between the Electoral Commission (EC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the former's decision to electronically transmit the results of the elections. According to the NDC, the claims by the NPP that EC's proposed Electronic Results Transmission System (ERTS) is unconstitutional and cannot be used are deceptive as several other rules which have governed successful elections in the past have not been backed by the countrys elections He admitted that while the ERTS has no legal backing, an agreement had been between the EC and the political parties at the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting, to which the NPP was a party, on the rules which would and would not have constitutional backing. There's no law backing the electronic transmission. When you are dealing with elections, there are some aspects that are administrative and others that are covered by subsidiary legislation CIs and LIs and others that are covered by the constitution. It's not everything that should be backed by law. Many of the things, like the compilation of results, are governed by rules established by the EC. When we arrived at this decision, we indicated which of the rules would be constitutional amendments, which would go into subsidiary legislation and which would go into the training of their staff, the General Secretary of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia said. I'm sorry if anyone is saying that a particular thing must be provided for by either the constitution or subsidiary legislation is either misleading the public or doesn't know what they're about, or both. Peter Mac Manu is the NPP 2016 Campaign Manager The NPPs Campaign Manager for the elections, Peter Mac Manu said his party kicked against the system, arguing that no law gives the EC power to electronically transfer results The EC rejected this claim stating that the decision to use the ERTS for the 2016 elections was endorsed by the NPP . In a statement issued in response to Peter Mac Manu, the EC said: The Commission has taken note of Mr. MacManu's public comments about the agreed results transmission process, especially the legality of the said system. We, however, wish to point out that Mr. MacManu was a member of the Legal Committee of IPAC and was intimately and significantly involved in the drafting of the two important regulations C.I.91 and C.I.94 (which regulate registration of voters and the elections). Mr. MacManu also appeared before the parliamentary committee for Subsidiary Legislation chaired by Hon. Osei Bonsu Amoah. This was echoed by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah who accused the opposition of acting in bad faith to mislead the electorate, by criticizing the system. When we issued the communique, it was signed by everybody. Where were the questions he claims were unanswered and why did he [Mac Manu] sign when his questions had not been answered? There are some parties who feed on the ignorance of the masses and always seek to keep the masses ignorant so they can continue to influence them. We are not one of them, that is why we always come out with evidence-based presentations and we stick by all agreements that we are party to. We'll not sign a document and come back and claim that the document was altered by somebody else, Asiedu Nketiah told the media. By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana The Parliament of Ghana has passed the Bank of Ghana (BoG) Amendment Bill to strengthen the central bank's functional autonomy. A press release issued By the Ministry of Finance and signed by a Deputy Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson explained that the amendment will strengthen the BoGs governance system and ability to respond to crises in the banking sector. Additionally, the Bill seeks to plug the loopholes identified in Act 612. These loopholes were identified in consequence of an examination of current international trends and what pertains in other jurisdictions, it said. The amendment will also separate the autonomy provisioned from other objectives of the bank to strengthen the autonomy of the BoG in the performance of its functions. The statement pointed out that the Bill will also introduce a new qualification criterion for Board members. Under the new bill, a person is qualified for appointment as a member of the Board if that person has extensive knowledge and experience as regards monetary, banking, financial and economic matters or any discipline relevant to the functions of the Board, it said. It is important to note that with the amendment of this Bill, the Minister of Finance's influence in the appointing of members of the Monetary Policy Committee has been revoked and the Bank of Ghana takes full responsibility for that, it added. On the requirement of zero Bank of Ghana Financing of government's budget, the statement disclosed that the figure was pegged at 5 percent but the government is still committed to achieving the zero financing despite the law. Below is the full statement PRESS RELEASE PARLIAMENT PASSES BANK OF GHANA (AMENDMENT) BILL Wednesday 3rd August, 2016. On 2nd August, 2016, the Parliament of Ghana passed the Bank of Ghana Amendment Bill. The objective of the amendment is to significantly strengthen the Central Bank's functional autonomy, governance and ability to respond to banking sector crises. The Bill seeks to plug the loopholes identified in Act 612. These loopholes were identified in consequence of an examination of current international trends and what pertains in other jurisdiction. The amendment also seeks to separate the autonomy provisioned from other objectives of the bank to strengthen the autonomy of the Bank of Ghana in the performance of its functions. The Bill introduces a new qualification criterion for Board embers. Under the new bill, a person is qualified for appointment as a member of the Board if that person has extensive knowledge and experience as regards monetary, banking, financial and economic matters or any discipline relevant to the functions of the Board. It is important to note that with the amendment of this Bill, the Minister of Finance's influence in the appointing of members of the Monetary Policy Committee has been revoked and the Bank of Ghana takes full responsibility for that. This amendment of the BOG Bill comes in the middle of the IMF program that requires zero BOG financing with a window of 2% 3% of BOG financing for liquidity management. The Government of Ghana is committed to the IMF-supported Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Programme. Time and again, this commitment has been re-emphasized by H.E. the President as well as the Hon. Minister for Finance. In stating this point, we wish to emphasize that significant progress has been made in implementing the Programme and this is evident in two successful reviews of the IMF Programme. The third review mission was concluded in May, 2016 and we are awaiting the Fund to go to the Board for the approval of the third review on August 29. Even though Parliament has passed a BOG financing limit of 5 percent of previous year's revenue in the Bank of Ghana Amendment Bill, the Government remains committed and will still continue to implement the ECF Programme as agreed with the Fund. In doing so, we will continue to adhere to the requirement of zero BOG financing under the IMF-ECF Programmeas a matter of fiscal prudenceas we have done since the beginning of the year. Currently, government has no incentive to borrow from the BOG (MPC rate is above the market rate for GOG instrument). Prior to this year, we observed a reduction in BOG financing of the budget from 10 percent, under the BOG Act, to 5 percent in 2015. Furthermore, it should be noted that under the Fund programme, Government is allowed to temporarily borrow up to 2% of previous year's revenue within a 90- day windows in special circumstances. To help us manage liquidity pressures under the zero financing, we are improving domestic revenue mobilization with the implementation of tax measures as well as improving tax administration. We have switched successfully to the Ghana Stock Exchange to finance long-term Budget needs, compared to the relatively short-term BOG Treasury Bill market or auctions. Additionally, a number of initiatives to strengthen cash management are being implemented. A Cash Management Operational Framework which forecast revenue and public expenditure numbers two weeks ahead of time has been developed. The framework provides information on government cash flows on a weekly basis. The new Public Financial Management (PFM) Bill, currently being debated in Parliament, contains provisions for prudent economic management to codify for the first time, some of the measures being implemented under the Government's own Home-Grown (and now IMF) Programme. For the first time, extensive provisions relating to budget and fiscal rules, including the budget deficit, financing and public debt, are also codified in the PFM Bill. END (Signed) HON. CASSIEL ATO FORSON, MP DEPUTY MINISTER By: citibusinessnews.com/Ghana Accra, Aug. 3, GNA - Ghana would host over 700 delegates from around the world for the 2nd Pan African Agri-Business Incubators Conference and Expo from October 4 to October 6 in Accra. The event, organized by the African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN), an NGO in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), African Union, the Ghana Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), would be held at the Accra International Conference Centre. The conference, 'Turning science into business: Inclusive agribusiness incubation for vibrant economies', would showcase opportunities for youth in agribusiness incubation, different public and private sector actors supporting enterprising start-ups, and SMEs engaged in value chain transformation. Others include financing agencies supporting the establishment of agribusiness ventures, agencies supporting trade and investment and banks providing financing and de-risking the sector. Mr Alex Ariho, Chief Executive officer of AAIN, said agribusiness incubation provides more opportunity for job and wealth creation for the youth, women and men in Africa compared to any other sector globally. He said investing in agribusiness incubation is no longer optional in Africa 'if we are to address the current challenge of unemployment and transform our economies through agriculture. 'It is against this backdrop that AAIN is committed to support [workers in the sector] in 54 African countries and Ghana is one of our priority investment countries as demonstrated by the two incubators already established in Ghana in partnership with Danida, government of Ghana, FARA and AGRA,' he said. Mr Ariho said agribusiness incubation turns science into business, creating new enterprises, jobs and wealth, adding, using agribusiness incubation youth start-up have been nurtured to create new ventures that flourish with a success rate of above 85 per cent. The World Bank and AfDB estimate that agribusiness and the agriculture sector would grow to a one trillion-dollar industry by 2030, he said. Dr Alhassan Ahmed Yakubu, Deputy Minister in charge of Crops, MOFA, said Government's interest in youth motivation in agriculture sector and Youth In Agriculture programme attested to the their commitment to assist the youth to own the project. We deemed it right to collaborate with our partners in the sub region who share similar dreams,' he added. The Minister said government's focus was not just on youth employment but wants the youth to become employers at the sector and they are doing everything possible to attract the youth to the sector. Mr Dan Acquaye, Executive Director, Agri-impact Consult, said Africa has the youngest population in the world saying there is the need to find work for them. He said the young people continue to be their primary focus in their efforts to create more jobs in the area to boost the country's economy and called on all partners to bring their ideas and innovations on board to achieve the goal. Ms Angela Dannson, Director, Projects Coordination Unit of MOFA, said there are whole lots of value chain at the sector that the youth could engage in without tilling the land and urged them to consult the Ministry for the necessary advice and support. She said the Ministry is dialoguing with the Youth Employment Agency to introduce new models in form of internships for agribusinesses so that the interns would be trained to develop their own businesses after the internship. Ms Nana Adjoa Sifa, Chief Executive Officer of Kuzakuza, an incubator called for friendly policies to encourage young people to go into agribusiness. She said government could give allocation to the youth to produce food for the prisons and schools in the country to entice them to the sector. Nana Adjoa Sifa said at Kuzakuza they are giving women the necessary support to sustain their interest in agribusiness. AAIN is an initiative supported by FARA under the Universities, Businesses and Research on Agribusiness Innovation programme with the core mandate of strengthening agribusiness incubation capacity as well as commercialising agricultural technologies and innovation in Africa. It was formed in 2014 and has registered members drawn from the African continent and beyond. GNA By George-Ramsey Benamba, GNA Accra, Aug. 3, GNA - Customers of Agricultural Development Bank (adb) who transact business in this month of August using MTN Mobile Money would be rewarded with specially branded gifts from the bank. "MTN Mobile Money is a fast, simple, convenient, secure and an affordable way of transferring money, making payments and doing other transactions using a mobile phone." Mr Solomon Adu Atefoe, Head of e-business and Cards Services at adb, said this in a press release on the theme "Let's go cashless with MTN mobile money" and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra. He said the aim of the reward was to improve the usage of electronic platforms for payments and to minimize the use of physical cash in the day-to-day transactions of the general public, especially for adb customers. "We hope to use this period to create awareness and also promote the objective of reducing the use of physical cash by our customers in their daily transactions,' he said. Mr Atefoe advised customers to use MTN Mobile Money to send and receive money, top-up MTN airtime, pay bills such as DStv, Electricity of Ghana and MTN Postpaid. He said it could also be used for the payment of School fees, buy and pay for insurance, pay employee salaries, pay for airline tickets and other goods safely and conveniently on their mobile phones. "Merchants and subscribers can access end to end MTN Mobile Money services at any of the 78 branches of the bank across the country." Mr Atefoe urged existing customers to take full advantage of the promotion period to win the prizes and asked new customers to register with valid photo identification cards from now onwards to enjoy the ease and convenience Mobile Money offers. GNA 03.08.2016 LISTEN By Bertha Badu-Agyei, GNA Nsawam Aug 3, GNA - Mrs Benedicta Oyo Quartey-Asante, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Constituency, says she would focus on Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) to address youth unemployment when given the nod. She said when TVET was given the needed attention most of the youth who could not continue their education would acquire skills to empower them to have decent and sustainable livelihood. Mrs Quartey-Asante said when given the chance she would disabuse the perception that TVET was for school drop outs by putting in measures which would make TVET an educational option to ensure that young men and women, irrespective of their backgrounds, became self-dependent. Mrs Quartey-Asante, who was speaking to the GNA in an interview under its Women's Platform at Nsawam, said she was motivated to contest by the achievements of the late Mrs Vida Yeboah, the first female Member of Parliament for that constituency. She said Mrs Yeboah's achievement in girl-child education, women empowerment and community development was unparallel and since no woman had been given the chance after her the people of Nsawam should vote for her to continue with the good work. She noted that the rate of teenage pregnancy recorded in the municipality each year was worrying and so would work with all stakeholders to provide solutions to ensure that girls stayed in school to reduce teenage pregnancy and the drop-out rate. Mrs Quartey-Asante said the Nsawam Central Market needed a facelift to ensure a conducive environment for the market women. She, therefore, appealed to women in the constituency to look beyond party politics and rally behind her to win the seat to champion their course. Mrs Quartey-Asante is a health administrator and currently works at the La General Hospital. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Education and a Masters in Business-Administration from the University of Ghana. She is married with two children. She was a teacher at the Krobo Girls Secondary School and the Mount Mary College of Education, all in Somanya and has been a member of the Tertiary Education International Network (TEIN) of the NDC since her school days. She contested the primaries with three men including Dr Godfred Twum, a former Municipal Chief Executive and the current MCE, Mr Ben Ohene Ayeh and won overwhelmingly to represent the NDC. GNA Greece's immigration minister on Wednesday denied having called on the European Union to draw up a back-up plan in case Turkey reneges on a controversial deal aimed at limiting the influx of migrants. Yannis Mouzalas's denial came hours after Germany's Bild daily had quoted him as saying: "We are very worried. We need a Plan B in any case." "The minister denies Bild's translation of his comments," the immigration ministry said in a statement, publishing what it said were Mouzalas's answers in Greek to Bild's questions. According to the statement, Mouzalas had actually said: "Greece is committed to the EU-Turkey deal, which depends on both the EU's support and on Turkey's duty to respect it." "Clearly we are concerned, but for now the number of people arriving on the Greek islands (since the deal was enforced in March) does not indicate that the deal is not being respected," he said. Bild did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. Due to its geographic proximity to Turkey, Greece has become a key gateway country for migrants seeking to reach Europe. At the height of Europe's migrant crisis last year, thousands of asylum seekers landed every day on Greek Aegean islands close to the coast of Turkey. Arrival numbers have since plunged following the EU-Turkey deal, in which Ankara agreed to take back Syrian migrants arriving in Greece in exchange for billions of euros in aid and visa-free European travel for Turkish citizens. Around 13,500 people requested asylum in Greece in the first five months of 2016, of whom 677 were granted refugee status, the country's asylum agency said Wednesday. The number of those granted asylum in Greece is set to rise because many applications have yet to be examined, according to the country's asylum agency. Of those applying between January and May, 7,032 are Syrian nationals, 1,2458 Syrian and 1,030 from Pakistan. In 2015, a year that saw a surge in people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, with most passing through the Greek islands, Athens granted asylum to 3,647 people, three times the 2014 number and 16 times the figure for 2013. In all, some 57,000 migrants have been blocked in Greece since the closure in March of the neighbouring European borders. Some 9,600 of them are stranded on the Aegean islands. Relations between Ankara and the West have deteriorated over criticism against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's massive crackdown following a failed coup on July 15. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview with the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Monday that Ankara could withdraw from the accord if Europe fails to allow visa-free travel for Turks by October. But his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier rejected any talk of "blackmail," telling Rheinische Post newspaper: "That is absurd." "The fact is there are conditions for the visa-free policy and they are known to everyone," he said. "Turkey pledged to undertake the necessary steps to hold up its end of the agreement. That is not yet the case and Turkey still has work to do," added the German foreign minister. Search Keywords: Short link: business GST a significant move, but implementation is key: India Inc RC Bhargava, Chairman of Maruti Suzuki, said that the GST is a good move, but the focus should be on implementing it once the legislation is passed. Legislation on paper wont be good unless there is implementation, he said. you are here: South Sudan's President Salva Kiir fired six ministers allied to his long-time rival Riek Machar late on Tuesday, widening a political rift in the world's newest nation and drawing threats of more fighting. Kiir filled the vacant posts, including petroleum minister, with people linked to a breakaway faction of Machar's SPLM-IO party, further aggravating divisions between senior politicians in the oil producing nation. About 60,000 people have fled an outbreak of fighting between supporters of the two men in the past three weeks, the United Nations said, on top of the hundreds of thousands already forced to flee in two years of ethnically charged violence. U.N. emergency relief coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, told a news conference during a visit to Juba that the violence and "the culture of impunity" must stop before the humanitarian crisis worsened even further. The two years of civil war that erupted after Kiir sacked Machar as vice president in 2013 has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than 2 million, many of whom fled to neighbouring Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan. The personal rivalry between Kiir, from the Dinka group, and Machar, a Nuer, has worsened ethnic splits in a country awash with weapons. Both sides agreed a peace deal last year and set up a unity government. But the ceasefire broke down several times and Machar left the capital last month, demanding an international force intervene to keep their forces apart. The chaos has dismayed regional and world powers who helped broker South Sudan's secession from Sudan in 2011, and had hoped its independence would draw a line under decades of war and instability that spread across east Africa. In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner voiced dismay at the conflict and appeared to blame both sides. "The United States is deeply disappointed in the leadership of South Sudan, that given the opportunity of independence, and then frankly a second chance that came with the August 2015 peace agreement, have thus far failed to put aside personal power struggles for the good of their people," he told a daily briefing. Toner said the United States was putting pressure on both sides to end the violence. Kiir dismissed the ministers of the interior, petroleum, higher education, labour, water, as well as lands and housing in a statement read out on state television. The replacements were made on the recommendation of Vice President Taban Deng Gai, who announced he was taking over the SPLM-IO in July. "We are not surprised by the steps taken by ... Kiir and Taban Deng Gai," said Machar's deputy spokesman, Nyarji Jermlili Roman. He said Machar's supporters would march to Juba "and end this drama' if a foreign protection force demanded by Machar was not deployed. Search Keywords: Short link: The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana. Related Venezuela attorney general says Congress illegally formed Venezuela's opposition steeled itself Tuesday for a new battle in its campaign to remove President Nicolas Maduro in a referendum, vowing nationwide rallies to pressure the crisis-hit government. Seventeen years after his late mentor Hugo Chavez launched Venezuela on the path of socialist "revolution," Maduro is clinging to the helm of a country in deep crisis. The once-booming country, home to the world's largest oil reserves, is gripped by severe shortages of food, medicine and basic goods that have triggered violence and looting. The opposition, which blames Maduro for the mounting chaos, wants to get rid of him with a recall referendum. It won a key battle Monday when the National Electoral Council (CNE) announced it had collected nearly double the 200,000 signatures required to start the process. But it appears the war has just begun. Maduro's camp has vowed to fight tooth and nail. Complicating matters, the opposition says he controls both the electoral council and Supreme Court. The president's opponents face a long, complicated struggle. To trigger a recall vote, they must now gather four million signatures in just three days at a time yet to be decided. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles called two days of nationwide rallies for Wednesday and Thursday to start mobilizing support. Other opposition leaders camped out early Tuesday at the electoral council's headquarters, awaiting the official certificate declaring they had gathered the necessary signatures to complete the first phase. After receiving it, they flashed it before television cameras. They said they would immediately file their formal request for a recall vote. The council has 15 days to respond. "We're just one step away from the day when our people will exercise their constitutional right and enable us to resolve this crisis," said Juan Carlos Caldera of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), the broad opposition coalition behind the referendum drive. The opposition is racing to force a referendum by January 10, four years into the president's six-year term. Any time after that, a successful recall vote would simply transfer power to Maduro's hand-picked vice-president rather than trigger new elections. Political analysts say the opposition faces an uphill battle. "The next step will be as long and hard as the first," said Luis Vicente Leon, head of the polling firm Datanalisis. "The CNE's potential game isn't to avoid a recall referendum, just delay it. And that game's not over." Maduro took to national TV Monday evening vowing new "victories" and "more socialism" in 2016. "The right can't get rid of me," he said, calling the recall drive against him a "failed process" marred by alleged fraud. He also named as the new interior minister a military general indicted on drug-related charges in the United States this week. Maduro's opponents are hoping pressure from Venezuelans desperate over the collapsing economy will force the government's hand. But the fragmented opposition has struggled to convene mass protests. Venezuelans are too busy standing in line for scarce food and basic goods. Many also fear violence or a government crackdown. Maduro has declared a state of emergency and given his military sweeping powers over food production and distribution. In a first step toward a referendum, the opposition submitted 1.8 million signatures in May. Signatories then had to show up at electoral offices to confirm their identity with fingerprint scans, braving long lines and sweltering heat. Once the second petition drive is complete, the council will have 15 business days to validate the signatures. If there are enough, it is supposed to organize a referendum within three months. To win, Maduro's opponents would need more votes than the number with which he won the presidency in 2013 -- around 7.5 million. A recent poll found 64 percent of Venezuelans would vote to remove Maduro. However, his allies have an arsenal of possible delaying strategies. They have filed thousands of legal challenges to the recall petition and called for MUD to be banned for alleged fraud. The electoral council's chief, Tibisay Lucena, said Monday the authorities had detected more than 1,000 apparently fraudulent signatures, saying the cases would be referred to prosecutors. Search Keywords: Short link: Italian police arrested a Syrian man in the northern city of Genoa on Wednesday on suspicion he was planning to travel to his home country to join Islamist militants. Police said in a statement their anti-terrorism unit had arrested an unemployed man, 23, who they said was planning to return to Syria to join the rebel group Nusra Front. He was arrested on suspicion of supporting international terrorism. The Syrian Islamist rebel group, which emerged at the start of the Syrian conflict, re-branded itself last week as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and cut ties with international militant network al Qaeda. Nusra Front and Islamic State group are enemies in Syria, but both were excluded from a U.S.- and Russian-backed ceasefire this year. Police said they were investigating the arrested man's relationship with other foreigners in the Genoa area to determine whether they were trying to recruit fighters. They said there was no indication that attacks in Italy were being planned. On Tuesday, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said Italy had expelled a 26-year-old Pakistani man who they said supported Islamic State group and was planning to go to Syria to join Islamist militants. Search Keywords: Short link: Fulani herdsmen have killed at least five villagers in northern Nigeria's Kaduna state in the latest violence over grazing rights, police said on Wednesday, but local media put the toll higher. "There was an attack on several communities in the state on Tuesday. Five people lost their lives and we are investigating the incident," state police spokesman Aliyu Usman told AFP. He said police had deployed to restore peace. "Our men are on ground. The place is now calm." Local media said at least 11 people were killed when Fulani herders invaded Ungwan Anjo, Akwaa and Gida Biyu villages in Jema'a local government area of the state, while several houses and farmlands were destroyed. The media also said 15 people were killed in another attack at the weekend in Demsa council area of Adamawa state, some 250 kilometres (155 miles) from Kaduna. Officials in Adamawa were not immediately available for comment. Clashes over grazing rights are common between Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farmers in Nigeria, particularly in the religiously mixed central states. Last week, one person was killed, one missing and two injured in an attack in Benue state where hundreds were reportedly killed in February. President Muhammadu Buhari, a northern Muslim, has proposed the creation of grazing land to prevent further clashes in a country that is battling a seven-year Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast. Search Keywords: Short link: Emma Wall: Hello, and welcome to Morningstar. I'm Emma Wall and I'm joined today by Blake Hutchins, Manager of the Investec Global Quality Equity Income Fund, to give his three stock picks. Hi, Blake. Blake Hutchins: Hi, Emma. Wall: So, what's the first stock you'd like to highlight today? Hutchins: Yeah. So, I selected a U.S. stock to start with, which is, ADP. They are very high-quality business and they provide human capital resources for companies and they'll do everything from payroll to recruitment and also, they benefit from the outsourcing trend of HR in the U.S. and in Canada. Actually, they pay 1 in 6 people in the U.S. which is an interesting fact. Wall: Does that mean it's quite linked to how the domestic economy is doing in the U.S.? We've actually seen record low unemployment in the U.S. which presumably is quite good for this company. But is it sensitive to those kind of changes? Hutchins: Yeah, at the margin. I mean, they have very much a recurring revenue stream which we like which provides defensive nature across the cycle. About 90% of their revenue is actually recurring each year. So, whilst there is some element of cyclicality to do with employment, actually across the cycle and you see in the last recession they actually grew their revenues. They are currently growing about 8% top-line with margins also progressing. So, we actually like the defensive nature of the business and the very cash-generative nature of the business. Wall: What's the second stock today? Hutchins: So, the second stock, I picked a European stock, which is, KONE, probably the best manufacturer of lifts and escalators in the world. They have grown very strongly in China recently and there is an interesting element to that in that they present a little bit of risk which we found gave us the valuation opportunity to get involved in the stock. But then also the way that KONE makes the majority of their money is through servicing the lifts. So, once they've installed them, in a few years the safety and the servicing elements of those escalators and elevators is so important and that's still very much happening in China. The health and safety standards are increasing in China all the time which is the great long-term driver of KONE's business. Wall: And I suppose the great competitor of that is Schindler's Lifts. How much market share does KONE have and is that a concern or is it this recurring revenue that really is interesting? Hutchins: Yeah, it is, and it's actually what we think is the real opportunity for KONE is for its installed base of lifts is to make sure that they service those lifts that they have installed. Currently, in Europe and in the U.S. the proportion of lifts that KONE manufacture that they service is around 80%, but in China that's only around 50% or less and as those standards become more important, KONE can actually benefit from that. And then in terms of market share, to your point, is actually there's an interesting replacement cycle that is due to happen in Europe. We have a lot of old buildings. So, it's not just about China. There is a replacement cycle of original equipment in Europe to happen on a five to seven-year basis. Wall: What's the third and final stock? Hutchins: So, the third one is a U.K. stock and it's one that I tend to get a lot of questions on. So, I picked GlaxoSmithKline actually. It's the biggest holding in the fund. We've been encouraged by recent results with Glaxo. They now have separated their business into three very sensible divisions, pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer. So, those three divisions in themselves are very high quality. All of them have growth prospects, they have high returns on capital, they are cash generative and they are capital light, all features that we look for when we analyse stocks for the fund. Wall: And the pharmaceuticals industry in general, their share prices suffered a few years ago quite significantly when people were worried about this patent cliff. They've rallied since then. So, at this valuation, do you still find Glaxo compelling? Hutchins: We do actually and there's still a lot of self-help to come from Glaxo. If I think about their consumer division, they are actually only making operating margins of 11% in that division. Reckitt, which is another holding of ours, they make mid-20s or 30% margins in a comparable division. So, we like the self-help angle with Glaxo and also, they've got a pretty good run of time now where there won't be any more patent expiries. So, we think they are pretty well set despite some of the controversy that's out there in the market. Wall: Blake, thank you very much. Hutchins: Thank you. Wall: This is Emma Wall for Morningstar. Thank you for watching. The United States and Japan will ask the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss Pyongyang's launch of a ballistic missile that landed in Japanese-controlled waters, US Ambassador Samantha Power said. "We expect to be calling an emergency meeting of the Security Council for later this afternoon, with our Japanese colleagues," Power told reporters. Search Keywords: Short link: Michael Young retired last year, but he says at one point he was worried he would not be able to afford to stop working, after seeing the lions share of his savings wiped out by the dot com crash. He is now a far more cautious investor as a result, although this hasnt put him off equity investments completely. He says: Ive always saved around 20% of my earnings, so by the time I was in my early 50s I had a healthy pot of money in my SIPP. Id assumed that by the time I reached 65 Id be sitting on a million-pound pension pot. But this was the late 1990s. Equity markets were racing ahead and Young says that there was the tendency for advisers and investors alike to become a little greedy. Once he had passed his 50th birthday Young said he had classed himself medium to low risk investor. But his advisers still recommended funds with significant exposure to technology, telecommunications and media sectors. When the dotcom bubble burst in early 2000 he said it was a huge fright to see most of his pension had disappeared. He said: I had lost a significant amount of money. Shares didnt bounce straight back. The security I thought I had was gone. I felt like Id been robbed. He took his case to the Financial Ombudsman Service, who agreed he had been mis-advised and demanded the advisory firm pay him a six-figure sum. But after this firm went out of business Young says he didnt receive a penny in compensation. The Benefits of a Diversified Portfolio Since then he says hes been very careful about choosing advisers. When he sold the engineering firm he owned, he said he interviewed eight different advisers before settling with wealth manager Brooks McDonald. Ive been very happy with them. They take a set fee, and its all very transparent. My portfolio has grown by around 5.5% a year in recent years, which is better than the FTSE All-Share Index, although I am overall in a lower risk portfolio. Young now has a more diverse range of funds: including equity investments, absolute return funds, fixed interest investment, and structured products. He says he has invested in a number of Fidelity funds over the years and these have proved to solid steady performers. One of his best investments has been Old Mutual Global Equity Fund. This has a five-star rating from Morningstar reflecting its strong performance in recent years. This fund, managed by Ian Heslop, seeks to achieve long term capital growth through the active management of a diversified portfolio of global equities. Young says he has seen his money more than treble in value in this fund. A Focus on Total Return Another strong performer has been Threadneedle UK Equity Income. This has a four-star performance rating, and its managers, Leigh Harrison and Richard Colwell, have a coveted Silver analyst rating, reflecting Morningstars confidence that they will continue to outperform in future. Since October last year Colwell has been recognised as the lead manager of this fund. Morningstar analyst Simon Dorricott says: The combination of manager experience, pragmatism, market awareness, and the emphasis on total return make this a strong fund for those seeking exposure to UK equity income. But despite taking a more cautious approach, Young says not all his investments have been successful. Against the advice of his advisers he decided to get more exposure to gold and invested in BlackRock World Mining (BRWM). Although the managers of this trust have a Silver rating, Young says he has lost money in this fund, as mining shares have struggled in recent years. Young said he also lost money after investing in Braemar Group, the property investment fund manager that specialised in student accommodation. Buy-to-Let for Retirement Income Young says that his financial situation has benefitted from judicious investments in the buy-to-let market. Calling buy-to-let the bedrock of my retirement plans. He invested in some new build flats in Boreham Wood, on the outskirts of London, when moving to the capital fifteen years ago. They were on the market for 130,000. I just needed to put a quarter of this down as a deposit which I was able to do from the sale of my business. Young raised a mortgage to fund the rest of the purchase, and the rental income has covered the costs on this. I wanted to invest the money from my business in something solid. I knew the value of these properties wouldnt necessarily go up quickly, but I thought it was a good investment for the future, he explained Over time, Young bought other buy-to-let flats in the area, and one in Birmingham. Although the Birmingham property yields around 11%, he says the value of this property has only increased marginally over the past decade. In contrast the London properties have doubled in value over the same period. He plans to use the rental income from these properties to subsidise the income taken from his SIPP. You cant take this money with you. Ive had open heart surgery so I know theres no guarantee how long Ill be here for, he adds. I want to enjoy my retirement: we go on a cruise every year and spend a month in Barcelona. But Im also conscious that I dont want to run out of money either. My strategy is to live off the income from my pensions and these rents. If myself and my wife need any more money we can sell one of the buy-to-lets. This will ensure the pension doesnt run out and hopefully there will be some to leave to my children and grandchildren. What funds are in your ISA or SIPP? What have been your most successful investments to date? If you'd like to feature in Investment Views and tell us about your investment strategy please contact the Editorial team on UKEditorial@morningstar.com The Morningstar European Ideas List features our most attractively valued European-domiciled names with sustainable competitive advantages, or economic moats. Equity analysts highlight companies across each sector chosen based on their uncertainty-adjusted discounts to their intrinsic value. This months list saw an increased amount of turnover, with seven new companies entering the list. These latest changes were evenly spread across multiple sectors, with the financial services sector being the only sector with more than one change. New additions to the list this month include Diageo (DGE) and ARM Holdings (ARM), as they represent some of the cheapest European names on an uncertainty-adjusted, price/fair value basis. They join three other UK stocks on the list; SSE (SSE), Centrica (CNA) and Petrofac (PFC). Most stocks traded up during the month, and while this can be a good problem to have, bargains have become more scarce. Several of the new additionsSyngenta, Diageo, and ARM Holdingsentered as three-star stocks. This means that while they are not massively undervalued on an absolute basis, from a relative standpoint they are the most undervalued for their sector. This means that their respective sectors are not currently presenting numerous bargains. Additionally, the technology and utilities sectors offer few bargains within our coverage list, with only one or two stocks, all of which are currently trading at three-star valuations, meaning they are trading at fair value, making the list from each of these sectors. With this being said, there are still several cheaper names on the list. Comms Stocks Hit by Brexit Vote Fibre-optic telecoms stock SFR Group, is trading at an uncertainty-adjusted price/fair value estimate of 78%, which is worthy of a five-star rating. Morningstar analyst Allan Nichols believes the markets reaction within the telecom sector to the EU referendum vote has been an overreaction. He views telecoms stocks as somewhat immune to geopolitical changes. In his view, Brexit will have no effect on cross-border transfers of voice or data, as mobile termination rates for voice have already been reduced to negligible levels, while for data they have been cut in half and will be down to local roaming rates by the end of 2017. While he expects the U.K. economy to slow as a result of Brexit, he doesnt believe the event will have a material impact on the U.K. operators. Nichols believes that SFRs narrow moat remains intact. Additionally, he expects SFR to improve margins as it reduces its cost structure. In-country mergers are almost always accretive, and Nichols anticipates that many functions between the two companies will be combined. In the longer term, there is the potential to benefit from additional consolidation in France if any companies can reach a merger agreement and the regulators allow consolidation. Only one technology firm, one energy firm, and two utilities firms made our list this month, and none of those firms look particularly undervalued to us currently. The European technology sector remains the most expensive sector, based on our uncertainty-adjusted fair value estimates. 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. In cooperation with city officials and the Gabriel Housing Corporation, the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan recently opened six new rental units in Regina, intended for families with complex needs.In a July 28 news release published online by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the public officialswhich included the Honourable Ralph Goodale, legislative assembly member Muhammad Fiaz, and Regina mayor Michael Fougereofficially opened for use a facility that features two 2-bedroom units, three 3-bedroom units, and two 4-bedroom units.Situated at 2059 Edward Street, the project was completed with a $758,000 endowment by the Gabriel Housing Corporation for mortgage financing and land equity, along with a $90,000 from Reginas coffers.The new units will enable Gabriel Housing Corporation to further meet the demand for quality, safe and affordable housing, reduce the number of Aboriginal families on our wait list and provide the necessary support services to the families so that they can maintain and live in a healthy home environment, Gabriel Housing Corporation CEO Doug Moran said.Through investments in affordable housing, our Government is providing assistance to those who need it most here in Saskatchewan and in all corners of the country. With our partners, we are providing a helping hand for families in need, and in doing so, we are contributing to the economic and social well-being of the entire community, Goodale added.The building will incorporate support services that will promote healthy lifestyles among families, as well as provide for their recreational and spiritual needs. A British woman whose husband alleges she was killed for marrying him against her parents' wishes was murdered, Pakistani police said on Wednesday. The case attracted attention because it came just days after the high-profile "honour killing" of outspoken social media star Qandeel Baloch, whose brother confessed to the crime and has been arrested. Samia Shahid, 28, a beautician from Bradford who had gone to visit her family in Pakistan, died last month in the village of Pandori in northern Punjab, the political power base of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Police spokeswoman Nabeela Ghazanfar said a forensic report on Shahid's death had been released to a three-member investigative committee led by Deputy Inspector General Police Abubakar Khuda Bakhsh. "The report says that she neither committed suicide, nor did she die a natural death," Ghazanfar told Reuters. "She died of asphyxia after her breathing was choked, which leads to the possibility she was murdered. Now the team will carry out investigations along the lines that this is a murder." Shahid's relatives said she had died of a heart attack, but her husband, Kazim Mukhtar, told Reuters last week that he believed she had been poisoned and then strangled. No arrests have been made so far, but Shahid's father and a cousin have been questioned by police. Police are also searching for her divorced first husband, Choudhry Shakeel, who is missing. Mukhtar, her second husband, told media last week that the couple had received death threats from her family in the past. He also said her family was angered that Shahid converted from the majority Sunni to the minority Shia sect of Islam after the couple married. Some 500 women are killed each year in Pakistan by relatives who feel their family has been shamed by a daughter or sister fraternising with men, eloping or otherwise infringing conservative demands on women. Last month's murder of Qandeel Baloch, who had divided opinion in the deeply conservative Muslim society by regularly posting risque photos on social media, led the government to announce that it would pass long-delayed legislation outlawing honour killing within weeks. Search Keywords: Short link: UN member states have rejected a UN proposal to resettle 10 percent of the world's refugees annually as part of a new global effort to tackle the worst refugee crisis since World War II. A document adopted late Tuesday failed to include the resettlement proposal from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that would have been the centerpiece of a UN summit on refugees in New York on September 19. Human rights groups voiced disappointment, dismissing the document as a meaningless political declaration and warning that the September gathering of world leaders was shaping up as a missed opportunity. Ban's adviser on the summit, Karen AbuZayd, said, however, that she was "very pleased by the agreement" and was looking forward to negotiations on a new global compact for migrants to begin next year. Under Ban's proposal, world leaders were to agree on a new "global compact on responsibility-sharing" to address the refugee crisis and launch talks on a second agreement on migration. The final document makes no mention of the responsibility-sharing deal and proposes talks on migration beginning early next year, with a view to adopting that accord in 2018. "The Refugee Summit was a historic opportunity to find a desperately-needed global solution to the refugee crisis," said Charlotte Philipps from Amnesty International. "Instead, world leaders delayed any chance of a deal until 2018, procrastinating over crucial decisions even as refugees drown at sea and languish in camps with no hope for the future." Ban put forward his proposals in May to address the crisis from some 65 million people fleeing wars and poverty, the largest displacement crisis since the Second World War. Following weeks of negotiations, the proposed resettlement goal of 10 percent of world refugees was deleted from the document and replaced by a general pledge to take in more refugees. "We intend to expand the number and range of legal pathways available for refugees to be admitted to, or resettled in, third countries," the document said. Opposition to the UN proposal came from a broad range of countries including the United States and the European Union, as well as Russia, China and India. "There are serious questions now about whether this summit will be able to generate a response commensurate to the greatest displacement crisis the world has seen since World War II," said Akshaya Kumar, Human Rights Watch's deputy UN director. With expectations for the UN summit now low, attention shifted to a separate gathering at the United Nations on September 20 that will be hosted by President Barack Obama. At that summit, the United States will ask countries to come forward and announce the number of refugees they are willing to take in along with any other support they can offer. "The issue of resettlement targets can be dealt with at the pledging summit, where some states might make big offers," said AbuZayd. The United Nations had hoped that the new deal would have lifted some of the burden on developing countries in the refugee crisis, which has been fueled by the five-year war in Syria and other conflicts. A handful of countries are currently bearing the brunt of the global refugee crisis, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Eight countries host more than half of the world's refugees: Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya and Uganda. UN member-states endorsed Ban's proposal for a global campaign against xenophobia. "Demonizing refugees or migrants offends profoundly against the values of dignity and equality for every human being to which we have committed ourselves," said the document. Search Keywords: Short link: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas wants to cover gender reassignment surgery in plans sold on HealthCare.gov. And the states largest insurer noted the change in the same filing that calls for increasing next years premiums by almost 60 percent on individual plans. Cause and effect? Blue Cross isnt saying, but its not likely. Studies show that extending coverage to transgender people has a tiny impact on health costs. While surgery is expensive, up to $89,000, few people get it. And those in transition often receive hormone treatments or other less expensive therapies. In May, the federal government said the cost of transgender health coverage is de minimis, or trivial. It cited a study that estimated the monthly expense at 22 cents per member for the U.S. military. The financial cost of transition-related care, in short, is too low to matter, researcher Aaron Belkin wrote last year in a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. That conclusion may not prevent a backlash in Texas, where transgender bathrooms have created controversy and rising health insurance costs are frustrating many consumers. Under Obamacare, insurers cannot exclude applicants for pre-existing conditions and thats been a major factor in losses on the exchange. Blue Cross, for example, lost $770 million on exchange business in Texas last year. Insurers also must cover many so-called essential benefits, such as maternity care and contraception. Extending that to trans treatment worries economist John Goodman, who compared a sex change operation to laser eye surgery and hair transplants. Its not just this one procedure, said Goodman, president of the Goodman Institute for Public Policy Research in Dallas. Its the whole idea that if something makes your life better, all of us should pay for it. That attitude can make health insurance very expensive. Belkin said top medical associations agree that gender surgery is medically necessary. In June, the government said recent medical research shows that gender dysphoria has had severe medical consequences for some patients who did not get surgery. This isnt a question of personal preferences or choice or opinions, said Belkin, director of the Palm Center, a nonprofit research group. Its a matter of medical necessity. Gender surgery has not been mandated by the federal government. But in May, officials issued a ruling that prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex stereotyping. It was widely viewed as a step toward requiring coverage. The rule reaffirms this administrations commitment to giving every American access to the health care they deserve, said Sylvia Burwell, secretary of Health and Human Services. As a result, more insurers are adding the benefit. In Texas, that also includes Blue Cross small group plans. Aetna, another major insurer, said it would cover gender surgery for customers who buy insured medical plans in all states, beginning in January. Awareness and acceptance of LGBT issues have increased greatly in recent years. In 2015, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage and Caitlyn Jenner, the former Olympic champion known as Bruce Jenner, made the transition from man to woman. Jenner talked openly about the process. Despite the publicity, trans coverage is not mainstream yet. In a 2016 survey of about 3,000 companies, just 6 percent said they covered gender reassignment surgery, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Genetic testing for disease was offered by twice as many employers. Acupuncture was covered by 35 percent of respondents. But theres been an increase. In 2011, 2 percent of employers offered gender surgery, the society said. And company size makes a big difference; among employers with over 10,000 workers, nearly a quarter said they covered the procedure. The Human Rights Campaign, which tracks corporate treatment toward the LGBT community, reported that over 500 large companies have transgender health policies. Thats up from 49 companies seven years ago. In 17 states -- not Texas -- exclusions for trans treatments are prohibited, a trend that started earlier this decade. In addition, coverage for trans conditions has been proposed for the active military and veterans. Medicare also pays for procedures on a case-by-case basis. The bottom line is theres going to be coverage for many of the things people need, said Harper Jean Tobin, policy director for the National Center for Transgender Equality. Getting claims paid can be a challenge, as with any insurance. That can be frustrating for trans patients who want to be treated like everyone else. Theres often a gap between the policy and whats available on the ground, said Anand Kalra of the Transgender Law Center in Oakland. Conservative leaders in Texas have sued the Obama administration over a directive for transgender bathrooms in public schools. But that issue affects nearly every community, while trans health care is limited. Just six people in 100,000 are estimated to seek transition-related care, according to a study by Jody Herman of UCLA. That figure came from the experience of a University of California health plan from 2005 to 2011. Transition-related health care benefits have zero or very low costs, she found. Yet they can provide benefits for employers and employees alike. --- Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Breastfeeding is unequalled in nutrition and the optimal feeding choice for the health and wellbeing of both mom and baby. The U.S. Surgeon General, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization all recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a babys life, followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age, and continuation of breastfeeding for as long as is mutually desired by the mother and baby. (AAP, 2012) For mother, breastfeeding helps: Have you wondered how your area hospitals stack up in terms of the quality of care they provide? Emergencies obviously call for rushing to the nearest hospital. But when you have time to plan, it is worth doing some research and finding out which hospitals do the best job of caring for their patients. Medicare's Hospital Compare website - at medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html - has just made it easier for you to check that. The site has added overall star ratings to help you better understand which hospitals are top performers, which are average and which need improvement. The ratings range from one to five stars, with five being the best. Midland Memorial Hospital received three stars. Odessa Regional Medical Center also received three and Medical Center Hospital received two. The Hospital Compare site already enjoys a solid reputation with the public, showing how 4,600 hospitals scored on various indicators of quality care. You can compare hospitals on the basis of such factors as clinical outcomes, customer satisfaction and patient safety. The new overall star ratings offer a snapshot of particular hospitals quality of care, by summing up 64 individual measures of hospital performance already posted on the website. The ratings reflect such factors as how often patients get infections after surgery, how long patients must wait in the emergency department before seeing a doctor or nurse, and how likely patients are to get readmitted to the hospital after a heart attack. The stars take into account the mix of patients at a hospital, so that those facilities with a high percentage of sicker patients arent rated lower than those that handle more run-of-the-mill cases. Medicare assigned stars to 3,662 Medicare-certified hospitals nationwide. Another 937 couldnt be included, mostly because they didnt have enough data to properly evaluate them. They may have been too new or too small and, therefore, had too few cases on which to base ratings. The ratings will be updated quarterly on the website, as the government continues to collect the most recent data. Nationally, 102 hospitals received five stars, 934 rated four stars, 1,770 scored three stars, 723 received two stars, and 133 had just one star. The 276 rated Texas hospitals scored an average of 3.3 stars for overall quality of care -- slightly above the national average. Thirteen hospitals received five stars, 90 rated four stars, 132 scored three stars, and 41 received two stars. No Texas hospital had just one star. The 13 Texas hospitals that received Medicare's top rating of five stars were Quail Creek Surgical Hospital in Amarillo, St. David's Medical Center in Austin, Baylor Medical Center at Uptown in Dallas, North Central Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth, Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg, Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center in Houston, Texas Orthopedic Hospital in Houston, Memorial Hermann Hospital System in Houston, Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, Methodist Stone Oak Hospital in San Antonio, Texas Spine and Joint Hospital in Tyler and Citizens Medical Center in Victoria. Hospital Compare's new overall star ratings follow last year's introduction of star ratings that looked only at patient satisfaction. By adding star ratings to its Compare websites, Medicare is trying to help you make more informed decisions about your health care. The public reporting also gives low-performing providers a compelling incentive to improve their practices and procedures and, hence, their scores. Nursing Home Compare, Home Health Compare and the Medicare Plan Finder already use star ratings to help you check out health care providers and choose one with quality in mind. Of course, as informative as these websites can be, they can't tell the whole story about where to go for care. They're simply a screening tool that lets you focus on a few providers that interest you. Bob Moos is Southwest regional public affairs officer for the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) An independent has won a special election for a San Antonio-based Texas House seat and will be the first non-Republican or -Democrat in the Legislature in decades. But Laura Thompson's term only lasts through December. She won't be serving while the Legislature is in session beginning Jan. 10, unless a special session is convened, which is unlikely. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A top Texas attorney general's office lawyer was fired last year after raising concerns that the state violated federal rules while trying to salvage a troubled technology deal involving an overhaul of its child support system, according to a published report Tuesday. Martha Fitzwater Pigott was fired in September. Attorney General Ken Paxton's office later offered a settlement that kept her on the state payroll for almost six months in exchange for keeping the details of her complaints secret, documents obtained by The Dallas Morning News (http://bit.ly/2ajijda) show. High-profile cases of state agencies using emergency leave to continue paying employees who resign or are fired have become commonplace in Texas lately so much so that Gov. Greg Abbott recently instructed agencies "to refrain from using emergency leave as severance or settlement payments." Fitzwater Pigott oversaw a contract with tech giant Accenture, which was hired in 2010 by the attorney general's office to overhaul electronic record keeping for Texas' child support system. Abbott was attorney general at the time, before becoming governor in 2015. But that deal was plagued by years of failures which saw its budget balloon to $310 million, or about $100 million more than originally planned. Fitzwater Pigott did not return the newspaper's calls seeking comment, so exactly what complaints she raised are unclear. But records indicate that, in the fall of 2015, she expressed concern that federal laws may have been broken as the attorney general's office worked to make improvements to its deal with Accenture. Records show that Austin-based lawyer Phillip Durst told state officials that his client, Fitzwater Pigott, was subsequently fired "under very suspicious circumstances" despite a strong employment record. Her attorney wrote: "I think the taxpayers of Texas and the funders of the (Child Support Division) programs will be very concerned if it is determined, as we believe, that the (Office of the Attorney General) was not properly complying with its financial obligations and that this program could be more efficient to the people it serves." Paxton's office responded by signing an agreement that kept paying Fitzwater Pigott through January 2016, as long as she didn't sue the agency. That deal was later extended until Feb. 14, when she took a job at theTexas Higher Education Coordinating Board. ___ Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com GALVESTON, Texas (AP) Prosecutors say blood samples and surveillance video are among the evidence showing a Houston man bludgeoned his daughter and shot her girlfriend before dumping their bodies behind a convenience store. The capital murder trial of 48-year-old James Larry Cosby began Tuesday in Galveston. He's accused of killing Britney Cosby and Crystal Jackson, both 24, in 2014. On Nov. 25, four days before she died, Odessan Monica Deming, 32, had a friend over to her home. She had been enduring constant harassment for weeks, primarily via social media and text message, by her ex-boyfriend Brandon Leyva, 38, and took comfort in the solace of friends and family. During the time her friend visited, his truck was vandalized with an obscene message. The body was spraypainted with the same language Leyva had used on social media in attempts to humiliate and defame Deming and the tires were slashed. They called the police and a criminal mischief report was filed. About 11 pm November 25th, we came outside to notice my friend Andrew Andersons work truck to be vandalized, Deming wrote in the report. My ex-boyfriend Brandon Leyva has been stalking me and harassing me and my friends for four weeks. I have several text messages, fb messages, I tried to file a report and have been visiting Safe Place due to his emotional abuse. I know it has to be him. This report is the only report -- other than the account of Demings murder -- that Odessa Police Department included in the documents sent in response to the Reporter-Telegrams Freedom of Information Act request for all reports, documents and affidavits involving Demings murder. Deming had gone to the police the week before with evidence of the constant text messages, Facebook messages and posts Leyva was sending after their breakup at the end of October. Her complaint was not documented and not forwarded to a detective, as is protocol. Deming texted her sister, Jenny Dorsey, after this incident, according to a detailed write-up by Dorsey of the harassment leading up to her sisters death. I try so hard to be strong, Im losing it, Deming wrote in her text. Leyvas behavior over the three-week period before Demings death clearly fell under the description of stalking according to Texas law, yet her complaint was not documented nor was she informed of her right to file for a protective order with the District Attorneys Office. Frustrated with the lack of action, Deming took matters into her own hands, setting up time with a counselor at Safe Place of the Permian Basin who told her to document as evidence Leyvas every attempt to contact or insult her, which was a daily occurrence. She hoped the volume of evidence would eventually force the police to take action against him. After the truck vandalism, Deming and her family hoped that serious action might be taken by OPD to protect Deming from Leyva. On Thanksgiving Day, the family discussed preparing a time line of all the harassment. Her father, former OPD police officer Jon Nielsen, had bought her video cameras to further document Leyvas stalking, but bad weather prevented them from putting the cameras outside the house. After the vandalism episode, Deming, Nielsen, and Dorsey noticed Leyva had begun editing his captions of several memes he posted to Instagram that were in obvious referral to Deming. It really freaked her out because he changed the comment right when her friend was leaving her house, Dorsey wrote in documenting the harassment leading up to her sisters death. This was his strange indirect way to communicate with her. Deming called her father at about 12:15 a.m. Nov. 29 and told him she thought someone was trying to get through the front door. By the time Nielsen and police arrived, it was too late. A camera in Demings home captured the scene. He broke into a sliding glass door in the back of the residence, OPD Detective Brandon Ford wrote in his report. Glass littered the entry way and the interior lights were on. The video shows Deming walking into the living room. She picks up her phone, then walks back toward the bedroom. The next clip, at 12:18 a.m., shows Leyva standing over Demings body in the living room. She had been shot twice within one minute of the break-in. Leyva shot Deming twice more while she lay on the floor. Nielsen said that not even an experienced officer could have defended himself or herself at the time of the break-in, even if they had had a gun sitting right next to them. For the last few minutes of the video, Leyva remains near the body. Finally, he gets up and exits the viewing area of the camera. At 12:45 a.m., the video shows officers entering; they found Leyva in the bedroom, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The week before she died, whenever Deming spoke to her father she would say when I die, not if. Why should someone be so terrified in their own city?" said Nielsen, standing in his home, holding a picture of Deming. During the investigation of the murder, OPD found that Leyva had two previous protective orders filed against him -- one in 2003 and one in 2012; neither were in Ector County. Protective orders are public information, but one would need to know which county the order was filed in to access them, said Aaron Setliffe, Public Policy Director for the Texas Council on Family Violence and former domestic violence attorney. There is no searchable national database. They have terrorist watch lists and things like that, but if somebodys gotten a protective order against somebody, shouldnt people be made aware of that? Nielsen said. Dorsey and Nielsen think that because Leyva never specifically stated he was going to harm Deming is the reason police didnt act on her harassment complaints, despite a change in Texas stalking law that was made in 2013 to avoid this very loophole. The new law allows repeated instances of harassment -- placing the victim in fear with the intent to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment or embarrass, which is a misdemeanor -- to qualify as stalking, which is a felony. All of this was post-breakup, Dorsey said. How do you separate yourself from somebody whos obsessed with you and theyre staying within the fine line of the law? Youre doing what you can, youre seeking professional help, youre attempting to go to the police, but the system is just not built to really help you because youre not being physically threatened. Its impossible to know if filing a harassment complaint or obtaining a protective order would have prevented Demings death, but the level of harassment and stalking she experienced certainly would have qualified her to file for one, said Setliffe, and could have been the foundation to build a case against Leyva. Yet in each interaction with OPD that Deming had -- when she called after Leyva alluded to breaking into her home; when she attempted to file for harassment after weeks of incessant messages and ridicule on social media; and after the vandalism offense -- she was never told she could file for a protective order or made aware of Texas stalking law and her rights. Harassment complaints are common, Ford said, and for an overworked police department, decisions about prioritizing cases have to be made. Demings initial complaint to the department in mid-November should have been forwarded to a detective, he said. The lack of communication between law enforcement and Deming about her options and available resources is common, said Setliffe, and something that can have dire consequences. (Deming) had a lot of resources that she was drawing from, said Carole Wayland, executive director of Safe Place of the Permian. She didnt have a protective order but that piece of paper probably wouldnt have made much of a difference if he was bound and determined to break in and execute her the way he did. There are just so many questions that you always ask in a situation like that. What else can we do? I feel like collectively we need to come together and address it. Organizations working on domestic violence and abuse issues are trying to fill in these gaps. At a policy level, the Texas Council on Family Violence has been focusing on safeguarding the funding for domestic violence shelters, Setliffe said. However, more work needs to be done on the part of law enforcement and on the prevention side, he said. It is hard to step into the shoes of the police, the family or any of the folks involved in this horrible tragedy, Setliffe wrote in an email. I would say that lessons learned from this murder might include incorporating a lethality assessment into interactions police have with victims. Incorporating this and other coordinated community responses like domestic violence fatality review, firearms surrender protocols and high risk domestic violence teams helps address systemic responses that help reduce fatalities. Another issue to address is education so victims recognize early signs of abuse and kids are taught early on what abuse is. In looking back at her relationship with Leyva, Deming identified red flags and told her sister he had hacked into her email within a few weeks of knowing her and they had gotten into a fight over old emails from an ex-boyfriend. He also got mad at her over her Facebook activity and became jealous if she searched for another man's profile, Dorsey said. The night of her death, Deming sent her father and sister text messages telling them how much she loved them. It gives us peace to have at least had some sweet words with her just hours before her murder, Dorsey wrote. These last texts exemplify who Monica was, a loving sister and daughter. Despite the pain of losing Deming, Dorsey and Nielsen want her story known. Nielsen described Deming as someone who loved animals and had a heart for helping people in distress. She volunteered to serve food to the homeless people at Jesus House. Once she gave her shoes to a barefoot homeless woman at the duck pond in Odessa and bought her lunch at Whataburger, Nielsen said. She was a devoted mother to her 8-year-old son -- who was not at home when Deming was killed and who is in the custody of his father. Deming also is survived by two other sisters and a brother. Why should I grieve in private when I could help someone? Nielsen said. Many people have or are probably experiencing stalking. Five to 10 years from now, we want people to see her name and ask, Why is this person important? Salem gave up 75 percent of his assets in exchange for the government dropping charges against him Egypt's government has officially concluded a reconciliation deal with fugitive Egyptian business tycoon Hussein Salem, a justice ministry official said on Wednesday. Reconciliation was achieved with Salem, a once close associate of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, to drop charges against him in exchange for the business mogul giving up EGP 5.3 billion (approx. $596.5 million). This figure accounts for 75 percent of his assets inside and outside Egypt, Adel Al-Saied, a justice ministry aide for the Illicit Gains Authority, told reporters on Wednesday. Salem's total assets are worth of EGP 7.12 billion (approx. $799 million), Al-Saied added. The move came after years of negotiations as the government was trying to reconcile with officials and businessmen of the former regime who have been accused of graft charges to restore state funds. Salem, 82, fled to Spain shortly after the 2011 uprising that overthrew Mubarak. He has received two jail terms in absentia over corruption charges including squandering public funds, profiteering and money laundering. Salem was a major shareholder in East Mediterranean Gas, which exported gas to Israel. Saied said he has requested the country's top prosecutor and the Illicit Gains Authority to lift freeze on the assets of Salem and his family and lift their names from travel ban and arrival-watching lists. The Illicit Gains Authority had received 26 requests from other Mubarak-era figures for reconciliation with the government, Al-Saied said. He did not name the officials though said that 10 of the requests submitted were accepted and approximately EGP 302 million has been retrieved. Search Keywords: Short link: The Egyptian Cabinet approved Wednesday a draft law allowing individuals to launch one-person companies without the need for more employees, Tareq Qabil, the Minister of Trade and Industry, said in a press conference. The draft law stipulates that the single person companies would enjoy the guarantees and incentives in articles 8-13 of Law No. 8 of 1997 on investments. This bill also shall determine the capital required for the establishment of a one-person company, along with other requirements. Qabil highlighted that the bill encourages various individual small enterprises working in the informal sector to switch to the formal sector, giving them benefits of being a legal enterprise. The draft law ensured that the company has an independent legal entity different than that of its owner, who the draft law refers to as the only partner, Aswat Masriya reported quoting the cabinet's statement. The cabinet's approval of the draft law comes as part of its efforts to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in a framework of legal security, the statement read. The bill has been referred to the Parliament for discussion, Qabil added. Search Keywords: Short link: We have independently selected these offers and products because we love them and we think you might like them at these prices. E! has affiliate relationships, so we may earn a commission if you buy something through our links. Items are Founded in 2014, the foundation aims to support budding screenwriters by offering training workshops and financial awards The Nadine Shams Foundation issued an open call 1 August for submissions to its third screenwriting contest. The foundation provides three cash awards the first prize winner receives EGP20,000, the first runner-up EGP10,000 and the second runner-up EGP5,000. The contest will provide three screenwriters the opportunity to develop their scripts under the artistic supervision of the screenwriters on board. Applicants should send a script for a short film no longer than 20 minutes. The Nadine Shams Award was introduced in 2014 in honour of the late Shams and in support of budding screenwriters. It offers training workshops as as well as financial awards to young talents. Every year, the awards are announced at the closing ceremony of the Cairo International Film Festival, which this year will run between 15 and 24 November. Last year, the first place award went to Mohamed Abdelreheem for his film El-Nahar Dah W Kol Youm, the second place award went to Ahmed Essam El-Shamaa for his film Nehar Kharegi, while the third film award went to Mahmoud El-Saghir and Emad Mabrouk for their film El-Motamem Le Shahr Ramadan. Seif Allah Hani received the Encouragement Award for his film Fi Intizar Judo, while screenwriter Menna Taher received a special award for her film Ping Pong. The jury also gave grants to five film projects including Geziret El-Toot, Al-Arawah El-Mounira, Qout El-Quloub and Dafa. Scriptwriter Nadine Shams died 22 March 2014 after a routine operation in what her family said was a case of medical negligence. Shams was a graduate of the High Cinema Institute. She wrote several short stories and was also a scriptwriter. She wrote several films including Ehna Etkabelna Abl Kida (We've Met Before), a 2008 film starring Egyptian actress Nelly Kareem. She also worked on many TV programmes, including the popular drama series Moga Harra (Heat Wave), which she co-wrote with Egyptian scriptwriter Mariam Naoum. The deadline for applications for the Nadine Shams Award is 30 August 2016. Check the foundations official Facebook page for the competition's rules and regulations. Email to: [email protected] 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: We were not bribed to drop ... The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir was awarded a grant from the United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) to conserve a collection of wooden coffins The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir awarded the grant of the United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). The AFCP grant was awarded to the Egyptian Museum -- whose application was submitted in December 2015 by the museum's then-secretary general Khaled El-Enany -- following a worldwide competition, Sabah Abdel Razek, first secretary of the Egyptian Museum, told Ahram Online. She explains that the grant provides $130,000 to help in research and assessment of the current condition, and conservation and presevation of the Museum's collection of wooden coffins. The coffins are currently stored in the museum's basement and third floor galleries The AFCP supports the preservation of cultural sites, cultural objects, and forms of traditional cultural expression in more than 100 developing countries around the world. AFCP-supported projects include the restoration of ancient and historic buildings, assessment and conservation of rare manuscripts and museum collections, preservation and protection of important archaeological sites, and the documentation of vanishing traditional craft techniques and indigenous languages. Search Keywords: Short link: One of India's most visually captivating dances, the Kathakali troupe performed at Bibliotheca Alexandrina on Monday 1 August 2016. In their first tour across Egypt, the troupe is to perform in four cities and following Alexandria's show they are also scheduled to visit Port Said, Ismailia, ending their tour in Cairo on 6 August. The internationally renowned troupe is led by Kottakkal Rajumohan. Kathakali is India's classical theatre where dance, music and make up play an important role in transferring the stories to the audiences. Originally, Kathakali is performed in Indian temples and can last throughout the whole night, though today this art form has been adapted to an international audiences' expectations. As such we often find Kathakali performed across the world where the evening lasts for only two hours on a theatre stage. Many of the stories draw from India's old traditions and mythology. However, in recent years the performers reach out to modern international texts and presented them through dance. (Photos: courtesy of Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Kathakali troupe) A military funeral will be held for Egyptian chemist and Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail who died in the United States on Tuesday at the age of 70, Zewail City for Science and Technologys media advisor and spokesperson Sherif Fouad said Wednesday. Although military funerals are usually only held for former military personnel, Zewail received the Order of the Grand Collar of the Nile the highest Egyptian state honour -- meaning that he is eligible for the distinction. No date has been set for the military funeral, but Fouad said the late Zewails body will not arrive in Egypt before Sunday. It was Zewails will to be buried in Egypt. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and House of Representatives speaker Ali Abdel Aal mourned the loss of Zewail. [Zewail] will remain a symbol for the scientist who devoted his life honourably, faithfully and sincerely to scientific research, and the best teacher for generations of scientists of the future who will continue his 'journey of giving' to provide a better reality to humanity, the El-Sisi said in a statement. Zewail is a national pride to Egyptians and Arabs -- the consolation is that his memory will remain through the scientific research he left for humanity, Abdel Aal said. Zewails international standing has not stopped him from caring for his homeland at all times -- especially in recent years where wanted to make sure the Zewail City for Science and Technology became a reality as a glorious edifice for Egyptian scientists of the future, Shoukry said. The concept of the Zewail City was first proposed in 1999 and its cornerstone was laid in January 2000. The project was revived over a decade later, when the Cabinet proclaimed it a National Project for Scientific Renaissance in 2011 and a year later, a law enabled students to enroll at the centers Sheikh Zayed campus. However, the building at the new campus in 6th of October is yet to be completed. Around 550 scientific researchers are enrolled at the centre, the institutes academic president told the privately-owned Al Shorouk newspaper on Wednesday, while a further 150 are expected to enroll soon. California Institute for Technology (Caltech), where Zewail was the Linus Pauling Professor of Chemistry, a professor of physics, and director of the Physical Biology Center for Ultrafast Science and Technology, also mourned his loss. "Ahmed was the quintessential scholar and global citizen," said Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum, the Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair and professor of physics. "He spent a lifetime developing instruments that interrogate nature in fundamentally new ways, and defining new directions that cut across the physical and biological sciences. Ahmed's fervor for discovery never abated and he serves as an inspiration to colleagues and generations of students. The Caltech community deeply mourns his loss," Rosenbaum said. Britains ambassador to Egypt John Casson also paid his respects, tweeting, Last night we lost Nobel laureate Ahmed Zewail. His legacy endures - a pioneer of science & 1 of the great Egyptians. The official Facebook page for the Nobel Prize posted Zewails banquet speech when he was awarded the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and wrote that "the Nobel Prize Medal carried a deeper symbolic story which he traced in his banquet speech back to the beginning, his early life and education in Egypt." "The medal I received was designed by Erik Lindberg in 1902 to represent Nature in the form of the Goddess Isis or as the Egyptians would say, Eeses [the prominent ancient Egyptian Goddess of motherhood, nature, magic, healing and more]. She emerges from the clouds, holding a cornucopia in her arms and the veil which covers her cold and austere face is held up by the genius of science," Zewail said in the speech. "Indeed, it is the genius of science which followed the race against time, from the beginning of astronomical calendars six millennia ago in the land of Eeses to the femtosecond time regime which you kindly honoured this evening, the chemist added. Zewail received the Nobel Prize for "his studies of the transition states of chemical reactions using femtosecond spectroscopy" in the fields of chemical kinetics and physical chemistry, according to the official website of the Nobel Prize. The chemist made it possible to observe atoms in motion on the femtosecond (10-15 seconds) time scale, which led to the establishment of the discipline of femtochemistry. Later, he developed with his group 4D electron microscopy for the direct visualization in the four dimensions of space and time of materials and biological behaviors, Caltech said. Zewail earned his BS and MS degrees from Alexandria University in 1967 and 1969, then received a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974 and completed an IBM postdoctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley. He joined the faculty at Caltech in 1976 as an assistant professor, before becoming associate professor in 1978, then professor in 1982. From 1990 to 1997, he was Linus Pauling Professor of Chemical Physics, then he was named professor of physics in 1995, and then the Linus Pauling Professor of Chemistry in 1997. Zewail was awarded the Order of Legion d'Honneur in 2012, the highest French Order, by the President of France. He became a naturalised U.S. citizen in 1982. He is survived by his wife, Dema Faham, and four children. The U.S. embassy in Cairo mentioned Zewails passing on Wednesday and posted his banquet speech of 1999. He will be missed, the U.S. embassy wrote. Search Keywords: Short link: Congressman Tom McClintock View Photos Congressman Tom McClintock recently took to the US House Floor, to talk about the threat our nation faces from Islamic terrorism. McClintock was Wednesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words: Mr. Speaker: The terrorist attack on Orlando should bring into sharp focus the growing threat our nation faces from Islamic terrorism. Although Islam is a religion, it is often accompanied by a poisonous political ideology that is antithetical to everything our country stands for. That ideology now poses a direct threat to the liberty and safety of our people, and we have every right to defend ourselves against it. We knew for years that the terrorists father was broadcasting pro-Taliban and anti-American rhetoric aimed principally at a large and growing Afghan Islamic population within the United States. We knew that the terrorist himself had travelled repeatedly to Saudi Arabia under mysterious circumstances; that he associated with known terrorists and Islamic radicals in the United States; and that he had expressed the most virulent anti-American views. And we took no action because there are far more instances of such threats than we can begin to assess or address. This administration has drastically increased the admission of refugees from regions where overwhelming majorities believe in imposing Sharia Law. Those who are fleeing Islamist ideology should be welcome in this country at assimilable levels; but those who are coming here to impose it are a direct threat to our Constitution and have no business being admitted to our shores. Yet this administration sees no difference between the two. Earlier this year, when Governor Rick Scott of Florida, acting on behalf of law enforcement, requested information on the Islamic immigrants being inserted into his state, he was refused that vital public safety information. While seeking to radically increase the number of Islamists being admitted to this country, this administration has failed not only to enforce our immigration laws but it has actively undermined those laws. As a direct result of these deliberate government policies, we are enduring Islamist attacks within our borders that will continue to increase in both frequency and severity. These policies have encouraged a large and growing fifth column that is violently hostile to our country, and it has become deeply imbedded within our communities. San Bernardino and Orlando were just the first bloody foretaste of what is to come until and unless these policies are stopped and reversed. Last year, the House passed the SAFE Act an acronym for Safety Against Foreign Enemies. It was the first, tentative step toward properly screening refugees from hotbeds of Islamic extremism. It merely required affirmative verification of a refugees lack of hostile intent if they are coming from Islamist strongholds in Iraq and Syria. 135 Democrats in this House opposed the SAFE Act, and Senate Democrats killed it in January at the behest of their President. The very same politicians who will not allow us even to confirm the intent of Islamists entering America are at the same time using the Orlando atrocity as an excuse to disarm loyal and law-abiding Americans. Within hours of the attack, the Left began to use this terrorist atrocity to justify more restrictions on the rights of Americans to defend themselves. They would have us believe that terrorists who are bent on destroying our country by savagely killing Americans will somehow make one exception to their contempt for our nation by meticulously obeying our gun control laws. The leftists tell us to leave it to the police. Really? In Orlando, it took more than three hours for police to secure the scene and confront the attacker, while hostages were being shot and the wounded were left to bleed to death. Three hours. In San Bernardino, the terrorists had already fled before police even arrived at the scene. The first line of defense against an armed terrorist is an armed American. Yet the Democrats seek to make it harder for Americans to arm themselves while increasing the threat posed by mass immigration from those countries where Islamist ideology is rampant. Is it possible they dont understand that there is an international arms market and that terrorists can get their hands on any kinds of weapons they want as effortlessly as teenagers can buy pot? While the Orlando terrorist got his guns legally, he could just as easily have gotten them illegally. Thats not the case for a law-abiding American citizen. Law abiding citizens obey our laws. Terrorists do not. The Lefts vision for our country is one in which Americans are forbidden from fighting back and must helplessly wait to be rescued while they are terrorized by Islamic extremists who should never have been in this country in the first place. And that is going to continue until this country wakes up to the danger it faces and takes decisive action at the ballot box. That is ultimately the choice before us: we can either suffer increasingly violent attacks on increasingly defenseless Americans or we can chose to finally take seriously the nature of the enemy we face and finally demand leaders who will secure our borders, empower Americans to defend themselves and act forthrightly to defend our country. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 AM. Traffic Light in Sonora View Photos Sonora, CA Motorists heading along Lyons Street to get to either South Washington Street or Greenley Road will hit a new traffic light in Sonora but it is only temporary. City Officials report utility work to replace an underground vault is being done along Lyons Street. In order for crews to do the work, it requires shutting down one lane. The signal is between Hope Lane and Palemone Road. The light will direct one-way traffic control in the area. City officials expect the work to run through this week but acknowledge it could go into next week. Tuolumne County voters View Photos Sacramento, CA Some state law makers want voters to be able to legally take ballot selfies and post them on social media. On Monday, the Senate voted 318 to repeal a rarely enforced law that makes it illegal to publicize a photo showing how someone has voted. Supporters argue the bill is archaic and did not take into account social media. In recent years, a selfie craze has driven voters to post a picture of themselves and their ballot acknowledging their enthusiasm for voting or for particular candidates. Calling it a violation of the secret ballot principle, critics counter it breaks down the barrier that protects voters from coercion. AB 1494 was authored by Democratic Assemblyman Marc Levine of San Rafael states it is a matter of political free speech maintaining that California law should encourage voter pride, political speech, and civic engagement through social media. He adds that it is time to update the law to reflect technology and the world in which we now live. AB1494 will now head back to the Assembly, which overwhelmingly approved it earlier this year, but must agree to changes made in the Senate. A federal health official says the type of mosquito blamed for the Zika outbreak and 15 cases in the U.S. is proving tough to eradicate. Now 15 cases of Zika in Miami area CDC says Zika-carrying mosquito tough to kill Some lawmakers calling for Congress to reconvene to address Zika funding Zika Virus: What you need to know CDC: Zika virus The cases are all in the Miami area. The head of the Centers for Disease Control and prevention says the Aedes aegpti is a "little ninja" capable of hiding in tiny crevices and can breed in in as little as a bottle cap of standing water. While campaigning in Florida Tuesday, Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee Tim Kaine said Congress has to take action on the disease. "Congress should not be in recess when Zika is advancing," Kaine said. "We ought to go back in an emergency session and demand that the house pass the bipartisan bill that we have on the table. So we can start making these investments to keep Floridians and Americans safe." Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the mosquito-control efforts in the bustling urban neighborhood aren't achieving the hoped-for results, suggesting the pests are resistant to the insecticides or are still finding standing water in which to breed. "We're not seeing the number of mosquitoes come down as rapidly as we would have liked," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. Fifteen people have become infected with Zika in Miami's Wynwood arts district, officials said Tuesday. These are believed to be the first mosquito-transmitted cases in the mainland U.S., which has been girding for months against the epidemic coursing through Latin America and the Caribbean. Meanwhile, some lawmakers are pressing Congress to reconvene to address Zika funding. Senator Marco Rubio called on the Senate to interrupt its summer recess to pass Zika legislation. "I hope we'll return to Washington quickly," Rubio said this week in Clearwater. "Take a day and just pass this funding measure so we can start to get funds flowing." Rubio could call on the President Barack Obama to release $350 million in federal funding that he says the government can spend right now to fight Zika. Rubio said that while he prefers Obama's $1.9 billion figure, he believes there are enough votes in Congress to win passage of the $1.1 billion compromise. Democratic Florida Senator Bill Nelson and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid also have called on Congress to reconvene to address Zika funding. The Associated Press contributed to this story. New advisories warn pregnant women against nonessential travel to parts of South Florida because of Zika. Governments warning citizens to be careful when traveling in Florida because of Zika Parts of South Florida under CDC travel advisory Attractions also taking precautions Florida health officials said three new travel-related cases were confirmed Tuesday, bringing the total in Florida to 336 cases. There are also 15 non-travel related cases, meaning the disease was transmitted via local mosquitoes. Central Florida is not impacted by the travel warnings, but theme parks and tourists are taking preventative measures. It smells really foul, Sian Protheroe said. Sian and her family are visiting Orlando from South Wales, and are armed with mosquito repellent wristbands. The first time you put it on you need to put it around your ankle, she said. It smells really bad. Its a bit too strong to have around your face. Its because their travel guides and health officials in the United Kingdom insisted they were necessary in Florida in a recent statement from the British government about traveling to Florida. We have to wear these yellow bands to keep [mosquitoes] away, Protheroe said. It is a little scary, Sians mother, Suzanne Protheroe, said. While there have been no locally acquired cases of the Zika virus in Central Florida, theme parks and attractions are working to make sure they are taking strong preventative measures. Disney has its own pest management team responsible for spraying throughout the parks, and SeaWorld also operates a mosquito control program. Its very family oriented, Suzanne Protheroe said. So it would be a shame if the people didnt come here anymore. Last year more than 106 million visitors came to Florida, and Governor Rick Scott said tourists have nothing to fear in the Sunshine State. Weve been preparing for this since the first time we heard of a travel related case back in February, Scott said. For now, the state continues to test the mosquitoes and the residents in the affected area of South Florida in an effort to contain any possible spread. As long as youre well informed on things, it makes a difference, Suzanne Protheroe said. Florida health officials said they have tested more than 200 people in Miami-Dade and Broward counties since early July. An emergency response team from the CDC will help Florida authorities investigate the outbreak, collect samples and control mosquitoes. Statement from Visit Florida regarding Zika and Florida tourism The health and safety of our visitors is the highest priority for VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida tourism industry. We have complete confidence in the Zika response efforts of state and local authorities and we continue to work with our industry partners to ensure that visitors have the information they need to make travel planning decisions. As the situation continues to evolve, we recommend that visitors consult official sources. Current travel safety information can be found at VISITFLORIDA.com. The Florida Department of Health reports that the only locally transmitted cases to date are confined to a neighborhood in Miami. For perspective, thats a one-square-mile area in a state that covers more than 65,000 square miles. Statement from Visit Orlando As the #1 travel destination in the US, safety is the top priority for our region. Orlando has a world-class infrastructure and network in place designed to keep our community and visitors secure, healthy and happy. Our county has a highly effective mosquito prevention and monitoring program in place throughout the destination, and confirm that no cases of Zika have been contracted through mosquitos in our area. We communicate regularly with numerous state and local public health organizations, such as the Department of Health, to monitor new developments. For low-income families, back-to-school physicals a must for children in the state of Florida can be a cumbersome requirement, especially financially. Shepherd's Hope offering free back-to-school physicals Required physicals are for uninsured children Appointments required; call 407-876-6699 ext. 247 The nonprofit Shepherds Hope is attempting to ease the burden, offering free physicals for uninsured Central Florida children. It makes me proud and grateful that were able to provide this service for these kids," Shepherds Hope President and CEO Marni Stahlman said Tuesday. "And it makes me excited for them, to know that theyre getting off on a really good start for the school year. The clinics, staffed by volunteer nurses and doctors, will be held Tuesday through Aug. 25 at two locations: Longwood Shepherd's Hope Health Center, The Sharing Center Plaza, 600 N. U.S. 17-92, Longwood: Wednesday, Aug. 3, 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, Aug. 4, 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Aug. 8, 9 a.m.-noon Dr. Diebel, Jr. Memorial Shepherd's Hope Health Center, Samaritan Resource Center, 9833 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando (free autism screenings and mobile mammography offered at these sessions): Thursday, Aug. 4, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, 6-9 p.m. Stahlman said that Orange County, in particular, is 17th in the U.S. in terms of uninsured children. The nonprofit partners with several hospitals, including Nemours Children's Health System and Florida Hospital. To make an appointment, which is required for a physical, call: 407-876-6699 ext. 247. We finally made it to the middle of the workweek, and Wednesday's forecast for Central Florida calls for some rain: Widespread showers, storms for Wednesday afternoon High temperatures remain in the low 90s Watching storm in Caribbean; no threat to Florida Its remaining partly cloudy to mostly cloudy overnight with temperatures falling into the middle 70s. More showers and storms will be building Thursday afternoon. Some will be strong with heavy rain and frequent lightning. Well keep rain chances at 50-70 percent into the weekend. WEATHER ON THE GO: Download the News 13+ app and get StormTracker 13 & Safety Net alerts wherever you are. GET WEATHER ALERTS: Sign up to receive weather text alerts from News 13 . . STORM THREAT 2016: Check out News 13's Hurricane Center, from storm-tracking resources and interactive maps to emergency procedures. More tropical moisture feeding into the state will keep our rain chances a bit higher over the next 7 days. As winds switch around to more of a south to southwest flow, showers and storms developing along the west coast sea breeze will shift activity toward the east. A trough developing over the Gulf of Mexico will aide in keeping us in a more wet season pattern, and with an increase in rain, there is a decrease in temps. Highs only slip back slightly though so we will still top out in the upper 80s to lower 90s. We are still tracking Earl in the tropics moving west into Belize. Earl will have no impact on our weather. StormTracker 13 Radar View LIVE Interactive StormTracker 13 Radar Map We want your pictures! Show us what the weather looks like in your neighborhood. Your photo could end up on News 13 and mynews13.com/weatherpics. Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Palm Bay. Police shot a man accused of shooting a woman several times. Husband shot dead by Palm Bay Police Wife screamed to police that she needed help She had been shot several times "Why would he go in there and shoot his wife? I mean, she was taking care of him," says Frank DeFuria, whose sister lives two doors down from the Lockheed Street home where police say 43-year-old DeMarco Newman shot his wife overnight. "Let's just be glad he didn't shoot anyone else," said DeFuria, who knew Newman. The woman called 911 just after 7 p.m. Tuesday night, saying her husband was cutting himself and had a gun. She had barricaded herself in a bathroom. She said Newman was trying to break through the door. A scream was heard, and the phone went dead. Palm Bay Police negotiators arrived but had no luck contacting Newman by phone. "The suspect began to taunt the officers, saying he was armed," Palm Bay Police Chief Mark Renkens said. A sheriff's office robot was used to break into the home, that's where Jones was screaming she had been shot. Palm Bay's SWAT team made their way inside and say they were forced to shoot Newman and a pit bull before carrying her out to safety. They add neighbors they talked to didn't hear any gunfire from the house before they arrived. Investigators say Newman was shot at this very home back on March 18, 2013. We were there that morning as officers converged on the scene. Newman was paralyzed as a result, with only the use of his upper body. That suspect is in jail for attempted murder. The victim remains in critical condition at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. The Palm Bay officer who shot her husband is on paid administrative leave per standard protocol. We're told he is a 15 year veteran of the force and a SWAT team leader. COLLEGE STATION Cattle raisers who thought historically high beef prices would stay around for a while have had a rude awakening, as the rush to rebuild herds following years of drought outpaced a market marred by still-sticker shocked U.S. and foreign consumers. We just have a whole lot more cattle, Duane Lenz, an analyst with Denver-based CattleFax, told about 1,800 ranchers gathered for this weeks Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course in College Station on Monday, a continuing education and networking opportunity for ranchers. Cattle prices that had soared above $1.75 per pound in 2014 started what has been a prolonged dive during the second half of 2015, selling as low as $1.17 last week. Markets have been volatile; with weekly price swings of $20 to $30 per head have become the new norm. Feedlot operators holding out for higher prices got burned when they finally were forced to sell cattle that were getting too big to be processed. Exports are down because the strong U.S. dollar has made beef prohibitively expensive for many foreign consumers. At the same time, Australian cattlemen flooded U.S. grocery stores with cheap beef as they scrambled to sell off their stock, hurting from a drought there. The U.S. consumer, as a whole, turned away from beef as an everyday dinner item long ago, finding it too high-priced compared to chicken or pork. The current downturn in commodities prices for cattle hasnt yet shown up at the butchers, with average consumer prices down from highs of about $6 per pound to a still pricey $5.50 per pound. Chicken is selling at about $1.50 per pound, pork is about $4 per pound. We hurt demand 10, 20 years ago, Lenz said in an interview before the presentation. When prices got so high, consumers looked for different things. And they found some different things. So its not quite to the point where we have to buy our way back into the marketplace, but were closer to it, saying, Hey, come back and try beef again. Its to a price now where youll enjoy it more. For the producers descending on A&M in their dress jeans and summer Stetsons, its been almost a reversal of where things were two years ago, when years of drought forced cattle raisers across the country to liquidate herds to lows not seen since the 1950s. Cattle prices skyrocketed, and ranchers were a happy bunch. Protein prices in general were high, with avian flu hitting poultry and an epidemic form of diarrhea afflicting hogs, so competition wasnt as stiff as it is now. So as soon as they had water and grass, the ranchers started what has been a very fast herd rebuild. Since it takes roughly three years from the time a heifer is born until her future calf is ready for market, theres a lot of cattle hitting the supply chain now. The Texas cattle and calf inventory dropped to 3.8 million head in 2013 and is now at 4.75 million, up nearly a million head. Historically speaking, prices are still high. The January price per hundredweight (100 pounds) was $132, compared with $87.60 in 2010. But theyre not as high as what the producers thought they would be getting. We had record high cattle prices, and now theyre down 30 percent, said Jim McAdams, owner of McAdams 12 Bar Ranch in New Berlin. If we hadnt had that record high wed probably be happier. For beef lovers, the take-away may be keeping an eye on the grocery ads as retailers move toward featuring various beef cuts as a way of luring people to the stores until market forces pull general beef prices down. When prices reached record highs in 2014, grocers largely stopped featuring beef, promoting competing proteins such as pork, chicken and poultry instead. Beef is once again playing a star role in the supermarket flier. You like to see that brisket on the front page of the paper at a discount price, because people come in and buy a lot, Lenz said in an interview before his presentation. The stores will treat it as a loss leader, (consumers) will come in and buy it and buy some other stuff to go along with it. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Cal Fire / Cal Fire Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Cal Fire / Cal Fire Show More Show Less 3 of 3 A 1,700-acre grass fire burning out of control near Lake Berryessa Tuesday prompted an evacuation of Canyon Creek Resort and Golden Bear Estates in Winters, fire officials said. The Cold Fire, burning in Yolo County off of Highway 128 west of Pleasants Valley Road, started shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire was zero percent contained as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Texas shoppers could save up to $92 million in state and local sales taxes during this weekends sales tax holiday on clothes and school supplies, according to the state comptrollers office. The sales tax holiday, which lasts Friday to Sunday, exempts back-to-school items such as book bags, notebooks, clothes and other items that cost less than $100. Shoppers will save about $8 per every $100 spent, the comptrollers office said. As families all over our state prepare to send their children back to school, we hope folks take advantage of this opportunity to get the supplies they need and save some money in the process, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said in a July news release. As the father of three young children, I know how these expenses can add up. Retailers expect U.S. shoppers stocking up on goods for K-12 and college students to spend $75.8 billion an 11.5 percent increase from $68 billion last year, a study conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics and published by the National Retail Federation shows. Increased consumer confidence is partially driving the uptick, according to the study: 27 percent of K-12 shoppers and 30 percent of college shoppers say the economy wont impact their shopping plans, up from 24 percent and 26 percent last year, respectively. The budget-conscious consumer is not forgetting about price, quality or value, and we continue to see this when it comes to back-to-school shopping, Pam Goodfellow, principal analyst at Prosper, said in the report. That is why many parents are taking advantage of shopping early, scouring ads and websites for the best deals, and taking advantage of free shipping with online purchases. Back-to-college shoppers plan to spend, on average, slightly less this year compared to last year: $888.71, down from $899.18 in 2015, the study shows. However, total spending on college items is projected to hit $48.5 billion, up 12.5 percent from $43.1 billion in 2015, because of an influx of new shoppers. K-12 spenders, the study said, will shell out about $43 more on average than they did last year for school supplies $673.57, compared to $630.36 last year. Whether shoppers save during sales tax holiday events is up for debate. Kay Bell, a tax expert for BankRate.com, said consumers time their shopping in accordance with the holiday but may not know which items are exempt and may nullify any savings through impulse purchases of noneligible items. It tends to be a psychological benefit, Bell said. State lawmakers have tussled over whether to expand or end the tax waiver since it began in 1999. State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, and state Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, authored bills in 2015 to boost the price limit to $200 and include computers and tablets, but each bill stalled in committee. Four years earlier, lawmakers considered repealing the holiday to generate additional revenue during that years budget shortfall. Some states have scaled back their sales tax holidays. Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill in April reducing that states waiver period from 10 days to three, reduced the tax-exempt threshold on eligible clothes from $100 to $60, and eliminated computers from exemption. Louisiana will offer a 3 percent tax rate rather than its usual 5 percent rate on eligible items. However, a shopper who spends $2,500 on one purchase will not be required to pay state sales tax, though the exemption only applies to that first $2,500. And Massachusetts will not hold a holiday for the first time since 2009, citing budgetary concerns. jfechter@express-news.net Twitter: @JFreports Courtesy of Columbia Pictures. Anthropoid: World War II drama stars Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan as the leader of a small band of paratroopers intending to assassinate SS officer Reinhard Heydrich, commander of Nazi forces in Czechoslovakia and the driving force behind the Final Solution. Florence Foster Jenkins: The title character (Meryl Streep), a wealthy New York heiress in the early 20th century, fancied herself an opera diva. Only one problem she couldnt sing. This didnt stop her from giving private recitals, but word got out when she decided to perform at Carnegie Hall. Hugh Grant portrays her husband, an English actor. This based-on-truth story was handled in the 2015 French film Marguerite, which played San Antonio in the spring. As a writer and director, Anne Fontaine often deals with the struggles of women and with stories involving sex and sexual politics, but her concerns are usually veiled by the mechanics of a crowd-pleasing story. Invariably entertaining, her films such as the biopic Coco Before Chanel and thrillers and semi-thrillers such as Into His Hands and Nathalie always have deeper currents lurking beneath. In The Innocents, that which is underneath comes to the surface. Its the most sober of Fontaines films, and its among her best. Set in the aftermath of World War II, its the story of Mathilde (Lou de Laage), a young French doctor working for the Red Cross in Poland who comes upon a convent with many pregnant nuns victims of rape by the victorious Soviet Army. The Soviet Army is still controlling the area and the possibility of further assaults remains. Meanwhile, the pregnancies have to be kept secret, lest the convent be disgraced in the eyes of the community. Mathilde has to sneak off at night, unbeknownst to the Red Cross, to care for these women, some of whom are very difficult to treat. (They believe that if they show their bodies or are touched in an intimate way, theyre going to hell.) The capacity of French cinema to keep producing actresses that radiate gravity and maturity at a young age has always been astonishing, but its particularly noticeable in comparison with Hollywood, where, with the exception of Jennifer Lawrence, adulthood seems to begin somewhere between 32 and 35. De Laage, who became known in the United States only last year for playing a manipulative high school girl in Respire, has poise and a compelling ability to suggest a turbulent intelligence with minimum visible effort. She creates an arresting portrait of Mathilde, a nonbeliever who begins the story with a mechanistic view of human existence, the inevitable result of having been a doctor in a war zone. More Information The Innocents *** Quick take: An impressive French import See More Collapse Though de Laage is especially notable, the acting in The Innocents is first-rate throughout, with Agata Kulesza a rather tragic figure as the stern mother superior too concerned with scandal to offer proper guidance, and Agata Buzek as Maria, a down-to-earth nun who discovered her calling when already a grown woman. And, as this is a Fontaine film, it should come as no surprise that the sexual dynamic between Mathilde and her sometime lover, Samuel (Vincent Macaigne), a fellow doctor, is especially rich and interesting. With most directors, you can understand 99 percent of a scene with your eyes closed just by listening to the dialogue. But watch any scene between de Laage and Macaigne and youll be able to get much more meaning in the looks that pass between them, and the other looks that dont pass, in the stolen moments of thought and reaction. You cant get such richness without good actors, but even with good actors, it cant happen without good direction. I mentioned earlier that the constant flow of mature, talented young women into French cinema is astonishing, and yet it should be no mystery. The women emerge because the roles are there, and the roles are there at least partly because about a third of the directors are women. The Innocents is a World War II story from a womans perspective. Its not an in-your-face womans movie, any more than Saving Private Ryan is overtly a story about men. Rather its just the inevitable consequence of writers and directors imagining life through the filter of their own experience. We should have our own movies like The Innocents. But its good that we can at least import them. Running time: 115 minutes (in French and Polish with subtitles) MPAA rating: PG-13 (disturbing content, sexual assault, bloody images) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Life in remote parts of New Zealand must forge hardy souls, judging from the characters in Hunt for the Wilderpeople, the gifted director Taika Waititis last film before heading off to Hollywood. Its the kind of place where a troubled teen is taken into his latest foster home and among the objects in his new room is a nice sharp knife to kill the monsters in the night, says his foster mom, who herself can kill wild boars with one. But like anywhere in todays world (sadly), you can become a social media star even in the remotest part of it. Weve seen the formula for Hunt for the Wilderpeople before crotchety old man clashes/bonds with troubled teen but when the old man is played by Sam Neill, who has his best part in years, and is presented with the assured quirkiness of Waititi, who scored a hit with the vampire horror comedy What We Do in the Shadows and is now directing the third Thor movie, its a winning formula. Ricky (Julian Dennison) is a piece of work a roly-poly juvenile delinquent used to a more urban environment. He is given a choice by his counselor (Rachel House) of jail or placement at a remote rural house, presumably a place where he can do little damage. His foster mother, Bella (Rima Te Wiata, wonderful), takes to him right away, although her gruff husband, Hec (Neill), wont speak to him unless necessary. Just as Ricky is starting to enjoy a foster home for the first time, Bella collapses and dies of a heart attack. Since the terms of the foster care require a mother figure, the state must reclaim him. The grief-stricken Hec, soon to be rid of the boy, decides to disappear into the wilderness. Ricky, fearing jail, relentlessly follows him. More Information Hunt for the Wilderpeople *** Quick take: A satisfying journey See More Collapse The outside world believes Hec to be a possible molester who has kidnapped Ricky, and an extensive manhunt is mounted. The rural inhabitants who follow the media reports of the case see them as rebellious heroes escaping from overextended government reach. Im reminded of First Blood, a TV reporter intones. John Rambo, a man alone. Of course, theyre two men alone. Filled with gorgeous vistas of mountainous New Zealand it almost feels like an epic at times and oddball characters, Hunt for the Wilderpeople has much to recommend it. But none of it would work unless Hec and Ricky are believable and have chemistry. Fortunately, they do. As Hec, Neill, 68, has skin like sun-parched leather, a sandpaper voice and absolutely no parenting skills. As Ricky, Dennison is a misfit with a creative streak (he writes haiku), and as his resourcefulness improves, he becomes gradually more useful during their wilderness journey. What are they after? Hec is desperately trying to avoid becoming a form-filler, like the average human. Ricky wants to live in Rickyville (Population: Ricky). Of course, what theyre really after is to retain a sense of individualism in a world that works against that. One hopes Waititi can retain a sense of his own quirky individualism during his Hollywood adventures. Running time: 101 minutes MPAA rating: PG-13 (violent content, profanity) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The deaths of three people, including a San Francisco man, at a massive Southern California rave over the weekend are stark reminders of the potential danger of mixing so-called party drugs with a hot, exhausting dance scene that stretches for hours, emergency care and public health experts said Tuesday. Its not yet known whether San Francisco resident Derek Lee, 22, and two other guests at the Hard Summer Music Festival died from drug overdoses, or whether intoxication was a contributing factor. Another six people attending the two-day party in Fontana (San Bernardino County) were hospitalized. The Bay Area hasnt seen a similar outbreak in rave-related injuries or deaths in some time, emergency care officials said. The last major incident was in 2010, during an event at the Cow Palace in Daly City, when one man died after an ecstasy overdose and nine people were hospitalized. But raves are still put on in the area, and many young people attend the parties in other parts of the state and country. Though not every rave leads to large numbers of overdoses or medical emergencies, such outbreaks arent uncommon. Sometimes, it seems, they occur in waves, said Dr. Keith Humphreys, a Stanford addiction expert. The thing about young people is that theyre faddish, and they dont have much historical memory, Humphreys said. So these drugs kind of wax and wane. People move out of a phase, they get a job and a spouse and a family, and theres a new 19-year-old behind them thats like, Whats this drug? A couple more months and it might die off, he said. And then a few more years and itll be back again. The Hard Summer Music Festival, headlined by Ice Cube and Major Lazer, drew about 147,000 people. Nearly 600 law enforcement officers patrolled the rave and authorities made 325 arrests over the weekend, mainly for drug-related offenses, according to San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department officials. Festival organizers had three emergency physicians and 20 nurses staffing the event, plus dozens of other medics, said spokeswoman Alexandra Greenberg. We were deeply saddened to learn about the deaths of three people who attended the festival this weekend, Greenberg said in a statement. While the causes of the deaths have not yet been determined, we ask everyone to keep them in their prayers. Our sincerest thoughts and condolences are with their family and friends. The deaths werent a first for the Hard Summer festival, which was forced out of Los Angeles County after two people suffered fatal overdoses at last years event. The rave previously had been held at the Pomona fairgrounds and was moved to the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. After the Cow Palace overdoses in 2010, strong public outcry put an end to raves there. Emergency room physicians attended public meetings, talking about the deaths and permanent injuries that resulted from overdoses. Police and public health authorities talked about the drain on resources when they had to respond to emergencies at parties. Among those calling for a ban was Adrienne Tissier, a San Mateo County supervisor. Six years later, she said, the effort seems to have been effective. Though the focus of the push was to end raves at the Cow Palace, it put a damper on similar events throughout the region, she said. I feel like we made some inroads, Tissier said. Do these things still happen? Im sure they do, underground. But well continue to do as much as we can to dissuade the venues from these kinds of parties. The drugs of choice at raves are stimulants, usually ecstasy or a similar synthetic drug. Aside from the high people get from the drugs, they can feel energized able to dance and party for hours on end. And therein lies the danger, doctors say. People who are injured or die from drug use at raves typically suffer from hyperthermia an extended, extreme increase in body temperature. That overheating can lead to muscle damage and organ failure. Drug users can become dehydrated if they dont drink enough water. Or, ironically, they can over-hydrate, leading to an electrolyte imbalance that can be just as deadly. Raves can become stiflingly hot, particularly if theyre poorly ventilated or if too many people are crowded onto a dance floor. Plus, if people are buying drugs at the party, they may end up with a pill laced with something they didnt intend to take, like cocaine or methamphetamine, and inadvertently overdose. Festival organizers have a responsibility to protect attendees, said Mitchell Gomez, national outreach director with DanceSafe, a nonprofit that promotes health and safety for people at clubs and raves. Organizers should have a plan in place that includes plenty of water, on-site police and medical personnel, and easy access to treatment, he said. Still, there is no safe way to consume stimulants like ecstasy at these big events, doctors said. Hard Summer festival organizers said they did take steps to protect attendees not only hiring police and medical staff, but also providing free water and places for people to rest and cool off. In the rave scenario, where everyone is partying and its hot and youre not keeping hydrated, or youre over-hydrated, I dont think theres a way to completely avoid the inherent risk of these drugs, said Dr. Craig Smollen, co-medical director of the San Francisco division of California Poison Control and an emergency physician at San Francisco General Hospital. People should try to be mindful of taking regular breaks from dancing, and trying to cool off, Smollen said. They should make sure theyre drinking water but be mindful of over-drinking, too. And friends should look out for each other and seek help if someone seems to be in trouble, Smollen said. Its tricky because these are drugs that can make you altered, so its hard to know whether youre seeing a drug effect or a serious side effect, Smollen said. The best I can say, if someone is developing progressively altered mental status, if theyre extraordinarily hot, if theyve passed out and theyre having convulsions those would be concerning symptoms. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday ALBANY Two bank robberies are under investigation by Albany police. The department seeks information on two suspects. The department said Wednesday it is not sure if last week's two robberies, at Trustco Bank and First Niagara Bank, are linked. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BROOKFIELD Three weeks after town police said a final goodbye to Bruno, their K-9 partner for the past eight years, the department is welcoming a new dog thanks to a gift from two residents. Warren and Ruth Malkin, 52-year Brookfield residents, donated $12,500 to the town to acquire Argo, a Belgian Malinois. The amount itself is not as important as how much our town supports the police and what theyre doing, said First Selectman Steve Dunn. Its amazing that the Malkins have done this. Every dollar helps and theyve done a very wonderful thing. Last month, the department had to put Bruno, an 11-year-old German shepherd, to sleep. For nearly a decade, the towns lone K-9 officer served alongside Sgt. Jeff Osuch and developed a sterling reputation as both an effective partner and revered companion. A portrait of the late police dog was painted by artist Rachael Chandler and was presented at Mondays Board of Selectmen meeting shortly before Argo was introduced to the community. The portrait will hang in Town Hall. It was pretty tragic when he became ill and we had to put him down, said Police Chief Robin Montgomery. The kids love the dog. He performed at fire day and at the schools and the dog became a part of us. Its almost serendipitous that the Malkins procured this donation because our late K-9 was very ill at the time, he added. Warren Malkin, who runs an accounting business in town, said that he and his wifes connection to service dogs they own a retired guide dog and their relationship with Montgomery led them to make the donation. He said that they wanted to show support for the department and hoped that others would follow suit. It means a lot to us, Malkin said. I hope our actions will prompt other people to have more concern for the police department. They provide us with security and were very grateful for it. Argo, who is 16 months old, is still training with Osuch, who will continue to be the departments dog handler, and is likely to begin work in October. Osuch said his new partner will be trained to track lost individuals and suspects and will be certified in identifying narcotics. He will also be trained in suspect apprehension, Osuch said. Like his predecessor, Argo will respond with Osuch to calls in Brookfield and other towns as needed. When the pair is off-duty, Osuch said, the town will be covered by neighboring K9 units. Osuch said calls for the K-9 unit, including for suspects thought to have illegal drugs and missing people, average one to two each tour, but can sometimes be far more. Ive gone on some midnight shifts and were doing four to five calls a night, Osuch said. He said that the Malkins donation was a testament to the success of the K-9 program. Im honored by it, Osuch said. The fact that its done such good job in the past. . . Theyve seen that and appreciate that and that they see the need to continue the program really touched me. The Malkins donation comes at a time when other residents have been showering the department with support in the wake of several shootings of police officers, including incidents in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In the weeks since the shootings, which also coincided with Brunos passing, Montgomery said police have received near constant food donations and other displays of support. He said those gestures help boost morale in the department. Ever since Dallas and Baton Rouge, people have come in with food and other things, Montgomery said. Its been very good as far as a relationship. awolff@newstimes.com; 203-731-3333; @awolffster WILTON -- A Glens Falls man was charged with illegally selling a shotgun to a convicted felon, State Police said. On Monday, troopers charged David H. Carlton, 45, with felony criminal sale of a firearm. NEWTOWN - The gun maker at the center of a wrongful death lawsuit brought by 10 families of Sandy Hook massacre victims has asked the judge for a second time to dismiss the case. The motion by Remington earlier this week in Bridgeport Superior Court is a common pretrial tactic in a case that is anything but common. The families claim that Remington negligently entrusted an AR-15 rifle to the civilian market that was used to massacre 26 first-graders and educators has been a prominent topic among lawmakers and presidential candidates. It is also unusual for a wrongful death lawsuit against the gun industry to advance toward trial. The 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act shields the gun industry from most claims when people misuse firearms. Remington in a motion filed Monday said it did not qualify as the seller of the firearm in question, and therefore is immune from the families claim under the 2005 act. Earlier this year, Remington filed a motion to have the case thrown out of court. Instead Judge Barbara Bellis set a trial date for 2018 and ordered the two sides to begin exchanging evidence. Remington claims it manufactured a legal firearm and transferred it legally to a distributor, who then sold it legally to a retailer, who sold it legally to Nancy Lanza. Lanza is the mother of 20-year-old Adam Lanza, who took the AR-15 rifle from his mothers unlocked closet and shot his way into a locked Sandy Hook School on Dec. 14, 2012, committing the worst crime in Connecticut history. Lanza shot his mother before driving to the school. He fired 154 bullets in 264 seconds and then shot himself. Remington in its motion said it was trying to save the court from wasting its time and save the two sides from wasting their money by prolonging the lawsuit. By filing this motion, no inference should be drawn that Remington has conceded the legal sufficiency of the Plaintiffs allegations against Remington, the motion reads. On the contrary, Plaintiffs claims against Remington remain legally insufficient... A legal observer on Tuesday said he doubted the judge would allow the families claim to go this far only to dismiss it on a routine motion by Remington. The motion for summary judgment says Looking at the facts - the plaintiffs cant win, said W. John Thomas, a professor of law at Quinnipiac University in Hamden. It is a typical strategy in any kind of civil litigation, and I would bet the judge denies it. rryser@newstimes.com; 203-731-3342 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two out of three students in the state can read as well as they should as they approach their final year of high school but fewer than 40 percent are making the grade in math, the state announced on Wednesday. The results come from the revamped SAT taken last spring in school by nearly all public school eleventh graders as it replaced the states standardized test. In this first year, Connecticut students averaged 520 on the language arts test and 502 on the math. The top score on each section of the test is 800 points. The College Board, which wont release national SAT results until mid-September, has set 480 as a college ready score in language arts and 530 in math. Locally, the results mirror other state tests. Fairfield had a combined score of 1129 when average language arts and math scores were combined. Trumbull and Monroe both came out with combined language arts and math scores of 1114. Stratford had a combined average score of 977. Bridgeport brought up the rear among large urban school districts with a combined average score of 860. In addition to the easily recognized SAT scores, the state has its own scoring system. In Stratford, Schools Superintendent Janet Robinson said she was particularly pleased with the number of students who met or exceeded the states proficiency standard, at least in language arts 61.2 percent. More Information Header here Chatter here and here aand here District ELA* Math* Ansonia 476 448 Bridgeport Achievement First 515 489 Bridgeport 438 422 Capital Prep. Harbor School Inc. 416 419 Derby 446 431 Fairfield 572 557 Milford 533 502 District ELA* Math* Monroe 562 552 Oxford 552 517 Reg. Sch. Dist. 9 587 573 Seymour 502 496 Shelton 540 524 Stratford 502 475 The Bridge Academy 438 431 Trumbull 557 557 Westport 598 599 Source: xxxxxx xxxxxxx | *Average Score See More Collapse Stratford has had a solid college acceptance rate, and with the continuing improvements on SAT scores, Robinson said. I am certain more and more of our students will be accepted into their choice colleges. In Fairfield, 84 percent of students met or surpassed the states proficiency bar in language arts and 63 percent in math. In Bridgeport, meanwhile, 29 percent of students were deemed proficient in language arts and 10 percent in math. We need to grow, Fran Rabinowitz, Bridgeports interim school superintendent said. We need to ensure that we begin early in elementary school and ensure that all students receive a high-standards curriculum across every one of our schools and subject areas. Why the switch The state switched from the controversial Smarter Balanced assessment test, which is still given in grades three through eight, to the new SAT last spring after parents and lawmakers complained high school juniors were suffering from test overload. Many who are headed to college were already taking Advanced Placement Tests, the SAT and ACT, another college preparedness test. At the urging of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, the federal government agreed to let the state use the SAT as the measure of success instead of SBAC. By switching to the SAT, we responded to student and parent concerns about over testing, Commissioner of Education Dianna Wentzell said. We also took a big step toward greater equity in our schools by giving all Connecticut eleventh graders a chance to take a college and career readiness exam. Connecticut students can also use their SAT scores when they start applying to colleges and can send them to four colleges for free, Ellen Cohen, deputy commissioner for the state Department of Education, said. This year, the College Board, producers of the SAT, changed the test for everyone to make it more reflective of the Common Core curriculum most students are being taught. Connecticut is among a handful of states using the test in place of its achievement test. Four states, Connecticut Delaware, New Hampshire and Maine met to establish what a passing grade would be. On the new test, there is no penalty for wrong answers, obscure vocabulary is out and answers require students to use evidence. Ajit Gopalakrishnan, a bureau chief in the state education department, said the plan is to track students two or three years from now to see if their scores were actually a predictor of how well they do in college. We do feel that this is a good start, Gopalakrishnan said. Now we have to see, are those standards actually working. Cause for concern Gopalakrishnan said there is a continued concern about the math scores and that steps are being taken to attack that issue aggressively by establishing a Commissioners Council on Mathematics and putting laser-like focus on math from the early grades on. State officials say the results cant be compared to the old SAT or to the former state test. Still, Gopalakrishnan said are a bit more students meeting the proficiency standard on the new test, than they did on last years SBAC test. In 2015, the average public high school SAT score for Connecticut score in critical reading was 494 and in math, 495. Participation was also up, from about 82 percent last year when a so-called opt out movement was going strong in the state to about 94 percent when the test was given in March 2016. That is still below the 95 percent threshold set by the U.S. Department of Education. About 38,000 public high school juniors in the state took the new test, free of charge to them and in school. Shelton Schools Superintendent Chris Clouet said because the SAT is widely viewed by parents and students as a gate keeper for college, it added an extra layer of seriousness to it. And it also is a measure of a student academic well being, Clouet said. In Shelton 74.7 percent of students met the reading standard and more than half met the math standard. The new results shows that the achievement gap between white and minority students remains wide as well as students who are eligible for free and reduced priced lunch and those who are not. The SAT results break scores down into categories ranging from exceeding standards to meeting them, approaching them and not meeting them. For instance, in Trumbull, between 6 and 8 percent of students were at the lowest level in math or language arts. In Stratford the percentage at the lowest standard was 19 to 29 percent; in Ansonia, 37 to 58 and in Bridgeport, it was 45 to 51 percent demonstrating a minimal understanding of the knowledge and skills needed for college or career readiness. lclambeck@ctpost.com; Twitter: @lclambeck H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media The Ridgefield Board of Education might appoint a new principal for Scotland Elementary School at a special Board of Education meeting called for 5 p.m. Thursday. According to a meeting agenda, the board is scheduled to conduct interviews before a possible vote. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD Hidden at the tip of Wallacks Point, a private neighborhood east of Shippan, is a gated causeway leading to Caritas Island. The island is home to the family of John A. Morgan, great-grandson of the famous banker J.P. Morgan and great, great-grandson of former U.S. President John Quincy Adams. Morgans estate, which is on the market for $9 million, sprawls over the 3.5-acre island with a 14,200-square-foot stone mansion flanked by two guest homes, a greenhouse, a natural pool and gazebo. But some of the propertys most magnificent features are woven into its details. Marble trim separates the original Herringbone oak hardwood floors from the ornate wood-paneled walls on the first floor of the main house, a stone patio features a to-scale map of Connecticuts Long Island Sound coastline and imported chandeliers from Sweden and Denmark add to the 12-bedroom homes grandiose atmosphere. Im going to miss the atmosphere here, said Connie Morgan, Johns wife. When you cross that causeway, its like a relief ... Its like living in a vacation home. The 114-year-old mansion is a fortress of solitude, clad by 20-inch stone walls and a green slate roof. The library on the first floor, which features a secured room with a wet bar, is particularly private. This is a really quiet room, even when the weather is really bad, Connie Morgan said. On top of the thick walls, we just replaced all of the windows with storm windows so you really cant hear anything out there. Thanks to a protective seawall and a hearty stone skeleton, the main house has never sustained any weather damage. On the eastern tip of Caritas Island is a private harbor with a 13-foot draft and a 500-foot pier. A large pier and deep-water dock is a rarity, especially when its fully protected with a breakwater, said listing agent Janet Olmsted, of Halstead Connecticut. John A. Morgan said the private harbor, which is large enough to fit a 75-foot boat, is one of the most valuable amenities Caritas Island has to offer. Other amenities include eight fireplaces scattered throughout the main house, and a master bedroom suite featuring his-and-her marble-clad bathrooms and two dressing rooms. Attached to the home is a four-car heated garage with pens for the Morgans five dogs, a workroom, a mudroom and a pantry. A rich history Even though the main house was completely renovated in 2011, pieces of history still remain around every corner. Some of these gems are original to the home, while others were brought in by the Morgan family. John Pierpont Morgans original mahogany desk sits in the front room at the 140 Wallacks Drive home. Benjamin Bingo Gilbert and his Rockefeller wife Mary, used the same front room as a grand ballroom in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. This desk used to be in the original Drexel building in New York, Connie Morgan said with pride as she flipped through old photographs of J.P. Morgans first headquarters in Manhattan. J.P. Morgan sat here when he lent some money to America in 1895. Shes referring to the countrys near-disaster in 1895 when the U.S. gold reserves evaporated. J.P. Morgan dug up an old Civil War-era statute that allowed him and some fellow international financiers to replenish the Treasurys gold stocks, and the country was saved. The house was built in the early 1900s for members of the Anson Phelps Stokes and J.G. Phelps Stokes family, descendants of those who started the Phelps-Dodge mining company. Depending on who you ask, the house was built sometime between 1902 and 1909. After the Great Depression, it changed hands to the Gilbert family. During World War II, Connie Morgan said the FBI raided the home and arrested the Gilberts entire staff for being German spies. There are so many crazy stories like that about this house, she said. A lot has happened here over the years. There was even a movie made about this house. The 2009 documentary, Beyond Greenaway: The Legacy, is a film by Sue Gilbert about her childhood spent on the island. Caritas Island was known back then as Greenaway Island. The Morgans re-instated the original name when they bought the property in 1987. Caritas Island has always been a private residence, but the coastline property is zoned for nonprofit uses like a museum, a beach club, a day camp or an assisted living home. The property can be subdivided into two lots, with 2 acres around the main house, 1.5 acres around surrounding structures and an additional 1.5 acres beyond the seawall. Conversion of the property would require some zoning approvals, and any new structure could not exceed three stories, Olmsted said. nora.naughton@scni.com; twitter.com/noranaughton Thirteen months ago Uber was touted as one of the few US internet companies to thrive in China. Now, the company has thrown in the towel, defeated by a worthwhile enemy. Despite that, this actually puts Uber in elite company. Google couldnt make its engine run in China, losing out to Baidu. Facebook was sidelined in 2009, despite Mark Zuckerbergs ability to speak the language and his infatuation with the country. Twitter, Yahoo, EBay, Amazon, YouTube, Groupon, and Best Buy have all tried and failed in China. Even Apple is struggling there. How did Uber fail? Or, did Uber fail? What exactly qualifies as success for a US tech company in China? These are the questions that need to be asked and answered. So, while everyone else is talking about how Didi Chuxing whipped Uber China, and how investors had been clamoring for it to dump its Chinese assets, the real questions are why cant US tech companies succeed in China, and did Uber actually fail? Here are four reasons US tech companies struggle and why ultimately Uber wins out. 1. Language and culture. Lets start by being honest, learning to speak Mandarin is hard. Learning to write Chinese characters is even more difficult. On top of these obstacles there are so many Chinese dialects and in China the differences between dialects is equivalent to the differences between the romance languages of Europe. Even Google, which operates the largest translation service in the world could not figure this out and realized too late in its game that no one in China could even pronounce the name of the company. Google also failed to convince the Chinese public that it was built for the Chinese consumer. According to Archer Liu, Regional Manager at BRIC Language Systems Uber did not have this problem. It has a good name that in Chinese is pronounced "youbu" and means "excellent step." Uber, like Google however, didnt recognize the cultural differences between western and eastern expectations of their ride. Didi did and capitalized on this offering rides in almost anything with wheels. Related: After Bruising China Battle, Uber Cedes to Rival Didi 2. Nationalism. The Chinese population is very patriotic. Despite an affinity for US pop culture and the demand for high-quality US products, nationalism beats Americanism in China. This is a product of 5,000 years of proud and continuous history and culture. It is further engrained into collective thought process through memories of the Century of Humiliation which saw Hong Kong and Shanghai colonized, an opium addiction forced upon the population by Britain, Tibet invaded and the Rape of Nanking, among other atrocities. As a result, on top of national pride there is a degree of insecurity involved in Chinese patriotism. Anything resembling a victory over foreign companies is greeted with enthusiasm, a loss is unacceptable and met with revolt. Even Apple isnt immune. In the wake of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ruling in July, Chinese protesters were seen smashing their iPhones. Related: Apple Loses Trademark Battle, Allowing Chinese Company to Use the 'IPHONE' Name 3. Entrepreneurship with Chinese characteristics: copycats and competition. The Chinese are entrepreneurs by nature and also necessity. Competing with 1.4 billion people requires creativity, an appetite for risk and the tenacity that very few possess in order to succeed. While many Chinese startups five years ago were copycats of Western tech giants, today apps like WeChat, Xiaomi and Huawei are challenging the conventional wisdom in Silicon Valley that Chinese innovation relies on copying US technology. This thinking is being overturned as Chinese companies beat their US rivals. These new Chinese tech companies are more than copycats of US brands with a home field advantage. They are inventive, targeted and led by charismatic people who know the Chinese market. In their arsenal is a knowledge of the ins-and-outs of Chinese governmental regulations, a firm understanding the Chinese notion of face and a set of business values based on the concept of Guanxi. These entrepreneurs hold a distinct advantage over their foreign counterparts simply because have an understanding of China that few foreign competitors can replicate. Related: A Chinese Sportswear Brand Called Uncle Martian Just Launched, and It Appears to Be Openly Ripping Off Under Armour 4. Government regulation. This is a big one. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and even Wikipedia have all fought this battle and lost. LinkedIn is the lone bright spot among US social media giants, but its success came only after the company caved in to pressure on censorship. While Chinese censorship laws are broad and not entirely transparent, they are the law of the land and must be followed as part of the price of doing business in China. These laws are in place for several reasons, not least among them to prevent organized dissent challenging the continuation of the Party. Facebook went down in 2009 and Twitter followed shortly thereafter in order to prevent a Chinese repeat of the so called Arab Spring uprisings that toppled several regimes and left the region in chaos. While Uber did not get the victory that it wanted in what its CEO Travis Kalanick called its most important foreign market, what most are calling a loss for Uber I see as a win. Cracking the code is difficult in China as Kalanick put it. It means fining a balance between idealism and growth. It means learning the language, understanding the culture and abiding by Party laws which are opaque, at best. It requires overcoming nationalistic tendencies that favor Chinese brands while having a respect for Chinas long and proud history. It demands modesty that Uber is unacustomed to after successfully, and arrogantly, having pushed into other foreign markets. Despite all of these headwinds and losses totaling in the billions, Uber was able to negotiate a seat on the board of a successful rival and walk away in a powerful position. Yes, Uber wasnt able to dominate the Chinese market but the company and its stakeholders walk away with a significant share in the biggest ride-hailing app in the worlds largest market. This is an accomplishment that will help set the tone for a strong IPO for Uber. The company has ended a turf war in China and prevented another one by negotiating a board position with the company that was building a global alliance with to defeat it. Uber now runs the global alliance in the ride hailing world along with Didi and the rest are left to fight for the scraps. Related: Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Midland Police are investigating a home invasion that left a 62-year-old Midland woman with a small caliber bullet lodged in her wrist. Officers were called to the 700 block of East Carpenter Street at 4:19 a.m. Monday for a report of a home invasion and possible stabbing, states a media release sent at 8 p.m. Tuesday. At the scene, officers learned the homeowner had been asleep and was awoken by a sharp pain in her left wrist. It looked as though she had suffered a small cut. She was taken to MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland for treatment, and it was discovered she had not been stabbed, but instead had been shot. The round was removed and collected as evidence. The victim has returned home and is expected to make a full recovery, a media release states. The victim and her son, age 31, who also lives in the home, were unable to provide a description of the assailant. The police investigation continues, and anyone with information about the incident is asked to call detectives at (989) 631-4244. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A destructive wildfire that continues to spread in vast and rugged terrain near Big Sur was ignited by an abandoned campfire, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials said Tuesday. Although they said they didnt know who was responsible for the campfire, the Cal Fire officials said it was started illegally about 2 miles east of Highway 1 along Soberanes Creek in an isolated area of Garrapata State Park. The Soberanes Fire continued to grow Tuesday, and firefighters estimated it would be weeks before the flames would be suppressed. The burn scar had grown to 44,300 acres larger than the city of San Francisco and was visible from space as heavy smoke billowed from the mountainous landscape of Californias picturesque Central Coast. The fire, which began July 22 and has pushed southeast into Los Padres National Forest, was just 25 percent contained Tuesday. Cal Fire officials said they didnt expect full containment until the end of August. In some locations the fire is still actively burning at night, Cal Fire spokesman Don Jaques said Tuesday. The fire began at an illegal, unattended campfire, Jaques said. Investigators spent 150 hours in the area, seeking to pinpoint the source of ignition. On Tuesday afternoon, it was determined that the impromptu campfire, about 2 feet in diameter, was responsible, Jaques said. The area of the campfire was away from trails and off-limits to hiking. Firefighters in recent days have gotten an upper hand in the wildfires hard-to-reach areas by lighting fires from the containment boundaries toward the advancing flames. The blaze one of the states largest and most destructive this year has destroyed 57 homes. Last week, a privately contracted bulldozer operator was killed when his equipment rolled over while he was fighting the fire. In Yolo County, a grass fire that started Tuesday afternoon had spread to 1,700 acres by 9 p.m. and was burning out of control near Lake Berryessa. It prompted an evacuation of Canyon Creek Resort and Golden Bear Estates in Winters, fire officials said. The Cold Fire, burning in Yolo County off of Highway 128 west of Pleasants Valley Road, started shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire was zero percent contained as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. Officials issued an evacuation order for Canyon Creek Resort, an RV, cabin and tent camping site, said Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant. This is the third straight year that Golden Bear Estates has been evacuated. Highway 128 was closed from Monticello Dam to Pleasants Valley Road, officials said. An estimated 500 personnel were on scene with Cal Fire, including Napa County, Winters and Dixon fire crews. There were no reports of injuries or damaged structures. Evan Sernoffsky, Steve Rubenstein and Jenna Lyons are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com, srubenstein@sfchronicle.com, jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky, @SteveRubeSF, @JennaJourno NEW CANAAN New Canaan juniors had some of the highest scores in the state from the School Day SAT results. According to the data released Wednesday, Aug. 3 by the Department of Education, 65 percent of Connecticut 11th graders met or exceeded achievement standards in English Language Arts and 39.9 percent did so in math. In comparison, 96.2 percent of New Canaan 11th graders met or exceeded expectations in English, while 84 percent met or exceeded expectations in math. NORWALK The Norwalk Police Department, along with the Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office, announced the U Drive, U Text, U Pay initiative, an effort to crack down on distracted driving. The distracted driving enforcement campaign will run from Aug. 3 through Aug. 16 and marks the second time this year that law enforcement agencies will add special patrols aimed at catching distracted drivers especially those on their cell phones. The last operation, which took place during April 2016, resulted in more than 12,000 citations issued to motorists statewide who chose to ignore Connecticuts distracted driving laws. Nearly 50 law enforcement agencies including both state and local police are again participating in this operation. According to surveys conducted after a 2015 crackdown, there was an 8 percent drop in mobile phone use by drivers at observation locations throughout municipalities where police conducted enforcement, according to Lt. Terry Blake, a Norwalk police spokesman. We are making gains, Blake said. Considering the seriousness of this problem and the fact that we saw movement in the right direction is a sign we need to continue this program. Unfortunately the fear of getting a ticket is the only incentive for people to change their behavior. The Connecticut Department of Transportation announced in April that recent research has found an estimated 11 million occurrences of distracted driving happen each day throughout the state of Connecticut. According to the findings, in total, it is estimated that 9.6 percent of drivers were either texting or talking on a hands-free device. Everyone thinks they can do it, that a crash wont happen to them. Sadly, we see it every day, and it can and does happen, Blake said. Under Connecticuts cell phone and texting law, violations involve heavy fines, ranging from $150 for a first offense, $300 for a second violation, and $500 for each subsequent violation. In 2014, 3,179 people were killed and an estimated additional 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. Connecticut remains the only state in the nation to receive special distracted driving prevention funds that allow for special patrols to identify, stop and cite drivers who choose to ignore distracted driving laws. Over $6.8 million dollars has been awarded to the state over the last three years specifically to fund campaigns like this one. Connecticut qualifies for this federal funding source through a mix of tough laws and, a track record in strong enforcement of distracted driving laws, Blake said. More than 700 local Special Olympics Texas athletes will benefit from a fundraising event held by Painting with a Twist at 229 Dowlen Rd. The painting business holds a "Painting with a Purpose" fundraiser once a month to raise funds for different non-profits. The event, which is open to painters 14 and over, will be held on Friday, Aug. 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. "Giving back to our community is a huge part of our business model and I feel like giving back to the people of SETX is the only right thing to do," Ashley Hebert, owner of painting with a Twist said. "Special Olympics provides such valuable and special services to those that need them, and we're humbled to be able to give back to the organization that serves our neighbors, families, and friends." Herbert says that this fundraiser was also held last year where $600 were raised for Special Olympics Texas. All money raised in the area stays in the area to help with programs for local athletes, according to Special Olympics Texas Area Director, Alicia Permenter. Fifty percent of the proceeds made from the class, which costs $35 per painter, will be donated to the Special Olympics Texas, a non-profit organization that empowers people with intellectual abilities through the power of sports. "Special Olympics Texas is very appreciative to Painting With a Twist for hosting 'Painting with a Purpose' for our athletes," Permenter said. "The people of Southeast Texas have always supported the community and it is a great feeling to me to be from this area." Efforts like the ones from Painting with a Twist help fund competitions for athletes, according to Permenter. The money goes toward venues, food, drinks and equipment. Registration for the painting class can be completed at goo.gl/Be9bCU. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Washington Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has alarmed U.S. allies in Asia and elsewhere by suggesting that American military support should depend on their willingness to pay. But he would not be the first U.S. president to consider shaking up time-honored military deployments. Four decades ago, President Jimmy Carter tried to withdraw troops in South Korea, and failed. He wanted to trim the defense budget and pressure South Korea over human rights abuses, but hit a wall of opposition. If history shows that some of Trump's proposals aren't unprecedented, it also demonstrates the political perils of tinkering with alliance commitments. Those commitments may be more urgent today than in Carter's time, given North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal and its progress toward having missiles that could strike the United States. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Beaumont ISD elementary and middle school students failed the 2016 STAAR tests at higher rates than their statewide peers but improved in areas where BISD students struggled the previous year, according to preliminary data from the Texas Education Agency. The STAAR tests (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) are administered to all public school students annually starting in third grade, with subject-based testing for students in grades three through eight and assessments at the end of five required courses for high schoolers. The TEA raised the passing standards for the tests this year, so the number of questions that students needed to answer correctly to pass increased, which impacted the district's passing rates, according to Shannon Allen, BISD's Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Administration. Additionally, scores on two other tests, STAAR A and STAAR Alternate 2, for students receiving special education services or with disabilities, were also newly factored into the overall passing rates this year, Allen said. "If the standard had remained the same, (scores) would have increased in several areas," she said, based on the district's analysis of the preliminary data. The district's passing rates improved or stayed the same on six of the assessments, including the eighth grade science test, which 11 percent more students passed in 2016 than in 2015. That was the largest improvement, with the other improved scores coming in fourth grade reading and fourth, sixth and seventh grade math. Fourth graders passed the writing test at the same rate as in 2015, but twice as many earned advanced scores, bringing that number to 10 percent. Allen attributed that growth to "outstanding teachers," as well as increased professional development. Passing rates were lower on all other elementary and middle school tests in 2016 than 2015. This is in line with statewide results, according to a July 14 press release from the Texas Education Agency, which said that "passing rates were up on six assessments and down or flat on 11" throughout Texas. The largest disparity in passing rates was in sixth grade math, in which twice as many students earned "unsatisfactory" scores in Beaumont as in the state. More than half of the 862 BISD students who took the test did not earn a passing score, while only 26 percent did not statewide. On 16 of the 17 assessments, more than one-third of Beaumont's test-takers failed. The highest passing rate was in eighth grade reading, where 73 percent of students passed, up from 67 percent in 2015. In addition to the higher passing standards, this year's tests were administered by a new vendor, Educational Testing Services, which caused delays in reporting the scores and computer glitches in the testing. As a result, in June Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath waived the requirement that fifth- and eighth-graders pass or re-take those tests to move to the next grade. Students who failed those tests "still participated in the STAAR remediation program this summer," Allen said, and decisions on whether or not to promote them were made based on report card data. Principals at elementary and middle school campuses are still finalizing the decisions and notifying those students, she said. The scores are one of several factors in determining the state's annual accountability ratings, which indicate whether a school is meeting standards, earning distinctions or is required to improve. This year's ratings are scheduled to be announced on Aug. 15, TEA spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said. Ten of BISD's schools were rated "improvement required" in 2015. "What will happen next is we'll be able to see how our campuses improved," Allen said, as full data provided by the TEA will include not just passing rates and average scores but also more specific information demonstrating changes in students' and campuses' performance. "We did a tremendous amount of work on those campuses and several of those campuses showed growth," Allen said, which she expects to see reflected in the accountability ratings. The district's high school students also scored lower, on average, than students statewide on the five mandatory "end of course" STAAR tests during the fall 2015 testing period. State scores from the most recent administrations of the test, which are also offered during the spring and summer, are not yet available, according to Culbertson. Those assessments test in English I and II, Algebra I, Biology and U.S. History. Both in BISD and statewide, fewer students took the tests in fall 2015 than in spring and summer 2015, and fewer of those students passed them in the most recent round. More than 50 percent of Beaumont test-takers failed all five of the assessments administered last fall. LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz Protesters, some wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts, forced a brief recess at Houston City Council Tuesday afternoon as they voiced concern about the city's body camera policy. The dust-up comes two weeks after Mayor Sylvester Turner released police video showing that a black man fatally shot by police last month was armed. The 18 minutes of footage began with video from store surveillance equipment across the street, but the body camera footage only started after 38-year-old Alva Braziel had been shot. It shows officers approaching Braziel as he lay in the middle of Cullen Boulevard in a blood-stained shirt, clutching a pistol. As a felon, he was not authorized to have a firearm. Officials said no dashboard camera had been installed in the officers' vehicle. Several speakers suggested reforms to the Houston Police Department's body camera policy aimed at ensuring that officers' cameras are turned on during incidents, among other issues. "We cannot have the officers turn the camera on and off whenever they feel like it," said Jerry Ford Jr., who ran unsuccessfully this year to succeed Turner in the state House. "We don't want to see the aftermath. We want to see what led up to the altercation, to see if the aftermath was justified or not." Edward Buford, senior pastor of SonRise Community Church, questioned why officers are not required to keep body cameras running at all times, claiming the devices have the capacity to store nine to twelve hours of footage. "There's really no reason ever to turn off that camera," Buford said. Interim Houston Police Chief Martha Montalvo has said department policy allows officers to delay turning on body cameras when "it may be impractical or unreasonable before taking police action." The department is investigating whether officers adhered to policy in this case. Turner emphasized that the city's body camera policy was adopted before he took office and currently is under review. "I think it's important for us to be transparent, and where the policy needs to be adjusted or adapted or tweaked, I mean we will take a look at that," Turner said, noting that only about 300 body cameras have been deployed so far. Alva Braziel's wife, Nikita Braziel, also addressed City Council. Braziel said her husband did not mean to harm anyone and contended police officers did not have cause to shoot him. She also criticized the mayor for not communicating with her family directly. "In the remarks you've been making on TV and the remarks you've been making in your meetings, you haven't spoken to me one time," Braziel said. "You haven't told my family that you're sorry. You haven't told our kids nothing." Turner did not respond to Braziel's comments. Turner's spokeswoman, Janice Evans, did not immediately return a request for comment. The mayor has said publicly that he communicated with the family's attorney. SAN ANTONIO Two regular Alamo Colleges donors, who contributed $17,000 to the district in the past four years, have decided to lower the amount of their annual donation by more than half after Chancellor Bruce Leslie sat on his phone for 40 minutes during a May graduation ceremony, which was first reported by mySA.com. At a May 21 graduation ceremony, Leslie was on his phone for at least 40 minutes during the proceedings, Tony Villanueva, president of Palo Alto's American Association of University Professors chapter, said at the time. At the time, photos showed Leslie on his phone while he was sitting on stage with graduating students walking by him. RELATED: Photos show Alamo Colleges chancellor on phone as graduating students cross stage Martha, 69, and Steve Hixon, 72, said in an interview with mySA.com Monday that they have made an annual donation, as high as $5,000, to Alamo Colleges since 2012. This year, though, they contributed $1,000, a decrease they explained in a July 25 letter to Leslie. The letter reads: "We are writing to you to register our disappointment in your behavior at the graduation ceremonies of ACCD students in May 2016. The behavior to which we are referring is your attention being directed to your cell phone and NOT to the graduation ceremonies of your students and to the students themselves. We find that behavior to have been disrespectful to not only the students, but also to the parents and relatives of those students as well as to the faculty members in attendance. To date, we have not learned of an emergency situation in which you were involved that necessitated your attention to your cell phone. Should that have been the case, of course, our opinion would be adjusted accordingly. However, given the information we have, we wanted you to know that your actions have impacted our annual contribution to the ACCD. We decreased our amount from 2012-$3000, 2013-$5000, 2014-$5000, 2015-$4000, to 2016-$1000. If you are unable to be respectful of your students, why should we?" Leslie told mySA.com Tuesday by email he never saw the letter. "This is the first I've seen it," he said, declining to comment on the matter further because "it would be more appropriate and respectful for me to respond directly to" the Hixons first. The total private gift income to the Alamo Colleges Foundation in 2015 was $2.7 million, Mario Muniz, Director of District Public Relations, told mySA.com in an email Tuesday. Alamo Colleges officials could not confirm how much the Hixon's have donated and when because it is private. RELATED: 'Netiquette' criticism accepted, apology made Both Steve and Martha Hixon, who are retired business owners living in San Antonio, attended an Alamo Colleges campus on their way to earning a degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Steve Hixon was at the Bracken Cave for an event about a week and a half ago, when he first learned of Leslie's actions during the graduation ceremony and decided to lower the couple's annual contribution amount, he said. An ACCD teacher told Steve Hixon her son was graduating the day Leslie was on his phone and she was "very concerned about what happened," Steve Hixon said. "We were all prepared this year to give them $5,000 and when we read in the paper and saw the media coverage of what he did at that graduation ceremony, we were just beyond appalled," Steve Hixon said. "To totally ignore students that are graduating and sit there and look at your cell phone the whole time, I expect that out of junior high school students, I don't expect that from a chancellor. If one of my kids or grandkids had done that, I would have given them a time out." The couple didn't pull their contribution completely because they "don't want to punish the students who desperately need the scholarship," Steve Hixon said, noting the couple has been "supporting Alamo Colleges for quite awhile." RELATED: Tuition hikes at Alamo Colleges to be limited for now In 2013, Martha Hixon set up the Odelia B. McCarley Nursing Endowed Scholarship that goes toward helping Alamo Colleges nursing students, in honor of her mother, which she now wishes could have been set up with UTSA instead. Despite the long relationship the Hixons have with Alamo Colleges, they have never met Leslie. The Hixons said they have not heard from any Alamo Colleges official since sending their letter. Leslie apologized for his actions at the graduation ceremony in a June 8 op-ed in the San Antonio Express-News. "I do own it, it was inconsiderate, and I apologize for being disrespectful. Saying anything more would appear to be a rationalization or justification, which is not my intent," he wrote. Martha Hixon said she and her husband attended their son's graduation ceremony this summer and "had that happened at his graduation, I can assure you, I would have been livid, and I would have approached the chancellor at that graduation and reprimanded him." kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Wolff publicly apologized Wednesday for a DWI arrest over the weekend, saying he remembers very little about the incident in which he was only wearing underwear. Addressing the media at the Bexar County Courthouse, Wolff said he will plead no contest to the misdemeanor charge. Make no mistake, what I did on Saturday night was wrong. It was a terrible mistake and I am incredibly grateful that no one got hurt, he said. Wolff was jailed after rear-ending two cars at a Whataburger drive-through on San Pedro Avenue. He said he was under the influence of alcohol and medications and did not recall the events. He was wearing a T-shirt and boxers at the time of the incident, no shoes or pants. Wolff said he had taken blood pressure medication as well as the sleep aid Ambien, which has been widely reported as causing sleep-driving and sleep-eating incidents. Wolff said he will take any steps necessary to make sure this never happens again, beginning with medical treatment. After serving on San Antonios City Council, Wolff was elected to Commissioners Court in 2008 and was re-elected without opposition in 2012. On the Nov. 8 ballot, Wolff has two challengers Democrat Brandon J. Johnson and Libertarian Jason Pipoly. Read more about what Wolff does recall about that night on the Express News. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate You know what they saywhen you need "basic expenses like clothing, travel, and lodging" just start a GoFundMe page! That's what Jen Wilke, a model from Fredericksburg, did, at least. Wilke, whose accolades include being the cover girl for the 2014 Playboy Swimsuit and was a Maxim "Hometown Hottie" semi-finalist the same year, created a GoFundMe page to be able to focus on her "modeling career exclusively," asking for donations to "cover basic expenses" as she travels to "many opportunities about which I have thus far been ambivalent." RELATED: Report: Mexican policewoman-turned-stripper inks deal with Playboy Mexico, clubs across country "The money that you contribute will set me on a pathway to a brighter future, and for that I will be forever grateful. I thank you for your time," Wilke writes, adding that she is "at a crossroads" in her life. On the page she writes of building her brand saying she's recently had "some major success," after receiving a VIP invite to the Maxim Hot 100 party hosted July 30 in Hollywood, California. Wilke was able to attend the Hot 100 party from money she received through her GoFundMe page which has raised $830, of her $10,000 goal, so far. RELATED: Playboy Mexico model fights to prevent possible arrest over music video "The Maxim Hot 100 party was so much fun, and I ended up making some business connections which is always much welcomed, along with new friendships," Wilke said adding she was excited for "another opportunity" that she was getting the next day. Wilke set up five different level of donations, each accompanied with a perk from the model. If you donate $65, a level five contribution, she will send you a signed photo, poster and you can be pre-ordered for her 2017 calendar. If you give $5, the lowest level of donations, she will email you a selfie and give you "regular progress updates." What a deal, right?! One donor, of the 28 contributors, gave $65 and said he "would also like a selfie in the dress. :)" On Aug. 2, she posted a bikini-clad photo thanking her fundraisers for helping her "get to shoots." Everything appeared to running smoothly until she reached a glitch Tuesday night. RELATED: TMZ: Playboy Playmate Dani Mathers loses her job after nude gym photo "My brakes almost went out last night going over a mountain back to the hotel that I rented for the night (thx to your funding)," she wrote. "Thankfully my brakes didn't go all the way out causing me to flip my car over the 10 thousand feet in the air railing lol." Wilke said she was still raising the money to continue funding her trip in California and "also for future success." kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 SAN ANTONIO A 42-year-old man is in critical condition at an area hospital following a late-night shooting at a family gathering on the Southeast Side, according to police. The incident occurred at about 10:48 p.m. Tuesday in the 2000 block of Dollarhide Avenue at the Riviera Apartments, where kids were recording a fist fight that got out of control. Family members stepped in shortly after shots were fired, which hit a man in the chest and abdomen, a police sergeant said at the scene. BOERNE - After evicting two teen girls and a stepfather of one of the girls from her business property in Kendall County last year, Kathleen D. Daniel testified Wednesday that she was shocked when officers at the scene treated her as the criminal suspect. It was unreal, the retired physician from San Antonio said at her trial here on three charges of aggravated assault over the Independence Day incident. Daniel, 72, said she was convinced she was acting within the law when she instructed the two girls whod been tubing down West Sister Creek that crosses her property to leave. She later did likewise with the stepfather who came looking for the tubers. Daniel admitted brandishing a pistol during the separate incidents, but denied pointing it at the girls, Skylar Obuch and Jaci Lewis, or at Lewis stepdad, Bobby Windle. At one point the gun discharged into the ground because shed stumbled, testified Daniel, who lives in Alamo Heights but for three decades has co-owned Sister Creek Vineyards with her husband, Vernon Friesenhahn. The incident occurred on the vineyards property. On Tuesday, jurors saw a police video in which Daniel said she fired a warning shot into the ground. The girls have said Daniel pointed the gun at them and that they feared for their lives. In a police video, one of the bikini-clad girls recalled hiding underwater as they tried to float past Daniel. The couple both testified Wednesday that theyd never before seen people tubing on the creek, which they considered to be their private property to its mid-line, nor had they had prior problems with trespassers. A Texas General Land Office employee testified Tuesday that West Sister Creek, a tributary of the Guadalupe River, is a navigable stream and therefore the public has the right to use it. Daniel said she feared for her safety after spotting the two girls, one in the water and the other on the creek bank on their property. When Daniel inquired of the girls whose guests they were, Daniel recalled, They said they were on public property and they were just tubing on the Guadalupe River. Daniel said she instructed the girls to leave the way they had come, but she said the girls stayed put. She said only one of the girls had a tube and that it appeared the other girls tube had popped because she was walking on the creek bank. After going up to the house to get her phone and call her husband, Daniel testified she emerged to find no trace of the girls, prompting her to draw her gun due to concerns about being ambushed. Thats when she accidentally fired a shot into the ground, she said, and the girls quickly reappeared near the creek just as her husband and an employee arrived on the scene. I said 'I wish youd all leave our property. This is private property,' testified Friesenhahn, who asserted he could tell from his wifes appearance that she was very frightened. The girls walked out to FM 1376 without incident, Daniel said, denying claims that she'd escorted them off the property at gunpoint. Daniel said she then resumed her hobby of collecting riverbank rocks until she was startled soon after by the presence of Windle about 5 feet behind her. Windle shouted, Where are the girls! Daniel testified, and she said she drew her gun and replied, Get off my property. I was hoping he would not be tempted to hurt me, she said. I wanted him to see that I was not going to go quietly. After Windle walked to FM 1376, Daniel said she went to speak with Kendall County deputies who were assembled at her gate. But, as she approached, they ordered her to place her hands on her head, then handcuffed her, she said. All I remember is being the bad guy I must have done something I didnt know I did. It was like a dream, testified Daniel, who was indicted on three felony counts in February, I dont think I did anything wrong that day, said Daniel, a general practice doctor in San Antonio until her retirement in 2006. zeke@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Texas judge wants her controversial 2014 drunken driving arrest to be removed from her record, according to a petition filed last month. Texas' 13th Court of Appeals Justice Nora Longoria was arrested on July 12, 2014 and was charged with speeding, while a second charge, driving while intoxicated, was dismissed by an outgoing Hidalgo County district attorney in 2014 a decision that caused controversy in the area. On Tuesday, ValleyCentral reported Longoria had submitted a petition to have the DWI arrest expunged because the charge was dismissed "in the interest of justice" by former DA Rene Guerra. "Generally, Texas law allows individuals to expunge information related to their arrest after the charge has been dismissed. As such, the filing of a petition for expunction can be a matter of routine practice subsequent to the dismissal of a charge," Longoria's attorney Rey Merino told ValleyCentral. "In accordance with the law, I have filed such a routine petition for the expunction of Ms. Nora Longoria's arrest records." RELATED: Prosecutor: DWI charge against Texas appeals court judge 'just an officer's opinion' Court records show Longoria was stopped for driving 69 mph in a 55 mph zone and subsequently failed field sobriety tests. Footage of the stop shows Longoria swaying, stumbling and struggling to complete the respective tests the officer attempted to conduct. Longoria can be heard pleading with the arresting officer in dash cam footage, asking him to "please let (her) go home" as she "live(s) a couple of miles away." Additionally, Longoria told the officer he was going to ruin her life after she "worked hard for 25 years to be where (she is) today and noted she is a judge, offering to show the officer her judicial badge. While Longoria's DWI charge was dismissed, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct condemned Longoria's attempt to use her position to get out of the ticket in a public admonishment. She received the lowest punishment offered by the commission. RELATED: RGV judge charged in DWI case showed badge, asked officers to let her go "The Commission concludes based on facts and evidence before it that [13th Court of Appeals] Justice Longoria repeatedly identified herself to police officers as being a judge, offered to show the officers her judicial badge, and attempted to use her position as a judge to obtain favorable treatment and escape the consequences of her conduct, in willful and persistent violation ... of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct," the admonishment reads. The document continues, "Furthermore, the judge's conduct during the traffic stop, her arrest for driving while intoxicated, and her subsequent plea of no contest to a speeding charge received widespread media attention which cast public discredit upon the judiciary and the administration of justice, in violation ... of the Texas Constitution." RELATED: South Texas appeals court justice gets slap on wrist for DWI Longoria responded to the public admonishment via Facebook and stated that the date of her arrest was the anniversary of a "great personal loss." In dash cam video, Longoria also tells the officer she is a widow. Longoria's bio states she was elected to her position in the court of appeals in 2012 and still serves as a justice. Staff writers Joshua Fechter, Aaron Nelsen and Kolten Parker contributed to this report. MMedina@mySA.com Twitter: @MariahMedinaaa Behind the alarming and heartbreaking stories of sexual assault on college campuses is a little-known trend that reveals a deeper, more disturbing issue. According to the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights, or OCR, 198 institutions of higher learning are under investigation for possible Title IX sexual violence violations more than triple the 55 it was reviewing in 2014. Title IX is the gender equity law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Federal law requires that we train university employees about our policy and other issues related to sexual misconduct, including dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Much work needs to be done. According to federal campus safety data, nearly 100 institutions of higher learning reported at least 10 incidents of rape on their main campuses in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available. Some interpret the data as a sign that more students feel free to report sexual assaults that might have gone unreported in the past. But others point to the proliferation of rape cases and the sometimes insensitive way schools handle them. As Lisa Maatz, vice president for government relations at the American Association of University Women, told the Washington Post, Universities need to stop trying to treat this as a PR problem, and treat it as the civil rights and public safety issue that it is. Whichever view one might hold, this much is clear: We in higher education need to improve our understanding of Title IX and the way we attempt to protect students, faculty and staff from sex discrimination. As required by federal laws, Our Lady of the Lake University students, faculty, staff and administrators attended policy training in 2015. We also hosted various other types of training on these topics throughout the year. OLLU and others, however, are taking additional, proactive steps to adhere not only to the letter of the law but, more important, to fulfill the spirit of Title IX and related federal laws. In mid-July, OLLU hosted a higher ed event at which Office of Civil Rights attorneys explained guidelines and the finer details of Title IX, and the obligations of universities to respond to sexual violence. More than 50 individuals from 10 colleges and universities in San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Seguin attended. It was a great opportunity to have face-to-face contact with OCR attorneys and discuss the various areas of Title IX and how that impacts our universities, said OLLU Title IX coordinator Suzanne Patrick. While some schools have made headlines for multiple rapes on campus, hundreds have zero reports of sexual assaults. According to a Washington Post review of federal campus safety data, more than 1,300 schools had no reports of rape in 2014. OLLU is among those schools. But we also understand that victims of sexual violence are often reluctant to report an assault. Over the next year, OLLU will be developing a climate survey of students to better understand the reality, attitudes and perceptions of sexual violence, and awareness on campus. We will gather data about the frequency of sexual violence and the knowledge of our policies and resources. Other schools have completed climate surveys, some as a result of resolution agreements with the Office of Civil Rights. Though not required, the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault has urged institutions of higher education to show theyre serious about the problem by conducting the survey. OLLU is not only serious, it is our hope to become a leader in the education and prevention of sexual harassment and sexual violence. Every student pursuing a higher education deserves the full protection of Title IX. Diane Melby, Ed.D, is president of Our Lady of the Lake University. Eric Gay /Associated Press There may be, strictly speaking, a question on the legality, but there is no question on the ethics. Attorney General Ken Paxton was wrong to accept a gift from a party under investigation by his office. Last year, Preferred Imaging founder James Webb gave Paxton $100,000 for his legal defense on charges unrelated to his duties as attorney general. Paxton is fighting charges that he broke securities law by encouraging investors to buy stock in a technology company without disclosing that the firm was paying him. Re: Vilifying whites no way to close racial divide, Esther Cepeda, Another View, Thursday: This perceptive column speaks to the unfortunate fact that racism works both ways. The causes are complex, but each of us should realize the fact and try to correct whatever prejudices we may have inherited both ways. Time will probably heal, but we must keep rewinding the clock. Clay McGaughy Trumps joke Re: Now, Trump adds national security to his weaknesses, editorial, Thursday: Your editorial revealed your staff to be totally inept. Anyone who took seriously Donald Trumps invitation to Russia to find Hillary Clintons missing emails is gullible beyond belief. If they have already been hacked, it was well before the primaries. It would have been over four years ago, before we knew of her private server. Its a shame the Express-News cant afford to hire qualified analysts and editors. Fred S. McIntyre History lesson Re: President: Nobody more qualified than Clinton, front page, Thursday: President Barack Obama is quoted as saying, I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman ... more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president. He must have slept through his history classes in preparation for his political career. Had he been paying attention instead of just being present (i.e., his senatorial voting record), he might have heard of Gen. George Washington, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and George H.W. Bush. Frank Sawyer, Seguin Masking racism Re: No smoking gun on Texas voter ID, but much smoke, Editorial, July 26: That was an excellent editorial on the Texas voter ID law, and any other legislation that is said not to be discriminatory when it really is. I especially liked the courts observation, This approach would ignore the reality that neutral reasons can and do mask racial intent, because I have often thought that myself but never heard it said so well by such a high authority, along with the instructions that a remedy be crafted before the November election, an election in which so many civil rights are at stake. Virginia Castro, Blanco Beating the rap Re: HUD secretary wont be punished for Hatch Act violation, Page 2, July 20: How long until people see the light? Now HUD Secretary Julian Castro clearly violates the Hatch Act, a law designed to keep government workers from endorsing candidates while on the government payroll. And what happens? Nothing; the U.S. Office of Special Counsel says he had no intent to break the law. He only did it while being addressed as Mr. Secretary and in front of the HUD seal, but he just wasnt thinking. Sound familiar? What does it take in this administration to pay for any wrongdoing? Next time you get pulled over for speeding, just say you didnt mean to. Should get you out of it; it works for all Democrats. Wake up, people. Richard McFarland, Fischer Race for the bottom Re: Social Security, Medicare are in trouble, Scott Burns, Business, July 25: Part of this Scott Burns column is so perfectly spot on that Im quoting it here as a lead-in. Rome is burning. Will the Infantile Vulgarian or the Wicked Witch talk about this between now and November? Not a chance. Dont worry, be happy. The November ballot will be the saddest one I have ever seen, perhaps the worst one in two centuries. We are stuck with one of Scotts labels being the next occupant of the White House, the former home of Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower as examples. Disgraceful. Roy Huff Genetic flaw An astounding and incredibly hypocritical statement by Hillary Clinton made the news recently. She was interviewed by Charlie Rose about her choice of a vice presidential candidate, and during the interview, Clinton said she was afflicted with the responsibility gene. Where was her responsibility gene when she irresponsibly mishandled secret documents using her private, unprotected server? She continued even after being warned by a State Department official. Where was her responsibility gene when she lied to the families of the dead men from Benghazi? Were no longer surprised by anything Clinton says. Its a pattern of dissembling and claims of false virtue when there is nothing but lies. Clinton is not afflicted with the responsibility gene. On the contrary, she is severely afflicted with her own irresponsibility gene, a gene that permits her to lie to Congress and the country and afterward talk of her responsibility gene. John K. Landry, New Braunfels Restroom police The biggest problem facing the people of Texas is not immigration, crime, education or child abuse. It is the danger of transgender people using the wrong restroom, an issue that has gone unaddressed for far too long. Transgenders have been taking advantage of us for years. These pseudo-females have been able to see the ankles of women in the next stall, and phony men have been getting away with going to stalls and never using urinals. Just consider what would happen if such unseemly behavior came to be tolerated. Surely, there would be hordes of perverts, skirted and bewigged, peering over the stall doors to watch women doing their business, and bunches of middle school girls invading mens rooms to point and giggle at men trying to urinate. So I have to salute the heroic efforts of our lieutenant governor and attorney general to prevent such a catastrophe. Perhaps we can have guards posted at restrooms to check birth certificates, pull down pants and lift skirts if necessary. I know this would involve some expense, but we could always pull some more funds from public education. Steven Botts A federal appeals court upheld the governments annual fishing quotas Thursday for the Pacific whiting, which dwells near the ocean floor off the coast of California, Oregon and Washington. A vessel owner and a fish processor, both from Washington state, filed suit in San Francisco challenging the National Marine Fisheries Services limits on harvesting the whiting, which took effect in 2011. The rules, aimed at preserving the fish supply and discouraging frenzied activity at the outset of the fishing season, assigned each permit-holder a share of the overall catch based on their shares in past years 2003 for fish harvesters, and 2004 for processors. Those years coincided with the start of the governments rule-making process. Other fishing companies and the Environmental Defense Fund supported the quotas. Their opponents argued that the selection of past years was arbitrary and violated a law requiring federal officials to take into account present participation in the fishery and dependence on the fishery when setting limits. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco agreed Thursday that rules based on a companys catch many years ago gave little weight to its present participation. But the court said the federal agency had made a reasonable decision to rely more on other factors, like the need to control overfishing. Quoting the agencys decision, the court said the 2003-04 limits were designed to end the race for fish by not rewarding increases in harvesting or processing in later years. Maintaining the earlier qualifying dates also spread the benefits of the program more widely and avoided concentrating quota share in the hands of a few participants, the court said. We cannot substitute our judgment for the agencys, Judge Sandra Ikuta said in the 3-0 ruling, which upheld a federal judges decision in the governments favor. She said the court had upheld a similar quota system in 1996 for sablefish and Pacific halibut, based on ship owners maximum legal catch in a previous year. Monica Goldberg, a lawyer for the Environmental Defense Fund, said the ruling was important because other federal fishery management programs also use control dates from past years to set annual catch limits. The program has produced amazing dividends (by) having overfished species recover faster, Goldberg said. This is a win for both the environment and the fisheries of the Pacific. Pacific Dawn, the vessel owner that challenged the quotas, said it was disappointed by the ruling. Those who abandoned the Pacific whiting fishery in 2003 will continue to receive a windfall at the expense of the harvesters and processors who truly depended on the fishery and supported its communities in the years that the government was preparing the rules, the company said. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko The first Friday in August marks International Beer Day a day when all drinkers, no matter how zealously locavore, can lift a glass to the beers of other nations. Need a few overseas standouts for your own celebration? Total Wine & More has traveled the world to find more than 2,500 beers, representing brewers from far away as Germany and Belgium to Thailand, China and Japan. For close to 3,000 years, brewing has been a part of daily life in the land now known as Germany. As far back as 800 B.C., members of Bavarian tribes were buried with beer to keep them company on the journey to the afterlife. Thats the kind of beer culture were happy to salute with a toast! A major news item recently has been the plight of Prince Albert, Saskatchewans third largest city. That city normally draws its water from the North Saskatchewan River, but the North Saskatchewan has been contaminated by an oil spill from a ruptured pipeline. Fortunately for Prince Albert the South Saskatchewan River is accessible from that city, and it has been possible to set up a temporary 30 km. pipeline to bring clean water to Prince Albert. According to SASKOIL an independent website devoted to monitoring the effect of oil on Saskatchewan, the pipeline that ruptured is a minor pipeline delivering oil from an oil well to a facility near Lloydminister where the oil is upgraded before it is loaded onto larger regional and intercontinental pipelines. As far as spills go, this has been a small spill: 1,570 barrels. The 2010 Enbridge pipeline spill into the Kalamazoo River was 20 times as big. According to SASKOIL, spills are part of the everyday operations of the oil industry. Since 1990 there have been over 18,000 oil spills in Saskatchewan. Most of those attract no attention, but this one did because of its impact on the Prince Albert water supply. Moving oil is inherently risky. But we are told we need these pipelines because pipelines are the safest means of transporting oil. I have no doubt they are, but is that the correct question? Should we be asking which is the safest way of transporting oil, or should we be asking whether the benefits of transporting oil are worth the risks involved? We are addicted to oil. We depend on oil for transportation and heating. The synthetics we use, from construction material to clothing, are oil derived. Our food system, is oil dependent. Happily, alternatives are emerging. Wind power and electric cars offer exciting new possibilities, and I anticipate trends in that direction will continue. But can greater efficiency in energy use ever be enough? Consider the many places where we unthinkingly use oil energy, because that has become the norm. Think of holidays. Do we really have to travel to exotic locations to have a holiday? Houses today are bigger bigger because we can afford it. But the bigger the house, the more energy it takes to heat it. We take our car to work, and then exercise in the gym. We want lettuce and tomatoes in February. And so on. Essentially we need risky pipelines so we can continue wasting energy in this way. Are we, as a people, really so stupid that we cannot change our corporate behaviour? I think we could do it by increasing the price of oil. How about a mere tax shift. How would your behaviour would change if the taxes you now pay based on your income, you would instead pay based on your consumption of oil. Your disposable income would not be affected. No doubt we all would find interesting ways of living consuming less oil. Humpback whales around the globe are mysteriously rescuing animals from orcas mother nature network What can a sea-lion teach us about musicality? MedicalXPress. The videos are fun. One of my contacts says hes seen raccoons keep time to music. NOAA confirms 2015 highest everything for global warming MacroBusiness :-( A climate scientist and economist made big bucks betting on global warming Guardian. Dan K: Apocalypse futures? Forget Tornadoes. Rain Bombs Are Coming for Your Town Bloomberg Landlord installs Faraday cage to block phone signals because social media is ruining British pubs Telegraph (Chuck L). My kind of guy! I think Ive told readers I adopted a pub when I lived in Australia and I really enjoyed the caliber of the conversations and the various characters. Copyright Office Intent On Changing The Part Of Copyright That Protects Libraries & Archives, Even Though No One Wants It Changed Techdirt (Dan K). Appalling. Someone needs to get the AAPR and advocacy groups for the poor onto this. Opioid-related insurance claims rose more than 3,000 percent 2007 to 2014 CNBC Brexit Registering EU nationals in UK could take 140 years at current rates Guardian UK is most corrupt country in the world, says mafia expert Roberto Saviano Independent (guurst) Byron Hamburgers branch is forced to close by far-Left campaigners after chain carried out immigration sting operation on its OWN workers Daily Mail Labour leadership: quarter of new supporters could be barred from voting Guardian French prisoner loses license & bombarded with fines after cops take car for a ride RT. YY: I thought this kind of stuff only happens in America Mariano Rajoy warns of third Spanish election after snub by Socialists China North Korean missile lands near Japan waters, alarms Tokyo Asia Times Ukraine/Russia Turkey Syraqstan Big Brother is Watching You Watch Imperial Collapse Watch Trade Traitors Six key GOP House members reverse support for Obamas trade agenda Washington Post. Wow. EU trade policy close to death if Canada deal fails Politico. Important. Key para: In a frustrating blow to the Commission, the member countries last month wrested the approval process for the trade deal with Canada away from Brussels. The accord will now require approval in Europes 38 national and regional parliaments, raising the specter of delays and even vetoes in assemblies ranging from Wallonia to Romania Clinton E-mail Tar Baby The Clinton Story You Didnt Read Here New York Times (Dan K) 2016 Federal judge blocks North Dakota voter identification law Reuters (EM) Lessons From Vermont Jacobin. Margarita: Subtitle: Five things a Vermont third party can teach us about carving out a space to the left of the Democrats. There Are No Democratic or Green Saviors: Get in the Streets Counterpunch (martha r) How Comcast convinced customers to buy near-worthless service plans ars technica (Dan K) Its Way Past Time For Us To Stop Deluding Ourselves About Private Health Insurers Huffington Post (margarita) The banks, sadly, that wont die Politco. Shows how lousy the discussion on this issue is. Not mention of the real issue is tight coupling, and that the over-the-counter derivatives market is a big part of that problem. Eight years after they helped wreck the economy, Ireland sends 3 bankers to prison Washington Post The New Thorn in the Sides of Big Banks Wall Street Journal Class Warfare Antidote du jour (martha r): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Yves here. Another geopolitical fault line. And notice that one of the big issues is tax avoidance, which happens via how multinationals set transfer prices, as well as powerful insiders using secrecy jurisdictions to hide ownership or launder money. By Martin Khor, Executive Director of the South Centre, Geneva. Originally published at The Star The UNs leading development organisation just got a renewed mandate for its work, but not without difficulty because the developed countries are tighter with their concessions to the developing countries. The process in attaining it shows the not too healthy state of North-South relations. The United Nations leading organisation for discussions on economic issues has recently concluded its conference, held once in four years, by adopting two declarations. That is seen as another success in international co-operation, this time on trade, development and related issues. However, agreement was reached only after a lot of difficult wrangling between the developed and developing countries. The process showed up the shaky and not too healthy state of North-South relations. The 14th session of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (dubbed Unctad 14) was held in Nairobi between July 17 and 22. Formed in 1964, Unctad is the UNs premier economic development organisation. In its heyday from the 1960s to the 1980s, Unctad was a major trade negotiating centre, specialising in global commodity agreements. It helped lead the developing countries initiative for a new international economic order. It was also designated the UNs focal point for the integrated treatment of trade and development and with areas of finance, technology and investment. For over half a century, Unctad has championed the cause of developing countries. But in recent years, under the influence of developed countries, its role was downgraded. Many important issues were given to other organisations, over which the developed countries have more control, such as the OECD, World Trade Organisation, IMF and World Bank. The two declarations adopted in Nairobi summarised the countries views on trade and economic issues and Unctads role in the next four years. It took many months of negotiations in Geneva, capped by days and sleepless nights in Nairobi, to reach a consensus on what should have been non-controversial issues. Principles or even phrases that have long been agreed to as part of global co-operation are now challenged or even made taboo by the developed countries. They had previously been amenable to place on record the need to transfer technology and provide financial resources and special treatment to developing countries. Now it is almost too sensitive to even propose language on additional resources, technology transfer and the long-accepted principles of common but differentiated responsibility and special and differential treatment. The developed countries have become less secure in their domination over the global economy and thus not willing to maintain the previous concessions to the developing countries. It was thus a big challenge for the developing countries, led by the Group of 77 and China, to get their developed-country partners to reach a consensus at Unctad 14, as the following illustrates. First, the developing countries fought to re-state their need for policy space. This concept, agreed to at an earlier Unctad conference, implies that developing countries should be given the right to make use of policies and instruments required for their development, and which should not be eliminated by trade and other agreements. The developing countries proposed language on policy space in many parts of the document, but they faced resistance. Eventually, only a mild and conditioned reference was accepted, as follows: and respecting each countrys policy space while remaining consistent with relevant international rules and its commitments. (Para 3) Second, the developing countries wanted an expanded mandate for Unctads important work on debt issues. Unctad has been the UN systems main organisation on debt; it has championed debt relief and the need for an international debt restructuring mechanism to resolve debt crises. Developing countries wanted to stress that Unctad has a role in the prevention and resolution of debt crises and not just debt management, but this faced objections. Further, language was introduced to narrow the scope of Unctads debt work to one of complementing the work of the IMF and World Bank, which would have curbed its independence. At the last minute, developing countries managed to add as appropriate, implying that the complementing would be at Unctads discretion. Third, the developing countries wanted to mention the need to rapidly conclude the WTOs Doha Round. This is hardly a radical idea since the need to conclude Doha had been a longstanding mantra for many years in international talks. However, the developed countries have now decided to give up on the Round and thus work on the Doha Round was not even mentioned in the Unctad 14 outcome. Fourth, in many other fora, including the UN climate change convention, technology transfer has become a taboo phrase, and even its mention has been opposed, especially by the United States. It is to the credit of developing countries that this term appears several times in the Unctad 14 declaration, including that Unctad should assist developing countries to identify ways to operationalise technology transfer. (Para 40f) Fifth, the need for international co-operation on tax issues (including how to deal with tax avoidance and tax havens) has become a hot topic recently. The developing countries have tried to get these issues discussed at the UN and not just at the OECD (the club of developed countries) in which they have no say. They asked during the negotiations for the setting up a UN committee on tax issues at which all countries could discuss and make decisions, but this was not acceptable to the developed countries. However, the final document mentions taxation a number of times, thus providing Unctad a limited mandate in pursuing the issue. Finally, Unctads role as the main UN organisation dealing with the inter-related issues of trade and development with finance, technology and investment, has been reaffirmed by Unctad 14. Also reaffirmed is the importance of Unctads Independent development oriented analytical work, with a fresh mandate given for its work in the next four years. These were hard-won victories, showing that the standard for success has now gone quite low. This situation depicts the underlying conflicts, with the South desiring Unctad expand its mission to champion the cause of development and the North attempting to restrict Unctads role to a minimum. It is to the credit of developing countries, the G77 and China that they succeeded in having many of their main points, albeit in diluted form, in the Unctad 14 outcomes. Although it may not have the same clout as during its high years some decades ago, Unctad lives on to fight another day. '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. County Tipperary born Bishop Seamus Freeman, Bishop of Ossory, has retired on health grounds after suffering a stroke three years go. He said he had hope to continue his episcopal service until the retirement age of 75 years but for some time now he has found his ministry as bishop to be somewhat of a challenge. Bishop Freeman was born on 23 February 1944, the eldest of eight children, in the parish of Mullinahone. His family later moved to Callan, Co Kilkenny, where he attended school. He entered the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallotines) in Thurles and made his first Pallotine consecration in 1965. He studied philosophy at University College Dublin, and theology at Saint Patricks College, Thurles. He was ordained a priest on 12 June 1971. Subsequent to his ordination, Father Freeman was sent to the Catholic University of Washington to pursue studies in psychology but was called to Rome not long afterwards to act as personal secretary to the Rector General of his society. Two years later he returned to Washington to complete his studies and was awarded a degree in psychology. In 1975 he was appointed Director of Formation and Rector of the Church of Saint Sylvester in Rome. During his rectorship, in May 1975, he was also elected a member of the Provincial Council of the Irish Province of the Society. In 1981 he returned to Ireland to take up the post of Rector and Director of Formation at the Pallotine College in Thurles, Co Tipperary. While participating as delegate in the General Assembly of his Society in 1983, Fr Freeman was elected to the General Council of the Pallottines in Rome for a term of six years. In 1989 he was appointed Vicar General of the Society. Barely three years later, in 1992, Fr Martin Juritsch, the then Rector General of the Society fell gravely ill and Fr Freeman was elected to succeed him at an Extraordinary General Assembly. He was re-elected for a second-six year term in 1998. In 1994 Fr Freeman took part as an auditor in the 1994 Synod of Bishops, dedicated to the theme of the religious life. During his term as Rector General, on 28 October 2003, the Pallottine Family, known as Union of the Catholic Apostolate, was declared a Public and International Association of the Faithful by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. At an international Assembly of the Union held in Rome in December 2005, Father Freeman was unanimously re-elected President of their General Co-ordination Council for a term of three years. At the conclusion of his second term as Rector General of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, Father Freeman spent a year with the Irish Pallottine community at Saint Sylvesters in Rome after which, on 7 October 2004, he was appointed Parish Priest of the Church of Saint Vincent Pallotti at Pietralata in Rome. Bishop Freeman was appointed Bishop of Ossory by Pope Benedict XVI on 14 September 2007. He was ordained Bishop of Ossory on 2 December 2007 in Saint Marys Cathedral, Kilkenny. Bishop Freemans episcopal ministry saw him serve as a Member of the Standing Committee of the Irish Episcopal Conference, Member of the Episcopal Commission for Worship, Chair of the Pastoral Renewal and Faith Development, Member of the Council for Religious, Joint Council for Religious of the IEC and CORI. Bishop Freeman facilitated the realisation of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, as the Peoples Plan for Ossory, and recently employed the first lay pastoral worker in Ossory to ensure its continued implementation. As Bishop of Ossory he worked tirelessly for the restoration of Saint Marys Cathedral, its Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Chapter House and surrounding campus. The United States Secretary of State John Kerry is to receive the 2015 Tipperary (Ireland) International Peace Award. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Tipperary Peace Convention through its Hon. Secretary, Martin Quinn. Secretary Kerry's work on a global basis to bring about an end to conflict in many countries is being recognised by Tipperary Peace Convention. Responding to the news of his selection, Secretary Kerry said - "I am grateful to be selected for the Tipperary Peace Award. I am truly honoured to be listed among the remarkable past recipients who have contributed so much to the cause of creating a more peaceful world." The Award will be presented to Secretary Kerry at a ceremony in Tipperary later this year. Previous recipients of the Tipperary International Peace Award includeformer South African President the late Nelson Mandela, Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former Prime Minister of Lebanon the late Rafic Hariri, Afghan Human Rights Activist Dr. Sima Samar, former Prime Minister of Pakistan the late Benazir Bhutto, US Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and her brother the late Ted Kennedy, former President of Ireland Professor Mary McAleese and her husband Senator Martin McAleese, Pakistani schoolgirl and Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, American Diplomat Dr. Richard Haass and last year's recipient, Secretary General of the UN Ban-ki Moon. President Obama has signed a housing reform bill that will open the door for welfare recipients to use federal rent vouchers to purchase manufactured homes and become homeowners. Currently, low-income families can use their Department of Housing and Urban Development section 8 vouchers to rent a manufactured home. But the bill signed by Obama on Friday allows vouchers to be used to make mortgage payments and to pay property taxes and insurance on manufactured homes. "A Section 8 voucher holder will now have the option to use their federal housing assistance to cover the full annual cost of purchasing a manufactured home. This change provides families the opportunity to become homeowners, rather than only being allowed to use Section 8 vouchers for rent payments," said Lesli Gooch, senior vice president and chief lobbyist for the Manufactured Housing Institute. Gooch noted that passage of the legislation is an important step in helping low-income families achieve homeownership. The next step is to "work with public housing agencies and HUD to make families aware of this option and to work with lenders, including state housing finance agencies and the Rural Housing Service, to make sure borrowers are able to secure the mortgage with the financial help of the voucher," she said in an interview. RHS currently finances the purchase of manufactured homes if the loan is secured by land. Leases also are permitted if the term of the lease is for 99 years. "However, USDA is conducting a pilot in Vermont, New Hampshire and Oregon that allows borrowers to lease land for two years longer than the mortgage term," according to an RHS spokesman. The average price of a new manufactured home is $65,000 and vouchers can be used to help cover the cost of buying and owning it. The Housing Opportunity through Modernization bill, sponsored by Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., and Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., also authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture to streamline the Rural Housing Service by developing a direct endorsement program similar to the Federal Housing Administration program. In recent years, RHS staffing has been dramatically reduced. Yet every RHS-guaranteed loan must be approved by staff and borrowers are now experiencing significant delays in loan approval, according to the National Association of Realtors. Both the Veterans Affairs loan guarantee and the FHA mortgage insurance program utilize a direct endorsement approach, which allows private lenders to approve loans. It will "create great efficiencies for the Rural Housing Service and for homebuyers," former NAR president Chris Polychron told Congress last year. The law also includes major reforms to the Federal Housing Administration condominium program. It streamlines FHA's certification requirements for condo projects, allows more commercial space in agency-approved condo buildings and relaxes current owner-occupancy requirements. "Realtors have reason to celebrate today as legislation easing restrictions on FHA financing for condominiums is finally signed into law. This is a long-awaited victory for NAR and for homebuyers for whom condos are an important and affordable option," NAR President Tom Salomone said in a statement. Mortgage closing technology company Snapdocs has released a new suite of tools tailored to meet the needs of settlement and title companies. Snapdocs Enterprise was designed to reduce back-office tasks related to the mortgage process and out-of-office closings in particular. The platform also integrates compliance and vendor oversight features, the company said Wednesday. Snapdoc's customers who upgrade to the new platform will have access to Snapdocs Verified, a multistep verification service that scrutinizes credentials uploaded by notary signing agents. The platform also includes the Automation Suite, a tool that handles tasks such as finding a notary or sending out loan documents, and the Vendor Pay service, a tool that enables payments to notary vendors to be issued through the Automated Clearing House. "Snapdocs Enterprise also paves the way for companies wanting oversight of closing operations across multiple offices," the company said in a news release. "By driving identical workflows across a shared database of notaries, enterprise companies closing a high volume of loans have a centralized system for pulling audit reports and driving compliance." Training, age requirements put in place for pesticide handlers Farm workers and their families exposed in multiple ways (NaturalNews) Working on a farm is not an easy job. As if spending hours doing physical labor under the hot sun weren't bad enough, these workers also have to contend with exposure to toxic pesticides . This combination makes the job a highly taxing and dangerous one, with farm workers reported to suffer from more illnesses and injuries related to chemical exposure than those working in any other job.Making matters worse, many workers are reluctant to call off work when they are sick, because they cannot afford to lose even a day's worth of pay and they're afraid they will lose their jobs.At a recent gathering at the Atlantic Blueberry Company, government officials came up with more stringent regulations to protect farm workers from the poisons of pesticides. Shockingly, it's the first time in 24 years that these federal rules have gotten an update, despite the dramatic transformation the industry has undergone in the meantime.One of the new requirements is that farm laborers have to be trained before they can work in a field where pesticides have been used, and this training must take place once a year. New Jersey, for example, currently only requires such training once every five years.In addition, respirators that have gained OSHA certification, and a minimum of three gallons of water, must be kept on hand for decontamination and washing. Workers must be at least 18 years of age to handle pesticides, and better notifications about the job's safety hazards will be required.The rules go into effect on January 2. EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck remarked that having healthy farm workers and a prospering farm are not mutually exclusive Atlantic Blueberry Company's Integrated Pest Management Supervisor, Julie Schneider, said little would change at her company because they already adhere to high standards of safety. However, she expects the changes to be more challenging for some smaller growers.The main point of the change is to protect workers who are scared to report pesticide exposure, and the new rules couldn't come soon enough. Eighty farm workers were sprayed by a crop dusting plane with fungicide in a 2013 incident, while 60 rural Illinois farm workers including teenagers were treated for pesticide exposure earlier this month , after working in a field too soon after it was sprayed with pesticides.Even those who are not part of these unfortunate high-dose exposure incidents are slowly being poisoned by lower levels of exposure to these dangerous chemicals that add up over time. Those who work directly with the pesticides are most at risk, as they could be exposed due to leaks or splashes in loading, mixing or applying the substances. Field workers could be hit by direct spray or indirect pesticide drift carried by the wind. Meanwhile, their families are exposed when they bring home residue of these toxins on their clothes and even on their skin.In fact, a study published inin 2004 shows that three out of five farm workers had glyphosate in their urine on the day of application, while 12 percent of their children and 4 percent of their spouses also had the chemical in their urine. The exposure levels involved were lower than the safe limit set by the EPA, yet studies have linked Roundup to endocrine disruption and cancer at concentrations a thousand times weaker than those found in the study. (NaturalNews) As my readers know, I've reported on a number of scandals concerning the toxicity of medical drugs, including shocking death numbers in the US.(Article by Jon Rappoport, republished from Jonrappoport.wordpress.com These scandals are leaks from inside the National Security State.If you visit Wikileaks, Cryptome, Public Intelligence, and other similar sites, how many purely medical documents do you find posted?How many damaging leaks exposing the crimes of the medical cartel do you find?Very, very few.Where are the medical insiders who are liberating and passing along incriminating documentary evidence?Some of the best exposers of political, intelligence-agency, and military crimes are way behind the curve, when it comes to medical matters.The medical sphere, for various reasons, is far better protected than any other segment of society.For the hundredth time, let me cite Dr. Barbara Starfield's stunning review, "Is US health really the best in the world?" published on July 26, 2000, in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Starfield, at the time, was working as a highly respected public health expert, at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.She concluded that the US medical system kills 225,000 Americans a year. That would add up to 2.25 million deaths per decade.Laid directly at the door of the American medical complex.106,000 of those annual deaths, as Starfield reports, are the direct result of medical drugs.Aside from the genocidal death toll, Starfield's findings also imply massive fraud in all medical journals that routinely publish glowing results of clinical trials of drugs.Such trials open the door to the marketing of drugs that kill, according to Starfield, 106,000 Americans every year. How is this possible unless deep, continuing, and abetted research fraud are the order of the day?Indeed, Dr. Marcia Angell, the editor of New England Journal of Medicine for 20 years, wrote the following:"It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines. I take no pleasure in this conclusion, which I reached slowly and reluctantly over my two decades as an editor of The New England Journal of Medicine." (NY Review of Books, January 15, 2009)The FDA , of course, is the single government agency responsible for certifying drugs as safe and effective, before their public release is permitted. Yet the FDA takes absolutely no responsibility for the deaths.Can you imagine the feeding frenzy, if, say, some leaker in the Pentagon passed along a political/military document to Wikileaks that showed the Dept. of Defense was poisoning to death , like clockwork, a hundred thousand of its own soldiers every year?Let's stop this insane nonsense of separating one whole set of government crimes from another, simply because the propagandized priests in the white coats are above reproach.We're not living in 1950 anymore, and this isn't Kansas.In 1988, when I was writing my first book, AIDS INC., I stated that medical covert ops are the most successful methods for pacifying, debilitating, and controlling populations, through toxification, because these ops fly the flag of political neutrality.They appear to favor no king, dictator, president, government administration or partisan position.Their propaganda is all about healing and helping.In fact, the medical cartel is, in the long run, the most effective branch of political repression, from one end of the planet to the other.It favors top-down control by those in power, whoever they are, whatever they claim to stand for.Consider this: when Ed Snowden released NSA documents that showed the extent of government surveillance on populations, no one from the intelligence establishment made a serious case that Snowden's revelations were false. Instead, they attacked Snowden for exposing "methods" of "the war on terror."However, in the medical arena, leakers would be afraid that doctors, medical bureaucrats, public health agencies, government leaders, drug-company fronts, and major media outlets would, all at once, deny the validity and truth of the leaksdespite the fact that the truth is there for all to see.In other words, the best protected cartel in the worldmedicalwould act in a far more Orwellian fashion. It would say: the truth is not the truth, the facts are not the facts, 2 and 2 do not equal 4and the cartel would get away with doing that.This is the kind of clout we're talking about when it comes to medical matters.Over the years, I've alerted mainstream reporters to the Starfield review, cited above, and other confirming published studies that reveal the horrific extent of medical destruction. Those reporters who bothered to get back to me issued blanket denials. They essentially said, "Yes, I see the evidence and the facts, but the facts aren't facts. What's happening isn't happening."Now we're talking about some heavy brainwashing.By comparison, it makes the quality of the scandal around Snowden seem like a Sunday lunch in the park.A few years ago, I had one reporter, who exposes political leaks, tell me: "I don't mess with medical stuff. It would ruin my credibility."Indeed. Another indication of how powerful the medical apparatus is.Recently, the Washington Post highlighted a new study that puts "medical errors" as the 3rd leading cause of death in America. There hasn't been any significant follow-up. There hasn't been an explosion of outrage. So even when exposure occurs, the brainwashing factor is so strong it makes no difference. It's just another ho-hum day in the news business.That's mind control par excellence. That's tremendous protection of criminals.That's like a crime boss saying, "Yeah, I kill 225,000 people every year, but it's an accident"and nothing happens.He goes his merry way, and everyone praises him as a humanitarian.Talk about inventing and selling false reality.This one is at the top of the charts, and it stays there.I could stop here, but I'm going to take this one step further, because, as you can see, I'm talking about mind control. So here is the vital add-on:From the dawn of history, humans have been particularly vulnerable to statements, from "selfless altruists," about being saved, being rescued, being given gifts from above. And behind those statements, when there is an organization involved, a top-down organization, the threat level rises considerably.Leaders have always recognized that if they match their pronouncements and assurances with the population's unflagging hope of being saved, they, the leaders, win. They win big.Even in societies where overt human sacrifice was practiced, the cover story involved some kind of healing and rescue. The good gods would see the sacrifices and intervene to produce "better days." Better life for all.This is what was sold, and this was what was bought. For many people, the times have not changed. Make them a promise of medical rescue, and they're in. They're floating in a hopeful trance.A hypnotic induction has been performed, and it works.The controlled subject responds with gratitude.At that point, you can engage in complete contradictions, rank absurdities, and doublespeak.The trance will hold.As my old research collaborator, hypnotherapist Jack True, once told me in an interview, "People want dreams. When they lose faith in their own ability to dream about the life they want, they'll accept someone else dreaming for them. That's what hypnosis is. Someone else dreaming for you. You accept a substitute. That's mind control. That's believing you can live in someone else's creation forever..."If I were the head of an institution of higher learning, I would engrave that quote above the gates, and I would build a four-year course that explores the implications of the quote in every dimension of human existence.The medical cartel is the best-protected organization on the planet.Read more at: Jonrappoport.wordpress.com Circadian rhythms function as tumor suppressors How working night shifts may increase cancer risk (NaturalNews) Our body is designed to sleep at night and work during the day. A new study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) biologists shows that working night shifts or disrupting the body's internal clock may lead to cancer growth Until now, nobody had a clue why disrupting the biological clock, which drives circadian rhythms, has such an impact on human health. MIT scientists believe they can offer an explanation. They think they have figured out the mystery of the heightened cancer risk.Circadian rhythms are found in most living organisms. They follow a 24-hour cycle, and influence sleep-wake cycles, mood, alertness, hormone release, body temperature and other vital functions. Abnormal circadian rhythms have been associated with sleeping disorders, obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder. And now cancer can be added to the list.In mice, the team found that two genes, Bmal1 and Per2, known to control the circadian rhythms of a cell, also suppress tumor growth. According to Thales Papagiannakopoulos, a former postdoc at MIT's Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and the lead author of the study, disruption of these genes, either through gene deletion or disruption of the normal light/dark cycle, allows tumors to become more aggressive.Our body and brain are hardwired to relax and unwind after dark and spring back into action in the morning. The circadian clock is located in the brain's suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN can be seen as a local communication center; it receives information about light levels from the retina and passes this information on to the cells.The information the cell receives will either activate or deactivate a set of genes (including Bmal1 and Per2) known to control circadian activities. Furthermore, Bmal1 and Per2 regulate a cancer-promoting protein known as the c-myc. When their function is interrupted, c-myc is given free rein to accumulate and spin out of control."Cells need the light cue, which is like a reset button for the clock. When you lose that cue, you lose the normal rhythms in every cell in your body," said Papagiannakopoulos.For the study, they exposed mice, predisposed to develop a particular type of lung cancer , to either a regular day/night or a jet lag type of schedule. The latter mimics the biological clock disruption of people working night shifts. The scientists found that under jet lag conditions, tumors grew faster and more aggressively."If you disrupt these genes in every cell of the body, the light cues that you normally receive do not apply," Papagiannakopoulos said. "It's a way of taking a molecular hammer and just breaking this clock."As reported by the American Psychological Association, no amount of extra sleep in the world can compensate for a messed-up circadian rhythm.Joseph Takahashi, chair of the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, noted that although the results are very clear and definitive, further research is needed to confirm the results.Therefore, Papagiannakopoulos is now investigating whether circadian disruptions also affect other cancer types, and whether or not a broken clock can be exploited as a potential drug target or cancer prevention strategy. Trump is at least honest with everyone about how he feels; Clinton is only honest with those who pay her Jury out, but fresh water is always a valuable commodity (NaturalNews) It may not be what his more conservative supporters want to hear, especially now that gasoline is much more affordable again, and Texas shale oil has reportedly "fought Saudi Arabia to a standstill," but Donald Trump made a good point when he said recently that it should be up to local voters to decide if they want to ban the oil-and-gas extraction procedure known as "fracking" (short for hydraulic fracturing)."Well, I'm in favor of fracking, but voters should have a big say in it. Some areas maybe they don't want to have fracking. And I think if the voters are voting for it, that's up to them," Trump said in an interview with reporters last week while at a campaign stop in Colorado."Fracking is something that we need. Fracking is something that's here whether we like it or not, but if a municipality or a state wants to ban fracking, I can understand that," the billionaire real estate mogul added.Trump has often been criticized for what many have called his lack of constitutional depth and knowledge, but on this issue he gets it exactly right: It is the ultimate act of federalism to combine a central government with regional (state) governments into a singular political system. What's ironic, though, is that those who oppose him on his stance that locals ought to decide had no problem deciding for themselves that they should disregard federal laws against recreational pot use in a state that now allows it.As reported by, pro-energy groups and backers of fracking don't want the issue to go to voters, because they believe that most of the state's residents would oppose the procedure, even though fracking operations in places like Pennsylvania, Texas, North Dakota and New Mexico are providing state and local governments with a raft of new revenue.What's more, energy groups are critical of municipalities in Colorado who have put the issue up for a popular vote a decision that actually runs afoul of a recent court ruling that prohibits cities and local governments from outright fracking bans or otherwise restricting natural gas development.A pair of Colorado cities Longmont and Fort Collins claimed earlier this summer that state law does not explicitly allow fracking, and therefore banning the procedure was not improper or illegal. But pro-fracking energy groups defeated the cities' proposal in the Colorado Supreme Court, which decided that the ban is "preempted by state law and therefore, is invalid and unenforceable." Pro-fracking groups have also said that restrictions or bans are an infringement on private property rights.Meanwhile, in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation a year ago that made it illegal for localities in the state to ban fracking or any drilling activity that the state has authorized. And Ohio's Supreme Court has also ruled that local governments cannot block fracking operations by banning them if such action is permitted by the state.That hasn't stopped environmental groups like Food and Water Watch, The Sierra Club, Earthworks and local activist organizations from supporting the local ban and continuing to fight to get it legally established. One of those groups, Coloradans Resisting Extreme Energy Development (CREED), proposed nearly a dozen measures to the state legislature in January to either restrict fracking or ban it altogether.As for Trump, he clearly believes that fracking is viable, safe and productive for the country. At a campaign event earlier this year in North Dakota, he said that he hoped to make "American energy dominance...a strategic economic and foreign policy goal of the United States."For her part, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has said that while she generally backs fracking, she would seek tighter restrictions on the industry whatever that means and would honor local fracking bans (though state governments are obviously not on the same page). Then again, this is the same Hillary Clinton who, as secretary of state, backed approval of the Keystone XL pipeline after banks heavily invested in the project paid her husband, former President Bill Clinton, nearly $2 million for speeches in Canada.Nevertheless, while the jury may still be out on whether or not fracking is harmful to the environment, getting a little fresh water insurance is never a bad idea. Researchers trace widespread kidney failure to farming chemicals Glyphosate ban leads to importation of even deadlier chemicals (NaturalNews) Hundreds of thousands of people living in Sri Lanka are suffering from chronic kidney disease, a painful and debilitating condition that causes the organs to stop functioning over time. The illness is primarily concentrated in the country's rice basket, affecting up to 400,000 people.Various factors have been singled out by researchers as the cause of the disease, including home-brewed alcohol, agrochemicals and high arsenic levels in the drinking water, according to CBS News. Research conducted by the World Health Organization found that male farmers over the age of 39 were hit the hardest, though women with less advanced stages of the disease were more prevalent.Scientists detected high levels of cadmium and pesticides in their urine, suggesting that toxins and arsenic in the water were responsible for widespread kidney decline. But water testing came up clean, leaving investigators puzzled.However, a closer look revealed a strong correlation between the island's transition to modernized, chemical-based agriculture in the 1960s and the rise in chronic kidney failure. Sri Lanka soon earned itself a spot as one of the world's top users of fertilizers, importing the chemicals from China under government subsidizing.Chemical fertilizers allowed the island to triple the amount of rice it was producing, exceeding 2.9 million metric tons in 1999. However, the government and its farmers were naive to the fact that the so-called advancements were completely unsustainable and not without dire consequences . Today, Sri Lanka says it's trying to scale back its use of agrochemicals, returning to traditional farming methods. But some say it's too late."Four or five people are added every week to dialysis, a minimum of three a week," said Dr. Charitha Weesasinghe, a kidney surgeon at Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, located where the disease is endemic.Fewer than 50 transplants have been completed at the hospital, according to reporting from last year, forcing desperate patients to "post daily newspaper ads with their photos and blood types, pleading for someone to help."Revelations that farming chemicals may be causing kidney failure among the masses prompted the government to ban one of its most widely used herbicides glyphosate the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup.Though officials hoped the ban would reduce kidney disease, researchers say that other, more toxic agrochemicals are being imported in its place."Although the government banned glyphosate imports as part of its efforts to eradicate the chronic kidney disease from the country's dry zone, fertilizer industrialists and agrochemical giants are importing other herbicides and pesticides, which are ten times higher in toxicity than glyphosate," said Dr. Channa Sudath Jayasumana lecturing at Rajarata University in Anuradhapura.Referencing a book titled, Jayasumana said that nearly 24,000 people have died as a result of kidney disease in the North Central region of Sri Lanka , while another 70,000 are suffering in other agricultural regions.The pharmacology lecturer says he is confident that farming chemicals are causing chronic kidney disease, adding that multinational companies are worsening the situation by resorting to even deadlier herbicides.If left untreated, chronic kidney disease causes waste to build up in the blood, making patients feel horribly sick. This can lead to other conditions including high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage, according to the National Kidney Foundation.Symptoms of the disease typically involve fatigue, poor appetite, swollen feet and ankles, itchy skin and increased urination. Companies showcased new ingredients and products at the 2016 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo in Chicago, July 16-19, and attendees had the opportunity to experience trends in the industry. Product and Ingredient Launches Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients (CIFI) launched four new ingredient brands and two other new products at IFT, defining and adding to its existing line of 100 percent Carolina-made sweet potato ingredients, which can replace artificial sweeteners and other unpopular ingredients in clean-label applications. The new brands are: Carolina Original cloudy sweet potato juice: a nutrient-dense, domestically sourced juice that adds flavor, color, and a nutritional boost to baked goods, sauces and more. Carolina Clear clarified sweet potato juice: the ideal alternative to high fructose corn syrup and sugar for your health-focused consumer, adding vegetable servings and a health halo. Carolina Craft dehydrated sweet potato ingredients: sweet potato flour and granules that support gluten-free and non-GMO applications by adding flavor, texture and nutrients including fiber. Carolina Sweet clean label sweetener: a vegetable-based, nutritional replacement for high fructose corn syrup and other undesirable sweeteners. With solutions for bakery, meat, confectionery, dairy and beverage, Corbion offers a comprehensive and diverse portfolio. At IFT 2016, Corbion showcased the following products and their capabilities: Ensemble easing the transition to non-PHO emulsifiers. UltraFresh extending bread shelf life. Verdadvantaoffering multifunctional benefits for meat and poultry with natural ingredients. Opti.Form solution that does more than deliver top shelf Listeria control. Purac Powders delivers a clean, long-lasting sour taste for acid-sanded confectionery. Dow Food Solutions showcased two plant-based functional ingredients, developed to help manufacturers reduce fat or offer healthier products to their customers WELLENCE Fat Reduction Food Gums and the METHOCEL Portfolio for meat applications. Parker Products is supporting the dairy industry with its new line of seven clean label cake inclusions, produced through a unique hot panning process, which was showcased at IFT. Parkers cake inclusions are produced using a unique hot-panning process, which leaves lower moisture content in the final piece. This allows for a longer shelf life of up to 12 months. BENEO highlighted the technical performance of Remypure. Remypure is the companys first high performing rice starch that qualifies for both natural and clean-label status worldwide. Remypure, our new functional native rice starch, supports manufacturers in the development of products that respond to the growing natural and clean label trend demanded by consumers, said Jon Peters, president of BENEO, Inc. Solvay brought its vanilla taste range and expertise to IFT this year. Visitors were invited to discover how Solvay can help create great tasting nutritional products. Our Rhovanil vanillin is of the highest purity, consistent quality, best-in-class safety and traceability, said Edouard Janssen, vice president of Solvays Aroma Performance business unit in the Americas. And its made in the USA. With Steviva Ingredients new Erysweet+ Ultra blend, clean-label, sugar-free chocolate can be achieved. Erysweet+Ultra is a super-fine mesh powder consisting of SteviaSweet 95-60 with Erysweet non-GMO erythritol, a polyol that provides natural low-calorie sweetening and bulk. This proprietary blend of highly purified steviol glycosides delivers a clean flavor that is free from bitter notes and aftertaste commonly found in other stevia products. Tate & Lyle served up food-truck-inspired fare that delivers on global flavor trends at IFT. Influenced greatly by a new generation of consumers, the menu consists of a label-friendly sweet street taco; a fiber-enriched summer mango gazpacho; a reduced-calorie/reduced-sugar spicy chocolate milk and a gluten-free cinnamon-sugar donut. TIC Gums debuted new clean label texture and stability solutions for use in dairy alternative beverages, gummy applications and ice cream formulations at IFT. Ticaloid PRO 181 AG is new technology for formulators seeking to target texture and stability in ready-to-drink, dairy alternative beverages. Ticagel Natural GC-581 B is an all-natural, non-GMO gelatin replacer for use in gelatin-free gummy candy and nutritional delivery systems. Dairyblend Natural IC CL is a turn-key stabilizer system that eliminates the need for mono-and diglyceride emulsifiers in soft serve and hard pack ice cream applications. Company News Glanbia Nutritionals announced that it has just completed the process of combining its three businesses into one nutritional powerhouse. IFT attendees were among the first industry professionals to experience Glanbia Nutritionals as a new integrated business. Since 2012, Edlong has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarship money to students pursuing a degree in food science with an emphasis on dairy flavors and/or dairy science. Manpreet Kaur Cheema and Simon Itletwo students at the Pennsylvania State Universityhave been awarded the Edlong Dairy Technologies Scholarship through IFT. NMI introduced the 2016 Healthy Aging Across Generations, which seeks to provide insights into how todays consumer confronts their own health and wellness, helping to uncover factors that create health challenges, and reveal some underlying dynamics that may help to provide a glimpse into what lies ahead. This report covers the various dimensions of healthy aging, and the opportunities which exist to help consumers translate their aspirational attitudes into actual behaviors. Virginia Dare has been producing flavors and extracts for more than 90 years, and debuted a refreshed and evolved brand at the 2016 IFT show in Chicago. Virginia Dares new brand was supported by materials including a new logo, website, marketing and sales materials, and trade show booth. Fiberstar Inc. announced a student innovation contest entailing new and novel ways to use citrus fiber. This contest is introduced during a time when the food industry is exploding with cleaner and simpler versions of food products that appeal to a knowledgeable growing consumer base. We are thrilled to offer universities and students an opportunity to apply their food science knowledge and creativity to solve real world challenges. said Fiberstar, Inc. president and CEO, John Haen. Gelnex has named its new sales and customer service team for the North American market. Alexandre Assis, Gelnex global sales director, will be taking on the leadership of sales and marketing. Gelnex has seen some changes in North America, Assis said. Over the last 10 years our sales and customer support team has made a huge contribution, greatly building the Gelnex brand. In this new step, we are proudly expanding our North American team, drawing from new talent and the Gelnex ranks within our global network. Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) showcased its extensive portfolio of ingredients and solutions at IFT. Companies such as Harvest Innovations, Eatem Foods, Specialty Commodities Inc. (SCI) and WILD Flavors have joined with ADM, giving customers access to innovative products, extensive technical expertise and quality service in areas ranging from organic specialty ingredients and natural sweeteners to fats and oils and complete flavor systems. The Euro: How a Common Currency Threatens the Future of Europe Joseph E. Stiglitz W. W. Norton: 2016. 9780393254020 9780241258156 | ISBN: 978-0-3932-5402-0 Who killed the euro? With the spotlight now on Britain's relationship with the currency's crucible, the European Union, that question has an edge. Were the culprits the visionary politicians who ignored structural differences between European economies when they conceived the euro in the 1980s most notably Jacques Delors, president of the European Commission at the time? Was it the neoliberal international economic and financial establishment, in Washington DC, New York and London as well as Frankfurt and Brussels, that thought markets (even financial ones) were rational and self-correcting? Was it Jean-Claude Trichet, governor of the European Central Bank during the 2008 financial crisis, who made the people of Ireland pay for the corruption of their bankers by forcing their government to stand behind their broken banks? Or perhaps the putative 'Swabian housewife' often invoked by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who balances her budget and cannot see why the same logic does not apply to governments? Austerity measures in Greece part of the eurozone have sparked unease among pensioners. Credit: Yannis Kolesidis/EPA In the first chapter of economist Joseph Stiglitz's The Euro, we learn that they all did it. And that it is all the fault of contemporary capitalism. Most of the book is devoted to this topic, and it serves as a useful guide to the many failures of eurozone policymakers in the past quarter of a century. Stiglitz speculates boldly and cogently about the zone's future, but The Euro is on the whole too scattershot either to diagnose the illness or to prescribe a viable cure. Stiglitz's thesis or rather, loose assemblage of theses explains too much. The gross domestic product of the eurozone is now barely higher than it was immediately before the crisis, and the euro is indeed central to explaining why. There is, however, a lively debate over the inevitability of this failure. Some argue that the euro was always doomed because of divergences in income and economic structures between eurozone countries, and the lack of a US-style political union to make significant fiscal transfers possible. Sooner or later, a big shock a rapid rise in unemployment, a sharp fall in capital inflows would hit one country or more, and without being able to devalue their currency, nations would be unable to adjust without excessive economic damage. It was bad luck that when the shock did come (in 2008) it was as big as it was, especially for countries such as Spain and Ireland. It was also both predictable and predicted. Others, such as economics journalist Martin Sandbu in his excellent Europe's Orphan (Princeton Univ. Press, 2015), argue that the eurozone's dismal economic performance is a result less of the currency's design than of a set of avoidable and entirely unnecessary policy failures. These include premature and excessive austerity measures, especially in southern European countries, and slowness in restructuring debts, in particular the Greek government's. Stiglitz leans towards the view that failure was inevitable. Unlike Sandbu, he doesn't provide much in the way of evidence one way or the other. Similarly, he fails to explain what he thinks has happened outside the eurozone. It's true, as he shows, that the eurozone's productivity performance since 2008 has been abysmal. But productivity has grown even more slowly in Britain (which held onto its own currency), although employment has held up better. A more nuanced account would distinguish between two sets of factors. That is, those that have been present in most advanced countries to some degree (including excessive austerity and the still-unexplained productivity slowdown), and those specific to the eurozone and its institutions in particular, the inability to adjust exchange rates, and the lack of a central bank able to act as a credible lender of last resort. Stiglitz also speculates about the near future. Unsurprisingly, given the shopping list of flaws that he sees in the euro, he thinks that radical reform is necessary for it to survive. That includes fiscal policy that is both more expansionary with greater scope to increase public investment and more countercyclical, so that spending can rise rather than fall in a recession. It would also include greater regulation, especially for the financial sector and a new mandate for the European Central Bank that focuses less heavily on price stability and more on growth and employment. Yet Stiglitz fails to distinguish clearly between reforms that are essential to save the euro and those that would be 'nice to have', and that, I would bet, he would recommend equally to non-eurozone countries such as Britain or the United States. If such reforms do not happen, Stiglitz recommends either an amicable divorce dissolution of the eurozone or a move to a more flexible euro. This is the most innovative and interesting part of the book. He argues for a new, and much more heavily regulated and controlled, international monetary system. States would have much more direct control of both money creation internally and their current account balances externally. He advocates market-based mechanisms for both. Credit auctions would demand that private banks pay for the right to expand the money supply, and trade chits would force importers to effectively buy tradeable licences to import. Nevertheless, this would be a radical move towards greater state control of the economy. Radical ideas based in sound economics are exactly what we need. This is potentially very exciting. Few would defend the current organization of the international financial system, and radical ideas based in sound economics are exactly what we need. The state control that Stiglitz is advocating would be viewed with scepticism at the International Monetary Fund or the US Treasury, but would no longer be regarded as laughable or heresy. And a proposal from someone of Stiglitz's eminence has a good claim on our attention. Unfortunately, this part of the book is underdeveloped. For example, it seems unlikely that as good an economist as Stiglitz hasn't thought about how the spread of shadow banking borrowing and lending outside the traditional banking system has made it much more difficult to control credit creation. And he must be aware of the administrative problems that trade in services (particularly tourism) would pose for his chit system. But these issues are not addressed. The Water Kingdom: A Secret History of China Philip Ball Bodley Head: 2016. 9781847923547 | ISBN: 978-1-8479-2354-7 Nearly 70 years ago, Chinese anthropologist Fei Xiaotong published From the Soil (1947). The Chinese people, he wrote, were inseparable from the soil, which had produced a glorious history, but one that was limited by what could be taken from the soil. If that book was the portrait of a rural and inward-looking country, literally stuck in the famous yellow earth the loess of the North China Plain science writer Philip Ball's history of China, The Water Kingdom, is very much the opposite. The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is one of the world's largest power stations. Credit: STR/AFP/Getty It is the portrait of a civilization permeated by water, with patterns of thought influenced by the centrality of water to everyday life and, echoing that, practical affairs shaped by philosophical ideas based on the principle of flow. The result is, Ball writes, an intimate connection between hydraulic engineering, governance, moral rectitude and metaphysical speculation that has no parallel anywhere in the world. On this premise he builds a picture of the nation, from its geographical and ideological foundations to the environmental and political predicament in which China (and not only China) now finds itself. The Water Kingdom's structure is predominantly thematic rather than chronological. So the first chapter, introducing the Great Rivers, the Yangtze and the Yellow, leads from the Great Yu, the mythical ruler who, according to tradition conquered the floods more than 4,000 years ago, to twentieth-century Communist leader Mao Zedong, who repeatedly reasserted his power by swimming in the Yangtze. It interweaves more stories of the Yangtze: seventeenth-century explorer Xu Xiake's search for its source, twelfth-century poet Lu You's descriptions of commercial life along its banks, and more recent Western visitors' accounts of the colossal Three Gorges Dam. On this epic journey, Ball explores mythological accounts of dragons and floods, along with early philosophical texts such as the teachings of Mencius from the fourth century BC, to unravel the origins of Chinese political ideology. That is, the idea that he who controls the water controls the people, which links the earliest cultural heroes to modern leaders from Republic of China founder Sun Yat-sen to Mao himself. Ball subsequently covers Zheng He's maritime explorations at the height of Ming-dynasty power in the fifteenth century, and the centrality of the Yellow RiverGrand Canal administration to the state bureaucracy in the eighteenth. He notes how the late empire turned into a hydraulic state, increasingly mired in systemic problems that finally collapsed under the pressure of internal rebellion and the imperialist onslaught. Mao Zedong by the Yangtze. Credit: Sovfoto/UIG via Getty The centrality of water even plays out in the art of war, to which Ball devotes a chapter. In some of the most dramatic conflicts, rivers were harnessed as weapons. In 204 BC, for instance, an intentional rupturing of the Wei River dams led to the victory of the Han-dynasty forces. And in 1938, the Nationalist government attempted to stop the advancing Japanese army by breaching the Yellow River dykes, with disastrous consequences for the Chinese people killing hundreds of thousands and making millions homeless. Technological and political parameters changed fundamentally in the twentieth century, yet hydraulic nation-building and the myths that surrounded it assumed an ever more important role. Mao in particular relished the role of the great leader conquering the floods. Ball ends that strand of the narrative with the Three Gorges Dam, first conceived by Sun Yat-sen and finally completed in 2012. He even covers the depiction of water in Chinese art through the ages, exploring its aesthetic, philosophical and political dimensions. The journey ends with a pertinent chapter on China's current environmental crisis. Another hydraulic-engineering project on an unprecedented scale, the SouthNorth Water Transfer Project, is now under way, meant to tackle water scarcity in the north (J. Barnett et al. Nature 527, 295297; 2015). Telling the history of Chinese civilization from the perspective of water is rewarding, because it can link the history of ideas and beliefs, technology and warfare, politics and the arts. But as with any general history, it risks essentializing China and making its history seem more uniform than the actual record justifies. The most obvious example is the major shift in the history of the Yellow River in the late tenth century. It is only from then that the river became a constant threat, bursting its dykes and flooding the countryside in ever more devastating cycles, and changing its course repeatedly in dramatic ways after nearly a millennium of relative stability. And so it is also only from then that controlling the river became tantamount to controlling the people, and that state and society became trapped in an increasingly unsustainable hydraulic infrastructure. That complex system of dykes and canals, with the Yellow River and the Grand Canal at its heart, devoured enormous resources a quandary called technological lock-in by historian Mark Elvin. Moreover, Ball's focus on the state means that he fails to mention the role of small-scale irrigation and conservation projects that are common in particular in the southern China, and largely managed and funded by the local gentry. Eighteen Sun bear legs weighing 84 pounds were confiscated in a bus in the central province of Thanh Hoa in Vietnam. Investigation has found that the bag of bear legs that was found on the 26th of July, which was boarded in Laos. However, the destination remains a mystery to police. Laos, a land on the Vietnam border with rich biodiversity and wildlife, is already known to be a place where there is noteworthy illegal wildlife activities. In fact, it is identified that china and other Asian countries are exploiting the natural resources of Laos. Based on police interrogation that is done on this incident, the bus driver Dinh Hong Phuong who is 47, and the bus owner Bui Thien Loi aged 52, informed the police that a man had paid them to transport the bag from Laos to Vietnam. The bones as well as the bus are confisticated and taken for further investigation. Sun bears are native to tropical forests of Southeast Asia and also parts of China, but they are endangered in Vietnam, where they are protected from hunters and predators. The decline of the bear is ascribed to deforestation and hunting of the bear for its body parts used in many places. There are many cases when Asian black bears and sun bears are hunted for their bile, hands and legs which are used in traditional medicine and its paws are used to prepare bear paw soup, a delicacy in China and other places in Asia. In Laos, there have been reported cases where Bears are hooked up to a catheter, with its fluid being cruelly extracted for different purposes. National Geographic investigated and reported on this issue with the help of the Australian organization, "Free the Bears" in Laos that saves bears from trade and poachers who kill the animal to sell the body parts. It brings great joy to see nature giving us a quirky smile in the most obvious manner. Amidst the fiery volcanic eruption, mother nature simply smiled at us through a volcano. Late last week, a helicopter tour company named Paradise Helicopters captured the sight of the volcano smiling over-80-foot-deep crater during an ongoing eruption. The volcano pictures and videos have gone viral over the internet as it made many people smile. This place where the volcano eruption has been happening has attracted many hikers and continues to do so since there is no possible threat. This time, the hikers have been able to capture a close view of the flowing lava into the ocean. This volcano was formed about 300,000 to 600,000 years ago. Until now, it has never gone into a period of dormancy. The volcano has always been active as it slowly gave out lava onto its surface for a period of about three decades. The volcano has been erupting since the 1983, according to the United States Geological Survey, and this is the first time after July 26, 2013 that the lava reached the Pacific Ocean after travelling for nearly six miles. The volcano's name is "Hawaii's Kilauea," which is one of the world's most active volcanos, and is also one that has attracted many tourists and photographers. People are planning to get a close view of the lava that is flowing. However, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) advises them to carry a good amount of water and to be prepared for the immense heat that will be generated. The temperature in the place might go to about 100-plus degrees, and so precaution must be taken by hikers before they get close. The image of the smiling volcano was captured by Mick Kalber of Paradise Helicopters. An international team of scientists has revealed that 5,600 years ago, the world's last woolly mammoths on St. Paul Island, Alaska, were literally dying for a drink. According to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists tried to determine the exact date of the woolly mammoths' extinction on the island. They did this by analyzing three different spores from fungi present in large animal dung. The spores were found in a lake core near a cave where the woolly mammoths previously thrived. Professor Russel Graham from Pennsylvania University explained that the three spores, which were from large animals such as mammoths, served as markers to determine the time that the animals were alive. "We see a reduction in the three species of fungus, all of which are associated with the dung of large animals," Graham revealed via EurekAlert. The study also showed that mammoth DNA was present in the lake cores of the island until 5,650 years -- give or take 100 years -- but suddenly disappeared after that period. Apart from pinpointing the woolly mammoth's time of extinction, the team also unlocked the reason behind it by studying 14 remains of the said species recovered from the island and investigated the environmental changes during that period. The results showed that St. Paul Island, which was formerly a part of the Bering Land Bridge, experienced drastic shrinkage in land area due to climate change. Decrease in land size meant that there would be smaller resources such as fresh water and vegetation available for the mammoths. The findings revealed that not only did the amount of freshwater decrease, there was also a possibility of contamination. As sea levels rose, sea water slowly entered the lake systems, making the island's water sources not fit for consumption, the New York Times reported. The study sheds light to the future of small, low-lying islands and the species living in it, showing their vulnerability to natural changes in the environment. Meet SwagBot, Australia's newest robot cowboy. Developed by the Australian Center for Field Robotics (ACFR), SwagBot is designed to easily navigate vast, rugged terrains, guiding cows and other farm animals towards pastures. The battery-operated, four-wheeled SwagBot can reach speeds of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour on smooth terrain. It can also tow trailers around the farm and get around obstacles in the farm, like swamps, logs and sudden drops without toppling over. The ACFR tested the autonomous farming robot for the first time in a farm near Newcastle, Australia on June 30. According to Mashable, the robot did not disappoint: it was able to do its job of navigating the rugged terrain with ease and herding the cows. "[The cows] were obviously scared and ran away. It's what we expected," Salah Sukkarieh, professor of robotics at Sydney University and project lead for agricultural robotics at ACFR, told Mashable. "We use it to our advantage in herding animals, or we figure out how to monitor from a distance." According to Sukkarieh, costs for robotics development have become low enough for the past 10 years to enable farmers to own robots like SwagBot. Apart from developing automated systems to assist farmers, ACFR is also building robots to be used for mining and aviation. Sukkarieh and his team are looking to make further enhancements to SwagBot, the Smithsonian Magazine reports. The enhancements will include sensors that will allow the robot to know if a cow is sick or injured based on its body temperature or the way it walks. SwagBot will also have the ability to monitor the condition of the pastures it roams upon, checking to see which fields have the most grass for the cows to feed on. According to Sukkarieh, these are all still a work in progress, and that he and his team will be working on algorithms that will enable animal monitoring "over the next few months." The ACFR has also created other agricultural robots, such as the Ladybird, which will take care of the harvesting work, and the J3 Club, which is an unmanned aerial vehicle that is in charge of weed detection. Starbucks announced that it is recalling a stainless steel beverage straw for being too rigid and posing a risk of injury. The company received four reports of children getting cuts in their mouths while drinking from the straws. The recall involves about 2.5 million reusable straws in the United States, as well as around 301,000 sold in Canada. The straws, which come in two sizes, were sold in sets of three and were included with the purchase of Starbucks 16-ounce Grande and 24-ounce Venti stainless steel beverage cups. The company is warning consumers to avoid allowing children to use the straws. Consumers can contact Starbucks at 800-782-7282 from 3 a.m. to Midnight PT daily or online on the Starbucks website. Click on stainless steel straw warnings for more information. The South Bay legal community is bracing for chaotic days ahead in county courthouses as Superior Court clerks go on strike Wednesday morning. The work stoppage is sure to impact virtually every facility in the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, and members of the clerks union also plan to organize picket lines at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. Court management said in a release Tuesday it's not clear how many workers are participating in the strike but that the court will scale its operations according to legal mandates and available resources. That could include legal action by the county to force some of the clerks to work for the sake of public safety, sources say. "If people can't have their cases heard that are pending cases while they're in custody, they may have to be released from custody, which could create a public safety concern," said Steven Clark, a legal analyst. Court management submitted 24 names of clerks it may seek to force back on the job, and the union has relented on five, NBC Bay Area has learned, though some court officials insist it could be seven. Regardless, the court says there are no plans yet to seek injunctive relief. For other proceedings, such as requests for court records or other court files, people should expect longer lines due to the staffing shortages, the court said. San Jose resident Gene Delaplace, who is in a legal fight over a mortgage foreclosure, had to file paperwork with a court clerk, and to his dismay, he found out he must return Wednesday with more papers. "The clerks will be on strike. What do you think is going to happen?" he said. "I'm probably going to have a longer wait tomorrow." The Superior Court Professional Employees Association said many of its workers haven't had a pay raise in eight years, and they've been working without a contract for two years. They've been offered a 4.5 percent raise this year and last, along with an immediate 5 percent raise this year, all of which the union turned down. Court management has said it is operating under a $5 million budget deficit. The clerks authorized a strike last month, and their efforts to continue negotiations were rebuffed. A letter indicating their intent to strike was sent to court management Monday. "You may see the remaining court clerks or supervisors have to go over to criminal to stop the gap problem there," Clark said. "And all of the traffic and family type cases, all of which are important to the citizens, will be put on hold." Court management acknowledged as much in its contingency plan. Clerks offices will be closed in Morgan Hill, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale, with limited services for the Hall of Justice and its criminal proceedings. Clark said if all doesn't go as planned, "you'll have chaos in the criminal justice system." Below is the breakdown of limited services at each facility, according to the court's release. For more details, visit the court's website. A federal judge in San Francisco has barred the use of secret recordings made by FBI agents without a warrant in front of the San Mateo County courthouse during auctions of foreclosed properties in 2009 and 2010. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer issued the ruling Monday in a case in which five real estate investors are charged with rigging bids and carrying out mail fraud in connection with the auctions. Breyer said the five men had a reasonable expectation of privacy when they talked in front of the courthouse in Redwood City. In addition, the judge wrote, other people, including court staff, were recorded without their knowledge. "The government has utterly failed to justify a warrantless electronic surveillance program that recorded private conversations spoken in hushed tones by judges, attorneys and court staff entering and exiting a courthouse," Breyer wrote. The case of the five investors is part of a nationwide probe in which prosecutors in the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division are investigating bid rigging at foreclosed-property auctions in Northern California, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. More than 100 people have been charged thus far. In the California cases, which center on auctions in San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, more than 50 defendants have pleaded guilty. The small recorders used in front of the San Mateo County courthouse were placed in a sprinkler box, a planter box, two unmarked police cars and a backpack, Breyer wrote. The defendants in that case are Joseph Giraudo, Raymond Grinsell, Kevin Cullinane, James Appenrodt and Abraham Farag. Breyer will hold a hearing on Aug. 10 to consider to what extent the now-banned recordings may have tainted the remainder of the case against the five men. A trial date has not been set. In another case concerning four other men who participated in auctions in front of the Alameda and Contra Costa county courthouses, a different federal judge reached the opposite conclusion last week about FBI recordings made in those locations in 2010. U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton of Oakland said on July 25 that the defendants in that case had no expectation of privacy in those public areas, especially because the recorders picked up only "voices in conversational or loud tones, and not hushed or whispered voices." The trial in that case is scheduled to begin Sept. 19. Calling their findings a wake-up call, the United States Chemical Safety Board on Tuesday shone a spotlight on a history of safety deficiencies at the Tesoro refinery in Martinez. It was these shortfalls that officials say caused two sulfuric acid leaks in 2014, leaving four workers with first- and second-degree burns. "These types of incidents are preventable," said boardmember Vanessa Allen Sutherland, who said "injuries to workers and harm to the community" can be avoided. The same refinery was the site of a deadly fire in 1999 that killed four workers. Though it was owned by Tosco Avon at the time, federal investigators say Tesoro failed to implement lessons learned from the 1999 tragedy. In fact, they say, 15 injury-causing sulfuric acid releases occurred between 2010 and 2014. Also, the investigation found that Tesoro workers were exposed to dangerous vapors and acids, and sometimes without necessary protective equipment. "We obviously think that should be reduced that's too high," said Dan Tillema of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, stressing that quicker "proactive corrective action" could have prevented other incidents. Tesoro, however, says safety is an integral part of everything it does. In a statement, officials said they've worked to modify procedures, practices and specifications, including updating protective equipment, since 2014. "I know they're making changes and taking it very seriously," said Randy Sawyer, the chief environmental officer for Contra Costa County. State and county officials say they're grateful for the federal findings. With five refineries in the East Bay and more than a dozen across the state, worker safety is critical. "I hope it's a wake-up call for refineries across the country," Sutherland said. "Although this case study focused on Tesoro, the lessons that are in here are applicable to refineries inside and outside California." Tesoro officials said the federal report contains inaccuracies, but did not specify what they are. They said also that they will continue to make safety improvements at the Martinez plant. It's been a rough week for Donald Trump, and it continued Tuesday with a baby interrupting his speech at a rally in Virginia and President Barack Obama calling on Republicans to distance themselves from their party's nominee for the White House. As polls showed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton taking a wider lead over Trump after her party's convention last week, GOP supporters from California believe it's still too early to be concerned. But they could only hope Trump's slide won't continue. "Stop thinking about Hillary, stop thiinking about Obama and whoever Khan is, and start proposing solutions to America," former California GOP chairman Tom Del Beccaro said. "Thats how hes going to win, not responding to their bait." With his criticism of a Gold Star family and calling the latest polls phony, Trump seems to be reacting rather than initiating, Republicans say. And the latest polls show hes lost a lead he had in mid-July. Now Clinton's lead appears to be widening. Trump supporter James Lacy said he thinks Trump will do well, even in Democrat-dominated California. "Well, you know, I think the polls are fluid right now," Lacy said. A poll by the Public Policy Institute of California had Trump trailing by 9 to 10 points, but the agency's CEO said it's a little early to take any stock in those numbers, especially in California. "I tend to start looking at the poll numbers more seriously around Labor Day," said Mark Baldassare of the PPIC. He added that right now, Florida is the state to watch: "Yeah, I think Florida is huge." "It really hurt. They put their shins on the back of my knees, pressing really hard." That's how Oakland Unified School District student Stuart Candell, 12, a boy with autism, described in a YouTube video how he was restrained by adults at a school in Concord when he was 9 years old. The U.S. Department of Education found that Oakland Unified discriminated against Stuart, according to a settlement announcement Tuesday that requires the school district to terminate contracts with all providers that use restraint and develop an education plan for Stuart that addresses the lasting effects of his condition. Attorney Suge Lee of advocacy agency Disability Rights California filed the civil rights complaint against the school district after she learned Stuart's mother complained about the treatment to no avail. "Prone restraint means the child is put face down on the ground with two or three adults holding him down and an adult holding his arms and legs," Lee said. Stuart, who has autism and special behavioral needs, was restrained at the Anova Center for Education 92 times during one school year, the Education Department found. The federal agency says the district violated Stuart's rights to a free appropriate public education by subjecting him to restraint followed by seclusion. Stuart was sent to the Concord school after having trouble at other campuses due to behavior issues, according to the East Bay Times. Lee said Stuart now attends a different school. NBC Bay Area reached out to Anova staff Tuesday evening, but the school is currently on summer break and did not respond. The district released a statement saying it is committed to providing a safe environment for all students. Authorities are considering what potential penalties face those who set an illegal campfire that ballooned into a massive wildfire near the scenic Big Sur region of California. Officials want the public's help to find whoever started the Soberanes fire that blew up to more than 45,800 acres or 71 square miles. "Dry night conditions allowed the fire to creep through the night," Cal Fire officials said on their website. Flames continue to "burn in steep, rugged and inaccessible terrain," according to Cal Fire officials, who said that a state of emergency has been declared. As of Wednesday, the blaze had destroyed 57 homes and 11 outbuildings, and damaged three structures and two outbuildings. It is now 25 percent contained, Cal Fire said. Monterey County sheriff's Cmdr. John Thornburg says those responsible could face civil penalties for the cost to fight the fire. Prosecutors also could file charges in the death of 35-year-old Robert Reagan, a bulldozer operator who was killed on the fire lines during a rollover accident. Investigators determined that an unattended campfire started the blaze on July 22 in a day-use area of Garapata Park. The area is clearly marked with signs saying campfires are prohibited. Officials said Wednesday that more than 5,500 firefighters are battling the Soberanes fire, with the assistance of 504 engines, 54 water tenders, 17 helicopters and six air tankers. San Francisco firefighters called in to help battle a massive wildfire burning near Big Sur in Monterey County returned home Tuesday. Strike Team 2250, which consists of 22 firefighters from the San Francisco Fire Department, focused on neighborhoods, protecting people's homes, pets and belongings threatened by the Soberanes Fire. At times, there were walls of fire burning around them. "As the fire is coming, the adrenaline kicks in and you just dig deep and do the job you got to do," firefighter Luke Michaelis said. Officials on Tuesday said the blaze, which has charred 44,300 acres and is 25 percent contained, was sparked by an illegal, abandoned campfire. The Soberanes Fire is also now the top firefighting priority in the state, officials said. San Francisco firefighters who helped battle the wildfire said the terrain in the area was exceptionally difficult. Crews have to deal with fighting flames going uphill, areas full of brush, poison oak and falling trees. The blaze has claimed one life when a bulldozer last week died fighting the fire. "It's the hazard of the job and it's so sad, and it breaks everyone's heart," San Francisco Fire Department Assistant Chief Tom Siragusa said. Residents who had their homes saved made sure the San Francisco strike team felt their appreciation. "A lot of them were very appreciative," Michaelis said. "They gave us coffee and they were really great." All California State Parks from Point Lobos State Natural Reserve through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are closed until further notice. Full containment is not expected until Aug. 31. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Carrying signs that read "Shame on the judges for allowing this to happen," and "Cost of Living Raise Year Two," Santa Clara County Superior Court clerks went on strike Wednesday, demanding that they get pay increases for more than just this year. Most of the 380 clerks in the union showed up outside the San Jose Hall of Justice, chanting about what they feel is "labor abuse." Drivers honked in support and brought some of the protesters donuts. They were supported by high-profile players, including Max Zarzana, president of the Government Attorneys Association, who grabbed a bullhorn who told the clerks they should be treated with respect and deserve a living wage. It is the first time the Superior Court Professional Employees Association has ever gone on strike, organizers said. In response, court spokesman Joe Macaluso sent out this statement: "It's terribly unfortunate that it has come to this, which will surely impact access to justice." He said the court will do "everything it can to maintain essential operations and continue to serve the public in the face of this work stoppage." The South Bay legal community is bracing for chaotic days ahead in county courthouses as Superior Court clerks go on strike Wednesday morning. Kris Sanchez reports. Some of the court management's contingency plan included closing clerk offices in Morgan Hill, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale, with limited services for the Hall of Justice. The strike, which could extend to Friday, is sure to impact virtually every facility in the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, from criminal to traffic courts. "If people can't have their cases heard that are pending cases while they're in custody, they may have to be released from custody, which could create a public safety concern," Legal analyst Steven Clark said on Tuesday. "You may see the remaining court clerks or supervisors have to go over to criminal to stop the gap problem there. And all of the traffic and family type cases, all of which are important to the citizens, will be put on hold." People should expect long lines for proceedings such as requests for court records or other court files, the court said. Octavio Cervantes and Mohammed Hinosh, both showed up at the San Jose Hall of Justice on Wednesday morning, and both didn't pay their traffic tickets because no one was there to receive their payments. "It is what it is," Cervantes said, taking the inconvenience in stride. At the heart of the matter is pay. The Superior Court Professional Employees Association said many of its workers haven't had a pay raise in eight years, and they've been working without a contract for two years. They've been offered a 4.5 percent raise this year and last, along with an immediate 5 percent raise this year, all of which the union turned down. That's because they said they were not offered any raises in the year following this one. Union spokesman Tom Saggua said last week that no second-year increases was "unacceptable" to the roughly 400 employees involved in the strike. He said the top step of a union worker in Santa Clara County was $64,000 after 30 years, compared to a court clerk employee in San Francisco, who earns "north of $90,000." Saggau said he thought raises of up to 3 percent for the second year would be "fair and reasonable." Court management, however, has said it can't offer more pay because it is operating under a $5 million budget deficit. Below is the breakdown of limited services at each facility, according to the court's release. For more details, visit the court's website. A San Francisco man pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder Wednesday in connection with a 2015 quadruple homicide in the city's Hayes Valley neighborhood. Lee Farley, 27, appeared in San Francisco Superior Court with his attorney and pleaded not guilty to all counts. He faces charges including murder, shooting at an inhabited vehicle, possession of a firearm by a convicted narcotics offender and one count of particpation in a criminal street gang. Farley was arrested last Thursday in connection with a shooting that took place around 10 p.m. Jan. 9, 2015, on Page Street between Octavia Boulevard and Laguna Street. Four young men were fatally shot while sitting in a vehicle on the street. The victims were identified as San Francisco residents Yalani Chinyamurindi, 19, Harith Atchan, 21, Manuel O'Neal, 22, and Antioch resident David Saucier, 20. Farley, who has a prior history of arrests and convictions on charges including burglary, firearms, shootings, assault and drug trafficking, was already in federal custody on an unrelated weapons charge at the time of his arrest last week. He is the only person charged in the shooting so far, but family members of the victims have said they understand there were multiple guns used in the shooting and more suspects remain at large. Assistant District Attorney Eric Fleming would not comment on the evidence in the case but said it remains under investigation. Fleming said the shooting, which left at least 18 bullet holes in the car, was one of the worst cases he had seen since he started handling cases in San Francisco. "It sent a shock wave through the Western Addition, through all of San Francisco," Fleming said. Bail for Farley remains set at $20 million. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 7. Its a part of Union City history many would like to forget, especially police. More than four decades ago, the city's police chief, William Cann, was assassinated by a snipers bullet during a police-community conflict. Though it was a long time ago, the tight-knit community is still working to rebuild relationships, continuing Tuesday night with National Night Out. "Even though it was 42 years ago, we are one of the only cities in America where a sitting police chief was assassinated because of police-community tension," said Chief Darryl McAllister. Thats one of the reasons why National Night Out is special for McAllister. "We pledged to serve when we were hired, and were still doing that," he said. "Its hard to do that when youre in an environment of doubt." Those very types of doubt turned deadly for police officers in Dallas and and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In the wake of those shootings, McAllister traveled to Washington, D.C., to discuss ways to help police departments build up community trust. McAllister's himself has been working on that very trust for the past three years in Union City. "Not a lot of law enforcement officers are struggling with fearing people who live in the community they actually serve," said Mark Gaskins, of Bethel Baptist Church. "It's their community; they are a part of the community." Something the chief takes to heart. "If trust is what were all after to try and turn this narrative around, it kind of makes sense that we know the people were seeking the trust from and that they know us," McAllister said. The White House on Wednesday denied suggestions that a $400 million cash payment to Iran in January was a "ransom" to free four Americans being held in Tehran characterizing the move as coincidental. A Wall Street Journal report Tuesday characterized the Obama administration's payment to Iran as a "secretly organized" airlift of cash to Tehran. It did not say when in January the money was received in Iran. But, State Department spokesman John Kirby said that sum was actually part of a $1.7 billion settlement to Iran for an outstanding legal dispute that had been before an international tribunal in The Hague, adding that the negotiations over the settlement were "completely separate" from the hostage discussion. "Not only were the two negotiations separate, they were conducted by different teams on each side, including, in the case of the Hague claims, by technical experts involved in these negotiations for many years," Kirby said. The money was owed to the Islamic republic following a failed arms deal dating back to 1979, NBC News reported. The State Department formally announced the settlement terms on Jan. 17 a day after the four Americans were freed. Republican nominee Donald Trump was given a Purple Heart by a veteran on Tuesday, prompting the Republican nominee to declare that this was "much easier" than serving in combat. Trump, who is embroiled in controversy over his criticism of the family of a slain soldier, said a man approached him before his event in Ashburn, Virginia, and handed him his medal, which is awarded to soldiers wounded in combat. "I said to him, 'Is that, like, the real one or is that a copy?'" Trump recounted. "And he said, 'That's my real Purple Heart. I have such confidence in you.' And I said, 'Man! That's like, that's like big stuff.'" "I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier," continued the celebrity businessman, who has never served in the armed forces. "But I tell you, it was such an honor." The veteran, Lt. Col. Louis Dorfman, declined Trump's invitation to speak at Tuesday's town hall. He told NBC News before the rally it was actually a copy of his Purple Heart. On Monday, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, a non-profit service organization with 1.7 million members, released a statement calling Trump out of bounds for tangling with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, a Muslim family whose son, Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq in 2004. The fallen soldier was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. At last week's Democratic National Convention, Khizr Khan criticized Trump's call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S. and accused Trump of sacrificing "nothing and no one." In response, Trump said he was "viciously attacked" by Khizr Khan and implied that Ghazala Khan, the soldier's mother, stood silently alongside her husband during the speech because as a Muslim, she was restricted from speaking. Trump, who has made helping veterans a centerpiece of his campaign, also drew criticism from some former servicemen when he was slow to produce millions of dollars he raised for veterans groups. The New York Times reported Monday that Trump received multiple student deferments and a medical deferment for a bone spur during the Vietnam War. "Our veterans are being treated horribly," Trump said Tuesday. "We're going to turn that around so fast your head is going to spin." Eric Trump defended his dad earlier Tuesday on "CBS This Morning" as "a great patriot" who "doesn't want to see more Americans dead." He said Donald Trump's comments were "honestly blown out of proportion." Eric Trump added that Pat Smith, the mother of a Benghazi attack victim who is highly critical of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, has not received the same amount of airtime as the Khan family. Clinton's policy, he said, "crippled Libya and Syria and Iraq." President Barack Obama, meanwhile, said Trump's criticism of the Khan family was the latest evidence that Trump is unfit to lead America. At a news conference Tuesday, Obama asked why Republicans in Congress are still endorsing Trump. Obama said there has to be a point when people break with the party's standard-bearer. Otherwise, he said, the denunciations are hollow. Another of Trump's light-hearted remarks at the Virginia event also produced double-takes. He was interrupted Tuesday by the wails of a child and Trump joked that he wanted the crying baby ejected from his rally. "Don't worry about that baby, I love babies," Trump said. "I hear that baby crying, I like it. What a beautiful baby." But when the baby continued to cry, Trump followed up by saying, "Actually, I was just kidding. You can get that baby out of here." Trump still appeared to be joking. It was unclear if the child's mother left the room or if the child just fell silent. Trump touched on other topics during Tuesday's event, telling supporters that without the U.S., "the Gulf states won't exist." If he is elected president, Trump said, he will require the Arab Gulf states to finance a safe zone in Syria. "They are going to pay," Trump told the crowd. The Arab gulf states, which make up a cooperative body called the Gulf Cooperation Council, are home to 20 percent of the world's oil supply. On the top of Clinton's donors, Trump claimed that 20 people have given his opponent $60 million and he would like to know who they are. Trump did not specify a time frame in which Clinton allegedly raised that money. Clinton's campaign said the Democratic nominee raised $63 million in July for her campaign. Trump's reference to Clinton drew a strong reaction from the crowd, with one child reacting by screaming "take the b---- down." The adults accompanying the child told NBC News after the rally they did not want to be interviewed but dismissed the behavior as "children being children." Despite its dismay at the use of existing Chicago parkland for President Barack Obamas presidential library, Friends of the Parks said it will not sue over the building of the new center. The group, which was behind a lawsuit that ultimately forced George Lucas museum out of the city, said the Jackson Park site that was chosen for the future Obama Presidential Center is not public trust land unlike the proposed sites for the Lucas Museum. Friends of the Parks analysis suggests that there is no realistic legal remedy at this time to protect this public open space from this development, Executive Director Juanita Irizarry said in a statement. Concerns about a potential lawsuit first sprouted earlier this year, when Mayor Rahm Emanuel suggested the legal battle over the Lucas Museum could be a preview for the Obama Library. "In about two months, hopefully, the president of the United States will pick -- because it could have been in New York, Chicago -- and he will either pick Jackson Park or Washington Park for his library," Emanuel said at the time. "Jobs, economic development. Either one of those are Olmsted parks. God willing, there wont be a lawsuit." President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama announced last week that they had chosen the citys historic Jackson Park as the library site, calling it a community we call home and that means the world to us. "With a center in Jackson Park, not only will we be able to affect local change, but we can attract the world to this historic neighborhood, whose rich cultural heritage dates back to the 1893 Worlds Fair, Obama said in a statement. We are proud that the center will help spur development in an urban area and we cant wait to forge new ways to give back to the people of Chicago who have given us so much. The library will be home to Obama's archives and a museum about his presidency, and is expected to be completed in 2020 or 2021. Emanuel called the project a "unique opportunity" for Chicago and advocated aggressively for the selection. The Barack Obama Foundation recently announced that the New York architects behind the nearby University of Chicago's Logan Center for the Arts would partner with a Chicago firm in designing the center. The design of the Obama Library should maximize the use of available vacant land and underground space, and be truly park positive by adding parkland to the surrounding community, said Juanita Irizarry. Furthermore, any design should upgrade the parks facilities and preserve existing recreational uses by the public. The group said it has worked with Obama in the past and plans to be involved in the design and development of the new library. We admire President Obamas record as a champion of the environment. Friends of the Parks similarly has a deep commitment to the protection and preservation of the publics use of and access to open space, Friends of the Parks Board Chair Lauren Moltz said in a statement. Friends of the Parks looks forward to working with the Foundation, the City, the Chicago Park District and the University of Chicago to protect and promote parkland, public space and public access. We would like to ensure that any impact on historic Jackson Park will be minimal and preserve the integrity of Frederick Law Olmsteds design. Sen. Mark Kirk is hosting a pair of campaign events in Chicago Thursday alongside Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the Illinois senator's campaign has announced. A fundraising luncheon is set for noon at downtown restaurant Coco Pazzo. Tickets cost $250 per individual with a variety of pricier options. Supporter" tickets go for $1,000, while Sponsor" tickets cost $2,700. The most expensive Host tickets will run supporters $5,400. After the luncheon, the fellow Republicans are slated to tour Bunker Labs, which is housed within Chicagos 1871 tech hub. Bunker Labs gives veteran entrepreneurs resources and opportunities to start businesses. Kirk and Kasich will also tour 1871s recent 13th floor expansion to meet with entrepreneurs, campaign officials said. Kasich suspended his presidential campaign in May, leaving Donald Trump as the only Republican in the field. During his campaign, Kasich only tallied one primary victory, which came in his home state of Ohio. Both Kasich and Kirk have announced that they aren't backing Trumps candidacy. A young child was found dead inside an abandoned home that had been set on fire on Chicagos South Side Tuesday night. Manuel Aguilar, 4, of the 6400 block of South Wolcott Avenue, was prounduced dead at the scene about 9:44 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. A cause of death was pending further investigation. Fire crews discovered Aguilar's body around 9:30 p.m. after responding to reports of a small fire at an Englewood neighborhood home in the 1400 block of West Marquette, police said. Preliminary investigation found someone had used an accelerant to deliberately start the blaze in the basement of the home, according to police. The fire was quickly put out, police said, but soon after crews uncovered Aguilar's body wrapped underneath a pile of cloth and debris. A transport team removed the body from the basement of the empty home early Wednesday to be taken to the Cook County morgue for testing. Three people were arrested after running from the scene, according to police, and remain in custody for questioning. What was supposed to be a quick stop for a family cookout quickly turned into a harsh lesson in discrimination for a mother of four who said she was kicked out of a Family Dollar store for wearing a niqab. The incident, which was captured on cell phone video and took place in front of Sarah Muzdaher Safis children, began when Safi stopped inside a Family Dollar store in Gary, Indiana, Monday afternoon wearing the traditional Islamic veil. Safi said she had gone to the store to pick up charcoal and was shocked when an employee demanded she either take off the niqab or leave. In the video, an employee, who identified herself as a store manager, can be heard saying, "Yes maam, if you cant remove that from your face, Im going to need you to leave the store." "Ive worn my garments for a long time," Safi said. "I have never been treated like this in any establishment. Ever." In the video, Safi tells the clerk she is wearing a religious garment. I understand, but you have to understand this is a high crime area where we get robbed a lot, you need to remove that from your face or remove yourself from the store, the employee said. The clerk told Safi to leave two more times before wishing her a blessed day. "It's not just a blatant violation of the civil rights laws of this country but it's also a violation of the basic laws of decency and morality that you don't treat customers this way just because they have a different cultural background or a different religion, said Ahmed Rehab with the Council on American Islamic Relations. Family Dollar, which is owned by Dollar Express, did not respond to NBC Chicagos request for comment. Safi claims she contacted the chain about the incident and was told they were looking into it. Safi said she wont be going back to the store, but has a message for the woman in the video. I just want to understand.like I wish people would do of me. Just try to understand. I want to explain to her what I believe, she said. State records show Chicago State University paid out $2.2 million in severance and unused vacation payments after mass layoffs amid a budget crisis. The school paid $1.6 million in severance to about 50 administrators, an amount equal to salaries they would have received if they hadn't been terminated, the Chicago Tribune reported. The school spent another $650,000 to pay about 130 administrators and civilian service employees for unused vacation time. The newspaper obtained the records via a public information request. The state university has let go of nearly 400 employees since the beginning of the year, or about 40 percent of its staff. The severance and vacation pay outs were necessary because of a long-standing school policy requiring up to a year's notice of being terminated or a payout for the time. Records show the school had about $7.3 million in cash at the end of April. The university depends on state money for about 30 percent of its operational budget. It was hit hard due to the recent state budget stalemate, which left it with no state money for most of last year. A stopgap state budget signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner on June 30 will give Chicago State about $13 million. That's expected to last through December. The 150-year-old public university served about 4,500 students last year. President Thomas Calhoun Jr. said it has cut its budget for the coming year by about 30 percent, to $70 million. Calhoun said the university has done much to shore itself up financially, including layoffs. "We are confident that we are in good shape," he said. Renee Mitchell, Chicago State's associate vice president for human resources, said she knows the layoffs had a cost but they will result in savings in the long run. One example, she said, is that the laid off employees aren't receiving benefits. State Sen. Bill Cunningham, a Chicago Democrat and vice chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, said the severance is "probably a little rich to afford right now given the financial challenges higher education is facing in Illinois." The university didn't pay severance to 10 faculty members laid off last month. It said the policy didn't apply because the school made a declaration of financial exigency due to the state budget stalemate. As Zika cases continue to rise in a specific section of Miami, officials here in Illinois have a warning for certain residents. Should Illinoisans travel to that region in Florida they might put themselves at risk, said Illinois Department of Health Director Nirav D. Shah. Shah said his office is echoing a warning by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying pregnant women should avoid visiting the Wynwood District of Miami. Officials there say at least 15 non-travel related Zika infections have been discovered in and around that area. Shah said Zika spreading outside Florida is a concern. The area of concern is about a one square mile area around Miami neighborhood called Wynwood, but that is always something that could go up, Shah said. There are a lot of people in the area that are concerned about Zika virus and the potential for local mosquitoes to transmit it. North Shore Mosquito Abatement District Director Roger Nasci said his office has received lots of calls and emails about the possibility of Zika in Illinois, but he says the risk in Illinois is low. Here in the North Shore, we dont have the right mosquito to transmit Zika virus, but our main concern continues to be West Nile in this area, Nasci said. While the agency does have a plan to combat Zika, Nasci says his crews primarily focus on preventing the spread of West Niles, which could help with the prevention of Zika, as long as the community does its part and gets rid of standing water around homes. You can grow large numbers of mosquitoes in a very short period of time in just a few containers in your backyard, Nasci said. Starting Tuesday, visitors to the Bloomingdale Trail, more commonly known as the 606, will be able to snag a cool treat. Mindy Segal, award-winning chef and mastermind behind Mindy's Hot Chocolate in Bucktown, will be selling hot chocolate fudgesicles on evenings and weekends from an 'IceTrike' on the trail. The ice cold treats will cost $4 apiece and come in flavors like strawberries and cream, milk chocolate malted, and peanut butter and jam, according to TimeOut Chicago. Segal posted on Instagram in late July that she had received a permit from the Chicago Park District, adding that it was the first permit issued for the 606. She'll be tweeting the IceTrike's location each day (@MindySegal), and spent the first evening near Churchill Park before heading to Walsh Park. A northwest suburban man has been charged with fatally shooting his wife Sunday afternoon as she held their baby in their home near Arlington Heights. Jose Arturo Salgado-Roque, 42, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, according to the Cook County sheriffs office. Salgado-Roque shot his wife, 38-year-old Divina Salgado, as she walked into their home carrying their one-year-old child in the 0-100 block of 3rd Avenue in unincorporated Arlington Heights about 1:45 p.m. Sunday, according to the sheriffs office. Salgado was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:06 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiners office, which spelled her name as Divine. An autopsy found she died of a gunshot wound to the head, and her death was ruled a homicide. The one-year-old and two other children were placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Salgado-Roque was located and taken into custody, according to the sheriffs office. He is scheduled to appear in bond court Tuesday in Rolling Meadows. Police are searching for a shooter who sprayed several cars with bullets near Chicagos Grant Park Tuesday night. Just before 10 p.m., officers were called to the 200 block of South Columbus over reports of shots being fired. Upon arrival, multiple vehicles in the area were found to have been hit by gunfire, police said. An owner of one of the vehicles, Hector Lopez, told NBC 5 he was walking around the city with his friends visiting from Texas when they came back to find his car, that had been parked near Monroe Street and Columbus Drive, had been damaged. We came back and saw the police activity and saw the bullet holes, Lopez said. No one was injured, police said. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Police are searching for two thieves who broke into a Plainfield convenient store and stole cigarettes, cigars and money. On Tuesday, two men broke into Sam's Convenient Store on 219 Main Street in the Mooshup area at 1:52 a.m. The men tampered with the alarm system and security cameras before smashing the front entranceway, police said. Plainfield Police said the pair stole an undisclosed amount of money, cigarettes and cigars. One of the males who concealed his identity with a bandana was wearing what appeared to be a Chicago Bulls flat brimmed hat, a black tank top, gloves, and black track pants with white stripes down the side, police said. The other male who had a tan complexion wore a grey hooded top, gloves, and black track pants with white stripes down the side, police said. More than 16,000 communities across the country registered to take part in the annual Naitional Night Out that brings together police officers, firefighters and the community. "Anytime we can get our officers to interact with kids in our city in a positive environment it's something we have to jump at, and we do," said Deputy Chief Brian Foley with the Hartford Police Department. The events were held at several spots throughout the city. The Asylum Hill and Joseph Lapenta Clubhouse events came courtesy of the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford. This whole day is about really getting to know your community in a lot of different ways, but most importantly who protects us? Who are those individuals? said Sam Gray, President & CEO Boys and Girls Club of Hartford. Tuesday was not the first time the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford has hosted National Night Out events, in fact they have been participating for the last decade, but some may say this year was different. Amid all the national tension, there was a new focus on breaking down walls and building up trust. We have to take the responsibilities of doing things just like this, getting to know our neighbors, getting to know law enforcement, getting to know those individuals that work in our community so that we can drive change in a positive way, said Gray. The police department is also pushing for that positive change. Deputy Chief Foley says they hope to grow the department alongside the city and are eager to participate in more National Night Out events for years to come. National Night Out is always held the first Tuesday in August. It has been 8 months since 31-year-old Ziyad Mohamad Alahmad arrived in Connecticut, but the journey of escaping his war-torn homeland of Syria began more than two and half years before that. "Took me two days actually to cross the border and go to Turkey," Alahmad said, with his case worker interpreting his Arabic. In Turkey, he applied to be a refugee and his wife gave birth to their second son. His family finally resettled in New Haven last December, with the help of Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS). "IRIS helped us for paying our rents and helped us to adjust for my kids doctor appointment and health and medical stuff," Alahmad said, adding he is especially thankful for the care his three-year-old son with disabilities is receiving. "The first two months it was very hard for me to adjust to life over here, but now I feel comfortable." New Haven has accepted the 12th most Syrian refugees in the country, IRIS Executive Director Chris George said. His organization has welcomed 204 Syrian refugees since last July. Citing security concerns, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says Syrian refugees should not be allowed in the United States. "Its not American to say those things," George said. "This is the finest foreign policy program we have welcoming persecuted people from all over the world." Refugees must be finger printed, interviewed numerous times and have their documents analyzed before the Department of Homeland Security allows them to enter the country, George explained. "Any refugee who has arrived here in Connecticut has gone through the most rigorous vetting process in the world," he said. For Alahmad, New Haven has become his safe haven. "I felt safe for myself and for my kids," he said. "There is no risk for living over here." While they are processed in New Haven, George said half of the Syrian refugees are now living in communities across the state. He credits the support from different community groups for helping to accommodate the increase in refugees arriving this summer. IRIS expects nearly another 300 Syrians to arrive in Connecticut before the end of the year. The Obama administration has set the goal of accepting 10,000 Syrians by the end of September. The homes on Gilbert Road on the UConn campus in Storrs have been known by students, staff and faculty for decades as staples of that section of campus. At different points since they were initially built in 1890, they have housed students, sororities, fraternities and school administrators. Now, abandoned for years, the university is taking steps to demolish them and replace them and their parking lots with a new green space for use by students and anyone on the campus. This will be a beautiful outdoor spot for use by the campus community that is perfectly situated between the future student recreation center and the South Campus residence halls, Laura Cruickshank, UConns master planner and chief architect, initially said. The brown and yellow homes have chipping paint and in some cases have stairs that need to be either reinforced or replaced altogether. UConn estimated that the nine houses it wants replace with the green space would cost $1 million each to fully renovate. The section of Gilbert Road is in the UConn Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Ruickshank said that doesnt mean the homes have to remain where they are. Many of the buildings in the central campus are historic and must be preserved. The abandoned Greek Row houses are more of an eyesore taking up valuable space. It would be extremely costly to renovate them and even if we did, they would serve no useful purpose, Ruickshank said. Margaret McCutcheon Faber vehemently disagrees. Shes worked in the past on historic register issues and started a petition thats collected more than 300 signatures in an effort to keep the homes. Shes also meeting with legal counsel to look at avenues to keep the homes before UConn takes further steps to remove them. The State Historic Preservation Office has already approved the removal of the buildings. They are listed on the national registry as part of a national register district, so that means theyre listed. Either individually listed or contributing resources as a national register district theyre considered listed and as such, theyre protected under Connecticuts environmental protection act from unreasonable destruction, she said. Faber added that destroying the buildings would send a terrible message to the community about what the institution values. I think an anti-preservation message, a lack of respect for the built environment and the history and Connecticuts history and the nations history as a national register properties, she said. Quentin Kessel, a professor emeritus of physics at UConn, grew up in Storrs and taught at the school for more than 30 years. His wife lived in one of the faculty Row homes and he said removing them would create its own sort of eyesore. Well just be a homogenous brick university, he said. What to Know A Metro Transit Police officer was arrested Wednesday morning on federal charges that he tried to support ISIS. Nicholas Young, of Virginia, has been under scrutiny for the past eight years, court records say. Federal prosecutors say he posed no credible threat to the Metro system. A police officer with the Washington, D.C. Metro transit system has been arrested for trying to support ISIS, according to federal prosecutors. Nicholas Young, of Fairfax, Virginia, is accused of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He was arrested at Metro headquarters Wednesday morning, NBC News reported. It's the first time a law enforcement officer has been accused of aiding the terrorist organization, authorities told NBC News national security reporter Ken Dilanian. Young, 36, met on 20 separate occasions with an FBI informant whom he believed was a man being radicalized, prosecutors said. He sent the man 22 digital gift card codes to be used with mobile messaging accounts that ISIS uses in recruiting, according to prosecutors. ISIS fighters and supporters communicate using encrypted apps, some of which charge fees, NBC News and Newsweek have reported. The FBI redeemed the gift card codes for $245. Northern Virginia bureau reporter David Culver talks to neighbors of the Metro transit officer arrested in an ISIS investigation. Young appeared in federal court Wednesday afternoon for a brief hearing. The bearded man with chin-length hair and tattoos was expressionless as he stood in shackles. His pants appeared to be part of his Metro Transit Police uniform. He received a court-appointed lawyer. Information on that lawyer was not available immediately. NBC4s Chris Lawrence and Pat Lawson Muse talk to NBC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pete Williams about the arrest of a Metro Transit Police officer who federal prosecutors say was trying to help ISIS. A woman with tattoos and blonde hair in a braid appeared upset in the courtroom. Fighting tears, she refused to say what, if any, relationship she has with Young. Law enforcement officials searched Young's home near Lee Highway and Fairfax County Parkway into Wednesday evening. Police tape blocked the street. Young told an FBI informant that he was stockpiling weapons in his home, prosecutors say. Agents removed dozens of boxes from Young's townhouse, including at least one designed to hold long guns. Young posed no credible threat to the Metro system, Joshua Stueve, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, told NBC News. According to court records, Young has been under scrutiny since as far back as 2009, when Metro officials reported suspicious behavior to the FBI, NBC News reported. Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld called the charges "profoundly disturbing." "[Metro Transit Police Department] Chief [Ronald] Pavlik and I have worked hand-in-glove with the FBI in the interest of public safety and to ensure that this individual would be brought to justice," Wiedefeld said in a statement. Young's employment with Metro was terminated Wednesday morning after his arrest, Wiedefeld said. He began working for the agency in 2003. The House Oversight Committee sent a letter to Wiedefeld demanding to know why Young was allowed to keep working during the investigation. "It is unclear from the complaint and related media coverage about what safeguards, if any, were put in place by Metro Transit Police or WMATA to ensure Mr. Young was not a threat to the safety of transit system riders during the time he was under surveillance," the letter reads in part. Young has been a longtime supporter of Islamic extremism and also has Nazi sympathies, prosecutors allege. He traveled to Libya in 2011 and told the FBI he fought with rebels seeking to oust dictator Moammar Gadhafi, NBC News reported. Law enforcement officials first interviewed Young in September 2010, in connection with his acquaintance Zachary Chesser. Chesser, of Bristow, Virginia, pleaded guilty to providing material support to the terrorist group al-Shabab. The Muslim convert also told the creators of the television show "South Park" they risked death for mocking the Prophet Muhammad in an episode. Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More Neighbors of Young's said they often saw him fixing his car and that he rarely acknowledged them. "It's just scary. You never know who your neighbors are," neighbor Dina Ahmad said. Young briefly appeared in court again Thursday afternoon where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. A bond hearing has been set for next Thursday. Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story. Dallas Independent School District confirms tests performed on water at South Oak Cliff High School revealed certain levels of contaminants, including lead. However, those levels fall well below levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency which would require action. Two tests were conducted, one in the spring and one in the summer, according to Dallas ISD leaders. Results from the summer test are just back, and currently under review. Samples collected in the spring reveal the highest level of lead taken from one of four sources, two water fountains and two faucets, was well below the EPA action level for public water systems of 0.015 mg/L at 0.00096 mg/L, according to Dallas ISD leaders. "Although there were several contaminants identified in concentrations above the EPA recommended levels, none of the identified contaminants in the water samples exceeded the regulatory action levels (or maximum containment levels)," said a summary of the spring report. The recommended level for lead is zero. However, that's extremely difficult, if not impossible to obtain, according to Kim McGraw with EFI Global, the environmental company tasked with collecting and analyzing water samples at South Oak Cliff High School. ""The water is safe, no problem, absolutely," McGraw said. But, various groups aren't so sure. They say because of history of issues at South Oak Cliff High School and a lack of trust with the district, they want additional testing completed by an independent party. Members of the NAACP Dallas unit, South Oak Cliff Parents Coalition and Dallas SW Coalition For Better Public Schools gathered in front of the school Tuesday to call for more action. Below is what the groups are demanding: Contaminate testing on all old DISD school building prior to the 2016-2017 school year Testing should be done by independent outside vendor, and DISD should pay for the test Water contingency plan for staff, student and employees should be put in place immediately for the 2016-2017 school year ,and remain until independent lead test are completed Free Lead blood testing for students ,staff ,employee in affected schools buildings . A review of DISD contaminate Testing data records over past 20 years Implement the Parsons report that identifies these affected schools as in need of serious infrastructure repair The district did bring in bottled water over the summer out of an abundance of caution, and said they will do the same if needed when school begins. However, they emphasize tests show the water is safe. The district is reaching out to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for further guidance. Health officials say more than a dozen cases of cyclosporiasis have been confirmed in North Texas' four major counties and that the source is likely contaminated food. The Texas Department of State Health Services said Wednesday the parasite was found in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties and that the origin may be linked to a fresh produce item. County officials told NBC 5 there have been four cases recorded in Dallas County, three in Collin County, four in Denton County and seven in Tarrant County. The Denton County cases and at least four of the Tarrant County cases had recently traveled out of the country -- calling into question the point of origin. It is not known if any of the patients in Dallas County or Collin County had recently traveled abroad. Across the state, there are currently 66 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis -- though the sources of infection haven't been confirmed. For most people, the symptoms are serious. "But for those who are very young and those who are older, or those who have a suppressed immune system, this illness can cause major problems," said Dr. Khang Tran, chief medical officer at The Medical Center of Plano. In recent years, 2012-2015, cyclospora outbreaks were associated with fresh cilantro imported from Puebla, Mexico. Since the summer of 2015, the Food and Drug Administration has instituted ban on imports from that region between from April through August. "Buy local," said Cameron Satterthwaite, of Georgia's Farmers Market in Plano. "That way you can have more of an assurance you're not getting some massive widespread disease or illness that's on the ground." The only imports allowed to enter the U.S. from that region are those that are on the FDA's green list. What to Know About Cyclospora/Cyclosporiasis: CDC How is the parasite spread? Cyclospora is spread by people ingesting something contaminated with feces. Since the parasite needs time to become infectious after being passed in a bowel movement, it's unlikely that it can be passed directly from person to person. Who is at risk of infection? People living or traveling in areas where the parasite is endemic are at risk. In the U.S., foodborne outbreaks have been linked to imported produce in 2014 and 2015. What are the symptoms? Some infected persons are asymptomatic, particularly in settings where cyclosporiasis is endemic. Among symptomatic persons, the incubation period averages ~1 week (ranges from ~2-14 or more days). cyclospora infects the small intestine and typically causes watery diarrhea, with frequent, sometimes explosive, stools. Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal cramping/bloating, increased flatus, nausea, and prolonged fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms may be noted. If untreated, the illness may last for a few days to a month or longer, and may follow a remitting-relapsing course. Although cyclosporiasis usually is not life threatening, reported complications have included malabsorption, cholecystitis, and Reiter's Syndrome (reactive arthritis). How do you prevent infection? On the basis of currently available information, avoiding food or water that might have been contaminated with stool is the best way to prevent infection. Travelers to cyclosporiasis-endemic areas should be told that food and water precautions for cyclospora are similar to those for other intestinal pathogens, except that cyclospora is unlikely to be killed by routine chemical disinfection or sanitizing methods. Symptomatic reinfection can occur. Cooking produce with the parasite will kill the parasite. What should I do if I believe I'm infected? See your doctor immediately. How is the infection treated? Cyclosporiasis infections are generally treated with a combination of two antibiotics. Those with diarrhea should also get rest and drink plenty of fluids. More Information: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention In 2015, the DSHS said there were 316 cases of cyclosporiasis in Texas. Cyclosporiasis Case Counts and Incidence Rates in Texas, 2001-2014 Year | Case Count | Incidence Rates 2014* | 200 | 0.7 2013* | 351 | 1.3 2012* | 44 | 0.2 2011* | 14 | 0.1 2010 | 9 | 0.0 2009 | 10 | 0.0 2008 | 6 | 0.0 2007 | 2 | 0.0 2006 | 1 | 0.0 2005 | 1 | 0.0 2004 | 4 | 0.0 2003 | 1 | 0.0 2002 | 1 | 0.0 2001 | 0 | 0.0 IR=incidence rate per 100,000 *incidence rates are bases on projected census data obtained from the DSHS Center for Health Statistics. More: CDC information on past multi-state outbreaks Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins says the county is more prepared than most places in the country to deal with the threat of Zika because Ebola helped prepare Dallas County for it. On Tuesday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced $16 million in funding to states and territories to fight Zika. Texas is one of four states to get $720,000. "Everything we're learning about Zika, as we go along, is bad news," Jenkins warned. "There's a whole lot about the disease we don't know." Jenkins said Dallas County has identified and tested more than 500 people for Zika. As of Tuesday night, 22 people in the county tested positive for the virus. Most got it by traveling to a Zika-infected area. One got the virus through sexual contact. Jenkins asked community members not to travel to areas with Zika. "I'm asking those who will listen," Jenkins said. "Don't go." "I've already canceled plenty of babymoons for my pregnant patients," said Dr. Sheila Chhutani, an OB/GYN at Texas Health Dallas. "For pregnant patients, I tell them not to go. For women looking to be pregnant in the near future, I tell them not to go." Both Jenkins and Chhutani said everyone has to do his or her part to prevent the spread of Zika. "If it happens here, if it happens anywhere, and it will happen somewhere in the continental United States," Jenkins said. "It's going to be a very serious thing." "It reminds me a little of Ebola," Chhutani said. "It's scary." The Ebola crisis helped put resources and systems in place in Dallas County to deal with a pandemic like Zika. "I think if everybody does their part," said Chhutani, "we can definitely fight this together." Texas Medicaid will begin providing mosquito repellent to all expectant mothers and women between the ages of 10 and 45, as public health officials grapple with the likelihood that Texas will see at least some local transmissions of the Zika virus. Women in the state program will be eligible to receive two cans of repellent a month through October, when Texas' peak mosquito season ends. The state Health and Human Services Commission said Wednesday that distribution of the repellent will begin next week, and women will be able to pick it up at pharmacies after calling their doctor. The state is expected to spend about $12.6 million on the program. At least 15 people around Miami have already become infected locally with Zika, which has been linked to fetal deaths and severe birth defects in the children of women infected during pregnancy. Public health officials have long believed that mosquitoes transmitting Zika in Texas would be inevitable. They are particularly concerned about urban centers along the U.S. Gulf Coast, with its humid climate and existing populations of the mosquito known to carry the virus. So far, 93 people in Texas are reported to have been infected. All of the infections have been linked to travel or sexual transmission. Officials at all levels have spent months urging residents to wear insect repellent regularly, particularly those who travel to countries where Zika is widespread. "Insect repellent has a greater potential as a tool, a weapon, against Zika than practically anything else we can do," said Dr. John Hellerstedt, director of the Texas Department of State Health Services, in an interview Wednesday. The federal agency overseeing Medicaid issued a bulletin two months ago advising states that they could provide insect repellent through the program, which is funded jointly by the federal government and states. Of the other Gulf Coast states, Florida had already been providing mosquito repellent through Medicaid, and Mississippi began doing so this week. Louisiana has plans to distribute repellent only if there are local transmissions of Zika in the state. Officials in Alabama did not return a message. Hellerstedt said state officials moved with "all deliberate speed" to pay for the expansion, which will cover Medicaid recipients, participants in the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the state's Healthy Texas Women and family planning programs. "It's all about having access to something that is potentially very, very useful," Hellerstedt said. "What might seem to be a trivial barrier to somebody who is middle class or upper-middle class may be a significant barrier to some of the folks on Medicaid." The state health department has also expanded its capacity to test for Zika both in people with symptoms and those who believe they may have been previously infected. The department currently estimates it can run up to 32 serology tests a week, intended for people who no longer have symptoms. Texas Leutenant Governor Dan Patrick released the following statement: As the U.S. sees an increase in Zika virus cases, particularly with the cases of local transmission in Florida, Texas continues to be proactive in its efforts to control this devastating virus. Several months ago, I asked Senator Charles Schwertner, Chairman of Health and Human Services, to hold a special hearing on Zika. It was important to me that Texas be as prepared as possible for this fast spreading virus. With 90 confirmed cases of travel-related Zika virus in Texas, the state is working closely with federal and local partners to minimize the impact of Zika on the state. Texas received approval of just over $6 million in federal funding to assist with Zika preparedness and response efforts, including funding for Zika response teams, epidemiology and laboratory capacity and birth defects surveillance. I will continue to work with state health officials to ensure an effective and swift response to this public health threat. Additional information about the state's response to the Zika virus can be found at: www.texaszika.org. Zika infections in pregnant women can cause severe brain-related birth defects. Millions of dollars will be spent statewide on back to school supplies this year. But, sadly, not everyone can afford the tools they need for the classroom. Mission Arlington is partnering with a Christian radio station to gather school supplies for families in Arlington who can't otherwise afford them. Despite all they've acquired so far, they still need more supplies since they hope to outfit up to 10,000 kids in Arlington. Tillie Burgin, executive director of Mission Arlington, said the annual event makes a huge difference in the lives of the families who receive help. "Our parents who come to the door, we take the school supplies to them. Just so thrilled, weeping over that, because no one wants their kids to go to school and not have what they need," said Burgin. It's not too late to donate. Supplies can be dropped off at Mission Arlington, at 500 Abram Street, or donations can be made online. Mission Arlington plans to distribute the school supplies next week. Work is underway for a long-awaited pedestrian bridge across a busy Dallas road that neighborhood advocates have been pushing for, for years. Excavation work began a few days ago for the Mockingbird Pedestrian Bridge on Mockingbird Lane near U.S. Highway 75. Construction workers are digging out the excavating positions for the bridge's three support towers. The bridge will be nearly 460-feet long, and it will connect runners and bikers from the Katy Trail to Mockingbird Station and other city trails. The height of the bridge will be between 17 and 19 feet over Mockingbird Lane. Construction supervisors say it should be done in seven months. But it's not all good news for some businesses temporarily standing in the way of progress. Some restaurants and shops in Mockingbird Station have lost parking spots, and sales are down since construction started last year. Smallcakes Cupcakery is a simple business with a simple goal. "Our cupcakes are delicious. One bite will make your smile," said store manager Shan Green. But the construction equipment and excavating work outside the Smallcakes door has taken a bite out of Greens enthusiasm. She estimates a 10-percent drop in sales over the last week. "There are 12 to 13 parking spots, that are taken up by the construction," Green said, adding that she thinks many potential-customers think her store is closed, or they don't want to walk along the construction site and orange cones. Still, she recognizes the pedestrian bridge is "absolutely needed" not only for pedestrian safety, but for the growth and development of the Mockingbird Station neighborhood. "The bridge is a long time coming, and I hope the wait is worth it," Green said. "Hopefully the great new bridge brings a lot of new business." Two people were killed in hit-and-run accidents on Mockingbird Lane in a 13-month stretch. College student Paul Miltenberger, 20, was killed in the spring of 2015; and in April 2016, Dallas movie critic Gary Murray was killed as he was walking across the street after leaving a film festival at the Angelika Theatre. "Its almost impossible to cross, and it's definitely dangerous when you do," said Betty Sandoval, a software saleswoman who works in Mockingbird Station. "Sometimes when youre in the cross-walk, cars still run the lights. So, its really unsafe at all times." Former Dallas city council member Angela Hunt first asked for a pedestrian bridge here 11 years ago. Reached by phone, Hunt told NBC 5 she's thrilled the construction has finally begun after years of missed deadlines, scrapped design plans and delayed real estate negotiations. When she pointed to the need for a bridge over Mockingbird Lane due to neighborhood growth and pedestrian safety, Hunt said other city leaders agreed it was a great idea. Then came the inevitable questions and delays. Whod pay for the bridge? How would the financing be split? Whod negotiate easement rights with property owners? Dallas Public Works engineers pointed out the necessity of an engineering impact study, since the bridge would go over a DART light-rail tunnel and the weight of the bridge could threaten the tunnels' integrity. A big delay was securing easement rights from property owners. The sale last year of the Hotel Palomar, which is now called The Highland Dallas Hotel, delayed real estate negotiations. "We were real close, and I mean very, very close, to finalizing the negotiations and signing the paperwork over the easement with the old owners," said Dallas Public Works Administrator Mark Rauscher. "Then they sold last year and we basically had the start the process over." Rauscher said the primary purpose of the bridge is to link runners on the Katy Trail to Mockingbird Station and other city trails. "It's not exactly convenient for people just trying to get from one side of the street to another, because of the grading to get on and off the bridge they'd have to walk a few hundred feet," he said. "The primary goal is that people coming off the Katy Trail can easily and safely keep going." Green said she's hopeful the temporary set-back will be off-set by a crush of exhausted joggers and bikers who'll be able to cross over the bridge at the end of a Katy Trail workout. Her store will be one of the first things they see on the other side. "The bridge will bring more people to the spot," she said "And especially if they had a good workout, they can stop in and feel like they earned a cupcake." The total price-tag for the project is $17 million, which includes the 460-foot suspension bridge and the cost moving utilities, negotiating the real estate easement negotiations and trail extensions and upgrades. The bridge alone is about $11.6 million. Murray's death is still unsolved. His niece Macy Murray told NBC 5 that she's thrilled the bridge construction is finally off the ground. "It's amazing how when people stop talking about it and start getting to work how quickly things can get done," she said. She believes the bridge will prevent more deaths. Rauscher says the current construction timetable is for the bridge to be completed by the end of March 2017. Prosecutors say blood samples and surveillance video are among the evidence showing a Houston man bludgeoned his daughter and shot her girlfriend before dumping their bodies behind a convenience store. The capital murder trial of 48-year-old James Larry Cosby began Tuesday in Galveston. He's accused of killing Britney Cosby and Crystal Jackson, both 24, in 2014. Authorities believe Britney Cosby was killed at her father's home and Jackson died later. Their bodies were found behind the store on the Bolivar Peninsula, near Galveston. Prosecutors told jurors Tuesday that they can't prove why the women were killed, only that James Cosby is responsible. He's pleaded not guilty to the crime and his attorney, Greg Russell, says the case is based on circumstantial evidence that doesn't link him to the deaths. A fire burning just east of Lake Berryessa in Northern California has grown to 1,700 acres, Cal Fire officials said. The blaze, dubbed the Cold Fire, has prompted mandatory evacuations in nearby Canyon Creek Resort and Golden Bear Estates. The fire started around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. Cal Fire said late Tuesday the fire was at zero percent containment. Highway 128 has been closed from the Monticello Dam to Pleasants Valley Road. There were about 500 personnel from multiple agencies battling the blaze. Most of the firefight was taking place on the ground in terrain that was difficult to access, Cal Fire said. But earlier Tuesday, a DC-10 tanker was aiding the fight from the air, dropping large amounts of fire retardant. Ground resources, which included firefighters and sheriff's deputies from eight agencies as well as officers from the California Highway Patrol, continued to battle the fire through the night. Cal Fire did not provide an estimated number of evacuees. An evacuation center was set up at the Winters Public Safety Center at 700 Main St. in Winters. For more details on the latest evacuations and road closures, visit the Cal Fire website. The two parks Barack Obama considered for his presidential library are only a mile apart in Chicago's South Side. But the decision to build the museum in the lakefront park rather than in a nearby impoverished neighborhood has left some residents worried it was a missed opportunity. The Obama Foundation will hold a ceremony Wednesday to unveil details of the president's choice of Jackson Park instead of Washington Park. For the city's residents, there are key differences between the two historic parks, which are both near the University of Chicago. Here is a look at each site, and the pros and cons involved in the decision: PARK WITH A VIEW Jackson Park is along Chicago's picturesque Lake Michigan shoreline and is rich in history. It was home to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and the tranquil lagoons and other features designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted for the event remain. The park also is home to the fair's former Palace of Fine Arts Building, which now houses the Museum of Science and Industry. The Obama Foundation seemed to conclude that more visitors would be drawn to Jackson Park. The organization said building the library there would have "the greatest long-term impact on the combined communities." "With its aesthetics, iconic location, historical relevance from the World's Fair, we believe Jackson Park will attract visitors on a national and global level that will bring significant long-term benefits to the South Side," foundation Chairman Marty Nesbitt said in announcing the choice Friday. The park abuts the Woodlawn neighborhood, an area of need but one where decades of revitalization efforts have already left a mark. NO OLYMPICS, NO LIBRARY A mile to the west is Washington Park, also designed by Olmsted, who originally conceived of the two expanses as one park. They are connected by a strip of green known as the Midway Plaisance. Washington Park would have been at the center of the world this week if Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics had succeeded. The loss of the presidential center and library is another blow to the neighborhood's quest for a revival. Now, the only major development prospects seem to come from the nearby University of Chicago, where Obama once taught constitutional law. The university has bought up land and opened an arts incubator, restaurant and bookstore with artist Theaster Gates. But a lot of ground remains vacant and there are few jobs, grocery stores, shops and quality housing. The surrounding neighborhood is associated with poverty, population decline and empty lots. It's also closer to the belt of neighborhoods that are home to most of Chicago's gang violence. But Washington Park, too, is steeped in historical significance. It hosts the DuSable Museum of African American History. The surrounding community became home to many blacks who moved to Chicago during the Great Migration, when waves of black Southerners moved north in the early and mid-20th century to escape from segregation and racism. ROOM TO GROW Obama, who started out as a community organizer on Chicago's far South Side, said in a written statement Friday that the library will spur development. Obama said he and first lady Michelle Obama "can't wait to forge new ways to give back to the people of Chicago who have given us so much." But some urban policy planners feel those ambitions would have had more room to grow in Washington Park, where the prevalence of vacant lots offer ready-made space for spinoff development ranging from souvenir stands to restaurants to hotels. "I'm just so unhappy," said Jacky Grimshaw, vice president for policy at the Center for Neighborhood Technology, an urban development and economic advocacy organization. Grimshaw, a longtime resident of the area who grew up playing in Washington Park, said building the library there could have reversed population decline and created more economic opportunity. "Here is a grand opportunity that is being missed," she said. THE GENTRIFICATION EFFECT Some Washington Park community leaders are quietly pleased the library will be close but not too close. The area was once home to one of the highest concentrations of public housing in the country before those high-rise projects were torn down about a decade ago. Their residents were able to remain in the neighborhood thanks to federal housing benefits for low-income people. Activists were concerned the library might have driven a rapid gentrification that would have raised housing costs and forced longtime residents out. The inaptly named Cold Fire burned hot Wednesday, growing to at least 4,600 acres in Yolo County near Lake Berryessa in nearby Napa County, Cal Fire officials said. By Wednesday night, spokesman Daniel Berlant said crews had contained 10 percent of the fire burning near Winters, Calif. hence the name of the Cold Fire. The danger, the sheriff reported, was concentrated around high voltage PG&E poles along Highway 128. "It doesn't take anything to start a fire right now and if you have a slight breeze on it, weather on it, it's going to take off," said Scott McLean of Cal Fire. CAL FIRE PIO/Daniel Berlant The blaze prompted mandatory evacuations of 35 homes involving about 100 people in nearby Canyon Creek Resort and Golden Bear Estates. One of those evacuess was Winters resident Jorge Cordova, who told NBC affiliate KCRA: Im kind of worried, I mean, its fire and it can burn everything." Cold Fire Burns 4,000 Acres in Yolo County On Wednesday morning, Angel Gibson, who was staying at an evacuation was trying to stay calm, although she described the fire, which started Tuesday just before 5 p.m., as "huge" and "scary." A 300-acre fire burning off Highway 128 prompted evacuations in Yolo County. Marin and Napa county teams were among the multiple agencies battling the blaze Wednesday. Most of the firefight was taking place on the ground in terrain that was difficult to access, Cal Fire said. "It's extremely difficult to get resources in there because the topography is so steep and dangerous," McLean said. Helicopters are using water from Lake Berryessa to try to douse the flames, while more than 700 firefighters attack it from the ground. Meanwhile, the weather fueled the fire. "We're supppsed to be getting 25 miles an hour winds today so that's going to be a concern," said firefighter Jeff Lindner. Earlier Tuesday, a DC-10 tanker was aiding the fight from the air, dropping large amounts of fire retardant. Cal Fire did not provide an estimated number of evacuees. An evacuation center was set up at the Winters Public Safety Center at 700 Main St. in Winters. CAL FIRE PIO/Daniel Berlant Nearby Markley Cove Resort has seen a big drop in business. Their normally busy boat launch has been extremely quiet. The fire, smoke, and highway closure is keeping lake lovers away. But one group of vacationers decided not to let the Cold Fire interfere with their summer fun. In fact, they initially mistook the smoke for Carl the Fog, a San Francisco staple. "It's pretty much like the San Francisco fog," Constance Jiang said. "I thought it was fog at first and didn't realize it was falling ash." For more details on the latest evacuations and road closures, visit the Cal Fire website. Police sought the public's help Wednesday in identifying a suspect in the attempted murder of a 66-year-old woman in South Los Angeles. Officers responded to a report of a battery around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday at a motel in the 7100 block of South Vermont Avenue and discovered the victim in one of the motel rooms, unconscious and severely beaten, according to Detective Rick Gordon of the Los Angeles Police Department's Criminal/Gang Homicide Division. The victim was taken to a local hospital where she remains in critical condition, Gordon said. Police are seeking a person of interest who might have been with the victim but fled prior to officers arriving. That person has been identified as James Robinson McGee, 55, and is described as a black man with black hair and brown eyes, 5-feet-9 inches tall and weighing about 220 pounds. Donald Trump's running mate, Gov. Mike Pence, is breaking with the Republican nominee by endorsing House Speaker Paul Ryan in his primary fight. Pence said in a phone interview with Fox News Channel that he's pleased to endorse Ryan. The move comes a day after Trump said in an interview that he's "just not quite there yet" when it comes to backing Ryan, who has at times been critical of Trump's most controversial comments. Pence says that he spoke with Trump Wednesday morning about his "support for Paul Ryan and our longtime friendship." He says Trump, "strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday's primary. And I'm pleased to do it." The ex-wife of a slain Florida State University law professor and her family on Wednesday denied having any involvement in an alleged murder-for-hire plot to kill him, according to a statement issued by their lawyers. Attorneys for Wendi Adelson and several family members said in the statement that speculation they had a role in Dan Markel's killing is "categorically false.'' Authorities have previously said there may be a link between Markel's July 2014 slaying and the couple's contentious divorce. "To be clear, none of the Adelsons - Wendi, her brother Charlie, or their parents Donna and Harvey - had anything to do with Dan's murder,'' said the statement emailed to The Associated Press by attorney David O. Markus, who represents Charlie Adelson. Police say Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera traveled from South Florida to Tallahassee to kill Markel, who was shot in the head in broad daylight in his garage. Both men are awaiting a November trial on murder charges and prosecutors say they are seeking the death penalty. Garcia has pleaded not guilty; Rivera has yet to enter a plea. Since the killing, Rivera was convicted of unrelated federal racketeering charges stemming from his leadership role in the Latin Kings street gang and was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. A Tallahassee Police Department affidavit said Markel's death was the result of the 2013 contentious divorce from Wendi Adelson, a lawyer who now lives in Miami Beach and works for a federal judge. Harvey and Charlie Adelson run a well-established dental practice in South Florida. There was a battle between the two over Wendi Adelson's wish to move to South Florida with the couple's two small children so they could be closer to her family, according to court records. There were also disagreements over money Markel was supposed to pay his ex-wife and whether his mother-in-law could have unsupervised visits with the children. The Adelson statement, however, indicates the family fully intended Markel to remain a presence in the children's lives and that there was no ill will toward him. "Dan's death was a tragedy, and the loss is profound,'' the statement said. The family has been subjected to an intense investigation over the past two years - including FBI involvement - that went over phone and computer records, emails, financial documents and text messages, the Adelson statement said. "There is a reason that the police have not arrested any of the Adelsons - they weren't involved in Dan's death,'' the statement said. A Tallahassee police spokesman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. According to court documents, investigators say that Garcia and Rivera were hired by someone to kill Markel. They say evidence indicates they followed Markel from a nearby gym before he was shot. Cellphone information showed the two men were in the Tallahassee area shortly before Markel's death and records link the two men to a Prius that a neighbor of Markel reported seeing pull out of the driveway right after hearing a gunshot, police say. Miami Beach Police announced the arrest of a man in Georgia for the October 2015 hit and run death of a tourist along Collins Avenue. 23-year-old Frank Strachan Jr. was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals at an apartment in Marietta, GA. He is currently being held and awaiting extradition to Florida. Police say that Strachan Jr. is responsible for the death of Andrew Hamilton, a tourist visiting from the United Kingdom, on October 13th. Officials alleged that Strachan Jr. left a garage at 15th Street and Collins Avenue at a high rate of speed. An officer soon followed, which led to him going faster and weaving in and out of traffic. The officer did not continue chasing, but notified other officers of the situation. Witnesses estimated the silver BMW that Strachan Jr. was driving was going between 70 and 100 miles per hour when it hit Hamilton, who died instantly at the intersection of Collins Avenue and 11th Street. Strachan Jr. fled from the vehicle and has been on the run ever since. He also has numerous fraud charges in other states, including new charges brought by Georgia after his arrest. It is likely he will be extradited to Florida to face vehicular homicide charges before any other state. An 11 year old Miami-Dade boy is recovering after being shot late Monday night and rushed to the hospital. Crews responded to the scene near SW 173rd Street and 103rd Avenue shortly after 10 PM. Officials say the victim, Jamarie London, was speaking to his brother when a dark colored SUV drove by and opened fire, striking him. Neighbors said they heard between six and seven gun shots and ran outside to help. The child was taken into his home until paramedics arrived. London was taken to Nicklaus Childrens Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition. So far, police have not released any motive in the shooting or who the intended target was, saying the investigation is ongoing. Miami-Dade Police are offering an additional $5,000 for anyone with a tip leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 305-471-TIPS. The Japanese government on Tuesday reiterated its colonial claim to Korea's easternmost Dokdo islets in this year's defense white paper. The policy document states that disputes over Japanese territories including "the Northern Territories [referring to the Kuril Islands] and Takeshima" remain unresolved. Takeshima is the Japanese name for Dokdo. The defense white paper first included the claim in 2005. Seoul summoned the Japanese ambassador and the Foreign Ministry here called for immediate deletion of the clause and a pledge that it will not be repeated. In other areas, the white paper warns that North Korea's nuclear program and improved ballistic missiles pose serious threats to Japan's security. It estimates that North Korea is capable of hitting the mainland U.S. if it reduces the weight of nuclear weapons with a warhead less than one ton, as they are able to fly more than 10,000 km. North Korea "is pushing ahead with plans to develop more advance and longer-range missiles that could ultimately carry nuclear warheads," it said. It laments China's "intrusion into Japan's territorial waters, its violation of Japan's airspace and even dangerous actions that could cause a contingency situation, which are extremely regrettable." Amid the growing North Korean threat and increasing tension with China over territorial disputes, there are increasing calls in the island country to bolster its defense, it adds. Authorities have the suspect to have been behind quadruple shooting that left three people dead in southwest Miami-Dade early Sunday morning. Antwon Lamar Fair, 32, is in custody in Savannah, Georgia with the assistance of other agencies. This is a developing story; check back with NBC for updates. Across South Florida, massive rain along with a night show of lightning and thunder made for quite the evening. A flood advisory was issued for Northeast Miami-Dade County, part of an area that has been in the national spotlight thanks to the Zika outbreak that has struck the area. At Miami International Airport, a tower was struck by lightning around 7:30 PM. Officials say that the radar kept operating and technicians quickly restored phone lines and radio frequencies that were affected. According to the Miami International Airport's website, there have been 59 delays and 10 cancellations. Fort Lauderdale / Hollywood International Airport had nearly 150 flights were delayed at one point with five cancellations as a result of the weather. Florida Power and Light reported 14,371 power outages in Miami-Dade County and 1,722 in Broward County. What to Know Wayne Martin was convicted of the double murder in 2010 A letter to a judge from the Brooklyn DA's office admits his right to due process was violated, among other prosecutorial infractions He was freed Tuesday without bail A Brooklyn man who was convicted of double murder in 2005 was released from prison without bail after allegations were made about prosecutorial misconduct in his case. Wayne Martin walked out of a Brooklyn courtroom court free on Wednesday after his conviction in the deaths of two at a Brownsville tire store was thrown out last month. He had been serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole following the 2010 conviction. Martin has always maintained his innocence, telling the I-Team in an exclusive interview earlier this week that he had nothing to do with the crime and "they just tailored something to fit me." As he left court on Wednesday, he told this reporter that he just wanted to get home to his six children. "I'm free, I appreciate everything you did for me, Ms. Wallace," he said. "But right now I have to go to my family and get my kids and all that." It's the latest development in the stunning case of murder, misconduct and missing evidence, which was blasted open when Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson's office sent a letter to the chief administrative judge saying the man's due process rights had been violated and key evidence that could have changed the outcome of the jury's verdict was not given to the defense ahead of the trial. The exculpatory evidence included documents showing that two witnesses identified different suspects as the gunman. The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, which first learned the evidence hadn't been handed over in January, has not decided whether the case will be retried, but the office did not oppose Martin's release. In a letter to the chief administrative judge earlier this year, the Brooklyn district attorneys conviction review unit admits that Wayne Martins due process rights were violated and that crucial information that could have changed the outcome of the jurys verdict was not turned over to the defense prior to trial. The de Blasio administration is trying to find missing crime victims who are owed nearly $1 million in unclaimed cash, but the I-Team has learned that City Hall will not share key information that could help connect the beneficiaries with their money. Often, victims of burglaries and other property crimes change addresses and phone numbers by the time defendants gets out of prison and start paying them back. Thats why the Mayors Office of Criminal Justice contracts with a private company called Safe Horizon to manage an "unclaimed restitution fund." The fund, with a current balance $914,000, is set aside for crime victims who are deemed "not locatable." Despite the fact that the beneficiaries are, by definition, missing, Safe Horizon said it is against the vendors policy to release any information about them, including their names. Brian Pacheco, a spokesman for Safe Horizon, said it doesn't reveal the names of people who are owed restitution to maintain the confidentiality of crime victims. But some crime victims and advocates for victims found it curious that City Hall and its vendor would assume victims would want to remain anonymous when publicizing their names might help connect them with cash that they are owed. "Victims of crime have nothing to be ashamed of," said Jennifer Merin. "Theres nothing to be gained by keeping victims names private." Merin, whose family home was burglarized and damaged in a deed fraud scheme, said it makes sense to keep private the names of domestic or sexual violence victims. But she said that as a victim of property crime, she would want her name to be publicized if it were on the unclaimed restitution list. Names of missing crime victims are not the only information being withheld. In a set of emails with inconsistent information, representatives for Mayor de Blasio and Safe Horizon also declined to share the number of missing crime victims who are owed unclaimed restitution. The messages raise questions as to whether that number is regularly tracked. Pachecho said in one email that Safe Horizon "does not systematically track the number of complainants/beneficiaries (victims) that cannot be located at a given time." Crystal Cooper, a spokeswoman for the Mayors Office of Criminal Justice, also sent an email saying the number of people owed restitution are records that the mayors office simply does not have. But minutes later, Sarah Solon, another spokeswoman for the mayors office, sent an email saying Both Safe Horizon and MOCJ know how many people are owed money, but we are not releasing that information. Three hours later, a second spokesperson for Safe Horizon, Maria Corral, seemingly contradicted the Mayors Office again, saying, we are working to verify information for victims who are owed money and are not locatable, and at this time do not have a number for those victims to provide you. Tony Herbert, a community advocate who often works with crime victims, questioned whether the mayor's office and Safe Horizon have a coherent strategy to reach out to missing beneficiaries who are owed restitution. "I would think that the City would not want to make them a victim again and reach out and say, "Hey look, we have this for you. You should come get this,'" Herbert said. He suggested City Hall design a database into which crime victims could type in their names to see if they are owed money paid back by defendants. Currently, both the state and city comptroller offices have searchable unclaimed fund databases. In the past, both comptroller offices have also made the names in those databases public. The mayor's office acknowledged a number of challenges to connecting missing victims with their money, including difficulties in getting contact information from district attorneys offices and the hesitancy of some victims to share their addresses out of fear. "These problems can and should be fixed, and fixed in a way that protects the privacy and safety of survivors of crime," Solon wrote. "Improvements we are beginning to put in place include standardizing information exchange between the district attorneys' offices and Safe Horizon to ensure that any available contact information is shared quickly and completely, designing a public facing website that will allow victims to find out if they are owed restitution money in a safe and secure way and improved technology to help locate individuals who can be difficult to find." According to Safe Horizon, staff members declare a crime victim not locatable after three attempts to contact that victim. The vendor did not say what constitutes an attempt. Over the last five years, the unclaimed restitution fund has gone from about $1.4 million to $914,000. Though Safe Horizon could not say how many missing victims have claim to the cash, the nonprofit touted an increase in the number of locatable victims it has connected with restitution outside the unclaimed restitution program. In the past year, Safe Horizon verified contact information for nearly 5,000 victims and distributed restitution funds to them, Corral wrote. She said victims in fiscal year 2016 took home a total of $8.5 million. That amounts to a 29 percent increase over fiscal year 2015, although its not clear whether the increase was the result of more outreach from Safe Horizon or more restitution being paid by convicts. If you are a victim of crime in New York City who has not received restitution payments, Safe Horizon recommends you send an email to unclaimedrestitution@safehorizon.org. The vendor said it pays out cash to beneficiaries within two weeks and makes no revenue from funds that continue to sit in the unclaimed restitution account. That interest is paid out to crime victims. What to Know Jamie Fox is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery Former Port Authority chairman David Samson pleaded guilty to a single conspiracy-related count. The government alleges the 61-year-old Fox helped Samson get a regular flight to Samson's vacation home A judge set bail at $100,000 Wednesday for a former United Airlines lobbyist charged with being the middleman in a shakedown involving the former chairman of the powerful bistate agency that controls New York City-area airports. Jamie Fox didn't enter a plea during a brief initial appearance in U.S. District Court. The U.S. attorney's office charged the former New Jersey transportation commissioner last month with conspiracy to commit bribery. The charge is punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years. Fox and attorney Michael Critchley didn't comment on the case after the hearing. Previously, Critchley said his client would never jeopardize his reputation by engaging in illegal behavior. The U.S. attorney's office must now present the case to a grand jury for possible indictment. The office didn't comment on how long that might take. The government alleges the 61-year-old Fox helped then-Port Authority of New York and New Jersey chairman David Samson get a regular flight to Samson's vacation home in South Carolina when Fox was a paid consultant and lobbyist for United. Samson pleaded guilty last month to a bribery charge. Samson applied pressure on the airline by withholding a Port Authority board vote on a deal to let United build a new hangar at Newark Liberty Airport that would accommodate wide-body jets, the government contends. Chicago-based United agreed to pay a $2.25 million penalty and said it agreed to continue to enhance its compliance, anti-bribery and anti-corruption program, the U.S. attorney's office announced last month. United's then-CEO, Jeff Smisek, and two other executives left the airline last year after United conducted its own investigation. None of them has been charged with any criminal wrongdoing. Both Fox and Samson were close allies of Republican Gov. Chris Christie. Fox, a Democrat, went on to work for Christie as the state's transportation commissioner after ending his work for United. Samson, a former state attorney general, was considered a mentor to Christie and headed his transition team after Christie was elected governor in 2009. Christie has praised both men publicly since their arrest, calling Fox "a very worthwhile and worthy public servant" who "has been convicted of absolutely nothing." Christie said last month he was saddened by Samson's guilty plea but called Samson "an extraordinary person" who "obviously had a lapse in judgment." According to the criminal complaint, Fox began lobbying United to resurrect the direct flight from Newark to Columbia, South Carolina in early 2011, shortly after Samson was named Port Authority chairman. United had discontinued the money-losing route in 2009. In the fall of 2011, the complaint alleges, Samson removed an item from the Port Authority's board meeting agenda regarding United's hangar deal. After the board eventually voted to approve the deal a few months later, United restarted the flights, which Samson and others allegedly referred to as "the Chairman's flight." The airline discontinued the flights shortly after Samson resigned in early 2014. Police are investigating after a New Jersey man called police to say he was attacked by a black bear that attacked him when he went outside to feed his cats. The Pohatcong man called 911 after he allegedly encountered the bear, thought to be between 300 and 400 pounds, when he went outside his home at about 9 a.m., authorities said. He reported that the startled bear lunged and scratched him before running off into the wilderness. The man, who told police he had seen bears near his home before, had minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital. Sources told NBC 4 New York that his injuries didn't appear to be consistent with a bear attack, and police at the scene Wednesday morning said they wouldn't call the encounter an "attack." Authorities said they still have to talk with the homeowner and were trying to track down the bear Wednesday afternoon. It's not clear if the man would face charges if the attack turned out to be a false report. Bears are common in the region and have been seen in most if not all of the state's 21 counties, but the number of human encounters with the beasts has decreased in recent years due to population management and hiker education, authorities say. Anyone who encounters a bear should speak slowly and avoid panicking, Ragonese said. Do not run, but calmly walk ahead, he said, and avoid feeding the animals. In September 2014, a 22-year-old Rutgers student hiking with friends in a northern New Jersey nature preserve was mauled by a bear and killed, marking the state's first deadly bear attack on a human in recent history. West Milford police say Darsh Patel and four friends from Edison were hiking in the Apshawa Preserve, a 576-acre natural area used for hiking and bird watching, when they encountered the bear. What to Know Eric Schneiderman says his office sent letters to several companies marketing products as "Zika-preventative" or "Zika-protective" The tropical mosquito that carries Zika is not common in New York. The virus can affect pregnant women, causing birth defects. People in Zika-affected areas are advised to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and use insect repellent. New York's attorney general is targeting companies advertising ineffective insect repellents to cash in on concerns over the Zika virus. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said his office has sent letters to seven companies, telling them to stop marketing products as "Zika-preventive" or "Zika-protective." NBC 4 New York has reached out to the companies accused of selling the products. Their main point of sale appears to be Amazon, which did not immediately respond to a question about whether it would continue selling the products. The tropical mosquito that carries Zika is not common in New York. The virus can affect pregnant women, causing birth defects. People in Zika-affected areas are advised to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and use insect repellent. The state has confirmed 537 cases, all apparently connected to travel to affected areas. Five cases were sexually transmitted. Schneiderman's actions come as health officials in Miami grapple with the likelihood that mosquitoes there are spreading the disease. At least 15 people are thought to have contracted the virus without traveling, and the Centers for Disease Control and prevention had issued a warning to people traveling to the South Florida City. The CDC says repellents typically providing long-lasting protection contain DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. It lists brand names on its website . The backlash against U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump escalated Tuesday for his critical comments about a Muslim-American couple whose son was killed fighting for the U.S. in Iraq in 2004. President Barack Obama said at the White House that Trump, a real estate tycoon seeking elected office for the first time, is "unfit" to succeed him as the American leader and that "he keeps on proving it." Obama, who has endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton as his successor when he leaves office in January, challenged Republicans to repudiate Trump, saying his complaints against Khizr Khan and his wife Ghazala after they endorsed Clinton at last week's Democratic National Convention were offensive. Obama said that without repudiating Trump, Republican complaints about him "ring hollow." "Yes, I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president," Obama said at a news conference after meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. "I said that last week and he keeps on proving it," Obama said. "The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that had made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country. The fact that he doesn't appear to have basic knowledge about critical issues, in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, means that he's woefully unprepared to do this job." Trump Attack on Gold Star Families Gold Star families in the U.S. are those that have lost relatives while fighting in the U.S. armed services. In response, Trump accused Obama of "failed leadership." Trump said that Obama and Clinton, his first-term secretary of state, had "destabilized the Middle East, handed Iraq, Libya and Syria" to Islamic State jihadists. The Republican nominee said they also had sent America's "best jobs overseas to appease their global interests." "We need change now," Trump concluded. In a highly unusual attack on his possible replacement, Obama questioned why Republicans continue to endorse Trump, even as numerous Republican lawmakers have condemned his comments about the Khans, sometimes criticizing Trump by name and other times denouncing his comments but not mentioning him by name. Trump said the the Khans had "viciously attacked" him at the Democratic convention and then complained that they continued to assail his candidacy in a series of television interviews in recent days. Khizr Khan said Trump had made no sacrifice for the U.S. as great as his son, Humayon Khan, killed by a suicide bomber while protecting other soldiers. Trump, in one interview last weekend, said he had made sacrifices for the United State by creating "thousands of jobs" and providing workers benefits to improve their lives. What to Know The 30-year-old woman normally ran with her father in the afternoons, but he didn't accompany her this time Her body was found face-down in a marsh several hours after she was reported missing The medical examiner's office ruled she died in a homicide. A woman who went missing while running on a New York City trail and whose body was found in a grassy inlet off Jamaica Bay hours later was strangled to death, police said. Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said Wednesday 30-year-old Karina Vetrano, whom he described as an active runner, also may have been sexually assaulted. Police said her clothes were in disarray. Vetrano left her Howard Beach home to run near Gateway National Park Tuesday afternoon. She normally ran with her father at that time, but he didn't accompany her Tuesday, Boyce said. When Vetrano didn't return, he called 911 to report her missing and a search was organized. Hours later, Vetrano's body was discovered in a marsh near the Belt Parkway bike path. Boyce said pings from her cellphone led cops to the weedy area near 161st Avenue and 78th Street, where Vetrano was found face-down. The woman's father, a retired firefighter, was among the first to find her body. "Father then went into the woods, and then found the body with our detectives after him," Boyce said. "You can imagine his angst at that point." The running path is alongside a secluded, overgrown marsh at the edge of Jamaica Bay. It is part of a much longer network of paths ringing the bay that get a lot of use from cyclists and runners. The section where Vetrano's body was found is often bypassed by people using the longer routes. A city medical examiner ruled that Vetrano died in a homicide Wednesday afternoon. Boyce said Vetrano had been texting a friend "about normal things" before she vanished from the trail. He said the friend is cooperating with police. The young woman worked as a caterer for RV Rooftop at Vetro, which said in an Instagram post it would be closed Wednesday to hold a candlelight vigil in remembrance. She was a world traveler and aspiring writer, and on her blog, she wrote about her life: "It's chaotic and unpredictable, but I do believe that on some days, it's quite beautiful, in all its poetic little tragedies." Neighbors were shocked and saddened when they heard about the discovery. One man said he lives just up the block and has two daughters. "I feel bad for the parents. She went jogging inside the trail and she never returned home," he said. "Something like this, it's so close by. It's really a shock." No arrests have been made in the case, and authorities are reviewing digital evidence from the park. It's not clear if Vetrano's death was the result of a random attack or if the woman was targeted. "The whole neighborhood is upside down right now," said family friend Maryellen Dykes. "It's a tragic loss, horrific, it's senseless. I just hope they catch the animal that did this." Anyone with information about Vetrano's death should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. Police are searching for three men who were caught on surveillance video stealing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. On Tuesday around 11:20 a.m., police responded to Helzberg Diamonds inside the Montgomery Mall in North Wales, Pennsylvania for a report of a robbery. Surveillance video from inside the store shows three masked men smashing the jewelry displays. Investigators say they then stole approximately $10,000 worth of jewelry before fleeing the scene. If you have any information on the incident please call the Montgomery County Detective Division at 215-362-2301. A quick-thinking police officer saved a man's life by pulling him out of a burning car just before flames fully engulfed the vehicle in Philadelphia early Wednesday morning. Now, the officer, a six-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, is being hailed a hero. "It was very lucky for this 47-year-old driver to be pulled out of this vehicle by this 39th District officer," Chief Inspector Scott Small said of the rescue. "This could definitely have been a lot worse if the officer didn't come by when he did." The incident unfolded just after midnight, when Officer Joel Rice, of the 39th District in Nicetown, was traveling south on Broad Street near Wyoming Avenue after leaving Northwest Detectives headquarters and came upon a crash seconds after it happened. Rice said he saw that the car's engine compartment was on fire, approached, and realized the driver, a 47-year-old man, was completely unconscious lying across the front seat after apparently losing control of his car and crashing into the median and two parked vehicles. Rice reached into the car through the open passenger window and pulled the man out of the car to safety. Seconds later, police said, flames engulfed the entire car. The driver, who police said did not appear to be impaired at all when medics revived him, escaped with minor injuries including a concussion, bumps and bruises and some facial and head injuries. He was in stable condition at Albert Einstein Medical Center after the crash, Small said. Viewer video captured the dramatic scene as the fire engulfed the Dodge car the man had been driving, turning it into a fireball in the middle of Broad Street. "The police department did a good job. The fire department did a good job," Small said at the scene. "This was all timing, and the right place at the right time." Rice, who was on Broad Street by happenstance on his way back to his own district near 22nd Street and Hunting Park Avenue, said he was glad he found the crash when he did and was able to save the driver. "I feel good. I'm glad of the outcome," Rice said. "It obviously would've been better without the fiery wreck, but all things considered, this is a positive outcome." Nearly a week after a shootout in broad daylight along a busy Philadelphia street claimed the life of a young father driving his 4-year-old daughter home, the gunmen remain on the loose. Alsharay Ford, 26, had just picked his little girl up about 6 p.m. Thursday, police and Ford's relatives said, when gunfire erupted along Germantown Avenue near Wister Street, where Ford was driving with the child. Two bullets not meant for the father found their way into his car, striking him in the head and the shoulder. "My niece needed her father, and now her family is going to have to do our best to try to fill in where that void is going to be," Ford's sister told people gathered at a vigil over the weekend near the scene of the shooting. "Whoever did this to him, they didn't break our family ... we are standing strong. We will be OK. And my brother is actually in a better place than any of us standing here." She offered a message for the shooters responsible for her brother's death: "If you know the individuals who did it, we want you to take this message to them: We forgive you." Ford's daughter, who witnessed the shooting, was uninjured. She held hands with her aunt during the vigil, as people lit candles and prayed. By all accounts, Ford was a loving and attentive father to his little girl. A friend told NBC10 Ford had been working and helping to support his family since he was 16 and dreamed of being a cook and someday leaving Philadelphia. "The kid was his world," Kenny Richardson, who knew Ford since working with him in 2010, said. "For something like this to happen, it's just heartbreaking." Richardson said Ford helped him when he himself was injured in a shooting several years ago. "He was my manager. I got shot in the same way. A stray bullet hit me. I was out of work three months, and I thought I was going to lose my job," Richardson said. "But they came through ... paid my bills ... and that was all because of him." Richardson asked how many more innocent people need to be shot for the violence to end. About the same time as the shootout that left Ford dead, a 10-year-old girl in North Philadelphia fell victim to a stray bullet. That little girl survived. "You get tired of saying the same old thing. You get tired of doing the same old thing," Richardson said. "He has a 4-year-old daughter who now is going to grow up without a dad, and I mean a great dad." Anyone with information on the shooting should contact homicide detectives at 215-686-3334, the police tip line at 215-686-8477 or text a tip to PPD TIP (773847). Tipsters may remain anonymous, and, as with any homicide in the City of Philadelphia, a $20,000 reward is offered for information leading to arrest and conviction. Ford's funeral is set for Aug. 8. His family is raising money so they can afford to bury him. You can donate by clicking here. Police are investigating two separate shootings in which innocent bystanders were struck by stray bullets. A 10-year-old girl was shot in the arm while a 25-year-old man was shot in the head and shoulder while driving his 4-year-old daughter. NBC10s Keith Jones has the details. Vice President Joe Biden accepted an award in Philadelphia Wednesday night honoring his work in coordinating the federal government's cancer research initiative. The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia celebrated Biden at a ceremony at The Bellevue. Biden is heading up the National Cancer Moonshot, an acceleration program to eliminate cancer. An estimated 600,000 Americans die from cancer every year, according to The White House. The moonshot is providing new funding for research and fostering coordination between different research centers to attack the diseases. Beau Biden, the vice president's son and former Delaware Attorney General, died last year after a battle with brain cancer. A man accused in a series of attacks on homeless men while they slept used railroad spikes to attack and impale his victims, according to a Deputy District Attorney. Jon David Guerrero, 39, of San Diego, initially faced three counts of first degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of arson. However, in court Tuesday, the judge suspended all criminal proceedings until Guerrero could get a psychological evaluation. Public Defender Danesh Tandon, who represents Guerrero, said his client has an "extensive" mental health history. "My client is severely mentally ill and there are going to be further court hearings regarding his ability to stand trial," he said, adding that he could not elaborate. The same judge ordered an evaluation of Guerrero in a previous case. San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey filed an opposition to the motion in court, explaining that Guerrero has demonstrated he does understand the proceedings and can go to trial. When carrying out the attacks, Harvey said, Guerrero exhibited "such extensive planning, such sophistication," leading her in part to believe he understood what he was doing. She argued having a mental illness is different from being found competent to stand trial, adding that it was unusual for a judge to suspend the proceedings for an evaluation so early on. Following court proceedings, Harvey elaborated on the evidence authorities have tying Guerrero to the attacks: railroad spikes. Harvey said in all five attacks, the victims were found impaled with railroad spikes, or with railroad spikes next to their bodies. Guerrero is accused in five attacks that began July 3, San Diego Police said, and authorities believe he acted alone. Guerrero was taken into custody near the most recent attack at 18th and C Street. He was booked into the San Diego Central Jail in downtown. Three of the victims died from their injuries. Two victims were expected to survive, Harvey said. Officials found more railroad spikes in Guerrero's backpack and at his apartment, Harvey said. If charged and convicted, Guerrero faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. There is also a special circumstance in that more than one homicide occurred in a series, so he could face the death penalty, according to Harvey. Guerrero is due back in court on Oct. 9 for a competency hearing. US Beach Volleyball Player Lauren Fendrick said Wednesday that so far, the concern over water quality and the Zika virus have been non-factors for us. The Carlsbad native ran into NBC 7s Steven Luke outside the Summer Olympics beach volleyball venue on Copacabana Beach. Fendrick, along with her husband, Andrew, gave an interview via Facebook Live to Luke. She said shes been thrilled with the energy of the city and hasnt had any issues with some of the problems publicized heavily surrounding the Olympics. The Olympic energy is just incredible, she gushed. Im super stoked to compete. Along with her feel for Rio, Fendrick told the Facebook audience that she's already looking ahead to Tuesday, when Team USA competes against Brazil, regarded as the best in beach volleyball in the world. Youre going to see some of the best beach volleyball here youve ever seen, she told Luke. Fendrick attended Carlsbad High School. This is her first Olympics, though she nearly qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Check out the Facebook Live above. Fallen San Diego Police officer Jonathan "JD" De Guzman, killed in the line of duty last week will be laid to rest on Thursday. Governor Jerry Brown will attend the memorial service for Officer De Guzman in El Cajon on Friday. The service will be held at 11 a.m. at Shadow Mountain Community Church on 2100 Greenfield Drive. San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officer Jonathan "JD" De Guzman was shot and killed last Thursday. He was a 16-year veteran in the department and was assigned to the Gang Unit. De Guzman's partner, Wade Irwin, was left seriously wounded but is expected to survive. De Guzman is survived by his wife and two kids. On Wednesay, a Prayer of the Rosary will be performed at 6:30 p.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. A second day of viewing will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the same location. The viewing is open to the public. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4 for De Guzman, the San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA) announced. The Funeral Mass will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Those wishing to pay their respects to Officer De Guzman and his family can attend. A public memorial service on Friday is for law enforcement and community members. A procession will follow to Glen Abbey Memorial Park, at 3838 Bonita Road in Bonita. Interment will follow the memorial service. The San Diego Police Officers Association has established a fund for Officer De Guzmans family. Donations can be mailed to: San Diego Police Officers Association 8388 Vickers Street, San Diego, CA 92111 Checks can be made payable to the San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA). Please write Officer Jonathan De Guzman in the memo line. All donations will go directly to the family. The SDPOA is also accepting online donations through their website. More than 100 parents gathered inside an auditoritum at Cesar Chavez Middle School in Oceanside Tuesday night to express their concern after a student who made a school threat was released from juvenile hall just two weeks before the start of the 2016-2017 school year. The former student from El Camino High School was arrested in May, 2015, accused of threatening violence on the campus. Oceanside Police detectives found body armor, replica guns and handwritten notes that they described as threatening in the then 17-year old students bedroom. He was found guilty and charged and served time for making threats. According to the Oceanside Police Department, he has been released but is under the supervision of the San Diego County Probation Department. But the Oceanside Unified School District says since he is no longer in custody, they want parents to be informed about his release as schools will resume on August 15. Meetings are being held this week at various school campuses in Oceanside to inform parents about the steps the district is taking to ensure kids safety. Superintendent Dr. Duane Coleman says she is the one who made the decision to give out the information regarding the student. "I did it as a parent because I think as a parent, I would want my school district to give me this kind of information," Coleman said. NBC 7 spoke to a parent who attended the meeting Monday night at El Camino High School. Rick Camacho says he is glad he went but there were still a lot of unanswered questions. "Because it's very easy to know that okay they're guarding a specific school that was a threat, he said. Okay, but normally people don't go for the hardest target. They go for the easiest target and that's the schools basically, like where my kids are going." Jesse Puffenbarger told NBC 7 that she is now hestitant to send her kids to school. "You're sending your kids to school and it's uneasy. You never know what's going to happen with kids," she said. The Oceanside Police Department says there is no active investigation and they dont have any information to suggest current threats or any criminal activity. But one parents says, shes happy to hear that the district is still taking precautions. I think we should always, you know, act as if they are gonna do it and try to take whatever precautions we can, said parent Amanda Hadden. The district does have a permanent restraining order against the former student. Here is a list of meetings being held this week: Aug. 3, 6 p.m. at El Camino High School Aug. 4, 6 p.m. at Oceanside High School Uber Technologies has caused a stir in the tech industry by selling its China business to rival Didi Chuxing. The deal by Uber came just two days after Beijing legalized the ride-hailing business. It also raised rival Didi to a near-monopoly position in China. Business analysts said the deal has thrown up some essential pointers for investors about what works in the Chinese market, and what does not. There may be useful lessons for the tech industry as a whole, experts said, referring to the controversial model of running money-losing businesses in the hope of future returns. "To some extent, the deal shows the difficulties of foreign companies going up against well-connected Chinese competitors with deep pockets," said Scott Kennedy, deputy director at the Freeman Chair of China Studies in Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said. It also highlighted the "basic challenge of making the ride-hailing business profitable in China." Government Hand Unlike several other business deals involving Chinese companies, there is no indication that the government was involved in encouraging Didi or making life difficult for Uber, many analysts said. "I think Uber China vs. Didi was a fair fight. There wasn't a lot of regulatory or state action favoring any side," said Jeffrey Towson, professor of investment at Peking University Guanghua School of Management. "China's Internet companies today are very fast and sophisticated. Offered mobile services and apps are generally more advanced than those found in the West". Uber was at a disadvantage because it was the last entrant in the Chinese market, and was forced to compete with a rival with strong links with the Internet platforms Alibaba and WeChat, he said. He cited the fact that Expedia gave up on the Chinese market after trying to develop a toehold for 10 years because it was the last entrant in the market. The deal came amid a plunge in the sales of Apple products in China, and the release of new products imitating Apple's design by local rivals like Xiaomi. Xiaomi recently launched an "air" laptop, and a mobile phone with three cameras that go beyond the existing range of iPhones. Prince George's County Public Schools are providing a cheaper option for students to receive the mandatory vaccinations to attend school. Prince Georges County Public Schools are pairing with the Maryland Partnership for Prevention and Kaiser Permanente to provide free immunizations in August. The free immunizations are reserved for students entering kindergarten, grade 7 or repeating grade 9. Prince George's County Public Schools will have a back-to-school fair on August 6 where students may receive free vaccinations. The fair will also have an array of free supplies provided for students. Last year, thousands flocked to the fair to prepare their children for school. All students in Prince Georges County are required to have vaccinations by August 23 -- the first day of the new school year. Students who do not have the vaccination are not permitted to attend school until they do have verification of vaccinations. The required vaccinations are for diseases including polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox and hepatitis B. There are some exceptions. Students with medical conditions or religious beliefs that prevent them from getting vaccinated can apply for an exemption. The vaccinations will be provided at the following times: August 2 to 4 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Northwestern HS Wellness Center 7000 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville August 3 from 4 p.m until 7 p.m. Oxon Hill HS Wellness Center 6701 Leyte Drive, Oxon Hill August 6 from 8 a.m. until noon PGCPS Back-to-School Fair Show Place Arena 14900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro August 1 to 5 and August 8 to 12 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. (Call one of the medical centers below to make an appointment.) Prince George's Medical Center 6525 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville 301-209-6000 Camp Springs Medical Center 6104 Old Branch Avenue, Camp Springs 301-702-6100 What to Know Jonathan Wienke was found with weapons by security officers at Homeland Security headquarters in June. A search of his West Virginia home found multiple illegal weapons, according to court documents. Authorities arrested Wienke in Pennsylvania Friday in relation to the search warrant on his house. A Department of Homeland Security employee accused of taking weapons to work had 19 firearms and 10,000 to 50,000 rounds of ammunition at his home, according to new court filings. Federal government analyst Jonathan Leigh Wienke, 45, is charged with illegally building a silencer on an unregistered pistol and having materials to build more silencers, according to the seven-count grand jury indictment. The charges carry up to a 10-year prison term. Wienke has pleaded not guilty. He had no comment for News4 at his hearing last week. Investigators seized the guns and ammo from Wienke's Martinsburg, West Virginia, home when executing a search warrant there in June, according to the affidavit. Agents also found items in the kitchen consistent with those sometimes used to make improvised explosives, but the items were not considered contraband and not seized. Wienke was found with a gun by security officers while he was on the job at agency headquarters on Nebraska Avenue in northwest D.C., according to court filings obtained by the News4 I-Team. A federal agent and security officers also found Wienke had a knife, pepper spray, thermal imaging equipment and radio devices, according to the request for court permission to raid his home about 75 miles from Washington. The federal charges do not reference Wienkes arrest at DHS headquarters. D.C. prosecutors said they are awaiting the decision of a grand jury before further action is taken in that case. Wienke previously pleaded not guilty in the D.C. case. The feds said in the court filing that Wienke was found in his workspace, which is in close proximity to a meeting of senior agency officials the day of his arrest, and that Wienke was aware of the meeting. In the same court filing, the agent said there was probable cause to believe Jonathan Wienke was conspiring with another to commit workplace violence, and more particularly may have been conspiring or planning to commit violence against the senior DHS officials in the building. But last month, the department's chief security officer, Richard McComb, told a House homeland security subcommittee that there is "no indication" Wienke was "planning or conspiring to commit workplace violence." According to the court filing, Wienke was chosen for a random security screening when he arrived at agency headquarters about 7:30 a.m. June 9. The feds, in their filing, said security officers found the knife, pepper spray, thermal imaging equipment and radio devices during the screening and seized them. But he was allowed to proceed to his office by agency security, according to their court filing. About 90 minutes later, before the meeting of the senior DHS officials near Wienkes work area, security went to Wienke and asked him to undergo another screening, according to the court filing. During that screening, the feds found the loaded gun and the five hollow-point bullets, the filing said. According to the court record, Wienke had a top-secret clearance inside DHS headquarters, a building which has 3,000 employees. Initially he was charged with carrying a pistol without a license. He was placed on administrative leave from his job after his initial arrest, and a judge barred him from entering DHS headquarters while the investigation continues. On July 11, another DHS employee was caught with a gun at headquarters. Thomas Pressley, a contractor who works in IT for the agency, pleaded not guilty. West Nile virus has been detected in a mosquito pool in Prince George's County, Maryland, health and agriculture officials said, the first such pool found in the state this year. Workers collected mosquitoes in Capitol Heights July 19, the Department of Agriculture said in a news release Tuesday. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene confirmed the presence of West Nile virus in those mosquitoes July 27. A truck sprayed the area to control adult mosquitoes, officials said. Health officials urge residents take precautions to reduce their exposure to mosquito bites. Two buildings full of businesses and homes will need to be demolished in Ellicott City, Maryland, after they were severely damaged by raging floodwaters this weekend, officials said Wednesday. A two-story building and a three-story building on Main Street will be demolished, town officials said at a news conference. The homes and businesses have the addresses 8101, 8103, 8107 and 8019. Residents and business owners are not being allowed into the area because the buildings are in danger of collapsing, Howard County Fire Chief John Butler said. Theres no way Im going to put the community in danger, and certainly not the responders on Main Street, he said. If it means that we take a little longer to get it done, well do it. Officials were getting ready to let residents and business owners into the buildings for about 10 minutes on Wednesday to collect essential items when officials learned of the potential impending collapse of the two buildings, Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said. Only one group of people was allowed inside, briefly. Most people were not allowed to enter at all. Fortunately, the buildings will not damage nearby structures when they are demolished, county head of building inspections Bob Frances said. However, he said it is possible other buildings in the area could be damaged. The county could have added supports to the building to prevent its collapse, Kittleman said. But the process may fail because the two buildings extend onto the Tiber River, he said. Kittleman said shoring up the buildings would put workers lives in danger, so the county chose to demolish the buildings instead. If the buildings did collapse, the wreckage could form a dam in the Tiber River and flood Ellicott City again, the fire chief said. Butler said he was also concerned about environmental damage, dust and falling debris from the building. Most of the people who went to their homes and businesses on Wednesday had not been back since floodwaters rushed through the area, NBC4s Chris Gordon said in a Facebook Live video. They were eager to see the damage and salvage some of their belongings. Resident Sydney Kirchhoff and her husband were on their honeymoon when the flood hit. My mom had actually dropped off a lot of stuff from our wedding, she said. So, we really have no idea what to expect at all. Im sure the place is trashed, regardless. Jason Crebs just wanted to pick up some clothing. I only have two shirts right now that I'm just alternating between," he said. Kittleman said he and other officials were working hard to open the area as soon as possible, but he said he will not take any risks. Theres just no way we want to risk anybodys life just so someone can get into a business another day earlier, two days earlier, Kittleman said. As federal officials warn pregnant women to avoid travel to a part of Miami because of the spread of the Zika virus, some airlines are offering Zika-related refunds. The CDC says pregnant women should avoid Miami's Wynwood area, where health officials are investigating at least 15 infections believed to have originated in the area; they would be the first transmitted in the continental United States. American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines all have guidelines on how passengers can change their reservations amid warnings about the virus. JetBlue, for example, says passengers may be eligible for refunds or exchanges if they booked travel on or before August 1 to travel to areas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports are affected by the virus. American Airlines says pregnant women planning travel to Latin American or the Caribbean can request refunds if they provide doctor's notes confirming the pregnancy. Spirit Airlines simply asks travelers to contact them about possible changes to their itineraries if they have concerns about the risk of the virus. Delta has the same policy. Southwest's standard reservation change policy applies. Sarasota, Florida, resident Carrie Collins said at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday that her concerns about the Zika virus were growing. "My community is stay-at-home moms, pregnant moms, lots of small kids, lots of animals, so you pretty much have to live in a screened-in environment," she said. Travelers are advised to check with their air carriers for specific policies. Additionally, officials with the D.C. Metro system also are responding to the virus. Crews are treating low-lying wet areas and fence lines to control the mosquito population. A former Uber driver and Federal Protective Services officer was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for killing another driver while driving drunk in May 2015, the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office said in a statement. Juan Francisco Diana, 35, of Silver Spring, Maryland, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but five years suspended for the crash that killed 50-year-old Diane Corrao of Gaithersburg. Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office Diana will also serve five years of probation, during which he cannot consume alcohol or drugs and he will have an ignition interlock installed on his car. "Two lives were forever linked and two families were forever changed," said Ramon Korionoff, the State's Attorney's Office Public Affairs Director. "A fatal car crash ended the life of Diane Corrao and started the struggle for Juan Diana." Corrao's mother went to court Tuesday morning for the sentencing, where photos of the crash scene and her daughter's body were among the evidence. "I had to do it for my daugher," Doris Corrao she said. Diana was driving his black 2014 Ford Fusion an estimated 84 mph -- with a blood alcohol content level of 0.10 percent -- on Muncaster Mill Road near Rockville the night of May 31, 2015. The road has a posted speed limit of 40 mph. He crossed the road's double yellow lines and slammed head-on into Corrao's Ford Taurus. A 911 call from another driver was part of the evidence against Diana. "There was a black car that flew by us and ran the red light, was driving like incredibly recklessly, speeding very fast, and that was the black car that was involved in the accident," the caller said. "One car, white, the victim's, one car, black, the defendant's," Korionoff said. "A stark contrast where one family will have the shadow of darkness forever hovering over their heads while one hopes a shining light of redemption can overcome this tragedy of death at the hands of their loved one." Diana was off-duty for Uber that night and did not have a previous record. "This [sentence] will hold Mr. Diana accountable and give him time to think about his actions on that late May night in 2015," Korionoff said. Corrao left behind a husband and daughter who is now 12 years old. A man has been arrested in connection to the Fourth of July shooting of an ice cream truck driver in Edmonston, Maryland, police say. Two gunmen shot the driver nine times during an attempted robbery on the property of Berliner Foods wholesale ice cream distributor, police said. The victim survived his injuries. Prince George's County police said 22-year-old Demetrice Littles, of Hyattsville, was arrested when he visited his parole officer. It is not known what Littles has been charged with. Police are still searching for a second suspect. Other ice cream truck drivers at the scene after the shooting told News4 that they often worried about their safety at the lot, where drivers pay about $50 per week to store their vans when they are not in use. Anyone with more information is asked to call police at (301) 699-2601. Men abducted two women off streets in Northeast D.C. and the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest D.C. and sexually assaulted them last week in two separate incidents, police said. In the first case, three men abducted a woman who was walking at Montana and Saratoga avenues NE about 8 a.m. Thursday, investigators said. The men forced the woman into an SUV. "Two gentleman engaged the survivor in conversation, eventually grabbed her off the street and took her to an undisclosed location, where for several days she was sexually assaulted," Lt. John Haines of the Metropolitan Police Department said. She managed to escape and call 911. Three days later, about midnight Sunday, two men grabbed a woman on the 600 block of T Street NW, near The Howard Theatre, and forced her into an SUV, police said. The men sexually assaulted the woman and then let her go, Haines said. Police said they do not believe the two cases are connected. Police released descriptions of the three men wanted in connection to the crime in Northeast D.C. The first is described as a Hispanic man, light complexion, about 38 years old, 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. He has dark hair and a tattoo of a motorcycle with flames and the words, Die, Die, on his neck. The second person is described as a black man, dark complexion, about 38 years old and 6 feet tall, with shoulder-length dreadlocks. He has a tattoo on his right wrist that reads, Wizzy Gang," police said. The third person sought by police is a black man, light complexion and about 22 years old. He has a tattoo of a skull with the words, Murder Gang. Abductions of strangers are rare, Haines said. Anyone with information on the abductions and sexual assaults is asked to call police. China has announced stiff penalties for people caught illegally fishing in Chinese waters, including those it describes as its sovereign areas in the South China Sea. The countrys supreme court on Tuesday said fishermen illegally entering Chinese waters more than once in a year will be subject to fines and up to a year in jail. The court also laid out penalties for harvesting coral or giant clams. Last month, a United Nations-backed court in The Hague ruled that China had no claim to the waters in the South China Sea, including a 200-mile economic zone in the Spratly Islands. Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan has warned of offshore security threats saying China should prepare for a "people's war at sea" in an effort to safeguard national sovereignty. Chang called for a "recognition of the seriousness of the national security situation, especially the threat from the sea," according to the Xinhua news agency. He said the Chinese military, police and people should "prepare for mobilization to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity." Your Notebook remembers Vacation Bible School and our weekly Sunday School. We remember aspects of our early elementary education. And we remember all the gold stars, those tiny, shiny, sticky, glistening rewards given for attendance, achievement or a particular project well done. But the fact is, your Notebook didnt earn many of those stars. We kinda wanted to earn them, as we recall, but we rarely measured up. We hadnt thought about Gold Stars until recently. And we mean real gold stars not the ones given for encouragement, but those given for sacrifice. It is too early to tell, but Gold Star parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan have given to the nation new meaning to those gold stars. You would have to be living in isolation to have missed the uproar over Republican nominee Donald Trumps disdainful dismissal of the Khan parents. Their Muslim son, U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, died in Iraq in 2004, fighting for the country he and his parents so proudly embraced. The elder Khans seven-minute speech without teleprompter at the Democratic National Convention, his wife standing by his side, has electrified much of the nation. Khan scolded Trump for his lumping of all Muslims as potential terrorists. Trump responded by denigrating the mother for not speaking, suggesting she was not allowed to do so. Ghazala Khan has since written that the pain of her sons death even now left her uncertain whether she could even speak in public about the loss, particularly with his photograph emblazoned on a screen behind the couple. And in her follow-up Washington Post commentary, she wrote, Donald Trump has asked why I did not speak at the Democratic convention. He said he would like to hear from me. Here is my answer to Donald Trump: Because without saying a thing, all the world, all America, felt my pain. I am a Gold Star mother. Whoever saw me felt me in their heart. Although she could not speak with her broken heart, she conveyed her thoughts clearly in words. Donald Trump said that maybe I wasnt allowed to say anything. That is not true. My husband asked me if I wanted to speak, but I told him I could not. My religion teaches me that all human beings are equal in Gods eyes. Husband and wife are part of each other; you should love and respect each other so you can take care of the family. Thats right: Ghazala Khan is a Gold Star Mother. The official organization, The Gold Star Mothers, Inc., is located right here in the District. The organization is nonpartisan. It is named after the ritual of putting a gold star in the window of a family whose son had died in war. We are a Veterans Service Organization, established in 1928 and chartered by the United States Congress in 1984, its website reads. American Gold Star Mothers continue to honor our sons and daughters through service service to veterans and patriotic events. If you have lost a child in the service to our country and would like the community of others in your situation, we invite you to join. No one knows how you feel like another mother who has lost a child. Few also would know how it feels to be a Gold Star family held up to insult by a major partys candidate for president. We can only wonder what will be discussed when the American Gold Star Mothers hold their annual weekend here Sept. 23. Candy Martin of San Antonio is the current president of the group that was founded by distraught mother Grace Darling Seibold. She wanted to turn her personal grief into help and recognition for families that had lost a child to war. Families are casualties, too. In her acceptance speech posted on the groups website, Martin asked for a favor from all Americans. While many people spontaneously say to veterans and servicemen, Thank you for your service, Martin had a different request. Reach out! Please extend your hand of friendship to a fellow Gold Star Mother, she said. We all know there are thousands of Gold Star Mothers, and I find it sad that not everyone feels the camaraderie we do with our membership in American Gold Star Mothers. Just think of the possibilities of outreach to our veterans and their families if we had more active members. Perhaps Trump can call a truce on this subject. Accused by many of megalomania, he has doubled down on never apologizing, hitting back harder than he has been hit. Trump himself has cast the world and this presidential race as either winners or losers. Surely, the members of Gold Star Mothers of America, no matter their heritage, are deserving of respect for their searing loss of sons and daughters. Thats not political; thats decency. The Gold Star organization can be reached at goldstarmoms.com. Its offices are located off Connecticut Avenue NW just north of Dupont Circle. Volunteers are welcome. Sour Orange? At-large D.C. Council member Vincent Orange was defeated for re-election. His term expires Jan. 2, 2017, five months from now. Orange has created a growing firestorm over accepting a new job as head of the DC Chamber of Commerce, a position from which he will lobby for the organizations many members. Orange told us his new job starts Aug. 15. He says hes checking with city and council ethics lawyers to avoid any conflicts. But what may be legally permissible holding an elected post and a private job as business lobbyist may be untenable politically. On the WAMU Kojo Nnamdi Politics Hour last Friday, at-large members Elissa Silverman and David Grosso both questioned Oranges decision. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has to decide if Orange should even keep his chairmanship of the Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. It would seem the mere name of the committee suggests a rampant conflict. What will Orange do? What will the council members do? What will Mendelson do? Nothing may not be an option. Tom Sherwood, a Southwest resident, is a political reporter for News 4. Earth's fever got worse last year, breaking dozens of climate records, scientists said in a massive report nicknamed the annual physical for the planet. Soon after 2015 ended, it was proclaimed the hottest on record. The new report shows the broad extent of other records and near-records on the planet's climatic health. Those include record heat energy absorbed by the oceans and lowest groundwater storage levels globally, according to Tuesday's report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "I think the time to call the doctor was years ago," NOAA climate monitoring chief Deke Arndt, co-editor of the report, said in an email. "We are awash in multiple symptoms." The 2015 State of the Climate report examined 50 different aspects of climate, including dramatic melting of Arctic sea ice and glaciers worldwide. A dozen different nations set hottest year records, including Russia and China. South Africa had the hottest temperature ever recorded in the month of October: 119.1 degrees Fahrenheit (48.4 degrees Celsius). "There is really only one word for this parade of shattered climate records: grim," said Georgia Tech climate scientist Kim Cobb, who wasn't part of the report, but called it "exhaustive and thorough." But it's more than just numbers on a graph. Scientists said the turbo-charged climate affected walrus and penguin populations and played a role in dangerous algae blooms, such as one off the Pacific Northwest coast. And there were brutal heat waves all over the world, with ones in Indian and Pakistan killing thousands of people. Much of the intense record-breaking and record-flirting weather was because of a combination of a natural El Nino the periodic warming of parts of the Pacific that changes weather globally and ever increasing man-made global warming. "This impacts people. This is real life," said NOAA climate scientist Jessica Blunden, co-editor of the report published Tuesday in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Oklahoma University meteorology professor Jason Furtado said in an email that the report, which he wasn't part of, illustrates the combined power of nature and humans on Earth's climate: "It was like injecting an already amped-up climate system with a dose of (natural) steroids." About 450 scientists from around the world helped write the report and in it NOAA highlighted one of the lesser-known measurements, ocean heat content. About 93 percent of the heat energy trapped by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide from the burning of coal, oil and gas goes directly into the ocean, the report said. And ocean heat content hit record levels both near the surface and deep. NOAA oceanographer Gregory C. Johnson, a study co-author, said the oceans are storing more heat energy because of man-made climate change with an extra El Nino spike. Johnson summed up Earth's climate in a haiku, published deep inside the report: "El Nino waxes, warm waters shoal, flow eastward, Earth's fever rises." As Republican loyalists continue to flee, Donald Trump ignited new party tensions by refusing to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan or a pair of senators seeking re-election, a remarkable display of party division just three months before Election Day. The Republican presidential nominee told The Washington Post Tuesday he's "just not quite there yet," when asked about an endorsement of Ryan, who faces a primary election next week. In doing so, he echoed the House speaker's comments of almost three months earlier, when the Wisconsin congressman was initially reluctant to embrace Trump as his party's standard bearer. A top GOP source told NBC News Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus is "apopletic" over Trump's refusal to back Ryan and Sen. John McCain. Priebus called several Trump staffers to express his "extreme displeasure" with the nominee's comments and there was talk Tuesday that key Republicans could come out against Trump, the source said. Trump's statement comes amid intense fallout over his criticism of the family of the late Capt. Humayun Khan, a U.S. Army soldier who died in Iraq in 2004. Indeed, just two weeks after a Republican National Convention that tried to focus on party unity, the Trump-driven rifts inside the GOP appear to be intensifying. Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman came out in support of Hillary Clinton late Tuesday, saying that even as a Republican she could not support Trump, who she called a "demagogue," CNBC reported. Hours earlier, retiring New York Rep. Richard Hanna became the first Republican member of Congress to say he will vote for Clinton in November instead of Trump. "He is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country," Hanna wrote in a column published in The Post-Standard newspaper of Syracuse, New York. "He is unrepentant in all things." Also Tuesday, the woman who helped shape New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's national image declared that she's voting for Clinton. "As someone who has worked to further the Republican Party's principles for the last 15 years, I believe that we are at a moment where silence isn't an option," former Christie senior aide Maria Comella told CNN. They join dozens of high-profile GOP leaders who have previously said they would not vote for Trump, including the party's 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. A day earlier, Sally Bradshaw, an architect of the Republican National Committee's 2013 "Growth and Opportunity" report, said she's leaving the GOP. While not a household name, her decision to leave the party rocked those who make politics their profession. Bradshaw was one of the five senior Republican strategists tasked with identifying the party's shortcomings and recommending ways it could win the White House after its losing 2012 presidential campaign. She said she will vote for the Democratic nominee if the race in her home state of Florida appears close come Election Day. "Trump has moved in exactly the opposite direction from our recommendations on how to make the party more inclusive," said Ari Fleischer, who worked with Bradshaw on the GOP's so-called post-election autopsy and was a senior adviser to President George W. Bush. Fleischer still supports Trump over Clinton. But Bradshaw and Comella are among a group of top Republican operatives, messengers, national committee members and donors who continue to decry Trump's tactics, highlighting almost daily with fewer than 100 days before the election the fissures created by the billionaire and his takeover of the party. Veterans and families of fallen soldiers continue to call on Trump to apologize for his treatment of the Khan family, who spoke out against Trump at last week's Democratic National Convention. Trump said the grieving father had "no right" to criticize him, only later acknowledging their son is a hero. "If @realDonaldTrump wants to be the Commander in Chief, he needs to act like one. And that can't start until he apologizes to the Khans," Dakota Meyer, one of a handful of living Medal of Honor recipients and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's son-in-law, wrote Tuesday on Twitter. Trump invited more tension Tuesday when he told The Washington Post he's not ready to endorse Ryan in next week's Republican primary contest against Paul Nehlen, praising the underdog for running "a very good campaign." Tensions were already running high between the two high-profile Republicans, who will have to work together closely should Trump win the presidency. Said Ryan's campaign spokesman Zack Roday, "Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement. And we are confident in a victory next week regardless." In the Post interview, Trump also declined to support the re-election of Arizona Sen. John McCain and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte. Both had been among Trump's harshest critics in the wake of his comments about the Khan family, particularly McCain, a former prisoner of war who said Trump did not have "unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us." McCain is a locked in a three-way race ahead of an August 30 primary. The primary for Ryan's House seat is next week and Ayotte's primary is next month. All three have said they would support Trump as the GOP presidential nominee. The Arizona senator and 2008 GOP nominee also reiterated Wednesday that he is not going back on his pledge to support Trump as the Republican Party's presidential nominee, despite Trump's recents comments. McCain declined to address Trump's statements that he would not support McCain's re-election because he hasn't done enough to help veterans. Christie, the New Jersey governor, continues to be one of Trump's biggest supporters. But Comella, his former aide, said the very survival of the party depends on stopping the celebrity businessman. "Instead of speaking out against instances of bigotry, racism and inflammatory rhetoric, whether it's been against women, immigrants or Muslims, we made a calculus that it was better to say nothing at all in the interest of politics and winning elections," she told CNN. "For me, if our party has a future, we have to change that trajectory and lead by example." For Republicans like Ryan, McCain and Ayotte, renouncing Trump might not yield much benefit beyond ensuring more headlines connecting them to Trump, something most want to avoid. Instead, vulnerable Senate Republicans like Ayotte and McCain are trying to focus on running their own races and hoping voters will make a distinction between them and Trump, something some polls suggest may be happening. "I call it like I see it, and I'm always going to stand up for our military families and what's best for the people of New Hampshire," was all Ayotte would say. For his part, Trump sent a Twitter post from @realDonaldTrump early Wednesday proclaiming, "There is greater unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before." Associated Press writers Julie Bykowicz, Jonathan Lemire and Bob Christie contributed to this report from Washington. Police in Laconia, New Hampshire, say two suspects have been arrested and another is sought following an armed home invasion Tuesday night. The incident happened at an apartment at 93 Church St. The callers reported the suspects restrained the victims on the floor during the robbery. Officers arrived and gave chase to two suspects who fled on foot. Police located their vehicle and eventually found them hiding in a basement of a multi-family home on Howard Street. The suspects, identified as Ryan Chase, of Moultonboro, and Zachary Estevez, of Laconia, were each charged with Armed Robbery. Both suspects will be arraigned on Wednesday. It wasn't immediately clear if they had attorneys. Police continue to seek the third suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call police. Police in Vermont say the second suspect in a hate-motivated assault was arrested Wednesday morning. Brattleboro police say officers responded to Elliot Street Sunday evening around 9 p.m. for a report of an assault, where they found two victims. Police say a male victim was randomly attacked and repeatedly struck with a beer bottle, while a female passerby was attacked because she was black. The suspects, a man identified as Patrick Wayne Poillon and a woman later identified as Mariam J. Belarj, allegedly shouted racial slurs as they assaulted the female, who police say is black. The suspects ran away, and the victims were treated for non-life threatening injuries, according to police. State and county police helped Brattleboro track down Belarj, although it's not clear where she was arrested. Belarj, 20, was held on bail after being arrested on a slew of charges, including hate-motivated disorderly conduct, aggravated assault, assault and robbery and possession of stolen property. It's unclear if she has an attorney or when her arraignment is scheduled. Poillon was apprehended on Elliot Street early Wednesday morning. He was held on bail and was charged with assault and battery, aggravated disorderly conduct, hate motivated crime, simple assault and resisting arrest. It's unclear if he has an attorney. Police are searching for a man believed to have robbed two businesses Tuesday night in Billerica, Massachusetts. According to the Lowell Sun, the man appeared to use the same knife to rob a liquor store and convenience store back to back. The first robbery occurr ed around 9 p.m. at 129 Liquors, located at 252 Salem Route, near Route 129. According to police-radio broadcasts, the man pulled out a large hunting knife. Police responded to the liquor store while another robbery occurred at Jim's Quick Stop located at 502 Boston Road around 9:15 p.m. The stores are about three miles apart. Police said no one was injured in the robberies but a female clerk at the convenience store was transported to a local hospital to be evaluated because she was shaken by the robbery. Police believe the same suspect robbed both locations based on his description. He was described as a white male in a gray sweatshirt with a large hunting knife. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Billerica Police Department. The owner and operator of "Boston Cab" will pay a hefty restitution fee, after being charged with payroll tax evasion. Edward Tutunjian, who has operated Boston Cab for four decades, was also charged with employing undocumented workers and failing to pay overtime wages. Tutunjian, 66, is accused of hiding the size of his company payroll from the IRS. He has signed a plea agreement. He and his company are expected to pay more than $2.3 million in restitution. Most people don't look up a restaurant's food safety history online before grabbing a bite to eat but soon you won't have to research to know what's happening in the kitchen. The ABC's of food safety are about to take over Boston restaurants, food trucks and cafeterias. The city's inspectional services department is working on a grading system similar to other in major cities like New York. For people out of town to come see these when I go to New York City, you see a grade, you go in, you don't see a grade you don't go in, said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. In New York, those grades are posted in the front of the restaurant. The Boston plan doesn't require that it be front and center but it will have to be visible. And Walsh wants to make sure restaurants comply so he is proposing a 300-dollar a day fine to restaurants and food trucks that don't. Food trucks especially because some are great but others it just smells and you're like 'what the heck is going on in there, said Maria Bellalta of Boston. But some worry the simplified approach won't reflect the complexities of the city's health code. Diners would have to go online to read detailed reports. I think it gives you something, at least an initial gauge, said Aidan Ackerman of Boston. We have a lot of restaurants in the city that are clean restaurants it's just another way to make sure people go into a restaurant that's well maintained, said Mayor Marty Walsh. The proposed fine will go before the Boston City Council on Wednesday. The grading system is still in the works and restaurants would have a year after it's implemented to comply. A man who took hostages at a New Hampshire Hillary Clinton campaign office back in 2007 has been arrested for bank robbery. Leeland Eisenberg, 55, of Concord, was arrested on Tuesday. Manchester Police said they responded to a bank robbery at Citizens Bank at 875 Elm St. shortly after noon on Tuesday. A man wearing dark pants, a blue jacket and eyeglasses and sunglasses on his head allegedly entered the bank and handed the teller a note demanding cash. He fled on foot in an unknokwn direction after receiving an undisclosed amount of cash. Texas Rangers Based on video surveillance from the bank, police issued an arrest warrant for Eisenberg. Around 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, two police officers spotted Eisenberg in the area of the Valley Street Cemetery and took him into custody without incident. He was found in possession of a small amount of cash and 6.5 grams of crack cocaine. In addition to the bank robbery charge, Eisenberg is charged with possession of a controlled drug. He was arraigned on Wednesday afternoon via telephone from Catholic Medical Center, though it was not clear why he was there. "We do not deny anyone the right to medical treatment at any time during the booking process," said Manchester Police Lt. Brian O'Keefe. Eisenberg was ordered held on $25,000 cash bail. The suspect spent about two years behind bars for the November 2007 siege at Clinton's Rochester campaign office in which he claimed to have a bomb. No one was hurt in the five-hour standoff and the bomb turned out to be road flares. At his arraignment, his lawyer portrayed Eisenberg as a man at the end of his rope emotionally after being repeatedly turned down when he sought psychiatric help. Eisenberg "heard voices and saw a movie in his head telling him he had to sacrifice himself" to shine light on the flaws in the health care system, his attorney said. Eisenberg was released on probation in November 2009. His first violation occurred soon after his release, when he failed to charge his monitoring bracelet. He was incarcerated in January 2010 after failing to take mandatory alcohol breath tests. Eisenberg escaped Sunday, was found Monday in Manchester, NH In February 2010, he cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet and fled, a day after being given a last chance at freedom by a judge who released him despite multiple probation violations. He was found in his Dover apartment the next day. Leeland Eisenberg, who took hostages in 2007, escaped from a minimum security facility on Sunday Eisenberg was released on parole in 2014 but then jailed again last year after making threats to blow up buildings in Manchester. Jeffrey Lyons, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections, said Eisenberg was released on parole on June 7. His 3-1/2 to 7 year sentences for criminal threatening and false reporting of explosives were set to end on Feb. 7, 2017. Then he would have begun serving a 2-year probation for his 2014 escape conviction. Eisenberg's long criminal record also includes two rape convictions. In Winthrop, Maine, the community is appalled by an apparent attack on veterans: a food truck that benefits veterans' groups has been vandalized with feces. Someone wrote "F*** you veterans, you die" with human waste on the side of the food truck, according to members of the local American Legion and VFW post. Police are looking for the person or people responsible. "I want them to know they really hurt people, and they disrespected a lot of people," said Tina Bowden, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary who discovered the damage Thursday morning. She said the attack was more than a sick message: the vandals also caused about $400 in damage by cutting the power cord to the truck. Freezers and refrigerators full of food spoiled overnight. "I mean we're working for free, we're volunteers, I'm a disabled vet," said food truck manager John Brennan. He said the food truck is a major fundraiser for the American Legion and VFW posts, and they only turn a modest profit each week. All of the money supports veterans' causes in the community. "The Legion is a big part of town," said Winthrop Police Lt. Dan Cook. He is asking the public to come forward with any tips about suspicious activity near Maranacook Lake late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. "Even if it's anonymous, it's something we can look at," said Lt. Cook. As word of the vandalism spreads, people have been stopping by the food truck to show their support and provide donations. "It warms my heart, after having it broken," said Brennan. He hopes those responsible are brought to justice, and that they learn an important lesson. "Whoever did this needs to learn where their freedom comes from." Japan in its latest defense white paper puts an exceptionally high estimate on North Korea's nuclear capabilities, possibly to justify a push for rearmament. Japan's Defense Ministry publishes the white paper every year with estimates of the security threats faced by the country. "Had the Taepodong 2-derived ballistic missile been used for its original purpose, its range would have possibly reached more than 10,000 km on the premise that the weight of its warhead was less than 1 ton," the white paper claims. That would place Los Angeles and Denver within the range of North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles. The ministry said North Korea "may" have succeeded in miniaturizing a nuclear warhead through technological developments achieved via four nuclear tests, and could conduct additional missile tests to prove the technology. "Changes in the balance of power" due to North Korea's provocations and China's military expansion are cited as the biggest threats to security in Northeast Asia. The white paper refers to the North Korean threat as a "grave and urgent" while accusing China of attempting "unilateral and uncompromising" moves in the South China Sea. One diplomatic source said, "There is an implied view that the fundamental cause of tensions in Northeast Asia is Chinese hegemony, while North Korea has become a concrete and specific threat." A probable cause hearing was postponed Wednesday for the man accused of shooting and killing a Stoneham, Massachusetts, firefighter while playing with a gun. Patrick O'Connor, 23, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and said the shooting death of his childhood friend David Atherton, 23, was an accident. Initial investigation suggests the two were drinking and passing a gun back and forth, pointing it at each other. Officials believe the shooting was a result of this behavior. O'Connor was charged with involuntary manslaughter, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm. Atherton was buried with full military and fire department honors. A Salem, Massachusetts, woman who was nearly killed during a savage attack by a man with alleged ties to a jail house gang is out of the hospital and speaking out. Sarah Turner is now permanently blind in one eye, will be out of work for possibly the next year, and is dealing with mounting medical bills. Ill never have the vision in my left eye back, Turner said. I could have died. If I didnt fight back, I could have died. Turner said there are days when she wonders why she was brutally attacked. I really dont know. I have like flashes of memory, she said. Im still going to the doctor every day. My jaw is still wired shut. I still have more surgeries: The 28-year-old says she wants to recover and face the man who allegedly did this to her. He needs to be put away, Turner said. This could have happened to anybody. Authorities say Peter Turco, 39, walked into her apartment last month and went on a savage rampage. It was determined by a doctor that there was some type of edged weapon that this defendant used in this assault, said the prosecutor. Turco was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, mayhem and home invasion. He is being held without bail. The motive still remains unclear since Turner barely knew him. But police said Turco may have been sent by her ex-boyfriend who met him through the Crazy White Boys jail house gang. Turco was just released from the jail before this attack. Before she was attacked, Turner worked as a house keeper at an assisted living facility in Salem where the elderly residents said she is like family. We will be there for her in any way that we can, said one woman at the facility. She will always have a job here. While turner was in the hospital, more than 100 people came out for a fundraiser with #SalemStandsWithSarah. Turners sister Shannon has been helping during the recovery while the community continues to come together to bring healing and the strength to move forward. Thank you, for all the support, Turner said. Meanwhile, Turco's next court date is August 17. A grand jury will consider indicting him on more serious charges. Anyone wishing to contribute to Turners medical bills can do so on the gofundme page that her family set up for her. The Facebook page to support her can be found here. Boston's plan to put body cameras on police officers has received mixed reviews. While one civil rights group says the city fails on its proposed plan, Boston is not alone. In fact, Upturn and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights say the Boston plan is part of what they call a "nationwide failure" when it comes to civil rights. Police across the country are implementing body cameras amid growing concerns about accountability and transparency after fatal police shootings. Police in Methuen, Massachusetts, use them. By the end of the month, up to 100 Boston police officers will wear them. Harlan Yu is among those who evaluated 50 police departments around the country on an 8 point "policy scorecard." "Accountability does not come automatically just because a police department decides to buy and adopt body cameras," Yu said, citing some concerns. Boston Police failed five of eight categories: Not making the body camera policy publicly available on its website conceding "presumably because the program is still in a pilot stage" Encouraging officers to view footage before writing their reports Not limiting retention of footage during the pilot program Lack of protection against tampering and misuse officers who wear the cameras don't need a supervisor's permission to look at video, but other officers do. Making footage available to those "filing police misconduct complaints" Boston partially passes in two areas: Clearly describing when officers record Addressing personal privacy officers are required to notify you are being record and they're allowed to stop recording in sensitive situations The only category Boston Police were commended for was limits on biometric technologies like facial recognition. "Boston has one of the perhaps facial recognition provisions from across the country," Yu said. "They outright prohibit the use of facial recognition together with body worn cameras. We think that is a policy other departments across the country need to emulate." The report says due to concerns from civil rights groups, leading departments like Boston "have begun to sharply limit" the use of the technologies. After requesting comment from the mayor's office and the police commissioner's office, necn Investigates has received no response. Monday, Mayor Marty Walsh granted $137,000 for the six-month pilot program. The body camera issue will be discussed at Wednesdays city council meeting. The Boston Fire Department has determined the cause of the massive fire that tore through a condominium complex in Charlestown on July 21. According to the department, the most likely cause of the 6-alarm fire was careless disposal of smoking material. There was no propane grill in the building. No one was injured in the fire, however, one firefighter was transported to the hospital for heat exhausion. The fire caused millions of dollars of damages. A missing 18-year-old has been found dead in Wilmington, Massachusetts, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan. The body of an adult female believed to be Ira Jaan Simbulan of North Andover was located around 10 a.m. in the area of Glen Road, where she was last seen on Monday night. Wilmington Police The district attorney's office say the preliminary investigation does not indicate foul play. Wilmington Police and members of the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council met on Wednesday morning to search for Simbulan. She had last been seen in the area of 12 Glen Road in Wilmington around 5:30 p.m. Monday. Search Continues for Missing Wilmington, Mass., Woman Simbulan was a student at Babson College in Wellesley. The college issued a statement saying that it is "saddened" by the news of her death. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends, and all members of the Babson College community mourning the loss of this extraordinary young woman." The school said it is making counseling services and other support resources available to students, faculty and staff. The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office and Wilmington Police. Police in Augusta, Maine, are searching for a suspect who broke into a home and pretended to be a police officer. According to necn-affiliate WCSH, the man forced his way into an apartment on Northern Avenue early Wednesday morning. The man struggled with residents and eventually fled on foot. Augusta officers, along with the Maine State Police attempted to locate the suspect but were unable to find him. He is described as a male wearing a black mask and large hoodie. The suspect was carrying a firearm and claimed to be an officer. Officers believe this was not a random act and that the suspect was attempting to get money and drugs. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Augusta Police Department. Police in Salem, Massachusetts, and around the country gathered on Tuesday for 'National Night Out,' an annual program to build relationships with people in their communities. In Salem, a large gathering was held on Salem Common so that police officers could show the public exactly what their job entails. This is a great event where the community is out here having fun and enjoying with families, said attendee, Jhoan Vago. I think it's great for both ways, not only us who live in the city, but police officers also, said attendee, Gulsen Bekler. This year's event came during a turbulent time for police nationwide, as officers across the country have been killed and relationships with police have been volatile. They may get a bad rap, but overall, they're just looking to help, they're not looking to hurt anybody, said attendee, Rich Kraby. On Sunday night in Salem, two men were arrested - one for allegedly shouting obscenities at police and making a reference to police shootings across the country. I think there was a little rhetoric coming out of them, said Salem Police Chief Mary Butler. Despite one of the men having an police scanner app on his phone to hear exactly where Salem police officers were located, Butler said she doesn't believe their intent was to harm officers. Police said a search of the car did turn up a loaded rifle and handgun. We work in a really great community, but it's one of those things that you don't know, we've had an experience in April of this year where one of our officers was shot at, so it is problematic, it does put you a little on edge as an officer responding to calls, said Butler. Butler said overall, they've been fortunate to not experience what other places in the country have, but she said they've made some changes to their policing in the wake of the unrest. It's a little bit different now how we handle things in terms of making sure there's back up and people around and people able to handle whatever is going on, said Butler. Both men who were arrested Monday night are being held without bail on gun and drug charges until their arraignment. The Boston Public Schools have released the results of its investigation into allegations about bias-based conduct at the Boston Latin School. The audit examined 115 allegations and concluded that in six cases an administrator failed to "appropriately investigate, document and/or take steps to prevent recurrences of bias-based conduct." It also said that several teachers and students failed to follow district policy pertaining to bias-based conduct. "What they did find is that there's a problem, there's been a problem and is a problem at that school," Boston NAACP President Michael Curry told the Boston Herald. It's been a difficult time at the prestigious school, as racial tension has swept through the halls. "They did not take racism seriously," Curry said. According to an investigation by Boston Public Schools, there were 115 allegations of bias-based conduct at Boston Latin School in just two years. "It's been going on for a while, the racism," said parent Rosalind Wornum, who says her daughter was the victim of racial insensitivity because of a teacher's words. Former Boston Latin headmaster Lynne Mooney Teta and assistant headmaster Malcolm Flynn resigned in June amid an ongoing federal investigation. The school department said Teta resigned for personal reasons, but there had been calls for her to step down after a group posted to social media citing racial discontent at the school. An earlier school district investigation said the school failed to adequately respond to a student's threat to lynch a 15-year-old black classmate. Tommy Chang, the superintendent of Boston Public Schools, said in a letter to the Boston Latin community on Wednesday that he will continue to focus on supporting students, parents, staff and administrators "as we move forward as a community to foster and sustain an environment where all feel valued and can flourish." What should future leaders of Boston Latin School do to improve the schools racial climate? Rahsaan Hall, director of the Racial Justice Program at the ACLU of Massachusetts and Michael Curry, president of NAACPs Boston chapter, weigh in. He said the school district has a "moral obligation" to ensure that all of its schools are "safe and inviting places" for every student. "The racial, cultural and linguistic identity of every student must be honored," Chang said. "In recent months, we have taken important steps to support Boston Latin School in this endeavor." The report indicates that in seven cases, students are to blame for racial insensitivity to their peers. The next step will be to develop a plan that addresses the recommendations included in the audit. Curry hopes that a new leader and a new school year will lead to a better understanding of race relations. "I believe that things will return to a higher standard around racial insensitivity and discipline and respect for all students," he said. "Our goal as a district is to work toward increasing diversity and opportunities for all of our students at our three exam schools," Chang said. "This will be a major focus as we move forward." Mayor Marty Walsh said, "any incident of racial bias in our schools is unacceptable, and that's why we have implemented a reporting system that will ensure that every student's voice is heard. I am confident that the new leadership at Boston Latin will ensure all students are in an environment where they feel safe to learn." Swimmers were ordered out of the water on Martha's Vineyard's South Beach after a reported shark sighting on Wednesday afternoon. Lifeguards and swimmers said they spotted a fin off shore around 2 p.m. Two shark sightings were reported on Wednesday within hours of each other, but it isn't clear if it might have been the same shark. Swimmers were allowed back into the water around 3 p.m. The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing to monitor the situation. The Vineyard Gazette is reporting that the shark that was spotted was an 8-foot-long hammerhead. Tony LaCasse of the New England Aquarium said hammerhead sharks are spotted off the Massachusetts coast every summer in small numbers. Bishop to sail to annual Broadland service 2016: The Rt Rev Graham James, Abbot of St Benets and Bishop of Norwich will arrive by boat on Sunday August 7 for the annual service at St Benets Abbey near Ludham on the Norfolk Broads, and all are welcome to come along. Tony Rothe reports. The service starts at 3.30pm, and the bishop, who will be preaching at the service, is expected to arrive and leave by boat on the River Bure, as is his custom each year. Bishop Graham said "St Benet's Abbey was one of the great centres of Christian life in Norfolk until the Reformation. The site is an oasis of peace even now, and on the first Sunday in August we worship in the open air, witnessing to the enduring love of Christ and to the unity of Christians. This annual ecumenical event provides a special way of honouring a holy place and continuing the Christian witness on the Broads in our own generation." The Abbey of St Benet at Holme was the only Norfolk monastery founded in the Anglo-Saxon period which continued in use throughout the Middle Ages but was largely abandoned after the closure of the monastery in the 1530s, because of its inaccessible location. The only remaining buildings are the gatehouse and the wind pump later built onto it. The surviving ruins and earthwork remains however, show how the site was laid out, and much important evidence remains below the ground. The abbey can be reached by road by leaving the A1062 at Johnson Street in Ludham, and following signposts to St Benets. Only cars carrying disabled people will be allowed on the abbey site. Public parking will be in adjacent fields and therefore on uneven surfaces. Visitors may arrive by boat the abbey is on the River Bure, just downstream from the mouth of the Ant. For more info, contact the convener of the Brothers of St Benets on 01692 630244 The image of the Bishop of Norwich arriving by wherry at the 2015 service is taken from the Churches Together on the Broads website . Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in East Norfolk? The Environment Ministry canceled the sales authorization of 80 models the German carmaker sold here since 2007 after the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office last month gave it a list of cars whose exhaust and noise test results were doctored. Authorities plan to conduct further tests of 83,000 Audis, Bentleys and Volkswagens sold in Korea for possible inconsistencies. The government on Tuesday suspended sales of 80 Volkswagen models and fined the German carmaker W17.8 billion for falsifying emissions data (US$1=W1,111). Most of them were still in Audi or Volkswagen showrooms here recently. Even cars waiting to be unloaded at a port in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province will either have to be shipped back to Germany or stored indefinitely at the dockyard. It has now become virtually impossible for the German automaker to sell cars here. In November, Volkswagen was slapped with a sales ban covering 126,000 cars after it cheated on emissions tests. Adding the 83,000 vehicles now brings the total to 209,000, or roughly 68 percent of the 307,000 cars the automaker has sold here since 2007. The government also fined Volkswagen W17.8 billion. Under revised environmental laws that went into effect late last month, the maximum fine violators face has been raised from W1 billion to W10 billion per model, but the change came too late to affect the ongoing case. A ministry official said, "Volkswagen voluntarily halted sales on July 25, before the new law went into effect. We were told by our legal advisers that we can't apply it retroactively." By smartly halting sales at the 11th hour Volkswagen avoided a fine of W68 billion. Volkswagen can reapply for sales authorization with correct data, which usually takes two weeks to three months but could take longer given the automaker's blotted record. Lynn church opens doors with prayer stations Lynn church opens doors with prayer stations Next week, as part of Norwich Diocese Open Churches Week, St Faiths Church in Gaywood will be open at special times, welcoming people into their beautiful building with special prayer stations to inspire quiet reflection. After ignoring a Congressional directive for more than three years, as well as an FCC commissioners direct request, the General Services Administration (GSA) finally produced a report on the status of 911 dialing in federal buildings. Despite the long delay, the content and quality of the report were disappointing at best. On Feb. 22, 2012, the Middle-Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 was passed as Public Law 112-96. As with many bills, the law covered a broad array of topics, one of them being the establishment of a national public safety broadband network expanding high-speed wireless broadband and improving communications interoperability among first responders. Within this section, the law also required that the GSA audit and produce a report on the 911 capabilities of multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) used in the almost 10,000 federal buildings and facilities under their control. The GSA report The GSA was given nine months to complete the audit and then deliver a status report outlining their findings to Congress. That report was due Nov. 18, 2012, and should have included an inventory of facilities and the 911 calling capabilities that existed in them. There was no requirement to correct any found deficiencies or invest in capital equipment or software. The report was intended to assess the risk to federal employees in federal buildings. Unfortunately, no report was produced, and the ability to summon emergency services by federal employees in federal facilities remained unknown as the November deadline slipped by unnoticed. Fast-forward a year later: 1,200 miles away in a Marshall, Texas, hotel room, Hank Hunt loses his daughter Kari in a tragic murder. During the horrific confrontation, Hanks 9-year-old granddaughter attempted to dial 911 four times to reach help for her mother but was met with what she describes as "static." After the event, Hank started on his mission to educate MLTS telephone system owners, as well as advocate for state initiatives and legislation requiring the direct access to 911 and on-site notification, features many MLTS have built in but are often left turned off by installers. In January 2014, I was asked to meet with FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai and his staff to discuss MLTS 911 technology and what could be done to prevent further similar tragedies. The commissioners research instigated a test of the FCCs MLTS system. Attempting to dial 911 from his office, Commissioner Pai stated, When you pick up a phone and dial 911, this is what you hear: Your call cannot be completed as dialed. Please consult your directory and call again or ask your operator for assistance. This is a recording. Forget the beef, where's the report? Clearly, this deficiency would, and should have been evident had the GSA took the Congressional order seriously and the audit report been produced. Frustrated over the missing report, on March 11, 2015, Commissioner Pai wrote to Denise Turner Roth, Acting Administrator of the GSA, inquiring about the existence of the report. In this inquiry, Turner Roth was asked for either a copy of the report or a status when she would complete the report. In response, the only thing the commissioner got from his inquiry was identical to the report itself: "radio silence." Several others, in addition to the commissioner, made requests to the GSA for this document, including myself, reporters from Texas and Hank Hunt. Finally, after nagging, on June 29, 20161,319 days, or three years and seven monthsafter the initial due date, Hank finally received the GSA's report, along with copies of letters indicating it was delivered to Congress on Feb. 29, 2016, fulfilling the GSA duties of Public Law 112-96. After several years of work, and 10,000 facilities to review, you would expect a substantial and voluminous report. What did the report include? Twenty pages of mostly filler and fluff, including information not even relevant to the inquiry, such as ANI/ALI Tariff charges from the various local exchange carriers and a detailed summary of how ALI works, complete with graphics produced by myself over six years ago. It looks to be the work of an intern and a few Google inquiries. The information that was supposed to be there was mostly missing. Instead of the nearly 10,000 federal facilities listed, only a sparse index of 84 locations where reported. Of these 84 buildings listed, direct 911 dialing worked in less than 18 percent of the systemsdespite the fact that at least 90 percent or more of them were capable of the functionality based on their manufacturer. Additionally, On-Site Notification, a feature also built into nearly every MLTS PBX reported, was not activated in any of the systems. In fact, it was noted that a separate phone call must be placed to notify building security advising them of any 911 activity. History repeats itself Once again, history has proven that the E911 problem knows no boundaries. It affects schools, businesses, hotels and any other commercial facility using a multi-line telephone system. Admittedly, while surveying the 9,600 properties under the control of GSA was a large complex task, the mandate was to produce a report on the scope and expanse of the problem, not provide any remediation tasks. It is only with this report that the risk can be understood and then an assessment made. If nothing else, awareness of the problem would have been raised, and each new federal facility opened or upgraded in the past three years should have had this requirement addressed. The problem is well known and documented, and to ignore it at this point is simply foolish and borderline egregious. Fix it for free If the GSA is responsible for facilities and the technology, I am certain this would also include maintenance coverage for "break-fix" issues that come up from time to time. I will offer the point of view that if my phone system will not dial 911 effectively and report the proper information to local emergency services personnel, then that system is broken and should be fixed. Based on this, that would be a maintenance issue and not even incur any extra cost. The glaring lack of compliance for basic emergency calling underscores the need for compliance education and legislative mandate. In addition to the GSA being responsible for implementing this functionality, where is the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)? Why doesnt the GAO, the "Congressional watchdog," look into this issue and require the GSA maintain a compliant solution? And why was it so difficult to get such a simple report of the problem? Time and time again, it has been proven that technology is not the roadblock, the cost of remediation is clearly not the roadblock, and the availability of education is not the roadblock. It all comes down to the legislative mandate and the desire to provide a safe communications infrastructure for employees, customers and guests. The U.S. government needs to set an example for compliance with this initiative internally as a role model for others to follow. The long-running contretemps between the supporters of LTE-U and regular Wi-Fi, over the idea of the two wireless standards co-existing on the same frequencies, has moved into a new phase, as test plan parameters are expected to be rolled out at Wednesdays coexistence workshop in San Jose. The workshop is a meeting of interested stakeholders from both parties. The LTE-U camp, primarily made up of Qualcomm, Ericsson and the major U.S. wireless telecoms, has long insisted that LTE-U technology will not interfere with existing Wi-Fi networks, despite using the same frequencies. Skeptics, which include the cable industry and many of the countrys biggest tech companies, including Google and Microsoft, are worried that the rosy coexistence picture presented by LTE-Us backers is unrealistic. +ALSO ON NETWORK WORLD: LTE-Us cold war may be thawing, as field testing commences ahead of summit + LTE-U: A quick explainer A statement issued Tuesday by WifiForward, an umbrella group for the skeptical companies, said that a final test plan for LTE-U should be finalized within the coming weeks, and notes that the expected final test plan represents a compromise for both parties. Neither side received its preferred outcome, the group said. In fact, half of all Wi-Fi hotspots will remain unprotected by the test, a significant challenge for the Wi-Fi community and consumers moving forward. Limited field testing has been underway since January with T-Mobile and Verizon, but the creation of a finalized test plan parameter will push testing into the public eye. Both the carriers and the Wi-Fi companies argue that their own internal lab tests demonstrate the validity of their position, but each says that the other sides testing is invalid for various reasons. Rob Alderfer, a president of technology policy for cable industry research group CableLabs, called the compromise plan pragmatic, and said that it will provide meaningful data on the crucially important question of whether LTE-U and Wi-Fi can coexist in the same airwaves. Reliable coexistence information is needed to ensure fact-based decisions on this important issue, he said in a statement provided to Network World. Given the substantial time and effort devoted to reaching this compromise plan, we support moving forward with testing as soon as possible. Insurance companies typically have decades of data, if not more, on which to base their risk estimates. That's not the case with cyber risk, however. There's very little historical data available, the data is not complete, and the threat landscape doesn't just change year by year, but day by day. There isn't even a standard set of definitions that everyone can agree on. That's starting to change, as insurers expand their services so that they can better educate their customers about cyber risk and even help them defend against attacks before they happen and deal with the fallout of when a breach does occur. I say potahto One of the first problems when it comes to buying cyberinsurance is that nobody knows exactly what it means. Corporate financial officers, security managers, and insurance brokers have different understanding of risk, for example. According to a recent cyberinsurance survey by the SANS Institute, only 30 percent of underwriters and 38 percent of information security professionals believe that they speak the same language. Even within insurance industry itself, the language varies greatly from policy to policy, said David Bradford, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Advisen, which provides insurance data and analytics, and helped sponsor the SANS study. For example, one policy might refer to a "privacy breach," another to a "data breach", and a third to "network security wrongful acts." "Is a privacy breach the same thing as a privacy wrongful act?" he asked. "Is a data breach the same as a network security wrongful act?" "And a lot of the language hasn't been tested in court yet," he added. The problem is especially acute for small and midsized businesses and their insurance agents, said Dan Weedin, president at Toro Consulting. "The insurance buyer has no idea about what they've got and what their risk is, and the insurance agent is also very limited in their knowledge," he said. "It's like the blind leading the blind." Almost half -- 45 percent -- of firms are clueless as to whether their cyberinsurance policy is up to date for covering these types of threats. Steve Malone, director of product management at security vendor Mimecast The fact that the threat landscape is constantly changing makes it even more difficult to keep up, said Steve Malone, director of product management at security vendor Mimecast. In a recent survey the company conducted, only 10 percent of IT experts said they believed that their cyber coverage was completely up to date, and of those who had cyber insurance, and only 43 percent were confident that it covered business email compromise fraud. There was a similar lack of confidence about new social engineering attacks. "Almost half -- 45 percent -- of firms are clueless as to whether their cyberinsurance policy is up to date for covering these types of threats," Malone said. Measuring risk When it comes to buying insurance, it's all about the risk. Does the customer smoke? Are they a safe driver? Are there smoke alarms in their house? With cyberinsurance, however, neither the insurance companies nor the enterprises buying coverage have a good way of quantifying risk. As a result, prices can vary greatly, said Advisen's Bradford. For example, similar coverage from competing insurers can range from $10,000 to $50,000, he said. "The models just don't exist like they do in the automobile or life insurance industry," said Casey Corcoran, vice president at FourV Systems. "The empirical data just doesn't exist yet for insurance companies to have a robust answer for what is the liability, what is the amount I need to ensure for. And we're in a time now where IT information is increasing at an exponential rate. How do you adapt a model to something that's changing exponentially, especially in an industry that's used to writing policies for a year at a time, or longer?" FourV is one of many vendors attempting to help insurance companies and their customers measure cyber risks -- not just once, when the policy is first written, but on an ongoing basis. It's like the way that Progressive offers a discount of up to 30 percent to drivers who install the company's "Snapshot" gadget in their cars, he said. Some insurers, for example, are looking to move beyond just selling policies to offer complete risk-related services, he said. They'll help companies evaluate their risks before they sell the policies, and then help them deal with breaches that may occur. Helping companies with their cybersecurity doesn't just help insurers better measure customers' risk, but it also provides a better understanding of risk to the enterprises they service, he said. "If I'm talking to the CISO, they're used to answering the question 'Are we secure?' with 'It's a tough job, but I got it.' When pressed, the information security organization will generally answer with technical jargon." What can cyberinsurance cover? Forensic investigation costs Computer and data loss replacement or restoration costs Increased operational costs Physical damage resulting from attacks on industrial control systems Lost business opportunities Public relations expenses and reputation management services Notification costs and credit monitoring for data breach victims Electronic theft and fraud protection Cyber extortion and ransomware Legal costs from defending against lawsuits by partners or customers Penalties and losses incurred due to inability to meet contractual obligations Expenses and fines related to regulatory and law enforcement investigations Fines or penalties imposed by payment card brands, services providers or acquiring banks For example, CISOs will talk about the systems and processes that they have in place. Those are activities, not risk measures, said Corcoran. "If I'm the CFO, I have no confidence in that answer," he said. "What the insurance company is offering to do is interpret between the technical organization and the risk organization." Insurance firms have to learn to live with this, said Tim Francis, enterprise cyber lead at Hartford, Conn.-based Travelers. "You may not necessarily have the foresight to predict every iteration," he said. "But you can build the framework and the structure and have the resources at our disposal to try to deal with those threats when they develop. One of the things that we've done at Travelers is that we've gone out of our way to hire resources that come with non-traditional insurance backgrounds." For example, Travelers has hired technical experts, former FBI forensic investigators, and former cyber crime prosecutors, he said. This allows Travelers to better understand their customers' security infrastructure and risks, and learn which types of vulnerabilities are most likely to lead to breaches. "Companies that demonstrate stellar cybersecurity and data security will likely receive better pricing than companies with a bad history," he added. "The larger trend that we've seen, and that Travelers has been on the forefront of, is providing our clients with risk management advice and best practices," he added. Another such company is AIG with its CyberEdge service, which helps companies train employees on cybersecurity, assess their security infrastructure, close security gaps, monitor the dark net for emerging threats, and continually scan both their own and partner networks for vulnerabilities. Then, if a breach does occur, AIG will help a company recover with access to legal firms, forensics investigators, and public relations experts. To do all this, AIG partners with Risk Analytics, K2 Intelligence, IBM, BitSight, RSA, and Axio Global. That allows insurance companies like AIG to move away from pricing policies based on paid insurance claims. "From a cyber perspective, that vantage point is really really narrow," said Scott Kannry, CEO at New York-based Axio, a data sciences firm focusing on cyber risk. "We believe that cyber risk can be solved," he added. "The information is there. It's just not being captured." AIG isn't alone in forging relationships with cyber security firms. Symantec, for example, recently partnered with Guy Carpenter & Company, the reinsurance arm of Marsh and McLennan. "Symantec provides Guy Carpenter with technical knowledge and proprietary data to create a cyber-aggregation model that helps reinsurers gain a better understanding of their correlated cyber risks," said Pascal Millaire, vice president of cyber insurance at Symantec. In July, New York-based Integro Insurance Brokers announced that it will provide coverage for the loss of intellectual property and trade secrets, which are typically not covered by cyberinsurance. The company is able to evaluate this risk through its own risk assessment program. That includes access to third-party readiness and preventative services, according to James Sheehan, the firm's cyber risk practice leader. According to Advisen's Bradford, if a company's intellectual property is stolen, the damage can be catastrophic -- but also difficult to quantify, and very difficult to insure. Business email compromise -- also known as CEO fraud -- can cost a company millions, and is also frequently not covered. Here, however, some businesses now have a simple answer. In June, Los Angeles-based Grandpoint Bank announced that it will insure business bank accounts against funds transfer fraud and cyber deception, starting at $30 per month. "It's a group policy that you just have to enroll for," said Petra Griffith, the bank's director of product development. "You don't have to go through an underwriting process. You just pay a monthly fee -- similar to buying cellphone insurance through the cellphone carrier. The cost is much less than if you went and got a separate insurance policy." RELATED VIDEO: This story, "Insurers working to fill cyberinsurance data gaps" was originally published by CSO . Kaspersky Lab is using Black Hats hacker-rich environment as the launch pad for its first bug-bounty program that seeks talent to hack the companys anti-malware software. Its dipping its toe into the program by staking an initial $50,000 kitty for a six-month effort to find flaws in its two most popular products, Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Endpoint Security. +More on Network World: Hot products at Black Hat 2016 | Follow all the stories from Black Hat + Kaspersky Ryan Naraine After that, the company will evaluate how well it worked, assess its value and figure out whether to expand it, says Ryan Naraine, director of the companys global research and analysis team, U.S. The bounty program will offer individual awards of up to $2,000 depending on the severity of the vulnerabilities found. Only the platforms for Windows 8.1 and newer are fair game in the bounty program. Kaspersky makes OS X versions, but theyre not included, although they may be later after the company evaluates the first phase, Naraine says. The bounty program is being helped along by HackerOne, which manages this type of effort. Details are available here. The company has been cautious setting up the program because it doesnt want to frustrate researchers trying to cash in, he says. Kaspersky wanted to make sure it had internal procedures set up for efficiently evaluating submissions, writing patches and testing that they dont cause problems with other applications, he says. We wanted the resources in place to handle it properly, he says. Thats important, says Frans Rosen, one of the top bug-bounty hunters and an entrepreneur who advises Detectify, which provides security services for developers. He says that while the cash prizes are one motivation for finding bugs, its also important that the vendors posting them respond quickly to acknowledge receipt of submissions, determine whether its a valid flaw and to provide a patch. That kind of responsiveness is key to whether hell work on a hack. Hes even developed a short list of vendors with well-run programs: Google, Prezi.com, Square, Riot Games and Stripe. He wants to work with developers inside these companies who are just as enthusiastic as he is. Theres no questions asked, he says. They understand what the problem is. Google is a popular target for him because it has so many sites, providing broader opportunities to find something. Even for bounty programs with narrower scopes, he says he likes to go outside the parameters of the challenges to demonstrate that there are other things the target companies should worry about. Black-hat hackers arent scoped at all, he says. Naraine says he understands that kind of motivation and Kaspersky doesnt want to squash it, so it is taking time to get its ducks in a row before going full-bore. The company has lined up personnel from its engineering, research and development, and product management teams who will be ready to jump in to respond to bug submissions. They wont work full-time on the project, but they do know what their roles will be when it comes time to deal with any flaws the hackers find. This story, "Black Hat: Kaspersky is seeking white hats" was originally published by Network World . Almost half of all companies have been the victims of a ransomware attack during the past 12 months, according to a new report. And while globally, 40 percent of them have paid the ransom, 97 percent of U.S. companies did not. Specifically, 75 percent of enterprise victims paid up in Canada, 58 percent in the U.K., and 22 percent in Germany, according to an Osterman Research survey of hundreds of senior executives in the U.S., Canada, German and the U.K. This is partly due to the fact that, in the United States, the attacks were much more likely to hit lower-level employees. In the U.S., enterprises reported that 71 percent of lower-level staff were affected, compared to 29 percent in the U.K., 23 percent in Canada, and 14 percent in Germany. In addition, U.S. infections were less likely to spread to other computers. Only 9 percent of U.S. respondents said that the infection had spread to more than 25 percent of endpoints, while other countries ranged from 17 to 41 percent. "US organizations have less to lose by not paying, since far fewer endpoints are impacted by ransomware and less data will be lost as a result," the report said. However, attackers are increasingly targeting the more senior executives, said Nathan Scott, ransomware expert and technical project manager at Malwarebytes, which sponsored the report. "There's a lot of motivation inside the ransomware world to try to find those guys, and now 25 percent of incidents attack senior executives and the C-suite," he said. Executives are more likely to pay up, he explained, as are larger companies. "I've helped over 250 different types of people with ransomware alone, and every time I've helped an organization worth more than $10 million in assets, they never wait more than 10 hours to pay," he said. Plus, large organizations are willing to pay more. "A normal computer user is hit for $500 to $1,000," he said. "But when an enterprise gets hit, we're talking $10,000 and up." Those who don't pay up restore from available backups and if that falls short, they will try to find other places where those files might be found, such as old emails, he said. The ransomware threat is growing quickly, Scott added, with a 43 percent increase in attacks in just the past six months. "Ransomware is one of the fastest-moving security issues that we've had in IT," he said. The bulk of the ransomware attacks first entered an organization through user computers -- 49 percent via desktops, 36 percent by way of laptops, 5 percent through servers, and just 4 percent on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Email was the primary channel, with 31 percent of infections coming in through email links and 28 percent through attachments. Other sources include web sites or applications other than email or social media, at 24 percent. Social media accounted for 4 percent of infections, and USB sticks for 3 percent. This story, "Report: Only 3 percent of U.S. companies pay attackers after ransomware infections" was originally published by CSO . The threat of ransomware is becoming widespread among corporations, with almost half of U.S. businesses suffering an attack from the nasty form of malware recently, according to a new survey. Security firm Malwarebytes sponsored the study, which found in June that 41 percent of U.S. businesses had at least encountered between one to five ransomware attacks in the previous 12 months. Another 6 percent saw six or more attacks. The study surveyed corporations in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Germany to gauge how ransomware affected their operations. The malware, which can infect a computer and take the data hostage, can be bad for business. 34 percent of the victim corporations in the countries surveyed reported losing revenue because the ransomware had prevented access to important files. U.S. businesses victimized by the malware generally didnt suffer a heavy toll and only 6 percent of them reported losing revenue. In most cases, the malicious code only affected personal files. The survey also looked at how the ransomware was affecting these enterprises, and found that generally the malware had been designed to affect desktop PCs or laptops. The infection often came through links and attachments inside emails, or from a website or web application. The response of companies to the threat varied across countries. In the U.S, only 3 percent of the businesses hit by the ransomware decided to pay the hackers. Thats a big difference from the Canadian businesses surveyed, of which 75 percent said they agreed to pay the ransom. The survey said this was probably because the ransomware attacks in the U.S. often target lower-level employees and tend to only infect a few computers. Osterman Research More amateur cyber criminals are probably indiscriminately spreading ransomware in the U.S. like spam, the survey added. Low-level ransom demands of up to US$500 are prevalent in the U.S. However, high ransom demands of over $10,000 are more common in Germany. Malwarebytes sponsored Osterman Research to conduct the study by surveying 540 CIOs, CISOs and IT directors across the four countries. The Hong Kong-based bitcoin exchange Bitfinex suspended trading on Tuesday after discovering a security breach. A hacker or hackers pulled off a massive heist of nearly 120,000 bitcoins. At the time of the theft, 119,756 bitcoins would have been worth about $72 million. After the breach announcement, the price of bitcoin crashed; current exchange rates place the value at around $65 million. Some of our users have had their bitcoins stolen, Zane Tackett, Bitfinexs director of community and product development, said on Reddit. The bitcoin was stolen from users segregated wallets, he told Reuters. Trading was halted as the breach investigation kicked off. Bitfinex is cooperating with law enforcement and top blockchain analytic companies. The official breach announcement stated: We are investigating the breach to determine what happened, but we know that some of our users have had their bitcoins stolen. We are undertaking a review to determine which users have been affected by the breach. While we conduct this initial investigation and secure our environment, bitfinex.com will be taken down and the maintenance page will be left up. About .75 percent of all bitcoin in circulation were stolen. The Wall Street Journal said the hack marks one of the largest thefts in bitcoins short history. Tuur Demeester, editor in chief at Adamant Research, said it was the third largest theft in bitcoin. Antony Lewis, a Singpore-based bitcoin expert, said: Its the biggest USD exchange, so outside China its the one that everyone has an account with. Its very liquid, folk can trade on margin, lots of daily volume. While it is unknown if the heist was an inside job or if hackers gained access externally, Tackett said he was nearly 100 percent certain no one in the company was behind the theft. Bloomberg added that Bitfinex had a partnership with Palo Alto, California-based BitGo, which uses multiple-signature security to store user deposits online, allowed for faster confirmation and withdrawals. When the partnership was announced, Bitfinex said, Since we now enforce multi-institutional second-factor authentication (Bitfinex will be the first factor and BitGo the second factor), attackers are required to compromise both institutions before getting funds. After this bitcoin theft, BitGo spokesman Joe Volat said, To date, BitGos investigation has found no evidence of any compromise of its servers or services. We believe that multi-sig security technology on which BitGos systems are based was not affected. Bitfinex said, As we account for individualized customer losses, we may need to settle open margin positions, associated financing and/or collateral affected by the breach. The exchange added, We will look at various options to address customer losses later in the investigation. We are deeply concerned about this issue, and we are committing every resource to try to resolve it, Bitfinex wrote. We ask for the communitys patience as we unravel the causes and consequences of this breach. Hackers obtained the mobile phone numbers of 15 million Iranian users of the Telegram encrypted messaging app, and hacked the accounts of more than a dozen of them, security researchers say. The accounts were hacked through interception of SMS confirmation codes sent to the associated phone numbers, security researchers Claudio Guarnieri and Collin Anderson told Reuters. The revelations show once again how use of encryption can pit technology companies against governments. Telegram founder Pavel Durov has in the past sided with Apple CEO Tim Cook against the FBI on the question of whether governments should have access to the contents of smartphones. In this latest case it was a cyberespionage group said to have links with the Iranian government, Rocket Kitten, which identified 15 million Iranian users of Telegram. The group did not leak the numbers, Anderson said. He and fellow security researcher Guarneri found the numbers on the Rocket Kitten servers, he said via Twitter. The two plan to say more about these hacks, and many others directed at Iranians, in a presentation at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas on Thursday. Telegram acknowledged the attacks on its service in a blog post, but played down their significance. "Certain people" had used its public APIs to check whether Iranian phone numbers were used for its service, and had ascertained this for 15 million accounts, the company said, but the content of the accounts could not be accessed through the API. Information about which phone numbers are associated with accounts has to be public, otherwise users cannot find and message their friends through the service, the company said on its blog. Checking phone numbers on such a large scale is no longer possible, though, as within the last year the company has placed limits on such use of its API, it said. The company is aware that Telegram accounts can be hacked by intercepting SMS confirmation codes, but "this is hardly a new threat," it said. Last year it introduced an optional two-factor verification function combining SMS codes and passwords, and has been encouraging users in certain countries to turn this on if they think that their mobile carrier is intercepting their SMS codes. "If you do that, there's nothing an attacker can do," the company said. Anderson welcomed Telegram's API changes, but called for it to publish its security advice in the Farsi language to ensure more Iranian users were aware of the need to use two-factor verification. If you are in Iran and use the mobile app, there are significant risks from government cooperation with telcos, he said via Twitter. But combining SMS authentication with passwords is not enough to satisfy everyone. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology is considering dropping SMS from its recommendations as a second authentication factor for securing government IT and communication systems. Last week it began circulating a draft guideline to that effect for public comment. Donald Trump's week-long feud with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Muslim parents of a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq, is leading more fellow Republicans to publicly criticize the candidate, highlighting lingering tensions with top party leaders. Meg Whitman, a prominent technology executive who launched an unsuccessful bid for the California governorship in 2010, told The New York Times late Tuesday that she will support and raise money for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, calling Trump "a dishonest demagogue." And U.S. Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first sitting Republican member of Congress to throw his support to Clinton, saying he was "incensed" by the Republican nominee's comments about the Khans. The endorsements came hours after President Barack Obama took the unprecedented step of a sitting U.S. leader denouncing a presidential candidate, when he called Trump "unfit to serve" as the nation's commander-in-chief. Trump swiftly responded to Obama's comments, saying it is almost an "honor" to be criticized by him, adding that Obama does not know what he is doing and calling him a "weak president." The controversy began after Khizr Khan, the slain soldier's father, denounced Trump over the Republican nominee's proposal to bar foreign Muslims from coming to the United States. Khan said this would have prevented his son from joining the U.S. military. Trump responded by belittling the family, suggesting that the mother did not speak at the convention because she was not "allowed" to do so. Trump continues to insist his criticisms are valid and the news media have portrayed him unfairly. Leading Republicans have said that regardless of political views, the parents of slain U.S. soldiers must be treated with respect by political leaders. Presidential historian Allan Lichtman of American University told VOA that Obama's assessment of Trump is unprecedented. "I cannot recall a sitting president who has called an opposition candidate 'unfit' to serve in modern history." Lichtman said he has often heard sitting presidents criticize opposition political candidates, but cannot remember any other candidate being labeled "unfit" or unprepared to serve. Obama, who has endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton as his successor when he leaves office in January, challenged Republicans to repudiate Trump, saying his complaints against Khizr Khan and his wife Ghazala after they endorsed Clinton at last week's Democratic National Convention were offensive. Obama said several leading Republicans have denounced any insults of the Khan family, but he said that is not enough. "There has to be a point in which you say, this is not somebody I can support for president of the United States, even if he purports to be a member of my party. And the fact that that has not yet happened makes some of these denunciations ring hollow." In an interview with VOA's Urdu service Monday, Khizr Khan said some good has already come out the political firestorm with Trump. "It really has come out. It really, really has come out that a significant larger number of Republicans are asking him to tone down, change those derogatory remarks about minorities, not only just Muslims, but other minorities," Khan said. A third car wash over a 2-mile stretch is being proposed in Middletown The Planning Board on Nov. 9 will take up a proposal for a 110-foot tunnel carwash with associated parking and vacuums. 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). NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. contains the active ingredient sotalol CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION What is in this leaflet This leaflet answers some common questions about Cardol. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Cardol against the benefits it is expected to have for you. If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may want to read it again. What Cardol is used for The name of your medicine is Cardol. It contains the active ingredient sotalol. Cardol is used for the prevention and treatment of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Cardol was prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason. How Cardol works Cardol belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. It works by changing the body's response to some nerve impulses, especially in the heart. It decreases the heart's need for blood and oxygen and therefore reduces the amount of work the heart has to do. As a result, it helps the heart to beat more regularly. This medicine is not addictive. Cardol is available only with a doctor's prescription. Before you take Cardol When you must not take it Do not take this medicine if: you are allergic to the active ingredient or any of the inactive ingredients mentioned at the end of this leaflet under Product Description Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching or hives; swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing; wheezing or shortness of breath. you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you intend to breast feed you have a condition that causes narrowing of the airways, ie bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive airway disease you have allergic disorders (including hay fever) which may suggest a predisposition to narrowing of the airways You should not take Cardol with any other medicines your doctor does not know about, particularly if they are to control high blood pressure, heart conditions, depression, hayfever, allergies, infections or diabetes you have a particular type of high blood pressure that results in changes to your heart (ask your doctor if unsure) If you have any problems with your heart or circulation, discuss them with your doctor you have significant enlargement of the heart you have a slow heart beat (less than 45 to 50 beats/minute) you have abnormal electrical impulses in the heart unless a functioning pacemaker is present you have shock, including cardiogenic shock (due to very low blood pressure caused by a heart problem) and hypovolaemic shock (due to low blood volume) you have uncontrolled heart failure you have kidney problems you have thyroid problems it is past its expiry date or the packaging appears to have been tampered with, or if the tablets do not look right. Before you start to take it Tell your doctor if you have allergies to: any other medicines, especially if they are in the same drug class as sotalol any other substances, including foods, preservatives or dyes. In particular remind your doctor if you have asthma, bronchitis or any allergies such as hay fever, food allergies or are allergic to bee or wasp stings. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you have ever had trouble with the levels of salts like potassium or magnesium in your blood. Remind your doctor if you are going to have surgery involving a general anaesthetic even if it is only minor. Tell your doctor if you have been given Cardol (or any other beta-blocker) before and if you had any problems. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved. Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions: kidney problems circulation problems angina diabetes an overactive thyroid gland a recent heart attack any other heart problems phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland) cold fingers and toes or pain in the back of your legs when you walk history of irregular or slow pulse. Sotalol contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, tell your doctor before taking it. Taking other medicines Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicine, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines and Cardol may interfere with each other. These include: medicines which lower blood pressure (including other beta-blockers), calcium channel blockers (ie verapamil, nifedipine) medicines used to treat angina or other heart conditions other antiarrhythmic drugs such as disopyramide, quinidine, tocainide, mexiletine some medicine used during surgery or emergency situations, such as anaesthetics and lidocaine (lignocaine), flecainide, propafenone (not available in Australia), amiodarone, and the class IV antiarrhythmic agents, drugs such as reserpine and guanethidine, all used to treat abnormal or irregular heart beat clonidine, used to treat high blood pressure, migraine or some menopausal symptoms some antibiotics (quinolone) some medicines used to treat depression insulin and other medicines used to treat diabetes certain types of diuretics (fluid tablets) terfenadine and astemizole, medicines used to treat allergies some medicines used for asthma or other lung problems digoxin, a medicine used for heart failure. These medicines may be affected by Cardol, or may affect how well it works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor of pharmacist. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine. How to take Cardol Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help. How much to take Your doctor will decide on the dose of Cardol tablets for you, and may need to change the dose a few times to get the best level for you. The recommended initial oral dosing schedule is 160mg daily, given in two divided doses at approximately twelve hour intervals. This dose may be increased, if necessary, after appropriate evaluation, to 240 or 320mg/day. In most patients, a therapeutic response is obtained at a total daily dose of 160 to 320mg/day, given in two divided doses. The dosage is usually reduced in patients with kidney problems. How to take it Cardol tablets should be taken with water, preferably one to two hours before meals. Do not take Cardol with milk. If you need to break Cardol 80mg tablets into two halves, place on a flat surface and press down on the scored side with the forefinger. You should not drink alcohol while you are on Sotalol. How long to take it for If you have been prescribed Cardol you must be sure to follow your doctor's instructions carefully. If you forget to take it Take your dose as soon as you remember, and continue to take it as you would normally. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect. If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints. If you take too much (overdose) Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) or go to Accident and Emergency at you nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else has taken too much Cardol. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. If you take too much you may feel dizzy or lightheaded and may faint. You may also have a fast and irregular heart beat or a very slow heart beat. While you are taking Cardol Things you must do Always follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Cardol. If you are about to start taking a new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Cardol. You should also tell your doctor or dentist that you are being treated with a beta-blocker should you have to have an operation. If you have a severe allergic reaction to food, medicines or insect stings, tell your doctor immediately. There is a chance that Cardol may cause allergic reactions to be worse and harder to treat. If you are being treated for diabetes, make sure you check your blood sugar level regularly and report any changes to your doctor. If you have severe or prolonged vomiting or diarrhoea while taking Cardol, tell your doctor. These problems may cause your body to lose excess fluid and salts, which in turn may affect your heartbeat. If you need to have a urine test, tell your doctor that you are taking Cardol. Cardol may affect the results of some laboratory tests. Things you must not do Do not stop taking Cardol without your doctor's permission. Your doctor may wish to gradually reduce the amount of Cardol you are taking before stopping completely. This may help reduce the chance of your condition worsening or other heart complications occurring. Do not use Cardol to treat any other complaint unless your doctor says so. Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours. Things to be careful of Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Cardol affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people. It is best to get up slowly from a sitting or lying position if you are feeling dizzy or light-headed. Side Effects Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Cardol. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. Do not be alarmed by the following lists side effects. You may not experience any of them. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have. Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following: low blood pressure, cold hands or feet, breathlessness, palpitations, swelling, heart tracing abnormalities, fainting rash feeling sick, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, flatulence, heartburn, abdominal pain headache, tiredness, fever dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, weakness sleep disturbances, depression, tingling feelings (ie pins and needles), mood changes, anxiety visual disturbances (including eye irritation, deterioration of eyesight, blurred vision, light sensitivity), taste abnormalities, hearing disturbances sexual problems worsening of psoriasis. The above list includes serious side effects that may require medical attention. If any of the following happen, stop taking Cardol, and tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital: swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing very slow heart beat fast, irregular heart beat chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath chest pain any type of skin rash, itching shortness of breath (sometimes with tiredness, weakness and reduced ability to exercise), which may occur together with swelling of the feet or legs due to fluid build up. The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are rare. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell while you are taking, or soon after you have finished taking Cardol. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people. After taking Cardol Storage Keep medicine in the original container. If you take it out of its original container it may not keep well. Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25C. Do not store Cardol or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines. Disposal If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over. Product description What it looks like Cardol 80mg: Round, white tablets with "SOT" marked on one side and a break mark on the other. They are available in blister packs of 60 tablets. Ingredients Active ingredient: Cardol 80mg tablets contain 80mg sotalol Inactive ingredients: maize starch lactose monohydrate hyprolose sodium starch glycollate colloidal anhydrous silica magnesium stearate. Cardol contains lactose monohydrate. This medicine does not contain sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes. Bringing "virtual dental homes" to schools, nursing homes and long-term care facilities can keep people healthy - reducing school absenteeism, lessening the need for parents to leave work to care for an ailing child, and helping to prevent suffering for millions of people who have no access to a dentist, a six-year study by University of the Pacific demonstrates. The findings were reported today by the Pacific Center for Special Care, a program of the university's Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Pacific developed the teledentistry system and has evaluated it in more than 3,000 patients across California since 2010. More than $5.5 million in federal, state and other grants supported the demonstration project. The virtual dental home is a community-based oral health care delivery system that uses telehealth technology to link specially trained dental hygienists in the community with dentists in dental offices and clinics. The approach was developed by Pacific Center Director Paul Glassman, a professor of dentistry at University of the Pacific, who collaborated with a broad range of stakeholders to leverage advances in dentistry and telehealth, create training programs for dentists and hygienists, and win policy and other changes needed to pilot and evaluate the system. "Our six-year demonstration project confirms that this is a safe, effective way to bring care to people who need it," Glassman said. "Basing a virtual dental home in a school, a nursing home or other community setting allows dental hygienists to prevent or treat the majority of oral health problems on site, and also brings prevention information to patients, families and caregivers. Finally, it connects on-site care in the community to dentists in dental offices." Since the demonstration project began, Glassman and his team have implemented the system in 50 California Head Start preschools, elementary schools, community centers, residential care facilities for people with disabilities, senior centers and nursing homes. Preliminary findings persuaded Oregon, Hawaii and Colorado to also pilot the system. One of the first virtual dental homes opened its doors at Harmon Johnson Elementary School in North Sacramento, where almost 100 percent of students are eligible for Medi-Cal. The school's dental "home" is a cheery room, just off the cafeteria, where kids can have their teeth checked by a dentist via telehealth. The school's part-time, grant-funded dental hygienist cleans teeth, treats some small cavities, and teaches tooth brushing, flossing and tooth-friendly nutrition. She gives away free toothbrushes to children and their family members, with as many free replacements as needed. "Our students and families are excited because the preventive dental care takes place at school, a safe and caring learning environment that's a second home to them. There are smiles all around, even among staff," said Michelle Rivas, president of the Twin Rivers Unified School District Board of Trustees. "When children have less need to travel to a dental office, they are less likely to miss hours of critical instructional time in the classroom. Being able to receive preventive care will also help keep them healthy and better able to learn." Other children's advocates also endorse the approach. "California's children are facing an oral health care crisis," said Mayra Alvarez, president of The Children's Partnership, a California-based national children's advocacy organization. "The virtual dental home helps bring critical, comprehensive care to children where they are. With care in the community by oral health providers working at the top of their expertise, we are helping to better meet the diverse needs of California's children and families." California Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) also argues that more schools and other community settings should have on-site teledentistry care. "Results from the research further demonstrate the benefits of this oral health care delivery system and how this program can reach children and communities that would otherwise likely go without," Low said. He is author of a bill now before the Legislature, which would provide $4 million in funding to expand virtual dental homes statewide. The measure is cosponsored by The Children's Partnership and California Dental Association. "AB 648 will supply more community-based sites across the state with access to preventive and basic dental care through the virtual dental home model," Low said. The California State Auditor underscored the need in a 2014 report. It found that in 32 of California's 58 counties there were too few dentists to serve children enrolled in Medi-Cal. Five counties had no active Medi-Cal dentists. In 11 counties, not a single dentist accepted new Denti-Cal patients. In California, 24 percent of all children complete elementary school without ever having seen a dentist. The situation is even worse for low-income children. In 2013, only 41 percent of children eligible for Medi-Cal received any dental services. Findings of the six-year report include: Examining dentists using the telehealth system determined that approximately two-thirds of children and about half of seniors and people with disabilities in long-term care facilities can have their oral health needs met by dental hygienists in the community, without the need to see a dentist in person. No adverse outcomes were reported for any of the procedures performed by hygienists. The virtual dental home system delivers significantly more prevention and early intervention at less cost per patient than the current Denti-Cal system. Financial projections based on the demonstration project experience indicate the system could be financially viable in the Denti-Cal system. The Pacific Center for Special Care is committed to improving the oral health of underserved people throughout California and nationally. In addition to creating best-practice models, it advocates for improved access to dental care for anyone who faces challenges to receiving oral health services through the traditional oral health care system. These include people who have difficulty maintaining good oral health or accessing oral health services because of medical, physical, social, economic or geographic conditions. The center is part of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, based at University of the Pacific's San Francisco campus. The school has been serving the community and educating oral health care providers since its founding in 1896. For more information, visit PacificSpecialCare.org. Prof. Athanassios Argiris THOUGHT LEADERS SERIES ...insight from the worlds leading experts Please can you give a brief history of head and neck cancer treatments? Patients with head and neck cancer usually present with locally advanced disease and often require more than one type of treatment, which may include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Traditional treatments may result in many acute and late complications, and their success is rather limited. Especially in the setting of disease recurrence or spread to other organs there is minimal curative potential. Image Copyright: Gam1983 / Shutterstock What recent advances have been announced to improve these treatments? The introduction of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors about 10 years ago was a milestone in head and neck cancer therapy. A monoclonal antibody against EGFR, was the first targeted agent to show survival benefit either in combination with radiotherapy in locally advanced disease or in combination with chemotherapy for recurrent/metastatic disease. Very recently, the immune checkpoint inhibitors, a class of drugs that stimulate the immune system against cancer, produced very encouraging antitumor activity. In a recently presented phase III randomized trial that enrolled patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer who previously received a PD-1 inhibitor demonstrated survival benefit over standard treatment. This is another milestone for head and neck cancer therapy. What impact do you think these advances will have on patients with head and neck cancers? The ideal scenario is to develop efficacious treatments that do not cause significant side effects. Curing the patient is a priority but is currently feasible in about half of the patients with locally advanced disease and very rarely in patients with recurrence. Hopefully, with new therapies long-term survival may be achievable even for patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer. What further research is needed to increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying head and neck cancers and improve treatments? There is still a lot to be learned about the biology of head and neck cancer. Human papillomavirus, for example, seems to be important in influencing natural history and prognosis. However, at this time, we lack predictive molecular markers that will assist in optimally customized approaches. Future studies in the laboratory and the clinic will explore mechanisms of resistance to targeted agents and most likely lead to a new generation of active therapies. Human Papillomavirus - Image Copyright: Liya Graphics / Shutterstock How much of an impact do you think personalised medicine will have on the treatment of head and neck cancers moving forwards? Head and neck cancer treatment must be personalized. It is foreseeable that better patient selection will be critical in maximizing benefit and minimizing risk. What do you think the future holds for head and neck cancer treatments? We have entered the era of immune-oncology. There is justified excitement and vigorous clinical testing of immunotherapy agents. Harnessing the immune system and use it in a patients advantage is a very important task ahead. Other important molecular targets and novel agents are being identified and studied in the clinic. As a physician, I am particularly happy to be able to offer new treatment options to my patients. Where can readers find more information? ASCO website - https://www.asco.org/ NCI website - http://www.cancer.gov/ About Prof. Argiris Professor Athanassios Argiris is an internationally recognized medical oncologist and clinical researcher with expertise in the evaluation and treatment of patients with head and neck and lung cancers. From 1994 to 2013 he held positions in prestigious academic institutions in the United States where he assumed distinguished leadership roles in oncology. He has been funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and serves as the principal investigator for several completed and active clinical trials with the NCI-funded national cooperative groups of the United States. In 2014, he moved back to his home country of Greece to join the medical staff of Hygeia Hospital in Athens, Greece, as a consultant in Medical Oncology. He has been elected Visiting Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Crete and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas. In 2016, he also assumed a faculty position at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, USA. A new review published by a joint scientific working group of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) finds that current evidence continues to support the potential for bone turnover markers (BTMs) to provide clinically useful information for monitoring osteoporosis treatment. The IFCC-IOF Working Group for the Standardization of Bone Marker Assays concluded that: Important data are now available on reference interval values for CTX and PINP across a range of geographic regions and for individual clinical assays; An apparent lack of comparability between current clinical assays for CTX has become evident, indicating the possible limitations of combining such data for meta-analyses; To improve interpretation of patient results harmonization of units for reporting serum/plasma CTX (ng/L) and PINP (g/L) is recommended; Further study of the relationships between the clinical assays for CTX and PINP as well as physiological and pre-analytical factors contributing to variability in BTM concentrations is required. The recommendations reinforce the previous recommendations made in 2010 by the IOF-IFCC Bone Marker Standards Working Group and the National Bone Health Alliance in 2012 which called for standardized analytical methods of reference analytes. Professor Howard Morris, School of Pharmacy and Medical Science at the University of South Australia said, "Significant progress has been made on the usefulness of BTMs in monitoring the efficacy of osteoporosis treatment. As well, although many limitations remain, the current status in this field continues to support the potential for BTMs to provide clinically useful information in regard to the relationship between BTM and incident fractures." Co-author and Chair of the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors, Professor Cyrus Cooper added, "Steady advances are being made in this field and we look forward to a promising ongoing initiative to bring all BTM results from clinical trials in osteoporosis together in one individual meta-analysis. We hope that this will provide valuable information which in the future may allow the inclusion of bone turnover markers in fracture risk estimation tools such as FRAX." Cancer immunotherapy drugs that block the inhibitory PD-1 pathway have shown success in clinical trials and are now FDA-approved for melanoma, lung cancer and bladder cancer. Yet many patients' tumors do not respond to these drugs. Scientists from Emory Vaccine Center have now shown what molecular features distinguish the subset of T cells that wake up when re-energized by PD-1-blocking agents. The researchers expect that their findings will be valuable for optimizing treatment with PD-1-targeting drugs. The experiments were performed in mice with chronic viral infections, the system in which T cell exhaustion and PD-1's immune-braking function were first discovered. The results are scheduled for online publication in Nature at 11 am Eastern time on Tuesday, August 2. PD-1-blocking agents such as nivolumab, pembrolizumab and atezolizumab are part of a class of drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors, and many cancer researchers are now trying to figure out how to enhance their activity by combining them with other types of drugs. "If we know more about the markers on the T cells that expand after PD-1's inhibition is removed, that could facilitate the rational design of combination therapies," says senior author Rafi Ahmed, PhD, director of Emory Vaccine Center and a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar. The first author of the Nature paper is postdoctoral fellow Sejin Im, PhD. Collaborators from NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases), University of Iowa, Harvard Medical School, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and University of Sao Paolo, Brazil contributed to the paper. More than a decade ago, Ahmed and colleagues had shown that the immune systems of mice with chronic viral infections were full of inactive, or "exhausted" antiviral T cells. These cells displayed high levels of PD-1, and antiviral activity could be revived if PD-1's interactions with its counterpart on other cells (PD-L1) were blocked. In the current paper, the authors demonstrate that the exhausted antiviral T cells can be divided into two groups. One group undergoes a proliferative burst when virus-infected mice are given PD-1-blocking antibodies, and the other group lacks the capacity to proliferate. Even before PD-1-blocking antibodies were introduced, the expandable group of virus-specific T cells was dividing at a slow rate. These cells were only in the T cell zones of lymphoid organs (lymph nodes and spleen), not circulating throughout the body. After PD-1 is blocked, these cells divide and differentiate into effector-like cells that migrate to infected tissues. "If you imagine chronic viral infection - or cancer -- as a war, the expandable T cells are not in the intense part of the battle," Ahmed says. "But they are somewhat engaged. It's like they're waiting in a shelter, ready to respond." The researchers also showed that a gene called TCF1 was important for the generation and maintenance of the PD-1-responsive T cells in mice. Inside and outside, the PD-1-responsive cells had molecular characteristics that resembled memory T cells or stem-like cells, while the non-responsive T cells were more terminally differentiated. The authors catalogued several co-stimulatory molecules and receptors present on the surfaces of the PD-1-responsive T cells, which possibly could be targets for drugs. In collaboration with researchers at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Ahmed's laboratory is looking for immune cells with similar characteristics in cancer patients. It is possible that this group of revivable T cells may be found in contact with the tumor, or perhaps more likely, in lymph nodes nearby, Ahmed says. It's assumed that family and friends will help out in the event of a medical crisis, but that's not always feasible. And when stroke survivors need more than 20 hours of care per week, as a study in the August edition of Stroke shows, it's a large burden for their loved ones. More than half of elderly stroke survivors receive help from a caregiver, requiring 22.3 hours of assistance per week on average. That's nearly double what elderly patients who have not had a stroke require, at an average of 11.8 hours of help. A group of University of Michigan researchers found the need for care translates to about $11,000 per stroke survivor per week, for an annual estimate of around $40 billion in costs to care for elderly stroke survivors. "Previous studies underestimated the caregiving resources that are used, and we expect the cost of caregiving will only increase as baby boomers age," said first author Lesli Skolarus, M.D., M.S., a neurologist with the U-M Comprehensive Stroke Center. Caregivers could include unpaid, like family and friends, along with paid caregivers, as about one-third of stroke survivors with informal care also receive paid care. Activities included in the estimate are accompanying the patient to physician appointments, cooking, cleaning, helping the patient eat, bathe and dress and helping with money matters and insurance decisions. Using data from a national survey of Medicare beneficiaries, the team compared 892 elderly self-reported stroke survivors to 892 non-stroke controls, accounting for demographics and other health conditions, like hypertension, coronary heart disease or dementia. The researchers determined more than half of elderly stroke survivors receive help from a caregiver, requiring 22.3 hours of assistance per week on average. That's nearly double what elderly patients who have not had a stroke require, at an average of 11.8 hours of help. "Stroke survivors need a caregiver to spend the equivalent of half of a full-time job each week to help them," said senior author James Burke, M.D., M.S., a neurologist with U-M's Comprehensive Stroke Center and the Ann Arbor Department of Veterans Affairs. "Caregiving is an especially big burden in patients with neurological conditions." Skolarus added, "We need to plan for other mechanisms to support caregivers and survivors. Hopefully planning now will reduce the future burden." Rice University bioengineer Junghae Suh has been awarded a prestigious R01 grant by the National Institutes of Health to research the use of viral gene therapy to fight ovarian cancer. The grant for $1.8 million, administered by the National Cancer Institute, will fund five years of collaborative research with Dr. Anil Sood, a surgeon, researcher and ovarian-cancer specialist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. About 20,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, and nearly 14,500 die of the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The grant will help Suh and her lab adapt otherwise-harmless adeno-associated viruses to recognize extracellular enzymes that are overexpressed by ovarian-cancer tumors and deliver therapeutic genes to diseased cells. "Proteases are expressed in normal tissue remodeling, but if you cut open and look at tumor tissue, you find them in highly elevated levels," Suh said. "Proteases are enzymes that chew up proteins. In cancer, they help tumors grow, migrate and metastasize to other sites in the body. "We're going after them as a target biomarker to activate our viruses," she said. "Our viruses are designed to be locked in the inactive state. They need to be opened by the proteases present at tumor sites. Once the viruses are unlocked, they become very sticky. They stick to the tumor cells and get internalized, which allows them to deliver toxic payloads to kill the cells." She said the viruses can be tuned to recognize overexpressed levels of proteases while ignoring normal expression to protect healthy cells. The researchers anticipate AAVs will be able to target both primary tumors and metastasis sites. Suh hopes that if and when AAVs prove their ability to treat ovarian cancers, they will be used to target other cancers. "We can control which proteases and at what concentrations they activate the virus, so we can readily modify the virus for the treatment of other diseases." Suh has been working on the project since she met Sood in 2009. "He had the clinical expertise, and I had the virus engineering background, so we decided to try it," she said. "At that point, we had very few expectations and it was a high-risk idea. Since then we've had a number of small grants to feed the project, including funding from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. It took us many years to get enough preclinical data, but we now finally have the evidence that our concept works." In the meantime, she said, gene therapy as a field has advanced significantly, as evidenced by approval of an AAV-based therapy for treating an orphan disease by the European Commission, Europe's equivalent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Source: Rice University Scientists at the German Primate Center describe a new transmission path of a tropical disease Lesions on arms and legs, deformed faces - yaws is a tropical disease that infects the skin, bones and cartilage. It is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue. Mostly children in remote tropical areas of Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific are infected. Until recently it was assumed that the disease is only spread by direct skin contact with an infected person. An international research group led by Sascha Knauf from the German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research now published a study that suggests flies as mechanical vectors for the bacterium. The finding is of importance for currently ongoing yaws eradication campaigns (EBioMedicine 2016). Where the roads end and only scattered villages interrupt the jungle, the area of yaws begins. In its primary stage, yaws infection causes skin lesions and if untreated progresses into severe bone and joint deformations of the extremities and face. Infection is transmitted from person-to-person by direct contact with contagious lesions. The World Health Organization (WHO) assumes that 75 to 80 per cent of the patients are under 15 years old. Theoretically, one pill of an antibiotic would be enough to prevent children from suffering and to cure the disease that is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue. In practice however, there are many villages that do not have access to modern medicine. The WHO, for the second time, tries to eradicate yaws finally by 2020. However, as studies by Sascha Knauf and colleagues suggest, there could be major challenges involved. The scientists have not only isolated an identical bacterium in monkeys suggesting that there is a nonhuman reservoir, they now also discovered the pathogen on flies. "The human-to-human as well as possible monkey-to-human transmission becomes a complete new dimension", says Sascha Knauf from the German Primate Center. Sascha Knauf and colleagues investigated 207 flies originating from two national parks in Tanzania. In both parks skin ulcerations caused by Treponema are common in wild baboons. In about 20 per cent of the wild-caught flies Treponema-DNA was found. "Our results support the possibility that flies play a role in yaws transmission", says Sascha Knauf, first author of the publication. The scientists want to continue their research on the topic, because it is not yet clear, whether the bacteria found in the flies are viable. "If we can confirm that the flies transmit viable bacteria and that infected monkeys act as a nonhuman reservoir, there will always be cases of yaws even if the disease is apparently eradicated due to medicine and hygienic measures", says Knauf. Scientists from the RIKEN Center for Life Science Technology (CLST) in Japan have used a new non-invasive PET scanning technique to obtain images of neuron proliferation in the subventricular zone and subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus is known to be particularly affected by depression. These two areas are known to be neurogenic regions, where neural stem cells give rise to new neurons throughout our lives. Hippocampal neurogenesis is known to be associated with depression and the effect of antidepressive medication, but it is also involved in learning and memory, so scientists are keen to find techniques that can monitor cell proliferation in the region. However, the process of neurogenesis is very hard to monitor non-invasively. It is possible using magnetic resonance imaging, but with MRI the tracers do not move into the brain effectively and must be injected directly into the brain fluid, making is invasive and difficult to perform. Neuroscience eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Positron emission tomography (PET) is another method that has been used. Previously, attempts have been made to use a molecule called [18F]FLT as a marker for cell proliferation in the brain in PET, but unfortunately the difference in signal strength between regions with and without cell growth was small. "We were not exactly sure why this was happening," says Tamura, "but surmised that it is because the body actively pumps the molecule out of the brain through the blood-brain barrier, using active transport mechanisms. This means that it is difficult for [18F]FLT to accumulate in the brain in sufficient concentrations to allow effective imaging." To test whether this was the case, they tried injecting rats with a drug called probenecid, which is known to inhibit the active transport of molecules like [18F]FLT outside of the brain. They were happy to see that the strategy worked. They found clear signals of neurogenesis in the two areas of the adult brain, and these signals were significantly decreased in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of rats that had been treated with corticosterone to trigger depression. When the rats were treated with an anti-depressive selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, the amount of cell proliferation was shown to increase, demonstrating that the drugs were countering the loss of neurogenesis caused by the corticosterone. According to Yosky Kataoka, who led the research team, "This is a very interesting finding, because it has been a longtime dream to find a non-invasive test that can give objective evidence of depression and simultaneously show whether drugs are working in a given patient. We have shown that it is possible, at least in experimental animals, to use PET to show the presence of depression and the effectiveness of drugs. Since it is known that these same brain regions are involved in depression in the human brain, we would like to try this technique in the clinic and see whether it turns out to be effective in humans as well." Source: RIKEN Welcome to our Valet Service. Available even during peak rush hours.Leave your anywhere &we will be there to serve pic.twitter.com/kdmw0W9X8a Abhishek Goyal (@goyal_abhei) August 2, 2016 @goyal_abhei superb ! Awesome ! #BengaluruPolice have a superb sense if humour . Sunitha Nahar (@SunithaNahar) August 2, 2016 @goyal_abhei @Venky1971 hahahhaah ... Awesome job!!! Loved the way you communicated this... UnifieD (@UnifSpirit) August 3, 2016 Seldom we see such messages with HUMOUR from people in khaki. Good one sir. Yeh Dil MAANGE more @goyal_abhei @KiranKS Subba Rao (@yessirtns) August 2, 2016 @goyal_abhei @DCPTrEastBCP This is Badass!! Epic move. Hopeful that this may reduce the traffic congestion to some extent Sreejith Ajith (@shreejith368) August 2, 2016 @goyal_abhei well done sir!!! Long overdue. This is only way we can put some order on car owners. Fines do not help Capt Poornapragna (@CaptainPoorna) August 3, 2016 @goyal_abhei finally u guys came up with a smart plan to teach law breakers a lesson Nihal Anand (@005_nihal) August 3, 2016 In the digital age, people from all professions, politicians to bureaucrats, lawyers, journalists, celebrities and even policemen are on social media platforms.In a short span of time, social media has become a means of communication, a medium to share one's opinion, views, thoughts on any subject/issue, and is also used as a platform to convey official government communication. Recently, Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel announced her resignation on social media as soon as she sent her letter to party leaders.This shows the power of the platform. The message spreads rapidly and reaches the masses in a short period of time. Social media connects, it also divides people on certain occasions.So, at a time the social media is the 'it' thing, what better way to teach traffic rules to an urban population than posting them on Twitter and Facebook.Making use of this amazing platform, a Bangalore cop Abhishek Goyal tried to warn traffic offenders in a humorous way. Take a look at what he tweetedThe subtle yet powerful way in which he conveyed that traffic offenders won't be spared was much loved by social media users.Here's what social media users had to say."Epic move. Hopeful that this may reduce the traffic congestion to some extent," this user commented.The message by Goyal was sent out loud and clear, that law offenders will be taught a lesson, only his way of communicating was a little different from other cops. And surely loved by one and all. When pictures of strife and terror flooding the media numb us, here is one man who is searching for that beautiful smile on people's faces that are lost somewhere in life's chaos.Jay Weinstein, a photographer based out of India and Australia, took up a heart-warming project of featuring the beautiful people of India in images he captures while travelling across the country.Through his project 'So I asked them to smile', the images of which he shares with social media users on Facebook , Weinstein aims at exploring the smiles of strangers.(Photo: Facebook/Jay Weinstein)(Photo: Facebook/Jay Weinstein)"December 2013. I was on a photography trip to Bikaner, in the deserts of Rajasthan, India. Near the busy train station, I saw a man I wanted to photograph. I hesitated. The look in his eye and his stony, stern look intimidated me. It's always that moment of hesitation that kills a shot. I ended up avoiding him and photographing other subjects until I heard his jovial voice, "Take my picture too!".Camera lens focused, my finger poised to fire. 'Smile', I called out. And he was transformed. His face radiated warmth, his eyes sparkled with a humor I had completely missed. Even his posture softened. I knew then what my next project would be. So I asked them to smile was born," Weinstein told News18.(Photo: Facebook/Jay Weinstein)He wanted to document the effect of a smile on somebody's face, someone unknown.The thought behind the project as explained by Weinstein was that most often than not we tend to make up our minds about strangers just by their facial features or expressions. And at times we jump to conclusions and move on with what we perceive from their postures or gestures. This is what had to be changed.So, to change this mindset, and recreate the experience of meeting strangers, Weinstein set off on his photography adventures, clicking people without and with a smile.And by taking a look at his images we can say a smile can really make a big difference.Weinstein told News18, "There are no names, no occupations, no confirmed religions or ethnicity, no intriguing life lessons or heart strumming anecdotes. Just one human face. Without, and with a smile. Its goal is to recreate the mindset from which we view a stranger, and then witness as our assumptions transform with their smile"."By presenting this project in a minimal way, I hope to recreate the mindset from which we view a stranger," Weinstein told News18. He also mentioned that he wanted viewers to observe their own thoughts and actions when they meet a stranger.It certainly is a way of self-discovery, we can say.(Photo: Facebook/Jay Weinstein"Well it will slowly expand to other countries. I have already added images from my Nepal and Australia trips. I hope to be able to travel more and ask more strangers to smile. Beyond that,one day I also look forward to compiling a book," said Weinstein.(Photo: Facebook/Jay Weinstein)There couldn't have been a better job than putting a smile on people's faces. Weinstein is pursuing something that he loves doing. And after watching this series it is upon us to decide how we want to view a stranger. Whether to make up our minds at the first instance or wait for them to smile! New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said solution to Siachen Glacier is a part of the larger issue to include Pakistan's support to terrorism in India. Thirteen rounds of talks to resolve the Siachen issue have already taken place between India and Pakistan, led by the respective Defence Secretaries, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. "Indian government has made it clear to Pakistan that the solution to Siachen Glacier is a part of the larger issue to include Pakistan's support to terrorism in India." he said. Parrikar added that on December 9, 2015, External Affairs Minister met the Pakistani leadership on the side-lines of the Heart of Asia process for regional cooperation on Afghanistan. "These discussions directed the Foreign Secretaries of both countries to work out the modalities and schedule of the meetings under the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue on various issues including Siachen," he said. Meanwhile, Parrikar said Indian soldiers deployed in extremely harsh terrain and weather conditions are suitably equipped and properly trained to undertake the operational challenges and carry out their mandated tasks. The soldiers deployed at Siachen Glacier are provided with quality winter clothing including 'Extreme Cold Climate' clothing. Besides, they are provided with prefabricated insulated shelters and wherever it is not possible to construct such shelters due to technical difficulties, insulated tents are provided which can withstand low temperatures upto 500 Celsius, he said. The Units are self-sufficient for a period of 240 days of supplies. During winters/cut off season, daily maintenance of troops is carried out by rotary/fixed wing assets, he said. Innovation is now in spotlight in China as the worlds second-largest economy strives to transform its economic structure and hone its innovation capabilities under the New Normal. To increase innovation capacity and create favorable environment, the State Council has made a series of plans and policies this year. Among the 25 State Council executive meetings presided over by Premier Li Keqiang this year, nine focused on issues related to innovation. The following are plans and policies on innovation made at the State Council executive meetings from January to July. Premier Li gets on a super intelligent bicycle built from carbon fiber, for a test ride during a visit to a Flying Pigeon bicycle experience store in Tianjin on June 26. He said that he hopes the Flying Pigeon to carry forward the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation. July 20: National plan on scientific and technological innovation The State Council executive meeting approved a national plan on scientific and technological innovation during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). The plan aims to make China an innovation powerhouse by 2020. According to the plan, efforts will be made to: -Strengthen innovative ability, improve research on technology, and build a batch of major sci-tech facilities and establish national science and technological research centers; -Launch new major scientific projects in key areas such as quantum communication and medical treatment, and put more emphasis on developing major industrial technologies such as seed industry, clean coal utilization, fifth-generation mobile communication and intelligent robots; -Highlight the importance of innovation, improve the business incubator system such as innovation services and maker spaces, and establish a standard and open technology traction market; -Speed up sci-tech system reform, stoke peoples enthusiasm, implement measures to improve scientific research funds management and rights and interests distribution of sci-tech achievements, and strengthen innovation culture building. June 8: New national innovation demonstration zones The State Council executive meeting approved the establishment of the two national innovation demonstration zones in Fujian and Anhui provinces. The new zones will create a platform for talent and business startups and efforts will be made to expand reform of streamlining administration, delegating power, strengthening supervision and improving services. June 1: Fund reform to boost scientific innovation To boost scientific innovation through institutional reform, the State Council decided to further improve regulation on the management of science and research funding and remove administrative barriers for universities and research institutions to better boost enthusiasm from teachers and researchers. To improve fund management for scientific research projects, efforts will be made to: -Delegate part of fund management rights to institutions that undertake scientific research projects so that they can keep any remaining funds after project completion; -Raise merit pay for science research project personnel in direct expenses (excluding equipment expenses) from 5 percent to up to 20 percent; -Enable scientific research institutions and universities directly under central ministries to make their own decisions on travel and meeting expenses; -Streamline management of procurement for scientific research equipment so that scientific research institutions and universities directly under central ministries can made decisions on equipment purchases; -Authorize more infrastructure project autonomy and streamline related administrative approval procedures. Premier Li delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the China Big Data Industry Summit & China E-commerce Innovation and Development Summit held in Guiyang, Southwest Chinas Guizhou province, May 25. [Photo/Xinhua] May 18: Reform commercial system to create better environment The State Council decided to continue reforms on the commercial system to create a better market environment for mass entrepreneurship and innovation. According to the plan, efforts will be made to: -Continue reducing preapproval items for business registration, exploring the management of negative lists for business licenses, and accelerating the development of pilot areas for separate business licenses; -Create an equal opportunity business environment and improve market exit mechanism; -Expand the coverage of three-in-one business certificate; -Support those who become unemployed during the process of eliminating overcapacity. April 20: Establish hubs to promote innovation The State Council executive meeting decided to build a batch of special demonstration bases to promote mass entrepreneurship and innovation. The first batch of demonstration bases will be chosen in some regions of cities and provinces, as well as universities, scientific research institutions, enterprises with good performance and internet enterprises. The demonstration bases should focus on streamlining administration and delegating power to lower levels, creating a fair and competitive environment and developing the sharing economy. In addition, the bases should give priority to business system reform and separating business licenses from administrative permits and introduce tough measures on intellectual property protection. Premier Li plays badminton with robots in Jingrong makers town in Sichuan province on April 25. March 30: New measures to boost innovation The State Council executive meeting made new policies to boost innovation. Three more national innovation demonstration zones will be set up in provinces of Henan, Shandong, and Liaoning, bringing the total to 14. Comprehensive innovation reforms will be carried out in Chinas financial hub of Shanghai within three years. To reach the goals, four measures will be taken to: -Improve policies concerning equity incentives and income distribution to motivate scientific and technical personnel; -Better facilitate allocation of resources to encourage colleges and research institutes under ministries; -Increase employment by encouraging mass entrepreneurship and innovation; -Improve follow-up supervision and deepen commercial reform, with efforts to minimize governmental intervention and explore management systems that encourage innovation. Feb 17: Commercialize research to drive innovation The State Council executive meeting discussed policy measures for the commercialization of scientific and technological research. As an important move to carry out the supply-side reform and transform Chinas scientific research system, the measures will be implemented to encourage commercialization of scientific and technological research achievements, improving productivity and advancing the countrys innovation-driven strategy. To implement commercialization of scientific and technological research: -Research findings will be commercialized to enterprise without national level approval and more achievements will be encouraged to be sold to small and medium-sized enterprises; -Profits earned through commercialization go to researchers; -At least 50 percent of commercialization rewards go to major researchers; -Researchers will be allowed to work with enterprises buying their research findings for a maximum three years while keeping their position at the research body; -Commercialization of research discoveries will be included in the evaluation system of research institutions and universities. Premier Li stresses the importance of innovation in scientific research and technological development during his visit to Tsinghua University, a top university in China, on April 15. Feb 3: Pilot platforms to promote innovation The State Council executive meeting decided to develop makerspaces to accelerate the cultivation of the new driving forces. Pilot innovation platforms at the national level should be set up to promote the development of mass entrepreneurship and innovation bases in various places. Factories and warehouses that were left unused can be changed into innovation bases and makerspaces, and subsidies are granted for facilities such as offices, water, power and internet. Angel investment and venture capital fund should be introduced, and special financing services can be tried at selected financial institutions. In addition, preferential tax measures will be explored. Jan 13: Simplification of rules to support innovation enterprises The State Council executive meeting discussed efforts to simplify administration and delegate power to lower levels to support mass entrepreneurship and innovation enterprises. According to the plan, efforts will be made to: -Cancel 150 more approval items on taxation and departmental preapproval on local enterprises issuing bonds; -Remove 10 more departmental administrative license constraining mass entrepreneurship and innovation; -Abolish or standardize 192 more intermediary service items; -Integrate hygiene license and food business operation licenses for restaurants, cafes, bars and tea houses; -Abolish regulations for 61 more professional qualification certificates. Premier Li takes a ride in a solar car during his inspection tour in the Qingkong innovation makerspace in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, on Jan 5. Opposition BJP-led NDA today strongly protested against the beating up of a journalist of a Hindi daily in Bihar Assembly and demanded security for media persons in the state. Navneet Kumar, the journalist of Hindi daily 'Hindustan', was on Tuesday beaten up in Vaishali district yesterday when his attackers were protesting an item written by him about beating up of a bus operator on Monday for hiking fare. Senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav raised the issue during the Zero Hour and attacked the state government for failing to provide security to members of the fourth estate. Soon Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar and other BJP and its allies LJP, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party members rose from their seats and raised slogans against the Grand Secular Alliance for attack on the scribe. However, Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of RJD President Lalu Prasad who represents Mahua seat, had left the Assembly some time before the strong BJP protest. Nand Kishore Yadav said after the killing of Hindi journalist Rajdeo Ranjan in Siwan, now another media person has been beaten for publishing news about thrashing of a bus operator. The senior BJP leader, who is former Leader of the Opposition, expressed grave concern over the attack on journalists which he said reflected poor law and order condition in the state. New Delhi: Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed heated exchanges between Congress and SP members over recent instances of rape in Uttar Pradesh particularly the gangrape of a mother and daughter in Bulandshahr, with the government saying law and order was a state matter but the incidents were highly condemnable. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Rajni Patil (Cong) said the number of incidents of rape and other atrocities against women was on the rise and there was an urgent need for the House to take note and discuss the issue. She mentioned the gangrape of a mother and her minor daughter when they were travelling from Noida to Kanpur. As other Congress members joined in, Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan, a SP MP from UP, likened Congress raising the issue with "crocodile tears" and "torture" and asked them not to do politics over the issue of atrocities and crime against women. She said she had given notice for discussing the issue several days ago but the notice has not yet been accepted. "I do not care which part of the country the incidents have taken place. I want to discuss. I do not want to politicise," she said. Ambika Soni (Cong) immediately shot back saying it was a minister of the SP government in Uttar Pradesh who was playing politics over the incident. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the ghastly incident, whether in Uttar Pradesh or any other part of the country, needs to be condemned in strongest terms and strictest action taken against culprits. Maintaining that law and order is a state subject, he said expressed hope that the UP government would act strongly in the case. "We are ready for discussion on women's security. Please give notice, we will discuss it," he said. As the Congress members continued to raise the issue and SP members vociferously reacting back, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the matter raised was very, very serious and every member was seeking a discussion. "No problem. Please give notice," he said. Tapan Kumar Sen (CPI-M) said a notice for short duration discussion on the issue was given a few days back and it is pending in Chairman's office. New Delhi: Delhi Police's Special Cell on Tuesday claimed to have busted an international drug syndicate and seized 14.2 kg of party drug mephedrone (meow-meow) worth Rs 25 crore in international market, with the arrest of 8 drug traffickers from various parts of national capital. A team of Special Cell working on drug trafficking received input that a Mumbai based supplier Faizan Supariwala was coming to receive the drug consignment at Greater Kailash (GK) II from where he was arrested on July 23, DCP Special Cell Sanjiv Yadav said. Two packets of meow-meaw, weighing 1.215 gm and 995 gm were seized from his possession. Faizan revealed during interrogation that he worked for his relative Arif who was in the trade, and they used to send drug consignment to Gulf and European countries with the help of one Kailash. He also told that he had received the drug in Delhi from a Chittaranjan Park resident Sunny. Later, a raid was conducted and Surender Singh alias Sunny was arrested from GK II. A packet of mephedrone weighing 650 gm was seized from him. This arrest was followed by further arrests of the accused Rishi from Kondli, Guddu Yadav, Manoj Sengar, Sanjay Khanna, Dipak Parashar and Mahender Rana. Arrest of Guddu Yadav near Karkardooma court led to seizure of two packets of the drug weighing 600 gm and 250 gm. A total of 850 gms of the drug was seized from the possession of accused Deepak Parashar and 600 gm from Sanjay Khanna. Accused Sanjay Khanna gave information about Mahender Rana who was arrested with biggest seizure of 9.90 Kg of mephedrone. "Rana disclosed that a Customs employee had provided him a total of 21 Kg of mephedrone and he had already sold out around 12 Kg of it through Sanjay Khanna on different occasions," said the officer. Investigation so far has revealed that Kailash based in Mumbai is kingpin of the syndicate. Special Cell said he was also wanted in similar case in Mumbai in which his brother was already arrested. He was presently in Dubai. Further investigation is in full swing and hunts are on to apprehend remaining drug-peddlers' of the syndicate at their hideouts in Mumbai, Delhi and UP, added the officer. Lucknow: Days after the horrific Bulandshahr rape incident, a school teacher was raped and filmed on gunpoint near Delhi-Lucknow NH24 at CB Ganj area in Bareilly on Tuesday early morning. The incident took place when the victim, a teacher by profession, was on her way to a private school in the morning. When she reached Kadaua (link road near NH24), three men in a car intercepted and forcibly dragged her inside the vehicle. Before she could raise an alarm, the men drove the car towards a secluded place in CB Ganj area where they took turns to rape her at gunpoint. While committing the crime, the miscreants took nude pictures of the victim and threatened her with dire consequences if she reports the matter to the police. The woman was later dumped on the national highway after an hour. Somehow she reached home and narrated the whole ordeal to her family members. A police complaint was lodged and a team of policemen rushed to the spot to probe the incident. The Uttar Pradesh Police which is under severe criticism for rising crime and rape incidents in the state launched a massive operation to arrest the culprits. "An FIR has been filed against three unidentified men. We are hopeful that they will be arrested soon," sources in the police department. Meanwhile, Inspector general (Bareilly zone) Vijay Singh Meena ordered a departmental inquiry and suspended the in-charge of CB Ganj police station Rakesh Gupta for dereliction of duty. The incident comes four days after the horrific gang rape of a mother and her teenage daughter on NH91 in Bulandshahr. Uttar Pradesh police may claim they have ramped up patrol along the highways following the horrific Bulandshahr gang rape, but a ground reality check by CNN-News 18's team along the highway in Meerut on Monday night revealed shocking lapses in the security system. Policemen were found sleeping on roadside beds, completely unaware of what was happening around, while their superiors were found resting in their official vehicles. New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said he hopes for a rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by April 2017. Speaking exclusively to CNN-NEWS18 the union minister said, "The one-nation, one-tax regime will reduce taxation levels. We have already addressed the concerns of the state governments and I am hopeful of a rollout early next year." He further added, "It's a non partisan tax. The states will be getting compensation for five years and also get service tax." At 2 pm, Rajya Sabha will begin a much-awaited debate on GST before voting on a bill that amends the constitution to implement a single national tax to replace the existing tax system. The government managed to reach a consensus with the Opposition over the Bill after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's meetings with leaders of the TMC and SP, among other parties. Sources said there would be 4-5 amendments to clauses which will guarantee compensation to states. These would also include a clause that serves as the guiding principle to fix how the rate would be calculated. The other expected changes would be the scrapping of 1% additional tax, more clarity on five-year compensation to states, strengthening the dispute resolution mechanism, and ensuring no revenue loss for states. The GST Bill entails introduction of a single indirect tax regime across the country. New Delhi: The NIA will soon take over the case of missing Kerala youths who are believed to have joined banned international terror group ISIS after the state police completed its investigation. Official sources said, Kerala police had meticulously investigated the case and identified at least 21 youths who have gone missing from the state. Among them 17 were from Kasaragod and four from Palakkad. They include four women and three children. Two women were among those missing from Palakkad. The sources said the Kerala police had finished its part of investigation and the case was now being transferred to the NIA for carrying out the probe overseas. The exercise will include collecting of evidence from foreign countries. A notification is expected to be issued this week under which all the nine cases registered by the Kerala police will be handed over to the NIA, they said. The probe by the state police was wound up with the arrest of a 29-year-old Bihari woman, suspected to be involved in recruitment of young men and women from Kerala for ISIS. She was taken into custody just before she was to board a plane to Kabul where her husband, also allegedly linked to ISIS, is currently located. The woman, identified as Yasmin Ahmed, was arrested by a special team of Kerala police from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi when she was about to leave the country for Kabul on Sunday, police said. The woman is the second wife of main accused Abdul Rashid, a native of Kasaragod, and is alleged to have played a key role in the recruitment of state youths in ISIS, sources said. The NIA and police forces of various states have so far arrested 54 youths across the country after registering cases to investigate their alleged links with Islamic State. The terrorist outfit is using various platforms to propagate its ideology and to attract young people from across the world. Islamabad/Lahore: Protesters took to the streets at several places in Pakistan on Wednesday ahead of Indian home minister Rajnath Singh's arrival in Islamabad for a meeting of SAARC interior ministers. Activists of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Hizbul Mujahideen, United Jihad Council (UJC) and other such group protested to denounce Singh's trip to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial conference being hosted by Pakistan. Syed Salahuddin, the leader of militant outfit Hizbul Mujahidden, who is also chief of UJC, and local leaders of other groups were seen during the protest. Another protest was organised by Mishal Malik, wife of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, in front of National Press Club here. on Tuesday, a JuD caravan led by Talha Saeed, the son of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, had staged a sit-in at the Line of Control near Chakothi in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), where they were stopped by Pakistani security forces. The protesters on Wednesday continued their sit-in, demanding that India receives relief materials brought by them for Kashmiris. A JuD statement said that it has no plans to leave the place unless India receives relief goods, dry food and medicines for the Kashmiris. Hafiz Abdur Rauf, chief of Falayh-i-Insaniat Foundation, a sister organisation of JuD, said many doctors and paramedical staff were also present in the sit-in. "These doctors and para-medical staff want to go Sri Nagar to treat our injured Kashmiri brethren," he said. Various religious and jihadi outfits in Pakistan are opposed to Singh's visit as they held him responsible for the unrest in Indian Kashmir. Forty-nine people have been killed in Kashmir in clashes since Indian security forces killed Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Earlier, Hafiz Saeed has warned the government that Singh's presence in Islamabad may create "unrest" among Kashmiris as well as Pakistanis in the face of scores of killings in Kashmir. With PTI Inputs. New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi is "stable" and under observation of specialist doctors at the Army's Research and Referral Hospital, after she was admitted late on Tuesday night due to high fever, her party said on Wednesday. No medical bulletin on her health has been yet issued by the hospital, but the Congress said she is recovering under medical supervision. The 69-year-old Congress chief returned to the capital on Tuesday by a chartered flight close to midnight, after she had to abandon the 8-km roadshow in Varanasi midway due to illness. AICC media cell in-charge Randeep Surjewala said she is stable and is recovering under medical supervision. "On Tuesday itself, she had said she would return to Varanasi to meet the people and to have 'darshan of the historical temple of Kashi Vishwanath Ji'. On return, she was admitted to hospital in Delhi, is stable and is recovering under medical supervision", he said in a statement. The Congress President is overwhelmed by the concern and affection of fellow countrymen and crores of Congressmen and has thanked everyone for their good wishes, he said. Sources said doctors have kept Sonia under observation as she was running high fever on Tuesday, and got dehydrated due to exhaustion during the road show. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, were by her side. Her son-in-law Robert Vadra also visited her. Senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had on Tuesday, said that her condition was "stable" after she suffered a bout of "dehydration, vomited and had fever" in Varanasi. Actress Yami Gautam, who was last seen on screen in filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri's Junooniyat, says she is very comfortable without make-up. Asked if looking perfect all the time is important for actors, Yami said: "As far as I am concerned, I am very comfortable without make-up. I think it's about whatever makes you happy." The 27-year-old actress says happiness is important for one to look good. "If you are happy with or without make-up, that's what it's all about," Yami added. On the work front, the Sanam Re star will soon be seen playing a blind girl in Sanjay Gupta's upcoming film Kaabil, starring superstar Hrithik Roshan. Kaabil is produced by Hrithik's father Rakesh Roshan, and is slated to release on January 26 next year. Talking about her other projects, Yami said: "You'll hear about them very soon. Right now, it is just Kaabil... The shoot is still on and of course we all know the release date." New Delhi: Hailing the passage of the GST Bill in the Rajya Sabha, BJP chief Amit Shah on Wednesday night said it reaffirms Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "commitment" to cooperative federalism as it will lead to "one nation, one tax" regime and increase revenue of states. He said GST is the biggest tax reform since Independence and had been a long standing demand of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and Modi has made it a reality. "GST will lead to 'One Nation, One Tax', empower states and increase their revenues. It reaffirms PM's commitment to cooperative federalism. "I congratulate PM Narendra Modi and FM Arun Jaitely for creating wide consensus on the GST Bill that will benefit all including poor," he said in a series of tweets. "The bill will help speed the development works in the country and its passage also shows NDA's commitment to economic reforms," he said in a statement. He also thanked the opposition parties and other MPs for supporting the measure in the Rajya Sabha. Shah also thanked the media, intellectuals, economists and members of civil society for creating an enabling environment for the passage of GST Bill. Dismissing rumours of Amit Shah replacing Anandiben Patel as the next Chief Minister of Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday categorically stated that the party president is not in the race for the CM post. "BJP chief Amit Shah not being considered for CM's post. The party needs him at the national level," Venkaiah Naidu said after the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting. In the BJP meeting held on Wednesday to deliberate on the future course of action in Gujarat, the party authorised Amit Shah to pick the CM nominee for the state. Senior party leaders Nitin Gadkari and Saroj Pandey will be the central observers at Gujarat BJP legislature party meet to decide next CM. The legislature party meeting is likely to be held on Friday after Shah reaches Ahmedabad on Thursday. Anandiben will tender her resignation to the Governor on Wednesday after the BJP Parliamentary Board gave its go ahead to the incumbent to resign. "The Parliamentary Board gave its approval to Anandiben Patel's wish to quit. She had wished to be relieved of her responsibility as she would turn 75 soon. She has set up a great precedent for lakhs of party workers. It put on record her very good work as the chief minister and as a minister earlier," Naidu said. Ahmedabad: Gujarat's first woman chief minister Anandiben Patel faced during her brief tenure several challenges, including the Patel quota stir and the recent flogging of Dalits in Una, which are perceived to have dented the BJP's support base ahead next year's state assembly polls. A teacher-turned-politician and recipient of the President's bravery award, 74-year-old Patel, who resigned on Wednesday as the Gujarat chief minister, also proved herself a socially concerned administrator capable of taking firm decisions by her interventions for improving school education and sanitation programmes. Patel, who succeeded Narendra Modi as Chief Minister in May 2014, is a disciplinarian, hard taskmaster and one who speaks her mind out. A staunch Modi loyalist, she emerged as the natural heir when the former became the prime minister after successfully running the state for nearly a decade. Under Modi, she had headed the group of ministers tasked with running the state's day-to-day affairs during his hectic Lok Sabha campaign. Patel, who will turn 75 in November this year, was born on 22 November 1941 in Kharod village of Vijapur taluka of Mehsana district in a farmer's family. During her tenure as CM, she laid special emphasis on social welfare programmes like malnutrition of children, women's health and building toilets to achieve the targets under Modi's flagship Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, earning the reputation of a kind hearted person. The BJP under her leadership also suffered loss in the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) election in April this year, where it won 16 of the 32 seats in a tie with Congress. Recently, she broke down after listening to a poem penned by a school girl on female foeticide during a function. However, she also demonstrated that she is not a leader to bow down easily when it comes to taking decisions. On many occasions, she poured her heart out and many a time took officials to task for their failure to serve the people. Many within and outside her party consider her to be very adamant, a trait she reflected during the Patel quota stir. Instead of giving in to the demands of the agitators or offering promises, she remained firm and refused to grant the community the OBC status for reservation. Instead of giving "politically correct" answers, she bluntly told the agitators in the beginning that reservation under OBC category for Patels is not possible. A post graduate in science and education, she opted for a career in teaching and moved here from Mehsana. New Delhi: With Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal set to spend a substantial amount of time campaigning in poll-bound states and his deputy Manish Sisodia increasingly taking over his official works, the latters clout in the government affairs is set to grow. Sisodia on Tuesday convened a meeting of MLAs of South Delhi on development works at Secretariat in Delhi. When in the capital, CM Kejriwal calls meetings of MLAs on issues pertaining to their areas. Though the government is unlikely to make an official announcement in this regard, Sisodia would also be taking care of important files normally routed through Chief Ministers Office. As the CM will be busy with campaigning in poll-bound states including Punjab, Goa and Gujarat in coming days, Sisodia will take over chief ministerial responsibilities. Today, Sisodias meeting with South Delhi MLAs clearly suggests his increasing clout in the government affairs, a source said. In recent past, many AAP government and party advertisements have carried Sisodias pictures. Led by its convener Kejriwal, AAP is gearing up for the Assembly elections in Goa, Punjab and Gujarat, scheduled for next year. Sources also said the Deputy CM will hold district-wise meetings with MLAs on development works, where he will discuss issues with officials concerned. In the Kejriwal government, Sisodia, who has charge of 11 departments, is holding key portfolios including finance, education, services, information technology, vigilance, law and justice, and revenue. At present, Sisodia is looking after chief ministerial works as Kejriwal has gone on 10-day vipassana session in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. When Kejriwal had gone to Bengaluru for treatment of cough, Sisodia had taken care of chief ministerial works. After Sisodia, his Cabinet colleague Satyendar Jain has responsibilities of maxim seven departments. In July, Sisodia was relieved of the charge of Urban Development and it was given to Jain. Flanked by the Varuna river on one side and famous Assi ghat near river Ganga on the other, the holy city of Benaras has been soaked in a lot of political attention ever since BJP's PM nominee and now the Prime minister, Narendra Modi chose to contest the general elections from here in 2014.What Varanasi achieved with Modi as its MP is a keenly debated topic among the locals. But promises of the city becoming like Kyoto is still a distant dream. Honestly, not many Banarasis want it that way.With Modi magic undoubtedly waning a bit over the past 2 years of BJP rule, it gives enough room for the Opposition to move in and challenge him from his own constituency of Varanasi.Slowly rising out of humiliation of a near clear rout in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the grand old Congress party is now gearing up for a fresh battle.In its 'Long March' to regain the lost rule in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the party first aspires for a come back in Uttar Pradesh in 2017.And it's there in this scheme of things that Varanasi becomes important, not just for throwing an open challenge to PM Modi but also for a subtle message on soft Hindutva.Congress president Sonia Gandhi's initial plan to visit the famous Kashi Viswanath temple, for the first time in years, or Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi earlier visit to Kedarnath are all part of that strategy.Congress' state spokesperson, and a proud Banarsi, Kamlakar Tripathi, however, rejects suggestions that it is a strategic Hindu outreach and terms it all as part of party's faith in 'Sarva dharm Sambhav'. He is quick to point out that Congress leaders also visit sufi shrines, mosques and churches.Sources say the idea of kick-starting the campaign from UP was first floated by party's newly hired strategist Prashant Kishor and every move of the Congress party seems to have been pulled out of PM Modi's Book of Tactics.So when Sonia first paid homage to Dr. Ambedkar before starting her road show, and planned to end her Varanasi trip with the visit to Kashi Vishwanath temple, many were easily reminded of PM Modi's style of campaigning.At the end of the day Sonia might have been restrained from visiting the temple because of illness and left the job to be finished by the party's CM face Sheila Dikshit and UP election chief Raj Babbar.Varanasi-based senior journalist DP Tiwari says that Congress party with help of Prashant Kishor is probably trying to counter BJP by subtly adopting strategies mastered by Prime minister Modi.For the party which was considered nowhere in the battle of Uttar Pradesh by every political pundit just till a couple of months back, there has definitely been a turnaround.Right from roping in Prashant Kishor as a strategist to playing the Brahmin card by making Sheile Dikshit a CM face, there is a new found buzz around the party.Huge turnouts, first in Rahul's show in Lucknow on July 29 and then at Sonia's road show in Varanasi, have clearly given party leaders a reason to smile.Question is will the new-found enthusiasm lead the Congress in making deeper inroads in the state. While Congress leaders are upbeat, arch rival BJP is quick to dismiss the challenge.BJP's state spokesperson Dr. Chandramohan terms it a 'created enthusiasm with workers being brought in for Sonia's roadshow from as far as Bihar."A exercise in desperation which wil not result in votes," Chandramohan added.Only UP knows what is in store for the Congress New Delhi: Three Parliamentarians, including BJP's Maheish Girri, have asked the Lok Sabha Speaker to send AAP MP Bhagwant Mann to a "rehab centre", alleging he comes to the House "intoxicated". AAP's Sanjay Singh reacted to the July 27 letter saying "personal attacks" have become all too predictable from BJP leaders. This came on top of an ongoing House committee probe into Mann's Parliament House videography issue. "We would be grateful that Mann be sent on a rehab centre for drugs/alcohol deaddiction by the Lok Sabha on Lok Sabha expenditure and it is only after that he should be allowed to attend proceedings of Lok Sabha," the letter, also signed by SAD MP Prem Singh Chandumajra and suspended AAP MP Harinder Singh Khalsa, said. A copy of the letter, addressed to the Committee on Breach of the Security of Parliament House, was sent to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Girri said. The MPs alleged that it is "common knowledge in the Parliament" that Mann remains under the influence of intoxicants or liquor and does not attend Parliament proceedings without being intoxicated. "Such conduct of Mann is quite unbecoming of the MP who is a chosen representative of people and is considered a role model of his constituency. This reflects very poorly and denigrates the seat of a Member of this August house," it said. Ahmedabad: As speculations on successor of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel reached a fever pitch, BJP central leaders are arriving in Ahmedabad on Wednesday to assess the ground situation and to find the successor of Patel. In Delhi, BJP Parliamentary Board is meeting on Wednesday when it is likely to accept Patel's offer to resign and begin the process of picking up her successor. Gujarat BJP in-charge Dinesh Sharma and national joint general secretary (organisation) V Satish, are scheduled to arrive to hold talks with local leaders in the wake of Patel, the first woman Chief Minister of Gujarat, announcing her decision to step down. It is believed that Sharma and Satish will prepare a detailed report after taking into account the views of local leaders before finalising name of next CM. Though the decision is to be taken at the "highest level" of the BJP leadership, the names doing the rounds as potential successor to Patel include the "number two" in the cabinet and Health minister Nitin Patel, state BJP chief Vijay Rupani, Union minister Purshottam Rupala and Assembly Speaker Ganpat Vasava, a tribal leader. According to sources, BJP workers are inclined to see party president Amit Shah taking the reigns from Patel to revive BJP's falling stock. Under Patel, the saffron party had suffered a humiliated setback in civic polls. The BJP also antagonised its loyal vote bank of Patidars who have been demanding OBC quota and staged violent protests last year. Of late, the flogging of Dalits at Una also caused a massive unrest, denting further the party's image. Meanwhile, Nitin Patel said the central leadership will take the decision on Patel's successor which will be acceptable to everyone. Rupani said he was ready to carry out whatever responsibility his party assigns him to. Patel took to Facebook to request the BJP leadership to relieve her of the job, saying it was time for new leaders to take over as she is soon turning 75. Gleeing at BJP's discomfiture, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said that "making Patel a scapegoat would not save the BJP in Gujarat as the 13-year Narendra Modi rule in the state was responsible for its burning." Senior Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela said Modi and Shah did a "political encounter" of Patel by "forcing" her to quit. AAP leader Ashutosh said that replacing a "puppet" with another will not make a difference unless the "mastermind" is removed. Ahmedabad: BJP president Amit Shah has called a meeting of the party's parliamentary board on Wednesday to appoint the new chief minister of Gujarat, amid speculation that state party chief Vijay Rupani is likely to succeed Anandiben Patel. A Jain Baniya by caste, Rupani was recently elevated to the post of BJP state chief, besides enjoying the water supply portfolio. During the Patidar agitation, Rupani was seen as the only BJP leader who was willing to compromise for the cause of the Patidar community. He is believed to have impressed upon Anandiben to drop criminal cases against Patidar youth who were booked for rioting. Nitin Patel, a senior state minister is also being talked of as a contender but he has suffered a huge setback during the Patidar agitation. There are allegations against him for not standing for the cause of Patidars during the agitation in Mehsana in North Gujarat, which is the epicentre of the Patidar agitation. His office in Mehsana was ransacked during the agitation. State education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama is a "dark horse" in the race for the state premier post. The MLA from Dholka and state education minister, Chudasama has strong roots in the RSS. Most importantly, the Kshatriya leader from central Gujarat had a more-or-less non controversial stint so far, except the recent Talati recruitment scam, where Kalyansinh Champawat levelled several serious corruption allegations against him. Another possible contender is Assembly Speaker Ganpat Vasava - a tribal, who can represent the most backward sections of society. Patidar strongman Purshottam Rupala too is lobbying for the post. He has recently been elected Rajya Sabha MP. The name of another Patel strongman from Saurashtra, Bhikhu Dalsaniya, is also doing the rounds for the chief ministerial post. Washington: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has a nine-point lead over her Republican rival Donald Trump, a latest national opinion poll said on Tuesday. According to the CNN/ORC poll, Clinton is ahead by a margin of 52% to 43% in a head-to-head match-up with Trump. This is a seven-point increase for Clinton from the last poll conducted by the news network. Besides improving her standing against Trump, Clinton's convention appears to have boosted the share of Americans who think her policies will move the country in the right direction (from 43% before either convention to 48% now), while Trump's right direction number held roughly steady following the back-to-back political gatherings in Cleveland and Philadelphia, CNN/ORC said. As per another poll conducted by CBS News, Clinton leads Trump by seven points. Clinton has 46% support among voters and Trump has support of 39%, it said. Clinton's popularity increased by four points after the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week. The race was tied last week after the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. With this Clinton returned to her June lead margin. As per RealClearPolitics.com which keeps track of all major national polls, Clinton has an average 3.9 percentage point lead over Trump. Washington: The US Air Force has declared the F-35 A Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jet as ready for combat, a major milestone for the futuristic aircraft dogged by delays and cost overruns. The US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter congratulated the air force on the announcement and said this is a significant milestone for an aircraft that will allow the US to maintain the advantage of air superiority for years to come. "I know that even after being declared combat ready, there is more work to do with this critical program, but the Air Force, Air Combat Command and the men and women of Hill Air Force Base should be proud of this major step forward for the F-35A," Carter said. The fighter jet is the latest addition to the US Air Force's fleet of deployable and fifth-generation aircraft. "The F-35A will be the most dominant aircraft in our inventory because it can go where our legacy aircraft cannot and provide the capabilities our commanders need on the modern battlefield," General Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command said. It provides air superiority, interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses and close air support as well as great command and control functions through fused sensors, and it will provide pilots with unprecedented situational awareness of the battlespace that will be more extensive than any single-seat platform in existence, the Pentagon said. Carlisle said the aircraft has met all key criteria for reaching initial operational capability -- Airmen trained, manned and equipped to conduct basic close air support, interdiction and limited suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses in a contested environment with an operational squadron of 12-24 aircraft. It also has the ability to deploy and conduct operational missions using program of record weapons and missions systems and having all necessary logistics and operational elements in place, he added. Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said the aircraft's achievement of initial operational capability is another important milestone in the Joint Strike Fighter program. "But for the most expensive weapons system in history, the road ahead remains long," he said. The Senate Armed Services Committee will continue to exercise rigorous oversight of the Joint Strike Fighter program's long-delayed system development and demonstration phase as well as the start of the operational test and evaluation phase. "These next steps are critical to verifying the F-35As ability to successfully recapitalise our ageing and increasingly vulnerable fighter force structure," he said The 34th Fighter Squadron of the 388th Fighter Wing, based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, is the service's first operational F-35A squadron, having met all the established criteria for initial operational capability including a successful June deployment to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho and a series of eight-aircraft sorties held in mid-July. "Bringing the F-35A to initial combat readiness is a testament to our phenomenal Airmen and the outstanding support of the Joint Program Office and our enterprise partners," Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said. Chief of Staff of the Air Force General David L Goldfein, said that dynamic new capability will benefit the joint war fighter. "The F-35A brings an unprecedented combination of lethality, survivability, and adaptability to joint and combined operations, and is ready to deploy and strike well-defended targets anywhere on Earth," he said. The Poe Museum announced plans to host the first International Poe Film Festival from Sept. 22 to Sept. 24 at the Byrd Theatre. The festival aims to "showcase the best in Edgar Allan Poe movies of the past ninety years from around the world," according to the release. "There have been hundreds of cinematic adaptations of Poes works and biopics of his life. These films, featuring Hollywood stars like Vincent Price, Jack Nicholson, and Sir Christopher Lee, have become part of our cultural heritage. Yet, so far, there has never been a film festival devoted entirely to Poe movies," according to the release. The three-day event will begin at the Poe Museum on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 6-9 p.m. with a special Poe Goes to the Movies Unhappy Hour, attended by special guest Victoria Price, daughter of Vincent Price. On Friday, Sept. 23, the Byrd Theatre will show two feature-length adaptations of Poes works, "Stonehearst Asylum" (2014) and "House of Usher" (1960) hosted by Victoria Price. On Saturday, Sept. 24, the Byrd will screen a series of short films, followed by panel discussions with film experts such as Raul Garcia, director of "Extraordinary Tales", Scott Peeples of the College of Charleston, John LaTier, director of "The Tell-Tale Heart", Sean Kotz of Radford University, and many more. On Saturday evening, the Poe Museum, in partnership with the Berkeley Hotel will host a special ticketed event called an Evening with Victoria Price. For more information visit poemuseum.org. A 202-year-old building in the Petersburg Old Town Historic District with connections to one of Richmonds most famous residents is scheduled to be sold at auction Aug. 18. The brick house at 12 W. Bank St. was the honeymoon site for American writer Edgar Allan Poe, then 27, and his bride, Virginia Clemm, his 13-year-old first cousin, in the spring of 1836. The couple had eloped the previous fall in Baltimore and returned to Richmond in May, where they were publicly married or so the story goes and then stayed a couple of weeks in the building as guests of newspaper editor and poet Hiram Haines and his wife, Mary Ann, a childhood friend of Poes. Petersburg at the time was a bustling commercial center on the Appomattox River. The Poes stayed on the second floor of the Hiram Haines Coffee & Ale House, a classic-style structure built in 1814. The second floor remains for the most part as it was then, with original paneling and moldings. The upstairs is still beautiful, said Beverly Rivers, the current owner, noting how the second-floor plaster walls appear to have received only one coat of paint, a blueish green, over the years. The building is in the hands of Rivers, a magazine writer, editor and interior designer, and her partner, Jeffrey Abugel, author of Edgar Allan Poes Petersburg: The Untold Story of the Raven in the Cockade City. They live in a historic home about eight blocks from the building they are selling at auction. We fell in love with beautiful old architecture, looked for houses in Savannah and Charleston, and kept going north until we could afford to buy a great house, Rivers said. The writers found their Italianate home, circa 1870, in Petersburg in 2002 and moved here full time from Iowa in 2005. Rivers bought the property at 12 W. Bank St. in 2008 and ran her Rivers Edge Interiors business from there before she and Abugel reopened the 2,700-square-foot first floor as a coffee and sandwich shop in 2010. Honoring the buildings history, they renamed it the Hiram Haines Coffee & Ale House. For fun, they offered a free meal to anyone who could name all 30 or so authors whose pictures hung on the walls. Some people came close. It took both of us to run it, Rivers said. With the stress of running two businesses, she faced doctors orders to slow down. The couple shuttered the shop about two years ago. If we werent at this point in our lives and could afford to keep the building to entertain our friends, we wouldnt sell it, Rivers said, recalling how her family has flown from Colorado for the past several years to celebrate Thanksgiving in the building. We are at the point where we should have one or two jobs, not three, she said, declining to state their ages. Many people at our age have decided to retire. There are not many buildings of that vintage in Richmond and only a smattering in Old Towne Petersburg, said Bill Londrey with Tranzon Fox, the company handling the auction sale. This is one of the older ones. Londrey said the first floor is in move-in condition. The second and third floors need work there is no heat or electricity and could be renovated for apartments, an office or a bed-and-breakfast, he said. Haines died in 1841, and other owners carried on the coffee house tradition throughout the 19th century. Several business were run from the structure in the 20th century. The building will be offered for sale along with a structure behind the building connected via an enclosed alley with skylights. The rear structure originally was a horse stable and, at some point, was converted into a bakery. Five years remain on the city of Petersburgs 10-year tax abatement program used for the building, an incentive that allows lower taxes in return for revitalizing a historic building. The abated city assessment is $63,800, according to Tranzon. The assessed value is $113,800, according to city records. Rivers said she chose an auction sale on-site Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. because it seems like a creative way to market and sell a property. She and her nephew designed and painted a sign that hangs above the front door with pictures of Edgar Allan and Virginia Poe. It does not convey with the sale. If someone wants to continue the legacy of Haines and Poe, the new owners and I will talk, Rivers said. I would love to see it stay there in place. New Poe Film Festival set for Byrd Theatre this fall The Poe Museum announced plans to host the first International Poe Film Festival from Sept. 22 to Sept. 24 at the Byrd Theatre. Poe in Petersburg: A visit to Hiram Haines Coffee & Ale House PETERSBURG When he arrived in Petersburg, Jeffrey Abugel was little more than a marginal fan of Edgar Allan Poe. Then he started hearing stories that Poe had honeymooned there with his child bride, Virginia Clemm, staying in a second-floor suite above a friends coffee shop in the citys Old Towne section. RUSTBURG The defense attorney for a Lynchburg man charged with first-degree murder was granted a private investigator by Campbell County Circuit Court Judge John T. Cook Wednesday morning. Jim Childress, attorney for Franklin Lee Thomason, Jr., asked the judge for permission to hire a private investigator because he said he does not have the resources to track down and interview several witnesses for his clients jury trial in September. Cook granted the request with a $750 cap on expenses on the investigator. Childress said he would want to hire a retired Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office investigator for the case. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Jason Todd objected to the request because he did not think taxpayer money should be spent on what he said are obligations Childress is qualified to do. Thomason, 37, was arrested in connection with the Jan. 24 shooting death of 27-year-old Douglas Wayne Grubbs, Jr. He is charged with one count each of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and malicious wounding. The Campbell County Sheriffs Office has said deputies found Grubbs dead of a gunshot wound after they were called late Jan. 24 to Thomasons house, where Grubbs was staying. The malicious-wounding charge stemmed from the same night as the shooting, when Thomason held a knife to Grubbs wifes neck, leaving a laceration, Todd previously has said. Grubbs wife will be called as a witness for the commonwealth, Todd said after the court hearing. The firearm-possession charge will be heard separately Sept. 12. Childress said in court Wednesday the gun used to kill Grubbs was stolen, and Grubbs brought it to Thomasons residence before the gun was used to kill him. Thomasons jury trial is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 1 in Campbell County Circuit Court. Three Lynchburg City Schools were awarded a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from the Virginia Department of Education. Heritage Elementary School, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation, and Sandusky Middle School each received $200,000 to support before, after, and summer school programming for the 2016-2017 school year. 21st Century Community Learning Center Grants are competitive grants that support both academic and enrichment programs for students during non-school hours. These opportunities provide additional resources to assist students to meet or exceed state standards in reading, math, science, and social studies. Eight city schools have 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant funding. A defense attorney begged for the life of capital murder defendant Russell E. Brown III during the 17th day of his trial, while a prosecutor said Brown butchered master trooper Junius A. Walker and implored a Dinwiddie County jury to sentence him to death. This is classic vileness, Dinwiddie Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Nelson Fisher told jurors of Brown, who at one point opened the officers door and fired into his vehicle a second time after it rolled into the woods off Interstate 85 on March 7, 2013. It justifies the death penalty. But assistant public defender Shameka Hall pleaded for mercy, arguing the Chesterfield County barber suffered a psychotic break from reality that was rooted in his familys history of disabling mental illness and dysfunction. I am begging you to sentence him to life (in prison), she said. The trial, which began July 11, is in its final stage. The six-man, six-woman jury will at last begin deliberating on Browns punishment today after finding him guilty of capital murder on Thursday. Jurors rejected defense evidence that Brown, 31, was psychotic and legally insane at the time of the killing. The defense rested its case in the sentencing phase of the trial about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday after calling 25 witnesses over two days. Attorneys delved deep into his familys history of mental illness his father suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and his mother, now deceased, was low functioning with bipolar disorder to show the genetic deck was stacked against their client. And that, combined with significant domestic pressures in his life in the months before the killing, sent Brown over the edge and into psychosis, his attorneys said. In closing arguments, prosecutors largely dismissed the notion that Brown was so mentally ill that he had no understanding or appreciation of his crimes. Fisher said defense attorneys made a big deal of Browns family history of mental illness particularly the disorders suffered by his parents. But his moms and dads illness is not determinate of anything, Fisher argued. It doesnt mean hes got it. It doesnt stand for anything. It just means its a susceptibility. Fisher pointed to Browns twin sisters, both of whom were exposed to the same family dysfunction but went on to earn college degrees. Everybody in his family is dealing with these things, Fisher said. Hes the only one who kills. Fisher argued that Browns actions met several elements needed to obtain the death penalty, including depravity of mind and the vile nature of Walkers murder. The prosecutor noted that Brown first fired into Walkers car after the trooper pulled alongside the defendants vehicle to see if he needed help, then opened the passenger door of Walkers cruiser and fired again after it had rolled into the woods. Brown also was overheard by jailers after his arrest that he derived satisfaction from the sound the bullets made when they struck the trooper, Fisher reminded jurors. Trooper Walker didnt have a chance to say anything to Brown before the defendant opened fire, Fisher said. Walker stopped to help Brown, and thats what cost him his life for no reason whatsoever. In the defense closing, Hall told jurors that Browns life was in their hands and it likely will be the biggest decision youll ever make. She said that most of us have been blessed to have a sense of reliability and consistency in our lives, something that Brown sorely lacked. He did not have a consistent childhood. There was always turmoil in his life. He was born to parents with severe mental illness who couldnt remember to take their own medication, let alone provide the basic necessities to him as an infant. She also reminded jurors that one of Browns twin sisters had mental health struggles of her own. And while she noted that jurors had rejected the insanity defense, there is uncontroverted evidence that Russell was suffering from some mental disorder, Hall said. He didnt ask for this, he didnt create this life he was born into it, the attorney declared. She added: As much as he loved his parents, he did not create the reality that he had. We dont take anything away from what happened that day, Hall said of Walkers slaying. We dont take away the pain, we dont take away the sorrow. But she told jurors that the prosecution only wants them to look at Browns offense, and not what led to it. There is much more than Russell on his worst day, she said. Earlier Wednesday, the defense called Dr. Leigh Hagan, a forensic psychologist who evaluated Brown and studied the circumstances of his case. Hagan supported the opinions of two other forensic psychologists who concluded Brown was insane at the time of the offense. Brown knew what he was doing was against the law of man, but he was compelled by a higher calling and the law of God or Christ and that overrode the law of man, Hagan testified, adding that Brown had a very serious breakdown similar to the mental health disorders that other family members had experienced. Hall said Browns symptoms and illness are the explanation for Browns murder of Walker, not an excuse for it. Urging jurors to sentence him to life in prison, Hall said Brown will never go home again and will die in prison. There is no need for the death penalty to be served on him, Hall added. I am begging you for Russells life. Choose life for those who love him, choose life for his children. Choose life for mercy. But in rebuttal, Dinwiddie Commonwealths Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill said Brown earned the maximum punishment because this is how we meet terror and horror. This is how we counter it. This is how we defeat it. Brown inflicted terror, assassination and treason on the Dinwiddie community on the day he killed Walker, Baskervill said. Is executing not just executing but literally butchering a law enforcement officer not vile and depraved in itself? Baskervill said to the jury. Vile and depraved to assassinate Trooper Walker before he could put his car in park, before he could unbuckle his seat belt, the prosecutor continued. Vile and depraved to ambush him with slaughter before he could even finish stopping his car. Vile and depraved to shoot him at sickeningly close range. Vile and depraved to continue to shoot him and defile his body. Vile and depraved to shoot and truly intend to kill ... witnesses and rescuers who rushed to the scene that day, Baskervill added. Vile and depraved to leave Trooper Walkers body to burn with his car (after it caught fire) but for the brave, heroic souls who risked their own lives to preserve the last shred of Trooper Walkers dignity in death. Violence against law enforcement, Baskervill said, is an act of war against all of us and against our society. He killed a state trooper, tried to kill another one, tried to kill others without showing a shred of humanity, empathy, compassion, remorse except for ever-so-slight glimpses of selfish attempts at self-preservation and self-regard, the prosecutor said. Sean Bailey and Anne Dorman first caught the eye of the Lynchburg food scene when they opened the food truck Canopy in 2013. With an eclectic menu of international street food, Canopy appealed to the growing adventurousness of the Hill Citys culinary palate and hit right during the rise of the downtown food truck scene. Dorman, an E.C. Glass graduate, jokes that she was forced into the food lifestyle by Bailey, who had worked in both the front and back end of restaurants in major cities. They met and had a whirlwind romance late in 2011 before moving to D.C. together and turning an ice cream truck into a New York-style deli on wheels. Eventually, they left the competitive D.C. food scene and returned to Lynchburg after the birth of their first child, where they reworked the truck into Canopy. Coming from the food truck scene in D.C., which is so well-established and such a culturally diverse city, you have food trucks that represent all parts of the world, says Bailey. We wanted to feature all of our favorite international street food. The success of Canopy led to an offer for a brick-and-mortar location, in the ground floor of the Allied Arts building on Church Street. There, the couple opened Crisp, a salad and juice bar that features 50 different ingredient options and approximately 20 different sauces, in 2015. Its a great place to go and get a really healthy lunch, says Ashley Kershner, executive director of Lynchs Landing. And theyre also providing fast-casual cuisine, which is really important. You can sit down with your food, but you can also get something to go. I think thats really great for working people downtown. Kershner also stresses the made-to-order element of Crisp, saying theyre at the top of her list of vegetarian-friendly locales. Our motto should really be, You didnt know you liked salad this much, Bailey jokes as he sits next to Dorman in the shop on a particularly hot July afternoon. The idea for Crisp came about when the couple noticed how many Canopy patrons ordered their street food-inspired fare as salads instead of sandwiches or bowls. Slowly, the shop built up a successful following through word of mouth. But as it grew more popular, the truck fell by the wayside. It was hard for the couple to walk away from the name and reputation they had built so quickly in just six months, says Bailey, but the menu was too complex to run in addition to the Church Street shop. Dorman says the couple lent the truck to another interested party to run a sandwich business, Nomadic Bagel, but that endeavor fell through after three months. They repainted and rebranded the truck again this past winter, turning it into Far Out Food Truck. They took the most popular dishes from Canopy, which all had Asian influences, and created a new Southeast Asian street food menu. Theres something very special about their food, Dorman says of the dishes from countries like Vietnam and Thailand, both of which she has visited. The combination of flavors, they sort of hit on everything in one single dish. The truck, which features a giant orange koi fish painted on its front, has a menu that includes rice bowls, Thai iced coffees, spring rolls and the poplar Canopy dish the banh mi, best described as an Asian-style hoagie. Far Out Food Truck does not currently run on a weekly schedule. Instead, the couple brings the truck out for events like weddings, Friday Cheers and food truck roundups in the area. Bailey and Dorman say they have no trouble running two different menus for two distinct businesses. They pull a lot of their product for the truck from Crisp, and most of the dishes they create are meals they regularly cook for their family at home anyway. Along with the new truck, the couple has some major changes coming for Crisp, as well. The salad shop will be moving to a new space at the corner of 12th and Church streets, a location they hope to have up and running by October. The construction currently on Church Street has caused Crisp to take a hit in its pedestrian traffic, they say. Plus, without a ton of signage and options for parking, the couple has faced an uphill battle since they opened in the Allied Arts building. Bailey and Dorman knew it was time to move their business, and the new spot will increase their space by about 2,000 square feet. With the new location, the couple plans to also expand the menu to include soups, gourmet international sandwiches and pre-packaged food. In their new place, theyre going to be a lot more visible, and I think theres a lot of people that havent yet discovered them, Kershner says. What's crazy is even during the construction, you see a lot of people in there during lunch, which I think is a testament to their popularity and how loyal people are to their business. Dominion Virginia Power, the Department of the Navy and the commonwealth of Virginia reached an agreement Tuesday to construct an 18-megawatt solar energy facility at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach. Dominion filed a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity permit with the State Corporation Commission on Monday. The facility is expected to be completed and operational in late 2017. In exchange for the nearly 100 acres that will house the 179,000 solar panels, the Navy will receive an alternative electric feed, which will increase energy resiliency on the base. The facility will produce enough electricity at peak to power about 4,400 homes. The Oceana solar facility, along with four other large solar facilities we have announced in Virginia, will bring clean energy to the state, new jobs and other economic benefits, said Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and CEO of Richmond-based Dominion. It is the second solar project Dominion has collaborated on with the Navy. In December 2015, construction was completed on a 20-megawatt facility encompassing 110 acres and consisting of 81,054 solar panels at Morgans Corner in Pasquotank County, N.C. Hawk Claus spreads Christmas cheer in DC's Grifter Got Run Over By a Reindeer first look Take a look at two stories from the DC holiday special including the titular chapter and a Hawkwoman and Hawkman tale Slice of Mideast cuisine Despite its name as a Turkish caf?, however, co-owner and proprietor, Mazen Azab insists that many featured dishes and beverages are not exclusively of Turkish origin. Its a common misconception with the name of the caf?, that many of our customers think that it is solely Turkish beverages and treats here, when in fact many of the products we serve are generally from the Middle East specifically from Qatar. Mazen, who himself hails from Qatar, came here several years ago with his Trinidadian wife and business partner, Nalini Ramkissoon-Azab, when the idea of opening a caf? first occurred to them. Nalini, who helps manage the caf?, explained that she was first exposed to Arabian cuisine while working with an oil company in Qatar where she met Mazen. While working in Qatar a few years ago, I was amazed by the cuisine the Middle East had to offer, so much so that when we got back, I prepared a few of the dishes for some Trinidadian friends of mine and they enjoyed it thoroughly, that was when it occurred to us to pursue this some more. In total it must have taken a whole years worth of research and consulting financial analysts before we could set out with our idea. Despite its quaint exterior and almost inconspicuous location at the rear of the plaza, the Layali Caf? offers a soothing yet lively atmosphere, appropriate for a quick snack before work or for an evening getaway with friends. Mazen explains that the caf? prides itself not only on its selection of products but also on a unique cultural experience. What we really try to provide is an authentic experience, using the music, the lighting even the furniture are all imported from Qatar. We are interested in giving our customers an experience they will remember and tell their friends about, through our service and culture. And the culture is definitely there. Entering the caf? for the first time, one is instantly transported to Qatar. The unique sound of traditional Arabic folk music, accompanied by the rich aromas of cinnamon and freshly-blended coffee almost overwhelm the senses, giving patrons a truly unique cultural experience. Layali Libnan, a Lebanese dessert baked with semolina wheat, caramel syrup and topped with nuts, is a creamy delight reminiscent of pudding and together with a cup of hot, richly-blended Turkish coffee is the ideal treat for a rainy day. Despite the success they have enjoyed thus far, the couple has had their fair share of challenges in getting their business off the ground, namely in terms of labour and advertisement. but despite these problems, however, they are determined to providing a unique cultural experience. Besides our Facebook page we havent done any advertising since weve opened thus far. We operate strictly on word of mouth, where we would tell patrons to spread the word and tell their friends. Not only is advertising costly, but I think weve done well for ourselves so far. The quality of our dishes, beverages and our customer care really speaks for itself, and people see the difference. Another key issue weve been grappling with is labour. In the past we have had certain problems with the staff we have hired, often times they would leave after their first pay cheque, but I must say that the staff weve hired recently are very good. Not only are they skilled in their craft, but they are committed to what they do. Before long, the food arrives. The first being a traditional Arabic egg salad sandwich, on soft Chibata bread. The egg salad, drizzled with savoury olive oil completes the sandwich, giving a decidedly exotic flavour to what many might consider a bland sandwich. The second is an authentic, Arabian chicken salad, complete with crisp lettuce, tomatoes and crumbs of blue cheese, that contrast well against the smoky flavour of the grilled chicken. The chicken is allowed to season in overnight, using tumeric and other traditional Arabic spices and all of the vegetables are prepared freshly, we pride ourselves on providing the best for our customers, it costs us a little extra but it definitely goes a long way. Mazen says, as he begins serving the coffee, the pride of the cafe. We usually advise our customers to drink the coffee and tea after their meal and not during it, this is because the coffee really helps to digest the food, many of which is meat-based. The coffee, which is finely ground and imported from Qatar, has been a favourite to many regular customers, including several members of a nearby fitness club, who Nalini says have gotten into the habit of ordering coffee from the cafe, just before they begin their work out. Some of the guys from the gym right around the corner sometimes come here and order a cup of the Turkish coffee, because they say it gives them a better buzz than regular store-brought coffee. A rich blend of caffeine, completes the meal and is accompanied by the Karak tea, a creamy, chai-like beverage, which leaves a minty aftertaste. Despite the creamy aftertaste, Mazen says that the tea is only lightly sweetened, and is best enjoyed with a slice of backlawa, a sweet pastry filled with nuts and a sweet honey syrup. It complements the karak well and provides the added sweetness to the tea. Mazen says smiling. Coming to the end of the dining experience, I ask the couple what is their vision for the cafe in the coming years. Their response is simple: We dont only want to provide a dining experience we want to expand and become more of a cultural centre, where we would provide not only food and beverages, but also Persian rugs and other items you typically wouldnt see here in Trinidad. Nalini says. Despite their newfound success, however, the couple says they are squeamish about becoming too large, as this could mean a more commercial approach to operations and a fall in customer service and product quality. Were very careful about how we come across to customers and about the quality of our products and the level of service we provide to them. Were careful not to become some mass-produced, commercialised company. We are always thinking of ways to improve our standard of customer care. As the last of the silverware is taken away and a few customers are ready to leave, Mazen bids the leaving party a hearty goodbye, and proceeds to clear the table. The cuisine offers a refreshing change from regular Trini food and adds to the growing melting pot that weve come to recognise ourselves as, providing good food, refreshing beverages and quality service that is hard to compare. Newsday looks to future journalists MINISTRY PARTNERS WITH NEWSDAY NYLO is an education literacy partnership between Newsday and the Education Ministry to engage students who are interested in writing and communicating effectively with others, using traditional and new media. Project participants are considered equal partners in the newspapers pursuit to work with civicminded members of the community and future news leaders. Endorsed by the Ministry of Education, NYLO aligns with national education goals by emphasising youth leadership and encouraging students to take a lead role in the newsroom while promoting efficiency and high standards in local journalism. Youth involvement in the project will expand across Newsdays Editorial Department: students will write articles, take photographs, assist with editing and provide input on the layout design of the newspaper. Education Minister Anthony Garcia, said the high number of applicants and the decision to work with 22, rather than 14, young men and women, was reflective of the interest that young people hold in this profession. Participants must take every advantage of the learning opportunities that will be provided by Newsday under this project, Garcia added, while Newsday ensures that the lofty standards of journalism are imparted so that at the end of the day, Trinidad and Tobago would have more quality journalism, since we are talking about a profession which has evolved into becoming central to peoples lives. NYLO IS RELEVANT Veteran editor and journalist, and a consultant on NYLO, Judy Raymond, spoke to Newsday after the launch, about the need for such projects in the local media. Its a good way for young people to get some idea of the real nature of journalism. Some of them might, unfortunately, have the idea that its less hard work or that its glamorous when that is not the case. As it is, we tend to just throw people in at the deep end and a lot of them do swim but some flounder about a bit at first. So I think the better idea they have about what is involved, what is expected of them, the better it is for the future of journalism in TT, Raymond stated. NYLO participants Amelia Joseph and Joshua Suite, also weighed in on the project. Joseph, a final year journalism student at The College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts (COSTAATT), sees NYLO as, a good opportunity to learn from veterans in the field, to network, to get practical experience on the job before I graduate. Suite meanwhile, is studying Mechanical Engineering at the St Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies (UWI). Im interested in multiple fields I also have a passion for graphic design. Im taking this as an opportunity to grow and learn and to serve my country. So its quite exciting. After four days of training, the NYLO interns will begin shadowing various members of staff, from editorial to photography and pagination, for eight days. They will then work with newsroom staff to produce daily material for publication prior to producing a full edition of the newspaper on August 20. From Newsdays perspective, one of the projects objectives is to gain constructive feedback from our youth partners on how to report and disseminate the news for younger audiences. Dillon: Things in place to protect TT At a media briefing at the Ministrys office in Port-of-Spain, Dillon sought to reassure the public that the various arms of the protective services are aware of these growing threats and announced a reinforced presence of both police officers and soldiers in addition to a renewed focus on intelligence- gathering through the police services Criminal Gang Intelligence unit. I would just like to start by saying that government is concerned over the state of the national security environment and I would also like to assure the nation that everything is being put in place to ensure their safety and security at this time. One major concern the Ministry has at this time is the emerging trend of TT nationals being attracted to militant groups overseas, he said. Dillon vowed that there would be a reinforced presence of the TTPS and Defence Force. When we look at the statistics given to us in recent times we see that out of the nine police divisions in Trinidad, the Northern division has stood out the most we will therefore focus our efforts in the Northern division area. Based on what we understand we will focus our efforts on our highways and our streets. We intend to make life very difficult for persons involved in illegal activities. They should be allowed to live normal lives and we intend to harass them at every turn. We understand that roughly two percent of our own population is involved in deviant activities, these persons must not be allowed this few to endanger the lives of the law-abiding, peaceable people of our country, the Minister says. Despite his intention to have a greater joint police and army presence on the ground, Dillon said there has been no renewed discussion for granting members of the Defense Force powers of arrest. Concerning the arrest of nine men who sought to join ISIS, Dillon said that while he could not confirm whether or not they are in fact Trinis nationals, he said that he would work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to verify this. In terms of confirming the nationalities of the nine persons held, we have begun investigations into the matter and have already sent requests to our international partners for information on those held. I have also asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs to use his contacts in Turkey, to verify additional information. In addition to international partners, the Minister added that local resources allowed for the monitoring of persons suspected of joining ISIS. Dillon also commended the Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi, for his continued efforts in seeking to institute the necessary legislative mechanics to monitor nationals, who have fought for ISIS, on their return to Trinidad. Also speaking at yesterdays briefing was Acting Police Commissioner Harold Phillip, who said that he was aware of the challenges being faced by the Police Service in securing the nation and is prepared to meet the demands of society. Incumbent Acting Commissioner Stephen Williams is on three months vacation leave. Forensic dead end Relatives of persons who lost their lives over the long weekend were turned away as Alexandrov and staff staged a protest by refusing to conduct any autopsy. Alexandrov demanded the use of house officers who usually work at the mortuaries of State run hospitals and the hiring of at least two more mortuary attendants. If his demands are not met, no autopsies will be done. About 12 autopsies, including on seven men murdered over the weekend, are now on hold indefinitely. Alexandrov explained that the regular staff at the FSC who usually perform autopsies has dwindled to only one - himself. Pathologist Dr Eastlyn Mc Donald Burris is on vacation and has been so for the past four weeks. Pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes is no longer contracted to perform autopsies at the FSC. This leaves Alexandrov alone to perform at minimum five autopsies a day. How can I describe my situation right now? It is slavery, said Alexandrov. But even in slavery, a good master gives his slave food, clothing and tools to work. A regular autopsy takes about an hour and a half to two hours to perform. Being alone I spend all my time in the mortuary between dead bodies, without even a lunch break. One pathologist to perform autopsies for a population of 1.3 million people is absolute madness! International standards of pathology says that every 100 autopsies done a year requires one positional mortuary attendant. So if we perform 1,100 - 1,200 autopsies a year then we will need a maximum of 12 attendants. At the moment, we have have five. And out of the five, three are females. And it is a very tough job to handle dead bodies. I have been warning for seven years that eventually the situation here (at the FSC) would become critical... and today it has, Alexandrov said. Speaking later at a press conference, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon yesterday said the situation was a matter of concern for his Ministry. He added that in the short term, the ministry intends to attempt to renew contracts of persons on staff at the FSC and offer job opportunities for persons with the required skill set. In the long term, Dillon said he will propose to offer scholarships in the field of Forensic Pathology to locals. Alexandrov last night said he would be at work today but could not guarantee that any autopsy would be conducted. Relatives of Akile Eugene, 26, who was shot dead on Friday in Morvant, told reporters they were disappointed that the autopsy was not done, but they understand the plight of workers at the FSC. It is just him (Alexandrov) alone and there is only so much that he can do. So I am asking the authorities to send help for him so that the business of the Forensic Centre can be done, Eugenes mother Merlene Eugene said. Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. X (Newser) In what the Washington Post calls an "extraordinary breach of political decorum," Donald Trump isn't endorsing Paul Ryan in his Wisconsin primary battle. Trump tells the Post he's "not quite there yet" when it comes to backing Ryan. Trump may be getting his revenge on Ryan, who last spring said he was "not there right now" about endorsing Trump before finally giving in. It's also possible Trump's decision not to endorse Ryan has to do with Ryan not supporting Trump's continued attacks on the Khans. Meanwhile, Ryan's primary opponent, Paul Nehlen, defended Trump's comments this week, saying the Khans "attacked, ridiculed, and attempted to humiliate Trump," according to NPR. Trump then publicly complimented Nehlen's "very good campaign." I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country, Trump tells the Post. We need very strong leadership." Trump claims Ryan sought his endorsement, a claim denied by a Ryan spokesperson. Regardless, Ryan is expected to easily defeat Nehlen, Politico reports. Trump also refused to endorse John McCain in his primary campaign, claiming McCain hasn't done right by the country's veterans. In the same Post interview, Trump called out New Hampshire Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte. It should be noted that both Ayotte and McCain denounced Trump's attacks on the Khans. Ayotte says she still plans to vote for Trump. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) (Newser) Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte appears to be making progress in the war on crime he promised when he took office a month agoas long as murder isn't considered a crime. The Guardian reports that more than 700 people suspected of dealing or using drugs have been killed since Duterte, nicknamed "the Punisher," was elected after vowing to kill tens of thousands of criminals. Critics including Sen. Leila de Lima, a former justice minister, say police and vigilantes are using an anti-drugs campaign as an excuse to kill innocent people. "We cannot wage the war against drugs with blood. We will only be trading drug addiction with another more malevolent kind of addiction," she told lawmakers recently. "This is the compulsion for more killing." Rights groups believe the rate of killing has reached dozens a day. A group of Filipino human rights advocates issued a statement last week condemning the killings and accusing police of "turning low-income neighborhoods in the country into free-fire zones." "The bloody encounters taking place daily have polarized the country between those who support the president's quick and dirty methods of dealing with drugs and crime, and those who regard them as illegal, immoral, and self-defeating," the statement said. Reuters reports that one recent victim was Michael Siaron, a 29-year-old pedicab driver shot dead in Manila by men on motorcycles. After photos of Siaron being cradled by his widow went viral, Duterte said the pictures were "melodramatic." The widow admitted that Siaron used drugs but said he was far too poor to have been a dealerand that he voted for Duterte. (Read more Philippines stories.) (Newser) It's only July, but Regina Powell, a 22-year-old woman from Florida, may have already locked down the title for Most Embarrassing Injury of the Year. Powell ended up in the hospital Sunday night after she shot herself in the hand while taking Snapchat video of herself posing with a 40-caliber pistol, the Palm Beach Post reports. Police say Powell told them that she pulled the trigger while "foolishly playing" with her uncle's gun, shattering her phone and injuring the hand that was holding it. She was treated for minor injuries, and police determined that the shooting was accidental. Police say Powell's aunt threw the gun out of the car window while driving her niece to the hospital and it has not been recovered, WKMG reports. (A Georgia man's lawsuit blames a Snapchat filter for a car crash.) (Newser) "Smart diplomacy"or dollar diplomacy? The US government quietly delivered the equivalent of $400 million in cash to Iran on Jan. 16 this year, the same day that Tehran released four detained American citizens, sources including US officials tell the Wall Street Journal. The cash, which was sent in currencies including Swiss francs because of a US ban on doing business with Iran in dollars, was part of a $1.7 billion agreement Washington reached with Tehran over an Iranian-US arms deal made just before the revolution that brought the Ayatollah Khomeini to power in 1979. President Obama didn't disclose the payment when discussing either the prisoner release or the arms deal settlement. Administration officials say the timing of the payment was a complete coincidenceand since the failed 1979 arms deal was headed to an international court in the Hague, the settlement probably saved American taxpayers billions of dollars. "Not only were the two negotiations separate, they were conducted by different teams on each side, including, in the case of the Hague claims, by technical experts involved in these negotiations for many years," says State Department spokesman John Kirby. Some of the Journal's sources, however, say Iranian negotiators demanded the cash delivery as part of the prisoner exchangeand Iranian officials openly boasted about the US having bowed to pressure. (Another dual US-Iranian citizen is now believed to be in Iranian custody.) (Newser) A Baltimore judge was wrong to consider "a novel standalone claim" about the reliability of cellphone tracking evidence in granting a new trial for a man whose murder conviction was re-examined in the Serial podcast, the Maryland attorney general's office says. Appealing the decision to retry Adnan Syed, attorneys for the state contend that retired Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Martin Welch should not have ruled that his initial attorneys were constitutionally deficient because they failed to bring into evidence a warning from AT&T, noting "any incoming calls will NOT be considered reliable information for location." Defense attorneys said prosecutors improperly used unreliable tower data on incoming calls to place Syed's phone near the burial site of his former high school girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, who was killed in 1999. Welch agreed, ruling that Syed's attorney provided "ineffective assistance for the failure to cross-examine the state's cell tower expert," reports the AP. In its appeal filed Monday, the state counters that Syed's trial attorney "was far from ineffective" since "there is no consensus among experts in the forensic community that Syed's interpretation of the fax cover sheet is valid," says a deputy attorney general. The state also argues that Syed waived his right to raise the issue about the cross-examination failure now because he should have raised it in a prior proceeding. Welch ruled that Syed didn't "intelligently or knowingly" waive his right, noting he never completed high school. Welch made "the correct decision," says Syed's current attorney, C. Justin Brown. "We will respond to the state's arguments at the appropriate time." (Read more Adnan Syed stories.) (Newser) A medium-range ballistic missile fired Wednesday by North Korea flew about 620 miles and landed near Japan's territorial waters, officials in Tokyo and Seoul say. This was one of the longest flights by a North Korean missile, and the US Strategic Command says North Korea fired two presumed Rodong missiles simultaneously on Wednesday, not just one, the AP reports. The command's statement says initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. Japan's Defense Ministry says the missile landed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone, the 200-nautical-mile offshore area where a nation has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources. Japanese media reports it was the first North Korean missile that has splashed down in Japan's EEZ. "It imposes a serious threat to Japan's security and it is an unforgivable act of violence toward Japan's security," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says. North Korea has recently claimed a series of technical breakthroughs over its goal of acquiring a long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental US. South Korean defense officials say North Korea doesn't yet have such a weapon. An analyst at Seoul's Institute for Far Eastern Studies says the latest Rodong launch appeared to be aimed at showing an ability to attack US military bases in Japan, a major source of reinforcements for US troops should a war break out on the Korean Peninsula. (South Koreans have been rattled by mysterious radio broadcasts from the North.) (Newser) Tuesday was a rough night for a Canadian daredevil on America's Got Talent. Judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell appeared horrified as Ryan Stock was hit in the throat by a flaming arrow fired by fiancee AmberLynn Walker live on TV, the New York Daily News reports. After a few tense moments, Stock assured the judges that he was OK and he hadn't been seriously hurt by the arrow, which had been aimed at a target he was holding in his mouth, reports Billboard. "I'm OK, I'm OK," he told host Nick Cannon. Mandel urged him to seek medical attention anyway. It was a "very unfortunate mechanical failure but I am very fortunate to walk away from it," tweeted Stock, who bills his act as "stupid human stunts." (After 18,000 jumps, this skydiver tried one without a parachute.) (Newser) Another prominent Republican has endorsed Hillary Clinton, and this one might sting Donald Trump more than most: Meg Whitman, a major GOP donor, says she now plans to raise funds for his rival. "I will vote for Hillary, I will talk to my Republican friends about helping her, and I will donate to her campaign and try to raise money for her," the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive tells the New York Times. In a Facebook post, Whitman, who was co-chair of Chris Christie's campaign and ran for governor of California in 2010, describes herself as a "proud Republican," but she says she cannot "endorse a candidacy that I believe has exploited anger, grievance, xenophobia, and racial division." She adds: "Donald Trump's demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character." In other developments: Trump has fired back at Obama's accusation that he is "unfit to serve as president." Obama "will go down as perhaps the worst president in the history of the United States," he tweeted. He later told Fox's O'Reilly Factor that Obama has been a "disaster"but Clinton could be even worse. As the Trump-Khan controversy rumbled on, Trump campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson offered a new spin on it by telling CNN that Obama probably caused the death of Capt. Humayun Khan. He died in Iraq in 2004, when Obama was still a state senator in Illinois, and Pierson was soon mocked on Twitter under the hashtag #KatrinaPiersonHistory, reports USA Today. The Los Angeles Times reports on another setback for Trump: On Tuesday, US District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel ruled that the Trump University racketeering lawsuit can proceed this fall. He did, however, agree with Trump's lawyers that Trump's video depositions in the case shouldn't be released to the media. Curiel is the judge targeted by Trump for his Mexican heritage, which Trump claims creates a conflict of interest. French President Francois Hollande came out with his strongest criticism yet of Trump on Tuesday, saying the candidate makes him sick, the AP reports. "Some excesses make your stomach turn, even in the United States, especially whenas did Donald Trumphe speaks ill of a soldier, of the memory of a soldier," he told members of the French Presidential Press Association. Politico reports that Trump's refusal to back down from the Khan feud has split the GOP, but it has "energized" anti-Trump Republicans who have been feeling adrift since the convention. But they are frustrated by the limited options: A few have decided to support Clinton, more have decided to back Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, but many have opted to simply focus on GOP House and Senate campaigns while hoping that Trump loses in November. (Trump has refused to endorse Paul Ryan and John McCain in their primary battles.) (Newser) A Delaware family poisoned by a toxic pesticide during their 2015 Virgin Islands vacation will receive an $87 million settlement from the parent company of Terminix, which admitted using the banned chemical at the resort where they stayed, CBS News reports. Per the New York Daily News, a ServiceMaster Global Holdings earnings report released Thursday first made mention of the payout "to settle all civil claims of the affected family related to the US Virgin Islands matter." The company has already paid $3 million to cover the insurance deductible for the Esmonds, who were severely injured after Terminix workers sprayed methyl bromidebanned for indoor residential use since 1984in the St. John condo unit below their own, per the Philadelphia Inquirer. A September CNN report documented the horrifying consequences of the neurotoxin suffered by the Esmonds. Dad Stephen Esmond could barely speak at the time, was unable to turn the pages of a book, and suffered from tremors, while his two teen sons, former athletes who were in medically induced comas for weeks after the incident, were barely able to move. "Neurologically, it's like being in a torture chamber," a family attorney said. Mom Theresa Devine recovered more quickly and was looking after her family. (The Daily News and Inquirer note that no further word on their progress has been made available.) ServiceMaster has also agreed to pay up to $10 million in "fines, community service, and government costs" as part of the settlement, which is subject to court approval at an Aug. 25 hearing. An investigation by the DOJ is also in the works. (Read more settlement stories.) (Newser) A woman who dozed off during an overnight flight Saturday from Los Angeles to Newark says she woke to the stranger next to her touching her inappropriately, the Record reports. Per the criminal complaint described in a Justice Department release: The woman awoke on her Virgin America flight to find 58-year-old Veerabhadrarao Kunam of India fondling her genitals over her clothing and touching his bare feet with his own. The woman says she then informed her male traveling partner, and he gave her his window seat so he could face down Kunam, who then allegedly offered to buy the man a drink so everyone could forget what happened. Instead, the male companion told a crew member. In a statement, a Virgin America spokesman said that crew responded to "reports of a disruptive individual" and placed him in a different seat before contacting authorities. The FBI was waiting to take him into custody when the plane landed early Sundaythe DOJ release explains that the feds have jurisdiction over any sexual abuse cases that take place on domestic flights. Kunam was charged with abusive sexual contact and released Monday on $50,000 bond. He faces a $250,000 fine and two years in prison. (A teen says she recently faced her own groping horror on an American Airlines flight.) (Newser) Congratulations to anyone heading off to college in Utah this fall. A WalletHub ranking finds the state is the friendliest in the country when it comes to student debt, based on average debt, loans overdue or in default, unemployment, the availability of student jobs and grants, and other factors. Other states to note: The best: Utah Wyoming North Dakota Nevada Virginia The worst: District of Columbia West Virginia Oregon Maine Pennsylvania Click for the full list , or discover the 10 states with the most student debt . (Read more student debt stories.) (Newser) The UN is on the verge of reopening the investigation into the death of former secretary-general Dag Hammarskjold, what Foreign Policy calls "the most notorious and perplexing cold case in the UN's history." Hammarskjold died in a plane crash during a 1961 peace mission in Africa. Since then, rumors and conspiracy theories have claimed Hammarskjoldwho was advocating for the Congo's independence at the timewas killed with the support of the Americans, Belgians, South Africans, and British, or some combination thereof. The mystery of his death includes locals seeing the plane in flames before it crashed, soldiers bragging about shooting Hammarskjold after he survived the crash, mysterious radio broadcasts implicating the US, and American planes idling at a nearby airport all night. DespiteunauthenticatedSouth African documents for "Operation Celeste" that featured the director of the CIA calling Hammarskjold "troublesome" and saying he "should be removed," previous investigative panels found little evidence to support any of the theories. But sources say UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon plans to appoint someone to look into Hammarskjold's death once again. This comes after the South African government claims to have found Operation Celeste documents that could finally verify the earlier reports. The CIA says claims that it had anything to do with Hammarskjold's death are "absurd and without foundation." Read the full story here. (Read more Dag Hammarskjold stories.) (Newser) A retired NYC firefighter who enjoyed going for runs in Queens with his 30-year-old daughter bowed out Tuesday because his back was hurting. But before Karina Vetrano left for her jog around 5pm, Philip Vetrano asked her to pick a different path than the remote one in Howard Beach they usually ran together, NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce tells the New York Daily News. When Karina didn't come back that evening and didn't pick up her phone, Boyce says, her dad reported her missing and headed out to the path with police officers, where they made an awful discovery late Tuesday: first, Karina's cellphone on the side of the path he had warned her about, then her body in the marshes. "[Vetrano] found her face-down on the ground," Boyce says, adding that so far signs point to Karina being strangled. Boyce notes there were also signs of a struggle, per PIX11, and evidence also suggests a sexual assault occurred, with "marks on the body that were consistent with [that]," says an NYPD spokesman, reports the New York Post. The unpaved path along the Belt Parkway is described in the Daily News as being popular with runners, bikers, and even ATVers, but not one that's particularly safe, with one of the Vetranos' neighbors telling the Post its frequented by "hobos and bums" and another saying, "All girls know not to walk along these weeds." (Read more jogger stories.) (Newser) Think the presidential campaign is wacky? A primary campaign in Tennessee might be even wackier than the presidential one. Republican State Rep. Curry Todd was arrested Monday, accused of stealing his opponent's campaign signs from a property in Collierville. A staffer for rival Mark Lovell caught the alleged theft on video last month, though Todd says he had the permission of the property owner, reports WREG. Attempts to reach the property owner for confirmation were unsuccessful. The oddest part, however: Lovell was the one to post Todd's $100 bond on Tuesday, ahead of Thursday's election. "I thought, we don't need our state representative in jail," Lovell tells the Knoxville News Sentinel. "He can get out and the judge can decide what to do about it later." (Read more weird crimes stories.) (Newser) A 36-year-old Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority officer was arrested at work Wednesday on suspicion of providing financial support to the Islamic State, NBC News reports. It's the first time a US cop has been charged with aiding ISIS. According to CNN, the FBI had been investigating Nicholas Young for more than a year. Authorities say Young met with an FBI operative posing as an ISIS fighter 20 times, providing information on how to go unnoticed by law enforcement. He also allegedly bought 22 mobile messaging app gift cards to send to ISIS. Authorities say Young was never a danger to the DC transportation system and wasn't planning an attack in the US; he was only interested in supporting ISIS abroad. Metro officials first reported suspicious behavior by Young back in 2009. He is said to be a Nazi-sympathizer, collecting Nazi memorabilia and sporting a German eagle tattoo, Fox News reports. Authorities say he also dressed as Jihadi John for Halloween in 2014, complete with a headless dummy he carried around. Young traveled to Libya in 2011, and he told the FBI he did so to fight alongside rebels against Qaddafi. Young, who was fired by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority on Wednesday, faces up to 20 years in prison. (Read more ISIS stories.) The youth sexually assaulted the young woman who was out on her morning walk. The incident happened at 5 am on Wednesday. New Delhi: The government has circulated official amendments to the GST bill to drop 1 per cent additional tax and include a definite provision in the statute for compensating states for revenue loss for 5 years as it gears up to discuss the long-pending bill in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Under the modified provisions of GST Constitutional Amendment Bill circulated among the members on Thursday, GST Council will be required to establish a mechanism for adjudication of disputes, which could arise between the Centre and states or among states themselves. The 2014 bill authorised GST Council to decide upon the modalities for resolution of disputes. With these official amendments, the government has partially met the demands of the Congress party which has been blocking the bill in the Rajya Sabha. One of the three demands of the Congress was to do away with the 1 per cent additional manufacturing tax. On the demand for a Supreme Court judge-headed panel for resolving GST disputes, the official amendments say that the GST Council will establish a mechanism for solving disputes. With regard to the demand for putting a GST rate cap in the Constitution, the government has not mentioned anything in the official amendments. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, at a meeting with his state counterparts last week, promised to keep the incidence of tax low while safeguarding the revenue of the states. Jaitley has been meeting leaders of Congress and other parties, including SP, BJD, TMC and RJD, to build a consensus on the passage of the long pending indirect tax reform bill in the Rajya Sabha. It was approved by the Lok Sabha in May 2015. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lucknow: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition was filed today in the Allahabad High Court seeking directions for a CBI probe in Bulandshahr gangrape case. The petition which also seek directions for making proper security arrangements at highways is likely to come up for hearing on August 4. An NGO, We the People filed the PIL through its general secretary Prince Lenin in the registry of the court. Lenin said that proper security arrangements were necessary at the highways specially in the night so the people could move safely. A woman and her minor daughter were gangraped by highway robbers in Bulandshahre area, UP on Friday night recently. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Home Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to bluntly ask Pakistan to stop sponsoring terror in India and to rein in groups like LeT and JeM during the SAARC Interior/Home Ministers conference to be held in Islamabad on August 4. Official sources said Singh is unlikely to meet his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan separately as top echelons of the government feel that time is not conducive for a bilateral meeting. However, the Home Minister, in his speech at the SAARC meeting, is expected to raise the issue of Pakistans support to terror groups operating in India and ask Islamabad to check Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other groups based in that country. Singhs visit comes in the backdrop of growing strain in Indo-Pak ties after Pakistan and its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made provocative statements on the Kashmir situation in the wake of Burhan Wanis killing on July 8. Wani was a wanted terrorist of banned Hizbul Mujahideen. Not only did Sharif praise Wani but he also remarked that Kashmir will one day become Pakistan, a comment which evoked a sharp reaction from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who said his dream of the state becoming a part of his country will not be realised even at the end of eternity. Singh is also likely to raise the issue of fake Indian currency notes being circulated at the behest of Pakistani agencies, sources said. Apart from terrorism, other key issues to be discussed include liberalisation of visa, illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and small arms and how to make coordinated and concerted efforts to combat such menace. The three-tier meeting will begin at the joint secretary-level and then move on to Secretary and Home Minister-level meetings. The meeting will also focus on strengthening networking among police authorities of SAARC member-countries and also enhance information-sharing among law enforcement agencies. The last meeting of SAARC Interior/Home Ministers conference was held in Kathmandu in 2014 when the Home Minister had said that member nations of the group were facing common challenges and they should cooperate with each other to address them. The Home Minister had also voiced concern over the new threats of terrorism and violence to South Asia and asked SAARC countries to chalk out strategies to check radical groups and extremist ideologies. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Two Maharashtra state transport buses with 22 people have gone missing after the vehicles were swept away in the swollen Savitri River in Konkan region as an old bridge collapsed at Mahad. The bridge on the Mumbai-Goa Highway came down late last night, bringing traffic to a halt. Two buses of state transport with 18 passengers, two drivers and two conductors have gone missing in the Mahad tragedy, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said in a tweet today. Fadnavis, who is monitoring the situation closely since morning said, There were two parallel bridges; one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one collapsed. Almost 80 per cent of the bridge reportedly collapsed bringing traffic to a complete halt. NDRF teams have been deployed at the site. There were reportedly two parallel bridges, the old one was constructed during the British era while the other one was built recently. The old bridge was used for vehicular traffic from Goa to Mumbai. The primary reason for bridge collapse is told to be high pressure caused due to flooding of the river Savitri as a result of heavy rains. Though casualties are yet to be confirmed and relief operations are going on at a substantial pace. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Islamabad: Further needling India, Pakistans parliament has unanimously passed a resolution, condemning the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir and demanding the UN Human Rights Commission to send a fact finding mission to the Valley to investigate it. The 34th session of the National Assembly (the parliament), which began last evening with Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the chair, extended its support to the Kashmiris. The National Assembly of Pakistan strongly condemns the recent atrocities perpetrated on innocent Kashmiris by Indian security forces, said the resolution passed late last night. It said the use of pellet guns is deplorable and is against the canons of international humanitarian laws. This House denounces these reprehensible acts...It is confident that these blatant violations of international law cannot deter the valiant, oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir from continuing to press their demand for realisation of their right to self-determination, which is enshrined in numerous UN Security Council Resolutions, it added. It reiterated Pakistans continuing political, moral and diplomatic support for the struggle in Kashmir. The resolution pressed the government to urge the international community, inter-governmental and inter-parliamentary organisations, international nongovernmental organisations and civil society and media to ask India to immediately stop alleged violations of the human rights. It also demanded that the Human Rights Commission in Geneva should be requested to immediately send a fact finding mission to Kashmir to investigate alleged Human Rights violations by Indian security forces. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Seoul: North Korea has fired another ballistic missile into the sea, South Koreas military said today. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile was launched toward the waters off the Norths east coast. North Korea routinely conducts missile and other weapons tests, but Wednesdays launch came after North Korea made angry threats against a US plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year. Last month, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lucknow: IG Meerut Sujeet Pandey was on Tuesday named to head the probe into the Bulandshahr gangrape incident while Principal Secretary (Home) and DGP of Uttar Pradesh were directed to ensure speedy investigation. On #UPCM @yadavakhilesh instruction, Sh.Sujith Pandey, IG meerut will head the #Bulandshahr case, the office of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said in a tweet. #UPCM @yadavakhilesh also directed PS Home/DGP to ensure speedy investigation and ensure justice is delivered at the earliest, the CM Office said in another tweet.A cab drivers family was attacked by a group of bandits on Friday night and his wife and daughter were brutally raped at gunpoint after dragging them out of the car in Bulandshahr on NH-91. The gangrape horror has witnessed political slugfest with Opposition parties accusing ruling Samajwadi Party of protecting and appeasing criminals ahead of Assembly polls and senior minister Azam Khan describing it as an outcome of political conspiracy against the UP government. Director General of Police Javeed Ahmed, meanwhile, said that the three accused who have been arrested were identified by the victims. The names of other accused are almost clear and efforts are on to arrest them, he said. Uttar Pradesh Police had yesterday arrested Naresh (25), Bablu (22) and Rais (28) and detained a dozen others after launching a massive hunt for the dacoits suspected to be behind the crime. The DGP, who had visited the spot of crime, said the Special Task Force of UP Police was on the job. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Cairo: A suicide car bomb attack in the eastern city of Benghazi targeting Libyan troops killed 23 people and wounded dozens of others today, a hospital official said. The official said the wounded were still arriving at the hospital in the aftermath of the bombing in the al-Qawarsha district on the outskirts of the city, Libyas second largest. For the past two years, fighting has been raging in Benghazi between forces under the command of Brig. Gen. Khalifa Hifter and Islamic militias. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. A coalition of Islamist militias called the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, which includes the al-Qaida affiliate known as Ansar al-Shariah, claimed responsibility for the deadly attack in a statement posted on its Twitter account. The attack comes after the United States started an air campaign on Monday in the central city of Sirte, the last bastion of the Islamic State extremist group in Libya. The strikes followed a request made by the internationally-recognised government and presidency council in the capital, Tripoli. The two executive bodies were formed after the United Nations brokered a deal among Libyas rival factions. Libya has descended into chaos following the 2011 ouster and the killing of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Since 2014, the country has been divided between two governments and parliaments, and a loose set of militias and tribes. The UN-brokered government led by Fayez Serraj aimed at healing the rift, but a crucial vote of confidence has yet to be obtained from the parliament. The parliament in eastern Libya does not recognize the U.N. government, and many in the east are angry that Serrajs administration invited foreign military intervention without the eastern parliaments consent. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bareily: A teacher was today allegedly abducted in broad daylight and gangraped in a field along a state highway linking Delhi-Lucknow National Highway 24, days after the Bulandshahr gangrape incident. She was abducted by three criminals and forcibly made to sit in a car before being taken to a sugarcane field where the crime was committed and the act was videographed, police said, adding the survivor was left in the field by the criminals who fled after committing the heinous act in Khadua road under CB Ganj police station. On getting information of the crime, senior police officials led by the IG, DIG, SSP, City SP and SP (Crime) rushed to the spot and a case was lodged against three accused who are absconding. In an immediate damage control exercise, Inspector of CB Ganj police station Rajesh Singh was suspended by IG (Bareily zone) Vijay Singh Meena, police said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Setting in motion the process for picking a new Gujarat chief minister, BJP on Wednesday gave its go ahead to incumbent Anandiben Patel to resign and authorised its president Amit Shah to pick her successor in consultation with the legislature party. The legislature party meeting is likely to be held on Friday after Shah reaches Ahmedabad on Thursday. Patel will tender her resignation to the Governor today, senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting held at the Prime Ministers residence. The Board also appointed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and party general secretary Saroj Pandey as central observers for the legislature party meeting in which the new leader will be formally elected. Shah, who is an MLA in the Gujarat Assembly, will also attend the meeting. Patels successor will be among the partys MLAs, Naidu asserted. He also rejected reports that Shah can replace Patel, saying the party needs his leadership at the national level as he has taken it to great heights and led it to many successes. No name of her successor was discussed in the Boards meeting, he said. The Parliamentary Board gave its approval to Anandiben Patels wish to quit. She had wished to be relieved of her responsibility as she would turn 75 soon. She has set up a great precedent for lakhs of party workers. It put on record her very good work as the chief minister and as a minister earlier, Naidu said. She has been in the state government for over 18 years which, he noted, is perhaps unprecedented for a BJP leader. Naidu said Shah will hold consultations with the legislature party before the new leader is elected. Our president is also an MLA. He will be present in the meeting. He will hold consultations following which the successor will be decided, he said. A party source said the Board has authorised Shah to pick the chief ministerial nominee. Asked about reports that Shah is a contender for the top post, he asserted, Such a question does not arise. He is the party president and going to remain party president. The party needs his leadership at the national level. There is no such discussion at all. Nitin Patel, the number two in the states cabinet, and Gujarat party chief Vijay Rupani, who is also a minister, are seen as the front-runners to succeed Anandiben Patel. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: At least two persons drowned and 20 others are missing as two buses swept away in swollen Savitri River after a British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway near Mahad in Maharashtra's Raigad district late Tuesday night. Rescuers fished out bodies of two men from the river and an intense search is on to trace those missing, Raigad district collector Sheetal Ugale said at the mishap spot, 170 Km from Mumbai. Teams of disaster management force has joined the Coast Guard and other agencies engaged in rescue and relief operations. Live Mumbai-Goa highway bridge collapse updates: # Centre stands with Maharashtra Govt in this hour of crisis and assures all possible help: Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha. # 4 NDRF teams comprising 115 personnel including divers along with 12 boats were immediately rushed to the bridge collapse site: Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha # 2 bodies have been recovered so far: said Raigad district collector, Sheetal Ugale. # 1 Sea king 42B helicopter on another mission was diverted to the area for search operations. # 1 Sea king 42C all weather aircraft with diving team launched by Indian Navy. #First visuals: NDRF team carrying out search & rescue ops at the site of bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa highway pic.twitter.com/qPtpDPSjVX ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 As of now we have reports of 2 state transport buses missing with 22 people onboard-Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/ozFGSubsY7 ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 # NDRF teams have reached and carrying out search operations, massive search going on: Maharashtra CM on Mumbai-Goa highway bridge collapse. #WATCH Mumbai-Goa highway bridge collapse: Chetak Helicopter carries out search operations for missing vehicles.https://t.co/RdRcix2fX7 ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 # High pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar led to bridge collapse: Maharashtra CM. #WATCH Mumbai-Goa highway bridge collapse: Chetak Helicopter carries out search operations for missing vehicles.https://t.co/RdRcix2fX7 ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 Two buses of state transport with 18 passengers, two drivers and two conductors have gone missing in the Mahad tragedy, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said in a tweet today. "Two buses are missing and a few other vehicles are feared to have been swept away," Raigad District collector Sheetal Ugale said on Wednesday. Fadnavis, who is monitoring the situation closely since morning said, "There were two parallel bridges; one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one collapsed." The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar, he said. "Spoke to Raigad SP and Collector about bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa Highway. Administration has rushed to spot for rescue and immediate measures," Fadnavis said. "Traffic on highway is stopped. Administration is ascertaining strength and stability of new bridge," he tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Fadnavis on Wednesday and was briefed about the bridge collapse. "The PM offered all help in rescue and relief operations," Fadnavis said. NDRF teams are already activated, he tweeted. The Coast Guard has deployed a Chetak helicopter to carry out search for people who were swept away from the bridge. Raigad SP Suvez Haque and Collector visited the spot where the bridge once stood. Darkness had hampered operations, which resumed this morning. Soon after the incident, Raigad SP Suvez Haque and Collector visited the spot where the bridge once stood. Darkness had hampered operations, which resumed Wednesday morning. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Srinagar: Curfew was today extended to more areas of Kashmir Valley to maintain law and order in view of violent protests yesterday that led to death of a youth in Pulwama district and injuries to several others. Curfew remained in force in five police station area of old city and was extended to Batamaloo, Shaheedgunj, Soura, Zadibal, Qamarwari and Bemina areas of the city as a precautionary measure, a police official said. He said curfew was also imposed in Khanpora area of Baramulla district, Awanitpora and Pampore in Pulwama district while Anantnag town in south Kashmir also continued to remain under curfew. There are restrictions on the assembly of four or more people under Section 144 CrPC in rest of Kashmir, he added. Meanwhile, body of an ATM security guard was found outside a hospital here. Body of Reyaz Ahmad, which bore a big perforation in the abdomen, was found outside SMHS Hospital, a police official said. He said while it was not clear how the youth had died, a postmortem was underway on the body to ascertain the cause of his death. The deceased was a resident of Bagiyas area of the city. Normal life remained affected for the 26th consecutive day in the Valley due to the curbs imposed by the authorities and separatist sponsored strike against the killing of civilians during clashes which erupted in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. Schools, colleges, business establishments, banks and private offices remained closed while public transport remained off roads. Attendance in government offices was also thin, the official said. Mobile Internet services continued to remain snapped in the entire Valley where postpaid mobile telephony services have been restored across all networks.The incoming facility on prepaid connections has also been restored, but outgoing calls are barred on such numbers. The separatist camp has extended the shutdown call in Kashmir till August 5, calling for march to Hazratbal shrine on Friday. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today granted two more weeks to the Lok Sabha panel probing the issue regarding Bhagwant Mann shooting a video of the Parliament complex and asked the AAP member not to attend the House till a decision was taken on the matter. The decision followed a request from panel chairman Kirit Somaiya seeking more time as more witnesses needed to be examined and certain critical issues probed in depth. Somaiya has submitted that in view of the gravity of the matter, the unanimous view among members of the committee was that for doing justice to the panels remit, it needed some more time, the Speaker said. On due consideration of grounds and reasons stated, I have acceded to the request for extension of two weeks more time w.e.f. August 4, 2016, Mahajan informed the House. The nine-member committee, set up on July 25, was to submit its report by today. As earlier observed by me, in view of seriousness of the matter, Bhagwant Mann, MP is further advised not to attend the sittings of the House until a decision is taken in the matter, Mahajan said. On July 25 too, the Speaker had asked Mann not to attend the House till a decision was arrived at. The panel was set up a week after Mann had put out in the social media a video of his vehicle passing security barricades and entering the Parliament complex. He had also videographed a room where Parliament questions were being sorted. Besides Somaiya, the panel has two other BJP members Meenakshi Lekhi and Satyapal Singh. The others are Anandrao Adsul (Shiv Sena), B Mahtab (BJD), Ratna De (TMC), Thota Narasimham (TDP), K C Venugopal (Cong) and P Venugopal (AIADMK). On August 1, a defiant Mann told the panel that he has not breached the security of Parliament complex. Last week, in a five-page letter, Mann had refused to tender an unqualified apology. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Taipei: Ride-hailing service Uber could be banned in Taiwan after authorities accused it of operating illegally, with officials saying today a final decision will be handed down next week. It is the latest setback for the US company, after it was forced to suspend its operations in Hungary last month and was fined in June for operating illegally in France. Uber entered the Taiwan market in 2013 and the company and drivers together have already been fined a total of USD 2.05 million, according to the transport ministry. Angry cab drivers surrounded the parliament in capital Taipei last month, demanding the government kick Uber out, echoing similar protests in several other countries. Authorities say Uber does not have the proper registration to operate as a taxi service. They (Uber) are registered as an information services provider, but what theyre doing is actually transportation, said Lin Kuo-hsien, a ministry spokesman. That leaves consumers unprotected, Lin said, adding that some Uber drivers have already had their individual licences suspended and are subject to fines of Tw$50,000. Taiwans investment commission, which screens and approves foreign and outward investments, said today it would decide on Ubers case by August 11. From a preliminary assessment, it is possible Uber will be banned, Emile Chang, executive secretary of the commission, told AFP. It is what the Ministry of Transportation recommends. However, we have yet to come to a final conclusion, he said, adding that Uber could appeal any decision. Uber did not respond to a request for comment. The US startup has expanded to more than 50 countries and is worth some USD 50 billion, but has faced multiple legal challenges and protests from traditional taxi drivers who feel they are being forced out of the market. Uber announced it was suspending business in Hungary in June, saying new legislation made it impossible to operate. The fines in France followed violent protests by established taxi drivers. In China, Uber agreed on Monday to tie up with ride-sharing giant Didi Chuxing, ending a ferocious battle between the two. Mumbai: The opposition Congress on Wednesday raised the issue of JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar being refused entry into the visitors gallery of Maharashtra Assembly here, saying he was not a terrorist and in a democracy anyone can watch the House proceedings. Raising the issue through a point of information, Congress MLA Nadeen Khan said there was no obvious reason for not allowing Kumar, who had a valid pass, in the Assembly. Is Kanhaiya Kumar a terrorist that he wasnt allowed, Khan, a former minister, said. Speaker Haribhau Bagade told Khan that he will seek details of yesterdays incident. Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan termed the incident as shameful. He is not a terrorist. In a democratic set-up, anyone can come and watch the proceedings of the law-making bodies. There must be a probe as to who ordered him to be stopped, Chavan said. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union leader was in the city yesterday to attend an anniversary function of Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) of India. I wanted to watch the proceedings of the Vidhan Sabha here. I specially wanted to listen to the debate on the issue of Vidarbha. But I was not permitted inside, Kanhaiya Kumar had said yesterday. He said he possessed a valid visitors gallery pass duly issued by the authorities, but the legislature security barred his entry, and he later left for Raigad district. They said my entry is on hold. When I asked them to clarify, they had no reply. I wanted to watch the democratic process and had all the necessary permissions and a pass, yet I was stopped, he had said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Main opposition Congress and most other parties, except AIADMK, today expressed support, with certain conditions, to the introduction of GST in the country as the Rajya Sabha took up the much-delayed bill to amend the Constitution for allowing the measure. Moving the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014 amid thumping of desks by the entire House, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said it was one of the most significant tax reforms in India in recent history that has been brought after a broad consensus with various political parties. LIVE DEBATE IN RAJYA SABHA OVER GST The bill was supported by Congress and most of the other parties like Samajwadi Party, JD(U) and Trinamool Congress. AIADMK, however, opposed the move. I am sure the enactment of GST will bring about the best economic management in its federal form, Jaitley said while commending the bill for consideration. He said legislation was being enacted in the best possible way in the Indian federalism. He said there was a need for a political consensus as far as possible to bring this bill and a process of dialogue with all major political parties and states was undertaken and the best possible output was incorporated in the bill. A legislation of this kind cannot be made on the basis of a partisan approach. It impacts on the Centre and states and we have systematically worked towards a political consensus. There is as far a consensus as possible if not unanimity as far as language and contents of the bill are concerned, the Minister said. Jaitley said, the merits of the system are that it will convert India into one economic market and will introduce a uniform tax across the country, check evasion of tax. This would also give a boost as far as growth rate is concerned. Speaking on behalf of Congress, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said his party supports idea of GST as well as the bill, which he noted had been improved after the government held talks with various parties, including his. The Congress party was never against the idea of GST. The country is now ready to embrace the GST, he said, adding his party had opposed the 2014 bill but not the idea. We wanted it (bill) to be more perfect. But there can never be a perfect bill, he said. Spelling out the problems his party had with the bill, he said Congress wanted a cap of 18 per cent on the tax rate under GST, scrapping of 1 per cent retrogade tax besides setting up of disputes redressal mechanism for resolving issues arising out of tax disputes between states. The government was (initially) rather stubborn...I, on behalf of my party, loudly and clearly wanted that the tax should be not more than 18 per cent...Taxation is the exclusive power of Parliament, we can give some leverage to the Executive, but it should remain the domain of Parliament. I want an assurance from the Finance Minister that when the GST Bill is brought, it will brought as a financial bill and not as a money bill. This is far too transformational and important legislation that one House of Parliament should just speak on it and the other will vote. We want that both Houses should debate and vote on it, he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kathmandu: Communist leader Prachanda was today elected Prime Minister of Nepal for a second time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him to congratulate for his appointment and assured all possible help. Prachanda's elevation is expected to bring much-needed political stability in the country bogged down by deep divisions over the new Constitution. The 61-year-old CPN-Maoist Centre chief was elected Prime Minister with 363 votes in favour and 210 against him. Out of a total 595 members, 22 did not vote. Though Pushpa Kamal Dahalbetter known as Prachanda was the only contender for the top post, he had to go through the voting as the Constitution requires the Prime Minister to prove support of the majority lawmakers in the House. Ahead of the election, Prachanda addressed the House and said that he would try to lead the nation toward economic development while moving ahead with the spirit of national consensus during his premiership. This is the second time Prachanda has become Prime Minister after his brief stint with premiership came to an end in 2009. He was prime minister from 2008 to 2009 before a disagreement with the military over his attempt to sack the army chief brought his period in office to an early end. Prachanda won todays vote after Nepali Congress and CPN Maoist Centre signed a three-point agreement with the Madhesi Front to secure support from the Madhesi parties for their bid to form a new government led by him. The Prime Ministers post had been left vacant since last month after CPN-UML chairman K P Sharma Oli tendered his resignation following the Maoists withdrawal of support to the coalition government. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley today said that a uniform tax rate will bring about seamless transfer of goods and services across country and it will help enable check tax evasion. The Finance Minister said GST Bill will empower the states and will increase revenue of states as well as the Centre. It will also help make some products cost less, he said. There will be three enabling laws to bring about the GST regime - two by the Parliament and one by the state legislatures, he said. He said as a part of consensus, states felt that consumable alcohol had to be kept out. The Finance Minister said the concept of GST Council is Indian federalism at play and two-thirds of voting power in the council belongs to the states. Jaitley said the Empowered Committee of State Finance Minister was consulted from time to time as one of the contentious issues was to bring on board states which had reservations. Chidambaram said, "This is far too important legislation which will impact the next 50-100 years. "The former Finance Minister said if government is not putting the 18 per cent cap on tax rate in the Constitution bill, it must mention it when three months later it brings the GST bill here. "We will campaign that it should not exceed 18 per cent," he said. "The heart of this Bill is the rate of tax" and that should be kept low, he added.Stressing on the need for setting up a disputes redressal mechanism in the Council, he said, "You must oblige the GST Council to set up a dispute resolution authority, ex-ante. I am glad that some strengthening has been done to this provision. But there is still time to strengthen it. Finance Minister can do so by introducing an amendment during this debate." Chidambaram said the dispute resolution between the Centre and a state or between two states or between a group of states is not a matter on which the Constitution is silent. "Article 131 makes this very clear. Dispute resolution is judicial power. Time and again judges have said, if you encroach upon our judicial power we will strike it down. The draft circulated was abominally deficient," he said. He expressed satisfaction over government agreeing to scrap the provision of one per cent levy of additional tax by states. "How can you, in a destination-based tax, have a retrograde provision like some states being allowed to impose an additional one per cent tax? The Chief Economic Advisor pointed out that this was a retrograde provision and I am happy it was scrapped," Chidambaram added. He also pointed out to the "clumsy" drafting of the bill but said nothing much can be done at this late stage when it is being debated upon. He added that there is a provision on what will go or not go in the consolidated fund of India in the amendments. "This should have been thought of earlier. Revenue must go in consolidated fund. It can't go anywhere else. The draft Bill leaves unanswered," he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Islamabad: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today arrived in Islamabad to attend the SAARC Interior Ministers' conference, to be held tomorrow. After his arrival, Singh today met with Additional Secretary of Pakistan's Interior Minister Amir Ahmed. During his visit, Rajnath Singh is expected to raise the issue of most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and cross border terrorism. Accompanied by a delegation comprising officials from his ministry and external affairs, Singh, who is on his maiden visit to Pakistan, will be underlining the need for meaningful cooperation among the South Asian countries. Before leaving for Islamabad to attend the day-long SAARC Home Ministers Conference, the Home Minister said he was "looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime." "This Conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security," said Singh, who is expected to tell Pakistan to stop sponsoring terror in India and rein in groups like Lashker-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Singh's visit comes not with standing threat by LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, who warned of a countrywide protest in Pakistan by his outfit if Singh arrives in Islamabad to attend the SAARC ministerial conference. Tomorrow's meeting is preceded by the 7th Meeting of the SAARC Interior/Home Secretaries which is being held today. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Islamabad: Protests were organized by More than 2,000 activists of various religious and jihadi outfits in Pakistan against the visit of Indian home minister Rajnath Singh, accusing him for the unrest in Kashmir. Activists of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Hizbul Mujahideen, United Jihad Council (UJC)and other such group protested to denounce Singh's trip to attend the South AsianAssociation for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial conference being hosted by Pakistan. Syed Salahuddin, the leader of militant outfit Hizbul Mujahidden, who is also chief of UJC, and local leaders of other groups were seen during the protest.Another protest was organised by Mishal Malik, wife of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, in front of National Press Club here. Yesterday, a JuD caravan led by Talha Saeed, the son of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, had staged a sit-in at the Line of Control near Chakothi in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), where they were stopped by Pakistani security forces. The protesters today continued their sit-in, demanding that India receives relief materials brought by them for Kashmiris. A JuD statement said that it has no plans to leave the place unless India receives relief goods, dry food and medicines for the Kashmiris. Hafiz Abdur Rauf, chief of Falayh-i-Insaniat Foundation, a sister organisation of JuD, said many doctors and paramedical staff were also present in the sit-in. "These doctors and para-medical staff want to go SriNagar to treat our injured Kashmiri brethren," he said. Various religious and jihadi outfits in Pakistan areopposed to Singh's visit as they held him responsible for theunrest in Indian Kashmir. Forty-nine people have been killed in Kashmir in clashessince Indian security forces killed Hizbul commander BurhanWani on July 8. Earlier, Hafiz Saeed has warned the government thatSingh's presence in Islamabad may create "unrest" amongKashmiris as well as Pakistanis in the face of scores ofkillings in Kashmir. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Patna: Cop on Wednesday thrashed a group of Dalit students protesting over scholarship scam in Patna. The pictures of the incident were tweeted by a news agency. Patna: Dalit students from various colleges in Bihar protest over scholarship scam, police baton charge protesters pic.twitter.com/LCJFMCn7BT ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016 Earlier this year, Nitish Kumar government landed in controversy as a scholarship scam surfaced in Nawada district of Bihar. Of the total of 60 students given scholarships in 2015 for the session 2012-13, only one was found genuine in a probe conducted by the district administration. The amount disbursed for the scholarships was Rs 1.03 crore. The SC and ST department pays an annual tuition fee of Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh to each of scholarship rewarded students. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Government today approved the much-awaited Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 that proposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic norms including up to Rs 10,000 fine for drunken driving and Rs 2 lakh compensation for hit-and-run cases. The bill also has provision of up to Rs 10 lakh compensation in case of road fatality. The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016. It is a historical step towards making our roads safe and save lakhs of innocent lives, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told PTI after the meeting. He said the proposals are based on the recommendations of transport ministers from 18 states, and the bill includes penalties in the range of Rs 1000-Rs 4000 for over-speeding. As per the bill, driving without insurance will be punishable with Rs 2,000 fine and/or three-month imprisonment, while driving without helmets will attract Rs 2,000 fine and 3-month suspension of licence. The provisions also include that guardian/owner will be deemed to be guilty in case of road offence by juveniles while registration of the vehicle will be cancelled. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Main opposition Congress and most other parties, except AIADMK, today expressed support, with certain conditions, to the introduction of GST in the country as the Rajya Sabha took up the much-delayed bill to amend the Constitution for allowing the measure. Here are Big five stories of the hour. 1: GST bill taken up in Rajya Sabha: Most parties, except AIADMK, support Main opposition Congress and most other parties, except AIADMK, today expressed support, with certain conditions, to the introduction of GST in the country as the Rajya Sabha took up the much-delayed bill to amend the Constitution for allowing the measure. 2: Rajnath arrives in Pak to participate in SAARC Conference amid protests Home Minister Rajnath Singh today arrived in Islamabad to attend the SAARC Interior Ministers' conference, to be held tomorrow. After his arrival, Singh today met with Additional Secretary of Pakistan's Interior Minister Amir Ahmed. 3: Bulandshahr gangrape: BJP leader IP Singh slams Azam Khan with even worse remark Even after Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan took U-turn over his remark on Bulandshahr gangrape incidents, leaders from other parties are still pointing their guns on him. A top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader went bizarre in a bid to slam Azam Khan. 4: Rajinikanth's twitter account hacked: Aishwarya Tamil Superstar Rajinikanths Twitter account was hacked but his daughter Aishwarya says it has been since retrieved. @superstarrajini appas (father) account was hacked... Handle retrieved. Thank you all :) #AllIsWell, tweeted Aishwarya. 5: Nepal elects Maoist chief Parchanda as new PM; Modi congratulates him Communist leader Prachanda was today elected Prime Minister of Nepal for a second time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him to congratulate for his appointment and assured all possible help. Prachanda's elevation is expected to bring much-needed political stability in the country bogged down by deep divisions over the new Constitution. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. United Nations: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the annual high-level UN General Assembly session in September. The Indian delegation will be led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, according to the provisional agenda released by the UN. Senior Indian diplomats also confirmed to PTI that Swaraj is as of now scheduled to head the Indian delegation for the General Debate of the 71st session of the General Assembly. The General Debate will open on September 20 and will run through September 26, when Swaraj will address the annual high-level debate. According to the first provisional list, Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to attend the General Debate and address the global leaders on September 21. Sources however added that the programme for Sharif to attend the General Assembly session could change as they cited his health. Modi had given his maiden address to the UN General Assembly as Prime Minister in 2014, when addressing the world leaders in Hindi he had also made a clarion call to commemorate an annual International Yoga Day. Last year, he had attended the high-level UN Sustainable Development Summit ahead of the General Debate, when world leaders had adopted the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an intergovernmental set of aspiration Goals with 169 targets. He had also attended the UN Peacekeeping Summit hosted by President Barack Obama when he had announced that India will contribute an additional battalion of 850 troops for UN peacekeeping operation. The summit was the only forum when Modi and Sharif had come face to face during their visit for the UN General Assembly. The two leaders had only waved at each other as they sat across from each other on a horse shoe-table for the peacekeeping summit. According to the provisional list, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Maithrapala Sirisena of Sri Lanka are also expected to address the world leaders. As per tradition, Brazils president opens the General Debate every year and is followed by the US President. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Trump sends warning on possible rigged election, after repetitive establishment attacks Donald Trump is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of American politics. Establishment democrats and republicans alike have been doing everything in their power to prevent him from receiving any positive recognition or attention. They clearly occasionally admittedly fear the man because they know that a shocking amount of American people are behind him. He could very well be the next President of the United States. Trump supporters believe that the democrats are trying to sabotage his campaign by spreading lies and skewing polls. The Donald himself seems to agree with his fans. During a recent speech in Columbus, Ohio, Trump stated, Im afraid the election is going to be rigged, I have to be honest. Citing previous examples of democratic corruption, Trumps comment was met with much criticism from the mainstream media, who wrote his statement off as him being a sore loser well in advance of the election results. Trumps suggestion isnt all that crazy, though. After all, its been completely proven that the Democratic National Committee conspired against Bernie Sanders in order to ensure a victory for Hillary Clinton. So why is the concept of them conspiring against Donald Trump a man who isnt even in their party so hard to believe? Sure, itd be substantially more difficult to rig a presidential election than a primary, but corruption runs deep in American politics. Should it be proven that the 2016 elections were rigged in favor of Hillary, American society could very well collapse into chaos. There would be such a powerful outrage among American citizens that the entire country could feel the devastation. Most people know that the political game is filled with deception, but should they discover that they have been played for fools; should they discover that none of their votes mattered in the end, a legitimate revolution could begin on American soil. The people have felt like their voices dont matter for many, many years now. If Trump is cheated out of a fair victory, that could be the final straw. Sources: Infowars.com RealClearPolitics.com Submit a correction >> DANBURY - The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the ShopRite on Padanaram Road took place about 15 minutes earlier than scheduled to accommodate the crush of shoppers eagerly waiting to see the new store. That meant that the Connecticut Food Bank based in Wallingford got its $10,000 donation a bit sooner than expected. ShopRite has a tradition of donating that amount to a local food bank when it opens a new store. Autumn Driscoll / Autumn Driscoll BETHEL- The Boston Red Sox Foundation awarded $10,000 to Save-A-Suit, a nonprofit that supports veterans, as part of the foundations impact award contest, according to a press release. Save-A-Suit accepted the grant at the Soxs July 24 home game against the Minnesota Twins. Christian Children's Fund of Canada extends its reach with partners ChildFund International and Educo MARKHAM, ON, Aug. 3, 2016 /CNW/ - Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC) will lead a $15.2-million project to fight irregular child migration in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua, following an announcement made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in Ottawa, last month. Global Affairs Canada will contribute $12.6 million to the project. The four-year initiative will address why children and youth may leave their home country: high levels of crime and violence, limited employment and educational opportunities, social exclusion, and a lack of understanding of the dangers of migrating without following legal processes. "We are encouraged by the Government of Canada's continued commitment to the protection of children and youth from exploitation and violence, globally," says Dr. Philip Tanner, director of programs and strategic initiatives at CCFC. "By helping young people especially women and girls aspire to their full potential, they will be empowered to inspire positive growth for their communities, helping reduce the risks associated with irregular migration." CCFC will be working in partnership with ChildFund International and Educo, leveraging the strengths and best practices of each organization to achieve optimal project results. "The partnership will help children and youth at risk of irregular migration by improving the access to and delivery of child-protection services, boosting youth employment and job skills as well as promoting the active participation of youth to lobby for policies to stem the flow of irregular child migrants," says Paul Bode, Americas regional director at ChildFund International. "We will partner with regional networks, national and provincial governments, local communities and the private sector to bring about sustainable positive change in the lives of children and youth." CCFC and its partners will work with 125,000 children, aged six to 24, at risk of irregular migration. Overall, the project will indirectly benefit 625,000 people in 129 communities. "The participation of children and youth is critical to the success of this project," says Claudia Monterroso, regional director at Educo. "By providing opportunities and motivations for children and youth to remain in their home countries, we can reduce crime, violence and social exclusion long into the future." About ChildFund International: ChildFund International is a global child development and protection organization serving more than 19-million children and family members in 29 countries. For more than 75 years, ChildFund International has helped the world's deprived, excluded and vulnerable children survive and thrive to reach their full potential and become leaders of enduring change. As a member of ChildFund Alliance, ChildFund International builds supportive environments where all children can be safe, healthy and educated. Most of our funding comes from individual sponsors who contribute monthly towards the well-being of a particular child. For more information, visit childfund.org. About Christian Children's Fund of Canada: Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC) is a child-focused international development organization and a member of ChildFund Alliance. For more than 50 years, CCFC has been helping children and families of all faiths move from poverty to self-reliance. CCFC supports children and communities in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nicaragua and Paraguay. Currently, CCFC has more than 50,000 children sponsored, benefiting approximately 500,000 people around the world. For more information, visit ccfcanada.ca. About Educo: Educo is a global NGO working in development cooperation and as a member of ChildFund Alliance. Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, Educo is present in 15 countries across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, supporting more than 2,400 schools so that children can learn and feel protected and implement programs in 130 local communities, benefiting one-million people. Educo promotes and defends child rights, particularly the right to quality education, and supports just and equitable societies that guarantee the rights and well-being of children. For more information, visit educo.org SOURCE Christian Children's Fund of Canada For further information: Bonar Bell, communications manager, CCFC, 416-898-6770 | [email protected] TSX symbol: BX TORONTO, Aug. 3, 2016 /CNW/ - BIOX Corporation (TSX: BX), will release its third quarter financial results for fiscal 2016 on Tuesday, August 9, 2016, prior to market open. The Company will subsequently hold a conference call that same day, Tuesday, August 9, 2016, at 9:00 AM Eastern Time hosted by Mr. Alan Rickard, Chief Executive Officer. A question and answer session will follow the corporate update. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS DATE: Tuesday, August 9, 2016 TIME: 9:00 AM ET DIAL IN NUMBER: (647) 427-7450 or (888) 231-8191 TAPED REPLAY: (416) 849-0833 or (855) 859-2056 REFERENCE NUMBER: 57722657 About BIOX Corporation BIOX is a renewable energy company that owns and operates approximately 450 million litres of nameplate biodiesel production capacity at plants located in southern Ontario and Houston, Texas. BIOX has an innovative, proprietary and patented production process that is capable of producing the highest quality, renewable, clean burning and biodegradable biodiesel fuel utilizing a variety of feedstocks - from pure seed oils to animal fats to recovered vegetable oils with no change to the production process. BIOX's high quality biodiesel fuel meets North American (ASTM D-6751) quality standards. SOURCE BIOX Corporation For further information: Alan Rickard, CEO, BIOX Corporation, 905-521-8205 ext. 253, [email protected] 2016-08-02-RichardHanna.jpg U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, R-Barneveld, says he will vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton for president. Hanna said the GOP nominee, Donald Trump, is unfit to serve. The three-term congressman is shown speaking July 18, 2016, with students from the National Institute of Science and Technology's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship. (Provided photo) WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, a three-term Republican, said Tuesday he will vote for Hillary Clinton for president because Donald Trump is "unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country." Hanna becomes the first Republican member of Congress to publicly declare he will vote for Clinton in November. Other GOP members of Congress have refused to endorse Trump, but until now none had promised to vote for his Democratic opponent. Hanna announced his decision Tuesday morning in an op-ed and interview exclusive to Syracuse.com. The retiring congressman previously said he could never support Trump, but he had stopped short of backing Clinton. Now Hanna's decision could give political cover in the coming weeks to other like-minded GOP members of Congress who have criticized Trump, but have not said whether they would support Clinton. Hanna, who represents an eight-county district in Upstate New York, said in an interview that he considered giving his support to Clinton for several months. He decided to take action this week after watching Trump criticize the Muslim American parents of a U.S. Army captain killed in Iraq, he said. Trump clashed with Khizr and Ghazala Khan after they appeared on stage at the Democratic National Convention last week. Trump roughly dismissed the couple's criticism, and suggested Ghazala Khan was prevented from speaking at the convention because of her Muslim faith. Hanna said it's unthinkable that anyone would criticize Gold Star parents. "I saw that and felt incensed," Hanna said in an interview. "I was stunned by the callousness of his comments." He added, "I think Trump is a national embarrassment. Is he really the guy you want to have the nuclear codes?" Hanna, 65, of Barneveld in Oneida County, announced plans in December to retire when his term expires at the end of the year. But even before the announcement, he had developed a reputation for his independence and criticism of the most conservative of the Republican House caucus. He has frequently split with his GOP colleagues on social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage, and is among only 13 Republican House members to acknowledge that humans have contributed to climate change. In his op-ed Tuesday, Hanna said he finds Trump "deeply flawed in endless ways" and "unrepentant in all things" including the use of bankruptcy laws to avoid the consequences of his choices. "In his latest foray of insults, Mr. Trump has attacked the parents of a slain U.S. soldier," Hanna wrote. "Where do we draw the line? I thought it would have been when he alleged that U.S. Sen. John McCain was not a war hero because he was caught. Or the countless other insults he's proudly lobbed from behind the Republican presidential podium. For me, it is not enough to simply denounce his comments: He is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country." Asked if he was concerned about potential backlash from his fellow Republicans in Congress, Hanna said, "I can't look back in my life when I leave this job and know that I didn't speak the truth when it was important to do so." Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Richard Hanna.JPG U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, a three-term Republican from Oneida County, represents the 22nd Congressional District. Hanna is shown speaking last month to firefighters in Binghamton. (Provided photo) Richard Hanna, R-Barneveld, represents New York's 22nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. By Richard Hanna Our country is desperate for a functioning two-party system. A system that understands that compromise is the sweet spot of peace in a pluralistic society that values tolerance and inclusiveness. Not these endless attempts to run the table in two- and four-year cycles that produce few results and parties that seem to regard gridlock as an accomplishment. Government has become unable to address big problems. Talking points are presented as if they were solutions. Critical issues like tax reform, infrastructure, immigration, the environment and any future investments in people and assets are relegated to the opinions of the extremes of both parties. Electing Donald Trump will only make this worse, much worse. Months ago I publicly said I could never support Trump. My reasons were simple and personal. I found him profoundly offensive and narcissistic but as much as anything, a world-class panderer, anything but a leader. Little more than a changing mirror of those he speaks to. I never expect to agree with whoever is president, but at a minimum the president needs to consistently display those qualities I have preached to my two children: kindness, honesty, dignity, compassion and respect. I do not expect perfection, but I do require more than the embodiment of at least a short list of the seven deadly sins. I have long held the belief that the Republican Party is becoming increasingly less capable of nominating a person who is electable as president. The primary process is so geared toward the party's political base, which ignores the fact that we have largely alienated women, Hispanics, the LGBT community, young voters and many others in general. Thankfully gerrymandering does not protect candidates in a national election. If I compare the life stories of both candidates I find Trump deeply flawed in endless ways. A self-involved man who is worth billions yet is comfortable -- almost gleefully -- using bankruptcy laws to avoid the consequences of his own choices. A man of character would not defend his actions but rather display shame and or at least regret. He is unrepentant in all things. Think about those average people who paid for his choices. In his latest foray of insults, Mr. Trump has attacked the parents of a slain U.S. soldier. Where do we draw the line? I thought it would have been when he alleged that U.S. Sen. John McCain was not a war hero because he was caught. Or the countless other insults he's proudly lobbed from behind the Republican presidential podium. For me, it is not enough to simply denounce his comments: He is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country. Secretary Clinton has issues that depending on where one stands can be viewed as great or small. But she stands and has stood for causes bigger than herself for a lifetime. That matters. Mrs. Clinton has promoted many of the issues I have been committed to over the years including expanding education and supporting women's health care. While I disagree with her on many issues, I will vote for Mrs. Clinton. I will be hopeful and resolute in my belief that being a good American who loves his country is far more important than parties or winning and losing. I trust she can lead. All Republicans may not like the direction, but they can live to win or lose another day with a real candidate. Our response to the public's anger and the need to rebuild requires complex solutions, experience, knowledge and balance. Not bumper sticker slogans that pander to our disappointment, fear and hate. Wegmans celebrates 100 years Wegmans employees serve cake during the chain's 100th anniversary party at the Wegmans Great Northern store earlier this year. (David Lassman | The Post-Standard) Rochester, N.Y. Wegmans is planning a major expansion in North Carolina, with several potential new stores already in the works. The Rochester-based chain announced its first store in the state earlier this year. Much of the company's focus in North Carolina is on the Raleigh-Durham area, home to a number of major universities, according to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Wegmans' first North Carolina store is planned for Cary, just outside Raleigh. The firm has already filed paperwork to pursue a second store in that area, the D&C said. Wegmans wouldn't talk specifics yet, but said it had identified multiple sites in the Raleigh-Durham area where it could open stores. One retail expert believes a foothold in North Carolina could lead to an even bigger push into the Southeast, according to the D&C. "Wegmans could double the current size of its corporate sales just by filling out the region between Virginia, the Carolinas, into Tennessee and Georgia and north Florida," Burt Flickinger, a retail analyst with the Strategic Resource Group, told the paper. Wegmans' push farther south would bring it into greater competition with some grocery industry heavyweights. Kroger, which has about 2,800 stores, and Publix, which has more than 1,100 locations, are both expanding in North Carolina as well, according to the D&C. Wegmans typically takes its time with expansion. It celebrated its 100th anniversary this year and is up to 90 stores. When the North Carolina store opens, it will be Wegmans' southernmost outpost. The company is also working on new stores in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Brooklyn, according to the D&C. The chain is planning expansions and renovations at some of its other New York stores, including its DeWitt location. Wegmans typically ranks highly in surveys and studies of grocery stores by experts and consumers. It has also been a constant presence near the top of Forbes' annual list of best places to work. The chain can inspire a cult-like following at times. A Facebook group focused on getting Wegmans to the Raleigh-Durham area has more than 800 members, according to the D&C. Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Google + | 315-454-2112 Over the next two decades China hopes to build the worlds largest nuclear power industry. Plans include as many as 30 new conventional nuclear plants (in addition to the 34 reactors operating today) as well as a variety of next-generation reactors, including thorium molten-salt reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (which, like molten-salt reactors, are both highly efficient and inherently safe), and sodium-cooled fast reactors (which can consume spent fuel from conventional reactors to make electricity). Chinese planners want not only to dramatically expand the countrys domestic nuclear capacity but also to become the worlds leading supplier of nuclear reactors and components. The Shanghai Institutes effort to develop molten-salt reactors, a technology that has sat all but forgotten in the United States for decades, reflects just how daring Chinas nuclear ambitions are. Already, the government has invested some two billion Chinese renminbi ($300 million) over the last five years in molten-salt R&D. Building actual plants will require tens of billions more. As with other innovative nuclear technologies in development around the world, there are few guarantees: though people have run small, experimental molten-salt reactors, no ones ever actually built one at utility scale and hooked it up to the grid. Yet the Chinese government expects to have a commercial-size plant up and running within 15 years, helping to revive the beleaguered nuclear power industry. The China Academy of Sciences in January 2011 launched an R&D program on LFTR, known there as the thorium-breeding molten-salt reactor (Th-MSR or TMSR), and claimed to have the worlds largest national effort on it, hoping to obtain full intellectual property rights on the technology. The TMSR Research Centre has a 5 MWe MSR prototype under construction at Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP, under the Academy) originally with 2015 target for operation, now 2020. SINAP has two streams of TMSR development solid fuel (TRISO in pebbles or prisms/blocks) with once-through fuel cycle, and liquid fuel (dissolved in FLiBe coolant) with reprocessing and recycle. A third stream of fast reactors to consume actinides from LWRs is planned. The TMSR-SF stream has only partial utilization of thorium, relying on some breeding as with U-238, and needing fissile uranium input as well. SINAP aims at a 2 MW pilot plant (TMSR-SF1) initially, and a 100 MWt experimental pebble bed plant (TMSR-SF2) with open fuel cycle by about 2025, then a 1 GW demonstration plant (TMSR-SF3) by 2030. TRISO particles will be with both low-enriched uranium and thorium, separately. The TMSR-LF stream claims full closed Th-U fuel cycle with breeding of U-233 and much better sustainability with thorium but greater technical difficulty. SINAP aims for a 2 MWt pilot plant (TMSR-LF1) by 2018, a 10 MWt experimental reactor (TMSR-LF2) by 2025 and a 100 MWt demonstration plant (TMSR-LF3) with full electrometallurgical reprocessing by 2035, followed by 1 a GW demonstration plant. A TMSFR-LF fast reactor optimized for burning minor actinides is to follow. SINAP sees molten salt fuel being superior to the TRISO fuel in effectively unlimited burn-up, less waste, and lower fabricating cost, but achieving lower temperatures (600C+) than the TRISO fuel reactors (1200C+). Near-term goals include preparing nuclear-grade ThF4 and ThO2 and testing them in a MSR. The US Department of Energy is collaborating with the China Academy of Sciences on the program, which had a start-up budget of $350 million. The target date for TMSR commercial deployment is 2032. Other molten salt project Canada-based Terrestrial Energy Inc (TEI) has designed the Integral MSR. This simplified MSR integrates the primary reactor components, including primary heat exchangers to secondary clean salt circuit, in a sealed and replaceable core vessel that has a projected life of seven years. The IMSR will operate at 600-700C, which can support many industrial process heat applications. It operates in the thermal neutron spectrum with a hexagonal arrangement of graphite elements forming the moderator. The fuel-salt is a eutectic of low-enriched (2-4%) uranium-235 fuel (as UF4) and a fluoride carrier salt likely sodium rubidium fluoride with potential to change to FLiBe at atmospheric pressure. Secondary loop coolant salt is ZrF4-KF. Multiple pumps and six heat exchangers allow for redundancy. Emergency cooling and residual heat removal are passive. When the sealed core is replaced after seven years, it is then left for fission products to decay. Each plant would have space for two reactors, allowing seven-year changeover, with the used unit removed for off-site reprocessing when it has cooled. The IMSR is designed in three sizes: 80 MWth (32.5 MWe), 300 MWth, and 600 MWth. The total levelized cost of electricity from the largest is projected to be competitive with natural gas. he smallest is designed for off-grid, remote power applications, and as a prototype. The company expects to complete CNSC pre-licence review by the end of 2016, and hopes to commission its first commercial reactor by the early 2020s. In January 2015 the company announced a collaborative agreement with US Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to advance the design SOURCES World nuclear association, MIT Technology review After a long, intense pursuit, researchers are close to bringing to market a daring new treatment: cell therapy that turbocharges the immune system to fight cancer. It was 1968. Dr. Rosenberg witnessed an extraordinary case in which a patients immune system had vanquished cancer. Hoping there was an elixir in the mans blood, Dr. Rosenberg got permission to transfuse some of it into a patient dying of stomach cancer. The effort failed. But it was the beginning of a lifelong quest. Now, versions of the therapy for a limited number of blood cancers are nearing approval by federal regulators, and could reach the market as early as next year. The technique, known as cell therapy, gives each patient an individualized and souped-up version of their own immune system, one that works better than nature made it, as Dr. June puts it. The patients T-cells, the soldiers of the immune system, are extracted from the patients blood, then genetically engineered to recognize and destroy cancer. The redesigned cells are multiplied in the laboratory, and millions or billions of them are put back into the patients bloodstream, set loose like a vast army of tumor assassins. This is an unusual pharmaceutical a drug that is alive and can multiply once inside the body. Dr. June calls these cells serial killers. A single one can destroy up to 100,000 cancer cells. The killer cells are genetically engineered to produce a complex protein, an amalgam of pieces from different parts of the immune system that is unlike anything seen before. This radical, science-fiction like therapy differs sharply from the more established type of immunotherapy, developed by other researchers. Those off-the-shelf drugs, known as checkpoint inhibitors, release a molecular brake on the immune system, freeing it to fight the cancer much as it fights infections by bacteria or viruses. Cell therapy, in contrast, is brewed specially for each patient, one of the many challenges the field faces in broadening its use. So far, the number of patients treated with cell therapy is in the hundreds, not thousands. And for now it works only for certain types of blood cancers, not common malignancies like breast and lung cancer. Researchers are also still working out how to control potentially lethal side effects. Just recently, a clinical trial was briefly halted after three patients died of brain swelling. Still, cell therapy has produced complete remissions in some patients who were out of treatment options, stirring excitement among doctors and patients and setting off a race among companies to bring the treatments to market. New approaches might allow cell therapy to be used for most patients. Many other improvements are on the runway. Dr. Sadelain and Juno are working on armored CARs that not only bind to the target but produce immune-stimulating chemicals. Cellectis, a French company, has treated two babies with an off-the-shelf CAR treatment that does not require each patients cells to be processed. Bellicum Pharmaceuticals is working on genetic switches that dim or shut off the CAR if the treatment is endangering the patient. Were in the Model T version of the CAR now, said Dr. Levine, now the director of the cell production facility at the University of Pennsylvania. Whats coming along are Google CARs and Tesla CARs. SOURCE- NY Times Boko Haram terrorist, Mr Lawal Aboi, has surrendered to the Nigerian Army, after saying he became tired of fighting. Boko Haram terrorist, Mr Lawal Aboi, has surrendered to the Nigerian Army, after saying he became tired of fighting.The terrorist who was intercepted along Damboa-Bale road by troops of the Nigerian Army said he was already on his way to voluntarily surrender to the troops in Damboa because he was tired of fighting for no just cause.Boko Haram terrorist, Mr Lawal Aboi, has surrendered to the Nigerian Army, after saying he became tired of fighting. The terrorist who was intercepted along Damboa-Bale road by troops of the Nigerian Army said he was already on his way to voluntarily surrender to the troops in Damboa because he was tired of fighting for no just cause.This is contained in a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.Usman said both suspects were under further interrogation. Leaders of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday met with the former chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee,... Leaders of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday met with the former chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, at the partys secretariat in Abuja, over the unfolding budget padding scandal in the house.He later met behind closed doors with the partys national deputy chairman, North, Lawal Shuaibu; national secretary, Mala Buni; and vice-chairman, North-West, Inuwa Abdulkadiri.Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, Shuaibu said the party was not in a position to pass judgement on the fraud allegation.He denied that the party was planning to sanction Mr. Jibrin for his relentless media campaign against Mr. Dogara and others.There is nothing like passing any judgment on any member of the party, Mr. Shuaibu said. We only play our role as the umpire in this matter to see how we can create some atmosphere of peace and unity among our members.He continued, I was reading today in your paper that we called him to discipline him; discipline him on what? Whatever happens in the House of Representatives or the Senate under the constitution and their rules, they are immune.But when certain things go, of course, the party needs to call its members to know how best to unite any feuding members and that is exactly what we did."He said the party would continue to engage Messrs Dogara and Jibrin, suggesting a peace deal had not been brokered yet. Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark has said President Muhammadu Buharis anti-corruption crusade will give Nigeria a better future, if allowed... Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark has said President Muhammadu Buharis anti-corruption crusade will give Nigeria a better future, if allowed to succeed.The Ijaw leader spoke yesterday in Warri, Delta State, at the announcement of the academic year of the newly approved Law Faculty of Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo (ECUK).He decried the level of corruption in the National Assembly, calling for the investigation of alleged budget padding by federal lawmakers.Clark, who gave a brief insight into the vision behind the ECUK, said he thought of leaving a legacy to further cement the unity of Nigeria as well as reflect his background as a teacher.Speaking in the company of the universitys management team, led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof Timothy Olagbemiro, the Ijaw leader advised Nigerians to support President Buharis anti-corruption fight because it remained the only way to the nations greatness.He said: This country will have to be cleaned and Im happy we have a President, despite every other thing, who has now stood up to fight corruption. We should support him. I know this country will progress, if corruption is reduced to the minimum.If corruption reduces to the minimum and this country is restructured, well have a better Nigeria. Im not looking for a Nigeria where some people are first class and others are second class. If you make some people second class, they will fight their way through and therell be no peace in this country.I am appealing to you the media that when you are emphasising those things that bind us together, bring out the ills of the society.These people, who are cheating us, these unpatriotic legislators, must be brought to book. There should be investigation of what has been on for long time: why they have been padding the budgets, including unapproved projects, which were not discussed on the floor of the House but put there by the chairman and those in the position to do so.Nigeria belongs to all of us and we must do our least bit to bring progress to this country. We must fight to preserve it. Nobody is superior to the other in this country. No one group can do it alone. Those people will be enemies of Nigeria.Also, the newly approved Faculty of Law for ECUK has been named after late legal icon, Chief Frederick Rotimi Williams.The Dean of the new faculty, Prof Allswell Muzan, announced this yesterday in Warri.He said the criteria of approving authorities, such as the National University Commission (NUC) and the Council of Legal Education (CLE), had been met.Muzan said: The regulatory approval is for initial 50 students take-off population, which is expected to grow.The chancellor and founder (Clark) named it Chief F.R.A. Williams Faculty of Law because of his love for him and the role (the late) Williams played in nation-building and the law profession, practice and education.Clark said he was grateful to the regulators, the school management and legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, who he recognised for providing financial support and encouragement to pursue early approval.He said: We were lucky. Some waited for four years to get approval. The Council of Legal Education and NUC inspected and said we merit it. Afe Babalola not only donated N2 million, he told me that he got a Law Faculty in one year. You can do it, he said. And we did.After 50 years as a lawyer, I needed a Faculty of Law where my body will be laid at my exit and the people will be there to see. When the NUC heard me say this, it said I could have it. An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, yesterday sentenced four armed robbers to death by firing squad. The robb... An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, yesterday sentenced four armed robbers to death by firing squad.The robbers, who specialised in hijacking petroleum tankers, were Abdurahman Yinusa, Maliki Sanni, Ajayi Saliu and Mohammed Jimoh.They were arrested in December 2009 and remanded at the Olokuta Medium Prison in Akure.It was gathered that the armed robbers, with one other who is still at large, used to operate on Isua/Idoani expressway in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.They were accused of killing majority of their victims, who refused to cooperate with them.The convicts stood trial on a four-count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, murder and illegal possession of fire arms, contrary to Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act R11, Laws of Federation 2004.The prosecution counsel, Mr. John Olowokere, said the last operation of the gang, which led to their arrest, was when they hijacked a DAF truck with registration number XN 810 ABC with 33,000 litres of petrol on Isua/Idoani road in 2009.Olowokere said three of the robbers drove in the truck to where they sold the product.He added that the remaining two took the truck driver and his conductor to a bush, where they tied them until the second day after they have disposed the item.Justice D.I. Kolawole of the Special Criminal High Court within Olokuta Medium Security Prison said the victims were guilty of the allegations levelled against them.He noted that the prosecution counsel was able to substantiate the case against the accused.Kolawole ordered that the robbers should be killed by firing squad. Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is to lead the African Union Elections Observation Mission, AUEOM, to the Zambian general election... Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is to lead the African Union Elections Observation Mission, AUEOM, to the Zambian general elections scheduled take place on October 11, 2016.Recall that former President Jonathan was named to lead a 33-nation observer mission to the Sunday, October 25, 2015 General Election held in Tanzania.A statement posted on AUs website yesterday stated that Jonathan would be leading members of the short term mission to join the continental bodys deployment of long term election experts who are already on ground in Zambia, adding that the chairperson of African Union Commission, AUC, approved it. The statement read: The Chairperson of the AUC has approved the deployment of African Union Elections Observation Mission, AUEOM, to the General Election scheduled to take place in the Republic of Zambia on October 11, 2016. The deployment of the AUEOM will take place in two phases.The first phase comprised the deployment of long term election experts and took place from July 14 to August 22, 2016 and is made up of 10 observers. For the first time, the AU long term experts include election/ legal political/media/campaign analysts.The objective is ensure that the AUEOM approaches its work with added professionalism and factual analysis of the legal, political, electoral, media and campaign aspects of the electoral process in Zambia. At the second phase of the Mission, the long term experts will to be joined by Short Term observers from the August 1 to 15, 2016.The Short Term Mission will be headed by Goodluck Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The AUEOM draws its mandate from various African Union instruments, most importantly: (a) the AU Guidelines for Elections Observation and Monitoring Missions, 2002; (b) the OUA/AU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, 2002; African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, 1981, and (c) African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, 200), among others. The objectives of the Mission is (a) to provide an accurate and impartial reporting or assessment of the quality of the 25th October General Elections in the United Republic of Tanzania, including the degree to which the conduct of the elections meets regional, continental and international standards for democratic elections; (b) to offer recommendations for improvement of future elections based on the findings; and, and (c) to demonstrate AUs interest to support Tanzanias elections and democratisation process to ensure that the conduct of genuine elections contributes to the consolidation of democratic governance, peace and stability in Tanzania in particular and the East African sub-region in general. Former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon says he became Head of State 31 years ago by accident of history without nursing the ambit... Former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon says he became Head of State 31 years ago by accident of history without nursing the ambition.Gowon stated this when Deputy Chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Shehu Sani, paid him a courtesy call in Abuja on Wednesday.Gowon was reacting to calls by some Nigerians for the reduction of age limit to 30 years to contest for presidential position in the country.What happened was the accident of history.When you have lost your leadership and there was crisis and you dont know what to do and it happened that those within your constituency chose you, what would you do? I was lucky enough within the military at that time and all the officers knew me by reputation.I had no intention to become head of state but it is the opportunity, if opportunity presents itself and people ask you to do it then do it.What I have achieved is (because of) God. I had never thought of becoming head of state but there was a coup and all my senior colleagues were killed and I was the only one that survived.My plan was to rise in my profession and hopefully become a head in my profession but that did not happen. `I didnt know what happened but I had the duty and responsibility to ensure the coup in Lagos did not succeed, he said.The former head of state advised younger Nigerians to prepare themselves academically and morally to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), yesterday flashed agitators for Niger Delta Republic the red card, saying there ... The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), yesterday flashed agitators for Niger Delta Republic the red card, saying there is no room for their plan in the country.ODS Commander Rear Admiral Joseph Okogie told the Adaka Boro Avengers (ABA), which is pushing for the republic, that the JTF would crush any separatist tendency.Also yesterday, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) distanced itself from the talks between the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and some Federal Government agents to end militancy in the Niger Delta and agitations for a separate country in the Southeast.The group declared that its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu would not renounce the agitation for Biafra for his freedom.Okogie spoke after a five-hour meeting with component commanders of the ODS at the outfits headquarters in Igbogene in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.ABA caused a stir in the region, following its threat to declare Niger Delta Republic at the Kaiama home of the late Ijaw icon Isaac Adaka Boro, in Kolokuma-Opokuma area of the state last Monday.IPOB, in a statement, by its spokesman, Emma Nmezu, and another official, Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya, said: It is understandable that MEND and the federal government are scavenging for relevance from their moribund status but they should not use the sacred name of IPOB or its leader as a means of survival.MEND and the federal government can conveniently carry out their operation without dragging the name of IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu into that shenanigan, as we are not interested in their devilish acts.IPOB and their leader Mazi Kanu are in full support of any group of dedicated and hardcore freedom fighters such as the Niger Delta Avengers [NDA], as we share the same aspiration which is the liberation of our people.We have stated unequivocally and without any fear of contradiction that we are fully in support of the NDA as they embark on freeing themselves from the British criminality called Nigeria, a contraption led by a man that committed treason on December 31, 1983.What MEND and federal government must know is that Biafra is a spirit because Nnamdi Kanu, by the grace of God, brought spirituality into the agitation for Biafra independence.The fact that many people claiming to be fighting for the interest of the people has sold out in the past or that the so called elites engaged in the mortgaging of their soul to the devil does not mean the emergence of clean, conscientious and patriotic Biafrans is no longer possible.A lot of people thought the agitation for Biafra was dead before the emergence of Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB, one thing remains certain things can never be the same after this. We assert that IPOB is not in the business of betrayal and we would die rather than renounce Biafra.The restoration of the nation of Biafra is not subject to negotiation, if there should be any form of negotiation at all, it must be centered on asset sharing between Nigeria and Biafra and on the payment of reparations for money stolen from Biafrans by Nigeria through the 1970 twenty pounds deal and other subsequent acts of thievery by Nigeria against Biafrans.We want to make it categorically clear that MEND and the federal government are strictly on their own and do not in any way, shape or form represents IPOB or the leader of IPOB, Mazi Kanu, when we sayBiafra or Death, and we meant every syllable of that phrase.Again, we reiterate that Nnamdi Kanu is not Ralph Uwazuruike and IPOB is not MASSOB. Therefore, anybody thinking that our leader will renounce Biafra is certifiably mad. For both IPOB and their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, it is either we get Biafra or we die getting Biafra.There is no middle ground.MEND and the federal government team of fake negotiators are hereby warned to desist from deceiving the public with their misinformation and betrayal of the Biafran cause The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged Governor Seriake Dickson to tell the people what the Pe... The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged Governor Seriake Dickson to tell the people what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did for the state in its 16 years in the federal administration.In the same vein, the party asked the governor to show projects the state benefited from in six years under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.The party said Jonathan, Dickson and his party underdeveloped the state and squandered the golden opportunities to attract development to Bayelsa.The party was reacting to a statement by Dickson that APC leaders should use their contacts and connections to attract federal presence to the state.But in a statement yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Panebi Fortune, APC described the governors remarks as mischievous and loose.The statement described Jonathan and the PDP as liabilities to the people.APC said: Our attention was today (yesterday) drawn to a mischievous and loose statement credited to Bayelsa State Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, apparently in clear exhibition of arrogance and shallowness that APC leaders from Bayelsa State were yet to attract development to the state.From the statement, it was clear that the governor was either being misled by his imagination or was merely expressing another misguided view of our party, the APC.In our view, the statement was reckless, even as it was a shameless show of brazen arrogance by a man whose party, the PDP, had an ample opportunity to develop Bayelsa State but looked the other way.Does it not show much of political liability that while Jonathan, a son of Bayelsa State held sway for six years, the state is yet to take off? What template of development did the former President lay before he was voted out of office? For us in the APC and indeed the generality of Bayelsans, both Jonathan and the PDP were liabilities than they were assets to the people of the state. They underdeveloped Bayelsa State.It added: May we use this medium to remind Governor Dickson that rather than chase shadows and engage in blackmail, he should consider the plight of Bayelsa workers and pay their salaries. The level of hunger, despair and insecurity occasioned by poverty should be of paramount interest to him.It is a shame that despite the God-given opportunity, Jonathan and his party decided to impoverish the people of Bayelsa State, just as Governor Dickson, like an emperor, has taken solace in a conquest-like squeeze of the people.We use this medium to advise Governor Dickson to face governance during this period of judicial reprieve as the days of justice are not too far away. It can only be preposterous that development, which had eluded our dear state over the years under a PDP national government, can be hurriedly canvassed to Bayelsa within 15 months of President Muhammadu Buharis administration.For our supporters, we enjoin you to remain steadfast and ignore provocative moves orchestrated by the state government and its agents to trigger unease. We will win at the end of the battle. The abductors of two nurses of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Edo State, have demanded the payment of N17 million for the ... The abductors of two nurses of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Edo State, have demanded the payment of N17 million for the release of the victims.Both nurses identified as Osemelu Lydia and Ovbiosu Bose, were snatched last Wednesday at Oluku in Ovia North East local government area of Edo State where they had gone to take their children from school.They were said to have been on their way home, after picking up their children from school, when they were forcefully taken away in a vehicle to an unknown destination.Sources said the kidnappers demanded N15 million for the release of one of the nurses and two million naira for the other.Branch Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Austin Osigbeme, said the kidnappers later reduced the ransom.He said, They have not released them. They are asking for a ransom. They started with N15m and two million naira but have started beating it down to one million.But these are poor people that have no money to pay and that is why we are having that delay.They (families) have been apprehensive and having feelings of uncertainty, not sure of what is happening to their wives and sisters.Osigbeme said that the proposed strike by nurses in UBTH have been shelved because we will not allow people to force us to behave in the way that they want us to behave.We decided to call off the strike and see what happens this week. We are praying, he added. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the town hall meetings across the country is an avenue for the Federal... Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the town hall meetings across the country is an avenue for the Federal Government and governed to exchange ideas, thus fostering good governance.Its not so much about the government explaining its programmes and policies but also about those who are governed expressing their satisfaction or dissatisfaction.What I found today is that there is a lot of misconception and prejudices, which this kind of platform will throw more light on, the minister told reporters at the end of the Southeast town hall meeting in Enugu on Monday.He said each part of the country had its unique and peculiar challenges, and that sustained and robust engagement through the town hall meetings would provide the platform to correct misconceptions and throw light on governments policies and programme.The major takeaway is that there is no substitute to such meetings because it provides the avenue and vehicle for government and the governed to exchange ideas. You can imagine the kind of questions we received today (Monday), either on agriculture or appointment or infrastructural development. Clearly, at the end of the day, I felt better because we were able to explain to our brothers and sisters here that this government will not marginalise any part of the country, Mohammed said.Minister of Agriculture Chief Audu Ogbeh said as a follow up to the town hall meetings, cabinet ministers would soon hold a retreat to discuss and articulate ways through which they can enhance service delivery to Nigerians.Soon,we will have a cabinet retreat where all ministers will come together and discuss issues and find out what peoples reactions are and how we can help each other to solve problems as well. Its a finer way of running a country. Keep in touch with the people and they will tell you what they dont like or what they are unhappy about and suggest to you how to do it, Ogbeh said.Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyema said through the Economic Diplomacy initiated by this administration, his ministry would create more avenues for Nigerians to access foreign investors and partners to enhance the quality of their businesses.We want to build a platform to empower Nigerians to access any market anywhere in the world and thats why we are working to produce match-making database, where we will be putting in touch Nigerian businesses that want to sell to potential markets and Nigerians who are looking for investors and partners, he said.The Enugu town hall meeting was the fifth in a series that started in Lagos on April 25, 2016, and has now been held in Kaduna, Kano and Uyo.At Mondays town hall meeting, host Minister Mohammed was joined by ministers of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige; Foreign Affairs, Mr. Onyeama; Agriculture, Chief Ogbeh; Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah; Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachukwu and Minister of State for Environment Malam Ibrahim Usman Jibrin. The wife of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, has denied her husband is giving up on th... The wife of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, has denied her husband is giving up on the fight for independence.This is coming following reports that the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) was negotiating with the Nigerian federal government on the possible release of Kanu, on the condition that he would renounce Biafra.But Uchechi Okwu-Kanu in a statement maintained that the recent allegations against her husband Nnamdi Kanu were incorrect and insulting.Anybody thinking that my husband will renounce Biafra is certifiably insane, she said, adding that MEND does not speak for her husband.This type of news as distressing as it is, is laughable because no group can postulate what my husband can or cannot do or say. This is not only an insult to our belief and of our rights as a people, perpetrated by dishonourable minds, she further stated.Kanus wife added that It is now apparent that the charges against my husband are politically motivated and not a judicial process as President Buhari would have the world believe.This singular act of tyranny and injustice against my husband amongst others is reprehensible to every reasonable mind and is one of the critical reasons for the emergence of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) who have in their quest, consistently called for the release of my husband, which President Buhari has underplayed.Subsequently, Nnamdi Kanu should be present at any negotiations and I can refer President Buhari to F.W. de Klerk of South Africa on how to negotiate with a freedom fighter.The IPOB had equally released a statement stating their leader had not consented to any agreement. Six days after the Nigerian military intensified its fight against militants and pipeline vandals within Arepo and Ikorodu, the ground f... Six days after the Nigerian military intensified its fight against militants and pipeline vandals within Arepo and Ikorodu, the ground forces yesterday successfully penetrated the Ishawo creeks, destroying several camps.The Ishawo creek has been identified as hideout for suspected militants and kidnappers, who have been terrorising Lagos and Ogun states through the waterways.It was gathered that the ground forces, comprising the Nigerian Army (NA) and Nigerian Navy (NN), were able to access the Ishawo mangrove for the first time yesterday afternoon, following the sustained air surveillance provided by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).According to a military source, who hinted on the progress, about 40 militants camps were located and destroyed inside the Ishawo creeks.He added that the forces were advancing further into the mangrove with the hope of ensuring that the fleeing militants have no safe haven.According to him, no bodies have been seen so far, neither have the foot soldiers sighted any human element.We are destroying the militants camps. We are setting them ablaze and moving farther inside the mangrove to ensure that new camps are not being built. At Ishawo, we saw and destroyed about 40 camps. So far, we havent seen any body and no human being insight either, he said. Fiery and controversial Enugu cleric, the Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has come out hard on President Muhammadu Buhari accusing him of inflicting ... Fiery and controversial Enugu cleric, the Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has come out hard on President Muhammadu Buhari accusing him of inflicting pains, suffering, and massive deaths on Nigerians.Fr. Mbaka, in his latest messages released to his congregation, the Roman Catholic priest maintained that with the way things were going, Buhari would be rejected by Nigerians in 2019.He slammed the President for occupying himself with trivial issues like the emergency of Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as the Senate President and the Deputy respectively, while the country was on fire.The message reads in part: The issue is that Mbaka is speaking as the Spirit leads him; there is hunger everywhere; my job is to tell leaders the truth, the landlords are crying, the tenants are lamenting, sellers are crying, buyers are lamenting; there is hunger on the streets (onye obuna na ajazi eze) people are talking harshly, there is a channel called Aljazera, (ndi an aja-eze), many students are being rusticated out of school because they cannot pay school fees; the fees are being hiked. Proprietors are distressed, many companies are winding up; the economy is relaxed, Nigeria is being attacked ferociously and you are the citizens as well as the members of the church.So, when you are being attacked, the church is being attacked, thats why I cant keep quiet when things are going wrong. I am telling the President to look around him and know those who are advising him rightly and those who are telling him that there is no trouble; the President should know that there is trouble; if things continue like this, in the next election, nobody will vote for him.Whether they like it or not, I am giving the raw truth; if the President should have somebody like me and he cannot be talking with me, then there is a problem; there is a problem somewhere; somebody who can advise you without asking for anything and he is representing the poor masses in the country and he wont tell you lies; he will praise you when you are doing well and when you are not doing well, he will look at you in the face and tell you.I dont need the President; I need God, I need the Holy Spirit, I need Jesus; there is suffering everywhere, people are suffering. To feed is now a problem, and a hungry man is an angry man. Hunger and anger will lead to danger.So, let him know whether he can do away with some advisers around him and bring in the people who are experts in economic revamp; there are people who are experts in that; let them begin to empower people, people are not empowered, they are still walking around in vicious circles, planning and planning and planning. Go to mortuaries, go to mortuaries, there are no spaces. I repeat, myself went to Annunciation Hospital the other time to see my brother, coming in, there was no space, the whole mortuary was filled up and they told me it is the same thing in the Eastern Medical Centre and that if I go to UNTH, there is no space, the death rate is high.People are living in hope and in hope; the adorers are hoping that things will be well; Im calming the situation, when you tell somebody same thing everyday, when will things be well, when the person is in the grave? Hunger everywhere, many neighbours dont eat again, many are being attacked by hunger, hunger is becoming a normal thing and there are people responsible for this; mortuary and ambulance business is now the thriving it; many cannot afford drugs; they cant pay and many are using it to rob the poor by opening satanic centres to dupe the poor and they will be giving people fake prophecies, many terrible things are happening in these centres in the name of churches; these are robbers; people will tell you lies to take money from you. These are robbers, these are hooligans who are at work in todays Nigeria, many are becoming hawkers, who will buy from you, with what? Even those selling palm oil are adulterating it, even rice, wahala, even tomatoes, because of the price, people put preservatives and sell poison to people, I dont know whether some people now embalm tomatoes, what is happening? Things are hard, even to change clothes, everyday more pipes are being blown, the Avengers are at work and up till now, there is no solution. You know when certain things begin to happen, you begin to ask some questions, somebody like me will begin to ask when will this end (nke a kabu ututu), this is still good morning of it.If it continues the next three months, there will be no money to pay salaries; the vicious effect is disastrous and when salaries cannot be paid, teachers will come home, students will stop going to school, there will be more kidnapping, more hooliganism, more armed robbery, more prostitution, immorality will be on the hike, so, the President should sit up, there is a red light blinking on the country, the issue of Saraki and Ekweremadu, nobody wants to listen to such stories any more, whether Saraki is the President of the Senate or Ekweremadu is not this or that, the countrymen are tired of such stories.We need economic experts, gurus, sages that are sincere, who can come in and think about our economic revamp and judicial reformation. How can a case be in court for more than 10 years? Even if you prosecute all the senators, the matter may linger till the next 20 years; so what purpose have you achieved? All these noise, EFCC arrested this and that, after one week, that one is over; people are dying of hunger; dollar is growing everyday and Naira is falling; Euro is rising everyday and Naira is collapsing everyday; pound is on the hike everyday, on a mega level and Naira is dwindling on a higher level, before you know it, people will begin to lose hope and it will affect their faith in God, because they will begin to lose faith and ask God where are you? That is where it affects me because it affects the faith of the people. The Bible says if the foundation is destroyed, what can the just do? The Bible says the just man shall live by faith, that is my simple logic, when shall this end?These Avengers phenomenon, I did something that if the leaders of today are wise, the problem could have been averted. By the gift of the Holy Spirit, His sagacity, I was proactive; that time they have not started bombing; I made a lot of effort; I wont tell you what I spent so that the President will not suffer what he is about to suffer. Like I told you, this is just the good morning of it, very soon, people who are quiet will begin to talk, when somebody like me will bring my cheque and all the money I have in my account will finish in school fees, hospital bills, is it were well with these peole will they be coming to me. I am receiving the pain and shock drastically.The quantum of charity we are doing in the ministry is telling the level of poverty that is in the atmosphere. To eat is now a problem, people no longer say give us these days our daily bread but give us this day our daily bread, man must eat to survive, people are not even talking about jobs any more, graduates are everywhere, those who are making now are those who are selling dollars. A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Prince Emma Anyanwu, has described as petty, the attacks by the All Pro... A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Prince Emma Anyanwu, has described as petty, the attacks by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state against recent borrowing by the Rivers State Government.Anyanwu who spoke in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said that the government had no choice but to borrow to execute ongoing projects in the state since it met an empty treasury on assumption of office on May 29 last year.According to him, the loans taken by the government were already being paid from internally generated revenue, IGR, adding that they were also being used to fund various projects in the state.The government inherited nothing from the past administration. So, the governor has to borrow to deliver his campaign promises since there is a drop in the allocation coming to the state. The former government awarded contracts everywhere and abandoned them.Go to Borokiri and see what the Nyesom Wike government has done. Nobody knew that roads in Borokiri could ever be constructed.But Wike has done the wonders. It is the same story on Rumuolumeni Road. People were trekking miles to their houses after parking their vehicles miles away from their houses because of the bad roads. But now, they all drive to their houses because Wike fixed the roads.He has done several roads since he came on board. You hear people say that Wike has done in one year what Amaechi could not do in eight years.He also commended Governor Wike for the street lights on several major roads in the state.On insecurity, Prince Anyanwu blamed opposition party for the problem of cultism in the state, stressing that the state government was already addressing the issue in partnership with security agencies. Watford midfielder Ben Watson has urged the clubs record signing Isaac Success to follow the path of compatriot Odion Ighalo, who has blossomed in the Premier League after putting in a decent shift.Watson said he believes if the former Nigeria U17 star could hit the ground running like Ighalo, Watford will be the better for it.Hes a young boy, said Ben Watson."Hes still got a lot to learn but hes only got to look at Ighalo who was in a similar situation, coming from Granada. He hit the ground running and scored tonnes of goals. If he can repeat that and be as good as 'Iggy' then weve got another fantastic player on our hands.Ighalo scored 37 goals in 63 games for Granada before he made the big jump to England. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo met notable economists on Tuesday to discuss how Nigeria can be on a quick path to economic recovery. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo met notable economists on Tuesday to discuss how Nigeria can be on a quick path to economic recovery.At the meeting, Osinbajo said the challenges bedeviling the Nigerian economy are many, but the opportunities that abound are much more.Economic experts who attended the four-hour long special meeting were Bismarck Rewane, Bode Augusto, Akpan Ekpo, Ayo Teriba and Badayi Sani.Udo Udoma, minister of budget and national planning, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said the meeting was for developing a new mid-term framework.Weve just finished a special meeting of the economic management team, as you know, we are in the middle of consultations to develop the new mid-term economic framework, M-TEF, he said.He further disclosed that the meeting is part of a comprehensive consultation process that we are embarking on to make sure that we reach out to a wide spectrum of Nigerians to get a feed back in terms of how best to make sure that we come out of this recession.Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, had initially declared Nigeria to be in a technical recession, after the economic contracted by 0.36 percent in the first quarter of the year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.In a statement by Laolu Akande, special assistant to the vice president on media and publicity, it was disclosed that President Muhammadu Buharis economic management team (EMT) held a consultative forum with a team of notable economic and financial experts.The meeting, presided over by the Osinbajo, deployed strategies and suggestions on how best to reflate the economy, bring it out of recession and promptly restore growth.Osinbajo expressed the presidents determination to continuously consider and adopt policies that would boost business, increase employment and provide succour to the poor and disadvantaged.We will continue to engage with experts and other stakeholders so we can measure progress of the economic policies that have been put in place, Osinbajo said.The challenges are many but the opportunities are much greater, we are clearly on the path to building an economy that will create jobs and ensure inclusive growth.According to Akande, the EMT meets weekly and also hold special consultations with members of the private sector and economic experts from time to time.He said issues discussed at the consultative forum include the review of the new foreign exchange regime and its effect on the economy as well as the draft Medium Term Economic Framework for 2017-2019.The EMT members and the experts made a plethora of suggestions on how to reflate the economy, especially through massive infrastructural spending with active private sector participation, ensure pro-people economic policies, increase the supply of dollars to the forex market among other issues. Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai on Tuesday said Nigerians must stop using religion and ethnicity to cause disunity and confus... Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai on Tuesday said Nigerians must stop using religion and ethnicity to cause disunity and confusion.Addressing Kaduna State Council of Chiefs and Emirs in Kaduna at their quarterly meeting, El-Rufai explained that the rationale behind the Religious Bill is central to security, peace and allowing everybody to practice his or her faith without any challenge.The Governor said his administration will continue to ensure peace and purposeful integration as a collective resolution.El-Rufai appealed to traditional rulers to preach peace among their subjects for development, adding that human life is sacred and government will do its best to protect lives and property.According to him, People are using religion and ethnicity to divide people to achieve political and several interests. We must work hard and ensure that forces of disunity and confusion fail, we must continue to stand up and nip in the bud all attempts to divide Nigerians along ethnic and religious lines. The human life is sacred and as a government we must do our best to protect lives and propertiesEl-Rufai added that, The rationale behind the Religious Bill is central to security, peace and allowing everybody to practice his or her faiths without any challenge. It has nothing to do with stopping anyone from his or faith but purely for security and peace of the state and nothing more than that I have said it and will continue to preach it, we have more to gain with peace and nothing to gain with violence.This is our collective resolution and we will continue to ensure peace and purposeful integration. I am here to commend you and to urge you to continue on that path.The proposed amendment of religious bill before the State House of Assembly has nothing with stopping anybody from practicing his or her religion, whether as a Christian or a Muslim. We are calling on the people to be on alert in order not to fail in their hands of people trying to divide the people along religion and ethnicity to cause problem.Those people trying to divide our people for their selfish interest should desist. If you are a Christian you must respect your fellow Muslim brother and if you are a Muslim you must respect your fellow Christian brothers too. Violent will not take us nowhere in the state. El-Rufai said.On his part, Deputy Chairman Kaduna State Council of Chiefs and Emir and Chief of Kagoro, Ufuwai Bonet said they would continue to sustain peace in their domains. We thank the governor for this meeting. We will continue to preach peace to our people. We assure you of our loyalty. The Federal Government yesterday said it needs about 1.3 million teachers in the next six years to close the teaching gap in the basic e... The Federal Government yesterday said it needs about 1.3 million teachers in the next six years to close the teaching gap in the basic education sector.Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, who stated this at the national flag-off of 2015 Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Abuja,added that there was a wide gap between the number of teachers required and the number available.The government is already working to recruit 500,000 teachers into the basic education sector across the country.The minister said the national teachers education policy has been revamped by the government in order to strengthen teacher development in the country.He said: The flag-off today demonstrates federal governments commitment towards the advancement of basic education. The foundation of which all other levels of education are laid. Only when this foundation is laid well will qualitative education is achieved at all other levels.That is why the National Teachers education policy has been revamped in order to strengthen teacher development in the country. As you know, teacher development through training and retraining is one of the pillars of this administrations action plan and also forms the basis for which our action plan in the ministry is built.In addition to governments concern for quality teachers, quantity is now also of the essence. There is a wide gap between the numbers of teachers required and the current number available in the basic education sector. The last statistics I read is, in Nigeria, we need about 1.3 million teachers in the next six years.That is why in addition to its existing intervention through the agency of the Universal Basic Education Commission, the Federal Government is working to recruit and inject 500,000 teachers into the basic education sector across the country.When completed, this will place more responsibility and high expectations on the states and local governments in terms of the roles they will play in providing more teachers, more teaching infrastructures and instruction materials.The minister stated that the inability of some states to promptly access grants from UBEC had become a concern to the government, adding that government was working on reducing grant requirements so that states could have access to UBEC grants directly.Adamu therefore appealed to state chairmen of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to access the grants for rapid educational development.I will therefore appeal to all states governors to direct their state universal basic education board to access and promptly utilize these funds for our rapid educational development. Meanwhile we at the ministry we are doing our best to reduce or do away with the requirements for matching grants so that states can just apply to UBEC and get what is their share, he said.Earlier, Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, urged the government to extend the programme to all the states in the country.He said: We have often talked so much about education year in and year out but we have not talked very less about teachers and there cannot be an education without a teacher. So I think we are doing the right thing now.You cannot have a president if you do not have a teacher. You cant even have a governor if you do not have a teacher. I am here standing today as a governor because someone taught me and If I did not have the opportunity of having someone to teach me, probably I will not be here today.Teacher remains the very pivot upon which all the educational activities must reflect. Without a qualified teacher, those entire infrastructures, no matter how beautiful they are will amount to nothing.In his address, former Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dikko Suleiman, said the federal governments drive towards improving basic education in the country had resulted in the building and equipping of additional schools as well as provision of institutional materials.Suleiman added that N120 million has been released to each state for the 2015 TPD.He said: As you are aware, governments continuous drive towards improving basic education delivery in the country has resulted in the building and equipping of additional schools and classrooms as well as the provision of institutional materials.While these are necessary conditions for conducive learning environments in our schools, they are certainly not sufficient to achieve the desired learning outcomes with qualified and competent teachers who are the most important factor in improving pupils and students performance.Hence governments allocation of 10 % of the 2% Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) for Teacher Professional Development which guarantees annual fund support to states for capacity building of teachers and education managers across the country. Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari was to brief him (Buhari) on his recent i... Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari was to brief him (Buhari) on his recent international appointment and future engagements.Jonathan refused to answer a question on the ongoing anti-corruption war of the present administration which has led to the investigation and prosecution of many of his aides.During an interview with State House correspondents after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Jonathan said it would not be appropriate for him to speak on the matter because many of the cases were pending in court.The meeting lasted less than 20 minutes.On the renewed violence in the Niger Delta, Jonathan said it was appropriate for him and traditional rulers in the area to mediate in the matter. 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. Fallout from a failed coup attempt in Turkey has, as expected, come quickly. But the immediate knee-jerk reaction and efforts to purge perceived supporters of those who attempted to overthrow the government is taking a harsh, unnecessary toll on media. Within the last week, the Associated Press reports that at least 89 journalists are among the more than 16,000 people who have been arrested. At least 125 media outlets newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, magazines and publishing companies have been ordered to close by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At a time where the residents of Turkey need news and information most, the government has silenced scores of media outlets by forcing them to close. Undoubtedly, such efforts are also creating a chilling effect on other journalists and preventing them from reporting accurate information about the aftermath of this serious situation. Yet, the nations representative on the Committee to Protect Journalists said cabinet members now have authorization to shut down any other media if they deem it to be a threat to national security. Concerns are rampant that Kurdish media, representing a critical ally in fighting terror in the Middle East, may be next. Organizations from across the world, ranging from the European Union which Turkey is seeking to join to Amnesty International have condemned the Erdogan governments actions. Sentiments from worrying to denying human rights have been used describe the sudden, swift blackout of differing views in Turkish media. The situation came to a point where local medias fear of being arrested is leading to an increasing muzzlement of the press, thus infringing fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression and the publics right to know, the International Federation of Journalists said. These kinds of authoritarian crackdowns are common when a leader doesnt like the publicity he or she is receiving. Just look at this years presidential campaign in the United States the media is a common target when the reporting of facts is unfavorable to a candidate, regardless of political ideology. With or without journalists, the truth always seems to find its way to the surface, no matter how much those with so much to lose try to silence it. Yes, imprisoning the messengers and closing their outlets is undoubtedly always the wrong approach to take for journalists, who are simply doing their jobs. Its also an affront to the citizens of Turkey, who deserve the ability to enjoy freedom of the press and news media of all affiliations to inform them particularly at such a critical juncture in their nations history. A semi driver involved in a fatal crash on Interstate 80 was formally charged Tuesday with five counts of felony motor vehicle homicide and one count of misdemeanor reckless driving. Tony A. Weekly, 53, of Baker, Florida, appeared in Keith County Court. Weekly's bail was set at 10 percent of $1 million. Six people now have died as a result of the multiple-vehicle crash in Keith County on Sunday. A Minnesota couple and their three children died Sunday, and a sixth man was declared dead on Monday afternoon. The Jefferson County Colorado Coroners Office notified the Nebraska State Patrol that Terry Sullivan, 56, of Denver was declared dead Monday at 1:02 p.m. MDT. He remains on life support to facilitate donation of organs, the patrol said. Weekly was "inattentive and distracted by outside influences" when he rammed into a minivan ahead of him "at a high rate of speed," Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Darrell Crawford of Ogallala said in an arrest affidavit filed Monday in Keith County Court. Witnesses said Weekly's truck "did not slow down until hitting the first vehicle," Crawford said. The Minnesota couple killed in the crash had completed 14 days of missionary training and were heading into five more weeks of classes. Jamison and Kathryne Pals, both 29, and their children, Ezra, 3, Violet, almost 2, and 2-month-old Calvin were killed on Interstate 80 west of Brule when their westbound minivan was struck from behind by a semitrailer truck. The force of the collision pushed the two vehicles into three other westbound vehicles. The semi and van both became engulfed in flames. Weekly was driving for Bohren Logistics Inc. of Garrett, Indiana. A statement from the company said, "Those of us at Bohren Logistics are heartbroken by this tragic accident. We extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the relatives and friends of the Pals family for this devastating loss. We also wish the best and a speedy recovery for those injured in the accident. Bohren Logistics is committed to cooperating with law enforcement authorities investigating this accident." The Palses intended to serve as long-term missionaries in Nagoya, Japan. They were headed to Palmer Lake, Colorado, for a five-week session on learning a language and assimilating into another culture, said Dennis Vogan, an official with the ministry organization WorldVenture. After moving to Japan and becoming fluent in Japanese, they would work full-time with 13 other missionaries, he said. "The Palses fit perfectly within our organization," said Vogan, vice president of personnel development with WorldVenture. The missionaries in Japan "were thrilled and looking so forward to their coming," he said. "It's not just been devastating here, it's been devastating in Japan." The Palses previously completed a 10-day program on WorldVenture's operation and another four-day training session about how to raise financial support, Vogan said. The Palses had raised enough money to fund their mission work, which was to start in October, Vogan said. Rick Pals, Jamison's father, said Tuesday that funeral services will be held at Jamison and Kathryne's church Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. Arrangements have not yet been finalized. He said the families of Jamison and Kathryne "have been very touched" by the "outpouring of sincere support" they have received. "We've heard from people from all over the country and all around the world," he said. "The president of Christ Bible Institute in (Nagoya) Japan is trying to make arrangements to be here for the funeral." Eventually, Rick Pals said, a foundation will be established to continue the missionary work that Jamison and Kathryne envisioned for themselves. For now, people can donate to www.gofundme.com/joyofjapan. As of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, $12,650 had been raised toward the $15,000 goal. "The generosity has been wonderful," Rick Pals said. "Those donations and prayer are really what people can do to help us right now." Bethlehem Baptist Church posted a statement on its website addressing the deaths of the family. "We weep and mourn and ache together as their church family in a very specific way," the statement reads. "Some look at death and see a tragedy the tragic end of all their hopes and dreams. As Christians, we look death in the face and see ultimate victory, not tragedy, because Jesus defeated sin and death for all of his people. Facing death without Jesus is an eternal tragedy weeping that never ends. "And so, while we grieve, we rise up with resurrection faith as we embrace together our blessed hope that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. And so, we celebrate the fact that the Pals family is not dead, but more alive than ever because of the grace of God that is ours in Jesus Christ." Jamison Pals worked for just over three years as a grant writer for Feed My Starving Children. The Christian nonprofit out of Eagan, Minnesota, sends meals specially formulated for malnourished children to orphanages, schools, clinics and feeding programs around the world. Andy Carr, the group's vice president of marketing and development, said Jamison and Kathryne Pals were "amazing people" and good friends. "They were the most humble and selfless people that you could ever meet," Carr said. "In today's world where it's so much about me, me, me, it was never about them. It was always about others." Carr estimated that Jamison was responsible for writing grants that brought in "well over $1 million" to the organization. But his work didn't stop there. "We work with many small organizations that can't afford to have grant writers and whenever they had questions about how to proceed, we'd point them to Jamison," Carr said. "He would gladly assist them, and his impact went far beyond Feed My Starving Children." This report includes material from the World-Herald News Service. Sharks five-eighth James Maloney will fight his dangerous contact charge at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night. Maloney faces a possible three-match ban after being charged with grade two dangerous contact over a tackle on Titans centre Konrad Hurrell on Monday night. Maloney's hearing will take place at 6pm at Rugby League Central. Draw Widget - Round 22 - Sharks vs Raiders NRL.com's Lone Scout looks at the teams for Round 22 as trades begin to dry up and the NRL Fantasy finals begin across many private leagues. Make your NRL Fantasy trades now Draw Widget - Round 22 - Dragons vs Broncos Dragons: Tyrone McCarthy replaces Will Matthews on the bench this week, while Tyson Frizell has copped a one-match suspension after being named in the line-up on Tuesday afternoon. The absence of Frizell makes Jack de Belin an even more important player in the back row and after last week's 72 he looms as a captaincy option this week. Broncos: Matt Gillett, Josh McGuire and Sam Thaiday are back, with Herman Ese'ese and Joe Ofahengaue dropping out and Jaydn Su'A named 18th man. Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt are being traded out of a lot of teams this week still, Hunt remains the sixth best half in Fantasy this year though so unless you're cashing him out or upgrading him to Shaun Johnson, I'd hold onto him. Draw Widget - Round 22 - Eels vs Sea Eagles Eels: Michael Jennings, Beau Scott and Manu Ma'u return, with John Folau and Rory O'Brien bumped out of the 17 and David Gower the 18th man. Clint Gutherson is scoring well since switching to five-eighth, managing some decent attacking stats in the past couples of weeks. Michael Gordon is a sell. Sea Eagles: Matt Parcell and Nate Myles return, but both are on an extended bench. Jamie Buhrer has emerged as a late season point-of-difference buy with a string of quality scores in his past five games. Daly Cherry-Evans made three try assists on the weekend but still only managed 36 points his scores have been a bit of a worry but at least he's still in good form. Draw Widget - Round 22 - Knights vs Bulldogs Knights: Jarrod Mullen returns, along with Pat Mata'utia and Sam Mataora, with David Bhana dropping back to 18th man and Jack Cogger and Josh King out of the side. Avoid Knights players in your Fantasy team at this time of year. Bulldogs: Tony Williams returns in place of the injured Greg Eastwood (hamstring). Aiden Tolman's run of 80-minute games is behind him but he still managed 56 last week, while James Graham has been the most consistent scorer in Fantasy this season. Draw Widget - Round 22 - Sharks vs Raiders Sharks: No changes, although James Maloney faces a possible two- or three-match suspension. Cronulla's Fantasy "big three" Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen and Ben Barba were all big scorers last weekend and Fifita looms as a strong captaincy option. Raiders: Brenko Lee replaces his cousin Edrick on the wing. Centres Jarrod Croker and Joey Leilua are both in fine form Croker's scoring a little better recently, while Leilua is about $80,000 cheaper while Jordan Rapana has been among the elite winger/fullbacks this season. Elliott Whitehead remains a keeper but his owners noted he did "only" score 57 after scoring two tries on the weekend. Draw Widget - Round 22 - Storm vs Rabbitohs Storm: Tim Glasby moves into the starting side with Christian Welch benched in Melbourne's only change. Tohu Harris continues to be a consistent high-50s scorer, while Cameron Smith had a quiet game last week (still scoring 50) and could potentially get some time on the bench if the Storm are routing the Rabbitohs in the second half this weekend. Rabbitohs: Greg Inglis, Hymel Hunt, Joe Burgess and Tom Burgess return to a Rabbitohs side that probably needed a few changes after last week's flogging at the hands of the Raiders, with Inglis starting at five-eighth in place of the injured Luke Keary (hamstring). Cameron McInnes drops out of the side with Damien Cook starting at hooker. Despite Souths' on-field woes Sam Burgess continues to get through a lot of work and remains a Fantasy keeper. Draw Widget - Round 22 - Titans vs Warriors Titans: Nathan Peats returns at hooker with Ryan Simpkins named 18th man, while there are rumours a new recruit some ex-NFL player called Jarryd Hayne could sign on with the club and line up for them as soon as this weekend. If that's confirmed he'll become available in Fantasy today. UPDATE: Jarryd Hayne is now available in NRL Fantasy as a WFB worth $380,000. Warriors: Bunty Afoa and Nathaniel Roache have been added to the Warriors' bench this week, with Jazz Tevaga and Blake Ayshford set to miss the cut. Bodene Thompson returned from injury last week but only managed 40 points in 89 minutes. Simon Mannering is a rock solid captaincy option after scoring two 70s in the past three weeks. Draw Widget - Round 22 - Wests Tigers vs Cowboys Wests Tigers: Luke Brooks is out for a month or so with a knee injury, with Jack Littlejohn replacing him at halfback. James Tedesco is probably due another breakout score. Cowboys: No changes, with Johnathan Thurston still on the sidelines. Ethan Lowe is in good form, kicking goals in Thurston's absence, but beware his season average is still less than 50. Draw Widget - Round 22 - Panthers vs Roosters Panthers: Unchanged. Josh Mansour's recent form is staggering but keep in mind he's still a winger, so while he's managed scores of 98 and 99 he did score a 30 in between those efforts. He's a buy, but don't be disappointed if he has the occasional quiet game. Trent Merrin's a captaincy option this week, while Nathan Cleary is arguably the second-best half in Fantasy this year behind Shaun Johnson. Roosters: Unchanged. Jake Friend's re-established himself as the best Fantasy hooker not named Cameron Smith while Boyd Cordner and Mitchell Pearce are both point-of-difference options. Latrell Mitchell is on track to be the most-sold player this week. Get Fantasy news updates from the Lone Scout on Facebook or Twitter and read more Fantasy hints and tips here. Play NRL Fantasy now The National Wildlife Federation brings nature to life in the pages of our publications, inspiring people of all ages and reading levels to develop a deeper relationship with our natural world. To learn more about receiving magazines from the National Wildlife Federation, please visit our subscription page. For information about rights and permissions, visit our Permissions page or contact permissions@nwf.org. The BP Whiting Refinery discharged about five times more total suspended solids of industrial waste into Lake Michigan than allowed after an operational issue Friday. The refinery has been dealing with an upset at its wastewater treatment plant since Friday. BP notified the Indiana Department of Environmental Management that it discharged 8,932 pounds of total suspended solids on Monday; it is allowed to discharge only 5,694 pounds per day. BP did another test on Tuesday, and discovered total suspended solids rose to 26,621 pounds, or about five times the limit. Total suspended solids are particles of industrial waste in the water that can be trapped in a filter. BPs wastewater treatment plant is supposed to filter out industrial byproducts before water used in oil refining operations is discharged back into Lake Michigan. The BP Whiting Refinery is responding to an upset at the refinerys wastewater treatment facility, spokesman Michael Abendhoff said. BP has notified the Indiana Department of Environmental Management that this upset has resulted in exceedances of BPs daily permit limit for total suspended solids. This is a wastewater issue; there has been no leak or discharge of any hydrocarbons into Lake Michigan. Abendhoff said the company is working to return the refinery to normal operations as soon as possible. IDEM spokeswoman Courtney Arango said BP, which had been trying to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant so it would filter out more industrial waste, agreed to monitor the situation daily. The state agency sent its regional deputy director to investigate after learning of the sudden, overnight spike in discharged total suspended solids. Arango said the discharge does not affect drinking water, people or marine life. It also should not be a cause for concern for any beach-goers visiting the neighboring Whihala Beach County Park. All Hammond and Whiting beaches are sampled seven days a week, she said. As of today, those beaches are open, and IDEM has received no reports of abnormalities both in visual appearance and water quality. IDEM sent two inspectors to BP after getting notified about the discharge, and the regional director ramped up the investigation Wednesday afternoon by dispatching the regional deputy director to find out whats going on and what BPs game plan is for fixing it, Arango said. IDEM maintains regular communication with BP and is working with the organization to bring them back into compliance, Arango said. However, IDEM also maintains enforcement authority if compliance is not achieved in the near-term. The BP Whiting Refinerys discharge permits, which also allow BP to discharge 1,036 pounds of ammonia per day into the lake, have been a controversial issue. Chicago politicians have objected that Indiana lets the refinery discharge so many industrial byproducts into the main source of drinking water in greater Chicagoland. BP sent a containment boom boat out into Lake Michigan Friday and Saturday, but it was not apparent if it actually deployed any boom, which is used to stop spills. Upsets at the BP Whiting Refinery often cause gas prices to rise since it is the largest refinery in the Midwest. But GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Greg Laskoski said it was too soon to say whether the ongoing issue would have any impact on gas prices, which averaged about $2.05 in the Gary metro this week. The recent report from the Department of Energy could offset some of that risk, he said. Midwest refinery output was 97.7 percent, which is a very good sign for consumers. To check on beach water quality, visit www.in.gov/idem/beaches/2345.htm. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy With burger joints and chain restaurants, it can be difficult to see the great international flavors the Region offers. If your taste buds are craving something more than the American norm, give some of these Region favorites a try. 5 Star Thai Thai cuisine Address: 5124 Pine Island Drive, Crown Point Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 4:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday Signature dishes: Pad Thai, panang curry Why you should give them a try: Our food is Thai food, which is unique around this area. Theres not much Thai food like there is pizza or burgers. Thats why people come and try us and come back, said Tana Arkawat, owner of 5 Star Thai. Aladdin Pita Middle Eastern cuisine Address: 3750 W. 80th Lane, Merrillville Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily Signature dishes: Chicken and beef shawarmas, falafel, kabobs Why you should give them a try: We make our food fresh every day, and were a family owned business. We have great reviews online and great customer service. Its good to give different foods a try at least once, said Wefam Mohammad, manager at Aladdin Pita. Umi Sushi Sushi Address: 109 W. Joliet St., Crown Point Hours: Noon-10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; noon-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; none-8 p.m. Sunday Signature dishes: Boats, rock lobster roll, saki sangria Why you should give them a try: We are a high-end sushi lounge in Crown Point, and we have fish flown in three to four times a week from the Atlantic. We serve a variety of Japanese sakis, wines and cocktails. All cocktails have Asian twist which is unique for this area, said Sam, Umi Sushi server and bartender Roxanas Restaurant: Mediterranean and American foods Address: 234 W. 81st Ave., Merrillville Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily Signature dishes: Kabobs, brown rice with almonds and carrots Why you should give them a try: Its healthy, its unique, its different. Our meat has no antibiotics, the burgers are grinded in house, all the meat is cut in house. The list goes on and on, said Jay Tarakey, owner of Roxanas. Lucrezia Italian Ristorante Italian classics Address: 302 S. Main St., Crown Point Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday through Sunday Signature dishes: Roasted lamb shank with braised red cabbage and roasted potatoes, lasagna Why you should give them a try: We have a wide variety of northern Italian food and features every day. Our chef, Patrick, won Chef of the Year, and he adds a southern flair. Weve got something for everyone, said Bob Miller, manager at Lucrezia Crown Point. Tapas Cafe Spanish cuisine Address: 2486 Lincoln Highway, Merrillville Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday Signature dishes: Paella Why you should give them a try: Its different. Its a place for sharing family-style meal. We serve small plates to eat with friends. Its a family environment with a casually classy atmosphere, said Ulises Gomez, chef/owner of Tapas Cafe. Tandoor Cuisine of India Indian buffet, cuisine Address: 1535 U.S. 41, Schererville Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. buffet, 5-10 p.m. daily Signature dishes: Chicken Tikka Masala, Tandoori chicken, Mango lassi, Indian beers and high-quality wines Why you should give them a try: It's authentic Indian cuisine. This restaurant has been open for the past 23 years. A lot of people come here from Chicago, passing up other restaurants to try our food out. Our foods are very flavorful. Excellent service, said Paul Blazewicz, Tandoor customer service. Meditrina Market Cafe Mediterranean cuisine Address: 24 Washington St., Valparaiso Website: meditrina-market-cafe.com Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday Signature dishes: Fresh fish, lamb dishes, organic salmon, homemade gyro Why you should give them a try: We have Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food thats hard to find anywhere else and youre getting an intimate experience affordably. We get fresh seafood in daily, said Sarah Geary, owner of Meditrina. INDIANAPOLIS A coalition of state business leaders is rejecting the anti-immigrant rhetoric of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump by working to remind Hoosiers that immigrants significantly contribute to Indiana companies and communities. Representatives of Indianas farming, restaurant, lodging and construction industries, along with groups promoting business and entrepreneurship generally, issued a 40-page report Wednesday, in conjunction with the Partnership for a New American Economy, detailing how immigration affects Indiana. According to the report, there are 322,272 legal Indiana residents, comprising 5 percent of the states population, who were born in another country, including 22,157 who came to Indiana between 2010 and 2014. Nearly 40 percent now are U.S. citizens. In 2014, those immigrants collectively earned $8.1 billion and paid $702 million in state and local taxes, with immigrants making up 25 percent of Indianas software industry, 23 percent of college teachers and 18 percent of the states doctors. The estimated 106,590 undocumented immigrants living in Indiana earned an additional $1.3 billion and paid $64.8 million in state and local taxes. Approximately 67,000 Hoosiers are employed by immigrant-owned businesses, which generated $243.9 million in business income in 2014, the report said. Patrick Tamm, president of the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association, said hes proud of the contributions thousands of immigrant employees working at Hoosier restaurants and hotels have made to the states culture and tastebuds. Lets get back to what makes America America, Tamm said. The United States has, and will be, the destination for the worlds hardest-working, entrepreneurial and talented immigrants, and we want to make sure that continues. To that end, the coalitions Reason for Reform campaign is seeking to ease restrictions in federal immigration law to ensure Indiana and America have the workforce needed to continue growing the state and national economies. Lets get back to what makes America America. The United States has, and will be, the destination for the worlds hardest-working, entrepreneurial and talented immigrants, and we want to make sure that continues. Patrick Tamm, president of the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association HAMMOND As the nation continues to mourn recent fatal attacks on police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, this years National Night Out held deeper meaning for Cecilia Hamer. On a daily basis, these men and women are leaving their homes to do the job that no one else wants to do, said Hamer, wife of a Hammond police officer. Every time (my husband) walks out the door, I hope he comes home. I worry more now than I have in the past because of whats been going on. Hamer was among the 150 or so who attended the citys National Night Out, held Tuesday at Wolf Lakes Aquatic Play Center. Across the country and throughout Northwest Indiana, local police departments mingled with residents in block party-like atmospheres. The mission of National Night Out, now in its 32nd year, is to better relationships and prevent crime. At Hammonds Night Out with his family, police Officer Jay Woods said he left his work uniform at home and instead opted to wear a blue T-shirt so he appeared more approachable. This is a way to humanize us and let people know we have families we want to come home to each night, Woods said. Were human too. Ann Herbert, vice president with one of the citys Neighborhood Crime Watch groups, passed out blue ribbons to families, asking they display them outside their homes to show support for brothers and sisters in blue. In nearby Munster, patrolman Don Lindmelder gave children tours of a Munster police vehicle during the towns own National Night Out. Its nice to be able to get in touch with the community, the people you protect on a daily basis, Lindmelder said. In Valparaiso, those in blue kicked off the annual National Night Out by visiting residents in nearly a dozen different neighborhoods through the city. During each 20-minute stop, Valparaiso officers chatted with residents about the department and their concerns. In Portage, police officials invited residents to stop by Founders Square Park, where residents spoke with officers and had the chance to see equipment used by various specialties within the department. Times Reporter Joyce Russell contributed to this report. ST. JOHN A replica of the 1818 Indiana state flag with the star representing its statehood will be raised at noon on Friday on the pole in front of the town hall, 10955 W. 93rd Ave. The public is invited to attend the ceremony. A member of the Boy Scout Troop 561 will raise the flag, and Clerk-Treasurer Beth Hernandez will make some brief remarks. Afterward, cookies and lemonade will be served. The ceremony is part of the states bicentennial celebration. Friday is the 200th anniversary of the first free election held in the state under the original constitution, which was required before statehood could occur. The flag will be flown until Dec. 11, the anniversary of the day President James Madison signed the law officially making Indiana a state. The flag will then be framed and permanently displayed in the town hall. LAPORTE If you're missing the Fourth of July because of its bright splendor of fireworks, you're in luck. The Pyrotechnics Guild International is hosting its convention Saturday through Aug. 12 at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds. Four years ago, the event drew thousands of spectators. PGI, founded in 1969, has more than 3,500 amateur and professional members worldwide. They make fireworks during their annual conventions, share trade secrets and show off creations which are much louder and more spectacular than a traditional municipal display. Jeff Mitzner, LaPorte County Fair board member, said he believes the more than $3 million economic impact generated by the first convention here will be exceeded. "Because now everybody knows what it is and what to expect," Mitzner said. The shows cost $60 for a carload for Sunday and Aug. 12 and $50 a carload for Tuesday and Wednesday. The cost is $15 for each individual who parks off site and walks through the gates. Shows start at dusk. Mitzner said spectators are encouraged to bring their own blankets and chairs because a limited number of bleachers will be provided. The grand finale show four years ago drew an estimated 15,000 people. "The fireworks go off to the beat of the music. It's just an unbelievable amount of fireworks," said Mitzner. A stretch of Ind. 2 will be closed from Thursday until Aug. 15 from U.S. 421 to Ind. 39 to allow PGI members to haul explosives across the highway to the public display area and for spectators after parking at the fairgrounds to make their way to where the fireworks will be detonated. During the road closure, the highway will be open for local traffic but nobody coming in from the west will be allowed past County Road 500 West and those coming in from the east will be stopped at Zigler Road, said Doug Moats, a spokesman with the Indiana Department of Transportation. Many people living near the shooting area are not looking forward to the disruption and even minor property damage they experienced from the previous convention. "It was noisy and I think it went on until almost midnight, said Claudia Williams, of the 1300 block of South Red Bud Trail. Williams said she understands the economic benefits of hosting the convention, but wishes the shows would end at 10 p.m. to avoid disrupting sleep. Perry Stump, of the 200 block of Orchard Avenue, said one of his basement windows was "blown out" from one of the powerful blasts the last time, but PGI paid for the repairs. He's not as concerned this time because the shooting area this year has been moved several hundred yards from his residence. LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd said the fireworks operate under a permit issued by the state will be going off for three to four hours during each public show. Hying toured the main campus in early June and learned about the story of Jeff Q., one of Opportunity Enterprises clients who works in Secure Shred and lives at Lakeside. Hying expressed an interest in seeing the campus and Jeffs apartment. Jeff asked the Bishop to bless his apartment while he visited. VALPARAISO A contingent led by Stewart McMillan, president and CEO of Task Force Tips, that included local legislators and fire officials recently toured the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Academy in Glenview with hopes of creating a similar facility in Valparaiso. NIPSTA is a 21-acre multidisciplinary facility created in 2001 at the site of the former Glenview Naval Air Station used to train local first responders. Through his MAAC Foundation, McMillan plans to open a 4-acre version of the academy near his business in the Montdale Industrial Park on the citys east side. Although it will consist of just a firefighter training academy, with plans to serve 80 departments and 2,000 firefighters, McMillan wants to eventually add to the campus a law enforcement and EMS component much like the one at NIPSTA. McMillans tour group included state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, and state Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, who could help seek funding for the necessary multiple and expensive training props such as railway cars and equipment. Also on the tour were Crown Point Fire and District 1 Training Coordinator Michael Parks, Michigan City Fire Marshal Kyle Kazmierczac, Washington Township Assistant Fire Chief Dwayne Tate and Valparaiso Fire Chief Chad Dutz, who called the visit to NIPSTA an eye-opening experience. It gave me a better understanding of the educational opportunities that are available to fire departments, Dutz said. What was even more impactful was the possibility of different public safety agencies coming together to train side by side. The tour took the Region group to various props spread out on the grounds including burn towers, railway cars, a center for disease and emergency medicine and a confined space area that mimics Cook Countys sewer system. They also saw firefighters do live training in a 32,000-square-foot military aircraft hangar that now accommodates a wide range of scenario-based training exercises. One of the instructors at the academy called the site a Disneyland for firefighters. One highlight on the tour was watching firefighters from East Dundee, Illinois, perform extraction training at a makeshift multiple vehicle crash site. We train until we cant get it wrong, said Dan Shilney, NIPSTA safety officer. And the only way to do that is (to) set up real live situations like this. You have to have a facility to do this. You cant get in neighborhoods to do it. Shilney said the academy also allows multiple fire departments to train at the same time, departments that may show up on call together. When they get to a big incident, they start to fall in, he said. They learned the exact same thing as the department five miles away or maybe 20 miles away. All have the same training. McMillans foundation is currently drawing up plans for the Valparaiso-based academy, which would be located in the same area as Task Force Tips and AMKUS Rescue Systems, which moved its production to Montdale in June after being purchased by Task Force Tips. Charbonneau, while saying funding is certainly going to be an issue, said he is excited about the project. Were blessed to have someone like Stewart McMillan leading the charge, he said. Soliday said theyre looking at a number of opportunities to help with some funding. Its an excellent project, he said. Ed (Charbonneau) and I have a lot of people come in and say they have an idea, but Stewart puts the resources behind his ideas. I look forward to seeing what it could be. VALPARAISO In efforts to foster relationships between police departments and communities, those in blue kicked off National Night Out by visiting residents in nearly a dozen different neighborhoods through the city. During each 20-minute stop, Valparaiso officers chatted with residents about the department and their concerns. In Portage, police officials invited residents to stop by Founders Square Park, where residents spoke with officers and had the chance to see equipment used by various specialties within the department. At National Night Out events throughout the Region on Tuesday night, families enjoyed face painting, fun and games, tours of police cars and SWAT vehicles and K-9 demonstrations. The mission of National Night Out, now in its 32nd year, is to better relationships and prevent crime. It allows police departments to mingle with residents in block party-like atmospheres. As the nation continues to mourn the recent fatal attacks on police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, this years National Night Out in Hammond held deeper meaning for Cecilia Hamer. On a daily basis, these men and women are leaving their homes to do the job that no one else wants to do, said Hamer, wife of a Hammond police officer. Every time (my husband) walks out the door, I hope he comes home. I worry more now than I have in the past because of whats been going on. Hamer was among the 150 or so who attended Hammonds National Night Out at Wolf Lakes Aquatic Play Center. There with his family, Hammond police Officer Jay Woods said he left his work uniform at home and instead opted to wear a blue T-shirt. This is a way to humanize us and let people know we have families we want to come home to each night, Woods said. Were human too. Ann Herbert, vice president with one of the citys Neighborhood Crime Watch groups, passed out blue ribbons to families, asking they display them outside their homes to show support for brothers and sisters in blue. The Munster Police Departments event took place at the Community Pool, where city patrolman Don Lindmelder gave children tours of a Munster police vehicle. Its nice to be able to get in touch with the community, the people you protect on a daily basis, Lindmelder said. Times Reporter Joyce Russell contributed to this report. Youve heard about the Republican establishments distaste for GOP nominee Donald Trump. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller gave a reason for long-time Republicans to think twice about Trump. Trump has shown no concept of the proper role of states vs. the federal government, Zoeller told me during a recent visit to the Region. Zoeller also was critical of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who wants a larger role for federal government, but at least shes open about her philosophy. This is a big philosophical difference between Republicans and Democrats, a debate that dates back to the nations earliest days, when the Founders differed on whether the federal government should be strong or weak. Democrats have argued for a greater role for the federal government to address issues the states cant or wont touch. Republicans have long argued for a limited role for federal government. Reagan got Congress to cut taxes as a way to starve the beast, but his ramped-up spending on the military drove up the deficit. However, Reagan never argued against states raising taxes. He was a fan of block-grant programs allowing states to make their own decisions. Let them experiment and sink or swim on their own. That was Reagans philosophy. If a particular state program didnt work, then let the state try something else. When Mitch Daniels was governor of Indiana, we saw this with the privatization of welfare administration. It didnt work, so the state sued to end the contract with IBM early. Thats a traditional Republican view on the role of federal vs. state government. Weve heard a lot from Trump about how he will do this or do that meaning how the federal government will undertake those actions but we havent heard his views on the role of the federal government. Tweets are limited to 140 characters, which dont give much room for detailed explanations on a candidates philosophy. Zoeller has long been an advocate of states rights, something that resonates in Indianas Statehouse. Gov. Mike Pence expanded Medicare, but he did so under the states own terms, creating the Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 rather than under the easy terms of the federal Affordable Care Act that some governors chose. Pence also turned down the opportunity to pursue $80 million in federal money for early childhood education because he wanted the state to shape its own program, for which he now is open to receiving federal funding. Its all about states rights and limiting the role of the federal government. We know where Pence stands, but what about Trump? Zoeller has regularly sued the federal government to test what he sees as federal overreach and not just by President Barack Obama. He also took the feds to court over executive orders Zoeller thought infringed on states rights. Think about some of those high-profile lawsuits over the years: restrictions on the use of coal. same-sex marriage. Obamacare twice. Syrian refugees. Indiana law on immigration enforcement. auto industry bailout. Where is the appreciation for, and respect for, the role of states? Zoeller asked. Trumps career as a developer hasnt offered a great education on the role of the federal government, Zoeller said. I hope Trump listens to a strong federalist viewpoint from Gov. Pence, he said. Some rusty Amtrak rails in Astoria have a whole new look thanks to some mural artists. The not for profit group 501 See Streets has completed a new mural project in the neighborhood. Its a Greece inspired mural under the Amtrakl rails on 29th Street. The director and the artist wanted to pay tribute to the large Greek community in Astoria. The organization works with community groups, business improvement districts , police precincts and neighborhood associations to beautify neighborhoods through art. "The Hellenic Federation had often complained as well as some local residents about the conditions of the walls, so we wanted to do something that was symbolic of the neighborhood," says 501 See Streets Founder Noah Sheroff. " I felt very happy to draw the image and then implement a conversation about Greece," said artist Martha Licia. Elected leaders who represent the area funded the project. WEDNESDAY PUZZLE When we last saw Neville Fogarty, he was looking at what happens when you break apart a common word; today he is doing something similar without being repetitive, so kudos to him. The theme was so much fun, it brought a song to my lips. Perhaps it did for you, too. Todays Theme The word in can be used in a few different contexts, but what if we took it literally? What if we took some popular songs that contain the word in in the title and proceed to stuff the titles verb literally inside the noun? Dr. Fogarty (who just earned his Ph.D) does just that and it works beautifully, as long as by beautifully you mean that you dont mind writing total gibberish inside your grid. I loved it, and while the theme felt like a later-week one, it works well here and is balanced by nontheme clues that are on the easier side. Still puzzled? Here are the four songs unmangled: 17A: 1963 hit for Peter, Paul and Mary, literally: WIBLOWINND = Blowin in the Wind 31A: 2011 hit for Adele, literally: DEROLLINGEP = Rolling in the Deep 48A: 1984 hit for Bruce Springsteen, literally: DADANCINGRK = Dancing in the Dark 66A: 1952 hit for Gene Kelly, literally: RASINGININ = Singin in the Rain In nontheme news, theres a lot of good trivia for people of all ages in Dr. Fogartys grid, and I thought the two long Downs, LOS ANGELES and FOUND MONEY, were very cleverly clued. PARIS The rough-hewn sounds of clacking spoons, twanging banjos and humming fiddles might seem to be something of an anomaly in a city known more for Edith Piafs sensuous lullabies. But every month nearly 100 musicians and aficionados clamber aboard an old barge here for a nightlong conclave of Appalachian, old time and bluegrass music. The Sawmill Sessions, as the gatherings are known, celebrated their fifth anniversary in May with a festival that featured the trans-Atlantic bluegrass band the Peregrines, local acts like Pig in the Parlor and the Buci Bees, and a quartet from Normandy, the Muddy Hill Boys. Over two days, nonstop jamming on the roof and in the cozy bar of the barge, the Anako, was interspersed with performances, workshops, a bal dansant and a lecture on the roots of old time music as sunshine warmed a crowd armed with banjos, fiddles, mandolins, guitars and, yes, spoons singing about lazy bones, weary bones and an inability to buy my blues away. Koko The Gorilla Who Talks catches up with that language-savvy, kitten-cuddling primate as she turns 45. Beat Bugs sets childhood lessons to Beatles hits. And Hulu adds Youre the Worst and Homeland to its lineup. Whats on TV KOKO THE GORILLA WHO TALKS 8 p.m. on PBS. In 1971, a young gorilla named Koko captured the worlds attention with her ability to talk while being taught a modified version of American Sign Language by her caregiver, Penny Patterson, then a graduate student at Stanford. Nearly 45 years later, Koko understands more than 1,000 signs and about 2,000 English words. This documentary chronicles her life, including the famous image of her mourning the death of her pet kitten in 1984 (she has since found new friends), and examines Dr. Pattersons clash with academics who doubted the validity of her claims. CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL: COUNTRYS NIGHT TO ROCK 8 p.m. on ABC. Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Steven Tyler, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban perform in concert highlights from the Nashville festival held in June. SPILLOVER ZIKA, EBOLA & BEYOND 10 p.m. on PBS. Zika, Ebola, Nipah, chikungunya, dengue and West Nile: Each of these viruses can be transmitted from animals to humans. Why are they on the rise? How can the world prepare for the next outbreak? Scientists and those unlucky enough to have been infected discuss new frontiers in detection and prevention. Profit at HSBC Plummets The turmoil surrounding the vote by Britain to leave the European Union has left one of its banks reeling. HSBC said that its profit dropped 40 percent in the second quarter and announced that it would follow up the sale of its Brazilian business last month with a share buyback of $2.5 billion. The quarterly results which included a gain on the sale of its holdings in Visa Europe, charges related to the overhaul of its business and provisions for legal matters showed a profit of $2.61 billion, compared with $4.36 billion the year before. Douglas Flint, the banks chairman, said that the need to reposition HSBCs European businessafter there is a decision on whether banks will be able to continue serving clients in the European Union from London would add to the very heavy workload already in place to address the regulatory and technological changes that are reshaping our industry. With some subtle jockeying, Mr. Bratton set up Chief ONeill to succeed him. Both men served in the Transit Police three decades ago when it was a separate division devoted to the subway system, and Mr. Bratton appointed Chief ONeill to the top uniformed job two years ago. He made sure the chief had regular contact with the mayor; that he was the public face of a plan embraced by Mr. de Blasio to have officers more rooted in the neighborhoods they served; and that the chief held news conferences on big crimes that other police commissioners would have kept for themselves. In a recent interview with The New York Times about his intentions to leave soon, Mr. Bratton did not say precisely when that would happen but was unequivocal about Chief ONeills readiness. At the time Mr. Bratton gave that public endorsement, the mayor and his aides knew that he was on the verge of departing and were still considering two candidates to succeed him, Chief ONeill and the departments first deputy commissioner, Benjamin B. Tucker, according to officials in City Hall and the Police Department. The position of police commissioner is easily the most highly political unelected job in city government, all the more so because it is not supposed to look that way. There is no Republican way of cleaning the streets, no Democratic way of putting out a fire, Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia said in 1939. A 37-year-old man who was shot by a New York City police officer in Queens was arrested and charged on Tuesday with breaking into the home where he encountered the officer, the authorities said. The man, identified by the police as Felix Perez, was charged with burglary, criminal possession of stolen property and resisting arrest, the authorities said. Mr. Perez, who lives in Brooklyn, remained hospitalized on Tuesday evening, said the police, who initially reported his age as 38. On Monday afternoon, police officers responded to a burglary call at a home on 66th Street, near Hull Avenue, in the Maspeth neighborhood, the authorities said. A woman who lives in a first-floor apartment noticed an intruder while watching a live stream remotely from a security camera inside. An officer went inside the apartment and encountered Mr. Perez in the back bedroom, where the two got into a scuffle, officials said. The officer fired a single round, striking Mr. Perez in the groin area, the authorities said. Mr. Perez escaped, but the police caught up with him after he ran about a block. After years of struggling to curb brutality by guards at the Rikers Island jail complex, the New York City Correction Department on Tuesday heralded a substantial drop in the use of physical force on inmates resulting in serious injuries in the first half of the year. The department reported that in the first six months of 2016, there were 39 uses of force by correction officers resulting in serious inmate injuries, compared with 72 during the same period in 2015. Total inmate assaults on staff members dropped 20 percent, to 394 episodes from 494 during the first half of the year. Over all, the department said, episodes involving the use of force fell 2 percent, to 2,223 from 2,268, the first decrease since 2011. The signs of potential progress come more than a year after a federal monitoring team was appointed to oversee the citys jails under a settlement meant to end widespread violence and dysfunction at Rikers. In May, the monitors noted significant reforms at the jail complex, but also problems of deep concern, including officers continued use of physical force against inmates. Bryanne Hamill, a member of the Board of Correction, which monitors conditions at city jails, said the data released on Tuesday suggested that the recent reforms at Rikers were starting to shift a culture of violence there to a culture of respect and restraint. She also praised Joseph Ponte, the correction commissioner, for the reduced use of solitary confinement, or punitive segregation. That is, even though Trump has spent those two months careening from one outrage to another, even though hes completely undercut Ryans vision for the party, even though he basically keeps daring Ryan and other prominent Republicans to un-endorse him despite all of this, the G.O.P. still has a solid chance in key Senate battles, and its House majority looks reasonably secure. (It probably helped that the Democratic convention focused on separating Trump from wavering Republicans, rather than lashing him to the party like an anchor.) So when Trump issued his latest dare on Tuesday, announcing that he was not quite there yet when it came to endorsing Ryan in his upcoming primary, you could imagine the speaker gritting his teeth and telling himself that it might still all be worthwhile, that letting Trump consistently humiliate him is just the price that has to be paid to keep the G.O.P.s share of power in a divided Washington, D.C. One problem, though, is that it is still only early August. There is no reason to believe that Trumps conduct will get anything but crazier as the election actually approaches, especially if it appears that hes guaranteed to lose. Its very easy to imagine party unity cracking even more than it already has, Trumps numbers tracing a downward spiral and G.O.P. turnout spiraling downward with them. In which case Ryan would have endured his long humiliation for exactly nothing. The deeper problem is that Ryans reputation, his standing as a public figure, will not recover easily from whats transpiring in presidential politics right now. Yes, the people of his district will presumably return him to the House even without Trumps imprimatur, and his colleagues will probably return him to the speakership no matter who wins the White House. The American military this week began bombing Islamic State targets in Libya, opening another front in its war against the terrorist group. The campaign was launched to help Libyan fighters allied with the countrys fledgling, internationally recognized government rout the Islamic State from Surt, a coastal city that, since 2014, has served as a base for ISIS efforts to establish a franchise in Libya. Given the countrys fractured politics and the messy amalgam of militias born of the 2011 civil war, in which the United States played a key role, the Obama administration has long been hesitant to re-engage militarily. Still, American officials grew concerned as the Islamic State made quick inroads along Libyas coast, enforcing draconian social laws and carrying out brutal executions. In recent weeks, militias aligned with the government have made significant progress in taking back territory from ISIS. But they were incurring heavy casualties, which led Libyas prime minister, Fayez Serraj, to ask the United States to help with airstrikes. The United States had compelling reasons to act. A strong and enduring ISIS base in Libya could serve as a staging ground for attacks on Western nations. As attacks attributed to, or inspired by, ISIS around the world have increased, President Obama and other Western leaders have come under increasing pressure to put the group on the defensive. Beyond that, the Islamic States growing power in Libya makes the tasks of restoring order and building a functioning state far more difficult. The long-term effects of this latest escalation in the war against ISIS which the United States is also battling in Iraq, Syria and, to a limited extent, Afghanistan are uncertain. The United States demonstrated during its involvement in the 2011 civil war that led to the ouster of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi that American airstrikes can change battlefield fortunes. But Washington and other NATO members involved in that effort didnt have a comprehensive morning-after plan, which left Libya to devolve into a state of anarchy. Until April, the country had two rival governments and was run, for all practical purposes, by militia leaders. When the Labor Department ruled last week that 674 workers in the cafeteria of the United States Senate had been denied their full pay in recent years, the contractor that runs the cafeteria said it was an accident. The workers said it was deliberate. The Labor Department, which didnt rule on motive, has ordered the contractor, Restaurant Associates, and a subcontractor, Personnel Plus, to pay the workers over $1 million, about $1,500 per worker on average. But the story should not end there. The Senate cafeteria workers won attention and redress in large part because they alerted senators, whom they see daily, to their plight. Meanwhile, other food servers, maintenance workers and salespeople who work for contractors at Union Station, the Smithsonian and other federal sites in Washington continue to protest regularly over poverty-level pay and subpar conditions. The problems are not confined to the capital. Studies show that across the nation, hundreds of billions of dollars in federal money flow to federal contractors that pay poorly, leaving workers dependent on public aid. Meanwhile, executive pay at federal contractors has risen. A protest in the Indian state of Gujarats largest city, Ahmedabad, on Sunday by thousands of Dalits members of Indias lowest castes has brought to a head the contradiction between Prime Minister Narendra Modis promise of economic opportunity for all and a politics of division driven by right-wing Hindu ideology. The protest was called after four Dalits skinning a dead cow a scorned task relegated to the long-oppressed group were set upon by cow-protection vigilantes on July 11 near Una, Gujarat. The gang stripped the Dalits to the waist, chained them to a car, and beat them for hours while the police and others looked on. The cow, sacred to Hindus, has become a lightning rod for the Hindu right under Mr. Modis Bharatiya Janata Party government. Mr. Modi himself has exploited the cow slaughter issue at rallies. The B.J.P.s president, Amit Shah, has boasted, Wherever there is a B.J.P. government, there is a ban on beef. On Sunday, a B.J.P. member of Parliament, Raja Singh, declared, I extend my full support to all those who take it upon themselves to teach those few Dalits a valuable lesson. WASHINGTON The Obama administration wants to reduce the violence and suffering in Syria and, at the same time, quash jihadist groups there. This is why the White House is now pushing a plan for the United States to cooperate with the Russian military in Syria, sharing intelligence and coordinating airstrikes against the Islamic State and the Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front. In return, Russia would force the government of Syrias president, Bashar al-Assad, to stop using barrel bombs and air attacks in areas in which neither extremist group is present. Wiping out terrorist groups in Syria is an important goal and, after years of death and destruction, any agreement among the countrys warring parties or their patrons may seem welcome. But the Obama administrations plan, opposed by many within the C.I.A., the State Department and the Pentagon, is flawed. Not only would it cement the Assad governments siege of the opposition-held city Aleppo, it would push terrorist groups and refugees into neighboring Turkey. Instead, the United States must use this opportunity to take a harder line against Mr. Assad and his allies. Secretary of State John Kerry hopes that this understanding with Russia will help lead to progress on other issues, including restoring the cessation of hostilities, a partial truce that began in February and broke down in May, and returning to negotiations on a political transition. These are reasonable goals, which are also embodied in a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted last December. Police Commissioner William Bratton abruptly announced on Tuesday that he is stepping down next month, more than a year earlier than expected. He is leaving his boss, Mayor Bill de Blasio, in a tough spot. Choosing Mr. Bratton was one of the best decisions Mr. de Blasio made after his election as mayor, one borne out by ever-declining crime rates and the departments sharp turn away from abusive stop-and-frisk policing a necessary precursor to repairing frayed community ties. Mr. Bratton, now 68, was already an old-timer, a celebrated innovator who had successfully run the police departments in New York and Los Angeles, and seemingly had little left to prove, when Mr. de Blasio turned to him. He instantly strengthened Mr. de Blasios credibility on law and order, tried to shield him from the contempt of rank-and-file officers and oversaw a department that continues to operate though with troubling exceptions as a national model of professionalism and restraint. Mr. Bratton understood, in a way that his jut-jawed predecessor Raymond Kelly did not, that policing could be had to be both constitutional and effective. To see how Mr. Bratton responded to the Eric Garner killing, with sensitivity and tact, and to hear him speak at the funerals of slain police officers, was to be reminded of his deep understanding of the honorable and central role of police officers in a society not so much to fight crime but to prevent it, and always to keep the peace. Now Mr. de Blasio has to keep that going without Mr. Bratton, in an administration whose headaches and investigations are mounting, in a city where disorder and discontent are never fully vanquished. On the same day Mr. Bratton announced he was taking his leave, gushing praise for the mayor, members of the police union tailed Mr. de Blasio from Gracie Mansion to his gym in Brooklyn, in an aggressive stunt about pay raises. A knot of anti-police demonstrators, meanwhile, on the second day of a sit-in at City Hall, toasted Mr. Brattons departure (their No. 1 demand) while pressing for their next one: defunding the Police Department to pay for reparations to minority communities. Within these activist communities online, people often speak of being connected by love. This love is not romantic love between individuals but the collective bond that Dr. King called the beloved community. For his colleague and friend Grace Lee Boggs, the result was what she called visionary organizing. Such organizing thinks about how to make a life, not make a living. These exchanges are horizontal, requiring a good deal of time and energy to sustain. But they can make change. The negative alternative is simply following. Nine million people now follow @realdonaldtrump, and the primary emotion of his supporters is indeed outrage, channeled via the iconic figure of Trump, who even refers to himself in the third person. In the medieval period, an icon was not distinct from the form it depicted, it was equivalent to that person or thing. An icon today, a figure like Trumps persona, is without content of any kind, taking on the shape and form that the person who believes in it wishes it to be. Whereas the religious icon was given meaning by faith, todays avatar expresses anger. These are times for visionary organizing, not outraged reposting. N.L.: We find ourselves in the moment of the protest vote or the protest candidate the Sanders and Trump campaigns, populist parties from the right and left gaining ground throughout Europe, and, of course Brexit. What are your thoughts on the way the idea of a protest option gets invoked in these sorts of political circumstances? N.M.: Here I want to distinguish between two figures: the protester and the reactionary (meant literally, not pejoratively). Both respond to events in what political theory sometimes calls the public square, the place where the political gets debated and decided that is now coextensive with both media and social media spaces. The philosopher Hannah Arendt further defined this space as what she called the space of appearance. Who can and cannot appear in this space and on what terms is both the properly political question and the key to understanding the importance of the visible in globalized societies. What matters is not that there are many new forms of visual materials, interesting though that is to some of us. It is the question of appearance that is literally and metaphorically vital, because when a person deemed black, Palestinian or any number of other designations appears in public, they may be killed. However, it is becoming apparent that present-day politics cannot easily be configured around the demand for what Judith Butler has called the right to appear. Protest is a form of appearance that makes a wrong visible and seeks to have it set right. Often that demand is aimed at authority, whether the government or some other body. In 2003, an estimated 15 million people worldwide protested the predetermined decision to go to war in Iraq. President George W. Bush dismissed them as a focus group. As the Chilcot report has made clear, war was already the policy. This was not just a bad decision. It was exemplary of how appearance in the public sphere has lately lost its ability to have political impact. There have been two notable responses to the breakdown of the space of appearance. Former protesters and the disillusioned have either set out to create a new politics of appearance or they have reacted by looking for groups to blame. FRONT PAGE An article on July 3 about an attack on a restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in which 20 hostages were killed after an 11-hour siege misspelled, in some editions, the given name and misstated the surname of a cook at the restaurant who hid in a washroom with eight other men. He is Sumir Barai, not Soumir Roy. Because of an editing error, a reporting credit with the article misstated, in some editions, the location of one of the reporters. Geeta Anand reported from Mumbai, not New Delhi. Because of an editing error, an article on July 4 about a minivan bombing in central Baghdad that killed scores of people and was claimed by the Islamic State misidentified the holiday that Iraqis were celebrating at the time. It was the last days of Ramadan, not Eid al-Fitr. INTERNATIONAL An article in some editions on July 3 about the Islamic States apparent practice of tailoring its attacks for different audiences misspelled the surname of a fellow at the George Washington University Program on Extremism who said ISIS attacks are less targeted than those of Al Qaeda. He is Amarnath Amarasingam, not Amarasingham. An article on Dec. 16 about an American naval commanders claims that China has eroded the security of shipping lanes in the South China Sea by building artificial islands there misidentified the reef that the Lassen, a United States guided missile destroyer, patrolled under freedom-of-navigation principles in October. It is Subi Reef, not Mischief Reef. The error was pointed out only recently by a reader. Delawares rules for imposing the death penalty are unconstitutional, the states Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday, a decision that could mean an effective end to capital punishment in Delaware. In a 148-page opinion, the court held that Delawares death penalty law gave judges, rather than juries, too great a role in imposing death sentences, violating constitutional requirements that the United States Supreme Court laid out in a January decision that has brought executions in Florida to a temporary halt. The Delaware legislature came close to abolishing the death penalty directly this year, but the debate was put on hold to await the ruling by the states highest court. Delawares attorney general said in a statement Tuesday that he was reviewing the courts decision and could not comment on whether Delaware would appeal to the federal Supreme Court. Donald J. Trumps unabashed and continuing hostility toward the parents of a slain Muslim American soldier, and his attacks on Republican leaders who have rebuked him for it, threaten to shatter his uneasy alliance with the Republican Party at the outset of the general election campaign. Ignoring the pleas of his advisers and entreaties from party leaders in Washington, Mr. Trump only dug in further on Tuesday. He told a Virginia television station that he had no regrets about his clash with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq. And in an extraordinarily provocative interview with The Washington Post, Mr. Trump declined to endorse for re-election several Republicans who had criticized him, including the House speaker, Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, and Senator John McCain of Arizona, who both face primaries this month. He also belittled Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, who had criticized his treatment of the Khans, for not being supportive of his campaign. WASHINGTON The United States on Tuesday stepped up a new bombing campaign against the Islamic State in Libya, conducting its first armed drone flights from Jordan to strike militant targets in the coastal city of Surt. President Obama, during a news conference, said the airstrikes were critical to helping Libyas fragile United Nations-backed government to drive Islamic State militants out of Surt, which the group has controlled since June 2015. Calling the strikes necessary to protect American national security interests, the president promised that the air campaign would continue as long as necessary to make sure that the extremist group does not get a stronghold in Libya. He also linked instability in Libya to the migration crisis in Europe. The new round of airstrikes came as Libyan forces were reported by Agence France-Presse to be making advances in their months-old offensive to oust the Islamic State from Surt. The advances were aided by two American airstrikes on Tuesday, United States officials said. The day before, the United States opened the campaign by carrying out five airstrikes, two of which were announced by the Pentagon then. Ms. Whitman was a leading fund-raiser for Mr. Romneys 2008 presidential campaign and was a chairwoman of Gov. Chris Christies presidential finance team this year. But after Mr. Christie withdrew from the campaign and endorsed Mr. Trump, Ms. Whitman excoriated the New Jersey governor for what she said was an astonishing display of political opportunism. On Tuesday, Ms. Whitman said she had not spoken to Mr. Christie since he endorsed Mr. Trump, and pointedly noted that she had not changed her view of his decision. Ms. Whitman, who said she would remain a Republican, brings with her a considerable network of contributors, some of whom she said were open to giving to Mrs. Clinton. She said she was willing to campaign for Mrs. Clinton, said she would do her best to gather checks for her campaign and indicated she would personally give to both Mrs. Clinton and her affiliated super PACs. An aide to Ms. Whitman said she would personally give at least an amount in the mid-six figures to the Clinton effort. While Democrats openly appealed at their convention last week to Republicans uneasy with Mr. Trump, Mrs. Clinton and her top supporters have been making a similar cross-party pitch in private since before the Democratic nomination fight even came to its conclusion. A federal lawsuit by former Trump University students against the schools founder, Donald J. Trump, will proceed toward trial, the judge in the case ruled on Tuesday. In a written decision, Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel rejected a motion by Mr. Trumps lawyers to dismiss the case, concluding that the aggrieved former students had raised a genuine question about whether Mr. Trump had knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud. The case, in federal court in San Diego, has been a nagging concern for Mr. Trumps Republican campaign for the presidency, as he pushes back against claims made by former students that his school cheated them out of their tuition by using high-pressure sales tactics and deceptive claims about what they would learn. At one point, Mr. Trump publicly denounced the rulings of Judge Curiel, who was born in Indiana, and questioned whether he would be biased because of his Mexican heritage. Mr. Trumps political opponents have repeatedly turned the case against him, including during the recent Democratic National Convention. MAMELODI, South Africa For an opposition candidate like Solly Msimanga, this township outside South Africas capital, Pretoria, was a gold mine of unhappiness. Residents of the areas shacks complained about the lack of electricity, water and jobs and they placed the blame squarely with the long-governing African National Congress. But as Mr. Msimanga canvassed for votes before the countrys municipal elections on Wednesday, he struggled to turn that unhappiness into emphatic support for his party. Despite an impassioned 15-minute plea to a woman wearing an A.N.C. shirt, he left her street frustrated. She says, All of you are the same, and I said: Weve never been in government here. You cant blame us for what is happening, said Mr. Msimanga, who is running for mayor as part of the opposition Democratic Alliance, or D.A. She says, No, the D.A. must do something for us before we trust them to vote for them, added Mr. Msimanga, 36. People dont get it, they dont really get it. She says shes not going to vote. Saudi Arabias inclusion in a United Nations report on armies that kill and maim children which incited that countrys fury resurfaced on Tuesday in a Security Council meeting, two months after the Saudis pressed Secretary General Ban Ki-moon into temporarily removing the designation. At a council meeting on children and armed conflict, Mr. Ban said a review of Saudi Arabias original inclusion in the annual report was still incomplete. He also said that the Saudis had furnished new information to prevent and end grave violations against children. Mr. Ban did not specify the nature of the information or its source. Also left unclear was whether Saudi Arabias removal from the list would remain temporary. The Saudi outrage at Mr. Ban exploded in June when the report was first disclosed; it showed that a Saudi-led military coalition fighting insurgents in Yemen had been included in the reports annex of armies that kill children. Eritrea, for instance, recently complained that the many references to human rights in the document were redundant. (A United Nations committee earlier this year accused Eritrea of atrocities against its own citizens.) Russia resisted a sentence that called for countries to share in the burden of taking in refugees. (Russia takes in very few, except lately from parts of Ukraine.) The United States suggested a phrase asserting that detention is seldom good for children. Activists for immigrants and refugees found that suggestion so appalling that they fired off a letter on Friday to President Obama. They argued that any international agreement should make clear that detention is never in the best interests of children and should commit to ending the practice. (The United States detains children who arrive from Mexico without legal papers.) The Center for Migration Studies said in a statement that the draft falls short of creating a new framework for the protection of refugees and migrants around the world. Instead, it reaffirms the status quo, and, in some areas, weakens current protections for these vulnerable populations. According to the United Nations, 24 million people worldwide left their home countries because of war or persecution in 2015. More than 10 times that number 244 million were considered migrants, living somewhere other than the country of their birth. This draft agreement sets out a long list of principles, most already enshrined in existing laws. It says refugees deserve protection and should not be sent back to places where they could face war or persecution. It urges countries to allow refugees to work and to let their children attend school, though it stops short of saying refugees have a right to either jobs or schools. It asserts that migration can be good for the world, which is wording that migrant-sending countries wanted. It also calls for countries to take back their citizens if they travel illegally and fail to get asylum, which is what migrant-receiving countries, especially in Europe, wanted. On Tuesday, for the second of the festivals seven Little Night Music programs this summer, the probing British pianist Paul Lewis gave a short, charming spoken introduction to his program of works by Schubert and Brahms, both written when these composers were about 20. I was impressed again by how raptly attentive A Little Night Music audiences always are. Much of this, of course, was because of Mr. Lewiss superb performance of Schuberts playful, slightly quirky Sonata in B (D. 575), and of Brahmss mercurial, restless Four Ballades (Op. 10). But the setting clearly enhanced the listening experience. Orchestras and opera companies must somehow try to replicate this intimate atmosphere in bigger halls. A few hours before Mr. Lewiss program on Tuesday, the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra played a full, rewarding program at David Geffen Hall. The stylish conductor Thierry Fischer, the music director of the Utah Symphony, opened the concert with Haydns crackling Symphony No. 59 in A (Fire) and ended with a fleet, lean account of Mozarts darkly intense Symphony No. 40 in G minor. The highlight for me was the performance of Mozarts majestic Piano Concerto No. 25 in C, with the refined, fresh, young German pianist Martin Helmchen in an impressive Mostly Mozart debut. The festival temporarily adapts the seating arrangement of Geffen Hall in an attempt to make its 2,730-seat space feel cozier. The stage is extended over the first few rows of seats. This juts the orchestra out into the hall a bit and allows for sections of seating to be set up on the sides and behind the players. Its unfair, of course, to compare the up-close experience of hearing Mr. Lewis at the penthouse with hearing the festival orchestra at Geffen Hall, hardly an acoustical marvel. Still, the contrast was striking. Inevitably, a sense of separation, of sound traveling across distance, affects performances in spaces the size of most concert halls. Less imposing halls need to be found for the symphonic repertory. I remain convinced that even newcomers to classical music would be excited to hear, say, the brilliant Cleveland Orchestra play almost anything in an acoustically miraculous place like Carnegie Hall. Still, more orchestra programs should be presented in smaller, alternative spaces. Third Man Records, the label in Nashville that was founded by Jack White, celebrated its seventh anniversary last month by launching a record into space. A gold-plated vinyl copy of Carl Sagans A Glorious Dawn spun on a turntable attached to a high-altitude balloon, reaching 94,000 feet above the earth. The project was developed over four years and continues Mr. Whites efforts to champion the vinyl industry. (He is a board member of the Library of Congress National Recording Preservation Foundation and served as the ambassador of Record Store Day in 2013.) We hope that in meeting our goal we inspire others to dream big and start their own missions, whatever they may be, Mr. White said in a statement. #Justice Party Former Justice Party leader Lee Jeong-mi elected for 2nd term Lee Jeong-mi, a former chief of the minor progressive Justice Party (JP), was elected Friday for a second term to lead a major reform of the party reeling from recent election rout... #KBO Heroes reach Korean Series after eliminating Twins in KBO postseason For the first time in three years, the Kiwoom Heroes will be playing in the South Korean baseball championship series. Former big leaguer Yasiel Puig homered and knocked in two ... HONG KONG The digital currency Bitcoin plunged on Wednesday after Bitfinex, an exchange based in Hong Kong, said it had been hacked and funds stolen. The exchange said it had halted trading, deposits and withdrawals while it investigated which users had been affected. Bitcoins trading value fell about 20 percent early on Wednesday, local time in Hong Kong, but had recovered about half the loss by early afternoon. Zane Tackett, Bitfinexs director of community and product development, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But he said in a posting on Reddit that 119,756 Bitcoins had been stolen. The Federal Reserve took action on Wednesday against Goldman Sachs and one of its former executives, escalating a long-running investigation into a leak of confidential government information. The action, which forced Goldman to pay a $36.3 million penalty, stemmed from an incident in 2014, when a junior Goldman banker took confidential information from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The junior banker, whom Goldman promptly fired, received the information from a New York Fed employee. Both men pleaded guilty to stealing government property, and Goldman paid a $50 million penalty to New York State regulators because its management failed to effectively supervise the banker. The Fed did not act against Goldman at the time, making its decision to pursue Goldman now a somewhat unusual move. The action, which cites Goldman for an unauthorized use and disclosure of confidential supervisory information, is also an awkward one for the Fed. LONDON HSBC said on Wednesday that its profit fell 40 percent in the second quarter as the bank navigated the tumult surrounding Britains vote to leave the European Union in June. The lender, which is based in Britain but generates much of its earnings in Asia, also said it would buy back $2.5 billion in shares in the second half of the year after having completed the sale of the bulk of its Brazilian business in July. HSBC is significantly reshaping its business. It announced plans last year to shed tens of thousands of jobs, to sell underperforming businesses and to shrink its global investment banking business. The quarterly results included a gain of $584 million on the sale of its holdings in Visa Europe, as well as charges of $677 million related to its overhaul, an $800 million good-will write-down associated with its private bank and $723 million in provisions for potential settlements and other legal matters. Mary Ann Madden, who for three decades challenged New York magazine readers to compose double dactyls, literary limericks, godawful puns and dexterous spoonerisms in a weekly competition that foreshadowed hashtag games on Twitter, died on July 26 at her home in Manhattan. She was 83. The cause was a stroke, said Steven Clar, her executor. Ms. Madden, a gifted wordsmith, was recruited by her friend Stephen Sondheim, the composer and lyricist, to create the New York Magazine Competition, which made its debut in 1969. At the time, he held a part-time job there devising cryptic crossword puzzles for the back pages every week but had found it becoming too time-consuming. When he shifted to once every three weeks for about a year (succeeded by Richard Maltby Jr.), Ms. Madden took over the page the rest of the time. At her retirement in 2000, she had edited 973 wordplay competitions. If the weeks collection of entries looked a little lame to her after she turned it in, Christopher Bonanos, a senior editor, wrote last week on the magazines website, shed get off the phone, and 15 minutes later, a couple of extras would arrive in my inbox, all of them better than the ones wed received. One of their biggest challenges was finding good manufacturing plants in Asia. We had come from e-commerce and virtual goods, Mr. Mordkovich said. With the help of referrals from the Light Electric Vehicle Association, they found factories in Taiwan and southern China. Much-needed tools for the elderly, like the gunmetal gray walkers that date to the 1950s, badly need a makeover, experts added. But simply applying high-technology solutions to existing products does not always work, they cautioned. For instance, wearable devices have been popular with millennials for monitoring and tracking health, but they are not necessarily going to be a hit with older users. People lose interest in wearables very quickly, said Jody Holtzman, senior vice president for market innovation at AARP. They can see the potential, but design is problematic. According to AARP studies, he added, users had difficulty with syncing wearable products with their computers or even finding directions that explain how to use them. There are no clear market leaders, said Lori Bitter, who heads The Business of Aging, a consulting firm based in Napa, Calif. And how do we get the technology into peoples homes? Certain services, though, are finding their target audience. They include companies that offer home downsizing, gyms for the 55-and-older set and meal kits for people with diabetes or heart conditions. Theres quite a lot of funding available, too, Mr. Holtzman said. A few years ago, when we showed up at a V.C. event, people wondered what we were doing there. That doesnt happen anymore, he added. Now, AARP holds yearly pitch events and even has its own incubator, The Hatchery. Entrepreneurs are also showing up at other events like the Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit, which Ms. Furlong produces, and those held by Aging 2.0, a San Francisco innovation accelerator. Every morning Tamara Yurovsky takes her wire fox terrier, Oliver, for a walk in Vinegar Hill, an enclave of Greek Revival homes built in the 1830s along the Brooklyn waterfront. Along the way he preens for photographs posted by Ms. Yurovsky on the Instagram account @oliver_thewirefox. He totally owns it, Ms. Yurovsky said, adding, If Oliver feels like directing, then you have to go with the flow. Oliver is certainly a cute little guy, but the real stars of many of Ms. Yurovskys photographs are the neighborhoods doors, windows and facades. Doors say a lot about a place, she said. But they also conceal many possible realities. Such photographs belong to a genre all their own (doortraits, as they are called on Instagram), and they are surging in popularity. A few years ago, things werent going so well for Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Even with an architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley, he found himself laid off and out of luck. Rather than look for another job in the fields of housing or public policy, where he had planned a career, he decided to take a risk. Acting was always in the back of my head, Mr. Abdul-Mateen said. So he left the Bay Area for Los Angeles with the notion that if he could somehow get cast in a McDonalds commercial, he might end up with a bit part in a soap opera, which could lead to a role on a bigger network show. I made a plan: If I hadnt done anything in three years, I was going to say, O.K., back to a job in an architecture firm or public policy, he said. In Los Angeles, he auditioned for an educational theater group, only to be told he was too old. But the instructors husband was casting a small production of Twelfth Night, and soon Mr. Abdul-Mateen found himself playing Antonio. Someone in the cast was applying to graduate drama school, and I said, You can do that? he said. I Googled the top programs in the country. I prepped for about seven months, doing auditions in my living room, talking to the wall. Continuing her efforts to fast-track the careers of young American designers on the global stage, Michelle Obama wore a gown by Brandon Maxwell, perhaps the newest and most up-and-coming of the names she has worn so far, to the White House state dinner for Singapore on Tuesday night. It was the first time the first lady had worn Mr. Maxwell, who is such an up-and-coming designer that he has not yet achieved full brand status. What he is, however, is Lady Gagas stylist, and the man who made the widely praised jumpsuit she wore to the Oscars. (Interestingly, Mrs. Obamas gown strapless, white crepe, with Art Deco folds at the neck and sides was not unlike the rock stars red carpet look, which was also white and strapless with folds, though its voluminous Old Hollywood skirt turned out to be surprise pants!) Since its release last month, Ghostbusters, the reboot of the 1984 action comedy updated with a cast of female leads, has conjured up a series of heated debates about how women are depicted in movies and how they are treated online and in social media. The film has also shined a spotlight on Kate McKinnon, the comic actress who plays the Ghostbusters team member Dr. Jillian Holtzmann, a wild-haired scientist and technology whiz who hides a mischievous sense of humor behind a pair of goggle glasses, a trench coat and a deadpan delivery. Playing off celebrated co-stars like Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, she is able to steal even the scenes in which she has no dialogue with just a gaudy grimace or a roll of her eyes. As Manohla Dargis wrote in her review of Ghostbusters for The New York Times, Ms. McKinnon makes for a sublime nerd goddess, bringing a dash of the young Jerry Lewis to the role with a glint of Amy Poehler. Like her cinematic counterpart, Ms. McKinnon, 32, seems to have been hiding in plain sight. A Long Island native and Columbia University graduate, she has become an integral cast member at Saturday Night Live, where, over five seasons, she has delivered reliably eccentric impersonations of Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Angela Merkel, as well as a roster of oddball celebrities, foreigners and barflies. She received her fourth Emmy nomination in July and is poised for the kind of career breakout enjoyed by her S.N.L. predecessors and personal heroes like Tina Fey, Ms. Poehler and Ms. Wiig. The New Jersey Board of Education voted on Wednesday to require high school students to pass tests aligned with contentious standards, even as other states have moved away from these assessments. Beginning in 2021, in order to graduate, students will have to pass the Algebra 1 exam and the 10th-grade English exam given as part of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or Parcc, tests. This year, just 44 percent of students statewide passed that English exam and 41 percent passed Algebra 1. Under the new rules, those who do not pass can still graduate if a portfolio review of other work is approved. The Parcc test was one of two main assessments designed to align with the Common Core standards, a group of learning goals for students devised to ensure they were being adequately prepared for college. The standards were adopted across the country starting in 2010, encouraged by money from the Obama administration, but they have faced a strong backlash. Many states have stepped away from the tests, or from the standards altogether. To the Editor: Re Central America Child Refugee Program Is Expanded to Include Entire Families (news article, July 27): The Obama administrations decision to admit the families of unaccompanied minors from Central America is a gesture both compassionate and pragmatic. The same could be said about the United States governments ambitious $750 million aid initiative supporting efforts in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to reduce violence and spur economic development. Congress conditioned these funds on the three governments taking steps on migration, rule of law and transparency. This comes at a critical moment when citizen groups and advocates for good government are demanding change in all three countries and are starting to see results. While much of this assistance is understandably focused on urban areas, where violence is most apparent, this United States government aid also needs to provide significant support to struggling rural communities, where the lack of opportunity is spurring young people to leave in droves, either for the city or the United States. To the Editor: Re Obama Urges G.O.P. Leaders to Snub Trump (front page, Aug. 3): I and other moderate Democrats rely on the Republican Party to select a qualified presidential candidate so that if the election is close and the winner will not be known until morning, we can sleep soundly knowing that, if the other party wins, despite our disappointment, our country will be in capable hands. Had John McCain, a war hero and long-serving senator, or Mitt Romney, an accomplished businessman who governed Massachusetts ably, defeated President Obama, such would have been the case. But now, from a crowded Republican field that included well-qualified candidates, there has emerged an aberration, not worthy of that party and abysmally unfit to serve as our president. It is time for responsible Republicans to abandon the sinking ship into which Donald Trump is poking holes and set about fine-tuning their primary system to prevent this travesty from happening again. Donald Trump? The Party of Lincoln is better than that. BARRY S. GEDAN Larchmont, N.Y. To the Editor: I agree with President Obamas view that Donald Trump is unfit to be president. Nevertheless, I am constrained to conclude that the president went too far. In recent decades, the prevalence of asthma and allergies has increased between two- and threefold in the United States. These days, one in 12 kids has asthma. More are allergic. The uptick is often said to have started in the late 20th century. But the first hint of a population-wide affliction the sneezing masses came earlier, in the late 19th century, among the American and British upper classes. Hay fever so closely hewed to class lines, in fact, it was seen as a mark of civilization and refinement. Observers noted that farmers the people who most often came in contact with pollens and animal dander were the ones least likely to sneeze and wheeze. This phenomenon was rediscovered in the 1990s in Switzerland. Children who grew up on small farms were between one-half and one-third less likely to have hay fever and asthma, compared with non-farming children living in the same rural areas. European scientists identified livestock, particularly dairy cows, fermented feed and raw milk consumption as protective in what they eventually called the farm effect. Many scientists argued that the abundant microbes of the cowshed stimulated childrens immune systems in a way that prevented allergic disease. Then, a few years ago, researchers found an American example of the phenomenon: the Amish. Children from an Amish community in Indiana had an even lower prevalence of allergies than European farmers, making them among the least allergic subgroup ever measured in the developed world. As threats to Turkeys stability grow, Mr. Erdogan may become more receptive to American advice and agree to change his approach in Syria. That would mean ending his support for militant groups and joining the fight against them; softening his enmity toward the government of President Bashar al-Assad; and restarting his suspended peace talks with Kurdish nationalists. The odds are against such a U-turn, but some version of it may be possible. Without American influence, it is all but inconceivable. Another way Mr. Erdogan could lead Turkey back into Washingtons good graces would be to pull back from his campaign to crush dissent at home. This is less likely than a change in security policy. Mr. Erdogan has constructed a narrative in which Turkey is under relentless attack from sinister forces that are backed by Kurds, secularists, journalists, university deans, judges and the Pennsylvania-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. This resonates with many Turkish voters. A worsening strategic landscape could lead Mr. Erdogan to reshape his policies in Syria and elsewhere in the region. Nothing in his character or political calculation, however, suggests that he will begin tolerating more dissent and debate at home. Any decision by the United States to maintain ties with Turkey would require acceptance of this unpleasant truth. It is profoundly lamentable that Turkey has abandoned its role as the worlds leading Muslim democracy, but it is reality, and wise foreign policy is always based on acceptance of reality. Cutting ties to uncooperative governments, and even punishing them with sanctions or other coercive measures, was a realistic option for policy makers in Washington during the peak of American power in the last century. Today such tactics are less potent. Turkey has other options. It might react to a break with the United States by embracing Russia or China, or by launching all-out war against the Kurds, or by sending Turkish ground forces into Syria. Escalating this confrontation will not benefit either side. Intense diplomacy, aimed at preserving what is left of United States-Turkey friendship, is in Washingtons interest. Turkeys army is in disarray following the coup attempt, with many senior officers cashiered or arrested. The United States is in a better position than any other power to help rebuild it. Turkey has also been battered by terrorism, including the recent bombing of Istanbuls airport, and American intelligence cooperation could be vital in preventing more attacks. Many European countries are fed up with Turkeys behavior and would be happy to dump Mr. Erdogan as an ally. That would leave Turkey even more isolated than it is now. The United States cannot excuse domestic repression, but it can tell its NATO partners to cool their anger because Middle East security depends greatly on Turkeys actions. It sounds simple: If something has a big carbon footprint and you get rid of it, you eliminate those carbon dioxide emissions. Right? But its not always that easy. In a recent study published in The Journal of Industrial Ecology, researchers at the Center for Environmental Strategy at the University of Surrey in England estimated the annual carbon footprint of crime in England and Wales, and found that reducing crime could actually cause societys overall carbon footprint of society to increase. The findings illustrated the rebound effect, which describes how reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases in one area can lead to more emissions in the aggregate, because of direct or indirect effects. Its something that policy makers have often been encouraged to consider when they set out to reduce emissions. It could be argued that James Houghton, who died this week after a battle with cancer, did more for the American theater during the past quarter-century than anyone else playwright, director or producer, man or woman, anyone the average theatergoer knows by name. The company he founded in 1991, the Signature Theater, began with a fresh approach to programming that was radical for the time, and would be radical had he founded it 10 or even 20 years later. Unlike other nonprofit companies that program seasons emphasizing diversity of work, both contemporary and classic, Mr. Houghton chose to found a theater that would present the work of just one playwright per season. That was daring enough, even for a small Off Broadway company, but two other notable aspects of his programming also helped define his theater: The chosen playwrights would be both American and living. Behind those requirements was Mr. Houghtons belief that the American theater, in the 1970s and 1980s widely believed to be in a state of terminal decline, still had a pulse, that it was a vital organism deserving celebration and nurturing. His company honored the work that American playwrights had contributed to the culture, and by extension encouraged them to contribute more. James Houghton, the founder and, until recently, the artistic director of the Signature Theater Company, one of Off Broadways essential nonprofit theaters and perhaps the nations leading safe house for playwrights, died on Tuesday at his home in Manhattan. He was 57. The cause was stomach cancer, said his brother, Scott. A former actor, Mr. Houghton (pronounced HOW-ton) was in his early 30s when he started Signature in 1991 with the idea of presenting annual season-long programs featuring the work of just one playwright. The initial season was devoted to Romulus Linney, a prolific and daring but largely unsung dramatist whose play Heathen Valley Mr. Houghton had appeared in a few years earlier. In an 85-seat space, Mr. Houghton produced six plays by Mr. Linney, who died in 2011, for a total of $35,000. A police officer with the Washington transit system has become the first American law enforcement officer to be charged with supporting the Islamic State, accused of trying to send financial help to the group after advising a friend on how to travel to Syria to join it. In court papers filed on Tuesday and made public on Wednesday, federal law enforcement officials charged the officer, Nicholas Young, with attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization. The charge is based on the allegation that Mr. Young bought gift cards worth $245 and sent their code numbers to someone he believed had joined ISIS in Syria, to help the group pay for mobile phone messaging with its supporters in the West. A professor at Oberlin College who made a series of Facebook posts that suggested that Israeli and United States intelligence services were behind terror attacks has been placed on paid leave while the college continues to review the case, the college said Wednesday. In a statement from Scott Wargo, the director of media relations for Oberlin, the college said that it had been considering carefully the grave issues surrounding the anti-Semitic postings on social media by Oberlin faculty member Dr. Joy Karega. The statement continued: The faculty governance process that began thereafter is ongoing, and the Oberlin administration will continue to respect this process as it plays out. Until that process is complete, Dr. Karega has been placed on paid leave and will not teach at Oberlin. Image An image of Joy Karega from a Facebook video. Credit... Juicy News Network In February, the news site The Tower published the posts made by Dr. Karega, an assistant professor who teaches rhetoric and composition, most dated back to early 2015. The private liberal arts school in Ohio at first defended its faculty members rights to express personal views, but in March, Clyde S. McGregor, the board chairman, wrote in a statement on behalf of the colleges board of trustees that these grave issues must be considered expeditiously. It was one of the issues that propelled Donald J. Trump into politics: his obsession with President Obamas birth certificate. After months in which birtherism dominated cable news and the political dialogue, the issue eventually petered out after Mr. Obama released his long-form birth certificate. But that, apparently, is still not enough for some, including Mr. Trumps former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski. Now a paid commentator on CNN, Mr. Lewandowski brought up the issue anew Tuesday night in an argument with Angela Rye, another political commentator on CNN. SCRIPT: Applause - Ryan comes on stage VO HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN, THE CURRENT HEAD OF REPUBLICANS , WILL CHAIR THE PARTYS NATIONAL CONVENTION IN JULY. NAT - Ryan says Hey Hey BUT HIS VIEWS ARE ALMOST THE POLAR OPPOSITE OF THE FRONTRUNNER FOR THE NOMINATION, DONALD J. TRUMP. http://fox6now.com/2016/02/19/fox6-news-sits-down-one-on-one-with-house-speaker-paul-ryan/ NATS OF TRUMP AT RALLY VO AFTER THE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN SAN BERNARDINO, MR. TRUMP CALLED FOR BARRING MUSLIMS FROM ENTERING THE UNITED STATES. MR. RYANS SWIFTLY REPUDIATED HIS REMARKS. SOT: Trump 37149 3714937149 we also have this in our system (man, English, 15 sec): Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our countrys representatives can figure out what the hell is going on. // SOT: Ryan 37165_1_paul-ryan-trump-muslims_wg What was proposed yesterday is not what this party stands for and, more importantly, it is not what this country stands for.// Some of our best and biggest allies in this struggle and fight against radical Islamic terror are Muslims. The vast, vast, vast, vast majority - of whom are peaceful, who believe in pluralism, freedom, democracy, individual rights. VO AND JUST LAST WEEK, MR. TRUMP DEPARTED FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTYS TRADITIONAL POSITION OF STRONG SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL IN THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT. SOT: Trump: MSNBC Thats probably the toughest deal in the world right now to make.// If I win... Let me be sort of a neutral guy, VO ON THE ISSUE OF ENTITLEMENTS, MR. TRUMP IS AGAINST CONSTRAINING SPENDING FOR SENIORS. MR. RYAN, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS THE ARCHITECT OF THE PARTYS PLAN TO REIGN IT IN. SOTS: Ryan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3VFuWqLBa8 Source Daniel Martinez via Youtube Social security...a cornerstone for many americans...is going bankrupt SOT: Trump: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp-pY9y4VCg Dr.Gina Loudon via Youtube All other people want to cut the hell out of it, Im not going to cut it at all. Im going to bring the money in and I am going to save it // VO AND ON MATTERS OF FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS, MR. TRUMP IS PRESSING FOR AMERICAN ISOLATION WHILE MR. RYAN WANTS IS A KEY PROMOTER IN GLOBALIZATION. SOT: Trump https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kihtDxtcZ54 NFAtoys via youtube (FOX BUSINESS) We lose a fortune on trade. The U.S. loses with everybody. We;re losing over 500 billion dollars in terms of imbalance with china. // SOT: Ryan 37075_1_paul-ryan-on-tpp_wg We have to engage, we have to lead. Only an active forward-leaning america can tear down barriers to american exports for our jobs. // SOT: Ryan: 37075_1_paul-ryan-on-tpp_wg If we want to create good jobs, we need to make more things in America and sell them overseas. Lets never forget 96% of the worlds people dont live in the US. THey live in other countries and we will not sell them as much as we could if we dont negotiate good trade agreements. VO AS DONALD TRUMPS LEAD STRENGTHENS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO RECONCILE THE DIFFERENCES. SOT: Trump: That was the end of that campaign, when they chose Ryan. // SOT: Ryan: Donald Trump makes comments about everybody. I dont take any of this stuff personally. END IT Kill her. Trump that bitch! Build a wall kill them all. New York Times reporters have spent over a year covering Donald J. Trumps rallies, witnessing so many provocations and heated confrontations at them that the cumulative effect can be numbing: A sharp sting that quickly dulls from repetition. But what struck us was the frequency with which some Trump supporters use coarse, vitriolic, even violent language in the epithets they shout and chant, the signs they carry, the T-shirts they wear a pattern not seen in connection with any other recent political candidate, in any party. Not everyone attending a Trump rally behaves this way. In fact, many are polite and well mannered. But while protesters are often shouted down, crowds seldom express disapproval of the crude slogans and angry outbursts by Mr. Trumps supporters. Indeed, these displays have become inextricably bound with the Trump show itself as much as the snaking entrance lines and the calls to build a wall along the border with Mexico. With that in mind, we set out to record the shouts, slogans, imprecations and interactions among audience members that set Trump events apart from other political gatherings. We also obtained recordings from others in attendance, who sometimes were closer to the action. With her partys convention behind her, Hillary Clinton has started to officially plan for her White House transition, putting two longtime aides in charge of the effort. John D. Podesta, Mrs. Clintons campaign chairman, will serve as the president and Minyon Moore, a senior adviser, the secretary of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Fund, a nonprofit group that will oversee the effort, according to paperwork filed on Wednesday to begin the formal process of planning a move to the White House. In May, the Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump, put Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey in charge of his transition planning. The Supreme Court is probably the choice that will have the single most long-term effect on the nation, said Representative Jason Chaffetz, Republican of Utah, where Mr. Trump is struggling to win over an overwhelmingly Republican state. Congressional Republicans who are up for re-election especially the handful like Senators John McCain of Arizona and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire who still face primaries have made a basic calculation. They have criticized Mr. Trump, but not withdrawn their endorsements. And party leaders have decided the more distance they put between themselves and Mr. Trump, the more likely they are to lose their congressional majorities. Alienating Mr. Trumps supporters would cost them just enough votes to lose their seats. Their fears at this point appear justified. A poll conducted the last week of July by CBS News found that support for Mr. Trump among Republican voters rose to 81 percent from 79 percent. So the leaders largely responded to Mr. Trumps attacks with feigned indifference. Republican elected officials are in a tough spot, said Nathan L. Gonzales, the editor of The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, a nonpartisan newsletter. They are criticized for not listening to the grass roots and criticized for not denouncing the nominee chosen by the grass roots. Some Republicans are reluctant to attack Donald Trump because theyd risk alienating 35 to 40 percent of the party who supported him in the primaries. Tim Kaines dual jobs, Democratic senator from Virginia and vice-presidential candidate, collided on Tuesday during a visit to Florida, when he called on Republicans to bring the Senate back into session to deal with the Zika threat given the outbreak in the states south. Congress should not be in recess when Zika is advancing, Mr. Kaine told a crowd in Daytona Beach, urging quick approval of $1.1 billion in health funding that has been the subject of a fierce and lengthy partisan fight. That brought a sharp retort from Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and majority leader. Oh, hes going to drop his filibuster? Mr. Stewart asked, referring to the refusal by Senate Democrats to take up a House-passed Zika measure that includes what they see as poison pills, including restrictions on use of the money by Planned Parenthood. Donald J. Trump all but erased his enormous fund-raising disadvantage against Hillary Clinton in the span of just two months, according to figures released by his campaign on Wednesday, converting the passion of his core followers into a flood of small donations on a scale rarely seen in national politics. Mr. Trump and the Republican National Committee raised $64 million through a joint digital and mail effort in July, according to his campaign, the bulk of it from small donations. All told, Mr. Trump and his party brought in $82 million last month, only slightly behind Mrs. Clintons $90 million, and ended with $74 million on hand, suggesting he might now have the resources to compete with Mrs. Clinton in the closing stretch of the campaign. Shes been doing this for 20 years, said Steven Mnuchin, a New York investor who is Mr. Trumps finance chairman. Weve been doing it for two months. More than two-thirds of the $64 million had come online, Mr. Mnuchin said. Something, it seems, is off in America. What is it? I recently attended the Republican and Democratic conventions, where there were moments of unscripted drama high dudgeon, low cuts and poignant testimony typical of this years unusually polarized presidential race. Not only do the two main candidates, Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton, offer starkly different prescriptions for the United States, but their supporters are divided, too. Schisms among rival groups of Republicans and Democrats played out openly during the conventions, as rival factions booed and jeered one another. Another fault line opened when Khizr Khan, a Muslim immigrant whose son was killed on military duty in Iraq, made an impassioned critique of Mr. Trump, electrifying the Democratic convention audience. Mr. Khans emotive testimony reverberated through the national conversation for days. Now, less than 100 days until the vote, the campaigns are expanding to focus on the voters outside their core supporters who are likely to decide this election. What drives their choices? Where will the contest be hardest fought? Which issues will tilt the final result? Some analysts say the report published on Tuesday might indicate that Boko Haram, under pressure for resources, is turning to the Islamic State for more help. Has this resource pressure created more of an opening for the Islamic State to a gain stronger foothold and influence? asked Elizabeth Donnelly, deputy head of the Africa Program at Chatham House, a research institute in London. That is a very, very open question. If anything, what this opens up is questions about the next stage of Boko Harams evolution. Despite the Nigerian militarys victories, Boko Haram elements have continued to launch numerous suicide bombings and in some areas have retaken villages liberated by soldiers. Recent attacks have become increasingly brazen. Last week, fighters ambushed a United Nations convoy injuring workers on their way from distributing aid outside the northeastern city of Maiduguri. In June fighters attacked a military unit in Niger, Nigerias northern neighbor, killing 32 soldiers. The report on Tuesday from the Islamic State publication also raised questions about the fate of Mr. Shekau, known as Boko Harams leader since the 2009 death of the militant groups founder, Mohammed Yusuf. Some analysts have speculated that Mr. Shekau may be dead. Others think he has been marginalized, or is perhaps leading a core group of fighters while others have split off. Abu Musab al-Barnawi is now the wali, or leader, and Shekau is not, said Jacob Zenn, an African affairs fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington-based research organization. But Shekau likely would not accept a demotion, so I imagine in order to get him demoted they had to eliminate him. In June, Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, the head of the Pentagons Africa Command, told the Senate at his confirmation hearing that the Islamic State had disavowed Mr. Shekau because of his tactics, which are extreme even by the Islamic States standards. For example, he uses children as suicide bombers, he attacks other Muslims, and hes been told by ISIL to stop doing that, but he has not done so, General Waldhauser said, using an alternate acronym for the Islamic State. BEIJING President Xi Jinping of China in effect wrote an epitaph to the shrunken influence of his predecessor and former rivals this week when the Communist Party announced major changes to its once-powerful Youth League, a training ground for many officials who have been marginalized under Mr. Xi. The Communist Youth League served as a cradle for generations of Chinese leaders, who rose through it into the high ranks of the party. Mr. Xis immediate predecessor as Chinas top leader, Hu Jintao, was among the most prominent. Others have included Premier Li Keqiang, Vice President Li Yuanchao and Ling Jihua, the former head of the partys general office. But a reorganization of the Communist Youth League laid out in the state news media on Tuesday indicated that its glory days as a finishing school for Chinas political elite may have passed. The overhaul promised to shrink the Youth Leagues central leadership, put it under firmer party control and return it to its grass roots to try to win over the countrys young people. Its ranks will undergo shrinkage at the top and replenishment below, an unnamed Youth League leader said in Peoples Daily, the partys main newspaper, on Wednesday, explaining the reorganization. In the face of major changes in the social environment and youth population, there are many areas of the Youth Leagues development and work that are ill adapted or unsuitable. BEIJING An advocate for democracy and religious freedom in China was sentenced to more than seven years in prison on Wednesday, the state news media reported, as the government continued its prosecution of a group of rights activists accused of subverting state power. The advocate, Hu Shigen, 61, has been a fierce and fiery defender of free expression and the right to protest. He has already served a 16-year prison term for helping publicize the governments assault on student protesters near Tiananmen Square in 1989. As a Christian, he has also led several underground churches. On Wednesday, the authorities made clear that Mr. Hus religious activities and support for Western ideals had contributed to his harsh sentence. Xinhua, the state-run news agency, reported that Mr. Hu had used illegal religious groups to spread subversive thoughts and ideas. Prosecutors accused him of trying to manipulate public opinion to overthrow the government. HONG KONG Moves by the government of Hong Kong to bar candidates from a coming legislative election over the issue of independence from China have raised worries in this semiautonomous city about the deterioration of political freedom and the potential for renewed conflict with Beijing. Since Saturday, Hong Kong election officers have blocked at least five candidates from the balloting, on Sept. 4, for seats on the citys Legislative Council over questions about whether they acknowledge the city as an inalienable part of China. The disqualified candidates are mostly young people who became politically active during the Umbrella Movement protests in 2014, when demonstrators shut down several thoroughfares for more than two months to push for greater choice in elections for chief executive, the top political office in the city. The protests failed to elicit any concessions from the government. But they helped fan a localist movement, as it is often called, of activists seeking to strengthen Hong Kongs identity in the face of growing cultural, linguistic and economic influence from mainland China. KATHMANDU, Nepal Nepals Parliament on Wednesday elected a Maoist and former rebel chief to lead the Himalayan nations coalition government as prime minister. Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and known by the nom de guerre Prachanda, or Fierce, was the sole candidate offered to replace K.P. Sharma Oli, who resigned 10 days ago to avoid a no-confidence vote. Mr. Olis nine months in office were mired in controversy over his reconstruction plans after the devastating 2015 earthquake, and a difficult relationship with neighboring India. SYDNEY, Australia Asylum seekers and refugees being held on Nauru under Australias harsh immigration laws are being deliberately subjected to suffering to deter others from trying to reach Australia, human rights researchers said after visiting the tiny island nation. The Australian government is commissioning the abuse of these people, Anna Neistat, a senior director for research at Amnesty International who spent five days on Nauru in July, said by telephone from Paris on Wednesday. It pays for the companies that detain the refugees, it pays for the guards, and it fails to provide adequate medical care. Australian taxpayers are funding it. And the world does not know this place exists. Michael Bochenek, senior counsel for Human Rights Watch, also visited Nauru, one of two offshore Pacific sites where Australia sends migrants who try to reach its shores by sea, and the groups issued a joint report on Tuesday about their findings. It is unusual for rights groups or news organizations to gain access to Nauru, whose government routinely denies them visas; Ms. Neistat and Mr. Bochenek did not identify their employers in their visa applications, according to the report. Between them, the report said, the two spent 12 days interviewing 84 asylum seekers and refugees, including children, and spoke to service providers there. They said that asylum seekers were denied adequate medical care, that they were often the victims of crime and that depression and anxiety were rampant. PARIS President Francois Hollande of France has said that the excesses of Donald J. Trump made people want to retch, adding a scathing international voice to the chorus of those criticizing the Republican presidential nominee. Speaking on Tuesday to the French Presidential Press Association in Paris, Mr. Hollande noted the worldwide importance of the American campaign, calling it a global election, and said a victory for Mr. Trump could herald a shift to conservative candidates in other countries. Mr. Hollande, whose comments were later reported by Agence France-Presse and Reuters, expressed particular dismay at the attacks on a soldier, the memory of a soldier, referring to Mr. Trumps continued criticism of the parents of Capt. Humayun Khan, a Muslim and an American soldier who was killed in 2004 in Iraq. The comments from Mr. Trump have prompted widespread condemnation in the United States and have led several prominent Republicans to distance themselves from the partys nominee. The dance parties emerge as iridescent bubbles of sound and energy that burn bright on nondescript streets of otherwise neglected neighborhoods outside Paris. One arts center and occasional club, 6B, in a former industrial building in St.-Denis, north of Paris, draws well-heeled electronic music fans to a neighborhood where unemployment has been nearly 20 percent, twice the national rate. Walking out of the 6B, thats a slap in the face, said Benedetta Bertella, 31, half of a husband-and-wife D.J. team that tours parties in the suburbs. She describes homeless camps just outside some of the clubs where she plays, adding, You think, damn, were partying here. Some who live in the communities that host these dance parties view the Parisian partygoers as intruders. Several noise complaints were filed in 2015 with local authorities, and a few residents of LIle-St.-Denis, across the Seine from 6B, filed an online complaint to the mayor and the owner of the arts center. On a blog hosted by residents, a neighbor identified as Eric complained about Parisian partygoers who come ruining our nights because people elsewhere dont want their parties. But others, like Mady Senga-Remoue, 35, who lives near 6B, said the changes were overwhelmingly perceived as having a positive influence on the neighborhood. The space, she emphasized, acted as a community center and encouraged activities. Leaders of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups expressed dismay on Wednesday after Pope Francis said that schoolchildren are being taught they can choose their gender as part of what he called an ideological colonization. Francis was meeting privately with bishops in Poland last week when he broached the matter. Today, in schools they are teaching this to children to children! that everyone can choose their gender, he said, according to a transcript released by the Vatican on Tuesday. Marianne Duddy-Burke, the executive director of DignityUSA, a leading organization of L.G.B.T. Catholics, said the comments represented a dangerous ignorance about gender identity, which is no more a choice than height or hair color. Its very troubling that the pope would say this, Ms. Duddy-Burke said on Wednesday. It also shows that the pope doesnt understand the danger that his words can mean for gender-nonconforming people, particularly those who live in countries with laws or cultural pressures that put these people at risk for violence. MADRID Spains political parties have not come to an agreement on creating a coalition government that would end seven months of political deadlock, the countrys acting prime minister said on Wednesday, potentially forcing an unprecedented third round of national elections. Last week, King Felipe VI of Spain asked the acting premier, Mariano Rajoy, to form a new government, setting off a harried week of meetings with party leaders to try to create a coalition between parties that have never before joined forces in government. On Tuesday, Pedro Sanchez, the leader of the main opposition Socialist Party, rejected Mr. Rajoys proposal in a meeting that lasted less than an hour. After the meeting, Mr. Rajoy bluntly told reporters that there had been no negotiation. He added that if Mr. Sanchez maintains his no, the elections will be repeated, a scenario that Mr. Rajoy described as a folly. WASHINGTON A cash payment of $400 million delivered to Iran in January became part of the presidential campaign on Wednesday, as Donald J. Trump seized on the money transfer as a sign of what he called the administrations failed foreign policy prompting a forceful White House rejection. Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said the payment to Iran was part of the resolution of a longstanding financial dispute between the two nations, and was delivered in cash on pallets because the two nations do not have a banking relationship. Mr. Earnest also denounced the assertions from some Republicans that the $400 million in foreign currency delivered to Iran was a ransom for four Americans released at the time. He compared the statements from Republicans to those of conservatives in Iran who oppose the nuclear agreement. The existence of the payment was disclosed in January, and Mr. Earnest dismissed a Wall Street Journal report on Wednesday about the details of the cash payment as a six-month-old news story that is being pushed by opponents of the presidents nuclear deal with Iran. Vetting Recruits The first port of call for new arrivals to the Islamic State is a network of dormitories in Syria, just across the border from Turkey. There, recruits are interviewed and inventoried. Mr. Sarfo was fingerprinted, and a doctor came to draw a blood sample and perform a physical examination. A man with a laptop conducted an intake interview. He was asking normal questions like: Whats your name? Whats your second name? Whos your mom? Wheres your mom originally from? What did you study? What degree do you have? Whats your ambition? What do you want to become? Mr. Sarfo said. His background was also of interest. He was a regular at a radical mosque in Bremen that had already sent about 20 members to Syria, at least four of whom were killed in battle, according to Daniel Heinke, the German Interior Ministrys counterterrorism coordinator for the area. And he had served a one-year prison sentence for breaking into a supermarket safe and stealing 23,000 euros. Even though the punishment for theft in areas under Islamic State control is amputation, a criminal past can be a valued asset, Mr. Sarfo said, especially if they know you have ties to organized crime and they know you can get fake IDs, or they know you have contact men in Europe who can smuggle you into the European Union. The bureaucratic nature of the intake procedure was recently confirmed by American officials after USB drives were recovered in the recently liberated Syrian city of Manbij, one of the hubs for processing foreign fighters. Mr. Sarfo checked all the necessary boxes, and on the third day after his arrival, the members of the Emni came to ask for him. He wanted to fight in Syria and Iraq, but the masked operatives explained that they had a vexing problem. They told me that there arent many people in Germany who are willing to do the job, Mr. Sarfo said soon after his arrest last year, according to the transcript of his interrogation by German officials, which runs more than 500 pages. They said they had some in the beginning. But one after another, you could say, they chickened out, because they got scared cold feet. Same in England. By contrast, the group had more than enough volunteers for France. My friend asked them about France, Mr. Sarfo said. And they started laughing. But really serious laughing, with tears in their eyes. They said, Dont worry about France. Mafi mushkilah in Arabic, it means no problem. That conversation took place in April 2015, seven months before the coordinated killings in Paris in November, the worst terrorist attack in Europe in over a decade. The laws vary, but in the most restrictive countries, like Iran and Qatar, women cannot pass on their citizenship even if that means their children are left stateless, according to a tally by the United Nations. In some others, like Nepal or the United Arab Emirates, exceptions can be made if the father is unknown or stateless himself. (Many Palestinians are.) The laws are not just a measure of the unequal treatment of women. They can also have grievous consequences for the children who, as citizens of nowhere, may be kept from being able to go to school. Syrian refugees born in Lebanon, for instance, may be in especially dire straits because so many of their fathers are dead or missing; Lebanon and Syria are among the 27 countries, and Lebanon is among the most restrictive. HERE COMES THE SUN By Nicole Dennis-Benn 336 pp. Liveright Publishing. $26.95. Montego Bay, the hub of Jamaicas tourist industry, is the setting of Here Comes the Sun, Nicole Dennis-Benns first novel. In her opening paragraph, she makes her intention clear: to avert our attention from the opulent hotels to the impoverished neighborhoods of those who depend on tourism for their survival. By day Margot works the front desk at Palm Star Resort. At night her real work begins: selling her body to the resorts paying guests. Although economically and socially disadvantaged, Margot is not easily exploited. Dennis-Benns protagonist is refreshingly brave, clever and ambitious. Margot debases herself to pay for the private education of her younger sister, Thandi. Book-smart and talented, Thandi is the familys only hope of escaping the shabby village of River Bank. As Margot moves between the starkly different worlds of River Bank and the resort, she carries a secret her love affair with Verdene Moore, a reclusive lesbian whom the people of River Bank view as the Antichrist. Verdenes pink house, built with real cement, vividly embodies her difference and her vulnerability. Neighbors leave dead animals on her lawn and smear hateful words across her door with animal blood. Margot approaches Verdenes house each night with fear, recalling the brutal killing of other lesbians. Dennis-Benn, born and raised in Jamaica, doesnt exaggerate the threat these lovers face. Here Comes the Sun sheds much-needed light on the islands disenfranchised, particularly on the hardships suffered by its L.G.B.T. community. The light radiating from what might otherwise be too bleak a story is Margots love for her sister. Her hope of providing a better future for Thandi is palpable, an unquenchable fire blazing through the novel, likely to scorch anyone who stands in the way. In that pantheon of illuminatingly broken men and women, Henry stands apart. It is difficult to exaggerate the impact he has had on our understanding of ourselves. Before Brenda Milner collaborated on that first paper about Henry, the prevailing theory of memory held that its functions could not be localized to a single cortical area, that learning was distributed across the brain as a whole. By that theory built upon the experimental lesioning of the brains of rats a persons memory would be affected only in proportion to the amount of brain tissue removed, regardless of which brain structures the tissue was removed from. Milners first paper about Henry, along with her previous work, upended this view. She demonstrated, with elegance and rigor, that Henrys amnesia was profound possibly the most catastrophic she had ever seen and declared that it must have been a result only of the relatively small and specific bilateral lesions to his hippocampus and other medial temporal structures left by the operation. This was an astonishing revelation. It was not the last. Five years after Milners first paper about Henry, she published a second that was almost as revelatory. That paper documented Henrys gradual improvement over a three-day period on a difficult hand-eye coordination task. His improvement came despite his inability to ever remember his previous attempts at the task, indicating that there are at least two different memory systems in the brain one responsible for our conscious, episodic memories, the second responsible for task-or-skill related procedural memories and that these two systems seem to rely on entirely distinct parts of the brain. This was another fundamental step forward in our understanding of how memory works. Together, Milners two Henry-related revelations can be viewed as the cornerstones of modern memory science. After Corkin took over the research, the revelations kept coming, though now they were of a smaller scale. Corkin and her colleagues added fine detail to the portrait of Henrys damaged condition, filling in gaps, but the weight of their work could seem slight when compared with Milners monumental achievements. Corkin and her colleagues learned that if you placed a pain-inflicting device called a dolorimeter to Henrys chest, he wouldnt complain even as his skin began to turn red and burn. She learned that if you presented him with two dinners in a row, he would eat them both, because by the time he began the second he would have forgotten the first. She learned that he was apparently asexual and that there was no evidence of his ever even masturbating. She learned the ins and outs of his temperament, the frequency of his tantrums, the patterns of his infrequent complaints. She noted the odd exceptions to his amnesia, like the fact that Henry, after years of watching the sitcom All in the Family, eventually came to know that Archie Bunkers son-in-law was called Meathead. Corkin cataloged his verbal tics, his malapropisms, his stock phrases. Im having an argument with myself, Henry would say, over and over and over again. As the experiments piled up and the data accumulated, Henry became a boon not just to science but also to Corkins career. She started her own lab at M.I.T., and although she and her colleagues conducted research in a number of areas, the papers that generated the most attention were always the ones about Henry. When they first met, Corkin was a young graduate student in her 20s. She grew older. She became a renowned professor of neuroscience at one of the worlds greatest universities. Henry grew older, too, though he wasnt exactly aware of it. In Henrys later years, people were always asking him how old he thought he was, and he would make a series of guesses. Was he in his 30s, his 40s, his 50s? He had only the vaguest sense of the passage of time. Then someone might pass him a mirror and watch him gaze into his own elderly eyes. Im not a boy, he would say, finally. Henry died on a winter afternoon in 2008. The next morning, Corkin peered through a window into an autopsy room at Massachusetts General Hospital, watching as two men cut off the top of Henrys skull. For 46 years, Corkin had been having her one-sided meetings with Henry, endlessly introducing herself to an old friend. Now she was having one last encounter that only she would remember. The men carefully pulled out Henrys brain, and Corkin gazed at it through the glass, marveling at this object she had spent her career considering at one step removed. Later, reflecting on that moment, Corkin could think of only one word to describe her feelings. She was, she wrote, ecstatic. THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON This is some place, Mickey Rourkes slob cop says of the penthouse belonging to a television reporter. Situated in Dumbo before it was Dumbo, it has a panoramic view of the East River and its bridges. For this 1985 thriller, the director Michael Cimino commissioned his set designers to create an apartment at the top of an abandoned factory. The result is one of the great pieces of real estate porn it looked utterly unaffordable. Hence, the crisis is for the possibly envious viewer. After the movie wrapped, the site housed office space and eventually was developed and renamed the ClockTower building. And that apartment at the top? It was offered for $25 million in 2009. DO THE RIGHT THING The director Spike Lee has set and shot many of his movies in Brooklyn, but Do the Right Thing (1989) is the best known. A race-relations pressure cooker set on the hottest day of the year in Bedford-Stuyvesant, it makes a particularly trenchant comment on gentrification in one scene. Clifton (John Savage), a white, Celtics-jersey-clad possible yuppie, scuffs the new Air Jordans of the aspiring black activist Buggin Out (Giancarlo Esposito), touching off a confrontation in which the smug Clifton reveals he just bought a brownstone on the block. As I understand it, this is a free country, a man can live wherever he wants, he says, giving new meaning to the term neighborhood threat. STRAIGHT OUT OF BROOKLYN In Brooklyn, all we got is the streets. For Dennis (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.), the borough is a trap one he was born into. In this 1991 movie, Denniss desperation to get out of the Red Hook projects leads him to a series of bad decisions. The aerial views of a pre-Ikea Red Hook are relentlessly bleak. Mr. Lees Red Hook Summer (2012) depicted the neighborhood as a still-troubled spot coping with, among other things, upscale new businesses. THE SQUID AND THE WHALE A marriage breaking up is hard enough. In Noah Baumbachs 2005 film, set in the mid-1980s, Bernard (Jeff Daniels) also has to contend with exile from the literary, brownstone-filled Park Slope to a shoddy Ditmas Park frame house. This is nothing like our house, his son protests as a shared custody adventure begins. You mean your mothers house, Bernard insists. Its not clear whether Bernard sticks around long enough to see Ditmas Park become an it neighborhood. 5 FLIGHTS UP Theres something soothing about hearing the changes in Brooklyns neighborhoods described in Morgan Freemans Godlike tones. As this 2015 movie opens, his character, Alex, reminisces about moving into a fifth-floor walk-up in Williamsburg with his wife (Diane Keaton): To our friends in Manhattan, we might as well have moved to Nebraska. As the couple prepare to sell the apartment a fraught process that involves a stress-filled hunt for a new place Alex observes: Neighborhoods changed a lot. Its cool now. Filled with hipsters and gentrifiers. Brooklyn old-timers are apt to nod sagely, or angrily, as he speaks with quiet disdain of mothers with strollers that cost as much as a Chevy, and their banker husbands. KEAUHOU, HAWAII WHAT: A house with three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, with attached one-bedroom, one-bath guest quarters HOW MUCH: $1,250,000 SIZE: 2,745 square feet PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $455 SETTING: Keauhou is an unincorporated community on Kahaluu Bay, on the western side of the island of Hawaii. A beachfront area with surfing and snorkeling spots, the area also has historic significance, with heiau (Hawaiian temples) dating back as far as the early 15th century and a Catholic church built in the 1880s. This house is across the road from the bay on Alii Drive, which runs along the coast for about seven miles. A small shopping center is about a mile and a half away. INDOORS: The house was built in 1961 and updated over the past few years. It was designed by Lucky Bennett, an architect whose Asian-inspired houses can be found throughout the state. The exterior is gray wood siding with mahogany trim and a tile roof. The extensive interior woodwork floors, ceiling and wall paneling, trim and built-ins is a mix of koa, mango and mahogany, all refinished and preserved by the current owners. The house faces west, over the water; most rooms open to a lanai, or porch, and the stone courtyard surrounding a pool. The front door opens to the swimming pool and courtyard. Common areas include a living area, a dining area, a family room, a library and a sunroom. The living area has a pitched ceiling and white wood wall paneling; the family room has a wood-paneled ceiling and wall of wood-frame windows. A serving window in the kitchen opens to a breakfast bar that overlooks a koi pond. The rich wood wall paneling continues into the library. Alice Austen may not be a household name, but scholars of early photography or early feminism may be familiar with her remarkable life. Austen who was born in 1866 and died in 1952 is now the subject of a play, Alice in Black and White, that explores both her early passion for the then-exotic medium of photography and her long relationship with her lover, Gertrude Tate. Over the course of her life, Austen amassed more than 8,000 images, of which 3,500 survive. Her work includes intimate family portraits, but she grew into a pioneering documentary photographer, capturing images of workers on the streets of New York as well as visiting, for several years, quarantine stations, where ships full of immigrants were required to pause for inspection before being processed at Ellis Island. (The Staten Island family home where she spent her early years is now a museum devoted to her life and work.) Written by Robin Rice and directed by Kathi E. B. Ellis, Alice in Black and White was originally produced in Louisville, Ky., and is being revived for its New York premiere on the 150th anniversary of Austens birth. (Starting Sunday, Aug. 7, 59e59 Theaters; 212-279-4200, 59e59.org.) Proletariat Pizza Mike and Stefanie Albaeck, who have two young children, created a decidedly familial environment when they opened this pizzeria in 2009. It has a photo booth and play area to keep the young ones busy while their parents wash down New York-style slices with beer brewed down the street and admire local artists work on the walls. 9622A 16th Avenue SW, 206-432-9765, proletariatpizza.com. Big Al Brewing With folding chairs and weeds peeking out of the asphalt, this eight-year-old microbrewerys patio is inelegant but functional. Regulars a lot of bachelors and teachers, says the owner, Alejandro Brown host weekly barbecues (when its sunny out) and potlucks (when Seattles weather lives up to its soaking stereotype), enjoying delicious smoked porter that tastes like a mezcal float. The ways of airport security forces have been criticized in this editorial space before, usually after a study or statistic highlights Transportation Security Administration misconduct or ineffectiveness. Today we bring you a story of one travelers experience with Department of Homeland Security agents at LAX. The story is all the more chilling because it appears the agents were operating within the rules set out for them after 9/11 scared public officials into valuing zealous security over constitutional rights. On July 14, a Wall Street Journal reporter named Maria Abi-Habib landed in Los Angeles after flying from Beirut by way of Frankfurt, Germany. Abi-Habib, who covers the Middle East for her newspaper, is a U.S. citizen who was traveling on a U.S. passport. She came to Los Angeles to attend a wedding. As Abi-Habib tells the story on Facebook, she was in line for the immigration checkpoint when a DHS agent approached her. Sounding as if she knew a surprising amount about the journalist and her travels, the agent offered to help you get through the line. Soon the agent was leading Abi-Habib to a back room, where another agent joined them. They grilled me for an hour, Abi-Habib wrote, asking personal questions about herself, her family and even the wedding couple. I answered jovially, because Ive had enough high-level security experiences to know that being annoyed or hostile will work against you. But then she asked me for my two cellphones. I asked her what she wanted from them. We want to collect information, she said, refusing to specify what kind. Abi-Habib told the agents about her First Amendment rights and a journalists right to protect her sources. Did you just admit you collect information for foreign governments? she asked, her tone turning hostile, Abi-Habib wrote. No, thats exactly not what I just said, I replied, explaining again why I would not hand over my phones. The first agent handed Abi-Habib a document spelling out their right to seize her phones. So I called their bluff, Abi-Habib wrote. Youll have to call The [WSJ]s lawyers, as those phones are the property of WSJ, I told her calmly. She accused me of hindering the investigation. The agent went to talk with a supervisor. A half an hour later, Abi-Habib and her phones were allowed to leave. She never knew why the agents wanted the phones. Or why she was let go. Maybe because she hardly fit an Islamic-terrorist profile her full given name is Maria Teresa. For most of us, the surprising thing about this story is that the agent was technically correct about airport authorities power to search peoples possessions and digital devices, even without reasonable suspicion. Fourth Amendment constraints on searches and seizures dont apply to travelers at ports of entry and within 100 miles of borders. The DHS claims that a change in that policy would weaken security. Call it the latest example of homeland security endangering the constitutional way of life it should be protecting. Abi-Habib had the savvy and journalistic chops to deal with the DHS agents and to get her story out. But many people in her fix wouldnt. Wall Street Journal editors and executives and privacy advocates have justifiably criticized the DHS policy. It should be reviewed. PARIS Syrian opposition activist Noura Al-Ameer was combing through her emails late one night when a message caught her eye. The sender was Assadcrimes and he promised information about Iranian meddling in the Middle East. But the email seemed odd. Al-Ameer turned to her husband, cybersecurity trainer Bahr Abdul Razzak, in their small, book-cluttered home in the Turkish city of Gaziantep. Have you heard of this group before? Al-Ameer asked. No, he said. But let me check the email. Abdul Razzak, a fellow at internet watchdog group Citizen Lab, quickly determined that the group was bogus. The email, sent on Oct. 3 last year, was an electronic trap one of hundreds of malicious messages that have flown back and forth as rebels grapple with the government of Bashar Assad in Syria. This one had been aimed at snaring Al-Ameer in particular; the website registered by the hacker was in her name, suggesting an attempt to steal her identity. Al-Ameer is a well-known opposition figure, and stealing her data or her identity could have been the jumping off point to attack other Syrians in and out of the country. As Abdul Razzak and his colleagues tried to trace the hackers, they found a trail of digital clues leading to Iran. Their story detailed in a report issued Tuesday by Citizen Lab, an interview with the couple and conversations with outside experts raise the possibility that Iran has gone beyond sending men and materiel to tip the scale in Assads favor. The countrys hackers may have joined the fray as well. Its not a shock, said Al-Ameer, a 29-year-old who spent six months in Syrian government detention before moving to Turkey in 2013. Theyre fighting our people on the ground. I think its normal for any side that fights you on the ground to fight you on the internet. Evidence of an Iranian link is outlined in a 56-page report by Citizen Lab, based at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. The group has made a specialty of tracking the hackers whove dogged Syrias opposition, which lead author John Scott-Railton said had turned into something of a petri dish for threat actors in the Middle East. The report says those behind the Assadcrimes website appear to have inadvertently exposed their sites logs, showing evidence that its creators accessed it in part from the Iranian internet space. The site itself briefly hosted a Farsi-language email service, and a string of data recovered from the malicious code used to target Al-Ameer appeared to refer to a developer who runs a malicious software site registered in the Iranian city of Shiraz. The evidence isnt conclusive but it lets us think that were perhaps looking at a group thats operating from Iran, Scott-Railton said. He cautioned that it wasnt possible to say much about the groups potential sponsorship government or otherwise. Calls to Irans Embassy in Paris were not answered Tuesday. The hackers in Al-Ameers case appear to have made some mistakes. But Scott-Railton said those who target Syrias scattered opposition activists are only as sophisticated as they need to be. Many groups operating in the area, including the pro-Assad Syrian Electronic Army, have used very simple tools and persistent trickery to repeatedly compromise savvier targets. Not all hacking in a conflict looks like Stuxnet, said Scott-Railton, referring to the complex computer bug widely suspected of being unleashed by the United States to sabotage Irans nuclear program. What this shows is how powerful social engineering is. Al-Ameer said that, in a way, the hacking was scarier than when she says she was arrested and tortured at the hands of Assads security forces. When they arrested me, I was careful just to tell them what I wanted, she said. When they hack you, they will know everything without harming you physically. For our case, its more dangerous than arresting. Inside Syria or outside Syria, were not safe. Faherty, a beach-inspired clothing brand, will open its second California location Aug. 24 at Lido Marina Village. The companys other California location is in Malibu. The Lido store marks the brands fourth brick-and-mortar location. The centres (sic) one-of-a-kind waterfront locale coupled with our well-established online and wholesale presence made the decision to open our second California location here an easy one, said Faherty co-founder Alex Faherty in a statement. We are also excited by the caliber of like-minded emerging brands joining us in this historic shopping village. Beach culture is authentically inherent in our brands DNA and were enthusiastic it will resonate with the local community of one of Americas greatest beach towns. The lifestyle brand has men and womens clothing for $58-$250. The brand was launched in 2013 by twins Alex and Mike Faherty. The 625-square-foot Lido Marina Village store is at 3416 Via Oporto Suite 101. Contact the writer: hmadans@ocregister.com or Twitter: @HannahMadans SANTA ANA A homeless man shot by police in the Civic Center remained in critical condition Tuesday as authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Richard Gene Swihart, 32, was shot during a struggle with officers just outside the Central Justice Center in downtown Santa Ana at about 9:30 a.m. on Monday. Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said two officers from Santa Anas Civic Center Patrol Unit were trying to detain Swihart when he became hostile and tried to grab an officers gun, prompting the officers partner to fire multiple rounds. Swihart was taken to Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana where he underwent surgery, Bertagna said. Police released no further details Tuesday. The Orange County District Attorneys Office is investigating the shooting, as it does with all officer-involved shootings. Santa Ana police officers do not wear body cameras, but the department is in the process of implementing such a program. Scott Thomas, a criminal defense attorney, was walking to the back entrance of the Central Justice Center from a parking lot when he said he saw two officers trying to detain a man. The man, who was wearing shorts but no shirt, appeared to be resiting the officers, Thomas said. I had a weird feeling something bad was going to happen, he said. Thomas took out his cell phone to record the incident, and in the few seconds he looked down at his phone, he said he heard two gunshots. Thomas recorded the aftermath of the shooting. The video shows Swihart lying on the ground, crying out in pain, as the two officers detain him. (Note the video, linked here, has explicit language throughout.) Thomas said he cant say for sure what happened because he did not see the actual shooting. The incident comes amid growing concern over the number of homeless people crowded in the citys downtown Civic Center. Local homeless advocates estimate the number has grown by about 100 people to 500 over the past year. Orange County Supervisors Shawn Nelson and Todd Spitzer both said, on Tuesday, the problem and causes of homelessness extend well beyond the county and its control. Spitzer said the county needs more federal and state resources to adequately address issues and also needs partnerships with local nonprofits, churches and business to find solutions. Nelson noted that downtown San Diego has twice as many homeless people as the Santa Ana Civic Center. County plans are under way for an Anaheim warehouse to be converted into a permanent year-round homeless shelter. And the county is considering installing portable restrooms in the Civic Center. Staff writer Jordan Graham contributed to this report. Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com, 562-221-8798 Orange County prosecutors sought Tuesday to strike three pages from a recent state appellate court ruling that they say include irrelevant and unsubstantiated claims about their efforts to demand removal of a local judge from presiding over murder cases. The unusual legal challenge involves a 2-1 ruling last week by the 4th District Court of Appeal, which upheld the Orange County District Attorneys Offices right to disqualify Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals from the cases, a practice known as papering. While agreeing with the courts overall decision, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas motion Tuesday took issue with the parts of the ruling that assert his offices efforts to disqualify Goethals were abusive and disruptive of the court system. The appellate court also asked the state Supreme Court to revisit its nearly 40-year-old precedent that allows the blanket papering of judges, a legal tool that can be used by either a prosecutor or a defense attorney to systematically demand a judges removal from a case. Goethals repeatedly has ruled against Rackauckas in the ongoing controversy over improper use by police and prosecutors of jailhouse informants and the withholding of evidence. In March 2015, Goethals removed the entire District Attorneys Office from prosecution of Scott Dekraai, who gunned down eight people at a Seal Beach salon. That decision is under appeal. RELATED: Inside the Snitch Tank: O.C. jailhouse informant fallout Superior Court Judge Richard King, arguing that prosecutors retaliated by disqualifying Goethals from 46 murder cases, refused to accept any more peremptory challenges from the District Attorneys Office against Goethals. That led Rackauckas to cry foul, saying state law allows attorneys to disqualify judges who they believe are prejudiced against them or their cases. While upholding the practice, appellate justices agreed that blanket papering created chaos in the court system at a time of dwindling budgets. The justices invited the state Supreme Court to reconsider the decades-old precedent which would remove a large legal weapon from the hands of prosecutors statewide. Orange County prosecutors said in Tuesdays motion that there was no organized effort to paper Goethals and no proof of disruption of the court system or of abuse. They complained that there was never a hearing for deputy district attorneys to defend themselves against findings that they completed their paperwork in bad faith and committed perjury. Attorneys must file documentation of their belief that the judge is prejudiced. Prosecutor Brian F. Fitzpatrick wrote in the motion that he was inviting the justices to correct the record. Lawrence Rosenthal, a professor at the Dale E. Fowler School of Law at Chapman University, said Tuesdays legal action shows that Rackauckas and his deputies fear that the courts criticism could lead to repercussions. I think they have belatedly realized the real jeopardy here is that judicial criticism of their office may lead the Bar to undertake proceedings against the office, Rosenthal said. Other legal experts questioned the wisdom of potentially angering the appellate court, which is set to determine whether to give Rackauckas back the Dekraai case. This is another example of the District Attorneys Office engaging in unadvised litigation, Rosenthal said. Contact the writer: tsaavedra@scng.com A 25-year-old mechanic and loner from a small Czech town, who tried to travel to Syria in January, was charged Tuesday with attempted terrorism, in what the authorities said was the first known case of a Czech citizen trying to join Islamic State. This is the first time a Czech citizen has been charged with this crime, said David Unger, a spokesman for the regional court in Plzen, in the western Czech Republic, which will rule on the next steps of the mans detention Thursday. The case has stirred anxieties that homegrown Islamic radicalism may have migrated to Eastern and Central Europe. The regional prosecutors office in Plzen, which is handling the case, declined to provide further details. But Respekt, an influential Czech weekly that reported on the arrest this week, said that the man identified by the Czech media as Jan S. had been arrested at an international airport in Turkey after the authorities there found him carrying a plane ticket to a Turkish town near the Syrian border. The magazine reported that the man had told the police that he planned to enter Syria and join Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL. After Turkish authorities sent him back to the Czech Republic, he was repeatedly questioned by police officers before being arrested two weeks ago. He was initially charged with participation in an armed criminal group. Marian Brzybohaty, a terrorism expert from the Czech Police Academy, said it was not yet clear how the arrested man had become radicalized. Nevertheless, he said the case had punctured the notion that the Czech Republic was immune from homegrown radicalism. We dont know whether he had psychological issues rather than having been radicalized, Brzybohaty said. But as we have seen in Germany and France, people like this can carry out terrorist attacks and are no less dangerous. The case has raised alarm in the Czech Republic, where the populist leftist president, Milos Zeman, has been warning for months about the threat of Islamic radicalism. Last year, he cautioned that Islamic State jihadis must be crushed to prevent a super Holocaust. More recently, he suggested in an interview with the tabloid newspaper Blesk that Czechs should obtain guns to protect themselves against terrorists. If it is necessary, people will have to be ready for a situation where they will have to use those guns, he said. My wife has just got a gun license and has a proper revolver. So I hope she will protect me from terrorists. The Czech Republic would seem one of the least fertile grounds in Europe for Islamic State to seek to recruit Islamic terrorists. During four decades of Communist leadership in Central and Eastern Europe, immigration was relatively low, and there are none of the historical grievances that have helped radicalize youth in countries like France. The country has only 20,000 Muslims, a tiny fraction of a population of roughly 10.5 million. Immigration from Middle East countries is also low; so far this year, the Czech Republic has received 765 requests for asylum, a majority of them from Ukrainians, according to the Interior Ministry. Roughly 160 people from Iraq and Syria applied for asylum from January to June. What is extraordinary about this case is that the Czech Republic is the last place where you expect to find a homegrown Islamic radical, as there are few Muslims, said Jaroslav Plesl, the editor in chief of Mlada Fronta Dnes, a leading Czech newspaper. It illustrates just how powerful ISIS propaganda and ideology can be, even for a lost Czech kid living in a small town who has no known links to Islam. According to news reports, Jan S. came from Spalene Porici, about 60 miles southwest of Prague, where he had trained as a mechanic and worked for a company that makes car parts. The Czech news media reported that neighbors had been shocked by the arrest of a man they described as quiet, timid and hard-working. Local news reports also said that he was an obsessive player of video games, and that he may have become radicalized by watching Islamic State propaganda online. The news reports said he spoke neither Arabic nor English. Brzybohaty, from the Czech Police Academy, said Jan S. appeared to exemplify the lost youth who turned to Islamic State in search of a sense of identity and purpose. Propaganda by ISIS and other terror groups target frustrated people who might know very little about Islam but are seeking a path out of their difficult life situations, he said. These people are very susceptible. We have fortunately no experience with terrorist attacks, but I think its only a matter of time. A letter circulated by two South County mayors opposing a potential $889 million Capistrano Unified School District bond election has generated signatures from four other mayors, one city council member, a county supervisor and three state officials. Capistrano Unified touts itself as the top-performing large school district in California academically, but it has struggled with aging school facilities and lack of funds to perform needed upgrades, officials say. The district has a deadline of Aug. 12 to submit a bond measure for the ballot. A decision could come at an Aug. 10 meeting of the school board. In recent weeks it has appeared that a majority of trustees support creating a districtwide School Facilities Improvement District that would exclude the Rancho Mission Viejo development, which is being developed. The letter, put together by Mission Viejo Mayor Frank Ury and Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Tony Beall, says the district should have reached out to city officials several years ago about its plans for a bond measure and contends the proposal lacks specificity. In addition, we are concerned that we learned about this massive bond from our constituents and not from CUSD, the letter said. We urge you to determine realistic needs and exhaust all potential sources of funding before you go back to the taxpayers for more money. Capistrano Unified said it will continue to work with city officials and elected leaders, families and community members. The Capistrano Unified School Districtis committed to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars by diligently working towards a fair and equitable approach to meeting the Districts facilities needs and listening to the community we serve, CUSD said in a statement Tuesday. Instead of a general obligation bond that would include all schools within the districts boundaries, the proposed facilities district would exclude the future Esencia Elementary School in Rancho Mission Viejo. A district 2009 facilities master plan identified more than $800 million in needed upgrades. That study has been updated, and officials said the need worsened when the recession crippled the districts budget, leading to deferred maintenance. Mission Viejos City Council voted July 26 to oppose the bond measure, citing a lack of transparency between the district and city officials, as well as a lack of project details. Ury, a former Saddleback Valley Unified School District board member, took the July 28 letter to a meeting of other South County mayors last week, inviting them to join in signing it. At least one mayor, Pam Patterson of San Juan Capistrano, placed the letter on her citys council agenda this week for consideration. She was one of the mayors to sign the letter, along with mayors from Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel and San Clemente. A Dana Point council member also signed the letter. The Laguna Niguel City Council had a district presentation on the bond measure on Tuesday night. Mission Viejo officials have expressed doubts about the districts ability to manage such a large amount of money. Along with the $889 million in bonds, the district could receive $229 million in matching funds from a $9 billion statewide bond election, which would go to neighboring districts if the bond election is voted down, the district said. The facility master plan, viewable on the districts website, shows a map of each of the districts schools with areas color-coded to match the type of work the district wants done. But the maps dont specify what the district is seeking to accomplish in each project. Some maps show completed projects, like Capistrano Valley Highs performing arts theater, yet the total requested for the bond has not decreased. Mission Viejo Councilman Ed Sachs pointed to a concern not addressed in the master plan. Weve had plenty of problems with the parking at Capistrano Valley High School, yet not one parking structure is listed anywhere in the districts plan, Sachs said at the councils July 26 meeting. Capistrano Unified officials have said that being too specific at this point could hamstring the district later if problems arise over the course of funding. District staff reported that a survey in May found that 62 percent of Capistrano Unified voters would support an $889 million general-obligation bond measure if it were put on the ballot in November. But Mission Viejo council members said the questions were skewed to favor a positive response. The poll asked questions that most residents wouldnt say no to, Sachs said. Staff writer Erika Ritchie contributed to this report DENVER Like a shopaholic after a binge, the Dodgers returned from their midseason makeover and found some of the same problems waiting for them. Brandon McCarthy made it through just three innings, the latest in a long line of short outings from a Dodgers starter, and the Colorado Rockies piled on from there, handing the Dodgers a 7-3 loss Tuesday night at Coors Field. The San Francisco Giants also lost again Tuesday, leaving the Dodgers two games back in the NL West. It was pretty simple. Their guy gave them a good start. We dug ourselves a hole, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts summarized. Rockies starter Jon Gray only went five innings. But the Dodgers managed just two hits in that time and five overall, none from new right fielder Josh Reddick, who went 0 for 4 in his Dodgers debut but did make a nice diving catch in right field. And newly acquired reliever Jesse Chavez was one of the least effective pitchers of the night. Six of the first seven batters he faced as a Dodger reached base during a three-run debut inning in the sixth. But McCarthys poor start might be the most troublesome for a team in search of some stability in its starting rotation. It was the 23rd time this season and fifth since the All-Star break that a Dodgers starter failed to complete five innings (and the second consecutive start for McCarthy). Tonight was the first time of his starts we really saw him struggle the lack of command, the feel, Roberts said. I dont know if it was the altitude or the dryness but he just didnt have feel for any of his pitches. It was a struggle from the get-go. I think overall just the command hes had, the control of the fastball, the sinker, the breaking ball, the cutter that mix tonight just wasnt there. McCarthy did strike out the first batter he faced in the first inning but then sat out a 38-minute rain delay. When he returned, his struggles began. McCarthy needed 38 pitches to navigate that first inning, stranding the bases loaded. He got through the second inning without incident but gave up a run in the third and walked the first two batters of the fourth inning. At that point, he had thrown 85 pitches (only 48 strikes), walked five batters and only retired eight (one hit into a double play). Ive never felt like that on a major-league mound before, McCarthy said. Coming back (from Tommy John surgery), this process has been a lot of ups and downs. Some games the feels been off and Ive been able to get through. Today was the opposite. The feel just wasnt there. I tried as best I could to battle through it, but there were some horrifically bad pitches in there. It just felt very weird. I couldnt feel where my hand position was. It was like what you were trying to do with the ball you couldnt execute. You were at the mercy of where it ends up going out of your hand. McCarthy has been diligent about seeking feedback from other pitchers who returned from Tommy John surgery. One of the things he said they warned him about were times like this when the ball would feel foreign in their hands. He likened it to walking and stumbling and you dont know why. You think youre doing everything right and you look and the ball has shot somewhere else, he said. Usually youre accustomed to seeing a miss and you know what to do with your body to fix it. So the next pitch you make that fix but you realize what you were trying to fix wasnt there. For all of that, the Dodgers trailed just 1-0 when McCarthy left the mound. Roberts once again turned to a bullpen that has now thrown 140-1/3 innings over the past 34 games. It was 4-0 by the end of the fourth inning. The Rockies scored three times on just one hit a soft RBI single by Nick Hundley. Luis Avilan had trouble waking up from a nightmare inning during which he walked a batter, hit a batter (with the bases loaded) and committed an error on a sacrifice bunt. Two innings later, Chavez made his debut and allowed three hits, including a two-run double to Carlos Gonzalez and an RBI single to Mark Reynolds, and walked two. You know what our guys in the pen have done a fantastic job of taking the ball when asked, Roberts said of the burden the Dodgers starters have dumped on the bullpen. Its happened on certain days. Its not the way wed like it but weve still got to find ways to win. Theyve done it recently with an offense that averaged an NL-best 5.25 runs per game in July. But they were shut out for seven innings by the Rockies on Tuesday, finally breaking through in the last two innings on a two-run double by Justin Turner and a solo home run by Yasmani Grandal. Contact the writer: bplunkett@scng.com FULLERTON A Santa Ana man who chased down and stabbed an acquaintance to death over a $50 debt was convicted Tuesday of second degree murder. Jurors disregarded claims Mario Alberto Rodriguez was acting in self-defense when he killed 26-year-old Paul Anthony Garcia during a March 9, 2013 confrontation, instead convicting him of the murder and a sentencing enhancement for use of a deadly weapon. In the weeks leading up to the fatal confrontation, Garcia, who frequented the neighborhood where Rodriguez lived with his family, had agreed to sell Rodriguez an EBT card Garcia said had $200 on it. Rodriguez agreed to pay $50 up front for the card, promising to pay another $50 after he used it. It turned out the card was empty. According to Deputy District Attorney Jim Mendelson, Rodriguez, his father and his sisters boyfriend were standing outside their home in the 200 block of St. Andrew Place when they saw Garcia walk by. Multiple security cameras captured the three men chasing after Garcia as he ran through a bank parking lot, across a busy South Main Street and into the nearby El Chile Picante restaurant. Inside the restaurant, Mendelson said, Rodriguez tried to pull Garcia out of a booth before an employee told the two to take it outside. Surveillance footage shows the two men running back across Main Street and into a fenced-in parking lot behind a tax business. Several employees reported seeing the two men arguing and Rodriguez striking Garcia and shoving him up against a fence. Garcia was stabbed in the heart during the confrontation in the parking lot, before again crossing Main Street and collapsing outside a Zumba studio. No one reported seeing a weapon. Mendelson told the jury it was Rodriguez who had provoked the confrontation that ended with Garcias death. The prosecutor noted witnesses described Garcia as looking scared out of his wits. Rodriguezs attorney, Lee Gabriel, said it was Garcia who had pulled out the knife. The defense attorney said his client managed to get the knife out of Garcias hands. Rodriguez denied knowing exactly how Garcia was stabbed. Mr. Garcia was the person who brought a knife to a fist-fight, Gabriel told the jury on Monday. He decided he had enough and he brought out the knife. Rodriguez left for Mexico shortly after the confrontation, but returned several days later when it looked like police didnt have any leads, prosecutors said. He and his family soon left for Mexico again, this time for good, after police released to the media surveillance photos of Rodriguez and Garcia from inside the restaurant. Rodriguezs sisters boyfriend, Pablo Sanchez, turned himself in to police. Charges against Sanchez for felony accessory after the fact were reduced when he agreed to testify against Rodriguez. Rodriguez was arrested in Mexico in June 2013 and extradited to the United States. His father, Rigoberto, was also taken into custody, but because he is a Mexican national he was not extradited. A former Irvine resident, Garcia suffered from bipolar disorder and turned to drugs after the death of his son, Mendelson said. Garcia had briefly lived with his mother several months before he was killed, but at the time of his death was living on the streets. Rodriguez is scheduled to return to the Fullerton courtroom of Orange County Superior Court Judge Michael A. Leversen for sentencing on Oct. 7. Between the second degree murder conviction, the sentencing enhancement and an earlier strike, he is facing up to 36 years to life in prison. Contact the writer: semery@ocregister.com IRVINE With the deadline to pass bills weeks away, Californias housing director is traveling throughout the state seeking to bolster Gov. Jerry Browns fast-track housing plan. In a budget deal reached in June, legislative leaders agreed to support Browns plan to streamline the homebuilding approval process in exchange for backing $400 million for affordable housing development. But time is running out to get the plan approved, said Ben Metcalf, director of the state Department of Housing and Community Development. We are now in the final stretch of this legislative session, Metcalf said Tuesday in Irvine after meeting with nearly 50 Orange County business leaders, affordable housing developers and city officials. We want to make sure (Browns plan) doesnt get lost in the shuffle. To offset a severe housing shortage, Brown is seeking to give developers the right to build apartments and condos that meet existing zoning rules and that set aside 20 percent of units for low-income families or 10 percent when the project is near a major public transit stop. In those cases, the measure would eliminate local environmental reviews, giving developers the power to build by right. The real estate development community just needs certainty, said Lucy Dunn, a former state housing director and CEO of the Orange County Business Council, which sponsored Tuesdays meeting. You should have the ability to build what is planned and zoned. Getting the measure approved by the end of the month is far from a slam dunk, Metcalf said. Theres a good deal of support for Browns concept in the Legislature, he said. But theres also a fair amount of concern for just the specifics in the bill and the challenges politically of getting this done in the next month. One stumbling block is that local general plans and zoning rules could be as much as 30 years out of date, Metcalf conceded. The League of California Cities worries that developers can take advantage of outdated plans to get undesirable projects built. City and county associations have been pushing to use a portion of the $400 million to help local governments bring their general plans up to date. We realize some cities are not there yet, Metcalf said. Meanwhile, community and labor leaders from a newly formed coalition opposed to Browns plan picketed Metcalfs meeting in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, saying Browns proposal threatens existing affordable and rent-controlled housing units, replacing them with housing where just 1 in 5 units is designated as affordable. Housing advocates, building trades unions and environmentalists have joined together to put a stop to this proposal that takes away our local voice and environmental protections and gives us precious little in return, said Amy Schur, a member of the new Californians for Affordable Housing. A separate group opposed to the governors plan, the Coalition to Preserve LA, issued a statement Tuesday blasting the plan for undermining the California Environmental Quality Act. Browns plan, the statement said, benefits greedy developers in Orange County, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, San Diego and the Bay Area. We stand with the Sierra Club and top environmental attorneys, the coalitions statement said. Developers are the last ones who should decide on our health and neighborhood livability. In Irvine, two affordable housing developers complained that local reviews are creating a severe backlog in getting their projects approved. One project by the Jamboree Housing Corp. took 10 years to get to groundbreaking, said Jamboree President Laura Archuleta. If they had some by-right proposal our projects would have come online quicker, Archuleta said. Contact the writer: 714-796-7734 or jcollins@ocregister.com WASHINGTON A cash payment of $400 million delivered to Iran in January became part of the presidential campaign Wednesday, as Donald Trump seized on the money transfer as a sign of what he called the administrations failed foreign policy prompting a forceful White House rejection. Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said the payment to Iran was part of the resolution of a long-standing financial dispute between the two nations, and was delivered in cash on pallets because the two nations do not have a banking relationship. Earnest also denounced the assertions from some Republicans that the $400 million in foreign currency delivered to Iran was a ransom for four Americans released at the time. He compared the statements from Republicans to those of conservatives in Iran who oppose the nuclear agreement. The existence of the payment was disclosed in January, and Earnest dismissed a Wall Street Journal report Wednesday about the details of the cash payment as a six-month-old news story that is being pushed by opponents of the presidents nuclear deal with Iran. Its an indication of just how badly opponents of the Iran deal are struggling to justify their opposition to a successful deal, Earnest said. The report about the cash payments $400 million in euros, Swiss francs and other currencies flown to Tehran on a cargo plane quickly sparked condemnation from opponents of President Barack Obamas Iran negotiations, especially among Republicans. Trump, the Republican nominee for president, posted Wednesday on Twitter that the payments amount to a scandal for Obama and for Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and the Democratic nominee for president. Our incompetent Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was the one who started talks to give 400 million dollars, in cash, to Iran. Scandal! Trump wrote. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who has long been critical of the Iran nuclear deal, argued that the cash sent to Iran amounted to a ransom payment to get the detained Americans home. Obama administration sent plane load of cash to #Iran as ransom as part of deal on hostages. Just unreal, Rubio wrote on Twitter. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said in a statement that the cash payment shows that the Iran nuclear deal is nothing but a series of bribes and secret agreements that will do nothing to prevent Iran from reaching nuclear capability, yet will provide funding for their sponsorship of terrorism and encourage them to detain more of our citizens. Earnest denounced those allegations as a false claim that this is somehow a ransom payment and repeatedly said, Let me be clear: The United States does not pay ransom for hostages. He accused people like Rubio and Trump of seizing on the new details about the cash transfer to continue trying to undermine the nuclear agreement. They are once again in a position of making the same argument as hard-liners in Iran in an attempt to undermine the nuclear agreement, Earnest said. The dispute over the payment to Iran centers on a series of deals that emerged from negotiations between U.S. diplomats and Iranian officials that culminated in announcements in January. At the time, the United States announced a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program, but it also announced separate agreements to release four Americans held in Iran, and a third agreement to resolve a long-standing claim by Iran over money held in United States banks. The financial dispute involved money that Iran had sent to the United States in 1979 to purchase weapons. Those weapons were not delivered after the shah of Iran was overthrown, and the money was never returned to Iran, which had demanded in The Hague, Netherlands, that they were owed the money, plus interest charges. Obama has long argued and Earnest repeated Wednesday that the agreements were separate, although they were part of a U.S. effort to capitalize on improving relations between the two nations. On Wednesday, Earnest said that the news reports noting that the payments were made in cash did not bolster claims by critics that they amounted to a ransom payment. I understand the interest in details that make a more colorful story, Earnest said. But he added: Critics of the deal have lost this argument. DENVER Josh Reddick is in the lineup. Rich Hill is on the DL. Jesse Chavez is at Coors Field. So is Brock Stewart. Bud Norris is not. The roster dust is still settling from the Dodgers trade-deadline moves. Acquired from the Oakland As and Toronto Blue Jays respectively on Monday, Reddick and Chavez were added to the Dodgers active roster Tuesday. Ross Stripling and Yasiel Puig were optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to clear roster spots. GM Farhan Zaidi explained that Puig is technically on option waivers for the next 48 hours (thought not in danger of being claimed), a procedural move before he is assigned to OKC on Thursday. Puig will then have 72 hours to report. Norris also didnt make the trip to Denver. He left his start Sunday after only 13 pitches with back muscle tightness and stayed behind in Los Angeles to receive treatment. But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it is possible Norris could start Saturday in Los Angeles. That is if Hill doesnt. Also acquired from the As on Monday, Hill was transferred from their DL to the Dodgers but is eligible to be activated as soon as he is ready to pitch. A gash in the tip of his middle finger opened when a blister cracked just over two weeks ago. Hill played long toss Tuesday afternoon and will test his finger in a bullpen session Wednesday. How that session goes will determine when he will be ready to make his Dodgers debut. Zaidi said a rehab start is also a consideration to make sure the blister doesnt re-open once he starts pitching in a game. In the meantime, right-hander Brock Stewart has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City and will be added to the roster to start Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. That allows the Dodgers to push Kenta Maeda (Thursday) and Scott Kazmir (Friday) back a day. Stewart made his major-league debut for the Dodgers on June 29 in Milwaukee. He allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out seven in five innings. Tonights lineups: DODGERS (59-46) 2B Chase Utley SS Corey Seager 3B Justin Turner 1B Adrian Gonzalez C Yasmani Grandal CF Joc Pederson LF Howie Kendrick RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-1, 2.39 ERA) ROCKIES (52-53) CF Charlie Blackmon 2B D.J. LeMahieu RF Carlos Gonzalez 3B Nolan Arenado LF David Dahl 1B Mark Reynolds SS Daniel Descalso C Nick Hundley RHP Jon Gray (7-4, 3.94 ERA) In the end, it was an offer too good to pass on. After four years on City Council and the last year as Mayor, Jim Katapodis announced that he will not run for re-election in November to pursue a full-time job as a consultant with the states Peace Officers Standards and Training in Sacramento. Katapodis said the schedule and travel are such that he couldnt in good conscience devote the time needed for his council duties. Theres just no way I can do both, he said. Katapodis, 60, will also step away from positions with the Orange County Transit Authority and the Sanitation District. He starts the job in Sacramento in December. I will miss him because I think hes done a wonderful job, said Mayor Pro Tem Dave Sullivan, who has literally been Katapodis right-hand man at council sessions. A former mayor himself and a candidate in the upcoming election Sullivan had praise for the way Katapodis assumed the mayoral duties that rotate annually. We got very close, said Sullivan. He caught on real quick. A retired Los Angeles Police Department sergeant, Katapodis has worked part-time as an instructor with the Peace Officers group and said he had turned down full-time job offers from it in the past. It was a tough decision, he said of leaving. I enjoy what Im doing, but its a job Ive really wanted to do. Sullivan was also happy for Katapodis. Its an outstanding opportunity, he said. With the Peace Officers, Katapodis said he would be in charge of scenario management, which he said is about dealing with situations officers face in the field in everything ranging from burglary calls to suicides. Katapodis already teaches classes in the field and will help develop the curriculum and update literature. He said he will travel to Southern California frequently and plans to keep his Huntington Beach home. Katapodis departure opens up the race for a crowded field of candidates vying for three council seats that become available in November. Incumbents mayor pro-tem Dave Sullivan and Jill Hardy are seeking re-election, and nine other candidates have officially declared thus far. Katapodis said among his biggest moments so far include cutting the ribbon at the new Senior Center in Central Park, and the opening of the Pacific City mall. And he says hes not finished. Im not done yet, Katapodis said. People are already putting a nail in my coffin. SACRAMENTO Campaigns supporting and opposing Californias 17 ballot initiatives have reported raising at least $65 million from April through June, according to paperwork filed this week with the secretary of state. The vast majority of campaign fundraising typically occurs in the three months before an election. If that holds true, California could see a record amount spent on ballot initiatives this year. Here are some of the initiatives attracting the most fundraising in the last quarter: Pharmaceuticals fight drug-price bill Pharmaceutical companies reported raising $16.5million to oppose Proposition 61, an initiative to limit what the state can pay for prescription drugs, bringing the opposition campaigns cash on hand to a whopping $66 million. The only major contribution supporting the initiative to mandate that California pay no more than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does for prescriptions was $5 million from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Tax increases find friends, some foes An association of hospitals gave a $9 million loan to Proposition 56, the campaign for a $2 tax increase on every pack of cigarettes sold in California. Initiative supporters ended last quarter with about $10 million in the bank. Tobacco companies R.J. Reynolds and Altria affiliates gave $16 million to defeat it in July, after the quarter ended. A separate proposal to extend a tax on high-income earners through 2030 to benefit public schools and health care has drawn no opponents, but that hasnt kept supporters from fundraising. The California Teachers Association has given $13 million this year to support Proposition 55 and union groups gave another $900,000 from April through June, bringing the campaigns bank account to $14 million. Pro-pot fund raisers outpacing opposition Six separate campaigns supporting an initiative to legalize recreational marijuana received a total of $6.8 million from April through June, and have reported another $3 million since then. Law enforcement officers and anti-drug associations have given about $130,000 to a campaign opposing Proposition64 since April. Medi-Cal process foes still lag supporters Opponents of the proposal requiring voter approval of changes to hospital fees for state-subsidized health care revved up two campaigns with nearly $8million in contributions in the last quarter. But opponents $3.6 million cash on hand is still far less than the $18 million Proposition52 advocates have in the bank, despite receiving no contributions since March. Brown champions sentencing changes Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, contributed $2.6million from his ballot initiative committee for his proposal to expand sentencing credits in prison, allow parole for nonviolent felons and make other reforms to the state criminal justice system. The California Democratic Party, unions and a few individuals gave another $2.3 million to Proposition 57. No opposition campaign has been reported. Gun control measure draws donors A proposal by Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom to require background checks to buy firearm ammunition and prohibit large-capacity magazines reported $1.8 million in contributions from April through June, and received another $400,000 from Silicon Valley entrepreneur Sean Parker on July 1. Opponents of Proposition 63 reported contributions totaling about $200,000 last quarter. For years, the only entities with the power and resources to visit the moon were governments, such as the U.S., China and India. But thats all about to change: On Wednesday, a private spaceflight company announced it will be the first of its kind to conduct an independent moon landing. The launch by Moon Express Inc., a Florida-based firm started in 2010, marks the first time a commercial entity will be granted permission to leave Earths orbit for a destination in outer space. Moon Express or MoonEx for short plans to send a robotic lander to the moon, where it will drop scientific instruments that will help researchers study the mysteries of space. For example, the lander will be carrying several retroreflectors designed to reflect light back to earth; in the past, these devices have led to discoveries about relativity and quantum mechanics and in the future, could yield insights into dark matter, said MoonEx co-founder Bob Richards in an interview. While on the moon, MoonExs lander will also try to win a $20 million bounty being offered by Google as part of the Lunar XPRIZE competition. In order to win, a private entity must land on the moon, take off again, land more than 1,500 feet away from its original position, and send high-definition video and images back to earth. Wednesdays announcement marks a turning point for the rapidly growing commercial space industry. Firms such as SpaceX and Virgin Galactic have pioneered private space launches in hopes of making it much cheaper to fling heavy payloads into orbit. But MoonEx said it is the first company to obtain clearance from the U.S. government to venture beyond. MoonEx secured permission from the Federal Aviation Administration which oversees space launches that dont involve NASA or the Pentagon on July 20 after roughly three months of meetings with all three agencies, along with the White House, the State Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Because no commercial application process yet exists for visiting the moon, MoonEx had to persuade the government to grant it special permission. Promising to obey all the same space-related obligations governments must adhere to under international law, MoonEx also agreed to steer clear of any historical moon landing sites, such as the area where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin touched down during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. And MoonEx agreed not to interfere with any ongoing national or international space operations. In another several years, the process that led to MoonExs approval could be streamlined into a one-stop shop for businesses that want to visit the moon, said Richards. [Youll] walk up to an office to say, Id like to go to the moon, please, or an asteroid, and the clerk says, No problem fill out this form,' said Richards. Right now, theres no form and theres no single authority in the federal government authorized to make such a decision. When that process becomes more formalized, MoonEx aims to be far ahead of the competition, looking to make money carrying cargo to the moon and mining the lunar terrain for water and other resources. Then, said Richards, itll turn those resources into fuel that can be sold to other explorers, granting humanity even cheaper access to other parts of space. Water is the oil of the solar system, said Richards. Its a complete game-changer for the economics, because it makes the moon a gas station in the sky. To stand outside in the driveway of 2936 E. Chapman Ave. in Orange for any length of time is to feel the bludgeoning force of suburban anonymity. Platoons of cars blast along the throughfare, the width of an airport runway, with a cumulative rage that makes the mere thought of crossing the street a horrifying prospect. Signage on the other side identifies a gas station, food mart and strip mall anchored by the office of a psychic. The lone human figure, in stationary presence, has no place here. Just to your right, a horizontal stand of thick vines along a stucco wall forms a protective embrace around a modest, typically Southern California house with a terra cotta roof, as if to shield it from the punishing indifference of the surrounding landscape. A modest sign outside announces The Hobbit, the only notice youll see regarding the site of one of Orange Countys restaurant miracles. A lot of diners think theyre entering some kind of restored mansion when they show up at 7. Such is the transformation from an ordinary house (the upstairs bar is located in what was once a kids bedroom) into a cozy, elegant setting you might find at an expensive stop in southern France for those in the know. The illusion is deliberate. If you consider the leisurely, four-hour dinner the creme of European civilization, or of civilization itself, this is the place for you. Nothing is left to chance. In fact, you cant even walk in unannounced. There was a time you had to wait a full year for a booking. Now, three or four months is the standard, though if youre supremely lucky and theres no upcoming holiday or private party on the horizon, you just might get in under four weeks. If enough diners live up to their 11 p.m. post-cordial and dessert promise to come back, that just makes it tougher for new arrivals. The drill is this: At 7 p.m., guests arrive at the wine cellar, which stocks more 1,000 labels, for hors doeuvres and a flute of Champagne, over which they decide on the wine to have with dinner. Owner/chef Mike Philippi and his wife, Debra, help with the selection if needed. Then the party moves upstairs for a first course of fish or shellfish (on a recent menu: cherrywood-smoked Alaskan salmon with grilled baby asparagus and chanterelle mushroom jasmine rice with bacon) followed by fowl or light meat (fire-roasted lamb sirloin with stewed white bean cassoulet and merguez sausage), and a salad (braised Belgian endive on a bed of frisee with Thai basil vinaigrette, blood orange and grapefruit supremes, crumbled Gorgonzola and toasted walnuts). A break or intermission follows, for guests to sit out on the patio, visit the chef (the entire staff is friendly), or just chill outside. A palate-cleansing sorbet clears the way for the main course, with vegetable, followed by dessert and liqueurs. The Hobbits Yelp page includes 266 mostly boisterous reviews and, as a kind of pictorial samizdat, plenty of savory cellphone shots of entrees like sea bass with saffron risotto and basil, and chocolate lava cake with torched Italian meringue and salted caramel Grand Marnier sauce, enough to exact a twisting sensation of cruel and unusual punishment in the solar plexus of an epicure without a reservation. With some modification for changing tastes and dining habits, this has been the way The Hobbit has been run since 1972, when a Long Beach couple named Howard and Beverly Philippi, both chefs and Francophiles, decided to scout Orange County to stake a claim on behalf of the culinary good life. In Orange they discovered a Ukrainian place called Ukramata, a former residence situated on what was once an orange and avocado grove, and went into a partnership to make it essentially what it is today. The choice of J.R.R. Tolkiens mythic little tribe as a name says something about the spirit of the enterprise. The Hobbits, reads the legend by the door, love peace and quiet (and) dislike machines they like to laugh and eat (six meals a day) and drink they like pranks and the giving and receiving of presents . It took off rather quickly, says Mike Philippi, 63. Women were entering the workforce then and enjoyed the chance to not have to cook. There wasnt much fine dining in Orange County. Chez Cary, Ambrosia and the Villa Fontana were all pretty much what we had and were situated close together. By 1973, the place was booked every night it was open (the prix fixe charge was $14.50; now its $86). The wine component came from Philippi-peres drives north to Napa Valley to bring back cases of Californias best (he later opened his own vineyard); and to add to the sense of adventure, you entered through a storm door in the back. Now, a more conventional side entrance and foyer gain you access to a central location. Ninety per cent of restaurants now are corporate-owned, Philippi says. They have no personality. This is the opposite of an In-N-Out burger joint. You can come here expecting a dining experience. Like many kids who grow up in a family business (my parents believed in child labor), Philippi tried other jobs, such as working an airplane production line as a teenager. But some of his early tutelage came at the hand of European chefs, and it wasnt long before he came drifting back, beginning as a waiter at Cafe Lafayette in Orange County and then a stint in Saratoga. By the late 70s, he knew where he wanted to be, and bought the restaurant from his parents. The kitchen is home to him, while Debra deals with everything out front. The young staff is attentive and informed. They stay with us, Philippi says. We put a lot of kids through college. Mike McKinney, 33, is the impeccably turned-out house manager and head sommelier. He was a philosophy major at Biola University, but wryly observes, Philosophy is not a lucrative profession. This restaurant is a landmark, he says. It speaks to people who want more than a rat race, or rushing around doing things with no purpose. Sharing a good time over food and wine is one of lifes great pleasures. Contact the writer: Got a favorite local restaurant thats decades old? Email lrchriston@hotmail.com Anthony Prieto stepped into the shoes of a police officer Tuesday night and came out visibly shaken and with a new perspective. The 27-year-old Anaheim resident decided to try a police training simulator at a Twila Reid Park event that showed a first-person point of view of an officer at a crime in progress. He came out with new respect for what officers go through daily. Man, I look at what they go through differently now, he said. I really respect what these guys do every day for us. The virtual reality demonstration was showcased during Anaheims National Night Out, an annual meet and greet. Law enforcement from Anaheim, Huntington Beach and around Orange County were out in force for the 33rd event, which comes as a series of high-profile police-civilian clashes and officer killings have led to nationwide protests and distrust between police and the public. President Barack Obama last month gathered law enforcement officials, community activists and politicians, including Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, at the White House to discuss constructive methods to resolve the escalating issues and ways for police and communities to work together. With everything going on in the nation right now, we need to continue to strengthen our relationship with the communities we serve, Anaheim police Chief Raul Quezada told a crowd of about 1,000. Sgt. Daron Wyatt said that the timing of this years event was perfect and that the campaign is a good way for police officers to meet one on one with residents. This is the time we come together as a unified group, he said. Officers gave pointers on how to correctly install a baby seat. McGruff the Crime Dog walked around taking photos with kids. High-powered guns and heavy body armor that SWAT officers use were on display. Maria Torres, 27, came with her 5- and 8-year-old boys. She said she wanted to expose them to good police officers who are positive role models. All they hear about are the bad cops, she said. I want them to know that there are good officers who help keep us safe. Bryan Baltazar, 17, a Western High School senior, was at the SWAT booth to learn how to become a SWAT team member. I want to do something that helps protect people, he said. In Huntington Beach, hundreds of residents showed up outside a Target store on Adams Street. There was free food, face painting, balloon animals and booths from a variety of local groups. Police brought motorcycles, the K-9 and horse-mounted units, search and rescue, and the SWAT teams Ballistic Engineered Armored Rescue (BEAR) vehicle. Officer Kurt Stoecklein and Grace, a 16-year-old mare, were on hand. Stoecklein said it was important to be at the event, just building relationships and being able to interact out of the patrol environment. Amy Anderson, 40, of Huntington Beach brought daughters Kacey, 6, and Sidney, 4, and family friend Bobbie, 6. It was their first National Night Out. Its fun for the kids, she said. You just want them to have a good relationship with the police. Although relationships between police and the public may be strained, police at Tuesdays event said residents have been nothing but positive. Stoecklein said residents have come to the station, bringing brownies and flowers. After the July 7 sniper attack that killed five law enforcement officers in Dallas, Huntington Beach residents set up a makeshift memorial to support police. Especially in the last couple of months weve seen a lot of support, he said. Police Chief Robert Handy sees benefits for residents and police to see each other in positive situations, since they often meet in strained circumstances. There has never been a more important time to connect with the community, he said about contact in the wake of tragedy. When things are going well, we tend to get comfortable. But its especially important when the community is reaching out to us. Contact the writer: 714-796-2443 or jpimentel@ocregister.com Twitter: @OCDisney Californias June presidential primary election is now just a memory, long ago subsumed in the news by vice presidential derbies, political conventions, politicians gaffes and violence at home and abroad. But why did taxpayers have to cover the primary election costs for those political parties that did not let all voters cast a ballot in their contests? In June, Democrats and Greens allowed anyone registered as either a Democrat or without party preference to vote in their primaries, although there were a few hoops for non-Democrats to jump through. Republicans and a couple of minor parties did not. They ran completely closed affairs, with no one not registered as a party member allowed to vote. This meant barely 27 percent of registered voters could participate in the Republican balloting, which turned out to be no big loss for anyone, because Donald Trumps significant opponents all dropped out weeks before the vote. But why should the 68 percent of voters eligible to vote on the Democratic side have to contribute to the costs of running the Republican primary when there was no way for them to participate even if they wanted to? The parties say that was because by holding a primary, they did a public service. Wait a minute: That service was only for the relative few who chose to become members of the GOP. Compare this to the top-two primary system used in all California primaries except those for president. Anyone registered to vote, regardless of which party, if any, they choose to join, can vote for anyone on the ballot. Thats a truly public event, as opposed to the private nature of a closed primary. It is arguably a far greater public service, too, because it offers all voters a chance to select whichever candidate they like unlike a closed primary that denies most voters the right to participate. No one has yet broken out the cost of any one partys presidential primary from the overall costs of staging elections, mailing out ballots and then counting those that are cast. But the closed California primaries this spring surely cost many millions of dollars. Nationally, the New York-based Open Primaries organization pegged the cost of closed presidential primaries at $287 million. Of course, both major parties would love to keep all their primaries closed. Thats why they sued (and won) in the late 1990s to throw out the so-called blanket primary system approved by California voters in 1996. That setup, like top-two, allowed all voters to choose any candidate they liked, but separated vote counts by party, so that all qualified parties were guaranteed a place on the fall ballot in each race they entered. Four years later, the Supreme Court upheld arguments from both major state parties claiming it was unconstitutional for non-party members to help choose party nominees. This left open the route taken by top-two, where the runoff election candidates are not chosen by party, but simply by being one of the two leading vote-winners in a single primary. Thats why this fall California will see 28 races with both candidates from the same party. This kind of selection process winnows out candidates who dont draw many votes, but still could pull enough to distort the final outcome if they were on the November ballot. It all harks back to the days when there were no primaries and parties chose their candidates in state and national conventions (now reduced to elaborate pep rallies) in smoke-filled rooms. Primaries are actually bad public policy, said Richard Winger, who runs the newsletter Ballot Access News. Were the only country in the world that lets the population decide the candidates. Yes, things might be smoother for presidential candidates if they didnt have to slog through up to two years of campaigning before the first primary. But primaries make politicians accountable to the public, where accountability is only indirect when the parties pick their own leaders. The bottom lineis that primaries do make sense in a populist-oriented America, but forcing the public to pay for closed primaries does not. Fortunately, Californians now face that fundamentally unfair situation only once every four years. SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic Heavy rains and strong winds bore down Monday on the Dominican Republic from a strengthening tropical wave that has caused at least six deaths in the country. The system, which was moving south of the country in the Caribbean Sea, knocked down power lines Sunday near the northeastern town of Nagua and started a fire that killed six passengers on a bus filled with people returning from a beach excursion. At least 12 others on board were injured, according to Diego Pesqueira, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Conditions from the system may have also caused a tour boat to overturn near the Samana Peninsula on Sunday. Authorities recovered the bodies of three people and said four others were still missing. Military spokesman Arsenio Maldonado said a small craft advisory was in effect at the time but a cause of the incident has not yet been determined. The Dominican Emergency Operations Center said that 19 of the 32 provinces were on alert for potential flooding as the system continued to pass south of the country. The Jamaica Meteorological Service advised small vessels to return to shore as the storm moved west with strong winds and heavy rain. It said that flash flooding is likely across the island as a result of the storm, especially in low-lying areas in southern Jamaica. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the system appeared to be on a track toward Central America. If the system strengthens, it could be upgraded to Tropical Storm Earl. Of course Donald Trump is allowed to criticize his opponents, but to denigrate women is unacceptable. Mr. Trump has repeatedly taken stabs at women, and when that failed to ignite hate, he turned to Muslims. His latest attack on a mother of a fallen soldier who gave his life to protect our country is a new low. Then he stooped further by assuming that Mrs. Khizr Khan was probably not allowed to speak. The American Muslim Womens Empowerment Council would like to invite Mr. Trump to a Womens Rights in Islam for Dummies, in case, God forbid, he assumes the presidency of the greatest nation on earth. We will remind him to look at the annals of history and find names such as Benazir Bhutto and Sheikh Hasina, former leaders of Muslim majority nations. In the end, this is the same rhetoric that Mr. Trump has been using from day one, anti-woman, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, be it Megyn Kelly, Rosie ODonnell, or Judge Gonzalo Curiel, the hate will continue. But do not for a moment assume that American Muslim women do not have a voice. Anila Ali Irvine President, American Muslim Womens Empowerment Council Re: Cleveland and Philly: A Tale of Two Cities [Opinion, July 31]: Carl Cannon and the mainstream media seem to have been duped by the Muslim father who held out his copy of the Constitution to Donald Trump. Islam and our Constitution are incompatible with one another. The demand for Sharia courts is a prime example of this incompatibility. The act of holding out a copy of the Constitution may have added a moment of drama, but it was no more than a total farce. Harald G. Martin Anaheim Re: GOP legislators, vets groups criticize Trump [News, Aug. 2]: The Register ran an article with many prominent Republicans disavowing Trumps trashing of Gold Star parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan and the heroism of their deceased son, Capt. Humayun Khan. Cited, among others, were GOP Sens. Kelly Ayotte, John McCain and Roy Blunt, who all offered rebukes of Trumps statements. What the article failed to mention was that these senators continue to support him for president, clearly still putting party ahead of country. America deserves better than Donald Trump and those who support him. Bill Fleming Mission Viejo Moments before Bert Wilmers drew his last breath, Jessie Valencia whispered her vow to him. Senior, if its time to go dont worry about your wife. I promise I will take good care of her as long as my health allows me. It was a promise she kept for 15 years, until Babette Wilmers died in June at age 94. Valencia, 76, was employed as a caregiver for the Wilmers at The Towers in Laguna Woods Village since 2000. From the time she came to them in debt and struggling financially her relationship with the childless couple deepened. They were like parents to me, Valencia said, eyes brimming. They were Gods channel of blessings so Ill have a better life. Now, Valencia plans to return to her native Philippines, where she will open a senior daycare center in their honor. She plans to call it B&B Senior Center for Bert and Babette. The need for such facilities is huge, she said. In the Philippines, elders live out their final years with a son or daughter. But nowadays daughters are working, too, and the elders often are left alone all day. Her center will fill that gap, she said, offering a place for them to go for companionship and a hot meal. I want to give back, Valencia explained. I came from a very poor family and I never expected this (good fortune). Valencias son Jesvin, 44, said the family isnt surprised she is taking on this project. Its a wonderful thing shes doing. She has a real passion for caring for people young and old, and especially for the elderly. She doesnt hesitate to give of herself and her time. A former administrator of board and care homes, Valencia has done her homework. Shes talked to physicians and visited area senior centers. Blueprints for the single-story building have been drawn, and the license to operate the facility is in process, she said. Her budget for the project is $60,000 money she was able to save from the generous salary Babette Wilmers paid her, she said. The late Mr. Wilmers said When youre free of debt I want you to save your money and invest, Valencia said. A few years ago she and her husband, Vicente, now 87, purchased a working farm in the Philippines, where her family grows and sells corn, rice, bananas and dragon fruit. On her salary, she was able to send seven nieces to college in the Philippines, she said. When the Valencias needed money for Jesvin Valencias college tuition in America, the Wilmers gave her a loan. In 2012, when Vicente Valencia had to return to the Philippines permanently, Babette Wilmers rented an apartment for her caregiver near her. She said, Jessie, I want you to have your life, even if its only for two days a week. I didnt pay a penny at the apartment for four years, Valencia said. In turn, Valencia was Babette Wilmers constant companion and devoted friend. For 15 years, she gave Babette daily massages to ease her discomfort from the lymphoma that was in remission until April. Jessie was always one of the group so we all got to know her, and we all loved her, said Mina Landy, 100, a friend of the Wilmers. I think Babs was very good to her as far as salary and money. They more or less took care of each other. Valencias eyes grow wide when she talks about her plans for the center. She has set March 29, 2017 Babette Wilmers birthday to break ground. God created me for a purpose for service, Valencia said. Even back home, thats gonna be the next chapter of my life. Contact the writer: 949-837-5200 or jkarmarkar@scng.com An Anaheim woman in her 60s is the first Orange County resident to test positive for West Nile virus this season and she remains hospitalized in serious condition, the county Health Care Agency said Wednesday. The unidentified woman was admitted to the hospital in July. As of last week, three other Californians had tested positive according to the state Department of Public Health. Although mosquitoes carrying the virus have been found in 16 cities, Anaheim, La Habra, La Palma and Santa Ana have emerged as hot spots so far. Public health officials urged residents to prevent breeding and bites to avoid transmission. Last year there were 97 human infections in Orange County and eight deaths. The Health Care Agency said most people who become infected dont experience symptoms but about 20 percent will develop a fever and may have headache, body aches, nausea, tiredness and sometimes a skin rash. More serious symptoms, such as severe headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, muscle weakness or paralysis require immediate medical attention. People over 50 and those with certain medical conditions are at increased risk of serious complications if they contract the virus. Contact the writer: cperkes@scng.com 714-796-3686 In a move that has energized those who have been advocating for womens equality in the Catholic Church, the Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Francis has set up a panel to study whether women could serve as deacons, a role long reserved for men. The 12-member commission of six men and six women includes priests, nuns and laywomen. The announcement came after Francis told superiors of nuns orders in May that he intended to set up such a commission. Sister Jayne Helmlinger, general superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Orange, said she was very happy to hear the Vaticans announcement. Pope Francis has been vocal about the desire to be inclusive of women and how to expand our sphere of influence and participation, she said. While such an announcement from the pontiff can cause great excitement in local parishes, it is necessary to proceed with caution, said Frank Chavez, director of the Office of the Diaconate at the Diocese of Orange. Its a really interesting issue, he said. But it is something that we need to study, pray and take our time. Married men who serve as deacons can preach and preside over weddings, baptisms and funerals, but only priests can celebrate Mass. There are 125 active deacons in Orange County and about 17,000 deacons nationwide, Chavez said. Deacons serve as conduits between their parishes and the community, Chavez said. They take the grace of the altar to the streets and bring back the needs of the street to the altar, he said, adding that deacons wives are collaborators with their husbands and are as involved in programs and projects. Today, women cant perform sacraments in church, but they do hold critical positions that shape the church, said Ryan Lilyengren, spokesman for the Diocese of Orange. He gave the example of Shirl Giacomi, the dioceses chancellor, who has remained in that position for more than a decade. The head of Francis newly created commission is Archbishop Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, a Jesuit who is the No. 2 official at the Congregation of the Faith, the Vatican office entrusted with ensuring doctrinal orthodoxy. But the fact that the commission has Phyllis Zagano, an author and academic from Hofstra University in New York, is an encouraging sign, said Father Sean Dempsey, assistant professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She is a scholarly expert on the role women deaconesses served in the earliest years of the Catholic Church, he said. Her inclusion in the commission tells me that there will be a true openness to this process, that its not just symbolic. Im happy about this step forward, said Jon OBrien, president of Catholics for Choice and an advocate for womens ordination in the church. Of course, Id like the pope to go further. But the reality is that when it comes to women, Pope Francis has a blind spot. Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com Chinas very first airplane restaurant was recently unveiled in Wuhan. Named Lilly Airways, the unique eatery is located in the cabin area of an old Boeing 737. Businessman Li Liang acquired the aircraft from Indonesian airline Batavia Air, in May 2015, but then had to go through six months of exhausting custom procedures in order to get the aircraft into China. Demounting, port, shipping, business license, trade declarationall these procedures were never done by anybody before, which means I had to go through them one by one, Li said, adding that the Boeing 737 had to be disassembled a total of eight times in its four-month journey from Indonesia to Wuhan, China. Getting the plane split into parts that then had to be packed in around 70 containers and shipped multiple times apparently cost the eccentric businessman a whopping 3 million yuan ($452,325). Add that to the 5 million yuan ($5.28 million) he paid for the plane itself and you have one of the most expensive restaurants in the world. After finally setting up the airplane restaurant on the Optics Valley Pedestrian Street, one of the busiest shopping areas of Wuhan, Li is ready to welcome curious diners and airplane enthusiasts. The restaurant is located in the cabin area of the airplane, and the cockpit has been converted into a flying simulator where patrons will be able to experience what its like to fly a passenger jet. Li said that a dinner at Lilly Airways is priced between 200 to 300 yuan ($30 $45) per person, while the cockpit plying simulation will set flight enthusiasts back 300 to 400 yuan ($45 $60). Pretty steep, but I suspect it will be a while before this place turns a profit. Photos: VCG via China Daily Fraser Seitel Her arch critic Rush Limbaugh dubs her, Nurse Ratched. Her doting supplicant Lanny Davis calls her, the best friend and the best person I have met in my long life. Somewhere between those two extremes lurks the real Hillary Clinton. After two-and-a half decades in public life as First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State and presidential candidate and countless attempts by image consultants, marketing experts, public relations strategists and Hollywood pals to make her over, Clinton remains one of Americas most polarizing political figures. According to recent polls, 55 percent of the American public has an unfavorable impression of her. And while thats still not as bad as Donald Trumps unfavorable numbers (70 percent), its still bad for someone seeking to be President. So, the question that has dogged her for 25 years remains as she seeks the highest office in the land, namely: How can Hillary Clinton become more likable? The latest proof that Hillary likeability still eludes Clinton was her performance at the Democratic Convention. The speakers immediately preceding her keynote address her husband, President Obama, his wife, Vice President Biden, even Mayor Bloomberg set her up perfectly to deliver the historic speech of a lifetime. And she botched it. Most commentators including the friendly ones considered Hillarys speech to be underwhelming, pedestrian in text and dispassionate in delivery. Certainly not the stuff of which history is made. So what does Mrs. Clinton do over the next 100 days to convince her countrymen that she is not at all the ogre her enemies proclaim nor the cold fish that many less hostile but equally skeptical observers accuse her of being? Here are three quick fixes for interviews, debates and speeches that might move the likability needle. Stop trying so hard Whether youre Aaron Burr or Hillary Clinton, people just like you more if you look like youre enjoying yourself. It indicates confidence. Indeed, people close to Hillary Clinton and not just the sniveling toadies like Lanny Davis swear that in real life and small groups, she is downright warm, fun-loving and personable. That rarely comes across in her interviews and hardly ever in her speeches, where she seems forever on edge. Even when she delivers a laugh line, as she did at the convention Trump spoke for 70-odd minutes and I do mean odd it more often than not comes across as stilted, canned an inauthentic. And so do the mountain of cliches that lard her speeches, vacuous phrases like We will work together so we all can rise together, or We will rise to the challenge, just as we always have, or hackneyed quotes like The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Such hoary rhetorical sound bites may work for a more gifted orator like Barack Obama, but they sound hollow and forced coming out of the mouth of a mediocre speaker like Clinton. Better would be for Hillary to relax, forgo the cliches and speak confidently to her policy and substance strength, without appearing to try too hard. Think real people In her travels, Hillary Clinton has met thousands of people with thousands of stories, many of them gripping tales of courage and fortitude. Invariably, when she refers to these people in interviews and speeches, they fall flat. Such was the case in Philadelphia, when Clinton referred to some of the brave people she had known, who had preceded her on stage at the convention. People like Ryan Moore and Lauren Manning I first met Ryan as a seven-year-old. He was wearing a full body brace that must have weighed 40 pounds because I leaned over to lift him up. Children like Ryan kept me going when our plan for universal health care failed Lauren Manning, who stood here with such grace and power, was gravely injured on 9/11. It was the thought of her, and Debbie St. John, and John Dolan and Joe Sweeney, and all the victims and survivors, that kept me working as hard as I could in the Senate on behalf of 9/11 families. Rather than taking time to recount these intimate meetings, provide texture of the special heroism of Ryan and Lauren and reveal the feelings she, personally, felt at the time, aka showing some emotion, Mrs. Clinton, instead, briefly alluded to their ailments, glossed over the particulars and leapt right to her own resolve to get things done; thus reinforcing the notion that Hillary Clinton is aloof, cold and most likely, calculating. To combat such missed opportunities, she should be reminded daily by her advisers to take a moment to think about these people, themselves, before opening her mouth. If she really is as compassionate as her friends insist she is, then this momentary pause will do wonders to enhance the impression she leaves with listeners. Stop hectoring Suggestions that Hillary is too shrill and that she hectors and browbeats her listeners usually result in knee jerk charges of sexism and double standard. And it is true, of course, that when it comes to ranting, Donald Trump is the biggest bully ever to (dis)grace the American political stage. But the fact remains that Mrs. Clintons propensity to badger is off-putting at best, self-defeating at worst. It gives her critics ammunition and her supporters agita. For example, look at her acceptance speech and see how she chose to ram home applause lines like, Americans dont say, I alone can fix it; we say, Well fix it together! and Freedom and equality, justice and opportunity. We should be so proud that these words are associated with us! Then compare those lines with the equally-explosive phrase, Mothers who lost children to violence and are building a movement to keep other kids safe. Hes forgetting every last one of us. While the former are delivered harshly in a shouting tone, the latter are delivered more softly, compassionately and, I would say, persuasively. The point is that Hillary doesnt need to holler to convey concern and commitment. And she shouldnt. Mrs. Clinton concluded her acceptance speech by saying, Americas strength doesnt come from lashing out. Strength relies on smarts, judgment and cool resolve. Were I her communications advisor, thats the line Id tack on the bulletin board and remind her of whenever she ventures out in public. * * * Fraser P. Seitel has been a communications consultant, author and teacher for 40 years. He may be reached directly at [email protected]. He is the author of the Prentice-Hall text The Practice of Public Relations, now in its 12th edition, and co-author of Rethinking Reputation and Idea Wise. Heineken is preparing to get its Mo on this month as proud partner of moustache growing charity event Movember. Now in its fourth year, the campaign sees gentlemen around the country grow genuine, hand-crafted moustaches to raise awareness for mens health and raise funds for the Irish Cancer Societys Action Prostate Cancer initiative. To celebrate Movember, Your Heineken, Heinekens customisable bottle service, invites Mo Bros and Sistas to create a moustache themed masterpiece. The winning design, as chosen by the public, will be produced as a limited edition Your Heineken bottle and will star at Movember events across Ireland at the end of Movember, as well as being showcased to a global audience on Movember.com. The winning Your Heineken bottle designer, will also win VIM (Very Important Mo) experience at a Heineken Cup match and Heineken Green Spheres gig. Wannabe artists can take inspiration from Movembers 2011 theme which sees the urban man venture into the outdoors with his moustache masterpiece. Its 100% Face Grown and 100% Hand Brushed. Entries to be submitted by Movember 15 to www.yourheineken.ie What is Movember? Moustache season is open! At the start of Movember, Mo Bros and Sistas register at Movember.com, Mo Bros start the month clean shaven and then have the remainder of the month to grow, flow and show off their Mo raising funds from friends and loved ones for their efforts. To browse the gallery of customisable Heineken bottles available to have delivered straight to your door visit www.heineken.com Access to justice is a key pillar towards the eradication of violence against women and girls. It contributes to break the circle of violence, provide adequate reparation to victims, and transform the circumstances that make women and girls vulnerable to violence. Enhancing the efforts of judges in protecting the rights of women and girls is essential in this process. That is the purpose of a toolkit developed by OHCHR Guatemala, which seeks to promote a human rights approach and the inclusion of a gender perspective in the administration of justice in cases of femicide and other forms of violence against women. The toolkit provides guidance to judges and magistrates when analyzing cases of violence against women, femicide, exploitation and trafficking in persons, said Alberto Brunori, Representative of OHCHR in Guatemala. It compiles good practices identified in rulings issued by national courts as well as international human rights standards. The objective is to put the victim and her rights at the forefront of every judicial decision, he added. The toolkit is the result of a close collaboration between OHCHR Guatemala, the Supreme Court of Justice, the School of Judicial Studies and the Specialized Justice Follow-up and Evaluation Unit of the judiciary, with the support of the OHCHR Gender Unit in Geneva. The toolkit will be used as a guide in the interpretation of international treaties, in accordance with national legislation, said magistrate Ranulfo Rafael Rojas, President of the Supreme Court of Justice. We consider judges will find it very useful in order to issue rulings and decisions with a gender perspective he added. A previous study conducted by OHCHR concluded that specialized tribunals on femicide and other forms of violence against women have substantially reduced impunity in the country. However, as specialized courts are currently present only in 11 of 22 departments of Guatemala, judicial authorities and OHCHR also identified the utmost importance of enhancing the capacities of judges from ordinary tribunals. Training them on how to better apply a gender and human rights perspective in cases of femicide and other forms of violence against women would definitely contribute to the overall national effort in reducing impunity in such cases. This toolkit () is a key contribution, as research shows that gender stereotypes and gender-blindness can greatly influence the way in which the credibility of victims is assessed and crimes of violence against women understood, often resulting in impunity, said Veronica Birga, Chief of OHCHR Women's Human Rights and Gender Section. This toolkit will help us to identify the appropriate international standards in a concrete case, and what is more important, how to use them to recognize the rights at stake and take adequate measures, said judge Leticia Alvizuris, of the tribunal of femicide and other forms of violence against women in Guatemala. With the support of OHCHR, the School of Judicial Studies organized four initial workshops for ordinary and specialized criminal judges in Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango, Zacapa and Chiquimula to explain the use of the toolkit. Authorities of the School expressed their commitment to integrate the toolkit in the programs of initial and continuous training for judges. The School of Judicial Studies has a very important role () to play in promoting that rulings with gender perspective be issued throughout the country, said Dora Lisseth Najera, the Schools coordinator. The number of judicial decisions in cases of femicide and violence against women has increased in the last years, mainly due to the work of specialized tribunals. According to the Judiciary, in 2015 these courts issued 4,149 verdicts, compared to 3,628 in the previous year. To strengthen these positive results, the High Commissioner has recommended that Guatemala should adopt institutional policies to assure specialized trainings for judges on violence against women, as well as to expand the coverage of specialized tribunals, providing them with sufficient resources to work efficiently. 3 August 2016 Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... The Walking Monk made a stop in Omaha on Tuesday as part of his journey across America to celebrate his faith and promote an active, healthy lifestyle. Its about going back to the basics, Bhaktimarga Swami said. Like Gandhi said, a simple life, high thinking. I see this as doing both of those things. Swami, 63, is a Hindu monk from Canada. He is walking from New York to San Francisco to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Hare Krishna religious movement, which emphasizes spiritual well-being and clean, simple living. Swami changed his name from John Peter Vis when he became a monk in 1973. He wears an orange robe and black Crocs on his feet. He considers walking an ideal form of exercise, he said, because anyone can do it, and it allows time for self-reflection. This tour is broken into three parts. He started last fall in Boston, went to New York, then into Pennsylvania. The second leg started again in Pennsylvania over Mothers Day weekend and took him to Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Nebraska. He arrived in Omaha on Tuesday. Next up is Grand Island on Wednesday, where hell stop his journey before completing the third leg of the trip next summer. Swami, who also practices yoga, said he started walking long distances to get away from the chaos of the world. He has walked across Canada four times. Hes also trekked through Ireland (he said it was wet), Israel (dry), Ghana (hot) and Trinidad (humid). It hasnt been easy walking through the Midwest, he said. Swami usually gets up at 4 a.m. to beat the heat and averages about 20 miles a day. Its been a hot, sweaty summer, he said. Contact the writer: 402-444-3100, maggie.obrien@owh.com Its amazing that more Westerns arent set in Nebraskas Sand Hills. With its stark, brutal beauty, the Sand Hills are the perfect backdrop for dusty tales of horses and heartbreak. It just looks like a heck of a place to stage a shootout. Omaha-born author Jonis Agee, 73, has set three of her books there. And she loves to show the rest of the world this singular spot. One January, I took my editor from New York into the hills, Agee said. We stopped the car, and she said, Oh, my gosh. Its so quiet. I think she was a little nervous and scared that nobody was around. I think thats the beauty of it. Its so rare to find places that are that empty anymore. Agees latest book set in the region is The Bones of Paradise, on sale today. The Bones of Paradise is a family saga, a period epic and a mystery. It takes place several years after 1890s massacre at Wounded Knee, when the 7th Cavalry killed more 200 Lakota men, women and children. The book begins with the murder of a white rancher and a young Sioux woman. Their deaths bring out their respective families, who have past ties and harbor long-held secrets. Rose, sister of the murdered Sioux woman, vows revenge. The killings appear to have ties to Wounded Knee. Agee, a best-selling and New York Times Notable author of about a dozen books, has been writing The Bones of Paradise for a long time. Its her first book in nearly a decade. Now the book is getting raves from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and best-selling authors like Ron Rash and Stewart ONan. Agee isnt just pleased. Shes relieved. When you write a book, you have no idea how its going to be received, she said. Usually, I have a sense of how things are going to turn out, but this time, I just didnt know if anyone cared about any of this material. She laughed. Were from Nebraska for gosh sakes! Agee cited Willa Cathers anecdote about how a New York critic responded to O Pioneers!: I simply dont care a damn what happens in Nebraska, the critic said, no matter who writes about it. But Agee, who lives on an acreage north of Omaha, continues to give a damn about Nebraska. And Iowa. And Missouri. I basically write about the three places of my life, she said. And those are Missouri, where my family is from; Iowa, where I spent a significant amount of time in school; and Nebraska. I just thought, Thats what Im going to write about for my life. Agee long ago planned on three books for each state. She laments that shes behind on Iowa. Shes only done one there. Though she grew up in Omaha, she said that shes always had a strong connection to the Sand Hills. She and her sister used to own land there. They planned to build a house at one point, but it never happened. They ended up selling. But Agee returns when she can. Its her lonesome, mixed-grass muse. She got the idea for The Bones of Paradise while traveling through the Sand Hills up to the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Indian Reservations, where she learned more about the area and the massacre at Wounded Knee. I was so profoundly affected by it, she said. For writers, there are stories that come to you, she said. And you dont know when youre going to use them or if youre going to use them, but if they stay long enough, you do use them. This story stayed with me. It wouldnt let me go. Her new book is propelled by the murder mystery at its core. But Agee said that all of her books are mysteries, in a sense. I think of every novel as being both a love story and a mystery, she said. You can decide which to emphasize. And the mystery is sometimes not as overt as a murder mystery. I know this sounds cliche, she said, but I think of most of life as a kind of mystery. To me the mystery is that really dark corner of our hearts. How that is in all of us. How we serve it or how we repress it, how we have to fight against it and how some people are happy to give into it. I feel like all human beings are involved in that very delicate balancing act. And say youre writing a book about this struggle of good and evil being waged in every heart. And say youre looking for the right setting for such a tale. Agee knows a place. The Bones of Paradise Jonis Agee will sign copies of her new book at 6 p.m. Wednesday at The Bookworm, 90th Street and West Center Road. The book was published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, and is on sale starting today. In Omahas Little Italy, he was impressed by the Blue Barn Theatre at 10th and Pacific Streets. The buildings low bar houses the theater and the Via Farina restaurant, while the buildings tall bar houses condominiums that overlook the neighborhood. The combination? Innovative. Its just gorgeous, said Jeff Speck, Washington, D.C.-based city planner and author of Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time. In Omahas Blackstone District, he congratulated the developers and residents of the area for their successful effort to turn Farnam Street, from 36th to 42nd Streets, into a two-way street after a 50-year stretch as a one-way road. Speck, accompanied by officials from the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, took an afternoon tour of the area Monday and found plenty to commend: downtown Council Bluffs, Omahas Old Market, Little Italy, Midtown Crossing and the Blackstone District. Speck, on a mission to make Americas cities more walkable, has plenty of company. Health officials, business owners and city planners say walking is key to helping urbanites shed pounds, support local businesses and renew downtrodden or abandoned urban areas. Without people on the streets, storefront businesses and restaurants can have a hard time, and the sense of isolation can feel dangerous, Speck and others say. A more walkable city is more vibrant and livable and, as a result, more attractive to future residents especially young professionals, said Karna Loewenstein, coordinator of the Heartland 2050 summer summit, held Tuesday at Creighton University. Speck was the featured speaker at the summit, coordinated by MAPA, which is a voluntary association of local governments. Heartland 2050 is an effort of the agency to make plans for what the region wants to be over the next 30 or 40 years. In the Blackstone District, Speck was greeted by local merchants and by Jay Lund, principal of GreenSlate Development, which is helping develop the commercial and residential district near 40th and Farnam Streets. Lund has said the redevelopment was fueled by the growth of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the need for places for its workforce to eat, shop and live. Lund told Speck that the community faced planning and funding obstacles when developers and local businesspeople sought to change Farnam Street from a one-way street to a two-way street from 36th to 42nd. Supporters argued that the decline of the business district began, in part, when the street was changed to a one-way thoroughfare a half-century ago. Locals persevered, and in late 2014, the change took place. The project, which cost $677,000, was funded by city government, private donors and the Blackstone Business Improvement District. Now look, said Lund, standing outside a coffee shop and pointing up and down the street. Those businesses wouldnt be here without the change. The switching of the one-way street was much of the catalyst for what the Blackstone District is today, he said. It makes it much more walkable. But it isnt all roses along the citys sidewalks, Speck said. High on his list of changes that would improve Omahas walkability: Narrowing standard 12-foot traffic lanes in Omahas downtown core to 10 feet. Studies suggest wider lanes fuel drivers exceeding the speed limit, while smaller lanes encourage them to slow down, Speck said. Use the extra space to add parallel parking on either side of the street or bike lanes, he told more than 200 people who attended Tuesdays summit. Adding parallel parking not only gives a place for potential customers to park their cars, he said. Those parked cars also can act as a barrier to traffic, making pedestrians, shoppers and sidewalk-cafe dwellers feel safer when theyre strolling or sitting, Speck said. That suggestion was an eye-opener for Kerry Kernen, chief of community health and nutrition services at the Douglas County Health Department. With lower speeds and a protected sidewalk, narrower lanes could add up to fewer car-pedestrian accidents, Kernen said. When he talked about the width of those lanes I had no idea, she said. Turn as many of the citys downtown multiple-lane one-way streets as feasible into two-way streets. Two-way streets can help boost an areas business and retail scene, with more traffic helping to create a destination for shoppers and pedestrians, Speck said. Meanwhile, on the big question on many peoples minds as ConAgra Foods vacates some of its riverfront campus, the city begins demolition of the old Ricks Cafe Boatyard and a deep-pocketed cadre of philanthropists is said to be mulling ideas for the area: What will happen to Omahas riverfront? Dont fret, Speck said. Omaha is coming along swimmingly. Very few communities with riverfronts have good riverfronts, he said. Riverfronts, historically, have been used for transportation, energy generation and polluting cities threw all their trash in there, Speck said. Its been a gradual evolution of American cities to focus on this natural amenity. As for locally, he said: It looks like Omaha is on the way. Overall, Speck said, there are lots of opportunities for walkability in Omaha not just the downtown. Reacting to Specks speech, Julie Reilly, executive director of Omaha By Design, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the citys potential by improving its physical environment, said its time for the community to have a more pointed conversation about making the Omaha area more walkable: Not just downtown, but in the suburbs and in-between. Said Blackstone developer Lund: I think he is dead-on. He offers simple solutions. Contact the writer: 402-444-1142, janice.podsada@owh.com Q. Im starting my first job after college, and everyone says I should start saving for retirement already. Should I? How do I do it? A. One day you will be old, and you will need money. Thats hard to absorb when youre young and healthy and rightly concerned with curating a compelling Snapchat story. Its also a drag to lock up your money in a retirement account when youre just getting used to having more than $10 in the bank. But now that you have a job and youre figuring out what to do with your paycheck, saving for retirement is possible and spoiler alert critical. A simple life expectancy calculator told me I will probably live to 86. My Italian grandmother is healthier than I am, and shes 93. Weve all got to plan for life after we stop working, even if its hard to tell exactly how long well be around. In your early 20s, you can save a little money now to have a lot of it later. Heres how to be financially secure when youre old, gray and crossing the globe on luxury cruises in oversized sunglasses. TAKE A DEEP BREATH. YOULL GET SOCIAL SECURITY. Dont worry: Social Security will not run dry by the time you retire, though it isnt bringing in enough revenue to pay you 100 percent of what youre supposed to receive in retirement. The most recent Social Security Administration annual trustees report says that after 2034, retirees will probably receive about three-quarters of the amount theyre promised, which is still a nice chunk of money. Changes to Social Security policy could mean a bigger benefit or a smaller benefit later on, but you shouldnt discount it altogether. Like many other variables in the retirement savings game, its hard to predict how much youll earn and be able to save on your own. But with Social Security in your back pocket, you wont be on the hook to save every penny yourself. According to the Social Security Administration, the benefit will likely replace about 40 percent of the average earners pre-retirement income. Get a gold star in retirement preparedness and use a calculator to see a rough estimate of your monthly Social Security benefit. GO FULL STEAM AHEAD ON YOUR 401(K) Even though Social Security will be there, it wont cover all of your expenses in retirement. Contribute to a 401(k) at work, if one is available to you, to help make up the difference. Thanks to the beauty of compound interest, you can save $100 a month in a retirement account starting at 22 and end up richer by 65 than if you started saving $200 a month at 32. Theres often an extra incentive to sign up: Almost three-fourths of employers match at least a portion of workers contributions to their 401(k)s, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Its also increasingly likely your company will do the enrollment work for you, Jean Young, senior research analyst at the Vanguard Center for Retirement Research, told me. Two-thirds of millennials in retirement plans joined because their employers enrolled them automatically when they started, she wrote in a 2015 Vanguard report. You dont even have to pick your investments. You can choose a target-date fund based on the year you plan to retire, which will reduce the risk in your investments as you age. If you cash out before you retire, though, youll pay major fees and lose out on years of growth. Unless it is truly your undying passion from birth, dont take that money out of your 401(k) to buy a boat, said Timothy LaPean, a financial planner in Minneapolis. NO 401(K)? FLY SOLO WITH AN IRA A 401(k) is great if youve got one, but fewer than half of full-time employees ages 18 to 29 have the option to contribute to workplace retirement accounts, according to the Pew Research Center. If your company doesnt offer a 401(k), or you work part time or freelance, youre on your own but youre not without options. Young folks like you often opt for a Roth IRA, a retirement account you can set up online or through an investment broker or an automated financial adviser (often called a robo-adviser). As long as you earn taxable income thats less than $132,000 annually as a single person, you can put away up to $5,500 a year and watch it grow the longer you let it sit there. Because a Roth IRA is a long-term savings account, not a Caribbean vacation fund, youll be rewarded for waiting it out with the ability to withdraw your money tax-free after age 59. That makes a Roth different from a traditional 401(k): You contribute to a 401(k) before taxes are taken out of your paycheck, so youll be taxed once you start using that money in retirement. Set up a monthly automatic transfer from your checking account to your IRA, or sign up for your 401(k) the minute Human Resources hands you that stack of forms to fill out. Then you can gleefully check off one more item on the Adult Responsibility List. Contact the writer: Askbrianna@nerdwallet.com He strapped on his 9 mm Glock, went to a former girlfriends home and tried to prevent her current boyfriend from entering. He then claimed self-defense as he shot the man after the man shoved him against a wall. A jury rejected that defense. Jurors deliberated about five hours Tuesday before finding Carl Heng, 25, guilty of manslaughter and weapon use in the August 2015 shooting death of Robert Rob Lane at the Enclave Apartments near 99th and Q Streets. A slight man with curly brown hair, Heng dropped his head to the defense table and quietly cried as a clerk read the verdict. Several courthouse attorneys were impressed with how quickly the jury of eight women and four men dissected the bizarre case involving two young men who, at different times, had dated the same woman. Lane, 25, who had been drinking, was walking up to the building where he shared an apartment with 22-year-old Aubrey Strong. Earlier in the evening, Strong had texted Heng that she was afraid of Lane. So Heng blocked the path of Lane, who was unarmed, as he tried to enter the front door. An argument. A shove against a wall. Two gunshots. And Lane was dead. The case pitted two fundamental rights against each other: a mans right to bear arms versus a mans right to enter his own home. Prosecutors Tressa Alioth and Jennifer Meckna had pushed for a second-degree murder conviction. They said they were pleased that the jury rejected Hengs claims of self-defense. Under state law, manslaughter occurs when someone is killed during a sudden quarrel. All of this was completely unnecessary, Alioth said. You cant be a person whos afraid and then uses your gun to cope with the fears you make up in your mind. An appeal is likely. Hengs attorney, Stu Dornan, had called Heng a hero and said he had legitimate fears. What he did that night was heroic, was justified and was what all of us should inspire to do, Dornan told jurors in closing arguments. He gave his utmost for Aubrey Strong. The case which played out in a five-day trial involved two men who couldnt have been further apart in personality but who had a woman in common. Strong had dated Heng, then Lane while living in Omaha. Her father, a former Newman Grove, Nebraska, police chief, has described her as the kind of person that thinks she can fix everybody. Strong, whose previous boyfriend died in a car wreck in December 2014, dated Heng while both worked at First National Bank in the spring of 2015. After they broke that off, she met Lane at the Picklemans sandwich shop where he worked downtown in June 2015. She invited him to move in with her at the Enclave Apartments. Heng, who had attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, had worked as a supervisor in the fraud prevention department at First National Bank. A quiet young man, the 25-year-old Omaha native took his handgun with him everywhere he went no different from his wallet or cellphone or keys, Dornan said. He had taken classes in 2012 to obtain his permit to carry a concealed weapon and constantly carried the gun in a holster strapped to a belt. His friends described Heng as a peaceful, responsible young man. By all measures, Lane, 25, had had a tough upbringing. At the time he met Strong, he was in a three-quarter recovery house for addicts. He had battled addiction to methamphetamine and alcohol. He had served time in jail for a misdemeanor assault on his father. But Lanes Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor described Lane as a kind, funny young man who had made strides in addressing his substance abuse and anger issues. Friends testified that they had not seen him act erratically after entering a Salvation Army treatment program early in 2015. Then came Aug. 24, 2015. According to court testimony: Lane had been on edge that day, which was the eve of the one-year anniversary of his fathers death. He smoked marijuana and drank until he was legally drunk. Strong testified that Lane had been acting strange that day. He blamed her for his lost wallet and kept confronting her about it. Lane then had an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. After that meeting, he brought an AA friend to the apartment to meet Strong, his new girlfriend. Over the course of that day, she said, they argued. He fired off expletives at her. She left. He wouldnt let her get in her car. She returned to the apartment and hid in a closet. He punched a hole in the door of the closet. Strong said he pushed her up against a wall, then followed her as she crawled to a kitchen. Strong tossed her car keys to Lanes friend. Lane and the friend left. Strong said that Lane never punched her or hurt her. Even so, she said, I was petrified. After Lane left, Strong sent a text message to Heng, her former boyfriend. If I send you a blank message, it read, call the cops. For real. Heng and Strong then traded texts and phone calls. She testified that she was more scared than shed ever been in her life. The initial plan: pack an overnight bag and her cat and get out of the apartment. Maybe stay at Hengs. Heng told her to meet him at a convenience store between their apartment complexes. But Strongs alarm seemed to subside in later texts. At one point, she told Heng she was just going to stay in the apartment, in the closet. Heng told her that wasnt a good idea. Lane, in the meantime, had called Strong. Lane and Strong argued on that phone call for a while before Lane closed the call with, Im sorry. I love you. Ill be home soon, according to a friend who overheard Lanes end of the conversation. Lane arrived home. Heng, who was waiting in his car with his handgun in its holster, said he called Strong and told her Lane was home. She went from kind of like you know ... normal to like terrified, Heng told a detective. Heng followed Lane into the complexs parking lot. Heng got out of his car first. Lane got out of the car and began to walk to the front door. Heng said Lane looked at him and said, Hey, how are you doing? in passing. Heng positioned himself between Lane and the front door. He told Detective Eugene Watson that Lane pushed him. I said, Man, dont go in there, Heng recounted. What are you doing? Back up. Back up. Back the (expletive) up. Lane ignored him, getting his keys out to open the outside door of the complex. Both sides had vastly different views of what happened from there. Dornan said the evidence is consistent with Hengs version to police that Lane had his hands near the collar of Hengs T-shirt. He pushed me up against the wall and I was just terrified, Heng told a detective. I thought he was going to pull out a knife or something and stab me here or knock me out or punch me in the face, I dont know. ... He comes across as someone whos, you know, that grew up on the wrong side of town. You dont just lunge at someone like that. Heng demonstrated to a detective how he took his gun out of his holster and literally shot from the hip, with his hand pressed to his side. I just knew that I was in danger and I drew my gun and from right here fired (twice) and then he fell. Prosecutors disputed Hengs account. Alioth pointed out that no gunpowder residue was found on Lane which means Lane was at least 2 feet and as much as 5 feet away from the muzzle of the gun. However, Heng had told police that Lanes entire weight was against me. I was pinned up against the wall. ... He was touching me ... his full weight against me. Watson, the Omaha police detective, questioned Heng on the night of the shooting and asked him why he felt the need to pull the trigger. I was, I was up against the wall, Heng said. I felt I had no other options. I was afraid of him. I was afraid of what he could do to me. Watson noted that Heng and Lane were roughly the same height and weight. There was nothing in his hands, the detective said. Hes not punching you. Hes not choking you. Wheres the threat? I want to know what was the threat to you. Heng: It was him. Heng paused, then added: I thought he was going in there and kill her. Watson: Carl. Heng: I really, I really, I really thought that he was. ... Watson: You cannot scare yourself into using deadly force, Carl. You cannot say, Oh my God, hes going to go in there and kill her, let me just take him out now. You cant do that Carl. COUNCIL BLUFFS - Four of the top motorcycle builders in the United States will bring their newest creations to Council Bluffs. Rebels Uncaged will stop on Thursday, Aug. 4 at Hy-Vee, 1751 Madison Ave., as part of its Upper Midwest Tour, which starts in St. Louis; also stops at Hy-Vee grocery stores in Kansas City, Missouri, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and ends at the Sturgis motorcycle rally. The free events runs from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Hy-Vee. Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon is organizing the tour. Fletch Buchman, brand manager for Rebel Yell, said Analog Motorcycle of Chicago; Revival Cycles of Austin, Texas; Gasser Customs of Hollywood, California; and Classified Moto of Richmond, Virginia, will each bring a custom-made motorcycle to Council Bluffs. These are award-winning builders, Buchman said. They are some of the bigger ones in the business. Classified Moto built a motorcycle that is used on The Walking Dead. According to organizers, the builders have also had custom-made motorcycles appear on Jay Lenos Garage. Buchman said along with seeing homemade motorcycles up close, attendees will receive Rebel Yell merchandise and an opportunity to enter a motorcycle giveaway. The Rebels Uncaged giveaway is a nationwide contest in which four people will win a custom-built motorcycle. Along with signing up at Thursdays event at Hy-Vee, motorcycle lovers can visit rebelsuncaged.com to become a Band of Rebels member and to enter the contest. The event is also a food drive. Attendees are encouraged to support the Council Bluffs-Omaha metro area by donating non-perishable items such as canned fruit and vegetables, boxed meals, peanut butter, pasta and sauce, macaroni and cheese and cereal. Also, donations of toiletries, such as soap, shampoo, deodorant and toilet paper are also welcomed. The items can be donated at the outdoor motorcycle viewing tent. Many of us dont think of hunger as being a prevalent issue in the summertime, but for families that are struggling financially, it is an especially difficult time of year as children are not eating meals at schools said Angie Grote, communications manager at Food Bank for the Heartland. Thank you to Rebel Yell Bourbon, the Madison Avenue Hy-Vee and to members of the community for supporting the Food Bank and helping our Heartland neighbors in need this summer. Buchman said the motorcycles are truly one-of-a-kind and in some cases a way to salvage a used bike. The new trend in the industry is to purchase a old bike, customize it and rebuild it, he said. These are amazing machines, and were going to give them away in September. Buchman said he wouldnt be able to bring the custom motorcycles to Council Bluffs without the support of Hy-Vee. He also hopes to collect a lot of donations for the Food Bank of the Heartland. According to its website, Food Bank of the Heartland is a nonprofit organization that acts as a central clearinghouse through which donated and purchased food helps hungry individuals, families and children. Food is distributed to more than 530 nonprofit network partners in 93 counties in Nebraska and western Iowa. Food Bank for the Heartland distributed more than 13 million meals and served over 250,000 different people in need in the Heartland. A parade float featuring a Hillary Clinton lookalike wearing a prison jumpsuit and being pelted with water balloons left some in Arcadia, Iowa, laughing and others grumbling Saturday. The Clinton character was inside a cage hauled through town during a parade celebrating the centennial of the Arcadia Fire Department, according to photos published by the Daily Times Herald newspaper of nearby Carroll, Iowa. Clinton is the Democratic candidate for president and the first woman nominee of a major party. The Carroll paper reported that Kyle Julin of Manilla, Iowa, and two other area men, Josh Reetz and Adam Corky, built the float. Corky served as the Clinton impersonator. Only one group booed us, Julin told the Daily Times Herald. My consensus from that was 99 percent to 1 percent liked it. The Carroll papers story depicted a young boy running into the street, taking aim and hurling the balloon toward the float, and then walking away with the prideful smile of a job well done. Tim Tracy of rural Carroll, chairman of the Carroll County Democratic Central Committee, told The World-Herald that he found the float inappropriate. It is not appropriate to be handing water balloons to little children and inviting them to throw them at such a display, Tracy said. Im sure there are some that wondered, Why is that lady in a cage? Why are they being mean? Why are they throwing water balloons at her? Julin estimated that his group handed out about 400 water balloons during the parade. As for those who might take offense, I mean if they do, they do, Julin said. We believe if Hillary gets in, itll be bad for moving our political agenda forward. ... Also, it wasnt just kids, there were a bunch of adults grabbing water balloons and cheering. Craig Williams, chairman of the Carroll County Republicans, said the local GOP had nothing to do with the float but did publish photos of it on Facebook. Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds Diane Battiato is appealing the Douglas County Boards decision to grant tax-exempt status to retail stores of Goodwill Inc., Habitat for Humanity and Salvation Army. And she wants the county to hire a lawyer to argue her offices case. Battiatos office had recommended denying the three groups applications to be exempt from property taxes. Her staff concluded the properties are being used as retail stores and therefore should pay property taxes. A majority of Douglas County Board members, acting as the County Board of Equalization, disagreed. They voted 6-1 in May to grant tax exemptions to the stores. The board came down on the side of the nonprofit groups leaders, who said the stores supported their organizations various missions. They dont really make any profit, and if any money is made it goes back into the organization, County Board Chair Mary Ann Borgeson said. Battiato countered that its not about the organizations they do good work for the community but about how the store properties are used. The test for exemption is how the property is used, Battiato said. Theyre used as retail stores. She said her staff researched the Salvation Army and Goodwill thrift stores and Habitats ReStore. We got some good research. We got pictures. Theyre used as stores, Battiato said. Her staff recommended denying exemptions because the store properties are not used for charitable, education or religious purposes, as state law requires for property tax exemptions. After the County Board rejected her recommendation on the stores, she decided to exercise her option to appeal the boards decision to the State Tax Equalization and Review Commission. We talked about it, and we felt it was a wise decision to pursue, because it makes sense, Battiato said. Its unclear when the state commission might hear the case. Such an appeal is not unprecedented. Battiatos predecessor, Roger Morrissey, appealed County Board decisions to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission at least twice. On Monday, County Board members were served notice that Battiato is asking a Douglas County District Court judge to appoint a lawyer, at county expense, to make her offices case to the commission. Battiatos petition in District Court says that her office has only one attorney, Mike Goodwillie, and he will be a witness in the tax equalization commission case. And the County Attorneys Office would have a conflict of interest, because it represents the County Board. The Assessor/Register of Deeds Office has contacted a York, Nebraska, attorney, who has agreed to represent it in the tax equalization commission case, the petition says. Battiato is asking District Court Judge Timothy Burns to appoint the York lawyer. A hearing is set for Aug. 10 on that request. The County Board chairwoman takes a dim view of the whole thing. Its awful, Borgeson said. Its a waste of taxpayers money. Hot and humid weather was expected today in eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Mostly clear to partly cloudy skies are likely across the region with highs in the upper 80s to mid-90s, forecasters said. A cold front will push through region Thursday, setting off chances for showers and thunderstorms through the day, the National Weather Service office in Valley said. Behind the cold front, highs will reach the mid-80s, forecasters said. Ahead of the front, highs could still reach the upper 80s to lower 90s. Cooler weather is expected across the region Friday, with partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s, the weather service said. Today in the Omaha area, forecasters called for mostly sunny skies and high near 91. Thursday should be mostly sunny with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. and a high near 90, the weather service said. The chance of showers and thunderstorms ramps back up to 50 percent Thursday night. Forecasters said there is a 20 percent to 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday through Tuesday of next week in the Omaha area, along with cooler conditions high temperatures in the low to upper 80s. Overnight low temperatures will be in the mid- to upper 60s. Across the street from Compass Ministries in north Omaha, near 33rd and Decatur Streets, a mural on the side of a building reads, It takes a village to raise a child. Not far from there is the house where 4-year-old Alicia Morrow froze to death in January. Tuesday evening, people who live in this Prospect Hill neighborhood joined police officers, fire officials and Mayor Jean Stothert to get to know one another a little better. Rosie Schuman, board member of Prospect Hill Neighborhood Association, said that if people in a community get better acquainted, the village can help raise and protect its children. The community should know if theres a 4-year old in the basement, Schuman said. We should know theres a mom without a furnace or heat. The event was one of about 50 in the Omaha area for National Night Out, which encourages residents to spend the evening outdoors, getting to know neighbors while promoting crime prevention. Across Omaha, neighborhoods held block parties, potlucks, cookouts, ice cream socials, flashlight walks, contests and youth activities, all of which included members of the Police and Fire Departments. Stothert chatted with Prospect Hill neighbors about their night. Theres nothing more important than showing neighbors and neighborhoods that they can trust police, Stothert said. This night is especially important because were doing it all over the country. Lt. Ken Kanger, who leads Omahas gang unit, organized a pickup game of football at Compass Ministries with kids and teens. You talk about progress, the community is a huge part, Kanger said. The police need the communitys help. Kanger was playing catch with 15-year-old Miracle Ndichafala, asking him about school, his soccer career and his college ambitions. Ndichafala will be a sophomore at Bellevue East High School. He said goofing around with police officers offers a more complete picture of who they are. Youre able to get to know them as people, not based on rumors or what you heard, he said. Markeeta Brewer was happy that her two young sons could interact with police in such a positive way. Its nice that this is what they get to see, Brewer said of her sons, Jordan, 7, and Jason, 3. Theyre exposed to something good. About 20 neighbors and two police officers joined Bill Shimek in his southeast Omaha homes driveway near 15th and Washington Streets in the Brown Park neighborhood. This is Shimeks second year hosting a National Night Out event with the help of his neighbor Charles Posey. We hope to draw the neighborhood together, Shimek said. Shimek, who passed out Frisbees provided by police to neighborhood children, called the area culturally diverse, with a strong Latino and refugee population. He said he thinks the night is important for people who may be afraid of the police. One of Shimeks neighbors, Kim Theng, came to Omaha from Burma two years ago. Theng joined Shimek to help hand out hot dogs and hamburgers to neighbors. Officer Brandon Braun, who came to Shimeks home, patrols southeast Omaha. He said relationships improve when people see officers in everyday life. Any time the community can see us in a positive light, its good, he said. Were human. We drink water, we eat food. Contact the writer: reece.ristau@owh.com; 402-444-1151 The City of Papillion is pushing for a quick annexation of 160 acres owned by Metropolitan Community College, an action that would place its zoning authority at Springfields doorstep. The annexation would come as the City of Springfield awaits word from the Nebraska Supreme Court on its lawsuit against Papillion over the annexation of 1,000 acres in 2015. That larger parcel includes the Prairie Queen Recreation Area. Papillion wants to annex the college land south of Nebraska Highway 370 between 132nd Street and Nebraska Highway 50 this week. Its goal is to facilitate a development thats in the works with the Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation. To comply with city ordinances, the City Council is holding two special meetings this week today and Thursday so the land can be annexed right away, said Trenton Albers, the citys spokesman. A council ordinance requires three separate readings for approval. Papillion City Administrator Dan Hoins described the development proposal as substantial. Neither the city nor Andrew Rainbolt, executive director of the countys economic development corporation, would say what the project was, but Rainbolt said he hopes to make an announcement around Thanksgiving, assuming everything goes perfectly. Rainbolt said he didnt ask the city to annex the area. He asked for a solution to a problem involving two properties near Capehart Road and Highway 50 that the corporation wants to purchase. The properties are in different zoning jurisdictions partly in Sarpy Countys jurisdiction and partly in Papillions. If Papillion annexes the college land, then those two parcels would fall completely under Papillions control, making it easier for the corporation to plat and zone. As a part of our marketing strategy, we wanted to be able to control ground that we could sell to users, Rainbolt said. Albers said the annexation makes sense for Papillion. Were looking forward to having a strong community partnership with Metropolitan Community College as they build their campus, he said. The annexation that Papillion is undertaking pushes its zoning authority right up to the border of Springfields, Hoins said. The special meetings to speed approval of the annexation are to accommodate the needs of the developer, he said. That developer wants entitlements in place by Sept. 30, he said. Springfields city administrator, clerk and treasurer Kathleen Gottsch said she saw the annexation plans in a Papillion Planning Commission agenda. She alerted Mayor Bob Roseland, but for now, she said, they arent taking any action. Springfield filed suit against Papillion in July 2015 in response to the annexation of the Prairie Queen Recreation Area, which is northeast of the college land. The lawsuit alleged Papillions annexation plan was illegal because parts of the land were almost exclusively rural and agricultural and because the area wasnt contiguous to Papillions city limits at the time. It also alleged Papillions zoning control violates Springfields future growth area. In August 2015, the Sarpy County District Court found Springfield lacked the standing to stop the annexation. Springfield appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court and is awaiting a ruling. Well see what that says, and then well take action accordingly, Gottsch said. Several Omaha City Council members are considering whether to pare down Mayor Jean Stotherts proposed property tax cut for 2017 and put the money into streets. During a budget workshop Tuesday, Councilman Chris Jerram floated the idea of decreasing the citys property tax rate by 1 percent rather than the 2 percent that Stothert has proposed. The result would be $1.55 million more in the citys budget than under Stotherts plan, funds that Jerram said could be put into streets. In 2015, a group of private engineers studied the citys budget and found that Omaha should be spending $175 million more than it does on street repair, widening and mass transit. Jerram said that study shows that Omaha leaders need to be making more of an effort to find money for streets. If we keep kicking the can down the road, the price is only going to get more severe than what it is today, he said in an interview. The current approach of the administration is to just throw a little bit of money at the problem to try to say youre doing something rather than meaningfully addressing the problem. For the 2016 budget, Stothert recommended that the city put $1 million more into street resurfacing. She proposed additional increases for 2017: $1 million more for major street resurfacing, which brings the total budget for that item to $5.6 million $1 million more for residential street rehabilitation and restoration, which brings the budget for that item to $5.2 million $1.3 million more for the street maintenance budget, which would total $29.9 million. That fund pays for snow removal and minor repairs to streets. And $820,000 more in the citys capital improvement plan to pay for some of the cost of repairing substandard neighborhood streets. Neighbors would continue to pay the rest of the cost. At the Tuesday meeting, Jerram asked Public Works Director Bob Stubbe what he would do with an extra $1.6 million. Stubbe said that money probably would be split between resurfacing and concrete panel repair, and major and residential streets. Stothert, in an interview, said she thinks that people will be satisfied with her budget. I think the general public likes that were putting more into roads than we ever have and were doing a property tax decrease on top of it, she said. Stothert noted that homeowners in a wide swath of the western portion of the city will most likely see a 7 percent increase to their property valuation because of a recent ruling from the Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Commission. Property tax relief is very important to me, Stothert said. At least two City Council members, Ben Gray and Garry Gernandt, say they share Jerrams concerns about streets. Gray said the mayors proposed 2 percent tax cut which would cut $15 from the tax bill of a home valued at $150,000 isnt enough to justify the loss of revenue for the city. Theres so many things you could have done with that money, he said. And nobodys going to miss it. Gray and Jerram said theyre not sure whether theyll propose an amendment to the property tax rate in Stotherts budget. The council is scheduled to vote Aug. 23 on the budget and any possible amendments from council members. Contact the writer: 402-444-1084, roseann.moring@owh.com Tyler Chong saw three teenagers walking on the railroad bridge more than 30 feet above the Papillion Creek on Monday night. About 5 minutes later, around 8:30 p.m., Chong heard the train coming. The three started running. But not all of the teens made it to a place where they could jump safely from the bridge. Hit by the train, one of the teens flew through tree branches before landing in the Papillion Creek below, Chong said. Chong, 15, and a friend rushed to help him, but Chong said it was too late. Nicholas Wilson, 19, of Papillion was declared dead below the railroad tracks south of 118th and Harrison Streets, La Vista police said. Another of the teenagers, Dillon McHenry, 18, was flown by helicopter to the Nebraska Medical Center in serious but stable condition, said La Vista Police Capt. Bryan Waugh. A third teenager, Edward Zielinski, 18, of Papillion, was not injured, police said. Jeff Johnson, principal of Papillion-La Vista South High School, shared the news of Wilsons death Tuesday morning with parents. Wilson and McHenry graduated from the school this year, according to Johnsons statement. This is a sad time for our South Titans, Johnson said. He said counselors were available Tuesday afternoon for those who needed them. Later Tuesday, Johnson released another statement. Nicholas was a 2016 graduate who was very personable and came from an amazing family, the statement said. Our hearts break for them. Papillion Mayor David Black expressed his sympathies to the Wilson family in a Facebook post Tuesday evening. He said Nicholas Wilson's mother, Jackie Wilson, is an active community member, who serves on the city's library board. He said Wilson's father, Wayne Wilson, has hired and mentored many young adults as head of a local Runza. "The Wilson's represent Papillion," he wrote. St. Columbkille Church held a prayer and rosary for Wilson and his family on Tuesday night. Three or four groups of people were in the area called Oz by some teenagers fishing, taking senior photos and hanging out Monday night, said La Vista Police Chief Bob Lausten. Tuesday morning, there were beer cans, water bottles, a used fire pit, graffiti and a discarded mattress and box springs on the path leading up to the area of the accident. Patrick Tulagan, 19, who witnessed the accident with Chong, said almost everybody he knows is familiar with the area. Some people refer to it as the Waterfalls, he said, and mostly teenagers go there to relax. Tulagan said those who do go on the tracks normally put up a train bar that warns when a train is coming by vibrating. Chong said few people go up on the tracks. John Winkler, general manager of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, said his agency owns some property along the creek but he had no idea people went to the area. This is the first time we were ever notified it was any place anybody even went or hung out, Winkler said. The NRD will work with the City of La Vista and other adjoining property owners to see if access to the area can be restricted to prevent similar incidents, Winkler said. Lausten said Tuesday morning that he had already made some calls to work on increasing awareness about the dangers in the area. Andy Williams, a spokesman for BNSF Railway, said no trespassing signs are posted on that specific bridge. The railroad also works with Operation LifeSaver to promote rail safety, and its railroad police enforce trespassing laws. Last nights incident is a tragic reminder that trespassing on railroad property is extremely dangerous, often with deadly or life-changing results, Williams said in an email. Trains cant swerve or stop quickly. To stay safe, people need to stay away from train tracks. Carol Daley, Operation Lifesaver Nebraskas executive director, said trespassing on railroads is illegal. And, she said, continuous welded rails have made trains quieter, so people cant always hear one coming. Daley said her organization plans to reach out to Papillion-La Vista Community Schools about talking to high schoolers about the dangers of being on railroad tracks. One life is too much, she said. One life destroyed a family. And also destroys the train crews it happens to. In 2008, a then-54-year-old Herbie Jenney was hit by a train on the same bridge. He estimates that he walked across the trestle 100 times before that. In the 1960s, Jenney and his friends hunted and hung out in the rural land surrounding the railroad tracks. Its been a natural playland for decades, he said. It was just kind of a cool area for inquisitive kids to go check out, Jenney said. In December of 2008, Jenney was hunting coyotes in the area. He was walking across the trestle and didnt hear or feel anything unusual. Jenney said it was a gut feeling that made him turn around and look. A train was coming toward him. Jenney said he tried to run to a place where he could safely jump off the trestle. He almost made it. The train hit Jenney when he jumped and threw him several hundred feet. Life is precious, Jenney said. Just a split second. If I wouldnt have taken one more step I wouldnt be here. When first responders found him, Jenneys leg and an arm were barely hanging on but doctors reattached them. The Springfield man was forced to retire from his job as a heavy equipment operator for Kiewit. People are just people, and we make mistakes all the time and do the wrong thing sometimes, Jenney said. I feel sorry for them and their parents. This is going to be tough. On Tuesday evening, a number of people paid respects and visited a spot under the train tracks where Wilson died. Members of a youth group from Trinity Lutheran Church in Omaha placed white, red, purple and yellow flowers at the base of a graffiti-covered column supporting the tracks. The six teenagers played worship songs to honor Wilson, who was not part of the youth group. A few of them had classes with him, like 18-year-old Sydney Yost. Yost said she had math and English classes with Wilson. They weren't close friends, she said, but she remembers him as a sweet and nice person whom everybody liked, with a good sense of humor to boot. "He always made everyone laugh," she said. She said he'd bring in snacks and got her into trying her first energy drink. "I'm obsessed with flaming hot Cheetos," she said. "And he always would like share my food and eat it with me." Three 18-year-old women from Papillion sang as part of the youth group Tuesday. They said it's a popular hangout spot for teenagers, as well as a frequent worship place for the youth group. Hayley Conway, one of the three, explained her and her friends considered the area dangerous before Wilson's death. She said they came in groups and had precautions when they came, like never walking alone. "I don't know if I would hang out here again," said Sonora Foresman, one of the group members. Just before 7 p.m., a woman placed a cross with the words "May God protect our children" down near the site. About 7 p.m., a mom and her daughter came to see the place for the first time. The pair had just gotten back from the rosary ceremony in Wilson's name at St. Columbkille Church. The mom, a 47-year-old La Vista resident, said her nephew was near "Narnia" another name for the site but a bit away from the train tracks at the time of Wilson's death Monday. He told her he heard a train as he was leaving one of the area's many paths about 8:30 p.m., when officials said the train struck Wilson and McHenry. "I'm just glad he wasn't anywhere near this one," the woman said. The woman said it was a beautiful spot but she wished more safeguards like railings could be installed to protect the kids who visit it. "I have younger kids, too," she said, "and I don't want them to come down here." The members sat at the base of the pillar and strummed and sang "Even When it Hurts," by Christian rock group Hillsong United. Yost said it's a song about how God is still there for support, even in times of pain and mourning. She said coming to worship in Wilson's honor was something the group had to do. "It's kind of horrible to think about how he had like his whole life ahead of him," Yost said, "and yet, it's just gone." World-Herald staff writers Hailey Konnath and Michael Shoro contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) In a searing denouncement, President Barack Obama slammed Donald Trump as unfit and woefully unprepared to serve in the White House on Tuesday. He challenged Republican lawmakers to drop their support for their partys nominee, declaring There has to come a point at which you say enough. The presidents blistering critique of his potential successor came on the heels of Trumps criticism of an American Muslim family whose son, a captain in the U.S. Army, was killed in Iraq. A growing number of GOP lawmakers have disavowed Trumps comments, but most of those who have endorsed him are sticking by that stance. If you are repeatedly having to say, in very strong terms, that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him? Obama asked during a White House news conference. What does this say about your party that this is your standard-bearer? The president said his opposition to Trump is about more than policy differences. He said that while he disagreed with his Republican opponents in the 2008 and 2012 elections, he never thought they were unfit to do the job. Obama who is enjoying heightened popularity in his eighth and final year in office has made clear he plans to be an active player in the White House race, campaigning around the country for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. He and first lady Michelle Obama spoke at last weeks Democratic convention in Philadelphia, where Khizr and Ghazala Khan also made an appearance. Trump responded with a statement that summarized the points he makes in his stump speeches: Obama-Clinton have single-handedly destabilized the Middle East ... released criminal aliens into our country who killed one innocent American after another ... produced the worst recovery since the Great Depression (and) shipped millions of our best jobs overseas. Last week, Khizr Khan criticized Trumps call for a temporary ban on Muslims coming to the United States and challenged whether he had read the Constitution. Trump has questioned why Ghazala Khan did not speak, implying her religion prevented her from doing so, and has said he was viciously attacked by Khizr Khan. Trumps criticism of the Khans is part of a familiar pattern for the Republican nominee: He cant let go of a perceived slight, no matter the potential damage to his presidential campaign or political reputation. Trump spent the days after winning the Republican nomination criticizing a U.S. district court judges Mexican heritage. The morning after accepting the Republican nomination at the partys convention, he re-opened months-old grievances with primary rival Ted Cruz. Those who have worked with Trump say that in private meetings, he can often appear amenable to putting a controversy aside. But the businessman can quickly be drawn back in by an interview, especially if he believes hes already answered the question, or if he grows irritated by commentary on cable television. Khizr Khan delivered an emotional address at last weeks Democratic convention, with his wife standing by his side. The Pakistan-born Khan told the story of his son, U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart after his death in 2004. Trumps unwillingness to let the matter subside sparked outrage Monday from several Republicans. Arizona Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war, said Trump did not have unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us. Rep. Mike Coffman, a vulnerable Republican in a competitive Colorado district, said he was deeply offended when Donald Trump fails to honor the sacrifices of all of our brave soldiers who were lost in that war. Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said the Khans deserve to be heard and respected. My advice to Donald Trump has been and will continue to be to focus on jobs and national security and stop responding to every criticism whether its from a grieving family or Hillary Clinton, Blunt said in a statement. But when asked about Khizr Khan on Fox News Channels Hannity, Trump responded, His son died 12 years ago. ... If I were president, his son wouldnt have died, because I wouldnt have been in the war, if I was president back then. Trump didnt raise the controversy during a rally Monday in Ohio. His supporters in the crowd dismissed the matter. But the real test for Trump isnt the opinion of the loyal supporters who attend his rallies. Its the broader general election audience, a far more diverse group still weighing his readiness for the White House. Copyright 2016, the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A team from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies next week will examine the Nebraska State Patrols policy and procedures, management, operations and support services. The review, which starts Monday, is voluntary, but it ensures that the patrol remains accredited, a recognition of law enforcement excellence, the patrol said. Agency employees and community members are invited to comment at a public information session Tuesday. The session begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Nebraska Department of Roads commission hearing room at 1500 Nebraska Highway 2 in Lincoln. Written comments about the patrols ability to meet the standards for accreditation should be mailed to the commission at 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155. The assessment team is made up of law enforcement officials from similar, out-of-state agencies. The review team will report to the full commission, which will decide if the patrol is to be granted accredited status. Accreditation is for three years, the patrol said. Warren Buffett proposed a modest goal for himself Monday while campaigning for Hillary Clinton: On Election Day, he would drive at least 10 people to the polls who normally wouldnt get there. But the new effort hes backing Drive 2 Vote might have to drive tens of thousands of people to vote if it wants to hit its lofty turnout goal for the Omaha-based 2nd District. Buffett aired his effort as he introduced Clinton to a crowd at North High. Behind the scenes, Drive 2 Vote came together in just the few days before the Democratic campaign event. Katie Weitz, the new initiatives coordinator, got a call from Warrens daughter, Susie Buffett, on Thursday and met with the Omaha billionaire himself on Friday. Weitz put together a website and media team from SecretPenguin and Frost Media Group, who worked through the weekend on drive2vote.org. Weitz said shes excited about the effort and knows that it will take a lot of work to achieve Warren Buffetts stated goal of recording the highest voter turnout of any congressional district in the country. Weitz herself has a goal in mind of registering and turning out some 50,000 more voters. Democracy is not a spectator sport, as we heard Warren say and folks at the convention say, she said. We really want people to vote and do something more. Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and a leading Democrat nationally, said his idea was spurred in part by the possibility that Nebraskas 2nd District, with its lone electoral vote, could decide a tight presidential election. As of this week, Republicans have a 14,770-person advantage in registered voters across Douglas County and the portion of Sarpy County in the 2nd District, although some 92,000 people are registered as nonpartisan and weigh heavily in any election. Drive 2 Vote has a few overall goals: Get people registered to vote, remind people where they can vote, educate them about early voting, and get them to the polls if they need help on Nov. 8. Weitz, a friend of the Buffetts who has a background in civic engagement, said the initiative plans to work with nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations already engaged in similar efforts, and has been reaching out to such groups as the League of Women Voters and the Heartland Workers Center. The Heartland Workers Center has been reaching out to 14 different organizations to coordinate its own get-out-the-vote effort, Executive Director Sergio Sosa said. Buffett offered to bring his own personal flair on Election Day, renting Ollie the Trolley to ferry people to polling places and taking selfie pics with voters who ride along. Although Drive 2 Vote would work with nonpartisan groups, it kicked off Monday in a distinctly partisan way at Clintons campaign event. Weitz said Buffett has his opinions, but he really cares that the local election totals fully represent the 2nd District. It could go either way, for sure, she said. Jane Nielsen, chairwoman of the Sarpy County Republican Party, said she would guess Buffetts effort would stimulate the county Republican Party to do more on its get-out-the-vote efforts. But getting the partys message out already is an ever-present issue for the group and its volunteers. Nielsen said the party is staffing a booth at the Sarpy County Fair this week and will walk in seven community parades across the county this summer. Nielsen said she has personally offered to walk neighborhoods with candidates and believes that Republican Don Bacons congressional campaign will have a big get-out-the-vote push in its race against incumbent Democrat Brad Ashford. Every year, every election, its the same thing you just need to get people out to vote, Nielsen said. National figures arent readily available that would detail the kind of turnout needed to be No. 1 in the country. But if the 2nd District were to increase its turnout from 69.6 percent in 2012 to 80 percent this year, that would require 50,000 more voters. Weitz said the number of people who are eligible to vote but arent registered goes far beyond that figure only about two-thirds of people eligible to vote are registered. Weitz said some of those people face language or technology barriers. Others dont understand the process or lost track of their polling place, she said. And there are other obstacles. A lot of folks are disengaged, she said. A lot of folks are frustrated. Contact the writer: 402-444-1128, jeff.robb@owh.com Hello, my name is Andrew and Im a convention addict. I watched every minute of both partys presidential conventions, thanks to C-SPAN. Ive tried to stop watching every four years. Honestly. Parts are boring. Virtually every speaker wants to ensure a future for our children and our grandchildren. Please. We hear so many impossible promises free college tuition, a quick defeat of the Islamic State. In modern American politics, these vows have a shorter expiration date than a 2 percent milk carton. And we hear countless false claims. Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, for instance, bemoaned the nations 33,646 gun deaths each year. Which is a lot. What she failed to state, however, is 63 percent of those gun deaths are suicides, unlikely to be affected by new gun laws she seeks. I really should stop watching and attending party conventions. But these quadrennial, scripted infomercials are so revealing of campaigns promotional priorities for the 100-day run to the general election. And a convention can uncover where a campaign feels its weak. Conventions began in 1831 and actually mattered. Party loyalists assembled to pick nominees through lobbying and bargaining. Abraham Lincoln entered the 1860 convention in Chicago in third place with delegates. That same year Democrats assembled in Charleston, South Carolina, couldnt agree on anything, adjourned to Baltimore and split the party into North and South wings. That was a precursor to the entire nations split a few months later into a Civil War, which also began in Charleston. The record convention was 1924 in New York, when those same fractious Democrats battled again along liberal-conservative lines. They took 15 days and 103 ballots to pick John Davis as a sacrificial lamb to incumbent Republican Calvin Coolidge, who was nominated in Cleveland. Since 1972, conventions merely ratify primary elections and caucuses. You could see and hear the splits this year. In Cleveland, the division was obvious by absent Republicans all past GOP presidents, the hosting Ohio governor and almost all this years contenders. Ted Cruz did speak but ostentatiously declined to endorse his partys nominee. In Philadelphia, the party chairwoman was forced to resign on convention eve for conspiring against socialist challenger Bernie Sanders. For much of the four days Sanders delegates staged walkouts, and the mere mention of Hillary Clintons name from the podium drew audible boos. The Clinton camp did much to reach out giving Sanders a prominent speaking slot, often praising the 74-year-old and loading the platforms left side with his ideas. She also allowed him a perfunctory, pointless roll call of the states to show he won 1,865 delegates (to her 2,842). In her long acceptance speech Clinton praised Sanders movement in a clear, if uncertain, bid to get his supporters with her for Nov. 8. The GOP nominees outreach to Never Trumpers was invisible. In fact, his ongoing outbursts may help Clinton by chasing GOP moderates and independents toward her. Her unusually long acceptance speech included invitations to disenchanted conservatives. But it was otherwise a standard liberal laundry list of wishes including debt-free college, paid family leave and hitting the wealthy with higher taxes. The woman who was paid $200,000 for each speech to Wall Street firms also promised to get big money out of politics by overturning the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, even if it meant a constitutional amendment. That isnt going to happen, but the crowd cheered anyway. Unless theyre total newcomers, no single speech is going to change a politicians image, especially when he or she has been on the national public stage a quarter-century like Clinton. Nomination acceptance speeches can, however, tell us where a candidate hopes to go. And they can affect a candidates public perception, for better or worse. With the best of intentions, I intend now to enter convention-watching withdrawal, fully expecting a relapse in about 48 months. Thank you all very much and may God bless the United States of America. ASPEN, Colo. For many decades, Russian intelligence agencies have used what they call active measures to destabilize their rivals. Now they seem to be turning those tools on the U.S. political system, though in the process they appear to have violated Rule No. 1 of the spy business: Dont get caught. U.S. officials say they have strong evidence that Russian intelligence agencies hacked the files of the Democratic National Committee over the last year. Whats less certain is whether they deliberately leaked some of those files to WikiLeaks, with the aim of disrupting Hillary Clintons election campaign though some experts think this weaponization of information was likely. Anythings possible, President Barack Obama told Savannah Guthrie of NBCs Today when asked whether Russia might have deliberately tried to influence the U.S. election. What we do know is that Russians hack our systems, he said, adding that on a regular basis they try to influence elections in Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin grew up in a KGB culture in which such use of active measures was a standard tool of the Cold War. He seems to have carried this tradecraft into the Kremlin employing hacking, black propaganda and other covert-action tools as part of whats politely described these days as hybrid warfare. U.S. officials say that Russian intelligence in recent years has secretly funded right-wing political parties in Europe, sponsored covert propaganda channels, hacked the electrical grid of Ukraine and cybersabotaged other neighboring states, and created networks of trolls to attack enemies online. Why does Putin use these active measures to destabilize his rivals? Because they work. Theyre invisible, deniable and, for the most part, the targets dont fight back. But the DNC hack may have been a bridge too far. It triggered blunt responses this week from top national security officials who were gathered here for an annual conference known as the Aspen Security Forum. When the U.S. discovers evidence of foreign hacking, it should be public about it, urged John Carlin, the assistant attorney general for national security. Take it out of the intelligence channel . . . thats the only way to change behavior, he argued. James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, said he wasnt yet ready to identify the perpetrator of the DNC hack, but he said that from an intelligence standpoint, the U.S. is already at war with Russia. The Russians have for years had a doctrine of . . . active measures, explained Elissa Slotkin, acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. She said the Kremlins tactics attempt to sow dissent generally, either on a specific issue or just to cause political chaos . . . in order to create an opening for themselves. What worries U.S. officials most is that given Russias demonstrated willingness to use covertaction against its adversaries, the Russians might secretly intervene just before the November election. That might mean releasing embarrassing Hillary Clinton emails, as Republican nominee Donald Trump has urged Moscow to do. It might mean leaking phony news stories or finding ways to upset financial markets. The American political system is an open and vulnerable target. Why would Russia target the DNC, in an operation thats eerily similar to the Nixon White Houses 1972 burglary at the committees headquarters at the Watergate? Partly, it was an information-gathering operation, like the reported Chinese intelligence hacks of the campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain in 2008. But Moscow may have had a special animus toward Hillary Clinton. When she was secretary of state, she endorsed Russian dissenters in the 2011 and 2012 elections. A furious Putin charged back then that she gave them a signal, and that the dissidents, with the support of the U.S. State Department, began active work. In other words, Putin thinks Clinton shot first. The DNC noticed a problem in its computer system in April and hired a forensic firm called CrowdStrike to analyze the evidence. The firm concluded in May that two Internet addresses linked to Russian intelligence had been inside the DNC systems. How did the DNC information get to WikiLeaks? A supposed Romanian hacker who calls himself Guccifer 2.0 claimed credit. But some experts believe this is whats known in intelligence parlance as a false flag aimed at masking the Russian hand. And what about GOP presidential candidate Trump? Some have argued that he was the intended beneficiary of Moscows DNC hack. But it seems more likely that Trump is what Russian intelligence officers sometimes describe as a useful idiot a person who unintentionally fosters Moscows campaign of instability. Contact the writer: davidignatius@washpost.com Officials in Nebraska and other states stop every once and a while and do a smart thing. They take a hard look at the array of state commissions to see whether all of them are truly necessary. Often, some commissions will be disbanded. Its a sensible idea. Heres another one: States should start scrutinizing the dozens and in some states, hundreds of professions that require licensing by government. A report this year by the White House Council of Economic Advisers rightly calls for action on the issue. Licensing has stepped beyond justified protections for consumers in many cases and has become a significant barrier to job opportunities, the study says. Theres a striking consensus across the philosophical spectrum about the need for reform of business licensing. In Nebraska, the conservative Platte Institute is emphasizing the issue heading toward the 2017 legislative session. In Nebraska, 24 percent of workers are in jobs that require licenses, just below the national average. Iowa, at 33 percent, has a higher percentage of jobs requiring licenses than any other state, The World-Heralds Janice Podsada has reported. At the same time, trade associations continue to press for even more job categories to come under government approval. These requirements can be worth it if they provide real protections for consumers and workers, the White House report says, but because it limits which workers can enter a field, licensing necessarily excludes people who would work in an occupation if the barriers were lower. Licensing tends to raise the price of goods and services by 3 percent to 16 percent, the report concludes. The benefits of licensing therefore need to be balanced against these costs. One study found that on average, applicants seeking a license need to complete nine months of education or training requirements, pass at least one examination and spend over $200 in fees. Over the past four decades, the de-licensing of an occupation by a state government or court has happened only eight times, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Adding to the problem is the widespread lack of licensing uniformity among the 50 states. These roadblocks to entering particular occupations can hit certain populations especially hard: Military families. Minority workers. Anyone with a high school diploma only. Immigrants whose training or education was acquired abroad. Men and women paroled from prison. State Sen. Burke Harr, who chairs the Legislatures Business and Labor Committee, says the licensing issue seems something ripe to be addressed, and in a bipartisan manner. Licensing reform seems likely to come up before the Nebraska Legislature next year, given the Platte Institutes push and Gov. Pete Ricketts general focus on workforce development. The point isnt that states should begin tossing out licensing requirements willy-nilly. On the contrary, the scrutiny should be methodical and prudent. Public safety is often involved. Among worthwhile options recommended for state governments to consider: Less restrictive alternatives to licensing need to be explored in appropriate cases. One option is registration, in which a worker files basic information with a regulatory agency. For occupations where licensing is retained, requirements should focus on public health and safety concerns, to minimize burdens. States should use rigorous cost-benefit analyses, including regular reviews by independent agencies. Its time for long-needed reform on licensing. States should keep sensible requirements, then adjust the rest to open up new economic opportunity. Karnataka to survey all Arabic schools to check if on same page as state board Karnataka CM's aide surrenders before police after bail refused Bengaluru oi-Shreyas By H S Shreyas Bengaluru, Aug 3: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's close aide Mari Gowda, a former Zill Panchayat president, surrendered before the police in Mysuru on Wednesday afternoon after the High Court rejected his interim bail application. Mari Gowda is accused of trying to intimidate Mysuru district Deputy Commissioner C. Shika. A police officer at Nazarbad police station in Mysuru confirmed to OneIndia that Gowda had surrendered to the police. Gowda's interim bail application had come up for hearing on August 1. His counsel had sought bail for Gowda to allow him to attend the funeral of Siddaramaiah's son Rakesh, who passed away in Belgium last week. Justice B. Srinivase Gowda said, however, that he could only direct the police to take him to Rakesh's funeral if he surrendered. The judge recused himself from hearing the bail plea further that afternoon and passed the matter to Justice Anand Byrareddy. On Wednesday morning, when the bail plea came up before him, Justice Byrareddy indicated verbally that he could not grant bail as the accused had tried to intimidate a senior woman IAS officer. Mari Gowda's counsel withdrew the bail plea. Nazarbad police station officials said he was being questioned by sub-inspector S. Satish. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 15:17 [IST] Karnataka to survey all Arabic schools to check if on same page as state board Mahadayi row: An out of tribunal settlement preferred Bengaluru oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Aug 3: Karnataka would look for an out of tribunal settlement in a bid to sort out the Mahadayi water dispute. Karnataka's legal team had in fact insisted that no interim petition should be filed, but leaders across political parties had refused to take that advise. The legal team is now of the opinion that the issue should be settled out of the tribunal. Further the team is also of the opinion that a political resolution on this issue would be the right way to go instead of fighting it out in the tribunal. Mahadayi Row: Jagadish Shettar slams K'taka govt's demand seeking Modi's intervention However, the government has told the legal team to look closely at the interim verdict of the tribunal and find out where it went wrong for Karnataka. If the all party meeting decides that an out of tribunal settlement is better than going in for an appeal to the Supreme Court, then the Chief Minister would once again seek the intervention of the Prime Minister on the issue. Siddramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention into the matter. Last week Karnataka's interim petition to use 7.65 TMC of water was rejected by the tribunal. K arnataka had sought to use water from the Mahadayi basin to the Malaprabha river. The Tribunal observed that other states are also presenting their case seeking water. Under such circumstances it was not possible to admit Karnataka's plea. The legal advisor to the government of Karnataka, Brijesh Kalappa says that any decision in regard would be taken at an all party meeting. Issues relating to water and borders are always taken at an all party meeting. OneIndia News CBI on a massive crackdown on drug cartels; 175 arrests and 127 FIRs so far 'No supply in India': Chemist association on drugs by Indian firm flagged by WHO 3,000 Jan Aushadhi Stores to be opened across India India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, August 2 Under Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY), the central government will open 3,000 Jan Aushadhi Stores (JAS) pan India by the end of this fiscal to make quality drugs available at affordable prices, parliament was told on Tuesday. "In order to open JAS proposed within government hospital premises, a one-time financial assistance is provided to the extent of Rs 2.50 lakh and the margin available for the retailers is 20 per cent so as to ensure a reasonable level of profitability for them," Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh L. Mandaviya told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. In addition to the retailers' margin up to 20 per cent, an 15 percent incentive on monthly sales subject to a ceiling of Rs 10,000 a month is also given for stores opened outside the government hospitals, he said. For stores opened in northeastern states and Maoist-affected and tribal areas, the rate of incentive is 15 percent of monthly sales subject to a ceiling of Rs. 15,000 per month. State governments, local bodies, individuals entrepreneurs, pharmacists, doctors, registered medical practitioners, NGOs, trusts, social and charitable institutions, private hospitals and self help groups or those with B.Pharma degree or D.Pharma diploma are eligible for opening of the stores. Applicant should have own or hired space of minimum 120 square feet. IANS Airlines cancel flights to Dubai from India India oi-PTI New Delhi, Aug 3: Over a dozen flights to Dubai from India were cancelled today while many more diverted after an Emirates flight from Thiruvananthapuram crash-landed and exploded on the runway of the Dubai International Airport this afternoon, leading to the suspension of operations temporarily. There were 226 Indians aboard the Boeing 777-300, with most of them from Kerala. While Budget carrier IndiGo said it has cancelled 11 flights to Dubai from various domestic destinations, full service carrier Jet Airways cancelled two flights, one each from Mumbai and Delhi. Meanwhile, Emirates, which had earlier announced setting up of a helpline for the US, UK and UAE, later operationalise one such helpline for India as well. "Have asked Emirates to set up helpline number in India. They have operationalised 09848018923 at Trivandrum," Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said in a tweet. State-run Air India diverted nine of its Dubai-bound flights from different Indian cities to nearby airports like Sharjah and Al Maktoum International Airport. "We have cancelled all our 11 flights to Dubai for today due to non-availability of the runway at the Dubai International Airport," an IndiGo spokesperson said. "Two of our flights have been affected owing to the runway closure at Dubai airport," Budget carrier SpiceJet said in a statement. Our second flight from Amritsar which was expected to arrive at Dubai airport at 1715 hours IST has been diverted to a nearby airport (DWC Al Maktoum International Airport) due to the runaway closure in accordance with the instructions by the Dubai Airport Authorities. SpiceJet's second flight from Amritsar which was expected to arrive at Dubai airport at 1715 hours Indian time has been diverted to a nearby airport DWC Al Maktoum International Airport; it said adding, "We have taken all requisite measures to ensure adequate refreshments for the stranded passengers." Emirates, also announced the cancellation of its flights to Mumbai and Kolkata from Dubai in the wake of the accident. "We are expecting an 8-hour network wide delay," Emirates said. PTI Anandiben Patel bows out as Gujarat CM; Amit Shah to pick her successor India oi-PTI Gandhinagar/New Delhi, Aug 3: Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today submitted her resignation to Governor O P Kohli hours after the BJP Parliamentary Board accepted her offer to quit and authorised party president Amit Shah to pick her successor to lead the party in 2017 polls. Anandiben, who will turn 75 this November, handed over the resignation letter to Kohli in the presence of ministers and party leaders at Raj Bhavan in the evening. Kohli has asked her to continue until the new cheif minister takes charge. "Anandiben has submitted her resignation to the governor," state unit BJP president Vijay Rupani told reporters after coming out of Raj Bhavan. Earlier in the day, the BJP Parliamentary Board which met in Delhi authorised Shah to pick Anandiben's successor after accepting her offer to resign. The meeting of the Parliamentary Board, which was chaired by Shah and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appointed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP general secretary Saroj Pandey as party's central observers to hold consultations with the MLAs for electing the new leader. Shah will be travelling to Gujarat tomorrow where he will hold consultations with party leaders and attend the Legislature Party meeting, likely to be held on Friday to elect the new leader. Though her departure was anticipated, the first woman chief minister of Gujarat had offered to step down on Monday ostensibly due to her age, as she is turning 75 soon. Meanwhile, the political circles are abuzz with the likey choice of her replacement. According to leaders in BJP, the decision on Anandiben's successor could be taken within the next two days. "We are yet to decide the time of the Legislature body meeting (to elect new leader) as state Observer Nitin Gadkari is busy. It (meeting) can happen any time after 3 PM tomorrow or even a day after. Our national president Amit Shah will decide it as he is arriving here tomorrow," said state unit BJP in-charge Dinesh Sharma. He said the Legislature Party meeting to decide the next CM will be held in the presence of state Observers as per the process. Parrying a query on likely contenders for CM's post, Sharma said, "A party worker will be chosen as next chief minister." Interestingly, state unit BJP chief Vijay Rupani whose name is in the reckoning for the post besides others, virtually ruled himself out of the race, saying he would like to work for the party organisation. "I have told the party leadership that I would like to work for the organisation," Rupani said. Names of "number two" in state Cabinet and incumbent Health minister Nitin Patel, Union minister Purshottam Rupala and Assembly Speaker Ganpat Vasava, a tribal leader, are still doing the rounds. Nitin Patel, who is considered to be the front-runner, said, "the party Central leadership will decide on who will be the chief minister." Anandiben, meanwhile, issued advertisements in newspapers here today listing the works done during her two-year tenure. PTI Christians denied basic human rights in Bastar: Left leaders India oi-PTI New Delhi, August 3: Concept of "Hindu Rashtra" was "almost realised" in parts of Bastar even as Christians are being denied basic human rights there, a forum comprising Left leaders alleged today and sought monitoring of Constitutional rights in the district by a SC-appointed special commissioners' team. The All India People's Forum also demanded setting up a separate team to monitor the conduct of the police and district administration in responding to communal campaigns against the minorities in the area. "In certain villages and parts of Bastar, it is almost as if the Hindu Rashtra is already there in place because the Christian minority community is not allowed basic human rights. "The PESA law which allows gram sabha to safeguard its own customs, is being misused to equate those customs with Hinduism and prohibit Christians from entering a village, from getting rations, so on," CPI(M-L) leader Kavita Krishnan said. Krishnan, who was part of the eight-member fact-finding committee of the forum, made the remarks at the release of its report here. The team had paid visits to four districts of the state - Bastar, Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur between June 8 and June 11. Krishnan likened the situation at ground-level in these areas to that "of a war" and said the fact finding committee investigated a series of "fake encounters, fake surrenders and acts of sexual violence" during its visit. The committee noted that some Hindutva forces are allegedly working in tandem with police and Bastar district administration to "isolate and create a state of siege" for Christians there. "So, what we are demanding is that we need a team of special commissioners (Constitutional experts), under supervision of Supreme Court, to make sure sexual violence is not happening," she said. On appointment of the separate team to monitor conduct of police and district administration, the Left leader said it should be vested with powers to initiate action for redress and criminal prosecution against any individual or outfits that seek to curtail the rights and liberties of Christian minorities in the region. In its report, the forum urged national media to deploy its reporters and cameramen there to ensure "real stories" on situation there come out from the region concerned. It also demanded National Commissions for Minorities, Women and Scheduled Tribes to post their teams in Bastar on a permanent basis. The event was addressed also by human rights activists John Dayal and Himanshu Kumar among others. PTI Goa Opposition walks out over disallowing queries in Question Hour India oi-PTI Panaji, August 3: Opposition members in Goa Legislative Assembly today staged a walk out from the House protesting state government's action of disallowing their questions during the Question hour. The Assembly witnessed verbal duel between Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Opposition benches led by Leader of Opposition Pratapsinh Rane when the House assembled for the day this morning. Congress legislator Digambar Kamat, Independent legislators Vijai Sardesai and Rohan Khaunte pointed out that their questions are being disallowed on the floor of the House. "(The) Chief Secretary should be summoned in the Assembly for disallowing important questions," Sardesai demanded. Parsekar, defending the government, said, "it is wrong to disallow questions. But some questions are asked to wrong departments." He suggested that though questions are disallowed, the issues can be raised through calling attention motion or during the speeches on demands for grants of various departments. However, Opposition benches refused to buy his statement. Rane said injustice was being meted out to the members of the House. "We have every right to know the replies for the questions we have asked," Rane said recommending that state Assembly reverted to its old ways of giving replies through hard copy rather than current system of e-assembly (which gives the replies online). Parsekar said, "If we revert, the entire exercise of e-assembly will go in vain." Unhappy with Parsekar's reply, the Opposition MLAs walked out of the House. Reacting to this, the Chief Minister said the Opposition was trying to get media attention by indulging in such tactics. PTI 'Another feather in cap': Mamata on WB's highest success rate in All India Trade Test 'Is this acceptable?' Mamata Banerjee on Hindu Mahasabha's depiction of Mahatma Gandhi as Asura Here's Mamata Banerjee's stern message for miscreants India oi-IANS By Ians English Kolkata, Aug 3: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday issued strict instructions to police to take stern steps against promoters and all others filling up water bodies in the state, and said no one should not be spared even if they took her name. "If anybody fills up a water body, police will deal with it. Police have been told to control the miscreants strictly. Often promoters fill up water bodies in the darkness of the night," Banerjee said after a high level meeting attended by ministers and top police officers at the state secretariat Nabanna. "We have told the police if the allegations are correct, strong action has to be taken. Even if the accused take my name, they shouldn't be spared," she said. Yet another gangrape but Mamata Banerjee 2.0 handles it differently Responding to media criticism faced by the government and the ruling Trinamool Congress regarding extortion demands faced by those endeavouring to construct houses or extend their residences, Banerjee said: "It is not my job to find out who is extorting. The administration is there for this." She said if a "genuine wrong" has been committed, the media should bring it to the knowledge of the police, but warned against false reports being published in the media to protect the interests of unscrupulous promoters. "There are some people who for the sake of politics are organising demonstrations. That is also not right." Refering to her party Trinamool, she said: "If even one or two people commit wrongs, we take strong action. Police also have been taking strong action, and will continue to do so in future." Conceding that some people are expanding their business by taking the name of Trinamool, she said: "We won't allow that also." Banerjee said the municipal corporations, municipalities, the Urban Development Department and police have been told to come down with a heavy hand to stop illegal promoting. Alleged some unscrupulous promoters try to give a communal colour to protect their interests, she asserted that no such attempts will be allowed. The state's opposition parties had made extortion and activities of syndicates (cartels said to force promoters and contractors to buy construction materials often of inferior quality at high prices) a major issue during the assembly polls earlier this years. After her party returned to power, Banerjee expressed her displeasure over law and order and asked police to curb the illegal syndicate business. Last month, Trinamool councillor of Bidhannagar municipality, Anindya Chatterjee, was arrested and remanded to custody on charges of extortion in North 24 Parganas district. IANS For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 18:19 [IST] Kerala's anti nationals and how the migrants add to the problem India oi-Vicky Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 3: The arrest of Abdul Wahid (24) a migrant labour from Bengal in Kerala for allegedly disrespecting the Indian National Flag is another grim reminder of the anti national activities that are fast spreading in the state. A native of Bokhara, Murshidabad in West Bengal, Wahid was accused of posting a photograph of a dog wrapped in the Tricolour and being chased by a tiger holding a Bangladesh flag. He was also accused of circulating a photograph in which a dog is urinating on a Hindu Goddess. This is just one such case in a state which has been vulnerable to terror and anti national activities thanks to both the Gulf link and also the big problem of migrants from Bengal and Bangladesh. A state vulnerable to anti nationals and terror Kerala has been facing an immense problem of both anti nationals and terror sympathisers for long. The close link to the Gulf has been a major problem in Kerala. Funds and radical preachers have made their way quite easily into the state for sometime now. The recent case in which 21 people going missing and reportedly joining the ISIS is one such incident. In the recent past as well there have been ample instances of terror camps being held in Wagamon. The state has also played host to several Indian Mujahideen operatives who have taken shelter in the aftermath of carrying out an attack. The latest in the offing seems to be the migrants from Bengal and Bangladesh. The investigations into the Jisha murder case revealed that it was the handiwork of a migrant. The nationality of the accused is yet to be ascertained by the police. However, no lesson has been learnt and the police continue to go soft on the migrant workers. The police have been slow to react to the problem of Bangladeshi migrants in particular. If a Bangladeshi is arrested then the arrest would need to be recorded under the Foreigner's Act and it needs to be shown that these persons had entered the country without valid documents. There are too many legal complications that follow and this has kept the police away from undertaking such arrests. While not all migrants are creating a problem, there is a faction which systematically triggers crime and carries out anti national activities. Weeding out these persons has been extremely slow. There are a host of reasons explaining this problem. Thronging Kerala A statistic of 2013 showed that there were around 2.5 million migrant workers in Kerala. Most persons were eager to take in the migrants for work as the labour costs in Kerala is too high. The migrants too prefer Kerala to earn their livelihood and annually they remit around Rs 18,000 crore back to their home states in Bengal, Assam, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. Each one of them is paid Rs 300 as daily wages. This again is cheaper compared to what the locals charge in Kerala. The migrant workers take up jobs in the planation sector, petrol bunks, construction sites and also hotels. The police say that there is a directive to all those employing such persons to issue them identification cards. It is mandatory that before employing such persons a report needs to be filed with the police station. However, most do not do it and this has caused an immense problem as a result of which a tab cannot be kept on all of them. The other problem is that it is hard to tell whether the person is from Bengal or Bangladesh. At the border in West Bengal and Assam there is a major racket in which illegal migrants are provided with identification cards. In exchange they have to compulsorily return to Bengal and Assam to vote for a party which has facilitated their identification papers. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 12:19 [IST] 'Another feather in cap': Mamata on WB's highest success rate in All India Trade Test 'Is this acceptable?' Mamata Banerjee on Hindu Mahasabha's depiction of Mahatma Gandhi as Asura Know Mamata Banerjee's plan to combat dengue, malaria India oi-IANS By Ians English Kolkata, Aug 3: Amid reports of deaths caused by dengue and high fever, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday, following which an advisory was issued, warning against stagnant water collecting and asking various departments to raise awareness to control the outbreak. After the meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna, Banerjee told media persons that the advisory would cover all premises and construction sites. "An advisory has been issued underscoring that that stagnant water storage will not be allowed, even if the premises belong to a media house, or police station, or a market, school, hospital, metro rail, or is taxi stand, or houses central or state government offices," she said. Mamata Banerjee announces Rs 2 crore grant for East Bengal She laid stress on conducting checks on construction sites, where various equipment are left for years, resulting in accumulation of stagnant ater, said to be the breeding place of the dengue virus or the vector causing malaria. Representatives of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, a number of municipalities, panchayat bodies, health and disaster management departments and police took part in the deliberations that took place after two confirmed deaths due to dengue. Unofficial sources have put the toll at five. Banerjee said advisories have been issued to all schools to keep their premises clean and conduct cleanliness drives. The various government arms and private bdies have been asked to campaign to raise public awareness so as to prevent any major outbreak of diseases. She said officials of the health, municipal and urban development departments will go door to door and distribute leaflets to apprise the public about the do's and don'ts. The medical colleges and district hospitals have been directed to keep blood banks open daya dn niht and arrange for round the clock testing of blood samples to detect the diseases. IANS For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 18:27 [IST] Major set back to KCR govt: High Court strikes down GO 123 India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Telangana, Aug 3: In a major setback to the Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao's government, the High Court on Wednesday struck down the GO 123 issued by the state government for acquiring lands for the irrigation and other projects. The court said that the GO 123 do not provide any benefits to the landless poor who got affected due to land acquisition. The opposition parties in Telangana are opposing land acquisition to Mallanna sugar project proposed in Medak district under this act. Several petitions were filed in the High Court by farmers and farm labourers. Hearing into one of the petitions, the High court issued the orders striking down the GO 123. The court suggested the government to acquire lands as per the Land Acquisition Act 2013. The farm labourers will get benefited with this The government had issued GO. 123 through which it made settlements for acquiring lands of farmers. On hearing the petitions of the Farmers from Rudrangi in Karimnagar High Cort issued the above orders. The High Court also questioned the government on the need to bring out a new Act, when the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 was already there. The High Court ordered that the compensation must be given according to the Land Acquisition Act of 2013. The Telangana irrigation minister Harish Rao said that government will act after examining the order of High Court. Opposition parties hailed the order of High Court on land acquisition policy. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 21:29 [IST] Parliament passes Benami Transaction Amendment Bill India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Aug 2 Parliament on Tuesday passed a bill that provides for confiscating 'benami' (proxy) assets, with the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday giving its assent to the legislation. The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on July 27. "This bill is meant to stop black money... The lawmakers should have a clear perspective on black money. It is true there is black money both in India and abroad. To stop black money there should be fear of law, and at the same time there should be an eye of where the black money is generated and where it is spent," said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his reply to the debate on the bill. Jaitley, in the course of his reply, also sought to remind people that the government's scheme for income disclosure is on, and September 30 is the deadline. The bill, which seeks to establish adjudicating authorities and an appellate tribunal to deal with benami transactions as well as specify penalty for entering into benami transactions, is part of measures planned by the government to tackle the problem of black money. IANS Rajasthan govt to appeal against Salman Khan's acquittal in SC India oi-PTI Jaipur, Aug 3: The Rajasthan government on Tuesday said it will file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the High Court's decision acquitting actor Salman Khan in two cases of chinkara poaching. "The government is studying the merits and demerits of the case and has decided to appeal against the decision in the Supreme Court," the state's Law Minister, Rajendra Rathore, told reporters in Jaipur. The Rajasthan High Court had on July 25 acquitted Salman in two cases of chinkara (black buck) poaching in Jodhpur, while observing that the statement of a key witness could not be considered as he had "disappeared" and the defence could not cross-examine him during the trial. Salman Khan acquitted in Blackbuck and Chinkara cases The witness, driver of the vehicle in which the actor was travelling when the alleged incidents had taken place, surfaced after the High Court verdict and claimed Salman had shot the gazelle. Two separate cases were registered against the actor under section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act for poaching two chinkara, an endangered gazelle, in Bhawad village on September 26-27, 1998 and one in Mathania (Ghoda Farm) on September 28-29, 1998. The Chief Judicial Magistrate's court had convicted him in both the cases and sentenced him to one year and five years of imprisonment on February 17, 2006 and April 10, 2006 respectively. The verdicts were challenged by Salman in the Sessions Court which dismissed the appeal in the Mathania case and transferred the one in connection with the Bhawad incident to the High Court where two appeals by the state government in connection with the cases were already pending. PTI Rs 3,457,145,328: This is how much fired Parag Agrawal will get after Twitter exit The bird is free: How to the Elon Musk takeover of Twitter played out In Europe, the bird will fly by our rules: EU commissioner on Twitter takeover Twitter Sewa to address the Complaints of Telecom Users News oi-Oneindia By Oneindia For addressing the complaints and concerns of common man and other stake-holders in the telecom and postal sectors, Minister of Communications Manoj Sinha launched "Twitter Sewa". Union Min.@manojsinhabjp launches @twitter service to address complaints regarding telecom and postal services pic.twitter.com/4MNPM595dj PIB India (@PIB_India) August 2, 2016 Launching the facility, he said that it will provide a transparent, clean, responsive and accountable administration. Inaugurated "TwitterSewa" a software tool ,to take care of customer complaints at my Twitter handle @manojsinhabjp pic.twitter.com/x8Pm4dMDhC Manoj Sinha (@manojsinhabjp) August 2, 2016 He also said that this is in tune with Prime Minister's vision of "minimum government, maximum governance". Minister further added that from the Prime Minister himself to all ministers and their ministries are connecting with Indian citizens through live communication platform to provide a transparent, clean, responsive and accountable administration. Lodge complaints against any telecom operator & Department of posts at my Twitter handle @manojsinhabjp . pic.twitter.com/yvTJkkzakj Manoj Sinha (@manojsinhabjp) August 2, 2016 The Minister said that the telecom ministry and Department of Post will henceforth compile a list of complaints from this Twitter Sewa and categorise them into immediate, mid-term and long-term complaints, while adding that he has complete faith in his officers and staff, but since both the telecom and posts are service sectors, customer is the king and this is all the more relevant for BSNL and MTNL. The TSPs (telecom service providers) are expected to resolve the complaints forwarded to them under this arrangement. He further added that, "The challenge is gigantic as India has the biggest postal network in the world and the number of mobile-phone subscribers had already crossed 1 billion in January this year. Therefore, we are aware that complaints are going to pour in from across the country and in great numbers. But I would like to assure you that Ministry will rise up to this challenge". The Minister also underlined that there are chances that this twitter seva may be misused by some rogue elements but he expressed the hope that Twitter authorities will take care of the same. He also expressed hope that the Telecom operators from Government as well as private and the Department of Posts shall use the utility of "Twitter sewa" to the fullest to address the grievances of the public. At UNSC, US calls on world to tell Russia to stop its nuclear threats Kentucky judge left livid after woman detainee appears without trousers International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Louisville, Aug 3: A woman judge in Kentucky was left livid when a woman detainee was brought into the Jefferson District Court here for sentencing without wearing trousers. It was said that the latter did not get a jail jumpsuit or hygiene products since being taken into custody, a Washington Post report said. The judge, Amberl Wolf, criticised the jail officials and called the incident "outrageous". The woman, who was in custody for a long time after having failed to complete a diversion programme for a shoplifting charge in 2014, was wearing a long shirt only. She was released with a $100 fine and time served, said the jail authorities, the Post reported. The judge told the detainee in an apologetic tone that she did not want to embarrass her and sought something for her to cover herself. Wolf presumably complained the matter to the jail administrators over the phone, saying the detainee was not given trousers for three days and also feminine hygiene products, something that the latter's attorney told the judge. "What the hell is going on," she asked. She also said that the detainee would be held back till the time she is dressed appropriately to return to the jail, the Post said. She added: "I am holding her here until she is dressed appropriately to go back to the jail. This is outrageous." Rules in Louisville suggest that inmates would have to be given clean jumpsuits and bed linens though they are silent for how long the department has to provide such items. Oneindia News Video: Why Chinas former president was escorted out from stage Renowned Chinese human rights activist jailed for over 7 years International oi-PTI Beijing, Aug 3: A prominent Chinese human rights activist was on Wednesday (Aug 3) sentenced to over seven years in prison for subverting state powers, a day after another activist was given a three-year suspended sentence for the same offence. Hu Shigen,has also been deprived of his political rights for five years, the No 2 Intermediate People's Court in Tianjin which conducted the trial said in its verdict. Hu, 61, pleaded guilty and said he will not appeal. He had been in prison previously, serving 14 years of a 20 year sentence from 1994 to 2008 for inciting, organising and leading "counter-revolutionary" activities. His brief trial came a day after the court issued a suspended three-year sentence to activist Zhai Yanmin. Both were arrested in July last year with two others as part of a nationwide crackdown on legal rights activists. About 300 lawyers and activists were initially seized and questioned before most were released. A further three activists from Zhai's law firm Fengrui, which specialises in human rights cases, are also on trial in Tianjin. Since 2009, he has used illegal religious organisation to attract illicit lawyers and paid petitioners to spread subversive thoughts and ideas, state-run Xinhua news agency said in its report. In addition, he arranged for Gou Hongguo, another suspect, to receive anti-China training overseas, the court said in a statement. He conspired and plotted to subvert state power with others, including Zhou Shifeng, Li Heping and Zhai and established "a systematic ideology, method and steps" to achieve it. "I recognise the severity of my crimes, and the huge damage I've brought to the country, society, my family and myself," the report quoted Hu as saying in his final statement. He said he had "long been influenced by bourgeois liberalism" andafter being released from prison "fell deeper and deeper in to the criminal mire of anti-Party and anti-government groups". He thanked the government for looking after him while he was ill and in hospital. "I want to thank the police, procuratorate, judges and medical staff for their help and education, which has been more memorable than any time before. I am resolved not to participate in any activities against the Party and government in the future, and be a citizen abiding by the law," he said. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 15:09 [IST] Crackdown against drug suspects in Manila: Several hundreds killed International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Manila, Aug 3: The world is fearing a possible presidency of Donald Trump in the US but a more sinister regime has already begun giving its countrymen sleepless nights in the eastern world. ['Donald Trump of East' Rodrigo Duterte takes over as Philippines president] In the Philippines, over 400 people have been killed as the country's newly elected president, Rodrigo Duterte, has started backing his words of handling crime with tough hands by unleashing the police and military forces to eliminate the drug suspects. Some reports, however, said that the death tally could touch 700 in less than three months. Other reports also said the police have arrested 2,700 people on charges if having links to illegal drug activities. Most lost their lives in clashes with the police while around 150 were killed by unidentified vigilantes, said a New York Times report. Duterte, 71, who took over as the president of the Philippines in June, reiterated his no-soft approach during his address to the Congress last week and asked the law-keepers to "triple" their efforts against crime. A former mayor, Duterte has been known for his hard ways against petty criminals and drug dealers and was also nicknamed "The Punisher" in the past. In his speech, Duterte said his authorities will not stop till the last drug lord, financier and pusher surrendered or jailed or eliminated. However, human rights groups and families of many of the victims of the crackdown said several of them were poor Filipinos and had nothing to do with drug-related activities. They were just shot in streets without any charges or trial, the critics of Duterte's policy said. Duterte, however, has shown little concern for the human rights activism. He said human rights could not be used as a shield to destroy the country. Oneindia News Rajnath Singh faces threat from 4 terrorist outfits New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Aug 3: Rajnath Singh, the Union Home Minister who will take part in the SAARC ministerial conference on Wednesday, faces a threat from four terrorist outfits. According to Intelligence Bureau, the threat perception is high from the Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Taliban and the al Qaeda in the Sub-Continent. Rajnath Singh will raise cross border terror at SAARC meet Ahead of Singh's visit to Islamabad, India had conveyed to Pakistan about this threat perception. Pakistan in turn has assured India of security. The Home Ministry had said that it is the responsibility of Pakistan to ensure the safety of the minister. Threat perception high Rajnath Singh is a highly protected individual. He faces a threat perception from various groups. However, the four groups mentioned above pose the maximum threat to the Home Minister. A few days back Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed had threatened protests across Pakistan in a bid to send a message to the Home Minister of India. India has made it clear to Pakistan that security is the utmost concern and all protests should be barred. No protests should take place near the venue where the conference is being held and if Pakistan fails to prevent it, India would take strong exception to the same. Further, Singh will not raise the Kashmir issue. He would stick to cross border terrorism and the stability of the region. On asking why the Kashmir issue did not make it to the agenda, a Home Ministry official said that it is our internal matter and we will handle it. "There is no need to debate it with Pakistan. With Pakistan only the issue of cross border terrorism and infiltrations into Kashmir will be discussed," the officer also said. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 10:51 [IST] Why was Arvind Kejriwal barred from carrying his cell phone? New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Aug 3: Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal had alleged that he along with a few others were not permitted to carry their mobile phones into the Inter-State Council meet held last month. There may be various reasons for this decision to be taken. However, a pointer to the reason as to why Kejriwal was not permitted to carry his cell phone, was given by Aam Admi Party MP Bhagwant Mann. To a question by the committee probing Mann's live streaming of the Parliamentary security system on whether the two incidents were linked, Mann's reply was, "probably." The committee had asked him if his live streaming was the reason why the Delhi CM was not permitted to carry his cell phone into the meet. To this Mann replied by said it could be the reason. Mann is being probed by a committee after it had been found that he had live streamed the Parliament's security system. There was an uproar over this issue and a probe was ordered into the matter. Mann according to the committee had continued to live stream the security system despite a security personnel telling him not to do so. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 10:42 [IST] Central team roped in as dengue cases in Bihar rise to over 5000 Bihar's Gopalganj by-poll to see a tough fight between BJP and RJD BJP, allies protest attack on journalist in Bihar Patna oi-PTI Patna, August 3: Opposition BJP-led NDA today strongly protested beating up of a journalist of a Hindi daily in Bihar Assembly and demanded security for mediapersons in the state. Navneet Kumar, the journalist of Hindi daily 'Hindustan', was yesterday beaten up in Vaishali district yesterday when his attackers were protesting an item written by him about beating up of a bus operator on Monday for hiking fare. Senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav raised the issue during the Zero Hour and attacked the state government for failing to provide security to members of the fourth estate. Soon Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar and other BJP and its allies LJP, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party members rose from their seats and raised slogans against the Grand Secular Alliance for attack on the scribe. However, Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of RJD President Lalu Prasad who represents Mahua seat, had left the Assembly some time before the strong BJP protest. Nand Kishore Yadav said after the killing of Hindi journalist Rajdeo Ranjan in Siwan, now another mediaperson has been beaten for publishing news about thrashing of a bus operator. The senior BJP leader, who is former Leader of Opposition, expressed grave concern over the attack on journalists which he said reflected poor law and order condition in the state. PTI The country witnessed another shocking murder on the lines of Swathi murder case. A jilted lover killing a girl. A 32 yr old man in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu tried to set ablaze a teenage girl after she rejected his love and that teenage girl Naveena died in Jipmar hospital today. Senthil, 32, a driver in a private transport company, had been following teenager Naveena for over a year Community Its now easier than ever to connect and chat with others in your local area. You can connect with your community by asking general questions, give area updates and recommendations and even let your community know about local events that are taking place. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Rumble 26 Oct 2022 Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report talks about the horrible performances of John Fetterman and Kathy Hochul in their respective.. New Zealand Herald 12 Oct 2022 A now-former San Antonio police officer has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault by a peace officer after the.. Upworthy 19 Oct 2022 The parents of a 15-year-old accused of killing five people in North Carolina last week say they're devastated by the loss of.. Sydney Morning Herald 10 Aug 2022 Trump had fought unsuccessfully to avoid appearing for testimony in state Attorney General Letitia Jamess probe into whether he.. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Learn more Despite Recent Tumble, William Hill Unbowed With New Acquisition and EPL Sponsorships Published August 3, 2016 by Lee R A busy August is already in full sway with a series of new powerful strategic agreements. William Hill's grip on the top of UK iGaming has slipped, but a series of deft responses has the company looking good all the same. Surface Tension The surprising rejection of a recent merger offer from the 888 and Rank had pundits scratching their heads a bit, made all the more confusing by the quick sack of top boss James Henderson. Dealing With It The seemingly cataclysmic response of ousting their top executive after 30 years of faithful service was a proactive response to the company's underperformance with Henderson at the helm--in a time in which William Hill was looking to get ahead after feeling the heat from online supermergers that had caught the land-based UK gaming leader in online bookmaker revenue rankings. Counterpunching The fact is, while William Hill is looking for its new comfort zone with the explosion of online betting, it continues to make moves to strengthen its position in land/based activity nonetheless. Everton Sponsorship To wit, August has started off on a positive note with William Hill's signing of a two-year agreement with EPL's Everton to become the Clubs Official European Betting Partner. The innovative deal calls for William Hill to offer a variety of exclusive competitions and betting enhancements to customers, with Everton fans being the direct beneficiaries. For two years, the William Hill name will be featured prominently on Everton LED screens and of course in the home stadium. Grand Parade Acquisition Now, the company has announced the acquisition of ten years old Grand Parade, a London England based app, website and commerce platforms architect for some of the worlds largest gambling operator brands. The deal is worth 13.5 million (16 million/$17.9 million). Integration Well Underway New interim Phillip Hill CEO Philip Bowcock commented that bringing the Grand Parade team into William Hill will rapidly ramp up the scale of our development team...to support the work with OpenBet to build our new back-end platform. Clearly, William Hill are rapidly building up their online presence and capacities alongside new high profile land-based sponsorship agreements. Tottenham Sponsorship And what is more prominent in the UK than the Premier League? For William Hill's latest trick (and third of the young month), they have bagged the EPL's Tottenham Hotspurs in a second sponsorship agreement giving William Hill a presence across Hotspur digital channels, pitchside advertising boards and in-stadium betting services on each matchday. Still Standing William Hill may have lost the top spot, but they are not willing to relinquish their status. Opalesque Industry Update - ETFGI, an independent research and consultancy firm on trends in the global ETF/ETP ecosystem, has reported assets invested in smart beta ETFs/ETPs listed in globally reached a new record high US$429 billion at the end of June 2016, according to data from ETFGIs June 2016 global smart beta ETF and ETP industry insights report (click here to view the ETFGI chart of assets invested globally in Smart Beta, Market Cap and Active equity ETFs/ETPs). Record levels of assets were also reached at the end of June for smart beta ETFs/ETPs listed in the United States at US$390.20 Bn, Canada with US$9.44 Bn, Europe with US$ 26.70, and in Japan with US$832 Mn. Year to date through end of June 2016, smart beta equity ETF/ETP assets have increased by 7.1% from US$400 Bn to US$429 Bn, with a 5-year CAGR of 31.3%. Markets and investors around the world were engulfed in the chaos following what many saw as the unexpected result of the UKs June 23rd vote. Volatility was up significantly during the month. The S&P 500 index was up just 0.3%. Emerging markets were up 3.94% while developed markets ex-US declined 2.87%. There is still uncertainty in the markets due to questions on when and how Brexit changes will be implement and the many changes happening in UK political parties" according to Deborah Fuhr, managing partner at ETFGI. In June 2016, smart beta products saw net inflows of US$5.70 Bn. Volatility factors gathered the largest net inflows with US$2.17 Bn, followed by dividend factor based products with US$1.71 Bn and value factor with US$1,592 Mn. YTD, smart beta products have seen net inflows of $16.15 Bn. Volatility factors gathered the largest net inflows with $14.32 Bn, followed by value factor with $6.83 Bn and dividend factor based products with $3.09 Bn. iShares gathered the largest smart beta ETF/ETP net inflows in June with US$4.11 Bn, followed by Vanguard with US$1.26 Bn and PowerShares with US$672 Mn net inflows. YTD, iShares gathered the largest smart beta ETF/ETP net inflows year to date in 2016 with US$19.02 Bn, followed by Vanguard with US$5.26 Bn and Charles Schwab Investment Management with US$2.15 Bn net inflows. With his outrageous response to Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son, Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq, Donald Trump has demonstrated once again that he is one of the nastiest and most narcissistic horse's ass in the known universe. His penchant for saying the perfectly offensive thing, on cue, does make one wonder if he hasn't been put up to this whole thing by his friends, the Clintons, to split the Republicans and ensure Hillary's victory. Then again, as a New Yorker familiar with his bloviated personality, I'm fairly certain his journey into historical ignominy is self-propelled. But, like the proverbial clock, Donald's unstoppable tongue is right twice a month or so. And egged on by the Clinton campaign, a lot of people are reinforcing various packs of dangerous lies in order to up the ante in trashing Trump. None of these is worse than the warmongering narrative about Russia and Ukraine that's been reinforced by the bipartisan liberal-conservative commentariat after Trump's recent interview with George Stephanopoulos. ThinkProgress, run by Hillary's campaign manager John Podesta, put up a story by Aaron Rupar on this that is being passed around the internet, with the title, " Trump Appears To Be Ignorant Of A Major International Conflict ." Translation: "Trump Goes Off-Script On Ukraine. Must Be Punished." In this interview, Trump is, as usual, only semi-coherent. But the positions he seems to be taking, and being ridiculed for, are better than the positions of the Democrats, the Obama administration, Hillary, and ThinkProgress. For example, Stephanopoulos challenges Trump in a "How Could You!?" tone about the GOP removing from its platform a call for the U.S. to arm Ukraine "to defend themselves" from, implicitly, Russia. Trump, however, is right when he answers that Russia is not going to invade Ukraine, saying: "He [Putin]'s not going to go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down." In fact, the Obama administration may be disappointed about that, since it did its best to provoke a Russian incursion into Ukraine, in order to justify more overt and massive American military intervention -- exactly what the GOP platform revision rejects. Whether Trump or the GOP will actually live up to this is another story, but good for them for taking this position. That Hillary and her surrogates respond by doubling down on her warmongering position only confirms that the Democrats have enthusiastically embraced their role as the war party. When Stephanopoulos then says, switching from the threat of invasion to something more ambiguous, "he [Putin]'s already there, isn't he?," Trump again responds correctly: "Okay -- well, he's there in a certain way. But I'm not there. You have Obama there." The Obama administration has certainly intervened heavily in Ukraine, in ways that are enormously disruptive. With Hillary's favorite State Department neocon and possible next Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, in the lead, the Obama administration fomented the overthrow of a democratically-elected government with an insurrection powered by fascist groups. And by "democratically-elected," I mean chosen in an election that European and NATO observers called "a good and competitive election and very promising for the future of Ukraine's democracy"; and by "fascist," I mean not "neo-" but outright Hitler-loving fascists. The Obama administration thus helped bring explicit fascists into power in a European country for the first time since WWII. Those are the people the Democrats want to arm, not to "defend themselves" against Russia, but to wage more effective war against their fellow citizens in the Eastern half of the country, citizens whom those fascist consider "beetles." ThinkProgress acknowledges this when it talks about the GOP platform "removing references to arming Ukraine in its ongoing fight against pro-Russia rebels." So it's a question of arming a government of fascists and oligarchs in a civil war against its own rebellious citizens. Do you think that's a good idea for America policy? Is Donald Trump being "ignorant" to question it? The current rebellion by eastern Ukrainians was not the result of Russian intervention, but of an offensive by fascist groups against Ukrainian citizens who dared to protest against the coup that deposed the president they had voted for. The worst of these incidents was the massacre in Odessa, where fascists forced protestors into a building and then burned it down, and roasting people alive inside. At least 38 people were killed. Eight were lucky enough to escape the fire by jumping out of the building; they were promptly set upon and beaten to death by thugs of the fascist group, Right Sector. Didn't know about this? Perhaps because, as Russian expert Stephen F. Cohen says, the American media "basically rewrites whatever the Kiev authorities say." Cohen, a Professor Emeritus of Princeton and NYU, has been one of the only establishment-recognized authorities trying to challenge the ridiculous and dangerous American narrative about Russia. In a segment (video here ) on CNN, he tried to introduce some sanity into the discussion of Trump and Russia. I've written a couple of detailed analyses of what transpired in Ukraine in 2014 ( here and here ), and I'm confident in saying, with Stephen Cohen, that it's the dominant political and media narrative, promulgated by outlets like ThinkProgress, that keeps Americans ignorant about a major international conflict. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Donald Trump's presidential campaign rhetoric is, by most accounts, "populist, " but that's a broad description. Trump takes his "populism" from a particular historical tradition -- one with a baleful history in American politics. What is populism, and what's the problem with Trump's version of it? Simplified, populism is the notion that society consists of two classes -- the righteous but oppressed masses, and the greedy and oppressive power elites. That notion is timeless, but in modern political theory we can trace it to two French libertarians, Charles Comte and Charles Dunoyer, who correctly identified the righteous masses as "the productive class" (those who make their living through honest labor and exchange) and the greedy power elites as "the political class" (those who make their living, and accrue their power, by working for or buying the favor of the state). Karl Marx repurposed Comte's and Dunoyer's theory and put it in harness to his nutty economic theories. Marx's righteous masses were "the workers;" his greedy power elites were "the capitalists." His proposed solutions militated in a non-libertarian direction, but he was at least clear on the relationship between the power elites and the state. The state, he said, is "the executive committee of the ruling class." The final disposition of the ruling class is the rub with most "populist" agitators: They aim to topple the existing ruling class and replace it with another. They don't want to get rid of the power elites; they just want to BECOME the power elites. And they promise that their constituents (the righteous masses) will ascend to power with them. Principled populism aims to end the existing class division altogether. By either limiting or liquidating government, it proposes to make the formation or existence of a "political class" impossible. In a genuine populist society, a libertarian society, honest labor and free exchange are the sole sources of wealth and power. Trump's populism descends from an odd twist in American populism which treats the most marginalized and oppressed groups as the oppressive power elites, the middle class as the oppressed righteous masses, and a demagogue as the savior of those masses. We saw this kind of populism in the Dixiecrat rebellion of 1948, in George Wallace's independent presidential campaigns, in Nixon's "southern strategy" and in Pat Buchanan's upstart Republican and Reform Party efforts. Trump tells Pennsylvania steel workers and Louisiana carpenters and Kansas farmers that the oppressive power elites aren't the political class (American government's taxers, regulators and subsidy eaters), but rather foreign workers crossing the border and foreign governments American politicians get "a bad deal" from. He tells the white middle class that the power elites aren't the political class (government police terrorizing our communities), but their fellow productive class Americans (often African-Americans) who object to assault and even slaughter by those police. He tells Americans that putting him in power will put them in power. Don't fall for it. It's a lie. Trump's a fake populist and a run-of-the-mill (except for the really bad hair) power seeker. Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob Kall has certainly acquired the firsthand experiences and knowledge gained through interviews to deliver some interesting insights about the "bottom-up" information revolution. Whereas the old 'top-down' systems created stove-pipes and excessive secrecy that blocked information sharing and led to the 'failure to connect the dots' before 9-11, the bottom-up approach should be the main fix. Kall's concept would seem to interface equally well with the founding fathers' idealism in setting forth their democratic theory of governance as with the realism that makes the multi-sourced, bottom-up Wikipedia work. As someone who shares my support of both government and corporate whistleblowing -- which is nothing more than encouraging greater horizontal sharing of information, I commend Rob Kall's important work on this topic." Coleen Rowley, former FBI special agent and named one of TIME Magazine's "Persons of the Year" in 2002) "Musicians" opens at huZ Galleries on Saturday, August 6th, 2016. The exhibition is primarily focused on the photography of Peter Figen, with two additional images from photographer Anthony Bernard. Huss Hardan, gallery director and co-owner of huZ Galleries, is a fan of Figen's work and introduced the son of Anthony Bernard to him to facilitate prints of two never-before-seen images of Elvis Presley in performance. He knew immediately that both Figen and Bernard's work was special. "The most important thing are images that capture and hold one's attention." This photo is courtesy of photographer Peter Figen. George Harrison photographed by Peter Figen at Warner Bros, Burbank, 1987, for the cover of Guitar Player Magazine. Figen is a highly sought-after photographer and printer specializing in producing iconic images of musicians both established and unknown. In keeping with the music theme, he has photographed legendary recording studios on the west coast, from Capital to East West, to Fox and Skywalker Sound. Figen has rubbed shoulders and captured the likes of established musicians such as Doc Watson, Willie Dixon, George Harrison, Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett, Scott Weiland - just to name a few. "Musicians will feature an eclectic mix of images," Figen explained, "These images go back to 1977 when I photographed George Thorogood in a bar in Santa Cruz, then jump to a range from 1986 to the present." huZ Galleries is pleased to unveil the never-before-seen photos of Elvis Presley taken by Anthony Bernard. The two images were found by Bernard's son Tony Bernard amidst a vast array of negatives. The images were shot prior to Presley's fame and the photographer's sister Crystal Bernard decided that the prints her brother had sent to her were not worth keeping as she had never heard of this Elvis Presley person! The original prints were thrown out. The photos were shot in 1955 in Lubbock, Texas, where Presley was performing, backed up by musician Scotty Moore. Bernard's son said that Anthony had never shown any of his work before. "I think my father would be very pleased to show his work at huZ galleries," said Tony. Join huZ Galleries for the official art reception on Saturday August 6th, at 7pm. Free parking after 6pm is available on 6th and 7th streets. 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 Guardian The latest airstrikes against Isis are happening because the last offensive created a power vacuum. There's a good bet that will happen this time too. Just five years after bombing Libya to dispose of Muammar Gaddafi, the US is now officially bombing the country again, this time against alleged Isis terrorist strongholds that cropped up in the power vacuum created by the last bombing. It's yet another episode of the War on Terror Circle of Life, where the US bombs a country and then funnels weapons into the region, which leads to chaos and the opportunity for terrorist organizations, which then leads to more US bombing. Like usual in the Obama administration's wars, there was no congressional vote on the latest airstrikes in Libya and no declaration of war, as required by the constitution. The administration is pinning the legal authority for this military incursion on the 2001 Authorization for Military Force that was meant for Afghanistan and the perpetrators of 9/11, al-Qaida. Isis, of course, didn't exist until years later, and the two groups are now enemies, but those technicalities don't seem to bother the Obama administration, which is continuing to expand US military presence abroad with little to no public input. The pattern of bombing-chaos-bombing in Libya follows the same pattern as Iraq, which was largely free of al-Qaida members before the US invasion in 2003, only to see it become a terrorist hotbed for the group once the US military arrived, eventually leading to the formation of Isis. Iraq War III has been quietly but steadily increasing for months now -- the US has well over 5,000 troops back in the country after leaving at the end of 2011. The US troop presence went up again, recently reaching battalion-level numbers. With even less fanfare, the same cycle has been playing out in Yemen, which the US has been backing in its appalling and indiscriminate Saudi Arabian bombing campaign that has killed thousands of civilians and led to many calls of war crimes. The war there continues to receives scant coverage in the media and is completely ignored by both presidential campaigns despite the fact that it has also created space for al-Qaida of the Arabian Peninsula (Aqap) to completely rejuvenate itself. As a Reuters investigation in April put it, Aqap has "become stronger than at any time since it first emerged almost 20 years ago." Click Here to Read Whole Article Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump - Caricatures (Image by DonkeyHotey) Details DMCA Julian Assange was recently asked to comment on the presidential candidates, and his response, while perhaps a bit crude, pretty much summarized the race. He answered: "Well you are asking me if I prefer cholera or gonorrhea." Most of those who will vote for Trump, do so because they hate the Warrior Queen Hillary, and most of those who will vote for Hillary will do so because they hate Trump. So once again the failed establishment of both parties has given us the "lesser of two evils" choice. Fortunately, there is an alternative in Dr Jill Stein, whom you are not allowed to hear or see on corporate media. If you did, you would recognize immediately a sane, intelligent, reasoned, civil person, who can articulate reasoned views on every major problem. Because she is so good, she is prohibited from corporate media. This writer will opt for the sane reasoned candidate, but there are many who have not yet concluded that the two parties are not only corrupt and fixed, but they will not address any of the major problems of the people. For these poor souls, I contend that as bad and horrible as Trump is, he just might be the lesser of two evils. The worst possible thing that could happen to this world is a nuclear war, and as unbelievable as you may think, a vote for Hillary the Warrior Queen, brings you ever so close to just that. Consider first, she is, and has always been, warlike. Her record speaks for itself. She advocated and voted for war against Saddam Hussein. She is, and has been pushing hard for a no-fly zone in Syria, which will provoke the Russians and might mean war with the Russians. The Warrior Queen was the prime architect behind the Libya bombing campaign, and she managed to bully all opponents who called for restraint and got her way. Libya now, is a failed disastrous state, and the biggest haven for extremist radicals on the African continent. She supported the military coup in Honduras, while the rest of the world screamed in protest that a coup of a democratically elected leader had occurred, Hillary insisted it was not a coup. She had to do this in order for the US to legally send weapons to the new dictator, because US law prevents arm shipments to illegal dictators. She originally voted for war against Iraq which was based on lies, and supported every buildup of boots on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. She supported the nuclear treaty with Iran, only because she was the Secretary of State under President Obama, the architect of that treaty. She did however, on numerous occasions, both before and after the treaty, threaten Iran, and on least one occasion issued a nuclear threat. In addition to her own personal militaristic views she is slowly surrounding herself with like minds. It appears her Secretary of State could be Michele Flournoy, who has called for limited air strikes against the Assad regime. Most likely Victoria Nuland would be brought into the fold. It was Nuland who said "F--- the EU", when they were not as enthusiastic as she about overthrowing the democratically elected leader of the Ukraine. Miss Vicky was appointed and worked under Dick Cheney. Nuland's husband, Robert Kagan, has come out in support of the Warrior Queen. It was he and his neocon friends who brought you Iraq. It appears the Warrior Queen has some kind of personnel vendetta against Assad, or perhaps she is just paying homage to Israel who has worked long and hard to oversee his ouster. Israel has even resorted to helping Al-Qaida and Al-Nusra, two groups whom we allegedly hold in contempt. Just as in Libya and Iraq, the Warrior Queen argues it is necessary to bomb Syria to save the people from Assad. One must ask the Warrior Queen: What would be the legal basis for the overthrow of the Assad regime? There is no legal basis; it would be illegal; however, it appears the Queen thinks herself above the law. Should not the Syrian people be in charge of their own destiny, and not the Warrior Queen? An overthrow of Assad would be akin to the overthrow of Gadaffi in Libya, and while corporate media does not report on the failed terrorist state that Libya has become, it most certainly is both. Only because of a WikiLeaks released e-mail which the Warrior Queen sent in 2012, did we just find out the real reason for the Warrior Queen's animosity towards Assad. In that e-mail the Warrior Queen said: "The best way to help Israel deal with Iran's growing nuclear capability is to help the people of Syria overthrow the regime of Bashar Assad." Of course you will never hear of this in corporate media. A vote for the Warrior Queen means, a no fly zone in Syria, and an attempted overthrow of Assad, which will severely anger and risk war with Russia, all to pacify and please Israel. Two other war queens, namely Samantha Powers and Susan Rice appear to be in the running for cabinet positions, both of whom support helping the Saudi's in their illegal war on Yemen. So I am not defending, by any stretch, Donald Trump. He is a racist slug. Trump is an unknown, because what he says today he denies saying tomorrow, but we know that Hillary is the ultimate Warrior Queen who would risk war with Russia and China. Fortunately, I have a sane rational candidate to vote for, but if I were one of the many who struggle with the choice of either of these two monsters, I would choose Trump, because the Warrior Queen could very well bring us into a nuclear holocaust and end the world. This is a reprint from NewsBred. Indians know "Shaktimaan" (the horse victim of a BJP politician's assault). From March 14 to April 20 this year, between its unfortunate injury and death, it remained a front page news on our lily-pure newspapers. Such love for protection of animals doesn't extend to illegal cow slaughters. Never ever a word. Instead, cow-protectors are seen as a plot of Hindutva's agenda. That veneration for cows, without VHP, RSS or BJP prop, doesn't exist. Before I am dismissed as a Hindutva foot-soldier, an anti-Dalit, anti-Muslim, anti-beef Hindu fundamentalist, let's look at Indian constitution's position. After all, this is where all hysteria should end. Prohibition of cow slaughter is a Directive Principle of State Policy in Article 48 of the Constitution. It says: "The state shall endeavour... in prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle." On October 26, 2005, the Supreme Court of India upheld the constitutional validity of anti-cow slaughter laws. Only Kerala, West Bengal and India's northeast don't have any restrictions on cow slaughter. Before you burn me at the stake on beef trade, remember most beef produced, consumed and exported is buffalo meat, which is not considered sacred to a Hindu. Besides, most cow-slaughterhouses are illegal. It's a rampant illegal practice where cows are shipped to restriction-free states. Wikipedia says: "In 2013 in Andhra Pradesh, there were 3,100 illegal and 6 licensed slaughterhouses in the state." Sure, in practice, states take uneven position on the matter. Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have the strictest laws against cow-slaughter. Assam and West Bengal permit slaughter of cows 10-14 years old. In many states though cow-slaughter is a non-bailable offence. The terms of imprisonment could extend from a mandatory 6 months to 5 years. So get this straight. Cow slaughter makes you a criminal in most of India. And please spare me this Hindutva tag. For cow slaughter was opposed by notable Muslims from the Mughal's times. Muslims and cow-slaughter Emperor Babar ruled in 1526 that killing of cows was forbidden. Akbar (1556-1605), Jahangir (1605-1627), Ahmed Shah (1748-1754)--all had restricted bans on cow slaughter. Yes, Aurangzeb deviated but Bahadur Shah Zafar completely banned cow slaughter in 1857. The de facto sultan of Mysore, Hyder Ali (1762-1785), punished cow-slaughter offenders by cutting off their hands. It's a fallacy that cow-slaughter in India began with the arrival of Islam. Vedas describe many gods such as Indra and Agni having preference for cattle meat. Sure the various invasions of Islamic rulers around 1000 AD made it common. Along with sacrifices of goats and sheet, cows too became a sacrificial animal, particularly on the occasion of Bakri-Id. As in most things, British rule in India was trouble. They were used to eating beef. Slaughterhouses sprang up all over India. In 1944, British placed restrictions on slaughter due to cattle shortage. After all, they were required for transport, cultivation and milk among other purposes. But it came too late in the day. A historical survey, between 1717-1977, reveal that out of 167 communal riots, 22 were directly attributed to cow slaughter. Arya Samaj, which opposed many existing practices of Hinduism in the 19th century, including idol worship, polytheism, child marriage, widow celibacy, and the caste system, accepted the cow worship. Dayananda Saraswathi in 1881 opposed cow-slaughter as an anti-Hindu act. In 1683, Sambhaji, the eldest son of Shivaji, is said to have executed a cow-slaughter offender. Ranjit Singh (1801-1839), founder of the Sikh Empire, banned cow slaughter throughout his domains. Cow was as sacred to the Sikhs as to the Hindus. Cow slaughter was a capital offence and offenders were even executed. Let's look at the stands of our revered leaders during British Raj. Mahatama Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Madan Mohan Malviya, Dr. Rajendra Prasad all had vowed to ban cow-slaughter in case India got its "Swaraj." Let's listen to Gandhi's words: "Not even to win Swaraj, will I renounce my principle of cow protection... I worship and I shall defend its worship against the whole world. The central fact of Hinduism is cow protection." In 1966, Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan wrote thus to the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi: "For myself, I cannot understand why, in a Hindu majority country like India... there cannot be a legal (cow-slaughter) ban." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). 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. For all its success with steamrolling over entire populations to build highways, factory towns, and office campuses, the U.S. has also, since its earliest days, produced scores of committed ethnologists, musicologists, and other documentarians of human cultural production in all its variety. This cruel paradox has, most generally speaking, left a dual legacy in both the countrys storied violence and its capacity for renewal through the appropriation, transformation, and amalgamation of other cultures. And we would have no national treasure chest of folk music, art, story, and history to draw from without journeymen collectors like Alan Lomax. Where cultural historians like W.E.B. Dubois, Zora Neale Hurston, Franz Boas, and Margaret Mead lent their findings to revivals in American literature and philosophy, Lomax, along with his contemporary, folklorist Harry Smith, unlocked the secrets of this kind of music, as Dylan remarked, for hundreds of budding folk and blues musicians in the forties, fifties, and sixties. With typically Dylan-like understatement, the phrase this kind of music undersells the diversity of Americana in Lomaxs collection, from Celtic Appalachiana to African Caribbeana. Lomax started out recording folk music under the tutelage of his folklorist father, John Lomax. Beginning in 1934, the two travelled the country, gathering thousands of field recordings of folk musicians throughout the American South, Southwest, Midwest, and Northeast, as well as in Haiti and the Bahamas, writes the Association for Cultural Equity, which hosts a huge archive of Lomaxs folk recordings. These were released in several popular anthologies of the time and housed at the Library of Congresss Archive of American Folk Song, for whom the younger Lomax began working in 1937. Throughout the 30s and 40s, Lomax furiously recorded songs, jokes, stories, interviews, etc. and produced films and radio programs which brought 1940s New Yorkers blues, flamenco, calypso, and Southern ballad singing, all still relatively unknown genres. A musician himself (hear him do Rambling Gambler, above), Lomax also discovered and promoted a number of folk artists who would be stars. He exposed national audiences to regional American music and such homegrown talents as Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Aunt Molly Jackson, Josh White, the Golden Gate Quartet, Burl Ives, and Pete Seeger. He made the first recordings of Muddy Waters (then McKinley Morganfield) and recorded seminal sessions and conversations with bluesmen like Memphis Slim, Big Bill Broonzy, and Sonny Boy Williamson. Its safe to say that without Lomaxs tireless curating, we would have had no folk and blues revival of the fifties and sixties, and thus, likely, no rock and roll. Its easy in our cynical and anxiety-ridden current cultural moment to dismiss folklorists like the Lomaxes as pirates who profited from the work of others. But its also easy to forget how little opportunity the artists they worked with had to reach the world outside their local circuits, and how little opportunity the wider American public had to hear folk and local artists. In part because of Alan Lomaxs work in the beginnings of the 21st century, we never need to lose touch with the countrys tremendous cultural diversity, an essential feature of the U.S. throughout its history. A fair amount of controversy roils over the business arrangements that folklorists came to with artists and collaborators like Lead Belly, and there are good historical and political reasons to follow these debates. Ideals of cultural equity did not erase racial and economic realities. But the best of what survives the meetings of Lomax father and son and the hundreds of men and women they encountered in their travels is captured on record, tape, and digital formats, and preserved for future generations to rediscover what the country sounds like outside the feedback loops of corporate media. There are innumerable ways to discover Lomaxs recordings. His own Association for Cultural Equity hosts hundreds of hours of audio and video recordings, available to stream for free at the site or on Youtube. The archive contains over 17,000 folk recordings by Lomax. And in the Spotify playlist above, weve compiled a playlist of Lomaxs commercial releases. In the first two, we hear Lomax himself interpreting various cowboy and western songs. Then a massive album of recordings he made in Haiti after doing graduate work in anthropology (these include recordings of his fellow anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston). We have a compilation of early Delta blues recordings or Negro Prison Blues, and an album of popular Italian folk songs like Funiculi, Funicula and Come Back to Sorrento. Overall its a playlist that represents the surprising breadth of Lomaxs interest in this kind of musicthe kind, as he put it in his Appeal for Cultural Equity, made by each and every branch of the human family. Related Content: Alan Lomaxs Music Archive Houses Over 17,400 Folk Recordings From 1946 to the 1990s Legendary Folklorist Alan Lomax: The Land Where the Blues Began Woody Guthrie at 100: Celebrate His Amazing Life with a BBC Film Hear Zora Neale Hurston Sing the Bawdy Prison Blues Song Uncle Bud (1940) Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at @jdmagness Emerging Trends in the Internet of Things (IoT) in Healthcare Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=11975 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/internet-things-healthcare-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the healthcare market, which comprises systems and software, medical devices, and services, has had a significant impact on the overall healthcare sector and been immensely beneficial in remote clinical monitoring, chronic disease management, preventive care, assisted living, and personal fitness monitoring. Termed as a true game-changer for the healthcare industry, the Internet of Things has transformed the sector by lowering costs, improving efficiency, and bringing the focus back to quality patient care.Download Free Sample Research Report:The IoT in healthcare market includes a number of implanted, wearable, and stationary medical devices used in clinical research organizations, research and diagnostic laboratories, hospitals, clinics, and surgical centers, and defense and government institutions. In the healthcare industry, the Internet of Things can be put to several applications, including clinical operations and workflow management, inpatient monitoring, telemedicine, connected imaging, and medication management. Bluetooth low energy (BLE), ZigBee, satellite, Wi-Fi, near-field communication (NFC), and cellular are some of the key connectivity technologies involved in IoT in healthcare.The data in the report on the worldwide market for IoT in healthcare has been collated from several primary and secondary research sources, along with sharp insights and strategic recommendations from industry experts. The report is designed to help clients formulate profitable and actionable strategies to expand their businesses.Considering that the global healthcare industry has been undergoing several changes in a bid to provide accessible, affordable, and quality patient care, advanced and cutting edge technologies are being developed to help the industry cope with these changes. The introduction of IoT in the healthcare sector has transformed the way health services are being delivered.There are a number of factors driving the global market for IoT in healthcare. These include increasing global geriatric population, rising prevalence of various chronic diseases, the surging awareness levels pertaining to the availability of advanced disease management systems, the mounting demand for long-term and short-term healthcare services, and an overall improvement in data management, patient monitoring, and healthcare outcomes. The growing use of smartphones and the improved internet connectivity across the globe are also responsible for the expansion of the IoT in healthcare market.The global market for IoT in healthcare is geographically segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. North America continues to be the highest revenue generating region and analysts predict that the region is likely to retain its lead in the global IoT in healthcare market throughout the forecast period. The rapid growth of the North America IoT in healthcare market can be attributed to the presence of advanced and sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, major technological advancements in the field of healthcare software and medical devices, increased levels of R&D initiatives in IoT, and high levels of disposable income.The Asia Pacific market for IoT in healthcare has been identified as the most lucrative region and this geographical segment is projected to witness strong growth in the coming years. Rapid economic growth is one of the primary reasons for the future expansion of the IoT in healthcare in Asia Pacific, especially in countries such as China and India. Other factors impacting this regional market include improvement in healthcare infrastructure, rising disposable income levels, growing presence of IT-enabled healthcare services, increasing affordability of smartphones and various wearable medical devices, and changes in lifestyle habits.Adheretech, Cerner Corporation, PhysIQ, Stanley Healthcare, Qualcomm Life Inc., Cisco Systems, Medtronic Inc., GE Healthcare, Proteus Digital Health Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Diabetizer Ltd. & Co. KG, Philips, SAP SE, IBM Corporation, and Honeywell Care Solutions are some of the top companies competing in the global IoT in healthcare market. The nature of this market is immensely oligopolistic, wherein a handful of large, established players dominate the scene with strategies such as collaborative research and development, development of specialized products for specific applications, and acquiring startups with immense potential. This in turn, makes it difficult for smaller players and new entrants to venture into the IoT in healthcare market.Browse Full Research Report:The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Sulfosuccinate Market - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 2021 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?flag=S&repid=79458 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/sulfosuccinate-market.html#table-of-content http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/sulfosuccinate-market.html http://www.zionmarketresearch.com The report covers forecast and analysis for the Sulfosuccinate market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2016 to 2021 based on volume and revenue (USD Million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes study of opportunities available in the Sulfosuccinate market on a global level.In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the Sulfosuccinate market, we have included a detailed competitive scenario, and product portfolio of key vendors. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters five forces model for the Sulfosuccinate market has also been included, strategic development along with patents analysis is included in this report. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, where in type segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.Request sample report atSulfosuccinate finds widespread applications in Dishwashing Liquids, Household Detergents & Cleaners, Industrial Cleaners, Personal Care Products, Pharmaceutical, and Other Applications. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021.The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil.Request for Table of content atThe report covers detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Cytec Industries Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, Stepan Company, Rhodia, Lonza, Croda International Plc, MFG Chemical Inc., and Huntsman Corporation.Browse the full report atThis report segments the Sulfosuccinate market as follows:Sulfosuccinate Market: Applications Segment AnalysisDishwashing LiquidsHousehold Detergents & CleanersIndustrial CleanersPersonal Care ProductsPharmaceuticalOtherSulfosuccinate Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout us:Zion Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Zion Market Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading industry and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US:4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email:sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Thermal Dilatometers 2016 Market Trends, Sales, Supply, Demand, Analysis & Forecast to 2021 Thermal Dilatometers http://www.qyresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/global-thermal-dilatometers-market-outlook-2016-2021.html http://goo.gl/Daj7pe http://www.qyresearchgroup.com Global Thermal Dilatometers Industry 2016 Market Size Share Growth Forecast Research and DevelopmentThe Global Thermal Dilatometers Industry report gives a comprehensive account of the Global Thermal Dilatometers market. Details such as the size, key players, segmentation, SWOT analysis, most influential trends, and business environment of the market are mentioned in this report. Furthermore, this report features tables and figures that render a clear perspective of the Thermal Dilatometers market. The report features an up-to-date data on key companies product details, revenue figures, and sales. Furthermore, the details also gives the Global Thermal Dilatometers market revenue and its forecasts. The business model strategies of the key firms in the Thermal Dilatometers market are also included. Key strengths, weaknesses, and threats shaping the leading players in the market have also been included in this research report.The report gives a detailed overview of the key segments in the market. The fastest and slowest growing market segments are covered in this report. The key emerging opportunities of the fastest growing Global Thermal Dilatometers market segments are also covered in this report. Each segments and sub-segments market size, share, and forecast are available in this report. Additionally, the region-wise segmentation and the trends driving the leading geographical region and the emerging region has been presented in this report.Get Complete Report with TOC :The study on the Global Thermal Dilatometers market also features a history of the tactical mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships activity in the market. Valuable recommendations by senior analysts about investing strategically in research and development can help new entrants or established players penetrate the emerging sectors in the Thermal Dilatometers market. Investors will gain a clear insight on the dominant players in this industry and their future forecasts. Furthermore, readers will get a clear perspective on the high demand and the unmet needs of consumers that will enhance the growth of this market.Table of ContentChapter One Thermal Dilatometers Industry Overview1.1 Thermal Dilatometers Definition1.1.1 Thermal Dilatometers Definition1.1.2 Product Specifications1.2 Thermal Dilatometers Classification1.3 Thermal Dilatometers Application Field1.4 Thermal Dilatometers Industry Chain Structure1.5 Thermal Dilatometers Industry Regional Overview1.6 Thermal Dilatometers Industry Policy Analysis1.7 Thermal Dilatometers Industry Related Companies Contact InformationGet Sample Copy of Report @About Us:QYResearch Group is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. QYResearch Group also carries the capability to assist you with your customized market research requirements including in-depth market surveys, primary interviews, competitive landscaping, and company profiles. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics. QYResearch Group is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651Web: Rapid Urbanization, Infrastructural Development to Fuel Demand for Mobile Crushers and Screeners Globally, reports TMR http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3904 Crowded with a large number of equally-placed participants, the mobile crushers and screeners market demonstrates a highly fragmented structure, finds a study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). The presence of companies, such as Metso Corp., Hartl Property Holding GmbH, Sandvik AB, Atlas Copco Group, and Anaconda Equipment International Ltd., with diverse product offerings and strong brand identification has intensified the degree of competition within the market.To sustain the competition, participants are increasingly adopting product differentiation strategies. Low-cost leadership is also expected to emerge as one of the preferred strategies among mobile crushers and screeners manufacturers looking to gain a strong foothold in this market.Rise of Construction Industry to Fuel Demand for Mobile Crushers and ScreenersInfrastructural developments, stimulated by the rapid urbanization across the world, have fueled the demand for mobile crushers and screeners. Thanks to the growing populace, the need for residential as well as commercial spaces is witnessing an exponential rise, leading to a surge in construction activities, worldwide. Specifically, in developing nations, governments are investing a huge amount of money to enhance infrastructure by constructing roads, airports, ports, and railway tracks.The development of urban infrastructures, such as housing, sanitation and water supply, road transport systems, and mass rail transit systems, has also gained significant attention in these economies. With this rise in building activities, the demand for components and equipment required for construction is increasing at a remarkable pace. Mobile crushers and screeners, being essential parts of construction activities, are also witnessing strong demand due to this.Download the Mobile Crushers and Screeners Industry Fact Sheet by 2023 @Declining Economy in Developed Countries to Hamper Markets GrowthOn the other hand, the global construction industry is likely to experience a slowdown due to declining economic condition in developed regions such as the European Union and the U.S. over the next few years. Owing to this, the application of mobile crushers and screeners is expected to get affected to some extent, hampering the markets growth. Apart from this, the absence of adequate infrastructures in emerging economies in Asia Pacific and Latin America is also projected to impact negatively on this market in the coming years.Global Opportunity in Mobile Crushers and Screeners to Expand at 2.72% CAGR between 2015 and 2023According to TMRs estimations, mobile crushers and screeners held an opportunity worth US$2.08 bn in 2014, worldwide. Expanding at a CAGR of 2.72% between 2015 and 2023, this opportunity is likely to increase to US$2.6 bn by the end of the forecast period. Asia Pacific reports a huge and escalating demand for mobile crushers and screeners, thanks to the increasing investment infrastructural development in Asian countries, specifically in Japan, China, and India.In 2014, the region emerged as the key consumer of mobile crushers and screeners with a share of nearly 44%. Analysts expect it to remain in the leading position with an increase of approximately 2% in its market share by the end of 2023.Mobile crushers experience a higher demand than mobile screeners in 2014. The trend is expected to remain the same over the forecast period.Key Takeaways:The presence of companies with a strong brand differentiation has intensified the degree of competitionThe development of urban infrastructure in Asia Pacific demands increased number of mobile crushers and screenersGlobal opportunity in mobile crushers and screeners to reach US$2.6 bn by 2023The global mobile crushers and screeners market has been segmented as follows:By ProductMobile CrushersMobile ScreenersAbout UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 Sate Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Pain Management Devices Market report a CAGR of 10.30% between 2015 and 2023 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1143 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com With billions of people suffering from chronic pain worldwide, the condition not only stresses healthcare budgets but also leads to lost productive time every year. The need to provide timely and effective treatment for pain will fuel the global pain management market until 2023, says Transparency Market Research in a latest report. According to the report, the Pain Management Devices Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023 will post a compounded annual growth rate of 7.6% between 2015 and 2023 as it grows in size from US$3.2 bn in 2014 to US$6.3 bn by the end of 2023.Get a Free Sample Report:As more people worldwide enter the 65+ years age band, makers of pain management devices will find new growth avenues in this demographic space. At the same time, many new pain management devices are being commercialized and are thus contributing palpably to the overall revenue of the global pain management devices market.The market will, however, not be devoid of challenges. For instance, a few reported risks associated with neurostimulation implant procedures have created a negative perception about their safety. This could hinder the growth of the global pain management devices market. Moreover, the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the United States has eroded the profit margins of some key commercial entities in the global pain management devices market.For a closer analysis of the various dynamics at play in the global pain management devices market, the report segments the market based on product type, application, and region.Basis product type, the market has been segmented into electrical stimulation devices, analgesic infusion pumps, radiofrequency ablation devices, and neurostimulation devices. Some of these segments have been sub-segmented to the third level. The report states that in 2014, neurostimulation devices stood as the most dominant segment in the market. Their dominance is attributable to an increase in SCS and DBS device implantations among patients reporting pain in the trunk or limbs. The next few years will be especially profitable for the vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) devices. This segment will report an 8% CAGR over the review period of the report.Each of the key product types have been further studied on the basis of their specific applications. The key application areas studied are: Cancer-related pain, neuropathic pain, trauma, musculoskeletal pain, and migraine and facial pain. The use of pain management devices for treating neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain was the highest as compared to the other types of applications. The use of electrical stimulation devices for treating musculoskeletal pain, for instance, is expected to show healthy growth. TMR analysts project the sub-segment of musculoskeletal pain of the electrical stimulation devices applications segment to exhibit a 7% through the review period.From the regional standpoint, the global pain management devices market has been split into: North America (Canada and the U.S.), Europe (U.K., Germany, and Rest of Europe), Latin America (Brazil and Rest of Latin America), Asia Pacific (Australia, China, Japan, and Rest of Asia Pacific), and Rest of the World. While the North America region exhibited the largest market for pain management devices, the highest and fastest growth will be shown by the Asia Pacific region until 2023.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market ResearchTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Industrial Robotics Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends And Forecast To 2020 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/138595 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/138595 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ The rising demand for industrial robots across different industry verticals, regions and applications is propelling the industrial robotics market during the forecast period 2014 to 2020. Globally, Asia Pacific is analyzed to be fastest growing market largely due to the research and development infrastructure growth in countries such as Japan, Australia, China and India. The adoption of robotics in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is further expected to bolster the industrial robotics market in the Asia Pacific region. Additionally, the demand for industrial robots across major application segments such as electrical, consumer electronics, and automotives is further expected to fuel growth over the forecast period 2014 to 2020. Countries such as Italy, Germany, France, and the U.K are expected to be key contributors to the growth of industrial robotics market in the European region. In North America, Mexico is expected to offer tremendous potential across varied application sectors in the coming years. Thus, the market for industrial robotics is expected to witness healthy growth across varied industry verticals and regions.View Full Report atThis market research studies the industrial robotics market on a global level and estimates the market in terms of revenue (USD billion) from 2014 to 2020. It identifies the drivers and restraints affecting the market and studies their impact over the forecast period 2014 to 2020. In addition, the report also analyzes the opportunities for growth in the industrial robotics market over the forecast period.The report segments the industrial robotics market based on types of robots such as cylindrical robots, articulated robots, Cartesian robots, SCARA robots, and other types of robots. The market has further been segmented on the basis of industries served which comprises electrical & electronics industry, automotive industry, machinery industry, chemical, rubber & plastics industry, metals industry, precision & optics industry, food & beverages industry, and other types of industries. Besides, the report segments the market based on functions, which includes materials handling function, soldering and welding function, assembling & disassembling function, milling, cutting and processing function, painting and dispensing function, and other types of functions. Finally, the report segments the market on the basis of geography into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and Rest of the World (RoW). All these segments have been further estimated in terms of revenue (USD billion).A comprehensive analysis of the value chain offers an enhanced understanding of the market. A detailed Porters five forces analysis has been provided for a better perceptive of the intensity of competition in the industrial robotics market. The study further includes a market attractiveness analysis, wherein industrial robotics applications have been benchmarked based on their growth rate, market size, and overall attractiveness.The industrial robotics market report provides company market share analysis of key players. These players have been profiled on aspects such as company overview, financial overview, business strategy, SWOT analysis, and recent developments in the market. Some of the key players profiled include Denso Corporation, KUKA Robotics Corporation, FANUC Ltd., and Yaskawa Motoman Robotics among others.Download Sample Copy of this Report atIndustrial Robotics Market: By geographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificRest of the WorldIndustrial Robotics Market: By typesCartesianArticulatedCylindricalSCARAOthersIndustrial Robotics Market: By industryElectrical & ElectronicsAutomotiveMachineryChemical, Rubber & PlasticsFood & BeveragesMetalsPrecision & OpticsOthersIndustrial Robotics Market: By functionMaterials HandlingMilling, Cutting and ProcessingSoldering and WeldingPainting and DispensingAssembling & DisassemblingOthersMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Who is surfing, who is working? The Time Tracker knows http://crocotime.com/en/ Managing employees work time is a big problem for modern business world. In the past, there were a few disconnected solutions in time tracking, and an efficient centralization of accumulated information was almost impossible. With technological advances, todays business has an efficient centralized time tracker system, which is a combination of hardware and software parts.Time tracking now means keeping log of all important and small tasks and assignments completed in any given period. An automatic time tracker reduces overhead in other fields like payroll, project management, or tracking employees productivity.An accurate time tracker allows an employer to control computer activities of employees on different projects and tasks. A software solution (like our CrocoTime) designed for tracking employees time allows you to record billable hours properly and make necessary modifications in workflow for greater efficiency.The employee time tracker has different functions. If you recruit employees for a third party and bill the client based on work hours spent, you can bill correct invoices by reporting the exact work hours.Manage Projects, Analyze ProjectsEmployee tracking for workflow management or project management is based on the principle of full transparency of the work. You can see which task took too much time, who was effective in completing a certain job, and other specific information that you can analyze and make appropriate corrections in project management. Since you have a precise and detailed report, you can accurately plan all your future projects better by assigning efficient hands for specific tasks.An automatic time tracker not only records timesheets and generates reports, but it may also be integrated into accounting systems, billing systems or other project management tools. The less time an employer wants to spend on his employees, the more the need of an integrated employee time tracker. When integrated into an in-house billing system, an employee time tracking software helps to generate invoices based on time worked.Of course, you dont have to hire a person at the counter just to record time and attendance of staff. The productivity of such a system of tracking employees time with paper and pencil ends there, and youll get so little information from those reports. An employee time tracker reports to you a spreadsheet file which you can access over your own network or over Web. You will accurately know where employees are, even while you are visiting another country.Consider the case of CrocoTime, the time tracker that saves your business from becoming a sinking ship. CrocoTime allows employers to track activities of employees separate the real hard-workers from pretenders. You can monitor their arrival to the office, their work time and time of departure from the office.You can track work time budget too on concrete projects and tasks and create reports on any side of employees efficiency you select. The employees understand that their work activities are tracked and it motivates them to be more punctual and productive.The most of the CrocoTime customers use its reports to recognize the employees that deserve a promotion, demotion, or maybe dismissal.Today CrocoTime is approved by more than 500 of customers ranging from small companies to enterprises of different spheres of business: production companies, project companies, trading, and service companies have been using CrocoTime to become more productive and efficient.3, Severo-Vostochnoy Ave., Saransk, Mordovia, Russia, 430000 Clayton And Oakley Expand Across Asia Pacific Clayton And Oakley Investments Dublin Due to the firm's expanding client base across Australasia and the larger Asia Pacific region, Clayton & Oakley Investments are pleased to announce the opening of their new Hong Kong office. Additional offices will be procured and opened following the official opening of the Hong Kong office later this year.Anna Clayton, CEO and co-founder of Clayton & Oakley Investments said Expansion was long overdue and the timing is perfect for our company to increase our client base and our brand awareness across Australia and New Zealand.Potential new offices are currently being sourced across Australia and New Zealand with several major cities being considered as suitable locations including Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Wellington.The recruitment drive for senior personnel has been very successful as a result of an aggressive recruitment drive implemented by the Clayton & Oakley Human resources department and all positions will be finalised and announced over the next few weeks. The established investment company based in Dublin has already headhunted several of the most experienced and desirable financial professionals for their most senior positions.Clayton & Oakleys Head of Institutional Trading, Mark Williamson said The need to serve the Asia Pacific and in particular the Australasia zone will become much more important for our company. This is primarily due to capital shifts once again, the New Zealand housing market boom continuing and the Australian Reserve Bank hinting at further rate cuts.Clayton & Oakley Investments provides traditional investment services such as discretionary and advisory portfolio management and execution-only share dealing services across all the main asset classes to private individuals, institutions and corporations.Second floor44 Upper Mount streetDublin 2Ireland variable frequency drive (VFD) market is expected to increase at 7.2% CAGR in terms of value during 2016-2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-140 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-140 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/global-variable-frequency-drives-market www.futuremarketinsights.com Future Market Insights (FMI) delivers key insights on the global variable frequency drive market in its latest report titled Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016 - 2026. According to FMIs report, the variable frequency drive (VFD) market is expected to increase at 7.2% CAGR in terms of value during 2016-2026; volume-wise, FMI estimates the VFD market to expand at 8.5% CAGR.Growth of the global variable frequency drive market is mainly driven upsurge in energy prices, introduction of variable frequency drives that can be retrofitted on existing motors, widening application areas, and tightening of energy-efficiency norms. VFD manufacturers are focusing on diversifying their variable frequency drive portfolio in order to enhance their presence in the market.FMIs report has segmented the variable frequency drive market on the basis of drive type, voltage range, application type, end-use application, and end-use industry.On the basis of drive type, the market has been segmented into AC, DC and Servo variable frequency drive segments. The AC variable frequency drive segment accounted for over 70% value share of the global variable frequency drive market in 2014. However, by the end of 2026, this segment is expected to witness a decline of 110 BPS in its market share.Request Free Report Sample@On the basis of voltage range, the VFD market is segmented into medium and low. Low voltage range VFDs account for higher market share, and this segment is expected to increase at 7% CAGR in terms of revenue.Variable frequency drive market segmentation by application type includes standard and regenerative segments. In terms of value as well as volume, the regenerative application type segment is anticipated to expand at a higher CAGR during 2016-2026.By end-use application, the global variable frequency drive market is segmented into pump, HVAC, fans, compressor, conveyor and other. Among these, the pump segment dominated the overall market in terms of value with over 30% share in 2014; however, this segment will witness a decrease of 90 BPS in its market share by the end of 2026.By end-use industry, the market is segmented into oil & gas, food processing, automotive, metals & mining, pulp & paper and other end-use industries. Of these segments, the oil & gas end-use industry segment dominated the market in terms of both value and volume contribution in 2014.Region-wise, the Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ) market dominated the global VFD market in 2014, accounting for over 30% share in terms of both value and volume. APEJ is expected to remain the most lucrative market for variable frequency drives during the forecast period as well. Expansion of industrial base and manufacturing capacities is fuelling the growth of APEJ market.Request For TOC@Key Players in Variable Frequency Drive MarketSome of the key players identified in the global variable frequency drive market are Fuji Electric Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Siemens AG, ABB Ltd., American Electric Technologies Inc., General Electric Company, Hitachi Limited, Honeywell International Inc., Rockwell Automation Inc., Johnson Controls Inc., Emerson Industrial Automation, Toshiba International Corporation and Schneider Electric SE. Major players in the market follow the strategy of introducing innovative and cost-effective variable frequency drives to buy out competition.Browse the full "Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016 - 2026" market research report atABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: US$ 16 Bn Pest Control Services Market Poised for Steady Growth http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-260 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-260 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/global-pest-control-services-market www.futuremarketinsights.com The US$ 16 Bn global pest control services market is set to increase at over 5% CAGR in the next decade, according to a new market forecast report by Future Market Insights (FMI). The report, titled, Pest Control Services Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016 - 2026, offers 10-year forecast and analysis on the basis of application, service, end-users, and region.Rising awareness among consumers on the importance of pest control is anticipated to ramp up demand for pest control and management during the forecast period. Increase in construction activity on account of rapid urbanisation and economic development is also expected to fuel the growth of the market.Global regulations and legislations on consumer safety are anticipated to boost adoption of pest control management as a standard operational procedure in end-use industries, especially in food and beverage manufacturing. End-use industries are focus on compliance with certification standards set by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and AIB International, and this is expected to contribute to the growth of the market in the future.Other key factors anticipated to shape up demand for pest control services include climate change (various pests thrive in warmer climates), rise in international tourism, and easy availability pest control and management solutions.Request Free Report Sample@Technology Making Inroads in Pest Control LandscapeUse of technology is growing in the pest control landscape, with many companies using smartphone apps and mobile communication technology to offer highly effective services to their clients. Concerns about the potential health- and environmental-impact of pest control chemicals is influencing manufacturers to include organic chemicals in their offerings.North America and Western Europe Dominant Markets, APEJ to Witness Robust GrowthNorth America and Western Europe are currently the largest markets for pest control services, collectively accounting for 60% revenue share of the market in 2015. Demand for pest control services in Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) is expected to witness strong growth during the forecast period. FMI estimates the APEJ pest control services market to increase at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period.The key application segments on which FMIs reports offers market forecast and analysis include,Ants ControlBedbug ControlBeetle ControlBird ControlCockroaches ControlMosquito & Flies ControlRat & Rodent ControlTermites ControlOthers (Home Lizards, Moths Mites and Reptiles)Among these, demand for termite control is currently the highest, followed by mosquito and flies control. FMI estimates the termite control segment to increase at 6.3% CAGR through 2026, whereas the mosquito and flies control segment is anticipated to expand at 5.8% CAGR.On the basis of service, the market has been segmented into,Chemical control servicesMechanical control servicesOther pest control services (moisture control, sanitation, etc.)Among these, the chemical control services segment is anticipated to witness high growth, increasing at 5.4% CAGR during the forecast period.Request For TOC@The key end-use segments of the global pest control services market are,ResidentialAgricultureCommercialIndustrialThe commercial end-use segment currently accounts for the highest revenue share currently, whereas the agriculture segment is expected to increase at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.Leading Players Looking to Boost Presence in Emerging MarketsLeading companies profiled in FMIs report include Ecolab, Inc., Rollins, Inc., Rentokil Initial Plc., Service Master Global Holdings, Inc. (Terminix), Massey Services Inc., Arrow Exterminators Inc., Sanix Incorporated, Asante Inc. and Dodson Brothers Exterminating Company Incorporated. The pest control service market is highly fragmented and larger players are focused towards enhancing their geographical presence and expanding their customer base by entering into strategic mergers and acquisitions with regional players.Browse the full "Pest Control Services Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016 - 2026" market research report atABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Melinda Looi shows at Germany's First 3D Printed Fashion Collection at Platform Fashion Duesseldorf Dusseldorf, July 23, 2016- For the second time, Belgium 3D printing powerhouse Materialise and multi-award winning fashion designer Melinda Looi have teamed up to launch yet another artistic and technological breathtaking collection entitled GEMS OF THE OCEAN at Germany's First 3D Printed Fashion Collection at Platform Fashion, Duesseldorf.For this collection Melinda Looi teamed up with Samuel Canning of Griffith University. Canning an expert in 3D print design developed the technical concept as well as modelled the undisputed highlight of the collection and what is probably one of the worlds first full length 3D gowns, printed in a single part. The gown which was specifically folded to fit into the much smaller 3D printing machine, came out of the machine fully assembled and was then finished off by Melinda Looi with over 5000 Swarovski crystals.When asked what was the biggest challenge to overcome when developing the dress Canning said: The Gown represented a multitude of technical challenges. Working with a design visionary, such as Melinda, probably the single challenge that encompasses the whole project was creating a design the captured the magic of Melindas concept, whist developing a design outcome that was in every way suitable for 3D Printing. This project has been fascinating, and beyond doubt, been the highlight of my design career.Inspired by the iridescent shades of the sea and the tropic colours of coral reefs, Melinda brings to life such an exotic world with this collection, GEMS OF THE OCEAN one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring wonders of the nature, with sparkling crystals set in flowy chiffons and lace in the colours of the sea. The collection consists of Coral Boleros (Shoulder pieces), Dive into Me (Gowns), Coral Colonies (Shoes), Swim Corals Swim (Bracelets) and Whisper to me (Earrings).The Ocean has always held a certain allure to me. I'm not the strongest swimmer, but I will never forget my first snorkelling experience in the crystal clear water on a beautiful island west cost of Malaysia. There is something so magical about the vibrant colours that transmute and dance in gentle waves that wash over reef systems in clear seas. I wanted to bring the enchanting underwater world to the land above.This collection comes as a continuation of Materialise and Melinda Loois first project together showcasing the first 3D printed fashion show in Asia back in 2013. The re-sounding success of that collection, which has up to day been shown in numerous countries such as USA, UK, Singapore, Japan, India, China and Australia, resulted in both parties entering into an over a year long development process by a team that was literally spread all over the world.We are committed to accelerating the implementation of 3D printing technology around the world and believe that our collaboration with Melinda Looi will help to create interest for the endless ways how 3D printing allows to break traditional product design barriers and inspire any industry to apply 3D printing in developing unique and individual designs, said Wim Michiels, Executive Vice President Materialise Asia.In true fashion industry manner, with the collection just launched, the team is already working on the next project, beginning to develop commercially viable products as affordable prices points in form of fashion accessories, which will then be available for sale.Dropbox link to images: bit.ly/3DMLGermanyThe people behind the collection:DESIGN & CREATIVE CONCEPT - MELINDA LOOI (MALAYSIA)TECHNICAL CONCEPT & 3D MODELING V-NECK GOWN SAMUEL CANNING (AUSTRALIA)3D PRINTING MATERIALISE (BELGIUM)3D MODELING ACCESSORIES KAECEE FITZGERALD (AUSTRALIA)3D MODELING SHOES TONY MUN (MALAYSIA)MODEL SCANNING DANIEL SIRI (ITALY)MODEL ELEEN YONG (Malaysia)About the 3D Printed Collection Gems of the OceanInspired by the iridescent shades of the sea and the tropic colours of coral reefs. Dive into Me (Gowns) - V-neck gowns with more than 5,000 crystals moulded into printed fabric which ends in lacy hems that swirl like the eddying tides Coral Boleros (Shoulder pieces) Come alive with Swarovski embellishments Coral Colonies (Shoes) Shoes that bathe your feet in sparkling light Swim Corals Swim (Bracelets) Meld together hundreds of beads to lie so softly and seductively on your wrists Whisper to me (Earrings) Loop-on ear accessories that will encase you in the sweet murmurings of the seaA purveyor of fine art and vintage chic, Melinda Looi is fashion's answer to Avant-garde in Malaysia, the full throbbing force of elaborate detail and unconventional style.Melinda Looi was born as a daughter of a renowned tailor but her career in fashion was not a planned one. After winning a scholarship to La Salle School of Fashion in Montreal, it was her graduation collection that catapulted her into the spotlight, earning her the Malaysian Young Designer Award 1995 in Kuala Lumpur. Melinda spawned into the demanding and exuberating world of fashion design, carving her niche in various stage productions as well as working with the television and film industry in Malaysia and Canada.With her unique ability to combine fiction and function into her designs it has won herself major awards, especially to mention twice the prestigious Designer of the Year Award at the Malaysian International Fashion Awards in 2004, 2006 and the Mercedes Benz STYLO Designer of the Year award in 2009. She was being selected as a Malaysian representative at World Fashion Week to be held in Paris in 2013, with one of her couture pieces being showcased in fashion weeks around the globe as part of the build-up activities leading up to the actual event. Melindas latest accolades include an award for 2014 Sport and Art Trophy from International Olympic Council, Switzerland.MELINDA LOOI GROUPMs. Iqa M - Marketing Manager131, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar59100 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaTel: +603-2093 2279Fax: +603-2201 2099E-mail: iqa@melindalooi.comAddress: 131, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, 59100 WP, Malaysia Solute TechnoLabs Announces the Launch of their Revamped Website with Enhanced Features http://www.solutelabs.com/ Solute TechnoLabs, a leading app development company in India announces the launch of their revamped website. The website has been redeveloped and enriched with enhanced features to give users a brand new experience.The company is based in India with its branches spread across the world. A fellow speaker from the company said, "With the overall digitization among all the platforms and technology advancements have made it necessary for businesses to have a strong online presence. However, print media and OOH (Out of Home) have their own significance, it is indeed required to go digital."To survive in the tight competition and stay ahead of the competitors, the entrepreneurs have to serve their customers in the way they want. "Almost 9 out of 10 adults on the globe own a mobile phone and use it for meeting their basic requirements. Web and mobile phones are the platforms which entrepreneurs must not avoid in order to reach their potential audience. And to help such businesses grow, we provide application development for both of these platforms," he further added.Since a long time now, Solute TechnoLabs has been successfully delivering the web app and mobile app development solutions in India and outside the country. The company had already a website but in order to make the organizations give a better understanding of their service offerings, they have revamped their site.The revamped website is more enhanced and improved with following features:New UI/UX:The revamped website of Solute TechnoLabs has a decent design and sitemap. The whole site has been designed in a way to offer easy and better user experience.Better navigation:The site has now a better navigation and a simple scroll-over browsing.Fresh content:The company offers 3 main services in their service kitty viz. Web Application Development, Mobile Application Development, Digital and UX/UI Design of the site. Content of these solutions and overall portal is written in a way that a layman can understand.In this revamped website of Solute TechnoLabs, everything right from the programming to design and navigation to content is perfect and simple to give the visitors a user-friendly site visit.The fellow speaker also said proudly, "We are very much excited to come with this improved version of our website. The fresh and informative content of it would give our clientele a better browsing experience and ease of engaging with us."Solute TechnoLabs is basically an IT company, providing web app and mobile app development within and outside India. Due to its strengths such as the years of experience, talented and passionate team, advanced technology and huge clientele across the geographies, the company is successfully delivering the best and has maintained to earn the profit.Check the website by visitingSolute TechnoLabs is a leading IT company, providing their services worldwide. The companys major service offerings include mobile and web app development, digital and UI/UX design. Recently, the company has launched their revamped website with some enhanced features in order to give their customers a better understanding of what theyre offering.602, Venus Atlantis, Opp. McDonalds, 100 Feet Rd, Prahlad Nagar Ahmedabad 380015 Gujarat, India North America Flexible Packaging Market will be worth approximately $34 billion by 2021 www.knowledge-sourcing.com/collections/top-selling/products/north-america-flexible-packaging-market-forecasts-from-2016-to-2021 Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence announces the publication of a new report on North America Flexible Packaging Market Forecasts from 2016 to 2021. North America Flexible Packaging Market was valued at US$30.060 billion in 2015 and will grow at a CAGR of 2.07% to reach a total market size of US$33.991 billion by 2021. Flexible packaging solutions offer several advantages such as customizable as per the requirement, made from high-grade materials, reusable and production cost is reduced for manufacturers. The report identifies key factors driving the growth of the flexible market in this region which are improving economic scenario, rising disposable income, increase in consumer confidence along with declining unemployment level. Rising use of stand-up pouches due to lightweight portability and convenience, particularly of single serve flexible packaging formats has also augmented the demand for flexible packaging solutions. Technological advancement in the development of sophisticated barrier materials is also providing the necessary impetus to the demand for these solutions in the region.The report has segmented the market on the basis of packaging material, application and countries. Under major packaging material used for flexible packaging solutions, the market has been segmented into Paper, Aluminum Foil, BOPP Film, Polyethylene Foil and Polyethylene Terephthalate among others. By applications, the market has been segmented majorly into food packaging, beverage packaging, cosmetics and toiletries, and pharmaceutical and healthcare. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico are the major countries which have been comprehensively analyzed as part of the geographical segmentation.The report analyzes some of the major players in the flexible packaging business like Amcor, Reynolds Packaging, Bemis, WestRock, Tetra Laval among other various other major players. The report also analyzes their market shares, growth strategies, products, financials, and recent investments.Purchase complete report or request sample:Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence is a market research and consulting firm based out of India. Driven by industry experts, the company provides syndicated reports, custom research and consulting services. Our proprietary data analytics model blended with quality primary and secondary research data assists in generating quality reports providing crucial insights to managers and decision makers. The services offered by us helps companies to gain required competitive edge. Our expertise across 10 industries such as ICT, Chemicals, Semiconductors, Healthcare among others caters to diverse client needs.Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence LLPH-38, Sector 63 Noida, U.P., IndiaPhone:+1-866-714-4587E-mail: sales@knowledge-sourcing.com IBRA Pharmaceuticals Study: How GSK And Google's Verily Will Tackle Diseases With Nerve-Altering Chips http://www.omensol.wordpress.com/hcp-updates/gsk/ http://wp.me/P1SMn3-4k www.impartwisdom.blogspot.com www.omensol.wordpress.com Pharmaceuticals Study: How GSK And Google's Verily Will Tackle Diseases With Nerve-Altering ChipsGlaxoSmithKline and Alphabet unit Verily (formerly Google Life Sciences) made a splash yesterday when they announced the launch of Galvani Bioelectronics, a company that will build upon GSKs three years of work to develop tiny nerve-altering devices that might one day be used instead of drugs to treat a variety of diseases. The two companies will invest up to 540 million (more than $700 million) over the next seven years, they said, employing 30 scientists at GSKs research center in the U.K. and at Verily in South San Francisco.So what, exactly, is bioelectronic medicine? The idea of this new branch of life sciences is to place devices directly into the body to alter the activity of specific nerves, in turn sending signals to organs and, ideally, reversing a particular disease state. In 2013, GSK launched a $50 million venture fund to foster the development of bioelectronic devices. (For more on bioelectronics, see the video from GSK below.)Moncef Slaoui, who chairs GSKs global vaccines group and will chair the board of the new company, says Verily will be the ideal partner for developing biolectronic devices because it provides GSK with much-needed technology expertise. When we started to conceptualize bioelectronic medicine as a new avenue for discovery, we realized very quickly that it wasnt our forte to design nanochips, wireless communications, big data analytics and other vital electronic components, Slaoui says. GSK approached just about every major technology player looking for a strategic partner, he adds, but most were skittish about the regulatory challenges of developing micro-devices that would be implanted in the body. They had interest but not really enthusiasm, Slaoui says. In contrast, with Verily, we had immediate alignment on the vision, the integration between biology and technology and the risk-taking and capital allocation needed to drive this concept all the way through to actual products.Read Full Study:orToday's Thought"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it."iData Insights which operates under Precision Research and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. is a marketing research consulting firm. Its efforts help companies to create and improve products and services based on what the market desires. We conduct both primary and secondary research. Our work does not end with research. We provide actionable recommendations and provide our expertise for business success today and tomorrow. It is our goal to be a partner to our clients in the exploration and discovery, and then be their guide in the implementation of changes that will make a difference to their bottom line.The team of highly trained syndicated research analysts create research reports, newsletters, magazines, directories and online databases which provide customers with broad technical and market trends. Their research and competitive and market intelligence studies provides specific in-depth intelligence to ensure that customers succeed in their undertaking.iData InsightsNE Airport Way,355991,PortlandOregon97230United Statesmark@idatainsights.com1866-237-2965+91 875 003 0003 Disposable Medical Sensors Market Volume Analysis, size, share and Key Trends 2015-2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1004 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1004 www.futuremarketinsights.com Disposable medical sensors are portable scanning devices intended for diagnosis, patient monitoring and therapeutic processes. Disposable medical sensors are designed to detect and provide information in the form of electrical signals by converting patients various forms of stimulations. Disposable medical sensors facilitate continuous patient monitoring through the measurement of basic vital signs, for instance heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygenation level, pulse rate and temperature. Disposable medical sensors are used in different specialties such as cardiology, radiology, general medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, urology and so on. Currently the trend witnessed in the global disposable medical sensors market is the development of products in ablation treatments for cancer, cardiac arrhythmia, point of care diagnosis, pain free glucose monitoring, wireless insulin delivering procedures, etc.Disposable Medical Sensors Market: Drivers and RestraintsDisposable medical sensors market is projected to grow rapidly due to increasing incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer, acute myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus particularly in geriatric population, as well as increasing number of postoperative rehabilitation patients across the globe. Major drivers for the disposable medical sensors market are technological advancements and increasing innovations in the development of point of care medical sensors for diagnosis and monitoring outside hospitals. At the same time increasing the need of remote patient monitoring and next generation disposable medical sensors such as painless diabetes monitors, wearable wrist watches, etc. are other opportunities to manufacturers. Large number of regulatory approvals for biodegradable sensors are also booming the global disposable medical sensors market. However lack of adequate reimbursement policies for novel technologies and stringent regulatory procedures are the major factors that can hamper the global disposable medical sensors growth over the forecast period.Disposable Medical Sensors Market: SegmentationThe global disposable medical sensors market has been classified on the basis of application, placement type, type of sensors, end user and region.Based on application, the global disposable medical sensors market is segmented into the following:Patient monitoringContinuous Blood Pressure MonitoringImplantable Loop RecorderCardiac Monitoring ElectrodePulse OximeterSmart PillContinuous Blood Glucose MonitoringDiagnosticsCapsule EndoscopesRequest Free Report Sample@HIV Test Strip SensorsPregnancy Test Strip SensorsDrug And Alcohol Test Strip SensorsBlood Glucose Test Strip SensorsImmunoassay BiosensorsTherapeuticsInsulin Pump SensorsDialysis SensorsCardiac Therapeutic Electrode SensorsCardiac Catheter SensorsBased on Placement Type, the global disposable medical sensors market is segmented into the following:Implantable sensorsInvasive sensorsIngestible sensorsStrip sensorsWearable sensorsBased on Type of Sensors, the global disposable medical sensors market is segmented into the following:BiosensorsAccelerometersImage sensorsPressure sensorsTemperature sensorsMR Position SensorsForce SensorsHumidity SensorsBased on End User, the global disposable medical sensors market is segmented into the following:HospitalsHome CareDiagnostic LaboratoriesClinicsVisit For TOC@Disposable Medical Sensors Market: OverviewThe United States represents the largest market for disposable medical device sensors in North America, followed by Canada. Europe is expected to be the second largest region in the global disposable medical sensors market. Germany, France, and the U.K. are estimated to account for a major share in the Europe disposable medical sensors market over the forecast period. APAC is anticipated to represent a high growth rate in the next five years. By application type, monitoring devices particularly cardiac pacemakers and blood glucose monitorsare the dominant segment across globe due to high incidences of diabetes and cardiac diseases. The diagnostic strips for HIV test, pregnancy test, blood glucose test and immunological test are anticipated to hold a high collective share in the global disposable medical sensors market. By end use, the hospitals and home care segments are projected to account for around 50% share in the global disposable medical sensors market and the trend is forecast to continue through the forecast period. By placement of sensors type, wearable sensors and strip sensors are estimated to register above average CAGR over the forecast period owing to its affordable price due to miniaturization of equipment.Disposable Medical Sensors Market: Key PlayersKey players of Mayo Clinic and Gentag, Sensirion AG, Measurement Specialities, Smiths Medical, ST Microelectronics, Philips Helathcare, Medtronic, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., GE Healthcare, Analog Devices, Inc., Given Imaging, Honeywell International, Inc. and Coividien, plc. For instance, Gentag Company extended the near field communication (NFC) technology to accomplish remote patient monitoring worldwide. Freescale Semiconductor, Inc is developing lower-cost, semiconductor-based sensors with high sensitivity. The Measurement Specialities is developing customized products to satisfy patient need. Analog Devices, Inc. is collaborating with customers to accelerate the pace of innovation and produce breakthrough solutions for impossible conditions.About Us:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Agri Textiles Market Growth, Forecast and Value Chain 2015-2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1005 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1005 www.futuremarketinsights.com Textile industry has a long history of applications in agriculture sector. The term agri textiles is used to classify the knitted, woven and nonwoven fabrics which are used in horticulture and agriculture uses. The usage of textiles in agriculture has also expanded to safeguard the agriculture products such as fruits, vegetables and plants from birds, weed and weather. Moreover, with continuous upsurge in population globally, the stress on the agriculture crops has increased. Henceforth, it is essential to increase the quality and yield of agriculture products. Nylon, polyolefin, polyethylene and polyester are some of the fiber materials that are used in different techniques in agri textiles.Agri Textiles Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe exceptional ecological resistance, mechanical properties, robustness and processability of agri textiles can improve the quality, quantity and safety of agriculture products. This acts as a key driver for global agri textiles market. Agri textiles in the form of knitted textiles are also extensively used for many agricultural end uses mainly due to its ease of transport, performance ratio, favorable price and long service lifespan. Also, the favorable policies is leading to growth in the global agri textiles market. Strengthen government regulations may act as a restraint for the global agri textiles market.Agri Textiles Market: SegmentationOn the basis of application, the global agri textilesmarket is segmented into,SunscreenPlant NetWindshieldBird Protection NetInsect MeshesNets for pallet coveringCherry CoversPackaging Materials for Agriculture ProductsOthers (Includes Ground Cover, Tape Nets, Turf Protection Net)Request Free Report Sample@On the basis of techniques, the global agri textilesmarket is segmented into,WovenNonwovenStitch Bonded NonwovenNeedle Punch NonwovenSpun Bonded NonwovenHydro Entangled NonwovenThermally Bonded NonwovenWet NonwovenKnittedIn the nonwoven techniques, the needle punch and spun bonded nonwoven techniques are majorly used for the production of nonwoven agri textiles. The spun bonded fabrics have constant and high tensile strength in every direction. Furthermore, the nonwoven technique segment is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period mainly due to its better suitability and economy for various applications.On the basis of end-use sector, the global agri textilesmarket is segmented into,AgrotechAgricultureAquacultureHorticultureForestryAgri Textiles:Region-wise OutlookAsia Pacific is expected to hold majority of the global agri textiles regional market share. Moreover, the demand for agri textiles in Asia Pacific is expected to rise in the coming years due to rapid agriculture industry development in countries such as China, India and South Korea. In addition, as an emerging economic authority, China and India have remarkable potential for the production, export and consumption of agri textiles. This has further lead to more number of agri textiles manufactures owing to cheap labour and raw material availability and is in turn hampering the agri textiles markets in the regions of North America and Europe. North America is currently expected to hold a significant regional share of the global agri textile market but is anticipated to lose its market share to the market in Asia Pacific and Latin America. Rest of the regions are expected to grow at a steady rate during the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Agri Textiles Market: Key PlayersSome of the market participants in the global agri textilesmarket are 3M, Agru America, Inc., CTM Technical Textiles Ltd., DuPont, Johns Manville, Koninklijke Ten Cate nv., SGL Group and Milliken & Company among many others.About Us:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: LED Lighting Market Value Share, Analysis and Segments 2015-2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1014 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1014 www.futuremarketinsights.com LED light is a light-emitting diode product which is accumulated into the utilization in lighting fixtures. It is basically a semiconductor lighting source operate in different applications such as automotive lighting, general as well as backlighting. It has been noticed that LEDs are smaller and have a lengthier operating life as well as lower cost of ownership as compared to previous technologies in the similar area. The prices of LEDs have reduced to a point where such type of lighting is becoming the economic choice in every application. The acceptance of LED lighting is escalating in almost all major end uses such as industrial buildings, residential and commercial buildings, as well as outdoor application areas. The LED lighting systems provide more energy efficiency and longer life span. The LED light provides a lifetime of nearly 50,000 hours of brightness and work effectively by using only a fraction of energy as is utilized by traditional bulbs and CFLs. The LED lights compete with old and traditional bulbs on various parameters which include longer lifetime, energy efficiency, enhanced environmental friendliness, better durability, lower heat and smaller size. The Global LED lighting market has showcased rapid growth over the past few years. The Global LED lighting market is anticipated to grow at a stupendous CAGR over the period 2015-2025 with a substantial revenue in 2025. Thus, the revolution in LED is gaining traction in terms of market dynamics.Global LED Lighting: Market SegmentationThe Global LED lighting market is segmented on the basis of organizational structure such as organized and unorganized. The Global LED lighting market is further bifurcated by application areas such as automotive, general and backlighting. The LED lighting market in automobile industry is rising as LEDs are initiating to be used in mass market automobiles. The Global LED lighting market is also divided on the basis of end-user segment such as commercial, general, residential, industrial, outdoor and architectural. The Global LED lighting market is further segmented by technology which includes ultraviolet LEDs, basic LEDs, high brightness LEDs, polymer LEDs and organic LEDs.Request Free Report Sample@Global LED Lighting Market: Growth DriversThe global LED lighting market is influenced by various factors such as macroeconomic conditions which is impacting the new construction and subsequently new lighting installations. Less replacement, less heat as well as the lower price are fostering the demand for LED lights across the globe and strengthening the market of global LEDs. Such factors along with inclining demand for cost efficient lighting systems from communities and buildings will intensify the market for global LED lighting from 2015-2025. Besides this, innovation and change in technology along with different product designs by LED light manufacturers are anticipated to bolster the global LED lighting market. The rising government initiatives for conservation of energy is also fostering the growth of global LED lighting market.Global LED Lighting Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the Global LED Lighting industry can be divided by major regions which include North America, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific region, Japan, Middle East and Africa. In 2014, Asia Pacific captured the highest share in the global LED lighting market due to significant population growth, huge private sector LED lighting projects as well as the suitable government policies. The LED lighting has become popular in Japans educational institutions, retail stores and hospitals. Followed by it, Europe stood at second position in the revenue of global LED lighting market as the demand for LED lights are gaining traction especially for architectural and commercial lighting functions. Apart from this, U.S. holds third position in the global LED lighting market.Visit For TOC@Global LED Lighting Market: PlayersSome of the top vendors identified across the value chain of the global LED lighting market include Cree Corporation, International Light technologies, American Bright Optoelectronics Corporation, Philips Lumileds Lighting company, Samsung Electronics Limited and OSRAM Licht AG. It has been noticed that new companies from consumer electronics as well as from semiconductor segments are entering the LED lighting. Thus, the LEDs showcases a higher opportunity for service providers as well as the component manufacturers to enhance their activities in the areas of LED lighting.About Us:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: This season of 'Love Is Blind' is shaping up to be absolute madness here's what people are saying about it Good Growth Opportunities in Global Carbon Brush Market Till 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1047 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1047 www.futuremarketinsights.com Rotating electrical devices necessitate the transfer of current from a stationary part to the rotating part of the device. A carbon brush is defined as a sliding contact that is used to transmit current from a static part of a motor or a generator to the rotating part. The name carbon brush originates from the use of a bunch of copper wires assembled in the form a brush which acted as an element that transmitted current to the rotating part of the device. The use of carbon brushes has experienced a wide scale use over the recent past. The properties such as good electrical conductivity, lower coefficient of friction, lower modulus of elasticity and the fact that carbon does not melt but directly passes into vapour phase at nearly 3500oC, has resulted in it emerging as the most preferred material for transmitting current to the rotating part. The most commonly used types of carbon brushes, depending on the material used, are electro-graphite, metal-graphite, resin-bonded graphite, carbon-graphite, graphite among the others.Carbon Brush Market: Drivers & RestraintsCarbon Brush market is expected to register a steady year-on-year growth throughout the forecast period. The steady economic growth in developing regions of the globe, especially of the countries in Asia Pacific region coupled with steady industrial growth in these regions is expected to in turn fuel the demand for carbon brushes during the forecast period. Moreover, growth of global carbon brush market is expected to be driven primarily by the growth in demand for these from automotive industry. Also, another major application segment where these carbon brushes are used is household appliances, as such, the growth in demand for household appliances is likely to translate into growth in demand for carbon brushes during the forecast period.Carbon Brush Market: SegmentationOn the basis of end use industries, global Carbon Brush market can be segmented into following key market segments:AutomotiveElectrical Hand toolsIndustrial ApplicationsHousehold AppliancesOthersRequest Free Report Sample@Depending on the type of product type, global Carbon Brush market can be segmented into the following key market segments:Electro-graphiteMetal-graphiteResin-bonded graphiteCarbon graphiteGraphiteOthersDepending on the type of applications, global Carbon Brush market can be segmented into the following key market segments:MotorsGenerators & AlternatorsCurrent & signal TransmissionGrounding DevicesOthersCarbon Brush Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of geographic regions, global Carbon Brush market is segmented into seven key market segments namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among the aforementioned regions, Asia Pacific is expected to witness a relatively faster CAGR during the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Carbon Brush Market: Key PlayersSome of the identified major players operating in the global Carbon Brush market are as follows:Schmidthammer Elektrokohle GmbHMorgan Advanced Materials plc.Elektrokarbon, a.s.Toyo Tanso Co., Ltd.MersenAvo Carbon GroupHelwig Carbon Products, Inc.Schunk GmbHAbout Us:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Numerous Advantages of Laser Diodes over Conventional Technologies to Bolster Laser Diode Market at a CAGR of 11.2% The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/laser-diode-market http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000101 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000101 Laser diodes owing to a number of advantageous features offered by them, are rapidly becoming a vital part of modern technology and are being utilized in various applications. Laser marking tool is a reliable technology offering easy assistance and better efficiency. Laser diodes offer advantageous features such as compact in weight and size, work on low current, voltage, and power supplies, have low maintenance and efficiency and a wide angle beam. Thus, the technology is utilized across numerous end-use application sectors such as healthcare, consumer electronics, military & defense, industrial, manufacturing, automotive and instrumentation & sensors among others.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Laser Diode Market to 2025 @Some of the key factors driving the global market include growing awareness about laser diode and its uses, growing fiber laser market, and remarkable research in the VCSEL market. Significant rise in the use of laser diodes in various end-use markets due to a number of advantageous features provided by laser technology in-comparison to traditional methods is a major factor driving this market. Moreover, the rapid growth in automotive industries and electronic manufacturing across the world is bolstering the global market.The U.S. led the laser diode market in North America in 2015 at a revenue share of 59.89%. Even though there is huge demand for laser diodes in the upgrading of wireless technology, the sale of fiber lasers continues to gain momentum in North America due to their demand in FTTH applications.North America is witnessing an increased demand for laser cutting machines and industrial laser applications due to the significant use of these machines across several end-use verticals such as automotive, defense & aerospace, and consumer electronics.Request for Free Sample @China led the laser diode market in Asia Pacific (APAC) in 2015 and is expected to continue its dominance by rising at a CAGR of 11.8% during the forecast period from 2015 to 2025. Increasing demand for advanced technology in the healthcare and industrial markets is driving the growth in the laser industry.Brazil led the South America (SAM) laser diode market in 2015 and is likely to continue its dominance by expanding at a CAGR of 12.2% during the forecast period from 2015 to 2025. Brazil boasts of the largest manufacturing sector in SAM, which accounts for nearly one-third of SAMs GDP. Brazil has an array of industries ranging from automobile, steel, and petrochemicals to computers, aircrafts, and consumer durables that deploy laser diodes in their applications.The global market is classified by doping materials into GaN, AlGaInP, InGaN, GaAlAs and other doping materials (GaAs and GaInAsSb). This report is further classified on the basis of wavelength into red laser diode, blue, IR, blue-violet and others (green and UV ). Lastly, the global market is segmented on the basis of applications into consumer electronics, automotive, military & defense, healthcare and other applications (industrial, instrumentation & sensors, etc.).The report profiles key players such as Coherent, Inc., Newport Corporation, Panasonic Semiconductor Solutions Co. Ltd., IPG Photonics Corp., Sharp Corporation, ASML Holding NV, Trumpf GmbH+ Co. KG, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc. and Axcel Photonics, Inc.Avail discount on full report @About The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.The Insight Partners505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Global Heads-Up Display Market Will Grow At A CAGR Of -26.82%, In Terms Of Revenue During The Period 2016-2020 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=768115 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=768115 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Heads-up Display Market 2016-2020" to its huge collection of research reports.An HUD is a display indicator that displays key flight information on a transparent screen positioned in front of the pilot's line of sight. The automotive and aviation are the major application sectors for HUDs because they increase situational awareness and enhance safety margins. The primary components of HUDs are combiner, projector unit, display panel, video generator.Technavios analysts forecast the global heads-up display market to grow at a CAGR of -26.82%, in terms of revenue during the period 2016-2020.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global heads-up display market 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the market analysis and forecast of HUD by end-user, detailed description of technologies that are used to generate images on a screen such as cathode ray tube (CRT), solid state lighting (SSL), optical waveguides, and laser scanning and detailed description of micro display technologies used by HUD manufacturers such as liquid crystal display (LCD), liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS), light-emitting diode (LED), and digital light processing (DLP).The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEAROWNew report, Global Heads-Up Display Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsBAE SystemsContinental Automotive GmbHDelphi AutomotiveDensoElbit SystemsEsterline TechnologiesHoneywell AerospaceNippon SeikiPanasonic Automotive SystemsRockwell CollinsRobert Bosch GmbHSaabThalesVisteonMarket driverDevelopment of combiner HUDsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeAbsence of global regulatory frameworkFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendIntroduction of next-generation micro display technologiesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ GSK and Google parent forge $715 million bioelectronic medicines firm - iData Insights (All about Pharma & Healthcare) http://www.omensol.wordpress.com/hcp-updates/gsk/ http://wp.me/P1SMn3-4k www.impartwisdom.blogspot.com www.omensol.wordpress.com GSK and Google parent forge $715 million bioelectronic medicines firm - iData Insights (All about Pharma & Healthcare)GlaxoSmithKline and Google parent Alphabet's life sciences unit are creating a new company focused on fighting diseases by targeting electrical signals in the body, jump-starting a novel field of medicine called bioelectronics.Verily Life Sciences - known as Google's life sciences unit until last year - and Britain's biggest drugmaker will together contribute 540 million pounds ($715 million) over seven years to Galvani Bioelectronics, they said on Monday.The new company, owned 55 percent by GSK and 45 percent by Verily, will be based at GSK's Stevenage research center north of London, with a second research hub in South San Francisco.GlaxoSmithKline and Alphabet unit Verily (formerly Google Life Sciences) made a splash yesterday when they announced the launch of Galvani Bioelectronics, a company that will build upon GSKs three years of work to develop tiny nerve-altering devices that might one day be used instead of drugs to treat a variety of diseases. The two companies will invest up to 540 million (more than $700 million) over the next seven years, they said, employing 30 scientists at GSKs research center in the U.K. and at Verily in South San Francisco.So what, exactly, is bioelectronic medicine? The idea of this new branch of life sciences is to place devices directly into the body to alter the activity of specific nerves, in turn sending signals to organs and, ideally, reversing a particular disease state. In 2013, GSK launched a $50 million venture fund to foster the development of bioelectronic devices. (For more on bioelectronics, see the video from GSK below.)Moncef Slaoui, who chairs GSKs global vaccines group and will chair the board of the new company, says Verily will be the ideal partner for developing biolectronic devices because it provides GSK with much-needed technology expertise. When we started to conceptualize bioelectronic medicine as a new avenue for discovery, we realized very quickly that it wasnt our forte to design nanochips, wireless communications, big data analytics and other vital electronic components, Slaoui says. GSK approached just about every major technology player looking for a strategic partner, he adds, but most were skittish about the regulatory challenges of developing micro-devices that would be implanted in the body. They had interest but not really enthusiasm, Slaoui says. In contrast, with Verily, we had immediate alignment on the vision, the integration between biology and technology and the risk-taking and capital allocation needed to drive this concept all the way through to actual products.Read Full Study:orToday's Thought"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it."iData Insights which operates under Precision Research and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. is a marketing research consulting firm. Its efforts help companies to create and improve products and services based on what the market desires. We conduct both primary and secondary research. Our work does not end with research. We provide actionable recommendations and provide our expertise for business success today and tomorrow. It is our goal to be a partner to our clients in the exploration and discovery, and then be their guide in the implementation of changes that will make a difference to their bottom line.The team of highly trained syndicated research analysts create research reports, newsletters, magazines, directories and online databases which provide customers with broad technical and market trends. Their research and competitive and market intelligence studies provides specific in-depth intelligence to ensure that customers succeed in their undertaking.iData InsightsNE Airport Way#355991PortlandOregon97230United States Electric Power Substation Automation Market: Global Industry Dynamics, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021 http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/electric-power-substation-automation-market-global-industry-perspective http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/electric-power-substation-automation-market-global-industry-perspective http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/electric-power-substation-automation-market-global-industry-perspective http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Electric power substation automation is a revolution for management of networks. Substation is a base for some of the most important functions of the utility and is a part of electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Electric power substation automation is a combination of numerous control and data acquisition functions on an automated platform with a minimum number of units to augment the reliability and thereby reducing the cost of operation of the substation automation system.Request Sample Report:Electric power substation automation is one of the major developments in a substation technology and also leading aspect of the smart grid revolution. Electric power substation deals with the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Substation automation increases the level of convenience of operations, as it enables an electric utility to remotely monitor, control and coordinate the distribution component installed in the substation.The electric power substation automation market is mainly driven by the rising demand of smart grid solution. Demand of electric power substation automation increases due to the advancement in smart grid technology.. However, some factors such as shortage of skilled workeforce and high investment cost are expected to hamper growth of electric power substation automation industry.The study segments the global electric power substation automation market on the basis of module, automation stage, type, applications and regional segment. Different module include in electric power substation automation market such as hardware, communication network technology, and SCADA. The automation stage segment of electric power substation automation market is categorized into retrofit and new construction automation stage. Transmission, distribution, and collector substation are the types of electric power substation. Based on application, electric power substation automation market is segmented into utilities and industry.Request TOC (Table of Contents) of this report:Major regional segments analyzed in this study include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, further bifurcation of region on the country level, which include U.S., Germany, UK, France, China, Japan and India. Asia Pacific dominated electric power substation automation market owing to rising number of smart grid projects in this region.Some of the key players in electric power substation automation include Schneider Electric, ABB Ltd., Eaton Corporation, Siemens AG, Alstom S.A, CISCO Systems (U.S), Amperion (U.S), and Ingeteam.Browse report at:This report segments the global electric power substation automation market as follows:Global Electric Power Substation Automation Market: Module Segment AnalysisHardwareCommunication Network TechnologySCADAGlobal Electric Power Substation Automation Market: Automation Stage Segment AnalysisRetrofitNew construction automation stageGlobal Electric Power Substation Automation Market: Type Segment AnalysisTransmissionDistributionCollector SubstationGlobal Electric Power Substation Automation Market: Application Segment AnalysisUtilitiesIndustryAbout Us:Zion Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Zion Market Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading industry and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: VIRTUAL INCUBATOR OPEN FOR ENTREPRENEURS Logo http://www.fastercapital.com/entrepreneurs.html Dubai, UAE, 24th July 2016: FasterCapital (a virtual incubator based in Dubai, UAE) has launched its fourth round of funding for 2016 which begins on 15th of July, 2016 and ends on 16th of August, 2016. The last round of funding has attracted more than 4000 entrepreneurs from more than 84 countries. More than 100 startups were accepted into the acceleration program.FasterCapital hopes the message will reach wider audience of dedicated and enthusiastic entrepreneurs who seek both capital and incubation. Each startup goes through three level of assessment: Business, Financial and technical. The study will be communicated back to the entrepreneurs so that they can take our feedback in the development of their startup.Entrepreneurs will get (for free!) an extra professional opinion about their startup, potential obstacles and ideas for improvement! All accelerated companies will receive services such as mentorship, marketing study, feasibility study, technical consultation, new sales channels and financing.FasterCapital offers two programs: Acceleration Program and Incubation Program. In the Acceleration program, FasterCapital will provide mentorship, access to capital and extra consulting services (legal, technological and marketing) to Entrepreneurs. What distinguishes FasterCapital is its Incubation Program which might appeal to non-technical entrepreneurs. FasterCapital will become a co-founder (technical cofounder) and co-funder (as one of the first investors) and will provide technical development per equity (up to $500k for each startup). The Incubation Program might also appeal to tech entrepreneur who seek some help in covering some of the early investment in the startup.FasterCapital has more than 100 internal developers with different skillsets who are already working on multiple projects.Startups can apply to join our Virtual Incubator at:FasterCapital is a virtual incubator based in Dubai Internet City, UAE. FasterCapital has more than 18 graduated startups, 15 startup in incubation program, 100 startups in Acceleration program plus more than 100 regional partners and 65 offices worldwide. FasterCapital has invested more than 10 million usd since its inception 2010.FasterCapital is a new type of incubator. The founders remarked that there are several weaknesses in incubators worldwide. These weaknesses are leaving an important segment of entrepreneurs with no help. It is also affecting the success rate of startups as many don't raise enough capital at the right time which is a major cause for failure.Our incubator is shifting toward more involvement in the start by becoming a cofounder and cofunder. As a cofounders we work with entrepreneurs on developing the software side of the startup (mobile, web). As cofunders, we co-fund the startup from idea stage and until it can generate enough money. With FasterCapital the entrepreneurs are not left alone and the incubator is ready to support the startup and finance it over a period of one to two years until it starts to generate income.As an incubator we provide idea validation, feasibility study, market analysis, product development, help in sales/marketing, mentorship and financial help until the startup is cashflow positive.FasterCapital has multiple round of funding per year during each of which we will be selecting startups that can be accelerated or incubated by FasterCapital.Contact infoName: Mr. Faisal KhameesVP of Operations at FasterCapitalPhone: +971 5558 55663Name: MR. Terry CrospyMentor & Investor at FasterCapitalPhone: (512) 400-0256 Get a Good Reputation with the Owning of Best Franchise Which are Most Profitable - Josoftech http://www.josoftech.com Josoft Technologies, India:India, always has an important role in the economic world. India excels on map for some different reason. The ever increasing populace which is powered by the economic reforms of last several years, and an escalating upper middle class has come up as the worlds fastest rising consumer market.New business franchise ideas in India is ranked as the most striking global market for speculation and with all the principal global brands eyeing India as their target market. New business franchise ideas in India has been progressively attaining reputation in India as in the Indian perspective enormous market is untouched.Outsourcing Service Company unveils the ranking of top Information Technology service providers, like josoft. It has been in the list of ranking service providers based on their presentation in diverse categories, like key business areas, geographies, and categorizing those star performers or aspirant candidates in every area. Josoft has always been a company which has persistently transformed itself. Much of its outsourcing prospect flowed down from its managing consulting services.Josoft is capable to get connected with main stakeholders and is also growing away from its consulting bequest into product solutions and an incredible model which will offer them specific deals. Josoft is a leading Outsourcing Service company and it offers offline data entry work from home o every one who wish to get that. We ensure that our services are completed on timely basis at very many cost-effective rates. Our offline data entry work from home is a wonderful match for your part time work Needs. Today numerous global businesses have a preference to get their work outsourcing from different Service providing companies. This is the best job for the individuals who aspire to work from home & receive an outstanding income from the home comfort.While choosing a franchise you must consider some factors, some of these are initial investment, requirements for capital, financing of business, the time span it would take to obtain your business high and expanding. You can also browse through the top business options and ask for more information on owning the franchises which you like the most. So, this is the best option to get new career and ascertain the possibilities of getting your own business with the several opportunities of business franchise.Contact:E-mail us at: info@josoftech.comCall us: +91-9026209005Website:If you are looking to buy a business you can browse through several available collections of franchise options. While choosing a franchise, you must find out a business which produces quality oriented products and services for the consumers.1-B Nanak Arcade 85-A Hind NagarL.D.A Colony, Opposite Shivalik School,Lucknow - 226012 Global Wheel Lug Nut Market 2016 Revenue, Supply, Import, Export, Consumption, Capacity, Production, Price 2025 http://goo.gl/IgupcW http://goo.gl/2qUwkm A market study based on the "Wheel Lug Nut Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of QY Market research, is titled Global Wheel Lug Nut Market 2016. The research report analyzes the historical as well as present performance of the global Wheel Lug Nut market, and makes predictions on the future status of Wheel Lug Nut market on the basis of this analysis.The report studies the market for Wheel Lug Nut across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Wheel Lug Nut market & dynamics of demand and supply of Wheel Lug Nut into consideration.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :The 'Wheel Lug Nut'research study covers each and every aspect of the Wheel Lug Nut market globally, which starts from the definition of the Wheel Lug Nut market and develops towards Wheel Lug Nut market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Wheel Lug Nut market is classified and analyzed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Wheel Lug Nut market. The geographical segmentation of the Wheel Lug Nut market has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Wheel Lug Nut is determined by evaluating the various market participants, production capacity, Wheel Lug Nut market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Wheel Lug Nut market worldwide.Read More Research with TOC :The global Wheel Lug Nut market 2016 is also analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Wheel Lug Nut production volume, data regarding demand and Wheel Lug Nut supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the market for Wheel Lug Nut across the globe.About Us:QY Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact Us:Joel JohnDeerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Web: QY Market ResearchEmail: sales@qymarketresearch.com BlueCielo Meridian360 Portal Appraised for Significant Benefits by ARC Advisory Group http://www.bluecieloecm.com ARC Advisory Group evaluated the potential of BlueCielo Meridian360 Portal for effective engineering collaboration in the cloud and recommended the hybrid solution to owner operators as a means to maximize profitability.Hoofddorp, Netherlands, August 2, 2016 - ARC Advisory Group has recently reviewed the key capabilities of Meridian360 Portal for engineering collaboration in the cloud. ARC is a leading technology research and advisory firm for industry and infrastructure which helps industry executives gain value from their technology investments. In their evaluation of Meridian360 Portal, ARC recognized the effectiveness, ease of use and financial benefits that the new hybrid cloud solution offers owner operators and engineering contractors. ARC analyzed how Meridian360 Portal improves the management and control of engineering documents and deliverables exchanged between owner operators, contractors and suppliers and how this can reduce project costs. Based on their appraisal, ARC recommends owner operators evaluate the potential of Meridian360 Portal to improve asset data integrity and create important business savings.Designed to put everyone on the same pageARC found that Meridian360 Portal delivers all the needed functionality to connect globally dispersed project teams and create new efficiencies. Meridian360 Portal delivered major time savings during review and handover, while contributing to safe operations and assuring regulatory compliance. ARC concluded that Meridian360 Portal is a powerful tool to improve asset data integrity and facilitate full collaboration with the entire supplier network without direct access to internal master data and workflows. In summary, Meridian360 Portal has the ability to "put everyone on the same page."Collaborative engineering without bordersBased on the results of their appraisal, ARC found that Meridian360 Portal provides significant benefits for global owner operators and engineering contractors that need secure cloud-based collaboration and document exchange with an extended project team. ARC Advisory Group encourages owner operators to evaluate the potential of BlueCielo Meridian360 Portal in order to improve their degree of asset data integrity and create important ALIM-related savings.About Meridian360 PortalMeridian360 Portal is a cloud-based engineering collaboration portal which provides streamlined information exchange across the extended enterprise. Meridian360 Portal is designed to leverage the power of BlueCielo Meridian in combination with the cloud to improve collaboration and reduce costs. The software reduces work overload by enhancing collaboration and data harmonization, no matter the organizations size or the complexity of their projects. Additionally, it offers full integration and synchronization with on-premises BlueCielo Meridian files, data and workflows.About ARC Advisory GroupARC Advisory Group is a leading technology research and advisory firm which specializes in market size and trends, best practices, benchmarking and strategy. As such, they are uniquely positioned to assess the impact of information and technology shifts on the markets they serve from an external perspective. Their coverage of technology and trends extends from business systems to product and asset lifecycle management, supply chain management, operations management, energy optimization, industrial internet of things (IIoT) and automation systems.About BlueCielo ECM SolutionsBlueCielo provides the leading software solution to discover, monitor and protect technical asset information throughout the asset lifecycle. BlueCielo's Engineering Information Management (EIM) and Asset Lifecycle Information Management (ALIM) solutions provide a single point of truth for asset-related data to ensure that accurate, up-to-date information is always easily accessible. BlueCielos solutions reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase data quality, enabling customers to maximize profitability and demonstrate regulatory compliance by measurably reducing risk. The company is headquartered in The Netherlands and has offices across the United States, Brazil and Europe, as well as an international network of partners that ensures local service and support for BlueCielo Meridian Enterprise. BlueCielo is an official partner of Autodesk, IBM, Microsoft, SolidWorks, Oracle and SAP. For more information, visit:Media ContactEdwin van DijkBlueCielo ECM SolutionsPolarisavenue 1, 2132 JH Hoofddorp, The Netherlandsmail@bluecieloecm.com+31 88 022 5700 fluidOps launches Corporate Blog www.fluidops.com www.fluidops.com 3 August 2016. Walldorf fluid Operations AG (fluidOps), a leader in semantic technologies, today launched its corporate blog and extends its information offering. In future, fluidOps customers, partners, community members and prospects are able to access product innovations and features by using a central information platform under fluidops.com/en/blog.By bundling knowledge and building synergies, the user directly benefits from embedded links to the product help and to product videos as well as solution approaches for different use cases. The goal is to present broad variety of highlight topics such as: technical deep dive into features preview on upcoming features video instructions and how-to videos on certain areas of the productsThe blog focuses on the areas of data center analysis and transparency, cloud automation and management as well as data management and Internet of Things. Using the RSS feed, users subscribe to the blog and are able to share blog articles in different Social Media channels by leveraging the Social Sharing feature.Dr. Andreas Eberhart, Managing Director at fluidOps, comments the blog launch as follows: We further interlink our existing channels with the corporate blog and provide the users the opportunity to interact with us. We are happy to share our know-how about the underlying technologies and feature set of our products.About fluid Operations Semantifying Businessfluid Operations AG (fluidOps) is a leader in semantic technologies. Its product portfolio includes the Smart Data Platform Information Workbench, the app for data center transparency eDataCenterAnalyzer, and the proven cloud management app eCloudManager. Users implement pioneering business models based on Smart Data and innovative use cases in data centers and IoT environments. The company and its employees have been honored with multiple awards for outstanding innovations. Its clients are renowned companies in the automobile, telecommunications, IT, media, healthcare and life sciences industries as well as public organizations. Founded in 2008, fluid Operations AG is based in Walldorf, Germany, and has 50 employees. Learn more atPress contactSimona Macikowski, Tel: +(49) 6227 3580 87-30, Email: press@fluidops.comfluid Operations AG, Altrottstr. 31, 69190 Walldorf, Germany PiggyBank named a top rated short term loan provider https://www.piggy-bank.co.uk Dorset Based Online Short Term Lender PiggyBank () is thrilled to announce that we have been voted as a Top Rated Short Term Credit Provider in the 2016 Consumer Credit Awards.The Consumer Credit Awards are the first consumer-led credit awards, voted for by customers, not a panel of judges. 2016 saw the first year of the awards, with thousands of customers voting. Wed love to thank you of taking the time to vote for us, it means a great deal to us.With voting in eleven categories, customers rated PiggyBank 4.83/5 making us one of the highest-rated companies taking part in the awards. Other winners included Tesco Bank (Best Credit Card Provider), and BTCPOP (Best P2P Lender).We are delighted to have been voted as a Top Rated Short Term Credit Provider in the 2016 Consumer Credit Awards, says CEO of PiggyBank, Dan Ware. Delivering positive outcomes to our customers at all times is at the forefront of the culture of PiggyBank. The customer is our number one priority. So to receive this level of positive feedback from our valued customers makes myself and the team extremely happy.The company behind the awards, Smart Money People, were founded in 2014 and are the UK's leading independent review platform for financial institutions. Mike Fotis, founder, said: Congratulations to PiggyBank and all of our winners. At Smart Money People, were using customer reviews to increase trust and transparency in financial services, and these awards will help other customers find the best possible products on the market.To view our rating, or to leave your own PiggyBank review, visit the Smart Money People websitePiggyBank provides transparent and simple short term loans, payday loans and instalment loans from 100 to 1000 for new customers, and up to 1,500 for returning customers. We're a short term lender, short term lending, but much more human.PiggyBank short term loans are an online solution to cover an unforeseen expense, like a bill or a problem with a car, or can be used as a short term financial buffer until your next payday. Our short term loans are flexible and can be taken from 14 to 35 days. If you need your money for a bit longer, you can apply for an instalment loan, which splits your repayments over a two to five month period.DJS House, The Riverside Suite, Knapp Mill, Mill Road, Christchurch, BH23 2JY Global BPO Business Analytics Market 2016-2020, High Demand Organizations, Key Business Strategies, Commercial Usage & Fastest Growing Industry http://www.researchmoz.us/global-bpo-business-analytics-market-2016-2020-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=565528 http://www.researchmoz.us/ Global BPO Business Analytics Market 2016-2020 Size and Share Published in 2016-02-10 Available for US$ 2500 at Researchmoz.usDescriptionFull Report #@@#The business analytics BPO services is one of the fastest-growing markets in the BPO industry. Organizations leverage analytics to make better decisions based on their understandings about their business environment, customer needs, automating processes, and predicting future trends. Thus, there is a high demand for providers that can process both unstructured and structured data and derive better insights for quality decision making.Business analytics BPO services help organizations leverage data assets and improve their key profit and loss drivers such as reduced cost, increased revenue, optimized supply chain, improved return on investment (ROI), managed risk, and ensured regulatory compliance.Technavios analysts forecast the global BPO business analytics market to grow at a CAGR of 37.42% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global BPO business analytics market for 2016-2020. The report also presents the vendor landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the top five vendors operating in the market.The market is divided into the following segments based on end-user:BFSIManufacturingHealthcareRetailTelecomOthersGet a Free Sample Copy of the Report:Technavio's report, Global BPO Business Analytics Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsAccentureCapgeminiGenpactIBMTCSOther prominent vendorsAbsolutdataAegisCGIChainalyticsCognizantDelldunnhumbyEXLFractal AnalyticsHPInfosysMinacsMu SigmaNeeyamoOpera SolutionsTech MahindraWiproWNS GlobalMarket driverNeed to achieve operational efficiency and regulatory complianceFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeData security and privacy concernsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendSaaS business analytics modelFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.Table of ContentPART 01: Executive summaryHighlightsPART 02: Scope of the reportMarket overviewTop-vendor offeringsPART 03: Market research methodologyResearch methodologyEconomic indicatorsPART 04: IntroductionKey market highlightsPART 05: Economic overviewPART 06: Market landscapeMarket overviewMarket size and forecastFive forces analysisAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives.Contact Us:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare, +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948sales@researchmoz.us COSEC DOOR FMX www.MatrixSecuSol.com Matrix COSEC DOOR FMX is a premium door controller with multispectral sensor technology. The sensor reads surface as well as subsurface of the finger. This makes the device suitable for adverse conditions, where a user might have dry, wet, oily, elderly hands. The sensor detects only live fingerprints, making it more secure for the organization. COSEC DOOR FMX is useful for R&D Centres where high-end security is involved. Furthermore, the device is suitable for the Manufacturing Industry, where it helps avoid false rejection rate of employees and labors, which is generally high with normal biometric controllers as they fail to read fingerprint templates that are oily, dirty, greasy, wet, etc.Features: Time-Attendance and Access Control Reads Surface and Subsurface of a Finger Fast and Intuitive User Identification with Live Fingerprint Detection 4.2" Touch Screen Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3G/4G 50,000 Users and 5,00,000 Events Storage Works with Dry, Wet, Diverse, Rugged, Dirty, Elderly FingerprintsContact: MATRIX COMSEC394 GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara+91 93744 74302More@MatrixComSec.comMATRIX COMSECEstablished in 1991, Matrix is a leader in Telecom and Security solutions for modern businesses and enterprises. An innovative, technology driven and customer focused organization; Matrix is committed to keep pace with the revolutions in the telecom and security industries. With more than 40% of its human resources dedicated to the development of new products, Matrix has launched cutting-edge products like Video Surveillance solutions, Access Control, Time-Attendance, IP-PBX, Universal Gateways, Terminals, Convergence solution, VoIP Gateways and GSM Gateways. These solutions are feature-rich, reliable and conform to the international standards. Having global foot-prints in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa through an extensive network of more than 500 channel partners, Matrix ensures that the products serve the needs of its customers faster and longer. Matrix has gained trust and admiration of customers representing the entire spectrum of industries. Matrix has won many international awards for its innovative products.Matrix Comsec394 GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara-390010+91 0265 2630555 Medical Oxygen Concentrators Market Driven by Enhanced Oxygen Delivery Capabilities - TMR Report 2018 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=292 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/oxygen-concentrator-market.html Transparency Market Research has compiled a large amount data relevant to the use of oxygen concentrators in medicine, within a pool of information organized under the tag of medical devices industries. The report is titled Medical Oxygen Concentrators Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 2023 and provides an accurate and segmented analysis of this market for the given forecast period.An oxygen concentrator is also known as an oxygen generator and is used to deliver oxygen to patients under medical care and in need of pure oxygen. The main reason for the use of an oxygen concentrator is the less than average level of oxygen in a sick patient. Most countries do not allow oxygen concentrators to be sold over the counter. A patient must produce a prescription for them.Receive Complete Report Brochure PDF For Market Forecast 2018:The key difference between an oxygen concentrator and an oxygen tank is what gives the former its biggest advantage. Oxygen tanks have limited storage, which once depleted, need to be replaced. On the other hand, oxygen concentrators do not supply the gas from a tank but deliver a compressed flow of it, which is filtered out from the surrounding air. Therefore, an oxygen concentrator can provide a patient with oxygen at any given time under any condition as long as the device is provided with power.Some of the key drivers of the global oxygen concentrators market are the growing percentage of the geriatric demographic, who are in a higher need of oxygen delivery devices, and the growing prevalence of respiratory diseases and COPD. Oxygen concentrators are also safer, lighter, and cheaper in comparison to compressed oxygen cylinders.According to the World Health Organization, almost 3 million people died in 2005 due to COPD. Recently, more than 65 million people around the world were suffering from COPD in mild to severe and chronic forms. This is a major reason for medical device manufacturers to focus harder on research and development efforts in making oxygen concentrators more efficient.From a geographical perspective, the global oxygen concentrators market has been led by North America in terms of demand and usage. This region has an advanced medical care system already enabled, making it easier for key players based in this region to provide state-of-the-art devices and drugs. This region is also showing a rapidly growing trend of home care, which can be complemented by the use of oxygen cylinders and concentrators due to their portability.Key players in the global oxygen concentrators market include Philips Healthcare, Teleflex Incorporated, Inogen, Inc., Nidek Medical, DeVilbiss Healthcare, and GE Healthcare.Browse Full Report@About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com HIGH BREW COFFEE BREAKS INTO OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CATEGORY AT THIS YEARS OUTDOOR RETAILER SUMMER MARKET TRADESHOW www.outdoorretailer.com www.highbrewcoffee.com www.highbrewcoffee.com SALT LAKE CITY, UT (August 3, 2016) High Brew Coffee, a Fair Trade, cold-brew coffee, is pleased to present its line of 100% Arabica ready-to-drink coffees at this years Outdoor Retailer Show in August. High Brew Coffee will offer attendees and outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to sample the brands full line of portable, shelf-stable and low-calorie coffees that offer an alternative to the traditional energy options for outdoor adventurers.High Brew Coffee, creator of the bold, smooth, low calorie cold-brew, will showcase its line of ready-to-drink coffees at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer, a trade show known for showcasing innovative and world-class products for the outdoor enthusiast. High Brew Coffees portable cold brew allows you to take your coffee anywhere. Whether youre biking through the mountains, hitting the trail or canoeing down the rapids, High Brew is the natural, refreshing boost of energy you can take along in any excursion. The mouth-watering Double Espresso, Mexican Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate Mocha and Black and Bold cold-brews are made from 100% Fair Trade Arabica coffee beans using an extensive no-heat cold-brewed production process. Each cold-brew offers a, high-quality smooth taste with 67% less acidity than the average cup of joe. Ranging from 20-60 calories per can, High Brew Coffee offers a cold brew for everyones taste preferences with low sugar, high anti-oxidants, and 130-155 grams of natural caffeine.We are proud to showcase our revolutionary line of cold-brew ready-to-drink coffees with the attendees of Outdoor Retailer. We are excited to highlight our coffees to those avid adventurers and attendees who support a healthy, active and adventurous lifestyle, said David Smith, Founder and CEO of High Brew Coffee. With a High Brew Coffee in hand, we hope to instill a can-do, good-vibe lifestyle for all that drink our cold-brews.The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Tradeshow will be held August 3-6, 2016 at the Salt Palace Convention Center located at 100 SW Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. High Brew Coffee invites attendees to come by booth #PV1165 for a sampling of the High Brew Coffee cold brew line. For more information on the trade show, please visit. For more information on High Brew Coffee please visitAbout High Brew CoffeeAfter working tirelessly for 13 years to turn his tiny tea company into a household name, David Smith, co-founder of Sweet Leaf Tea, embarked on the sailing adventure of a lifetime. Discovering the benefits of refreshing cold-brewed coffee during warm nights navigating rough waters, the idea for High Brew Coffee was born. Founded in 2014, High Brew is an all-natural 100 percent Arabica blend ready-to-drink cold brew coffee made from Fair Trade coffee beans. Brewed with zero heat, High Brew Coffee offers premium low-calorie cold-brews in smooth, delicious flavors such as Double Espresso, Mexican Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate Mocha, and Black & Bold. High Brew Coffee is shelf stable to perfectly accompany an active and on-the-go lifestyle. For more information, please visit1710 Evergreen Ave. Austin, TX 78704 Global Analgesics Market Region-wise Outlook and Trends http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=12113 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Global Analgesics Market: OverviewAnalgesics, or painkillers, are used to reduce and treat aches and pains. Internal and external analgesics are used to combat pain resulting from inflammation, cancer treatments, physiological injury, neuropathic conditions, surgeries, wounds, and phantom aches. The most prominent therapeutic classes of analgesics are local anesthesia, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and opioids. The growing incidence of cancer worldwide and the rise in chronic diseases are mainly responsible for the consistent growth of the global analgesics market.The research publication offers clients a comprehensive summary of the global analgesics market and elucidates the various factors driving and hampering its growth during the forecast period. The report also evaluates the chief players competing in the global market for analgesics and profiles them on the basis of a number of key attributes, such as company and business overview, recent developments, product portfolio, business strategies, and financial strength.Global Analgesics Market: Key Trends and Competitive LandscapeThe increasing therapeutic benefits offered by analgesics, in addition to effective and fast relief from pain, have significantly driven the demand for analgesics over the years. The development of innovative drugs and rising awareness about these treatment options have also supported the analgesics market. Moreover, the rise in recurring aches and pains owing to an increase in the prevalence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and other chronic and acute diseases has propelled the demand for analgesics. Other key factors positively impacting the global analgesics market include the growing prevalence of pain worldwide, the rise in effective treatment options, a surge in the aging population, and the growing acceptance of analgesics by a wider target audience.Get a Free Sample Report:Eli Lilly and Company, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Bayer AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Reckitt Benckiser plc, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis AG, and GlaxoSmithKline PLC are some of the major companies actively participating in the global analgesics market. In the quest of increasing their share in the analgesics market, an increasing number of firms have been adopting acquisitions as their main development strategy.Global Analgesics Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global analgesics market has been categorized into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World based on geography. North America is presently the leading market for analgesics and is projected to retain its dominant position through 2024. Recent regulatory changes in the U.S., accompanied by new marketing strategies by analgesics companies, have greatly benefited this regional market. After declining sales owing to frequent recalls, the analgesics market in the U.S., in particular, has been stabilizing on account of the return of prominent brands, the rising occurrence of aches and pains, the rise in the average age of the population, and an alarming rate of obesity. These demographic and lifestyle developments have significantly propelled the North America analgesics market.The Europe analgesics market is also anticipated to expand in the coming years owing to the rapid commercialization of new drugs and an increasing geriatric population. Although analgesics form one of the largest product areas in over-the-counter drugs, this segment has been negatively affected by the growing trend of improving health instead of merely treating symptoms. An increasing number of consumers in the U.K., for instance, have restricted their consumption of analgesics with this trend in mind, thereby negatively impacting the sales of analgesics.In contrast, consumers in several Asia Pacific countries seem relatively less concerned over the possible side-effects of analgesics. A higher willingness to self-medicate instead of visiting a trained physician for mild pain and fever is a trend that is common in a number of countries, more prominently in India. Moreover, the immensely stressful lifestyles in most urban parts of the region have resulted in consumers looking for quick and easy solutions to combat pain. This, combined with the surge in purchasing power, has enabled the demand for as well as sales of analgesics to remain steady over the years.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market ResearchTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Electric Vehicle Battery Market to be Driven by Growing Concerns Regarding Environmental Pollution http://bit.ly/28PuIFL http://bit.ly/28NIJ7D http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com A new market research report by Transparency Market Research, titled Electric Vehicle Battery Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Growth and Forecast 2016 - 2023, offers a comprehensive overview of the global electric vehicle battery market. The report describes the entire market structure and points out the factors affecting the growth of the market during the period between 2016 and 2023. The report further projects the size and valuation of the market in the near future, along with the current market trends. The global electric vehicle battery market has been studied on the basis of technology, type of battery, application, and region. Some of the key players in the market have been profiled in the report.Free PDF For Full Details and Technological breakthroughs is @Growing concerns about the depleting oil and gas resources have boosted the demand for electric-powered vehicles. These vehicles run on power derived from rechargeable battery packs. As the power is provided by batteries, there is no requirement for any combustion engine for propulsion in electric vehicles. The global electric vehicle battery market is expected to expand with the growing demand for electric vehicles. Stringent environmental regulations in the European Union and fluctuating crude oil prices will further encourage the demand for electric vehicle batteries.The key types of batteries used in electric vehicles are nickel metal hydride batteries, lead acid batteries, lithium ion batteries, and zebra batteries. Lead acid batteries are the cheapest and most common batteries found in the market. Molten chloro-aluminate sodium is used as an electrolyte in zebra batteries. In lithium ion batteries, the anode is typically a lithium-containing compound such as lithium cobalt oxide, while the cathode is made from carbon. Nickel metal hydride batteries have higher energy density than common lead acid batteries.Market Insight of electric vehicle battery can be Viewed @The global electric vehicle battery market has been segmented into five key regions: Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. In North America and Europe, there has been significant growth of the market due to the establishment of government incentives on the usage of battery-powered vehicles. In North America, the U.S. and Canada are the major markets for electric vehicle batteries, whereas Sweden, Germany, France, and the U.K. drive the growth of the market in Europe. The growing concerns regarding energy security have fuelled the demand for electric vehicles in Asia Pacific. Government support has also played an important role in the growth of the Asia Pacific electric vehicle battery market, especially across China, South Korea, and Japan. The Rest of the World regional market still lags behind in the overall market.Some of the prominent players in the global electric vehicle battery market are Quallion, LG Chem Power Inc., Boston-Power Inc., and Samsung SDI Co. Ltd.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Miracles Happen Every Day - Author Donna Louis Gives Readers A New Perspective On Miracles Christian author Donna Louis http://www.miraclebook.net The dictionary defines a miracle as an extraordinary event in the physical world. While we might think miracles don't happen today, perhaps they do.A recent story on Newshub entitled 'Miracles Happen: Missing Cat Returns After 8 Years' is amazing. While we might say that the return of the cat is a miracle, the truly miraculous part of the story shows us that the cat's owner, a young boy, practically willed her to return. He spent years learning to play the guitar and dedicated all the songs to his missing cat. His efforts even led to him landing a semi-finalist spot on 'New Zealand's Got Talent'. He performed a song entitled 'Everything To Me', dedicated to the missing cat. Finally, after 8 long years, the cat returned. The boy believes it was a miraculous event. And it very well may be.The public is fascinated with miracles, as they demonstrate there is a reality that lies beyond what our eyes and ears show us. While we might believe that miracles are the result of a Power that lies elsewhere and occasionally intercedes in the affairs of the human race, it is even more possible that this Power works in physical reality through the minds and the hands of mankind. Even the miracles of Jesus were performed through a human body, living in physical reality.Donna Louis' new book, 'Miracles of Direction, Miracles of Conquest, Miracles of Provision and Miracles of Purpose' explores biblical miracles that took place while Jesus was here on earth. She then references with miracles that take place on a daily basis in the modern world. She separates these miracles into four categories and presents insightful example of each type, taken directly from the Bible.Louis knows her subject well, as she has personally experienced three miracles. As the result of those life-altering experiences, she began an in-depth study of some of Christianity's most well-documented miracles. In her book, she attempts to expand upon and explain both the purpose and the direction of those miracles.Donna Louis stated, "In Proverbs 12:10 in the Contemporary English Version of the Bible it states 'Good people are kind to their animals, but a mean person is cruel.' This miracle of the young boy and his cat are the perfect example of what the Bible states. God gave us dominion over the animals but the greatest gift we can give them is love. One of the ways miracles are created is through unconditional love."Louis was chosen as a winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' awards contest. 'Miracles' has also received rave reviews from readers. One review called it "amazing, uplifting and inspirational". Another stated, "I was profoundly impressed by the writing."Donna Louis is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at donnalouisgodsmessenger@aol.com. 'Miracles of Direction, Miracles of Conquest, Miracles of Provision and Miracles of Purpose' is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Xulon Press. More information is available at her website.Donna Louis is happily married to her husband of 30 years Patrick Louis and currently resides in Florida. She lives to accomplish the task that God created her for and on a daily basis to follow Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC 28459 Healthcare Microchip Array Market Propelled by Increasing Demand in Home Healthcare Systems http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1146 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research is a leading market intelligence company that has always provided the latest data on multiple industries including the healthcare industry. One of the titles composed under the global industry of medical devices is, Healthcare Microchip Array Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2012 2018 a report which can be used to gain knowledge of this markets scope of growth.The global healthcare microchip array market consists of advanced semiconductor technology. Microchips are built in a way that suits their use within the healthcare industry for a large number of applications. The use of microchip arrays in the healthcare industry has opened up a massive scope for transformation. It allows for a much more diverse use of scanning and diagnostic tools while still achieving the cost-efficiency that semiconductors have to offer. The lower cost of microchip arrays has been instrumental in its proliferation across various economies.The global healthcare microchip array markets products can be used to create a constant monitoring system of a patients vitals and body condition in a wireless manner. This allows the patient to move about without being inconvenienced by constant medical visits and having to carry wired devices with them. This also saves the patient as well as the medical organization space, time, and medical expenses. This makes the global healthcare microchip array market one of the top producers of devices that can help in the treatment of chronic diseases.Get Free Sample Research Report:The key reason for the growth of the global healthcare microchip array market is the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, along with the hectic lifestyle of the working class.On the basis of end users, the global healthcare microchip array market can be divided into hospitals, government institutions, research laboratories, and others. On the basis of products, the global healthcare microchip array market can be divided into low density microarray chips, medium density microarray chips, and high density microarray chips. On the basis of technology, this market can be divided into segments such as microfluidics, DNA sequencing, and electrophoresis.From a geographical perspective, the global healthcare microchip array market was led by North America. This region has generated the maximum annual revenue in the global healthcare microchip array market in the recent past. At the same time, Asia Pacific has shown a remarkable rate of expansion in the global healthcare microchip array market, allowing this market to maintain a strong CAGR for the next couple of years. The Asia Pacific healthcare microchip array market is currently growing due to the increased cost-effectiveness that microchip arrays can bring to the table.The key players in the global healthcare microchip array market are Advanced Liquid Logic, Agilent, Affymetrix, Advanced Microlabs, and Akonni Biosystems.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market ResearchTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Electro-diagnostic Equipment Market Focuses on Large Patient Pool in Asia Pacific http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1260 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research has compiled a vast amount of data on the global as well as regional markets under the category of medical devices. One of the latest titles launched by the company is, Electro-Diagnostic Equipment Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2012 2018.Electro-diagnostic devices represent a class of important equipment used in the study of physiology. They are used to measure and study the electrical activity that happens inside a living beings muscles and nerves. The data generated through EDX can help physicians evaluate several physiological diseases, such as neuromuscular join disorders, plexopathy, myopathy, and neuropathy.There are two specialized tests that are included under electro-diagnostics. One is nerve condition study, or NCS, and the other is the electromyogram, or EMG. EMG makes use of a miniature needle that is inserted into multiple muscles to record muscle activity on an electrical scale. NCS involves the study of nerve functions. This field makes use of the application of minute electrical impulses into the body through electrodes that are placed on top of the skin.Get Free Sample Research Report:The global electro-diagnostic equipment market also includes other tests, such as electrogastrography, electroretinography, electroencephalography, and electrocardiography. Some of these are early diagnostic tests that can help physicians detect signs of diseases and help combat them effectively.The key driver of the global electro-diagnostic equipment market is the increasing patient pool that is currently found in the Asia Pacific region. Numerous global medical device manufacturers are recognizing the potential that Asia Pacific holds, owing to its high population density, increased healthcare expenditure, and a growing scope of medical tourism. The other major regions in the global electro-diagnostic equipment market, namely North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World, are showing steady growth rates as compared to Asia Pacific.Another reason for the growth of the global electro-diagnostic equipment market is the overall advancement that this market has made in the recent past. These advances have helped the global electro-diagnostic equipment market overcome the previous hindrances that were created due to the limited scope of diagnostic equipment. The new devices offered by the global electro-diagnostic equipment market provide a physician with a much higher level of precision and ease of use. They can also record the information live and use it to gain a better analysis of the diagnosis.The key players in the global electro-diagnostic equipment market are Nihon Kohden, Natus Medical, Viasys Healthcare, Noraxen, GE Healthcare, Philips Medical Systems, Siemens Medical Solutions, Boston Scientific Corporation, Abbott Vascular Devices, and Medtronic.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market ResearchTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Electrosurgical Devices Market to Rise due to Increasing Demand for Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=449 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com A new market research report by Transparency Market Research, titled Electrosurgical Devices Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, And Forecasts 2012 2018, includes an in-depth analysis of the electrosurgical devices market. The study encapsulates an extensive evaluation on the present market trends and also highlights the major drivers as well as inhibitors impacting the growth of the market in the forecast horizon, 2012 to 2018. In addition, the current and the emerging technological developments predicted to take place within this market have also been evaluated in this report.Electrosurgical devices are majorly utilized within electrosurgical procedures including orthopedic, maxillofacial, cardiac, plastic, neurosurgical, and ocular procedures. Electrosurgical devices are frequently utilized in these operations for making precise cuts in the body and for the prevention of acute blood loss. These devices utilize high-frequency current for cutting, coagulating, fulgurating, and desiccating biological tissues without having a damaging impact on the surrounding tissues. A broad range of electrosurgical devices include radiofrequency instruments, generators, vessel sealing systems, and accessories.Get a Free Sample Report:As stated in the report, the increasing demand for minimally invasive surgical procedures, the increasing aging population, and the advancement of cutting-edge energy-based electrosurgical devices are amongst the prime factors fuelling the growth of the electrosurgical devices market. In addition, the increasing low-cost surgeries, the rising initiatives taken by governments globally, the increasing trend towards medical tourism, and the advancement of modern healthcare infrastructure enable top notch companies to develop and market electrosurgical devices even within a number of developing nations such as that of China, India, Brazil, and Mexico, hence boosting the development of the overall market. On the other hand, the rising trend of bulk-purchasing by group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and integrated health networks (IHNs) causes erosion in profits and could pose a negative impact on the growth of the market for electrosurgical devices. Additionally, the increasing occurrence of product recalls may also impede the development of the market in the coming years.Geographically, North America holds the largest share in the market owing to the increasing funding activities by governments in this region, the rising technological advancements, and the huge volume of surgical procedures. On the other hand, the Asia Pacific electrosurgical devices market is poised to grow at the swiftest rate all through 2018 due to the swiftly evolving healthcare systems, the increasing patient pool, and the soaring demand for elective surgeries.The major players operating in the market are KLS Martin, Conmed, Covidien, BOWA- electronic, Ethicon, Symmetry Medical, Ambu, Boston Scientific, Olympus, Utah Medical Products, adeor Medical, ArthroCare, B. Braun Melsungen, ERBE Elektromedizin, and Bovie Medical, among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market ResearchTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: KEEN, INC. UNVEILS NEW KEEN Kids BOLD ADVENTURE-READY 2017 COLLECTIONS AT OUTDOOR RETAILER www.outdoorretailer.com www.keenfootwear.com www.keenfootwear.com PORTLAND, Ore., (August 3, 2016) KEEN, Inc., an innovative footwear brand committed to building unique and versatile shoes for men, women and kids, is thrilled to introduce new Spring/Summer 2017 KEEN Kids styles at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Tradeshow from August 3-6, 2016 in Salt Lake City.With innovative designs and features, quality materials, bright colors and graphic prints, KEEN Kids will debut the much-anticipated Moxie collection as well as introducing new styles and colorways to their Encanto and UNEEK collections.KEEN Kids Moxie collection is a vibrant new line of rad adventure shoes that includes sandals, Mary Janes and flats made for smart girls with energetic spirits and sassy style. This new line encourages self-expression through style and inspires girls to unleash their own moxie with confidence!The Moxie collection will include: Moxie Sandal This lightweight sandal was made for the moxie adventurer that have no fear. Its easy contouring, lace-capture system and quick-dry lining gives the sandal a secure and adjustable fit perfect for endless adventure. (MSRP $50). Little Kid Sizes 8-13, Big Kid Sizes 1-6. Moxie Mary Jane A classic Mary Jane with a twist, the Moxie Mary Jane is a sneaker that supports and delivers like no other. Designed for girls that just want to play in style, its quick-dry lining keeps active feet cool, while its instep and heel strap locks in feet for a secure fit. (MSRP $50). Little Kid Sizes 8-13, Big Kid Sizes 1-6. Moxie Flat The Moxie Flat is a simple and comfortable option that is a perfect addition to any outfit for girls that are always on-the-go. This simple flat styling provides the classic style girls desire while enabling them to explore the world with fearlessness. (MSRP $55). Little Kid Sizes 8-13, Big Kid Sizes 1-6.The Encanto collection combines the elements of function and durability KEEN is known for with the latest trends in design, material and color. New styles and designs include xx. These shoes let kids be kids and create something using their imagination, to play outside cultivating the wonder and adventure of childhood. (MSRP $0.00) Toddler Sizes 4-7, Little Kid Sizes 8-13, Big Kid Sizes 1-6.UNEEK is the fashionable and functional shoe that does it all and comfortably! This collection defies traditional footwear styles through its innovative free-moving cord construction and lightweight foam midsole. New to 2017 are xx eye-catching color combinations for youth and children. (MSRP $60.00) Little Kid Sizes 8-13, Big Kid Sizes 1-6.Filled with year-round, trend-right functionality, KEEN is thrilled to exhibit our new 2017 KEEN Kids styles at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Tradeshow, said Erin Simons, Business Unit Director, Kids. These newest additions blend together KEENs mission to produce long-lasting and fashion-forward footwear made specifically for tiny adventurers, equipping them in style for their endless adventures.With over 1,000 exhibiting companies, Outdoor Retailer brings together a global audience from the biggest names in the outdoor gear industry. KEEN, Inc. is exhibiting at Booth #xx during the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Tradeshow in Salt Palace Convention Center from August 3rd through 6th.For more information on Outdoor Retailer, visit. For more information on KEEN, Inc. and to see the entire KEEN Kids line, please visitAbout KEEN, Inc.Inspired by a love of the outdoors, KEEN, Inc., a Portland-based manufacturer of hybrid outdoor and casual products, including footwear, clothing, and accessories, is dedicated to creating quality products that support the lifestyles and adventures of active people around the world. KEEN products can be found online and through more than 5,000 retail locations in more than 60 countries, as well as in KEEN Garage retail stores where fans enjoy a branded experience. The KEEN Kids line offers durable, trend-right and versatile footwear, that lets kids be kids and explore the wonder and adventure of childhood. KEEN's operations and culture reflect a stand out commitment to building a strong community and a healthier planet so that all can create, play, and care. Learn more atKonnect Agency888 S. Figueroa St. Ste #1000Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phosphorus Trichloride Market: excessive use of oil additives pushing demand for phosphorus oxychloride in North America. Global Phosphorus Trichloride Market 2016 http://www.marketintelreports.com/report/QYR08744/global-phosphorus-trichloride-market-professional-survey-report-2016n http://www.marketintelreports.com/pdfdownload.php?id=qyr08744 www.marketintelreports.com Phosphorus Chloride or PCl3 is important chemical that is used in many chemical industries as a feedstock to produce phosphorus pentachloride and other important chemicals that are used in various end user companies in the production of fertilizers, insecticides, additives and others. The Phosphorus Trichloride Market has high scope in the industrial activities and is expected to have high demand in various regions in the upcoming term.Check Complete Report @Scope and Regional Forecast of the Phosphorus Trichloride Market:North America is the leading consumer of the Phosphorus Trichloride Market with high shares of revenue invested in this market for phosphorus trichloride feedstock and its applications. This region is expected to have high demand due to the robust chemical industry activities in upcoming years.Europe has high demand for the Phosphorus Trichloride Market and it is very highly regulated in this region due to the effects and properties of phosphorus trichloride and phosphorus chloride in the atmosphere. Chemical industries and PVC industries are the major applications of this market in the European countries.Asia Pacific is the largest region for the Phosphorus Trichloride Market. This region is expected to exhibit high use of liquid phosphorus chloride and trichloride acid in the chemical industries. Due to high population and increasing industrialization, the scope of this market is rising in the upcoming years. China and India are the major consumers in this region.Get Sample Brochure of the Report @Segmentation and Key Players of the Phosphorus Trichloride Market:The Phosphorus Trichloride Market is segmented into various categories by company and by region as follows: By company: Solvay chemicals, SIGMA ALDRICH, Bayer CropScience,LANXESS, PCC Rokita, Alfa Aesar, LobaChemie, Toned Phosphorus, ICL,SANDHYA GROUP, Gasmet, AkzoNobel, ALS Environmental, LuckyChemical, Hokko Chemica, Thermo Fisher, Clariant International,Fujifilm, A. B. Enterprises, Cheminova, Dahan Feilong, FutongChemical, Suzhou Hantech, Anhui Huaxing, Jiangsu Yoke, Wynca By region: the USA, China, Europe, South America, Japan and AfricaThe key players in the Phosphorus Trichloride Market are as follows: Solvay chemicals Thermo Fisher Bayer CropScience SIGMA ALDRICH LANXESSThe Phosphorus Trichloride Market is a rapidly growing market with high applications of phosphorus trichloride (PCl3) in making many end user products as well as making other chemicals like phosphorus pentachloride. This market is expected to witness high growth in chemicals industries in various regions across the globe in the upcoming years.About us:MarketIntelReports (MIR) aim to empower our clients to successfully manage and outperform in their business decisions, we do this by providing Premium Market Intelligence, Strategic Insights and Databases from a range of Global Publishers.A group of industry veterans who are well experienced in reputed international consulting firms after identifying the sourcing needs of MNCs for market intelligence, have together started this business savior MarketIntelReports.MIR intends to be a one-stop shop with an intuitive design, exhaustive database, expert assistance, secure cart checkout and data privacy integrated. It curates the list of reports, publishers and studies to ensure that the database is constantly updated to dynamically meet the targeted, specific needs of our clients.MarketIntelReports currently has more than 10,000 plus titles and 35+ publishers on our platform and growing consistently to fill the Global Intelligence Demand Supply Gap. We cover more than 15 industry verticals being: Automotive, Electronics, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Chemicals, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Food & Beverages, Banking & Finance, Media and Government, Public Sector Studies.Contact us:Mayur SSales Manager2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400,Wilmington,Delaware,19808United Statessales@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-261-5343 Smart Irrigation Market is expected to witness healthy business at a high CAGR during 2016 to 2021. http://www.marketintelreports.com/report/9dime5960/global-smart-irrigation-industry-2016-market-research-report http://www.marketintelreports.com/pdfdownload.php?id=9dime5960 http://www.marketintelreports.com/purchase.php?id=9dime5960 www.marketintelreports.com According to the MarketIntelReports new research report Global Smart Irrigation Market 2016 Research Report, the Smart Irrigation Market is expected to witness healthy business at a high CAGR during 2016 to 2021. This report provides a detailed analysis of the smart irrigation market on the basis of irrigation controllers, hardware and network components, application, and regions.Browse 152 pages Global Smart Irrigation Industry 2016 Market Research ReportThere are many benefits that farmers can expect when they invest in a smart irrigation system. Some of these include automatic shutoff of the irrigation system when it is raining, increase in the amount of water supplied when temperatures soar beyond a specified limit, and considerable savings in the amount of water used for irrigation.In order to achieve these functions, a myriad of sensors are used in smart irrigation systems. These include soil moisture sensors, ambient humidity sensors, and temperature sensors. Flow meters and other network elements are the other important components in the market.The global smart irrigation market features advanced systems that can be integrated with weather data systems to anticipate the amount of water required on a field over a particular period. This advantage of smart irrigation systems will aid the markets growth during the forecast period. The market can be broadly segmented on the basis of smart irrigation hardware, sensors, and network components.Geographical Brief:Demand for smart irrigation has been rising consistently in North America. This is attributable to the emphasis of governments in the U.S. and Canada on the planned use of natural resources and greater awareness about environmental issues. The municipalities in the U.S. and water agencies are offering rebates on smart irrigation and water-efficient irrigation components.Get Sample Brochure of Report @Key Players:Some of the prominent players of Smart Irrigation Market are Rain Bird Corporation The Toro Company Hunter Industries Netafim Hydropoint Data Systems Baseline Inc. Calsense Galcon Rachio Inc. WeathermaticThe report includes the Smart Irrigation basics: definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain overview; industry policies and plans; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures and so on. Then it analyzed the world's main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.Order Global Smart Irrigation Industry 2016 Market Research ReportAbout us:MarketIntelReports (MIR) aim to empower our clients to successfully manage and outperform in their business decisions, we do this by providing Premium Market Intelligence, Strategic Insights and Databases from a range of Global Publishers.A group of industry veterans who are well experienced in reputed international consulting firms after identifying the sourcing needs of MNCs for market intelligence, have together started this business savior MarketIntelReports.Contact us:Sales ManagerMayur S.2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington,Delaware,19808United Statessales@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-261-5343 Local Nonprofit Has A Three-Pronged Approach To Creating Jobs In America Casablanca Market in California As a child, Katia Essyad watched her mother, a Moroccan artisan, weave carpets. Years later, Essyad returned to her roots, opening the Casablanca Market, which sells home goods and accessories handmade by Moroccan artisans like her mom.Essyad began small, with a tiny shop in California. But as she started connecting with artisans and forming relationships, her vision and her business grew. Eventually the shop expanded into an online store where consumers can buy everything from textiles to olive oil to tagines, terracotta vessels used for cooking stews.Casablanca Market is a job creator, Essyad says, but it is also more than that. We not only provide jobs for these women and men, but we also preserve the culture and the history of handmade things in Morocco, Essyad says. Its a very old tradition, and what we do is, we advise the production and empower the artisans behind it.Essyad bridges the gap between artisans in Morocco and consumers in the U.S. She works to make sure the products meet the demands of customers and the standards including food safety standards of the U.S.; Casablanca Market only sells tagines, for example, that are lead-free.But as her business grew, it got harder for Essyad to run it on her own. Demand was intense, she says, and she needed help organizing operations. Thats when a friend told her about Pacific Community Ventures.Pacific Community Ventures provides loans to small businesses, matches businesses with advisers, and actively measures the impact they have on underserved communities. When small business owners like Katia Essyad need help, PCV steps in, because they believe brick-and-mortar shops are the future of job creation.Based in San Francisco, PCV is a nonprofit social enterprise that works with small businesses, often in underserved communities, providing access to capital and mentorship. Its mission is to help the businesses grow and create quality jobs. Theyve won the James Irvine California Leadership Award, among many other local honors. Over the past 17 years, PCV has advised or funded more than 4,000 small businesses; 237 in 2015 alone.Learn more about the Bay Areas own award-winning, job creating, community wealth-building nonprofit.----------------------------------------------About WeSeeGeniusWeSeeGenius is a gathering place where people who are unsatisfied with the world seek to make a true meaningful difference with their lives. Named to honor the best of the late Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, WeSeeGenius is part of C-Change Media and serves the higher education market. As such, many of our stories will focus on recently graduated studentsboth undergraduates and graduateswho are using their education to pursue less traditional paths in social entrepreneurship.About Pacific Community VenturesPacific Community Ventures is a nonprofit social enterprise that engages small businesses, investors, and policymakers to build an economy that works for everyone. We provide small businesses with access to the capital and mentorship they need to grow and create quality jobs for working people in low- and middle-income communities. We also work with impact investors to help define, measure, and communicate the social outcomes of their investments to stimulate more investment in underserved communities.Pacific Community Ventures is a nonprofit social enterprise that engages small businesses, investors, and policymakers to build an economy that works for everyone. We achieve our mission in two ways. First, we provide small businesses with access to the capital and mentorship they need to grow and create quality jobs for working people in low- and middle-income communities. Second, we work with impact investors to help define, measure, and communicate the social outcomes of their investments to stimulate more investment in underserved communities.51 Federal Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 On the latest edition of The Oregonian's Beaver Banter podcast, Oregon State beat reporters Gina Mizell and Danny Moran discuss the prominent storylines from the team's media day and look ahead to fall camp. Listen in the player below or subscribe on iTunes by searching "Beaver Banter." Submit questions via Twitter to @ginamizell and @DannyJMoran. -- | The Lotus Cardroom and Cafe, a downtown Portland staple since 1924, announced that it will close Aug. 20, as a developer plans to demolish the bar and build a new 20-story boutique hotel. The Portland Design Commission approved the hotel last month. The developer is a limited liability company associated with Portland-based Onder Development Co. The Lotus, at the corner of Southwest Third Avenue and Salmon Street, began as a pre-Prohibition soda bar, according to its website, and underwent phases as a (rumored) connection to an underground Great Depression-era brothel and the first legal gambling site in Portland. Thirsty patrons at the Lotus belly up to an antique cherry-wood bar made in the 1880s by the Chicago-based Brunswick Company. "It traveled around Cape Horn in South America to arrive in Washington state, and then ultimately ending up in its current home in Portland," the website says of the wooden bar. Owner John Plew told KATU that the bar will be saved and sold. The Lotus will hold an "End of Almost a Century" party at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 to celebrate its last day of business. On the northeast corner of the same block, the Ancient Order of United Workmen Temple, built in 1892, is set to be replaced by a 10-story office building, according to the development website Next Portland. Onder Development Co. also owns that parcel, city records show. The hotel that will replace the Lotus is slated to have a rooftop bar, ground-level retail and two restaurants. It is the latest project among a wave of boutique hotel development in Portland, including the AC Hotel by Marriott being built across the street at Third Avenue and Taylor Street. -- Luke Hammill lhammill@oregonian.com 503-294-4029 @lucashammill IMG_0878.jpg "Plaintiff's lawsuit itself served as a catalyst prompting Defendant (the district attorney's office) to release certain documents," the judge wrote in her order. (The Oregonian) A judge has ordered the Multnomah County district attorney's office to pay nearly $16,000 to cover legal fees stemming from a public records dispute last year. Attorney Scott Upham sought records related to the district attorney's investigation into charges of sexual assault against Portland tech entrepreneur Scott Kveton. Upham, a former Washington County district attorney, is now a pugnacious civil lawyer who has aggressively sought public records for documents related to his cases - sometimes raising the ire of prosecutors and other other government attorneys. A Multnomah County grand jury declined in 2014 to indict Kveton, but Upham - acting on behalf of the woman who brought the accusations - sought the records as she pursued a civil case against Kveton. (The woman and Kveton ultimately resolved the case with an out-of-court agreement. The Oregonian/OregonLive is not naming the woman because she claims to be a victim of sexual assault.) The district attorney's office provided some documents to Upham and his client but withheld others, arguing they were exempt from disclosure under the state's public records law. Upham then sued seeking access to grand jury notes and other documents connected to the Kveton case. The district attorney's office subsequently released 1,860 pages of additional documents, according to court records, but continued to withhold others as Upham pressed his suit. While Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Marilyn Litzenberger dismissed the public records suit a year ago, agreeing that any additional records are exempt from disclosure, she later ruled the public records suit had prompted the district attorney to produce some records it had previously maintained were exempt from disclosure. "Plaintiff's lawsuit itself served as a catalyst prompting Defendant (the district attorney's office) to release certain documents and provide them to Plaintiff," Litzenberger ruled. State law, she wrote, therefore entitles the woman to legal fees to cover her costs. The ruling is a new development in Oregon law, according to Upham, because the court awarded legal fees without a court ruling actually forcing the release of public records. Under a "catalyst theory" of the law, Upham said, the court concluded his client is entitled to attorney fees because of the role her lawsuit played in prompting the records' release. He said that could prompt government offices to be more open initially in responding to public records requests, because they could be stuck with a legal bill - even if they voluntarily release the documents later. "Hopefully this will persuade more agencies to not play these games anymore," Upham said. Deputy district attorney Jeff Howes said his office will not appeal the order but declined further comment. -- Mike Rogoway mrogoway@oregonian.com 503-294-7699 @rogoway Here are five food and booze events we think should be on your calendar: PDX Hot Sauce Expo: Portland will host the first annual hot sauce expo this weekend in the OMSI Bridge Lot. Taste through hot sauces from across the country, take part in a Guinness Book of World Records Reaper Eating Challenge, beers from local brewers and more. $10/day in advance, $15 at the door, Aug. 6 and 7; OMSI Bridge Lot, 1945 S.E. Water Ave.; pdxhotsauceexpo.com Yakito-me: Biwa's Kotori yakitori cart will be returning for a second summer on the patio at Cyril's at Clay Pigeon Winery every Thursday and Friday in August. Get charcoal-grilled chicken, veggies and sake on the patio alongside cheese, wines and beers from Cyril's and wines from four Oregon winemakers, including Antica Terra and Cameron Winery. Thursdays and Fridays all August; 815 S.E. Oak St.; 503-206-7862; biwarestaurant.com/blog/ pFriem-Hamlet beer dinner: Enjoy a five-course Oregon bounty beer dinner at Hamlet with Hood River's pFriem Family Brewers. Courses include blueberry walnut salad, roasted octopus with cream and stuffed pork belly, paired with five pFriem brews. The beer masters at pFriem will be at the dinner to talk beer and pour. $50, 5 to 10 p.m., Aug. 7; 232 N.W. 12th Ave.,; 503-241-4009; hamletpdx.com New vermut happy hour: Northeast Broadway's Chesa is launching a weekly vermut happy hour at the bar every Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. With tapas and special vermut cocktails. 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesdays; 2218 N.E. Broadway St.; 503-477-9521; chesapdx.com Go eat Chinese BBQ: Head to Southeast 82nd's recently-opened Yan Zi Lou for some of Portland's newest Chinese barbecue, from char siu pork to roast pork and Peking duck. 10 a.m. To 9 p.m., Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. To 10 p.m., Friday - Sunday; 2788 S.E. 82nd Ave., Ste. 103; 503-771-1848 -- Samantha Bakall sbakall@oregonian.com Follow @sambakall State solutions to climate crisis: I could not agree more with Sam Pardue's op-ed. My first political act was marching with my dad and hundreds of others in Portland in support of the Kyoto Protocol when I was just 7 years old. Unfortunately, the problem has yet to be resolved. Carbon pollution climbs, deadlines pass, and that pesky CO2 just isn't disappearing into thin air. I now work for a campaign for what could be the first state-level carbon tax in the U.S. Initiative 732 will be on the November ballot in Washington state. If it wins, it would follow the proposal Pardue outlines quite closely. I-732 would establish a model for the entire nation. There will be innumerable solutions to our climate crisis, but a carbon tax lies at the core. Laurel Wolf Northeast Portland Yongche steps up drive to do battle with Didi Updated: 2016-08-03 07:33 By MENG JING/ZHONG NAN(China Daily) Beijing-based Didi, the dominant ride-hailing service provider in China, said in a statement on August 1, 2016 that it will buy Uber's China operation. [Photo/IC] Didi Chuxing and Uber China may not have an easy victory in China, even though their newly announced merger is expected by analysts to create a dominant player in the country's rapidly growing ride-hailing market. Under the deal, Didi will acquire Uber China while Uber Technologies Inc and Uber China's other shareholders will receive a 20 percent shareholding in the combined company. Yongche Inc, which has immediately become the No 2 ride-hailing player in China after the tie-up between Didi and Uber, said on Tuesday that it will soon launch a very lucrative incentive program to gear up the competition in attracting users. Without revealing how much it is going to invest in the program, Yongche, which is majority-owned by the Beijing-based internet major LeEco, said the incentive investment will be "record high". "The ride-sharing industry doesn't need a monopoly and there will be no place for monopolists to stand in the industry," said LeEco in a Weibo post. Many industry observers said the main reason for the truce between Didi and Uber China was that the two wanted to end their costly competition. Uber has spent at least $1 billion a year to gain ground in China, while Didi has been offering its own subsidies to drivers and riders to build its business. A mobile screen shows the logos of ride-hailing apps including Didichuxing, Uber, Yongche and UCAR. [Photo/VCG] Wang Xiaofeng, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc, said the merger of Didi and Uber China could provide more opportunities to second-tier players in the market. "Because consumers will always want more options and it will never be a monopoly. For example, the Didi-Kuaidi merger gave room for the third player Uber to grow, and this merger will likewise do the same for smaller players," she said. However, Zhang Xu, analyst with Analysys International, said that with Didi and Uber China joining hands, it would be more difficult for smaller players to gain more market share. Statistics from internet consultancy Analysys International showed that Didi had 127 million active users by the end of second quarter of the year, while Uber China had 31.07 million and Yongche had 10.5 million in same period. But the Didi and Uber China merger still needs the authorities' approval. The Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday it hasn't received a business declaration from Didi and Uber though both companies announced their merger on Monday. All businesses with a large scale of operations that may monopolize a market must submit a business declaration to the Ministry of Commerce, as well as wait for an antitrust investigation. Companies without such clearance will not be allowed to carry out a merger and acquisition in China. Shen Danyang, the ministry's spokesman, said as these two companies haven't submitted a business declaration to the ministry, their merger will not become effective and legal. Didi Chuxing and its previous rival Kuaidi also didn't submit business declaration to the ministry when they merged last year, according to the ministry. Didi was not available for comment on Tuesday. China to export 15 locomotives to New Zealand Updated: 2016-08-03 16:55 (Xinhua) DALIAN - A deal to export 15 locomotives made by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) to New Zealand was signed on Tuesday in China's northeastern city of Dalian, the company said. It was the fourth group of locomotives that CRRC has exported to the country, raising the total number it has exported to New Zealand to 63. The 15 high-end locomotives will have upgraded brake systems and improved energy conservation, according to CRRC Dalian Co Ltd A joint venture with investment by CRRC Dalian and a New Zealand company was set up on Tuesday to provide technical consultancy and maintenance service for locomotives in New Zealand. CRRC, formed from the merger of former rivals CNR Corporation and China CSR, has been actively bidding for contracts in overseas markets in recent years and has sold equipment to more than 100 countries and regions. Team Osan welcomed the South Carolina Air National Guard 169th Fighter Wing during their deployment as the 157th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in support of the U.S. Pacific Command Theater Security Package. TSPs on the Korean Peninsula have been vital to the Pacific Air Forces force posture since March 2004, and the deployment of the 157th EFS is no exception. They have arrived with over 300 Airmen and 12 F-16 Fighting Falcons, ready to demonstrate the commitment to always be ready to fight tonight. The deployment of the 157th EFS provides unique opportunities to integrate various forces into joint, coalition and bilateral training across diverse environments, said Lt. Col. Nicholas Johnson, Pacific Air Forces Command Operations, Plans and Requirements chief of fighter operations. The Air Force routinely deploys TSPs throughout the Korean peninsula in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. Enhancing U.S. and Korean interoperability assures shared international responsibilities to provide assistance during regional crises and allows us to build cooperation and bolster regional security interests and goals, Johnson said. The 157th EFS demonstrates the U.S. militarys contribution to the Indo-Asia-Pacific rebalance by maintaining training and operational readiness. In order to keep their F-16s flying, maintainers continually repair, inspect and improve their aircraft in their deployed environment. Were providing fully combat-capable F-16s to the fight every day, and were prepared to fight tonight if needed, said Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Shelley, 157th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit superintendent. Even though the 157th EFS has continually been proactive in their readiness response, they still have work to be done these next few weeks. This deployment underscores U.S. commitment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific rebalance in an unpredictable and uncertain region and sends a clear message to the international community that the U.S. is serious about security and stability in the region, Johnson said. -30- About $368,000 each year for eight years will be funneled to Freeland Community Schools via taxpayers after voters approved a 1-mill sinking fund renewal on Tuesday. Most voters in the district live in Saginaw County where unofficial results show 1,077 voters (65 percent) supported the measure. In Midland, there are only 11 voters in Ingersoll Township who live in the school district, but none of them cast a ballot or didnt vote on the specific issue, according to the Midland County Clerks office. Education leads way to regional cooperation Updated: 2016-08-03 07:50 By Witaya Jeradechakul(China Daily) The eighth China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week opened in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 3, 2015. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) From the first China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week in 2008 on "Working Together for a New China-ASEAN Partnership" to the this year's 9th CAECW, the developments reflect the organizing committee's efforts to build the spirit of cooperation and partnership between China and Southeast Asian nations, working around the "Triple Helix of cooperation", which begins with learning to accept and know one another, developing a sense of belonging, and seeking ways and means to contribute and share experiences to foster sustainable regional development and peace through education. The efforts reflect the truth embedded in a Confucius saying: "Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace." Crafting as well as designing the best education is an endless process. Aristotle said: "The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet," and "Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." John Dewey took the education philosophy further saying: "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." In 2014, the Southeast Asian ministers of education, with their axiom of "leading through learning," held a congress titled "Southeast Asia in Transition: Rethinking Education, Science and Culture for Regional Integration". The congress emphasized regional cooperation and networking in education to break the barriers to equity, equality and access to education; discussed strategies needed to achieve inclusive education in order to build an economic and social safety net; and proposed seven priority areas to sustain the future of education. The 9th CAECW, whose theme is "Education First, Make Dreams Come True Together", is based on the philosophy of the Chinese Book of Rites, which is focused on the vital role of education for development, and the procedure adopted for the cooperation week is "learning by doing" in action. The theme of the event is quite visionary. And considering the size of the event, the magnitude of the vision and the efforts needed to realize the vision, the real challenge will come during the follow-up period. The 9th CAECW is divided into three parts: the warm-up period from Jan 1 to July 31, the curtain-up (or the core activity) periodongoing in Southwest China's Guizhou province from Aug 1 to 7and the follow-up period from Aug 8 to Dec 31. The one-year extended period has helped the 9th CAECW to widen the opportunities for people-to-people exchanges, from university presidents, administrators, researchers, students and other stakeholders sharing their dreams to education ministers sharing their opinions at the policymakers' level. "The 2nd China-ASEAN Education Ministers Roundtable Conference" is another key meeting that might produce new forward-looking policy statements, although the challenge is to implement such policy statements. Other parts of the event offer opportunities for discussions among youths, deliberations on healthcare issues and exchange of ideas on education programs. The follow-up seminars in Southeast Asian countries are a new addition. From the perspective of education, they will be good platforms to discuss specific country-based issues after the general discussions in the main event. All in all, the 9th CAECW is yet another milestone in creating opportunities for partnerships and collaborations between China and Southeast Asian countries. We have to thank and congratulate the organizers for their tireless efforts to improve the event from year to year. And since the theme of the 9th CAECW is "Education First, Make Dreams Come True Together," the question to ask is: "What are those dreams? And how can education make those dreams come true? Hopefully, all answers will be provided at the end of the 9th CAECW. The author is director of SEAMEO Secretariat (1 April 2011-31 March 2015) and Advisor to the CAECW Organizing Committee. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate For the first time since 2012, the Midland County Board of Commissioners will have a female serving. After Tuesdays primary, Republican Jeanette Snyder and Democrat Connie Methner will vie to represent District 1 on the Midland County Board of Commissioners. The two will face each other on Nov. 8 during the general election to represent the district that includes Edenville, Geneva, Jerome and Warren townships along with the city of Coleman. Snyder won a close race over incumbent Al Kloha 346-335 while Methner defeated Heather McLaughlin 207-157. I would like to thank Al for his service and Im grateful and humbled to the voters that they have faith in me, Snyder said by email. Now we press on to November. The exuberant Methner was also looking forward to November. Hallelujah! Here we go for round two, she said. I would like to thank everybody that voted for me and feel very blessed. The last woman to serve left office in December 2012 when Rose Marie McQuaid decided not to seek reelection after serving for 32 years on the board. Should Methner win, she would also be the first Democrat to take a seat on the board since McQuaid. Tuesday, Warren Township was the first precinct to report, followed by the city of Coleman as Snyder took a slim lead over Kloha 100-92. On the Democratic side, Methner jumped out to a 37-29 lead. I got beat fair and square, Kloha said. Good luck to Jeanette. Ive enjoyed my time as commissioner and still have five more months to serve. Snyder serves as deputy treasurer in Edenville Township and easily won that precinct 119-82. She also won Warren Township 83-69 and Jerome Township, precinct 1, 29-19. Kloha, who lives in Jerome Township, took the rest of the precincts: the city of Coleman; Geneva Township; Jerome Township, precincts 2, 3 and 4, but it wasnt enough to overcome Snyders large margin in Edenville. Methner won six of the eight precincts. McLaughlin took Jerome Township, precinct 3, 19-6 and the two tied in Jerome Township, precinct 1, 22-22. I went into this with no expectations, McLaughlin said. My plan was to put myself out there and I very much appreciate the support that Ive gotten. I wish Connie the very best in November. None of the other candidates for county commissioner faced opposition in the primary. Four incumbents: Chair Mark Bone, R-2nd District; Jim Geisler, R-5th District; Eric Dorrien, R-6th District; and Scott Noesen, R-7th District, did not have any opposition in the primary, nor will they in the general election. Steve Glaser, Republican candidate for 3rd District, will also not face opposition in either election. Although they didnt have any opposition in the primary, Republican Gaye Terwillegar will face Democrat Eric Anders to represent District 4 and fill the vacant seat left by Rich Keenan, R, who chose not to seek reelection. Come November, Republicans Prosecuting Attorney J. Dee Brooks, Sheriff Scott Stephenson, County Treasurer Catherine Lunsford, Drain Commissioner Doug Enos and Register of Deeds, Julie Atkinson, along with Democrat Clerk Ann Manary, will not face opposition and are expected to be elected to office. Only 11.4 percent, or 7,387, of the 64,527 registered voters turned out in Midland County on Tuesday. A September trial date has been set in the case of a former Central Michigan University faculty member facing a federal charge in a child pornography case. The indictment against Mark Thomas Ranzenberger was filed in May in the U.S. District Court in Bay City. Ranzenberger is charged with possession of child porn involving minors under the age of 12 on March 10 in Isabella County. In a recent order, the trial in the case has been set to begin Sept. 27 before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Ludington. Ranzenberger has until Sept. 6 to make a plea in his case. An affidavit in the case states a U.S. Secret Service agent was notified in March by CMU Police of a child porn investigation involving Ranzenberger. The investigation began on March 4 when a student reported to the universitys Faculty Personnel Services that while in class, Ranzenberger accessed files from his Dropbox account which showed thumbnails of pornographic images. Found on the computer were photos that appeared to contain images of nude children in sexually suggestive poses, the affidavit states. Also found during forensic examinations of other digital media seized from Ranzenbergers Moore Hall office were numerous images of young children engaged in sexual acts, a number of Power Point presentations believed created by Ranzenberger containing photos of young girls naked and engaged in sexual acts. In total, about 1,032 images of child pornography were found. During an interview with a CMU police sergeant, Ranzenberger stated he thought he had gotten rid of all that stuff, the affidavit states. After the police investigation began, Ranzenberger a temporary faculty member was placed on leave by the university. He later resigned. Ranzenberger also served on the Mount Pleasant Planning Commission, and submitted his resignation to that body on March 21. Ranzenberger was the weekend editor at the Daily News until 1997, and was a writer and editor at the Morning Sun until 2013. Ranzenberger had worked at the university since 1999. To the editor: The consequences for the nation make our choice very clear. The stark contrast between the Republican and Democratic conventions could not have been greater. Republicans painted a dark picture of our nation. They claimed we are suffering from eight years of the worst possible presidency, ignoring the mess they handed the Obama administration and their full-blown obstruction of anything he proposed, including things they themselves had once championed. The Democrats claimed eight years of one of the best presidencies in the history of the nation, and then vowed in detail how we together can build on that legacy and do even better. Republicans featured a singular figure who enthused the most divisive, hateful and backward-looking elements of our nation with undocumented promises to make America great again. They want us to choose a man whose mantra is Trust me but has proven in marriage, business and legal contracts to be anything but trustworthy and is currently under indictment for fraud. Democrats insisted that this nation is already great, citing the hard work of recovering from the 2008 recession. They also laid out in detail how working together we can build on that momentum and make matters even better for every person and the good of the whole nation and planet. They want us to choose a highly qualified public servant who has been steadfast through numerous attempts to smear her name and pin, to no avail, some felonious activity on her; one who is attested by those who know her as a person of faith, integrity and compassion for all persons, especially the forgotten and neglected elements of society. The fractures between the Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton forces found enough common ground to come together in a believable fashion for most. Hillary listened to and moved quite openly toward the more progressive policies of Bernie. The Sanders forces made considerable headway in the joint Democratic platform to establish a home for themselves in that party. The Sanders political revolution is not over in the Democratic party nor in the nation as a whole. The immediate next step toward accomplishing the aims of that movement in addressing the very real and unprecedented challenges that we face as nation and earth community is electing Hillary Clinton to the presidency. This is not easily seen by every Bernie supporter, but it is seen by Sanders himself and the vast majority of his supporters. That is a strong preference to allowing Donald Trump to take over of the Oval Office. All these themes were colorfully grounded in seven of the best speeches ever given in a Democratic presidential convention. Listing them in the order they were given: Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, Tim Kaine, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. If you missed any of these talks, it is worth your time to find them and hear, see and feel them for yourself. This magnificent seven were only the first-string players; the bench was also strong. Several dozen other presentations were also stellar events. The fractures in the Republican party did not come together in any convincing fashion. What did come together and get clearly projected was so illusory and so mean-spirited that many Republican moderates stayed home. Some of the most prominent moderate Republicans have withheld or withdrawn their endorsement of Donald Trump and have openly declared that they were voting for Hillary Clinton. This includes the ex-mayor of New York City, billionaire Michael Bloomburg, who even addressed the Democratic convention. It is hard to paint the condition of the Republican party in terms that are grim enough to be true. Robert Reich has done his best in an article that has been prominently featured on Facebook: The Republican convention of 2016 is a Star Wars barroom of conspiracy nuts, white supremacists, nativists, Birthers, gun crackpots, paranoids, anti-science fruitcakes, old-time Hillary haters, gonzo isolationists, anti-Semites, homophobes, Latinophobes, misogynists and other known-things who have spent their lives on the fringes of the Republican Party, and have now taken it over. Ohio Governor John Kasich, the presidents Bush and other sane Republican politicians are wisely staying away from the festivities in Cleveland, but it doesnt matter. The Party is no longer theirs. Its under the control of people who have learned everything they know from the darkest regions of the Internet, hate radio and Fox News. It serves the GOP right. Its been bottom-feeding on all this for years ... The inmates have taken over the asylum that the GOP used to run. Reports have suggested that Trump micromanaged the Republican convention. Since it bombed so badly in TV ratings, Trump is blaming others and claiming he just showed up for his acceptance speech. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton certainly had a hand in shaping the well-orchestrated Democratic convention but trusted many others to creatively add their bit of color and sound to the overall positive and hopeful appeal to more than Democratic insiders. If the conventions and their respective emphasis, vision, tone and mood are any indication, the question is, which candidate do you want guiding and orchestrating the affairs of this complex and diverse America for the next four years? I hope that, like me, the choice could not be clearer. Im With Her. THE REV. DR. HAROLD J. SLATER Midland Tokyo's white paper on defense policy 'full of lies' Updated: 2016-08-03 01:34 By AN BAIJIE, CAI HONG(China Daily) China firmly opposes and is strongly dissatisfied with a Japanese defense white paper that is "full of lies", Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Tuesday. The report, approved by the Japanese Cabinet, plays up the South China Sea and East China Sea issues in a groundless manner and attempts to stir up trouble behind the scenes, from which Japan seeks to benefit, Wu said. He accused Japan of unilaterally changing the status quo by illegitimately "purchasing" China's Diaoyu Islands in 2012, enhancing military deployment targeting China, and passing a new security bill to end constitutional constraints on collective self-defense. Japan is attempting to make excuses for its adjustment of military and security policy, military expansion and even amending the Constitution, which should trigger great concern among the international community, he added. The 484-page white paper allocates several more pages to each country, including China and Russia, than the previous report. It devotes more words to China than other regional powers such as Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It also describes China's reclamation work in the South China Sea as a "provocation". "China is carrying out reforms to the People's Liberation Army, which some see as being the largest in the country's history," the report says. "Recently, the reforms have taken place at a rapid pace." Lyu Yaodong, director of the Foreign Policy Researcher Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Japanese Studies, said Japan has exaggerated China's maritime threat in recent years, and its real aim is to make excuses for its military expansion. The Asahi newspaper reported on Tuesday that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will make 57-year-old Tomomi Inada, currently his ruling party's policy chief, defense minister in a Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday. A close ally of Abe, she regularly visits Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which honors convicted war criminals. Lyu said the reported nomination of Inada shows Abe's hard-line stance on defense. "It is expected that Inada will play hardball in Japan's various territorial conflicts with surrounding countries including China," he said. Wang Ping, a senior researcher of Japanese studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Abe is trying to push Japan to become a military power, and nominating a right-wing politician is part of his efforts. Contact the writers at caihong@chinadaily.com.cn Donald Trump is a Whirling Dervish of Stupidity By Dustin Rowles | Politics | August 2, 2016 | Id decided this morning, after Brians brilliantly written but terrifying piece on a Trump rally in Pennsyltucky, to swear off Trump for the rest of the day, but when things go horribly horribly wrong for the guy, I cant help myself. Its too much fun (that said, the photo above is Tyler Clinton, Hillarys super-hot nephew, because I couldnt bear the thought of another image of Trump on the page). Its been a trainwreck of a day for the Republican nominee, and it would take too long to cover the entire 24 hours of mistakes, gaffes, and blows to his campaign (including a statement from President Obama calling Trump unfit to be President followed by an unhinged response). Here are just a few of the more amusingly insane gaffes: After holding that rally in Harrisburg last night, he travelled to a rally in Virginia today and told the crowd that Harrisburg looked like a war zone. Guess who didnt care for that characterization? HARRISBURG. So much for winning Pennsylvania in the fall. Donald Trump booted a baby from a rally. HE BOOTED A BABY FROM A RALLY. From Politico: Dont worry about that baby. I love babies, Trump said after hearing the baby crying during an aside about the trade imbalance. Dont worry about it. I love babies. I hear that baby crying, I like it. What a baby. What a beautiful baby. Dont worry, dont worry. The moms running around likedont worry about it, you know. Its young and beautiful and healthy and thats what we want. Trump then returned to his non-baby-related remarks, only to hear the baby make more noise. They have ripped us to shreds, ripped us absolutely to shreds, Trump said of China, before turning back to the woman with the child. Actually, I was only kidding, you can get the baby out of here, the Republican nominee said to laughter and applause. Thats all right. Dont worry. I, I think she really believed me that I love having a baby crying while Im speaking. Thats OK. People dont understand. Thats OK. Donald Trump accepted what he thought was an actual Purple Heart from a veteran (it was a copy. Trump thought it was real. It was not.) And then he said, I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier. I dont know if Donald Trump knows that the only way to get a Purple Heart is to be wounded or killed in action, but a Purple Heart is definitely something no one would actually want. Also, Trump got 5 deferments from military service during the Vietnam War, one for bone spurs in his feet that he clearly never had. Trump is an actual idiot. He held a press conference to mock a fire marshal for preventing too many people from cramming into a room for one of his rallies, suggesting that the fire marshal who was only doing his job was a politically motivated Democrat. Following the fire code is apparently politics at its lowest. He similarly chastised a fire marshal last Friday for enforcing the fire code, calling him a Hillary supporter. Entire trump gaggle just now pic.twitter.com/E76oadIoiq Nick Corasaniti (@NYTnickc) August 1, 2016 Despite all of this, somehow Nate Silver only gives Hillary a 68 percent chance of winning in the fall. The world is upside down. Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba. 5 Shows After Dark: A Dramatic Interpretation of Wonder Bread | Sesame Street Is Doing Major Damage Control After Realizing Fans Actually Care About Humans Sometimes Connie Reiners was swiveling into a parking place at Hy-Vee, the grocery store in Bloomington, when she noticed the car next to her had a faded "Humphrey" sticker in one corner of the back window and a "Nixon" sticker up in the other. "Either the adhesive on those stickers is r-e-a-l-l-y industrial," mused Connie, "or they just don't care for the 2016 slate of candidates." Then Connie noticed: "The car was electric and plugged into recharging station at Hy-Vee. So I'm guessing it was the latter." Yes. And also get a load of this ... We have two presidential candidates, both of whom have big detractors, even within their own parties. Racial tension is explosively high. There's a war without an end in sight. Gunfire has cut down too many. There's a huge push for tighter gun controls. Technology has become fully amazing. And we are referring, of course, to the year 1968. Are you old enough to remember? In the summer of 68, as the car at Hy-Vee declared, it was Richard Nixon vs. Hubert Humphrey in the presidential "race" in which Americans groaned at the choice. Vietnam, like ISIS today, had escalated into a war that for the first time Americans realized we might not be able to win. At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, U.S. track stars and medal winners, John Carlos and Tommie Smith, raised their fists on the victory podium in a symbolic "Black Power" salute as tensions of race seethed. In April 1968, Martin Luther King Jr., was gunned down by an assassin. On that night, Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy arrived in Indianapolis on a campaign stop and urged the crowd against bitterness, hatred or revenge and called upon them to embrace King's message of love, wisdom and compassion. And then two months later, Kennedy himself was felled by gunfire, too. In 1968, blacks were so profiled that Congress adopted the Civil Rights Act of 1968 that prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, sex and national origin. In 1968, gun violence had become such a problem, President Lyndon Johnson successfully saw passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, the first such sweeping legislation since the U.S. Constitution. Opponents were so opposed, a bumper sticker was created -- "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns" -- and it instantly became an anthem. On TV, on an episode of "Star Trek" airing Nov. 22, 1968, William Shatner (as Captain Kirk) and Nichelle Nichols (as Lt. Uhura) kissed -- the first interracial kiss in television history and the next night, according to a Wikipedia recap, Walter Cronkite on the "CBS Evening News" shook his head and smiled. "The times, they are truly changing," said Cronkite, amused but a bit aghast, before signing off with his signature, "And that's the way it is ... Nov. 23, 1968 ..." Way back then, 1968 became, as the title of Mark Kurlansky's best-selling book evolved: "1968: The Year That Rocked the World." By December 1968, we also had become amazed by technology, we watched live, albeit highly grainy, televised pictures of American astronauts circling the moon, reading Scripture on Christmas Eve from 238,900 miles away. Historians in fact, now suggest that 1968 was perhaps the most pivotal year in the entire 20th century. And now? It appears we are there again ... in an almost eerie sense, confronting the exact same scenarios and in a fully different time. The good news? If nothing else, now 48 years beyond, we obviously survived 1968, eventually settled Vietnam, watched Nixon be elected, developed a cynicism of government in his Waterloo at Watergate and then moved into an amazing age of further technology and ingenuity that is today. The ideals of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. -- to overcome bitterness, hatred or revenge and embrace love, wisdom and compassion -- are still being absorbed, by new generations now. As pundit Will Rogers once said, "Change comes fast; it's acceptance that's slow." If 1968 is an identical twin to 2016, a positive then might be that good times are ahead, as they were in the free-love 70s, the expansive 80s and the money-making 90s. As a friend put it the other day on Facebook: "If the world is indeed feeling very 1968 these days and history repeats, I guess we can at least expect some great music soon." And life, as we know it -- and also don't yet know it -- will go on. As Walter said way back on more than one night in 1968, "And that's the way it is ..." PIPE, Wis. Wisconsin has long been as one of the nation's leaders in cow dairies, farm after pastoral farm tucked into the state's rolling hills. It's earning another milk laurel in the face of increasing demand for goat cheese and milk: the most dairy goats in the U.S. That distinction will only stand to increase when two of the largest goat dairies in the world soon begin operating in northeast Wisconsin. It's something Larry and Clara Hedrich didn't expect when they started raising dairy goats in the 1970s as a hobby. They now milk 800 dairy goats, make award-winning cheese from cow, sheep and goat milk and boast enough capacity to process triple what they currently do. "We're competing in our farm here in Pipe, Wis., with the world," Larry Hedrich said. The growth in Wisconsin as well as California, which is No. 2 in goat- and sheep-milk sales is due to both existing infrastructure and growing appreciation for goat milk in the U.S. Chefs are using it more frequently, consumers are seeking out its unique taste and growing immigrant populations from places like East Africa and Latin America are looking for the familiar products, according to Norm Monsen, dairy economic development consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. But there's a lack of research and goat-specific products, like medicine or feed, which can be problematic for farmers who are turning to the emerging market. Goat milk in the U.S. is used mostly for cheese, retail sales of which reached $142 million this year, up 8 percent from $131 million in 2015, according to the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. The quality of Wisconsin's goat milk products is on the rise, too, occasionally winning awards over cheese made from cow's milk. "There's been nowhere near the amount of milk produced as is needed," Hedrich said, noting that some cheesemakers ship in frozen curds from Europe and import raw milk from Canada to fill the gap. "Our plant has been running starved for milk since we opened." Wisconsin farmers have been trying to catch up. There are 267 licensed goat farms more than double from 2004, when there were 126, state agriculture officials said. And the dairy goat herd has increased 70 percent since 2002, from 25,900 to 44,000. Wisconsin had almost $12.9 million in sales of goat and sheep milk in 2012, the most recent statistic available. California's 39,000 goats trail only Wisconsin, and it had the second-highest sales of sheep and goat milk in 2012, at $12 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "The market is growing by leaps and bounds," said Vicki Tonn, president of the Wisconsin Dairy Goat Association. "I can't see it reversing. I can't see there being a surplus." But whereas cow dairies have extensive research and lots of university experts to offer advice, there's not a single person at the University of Wisconsin who's dedicated to dairy goats. The lack of research can lead to greater obstacles for farmers when their goats fall ill or they want to expand or try a new practice. It also means goat dairies largely face the same regulations as cow dairies, even though they're different animals. "I think it's really a shame," said Dave Thomas, an animal sciences professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who focuses on dairy sheep. "The dairy goat industry is large enough in the state to deserve some research and outreach expertise, but there is none." Some hope the advent of the two large dairies in northeastern Wisconsin will change that by encouraging more research and providing a model for others to follow. Both are being started by leaders in cow dairies an industry with a strong lobbying presence in the state Capitol. "They carry a voice that's still bigger than the goat world," Hedrich said. The Drumlin Dairy, which could open next year, plans to have about 9,000 goats. The other farm, Chilton Dairy, is being converted to house goats by Milk Source, a cow dairy producer. Spokesman Bill Harke said there are 1,500 goats already at the site, with 900 of them milking. He said it could expand to 7,600 goats, about 6,500 of them milking. "This is our first goat farm, so we're taking it a step at a time," Harke said. "We don't want to rush anything." Monsen said it's hard to say whether the larger dairies will become the industry standard, but that there will likely be room for a range of sizes. Foodbank to host Foodmobile Aug. 27 CHENOA Eastern Illinois Foodbank will distribute food through its Foodmobile program from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 27 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Chenoa. Food is available for all McLean County residents meeting income eligibility criteria. Families may bring bags and boxes to carry food. Businesses and organizations may partner on a Foodmobile distribution for $3,000. Visit www.eifoodbank.org and click Find Help or call 217-328-3663 for other information. 'Safe Ride' tickets available at fair LINCOLN "Safe Ride" tickets will be available at the Logan County Fair on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available from bartenders in the beer tent, entitling riders to a free cab ride home within city limits. The release of hacked DNC emails was strategically timed to disrupt the Democratic convention and specifically to undermine support for Clinton. Russian governmental agencies appear to be the sources of the hacks. Clintons campaign computers were also hacked, again apparently by the Russians. No cyberattacks have been reported by the GOP or Trumps campaign. Why are these Russian cyber-attacks aimed solely at Clinton? Trump has questioned the U.S.' NATO alliance pledge to come to the aide of other NATO countries should Russia attack them. Trump has called Putin a strong leader whom he would get along with very well. He has also expressed a lack of interest in the Russian military domination of the Ukraine. SPRINGFIELD Supporters of changing the way Illinois legislative districts are drawn are arguing before the states high court that voters should be allowed to have their say in the Nov. 8 election, despite a lower court ruling blocking a referendum from appearing on the ballot. A Cook County judge ruled last month that the groups proposal, which would take the power to draw district boundaries out of the hands of lawmakers and give it to an independent commission, goes beyond making structural and procedural changes to the General Assembly. Thats the limit set forth in the 1970 Illinois Constitution for voter-driven initiatives. But in a 50-page brief filed with the Illinois Supreme Court, Independent Maps argues the drafters of the Constitution intended for voters to be able to address the once-a-decade process of redrawing state House and Senate districts through petition initiatives. The language of the Illinois Constitution and legislative history of the convention debates are indisputable, Dennis FitzSimons, chairman of Independent Maps and former CEO of the Tribune Co., said in a statement, adding the "Independent Map Amendment is exactly what the men and women who wrote the constitution had in mind when they granted Illinoisans this power. The filing cites specific mentions of legislative redistricting during the drafting of the Constitution to bolster its argument. For example, the group notes that one delegate, arguing in favor of allowing voter-driven initiatives to make changes to the Legislature, said, We could hardly expect the legislature ever to propose a Constitutional amendment to establish a reapportionment commission comprised entirely of nonlegislative members. In her ruling, Cook County Circuit Judge Diane Larsen found the proposed amendment would go beyond making structural and procedural changes to the General Assembly because it would assign new duties to the courts and the state auditor general and take powers away from the Illinois attorney general. The amendments supporters reject those conclusions because they believe all those changes have to do with the process of legislative redistricting. To support their argument, they cite a previous ruling from another Cook County judge in a 2014 redistricting case. While she also blocked a proposed referendum from the ballot, Circuit Judge Mary Mikva found that similar changes were within the allowed scope. The major issue Mikva found with the previous effort was a provision barring redistricting commission members from serving in the General Assembly or several other offices for 10 years afterward. A coalition of two dozen civic and business organizations, including the Illinois League of Women Voters, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Better Government Association, also submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in favor allowing the referendum to appear on the ballot. The Peoples Map, the group that sued to block the ballot measure, has until Thursday to file a brief with the Supreme Court laying out its arguments. Bethany Krajelis, a spokeswoman for the high court, said it has not been determined whether the justices will hear oral arguments in the case. The Illinois State Board of Elections has until Aug. 26 to certify the ballot for the November election. Globally Traded Hardwood Chip Prices Fell to Record Low in May 2016, While Softwood Chip Prices Moved Up Aug. 3, 2016 - The general price trend for hardwood chip traded overseas have been downward since late 2011 when the FOEX price index reached a record high. The softwood chip price index has also fallen from a peak almost five years ago, but the price decline has been less dramatic. Global trade of hardwood chips have trended upward for six years and totaled almost 24 million tons in 2015. By far, the two largest wood chip-importing markets are Japan and China, both countries with limited forest resources to supply the pulp industry with sufficient wood fiber. The general price trend for hardwood chip traded overseas have been downward since late 2011 when the FOEX price index (PIX-HCG) reached a record high of almost $207/odmt. In May of this year this Index was $167.29, representing a 19.1% decline in 4 years. Some of the biggest price declines the past 12 months have been for hardwood chips shipped from Australia to China, from South Africa to Japan, and from Uruguay to Portugal. The FOEX softwood chip price index (PIX-SCG) has also fallen from a peak almost five years ago, but the price decline has been less dramatic than that of hardwood chips. During 2016, the SCG index has actually increased to reach $165.55/odmt in May, which was the highest level in seven months. The major price increase so far this year has been for softwood chips exported from the US to Turkey. A majority of global softwood chip trade is in Europe, as opposed to the hardwood chip trade, which is concentrated to Asia. About the PIX wood chip prices indices FOEX and Wood Resources International (WRI) have cooperatively launched two wood chip price indices, the Softwood Chip Global (SCG) and Hardwood Chip Global (HCG), both part of the PIX index family of FOEX. The Indices represent prices (CIF) for wood chips that are traded globally overseas for the manufacturing of wood pulp and wood-based panels. About FOEX Indexes Ltd FOEX Indexes Ltd is a private, independent company which specializes in providing audited, trade-mark registered price indices for pulp, paper, recovered paper, biomass and wood chips. Wood Resources International LLC, an internationally recognized forest industry-consulting firm, publishes two quarterly timber and pulpwood price reports. To learn more, please visit: www.woodprices.com. SOURCE: Wood Resources International LLC The making of the upcoming sequel "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 is still on pause because of the current improvement of the franchise's live-action film, but stories about the next season of the anime have spawned much controversies. Within these hearsays, rumors still continue to show that there will be "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3. Hence, news has lately shown that the Studio Pierrot is presently focusing on a more manga-centric variation before releasing the third season of the anime segment. The recent last months, According to a former post from the Christian Times, the manga has been shaping up for what could the capstone of the franchise, as protagonist Kaneki Ken, who is now known as Haise Sasaki, battled his mentor, the seemingly unbeatable Arima in the rumored return of "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3. Based on the report given by Movie News Guide, "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 would be more into a profound ride, as the tale of Kaneki Ken goes full circle with his rivalry with the boldest ghoul investigator. If any, ending Season 3 with their rivalry would make the third season as one of the finest variation for the segment. With this new conflict emerging right after the rivalry between Kaneki and Arima, the plot of "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 would precisely widen some more. With this story said, it is quite enough safe to tell that there would presumably be more than enough material and equipment to warrant yet another season of the anime. This would only be possible if Studio Pierrot will accept to the franchises followers and stick close to the story of the manga. If the anime studio decides to pull a Naruto Shippuden instead, then Ken's fans would have to muster a whole lot of patience as they await "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 and its return. After winning Miss Teen USA 2016, Karlie Hay, who represented Texas in the pageant, has earned criticism online after her tweets with allegedly racist content went viral. Hay was crowned the winner in the competition that drew 51 participants, one from each state and the District of Columbia, on July 30 with Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan and Cody Johns hosting. The tweets from the new Miss Teen USA 2016 are now private but a predecessor, 2010 winner Kamie Crawford, has asked what everybody was thinking: why didn't Karlie Hay do it as soon as she won? "If u win any pageant - first things first. Clean up ur page. Cus if ur under 21 u shouldn't b drinking&if ur WHITE the n word ain't yo word!" If u win any pageant - first things first. Clean up ur page. Cus if ur under 21 u shouldn't b drinking&if ur WHITE the n word ain't yo word! Kamie Crawford (@TheRealKamie) July 31, 2016 For her part, the new Miss Teen USA 2016 winner posted an apology on her official Twitter account, saying that she understands her wrongs and she was in a different place then, Vanity Fair reported. "Several years ago, I had many personal struggles and found myself in a place that is not representative of who I am as a person...," she wrote. Wow how can we choose from such a diverse bunch https://t.co/0a4JHbP465 christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) July 31, 2016 The Miss Teen USA 2016 pageant also earned criticism from model/host Chrissy Teigen after the top five candidates consisted of white, blond young women. "Wow how can we choose from such a diverse bunch," she tweeted before moved on to other things to avoid inciting more drama. Several years ago, I had many personal struggles and found myself in a place that is not representative of who I am as a person... Karlie Hay (@RealMissTXteen) July 31, 2016 The Miss Universe Organization, which owns Miss Teen USA 2016, still has not issued a comment on the issue, CNN reported. It could be because the organization's head honchos are busy preparing the logistics for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines. What do you think of the past tweets of the current Miss Teen USA 2016? Do you think she meant her apology? Let us know in the comments below. Meanwhile, watch the entire Miss Teen USA 2016 pageant in the video below. One of the problems that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics) education is facing is gender gap. That's why, Stanford has intensified its campaign in encouraging young girls and underrepresented minorities to explore and be interested in STEM-related fields. As Stanford University president John Hennessy retires from the academe this August after almost 40 years of service, he will be taking a new role starting this fall as the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program inaugural director. The program is reportedly a $750 million grant launched by Stanford University to fund 100 students, who have the "potential for leadership and civic commitment," annually for three years. Prior to Hennessey's retirement, however, he was asked to share his views on STEM education. In the interview, Hennessey stressed the need for universities to step up their efforts when it comes to STEM education by opening its doors to women and minorities. Hennessey also added that STEM education in the United States is still plagued with several challenges. In fact, Hennessey highlighted the fact that K-12 education lacks the "quality to prepare students in science, engineering, math or physics." "People coming out of high school don't know what engineering is in many cases," Hennessey told EE Times. "Technology is not an end-all but it's part of a broader solution. We will continue to face a teacher shortage in advanced math and tech fields. So we can use technology to accelerate advanced students and support those struggling with material when a teacher can't always give individual attention." With that said, why is there really a need for America to support STEM education? Due to the undeniable rise of technology, eGovinnovation emphasized that future jobs will have a "greater demand" for STEM skills hence making STEM education as an progressively significant factor for the labor sector in the 21st century, with increasing STEM graduates projected between now and 2030. STEM education in the United States, however, is also facing several challenges. Aside from gender gap, educational institutions are also failing to "attract and educate a sufficient number of young scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians" despite the fact that the demand for STEM-skilled workers is rapidly increasing, Townhall noted. Meanwhile, in order to effectively support and implement STEM education, FOX News outlined three key areas to "make things better" for STEM educators. These are: providing teachers with the right support, improving recruitment and reputation, and lastly, increasing the focus of STEM-related curricula on engineering and computer science. Do you believe that the United States should amplify its efforts in supporting STEM education? Share your thoughts below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. "The Bachelorette" 2016 final rose ceremony revealed the man JoJo Fletcher has chosen out of a roster of single men from the ABC dating show. While the engaged couple looked pretty happy coming out of their shell after months of keeping their relationship from the public, a recent report suggests that the couple has split and is only pretending to be together for the sake of publicity. This article contains spoilers. Read on if you want to learn more about the details of this story. "The Bachelorette" 2016 JoJo Fletcher picked Jordan Rodgers as her Season 12 winner and fiance despite her family's suggestion to choose Robby Hayes instead. The Hollywood Reporter notes that Hayes aired out his frustration and disappointment when Fletcher told him that he was not the man for her. "You said a lot of things that made me feel like it should have been us," he told her. Fletcher told Hayes that the connection she had with the "The Bachelorette" Season 12 winner was something that she could not "imagine saying goodbye" to. Right after the final rose ceremony aired, Fletcher and Rodgers appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." During their first show together, "The Bachelorette" 2016 couple admitted that it was hard for them to hide from the public. Fletcher and Rodgers admit that they both had to meet up in safe houses until the ABC reality series came to an end. With regards to their wedding plans, "The Bachelorette" Season 12 couple JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers admit that they still do not have any definite plans during an interview with ABC News. Fletcher and Rodgers said that they are thinking of doing a 2017 wedding. The hesitancy to get married made a lot of fans wonder whether the rumors about Fletcher and "The Bachelorette" 2016 winner were true. There have been reports that Fletcher and Rodgers were simply pretending that they are a couple for the sake of publicity. Do you think "The Bachelorette" 2016 JoJo Fletcher and Season 12 winner Jordan Rodgers are a great couple? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! Donald Trump is picking on one fight after another. This time the Republican presidential nominee is drawing public ire from a recent confrontation against the parents of a Muslim American soldier who got killed on duty in Iraq. The verbal exchange started when Khizr Khan and his wife spoke in the Democratic National Convention (DNC) held last week when the father of slain army captain, Humayun Khan, criticized Donald Trump's anti-Muslim policies. Trump then responded that Khan has no right to accuse him of not knowing the constitution and suggested that Ghazala Khan, the wife appeared to be silent during the DNC because of her religion (via The New York Times). As per CNN, Trump took the dispute to Twitter, saying "Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same - Nice!" In another tweet, he says "This story is not about Mr. Khan, who is all over the place doing interviews, but rather RADICAL ISLAMIC terrorism and the U.S. Get smart!" But instead of turning the the tables in favor for him, Trump has suffered a decrease in poll results, according to The Telegraph. Trump is now behind the Democrat presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton by nine points. As per Independent, the Khans are private people who do not belong to any politcal party. They simply graced the DNC to pay tribute to their fallen son who was killed in 2004 by a suicide bomb. Last Saturday, Trump released a written statement that acknowledged Khan's son as a hero who deserves to be honored. The real problem, according to the GOP presidential nominee, are the radical Islamic terrorists who killed Khan's son and their efforts to enter the U.S. and cause harm, as reported by Independent. Khan dismissed Trump's words and labeled it as "faked empathy." He says, "That proves that this person is void of empathy. He is unfit for the stewardship of this great country. You think he will empathize with this country, with the suffering of this countrys poor people? He showed his true colors when he disrespected this countrys most honorable mother all the snake oil he is selling, and my patriotic, decent Americans are falling for that." Obama and some Republicans including John McCain and House Speaker Paul Ryan are not siding with Trump. His divisive politics has also urged his own party to be torn if they are for or against the kind of leadership that Trump offers (via CNN). Regardless if you're a Republican or Democrat, which side are you on? Do you agree that Trump was "viciously attacked" by the parents of the slain Muslim-American soldier; or do you think that Khan is right and Trump is divisive and lacks empathy needed to be a good leader? Comment your thoughts below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. Tons of followers are now eager for the forthcoming release of "Marco Polo" Season 3. Fresh stories are saying that the looming season will pursue a seductive and darker plot line, making the sequel a must-watch show if ever it returns. It has even been presumed that "Marco Polo" Season 3 is showing up more casualties, bed scenes and rivalries when it airs, as formerly relayed by Parent Herald. Rumors and claims have even revealed the upcoming Netflix sequel would bode bad days. Given the fact, it has been projected that John Prester would be the dominant character when "Marco Polo" Season 3 airs. Also, it is presumed that the followers would see peril inflict Kublai Khan. Some have even presumed that the backdrop biography of John Prester would be an attractive point for the next season. It appears that the story of John Prester has led uncounted wealth chasers to determine the prosperity of his kingdom. Should this story be involved in the next installment, "Marco Polo" Season 3 would be deemed as an interesting and informative segment. The deepest scars are the ones you cant see. pic.twitter.com/RXSITOr3Cb Marco Polo (@MarcoPoloMP) August 2, 2016 Meanwhile, GamenGuide has recently stated that "Marco Polo" Season 3 might not be forced enough because of its drop rates on season 2. News is saying that the second season failed to attain the expectation of the fans making it less successful prior to season 1. Another thing that hinders the push of "Marco Polo" Season 3 is the much low budget allocation for Netflix sequel. It is undeniably true that the show has the record of most expensive productive cost in the history of television STARZ has sold the sequel to Netflix for a staggering value of millions. However, there have not been any public announcements from the management regarding with this issues and on whether "Marco Polo" Season 3 would come out in 2017. "Half Life" fans have been clamoring for the next installment of the franchise. According to reports, "Half Life 3" is not coming at all but many are still hoping that it will. Reports have it that Valve will release "Half Life 3" in 2018 to celebrate the franchise's 20th anniversary. Parent Herald previously reported that "Half Life 3" is not coming anymore. Fans have been waiting for the title for over a decade but Valve is mum about their progress. In addition, the developers did not confirm about their plans for "Half Life's" future. In a separate report from Parent Herald, some sources claim that "Half Life 3" will be available by 2018 with full VR support. "Half Life" fans are firm in their belief that the anticipated title will return someday. For "Half Life" fans who are still hoping for the third installment of the franchise, you might see "Half Life 3" in two years. According to Tech Report, the buzz about "Half Life 3" getting a 2018 release is getting louder. Many are confident that Valve will release it in the said year because it will mark "Half Life's" 20th anniversary. By then "Half Life" is already two decades and the wait for its third iteration took over a decade. The wait might be worth it because per Master Herald, the developers have already talked with Taiwan-tech giant HTC to develop their game in HTC Vive for a virtual reality experience. Although a VR "Half Life 3" is appealing not everyone is sold on the idea. Ken Birdwell told WCCFtech earlier that they are still working on it and explained that putting all the actions of "Half Life" in VR will fatigue the players in just a few minutes. "How do we pull the player through this immersion? If players actually did all of the actions from Half-Life in VR, they'd be fatigued in five minutes. It doesn't mean we can't use that fiction; we just have to figure out a new way to approach it," Birdwell said. Are you still hoping to see "Half Life 3" in 2018? With Ken Birdwell's statement are you still hopeful for a VR "Half Life 3?" Share your thoughts in the comment section below. In the Monday finale of "The Bachelorette," fans were able to witness that JoJo Fletcher chose Jordan Rodgers and they have been doing different interviews since it has been revealed that she has picked the man to complete her happily ever after. The couple appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and they talked about living together and other reports talked about the sparkler that he gave her when he asked Fletcher to marry him. The 25-year-old Dallas native and 27-year-old soon-to-be husband gave their first official interview as an engaged couple after she broke the heard of Robby Hayes. The brunette beauty told Kimmel that she decided that since they were starting a new life together, they should get a new house. Rodgers chimed in telling Kimmel that the former "The Bachelorette" contestant looking for a home is more on the digital side rather than visiting the homes in person. Rodger said that they are trying to make a big decision but he is getting little photos on his phone and he cannot tell if he likes the property noting that it has been difficult for him, E! News reported. Despite all the troubles that the two have gone through finding the perfect home, "The Bachelorette" couple was able to find a home for them in Dallas. Rodgers said that they had to bring his bed. He joked that he loves Fletcher but he also loves his bed. During their visit on "The Jimmy Kimmel Live," the host asked them to play "Fiance My Name" game, which is about questions that the partners have to answer to see how well they know each other. Watch the video below to know more about how it went. As for the ring of Fletcher, the former "The Bachelorette" suitor reportedly spent a hefty amount of money for his lady love. The ring is said to be from Neil Lane and a source close to Fletcher said that the sparkler is as big as and as bright as her statement and smile. The insider added, "Jordan selected an oval-shaped, 3.5 karat ring set in platinum. You can see watching the finale how Jordan gravitated towards the larger stone." The ring reportedly cost $70,000 to $80,000. Alienware has given Australian gamers something to be excited about, as the best PC gaming hardware manufacturer launches a high-end gaming and virtual reality lounge in Chatswood, Sydney, called Alienware Live AU. Known as the leader in PC gaming hardware, Alienware ties up with Chatswood internet cafe, City Hunter, for the brand new gaming space. Alienware Live AU features high-end PCs, loaded with the latest releases in games, along with an area dedicated solely for virtual reality space. According to GameSpot, Alienware Live AU will have their full arsenal of top of the line laptops available, including selections of Area 51, Aurora, and Alpha. The gaming venue also features two Alienware PCs for the virtual reality space, equipped with the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift in separate areas. Both VR spaces will be running on 43-inch 4K monitors from Dell. City Hunter co-founder Jun Zhong says of the state of the art gaming space that Alienware Live AU will be the perfect place for our community to come and experience the latest gaming hardware in a first-class venue, complete with the newest games like Overwatch, Doom and high-end VR experiences." Alienware took to Twitter, to promote the launch of Alienware Live AU, where gamers could win tickets to the event with their "#PushYourLimits" campaign, encouraging fans to tweet how they push their gaming limits. Winners will not only get passes to the event along with airfare and accommodation but will also receive official Alienware merchandise. Tell us how you #PushYourLimits to win an Alienware 15 and tickets to our #AlienwareLiveAU launch at City Hunter. pic.twitter.com/5QTmuGCpLB Alienware Australia (@AlienwareOz) August 3, 2016 Ben Jackson, General Manager at Alienware, also voiced his excitement for the new Alienware project saying "Alienware Live AU is a great way for our fans to experience the latest Alienware hardware, provide a premium PC gaming experience for the City Hunter community, and play some games in a fully immersive environment!" Alienware Live AU will launch on Aug. 18, 2016 in Chatswood, Sydney. Eva Mendes rarely talks about her personal life but in the latest issue of Latina magazine, the actress opened up about having to lose her brother and welcoming her second daughter with Ryan Gosling during the same week. The actress regarded the happening as both heartbreaking and beautiful. Mendes broke her silence in the interview about what she went through during the death of her brother, Carlos, and the birth of her now-three-month-old Amada. The 42-year-old said that her family helped her get through it adding, "Losing my brother brought our family closer, and we were already close to begin with." Carlos lost his battle to cancer at the age of 53 last April 17. She added that seeing everybody there for one another made her feel lucky to have such a close-knit family. Amada was born 12 days after the death of Mendes' brother and she said that they had a funeral service for Carlos the same week that she and Gosling welcomed their second daughter. She noted, "It was really, really intense and obviously beyond heartbreaking, but also kind of beautiful." However, Mendes revealed that she was not able to grieve properly yet as she has a two-year-old, named Esmeralda, and a three-month-old. She said that as of now, it is about surviving the nights and trying to enjoy the time that she has with them. Mendes also said that she is starting to form a bond between Esmeralda and Amada, E! News reported. Mendes also told Latina magazine that the names of her two daughters came from her family. Her grandmother's name is Amada while Esmeralda is the name of her oldest sister. She pointed out that Latinas reuse names all the time so she and Gosling went with Amada for their second daughter. More on their children, Mendes and Gosling plan to raise their daughters to be bilingual. She said that she constantly plays Cuban music and she speaks to them in Spanish. The full interview of Mendes will be out on newsstands on August 9 for the September issue of Latina. Uh-oh! Are Kate Middleton and Prince Harry feuding? Well, latest reports claimed that the 34-year-old Duchess of Cambridge was shocked and jealous after learning that Prince Harry has been protecting her archenemy, Camilla Parker-Bowles. Several royal watchers have previously claimed that Kate Middleton and Camilla Parker-Bowles do not get along well. That's why, it's really not surprising to learn that Duchess Kate got livid, causing a major tension between her relationship with Prince Harry, Celeb Dirty Laundry noted. Prince Harry's relationship with the 69-year-old Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles, was revealed when he explained the reason why he never talked about his mom Princess Diana's death in public. According to the 31-year-old prince, he kept mum to protect his stepmom and to avoid upsetting his father, Prince Charles but he also admitted that he started opening up about the loss three years ago. "It's ok to suffer as long as you don't talk about it," Prince Harry said at a barbecue held earlier this week for the mental health campaign Heads Together, as per Daily Mail. "It's not a weakness. Weakness is having a problem and not recognizing it and not solving the problem." Aside from the rumored conflict between Kate Middleton and Prince Harry, Greek Reporter claimed that the royal bachelor is reportedly dating Greek heiress and equestrienne Athina Onassis. The report claimed that Onassis "found comfort in the arms" of the British royal, who also happened to be a close friend, after her decade-long marriage with Brazilian Alvaro de Miranda Neto fell apart. Prince Harry's dating rumors came amid the revelation of Australian actress and "Suicide Squad" star Margot Robbie that she messages Prince Harry. The actress, whose boyfriend is Tom Ackerley, said that the prince immediately replies to her texts but she often leaves him "hanging for weeks" before she responds, another Daily Mail article reported. As for Kate Middleton-related updates, the Duchess of Cambridge is reportedly planning to get pregnant to steal the spotlight away from her sister Pippa's impending wedding. Celeb Dirty Laundry suggested that there might be a possibility that Duchess Kate will "try get pregnant to overshadow Pippa Middleton's wedding." Speaking of Kate Middleton's pregnancy, the celeb news site also claimed that the royal couple's pregnancy plans could be the reason why Duchess Kate and Prince William are skipping the 2016 Rio Olympics. Due to the Zika virus outbreak in Latin America, the royal couple decided not to attend the sporting event. The latest Kate Middleton pregnancy rumors after reports circulated that she and Prince William are facing some marital problems. The rumored marital woes were the reason why the family of four embarked on a secret summer holiday in Pau Pyrenees-Atlantiques, France, Parent Herald previously reported. Do you think Camilla Parker-Bowles is driving a wedge between Prince Harry and Kate Middleton's tight relationship? Sound off below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. DAYS is bringing back one of the evil guys in Salem. James Read has revealed on Twitter that his character Clyde Weston is coming back really soon. What trouble could he bring this time? Meanwhile, Matthew Ashford is returning to "Days of Our Lives" this week. After thanking his fans for all the birthday wishes he received, James Read has a gift to his fans too. "Be on the lookout - Clyde rides again in early Sept," he wrote on Twitter. The last time Clyde was seen in Salem was on October 20, 2015, after his son Ben (Robert Scott Wilson) turned out to be the Necktie Killer. Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes-So appreciate it! Be on the lookout - Clyde rides again in early Sept pic.twitter.com/izn4Bq4fAS James Read (@jamzread) August 1, 2016 News that James Read is coming back first came out in April. Brandon Beemer posted a photo of himself with Eric Martsolf, which captured a monitor in the background airing a future episode with James Read on it, Soaps.com reported. The 63-year-old actor is known for his roles in "A Lot Like Love" (2005), "Wildfire" (2005-2008), and "Beaches" (1988). Meanwhile, Matthew Ashford will be back as Jack Deveraux on Friday, Aug. 5. DAYS spoilers via Celeb Dirty Laundry tease that Jack will appear in Jennifer's (Melissa Reeves) fantasy as she tries to deal with the news that her daughter, Abigail (Kate Mansi), is dead. Jennifer will have a hard time accepting her loss, and hopefully, Jack could give her some comfort. Chad (Billy Flynn), who has been holding on to whatever hope he can cling to, will be equally shattered upon hearing the news. JJ (Casey Moss) will blame Chad because he's the reason Abby was in Shady Hills. "Days of Our Lives" airs Mondays to Fridays on NBC at 1 p.m. It will be on a two-week break beginning Aug. 8 as the network covers the 2016 Summer Olympics. Regular airing resumes on Aug. 22. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions When a man who who lost his son in the defense of your freedom asks what you have sacrificed during the years you took five deferments, engaged in serial fornication and dodged STDs as your personal Vietnam, a normal personality takes his lumps and maintains a decorous silence. At most, a normal person thanks the grieving father for his service and, if he is a canny politician, he then changes the subject to the fact that his opponent voted for the war his son died it. But Trump is not a normal personality. He is a thin-skinned narcissist bully of breathtaking cruelty and vindictiveness. And so he has doubled and tripled down, first suggesting that the grieving mother of this hero was not allowed to speak because she is a Muslim and then adding that the father was only angry because he supports terrorism. At this point, he departed from all normal standards of common human decency. But yesterday, he quadrupled down, and in a way that really does suggest such severe sociopathy that the GOP must seriously consider withdrawing all formal support and denouncing him. Heres what happened: a vet gave him his Purple Heart. Any human being with a shred of decencylet alone this vile politician in his current predicamentwould say, I cannot accept this. You earned it. I did not serve. I have no right to it. God bless you for your service. What did Trump say? I always wanted to get the Purple Heart, Trump continued. This was much easier. It was a disgusting thing to do. The crowning disgusting thing of a year of disgusting things. And the really amazing part is that Trump really seems to believe that taking this in his unworthy hands somehow confers on him absolution for his appalling cruelty to every Gold Star family in the US and the blessing a grateful nation confers on its vets. This man is seriously damaged and depraved. Patna: With taxation, fines, and penalties being the main source of revenue in a state lacking large manufacturing houses or service industries, the state government on Tuesday passed the Bihar VAT (Amendment) Bill 2016 by a majority vote of 151-51 raising the tax from five percent to six percent. The new amendments now includes builders and developers in the commercial tax gamut so those buying flats or other real estate in Bihar would be paying an additional one to five percent tax as determined by the Commercial Tax department. The tax would be levied on the difference between the cost of flat and the value of the land, Commercial Tax Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said. In a rare case of honesty, Yadav admitted that the state was short on fund due to revenue loss caused by the introduction of prohibition in Bihar hence the need for new taxes on several items. He further said that it was necessary to raise taxes in order to implement salary hike as recommended in the 7th Wage Commission report. The minister, however, was quick to add that the new tax would have no impact on poor people and would only affect the affluent class. The state government also passed the Bihar Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2016 raising tax on purchase of vehicles and various licenses as proposed by Transport Minister Chandrika Rai. Patna: Calling his former boss a first class hypocrite who was trying to raise his political profile by hiding behind the fake persona of an anti-liquor crusader, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi said that while Nitish Kumar was blowing his bugle of prohibition in NDA-run states, he was eerily silent on states like West Bengal and Delhi. "It is comical to see Nitish Kumar giving lecture to Jharkhand and other NDA-run states about the evils of alcohol. However, someone who runs to Delhi at the drop of the hat has never dared to goad Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to introduce complete prohibition in the state. It's the same with West Bengal because Nitish Kumar does not want to antagonize Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee because he needs her to fulfill his dream of becoming the Prime Minister of India," Modi said. Continuing his assault on the Janata Dal U President, the leader of the opposition in the state legislative council said that as far as he knew, Kumar never asked six states run by the Congress to implement prohibition because he needs Congress support to remain in power in Bihar. Further exposing holes in Nitish Kumar's dream of turning the entire nation into a dry country, Modi said that with all his tough talk about implementing Talibani' code of conduct in Bihar, the Chief Minister could not even implement prohibition at Bihar Niwas and Bihar Bhawan the two Bihar government guest houses in New Delhi. "Guests are frequently served alcohol in these guest houses but Nitish Kumar is not concerned about that," he said. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister accused the opposition of spreading lies about the new Excise Act saying the new law calls for the arrest of all adult family members if alcohol was found in a home. "Everyone knows a family is defined as mother, father, and children and not other relatives living under the same roof or children living away from the home," an angry Kumar explained. Ninety-two Student Groups in Iran Criticize Rouhani for Unfulfilled Promises 08/03/16 Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran Ninety-two university student groups have issued a joint letter to President Hassan Rouhani criticizing the persistent atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Irans universities following a spate of attacks and sabotage against peaceful student activities. Promises by an election candidate (cartoon by Mohsen Zarifian, Iranian daily Ghanoon) Programs organized by students with permission from the Ministry of Science are canceled without reason, including gatherings designed to bring harmony among various student organizations, and there have been unlawful interferences in the agenda of student programs that have ultimately resulted in delays or suspensions, said the letter, published on July 27, 2016. After Rouhani came to power, students hoped that they would be able to carry out certain activities, former student activist Salman Sima told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. But this letter shows that students dont share Rouhanis feelings [that things have improved]. Their hope has turned to despair. Sima, who was imprisoned in Iran for his activism and now resides in Canada, said he believes students wrote the letter to Rouhani because of the growing influence of conservatives and other hardliners in university affairs, including local Friday prayer leaders appointed by Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader. One of the problems faced by students in recent years has been the surveillance of their online activities, he said. Their Instagram and Facebook accounts are monitored [by security agents] to see if, for instance, they attended a party in their free time and then a case is made against them. Meanwhile, the universities own code of conduct allows for students to be monitored only while theyre on campus, not outside. Reminding Rouhani of his presidential campaign pledge to bring more openness and freedoms to campuses, the letter also complained of the Judiciarys refusal to investigate the interferences. The students also noted that hardliners were creating roadblocks for student groups by reducing their operational budgets, vetting and arbitrarily rejecting guests invited to student conferences, monitoring posts and intimidating students on social media, and expanding existing gender segregation policies. President Rouhani among a group of university students During his 2013 presidential campaign Rouhani addressed several student events and promised to end the security atmosphere in universities, reinstate students and academics expelled for political reasons, and prevent the segregation of male and female students. In a speech marking Irans Student Day on December 7, 2015, Rouhani claimed that the climate had improved since his election. I dont like that there still might be a security atmosphere in the universities, he said. But I feel that the difference between the climate now and the one in 2013 is like night and day. The dozens of student organizations who signed the letter to Rouhani expressed a different opinion. Hardliners Call the Shots Soon after Rouhanis election, Khamenei emphasized that his own vision for universities was nowhere near as open or liberal as that of Irans new president. In a speech on July 3, 2014, Khamenei called on chancellors to prevent political activities, which he called a deadly poison against learning, from occurring on campus. His speech coincided with a debate in Parliament that led to the impeachment of the reformist minister of science, research and technology, Reza Faraji-Dana, who had appointed more open-minded chancellors at a number of universities and reinstated expelled student activists. Rouhani has publicly encouraged students to become more involved in politics, even saying once that the university is the best place to criticize power. But his words have rung hollow against the growing power and influence of conservative hardliners in universities. Students have to get a permit from the Monitoring Committee every time they want to organize an event, but the committee is made up of hardliners from the establishment, namely the Student Basij Organization, which controls everything, Sima told the Campaign. (The basij is a voluntary militia under the authority of Irans Revolutionary Guards.) In some cities, Friday prayer leaders openly interfere in university affairs by exerting enormous influence. They easily disrupt student events by making speeches [that incite their followers into action]. Experience has shown that President Rouhani, despite all his promises, does not have the will to change the security atmosphere in universities, he added. He has been more focused on removing international pressures on Iran than on opening up the atmosphere in universities. Lawyers Still Languishing in Jails in Iran for Defending Dissidents Under Rouhani's Watch 08/03/16 Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran Dozens of human rights lawyers who have been imprisoned for years in Iran for defending civil rights and political prisoners, remain behind bars three years after President Hassan Rouhani came to office, despite his campaign pledge to free political prisoners. Campaign Pledges Three Years Ago to Free Political Prisoners Now Ring Hollow Some have been jailed since Irans violent crackdown that followed the widely disputed presidential election in 2009. Among the lawyers who have been freed, many remain banned from practicing law or have been forced to leave the country. Others, such as human rights lawyer Giti Pourfazel, have resigned from their profession in dismay after years of relentless persecution from the security establishment. Abdolfattah Soltani-currently held in Evin Prisons Ward 350 in Tehran-co-founded the banned Defenders of Human Rights Center and represented political and civil rights activists throughout his career. He was arrested on September 10, 2011 and sentenced to 18 years in prison by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court for propaganda against the state, assembly and collusion against national security and earning illegitimate funds for winning the Nuremberg International Human Rights Award in 2009, and banned from practicing law for 20 years. An Appeals Court reduced Soltanis prison sentence to 13 years, of which he will serve 10 years based on leniencies found in Article 134 of Irans New Islamic Penal Code, his family told the Campaign. The Defenders of Human Rights Center was founded in 2001 by Soltani and lawyers Shirin Ebadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah Mohammad Seifzadeh, and Mohammad Sharif. It was shut down by the authorities in Iran in 2008 but still operates from abroad as a website. Other than Ebadi, who left Iran in 2009, all of the founding members were arrested and imprisoned. Soltani, and the centers spokesperson, lawyer Narges Mohammadi-who was arrested in 2015 and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence-remain imprisoned while the other members have been freed. Soltanis wife Masoumeh Dehghan told the Campaign that judges and lawyers have argued for her husbands release. Unfortunately, there has been no change in his status even though three respected judges read his case and said the sentence against him was fundamentally unlawful, she said. His case was sent to the Judiciarys head office for review three years ago but nothing has been done. A number of attorneys from the Iranian Bar Association have written to the Judiciary seeking my husbands conditional freedom under Article 58 [of the New Islamic Penal Code], but nothing has been done, she added. According to Article 58: ...the deciding court can issue the order of conditional release for convicts sentenced to more than ten years imprisonment after half of the sentence is served, and in other cases after one-third of the sentence is served. While in prison, Soltani has been suffering from serious health problems: He is not well at all. He is suffering from back and neck pain as well as severe digestive problems, said Dehghan. Now he has high blood pressure, too. Now Im even more concerned for his health and the authorities know hes not well; you can tell just by looking at his appearance, she added. I hope they will end this injustice and release him. Bans and Suspensions The prominent lawyer Mohammad Seifzadeh was released on March 10, 2016 after serving five years in prison but has not been allowed to resume his practice. I have been banned from practicing law for 10 years even though the law says the ban cannot last for more than two years, but they dont follow their own laws, Seifzadeh told the Campaign. My office and car remain under lock and key and the Defenders of Human Rights Center is still banned. I cant do anything under these conditions, Seifzadeh was arrested on April 6, 2011 as he was allegedly attempting to leave Iran. He was charged with assembly and collusion against national security for his role in establishing the Defenders of Human Rights Center and sentenced to nine years in prison and banned from practicing law for 10 years. His prison sentence was reduced to two years upon appeal, but he was sentenced to an additional four years in prison for signing several political statements while imprisoned. Nasrin Sotoudeh, another prominent human rights lawyer who was imprisoned from 2010 to 2013 in a case that drew international condemnation, has returned to her practice but has been blocked from taking on political cases. I have accepted clients under the age of 18 who have been condemned to death, said Sotoudeh in an interview with the Campaign. But theres absolutely no possibility to take on political cases. Fortunately, there are still a few lawyers who work on these cases, but other lawyers like me havent been able to return to our previous work. I havent been officially banned from taking on cases tried in the Revolutionary Court, but in practice theres an unofficial suspension. The last time my license was suspended I received unofficial word that it was only because I had inquired about the case of [political activist] Kourosh Zaim in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, added Sotoudeh. In 2010, Sotoudeh was sentenced to 11 years in prison and banned for 20 years from practicing law for propaganda against the state and assembly and collusion against national security because of her membership in the Defenders of Human Rights Center. The Appeals Court reduced her sentence to six years in prison, and she was unexpectedly granted early conditional release in September 2013 a few days before Rouhani made his first presidential trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The Tehran prosecutor later tried to permanently revoke her law license but the Disciplinary Court for Lawyers issued a nine-month suspension instead. Another founder of the center, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, has not returned to his practice since his release from prison in 2013. One of his relatives told the Campaign that his law license had been reinstated but he had set aside his practice to complete his PhD at Tarbiat Modares University. Dadkhah was arrested at his office in Tehran in July 2009 and was sentenced to nine years in prison and banned from practicing law for 10 years, but was granted early release in 2013. Massoud Shafiee, the attorney who defended the three American hikers-Josh Fattal, Sarah Shourd and Shane Bauer-who were detained in 2009 until their release in 2011, was also suspended from practicing law and banned from traveling outside Iran. Gonabadi Dervishes Lawyers imprisoned for representing the Gonabadi Dervishes, a persecuted Sufi spiritual community, have also experienced severe problems since their release from jail. Initially the lawyers-Hamidreza Moradi, Mostafa Daneshjou, Amir Eslami, Reza Entesari, Afshin Karampour, Farshid Yadollahi and Omid Behrouzi-saw their licenses revoked, but Eslami, Yadollahi and Behrouzi have been able to return to their practices, the Campaign has learned. All seven were arrested in August 2011 and charged with spreading falsehoods, propaganda against the state and assembly and collusion against national security in connection with their alleged administration of the Majzooban-e Noor website, which provided news about the Dervishes. The lawyers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to seven years each but were granted early conditional release in 2015. List Goes On Lawyers Negar Haeri, Sara Sabaghian, Maryan Kianersi, Maryam Karbasi and Rosa Gharachorlou were also detained or imprisoned in recent years. The latter four were arrested after returning from a visit to Turkey in November 2010 and accused of committing security crimes and conducting un-Islamic behavior abroad. The accusation did not lead to their formal prosecution, but Gharachorlou was disqualified from running for the Iranian Bar Associations Board of Directors. Gharachorlou, who taught law at the Islamic Open University in Tehran, died in 2012. Negar Haeri was the defense attorney for her father Hamid Haeri, a political prisoner held in Rajaee Shahr Prison in the city of Karaj who was initially sentenced to death for being a Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) sympathizer, but who had his punishment reduced to 15 years in prison. In 2009 Negar Haeri was suspended from practicing law for 10 years for representing a monafeq (hypocrite)-a derogatory term for members of the MEK, a banned group that advocates regime change in Iran. Two years later she was detained for nearly four months for her alleged sympathies with the MEK. In May 2014 Haeri was arrested again and given a one-year prison sentence that was suspended for five years. (Former political prisoners freed on suspended prison sentences are monitored carefully and promptly returned to prison if caught engaging in political activities.) The following month, in June 2014, she was taken into custody and held for nearly nine months for granting interviews to foreign media. In May 2015, Haeri was arrested a fourth time and released on bail a week later. Attorney Javid Houtan Kiyan (Kian) represented Sakineh Mohammadi, who, in a widely publicized case, was initially sentenced to death by stoning for allegedly practicing adultery. Kiyan was arrested in November 2010 at his office in the city of Tabriz, in northwest Iran, along with two German reporters who were trying to interview Mohammadi. The Revolutionary Court in Tabriz sentenced him to seven years in prison and banned him from practicing law for five years. He was also sentenced to four years in prison in a separate trial in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. The Appeals Court reduced his combined sentence to six years in prison and he was eventually granted conditional release in June 2013, but his license to practice law was suspended. Mohammad Oliaei-Fard, Mohammad Mostafaee, Mahnaz Parakand and Shadi Sadr are among the formerly imprisoned lawyers who emigrated following their release. Russian industrial giant seals deal with Iran 08/03/16 Source: Press TV Russia's Technopromexport has become the country's first enterprise to win a major industrial deal from Iran after the removal of the sanctions against the country. Technopromexport, part of Russia's state industrial conglomerate Rostec, will reportedly build a thermal power plant in Iran with a capacity of 1.4 gigawatts (1.4 billion watts). The plant will be constructed in the port city of Bandar Abbas in about five years, says the business daily Kommersant in a report that was also carried by Reuters. The project is estimated at 1 billion ($1.12 billion) and will be financed through a Russian export loan, the report added. The contract with Iran envisages the construction of four energy blocks - each with a capacity of 350 megawatts - and a seawater desalination plant with a capacity of 200,000 cubic meters of water per day. Russia is expected to provide a loan to support 85 percent of the costs of the project. The remaining investments will be provided by Iran, added the report. Indications have emerged lately that the two countries have devised serious plans to expand their economic cooperation. Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mahmoud Vaezi visited Moscow this past week where he met several officials to discuss cooperation in a wide range of areas during his three-day stay. Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak, who co-chairs the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation with Vaezi, told reporters after meeting the visiting Iranian minister that Tehran and Moscow are preparing a road map for dozens of joint industrial projects with Iran, adding that it would be signed by the related officials of the two countries in the near future. "My colleague from Iran and I agreed to sign a road map in the near future on industrial projects. This map now is being worked out. On it are more than 70 projects, which will be implemented between Iran and Russia," Novak was quoted as saying by the Russian media. Iranian President Says World Powers Must Fulfill Nuclear Deal 08/03/16 Source: RFE/RL Iranian President Hassan Rohani has criticized world powers for not fulfilling all of their commitments under a historic nuclear deal signed last year. Rohani said on state television on August 2 that the failure to lift all sanctions against Iran had harmed the country's economic growth. Iranian President Hassan Rohani Rohani said that "if the other party had acted properly we would be in a better [economic] situation today." Rohani added that Iran still cannot access all of its assets held abroad and that the U.S. Congress, Israel, and some other unnamed regional countries had prevented the nuclear deal from being fully implemented. He admitted, however, that Iran had been able to export much more oil after sanctions limiting exports were lifted and had regained access to the international banking system. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said on August 2 that the government had made the assessment that Iran is meeting its obligations under the nuclear deal and "we're meeting ours." The nuclear deal lifted multinational economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for a curbing of Tehran's controversial nuclear program. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was severely critical of the United States in regards to the nuclear deal in statements made on August 1. Based on reporting by AP and The New York Times Copyright (c) 2016 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org The best 2-in-1 laptop 2022: our picks of the best convertible laptops These are the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy right now The Document Foundation is today releasing LibreOffice 5.2 for Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs. Major new features include support for marking sensitive documents as classified and a function for forecasting financial data. Its still open source and completely free to use. LibreOffice has an estimated 120 million users The Documentation Foundation says its seen steady user growth. While it cited an estimated number of 100 million users at the release of LibreOffice 5.1 back in February 2016, it now estimates about 120 million users. Thats based on download numbers; it doesnt even include all the Linux desktop users out theremost Linux distributions preinstall LibreOffice as their default office suite. The project has a steady number of developers, too, with around 80 people committing code to the project monthly and 290 people committing code yearly. Documents can now be classified As part of the LibreOffice 5 series, this release focuses on the user interface. LibreOffice 3 and 4 focused on lower-level code. Modern releases have more user-visible changes. There have been quite a few user-visible changes, but some of the most interesting are for larger organizations. LibreOffice now has classification levels that can be applied to documents. This work was sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Defense. The classification level is stored in the XML of the document file itself. When you open a document, any classification designation, such as Confidential, is visible and informs you of the documents sensitivity. The Document Foundation LibreOffice includes different classification levels for Intellectual Property, National Security, and Export Control. Developers are also starting to look at financial features in LibreOffice. The Calc spreadsheet program now has a forecast function for predicting future financial details, and more financial features will arrive in future releases. The Document Foundation The forecast function forecasts financial data, displaying the delta between the expected minimum and maximum values. Remote file system support for services like Google Drive and Microsoft Sharepoint has been improved from the previous release. The dialog now includes icons rather than just file names. LibreOffice also now includes support for two-factor authentication with Google accounts, so you can add your Google Drive account and enter an authentication code, if necessary. As part of the projects goal to make LibreOffice function well on various screensfrom todays tiny laptop and tablet screens to square CRT monitors still used in businessestheres now a single toolbar mode in the Writer word processor and Calc spreadsheet program. Select View > Toolbars > Standard (Single Mode) to enable it. Youll then need to disable the other toolbars by selecting View > Toolbars > Standard and View > Toolbars > Formatting. Youll then have more vertical space for the document and less visual clutter. The Document Foundation The toolbar can now be a single row on the top of the window. Other important features include a menu button and toolbar icon for freezing a row or column in Calc so it will always be visible as you move around a spreadsheet, making this function much easier to access. LibreOffice now supports Microsoft Office document signatures and shows descriptions for signatures. Many other changes are listed in LibreOffice 5.2s release notes. Well be hearing more about LibreOffice Online soon. This is a web-based version of LibreOffice that offers collaboration features, too. Unlike Google Docs and Microsofts Office Online, organizations will be able to install LibreOffice Online on their own servers and run their own web-based productivity software. Lazy people will love Windows 10 and its ability to automate home tasks, and the operating systems smart-home credentials are getting a serious boost with a recent internet of things pact. Microsoft wants to put Windows 10 at the center of smart homes. The company wants users to be able to tell the operating systems Cortana voice assistant to switch on a light, open a door, release food for a cat, and even check the contents of a refrigerator. For Windows 10 to be successful, the OS will have to work with a wide range of smart home and IoT devices, and that goal has taken a big step forward thanks to a recent agreement between standards bodies the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF) and the Thread Group. The two organizations will work together on improving interoperability between smart home and IoT devices. This means devices running Windows 10 will be able to connect with most smart home products and program home automation tasks based on events or times of the day. The new alliance will see the major IoT standards-settings groups working together to make it easy for devices to discover and communicate with one another. As members of OCF, we are very excited by this development and look forward to moving closer to a world where smart home devices just work together regardless of brand or make, a Microsoft representative said in an email. The alliance will benefit smart-home customers, with less guesswork involved in getting devices to work together. The alliance between OCF and Thread Group will help Windows 10 devices natively support and communicate with products from companies like Nest Labs, an Alphabet company. Multiple IoT standards have hurt interoperability between devices, and the alliance gets rid of the fragmentation in standards thats threatening the IoT and smart home markets. Founders of the Thread Group include ARM, Samsung, Qualcomm, and Nest. The OCF brings together security, discovery, and connectivity tools from the Microsoft-backed AllSeen Alliance and the former Open Interconnect Consortium (OIC), with key members including Intel, Samsung, and Dell. The OIC was renamed OCF. Microsofts plan is to integrate OCF protocols which are due to be released in 2017 into Windows 10. The integration will ultimately bring the Thread Group protocols and network transports to Windows 10. Users could then automate tasks using a Windows PC, mobile device, Xbox console, or Raspberry Pi 3. Users will be able to create profiles and assign actions for smart home devices. For example, users could establish a specific profile in Cortana like activate smart home, which would trigger actions like switching on lights and air conditioning. Microsoft will have to incorporate Thread APIs into its plans for OCF tools. Microsoft has already released an open-source bridge to connect OIC tools, called IoTivity, with the AllSeen Alliances AllJoyn APIs. It will help AllJoyn devices talk to OIC-compatible IoT devices. This week San Bernardino began its fifth year in bankruptcy. Lets hope its the final year or just part of a year. If all goes according to plan, it will be. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Jury has scheduled a confirmation hearing the final stage of bankruptcy for Oct. 14. Creditors have until Sept. 2 to object to the citys plan to clear bankruptcy. Then the city will have until Sept. 30 to respond to those objections. Ideally, nothing will hold things up. Residents are certainly entitled to question the pace of San Bernardinos bankruptcy proceedings. Detroit took just 16 months to emerge from bankruptcy, Stockton took 28 months and Vallejo the first of three California cities to file for Chapter 9 protection took less than three and a half years. The judge overseeing San Bernardinos proceedings, however, sees nothing wrong with their speed. This case has gone at the speed it has to go, Judge Jury said in April. We are not Detroit; we are not Stockton; we came into this case in a very different posture, and there the fact that it took much longer to get to confirmation was to be expected. Indeed, its more important to get this right than to get it fast. Much has happened in San Bernardino since the bankruptcy filing on Aug. 1, 2012. Theres a new mayor and city attorney, and most of the City Council members took office since then. Staff turnover has been continual and fast. Perhaps most importantly, the council agreed to give voters a chance to replace San Bernardinos overly complex and efficiency-crushing city charter something the citys Plan of Adjustment wisely called for. San Bernardinos unwieldy charter encouraged the City Hall dysfunction that plunged the city into bankruptcy, and its important that the city have a more effective charter as it emerges. Unfortunately, a council majority saw fit to add an unnecessary provision to the document the charter review committee produced. Requiring the city to keep policing services in-house will reduce options for future councils, and is the sort of tack-on that gummed up the old charter. Still, thanks to the work of the charter review committee, San Bernardino has a chance to come out of bankruptcy functioning the way a city should. CORRECTION: Under San Bernardinos marijuana measure, dispensaries can only be located within industrial zones, can not be within 1,000 feet of a school, park, library, religious facility or recreation center, nor within 300 feet of a residential zone. Because of a reporting error, the specifications of the measure were incorrect in a previous edition of this story. SAN BERNARDINO Not one, not two, but three initiatives that would replace the citys longstanding ban on marijuana dispensaries will be on the ballot in November, including one written by the City Attorneys Office. An unusual coalition pushed to put that city-written initiative on the ballot, including city officials who have said they want to continue the ban but would rather regulate it on the citys terms than risk someone elses regulatory framework and activists who previously pushed for other ballot measures. Even Chris Egger, who worked on one of the three initiatives on the November ballot referred to as the Redmon initiative after proponent Katherine Redmon said that with small changes his group would throw its support behind the citys initiative. The initiative that wins more than 50 percent of the vote and receives the most yes votes will become law. But unlike the citizen-submitted initiatives, the city-backed one could be modified as state law regarding marijuana changes; such changes led the City Council to put the medical marijuana regulation on the ballot in a 5-2 vote Monday. The no votes came from Councilman Fred Shorett, who said earlier in the meeting that he hadnt decided whether the city should have a ban, and legalization opponent Jim Mulvihill. The vote is to put this question to the voters, said Councilman Henry Nickel. It will still be our policy to enforce the ban unless and until voters say otherwise. The most vocal advocate of the ban Monday was Mayor Carey Davis, who gave extensive evidence that marijuana legalization has been harmful in Colorado and suggested it would stretch thin an already understaffed police department. The mayor does not have a vote but can break ties and has veto power. But the city had no legal alternative to putting the two citizen initiatives on the ballot other than immediately adopting the framework they suggest, and Deputy City Attorney Steven Graham said that wasnt an option, either, for one of the measures, because it imposed a tax on marijuana. State law forbids cities from passing a tax without a vote of the public. Its legally unclear whether a voter-originated tax can pass in an election at which council members are not up for a vote, which is the case in November, Graham said. The city-written measure would require separate licenses for marijuana cultivation, marketing, testing, distribution and dispensaries. Application fees and enforcement fees would be set yearly to match the cost of providing the service. Dispensaries could only be within industrial zones and could not be within 1,000 feet of a school, park, library, religious facility or recreation center, nor within 300 feet of a residential zone, amounting to a significant limitation on the number of dispensaries, said Graham, the primary author of the initiative. While advocates of the Redmon measure to regulate marijuana indicated they could become supporters of the citys measure, the group behind the other initiative named after proponent Vincent Guzman criticized both competing measures. Said the group on its Twitter account, San Bernardino Regulate Marijuana Act: #SanBernardino #Council sends #rushed city-backed #marijuana #poisonpill #ballotmeasure to the election. Looking forward to comparisons. An item that would have expressed the City Councils support for continuing the ban a resolution with no legal power was tabled. Contact the writer: rhagen@scng.com; @rmhagen on Twitter Hemet administrators will conduct a pair of meetings for business owners to discuss Caltrans plan to add a median along Highway 74 on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 9 and 10. Caltrans proposes constructing a raised curb median on the 74, which also is Florida Avenue, through Hemet, to make the road safer. The first meeting, focusing on State Street to the western city limits, will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at Golden Village Palms RV Resort, 3600 W. Florida Ave. A meeting to discuss State Street to eastern city limits will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors, 2355 E. Florida Ave. Hemet also is forming a Resident Advisory Group to look at the project. To apply, mittee, send a letter of interest by Aug. 16 to City of Hemet Engineering Department, 510 E. Florida Ave., Hemet, CA 92543 Letters should include a statement of interest, name, address, phone number and email address. Contact the writer: 951-368-9086 or cshultz@scng.com Over their objections to a initiative that would legalize marijuana usein California if passed by voters in November, the San Jacinto City Council voted to ask their own electorate if pot should be taxed in the city. Council members voted 5-0 Tuesday night, Aug. 2, to put a measure on the Nov. 8 ballot that would allow marijuana growers to be taxed. They also unanimously voted to bring forward a separate measure to ask voters to increase hotel taxes from 8 percent to 12 percent. Councilwoman Crystal Ruiz had a strong message for marijuana growers. If were forced to allow you to to come into our city, were going to tax the heck out of you, she said. Or you could go elsewhere. The proposed measure would have asked voters to approve a tax of up to $35 per square feet for growing marijuana. But that wasnt enough for the council, and the measure was amended to ask for up to $50 per square foot. There also would be a tax on the sale of marijuana. Marijuana and associated businesses are banned in San Jacinto and the statewide initiative would not change that, except to allow individuals to grow up to six plants. Assistant City Attorney Mike Maurer reminded the council the city could still regulate marijuana use and businesses within its borders. This puts the framework in place, he said. It allows us to charge the tax. With no action, it would be two years before the city could attempt to add a tax on marijuana, he said. The deadline to get an initiative on the ballot is Aug. 12. City Manager Tim Hults said Colorado has seen a spike in homelessness since that states voters legalized the recreational use of marijuana. The proposed taxes would help us mitigate potential impacts of legalized marijuana, Hults said. Councilman Scott Miller said he fears what will happen if marijuana is legalized. Theres going to be a lot of damage, theres going to be a lot of crime, he said. This is not a victimless business. Taxing growers is expected to bring in an estimated $1.25 million annually into the citys general fund. The hotel tax will not grow the citys budget as much. San Jacinto takes in about $40,000 in Transient Occupancy Taxes now, and increasing the tax from 8 percent to 12 percent will bring in an additional $20,000. That number could grow, Hults said, as at least one hotelier has expressed interest in building in the city. Theres also hope the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians could agree to charge the tax when it opens a hotel as part of a new casino. Tribes are exempt from such taxes, but Soboba could agree to collect the funds and pass them to the city. At 8 percent, San Jacinto has the lowest tax in the county, along with Temecula and Moreno Valley, Hults said. Everyone else charges at least 10 percent, he said. That measure has not been written, but will come back before the council in a special meeting before the Aug. 12 deadline. Patricia Justice calls it style engineering a way to combine fashion with science, technology, electronics, art and mathematics, or STEAM. During a recent two-day workshop, girls were asked to design and sew a wrap skirt and matching clutch purse an assignment that was not only fun, but enhances students engagement and unlocks critical thinking. A fashion show to share their works will be held Aug. 15 in Temecula. I have a passion for fashion. However, a friend of mine recommended that I offer a Style Engineers (program) for girls to connect the dots between engineering and fashion, said Justice, 60, founder and CEO of H.U.G.s 4 GIRLS N STEA+M Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Temecula. Style Engineers is made possible through a National Science Foundation-funded partnership between Cornell University and the University of Minnesota. It uses hands-on activities to introduce young people ages 10 to 15 to science, technology, engineering and mathematics through their interest in fashion. By mixing in the fashion design element, Justice is able to add arts to the equation. Workshop attendees learned math through their projects measurements. They are taught the two types of measurements linear and metric, Justice said. The pattern they use to cut out pieces of material is 2D, but when they are sewed together and made into a purse, it becomes 3D this is a lesson in engineering/drafting. Airplanes are made from pieces cut from patterns and assembled like a puzzle, giving students another way to relate what they are doing to real life, she said. The natural sciences are covered when discussing fabric selection based on movement, Justice said. Being introduced to sewing machines and the need to use different needles for different fabrics further expands the students learning base. Im having a lot of fun, said Miyah Harris, 15, of Wildomar. I like cutting the patterns and putting it all together. Lexi Herber is starting her first year at Palomar College as a fashion design major. She is working with the summer workshop as an intern. Im really happy I got this opportunity. I love seeing the kids faces when they figure out how to sew, said Lexi, 17. With more than 20 years experience as an engineer, educator and technologist, Justice strongly advocates expanding these areas into the curriculum for minority students. H.U.G. in her organizations title refers to Historically Underrepresented Groups, which she defines as African American, Latino, Native American and those with special needs. Justice will be hosting workshops as part of after-school programs and during winter and spring breaks. She is also in the process of recruiting 10 girls in grades four through eight for a robotics club. The Style Engineers fashion show will be part of the Showcase of the Arts program sponsored by Women Organizing Women in Temecula. The show is open to the public and will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Empowerment Center, 27262 Via Industria in Temecula. Admission is $10. Information: 951-383-5955 Contact the writer: dianerhodes.writer@gmail.com The gunman in a series of follow-home robberies culminating in the 2013 shooting death of a 77-year-old Hemet man was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole Wednesday, Aug. 3. In a victim impact statement, Julio Gaston Gonzalez said the death of his uncle Victor Prinque had a ripple effect on his family and that actually four lives were lost on Nov. 16, 2013: Prinques; his common-law wifes, Carmen La Rosa; shooter Kelvin Leymon Redd Jr.s; and accomplice Tiaki Alfred James Mosleys. La Rosa was like my uncles shadow, Gonzalez said in a courtroom at the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley. She suffered a heart attack that evening and later lost her home and returned to South America. She now lives in Peru with a sister. Gonzalez said he would like Redd to be incarcerated hopefully forever. Mosley will be sentenced Sept. 9. Redd, 26, of San Jacinto was found guilty of murder, burglary, grand theft, three counts of robbery and a special allegation that the murder occurred during an attempted robbery. Judge Stephen Gallon said during the sentencing hearing that Redds conduct showed cruelty, viciousness and callousness that targeted the most vulnerable residents of the community. Prosecutors presented witnesses and evidence to show that over a one-week period, the defendants targeted elderly victims and followed them home, mostly from Hemet Valley Mall businesses, and in Prinques case, from a west Hemet supermarket. They were playing Russian roulette all week and it eventually blew up in their faces, prosecutor Daniel Delimon told Redds jury about the crime spree. Redd had fired a shot at another robbery victim, narrowly missing, Delimon said. According to trial testimony, Mosley, 21, of San Jacinto drove Redd around to hunt victims and waited outside as Redd robbed them, but knew the nature of the criminal activity and was deemed just as responsible by the prosecution. Mosley was convicted of first-degree murder and three counts of robbery. The defendants changed their stories in interviews with Hemet police detectives and at one point tried to finger another man for the crimes, who happened to be hospitalized at the time. Redds defense attorney, Stephen Sweigart, suggested to the defendants jury that a jailhouse informant lacked credibility in recounting what Redd told him about the crimes, and that Mosley could have pulled the trigger. The defendants were on trial earlier this summer in the same courtroom, but with separate juries. PREVIOUSLY: Two to stand trial in Hemet follow-home killing Gunman convicted in Hemet follow-home robberies, murder Upon returning from a whirlwind three-week European tour, Flogging Molly guitarist Dennis Casey recently took some time to discuss the positive reception of the American/Irish punk rock bands newest single, The Hand of John L. Sullivan, an ode to the legendary boxer of the same name. The band, whose name has a bit of history, as well, released its last album, Speed of Darkness, in 2011, making the new single a welcome release to fans. The band is currently in the writing phase of a new album and the plan is to start recording in the fall. The group took its name from Molly Malones, an Irish pub in Los Angeles where it regularly brought the house down in the 90s with infectious songs blended with sonic explosions of punk rock, Celtic instruments and heaps of passionate vocals. Flogging Molly will bring their high energy performance to Morongo, Casino Spa and Resort on Friday, Aug. 5. Q: The bands newest single The Hand of John L. Sullivan was released in March. How have fans reacted to the new song? A: I have to admit the feedback has been unbelievable and Im not just saying that. The song has been going over better than half of our catalog and its really kind of shocking us in a way. Its a great feeling. Q: Why do you think the song is resonating with people in such a powerful way? A: I think its a combination of being a good song, a new song and its reminiscent of our earlier records. And in a live context, its a fairly immediate song. Its very energetic and catchy and I think its one of those things that hits people a little harder than normal. Q: Where was the first place you performed the song? A: On the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show and we could tell it just connected with people. And this was in America. When we play these massive festivals in Europe, the song would just ignite the crowds. Q: Was it an easy song to record? A: We have a new drummer, Michael Alonso, who has been with the band just under a year and he did the song in one take with me and (bassist) Nathen (Maxwell). The rhythm section recorded all at the same time, so it has a great live feel to it. Q: Flogging Molly has a song on the movie soundtrack P.S. I Love You. What did it feel like to hear that song in a movie? A: First of all, I love the song. When you do those kinds of things, you dont necessarily see the movie. They give you a synopsis of what the movie will be about. After I saw it, I thought they really incorporated the song into the movie. And beyond that, the lyrics of that song have been written on peoples graves. It really means a lot to so many people. Ive met a number of families, particularly of fallen soldiers, and they request to have those lyrics written on their loved ones gravestones. Q: Did you go to school for music? A: I never went to school for music, but I banged my head against the wall trying to learn how to play the guitar for a long time. Then, something finally stuck, I guess. Q: What were some of your early influences? A: Watching old Elvis movies made me pick up the guitar and then Jimi Hendrix, and then I discovered the Dead Kennedys and then music was my thing. Q: In the early days of Flogging Molly, did you get a sense that the band had something special? A: We got our name from Molly Malones, where we played every Monday night and you could tell something was happening. I mean, in Los Angeles, people are checking shows out with their arms crossed, maybe some are jaded. But the crowds would go absolutely nuts on a Monday none-the-less. Q: How does Flogging Molly music come to life? A: The only way Flogging Molly music gets made is when we are all together in one room, all of us in a circle. There is no formula and creativity is very messy at times and there is no real logic to it. But thats what makes Flogging Molly. The seven of us sitting in a room together. Thats what makes the sound. Its a chemistry and its the act of getting together and wanting to create things. Contact the writer: sschulte@pressenterprise.com, 951-368-9457 Dada Life: The Swedish electronic dance music duo is headed back to Inland Southern California. After two years of its Dada Land: The Voyage festivals in Devore, the event was nixed this year due to what the pair said was unforeseen circumstances. Instead, the lads are headed to the National Orange Show in San Bernardino on Saturday, Oct. 1. Dubbed the Dada Land Compound, the event will happen at the Damus building and will be open to guests 18 and older only. Ticket prices havent been announced, but passes go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, at dadalife.com. Kenny Loggins: Nothing says Happy Labor Day Weekend like cutting loose, Footloose even, with Loggins. He will perform on Friday, Sept. 2, at Harrahs Resort Southern California. Tickets are $55-$115 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5. Also on sale at that time are tickets for indie rock band Two Door Cinema Club, which will play Harrahs on Saturday, Dec. 3. Tickets are $35. Sheena Easton: If you have an urge to belt out Strut, Easton will perform at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage on Thursday, Nov. 10. Being billed as An Evening With Sheena Easton, tickets are $75 and $85 and go on sale at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6. Dwight Yoakam: The country star and actor will stop at Casino Pauma on Sunday, Nov. 6. Yoakam will release a new album, Swimmin Pools, Movie Stars, in September. The collection will feature bluegrass renditions of Yoakams prior work. Tickets are $70-$90 and are on sale. Cheech & Chong: Expect to be serenaded by the marijuana-loving comedians when they stop at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio on Friday, Sept. 2. Tickets are $29-$59 and are on sale. Machine Gun Kelly: The Cleveland rapper and actor will return to the Riverside Municipal Auditorium on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Tickets are $30 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5. Tickets go on sale at the same time for Parkway Drive, We Came As Romans and Counterparts at the venue on Monday, Oct. 24. Those passes are $26.50. The Nutcracker: Sick of the heat? Think Sugar Plum Fairy thoughts as tickets go on sale for the Inland Pacific Ballets annual production, which stops at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside for a matinee and evening performance on Saturday, Dec. 10, as well as a matinee on Sunday, Dec. 11. Tickets are $39-$56 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5. Also of notethe Fox has changed the date for Lennon: Through a Glass Onion. The show, which was to open the upcoming seasons Broadway in Riverside series was rescheduled from Saturday, Sept. 24, to Saturday, Nov. 19. Tickets previously purchased will be honored for the new date. Contact the writer: vfranko@scng.com or 951-368-9575 Wine lovers, this ones for you. The envelope, please, for the Inland-area restaurants that were recognized in 2016 by Wine Spectator, a premier magazine and website for knowledgeable sniffers, swishers and swirlers. This annual issue Aug. 31 celebrates the years 3,595 victors from all 50 states and 70 countries and territories. Among the locals honored: Duanes Prime Steaks & Seafood and Marios Place in Riverside; Cielo at Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon; The Pines Lakefront in Big Bear Lake; Caprice Cafe and Citrone Restaurant & Bar in Redlands; The Vineyard Rose at South Coast Winery in Temecula; The Sycamore Inn and Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Rancho Cucamonga. The size of the winery matters. Each winery fell into one of three categories. The first and most prestigious tier of 88 Grand Award winners, none from our area, features wine selections of at least 1,000. Two of the newbie top dogs are in California: Murray Circle in Sausalito and The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena, Napa Valley. Members of the second tier, 1,093 Best of Award of Excellence winners, including Marios and Duanes, typically offer 350 or more wine selections. And the third and biggest level, 2,414 Award of Excellence winners, including the rest of the above, offer 90 or more kinds of wines. For the complete list, visit winespectator.com SMALL BITES Mo arts and eats: An event at the Vanguard Art Gallery, 27120 Eucalyptus Ave., Suite A, Moreno Valley, will offer food, services and products from vendors 5-9 p.m. Aug. 20, hosted by Moreno Valley Cultural Arts Foundation at the Stoneridge Towne Centre. Information: mvcaf.org Over the moon for kebabs: San-Diego based chain Luna Grill recently opened a couple of restaurants in the Inland region: one at 40756 Winchester Road, No. 201, at the Promenade at Temecula, and another at 12523 Limonite Ave., No. 490, Eastvale. The grub is Mediterranean: kebab plates, gyros, hummus and falafel, wraps, desserts, craft beer, wine, vegan and vegetarian fare, housemade sauces and marinades. No plastic utensils or paper plates. Information: LunaGrill.com. Eastvale 951-456-0180, Temecula 951-296-5253 They report, you decide: Dennys is inviting customers to decide if the chains new buttermilk pancakes are worth flipping over. For a limited time during August, patrons who order but dont truly adore the ballyhooed four new and improved types of pancakes accompanying select signature meals will get the flapjacks on the house. No fibbing for freebies. But you have to say why you dont like them, said a server at Dennys on 1245 University Ave. in Riverside. And if you eat them all, it doesnt make sense to say you didnt like them. For more information about the Love em or theyre free guarantee and to find a location near you, visit dennys.com Changes at Loris Cafe: Since the Riverside breakfast-and-lunch diner opened in 1996, customers have kept clamoring for its country-style comfort foods: poached eggs, hash, sausages and French toast. After the death of founder/owner Lori Towns, her son Jerid Towns stepped up in August 2013. A little over a month ago, Jose Duran took the helm of the popular cafe, 17950 Van Buren Blvd. His daughter, Dulce Duran, said theyre keeping the favorites but test-driving some popular Mexican dishes. Were trying different foods to see what people like, she said. Information: 951-789-8843 To pass on tips about restaurants, breweries and food shops that are opening or closing, contact Laurie Lucas at llucas@pressenterprise.com or 951-368-9559. Contact the writer: llucas@pressenterprise.com, 951-368-9559 The Bolgatanga Branch Manager of ARB Apex Bank, Pascal Nkulenu Zinzendorf, says he fears rural and community banks are likely to fold up following the inability of most of them to meet the mandatory minimum stated capital of GHC500,000.00 as required by the Bank of Ghana, BoG. BoG has increased the minimum stated capital of rural banks in the country from GHC300,000.00 to GHC500,000.00. The increment will be effective December, this year. BOG, according to Mr. Zinzendorf, will subsequently consider revising the minimum stated capital of the banks by doubling it to 1million Ghana Cedis by December 2017. "This implies that all rural banks have to meet the requirement before the deadline or risk being banned from operation by BoG. It also implies that any prospective rural or community bank must raise the above stated amount before it will be allowed to operate", Mr. Zinzendorf explained He was quick to add that, "the banks will be given a grace period, say three years or so to help them organise themselves properly to meet the requirement". The renowned banker was speaking at the occasion of the 16th Annual General Meeting of Builsa Community Bank in Sandema, the district capital of Builsa North in the Upper East Region. He, therefore, appealed to all shareholders to as a matter of urgency buy more shares to enable the banks meet the BoG requirement in order to continue to stay in business. For him, another major panacea that could relieve the banks from any potential closure was to opt for mergers and acquisitions. He said, when the rural and community banks merged, they would become financially endowed and resilient enough to expand their frontiers to many parts of the country and resist any threat of survival. "I would also urge you(the rural banks) not to completely ignore the option of mergers and acquisitions to build bigger and stronger banks in the region. This idea of community ownership should be a thing of the past. "You should think of business as business and not merely as a community business so you can expand your frontiers to other parts. One strong bank is good for a region than five or so banks which are financially handicapped", Mr. Zinzendorf admonished. He hinted the ARB Apex bank as part of strategies to rebrand to appeal to many customers and enhance the image of the rural banks, was introducing Automated Teller Machines, ATMs in the banks. He asked all Municipal and District Assemblies, MDAs and opinion leaders to support the rural banks to grow by virtue of their immense contributions to the development of the respective communities as part of their corporate social responsibilities. The General Manager of the BUCO Bank, Awudu Hayatudeen, disclosed the Bank, since its establishment in 1996 had been consistent in its support to many communities in both the Builsa North and Builsa South Districts in the discharge of its corporate social responsibilities, especially in the areas of health, education and water. Source: Francis Dabre Dabang/ email: [email protected] 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 Government has been advised to review and prioritize some of its Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to reduce the liability and over-exposure of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). The advice follows ECGs endorsement of many PPAs, most of which are not translating to energy delivery. The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) gave the advice in its assessment of the Early Power project deal, which was originally designed as an emergency project but has since been changed to a regular long-term IPP. The original project consisted of a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) covering 344MW plant. 142.5MW was part of the simple cycle plant. However, it has been reviewed with the new project consisting of a 400MW plant, involving a conversion of the 142.5MW simple cycle to combined cycle that will add 50MW steam turbine. After 25 years of the operation of the facility, ownership will be transferred to the government of Ghana or its nominated agency at a price of $1 billion. Currently, Parliament is considering the request by government to approve a Put-Call Option Agreement (PCOA) intended to provide a risk guarantee against default termination of the contract. ACEPs fear Signing another PPA which does not bring energy on-stream will be worrying. Therefore, whether this project is necessary or not should be matched against ECGs capacity to off-take the produced power in the medium term if Akosombo and other existing plants increasingly become available as hydrologic conditions improve. At the moment, there are shortfalls in power production caused by low water levels, gas supply interruption from Nigeria and more recent issues with gas supply from Jubilee. However, the project remains an important one if government and VRA are unable to fix the aged and failing power infrastructure and the water levels in the hydro power dams do not improve. Advantages ACEP has indicated that the project will have a positive impact on Ghana in both the short and long terms. Some of these include its affordability of short-term supply by which it will rapidly deploy an initial power of 144MW in six months from contract signing. This will help meet near term shortages, it indicated. ACEP said that the project will impose no financial burden since it provides a flexible arrangement such that ECG does not have to escrow funds to raise a Letter of Credit for default bill payments as required under most recent PPAs. It also promises fuel supply infrastructure and security since its investors are responsible for fuel supply. The project therefore provides for the construction of an LPG import and storage infrastructure which increases Ghanas fuel diversity and security. Unlike many PPAs, capacity charge under the project is not tied to the contracted capacity. It will be based on the capacity ratio computed from available capacity relative to contracted capacity. Project cost Government has reported that the cost of the project is $953.4 million from $647.7 million as a result of the upgrading of the simple cycle plant to a combined cycle plant and the addition of LPG infrastructure. According to ACEP, it is unable to estimate the additional EPC cost of the revised project design, since government has not provided a break-down of the original project cost of $647.7 million. However, estimating non-EPC cost at 30% (industry standards) of the original project cost, the EPC cost could have been put at $453 million. Therefore, with a revised EPC cost of $636.8 million, the additional EPC cost of the steam installation could be put in a range of $150-$190 million, which is on the high side for an additional 50MW. Source: Daily Guide 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 The writer, Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo has described as unfortunate calls on the President to grant presidential pardon to the jailed Montie FM contemnors. The three; Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, were sentenced to four months in jail on Wednesday, after they were found guilty of contempt. Some key figures within the NDC have since signed a petition book, which was opened at the premises of pro-government station Radio Gold to compel the President to free the trio. But Prof. Aidoo in a statement said its unfortunate that the petition was initiated at all, and even more unfortunate that its being signed by the likes of the Ministers of Education, and of Gender, Children and Social Protection. She further argued that no one who is interested in Ghana as a wholesome space for all human beings, and especially for its young growing population, would want to sign this particular petition to the President of the Republic. Below is her full statement on the petition About the Petition to President John Mahama to pardon Montie FM presenters, 2 panelists 2 Salifu Maase aka Mugabe, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn Its unfortunate that the petition was initiated at all, and even more unfortunate that its being signed by the likes of the Ministers of Education, and of Gender, Children and Social Protection. No one who is interested in Ghana as a wholesome space for all human beings, and especially for its young growing population, would want to sign this particular petition to the President of the Republic. 1. Our understanding as ordinary citizens is that issuing any kind of death threats on any kind of individuals in Ghana or anywhere else in the world is a crime. If thats the case, then we would want any persons, young or old, whose wellbeing and general behavior we care about who issue any such threats to face the consequences, however unpleasant. After all, that is the only way we would learn from our mistakes and negotiate the future properly. 2. We would want the NDC and any other Ghanaian political party to hold itself and its members accountable, and ready to face up to any errors and address them as meaningfully as possible. Again, that would be the only way we think political parties can continue to be effective and useful to this nation. 3. Asking the President to pardon the Montie 3 is not only embarrassing, but it also puts the President of this country in a most awkward position. On one hand, he would not know how not to issue the pardon: in case his rank and file accuse him of not listening to them. On the other hand, pardoning the 3 clearly would send a very wrong message to the entire country. That he does not respect the third estate of the land which is the Judiciary, and he is not interested in the youth of this country ever learning from their mistakes, or the need for any adult Ghanaian to do the proper thing when the occasion demands that. 4. In fact, and this is my petition to the President. He should join the whole of Ghana to take the opportunity of this rather unfortunate affair as a wake-up call. That threatening anybody with harm, rape, death or causing them injury in anyway including slander is just wrong. Threatening members of the Supreme Court with such violence is certainly not a crime that should be in anyway overlooked or pardoned. Source: Ama Ata Aidoo 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 A group calling itself the Kumasi Vigilante Media is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to appoint Mr. Samuel Sarpong as the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA). According to a statement by the group released on August 2, 2016, Mr. Sarpong is the most qualified candidate among the shortlisted individuals. For them, Mr. Sarpong remains the most competent candidate with a lot of experience to restore Kumasi to its developmental path. The group said Mr. Sarpong, during his tenure as metropolitan chief executive of the assembly, embarked on projects which have been abandoned. It argued that his reappointment will ensure such projects are completed for the benefit of residents in Kumasi. Samuel Sarpong, to us is a father for all in Kumasi and a darling boy who has the Kumasi Metropolis at heart. Therefore, his reappointment would see Kumasi moving from its current shambolic state to a state of orderliness, the statement indicated. Mr. Sarpong was appointed as KMA boss by late President John Evans Atta Mills in 2009. He served until 2012 and was later appointed as minister for the region. Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Transport Minister Dzifa Ativor has visited a presenter of Accra-based Montie FM and two panelists in prison, bearing gifts. Salifu Maase, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gun were sentenced to four months in prison by the Supreme Court on June 27 for threatening to kill judges. Ministers of state including Education Minister Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang and one of her deputies, Okudzeto Ablakwa, deputy Communications Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu and Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Nana Oye Lithur are among people who have signed petition to compel the President to free the triad. According to a Facebook post of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)s Okaikoi North Constituency women organiser, Madam Ativor encouraged the three to be strong as justice delayed certainly cannot be justice denied. Madam Ativor in collaboration with Women for Mahama group presented items such as tins of Milk, Milo, canned fish, a gallon of cooking oil, bottles of water and toiletries to the incarcerated triad. Source: ghanaweb.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. Featured Video Presidential staffer Kojo Adu Asare has chastised pressure group OCUPPY GHANA for delving into issues selectively based on their parochial political interest and not principles. To him, the group behaves as though they are a repository of knowledge and only their opinions matter. Mr Adu-Asare, who was contributing to discussions on Asempa FMs Ekosii Sen programme Monday, cautioned the group against stifling peoples freedom to express a divergent opinion on national issues. I have serious issues with this so called OCCUPY GHANA people who pick and choose what they want to talk about not based on principles but convenience. Why do they speak on issues only when it serves their parochial interest? If somebody thinks that the sentence that has been handed down to a culprit is harsh and for that the constitution should be invoked to remit the sentence which is within the confines of the law, what is their problem? I have serious issues with their thinking that it is only their view that matter. They must know that we are Ghanaians and equally have the right to express an opinion on matters of national concern. They want to be all knowing, which a bad thing to do is, he said. The former Adenta MP was reacting to a statement issued by the OCUPPY GHANA asking that the president reproach ministers and members of his executive who have signed the Montie three petition. Some Ministers and bigwigs in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have signed the petition book which seeks to solicit for signatories to be presented to the president for a presidential pardon for the trio. But OccupyGhana, following the sentencing of the two panelists and host of Accra based Montie FM, said a four month prison sentence is not punishment enough for the offense they committed. In a statement the group said We respectfully urge the President to disregard this facade, and rebuke any minister or member of his executive who has signed or signs that petition. This power of prerogative of Mercy is not to be exercised upon a whim or a fancy or upon contrived circumstances, but only exceptionally, where the situation really and truly deserves it. Critically, this power should not be exercised in a way that represents a fundamental undermining of the independence of the judiciary and an interference with their functions, as well as an attack on the constitutional concept of separation of powers the statement added. But Mr Adu Asare said the conduct of the group smacks of hypocrisy and double standards and expressed shock at their conduct. He argues the action of the group is to whip up negative public sentiment against the government appointees because of their decision to sign a petition for a presidential pardon for the Montie 3 Those attacking Ministers for signing the Montie 3 petition should know that we in the NDC are not stupid; we have brains and ruling this country [because] Ghanaians voted for us, he fumed. The former Member of Parliament for Adenta maintained that, the Montie 3 serving their prison term deserve pardon thus President Mahama will exercise his powers to ensure justice is served. Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase are serving a four-month sentence in Nsawam prison after making contemptuous comments on Supreme Court judges hearing an electoral roll case. The attacks included threats to kill the judges and rape the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood. Source: Peacefmonline.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. Featured Video Shortly after the three contemnors Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn members of NDC and Salifu Maase alias Mugabe were sentenced to a four- months jail term by the Supreme Court, some ministers and members of President John Dramani Mahama's administration, opened a petition book to solicit signatories which would be relied upon to grant the trio a presidential pardon. The action by the minister and members of the executive seems to have irked Pressure group Occupy Ghana. The group issued a statement warning President Mahama to reproach any member of his team who signed the petition to have him exercise his Prerogative of Mercy power under article 72 of the Constitution, which gives him the authority to commute death sentences, change mode of execution, pardon offenders or reduce punishments. But deputy Minister for Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa returned the shots by issuing a sharp response to the pressure group. The Deputy Minister took to his facebook wall to accuse Occupy Ghana of "portraying themselves as apostles of the doctrine of separation of powers", yet have the temerity "to stampede one arm of Government" (the Executive) from performing its duty. Barely 24 hours after Mr Ablakwa's wordy social media response, OccupyGhana has fired yet anothr riposte. In a statement copied Peacefmonline.com, the pressure group said though they find Okudzeto Ablakwa's conduct in the matter, reprehensible, they still respect his right to reply and disagree with them. They claim the actions of the deputy Minister for Education has made it impossible for President Mahama to rely on him for any 'disinterested' advice on this matter. They counseled him to stop the spin, repent and return to Christ just like one out of the ten lepers who received his healing from Jesus did in the days of old. The "incestuous" nature of this should be clear, or at least apparent, to you. Would prudence not mean that you wait and counsel the President on the matter, if your opinion was to be sought, instead of signing the petition and trying to put pressure on your boss, the President? The least you deserve is a slap on your wrist, a portion of the statement read. Full Statement Below OCCUPYGHANA PRESS STATEMENT OPEN LETTER TO SAMUEL OKUDZETO-ABLAKWA (HON. MP) The story is told of The Lord Christ heeding the plea of 10 lepers who asked him to "have pity on us." He gave them a simple task: "go and show yourselves to the priest." They were healed before they had made the full journey. One, only one of them, and a foreigner, returned to thank the Lord Christ. The Lord is said to have asked what happened to the other nine. Our attention has been drawn to a rather long and self-serving missive from your Facebook wall, in which you take issue with us for criticising ministers who are organising and signing the Petition for Pardon to the President with respect to the jailed Montie 3. We respect your right to reply and to disagree with us, obviously, because you are one of those ministers whose conduct in this matter, we find reprehensible. Although originally, we were not minded to respond, we find the need to write this short note to you, in the hope that it might help you notice the error of your ways, like the 9 lepers and, hopefully, repent. There are two key lessons from that story. The first is that although the 9 lepers were not lawfully bound to return to The Lord Christ with thanks when their mission succeeded, He still expected them to do the needful. The second is that people are likely to forget where they have come from when they attain success before they have walked the whole 9 yards required of them. You were part of the team of valiant persons who took the late Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey on at the Supreme Court. Although you lost, which meant that the law was not on your side, the judges praised you for standing up to be counted. Your action had no basis in law, but you did the needful, like the one leper. We have never said that you do not have the legal right to organize and sign a petition. But the uniqueness of your position should have made you take a step back to ascertain whether this was the right and proper thing to do, and then passed up on it, like several of your colleague ministers have done. First, as a minister of state, you are an integral part of the Executive of this nation. You are part of the President's eyes and ears with respect to education. Presumably, several young students in the land look up to you, and the position you hold has imposed a mentorship role on you, whether you asked for it or not. How can you, a member of the Executive that is to consider the petition, be an organizer and signer of the same petition? In other words, you are essentially presenting a petition to yourself. You have made it impossible for the President to rely on you for any 'disinterested' advice on this matter, if it relates to your sector. The "incestuous" nature of this should be clear, or at least apparent, to you. Would prudence not mean that you wait and counsel the President on the matter, if your opinion was to be sought, instead of signing the petition and trying to put pressure on your boss, the President? The least you deserve is a slap on your wrist. Second, your acts and omissions in the face and teeth of this brouhaha speaks volumes about who you are and what you stand for. You stoop to call this a fight for Free Speech. Wrong! The acts of the convicts were despicable and illegal. Clear crime was committed, which the Executive-controlled Attorney-General would not prosecute. In fact, the Executive-controlled Attorney-General would not even commence quasi-criminal contempt proceedings. To add insult to injury, the Executive-controlled BNI issued a pathetic white-washing statement about the matter. Clearly, the Executive, which you are a part of, had no interest in seeing to it that these convicts faced justice. Had the judiciary not stood up to be counted, these gentlemen would be walking free, they and several others waiting in the wings from all sides of the political divide, emboldened by deliberate Executive inaction, to perpetrate even more dastardly acts on air. Also note that, had they been prosecuted by the Executive-controlled Attorney-General, and found guilty, their sentence would have been much greater than 4 months imprisonment. Then within hours, literally, after they were sentenced, you lead a charge to have them freed, as if they don't even deserve a day in jail for acts to which they pleaded "guilty". This is the state of affairs that informed our criticism of all ministers and members of the Executive who have effectively stabbed the President in the back, by signing this petition. Your position and those of your fellow ministers who were falling over each other to sign this petition, is untenable. Let us remind you again that it is not everything that is lawful (even arguably) that is also needful. Do take some time to do some deep introspection, and ask yourself whether this is the stance you would have taken if you were still in opposition, and the convicts were government spokespersons, or vice versa. We shudder to think that your position on this would mean you would not have taken Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey on if he belonged to your party. When you have had that introspection, also take a long look at yourself in the mirror and, hopefully, you will see that you probably have become that which you detested and fought against. You can argue that your current position is lawful. We think it is unwise and we will not mince any words in telling you so. No amount of verbiage will take down the fact that you are wrong, and gravely so. The other parts of your bluster, spin and spiel do not merit detailed responses, save one. We are mildly tickled by your reference to doyens like Yaa Asantewaa, Nkrumah, Lincoln, Luther King, Biko and Mandela and their stand in history. Mr. Okudzeto-Ablakwa, do not mention your name within 100 yards of these. You are nowhere near what they did and stood for. Yours in the service of occupying hearts and minds for God and Country OccupyGhana Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email: [email protected] 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 The Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, must resign from her position following her decision to sign a petition to free the three jailed Montie FM contemnors who scandalised the Supreme Court and brought its name into disrepute, a women's group, Women of Faith and Substance, has said. According to the women, not only did the contemnors Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn, and Salifu Maase, aka Mugabe scandalise the court, but they also threatened the life of the Chief Justice, a situation which should have rather seen the Gender Minister commending the Supreme Court for handing down the custodial sentence to the trio. Following their sentencing, supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress, ministers, and deputy ministers, groups, friends, and family have mounted pressure on President John Dramani Mahama to grant them pardon by invoking his prerogative of mercy powers under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution. Some of the prominent names to have signed the petition include Mrs Lithur, Minister of Education Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, Deputy Education Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Petroleum Minister Benjamin Dagadu, Deputy Minister of Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu, among others. But the womens group said in a statement that Mrs Lithurs involvement in the petition defeats the purpose of her position as a Gender Minister because she is supposed to protect women as part of her duties. It goes without saying that the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, has been left in the lurch by the very person whose duty it is to stand up and shield her from any attack that may emanate from a section of the public. The recent spate of attacks and threats on the very existence of the fourth most powerful personality in the country, and arguably, the most powerful woman around, have been treated with undeserved disdain by the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur. It is needless for us to bombard Ghanaians once again with the hideously distasteful words employed by the incarcerated Montie gang to threaten the Chief Justice, but what we find extremely difficult to fathom is the failure of Oye Lithur, the woman charged with the responsibility of overseeing the interests of women, to not only condemn these never-ending attacks and threats on the Chief Justice, but also organise series of demonstrations with the sole intention to press home the ministry's aversion to such abhorrent behavioural attitudes. These core duties, strangely enough, have been overlooked by Nana Oye Lithur! The rather deafening silence of the gender minister in the face of these threats on the life of the CJ [Chief Justice] is puzzling, to say the least! In an ideal situation, these graphic descriptions and threats of mayhem on the life of the Chief Justice should have been ruthlessly tackled and dealt with, but for whatever reason, Nana Oye Lithur finds it ideal to offer protection for the criminals who nurtured these inhumane thoughts. Nana Oye Lithur, it could be recalled, issued a statement to publicly condemn and chastise Kennedy Ohene Agyapong [Member of Parliament for Assin Central] when he was alleged to have made a comment to the effect that the chairperson of the EC [Electoral Commission] couldn't have got her position based on competence but on another reason altogether. She went further to organise demonstrations against the Assin Central MP over the same issue. No sooner had this episode ended than the Montie gang threatened to rape and assassinate the Chief Justice, but Nana Oye Lithur has conveniently sidestepped this all-important matter, which has assumed international headlines. In her haste to criticise Kennedy Agyapong when he allegedly made comments which slighted the chairperson of the EC, Nana Oye Lithur had this to say: Women of Ghana will not countenance such comments and personal attacks on women who have committed to serve Ghana in public office. Her reaction to these threats and attacks on these Justices of the Supreme Court is hypocritical. The women continued: What we find disappointingly heartrending is the decision of the Gender Minister to sign for the release of the criminals who are hell-bent on eliminating the Chief Justice off the face of the earth. It is disgusting, putting it mildly, to see Oye Lithur displaying such an oafish posture, which is at variance with the advocacy she used to loudly and vehemently run for women before this position she occupies now. In our view, she has lost the moral authority to head the Gender Ministry with her conduct in this particular issue and must resign. Women of Faith and Substance use this medium to appeal to all women's groups to rally round the Chief Justice in these trying times. Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood needs our support and protection at a time the Mahama administration in general, and the Gender Minister specifically, have marooned her! We must not fail our fellow woman! Let's rise up and shield the Chief Justice now! They added: While we fervently appeal to well-meaning Ghanaian women to solidarise with the Chief Justice and Justice Sophia Akuffo over these senseless attacks on their persons, we are seizing this opportunity to ask Oye Lithur to take a backseat as she has proven beyond reasonable doubt that she is a walking disaster being the woman in charge of such a sensitive [office]! She is too biased to hold such a post. In any serious jurisdiction, such a woman would have been sidelined from the corridors of power. Oye Lithur, bow out voluntarily if the president has no ba**s to do so! Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The convicted Montie trio of Salifu Maase aka Mugabe, Godwin Ako Gunn and Alistair Tairo Nelson, seem to be learning in a hard way after being sentenced to four months imprisonment each for contempt, as they plead for clemency. The three, Mugabe, the host of Pampaso political talk-show programme on Montie Fm and his two panelists, Ako Gunn and Alistair Nelson, have written to President John Mahama from their Nsawam Medium Security Prison base, asking the president to free them. Lawyer for the convicts, George Loh, who is Member of Parliament (MP) for North Dayi, revealed that his clients had written a joint petition to President Mahama to have mercy on them. The Montie 3 (as they are now known) had threatened to kill some of the Justices of the Supreme Court and get one Nash of Mataheko to marry the Chief Justice, if war breaks out following an electoral case the Justices ruled on. Their conviction has since generated a huge furore across the country, with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and government ministers racing to outdo each other to catch the presidents eye by signing a contrived petition initiated by the NDC for President Mahama to use his power of prerogative of mercy as enshrined in Article 72 of the countrys Constitution to grant them pardon. Plea The petitioners, who are obviously feeling the heat in the confines of the prison yard, have profusely begged President Mahama to tamper justice with mercy. In the said letter, the convicts could not but admit that our statements were unguarded, but we plead that the sentence is harsh and excessive, even though the legal practitioners have said they could have been given a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment each as the law prescribes for contempt charges. But according to the Montie 3, they never intended to harm anybody and that they got carried away by their emotions in making the statement during the said programme. We unreservedly apologized for our conduct before the court, and continue to do so. We humbly petition Your Excellency, the President of the Republic to exercise your prerogative of mercy under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution, they pleaded. Grounds We are law-abiding citizens of this dear country of ours who were contributing to topical issues of the day, but unfortunately, got carried away. Aside that, they said, We are first offenders. We expressed and continue to express remorse for our unguarded statements and humbly reiterate that in making those statements we never intended to harm any person. After being sent to prison, the trio now claims, We have learnt our lessons and promise to be guided by this bitter and painful experience. The convicts, who had boasted that they were not afraid of prison, have suddenly realized that they have young families and asked Mr Mahama: We humbly ask you also to please take into consideration the fact that we have young families who have been embarrassed and devastated by our unfortunate conduct and our subsequent incarceration. Moderators Beef But Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Right Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, like many others, have descended heavily on those describing the Supreme Court verdict on the three, including serving ministers in the Mahama-led NDC administration, as harsh. For him, such persons are nation wreckers. Speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration service of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Logos Congregation at Achimota College, the man of God insisted that the court was right in exacting the four-month jail term to the trio, adding that the rule of law must work at all times. Source: Daily Guide 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 Embattled National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Nii Armah Ashitey, has filed an application in the High Court Registry to discontinue the suit against the his party and Klottey Korle MP nominee, Zanetor Rawlings. Mr.Ashitey was in court challenging the eligibility of Dr. Zanetor because she was not a registered voter when she was elected. He asked the court to declare her election null and void, an action he insisted was in the NDCs interest after he contested and lost the primary to her. But the Supreme Court eventually cleared Zanetor to contest after she registered when the Electoral Commission (EC) opened up for registration.Mr. Ashiteys lawyer, Gary Nimako, disclosed his clients concession to Citi News saying we have sat down, analyzed the matter and then just said lets put everything to rest so this is the way we are going to go. Lawyer Nimako explained that, yesterday we had a discussion with respect to the suit which we commenced against Zanetor Rawlings and the NDC party. We discussed the matter at length, we considered the options available and we have taken the view that we will discontinue the case against the parties at the High Court. What it simply means is that there is no case pending before any court in Ghana in respect of the matter Nii Armah Ashietey complaining at the High Court, he stated Source: Citifmonline 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 A joint report by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch has heavily criticised what they describe as intentionally inhumane conditions on Nauru, after sending investigators incognito to inspect the centre. The report was made without the approval of the Australian Government, who repeatedly ignored and denied requests for the human rights groups to be granted official access. Amnesty International researcher Anna Neistat says that despite many of the refugees having been integrated into the community, conditions were still appalling: What I found on Nauru is what I can only describe as a deliberate, systematic abuse. Were not talking about individual cases, were talking about patterns, and I think it is quite clear and in fact I dont think the Australian Government tried very hard to hide it that essentially they are making an example to prevent further arrivals by boat. Human Rights Watch senior counsel Michael Bochenek echoed those claims in his report: Driving adult and even child refugees to the breaking point with sustained abuse appears to be one of Australias aims on Nauru. The report outlines not only the negative effects of the conditions on the island but also the inadequacy of the medical treatment for these effects: Prolonged detention in appalling conditions exacerbated the trauma many had suffered from persecution in their home countries and the abuses and other hazards they faced on their journeys to Australia, as the Australian Human Rights Commission and UNHCR, among others, have found. Refugees and asylum seekers interviewed said they have developed severe anxiety, inability to sleep, mood swings, prolonged depression, and short-term memory loss on the island. Children have begun to wet their beds, suffered from nightmares, and engaged in disruptive and other troubling behavior. Adults and children spoke openly of having wanted to end their lives. However, refugees on Nauru do not receive adequate support or mental health treatment. The standard of medical care for refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru is also poor. Medical equipment is rudimentary, and specialist medical attention is not regularly available. Dental services are largely limited to tooth extraction. The Immigration Department seems miffed that they werent consulted about the report, and advised that groups should have contacted them before publicly airing the allegations made in the report. You can read the full report here. Source: ABC. Photo: Getty Images / Ian Waldie. A Melbourne man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter today, after firing a shotgun pointed at the head of a friend who was posing for a selfie. Albert Rapovski, 20, was on a mix of GHB and ice when he pointed the 12-gauge at the head of 22-year-old Mahamd Hassan in a hotel near Melbournes La Trobe University. According to police, Hassan had requested that Rapovski remove the shells from the shotgun in case he accidentally injured someone. Hassan was killed when Rapovski accidentally fired the gun while Hassan was holding up his phone to take a picture. Rapovski fled the scene and attempted to travel to Macedonia the next day, informing a travel agent he needed to visit his sick grandma, but was stopped by customs officials. Rapovski will remain in custody until his plea hearing. Source: The Age. Photo: Facebook. After the past two weeks of quite racist, quite homophobic word salad falling out Sonia Krugers mouth, anyone with a higher IQ than 20 would have a hard time describing the television host as sensible. Apart from Cosmopolitan, apparently! The womens mag released their nominees for the Fun Fearless Female Awards for 2016, and you guessed it Sonias right up in there. But look, to be fair, theres a lot of issues at hand here. First and foremost, the lineup of nominees is predominantly skinny, conventionally attractive, straight, and overwhelmingly white but then again, we everyone on the list is just there on merit, yeah Sonia? But the thing thats freaked us out the most, is that Cosmo apparently find Sonia not only super, like, fun and fearless, they also find her sensible. SENSIBLE. Its a pretty strange decision we mean, what percentage of Cosmos audience identifies with Sonias comments? How many of the Fun Fearless Female voters believe that Muslims should be banned from entire countries, or that LGBTQIA youth dont deserve university scholarship opportunities? Or perhaps, the brief for the nominees was approved and actioned before ~someone~ decided to go full Trump on the entire nations asses. Many who were left dumbfounded by Krugers horrendously ignorant recent remarks are now confused as to WHY EXACTLY Cosmo chose to include her: theres not even any BRUNETTES pic.twitter.com/nI9HleJgCK Bec Shaw (@Brocklesnitch) August 3, 2016 Oh I guess this what Sonia Kruger means when she talks about merit https://t.co/bNJeIpbUZ1 chelsea bond (@drcbond) August 3, 2016 @nakkiahlui nothing says FUN ?? & FEARLESS like calling for the nationwide blacklisting of a religion & referring to reverse discrimination Illy Bocean (@IllyBocean) August 3, 2016 Diversity on Australian TV. pic.twitter.com/l1lgER2xCA Alice Workman (@workmanalice) August 3, 2016 Australia. Where bigoted comments about Muslims and LGBTIQ people can get you nominated for a feminist award. #SoniaKruger Dennis Bobongie (@dbobongie01) August 3, 2016 Just a ~fun, fearless, kooky~ gal just trying to make her voice heard on behalf of those crazy, conservative, actually-extremely-vocal members of the silent majority, yknow? NAH. Institutionalised racism and homophobia are actually the historical norms; its the same old safe option. Agreeing with it isnt fresh or experimental, and saying it out loud isnt courageous. Its the same old oppression, just packaged in an expensive dress and a blow-dry. Fearless, my butt. Source/Photo: Cosmopolitan. More than 100 new jobs are expected to come to Lebanon County over a three year period. Lebanon Valley Cold Storage and Distribution Center, a frozen bakery products storage and manufacturing company, will build a new facility in North Lebanon Township that is expected to result in 131 new, full-time jobs. The facility will be constructed on a 22.83-acre site on Hanford Drive in the Lebanon Rails Business Park. The project was announced on Wednesday by both Gov. Tom Wolf and the Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation. The company's first phase of construction is comprised of a 120,000-square-foot frozen, refrigerated warehouse with a production area with construction expected to be completed in early 2017. The second phase will add 180,000-square-feet for bakery operations, including at least three production lines for baked goods and storage space. The company has committed to making an investment of $38.7 million in the project and to creating 131 new, full-time jobs over the next three years, Gov. Tom Wolf announced in a press release. The project was coordinated by the Governor's Action Team and the Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation. Lebanon Valley Cold Storage & Distribution Center received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development that includes a $250,000 Pennsylvania First program grant, $262,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits to be distributed upon creation of the new jobs, and $58,950 in WEDnet funding for employee training. The company also was approved for a $2 million low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority in June. Members 1st Pictured is a generic artist rendering of a Members 1st Federal Credit Union (Provided.) A Lower Allen Township-based credit union will reach a milestone later this month when it open its 60th branch. Members 1st Federal Credit Union will open its newest location in York County at 14601 Mt. Airy Road in Shrewsbury. The 2,700-square-foot branch will open on August 15 and will offer lobby service, two drive-thru lanes, an ATM as well as a free coin counter for members. Cassie Witman will serve as branch manager of the credit union's new branch located in Shrewsbury. The Credit Union will host a grand opening celebration from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. August 20. The credit union's 60 locations are in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties. And the credit union isn't stopping at 60 locations. Members 1st plans to add two additional full-service branches later this year at 815 E. Main St., Mount Joy and at 297 E. Main St., Hummelstown. The credit union has more than 300,000 members. Hall Mansion Former Silver Springs Twp. businessman John Hall started construction on the building pictured above in 1981 but had to sell the property as a part of bankruptcy proceedings in 1993. Silver Tower, Inc. currently owns the 16.3-acre property. (Peter Taylor) AskPA, PennLive's newest column, wants to answer your questions about Pennsylvania. It could be about local history, how something works or even that thing on the corner of whatchamacallit street. Find out how you can send us your questions at the bottom of this story or through this link. For decades, the Hall Mansion has stood vacant near the intersection of I-81 and Route 114. Silver Tower, Inc., bought the 16.5-acre property at 1219 Old Willow Mill Road in Mechanicsburg for $80,000 in 1995, according to Cumberland County property records. Fred Essis, its sole principal, said the corporation wants to sell the property for $899,000 through Latus Commercial Realty. The land includes a 33,000-square-feet house, two lakes and a partially-completed moat. Former Silver Spring Twp. businessman John P. Hall built the house in 1981, according to previous reporting by PennLive.com. He spent about $2 million to construct the home and $292,000 to set up its heating system and piping. The property has a 16-story concrete observation tower, which is what most passers-by see when they drive along I-81 or Route 114. Climbing ladders are needed to access its first several floors as its spiral staircase was never installed, according to previous reporting by PennLive.com. The house also has eight bedrooms and bathrooms, and another eight were supposed to be built in the tower. It also has two kitchens, a game room, racquetball and squash courts, a 25-car garage and a bomb shelter. Its amenities include 17 fireplaces; a coal, oil and solar heating system; and an electric-generating plant. Hall was forced to sell the property as a part of 1993 bankruptcy proceedings involving his personal holdings and business ventures in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Hall was later sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and two years of probation in 1998 after pleading guilty to bankruptcy fraud, wire fraud and concealing foreign assets from creditors. The property went on the auction block that same year but the highest bid of $200,000 was rejected for being too low. In between 1993 and when it was sold to Silver Tower Inc. in 1995, the property attracted vandals and would-be adventurers. A 22-year-old Mount Holly Springs man died in 1995 after he fell 10 stories down its elevator shaft. He and his three friends were exploring the tower. A fire later destroyed most of the house and charred parts of its tower April 19, 1995, but its cause has never been determined. Silver Tower, Inc., then bought the property two months later. This week's question was submitted anonymously. Is there something you'd like to know about Pennsylvania? Let us know. Email your questions to PennLive.com life and culture reporter J.C. Lee at Mail your question to 2020 Technology Parkway, Suite 300, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 (attn: J.C. Lee) Tweet your questions to PennLive.com at Send us a snap of your question through Snapchat. Just add "Pennlive" to your friends list or scan our code Type your question in the form below and click "Submit." U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Christopher Loudon received a Purple Heart after he was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad in 2006. On Tuesday, Donald Trump was gifted one at a campaign event. Sue Loudon, of Brockport, slammed Republican presidential nominee in a conference call Wednesday for his recent attack on a Gold Star family, his anti-Muslim rhetoric and acceptance of a Purple Heart. Trump received a replica of a Purple Heart from a veteran at a campaign stop in Virginia. Purple Hearts are awarded to those wounded or killed while serving in the U.S. military. Trump said of the gift, "I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier." Loudon took issue with Trump's comments during the recent campaign stop. "Maybe Donald Trump would like to read my son's autopsy report to know exactly what happened to him to earn his Purple Heart," Loudon said. "Across this country are wounded that earned their Purple Hearts in a way that Donald Trump only superficially referenced and will never know nor truly comprehend." Loudon also took umbrage with Trump's attacks against Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of a Muslim Army captain who died in Iraq. Trump criticized the Kahn family after having spoke at the Democratic National Convention last week. Khizr Khan, a lawyer, had said that Trump has "sacrificed nothing and no one" for his country. Ghazala, overcome with grief, said she could not speak at the convention. In response, Trump ridiculed the soldier's mother for staying silent during her husband's speech and said he'd given up a lot for his businesses. Loudon, a registered Republican, said Trump's characterization that he had sacrificed because he built businesses is "inexcusable." Loudon also addressed Trump's proposal to ban all Muslim immigrants from entering the U.S. and his anti-Muslim rhetoric. Muslim interpreters, like the one killed alongside her son, have given their lives to support American troops, she said. "I believe that most Americans... are completely unaware of the Iraqi muslim sacrifice and among that group are the interpreters," Loudon said. "They risk their own lives and they risk the lives of their families to help our servicemen and women." Loudon said she fears for another one of her son's interpreters that has immigrated to the United States amid the "sea of hate that Donald Trump has created." Loudon said she is voting for Hillary Clinton. Director of U.S. Office of Indian Education visits East Jordan schools Julian Guerrero Jr. visited the district to discuss their Title VI policies and see their Native American education opportunities. NEW YORK/RIO DE JANEIRO Petroleumworld.com 08 03 2016 A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday put a class action case against Brazil's state-controlled oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA on hold pending the resolution of an appeal filed by the company, potentially stalling a much anticipated U.S. trial. The order granted a bid by Petrobras, as the company is commonly known, to postpone a case brought by investors seeking to recoup billions of dollars in losses stemming from a bribery, contract-fixing and political kickback scandal in Brazil. The company had appealed a ruling by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan that certified two classes of plaintiffs, saying their claims are similar enough to be pursued as groups. Rakoff had set a trial for Sept. 19 but now the appeals court will have to rule on the class certification before that can go forward. "We were eager to go to trial against Petrobras since we have an excellent case against them," said Jeremy Lieberman of the law firm Pomerantz who is representing the shareholders. He said the appeal is on a technical issue and he is confident that the class certification will be upheld. Petrobras said "it will continue to vigorously defend its rights," in a securities filing about the court order on Tuesday. The Brazilian firm is at the center of a massive corruption investigation in Brazil known as Operation Car Wash, which prompted U.S. shareholders to file the case after company shares lost value. Prosecutors in Brazil have said more than $2 billion in bribes were paid over a decade, mainly to Petrobras executives from construction and engineering companies and there have been dozens of arrests in Brazil. The scandal has contributed to a plunge in Petrobras' market value to below $20 billion from nearly $300 billion fewer than eight years ago, Reuters data show. One class of shareholders that had been certified by Rakoff applied to purchasers of various Petrobras securities from January 2010 to July 2015 and was being led by Universities Superannuation Scheme of Liverpool, England. The other bought debt securities from offerings in 2013 and 2014, and was led by North Carolina's treasurer and the Employees' Retirement System of Hawaii. Class certification can make it easier for investors to recoup larger sums than if they sued individually, though it does not guarantee they will be recovered. The appeal is In re: Petrobras Securities, case number 16-1914, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. LONDON/MEXICO CITY Petroleumworld.com 08 03 2016 Mexico is on track to receive billions of dollars from its 2016 sovereign oil hedge, the first time it will reap the windfall two years in a row, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The potential payout -- after Mexico already got a record $6.4 billion in 2015 -- is likely to sharpen the market's attention to the Latin American nation's effort to lock in prices for 2017. Mexico usually hedges in midsummer against a drop in oil through a series of deals with banks that in the past have included Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. The oil price crash has spurred President Enrique Pena Nieto's administration to cut spending to preserve investor confidence in Latin America's second-largest economy, behind Brazil. While the oil hedge helps cushion public finances, analysts believe the government can't count on it forever. The Mexican government has done a good job at buying these put options because they have helped to smooth the transition of public finances towards lower oil prices, but it's just breathing room, said Carlos Capistran, chief Mexico economist at Bank of America Corp. This buys the government time to think about the best way to go about expenditure cuts. Last year, Mexico locked in prices for 2016 at $49 a barrel, buying put options which give the country the right, but not the obligation, to sell at a predetermined price. The banks that sell the options to the government typically also hedge themselves in the futures market. Since Mexico started covering its exposure to crude prices through Wall Street in 1990, the Latin American country has never collected two years in a row. Last year's payout surpassed the $5.1 billion of 2009 in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. The country also made money in 1991 when prices fell after the start of the first Gulf War. The hedge, which runs from Dec. 1 to Nov. 30, covered 212 million barrels, according to government statements. Since Dec. 1, the Mexican oil basket, an index including various grades of crude such as Maya, Olmeca and Isthmus, has averaged $32.40 a barrel. Mexico's Finance Ministry said in an e-mailed response that it wouldn't comment on the potential hedging profit before the program is settled at the end of November. Making Money Unless the basket more than doubles to average almost $80 a barrel from now until the end of November, Mexico would make money. Even if oil averages $50 over the next four months, the country would still receive a payout of $2.3 billion. If prices remain around $36 a barrel for the basket, Mexico would get about $3.3 billion. The final figure could vary from the Bloomberg estimate as some details of the hedge aren't public and oil prices will change until the end of November. Mexico paid $1.09 billion in 2015 to lock in prices for this year, the government said last August. The country's annual hedge, which is closely watched by the oil market and often moves prices, is the largest undertaken by a national government. Despite the success of Mexico, few other commodity-rich countries have followed suit with similar hedging programs. Ecuador locked in oil sales in 1993 and after losses triggered a political storm, never tried it again. Colombia, Algeria and even Texas have experimented with locking in prices. More recently, oil importers including Morocco, Uruguay and Jamaica have bought protection against rising energy costs. North American Enduro Tour hits mid-point with race positioning near Enduro World Series, a few spots remain to race released tomorrow Dallas Area Rapid Transit officers wounded in the deadly July 7 ambush on Dallas law enforcement were forced to take a 30 percent pay cut while on leave, DART confirmed to News 8 Friday. Three DART officers -- Misty McBride, Jesus Retana and Elmar Cannon -- were hurt in the attack after a protest in the streets of downtown earlier this month. Four Dallas Police officers and one DART officer were killed. According to a report by the Dallas Voice, the injured DART officers are being paid through workers compensation while they recover. According to the Texas Workers Compensation Act, its standard procedure for an injured employee to be paid 70 percent of their salary while on leave. Dallas Police are covered by civil service and are receiving full pay, the Dallas Voice wrote. The mother of one of two central Pennsylvania teenagers charged with shooting at police officers last week contends the Black Lives Matter movement is to blame for his actions. "They are in jail for doing what Black Lives Matter wanted them to do: shoot at cops," Luz Rentas wrote in a statement given to a number of news organizations over the weekend. "The truth is that these are two punk kids following the orders of an irresponsible organization and now they're gonna pay for it." The co-organizer of a Black Lives Matter chapter in Lancaster told the Associated Press the group rejects using violence to solve societal problems. Officers in the borough of Columbia were responding to a report of gunshots near a cemetery just before 3:30 a.m. Friday when their own vehicles came under fire. No officers were injured. Marquell Rentas, 17, and Trenton Nace, 18, were arrested and remained jailed Tuesday on $2 million bail. The two, who are cousins, face charges including attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer. Screen shot from the original news broadcast about the 1966 Texas Tower shooting. On a blazing summer day 50 years ago in Austin, TX, a sniper wreaked what was then unprecedented carnage on the campus of the University of Texas. The gunman climbed the school's iconic Main Building, known as the Tower, armed with rifles, a sawed-off shotgun, and other firearms. He then unleashed a methodical, 96-minute killing spree on the people below, killing 15 and injuring more than 30 others before Austin police officers shot him dead atop the tower. Monday was the 50th anniversary of the shooting, which was considered the first mass school shooting in American history. "People sent me newspaper articles from London, from Sweden. It hit the networks and it was all over the world," Ramiro "Ray" Martinez, one of the officers who helped end the attack by killing the gunman, told Business Insider. Martinez, then 29 years old and an Austin police officer, is the last surviving person among the group that brought the shooter down. He remembers details from that terrifying day to an astonishing degree. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is always trying to put a happy spin on House Republicans doing nothing that needs doing. Republicans talk about all the great change Ryan wrought by basically being a carbon copy of John Boehner. They talk about our vision for a confident America even while their candidate, Donald Trump, is describing a America as a dystopian nightmare. What a way to build confidence. Especially when so many people are not included in this vision, like ethnic and religious minorities, women and gays, to name just a few of the rejected other. You have only to check Trumps post to see which minority group he has insulted today. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay told The Christian Post the other day that the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, which make absolutely no mention of God any god have God at their core, and that therefore everyone must be subjected to a God-centered revolution, which by excluding millions, would somehow result in a rebirth and not a death, of our culture: I hope readers will be strengthened in their faith and understand that as we walk with the Lord we must bring Him into the public square with us. God is at the core of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and the Constitution is at the core of our government; thus, we need a God-centered revolution for the Constitution, resulting in a rebirth of our culture. When we pray for this and for our nation generally, it must not be simply for our own self-focused comfort, but for Gods purpose, and that He will be glorified. Actually, whats at the core of our government is a relentlessly secular Constitution. No God, not anywhere. Just We the people. You know, mortals. We instituted the government for ourselves, not for God, and certainly not God for us. Like Trump, it seems DeLay has not actually read the Constitution. But hey, whatever gets them to sleep at night. I just hope they remember that if they insist on bringing their god into the public square that they have to be taxed like the rest of us. If DeLays misreading of our founding documents isnt bad enough, Gary Dull of the American Pastors Network outright rejects a roll for women in leadership positions based on his understanding of the Bible. In Gods line of authority, it seems very clear in the scripture that a woman should not be in authority over men, which would limit a woman from being the president of the United States of America or even a queen of some other particular nation. Dull is hardly alone. Trump supporter James Edwards, the white nationalist host of The Political Cesspool, says under Gods law, a woman should not even have dominion over her household, let alone be president. For Edwards, who doesnt even think women should have the right to vote, The husband is the ruler of the house under Gods law, and thats the law that I abide by. Which is fine. Nobody is forcing him to vote for a woman, or even work for a woman, if it violates his sense of right and wrong. But the Constitution, which again, makes no mention of God, does not restrict women from roles in government. So his Gods law is not and cannot be the law of the land. Fortunately for the rest of us, Gary is out of luck because the Constitution is not based on the Bible. Not on any portion of it, and women can be president. If all this seems self-defeating, it is. If there is anybody left for Republicans to offend, it is difficult to imagine who. These unceasing attacks on everybody who isnt white or Christian seems like a less than optimal way to scrape up votes. Easier by far to just lay the blame in advance on a corrupt elite rigging the election so the guy who has pissed off the majority of voters doesnt win. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print During an interview on Fox Newss The OReilly Factor, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump claimed that he knows more about foreign policy than President Obama. OReilly asked Trump to respond to Obamas comments that Trump is unfit to be president. Video: https://youtu.be/RdfQT4c-W7g The Republican nominee went haywire and answered, I think hes the worst president maybe in the history of our country. Hes been weak. Hes been ineffective. Look at the so-called recovery setting record lows. I guess not since 1949 has there been anything like it. You look at home ownership. Look at what happened as an example; he talks about Ukraine. I believe I know more about foreign policy than he knows. Look at Ukraine. He talks about Ukraine, right? How tough he is. How tough he was with Russia. In the meantime, they took over Crimea, and I understood that. And most papers covered what I said accurately. Some didnt because the press is so dishonest. Donald Trump claims to know more about foreign policy than President Obama, but here is exactly what he said during an interview that aired on ABCs This Week: STEPHANOPOULOS: They took away the part of the platform calling for the provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine to defend themselves. Why is that a good idea? TRUMP: Well, look, you know, I have my own ideas. Hes not going into Ukraine, OK? Just so you understand. Hes not going to go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down and you can put it down, you can take it anywhere you want. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, hes already there, isnt he? TRUMP: OK, well, hes there in a certain way, but Im not there yet. You have Obama there. And frankly, that whole part of the world is a mess under Obama, with all the strength that youre talking about and all of the power of NATO and all of this, in the meantime, hes going where he takes takes Crimea, hes sort of I mean Trump had no idea that Russia was already in Ukraine until George Stephanopoulos told him that they were. Trump had just promised that he would keep Russia out of Ukraine less than 30 seconds earlier during the same interview. Donald Trump is making it up as he goes along, and it laughable that he would claim to know more about foreign policy than President Obama. The backlash from his attacks on Capt. Khans family has sent Trump into a downward spiral that has included him throwing a baby out of his rally, stabbing Paul Ryan and John McCain in the back, and his own campaign trying to blame President Obama for the death of Capt. Khan that occurred four years before Obama was president. The nation is watching Donald Trump meltdown in real time before our very eyes. Trump is losing it, and his flip out on Fox was another step away from sanity. At this rate, Trump might not make it to Election Day. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The presidential campaign of Donald Trump is blaming President Obama for the death of Capt. Khan that occurred four years before Obama was president. Video: https://youtu.be/VAtxCRfU1g0 While appearing on CNNs The Situation Room, Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson dodged a question about whether or not Trump has apologized to Khan family, and then rewrote history, It was under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that changed the rules of engagement that probably cost his life, so I dont understand why its so hard to understand why Donald Trump was confused about why he was being held responsible for something that he had nothing to do with while Hillary Clinton had everything to do with. Army Capt. Humayun Khan bravely gave up his life to save others on June 8, 2004, when George W. Bush was president, not Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton did not have anything to do with Capt. Khans death. At the time, she was still the junior Senator from New York. The Trump campaign is lying about history to justify their candidates attacks on a Gold Star family. The people running Trumps campaign are almost as incompetent as the nominee himself. Republicans are in a tailspin that is growing worse by the hour, and not even the blame Obama card can save them from the growing disaster that is Donald Trump. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Democrats arent going to be satisfied with beating Donald Trump. The Democrats are aiming higher. Victory isnt enough. They want to destroy the man and his racist movement. The New York Times reported: Democrats, prompted by Mr. Trumps latest antics and the string of Republicans who have spoken out against him, have, perhaps prematurely, started discussing a loftier goal than just winning in November: a wide margin of victory, driven by a record turnout among black, Latino and young voters, that could help squash Mr. Trumps movement. David Plouffe, President Obamas former campaign manager, proposed the idea in June. It is not enough to simply beat Trump, he wrote on Twitter. He must be destroyed thoroughly. His kind must not rise again. It may seem premature, but it is important for the Democratic Party to aim high in this election. Democrats have an opportunity to change the face of the American electorate and crush the hate filled rhetoric of Trump. This election is more important than just winning the White House. Trump has turned the 2016 contest into a referendum on who the United States is as a country, and if Americans of good conscience will stand up for our common values as a people. Trumps candidacy is the outgrowth of years of Republican appeals to racism and bigotry. Democrats see a chance to squash Trumps appeals to the ugly underbelly of American culture, and they are going to take it. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus claimed President Obama secretly gave the Iranians $400M at the same time 4 Americans were released from their custody and linked to a Wall Street Journal story that has the right up in arms this fine Wednesday morning. Obama Admin secretly gave the Iranians $400M at the same time 4 Americans were released from their custody https://t.co/2BVbG56bCP Reince Priebus (@Reince) August 3, 2016 But as Adam Kahn, author of Hack the Bird pointed out, the White House discussed this money in a press briefing on January 19th, 2016 (my bold): Q Thank you very much. Appreciate it, Josh. On Sunday, we learned that the United States made a payment to the government of Iran of $1.7 billion. Was this tied to the deal that led to the freedom of the Americans that were being held in Iran? MR. EARNEST: Jon, this is actually the result of a long-running claims process that had been at The Hague. In 1979, there was obviously an Iranian revolution that abruptly severed relations between our two countries. And prior to that revolution, the U.S. government had entered into an agreement with the then-Iranian government to transfer about $400 million in military equipment to the Iranian government. Once the revolution took place, obviously that equipment was not transferred, but we also didnt return Irans money either. So that money essentially was held in what could, I think essentially in an escrow account. And for more than 30 years now, the Iranians have been using this claims process at The Hague to try to recover that $400 million. This resolution that we agreed to was to return the $400 million and also to pay about $1 billion in interest. Now, the reason that this ends up being a very good deal for taxpayers is that our exposure, when it came to paying interest, could have been much higher. The Iranians were actually seeking $7 billion to $8 billion in interest payments. And I think thats an indication of how the interests of taxpayers were very well served by reaching this settlement. Q Okay, but as I understand it, the Department of State announced this payment of $1.7 billion to the government of Iran just before the plane carrying the freed Americans landed in Geneva. Youre really telling me that this is an absolute coincidence that this payment just happened to coincide with the precise moment when the American prisoners were flying to freedom? MR. EARNEST: Jon, I think weve made pretty clear that this is not a coincidence. The fact is, these kinds of diplomatic opportunities Q So it was because Paul Ryan has suggested this was a ransom payment. You saw his statement. MR. EARNEST: Hes wrong about that. Speaker Paul Ryan made this accusation back in January. Someone might want to tell the Wall Street Journal this. This was addressed back in January as well, Ned Price, Spokesperson for the National Security Council, pointed out: Certain reporters and Republicans are also acting as if the interest is a new thing but nope to that as well, see the reference to the interest in the January press briefing above. It is now August 3rd, presumably enough time to read the press briefing. Perhaps Republicans are trying to make Donald Trumps claim that we gave Iran $150 billion for nothing look sane. Sorry, no go. The Hill wrote up this morning that the administration secretly sent this money to Iran, and then used a claim by Republican (Tehran) Tom Cotton, who wrote a widely mocked and criticized letter to Iran, to complete the argument: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said the transaction amounted to a $1.7 billion ransom to the ayatollahs for U.S. hostages. This break with longstanding U.S. policy, put a price on the head of Americans and has led Iran to continue its illegal seizures of Americans, he added. This is another example of two lies competing. One, the money wasnt secret and two, Republicans believe/feel this was a ransom exchange but of course, they cant prove it. So they just claim it as fact. This has been repudiated by the people who conducted the negotiations and while they could be lying, when we factor in track records for getting facts correct, Republicans dont come out on the winning side. However, I would be willing to bet that all negotiations for hostages involve trading something egregious to get the hostages back, that is what a negotiation is, and I would be willing to bet that if we all knew what was traded under any administration it would make us queasy. The problem of incentivizing hostage taking is a real one. So its a fair question to ask, but its hardly an established fact. The Hill even used language that directly references the January press briefing: The payment was part of a settlement over an arms deal from 1979, shortly before Iran went through a regime change. U.S. officials have denied that the payment was a ransom for the release of the prisoners. As weve made clear, the negotiations over the settlement of an outstanding claim were completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home, said John Kirby, a State Department spokesman. Heres an AP report from January, The Obama administrations $1.7 billion payment to Iran to settle an arcane, decades-old financial dispute is prompting questions among Republican lawmakers. Oh, so not so very secret if the AP knew about it. Huh. The first few paragraphs lay out the issue: The Obama administrations $1.7 billion payment to Iran to settle an arcane, decades-old financial dispute is prompting questions among Republican lawmakers trying to piece together the full scope of last weekends dramatic U.S.-Iranian prisoner swap and the lifting of many American sanctions on Tehran. The announcements timing, just after confirmation that three Americans left Iranian airspace, is leading to calls for investigations and shedding light on a little-known fund that the president can dip into when he wants to resolve international financial disputes. Legislative efforts are already afoot to curtail that ability. U.S. officials deny claims that the payment was a bribe to ensure the release of a total of five Americans traded for the freedom of seven people in legal trouble in the U.S. over business deals with Iran. Bottom line, it looks like Republicans are so desperate to distract from Donald Trumps insane mental break that theyre sifting through their faux Obama scandal boxes and handing out talking points to any reporter foolish enough to fall for the Benghazi emails implicate the Obama administration, but I cant show them to you so just tell people you read them scam from a Republican aide. Whatever you think about the Iran deal, the money is not a secret. If Republicans cant read and dont bother to use Google, that is hardly realitys fault. Edit 3:00 PM EST Thursday: Vox explains here why the ransom theory is DOA: But the Iranian negotiators on the prisoner exchange were not the same negotiators involved in the weapons deal settlement. Therefore, they couldnt make demands of the US team negotiating the weapons deal settlement, which means they couldnt negotiate a quid pro quo of money for hostage release, the definition of a ransom. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Holding up a Purple Heart, Trump quipped during a rally in Virginia Tuesday that, I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier. No doubt for those heroic sexual exploits he had bragged about to Howard Stern in 1997. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who lost both her legs in Iraq and partial use of one arm, got her Purple Heart the hard way, as she pointedly reminded Trump in a tweet Tuesday: .@realdonaldtrump, this is how one usually looks when you are awarded the Purple Heart. Nothing easy about it. pic.twitter.com/K59HLnzmhK Tammy Duckworth (@TammyforIL) August 2, 2016 Another Purple Heart recipient, Delaware Democrat and Marine veteran Sean Barney, who got his medal after being shot in the neck by a sniper in 2006, told Trump, No one should ever want one of these. Barney said Trumps comments were flippant and repugnant. Because usually, when you get one, youre not standing on a stage safe as can be, and theyre not something usually awarded to draft dodgers. Tammy Duckworth showed Trump what real sacrifice looks like. Of course, Trumps nemesis, Khizr Khan, who lost his son in Iraq in 2004, had something to say about Trumps accepting a Purple Heart from a supporter as well. Amid a flurry of white supremacist excuse making, Trumps attacks on the Khans have also been condemned by veterans groups and by veteran and former POW, Sen. John McCain, and many others. Sure McCain and other Republicans still endorse Trump, but take heart: By a delicious irony, reports suggest the Purple Heart given to Trump was, like all things Trump, a fake. The man who gave Trump his purple heart told me earlier today, it was a copy of his purple heart. Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) August 2, 2016 Your fake worthiness is rewarded, Donald Trump, by something as phony as you. Photo: Screen Capture Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print *The following is an opinion column by R Muse* Most Americans who are confronted by law enforcement officers are guilty of nothing more than exceeding the posted speed limit or rolling through a stop sign. Still, it is a little unnerving to be accused of violating a law by an armed police officer, particularly if the driver is an African American who, as a group, are more likely to be arrested, if not shot dead, than a white person. Now imagine an African American mans fear and anxiety when a sheriffs deputy rolls up on him as hes walking down the street in rural Sparta, Georgia where Blacks are arrested at a disproportionately higher rate than whites. In this particular case, the traffic stop was not over jay-walking, walking while intoxicated, or even walking while Black; it was for walking while being an African American registered voter. In Georgia, like many former Confederate and rust-belt states, the definition of voter fraud is being a Black registered voter. In Sparta, the predominately white County Board of Elections and Registration singled out over 180 African American citizens, a fifth of the citys registered voters, for interrogation over their voter registration prior to being purged from voter rolls. Just for the sake of terrorizing Blacks who dared register to vote, the white Elections Board dispatched deputies with official summons ordering them to appear and face questioning over their residency or lose their right to vote. As the Black man confronted by law enforcement for walking while registered to vote, Martee Flournoy, said, When I read that letter, I was kind of nervous. I didnt know what to do. In a lawsuit plaintiffs claimed what is glaringly obvious and a typical ploy since the conservative Supreme Court ruled racially-driven vote suppression is permissible and Constitutional; give an edge to white candidates in Spartas municipal elections and sure enough a white mayoral candidate won a very narrow victory in the November election. According to on elections official who documented the intimidation and purge of African American voters, Marion Warren, A lot of those people that were challenged probably didnt vote, even though they werent proven to be wrong. People just do not understand why a sheriff is coming to their house to bring them a subpoena, especially if they havent committed any crime. Warren did the right thing in raising an alarm, and besides carefully documenting Black voter purges, he alerted voting rights advocates who came to help preserve democracy. Of course, the county attorney, also a Republican state legislator, Barry A. Fleming, said the lawsuit is bunk and defended the racially-driven voter intimidation as a valiant effort by white Republicans to try restoring order to an electoral process tainted by corruption and incompetence. Obviously, to white Republicans corruption and incompetence, like being a registered African American voter, is not-so-subtle code for voter fraud. Besides, Fleming said, only a tiny fraction of the targeted voters, all African Americans, were ultimately purged from the rolls. It is likely every last one of the targets were intimidated sufficiently that many of them decided to be safe and avoid the ballot box. For the Republicans it meant mission accomplished and they likely sent a big thank you to conservatives on the High Court who eliminated any legal obstruction to racially-driven vote suppression. Prior to the Supreme Courts dismantling of a major part of the Voting Rights Act, the legality of specifically targeting African Americans was never in question because a state or locality had to get Justice Department pre clearance for blatant voter suppression laws. The idea of getting DOJ permission to send law enforcement officers to serve official summons on African Americans who were registered to vote was a Confederate states pipe dream. However, the SCOTUS conservatives concluded that racism no longer exists, especially in the former Confederacy, so white Republicans were entitled to intimidate and depress African American voters using any means at their disposal, including sending police to serve summons on African American voters. Up until now, the reports were that Republican legislatures only enacted ALEC voter ID laws or eliminated early voting with the specific intent of disproportionately depressing minority voting. But now it is being reported that there are numerous voting changes being implemented at the city and county level across the Aryan-South and Republican-controlled states that aspire to be in the Confederacy. This latest assault on democracy, particularly the right of people of color to participate in voting, is troubling indeed. As of late, three separate Republican-led states were assailed by three separate Federal Courts for enacting ALEC-written voter-ID laws, but they did not imagine localities Republicans control were implementing their own voter suppression laws using law enforcement to serve summons on African Americans commanding them to appear and suffer interrogation just to vote. It is more than likely that there are many more instances of city and county election boards devising all manner of tactics to depress the African American vote. It is unclear how many Republican election officials are using the natural fear of law enforcement as a vote suppression tactic, but if it is being reported at all, there is little doubt it is happening often. The real travesty of this Republican attack on democracy is that although the conservative Supreme Court wiped-out most of the Voting Rights Act protections, they also dispensed advice and counsel to the U.S. Congress to amend the VRA to account for state-level Republican racists who still believe voting while Black is election fixing and fraud. However, with Republicans controlling Congress and no intent to lose that control by allowing all Americans to vote, the VRA is dead in the water and one wonders how long before Republicans send police to harass and intimidate white voters who are registered as Democrats. Think it couldnt happen? African Americans probably thought they would never be confronted by police for being registered to vote, but this is America and doing anything, even being President, while being Black is reason enough for Republicans to cry fraud. Portfolio English Edition's premium content is available only for subscribers Learn about the hottest news of the day, along with immediate follow-up analyses and 1000's of exclusive articles with full access to the premium content. Register and apply for a 14 days free trial period. In my last column I stated, "In terms of operational management, the balance sheet provides insights where cash needs to be collected, inventory managed and bills paid. Here is your assignment for next week: What can the balance sheet reveal for a small business? Think about that." Wow! I even got a few responses with your answers. Thanks for reading this column and doing your homework. So, here is the issue for today. CEOs, how can you use a balance sheet to manage your business? First, look at your current and fixed assets. Current assets can be converted into cash within the next 12 months and include: ADVERTISEMENT Cash in the bank:Keeping track of cash and projecting what it will be in one to four weeks lets you know if you have sufficient funds to make payroll, pay your bills and pay yourself. Accounts receivable (A/R): You made the sale and incurred the cost of providing the product or service and now are waiting to be paid. Use your balance sheet to track if customers are paying on time or if you need to call and remind them payment is due. If you know customers are late on payments, you might consider holding off on subsequent sales. Some companies encourage prompt payment by offering a discount. The listing of when payments are due is called an accounts receivable aging statement. A financial ratio to help manage A/R is called days' sales outstanding. Inventory:If your business has inventory, you need to ensure you can meet projected sales and not have too much left over. A manufacturing business might have three levels of inventory, each of which needs to be managed raw material, in process and finished product while a retail clothing business needs to track inventory by style and size. A financial ratio to help manage inventory is called inventory turnover. Fixed assets will be around for more than 12 months and include: Vehicles, equipment and buildings:You need to track these for insurance purposes and probably depreciate the expense for tax purposes. Now let's look at your liability accounts. The first three types of liabilities are known as current liabilities, as they usually are due within the next 12 months. Accounts payable (A/P):Having vendors that allow you to pay on credit is wonderful. Track these obligations and make sure you pay on time. If that's not possible, contact the vendor and let them know when you will make payment. Vendors often provide discounts for prompt payment, so if you have the funds, do not miss the payment date. Purchases charged to your credit card are included in this section. ADVERTISEMENT Taxes:Keep track of sales tax collected from customers. This is not your money; you are the tax collecting agent for the government. Payroll taxes withheld from employee paychecks also are not your money. If you are using a payroll service (highly recommended), they should be handling this for you. Some jurisdictions collect personal property and real property taxes, and depending on your form of legal organization (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation), you also may have company state and federal income tax obligations. Loans:If you have any loans in which payments are due within the next 12 months, they are listed here. Do not miss any payment dates, as in some cases, this might cause your loan to go into default. Long-term loans:This includes mortgages where payment is due in more than 12 months. A financial ratio that combines current assets and current liabilities is called current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities). The ratio should be greater than 1, which demonstrates you have the financial resources to pay your bills. The third section of the balance sheet shows your net worth. Besides the personal satisfaction of knowing you are worth more each year, bank loans often have stipulations that net worth must be kept at a certain level, so you need to track your net worth to ensure you're not in default. Key lessons The balance sheet is one of the primary financial statements that can be used to manage your business on both a long-term and daily basis. ADVERTISEMENT While you may delegate the preparation of the balance sheet to an accountant or bookkeeper, it represents your business, so you should understand how to read it and use it. If there is such a thing as a baking gene, Maggie Dale likely has it. This young Rochester native and 2004 Mayo High School grad is making quite a name for herself in the world of savory and sweets, thanks to a life largely spent in the company of bakers. "Everyone around me my great-grandmother, my grandmother and my mother have always been from-scratch bakers," she said. "I was exposed to all of it from a very young age and now it is my passion." Her great-grandmother's recipes also served as inspiration. "She was known for her baking and baked daily for her family, even sharing breads and cakes with families at nearby farms," Dale said. "One of her specialties was angel food cake, which became our birthday tradition. My grandmother still bakes them for us, and when she can't do it anymore, I will." ADVERTISEMENT In addition to learning and observing at home, Dale also has experience in the restaurant business, thanks to Cynthia Daube's restaurant Jasper's, now closed. "I was looking for a job and answered her ad," Dale said. "Even though I knew nothing about the business, she hired me as the manager." With no experience? "When Cynthia found out I studied the cello in college, she said that cello players are disciplined and reliable," Dale said. "So, thanks to the cello, I got the job." (Daube also plays cello.) Dale worked at Jasper's for two years, all the while learning about not just good food, but also wines, even receiving her sommelier certification. Being young and adventurous, she decided to move on and ended up in Boulder, Colo., where she worked at a very small bakery whose specialty was cupcakes. "Most of what I learned about baking comes from my four years there," Dale said. "The owner taught me so much. She was a real mentor. I loved that it was a small place where we could know our customers, and knowing that they enjoyed what we baked was important to me. And still is." Though Colorado was wonderful, Minnesota is home and back she came. ADVERTISEMENT "I took classes at the culinary program at the Art Institute in Minneapolis for a short time, and also worked in several Minneapolis bakeries, ending up as a pastry assistant at Loews Hotel, across from the Target Center," she said. "What bothered me was the lack of a personal touch. Everything was mass-produced and I never saw the customers." Spotting a small ad, she was again hired quickly and now has what she describes as the perfect job, Empire Coffee and Pastry is a small bakery in northeast Minneapolis (451 Stinson Blvd.). It is owned by two sisters who give Dale creative freedom in how and what she bakes. Dale's day begins early, arriving at the bakery by 4:15 a.m., and she has the counters filled with at least 18 different things by the time the bakery opens at 6:30. Among the freshly baked items are a variety of cookies, croissants, Danishes, muffins, scones, turnovers,coffee cakes and quiche. There are also gluten-free and vegan options. Also important to her is that everything is done by hand, such as the rolling of the laminated doughs (croissants, Danish, puff pastry) . After she has finished filling the counters, Dale gets things prepped and ready for the next day. "Being part of a bakery like this is like a dream come true," she said. "I wake up excited to get there." ADVERTISEMENT Does she see herself having her own bakery one day? "No, but I would love to have a B&B (bed and breakfast), so I could serve guests fresh baked every morning." And finally, what about that cello, which definitely had a role in all of this? "I still play, but only once in awhile, like at church," she said. "Baking is what I love." Flower Power. Back in Black. Bold and Bedazzled. Good Things Come in Small Packages. These were just some of the categories of the more than 200 purses on auction at the 11th annual " Power of the Purse," June 14 at Rochester International Event Center. The event, hosted by Women's Leadership Council of Olmsted County, raised more than $60,000 to help children and youth reach their potential by providing early education experiences, after-school programs, reading tutors, mentors, and books. About 550 people attended the event, which included the purse auction, luncheon, and keynote address by Erin Gruwell, author of "The Freedom Writers Diary," the story of Gruwell's first year as a high school teacher for at-risk students in Long Beach, Calif. "It's a big day for our community to support children in need to help improve literacy rates," said Jerome Ferson, president of United Way of Olmsted County. "Money raised today supports a variety of programs, such as Success by Six and The Imagination Library, which sends 6,000 books every month to homes with children up to 5 years of age." This year's event chairwoman, Keri Norman, said, "This is our signature community event; it's all about the value of education. Those 60 books children receive between birth and age 5 put kids on the right track and provide a good foundation of literacy." ADVERTISEMENT Attendee Peggy Menzel, who brought her friend Joan Whiting, said she came to the event because it supports Imagination Library, and because "they always have great speakers." Menzel added that she knows several children who receive the books through the mail each month. "They absolutely love it; it's a great service," she said. Attendees Naomi Sternbergand Sarah Joneswork in school readiness in Byron. "What sold me on coming today was the speaker," Sternberg said. "She's very inspiring." "She never gave up on her students," Jones added. Esther Pfeifer, an elementary teacher for 35 years, attended with her friend Johnnie Smith, who taught junior high school for 30 years. "I'm in favor of books for kids. It's so good to start kids reading early. Start as early as you can," Pfeifer said. ADVERTISEMENT Ashley Kincaidattended the event with her mom, Deb Sauke, a teacher at Plainview-Elgin-Millville. Sauke said she came to hear Gruwell speak, particularly about kids, literacy, and writing. A number of book clubs attended Power of the Purse. " The Booksters" are a group of retired teachers, who have been together for 10 years. "Attending this event is a tradition for our group," said Dee Hollaren. "We enjoy the variety of speakers." The group's June reading selection was "The Freedom Writers Diary." "The author had a wonderful attitude towards education and students," Hollaren added. The Natterers book club,colleagues from the Department of Nursing at Winona State University, had also chosen Gruwell's book to read during June. "We're feeling inspired to perhaps use it in a course," said Sue Davies. ADVERTISEMENT Attendee Julie Ruzekis the District Facilitator of Family and Community Engagement for Rochester Public Schools. "Reading to kids is vital. The more books the better," she said. "Time on a caring adult's lap reading is invaluable. It's more important than any toy I can imagine. Have books in baskets all around the house, so kids can see they are an important part of life." The United Way's Women's Leadership Council engages women in leadership giving, advocacy and volunteering to improve lives in Olmsted County. For more information, visit www.uwolmsted.org/wlc . TWIN FALLS, Idaho 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 District's 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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 don't 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. ADVERTISEMENT About $72,000 of the school district's $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, there's a stronger focus on math and science. "That's 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 we've made that change to themes," Montano said. This summer, students went on field trips to the College of Southern Idaho's 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. It's still school ADVERTISEMENT 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 School's 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 who's 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 she'd 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 they'd 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. "We're 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. "What's a career?" Bautista asked on the first day. A boy raised his hand. "It's 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 they'll be in the workplace. It's 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. "I'm 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: Rudy's A Cook's Paradise. "They sell stuff to help you cook," Radmall told students, pointing out colorful strainers displayed in the store window. It's 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 owner's dog, but Reina was too scared and hurried past. "Don't 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 don't 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, we're being silly," she said. The class planned a trip the next day to CSI's 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 Idaho's 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 it's 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. "I'm 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 didn't 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, he'd be back in the farm fields. It's 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." Have fun while learning together in a PAIIR class this fall. Offering a variety of parent/child and parent-only classes, Parents Are Important In Rochester is Rochester Public Schools' Early Childhood Family Education Program. "PAIIR classes are open to all families with children ages birth to kindergarten enrollment," said Sara Lent, of PAIIR. "We offer semester-long classes, drop-in classes, one-time classes, and more." The PAIIR fall registration newsletter is available online. Copies are also available at the PAIIR office. First Draw for PAIIR classes takes place Wednesday, Aug. 10, at noon. "Everything prior to First Draw is open to Rochester families," said Lent. "After First Draw we open it to everyone else (families living outside the Rochester school district that want to attend PAIIR classes)." In the registration newsletter, families will find familiar favorites like the PAIIR Readiness Preschool Program (2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-day preschool options), TGIF (a parent/child drop-in class offered most Fridays, year round), and encore classes (the same families, in the same class, fall, winter and spring semesters). ADVERTISEMENT "We offer morning, afternoon, evening and online classes," Lent said. "PAIIR classes and our preschool classes are held at Northrop Education Center and RPS elementary schools." The registration newsletter also offers a variety of new classes including Creating Creativity, Parents and Pets, 10 Steps to Positive Discipline, Grandparents Parenting Again, and Terrific Tuesdays. "The new classes offer opportunities for kids to dress for a creative mess, for parents to learn more about bringing a new child into the house when you have pets, for grandparents who find themselves in the role of parent," says Lent. "We also have a new drop-in class, Terrific Tuesdays. It will run like our TGIF class, but it's on Tuesdays." PAIIR registrations may be dropped off, faxed, mailed, phoned, or completed online. There is a sliding fee scale for PAIIR classes. The chart, located in the fall registration newsletter, indicates how much families will pay for a class. Families whose circumstances dictate that they can't afford to pay for a class should call the PAIIR office. Big dog Take the kids to see "Beethoven," 9 p.m. Saturday at Movies in the Park. Sponsored by Premier Banks, and held in downtown's Central Park, Movies in the Park are free and are held select Saturdays this summer. Up next it's "Inside Out," Aug. 20. Visit www.downtownrochestermn.com to find out more. Where else?The History Center of Olmsted County's Movies Under the Stars offers family-friendly flicks, select Fridays, at dusk, this summer. Held outside on the History Center's Schmitt Field, up next it's "Antz" (Aug. 5), "The Sandlot" (Aug. 12), and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (Aug. 26). Tickets are $5, seniors and kids under 12 are free. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Concessions available for purchase. In case of inclement weather, the movie will be moved inside the museum. Go to www.olmstedhistory.com for additional details. -------------------- ADVERTISEMENT The ABCs of DIY Put your DIY skills to work at Home Depot's Free Kids Workshop. From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, at 3050 41st St. NW, kids (and their favorite big person) will build a skateboard pencil box. In addition to the DIY pencil box, kids receive a certificate of achievement, workshop apron, and commemorative pin while supplies last. Go to workshops.homedepot.com to register. Is there more?Build your own Marvel Avenger at Lowe's Home Improvement's Build and Grow Free Kids Clinic, 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at 4550 Maine Ave. SE. Kids will build Marvel's Black Widow. Visit www.lowesbuildandgrow.com to register. -------------------- Nature reads Get in a good read at Family Storytime with the Rochester Public Library, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. Held at the Quarry Hill Nature Center pond pavilion, 701 Silver Creek Road NE, family members of all ages will have fun with nature-themed stories, puppets, songs and more. Free. No registration. Call 507-328-2303 to find out more. What else?The Rochester Public Library hosts a variety of family-friendly programming including Bedtime Stories (Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.), BookBike at the Rochester Downtown Farmers Market (Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. to noon), and Get S'More @ Your Library (Aug. 31). Check out www.rochesterpubliclibrary.org to find more. -------------------- ADVERTISEMENT Star gazing Learn more about what's up there at Whitewater State Park's Campfire Astronomy program, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. Family members of all ages will meet inside the park's visitor center to learn more about planets and constellations. Then everyone will head outside, with park staff, to explore the skies. Free with State Park pass, $5 per day or $25 annual. Call 507-932-3007 to find out more. What's next?Whitewater State Park offers family-friendly programming year-round, free with a state park pass. Up next it's I Can Fish (Aug. 7), Owl Prowl (Aug. 12), and Fossil Field Trip (Aug. 13). Go online, www.dnr.state.mn.us , for a complete list of upcoming programs. DAKOTA A 47-year-old Dakota man was knocked down and couldn't move for several hours early Tuesday, and later required surgery. Winona County Sheriff Ron Ganrude said the man told investigators that he came home around midnight or 1 a.m., got out of his truck and was hit. He said he couldn't move because he was in such pain. A neighbor found him about 8 a.m. and the man insisted he be taken to the hospital by neighbors, not ambulance, the sheriff said. He was taken to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis.; deputies were called at 10:35 a.m. The victim was scheduled for surgery late Tuesday or early today. The man told them he has no idea who would hit him because he hasn't had any problems with anyone and nothing was taken, Ganrude said. Anyone with information about the assault is asked to call the sheriff's office at 507-457-6368. WINONA A woman made her first appearance in Winona County District Court Monday for charges that include the alleged possession of methamphetamine paraphernalia in the presence of child. Courtney Nicole Williams, 28, was charged with storage of methamphetamine paraphernalia in the presence of a child and fifth-degree controlled substance possession, both felony charges and possession of drug paraphernalia, a petty misdemeanor. Officers executed a search warrant at Williams' home on July 29, 2016; at the time Williams was home with her two children, according to the criminal complaint. Officers found "within ten feet of the trace methamphetamine and paraphernalia" was a child's race car bed. Officers concluded the methamphetamine was "accessible to children inside the home," according to the complaint. Also in the house was 26-year-old Andrew Hansen Anderson III. ADVERTISEMENT Inside the back bedroom there was a zipper pouch on the floor near the door, and another on a nightstand next to the bed. Inside was a pipe, digital scale and tubes. A portion of the white residue on the scales tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the complaint. When Williams and Anderson were told they were under arrest, Williams pleaded with Anderson to "take responsibility" for the items found in the bedroom. Anderson asked how he could be arrested when Williams claimed the bedroom as hers. Williams told her probation agent that the back bedroom was hers, according to the complaint. Williams history includes an April 2014 conviction for the presence of drug paraphernalia and two 2012 convictions for fifth-degree controlled substance crime, one in April and another in September. The maximum sentence for fifth-degree possession of methamphetamine is 10 years in prison adn a $20,000 fine, the minimum is six months in jail. The maximum sentence for the storage of methamphetamine paraphernalia in the presence of a child is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Both are felonies. The maximum sentence for possession of drug paraphernalia, a petty misdemeanor, is a $300 fine. A Wisconsin man was sentenced last Thursday to 41 months in prison for sexually assaulting a Rochester woman in 2012 at the Olmsted County Free Fair, the result of DNA match made to a registered offender nearly two years after the assault. Robert Michael Viner, 57, was sentenced for third-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony sentence, in Olmsted County District Court. Viner will serve 41 months in prison he'll be sent to the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud for evaluation, where the Minnesota Department of Corrections will determine the proper custody level for Viner and conduct a mental health evaluation, after which he'll be sent to another facility. After serving the sentence Viner will be under a 10-year conditional release. According to the criminal complaint, the victim was walking home from her shift at Seneca Foods around 10 p.m. on July 26, 2012, when Viner grabbed her and dragged her off the sidewalk. The assailant allegedly began choking her so she could not breathe or scream and sexually assaulted her. ADVERTISEMENT The victim was taken to the emergency room at Mayo Clinic Hospital-Saint Marys Campus, where she reported the assault. Rochester police officers searched the area for evidence but found nothing. The investigation was complicated by the fact the fair was taking place a few blocks away and many people walked by during the search, according to the complaint. The victim's sexual assault kit was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis. On July 29, 2014, the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory matched the DNA evidence in the kit to Viner, a convicted sex offender. Officers went to Viner's residence on Sept. 8, 2014, to obtain new DNA for additional testing. It was matched again on Sept. 26. Viner admitted he was in Rochester, staying in a camper on the fairgrounds property during the 2012 fair, but denied having sexual contact with anyone during his visit. "The predominant DNA profile from victim's sexual assault kit matches the DNA profile of Viner and would not be expected to occur more than once among unrelated individuals in the world population," reads the complaint. Viner was previously convicted of fourth-degree sexual assault in La Crosse County in Wisconsin. UPDATE:This story has been updated As of Wednesday, Aug. 3, to include additional campaign reports. The reports were filed and received by the city of Rochester on time but did not appear online until after the original publication of this article. Sean Allen has received more money from supporters and outspent his incumbent opponent in the race for the Rochester City Council's at-large seat up for election in November. In the race for the council's Ward 6 seat, the only race that will hold a primary election Aug. 9, Patrick Day has a significant fundraising and spending advantage over the other two candidates, Annalissa Johnson and Nick Carter. Candidates in the Ward 6 race were required to submit campaign finance reports for activity through July 29, 10 days prior to the primary. Rochester City Clerk Aaron Reeves said he had requested campaign finance updates from all of the candidates in council races, to avoid confusion. Randy Staver ADVERTISEMENT The incumbent council president has raised $12,675, according to a report filed by his campaign committee. Staver raised $3,000 from Jan. 1 through Feb. 7, and another $3,050 from Feb. 8 through Feb. 29. From March 1 through Aug. 2, Staver received another $6,625. His campaign committee also reported $2,977.73 in disbursements. The campaign committee reported $9,697.33 in cash on hand in its last report, Aug. 2. Staver has received contributions of $1,000 from Peter and Bari Amadio, of Rochester; Tim Neuner, of Edina; Joanna and Chad Benning, of Edina; Tom Hexum, of Rochester; Daniel Penz, of Rochester; Mark Kramer, of New Hampton, Iowa; and Merl Groteboer, of Rochester. Five of Staver's seven largest contributors work in construction, development, real estate or architecture. Staver contributed $300 to his own campaign in February. Sean Allen Allen, who is challenging Staver for the council president seat, has raised $14,633.27, according to a campaign committee's report. He has also received $882 in in-kind services. Allen's campaign committee reported $8,873.74 in cash on hand in its latest report, July 29. ADVERTISEMENT Allen received $2,700 from Jan. 1 though Feb. 19, and another $11,933.27 from Feb. 20 through July 27, according to public reports. Allen's campaign committee reported $5,763.09 in disbursements. Allen contributed $1,000 to his own campaign in February. He has received $1,000 donations from Annie Henderson, of Rochester; Patricia Allen, of Rochester; and David Allen, of Rochester. Other large donors include Robin Holst, of Plainview ($750); Jay Holst, of Plainview ($800); and Bridget Reuvers, of Northfield ($950). Ward 6 Day, a Ward 6 candidate, has raised $3,540 from May 31 through July 29, according to reports the candidate filed on his own behalf. He has also reported $3,3313.77 in disbursements and his last reported cash on hand total was $226.23, as of July 29. Day has received contributions from several of Rochester's recognizable names in business and development. They include Jim Miner ($100); Mac Hamilton ($100); Joseph Weis ($100); Joseph Powers ($250): Tom Hexum ($300); Barb Hexum ($300); and Gus Chafoulias ($150). Annalissa Johnson has received $700 in campaign contributions and $174 in in-kind services, she reported July 25. Johnson has disbursed $771, including the in-kind services. She reported no contributions from single sources of $100 or more. Nick Carter has reported no campaign contributions as of July 27. His campaign has disbursed $41. Ward 2 ADVERTISEMENT In the Ward 2 race, challenger Scott Hoss reported $9,535 in contributions in a two-week period, from May 3 through May 17. Incumbent council member Michael Wojcik has reported $4,805 in cash contributions so far, but he has not filed a report since Jan. 20. Ward 4 Incumbent council member Mark Bilderback reported $1,300 in campaign contributions through July 5. He reported no additional contributions or disbursements from July 5 through July 29. The Ward 4 challenger, candidate Nicholas Moucha, reported no campaign contributions and no spending in a July 29 report. AUSTIN Mayor Tom Stiehm was elected to serve as the secretary of the Coalition of Grater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) on July 22 during the organization's three-day summer conference in Austin. As an officer on the CGMC Board of Directors, Stiehm will assist in helping guide efforts to inform state legislators of Greater Minnesota's needs on issues such as property tax relief, economic development, transportation and environmental policy. Stiehm was elected by fellow mayors and city officials from across the state to serve in the leadership role to represent rural communities at the State Capitol. He will replace Bemidji City Councilor Ron Johnson, who was elected to serve as second vice president of the CGMC. "When it came to choosing officers for the upcoming year, electing Tom to the role of secretary was a no-brainer," said Tim Flaherty, executive director of the CGMC. "He has been an active member of the CGMC board for several years and can always be counted on to be a strong advocate for Greater Minnesota. We look forward to having him in a leadership position over the next year." WINONA Authorities have identified the man who was found dead in Gilmore Creek on Monday. The body of Terry Allen Block, 60, of Winona, was discovered in the creek by a passerby at approximately 8:36 p.m. The area above where Block was found is below a short, but steep embankment, according to the Winona Police Department, just east of Vila Street in Winona. Block was last seen around 5:45 p.m. Monday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Nothing during the initial or subsequent investigation indicates any type of foul play or anything suspicious, according to authorities. The case was referred to the medical examiner's office to determine the cause of death. Rochester City Council President Randy Staver and Sean Allen, a businessman and neighborhood activist who's challenging Staver for that job in the November election, will debate the issues in a Post-Bulletin Dialogue meeting at the Rochester Art Center tonight. Staver and Allen will join Managing Editor Jay Furst for a moderated conversation about key issues facing Rochester in the Destination Medical Center era. Furst has gathered advance questions from the public to lead the conversation, and the final 30 minutes of the 90-minute session will be direct Q & A with audience members. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Art Center, 40 Civic Center Drive SE. P-B Dialogue meetings typically are held at the Rochester Public Library, but this one is expected to draw a larger audience. The event will be videotaped by the library staff for posting at www.rochesterpubliclibrary.org . Staver , 59, has been council president since May 2013, when he won a special election to complete the term of Dennis Hanson, who died in June 2012. Staver was first elected to the council in November 2010 from the 5th Ward. He's a Rochester native, a 1975 graduate of Mayo High School and is a unit head in information technology at Mayo Clinic, where he has worked since 1980. Allen , 45, is co-owner of Forager Brewery and Kutzky Market in Rochester and also is a partner in a real estate consulting business, Midwest Landing. He was executive director of the Rochester Area Foundation's First Homes affordable housing initiative from 2001 to 2012. He's a graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield and was chairman of the Northfield Planning Commission. ADVERTISEMENT If you have questions or topics you want addressed at the event, send them to furst@postbulletin.com or go to the Furst Draft blog at Postbulletin.com. ST. PAUL A U.S. Court of Appeals panel ruled Monday against a former St. Paul teacher who was seeking reinstatement after resigning over racial discrimination complaints. Timothy Olmsted resigned his teaching position at St. Paul's Heights Community School after students accused him of racial insults and physical abuse against African American students during the 2011-2012 school year. His resignation came as the district was investigating the complaints. Later, Olmsted attempted to rescind that resignation and sued the district when it did not reinstate him. Olmsted claimed the district forced his resignation with threats and a misrepresentation of the facts against him. In upholding the district court's decision, the three-judge appeals court panel found no evidence for Olmsted's claims. Name:Tim Gabrielson Age:67 Hometown:Austin Occupation:Retired Political experience:8 years as 1st District Mower County Commissioner ADVERTISEMENT Mower County tax abatement plan The Mower County tax abatement plan started as a co-operative with the city of Austin, and our board felt that if we were to be involved, it should be available to all of Mower County. Its initial goal is to encourage people in need of housing to build new if possible. Shortage of affordable housing units There is a great demand for both single and multi-family housing. Transportation infrastructure Our roads and bridges, not only in Mower County but all over the state, have not been properly funded for the last 40 years. Our state has failed miserably to help fund this important infrastructure. The state has told us that in the next 10 years it will cut $10 billion and $50 billion in the next 20 years. If we don't at least do something on our own in greater Minnesota, we will be back to dirt and gravel, with many roads closed or abandoned. We are a farm-to-market county, and if our farmers can't get their crops into town, we are all in trouble. Name:James Williams ADVERTISEMENT Age:33 Hometown:Rural Brownsdale Occupation:Self employed / farm laborer Political experience:Red Rock Township Supervisor Mower County tax abatement plan Tim Gabrielson, Mike Ankeny and Polly Glynn have sold out our county, and it doesn't take a lot of imagination to guess who the buyers are. With this plan, Hormel and Mayo can now entice future executives, young professionals, nurses and doctors with new, tax-free housing safely segregated from the proletariat that works on the line and changes the bedsheets. The blighted parts of our community are now less likely to see the improvements that increased housing demand could have brought. This will keep rent prices low, better allowing the two big employers' wages to remain stagnant. Shortage of affordable housing units I completely disagree with the premise of the question. I have lived in at least six different Minnesota ZIP codes; 55912 has by far the most affordable housing out of them all. In short, it is none of the county's business, and we should do nothing. ADVERTISEMENT Transportation infrastructure At this time, the county should take no action on this matter. We must hold the state accountable. I would open a dialogue with other rural counties in an effort to collectively pressure our state to adequately fund rural infrastructure. I prefer not to further burden our residents with a sales tax that will not even significantly close the funding gap. If given time and an election cycle the residents of this state don't make it clear to our representatives that we expect better rural representation, I will consider a sales tax increase for transportation only. The increase should more completely close the funding gap. Name: Dan Vermilyea Age: 63 Hometown: Rural Lansing Occupation:Steele County Planning and Zoning Political Experience:Lansing Township Supervisor Mower County tax abatement plan By implementing a tax abatement plan, I feel Mower County is encouraging economic growth, community development and home ownership. These benefits will embrace the pillars of a healthy community, both socially and economically, by providing neighborhood stability, expanding the local market for affordable housing, promoting property owners to maintain their real estate investment, all while fostering the growth of our local economy. These benefits will encourage current and prospective property owners to establish root in the community, where families can grow and prosper and children can be educated to ensure that Mower County will continue to have great leadership throughout the community for years to come. Shortage of affordable housing units Affordable housing is a serious issue placing many people, young and old, in a financially difficult position. Many times these citizens are spending 40 percent to 50 percent of their income on housing, which is an unsustainable situation. Many times these are citizens on a fixed income or with a growing family. Their struggle has effects that ripple far beyond the individual families, contributing to some of the more pressing social issues such as chronic health conditions, persistent poverty and poor educational outcomes. Mower County needs to look at options to encourage home ownership. Communities with high home owner occupancy tend to be progressive and forward thinking. That is the goal that Mower County should strive to obtain. Transportation infrastructure Transportation infrastructure is a core function of county government. Mower County must provide quality roads and bridges to move people and products safely and efficiently. The word transportation is a broad statement that includes roads and bridges, buses, light rail and bike trails. It is a concerning fact that Mower County has allowed a core function of county government to deteriorate to this level. With my grass roots experience, knowledge and skills as a local elected government official, I believe I can lead Mower County to better prioritizing and spending of transportation infrastructure to better serve the greatest number of taxpayers. An ordinance that would set protections on historic properties in Rochester is in its final stages of review by the city's elected and appointed officials before heading to a public hearing for an official decision. The Rochester City Council at a Monday committee of the whole meeting went line by line through a draft heritage preservation ordinance . The council made edits from small wording changes to decisions on how properties could be added to lists of protected structures and the process for reviewing proposed historic properties. Those changes would be presented to the city's Heritage Preservation Commission at its next meeting later this month, the council agreed Monday. If further changes are recommended by the commission, the council would take another committee meeting to discuss more edits, Council President Randy Staver said. If the commission has no changes, or minimal changes, to the draft it could proceed directly to a public hearing at a council meeting, Staver said. The council has yet to address its funding commitment to historic preservation. Reviews of proposed historic properties by a third-party consultant are expected to cost $3,000 per case, City Clerk Aaron Reeves said. The council did not make a decision on whether it would cover those costs. ADVERTISEMENT The council would also consider matching property owners' participation in the program with incentives for preservation and appropriate re-use of historic properties. City Administrator Stevan Kvenvold has a proposal in the works for the city's funding component, reported Assistant City Administrator Gary Neumann, but Kvenvold was absent from Monday's meeting and city staff were not prepared to discuss the plan. The Historic Preservation Commission has not met since presenting the council with a draft ordinance in November. The commission would convene a meeting this month to review the council's changes to the draft, Reeves said. Ahkeem Brown Age: 26 Occupation: Owner and founder of Brown Advocating Inc. Political experience: None. What are the top three spending priorities of the city? ADVERTISEMENT Right off hand, one of my main issues is climate change. Spending money to make sure our environment is clean and safe for the future. Another is corruption in law enforcement. Too much money is spent on funding unnecessary training for police officers in small towns and a lot of places in Minnesota. They're spending too much money on law enforcement, and it goes toward killing. Putting more money into the community for more housing opportunities for people under the poverty guidelines, so there are more places for people to live and feel safe here. What steps should the city take to encourage growth? Starting with making it more diverse, more welcoming to other cultures. Make the housing more available for different kinds of people so everyone can feel welcome here and live. How would you balance historical preservation vs. business growth? I would like to preserve the natural beauty and history of Red Wing while still making it available for people to live here without taking away the culture of Red Wing, so people understand where they are living. Sean Dowse Age:67 Occupation:Retired in 2015 after 25 years as executive director of the Sheldon Theatre. ADVERTISEMENT Political experience:None. What are the top three spending priorities of the city? City budget: I will work with city staff on budgets to ensure our spending is effective, efficient and sustainable. We need to plan so that we can continue to meet the basic needs of everyone living in Red Wing regardless of the tax base. Infrastructure improvements: Continue to invest in improving Red Wing's infrastructure with projects such as the Red Wing River Town Renaissance project, the new Wisconsin bridge and projects to maintain our natural and cultural resources. Public safety: Ensure that our police, fire and emergency service departments have sustainable resources they need to protect our community and citizens now and in the future. I also will work to engage our minority communities more fully in dialogue with the city. What steps should the city take to encourage growth? I support the formation of a community development corporation focused on the downtown, because the city needs an organization poised to act strongly and swiftly developing and supporting public/private partnerships for economic growth in Red Wing. Through the mayor's power of appointment, I will encourage the city's boards and commissions and Red Wing 2020 to foster a culture of creativity, innovation and joint entrepreneurial endeavor. I will partner with Red Wing attractions, events and its hospitality industry, bringing them together to unify the city's efforts to increase tourism. How would you balance historical preservation vs. business growth? I don't see a new conflict between Red Wing's historic assets and business growth in the near future. If a conflict arises, the city has a process in place to balance the long-term benefits of preservation with the need for growth. That process needs to be transparent and engage citizens in active participation. Kevin Serres ADVERTISEMENT Age:54 Occupation: Owner, Kevin's Pilot Cars. Political experience:None. What are the top three spending priorities of the city? Education is No. 1. Fixing the streets and tourism. We should try to get a college in this town. We have the vocational technical institute, but we should have a four-year college, too. What you should ask them is where they will cut spending. What steps should the city take to encourage growth? First, we got to get housing. There's a lack of housing in Red Wing for the middle class. There are either slum apartments or high end houses. I think there's a lack of tourism in Red Wing. Red Wing is supposed to be a tourist town, and they don't do anything to promote tourism. How would you balance historical preservation vs. business growth? The city of Red Wing should be left alone. They shouldn't be tearing down old Victorian homes to put up parking lots. There should be no eminent domain for the government to take control of people's property. There are plenty of places on the north side of Red Wing for growth. Once the buildings are gone, they are gone forever. David Harris Age:81 Occupation:Retired surgeon. Political experience:Red Wing School Board, delegate to state conventions. What are the top three spending priorities of the city? Providing activities and programs that will bring youth into the community. Renew RW as a place of growth and opportunity. Promote Red Wing's commercial and recreational assets. Keep the city safe and beautiful. What steps should the city take to encourage growth? It needs to provide activities that will attract youth, both children and young adults. That includes better schools, and it includes jobs. How would you balance historical preservation vs. business growth? My honest reaction is business growth needs to come ahead of historical preservation. Historical preservation is important, but it mustn't come at the expense of sound business. Red Wing has a long history of preservation. One of the things you may recall is the Irish Row Houses that existed that are now a supermarket. I always felt it was time for them to give way to a profit-making supermarket. I'm a real lover of history, and I think history is something to learn from and not necessarily something to repeat. UTICA The 10th annual Utica Community/School Reunion will begin at noon Sunday at the Utica School, South Center St. in Utica . Bring a dish to pass for a noon potluck and spend the afternoon reminiscing with friends. Anyone with photos or memorabilia to share about Utica's history or the school are encouraged to bring those items. All those who live in Utica or the Utica area, are past Utica residents or attended the Utica School are invited. BURNSVILLE Inside the campaign headquarters for Jason Lewis, a half dozen volunteers sit in front of laptop computers with lists of potential voters to remind them about the looming election. They've contacted a few thousand people, and they'll aim to reach thousands more before primary day on Tuesday. Lewis keeps tabs on the progress while he sets out trays of cold cuts, raw vegetables and cookies to fuel the crew. "We figure if the universe is 18,000-20,000, we can get to 15,000, 16,000 people" before Tuesday, he said. Lewis is part of the Republican divide in the race for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District. The party has endorsed Lewis while the retiring Republican incumbent, Rep. John Kline, is backing someone else. Primary voters on Tuesday will decide who among the field of four Republicans moves on to a fall election expected to be highly competitive in a district that stretches from St. Paul's southern suburbs to Southeast Minnesota's Mississippi River towns. Endorsement advantage ADVERTISEMENT Lewis, a former conservative talk radio show host will have help on the ground with state Republican Party get-out-the-vote efforts. That's because Lewis won the party's endorsement this spring for the seat being vacated by longtime GOP Congressman John Kline. Manufacturing company owner Darlene Miller, former state Sen. John Howe and consultant Matthew Erickson also are on the ballot. Howe is the only one who's held office before and is pressing his legislative credentials. "With Congress it's just a two-year term, and you need to know how the system works," he said. "Certainly, my experience as mayor helped me be a better state senator. And my experience as state senator will help me be a better congressman." Howe, Miller and Erickson are playing catch-up, said Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Keith Downey. "Jason Lewis is very popular among Republicans. The endorsement still means a lot. And those other candidates had an extremely long way to go," Downey said. "I thought their primary runs were ill-advised in the first place." Not everyone shares Downey's view, including Kline, who endorsed Miller and starred in a television ad to promote her. Miller runs Permac Industries, a precision small parts maker in Burnsville. It's her first bid for public office. Ready to jump in ADVERTISEMENT "You know I'm not going there to serve for a lifetime. I'm going there to make a difference, jump in," said Miller, 67. "I was a rookie when I started manufacturing. But it didn't mean that I didn't jump in full force from day one. And that's what I'll do when I get into Congress." On a recent day in Lakeville, Miller went table-to-table at a coffee shop before heading outside to the weekly farmers market where she introduced herself and passed out business cards. There, Miller encountered Shari Piehl, who was there with her twin, 3-year-old granddaughters. The conversation is mostly about Kline, who nominated Piehl's son for an Air Force Academy slot years ago. "The fact that John Kline so carefully reflected our views and I feel like really listened to his constituents and the fact that he's endorsed her means more to me than the fact the Republicans endorsed Jason Lewis," Piehl said. Miller has gone hard at Lewis, criticizing him on foreign policy and noting he lives outside the district's boundaries even though that doesn't legally disqualify him. She also says provocative comments Lewis made during his quarter century on the radio are problematic. "There's just too many things that are on the record that are definitely going to come up against him in a general election and will make him lose." Of his residency, Lewis said he's just across the district line after the map was redrawn following the 2010 census, and that he's more in tune with voters in the 2nd District than Minnesota's 4th District. He said he expects his past radio comments to be blown out of proportion by opponents. "People will always try to take your words out of context for political gain. It's kind of sad that we've got Republicans using those Democrat talking points in a Republican primary now." ADVERTISEMENT But for Lewis, his days as radio's "Mr. Right" cut both ways. 'There's a bond there' "I feel as though I know thousands of people in the 2nd District already, and they feel as if they know me," he said. "They've heard what I've said over the last two decades. There's a bond there, a trust there that is very special between us. And it does help in a political race." Lakeville plumbing and heating company owner Dave Mix was an avid Lewis listener and has no doubts about where he comes down on things. "He's conservative. I don't know who his opponent is. I don't know her stance on many things. I do know Jason through the radio show. I just like his viewpoints on many issues." Lewis ran for Congress once before, in 1990, in a very liberal Colorado district. He got trounced and now calls it his "youthful indiscretion." Now 60 years old, Lewis is banking on a different result. It won't get any easier after next week. A well-funded Democrat, former medical device executive Angie Craig, and the Independence Party's Paula Overby await the Republican primary winner. Laurie Herington is a liberal Democrat, offering her electric car as evidence. Her husband, Rick Reese, leans the other way saying he isn't exactly pro-Republican but he is definitely anti-Democrat. Their four children from previous marriages are also split evenly between Democrats and Republicans. The tiebreaker would be their daughter, Veronica. But she's 6. Politically divided couples are at times viewed as novelties, with James Carville and Mary Matalin held up as a rare example. Yet families like Herington and Reese's, though far from the majority, are not uncommon. A recent study of "mixed partisan" households where couples divide into Democrat and Republican, or one spouse is the member of a political party and the other is independent concluded that about 3 in 10 married pairs fit that category. Emotions in those couples may run high. The political-analysis site Sabato's Crystal Ball has observed that, in this volatile presidential campaign, "we could see the largest gender gap in modern history." Turning down an interview request, one woman said her husband "gets too irate over political subjects" and they seldom talk about them. 'It's not a priority' Indeed, the study by Eitan D. Hersh of Yale University and Yair Ghitza of Catalist, which manages a national database about voting-age people found that 60 percent of Americans don't talk politics regularly. ADVERTISEMENT During a chat in their Ravenna, Ohio, home, Herington and Reese said that politics did not come up when they first met. Still, he had to navigate Herington's family her father is veteran Democratic politician Leigh Herington and drily noted, "He tried to indoctrinate me in whatever cult they're in." They do disagree. Reese said Donald Trump "is going to be a better leader than Clinton," while Herington called Hillary Clinton the best qualified candidate based on her long governmental experience. And they are well-aware of how the other will vote; Reese referred to his voting as playing defense, to cancel out Herington. (Hersh and Ghitza, in contrast, said mixed partisanship can lead to lower voter turnout than in relationships where couples agree politically.) Still, Reese said, "It's really not a conflict. It's not a priority in our relationship." "At the end of the day we know we care about each other, [and] we're here for each other," Herington said. Besides, politics is very fluid, especially these days. Hersh and Ghitza said that "80 percent of Americans do not have consistent ideological beliefs." "I try to make an effort' John Semilia of Stow, Ohio, embodies that. He was "never very political" when he and Lisa Craig met. A self-described independent, he described a journey that involved voting for Democrat John Kerry in 2004 because he despised George W. Bush, then elections that took him to the Libertarian Party, followed by interest in Republican candidate Ron Paul, who ran for president in 2008 and 2012. "I never considered myself a Republican," said Semilia, but this year he plans to vote for Trump. "The more I heard him speak I felt like he was very genuine and sincere. He was speaking to what I really thought were the problems in this country." ADVERTISEMENT Craig, meanwhile, has consistently been a Democrat, and this year is backing Clinton. When Semilia wants to watch a Trump speech on TV, she'll go to another room. "I'm definitely the more emotional of the two," she said. At the same time, in calmer moments, she asks her husband what he is thinking. "To this day, that's one of our secrets. I really want to know why. John is very thoughtful. He researches. He listens. When John has an opinion, there's reasons for it, and I am open to those reasons." "We've been on the same side a lot of times," Semilia said. Besides, he added, "We have so many other things in common. We love sports. We love animals. I try to make an effort, and she does, to do things that we enjoy doing together." And sometimes couples end up in the same place. Katie Singleton of Ellet is a longtime Republican, more conservative than Shawn Singleton, her "Democratic liberal" husband. "Initially when we were dating, [politics] wasn't talked about as much," Katie said. But Shawn has moved closer to her views and, she said, "After he 'saw the light' things were more agreeable." Now they watch the news together and discuss how events will affect their family, Shawn said. Olmsted County commissioners didn't really have a choice last week when asked to add five new full-time employees to the county's family support and assistance division. "If we don't add staff at this point, we're not going to make deadlines and people are going to end up with their Medical Assistance closing because we aren't going to be able to finish all the work each month," Heidi Welsch, director of Olmsted County's family support and assistance division, told the commissioners. The need wasn't a surprise. It's been discussed since the state rolled out new software to assist counties in managing Medical Assistance eligibility cases in 2013. In addition to dealing with software glitches, the county has seen a 40 percent increase in Medical Assistance recipients since 2013 as more residents discovered they were eligible due to federal health insurance requirements. While rumblings have been heard in recent years, the request didn't come until last week. Instead, county staff found ways to increase workloads without added help, aside from three people tapped when the new software rolled out. ADVERTISEMENT Legislation passed last year is forcing change. Answering concerns about incorrect Medical Assistance eligibility approvals, the Minnesota Legislature is requiring an annual review of each case, on top of work being done to simply keep the troublesome software system moving forward. It left commissioners without a choice. The staff is needed. There is nowhere else to trim. While the state reimburses 75 percent of the expense related to actually entering Medical Assistance cases into the statewide system, the county is on the hook for the rest of the cost -- an estimated $52,000 this year and $162,904 which includes 100 percent of costs for any duties unrelated to sitting in front of the computer. In other words, state lawmakers have shifted the burden to county budgets, leading to potential program cuts or tax increases this year. Commissioner Jim Bier justifiably lamented the fact that talking to state leaders rarely helps. He noted the only time counties were able to spur change was when people gathered at the statehouse in orange T-shirts to send a message about jails. Taking a cue, Director of Community Services Paul Fleissner offered to help print new T-shirts to raise awareness about Medical Assistance expenses. It's not a bad idea. A new approach is obviously needed. As state lawmakers continue efforts to cut taxes and serve as spending watchdogs, they don't appear to be paying attention to downstream effects, which could increase the problem. Forcing businesses to cut staff or raise prices to cover added property tax burden adds stress on the economy, which could produce greater demand for Medical Assistance and other programs. ADVERTISEMENT Since the county's family support and assistance staff has shown creativity when it comes to finding ways to do more with less, we're hoping they can harness some of that thinking to find ways to send a message to state lawmakers and officials. These are programs that cannot be cut further without hindering available health-care options for area residents, so it's time to send louder, more visible, messages about the impact of changes, especially the impact beyond the state tax dollars. If it takes T-shirts and loud voices, it will be worth it. In case you missed it, U.S. Muslim women were pretty loud throughout social media on Monday, despite Donald Trump's recent insinuation that Islam tells women to be quiet. My husband, kids and neighbors will tell you I'm pretty loud every day. Our united feminine outcry was in response to Trump's completely insulting and heartless comments against the parents (particularly the mother) of the fallen hero who scarified his life for his fellow soldiers in Iraq in 2004, Humayun Khan. Our stance came in the form of the hashtag #CanYouHearUsNow posted throughout Twitter and Facebook between 9 a.m. to noon. During that time, countless Muslim women, local and national, shared their pride in their faith while stating their status as mothers, teachers, organizers, activists, police officers and the list goes on and on. I wore a patriotic headscarf and posted a video with the U.S. flag behind me. This runs smack in the face against the passive, docile and oppressed image of Muslim women that prevails in our society, which was used and abused by Trump. There is a lesson to be learned. ADVERTISEMENT The most pivotal moment of either the Republican or Democratic national conventions was when the Khizr Khan, addressing Trump, took out his pocket-sized copy of the U.S. Constitution, questioning whether Trump had ever read it. Khan passionately shook the document in the air, beckoning his opposition to read its contents. That father's speech was succinct and powerful, exactly what was needed to deliver the intended message. As his wife, Ghazala Khan, proudly stood alongside her husband, she remained silent. To me, as a mother, her composure amidst the swelling crowd and applause, and no doubt the memories of her son, spoke volumes. She didn't need to utter a word. No one should ever question the silence of a grieving mother, but Trump did, accusing Ghazala of not being allowed to speak. To what level is there left for Trump to sink? The image of the foreign-born citizen holding high the Constitution was a wakeup call for all of America, not just for Trump. We all need to read and reflect on its contents on a regular basis. We need to put party politics aside and stop taking that cherished document for granted. We need to stop taking our rights for granted, freedom of religion being one of them. What better way to honor all soldiers who have given their lives for our country? This notion is reverberating throughout the country. Amazon.com has reported an astounding increase in the online sales of the Constitution. I myself placed an order for 10 pocket-sized editions, but was told they would ship in two to three weeks, no doubt needing a new stock. Once they arrive at my door I plan to distribute them in downtown Rochester. No matter what our creed, ethnicity, nationality or sexual identity, we all have a right to that document. We all have a right to benefit from its wisdom and to amend it when we are compelled. ADVERTISEMENT "We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union ..." Regina Mustafa, of Rochester, is the founder of Community Interfaith Dialogue on Islam and a member of the Post-Bulletin's Community Editorial Advisory Board. We have reached many milestones and witnessed plenty of success stories at the Guam Department of Labor during my current tenure, but I will b Read moreGDOL wants to be a part of your employment solutions The Black Lives Matter movement emerged as a force just about a year ago, following the killing of Ferguson, Missouri thug Michael Brown by a white police officer who was defending himself. The movement was predicated on a lie, namely that Brown was murdered without justification after he declared hands up dont shoot. The Obama Justice Department would demonstrate the falsity of this claim. The larger lie behind the Black Lives Matter movement is that American police officers are executing Black men. The evidence does not support this slander. Indeed, the evidence apparently doesnt even support the more plausible claim that police officers, as a result of overreaction to perceived threats, are killing more Blacks than a completely race-neutral response would cause them to. But the biggest lie of all is that the Black Lives Matter movement is a reaction to the loss of Black lives at the hands of the police. This was pretty evident from the outset. As a longtime observer of, and one time participant in, left-wing protests, the unrest in Ferguson seemed to me to have all the markings of generalized left-wing agitation opportunistically grafting on to the understandable protest over an unfortunate event. Now, more than 60 organizations associated with the Black Lives Matter movement have made scores of demands. The demands confirm that Black Lives Matter isnt about reforming the police in order to reduce shootings by cops, but rather about transforming America across-the-board in the interests of Black-centric socialism. The demands, which you can read here, are prefaced by this proclamation: Black humanity and dignity requires black political will and power. In response to the sustained and increasingly visible violence against Black communities in the U.S. and globally, a collective of more than 50 organizations representing thousands of Black people from across the country have come together with renewed energy and purpose to articulate a common vision and agenda. We are a collective that centers and is rooted in Black communities, but we recognize we have a shared struggle with all oppressed people; collective liberation will be a product of all of our work. Right of the bat, then, we see two remnants of late 1960s radicallism: the Black Power movement and worldwide liberationist ideology. Many of the demands also hark back to 1960s leftism; others are contained in this years Democratic platform. Some fit both categories. The demands are organized into six categories: 1. End the war on Black people. 2. Reparations (aka show us the money) 3. Invest/Divest 4. Economic justice 5. Community control 6. Political power Read the specific demands under any of these headings, and you will see that killings of Blacks by police officers have all along been the pretext for left-wing organizing. Here are the reparations demands: Reparations for the systemic denial of access to high quality educational opportunities in the form of full and free access for all Black people (including undocumented and currently and formerly incarcerated people) to lifetime education including: free access and open admissions to public community colleges and universities, technical education (technology, trade and agricultural), educational support programs, retroactive forgiveness of student loans, and support for lifetime learning programs. Reparations for the continued divestment from, discrimination toward and exploitation of our communities in the form of a guaranteed minimum livable income for all Black people, with clearly articulated corporate regulations. Reparations for the wealth extracted from our communities through environmental racism, slavery, food apartheid, housing discrimination and racialized capitalism in the form of corporate and government reparations focused on healing ongoing physical and mental trauma, and ensuring our access and control of food sources, housing and land. Reparations for the cultural and educational exploitation, erasure, and extraction of our communities in the form of mandated public school curriculums that critically examine the political, economic, and social impacts of colonialism and slavery, and funding to support, build, preserve, and restore cultural assets and sacred sites to ensure the recognition and honoring of our collective struggles and triumphs. Legislation at the federal and state level that requires the United States to acknowledge the lasting impacts of slavery, establish and execute a plan to address those impacts. This includes the immediate passage of H.R.40, the Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act or subsequent versions which call for reparations remedies. John and I wrote about reparations here. Here are the demands under Invest/Divest. A reallocation of funds at the federal, state and local level from policing and incarceration (JAG, COPS, VOCA) to long-term safety strategies such as education, local restorative justice services, and employment programs. The retroactive decriminalization, immediate release and record expungement of all drug related offenses and prostitution, and reparations for the devastating impact of the war on drugs and criminalization of prostitution, including a reinvestment of the resulting savings and revenue into restorative services, mental health services, job programs and other programs supporting those impacted by the sex and drug trade. Real, meaningful, and equitable universal health care that guarantees: proximity to nearby comprehensive health centers, culturally competent services for all people, specific services for queer, gender nonconforming, and trans people, full bodily autonomy, full reproductive services, mental health services, paid parental leave, and comprehensive quality child and elder care. A constitutional right at the state and federal level to a fully-funded education which includes a clear articulation of the right to: a free education for all, special protections for queer and trans students, wrap around services, social workers, free health services (including reproductive body autonomy), a curriculum that acknowledges and addresses students material and cultural needs, physical activity and recreation, high quality food, free daycare, and freedom from unwarranted search, seizure or arrest. A divestment from industrial multinational use of fossil fuels and investment in community- based sustainable energy solutions. A cut in military expenditures and a reallocation of those funds to invest in domestic infrastructure and community well-being. (Emphasis added) Prostitutes of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your criminal record. Its a long way from the justified killing of one Black man in Missouri to this sort of agenda. But in reality, of course, the agenda came first. The few unfortunate police shootings in recent times are just an excuse a recruiting tool for assorted leftists to exploit. Without further comment, I urge readers to check out the following intensely reported pieces on the spread of Islamist terrorism. Here they are, in reverse chronological order: Rukmini Callimachi, New York Times (August 3), How a secretive branch of ISIS built a global network of killers. Excerpt: Believing he was answering a holy call, Harry Sarfo left his home in the working-class city of Bremen last year and drove for four straight days to reach the territory controlled by the Islamic State in Syria.He barely had time to settle in before members of the Islamic States secret service, wearing masks over their faces, came to inform him and his German friend that they no longer wanted Europeans to come to Syria. Where they were really needed was back home, to help carry out the groups plan of waging terrorism across the globe. The video of Callimachi interviewing her star witness is below. Noemie Bisserbe, Wall Street Journal (August 1), European prisons fueling spread of Islamic radicalism (accessible here via Google). Excerpt: The rise of Islamic State has caught Europes prison systems flat-footed. Convicted terrorists, some of whom serve prison terms as brief as two years, sit atop the social pecking order in facilities like Fleury-Merogis. Many use jail time to forge ties with petty criminals from the predominantly Muslim suburbs that ring European cities, authorities say, grooming them for jihad missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syriaor attacks at home. Leo Hohmann, World Net Daily (July 6), [Minneapolis] woman gives chilling first hand account of Muslim rape threat. This is a story with a distinctly European feel to it. The virtual media blackout enhances the feel; somehow the Star Tribune has failed to pick up on this story. First reported by KSTP News, this story was originally brought to Hohmanns attention via Power Line; he quotes my post on it in his initial WND story. Through Hohmann, I asked the woman for an interview. She has not responded. In the adjacent post Paul Mirengoff extracts the key points from the page-one Wall Street Journal story by Jay Solomon and Carol Lee reporting the Obama administrations covert cash payment of $400 million to our enemies in Iran as they released four Americans they had detained. Omri Ceren has also emailed a useful summary of key points. Despite the repetition, I thought readers might find it of interest. Omri writes: (1) It was indeed a ransom payment negotiators originally established a formula of people for people: American nationals held by Iran for Iranian nationals held by America. But then the Iranians started demanding billions of dollars as well. Iranian officials later bragged they coerced the ransom out of U.S. diplomates The U.S. and Iran entered into secret negotiations to secure the release of Americans imprisoned in Iran in November 2014 The discussions initially focused solely on a formula whereby Iran would swap the Americans detained in Tehran for Iranian nationals held in U.S. jails But around Christmas, the discussions dovetailed with the old arms deal. The Iranians were demanding the return of $400 million They also wanted billions of dollars as interest accrued since then a report by an Iranian news site close to the Revolutionary Guard, the Tasnim agency, said the cash arrived in Tehrans Mehrabad airport on the same day the Americans departed. Revolutionary Guard commanders boasted at the time that the Americans had succumbed to Iranian pressure. Taking this much money back was in return for the release of the American spies, said Gen. Mohammad Reza Naghdi, commander of the Guards Basij militia, on state media. (2) The administration hid the details from Congress Lawmakers have been pressing the administration for six months to provide more details about how and where the money went, among other things because Iran has been transferring money for military purposes. Theyve made little progress The Obama administration has refused to disclose how it paid any of the $1.7 billion, despite congressional queries, outside of saying that it wasnt paid in dollars. Lawmakers have expressed concern that the cash would be used by Iran to fund regional allies, including the Assad regime in Syria and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization. The U.S. and United Nations believe Tehran is subsidizing the Assad regimes war in Syria through cash and energy shipments. Iran has acknowledged providing both financial and military aid to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and deploying Iranian soldiers there. (3) The administration used cash to dodge the effects of sanctions against Iran banks dont want to touch Irans financial system because of years of sanctions for terrorism, money laundering, etc. The State Department and Treasury Department enlisted the Swiss and Dutch governments to route hard cash to Iran to circumvent those problems The U.S. procured the money from the central banks of the Netherlands and Switzerland, they said Sometimes the Iranians want cash because its so hard for them to access things in the international financial system, said a senior U.S. official briefed on the January cash delivery. They know it can take months just to figure out how to wire money from one place to another. Mr. Kerry and the State and Treasury departments sought the cooperation of the Swiss and Dutch governments the Obama administration transferred the equivalent of $400 million to their central banks. It was then converted into other currencies, stacked onto the wooden pallets and sent to Iran on board a cargo plane. (4) Iran has taken more hostages since the deal and now is looking for another ransom Tehran went back to arresting American hostages after releasing the last round, and are now seeking another billion dollar deal in the last six months of the administration The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Obama administration secretly airlifted $400 million in cash to Iran in January at the same time Tehran was releasing four jailed Americans. The Journal, citing U.S. and European officials and congressional sources, says that Team Obama procured the money from central banks in Switzerland and the Netherlands. Reportedly, it was stacked on wooden pallets and flown to Tehran in an unmarked cargo plane. Why did the administration procure and send the dough in this fashion? Apparently, it was because the Iranians demanded hard cash, and with banks fearing sanctions for dealing with Iran, Obama needed the Swiss and Dutch governments to route the money to Iran. And, of course, the American people had to be kept in the dark. The money reportedly represented the first installment of a $1.7 billion settlement the administration reached with Iran to resolve a decades-old failed arms deal before the Iranian revolution in 1979. That settlement coincided with the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal. At the time, Obama said that with the nuclear deal done, prisoners released, the time was right to resolve this dispute as well. He did not, however, reveal the $400 million cash payment to the mullahs. The Obama administration denies that this payment was a ransom. It characterizes the payment as an installment payment on the resolution of the old dispute discussed above. Its more accurate, I think, to characterize it as ransom money (indeed, one could reasonably characterize the entire payment to Iran $1.7 billion in the end as a ransom). According to the Journal: The U.S. and Iran entered into secret negotiations to secure the release of Americans imprisoned in Iran in November 2014. . .The discussions. . .initially focused solely on a formula whereby Iran would swap the Americans detained in Tehran for Iranian nationals held in U.S. jails. . . . But around Christmas, the discussions dovetailed with. . .the old arms deal. The Iranians were demanding the return of $400 million [and] also wanted billions of dollars as interest accrued since then. . . . A report by an Iranian news site close to the Revolutionary Guard, the Tasnim agency, said the cash arrived in Tehrans Mehrabad airport on the same day the [hostages] departed. Revolutionary Guard commanders boasted at the time that the Americans had succumbed to Iranian pressure. Taking this much money back was in return for the release of the American spies, said Gen. Mohammad Reza Naghdi, commander of the Guards Basij militia, on state media. (Emphasis added) This chronology, including the timing of the release, makes Irans characterization of the payment far more persuasive than Team Obama. Moreover, the administration has consistently failed to level with the American public about its deals with Iran (among a great many other matters). However, one characterizes the payment, it has produced the inevitable effect of a ransom payment the taking of more hostages. The Journal points out: Since the cash shipment. . .the Revolutionary Guard has arrested two more Iranian-Americans. Tehran has also detained dual-nationals from France, Canada and the U.K. in recent months. . . . Friends and family of [one of the hostages] believe the Iranians are seeking to increase their leverage to force another prisoner exchange or cash payment in the final six months of the Obama administration. . .Iranian officials have demanded in recent weeks the U.S. return $2 billion in Iranian funds that were frozen in New York in 2009. The Supreme Court recently ruled that the money should be given to victims of Iranian-sponsored terror attacks. The Iranians recognize a cash machine when they see one. Barack Obama is their cash machine. The Journal also reminds us that at the time of the prisoner release, John Kerry and the White House portrayed it as a diplomatic breakthrough. Kerry cited the importance of the relationships forged and the diplomatic channels unlocked over the course of the nuclear talks. These relationships are important all right. They are the key to the mullahs obtaining the cash they need to get Irans economy going, thereby ensuring the continuation of their oppressive theocratic rule, and to prop up the murderous anti-American Assad regime in Syria. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the Multi-lateral Competent Authority Agreement on Exchange of Country by Country Report to check tax evasion by multinational companies operating in the country. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this known in Abuja on Wednesday, while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. He said the implementation of the report will give government a better grip on its tax laws. He said the movement of profits by multinational companies would be effectively monitored by relevant agencies of government once the report is implemented. In respect of the first memo, which is the memo for Multilateral Competent Agreement and the exchange of country by country report, the whole essence is to give the government a better grip on its tax laws and also to prevent tax evasions and avoidance by multinational companies. Where multinational companies operate in more than one country, it is quite easy for them to move profit from one territory to another territory, where the tax laws are very favourable to them. And what has happened over the years is that the revenue companies have lost a lot of money. As at the last count, over 1 trillion dollars have been lost over a period of time and the revenue companies found out that they were losing more money in terms of tax evasion and avoidance than what they were even receiving in terms of grants from multinational agencies, he said. The minister also disclosed that the council approved an outline Business Case for Development of Greenfield Port Facilities in Badagry, Lagos state. According to him, the approval is the first step towards the establishment of a new seaport in the Badagry area. What is important to us in the approval is that it shows that despite all the challenges that Nigeria is facing, Nigeria is still a very preferred investment destination, he said. Addressing the correspondents on the recently inaugurated Abuja-Kaduna commercial rail line, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi, dismissed reports that the fares that would be charged on the Abuja-Kaduna route would be on the high said. (NAN) A prominent traditional ruler in Ekiti State and former senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adebanji Alabi, has warned the Federal Government against closing Nigerias consulate-general in Buea, Republic of Cameroon, saying it would jeopardize the safety and interest of Nigerians living in the country. Mr. Alabi, who is the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, said the action could also weaken Nigerias diplomatic relation with Cameroon. In a statement in Ado Ekiti on Monday, Mr. Alabi, who served as the Vice Consul in Buea in 1992, said the former Nigerian prime minister, Tafawa Balewa, established the Consulate in 1961 to take care of the interest of Anglophone Nigerians who decided to join the French Colony out of interest. The Federal Government had last week approved the closure of about nine foreign missions, including the Consulate-General in Buea, rated to be of little diplomatic relevance, in order to cut down cost. The other affected missions include the Permanent Mission to the D-8 in Istanbul, Turkey; the Africa-South America Cooperation Forum (ASACOF) in Caracas, Venezuela; embassies in Belgrade, Serbia; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Kiev, Ukraine; Prague, Czech Republic; the High Commission in Singapore as well as Consulates in Sao Paulo in Brazil. Also approved for review is the number of officers at foreign missions, estacode for local travels and award of honorary consuls. Closing down Nigerias foreign missions because of economic recession might be a cost saving measure, but while this may be a welcome development, there is need for circumspection on the part of government not to hurt strategic interest of Nigeria through this closure, he warned. Importantly, the decision to close down the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Buea in Cameroon should be rescinded immediately in the politico-security interest of the country. The mission in Buea has consular responsibility for the Anglophone regions of Cameroon made up of the South West and North West Provinces. It is pertinent to state that the upsurge of transnational crimes in the gulf of Guinea is a critical and geo-strategic reason to retain the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Buea, a zone considered as of high security importance to the South Eastern flank of Nigeria. According to the traditional ruler, the policy, if executed by the Federal Government, would negate the unwritten and solemn agreement by Prime Minister Balewa that Nigeria wont neglect the 1.5 million local population in the two provinces in Beau, since the colonial era. The action, he said, could also expose Nigerians resident in the region to anguish, intimidation and harassment by Cameroons Gendarmerie, aside the security threat it poses to the country. He urged the federal government not to measure the relevance of the mission in terms of revenue generation, but should be analyzed in terms of relevance to national security. Indication of alleged infiltration of the zone by Nigerian freedom fighters, increasing activities of pirates, sea robbers, arms, human and drug traffickers through the creeks in this maritime zone made it of utmost imperative for the FG to keep maintaining this mission for the purpose of counter-measures against these transnational criminals, Mr. Alabi said. In all, government should realize that foreign relation is capital intensive and gains cannot be analyzed in terms of naira and kobo, rather national security and strategic interest of Nigerians must be critically considered before closing down any mission. Consulate-General of Nigeria in Buea, Cameroun is no doubt of strategic importance to Nigerias South-Eastern flank, hence this appeal to the Federal Government to allow the mission to continue to function in its present status. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, are currently engaged in battle over the control of the Ecological Fund. A bill proposed by Mr. Malami putting the management of the Fund under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is opposed by Mrs. Mohammed who is demanding that it should be placed under her ministry. The Fund is currently managed by the Presidency. Ecological Fund, an intervention facility set aside to tackle the multifarious ecological problems ravaging communities across the country, is currently under the Presidency. Such problems include soil erosion, drought, desertification, oil spillage, pollution, general environmental pollution, storm, tornadoes, bush fire, large scale livestock and crop epidemic, crop pest, landslide and earthquakes. The Fund was originally set up in 1981 through Federation Account Act (1981). It was later modified by Decrees 36 of 1984 and 106 of 1992, respectively and further modified through the Allocation of Revenue/Federation Account (modification) order of July 8, 2002. The Fund, which is drawn on first line charge, receives two per cent of accruals to the Federation Account. Chapter A15 (5) (4) of the Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account etc) Act says, An amount equivalent to two per cent of the Federation Account shall be paid into a fund to be administered by an Agency to be set up for that purpose for the amelioration of general ecological problem in any part of Nigeria, in accordance with directives as may be issued from time to time by the National Assembly. Between 2007 and 2015, the Fund got an average of N48,055,829,613 yearly as ecological fund. A total of N432,502,466,521 accrued to the Fund during the nine years. The proposed bill is entitled, A Bill for an Act to Establish the Ecological Fund Management Authority to administer and Solve Ecological Problems in Nigeria; and for Other Related Matters. The objectives of the 14-page draft bill as provided in Part 1 Section 1 are: -To provide a legal framework for the administration of the two percent allocations received from the Federation Account pursuant to the Allocation of Revenue (Federation, etc) Act Cap A15 LFN 2004; and -The two percent dedicated as Ecological Fund referred to in subsection 1 of this section or such other percentage of the monies in the Federation Account as may be allocated to the Ecological Fund by the National Assembly shall be administered as provided under this Act. In Part 11 entitled, Establishment of the Ecological Fund management Authority, (3), the bill seeks to move the Fund to the Office of the SGF. It says in Section 3 (1), There is established under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation a fund to be known as Ecological Fund (in this Act referred to as the Fund). Section Four describes the proposed Ecological Fund Management Authority as (a) a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal; (b) may sue and be sued in its corporate name; (c) may require, hold or dispose of any property, movable or immovable. Section 4 (3) says The Authority shall be located in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The bill also says the Fund shall have a Governing Board, which shall consist of a Chairman appointed by the President on the recommendation of the SGF; Director General of the Authority; a representatives each, not below the rank of Director from the following: Office of the SGF, Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal of Finance, Ecological Fund Office, National Emergency Management Agency, Office of the Accountant general of the Federation and Director General of the Authority. The bill also provide that members of the Board shall each hold office for a term of four years and may be reappointed for a further term of four years and no more. The Justice minister had sent the proposed bill to President Muhammadu Buhari, who in turn asked for inputs from the environment minister and the SGF. They were subsequently requested by the Chief Of staff to the President, Abba Kyari, in a letter dated June 20, with reference no SH/COS/156/A/254, to make inputs. In his reply dated July 4, with reference number SGF.22/1/70, Mr. Lawal commended the proposed bill and the Authority it seeks to establish, saying as I am convinced that the eventual passage of the bill and the creation of the Ecological Fund Management Authority will provide a more efficient management framework for the Ecological Fund, towards greater service delivery and good governance for the benefit of the entire country. According to him, the passage of the bill into law was a step in the right direction for the proper management of the Ecological Fund. The SGF however asked the COS to pay attention to some observations raised concerning substantive issues in the bill, which if addressed, would strengthen and add more value to the bill. Mr. Lawal also raised concerns about some provisions in sections 4, 5 (4), 10 (a), 12 (4), 14, 15, 21 and 22, which he wanted addressed before the bill was forwarded to the National Assembly. Save for the foregoing recommendation in paragraph 5 a-g aimed at strengthening and adding value to the bill, it is submitted that the bill and the agency it seeks to establish for the proper management of the Ecological Fund is not only desirable but represents a step in the right direction towards a more efficient and transparent management of the fund, the SGF said in the five-page letter. But in her reply to the COS letter, the Environment Minister said the management of the Fund should be placed under her ministry instead of the office of the SGF as spelt out in section 3 of the draft bill. The ministry is of the firm belief that the exigencies of the work of the Federal Ministry of Environment including the increasing incidences/complexities of ecological issues exacerbated by the impacts of climate change, as well as the need for Nigeria to achieve the targets and compliments approved by the Mr. President under our Internal Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) necessitates that the proposed Ecological Fund Management Authority be located under and within the purview of the Federal ministry of Environment, the minister said in the four-page letter dated July 15 with reference FMENV/HM/GEN/COS/40/7 to the COS. Cross cutting functions of other MDAs notwithstanding, the bulk of ecological problems serviced by the Fund is environmental in nature. The need to locate the Authority in the Federal ministry of Environment goes without saying, as other similar agencies are located within the purview of their supervisory Ministries. For example, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), is supervised by the Federal Ministry of trade and Investment, the River Basin Development Authority (RBDA) is supervised by Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Education. Mrs. Mohammed said going by her argument, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation should be substituted with the Federal Ministry of Environment in section 3 (c) to read as follows There is established under the Federal Ministry of Environment a Fund to be known as the Ecological Fund Office (in this Act referred to the Fund). The minister further suggested that section 4 (3) of the bill should read The Authority shall be located in the Federal Ministry of Environment. She also called for the institutionalization of NCEP under the chairmanship of the Minister of Environment and 14 members (permanent secretaries) representing relevant ministries as the Governing Board as enshrined in section 5 (1) & (2). According to Mrs. Mohammed, it would ensure transparency. She stated further, Thus, it is recommended that the constitution of the Board will be initial 14 NCEP members and the Honourable Minister of Environment, the Chairman and the Director-General being a Member/Secretary. She further proposed adjustment in sections 5 (4); 10 (c); 11 (b); 11 (c); 11 (d), all in Part 111 of the bill. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Mr. Malami and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, are working in concert to forestall placing the Authority under Mrs. Mohammed because placing such huge allocation to the Fund under her would make her uncontrollable, especially because she is already influential within the administration. Presidency insiders said the standoff between the officials has effectively stalled the processes for the creation of the Ecological Fund Authority. Cesspool of Corruption The Ecological Fund has lately become a cesspool of corruption. Between 2007 and 2011, the Fund was allocated a total of N217 billion, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria. It got N32,698 billion in 2007; N43,284 billion in 2008; N39,032 billion in 2009; N43,568 in 2010; and N58,876 billion in 2011. Records also show that the total allocation to the Fund from Statutory allocation for the period under review was N164 billion, representing 76 per cent of total allocation while allocation from the Excess Crude Account was N53 billion, representing 24 per cent of the total allocation. However, in one of its reports, NEITI, a transparency agency, said some of the disbursements were not utilised for the purpose for which the Funds was established. The implication is that the disbursement ended up in the wrong place. NEITI also said funds were released to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, Federal Capital Territory Authority, States Governments, National Emergency Management authority, the military and Ministries, Departments and Parastatals. It reported that while N6.75 billion was released to the FCDA, N93.76 billion was released to the federal government, N10.46 billion to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government, N10.06 billion to the military, N23.77 billion to NEMA and N15.40 billion to state governments to solve ecological problems. Also, N56.91 billion was released to the Office of the SGF Ecological Fund Account for execution of various ecological projects in different locations across the country. It specifically said that the sum of N93,768,951,164 was released as loan to the federal government during the years under review for funding of budget deficits and advance to states and local governments to meet shortfalls in their revenue. It added, As at December 2011, only N20,000,000,000 advanced to states and local governments has been repaid. The balance of N73,763,952,164 granted as loan to the federal government to fund budget deficit was still outstanding as at that date. Consequently, NEITI in its recommendation said, The Fund was established as an intervention facility to address serious ecological problems across the country, however, our audit revealed that disbursements were made to beneficiaries outside the purpose of setting up the fund. As such, we recommend a comprehensive audit of the inflows and outflows from the fund be conducted to ensure transparency in the administration and application of the account. The audit should be carried out on transactions from inception of the fund to date. Many government functionaries had been accused of using the fund to enrich themselves. Issues about the Ecological Fund were never known until the build up to the 2007 general elections when former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, accused each other of mismanaging the fund. Some years ago, the Senate was informed by its Committee on FCT that N9.3 billion Ecological fund due to NEMA was not released to it. Also, in 2010, the House of Representatives expressed worry over strange withdrawals and loans to agencies and persons totalling N146.59 billion, largely irrelevant to the objective of the fund. A former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly diverting N1.162 billion Ecological Fund, meant for the state to private companies and individuals. Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said he was against the disintegration of Nigeria, saying he was working with other leaders to find solutions to the renewed crisis in the Niger Delta. Mr. Jonathan spoke to journalists at the presidential villa after a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. The former president, who met with Mr. President Buhari for about 15 minutes, said he was at the villa to report his international engagements to the incumbent president. One key thing is that having been a head of a government, a former president you become a state property, thats the privilege you have. But every privilege has its corresponding responsibility, and once you become a state property, most of your international engagement, that has to do with public addresses and some international assignment becomes a national assignment, you brief the president. Even when I was here the former presidents used to do that and see me. I have been coming but most times I come in the night thats why you dont see me. I came to brief the president about some of my engagements. As you are aware I will be leading the AU elections monitoring team to Zambia, I came to brief the president about some of this external engagement. It is the tradition, he said. Mr. Jonathan said he was staunchly opposed to the secession of any part from the country. He said Nigeria was only termed great because of its size and diversity and not necessarily because of its oil. Its not just about me but about all the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders that are of the Ijaw ethnic nationality; we have been in touch to see that peace reigns in the country, Mr. Jonathan said. Those of you that have followed my talks when I was here, my emphasis is that we need a united Nigeria and I always emphasize that Nigeria is great not just about the oil so many countries produce more oil than Nigeria nobody notices them. We are great because of our size, the human resources we have, the diversity we have, if we fragmentise the country into small components we will be forgotten by the world. A group known as Adaka Boro Avengers had threatened to declare an independent Niger Delta Republic on Monday, but said it cancelled the plan following the intervention of Mr. Jonathan and other leaders in the area. That has been my focal position and without peace, there cannot be development anywhere in the world, the former president said. We are all working collectively to see that issues are resolved. On the ongoing anti-corruption campaign that has seen several of his former appointees arrested and prosecuted, Mr. Jonathan said he would speak when most of the court cases are resolved. I dont want to talk about that one because there are too many cases that are in court, it will not be fair to make comments, I will talk at the appropriate time when most of these things are resolved, he said. The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Wednesday warned the police, military and para-military and other uniformed personnel against boarding its Ogun/Lagos Mass Transit Train (MTTS) without ticket. The Lagos Railway District Manager, Jerry Oche, gave the warning while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Mr. Oche said nobody was exempted from purchasing a ticket to board the train. The management is not under any obligation or agreement with the uniformed men or organisations not to pay for their ride, he said. He added that the situation was not limited to those in uniform alone but to civilians also irrespective of their status in society. It is a grievous offence for anyone to board the train without paying, he said, lamenting that uniformed men were in the habit of entering the train without ticket. There is no law in the country which stipulates that anyone should board the train without ticket either in uniform or not. According to him, the penalty for joining the train without ticket does not exempt anyone. It has come to the notice of the management that many passengers, including uniformed men usually board the train without ticket. The management wishes to say that boarding the train without ticket has no exception and is a serious offence for defaulters regardless of status. If one is caught without a ticket, he pays double the fare inside the train. But if the passenger refuses and is taken to the police station, he pays N25,000 fine and because the police cant keep him beyond 24 hours, he will be taken to court. I have also noticed it on few occasions that I was in the train that uniformed men dont buy tickets and I forced them to pay and they paid, he added. The manager added that the management had noticed that some checkers on train deliberately did not demand for tickets from uniformed men aboard. According to him, the checkers have every right to check and call for the arrest of any passengers without ticket, uniform or no uniform. (NAN) Commercial printers and brand business owners have lamented the recent ban on the distribution of gift items and souvenirs at events organised by agencies of the federal government. The government had on Saturday announced the ban on procurement and distribution of bags, T-shirts and other souvenirs at events such as conferences and seminars funded by the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Some of the commercial printers in Abuja who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said the ban was ill-advised and that it would hurt their businesses. The provost of the Commerce Plaza Tenant Association, Oloruntoba Kehinde, who lamented the ban, said it would his affect the business of the printers, negatively. He alleged that the measure might have stemmed from sharp practices of some government officials who inflate prices of items they are asked to purchase. There is wastage of funds. An office may need N200,000.00 for souvenirs but may end up demanding thrice or quadruple that amount, so its not about printers, he said. Admitting that the current federal government could fashion out its own policies best suited to it, Mr. Oloruntoba said his association hoped that the policy would be reversed soon. He said, We are hoping that at the end of this tenure, the policy will be revoked. As it is now, printers will find it hard to adjust to the ban. A graphic artist, Stephen Adeboye, told this newspaper that the ban would adversely affect his business, because the government decision is equivalent to taking food out of the mouths of commercial printers. He added, First of all, the printing contracts we got from government agencies before now, were not even direct but more of third party contracts. Now, even those are gone, just like that. We understand the government wants to cut costs but what about us, printers with families to feed. Anthony Akerele, a brand artist, said the federal government did not care about the current economic condition in the country. The ban is not bearable at all, he said. The souvenir printing was one avenue for us to take care of ourselves and our families. This action is the same as taking candy from a baby, who does that. Sylvester Edetanlen, a printer said government may likely force some printers whose very livelihood depended on government souvenirs out of business. Ever since the ban, demands for my services have dropped by 50 per cent. This is a serious problem for me and many others who feel cheated for doing honest work, Mr. Edetanle said. However, Kayode Oladujoye, a branding businessman, said the change made no difference to his business as government agencies and parastatals do not patronize his business. For the past 6 months, prior to the announcement, we have been trying to get contracts from government offices to no avail. They often say there is no money. So, its always a surprise when we see branded gifts carrying the names of these same agencies. A printer, Eniola Saba, said he was not bothered about the ban because government workers would still patronize commercial branding and printing business owners for personal events branding. I believe that the federal government ban is an attempt to plug unnecessary spending on events within the MDAs, but it has no effect on our business because MDAs workers still have their personal events. Their need for such personal events will make up for whatever loss we will incur from the ban, he said. The Bayelsa State senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, came under fire on social media on Tuesday for his comment that the Buhari administrations war on corruption was not a witch-hunt. The remark was interpreted by many as a contradiction of Mr. Murray-Bruces previous criticisms of the government. The tweet, posted on Monday, said those accused of corruption should prove their innocence, and not claim that they were unjustly targeted. The admins anti-corruption war isnt a witch hunt. In my opinion, we need it. If youre innocent, prove your innocence. Dont say witch hunt! Mr. Murray-Bruce wrote. The post earned Mr. Murray-Bruce immediate reprimand from social media users, with some accusing the lawmaker of hypocrisy, and citing some of his previous tweets. Critics referred to Mr. Murray-Bruces tweet on June 22 that the only business booming in Nigeria today is the business of arresting and detaining. Some recalled how Mr. Murray-Bruce repeatedly complained about the alleged overbearing influence of President Buhari on the activities of anti-graft agencies, and how he decided to initiate a bill to strip the executive arm of control over the ICPC and the EFCC. The lawmaker had earlier this year proposed the Independent Prosecutor Bill, a legislation calling for election and direct funding of an anti-corruption czar that the president and Senate cant control. Commentators also expressed dismay at Mr. Murray-Bruces argument that those accused of corruption should prove their innocence, against the long-standing legal doctrine that the burden of proof rests on the accuser. How @benmurraybruce now subscribes to placing the onus of guilt on an accused in the fight against corruption, is all shades of perplexing, Charles Ohia, a known supporter of Mr. Bruce, tweeted. Other critics suggested that Mr. Murray-Bruces ongoing run in with the government over his companies failure to settle their debt might have contributed to his seeming soft-pedaling on the government. Nigeria has a lie detector called EFCC and a Truth Serum named AMCON. Ask Ben Bruce, one user, Victor Asemota, tweeted on Tuesday. Mr. Murray-Bruces Silverbird Group and its subsidiaries were seized by Assets Management Company of Nigeria last month after negotiations to get the companies to pay about N11 billion credit they obtained from Union Bank fell through. Mr. Murray-Bruce could not be reached for comment for this story as his known telephone line was switched off. An Emirate airline flight travelling from Trivandrum International Airport in Thiruvananthapuram, India, to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday caught fire after landing at the Dubai International Airport, reports say. A total of 300 passengers and crew aboard the plane were safely evacuated, authorities of the airline said. We can confirm that there are no fatalities among our passengers and crew. All passengers and crew are accounted for and safe, Emirates said. All flights at the Dubai airport have been suspended, with Emirates saying it expected a four-hour flight delay across its network. Below is a statement by Emirates Airlines: Emirates Media Statement 4: 14:23, Wednesday 3 AUG 2016 Emirates can confirm that today, 3 August 2016, flight EK521 travelling from Trivandrum International Airport in Thiruvananthapuram, India to Dubai has been involved in an accident at Dubai International Airport. There were 282 passengers and 18 crew on board. The Boeing 777 aircraft, departed at 10.19am from Trivandrum International Airport and was scheduled to land at 12.50pm at Dubai International Airport. We can confirm that there are no fatalities among our passengers and crew. All passengers and crew are accounted for and safe. We are expecting a 4-hour network wide delay, more information will be available on the Emirates website and social media channels. The main priority remains with those involved and offering support to concerned family and friends. Dedicated telephone lines are now active for family members: UAE 8002111 UK 00442034508853 US 0018113502081 For members of the media, the Emirates Press Office in Dubai is now activated: 00971 4 708 37 13 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned an associate of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Abiodun Agbele, before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja. He was arraigned on an 11-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N1,219,000,000 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Nineteen Million Naira). The money is part of N4, 685, 723,000, (Four Billion, Six Hundred and Eighty-five Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty-three Thousand Naira) allegedly transferred from an account belonging to the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria. Mr. Agbele was arraigned alongside a former Minister of Defence for State, Musliu Obanikoro; Sylvan Mcnamara Limited; Lt. A.O Adewale; Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye (all at large). One of the charges reads: That you, Abiodun Agbele, Musliu Obanikoro (now at large), (while being the Minister of Defence for State), Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, LT. A.O Adewale (now at large), Tunde Oshinowo (now at large) and Olalekan Ogunseye (now at large) (while being the sole signatory to the Zenith Bank account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited) sometime between the 4th day of April, 2014 and 13th November, 2014, conspired amongst yourselves to commit illegal act to wit: laundering the sum of N4, 685, 723, 000.00 being sum transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser with Central Bank of Nigeria by Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) which you knew or reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) the then National Security Adviser, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (As amended in 2012) and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act. Mr. Agbele pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him. In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, Johnson Ojogbane, asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand the accused person in prison. However, counsel to the accused person, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, urged the court to grant the accused person bail on self-recognition, adding that the accused person had earlier been granted administrative bail by the Commission. But Mr. Ojogbane kicked against the application, while seeking accelerated hearing of the case. According to him, the accused is in touch with others at large. After listening to both counsels, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ordered the accused person remanded in Kuje prison and fixed Thursday, August 4, 2016 for ruling on the bail application. The senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has appealed to the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to reconsider the planned demolition of the Gbagyi Villa built on a piece of land belonging to Kaduna Polytechnic. He made the appeal on Monday while interacting with the executive members of the Kaduna South Local Government chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria. Let me state my position clearly on the planned demolition of the Gbagyi Villa land belonging to Kaduna Polytechnic, Mr. Sani said. It is insensitive to destroy homes of thousands of innocent people in an attempt to prove a point by the Kaduna State Government. There should be a triangular meeting made up of the management of Kaduna Polytechnic, the Gbagyi Villa community and the Federal Government meeting from which the state can serve as an observer. There is nothing dialogue cannot solve. The state government can use executive power to destroy and demolish buildings. It can get back the land but it cannot get back the peace. The academic community of the polytechnic must live in peace with the community of Gbagyi Villa for them to be able to live peacefully and perform their function without any fear. The senator pleaded with Mr El-Rufai to come out with an alternative to the plan to re-settle the people of Gbagyi Villa, adding that there was a need to learn to address problems using the best instrument of dialogue, civility and humility. He stated, My appeal to the state government is to reconsider the demolition that is likely going to send thousands of people into homelessness. We have never promised our people in any of our campaign promises we made that when we come over we are going to demolish their homes. Mr. Sani described cattle rustling and kidnapping as a major social and economic challenge in Nigeria. He said it was an issue that bothered on economy, environment, peace, national security, national unity and collective wellbeing of Nigeria. I see Fulani cattle breeders as victims of decade of neglect and abandonment by past northern leaders who had presided over the affairs of government in the country, he said. It is equally very unfortunate now when people are running to leaders, the leaders are running to mosque and churches seeking prayers and miracles. Those who made promises to the poor must sit back home and address them rather than seek spiritual solutions to political promises made. He blamed the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for allegedly being a major contributor to the current bad situation in the country. He however said the current administration should not continue to blame its predecessor without laying a clear direction for the future. Mr. Sani said the problem of the Niger Delta region was hurting Nigeria today because it was not tackled early enough. In the same vein, the senator said Nigerians should stop blaming the Fulanis because out of the billions of naira expended on agriculture, not a fraction of it was given to the Fulanis for their livestock. Earlier, the Secretary of Miyetti Allah, Kaduna South chapter, Adamu Kabila, lamented the spate of cattle rustling and kidnapping of Fulanis. The situation has degenerated to an extent that security agents have neglected their several complains allowing kidnappers to operate freely with even money counting machine for their kidnap loots around Birnin Gwari forest, he said. He alleged that security agents terrorize Fulanis and seize the cattle which they parade as ones recovered from rustlers. After the meeting, a three-member committee was constituted to look into the plight of the cattle breeders. The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, accused a former senator, Magnus Abe, of embezzling funds meant for the construction of a road in Ogoniland. Mr. Wike made the allegation while addressing Ogoni people at Bodo City, a statement, containing details of the event, sent to PREMIUM TIMES by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said. He said former Governor Chibuike Amaechi awarded Kpopie-Bodo City oad construction contract to Mr. Abe, who, he said stole the contract funds. The former administration gave Senator Magnus Abe a contract of over N4 billion to construct this Kpopie-Bodo City Road and he embezzled the money, said Mr. Wike. I am here to physically inspect this road. I hereby direct the State Ministry of Works to complete the road. It is unfortunate that he abandoned the Bodo section of the road because of his dislike for Bodo people. I have also directed that the road be fitted with street lights for beautification. He added that Sakpenwa-Bori Road was being constructed by CCECC, boasting that his administration works with first grade construction companies. Mr. Wike said the former senator wasted years in the Senate without attracting development to his people. I have disgraced the immediate past administration of APC in Rivers State by working where they failed to work. I have reached out to Ogoni people through projects that is why they are pained by the acceptance we enjoy. I will continue to develop Ogoni land and ensure that the people enjoy the benefits of good governance denied them by the immediate past APC administration where Senator Magnus Abe played a prominent role in defrauding Rivers State, the governor said. He added, Just like I love Ikwerre people, that is how I love Ogoni people. While I was a Minister, I attracted projects to Ikwerre land and also attracted N500m grant to Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori. As governor, I am committed to development projects across the state and the proofs are everywhere. Mr. Abe could not be immediately reached for comments for this story. The Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday said his administration has reduced crime rate in the city by 70 percent since January this year. Mr. Ambode spoke while receiving the acting Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, who was on a courtesy visit to the Lagos House, Ikeja. The governor, however, noted some ugly points still emanating along the states waterways. Governor Ambode specifically requested more police patrol of the waterways, assuring that his administration would play its own part by ensuring the welfare of officers in the line of duty is assured. We want to partner with you to keep our waterways safe, we need a greater presence of Marine Police across our waters and we also know that we can support them by providing gun boats. But again we want to say that we would take proper care of welfare of police officers who are assigned to Lagos, Mr. Ambode told the police boss. Several communities in Lagos had come under heavy onslaught from militants and vandals in recent weeks, prompting a joint military action involving the Nigeria Army, the Police and other security agencies. The Lagos governor commended the police and other security agencies on the fight against the hoodlums which was tagged Operation Awatse. We need to sustain and ensure that these people do not go back to the creeks, said Mr. Ambode. On our part as a government, whatever it is that it takes to take the militants and vandals off Lagos we are going to do it, if it means shutting down some locations where they seem to be hibernating in terms of any commercial trade, we would do it and make sure that we guarantee the lives of our people and whatever it takes in terms of financial support for the security agencies to sustain the success weve had in the last few days, we would do it. Earlier, the IGP who said he was in Lagos to visit some police formations in the state commended the State Governments support and cooperation to the Police and other security agencies in recent time, saying that the synergy between security agencies and the Lagos State Government was worth emulating. He also commended the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), saying that it was a model that other states of the federation can take a cue from. When I was Commissioner of Police in Kano State, we had to travel to Lagos to understudy the Security Trust Fund. So it has served as a model for other states in the federation. the IGP said. He also promised that the police would continue to deploy the best of its officers in the country to the state. The National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Osita Izunaso, on Wednesday at the partys national secretariat in Abuja inaugurated a seven-member Screening Committee and three-member Screening Appeal Committee for the 2016 Ondo State governorship election primaries. The seven-member Screening Committee is chaired by Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi. Other members are Joe Igbokwe, Fatsuma Talba, Felix Nwachukwu, Aminu Jacob Momoh, Mustapha Abubakar and Umar Duhu (Secretary). The three-member Screening Appeal Committee is chaired by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Agunwa Anaekwe. Other members are: Sadiq Abdullahi and Dr. Bashiru Ajibola (Secretary). The APC national organising secretary charged the seven-member Screening Committee to carry out comprehensive due diligence of all documents submitted to the party by aspirants. He said all candidates must meet eligibility requirements provided by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), the Partys constitution and the Partys 2014 guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public office. He said: The assignment of this committee is a very serious one. You are expected to look at the qualifications of the aspirants that have bought forms to contest for the Ondo state governorship on the platform of our party. Their qualification must be looked at in line with the 1999 Constitution and in line with our Partys guidelines as well. You must also make sure aspirants have paid the N5million for the nomination form and N500,000 for the expression of interest form. There must be evidence of this payment. You must also look at the aspirants contribution to the Party at ward, state and even at the national level. You must also look at their knowledge of the Partys manifesto. The APC National Organising Secretary said the screening exercise is mandatory for all aspirants and aspirants are not to be screened by proxy. It is the screening committees responsibility to verify all documents submitted by aspirants. As much as possible, you have to see originals of documents submitted to the committee. The reason being that if we present a candidate that is not qualified, even when we win the election, we might still lose it. INEC is not going to screen candidates for us. That is why this assignment is very important, Mr. Izunaso said. Speaking at the inauguration, the Chairman of the Screening Committee, Governor Ajimobi expressed confidence that the APC would win the Ondo state governorship election. He also said all aspirants would be treated fairly and justly during the screening exercise. It is indeed our pleasure, honour and privilege to be given this opportunity to serve our Party particularly on this onerous task of screening some of our members who are interested in becoming the governor of Ondo state, the governor said. We are expected to be fair, just and ensure that those that we choose would definitely become the next governor of Ondo state. I believe once we are fair, once we look for quality, there is no doubt that we will win in Ondo state. As some of us are known as jinx breakers, anything we touch wins, this will not be an exception. Whoever we choose, I can guarantee, we will win. The Chairman of the Screening Appeal Committee, Mr. Anaekwe also spoke at the inauguration. He said, The assignment we have is one that can make or mar the Party as far as the Ondo state governorship election is concerned. I also want to assure the party leadership that we are going to do our very best to ensure that whoever is qualified to contest the election is allowed to contest the election so that at the end, the people of Ondo state will have that right to choose who their flag-bearer will be. According to the time-table and schedule of activities for the conduct of the Ondo State 2016 APC Governorship Primary Election released by the APC National Organising Secretary, sale of forms commenced at the Partys national secretariat from Tuesday, July 19 to Friday August 5, 2016. Governorship nomination forms are being sold for N5 million while intending aspirants are expected to pay N500, 000 to pick expression of interest form. The forms are free for female aspirants. The last day for submission of completed forms is Monday, August, 8 at the APC national secretariat. The Screening of aspirants will be conducted in Abuja from August 9 to Friday, August 12. The Primary Election will hold Saturday, August 27. Election Appeal will hold from Monday, August 29 to Thursday September 1, 2016. Pope Francis on Sunday morning celebrated a mass ending this year's World Youth Day at the Misericordiae Campus in Brzegi, east of Krakow. Following is the English translation of the Popes address published on the Vatican's website. "Dear young people, you have come to Krakow to meet Jesus. Todays Gospel speaks to us of just such a meeting between Jesus and a man named Zacchaeus, in Jericho (cf. Lk 19:1-10). There Jesus does not simply preach or greet people; as the Evangelist tells us, he passed through the city (v. 1). In other words, Jesus wants to draw near to us personally, to accompany our journey to its end, so that his life and our life can truly meet. An amazing encounter then takes place, with Zacchaeus, the chief publican or tax collector. Zacchaeus was thus a wealthy collaborator of the hated Roman occupiers, someone who exploited his own people, someone who, because of his ill repute, could not even approach the Master. His encounter with Jesus changed his life, just as it has changed, and can daily still change, each of our lives. But Zacchaeus had to face a number of obstacles in order to meet Jesus. It was not easy for him; he had to face a number of obstacles. At least three of these can also say something to us. The first obstacle is smallness of stature. Zacchaeus couldnt see the Master because he was little. Even today we can risk not getting close to Jesus because we dont feel big enough, because we dont think ourselves worthy. This is a great temptation; it has to do not only with self-esteem, but with faith itself. For faith tells us that we are children of God that is what we are (1 Jn 3:1). We have been created in Gods own image; Jesus has taken upon himself our humanity and his heart will never be separated from us; the Holy Spirit wants to dwell within us. We have been called to be happy for ever with God! That is our real stature, our spiritual identity: we are Gods beloved children, always. So you can see that not to accept ourselves, to live glumly, to be negative, means not to recognize our deepest identity. It is like walking away when God wants to look at me, trying to spoil his dream for me. God loves us the way we are, and no sin, fault or mistake of ours makes him change his mind. As far as Jesus is concerned as the Gospel shows no one is unworthy of, or far from, his thoughts. No one is insignificant. He loves all of us with a special love; for him all of us are important: you are important! God counts on you for what you are, not for what you possess. In his eyes the clothes you wear or the kind of cell phone you use are of absolutely no concern. He doesnt care whether you are stylish or not; he cares about you, just as you are! In his eyes, you are precious, and your value is inestimable. At times in our lives, we aim lower rather than higher. At those times, it is good to realize that God remains faithful, even obstinate, in his love for us. The fact is, he loves us even more than we love ourselves. He believes in us even more than we believe in ourselves. He is always cheering us on; he is our biggest fan. He is there for us, waiting with patience and hope, even when we turn in on ourselves and brood over our troubles and past injuries. But such brooding is unworthy of our spiritual stature! It is a kind of virus infecting and blocking everything; it closes doors and prevents us from getting up and starting over. God, on the other hand, is hopelessly hopeful! He believes that we can always get up, and he hates to see us glum and gloomy. It is sad to see young people who are glum. Because we are always his beloved sons and daughters. Let us be mindful of this at the dawn of each new day. It will do us good to pray every morning: Lord, I thank you for loving me; I am sure that you love me; help me to be in love with my own life! Not with my faults, that need to be corrected, but with life itself, which is a great gift, for it is a time to love and to be loved. Zacchaeus faced a second obstacle in meeting Jesus: the paralysis of shame. We spoke a little about this yesterday. We can imagine what was going on in his heart before he climbed that sycamore. It must have been quite a struggle on one hand, a healthy curiosity and desire to know Jesus; on the other, the risk of appearing completely ridiculous. Zacchaeus was public figure, a man of power, but deeply hated. He knew that, in trying to climb that tree, he would have become a laughingstock to all. Yet he mastered his shame, because the attraction of Jesus was more powerful. You know what happens when someone is so attractive that we fall in love with them: we end up ready to do things we would never have even thought of doing. Something similar took place in the heart of Zacchaeus, when he realized that Jesus was so important that he would do anything for him, since Jesus alone could pull him out of the mire of sin and discontent. The paralysis of shame did not have the upper hand. The Gospel tells us that Zacchaeus ran ahead, climbed the tree, and then, when Jesus called him, he hurried down (vv. 4, 6). He took a risk, he put his life on the line. For us too, this is the secret of joy: not to stifle a healthy curiosity, but to take a risk, because life is not meant to be tucked away. When it comes to Jesus, we cannot sit around waiting with arms folded; he offers us life we cant respond by thinking about it or texting a few words! Dear young friends, dont be ashamed to bring everything to the Lord in confession, especially your weaknesses, your struggles and your sins. He will surprise you with his forgiveness and his peace. Dont be afraid to say yes to him with all your heart, to respond generously and to follow him! Dont let your soul grow numb, but aim for the goal of a beautiful love which also demands sacrifice. Say a firm no to the narcotic of success at any cost and the sedative of worrying only about yourself and your own comfort. After his small stature, after the paralysis of shame, there was a third obstacle that Zacchaeus had to face. It was no longer an interior one, but was all around him. It was the grumbling of the crowd, who first blocked him and then criticized him: How could Jesus have entered his house, the house of a sinner! How truly hard it is to welcome Jesus, how hard it is to accept a God who is rich in mercy (Eph 2:4)! People will try to block you, to make you think that God is distant, rigid and insensitive, good to the good and bad to the bad. Instead, our heavenly Father makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good (Mt 5:45). He demands of us real courage: the courage to be more powerful than evil by loving everyone, even our enemies. People may laugh at you because you believe in the gentle and unassuming power of mercy. But do not be afraid. Think of the motto of these days: Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy (Mt 5:7). People may judge you to be dreamers, because you believe in a new humanity, one that rejects hatred between peoples, one that refuses to see borders as barriers and can cherish its own traditions without being self-centred or small-minded. Dont be discouraged: with a smile and open arms, you proclaim hope and you are a blessing for our one human family, which here you represent so beautifully! That day the crowd judged Zacchaeus; they looked him over, up and down. But Jesus did otherwise: he gazed up at him (v. 5). Jesus looks beyond the faults and sees the person. He does not halt before bygone evil, but sees future good. His gaze remains constant, even when it is not met; it seeks the way of unity and communion. In no case does it halt at appearances, but looks to the heart. Jesus looks to our hearts, your heart, my heart. With this gaze of Jesus, you can help bring about another humanity, without looking for acknowledgement but seeking goodness for its own sake, content to maintain a pure heart and to fight peaceably for honesty and justice. Dont stop at the surface of things; distrust the worldly cult of appearances, cosmetic attempts to improve our looks. Instead, download the best link of all, that of a heart which sees and transmits goodness without growing weary. The joy that you have freely received from God, please, freely give away (cf. Mt 10:8): so many people are waiting for it! So many are waiting for it from you. Finally let us listen to the words that Jesus spoke to Zacchaeus, which to be seem meant for us today, for each one of us: Come down, for I must stay at your house today (v. 5). Come down, for I must stay with you today. Open to me the door of your heart. Jesus extends the same invitation to you: I must stay at your house today. We can say that World Youth Day begins today and continues tomorrow, in your homes, since that is where Jesus wants to meet you from now on. The Lord doesnt want to remain in this beautiful city, or in cherished memories alone. He wants to enter your homes, to dwell in your daily lives: in your studies, your first years of work, your friendships and affections, your hopes and dreams. How greatly he desires that you bring all this to him in prayer! How much he hopes that, in all the contacts and chats of each day, pride of place be given to the golden thread of prayer! How much he wants his word to be able to speak to you day after day, so that you can make his Gospel your own, so that it can serve as a compass for you on the highways of life! In asking to come to your house, Jesus calls you, as he did Zacchaeus, by name. All of us, Jesus calls by name. Your name is precious to him. The name Zacchaeus would have made people back the think of the remembrance of God. Trust the memory of God: his memory is not a hard disk that saves and archives all our data, his memory is a heart filled with tender compassion, one that finds joy in erasing in us every trace of evil. May we too now try to imitate the faithful memory of God and treasure the good things we have received in these days. In silence, let us remember this encounter, let us preserve the memory of the presence of God and his word, and let us listen once more to the voice of Jesus as he calls us by name. So let us now pray silently, remembering and thanking the Lord wanted us to be here and has come here to meet us." (PAP) ( Read 8113 Times) Udaipur, "After the Dalits historic protest in Gujarat, it will be the Adivasis of the whole country who will rise up in rebellion against the Modi government." This was stated by Brinda Karat, former MP and the member of the polit bureau of CPIM. She was here in Udaipur for the National workshop of Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch which began on 31st July, 2016 at the CPM office , Machla Magra Udaipur. In an interview Brinda Karat said that the policies of the BJP government are forcibly displacing lakhs of Adivasis from their homeland. It is not displacement from their habitat alone but also from every sphere of their lives including land, forests, language, culture and sources of livelihood. The "Gorakshaks" have become "Deshbhakshaks" and Forest Protection Service has become Forest Eviction Service". People have realized the worth of empty slogans of Modi government and are now not willing to be fooled again. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will fight against this repressive policy of the central government and the state governmentsThe three day workshop ended on Tuesday. More than one hundred Adivasi leaders from fourteen states gathered for this workshop. In all five formal sessions were held in which the Forest Rights Act, Right to Information Act, PESA Act etc. were discussed and the leaders were trained to understand ideological issues, issues of youth and women.Brinda Karat felt that awareness building among Adivasis, developing initiative and widespread organizational work needs to be undertaken. She said that the ruling BJP and its subsidiary organizations talk of nationalism. What they talk about is fake nationalism. The real struggle against the colonial powers was carried on by the Adivasis and their leaders like Birsa Munda. Unfortunately, the history of Adivasis and their role in national struggle for freedom has not been written. Their contribution has never been recorded. Ms. Karat said that there is a need to write the history of the Adivasis.Talking of the central issues before the Adivasis today, Ms. Brinda Karat said that the central issue is the violent and coercive displacement from every area of their lives including land, forest, livelihood, language and culture. Italy's Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan waits for the start of an euro zone finance ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 11, 2016. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir ROME (Reuters) - Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said on Wednesday the country's banks are not in systemic crisis and pose no threat to other banking systems. Padoan was addressing parliament in Rome the week after two of its largest banks, Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS.MI) and UniCredit (CRDI.MI) fared badly in regulatory stress tests. "The Italian banking system is not in systemic crisis nor is it a source of vulnerability for other banking systems," Padoan said. (Reporting by Isla Binnie) 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. Brazils Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. ITUB posted second-quarter 2016 recurring earnings of R$5.58 billion ($1.59 billion), down 9% year over year. Including non-recurring items, net income came in at R$5.52 billion ($1.57 billion), down 7.7% year over year. Results displayed decreased managerial financial margin along with lower revenues from insurance, pension plans and capitalization operations. Additionally, the increase in non-interest expenses was a headwind. However, results reflected strong balance sheet position. Stable Revenues; Costs Escalate; Strong Capital Position Operating revenues of R$26.5 billion ($7.55 billion) in the reported quarter was almost in line on a year-over-year basis. Managerial financial margin decreased 3.5% year over year to R$16.6 billion ($4.73 billion). Annualized net interest margin with clients came in at 10.8%, up from 10.7% in the prior-year quarter. Revenues from insurance, pension plans and capitalization operations decreased 5.6% from the prior-year quarter to R$2.1 billion ($0.60 billion). Itau Unibancos non-interest expenses came in at R$11.4 billion ($3.25 billion), up 8% year over year. Moreover, expenses for provision for loan and lease losses increased 9.9% on a year-over-year basis to R$6.3 billion ($1.8 billion). In the quarter under review, the efficiency ratio was 46.7%, exhibiting an increase of 350 basis points (bps) from the prior-year quarter. An increase in the efficiency ratio indicates decreased profitability. The non-performing loan ratio (loan transactions more than 90 days overdue) was 3.6% in the reported quarter, increasing 60 bps year over year. Itau Unibancos credit portfolio, including endorsement, private securities and sureties, reached R$608.6 billion ($185.2 billion) as of Jun 30, 2016, down 5.4% year over year. As of Jun 30, 2016, Itau Unibancos total assets amounted to R$1.40 trillion ($0.43 trillion), up 4.7% from the end of the prior-year quarter. Assets under administration stood at R$835.2 billion ($254.2 billion), up 17.8% year over year. Yet, annualized recurring return on average equity decreased to 20.1% in the reported quarter from 24.7% in the prior-year quarter. As of Jun 30, 2016, estimated BIS ratio was 18.1%, up 90 bps year over year. Outlook For 2016, the company expects loan loss provision net of recovery in the range of R$23 billion R$26 billion. Moreover, non-interest expenses are anticipated to increase in the range of 2%5%. Moreover, the total credit portfolio is expected in the band of -10.5%5.5%, while commissions and fees are estimated to increase 4%7%. Managerial financial margin with clients is expected in the range of -2.5%0.5%. In Conclusion The merger with Chile-based bank CorpBanca (BCA), in a stock-plus-cash offer, enhanced Itau Unibancos presence in Chile where it had ventured in 2007 through the acquisition of the operations of BankBoston. Later in 2011, it acquired HSBCs premium banking operations. Further, this has helped the company gain better market traction in Latin America with its entry into Peru and Central America, apart from its foothold in Chile, Columbia, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Though Itau Unibancos diversified product mix and solid capital levels are encouraging, increasing competition, elevated expenses and the stressed conditions in the Brazilian economy pose significant risks. Story continues BANCO ITAU -ADR Price BANCO ITAU -ADR Price | BANCO ITAU -ADR Quote Itau Unibanco currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Competitive Landscape Deutsche Bank AG DB reported net income of 20 million ($22.6 million) in the second-quarter 2016, significantly down on a year-over-year basis. Income before income taxes came in at 408 million ($460.7 million), down 66.8% year over year. Lower revenues and higher provisions hurt the results. However, the reduction in non-interest expenses was a positive factor. UBS Group AG UBS reported second-quarter 2016 net profit attributable to its shareholders of CHF 1.03 billion ($1.06 million), down 14% year over year. The results were impacted by a 22% year-over-year decrease in net interest income and a 7% drop in net fee and commission income, partially neutralized by a 15% increase in net trading income. Another foreign bank The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc RBS is expected to release results on Aug 5. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report UBS GROUP AG (UBS): Free Stock Analysis Report DEUTSCHE BK AG (DB): Free Stock Analysis Report ROYAL BK SC-ADR (RBS): Free Stock Analysis Report BANCO ITAU -ADR (ITUB): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research ZURICH, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The organizers of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil have taken delivery of the latest generation of BEREG KIT anti-doping bottles from Berlinger Special AG of Switzerland. This latest version of these special bottles, which are used to prevent tampering with anti-doping samples, has been manufactured in Switzerland since the end of April 2016 under the tightest security conditions, and is globally acknowledged to be the most secure of its kind. The new BEREG KIT bottles have been in use with various anti-doping agencies around the world for some weeks now, and will also be used in the anti-doping tests at the Rio Summer Olympics, which begin on Friday 5 August. Additional security provisions The BEREG KIT security bottles for anti-doping samples have been continuously developed and refined since they were first produced in 1994. The latest version, whose manufacture has been under way in Switzerland since the end of April, has been provided with additional security features to ensure that any tampering with the samples contained therein can be effectively ruled out. The new security features are part of an evolutionary development process for the BEREG KIT product, and have been devised and incorporated in collaboration with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), national anti-doping organizations and private anti-doping agencies. The BEREG KIT bottles are tamper-evident, i.e. any illegal or improper opening of the samples concerned can be detected with 100% certainty. Berlinger Special AG declines to provide any further details of the security provisions involved. A certificated product with high security standards The BEREG KIT anti-doping bottles are manufactured in Switzerland under the strictest security conditions. These include a comprehensive appraisal of each of the bottle's various security features by a materials testing institute that has been certificated for such expertise by the Swiss national authorities. The previous versions of the BEREG KIT anti-doping bottles have also been subjected to such extensive testing - both by the manufacturer and by the relevant external specialists - and have also been declared tamper-evident by the authorities concerned. McLaren Report on the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics It was confirmed at the media conference in Toronto (Canada) on 18 July on the findings of the independent investigation led by Professor Richard McLaren into allegations of the manipulation of anti-doping samples at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games that BEREG KIT security bottles could continue to be unreservedly used for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games. The latest BEREG KITs which have now been delivered to the Rio organizers are not comparable with those used at the Sochi Winter Games in 2014, and are still regarded as the most secure anti-doping bottles in the world. Berlinger Special AG will also be supporting the anti-doping authorities and the anti-doping laboratory in Brazil if desired, by contributing its expertise and years of experience in the field. The specialists at Berlinger Special AG can determine at any time whether one of the company's anti-doping bottles has been counterfeited or tampered with. Dedicated to fair and clean sporting competition Swiss-based Berlinger Special AG has been supporting the endeavours of the world's anti-doping authorities for over ten years now. With its globally unique expertise and its constant further evolutionary development of the security bottles it produces for handling blood and urine samples, Berlinger Special AG is dedicated to helping ensure fair and clean sport. As CEO Andrea Berlinger says: "We support WADA and all the national anti-doping agencies and organizations which, like our company, are committed to fair sporting competition." Further information: Berlinger Special AG Hans Klaus, media spokesman c/o KLAUS METZLER ECKMANN SPILLMANN CH-8001 Zurich Switzerland Phone +41-43-544-1744 Mobile +41-79-357-0357 Email klaus@kmespartner.com http://www.berlinger.com SOURCE Berlinger Special AG SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Canadian-owned Irving Oil announced today it has reached an agreement with Houston-based energy, manufacturing and logistics company, Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX), to acquire its Whitegate refinery located near Cork, Ireland. The Whitegate facility is Ireland's sole refinery, processing up to 75,000 barrels of crude oil per day and producing transportation and heating fuels such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene. Built in 1959, it has a workforce of 160 employees as well as many contract personnel. The acquisition will enable Irving Oil to expand its business across the Atlantic basin to gain valued customers in Ireland, in addition to securing optionality for its business. "We are pleased to have signed an agreement to purchase the Whitegate refinery," says Arthur Irving, Chairman of Irving Oil. "It's a good day for our company and we're looking forward to welcoming the Whitegate team to Irving Oil." The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter once all conditions of the sale have been met. Upon closing, Irving Oil will assume full ownership of the refinery and continue full operation of the facility, including maintaining its existing workforce. "We are delighted to be pursuing an acquisition that feels so natural for us," says Ian Whitcomb, President of Irving Oil. "The Whitegate refinery has a tremendous reputation as a vital and secure supplier to the Irish market, and we will uphold that commitment very proudly and very seriously." "As operators of Canada's largest refinery, Irving Oil is a proud Atlantic Canadian company, family-owned and operated for close to a century," says Sarah Irving, Executive Vice President of Irving Oil. "Our history and role in supplying Atlantic Canada and the US northeast ensures we bring exceptional experience and commitment to the people of Whitegate and to customers across Ireland." "On all fronts, we've been impressed by the Whitegate refinery and its people," says Mark Sherman, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Irving Oil. "The operational performance of Whitegate is strong, it has well established and diligent maintenance schedules and we are struck by the positive working environment seen amongst its people. In many respects, our refineries share common qualities and it's one of the reasons we found this opportunity to be so compelling." Irving Oil looks forward to sharing more information on this acquisition upon the close of the purchase and sale agreement. About Irving Oil Irving Oil was founded in 1924 and is a privately owned regional refining and marketing company with a history of long-term partnerships and relationships. Irving Oil operates Canada's largest refinery, in Saint John, NB, which is located 65 miles north of the US border and has reached production rates in excess of 320,000 barrels per day. With over 900 fueling locations, operations from a network of distribution terminals, and a delivery fleet of tractor trailers, Irving Oil serves wholesale, commercial and retail customers in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and New England. Media Contact: Sam Robinson Public Affairs, Irving Oil samantha.robinson@irvingoil.com +1-506-650-4947 SOURCE Irving Oil Operations Ltd PEORIA, Illinois, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT / NYSE Euronext: CATR) informs its stockholders a Form 10-Q for the quarter ending June 30, 2016 was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The Form 10-Q filed in respect of Caterpillar can be found on the SEC Internet site (http://www.sec.gov ). Caterpillar files electronically with the SEC required reports on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q, Form 10-K and Form 11-K; proxy materials; ownership reports for insiders as required by Section 16(a) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and registration statements on Forms S-3 and S-8, as necessary; and other forms or reports, as required. All of the forms and reports filed electronically with the SEC are available on the SEC Internet site (http://www.sec.gov ). Caterpillar also maintains an Internet site (http://www.Caterpillar.com) and copies of its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports filed or furnished with the SEC are available free of charge through Caterpillar's Internet site (http://www.Caterpillar.com/secfilings ) as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant document has been filed with the SEC. Caterpillar Contact: Rachel Potts, Corporate Public Affairs, +1-309-675-6892 This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire. SOURCE Caterpillar Inc. MOSCOW, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. updates Elcomsoft Cloud eXplorer, a digital forensic tool for remotely acquiring information from Google accounts. In its first major update, the tool gains Gmail acquisition support via Google's proprietary API, adds printable reports for a wide range of data categories, and extracts information on who requested access to the Google account being investigated. Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer is an all-in-one solution for acquiring and analyzing information collected and stored by Google in the user's Google Account. The tool offers forensic specialists access to users' search history, up to 6 years of detailed location history, contacts, email communications, Chrome browsing history, notes, messages, and much more. Featuring selective access and blazing fast acquisition, Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer is world's most advanced tool for Google forensics. "We're working on making Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer a one-stop tool for investigating Google accounts", says Vladimir Katalov, ElcomSoft CEO. "It's hard to underestimate just how much Google knows about its users. We offer forensic specialists a single point of access to data that's normally scattered around the many Google servers with unique APIs and data formats. With Gmail support and comprehensive reporting, Cloud Explorer gets one step closer to becoming truly irreplaceable for digital investigations." Read an article Using Gmail API: The Forensic Way to Acquire Email Background: What Google Knows About Its Users Google is a dominant force in many areas. The search market, the Android platform, Google Photos, mail and cloud storage services are just a few to mention. Each and every service provided by Google contributes to Google's insight about the users, collecting their current location and IP address, storing their search requests and taking a note on Web sites they visit via Google Chrome. Google knows which search results are opened even if a third-party Web browser was used to fire a Google search. Android smartphones routinely report the user's location to Google servers. Email messages, contacts, calendar events and a lot more data is synced via the user's Google Account. Most of this data can be extracted from Google servers. However, the information is provided in a wide range of data formats, and accessible via a number of different APIs. Acquiring Google data with bare hands is a lengthy and labour-consuming procedure. Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer was designed specifically to make it easy to acquire, view and analyze information stored in Google Accounts. Gmail Acquisition and Analysis Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer 1.10 offers investigators the convenience of fast Gmail acquisition and detailed analysis. The tool can download all or some email messages from the user's Gmail account, allowing investigators specifying the exact period to acquire. Access to messages is implemented via Google's proprietary Gmail API, which makes it possible to achieve unprecedented acquisition speed of about 3000 email messages per minute (subject to message size and connection speed). Putting things into perspective, this is approximately 5 times faster than Google Takeout, and about 3 times faster compared to a commercial IMAP client on the same Internet connection. Selective access to messages during the acquisition stage and unbeatable acquisition speed make Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer one of the fastest Gmail analytic toolkits on the market. The built-in Gmail analyzer offers detailed searching and filtering through all downloaded messages, and provides valuable insight about downloaded messages. Thanks to the use of Google's Gmail API instead of the commonly available POP3 or IMAP protocols allows the tool to distinguish between Read, Unread and Archived messages, recognize Gmail categories, labels, folders and conversation threads. Users can automatically filter messages that contain media attachments such as pictures, videos or documents. Complete message threads are instantly available as investigators search or browse through downloaded mail. HTML Reporting Version 1.10 adds a number of HTML reports, including User Inf, History, Chrome, Dashboard, Media, Locations, Calendars, Notes, Chats, Google Keep, and Contacts. Gmail reports are planned for the next release. HTML reports can be easily printed or viewed in any Web browser. About Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer makes it easier to download, view and analyze information collected by the search giant, providing convenient access to users' search and browsing history, Gmail messages and contacts, detailed location history going back up to 6 years, Google Keep notes, Hangouts messages, as well as images stored in the user's Google Photos account. Google collects massive amounts of information from registered customers. Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer extracts information from the many available sources, parses and assembles the data, presenting information in human-readable form. System Requirements Supports Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10, as well as Windows 2003, 2008 and 2012 Server. Pricing and Availability Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer is immediately available. North American pricing starts from $1995. Local pricing may vary. Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer is available stand-alone or as part of Elcomsoft Mobile Forensic Bundle ($2995), which includes a comprehensive range of mobile acquisition and analysis tools for devices running Apple iOS, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile. About ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. Founded in 1990, ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. develops state-of-the-art computer forensics tools, provides computer forensics training and computer evidence consulting services. Since 1997, ElcomSoft has been providing support to businesses, law enforcement, military, and intelligence agencies. ElcomSoft tools are used by most of the Fortune 500 corporations, multiple branches of the military all over the world, foreign governments, and all major accounting firms. ElcomSoft is a Microsoft Partner (Gold Application Development), Intel Premier Elite Partner and member of NVIDIA's CUDA/GPU Computing Registered Developer Program. SOURCE ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. NEW YORK, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Interactive Scavenger Hunt Will Apply Strayboots' Mobile Gaming Expertise to Attract Domestic and International Tourists and Companies Worldwide Strayboots, the leading global provider of mobile team building scavenger hunts, announced today its partnership with Destination Jonkoping AB to bring the first public scavenger hunt to Sweden. The partnership will begin with an interactive tour of the city of Granna, with plans for more cities to follow. The partnership with Destination Jonkoping is part of a larger regional initiative to increase awareness of the area among domestic and international tourists and companies. The scavenger hunt will offer visitors an interactive tour of Granna that they will be able to access on their smartphones free of charge though a dedicated URL and additional information provided at Tourism Offices throughout the city. Granna is situated in Jonkoping Municipality, Sweden with 2,553 inhabitants in 2010. As the fourth largest municipality in Sweden, Jonkoping is a popular destination among both domestic and foreign travelers, averaging $3.8 billion in tourism sales and 1.4 million day visits in 2015. "We are excited about working with Strayboots to help visitors have fun discovering all that Jonkoping has to offer by creating the best mobile experiences to showcase Granna," said Patrik Olderius, CEO of Destination Jonkoping AB. "Swedes are among the most mobile-savvy people in the EU so working with Strayboots to create something truly innovative was a natural fit for us." According to figures provided by Destination Jonkoping AB, 77% Swedes have a smartphone, with 76% using it to access the Internet and 57% navigating using a mobile GPS. Added Mr. Olderius, "People expect two things when it comes to using their smartphone for information: to be educated and to be entertained. As a partner, Strayboots has a unique understanding of how to do both." Strayboots brings a proven track record creating fun, interactive scavenger hunts incorporating the latest advances in mobile technology. Strayboots' scavenger hunts are deployed in more than 50 major cities throughout the USA and used for team building by more than 600 corporations, including Fortune 100 companies and organizations worldwide. The partnership with Destination Jonkoping AB continues the company's expansion to global markets helping clients reach and attract mobile audiences through engaging discovery experiences designed for their smartphone. "Our team is thrilled to be working with Destination Jonkoping to translate the beauty and history of Granna into a memorable scavenger hunt experience for visitors," said Strayboots co-founder and Senior Vice President, Jeremy Brooks. "We look forward to helping to increase awareness of the area as a world travel destination and center of business and technology innovation for tourists and companies alike." About Destination Jonkoping AB The aim of Destination Jonkoping AB is to make the geographic location of Jonkoping Municipality more attractive and generate growth through more visitors to Jonkoping Municipality within the areas of tourism, events and meetings/conferences. The Municipality has seen a steady population increase since 2005 and today has a total of 133,597 inhabitants living across its five cities, including Jonkoping and Granna. In 2013, the average income and employment in Jonkoping were on par with levels for the whole country and 785 new companies were registered in the municipality during 2014. Destination Jonkoping AB is a wholly owned municipal company with 20 staff. About Strayboots Strayboots is the leading global provider of mobile scavenger hunts for corporate team building, group adventures and city exploration. With Strayboots, customers can reach and engage mobile audiences by offering highly customized digital experiences that foster connections, improve performance and build trust. Strayboots hunts are delivered nationwide and used by more than 1,000 organizations including Fortune 100 companies, cities and businesses worldwide. The company's main offices are in Tel Aviv, Israel, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and New York, NY. To learn more please visit https://www.strayboots.com/events/ Contact info: Strayboots Karen Kuller +972-58-617-3724 karen@strayboots.com Destination Jonkoping AB Patrik Olderius +46 725 07 01 21 patrik.olderius@destinationjonkoping.se SOURCE Strayboots HSINCHU, Taiwan, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Faraday Technology Corporation (TWSE: 3035), a leading ASIC design service and IP provider, and United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE: UMC; TWSE: 2303) ("UMC"), a leading global semiconductor foundry, today announced the availability of Faraday's 12.5Gbps programmable SerDes PHY IP on UMC's 28HPCU process technology. The success of Faraday's 12.5G SerDes PHY development marks the first in a series of joint IP porting projects on UMC's 28nm High-K Metal Gate process nodes and beyond. By adopting a programmable architecture that covers data transfer rate from 1.25G to 12.5G bit per second, this SerDes IP can readily support emerging 10G/1G xPON applications, which is the "last mile" broadband access through passive optical networks. In addition, the IP supports extensive interface standards ranging from SGMII, XAUI, QSGMII, USB 3.1, PCIe 3.0, NVM Express, to SATA 3 by combining respective Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) circuits. The versatility of the 12.5G programmable SerDes PHY significantly shortens customer's SoC design cycle time on 28HPCU. "As the complexity of SoC integration increases along advanced process nodes, high-speed SerDes PHY technology has become the crucial building block to address a broad range of high-speed I/O interfaces in SoC applications," said Flash Lin, Chief Operation Officer at Faraday. "28nm High-K Metal Gate technology is widely recognized to be one of foundry industry's longest node, while UMC's 28 HPCU demonstrates superior performance over industry benchmarks. We are happy to expand on our comprehensive portfolio of 28HPCU high speed I/O IP solutions with this 12.5G SerDes, and will extend high quality service to ensure streamlined adoption of this IP solution." "Faraday currently supplies one of the largest silicon verified IP portfolios across UMC's processes," said S.C. Chien, senior vice president of IP Development and Design Support division at UMC. "Their programmable SerDes PHY is a welcome addition to our 28HPCU platform IP resources to help customers broaden their opportunities in emerging high-growth applications. We are looking forward to expanding our collaboration with Faraday for other IP and process technologies in the future." About Faraday Technology Corporation Faraday Technology Corporation (TWSE: 3035) is a leading ASIC design service and IP provider. The broad silicon IP portfolio includes I/O, Cell Library, Memory Compiler, ARM-compliant CPUs, DDR2/3/4, low-power DDR1/2/3, MIPI, V-by-One, MPEG4, H.264, USB 2.0/3.1 Gen 1, 10/100/1000 Ethernet, Serial ATA, PCI Express, and programmable SerDes, etc. Headquartered in Taiwan, Faraday has service and support offices around the world, including the U.S., Japan, Europe, and Mainland China. For more information about Faraday, please visit: www.faraday-tech.com About UMC UMC (NYSE: UMC, TWSE: 2303) is a leading global semiconductor foundry that provides advanced IC production for applications spanning every major sector of the electronics industry. UMC's robust foundry solutions enable chip designers to leverage the company's sophisticated technology and manufacturing, which include 28nm gate-last High-K/Metal Gate technology, ultra-low power platform processes specifically engineered for Internet of Things (IoT) applications and the highest-rated AEC-Q11 Grade-0 automotive industry manufacturing capabilities. UMC's 10 wafer fabs are located throughout Asia and are able to produce over 500,000 wafers per month. The company employs over 17,000 people worldwide, with offices in Taiwan, Mainland China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the United States. UMC can be found on the web at www.umc.com. Related Links http://www.faraday-tech.com SOURCE Faraday Technology Corporation (Corrects headline to add "Japan's") TOKYO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The yield on the 40-year Japanese government bond rose to a 3-1/2-month high on Wednesday, a day after the government said it planned to issue more bonds in that maturity. The 40-year JGB yield, rose 4.5 basis points in late afternoon trade to 0.420 percent, its highest since mid-April. Relatively illiquid, it had remained untraded for most of the session. Finance Minister Taro Aso told reporters after the government's 13.5 trillion yen stimulus package was announced that the ministry would consider 40-year debt in consultation with market participants. The Japanese government will issue several hundred billion yen (several billion dollars) of 40-year-bonds as soon as September to help fund the new stimulus measures, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday. (Reporting by Tokyo markets team; Editing by Eric Meijer) Dilon's cart-based imaging systems offer results comparable to those of MRI images, but at a fraction of the cost. MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Dilon Technologies Inc., with the 2016 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Leadership. By creating a robust and clinically-effective imaging platform, Dilon has established MBI as a first-line diagnostic solution in the event of inconclusive mammogram results. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395062LOGO In 2004, Dilon's flagship product, Dilon 6800, became one of the first dedicated breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) devices. Within a decade, Dilon had entrenched itself as a technology leader, with a vibrant portfolio of diagnostic and surgical imaging devices including the Dilon 6800, Dilon 6800 Acella, and dual head GE's Discovery NM750b MBI System. The Dilon MBI solution houses state-of-the-art collimators, digital solid state technology, advanced algorithms that process the high-resolution images, and is available in single head or dual head configuration. "Most gamma camera devices' design requires that there be a distance between the camera and the chest wall or that the camera be positioned for a lateral view in order to overcome the dead-space limitation," said Frost & Sullivan Senior Research Analyst Bhargav Rajan. "Through elegant product design, Dilon has significantly minimized the dead space, enabling its products to deliver images from a variety of angles, detect lesions as small as 1mm, and be operated the way conventional mammography is performed. Dilon 6800 has 15 x 20 cm detector, whereas Acella has a larger detector of 20 x 25 cm to better accommodate and image patients with larger, denser breasts." Dilon's dual head Discovery NM750b Molecular Breast Imaging System has a detector of 16 x 24 cm. The Dilon MBI systems are positioned as adjunct imaging approaches to mammography. As diagnostic tools, they aid in the early detection of cancer, evaluate the extent of cancerous growth, detect bilateral diseases, and help plan for surgeries. Dilon's GammaLoc system is an accessory to the imaging systems; it uses MBI to locate suspicious lesions in the breast, which can then be biopsied using standard tools. Dilon's systems can be employed in general imaging applications as well. They are adept at imaging the thyroid and parathyroid glands, lymph nodes, liver and gall bladder, and are suitable for orthopedic, cardiac, and neurological imaging. The various applications that Dilon's gamma cameras cater to are testimony to its robust performance and scalability. Since its inception, Dilon has demonstrated solid business acumen in aligning with innovators and strategic partners to strengthen its product portfolio. In 2014, it acquired the assets and intellectual property (IP) of the Navigator line of gamma probes from Dynasil, an erstwhile leader in intra-operative surgical probes. Dilon Diagnostics has distribution agreements with industry giants Digirad Corporation and GE Healthcare, and is the exclusive international distributor of Digirad's nuclear imaging systems, Cardius and Ergo. "Dilon's MBI tests have excellent reimbursement coverage; the test is covered by a variety of public and private insurers across the world. This is expected to act as a powerful driver for adoption, especially as alternative options are known to be expensive," noted Rajan. "As of 2015, more than 200 Dilon systems have been installed in the United States, and the company is actively expanding its geographic footprint in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, specifically China." Dilon Technologies Inc. has a formidable IP portfolio, with more than 25 domestic and international patents. In addition, it is actively scouting for cutting-edge technologies it can license and partners it can align itself with. Overall, for driving future business value through its steadfast commitment to technology innovation, Dilon richly deserves the 2016 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Leadership. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated uniqueness in developing and leveraging new technologies that significantly impact both the functionality and the customer value of the new products and applications. The award lauds the high R&D spend towards innovation, its relevance to the industry, and the positive impact on brand perception. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Dilon Technologies Inc., (Newport, VA) Dilon Technologies Inc. is a medical imaging company that specializes in designing and manufacturing molecular imaging solutions for breast imaging. Dilon offers a range of single and dual head Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) systems. Dilon's MBI systems serve as high-resolution diagnostic imaging systems as well as image-guidance for biopsy and surgical procedures. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure. The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies? Contact Us: Start the discussion Join Us: Join our community Subscribe: Newsletter on "the next big thing" Register: Gain access to visionary innovation Contact: Chiara Carella P: +44 (0) 207.343.8314 F: 210.348.1003 E: chiara.carella@frost.com Related Links http://ww2.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan DUBLIN, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Polyacrylamide Market Analysis & Trends - Industry Forecast to 2025" report to their offering. The Global Polyacrylamide Market is poised to grow at a CAGR of around 6.2% over the next decade to reach approximately $8.25 billion by 2025. This industry report analyzes the global markets for Polyacrylamide across all the given segments on global as well as regional levels presented in the research scope. The study provides historical market data for 2013, 2014 revenue estimations are presented for 2015 and forecasts from 2016 till 2025. The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies. With comprehensive market assessment across the major geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Latin America and Rest of the world the report is a valuable asset for the existing players, new entrants and the future investors. The study presents detailed market analysis with inputs derived from industry professionals across the value chain. A special focus has been made on 23 countries such as U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, Spain, France, Italy, China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, etc. Key Topics Covered: 1 Market Outline 2 Executive Summary 3 Market Overview 3.1 Current Trends 3.1.1 Strict rules connected to treatment of wastewater 3.1.2 Quick growth in shale gas and wet shale gas production 3.1.3 Recent Technological Developments of Polyacrylamide 3.1.4 Growth Opportunities/Investment Opportunities 3.2 Drivers 3.3 Constraints 3.4 Industry Attractiveness 4 Polyacrylamide Market, By Application 4.1 Oil and Gas 4.2 Water Treatment 4.3 Papermaking 4.4 Other Applications 4.4.1 Other Applications Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 4.4.1.1 Biomedical 4.4.1.2 Mining 4.4.1.3 Chemicals 5 Polyacrylamide Market, By Product 5.1 Anionic Polyacrylamide 5.2 Non-ionic Polyacrylamide 5.3 Cationic Polyacrylamide 5.4 Other Product 5.4.1 Other Product Market Forecast to 2025 (US$ MN) 5.4.1.1 Copolymers 5.4.1.2 Homopolymers 6 Polyacrylamide Market, By Geography 7 Leading Companies - Anhui Jucheng Fine Chemicals Co. Ltd - Ashland Inc. - BASF SE - Beijing Heng - Chemical Group Co., Ltd., - Feixiang Group of Companies - Jiangsu Feixiang Chemical Co. Ltd. - Kemira - PetroChina Company Limited - SNF Group - Shadong Polymer Biochemicals Co. Ltd. - Shandong Shuiheng Chemical Co., Ltd. - Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC - The Dow Chemical Company - Xitao Polymer Co. Ltd. - Yixing Bluwat Chemicals Co. Ltd. - ZL Petrochemicals Co. Ltd. - Zhejiang Xinyong Biochemical Co. Ltd. For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/lmgz9k/global Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets "Gogoro is collaborating with the new Coup sharing service because we share the same vision to realize advanced urban mobility in cities," said Horace Luke, co-founder and CEO of Gogoro. "Launching the Gogoro Smartscooter in Berlin as our first expansion market is special because it is a great two-wheel city and is also one of the most sophisticated, progressive and creative cities in the world." Coup Sharing Service The Coup platform combines Gogoro's design, innovation, performance and connectivity with a custom sharing cloud service that enables customers to have an efficient, sustainable and quiet riding experience. Coup is initially launching with 200 Gogoro Smartscooter vehicles that will be available in the Berlin neighborhoods of Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain, and Kreuzberg. They have a governed maximum speed of 45 kph so that everyone over 21 holding a car or motorcycle driving license can use them. The pricing model is based on a flat-rate fee which charges 3 euros for 30 minutes or 20 euros for the whole day. The service is accessed via an accompanying Coup app that intuitively makes it simple to find, book, and pay for a scooter. "The congestion, parking problems, replacement services and billing by the minute of current sharing services are not customer-centric. With the Gogoro Smartscooter and our Coup smart eScooter sharing, we are confident we are offering a new attractive mobility solution for Berlin," said Urs Rahne, in charge of launching and operating the COUP business in Berlin. "The people of our cities deserve more, they deserve an alternative that saves money, time and enables further independence in their urban lifestyle." Coup is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bosch with the design, development and operation of the Coup platform developed in close cooperation with Gogoro and BCG Digital Ventures, the venture arm of the Boston Consulting Group. "Bosch is collaborating closely with Gogoro on this Coup project," said Mat Schubert, general manager of COUP and responsible for this mobility service project at Bosch. "Gogoro has rapidly become the global leader for connected and electrically powered scooters." "The European market for electric motorcycles and scooters is still in its infancy yet European consumers are clamoring for more sustainable and innovative two-wheel options like what Gogoro is offering with Coup in Berlin today. Over the past year we have been approached by many scooter sharing services from around the world and it was clear that Bosch and Coup had the potential to be a great market maker for scooter sharing in Europe," said Luke. Gogoro Smartscooter EV Gogoro introduced the Gogoro Smartscooter EV and the Gogoro Energy Network at the Consumer Electronics Show in early 2015 and launched in Taipei Taiwan in August 2015. The Gogoro Smartscooter EV is the world's first high-performance, smart electric two-wheel vehicle with swappable batteries. The integrated Gogoro Energy Network is an advanced battery-swapping infrastructure for cities. Key Gogoro Facts More than 10,000 Gogoro Smartscooter EVs sold Nearly 20 million kilometers ridden by customers 225 GoStation battery swapping stations deployed More than 7,000 battery swaps per day 850,000 liters of gasoline saved plus 1,643,000 kilograms less CO2 emitted About Gogoro Founded in 2011, Gogoro is putting energy into things that matter. With a mission to deliver consumer innovations that will improve how the world's cities distribute and utilize energy more efficiently and enabling them to transform into smart cities. Gogoro is working toward a better future by putting power in the hands of everyone to move us all forward, faster. For more information, go to: www.gogoro.com/press. Related Links http://www.gogoro.com SOURCE Gogoro Frost & Sullivan's Manufacturing Leadership Council prepares to honor companies leading the industry into the Manufacturing 4.0 era MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Manufacturing leaders from around the world are invited to nominate their breakthrough projects and outstanding individual achievements for Frost & Sullivan's 2017 Manufacturing Leadership (ML) Awards, the industry's most prestigious awards program. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395161LOGO To submit a nomination, manufacturers can click the link and complete a simple form that will be reviewed and scored by our industry expert ML Awards Judges: http://frost.ly/np Now in its 13th year, the ML Awards program honors companies and individuals shaping the future of global manufacturing. The program also honors partners that have assisted ML Award winning manufacturers in achieving transformational breakthroughs. By winning an ML Award, companies and individuals are able to demonstrate that they are world class when it comes to driving innovation, operational efficiency, customer value, the use of advanced digital technologies and employee engagement. "In a highly competitive market, the Manufacturing Leadership Awards, from Frost & Sullivan, allows us to stand out to our customers and partners, demonstrating our commitment to excellence," said Brad Martin, chief operating officer at Senet, Inc., the ML Awards' Manufacturer of the Year (Small Enterprise) for 2016. Other recent ML Awards company honorees include: 3M Boeing Co. Coca-Cola The Dow Chemical Company Eaton Corporation Ford Motor Co. General Electric Co. General Motors Co. IBM L'Oreal USA Lockheed Martin Motorola Nalco Raytheon Thule Top individual ML Awards winners have included 3D printing inventor and 3D Systems Chief Technology Officer Charles W. Hull; former Ford Executive Vice President for Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs John Fleming; General Electric Chairman and CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt; and Sir James Dyson, inventor and founder of the Dyson Company. Recipients of the ML Awards receive global recognition as manufacturing industry leaders and will be honored at the Manufacturing Leadership Summit, in June 2017. Partners may facilitate nominations for their outstanding manufacturing customers. Winners are those companies that receive the highest scores from the ML Awards Judges. Partners facilitating winning nominations are also publicly honored. The ML Awards program includes categories for manufacturers that are transforming their businesses through the use of emerging technologies. Those categories include Big Data and Advanced Analytics, Mobility and the Internet of Things in Manufacturing. New categories for 2017 will feature leadership projects in Collaborative Innovation, Smart Projects and Talent Management. Manufacturers and their partners can submit 2017 ML Award nominations in the following project categories. 2017 Project/Company Awards: Big Data and Advanced Analytics Leadership Customer Value Leadership Engineering & Production Technology Leadership Enterprise Technology Leadership Collaborative Innovation Leadership Internet of Things in Manufacturing Leadership Mobility in Manufacturing Leadership Smart Products Leadership Talent Management Leadership Operational Excellence Leadership Supply Chain Leadership Sustainability Leadership Manufacturers may also nominate their individual leaders in the following categories: Visionary Leadership Award Lifetime Achievement Award Full descriptions of these categories are available at: http://frost.ly/n0 Submissions may be made through December 9, 2016 and may be submitted online using a downloadable form. ML Awards winners will be notified in February 2017, prior to a public announcement of the winners. For more information on the Manufacturing Leadership Awards, including past ML Awards recipients, examples of completed nomination forms and to download and submit nomination forms, visit: mlawards.gilcommunity.com About the Manufacturing Leadership Community The Manufacturing Leadership Council, Frost & Sullivan, is the world's first member-driven, global business leadership network dedicated to senior executives in the manufacturing industry. The Manufacturing Leadership Council's mission is to help senior executives define and shape a better future for themselves, their organizations, and the industry at large by focusing on the intersection of critical business and technology issues that will drive growth today and in the future. The Council offers an extensive portfolio of leadership networking, research, thought leadership content, and professional development products, programs, and services -- including the Manufacturing Leadership Community Website, an online global business network with over 7,000 members around the world; the annual Manufacturing Leadership Summit; the Manufacturing Leadership Awards, celebrating industry achievement; and the thought-leading Manufacturing Leadership Journal. For more information, please visit www.MLCouncil.com About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure. The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies? Contact: Jeff Moad Manufacturing Leadership Council 510-531-3456 Jeffrey.moad@frost.com Related Links http://www.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL LONDON, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Navig8 Product Tankers Inc. (the "Company") (N-OTC: EIGHT), an international shipping company focused on the transportation of petroleum products, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. Highlights Reported revenue of $25.9 million and net income of $0.7 million , or $0.02 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2016 . and net income of , or per share, for the three months ended . Announced a $130.3 million senior secured credit facility to provide post-delivery financing for four 74,000 DWT LR1 product tankers under construction at STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. ("STX"). senior secured credit facility to provide post-delivery financing for four 74,000 DWT LR1 product tankers under construction at STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. ("STX"). Accepted delivery of six newbuilding vessels during the three months ended June 30, 2016 and one vessel in July 2016 . and one vessel in . Entered into a $66.0 million senior secured credit facility with ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Singapore Branch in July 2016 , to provide post-delivery financing for two 74,000 DWT LR1 product tankers under construction at SPP Shipbuilding Co., Ltd ("SPP"). "We continued to execute on our strategy in the second quarter as we accepted deliveries of six newbuilding vessels and secured attractive financing to fund the program. Notably, we increased the size of our owned operating fleet by 50% from the end of the first quarter, and we believe we are well positioned to take advantage of changing fundamentals in the product tanker market," said Nicolas Busch, Chief Executive Officer of Navig8 Product Tankers Inc. "Product tanker rates continued to ease into the second quarter as the typical seasonal increase in May and June was absent. Cross-Atlantic trades were negatively affected by bloated onshore distillate inventories in Europe and global refinery throughput declined in the second quarter putting pressure on rates. Although the second quarter was challenging, the outlook for the product tanker market remains favorable with global refinery throughput expected to achieve its largest increase on record in the third quarter. In addition, the ramping up of refining capacity in Asia, Middle East and US should help should support further demand for product tankers such as ours. A slowdown in overall fleet growth in 2017 should also bode well for product tanker fundamentals." Fleet Update The Company entered into contracts to acquire 30 modern, fuel-efficient newbuilding product tankers. During the second quarter of 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with an unrelated third party to sell three LR2 vessels which were under construction at Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co, Ltd, Korea, for total sale proceeds of $178.5 million. One of the three vessels was delivered to the buyer in the second quarter of 2015 and the other two vessels were delivered to the buyer in the third quarter of 2015, realizing a total net gain on sale of $24.1 million. As of the date of this release 17 of these vessels have been delivered and are in operation. The fleet is expected to be fully delivered by December 2016. Upon their respective deliveries, the Company's vessels will be deployed in the LR8 and Alpha8 commercial pools, both managed by Navig8 Group. The Company's newbuilding fleet comprises: Seven 110,000 DWT LR2 product tankers (the "Sungdong vessels") built at Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. ("Sungdong"). The Company took delivery of the first of these vessels in November 2015, four further vessels during the three months ended March 31, 2016, the sixth vessel in May 2016, and the final vessel is due to deliver in August 2016.. The delivered vessels operate in Navig8 Group's Alpha8 pool. Eight 113,000 DWT LR2 product tankers (the "CSSC vessels") built at CSSC Offshore & Marine Engineering (Group) Company Limited ("CSSC Offshore"), formerly known as Guangzhou Shipyard International Company. The Company's eight CSSC vessels will operate in Navig8 Group's Alpha8 pool. Two vessels were delivered in May and June 2016. The Company expects to take delivery of the remaining vessels by December 2016. Eight 74,000 DWT LR1 product tankers (the "STX vessels") built at STX. The Company took delivery of the first of these vessels in November 2015 and four further vessels during the three months ended March 31, 2016. The final three vessels were delivered in May 2016. The vessels operate in Navig8 Group's LR8 pool. Four 74,000 DWT LR1 product tankers (the "SPP vessels") built at SPP. The Company's four SPP vessels will operate in Navig8 Group's LR8 pool. The Company took delivery of its first vessel in July 2016 and expects to take delivery of the remaining vessels by December 2016. Additionally, the Company has one ECO LR2 vessel on time charter operating in Navig8 Group's Alpha8 Pool. The time charter expires in October 2016. Financing Update On the 12th of March 2015, the Company entered into a Pool Management Revenue Share Rights Agreement with Navig8 Asia Pte Ltd. and Navig8 Limited. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company places each of its 27 newbuilding vessels into Navig8 Group's Alpha8 and LR8 Pools upon delivery. The Company also receives a 30% share of the net revenues derived from the commercial management of the two pools. In consideration for the Pool Management Revenue Share Rights Agreement, 336,963 shares of common stock of the Company, amounting to $4.1 million, were issued to Navig8 Ltd. at an issuance price of $12.25 per share. On the 25th of June 2015, the Company entered into sale and leaseback agreements with CSSC (Hong Kong) Shipping Company Limited ("CSSC") for all of the CSSC vessels. The net proceeds from the transaction (after a 20% sellers' credit) are expected to amount to $304 million. Under the agreements, the CSSC vessels will be delivered to CSSC on their respective deliveries from GSI. The Company has entered into 10-year bareboat charters for the vessels, commencing on delivery. The Company has a purchase obligation to re-acquire the vessels at the end of the charter period and purchase options to re-acquire during the charter period, with the first option exercisable on the fourth anniversary of each vessel delivery. Two of these vessels have been delivered to CSSC under the terms of the Sale MOA and then delivered back to the Company under bareboat charter. Under the sale and leaseback agreements, CSCC is also providing financing for the pre-delivery instalments for the vessels. These sale and leaseback agreements will be treated as financing transactions. As of June 30, 2016, $109.4 million has been drawn down on the facility, of which $33.4 million relate to pre-delivery instalments. On the 10th of July 2015, the Company entered into sale and leaseback agreements with Ocean Yield ASA ("Ocean Yield") for four Sungdong vessels. The net proceeds from the transaction (after a 5% sellers' credit) are expected to amount to $188.1 million. Under the agreements, the three vessels will be purchased by Ocean Yield from the Company on their respective deliveries from Sungdong. The Company has entered into 13-year bareboat charters for the vessels commencing on delivery, and has purchase options to re-acquire the vessels during the charter period, with the first of such option exercisable on the seventh anniversary of each vessel delivery. Three of these vessels have been delivered to Ocean Yield under the terms of the Sale MOA and then delivered back to the Company under bareboat charter, the final vessel to be delivered. Under the sale and leaseback agreements, Ocean Yield has also provided financing for the pre-delivery instalments for the vessels. These sale and leaseback agreements will be treated as financing transactions. As of June 30, 2016, $160.9 million had been drawn down on the Ocean Yield facility, of which $19.8 million was drawn down under the pre-delivery financing facility with Ocean Yield. On the 10th of November 2015, the Company announced the closing of a $64.3 million secured commercial loan facility with Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank ("CACIB") for the first two of the Company's eight STX vessels. The debt financing covers approximately 65% of the contract price of each of these two vessels, which were delivered in November 2015 and January 2016. In January 2016, the Company announced that it had entered into an amended secured commercial loan facility for $128.5 million with CACIB and BNP Paribas to provide additional financing for the third and fourth newbuilding vessels at STX, which were delivered in January and February 2016. On the 17th of March 2016, the Company entered into sale and leaseback agreements with China Merchant Bank Financial Leasing ("CMBFL") for two SPP vessels. The net proceeds from the transaction (after a 20% sellers' credit) are expected to amount to $76.9 million. Under the agreements, the two vessels will be delivered to CMBFL on their respective deliveries from SPP. The Company has entered into 7-year bareboat charters for the two vessels, commencing upon their respective deliveries, and has purchase options to re-acquire the vessels during the charter period, with the first such option exercisable on the third anniversary of the delivery date of each vessel. The first of these vessels, Navig8 Pride, has been delivered to CMBFL under the terms of the Sale MOA and then delivered back to the Company under bareboat charter; the second is due for delivery from SPP in August 2016. Under the sale and leaseback agreements, CMBFL also finances the pre-delivery instalments for the vessels. These sale and leaseback agreements will be treated as financing transactions. As of June 30, 2016, $28.8 million has been drawn down in respect of pre-delivery instalments. On the 25th of April 2016, the Company announced that it had entered into a $130.3 million senior secured credit facility agreement with Citibank N.A., London Branch and Caixabank, S.A. (the "Credit Facility") to provide post-delivery financing for four of the Company's 74,000 DWT LR1 product tankers constructed or under construction at STX , including the Navig8 Experience, which was delivered to the Company in March 2016. The Credit Facility has two separate tranches a $26.1 million commercial tranche (the "Commercial Tranche") and a $104.2 million tranche insured by Korean Trade Insurance Corporation (the "K-Sure Tranche"). The Credit Facility provides financing of approximately 65% of the contract price of these four vessels. As of June 30, 2016, $125.9 million had been drawn down from the Credit Facility. On the 19th of July 2016, the Company entered into a $66.0 million senior secured credit facility agreement with ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Singapore Branch (the "Credit Facility") to provide post-delivery financing for the remaining two of the Company's 74,000 DWT LR1 product tankers constructed or under construction at SPP. The Credit Facility has two separate tranches a $13.2 million commercial tranche (the "Commercial Tranche") and a $52.8 million tranche insured by Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (the "K-Sure Tranche"). Each drawdown from the Credit Facility shall be comprised of 20% from the Commercial Tranche and 80% from the K-Sure Tranche. The Credit Facility provides financing of approximately 65% of the contract price of these two vessels. Results for the three months ended June 30, 2016 For the three months ended June 30, 2016, the Company reported net income of $0.7 million, or $0.02 per share, a decline of $5.6 million from the three months ended June 30, 2015. Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $25.9 million, compared to $7.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015. The total number of vessel operating days for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was 1,373, compared to 885 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 273 for the three months ended June 30, 2015. The average daily time charter equivalent ("TCE")(1) earned by our 115,000 DWT LR2 chartered-in tankers in the three months ended June 30, 2016, was $21,157 per day. Two of the chartered-in vessels, Captain John and Captain Paris were redelivered during the quarter, on June 10 and 23, respectively. The gross average daily TCE for our owned vessels were $16,358 and $21,821 for our 74,000 DWT LR1 and 110,000 DWT LR2 vessels, respectively. These rates were achieved over an aggregate of 1,128 operating days. Vessel operating expenses across our owned and chartered-in fleet were $12.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, an increase of $6.2 million from the three months ended June 30, 2015 when our fleet was limited to three chartered-in vessels. Average daily operating expenses were approximately $5,400 for our owned vessels. Depreciation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $5.9 million, compared to no depreciation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2015. This is due to the Company beginning to depreciate vessels in its newbuilding fleet following commencement of fleet deliveries in November 2015. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2016 were $1.9 million, a decrease of $0.2 million from the three months ended June 30, 2015. This decrease relates to one-time professional fees that were occurred in the three months ended June 30, 2015. Interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $5.2 million, compared to no interest expense in the three months ended June 30, 2015, when the Company had not yet taken delivery of any of the vessels in its newbuilding program. (1) Time charter equivalent, a non-US GAAP measure, is vessel revenues less voyage expenses (including bunkers and port charges but excluding pool commission). About Navig8 Product Tankers Inc. Navig8 Product Tankers was established in 2013 as a joint venture between the Navig8 Group and DVB Bank to capitalize on anticipated strong supply/demand fundamentals and the accelerating growth of long-haul clean and dirty oil product cargo movements, driven by increasing geographic dislocations between producers and consumers. Navig8 Product Tankers maintains an orderbook of long-range (LR), eco-design product tankers, comprising 15 LR2 and 12 LR1 vessels. The Company's fleet is contracted to operate in various product tanker pools managed by the Navig8 Group, the world's largest independent pool and commercial management company. Navig8 Product Tankers is listed on the Norwegian OTC market under the symbol EIGHT. Visit our website at www.navig8producttankers.com. NAVIG8 PRODUCT TANKERS INC AND SUBSIDIARIES OTHER OPERATING DATA (Unaudited) CHARTERED-IN VESSELS Second Quarter 2016 First Quarter 2016 115k DWT LR2 Vessels Number of chartered-in vessels on the water at the end of the quarter 1* 3 Total operating days 245 273 Average Earnings in $ / day 21,157 28,515 Average Hire in $ / day 21,766 21,834 *Two of the chartered vessels, Captain John and Captain Paris were redelivered on June 10 and 23, respectively OWNED VESSELS Second Quarter 2016 First Quarter 2016 74k DWT LR1 Vessels Number of owned vessels on the water at the end of the quarter 8 5 Total operating days 601 312 Average distributed Gross TCE in $ / day 16,358 22,949 Average OPEX in $ / day 5,538 5,711 110k DWT LR2 Vessels Number of owned vessels on the water at the end of the quarter 7 5 Total operating days 527 300 Average distributed Gross TCE in $ / day 21,821 29,185 Average OPEX in $ / day 5,355 5,836 NAVIG8 PRODUCT TANKERS INC AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) For the three months ended 30 June For the six months ended 30 June All in US$000, unless otherwise stated 2016 2015 2016 2015 Operating revenue Vessel revenue $25,927 $7,393 $48,869 $17,281 Total Operating Revenue 25,927 7,393 48,869 17,281 Gain on sale of vessels - 7,040 - 7,040 Operating expenses Vessel expenses (12,282) (6,034) (21,885) (12,040) Depreciation (5,916) - (9,096) - General and administrative expenses (1,863) (2,118) (3,693) (3,635) Total operating expenses (20,061) (8,152) (34,674) (15,675) Net operating gain / (loss) $5,865 $6,281 $14,194 $8,646 Financial Items Interest income 13 28 18 95 Interest expense and finance costs (5,194) - (7,721) - Other financial items 3 10 11 9 Net financial items (5,178) 38 (7,692) 104 Total Income (loss) before tax 687 6,319 6,502 8,750 Income Tax (14) (29) (30) (29) Net income / (loss) $673 $6,290 $6,472 $8,721 Earnings per common share: Basic $0.02 $0.16 $0.16 $0.23 Diluted $0.02 $0.16 $0.16 $0.23 NAVIG8 PRODUCT TANKERS INC AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) All in US$000, unless otherwise stated As at 30 June 2016 As at 31 December 2015 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $15,027 $4,480 Restricted cash 750 435 Trade receivables 13,130 6,474 Prepaid expenses and other assets 9,950 10,423 Inventories 2,034 310 Total current assets $40,890 $22,122 Non-current assets Restricted cash 8,500 2,000 Vessels, net 795,253 100,886 Vessels under construction 212,433 451,504 Other Assets 11,601 5,004 Total non-current assets $1,027,787 $559,394 Total assets $1,068,677 $581,516 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities Current portion of loans 117,806 87,754 Accounts payables and accrued expenses 6,306 7,855 Total current liabilities $124,112 $95,609 Non-current liabilities Long term loans, net of unamortised debt issuance cost 496,986 45,400 Total non-current liabilities $496,986 $45,400 Total liabilities $621,098 $141,009 Shareholders' equity Common stock ($0.01 par value per share; 39,845,945 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2016) 398 398 Paid-in capital 415,704 415,104 Retained earnings / (deficit) 31,477 25,005 Total shareholders' equity 447,579 440,507 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $1,068,677 $581,516 NAVIG8 PRODUCT TANKERS INC AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) For the six months ended 30 June All in US$000, unless otherwise stated 2016 2015 Operating activities: Net income / (loss) $6,472 $8,721 Adjustments to reconcile net income / (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Shares issued for services 601 381 Gain on sale of vessel - (7,040) Depreciation 9,096 - Amortisation of debt issuance costs and deferred financing charges 945 - Amortisation 413 252 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Trade receivables (6,656) (142) Prepaid expenses and other assets (6,536) (1,599) Inventories (1,724) - Accounts payables and accrued expenses 3,107 293 Net cash used in operating activities 5,719 866 Investing activities Changes in restricted cash (6,815) - Net proceeds from sale of vessels - 34,740 Payments for vessels under construction (378,782) (132,141) Net cash used in investing activities (385,597) (97,401) Financing activities Net proceeds from issuance of shares - - Proceeds from loans, net of debt issuance cost 431,975 - Repayment of loans (41,550) - Net cash provided by financing activities 390,425 - Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 10,547 (96,535) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 4,480 114,147 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $15,027 $17,612 Fleet List as of August 3, 2016 Name DWT Yard Built Status Delivered Vessels 1 Captain Spiro 115,000 HHI Q2 2014 Chartered-in 2 Navig8 Solidarity 110,000 Sungdong Q4 2015 Delivered 3 Navig8 Stability 110,000 Sungdong Q1 2016 Delivered 4 Navig8 Solace 110,000 Sungdong Q1 2016 Delivered 5 Navig8 Symphony 110,000 Sungdong Q1 2016 Delivered 6 Navig8 Sanctity 110,000 Sungdong Q1 2016 Delivered 7 Navig8 Excel 74,000 STX Q4 2015 Delivered 8 Navig8 Excelsior 74,000 STX Q1 2016 Delivered 9 Navig8 Expedite 74,000 STX Q1 2016 Delivered 10 Navig8 Exceed 74,000 STX Q1 2016 Delivered 11 Navig8 Experience 74,000 STX Q1 2016 Delivered 12 Navig8 Steadfast 110,000 Sungdong Q2 2016 Delivered 13 Navig8 Grace 113,000 GSI Q2 2016 Delivered 14 Navig8 Gallantry 113,000 GSI Q2 2016 Delivered 15 Navig8 Executive 74,000 STX Q2 2016 Delivered 16 Navig8 Express 74,000 STX Q2 2016 Delivered 17 Navig8 Excellence 74,000 STX Q2 2016 Delivered 18 Navig8 Pride 74,000 SPP Q3 2016 Delivered Newbuildings 1 Navig8 Supreme 110,000 Sungdong Q3 2016 On order 2 Navig8 Guard 113,000 GSI Q3 2016 On order 3 Navig8 Guide 113,000 GSI Q3 2016 On order 4 Navig8 Goal 113,000 GSI Q3 2016 On order 5 Navig8 Gauntlet 113,000 GSI Q4 2016 On order 6 Navig8 Gladiator 113,000 GSI Q4 2016 On order 7 Navig8 Gratitude 113,000 GSI Q4 2016 On order 8 Navig8 Providence 74,000 SPP Q3 2016 On order 9 Navig8 Precision 74,000 SPP Q4 2016 On order 10 Navig8 Prestige 74,000 SPP Q4 2016 On order Forward-Looking Statements and Distribution This press release contains forward looking statements. These statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including Navig8 Product Tankers management's examination of historical operating trends. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control, Navig8 Product Tankers cannot give assurance that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or intentions. Important factors that, in the Company's view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this press release include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market as a result of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in the Company's operating expenses including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company on the Norwegian OTC trading support system. This communication is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into any state or jurisdiction into which doing so would be unlawful. The distribution of this communication may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes, should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdictions. The Company assumes no responsibility in the event there is a violation by any person of such restrictions. Related Links http://www.navig8producttankers.com SOURCE Navig8 Product Tankers Inc. LAGOS, Nigeria, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Xpress Money, one of the worlds most dependable money transfer brands has called for a liberalization of remittance markets towards an open structure to create economic efficiencies and equality in Nigeria. The international money transfer brand is disappointed by the recent developments within the money transfer industry in Nigeria. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151023/279887LOGO ) The dismay comes from that fact that Nigeria was once a monopolistic country from a remittance perspective that broke away from the shackles of exclusivity to embark on the path of growth and development. This commendable step taken by the authorities saw Nigeria increase its inward remittances by over 12% from around USD 18 billion in 2009 to over USD 20.5 billion in 2015 (World Bank figures). Nigeria today enjoys the status of being the 5th largest remittance receiving country in the world that had managed to successfully convert informal channels of remittances to formal channels, owing to the open policy. Talking about the sudden development in the industry, Sudhesh Giriyan, COO of Xpress Money, expressing his disappointment said, "Nigeria was a good example of how an open market worked favorably not only for the customers but the economy at large. The cost of remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa today stands at 9.72%, down from 12% in 2009, a clear indication of a successful implementation of non-exclusive frameworks in various countries. This overnight decision in Nigeria to restrict money transfer services to less than a handful of brands is likely to have significant negative impact. Customers will be deprived of choice as the industry will be limited to just a few money transfer brands. Taking advantage of their position, these brands could soon boost their cost of remittances to suit their palate, neglecting the benefit and convenience of customers. Customers may then have to resort to illegal channels of money transfer to avoid digging a huge hole in their pockets to send money to their families and friends in Nigeria." "This could adversely affect the economy of the country as money entering the country through illegal channels cannot be accounted for. It saddens us to see the current state of events as our customers are the ones who will be deeply impacted by this decision." he concluded. About ' Xpress Money ' 'Xpress Money' is a global money transfer brand with a thriving presence in more than 160 countries across all continents through 180,000 agent locations. 'Xpress Money' has come to be known as the most dependable international money transfer brand and provides its customers a simple, fast & safe way to transfer money through innovative technology, superior customer service and its extensive worldwide network. For more information, follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/XpressMoney, Twitter: @Xpress_Money or visit http://www.xpressmoney.com SOURCE Xpress Money RYE BROOK, New York, Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NYPPEX, a technology-driven financial services company that provides secondary private equity market liquidity, just released its revised 2016 Midyear Secondary Private Equity Market Trends and Valuation Report that discusses secondary direct investments in venture-backed private companies. Its findings included the following: 1. Secondary transaction volume increased 12% for secondary direct investments in venture backed private companies in the 1H2016, driven by shareholders' concerns about declining valuations and fewer exits. We believe there was significant secondary direct supply offered in the 1H2016 that did not get executed. 2. Secondary bid prices were often significantly lower than offer prices for secondary shares in venture-backed Unicorn companies (i.e. valuations in excess of $1 billion) despite offer prices that reflected 20-40% write downs since December 31, 2015. 3. For the 2H2016, NYPPEX estimates that secondary bid prices will decline 4-6% in general and 10-18% for Common shares (which are widely held by employees) in many Unicorns compared to June 30, 2016, driven by investors' concerns about current valuations (vs. public stocks), exits and geopolitical risk. Mutual funds, hedge funds and family offices that aggressively invested in Unicorns may report large losses from secondary sales in 2017. To request a copy of the NYPPEX 2016 midyear report, please email data@nyppex.com with your name, title and organization. Note: All information as estimated by NYPPEX. About NYPPEX Holdings NYPPEX Holdings is a technology-driven financial services holding company that provides secondary private equity market transfer administration, trading, advisory and portfolio valuation services for alternative assets worldwide. NYPPEX has provided over $8 billion in secondary private equity liquidity to investors in 26 countries for (a) interests in private funds (e.g. buyout, venture, natural resources, real estate, hedge funds etc.), (b) unregistered securities in private (and listed) companies and (c) their respective derivative instruments. Its services are provided to alternative investment firms, private companies, governments, financial institutions, custodians, corporations, private wealth management groups and their advisors worldwide. www.nyppex.com For more information, please contact inquiries@nyppex.com or: Robin Starr Bond, SVP, NYPPEX +1.914.305.2808 rbond@nyppex.com This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com Related Links http://www.nyppex.com SOURCE NYPPEX Holdings DUBLIN, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "US Market Report for Uterine Fibroid Embolization Devices" report to their offering. There are several types of embolic agents used in UFE. These particles can be non-spherical or spherical in shape. They may consist of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or polyacrylamide microspheres. Non-spherical particles are less expensive; however, they can block the catheters used in UFE, and there is a greater frequency of reoccurring fibroids requiring re-embolization. Key Topics Covered: 1. Full Suite Executive Summary 1.1 U.S. Gynecological Device Market 1.2 Trend Analysis 1.3 Procedure Numbers 1.4 Assisted Reproduction Technology Device Market 1.5 Global Endometrial Ablation Market 1.6 Resectoscopic Endometrial Ablation & Resection Device Market 1.7 Uterine Fibroid Embolization Device Market 1.8 Hysteroscope Market 1.9 Colposcope Market 1.10 Female Sterilization Device Market 1.11 Female Urinary Incontinence Sling Market 1.12 Pelvic Floor Electrical Stimulation Device Market 1.13 Fluid Management Device Market 1.14 Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair Device Market 1.15 Hysterosalpingography (Hsg) Catheter Market 1.16 Competitive Analysis 2. Research Methodology 3. Uterine Fibroid Embolization Device Market 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 Microspheres 3.1.2 Polyvinyl Alcohol Particles 3.1.3 Drug-Eluting Particles 3.2 Market Overview 3.3 Market Analysis And Forecast 3.3.1 Microsphere Market 3.3.2 Pva Particle Market 3.4 Drivers And Limiters 3.4.1 Market Drivers 3.4.2 Market Limiters 3.5 Competitive Analysis Companies Mentioned Merit Medical Systems Boston Scientific BTG Cook Medical For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hc6nz9/us_market_report Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets PUNE, India, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Market-Research-Reports.com adds new report Global and Chinese Selenium Industry, 2016 Market Research Report that provides 2016-2021 forecasts for the global and Chinese markets covering information on raw materials as well as overall market dynamics. Global and Chinese Selenium Market 2016 Research Report initially provides a basic overview of the industry that covers definition, applications and manufacturing technology, post which the report explores into the international and Chinese players in the market. Complete report on Selenium market spread across 150 pages providing 8 company profiles and 98 tables and figures is available at http://www.market-research-reports.com/455233-selenium-industry . The Global and Chinese Selenium Industry, 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Global Selenium market with a focus on the Chinese industry. The report provides key statistics on status of Selenium market manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry. Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the selenium market including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2011-2016 selenium market shares for each company. Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and Chinese total market of Selenium industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export. The total selenium market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis. The report then estimates 2016-2021 industry development trends of Selenium market. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Selenium Industry before evaluating its feasibility. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2011-2021 global and Chinese Selenium market covering all important parameters. Order a copy of Global and Chinese Selenium Industry, 2016 Market Research Report at http://www.market-research-reports.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=455233 . Another research titled Global and Chinese Selenium dioxide Industry, 2010-2020 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Selenium dioxide industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of Selenium dioxide manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry. Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2010-2015 market shares for each company. Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and Chinese total market of Selenium dioxide industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export. The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis. The report then estimates 2015-2020 market development trends of Selenium dioxide industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Selenium dioxide Industry before evaluating its feasibility. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2010-2020 global and Chinese Selenium dioxide industry covering all important parameters. Browse comprehensive table of contents for Market Research Report on Global and Chinese Selenium dioxide Industry, 2010-2020 at http://www.market-research-reports.com/toc-448552-selenium-dioxide-cas-7446-08-4-industry . Explore more reports on the chemicals market at http://www.market-research-reports.com/cat/chemicals-market-research . About Us: Market Research Reports is an aggregator of syndicated market research studies that offer current and future market intelligence across multiple industrial verticals through is high quality database. Market Research Reports aims to help you take business decisions accurately and on time, every time. Understanding your time constraints, we can help you find the most relevant research based on the requirements you share with us. Our customers get 24 X 7 email and phone support. Feel free to reach us at +1 888 391 5441 with your business intelligence needs. Contact: Ritesh Tiwari UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune - 411013 Maharashtra, India. Tel: +1-888-391-5441 sales@market-research-reports.com SOURCE Market-Research-Reports ATLANTA and LONDON, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- While the underlying Bitcoin technology, blockchain, has gone mainstream, the financial services industry is still hesitant to embrace the full promise of Bitcoin and confidently provide banking relationships to Bitcoin companies. The lack of financial transparency on Bitcoin entities continues to stymie the ubiquitous adoption of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies. That reality, though, is soon to be short-lived. LexisNexis Risk Solutions, the global big data, technology and analytics firm, has teamed with Elliptic, a blockchain intelligence company, to remove that roadblock by exposing money launderers, human traffickers, terrorists, and drug dealers who use Bitcoin to make dark web purchases. The alliance, which was announced today, integrates LexisNexis Risk Solutions' robust anti-money laundering data into Elliptic's Bitcoin transaction monitoring and compliance products. As a result, Elliptic clients can obtain more meaningful insights than ever before by automatically screening Bitcoin entities for links to sanctions, enforcements, politically exposed persons, adverse media and state owned companies. "For the first time, Bitcoin companies can leverage bank-grade risk management practices to identify Bitcoin entities that appear on sanction and watch lists from around the world," said Dr. James Smith, Elliptic CEO and co-founder. "Having this enriched data set built natively into Elliptic's products takes Bitcoin AML and KYC controls to the next level." Elliptic will use LexisNexis Bridger Insight XG platform that includes its WorldCompliance database to identify whether Bitcoin transactions are linked to identities that are related to fraud, anti-money laundering, corruption or terrorist financing. The amount of money laundering activity taking place with any currency, whether virtual or hard dollar, is difficult to calculate due to the complex structures bad actors put in place so that they can mask transactions. However, Elliptic revealed today that the largest dark marketplaces facilitate more than $250 million in annual sales. "The leading Bitcoin companies globally are already using Elliptic products to assess risk on more than $1 billion in Bitcoin transactions each month. By integrating LexisNexis Risk Solutions' robust watchlist data, we are making it safe for a new wave of financial institutions to handle Bitcoin and bank Bitcoin companies." said Dr. Smith. According to Ray Valdes, a Gartner analyst who covers virtual currencies and blockchain technology, et al, the core Bitcoin technology stack has functioned with near-flawless operations over its lifetime, a track record that is unprecedented when compared to complex software from commercial vendors However, the security track record of third-party software in the Bitcoin digital currency ecosystem is dismal Many exchanges have been hacked - or funds have been stolen - due to a combination of unskilled programmers, poor methodologies and perhaps some criminal intent to defraud from the start. The situation is analogous, in the nondigital world, to a poorly run union or bank going bankrupt; such an event would not call into question the core mechanisms of a dollar-based economy. Because of the near-flawless track record of the Bitcoin blockchain and core stack, developers of competing metacoin platforms and technology stacks will have significant work to prove their capabilities to support mission-critical contexts in this regard.[1] In coming together, LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Elliptic represent a new global standard in Bitcoin risk management, AML Compliance and KYC Compliance. LexisNexis Risk Solutions is the data, technology and analytics provider of choice for 100 of the top U.S. banks, helping them achieve regulatory compliance and mitigate business risk, like identity fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, and tax evasion. The firm also works with 80 percent of U.S. federal agencies. Elliptic provides Bitcoin transaction monitoring products to the largest U.S. and European Bitcoin exchanges and payment processors, and provides key evidence to law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Europe for major investigations involving Bitcoin. "This alliance demonstrates how data, technology and analytics can be used in innovative ways to foster financial transparency from China to Germany to the U.S.," said Thomas C. Brown, SVP of U.S. Commercial Markets and Global Market Development at LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "More banks, Fintech startups, payments companies and eCommerce businesses can further consider the usefulness of the permissionless blockchain because as of today they are able to deploy best-of-breed money laundering screening against Bitcoin. As a result, the virtual currency potential evolves to a new level - from possible conduit for money laundering to trusted technology along the economic value chain." About Elliptic Elliptic is the global standard in blockchain monitoring technology, and is recognised as an established authority on blockchain compliance. In addition to providing data and analytics services to financial institutions and law enforcement agencies around the world, Elliptic advises governments on blockchain regulatory matters. In 2015 the firm was awarded "Security Product of the Year" by The Banker magazine and was a winner of the Swift Innotribe Start-up Challenge. In 2016, it was selected by KPMG as a "Top 10 Global Emerging Star" among Fintech startups. About LexisNexis Risk Solutions LexisNexis Risk Solutions is a leader in providing essential information that helps customers across industries and government predict, assess and manage risk. Combining cutting-edge technology, unique data and advanced analytics, LexisNexis Risk Solutions provides products and services that address evolving client needs in the risk sector while upholding the highest standards of security and privacy. LexisNexis Risk Solutions is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries. -------------------------------------------------- 1. Gartner, The Bitcoin Blockchain: The Magic and the Myths, April 8, 2016, Ray Valdes, David Furlonger, Fabio Chesini SOURCE Elliptic and LexisNexis Risk Solutions DUBLIN, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "North America Cyber Security Market: Analysis and Forecast (2016 to 2022)" report to their offering. The North America cyber security market is estimated to grow over $67.28 billion by the end of 2022. Currently, cyber security solutions are acquiring a major share of the market because of increasing cyber attacks in this region. The U.S. is acquiring a major market value because of continuous cyber attacks on application verticals such as healthcare, banking and financial services and manufacturing, among others. This market study includes an extensive overview and analysis of the North America Cyber Security market by solutions and services, application verticals and countries, along with developing a comprehensive outlook of the market. The report provides extensive insights of the different developments, trends and key participants. Cyber crimes cost have reached around $100 billion in the country. Canada and Mexico globally stands at the 13th and 17th position respectively as major sources of cyber crimes. North America needs to build a strong resilience system for managing cyber crimes. Various forms of cyber crimes such as ransom ware are rapidly increasing in North America which can further lead to business interruptions and financial losses. The average cost of cyber crime in the U.S. accounts to $15 million and the cost have doubled since 2010. Increasing cyber attacks from Iran, Russia and China, among others are also posing serious threats to this region. Cyber attacks on the U.S. government have witnessed a 10% rise as compared to 2014. The attacks on government organizations and telecom operations caused a breach of 21.5 million personal information records and affected 15 million customers. In Canada, there has been a huge increase in spear phishing emails and computer network breaches over the recent years. The financial sector has always been the target of cyber attacks in Mexico. Moreover, cyber criminals are now targeting healthcare, manufacturing, government and retail sectors as well. Cyber space is continually expanding with new and innovative developments like Internet of Things' and Big Data', which will add to more levels of complexities and security challenges with regard to the various networks and systems. Therefore, cyber security will prove to be an important element of any organization and will attempt to provide a range of opportunities to a number of vendors to foster cyber security solutions in the North America region. Some of the leading companies in the North America Cyber Security market are IBM, Cisco, Dell, Intel, FireEye, Symantec, among others. Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary 1. Research Scope and Research Methodology 2. Market Overview 3. Competitive Overview 4. Industry Analysis 5. North America Cyber Security Market: Solutions and Services 6. North America Cyber Security Market by Application Verticals 7. North America Cyber Security Market by Countries 8. Company Profiles - Bae Systems - Dell Corporation - Fortinet Inc. - Lockheed Martin - Northrop Grumman Corporation - Palo Alto Networks - Security Services Provider - Security Solutions Provider - Security Solutions and Service Provider - Booz Allen Hamilton - Checkpoint Software Technology - Cisco Systems inc - IBM Corporation - Intel Corporation - Kaspersky Labs - Sophos Group plc - Symantec Corporation - Trend Micro Inc. For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d8cjzb/north_america Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com CHESTERFIELD, Mo., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Agile Network today announced the appointment of Andrew Soto as Vice President of Implementation Services. In this newly created role, Mr. Soto will be based in Agile Network's Tulsa, Oklahoma office and be responsible for leading the successful implementation of multi-carrier shipping systems for parcel and freight management that includes over 105 logistics professionals in 10 offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. He will report to transportation industry veteran, Kevin V. Cox, the Chief Executive Officer of Agile Network and former General Manager of iShip and ConnectShip, two wholly owned UPS subsidiaries. "Andrew has the diverse business experience and the technical skillset to conduct our rapidly expanding Project Management Operations. He will help us deliver our transportation management execution solutions and ensure they are aligned with our customers' goals. We're excited to bring him on with his proven track record of quality enterprise project implementations delivered in-scope, on-time, on-budget, and the expected quality as we serve our customers' needs for expedited delivery options, international shipping, and the latest supply chain technologies." said Kevin Cox, CEO of Agile Network. "The opportunity to join Agile Network just as the transportation industry is experiencing explosive growth is the right fit. I'm excited to start in my role as VP of Implementation Services, where I'll work with a modern, robust shipping system that helps businesses' solve complex transportation challenges using transformative solutions for shipping simply from anywhere, to anywhere." said Andrew Soto, Vice President of Implementation Services. Mr. Soto received his Master's in Business Administration from the American Business & Technology University, Master's Information Services/Information Technology Certificates from Villanova University, and a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science from Oklahoma State University. Mr. Soto is also a Certified ScrumMaster from the Scrum Alliance, and a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI). Mr. Soto's appointment is effective as of August 1st, 2016. About TME Agile Network's Transportation Management & Execution platform, TME, is multi-carrier shipping software that provides users with certified support for a global network of carriers, including: FedEx, UPS, DHL, USPS, Purolator, Canpar, Canada Post, and hundreds of regional operators. The solution also provides a full-featured, on-premise or cloud-based shipping and transportation management platform, with real- time rating and routing, pack verification, consolidation, automatic ACE filing, export document generation, and integrated carrier invoice reconciliation. Agile Network TME may be configured to operate in both attended station and 'black box' modes with full support for high volume material handling, automatic weighing and dimensions, and print-and-apply systems. About Agile Network Agile Network is a leading provider of enterprise shipping software, returns management solutions, and transportation management solutions with more than 3 decades of experience supporting over 1,200 clients and hundreds of Fortune 500 Brands in the United States, Canada, Latin America, United Kingdom, European Union and Asia-Pacific. Agile Network TME handles both freight and parcel shipments tailored to serve a diversity of industrial applications, including: Retail, eCommerce, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Financial Services, Industrial Manufacturing and Third Party Logistics. To learn more, visit: www.agile-network.com For additional information, contact: Agile Network 732 Crown Industrial Court, Ste A Chesterfield, MO 63005 1.866.686.2445 | [email protected] SOURCE Agile Network Related Links http://www.agile-network.com LOS ANGELES, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, August 5, more than 78,000 Olympic athletes, spectators and dignitaries from around the world will fill Rio de Janeiro's famed Maracana Stadium to celebrate the start of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. As the Opening Ceremonies concludes, those in attendance, along with billions of viewers around the globe, will focus their attention on the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, commissioned by world-renowned kinetic wind sculptor and Orcas Island, Washington resident, Anthony Howe. American kinetic wind sculptor, Anthony Howe, kicking off the Rio 2016 Olympics in dramatic fashion with one-of-a-kind Olympic cauldron. Lucea, a kinetic wind sculpture by Anthony Howe of Orcas Island, Washington, is an example of the work done by Mr. Howe who designed the Rio 2016 Olympic cauldron, debuting at the Opening Ceremonies on Friday, August 5, 2016. Mr. Howe, whose large-scale kinetic sculptures can be found in public spaces around the world, including Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Southern California, and a recent holiday installation for Barney's department store in New York City, was approached by the 2016 Rio Olympic Committee in August 2015. Soon after, he began working on the massive 40 foot in diameter, two-ton Olympic cauldron which symbolizes the sun. Mr. Howe's cauldron will be set in motion, moving gracefully yet powerfully with spirals representing life. "My vision was to replicate the sun, using movement to mimic its pulsing energy and reflection of light," said Anthony Howe. "I hope what people take away from the cauldron, the Opening Ceremonies, and the Rio Games themselves is that there are no limits to what a human being can accomplish." With early designs beginning in Mr. Howe's home studio on Orcas Island, located a two-hour ferry ride north of Seattle, Washington the final cauldron was completed in Montreal, Canada and carefully made its trek to Rio de Janeiro in late July. A smaller version of the cauldron will remain in Rio within a new waterfront park. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Anthony Howe attended Cornell University before moving on to the Skowhegan School of Sculpture & Painting in Skowhegan, Maine. Inspired by his childhood love of Tinkertoy and Erector Sets, Mr. Howe began creating large scale metal kinetic wind sculptures in 1989 after years of painting with watercolor. Mr. Howe's sculptures have been featured on CNN, CBS Sunday Morning, and The Great Big Story. For more information about Anthony Howe and his work, please visit www.howeart.net. Press Contact for Interviews and Information: SuperNova Integrated Marketing Communications Rob Novickas [email protected] (206) 484-5605 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395331 Video - https://youtu.be/agYO1oXuiEY SOURCE Anthony Howe Related Links http://www.howeart.net RICHARDSON, Texas, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Anritsu Company launches an integrated test solution featuring its Signal Quality Analyzer MP1800A BERT and G0361A 64Gbaud 2-bit D/A Converter (DAC) with MUX that delivers highly accurate measurements of high-speed interconnects and backplanes under development to meet the ever-increasing bandwidth demands of current and emerging networks. The solution generates extremely clean eye diagrams at up to 128 Gbps per channel for 400 G applications so engineers can verify their high-speed devices, modules and network systems are in compliance with industry standards, including 400 GbE and CEI-56G. The G0361A easily connects with any of the MP1800A 28/32 Gbit/s multi-channel Pulse Pattern Generator (PPG) modules. With a dual-channel 2x1 multiplexing function in the input section, the G0361A can generate signals ranging from 32 Gbit/s x 4CH NRZ to 128G PAM4 (64Gbaud), supporting easy and low-cost expansion to 128G PAM4. The MP1800A/G0361A is the industry's first solution to support 128G PAM4 generation and BER tests with accurate jitter injection, and allows engineers to test every bit of a PAM4 signal for more accurate analysis of next-generation 400 GbE interconnects and backplanes. A number of distinct performance advantages for high-speed testing are provided by the MP1800A/G0361A solution. Best-in-class signal-to-noise ratio and a wide bandwidth allow the solution to produce the cleanest eye diagrams in the industry. Engineers have more confidence that the signal is error-free to ensure their designs, as a result. Serial and parallel measurements can be conducted automatically to save test time and reduce cost-of-test. In addition to providing performance benefits, the MP1800A/G0361 solution has other advantages. It eliminates the complex setup and configuration issues associated with legacy systems, while also minimizes capital equipment expenditures for lower cost-of-test. The Signal Quality Analyzer MP1800A BERT features a flexible platform that incorporates a built-in PPG for generation of the highest-quality, highest-amplitude signals in the industry, as well as an Error Detector (ED) module with the highest input sensitivity available. Each MP1800A PPG or ED module can be 1-, 2-, or 4-channels to support multichannel synchronization for up to 8 channels at 32 Gbit/s. With the built-in ED, PAM4 power measurements can also be performed with the solution. About Anritsu Anritsu Company is the United States subsidiary of Anritsu Corporation, a global provider of innovative communications test and measurement solutions for 120 years. Anritsu's "2020 VISION" philosophy engages customers as true partners to help develop wireless, optical, microwave/RF, and digital solutions for R&D, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance applications, as well as multidimensional service assurance solutions for network monitoring and optimization. Anritsu also provides precision microwave/RF components, optical devices, and high-speed electrical devices for communication products and systems. The company develops advanced solutions for 5G, M2M, IoT, as well as other emerging and legacy wireline and wireless communication markets. With offices throughout the world, Anritsu has approximately 4,000 employees in over 90 countries. To learn more visit www.anritsu.com and follow Anritsu on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150410/197878LOGO SOURCE Anritsu Company Related Links http://www.anritsu.com Ascend is the largest nonprofit Pan-Asian membership organization for business professionals in North America. With an emphasis on professional development, Ascend offers leadership development programs designed to cultivate Pan-Asian talent. Lohani's service with Heifer began as a volunteer in Nepal in 1993. Now he leads the Asia and Africa programs, which represents part of the nonprofit's overall work on four continents with projects in about 30 countries. "We educate and train smallholder farmers in both technical and non-technical skills," Lohani said. "With the support we provide, our farmers are able to unleash their potential to achieve sustainable socio-economic transformation. Despite obstacles, these farmers are strong and resilient." Thomas Phelps IV, President of Ascend Los Angeles Metro and Vice President of Laserfiche, an enterprise content management software company, presented the award to Mahendra at the annual Ascend National Convention in Anaheim, California. "Mahendra's storywhere he personally experienced extreme hunger and poverty growing up in Nepal while living in a small hut that provided shelter for his 11 siblingshas inspired all of us," Phelps said. "Since those early years, his leadership has empowered others. His keen desire to provide positive change has impacted the global community we all live inlifting countless families out of poverty." "I am incredibly fortunate to be part of such a great mission at Heifer," Lohani said. "The joy I have felt over the years goes far beyond my contributions. The greatest reward is being able to see thousands of women, men and children in communities around the world enjoy better lives. When I return home to Nepal, I always find them with open arms, joyful hearts and smiling faces. They have so few physical possessions, yet so much love to share. They feel empowered to change their world. In turn, I feel inspired to continue the cycle of creating positive change." In the 23 years since Lohani started working with Heifer Nepal, the program has grown to support more than 138,000 families. City National Bank was proud to sponsor the award and supports Heifer's mission to lift families out of hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. ABOUT HEIFER INTERNATIONAL Heifer's mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. For more than 70 years, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in nearly 30 countries, including the United States, to help families and communities become more self-reliant. Heifer's 2020 goal is to help 4 million families achieve living incomes by 2020, which will allow them to feed their families daily; educate all their children; and have proper housing, water, hygiene and other essential resources. For information, visit Heifer.org, read our blog, follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @Heifer or call 888.5HUNGER (888.548.6437). ABOUT ASCEND Ascend (@AscendLeader) is the largest, non-profit Pan-Asian membership organization for business professionals in North America. Established in 2005, Ascend's reach includes 60,000+ senior executives, professionals and MBA/undergraduate students involved in its 50+ chapters in the United States and Canada. As a career lifecycle organization, it offers robust leadership and professional development programs designed to cultivate Pan-Asian talent by supporting its members in reaching their career potential and by supporting its corporate partners to develop a strong, diverse, and inclusive workforce to achieve business growth. Visit Ascendleadership.org for more information. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395324 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131202/DC25851LOGO-b SOURCE Heifer Project International Related Links http://www.heifer.org Assistant Chief Perez is an extremely dedicated public safety executive always striving to do more for the advancement of the law enforcement community. She is passionate about helping law enforcement personnel, especially women, advance their careers. "Throughout my career, I have been driven by the desire to be a positive force in the lives of others," Perez stated. "Having grown up in difficult circumstances myself, I dedicated my career to bettering the experience of children going through similar experiences." According to NAWLEE President, Inspector Ruth Roy, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, "Kathy has always strived to be a good role model and is proof that hard work, even in the face of insurmountable odds, really does pay off". Motorola Solutions, which creates innovative, mission-critical communication solutions and services for public safety and commercial customers, developed this award with NAWLEE. Director of Public Safety Marketing for Motorola, Tracy Kimbo, explained the importance of this award by saying, "Quality leadership in policing is critical and with today's challenges facing the women and men who serve as our guardians, we are honored to help recognize these leaders." Perez has dedicated her life to the service of her country, county and community. Since the age of 14, when she was part of the Police Explorer Program within the Hartford Police Department she wanted to be a police officer and serve as a positive example in her community. She began her career with the Connecticut Army National Guard in Hartford, Connecticut as a Military Police Officer. This experience provided her with valuable training and resources, which she used to fuel her subsequent education and law enforcement career. Upon completion of Basic and Military Police Training, she returned to Hartford and joined the Hartford Police Department as a patrol officer in 1983. In 1991, she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, where she oversaw daily patrol operations. In 1995, she was promoted again, this time to the rank of Lieutenant where she served as the Commander of the Youth and Family Services Division within the Investigative Services Bureau, and managed the investigations into crimes committed by and against children. In 2001, she was once again promoted, this time to the rank of Captain. She commanded both the Investigative Services Bureau and the Operations Support Bureau before retiring in April of 2004 after 20+ years of service to the citizens of Hartford. In 2004, Chief Perez encountered NAWLEE for the first time. As a brand new chief in District Heights, Maryland, she saw a scholarship opportunity through the organization, applied, and won. She quickly saw the "Magic of NAWLEE", and over the following 12 years, Perez was an active member and role model for women in the law enforcement community. She even served as the President of NAWLEE. In 2006, Chief Perez was selected from a nationwide search to start the first City of Bowie Police Department in Bowie, Maryland. Under her leadership the Bowie Police Department grew to 52 sworn members and 6 civilian personnel. In late 2010, Katherine Perez accepted the Assistant Chief position with the Federal Reserve Police in Washington, D.C. where she provides her outstanding leadership and expertise to over 150 sworn and civilian members of the Law Enforcement Unit at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. About NAWLEE The National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE) is the first organization established to address the unique needs of women holding senior management positions in law enforcement. Its mission is to serve and further the interests of women who are, or aspire to be, executives in law enforcement. For more information, please visit www.NAWLEE.org Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395092 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395234LOGO SOURCE National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives Related Links http://www.nawlee.org PLANO, Texas, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- At Home Group Inc. ("At Home" or the "Company") today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 8,667,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $15 per share. The Company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,300,050 shares of its common stock. Shares of the Company's common stock are expected to begin trading on August 4, 2016 on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HOME." The offering is expected to close on August 9, 2016, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. BofA Merrill Lynch, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Jefferies and Morgan Stanley are acting as joint book-running managers in the offering. Evercore ISI, Guggenheim Securities and William Blair are acting as co-managers in the offering. The offering of these securities is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus may be obtained, when available, from: BofA Merrill Lynch at NC1-004-03-43 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001 Attn: Prospectus Department or by e-mail at [email protected] or from Goldman, Sachs & Co. at Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by emailing [email protected]. A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2016. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About At Home Group Inc. At Home, the home decor superstore, is focused on providing customers with the broadest assortment of home decor products to suit any style, at any budget, for any reason to redecorate. With a wide assortment of 50,000 items throughout our stores, At Home enables customers to express themselves and create a home that reflects their personality and style, in ways big and small. At Home is headquartered in Plano, Texas. HOME-F Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150904/263908LOGO SOURCE At Home Group Inc. NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Axial, the largest online capital market enabling private companies to grow and succeed, today announced a $14 million growth financing round. Edison Partners led the Series C financing round, with existing major investors Comcast Ventures, First Round, and Redpoint Ventures participating as well. Steve McLaughlin, founder of Financial Technology Partners, advised Axial on the financing round. The fundraising comes at a pivotal time of growth for the company, which closed 2015 with 51% in revenue growth and over $1b in closed transaction volume. The new investment brings the company's total funding to more than $34m. Axial will invest the proceeds in scaling the growth of its online capital market; developing new products for its member base; and expanding the organization's data, engineering, and business development teams. "Axial's vision of a trusted, organized marketplace for every participant in the private capital markets is an important mission and represents a significant transformation from a disappointing status quo for dealmakers and entrepreneurs, both here in the U.S. and abroad," said Kelly Ford, Partner at Edison Partners. "As investors, we understand the challenge that comes with finding, connecting with, and being found by the most promising investment opportunities, particularly as markets grow larger, more fragmented, and more competitive. We're excited to be Axial's growth partner, working with the team to scale its unique professional network and transaction marketplace." Since its launch in 2010, Axial's network has grown to include 11,000 capital providers and private companies who use its online capital market to identify, connect to, and close M&A and growth financing deals. In 2015, Axial's members signed over 11,000 non-disclosure agreements and closed 672 deals, representing $5.8b in revenue. "Our true north is to dramatically transform how private companies access capital for growth or exit purposes. To do this, we must renovate the opaque, inefficient, and fragmented private capital markets, reconfiguring them to be in clear service to the CEO entrepreneur," said Axial founder and CEO, Peter Lehrman. "This round of financing enables us to continue making big investments that will move the private capital markets towards that ideal state." To support the company's mission and in coordination with the financing round, Axial has added three senior leaders to the executive team with experience in software, entrepreneurship, and corporate finance: Howard Altman, VP of Engineering - Howard joins Axial after leading efforts to re-engineer TravelClick's core online hospitality marketplace and SaaS platforms. Prior to that, he spent seven years at Bridgewater Associates leading the technology teams behind the client services and marketing functions at the world's largest hedge fund. Giff Constable, VP of Product - With over 22 years in the software industry, Giff has sold three companies and helped build several VC-backed startups in both product and business development roles. His early career included two chapters as an investment banker executing middle-market M&A deals, as well as IPO advisory at Broadview/Jefferies. Debbie Stevens, VP of Revenue Operations - Debbie Stevens has over 20 years experience, focused on revenue-related operations roles at both start-up and enterprise technology companies. Prior to Axial, Debbie built her career and expertise at companies including Microsoft, AppNexus, and Risk Management Solutions. Axial is also excited to announce the following growth milestones: Axial's 95 employees moved to a new headquarters on the 19th floor of 902 Broadway in the heart of New York's startup-centric Flatiron neighborhood. startup-centric Flatiron neighborhood. Axial has struck expanded partnerships with key organizations including leading CEO peer advisory network Vistage International and global content communications company R.R. Donnelley . . Notable new Axial members in the last 12 months include Goldman's Specialty Lending Group, BBVA Compass, Vestar Capital Partners, Sun Capital Partners, Koch Industries, TransDigm Group Inc., Crestmark Bank, Oaktree Capital Management, Kainos Capital, and Perot Investments. Recent notable closed deals on Axial include Sterling Partners' growth equity investment in Surgical Solutions, Monroe Capital's provision of acquisition financing to American Mortgage Consultants, Inc., and Tennenbaum Capital Partners' financing of Cargojet Inc. About Axial Axial (www.axial.net) is the largest online capital market empowering the growth and success of private companies. Axial's dynamic search and matching technology confidentially connects middle market CEOs to a qualified universe of M&A advisors, lenders and buyers as they look to grow or exit their businesses. Today, the network includes over 22,000 professionals, and over 11,000 firms, that initiate 600 deals each month, representing over $1b in closed transaction volume annually. Headquartered in New York, NY, Axial is backed by Comcast Ventures, Edison Partners, First Round and Redpoint Ventures. Axial is an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company. SOURCE Axial Related Links http://www.axial.net SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It's back-to-school time across the country, and as kids and young adults are returning to the classroom many adult students are thinking about going back to school as well. To help busy adults take the leap in 2016, Western Governors University (WGU) is offering 100 Back-to-School Scholarships. The scholarships, worth up to $2,000 each, will be awarded to 100 new students who are accepted to WGU by the end of the year. To be considered, prospective students must have previously completed at least 20 college credits, be admitted to WGU, and submit a scholarship application by December 31st. Applicants must also complete an essay explaining their motivation for returning to college and participate in an interview with a scholarship counselor. Students may apply for the scholarship here. Many adults need a degree to improve their employment situation, as was the case for Donna Law from Cedar City, Utah. Donna achieved early career success as a marketing manager, but not having a college degree was making it difficult for her to advance in her career. Donna returned to school to earn her bachelor's degree at WGU while working full time, and after she graduated was promoted to executive director of her organization. WGU's competency-based education model is designed to meet the needs of adult learners and allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. While WGU's degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their programs, saving both time and money. The Back-to-School Scholarship is a competitive program and is for any of WGU's more than 50 bachelor's and master's degree programs in business, information technology, teacher education, and health professions, including nursing. Scholarships will be awarded based on the student's academic record, previous college experience, readiness for online study, current competency, as well as other considerations. The application deadline is December 31, 2016. The scholarship will be applied at the rate of $500 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms, toward WGU's already-low tuition of about $3,000 per term for most programs. About WGU Established in 1997 with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, WGU now serves more than 70,000 students nationwide and has 65,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation's leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. It has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and enabling the workforce needed in today's rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, and was featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. The University's 2015 Annual Report is available online. Follow WGU: http://www.facebook.com/wgu.edu http://www.linkedin.com/companies/western-governors-university http://twitter.com/wgu http://www.youtube.com/WesternGovernorsUniv http://google.com/+wgu http://news.wgu.edu/news/news.xml Contact for media inquiries: Joan Mitchell VP of Public Relations 801-428-5463 [email protected] Contact for enrollment information: 866-225-5948 www.wgu.edu Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151012/276234LOGO SOURCE Western Governors University Related Links http://www.wgu.edu Excluding significant items, first quarter earnings per common share of $0.05(1) Return to profitability driven by performance of Canadian and Australian capital markets business and wealth management operations in the UK & Europe (All dollar amounts are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated) TORONTO, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, the quarter ended June 30, 2016, Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (Canaccord Genuity, the Company, TSX: CF) generated $206.2 million in revenue. Excluding significant items(1), the Company recorded net income of $8.1 million or net income of $4.3 million attributable to common shareholders(2) (earnings per common share of $0.05). Including all significant items, on an IFRS basis, the Company recorded net income of $7.5 million or net income attributable to common shareholders(2) of $3.7 million (earnings per common share of $0.04). "During the quarter we made strong progress to achieve most of our cost reduction initiatives and we delivered on our commitment to strengthen our alignment with our shareholders through the completion of our employee private placement," said Dan Daviau, President & CEO of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. "While we are encouraged by improving activity levels in Canada, Australia and the U.S., we expect continuing challenges for our UK and Europe capital markets operations given the uncertainty in that region. In addition, the continued stability of our wealth business in the UK and Europe and the return to profitability of our Canadian wealth business provide added confidence in our outlook." First Quarter of Fiscal 2017 vs. First Quarter of Fiscal 2016 Excluding significant items, revenue of $205.0 million , a decrease of 4.4% or $9.5 million from $214.5 million (1) , a decrease of 4.4% or from Excluding significant items, expenses of $193.9 million , a decrease of 2.6% or $5.2 million from $199.1 million (1) , a decrease of 2.6% or from Revenue of $206.2 million , a decrease of 3.9% or $8.3 from $214.5 million , a decrease of 3.9% or from Expenses of $196.2 million , a decrease of 2.9% or $5.8 million from $202.0 million , a decrease of 2.9% or from Excluding significant items, earnings per common share of $0.05 compared to earnings per common share of $0.10 (1) compared to earnings per common share of Excluding significant items, net income of $8.1 million compared to net income of $13.3 million (1) compared to net income of Net income of $7.5 million compared to net income of $11.0 million compared to net income of Earnings per common share of $0.04 compared to earnings per common share of $0.08 First Quarter of Fiscal 2017 vs Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2016 Excluding significant items, revenue of $205.0 million , an increase of 2.0% or $4.1 million from $200.9 million (1) , an increase of 2.0% or from Excluding significant items, expenses of $193.9 million , a decrease of 5.1% or $10.4 million from $204.3 million (1) , a decrease of 5.1% or from Revenue of $206.2 million , an increase of 2.6% or $5.3 million from $200.9 million , an increase of 2.6% or from Expenses of $196.2 million , a decrease of 14.0% or $32.0 million from $228.2 million , a decrease of 14.0% or from Excluding significant items, earnings per common share of $0.05 compared to a loss per common share of $0.06 (1) compared to a loss per common share of Excluding significant items, net income of $8.1 million compared to a net loss of $2.1 million (1) compared to a net loss of Net income of $7.5 million compared to a net loss of $22.7 million compared to a net loss of Earnings per common share of $0.04 compared to a loss per common share of $0.29 Financial Condition at end of First Quarter Fiscal 2017 vs. Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2016 Cash and cash equivalents balance of $282.2 million , a decrease of $146.1 million from $428.3 million , a decrease of from Working capital of $385.7 million , an increase of $4.4 million from $381.3 million , an increase of from Total shareholders' equity of $735.7 million , a decrease of $14.2 million from $749.9 million , a decrease of from Book value per diluted common share of $4.75 , a decrease of $0.24 from $4.99 (3) , a decrease of from On August 3, 2016 , the Board of Directors considered the Company's dividend policy in the context of the market environment and the Company's business activity and approved a continued suspension of the quarterly common dividend. This suspension will be reviewed quarterly and a determination will be made on the basis of business conditions and profitability. , the Board of Directors considered the Company's dividend policy in the context of the market environment and the Company's business activity and approved a continued suspension of the quarterly common dividend. This suspension will be reviewed quarterly and a determination will be made on the basis of business conditions and profitability. On August 3, 2016 , the Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.34375 per Series A Preferred Share payable on September 30, 2016 with a record date of September 16, 2016 , and a cash dividend of $0.359375 per Series C Preferred Share payable on September 30, 2016 to Series C Preferred shareholders of record as at September 16, 2016 . SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS Corporate On June 6, 2016 Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. announced a non-brokered private placement ("Private Placement") to employees of the Company at a purchase price of C$4.17 per Unit, with each Unit consisting of one common share of the Company and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $4.99 for a period of six months following the third anniversary of closing. Proceeds of the Private Placement were used to fund the Company's employee benefits trusts, established under its long term incentive plan, which will purchase common shares in the market to cover grants of restricted share units to those employees who have participated in the Private Placement Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. announced a non-brokered private placement ("Private Placement") to employees of the Company at a purchase price of per Unit, with each Unit consisting of one common share of the Company and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at an exercise price of for a period of six months following the third anniversary of closing. Proceeds of the Private Placement were used to fund the Company's employee benefits trusts, established under its long term incentive plan, which will purchase common shares in the market to cover grants of restricted share units to those employees who have participated in the Private Placement The Company issued an aggregate of 6,876,824 Units at a price of C$4.17 per Unit in connection with the Private Placement (6,730,561 Units were issued prior to June 30, 2016 with the balance issued after June 30, 2016 ) per Unit in connection with the Private Placement (6,730,561 Units were issued prior to with the balance issued after ) On June 30, 2016 , the Company completed its sale of Canaccord Genuity Singapore Pte Ltd. to SAC Capital Private Limited. Capital Markets Canaccord Genuity participated in 86 investment banking transactions globally, raising total proceeds of C$10.3 billion (4) during fiscal Q1/17 during fiscal Q1/17 Canaccord Genuity led or co-led 34 transactions globally, raising total proceeds of C$1.1 billion (4) during fiscal Q1/17 during fiscal Q1/17 Significant investment banking transactions for Canaccord Genuity during fiscal Q1/17 include: AUD$20.0 million for Airxpanders Inc. on the ASX AUD$60.5 million for TFS Corporation Limited on the ASX AUD$50.0 million for NetComm Wireless Limited on the ASX AUD$39.8 million for Redbubble Limited on the ASX AUD$10 million for Oklo Resources Limited on the ASX AUD$32.0 million for Yowie Group Limited on the ASX AUD$20.0 million for Altura Mining Limited on the ASX 19.1 million for Tyman Plc on the LSE 16.8 million for Goals Soccer Centres Plc on the LSE 27.2 million for Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) plc on the LSE 40.0 million for Vernalis Plc on the LSE 30.3 million for The Renewables Infrastructure Group on the LSE 100 million bond issue for Burford Capital on LSE US$28.8 million for Abraxas Petroleum Corp on NASDAQ US$22.5 million for SCYNEXIS, Inc. on NASDAQ US$70.0 million Initial Public Offering for Selecta Biosciences, Inc. on NASDAQ US$152.0 million for Renewable Energy Group, Inc. on NASDAQ US$172.5 million Initial Public Offering for Twilio, Inc. on NYSE C$65.0 million for DHX Media Ltd. on the TSX C$60.1 million for ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. on the TSX C$32.3 million for Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. on the TSX US$109.3 million for Mainstreet Health Investments Inc. on the TSX C$49.1 million for Rye Patch Gold Corp. on the TSXV C$150.0 million for NYX Gaming Group on the TSXV C$20.7 million for Seabridge Gold Inc. on the TSX In Canada , Canaccord Genuity participated in raising $275.4 million for government and corporate bond issuances during fiscal Q1/17 , Canaccord Genuity participated in raising for government and corporate bond issuances during fiscal Q1/17 Canaccord Genuity generated advisory revenues of $39.1 million during fiscal Q1/17, an increase of $17.4 million or 80.3% compared to the same quarter last year during fiscal Q1/17, an increase of or 80.3% compared to the same quarter last year During fiscal Q1/17, significant M&A and advisory transactions included : NYX in connection with its acquisition of OpenBet for 270 million Tahoe Resources Inc. on its C$945.0 million acquisition of Lake Shore Gold Corp. Reservoir Minerals on its merger with Nevsun Resources for total consideration of US$440.0 million , and exercise of its rights of first offer related to Reservoir's Timok Copper Project for total consideration of US$262.5 million . Plug Power Inc. on its US$40.0 million loan facility GuestLogix on the US$38.5 million sale of its OpenJaw Business to TravelSky Technology Ltd. Claude Resources Inc. on its C$337.0 million sale to Silver Standard Resources Inc. MeetMe on its US$54.6 million acquisition of Skout Blacksmith Applications, Inc. on its sale to Strattam Capital Seabridge Gold Inc. on its acquisition of SnipGold Inc. Maxwell Technologies, Inc. on the US$ 21.0 million sale of its Microelectronics product line to Data Device Corporation DLH Holdings in connection with its US$38.8 million acquisition of Danya International The Luminaires Group on its recapitalization by Sentinel Capital Partners Daintree Networks, Inc. on its sale to Current, a subsidiary of General Electric Lyceum Capital Partners on the 50 million acquisition of Sabio Limited Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management (Global) Globally, Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management generated $63.9 million in revenue in Q1/17 in revenue in Q1/17 Assets under administration in Canada and assets under management in the UK & Europe and Australia were $33.0 billion at the end of Q1/17(3) Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management (North America) Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management ( North America ) generated $29.5 million in revenue and, after intersegment allocations and before taxes, recorded a net income of $0.4 million in Q1/17 ) generated in revenue and, after intersegment allocations and before taxes, recorded a net income of in Q1/17 Assets under administration in Canada were $9.8 billion as at June 30, 2016 an increase of 6.8% from $9.2 billion at the end of the previous quarter and a decrease of 7.8% from $10.6 billion at the end of fiscal Q1/16 (3) were as at an increase of 6.8% from at the end of the previous quarter and a decrease of 7.8% from at the end of fiscal Q1/16 Assets under management in Canada (discretionary) were $1.27 billion as at June 30, 2016 , an increase of 0.9% from $1.26 billion at the end of the previous quarter and a decrease of 10.6% from $1.4 billion at the end of fiscal Q1/16 (3) (discretionary) were as at , an increase of 0.9% from at the end of the previous quarter and a decrease of 10.6% from at the end of fiscal Q1/16 Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management had 138 Advisory Teams(5) at the end of fiscal Q1/17, a decrease of one Advisory Team from March 31, 2016 and a decrease of nine from June 30, 2015 Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management (UK & Europe) Wealth management operations in the UK & Europe generated $33.2 million in revenue and, after intersegment allocations, and excluding significant items, recorded net income of $6.4 million before taxes in Q1/17 (1) generated in revenue and, after intersegment allocations, and excluding significant items, recorded net income of before taxes in Q1/17 Assets under management (discretionary and non-discretionary) were $22.4 billion (12.9 billion) as at June 30, 2016 , a decrease of 1.8% from $22.8 billion (12.2 billion) at the end of the previous quarter and a decrease of 1.8% from $22.8 billion (11.6 billion) at June 30, 2015 (3). In local currency (GBP), assets under management at June 30, 2016 increased by 5.7% compared to March 31, 2016 and 11.2% compared to Q1/16. Non-IFRS Measures The non-International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) measures presented include assets under administration, assets under management, book value per diluted common share and figures that exclude significant items. Significant items include restructuring costs, amortization of intangible assets acquired in connection with a business combination, impairment of goodwill and other assets, acquisition-related expense items, which include costs recognized in relation to both prospective and completed acquisitions, as well as gains or losses related to business disposals including recognition of realized translation gains on the disposal of foreign operations. Book value per diluted common share is calculated as total common shareholders' equity adjusted for assumed proceeds from the exercise of options and warrants divided by the number of diluted common shares outstanding including estimated amounts in respect of share issuance commitments including options and warrants, as applicable, and, commencing in Q1/14, adjusted for shares purchased under the NCIB and not yet cancelled and estimated forfeitures in respect of unvested share awards under share-based payment plans. Management believes that these non-IFRS measures will allow for a better evaluation of the operating performance of the Company's business and facilitate meaningful comparison of results in the current period to those in prior periods and future periods. Figures that exclude significant items provide useful information by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of the Company's core operating results. A limitation of utilizing these figures that exclude significant items is that the IFRS accounting effects of these items do in fact reflect the underlying financial results of the Company's business; thus, these effects should not be ignored in evaluating and analyzing the Company's financial results. Therefore, management believes that the Company's IFRS measures of financial performance and the respective non-IFRS measures should be considered together. Selected financial information excluding significant items(1) Three months ended June 30 Quarter-over- quarter change (C$ thousands, except per share and % amounts) 2016 2015 Total revenue per IFRS $206,180 $214,454 (3.9)% Total expenses per IFRS 196,169 202,007 (2.9)% Significant items recorded in Canaccord Genuity Amortization of intangible assets (expenses) 818 1,410 (42.0)% Net gain realized on business disposal (revenue) (1,193) n.m. Significant items recorded in Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management Amortization of intangible assets (expenses) 1,405 1,467 (4.3)% Total significant items 1,030 2,877 (64.2)% Total revenue excluding significant items 204,987 214,454 (4.4)% Total expenses excluding significant items 193,946 199,130 (2.6)% Net income before taxes adjusted $11,041 $15,324 (27.9)% Income taxes adjusted 2,902 2,005 44.7% Net income adjusted $8,139 $13,319 (38.9)% Earnings per common share basic, adjusted $0.05 $0.10 (50.0)% Earnings per common share diluted, adjusted $0.05 $0.10 (50.0)% (1) Figures excluding significant items are non-IFRS measures. See Non-IFRS Measures on page 4. n.m.: mot meaningful Fellow Shareholders: Our first fiscal quarter was again characterized by heightened volatility across global markets. Following the UK referendum vote to leave the European Union in late June ("Brexit"), global stock markets initially sold off before staging a partial recovery during the last week of the quarter. Despite the excessive volatility throughout the period, the S&P/TSX Composite finished the quarter 5.1% higher on a total return basis, primarily owing to a safe haven gold rally and continued oil price appreciation. The less resource-centric S&P 500 posted more modest gains of 2.5% for the quarter, while the MSCI EAFE index declined 1.2% on the back of weak European performance related to the UK referendum. Delivering on our commitment to reduce operating expenses and drive profitability Despite industry headwinds and the environment of persistent uncertainty leading up to the Brexit referendum, I am pleased to report that we have returned our business to profitability during the first fiscal quarter of 2017. We achieved this improved result by managing our business more effectively across our platform, while maintaining a strong client focus in an improving, but still challenging environment. Excluding significant items and incentive compensation, in the first fiscal quarter we have reduced our firm wide operating expenses by 6.8% compared to the same period last year and our general and administrative costs by 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. Since we began our restructuring initiatives six months ago, we have achieved most of our cost reduction objectives, with an additional benefit from the fluctuation in foreign exchange rates towards the end of our first fiscal quarter. We continue to explore additional expense reduction measures and we are well on track to deliver our targeted $30 million reduction. Improving fundamentals in Canadian and Australian capital markets During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, Canaccord Genuity participated in 86 transactions globally, to raise total proceeds of $10.3 billion for growth companies. Our global capital markets operations generated revenues of $140.6 million during the quarter, an increase of 1.4% compared to the previous fiscal quarter. The strongest contributions came from our Canadian and Australian capital markets businesses, which recorded sequential revenue increases of 25% and 15.4% respectively. This performance was offset by a small loss in our US capital markets operation, and more substantially by losses in our UK & Europe capital markets business, which was the most impacted by general uncertainty leading up to the recent Brexit referendum. Total financing activity in our key markets was lower compared to the same period last year, a result of ongoing broad market volatility. With the exception of our Australian investment banking operation, all regions recorded a decline in investment banking revenue on a year-over-year basis. However, I am pleased to report that investment banking revenue increased by 117.9% when compared to our most recent fiscal quarter, and we are encouraged by the improving activity levels in our core focus sectors and specifically in the natural resource sectors, a historic area of strength for our business. Revenue generated from advisory fees during our first quarter increased by 80.3% on a year-over-year basis. Our Canadian capital markets operation reported the highest increase in advisory fees revenue of 362%, mainly due to the completion of Reservoir Minerals Inc., NYX Gaming Group and Luminaires Group transactions during the quarter. The competitive environment for independent investment banks in Canada is changing rapidly, and the strength of our local team in combination with our differentiated global platform leaves Canaccord Genuity very well positioned for long term success in this market. Our US operations also reported an increase of $7.3 million in advisory fees revenue compared to the first quarter of last year, further strengthening the diversity of our revenue streams in the region. Offsetting these increases was a decline of $8.0 million in our UK & Europe operations compared to the same period last year. Volatile market conditions helped our trading operations deliver strong results. On a year-over-year basis, revenues generated through principal trading activities increased by 22.1%, to $27.5 million. Our US capital markets business was the primary contributor to this result, which recorded an increase of 12.3%, driven by strong performance by our International Equities Group, in addition to stronger fixed income and options activity. In an environment of continued pressure on traditional equity commissions, this business has successfully shifted its revenue mix into areas of near-term growth. In recent months we have undertaken important initiatives to streamline our UK & Europe capital markets business that we expect will help this business to better withstand challenging market conditions. We anticipate that the ongoing uncertainty related to the Brexit referendum result will continue to put pressure on near- to medium-term capital raising activities in the region. However, our efforts to better align our investment banking, advisory and sales & trading teams across regions ensures that clients in this geography can benefit from the perspectives and resources available across our global platform, at a time when they need us most. In any operating environment, we continue to focus on driving profitable growth with a heightened emphasis on improving efficiencies across our operation in a client-centric manner. We are pleased to see activity levels improving, and we expect that our ongoing efforts to realign our businesses will improve our long term profitability. Stable contribution from UK & Europe Wealth Management Our global wealth management operations generated revenue of $63.9 million during our first fiscal quarter. Our wealth management operations in the UK & Europe have continued to increase assets under management during the quarter in local currency terms, a testament to the world class product offering and commitment to clients demonstrated by our asset management, portfolio management and wealth planning teams in the region. At the end of the fiscal quarter assets under management measured in local currency increased by 11.2%, to 12.9 billion compared to the first quarter of the last fiscal year. With the benefit of our recently upgraded platform and a commitment to exceptional client service, I am also pleased to say that our teams successfully managed the elevated trading volumes following the news of the Brexit referendum outcome. This strong franchise continues to deliver stable, recurring revenues and net income for our firm. I am also pleased to report that our Canadian wealth management business has returned to profitability for the first time since the second quarter of fiscal 2012. While assets under administration and management in our Canadian wealth management operations were negatively impacted by lower market values and a reduced number of advisory teams when compared to the same period a year ago, income before income taxes for the first fiscal quarter of 2017 was $0.4 million, up from a loss of the same amount during the same period last year. This result was largely driven by our ongoing expense reduction initiatives. Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on improving recurring revenue growth across our wealth management operations, to help offset the inherent volatility of our global capital markets businesses. Strengthening alignment with our shareholders and changes to our Board of Directors A key priority for our organization is ensuring that employees and senior managers are directly aligned with the best interests of our shareholders. We implemented a program to increase share ownership by our most senior, revenue producing employees during the quarter. To accomplish this we initiated and closed a private placement of common shares and warrants to employees which was fully subscribed. I am pleased to report that employees now own approximately 40% of common shares on a fully diluted basis. We made the decision to reduce the size of our board and consequently Dennis Miller and Bill Eeuwes have decided not to stand for re-election to the Board of Directors at our upcoming Annual General Meeting. I would like to thank both Dennis and Bill for their wise counsel and valuable contributions. Looking ahead Broad market fundamentals indicate that we should be entering an improving environment for our business and there are signs of improving activity levels across core focus sectors. As the world reacts to the impact of the recent outcome of the Brexit referendum, I assure you that our commitment to our businesses and our clients across our capital markets and wealth management operations in the UK & Europe has not changed. While the long term outcome of this development is uncertain, we remain focused on the opportunities we can create for our business and for our clients and our business. We remain committed to delivering our strategic priorities for our clients and our shareholders and I thank you for your ongoing support. Dan Daviau President & CEO Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. ACCESS TO QUARTERLY RESULTS INFORMATION Interested investors, the media and others may review this quarterly earnings release and supplementary financial information at http://www.canaccordgenuitygroup.com/EN/IR/FinReports/Pages/default.aspx CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST PRESENTATION Interested parties are invited to listen to Canaccord Genuity's fiscal first quarter 2017 results conference call, via live webcast or a toll free number. The conference call is scheduled for Thursday, August 4, 2016 , 2016 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific time, 8:00 a.m. Eastern time, 1:00 p.m. UK time, 8:00 p.m. China Standard Time, and 10:00 p.m. Australia EST. During the call, senior executives will comment on the results and respond to questions from analysts and institutional investors. The conference call may be accessed live and archived on a listen-only basis online at: http://www.canaccordgenuitygroup.com/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Events.aspx Analysts and institutional investors can call in via telephone at: 647-427-7450 (within Toronto ) ) 1-888-231-8191 (toll free outside Toronto ) ) 0-800-051-7107 (toll free from the United Kingdom ) ) 0-800-917-449 (Toll free from France ) ) 10-800-714-1191 (toll free from Northern China ) ) 10-800-140-1195 (toll free from Southern China ) ) 1-800-287-011 (toll free from Australia ) ) 800-017-8071 (toll free from United Arab Emirates ) Please ask to participate in the Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. Q1/17 results call. If a passcode is requested, please use 32141306. A replay of the conference call will be available on August 4, 2016, after 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time), 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) 4:00 p.m. (UK Time), 11:00 p.m. (China Standard Time), and on August 5, 2016, at 1:00 a.m. (Australia EST Time) until September 19, 2016 at 416-849-0833 or 1-855-859-2056 by entering passcode 32141306 followed by the pound (#) sign. ABOUT CANACCORD GENUITY GROUP INC.: Through its principal subsidiaries, Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (the Company) is a leading independent, full-service financial services firm, with operations in two principal segments of the securities industry: wealth management and capital markets. Since its establishment in 1950, the Company has been driven by an unwavering commitment to building lasting client relationships. We achieve this by generating value for our individual, institutional and corporate clients through comprehensive investment solutions, brokerage services and investment banking services. The Company has offices in 10 countries worldwide, including wealth management offices located in Canada, the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and Australia. Canaccord Genuity, the international capital markets division, operates in Canada, the US, the UK, France, Ireland, Hong Kong, China, Australia and Dubai. To us there are no foreign markets.TM Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. is publicly traded under the symbol CF on the TSX. Canaccord Genuity Series A Preferred Shares are listed on the TSX under the symbol CF.PR.A. Canaccord Genuity Series C Preferred Shares are listed on the TSX under the symbol CF.PR.C. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Investor and media relations inquiries: Christina Marinoff Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications Phone: 416-687-5507 Email: [email protected] www.canaccordgenuitygroup.com ______________________________________________________ 1 Figures excluding significant items are non-IFRS measures. See Non-IFRS measures on pages 4. 2 Net income attributable to common shareholders is calculated as the net income adjusted for non-controlling interests and preferred share dividends. 3 See Non-IFRS Measures on pages 4. 4 Transactions over $1.5 million. Internally sourced information. 5 Advisory Teams are normally comprised of one or more Investment Advisors (IAs) and their assistants and associates, who together manage a shared set of client accounts. Advisory Teams that are led by, or only include, an IA who has been licensed for less than three years are not included in our Advisory Team count, as it typically takes a new IA approximately three years to build an average-sized book of business. None of the information on the Company's websites at www.canaccordgenuity.com, www.canaccordgenuitygroup.com, and www.canaccordgenuity.com/cm should be considered incorporated herein by reference. SOURCE Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. Related Links http://www.canaccord.com LONDON, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The directors and management of Capital Venture Europe PLC (PINKSHEETS:CPVNF) are pleased to update the shareholders on Heulab Pte. Ltd.'s EduLab technology. EduLab is a one-stop centre for teachers to carry out project collaborations using infocomm technology. Not only does EduLab support prototyping of technology-enabled innovations, it also offers insights into how schools are able to integrate innovative ICT practices into lessons and classroom activities, opening new possibilities to teaching and learning with ICT through pilot projects in schools. In a bid to transform the current practice of personal selling during a property launch, Heulab developed an interactive one-stop real estate Heumi information kiosk with a multi-touch, multi-user computing surface. The customized platform was developed for eCO, Far East Organization's SOHO-inspired eco-friendly residential development. The platform is used as a highly interactive promotional tool for eCO in all Far East Organization road shows, its concept being the first of its kind to be used in property sales. The platform serves as an engaging marketing and advertising tool; not only does it allow potential home-buyers to view residential layouts, floor plans and pricing, it also incorporates a viral element of fun by enabling guests to post images of the development to social media networks such as their Facebook accounts, all accessed via touch. BackPack.NET is a strategic collaboration between Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore, Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and Microsoft Singapore, encouraging student-centric learning through the use of Tablet PCs, digital inking and other innovative technologies. As a partner of the BackPack.NET initiative, Heulab worked very closely with Crescent Girls School in a highly innovative learning project whereby teachers and the entire student cohort were equipped with Tablet PCs. This provided a virtual learning space for the deployment of Heulab solutions, Fun with Virtual Classroom and Fun with Construction, which significantly improved the efficiency and quality of learning for Mathematics and Geography and also improved collaborations between teachers and students. CEO Wee Guan Tan believes the collaboration of Heulab with Ministry of Education, Infocomm Development Authority and Microsoft Singapore will definitely bring the company to greater heights. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "will" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Corporation's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Corporation. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Corporation is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. U.S. GAAP, ASC 450-20 defines a contingency as an "existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as to possible gain (gain contingency) or loss (loss contingency) to an entity that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur." www.cveuropeinc.com SOURCE Capital Venture Europe PLC Related Links http://www.cveuropeinc.com Bradford is quoted stating, "I have worked with Kelly Ireland and CB Technologies for seven years as a partner. I noticed that CB Technologies stands out as a partner willing to embrace challenges in order to help customers succeed-- the CBT focus is always customer first. I will integrate with the successful team of CBT to help reach out to new customers as well as expand our presence with existing ones." Stan Galanski, SVP of Engineered Solutions, states, "We are very excited to have Eric join CBT at this point in time. His extensive background in Information Technology, with respect to the Manufacturing vertical, greatly compliments the strategic direction that CBT is taking and the solutions it's bringing to market. Eric's familiarity with these customer's requirements will help sharpen our focus on integrating the latest HP products to serve our client's needs." Eric Bradford will be responsible for assisting CB Technologies' customers with addressing their business challenges. He aims to become a trusted advisor to customers and partners, as well as expand the CBT footprint with these customers by demonstrating an industry focus to enable clients to succeed. Bradford says, "CB Technologies is about being nimble, innovative, and driven. These three attributes are key to not only our success as a company, but also to what we can bring to our customers." About CB Technologies, Inc. CBT is an award-winning solution provider and systems integrator with team members in Southern California, Seattle, St. Louis, Detroit, Washington D.C. and Albuquerque. Founded in 2001, this woman-owned company's impressive resume includes over 15 years supporting, planning and integrating technology in support of the Department of Defense, State/Local/Education, Fortune 500 and smaller enterprise businesses. CBT is an HPE Platinum Partner that is perennially named to the CRN Solution Provider 500, Inc. magazine's 5000 Fastest Growing Companies and OCBJ's list of top companies. In addition, CBT was awarded the HP PartnerOne Award for Cloud Partner of the Year in 2015. Media Contact: Rhondi Lenaker Marketing & Events Manager CB Technologies, Inc. 714-573-7733 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395189 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140609/116107 SOURCE CB Technologies, Inc. Related Links http://www.cbtechinc.com ATLANTA, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CodeGuard, Inc. (www.codeguard.com), the global leader in cloud website backup services announced today a new product line, backup for Microsoft SQL Server. Microsoft SQL Server has the largest number of licensed instances in the commercial database market, and announced on March 7, 2016 the release of SQL Server for Linux, which means that Linux-bound customers looking for a commercial-quality database backed by a major vendor have options other than Oracle or instances of Windows Server. "MSSQL customers have been requesting this for quite some time, and we are excited to finally release it," says CodeGuard CEO David Moeller. "Now customers can trust our industry-leading reliability not just for their website files and MySQL databases, but also for MSSQL. Pretty nice to have it all in one place!" CodeGuard's solution uses the same underlying Microsoft APIs that Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (Microsoft SSMS) uses, but wrapped in a service to make them more robust and more responsive to some of the diverse methods developers and hosting providers use when deploying Microsoft SQL Server. A TSQL "script" is generated, just like SSMS, and saved to CodeGuard's differential and incremental storage system. Done daily, each additional backup only requires storage of the changes that occurred on that day (usually much smaller than the rest of the database). For additional information regarding the CodeGuard website backup product suite, visit http://www.codeguard.com. ABOUT CODEGUARD CodeGuard (www.codeguard.com/ @CodeGuard) is the global cloud website backup leader, currently protecting more than 100,000 online businesses. CodeGuard delivers a patented website backup solution that performs at industry-leading reliability and efficiency levels. CodeGuard was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, where it has been recognized as a Top 40 Innovative Company. For more information, call +1.866.604.6431 or visit www.codeguard.com. Media Contact: Lisa Long CodeGuard, Inc 866.604.6431 [email protected] SOURCE CodeGuard, Inc. Related Links https://www.codeguard.com BOSTON, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Care LLC ("CC"), one of the nation's leading medical marijuana companies, announced today that its Massachusetts subsidiary, Patriot Care Corporation ("PCC"), will open Boston's first medical marijuana dispensary to qualifying patients on August 3, 2016. The facility will be located downtown at 21 Milk Street. This will be Patriot Care's second location serving patients in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts following the Lowell dispensary, which opened in February. "Being the first dispensary permitted to open in the City of Boston is a privilege for every member of our local and national organization. Our mission of improving lives is at the core of everything we do. Expanding access to this natural medicine will have the potential to improve the lives of thousands of patients and their families," said Columbia Care CEO Nicholas Vita. "We are grateful for and humbled by the support we have received from patients, our neighbors, the City of Boston, the State of Massachusetts and stakeholders throughout the Commonwealth. Our organization is proud to provide access to the patients of Massachusetts and to be a community member of one of the most dynamic and historic cities in the United States." With the opening of its Massachusetts dispensaries, Columbia Care continues to expand its national presence in highly regulated, medically-focused jurisdictions throughout the US. The Boston location solidifies Columbia Care's leadership position in the nation's largest cities including New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Phoenix. Later this year, Patriot Care will expand access to qualifying patients in western Massachusetts by opening in Greenfield which will become the Company's third dispensary in the State. Consistent with the Company's national, medically-focused operating model, Massachusetts dispensaries are designed with patient comfort and safety in mind. All facilities are staffed by a dedicated team trained to provide the highest level of professionalism, compassion, confidentiality, and respect for patients and their conditions. In the heart of Boston, PCC's facility will be accessible by the Red, Orange, Green, Blue, and Silver lines of The T. In addition, delivery service will be available once the initial patient registration process and patient consultation have been completed on site. All aspects of safety and security will be provided by professionals with law enforcement backgrounds utilizing industry-leading security measures. To access state-licensed facilities, patients must be deemed eligible by a certified physician and be registered with the State through the Department of Public Health. After August 3rd, registered patients are welcome visit our Boston facility from 10am to 6pm, Monday through Saturday, and 10am to 3pm on Sunday. Registered patients may visit our Lowell facility from 10am to 6pm Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Patients are encouraged to visit us online at www.patriotcare.org, www.col-care.com or call (617) 500-1375 with any questions. As is the case at all Columbia Care facilities nationwide, a variety of product formats and formulations will be available for purchase, including cured leaf from numerous strains, infused edible products and concentrates. We expect to expand this offering by the end of the year to include our dosable pharmaceutical line of sub-lingual tinctures, concentrates for vaporization, and orally ingested capsules. All products offered in Massachusetts begin with a bespoke, organic cultivation process that takes place in highly controlled micro-climates at the Company's industry-best production facility in Lowell. Manufacturing and refinement processes follow strict quality control guidelines to ensure product safety and consistency. All products undergo independent batch testing for a variety of measures to ensure the highest levels of purity. For more information on the Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program, including information on how to register, please visit www.mass.gov/medicalmarijuana. About Columbia Care LLC Columbia Care is one of the nation's largest and most experienced manufacturers and providers of medical marijuana products and services. The Company is licensed in highly selective and regulated jurisdictions and has completed more than 300,000 successful patient interactions since its inception. Founded by two former Goldman Sachs executives, and working in collaboration with some of the most renowned and innovative teaching hospitals and medical centers in the country, Columbia Care is a patient-centered healthcare company setting the standards for compassion, professionalism, quality, caring, and innovation for a burgeoning new industry. For more information on Columbia Care, please visit www.col-care.com. For more information on Patriot Care, please visit www.patriotcare.org. SOURCE Columbia Care LLC Related Links http://www.col-care.com SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CREDO, the mobile carrier with a conscience, announced that it will donate more than $150,000 to Color Of Change, Rewire and 350.org. Throughout August, CREDO invites its members and the public to vote on the distribution of funds at CREDO Donations. Since 1985, CREDO has donated more than $81 million to progressive organizations fighting for women's rights, economic justice, voting rights, the environment and more. By choosing CREDO products and services, members generate donations for these causes. Their everyday acts of commerce support CREDO Action, a social change network with 4 million activists, and CREDO Donations, the company's philanthropy program. In 2014, CREDO introduced monthly donations and voting in order to support nonprofits when action is most critical. During this month of CREDO Donations, voters can take a stand for racial equality, investigative reporting on reproductive and sexual rights, and climate change activism. CREDO will fund three nonprofits that can make an immediate difference for these causes. "CREDO has fought with Color Of Change on the front lines against hate, few environmental groups have been as effective as 350.org in spreading the word about the impact of climate change, and Rewire has done more to educate the public about critical women's health issues than any other media outlet," said Ray Morris, CEO of CREDO. "Every CREDO customer and activist is a philanthropist, and these organizations will make their generosity count." Color Of Change helps people respond to injustice in the world. As a national online force driven by over 1 million members, Color Of Change moves decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people, and all people. Its most recent campaigns are focusing on exposing the corruption in America's money bail bonds system that puts people in jail not because they are guilty, but because they cannot afford to pay high bail amounts. With CREDO support, Color Of Change will continue to respond to injustice in the most crucial moments. Rewire provides evidence-based reporting on reproductive and sexual rights, seeking to fulfill journalism's contribution to a free and just society through the exchange of accurate, fair and thorough information. Rewire's reporting has re-shaped U.S. law, uncloaked false witnesses and addressed misinformation in the courts and Congress. Its Legislative Tracker has become the definitive database of the laws, people, organizations and litigation involved in reproductive health and justice. Rewire will invest CREDO funds in aggressive investigative and enterprise reporting, political analysis, new multi-media efforts and partnerships with state-level reporters and outlets. 350.org is building a global grassroots climate movement to hold leaders accountable to the realities of science and the principles of justice. Their achievements include the People's Climate March, the largest climate march in history, and the Go Fossil Free Divestment campaign, which has helped push divestment totals beyond $3.4 trillion in managed assets. With CREDO's support, 350.org will launch five new divestment campaigns in the U.S., help campus leaders and faith leaders escalate their divestment campaigns, and empower grassroots leaders to resist fossil fuel projects. "Color Of Change has no better partner in the online organizing space," said Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of Color Of Change. "CREDO consistently step ups and speaks out on the critical civil rights issues of our time." "CREDO Mobile is unparalleled in its commitment to evidence-based advocacy, mobilizing its members in service of progressive values aimed at ensuring equity and equality for all people," noted Jodi Jacobson, President and Editor-in-Chief of Rewire. "CREDO Mobile is a valuable ally in the crucial fight against climate change," added May Boeve, Executive Director of 350.org. "Causing trouble with CREDO is one of the most effective ways we know of to build a stronger and tougher climate change movement." About CREDO Founded in 1985, CREDO gives individuals the power to make positive social change every day. Whenever members use a CREDO product or service, they generate critical donations for progressive causes (at no extra cost) and fund vital activism work. Since 1985, CREDO has donated over $81 million to progressive nonprofits, and the company has built a network of over 4 million activists. Visit CREDO Mobile, CREDO Action and CREDO Donations to learn more. SOURCE CREDO Related Links http://www.credomobile.com The collections presented by the students constitute an example of how everything overlaps both within and outside of the fashion world, demonstrating how macro trends are fragmented into increasingly personalised and customisable proposals, some of which are destined to become mass successes and others exclusives for small niches. The event was introduced with a video by the musician and radio presenter La Pina that celebrates the end of the academic year. The three-year BA in Fashion Design, led by the Course Leader Colomba Leddi, presented the work of 15 students, a total of 45 outfits. The catwalk creations were selected by a panel of experts and professionals from the fashion industry, who chose the most creative proposals fulfilling the needs of the fashion market: Carola Bianchi, Elle magazine journalist, Sabrina Damassa, founder of Between Design Research, Marcella Sabattini, MaxMara, Valentina Colombari and Andrea Bandiera, respectively Creative Manager and Creative Division Account Manager de Lagente and Miyuki Yajjma, journalist. NABA's two-year specialist MA in Fashion & Textile Design, guided by its Course Leader Aldo Lanzini, presented the "NABA Collection 2016", a clothing collection created by students representing their own NABA uniform. Individual projects will also be showcased in the film "HANDMADE DREAMS", directed by Marco Poma, under the art direction of Cinzia Ruggeri. 50 creations from five internationally recognised schools were also modelled at the event: Tsinghua University (China), Pearl Academy (India), AMD (Akademie Mode & Design, Germany) and UVM (Universidad del Valle de Mexico, Mexico) and SUES ( Shanghai University of Engineering Science - School of Fashion Technology). The presence of these schools testifies the value attributed to international experience by NABA, deemed an important contribution to the professional and personal growth of students. In the opinion of Colomba Leddi, Course Leader of the three-year BA in Fashion Design, "the end-of-year fashion show is more than a show and an opportunity to present projects: students from the Fashion Styling & Communication programme, together with professionals, have designed every phase of the event, of the magazine and shooting, striving to find an original language to communicate the projects of their fellow students on the Fashion Design course. The common roots, constant exchange and synergies generated between the students of the two course specialisations, represent the innovative strength of NABA's three-year course in Fashion Design. Nicoletta Morozzi, Leader of NABA Fashion Projects, describes the work completed on the 'Dolce Stil Novo Overflow' theme by the students: "The Fashion Show is a testimonial of a continually evolving school, invariably ready to embrace signs of change, inspire new trends, but without being tied to a single thread of interpretation welcoming diversity as a part of the contemporary. Committed to the success of students and graduates in being the next generation of makers of the creative industry". Alberto Bonisoli, Chief Academic Officer of NABA concludes: "The fashion show is the culmination of a course of studies in which students have tackled on a daily basis real challenges and projects, such as, for example, the creation of a collection. In fact, we believe that the best way to create real creative professionals is to combine both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, thus facilitating young designers to successfully enter the labour market. We are also delighted to host the creations of foreign partner schools, encouraging the exchange and contamination of ideas in a profession that is increasingly international". NABA NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano, is an academy for the advancement of art and design: It is the largest private Academy in Italy and the first to be officially recognised, in 1980, by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR). NABA offers first and second level courses in the fields of design, fashion design, graphic arts and communication, multimedia arts, scenography and visual arts, for which it confers university degree-equivalent academic diplomas. Founded in Milan in 1980 on the private initiative of Ausonio Zappa, Guido Ballo and Gianni Colombo, NABA has always strived to challenge rigid academic tradition, introducing visions and languages closer to contemporary artistic practices and to the system of art and the creative professions. Since 2009, NABA has been a member of Laureate International Universities, an international network of more than 80 accredited institutions in 28 countries offering first and second level degree courses to more than 1,000,000 students throughout the world. Domus Magazine has classified NABA among the 100 best schools of Design and Architecture in Europe, while Frame has included NABA among the 30 best postgraduate schools of Design and Fashion in the world. www.naba.it Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395021 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395274LOGO SOURCE NABA Milano BEAVERCREEK, Ohio, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of their ongoing efforts to help members achieve the American dream of home ownership, eight credit unions recently partnered with myCUmortgage to provide member-centric mortgage products and services. myCUmortgage is a leading Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), wholly-owned by Wright-Patt Credit Union. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395318LOGO Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395319 Tim Mislansky, President, myCUmortgage With branches located across six states, the new myCUmortgage partner credit unions represent nearly 48,000 members and over $289 million in assets. They include: Cory Methodist Church Credit Union Ohio Eastern Indiana Federal Credit Union Indiana ETMA Federal Credit Union Tennessee First County Federal Credit Union Indiana Horizon Federal Credit Union Pennsylvania Martin Federal Credit Union Florida Steel Valley Federal Credit Union Ohio WEE Federal Credit Union West Virginia "We're very excited to partner with these credit unions. They've seen the benefits of the myCUmortgage business model that puts credit unions at the center of mortgage lending, and we're committed to help them become great mortgage lenders," said Tim Mislansky, President of myCUmortgage. "With these new partnerships, both the credit unions and myCUmortgage are able to help more members become home owners." These partnerships enable the credit unions to provide members with not only a wide variety of mortgage programs to fit their needs but also a truly member-centric experience. Dedicated strictly to the credit union mortgage industry, myCUmortgage firmly believes that people come before profits. myCUmortgage strives to make its partners better mortgage lenders so that members of the partner credit unions can enjoy the benefits and pride that come with owning their own homes. All of this and much more is backed by nearly 15 years of mortgage industry expertise and the true collaborative focus of myCUmortgage. About myCUmortgage myCUmortgage is a wholly-owned Credit Union Service Organization of Wright-Patt Credit Union, based in Beavercreek, Ohio. myCUmortgage helps hundreds of credit unions nationwide to assist their members with homeownership through quality, cost-efficient, service-driven mortgage solutions. Visit www.myCUmortgage.com for more information. For more information, contact: Bob Sadowski, APR 937.912.7276 Email SOURCE myCUmortgage Related Links http://www.mycumortgage.com LOS ANGELES, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Elite Invest, LLC (www.eliteinvest.com), a leader in the purchase, restoration and rental of multi-family dwellings in Chicago, announced the commencement of operations in California. Elite Invest specializes in purchasing and rehabilitating smaller, 2-4 unit properties, which the company manages either for its own portfolio, or on behalf of business partners and investors. The company is well-regarded by all stakeholders, because it offers research-backed real-estate investment opportunities, while stimulating the local economy by providing construction and tradesmen jobs, and supplying lower income families and individuals with better housing and a higher quality of life. After the company identifies a property for purchase, it is fully rehabilitated with updated fixtures, appliances and living spaces, making them the nicest rental units available in their neighborhood and price range. This is not "gentrification." It is providing affordable housing, with quality construction and materials, to provide a beautiful home at competitive neighborhood rates. Accordingly, there is usually a long waiting list to rent an Elite Invest rehabilitated home. The company has identified Inglewood and the surrounding area as a prime target for neighborhood rehabilitation. The company plans on an initial $10 million investment pool, with plans to raise up to $50 million within 3-years. "We are very excited to begin work in the Southern California market," said Alex Al-Sabah, Co-Founder of Elite Invest. "We are experts in neighborhood rehabilitation, and believe that renters, investors, and city leaders appreciate our skill in interior modernization, which creates first-class living environments at neighborhood-appropriate rental rates." Inglewood is one of the more reasonably priced areas of Los Angeles, and with the development of the new Los Angeles Rams Stadium, its proximity to LAX Airport, and easy access to downtown as well as the Pacific Coast, the city provides wonderful opportunities for living, recreation and investment. "We are strong believers in the potential of Inglewood, and having been a prior resident of Southern California, I have a keen sense of the market and the opportunities that exist in select areas of Los Angeles County," Al-Sabah Commented. "I am personally excited to bring Elite's investing philosophy and vision to the Southern California Market. We understand the city's heritage, have respect for its history, and look forward to being a vital part of its future." For more information on Elite Invest, or for an investor packet, please call 312-690-7711, or visit: www.eliteinvest.com About Elite Invest: Elite Invest rehabilitates and revitalizes urban neighborhoods. The company brings investment dollars into select communities and purchases distressed assets, then rehabilitates, rents and manages the property. In the process, the company improves many lives by creating commerce and jobs, while increasing the standard of living for communities by providing fresh and innovatively designed homes. The company also provides turn-key passive real estate investment opportunities for qualified investors worldwide, who want to capitalize on the immense growth potential in the Chicago and Southern California markets. Elite Invest, LLC currently manages over 400 buildings, with more than 1,000 apartments and over $100M of residential real estate assets in its portfolio. Connect: Website: www.eliteinvest.com Facebook: facebook.com/EliteInvestLLC Twitter: @EliteInvestChi Media Inquiries: The Innovation Agency www.inov8.us hello(@)inov8.us SOURCE Elite Invest Related Links http://www.eliteinvest.com - By Holly LaFon For the first half of 2016, the Matthews Pacific Tiger Fund (Trades, Portfolio) returned 4.04% (Investor Class) while its benchmark, the MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Index, returned 2.32%. For the quarter ending June 30, the Fund returned 3.82% (Investor Class) while its benchmark returned 0.51%. Market Environment: Since the start of the year, capital markets in Asia have battled concerns ranging from capital outflows from China and the impact of a rising U.S. dollar on Asian economies, to the more recent political developments in the U.K. and Europe. Following a rocky start, a partial recovery in Asian equities was led by large-cap stocks primarily in countries like Taiwan and South Korea. However, the potential negative impact from Brexit on global trade and financing flows may continue to weigh on the Asian region in the near term. In spite of the variety of challenges during the first six months of the year Asia markets finished the period modestly higher, although that masks a wide divergence between country specific indices. Cyclical stocks bounced in a reflex rally toward the end of the first quarter, but then weakened again in the second quarter. Domestic mainland markets in China experienced the sharpest declines, while Thailand was one of the better performers. Performance Contributors and Detractors: Divergences across Asia markets continued in the second quarter, with well-capitalized, well-run businesses outperforming during the period. Consequently, stock selection was a key contributor to performance in the second quarter as reflected in our allocation to good, quality companies, including Central Pattana (CPN.BK), a well-capitalized mall operator in Thailand and the best performer during the quarter. Central Pattana continues to deliver strong performance on the back of its solid business model. Genting (XKLS:3182), a gaming company in Malaysia, outperformed in the first quarter, although that reversed somewhat in the second quarter as earnings were soft given weakness in the gaming environment. Baidu (BIDU), the leading search engine in China, was the largest detractor from performance in the second quarter, as it came under regulatory scrutiny due to issues in their health care business. Cleanup of this part of this business has affected near-term earnings, hence weakness in their stock price. Baidu has been in this predicament before but has shown they can clean up and improve their systems and sales processes. We expect a similar outcome in due course of time. By country, India and South Korea were positive contributors to performance in the second quarter, largely reflecting a technical rebound following weakness seen in the first quarter. Notable Portfolio Changes: We continue to take advantage of volatility in markets by rotating capital away from our investments where valuations have become expensive to businesses that are more reasonably priced. In aggregate, this has resulted in shifting some of our allocation away from South Korea into China. In addition, we have deployed capital in India following weakness in specific stocks which we have been following. Outlook: For a change, the Asian region, more specifically, the Chinese economy is not driving the rise in global economic uncertainty. While the next steps and the fallout from Britain's decision to leave the European Union remain uncertain, the outlook for domestic demand in Asia is much more easily understood. For the past two to three years, consumption has supported domestic demand, while investment activity has been grinding lower across many parts of Asia. However, it is also worth noting that in countries like Thailand and Malaysia, household debt has continued to expand in the past few years, and the tepid outlook for income growth suggests consumption growth may not be as supportive as in the recent past. Yet there are other countries such as India, Indonesia, and the Philippines where the outlook for income growth and household debt is not overly constraining to continued growth in private consumption. That being said, policymakers and central bankers realize the need to boost investment growth, which has led to vigorous rate cuts in economies like Indonesia and hopes for greater fiscal support in other countries like India. The purest driver of investment activity is, however, continued emphasis on structural reforms to boost productivity and ease the cost of doing business in any given country. In this regard, progress has been slow and uneven, whether it is reform for state-owned enterprises (SOE) in China or easing land and labor regulations in India and Indonesia. Nonetheless, these are issues that are well defined and are being gradually addressed. We believe there is an opportunity for Asian businesses and policymakers to clearly set themselves apart from the uncertainty that might impact economic activity globally. Story continues The views and opinions in this commentary were current as of June 30, 2016. They are not guarantees of performance or investment results and should not be taken as investment advice. Investment decisions reflect a variety of factors, and the managers reserve the right to change their views about individual stocks, sectors, and the markets at any time. As a result, the views expressed should not be relied upon as a forecast of the Fund's future investment intent. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but neither the Funds nor the Investment Advisor makes any representation or guarantee as to their completeness or accuracy. As of 06/30/2016, the securities mentioned comprised the Matthews Pacific Tiger Fund (Trades, Portfolio) in the following percentages: Central Pattana Public Co., Ltd. 3.2%, Genting BHD 1.5% and Baidu, Inc. 2.7%. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hornblower is honored to extend a first-time offer in the Los Angeles county area for a free cruise to First Responders for the entire month of August 2016. Hornblower Cruises & Events in Marina del Rey (https://www.hornblower.com/home/mdr) is giving first responders free admission aboard Hornblower Cruises 45-minute Harbor Tour & Sea Lion Adventure in Marina del Rey. First responders include firefighters, police officers, harbor police and USCG, sheriff department officers, EMT's, active military and veterans involved in ongoing efforts to keep us safe during these difficult times. Hornblower Cruises announced the free ticket as a salute to their local heroes. By showing first responders current identification or badge at the Hornblower Cruises & Events ticket booth at 13755 Fiji Way, Fisherman's Village in Marina Del Rey, they will receive a free ticket (plus one guest) in the month of August. Marina del Rey Harbor Tours feature mega yachts, landmarks, parks, historic yacht clubs, sea lions and marine birds. The Harbor Tour & Sea Lion Adventure departs at 12 noon, 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm every Saturday and Sunday. Snacks and beverages are for sale on board during daily harbor cruises. "Hornblower's staff and crew want to salute the hard work and courage of the men and women who have dedicated long hours under dangerous conditions to protect the people in our communities," said Rebecca Milkey, Director of Marketing for Hornblower Cruises & Events. Hornblower Cruises & Events celebrate 35 years of providing elegant yachts for both charter and public dining cruises. The premier fleet of 36 unique luxury yachts sail from Marina del Rey, Newport Beach, Long Beach, San Diego, Berkeley and San Francisco. Call 1-888-HORNBLOWER for more information or visit www.hornblower.com. All Hornblower Cruises & Events yachts are US Coast Guard certified. Be advised to call and confirm that the cruising day's tour boat is wheelchair accessible. Media Contact: Rebecca Milkey / Hornblower (619) 725-8853 / [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395371LOGO SOURCE Hornblower Cruises & Events Related Links http://www.hornblower.com CINCINNATI, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstLight Home Care, a provider of quality, non-medical home care, is hosting a free Franchise Seminar August 30th from 6 8 p.m. at Hampton Inn Pittsburgh/Wexford-Sewickley in Wexford, Pennsylvania. The company invites entrepreneurs to attend to learn about upcoming ownership opportunities in the Pittsburgh area and hear more about FirstLight's recent growth and development. "The need for quality, non-medical home care services has never been greater, and we want to provide the path for entrepreneurs in western Pennsylvania to meet this growing need," said Jeff Bevis, FirstLight Home Care Chief Executive Officer. "Seminar attendees will understand the benefits of owning a non-medical home care franchise and have the chance to interact with FirstLight executives who will explain how the franchise will support them every step of the way." This free, no obligation informational seminar is open to all area entrepreneurs. Larry France, Director of Franchise Development, will share ownership opportunities and discuss the huge potential of the growing non-medical home care industry. Attendees will also learn about the many ways FirstLight Home Care sets its franchisees up for success, including through its award-winning training and operational support programs. "Owning a FirstLight Home Care franchise gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to make a difference in peoples' lives, while building their own business in the fast-growing, $75 billion non-medical home care industry," added France. To register for the Free Home Care Franchise Seminar, visit LINK or call (866) 985-5348. For more information about FirstLight Home Care, visit www.firstlighthomecare.com. About FirstLight Home Care FirstLight Home Care creates a new standard in non-medical home care by combining best practices with innovative approaches to make the franchise an emerging market leader in a fast-growing industry. Services can be provided at private residences, assisted-living facilities, retirement communities, nursing homes, adult-family homes or group homes. Clients might also include new mothers, individuals recovering from surgeries and others. To learn more, visit www.firstlightfranchise.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR 865-977-1973 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/394940LOGO SOURCE FirstLight Home Care Related Links http://www.firstlighthomecare.com SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fitmark,a worldwide leader in sport, fitness and meal prep bags, is proud to announce it has closed another seven-figure round of funding, bringing the total raised to near $3M to-date. The new boost in funding will help to continue the dynamic sales growth from Fitmark and its popular meal prep bags, as well as support marketing and brand expansion of their recently launched organic, high protein snack company, iwon! nutrition. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395139LOGO "Another solid round of funding closed is a strong indicator that we're making the right moves with our company. We have big plans with Fitmark and iwon! nutrition that are unique and exciting, and we've been able to tell that story well. We have a few strong investors who have been involved with the company from its start and they believe in our ability to scale and grow our brands," said Mark Samuel, CEO and founder of Fitmark and iwon! nutrition. "We've proven ourselves time and time again, and we have no plans to slow down!" Fitmark has continued to grow in every category of the meal prep bag business. With this new round of financing, the Company will make a concentrated effort in continuing to strengthen its direct-to-consumer, E-commerce sales pipeline, as it will allow the Company to carry its mission to provide the greatest customer experience of any brand in its industry. Additionally, the new financing will also allow the Company to start scaling its newest venture, i won! nutrition. Recently launched in February of this year, the new brand has already seen tremendous success with the launch of its first snack, an organic protein chip, with plans of releasing a second high protein snack later this year. Founder, Mark Samuel, believes the Company's organic protein chips are the greatest protein chips on the planet, and he has plans to build i won! nutrition into a leader in the organic and non-GMO, high protein snacks category. About Fitmark: Fitmark has a singular goal: to fill the void that exists between high performance athletes and their bags. Whether at the gym, at work or on the go, our exclusive global bag brand fills this void by bringing quality and function to your fitness lifestyle. With a Fitmark bag, you've joined an elite group of athletes who lives in the place where function and fitness intersect. Our mission is your mission: looking great, feeling vibrant, and fulfilling your highest potential. We create high-quality, functional sport and meal prep bags for fitness enthusiasts. That's our passion, our sole purpose. We don't make shoes or shirts. We don't sell hats or supplements. We craft bags. Exclusive bags that seamlessly integrate form and function to reflect your lifestyle and your passions. Started by lifelong fitness enthusiast, CEO Mark A. Samuel had seen one too many of his gym-mates walking around with shapeless, simple, and uninspired bags. He knew these same intense, stylish, and successful people don't settle. So why were they settling for a bag? In 2011, Mark put his extensive entrepreneurial experience to work and created Fitmark. Like a fine suit, Fitmark is an instant expression of who you are and what you believe. We're available in more than 25 countries and growing strong. For more information visit:www.fitmarkbags.com. Find Fitmark on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. About i won! nutrition: i won! nutrition is filling the void in the snack food marketplace where great tasting, non-GMO, organic, high protein snacks simply don't exist. As more people start paying closer attention to the food they are eating and where it comes from, i won! is already way ahead of them. We use non-GMO ingredients because we want consumers to know that our natural foods haven't been altered in any way. We choose only organic ingredients because they're cleaner, they're healthier and they make us feel good. Health conscious consumers as well as fitness enthusiasts and parents want high protein products that taste good for themselves and for their families. We're here to deliver. i won! nutrition holds its ingredients to the highest standards and developed i won! protein chips as the first product in a future line of great snacks. For more information visit: http://iwonnutrition.com/ MEDIA CONTACTS: Nicole Rodrigues NRPR Group for Fitmark Ph: 650.815.5069 [email protected] Mark Samuel Fitmark Founder and CEO Ph: 415.786.3382 [email protected] Related Images image1.png image2.jpeg This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Fitmark Related Links http://www.fitmarkbags.com./ NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Most people have heard the word 'cult' and know what it generally means. A cult, or what we might more descriptively refer to as a destructive cult, is a small religious group which carries a belief that can have a negative effect on society. Followers of the cult are, often times, completely unaware of the corrosive effect of the cult and the damage it is creating. There are countless cults in this world, and there are many that, in the course of modern history, have risen to fame. The one that we are, today, all too familiar with is the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS. The infamous Klu Klux Klan (KKK) is also one. So how can we tell a destructive cult from a normal religious group? Looking into the various cults, we have learned a few things about what they have in common. Interview Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xanp8EDkCyE&feature=youtu.be Absolute Leader First and foremost, a destructive cult always has as its central authority a single, charismatic leader. For example, the current leader of ISIS is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who claims to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. He is the supreme leader who is cannot be questioned by members of ISIS. Brainwashing Secondly, cult leaders often isolate their group from the rest of the society. Once the isolation has taken place, they polarize their audience's worldview. A cult's teachings and reasoning often start with a simple ultimate truth that the entire group is expected to believe. For example, a group with the characteristics of a cult, Falun Gong, believes that when one dies, their spirit can enter and remain in a different world that they call the 'afterlife' by practicing the tenets of Falun Gong. In order to remain in this desirable place, similar to being in heaven, rather than constantly being reborn into successive lifetimes of misery, it is necessary for the believers to follow the rules of the cult and obey the orders of their leaders, which can include murder, theft and other serious crimes. The "truth" in this case is a distortion of the basic tenets of Buddhism. Destructive Last but not least, a destructive cult has to be, of course, destructive. They have absolute control over the life and death of their followers. In January, 2001, a group of Falun Gong believers, under the influence of their leaders, immolated themselves in the middle of the Tiananmen Square by dousing themselves with gasoline and setting themselves on fire. They have committed other sorts of crimes. Needless to explain, taking lives is the biggest of all crimes. Why should we care? It goes without saying that we live in a free country and everyone is free to practice their religion as they see fit. Well, that is absolutely the case, until it becomes obvious that something else is going on. ISIS, for example, is one of the biggest and most destructive cults now in existence. We, as a country, see them as a terrorist group, but in fact, they are indeed a cult that is driven by a twisted interpretation of Islam. Yes, twisted. Which means that whatever they are practicing, though they refer to it as Islam, is quite far removed from the original intent of the religion. This is the most fatal aspect of cults. The ultimate leaders of cults always use a truth as a base, and make their believers do things that they claim would help the believers achieve the ultimate goal. When suicide bombers kill themselves, do you really think they want to die? The reason they are doing it is because their leaders told them that by doing so they could achieve the ultimate goal. Knowing this, we can conclude that war against ISIS should be a psychological one rather than a physical one. How do we help someone that has taken up with a cult? You've seen cults depicted in movies and on TV, but cults are more prevalent than you think - on June 12, 2016 at 2:02 A.M., a shooting took place at the Pulse Night Club in Orlando, Florida. Omar Mateen opened fire on more than 300 patrons of the club, leading to 49 deaths and 53 injuries. Omar was later shot and killed by the police, after calling 911 to pledge allegiance to ISIS. How do individuals get involved with cults in the first place, and what steps can be taken to "deprogram" and heal those who have been drawn into these damaging groups? These questions and more are being addressed in Meeting with a Cult Specialist: Rick Alan Ross. Over the course of three decades, Ross has participated in around five hundred cult interventions, provided expert court testimony, and performed cult-related work all over the world. Mr. Ross, in this interview, mentioned interventions - the ultimate tool that he uses to help the followers of destructive cults. He explained that it usually takes 24 to 32 hours of preparation with the family members of a follower, in order to prepare for an intervention with the families of the target present, in order for the intervention to be successful. "The first intervention is the most crucial." His reason for that is that the target might walk out right as soon as he or she realizes that an intervention is taking place. And the reasons they don't immediately walk out is due to the respect they feel for the family members who are present. If the target remains through to the conclusion of the first intervention, the intervention has a higher likelihood of succeeding as it means the target is willing to take the information they have just received into consideration. And it becomes likely that he or she will leave the cult within a few days. This is a simple but effective way. According to Mr. Ross, the reason a person is in a cult, is that they are blinded by the cult instead of using their own critical thinking. Just like many drug addicts, they are not conscious of what exactly they are doing. And because of that, they usually do not realize what they were doing was wrong. After a series of interventions, it becomes obvious that these believers have gained back their ability to rely on their critical thinking and to start questioning the group that they have been a member of. And that is when we know an intervention has been successful. There are countless cults around the world, and many of them are very destructive. There are also countless people whose lives and families are destroyed by these cults. So if you see someone that is in need of help, do not hesitate to act. There is nothing little about something this big. SOURCE ICN TV Network Related Links http://www.icntv.net BOSTON, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, the insurance industry launched a new domain for the exclusive use by insurance brokers. The new domain is called, appropriately enough, Dot-INSURANCE. Example addresses would include www.rental.INSURANCE and www.homeowners.INSURANCE. There are tens of thousands of insurance agencies and brokers in business today. The new .INSURANCE domain provides these businesses a powerful way to instantly brand themselves as verified insurance brokers in search engine results. Dot-INSURANCE is backed by the insurance industry as a way to ensure consumers that the insurance broker they find online is a legitimate business. The Founders and Endorsers of .INSURANCE represent a wide array of global insurance associations and companies, including: American Council of Life Insurers Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Inc. Insurance Bureau of Canada Insurance Europe National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Property Casualty Insurers Association of America American Bankers Insurance Association American Insurance Association Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. Global Federation of Insurance Associations Insurance Council of Australia National Association of Professional Insurance Agents Reinsurance Association of America Dot-INSURANCE opens up much needed online real estate for insurance agencies and brokers to enhance their brand. Previously, when .COM was the only option for companies to launch their websites, insurance brokers often discovered that their agency name was unavailable or offered for re-sale for tens of thousands of dollars by domain name speculators. With the introduction of .INSURANCE, brokers can now select a suitable domain name without competing with speculators. Insurance-related companies can now register shorter, targeted, and more memorable domain names that better convey their brand name and their business. Several other factors help make .INSURANCE stand out from .COM and other alternatives. The registry operating .INSURANCE has a strict verification process for those that wish to register a domain name. This exclusivity ensures that only licensed insurance brokers can register names, keeping bad actors out. In the digital world, where malicious hackers run rampant, it is critical for insurance websites to assure their visitors that they protect their confidential data. Consumers visiting a .INSURANCE website can rest assured that they are indeed on the website of a bona fide insurance company, and not that of fraudsters attempting to phish, or steal personal information. In addition to the heavy vetting that insurance companies must pass before registering a name, all .INSURANCE websites are required to adhere to a high level of security standards. Components such as SSL certificates, secure DNS, and email authentication are all mandated by the registry in order to operate a live .INSURANCE website. These standards will help build consumer trust and reinforce that a .INSURANCE website is the best choice for interaction with insurance brokers online. Dot-INSURANCE domain names can only be registered via ICANN-Accredited Registrars such as EnCirca. For more information, insurance brokers should visit www.encirca.com/insurance. About EnCirca EnCirca is the leading ICANN Registrar for security-conscious domain extensions, including .BANK and .INSURANCE. EnCirca is one of the few ICANN Registrars to complete a SOC 2 Type II Audit, an Independent Service Auditor's Report on Controls Placed in Operation Relevant to the Trust Principles of Security, Availability and Confidentiality. In addition, EnCirca's website receives an A+ in third-party vulnerability scans. For more information, please visit www.encirca.com/insurance or call +1.781.942.9975. Related Links http://www.encirca.com/insurance Contact: Thomas Barrett 1.781.942.9975 SOURCE EnCirca, Inc. Related Links http://www.encirca.com/insurance VALPARAISO, Ind., Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, JM2 Webdesigners CEO John Marx unveiled "Project Coffee Pot." This project has been in the works since March 2016 when demand to serve customers was starting to require more space. The overall goal of the company was to only stay in the Zoseco Co-working space for two years. JM2 Webdesigners felt that if they stayed any longer they would be hindering other individuals that wanted to move into the business world on their own. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395132LOGO "We are taking some bold steps to grow and help small businesses focus on their businesses while JM2 Webdesigners helps these businesses with their digital marketing needs," Marx said. This move will give room for growth for individualized on premise seminars, a dedicated photography room, and grow the Find Business Directory at http://FindBiz.Directory/ to name just a few. The Find Business Directory is a free business listing service for any business large or small. JM2 Webdesigners will move into a 2,000+ square feet at 403 East Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383. This move comes after careful study and review of the company's future operating needs in light of its growth prospects. JM2 Webdesigners is a leading provider of web design, graphic design, and custom software development for all industries that need to improve their business processes. JM2 Webdesigners products and solutions enable businesses to efficiently manage their online digital marketing needs. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact John Marx at 855-456-2669 or email at [email protected]. Related Files press-corporate-office-20160729.pdf This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE JM2 Webdesigners Related Links http://www.jm2.biz DENVER, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ibotta, the leading mobile shopping app that pays consumers cash back on their everyday purchases, has partnered with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, the nation's leading fabric and crafts specialty retailer, to offer cash-back rebates on in-store purchases. The multi-year partnership will provide Ibotta users special offers and cash back options at any one of Jo-Ann Stores' 850+ retail locations. Through the partnership, Jo-Ann will utilize Ibotta's newly-launched Dynamic Segmentation capabilities and its Customer Relationship Management (CRM) data to create segmented campaigns for its consumer targets. Dynamic Segmentation, which Ibotta rolled out to its partners in Q2, will allow Jo-Ann to deliver personalized media content and rebates with variable commissions based entirely on a consumer's loyalty to the Jo-Ann brand. Jo-Ann can now access Ibotta's 100 percent logged-in mobile platform to provide each consumer a unique offer and interaction specific to their prior purchase behavior. Dynamic Segmentation allows the majority of Jo-Ann's marketing budget to be allocated to new to file (NTF) customer acquisition efforts. "Instead of relying on legacy couponing tactics as a way to reach millennial consumers, Jo-Ann is now tapping into Ibotta's targeted and trackable programs on a pay-for performance basis," said Kane McCord, COO of Ibotta. "This is tailored to help attract new customers, inspire lapsed shoppers to revisit their stores, and increase the basket size of loyal shoppers." Jo-Ann will initially offer customers $5 cash back through the Ibotta app at various spending thresholds based on loyalty when they make an in-store purchase at any retail location. The retail giant will also leverage Ibotta's highly-active millennial base to engage consumers with seasonal content that inspires brand engagement and in-store trips. In a pilot program with Ibotta early this year, nearly three-quarters of redeemers at Jo-Ann stores were age 45 or younger, and Ibotta shoppers nearly doubled the average order value (AOV) compared with the Jo-Ann historical average. "We know that inspiration can come at any stage of the creative process, which is why it's so important for our customers to receive personalized content and savings along the way," said Steve Miller, marketing director for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. "Ibotta is the perfect partner to help us engage our customers in a brand-new way, while helping us capture a new audience of millennial shoppers who are starting their shopping journeys on their phones." Since its launch in 2012, Ibotta has partnered with thousands of brands and retailers to put more than $100 million back in shoppers' pockets. For more information about Ibotta, visit http://www.ibotta.com. About Ibotta Ibotta is the leader in offline performance-based mobile marketing, delivering interactive media content to smartphone savvy shoppers. With Ibotta, users are able to engage with the brand, unlock rebates at their favorite stores, and earn cash back for making qualifying in-store purchases. Headquartered in Denver, CO, Ibotta is transforming the consumer shopping experience by making it easy for shoppers to earn cash back on their mobile phones. The company partners with leading brands and retailers to offer cash back on groceries, electronics, clothing, gifts, home and office supplies, and to date has paid out more $100 million in earnings to shoppers. Launched in 2012, Ibotta has more than 18 million downloads and is one of the most frequently used apps in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.ibotta.com. About Jo-Ann Stores, LLC Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, the nation's leading fabric and craft retailer with locations in 49 states, was founded in 1943 as a single retail store. Today, approximately 850 Jo-Ann stores across the country provide consumers all the fabrics, craft supplies and inspiration they need, conveniently under one roof. For additional information, visit joann.com. To make creative connections, visit www.joann.com/community. Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/joann); Follow us on Twitter (@joann_stores); Follow our boards on Pinterest (pinterest.com/joannstores). Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc. Twitter is a registered trademark of Twitter, Inc. Pinterest is a registered trademark of Pinterest, Inc. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160302/340027LOGO SOURCE Ibotta Related Links http://www.ibotta.com EMERYVILLE, Calif., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkeley Lights, Inc. (BLI) today announced the appointment of John R. Gunn, former Chief Operating Officer for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, to the Berkeley Lights' board of directors. "We are very pleased to have someone of John's caliber and professional experience join the Board," said Michael Marks, Chairman of the Berkeley Lights Board of Directors. "John's breadth of knowledge in the introduction and use of advanced technologies in healthcare will be a valuable resource as we deliver our first commercial products later this year. His addition brings industry experience and guidance to our vision of enabling the development of point of care autologous cellular therapies." From 1987 to 2015, Mr. Gunn served as the chief operating officer of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a cancer research and treatment center in New York. Mr. Gunn also serves on the boards of The Visiting Nurse Association of New York and the Greater New York Hospital Association. "I am excited to join the Berkeley Lights Board because the company's ground-breaking technology has the potential to transform immunology," said Mr. Gunn. "Berkeley Lights' systems can empower researchers and clinicians with a level of cellular specificity and accuracy that has the potential to significantly accelerate the speed that diseases are understood and therapies are discovered, tested and, eventually, are delivered." About Berkeley Lights Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Berkeley Lights, Inc. has developed technology, platforms and devices* that enable opto-nanofluidic biomedical engineering with the highest level of integration. Named a strategic partner with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunology in April 2016, Berkeley Lights' core belief is that biomedical challenges yield to world-class engineering. The company is applying its capabilities to address unmet research needs in BioPharma, Cellular Immuno-Oncology, and Autologous T-cell Therapies. For more information, visit http://www.berkeleylights.com/ and follow @Berkeley_Lights on Twitter or on our LinkedIn page. * For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151209/294794LOGO SOURCE Berkeley Lights, Inc. Related Links http://www.berkeleylights.com DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Janus Global Operations, the world's largest demining and UXO clearance company, announced today that Elizabeth Jordan Wilhelm has joined the Company as its new director of conventional weapons destruction and unexploded ordnance clearance. "Jordan is a former U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer whose tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan gave her in-the-field experience that will be invaluable to JGO's commercial and government clients, said Alan Weakley, JGO president and chief operating officer. "This role brings with it significant responsibilities we're confident Jordan will fulfill with great success." Wilhelm served in the Army from 2005 to 2015, receiving her explosive ordnance handling and demolition training at Redstone Arsenal, AL and Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal in Eglin, FL. During her service she was deployed three times to Iraq and Afghanistan and managed explosive emergency response for military and civil authorities throughout the East Coast. "My goal is to use best data collection and operations management practices to get the greatest efficiency and safety for our clients and the communities they support," Wilhelm said. "What JGO does in regions contaminated with mines and other unexploded ordnance is enable residents to rebuild and reclaim their land for productive use. We work with government and development partners to help displaced people return home and give citizens the tools to safely access areas and resources impacted by conflict." Jordan will be working from JGO's Reston, Virginia office. JGO has 22 offices in 16 countries. JGO's services, in addition to demining and unexploded ordnance mitigation are: risk management and maritime consultancy; intelligence support; communications; life support; environmental remediation; and others in some of the world's most challenging and difficult environments. JGO has more than 7,500 employees working in multiple countries. The company's website is www.JanusGo.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160404/351314LOGO SOURCE Janus Global Operations Related Links http://www.JanusGo.com SHANGHAI, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Jupai Holdings Limited ("Jupai" or the "Company") (NYSE: JP), a leading third-party wealth management service provider in China, today announced that it will report its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016, before the U.S. markets open on Wednesday, August 10, 2016. Jupai's management will host an earnings conference call on August 10, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time). Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows: U.S./International: +1-855-298-3404 or +1-631-514-2526 Hong Kong: 800-905-927 or +852-5808-3202 Mainland China: 400-120-0539 Singapore 800-616-3222 or +65-3157-9230 Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call. The passcode is: 1015513 A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following numbers until August 17, 2016: U.S./International: +1-866-846-0868 Hong Kong: 800-966-697 Mainland China: 400-184-2240 Singapore 800-616-2127 Passcode: 1015513 Additionally, a live and archived webcast will be available at http://jupai.investorroom.com. About Jupai (NYSE: JP): Jupai Holdings Limited ("Jupai") (NYSE: JP) is a leading third-party wealth management service provider focusing on distributing wealth management products and providing quality product advisory services to high-net-worth individuals in China. Jupai's comprehensive and personalized client service and broad range of carefully selected third-party and self-developed products have made it a trusted brand among its clients. Jupai maintains extensive and targeted coverage of China's high-net-worth population. For more information, please visit http://jupai.investorroom.com. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: Harry He Director of Investor Relations Jupai Holdings Limited Phone: +86 (21) 6026 9129 Email: [email protected] Philip Lisio The Foote Group Phone: +86 (21) 6230 5097 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Jupai Holdings Limited Related Links http://jupai.investorroom.com NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AACC, the world's largest lab professional and IVD convention, began with a large splash in its Philadelphia meeting -- more media, crowds, and even rock music, than a clinical chemistry convention normally sees. This attention to the meeting came as controversial Silicon Valley start up Theranos presented to the community of pathologists, lab managers and other professionals and those IVD and supply companies that sell to them. Kalorama Information has is live tweeting the meeting (twitter.com/KaloramaInfo) to gather primary research for its comprehensive market research reports. "It's not usual for this convention to feature a packed hall and Rolling Stones music," said Bruce Carlson, Publisher of Kalorama Information. "But beyond the splash, there are a great number of new product launches and enhancements from the 750+ vendors here." Theranos unveiled some of the inside workings of their technology and some selected data to a data-focused and skeptical audience, with many simultaneously commenting on the slides on Twitter and Periscope. It is not likely the talk will do much to quiet the concerns of lab professionsals, as Theranos used its presentation to unveil a new product, the MiniLab, rather than presenting data on its previous products, which many expected. The audience cheered when a scientist said that presented data fell far short of claims. The AACC's invitation to Theranos provided welcome attention to the testing industry, an often obscure area of healthcare that is nonetheless involved in many decisions. As one member tweeted "Lots of ?s remain but the conversation has started." The meeting is about the large IVD Vendors who sell into this 60-billion dollar market places, and Roche Diagnostics unveiled its new plans to continue to lead in the market. POC was a notable focus as was IT and connected equipment. Among their focus is trading on heritage and legacy of their large systems to ensure that they pick up all of the POC and other tests that are being conducted in a 'virtual connection.' That would replace the physical connections of old. Roche Diagnostics North American CEO Jack Phillips spoke to media and in several slides highlighted the company's #1 status in the world and in the US in IVD. He also highlighted the consolidation of hospitals, the decentralization of testing venues, and notably the proliferation of retail clinics. Retail Clinics made of $1 billion dollars in sales, according to Kalorama's report on retail clinics http://www.kaloramainformation.com/Retail-Clinics-Growth-8792050/, Kalorama will update in August. "There was a time that retail clinics might have been a passing fad, about ten years ago when we began coverage of them," Carlson said. "Now they are very much on the radar of large concerns." Also of note, The Diagnostic Marketing Association (www.dxma.org) held an IVD in Cybersecurity Event near the convention center. With new cloud-connected IVD devices, the threats of ransomware hacks or "medjacks" for malicious intent were discussed. Speakers said that If clinical users do not buy in, the security features of medical devices will be turned off, hard-coded, or simply not used. Rather the speakers insisted on 'smart authentication' - easier passwords that would last a shift, cell phone recognition, barcodes and other steps that would enable users to keep equipment safe from hacks but still use it. "It was interesting that this seminar didn't focus on just locking equipment from hackers, but re-training users," said Carlson. About Kalorama Information Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, supplies the latest in independent medical market research in diagnostics, biotech, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare; as well as a full range of custom research services. Reports can be purchased through Kalorama's website and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com. We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and our blog at www.kaloramainformation.com. Contact: Bruce Carlson (212) 807-2622 [email protected] www.KaloramaInformation.com Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150831/262422LOGO SOURCE Kalorama Information Related Links http://www.KaloramaInformation.com NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kate Spade & Company (NYSE: KATE) today announced results for the second quarter ended July 2, 2016. Craig A. Leavitt, Chief Executive Officer of Kate Spade & Company, said: "Several factors contributed to our second quarter results falling short of our expectations, the most impactful of which are the retail landscape and continuing tourist headwinds. As we navigate these broader industry trends, we remain very confident in our long-term growth initiatives and have a number of strategies in place to drive our business in the second half of 2016. We continue to focus on the factors we can control, executing our long-term strategy and continuing to grow as a global, multi-channel lifestyle brand." George Carrara, President and Chief Operating Officer of Kate Spade & Company, added: "Looking ahead to the back half of the year, we are taking a prudent approach and updating our guidance accordingly. We remain confident in our long term ability to continue to achieve robust margin expansion, both in 2016 and beyond, based primarily on our ability to scale our foundation, leverage expenses, grow our licensing business and benefit from supply chain enhancements." For the first half of 2016 on a GAAP basis, the Company recorded income from continuing operations of $35 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to a loss from continuing operations for the first half of 2015 of $(44) million, or $(0.35) per diluted share. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the first half of 2016 were $0.17, using a normalized tax rate, compared to Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.10 in the first half of 2015. Net sales for the first half of 2016 were $594 million, an increase of $58 million, or 10.8%, compared to the first half of 2015. Net sales for the first half of 2016 increased $82 million, or 16.0%, excluding sales for wind-down operations for the first half of 2015. Adjusted EBITDA was $89 million for the first half of 2016, compared to Adjusted EBITDA, excluding wind-down operations of $69 million for the first half of 2015. SECOND QUARTER RESULTS Overall Results Net sales for the second quarter of 2016 were $320 million, an increase of $39 million, or 13.7% compared to the second quarter of 2015. Net sales for the second quarter of 2016 increased $47 million, or 17.2%, excluding sales for wind-down operations for the second quarter of 2015. Second quarter 2016 direct-to-consumer comparable sales growth was 4%, or 1% excluding eCommerce. Comparable sales per square foot for kate spade new york stores were $1,619 for the latest twelve months, compared to $1,611 for the twelve month period ended April 2, 2016. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 59.7% for the second quarter of 2016, compared to 61.0% for the second quarter of 2015. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 61.6%, excluding the impact of wind-down operations for the second quarter of 2015. Selling, general & administrative expenses were $157 million, or 49.0% of net sales in the second quarter of 2016, compared to $154 million, or 54.8% of net sales in the second quarter of 2015. Selling, general & administrative expenses in the second quarter of 2015 were $143 million, or 52.3% of net sales, excluding the results of wind-down operations and expenses associated with streamlining activities. Income from continuing operations was $25 million, or $0.19 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2016, compared to $9 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2015. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2016 using a normalized tax rate were $0.11, compared to adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.08 in the second quarter of 2015. Segment Highlights Kate Spade North America net sales for the second quarter of 2016 were $271 million , an increase of $36 million , or 15.1% compared to the second quarter of 2015. Net sales for the second quarter of 2016 increased $40 million , or 17.1%, excluding sales for wind-down operations for the second quarter of 2015. Kate Spade North America Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $47 million (17.5% of net sales) for the second quarter of 2016 compared to $38 million (16.0% of net sales) for the second quarter of 2015. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Wind-Down Operations was $38 million (16.6% of adjusted net sales) for the second quarter of 2015. net sales for the second quarter of 2016 were , an increase of , or 15.1% compared to the second quarter of 2015. Net sales for the second quarter of 2016 increased , or 17.1%, excluding sales for wind-down operations for the second quarter of 2015. Kate Spade North America Segment Adjusted EBITDA was (17.5% of net sales) for the second quarter of 2016 compared to (16.0% of net sales) for the second quarter of 2015. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Wind-Down Operations was (16.6% of adjusted net sales) for the second quarter of 2015. Kate Spade International net sales for the second quarter of 2016 were $43 million , an increase of $3 million , or 6.6% compared to the second quarter of 2015. Net sales for the second quarter of 2016 increased $7 million , or 19.8%, excluding sales for wind-down operations for the second quarter of 2015. Kate Spade International Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $4 million (9.3% of net sales) for the second quarter of 2016 compared to $3 million (8.4% of net sales) for the second quarter of 2015. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Wind-Down Operations was $2 million (6.5% of adjusted net sales) for the second quarter of 2015. net sales for the second quarter of 2016 were , an increase of , or 6.6% compared to the second quarter of 2015. Net sales for the second quarter of 2016 increased , or 19.8%, excluding sales for wind-down operations for the second quarter of 2015. Kate Spade International Segment Adjusted EBITDA was (9.3% of net sales) for the second quarter of 2016 compared to (8.4% of net sales) for the second quarter of 2015. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Wind-Down Operations was (6.5% of adjusted net sales) for the second quarter of 2015. Adelington Design Group net sales for the second quarter of 2016 were $5 million , an increase of 4.8% compared to the second quarter of 2015. Adelington Design Group Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $1 million (18.8% of net sales) for the second quarter of 2016 and was flat ((1.6%) of net sales) for the second quarter of 2015. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Wind-Down Operations was flat (5.9% of net sales) for the second quarter of 2015. Store Count Information Q2 2016 Q1 2016 Net Store Openings Q2 2016 North America Owned Stores Specialty 105 3 108 Outlet 64 1 65 Total North America Owned Stores 169 4 173 Average Square Feet (in '000s) 382 391 International Owned Stores Specialty 24 1 25 Outlet 14 - 14 Concessions 53 2 55 Total International Owned Stores 91 3 94 Average Square Feet (in '000s) 81 87 Total Owned Store Count 260 7 267 Average Owned Square Feet (in '000s) 463 478 Partner Operated Stores 80 7 87 Greater China Joint Venture Stores 41 2 43 Total Partnered Store Count 121 9 130 Total Store Count 381 16 397 Total Licensee Operated Partnered Stores 28 1 29 Total Store Footprint 409 17 426 2016 GUIDANCE The Company now expects the following: Net Sales $1.370B - $1.400B Adjusted EBITDA * $242M - $260M Diluted Earnings Per Share ** $0.63 - $0.70 DTC Comparable Sales Growth high single-digit to low double-digit growth Capital Expenditures $65M - $70M Planned Net New Store Openings (Company Owned & Partners) ~ 40 - 45 2015 Year End NOL Balance $739M *Adjusted EBITDA, as presented in the Company's 2016 guidance, excludes depreciation and amortization, losses on asset disposals and impairments, non-cash share-based compensation expense, income tax provision (benefit), interest expense, net and unrealized and certain realized foreign currency gains (losses). ** Diluted earnings per share estimated using a normalized tax rate of 40%. RECONCILIATION FROM ADJUSTED EBITDA TO EPS Range In millions, except per common share data 2016 Adjusted EBITDA * $242 - $260 Less: Share-based compensation, net ** 33 - 34 Depreciation and amortization, net 52 - 54 Interest expense, net 21 - 21 Pretax income 136 - 151 Provision for income taxes at 40% rate 54 - 60 Income from continuing operations $82 - $91 Diluted shares outstanding 130 130 Diluted EPS assuming 40% tax rate $0.63 - $0.70 * Adjusted EBITDA includes $(7 8) million in Other expense, net related to the Company's equity in the losses of its equity method investees. ** Included in SG&A, but excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION The Company will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time today to discuss its results for the second quarter 2016. The dial-in number is 1-888-694-4676 with pass code 34730320. The webcast can be accessed via the Investor Relations section of the Kate Spade & Company website at www.katespadeandcompany.com . An archive of the webcast will be available on the website. Additional information on the results of the Company's operations is available in the Company's Form 10-Q for the second quarter 2016, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expects to report third quarter 2016 financial results on Wednesday, November 2, 2016. PRESENTATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND KEY OPERATING METRICS The income (loss) from continuing operations for 2016 and 2015 is presented on a GAAP basis and also adjusted by multiplying pretax income (loss) by a normalized tax rate. Adjusted income (loss) from continuing operations and Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter and first half of 2015 exclude the impact of expenses incurred in connection with the Company's streamlining initiatives (such as severance costs, contract termination costs, asset write-downs and other costs) and brand-exiting activities, acquisition related costs and loss on settlement of note receivable. The adjusted results for 2015 also exclude a $26 million charge related to the termination of certain contracts with the Company's former joint venture partner in Kate Spade China Co., Ltd. The Company believes that the adjusted measures for such periods represent a more meaningful presentation of its historical operations and financial performance since these measures provide period to period comparisons that are consistent and more easily understood. In addition to those items, the Company presents its 2015 adjusted results further adjusted to exclude the adjusted results of wind-down operations (Kate Spade Saturday, Jack Spade brick and mortar, Kate Spade Brazil and brand exits in the Adelington Design Group segment). The Company believes that the adjusted results excluding wind-down operations provide a meaningful presentation of its 2015 results on a comparable basis to its 2016 results. The attached tables, captioned "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information," provide a full reconciliation of actual results to the adjusted results. The Company presents Adjusted EBITDA, which it defines as income (loss) from continuing operations, adjusted to exclude income tax provision (benefit), interest expense, net, depreciation and amortization, net, expenses incurred in connection with the Company's streamlining initiatives, brand-exiting activities, acquisition related costs, non-cash impairment charges, losses on asset disposals, loss on settlement of note receivable, non-cash share-based compensation expense and unrealized and certain realized foreign currency transaction adjustments, net. The Company presents the above-described Adjusted EBITDA measures because it considers them important supplemental measures of its performance and believes they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in its industry. The Company also presents Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Wind-Down Operations, which the Company defines as Adjusted EBITDA further adjusted to remove the Adjusted EBITDA of Kate Spade Saturday, Jack Spade brick and mortar, Kate Spade Brazil and the brand exits in the Adelington Design Group segment. The Company believes this Adjusted EBITDA measure provides a meaningful presentation of its 2015 results on a comparable basis to its 2016 results. References to amounts "on a comparable basis" mean that those amounts exclude the impact of wind-down operations. The Company determined that the Kate Spade Saturday, Jack Spade, Kate Spade Brazil and Adelington Design Group initiatives in 2015 did not represent a strategic shift in the Company's operations and therefore did not present these activities as discontinued operations. The Company evaluates comparable sales productivity based on comparable net sales per average square foot, which is defined as net sales divided by the average of beginning and end of period gross square feet and excludes e-commerce net sales. The Company's policy regarding its calculation of comparable direct-to-consumer net sales is discussed in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section of its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2016. The Company presents the above described key operating metrics because it considers them important supplemental measures of its performance and believes they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in its industry. ABOUT KATE SPADE & COMPANY Kate Spade & Company (NYSE: KATE) operates principally under two global, multichannel lifestyle brands: kate spade new york and Jack Spade. The Company's four category pillars women's, men's, children's and home span demographics, genders and geographies. Known for crisp color, graphic prints and playful sophistication, kate spade new york aims to inspire a more interesting life. The kate spade new york collection includes the Madison Avenue, Broome Street and on purpose labels. Jack Spade offers a timeless and versatile assortment of bags, sportswear and tailored clothing founded on the aesthetic of simple, purposeful design. The Company also owns Adelington Design Group, a private brand jewelry design and development group. Visit www.katespadeandcompany.com for more information. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this press release, future filings by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and oral statements made by, or with the approval of, our authorized personnel, that relate to our plans and expectations for future periods are forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "intend," "expect," "contemplate," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "forecast," "target," "aim," "project," "on track," "are positioned to," "estimate," "may," "will," "should" and variations of such words and similar expressions and phrases are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, as they are not guarantees of performance or results. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these expectations may not prove to be correct or we may not achieve the financial results, savings or other benefits anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are simply estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior management and involve, and are subject to, a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks are more fully discussed in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2016 and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed herein and attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are qualified by these cautionary statements. We may change our intentions, beliefs or expectations at any time and without notice, based upon any change in our assumptions or otherwise. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. KATE SPADE & COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (All amounts in thousands, except per common share data) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended July 2, 2016 % of July 4, 2015 % of (13 Weeks) Sales (13 Weeks) Sales Net Sales $ 319,691 100.0 % $ 281,118 100.0 % Cost of goods sold 128,985 40.3 % 109,640 39.0 % Gross Profit 190,706 59.7 % 171,478 61.0 % Selling, general & administrative expenses 156,651 49.0 % 153,932 54.8 % Operating Income 34,055 10.7 % 17,546 6.2 % Other expense, net (3,093) (1.0) % (1,823) (0.6) % Interest expense, net (4,937) (1.5) % (5,344) (1.9) % Income Before Provision for Income Taxes 26,025 8.1 % 10,379 3.7 % Provision for income taxes 1,466 0.5 % 1,130 0.4 % Income from Continuing Operations 24,559 7.7 % 9,249 3.3 % Discontinued operations, net of income taxes 2,214 (708) Net Income $ 26,773 $ 8,541 Earnings per Share: Basic Income from Continuing Operations $ 0.19 $ 0.07 Net Income $ 0.21 $ 0.07 Diluted Income from Continuing Operations $ 0.19 $ 0.07 Net Income $ 0.21 $ 0.07 Weighted Average Shares, Basic 128,000 127,663 Weighted Average Shares, Diluted 129,140 128,431 KATE SPADE & COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (All amounts in thousands, except per common share data) Six Months Ended Six Months Ended July 2, 2016 % of July 4, 2015 % of (26 Weeks) Sales (26 Weeks) Sales Net Sales $ 594,113 100.0 % $ 536,434 100.0 % Cost of goods sold 233,926 39.4 % 210,229 39.2 % Gross Profit 360,187 60.6 % 326,205 60.8 % Selling, general & administrative expenses 308,419 51.9 % 345,785 64.5 % Operating Income (Loss) 51,768 8.7 % (19,580) (3.7) % Other expense, net (3,340) (0.6) % (3,218) (0.6) % Loss on settlement of note receivable (9,873) (1.8) % Interest expense, net (9,933) (1.7) % (8,708) (1.6) % Income (Loss) Before Provision for Income Taxes 38,495 6.5 % (41,379) (7.7) % Provision for income taxes 3,020 0.5 % 2,931 0.5 % Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations 35,475 6.0 % (44,310) (8.3) % Discontinued operations, net of income taxes 2,934 (2,370) Net Income (Loss) $ 38,409 $ (46,680) Earnings per Share: Basic Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations $ 0.28 $ (0.35) Net Income (Loss) $ 0.30 $ (0.37) Diluted Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations $ 0.28 $ (0.35) Net Income (Loss) $ 0.30 $ (0.37) Weighted Average Shares, Basic 127,966 127,576 Weighted Average Shares, Diluted (a) 128,888 127,576 (a) Because the Company incurred a loss from continuing operations for the six months ended July 4, 2015, all potentially dilutive shares are antidilutive. Accordingly, basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding are equal for such period. KATE SPADE & COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (All amounts in thousands) July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015 Assets Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 306,536 $ 231,437 Accounts receivable - trade, net 64,440 65,300 Inventories, net 217,441 188,385 Other current assets 36,169 36,231 Total current assets 624,586 521,353 Property and Equipment, Net 177,978 171,340 Goodwill 56,338 47,841 Intangibles, Net 86,058 87,237 Other Assets 52,129 38,950 Total Assets $ 997,089 $ 866,721 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current Liabilities: Short-term borrowings $ 3,592 $ 3,595 Other current liabilities 223,700 236,590 Total current liabilities 227,292 240,185 Long-Term Debt 390,463 393,863 Other Non-Current Liabilities 72,162 68,659 Stockholders' Equity 307,172 164,014 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 997,089 $ 866,721 KATE SPADE & COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (All amounts in thousands) Six Months Ended July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015 (26 Weeks) (26 Weeks) Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Net income (loss) $ 38,409 $ (46,680) Adjustments to arrive at income (loss) from continuing operations (2,934) 2,370 Income (loss) from continuing operations 35,475 (44,310) Adjustments to reconcile income (loss) from continuing operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 23,908 24,240 Loss on asset disposals and impairments, including streamlining initiatives, net 844 8,309 Share-based compensation 16,156 12,756 Loss on settlement of note receivable 9,873 Foreign currency transaction (gains) losses, net (5,354) 1,620 Equity losses of equity investees 3,248 2,754 Other, net (135) (186) Changes in assets and liabilities: Decrease in accounts receivable - trade, net 34,220 23,971 Increase in inventories, net (20,254) (39,140) (Increase) decrease in other current and non-current assets (1,725) 8,015 (Decrease) increase in accounts payable (3,841) 14,362 Decrease in accrued expenses and other non-current liabilities (34,434) (14,210) Net change in income tax assets and liabilities 1,834 1,684 Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations (720) (10,057) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 49,222 (319) Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Proceeds from sales of property and equipment 816 Purchases of property and equipment (25,200) (28,163) Proceeds from sales of joint venture interests, net (2,350) 19,874 Investments in and advances to equity investees (6,500) Payment for joint venture interest (10,000) Payments for in-store merchandise shops (807) (2,094) Net proceeds from settlement of note receivable 75,128 Purchase of trademarks (1,200) Other, net (57) 368 Net cash provided by investing activities of discontinued operations 348 Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (36,114) 56,277 Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit agreement 2,000 Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit agreement (8,000) Repayment of Term Loan (3,000) (2,000) Principal payments under capital lease obligations (250) (223) Proceeds from exercise of stock options 258 2,428 Payment of deferred financing fees (741) (870) Net cash used in financing activities (3,733) (6,665) Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents (690) (1,900) Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents 8,685 47,393 Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period 297,851 184,044 Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $ 306,536 $ 231,437 KATE SPADE & COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION (All amounts in thousands, except per common share data) Three Months Ended July 2, 2016 (13 Weeks) Total Net Sales $ 319,691 KATE SPADE North America 271,378 KATE SPADE International 43,417 Adelington Design Group 4,896 Gross Profit 190,706 SG&A 156,651 Operating Income $ 34,055 Other expense, net (3,093) Interest expense, net (4,937) Provision for income taxes 1,466 Income from Continuing Operations $ 24,559 Discontinued operations, net of income taxes 2,214 Net Income $ 26,773 Basic Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations $ 0.19 Diluted Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations $ 0.19 Reconciliation of Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations: Net Income, per above $ 26,773 Less: discontinued operations, net of income taxes (2,214) Adjustment to provision for income taxes (9,848) Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations (a) $ 14,711 Adjusted Basic Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations $ 0.11 Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations (b) $ 0.11 Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA: Operating income, per above $ 34,055 Depreciation and amortization and losses on asset disposals, net (c) 12,074 Share-based compensation 8,246 Other expense, net (d) (721) Adjusted EBITDA $ 53,654 Adjusted EBITDA Reportable Segments Adjusted EBITDA (e): KATE SPADE North America $ 47,393 KATE SPADE International (f) 4,053 Adelington Design Group 922 Other (g) 1,286 Adjusted EBITDA $ 53,654 Adjusted EBITDA Margin KATE SPADE North America 17.5 % KATE SPADE International (f) 9.3 % Adelington Design Group 18.8 % Kate Spade & Company 16.8 % (a) Adjusted amount represents pretax income multiplied by a normalized tax rate of 40.0%, plus $0.1 million for interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions. The normalized tax rate was derived by reference to statutory tax rates in the regions in which the Company operates, without giving effect to the Company's valuation allowance or potential use of its net operating loss carryforwards. (b) Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the three months ended July 2, 2016 are based on 129,140 shares outstanding. (c) Excludes amortization included in Interest expense, net. (d) Amount is Other expense, net as shown above, net of foreign currency transaction adjustment of $2,372. (e) Segment Adjusted EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization and losses on asset disposals. The costs of all corporate departments that serve the respective segment are fully allocated. The Company does not allocate amounts reported below Operating income to its reportable segments, other than equity loss in its equity method investees. The Company's definition of Segment Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. (f) Amounts include equity in the losses of equity method investees of $2,007. (g) Amount is Other expense, net as shown above, net of foreign currency transaction adjustment of $2,372 and equity in the losses of equity method investees of $2,007. KATE SPADE & COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION (All amounts in thousands, except per common share data) Adjusted Results Streamlining Results of Wind-Down (Excluding Wind- Reported (a) Initiatives (b) Adjusted Results Operations (c) Down Operations) (d) Three Months Ended July 4, 2015 (13 Weeks) Total Net Sales $ 281,118 $ 281,118 $ (8,413) $ 272,705 KATE SPADE North America 235,730 235,730 (3,944) 231,786 KATE SPADE International 40,718 40,718 (4,469) 36,249 Adelington Design Group 4,670 4,670 4,670 Gross Profit 171,478 171,478 (3,624) 167,854 SG&A 153,932 $ (7,512) 146,420 (3,718) 142,702 Operating Income $ 17,546 $ 7,512 $ 25,058 $ 94 $ 25,152 Other expense, net (1,823) 83 (1,740) (1,740) Interest expense, net (5,344) (5,344) (5,344) Provision for income taxes (e) 1,130 6,131 7,261 38 7,299 Income from Continuing Operations $ 9,249 $ 1,464 $ 10,713 $ 56 $ 10,769 Discontinued operations, net of income taxes (708) Net Income $ 8,541 Basic Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations $ 0.07 $ 0.08 $ 0.08 Diluted Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations (f) $ 0.07 $ 0.08 $ 0.08 Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted operating income, per above $ 25,058 $ 94 $ 25,152 Depreciation and amortization, asset impairments and losses on asset disposals, net (g) 11,228 (184) 11,044 Share-based compensation 6,784 6,784 Other expense, net (h) (1,774) (1,774) Adjusted EBITDA $ 41,296 $ (90) $ 41,206 Adjusted EBITDA Reportable Segments Adjusted EBITDA (i): KATE SPADE North America $ 37,781 $ 638 $ 38,419 KATE SPADE International (j) 3,433 (1,082) 2,351 Adelington Design Group (77) 354 277 Other (k) 159 159 Adjusted EBITDA $ 41,296 $ (90) $ 41,206 Adjusted EBITDA Margin KATE SPADE North America 16.0 % 16.6 % KATE SPADE International (j) 8.4 % 6.5 % Adelington Design Group (1.6) % 5.9 % Kate Spade & Company 14.7 % 15.1 % (a) Represents the results of Kate Spade & Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the US. (b) Represents charges due to streamlining initiatives comprised of: (i) payroll, contract termination costs, asset write-downs and other costs of $7,121; and (ii) store closure, other brand-exiting and acquisition related costs of $391. (c) Represents adjustments to remove the adjusted results of KATE SPADE SATURDAY, JACK SPADE brick and mortar, Kate Spade Brazil and Adelington Design Group exiting brands (Trifari, Trina Turk and Kensie). (d) Represents the adjusted results of the Company excluding the results of KATE SPADE SATURDAY, JACK SPADE brick and mortar, Kate Spade Brazil and Adelington Design Group exiting brands. This is presented in order to provide adjusted results on a comparable basis to its 2016 results. (e) Adjusted amounts represent adjusted pretax income multiplied by a normalized tax rate of 40.0%, plus $0.1 million for interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions. The normalized tax rate was derived by reference to statutory tax rates in the regions in which the Company operates, without giving effect to the Company's valuation allowance or potential use of its net operating loss carryforwards. (f) Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the three months ended July 4, 2015 are based on 128,431 shares outstanding. (g) Excludes amortization included in Interest expense, net. (h) Amount is reported Other expense, net as shown above, net of foreign currency transaction adjustment of $(34) and restructuring charges of $83 included in equity in the losses of equity method investees. (i) Segment adjusted EBITDA excludes: (i) depreciation and amortization; (ii) charges due to streamlining initiatives, brand-exiting activities and acquisition related costs; and (iii) losses on asset disposals and impairments. The costs of all corporate departments that serve the respective segment are fully allocated. The Company does not allocate amounts reported below Operating income to its reportable segments, other than adjusted equity loss in its equity method investees. The Company's definition of Segment Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. (j) Amounts include equity in the adjusted losses of equity method investees of $1,933. (k) Amount is reported Other expense, net as shown above, net of foreign currency transaction adjustment of $(34) and equity in the losses of equity method investees of $2,016. KATE SPADE & COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION (All amounts in thousands, except per common share data) Six Months Ended July 2, 2016 (26 Weeks) Total Net Sales $ 594,113 KATE SPADE North America 490,055 KATE SPADE International 92,300 Adelington Design Group 11,758 Gross Profit 360,187 SG&A 308,419 Operating Income $ 51,768 Other expense, net (3,340) Interest expense, net (9,933) Provision for income taxes 3,020 Income from Continuing Operations $ 35,475 Discontinued operations, net of income taxes 2,934 Net Income $ 38,409 Basic Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations $ 0.28 Diluted Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations $ 0.28 Reconciliation of Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations: Net Income, per above $ 38,409 Less: discontinued operations, net of income taxes (2,934) Adjustment to provision for income taxes (13,876) Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations (a) $ 21,599 Adjusted Basic Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations $ 0.17 Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations (b) $ 0.17 Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA: Operating income, per above $ 51,768 Depreciation and amortization and losses on asset disposals, net (c) 23,001 Share-based compensation 16,156 Other expense, net (d) (2,103) Adjusted EBITDA $ 88,822 Adjusted EBITDA Reportable Segments Adjusted EBITDA (e): KATE SPADE North America $ 71,980 KATE SPADE International (f) 12,590 Adelington Design Group 3,107 Other (g) 1,145 Adjusted EBITDA $ 88,822 Adjusted EBITDA Margin KATE SPADE North America 14.7 % KATE SPADE International (f) 13.6 % Adelington Design Group 26.4 % Kate Spade & Company 15.0 % (a) Adjusted amount represents pretax income multiplied by a normalized tax rate of 40.0%, plus $0.2 million for interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions. The normalized tax rate was derived by reference to statutory tax rates in the regions in which the Company operates, without giving effect to the Company's valuation allowance or potential use of its net operating loss carryforwards. (b) Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the six months ended July 2, 2016 are based on 128,888 shares outstanding. (c) Excludes amortization included in Interest expense, net. (d) Amount is Other expense, net as shown above, net of foreign currency transaction adjustment of $1,237. (e) Segment Adjusted EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization and losses on asset disposals. The costs of all corporate departments that serve the respective segment are fully allocated. The Company does not allocate amounts reported below Operating income to its reportable segments, other than equity loss in its equity method investees. The Company's definition of Segment Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. (f) Amounts include equity in the losses of equity method investees of $3,248. (g) Amount is Other expense, net as shown above, net of foreign currency transaction adjustment of $1,237 and equity in the losses of equity method investees of $3,248. KATE SPADE & COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION (All amounts in thousands, except per common share data) Streamlining Adjusted Results Initiatives and JV Results of Wind-Down (Excluding Wind- Reported (a) Termination Fee (b) Adjusted Results Operations (c) Down Operations) (d) Six Months Ended July 4, 2015 (26 Weeks) Total Net Sales $ 536,434 $ 536,434 $ (24,098) $ 512,336 KATE SPADE North America 431,316 431,316 (12,793) 418,523 KATE SPADE International 93,186 93,186 (9,588) 83,598 Adelington Design Group 11,932 11,932 (1,717) 10,215 Gross Profit 326,205 326,205 (9,868) 316,337 SG&A 345,785 $ (52,060) 293,725 (13,577) 280,148 Operating (Loss) Income $ (19,580) $ 52,060 $ 32,480 $ 3,709 $ 36,189 Other expense, net (3,218) 83 (3,135) (3,135) Loss on settlement of note receivable (9,873) 9,873 Interest expense, net (8,708) (8,708) (8,708) Provision for income taxes (e) 2,931 5,466 8,397 1,484 9,881 (Loss) Income from Continuing Operations $ (44,310) $ 56,550 $ 12,240 $ 2,225 $ 14,465 Discontinued operations, net of income taxes (2,370) Net Loss $ (46,680) Basic Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations $ (0.35) $ 0.10 $ 0.11 Diluted Earnings per Common Share from Continuing Operations (f) $ (0.35) $ 0.10 $ 0.11 Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted operating income, per above $ 32,480 $ 3,709 $ 36,189 Depreciation and amortization, asset impairments and losses on asset disposals, net (g) 23,506 (548) 22,958 Share-based compensation, net (h) 12,561 12,561 Other expense, net (i) (2,668) (2,668) Adjusted EBITDA $ 65,879 $ 3,161 $ 69,040 Adjusted EBITDA Reportable Segments Adjusted EBITDA (j): KATE SPADE North America $ 55,853 $ 2,879 $ 58,732 KATE SPADE International (k) 8,422 359 8,781 Adelington Design Group 1,601 (77) 1,524 Other (l) 3 3 Adjusted EBITDA $ 65,879 $ 3,161 $ 69,040 Adjusted EBITDA Margin KATE SPADE North America 12.9 % 14.0 % KATE SPADE International (k) 9.0 % 10.5 % Adelington Design Group 13.4 % 14.9 % Kate Spade & Company 12.3 % 13.5 % (a) Represents the results of Kate Spade & Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the US. (b) Represents charges due to streamlining initiatives comprised of: (i) payroll, contract termination costs, asset write-downs and other costs of $25,995; (ii) store closure, other brand-exiting and acquisition related costs of $65; and (iii) a $26,000 charge related to the termination of certain contracts with the Company's former joint venture partner in China. (c) Represents adjustments to remove the adjusted results of KATE SPADE SATURDAY, JACK SPADE brick and mortar, Kate Spade Brazil and Adelington Design Group exiting brands (Trifari, Trina Turk and Kensie). (d) Represents the adjusted results of the Company excluding the results of KATE SPADE SATURDAY, JACK SPADE brick and mortar, Kate Spade Brazil and Adelington Design Group exiting brands. This is presented in order to provide adjusted results on a comparable basis to its 2016 results. (e) Adjusted amounts represent adjusted pretax income multiplied by a normalized tax rate of 40.0%, plus $0.1 million for interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions. The normalized tax rate was derived by reference to statutory tax rates in the regions in which the Company operates, without giving effect to the Company's valuation allowance or potential use of its net operating loss carryforwards. (f) Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the six months ended July 4, 2015 are based on 128,253 shares outstanding. (g) Excludes amortization included in Interest expense, net. (h) Excludes $0.2 million of share-based compensation expense that was classified as restructuring. (i) Amount is reported Other expense, net as shown above, net of foreign currency transaction adjustment of $467 and restructuring charges of $83 included in equity in the losses of equity method investees. (j) Segment adjusted EBITDA excludes: (i) depreciation and amortization; (ii) charges due to streamlining initiatives, brand-exiting activities and acquisition related costs; (iii) losses on asset disposals and impairments; and (iv) a $26,000 charge in the six months ended July 4, 2015 to terminate contracts with the Company's former joint venture partner in China. The costs of all corporate departments that serve the respective segment are fully allocated. The Company does not allocate amounts reported below Operating (loss) income to its reportable segments, other than adjusted equity loss in its equity method investees. The Company's definition of Segment Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. (k) Amounts include equity in the adjusted losses of equity method investees of $2,671. (l) Amount is reported Other expense, net as shown above, net of foreign currency transaction adjustment of $467 and equity in the losses of equity method investees of $2,754. KATE SPADE & COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Dollars in thousands) The following table provides reconciliations of Net Sales as reported to Net Sales excluding wind-down operations(a) in 2015. Three Months Ended July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015 Variance (13 Weeks) (13 Weeks) $ % Total Company Net Sales as reported $ 319,691 $ 281,118 $ 38,573 13.7 % Less: Net sales for wind-down operations (a) (8,413) Adjusted Net Sales $ 319,691 $ 272,705 $ 46,986 17.2 % KATE SPADE North America Net Sales as reported $ 271,378 $ 235,730 $ 35,648 15.1 % Less: Net sales for wind-down operations (a) (3,944) Adjusted Net Sales $ 271,378 $ 231,786 $ 39,592 17.1 % KATE SPADE International Net Sales as reported $ 43,417 $ 40,718 $ 2,699 6.6 % Less: Net sales for wind-down operations (a) (4,469) Adjusted Net Sales $ 43,417 $ 36,249 $ 7,168 19.8 % Adelington Design Group Net Sales as reported $ 4,896 $ 4,670 $ 226 4.8 % Less: Net sales for wind-down operations (a) Adjusted Net Sales $ 4,896 $ 4,670 $ 226 4.8 % (a) Represents net sales for KATE SPADE SATURDAY, JACK SPADE brick and mortar, Kate Spade Brazil and Adelington Design Group exiting brands (Trifari, Trina Turk and Kensie). KATE SPADE & COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Dollars in thousands) The following table provides reconciliations of Net Sales as reported to Net Sales excluding wind-down operations(a) in 2015. Six Months Ended July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015 Variance (26 Weeks) (26 Weeks) $ % Total Company Net Sales as reported $ 594,113 $ 536,434 $ 57,679 10.8 % Less: Net sales for wind-down operations (a) (24,098) Adjusted Net Sales $ 594,113 $ 512,336 $ 81,777 16.0 % KATE SPADE North America Net Sales as reported $ 490,055 $ 431,316 $ 58,739 13.6 % Less: Net sales for wind-down operations (a) (12,793) Adjusted Net Sales $ 490,055 $ 418,523 $ 71,532 17.1 % KATE SPADE International Net Sales as reported (b) $ 92,300 $ 93,186 $ (886) (1.0) % Less: Net sales for wind-down operations (a) (9,588) Adjusted Net Sales (b) $ 92,300 $ 83,598 $ 8,702 10.4 % Adelington Design Group Net Sales as reported $ 11,758 $ 11,932 $ (174) (1.5) % Less: Net sales for wind-down operations (a) (1,717) Adjusted Net Sales $ 11,758 $ 10,215 $ 1,543 15.1 % (a) Represents net sales for KATE SPADE SATURDAY, JACK SPADE brick and mortar, Kate Spade Brazil and Adelington Design Group exiting brands (Trifari, Trina Turk and Kensie). (b) Includes $6.4 million of net sales for the six months ended July 4, 2015 related to the Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan territories, which were converted to a joint venture in the first quarter of 2015. KATE SPADE & COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION (In thousands) The following table provides reconciliations of Segment Adjusted EBITDA to: (i) Adjusted EBITDA and (ii) Net Income (Loss). Three Months Ended Six Months Ended July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015 July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015 (13 Weeks) (13 Weeks) (26 Weeks) (26 Weeks) Reportable Segments Adjusted EBITDA: KATE SPADE North America $ 47,393 $ 37,781 $ 71,980 $ 55,853 KATE SPADE International 4,053 3,433 12,590 8,422 Adelington Design Group 922 (77) 3,107 1,601 Total Reportable Segments Adjusted EBITDA 52,368 41,137 87,677 65,876 Other expense (income) (a) (1,086) 193 (92) (464) Less: Foreign currency adjustments, net 2,372 (34) 1,237 467 Adjusted EBITDA 53,654 41,296 88,822 65,879 Foreign currency transaction adjustments, net (2,372) 34 (1,237) (467) Depreciation and amortization, net (b) (11,436) (10,872) (22,157) (22,418) Charges due to streamlining initiatives, brand-exiting activities, acquisition related costs and loss on asset disposals and impairments, net (c) (638) (7,982) (844) (27,036) Joint venture contract termination fee (26,000) Share-based compensation (d) (8,246) (6,753) (16,156) (12,756) Loss on settlement of note receivable (9,873) Interest expense, net (4,937) (5,344) (9,933) (8,708) Provision for income taxes 1,466 1,130 3,020 2,931 Discontinued operations, net of income taxes 2,214 (708) 2,934 (2,370) Net Income (Loss) $ 26,773 $ 8,541 $ 38,409 $ (46,680) (a) Amounts do not include equity in the losses of equity method investees of $2,007 and $2,016 for the three months ended July 2, 2016 and July 4, 2015, respectively, and equity in the losses of equity method investees of $3,248 and $2,754 for the six months ended July 2, 2016 and July 4, 2015, respectively. (b) Excludes amortization included in Interest expense, net. (c) Includes $0.1 million of joint venture restructuring expense included in equity losses for the three and six months ended July 4, 2015. (d) Includes share-based compensation expense of $0.2 million for the six months ended July 4, 2015, that was classified as restructuring. SOURCE Kate Spade & Company Related Links http://www.katespadeandcompany.com WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- KSGB (K-Swiss Global Brands), a division of E.Land USA, has announced plans to relocate its global headquarters from Westlake Village, CA to the historic Pac Mutual Building in Downtown Los Angeles by January 1, 2017. The new state-of-the-art facility will house global operations for K-Swiss, Palladium, SUPRA and OTZ Shoes, and the Americas operations for Palladium and PLDM, whose headquarters are located in Lyon, France. "As our organization grows, we feel there will be an intrinsic benefit to immersing in the progressive culture of Downtown Los Angeles," said KSGB Chairman and CEO, Truman Kim. "Our new location will afford us a better opportunity to identify market trends where they happen, access a vibrant retail culture, identify synergies with other brands in the space and lay the best possible foundation for our future." Initial plans for the campus include global offices and dedicated showrooms for each brand, an innovative design facility and first class amenities including a health club, bike spa, roof deck and communal working space. About KSGB (K-Swiss Global Brands) KSGB is a division of E.Land Group serving as E-Land's base of operations in the Americas and EMEA. KSGB owns a growing portfolio of leading, global lifestyle brands including K-Swiss, Palladium, PLDM, OTZ Shoes, SUPRA Footwear and the KR3W Denim Co. The company is globally headquartered in California with offices in Toronto, Haarlem, Lyon, Sydney, Dongguan, Hong Kong and Tapei. About E.Land Group Established in 1980 in Korea, E.Land has grown to become one of the largest South Korean conglomerates, primarily specializing in fashion and retail distribution. E.Land is Korea's first and largest integrated fashion and retail company, with operations spanning nine different countries across three continents. Comprised of over 60 affiliated entities, the Company offers close to 200 brands and operates more than 10,000 stores worldwide. In addition to KSGB, E.Land's newer businesses include restaurants, construction and leisure. The Company is actively involved in community service both locally and worldwide through its own E.Land Foundation, being one of the most civically active corporations in Korea, India, Vietnam and China. MEDIA CONTACT: TURNER | Huilian Ma Anderson 212-889-1700 | [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395287LOGO SOURCE K-Swiss Global Brands "Joe embodies the spirit of service that drives our company," said John Bordelon, Home Bank President and CEO. "His humble and passionate leadership is having a tremendous impact far beyond our markets. His drive to serve others is an inspiration for many young leaders that want to make a positive difference in the world." In the award announcement, the LCPA stated, "Zanco is leader, speaker, mentor, teacher and sponsor for encouraging a culture of personal responsibility and serving others in his community. From prison ministry to mentoring young leaders, to the many civic boards and committees he strengthens, Zanco's greatest contribution is the rippling effect of motivating and mentoring others to reach their full potential through serving others." Zanco's volunteer service includes board of director roles with One Acadiana and Lafayette General Health. In addition, he is actively involved with InnerFaith Prison Ministry, where he developed a financial literacy program to help inmates manage their finances upon release. In 2012, he founded Lead the Change Now, an organization focused on inspiring and investing in servant leadership. Over the past four years, through Lead the Change Now, he has delivered impactful messages encouraging Americans to take ownership for reaching their full potential. About Home Bank Home Bank, a national bank headquartered in Lafayette, La. was chartered in 1908 and serves as the oldest financial institution founded in Lafayette Parish. With 29 locations across South Louisiana and Western Mississippi, Home Bank is committed to serving the needs of its communities. Personal banking has always been Home Bank's trademark, and that tradition continues as we grow, invest and serve our clients and community. For more information about Home Bank, visit www.home24bank.com. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395452 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395453 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130429/MM04092LOGO SOURCE Home Bancorp, Inc. Related Links http://www.home24bank.com TORONTO, Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For their example of Christian service to the poor and the dying, and for their commitment to their Catholic beliefs even in the face of strong government pressure, the Knights of Columbus has awarded its highest honor to the Little Sisters of the Poor at the Knights' 134th annual international convention. The Gaudium et Spes Award was presented Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the Allsteam Centre in Toronto, the convention's host city. Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson presented the award at the Knights' gala "States Dinner" to Mother Loraine Marie Maguire, superior of the Sisters' Baltimore Province. Earlier on Tuesday, during his annual report to the 2,000-plus convention attendees, Anderson noted: "Today, the sisters are still helping the poor, the sick and the dying. They are still doing incredible work in their communities, and they are still doing all of this without violating their conscience." Founded in 1852 to serve the elderly poor, the Sisters are a "truly inspiring community of religious sisters for their wholehearted response to the Gospel, [and] for recognizing Jesus in the face of the poor," noted the award citation, read by Knights of Columbus Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore. The Little Sisters became a household name when they were ordered as part of Obamacare to sign a form that would have triggered contraception, sterilization and abortifacient coverage in their employee health plan. They stood firm in their refusal to do so, appealing all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the Knights filed a brief on their behalf and helped fund the attorneys from the Becket Fund who defended them. The decision was widely seen as favorable to the Little Sisters. Shortly before the decision was handed down, a Marist Poll conducted for the Knights of Columbus found that, by a wide margin, most Americans (53 to 32 percent) said the process demanded by the government's "accommodation" was "unfair" to the Little Sisters. While in Washington, D.C., last year, Pope Francis visited the Little Sisters to show his solidarity. He later wrote: "Precisely for the sake of this dignity of conscience, the Church strongly rejects the forced state intervention in favor of contraception, sterilization, and even abortion." Named for the landmark Second Vatican Council document, the Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope) Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic fraternal benefit organization, which has more than 1.9 million members. Awarded only in special circumstances to individuals of exceptional merit, the first recipient was Blessed Mother Teresa, in 1992, and the last recipient was the late Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, in 2015. SOURCE Knights of Columbus SAN DIEGO, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mast Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: MSTX), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, clinical-stage therapies for sickle cell disease and heart failure, today announced the issuance of United States Patent No. 9,403,941 for "Poloxamer Composition Free of Long Circulating Material and Methods for Production and Uses Thereof" (the "'941 patent") by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent includes claims covering composition of matter, methods of use, and methods of making certain purified forms of poloxamer 188, including vepoloxamer, and should provide key intellectual property protection in the U.S. for the Company's vepoloxamer programs. The '941 patent will expire no earlier than July 2035. The Company also has filed corresponding patent applications that will allow it to seek similar patent protection for vepoloxamer in key markets throughout the world, including Europe and Japan. The Company believes that the '941 patent will be eligible for listing in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book, should vepoloxamer receive FDA approval for the treatment of patients with sickle cell disease or heart failure. "The issuance of this patent is an important development relating to maintaining exclusivity for vepoloxamer," stated Brian M. Culley, Chief Executive Officer of Mast Therapeutics. "We believe this patent not only will provide protection for vepoloxamer in sickle cell disease beyond the seven-year orphan market exclusivity period anticipated in the U.S., but also strengthen the commercial opportunities for development of vepoloxamer in non-orphan indications such as heart failure and stroke." Martin Emanuele, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Development of Mast Therapeutics and primary inventor, commented, "The issuance of this patent by the USPTO is a key milestone for our vepoloxamer programs and is encouraging for the corresponding applications pending in other economically important territories around the world." About Mast Therapeutics Mast Therapeutics, Inc. is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California. The Company is developing two clinical-stage investigational new drugs for serious or life-threatening diseases and conditions. Vepoloxamer, the Company's lead product candidate, is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of vaso-occlusive crisis in patients with sickle cell disease and in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of patients with heart failure. Enrollment in the Company's 388-patient Phase 3 study of vepoloxamer in patients with sickle cell disease, known as the EPIC study, was completed earlier this year. Enrollment in the Company's Phase 2 study of vepoloxamer in patients with chronic heart failure is ongoing. AIR001, the Company's second product candidate, is in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Enrollment in Phase 2 studies of AIR001 in patients with HFpEF are ongoing, including a 100-patient, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 study in patients with HFpEF being conducted by the Heart Failure Clinical Research Network. More information can be found on the Company's web site at www.masttherapeutics.com. (Twitter: @MastThera) Mast Therapeutics and the corporate logo are trademarks of Mast Therapeutics, Inc. Forward Looking Statements Mast Therapeutics cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "intend," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," among others, and include, but are not limited to, statements relating to prospects for successful development and commercialization of vepoloxamer for the treatment of patients with sickle cell disease, heart failure and other serious or life-threatening diseases and market exclusivity for vepoloxamer in the U.S. and foreign territories. There are a number of factors that could cause or contribute to material differences between actual events or results and the expectations indicated by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that the validity and/or enforceability of the '941 patent may be challenged and that such a challenge may be successful, resulting in loss of the patent or loss or reduction in the scope of one or more of the claims of the patent; the potential for competitors to design around the '941 patent in which case a competitor's product may not infringe on the '941 patent, allowing the competitor to compete with the Company's products before the '941 patent expires; the potential that key claims in corresponding patent applications filed in other territories will not be allowed; the inherent uncertainty of outcomes in ongoing and future studies of vepoloxamer and the risk that vepoloxamer may not demonstrate adequate safety, efficacy or tolerability in one or more such studies, including in the EPIC study; the risk that, even if EPIC study results are positive, the FDA may require a second Phase 3 study or other clinical or nonclinical studies to demonstrate substantial evidence of vepoloxamer's effectiveness for sickle cell patients or to provide additional safety and tolerability data or that the FDA may require changes to manufacturing controls or processes that could delay filing of a new drug application; the potential that, even if clinical studies of a product candidate in one indication are successful, clinical studies in another indication may not be successful; risks associated with the Company's ability to manage operating expenses and obtain additional capital as needed; the Company's potential inability to continue as a going concern if it does not raise sufficient additional capital as needed; uncertainty related to the Company's ability to remain in compliance with the terms and restrictions under its debt facility and the potential that it may be required to repay its outstanding debt obligations on an accelerated basis and/or at a time that could be detrimental to the Company's financial condition, operations and/or business strategy, including the prepayment of $10 million of the principal balance if results from the EPIC study are not positive and/or not available on or before October 14, 2016; the potential for the Company to significantly delay, reduce or discontinue current and/or planned development and commercial-readiness activities or sell or license its assets at inopportune times if it is unable to raise sufficient additional capital as needed; the Company's dependence on third parties to assist with important aspects of development of its product candidates, including conduct of its clinical studies and supply and manufacture of clinical trial material, and, if approved, commercial product, and the risk that such third parties may fail to perform as expected, leading to delays in product candidate development or approval or inability to meet market demand for approved products, if any; the risk that, even if the Company successfully develops a product candidate in one or more indications, it may not realize commercial success and may never achieve profitability; the risk that the Company is not able to obtain and maintain effective patent coverage or other market exclusivity protections for its products, if approved, without infringing the proprietary rights of others; and other risks and uncertainties more fully described in the Company's press releases and periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available at www.sec.gov. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date when made. Mast Therapeutics does not intend to revise or update any forward-looking statement set forth in this press release to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120612/LA22456LOGO-a SOURCE Mast Therapeutics, Inc. PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The MetricStream GRC Summit 2016 in London, the industry's leading event for Governance, Risk, and Compliance leaders, will take place on November 7-8, 2016 at the Grand Connaught Rooms Hotel in London. This must-attend GRC event, designed on the theme "Leading with GRC," will feature speakers and sessions that address today's economic and geopolitical environment, spanning topics such as Brexit and political instability, increasingly sophisticated hacks and data breaches, evolving risks and compliance requirements, mounting terrorist threats, and economic turmoil. Leaders will meet at the GRC Summit to debate and discuss the strategies and solutions needed to thrive in today's world, as we seek to build stronger and more resilient organizations, societies, and economies. Distinguished speakers at this year's GRC Summit 2016 in London represent leading organizations from around the world, including: Aadila Hashim, Risk Management Operations, MMI holdings Andreadou Despina, Group Audit Director, Eurobank Gaurav Kapoor , Chief Operating Officer, MetricStream , Chief Operating Officer, MetricStream Gunjan Sinha , Executive Chairman, MetricStream , Executive Chairman, MetricStream Jacqueline Barrett , Group Risk & Compliance Director, Vodafone , Group Risk & Compliance Director, Vodafone Luke Beeson , VP, Security UK and Global Banking & Financial Markets, BT , VP, Security UK and Global Banking & Financial Markets, BT Marc Voirin , Risk Map Officer, EDF , Risk Map Officer, EDF Marisa Melliou, Group Internal Audit Head, OPAP S.A. Group of Companies Sean Miles , Head of Resilience and Operational Risk, Santander , Head of Resilience and Operational Risk, Santander Shellye Archambeau , Chief Executive Officer, MetricStream , Chief Executive Officer, MetricStream Terry Greer-King , Director of Security, Cisco On November 7, 2016 Gunjan Sinha, Executive Chairman of MetricStream, will present the vision behind MetricStream's latest ground-breaking innovation the MetricStream M7 platform, followed by a presentation from Vasant Balasubramanian, SVP of Product Management at MetricStream, who will demonstrate the core features and benefits of M7. In addition to illuminating keynotes, the event will also feature a dedicated technology track, as well as a range of analyst and executive presentations, industry panels, and customer case study presentations. On the evening of November 7, 2016, MetricStream will host its annual GRC Journey Awards ceremony, which will recognize individuals and organizations that have embarked on a GRC journey with the goal of achieving superior business performance. The awards will be presented by Gunjan Sinha, Executive Chairman at MetricStream, and Shellye Archambeau, Chief Executive Officer of MetricStream. "The MetricStream GRC Summit 2016 is the premier forum for the best minds in government and business to come together to discuss, debate, and define the future of GRC," said MetricStream Executive Chairman, Gunjan Sinha. He continued, "We are eager to extend a warm welcome to the GRC community around the world, including our customers, partners, analysts, and industry experts who will join us at the GRC Summit 2016 in London and contribute to our collective vision of Leading with GRC." Leading with GRC is MetricStream's vision for the future, enabling individuals, organizations, governments, and societies to preserve their corporate integrity by building world-class GRC programs; protect their reputations and brands; and perform exceptionally with the regulatory and risk intelligence needed to drive decision-making. Commenting on the event, MetricStream CEO Shellye Archambeau said, "We look forward to welcoming the world's foremost business and government leaders in a discussion on the most top of mind issues, challenges, and opportunities." She continued, "The MetricStream GRC Summit 2016 in London has been specifically designed to empower leaders from around the world to build world-class GRC programs that provide the regulatory and risk intelligence needed to drive decision-making and business performance." For more information about the MetricStream GRC Summit 2016 in London, including the latest agenda and list of speakers, or to register for the event, please click here. About MetricStream MetricStream is the market leader in enterprise-wide Governance, Risk, Compliance (GRC) and Quality Management Solutions. MetricStream solutions are used by leading global corporations in diverse industries such as Financial Services, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Energy and Utilities, Food, Retail, CPG, Government, Hi-Tech and Manufacturing to manage their risk management programs, quality management processes, regulatory and industry-mandated compliance and other corporate governance initiatives. MetricStream is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA (www.metricstream.com). Media Contact: Molly Palm US: +1 (925) 451-1468 Email SOURCE MetricStream Related Links http://www.metricstream.com SEATTLE, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Summertime in the Northwest offers many opportunities to relax on the water, and while the vast majority of Washington and Oregon residents rate themselves at least "fair" swimmers, drinking alcohol and other distractions can pose dangers to even the most skilled swimmers and boaters. According to the latest PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll, a majority of residents surveyed (79 percent) spend time on the water each year. And while nearly all (nine of out 10 residents) claim to be decent swimmers, more than half (54 percent) don't take basic safety precautions like wearing a personal flotation device or lifejacket when they're playing on the water. "Whether you're spending time on the water once a week or once a year, it's critical to be safe regardless of your age or swimming ability," said PEMCO spokesperson Derek Wing. "With Seafair just around the corner, PEMCO urges Northwest swimmers, boaters, and spectators to exercise good judgment and make smart choices when they're on the water." Whether floating on the Columbia River or heading to Lake Washington for hydroplane races and fun during Seafair, Seattle's signature summertime event, the majority of PEMCO poll respondents (58 percent) agree that that drinking alcohol and playing on the water don't mix. Dozens of boaters are arrested each year for boating under the influence during Seafair weekend alone. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, consuming alcohol on the water is even more hazardous than drinking on land. The heat from the sun, the motion of the water, and even the boat's engine vibrations can intensify the effects of alcohol, leading to quicker impairment for people consuming alcohol on the water. A lack of reaction time, and problems with balance and coordination, can have grave consequences on the water, too. The Coast Guard points out that exercising better judgment and simply wearing a life jacket could prevent many accidents. Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, and the Coast Guard reports that of the victims involved in fatal boating accidents who drowned, 85 percent were not wearing a life jacket. "In the Northwest, our poll found that a significant number 41 percent think that consuming alcohol on the water is okay at least sometimes. For those folks, PEMCO reminds boaters and swimmers to drink in moderation, wear a life jacket, and appoint a designated driver as captain of the vessel," Wing added. For swimmers, PEMCO recommends swimming in visible, designated swimming areas, using the buddy system, and knowing the signs of a swimmer in distress. Common signs can be struggling to keep their head above water, frantic movements, or calling for help. Other signs include a tired or weakened swimming style, little movement or submerging under water. For a complete summary of PEMCO's poll results, visit www.pemco.com/poll, where you'll find the responses collected by FBK Research of Seattle in May 2016. About the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll PEMCO Insurance commissioned this independent survey, conducted by FBK Research of Seattle, that asked Washington and Oregon residents questions about driving habits and attitudes toward current Northwest issues. The sample size, 600 respondents in Washington and 600 in Oregon, yields an accuracy of +/- 4.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. In other words, if this study were conducted 100 times, in 95 instances the data will not vary by more than the associated error range. About PEMCO Insurance PEMCO Insurance, established in 1949, is a Seattle-based provider of auto, home, boat, and umbrella insurance to Northwest residents. PEMCO Insurance is sold to consumers by the method they choose phone, local community agents, or online. For more information, visit pemco.com. CONTACTS: Derek Wing PEMCO Insurance 206.628.4622 [email protected] Kristi Herriott Firmani + Associates Inc. 206.443.9357 [email protected] SOURCE PEMCO Insurance Related Links http://www.pemco.com RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Myocardial Solutions, Inc. ("MSI") announced its first patient enrollment in a study comparing cardiac SENC stress testing to Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) CINE stress testing. This study is being performed in four sites, two in the United States and two in Europe on Philips MRI scanners. This multi-center study is confirming the results of a comparative single site study performed in Heidelberg, Germany on 320 patients. The goal of the study is to compare SENC results for consistency against MRI CINE results which to date has been the industry gold standard for stress testing performance. However, MRI CINE is time intensive and has a small market share. The corporate goal is to commercialize a competitive stress testing alternative to the market leader, cardiac nuclear stress testing, because of its well documented limitations. These limitations include long procedure times, patient radiation exposure, excessive false positives leading to unnecessary patient heart catheterizations, and high operating costs. MSI's SENC technology is fast (under 15 minutes), easy to perform, provides quantitative results, and may substantially reduce false positives associated with nuclear testing. "The study is underway. We have used SENC in the past and like the speed, ease and accuracy it lends to Cardiac Magnetic Resonance ("CMR"). We are very optimistic that the SENC outcome data will be comparative to MRI CINE obtained in the Heidelberg study," said Dr. Amit Patel, Principal Investigator and Cardiologist at the University of Chicago. Patel went on to say, "Our goal is to investigate a new, safe, fast and competitive CMR cardiac stress test that will better identify patients who will benefit from cardiac catheterization, improve operating productivity and reduce hospital costs." About Myocardial Solutions, Inc.: The Company was founded in January of 2016 to commercialize software applications for fast processing of CRM imaging with objective quantified results. The objective is to create wide adoption of CMR diagnostics for better informed clinical decisions. The Company's SENC technology is not presently FDA cleared, and has not been commercialized. Contact: Linda Horne 919-459-9102 http://myocardialsolutions.com/ SOURCE Myocardial Solutions, Inc. HOUSTON, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Manufacturing Day 2016, NCI Building Systems, Inc. (NYSE: NCS) ("NCI" or the "Company") will open three of its manufacturing facilities to the public on October 7, 2016 between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. As part of an ongoing effort to promote the strength of U.S. manufacturing and increase awareness of the outstanding career opportunities in the field, NCI will host a series of open house events at its manufacturing locations in Houston, TX (Metal Building Components); Middletown, OH (Metal Coil Coating) and North Las Vegas, NV (Insulated Metal Panels). Each event will include tours of the facilities, presentations from company leaders and question and answer sessions. NCI has thirty-eight manufacturing facilities located in the United States. National Manufacturing Day is an annual event that is supported at the local level by thousands of manufacturers across the country. These open houses, plant tours and presentations are designed to showcase modern manufacturing technology and careers opportunities available to students, teachers, parents, job seekers and other local community members. "There is an increasing demand for highly skilled professionals in the manufacturing sector who can design, program and operate technology," said Norman Chambers, Chairman and CEO of NCI Building Systems, Inc. "The average age of a manufacturing employee is 56 years old. Between today and 2020, there will become an unprecedented shortage of the skilled workers that will be needed to manufacture the products that our society relies upon. We are extremely pleased to participate with the National Association of Manufacturers and open our facilities to the public in support of this important effort to raise awareness about the strength of and opportunities in U.S. manufacturing." Manufacturing Day is co-produced by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA); the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM); the Manufacturing Institute (MI); Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), and guest producer Industrial Strength Marketing (ISM). Media partners include the Edge Factor and the Science Channel. To register for a NCI Manufacturing Day event or to get more information on Manufacturing Day, please go to www.mfgday.com. About NCI Building Systems NCI Building Systems, Inc. is one of North America's largest integrated manufacturers and marketers of metal products for the nonresidential construction industry. NCI is comprised of a family of companies operating manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Mexico, Canada and China, with additional sales and distribution offices throughout the United States and Canada. Contact: K. Darcey Matthews Vice President, Investor Relations 281-897-7785 SOURCE NCI Building Systems, Inc. Related Links http://www.mfgday.com PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Researchers today unveiled results from a new blood test to help identify which patients are at an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease. The findings, presented at the 68th AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo in Philadelphia, showed that the biochip test, which allows multiple tests to be run on one blood sample, was as accurate as existing molecular tests that analyze DNA. "This is the first time that we have used this biochip technology to test for an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease," said Emma C. Harte, PhD, a research scientist at Randox Laboratories. "This type of testing is important in our quest to understand and diagnose Alzheimer's and empower patients to understand risks, consider medication, and even make early lifestyle changes." This test detects the presence of a protein in the blood produced by a specific variation of the apolipoprotein gene (ApoE4), which is associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The apolipoprotein gene is inherited from each parent and when a patient inherits the ApoE4 variant from one parent they have a three times greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, whereas a patient who inherits ApoE4 from both parents is eight-to-12 times more likely to develop the disease. To verify the accuracy of the biochip test, 384 samples were analyzed and results compared to those from a standard molecular diagnostic test. Researchers from Randox Laboratories collaborated with research colleagues at the Medical University of Vienna and found that results from the two tests were in 100% agreement. As biochip tests allow clinicians and researchers to quickly run multiple tests on one sample of blood, this new test is also faster and more affordable than the standard DNA test, producing results in only three hours. This enables doctors to predict the risk of an individual developing Alzheimer's disease. "Pairing this test with medical and family history for risk of Alzheimer's disease has the real potential to advance personalized medicine," said Harte. "This fast, accurate testing will allow doctors and patients to make more informed choices earlier to potentially slow the possible progress of Alzheimer's." In addition to this study, researchers will present the latest in Alzheimer's disease at the AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, including: Session Information Registration for the AACC Annual Scientific Meeting is free for members of the media. Reporters can register online here: https://www.xpressreg.net/register/aacc0716/media/landing.asp Scientific Poster B-124: Development of a New Biochip Array for ApoE4 Classification from Plasma Samples Using Immunoassay Based Methods Wednesday, August 3 9:30 a.m. 5 p.m. (presenting author in attendance from 12:301:30 p.m.) Scientific Posters A-118, A-119, A-135, and A-180 Tuesday, August 2 9:30 a.m. 5 p.m. (presenting author in attendance from 12:301:30 p.m.) All scientific posters will be on display in the Terrace Ballroom at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. About the 68th AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo The AACC Annual Scientific Meeting offers 5 days packed with opportunities to learn about exciting science from July 31August 4. Plenary sessions feature the latest research on the use of and testing for cannabis, combating premature death due to preventable causes such as tobacco and alcohol, the development of an "intelligent" surgical knife, programmable bio-nano-chips, and the epigenetic causes of disease. At the AACC Clinical Lab Expo, more than 750 exhibitors will fill the show floor of Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Convention Center, with displays of the latest diagnostic technology, including but not limited to mobile health, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, point-of-care, and automation. About AACC Dedicated to achieving better health through laboratory medicine, AACC brings together more than 50,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of progressing laboratory science. Since 1948, AACC has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation. For more information, visit www.aacc.org. Christine DeLong AACC Manager, Communications & PR (p) 202.835.8722 [email protected] Molly Polen AACC Director of Communications & PR (p) 202.420.7612 (c) 703.598.0472 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130701/PH41045LOGO SOURCE AACC Related Links http://www.aacc.org COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Newly published study available online, ahead of print, in Cornea demonstrates oral consumption of re-esterified omega-3 fatty acids is an effective treatment of dry eye disease and results in a statistically significant improvement in its primary endpoint of tear osmolarity, as well as, its secondary endpoints after 12-weeks. The full study can be viewed on the Cornea website here: http://journals.lww.com/corneajrnl/Abstract/publishahead/Effect_of_Oral_Re_esterified_Omega_3_Nutritional.97529.aspx# One hundred and five subjects completed the study, "Effect of Oral Re-Esterified Omega-3 Nutritional Supplementation on Dry-Eyes", which assessed oral nutrition as the primary therapy for dry eye disease in patients with confirmed, Meibomian gland dysfunction and specifically focused on the effect of oral re-esterified omega-3 fatty acids on tear osmolarity, MMP-9, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer's score, corneal staining and Omega Index. This was a multicenter, prospective, interventional, placebo-controlled, double-masked study. The study subjects (54 in treatment group, 51 in control group) were randomized to receive 4 softgels (PRN Dry Eye Omega Benefits, Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, PA) containing a total of 1680 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/560 mg of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or a control of 3136 mg of safflower oil (linoleic acid (LA)), daily for 12 weeks. Study participants were measured at baseline, week 6, and week 12 for tear osmolarity, TBUT, OSDI, fluorescein corneal staining, and Schirmer test with anesthesia. MMP-9 testing and omega-3 index were done at baseline and at 12 weeks. Alice T. Epitropoulos, M.D., F.A.C.S. who served as lead investigator on the study stated, "The findings here are game changing. The research shows that omega-3s administered in the proper dose and in a cleaned triglyceride form can not only provide the necessary lipids for the tear film to impact tear osmolarity and tear break-up time, the data also demonstrates that re-esterified triglyceride omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is a vital option for patients with Meibomian Gland Disease and should be considered by all ophthalmologists treating dry eye patients. Dr. Epitropoulos also stated, "With PRN Dry Eye Omega Benefits, we have finally found another effective primary therapy for MGD. Omega-3s in this dose and form should be utilized to correct an unstable tear film and reduce inflammatory mediators that should have a significant impact on reducing patient discomfort. The findings of this study have the potential to impact many of the 25 million Americans suffering from dry eye symptoms." Dr. Epitropoulos acknowledges the 11 investigators that were integral in completing this study. The investigators include Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, Zubin A. Shah, MPH, Edward J. Holland, MD, Michael Gross, MD, William J. Faulkner, MD, Cynthia Matossian, MD, Stephen S. Lane, MD, Melissa Toyos, MD, Frank A. Bucci, MD, Henry D. Perry, MD. The full study can be viewed via open access on the Cornea website at the following URL: http://journals.lww.com/corneajrnl/Abstract/publishahead/Effect_of_Oral_Re_esterified_Omega_3_Nutritional.97529.aspx# About Alice T. Epitropoulos, M.D., F.A.C.S. Alice T. Epitropoulos is a board certified ophthalmologist who specializes in refractive and cataract surgery and has a Dry Eye Center of Excellence. She offers femtosecond laser cataract surgery with premium lens surgery for her cataract patients. Currently, Dr. Epitropoulos has a patent of a medical device known as the EpiGlare Tester to measure visual disability from oncoming headlights in cataract patients. There was a multicenter clinical trial to validate the device, and recently signed a license agreement to manufacture, market and distribute the device with Eye Care and Cure. She is a native of Columbus, Ohio. She is a founding member and proud to be a part of The Eye Center of Columbus, an innovative affiliation of more than 80 ophthalmologists located in Downtown Columbus. Dr. Epitropoulos also serves as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at The Ohio State University. Epitropoulos received her bachelor's degree in Nursing and her medical degree both from The Ohio State University. Several of her articles have been published in prominent ophthalmic journals, and she has presented numerous papers at respected national eye meetings. Dr. Epitropoulos also serves as one of the team physicians for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Cataract and Refractive Center of Ohio is a subsidiary of Ophthalmic Surgeons & Consultants of Ohio Inc. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395396LOGO SOURCE PRN Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals Related Links http://www.prnomegahealth.com JUNO BEACH, Fla., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) announced today that it has agreed to sell $1.50 billion of equity units to Goldman, Sachs & Co., Credit Suisse and Mizuho Securities. The transaction is expected to close on Aug. 8, 2016. Each equity unit will be issued in a stated amount of $50. Each equity unit will consist of a contract to purchase NextEra Energy common stock in the future and a 5 percent undivided beneficial ownership interest in a NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. debenture due Sept. 1, 2021, to be issued in the principal amount of $1,000. The debentures will be guaranteed by NextEra Energy Capital Holdings' parent company, NextEra Energy, Inc. Total annual distributions on the equity units will be at the rate of 6.123 percent, consisting of interest on the debentures and payments under the stock purchase contracts. Each stock purchase contract will require the holder to purchase NextEra Energy common stock for cash, based on a per-share price range of $127.63 to $159.54. The higher end of this price range reflects a premium of 25 percent over the New York Stock Exchange closing price of NextEra Energy common stock on Aug. 2, 2016, which was $127.63. The holders must complete the stock purchase by no later than Sept. 1, 2019, and their purchase obligations may be satisfied with proceeds raised from remarketing the debentures that comprise part of their equity units. The net proceeds from the sale of the equity units, which are expected to be $1.45 billion (after deducting the underwriting discount and other offering expenses), will be added to the general funds of NextEra Energy Capital Holdings. NextEra Energy Capital Holdings expects to use its general funds to finance the potential acquisition of Energy Future Holdings Corp., to fund investments in energy and power projects and for other general corporate purposes, including the repayment of a portion of NEE Capital's outstanding commercial paper obligations and other indebtedness. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of any such jurisdiction. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and the related prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained from Goldman, Sachs & Co., 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by calling 1-866-471-2526 or by emailing [email protected]. NextEra Energy, Inc. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company with consolidated revenues of approximately $17.5 billion and approximately 14,300 employees in 27 states and Canada as of year-end 2015, as well as approximately 45,000 megawatts of generating capacity, which includes megawatts associated with noncontrolling interests related to NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) as of April 2016. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Fla., NextEra Energy's principal subsidiaries are Florida Power & Light Company, which serves more than 4.8 million customer accounts in Florida and is one of the largest rate-regulated electric utilities in the United States, and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from eight commercial nuclear power units in Florida, New Hampshire, Iowa and Wisconsin. A Fortune 200 company and included in the S&P 100 index, NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune's 2016 list of "World's Most Admired Companies." For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com. Cautionary Statements And Risk Factors That May Affect Future Results This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but instead represent the current expectations of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NextEra Energy) and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) regarding future operating results and other future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of NextEra Energy's and FPL's control. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, among others, statements concerning adjusted earnings per share expectations and future operating performance, and statements concerning future dividends. In some cases, you can identify the forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "will," "may result," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "seek," "aim," "potential," "projection," "forecast," "predict," "goals," "target," "outlook," "should," "would" or similar words or expressions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. The future results of NextEra Energy and FPL and their business and financial condition are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause their actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, or may require them to limit or eliminate certain operations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: effects of extensive regulation of NextEra Energy's and FPL's business operations; inability of NextEra Energy and FPL to recover in a timely manner any significant amount of costs, a return on certain assets or a reasonable return on invested capital through base rates, cost recovery clauses, other regulatory mechanisms or otherwise; impact of political, regulatory and economic factors on regulatory decisions important to NextEra Energy and FPL; disallowance of cost recovery by FPL based on a finding of imprudent use of derivative instruments; effect of any reductions to, or elimination of, governmental incentives or policies that support utility scale renewable energy projects of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and its affiliated entities (NextEra Energy Resources) or the imposition of additional taxes or assessments on renewable energy; impact of new or revised laws, regulations, interpretations or other regulatory initiatives on NextEra Energy and FPL; effect on NextEra Energy and FPL of potential regulatory action to broaden the scope of regulation of over-the-counter (OTC) financial derivatives and to apply such regulation to NextEra Energy and FPL; capital expenditures, increased operating costs and various liabilities attributable to environmental laws, regulations and other standards applicable to NextEra Energy and FPL; effects on NextEra Energy and FPL of federal or state laws or regulations mandating new or additional limits on the production of greenhouse gas emissions; exposure of NextEra Energy and FPL to significant and increasing compliance costs and substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions as a result of extensive federal regulation of their operations; effect on NextEra Energy and FPL of changes in tax laws and in judgments and estimates used to determine tax-related asset and liability amounts; impact on NextEra Energy and FPL of adverse results of litigation; effect on NextEra Energy and FPL of failure to proceed with projects under development or inability to complete the construction of (or capital improvements to) electric generation, transmission and distribution facilities, gas infrastructure facilities or other facilities on schedule or within budget; impact on development and operating activities of NextEra Energy and FPL resulting from risks related to project siting, financing, construction, permitting, governmental approvals and the negotiation of project development agreements; risks involved in the operation and maintenance of electric generation, transmission and distribution facilities, gas infrastructure facilities and other facilities; effect on NextEra Energy and FPL of a lack of growth or slower growth in the number of customers or in customer usage; impact on NextEra Energy and FPL of severe weather and other weather conditions; threats of terrorism and catastrophic events that could result from terrorism, cyber attacks or other attempts to disrupt NextEra Energy's and FPL's business or the businesses of third parties; inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage for protection of NextEra Energy and FPL against significant losses and risk that insurance coverage does not provide protection against all significant losses; a prolonged period of low gas and oil prices could impact NextEra Energy Resources' gas infrastructure business and cause NextEra Energy Resources to delay or cancel certain gas infrastructure projects and for certain existing projects to be impaired; risk to NextEra Energy Resources of increased operating costs resulting from unfavorable supply costs necessary to provide NextEra Energy Resources' full energy and capacity requirement services; inability or failure by NextEra Energy Resources to manage properly or hedge effectively the commodity risk within its portfolio; potential volatility of NextEra Energy's results of operations caused by sales of power on the spot market or on a short-term contractual basis; effect of reductions in the liquidity of energy markets on NextEra Energy's ability to manage operational risks; effectiveness of NextEra Energy's and FPL's risk management tools associated with their hedging and trading procedures to protect against significant losses, including the effect of unforeseen price variances from historical behavior; impact of unavailability or disruption of power transmission or commodity transportation facilities on sale and delivery of power or natural gas by FPL and NextEra Energy Resources; exposure of NextEra Energy and FPL to credit and performance risk from customers, hedging counterparties and vendors; failure of NextEra Energy or FPL counterparties to perform under derivative contracts or of requirement for NextEra Energy or FPL to post margin cash collateral under derivative contracts; failure or breach of NextEra Energy's or FPL's information technology systems; risks to NextEra Energy and FPL's retail businesses from compromise of sensitive customer data; losses from volatility in the market values of derivative instruments and limited liquidity in OTC markets; impact of negative publicity; inability of NextEra Energy and FPL to maintain, negotiate or renegotiate acceptable franchise agreements with municipalities and counties in Florida; increasing costs of health care plans; lack of a qualified workforce or the loss or retirement of key employees; occurrence of work strikes or stoppages and increasing personnel costs; NextEra Energy's ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions, including the effect of increased competition for acquisitions; NextEra Energy Partners, LP's (NEP's) acquisitions may not be completed and, even if completed, NextEra Energy may not realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisitions; environmental, health and financial risks associated with NextEra Energy's and FPL's ownership and operation of nuclear generation facilities; liability of NextEra Energy and FPL for significant retrospective assessments and/or retrospective insurance premiums in the event of an incident at certain nuclear generation facilities; increased operating and capital expenditures at nuclear generation facilities of NextEra Energy or FPL resulting from orders or new regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; inability to operate any of NextEra Energy Resources' or FPL's owned nuclear generation units through the end of their respective operating licenses; liability of NextEra Energy and FPL for increased nuclear licensing or compliance costs resulting from hazards, and increased public attention to hazards, posed to their owned nuclear generation facilities; risks associated with outages of NextEra Energy's and FPL's owned nuclear units; effect of disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets on NextEra Energy's and FPL's ability to fund their liquidity and capital needs and meet their growth objectives; inability of NextEra Energy, FPL and NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. to maintain their current credit ratings; impairment of NextEra Energy's and FPL's liquidity from inability of credit providers to fund their credit commitments or to maintain their current credit ratings; poor market performance and other economic factors that could affect NextEra Energy's defined benefit pension plan's funded status; poor market performance and other risks to the asset values of NextEra Energy's and FPL's nuclear decommissioning funds; changes in market value and other risks to certain of NextEra Energy's investments; effect of inability of NextEra Energy subsidiaries to pay upstream dividends or repay funds to NextEra Energy or of NextEra Energy's performance under guarantees of subsidiary obligations on NextEra Energy's ability to meet its financial obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock; the fact that the amount and timing of dividends payable on NextEra Energy's common stock, as well as the dividend policy approved by NextEra Energy's board of directors from time to time, and changes to that policy, are within the sole discretion of NextEra Energy's board of directors and, if declared and paid, dividends may be in amounts that are less than might be expected by shareholders; NEP's inability to access sources of capital on commercially reasonable terms could have an effect on its ability to consummate future acquisitions and on the value of NextEra Energy's limited partner interest in NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP; and effects of disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets on the market price of NextEra Energy's common stock. NextEra Energy and FPL discuss these and other risks and uncertainties in their annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and other SEC filings, and this news release should be read in conjunction with such SEC filings made through the date of this news release. The forward-looking statements made in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release and NextEra Energy and FPL undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110124/FL34682LOGO SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc. Related Links http://www.nexteraenergy.com WASHINGTON, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- When Missouri Republican Anne Zerr cast the deciding vote to kill SJR 39, a proposed constitutional amendment to protect the rights of supporters of marriage from governmental persecution, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) vowed to end her political career. NOM delivered last night when Zerr was defeated in the GOP primary for state Senate. NOM mounted an independent expenditure campaign funding mailers and phone calls to oppose Zerr and endorse her opponent, Rep. Bill Eigel. With all precincts reporting, Eigel has defeated Zerr by 385 votes. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395325LOGO "Anne Zerr betrayed her constituents and the people of Missouri when she sided with LGBT extremists to defeat SJR 39, which would have given voters the right to protect supporters of marriage from discrimination by governmental entities," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "We did what we promised and went after her, and I couldn't be happier that she has been defeated. Zerr joins a long list of Republicans who have ended their political careers by voting against the interests of people who support marriage as the union of one man and one woman." Last April, Zerr joined with two other Republicans, Representatives Jim Hansen and Caleb Rowan, to defeat SJR 39, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have protected people of faith from being forced to participate in same-sex 'weddings' in Missouri. Because of her vote, Zerr subjected Missourians who support traditional marriage to an array of punitive actions by government, usually undertaken at the behest of LGBT extremists. People in numerous other states have been sued, fined, fired and punished, their reputations ruined and their livelihood destroyed. SJR 39 would have given Missouri voters an opportunity to prevent this type of discrimination against people of faith. "When four Republican Senators in New York voted for gay 'marriage,' we ended their careers," Brown said. "When Republican candidates for US Senate in New Hampshire, California and Oregon came out in favor of redefining marriage, we defeated them and ended their careers. When Supreme Court judges redefined marriage in Iowa, we removed them from office. When GOP candidates for Congress in California and Massachusetts endorsed gay 'marriage' we defeated them. And now we have defeated Anne Zerr over her vote to subject supporters of marriage to punitive governmental actions simply for not wanting to be involved in gay 'marriage.' We urge Republican officials in Missouri and elsewhere to pay attention to this pattern. If you vote with LGBT activists against those who support marriage, you do so at the risk of your political career." NOM said they are considering what actions to take against Representatives Hansen and Rowan during the general election. "Caleb Rowan has an opponent in his race for state Senate District 19 and we will consider opposing him even though his opponent does not support SJR 39. It would be better for Missouri to have a bad Democrat for one term than to have a bad Republican for a career. Hansen doesn't have an opponent, but that won't stop us from letting his constituents know about how bad he is on marriage, religious liberty and giving voters a chance to decide critical issues like this for themselves. Whether it takes a few months or several years, we will not rest until all three Missouri Republicans who betrayed supporters of marriage are out of office. Zerr was first, Hansen and Rowan are next." To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, please contact Joe Grabowski, [email protected], (202) 457-8060 x-110 Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE National Organization for Marriage Francis Perrin, North America's Marketing Director for Freudenberg Household Products the maker of O-Cedar products - says, "We were surprised to learn more parents were using the back to school season as a time to deep clean their homes versus spring time. That's why we wanted to launch a timely campaign to get parents talking about their favorite fall cleaning tips while also making readily available a practical cleaning tool our EasyWring Spin Mop & Bucket System. It's our latest cleaning innovation that addresses people's desire for a convenient, efficient cleaning option and it's perfect for parents looking to take on their post-summer floor messes." Now available nationwide, O-Cedar's EasyWring Spin Mop & Bucket System features an exclusive spin bucket design with hands-free wringer to control the moisture level of the reusable microfiber mop head. The system requires little effort and features a splash guard to keep water spray inside the bucket when wringing, resulting in a better deep cleaning experience for busy moms and dads. The spinning action and easy-to-use foot pedal will make cleaning more fun and feel less like a chore. O-Cedar is literally giving parents a new 'spin' on back to school cleaning. O-Cedar's back to school campaign runs through the month of August and parents can get involved by sharing a photo or video of their family's back to school cleaning routine or favorite tip using #OCedarB2S. For every use of the campaign hashtag, O-Cedar will donate $1 to Cleaning for a Reason, a non-profit providing free home cleaning services nationwide to women battling cancer. Lynn Frankenfield, Cleaning For A Reason's Executive Director, is excited about this new partnership. "We were honored when O-Cedar asked us to be part of their campaign. We believe everyone, regardless of the time of year, should have access to the resources necessary to maintain a clean home. Unfortunately, that's not always possible. Through O-Cedar's donation, we will be able to help ease the burden of cleaning for more cancer patients through our professional housecleaning services." To learn more the #OCedarB2S Campaign visit (https://www.facebook.com/OcedarClean/) and to find out more about the O-Cedar's EasyWring Spin Mop & Bucket System ($39.99 MSRP) visit (http://www.ocedar.com/). About O-Cedar O-Cedar, the category leader in traditional floor care, is part of Freudenberg Household Products, a division of the Freudenberg Group headquartered in Weinheim, Germany. For more information visit http://www.ocedar.com/. About Freudenberg Household Products FHP is a division of the Freudenberg Group headquartered in Weinheim, Germany. The company's Household Products Division is a leading international manufacturer of branded goods including household cloths, cleaning products and laundry care products, and is the leader in virtually all markets in which it competes. The Freudenberg Household Products division employs about 2,300 employees globally and is best known in America for its O-Cedar brand and signature tagline "O-Cedar Makes Your Life Easier!" About Cleaning for a Reason Fighting cancer is difficult enough, but living with it is even tougher and that's where Cleaning For A Reason steps in. Serving the entire United States and Canada, this nonprofit partners with professional cleaning companies to offer free house cleanings to women undergoing treatment for cancer. Since 2006, Cleaning For A Reason has helped more than 22,000 women with cancer, with a donated value of more than $5.9 million in free services. Based in Lewisville, Texas, Cleaning For A Reason works with more than 1,200 professional cleaning companies and continues to grow and gain support. For more information, please visit www.cleaningforareason.org. * In April 2016, O-Cedar partnered with Research Now to survey 2,000 parents across the US about their cleaning habits and back to school cleaning routines. The survey showed moms and dads are finding it easier to keep the house clean when their kids are in school but still in search of an easy to use cleaning tool. Press Contact: Rachel Johnson Phone: 312-257-3035 Email: [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395385 SOURCE O-Cedar Related Links http://www.ocedar.com CLEVELAND, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In keeping with its commitment to support Catholic education, Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union has awarded Catholic school grants in the amount of $10,000 to Lakewood Catholic Academy in Lakewood and St. Barnabas Catholic School in Northfield. Grant applications were available to all Catholic elementary and high schools throughout the State of Ohio. Lakewood Catholic Academy will utilize the grant money for resources relating to its adoption of an International Baccalaureate program for middle school students. The resources include funding for new textbooks for students, teaching materials for teachers, and professional development training for staff. Brian Sinchak, president of Lakewood Catholic Academy, noted that the grant money will be utilized to "completely redesign the middle school experience for students in grades 5-8." In the spring of 2017, Lakewood Catholic Academy will become the first Catholic middle school in the state of Ohio to offer the International Baccalaureate curriculum. St. Barnabas Catholic School will utilize the grant money to update computer hardware and software throughout the school and help provide 1:1 technological capabilities for students in the upper grades. Principal Tom McFadden stated that the goal of the technology plan is "to enrich the academic environment by preparing students, administrators, staff, and volunteers to utilize technology to meet the challenges of a changing global society." Todd Turner, CEO of Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union, commented: "We are very proud to support the mission of Catholic education and partner with schools to help build upon their outstanding faith-based academic programs." In addition to the $20,000 awarded in Catholic school grants, Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union will also provide $50,000 in tuition assistance for students enrolled in Catholic schools throughout Ohio. About Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union is the largest faith-based, full-service credit union in Ohio and the fourth largest in the nation. For over 60 years, we've helped members achieve their financial goals through innovative products and services, advanced technological capabilities, and strong member service. At Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union, your mission is our mission. As a non-profit organization, OCFCU is committed to serving the needs of the Catholic community the place where our members work, live and pray. For more information, visit www.ohiocatholicfcu.com. SOURCE Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union Related Links http://www.ohiocatholicfcu.com LOS ANGELES and DALLAS, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OriginClear, Inc. (OTC/QB: OCLN), a leading provider of water treatment solutions, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dallas-based Progressive Water Treatment Inc. (PWT), completed the installation and successful launch of a twin 300 gallon per minute ultra-filtration membrane system for Otter Tail Power at its Coyote Station in Beulah, North Dakota. This half-million dollar collaboration with Omaha-based Consolidated Water Solutions features an ultra-filtration membrane system that treats surface water before it enters the reverse osmosis membrane system which supplies clean water to the steam generators. "I want to personally congratulate Progressive Water Treatment for a well-executed project from design, fabrication, construction support to launch," said Maverick Thompson, Principal Engineer for Otter Tail Power. "The smooth launch and support since made PWT a top supplier to Otter Tail. We look forward to working with PWT in maintaining this relationship for many years to come." "We are very happy with our long-standing relationship with Consolidated Water Solutions," said Marc Stevens, President of PWT. "We are grateful to participate in this large-scale project." Stevens added, "Many water treatment systems, whether municipal or industrial process systems, were installed decades ago and have a limited life. We are finding more and more opportunities in replacing these systems with newer membrane technologies." For PWT, this is the third large project so far this year. In January, Minnesota-based public utility Xcel Energy, awarded PWT a $1.8 million contract for a boiler feedwater treatment system that is expected to be installed by the end of the third quarter, 2016. In February, a power plant in the Northeast awarded PWT a $700,000 contract to upgrade and expand a large boiler feedwater treatment system that increased the existing plant's capacity from 400 to 800 gallons per minute (GPM). Designed to process up to 860,000 gallons per day, the ultra-filtration membrane system replaces an existing cold lime softener, clear-well and multiple pressure filters. As a result, it reduces the overall system cost by saving money on chemicals and operating labor. Additionally, the ultra-filtration membrane system decreases sludge and wastewater and improves the quality of the water entering the reverse osmosis membrane system enabling better overall system performance. "The OriginClear Group is very excited to see the success of PWT," stated Bill Charneski, president of the OriginClear Group. "PWT is an excellent example of a water treatment company that solves problems for end-users. The company's high degree of customer service and entrepreneurial spirit makes it exactly the type of company we are seeking as we build the OriginClear Group." About Otter Tail Power Company Otter Tail Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility that provides electricity for residential, commercial and industrial customers in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Its parent company, Otter Tail Corporation, is a growing company with approximately $800 million in revenues and approximately 1,900 employees across several industries. The company's diversified operations include an electric utility and manufacturing businesses. About OriginClear, Inc. OriginClear is a leading provider of water treatment solutions and the developer of a breakthrough water cleanup technology serving the rapidly growing $500 billion world market. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, OriginClear provides systems and services to treat water in a wide range of industries, such as municipal, pharmaceutical, semiconductors, industrial, and oil & gas. To rapidly grow this segment of the business, we strategically acquire profitable and well-managed water treatment companies, which allow us to expand our global market presence and technical expertise. To enable a new era of clean and socially responsible water treatment solutions, we invented Electro Water Separation, a breakthrough high-speed water cleanup technology using multi-stage electrolysis, that we license worldwide to water treatment equipment manufacturers. Water is our most valuable resource, and the mission of the "Family of OriginClear Companies" is to improve the quality of water and help return it to its original and clear condition. To learn more about OriginClear, please visit our website at www.originclear.com. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Sign up for our Newsletter OriginClear Safe Harbor Statement: Matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein, and while expected, there is no guarantee that we will attain the aforementioned anticipated developmental milestones. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company. Press Contact: Antenna Group 415-977-1947 [email protected] Investor Relations OriginClear: Tom Becker Toll-free: 877-999-6645 Ext. 3 International: +1-323-939-6645 Ext. 3 Fax: 323-315-2301 [email protected] www.OriginClear.com SOURCE OriginClear, Inc. Related Links http://www.OriginClear.com SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Medical announced today that it has partnered with Jordan Health Products ("JHP"). Founded in 2005 by Andy Bonin, Pacific Medical repairs, services and sells new and refurbished medical equipment, specializing in patient monitoring devices and corresponding accessories. Since inception, Pacific Medical has expanded to cover many different facets of patient monitoring equipment by repairing devices and accessories, selling equipment/parts, and providing technical support. "We are really excited about the partnership with Jordan Health Products," says Bonin. "I anticipate JHP will help us expand into the rapidly growing, highly fragmented global equipment market." The partnership reflects JHP's optimistic outlook for Pacific Medical and the success of Pacific Medical's business. "JHP is the perfect partner to help us go after new customers in new markets, as well as introducing us to the untapped market segments that JHP has already penetrated," Bonin concluded. JHP's healthcare equipment and service business is focused on the complete lifecycle of medical, surgical, diagnostic imaging and oncology equipment, including sales, install, service, repair, sourcing and refurbishing. Pacific Medical will be part of the JHP group of healthcare companies, providing incremental resources, networking and cross-selling opportunities. JHP is focused on a strategic expansion into the rapidly growing, highly fragmented global equipment market. Pacific Medical joins the following companies as part of the JHP portfolio: JHP expects additional acquisitions to further augment service expansion and growth across these platforms. About Pacific Medical Pacific Medical is the leading source for reliable repair and recertified monitoring equipment. The dual ISO certified facilities house numerous industry certified engineers to ensure each piece of equipment is ready for patient use. The company carries a large inventory of patient monitors and OEM parts from all major brands of manufacturers. For more information, please visit: www.pacificmedicalsupply.com About Jordan Health Products Jordan Health Products ("JHP") is successfully deploying a strategy of acquiring, partnering and growing with medical, surgical, and diagnostic imaging equipment companies to become a major industry player in North America and internationally. JHP's healthcare equipment and service business is focused on the complete lifecycle of medical, surgical, diagnostic imaging, and oncology equipment, including sales, install, service, repair, sourcing and refurbishing. Through organic growth and targeted acquisitions, JHP will provide a breadth of service and product offerings to a variety of customers located throughout North America and the world. By working together, the JHP companies and their respective management teams can offer customers a broader range of products and services on a national basis while maintaining control at the local level. Contact: Eric Hatteberg, [email protected] , (800) 449-5328 SOURCE Pacific Medical Related Links http://www.pacificmedicalsupply.com AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Parsley Energy, Inc. (NYSE: PE) ("Parsley," "Parsley Energy," or the "Company") today announced financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2016. The Company has posted to its website a presentation that supplements the information in this release. Second Quarter 2016 Highlights Net production averaged 35.7 MBoe per day, up 23% versus 1Q16 and 60% year-over-year. Net oil production increased 25% versus 1Q16 and 82% year-over-year, with oil volumes representing 66% of total production in 2Q16. The Company is increasing full-year 2016 production guidance from 31.5-34.5 MBoe per day to 36.0-38.0 MBoe per day. Lease operating expense ("LOE") per Boe decreased for the fifth consecutive quarter, down 17% versus 1Q16 to $4.37 . . Parsley is lowering full-year 2016 LOE per Boe guidance from $5.50-$6.50 to $4.50-$5.25 . to . Cash general and administrative ("G&A") expense per Boe decreased 32% versus 1Q16 to $4.28 . . Parsley is lowering full-year 2016 cash G&A per Boe guidance from $4.75-$5.75 to $4.50-$5.00 . to . The Company expects to complete 80-90 gross horizontal wells in 2016, up from the previous expectation of 65-75 gross horizontal wells, benefiting from ongoing efficiency gains. To accommodate these additional wells, Parsley is increasing guidance for full-year 2016 capital expenditures from $410-$460 million to $460-$510 million . to . Parsley closed previously announced acquisitions of approximately 14,200 net acres in the Southern Delaware Basin and approximately 8,700 net acres in the Midland Basin. Subsequent to the end of 2Q16, the Company also closed the previously announced acquisition of mineral rights in approximately 30,000 acres in the Southern Delaware Basin. "The substantial production growth and cost compression Parsley generated during the second quarter are exactly what we envisioned earlier this year when we made a non-consensus decision to maintain operational momentum in the face of unsteady commodity prices," said Bryan Sheffield, Parsley's President and CEO. "We are also gratified to have closed on meaningful leasehold acquisitions in both the Midland Basin and Southern Delaware Basin at increasingly attractive prices, and to have boosted the economic potential of our promising Southern Delaware acreage by acquiring associated mineral rights. Taking a broader view, over Parsley's nine quarters as a public company, we have increased production at a 16% compound quarterly growth ratealmost entirely through the drill-bitand built an asset base and the organizational capacity to support top-tier growth for years to come." Operational Highlights During the second quarter, Parsley spud 21 and completed 25 gross operated horizontal wells with an average working interest of 93%. Second quarter completion activity includes four recently acquired wells that had been drilled but not completed by the previous operators. Parsley completed its first horizontal well on its recently acquired Reeves County acreage in the Southern Delaware Basin. The Ranger C4-7-4309H, completed in the upper Wolfcamp interval with a 5,078' stimulated lateral, registered a strong peak 30-day initial production ("IP") rate of 1,127 Boe per day or 222 Boe per day per thousand stimulated feet. Normalized to 7,000 lateral feet, the well is outperforming the Company's 1 million Boe EUR type curve for Midland Basin Wolfcamp A/B wells by 24% after 60 days of production and is also on pace with the strong results posted by the initial wells on Parsley's Trees Ranch prospect in the Southern Delaware Basin. The Midland Basin wells that achieved 30-day peak production periods since the Company's last quarterly update generated an average 30-day IP rate of 1,013 Boe per day, with an average stimulated lateral length of 6,238' and an average oil cut of 75%. Each of these wells was completed in the Wolfcamp A or Wolfcamp B target interval and among them, the Hirsch E 4201H, completed in the Wolfcamp A formation in Upton County, established a Company record 30-day IP rate of 284 Boe/d per thousand stimulated feet. Financial Highlights During the second quarter of 2016, the Company recorded a net loss attributable to its stockholders of $21.4 million, or $0.13 per weighted average share. Excluding, on a tax-adjusted basis, certain items that the Company does not view as indicative of its financial performance, and adding back the non-controlling interest allocated to Class B stockholders, adjusted net income for the second quarter of 2016 was $6.8 million, or $0.04 per diluted share. Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, and exploration expense ("Adjusted EBITDAX") for the second quarter of 2016 was $81.9 million, up 48% compared to the first quarter of 2016.1 Parsley generated significant reductions in unit costs during the second quarter of 2016. LOE per Boe decreased from $5.25 in 1Q16 to $4.37 in 2Q16. G&A per Boe decreased from $7.29 in 1Q16 to $5.33 in 2Q16, while cash G&A per Boe, which excludes stock-based compensation expense, decreased from $6.25 in 1Q16 to $4.28 in 2Q16. Depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense per Boe decreased from $18.66 in 1Q16 to $17.23 in the second quarter of 2016. Despite completing ten more horizontal wells in 2Q16 than in 1Q16, reported capital expenditures increased by just $26 million quarter-over-quarter to $136 million. Reported capital expenditures include costs associated with the horizontal drilling activity noted above, as well as one vertical well and one saltwater disposal well. Drilling and completion costs for a 7,000-stimulated-foot Wolfcamp well in the Midland Basin averaged less than $5 million for the first time, registering $4.8 million during the second quarter. Liquidity Update As of June 30, 2016, the Company had $966 million of liquidityconsisting of $441 million of cash on hand and an undrawn amount of $525 million on the Company's revolving credit facility. Pro forma for the closing of its Southern Delaware minerals acquisition on July 14, 2016, the Company had approximately $189 million of cash on hand, $714 million of liquidity, and a net debt to annualized adjusted EBITDAX ratio of 1.7. Hedging Update Parsley maintains an active hedging program to reduce the variability of its anticipated cash flows arising from fluctuations in commodity prices. The Company remains well-hedged, with a majority of anticipated oil volumes hedged this year and a significant hedge position in 2017. Parsley also recently entered into natural gas hedge positions with settlements starting in 2017. For details on Parsley's hedging position, please see the investor presentation on the Company's website and/or the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, upon availability, for the period ended June 30, 2016. Full-year 2016 Guidance Update 2016 2016 Previous Updated Production Production (Mboe/d) 31.5-34.5 36.0-38.0 % Oil 65%-70% 65%-70% Capital Program Drilling and completion ($MM) $355-$395 $395-$435 Infrastructure and other ($MM) $55-$65 $65-$75 Total development expenditures ($MM) $410-$460 $460-$510 Activity Gross horizontal completions 65-75 80-90 Midland Basin 60-68 75-83 Delaware Basin 5-7 5-7 Average lateral length ~7,000' ~7,000' Gross vertical completions 3-6 3-6 Average working interest 85%-95% 85%-95% Unit Costs Lease operating expenses ($/Boe) $5.50-$6.50 $4.50-$5.25 Cash general and administrative expenses ($/Boe) $4.75-$5.75 $4.50-$5.00 Production and ad valorem taxes (% of revenue) 6.5%-7.5% 6.5%-7.5% Conference Call Information Parsley Energy will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its results for the second quarter of 2016 on Thursday, August 4 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Central Time). Participants should call 877-407-0672 (United States/Canada) or 412-902-0003 (International) 10 minutes before the scheduled time and request the Parsley Energy conference call. A telephone replay will be available shortly after the call through August 11 by dialing 877-660-6853 (United States/Canada) or 201-612-7415 (International). Conference ID: 13641422. A live broadcast will also be available on the internet at www.parsleyenergy.com under the "Investor Relations" section of the website. The Company has also posted to its website a presentation that supplements the information in this release. About Parsley Energy, Inc. Parsley Energy, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.parsleyenergy.com. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent Parsley Energy's expectations or beliefs concerning future events, and it is possible that the results described in this news release will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Parsley Energy's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, Parsley Energy does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Parsley Energy to predict all such factors. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements found in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K. The risk factors and other factors noted in the Company's SEC filings could cause its actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. 1 "Adjusted EBITDAX" and "adjusted net income" are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). Please see the supplemental financial information at the end of this news release for a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDAX to GAAP financial measures. - Tables to Follow - Parsley Energy, Inc. Selected Operating Data (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, March 31, June 30, 2016 2016 2015 Net production volumes: Oil (MBbls) 2,157 1,731 1,183 Natural gas (MMcf) 3,154 2,944 2,698 NGLs (MBbls) 566 425 392 Total (MBoe)(1) 3,249 2,647 2,025 Average net daily production (Boe/d) 35,703 29,088 22,249 Average sales prices(2): Oil, without realized derivatives (per Bbl) $42.25 $30.06 $53.61 Oil, with realized derivatives (per Bbl) 47.49 46.73 60.78 Natural gas, without realized derivatives (per Mcf) 1.85 1.88 2.48 Natural gas, with realized derivatives (per Mcf) 1.85 1.88 2.65 NGLs (per Bbl) 16.51 11.04 19.76 Total, without realized derivatives (per Boe) $32.72 $23.52 $38.45 Total, with realized derivatives (per Boe) $36.20 $34.42 $42.86 Average costs (per Boe): Lease operating expenses $4.37 $5.25 $9.12 Production and ad valorem taxes $1.97 $1.58 $2.68 Depreciation, depletion and amortization $17.23 $18.66 $21.93 General and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation) $5.33 $7.29 $6.95 General and administrative expenses (cash based) $4.28 $6.25 $5.91 (1) One Boe is equal to six Mcf of natural gas or one Bbl of oil or NGLs based on an approximate energy equivalency. This is an energy content correlation and does not reflect a value or price relationship between the commodities. (2) Average prices shown in the table include transportation and gathering costs and reflect prices both before and after the effects of the Company's realized commodity hedging transactions. The Company's calculation of such effects includes both realized gains and losses on cash settlements for commodity derivative transactions and premiums paid or received on options that settled during the period. Parsley Energy, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Revenues Oil sales $ 91,129 $ 63,418 $ 143,160 $ 107,106 Natural gas sales 5,834 6,696 11,377 13,652 Natural gas liquids sales 9,347 7,746 14,041 12,313 Total revenues 106,310 77,860 168,578 133,071 Operating expenses Lease operating expenses 14,204 18,464 28,102 34,862 Production and ad valorem taxes 6,407 5,431 10,602 9,926 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 55,988 44,407 105,372 81,788 General and administrative expenses (including stock based compensation) 17,307 14,083 36,606 27,064 Exploration costs 8,978 1,515 9,666 4,734 Acquisition costs 486 486 Accretion of asset retirement obligations 215 221 385 470 Rig termination costs 3,870 8,970 Other operating expenses 1,651 23 2,547 23 Total operating expenses 105,236 88,014 193,766 167,837 Operating income (loss) 1,074 (10,154) (25,188) (34,766) Other income (expense) Interest expense, net (12,199) (11,099) (23,393) (22,940) (Loss) gain on sale of property (469) 1,031 (119) 1,031 Derivative loss (27,304) (17,733) (25,216) (10,591) Other income, net 492 1,559 251 1,838 Total other expense, net (39,480) (26,242) (48,477) (30,662) Loss before income taxes (38,406) (36,396) (73,665) (65,428) Income tax benefit 10,918 10,216 20,486 15,690 Net loss (27,488) (26,180) (53,179) (49,738) Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 6,111 7,051 12,448 13,585 Net loss attributable to Parsley Energy, Inc. stockholders $ (21,377) $ (19,129) $ (40,731) $ (36,153) Net loss per common share: Basic ($0.13) ($0.18) ($0.28) ($0.35) Diluted ($0.13) ($0.18) ($0.28) ($0.35) Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 158,662 108,058 147,313 104,684 Diluted 158,662 108,058 147,313 104,684 * Certain reclassifications and adjustments to prior period amounts have been made to conform with current presentation. Parsley Energy, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited, in thousands) June 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 Cash and cash equivalents $ 441,024 $ 343,084 Other current assets 149,775 145,242 Total current assets $ 590,799 $ 488,326 Total property, plant and equipment, net 2,675,114 1,985,753 Total noncurrent assets 24,281 31,021 Total Assets $ 3,290,194 $ 2,505,100 Total current liabilities $ 225,806 $ 228,497 Long-term debt 742,471 546,832 Other noncurrent liabilities 131,712 143,130 Total noncurrent liabilities $ 874,183 $ 689,962 Total liabilities 1,099,989 918,459 Total equity 2,190,205 1,586,641 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 3,290,194 $ 2,505,100 Parsley Energy, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited, in thousands) Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 Cash flows from operating activities Net loss $ (53,179) $ (49,738) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Non-cash and other items 176,373 123,530 Changes in operating assets and liabilities (71,389) 4,835 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 51,805 $ 78,627 Net cash used in investing activities (807,975) (255,938) Cash flows from financing activities: Net proceeds (repayments) from long-term debt 194,936 (76,072) Issuance of common stock 659,174 223,931 Net cash provided by financing activities $ 854,110 $ 147,859 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 97,940 (29,452) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 343,084 50,550 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 441,024 $ 21,098 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Adjusted EBITDAX Adjusted EBITDAX is not a measure of net income as determined by GAAP. Adjusted EBITDAX is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of the Company's consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDAX as net (loss) income before depreciation, depletion and amortization, exploration costs, acquisition costs, (gain) loss on sales of oil and natural gas properties, asset retirement obligation accretion expense, stock-based compensation, net interest expense, income tax (benefit) expense, rig termination costs, derivative (income) loss, net settlements on derivative instruments, and net premium realizations on options that settled during the period. Management believes Adjusted EBITDAX is useful because it allows the Company to more effectively evaluate its operating performance and compare the results of its operations from period to period without regard to its financing methods or capital structure. The Company excludes the items listed above from net income in arriving at Adjusted EBITDAX because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within its industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired. Adjusted EBITDAX should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income as determined in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of the Company's operating performance or liquidity. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDAX are significant components in understanding and assessing a company's financial performance, such as a company's cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of Adjusted EBITDAX. The Company's computations of Adjusted EBITDAX may not be comparable to other similarly titled measure of other companies. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDAX is a widely followed measure of operating performance. The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDAX to the GAAP financial measure of net income for each of the periods indicated. Parsley Energy, Inc. Adjusted EBITDAX (Unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Adjusted EBITDAX reconciliation to net loss: Net loss attributable to Parsley Energy, Inc. stockholders $ (21,377) $ (19,129) $ (40,731) $ (36,153) Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (6,111) (7,051) (12,448) (13,585) Depreciation, depletion and amortization 55,988 44,407 105,372 81,788 Exploration costs 8,978 1,515 9,666 4,734 Acquisition costs 486 486 Loss (gain) on sale of property 469 (1,031) 119 (1,031) Accretion of asset retirement obligations 215 221 385 470 Stock based compensation 3,391 2,112 6,150 3,753 Interest expense, net 12,199 11,099 23,393 22,940 Income tax benefit (10,918) (10,216) (20,486) (15,690) Rig termination costs 3,870 8,970 Derivative loss 27,304 17,733 25,216 10,591 Net settlements on derivative instruments 747 8,071 19,187 21,267 Net premium realization on options that settled during the period 10,551 2,181 20,965 2,045 Adjusted EBITDAX $ 81,922 $ 53,782 $ 137,274 $ 90,099 * Certain reclassifications to prior period amounts have been made to conform with current presentation. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Adjusted net income (loss) is a performance measure used by management to evaluate financial performance, prior to non-cash gains or losses on derivatives, net cash received for derivative settlements, net premiums received on options that settled during the period, (gain) loss on sale of property, exploration costs, acquisition costs, and rig termination costs while adjusting for noncontrolling interest and the associated changes in estimated income tax. Management believes adjusted net income (loss) is useful because it may enhance investors' ability to assess Parsley's historical and future financial performance. Adjusted net income (loss) should not be considered an alternative to consolidated net income, operating income, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. The following table presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted net income (loss) to the GAAP financial measure of net income (loss). Parsley Energy, Inc. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Net loss attributable to Parsley Energy, Inc. stockholders $ (21,377) $ (19,129) $ (40,731) $ (36,153) Derivative loss 27,304 17,733 25,216 10,591 Net settlements on derivative instruments 747 8,071 19,187 21,267 Net premium realization on options that settled during the period 10,551 2,181 20,965 2,045 Loss (gain) on sale of property 469 (1,031) 119 (1,031) Exploration costs 8,978 1,515 9,666 4,734 Acquisition costs 486 486 Rig termination costs 3,870 8,970 Noncontrolling interest (6,085) (7,051) (12,442) (13,585) Change in estimated income tax (14,224) (7,975) (21,077) (11,706) Adjusted net income (loss) $ 6,849 $ (1,816) $ 1,389 $ (14,868) Weighted average diluted shares outstanding 191,705 140,444 180,254 137,042 Adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share $ 0.04 $ (0.01) $ 0.01 $ (0.11) Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160504/363754LOGO SOURCE Parsley Energy, Inc. Related Links http://www.parsleyenergy.com HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The PA Department of Banking and Securities has issued guidance for businesses on equity crowdfunding, a new way for small businesses and start-ups to raise money from individual investors through the sale of ownership shares over the Internet. "Crowdfunding is an innovative approach designed to help start-ups get off the ground and smaller companies expand by tapping investors who are not always recognized by traditional capital markets," Secretary of Banking and Securities Wiessmann said. "Through new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the regulatory requirements for this type of investing transaction have been streamlined. However, businesses must still abide by legal disclosure requirements, including disclosure of material facts and risks to investors." The department's guidance discusses issues such as disclosure and liability, working with funding portals, the advisability of seeking legal counsel, and even "6 things to know about how to crowdfund," which include: Through crowdfunding, individuals will be able to invest in entrepreneurial start-ups or small businesses through a broker-dealer or a "funding portal," a type of website. Funding portals facilitate investments, including payments from investors to businesses. Some portals may list a variety of investment opportunities on one website, allowing investors to select one or more projects. Funding portals cannot provide investment advice and must be registered with the SEC. Companies using crowdfunding may not directly solicit individual investors. Information about funding portals at: www.finra.org/about/funding-portals-we-regulate. The department's guidance can be found online at: http://bit.ly/2ammj1r [PDF] The department's "Entrepreneur Education" website also contains information on how small businesses and start-ups can raise capital through more traditional methods: www.dobs.pa.gov/Businesses/entrepreneur%20Education/Pages/default.aspx Owners and legal representatives of small businesses and start-ups can contact the Department of Banking and Securities at 1-800-PA-BANKS or 1-800-600-0007 to get answers to their questions about securities offerings and crowdfunding. Members of the public are also invited to connect to the department through Facebook and Twitter, or subscribing to the department's newsletter. MEDIA CONTACT: Ed Novak, 717-783-4721 SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities Related Links http://www.dobs.pa.gov Three months ended June 30, 2015 2016 GAAP Revenues $ 48,569 $ 78,003 Non-GAAP Revenues $ 48,569 $ 75,649 GAAP Net Income $ 8,215 $ 585 Non-GAAP Net Income $ 10,173 $ 6,832 Adjusted EBITDA $ 13,755 $ 10,758 GAAP diluted Earnings Per Share from continuing operation $ 0.13 $ 0.02 Non-GAAP diluted Earnings Per Share $ 0.14 $ 0.08 * Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP measures follows. Josef Mandelbaum, Perion's CEO commented, "The second quarter further solidifies the successful transformation of Perion over the past two years. We now have two solid and complementary revenue streams that are driving strong EBITDA, which grew sequentially for the first time in six quarters. In addition, this past quarter we expanded our partnership with Facebook to include high-impact ads, signed a global deal with one of the six major agency holding companies to use our social platform and more than doubled our programmatic revenue. We expect these achievements to support the positive business trends in the second half of 2016 and beyond." "Additionally, since the end of the quarter we paid $22 million and eliminated $36 million of future acquisition obligations," concluded Mr. Mandelbaum. "Today, our business is more diversified, generates strong cash flow and has a differentiated offering based on high-impact advertising solutions for brands and publishers. While our stock price does not yet reflect this transformation, I am confident it will." Financial Comparison for the Second Quarter of 2016: Revenues: In accordance with recent regulatory requirements, Perion will highlight GAAP results over non-GAAP results. As such, and being that the difference between GAAP and Non-GAAP revenues is small and they trend in a similar fashion, we will only analyze GAAP revenues, from this quarter onward. The 61% year over year increase in revenues is primarily due to the addition of the Undertone business since Q4 2015. Search-generated revenues have been stable for six consecutive quarters. Customer Acquisition and Media Buy Costs ("CAC"): CAC in the second quarter of 2016 were $34.8 million, or 44% of revenues, as compared to $19.4 million, or 40% of revenues in the second quarter of 2015. The increase in these costs as a percentage of revenues was primarily due to the current search rev-share model, replacing the search revenues that were without expense in 2015 and have substantially churned out since then. The nominal increase was also due to the media costs associated with the Undertone revenues included this past quarter. Net Income: On a GAAP basis net Income in the second quarter of 2016, was $0.6 million, as compared to $8.2 million in the second quarter of 2015. This decrease, as well as the substantial difference between Adjusted EBITDA and Net Income, was primarily due to the $4.1 million increase in depreciation and amortization expenses, and a $2.0 million increase in finance expenses. Non-GAAP Net Income: In the second quarter of 2016, Non-GAAP net Income was $6.8 million, or 9% of revenues, compared to $10.2 million, or 21% of revenues, in the second quarter of 2015. Adjusted EBITDA: In the second quarter of 2016, adjusted EBITDA was $10.8 million, or 14% of revenues, compared to $13.8 million, or 28% of revenues, in the second quarter of 2015. Last year's EBITDA, and consequently Net Income benefitted from the high level of expense-free remnant search revenues. Cash and Cash Flow from Operations: As of June 30, 2016, cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits, were $44.0 million. Cash provided by continuing operations in the second quarter of 2016 was $5.8 million. Perion currently satisfies all of the financial covenants associated with its debt. Financial Outlook for the Third Quarter of 2016: Management today announced its financial outlook for the third quarter of 2016 as follows: GAAP Revenue is expected to be in the range of $78 - $81 million . . Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $12 - $13 million . . Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues for the year is now expected to be 14%. Conference Call: Perion will host a conference call to discuss the results today, August 3, 2016, at 10 a.m. ET. Details are as follows: Conference ID: 4675013 Dial-in number from within the United States : 1-888-572-7033 : 1-888-572-7033 Dial-in number from Israel : 1-809-245-906 : 1-809-245-906 Dial-in number (other international): 1-719-325-2215 Playback available until August 10, 2016 by calling 1-877-870-5176 ( United States ) or 1-858-384-5517 (international). Please use PIN code 4675013 for the replay. by calling 1-877-870-5176 ( ) or 1-858-384-5517 (international). Please use PIN code 4675013 for the replay. Link to the live webcast accessible at http://www.perion.com/ir-events About Perion Network Ltd. Perion is a global technology company that delivers high-quality advertising solutions to brands and publishers. Perion is committed to providing outstanding execution, from high-impact ad formats to branded search and a unified social and mobile programmatic platform. More information about Perion may be found at www.perion.com, and follow Perion on Twitter @perionnetwork. Non-GAAP measures Non-GAAP financial measures, consist of GAAP financial measures adjusted to exclude acquisition related expenses, share-based compensation expenses, restructuring costs, loss from discontinue operations, accretion of acquisition related contingent consideration, amortization of acquired intangible assets and the related taxes thereon, non-recurring tax expenses, as well as certain accounting entries under the business combination accounting rules that require us to recognize a legal performance obligation related to revenue arrangements of an acquired entity based on its fair value at the date of acquisition. Following the acquisition of Undertone, non-GAAP revenues were adjusted to reflect how management analyzes revenues from the sale of standard ad formats, net of associated media buy costs. Additionally, in September 2014, the Company issued convertible bonds denominated in New Israeli Shekels and at the same time entered into a derivative arrangement (SWAP) that economically exchanges the convertible bonds as if they were denominated in US dollars, when the bond was issued. The Company excludes from its GAAP financial measures the fair value revaluations of both, the convertible bonds and the related derivative instrument, and by doing so, the non-GAAP measures reflect the Company's results as if the convertible bonds were originally issued and denominated in US dollars, which is the Company's functional currency. Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") is defined as operating income excluding stock-based compensation expenses, depreciation, restructuring costs, acquisition-related items consisting of amortization of intangible assets and goodwill and intangible asset impairments, acquisition related expenses, gains and losses recognized on changes in the fair value of contingent consideration arrangements and certain accounting entries under the business combination accounting rules that require us to recognize a legal performance obligation related to revenue arrangements of an acquired entity based on its fair value at the date of acquisition. The purpose of such adjustments is to give an indication of our performance exclusive of non-cash charges and other items that are considered by management to be outside of our core operating results. These non-GAAP measures are among the primary factors management uses in planning for and forecasting future periods. Furthermore, the non-GAAP measures are regularly used internally to understand, manage and evaluate our business and make operating decisions, and we believe that they are useful to investors as a consistent and comparable measure of the ongoing performance of our business. However, our non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures, and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ materially from the non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A reconciliation between results on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis is provided in the last table of this press release. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains historical information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the business, financial condition and results of operations of Perion. The words "will", "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "should" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views, assumptions and expectations of Perion with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Perion to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, or financial information, including, among others, the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of companies and businesses we acquired and may acquire in the future, risks entailed in integrating the companies and businesses we acquire, including employee retention and customer acceptance; the risk that such transactions will divert management and other resources from the ongoing operations of the business or otherwise disrupt the conduct of those businesses, potential litigation associated with such transactions, and general risks associated with the business of Perion including intense and frequent changes in the markets in which the businesses operate and in general economic and business conditions, loss of key customers, unpredictable sales cycles, competitive pressures, market acceptance of new products, inability to meet efficiency and cost reduction objectives, changes in business strategy and various other factors, whether referenced or not referenced in this press release. Various other risks and uncertainties may affect Perion and its results of operations, as described in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on March 24, 2016. Perion does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Contact Information: Perion Network Ltd. Investor relations Neta Fishman +972 (73) 398-1000 [email protected] PERION NETWORK LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS: UNAUDITED In thousands (except share and per share data) Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2015 2016 2015 2016 Revenues: Search $ 40,803 $ 41,693 $ 83,712 $ 82,193 Advertising and other 7,766 36,310 16,994 71,599 Total Revenues 48,569 78,003 100,706 153,792 Costs and Expenses: Cost of revenues 1,404 4,141 2,921 8,191 Customer acquisition and media buy costs 19,422 34,784 35,091 69,075 Research and development 5,242 7,184 10,610 14,503 Selling and marketing 4,905 14,639 9,252 29,744 General and administrative 5,746 8,526 10,704 16,796 Depreciation and amortization 2,206 6,308 4,432 13,647 Impairment, net of change in fair value of contingent consideration (2,397) - (2,397) - Restructuring costs - - - 728 Total Costs and Expenses 36,528 75,582 70,613 152,684 Income from Operations 12,041 2,421 30,093 1,108 Financial expense, net 344 2,318 1,058 5,456 Income (Loss) before Taxes on Income 11,697 103 29,035 (4,348) Taxes on income 2,703 (1,565) 6,522 (3,993) Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations 8,994 1,668 22,513 (355) Net loss from discontinued operations (779) (1,083) (3,559) (4,668) Net Income (Loss) $ 8,215 $ 585 $ 18,954 $ (5,023) Net Earnings (Loss) per Share - Basic: Continuing operations $ 0.13 $ 0.02 $ 0.32 $ - Discontinued operations $ (0.01) $ (0.01) $ (0.05) $ (0.06) Net Earnings (Loss) per Share - Diluted: Continuing operations $ 0.13 $ 0.02 $ 0.32 $ - Discontinued operations $ (0.01) $ (0.01) $ (0.05) $ (0.06) Weighted average number of shares continuing and discontinued Basic 70,959,868 76,324,076 70,623,006 76,247,269 Diluted 71,119,694 80,605,055 70,764,019 76,271,789 PERION NETWORK LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS: UNAUDITED In thousands December 31, June 30, 2015 2016 ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 17,519 $ 31,665 Short-term bank deposit 42,442 12,375 Accounts receivable, net 66,662 54,868 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 17,396 28,556 Total Current Assets 144,019 127,464 Property and equipment, net 12,714 13,659 Goodwill and intangible assets, net 269,765 256,548 Deferred taxes 12,344 4,425 Other assets 3,456 2,041 Total Assets $ 442,298 $ 404,137 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 40,388 $ 39,492 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 22,857 18,462 Short-term loans and current maturities of long-term and convertible debt 23,756 20,740 Deferred revenues 7,731 6,146 Payment obligation related to acquisitions 11,893 20,170 Total Current Liabilities 106,625 105,010 Long-Term Liabilities: Long-term debt, net of current maturities 46,920 43,724 Convertible debt, net of current maturities 28,371 21,703 Payment obligation related to acquisition 37,231 22,365 Deferred taxes 19,456 6,591 Other long-term liabilities 3,858 4,652 Total Liabilities 242,461 204,045 Shareholders' equity: Ordinary shares 206 207 Additional paid-in capital 227,258 231,654 Treasury shares at cost (1,002) (1,002) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (794) 87 Accumulated deficit (25,831) (30,854) Total Shareholders' Equity 199,837 200,092 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 442,298 $ 404,137 PERION NETWORK LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS: UNAUDITED In thousands Six months ended June 30, 2015 2016 Operating activities: Net income (loss) $ 18,954 $ (5,023) Loss from discontinued operations, net (3,559) (4,668) Net income (loss) from continuing operations 22,513 (355) Adjustments required to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 8,599 13,647 Stock based compensation expense 3,033 3,528 Issuance of ordinary shares related to employees' retention 63 - Foreign currency translation - 926 Accrued interest, net (71) 137 Deferred taxes, net 941 (4,972) Change in payment obligation related to acquisition (5,577) 1,207 Fair value revaluation - convertible debt 1,780 1,120 Net changes in operating assets and liabilities (8,183) (3,149) Net cash provided by continuing operating activities 23,098 12,089 Net cash used in discontinued activities (3,134) (4,232) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 19,964 $ 7,857 Investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment $ (1,387) $ (904) Capitalization of development costs (1,228) (2,596) Change in restricted cash, net 50 - Investments in short-term deposits, net (40,656) 30,067 Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired (4,533) - Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities $ (47,754) $ 26,567 Financing activities: Exercise of stock options and restricted share units 14 1 Payment made in connection with acquisition - (6,125) Proceeds from short-term loans - 10,000 Repayment of convertible debt - (7,620) Repayment of short-term loans - (13,000) Repayment of long-term loans (1,150) (3,565) Net cash used in financing activities $ (1,136) $ (20,309) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (15) 31 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (25,807) 18,378 Net cash used in discontinued activities (3,134) (4,232) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 101,183 17,519 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 72,242 $ 31,665 PERION NETWORK LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS: UNAUDITED In thousands (except share and per share data) Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2015 2016 2015 2016 GAAP revenues $ 48,569 $ 78,003 $ 100,706 $ 153,792 Media buy costs offset from revenues - (2,713) - (5,430) Valuation adjustment on acquired deferred revenues - 359 - 359 Non-GAAP revenues $ 48,569 75,649 $ 100,706 $ 148,721 GAAP net income (loss) from continuing operations $ 8,994 $ 1,668 $ 22,513 $ (355) Acquisition related expenses 146 - 702 179 Valuation adjustment on acquired deferred revenues - 359 - 359 Share based compensation 1,759 1,670 3,033 3,528 Amortization of acquired intangible assets 1,577 5,178 3,126 11,623 Restructuring costs - - - 728 Impairment of acquired intangible assets 4,167 4,167 Change in fair value of contingent consideration related to acquisition (6,564) (6,564) Fair value revaluation of convertible debt and related derivative 214 (283) 108 556 Accretion of payment obligation related to acquisition - 640 357 1,207 Taxes related to amortization of acquired intangible assets (120) (2,400) (268) (4,320) Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations $ 10,173 $ 6,832 $ 27,174 $ 13,505 Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations $ 10,173 $ 6,832 $ 27,174 $ 13,505 Taxes on income 2,823 835 6,790 327 Financial expense, net 130 1,961 593 3,693 Depreciation 629 1,130 1,306 2,024 Adjusted EBITDA $ 13,755 $ 10,758 $ 35,863 $ 19,549 Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share $ 0.14 $ 0.08 $ 0.34 $ 0.17 Shares used in computing non-GAAP diluted earnings per share 71,119,694 80,605,055 70,764,019 80,541,571 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395262-INFO SOURCE Perion Network Ltd. Related Links http://www.perion.com SIENA, Italy, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Philogen S.p.A. (a privately owned company) today announced that they have entered into a collaboration, option and license agreement with Janssen Biotech Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, to discover and develop a new class of immunomodulatory therapeutics. The agreement was facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation. "We are extremely pleased to establish a new collaboration with Janssen, an innovative leader in antibody-based approaches for therapeutic intervention of disease processes," commented Dr. Duccio Neri, Philogen's CEO. No financial details of the agreement were released. About Philogen Philogen is a clinical-stage biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of novel biopharmaceutical products. Philogen's strategy is to deliver bioactive agents, for example cytokines or drugs to the site of disease using antibodies and ligands that specifically and efficiently target stromal antigens. This technology has generated a strong proprietary pipeline of clinical-stage products and also pre-clinical compounds in an array of disease indications. Philogen is headquartered in Siena, Italy, and has research activities at its subsidiary company Philochem in Zurich, Switzerland. Philogen is independently owned, and has signed agreements with several major pharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit http://www.philogen.com SOURCE Philogen S.p.A. SEATTLE, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Avvo, the leading legal marketplace connecting lawyers with consumers, has settled a putative class action suit with the plaintiff agreeing to dismiss the case with prejudice and pay Avvo's legal fees. In Darsky v. Avvo, plaintiff Aaron H. Darsky, a litigator with the Law Offices of Eric L. Lifschitz, claimed that by using attorneys' names and likenesses on its website, Avvo was in violation of California rights of publicity and unfair competition laws. Avvo brought a motion to strike the complaint under California's anti-SLAPP law, which provides for the mandatory payment of the defendant's attorney fees when frivolous lawsuits designed to suppress free speech rights are filed. The court's decision on that motion was still pending at the time of the settlement. "This is a vindication of the principle that companies like Avvo have the right to publish freely and without consent, which is an essential component of our freedom of press," said Avvo Chief Legal Officer Josh King. "We see this settlement as validation of the value of the Avvo directory for transparency and openness in the legal profession." The case is Aaron H. Darsky v. Avvo Inc., case number 3:15-cv-05495, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. For additional information about Avvo, visit www.avvo.com. About Avvo, Inc. Avvo helps people find and connect with the right lawyer through industry leading content, tools and services. Founded in 2006 in Seattle, Avvo provides transparent information about attorneys, with Avvo-rated profiles for 97% of practicing lawyers in the United States. A free Q&A forum with more than 8 million questions and answers and on-demand legal services that provide professional counsel for a fixed cost, make legal faster and easier. For more information on how Avvo helps people through legal issues from research to resolution, visit www.avvo.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130404/SF88839LOGO SOURCE Avvo, Inc. Related Links http://www.avvo.com "Pretzelmaker is inviting our customers to sip on some sunshine this National Lemonade Day with our all-natural lemonade," said Lisa Cheatham, Director of Marketing, Pretzelmaker. "Our lemonade is handcrafted and made with simple and pure ingredients. It's refreshing, delicious and pairs perfectly with our fresh baked pretzel products. Visit us on National Lemonade Day and enjoy a lemonade on us." Pretzelmaker is known for fresh delicious pretzels and product innovation. With stores across the U.S., the brand has thousands of loyal fans and is the original creator of the Pretzel Dog, Pretzel Bites and Mozzarella Stuffed Bites. The Pretzelmaker rewards app can be downloaded on Google Play and the AppStore it's the place to go to earn rewards, find stores and receive exclusive coupons and offers. For more information and store locations, visit our website www.pretzelmaker.com or join us on social media: follow @pretzelmaker on Twitter; add @pretzelmakerpics on Instagram; follow "Pretzelmaker" on Snapchat; or become a fan of the brand on Facebook www.facebook.com/pretzelmaker. *Limit one offer per guest during the day of the promotion. Valid only at participating U.S. stores. No purchase necessary. No cash value. About Pretzelmaker - www.pretzelmaker.com Since 1991, Pretzelmaker has specialized in serving fresh baked, hand-rolled soft pretzel products, dipping sauces and beverages. Long recognized as an innovator in their industry, the brand is credited with inventing the popular Pretzel Dog, Mini Pretzel Dogs, and the portable Pretzel Bites. Following integration in 2010, the Pretzelmaker brand now also includes Pretzel Time. Pretzelmaker is currently the second largest soft pretzel concept in the United States and is also rapidly expanding worldwide with locations in Canada, Guam, Saudia Arabia and Mexico. About Global Franchise Group, LLC - www.globalfranchise.com Global Franchise Group, LLC is a strategic brand management company with a mission of championing franchise brands and the people who build them. The company owns a portfolio of franchise brands that includes five primary quick service restaurant (QSR) franchise concepts: Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Marble Slab Creamery, MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery, and Pretzelmaker. The brands are managed by GFG Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Global Franchise Group, LLC. Global Franchise Group, LLC is a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, an independent investment firm, with approximately $7 billion of capital under management and substantial franchise management experience. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395036 SOURCE Pretzelmaker Related Links http://www.pretzelmaker.com NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform. EXPERT ALERTS The Role of First Ladies Human Rights and the Media Water Reuse Emerging as Megatrend MEDIA JOBS Associate City Editor Columbia Daily Tribune (MO) Seattle Tech Reporter Puget Sound Business Journal (WA) News Reporter WSNS-TV (IL) OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES Journalist Spotlight: Stacy Julien , CRUSH Fitness and AARP , CRUSH Fitness and AARP Podcasting for Beginners: A 101 Guide to Starting Your Own Digital Radio Show 11 Ways to Captivate Your News Audience With Snapchat Stories EXPERT ALERTS: The Role of First Ladies MaryAnne Borrelli Professor of Government Connecticut College "The primary function that these women perform is public outreach. Their job is to establish a connection with you, and to mediate the president's message to you and your views of that message back to the president, so the relationship that you have with them is a very important one to the presidency." Borrelli is an expert on first ladies and can document the importance of presidential spouses and the role they play in presidential politics, as well as explain the dynamics and roles these unelected actors play in U.S. democracy. She is the author of two books, "The Politics of the President's Wife" (2011) and "The President's Cabinet: Gender, Power and Representation" (2002). Contact: Kerry Meehan, [email protected] Human Rights and the Media Tristan Borer Professor of Government and International Relations Connecticut College "During the day-to-day practice of journalism, members of the media are affected by a variety of influences that determine not only what information they choose to report and how they report it, but also what information they choose to ignore." Borer is a professor of government and international relations, specializing in human rights. She studies the relationship between human rights and media, gender and international relations. Borer's current research focuses on issues surrounding Western media portrayals of distant human rights abuses. She is the author of "Challenging the State: Churches as Political Actors in South Africa 1980-1994" (University of Notre Dame Press, 1998) and has edited two books: "Media, Mobilization, and Human Rights: Mediating Suffering" (Zed Books, 2012), and "Telling the Truths: Truth-Telling and Peacebuilding in Post-Conflict Societies." Contact: Kerry Meehan, [email protected] Water Reuse Emerging as Megatrend Snehal Desai Global Business Director Dow Water & Process Solutions "Water reuse as it applies to a circular economy is emerging as a megatrend -- it will become the new normal. Companies and municipalities are driven by costs to think closed loops, and the more sophisticated of strategies are integrating sustainability and cost of nature into the bottom line. Solutions such as reusing wastewater, desalinating seawater and creating closed-loop water systems for everything from microelectronics to oil production enables more people overall to have access to safe and clean water -- while also improving business." Desai has been a trusted editorial resource for numerous print, online and broadcast consumer business, sustainability and trade media outlets, providing perspective on critical water-related topics for Bloomberg BusinessWeek (he was profiled in the 2015 "Good Business" issue), GreenBiz.com, Yahoo! Finance, Water Technology, Water Online, and more. He has also been a keynote speaker at innovation and water industry events including IBM Interconnect and the International Water Conference, and has been an active panel participant at VERGE SF, Levi's Symposium on Water and Long Term Value, One Water summit, etc. He also sits on the U.S. Water Alliance board of directors. In his role as global business director, Desai is responsible for developing and implementing the growth strategy for the business and leading the approximately 1,700 employees worldwide. He has more than 25 years of increasing leadership responsibility experience in the sales, marketing and business development of water, plastics, chemicals and renewable materials. Specific topics he can address include, but are not limited to: water scarcity trends and conservation solutions: from commercial and industrial to municipal to residential (including oil and gas, food and beverage, and power industries); cost-effective, sustainable ways for companies and individuals to improve their water footprint; the water future: advancing a circular economy through water reuse; advancing the water-energy nexus; toilet to tap: extreme choice vs. practical reality. Website: www.dowwaterandprocess.com Contact: Beth Crisafi, [email protected] MEDIA JOBS: Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/ Associate City Editor Columbia Daily Tribune (MO) Seattle Tech Reporter Puget Sound Business Journal (WA) News Reporter WSNS-TV (IL) OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES: Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line. JOURNALIST SPOTLIGHT: STACY JULIEN , CRUSH FITNESS AND AARP. Each month, we highlight a journalist who uses ProfNet to find sources. This month, we caught up with Stacy Julien , a journalist with nearly 20 years of experience working in newspapers, magazines and on the web. Julien is currently the executive online health editor for AARP, and recently launched CRUSH Fitness, a fitness and health destination for women of color ages 30+: http://prn.to/2axui8l , CRUSH FITNESS AND AARP. Each month, we highlight a journalist who uses ProfNet to find sources. This month, we caught up with , a journalist with nearly 20 years of experience working in newspapers, magazines and on the web. Julien is currently the executive online health editor for AARP, and recently launched CRUSH Fitness, a fitness and health destination for women of color ages 30+: http://prn.to/2axui8l PODCASTING FOR BEGINNERS: A 101 GUIDE TO STARTING YOUR OWN DIGITAL RADIO SHOW. In today's fast-paced environment, a well-written blog post or article can capture the attention of its reader for only a few minutes. A well-delivered podcast, however, can keep its audience steadily engaged for up to an hour -- perhaps even longer. Megan Calcote , podcast producer for @EducatingGeeks and @BizJournalism, recently held a beginner's tutorial, where she shared a high-level look at how to get started: http://bit.ly/2azSCbP , podcast producer for @EducatingGeeks and @BizJournalism, recently held a beginner's tutorial, where she shared a high-level look at how to get started: http://bit.ly/2azSCbP 11 WAYS TO CAPTIVATE YOUR NEWS AUDIENCE WITH SNAPCHAT STORIES. Snapchat is broadening its appeal beyond its fanatical teen base. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that 14 percent of U.S. smartphone users over age 35 are now on Snapchat. With critical mass achieved and a rapidly growing user base of older millennials and above, mainstream adoption now may be firmly cemented. This is good news for those in the media and blogging world who are looking for new ways to reach these previously untapped demographics in addition to younger generations. Here are some tips for growing your brand and audience through Snapchat stories: http://bit.ly/29XDfuL PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150416/199234LOGO SOURCE ProfNet Related Links http://www.profnet.com DULLES, Va., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Deep Red, a team of cyber experts from Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), will be one of seven teams competing in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Cyber Grand Challenge finals during the DEF CON conference, August 4 in Las Vegas. DARPA's Cyber Grand Challenge is the first competition to pit unmanned, fully automated systems against cyberattacks. "The Raytheon team is advancing technologies that will automatically diagnose and mitigate cyber vulnerabilities. That's critical in the Internet of Things age, when everything in our lives is connected," said Jack Harrington, vice president of Cybersecurity and Special Missions at Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. DARPA launched the Cyber Grand Challenge as a computer security tournament using automated, cyber reasoning systems in place of human experts. Cyber reasoning technology will improve efficiencies and shorten the timeline for dealing with vulnerabilities from days or weeks to seconds. Applying artificial intelligence, a cyber reasoning system can simulate the logic and thought process of a cybersecurity analyst. Raytheon's cyber reasoning system uses autonomous reverse engineering software, continuous machine learning and advanced analytics to ensure the code is 'smart' enough to keep up with evolving threats. "Raytheon has fielded the only team from the aerospace and defense industry to advance to the DARPA CGC finals, using the same emerging, self-healing technologies we offer to our customers," Harrington said. "With critical infrastructure companies facing the daunting combination of a cyber expert shortage and an increasing number of cyberattacks, we will continue to fund our research in this field." The DARPA CGC launched in 2014 with 105 academic and industry teams. Through preliminary competitions, the qualifiers were narrowed down to seven finalists. Most competitors, including Raytheon, have entered on the 'open track' available to self-funded teams. The final challenge competition will be held in conjunction with DEFCON, one of the world's largest computer security conferences. About Raytheon Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5ITM products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter @Raytheon. Media Contact Roela Santos 571.250.1106 [email protected] SOURCE Raytheon Company Related Links http://www.raytheon.com BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On August 3rd, 2016, a coalition of business and community leaders from across Colorado will come together to launch the Reason for Reform campaign. The event, hosted by the Partnership for a New American Economy (NAE) and BeVisible, will highlight the need for immigration reform and present new Colorado-specific data on the contributions of immigrants. The Reason for Reform campaign will kick off with the release of 51 new reports (one for every state + Washington DC) and more than 55 events in all 50 states urging Congress to take action on immigration reform. WHO: Andrea Guendelman, Co-founder, BeVisible Mandaline Godown, Founder, SHYFTco WHAT: Reason for Reform Colorado Day of Action Media Teleconference WHEN: August 3rd, 2016 at 1:00 PM Mountain Time WHERE: Participant Dial-In Number: 866-952-1907 Conference ID: COLORADO Program Title: Colorado Reason for Reform Call About the Partnership for a New American Economy The Partnership for a New American Economy brings together more than 500 Republican, Democratic and Independent mayors and business leaders who support immigration reforms that will help create jobs for Americans today. The Partnership's members include mayors of more than 35 million people nationwide and business leaders of companies that generate more than $1.5 trillion and employ more than 4 million people across all sectors of the economy, from Agriculture to Aerospace, Hospitality to High Tech and Media to Manufacturing. Partnership members understand that immigration is essential to maintaining the productive, diverse and flexible workforce that America needs to ensure prosperity over the coming generations. Learn more at www.RenewOurEconomy.org. SOURCE New American Economy Related Links http://www.RenewOurEconomy.org CHICAGO, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The metro Chicago luxury home market shook off a lackluster start to 2016 and enjoyed a substantial second-quarter rebound in terms of sales activity. According to the quarterly RE/MAX Luxury Report on Metro Chicago Real Estate, 832 properties sold for at least $1 million during the quarter, compared to 741 sales in the same quarter last year, a 12 percent increase. For the first half of 2016, luxury sales totaled 1,179 units, up from 1,122 sales during the first six months of last year. "The luxury market is still under pressure from a large inventory of available properties, especially in the suburbs, and that helps keep prices down," noted Jack Kreider, executive vice president and regional director of RE/MAX Northern Illinois. "There were 3,104 luxury homes on the market at the end of June, about a 15 month supply based on the pace of sales over the first half of this year." The RE/MAX report is a quarterly analysis of $1 million-plus home sales in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties from data compiled by Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED). Kreider also pointed out that while quarterly sales activity increased, the second quarter median sales price of luxury residences in the seven-county area fell from $1,350,000 last year to $1,309,000 this year, a 3 percent decline. Average market time for the second quarter increased to 164 days from 132 days a year earlier. City of Chicago Luxury Sales Luxury home sales activity in Chicago was up 18 percent to 398 units, accounting for 48 percent of all luxury sales in the metro area during the quarter. For the entire first half of 2016, city luxury sales totaled 580 units, 6 percent more than the same period last year. The Chicago total for the second quarter included 232 detached homes and 166 attached homes. The latter category includes condominium and cooperative apartments, as well as many townhouses. Sales of luxury detached homes rose 25 percent when compared to sales during the second quarter of 2015. Their median sales price was $1,381,250, 5 percent less than a year ago. Average market time for these homes was 150 days, up from 106 days last year. Sales activity for the quarter increased in all but one of the seven city communities where luxury detached homes tend to be concentrated, but Lincoln Park was clearly the leader. Sales there rose to 64 units from 43 a year earlier. Smaller gains were recorded in Lake View, Logan Square, Near North, North Center and West Town. The only decrease in sales occurred in Lincoln Square, and that amounted to just a single unit. Sales of attached luxury homes in the city also were up for the quarter, rising 8 percent compared to the same period in 2015. The median sales price dipped 6 percent to $1,325,000, while average market time fell to 92 days from 111 days. Attached luxury sales in Lincoln Park surged 56 percent to 28 units. Suburban Luxury Sales In the Chicago suburbs, luxury sales for the second quarter totaled 434 units, 7 percent more than the same period in 2015. However, the median sales price of a luxury suburban home dipped to $1,260,000, down 1.6 percent, and the average market time rose to 198 days from 152 days a year earlier. There were 599 luxury sales in the suburbs over the first half of 2016, 4 percent more than for the same six-month period last year. Glencoe, Highland Park, Northbrook and Wilmette were the suburbs with the largest percentage increase in luxury transactions during the second quarter. Sales in Glencoe totaled 31 units, representing a 107 percent increase over the same quarter in 2015. Highland Park had 20 sales, up 122 percent. Northbrook sales climbed 72 percent to 19 units, while in Wilmette, sales rose 47 percent to 50 units. Other suburbs where luxury activity was on the upswing included Naperville, the Barrington area and Evanston. Hinsdale, one of the largest luxury markets in the suburbs, had a one-unit increase in sales, while three of the major suburban luxury markets saw sales activity decline. Sales were down 10 percent in Winnetka, 29 percent in Lake Forest and 11 percent in Glenview. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of more than 2,300 sales associates and 106 independently owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX, a global real estate organization with 104,000+ sales associates in 90+ nations. Contact: Stephen Johnson RE/MAX Northern Illinois 847-428-4200 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160801/394613LOGO SOURCE RE/MAX Northern Illinois Related Links http://www.illinoisproperty.com AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketers will learn a proven strategy for demonstrating value and ROI to the C-suite in a live, one-hour webinar, 'Reporting For Success & Bigger Budget' on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016 at 12pm CT. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395130 Iterative Marketing - Removing marketing waste, improving ROI and providing structure to the practice of marketing. Brilliant Metrics is a consultancy helping entrepreneurs, agencies and marketing professionals achieve period-over-period improvement in their marketing results. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/395131 Demonstrating ROI is a challenge for marketers, as not all marketing activities are directly attributable to revenue. According to a survey by Fournaise Marketing Group, 69% of marketers feel their strategies and campaigns do make an impact on the company's business, but they don't know how to prove it. That same survey showed 73% of CEOs think marketers cannot prove they generate business growth. This webinar will help marketers connect the dots between their marketing and ROI. Attendees will leave with: Three key metrics to include in ROI reports How to separate short-term and long-term investment How to demonstrate momentum in marketing activities A free reporting template to use in their own organizations This is the second webinar in Brilliant Metrics' Marketing For Success Webinar Series. Visit this page to register, or visit brilliantmetrics.com/events. Steve Robinson, CEO/President of Brilliant Metrics, will host the live event. Robinson holds more than 15 years of traditional and digital marketing experience with expertise in eliminating marketing waste. Robinson is the also host of the Iterative Marketing Podcast and teaches digital marketing and media buying at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education. Brilliant Metrics is an Iterative Marketing consultancy specializing in media buying, marketing strategy, optimization and automation. Iterative Marketing is the method for systematically removing marketing waste, improving ROI, and providing structure to marketing activities. Brilliant Metrics is based in the Midwest, but serves a roster of B2B and B2C clients across the country. Contact: Elizabeth Earin Account Group Director Brilliant Metrics 509.469.1943 (direct) Email SOURCE Brilliant Metrics Related Links https://www.brilliantmetrics.com/ Nepal's newly-elected Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as Prachanda, (C), greets supporters as he leaves the parliament building in Kathmandu on August 3, 2016 (AFP Photo/Prakash Mathema) Nepal's new Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal pledged Wednesday to unite a country hit by deadly protests over constitutional changes after lawmakers elected the Maoist leader and former guerrilla to head a new government. Dahal, better known by his nom de guerre Prachanda or "the fierce one", led a decade-long Maoist insurgency before transforming the rebel movement into a political party after a 2006 peace deal. He is now tasked with rebuilding the country after a devastating earthquake and resolving simmering unrest over the new national charter adopted last September. "I pledge that I will unite everyone in the country," he said in an address to parliament before the vote. "I have a responsibility to solve this problem. I feel that I have been put forward as a candidate to work as a bridge between (communities)," he said. Dahal will also have to mend relations with powerful neighbour India, which made no secret of its disapproval of the constitution. Indians living near the Nepali border have close links with Nepal's Madhesi ethnic minority, which complains that the new charter leaves them marginalised. Kathmandu in turn accused New Delhi of supporting a months-long border blockade by Madhesi protesters that cut off vital supplies from India and prompted fuel-starved Nepal to turn to China for help. Following Wednesday's election, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that New Delhi would offer Dahal "our full support" and invited him to visit the country -- a traditional first stop for Nepali prime ministers heading overseas. Commentators cautioned that the brash leader, who has vowed to honour the previous government's economic agreements with China, will need to tread carefully to win New Delhi's confidence without losing Beijing's support. "He should balance relations with both neighbours," said Guna Raj Luitel, editor of Nepali daily Nagarik. Story continues "They are both economic powers and he should try to win benefits for Nepal from both," Luitel told AFP. Dahal, head of the Maoist party, ran unopposed and secured 363 out of 573 votes to become the Himalayan nation's premier for a second time. He has served as prime minister once before, after the Maoists won elections in 2008, but only lasted nine months in office before resigning. Dahal, whose Maoists are the third-largest force in parliament, pulled out of a coalition led by Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli -- the former prime minister -- three weeks ago and secured the support of the biggest party, the Nepali Congress. He also won the backing of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) -- an alliance of protesting parties - paving the way for warmer ties between the new government and Madhesi demonstrators. - 'Power games' - Oli, who heads the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), faced fierce criticism over his handling of the protests. More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters demanding revisions to federal state borders set out in the new charter. Dahal is expected to be more sympathetic to protesters' concerns following the Madhesi parties' decision to back his candidacy. But any changes to the constitution must be passed in parliament by a two-thirds majority, meaning he will likely need to reach out to Oli's UML, which holds 182 out of 595 seats, for support. The new charter, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to bolster Nepal's transformation from a Hindu monarchy to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. But continuing discussions between the government and protesters have failed to break the deadlock. Meanwhile, some four million Nepalis are still living in tents or huts after an earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people in 2015. Nepalis frustrated by the slow pace of reconstruction said they had few hopes for the new government. "So many who lost their homes in the earthquake are still in shelters. But (politicians) are always busy playing power games," said Nabin Shrestha, who drives a three-wheeler for a living. Prachanda will be the eighth prime minister to lead Nepal since 2008, when he became premier for the first time and overthrew a 240-year-old feudal monarchy. DUBLIN, August 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "US Market Report for Fluid Management Devices" report to their offering. Fluid management systems are computer-driven and safe. They keep uterine distention balanced, give clear vision and reduce the risk of bleeding entry into the blood vessels. They balance purity, pressure control and measurements of fluid deficit, providing all the information the physician needs to monitor the safety of the patient. Excessive fluid absorption or deficit can be extremely dangerous to the patient, so it is recommended that fluid management systems be used in more complex hysteroscopic procedures where that can occur. These devices assist doctors and nurses in determining uterine distention, fluid deficit and absorption. Key Topics Covered: 1. Full Suite Executive Summary 1.1 U.S. Gynecological Device Market 1.2 Trend Analysis 1.3 Procedure Numbers 1.4 Assisted Reproduction Technology Device Market 1.5 Global Endometrial Ablation Market 1.6 Resectoscopic Endometrial Ablation & Resection Device Market 1.7 Uterine Fibroid Embolization Device Market 1.8 Hysteroscope Market 1.9 Colposcope Market 1.10 Female Sterilization Device Market 1.11 Female Urinary Incontinence Sling Market 1.12 Pelvic Floor Electrical Stimulation Device Market 1.13 Fluid Management Device Market 1.14 Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair Device Market 1.15 Hysterosalpingography (Hsg) Catheter Market 1.16 Competitive Analysis 2. Research Methodology 2.1 Research Scope 2.2 9-Step Methodology 3. Fluid Management Device Market 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Market Overview 3.3 Market Analysis And Forecast 3.3.1 Fluid Management Equipment Market 3.3.2 Fluid Management Tubing Market 3.4 Drivers And Limiters 3.4.1 Market Drivers 3.4.2 Market Limiters 3.5 Competitive Analysis Companies Mentioned Olympus Karl Storz Richard Wolf Stryker Hologic For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/w9ldrj/us_market_report Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com DAYTON, Ohio, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Reynolds and Reynolds Company today announced the release of the Reynolds LAW Indiana F&I Library, a comprehensive catalog of standardized, legally reviewed finance and insurance (F&I) documents for new vehicle dealers throughout the state of Indiana. "We are pleased to announce this comprehensive suite of documents for Indiana automotive retailers," said Jerry Kirwan, senior vice president and general manager of Reynolds Document Services. "The documents in the LAW Indiana F&I Library are designed to help dealers minimize compliance risk and create a smoother car-buying experience for consumers." Kirwan noted that because regulation is a constant demand of dealers, the documents in the library are regularly reviewed for compliance with the latest automotive regulations by Reynolds' industry-leading forms specialists alongside Reynolds' outside legal partners. The library is a specific tool to help dealers meet compliance obligations and reduce risk. Kirwan also noted that because the documents in the library are written in consumer-friendly language, they can help to establish a clearer, more efficient F&I process at the dealership. By increasing the efficiency of the F&I process, the overall consumer experience with the dealership can be improved. The printed documents in the LAW Indiana F&I Library also are available in a digital format, which can help facilitate the conversion to laser-printed transactions and e-contracting. Reynolds Document Services maintains licensing agreements with all major providers of electronic F&I (e-F&I) solutions. About Reynolds LAW Brand Documents Reynolds' LAW brand is well established as one of the most trusted brands in the automotive industry. LAW documents are available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and have been endorsed by a number of state automobile dealers associations and leading automotive finance institutions. The flagship product of the LAW brand is the Reynolds LAW 553 Universal Retail Installment Sale Contract, the most widely accepted document in auto finance. The Reynolds LAW 553 is available in a variety of languages and is regularly reviewed by industry experts to help keep pace with new legislative and regulatory developments. Reynolds and Reynolds was founded in 1866 as a business forms printer. Since the 1920s, Reynolds has been known as the leader in serving automobile dealerships nationwide with standard and custom business and vehicle sales and service documents to help dealers manage their operations more efficiently and serve their customers more effectively. About Reynolds Reynolds and Reynolds is a leading provider of automobile dealership software, services, and forms to help dealerships deliver better business results and transform the customer experience. The company is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with major operations in Houston and College Station, Texas, and Celina, Ohio. (www.reyrey.com) SOURCE The Reynolds and Reynolds Company Related Links http://www.reyrey.com Roselyn was born in Steubenville, Ohio on August 29 th , 1910. Her family moved to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, where Roselyn grew up. At the age of 19, Roselyn and a female friend left Pittsburgh and moved to Brooklyn, New York. And, despite being the height of the Depression, Roselyn was always able to find work there as a legal secretary. Moving from the Hotel St. George in Brooklyn, Roselyn settled on the upper West Side where she met her future husband, Harold Siegfried, known to one and all as "Artie." After Roselyn and Artie were married in 1938, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter Renee. In 1940, they moved to Utopia Parkway in Fresh Meadows, and lived there until Artie retired in 1980. Then it was off to Florida and Sunrise Lakes, where the couple spent days canoeing in the Everglades and socializing with friends. They remained in Florida until Artie showed symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, so they decided to relocate back to New York, where they moved to Flushing House on June 6, 1991 and lived there for several months, before her beloved Artie passed away. Having made many new friends at Flushing House, Roselyn decided to stay. She has enjoyed her many years at Flushing House, participating in its many activities. During a few recent visits to nearby Flushing Hospital, the nurses and doctors made special trips to her room to find out her secrets, to both her long life and her good looks! She was quick to tell them she has "20/20 vision, perfect hearing, and all her own teeth." She attributes this to daily exercise and vitamins. At Flushing House, Roselyn enjoys spending quality time with her daughter Renee and her two grandchildren, Suzanne and David, and especially her two great-grandchildren, Noah (13) and Eve (10). Built in 1974, Flushing House is the largest nonprofit retirement community in New York State, one of the first to offer older adults "Independent Living" along with supportive services on premises. The address is: 38-20 Bowne Street, Flushing, New York 11354. Go to www.flushinghouse.com for more information. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395363 SOURCE Flushing House Related Links http://www.flushinghouse.com The ASBL is asking the court to stop two specific policies the SBA has created that are a direct violation of the Small Business Act. The ASBL believes the illegal SBA policies cheat small businesses out of billions of dollars in federal contracts every year. Federal law mandates that small businesses receive a minimum of 23% of all prime contracts. The SBA created an "exclusionary rule" that excludes the vast majority of the total federal acquisition budget from their calculations. This policy has dramatically reduced the volume of federal contracts that are actually awarded to small businesses. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the total acquisition budget for fiscal year 2015 was $1.2 trillion. For 2015, the SBA used a number of just $391 billion. The ASBL believes in 2015 small businesses lost over $186 billion in contracts as a result of the SBA's "exclusionary rule." In an interview with Mother Jones, nationally recognized expert on federal contracting law, Professor Charles Tiefer, estimated in 2011 the SBA had excluded $677 billion in federal contracts. Based on Professor Tiefer's calculations, the SBA "exclusionary rule" cost American small businesses $155.7 billion in federal contracts in 2011. The ASBL is also asking the court to halt the SBA policy of diverting billions of dollars a year in federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms. SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet admitted the SBA created a "grandfathering rule" that allows them to divert federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms such as Northrop-Grumman, Chevron and Raytheon. The SBA's Inspector General stated, "One of the most important challenges facing the on Small Business Administration (SBA) and the entire federal government today is that large businesses are receiving small business procurement awards and agencies are receiving credit for these awards." President Obama acknowledged the magnitude of the abuse at the SBA when he released the statement, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." In attempting to justify the SBA "exclusionary rule," SBA Associate Administrator John Shoraka stated, "When we came in as an administration in 2009, we wanted to be able to continue to measure apples to apples to apples, to see if we're actually progressing We kept those exclusions as they stood when we arrived, to make sure we weren't accused of sort of fiddling with the numbers and making it look like we were having success." The first court date for the case it set for September 29, 2016. Contact: Jeanne Spatola [email protected] 925-255-3658 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140811/135286 SOURCE American Small Business League NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SheKnows Media, a leading women's media company with 79 million unique visitors per month* and a total reach of nearly 292 million social media fans, and the Ad Council, the largest producer of national public service communications programs in the U.S., today announced that they will partner to launch #SheDoesGood, a program where social influencers and bloggers belonging to the 21,000-member SheKnows Media community will become ambassadors for the Ad Council's social causes and pro-social campaigns. #SheDoesGood will be officially introduced at the SheKnows Media-produced #BlogHer16: Experts Among Us conference community in Los Angeles on August 6. #SheDoesGood ambassadors will select from the following Ad Council campaigns and contribute and amplify content for the upcoming year: Love Has No Labels, Learning and Attention Issues, Save the Food, The Shelter Pet Project, Adoption from Foster Care and Caregiving. Content creators who attend #BlogHer16: Experts Among Us will self-select from the above-mentioned six campaigns based on the issues that they are most passionate about, can speak to on a personal level, and resonate most with their audiences. As part of #SheDoesGood, each content creator will activate at least once per quarter through blog posts, social media amplification, and in other ways around relevant times of the year. "Female bloggers and social influencers have a personal and candid relationship with their audiences and are able to communicate with them in ways that truly resonate. It's like getting advice from your best girlfriend," said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. "#SheDoesGoodwill is an incredible opportunity for these women to promote causes that they are passionate about and communicate critically important messages. I can't wait to see the impact of this partnership." SheKnows Media operates a portfolio of leading women's sites, including SheKnows.com, BlogHer.com, STYLECASTER.com and HelloFlo.com. The annual #BlogHer conference series brings together 3,000-plus social media influencers, content creators, brand executives and industry luminaries. This year, the conference will take place Aug. 4-6 at the JW Marriott L.A. LIVE, and includes an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, including Kim Kardashian West, Aisha Tyler, Sheryl Crow, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Mayim Bialik. To view the full conference schedule or to register for #BlogHer16: Experts Among Us, click here. "We are driven by causes that empower and are important to all women, which is reflected in the award-winning content featured on our sites, as well as tentpoles like Hatch, a mission-driven digital storytelling and media literacy program for kids; The Pitch, a platform and video series that elevates, connects and celebrates female entrepreneurs; and finally, the #Femvertising Awards, which honor brands that are challenging gender norms by building stereotype-busting, pro-female messages and images into ads that target women," said Samantha Skey, President and Chief Revenue Officer, SheKnows Media. Skey continued, "Our commitment to bringing awareness to issues that our community is passionate about aligns perfectly with that of the Ad Council's, and we could not be more thrilled to partner with them and introduce an amazing program like #SheDoesGood to our vast community." Content creators who join #SheDoesGood at #BlogHer16: Experts Among Us will have the opportunity to receive exclusive content and play a critical role in furthering a national PSA campaign, along with recognition on Ad Council, SheKnows.com, and supporting campaign partner platforms. Additional campaigns will be integrated into the #SheDoesGood program in upcoming years. Learn more here. #SheDoesGood Campaign Information: Love Has No Labels: While the vast majority of Americans consider themselves unprejudiced, many of us unintentionally make snap judgments about people based on what we seewhether it's race, age, gender, religion, sexuality, or disability. This implicit bias has profound implications for how we view and interact with others who are different from us. The award-winning viral Love Has No Labels campaignrecognized as the dancing skeletons behind the x-ray screenencourages everyone to celebrate diversity and re-think their bias. Learn more here. While the vast majority of Americans consider themselves unprejudiced, many of us unintentionally make snap judgments about people based on what we seewhether it's race, age, gender, religion, sexuality, or disability. This implicit bias has profound implications for how we view and interact with others who are different from us. The award-winning viral Love Has No Labels campaignrecognized as the dancing skeletons behind the x-ray screenencourages everyone to celebrate diversity and re-think their bias. Learn more here. Learning and Attention Issues: 1 in 5 children struggle with a learning and/or attention issue. That's 15 million kids ages three to 20, and many of their issues go undiagnosed. The campaign aims to increase the number of parents who are actively helping and seeking help for their kids by directing them to Understood.org, a free online resource that empowers parents through personalized support, daily access to experts and other tools. Learn more here. 1 in 5 children struggle with a learning and/or attention issue. That's 15 million kids ages three to 20, and many of their issues go undiagnosed. The campaign aims to increase the number of parents who are actively helping and seeking help for their kids by directing them to Understood.org, a free online resource that empowers parents through personalized support, daily access to experts and other tools. Learn more here. Save the Food: Food production eats up 10% of the total U.S. energy budget, uses 50% of U.S. land, and swallows 80% of freshwater consumed in the U.S. Yet 40% of the food produced never gets eaten. Consumers collectively waste more food than grocery stores, restaurants or farms. This campaign gives home cooks tips on how to better shop for food, store food and serve food to save the food and save the earth. Learn more here. Food production eats up 10% of the total U.S. energy budget, uses 50% of U.S. land, and swallows 80% of freshwater consumed in the U.S. Yet 40% of the food produced never gets eaten. Consumers collectively waste more food than grocery stores, restaurants or farms. This campaign gives home cooks tips on how to better shop for food, store food and serve food to save the food and save the earth. Learn more here. The Shelter Pet Project: The Shelter Pet Project is the first national campaign to bring together the nation's leading animal welfare organizations, Maddie's Fund and the Humane Society of the United States , and shelters and rescue groups across the country with one unified goal to increase pet adoption. While 6-8 million dogs and cats will enter shelters and rescue groups each year, only about half will be adopted. This means there are still millions of pets who need our help to find a home each year. There is a common misconception that pets did something wrong to wind up in shelters and rescue groups; however, the reality is that the vast majority of these pets end up in shelters and rescue groups through no fault of their own. Learn more here. The Shelter Pet Project is the first national campaign to bring together the nation's leading animal welfare organizations, Maddie's Fund and the Humane Society of , and shelters and rescue groups across the country with one unified goal to increase pet adoption. While 6-8 million dogs and cats will enter shelters and rescue groups each year, only about half will be adopted. This means there are still millions of pets who need our help to find a home each year. There is a common misconception that pets did something wrong to wind up in shelters and rescue groups; however, the reality is that the vast majority of these pets end up in shelters and rescue groups through no fault of their own. Learn more here. Adoption From Foster Care : There are 415,000 children in the U.S. foster care system. 108,000 are awaiting adoption. This campaign delivers the message that "You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent" by using a humorous angle to communicate the seemingly challenging task of adopting a child from foster care. More than 25,000 children have been adopted as a result of the campaign. Learn more here. There are 415,000 children in the U.S. foster care system. 108,000 are awaiting adoption. This campaign delivers the message that "You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent" by using a humorous angle to communicate the seemingly challenging task of adopting a child from foster care. More than 25,000 children have been adopted as a result of the campaign. Learn more here. Caregiving: 40 million caregivers in the U.S. provide unpaid care to older relatives and friends. Almost 3 in 10 people who are caring for someone say their life has changed, often negatively. More than 1 in 5 says her weight, exercise habits, and/or social life have suffered. The campaign encourages caregivers to care not only for their loved ones, but also for themselves directing them to AARP's Caregiving Resource Center where caregivers can find thousands of helpful articles, tips, and tools from experts and fellow caregivers who have been in their place. Learn more here. * comScore, Media Metrix, Multiplatform Key Measures Report, May 2016, U.S. About SheKnows Media SheKnows Media is the number-one women's lifestyle digital media company with 79 million unique visitors per month (comScore, Media Metrix, Multiplatform Key Measures Report, May 2016, U.S.) and 292 million social media fans and followers. The company operates a family of leading media properties that include SheKnows.com, BlogHer.com, STYLECASTER.com and HelloFlo.com. SheKnows Media also organizes the conference #BlogHer16: Experts Among Us, the largest annual celebration of women online content creators, social media influencers and brand executives, taking place in Los Angeles, August 4-6, 2016. With a mission of women inspiring women, SheKnows Media is revolutionizing the publishing industry by forging a new kind of model that seamlessly integrates users, editors and content creators onto a single platform designed to empower all women to discover, share and create. Whether it's parenting or pop culture, fashion or food, DIY or decor, our award-winning editorial team, Experts, bloggers and social media influencers produce authentic and on-trend content every day. We dig deep to learn what makes our audience tick, revealing unexpected insights on women and digital media. Our robust, end-to-end suite of premium branded content and influencer marketing solutions generate more than 2 billion ad impressions per month (sources: DFP), allowing brands to distribute authentic content and integrated advertising at scale. SheKnows Media is based in New York and Scottsdale, Ariz., with offices in Los Angeles and Chicago. We also operate internationally in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Ad Council The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshaling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit Adcouncil.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or view our PSAs on YouTube. SOURCE The Ad Council Related Links http://www.adcouncil.org MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), the global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions, yesterday announced the 2016 List of Fastest-Growing US Staffing Firms. This year 112 companies qualified for inclusion on the annual list, making the 2016 list the largest since its inception in 2005. The list ranks firms by compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2011 through 2015, excluding acquisitions. Loyal Source, who led last year's lineup, topped the list again this year with a CAGR of 126.6%. The 2016 List of Fastest-Growing US Staffing Firms is sponsored by Bullhorn. To qualify for the list companies needed to have had at least $1 million in revenue in 2011 and at least 15% CAGR between 2011 and 2015. The median CAGR for the top ten companies this year was 72.6%. For the full list it was 30.3%, up 22.2% from last year. "To show this level of growth, not just in a single year but consistently over a five year period is impressive," said Barry Asin, SIA President. "We look forward to seeing how these fast growing firms shape the future of staffing in the years ahead." The ten fastest-growing US staffing firms are: Company 2015 US Staffing Revenue ($millions) CAGR 2011-2015 Loyal Source 147.0 126.6% Dedicated Nursing Associates Inc. 20.0 111.5% Healthcare IT Leaders LLC 33.2 105.0% Phaidon International 15.0 76.6% Health Carousel 56.9 76.0% OnestaffMedical LLC 21.2 69.3% Source4Teachers 150.0 67.6% Specialist Staffing Group (US division of SThree plc) 243.0 66.3% SearchPros Staffing 31.9 65.0% HealthCare Scouts Inc. 19.0 63.3% The large companies in excess of $300 million revenue making it on to the 2016 list include On Assignment, Insight Global, CHG Healthcare Services Inc., Integrity Staffing Solutions Inc., Nesco Resource and affiliates, Beacon Hill Staffing Group LLC, The Peoplelink Group, C&A Industries, Inc. (Aureus Medical) and Acro Service Corporation. The state with the most companies on the list of fastest-growing staffing firms was Georgia with 12; it was followed by California and Illinois at 10 each. Some 30% of firms on the list cited IT as their main staffing segment; 29% cited healthcare as their main staffing segment served. "Congratulations to the incredible companies named to SIA's Fastest-Growing U.S. Staffing Firms," said Gordon Burnes, Chief Marketing Officer at Bullhorn. "Through innovation and competitive differentiation these staffing firms have not only grown way faster than the economy as a whole, but have also highlighted the continued need for the very best in human capital. These firms are leading the next wave of growth in expanding sectors such as IT and healthcare, and we're thrilled to support the industry and these outstanding visionaries." The September 2016 issue of Staffing Industry Review magazine will feature SIA's interviews with executives and business leaders from the 10 fastest-growing staffing firms on what drives their growth. These stories, along with the full list of the 112 fastest-growing companies for 2016, will also appear on http://fastestgrowing.staffingindustry.com/ this fall. The full 2016 List of Fastest-Growing Staffing Firms US report is available for SIA's Corporate and CWS Council Members. About Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) Founded in 1989, SIA is the global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions. Our proprietary research covers all categories of employed and non-employed work including temporary staffing, independent contracting and other types of contingent labor. As a division of the international business media company, Crain Communications Inc., SIA is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in London, England. Read more about SIA here. Media Contact Jennifer Arcuni, Communications Director, Staffing Industry Analysts [email protected] | +1 650-390-6171 | www.staffingindustry.com SOURCE Staffing Industry Analysts Related Links http://www.staffingindustry.com WASHINGTON, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Six former Sri Lankan army corporals accused of murder and rape in the massacre of 24 Tamils including 13 children in 1996 in the town of Kumarapuram near Trincomalee were all acquitted on every charge on July 27 at a court in Anuradhapura. The ethnic Tamils were targeted for murder and mayhem by the all Sinhalese military, allegedly following orders by a divisional commander, according to Peace Brigades International. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395293 Following the acquittal US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) President Dr. Karunyan Arulanantham noted, "This trial not only took an unconscionable 20 years, but also demonstrates the lack of will by the judicial system to treat mass atrocity crimes against Tamils particularly those by the security forces in a fair manner, entrenching impunity." So few cases of violations against Tamils reach trial and of those only a few has resulted in convictions in the decades since the first anti-Tamil pogrom in 1956. In that period tens of thousands of Tamils have been killed, disappeared, tortured, sexually abused and displaced with no recourse. "This acquittal revalidates Tamils' loss of faith in the Sri Lankan judicial system to deliver justice." "Because of an almost total lack of justice from Sri Lankan state institutions, Tamils firmly believe that for justice for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during and after the recent war to be at all credible, Sri Lanka must fulfill commitments made by the current government to the UN Human Rights Council in Oct. 2015 through Resolution 30/1," said Dr. Arulanantham. In that Resolution Sri Lanka pledged to ensure that 'Commonwealth and other foreign judges, defense lawyers, and authorized prosecutors and investigators' would be involved in the judicial process it is setting up to bring about justice for the serious crimes committed. USTPAC is appalled by the repudiation of this commitment by Sri Lanka's President and Prime Minister, and subsequent endorsement by the Foreign Minister in numerous public statements recently. USTPAC urges the Sri Lankan government to live up to its international commitments and use international expertise and resources sufficiently to assure a speedy and ethnically neutral judicial process to adjudicate the serious violations of international humanitarian law, since impunity for these crimes is a complete impediment to reconciliation. Any judicial process must be credible to the victims, and must be set up with their involvement and consultation. USTPAC also urges the current Sri Lankan government to facilitate reconciliation through educating the Sinhalese population about the need for transitional justice, supporting robust consultations with victims, enacting laws to criminalize war crimes and mass atrocities, and setting aside funds for reparations. USTPAC appeals to the United States Government, the UN Human Rights Council and the rest of the international community to work with Sri Lanka to assure that robust, credible and timely transitional justice mechanisms are put in place to allow people of all ethnicities to move forward together. "The credibility of all states that cosponsored Resolution 30/1 and that of the UN Human Rights Council is at stake, and international efforts should continue in earnest to effect a successful transitional justice process in Sri Lanka leading to a peaceful, just and ethnically diverse state," stated Dr. Arulanantham. Since the passage of UNHRC Resolution 30/1, USTPAC has repeatedly stated in every available forum that the first step for a strong transitional justice process is confidence-building among abused populations. USTPAC, along with other Tamil organizations inside and outside Sri Lanka, has emphasized that these confidence-building measures include: Immediate repeal of the PTA laws and release of all prisoners held indefinitely under its provisions. Security sector reform, especially return of all Tamil property occupied by the armed forces, end to intrusion in civilian activities in the NorthEast by the armed forces, and rapid demilitarization. USTPAC reiterates the necessity of institutional change to prevent recurrence of conflict, one of the pillars of transitional justice. In the re-writing of the constitution now underway in Sri Lanka, USTPAC has urged for change in the nature of the state from unitary to federal re-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces Contact: Dr. K Arulanantham Website: www.ustpac.org Email Twitter: @UstpacAdvocacy Phone: 1-571-317-0998 SOURCE USTPAC Related Links http://www.ustpac.org PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With increasing public attention to overdose deaths and misuse of prescription medications in the United States, researchers today presented the results of a new study looking at abuse and misuse of gabapentin, a medication used to treat seizures and relieve nerve pain often associated with shingles. The research, presented at the 68th AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo in Philadelphia, found about one in five patients who are using powerful opioid pain medications and being monitored for compliance or illicit drug use tested positive for gabapentin even though they did not have a prescription for the drug. "The high rate of misuse of this medication is surprising and it is also a wakeup call for prescribers," said Poluru L. Reddy, PhD, DABCC, the medical director of ARIA Diagnostics and ARCTIC Medical Labs. "Doctors don't usually screen for gabapentin abuse when making sure patients are taking medications, such as opioids, as prescribed. These findings reveal that there is a growing risk of abuse and a need for more robust testing." Between 2008 and 2011 the number of emergency room visits in metropolitan areas for misuse or abuse of gabapentin (also known by the brand name Neurontin) increased by nearly five times, according to the Drug Abuse Warning Network. Gabapentin is not scheduled as a controlled substance, because when taken alone there is little potential for abuse and addiction. When taken with other medications, however, such as opioids, muscle relaxants, and anxiety medications like Valium and Xanax, gabapentin can be abused to increase a patient's "high." Researchers at ARIA Diagnostics found that of those patients taking gabapentin illicitly, over half (56%) were taking it with an opioid, about a quarter (27%) with an opioid and muscle relaxant or anxiety medication, and the rest with other substances. The 323 samples tested came from pain clinics (about 90%) and rehabilitation clinics (about 10%) primarily in Indiana, Arizona, and Massachusetts. "This research tells doctors and prescribers that they need to be cautious in prescribing gabapentin and closely monitor patients with a history of drug abuse," said Reddy. "And patients need to know that medications that are safe alone can be dangerous when mixed without talking with a doctor." In addition to this study, researchers will present the latest in drug abuse testing at the AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, including: Session Information Registration for the AACC Annual Scientific Meeting is free for members of the media. Reporters can register online here: https://www.xpressreg.net/register/aacc0716/media/landing.asp Abstract B-324: Prevalence of Gabapentin abuse among clinical patients will be presented during Session 34101: What's New in Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Wednesday, August 3 10:30 a.m. Noon 114 Lecture Hall Scientific Posters A-351 and A-371 Tuesday, August 2 9:30 a.m. 5 p.m. (presenting authors in attendance from 12:301:30 p.m.) Terrace Ballroom Scientific Posters B-313 and B-320 Wednesday, August 3 9:30 a.m. 5 p.m. (presenting authors in attendance from 12:301:30 p.m.) Terrace Ballroom All sessions and scientific posters will be presented at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. About the 68th AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo The AACC Annual Scientific Meeting offers 5 days packed with opportunities to learn about exciting science from July 31August 4. Plenary sessions feature the latest research on the use of and testing for cannabis, combating premature death due to preventable causes such as tobacco and alcohol, the development of an "intelligent" surgical knife, programmable bio-nano-chips, and the epigenetic causes of disease. At the AACC Clinical Lab Expo, more than 750 exhibitors will fill the show floor of Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Convention Center, with displays of the latest diagnostic technology, including but not limited to mobile health, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, point-of-care, and automation. About AACC Dedicated to achieving better health through laboratory medicine, AACC brings together more than 50,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of progressing laboratory science. Since 1948, AACC has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation. For more information, visit www.aacc.org. Christine DeLong AACC Manager, Communications & PR (p) 202.835.8722 [email protected] Molly Polen AACC Director of Communications & PR (p) 202.420.7612 (c) 703.598.0472 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130701/PH41045LOGO SOURCE AACC Related Links http://www.aacc.org Will strengthen Sun Life Financials' position in the Hong Kong pension market TORONTO, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) announced today that Sun Life Hong Kong Limited ("Sun Life HK") will acquire the pension business of FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited ("FWD"), consisting of Mandatory Provident Fund ("MPF") and Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance ("ORSO") businesses. Sun Life HK and FWD will also enter into an exclusive 15-year distribution agreement that will allow Sun Life HK to distribute its pension products through FWD's agency force in Hong Kong. (Collectively the "transactions".) "Expanding our pension business is a key priority for our Asia operations and deepens our wealth business in the region," said Dean Connor, President and CEO, Sun Life Financial. "With the growth expected in the MPF market to meet the needs of Hong Kong's ageing population, this is an attractive opportunity that fits with our global expertise in the pension market." The transactions announced today, together with Sun Life HK's acquisition of the MPF business of Schroder Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited, will strengthen Sun Life HK's position as a leading MPF provider. These acquisitions will add HK$4.6 billion (C$769 million) in MPF assets under management ("AUM"), and bring Sun Life HK's combined AUM to HK$34.7 billion (C$5.8 billion).1 "This partnership provides an excellent opportunity for us to expand our distribution network. It will further accelerate our already strong growth in the Hong Kong retirement market and follows our new strategic relationship with Schroder Investment Management," said Kevin Strain, President, Sun Life Financial Asia. The transactions are expected to be completed in stages over the course of 2017 and 2018, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Forward-looking information In this forward-looking information section, "we", "our" and "us" refer to Sun Life Financial Inc. and its subsidiaries and joint ventures. Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including, but not limited to, statements that are not historical or that are predictive in nature or that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour provisions" of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements in this news release represent our current expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events as of the time of this news release and are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and are based on key factors and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including the assumption that the transactions will be completed. Except as may be required by applicable Canadian securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Forward-looking statements are presented to assist investors and others in understanding our objectives for the transactions, strategic priorities and business outlook following the transactions, and in obtaining a better understanding of our anticipated operating environment following the transactions. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements may not be appropriate for other purposes and undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. Information about risk factors relating to us can be found in the annual information form of Sun Life Financial Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2015 under the heading "Risk Factors" and other regulatory filings filed with or furnished to Canadian and U.S. securities regulators available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov. Use of non-IFRS financial measures This news release includes certain forward-looking financial information using non-International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") financial measures, including AUM, as we believe that these measures provide information that is useful to investors in understanding our expected performance. These non-IFRS financial measures do not have any standardized meaning, may not be comparable with similar measures used by other companies and there are no directly comparable amounts under IFRS. Forward-looking non-IFRS financial measures cannot be reconciled to IFRS measures. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be viewed as alternatives to measures of financial performance determined in accordance with IFRS. About Sun Life Financial Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2016, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of C$861 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. 1 AUM figures are at March 31, 2016. Sun Life HK's acquisition of the Schroder MPF business is expected to be completed in the second half of 2016. SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc. SUNRISE, Fla., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunshine Health, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, welcomes two new executives to its team to lead state government affairs in Tallahassee. Tamela I. Perdue and Joshua Spagnola assumed leadership of the government relations function for the company in July. Both have extensive experience in state government and regulatory affairs and share a commitment to ensuring healthcare quality and coordinated care for health plan members. Tamela I. Perdue joined Sunshine Health as Senior Vice President of Legislative and Government Affairs. Tammy has more than 20 years of experience representing Florida's business community before all branches of state government. For the past decade, Perdue served as General Counsel to Associated Industries of Florida (AIF). Prior to her employment with AIF, Perdue was a partner in a statewide law firm specializing in insurance defense, administrative law and government consulting. Joshua Spagnola joined the company as Vice President of Legislative and Government Affairs. Prior to joining Sunshine Health, Spagnola served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Affairs Director for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Prior to his time at AHCA, Spagnola served as the Health and Human Services Policy Chief in Governor Rick Scott's administration and Legislative Affairs Director at the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. "We are proud to welcome Tammy and Josh to the Sunshine Health team," said Chris Paterson, CEO and plan president for Sunshine Health. "Their previous experience, guidance and counsel will help us continue to contribute to healthcare policy in our state. Sunshine Health's leadership team in Tallahassee is a critical component to achieving high-quality care for our more than 600,000 members across the state." About Sunshine Health Sunshine Health is among the largest healthcare plans in Florida. Offering coordinated care and a network of support, Sunshine Health is transforming the health of our community, one person at a time. We are a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. We offer health plan benefits to children and adults who are eligible for Florida Medicaid, those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and those eligible for Long Term Care as well as Florida's Health Insurance Marketplace. Additionally, we offer a specialty Medicaid health plan for children in or adopted from Florida's Child Welfare/Foster Care system and two full pay Healthy Kids plans statewide. For more information about Sunshine Health, please visit www.SunshineHealth.com. SOURCE Sunshine Health Related Links http://www.SunshineHealth.com EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., and REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SUPERVALU INC. (NYSE: SVU), one of the largest grocery wholesalers and retailers in the United States, today announced it has selected the Oracle Cloud as its new technology platform that will enable the company to deliver more robust business management and data analytics capabilities to its customers. With Oracle Cloud, SUPERVALU will be able to provide an integrated portfolio of enterprise-grade cloud services to enhance the performance of its Human Resources and Finance functions. "We have a terrific opportunity to deliver more professional services and back-end support to our existing wholesale customers, as well as leverage our scale and expertise to reach new customers," said Randy Burdick, SUPERVALU's Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer. "The Oracle Cloud provides us with a more robust infrastructure and a comprehensive solution that we believe will help us drive increased efficiencies, speed decision-making, and enhance the overall customer experience. We're excited to offer this solution to our customers as another example of how we're using technology to further enhance their businesses for the future." Initially, SUPERVALU will implement Oracle ERP Cloud and Oracle HCM Cloud, part of a broad suite of modern Oracle Cloud applications that are integrated with social, mobile and analytic capabilities, resulting in improved process integration and more complete and impactful reporting. The Oracle Cloud provides an enhanced user experience via a simple, scalable and intuitive design that can be delivered to users on desktop, tablet and mobile applications. SUPERVALU will use Oracle HCM Cloud's suite of talent and workforce management offerings designed to provide an engaging and collaborative HR experience to find and retain quality employees. "Oracle Cloud provides SUPERVALU with a complete set of enterprise-grade cloud applications, offering both breadth and depth of functionality," said Rondy Ng, Senior Vice President, Applications Development, Oracle. "Our integrated ERP and HCM cloud solutions are uniquely placed to cater to today's changing business environment and enable our customers to modernize back-office operations and empower their people." SUPERVALU will begin a phase-in of these new Oracle Cloud offerings across three key parts of its business: internal administration of its wholesale distribution and retail grocery businesses, and in services the company provides externally to its customers. Additional Information About SUPERVALU SUPERVALU INC. is one of the largest grocery wholesalers and retailers in the U.S. with annual sales of approximately $18 billion. SUPERVALU serves customers across the United States through a network of 3,588 stores composed of 1,796 independent stores serviced primarily by the Company's food distribution business; 1,360 Save-A-Lot stores, of which 897 are operated by licensee owners; and 200 traditional retail grocery stores (store counts as of February 27, 2016). Headquartered in Minnesota, SUPERVALU has approximately 40,000 employees. For more information about SUPERVALU visit www.supervalu.com. About Oracle Oracle offers a comprehensive and fully integrated stack of cloud applications and platform services. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), visit www.oracle.com. Trademarks Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. SOURCE Oracle Related Links http://www.oracle.com NEWTOWN, Pa., Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sylogent, a software and data services company, has announced the formal launch of SYQUENCE for the pharmaceutical industry. The web-based system is designed to organize, standardize and automate the data necessary to produce critical information. SYQUENCE is a flexible middleware tool that allows for structured data-driven processes to be implemented with minimal business interruptions. Integrated structured templates automatically create structured documents that maximize data consistency within a department and across the organization. "With more regulations, fewer resources, smaller budgets and shorter compliance timelines, the industry must begin to automate their information processes," stated Jack Yeager, CEO of Sylogent. "They cannot continue to manually process this heavily regulated information that ultimately must be consistent across the organization and public domain." SYQUENCE has been deployed at several pharmaceutical companies to assist with study registration, clinical data disclosure and publication planning. The single Study Master Form automatically creates all of the required registration and data disclosure documents populated with shared data elements. The system also creates a publication study document that includes study data needed by publication teams. "Too much critical data is being managed in spreadsheets, word documents and within emails on laptops and desktops. Pharma must operate in real time if they expect to satisfy growing compliance regulations," said Yeager. To learn about SYQUENCE, visit syquence.com or email [email protected] About Sylogent Sylogent develops software that maximizes regulatory compliance, reduces operational costs and optimizes resource value. We leverage an integrated knowledge of process, data, technology and people to design solutions that deliver measurable results. To learn about Sylogent, visit sylogent.com or email [email protected] This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Sylogent Related Links http://sylogent.com DALLAS, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dealey Group (TDG) has added a new component to its agency business, creating a practice for corporate communications and PR, which will be led by Jesse Tron, head of communications, TDG. A "Tra-Digital" Marketing, Design, and Advertising agency, TDG provides strategic marketing leadership for the digital age, but hadn't previously provided communications offerings to its clients. "We couldn't support our clients demand for PR services, and that was something we wanted to change," said JoAnn Dealey, CEO and founder, TDG. "I'm constantly looking for ways to evolve the agency when I started TDG we were a traditional advertising firm and we've since grown to include digital marketing and social media. I wanted to ensure that we offer the full-line of creative services for our clients and that's what this move does." TDG is a multi-faceted agency, but a significant portion of their clients hail from the commercial real estate industry. "We sought a strong communications executive, with significant experience in the CRE industry," explained Jen Augustyn, partner, TDG. "Jesse is not only a top-notch PR authority, but also a widely regarded expert on the shopping center and retail industries. As a result, I'm pleased to announce that JLL, already a long-standing advertising client of ours, is expanding their services to include communications for its retail platform." Tron, most recently Vice President of Communications for the International Council of Shopping Centers, ran successful PR and strategic communications programs during his tenure with the association. He also acted as a spokesman and was frequently quoted in top tier publications such as The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Bloomberg and appeared on multiple broadcast platforms to discuss industry trends. He is a noted crisis communications expert, content creator and branding authority. About TDG The Dealey Group is a "Tra-digital" (see what we did there?) full-service agency offering marketing, advertising, social media, communications, and public relations services for commercial real estate and other industries. TDG was founded in 1983 and has offices in Dallas and Stamford, CT. For more, visit thedealeygroup.com. Contact: Kiara Collazo The Dealey Group 214.373.3244 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160801/394718LOGO SOURCE The Dealey Group Related Links http://thedealeygroup.com Kutak Rock Chairman David Jacobson remarks, "Tiffanie has, in a very short period of time, demonstrated extraordinary leadership qualities, and she has established a high level of rapport and trust with attorneys and staff across offices. These traits, paired with proven business and client development skills, make her an ideal choice for managing partner of our Denver office. Kutak Rock offers a distinct and compelling value proposition, and this next generation of firm leadership is deeply invested in reinforcing and advancing our position among our peer AmLaw 200 firms. A successful trial attorney, Stasiak focuses her practice on complex commercial and construction litigation. She represents owners, tax credit investors and lenders, engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance (EPCM) companies, manufacturers, developers, general contractors and subcontractors in business disputes and legal actions. Substantially all of her practice is devoted to litigation and risk management. Stasiak earned a J.D. from the Saint Louis University School of Law. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395481 SOURCE Kutak Rock LLP ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This shocking new release memoir is now available on several online links and shopping venues, Amazon.com plus International sites. Kindle and self-published through create space publishing. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/394903 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160802/394904 This book is a great read and will not only churn the depths of emotion but is as thought provoking as real true life can ever be. The book is now available with the author having a updated blog @goodreads.com and Face book page & Twitter of the same name TWO sons TOO many. The new book features life of a man who has touched on and experienced everything one tends to imagine growing up and dares to never think of and so the devastation and challenges to overcome are those of real life, truth but never seem to come up in conversations, the topics people just do not like or do not how to discuss. This new memoir book which though may not change the readers life holds high chance it will alter their thoughts and patterns in daily life. To some the life they dreamed of, to many the life they never want. The dreaded fears all may encounter some day in their life discussed openly. The new book TWO sons TOO many is available at https://www.createspace.com/6300312 https://www.amazon.com/TWO-sons-many-Aidan-McNally/dp/1533450587/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470128053&sr=8-1&keywords=two+sons+too+many For readers who enjoy not only a good read but a great read. The new title has been self-published and is receiving great reviews of 5 stars at amazon outlets internationally and of course amazon.com. The book @ goodreads.com has another handful of 5 stars votes. There is currently a promotion in place for read, Review Reward where Two lucky winners will share a $1000 prize pool for their read and review of TWO sons TOO many. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15303936.Aidan_McNally/blog Twitter @TWOsonsTOOmany. Facebook TWOsonsTOOmany. One Irish man's life, to travel around the globe and back, experiencing life at its worst and its best. The unique aspect is this is a memoir book, which may not change life for a reader but will definitely bring them true life emotionally and provoke thought while infecting them to alter their ways in their own life. The story holds its own and is True companion for many as they continue through their own stressful struggles of life. Inspirational memoir that can show the changes amidst challenge is all possible. The life followed in the book reaches highs many dream of and deep lows many fear. Yet the book is the living proof that to overcome is always possible. Media contact: Aidan McNally Email 50683214805 SOURCE Aidan McNally Today, Moon Express receives the green light for pursuing its 2017 lunar mission following in depth consultations with the FAA, the White House, the State Department, NASA and other federal agencies. "The Moon Express 2017 mission approval is a landmark decision by the U.S government and a pathfinder for private sector commercial missions beyond the Earth's orbit," remarks co-founder & CEO, Bob Richards. "We are now free to set sail as explorers to Earth's eighth continent, the Moon, seeking new knowledge and resources to expand Earth's economic sphere for the benefit of all humanity." Up until now all commercial companies have been limited to operations in Earth's orbit, and only governments have sent missions to other worlds. With this landmark ruling, Moon Express has become the first private company approved to literally go out of this world as a pioneer of commercial space missions beyond Earth's orbit. The federal interagency approval of the Moon Express 2017 lunar mission establishes an important precedent for the private sector to engage in peaceful space exploration, bringing with it monumental implications for the advancement of technology, science, research, and development, as well as commercial ventures that expand Earth's economic sphere. The framework of the interagency approval surrounds Moon Express' proposed 'Mission Approval' arrangement that utilizes existing payload review and launch license processes under authorities of the Secretary of Transportation, and adds to them a series of voluntary disclosures intended to provide the Federal Government with sufficient information to help fulfill its supervisory obligations under the Outer Space Treaty. The company submitted its historic application for a 2017 commercial lunar mission to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on April 8th, 2016. "The sky is not the limit for Moon Express it is the launchpad. This breakthrough ruling is another giant leap for humanity. Space travel is our only path forward to ensure our survival and create a limitless future for our children," remarks co-founder and chairman, Naveen Jain. "In the immediate future, we envision bringing precious resources, metals, and Moon rocks back to Earth. In 15 years, the Moon will be an important part of Earth's economy, and potentially our second home. Imagine that." Moon Express was co-founded in 2010 by space visionary, Dr. Bob Richards, billionaire entrepreneur, Naveen Jain, and serial entrepreneur and artificial intelligence and space technology guru, Dr. Barney Pell, with the common vision to be at the forefront of commercial space exploration and innovation. The development of their innovative and scalable robotic spacecraft is designed to radically reduce the cost of space exploration lifting the veil on the mysteries surrounding the Moon and how its resources can be unlocked and used to benefit Earth and humanity. Moon Express is a leading contender to win in the $30M Google Lunar XPRIZE competition. ABOUT MOON EXPRESS Moon Express, Inc. (MoonEx) is a privately funded commercial space company blazing a trail to the Moon to unlock its mysteries and resources with low cost robotic spacecraft products & services using exponential technologies. Driven by long-term goals of exploring and developing lunar resources for the benefit of humanity, the company has short-term business on-ramps of providing lunar transportation and services for government and commercial customers. NASA partnered with Moon Express in 2014 under its Lunar CATALYST program to help build the capability to return the United States to the surface of the Moon. In October 2015, Moon Express announced a launch contract with Rocket Lab USA for 3 launches to the Moon beginning in 2017. In 2016, Moon Express announced an agreement with the U.S. Air Force to utilize Cape Canaveral Launch Complexes 17 and 18 for the development of its spacecraft. The Moon Express founders, Dr. Robert (Bob) Richards, Naveen Jain, and Dr. Barney Pell, believe in the long-term economic potential of the Moon to produce resources essential to humanity's future on Earth and in space. For more information about Moon Express, visit: www.moonexpress.com Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395337 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160803/395336 SOURCE Moon Express, Inc. Related Links http://www.moonexpress.com PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) will hold a meeting for investors on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Boston. Varian will host a meeting with management, beginning with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. ET, and webcast presentations from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday at the Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston, in Grand Ballroom C/D on the concourse level, one floor below the lobby. Presentations by Varian management and leading clinicians will focus on new technologies and products being featured at the exhibit, as well as practice trends in treatment centers, and advances in radiotherapy and radiosurgery. The meeting will not include a booth tour, although investors are invited to visit Varian's booth during show hours. The meeting and presentation will be webcast beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET. To access the webcast, click on https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1112959 To RSVP for the meeting, click on: http://investors.varian.com/ASTRO2016 or contact Katie Glenn at (650) 424-5631, or by e-mail: [email protected]. Please RSVP by Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. To reserve a hotel room in Boston, and to register for additional ASTRO seminars, please visit the ASTRO web site at www.astro.org or call (800) 541-6058. About Varian Medical Systems Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, focuses energy on saving lives by equipping the world with advanced technology for fighting cancer and for X-ray imaging. The company is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy and brachytherapy. The company also supplies informatics software for cancer treatment centers. Varian is a premier supplier of X-ray imaging components, including tubes, digital detectors, accessories and image processing software and workstations for use in medical, scientific, and industrial settings, as well as for security and non-destructive testing. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 7,700 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter. FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Spencer Sias, (650) 424-5782 Vice President, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations [email protected] SOURCE Varian Medical Systems Related Links http://www.varian.com FT COLLINS, Colo., Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterpik, a leader in innovative personal oral health care products for over 50 years, wants Americans to understand that the AP's announcement earlier today that there is very little scientific evidence that flossing daily prevents gum disease and cavities, only applies to string flossing, not water flossing. Deborah M. Lyle, RDH, BS, MS, Director of Professional & Clinical Affairs Waterpik, said, "The Associated Press just confirmed what I have known for years -- the unequivocal recommendation of string floss is not scientifically based. However, the announcement did not say you do not have to clean between your teeth. As a clinician and researcher, I have found that a water flosser was better for my patients than string floss and they have been proven more effective in several clinical studies." Lyle said she has been frustrated for years that dental professional associations continue to tout the benefits of string flossing when the science does not support its general use. "It's clear that people need an easier and more effective alternative to clean between their teeth. There is science to support the use of a Waterpik Water Flosser and it has been proven more effective than string floss." "Unlike string floss, the Waterpik Water Flosser has been clinically shown to remove plaque and reduce bleeding gums. The first study was conducted at the University of Nebraska in 2004 and showed up to 52% better improvement in gum health. To date there are a total of five clinical studies that compare the water flosser to string floss, consistently demonstrating that water flossing is more effective than string flossing for better oral health. Water flossing has also been shown to be up to 3 times as effective for removing plaque around braces and twice as effective for improving gum health around implants, compared to string floss." "The important thing that people have to realize is that cleaning between your teeth and below the gumline is critical. That is where bacteria can hide undisturbed, continue to grow and cause gum disease. The good news is that if you dislike using string floss, you have other alternatives that work." Carol A Jahn, RDH, MS, Director of Professional Relations & Education, Waterpik, added, "What's really important is that people shouldn't feel guilty about not using string floss. As a dental hygienist, I have seen first-hand that most people struggle to use string floss correctly. When you are not able to master the technique, you are not going to get results. What I would like people to know is that you still need to clean between your teeth and there is better way. Water flossing is easy to do, only takes a minute a day, and in clinical studies has consistently been shown to provide significantly better improvements in gum health over string floss." "I'm a hygienist and water flossing is the way I choose to clean between my teeth." About Water Pik, Inc. Water Pik, Inc. is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of innovative personal healthcare products sold under the Waterpik name. The company has developed and introduced many products that are considered the first of their kind and have led to the formation of new markets, including the Water Flosser, and the pulsating shower massage. The Waterpik brand is one of the most trusted oral health brands of dental professionals throughout the world. The company's products are sold through a variety of channels, including mass merchandisers, drug store chains, and specialty retailers. Headquartered in Fort Collins, CO, the company operates facilities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit the Water Pik, Inc. website at waterpik.com. Water Pik can also be found on Facebook and Twitter. Contact: Lois Whitman HWH PR (917) 822-2591 [email protected] SOURCE Waterpik Related Links https://www.waterpik.com Kathmandu, July 29 : China has reached out to Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, assuring full cooperation and support to the new government if he is elected the new Prime Minister. Chinese Ambassador Wu Chuntai on Friday held a meeting with Dahal, commonly known as 'Prachanda', in what is seen as Beijing's desperate move to safeguard its interests in Nepal and in carrying out the deals reached between Beijing and Kathmandu in March. China had already said in a statement that the change of regime in Kathmandu would not affect its ties with Nepal and it will hone its engagement with the new government in Nepal. In the meeting the Chinese envoy, according to a statement, Prachanda assured that deals, agreements and MoUs signed by the outgoing Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli government with China will be carried out and implemented. In March, during Oli's official visit Nepal and China signed first ever Transit and Transportation Agreement that sought to end Nepal's decades long dependency on -- and monopoly of -- Indian ports to reach out to a third country for trade. Dahal took up the ownership of agreements, saying they were made by the coalition government that included the Maoist party too. He went on to say the recent Nepal-China agreements were, in fact, an outcome of the agreement made by the government that he led earlier. The new government would not only implement the recent agreements but also make new ones with China, according the statement. Besides transit and transportation, Nepal and China agreed on energy cooperation, free trade area, connectivity, tourism, financial cooperation, exploration of petroleum products and import from China. In the meeting with Wu, Prachanda told the visiting Chinese envoy that he is "all set to become the new PM" and sought favour of China and support to his government. While congratulating Dahal, the Chinese ambassador said "the Chinese government, Chinese people and Chinese Communist Party will work with new government in Nepal". The resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on July 24 paved the way for Prachanda to become the 39th Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation after the Nepali Congress and Madhes-based parties pledged to support him. (Anil Giri can be reached at girianil@ians.in) Washington is failing to adequately fund the fight against the mosquito-borne Zika virus even as the first cases of local transmission crop up in the Miami area, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday "The president and and Congress have not worked together to help us," the Republican executive told CNBC's "Squawk Box." "Think about this, this is not just a Florida issue. This a national, international issue. We're just the tip of the spear. They should be our partner, and they haven't been our partner so far," he said. The White House and lawmakers have clashed this year over funding levels for Zika. President Barack Obama has requested $1.9 billion for mosquito control, vaccine research and other measures. A Republican-drafted plan to allocate $1.1 billion failed in the Senate this summer after Democrats objected to funding cuts to other health initiatives contained within the proposal, as well as a stipulation that would have blocked the money from being routed through private entities including Planned Parenthood. The threat became more urgent after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week warned pregnant women to avoid the Wynwood neighborhood north of Miami, where the Florida Department of Health has identified 14 cases in which Zika was transmitted locally by a mosquito bite. A 15th case was reported Tuesday outside the one-square mile area where the virus has been transmitted. A health official told The Miami Herald the department is investigating whether active transmission is spreading beyond that area. The warning was the first of its kind in the United States. Until recently, cases of Zika virus, which the CDC has concluded causes microcephaly and other birth defects, have been limited among U.S. residents to people who traveled outside the Lower 48 states. In the absence of federal funding, Scott vowed to draw on state reserves and spend what was necessary to pay for ongoing efforts, including free Zika testing and spraying of insecticide. Story continues Scott confirmed that Obama offered to send $5.6 million to Florida while Congress is on recess, but said the president must work with lawmakers to reach a deal to offer more substantial funding. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., told "Squawk Box" that Republicans on Monday would formally request Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to call Congress back to take up the issue. "We've asked Mitch McConnell to go ahead and bring this up and fast track it and get it done now. They should use the nuclear option of 51 votes and pass this without playing politics with it," he said. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., told "Squawk Box" she would support reconvening Congress, but said the original Republican plan would cut funding for contraception that could prevent women who contract Zika through sexual intercourse from becoming pregnant. Dingell and her Democratic House colleagues voted against the Zika bill over funding concerns. They also opposed Republican efforts to relax EPA regulations on the use of certain pesticides that Democrats say could poison water sources. "Compromise is not a dirty word, and I'd like to see us come together because we have a crisis," Dingell said. More From CNBC Patna, July 31 : The flood situation in Bihar worsened on Sunday, with many rivers breaching their banks and affecting hundreds of thousands of people, officials said. More than 2.6 million people have been hit by the floods in the state including half a million who have been displaced across 12 districts, the officials said. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav visited the flood affected Supaul district on Sunday and said: "We are fully prepared to provide relief and rescue the affected people." Senior officials said relief and rescue operations were going on in full swing. He said the flood situation was grim in some districts following rising water level in rivers. The government has deployed 587 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force and the state disaster response force in the worst hit areas. A Water Resources Department official said 2,034 villages had been affected by the floods. Of the five lakh people displaced till Sunday, nearly 2.50 lakh are living in different shelters. "Thousands have taken shelter in higher areas, on national highways and in schools and other buildings," an official said. The government has set up 412 relief camps and deployed 1,019 boats in relief and rescue work. The worst hit districts are Purnea, Kishanganj, Araria, Darbhanga, Madhepura, Katihar, Supaul and Saharsa. Unconfirmed reports say at least 28 people, including women and children, have perished in the floods. The authorities have asked people living in low-lying areas to move to higher ground. Major rivers in the state including the Koshi, Gandak, Bagmati and Ganga are in spate following heavy rains, officials said. "With heavy rainfall in the catchment areas in (neighbouring) Nepal, the water level of these rivers has been rising for several days," one officer told IANS. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered officials to survey the damage to houses, crops and other properties. He has asked the health department to arrange for medicines to check the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Officials said crops worth crores of rupees had been damaged. Road links have snapped at several places. Bihar Water Resources Development Minister Lalan Singh said the eastern Kosi embankment, which had breached in 2008, was safe. In 2008, more than three million people were rendered homeless in Bihar when the Kosi breached its banks upstream in Nepal and changed course. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 1 : Hundreds of Keralites in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and elsewhere in the Middle East are facing a livelihood crisis brought about by unpaid salaries and benefits and non-renewal of their work permits. The problems at the construction giant Saudi Binladin Group, where a large number of Indians work, is a case in point, said those in the know. The the Saudi Arabian government suspended the Group from undertaking new contracts last September after it was held responsible for an accident at Mecca's Grand Mosque that killed 107 people. The ban was lifted in May but not before the Group laid off tens of thousands of workers. The workers who continue to be employed by the Group, directly or indirectly, have not been paid their salaries. Lateef, a Keralite who has worked at the Saudi Binladin Group for many years, said about 10,000 Indians, including numerous from Kerala, find themselves in limbo as their work permits have not been renewed. "We have not got salary for the past five months and the condition at the labour camps with 4,500 inmates is really pathetic. Getting water and food is tough," said Lateef, speaking from Saudi Arabia to the reporters here. "We request that some Indian officials immediately come here and see for themselves what the conditions are." CPI-M Lok Sabha member P. Karunakaran told reporters that the issues facing Indian workers in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are very serious and "we are bringing it before the Lok Sabha today". He said he has urged Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to intervene. Karunakaran cited the case of about 15,000 Indians working with Kharafi National Company in Kuwait not being paid salaries on time. An Indian worker, who has three months' salary arrears outstanding, told IANS that circumstances have been tough. "A strike took place when workers of other nationalities, who locked the labour camps, insisted that none need to report for work. For a few days none could go out but then many escaped from the camp and reported for work. Of these there are more than 4000 Keralites," the employee said, requesting not to be identified. The office of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has been receiving numerous calls from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from anxious relatives in the state. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday asked the non-resident Keralite department officials to see that the issue is taken up at all levels. According to sources, Swaraj has decided to send her two junior colleagues to the Middle East. V.K. Singh will fly to Saudi Arabia and M.J. Akbar is expected to reach Kuwait shortly. Lahore, Aug 1 : United Jihad Council chief Syed Salahuddin on Monday accused Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh of being a "killer of Kashmiris" and urged Islamabad to recall its envoy from India over the ongoing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. Salahuddin, who is based in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, also seconded Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed who on Sunday warned of a countrywide protest in Pakistan by his outfit against the Indian minister who arrives in Islamabad on August 3 to attend a Saarc ministerial conference. Addressing Pakistani media at the party headquarters in Mansura Auditorium in Lahore, Salahuddin criticised the Nawaz Sharif-led government's policy on Kashmir. He suggested that Prime Minister Sharif, in addition to immediately recalling its envoy from New Delhi, also "suspend trade and diplomatic ties" with India in the wake of the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir that has left 50 people dead following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. He said the Pakistan government should not have invited Singh to the SAARC conference. "The rulers should give up hypocrisy and the Pakistan government should either plead the case of Kashmiris or make friends with India," Salahuddin said. Hafiz Saeed on Sunday during a rally said: "I want to ask the Pakistani government will it add salt to injury of the Kashmiris by welcoming Rajnath who is responsible for the killings of innocent Kashmiris." "It will be ironical as on the one hand the whole Pakistani nation is protesting against the Indian atrocities in Kashmir and on the other hand the Pakistani rulers will be garlanding Singh," he added. Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, said: "If Singh comes to Islamabad on August 3, the JuD would hold countrywide protest to tell the world that the Pakistani rulers might have compulsions to receive Kashmiris' killers but the people of Pakistan are siding with oppressed Kashmiris." He said the people of Kashmir had refused to meet Singh during his Srinagar visit last week, and added that the Sharif government "must also refuse to receive the BJP leader on the excuse that it may hurt and incite feelings of Kashmiris and Pakistanis". New Delhi, Aug 2 : In the wake of the food crisis facing Indian workers laid off by Saudi companies, Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh will leave for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night. He will reach Jeddah early on August 3 and return to India two days later, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. On Saturday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India was making all efforts to bring back the over 10,000 Indian workers rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia and was providing them food in camps. She said the companies concerned had shut their factories and left. "We can't leave our workers there... We have asked the foreign office to authorise us to bring them (back) from Saudi Arabia," she said. Kathmandu, Aug 2 : Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on Tuesday filed his candidature for the Prime Minister's post as the country is all set to vote for its new premier on Wednesday. He filed his candidature papers at Parliamentary Secretariat backed by Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav, a prominent Madhesi leader. However, Prachanda is the sole candidate for the post. Earlier, the second largest party in parliament, Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) had decided to field a candidate but later the party decided not to. Likewise, the agitating Sanghiya Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha has also supported Prachanda's candidature. Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party leader Sarbendra Nath Sukla and Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karna have supported Prachanda's bid for the Prime Minister's post. This will be his second come-back as Prime Minister. Earlier, Prachanda became the premier in 2008 and resigned after he failed in his attempt to sack the then Chief of the Army Staff Rukmangud Kutwal. In the 595-member parliament, Prachanda will require 298 votes to win the election. The Maoist Centre, the third largest party with 82 seats in parliament, has the backing of the Nepali Congress, the largest party with 207 seats. As per the time table for the election of the new premier set by the Parliament Secretariat, nominations should be filed between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the final list to be published at 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The final election, if any, will begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Damascus, Aug 3 : The Syrian army carried out offensive against a town held by the Islamic State (IS) group in Deir al-Zour on Tuesday, killing 60 of them, state news agency SANA reported. The military units attacked IS positions in the town of Jnaineh, two kilometers west of Deir al-Zour, Xinhua news agency quoted SANA as saying. It added that the military units also foiled an attack by the IS on government-controlled parts in that oil-rich province, killing dozens of them, including the commander who was leading the attack. The IS controls much of the countryside of Deir al-Zour province, except the city, which is still under the government control, but besieged by the IS. Washington, Aug 3 : US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump accepted a Purple Heart from a military veteran during a rally on Tuesday, saying it was "much easier" to receive the medal as a gift than by serving in combat. Trump said Lt Col Louis Dorfman gave him his actual Purple Heart, but an NBC reporter was told the one given to the candidate was a replica, the Independent reported. The Republican candidate, who is locked in a bitter public dispute with the family of a Muslim soldier who was killed in Iraq, attracted fresh criticism for his off-hand response accepting an honour bestowed upon soldiers wounded in combat and joking about how easily he received his. "I fought in Iraq, was injured, and was awarded a Purple Heart," Sean Barney, a Delaware congressional candidate wounded in Iraq, tweeted. "No one should ever want a Purple Heart." The mother of US Army National Guard Sgt Patrick McCaffrey accused Trump of making light of the honour. "Well, people have the freedom of speech and the freedom of action, so whoever gave that Purple Heart to Mr Trump is, you know, it's his decision not mine," Nadia McCaffrey told CNN. "To me, a Purple Heart is sacred for what it represents and should not be given to anyone who didn't deserve one." His rival Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also mocked Trump on twitter. "This from a man who says he's 'sacrificed' for our country," she tweeted. Trump's acceptance of the veteran's Purple Heart comes amid his feud with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, Gold Star parents whose son Humayun Khan was killed in action in 2004 while serving in Iraq, the Independent reported. Khan rebuked the Republican nominee during a speech at the Democratic National Convention last Thursday. "You have sacrificed nothing and no one," he said, addressing Trump while holding pocket-sized version of the US Constitution. In response, Trump said he "made a lot of sacrifices", citing the numerous "great structures" he built. The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving with the US military. Istanbul, Aug 3 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the West on Tuesday of supporting terrorism and those who tried to carry out the coup d'etat in Turkey on July 15. During a speech delivered before several international investors, Erdogan said, "Now I ask: Does the West give support to terror or not? Is the West on the side of democracy or on the side of coups and terror? Unfortunately, the West gives support to terror and stands on the side of coups." "We have not received the support we were expecting from our friends, neither during nor after the coup attempt," EFE news quoted the President as saying. Erdogan also regretted that no Western leader had come to Turkey to express condolences with the Turkish people and said, "It's sufficient to look at the statements issued during and after the coup to see this." Furthermore, he said all available evidence shows that the mastermind of the coup was Islamist preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is in exile in the United States, and who has dismissed any links between him and the failed military coup. Tehran, Aug 3 : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said here on Tuesday that the United States has failed to fulfil its nuclear obligations "accurately". "If they were committed to their promises accurately, and did not hinder the process of nuclear deal implementation, we could count on them and sit to discuss other issues with them," Xinhua news agency quoted Rouhani as saying in a live televised speech. Rouhani's remarks were a reaffirmation of the country's top leader's Monday comments on the implementation of the nuclear deal clinched between Iran and world powers in 2015. "The United States has violated its obligations (over the implementation of the nuclear deal) and is busy destroying Iran's economic ties with other countries," Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday. In some areas, Iran still has problems in the transfer of money via the large international banks for the transactions that it has with its economic partners, Rouhani said. The Iranian President expressed the hope that such problems will be gradually solved in the future. Accra, Aug 3 : As unemployment rates among Ghana's university graduates rise alarmingly, an Indian businessman here has stepped forward with an offer to train young professionals -- and possibly give them jobs. The offer, by Mukesh Thakwani, owner of steel manufacturer B5 Plus Limited, has been hailed as a positive initiative at a time when rising joblessness among graduates has been described as a "crisis" by Minister of Employment and Labour Relations Haruna Iddrisu. Thakwani's company is offering a year's apprenticeship with stipends to over 50 students from polytechnics, secondary/technical institutions and universities, providing on-the-job training and much-needed experience. The best among them will be employed by the company at the end of their apprenticeships. The company has also put in place an award scheme to provide scholarships to brilliant but needy students in Kpone near the capital, where the company is based. Thakwani describes this gesture as the "company's social responsibility to the community". "Everyone deserves a bright future. Whatever your age or background, whether you're taking your first steps into work, finishing school, returning to work or looking for a new career direction, there's an apprenticeship here for you," he said. Besides, Thakwani said, Ghana needs skilled people, adding that his company realised there was a gap between skilled and unskilled people in the country. And that's why it has decided to help. The Ghana Statistical Service says the country's unemployment rate averaged 8.82 per cent from 2001 until 2013, reaching an all-time high of 12.9 per cent in 2015. Minister Iddrisu has warned the country was leading to an Arab Spring situation if nothing was done and has called for more partnerships between the government and the private sector to create jobs. "To avoid an Arab spring it is necessary that both the public and private sector, together with our friendly donors, consider the growing unemployment in the country as a national security threat which needs to be addressed," he said. Some have blamed the unemployment situation to the high number of graduates produced in the country. But President of Accra Institute of Technology Clement Dzidonu disagreed: "Ghana neither has enough universities for its growing population nor has place for the university students." "In other words, we need more universities to meet growing demand for higher education by qualified applicants." According to Dzidonu, records at the National Accreditation Board (NAB) show that the country currently has 70 private and 16 public tertiary institutions, making a total of 86 tertiary institutions for a population of 25 million. This translates into a university per capita rate of around 3.5 compared to the global average of 18.6. In his view the country was not producing enough graduates for the economy. What the country was experiencing with graduate unemployment was rather "a case of over supply of graduates in some fields and under-supply in others". He said the universities were producing graduates not needed by the economy, hence creating a phenomenon of "unemployed-unemployables," adding that it could also be a case that tthe economy does not have the absorption capacity to employ graduates. He also attributed the situation to the lack of planning for higher education which he blamed on the lack of data on the manpower requirements of the country. Dzidonu said there was the need for "regular national human resource gap analysis studies that will assist us in undertaking graduate output requirement planning to serve as a basis for the government to set quotas for graduate output in key fields and professions". "We cannot as a nation continue to produce some types of graduates that the economy does not need and fail to produce enough of those that the economy demands." (Francis Kokutse can be contacted at fkokutse@gmail.com) New Delhi, Aug 3 : Royal and age-old tradition is what describes The Oudh, bringing Lakhnavi cuisine directly from the kitchens of the last nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah, on to the plates of Delhiites. The Oudh, formerly known as Darbar, located in The Ashok, opened its doors in 1995 offering an array of dishes that were created by the bawarchis (chefs) and rakabdars (gourmet cooks) who were employed by the nawab. Awadhi cusine is very much influenced by Mughal cooking techniques that vary from mild to spicy with a distinctive aroma and the dishes bear similarities to the ones from Kashmir, Hyderabad and Punjab. The dum style of cooking or cooking over a slow fire originated in this region, a technique which is synonymous with Lucknow today. Sprawled across the lush green Lily Pool Lawns, The Oudh is a treat for the sore eyes. Red, gold and silver dominate the interiors, giving out a very distinct royal feel. The walls are decorated with 'minakari' art and 'jalis' (latticed screens) along with paintings and other marble work. It can seat up to 80 people along with two private rooms. Lunch comprises a buffet spread while dinner is purely a la carte. "Since we opened back in 1995, the food has pretty much remained the same, including an addition or an exclusion every now and then but we make sure that there is no compromise on the taste. We still use ancient recipes to get the actual taste of the rich Awadhi cusine," Food and Beverage Manager Asad Fayyaz told IANS. The menu is a masterpiece in itself with the incorporation of different host and guest menus. It also comes in eight different languages - English, Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Flemish. "In our menu, we do not include the prices of the dishes as we want our customers to order without holding themselves back when they see the amount. This food is to be taken for leisure and not worrying about the price tag," Fayyaz added. To start my royal nawabi trail, I was served a Chashme Baddoor welcome drink. A sweet, refreshing drink but the addition of a bit too much of cumin became quite overwhelming for my taste buds. This was followed by an array of fragrant appetisers comprising lehsuni malai tikka, galawat kebab, tohfa-e-noor (cottage cheese rolls), haryali kebab, mahi-e-gulfam (fish) and paneer tikka. The one that really stood out in terms of taste was the galawat kebab, which, according to Fayyaz, is a favourite among restaurant regulars. Made of minced mutton and a combination of various spices, the kabab has a melt-in-the-mouth goodness. The hariyali kabab, mahi-e-gulfam (fish prepared over charcoal) and paneer tikka were equally excellent. However, the dishes that did not really hit the mark were the lehsuni malai tikka, which was really dry and bland, and the tohfa-e-noor, which is one of the restaurant's best-selling dishes but is on the heavier side. The mains included murgh rihana-barbequed chicken cooked in a gravy of cashew nuts, tomato and cream: tender, succulent and juicy pieces of chicken in a creamy gravy, a riot of flavours. The second was koh-e-Daliganj or mutton cooked in an onion and cashewnut gravy. The meat was fall-off-the-bone, looked very spicy but the spice level was mild. Dal Oudhi, a rich but not-so-heavy dal dish, made me feel very royal. The two other entrees-paneer hazrat mahal and the Nishatganj ki jhalfarezi-could easily be given a miss. They were all served with Roomali roti and Warqi Paratha, an Awadhi flaky bread. The next dish was definitely the star of the entire luncheon: dum mutton biryani. It came in a sealed earthen pot which helped to retain all its flavours. The al dente rice was fragrant, and the addition of burnt onion elevated the dish. The mutton was cooked to perfection and fell right off the bone. Next up were desserts-qulfi falooda, firnee, khush zaiqa (milk dumplings fried and soaked in sugar syrup) and gulab jamun. The royal trail finally ended with a paan. In conclusion, The Oudh actually transports you to a time of eloquent dining where the kings and queens were offered the best of the best. FAQs: Where: The Ashok, 50 B, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi Cost for two: Rs. 3,000 (without alcohol); Rs. 4,000 (with alcohol) Timing: 12.30 p.m.-3 p.m., 7.30 p.m-11.30 p.m. (The writer's visit was at the invitation of The Oudh. Karishma Saurabh Kalita can be contacted at karishma.k@ians.in) New Delhi, Aug 3 : The gang-rape in Bulandshahr and other atrocities against women were raised in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, creating a brief ruckus as several members demanded a discussion on the matter. The issue was raised by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati in the upper house, who accused the government of remaining silent on the issue. "Atrocities against women crossed all limits in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country. Women are being raped... What is government doing," Mayawati said. "We must rise above party politics on such issues. In Bareilly, a teacher was kidnapped. The incident of Bulanshahr is brutal," she said. "Why is the government quite on the issue?" Samajwadi Party member Jaya Bachchan also said there should be no politics on the issue of women, and added there should be a discussion on it. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi called the incident "barbaric". "Such barbaric incidents can never be justified. We expect the state government to take action," he said. Congress leader Ambika Soni, meanwhile, said it was not the parliament members, but ministers of the Uttar Pradesh government who are playing politics on the issue. Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal then said that the state government has taken action following the Bulandshahr incident. "We are all concerned about the issue. The Uttar Pradesh government has taken action which has been appreciated," the SP leader said. A woman and her daughter were gang-raped in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh last week after their car was stopped on highway by robbers. Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Azam Khan later said the incident might be a conspiracy, drawing flak from several quarters. In another incident, a 19-year-old schoolteacher was allegedly gang-raped by three men in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly on Tuesday. Melbourne, Aug 3 : Star West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has signed a new deal to play for Melbourne Renegades in Australia's Big Bash League (BBL) next season. Bravo will return on a one-year deal for his third consecutive season, Renegades franchise officials confirmed on Tuesday, reports CMC. Bravo's new deal with Renegades means one of the franchise's two international contracts has been taken. "Having Dwayne back is obviously fantastic," CEO Stuart Coventry said of Bravo, last year's Player of the Year. "He was a driving force for us last season and brings an enthusiasm and intensity about his play that is a really positive combination for the rest of the squad." Renegades, who are chasing their second final berth, have also signed a new deal with captain Aaron Finch. The club is also said to be looking for another overseas player to replace T20 super star Chris Gayle. Washington, Aug 3 : Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has declined to endorse the re-election campaign of House speaker Paul Ryan, the highest-ranking member of his party here. "I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country," Trump on Tuesday told the Washington Post, a publication that is banned from Trump's campaign events. "We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet. I'm not quite there yet." The New York billionaire has refused to back Senator John McCain, the party's 2008 nominee, in his bid for re-election in addition to Ryan, the most powerful elected Republican, The Guardian reported. Ryan and McCain are longtime critics of Trump's remarks, but both said they would support the Republican nominee in the general election. Ryan needed coaxing to eventually support Trump, citing his concerns about his ban on Muslims entering the US. Ryan not only endorsed Trump but presided over his nomination at the Republican national convention in Cleveland. "Neither Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Trump's endorsement. We are confident in a victory next week regardless," Ryan's campaign spokesman Zack Roday said. The TWO have been critical of Trump in recent months following a string of increasingly racially and religiously charged statements. Ryan has described Trump's attacks on a federal judge Gustavo Curiel as "the textbook definition of a racist comment". McCain on Monday issued a strong rebuke of his remarks about the Muslim family of a killed army captain. "I cannot emphasise how deeply I disagree with Trump's statement," McCain said in a statement, referring to his claim that the Khans had "no right" to criticise him and were motivated by opposition to the ban. "I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican party, its officers or candidates," McCain said. Ryan also criticised Trump for his comments, saying: "Many Muslim Americans have served valiantly in our military, and made the ultimate sacrifice." Trump's refusal to support members of his own party comes exactly one week before Ryan faces a primary challenge from businessman Paul Nehlen, a candidate who has sought to emulate Trump's rhetoric and policies. Nehlen, who Trump personally thanked on Twitter last night, has branded Ryan "a soulless globalist" and attacked him as the candidate of open borders. On Tuesday Trump praised Nehlen for running "a very good campaign". McCain also faces a primary challenge at the end of August from Kelli Ward, a former Arizona state senator who has accused the 2008 Republican nominee of being "directly responsible for Islamic State". If the five-term senator manages to fend off the primary challenge, he still faces a competitive general election against Representative Ann Kirkpatrick, in what McCain has described as "the race of my life". Although Arizona was once solidly Republican, the heavily Latino state is now considered an electoral tossup because of Trump's unpredictable effect on candidates whose names follow his own on the ballot. For over a year, McCain has also called on Trump to apologise for saying he prefers "people who weren't captured" to prisoners of war, like the senator was himself in Vietnam. Trump has not apologised. Patna, Aug 3 : It's the same old story of alleged criminals trying to foray into politics. This time it's jailed gangster Santosh Jha who is keen to join politics, ostensibly using his proximity to LJP leader Chirag Paswan. Jha has been in the jail in connection with the killing of two engineers of a private construction company in Bihar's Darbhanga district. "I am keen to join politics to serve the people," Jha told mediapersons here. "I had expected to get a Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) ticket in the last Assembly election, thanks to Chirag Paswan's help. However, in the last minute I was implicated in a false case and sent to jail," Jha said. In 2015, Jha was reportedly offered a ticket to contest the Assembly polls in the state. That despite his sinister track record -- he is the chief of Bihar People's Liberation Army, a gang of notorious criminals involved in murder and extortion. No wonder Jha realises the importance of political clout and wants to make the most of it. Jha's wish to be a politician has again revealed that dreaded criminals in Bihar have close connection with the political system. Jha, along with sharp shooter Mukesh Pathak, has been named in the killing of two engineers -- Brajesh Kumar and Mukesh Kumar. The two engineers were murdered in December, 2015 because they refused to pay extortion money. Jha is wanted in several cases for murder, extortion and other crimes. Over the years he had raised a private army called Parashuram Sena that targeted road contractors in Bihar and businessmen in Nepal. The gang operated under the garb of People's Liberation Army in Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Sheohar and Vaishali districts. About two years back Jha was arrested from Kolkata by a crack team of Bihar Police. Jha's name also figured in the killing of a former Maoist leader Gaurishankar Jha in 2011. Lucknow, Aug 3 : Congress President Sonia Gandhi succeeded in grabbing eyeballs at her aborted road show in Varanasi on Tuesday. She briefly interacted with party workers and supporters who thronged both sides of the roads for a glimpse of her, but her planned obeisance at the Kashi Vishwanath temple and meeting with local experts on the Ganga river fell through as she took ill and was rushed back to Delhi. Now, the question: is the turnout she attracted in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency any indication of a revival in the Congress' fortunes in Uttar Pradesh, where it has been on the sidelines for the last three decades? The question evokes mixed feelings as the people by and large think that other than "creating a flutter", the party will not benefit much from the road show. Political observers here say that the crucial vote bank of the Congress, which it lost to others in the 1990s, is still guarded about the desperate overtures of the party leadership. The Brahmins are more or less wary of the pro-Muslim tilt of the Congress and the Muslims, who were once at the vanguard of the party's successive electoral successes in the Hindi heartland, are still "far from once again relying on the party, specially after the demolition of the Babri mosque (in 1992)", a senior Congress leader averred. Not wishing to be named for fear of being singled out as a "stumbling block in the party's efforts to climb back to relevance", the leader told IANS that the Congress strategy to project high-profile leaders -- Sheila Dixit and Raj Babbar -- has, however, succeeded in energising its moribund cadres. The newly-appointed state Congress chief Raj Babbar, prior to the road show, was candid enough to admit that the party needs a miracle to make an impressive comeback. An earlier show -- Udghosh -- late last month presided over by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was a runaway success where more than 40,000 party workers braved monsoon showers to interact with the Gandhi scion. These two shows, along with the bus ride its chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dixit took from New Delhi to Kanpur, have so far succeeded in creating some ripples in the state. The fact that #SoniainKashi hashtag was trending on Twitter on Tuesday indicated that the party has climbed some notches in the public mind. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) are making light of the Congress efforts and say that however desperately it may try to create a political space for itself in the state, it would ultimately be rejected. "There is no dum (power) in Congress, it's a dead party," said a senior minister in the Akhilesh Yadav cabinet who maintained that the SP will romp back to power in the 2017 assembly elections. BSP leaders, now a little chastised about what they speak publicly, term the talk of the Congress reviving as "Mungeri Lal ke haseen sapne" (day dreaming) and point out that the party's efforts to woo Dalits and Muslims will fall flat. "People of both these sections know that the Congress has done nothing for them in the last 60 years and have only used them as vote banks," a senior BSP leader said. The BJP's state leaders are also dismissive of the prospects of a Congress resurgence and joke that it was only going to cut votes at best. "Congress is the B-team of the SP and BSP and it will only slip further this time as we go to the people against this unholy nexus of these three parties," state BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak told IANS. With the success of the road shows, strategist Prashant Kishore seems to have done well, giving the Grand Old Party some hope to cling on to. (Mohit Dubey can be contacted at mohit.d@ians.in) Panaji, Aug 3 : Goa PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Wednesday faulted government engineers for negligence which could have led to the collapse of a British era bridge over the Savitri river in Maharashtra. As a result of the bridge collapse in the early hours of Wednesday, two buses and several vehicles were reported missing with at least 20 persons missing. Speaking to reporters at the state legislative assembly complex, Dhavalikar said: "Negligence cannot be of the Maharashtra government. It is a department's mistake, engineers' mistake." He was asked by reporters, if negligence on part of the Maharashtra government could have led to the major accident along the National Highway 17. Dhavalikar also said that there were three major bridges in Goa's Bicholim, Sanvordem and Quepem areas which were constructed during the Portuguese era. The minister also said that every bridge in Goa was being examined by engineers from his department every six months. "As of today, we have no problem," Dhavalikar said. At least two buses and several other vehicles went missing near Mahad city after a bridge on Savitri river collapsed on Wednesday due to torrential rains in the Konkan region. The bridge is located on the NH-17 connecting Panvel, on the outskirts of Mumbai, and Goa. Patna, Aug 3 : The fairer gender in Bihar are all for prohibition of liquor. While the men are divided over the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Bill 2016 that was recently passed by the assembly, women in the state are happy that the legislation will ensure a complete ban on liquor in the state. "After constructing roads and providing electricity in the last 10 years, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has now done a good job by banning liquor," said Munia Devi, a resident of Gaunpura village near Patna. "No one will dare to violate the stringent law," she told IANS. Clearly, she doesn't see the law to be draconian as has been suggested by a large number of men and the BJP. Munia is not alone. A similar sentiment was expressed by Shanti Devi, a vegetable vendor at Pethia Bazaar on Patna's outskirts. "We don't care whether it is draconian or not. What matters is that the liquor ban should be total. Women suffer the most because of liquor trade," she said. "Liquor ban is good for us. My husband, who spent half of his daily earnings on liquor, now saves money for the family," said Shanti. Both Munia and Shanti thanked the Chief Minister for imposing prohibition in April. It's not much different in middle class families where the prohibition has been welcomed by the women. Manorama Singh, a mother of two, said only a tough law can ensure a total liquor ban. "There are hundreds of rules to control pollution and smoking in public places. But no one cares to adhere to those rules. But here the liquor ban has been strictly implemented. The new legislation will address the loopholes that might be there," she told IANS. Mamata Sharma, a school teacher in Naubatpur, said the new legislation will create fear among the liquor mafia who take advantage of the shortcomings in the old prohibition law. "Fear of law is a must," Mamata said. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who lauded the support he received, has said that women are now empowered and they would not allow their family members to consume or store liquor in their houses. Under the law, all adult members of the family could be arrested if liquor was found stored in any household. But this has certainly irked many men. Sumit Kumar is one of those not happy with the new law. "The new prohibition law is like a Talibani diktat. Any one can be targeted by the police in the name of prohibition. It is wrong," he said, adding that the BJP has rightly called the legislation as draconian. Maheshwar Singh, a businessman, said the government should ensure that the new liquor law is not misused. "There are some stringent provisions and the government must ensure that the concerned officials do not harass innocent people," he told IANS. The Chief Minister, meanwhile, has been assuring that no innocent person will be harassed. He said seven excise officials were recently dismissed in Mohania in Kamiur district after they were caught indulging in corrupt practices. According to Nitish Kumar, any one found misusing the law will face three years' jail term and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. Kathmandu, Aug 3 : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated newly-elected Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda. Prime Minister Modi also extended an invitation to Prachanda to visit India. "Prime Minister called on Prachanda immediately after his election as the Nepal Prime Minister and congratulated him, besides extending an invitation to visit India," said Prachanda's secretary Jhak Bahadur Mahara. Prachanda told Modi that he will work in close cooperation with India. "Spoke to Nepal's PM-elect Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'ji & congratulated him. Assured him of our full support & invited him to India," Modi tweeted later. Prachanda was elected as the 39th Prime Minister of Nepal on Wednesday. Chandigarh, Aug 3 : The war of words between leaders of Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) escalated, with Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday declaring that the state government was "ready to admit AAP MP Bhagwant Mann in any of the rehab and de-addiction centres situated across the state". The statement from Badal, who is the President of the Akali Dal, came as a reaction to a demand made by some Lok Sabha MPs on Thursday to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to send Mann to a rehabilitation centre for alcohol de-addiction. The Lok Sabha MPs cited instances where the AAP MP has been reported to be under the influence of liquor while attending Parliament. Badal, who was in his assembly constituency Jalalabad, nearly 300 km from here, said that the Punjab government was ready to help Mann. The Punjab government, headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, is under attack from opposition parties, particularly the AAP leadership, for the rampant drugs menace in the state. The AAP has openly accused ministers in the Badal government and Akali Dal leaders of patronising the drugs trade in Punjab. Comedian-turned-politician Mann, who represents the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency from Punjab, has been in the thick of controversy in the last few days after he was accused of compromising security of Parliament by uploading a video of the entry gates, security system and other details on social media. Mann, who is an outspoken AAP leader, is facing a probe by a parliamentary panel over this matter. New Delhi, Aug 3 : Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said the pan-India Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime was an example of federalism at its best, and will go a long way in boosting the revenues of both the Centre and the state governments. Initiating the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the GST Bill -- technically the Constitutional (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill, 2014 -- Jaitley said the efforts of all stakeholders led to a consensus and apprehensions of most states put to rest on the issue. "The dual dialogue of the empowered committee and political parties has resulted in a large consensus, which is absolutely necessary for a bill of this kind. We have systematically worked towards a larger political consensus," the minister said. "This is one of the most significant tax reforms in India's history. It was, therefore, important for building a political consensus to the extent possible," he said, adding that the main worry of the states was dilution of their exclusive right to impose tax on goods. "Some manufacturing states felt the consuming states will benefit more and wanted adequate compensation. Many states felt the petroleum products and alcohol must be kept out of the GST," he said, adding that a consensus was accordingly arrived at. While potable alcohol will be outside the GST purview, petroleum products will be zero-rated for the moment -- they will attract nil levy under this common tax. But the states can impose their own levies. Jaitley said this will be the position till a decision is reached on the issue. The minister also sought to allay another fear among the states -- that despite India's federal structure, the Centre would try to impose its authority, especially when it comes to disputes. "The Centre will have veto on the states; states will have veto on the Centre," said Jaitley. "We have all agreed that the disputes will be resolved by the council," he said, referring to the empowered committee of state finance ministers getting converted into a GST Council. Recounting the GST merits, he said the new regime will ensure a check on tax evasion and therefore boost revenues. "Many economists believe it could also give a boost to the country's growth rate," he said. "The enactment of the GST Bill will bring abut the best economic management of the country as it will empower the states and increase revenue of states and the central government. It will give a boost to the economy at this critical stage," he added. The GST Bill, termed as the most radical tax reform since Independence, seeks to subsume all central indirect taxes like excise duty, countervailing duty and service tax, as also state levies like Value Added Tax, entry tax and luxury tax, to create a single, pan-India market. Shimla, Aug 3 : After days of heavy rainfall, the monsoon will remain largely subdued in Himachal Pradesh till August 5, the Met office said on Wednesday. Despite 26 per cent deficit rain, 20 lives have been lost so far. The damage to public and private property was estimated at over Rs 160 crore, an official said. "Precipitation occurred at many places in the state. There has been no appreciable change in the minimum and maximum temperatures," Manmohan Singh, Director of the Meteorological Department, told IANS. "From June 1 to July 31, the state received 330.9 mm of rain against the normal average of 445.4 mm," he said. He said the towns of Shimla, Mashobra, Narkanda, Kufri, Kasauli, Shimla, Palampur and Manali recorded rainfall. Sakaghat town in Mandi district received 20 mm of rain, state's maximum. "The monsoon will remain subdued till August 5 with chances of light rain at some places. On August 6 and 7, there are chances of heavy rainfall at some places in low and mid hills," he added. A government spokesperson said water level in the Satluj, Beas and Yamuna rivers and their tributaries, which are in spate in Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur and Sirmaur districts, have started receding with the decline in rainfall. Lahaul-Spiti (84 per cent), Kinnaur (63 per cent) and Chamba (53 per cent) districts faced shortfall of rainfall. Water level in Pong Dam -- one of the state's major water reservoirs -- was still 40 ft lower on Tuesday compared to the last year. The dam serves the irrigation requirements of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, mainly during the off-monsoon season. "The water level in the Pong dam reservoir stood at 1,326 feet on Tuesday," an official of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) told IANS. He said the water level in the reservoir was quite less compared to the last year, when it stood at 1,366 feet on this day last year. Official data said the maximum storage capacity for the Pong dam located on the Beas river is 1,393 feet. Islamabad, Aug 3 : A group of All Parties Hurriyat Conference workers on Wednesday held a protest in Rawalpindi against Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh's arrival in the country to attend a Saarc ministerial conference. The protesters shouted anti-India slogans in Faizabad area of Rawalpindi, around 20 km from Islamabad where the two-day Saarc conference is being held. The protests come in the backdrop of surge in violence in Jammu and Kashmir which has has escalated tension between the two countries. More than 50 people have been killed and over 3,000 wounded in the current bout of violence in Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of Burhan Wani, a commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He has been declared a "martyr" by Islamabad while India has branded him a "terrorist". United Jihad Council chief Sayeed Salahudin is also holding a protest sit-in in Islamabad against the Indian minister's arrival. Mumbai, Aug 3 : Indian equity markets on Wednesday succumbed to profit booking on uncertainties regarding the passage of the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Bill in the Rajya Sabha, coupled with weak global cues. Consequently, both the key indices closed the day's trade in the negative territory, as heavy selling pressure was witnessed in automobile, capital goods and consumer durables stocks. The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged down 78.05 points or 0.91 per cent to 8,544.85 points. The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 28,008.52 points, closed at 27,697.51 points -- down 284.20 points or 1.02 per cent from the previous close at 27,981.71 points. The Sensex touched a high of 28,015.43 points and a low of 27,690.06 points during the intra-day trade. The BSE market breadth was skewed in favour of the bears -- with 1,869 declines and 873 advances. Both the indices had ended marginally in the red during the previous trade session on Tuesday, prompted by negative global cues and profit booking. The barometer index fell by 21.41 points or 0.08 per cent to 27,981.71 points, while the NSE Nifty edged lower by 13.65 points or 0.16 per cent to 8,622.90 points. Initially on Wednesday, the benchmark indices opened on a negative note following weak Asian and the US markets. Investors traded with caution on expectations of approval of the GST bill in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and resorted to booking profits. The sentiments of investors were boosted on the bill's passage after the union cabinet last week approved key changes in the proposed legislation. The pan-India tax reform has been passed by the Lok Sabha but is stuck in the Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks a majority. In addition, the rupee depreciated to 66.98-99 against a US dollar from its previous close of 66.73-74 to a greenback. "Uncertainity of the GST bill will continue to prevail in the markets until a decision is taken by the Rajya Sabha," Manish Hathiramani, Proprietary Trader and Technical Analyst at Deen Dayal Investments, told IANS. "Due to this uncertainity, there is a severe bout of profit taking that can be seen in the markets," he added. According to Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, along with GST anticipation, the markets slipped due to weak global cues. "The market is floating on a premium valuation and the risk reward is low. So investors are on the verge of profit booking," Nair said. In terms of investments, the provisional data with exchanges showed that the foreign institutional investors (FIIs) purchased stocks worth Rs 578.17 crore, while the domestic institutional investors (DIIs) divested scrip worth Rs 800.75 crore. Sector-wise, the S&P BSE automobile index plummeted by 359.28 points, followed by the capital goods index, which plunged by 261.81 points, and the consumer durables index fell by 213.85 points. In contrast, the S&P BSE metal index rose by 6.45 points and the telecom index inched up by 1.95 points. Major Sensex gainers during Wednesday's trade were: Cipla, up 2.08 per cent at Rs 529.40; Asian Paints, up 1.81 per cent at Rs 1,143.40; Sun Pharmaceuticals, up 1.16 per cent at Rs 838.40; Coal India, up 0.88 per cent at Rs 326.20; and Infosys, up 0.06 per cent at Rs 1,085. Major Sensex losers were: Tata Motors, down 2.98 per cent at Rs 479.15; ITC, down 2.86 per cent at Rs 252.75; Maruti Suzuki, down 2.32 per cent at Rs 4,875.40; Larsen and Toubro (L&T), down 1.75 per cent at Rs 1,477.85; and Reliance Industries, down 1.68 per cent at Rs 994.05. Kolkata, Aug 3 : Even as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been targeting the saffron brigade on a range of issues, BJP national President Amit Shah on Wednesday refrained from taking on the Trinamool supremo here. On his maiden visit to the city after the West Bengal assembly polls, Shah, in his nearly 40-minute address to party workers, spoke mostly about the development works initiated by the BJP governments at the Centre and in several states, and urged them to prepare for the 2018 rural polls in the state and the subsequent Lok Sabha polls. He also exhorted the people to elect the BJP to power in the state. While Shah is known for his sharp attacks on Mamata, and the party workers had hoped for some caustic barbs, on Wednesday the BJP chief harped mostly on development. "The biggest difference between a BJP government and that by the Congress, Communists or the Trinamool is that we work for the people, we bring development. That is why, in whichever state BJP has come to power, nobody has been able to uproot us," said Shah who went on to enumerate a host of schemes by the Narendra Modi government to buttress his claims. "There is no scope for the party workers to rest until BJP comes to power in Bengal. We have the maximum number of MPs, MLAs and chief ministers. We are the largest party in the country, but that is not complete until we come to power in Bengal and Kerala," Shah asserted. "Infiltration of Bangladeshis will stop only if BJP comes to power in Bengal," said Shah, who had earlier accused Mamata of compromising national security by allowing Bangladeshis to infiltrate in the state. He also said the GST Bill held significance for Bengal as it will initiate new economic reforms in the country. After coming to power in the state for the second consecutive term, the Trinamool chief had asserted that despite the party's "ideological differences" with the BJP, it will cooperate with the Modi government on the passage of the long-pending GST Bill. Shah also ridiculed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over his foreign visits. "People criticise Narendra Modi's foreign visits but it was Manmohan Singh who undertook more foreign visits. People think Modi had travelled more because no one noticed when Singh went for his visits. "Singh carried written speeches, read them and came back. Often those speeches would get interchanged and he would end up of reading speech meant for Indonesia in Malaysia and that of Malaysia in Indonesia," added Shah. Ramallah, Aug 3 : Israeli aircraft will fly alongside Pakistani and United Arab Emirates (UAE) planes in the US Air Force's Red Flag exercise in the Nevada desert later this month. Red Flag is considered the US military's "premier air-to-air combat training exercise", in which participating countries are divided into two teams and simulate dog fights to improve both their aviation skills and their military's international connections, according to the US Air Force. Last year, Israeli pilots took part in the Red Flag exercise for the first time in six years. During the aerial simulation, Israeli Air Force planes flew with -- and reportedly refuelled -- Jordanian fighter jets, Times of Israel reported. In 2016, there will be four Red Flag exercises at the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The first ran from January to February, the second from February to March and the third in July, while the final exercise will be conducted August 15-26, according to the US Air Force. Israel will take part in the August exercise, sending both fighter jets and cargo planes to Nellis Air Force Base, an IDF spokesperson said. Those planes will apparently be joined by two Muslim countries, according to the US Air Force. "For the second and fourth Red Flag, we will be including foreign players which include the United Kingdom, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, and Spain," Col. Jeffrey Weed, a Combat Training Squadron commander in the US Air Force, announced after the 2015 Red Flag exercise. The Israeli military would not officially comment on the presence of Pakistani and United Arab Emirates pilots at the Red Flag exercise, other than to say that the drill was being run by the Americans and Israel sees itself as a "guest" of the country. While they are not considered "enemy nations," Israel does not have formal ties with Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Though Pakistan has indicated it would be prepared to formalize its relationship with the Jewish state once there is a peace agreement with the Palestinians, ties between the two countries are often complicated. There have been reports of covert contacts between Israeli and Pakistani officials, including a WikiLeaks document that indicated that a high-ranking official in the Pakistani army met directly with the Israeli Mossad. United Nations, Aug 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be attending the General Assembly summit next month, according to a provisional programme released by the UN and confirmed by diplomatic sources. Modi, who was in Washington in June to address the US Congress, had attended the last two UN summits. According to the provisional schedule, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is to speak on September 26, the last day of the general debate, which is the summit part of the Assembly session. The president-elect of the 71st Assembly session, Peter Thomson of Fji, has set as its theme, "The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our World." It follows up "Agenda 30", the 17 sustainable development goals to be reached by 2030, that last year's 70th UN anniversary summit adopted. In 2014, as the newly elected Prime Minister, Modi presented at the UN summit his vision for India's foreign policy that decisively moved away from the vestiges of the polemics of the anti-colonial era while committing to promotion of global democracy. He also pitched the creation of International Yoga Day, which was quickly adopted by the Assembly. Last year Modi's address spotlighted his development agenda. At a summit on peacekeeping convened at the UN by US President Barack Obama, he reaffirmed India's commitment to UN peacekeeping operations with an offer to increase India's personnel contribution by sending three police units made up mostly of women and 850 troops. On the provisional list of those attending this year are 101 heads of state and 48 prime ministers from the 193 member countries. While the speeches get the limelight, the real action at the summit is in the series of meetings between world leaders gathered at one place. They are organised like speed-dating as they flit from one meeting to the next to maximise the face-to-face contacts. Who meets who - and who doesn't meet who - and subtle gestures like a wave or an unscheduled meeting or informal chat send messages for pundits of diplomacy to analyse. Newly-minted British Prime Minister Theresa May is to make her debut on the world stage at the summit. Presidents Barack Obama of the United States and Francois Hollande of France, and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang are also scheduled to be there. But Russian President Vladimir Putin is not and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is to represent his country. From South Asia, Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan, Sheikh Hasina Wazed of Bangladesh, and Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan, and President Maithrapala Sirisena of Sri Lanka are expected at the session, as is the Prime Minister of Nepal. According to custom, Brazil's president is the first speaker at the opening of an Assembly general debate. Brazil is in the throes of a political crisis and it is not certain who will take the black marble podium when the session starts on September 20. The summit will be preceded on September 19 by a high-level meeting on refugees and migrants. The world leaders will discuss the refugee crisis that has sent waves of hundreds of thousands of people into Europe while millions of the displaced languish in squalor in Turkey, Jordan and elsewhere in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. UN estimates that there are about 20 million refugees world-wide. Meanwhile, in a related matter of international diplomacy, a big question mark hangs over the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement that Venezuela is supposed to host. The meeting was originally set for last year but was postponed because of the political and economic upheavals there. According to Venezuelan media reports, the government of President Nicolas Maduro, had announced the summit would take place in July but couldn't pull it off while the internal situation worsened. Now sources at the UN say that Caracas is scrambling to organise the summit around the time of the UN summit that is barely a month away. Venezuela's Permanent Mission did not respond to calls by IANS. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) New Delhi, Aug 3 : A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here on Wednesday granted bail to three persons arrested in a corruption case involving Delhi Chief Minister's former Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar. Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar granted bail to former Intelligent Communication Managing Director G.K. Nanda and Endeavour Systems Pvt. Ltd. (ESPL) Directors Sandeep Kumar and Dinesh Kumar Gupta on furnishing personal bonds and sureties of Rs 1 lakh each. The trio had sought bail on ground of parity with Rajendra Kumar, who was granted bail on July 26. The IAS officer was arrested on July 4 on corruption charge. The CBI opposed their bail plea, but the court granted bail to the trio while noting that no purpose would be served by keeping them in custody. The judge directed them not to leave Delhi without permission, not to tamper with evidence or try to influence witnesses in the case. The investigating agency had earlier claimed that ESPL was floated by Kumar for the award of government contracts totalling over Rs 50 crore. The accused have been charged under Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (criminal conspiracy) and the Prevention of Corruption Act provision related to criminal misconduct for allegedly favouring ESPL in bagging of five contracts. Jeddah/New Delhi, Aug 3 : With 7,700 Indian workers employed with Saudi companies facing a financial crisis, a senior official of the Gulf kingdom's labour ministry held a meeting with India's Consul General in Jeddah on Wednesday. "Director General of Branch of Ministry of Labour and Social Development in Makkah region, Abdullah Al-Olayan, held here today a meeting with Consul General of India in Jeddah, Mohammad Noor Rahman Sheikh and his companions to discuss the situation of Indian labourers affected due to their delayed salaries in one of the big companies in the governorate of Jeddah," the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. SPA said Al-Olayan explained that the ministry was currently providing facilities for 2,500 affected Indian workers in Jeddah, allowing them to transfer their sponsorships, and granting them re-entry visas. Indian Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh arrived in Jeddah early Wednesday to oversee the evacuation efforts. On Tuesday, giving a breakup of the figures, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said 4,072 workers belonging to construction company Saudi Oger in Riyadh were being provided shelter in 10 camps: nine in Riyadh and one in Damman. He said 1,457 workers belonging to SAAD Group, Dammam, are in two camps in Dammam; five workers belonging to Shifa Sanaya, Riyadh, are in one camp; 13 workers belonging to Taiya Contracting, Riyadh, are in one camp. "In addition, there are 2,153 Indian workers belonging to Saudi Oger in six camps in Jeddah all of whom have been provided food by the Indian consulate," Swarup said. "So there are a total of 7,700 affected Indian workers in 20 camps," he said. New Delhi, Aug 3 : In a first of its kind move, the Delhi government on Wednesday took over the management of two branches of a private school for violating education department norms. The government took prior approval from the Lt. Governor's Office. "Rohini and Pitampura branches of Maxfort School have been taken over by the government. A team led by the SDM of the area along with the officials of the Education Department reached both the branches of the school in the morning and completed the process," a government official told IANS. The official said the action was initiated against the School following complaints like violation of rules in admission to candidates from economically weaker sections (EWS), false records and misappropriation of funds, among others. The school had violated norm of the Delhi School Education (DSE) Act 1973 and Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009. "After receiving the complaints the Education Directorate had served show cause notice to the school in April but the school administration failed to give us satisfactory reply. Then with an approval from the Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung yesterday (Tuesday), the government took over the school on Wednesday," the official said. Chadha Educational Society and S. Jagat Singh Chadha Charitable Trust run the school which has three branches in the national capital. IANS made several attempts to contact the school authorities over phone but there was no response. In the notice served to the two branches of Maxfort School, the education department had asked why it should not take over the management for violation of norms governing admission of EWS children, keeping false records and misappropriating funds. The Delhi government had constituted two committees to look into the complaints against the school. One was formed under the department of education and the other under the District Magistrate (DM) of north-west Delhi.